find sufficiently strong for our dear Anastasia? You will find them but
in your own heart, and in mine, which is equally open to you. Cover her
with kisses; teach her to love me by loving you. We are so completely
united, that it is impossible to love one without loving also the other.
That poor little child must supply all we have lost; she has two places
to occupy in my heart, and this heavy task our misfortune has imposed
on her. I love her most fondly, and the misery of trembling for her life
does not prevent my feeling for her the warmest affection. Adieu; when
shall I be permitted to see thee, to part from thee no more; to make
thy happiness as thou makest mine, and kneel before thee to implore thy
pardon. Adieu, adieu; we shall not be very long divided.
PRESIDENT LAURENS TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.~[1]
Philadelphia, 13th September, 1777.
Sir,--I am sensible of a particular degree of pleasure in executing the
order of congress, signified in their act of the 9th instant, which will
be enclosed with this, expressing the sentiments of the representatives
of the United States of America, of your high merit on the late
expedition against Rhode Island. You will do congress justice, Sir, in
receiving the present acknowledgment as a tribute of the respect and
gratitude of a free people. I have the honour to be, with very great
respect and esteem, Sir, your obedient and most humble servant,
HENRY LAURENS, President.
Footnote:
1. This letter, as well as all those that follow to that of the 11th of
January, 1779, with the exception of the letter to Lord Carlisle, was
written originally in English.
RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS.
Resolved:--The president is charged with writing to the Marquis de
Lafayette; that congress conceives that the sacrifice he made of his
personal feelings, when, for the interest of the United States, he
repaired to Boston, at the moment when the opportunity of acquiring
glory on the field of battle could present itself; his military zeal
in returning to Rhode Island, when the greatest part of the army had
quitted it, and his measures to secure a retreat, have a right to this
present expression of the approbation of congress.
September 9th, 1778.
MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE TO PRESIDENT LAURENS.
Camp, 23rd September, 1778.
Sir,--I have just received your favour of the 13th instant, acquainting
me with the honour congress have been pleased to confer on me by their
most gracious resolve. Whatever pride such an approbation may justly
give me, I am not less affected by the feelings of gratefulness, and the
satisfaction of thinking my endeavours were ever looked on as useful to
a cause, in which my heart is so deeply interested. Be so good, Sir,
as to present to congress my plain and hearty thanks, with a frank
assurance of a candid attachment, the only one worth being offered to
the representatives of a free people. The moment I heard of America, I
loved her; the moment I knew she was fighting for freedom, I burnt with
a desire of bleeding for her; and the moment I shall be able to serve
her at any time, or in any part of the world, will be the happiest one
of my life. I never so much wished for occasions of deserving those
obliging sentiments with which I am honoured by these states and their
representatives, and that flattering confidence they have been pleased
to put in me, has filled my heart with the warmest acknowledgments and
eternal affection.
I am, &c.,
LAFAYETTE.
TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
(ORIGINAL.)
Warren, 24th September, 1778.
MY DEAR GENERAL,--I am to acknowledge the reception of your late favour.
Your excellency's sentiments were already known to me, and my heart had
anticipated your answer. I, however, confess it gave me a new pleasure
when I received it. My love for you is such, my dear general, that I
should enjoy it better, if possible, in a private sentimental light than
in a political one. Nothing makes me happier than to see a conformity
of sentiments between you and me, upon any matter whatsoever; and the
opinion of your heart is so precious to me, that I will ever expect
it to fix mine. I don't know how to make out a fine expression of my
sentiments, my most respected friend; but you know, I hope, my heart,
and I beg you will read in it.
