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191
[
LAFAYETTE
, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de].
Copie manuscrite sans doute par Levasseur et G.W. Lafayette
Washington, House of Representatives, après le 10 décembre 1824
3 pp. in-4, filigrane “Amies Philada”
EXEMPLAIRE DE LAFAYETTE : COPIE SANS DOUTE ÉCRITE PAR LEVASSEUR
ET GEORGES WASHINGTON LAFAYETTE DE SON DISCOURS AU CONGRÈS DU
10 DÉCEMBRE 1824
“Mr Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives (...) My obligations to the United
States, sir, far exceed any merit I might claim. They date from the time when I have had the
happiness to be adopted as a young solder, a favored son of America. They have been continued to
me during almost half a century of constant affection and confidence, and now, sir, thanks to your
most gratifying imitation, I find myself greeted by a series of welcomes, one hour of which would
more than compensate for the public exertions and sufferings of a whole life. The approbation
of the American people and their Representatives, for my conduct during the vicissitudes of the
European Revolution, is the highest reward I could receive. Well may I stand
firm and erect
, when,
in their names, and by you, M. Speaker, I am declared to have, in every instance, been faithful to
those American principles of liberty, equality, and true social order, the devotion to which, as it has
been from my earliest youth, so it shall continue to be of my latest breath”
Written in two hands, the first francophone (probably Levasseur), the second more
familiar with English orthography (probably Georges Washington Lafayette), the latter
making one revision to the published text (“the union so vastly enlarged” replacing
“the union so much enlarged”)
This text has every appearance of having been copied, by way of final fair copy,
from Lafayette’s autograph draft, above. Having thus established the text, it seems
probable that only then did Lafayette copy the speech out one more time for the
benefit of the Clerk of the House.
Il y a bien là mélange de deux mains, sans doute Levasseur et Georges Washington
Lafayette.
3 000 / 5 000
€
191