1Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I Cannot Let g al Bernard Embark with His Amiable Lady and family for America without a line to You. that Eminent officer Has Been Honour’d with the only Exception to the determination of Government Not to Employ foreigners in the Army of the U.S. I think He deserves the Confered distinction, Not only on Account of His Great talents, and deep knowledge in His Line, But also Because I Never Saw...
2To James Madison from Lafayette, 18 August 1816 (Madison Papers)
Your kind favour, May 10h, is an Additional proof of the friendly Concern in My Behalf for Which I Beg Leave to Repeat My Most Affectionate Thanks. The instruction issued from the General Land office ought, it Seems, to Have procured the Certificate Necessary, But Sufficient, to obtain a patent. That Some thing in the Secondary Measures at New orleans Has Been Wanting Appears to Be pretty Well...
3Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of May 17 h Has Afforded me Every kind of Gratification. I Had not for a Long time Heard from you and was very Anxious for intelligences of your welfare. Certain Leanings of the Liberal opinion on the other Side of the Channel and Atlantic waters Appearing to me Not Quite Correct I Have Been much pleased to find you were Sensible of the dangers we Had to Encounter from Both...
4Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 April 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter Will Be delivered By Mr Geo. Flower Who is Going over With an intention to Settle in America . I know Him to Be one of the Most desirable Acquisitions the U.S. Can Make. His departure from England is Suspended Untill a Line of introduction from me to You Can Reach Him. While it Shows the proper Sense He Has of Your Acquaintance, I find in it a Very pleasing Gratification, as Mr...
5To James Madison from Lafayette, 12 April 1816 (Madison Papers)
I Have taken the liberty Some time Ago to Mention to You the Eager Wishes of a friend of Mine, Charles de perron, Who Being a Stranger to the Business of dynasties, But Rather partial to the National flag, the only one He Has Served Under, Would be Happy to Be admitted to a few Campaigns, as a Volonteer in the Navy of the U.S. I Made Him the Representations Which I Never fail to offer to all...
6Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have not, Since a very Long while, Received An Answer from You. a Letter of Mine will probably Go By the opportunity which Carries these Lines. I shall Therefore only inclose a Copy of the Letter writen to our friend dupont de Nemours By Another friend of ours . it Relates more to you than to Him and if you Can Give Him the informations and Send the Books Herein Requested You will greatly...
7To James Madison from Lafayette, 16 February 1816 (Madison Papers)
I Have Had the pleasure to write to You By Several opportunities and took the Liberty to Recommend Some of the Numerous french Citizens Whom the proscription Laws Under the Name of Amnesty Have obliged or induced to leave this Country. This Letter goes By the frigat Which Carries over the Representative of the King M. Hyde de Neuville Whose Speeches in the Chambre des deputés Have probably...
8To James Madison from Lafayette, 25 January 1816 (Madison Papers)
The Correspondance of Mr Jackson Has over My Letters, in our Quick Sand of politicks, the advantage of Being writen from the Center and On the Spur of the Occasion. The Sad Situation of this Country, the Views of its Legislators, the Sentiments of its Government, and the main object of foreign powers are obvious. On one Side Coblentz and pilnitz on our part the principles of 1789. Such is the...
9Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have Been for a Long While Anxiously Expecting Answers to Several Letters of Mine Which I principaly Atribute to the distance from Monticelo to the Sea port places where opportunities are to Be found— But as the departure of M r Gallatin Cannot fail to Be known to You I Hope He May Be the Bearer of Your dispatches. the Situation of Europe is too Comprehensive, the Events of Last Year Have...
10Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer of these Lines is M r Lakanal Member of the french institut , officer of the University and inspector General of the New Metrical System who abandons those functions and a Handsome treatment to Become a Settler in the State of Kentucky . He Has for Several years been in the Representative Assemblies of france , and is Going to Seeck in the U.S. Liberty, Security, and Happiness. I...
