31From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 27 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
Mr Mason who will have the honor of presenting this letter to you is the Son of a Gentn of family fortune and influence in the state of Virginia—one who is a warm & zealous supporter of the rights of Mankind—and a particular friend of mine. Want of health induces the young Gentn to travel, to see how far this blessing will be restored by a change of climate—to Montpelier, most probably, he...
32From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 4 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Since my last which was written (to the best of my recollection for not having my Papers with me I cannot have recourse to dates) in March both Armies continued quiet in their winter cantonments till about the first of May when a detachmt of abt 2000 of the Enemy under the command of General Matthew convoyed by Sir George Collier made a sudden invasion of a Neck of land comprehending...
33From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 3 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received two Letters you did me the honour of writing to me from Havre but have never Since had any News worth communicating to you.— Here is indeed a little Vessel arriv’d at Brest, which brings me a great many old Letters and newspapers, but no Dispatches of Importance.— I have the Pleasure however of seeing by the address of Congress which I send you inclos’d...
34From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 17 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly your much esteemed favours of july 12. and Aug. 3.— You have found out by this time that I am a very bad Correspondent. As I grow old I perceive my aversion to writing increases, and is become almost insurmountable. The Expedition of the Enemy into Virginia has done us some harm, but not considerable, and it has done them no good. They have only more...
35From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 19 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I have just now received your Favour of the 17th. I wrote to you a Day or two ago, and have little to add. You ask my Opinion what Conduct the English will probably hold on this Occasion, & whether they will not rather propose a Negotiation for a Peace: I have but one Rule to go by in devining of those People, which is, that whatever is prudent for...
36From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 24 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress (three); transcript: National Archives The Congress sensible of your Merit towards the United States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to present you with a Sword, as a small Mark of their grateful Acknowledgement.— They directed it to be ornamented with suitable Devices. Some of the...
37From Alexander Hamilton to Marquis de Lafayette, 12 September 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
En effet ce servit les priver du Secours de leurs vaisseaux ou provisions au Continent et nous mettre à même de seconder efficacement vos opérations dans ces Parages en vous fournissant des provisions qui sont, je crois, l’Article le plus essential dont vous pouvez avoir besoin. L’éloignement de la Guerre de ce Païs est un objet très important pour les opérations générales de la Guerre. Il...
38From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 12 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Often, since you left this Country have I written to you, but have not been favoured with a single line from you since you lay in Boston harbour. this I shall ascribe to any cause rather than a decline of friendship. I feel my own regard for you so sensibly, that I shall never suspect a want of it in your breast. I intended to have wrote you a very long letter by Monsr Gerard whom I have been...
39From George Washington to Major General Lafayette, 30 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
A few days ago I wrote you a letter in much haste. the cause a sudden notification of Monsr Gerards having changed the place of his embarkation from Boston (as was expected) to Philadelphia, & the hurry Monsir de la Colombe was in to reach the latter before the Minister should have left it. Since that, I have been honourd with the company of the Chevr de la Luzerne, & by him was favourd with...
40From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 1 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It is a long time since I did myself the honour of writing to you: But I have frequently had the Pleasure of hearing of your Welfare. Your kindness to my Grandson in offering to take him under your Wing in the Expedition is exceedingly obliging to me. Had the Expedition gone on it would have been an infinite advantage to him to have been present with you so early in...