MARIE JOSEPH DE LAFAYETTE (1757 - 1834) French statesman and military officer who served as a major general under Washington and was instrumental in the defeat of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Fine content A.L.S. 2pp. 4to., La Grange, July 23, 1824, in French to his military colleague M. le Capt. Baudin, in part: "...Thank you very much for having given me your news and introducing Mr. Andell to me. He arrived at the very moment we received the History of the National Guard in which M. Comte renders justice to his fine behavior in the affair of my two colleagues...M. de Corcelles...happened to be at La Grange...I showed him my farm...he praised my two Normandy cows which are the object of everyone's admiration...We talked about manufacturing, and I would like to have him help me establish a small agricultural county fair in Rolay...I do not believe it is a suitable place to market the long wool of England...[but] I would like to cross the merino with a breed whose power and merit I recognize, but the profit from such a novelty would be fleeting...The role you played in my election [to the Chamber of Deputies] does not surprise me...After having wished not to be condemned to the work of the chamber, I must confess that the renewed efforts of my supports, the obstacles they overcame and the price that our enemies had to pay for their defeat have reconciled me to my nomination. And yet, I do now see how I could be of service in that district... ". While a member of the Deputies, Lafayette was again called to command the National Guard in the Revolution of 1830, and was instrumental in placing Louis Philippe on the throne. Very good condition. $1,200-1,500