1Lafayette to Abigail Adams, 29 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Le Marquis de lafayette Most Respectful Compliments Wait on Mrs. Adams and is highly sensible of the honor she had done him By her Most polite letter. He is very sorry that his Going immediately to Camp prevents him from Waiting on her at Bain tree Where he should have been happy to Present her With a tribute of his Gratitude and Respect. RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “To Mrs. john Adams...
2To John Adams from Lafayette, 9 January 1778 (Adams Papers)
Headquarters, 9 January 1778. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790 , ed. Stanley J. Idzerda and others, Ithaca, N.Y., 1977– , 1:226–227. Lafayette enclosed letters to his wife and her cousin the Prince de Poix, whom he asked to introduce JA to friends. RC ( Adams Papers ); printed : Lafayette in the Age of the...
3To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 9 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I beg leave of applying to you in an instance where I am much Concern’d. The Case I shall lay before you, and Reccommend to your good Care. There is an officer in Paris Whom I want to send over to America on Board the Alliance, and whom I know would be of some use in the American Army. For that Reason Besides this of Reccommendations I have a great Regard for, I wish the Gentlemen Might find a...
4To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 19 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
As I came but this morning from Versailles, it was not in my power sooner to answer to the letter you have honor’d me with, and this duty I now perform with the more pleasure that it is of some importance to the interests of America. Since the first day when I had the happiness of making myself, and of being considered in the World as an American, I have always observ’d that among so many ways...
5To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 27 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Beg You will Accept My Best thanks for the two letters You Have Been pleased to write Giving the Particulars of Your Situation in Holland, and favouring me with Your Opinion Upon the Operations of Next Campaign. I am Happy to find You Are likely to Get the Better of British Cabals, and Hope our independance will Be Soon Aknowledged throughout the United Provinces. Such a Measure from a...
6To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 7 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Heartily Give You joy, My dear Sir, Upon the Happy Conclusion of Your dutch Negotiations. Every Body Here Congratulates me not only As a Zealous American, But Also as Your long Professed friend and Admirer. And tho’ the Court Air Has not So Much Altered My Republican Principles as to Make me Believe the Opinion of a King is Every thing, I was the other day pleased to Hear the King of france...
7To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 6 October 1782 (Adams Papers)
Your favor of the 29h last Has Safely Come to Hand, for Which I am the More Obliged to you, as I See the Greater Value By the Honor of your Correspondance. I Have Been long waïting for a Safe Opportunity to write, and will Endeavour this May Stir Clear of the Post Offices, As the itching fingers of Clarks do not Permit Any Secret to Pass Unnoticed. I Am Happy to Hear you Have walked on with...
Since the Early Period When I Had the Happiness to Be Adopted Among the Sons of America, I ever Made it My Point to do that Which I thought Would prove Useful to Her Cause or Agreable to Her Citizens— After We Had Long Stood By ourselves, France did join in our Quarrell, and So Soon as Count d’Estaing’s departure Made My Presence Unnecessary, I Had a Permission to Return to France Where, Among...
Having yesterday conferred with Count de Vergennes upon some Public Concerns, He requested I would tell you what, instead of troubling you with the Demand of a meeting, I think better to mention in this Note. The several Powers said he, are going to make up their Treaties, and when ready to sign, they will of Course meet to do it alltogether. The Mediation of the Emperor and that of Russia...
10To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 26 August 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
J’ai recu votre lettre, cher colonel, et j’y aurois repondu plutôt si l’absence de la flotte ne m’avoit pas mis hors d’etat de vous parler d’autre chose que de ma bonne volonté, dont je ne crois pas avoir besoin de vous assurer. Mais j’ai vu Mr le Cte d’estaing, et je puis à present vous parler en son nom. La veneration, la tendresse qu’il a pour notre cher general, joint au sentiment que vous...
11To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 1 September 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
Ne suis je pas bien malheureux, cher colonel, on me pousse pour aller à boston, on me chasse de Rhode island, ils n’ont ni repos ni patience que je ne sois parti, et le même jour que je m’absente est le seul où j’aurois du, où j’aurois voulu etre dans l’isle. Le diable en veut dans ce moment à tous les francois; heureusement que je viens de l’attrapper car à force de courir je suis arrivé à...
