41To George Washington from Lafayette, 8 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
Every where I Have Met with delays—but so Agreable were they in their Nature that I Cannot Complain of them—it is not Quite the Case with the Indian treaty—Altho’ the Hope to Be Useful Has kept me there longer than I Had Expected—my presence at the oppening of it Had Been desired—Many Circumstances kept it off—at last it Began, and My influence with the indians was found Greater than I myself...
42To George Washington from Lafayette, 22 October 1784 (Washington Papers)
On My Arrival at Boston I Have Been So kindly Received that No Words Can Express My lively, Affectionate Gratitude—to those Enjoyements I Have added the Heartfelt pleasure to Contemplate the Effect, a Sudden Appearance of your picture, Had Upon a people whose love to You is as Great at least as in Any part of the World —Circumstanced as I am Here, I Could not with Any propriety set out So Soon...
43To George Washington from Lafayette, 17 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
I Shou’d think myself much Obliged to Your encellency if through Your Means Some of the Following Seeds might be Procured From KentucKé for the Use of the King’s Garden—Viz., The Seeds of the Coffe Tree which Resembles the Black oak Do of the Pappa Tree Do of the Cucumber Tree Do Black berry Tree Do Wild Cherry Tree Do Buck-Eye Tree Do of Wild Rye, Buffalo Grass—Shawanese Salad—Wild...
44To George Washington from Lafayette, 21 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
I Have Received Your Affectionate letter Of the 8th inst., and from the known Sentiments of My Heart to You, You will Easely guess what My feelings Have Been in perusing the tender Expressions of Your friendship—No, my Beloved General, our late parting was Not By Any Means a last interview—My whole Soul Revolts at the idea—and Could I Harbour it an instant, indeed, my dear General, it would...
45To George Washington from Lafayette, 9 February 1785 (Washington Papers)
After a pretty tedious passage of thirty days we Have Safely Arrived at Brest, from whence I Came to paris through Rennes, where the States of Britanny were Assembled, and where their kindness to me Made it Necessary for me to Stop one day—My family, wife, children, and friends I found in perfect Health—the politics of Europe are not in a tranquil Condition, and from their situation a...
46To George Washington from Lafayette, 19 March 1785 (Washington Papers)
Your letter december the 23d Has Safely Come to Hand, and Nothing short of the pottowmack plan Could Have Accounted with me for Your leaving Mount Vernon. I am glad to Hear You are likely to succeed, as it seems to me a Matter of Great Moment—and the part You Have taken in the Business Cannot fail, still more particularly to interest me in its success—I thank you, my dear General, for your...
47To George Washington from Lafayette, 16 April 1785 (Washington Papers)
To My Great disappointement I Had no letter from You By this packet—it is However the only Regular Way to Get intelligences, and Mercantile Opportunities are not By far So much to Be depended on—I warmly Beg, my dear General, you will not let me Be Uneasy for want of a line from You—the distance is already so great in itself, and So much Greater for the feelings of the tenderest friendship,...
48To George Washington from Lafayette, 11 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
This is not the only letter You Will Get from me By this packet, But as the opportunity is Safe, I will trust Young M. Adams With Some Matters Which I would not like to Be Ventured in the post offices of France. 102 ⟨Protestants⟩ in 12 ⟨France⟩ are under intolerable 80 ⟨Despotism⟩—altho’ oppen persecution does not now Exist, yet it depends upon the whim of 25 ⟨king⟩; 28 ⟨queen⟩, 29...
49To George Washington from Lafayette, 13 May 1785 (Washington Papers)
My Correspondance With You Will this time Be in two Volumes and Young Mr Adams, John Adams’s Son, Has taken Care of a letter which I Hope He will Safely forward —Your kind favour february the 15th only Came in the last Packet—I Need not telling You, My dear General, How Happy I was to Hear from You, and How Happy You will Make me By an Exact Correspondance and an Attention to Send the Letters...
50To George Washington from Lafayette, 14 July 1785 (Washington Papers)
Before I leave the borders of france, I wish once more to Remind you of your absent friend, and to let You Hear that I am well and just Begining my German travels—I Have Been lately Visiting Some french towns where I Spoke grat deal about American trade, and fully Answered the views I Had the Honour to Communicate in a former letter —Now I am on my way to the deux ponts where Resides our...
51To George Washington from Lafayette, 3 September 1785 (Washington Papers)
This letter Has been Requested of me as an Introduction for Mr André Michaux whom for Many Reasons I am Very Happy to present—in the first place I Know you will Be Glad to Know a Man whose Genius Has Raised Him Among the Scientifick people, and who, as a Botanist, Has at His own Expense travelled through Countries very little Known—He Now is Sent By the King to America, in order to Know the...
52To George Washington from Lafayette, 6 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
Your letters September the 1st and November the 8th Have Safely Come to Hand for which I offer you thanks the Warmer and More affectionate as nothing, while we are separated, Can so much Rejoice Your friend’s Heart as the unspeakable Blessing to Hear from His Beloved General—a long time Has elapsed since which my letters Have Been unfrequent, Uninstering, and Uncertain in point of...
