1To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 February 1826 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho I Have Not Since My Return to france Received any direct letter from Monticello, I Have the Gratification to Conclude from Several Reports, namely from An Account of Your Visit to the University that Your Health is Much improved from what I Have left it. it is a pleasing thought to me that when these lines Will Reach You there Will be a short time to Wait before Your dear Helen Has...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 November 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
M r Connel who is Returning to the United States is pleased to take Charge of some Books which our excellent friend tracy Has desired me to forward in His name to you. as it is probable an other letter will Have Reached You Before this packet I shall only offer my affectionate Respects, and those of my children and to renew to you, to the whole family, my ardent wishes for your Better Health,...
3To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 September 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Permis me to offer you, in the name of young and very distinguished friend M. Thierry, an intimate friend also to m r de Tracy a Work which is much approved in france, and may seem to you not unworthy of your Historical selection for the University. The author is on the point of loosing His sight. it is a great pity We leave Here for the Brandywine on the 7 th . My Heart is too full to write...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 13 July 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will Be delivered By M. de Syon a Good Young French man who was acquainted with us in France, and Has much travelled with us through the U.S. He is going to See the Natural Bridge and other Curiosities But wish above all to Have the Honor to Be presented to You, as I don’t know when or How we will meet Again I Give Him this line of introduction. Your Amiable grand daughter is now...
5To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 21 February 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
I am on my way to Norfolk from thence to proceed to Raleigh, Fayetteville, to South Carolina, Georgia, and Byland to Montgomery where a Steam Boat Will take us to Mobile and Neworleans. I shall after four days stay at Neworlean Visit all the states Up the mississipy and ohio, pay a visit to our friend Gallatin, and Either By the Canal, albany, vermont, or thrugh philadelphia and Newyork go to...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 26 January 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter Has found me at Richmond where I Came in obedience to a kind invitation from the assembly of Virginia, and I now am on my way to meet another kind Call from the assembly of pennsylvania at Harrisburg, so that I cannot Be Returned to Washington Before the 5 th or 6 th February, and on the 24 th I Contemplate to set out for the Carolinas, georgia, alabama, new orleans, and the...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 9 December 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The Happy days I Have past at Monticello Are over; But they Have Left on My Heart an impression Never to Be efaced; I Rejoice at the Visit You are Going to Receive, not only Because it will Be pleasing to You, But on Account of the General Good it May produce; You will, No doubt, talk with M r Webster of Your ideas to facilitate the Emigration of Coloured people, and, Connected with it, their...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The kind invitation from the citizens of Charlottesville is on Every account gratifying to my feelings, and Amidst the Motives that contribute to my Eagerness to pay to them in person my Respectful thanks, I know they will with pleasure admire my afectionate sense of the ties which Unite them to my Excellent friend. I expect, at last, to Reach Monticello Next Thursday, and shall there ait for...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 28 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Here I am Arrived in the fond Expectation to See of Sunday morning, But find myself once more disappointed in my Eagerness to Reach Monticelo; the kindness of our friends on the Road will Make the Journey less Expeditious than I Had intended it, and the Great Business of the elections on Monday Has Coincided with those preparations to make it inconvenient for many to receive us on that day. I...
10To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 1 October 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
Here I am on My Visiting progress, delighted With the improvemens I Every Where Witness, and penetrated With Gratitude for the Welcome it Has Been My Happy Lot Every Where to Meet. The Extraordinary Circumstances of a Reception So Superior to Any individual Merit Have However, to My Great degree Mixed With Much delight, prevented My fulfilling the most pressing duties of a Correspondence With...
11To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 August 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
My dear Excellent friend, Here I am, on American ground, Welcomed in a Manner that Exceeds the power to Express what I feel. Those testimonies of kindness to Which time does not Suffice Have prevented my writing to you, as I intended, from Newyork. an invitation from the City of Boston, Received in france, and a Consequent Engagement on my part Have brought me Here; I Shall be Returned to...
12To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 12 May 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
General Pepe’s character is so well known to you that it is only as His friend that I claim the Right of introduction to Monticelo: time is not very distant when I will have the delight to introduce myself. But as he goes from England, I from France, and my own arrangements are not yet settled, I thought I Had better transmit these lines for you, sensible as I am of the pleasure you will feel...
13To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 20 December 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
It is a very long while since my eyes were gratified with a sight of Your Handwriting: I know that Occupation is a fatigue to you and would not Be importunate. But when You indulge the pleasure to Converse with absent friends Remember few are as old, and None Can Be More Happy than I am, in the testimonies of Your welfare and Affection. Every Account I receive from the U.S. is a Compensation...
