Alexander Hamilton Papers

To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 8 October 1784

From Marquis de Lafayette

Albany October the 8th 1784

Dear Hamilton

With all the warmth of my long and tender friendship I Congratulate You Upon the Birth of Your daughter,1 and Beg leave to present Mrs Hamilton With my most Affectionate Respects.

Several delays Have Retarded the Oppening of the treaty and When I was Upon the Ground, it Has Been found that my influence with the Indians Both friendly and Hostile tribes, was much Greater than the Commissioners and Even myself Had Conceived—so that I Was Requested, Even By Every one of the those [tribes] to Speak to those Nations.2 There were Some, more or less, from Each Tribe. I stayed as long as the Commissioners thought I Could do them some Good, and that Has Rather Cramped my private plans of Visits.

Now my dear friend, I am Going to Hartford, Boston, Newport, from thence By Water to Virginia, in order to save time, and about the twentieth of Next Month I Hope to Be Again With You in New york. But Before that time will write You from Newport.

Adieu, My dear Hamilton, Most affectionately I am   Yours

Lafayette

I am told Mr Jay is not determined Upon Accepting.3 I much wish He may Consent to it, the more so as His probable successor A.L.4 does not Hit my fancy; indeed I very much wish Mr Jay may accept the Office.

ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.

1Angelica Hamilton, H’s oldest daughter, who was born in 1784.

2Lafayette arrived in the United States in August, 1784. After visiting Washington at Mount Vernon, he traveled to Baltimore and New York City. On September 23 he reached Albany where he met commissioners of Congress who were going to Fort Schuyler to negotiate a treaty with the Indians. With Victor Louis Charles de Riquet, Chevalier de Caraman, and the Marquis de Barbé-Marbois, Lafayette went up the Hudson to Fort Schuyler where he participated in the negotiations.

3On July 24, 1784, Congress offered John Jay the position of Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

4Probably Arthur Lee of Virginia.

Index Entries