From John Jay to Adrienne de Noailles, Marquise de Lafayette, 28 November 1782
To Adrienne de Noailles, Marquise de Lafayette
[Paris, 28 November 1782]
Madam
Mr Jay is ^I am^ exceedingly mortified by the at having been Yesterday ^being^ obliged to deny him ^my^ self the honor of waiting upon the Marchioness de la Fayette ^You^ Yesterday; for he was ^having been^ engaged with Gentlemen on public Business the whole Day & Evening—1
The Letter which the Marquis expected from the american commissioners was sent to him yesterday,2 and Mr Jay ^I^ will devote the ^first my^ first Leisure Hour he has to writing to the Marquis him again—
Mr Jay ^my^ attachmet to the Marquis, will always induce lead him ^me^ to seek Opportunities of manifesting it, and he ^I^ regrets the Pain which his Departure must occasion by occasion to the affectionate Sensibility of so amiable a Lady—remember nevertheless Madam that he is gone to give you new proofs of ^his^ deserving you, and to gather Laurels ^add to^ those Laurels gather fresh Laurels bring fresh Laurels to a House long accustomed to expect and to merit them—
Mr Jay will feel ^I shall feel^ unhappy until he ^I^ shall have the Honor of prove recieving your Commands, and ^I^ shall endeavour some Time to Day to breake away from my Colleagues, and to assure you in Person, of the perfect Respect & Esteem with wh. I have the Honor to be3
Dft, NNC (EJ: 6757). Endorsed: “ . . . To Marchons. Fayette / in ansr. to 27 Nov 1782”.
1. The American peace commissioners had been attempting to reach agreement with Oswald on the final treaty for most of the day. See , 3: 78; and 131–32.
2. See the American Peace Commissioners to Lafayette, 27 Nov. 1782, above.
3. See the marquise’s letter of 27 Nov. 1782, ALS, NNC (EJ: 6748, 90008).