George Washington Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Washington, George" AND Recipient="Hamilton, Alexander" AND Period="Adams Presidency"
sorted by: date (ascending)
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/06-01-02-0342

From George Washington to Alexander Hamilton, 8 October 1797

To Alexander Hamilton

Mount Vernon 8th Octr 1797.

My dear Sir,

The ardent desire which Mr La Fayette feels to embrace his Parents and Sisters in the first moments of their liberation, induces him to set out for New York, or further Eastward, in search of a Passage to France.

It was my opinion that he had better have awaited authentic accounts of this event; but his eagerness to see his friends—the fear of a Winter passage—and a conviction that he is under no predicament that would render his reception in France at all embarrassing to him, even if he should be disappointed in meeting his friends there, has prevailed.

I am sure it is unnecessary that I should recommend him and Mr Frestal to your civilities while they may be detained in New York; or to your aid in procuring them a passage to France: but I will request, if circumstances should call for greater pecuniary means than they possess,1 that you would be so good as to furnish them, and draw upon me for the amount, & it shall be paid at sight.

Present Mrs Washington and myself in the most affectionate manner to Mrs Hamilton—and be assured always of the very high esteem and regard with which I am Yours

Go: Washington

ALS, DLC: Hamilton Papers.

1GW wrote in his Day Book, 8 Oct.: “Gave Mr G. W. La Fayette a check on the Bank of Alexandria for the purpose of defraying his Expences to France $300” (Cash Memoranda, 1794-97 description begins Cash + Entries & Memorandums, 29 Sept. 1794–31 Aug. 1797. Manuscript in John Carter Brown Library, Providence. description ends ). GW’s check for $300 drawn on the Bank of Alexandria and made payable to G. W. M. Lafayette, dated 9 Oct. 1797, was offered for sale in the fall of 1982 in Phillips Catalog no. 461, item 733.

Index Entries