To James Madison from Lafayette, 20 August 1815
From Lafayette
Paris August 20th 1815
My dear Sir
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.1 His Uncommon talents Had placed him Very high in the imperial affairs and Have probably Contributed to the choice made of him to be placed on a Roial list of proscription. The Cloudy Appearance of this Business Encourages his disposition to pay a Visit to the U.S. I Ever, notwithstanding the terms I was upon with napoleon, Have found Him very friendly to me. This generous disposition in my own and Several other Cases Has been very Remarkable—for I am to find myself in a Way to Serve Him at Court where my name is By no means a recommendation. But I feel a particular pleasure in presenting Him to you, and beg leave to request your kind attention and benevolent dispositions in his behalf. He Has known much of the European and particularly of the french transaction during a Long Space of time. I am persuaded his abilities will again bring him to a Conspicuous part in the affairs of this Country. Be pleased, my dear Sir, to receive with your usual kindness the Expression of my affectionate Respects
Lafayette
RC (DLC). Docketed “Sepr. 1815” by JM, probably at a later date and with reference to Regnaud de Saint-Jean-d’Angely’s 13 “9bre.” [Nov.] 1815 letter to him (DLC).
1. Michel-Louis-Etienne Regnaud de Saint-Jean-d’Angely (1762–1819) studied law in Paris and represented the naval administration in Rochefort. As a moderate member of the States General, he worked for reform and to conciliate the monarchy, but also contributed to the Journal de Paris and the Ami des patriotes. He went into hiding in 1792, was arrested, escaped, and reemerged after Robespierre’s execution. A loyal supporter of Napoleon, Regnaud de Saint-Jean-d’Angely served in numerous official positions under him, receiving many honors. As a member of the chamber of representatives in 1815, he persuaded the emperor to abdicate and was thereafter forced into exile; he left for the United States on 28 Aug. 1815. Upon returning to Europe one year later, he settled in Liège, Belgium, and did not go back to Paris until 10 Mar. 1819, one day before his death (Tulard, Dictionnaire Napoléon, 1449).