The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 29, no. 7 (March, 1971)

He [Noailles] had long hated study, and thought only of pleasure, play, and women.
But recently he had been seized with military ardor, and dreamed but of arms,
horses, school of theory, exercises, and German discipline.... [The avid Noailles
came to Segur with a remarkable request:] "I want to know positively what effect
strokes with the flat of the sword may have on a strong, courageous, well-balanced
man, and how far his obstinacy could bear this punishment without weakening. So
I beg you to lay on until I say 'Enough.' "... [When Segur had finished belaboring
Noailles, Noailles insisted that he in turn belabor Segur.] Overcome by his prayers,
I let him take the fatal weapon; but after he had given me the first stroke, far from
imitating his obstinate endurance, I quickly called out that it was enough, and that
I considered myself sufficiently enlightened on this grave question.
Segur recalled that he, Lafayette, and Noailles, "united by friendship, . . . full
agreement of feeling, . . . and the bonds of blood," were the first three noble
Frenchmen to offer "the aid of their swords to the Americans," possibly following
a tantalizing description of the growing American insurrection given them by
George Ill's brother, the Duke of Gloucester, at a dinner in 1775. In November
1776, the Baron de Kalb, who had reconnoitered the American situation for the
French government in the late 1760s, introduced the threesome to the American
agent in Paris, Silas Deane, who, suitably impressed with their desire to serve the
American cause, promised to accept their offer. According to Segur their "ardor
was too lively to remain long discreet," and they asked Noailles's and Lafayette's
father-in-law, the Duc d'Ayen, to arrange the necessary commissions with the
government. At some point, presumably then, Noailles sent an amusingly presumptuous
letter to the prime minister, the Comte de Maurepas: "I don't know
if you approve the project of a young man impatient to distinguish himself. The
help you send to the insurgents appears to open a military and political career
which few could lay claim to ... the American war consists more of defending
posts than in following a set and steady plan. Perfect knowledge of the country
and language seem to me preferable to the abilities met with in our generals.
The time I have spent in England and the interest I have taken in these affairs has
put me forward more than had I remained in France." The duke arranged, instead,
for a kindly refusal from the prime minister, saying he "knew nothing
about the entry of French officers into the service of the English colonies; such
a move would be a hostile act definitely contrary to the king's wishes; the king
was nevertheless pleased with the proof the Vicomte de Noailles gave of his zeal,
but he must not think any further of going to America." Both Noailles's and
Segur's incomes were controlled by their families, and unlike the independent
Lafayette they could not forge ahead with the enthusiastic plan to join the Americans.
Indeed, a correspondent wrote to de Kalb that "M. de Noailles, having
suddenly abandoned his plan, probably will try to dissuade the marquis [de
Lafayette] from his enterprise. .. ." On December 7, 1777, Lafayette, after considerable
badgering of Silas Deane, received a commission as major general of
"Infantry and light troops destined to serve in the Armies of the United States of
America," and shortly thereafter he sailed to America.
Two years later the mercurial Vicomte, at the age of twenty-three, following
renewed requests to Maurepas, at last was attached as colonel of cavalry to the
French naval and military expedition of the Comte d'Estaing against the British
forces in the West Indies (Grenada and St. Vincent) and the Carolinas. After the
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