101To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to write you lately giving an account of every thing that came within my knowledge, I was evry hour expecting I might be more particular but if you new how slow things go on in this Country, that still I have done the best in my power, I have written and received twenty letters a day from Government and every department whatever. the Governor does what He can the Wheels of His...
102To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 19 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Good Letter inclosed in the Official dispatches by the St. Michael Has Afforded me Great Comfort. No Balm Can Be Applied to a Suffering Heart More Soothing than the Sympathising Affection and Regrets of Such a friend as You—While I Have So often with Her Lamented the Loss of Your Happiness I did not foresee that Before Long I should Be Entitled to a Reciprocity of Your Condoling Pity—and...
103To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter Has found me at Richmond where I Came in obedience to a kind invitation from the assembly of Virginia, and I now am on my way to meet another kind Call from the assembly of pennsylvania at Harrisburg, so that I cannot Be Returned to Washington Before the 5 th or 6 th February, and on the 24 th I Contemplate to set out for the Carolinas, georgia, alabama, new orleans, and the...
104To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Independant of the Answer to Your letter of the 15th, I Have Been Very Particular in a Second letter Instrusted to Clel Moriss. But at this Moment Wish to Send you Minuted and Repeated Accounts of Every thing that Passes in this Quarter. The Ennemy Have Evacuated their forts at Ivy, Kemp’s Landing, Great Bridge and Portsmouth. Their Vessels with troops and Baggage went Round to York. Some...
105To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I request you will receive My Affectionate Aknowledgement for your kind letters. Every mark of friendship I receive from you Adds to my Happiness as I love you with all the sincerity and Warmth of My Heart, and the sentiment I feel for you goes to the very extent of my affections. Inclosed I send you, my dear General, two Copies of letters to General Greene which I also have sent to Congress...
106To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 1st Inst. did Not Come to Hand Untill Last Evening, and I Hasten to Answer to His Contents, tho’ I will in a few Hours Be Better able to inform you of My Movements. From what I Hear of the difficulties to Convoy us down the Bay, I very much Aprehend the Winds will not permit any frigate to Come up. Comte de Rochambeau thinks His troops Equal to the Business, and wishes that...
107To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 5 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
Were You But Such a Man as julius Cæsar or the king of Prussia, I should Almost Be sorry for You at the End of the Great tragedy Where You are Acting Such a Part—But With My dear General I Rejoice at the Blessings of a Peace Where our Noble Ends Have Been Secured—Remember our Valley forge times, and from a Recollection of Past dangers and labours, We still will Be More pleased at our Present...
108To James Madison from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 September 1807 (Madison Papers)
The Last Vessels have brought me nothing from you, Unless some miscarriage has taken place which I would not Wonder at, But I have received two Letters from our respected President, and as I have by this Opportunity aknowledged them, I will not repeat what he will, no doubt Communicate. The State of Public affairs You will find fully explained in your official Dispatches, Nor do I Know at this...
109To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 12 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Owing to a very Heavy Rain and a Most Stormy Night I was yesterday obliged to Counter Mand the orders I Had Given to the troops, and Upon the Representation that the Roads to the Susquehana would be Impassable, I differed our departure to this Morning—We shall encamp on a Ground Near the Ferry and Be as Expeditious as possible in Crossing the River—In Consequence of Your Excellency’s...
110To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Every one of My Letters Was writen Upon So Lamentabl a tone that I Am Happy to Give you a Pleasanter Prospect the Anxiety I feel to Relieve Your Mind from a Small part of those Many Sollicitudes And Cares which our Circumstances Conspir to Gather upon you, is the Reason of My Sending this Letter By the Chain and With a Particular Recommendation. When I left Susquehana Ferry it was the General...
111To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I Thank My Stars there is a good Opportunity to let You know that After an Happy Voyage of 23 days I am Safely Arrived in L’orient, and that, My Family and friends are In a Very Good Health, Which Circumstance, My Dear General, I am sure will Afford You some Satisfaction. We Are Arrived Last Night, and are Setting out this Morning in Great Speed For Versailles and Paris, so that I Have But the...
112To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Clel Gouvion By whom I Have Received Letters and Intelligences from Philadelphia is just Going to Head Quarters—This Opportunity Being Safer than Common Expresses I Beg Leave to Adress a few Lines to Your Excellency. The Board of War Cannot Supply our Wants—Indeed they Nor Congress did not think we would Be ordered to the Southward and of Course Have not Been So Much in Earnest for giving us...
