Apr 17, 2012 - Sale 2276

Sale 2276 - Lot 167

Price Realized: $ 3,360
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
"RENDRE L'AMERIQUE LIBRE" (YORKTOWN CAMPAIGN.) NOAILLES, LOUIS MARIE, VICOMTE DE. Autograph Letter Signed, "Noailles," as Colonel under Lafayette, to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens, in French, wishing his friend success on his diplomatic mission to France. 1 page, 4to, with integral blank; small marginal stain on fore-edge. Np, 2 February 1781
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Noailles was a brother-in-law of Lafayette. He and Laurens are forever linked in history for jointly negotiating the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown on behalf of their commanders Washington and Rochambeau. They were friends before Yorktown, as shown by this affectionate letter. Laurens had been appointed to sail for France in an effort to secure additional supplies and reinforcements for the Revolutionary cause. Here Noailles bids him farewell. In translation: "I wish you health, prosperity, success, and what your merit deserves . . . You have done everything possible with the certainty of rendering America free in the coming campaign. Be assured my dear Laurence that my good wishes and my heart accompanies you on your diplomatic mission. Recalling that we were unhappy together, at the same time I have loved and esteemed you." He concludes with a postscript offering recent news of the British navy in New York: "We have recent news which apprises us that the English are in a bad position at Gardiner's Bay." Laurens was successful in his mission, and returned to Virginia just in time to play his major role at Yorktown. Provenance: G.A. Baker's Edward J. Murphy sale, 30 March 1939, lot 235. English translation available.