31From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 3 June 1785 (Adams Papers)
I took the Journey leisurely, and arrived here on Thursday and had the pleasure to learn that Colonel Smith had arrived the evening before, which relieved me from an anxiety, as I wished to have him with me at the Commencement of operations as well as to have all the Papers before me. I have found this Gentleman possessed of all the good Qualities which you and Col o. Humphrys, who knew him...
32Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 8 July 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
I have just recieved your letter of Mar. 12. and learning by our yesterday’s post that mr Barlow & mr Warden will sail in the course of the week, I endeavor by this day’s return of the mail to get an answer into their hands before their departure. I feel very sensibly the reproaches of silence pressed in your letter. a few days before my departure from Washington (in Feb. 1809) I wrote you on...
33From James Madison to Lafayette, 20 March 1785 (Madison Papers)
Your favour of the 15th. continued on the 17th of December came very slowly but finally safe to hand. The warm expressions of regard which it contains are extremely flattering to me, and the more so as they so entirely correspond with my own wishes for every thing which may enter into your happiness. You have not erred in supposing me out of the number of those who have relaxed their anxiety...
34From Thomas Jefferson to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 18 July 1808 (Jefferson Papers)
A letter from mr Duplantier has come to hand since writing mine of the 15th. & still in time for the departure of our vessel. you will observe that he confirms the inexpediency of a present sale of the lands at Pointe coupée. I always knew that the greater part of the location near N. Orleans was covered with a thin pellicle of water, which a ditch & dyke of about 3 feet & 1000. D. cost would...
35From James Madison to Lafayette, 10 May 1816 (Madison Papers)
Your last favor bears date Jany. 25. 1816. I wish I could add to the information you possess on the subject of the location near New Orleans, particulars more precise and satisfactory than I am able to do. The best view I can give you of the prospect is in the inclosed copy of an instruction issued by the Commissioner of the General Land office here, to the Register of the Land Office at N....
36From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 12 March 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
The inclosed is a Copy of a Letter which was intended to have awaited you in Virginia. But as there seems to be a probability that you will be detained at the Head of Elk longer than you could have expected, I have thought it best to send a Copy there also. An Idea having unfortunately got abroad that the militia now called on are intended to storm the Enemy’s works at Portsmouth, the numbers...
37From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 5 April 1783 (Washington Papers)
It is easier for you to conceive than for me to express the sensibility of my Heart at the communications in your letter of the 5th of Feby from Cadiz. It is to these communications we are indebted for the only acct yet recd of a general Pacification. My mind upon the receipt of this news was instantly assailed by a thousand ideas, all of them contending for pre-eminence, but believe me my...
38From James Madison to Lafayette, 20 February 1828 (Madison Papers)
Your favor of Ocr. 27. has been some time on hand, tho’ it met with delays, after it got into port. My health in which you take so kind an interest was as reported interrupted by a severe, tho’ short attack, but is now very good. I hope yours is so without having suffered any interruption. I wish I could give you fuller & better accounts of the Monticello affairs. Neither Virginia, nor any...
39From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Conversation with which you honoured me last Evening, has induced me, to give you the Trouble of this Letter upon the same subject. It is certain that a Loan of Money, is very much wanted, to redeem the Redundancy of our Paper Bills, and without it, it is impossible to foresee what will be the Consequence to their Credit, and therefore every service that may be rendered, in order to obtain...
40From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 17 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
It seems that a writ of surseance is what Mr. Ridout desires. In what cases this is granted, by what power, and thro whom the applications go, I am ignorant, as I have always declined asking them for any body; my idea having been that where they could be obtained according to fixed rules, they would be granted of course on any application; and that where it was not agreeable to rule to grant...
41From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 2 April 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Behold me, my dear friend, dubbed Secretary of state, instead of returning to the far more agreeable position which placed me in the daily participation of your friendship. I found the appointment in the newspapers the day of my arrival in Virginia. I had indeed been asked while in France whether I would accept of any appointment at home, and I had answered that without meaning to remain long...
42From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 21 November 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Trumbull proposing to have his paintings of the principal actions of the American war engraved, by subscription, and supposing that some sets may be subscribed for in France, knows too well the value of your patronage there not to be ambitious of obtaining it. But he knows so little his own value, and your sense of it, as to believe that my recommendations to you may be of service to him....
43From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Marquiss de la Fayette will be pleased to communicate the following Genl ideas to Monsr the Count de Rochambeau and the Chevalr de Terney as the Sentimts of the underwritten. 1st In any operation—and under all circumstances a decisive Naval superiority is to be considered as a fundamental principle—& the basis upon which every hope of success must ultimately depend. 2d The advantages of...
44From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 15 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
Not till the 5th My dear Marqs was I able to leave York—providing for the detachment that was to go Southerly—Embarking the Troops that were to go Northerly—making a distribution of the Ordnances & stores for various purposes—and disposing of the Officers and other prisoners to their respective places of destination would not admit of my leaving that part of the Country sooner. On that day I...
