Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-38-02-0268

To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [26 November 1782]

From Lafayette

ALS: Library of Congress

Rambouïllet Tuesday Morning [November 26, 1782]6

Dear Sir

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 Arrive or Not,7 He will to Morrow see M. de fleury— The six Millions, Betwen us, I think We Will Have— As to the Remainder, I do not know What May Be decided— Inclosed I Have the Honor to Send You a Copy of My Last Letter to Count de Vergennes and His Answer—8 You Will oblige me to Make these Communications to Mon. jay and Adams, as well as News of My Last Conversation, Because I want them to see that Nothing More on My Part Remains to Be done— I will also thank You for Your Answer which Has not Yet Come to Hand.9

With the Highest Regard and Warmest Affection Yours

Lafayette

P.S. My Secretary Has not Copied My letter— I Will send it By the Next opportunity

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

6Lafayette left Versailles on Nov. 25, after meeting with Vergennes, and reached Rambouillet the following day. He arrived in Brest on Dec. 1, in time to sail to Cadiz with the expeditionary force destined for Jamaica: Louis Gottschalk, Lafayette and the Close of the American Revolution (Chicago, 1942), pp. 385–8.

7I.e., the missing dispatches from La Luzerne, which Barney had just found at Lorient; see Barney to BF, Nov. 23.

8Lafayette’s Nov. 22 letter to Vergennes (Idzerda, Lafayette Papers, V, 69–72, 368–70) was a lengthy and self-important plea for continued assistance to America. He showed it to the commissioners on Nov. 23, when he also delivered his letter to them of Nov. 21. According to JA, BF regarded it as an attempt to claim credit if the loan was approved; JA was irritated at Lafayette’s “unlimited Ambition”: Butterfield, John Adams Diary, III, 49, 71. The copy Lafayette here encloses and Vergennes’ response have not been located.

9The peace commissioners answered Lafayette’s Nov. 21 letter on Nov. [27], below.

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