113To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho I Have Not Since My Return to france Received any direct letter from Monticello, I Have the Gratification to Conclude from Several Reports, namely from An Account of Your Visit to the University that Your Health is Much improved from what I Have left it. it is a pleasing thought to me that when these lines Will Reach You there Will be a short time to Wait before Your dear Helen Has...
114To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
My former Letters Have Acquainted You that, However talkative were Politicians About Peace, an Expedition Was Going to take place the Command of Which is Given to Count d’Estaing—I Have Also Added that Upon Being Requested to Go, I Have Willingly Accepted of it, as I thought it the Means, the only Means in the World to Bring About What You Have directed me to obtain Clel Gouvion Must Be With...
115To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
However scarce are American letters, yet as the eyes of the world Are fixed upon you, I Now and then Hear what Becomes of My dear General—Your Visit to Congress, Your Stay with the Army Untill the Treaty Arrives, Your Having Been Voted a Statue, are Events Which Are known to Every one, and felt By me, So that What To Europe is an information, To me proves to Be a Cause for the Most tender...
116To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Public and Private letters of the 30h july Have Safely Come to Hand for which I Return you My warmest thanks. Be Sure, My dear General, that the Pleasure of Being with You will Make me Happy in Any Command You will think proper to Give—But for the present Am with You of opinion I Had Better Remain in Virginia—the More So as Lord Cornwallis does not chuse to live us, and...
117To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
My official letter a Copy of which I Send to Congress will let you know the Situation of Affairs in this Quarter—I ardently wish My Conduct May Meet with Your Approbation—Had I followed the first Impulsion of My temper, I would Have Risked Some thing More—But I Have Been Guarding Against My Own Warmth, and this Consideration that a General defeat which with Such a proportion of Militia Must Be...
118To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
As I Hope My letters of the 23d and 25th Have Been Safely transmitted and this will Be Accompagnied By a letter of the Same date forwarded through the Hands of the President of Congress, I Shall only Add such parts of My Information as I Mean to Be Confidential. From My Late Intelligences I am led to Suppose that our Allies Are Gone to Cape Fear—the first Engagement was in their favor and I am...
119To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 14 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since the time of Cle Gimat’s Arrival not a Line from You Has Come to My Hands, Which Misfortune I Have Much Lamented, and I do assure You, My dear General, that when I Have not the Happiness to Be With You, it is Necessary for me to Receive Some of Your Letters. This Will be delivered By Gnl du Portail and Cel Gouvion Who are Returning to America—I Wish I Could do the Same, But You Must By...
120To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 28 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Necessity of an Active Correspondance with the U.S. Has never been Better Evinced than on the Arrival of a West India Rumour which would Have dreadfully Alarmed us, Had we not Been in the Blessed Possession of Your Own Letters. I Hope You will never leave Your friends in Europe Without Regular Intelligence of Your personal Welfare. the Want of it I feel, the More, My dear Jefferson, as It...
121To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Having Landed Some days Ago at L’orient, I Had the Pleasure to inform you of My Safe Arrivall, and Hope the Letter will Have a prosperous passage—You Easely imagine, My dear General, that no time was Lost in posting off to Paris, where I found My family and friends in perfect Health—My daughter and Your George are Grown up so Much that I find Myself great deal older than I Aprehended—the Short...
122To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 15th Has safely come to Hand—I am going to give you an Account of matters in this Quarter. The greatest part of the Ennemy are at York which they do not as yet fortify But are Very Busy upon Gloster Neck where they have a pretty large corps Under Clel Dundass—they Have at York a 44 guns ship—frigats and Vessels are scattered lower down—There is still a small garrison at...
123To George Washington from the marquis de Lafayette, 5 September 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the marquis de Lafayette, 5 Sept. 1788. On 29 Jan. 1789 GW wrote Lafayette acknowledging “your letter, dated the 5th of September last.”
124To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, [30 October 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Light Camp, New Jersey, October 30, 1780. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by C. F. Libbie and Company, Boston, December 12, 1895, Item 312.
125To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis and Marquise de Lafayette and Jean-Baptiste de Gouvion, 27 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr et Mde. La Marquise De lafayette et Mr. De Gouvion profiteront avec grand plaisir de l’Invitation de Monsieur Franklin et auront l’honneur de Diner chez lui Dimanche. The earliest possible year, though the note could also have been written in 1785. Lafayette’s former aide Gouvion ( XXIII , 160–1n) was in America on March 27 from 1777 through 1781 ( XXXVI ,...
