1From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, [26 March?] 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
I am plagued to death with the applications of people who knowing the friendship you are so good as to entertain for me, wish to make use of it for their purposes. In general I get rid of them by a positive refusal to add to the thousands of applications and perplexities which you have already. You will see that the inclosed however cannot be parried altogether. I cannot refuse to send it to...
2From George Washington to Lafayette, 29 January 1789 (Washington Papers)
By the last Post, I was favored with the receipt of your letter, dated the 5th of September last. Notwithstanding the distance of its date, it was peculiarly welcome to me: for I had not, in the mean time received any satisfactory advices respecting yourself or your country. By that letter, my mind was placed much more at its ease, on both those subjects, than it had been for many months. The...
3Enclosure: Proposed Declarations of Rights Drawn by the Marquis de Lafayette and by Dr. Richard Gem (Jefferson Papers)
La nature a fait les hommes egaux, et les distinctions entre eux necessitées par la monarchie, ont pour base, et doivent avoir pour mesure l’utilité generale. Les droits de l’homme assurent sa proprieté, sa liberté, son honneur, sa vie; nulle atteinte ne peut y etre portée qu’en vertu de loix consenties par lui, ou ses representans, anterieurement promulguées, et appliquées par un tribunal...
4From George Washington to Lafayette, 27 November 1788 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you my dear Marquis, on the 15th day of September last, a very long letter, mostly on speculative and political topics. But as [I] knew that communication, by going through the French Post Offices, might be exposed to the inspection of other eyes besides yours, I was careful not to suggest any thing, which it might have been imprudent to divulge to the world. A little after sending...
5From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 19 November 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you my dear Sir my Observations on the Whale fishery. The translator and printer have been cruelly long about them. I send copies of them to M. de Montmorin, Luzerne, Neckar, and Lambert. You know there was a blank left at the end of the arret shewn us on Sunday night, as to the manner of proving our oil. I suspect Chardon so much, that I shall not be easy without knowing how it is...
6I. Lafayette to Necker, [ca. October 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
Je Respecte trop les occupations de M. Necker pour me permettre de lui parler d’une affaire extérieure si elle ne paroissoit pas importante et pressée. Le nouvel arrêt du Conseil qui prohibe les huiles de baleine ne fait aucune excéption en faveur des Américains, quoique le traité avec l’Angleterre mette le Gouvernement fort à son aise sur ce point: il est probable que M. Chardon aura negligé...
7GW to Lafayette, 15 September 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: GW to Lafayette, 15 Sept. 1788. On 27 Nov. 1788 GW wrote Lafayette : “I wrote to you my dear Marquis, on the 15th day of September last.”
8To George Washington from the marquis de Lafayette, 5 September 1788 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from the marquis de Lafayette, 5 Sept. 1788. On 29 Jan. 1789 GW wrote Lafayette acknowledging “your letter, dated the 5th of September last.”
9From John Jay to Lafayette, 1 September 1788 (Jay Papers)
The Society in this City for promoting the Manumission of Slaves & c . were much pleased to find that you was a Member of a Similar one at Paris. They have admitted you an Honorary Member of theirs, and I they will be happy sincerely wish that your Success ^generous^ Exertions in the Cause of Liberty ^Freedom^ & Humanity may continue to be crowned with Success— With Sentiments of real Esteem &...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [12 July 1788] (Jefferson Papers)
I thank You, My dear sir, on the Good News You Give me from S. Carolina . I Hope Virginia will not fail. Every thing Goes on well But the Point Relative to the Presidency which You and I Have at Heart. I Confess this Makes me Uneasy. Will the General Agree with You. The Moment He Adopts our Opinion, My fear is Gone. Our Internal trouble did take a decided turn. The late Arrêt du Conseil Missed...
