501To 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...
502To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 1 February 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Paris, 1 Feb. 1790. He asks TJ to be of service to M. Minguée, who is leaving for America to “faire un établissement” on the Scioto river, having served with patriotism and zeal in the national Parisian army from the beginning of the Revolution, and from whose great friend, the “Gouverneur de mon fils,” he has just received new testimony in his favor. [P.S.] “I don’t know, My dear friend, When...
503To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 24 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am going to Consult your excellency upon a point in which I not only want your leave and opinion as the Commander in chief, but also your Candid advice as the man whose I have the happiness to be the friend—in an adress from the British Commissaries to Congress, the first one after jonhstone was excluded, they speack in the most di[s]respectfull terms of my Nation, and Country—the whole is...
504To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 21 June 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
I Had Been a Long While Without Hearing from You When Your Welcome Hand Appeared Again in the Letter of Which Mr. dawson Was the Bearer—I Hastened to Paris that I Might Receive Intelligences of our Beloved American Country and Her Worthy president. They Have proved Much to My Satisfaction—the More So as Besides the patriotic Affection Which Binds me to the United States I think the Exemple of...
505To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 4 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I Will for this time write A very short letter to You, and Cannot be More particular either on public or private Business, Untill Some few days Stay in this City have Enabl’d me to Get further informations. I have been Greatly disappointed in my not Meeting Mistress Washington—I have been Very Angry With My Bad fate which led me into an other Road at the only Moment when I Could Miss her—This...
506Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 21 November 1782 (Jay Papers)
Since the Early Period when I Had the Happiness to Be Adopted Among the Sons of America, I ever Made it My Point to do that which I thought would prove Useful to Her Cause or Agreable to Her Citizens— After we Had Long Stood By ourselves, France did join in our Quarrell, and So Soon as Count d’Estaing’s departure Made My presence Unnecessary, I Had a Permission to Return to France where, Among...
507To John Jay from Lafayette, 30 May 1787 (Jay Papers)
Had I Been Sooner Acquainted With Mr Forest’s departure I Would Have Given You More Particular Accounts of the later part of our Session—But Have only the time to inclose the Speeches that Were Made By the Heads of the Several Corps—Not that Such Etiquette Speeches are Any Way interesting on the other Side of the Atlantic, But Because You Will in the Same Book find that of the Archbishop’s de...
508To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your excellency ordered me to give my opinion about these three places for winter quarters 1º the chain from about the Sculchill till betheleem—2º this from reading to lancaster—3º building hutts about and quartering in willmington. I must Confess My being prevented of fixing my Sentiments in a decicise manner by my want of knowledge about very interesting points amongs them as 1º how far we...
509To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [3 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having determined to Go By the Next packet that Sails from L’orient on the 22d inst, I shall Be Happy to Be Honoured With Your Commands— I don’t leave Paris Before the 17th and Will in a few days Wait Upon Your Excellency— Be So kind as to let me know if You Have Heard Any thing from America— The only News I Had are, 1st that the Cincinnati Affair...
510To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 11 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Major Ross Having Called Upon me this Morning, and Having said that in the Mean while You Give His Lordship’s Conditional Disharge it was Your Opinion I should Give that of the Aids de Camp at the Bottom of which you will Express Your Approbation of the Measure, I Request You will please to Have the Piece drawn up in the Way that Appears to You the Most properly...
511To George Washington from Lafayette, 19 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your letter december the 23d Has Safely Come to Hand, and Nothing short of the pottowmack plan Could Have Accounted with me for Your leaving Mount Vernon. I am glad to Hear You are likely to succeed, as it seems to me a Matter of Great Moment—and the part You Have taken in the Business Cannot fail, still more particularly to interest me in its success—I thank you, my dear General, for your...
512To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 23 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
In the Midst of preparations and Sanguine Hopes, intelligence was Brought to our Camp Near Sleepy Hole that the Squadron Some time Mistaken for a French fleet, was Behond any doubt Composed of British Men of War. Their Force and Number was still Uncertain, Nor was it possible to know where they Came from. It was then A general opinion that they Had troops on Board. The Same Night the troops...
