Lot 248
La Fayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834), Autograph Letter Signed in English, 1½ pages, 7 x 9½ Paris, April 12, 1817. To John Cramer in Caën, Calvados [France] with integral address leaf in La Fayette's hand. First inquires into the health of Sir John Coghill followed by concerns regarding a land grant made to him by the U.S. Congress and referring to to the opinion of Albert Gallatin (1761-1849), who at the time of the letter was the U.S. Ambassador to France. Very Fine condition with some light foxing.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500
In 1794 Congress had voted La Fayette a sum of $24,424 as his back pay as a General, for which he had refused any remuneration during the American Revolution. Plus, it was estimated that La Fayette had spent more than $200,000 of his own money in assisting the United States war effort, for which he never asked repayment. So in 1803 Congress voted him a grant of 11,520 acres which, when he eventually accepted the grant, were located in Lousiana. It is this land that he refers to in the letter. This letter was written after the French Revolution, which had destroyed his personal fortune.
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| Realized $1,700 |