11Enclosure: John Paul Jones to Lafayette, 15–26 June 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The kind Letter you did me the Honor to write me the 20th April was delivered to me at St. Elisabeth, on my way here from St. Petersburg. It was very flattering for me to receive such a letter from a Man whom I so much love and respect as I do, and have long done the Marquis de la Fayette. You will yourself do justice to my Sensibility for all your good Offices and good intentions, so I need...
12From George Washington to Lafayette, 18 June 1788 (Washington Papers)
I cannot account for your not having received some of my letters, my dear Marquis, before you wrote yours of the 18th of March; as I have been writing to you, at short intervals, constantly since last autumn. To demonstrate the satisfaction I enjoy on the receipt of your favours; I always answer them almost as soon as they arrive—Although, on account of my retirement from the busy scenes of...
13To John Jay from Lafayette, 30 May 1788 (Jay Papers)
I Have, With Heartfelt Satisfaction, Received Your favour By the late Packet, and will Refer Myself to Mr. Jefferson for Intelligences from this Quarter. The Politics of Europe are threatening, but the storm Has Hitherto Kept far to the Eastward—The defense of the turks Has More Good luck than was Reported, and the Emperor, as Usual, is More Remarkable for His plans ^ designs ^ than His...
14From George Washington to Lafayette, 28 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have lately had the pleasure to receive two letters by which you introduced to my acquaintance M. Du Pont and M. Vanderkemp and (altho’ those gentlemen have not as yet been to visit me[)], you may be persuaded that whensoever I shall have the satisfaction of receiving them, it will be with all that attention to which their merits and your recommendations entitle them. Notwithstanding you are...
15To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 25 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
I Will not Enter on a detaïl of European Affairs, Still less So of our trouble in france, as M. Barret will tell You What Has Happened Since You Embarked— Governement Have Made a Great Effort— I think it will Be like Turnus’s Big Stone in the Æneïd— for the present the Parliaments are Put to the Rout, But Rallying Again under Cover of public Opinion, which you know Has a Great force in this...
16To George Washington from Lafayette, 25 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
In the Midst of our internal troubles, it is a Comfort to me that I May Rejoice in the Happy Prospects that oppen Before My adoptive Country. Accounts from America Give me Every Reason to Hope the New Constitution will Be Adopted. Permit me once More, My Beloved General, to insist on Your Acceptance of the Presidency. The Constitution as it is Proposed Answers Most of the Purposes, But, Unless...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 24 May 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
It is a Hard thing for me to Be separated from the friends I love the Best, and to think that our daily Conversations are Reduced to a few letters, the Arrival of Which is ever lengthy and sometimes Uncertain. I Hope, However, My dear friend, you don’t question My Continual and Affectionate Remembrance of the Happy days I Have Past With You. I Hope You often think of me, and of the pleasure...
18To George Washington from Lafayette, 20 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I Have Been Requested to introduce to You Mr de Chastel de la Vallée a french Gentleman Who intends to Visit the United States, and Will probably Settle in one of them. He is Particularly Recommended to Me By the Marquis de Boüillé to Whose lady He is Related, and I Beg, My dear General, you Will Honour Him with Your Advices in His intended plan. Not knowing When this Can Reach You, and Having...
19To George Washington from Lafayette, 4 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I Have Been Requested to Present to You M. de Saint fris a Captain in the french Regiment of dragoons who is Going as a traveller through the United States, and of Course wishes to Pay His Respects to General Washington. He Has Been Particularly Recommended to me, and as I don’t know When this introductory letter will Reach you and I am sure it will not Arrive Before My dispatches of a later...
20From George Washington to Lafayette, 28 April–1 May 1788 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me, my dear Marqs your favor of the 3d of August in the last year; together with those of the 1st of January, the 2d of January and the 4th of February in the present—Though the first is of so antient a date, they all came to hand lately, and nearly at the same moment. The frequency of your kind remembrance of me, and the endearing expressions of attachment, are by so much...
