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LafayettLetters ](Edited by Dr. E. E. Dale) University of Oklahoma (Harlow Publishing Co.)It is strange that almost a hundred yers after Lafayette’s last visit to America, there should be found in an Oklahoma farm house these letters by this great Frenchman and other members of his family. The letters are the property of Mr. J.D. Reinhardt of Crowder, Oklahoma, nephew of Captain FrancisAllvn, commander of the ship “Cadmus which brought the Lafayetteparty to America in 1824.In the summer of 1824 Captain F. Allyn. if we may believe the tradition in his family, placed his ship at the disposal of Lafayette and his son who were considering a visit to the United States. There seems to have been some reason forboth haste and secffcy, since Lafayette’s republican tendencies hadmade him unpopular with the royal government, and it was feared h*might be prevented from leaving ifit was known that he was contemplating such a voyage.Lafayette was at this time sixty-seven years of age. He had visited the United States soon after theRevolution in 1 784 and had beenwelcomed by his old friends andcomrades. During the forty yearsthat had passed since then Lafayette had lived a busy and somewhat checkered life. He was an aristocrat with republican principles and had been distrusted by both the royalists and republicans. He was confined in prison at Almutz until1797 when he was released through the influences of Napoleon and the United States. After the fall ofNapoleon he had been chosen a member of the Chamber of Deputies where he had attracted muchattention by his liberal politicalviews.During all this time he had keptup a correspondence with his friendsThe leading Americans, Washington. Jefferson, Madison and Monroe had urged him to come to America, and Congress in 1824 sent him an invitation asking him to be the nation’s guest. This last invitation he accepted.George Washington Lafayette wasalso eager to come to America. Born during the Revolution he was at this time over forty-live years of age. A boy of about thirteen when his father was put in prison, his mother fearing for his life, hadsmuggled him out of France andsent him to Vau rica where he spent a year in Washing on household. He wished to see again the friends audcountry that had furnished him a refuge during tin French Revolution.The sh’p, Cadm.is reached NewYork January 15, 1S24, and Lafayette and his son were met by the vice president of the United .States,and many other distinguished Americans and a crowd of over fiftythousand bade him welcome.Lafayette remained in the UnitedStates for thirteen months, visiting every state in the union which atmthat t i in» numbered twenty-four.tf1iiif»iin America.i%fEverywhere he was received withhonors such as have perhaps neverbeen paid to any other man in America.Gifts and honors were heaped tip-on him. Universities conferred degrees and military organizations presented him with swords. It was well known that he was a poor man, for most of his property had been swept away by the French Revolution. Accordingly on Decem-24, 1824, Christmas eve. President Monroe approved an act of Congress granting to Lafayette “in consideration of his services in the Revolutionary War,” two hundred thousand dollars in »money and a township of land. The township of land wTas taken in Florida, near Tallahassee, while most of the money gift wras invested in United States banks, a proof of his faith in republican institutions.A warm friendship seems to have sprung up between the captain ofthe Cadmus and his distinguishedpassenger on this same ship, butthe government had placed a new war vessel the Brandywine %t theirdisposal and it w’as on this ship thatthev returned to France September9, 1825.Lafayette lived ten years afterthis and it must have been a source of gratification to all Americans that his declining years were made easier by their tardy but none the leesjust recognition of his services.The following are letteis taken ftom the collection:Geo. Washington Lafayette to Captain Francis Allyn.Milledgeville, Georgia, March 1825.My Dear Captain:1 received in Charleston your letter of the First of March, and if I delayed so much in thanking you for it. it was because 1 thought that I would a little later be more cure of my father's determination as to his return to France. I thank you my dear friend for vouikind concern about my family misfortune. 1 depended upon it. knowing your heart as 1 do know it. Those that are left to me are well,and i hope we will find at New Orleans the letters brought by thepacket of the fifteenth of February from Harvre, understanding that from New' York they go by way of Nashville to New Orleans, more expeditiously than by this road.My father thanks you for your letter to him, he doets not think at all of returning by way of England, and that is not to be thought of by us neither, but he is determined to go on the fifteenth ol August,W,.ll 'and would be very happy to think that the same friend to whom he is indebted for his arrival in this blessed country, will pilot him homo again. It is certainly his sincerethat matters should be arranged so only one thing might happen which would on his part prevent his accomplishing that wish, that would be if by chance, any of the U. S. vessels were sent over to Europe, and if then a passagewas offered to him by the government. in that case he would thini; it a duty to accept but we have no anticipation of any such offer being made. I need not add my dearfriend, that we well be very sorry}mont. The marriage will take place some day next month.I see by a letter of Mr. Skinnerhe had same ob-birds, rabbits andtwe do not return w’ith you.I write to Mr. Whitlock who has been so kind to us since we are in this country, to ask leave of him, j to his son thatto direct to him the things that we jects to send me,want to carry back to Europe, and etc., did you hear of them? already I have taken the liberty togive his directions to some personswho wanted to show' how they should send some things to us in New York. I must depend on youmy dear friend, to beg Mr. Whitlock to give orders in his house so thatI epected to have a letter from