Agreeably to your advices and my own feelings, I made every effort that
I could for preventing any bad measures being taken on either side;
which conduct I also closely kept in the late affair of Boston
concerning M. de St. Sauveur. I wished to have been of some use on both
occasions, and I hope we have pretty well succeeded. The Count d'Estaing
is entirely ours; so, at least, I apprehend by his confidential letters
to me; and it affords me great pleasure. I have found by him an occasion
of writing to France; and you will better conceive than I may describe,
how I have acted on the occasion. I thought the best way of speaking
of those internal affairs was not to speak of them, or at least very
indifferently, so as to give any such report which might arrive as
groundless and insignificant. I daresay my scheme will have the desired
effect, and nothing will be thought of it in France. I thought it would
be well to let the admiral know that you do not lay any blame upon him,
and that you entertained the sentiments any honest Frenchman might wish
upon this matter.
Agreeably to a very useful article of a letter to General Sullivan, I
have removed my station from Bristol, and am in a safer place, behind
Warren, The few spies I have been able to procure upon the island seem
rather to think of an evacuation than of any enterprise; but, you know,
New York is the fountain-head. I long much, my dear general, to be again
with you; our separation has been long enough, and I am here as inactive
as anywhere else. My wish, and that you will easily conceive, had been
to co-operate with the French fleet; I don't know now what they will do.
The admiral has written to me upon many plans, and does not seem well
fixed on any scheme: he burns with the desire of striking a blow, and is
not yet determined how to accomplish it. He wrote me that he wanted to
see me, but I cannot leave my post, lest something might happen: it has
already cost dear enough to me. However, if you give me leave, I'll
ask this of General Sullivan, and will do what I think best for both
countries.
I have heard of a _pistolade_ between two gentlemen, which lasted
very long without much effect; it looks like our too much spoken of
_cannonade_ at Newport, while _the siege_ was continued. I have not yet
been able to find out what your excellency desires me to inquire into,
on account of the French queen:~[1] but the people of the navy are
too remote from Versailles to have any knowledge of it, and the
Count d'Estaing himself has not any intimacy with her. I'll get that
intelligence from a better source, and _more agreeable to your feelings
on the matter_, in order that you may do what you think fit to be done
if the report is true.
I beg, my dear general, when you write to your lady, that you would
present my respects to her; and I beg also the liberty to make here a
thousand compliments to your family. With the highest respect and most
tender friendship, I have the honour to be, dear general.
Footnote:
1. Several ladies had lately come out from New York, who reported that
a vessel had been captured and brought to that city, in which was
contained a present from the Queen of France to Mrs. Washington, as "an
elegant testimonial of her approbation of the general's conduct," and
that it had been sold at auction for the benefit of the captors. This
intelligence was so confidently affirmed from such a respectable source,
that General Washington had requested the Marquis de Lafayette to
make inquiry as to the truth of it through the medium of Madame de
Lafayette.--_Writings of Washington_, vol. vi p. 74.
FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
(ORIGINAL.)
Fredericksburg, 25th September, 1778.
MY DEAR MARQUIS,--The sentiments of affection and attachment, which
breathe so conspicuously in all your letters to me, are at once
pleasing and honourable, and afford me abundant cause to rejoice at the
happiness of my acquaintance with you. Your love of liberty, the just
sense you entertain of this valuable blessing, and your noble and
disinterested exertions in the cause of it, added to the innate goodness
of your heart, conspire to render you dear to me; and I think myself
happy in being linked with you in bonds of the strictest friendship.
The ardent zeal which you have displayed during the whole course of the
campaign to the eastward, and your endeavours to cherish harmony among
the officers of the allied powers, and to dispel those unfavourable
impressions which had begun to take place in the minds of the
unthinking, from misfortunes, which the utmost stretch of human
foresight could not avert, deserved, and now receives, my particular and
warmest thanks. I am sorry for Monsieur Touzard's loss of an arm in the
action on Rhode Island; and offer my thanks to him, through you, for his
gallant behaviour on that day.
Could I have conceived that my picture had been an object of your
wishes, or in the smallest degree worthy of your attention, I should,
while M. Peale was in the camp at Valley Forge, have got him to take the
best portrait of me he could, and presented it to you; but I really
had not so good an opinion of my own worth, as to suppose that such a
compliment would not have been considered as a greater instance of
my vanity, than means of your gratification; and therefore, when you
requested me to sit to Monsieur Lanfang, I thought it was only to obtain
the outlines and a few shades of my features, to have some prints struck
from.
