1To 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...
2From John Adams to Lafayette, 3 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Honour of receiving, from the Hand of my worthy Friend General Knox, your kind Letter to me, together with five others, which, with Submission to the Fortune of War, shall be conveyed and deliverd as you desire. I am happy in this opportunity to convey Intelligence from you to your Friends, and think myself greatly honoured and obliged by your Politeness and Attention to...
3From 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...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 20 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Major Porter, brought me, your kind favour of the first of this month, together with some Letters from America, in one of which is a Resolution of Congress of the 23d of November “That the secretary of foreign affairs acquaint the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States, that it is the desire of Congress that they confer with the Marquis de la Fayette, and avail themselves of...
7From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 10 March 1782 (Adams Papers)
The Proceedings, of late in the British Parliament, I think abundantly prove, that the British Troops will evacuate N. York and Charlestown, and go to Quebeck Hallifax and the West India Islands provided they can escape in the Course of the ensuing Summer. It cannot be a Question, with any Sensible Man, whether it will cost most Time, Blood and Treasure to France and Spain to take them all...
8To 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...
9From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 6 April 1782 (Adams Papers)
I am just honored now with your’s of 27th. March. All things were working rapidly together for our good, untill on the 3d. instant, the Russian Ministers at the Hague presented the Memorial which You have seen in the Gazettes. This will set twenty little Engines to work, to embroil and delay: but I believe that in the Course of four or five Weeks We shall triumph over this which I take to be...
10To 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...
11From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 21 May 1782 (Adams Papers)
Yours of the Seventh of this month, was yesterday brought me, by Mr Ridley, and I thank you for your kind Congratulations, on the Progress of our Cause in the Low Countries. Have a Care, however, how you profess Friendship for me: there may be more danger in it, than you are aware of. I have the Honour, and the Consolation to be a Republican on Principle. That is to Say, I esteem that Form of...
12From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 29 September 1782 (Adams Papers)
I Should have written you, Since the 29 of May, when I wrote you a Letter that I hope you recd, if it had not been reported Sometimes that you was gone and at other times that you was upon the Point of going to America. This People must be indulged, in their ordinary March which you know is with the Slow Step. We have however at length the Consent of all the Cities and Provinces, and have...
13To 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...
15Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 21 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Newberry Library; transcript: New York Public Library 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...
We have received the Letter you did us the honor to write on the 25 th. Inst. Our Country has had early and repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and Abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in America, induced us to adopt the Opinion, that you might be more useful here than there, especially in Case the Negotiation for Peace on the Part of France in England, should...
17The American Peace Commissioners to Lafayette, [27 November 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Columbia University Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society We have recd. the Letter you did us the Honor to write on the 25th. Inst. Our Country has had early & repeated Proofs both of your Readiness and abilities to do her Service. The Prospect of an inactive Campaign in america, induced us to adopt the opinion, that you might be more useful...
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...
19Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 12 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress 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...
20Lafayette to the American Peace Commissioners, 22 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Having Been Honoured With letters from Congress, it Becomes my duty to Consult You Upon a point Which they Have particularly Recommended— In the late preliminaries no time is Mentionned for the American Merchants paying their English debts— A Matter of Great Moment to our Merchants who Require at least three or four Years to Accomplish the Business— Upon...
21Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 8 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
Before I Had a Pointed Reason to write, My friendship for You, and our Common zeal for the Public Had dictated it— But I must Begin with the Article that in My Mind Creates some Uneasiness it is writen from Amsterdam that M r John Adams is very Violent Against the Society of the Cincinnati and Calls it a french Blessing— and that He says, altho’ I Have long Announced an intention to Go to...
22John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 28 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I did not receive your Letter of the 8 th , untill the day before yesterday.— That I have not Seen with Pleasure, Approbation or Indifference, the Introduction into America, of So great an Innovation, as an order of Chivalry, or any Thing like One, or that has a Tendency to one, is very true. that I have been violent against it, is not So. I am not a violent Man. I have disapproved of this...
23Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 9 April 1784 (Adams Papers)
A friendly letter I wrote You, and the One I Receive is not so affectionate as usual. The Value I set By Your Esteem, the Consequent fear least my Conduct Be Misrepresented to You, Such were the Motives that Actuated me— As to the institutions Alluded to, I only Need Saying that My principles are known— if You Have writen Nothing, I did more, for whatever I thought Ought to Be Amended, I...
24Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 2 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
Altho’ I Have not Been Honoured with an Answer to My last letter, I will not lose time in Acquainting You that My departure from l’orient is fixed on the 22 d in sant — Any letter from You that Reaches Paris Before the 17 th will Be Carefully forwarded By me, and in Case You Had Any to send Clear of post offices, their Being put into My Hands will insure their Being Safely delivered to the...
25John Adams to Marquis de Lafayette, 11 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I received in Season, the Letter mentioned in yours of the Second of this Month, but as there was nothing in it which required an immediate Answer, I have not acknowledged the Recipt of it, untill now. If an Express should be upon his Passage with any Arrangement of Congress, respecting their foreign Affairs I presume the Departure of M r Jay and M r Laurens for America, will disarrange it: So...
26Marquis de Lafayette to John Adams, 25 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
At the Very instant of Sailing for America, I stop to Send You the New Modelled Regulations of the Cincinnati— My principles Ever Have Been Against Heredity, and While I was in Europe disputing about it with a few friends, My letters to the Assembly, and still more Particularly to the president, Made them Sensible of My Opinion Upon that Matter— Untill Heredity Was Given Up, I forbeared...
27To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 8 May 1785 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you will find what I intended to Carry this Morning— but the duke de Choiseùil’s death which Happened About twèlve o’ clock prevented my going out of town— The Bargain Has Been altered over and over, and I Have at last Secured the following advantages— 1 stly the Vessels may be Americans 2 dly the More precious part of the oil, Called Spermicity May Be left out— 3 dly By the Contract...
28From 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...
29To John Adams from the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 July 1785 (Adams Papers)
Had I Been But a slow traveller, I should much Sooner Have Received, and of Course Aknowledged Your favours— But the Rapidity of my March Has Been Such, that While letters went after me One Way, I was Scampering on the other, and So on, Untill, By the Blessed fourth day of july, I found myself Magnetized to mr̃ jefferson’s table, where we chearfully Began our tenth Year of independance— I Had...
30From John Adams to the Marquis de Lafayette, 13 December 1785 (Adams Papers)
I have received your favour of the 30 th. Ult o. and thank you for the extract enclosed— The Commerce of new England will follow their oil, wherever it may go and therefore I think it good Policy, in the Controller General to take of the duty— But there is another object of Importance I mean the sperma Cæti Chandles— Will you be so good as to inform me whether these are prohibited in france?...