"I have the honor to be, &c.

"LAFAYETTE."

When he transmitted the foregoing resolve of Congress, to the troops he had
lately commanded, he observed to them, "In the moment the Major General
leaves this place, he wishes once more to express his gratitude to the
brave corps of light infantry, who, for nine months past, have been the
companions of his fortunes. He can never forget, that, with them alone, of
regular troops, he had the good fortune to maneuver before an army, which,
after all its reductions, was still six times more numerous than the
regular force he had under command."

The interest taken in favour of our country by General Lafayette, and the
anxiety he felt upon all occasions for the success of our contest with
England, are so strongly evinced by his letter to the Hon. Samuel Adams,
that we feel bound in justice to the character of this zealous apostle of
liberty, to present it to our readers, with the reply of Mr. Adams. It
shows, indeed, not only the disposition of Lafayette, in every possible
way, to rapport the cause of America; but his great knowledge of human
nature, and his regard for the honorable feelings of soldiers.

The letter was written at Morristown, May 30, 1780, soon after the Marquis
returned from his visit to France, where he exerted himself with the French
Ministers to grant aid and supplies to the United States.


"_Dear Sir_,--Had I known that I would have the pleasure of meeting you
at Boston, and holding confidential conversations with you on public and