51To John Adams from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 12 February 1825 (Adams Papers)
Receive the Most Cordial Congratulations from an old friend of the father and the Son, who on this Occasion feels much for You, and for Him, and who will Be Happy on the Bunker Hill Anniversary to express in person the patriotic and individual Sentiments which Have Been known to You for Near Half a Century. Most truly and Affectionately / Your old friend MHi : Adams Papers.
52To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 July 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will Be delivered By M. de Syon a Good Young French man who was acquainted with us in France, and Has much travelled with us through the U.S. He is going to See the Natural Bridge and other Curiosities But wish above all to Have the Honor to Be presented to You, as I don’t know when or How we will meet Again I Give Him this line of introduction. Your Amiable grand daughter is now...
53To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
Mr Grenville says, My dear General, that the Enabling Bill has past both Houses—How it will be worded, I do not know—We also expect some answer to a few lines Count de Vergennes Has Given to Mr Grenville—But I am affraid those people are not sincere. I Had no letter from you this Age, my dear General, and as I Hope you Have wrote some times I guess Many of My letters Have shared the same...
54To John Adams from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 28 April 1817 (Adams Papers)
I Most affectionately partake in the Gratification You are going to derive from the Arrival of Mr and Mrs Quincy Adams with your grand children to the Satisfaction of a father you will join that of a patriot, the Appointment of Your Son to the place of Secretary of State being a great public Advantage. I Refer Myself to Him for European News, in this Extensive Question in Betwen Rights and...
55To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
My dear Excellent friend, Here I am, on American ground, Welcomed in a Manner that Exceeds the power to Express what I feel. Those testimonies of kindness to Which time does not Suffice Have prevented my writing to you, as I intended, from Newyork. an invitation from the City of Boston, Received in france, and a Consequent Engagement on my part Have brought me Here; I Shall be Returned to...
56To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 28 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I Have the Honor to send you Copy of my letter to general greene. The ennemy Have Been so kind as to Retire Before us. twice I gave them a chance of fighting (taking Care not to Engage farther than I pleased) But they Continued their Retrogade motions—our Numbers are I think Exagerated to them, and our seeming Boldness confirms the opinion. I thought at first Lord Cornwallis wanted to...
57To James Madison from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 January 1807 (Madison Papers)
To your Diplomatic Correspondence I refer you for European Intelligence. The Prussian power is no more. Every Prince of this Side of the Vistula is depending on the Conqueror’s Nod for his Reward or Punishment. The french Arms have been this fall more irresistible than ever. The European Continent Will be in the Course of the Winter new Modelled As far as novelty can be produced in Royal...
58From Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette to Alexandre-François-Auguste de … (Washington Papers)
Monsieur le Comte de Grasse seroit heureux de pouvoir faire l’expedition de Charlestown dont il sent tous les Avantages; mais les ordres de La Cour, les projets ulterieurs, et les engagements avec les espagnols Rendent impossible de passer ici le tems necessaire à cette operation; son desir de servir les etats unis est tel qu’il desire entrer dans des arrangements pour une Cooperation pendant...
59To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
From the Bottom of My Heart I Congratulate you upon the Arrival of the French Fleet—Some Rumors Had Been spread, and spy accounts sent out—But no Certainty untill the Admiral’s dispatches Came to Hand—Inclosed I send you His letter and that of Mis. de St Simon Both of whom I Request you will Have translated By Tilmangh or Gouvion alone as there are parts of them personal which I do not choose...
60To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 22 July 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th of May is the last one that Came into My Hands for which I Beg leave to offer You My Best thanks—and in Case former Answers do not Arrive, I Must Again tell you How Happy You Made Your friend By Your letters inclosing the proceedings of the Army—In Every instance, My dear General, I Have the Satisfaction to Love and to Admire you—the Conduct You Had on that Occasion was...
61To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 May 1805 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Livingston is Going—I Heartily Lament Not to Accompany Him—it is Necessary for me to Hope You Will Approve My Motives, not only those I Have Stated in former Letters; the Copies of Which I Beg Leave to Inclose, But those also Which in Confidential Conversations He Will more particularly Explain—My Heart is known to You, My dear friend, and if You think You Have to Blame me for Mistaken...
62To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 20 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
This letter is not By Any Means directed to the Commander in chief, But to My Most Intimate and Confidential friend—I will lay Before you My Circumstances and My wishes—Certain I am You will do whatever You Can for me that is Consistent with Your public duty. When I went to the Southward You know I Had Some private objections—But I Became Sensible of the Necessity there was for the detachement...
63To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 24 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be Handed By cll Morris who waits upon Your Excellency with Gal Greene’s Sentiments upon the different ways to Improve Count de Grasses assistance. I Have Been desired to Add my Accounts But the last letter I Had the Honor to write Has Anticipated the Informations Which Gral Greene wanted me to give. The Light Infantry are 850—the Pennsylvania 600—Virginia exchanged soldiers...