45From Thomas Jefferson to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 November 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
This, my dear friend will be handed you by Tho s Jefferson Randolph who goes with his fellow citizens to welcome you among us. he is my grandson and as such I am sure you will recieve him kindly, and the more so for his moral merit and the high veneration with which from his cradle he has been taught to entertain for you.—I am just recovered from an illness of some weeks, have been able to...
46George Washington to Marquis de Lafayette, 27 July 1778 (Hamilton Papers)
White Plains [ New York ] July 27, 1778 . Introduces Major General Nathanael Greene who is to cooperate with Lafayette in campaign against Rhode Island. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
47From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 30 March 1804 (Jefferson Papers)
I formerly, my dear friend, mentioned to you my wish that we might be able to get the value of your lands here increased by a permission to locate them in some more favorable position. but I feared to represent this to you as any thing more than a wish, that no false hopes might be excited. you understand yourself how little we can answer for the determinations of numerous bodies of men, of...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 22 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress I admire much the Activity of your Genius, and the strong Desire you have of being continually employ’d against our Common Enemy. It is certain that the Coasts of England & Scotland are extreamly open & defenceless. There are also many rich Towns near the Sea, which 4 or 5000 Men, landing unexpectedly, might easily surprize...
49From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 31 January 1786 (Adams Papers)
I send you by M r. Joy, all the writings which have fallen in my way, against the slave trade— I mentioned your Desire to read, whatever you could find upon that subject to M r. Granville sharp who requests your acceptance of what he has written upon that subject— you may not Know the Character of this Gentleman, He is the Grand son of the famous Archbishop sharp, very amiable & benevolent in...
50From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 8 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday by the Count de Castine another oppertunity has offered of writing to you more leizurely, & as your departure for the Southward—if that ultimately should be your determination—may be incommoded by delay, I have taken the liberty of facilitating your journey by the inclosed dispatches. I beg you to be perswaded however, that I do not mean by this to fix your...
51From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 12 June 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
As I may not be able to get at you at Versailles I write this to deliver it myself at your door. With respect to the utility or inutility of your minority’s joining the Commons I am unable to form an opinion for myself. I know too little of the subject to see what may be it’s consequences. I never knew an instance of the English parliament’s undertaking to relieve the poor by a distribution of...
52[From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 30 August 1789] (Jefferson Papers)
[ Paris, 30 Aug. 1789. Recorded in SJL under this date. Not found.]
53From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The freedom of your communications is an evidence to me of the sincerety of your attachment—and every fresh instance of this gives pleasure & adds strength to the band which unite us in friendship. In this light I view the intimation contained in your letter of the 23d Ulto—from Alexandria—respecting the conduct of Mr Lund Washington. Some days previous to the receipt of your letter—which only...
54From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 8 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that the whole Fleet went out with a fair Wind this Evening about sun set. You may possibly hear of their arrival in Chesapeak before this letter reaches you– Should you not– You will have every thing prepared for falling down the Bay at a moments warning– We have not yet heard of any more of the British in Gardeners Bay– Should we luckily meet with no...
55From Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 23 April 1781 (Jefferson Papers)
I had the pleasure yesterday to receive your favor of the 17th. inst. and am very happy that the Southern States are to have the Benefit of your Aid. On the 18th. inst. the enemy came from Portsmouth &c. (as in the following Letter to the President of Congress to the words Little River on the 11th.) We still consider his [Greene’s] as the interesting Scene of action to us. As long as we can...
56From John Adams to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 3 October 1815 (Adams Papers)
Your Friend J. Q. A has given me Such an Account of his kind reception by your Family and of his delightful Journey and Visit to La Grange: that, though I could not envy his family their pleasure, I ardently wished I could have been one in their Suite. I would go father for such an excursion than for a Sight of Scipio in his retreat. Many Heroes, Statesmen and Phylosophers have retired: but...
57From George Washington to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 30 October 1783 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit you herewith a Copy of the Institution of the Cincinnati a Society formed by the American Officers before they Seperated and retired to private life. the principles of the society the purposes for which it was formed and the qualifications necessary to become Members will fully appear by the Institution—Should any of the Foreign Officers who are qualified by...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Lafayette, 9 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 386. In this letter Franklin reports the most important British political development in the course of the peace negotiations, the replacement of Rockingham as prime minister by Shelburne. This permitted Shelburne to take full command of the negotiations....
59George Washington to Marquis de Lafayette, 20 February 1781 (Hamilton Papers)
New Windsor [ New York ] February 20, 1781 . Places Lafayette in command of detachment that is to act against enemy in Virginia. Sends detailed instructions for this command. Df , in writings of George Washington and H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
60From John Jay to Lafayette, 15 July 1785 (Jay Papers)
Accept my thanks for your interesting Letter of the 19 March which ha I was immediately communicated to Congress—I consider it as a new Proof of your ^ that ^ constant and useful Attention to our affairs ^ from ^ which the United States have so often derived both Pleasure and advantage—Let me request the continuance of your Correspondence, and be assured that it will always give me Pleasure to...