George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Cheiza D’Artaignan, 18 March 1786

From Cheiza D’Artaignan

Alexa[ndria] 18 March 86

My General

The Count De Cheiza D’artaignan, has the Honour to Inform you of his being arriv’d at Alexa. for these Four Days; having Come from Cape François St Dominicque, He Proposes to Pay his very Humble Rispects & duty which he Owes to your Rank & Illustrious merite, He hopes that His General will Grant him the Permission to Pay his Court (or to Pay his Respects) & the Honour of his Protection (or Patronage[)]. He has the Honour to be with very High respect My Genl Yours &c.

Cheiza Darteignan

Officer of the French Guards

Translation, DLC:GW; ALS, in French, DLC:GW.

GW had this to say about the comte de Cheiza d’Artaignan: “A Gentleman calling himself the Count de Cheiza D’arteignan Officer of the French Guards came here to dinner; but bringing no letters of introduction, nor any authentic testemonials of his being either; I was at a loss how to receive, or treat him. He stayed dinner and the evening” (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 4:296).

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