To John Jay from Lafayette, 28 March 1782
From Lafayette
Paris March 28 1782
My dear Sir
I take the Opportunity of a Spanish Courier’s going to Madrid to let You know that St. Kitts Has Been taken by the french— The Intelligence Has Been Received Yesterday, and it is the More pleasing as British Accounts Had Rendered us Very Uneasy Upon the fate of the Expedition.1
Your letter of the 1st2 Having Come to Hand I Made What Communications I thought to Be Serviceable but will Be More Particular upon this Point— You know the Bills Have Been Immediately Accepted By Mr Franklin3
it was said the British Ministers would Resign and a new Set Be Introduced—4 But the Matter is at least very doubtfull— You will certainly hear of the dutch Being about Aknowledging our Independence— As a Frenchman and of course a zealous lover of the House of Bourbon I Earnestly Hope the King of Spain will not leave to Holland the Credit of first Entering into this Measure— Generosity and frankness are the Pillars of the Spanish Character, we shall certainly Experience Both in the Negotiation that is Going on Between that Court and the United States
I Beg, My dear Sir You will present My Respects to Mrs Jay and Remember me to My friend Carmichael— I will write to you Both By the Next Safe Opportunity— With the Highest Regard I have the Honor to be Your Affectionate Humble Servant,
Lafayette
1. Following his return to the Caribbean after Yorktown, de Grasse engaged Admiral Samuel Hood’s (1724–1816) fleet off St. Kitts on 24 Jan. 1782. The island capitulated to the French in February. See , 5: 20n.
2. JJ’s letter to Lafayette of 1 Mar. 1782 has not been found.
3. See BF to JJ, 16 Mar. 1782, above.
4. Lord North resigned on 20 Mar. 1782, to be succeeded by Charles Watson-Wentworth, Marquess of Rockingham (1739–82), who headed a ministry for the second time in his career.