Trenton Decemr. 11th 1784
My dear Sir,
I have the honor to enclose you a letter for the Minister plenipotentiary of the United States, at the court of his most Christian Majesty, which covers a letter to our great and good Ally, a copy of which I have also the pleasure to enclose for your satisfaction.1 I assure you my dear friend that I feel myself singularly happy in observing the unanimous disposition that prevails in Congress to promote your glory, for I do most sincerely wish you every felicity that this world can afford.2
I am, with unfeigned esteem and regard, My dear Sir, Your affectionate friend,
Richard Henry Lee
Letter book, Papers of Continental Congress, item 16, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
1 See the preceding entry.
2 Lafayette had arrived in America in August 1784 to renew acquaintances and rekindle wartime memories, and after an ambitious tour that took him from New York to Philadelphia, Mount Vernon, Albany, Boston, Richmond, Annapolis, and Trenton, he had returned to New York to embark for France. When it had received an announcement of his pending return home, Congress had appointed a special committee of one member from each state to receive him, which reported on December 13 the results of their reception of the marquis this day. For Lafayette's trip to America, and his reception by Congress at this time, see Lafayette, Papers (Idzerda), 5:232 - 89; Washington, Papers (Abbot), Confederation Series, 2:28 - 29, 84 - 85, 103 - 4, 165, 175 - 76, 194, 226 - 28; and JCC, 27:673 - 74, 679 - 80, 682 - 85.