51To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [20 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just Coming from Versailles where I went à hunting with the king, and I Do take this first opportunity of inquiring for the state of your health— I hope you are free by this time from your troublesome Gout— I make no doubt but that you knew last Night of the Senegal being taken by our troops— that Advantage I think is interesting for the Allied powers,...
52To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [c. 31 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I went yesterday to pay My Respects to your Excellency, and waïted as long as it was in My power— I wanted telling you that I hope the Expedition will be fix’d upon but the scale yet lessened— So that we Can’t do so much as was expected, but however some advantage May be got by this little incursion—Mr de Maurepas thinks it highly Necessary to Converse with...
53To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave of applying to you in an instance where I am much Concern’d. The Case I shall lay before you, and Reccommend to your good Care. There is an officer in Paris Whom I want to send over to America on Board the Alliance, and whom I know would be of some use in the American Army. For that Reason Besides this of Reccommendations I have a great Regard for, I wish the Gentlemen Might find a...
54Franklin and Lafayette’s List of Prints to Illustrate British Cruelties, [c. May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress 1. The Burning of Charleston (Date) A fine Town by the Waterside, being a Port, but without any Defence. A Spire rising among the Houses, belonging to the House of Worship. A Belfrey belonging to the Town House all in Flames.— The Inhabitants had all left it. 2. The Burning of Falmouth (Date Nov. 1775) A fine Town & Port, but without Defence Ships firing hot...
55To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 19 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclos’d I have the honor to Send you a letter from Mons. de Gimat giving an account of a very dangerous division Betwen the officers of the Alliance—that I had foreSeen long ago, and I believe Some thing or other Must be done, in this affair. I also send you the ideas for prints I have Somewhat increas’d, and I Could indeed Make out an immense Book upon so...
56To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [c. 26 May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have just now Receiv’d a letter from the President of Congress which I think Should be in Compagny with Many others— I therefore wish to know before My departure when did the pacquet sail from America, what kind of ship she was, what News or what people she brought with her— that I do’nt only desire as an american citizen who wants to hear from his...
57To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 12–13 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
Here is at lenght a Safe occasion of writing to you, here I May tell you What Sincere Concern I feel at our Separation—There was never a friend, my dear general, So much, so tenderly Belov’d, as I do love and Respect you—happy in our union, in the pleasure of living with you, in that So Charming Satisfaction of partaking any Sentiment of your heart, any event of Your life, I had taken Such an...
58To John Jay from Lafayette, 12–13 June 1779 (Jay Papers)
how happy I shall think Myself whenever a Safe opportunity of writing to Congress will be offered, I Cannot Better any way express But in Reminding them of that unbounded Affection and Gratitude I Shall ever feel for them— So deeply are those sentiments Engrav’d in my heart, that I every day lament upon that distance which Separates me from them, and that never any thing was so warmly and...
59To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 12 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society How happy I feel, when surrounded By so many preparations Against England, My respected friend doctor franklin will easily conceive— There is nothing to be found in france which might offer to me so delightfull a prospect, as those ships, troops, warlike stores of all Kinds which are Getting Ready for to visit our good neighbours—Every thing will be soon...
60To 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...
61To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 3 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have done myself the honor of writing to you some days ago, my dear doctor, and with a friendly impatience I waït for your answer— There are arriv’d some vessels from our Country which have certainly Brought Accounts of American affairs— By the french Consul at Boston I have Got a parcel of newspapers But no letters from My friends are yet come to hand—...
62To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 17 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wish it was in My power to Give you any intelligences, But however Great are our preparations, however superior we find our fleet Nothing is as yet in Motion, and we are impatiently waiting for orders— do you think, my dear Doctor, our British friends will let the Blow fall so heavily upon them, and don’t you Rather Believe they’ll try to set up a...
63To 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...
64To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 6 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The happy intelligence which you had the kindness of forwarding to me, is the more pleasing to My heart, that I am Glad to have Given to our scoth friends, A little But full view of the American flag— Captain Jones has ever inspir’d me with a great Regard for his talents and patriotic Spirit, and I am Proud to find that Both these Qualities have been...
65To 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...
66To 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 way in your, or rather in our Country to take European Airs, and forget friends as soon as they have turn’d theyr heels—indeed, My Good friend, I Cant help being Some what angry Against you, which shakes into My heart a Ridicu⟨lous⟩ fighting between...
