1To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 22 February 1786 (Adams Papers)
I Have Been Honoured with Your favour By Mr̃ Joy to Whom I Will Readily Render Every Service in My power, and am also to thank You for the Valuable Books You took the trouble to Collect for me—in the Cause of My Black Brethren I feel Myself Warmly interested, and Most decidedly Side, so far as Respects them, Against the White part of Mankind— Whatever Be the Complexion of the Enslaved, it does...
2To 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...
3To 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...
4Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 2 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I Have not Been Honoured with an Answer to My last letter, I will not lose time in Acquainting You that My departure from l’orient is fixed on the 22 d in sant — Any letter from You that Reaches Paris Before the 17 th will Be Carefully forwarded By me, and in Case You Had Any to send Clear of post offices, their Being put into My Hands will insure their Being Safely delivered to the...
5To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 7 February 1787 (Adams Papers)
J’ai Recue, monsieur, avec bien de la Reconnoissance les detaïls que vous avis la Bonté de m’envoïer; ils sont alarmans même pour Ceux qui Connoissent l’amerique; ils ne peuvent que paroitre encore plus dangereux à Ceux qui ne la Connoissent pas; on nous dit qué la tempéte s’est appaisée; puissent les sages mesures que prendront le Congrès, les etats, et la Convention de philadelphie Retablir...
6To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 5 January 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Expected to write to You By c ll franks, But as His departure Has Been daily differed, I will not delay Any longer My Hearty Wishes of an Happy New year to You, mr̃s Adams, mr̃s Smith, Your Sons, the Adoptive one I will write to By in Bye— May this New Year Afford You, and Your Worthy family and friends Every kind of Public and Personal Satisfaction! Had I Been less Acquainted With the forms...
7Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 25 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
At the Very instant of Sailing for America, I stop to Send You the New Modelled Regulations of the Cincinnati— My principles Ever Have Been Against Heredity, and While I was in Europe disputing about it with a few friends, My letters to the Assembly, and still more Particularly to the president, Made them Sensible of My Opinion Upon that Matter— Untill Heredity Was Given Up, I forbeared...
8To 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...
9To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Had I Been But a slow traveller, I should much Sooner Have Received, and of Course Aknowledged Your favours— But the Rapidity of my March Has Been Such, that While letters went after me One Way, I was Scampering on the other, and So on, Untill, By the Blessed fourth day of july, I found myself Magnetized to mr̃ jefferson’s table, where we chearfully Began our tenth Year of independance— I Had...
10To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I present You with my New Year Good Wishes so far as to conform ourselves to the European Calendar; for altho’ my Sentiments for You are the same Every Day. Yet dont I think it right in us to mention any Day as the beginning of the Year but the blessed 4 th. of July. M r. Barret’s Business is coming on pretty well; he has made a Six Years Contract with M r. Sangraine for the Sum of four...
11Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 8 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
Before I Had a Pointed Reason to write, My friendship for You, and our Common zeal for the Public Had dictated it— But I must Begin with the Article that in My Mind Creates some Uneasiness it is writen from Amsterdam that M r John Adams is very Violent Against the Society of the Cincinnati and Calls it a french Blessing— and that He says, altho’ I Have long Announced an intention to Go to...
12To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
I Have long wished for a private opportunity to write to you, And while Expecting it, Have deprived myself of the pleasure to tell you my Opinion of Your Admirable Book— I Cannot Express, my dear Sir, the Satisfaction I felt in Reading of it—let those who study Constitutions in their Closet Say what they please—to Any one who Has Experience, Yours must Ever be the true principles— there is in...
13To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 8 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you will find what I intended to Carry this Morning— but the duke de Choiseùil’s death which Happened About twèlve o’ clock prevented my going out of town— The Bargain Has Been altered over and over, and I Have at last Secured the following advantages— 1 stly the Vessels may be Americans 2 dly the More precious part of the oil, Called Spermicity May Be left out— 3 dly By the Contract...
14Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
A friendly letter I wrote You, and the One I Receive is not so affectionate as usual. The Value I set By Your Esteem, the Consequent fear least my Conduct Be Misrepresented to You, Such were the Motives that Actuated me— As to the institutions Alluded to, I only Need Saying that My principles are known— if You Have writen Nothing, I did more, for whatever I thought Ought to Be Amended, I...
15To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 16 June 1786 (Adams Papers)
This letter is Going by a private Hand, and While I am Reminding You of one of Your Sincerest friends, I am Happy in this Opportunity to Converse with You on some Objects of a Public Nature The Committee for American Commerce Has Met Some times, when I Have Endeavoured to Carry down the farm Generale— there I fought Unsupported, so Great is the influence of that Body, and altho’ I proved that...
16To 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....
