To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [3 June 1784]
From Lafayette
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Thursday Morning [June 3, 1784]8
My dear Sir
Having determined to Go By the Next packet that Sails from L’orient on the 22d inst,9 I shall Be Happy to Be Honoured With Your Commands— I don’t leave Paris Before the 17th and Will in a few days Wait Upon Your Excellency— Be So kind as to let me know if You Have Heard Any thing from America— The only News I Had are, 1st that the Cincinnati Affair occasiones Great debates1 2d that Congress Have an intention to Adjourn to Six Months and leave a Committee with Very Small Powers—2 3dly that the Washington Packet is offered for Sale—3 Have You Received Any thing that Relates to Your own Motions?
Most Respectfully and Affectionately Yours
Lafayette
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / A Passy
Endorsements: June 3. 1784 / Marqs de la Fayette June 3. 84
8. Supplied from BF’s endorsements, the first of which he wrote directly below the date.
9. Lafayette had written to GW in early March about his intention to visit the United States. He delayed his departure in anticipation of the decree establishing free ports for American shipping, which was not issued until May 14: Idzerda, Lafayette Papers, V, 208–9, 216–18; Louis Gottschalk, Lafayette between the American and the French Revolution (1783–1789) (Chicago 1950), pp. 70–2.
1. For the origins of the controversy surrounding the Society of the Cincinnati in America see XLI, 502n, 504.
2. On April 26 Congress voted to adjourn from June 3 to Oct. 30 and to form a committee of states to sit during the recess: JCC, XXVI, 287–8, 295–6.
3. Congress announced on April 16 that the public sale of the General Washington would take place on June 18: Morris Papers, IX, 258, 333n.