To George Washington from Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, 4 December 1782

My former Letters Have Acquainted You that, However talkative were Politicians About Peace, an Expedition Was Going to take place the Command of Which is Given to Count d’Estaing—I Have Also Added that Upon Being Requested to Go, I Have Willingly Accepted of it, as I thought it the Means, the only Means in the World to Bring About What You Have directed me to obtain Clel Gouvion Must Be With You, and I Refer you, My dear General, to the letter I wrote By Him, as Well as to Some Notes I write to Him as I Have a full Cypher With that Gentleman. [W:Indies] is the first object— [Spain] in the Way—We Have got Here 9 ships of the Line to Set out With the first fair Wind—Your Excellency knows that Count d’Estaing is Gone to Spain—We Shall Have [Maritime Superiority]—Please to prepare propositions and Notions about [N. Yk, Chs T—Penobscot—New fd Ld]. One [Fh Ship] is to be sent to [Am.]. and then By Your orders to [Ws. Inds.]—I shall write the Next Opportunity.

Inclosed, my dear General, I Have the Honor to Send you the Copy of a Letter to Congress—I Hope You Will Be able to tell them You are Satisfied With My Conduct—Indeed, My dear General, it is Necessary to My Happiness You Will think So—When You are Absent, I Endeavour to do the thing Which You Seem Likely to Have Advised Had you Been present—I love you too Much to Be one Minute Easy Unless I think You Approuve of My Conduct.

Peace is Much talked of—I think, Betwen us, Much of the difficulty Must lay With the Spaniards—and Yet I do not think the Enemy are Very Sincere—They Have Been Heaping Chicanes and finesses upon the affair of Limits for America, and So on—it is My opinion that, in the Bottom of their Hearts, they are determined, if they Can, to try What turn Next Campaign Will give to their Affairs and God Grant we May make it a Vigorous one, Particularly about New York.

I Have Arrived Here But Yesterday Morning—I Have Much of Public Business upon My Hands—So that in Requesting My Best Respects to Be presented to Mrs Washington, and My Compliments to the family, George and My friends in the Army I Will only add the Expression of the Most tender and Gratefull Respect I Have the Honor to be With, My dear General Your obt Serv. and affect. friend