513To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, June 1785–May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
This letter, My dear Sir, Will Be delivered By M. de la Tagnerette a Gentleman Well Acquainted with financeering Matters who is one of the farmers of the Postoffice. He has some ideas Regarding our tobaccoes which I Advised Him to Communicate You. Bonjour My dear friend. LAF. RC ( MHi ); without indication of addressee or date. This letter could have been written at any time between 1785 and...
514To James Madison from Lafayette, [31 March] 1803 (Madison Papers)
General Bernadotte is so gloriously introduced by his own reputation, and Character, that I shall only present him to you as my personal friend. He is of all men the one I would better like to see going to America as an ambassador, was he not also the man, whom all true and steady patriots cannot but heartily wish to keep nearer to his own country, where none surpass, and but few can equal the...
515To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 31 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I schould have much more reproached myself the liberty I took of wraïting to your excellency, if I had believed it could engage you in the trouble of answering to that letter—but, now, as you have wrote it, I must tell you that I received this favor with the greatest satisfaction and pleasure—every assurance and proof of your affection fills my heart with joy because that sentiment of yours is...
516Lafayette 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...
517To John Jay from Lafayette , 15 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
The present State of Politics Having Been laid Before Congress, I shall the Less intrude on their time with Repetitions, as the late transactions in Holland Have Nothing pleasing to dwell Upon —That the Republican party Have Been disunited in Many Respects and Blinded in the Choice of a General that Our Cabinet Have Been treacherously deceived are true, But insufficient Apologies—the Ottomans,...
518To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 19 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
Why am I so far from you, and what business had that board of war to hurry me through the ice and Snow without knowing what I schould do, neither what they were doing themselves? you have thought perhaps that theyr project could be attended with some difficulty, that some means had been neglected, that I could not obtain all the succès and the immensity of laurels which they had promised to...
519To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 9 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
You Will be Surpris’d to hear That other Vessels Are Arriv’d from france, And That We have Not Receiv’d By them Any public Nor private dispatches—All the paquets Were on Board The Ariel who Was dismasted in the Storm and put Back into L’orient—Mister de Vauban who was intrusted with these letters thought it Not Adviseable for himself or his pacquets to Come on Board of Merchant Vessels and...
520Lafayette 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,...
521To George Washington from Lafayette, 17 March 1790 (Washington Papers)
It is with the Utmost Concern that I Hear My letters Have Not Come to Hand, and While I lament the Miscarriage, I Hope You do Not impute it to Any fault on My part —In these time of troubles, it Has Become More difficult to Know, or to Reach Opportunities, and How this Will be Carried I leave to the Care of Mr Payne Who Goes to London. Our Revolution is Getting on as Well as it Can With a...
522To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 10 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
After having Stated the few facts that have taken place Betwen this and the last Meeting of General Officers, and After having Given to the Council a Return of the Ennemy’s and our own force on this Continent, Your Excellency Wishes to know what plan in our present Circumstances and in the Suppositions We Can Make I Would think Better to pursue. In Case We have that Naval Superiority which We...
523To James Madison from Lafayette, 16 October 1805 (Madison Papers)
Your Letter of the 6h. June, My dear friend, or Rather a Copy of it from the press Has Come to Hand. I think it is the duplicate of one Which Has Been Lost, and By the Bye I Caution You Against the Ink of Your Copying press, as the Whiteness of it Has Rendered it Very difficult for General Armstrong and for me to Read the Respective dispatches You Have on that day Adressed to Us. Yet I Have...
524To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Schall make use in this particular instance of the liberty you gave me of telling freely every idea of mine which could strike me as not being useless to a better order of things. There were two gentlemen, same rank, same duty to perform, and same neglect of it who have been arrested the same day by me—as I went in the night around the piquets I found them in fault, and I gave an account of...
525To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 6 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society After Having Been two days out of the Road, a S. o. [SW] Wind Obliges us to Come Back Again, and I fear it Will Give time for Lord Howe to Embarass our Passage— No Letter from You Has Yet Come to Hand, Which I am Very sorry for, as I Impatiently Waït for Information Upon our Monney Affairs— I Have not Yet Received Your Answer to My Consulting Letter— But I...
526To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 21 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
My Last Letter to Your Excellency Having Acquainted You of Our Preparations to Return to the Southward, and Having Also Mentionned the Reasons which in the present danger Urge me to Hasten By forced Marches to the Support of Virginia, I will only Add that We Came in two days from our Encampement Near Baltimore to this place and intend Setting out to Morrow for frederik Burg. Our Baggage,...
