‎LA FAYETTE (Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de).‎
‎[Lettre autographe signée, adressée du château de La Grange, un 8 frimaire].‎

‎La Grange, 8 frimaire An XII (30 novembre 1803). 1803 1 ff. in-4° (181 x 142 mm.) manuscrit à l'encre brune daté et signé. Maintenu par des onglets dans une chemise de papier d'époque.‎

Reference : 5595

‎Lettre manuscrite du marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834) rédigée à son domicile du château de La Grange le 30 novembre 1803 nous informent sur ses préoccupations financières et son état de santé après sa chute accidentelle du début de lannée. Alors à lécart de la vie publique, le célèbre héro de la guerre dindépendance américaine est installé avec sa famille au château de La Grange-Bléneau, ancienne maison forte, située sur la commune de Courpalay, dans le département de Seine-et-Marne. Il y demeurera de 1802 à sa mort en 1834. En 1803. La Fayette se concentre sur lagriculture et lamélioration de son domaine. Il soppose cependant en 1802 à lattribution du titre de « consul à vie » à Napoléon Bonaparte et il votera contre le titre dEmpereur en 1804. Mettant en cause lEmpire et son atteinte aux libertés publiques dans ses lettres à Thomas Jefferson. La Fayette comble peu à peu ses dettes grâce à son exploitation agricole et à la revente de terres quil possédait en Bretagne et à Cayenne. Il adresse sa lettre à son "cher ancien collègue" qui est "nommé à la présidence du tribunal". Il lui demande de venir le voir à La Grange pour se reposer et l'informe du marché que M. Villars propose en lui vendant la nue-propriété de sa maison : "et il ajoute : « si j'avais de l'argent, j'aimerai mieux le placer en agriculture qu'en maisons de Paris ». Mais ses enfants pourraient être intéressés et il lui demande de négocier le prix de la maison. La fin de sa lettre nous livre une précieuse information sur son état de santé dix mois après son accident : « Ma guérison avance graduellement et sera complète ». le 23 février 1803, La Fayette glisse sur du verglas en sortant du ministère de la Marine à Paris et se casse le col du fémur. Ainsi relate-t-il cet accident dans sa lettre du 31 mars 1803 à Thomas Jefferson : « () My dear Sir, I am dependent upon an accident which has rendered it impossible to write myself, and not very easy amidst my sufferings, and the attendance of surgeons to direct a correspondence. I have already been for five and fifty days under the pains of a broken Phémurés-neck and the operation of a new invented machine, I have still three weeks to remain uncomfortably on my back, but I now am sure to recover the use of my thigh without any lameness. As to the particulars of my misfortune and treatment, nobody can better give them than General Bernadotte who has been a most friendly visitor at my bedside. () » Puis dans une nouvelle lettre à Jefferson écrite le 17 mai, il relate : « the breaking of my Thigh, at the Col du femur it has been more compleatly mended than perhaps any fracture of the Kind, but I have paid it dearthe application of a new machine has left me very deep Wounds, besides the great sufferings I have undergoneMy Situation does not yet allow much writingBut I wanted to express to you my Joy on the grand affair and my Gratitude, both to Congress and to you, for the honourable bountiful mark of Kindness I have received ». Ainsi, Pour éviter un raccourcissement de la jambe et à une infirmité permanente, La Fayette avait opté pour une alternative proposée par ses médecins : l'enfermement de sa jambe dans une nouvelle « machine » et ainsi enduré 6 semaines de souffrances. Dans sa présente lettre à un ami rédigée fin 1803, La Fayette est donc optimiste sur sa guérison. Cependant, il boitera et marchera avec une canne le reste de sa vie. 1 ff. 4-to (181 x 142 mm.) handwritten in brown ink, dated and signed. Held by tabs in a period paper folder. Handwritten letter of the marquis de La Fayette (1757-1834) written at his home in the castle of La Grange on November 30, 1803 informs us about his financial concerns and his state of health after his accidental fall at the beginning of the year. The famous hero of the American War of Independence was away from public life at the time and lived with his family in the Château de La Grange-Bléneau, an old fortified house located in the commune of Courpalay, in the department of Seine-et-Marne. He lived there from 1802 until his death in 1834. In 1803. La Fayette concentrated on agriculture and the improvement of his estate. However, in 1802 he opposed the attribution of the title of "consul for life" to Napoleon Bonaparte and he voted against the title of Emperor in 1804. In his letters to Thomas Jefferson, he questioned the Empire and its infringement of civil liberties. La Fayette gradually made up his debts thanks to his farm and the resale of land he owned in Brittany and Cayenne. He addresses his letter to his "dear former colleague" who is "appointed to the presidency of the court". He asks him to come and see him at La Grange to rest and informs him of the deal that Mr. Villars is proposing by selling him the bare ownership of his house: "and he adds: "if I had money, I would rather invest it in agriculture than in houses in Paris (translated from French)". But his children might be interested and he asks her to negotiate the price of the house. The end of his letter gives us a precious information about his health ten months after his accident: "My recovery is progressing gradually and will be complete". On February 23, 1803, La Fayette slipped on ice while leaving the Ministry of the Navy in Paris and broke his femoral neck. He relates this accident in his letter of March 31, 1803 to Thomas Jefferson: "(...) My dear Sir, I am dependent upon an accident which has rendered it impossible to write myself, and not very easy amidst my sufferings, and the attendance of surgeons to direct a correspondence. I have already been for five and fifty days under the pains of a broken Phémurés-neck and the operation of a new invented machine, I have still three weeks to remain uncomfortably on my back, but I now am sure to recover the use of my thigh without any lameness. As to the particulars of my misfortune and treatment, nobody can better give them than General Bernadotte who has been a most friendly visitor at my bedside (...) ". Then in a new letter to Jefferson written on May 17, he relates: "the breaking of my Thigh, at the Col du femur it has been more compleatly mended than perhaps any fracture of the Kind, but I have paid it dear-the application of a new machine has left me very deep Wounds, besides the great sufferings I have undergone-My Situation does not yet allow much writing-But I wanted to express to you my Joy on the grand affair and my Gratitude, both to Congress and to you, for the honourable bountiful mark of Kindness I have received". Thus, to avoid a shortening of the leg and a permanent infirmity, La Fayette had opted for an alternative proposed by his doctors: the confinement of his leg in a new "machine" and thus endured 6 weeks of suffering. In this letter to a friend written at the end of 1803, La Fayette is therefore optimistic about his recovery. However, he will limp and walk with a cane for the rest of his life.‎