1To George Washington from Count d’Estaing, 8 June 1789 (Washington Papers)
Le Pere de la Patrie l’est aussi de tous ceux qui ont fait des éfforts pour lui être utile. Votre Excellence la prouvé aux Marins françois en obtenant de la société de Cincinnatus qu’ils Seroient traittés comme les Officiers de L’armée de terre. il m’a fallu resister au désir de ceux des deux Services qui ont été particuliérement mes Camarades. J’ai Voullu n’adresser qu’une listte pour chaque...
2To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter which Your Excellency did me the honor to write the 16th of this month—and I hope that you will have been so good as to read with your usual indulgence my imprudent dispatch of yesterday on the subject of the Marquis de la fayettes Cartel—it was not only my tender friendship for him which dictated it—I regard him not only as my friend, but as a General Officer who...
3To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 13 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The desire of communicating speedily with Your Excellency determines me to make a debarkation upon the Coast of Jersey in a village which according to the Map is to the Northward of the River Shrewsbury. If our common enemy are in possession and can be driven from it, I shall fulfil the object of my descent—An instant of liberty will suffice for a good patriot to dare to show himself—Every...
4To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 2 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I entreat Your Excellency to accept my sincere thanks—for your kindness to Mr de Choin—I share in the gratitude with which he is penetrated—his personal qualities and his connexions in france, had inspired me with friendship and consideration for him. these sentiments derive additional strength from the profound veneration with which he takes a pleasure in depicting to us, that amiable...
5To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 8 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I receive the Letter which Your Excellency did me the honor to write the 3d of this month—and the New York paper which you deigned to annex to it—as I presume that Lieut. Col. Fleury is not gone, I endeavour to avail myself of this opportunity to add new thanks to those which I entreated you to accept the homage of this morning. The Division of Six Ships under Rear Admiral Parker appears to me...
6To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of thanking your Excellency for your goodness in sending me the 13th of October the letter of Admiral Keppel to the English Admiralty published by authority—To have an obligation of gratitude to those, whom we take pleasure in loving and respecting is an additional felicity. The reflexion you make upon the modesty of the English and the exaggerations, they always allow...
7To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 17 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was rewarded for the confidence which I owed your Excellency, and which you inspired, by the Answer which you were so kind as to make me the 11th inst. The approbation of a great man, of one who unites the Suffrages of all, who merits them, is the most flattering of personal rewards, and can alone in part console for that fatality of events, which snatched the fleet from the happiness of...
8To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received at the same time the two letters that Your Excellency did me the honor to write me the 21 & the 22. My thanks are often delayed by the little obstacles that occur in the navigation of boats. The Expressions of what I owe you cannot be as extensive as my gratitude. ’Tis with the greatest sensibility, I experience every instant how useful and easy it is to act in concert with a great...
9To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 5 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of transmitting to Your Excellency a copy of the account which I have rendered Congress, in my letter to His Excellency Mr henry Laurens. Men who like you found and support empires, have the same privileges as those who govern them—the admiration and confidence which you inspire—ensures them to you—and it is a homage which my heart pays you with eagerness—I annex to this...
10To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 6 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received with all the pleasure which Your Excellencys letters give me, and all the utility that accompanies them, your favor of the 2d inst. The Wisdom and Depth of your Reasonings upon the ulterior views of the enemy—leave nothing to add—you particularise in a luminous manner whatever he can project, execute or fear—It will not be by the preparatives of his measures, and by what can be...
11To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 17 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The bar of the river Shrewsbury, the officer sailors and boats, that I have lost in the waves, have not hindered Colonel Laurens from bravg them twice to come and deliver me himself the letter, that you did me the honor to write me the 14th of this month. The desire of communicating with you alone could have induced me to hazard a descent myself the first, and with four grenadiers as my only...
12To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The reputation of Mr du portail made me desire to have the honor of his acquaintance—Your Excellencys recommendation, his talents and his Rank ensured him my esteem and confidence—I have endeavoured to give him marks of them—his devotion to the Service of the United States—the Sentiments which he owes you and with which he is penetrated ensure him my friendship. I made him examine the points...
13To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 23 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received almost at the same time, the two letters that Your Excellency had the goodness to write me the 18th and 20th of this month. The important advices they contain were confirmed to me at the same moment by Mr De Boubie an officer of marine, who has just completed the exchange of our prisoners. I have the honor to send you a copy of what he tells me concerning an embarkation....