527To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 17 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
From a Conversation with the Quarter Master of this State, I find that there will Be A Great deficiency of Horses, and that None of those which Have Been Procured Can Serve for the purposes of our Artillery. Under these Circumstances, and in the full Conviction that a transportation of Heavy Artillery and Stores Was Necessary to the Expedition, I thought that Oxen Might in Some Cases Render...
528Lafayette 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—
529To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 8 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The detachment under My orders is to embark this Morning, and if the Bay is Clear of Privateers will proceed as far as Annapolis where I expect to Hear from our Allies. My former letters Having exposed our Wants to Your Excellency, I Shall Content Myself with adding that a Number of large vessels, and a quantity of provisions will be very necessary for transporting and Subsisting the troops in...
530To James Madison from Lafayette, 28 August 1826 (Madison Papers)
Our Beloved Jefferson is No More, My dear friend, and While I Mingle My Sorrows With Yours, I Never More Sadly felt What Has Been to me a Constant object of Regret, the painful distance there is Betwen our Respective places of Abode. To You and me Who Have Been the Most intimate as Well as the oldest friends of the Great and Good Man, it particularly Belongs to Appreciate His personal as well...
531To George Washington from Lafayette, 21 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
I Have Received Your Affectionate letter Of the 8th inst., and from the known Sentiments of My Heart to You, You will Easely guess what My feelings Have Been in perusing the tender Expressions of Your friendship—No, my Beloved General, our late parting was Not By Any Means a last interview—My whole Soul Revolts at the idea—and Could I Harbour it an instant, indeed, my dear General, it would...
532To 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,...
533To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [21 September? 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am Very sorry, My Dear sir, I Have not the Pleasure to Wait Upon You this Evening— But Mr. jay Called at Half Past Eight and told me He Had Considered of the Affair Now in Question, And Before Any thing Was Determined He Wants to Have A long Conversation With You— He Will be at Passy to Morrow Morning— for My Part I see You Will not of Course Give me Any...
534To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 8 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
here is a letter from Mercereau Which Says very little, and the little which is Said in it I don’t take to be true—But thought I had better Send his scrole to head Quarters—I have sent him Word that there Was No Monney for Such intelligences as these. Captain Ogden told me that one of our jersay Spies had lately writen to you—I have directed him to go to head quarters and Report of Something...
535To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 29 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In Consequence of the Assent that Your excellency was pleas’d to honor My Request with, I’ll Beg your obliging help positively to fix My ideas on some Affairs Relating to our Army, in which I had the happiness of Acting as one of Your Agents at the Court of Versailles. From Both Ministers of the War and of foreign Affairs I Got the Most positive Assurance...
536To James Madison from Lafayette, 1 December 1802 (Madison Papers)
Had I Not a proper Reliance on the Steadiness of Your Sentiments I Might fear You Have forgotten the old friend Who Has Not for Many, Many Years Received one Line from You. But I Conclude from the feelings of My Own Heart that Your Reciprocal Affection to Me Has not diminished, and that through the Vicissitudes of a Life as Stormy as it is Now Quiete, I Have Been Accompagnied With Your...
537Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
The Opportunity of an American frigate would at all times Have Been precious—it is still more So untill the Absurd Crime of water and Land piracies on the Neutrals is Renounced By Both Belligerents— I am in Hopes of a favorable Change. But as it must Be pretty well Ascertained Before the John Adams Sails I Refer You to What G al Armstrong will on the Last day Communicate. Amidst the Joint...
538To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [before 3 June 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
I Most Heartily thank You, My dear friend, for Your Excellent ideas. What will Become of the States Generals God knows. Our House Has this Morning protested Against the Appellation of Commons , and the Commons Have said there Must Be No intermediaire Between them and the King. It is true they Meant the Ministers But we took it for us. In the Mean While the King and Queen are on the...
539To George Washington from Lafayette, 23 August 1790 (Washington Papers)
What Would Have Been My feelings, Had the News of Your illness Reached me Before I knew My Beloved General, My Adoptive father was out of danger! I was Struck with Horror at the idea of the Situation You Have Been in, while I, Uninformed, and to distant from You, Was Anticipating the long waited for pleasure to Hear from You, and the Still More Endearing prospect to Visit You, and present You...
