LAFAYETTE MARQUIS DE: (1757-1834) Gilbert du Motier. French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and was also a key figure in the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830. A.L.S., Lafayette, one page, 8vo, n.p., n.d., to a gentleman, in French. Lafayette states that it is with great pleasure that he writes to his correspondent, particularly as he knows his son ('il est impossible de le connaitre sans s'y interesser infiniment'; Translation: 'it is impossible to know him without being infinitely interested in him') whom he saw almost every day, further explaining that he will try and obtain him a commission as a gentleman cadet with a view to becoming a second lieutenant, but the long service is not beneficial and recommending that he 'envie d'aller passer deux ou trois ans en amerique et de voir la guerre des collonnies et de se mettre a leurs services' (Translation: 'should go and spend two or three years in America and see the War of the Colonies and put himself at their service') and concluding 'J'attends votre avis avec empressement et je vous prie de ne pas douter Monsieur de mon zele a vous prouver combien je vous suis attache' (Translation: 'I await your opinion with eagerness and I beg you not to doubt, Sir, my zeal to prove to you how attached I am to you'). With extensive age wear, some small holes to the text, splitting at the folds and small tears to the edges, affecting the text in places but not touching the signature. Traces of former mounting to the head of the verso. Only FR