To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1784
From Marquis de Lafayette
Albany October the 8th 1784
Dear Hamilton
With all the warmth of my long and tender friendship I Congratulate You Upon the Birth of Your daughter,1 and Beg leave to present Mrs Hamilton With my most Affectionate Respects.
Several delays Have Retarded the Oppening of the treaty and When I was Upon the Ground, it Has Been found that my influence with the Indians Both friendly and Hostile tribes, was much Greater than the Commissioners and Even myself Had Conceived—so that I Was Requested, Even By Every one of the those [tribes] to Speak to those Nations.2 There were Some, more or less, from Each Tribe. I stayed as long as the Commissioners thought I Could do them some Good, and that Has Rather Cramped my private plans of Visits.
Now my dear friend, I am Going to Hartford, Boston, Newport, from thence By Water to Virginia, in order to save time, and about the twentieth of Next Month I Hope to Be Again With You in New york. But Before that time will write You from Newport.
Adieu, My dear Hamilton, Most affectionately I am Yours
Lafayette
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Angelica Hamilton, H’s oldest daughter, who was born in 1784.
2. Lafayette arrived in the United States in August, 1784. After visiting Washington at Mount Vernon, he traveled to Baltimore and New York City. On September 23 he reached Albany where he met commissioners of Congress who were going to Fort Schuyler to negotiate a treaty with the Indians. With Victor Louis Charles de Riquet, Chevalier de Caraman, and the Marquis de Barbé-Marbois, Lafayette went up the Hudson to Fort Schuyler where he participated in the negotiations.
3. On July 24, 1784, Congress offered John Jay the position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
4. Probably Arthur Lee of Virginia.