14To George Washington from d’Estaing, 8 January 1784 (Washington Papers)
The Count De Estaing has the Honor to submit to His Excellency Gl Washington the four Memorials which have been sent to him since the last Letters He had the honor to address to him on the 25th of December 1783. Mr De Choin Colonel of Dragoons Count De Kergariou Locmaria Captain of the Navy Count Edwd Dillon, Colonel Count Castellane Majestres, Captn of the Navy, are [not] the only Gentlemen...
15To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Letter which Your Excellency did me the honor to write the 5th of this month—was sent down to me last night at 8 OClock by the care of Major General Heath—I recognised in the intelligence which you were so kind as to give me and the speed with which it came, the interest which you take in all that regards the Kings Squadron—and I confess to you, that however persuaded I am that the great...
16To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 3 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
It is difficult to console ones self for the obstacles as numerous as insurmountable which stopped me at Sandy-Hook. The importance of New York, the happiness of fighting the English fleet and the extreme satisfaction of acting directly with you made me desire with the greatest ardor the possibility of entring. I offered, to too little purpose, in an Assembly of your experienced pilots a...
17To George Washington from d’Estaing, 26 February 1784 (Washington Papers)
It is in the name of all the French Sailors that I take the Liberty to request Your Excellency to accept of an American Eagle, expressed rather than embellished by a French Artist. Liberty (of which it is the happy and august Symbol) has risen of itself, supported by Wisdom, talents, and disinterestedness, by every virtue—by Genl Washington; obstacles have only Served to increase its strength....
18To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 25 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter which Your Excellency did me the honor to write the 19th inst. I entreat you to accept all the thanks which I owe you, for the intelligence you have been so kind as to communicate. it perfectly accords with the little which I have received, both in point of the sickness of Byrons Crews, and the precipitation with which immense means of embarkation are preparing at...
19To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 8 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor of imparting to Your Excelly the arrival of the King’s fleet; charged by his Majesty with the glorious task of giving his allies the United States of America the most striking proofs of his affection. Nothing will be wanting to my happiness if I can succeed in it; it is augmented by the consideration of concerting my operations with a General such as Your Excellency. The...
20To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 8 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Letter which Colo. Laurens was pleased to take charge of for Your Excellency contains the expression of my acknowledgements for the Letter which M. De Choin announced to me, and which was delivered to me the evening of the same day. I hastened to give an anticipated answer to it, for we are generally eager to speak, what we sensibly feel—The Extract of Major Howels Journal, by coming to me...
21To George Washington from d’Estaing, 30 May 1791 (Washington Papers)
The devottees love to importune heaven—and every good Citizen seizes, with a delight mingled with the most respectful veneration, every opportunity of recalling himself to your memory. For this purpose no time can be more favorable, I will not say for myself; but for the whole nation, than the moment when a Minister of France, such as M. de Ternant goes to reside with you. The President of the...
22To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Those who have the happiness to be under Your Excellencys orders find in you a father; The Marquis de la fayette has a superior title to your Excellencys affection—he respects admires and loves you—I had the honor of asking you whether you permitted him to send his Cartel to Lord Carlisle to satisfy myself whether you were informed of it—you were so kind as to acquaint me that you had not seen...
23To George Washington from Vice Admiral d’Estaing, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the letter which Your Excellency did me the honor to write, the 20th September with the confirmation of what was contained in the Letter with which you honored me on the 19th. the details by which I took the liberty of submitting my ideas to your judgement appeared to me, to include all that was to be said upon the different subjects. The Arrival of new Troops at Halifax seems...
24To George Washington from Charles-Hector Theodat, comte d’ Estaing, 25 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
I must beg leave to gratify a desire, I cannot resist of paying your Exellency in a private letter the most unfeigned homage of my unalterable attachement for you. I shall take particular delight in carrying the marks of an association which you are President-General of. it belonged to a Chief of your merit, who gives to the World in his Person the example of every thing that is great, to...
25To George Washington from d’Estaing, 20 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
Permit one of the least, but one of the most zealous assistants in the great work which you began, conducted, and have completed, to join a private letter to his official answer —and to commune freely with you. The small token which I take the liberty to send you begging your acceptance of (the Bust of M. Necker, and the engravings which accompany it) will better express the public opinion and...