201To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 12 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Amidst the Buzzling of Interior and foreign Affairs, I am glad to find an Opportunity to Remind you of Me, Which May Be free from the Rogueries of french and English Post offices— I Have Been Sometime in Auvergne, Attending a preliminary Assembly in that My province, the journal of which I Have once directed, and am Now Again Sending to you altho’ it Contains Nothing interesting— My stay in...
202To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [25? December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed, My dear friend, I send You the Proposed Constitution which I Have Received on My Way. What do You think of the powers of the president? I am affraid that our friends are gone a little too far on the other side. But suppose it is the Case, and General Washington is the president, I know him too well not to think He will find the danger, and lessen the authority Before He Goes over....
203To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter will be delivered to Your Excellency By Mr. Smith who in compagny with Mr. Watts came from Virginia on commercial Business in which they have for a partner a good friend of Mine Bre [Brigadier] General Scott— Those two Gentlemen I Beg leave to present and most particularly to Reccommend to Yr Excellency that they Might apply themselves to You on...
204To 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...
205To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Had I Been But a slow traveller, I should much Sooner Have Received, and of Course Aknowledged Your favours— But the Rapidity of my March Has Been Such, that While letters went after me One Way, I was Scampering on the other, and So on, Untill, By the Blessed fourth day of july, I found myself Magnetized to mr̃ jefferson’s table, where we chearfully Began our tenth Year of independance— I Had...
206To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 16 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having personally seen our dispositions, I shall only give an account of what passed in the execution. Colonel Gimat’s batallion led the van, and was followed by that of Colonel Hamilton’s, who commanded the whole advanced corps, at the same time a party of eighty men, under Col. Laurens, turned the redoubt. I beg leave to refer your Excellency to the report I have received...
207To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 31 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I have receiv’d your Excellencys letter enclosing some Resolves respecting the imports of Horses, and thought it was my best way to intrust General Nelson with the care of carrying them into execution. Inclosed your Excellency will find the Returns of General Mullenbergs Brigade. I have the pleasure to inform you that Camden is evacuated, that the posts of fort Motte, Orangeburg, Fort Watson,...
208Lafayette 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...
209I. Lafayette to Necker, [ca. October 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
Je Respecte trop les occupations de M. Necker pour me permettre de lui parler d’une affaire extérieure si elle ne paroissoit pas importante et pressée. Le nouvel arrêt du Conseil qui prohibe les huiles de baleine ne fait aucune excéption en faveur des Américains, quoique le traité avec l’Angleterre mette le Gouvernement fort à son aise sur ce point: il est probable que M. Chardon aura negligé...
210To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
the jonction of Lord Cornwallis with the other Army at peters Burg was an Event that from local Circumstances and from thier so Great Superiority it was Impossible to prevent— it took place on the 20th and Having lost Every Hope to Operate a timely stroke in Conjunction with the pennsylvanians, My ideas were Confined to defensive Measures—I therefore Moved up to Richmond where precautions were...
211To 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...
212To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
Had Your Excellency’s Answer to my letter of the 8th Been forwarded with an Equal Celerity with your favor of the 6th I would Have Received it Before this time—But whatever change my New situation Could Make in Your Excellency’s dispositions I thought it my duty in the mean while to obey the positive orders I Had Received—The troops are now crossing the ferry and will with all possible Speed...
213To John Jay from Lafayette, 5 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
I am Very Happy to think I will at last meet You, and to morrow Expect doing myself the pleasure to wait Upon You at Trenton— Not that I intend this time to present my Respects to Congress, who in these fine days Have more important things to do than to Receive my Congratulations— I got Here to day, and as M. de Marbois Says He Has Some Business at Trenton, I will take a Seat in his Carriage,...
214To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 10 February 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
I Have not, Since my Return to france, Received a Line from you—yet I am Sure you are affectionately interested in every Account Which Concerns me. The departure of Mr pichon for the United States affords me a Good Opportunity to write. He Has much pleased me by His eager wishes and Useful Exertions for a Reconciliation Between Both Countries. He Speaks of America and Americans in terms...
