To George Washington from Samuel Williams, 5 October 1797
From Samuel Williams
Hamburgh 5 Oct. 1797
Sir,
I have the honour to inform you, that I had, yesterday, the happiness of embracing our beloved Friend, General La Fayette, accompanied with his Lady & Daughters, Messrs Latour Maubourg & Bureau de Puzy & their families, all in pretty good health, excepting Madame La Fayette, who mends daily.1
The General retains his ardent affection & respect for you, Sir, & for our Country. Madame La Fayette’s health, the unpleasant state of our Affairs with France, & of France herself, may prevent his embarking, this fall, for America: but he is not yet decided. We all assure him a most affectionate reception there.
They were received in every town, on their way hither, with every mark of admiration & regard.
I shall have the pleasure of forwarding letters to their Son, as soon as they have a moments leisure from the Embraces of their Friends.2 I am with perfect consideration & respect Sir, Your obedient & faithful Servt
Saml Williams
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Marie-Charles-César de Fay, comte de Latour-Maubourg (1758–1831), and Jean-Xavier Bureaux de Pusy (1750–c.1806) were imprisoned with Lafayette in 1792 and released at the same time as he.
2. Williams wrote to William Vans Murray and Rufus King on 22 Aug. about Lafayette’s expected release. See Murray to GW, 26 Aug., and King to GW, 6 Sept., n.2.