Lafayette, A.L.S. La Grange [France] December 8th 1828 : to Nicholas Fish

Lafayette, A.L.S. La Grange [France] December 8th 1828 : to Nicholas Fish

La Grange, [France] 1828

[1] p. ; 24 x 19 cm.

MSS L2021S2 M MB

In this letter, Lafayette mourns the death of Pinckney and shares his concerns about poor health of former President Monroe. He writes: "Here is another loss among our Revolutionary Brothers in Arms. The Excellent Thomas Pinckney has joined the far greater part of us who have left this world. I am doubly grieved to hear my intimate friend Mr. Monroe had a dangerous fall from his horse, and finds himself in pecuniary circumstances still more deplorable than I had apprehended ... What can be done? I am sure you are ready to promote every thing that could procure his relief to be instrumental in such a patriotic action would also be to me a real relief. The more so when I compare what has been done for me to what has not been done for him ..."
It relates four original members of the Society of the Cincinnati: Lafayette was a founding member of the Société des Cincinnati de France; Nicholas Fish was one of Lafayette's American comrade-in-arms who became an original member of the New York Society; Thomas Pinckney was president general of the Society of the Cincinnati; James Monroe was an original member of the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati.
Docketed on verso: "La Grange Decr. 8th 1828. From Genl Lafayette by young Mr. Viton"; penciled note on verso: "anxious that some provision should be made for Presidt Monroe."
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