11To James Madison from Lafayette, 11 November 1815 (Madison Papers)
Amidst the services I would be happy to render to the U.S. I set in the first rank an acquisition so precious, that America is the only Country upon earth which I cannot grieve to see benefitted by the loss of France. General Bernard whom the Polytechnic School glories to have possessed, has so eminently distinguished himself in the Corps of Engineers, namely on the fortification of Antwerp,...
12To John Adams from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 12 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your kind Letter by Major Swett Has afforded me the Highest pleasure—it Will Be Answered By a more direct opportunity than the Introductory lines which I beg leave to put into the Hands of Mr Poussin—this Young Scholar of the french Architectural Academy is Recommended to me By an eminent professor, my particular friend—Mr Poussin, Son to a Late distinguished artist, possesses T Himself...
13Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 10 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
A Long while Has Elapsed Since I Had the pleasure to Hear from you—I might Say a Century Was I to Reckon upon the Succession of Revolutions and dynasties—But as Royal and imperial Cycles are to you and me very Secondary objects, I only mean the true time during which I Have Been deprived of your Correspondance In your Letters of Last year, anterior to the first Abdication of Bonaparte , you...
14Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 8 September 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know whether the Bearer of these Lines Has Had the Honour of Your Acquaintance while you were Visiting His family or friends—But I am Sure He Will Meet a kind Welcome at Monticelo and Shall only add the Expression of my Constant and Respectful affection RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 27 Oct. 1817 and so recorded in SJL ; with notation by TJ adjacent to endorsement: “(by...
15To James Madison from Lafayette, 20 August 1815 (Madison Papers)
The Name of Regnauld de St. Jean d’Angely a member of the Constituent assembly, of our late House of Representatives, and in the interval Between those two great Epochas, an Eminent Actor on the administrative Stage of france, is, no doubt, well known to You. His Uncommon talents Had placed him Very high in the imperial affairs and Have probably Contributed to the choice made of him to be...
16To James Madison from Lafayette, 26 March 1815 (Madison Papers)
The glorious termination of the war and the Ratification of the peace are Events which on Every public and personal accounts Have afforded me the Highest Satisfaction. Had Great Britain persisted in the project to Bend Her Whole force against the people of the U.S. abandonned as they Were By all the powers of Europe, I Would not Have doubted the final Success of American Bravery and...
17To James Madison from Lafayette, 11 February 1815 (Madison Papers)
Mr. Masson a Citizen of the U.S. whose Relations in france are particularly known to me, and who Has Rendered Services on the West point Establishment, informs me that He Has the Honor to Apply to You as a Candidate for Consular Employment in Some port of france. His merits in the military line you know better than I Could state them but am inclined to think they give Him a title to the...
18To James Madison from Lafayette, 18 August 1814 (Madison Papers)
I Had flattered myself with the Expectation to See Mr. Tod in our Rural Retirements before He left This Country. But Hearing He is to Set of from paris to morrow I Hasten these lines to You, Refering Myself for European intelligence to the official dispatches and verbal accounts which you are going to Receive. Here is However a letter of mine to our friend Jefferson which being unsealed I...
19Enclosure: Lafayette to an Unidentified Correspondent, 22 May 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
J’ai eu la bonne idée de me prévaloir des droits que me donnent mes Sentiments pour vous, votre amour du bien public, et votre affection pour la gloire de l’Empereur Alexandre ; ce Secret sera d’autant mieux gardé que je connais votre répugnance à vous mêler d’affaires etrangères à votre païs. Voici une note que j’ai demandée à M r Crawford digne Ministre des Etats Unis. Il s’est adressé à M r...
20Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 14 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters to me Nov. 30 and to our Beloved Mde de tessé decemb. 8 h are the Last I Have Received—She Has Not lived to enjoy this token of your Rememberance— m. de tessé who Had Been declining Rapidly was the first of the two for whom we Had to mourn—she assisted Him to the Last Hour—She Regretted Him with the feelings of lively affection and old Habits—Her delicate frame Could not Bear Such...
21Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will Be delivered By M r Jullien a Citizen distinguished By His Litterary and political knowledge as well as By His patriotic Sentiments. He Has Been for a Long time employ’d in the Commissariat and offices of the military department and Has particularly Applied His Studies to the Line of education. Being desirous to visit the U. S. , altho’ He is not on the lists of proscription,...
22To James Madison from Lafayette, 30 August 1813 (Madison Papers)
The Arrival of Mr. Crawford and two Letters from our friend Monroe and david parish Have informed me that You Were in Good Health. I Expect the pleasure of a letter from You along With the patents which You Have Been pleased to Entrust to Mm Gallatin and Bayard. They Will probably find Means to Convey them before the End of the Year. A Communication I Meant to Open through one of the...
23To James Madison from Lafayette, 13 November 1812 (Madison Papers)
While You are Honorably Engaged in patriotic Concerns for which my feelings Have not Ceased, during Six and thirty Years, to be truly American, I don’t Like to intrude on Your time With observations Relative to My private affairs. Yet the Correspondance is Now So Uncertain that I will not miss a Good opportunity to trouble you with a few Selfish Lines. I am much pleased to preface them with...
24To James Madison from Lafayette, 6 October 1812 (Madison Papers)
Our friend M. Barlow has communicated to me the article of your Letter relative to my affairs. So far I am from Wondering at a delay of the decision of Congress on the report of their Commissioners, That I feel much obliged to you to have mentionned it, under the actual pressure of affairs, in your Last dispatch. It is however of Great importance to me that the Business of those two patents be...
25To James Madison from Lafayette, 6 July 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Repeal of the orders in Council Has Been Announced to us. I Rejoice at the Success of Your Spirited Measures, and Am Not Less Happy in the Maintenance of peace. Our friend and worthy Minister will tell you How matters are Going in Europe. My Letters of Yesterday Say that Hostilities are begun on the Niemen . This one Goes with the public dispatches. I shall therefore Confine myself to...
26Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 4 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Here is, my dear friend, the Anniversary of that Great day on which Both the deed and the Expression were worthy of Each other—This double Rememberance in your Quiete Retirements is Happily Refreshed By the Extension of independance to all America —an event which, altho’ we Have Had the pleasure to foresee and the Good fortune to prepare it, we should not, Had it not Been for the Ambition of...
27Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 20 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I Cannot Lament the Sudden departure of the wasp Since I am informed it is owing to Some Better progress from this Quarter—the particulars I do Not know, Having Had no Late Opportunity of a Confidential Communication with Our friend mr Barlow . the Negociation with mr perceval Has taken a shorter turn than was Expected—I Hope His power May Be inherited By one Better disposed in favor of the...
28To James Madison from Lafayette, 22 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Hornet is Going to Sail. By Her You Will Receive dispatches Which Make it Unnecessary for me to add farther informations. I the more Lament the Appearant dispositions of the british Ministry With Respect to the orders in Council as I More fervently Wish the U. S. May not be involved in a War. Our friend Mr. Barlow tells you the present state of His Negociations. I shall therefore Confine...
29Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 22 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I find the dispatches By the Hornet are Just Going and altho’ I mean to write more fully By the Return of the wasp I Hastily Seize the Opportunity to let you know that my family and myself, mde de tessé , who Has Been ill, mr de tessé , m. de mun and m r de tracy are now all well—your Correspondance with washington will inform you of the European news.—Great Continental preparations are moving...
30To James Madison from Lafayette, 13 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
While I Have been obliged By my pecuniary Circumstances to part With four More patents of my Lands Near pointe Coupee it is a Comfort to me to Have put them in the Hands of Sir John Coghill. He Has a proper Sense of the Advantages to be found in a Connection with the United states and a Sincere desire to Contribute to their Wellfare as a good Louisiana proprietor. His Means and His plans...
