95 / 239
94
186
[LAFAYETTE
, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de].
Lettre autographe, sans doute de la main de William Schley
Frederick, 27 novembre 1824
5 pp. in-4, avec la suscription au dernier feuillet : “General Lafayette” et
la mention de la main de Levasseur : “répondu”
EXEMPLAIRE DE LAFAYETTE : INVITATION DE LA VILLE
DE FREDERICK : “THE YOUNG BUT GALANT STRANGER
UNSHEATHED HIS SWORD IN EUROPE, AND HURRIED
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC”
Promulgation officielle transmise à Lafayette de la résolution
prise par les citoyens de la ville et du comté de Frederick,
invitant Lafayette : “Where the Spirit of despotism threatened
the Land with Chains & Slavery and frowned destruction upon
a friendless people, the young but gallant stranger unsheathed
his Sword in Europe, and hurried across the Atlantic to our
assistance. Nor did he stop here. Oppression at home forbade
him to rest : and for Forty years we have only heard of him
asserting the rights of mankind. He has at length found leisure
to recross the Ocean and is now in the bosom of America.
Most of his early Friends and partners in great achievements
have been Summon’d to another world... but there are yet a few
Soldiers of the Revolution among us. Be it Resolved, That Conl
John McPherson, Conl Philemore Griffith, Major John Grahame,
Major Benjamin Murdoch, and Mr Lawrence Everhart, be a
Committee to wait on general La Fayette at Baltimore or else
where, and invite him to Frederick”, le texte est sans doute de
la main de William Schley, secrétaire du comité
The fifth member of the Frederick Committee of Invitation is
Lawrence Everhart (1755-1840), a child of German immigrants
who when captured by the British said that he hoped to God
there would be another Tarleton defeat, prompting the famous
exchange :
I am Colonel Tarleton, Sir – and I am Sergeant
Everhart
. After his release, he served at the siege of Yorktown
where he met Lafayette, later becoming a church minister (he
being the only one of the committee of veterans here styled
‘Mr’ rather than by officer rank). For further correspondence
with the citizens of Frederick of 17 November, see below.
200 / 300
€
187
[
LAFAYETTE
, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de].
Lettre autographe signée par Edward Coles, Gouverneur de
l’Illinois ; document signé par Thomas Mather, Speaker of the
House of Reps. of Illinois (2)
Illinois, Executive Department, 9 décembre 1824
3 pp. in-4, filigrane ; taches
EXEMPLAIRE DE LAFAYETTE DE SON INVITATION DANS
L’ILLINOIS PAR LE GOUVERNEUR EDWARD COLES
Le Gouverneur Edward Coles rend hommage à Lafayette et
l’invite en Illinois et dans les états de l’Ouest : “We should
not be able to receive you in large and splendid Cities, nor
accommodate you in spacious mansions, but we flatter
ourselves with the belief that you would be gratified in seeing
our beautiful Country, and would enjoy a parental interest in
the promising prospects of our infant State”. Coles fait alors
allusion à leur rencontre à Paris en 1817
2. 3 pp. in
-4, mouillure
Edward Coles (1786-1868) was second Governor of Illinois.
Although from one of the oldest Virginian families, he had freed
his slaves and moved west to Illinois, where he successfully
campaigned to turn it into an anti-slavery state and was elected
Governor in 1822. From 1809 to 1815 he had served as Private
Secretary to President Madison, who sent him on diplomatic
missions to Europe, where, as he reminds him in this letter, he
met Lafayette.
Unlike his other visits, that to the state of Illinois was something of
an
ad hoc
affair. An account of the visit and the present letter is
provided by George Washington Smith : “Early in the session of the
general assembly in December, 1824, that body extended a cordial
invitation to General Lafayette to visit Illinois. This invitation from the
state’s legislative body was supplemented by a very affectionate
letter from Governor Coles. On January 16, 1825, Lafayette replied
from Washington to these pressing invitations to visit Illinois... On the
morning of April 30, Saturday, the Natchez conveyed Lafayette and
a distinguished party to Kaskaskia, the old seat of French empire
in the west. A vast throng of patriotic citizens bade him welcome.
A reception was held at the home of Gen. John Edgar. Governor Coles
delivered a glowing address of welcome to which Lafayette responded
with considerable feeling. Just here in the proceedings a very touching
scene occurred. A few old Revolutionary soldiers who had fought
with Lafayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, were presented. The
scene was very affecting. The party now repaired to the hotel kept
by Colonel Sweet, where a banquet was spread. This hotel had been
profusely decorated by the patriotic ladies of the town. Laurel wreaths,
roses, and wild flowers filled all available space” (
A History of Southern
Illinois : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its
principal interests
, 1912, pp. 161-163).
“General Lafayette was not expected at Kaskaskia, and nothing had
been prepared for this unforeseen visit. While we were landing some
one ran to the village, which stands a quarter of a mile from the shore,
and quickly returned with a carriage for the General, who, an instant
after, was surrounded by many citizens, who ran before to receive him.
In the escort which formed itself to accompany him, we saw neither
military apparel nor the splendid triumphs we had perceived in the rich
cities... During an instant of profound silence, I cast a glance at the
assembly, in the midst of which I found myself, and was struck with
astonishment in remarking their variety and fantastic appearance...
behind these, near to the door, and on the piazza which surrounded
the house, stood some immovable, impassable, large, red, half naked
figures, leaning on a bow or a long rifle : these were the Indians of the
neighborhood” (Levasseur,
Lafayette in America
, II, pp. 130-131).
1 000 / 1 500
€