HAMILTON, Alexander Lettre autographe signée au marquis de Lafayette New York, 29 avril 1798 4 pp. in-4, suscription : “the Marquis de la Fayette, By Mr de Bonname, near Hamburgh", petit trou, sans manque dû à l’ouverture du cachet
Estimation :
5000 / 8000
Adjudication :
Invendu
Description
REMARQUABLE ET RARE LETTRE POLITIQUE D’ALEXANDER HAMILTON, L’UN DES SEPT PÈRES FONDATEURS DES ÉTATS-UNIS. HAMILTON REPREND, POUR LAFAYETTE, L’AFFAIRE DES FUSILS DE BEAUMARCHAIS ; IL LUI EXPLIQUE LES RAISONS DU DÉSACCORD ENTRE LES ÉTATS-UNIS ET LA FRANCE FONDÉ SUR SON OPPOSITION AU COURS VIOLENT PRIS PAR LA RÉVOLUTION FRANÇAISE. IL LUI CONSEILLE DE NE PAS RENTRER EN FRANCE, EN LAQUELLE IL NE CROIT PLUS. REMARKABLE AND RARE POLITICAL LETTER BY ALEXANDER HAMILTON, ONE OF THE SEVEN FOUNDING FATHERS OF THE UNITED STATES. FOR LAFAYETTE, HAMILTON REOPENS THE CASE OF BEAUMARCHAIS’ GUNS ; HE EXPLAINS TO HIM THE REASONS FOR THE DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE FOUNDED ON HIS OPPOSITION TO THE VIOLENT COURSE TAKEN BY THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. HE ADVISES HIM NOT TO RETURN TO FRANCE, IN WHICH HE NO LONGER BELIEVES “I am very happy, My Dear Marquis, to receive lately a letter from you. It enclosed one from General Dumas, which also gave me pleasure (...) As to the affaire of M. de Beaumarchais, while I was in the office of Secretary of the Treasury [1789-1795], I procured his account to be settled provisionally and asked an appropriation for the balance to depend for its application on the event of an inquiry then making concerning a certain million of livres of what you have no doubt heared. The results of this inquiry was not had when I left the Department but it has since been obtained, and I am informed that it traces to M. de Beaumarchais the missing million which I believe extinguished his balance. This is the state of the business according to my information ; but I presume before this, M. Beaumarchais, has information more precise through the agency of a Mr Cazenove whose application for that purpose to the actual Secr[etary] of the Treasury was supported by all my influence and who wrote me that it had been effectual. Your letter implies, as I had before understood, that though your engagement did not permit you to follow the fortunes of the Republic yet your attachments had never been separated from them. In this I frankly confess I have differed from you. The suspension of the King and the massacre of September (of which events contemporary intelligence was received in this country) cured me of my good will for the French Revolution. I have never been able to believe that France can make a Republic and I have believed that the attempt while it continues can only produce misfortunes. Among the evils of this Revolution, I regret extremely the misunderstanding which has taken place between your country and ours and what seems to threaten an open rupture. It would be useless to discuss the causes of this state of things. I shall only assure you that a disposition to form an intimate connection with Great Britain, which is charged upon us, forms no part of the real causes, though it has served the purpose of a party to impose the belief of it on France. I give you this assurance on the faith of our former friendship (...) The basis of the policy of the party, of which I am, is to avoid intimate or exclusive connection with any foreign forces. But away with politics. The rest of my letter shall be dedicated to assure you that my friendship for you will survive all Revolutions & all vicissitudes. No one feels more than I do the motives which this country has to love you, to desire and to promote your happiness. And I shall not love it, if it does not manifest its sensibility by unequivocal acts. In the present state of our affairs with France, I cannot urge you to come to us - but until some radical change in France, I shall be sorry to learn you have gone thither - should the continuation of an evil course of things in your country lead you to think of a permanent asylum elsewhere, you will be sure to find in America a most cordial and welcome reception" (...) No letter between Alexander Hamilton and Lafayette has ever been recorded by APBC.