If you have entertained thoughts, my dear marquis, of paying a visit to
your court, to your lady, and to your friends this winter, but waver on
account of an expedition into Canada, friendship induces me to tell
you, that I do not conceive that the prospect of such an operation is
so favourable at this time, as to cause you to change your views. Many
circumstances and events must conspire to render an enterprise of this
kind practicable and advisable. The enemy, in the first place, must
either withdraw wholly, or in part, from their present posts, to leave
us at liberty to detach largely from this army. In the next place,
if considerable reinforcements should be thrown into that country,
a winter's expedition would become impracticable, on account of the
difficulties which would attend the march of a large body of men,
with the necessary apparatus, provisions, forage, and stores, at
that inclement season. In a word, the chances are so much against the
undertaking, that they ought not to induce you to lay aside your other
purpose, in the prosecution of which you shall have every aid, and carry
with you every honourable testimony of my regard and entire approbation
of your conduct, that you can wish. But it is a compliment, which is
due, so am I persuaded you would not wish to dispense with the form of
signifying your desires to congress on the subject of your voyage and
absence.
I come now, in a more especial manner, to acknowledge the receipt of
your obliging favour of the 21st, by Major Dubois, and to thank you for
the important intelligence therein contained.
I do most cordially congratulate you on the glorious defeat of the
British squadron under Admiral Keppel, an event which reflects the
highest honour on the good conduct and bravery of Monsieur d'Orrilliers
and the officers of the fleet under his command; at the same time that
it is to be considered, I hope, as the happy presage, of a fortunate
and glorious war to his most Christian Majesty. A confirmation of
the account I shall impatiently wait and devoutly wish for. If the
Spaniards, under this favourable beginning, would unite their fleet to
that of France, together they would soon humble the pride of haughty
Britain, and no long suffer her to reign sovereign of the seas, and
claim the privilege of giving laws to the main.
You have my free consent to make the Count d'Estaing a visit, and may
signify my entire approbation of it to General Sullivan, who, I am glad
to find, has moved you out of a _cul de sac_. It was my advice to him
long ago, to have no detachments in that situation, let particular
places be ever so much unguarded and exposed from the want of troops.
Immediately upon my removal from White Plains to this ground, the enemy
threw a body of troops into the Jerseys; but for what purpose, unless
to make a grand forage, I have not been able yet to learn. They advanced
some troops at the same time from their lines at Kingsbridge towards
our old encampment at the plains, stripping the inhabitants not only of
their provisions and forage, but even the clothes on their backs, and
without discrimination.
The information, my dear marquis, which I begged the favour of you to
obtain, was not, I am persuaded, to be had through the channel of the
officers of the French fleet, but by application to your fair lady,
to whom I should be happy in an opportunity of paying my homage in
Virginia, when the war is ended, if she could be prevailed upon to quit,
for a few months, the gaieties and splendour of a court, for the rural
amusements of a humble cottage.
I shall not fail to inform Mrs. Washington of your polite attention to
her. The gentlemen of my family are sensible of the honour you do them
by your kind inquiries, and join with me in a tender of best regards;
and none can offer them with more sincerity and affection than I do.
With every sentiment you can wish, I am, my dear marquis, &c.
TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.~[1]
(ORIGINAL.)
Camp, near Warren, 24th September, 1778.
MY DEAR GENERAL,--I am going to consult your excellency upon a point in
which I not only want your leave and opinion, as the commander-in-chief,
but also your candid advice, as the man whom I have the happiness to
call my friend. In an address from the British commissaries to congress,
the first after _Johnstone_ was excluded, they speak in the most
disrespectful terms of my nation and country. The whole is undersigned
by them, and more particularly by the president, Lord Carlisle. I am the
first French officer, in rank, of the American army; I am not unknown to
the British, and if somebody must take notice of such expressions,
that advantage does, I believe, belong to me. Don't you think, my dear
general, that I should do well to write a letter ont he subject to
Lord Carlisle, wherein I should notice his expressions conveyed in an
unfriendly manner? I have mentioned something of this design to the
Count d'Estaing, but wish entirely to fix my opinion by yours, which I
instantly beg, as soon as you may find it convenient.
