To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 2 August [1786]
From Lafayette
MalesHerbes August the 2d [1786]
My Dear Sir
I Have spoken with Baron de Grimm who, it Seems, Has No Notion to Continue the Monthly 25 guineas, and says He Has taken no other Engagement But to advance that sum once—for you must know, Between You and me that the 25 guineas exceeding this Sum Have Been delivered under his Name on my Account, which of course the Empress will Reimburse if She Accepts of the proposal. In the mean while Baron de Grimm advises our friend Ledyard not to Throw a way Any other opportunity that might offer.
Inclosed is a letter from Mr. Littlepage, and also a small Bill of exchange which Mr. Grand will Be more able than you or me to Have paid and forwarded to Mr. Livingston the one for whom I sent You a Letter. At the same time that I would be very sorry to meddle in an affair of that Nature, I would think myself very much to Blame, Was I to throw away dispatches and Monney sent to me to be forwarded, the more so as I don’t know if they Contain Any thing Relative to that dispute. Adieu, Your sincere friend,
Lafayette
RC (DLC); without indication of the year, which has been supplied from internal evidence; see also TJ to Ledyard, 27 July 1786. Enclosures (DLC): (1) Lewis Littlepage to Lafayette, Warsaw, 10 June 1786, enclosing “a small bill of exchange, which your homme d’affaires will deliver to the Banker, and pardon the Liberty I take in troubling you to find some means of remitting the amount to Mr. Livingston who you know was kind enough to take charge of my affairs in New York” and asking Lafayette to inform him “whether Mr. Jefferson has received any advices from Virginia upon the subject of the affair which occasions me so much uneasiness.” (2) The “small Bill of exchange” referred to by both Littlepage and Lafayette but not otherwise identified.
I sent you a letter: Neither this letter nor its covering letter from Lafayette to TJ—if one was written—has been found.