31To James Madison from Lafayette, 12 April 1812 (Madison Papers)
The Arrival of the Wasp Has Brought to me no letters from You. The Sudden departure of the Hornet which it Had been Necessary to keep Untill an other Conveyance was Secured Leaves me but little time to write. Mr. Barlow Will fully Acquaint You with the General State of politics and the present progress of His Exertions. I shall therefore Content myself With a few lines Respecting my personal...
32To James Madison from Lafayette, 27 December 1811 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
27 December 1811, La Grange. Discusses Franco-American relations and introduces Mr. de Correa. “When I have left town Some days ago symptoms seemed to promise a Better Answer to Mr. Barlow’s note than had been for a long while obtained by An American Minister—I hope he is By this time coralled to send of the frigate, and will not Any Longer Delay these few lines depending upon him to Give you...
33Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The Arrival of the Constitution frigate Has Blessed me with a very welcome Compensation for your Long Silence— I Have first Enjoy’d the kind Letters directed to me, then took a share in those to mde de tessé and to my friends Humboldt and tracy —they Have Given me So much to think and to Say that I feel the insufficiency of Epistolary Correspondance , and more than Ever the Need of personal...
34To James Madison from Lafayette, 21 November 1811 (Madison Papers)
It is a Good fortune for me to Arrive from La Grange in time to improve the Opportunity that is just Going. I ardently Wish the frigate May Soon follow the Flash With Satisfactory Accounts. Hitherto the Emperor Has been on His travels So that Mr. Barlow Could Not be presented before last Sunday. His personal Reception Has been the Most Agreable His friends and the friends to His business Might...
35Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 12 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ my Letters to you Have for a very Long time Remained unanswered, I Cannot let madame de puzy Go to America without these lines from me—Not that she is in Need of a Recommendation to the friend upon whose Sentiments for Herself and Her parents she and Her children are chiefly to depend. she abandons the prospects to which the Distinguished Services of Her Husband , not only in our times,...
36To James Madison from Lafayette, 12 March 1811 (Madison Papers)
I Gratefully thank You for Your Letter Novr the 1st., and for the incessant Attention You are pleased to give, Amidst Your public Avocations, to My private Concerns. It is a Misfortune Attached to the Vicissitudes of My Life that the Munificence of Congress and the Exertions of My friends, intended to Make me Rich again, Must Be Employed to prevent My Being Utterly Ruined. But Here also I find...
37Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I Hope You Have Received my Letter of the 16 h Novem ber Complaining of Your silence—far I am from withdrawing the Complaint—Not one Line of Answer from You, Since You are at Monticelo , Has Reached me—I was Anxious to Hear Every particulars Relative to Your Retirement—the minute detaïls I Had presumed to pour upon You, with Respect to my private Concerns, needed to Be Countenanced By Your...
38To James Madison from Lafayette, 8 February 1811 (Madison Papers)
It is to me a particular Gratification, in Remembrance of old times, and in Justice to a Very Respectable Gentleman, to Recommend the Concerns of M. de Rayneval. He Has Been the first European diplomate Whose Negociations Have Met American independance, and None of them Has Been, in personal Exertions, More zealous and Useful. These Considerations Join With the Very Great Regard due to His...
39Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have not, Since You are Returned to private life, Received one Line from You— no Answer to My Voluminous dispatches By a S t Sebastien Ship, Count palhen , and the John Adams Has Ever Reached me—Several Government Letters Have Since arrived—I Have Several times writen to You—This Silence of Yours, my Excellent friend, is to me a Great disappointment. M r Russel will Relate the State of...
40To James Madison from Lafayette, 15 November 1810 (Madison Papers)
I am Sure You Have Had the Goodness to Answer My Long triplicate the Last of Which Went By the John Adams. Several Subsequent Letters Have Been Sent By me. The last ones I Had from You are dated May the 18h and 19h. It is a Comfort to me to think that You and our friend Mr. Jefferson Have Received Notes Which do in a Measure Account for My pecuniary Situation and alleviate the Blame that one...
