312 THE FEENCH BLOOD IT^ AMEEICA 



manufacturers of the country, are descended from an old 

 Huguenot family of Eouen in France. Du Pont de Ne- 

 moiu-s was the founder of the family. His story has been 

 written by G. Schelle, and published by Gillaumiu in 

 Paris. A writer in the Magazine of American History^ for 

 March, 1889, reviews the Memoir. The Du Pont works 

 at Wilmington, Delaware, and their branches and busi- 

 nesses in other places, have given them a commercial 

 reputation hardly equalled in any other calling. During 

 the long period from the beginning of the last century to 

 our own time many members of the Du Pont family have 

 gained distinction by their services in the army and navy. 

 They were represented in the War of 1812, and in the 

 Civil War Admiral Du Pont and Colonel Henry Du Pont 

 were both men of mark. 

 Du Pont de Du Pout dc Ncmours was born in Paris in 1739. He 



Pubiidst' was precocious, noted at his twelfth year for his knowl- 

 edge, and at twenty submitted to Choiseul a plan for en- 

 couraging agriculture, establishing domestic free trade, 

 supiiressiug taxes, and remodelling the financial system of 

 France. He was soon recognized as one of the most 

 brilliant and able publicists and economists of France. 

 He was the most chivalric champion of liberty in France, 

 according to Madame de Stael, and successively urged 

 the abolition of slavery, the repeal of the game laws, 

 liberty of the press, relief from the laws controlling 

 labour, reform in public charity, the repeal of monopolies, 

 and other public oppressions and abuses. Benjamin 

 Franklin especially commended his economic tables. If 

 France had heeded him, the French Eevolution would 

 not have been necessary. He was too much of a reformer 

 to be acceptable to a corrupt court, and during the stress 

 of the Eevolution, his life being in peril, he escaped to 

 America, where his eldest sou had established himself. 

 Jefferson, who had known him in France, heartily wel- 

 comed him to the United States. He laboured to effect 

 Jefferson's purpose of securing Louisiana by purchase 