12To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, [8 January 1779] (Hamilton Papers)
Mons. Nevile allant en france, mon cher hamilton, j’espere que vous ne Negligeres pas cette occasion de m’ecrire. Le soin qu’on prendra de votre lettre et la discretion avec laquelle elle me sera remise doivent vous engager à me parler librement sur toutes sortes d’articles. Cest à vous que je m’en Rapporte pour tous les intelligences, et toutes les Connaissances de vos affaires Militaires et...
13To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 28 August [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
I wish, my dear Hamilton, you will please to invite your father in law to come and dine tomorrow with me. Mr Duane has engag’d he would do me that honor. I Beg you will also come. Be so kind as to write to me if any intelligence is come to hand, and when the General has determin’d to leave this place. Don’t forget what I told yesterday to you. I request, my dear Sir, you will Beg the General...
14To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 20 October [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
In Consequence of our Conversation, My dear Hamilton, I have wrote a letter to Gouvion the Copy of which you will find herein inclosed. By the influence of the Same that you know of I have found a faithful Canadian officer who lately got an order from me for a Coat, and was Returning a foot to West point. I gave him the letter, and send him to You that he May have an order for a horse. If the...
15To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 21 October [1780] (Hamilton Papers)
These are, my dear Hamilton, two letters By which I communicate to the french general the happy intelligence Concerning the taking of the Convoy, and inclose to them the paper that Relates the affair as well as the success of the expedition on the Spanish Main. I give you joy, my dear friend, on this success of the Combin’d fleet, and Might also Rejoice with you on some thing else By way of...
16To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 22 November 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Inclosed, my dear hamilton, I send you a letter for M de Marbois wherein are contain’d two exemplaires of my dispatches to doctor franklin. In the hurry of our Arrangement I forgot to mention them to the General. Be pleased to give him a Summary of theyr contents to which I have added the Southern News of Yesterday; tell him that knowing from experience how Negligent we were in sending...
17To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 28 November 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Here I arrived last night and am going to set out for Philadelphia. Gouvion goes strait to New Windsor and by him I write to the General, I speak of Hand & Smith whom I recommend and add— “If however you was to cast your-eye on a Man who I think would suit better than any other in the World Hamilton is, I confess the officer whom I would like best to see in my .” Then I go on with the idea...
18To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 9 December 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
On the first days of your Arrival at Albany I dare say you had Nothing to do with Any Body’s letters. But I will now Become the Bolder in interrupting your Amorous Occupations as exclusive of other Motives the importance of the Matters I have to Mention may Countenance your indulging your dear self with some Minutes Respite. You may therefore, my good friend, Catch this opportunity of taking...
19To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 10 April 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
Where is, for the present, My Dear Hamilton? This question is not a mere affair of Curiosity; it is not even wholly owing to the tender sentiments of my friendship. But motives both of public and private nature conspire in making me wish that your woe be not accomplished; perhaps are you at Head quarters, perhaps at Albany. At all events I’ll tell you my History. Had the french fleet come in...
20To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 15 April [1781] (Hamilton Papers)
You are so sensible a fellow that you Can Certainly Explain to me what is the Matter that New York is given up, that our letters to france go for nothing, that while the french are coming I am going; this last matter gives great Uneasiness to the Minister of france. All this is not Comprehensible for me, who Having Been long from Head Quarters Have lost the Course of Intelligences. Have You...
21To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 23 May 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
I have Been long Complaining that I had Nothing to do and want of employment was an objection I had to my going to the Southward. But for the present, my dear friend, my Complaint is quite of an opposite nature, and I have so many Arrangements to make, so many difficulties to Combat, so many Ennemies to deal with that I am just that much of a general as will make me an Historian of...
22To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 12 April 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
However Silent You May please to Be, I will Nevertheless Remind You of a friend who loves You tenderly and who By His Attachment Desires a Great share in Your Affection. This letter, My dear Sir, Will Be delivered or sent By Count de Segur, an intimate friend of Mine, A Man of Wit and of Abilities, and whose Society You will Certainly Be pleased With. I Warmly Recommend Him to You, and Hope He...
23To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 29 June 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
How it Happens that I still am in Paris, I Hardly Can Myself Conceive and What is More Surprising, there are two frigates Going, Neither of Which Will Carry Your friend to America. Don’t think However, dear Hamilton, I Am So Much Alterd as to Be Kept Here By pleasure or private Affairs. But in the present Circumstances the American Ministers Have insisted Upon My Remaining some time longer at...