126To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 28 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Le Mis. De la fayette fait Ses compliments à Monsieur franklin et le prie de lui faire lhonneur de Venir diner chez luy jeudy prochain en Sa maison Rue de Bourbon. May 1. The other American peace commissioners went as well: Butterfield, John Adams Diary , III , 117. Having reached the age of majority (25 years), Lafayette was able to purchase a house on the...
127To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 21 October [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
These are, my dear Hamilton, two letters By which I communicate to the french general the happy intelligence Concerning the taking of the Convoy, and inclose to them the paper that Relates the affair as well as the success of the expedition on the Spanish Main. I give you joy, my dear friend, on this success of the Combin’d fleet, and Might also Rejoice with you on some thing else By way of...
128The Marquis de Lafayette’s Note Containing Vergennes’ Proposal, [11 September? 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress Vergennes had advised the American commissioners against delaying negotiations over the issue of Oswald’s commission. As he wrote to La Luzerne, in politics one should yield on form when satisfied with the substance. Franklin agreed. When Jay continued to object, Vergennes and Lafayette proposed to him a solution that might expedite matters: having Oswald write...
129To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 30 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am Much Better pleased with Your Second Volume than with the times—And the politics of this Book Agree Better with me than those of the World— indeed, My dear Sir, You Have Made an Excellent work— I Confess I am the less unprejudiced as I love the Author, and His principles are Conformant to Mine— But independant of that, I am your Book’s warm Admirer and Constant Reader—its Usefulness will...
130To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 25 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
I Will not Enter on a detaïl of European Affairs, Still less So of our trouble in france, as M. Barret will tell You What Has Happened Since You Embarked— Governement Have Made a Great Effort— I think it will Be like Turnus’s Big Stone in the Æneïd— for the present the Parliaments are Put to the Rout, But Rallying Again under Cover of public Opinion, which you know Has a Great force in this...
131Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 2 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I Have not Been Honoured with an Answer to My last letter, I will not lose time in Acquainting You that My departure from l’orient is fixed on the 22 d in sant — Any letter from You that Reaches Paris Before the 17 th will Be Carefully forwarded By me, and in Case You Had Any to send Clear of post offices, their Being put into My Hands will insure their Being Safely delivered to the...
132To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 28 August [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I wish, my dear Hamilton, you will please to invite your father in law to come and dine tomorrow with me. Mr Duane has engag’d he would do me that honor. I Beg you will also come. Be so kind as to write to me if any intelligence is come to hand, and when the General has determin’d to leave this place. Don’t forget what I told yesterday to you. I request, my dear Sir, you will Beg the General...
133To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 6 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Printed invitation with MS insertions: American Philosophical Society The Marquis de la Fayette has the Honor to present his Compliments to Mr. Franklin and begs the Favor of His Company at Dinner on Monday next An Answer is desired June 9. BF was a frequent guest at the Monday dinners held at Lafayette’s magnificent new home: XXXIX , 520–1n; Louis Gottschalk, Lafayette between the American...
134To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 20 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are Again Going to Sail, But no News about our cloathing— What is Become of it, I Cannot Guess, and am extremely sorry that they are not Arriv’d— I hope the Whole will be soon Sent to America, and this intelligence will I dare Say Be very Agreable to the Army. In Wishing You A Good health, and the accomplishment of any thing You May desire, in Wishing...
135To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 22 November 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed, my dear hamilton, I send you a letter for M de Marbois wherein are contain’d two exemplaires of my dispatches to doctor franklin. In the hurry of our Arrangement I forgot to mention them to the General. Be pleased to give him a Summary of theyr contents to which I have added the Southern News of Yesterday; tell him that knowing from experience how Negligent we were in sending...
136To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [7 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : S. Howard Goldman, Weston, Connecticut (1989) Inclos’d I have the honor to send a letter which I beg leave to Reccommend to your excellency that (if possible) Mr Blodget Might obtain the leave of Coming to Paris— I am just Going to Versailles, and if you have any Commands for me they shall ever be well Come. With the highest Regard and sincerest affection I have the honor to be Dear Sir...
137To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 26 October [1787] (Hamilton Papers)
As I am writing By a Gentleman Who goes through England and Carries my letter Himself, I shall Content Myself with inclosing the Copy of Some favourable Arrangemens of Commerce —and Reminding You of Your loving, grateful, and devoted am My dear Hamilton Yours for Ever My Best Respects to Mrs Hamilton. ALS , The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society,...