21To George Washington from Lafayette, 18 March 1788 (Washington Papers)
I wish I Could Begin this letter With the Aknowledgement of a late favour from You, But None Having Come to Hand I Have No other Comfort But to Attribute it to ill fortune and Not to Any fault of Yours. I am so Happy to Hear from You, My Beloved General, and so Uneasy When I do not, that I Hope You Will Never Willingly deprive me of a Satisfaction so dear to me, Yet so short of the Happy...
22From George Washington to Lafayette, 7 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
You know it always gives me the sincerest pleasure to hear from you, my dear Marquis, and therefore I need only say that your two kind letters of the 9th & 15th of Octr so replete with personal affection and confidential intelligence, afforded me inexpressible satisfaction. I shall myself be happy in forming an acquaintance and culivating a friendship with the new Minister Plenipotentiary of...
23To George Washington from Lafayette, 4 February 1788 (Washington Papers)
Your letters Become More and More distant, and I Anxiously Wish for your Speedy Appointement to the Presidency, in order that You May Have a More Exact Notice of the Opportunities to Write to Me. This Will not tell you Much of politics. The two Imperial Courts are preparing for a Vigorous Campaign Against the turks. Russia intends Sending a Squadron into the Mediterranean, and altho’ it does...
24From George Washington to Lafayette, 10 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I fear my dear marqs, you will believe me to have been remiss in attentions to you. my last letters, I find, have been unaccountably concentered in the same hands and unreasonably delayed; entirely contrary to my expectation. when you shall have received them by the Chevalier Paul Jones, you will acquit me of any intended or real neglect. one of these letters containing the form of Government...
25To George Washington from Lafayette, 2 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I Have writen to You By way of England, and will only inclose a duplicate of the arrêt of the Council and letter to Mr Jefferson which I Hope May Serve the Commerce of the United States —I Am the More wishing for an Encrease of intercourse Betwen the two Nations, as Mr Jefferson and Myself Have pledged ourselves with the Ministry that it would Be the Case. And indeed it is Equally Necessary to...
26To George Washington from Lafayette, 1 January 1788 (Washington Papers)
I am fortunate in this Opportunity to wish you a Happy New year, and to devote the first Moments of this day to the Heartfelt pleasure to Remind you, My Beloved General, of your Adoptive Son and Most Affectionate, devoted friend. I Beg you will present My Best Respects to Mrs Washington. Madame de Lafayette joins in the Most tender Compliments to you and to Her and I Hope, My dear General,...
27To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [25? December 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
Inclosed, My dear friend, I send You the Proposed Constitution which I Have Received on My Way. What do You think of the powers of the president? I am affraid that our friends are gone a little too far on the other side. But suppose it is the Case, and General Washington is the president, I know him too well not to think He will find the danger, and lessen the authority Before He Goes over....
28[To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 5? November 1787] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Nemours [5?] Nov. 1787. Recorded in SJL as dated “tuesday (Nov. 5)” and received on 9 Nov. 1787; however, Tuesday fell on 6 Nov. in 1787, so TJ was in error either in the day of the week or the date. Not found.]
29To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 30 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I am Much Better pleased with Your Second Volume than with the times—And the politics of this Book Agree Better with me than those of the World— indeed, My dear Sir, You Have Made an Excellent work— I Confess I am the less unprejudiced as I love the Author, and His principles are Conformant to Mine— But independant of that, I am your Book’s warm Admirer and Constant Reader—its Usefulness will...
30From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 27 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Letter & the Proceedings of Auvergne— The Provincial assemblies, if they act only as Councillors of the King must operate for the benefit of the Nation— Le nombre des personnes choises dans les deux premiers Orders ne puisse surposer le nombre des Personnes choiseis pour le trois etats et les voix seront recueillies par tête, alternativement entre les Membres des...
31To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 26 October [1787] (Hamilton Papers)
As I am writing By a Gentleman Who goes through England and Carries my letter Himself, I shall Content Myself with inclosing the Copy of Some favourable Arrangemens of Commerce —and Reminding You of Your loving, grateful, and devoted am My dear Hamilton Yours for Ever My Best Respects to Mrs Hamilton. ALS , The Sol Feinstone Collection, Library of the American Philosophical Society,...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 15 October 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
While you Have Been Attending your Most Important Convention, debates were also Going on in france Respecting the Constitutional Rights, and Matters of that kind. Great Reforms are taking place at Court. The Parliaments are Remonstrating, and our provincial Assemblies Begin to pop out. Amidst Many things that were not Much to the purpose, some Good principles Have Been laid out, and altho our...
33To George Washington from Lafayette, 15 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
This letter will Be delivered By Mr du Pont the Son of a Very Sensible and Honest Gentleman, who Has Been Much Emploied in Affairs of Administration, and is Now Very zealously Engaged in drawing Up A Report for our Commercial affairs. His Son Goes out for His instruction, and With a wiew to fit Himself for future Emploiement. I Beg leave to Recommend Him to Your patronage and Advices, and am...
34To George Washington from Lafayette, 15 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
I Have a few days Ago writen to You By M. de Moustier the New Minister from this Court. He is a Sensible and Honest man with whom I think that the people of America will be satisfied. He is Very desirous to be presented to you, and I Have invited Him in Your Name to Mount Vernon, as well as Madame de Brehan, a very agreable lady, His sister in law, who Goes out with Him. inclosed is, my dear...
35To John Jay from Lafayette , 15 October 1787 (Jay Papers)
The present State of Politics Having Been laid Before Congress, I shall the Less intrude on their time with Repetitions, as the late transactions in Holland Have Nothing pleasing to dwell Upon —That the Republican party Have Been disunited in Many Respects and Blinded in the Choice of a General that Our Cabinet Have Been treacherously deceived are true, But insufficient Apologies—the Ottomans,...
36To John Jay from Lafayette, 15 October [1787] (private) (Jay Papers)
I Have Been just Now writing an official letter to You which Count de Moustier will take With Him, and while He Carries Introductory letters to You, I Shall only add that I think His temper, and His Mind Will insure to Him the Esteem of the public, and Your Particular Regard. His Sister in law, the Countess de Brehan, Goes out With Him, and is Very desirous to Be Acquainted With Mrs jay. I...
37To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 12 October 1787 (Adams Papers)
Amidst the Buzzling of Interior and foreign Affairs, I am glad to find an Opportunity to Remind you of Me, Which May Be free from the Rogueries of french and English Post offices— I Have Been Sometime in Auvergne, Attending a preliminary Assembly in that My province, the journal of which I Have once directed, and am Now Again Sending to you altho’ it Contains Nothing interesting— My stay in...
38To George Washington from Lafayette, 9 October 1787 (Washington Papers)
I Hope the time is drawing Near, when I will Receive the letter You Have Announced to Me, and while I Have the Unspeackable Satisfaction to Hear from my beloved General, I will also Gratify my Heartfelt Curiosity to know the proceedings of the Convention —May it Have devised proposals, and found in the people a disposition which Can insure the Happiness, prosperity, and dignity of the United...
39From George Washington to Lafayette, 18 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
In the midst of hurry, and in the moment of my departure from this City I address this letter to you. The principal, indeed the only design of it is, to fulfil the promise I made that I would send you the proceedings of the Fœderal Convention as soon as the business of it was closed. More than this, circumstanced as I am at present is not in my power to do. nor am I inclined to attempt it, as...
40To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, with Enclosure, 18 September 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Thus far I Have Come down from My Mountains, and Hope I will not Be sent Back without some decision or other Respecting American affairs. Inclosed is the Copy of a letter to M. Lambert which I Have writen as soon as I Knew His Appointement. I also inform M. de la Boulaïe that I will Be Ready to Meet Him Every day in the Next week, But that I am obliged to set out Again on the fifth of October...
