101To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 12 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Harvard University Library I Had the Night Before Last the pleasure to See Mr. franklin and Gave Him some Account of the Situation our Affair Was in at that time. I Can for the Present be More Particular, and will Relate What Has Past Respecting the letter of Mr. de Veymerange and the Several Articles a list of which Has Been put into My Hands....
102To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 25 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mis. [Marquis] de Lafayette’s Most Respectfull Compliments Wait on Mr franklin and Has the Honor to Inform His Excellency that in Compliance with His directions He Had Last Evening a Conference with Count de Vergennes— The Minister Said He Wished to Make Himself the Communication to Mr. franklin, when Asked for it By Him, So that the Sum will Be immediately...
103To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 28 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Le marquis de Lafayette prie Monsieur de francklin de lui faire dire si Sera chés lui a midy et demie Il seroit bien aise de le voir. Notation: De La Fayette Mr. le ms. 28. Fevr. 1782.
104To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 5 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Mis. [Marquis] de la fayette Has the Honor to Present His Respectfull Compliments to Mr. franklin and informs Him that the frigat Hermione is Arrived in 23 days from America— Mr. franklin’s dispatches Will No Doubt Be sent By Count de Vergennes—The Marquis Had two letters that Say Very little on public Business, and Will to Morrow After noon do Himself...
105To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L : University of Pennsylvania Library Le Mis De la fayette a l’honneur de presenter Son Respect à Monsieur franklin, et comme il ne doit Voir qu’a onze heures la personne interessée dans la petite affaire dont il la Chargé hier, il pense que le depart d’aujourd’huy pourroit être differé jusqu’a demain au point du jour. Dès qu’il y aura une Réponse Le Mis De la fayette aura lhonneur d’en faire...
106To 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...
107To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [15 or 22 June 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Will You Please, My dear sir, to let me Have a Copy of the Paper I gave to Major Ross, that I May Enclose it to General Washington and get His approbation of the Measure? The Moment You get the Bill be pleased to Communicate it— I will do the same on my part, and am Very Anxious to see How that Piece is Manufactured. Notation: La Fayette The two Saturdays...
108To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [20 June 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcripts: National Archives, Massachusetts Historical Society Agreable to Your Desire I Have Waited Upon Count de Vergennes and said to Him What I Had in Command from Your Excellency— He Intends taking the King’s orders this Morning, and Expects He Will Be Able to propose Mr. Grenville a Meeting for to Morrow where He Will Have Him to Explain Himself...
109To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 21 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Having Nothing New to Communicate I will Remain this day at Versailles, and will Wait on Your Excellency in the Course of to morrow’s Morning— Mr. Grenville Has dined with Count de Vergennes, and is Going Again to write to London —if this Goes on, at Least it Goes at A Moderate Gate— I Hope Your Health is Better, and Have the Honor to Be with Great Respect Your...
110To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [25 June 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress You Have Been Acquainted that Mr. de Castries’s Courier was to Go to Morrow Evening, and I intend taking the same Opportunity to write to Congress and General Washington— But as I want to justify My delay, Upon the trüe Motives of it, those of Public Utility, and American Wellfare, I Hope Your Excellency will please to Mention fully the Matter to Congress, and By...
111To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 9 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London 1817–18), II , 386. I have the honour to inform you, my dear Sir, that Mr. Grenville’s express is arrived this morning by way of Ostend. The gentleman is gone to Versailles. I fancy he will wait upon you, and will be much obliged to you, to let me know what your opinion...
112The 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...
113To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 12 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania In the present letter Lafayette confirms that Vergennes secretly sent Gérard de Rayneval to England for a meeting with Shelburne. Jay had heard this news on September 9, the day he and Oswald were forging a compromise about the language of Oswald’s commission. Suspecting that the purpose of Rayneval’s mission was to arrange a peace with France at...
114To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 17 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Every Child of Mine that Comes to Light is a Small Addition to the Number of American Citizens— I Have the pleasure to inform You that, tho she Was But Seven Month Advanced, Mde de Lafayette Has this Morning Become Mother of a daughter Who However delicate in his Begining Enjoys a perfect Health, and I Hope Will Soon grow Equal to the Heartiest...
115To 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...
116Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 21 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Newberry Library; transcript: New York Public Library 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...
117To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [on or before 22 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mis. [Marquis] de Lafayette’s Best Respects Waït Upon Mr franklin and Would Be Much obliged to His Excellency for a Copy of His Memorial to the french Court As He Intends Pressing Upon this Subject in a Letter to Count de Vergennes. The Mis. de Lafayette Begs Also to know at What time Captain Barnay Has Set out for L’orient, and When His Courier is Expected Back— Count...
118To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [26 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Having Waïted some time for Mr. jay, I Was told By doctor Bancroft that the two other Ministers Now Agreed With You in Opinion that After What I Had done in the Affair of Monney, it was Better for me Immediately to join the Convoy— However I Waïted once More Upon Count de Vergennes on My Passage at Versaïlles, and Had a long Conversation With Him— Let the dispatches...
119To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress To My Very Great Concern, I Have not Yet Received Your Answer to My letter, Nor the Account of What Has officially Past in Monney Matters— But Your Opinion Has Been I should Go, and I Am Pursuing an object that May I Hope prove Useful to America— Upon Your Opinion therefore, I Determine My Going— We are Under sails With 9 ships of the line, And about 6000 Men Recruits...
120To 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...
121To 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...
122To 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...
123Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 12 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress Having Yesterday conferred with Count de Vergennes upon some Public Concerns, He requested I would tell you what, instead of troubling you with the Demand of a meeting, I think better to mention in this Note. The several Powers said he, are going to make up their Treaties, and when ready to sign, they will of Course meet to do it...
124To 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...
125Lafayette to Franklin and John Jay, 16 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Columbia University Library Mquis. de Lafayette’s Compliments waït upon Mr. Franklin and Mr. Jay, and Has the Honour to Acquaint them He Had letters from America down to the first of May— On Many points He is Referred to the letters those Gentlemen Must Have Received— The Mquis. de Lafayette Intends paying them His Respects to Morrow at Breakfast time, and will Communicate what...
126Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 22 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Having Been Honoured With letters from Congress, it Becomes my duty to Consult You Upon a point Which they Have particularly Recommended— In the late preliminaries no time is Mentionned for the American Merchants paying their English debts— A Matter of Great Moment to our Merchants who Require at least three or four Years to Accomplish the Business— Upon...
127To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Sotheby’s, New York (1985) I Beg leave to Return You My thanks for the Notice You Give me of An opportunity to America— But find it is too late to improve it, and My only Hope is that some letters I Have these past days sent to Paris, Have Been put on Board the Washington— Since we Could not Get Monney Here, I am Glad it Has Been found in Holland— Mr. Hartlay’s dissatisfaction, if...
128To 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...
129To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [13 December 1783?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Inclosed is a Paper I intend to Present to the Several Ministers, with the Hope it May Give them some favourable ideas Upon the American trade— But Before I do it, I wish of Course to Have Your Approbation— Be so kind, My dear Sir, as to Read it Over, and if You think it May Answer a Good purpose, I will in My private Capacity Give it to Marechal de...
130To 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 ,...
131To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [17 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library In Case the Arret for our free ports Has not Yet Come to Your Excellency’s Hands, I Have the Honour to Send You one Which I Have just Now Got— Most Respectfully and Affectionately Yours The day Calonne sent Lafayette 24 copies of the May 14 arrêt concerning free ports. Lafayette had tried to influence the government’s selection by writing to Calonne,...
132To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [20 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I intended Having this day the pleasure to See You, But am obliged to Stay Here for the Queen’s Concert, and Will do Myself the Honour to Call Upon You to Morrow Morning— Then I will lay Before You a letter I Have Received from mr. de Calonne— I am glad to Hear the Washington is Soon Expected, and Hope we May Get intelligences Before My departure which is...
133To 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...
134To 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...
135To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 15 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed Your Excellency will find a Letter from a Canadian who Requests I would Recommend Him to You— While I was with Congress, I wrote a public Letter Stating the Case of the Citizens of that province who Had Assisted us and were not paid— I Hope a Committee was Appointed to Consider the Affair— So far as Respects Mr. Calvet, I need not See the Lady, But...
136To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 14 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do not do myself the honor of wr⟨a⟩ïting to you as many times as I would ch⟨u⟩se, because I fear to disturb⟨e⟩ your important occupations—but I indulge Now that pleasure to me on the occasion of the two nominations of Congress—general connay is a so brave, intelligent, and active officer that he schall, I am sure, justify more and more the esteem of the army and Your approbation—for the...
137To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I went down to this place since the day before yesterday in order to be acquainted of all the roads and grounds arround the ennemy—I heard at my arrival that theyr Main body was betwen great and little timber creek since the same evening—Yesterday morning in recconnoitring about I have been told that they were very busy in crossing the delaware—I saw them myself in theyr boats and sent that...
138To 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...
139To 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...
140To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 30 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I went Yesterday morning to Head Quarters with an intention of Speaking to Your Excellency But You were too Busy and I shall lay down in this letter what I wished to Say. I don’t Need telling You How I am Sorry for all what Happens Since Some time it is a necessary dependence of my most tender and Respectful friendship for You, which affection is as true and Candid as the other Sentiments of...
141To 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...
142To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 5 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
As your excellency’s opinion seems to gree with my ideas for ⟨taking⟩ in our service those Non commissioned officers who came with Mister du Coudray, I schall take the liberty of telling you what I know about the matter—how useful they would be in this army is a thing obvious for every body—those ⟨men⟩ join to a pretty great theory the greatest practice of theyr art—security and exactitude...
143To 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...
144To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 20 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have recieved just now a letter from general connway who is gone on to york town, and mullens his aid de camp who is not a wit, lets me know that his going there is in consequence of two repeated letters from general gates, and miflin—that same man thinks that there are some projects to send Connway to Canada—they will laugh in france when they’l hear that he is choosen upon such a...
145To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 9 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I can not let go back my guide without taking this opportunity of wraiting to your excellency tho’ I have not yet public business to speak of—I go on very slowly some times pierced by rain, sometimes covered with snow, and not thinking many handsome thoughts about the projected incursion into canada —if succèss were to be had it would surprise me in a more agreable manner, by that very reason...
146To 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...
147To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 23 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I Meet with an occasion of wraïting to your excellency which I wo’nt miss by any means, even schould I be affraïd of becoming tedious and troublesome—but if they have sent me far from you for I do’nt know what purpose, at least I must make some little use of my pen to prevent all communication be cut of[f] betwen your excellency and me—I have writen lately to you my distressing, ridiculous,...
148To 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...
149To 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.
150To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 20 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
Alwaïs new instances where I find myself obliged to send to Congress—was I not So sensible of your excelleacy’s goodness for his officers and particular frienship for me, I schould be afraid you’d not forgive so many miss’s tho’ unvolontary one—but such is the case in this particular instance—we have in this place a british hospital, british doctor, british officers, tho’ the situation of...