138To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
With all the warmth of my long and tender friendship I Congratulate You Upon the Birth of Your daughter, and Beg leave to present Mrs Hamilton With my most Affectionate Respects. Several delays Have Retarded the Oppening of the treaty and When I was Upon the Ground, it Has Been found that my influence with the Indians Both friendly and Hostile tribes, was much Greater than the Commissioners...
139To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis and Marquise de Lafayette, 15 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society M et Mde. La Mise. De la Fayette prient Monsieur Franklin de leur faire lhonneur de Venir diner chez eux Lundy prochain. Feb. 21. There are five additional invitations for Monday dinners during the remaining months of BF ’s stay in France. All are engraved forms with MS insertions, issued in the name of the marquis only and written in English, with dates of...
140Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 25 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
At the Very instant of Sailing for America, I stop to Send You the New Modelled Regulations of the Cincinnati— My principles Ever Have Been Against Heredity, and While I was in Europe disputing about it with a few friends, My letters to the Assembly, and still more Particularly to the president, Made them Sensible of My Opinion Upon that Matter— Untill Heredity Was Given Up, I forbeared...
141To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 7 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
What is the matter with my dear Hamilton and by what chance do I live in fruitless expectation of some lines from him? Does it begin to be the play in your, or rather in our Country, to take European airs, and forget friends as soon as they have turned their heels—Indeed my good friend I cannot help being somewhat angry against you, which makes into my heart a ridiculous fighting between love...
142To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 28 November 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Here I arrived last night and am going to set out for Philadelphia. Gouvion goes strait to New Windsor and by him I write to the General, I speak of Hand & Smith whom I recommend and add— “If however you was to cast your-eye on a Man who I think would suit better than any other in the World Hamilton is, I confess the officer whom I would like best to see in my .” Then I go on with the idea...
143To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 28 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the Greatest pleasure I hear that By a frigatte just arriv’d at Brest you may have Got some news from America—how far my heart is Concern’d in any thing that may happen to My American fellow Citizens, I need not telling to You— I therefore entreat you, My good friend, to let me know Any public or private, important or insignificant intelligence you...
144To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 20 October [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
In Consequence of our Conversation, My dear Hamilton, I have wrote a letter to Gouvion the Copy of which you will find herein inclosed. By the influence of the Same that you know of I have found a faithful Canadian officer who lately got an order from me for a Coat, and was Returning a foot to West point. I gave him the letter, and send him to You that he May have an order for a horse. If the...
145To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [13–14 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope my Letter will Reach your excellency soon enough as to prevent your going to versailles for our propos’d meeting— I will not yet wait on the king and his Majesty’s orders are to stay in paris without seeing a great Number of Acquaintances— I confess I can’t help much approving his wisdom on this Respect that Many people have already propagated...
146To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
As I came but this morning from Versailles, it was not in my power sooner to answer to the letter you have honor’d me with, and this duty I now perform with the more pleasure that it is of some importance to the interests of America. Since the first day when I had the happiness of making myself, and of being considered in the World as an American, I have always observ’d that among so many ways...
147To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, [8 January 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Mons. Nevile allant en france, mon cher hamilton, j’espere que vous ne Negligeres pas cette occasion de m’ecrire. Le soin qu’on prendra de votre lettre et la discretion avec laquelle elle me sera remise doivent vous engager à me parler librement sur toutes sortes d’articles. Cest à vous que je m’en Rapporte pour tous les intelligences, et toutes les Connaissances de vos affaires Militaires et...
148To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [20 October 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The famous William Pitt is just Arrived in Paris, and is just Returning to London— He Has Expressed a warm desire to Get Acquainted with You, and As I Hoped You would Come to day to the American dinner, I Have invited Him together with Lord Camden’s, duke of Grafton’s Sons, and two other of His friends—it is Possible You will be Glad to know a Young Man...
149Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
A friendly letter I wrote You, and the One I Receive is not so affectionate as usual. The Value I set By Your Esteem, the Consequent fear least my Conduct Be Misrepresented to You, Such were the Motives that Actuated me— As to the institutions Alluded to, I only Need Saying that My principles are known— if You Have writen Nothing, I did more, for whatever I thought Ought to Be Amended, I...
150To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The fear of detaining your dispatches has induc’d me not to send my express of yesterday, so that the paquets which my last promises for sunday, will together with yesterday’s letter, Be delivered into your hand By to morrow’s evening. Inclos’d you will find 1st a letter to Congress whom for any Minuted intelligence I Refer to your dispatches, But whom I...