October 28th
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“I did you remark from the Soup the difference of the character of our two nations, the french in burning their throat, and all the americans waiting wisely of the time that it was cooled.”
Comte de Rochambeau
National Park Service
To George Washington
From Rochambeau*
Rochambeau near Vendome, France 11 April 1790
Do you remember, my Dear general, of the first repast that we have made together at Rod island. I did you remark from the Soup the difference of the character of our two nations, the french in burning their throat, and all the americans waiting wisely of the time that it was cooled. I believe, my dear general, you have Seen Since a year that our nation has not change of character. We go very fast—God will that we come at our aims. I have had my part of the troubles of that revolution.** I have passed half of the last year in my department of Picardy, they made me passed in the month of July in that of the province of alsace—I did find there Strasbourg and all the province in a terrible insurection—I have employed there six months to retreive good order. I came back here afterwards to rest myself and make Some remedies for my health which has been altered of. The natal air made me well, and the king has named me yet here commissary to have an eye to the organisations of the assemblies of department—you are you, my dear general, in a full enjoyment of a work of fourteen years, and we will in a year of time complete a work that cannot be but the fruit of the patience that I have known to you and of a complete regeneration of the manners—God make us arrive to it and make forget to the univers Some wicked Strokes that have not fouled the revolution of america—Let me hear of you my Dear General and be well persuaded of the inviolable attachment with which I have the honour to be my Dear General Your most obedient and very humble servant
le cte de rochambeau
a thousand kindness and compliments to M. Jefferson, to M. Knox and to all my ancien camarades and friends which are near you.
* Comte de Rochambeau is the French general who collaborated with Washington to achieve victory at Yorktown which effectively ended the American Revolution.
** French Revolution
“If there shall be no worse consequence resulting from too great eagerness in swallowing something so delightful as liberty, than that of suffering a momentary pain or making a ridiculous figure with a scalled mouth; upon the whole it may be said you Frenchmen have come off well, considering how immoderately you thirsted for the cup of liberty.”
To Comte de Rochambeau
New York, 10 August 1790
The little anecdote which you recall to mind, My dear Count, of your Countrymen at Rhode Island who burnt their mouths with the hot soup, while mine waited leisurely for it to cool, perhaps, when politically applied in the manner you have done, has not less truth than pleasantry in its resemblance of national characters. But if there shall be no worse consequence resulting from too great eagerness in swallowing something so delightful as liberty, than that of suffering a momentary pain or making a ridiculous figure with a scalled mouth; upon the whole it may be said you Frenchmen have come off well, considering how immoderately you thirsted for the cup of liberty. And no wonder as you drank it to the bottom, that some licentiousness should have been mingled with the dregs.
Rochambeau’s Map of Newport, Rhode Island
Library of Congress (click here to enlarge)
To view your Revolution in another and more serious point of light. It was impossible, in such a Country, and during such a struggle, but that disagreeable things, and even great enormities in some instances must have happened. Too many doubtless have occurred. Not so many, however, have existed as the English News-Papers have attempted to make us believe. For had we credited all the evil stories we have seen in them, we should almost have set it down for granted that the race of Frenchmen were about becoming extinct, and their Country a desert. So many of you, on different occasions, have they killed. Happily for you, we remembered how our own armies, after having been all slain to a man in the English News Papers, came to life again and even performed prodigies of valour against that very Nation whose News-papers had so unmercifully destroyed them. Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Trumbull and some others have taught us to believe more cautiously and more correctly on these points.
Now I will conclude by saying a word about ourselves, as I am certain your friendship is not less interested in our fate, than ours is in that of your Nation. We have a good government in Theory, and are carrying it pretty happily into practice. In a government which depends so much in its first stages on public opinion, much circumspection is still necessary for those who are engaged in its administration. Fortunately the current of public sentiment runs with us, and all things hitherto seem to succeed according to our wishes. In the meantime population increases, land is cleared, commerce extended, manufactories, and Heaven smiles upon us with favorable seasons and abundant crops.
With sentiments of the sincerest esteem & regard, I have the honor to be, My dear Count, Your Most obedient & Most Humble Servant.
G:o Washington
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