14To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 May 1823 (Jefferson Papers)
In my letter By mr Gallatin I announce to you, my dear friend, two Books of which I now inclose. my affection for the author makes me wish to know your opinion of the only book from An English pen that is in favor of American Institutions and American character. Your old affectionate friend DLC : Papers of Thomas Jefferson.
15To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 14 December 1822 (Jefferson Papers)
While You Are Enjoying the peice of private Life I am Sure You Will Not be disturbed By the introduction of Such an Acquaintance as doctor Constancio. He is a portuguese, Has Long Been in Great Britain and france, and to His Natural Accomplishments Has Joined Acquired ones Both of Which insure to Him, wherefore He Will Be known, a More Agreable Reception. I Have Not Had Myself the pleasure to...
16Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 10 December 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
Your kind Letter may 14 h By m r Lyman is the Last I Have Received. I know You Had Rather Ride than Write. But Altho’ I Have Successfully forced myself to Recover the Use of Horse Riding, We Unfortunately are not Within Visiting distance. Let us therefore, now and then, indulge mutual friendship in the only Means of Communication that are Left to us. Politics, as You Justly observe, Have Ever...
17Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 25 April 1817 (Jefferson Papers)
I Was a few days Ago in paris when M r G. Ticknor Left a Card and a Letter from You which I Hastened, with Affectionate Eagerness, to peruse . not a little perplexed Was I to Understand Some parts of it, when I perceived that Since it Had been writen two Revolutions and two dynasties Had Successively Reigned in france . m r Ticknor whom I Had the pleasure to See the Next day Confirmed by His...
18Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I Cannot Let g al Bernard Embark with His Amiable Lady and family for America without a line to You. that Eminent officer Has Been Honour’d with the only Exception to the determination of Government Not to Employ foreigners in the Army of the U.S. I think He deserves the Confered distinction, Not only on Account of His Great talents, and deep knowledge in His Line, But also Because I Never Saw...
19Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 August 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letter of May 17 h Has Afforded me Every kind of Gratification. I Had not for a Long time Heard from you and was very Anxious for intelligences of your welfare. Certain Leanings of the Liberal opinion on the other Side of the Channel and Atlantic waters Appearing to me Not Quite Correct I Have Been much pleased to find you were Sensible of the dangers we Had to Encounter from Both...
20Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 April 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter Will Be delivered By Mr Geo. Flower Who is Going over With an intention to Settle in America . I know Him to Be one of the Most desirable Acquisitions the U.S. Can Make. His departure from England is Suspended Untill a Line of introduction from me to You Can Reach Him. While it Shows the proper Sense He Has of Your Acquaintance, I find in it a Very pleasing Gratification, as Mr...
21Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 17 February 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have not, Since a very Long while, Received An Answer from You. a Letter of Mine will probably Go By the opportunity which Carries these Lines. I shall Therefore only inclose a Copy of the Letter writen to our friend dupont de Nemours By Another friend of ours . it Relates more to you than to Him and if you Can Give Him the informations and Send the Books Herein Requested You will greatly...
22Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 21 January 1816 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have Been for a Long While Anxiously Expecting Answers to Several Letters of Mine Which I principaly Atribute to the distance from Monticelo to the Sea port places where opportunities are to Be found— But as the departure of M r Gallatin Cannot fail to Be known to You I Hope He May Be the Bearer of Your dispatches. the Situation of Europe is too Comprehensive, the Events of Last Year Have...
23Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 28 December 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
The Bearer of these Lines is M r Lakanal Member of the french institut , officer of the University and inspector General of the New Metrical System who abandons those functions and a Handsome treatment to Become a Settler in the State of Kentucky . He Has for Several years been in the Representative Assemblies of france , and is Going to Seeck in the U.S. Liberty, Security, and Happiness. I...
24Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 10 October 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
A Long while Has Elapsed Since I Had the pleasure to Hear from you—I might Say a Century Was I to Reckon upon the Succession of Revolutions and dynasties—But as Royal and imperial Cycles are to you and me very Secondary objects, I only mean the true time during which I Have Been deprived of your Correspondance In your Letters of Last year, anterior to the first Abdication of Bonaparte , you...
25Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 8 September 1815 (Jefferson Papers)
I do not know whether the Bearer of these Lines Has Had the Honour of Your Acquaintance while you were Visiting His family or friends—But I am Sure He Will Meet a kind Welcome at Monticelo and Shall only add the Expression of my Constant and Respectful affection RC ( DLC ); endorsed by TJ as received 27 Oct. 1817 and so recorded in SJL ; with notation by TJ adjacent to endorsement: “(by...
26Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 14 August 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Letters to me Nov. 30 and to our Beloved Mde de tessé decemb. 8 h are the Last I Have Received—She Has Not lived to enjoy this token of your Rememberance— m. de tessé who Had Been declining Rapidly was the first of the two for whom we Had to mourn—she assisted Him to the Last Hour—She Regretted Him with the feelings of lively affection and old Habits—Her delicate frame Could not Bear Such...
27Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 25 February 1814 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will Be delivered By M r Jullien a Citizen distinguished By His Litterary and political knowledge as well as By His patriotic Sentiments. He Has Been for a Long time employ’d in the Commissariat and offices of the military department and Has particularly Applied His Studies to the Line of education. Being desirous to visit the U. S. , altho’ He is not on the lists of proscription,...
28Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 4 July 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
Here is, my dear friend, the Anniversary of that Great day on which Both the deed and the Expression were worthy of Each other—This double Rememberance in your Quiete Retirements is Happily Refreshed By the Extension of independance to all America —an event which, altho’ we Have Had the pleasure to foresee and the Good fortune to prepare it, we should not, Had it not Been for the Ambition of...
29Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 20 May 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I Cannot Lament the Sudden departure of the wasp Since I am informed it is owing to Some Better progress from this Quarter—the particulars I do Not know, Having Had no Late Opportunity of a Confidential Communication with Our friend mr Barlow . the Negociation with mr perceval Has taken a shorter turn than was Expected—I Hope His power May Be inherited By one Better disposed in favor of the...
30Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 22 April 1812 (Jefferson Papers)
I find the dispatches By the Hornet are Just Going and altho’ I mean to write more fully By the Return of the wasp I Hastily Seize the Opportunity to let you know that my family and myself, mde de tessé , who Has Been ill, mr de tessé , m. de mun and m r de tracy are now all well—your Correspondance with washington will inform you of the European news.—Great Continental preparations are moving...
31Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 26 December 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
The Arrival of the Constitution frigate Has Blessed me with a very welcome Compensation for your Long Silence— I Have first Enjoy’d the kind Letters directed to me, then took a share in those to mde de tessé and to my friends Humboldt and tracy —they Have Given me So much to think and to Say that I feel the insufficiency of Epistolary Correspondance , and more than Ever the Need of personal...
32Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 12 September 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ my Letters to you Have for a very Long time Remained unanswered, I Cannot let madame de puzy Go to America without these lines from me—Not that she is in Need of a Recommendation to the friend upon whose Sentiments for Herself and Her parents she and Her children are chiefly to depend. she abandons the prospects to which the Distinguished Services of Her Husband , not only in our times,...
33Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 12 March 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I Hope You Have Received my Letter of the 16 h Novem ber Complaining of Your silence—far I am from withdrawing the Complaint—Not one Line of Answer from You, Since You are at Monticelo , Has Reached me—I was Anxious to Hear Every particulars Relative to Your Retirement—the minute detaïls I Had presumed to pour upon You, with Respect to my private Concerns, needed to Be Countenanced By Your...
34Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 November 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have not, Since You are Returned to private life, Received one Line from You— no Answer to My Voluminous dispatches By a S t Sebastien Ship, Count palhen , and the John Adams Has Ever Reached me—Several Government Letters Have Since arrived—I Have Several times writen to You—This Silence of Yours, my Excellent friend, is to me a Great disappointment. M r Russel will Relate the State of...
35Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 20 September 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
This Letter will Be Carried by G al Armstrong which makes it Superfluous for me to Give political intelligences— You will Have Heard of the Repeal of the milan and Berlin decrees to take place the 1 st November —there Have Since Been Some Communications more Secret, Some of them verbal, from which we may Hope for a Restoration of the Confiscated property, short of the Enormous duties, which...
36Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 25 August 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
Whatever Be the Situation of my private Concerns, the first Expressions of My Letter, and the first feelings of My Heart will Be Consecrated to the Happy Repeal of the Milan and Berlin decrees— it Behoves G al Armstrong on Every Account to Announce this important turn in His Negociation. But I Rejoice in the Opportunities to Congratulate it with You—it Seems Great Britain Cannot now dispence...
37Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 24 March 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have Had Lately, Notwistanding the Strangeness of the times, Good Opportunities to write to You— Nor do I think this Letter is the only one I Shall Send By the John Adams — But Before I Leave paris , where I Have Been detained By Very disagreable pecuniary troubles, I must Lodge with General Armstrong a third Copy of My long dissertation on my private affairs—a memorial Still Longer Has...
38Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 10 March 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
The John Adams is Not Yet Returned from England — it is probable m r pinkney waïts for Some Conclusion or Answer to Be Communicated by Her— I wish it May be the Case with G al Armstrong provided He Has Good News to Send—a Communication Had Been Announced to Him by M r de Champagny Which Has Not Yet taken place—
39Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 20 February 1810 (Jefferson Papers)
The Opportunity of an American frigate would at all times Have Been precious—it is still more So untill the Absurd Crime of water and Land piracies on the Neutrals is Renounced By Both Belligerents— I am in Hopes of a favorable Change. But as it must Be pretty well Ascertained Before the John Adams Sails I Refer You to What G al Armstrong will on the Last day Communicate. Amidst the Joint...
40Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 18 November 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I Have Been for a Long time in daily and disappointed Expectations of a Letter from You, Nor do I know when I may obtain the Comfort of Your Correspondence—in the Mean while Much Havock Has Been Made in Europe — I don’t Speack of the British Expedition Under Lord Chatam —it is But justice to Say that, whatever Be their intention, they did as Litle Harm as possible Considering their Numbers and...
41Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 26 October 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I wish I might make use of the present Opportunity to tell You the Conditions of the peace Lately made with Austria —But Last Evening, the first members of Government knew no more of it than myself— I am Returning to La Grange —the Emperor is Expected this day at fontainebleau , and if the Vessel is Somewhat detained, G al Armstrong will Be able to write the particulars of the treaty. inclosed...
42Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 16 September 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
I fortunately Happened to Be at Aulnay , m de de tessé ’s Seat near paris, when a Messenger from America is Arrived—He is Sent Back immediately— I Hasten to write a few lines But do Not Lament this Sudden departure as I did that of m r Coles —He Had promised to Spend Some time at La Grange — I Had of Course Ajourned Every thing I wanted to Say and to Hear Respecting You, myself, public, and...
43Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 12 June 1809 (Jefferson Papers)
While I was indulging the Hope to See M r Coles at La Grange , to possess Him Some days in our family, to go with Him to Aulnay where M r et M de de tessé , expected the pleasure to Receive Him, I Have Been Yesterday informed of His Sudden departure—I immediately Came to town, But am much Vexed at My disappointment—The impression M r Coles Has made Upon me Makes me Heartily Regret Not to Have...
44To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 28 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Necessity of an Active Correspondance with the U.S. Has never been Better Evinced than on the Arrival of a West India Rumour which would Have dreadfully Alarmed us, Had we not Been in the Blessed Possession of Your Own Letters. I Hope You will never leave Your friends in Europe Without Regular Intelligence of Your personal Welfare. the Want of it I feel, the More, My dear Jefferson, as It...
45To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 25 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Answer to Your kind and Welcome Letter By the Arcturus Has Been Already forwarded By General Armstrong—But in the Situation of This Side of the Atlantic and the Intermediary Seas duplicates are not a Superfluous Measure to insure a Safe Arrival on the American Shore. I Shall therefore improve the Opportunity of two or three Vessels Just Going But only to write a few lines and Copies of...
46To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 19 June 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Good Letter inclosed in the Official dispatches by the St. Michael Has Afforded me Great Comfort. No Balm Can Be Applied to a Suffering Heart More Soothing than the Sympathising Affection and Regrets of Such a friend as You—While I Have So often with Her Lamented the Loss of Your Happiness I did not foresee that Before Long I should Be Entitled to a Reciprocity of Your Condoling Pity—and...
47To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 29 May 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Permit me, my dear friend, to inclose the Copy of my Last Letter to You—there Have Been, since that date, Great Changes in Europe, all Coming from and Congenial to one System and depending on one Man—My Situation is the Same as when I made Your friendly Heart a partaker in the Miseries of an irretrievable Loss, and inconsolable Grief, and when, forced to Appear importunate, I insisted on the...
48To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 April 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
Altho’ my Letter by Young Mr. McHenry Had Not Reached You, I am sure You Have by this time Heard of My Unhappy fate. The Wife whose Loss I am left to Mourn Has Been Long known to You—in Her, as Every Moment of an Union of Thirty four Years, I Have found the Greatest Blessing My Heart Could Wish for and more than a Compensation for Every possible Misfortune—The Great and Amiable character She...
49To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 11 January 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
The Constant Mourning of Your Heart will be deepened by the Grief I am doomed to impart. Who Better than You can Sympathise for the Loss of a Beloved Wife? The Angel who for thirty four Years Has blessed My Life was to You an Affectionate, Grateful friend—pity me, my dear Jefferson, and believe me for Ever, with all My Heart, Yours Mr. and Mde. de Tessé, at Whose House We Have Attended Her...
50To Thomas Jefferson from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 5 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I Cannot Resist an Opportunity to write to You—there is for me the Heartfelt Consolation in Expressing the Anguish I feel to a friend Ever, and in this Instance more Than Ever Ready to Sympathise with me— My Wife is Under the pains and danger of a Malignant fever which Has Been preceded By a thermic desease of a Very obscure Nature— There Have Been for Some time fears of an Obstruction of the...