67To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 7 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
from those happy ties of friendship By which you were pleas’d to unite yourself with me, from the promises You So tenderly made me when we parted at fishkill, I had Such expectations of hearing often from you, that Complaint ought to be permitted to my affectionate heart—not a line from you, my dear General, is yet arriv’d into My hands, and tho Several Ships from America, several dispatches...
68To 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...
69To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 11 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Matter I am going to write upon is of A delicate Nature, and Nothing But My Love for America, the sense I have of theyr interests, and the entire, unbounded Confidence, I trust on your friendship and secrecy could engage me to use with you on this subject all possible freedom. From private intelligences, I am to suppose that a Negotiation has been...
70To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 14 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From the Sight of this hand writing, you will, I dare say, expect some dissertation on Military, Political, and in a word on Public Affairs— how far you are from guessing the object of My letter will clearly Appear in a little time. I am not a scavant , My Good friend, I am nothing But a Rough soldier, and would hardly do for a Committee-Man, tho you know...
71To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 2 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With a trüe satisfaction I have seen that the Royal influence in the irish parliament, fell very short of Ministerial expectations, and that some patriots Begin to speack a Bold language, and mention the Blessed words of independency and the Rights of Mankind— In the eyes of people that would be strangers to parliamentary Barking, such Speeches would be...
72To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We were thinking But of winter quarters for the troops, and preparing every thing for our Return to paris, when an extraordinary Courier Brought us the order of Being Ready to March at a Moment’s Warning— I Need not telling you how surpris’d I was of this Unexpected Resolution that I know to have been taken on a sudden By the Ministry, and I seize the...
73To 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...
74To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [6 December 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I told what you know as Coming from Myself, and the Answer has been that some thing would be done that way—being ask’d what You had Said to me on that affair, I Answerd that we had spoken on it in General terms, But in the same time thought proper most strongly to urge on a speedy supply. They are Before all waiting for intelligences from Count Destaing and...
75To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 24 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I don’t loose Any time in informing You that mde de Lafayette is happily deliver’d of a son, and too much depend on your friendship not to be Certain that You will be pleas’d with the intelligence— The Boy shall be Call’d George , and you will easily Gess that he bears that Name as a tribute of Respect and love for my dear friend Gnl Washington. I Beg you...
76To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 9 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society According to an appointement I had Requested from Mr. De Montbarrey, I had last Morning a Conversation With that Minister, wherein I did Earnestly urge the Necessity of sending from the Royal Magazines to America, fifteen thousands Stands of Arms and a large Quantity of powder— I Can’t say My Endeavours, tho’ Exerted to the Best of My Power, have met with...
77To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 10 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From a Ministerial letter I just Receive from Versaïlles I Begin to hope that My little Negotiation will take a Good turn, and as I Made it my point to succeed in this affair, No exertions will be untried for the purpose— I should, My Good friend, have done Myself the honor of Waïting on You this Morning, was I Not seiz’d By A Violent Cold, Which I the more...
78To 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...
79To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 24 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society According to the letter your Grand son wrote me last Morning I have obtain’d from the Ministry that the four thousand Compleat Cloathes would be Carried on Board of the frigatte that is ordered to Carry me to America— so that if they are at Rochefort, la Rochelle, l’isle d aix or l’isle de Rhé By the Second of the next month they will be taken on Board— I...
80To 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...
81To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [4 March 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am for the last time Going to Versaïlles, My Good friend, and Any Command from You on this occasion will be very well Come— As I am in a great hurry for My departure, Be so kind as to let me know if You want me to Come to Your lodgings to Morrow at ten o’clock or if you choose Better to Call here. If it is equal to you, I’d thank you for your dispatches...
82To 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...
83To 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...
84To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 17 May 1780 [letters not found] (Washington Papers)
Letters not found: from Major General Lafayette, 17 May 1780. On 20 May, GW wrote Lafayette: “I had written the inclosed my Dear Marquis previous to the receipt of yours of the 17th which arrived late yesterday. The dispatches accompanying them for the Eastward were sent off before day this morning.” For an indication of the contents of Lafayette’s letters, see GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 19...
85To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 4 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You know, My dear General, that I Am Very Anxious of Seeing the Army well Cloathed for this Campaign—the importance of Such A Measure is on every Account obvious, and from the knowledge I have of the Auxiliary troops that Are Coming I Can so well demonstrate its Necessity, that I shall for the present But Attend to the Means of executing it. in the Space of Six Month (we know from experience)...
86To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 16 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You have desired, My dear General, I would put in writing a Summary of the ideas which I Gave as My opinion in our Conversation of last Night—This I am the More inclin’d to do, that, tho’ I feel for Your delicacy on the occasion, I would think it very wrong not to go the same length with the french forces as you would do with those of the United States. The idea of Starving Newyork has been By...
87To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 20 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
having heard of an express from Rhodeisland being Going through the Continental Village I sent for him as it would not delay him More than an hour —inclosed I have the honor to send You the letter from general heath which I have oppen’d and also two letters from the french Generals to me —it seems, My dear General, that they have Anticipated the desire you express’d Yourself of settling our...
88To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 21 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
As I find an express Going from hartfort to General Greene, I send this letter to him, that You Might hear some thing further about the Recruits of Connecticut. from the Colonel under general parsons who is intrusted with the Care of forwarding them I hear that By the first of August two thousand of them Will be at West point—But I had put in My head that they were to Bring arms with them and...
89To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 22 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I hasten to inform you that the Missing transport is safely arriv’d on the 19th at Boston —she is said to be a two decker and to have on Board a vast deal of powder with pieces of ordinnance, and also the Baggage of the officers of Bourbonnois —The intelligence Came this instant By an officer of our Army who Saw the Men encamp’d on the Commons from where they were to March to providence—Two...
90To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 23 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had this Morning the honor to wait on his excellency the Governor, and took the liberty, thò in A private Capacity, to inform him of our Circumstances—the Result of our Conversation I will thearin transmit to You and to be More Certain of Conveying the Governor’s ideas, I am writing at his own house and will show him My letter Before I fold it up. to Begin By the Article of powder which is...
91To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
every private intelligence from long island, and also the letter from General howe and the officer on the lines do Agree with the Note I have Receiv’d from C[o]l[on]el hamilton, and are all positive upon it that General clinton With a Great part of his Army is Coming to Attak the french troops. in Consequence of this Count de Rochambeau is fortifying Both islands and Making preparations of...
92To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 26 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had this Morning the honor of writing to You By general heath’s express and inform’d you that we had from every official and private quarter minuted accounts of the ennemy’s Coming in Great force to attak this island—for my part, I have been long time a disbeliever of the intelligence—But So many letters Came to hand that at lenght I was forc’d to take the General opinion about theyr...
93To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 29 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 22d Came to hand last evening and I hasten to answer At least to a part of its Contents —I Shall Begin By the disagreable disappointement I met with on account of our cloathing —inclos’d, my dear General, you Will find the Return of what has been put on Board of the fleet which I have sent By a vessel to providence, and which will be forwarded to head quarters as soon as...
94To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
in Consequence of A Note from me the Admiral Came to Last evening, and defensive ideas Gave way to offensive plans—our Conversation was long and is not yet ended—But I hasten to write you a Summary of what past Betwen the Count, the Chevalier, and Myself. I first Began in My own name to Give them a pretty exact Account of the Situation we were in three Months Ago, of the Super natural efforts...
95To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 1 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your letter to Count de Rochambeau mentionning the ennemy’s embarkation, and your future movements Against Newyork, a positive letter from Governor Trumbull, and a positive one from General par[s]ons, have once more altered the dispositions, and Such of the Militia as had been dismiss’d have been again Sent for. in Consequence of those expectations my offensive Arrangements have been entirely...
96To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 14 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
You very well know that for Many and Many Reasons Both on account of the Country and on that of the french, I think it very important, Nay I might Say politically Necessary that Some thing Brillant Be at this time perform’d By our troops—to those Motives Which are very strongly impress’d on My Mind, and which I Might More fully explain in A Conversation, I will, add, My dear General, that I...
97To 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...
98To George Washington from Major General Lafayette, 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I alwais forgot Mentionning to You what has past Betwen duke of Lauzun and Myself on account of the diminution that had been Made in his horses —from what he told me I Saw that it has been put upon this footing that You thought A greater number of horses than was necessary for Carrying letters &c. would be quite Useless—I explain’d the Matter to him, told him You had decided that No less than...
99To 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...
100To 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...