53To George Washington from Lafayette, 10 February 1786 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed, my dear general, is a vocabulary which the Empress of Russia Has Requested me to Have filled up with indian Names, as she Has ordered an Universal dictionary to be made of all languages—it would greatly oblige Her to collect the words she sends translated into the several idioms of the Nations on the Banks of the Oyho—presley Nevill and Morgan at fort pitt, general Mullemberg in...
54To George Washington from Lafayette, 24 May 1786 (Washington Papers)
While I Have to lament the distance which separates us, it is an additional, and an Heartfelt Mortification for me, to Hear so seldom from My Beloved and Respected friend—and Among the Many Reasons I Have to wish for a Greater intercourse Between my two Countries, I don’t forget the Hope that More frequent Opportunities will increase the Number of your wellcome letters—this is Going By the...
55To George Washington from Lafayette, 8 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
This Will Be presented By Mr le Coulteux a Relation to the Respectable House of french Merchants By that Name who is Going to Settle in America—I Beg You to Honour Him With Your patronage and Advices. Not Knowing when this Will Reach You I only add My Respects Most Affectionate to Mrs Washington—Remember me to George, to the Young ones, to all friends. A treaty of Commerce is Signed Between...
56To George Washington from Lafayette, 26 October 1786 (Washington Papers)
To one who So tenderly loves You, who So Happily Enjoyed the times We Have past together, and Who Never, on any part of the Globe, Even in His own House, Could feel Himself so Perfectly at Home, as in Your family, it Must Be Confessed that an irregular lengthty Correspondance is far insufficient—I Beseech You in the Name of our friendship, of that Paternal Concern of Yours for My Happiness,...
57To George Washington from Lafayette, 13 January 1787 (Washington Papers)
It is I Hope Easier for You to Conceive than for me to Express the Painful Sensations I feel, when the long Waited for Opportunity of Hearing from You, Happens at last to Arrive without one line of Yours. the Regularity of Packets is now Reestablished, and they will Return to the Havre the Nearest Port to Paris. This will be entrusted to Colonel franks, who is Coming from a Successfull...
58To George Washington from Lafayette, 7 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
The last letter I Had from You is dated November the 19th, and Announces the Safe Arrival of the Asses who I Hope Will Be less frigid than those of His Catholick Majesty—Whatever Be their intrinsic Value, I Have found it Encreased in a Maryland Paper to a degree Which does Not indeed do justice to the Maltheze Merchants—and as the Estimate of the three Animals is truly Extravagant, I must tell...
59To George Washington from Lafayette, 5 May 1787 (Washington Papers)
Altho’ I Cannot omit an opportunity of writing to You, my letter will not Be so long and Minuted as I would like to make it, Because of the Constant Hurry of Business occasioned By the Assembly—every day, Sundays excepted, is taken up with General Meetings, Committee’s, and smaller Boards—it is a pretty extraordinary sight at Versailles, the more so as great deal of patriotism and firmness Has...
60To 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...
61To 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...
62To 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...
63To 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...
64To 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,...
65To 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...
66To 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...
67To 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...
68To 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...
69To 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...
70To 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...
71To 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.”
72To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 September 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your wished for and Most Heartly wellcome favours Have not this long while Reached me, and I most warmly Request You, my dear General, not to forget writing to a friend who loves you with a Filial and Unbounded Affection. this letter is Going By the September Packet, and Hereafter there will Be one Sailing Every month, By Which, While in Europe, I Shall most Exactly Advise my dear and...
73To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
However scarce are American letters, yet as the eyes of the world Are fixed upon you, I Now and then Hear what Becomes of My dear General—Your Visit to Congress, Your Stay with the Army Untill the Treaty Arrives, Your Having Been Voted a Statue, are Events Which Are known to Every one, and felt By me, So that What To Europe is an information, To me proves to Be a Cause for the Most tender...
74To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 November 1783 (Washington Papers)
This Letter will be delivered by M. de Sailly Who is going over to America, and intends establishing forges of Which he is a Master—Upon His application for a letter to You, I the more Willingly have Granted it, as there May Be Proper Materials about Mount Vernon, and I know Your Excellency will be disposed to encourage M. de Sailly’s plans for the improvement of the Mines in Virginia. With...
75To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 December 1783 (Washington Papers)
On the Receipt of Your Excellency’s letter, I took Measures to fulfill the intentions of the Society in which I Have the Honour to be a Member. As our institution was differently interpreted, I wrote a letter to Count de Vergennes of which the inclosed is a Copy, and the Account I gave was printed in a Court Gazette which I Have also the Honour to send—at a King’s Council, this day was a week,...
76To 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...
77To 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...
78To 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,...
79To 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,...
80To 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...
81To 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...
82To 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...
83To 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...
84To 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...
85To 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...
86To 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...
87To 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,...
88To 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...
89To 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...
90To James Madison from Lafayette, 15–17 December 1784 (Madison Papers)
Lafayette arrived in New York on 4 August 1784 for a visit which lasted until 21 December 1784 when he sailed to France aboard the frigate La Nymphe . During his stay, he was greeted by Washington and other Virginians at Richmond on 18 November. After feastings, celebrations, and a visit to the State Assembly, the two Revolutionary heroes spent a few days at Mount Vernon and then went north,...