4354. LAFAYETTE (Marquis de), Gifts of Land.—
I am persuaded, that a gift
of lands by the State of Virginia to the Marquis
de Lafayette would give a good opinion
here[France] of our character, and would reflect
honor on the Marquis. Nor, am I sure
that the day will not come when it might be an
useful asylum to him. The time of life at
which he visited America was too well adapted
to receive good and lasting impressions to permit
him ever to accommodate himself to the
principles of monarchical government; and it
will need all his own prudence, and that of his
friends, to make this country a safe residence
for him. How glorious, how comfortable in reflection,
will it be, to have prepared a refuge
for him in case of a reverse. In the meantime,
he could settle it with tenants from the freest
part of this country, Bretagne. I have never
suggested the smallest idea of this kind to him;
because the execution of it should convey the
first notice. If the State has not a right to give
him lands with their own officers, they could
buy up at cheap prices the shares of others.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. i, 533.
Ford ed., iv, 195.
(P.
1786)
