Offering congratulations to Knox
Item
Type
Autograph Letter Signed
Title
Offering congratulations to Knox
Description
The Marquis offers congratulations on Knox's appointment to the post of Secretary of War. The Marquis also upholds Americans as great people who he hopes will consider him a friend and discusses Society of Cincinnati membership.
year created
1790
month created
01
day created
02
recipient
in collection
in image
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Marquis Armand de las Rouverie
Society of Cincinnati
Secretary of War
officers
La Fayette
notable location
France
notable item/thing
congratulations
appointment as Secretary of War
document number
1790010240001
page start
1
transcription
Au Chateau de Rouverie par
Fougères en Bretagne Jany 2d 1790
The Marquis da las Rouverie.
(Cincinnati business)
102
Sir
I request you to accept of my congratulation on your appointment to
such an honourable post as is that of the secretary of war of north
america. it can never be, like in some country, a vain title for any
man that should be placed in it, since he would at all events, have
been chosen by a virtuous people, and who at the same time,
has so bravely and in so many occasions learned through
experiment what military merit is. it is still more honourably
occupied by you, sir, who have had such great a share in the
military assistance given to our great man. although he is
the great man of the world, it in not in this sense alone that I say
our, but also because my veneration & affection for him and
your country & people; my respect for all what you have done
since I had the happiness to militate in the americain's ranks, the
remembrance of my activity in your cause, never will permit
me as long as virtue, friendship & gratitude shall activate my
heart, to consider myself otherwise than a true americain. if ever the proof may be of some service, I hope america will do me the honour to dispose of meâ
Capt. [undecipherable] wrote to me that you were to send me for myself & the officers who served under me & are now in france, the diploma of cincinati; he wrote at the same time that perhaps you would direct them to the mqs de la fayette â I request you to consider that having never served with him, and there being no kind of military relation betwixt us, there would be no propriety in me, nor in my fellow officers, to receive any thing through his hands from such an equitable man as must be a secretary at war in north america â then if you had sent them through that by [undecipherable] we would in all imaginable circumstances be deprived of them; and if they belong to [undecipherable] who leaving aside the proffered sublime, endeavoured candidly to render true services, wished to acquire esteem and friendship, and did not aim at the fame of paltry heroes, I think they may as properly be directed to [undecipherable] as to that gentleman â
I have the honour to be with respect
sir
your most obdt hbl servante â
Armand de la Rouerie
au chateau de la Rouerie par Fougères en Bretagne â
this 2d January [undecipherable] â
The hble Gnl Knox Secretary at War
Fougères en Bretagne Jany 2d 1790
The Marquis da las Rouverie.
(Cincinnati business)
102
Sir
I request you to accept of my congratulation on your appointment to
such an honourable post as is that of the secretary of war of north
america. it can never be, like in some country, a vain title for any
man that should be placed in it, since he would at all events, have
been chosen by a virtuous people, and who at the same time,
has so bravely and in so many occasions learned through
experiment what military merit is. it is still more honourably
occupied by you, sir, who have had such great a share in the
military assistance given to our great man. although he is
the great man of the world, it in not in this sense alone that I say
our, but also because my veneration & affection for him and
your country & people; my respect for all what you have done
since I had the happiness to militate in the americain's ranks, the
remembrance of my activity in your cause, never will permit
me as long as virtue, friendship & gratitude shall activate my
heart, to consider myself otherwise than a true americain. if ever the proof may be of some service, I hope america will do me the honour to dispose of meâ
Capt. [undecipherable] wrote to me that you were to send me for myself & the officers who served under me & are now in france, the diploma of cincinati; he wrote at the same time that perhaps you would direct them to the mqs de la fayette â I request you to consider that having never served with him, and there being no kind of military relation betwixt us, there would be no propriety in me, nor in my fellow officers, to receive any thing through his hands from such an equitable man as must be a secretary at war in north america â then if you had sent them through that by [undecipherable] we would in all imaginable circumstances be deprived of them; and if they belong to [undecipherable] who leaving aside the proffered sublime, endeavoured candidly to render true services, wished to acquire esteem and friendship, and did not aim at the fame of paltry heroes, I think they may as properly be directed to [undecipherable] as to that gentleman â
I have the honour to be with respect
sir
your most obdt hbl servante â
Armand de la Rouerie
au chateau de la Rouerie par Fougères en Bretagne â
this 2d January [undecipherable] â
The hble Gnl Knox Secretary at War
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | RCC08 (4 pages) | Collection: Society of the Cincinnati Archives | B: 15, F: 3A |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Marquis de la Rouerie Charles Armand Tuffin | [unknown] | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |