Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 21 November 1782

Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners

Paris Novembre the 21st 1782

Gentlemen

Since the Early Period when I Had the Happiness to Be Adopted Among the Sons of America, I ever Made it My Point to do that which I thought would prove Useful to Her Cause or Agreable to Her Citizens— After we Had Long Stood By ourselves, France did join in our Quarrell, and So Soon as Count d’Estaing’s departure Made My presence Unnecessary, I Had a Permission to Return to France where, Among things, I Endeavoured to impress this Court with the propriety to Send a Naval force, and an Auxiliary Army to Serve Under the orders of General Washington.1 The plan of a descent in England Lengthened My Negotiation,2 the Succour was at Last Sent, and Arrived at a Critical Period—it prevented Evils, But did not produce Any great Immediate Good Untill that Naval Superiority which Had been promised was sent to cooperate With us, and Helped us in the Capture of Cornwallis.

This Event ended the Campaign in Virginia, and the Army I Had Commanded was of Course Separated— Congress gave me Leave to go to France, and to Return at Such time as I should think proper— I Had it in Command to Make some Representations at this Court, and the General’s particular Instructions were By all Means to Bring a Naval and Land Assistance to Operate in our America3

Count de Grasse’s defeat Having Ruined our plans, I Now was despairing to fulfill the Intention of Congress and the Orders of My General when it was proposed to me to Serve in the Army Under the direction of Count d’Estaing—4 This Has Appeared to me the only Way I Had to Serve my Views. I Had the Honor to Consult you about it, and Upon Your Approbation of the Measure, I Consented to accompany Count d’Estaing in His Expeditions, Provided it was in My Capacity and Even Under the Uniform of an American officer, who Being for a time Borrowed from the United States, will obey the first order or take the first Opportunity to Rejoin His Colours.5

Had I not Been detained By you, Gentlemen, Upon Political Accounts which You Have Been Pleased to Communicate to Congress, I would Have long ago Returned to America—6 But I was with you of Opinion, that My Presence Here Might Be Useful, and Since it Appears Matters are not Ripe for a Treaty, My first Wish is Now to Return to America with such force as May Expell the Ennemy from the United States, Serve the Views of Congress, and Assist Your Political Operations— When or How this May Be Offered I am Not yet Able to determine, or I would not Be at Liberty to Mention, But, However Certain I Have Been of Your Opinions, I think it A Mark of Respect to Congress not to Depart Untill I have Your Official Approbation of the Measure7 With the Highest Respect I Have the Honor to be, Gentlemen Your Obedient Humble Servant

Lafayette

ALS, ICN. Endorsed. Tr, NN: Bancroft (EJ: 2773).

1. Washington had requested only naval aid. See Lafayette Papers description begins Stanley J. Idzerda et al., eds., Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790 (5 vols.; Ithaca, N.Y., 1977–83) description ends , 4: 435–37.

2. For Lafayette’s role in the ill-fated cross-channel invasion project of 1779, see Peacemakers description begins Richard B. Morris, The Peacemakers: The Great Powers and American Independence (New York, 1965) description ends , 28, 35–36, 42.

3. On 23 Nov. 1781 Congress resolved to grant Lafayette an indefinite leave of absence to go to France. JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford et al., eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 (34 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1904–37) description ends , 21: 1134–35; and Lafayette Papers description begins Stanley J. Idzerda et al., eds., Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790 (5 vols.; Ithaca, N.Y., 1977–83) description ends , 4: 440–41, 435–37.

4. The comte D’Estaing’s primary mission had been to convince Spain to make peace. See PBF description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (40 vols. to date; New Haven, Conn., 1959–) description ends , 38: 330n.

5. See John Jay’s Diary of the Peacemaking, 12–29 Oct. 1782, above.

6. While JJ considered Lafayette’s presence useful, he denied having asked him to remain in Europe. JJ to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 28 June and 13 Oct., and John Jay’s Diary of the Peacemaking, 12–29 Oct. 1782, above. On 23 Nov. JA reported that Lafayette had that day given the three American commissioners a letter “for our Approbation of his going out” with D’Estaing in which he repeated his claim that he had remained in Europe on their advice. This, JA added, “nettled both F. and J.” It did not, however, deter Lafayette from repeating this claim to Congress. See “Lafayette, John Jay’s Self-Appointed ‘Political Aide-de-Camp,’ Takes on the Spanish” (editorial note) on pp. 318–22; Lafayette to JJ, 15 Feb. 1783, below; Adams, Diary description begins Lyman H. Butterfield et al., eds., Diary and Autobiography of John Adams (4 vols.; Cambridge, Mass., 1961) description ends , 3: 71; PJA description begins Robert J. Taylor, Gregg L. Lint, et al., eds., Papers of John Adams (16 vols. to date; Cambridge, Mass., 1977–) description ends , 14: 78; and RDC description begins Francis Wharton, ed., The Revolutionary Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States (6 vols.; Washington, D.C., 1889) description ends , 6: 103–4.

7. See the American Peace Commissioners to Lafayette, 27 Nov. 1782, below.

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Source Project: Jay Papers
Title: Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 21 November 1782
Author: Lafayette, Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de
Recipient: American Peace Commissioners
Date: 21 November 1782

Reference

Cite as: “Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 21 November 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-03-02-0078. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 3, 1782–1784, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013, pp. 257–258.]

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