41To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 27 August 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Notwithstanding the Advantage of Your Situation in the busy Center of public Affairs, I know that our Country News will not be Quite Uninteresting to You, particularly when they Are Mixed with the Personal News of a family Most sincerely Attached to You. Our Preliminary Assembly is at an End, the journal of which I Have directed to be sent to You. We Had No details to Enter into, but it Has...
42From George Washington to Lafayette, 15 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ the business of the Fœderal Convention is not yet clos’d, nor I, thereby, enabled to give you an account of its proceedings; yet, the opportunity afforded by Commodore Paul Jones’ Return to France is too favourable for me to omit informing you, that the present expectation of the members is, that it will end about the first of next month; when, or as soon after as it shall be in my...
43To James Madison from Lafayette, 5 August 1787 (Madison Papers)
Your Correspondents in france, Besides me, are So Well informed that You Have only to Be affraid of tedious Repetitions. They Will tell You that the dutch are divided into Several Parties, Which are Ranged in two opposite Armies. Three provinces and a Half, among Whom is that of Holland, and the Volunteer Corps are on the Side of freedom. The Remainder of the provinces, the Regulars, and a...
44To George Washington from Lafayette, 3 August 1787 (Washington Papers)
I Have Received Your first favour from Philadelphia with the Greater Satisfaction, as it promises me the pleasure to Hear Again from you Before long —a pleasure, My Beloved General, which Your friend’s filial Heart wants to Anticipate, and Enjoys most Affectionately—I Have not Been surprised to Hear of Your Attendance at the Convention, and would indeed Have wondered at a denial—on the success...
45From George Washington to Lafayette, 21 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
This letter will be presented to you by Mr Rucker, Partner in the House of Constable Rucker & Co. of New York and agent for Robert Morris Esqr. in France; on whose business he now is and whose instance I take the liberty of introducing him to your Civilities & to countenance if in the course of his transactions he shall stand in need of the latter. Mr Rucker is represented to me as a Gentleman...
46From George Washington to Lafayette, 30 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
The Gentleman who will do the honor of presenting this letter to you is Mr Shipping—Son of your old acquaintance Doctr Shipping of this City who having been at the Temple proposes to visit Paris, and of course to offer homage to you—He is a very sensible young man and as far as opportunities are offorded me to judge—possesses a well cultivated mind which unduces me without hesitation or...
47From George Washington to Lafayette, 6 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
Not till within this hour was I informed of the intention of Mr Rutledge (son to the Governor Rutledge of South Carolina whom I believe you know) to embark in the Packet for France, or that he was to set out in the morning for New York, to take shipping the day after. Tho’ totally unprepared (immersed as I am in the business of the Convention) I cannot let this Gentleman depart without a...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 6 June 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
It would Be almost as easy to shoot one of the flying Geniuses of the Arabian Nights as to direct a letter to the place where it Has the Best chance to Hit You. I Have Been dilatory in My Answer, which must be imputed to the public Hurry of National Affairs. But as I Now Hope for Your Speedy Return, I shall Make this letter the Shorter Because I Have thousand things to tell you. Our Assembly...
49To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 30 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
our Assembly is Ended; and altho’ the late depredations, and Confusion in the finances Make it Necessary to Encrease the Burthen of the People, Yet Have we Reasons to Rejoice at the More Equal Repartition of taxes, and the Barriers that Have Been placed Against future dilapidations— the Provincial Assemblies above all are a great thing—and you will see we Have obtained Many other points....
50To John Jay from Lafayette, 30 May 1787 (Jay Papers)
Had I Been Sooner Acquainted With Mr Forest’s departure I Would Have Given You More Particular Accounts of the later part of our Session—But Have only the time to inclose the Speeches that Were Made By the Heads of the Several Corps—Not that Such Etiquette Speeches are Any Way interesting on the other Side of the Atlantic, But Because You Will in the Same Book find that of the Archbishop’s de...