John Jay Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-03-02-0297

To John Jay from Lafayette, 5 December 1784

From Lafayette

Sunday Evening [Philadelphia, 5 December 1784]

My dear Sir

I am Very Happy to think I will at last meet You, and to morrow Expect doing myself the pleasure to wait Upon You at Trenton— Not that I intend this time to present my Respects to Congress, who in these fine days Have more important things to do than to Receive my Congratulations— I got Here to day, and as M. de Marbois Says He Has Some Business at Trenton, I will take a Seat in his Carriage, if weather is favorable, to pass with you a part of next Evening and Return Tuesday morning—and towards the end of the week, will Repair to Trenton, or to New York, or to Philadelphia, in a word where Congress will Be, to lay before them, after I have Consulted You upon the mode, a tribute of my Respect and Gratitude— Bon soir, my dear Sir Yours

Lafayette1

private

I am going, my dear Sir, and Have written to the president—should you drop me a line to morrow, it might come with the stage to Philadelphia— Friday I will be with you about Five o’clock—don’t forget Reading to day my letter sent By express from Mount Vernon2 and telling what you have seen in my Epistle to the Consul. Bonjour

L.F.

ALS, NNC (EJ: 6740). Endorsed by JJ: “ . . . recd. Decr. 1784.”

1JJ replied on 9 Dec., “Congress have appointed a Committee of 13 to recieve and take Leave of You, which in my opinion they will be prepared to do on Saturday.” JJ to Lafayette, 9 Dec. 1784, Dft, NNC (EJ: 6766). JJ served as chairman of the committee. For Lafayette’s address to Congress, and Congress’s letter of approbation for Lafayette addressed to Louis XVI, drafted by JJ, both 11 Dec., 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 , 5: 280–84.

2See Lafayette to JJ, 25 Nov. 1784, above, in which Lafayette explained how a translation of his address to the Indians at Fort Stanwix had been provided to the press by St. John de Crèvecoeur and published without his consent; and Lafayette to St. John de Crèvecoeur, 25 Nov. 1784, C, in the hand of JJ, NNC (EJ: 6738).

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