215To 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...
216To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 26 May 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The returns of the Men serving from the different Counties I have not yett been able to obtain, as soon as they are made out, I shall have the honor of inclosing them. By Genl. Lawson’s letter herewith sent your Excellency will learn the small progress He has made; request to have the letter returned. Baron de Steuben informs me that only two men had been imployed in repairing the damaged...
217To John Jay from Lafayette, 15 October [1787] (private) (Jay Papers)
I Have Been just Now writing an official letter to You which Count de Moustier will take With Him, and while He Carries Introductory letters to You, I Shall only add that I think His temper, and His Mind Will insure to Him the Esteem of the public, and Your Particular Regard. His Sister in law, the Countess de Brehan, Goes out With Him, and is Very desirous to Be Acquainted With Mrs jay. I...
218To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Connel who is Returning to the United States is pleased to take Charge of some Books which our excellent friend tracy Has desired me to forward in His name to you. as it is probable an other letter will Have Reached You Before this packet I shall only offer my affectionate Respects, and those of my children and to renew to you, to the whole family, my ardent wishes for your Better Health,...
219To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 19 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
None of Your Answers to my several letters has Yet Come to hand —I am told that You have writen to Congress Giving an Account of a Large Embarkation Under knypausen —how far it Will influence Your projects, and Of Course Your Advices for my private Conduct I hope to know By your Next letter —A vessel is, it is Said, Arriv’d in Boston After a Short passage from france—her Dispatches have Not...
220To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Having been directed by Genl Greene to take Command of the Troops in Virginia, I have also received Orders from him, that every Account from this Quarter be immediately transmitted to Congress and to your Excellency; in obedience to which I shall have the honour to relate our Movements, and those of the combined Armies of the Enemy. When Genl Phillips retreated from Richmond, his project was...
221To 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...
222To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
the project of calling a large body of militia for such a day, in order to attack the ennemy in philadelphia, seems to me attended with so many difficulties, inconveniences and bad chances, that if it is not looked upon as a necessary and almost desesperate enterprize, tho’ it is a very shining and highly pleasing idea, however I cannot think it is a prudent and reasonable one. the reasons for...
223To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
It would Be almost as easy to shoot one of the flying Geniuses of the Arabian Nights as to direct a letter to the place where it Has the Best chance to Hit You. I Have Been dilatory in My Answer, which must be imputed to the public Hurry of National Affairs. But as I Now Hope for Your Speedy Return, I shall Make this letter the Shorter Because I Have thousand things to tell you. Our Assembly...
224To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I present You with my New Year Good Wishes so far as to conform ourselves to the European Calendar; for altho’ my Sentiments for You are the same Every Day. Yet dont I think it right in us to mention any Day as the beginning of the Year but the blessed 4 th. of July. M r. Barret’s Business is coming on pretty well; he has made a Six Years Contract with M r. Sangraine for the Sum of four...
225To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [ca. 6 March 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed, my dear Sir, I send you a letter to Gnl. Knox wherein I mention Count d’estaing’s Anecdote as He gave it to me. Your idea Respecting Paul Jones is Very Good, and if He is prevailed upon to go, altho’ you deni you think yourself Warranted in Advancing public Monney to Him, He will easily find it Among His friends. And I think the sooner He goes, the better. Wishing you a good journey...
226To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 10 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
By My Letter of the 8th Your Excellency will Have known of My Arrival at this Place and the Preparations I was Making to Proceed South ward. I took at the Same time the Liberty to Inform You that the Great want of Monney, Baggage, Cloathing, Under Which Both officers and Men are Suffering and the Hope they Had of Being furnished with a Part of these Articles from their States would Render it...
227Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 8 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
Before I Had a Pointed Reason to write, My friendship for You, and our Common zeal for the Public Had dictated it— But I must Begin with the Article that in My Mind Creates some Uneasiness it is writen from Amsterdam that M r John Adams is very Violent Against the Society of the Cincinnati and Calls it a french Blessing— and that He says, altho’ I Have long Announced an intention to Go to...