17The Marquis de Lafayette to the American Commissioners, 8 April 1785 (Adams Papers)
In Consequence of Your desire, I Have Endeavoured to Collect informations, Relative to the presents which the African Powers Usually Receive from European Nations. By the inclosed Summary, You will get Every intelligences I Could obtain of what Has been done By Holland, Sweden, danmark, Venise, Spain, Portugal, and England. The Returns N õs 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, are Minuted Accounts of the...
18Lafayette to the American Commissioners, 8 April 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
In Consequence of Your desire, I Have Endeavoured to Collect informations Relative to the presents which the African powers Usually Receive from European Nations. By the inclosed Summary, You will get Every intelligences I Could obtain of what Has been done by Holland, Sweden, danemark, Venise, Spain, Portugal, and England. The Returns Nos. 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, are Minuted Accounts of the...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [20 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I intended Having this day the pleasure to See You, But am obliged to Stay Here for the Queen’s Concert, and Will do Myself the Honour to Call Upon You to Morrow Morning— Then I will lay Before You a letter I Have Received from mr. de Calonne— I am glad to Hear the Washington is Soon Expected, and Hope we May Get intelligences Before My departure which is...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [13 December 1783?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Inclosed is a Paper I intend to Present to the Several Ministers, with the Hope it May Give them some favourable ideas Upon the American trade— But Before I do it, I wish of Course to Have Your Approbation— Be so kind, My dear Sir, as to Read it Over, and if You think it May Answer a Good purpose, I will in My private Capacity Give it to Marechal de...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 15 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed Your Excellency will find a Letter from a Canadian who Requests I would Recommend Him to You— While I was with Congress, I wrote a public Letter Stating the Case of the Citizens of that province who Had Assisted us and were not paid— I Hope a Committee was Appointed to Consider the Affair— So far as Respects Mr. Calvet, I need not See the Lady, But...
22To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis and Marquise de Lafayette, 15 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society M et Mde. La Mise. De la Fayette prient Monsieur Franklin de leur faire lhonneur de Venir diner chez eux Lundy prochain. Feb. 21. There are five additional invitations for Monday dinners during the remaining months of BF ’s stay in France. All are engraved forms with MS insertions, issued in the name of the marquis only and written in English, with dates of...
23To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis and Marquise de Lafayette and Jean-Baptiste de Gouvion, 27 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr et Mde. La Marquise De lafayette et Mr. De Gouvion profiteront avec grand plaisir de l’Invitation de Monsieur Franklin et auront l’honneur de Diner chez lui Dimanche. The earliest possible year, though the note could also have been written in 1785. Lafayette’s former aide Gouvion ( XXIII , 160–1n) was in America on March 27 from 1777 through 1781 ( XXXVI ,...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [17 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library In Case the Arret for our free ports Has not Yet Come to Your Excellency’s Hands, I Have the Honour to Send You one Which I Have just Now Got— Most Respectfully and Affectionately Yours The day Calonne sent Lafayette 24 copies of the May 14 arrêt concerning free ports. Lafayette had tried to influence the government’s selection by writing to Calonne,...
25To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [20 October 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The famous William Pitt is just Arrived in Paris, and is just Returning to London— He Has Expressed a warm desire to Get Acquainted with You, and As I Hoped You would Come to day to the American dinner, I Have invited Him together with Lord Camden’s, duke of Grafton’s Sons, and two other of His friends—it is Possible You will be Glad to know a Young Man...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [3 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having determined to Go By the Next packet that Sails from L’orient on the 22d inst, I shall Be Happy to Be Honoured With Your Commands— I don’t leave Paris Before the 17th and Will in a few days Wait Upon Your Excellency— Be So kind as to let me know if You Have Heard Any thing from America— The only News I Had are, 1st that the Cincinnati Affair...
27To 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...
28To 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,...
29To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
With all the warmth of my long and tender friendship I Congratulate You Upon the Birth of Your daughter, 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...
30To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 22 October 1784 (Hamilton Papers)
Every step I move there Comes upon me a Happy Necessity to Change my plans. The Reception I met with in Boston no Words Can describe—at least it is impossible to Express what I Have felt. Gratitude as well as propriety Conspired With all other inducements to keep me Here Some time longer. Rhode island and New Hampshire I must visit—and intend embarking By the first or second day of next month...
31To 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...
32To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 12 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
It is an Age since I Heard from you. Of you I Hear By some of our friends, and in the News Papers. But altho I Have a Right to Complain, I want to let you know the proceedings of our Assembly, which as it is Unusual in France, May Raise Your Curiosity. Our Constitution is pretty much what it was in England Before it Had Been fairly writen down, and Minutely preserved; so that we Have great...
33To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 13 April 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Altho I have just now writen to McHenry Requesting him to impart My Gazette to you, a very barren one indeed, I feel within myself a Want to tell you I love you tenderly. Your Brother Church Has sailed for America since which I Had a letter from His lady who is in very good Health. By an old letter from our friend Greene I Have Been delighted to find He consents to send His son to be educated...