As everyting is perfectly quiet, and General Sullivan is persuaded that
I may, with all safety, go to Boston, I am going to undertake a short
journey towards that place. The admiral has several times expressed a
desire of conversing with me; he has also thrown out some wishes that
something might be done towards securing Boston, but it seems he always
refers to a conversation for further explanation. My stay will be short,
as I don't like towns in time of war, when I may be about a camp. If
your excellency answers me immediately, I may soon receive your letter.
I want much to see you, my dear general, and consult you about many
points, part of them are respecting myself. If you approve of my writing
to Lord Carlisle, it would be a reason for coming near you for a short
time, in case the gentleman is displeased with my mission.
With the most perfect respect, confidence, and affection, I have the
honour to be, &c.
Footnote:
1. In the preceding session, the English parliament had passed
bills called conciliatory, and in the month of June, conciliatory
commissioners had presented themselves to negotiate an arrangement.
These were, Lord Carlisle, Governor George Johnstone, and William Eden.
Dr. Adam Ferguson, professor of moral philosophy at the University of
Edinburgh, was secretary of the commission. They addressed a letter to
Mr. Laurens which was to be communicated to congress. To that letter
were joined private letters from Mr. Johnstone to several members of the
assembly, whom he endeavoured to seduce by exciting interested hopes.
The letters were given up to the congress, who declared "_that it was
incompatible with their own honour to hold any sort of correspondence or
relation with the said George Johnstone_."--(See the Letters of General
Washington, vol. v., p. 397, and vol. vi., p. 31; and the _History of
the American Revolution_, by David Ramsay, vol. ii., chap. 16.)
TO LORD CARLISLE.~[1]
I expected, until the present moment, my lord, to have only affairs to
settle with your generals, and I hoped to see them at the head only of
the armies which are respectively confided to us; your letter to the
Congress of the United States, the insulting phrase to my country, which
you yourself have signed, could alone bring me into direct communication
with you. I do not, my lord, deign to refute your assertion, but I do
wish to punish it. It is to you, as chief of the commission, that I now
appeal, to give me a reparation as public as has been the offence, and
as shall be the denial which arises from it; nor would that denial
have been so long delayed if the letters had reached me sooner. As I am
obliged to absent myself for some days, I hope to find your answer on
my return. M. de Gimat, a French officer, will make all the arrangements
for me which may be agreeable to you; I doubt not but that General
Clinton, for the honour of his countryman, will consent to the measure I
propose. As to myself, my lord, I shall consider all measures good, if,
to the glory of being a Frenchman, I can add that of proving to one of
your nation that my nation can never be attacked with impunity.
LAFAYETTE.
Footnote:
1. This letter was written in French.
TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.
(ORIGINAL.)
Boston, 28th September, 1778.
DEAR GENERAL,--The news I have got from France, the reflections I
have made by myself, and those which have been suggested to me by many
people, particularly by the admiral, increases more than ever the desire
I had of seeing again your excellency. I want to communicate to you my
sentiments, and take your opinion upon my present circumstances--I look
upon this as of high moment to my private interests. On the other
hand, I have some ideas, and some intelligence in reference to public
interests, which I am very desirous of disclosing to your excellency. I
am sure, my dear general, that your sentiments upon my private concerns
are such, that you will have no objection to my spending some hours with
you.~[1]
The moment at which the fleet will be ready is not very far, and I think
it of importance to have settled my affair with you before that time. I
am going to write to General Sullivan on the subject, and if he has
no objection, I'll go immediately to head-quarters; but should he
make difficulties, I beg you will send me that leave. I intend to ride
express, in order that I may have time enough. You may think, my dear
general, that I don't ask, what I never asked in my life--a leave to
quit the post I am sent to--without strong reasons for it; but the
letters I have received from home make me very anxious to see you.