228To 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...
229To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 25 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
how happy I have been in receiving your excellency’s favor of the tenth present I hope you’l be convinc’d by the knowledge of my tender affection for you—I am very sensible of that goodness which trys to dissipate my fears about that ridiculous canadian expedition—at the present time we know which was the aim of the honorable board, and for which project three or four men have rush’d the...
230To George Washington from Lafayette, 10 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed, my dear general, is a vocabulary which the Empress of Russia Has Requested me to Have filled up with indian Names, as she Has ordered an Universal dictionary to be made of all languages—it would greatly oblige Her to collect the words she sends translated into the several idioms of the Nations on the Banks of the Oyho—presley Nevill and Morgan at fort pitt, general Mullemberg in...
231To James Madison from Lafayette, 26 October 1809 (Madison Papers)
I Wish Gnl. Armstrong May before the departure of the Vessel Know Something More of the Late Austrian peace than the principal Ministers of the Emperor Knew of it Last Evening. They Have Been informed With the public that a treaty Has Been Signed. They are to day Summoned to fontainebleau. The Rest is Mere Conjecture which Cannot fail to be Soon Ascertained. Yet the General form of the...
232To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 24 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
the Heavy Rain we Had And the extreme Badness of the Roads Have Much Added to our difficulties—But the troops Have Marched with Great Chearfulness and order, and will Be to morrow Very early at Morristown—they will arrive at trenton the 28th, and as I Set out to morrow for philadelphia I will take Care to Have Boats provided for them. I Have Spoken most particularly to Colonel dayton...
233To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette: Two Letters, 29 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives; transcript: National Archives; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Whatever Expectations Might have been Rais’d from the Sense of past favors, the Goodness of the United States for me has ever been such, that on every occasion it far surpasses any idea I could have conceiv’d— A new proof of that...
234To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 2 August [1786] (Jefferson Papers)
I Have spoken with Baron de Grimm who, it Seems, Has No Notion to Continue the Monthly 25 guineas, and says He Has taken no other Engagement But to advance that sum once—for you must know, Between You and me that the 25 guineas exceeding this Sum Have Been delivered under his Name on my Account, which of course the Empress will Reimburse if She Accepts of the proposal. In the mean while Baron...
235To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 16 November 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me, My dear friend, to Inclose the Copies of Letters to You, mr Madison, and mr Duplantier which set out this day by a direct Opportunity, So that I shall only Add the Expression of my Affectionate, Grateful Respect and friendship DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson. The Letters to Mr. Madison and M. Duplantier which accompagny this are so full of my Louisiana Concerns that I need not...
236To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 23 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
We are Going to Sail, My dear friend, and the last Account I Hear from the shore, the first one I Am to Give in Europe is a New success of General Grene—fort Anne and 300 men taken, the Ennemy litteraly Reduced to Charlestown and Savahna Will Make a pretty Paragraph in the French Gazette—I Will Make it My Business to Work about the Thing You Must Naturally Wish—God Grant I May Have Soon the...
237To John Adams from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 August 1824 (Adams Papers)
On My Arrival at this Beloved place it Was My intention to Hasten to quincey and Embrace You Thursday Morning. You know the Circumstances Which Have delayed this eagerly Wished–for Gratification; There Will Be a Compensation in the pleasure to See Your Son Arrived on Next Sunday. Receive the affectionate Respects of Your old friend MHi : Adams Papers.
238To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 31 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
We have Certain Intelligence, My dear General, that Lord North is out of place. He Has Himself Announced that event in Parliament, and Said a New Minister Whould Be Named in the Course of two or three days. It is Generally Believed Marquis de Rockingam will Replace Him—Charles Fox is likely to get into Administration, and there will not be Better principles to be found in the New Ministry than...
239To 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...
