308 JOHN LEDYARD. 



a young, vigorous, and determined state. His only 

 competitors here, even in political fame, are Ver- 

 gennes and La Fayette. In other accomplishments 

 he stands alone. The Marquis de la Fayette is one 

 of the most growing characters in this kingdom. 

 He has planted a tree in America and sits under its 

 shade at Versailles. He is now at the court of old 

 Frederick. I am sure that you could not yourself 

 have manifested more alacrity to serve me than he 

 has done. The marquis is a warm friend to Ame- 

 rica. It will be difficult for any subsequent pleni- 

 potentiary to have as much personal influence in 

 France as Dr. Franklin had ; it will at least be so 

 till the causes which created that venerable patriot's 

 ascendency shall become less recent in the minds 

 of the people. I had the pleasure of being but 

 once at his house before his departure; and, although 

 bent down with age and infirmities, the excellent 

 old man exhibited all the good cheer of health, the 

 gay philosopher, and the kindness of a friendly 

 countryman. 



"It has been a holiday to-day, the nativity of the 

 Virgin Mary. My friend, the Abb6 D'Aubrey, tells 

 me that they have but eighty-two holidays in the 

 year which are publicly regarded. But this is a 

 mistake : they have more. We both agree that they 

 have eighty-two less than they formerly had. There 