either Mr. Wilker or Mr. Cadwal-lader Calden respecting our friends the Misses Wright, their state of health, their philanthropic prospects the lately published deed in whichthe Senator Calden is named as onean account of the expenses, resulting ; of the trustees, and their intended from his compliance with my request return on a visit to Europe. Should be kept aud given to me when I ! you have heard in the Calden family will be in New' York, some particulars about the dearI have ro doubt that you receiv-! young ladies I would be much ob-ed a letter I wrote to you fromNorfolk, in which I spoke a great deal about Opossums and I rely so muchliged to you for a communication.My affectionate compliments toour friend Bradford, who, I un-!on yjur friendship, that I derstand, is gone to see you. Theam sure you have been so good as i whole family join in tender regardsto enter into communication on that , to you, and I am, dear Allyn, mostsubject with Colonel Lemanaevsky i affectionately.In Washington. I am certain that 1 Yours,a more wished present could be jLAFAYETTE.made to some learned men In Paris,:An Captaine Allyn, Commandantone of w hom is a particular friend » Lenavire Cadmus an Havre of mine, and who I know' will give caine Seine inferieure.him an apportunity of making animportant discoverynatiural history bythese animals whoalive in Paris.gotijtie Lafayette to Mrs. Allyn.for science in j Dear Madame Allyn:observation on ^ jg the greatest pleasure that 1never could 4m take the first opportunity of writingWhen 1 will, yOU that iny grandfather, Tracy, haswrite to you in sending our letters j read in an English paper (The Com-for the fifteenth of May. I willjmerce) that Mr. Allyn had reachedalso send you one for the friend j New York on the 8th. 1 am hap-above mentioned. py to be the first to announce thisFarewell my dear friend, yours | good news to you and although thisforever,nfCaptain FrancisaFAYETTE. :CilnAllvn of the Ship• grandfathernot♦ion youdeny myselftelling you a fewr moments earlier. Frances A. My mother and sister ask me to tell. I ‘ . ...Cadmus, New' York. „Lu Fayette to CaptainLa Grange, May 1(5, 18My Dear Sir:It has been a had disappointmentfor the family to hear we should«not this time have the pleasure to see you. None could grieve at the j unexpected intelligence more than 1 j To Madame Allyn, do. nor was it possible on your Hotel du Danube,Lafayette Intends tothis evening I couldthe pleasure ofIiyou howr pleased they are at yourhappiness.Goodbye,Permit me ily.dear madameto embrace youAllyn.heart-»to offer, in compensation, a Honard, Paris.NATALIE LAFAYETTE.Rue Pechepanse, Faubourg St.Ipartmore pelasing prospect than to let ( (Natalie Lafayette was the daugh-us hope for the pleasure to see Mrs. j ter of George Washington LafayetteAllyn accompanying you to La Hnd his wifeGrange on the next voyage. In ette.)IiEnutie Tracy Lafay-(iwishthe meantime we must content ourselves with the possession of the very perfect likeness which good Mr. Brewer has been pleased to send along with that of our excellent friend Mr. Hiker. The letters, paper, books, corn and patterns by the stage have not yet reached LaGrange. I write Mr. Cabo net requesting him, if there is yet timeenough, to open the box, and take out the patterns. In the other case they shall be sent from there to La Grange. The only packages as yet received by the Cadmus consist of a few letters, some publications or. boring for water, very interesting and a most neat model of abee hive which Mrs. Griffith has had tin kindness to send us.We are all at La Grange, and this very day expect an amiable bridegroom to whom Louise Maubourg is engaged. Hector Depenon of thePiedmentese family, but himself aFrench citizen and a late French officer.A. D.Pi./:'J¥sRightsito an do.OEvery pupil shall opportunity to dohave all hetwilliricEvery pupil shallht to an opportunityhe is able to do.Even' pupil has ahave to d theall•iright toghostWe don’t take him for a although he has been capitaly executed i in « fficagy at Turin at tlu}yj time oL the insurrection in Pied-know the significance of the thing he is trying to do before he tries it.4. Every pupil has a right toknow' just what is expected of him at the end of a term, w’hen he begins the term.5. Even’ pupil has a right tosee at the beginning of a term the successive steps by which he shall reach the goal in all the kinds of processes which he should acquire.6. Every pupil has a right tothe assurance that no one is going to hold him back or drag him down.7. Everv pupil has a right to anopportunity to sto*p at any stage o! progress and there review' and practice until he is ready to proceed.8.Every pupil has a right totraining in the principle that haste makes waste and that accuracy and mastery are his proper ideals.9. Every pupil has a right todevelop responsibility that comes from habits of self-criticism, selftest and the value of 100 per centwork.10. Every develop under make possiblehas a right toconditions wrhich self-confidence andself-reliance.11. Every pupil has a right at the outset to learn many ways in w'hich for him the subject matter is going to function.12. Every pupil has a right to an opportunity to form a habit of helping others.¥The total cost of strikes to people in the U. S. from 1918 to 1924 was$10,365,000,000.TISHOMINGO—Approximately000 dressed turkeys shipped Eastern markets.D.”toWe are rfrateful to YouForSatisfactory 1925This year lias been one of great accomplishmentfor Ada, and in this accomplishment we are glad we were permitted to have a part. In 1926 we hopeagain to render a service in furnishing building material for the advancement of the city and Pontotoc County.We are deeply grateful to the people of this section not only for the business we had this year but for that we have had for twenty-two years in Ada. Toward all of these we have the most friendly feel-MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALLSLEDGE LUMBER COMPANY44Home Builders in Ada Since 1903%W%
Newspaper Details
Ada Evening News
Ada, Oklahoma, US
Thu, Dec 24, 1925
Page 21
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
OH, USA 14 Aug 2019
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