240To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 19 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
Having Been told by Mquis de Castries at Whose Country Seat I am, that He Now is Sending a Vessel to America, I Cannot Resist an Opportunity to write You a few lines. My Letter’s journey By land Will Be Almost as long As its Voyage Across the Ocean, and the New England Porstmouth is Very far Distant to the Banks of the Potowmack—for I Suppose, My dear General, that You Intend Spending this...
241To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 27 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I hope your excellency will have received two letters from me, one by major brice, and the other by a doctor who was going to head quarters —you will have seen very Sorry accounts of our disappointement—that such an expedition they were so Sanguine upon has not been prepared before hand, that or themselves or at least myself has been deceived So much, are things very surprising for every one...
242To John Jay from Lafayette, 19 March 1785 (Jay Papers)
I Have Been Honoured with your letter January the 19 th , and am Happy to Hear that fœderal ideas are thriving in America—the more I see, I Hear, and I think, in Europe, the more I wish for every Measure that can Ensure to the United States, dignity, power, and public Confidence—Your three Ministers Being in paris, they will of Course Acquaint You with the present state of American, and also...
243I. Lafayette to Jefferson, 6 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
This Morning Has Been Employed in Hearing the Report of a Committee for Subsistance and As they were Going to Vote thanks to Administration Mr. de Mirabeau Rose and said He Could Give proofs to the House that You Had Made offers to obtain flour from America which Have Been Refused—He Announced His Motion On that Head for to Morrow, and Means to Ground on this an Attack Against Administration....
244To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By Intelligences just Received I Hear that the British fleet Have Returned to Lyn Haven Bay, and that they were Accompagnied By A Number of Vessels Supposed to Be transports from New-york. From A Conversation with A Gentleman who Having Been taken a few days Before the Engagement was during the Action on Board the Charlestown frigat, I Have Got A particular Account of What Has past in that...
245To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 13 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Lafayette, c.13 Mar. 1778. On 20 Mar., Lafayette wrote Henry Laurens: “I sent immediately down Colonel armand. . . . the next day in sending to general washington an account of my Conduct” ( ScHi : Henry Laurens Papers). Armand carried Lafayette’s letters to Congress of 11 and 12 March.
246To John Adams from Lafayette, 9 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
Headquarters, 9 January 1778. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790 , ed. Stanley J. Idzerda and others, Ithaca, N.Y., 1977– , 1:226–227. Lafayette enclosed letters to his wife and her cousin the Prince de Poix, whom he asked to introduce JA to friends. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Lafayette in the Age of the...
247To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
My Last Letter Has Informed You that in Case Peace is Not Made, and our Plans do not Immediately take place at this Court, I Would think it Consistent With My zeal for our Cause, and My Obedience to Your Intentions, to take a Round About Way to Serve our Military Purposes. Under those Circumstances, I Have Accepted to Go this Winter With Count d’Estaing. But tho’ I am to Reenter Into the...
248To George Washington from Lafayette, 15 March 1792 (Washington Papers)
I have been called from the army to this Capital for a conference between the two other generals, the ministers, and myself, and am about returning to my military post. The coalition between the continental powers respecting our affairs is certain, and will not be broken by the Emperor’s death; but, altho’ warlike preparations are going on, it is very doubtful whether our neighbors will...
249To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Have long wished for a private opportunity to write to you, And while Expecting it, Have deprived myself of the pleasure to tell you my Opinion of Your Admirable Book— I Cannot Express, my dear Sir, the Satisfaction I felt in Reading of it—let those who study Constitutions in their Closet Say what they please—to Any one who Has Experience, Yours must Ever be the true principles— there is in...
250To George Washington from Lafayette, 9 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
After a pretty tedious passage of thirty days we Have Safely Arrived at Brest, from whence I Came to paris through Rennes, where the States of Britanny were Assembled, and where their kindness to me Made it Necessary for me to Stop one day—My family, wife, children, and friends I found in perfect Health—the politics of Europe are not in a tranquil Condition, and from their situation a...