34To John Jay from Lafayette, 7 February 1787 (Jay Papers)
This Letter Goes in the first packet from the Havre, a Change Advantageous Both to Passengers and Correspondants, and through the Hands of C ol . Franks whose Good Conduct at Morocco Has Entitled Him to a share of that Respect which Has Been deservedly paid to the American Embassy. M r . Barklay’s Refusal of the patents, Has Been a Matter of wonder to Every Affrican, and I dare Say to Some...
35To John Jay from Lafayette, 11 May 1785 (Jay Papers)
This opportunity Being Very Safe, Congress will Have Been fully informed By their Minister, and The Bearer, M. john Adams’s Son is Himself very Well Fit to Give them proper intelligences—I Have Been not a little Surprised to Hear M. de Longchamps Had Been demanded—But Upon Inquiry found that Before My Return Such Orders Had Gone to America—Since which Government were Satisfied with the Good...
36To 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...
37To John Jay from Lafayette, 28 October 1786 (Jay Papers)
Owing to Several Circumstances, and Particularly to a journey I Have Made through some Garrison towns, Your favour [of] june the 16 th Has Reached me Very Late —that there Should Remain the least doubt with M r Gardoqui Respecting the Adoption of the English limits is a Matter of Amusement to me. the Original letter Having Been Sent, I Herewith inclose a Copy with a few Observations—I think...
38To John Jay from Lafayette, 26 November 1784 (Jay Papers)
Yesterday’s letter being some what official, I must, Before the Express goes, gratify my desire to add a few private Lines— Your Acceptance of the office, for numberless Reasons, makes me Happy, the more so as I had for Some time been in Suspense Respecting Your determination—two days ago I Had letters from France and M de de lafayette’s Best compliments to You and Mrs jay—from some private,...
39To John Jay from Lafayette, 5 December 1784 (Jay Papers)
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,...
40To 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...
41To John Jay from Lafayette, 19 March 1785 (Jay Papers)
I Have Been Honoured with your letter January the 19 th , and am Happy to Hear that fœderal ideas are thriving in America—the more I see, I Hear, and I think, in Europe, the more I wish for every Measure that can Ensure to the United States, dignity, power, and public Confidence—Your three Ministers Being in paris, they will of Course Acquaint You with the present state of American, and also...
42To John Jay from Lafayette, 7 October 1784 (Jay Papers)
I am Very Unfortunate in My Attempts to Meet You, But Hope at last to Have Better Success, and Warmly Wish it to Happen about the Middle of Next Month when I Expect to wait Upon Congress at their Next Meeting—it was far from My plans to Spend So much Time Upon an Indian treaty— But my presence was thought Useful— My influence was thought Some thing— My Stay was Required—and I found Myself...
43To John Jay from Lafayette, 1 May 1787 (Jay Papers)
I Have But a Little time to write to America, and Am taken Up from Morning Until late in the Night By the Business of our Assembly—I Have Some days Ago Given Some Account of it to C ol Hamilton to Whom I Refer You as Well as to Mr de S t jean. The Archbishop of Toulouse a Man of the Finest Abilities and Great Honesty Has at last Been put at the Head of the finances—We are Now Collecting our...
44To John Jay from Lafayette, 25 November 1784 (Jay Papers)
Altho I Hope in a few days Having the pleasure to see You, I must Beg Leave to mention a matter which Has not a litle Hurt My Feelings— You probably know that on my passing through New York, and particularly in my visit to Albany, it was intimated my presence on the indian treaty Could Be of some use to the public—at fort schuyler, I was desired to speak to the indians, which I did, and the...
45To John Jay from Lafayette, 11 February 1786 (Jay Papers)
I Have not Had for a long time the Honour to Address you either in public or private letters—this is owing to a tour I made through several parts of Europe, and to a derangement in the packets which to my great Concern I found to Have taken place during my absence in the Course of a journey to prussia, Silesia, the Austrian dominions, and Back again to Berlin, I Could not But Have many...
46To 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...
47To 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,...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, 14 February 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
Le Mis. De la Fayette a l’honneur de faire ses compliments à Monsieur Jefferson et lui envoye la lettre de Mr. Le Cte. De Florida Blanca. Il verra que dans ce tems l’article des Limites avoit été différemment reglé que les prétensions Espagnoles ne semblent l’annoncer. L’original de cette lettre fut envoye dans le tems au Congres. Une Copie remise à Mr. Jay mais il n’y eut rien de plus de fait...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Lafayette, [before 8 February 1786] (Jefferson Papers)
Otchikeita is Gone to the abbé, and Kayenlaha will wait for You to Morrow. It is probable Mr. du Crest will be there, Ambassador from the Court of the Palais Royal. Duke d’Harcourt writes me that Eleven Suits him Better than ten. Adieu. Here is an Application from Horace’s to our Good General Here are three Verses made By M. de Marmontel RC ( DLC ); unsigned; without indication of addressee or...
50To 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...