1From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 16 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
Behold you then, my dear friend, at the head of a great army, establishing the liberties of your country against a foreign enemy. May heaven favor your cause, and make you the channel thro’ which it may pour it’s favors. While you are exterminating the monster aristocracy, and pulling out the teeth and fangs of it’s associate monarchy, a contrary tendency is discovered in some here. A sect has...
2From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 21 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Trumbull proposing to have his paintings of the principal actions of the American war engraved, by subscription, and supposing that some sets may be subscribed for in France, knows too well the value of your patronage there not to be ambitious of obtaining it. But he knows so little his own value, and your sense of it, as to believe that my recommendations to you may be of service to him....
3From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 24 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me, my dear friend, to present to you the bearer hereof, Mr. Horrÿ, a young gentleman of South Carolina, who is setting out on a tour of travel, which will include Paris. He is a nephew of General Pinckney’s. Of course you know his connections to be of the most distinguished of that country. I am not personally acquainted with him, but am authorised on good information to assure you he...
4From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 2 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Behold me, my dear friend, dubbed Secretary of state, instead of returning to the far more agreeable position which placed me in the daily participation of your friendship. I found the appointment in the newspapers the day of my arrival in Virginia. I had indeed been asked while in France whether I would accept of any appointment at home, and I had answered that without meaning to remain long...
5[From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 30 August 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 30 Aug. 1789. Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found.]
6XII. Jefferson to Lafayette, 10 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
The acknowledgement by Monsieur de Mirabeau to the national assembly that he had been in an error as to the offer he supposed me to have made, and the reading to them my letter, seems to be all that was requisite for any just purpose. As I was unwilling my name should be used to injure the minister, I am also unwilling it should be used to injure Monsieur de Mirabeau. I learn that his enemies...
7XI. Jefferson to Lafayette, 9 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Having been curious to form some estimate of the quantity of corn and flour which have been supplied to France this year, I applied to a person in the farms, to know upon what quantities the premium had been paid. He could not give me information but as to the Atlantic ports into which there has been imported from the united states from March to May inclusive 44,116 quintals of corn 12,221...
8IV. Jefferson to Lafayette, 7 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I inclose you a letter on the subject of what Mr. Mirabeau said which you were so good as to say you would have read in the assembly. I find that there has been imported from the United States into the Atlantic ports of France from March to May inclusive 44,116 quintals of corn 12,221 quintals of flour making 56,337 quintals. Add to this what has been imported since the month of May, suppose...
9V. Jefferson to Lafayette, 7 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter of yesterday gave me the first information that Monsieur de Mirabeau had supposed to the honorable the assembly of the nation that I had made an offer to Mr. Necker to obtain from America a quantity of corn or flour, which had been refused. I know not how Monsieur de Mirabeau has been led into this error. I never in my life made any proposition to Mr. Necker on the subject: I never...
10II. Jefferson to Lafayette, 6 July 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I never made an offer to any body to have corn or flour brought here, from America: no such idea ever entered my head. Mr. Necker desired me to give information in America that there would be a want of flour. I did so in a letter to Mr. Jay , which he published with my name to it for the encouragement of the merchants. Those here who have named me on this subject, must have mistaken me for Mr....
11From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 12 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
As I may not be able to get at you at Versailles I write this to deliver it myself at your door. With respect to the utility or inutility of your minority’s joining the Commons I am unable to form an opinion for myself. I know too little of the subject to see what may be it’s consequences. I never knew an instance of the English parliament’s undertaking to relieve the poor by a distribution of...
12From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 3 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Revolving further in my mind the idea started yesterday evening of the king’s coming forward in a seance royale and offering a charter containing all the good in which all parties agree, I like it more and more. I have ventured to sketch such a charter merely to convey my idea, which I now inclose to you, as I do also to M. de St. Etienne. I write him a letter of apology for my meddling in a...
13From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 6 May 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
As it becomes more and more possible that the Noblesse will go wrong, I become uneasy for you. Your principles are decidedly with the tiers etat, and your instructions against them. A complaisance to the latter on some occasions and an adherence to the former on others, may give an appearance of trimming between the two parties which may lose you both. You will in the end go over wholly to the...