[LAFAYETTE, Gilbert du Motier, marquis de]. Lettre autographe signée par Edward Coles, Gouverneur de l’Illinois ; document signé par Thomas Mather, Speaker of the House of Reps. of Illinois (2) Illinois, Executive Department, 9 décembre 1824 3...
Estimation :
1000 / 1500
Adjudication :
Invendu
Description
pp. in-4, filigrane ; taches
EXEMPLAIRE DE LAFAYETTE DE SON INVITATION DANS L’ILLINOIS PAR LE GOUVERNEUR EDWARD COLES Le Gouverneur Edward Coles rend hommage à Lafayette et l’invite en Illinois et dans les états de l’Ouest : “We should not be able to receive you in large and splendid Cities, nor accommodate you in spacious mansions, but we flatter ourselves with the belief that you would be gratified in seeing our beautiful Country, and would enjoy a parental interest in the promising prospects of our infant State". Coles fait alors allusion à leur rencontre à Paris en 1817 2. 3 pp. in-4, mouillure Edward Coles (1786-1868) was second Governor of Illinois. Although from one of the oldest Virginian families, he had freed his slaves and moved west to Illinois, where he successfully campaigned to turn it into an anti-slavery state and was elected Governor in 1822. From 1809 to 1815 he had served as Private Secretary to President Madison, who sent him on diplomatic missions to Europe, where, as he reminds him in this letter, he met Lafayette. Unlike his other visits, that to the state of Illinois was something of an ad hoc affair. An account of the visit and the present letter is provided by George Washington Smith : “Early in the session of the general assembly in December, 1824, that body extended a cordial invitation to General Lafayette to visit Illinois. This invitation from the state’s legislative body was supplemented by a very affectionate letter from Governor Coles. On January 16, 1825, Lafayette replied from Washington to these pressing invitations to visit Illinois... On the morning of April 30, Saturday, the Natchez conveyed Lafayette and a distinguished party to Kaskaskia, the old seat of French empire in the west. A vast throng of patriotic citizens bade him welcome. A reception was held at the home of Gen. John Edgar. Governor Coles delivered a glowing address of welcome to which Lafayette responded with considerable feeling. Just here in the proceedings a very touching scene occurred. A few old Revolutionary soldiers who had fought with Lafayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, were presented. The scene was very affecting. The party now repaired to the hotel kept by Colonel Sweet, where a banquet was spread. This hotel had been profusely decorated by the patriotic ladies of the town. Laurel wreaths, roses, and wild flowers filled all available space" (A History of Southern Illinois : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, 1912, pp. 161-163). “General Lafayette was not expected at Kaskaskia, and nothing had been prepared for this unforeseen visit. While we were landing some one ran to the village, which stands a quarter of a mile from the shore, and quickly returned with a carriage for the General, who, an instant after, was surrounded by many citizens, who ran before to receive him. In the escort which formed itself to accompany him, we saw neither military apparel nor the splendid triumphs we had perceived in the rich cities... During an instant of profound silence, I cast a glance at the assembly, in the midst of which I found myself, and was struck with astonishment in remarking their variety and fantastic appearance... behind these, near to the door, and on the piazza which surrounded the house, stood some immovable, impassable, large, red, half naked figures, leaning on a bow or a long rifle : these were the Indians of the neighborhood" (Levasseur, Lafayette in America, II, pp. 130-131).
EXEMPLAIRE DE LAFAYETTE DE SON INVITATION DANS L’ILLINOIS PAR LE GOUVERNEUR EDWARD COLES Le Gouverneur Edward Coles rend hommage à Lafayette et l’invite en Illinois et dans les états de l’Ouest : “We should not be able to receive you in large and splendid Cities, nor accommodate you in spacious mansions, but we flatter ourselves with the belief that you would be gratified in seeing our beautiful Country, and would enjoy a parental interest in the promising prospects of our infant State". Coles fait alors allusion à leur rencontre à Paris en 1817 2. 3 pp. in-4, mouillure Edward Coles (1786-1868) was second Governor of Illinois. Although from one of the oldest Virginian families, he had freed his slaves and moved west to Illinois, where he successfully campaigned to turn it into an anti-slavery state and was elected Governor in 1822. From 1809 to 1815 he had served as Private Secretary to President Madison, who sent him on diplomatic missions to Europe, where, as he reminds him in this letter, he met Lafayette. Unlike his other visits, that to the state of Illinois was something of an ad hoc affair. An account of the visit and the present letter is provided by George Washington Smith : “Early in the session of the general assembly in December, 1824, that body extended a cordial invitation to General Lafayette to visit Illinois. This invitation from the state’s legislative body was supplemented by a very affectionate letter from Governor Coles. On January 16, 1825, Lafayette replied from Washington to these pressing invitations to visit Illinois... On the morning of April 30, Saturday, the Natchez conveyed Lafayette and a distinguished party to Kaskaskia, the old seat of French empire in the west. A vast throng of patriotic citizens bade him welcome. A reception was held at the home of Gen. John Edgar. Governor Coles delivered a glowing address of welcome to which Lafayette responded with considerable feeling. Just here in the proceedings a very touching scene occurred. A few old Revolutionary soldiers who had fought with Lafayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, were presented. The scene was very affecting. The party now repaired to the hotel kept by Colonel Sweet, where a banquet was spread. This hotel had been profusely decorated by the patriotic ladies of the town. Laurel wreaths, roses, and wild flowers filled all available space" (A History of Southern Illinois : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, 1912, pp. 161-163). “General Lafayette was not expected at Kaskaskia, and nothing had been prepared for this unforeseen visit. While we were landing some one ran to the village, which stands a quarter of a mile from the shore, and quickly returned with a carriage for the General, who, an instant after, was surrounded by many citizens, who ran before to receive him. In the escort which formed itself to accompany him, we saw neither military apparel nor the splendid triumphs we had perceived in the rich cities... During an instant of profound silence, I cast a glance at the assembly, in the midst of which I found myself, and was struck with astonishment in remarking their variety and fantastic appearance... behind these, near to the door, and on the piazza which surrounded the house, stood some immovable, impassable, large, red, half naked figures, leaning on a bow or a long rifle : these were the Indians of the neighborhood" (Levasseur, Lafayette in America, II, pp. 130-131).