41To James Madison from Lafayette, 26 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
I Have Had Lately the pleasure to Write By Gnl. Armstrong, But Cannot let the Homer depart Without Repeating a tender of My Grateful friendship. My Last did inform You that I Had Received Your kind Letters 18h and 19h May, But that No Answer to My Long triplicate By the John Adams Had Come to Hand. I Have Since Got the Nine patents delivered By Mr. parish Himself. The Homer Brought Me a Very...
42To James Madison from Lafayette, 20 September 1810 (Madison Papers)
Your Letters Sent By Mr. david parish are the Last I Have Received. He Has kept the patents to deliver them Himself at the end of this Month. Three Vessels Have Since Arrived With Government dispatches. They Contained Nothing for me So that I am without An Answer to my Long triplicates By the San Sebastian Ship, By Count palhen, and by Captain Fenwick. A Letter from this Last, Very Carefully...
43Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 20 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will Be Carried by G al Armstrong which makes it Superfluous for me to Give political intelligences— You will Have Heard of the Repeal of the milan and Berlin decrees to take place the 1 st November —there Have Since Been Some Communications more Secret, Some of them verbal, from which we may Hope for a Restoration of the Confiscated property, short of the Enormous duties, which...
44To James Madison from Lafayette, 25 August 1810 (Madison Papers)
I Leave it With General Armstrong to inform You of the Happy Repeal of the two Milan and Berlin decrees—a determination Which Gives me Great pleasure and Great Hopes. I don’t See How the British Cabinet Can Avoid imitating the Example. That it Has Been Given By france Greatly Adds to My Satisfaction. While I was Lamenting to find Nothing for me in the Government dispatches Brought By the Flash...
45Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Whatever Be the Situation of my private Concerns, the first Expressions of My Letter, and the first feelings of My Heart will Be Consecrated to the Happy Repeal of the Milan and Berlin decrees— it Behoves G al Armstrong on Every Account to Announce this important turn in His Negociation. But I Rejoice in the Opportunities to Congratulate it with You—it Seems Great Britain Cannot now dispence...
46To James Madison from Lafayette, 24 March 1810 (Madison Papers)
The Letters intended for the John Adams Are Gone an other Way. I Will not However Miss the Opportunity of the frigate. It is probable, after she is Arrived from England, Gnl. Armstrong Will Have to detain Her a few days, and By that time More May be Said on the Situation of American Affairs With Respect to Both Belligerents. My feelings and Wishes You Well Know. What information May Be...
47Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 24 March 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have Had Lately, Notwistanding the Strangeness of the times, Good Opportunities to write to You— Nor do I think this Letter is the only one I Shall Send By the John Adams — But Before I Leave paris , where I Have Been detained By Very disagreable pecuniary troubles, I must Lodge with General Armstrong a third Copy of My long dissertation on my private affairs—a memorial Still Longer Has...
48To James Madison from Lafayette, 20 March 1810 (Madison Papers)
The John Adams By Whom I Have Received Your Kind Letter of the 4h december is Not Yet Returned from England. I Heartily Wish She May Carry Such Arrangements as Will Have Settled the differences With one Belligerent and Must Enable Gnl. Armstrong to Call Upon the declarations Made By the other. There is for me Every Motive to Wish this tardive Recourse to Honest and Sound policy Had first taken...
49To James Madison from Lafayette, 10 March 1810 (Madison Papers)
I Have Received By the John Adams Your kind Letter of the 4h december and Wish it Was in My power to Announce a Happy Change of European Measures. The frigate Has Not Yet Been Sent Back from England. Mr. de Champagny’s Note, promised Several Weeks Ago is still Expected—and Altho’ the Motive for delay, that the Emperor is taken Up With Matrimonial preparations, Appears frivolous, it is...
50Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 10 March 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
The John Adams is Not Yet Returned from England — it is probable m r pinkney waïts for Some Conclusion or Answer to Be Communicated by Her— I wish it May be the Case with G al Armstrong provided He Has Good News to Send—a Communication Had Been Announced to Him by M r de Champagny Which Has Not Yet taken place—