24To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 7 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
What is the matter with my dear Hamilton and by what chance do I live in fruitless expectation of some lines from him? Does it begin to be the play in your, or rather in our Country, to take European airs, and forget friends as soon as they have turned their heels—Indeed my good friend I cannot help being somewhat angry against you, which makes into my heart a ridiculous fighting between love...
25To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, [30 October 1780] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Light Camp, New Jersey, October 30, 1780. Letter listed in dealer’s catalogue. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold by C. F. Libbie and Company, Boston, December 12, 1895, Item 312.
26To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 7 October 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
What is the matter with my dear hamilton And By what chance do I live in fruitless expectation of Some lines from him? does it begin to be the way in your, or rather in our Country to take European Airs, and forget friends as soon as they have turn’d theyr heels—indeed, My Good friend, I Cant help being Some what angry Against you, which shakes into My heart a Ridicu⟨lous⟩ fighting between...
27To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [13–14 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope my Letter will Reach your excellency soon enough as to prevent your going to versailles for our propos’d meeting— I will not yet wait on the king and his Majesty’s orders are to stay in paris without seeing a great Number of Acquaintances— I confess I can’t help much approving his wisdom on this Respect that Many people have already propagated...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [21 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I had promis’d myself, my good friend, that I would have the pleasure of embracing You this Morning—but they Write me from Versailles that I must be at the King’s Levee Before seeing any Body of the Royal family, and that Levee I understand to be at 11: Clock—in our kingly Countries we have a foolish law Call’d Etiquette that any one tho a Sensible man, must...
29To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, [7 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : S. Howard Goldman, Weston, Connecticut (1989) Inclos’d I have the honor to send a letter which I beg leave to Reccommend to your excellency that (if possible) Mr Blodget Might obtain the leave of Coming to Paris— I am just Going to Versailles, and if you have any Commands for me they shall ever be well Come. With the highest Regard and sincerest affection I have the honor to be Dear Sir...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [8 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dartmouth College Library I Am very Sorry it was not in My power to wait on Your excellency this Morning but I was oblig’d to Ride with the Queen at a partie of pleasure in the Bois de Boulogne— I saw yesterday the first and other Ministers and Spoke to them about the Necessity of Giving you Monney for fulfilling the engagements taken in Bills of exchange—that they Became pretty Sensible...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [20 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just Coming from Versailles where I went à hunting with the king, and I Do take this first opportunity of inquiring for the state of your health— I hope you are free by this time from your troublesome Gout— I make no doubt but that you knew last Night of the Senegal being taken by our troops— that Advantage I think is interesting for the Allied powers,...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [c. 31 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I went yesterday to pay My Respects to your Excellency, and waïted as long as it was in My power— I wanted telling you that I hope the Expedition will be fix’d upon but the scale yet lessened— So that we Can’t do so much as was expected, but however some advantage May be got by this little incursion—Mr de Maurepas thinks it highly Necessary to Converse with...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 19 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclos’d I have the honor to Send you a letter from Mons. de Gimat giving an account of a very dangerous division Betwen the officers of the Alliance—that I had foreSeen long ago, and I believe Some thing or other Must be done, in this affair. I also send you the ideas for prints I have Somewhat increas’d, and I Could indeed Make out an immense Book upon so...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [c. 26 May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have just now Receiv’d a letter from the President of Congress which I think Should be in Compagny with Many others— I therefore wish to know before My departure when did the pacquet sail from America, what kind of ship she was, what News or what people she brought with her— that I do’nt only desire as an american citizen who wants to hear from his...
35Franklin and Lafayette’s List of Prints to Illustrate British Cruelties, [c. May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress 1. The Burning of Charleston (Date) A fine Town by the Waterside, being a Port, but without any Defence. A Spire rising among the Houses, belonging to the House of Worship. A Belfrey belonging to the Town House all in Flames.— The Inhabitants had all left it. 2. The Burning of Falmouth (Date Nov. 1775) A fine Town & Port, but without Defence Ships firing hot...
36To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 12 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society How happy I feel, when surrounded By so many preparations Against England, My respected friend doctor franklin will easily conceive— There is nothing to be found in france which might offer to me so delightfull a prospect, as those ships, troops, warlike stores of all Kinds which are Getting Ready for to visit our good neighbours—Every thing will be soon...
37To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 28 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the Greatest pleasure I hear that By a frigatte just arriv’d at Brest you may have Got some news from America—how far my heart is Concern’d in any thing that may happen to My American fellow Citizens, I need not telling to You— I therefore entreat you, My good friend, to let me know Any public or private, important or insignificant intelligence you...
38To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 3 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have done myself the honor of writing to you some days ago, my dear doctor, and with a friendly impatience I waït for your answer— There are arriv’d some vessels from our Country which have certainly Brought Accounts of American affairs— By the french Consul at Boston I have Got a parcel of newspapers But no letters from My friends are yet come to hand—...
39To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 17 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wish it was in My power to Give you any intelligences, But however Great are our preparations, however superior we find our fleet Nothing is as yet in Motion, and we are impatiently waiting for orders— do you think, my dear Doctor, our British friends will let the Blow fall so heavily upon them, and don’t you Rather Believe they’ll try to set up a...
40To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette: Two Letters, 29 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives; transcript: National Archives; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Whatever Expectations Might have been Rais’d from the Sense of past favors, the Goodness of the United States for me has ever been such, that on every occasion it far surpasses any idea I could have conceiv’d— A new proof of that...
41To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 6 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The happy intelligence which you had the kindness of forwarding to me, is the more pleasing to My heart, that I am Glad to have Given to our scoth friends, A little But full view of the American flag— Captain Jones has ever inspir’d me with a great Regard for his talents and patriotic Spirit, and I am Proud to find that Both these Qualities have been...
42To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The fear of detaining your dispatches has induc’d me not to send my express of yesterday, so that the paquets which my last promises for sunday, will together with yesterday’s letter, Be delivered into your hand By to morrow’s evening. Inclos’d you will find 1st a letter to Congress whom for any Minuted intelligence I Refer to your dispatches, But whom I...
43To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 11 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Matter I am going to write upon is of A delicate Nature, and Nothing But My Love for America, the sense I have of theyr interests, and the entire, unbounded Confidence, I trust on your friendship and secrecy could engage me to use with you on this subject all possible freedom. From private intelligences, I am to suppose that a Negotiation has been...
44To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 14 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From the Sight of this hand writing, you will, I dare say, expect some dissertation on Military, Political, and in a word on Public Affairs— how far you are from guessing the object of My letter will clearly Appear in a little time. I am not a scavant , My Good friend, I am nothing But a Rough soldier, and would hardly do for a Committee-Man, tho you know...
45To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis de Lafayette, 2 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With a trüe satisfaction I have seen that the Royal influence in the irish parliament, fell very short of Ministerial expectations, and that some patriots Begin to speack a Bold language, and mention the Blessed words of independency and the Rights of Mankind— In the eyes of people that would be strangers to parliamentary Barking, such Speeches would be...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 9 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We were thinking But of winter quarters for the troops, and preparing every thing for our Return to paris, when an extraordinary Courier Brought us the order of Being Ready to March at a Moment’s Warning— I Need not telling you how surpris’d I was of this Unexpected Resolution that I know to have been taken on a sudden By the Ministry, and I seize the...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 10 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter will be delivered to Your Excellency By Mr. Smith who in compagny with Mr. Watts came from Virginia on commercial Business in which they have for a partner a good friend of Mine Bre [Brigadier] General Scott— Those two Gentlemen I Beg leave to present and most particularly to Reccommend to Yr Excellency that they Might apply themselves to You on...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [6 December 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I told what you know as Coming from Myself, and the Answer has been that some thing would be done that way—being ask’d what You had Said to me on that affair, I Answerd that we had spoken on it in General terms, But in the same time thought proper most strongly to urge on a speedy supply. They are Before all waiting for intelligences from Count Destaing and...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 24 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I don’t loose Any time in informing You that mde de Lafayette is happily deliver’d of a son, and too much depend on your friendship not to be Certain that You will be pleas’d with the intelligence— The Boy shall be Call’d George , and you will easily Gess that he bears that Name as a tribute of Respect and love for my dear friend Gnl Washington. I Beg you...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [1779?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Must Beg Your Pardon, My dear Sir, for My not Having the Honor to Waït Upon You this Morning But I Had the fever all Night and phisicians forbid My Going out Before diner. In Case I am Better, I Will do Myself the Honor to Waït Upon You to Morrow about one in the Morning, and in the Mean While I Have the Honor to Be Very Respectfully Your obt Hble Sert...