[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"
Estimation :
3000 / 5000
Adjudication :
Invendu
Description
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. 11 y a bien là mélange de deux mains, sans doute Levasseur et Georges Washington Lafayette.