540To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 8 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress However Certain it Appears that Peace is Near at Hand, I Have thought that Personal Considerations ought to Give Way to Motives of Public Utility— I am therefore sailing With the fleet, and Untill Peace is Ascertained, Will Continue in Promoting the Views Which You Have Decided to Be the Most Advantageous to America— in this Affair, it is Useless to observe that My...
541To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 17 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
The situation we are in renders it extremely difficult to have a Settled notion of what is the best to be done, as the motions of the ennemy depend no so much of theyr circumstances in this country as of foreign events, Negotiations, or Ministerial orders which are in this time entirely unknown to us—however the prevailing idea is that they will go to new york through the jersays—how far that...
542To James Madison from Lafayette, 22 April 1805 (Madison Papers)
The Arrival of General Armstrong is the Last Opportunity I Had to Hear from You—I Was More fortunate as to public intelligences—The Reelection of our dear Respected president, and of Course the Continuation in Office of His Collaborators, With the Speech Worthy of Him He Has pronounced Have Speedily Enough Been Received in paris Where I Came to Confer with Gnl. Armstrong and Mr Livingston—of...
543To George Washington from Lafayette, 14 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Before I leave the borders of france, I wish once more to Remind you of your absent friend, and to let You Hear that I am well and just Begining my German travels—I Have Been lately Visiting Some french towns where I Spoke grat deal about American trade, and fully Answered the views I Had the Honour to Communicate in a former letter —Now I am on my way to the deux ponts where Resides our...
544To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 27 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
here I am, My dear General, and in the Mist of the joy I feel in finding Myself again one of your loving Soldiers I take But the time of telling you that I Came from france on Board of a fregatt Which the king Gave me for my passage —I have affairs of the utmost importance that I should at first Communicate to You alone—in Case my Letter finds you Any where this side of philadelphia, I Beg You...
545To John Jay from Lafayette, 28 March 1782 (Jay Papers)
I take the Opportunity of a Spanish Courier’s going to Madrid to let You know that S t . Kitts Has Been taken by the french— The Intelligence Has Been Received Yesterday, and it is the More pleasing as British Accounts Had Rendered us Very Uneasy Upon the fate of the Expedition. Your letter of the 1 st Having Come to Hand I Made What Communications I thought to Be Serviceable but will Be More...
546To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I can never miss an opportunity of rembembering to your excellency the mighty Commander in chief of the irruption into Canada , and I seize with the greatest pleasure the first occasion of telling you how happy I have been to see in your last favor a new assurance of those sentiments of yours so dear to my heart —as soon as I have got intelligence by G[ener]al Schuyller that you were desirous...
547To George Washington from Lafayette, 10 August 1784 (Washington Papers)
I Have Already Had the pleasure to Acquaint You with My Arrival in America, and am Endeavouring to Reach Mount Vernon as soon as possible—My first plan was only to Stay here two days, but the Affectionate Reception I Have met with in this City, and the Returning some Compliments to the Assembly Render it Necessary for me to Stay one day longer—on friday I will Be at the Head of elk—the next...
548To George Washington from Lafayette, 7 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
The last letter I Had from You is dated November the 19th, and Announces the Safe Arrival of the Asses who I Hope Will Be less frigid than those of His Catholick Majesty—Whatever Be their intrinsic Value, I Have found it Encreased in a Maryland Paper to a degree Which does Not indeed do justice to the Maltheze Merchants—and as the Estimate of the three Animals is truly Extravagant, I must tell...
549To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 2 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
to My Great disappointment M. p——is Return’d this Morning and Brings no details with him—I Wanted him to go again, But You alone Can induce him to do it—from what he Says, the Ennemy are going to undertake A Great Movement—he will himself wait on You and tell you what had been Said to him about Rhode island, and what about improving the Opportunity of theyr fleet’s going to London—tho I do not...
550To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 25 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
The present questions are the most difficult to resolve upon that have been proposed since I have been in this army—there must be as much civil policy as Generalship in the operations of the next campaign—on the other hand our forces, stores, magazines, ressources of every kind (I mean those which we schall get in the camp) are far from being ascertained—we do’nt know how many men we may...