August 30th, 1779.
Mr. De la Luzerne desires me to join him on his route, to accompany him
to head quarters. I shall depart on Tuesday morning for Providence,
where I may require three days to review the regiments; after which I
shall return immediately to Hartford to join the Minister.
I promised to give you a picture of his new Excellency. He is about
thirty-six years of age, though he appears younger. In the last war he
was aid-de-camp to Marshal Broglio. He appears to be a man of solid
sense, and less presumptuous than the people of quality in that country
usually are. His manners are prepossessing; and they would be more so
if he could speak English. His character appears to me to be good; and
he is less reserved than European Ministers usually are. His personal
appearance will not displease the ladies of Philadelphia. He is a young
chevalier of Malta, who is not so much imbrowned by his crusades, but
that the American beauties will take pains to teach him English in a
short time. His Secretary, Mr. Marbois, is a counsellor of Parliament,
from Metz in Lorraine--speaks good English; and is a man who shows much
information and judgment.
Steuben.
Col. Hamilton.