Sold – Lafayette Suspects the British Are Stalling the End of Peace Talks

In 1810, businessman/banker Jonathan Russell was appointed U.S. Ambassador to France by President Madison. William Pinckney was then serving in the comparable post in Great Britain. The Americans were caught in the middle of the ongoing hostilities between Napoleonic France and its supporters, and a coalition of Napoleon’s opponents led by the British. Issues like impressment of seamen were bringing the U.S. to the edge of hostilities, but with which party??That summer Napoleon determined to make a show of placating the U.S., and Madison hoped to use this to wring concessions out of the British. In late 1810, Pinckney was in London still trying (after two years) to negotiate a settlement of Anglo-American problems, but the British were not interested in avoiding the slide towards war and the talks were failing. So in December, Pinckney played one last card. He asked the British government for his passport and a formal audience of leave, thinking perhaps that the imminent end to the talks would bring the British to reason. But he initially heard nothing back, and some read this as a positive sign. However, when he did here in February 1811, his requests were simply granted and the negotiations allowed to terminate. In the weeks between his requests and their being granted, well-informed people were awaiting the British response and hoping for the best.

The Marquis de Lafayette was one of those people. He maintained a lively interest in American affairs, all the more because France would be affected by the outcome. And he had an understanding of the English and the state of the situation there. He was well acquainted with Ambassador Russell’s family, from the time Russell’s uncle served under him in the American Revolution, and Lafayette kept in touch with Russell during his residency in Paris. In January 1811, he was anxious for news, but thought that the English were stalling because of disagreements among themselves on how best to reply to the Americans.

Autograph Letter Signed in English, Paris, January 13, 1811, to Russell. “I send you the note of Mr. Humboldt corrected by him and closed with his own hand. While you address it to the President or Secretary of State, I have got another copy for Monticello where I know it will be very welcome. What news have you from England? I am afraid the Parliamentary waverings will delay the answer expected by Mr. Pinckney. Do you mean to dispatch the Navy officer before you have got in? Have you any account of the Rotterdam packet, Mr. Forbes or Mr. Russell? Begging pardon for my inquiries…” The letter is addressed to Russell in Lafayette’s hand in French, so it was likely hand delivered. It was obtained by us direct from the Russell descendants and has never before been offered for sale.

Alexander von Humboldt was a noted naturalist and one of the founders of modern geography. He was particularly interested in the Western Hemisphere, and his travels, experiments, and knowledge transformed science in the 19th century. He visited the U.S. in 1804, met frequently with President Jefferson, and the two became good friends. Notes by von Humboldt on Western Hemisphere geography would have been of great interest, and  not merely to Jefferson. The Forbes mentioned was likely diplomat John Murray Forbes.