64To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 2 March 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the 5 Ulto I Had the Honor to write You a Letter, and as Count d’Estaing was pleased to let me Have a Vessel to Carry it, I am not without My Hopes to Have Given You the tidings of a General peace—I also Have informed You that Upon My Going to Sail for America, I Had Received a letter from Mr Carmichael Entreating My Immediate Assistance at Madrid—I therefore Gave up My darling Plan, and...
65To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 20 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a very long while since my eyes were gratified with a sight of Your Handwriting: I know that Occupation is a fatigue to you and would not Be importunate. But when You indulge the pleasure to Converse with absent friends Remember few are as old, and None Can Be More Happy than I am, in the testimonies of Your welfare and Affection. Every Account I receive from the U.S. is a Compensation...
66To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 6 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Embarkation Which I thought and I do Still think to Have Been destined to Newyork Was Reported to Have Sailed up the Bay, and to Be Bound to Baltimore—in Consequence of which I write to Your Excellency, and as I Had not Indulged Myself too Near portsmouth I was able to Cut Across towards Frederiksburg—But instead of Continuing His Voyage up the Bay My Lord Entered York River and Landed at...
67To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 13th is just Come to Hand. The Moment a perfect Intelligence Can Be Got, Major Mcpherson will be Dispatched— But Some Expressions in Your last favor will, if possible, Augment My Vigilance in keeping You well Apprised of the Ennemy’s Movements. There are in Hampton Road Thirty Transport Ships full of troops—Most of them Red Coats— There are eight or ten Brigs which Have...
68To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Letter of the 23d to Your Excellency will, I Hope, Be Safely transmitted, and the Bearer of it Mjr McLeane Assured me that in case He was obliged to loose the Dispatch Boats, He Could find Means to Get a Shore and forward the Dispatches By Land. In this Letter I Gave to Your Excellency an Account of what Had past Since I Left Annapolis, and Communicated the Intelligence of a British fleet...
69To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 23 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
By Former Letters, Your Excellency Has Been Acquainted with My Motions From My Arrival at the Head of Elk, to the time of My Landing at this place. The March of the Detachement to Elk Had Been Very Rapid and performed in the Best order—Owing to the Activity of Lt Clel Stevens a train of Artillery Had Been provided at Philadelphia, and Notwistanding Some Disappointements, Namely that Relating...
70To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the Receipt of Your Excellency’s letter, I took Measures to fulfill the intentions of the Society in which I Have the Honour to be a Member. As our institution was differently interpreted, I wrote a letter to Count de Vergennes of which the inclosed is a Copy, and the Account I gave was printed in a Court Gazette which I Have also the Honour to send—at a King’s Council, this day was a week,...
71To John Adams from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 August 1823 (Adams Papers)
I Most Heartily thank You for Your Affectionate Letter of Last october which I Have received only three days Ago and Have Also to Aknowledge the pleasure You Have done me By the introduction of Mr Hinckley and His Amiable daughter; they are going to England for a short time and Have promised the much Valued Gratification of their Company at La Grange where my family are Now assembled which Has...
72To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 10 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters of the 26. May and 14th. July are come to me nearly at the same time—The older in date a few days latter—In both I have enjoyed your most precious friendship—Your account of Burr’s conspiracy was eagerly expected, and while I abhorr his liberticide projects I am happy in a new instance of the impractibility of such a perversion of men and things on the Land of freedom—I also...
73To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ my Letter by Young Mr. McHenry Had Not Reached You, I am sure You Have by this time Heard of My Unhappy fate. The Wife whose Loss I am left to Mourn Has Been Long known to You—in Her, as Every Moment of an Union of Thirty four Years, I Have found the Greatest Blessing My Heart Could Wish for and more than a Compensation for Every possible Misfortune—The Great and Amiable character She...
74To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 December 1781 to 23 … (Washington Papers)
I am Sorry to think We are not yet Gone, and there Still Remain Some doubts of our Going to Morrow—This delay I Lament not So Much on private Accounts as I do it on the Account of our Next Campaign in the planning of Which Your Opinion as I will deliver it Must Be of Great Use to the Common Cause—As to the departement of foreign affairs I will Be Happy to justify the Confidence of Congress By...
75To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 April 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
So Long a time Has Elapsed, Since I Had the pleasure to Hear from You that I think it Better for fear of Omissions or Repetitions to inclose Copies of two Letters Sent of triplicate the Answers to which Are Eagerly Expected My Sentiments Have been During thirty Years so well known and proved to You that it is Almost Superfluous to Mention What I felt at the painful tho imperfect intelligence...
76To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 31 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
A Correspondant of Mine Servant to Lord Cornwallis writes on the 26th july at Portsmouth, and Says His Master, Tarleton, and Simcoe are Still in town But Expect to Move—the Greatest Part of the Army is Embarked—There is in Hampton Road one 50 guns ship, and two Six and thirty Guns frigats &c. 18 Sloops loaded with Horses—There Remain But Nine vessels in Portsmouth who Appear to Be getting...
77To 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...
78To 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...
79To 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...
80To 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...