With the most tender affection and highest respect, &c.
Footnote:
1. In spite of the obstacles which had arrested M. de Lafayette at the
commencement of the projected northern campaign, he had embraced with
ardour the idea of a diversion which was to be operated in Canada, with
the combined forces of France and America; and it was partly to converse
on this plan with Washington, and later with the cabinet of Versailles,
that he insisted upon having a conference with the general-in-chief, and
returning to France before the winter. He was even summoned to explain
himself on this subject with a committee from the congress, who adopted
the plan in principle, but decided that General Washington should be
first consulted. The latter expressed his objections in a public letter
addressed to the congress, and in a private letter addressed to Laurens,
(14th November, 1778.) It was long before the final decision of congress
became known. M. de Lafayette was still ignorant of it when he embarked
for Europe. The 29th December, only, a letter was addressed to him from
President John Jay, who was charged by congress to express to him that
the difficulties of execution--the want of men and materials, and,
above all, the exhausted state of the finances, did not permit the
accomplishment of this project; that if, however, France would first
enter into it, the United States would make every effort to second
her. But France, from various motives, did not shew herself disposed to
snatch Canada from the English. (See the Correspondence of Washington,
vol. vi., and his Life by Marshal, vol. iii)
FROM GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
(ORIGINAL.)
Fishkill, 4th October, 1778.
MY DEAR MARQUIS,--I have had the pleasure of receiving, by the hands of
Monsieur de la Colombe, your favour of the 28th ultimo, accompanied
by one of the 24th, which he overtook somewhere on the road. The leave
requested in the former, I am as much interested to grant, as to refuse
my approbation of the challenge proposed in the latter. The generous
spirit of chivalry, exploded by the rest of the world, finds a refuge,
my dear friend, in the sensibility of your nation only. But it is in
vain to cherish it, unless you can find antagonists to support it;
and, however well adapted it might have been to the times in which it
existed, in our days, it is to be feared, that your opponent, sheltering
himself behind modern opinions, and under his present public character
of commissioner, would turn a virtue of such ancient date into ridicule.
Besides, supposing his lordship accepted your terms, experience has
proved that chance is often as much concerned in deciding these matters
as bravery, and always more than the justice of the cause. I would not,
therefore, have your life, by the remotest possibility, exposed, when
it may be reserved for so many greater occasions. His excellency, the
admiral, I flatter myself, will be in sentiment with me; and, as soon as
he can spare you, will send you to head-quarters, where I anticipate the
pleasure of seeing you.
Having written very fully to you a few days ago, and put the letter
under cover to General Sullivan, I have nothing to add at this time, but
to assure you that, with the most perfect regard--I am, dear sir, &c.
MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE TO PRESIDENT LAURENS.
(ORIGINAL.)
Philadelphia, 13th October, 1778.
SIR,--Whatever care I should take not to employ the precious time at
congress in private considerations, I beg leave to lay before them my
present circumstances, with that confidence which naturally springs from
affection and gratitude. The sentiments which bind me to my country, can
never be more properly spoken of than in the presence of men who have
done so much for their own. As long as I thought I could dispose of
myself, I made it my pride and pleasure to fight under American colours,
in defence of a cause, which I dare more particularly call ours,
because I had the good fortune to bleed for it. Now, sir, that France
is involved in a war, I am urged by a sense of duty, as well as by
patriotic love, to present myself before the king, to know in what
manner he may judge proper to employ my services. The most agreeable of
all will be such as may enable me always to serve the common cause among
those whose friendship I have the happiness to obtain, and whose fortune
I have had the honour to follow in less smiling times. That reason, and
others, which I leave to the feelings of congress, engage me to beg from
them the liberty of going home for the next winter.