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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02437.03327 |
| From Archive Folder | The Henry Knox Papers [0078] September-December 1786 |
| Title | Captain Phillipe Dejean to Henry Knox enclosing a letter from Lafayette and asking for help with a dispute |
| Date | 5 November 1786 |
| Author | DeJean, Phillipe (ca. 1736- 1809) |
| Recipient | Knox, Henry |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written by Captain Dejean, agent for the French Navy. Writes that he has enclosed a letter from the Marquis de Lafayette. Hopes that the letter from the Marquis, as well as Knox's prior knowledge, will testify to his good character. Relates that he has had a dispute with a Mr. De Letombe, the French consul in Boston, who is now accusing him "of having judged the Americans brought prisoners at Detroit, during the war, with the greatest cruelty," as well as of answering "Comte d'Estaing's Manifesto to the Canadiens" impertinently. Writes that should "that be the case; I am a bad man, unworty of the Marquis's protections, yours, or any of the americans." Asks that Knox confer with several of his associates to ascertain his good character, and urges him to "forsake me intirely [sic], cast me of as an imposter," if their testimony does not convince him. If it does, asks that he speak on his behalf to Governor [James] Bowdoin and several other important figures, including the Marquis [Lafayette], [Thomas] Jefferson, then minister at the French Court, and [J. Hector] St. John de Crevecoeur, the French consul for New York. |
| Subjects | Navy France Revolutionary War General Letter of Introduction or Recommendation Diplomacy Global History and Civics Revolutionary War American Indian History Prisoner of War Atrocity Canada Morality and Ethics President Diplomacy |
| People | Knox, Henry (1750-1806) DeJean, Phillipe (ca. 1736-1809) Lafayette, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, Marquis de (1757-1834) Bowdoin, James (1726-1790) St. John de Crèvecoeur, J. Hector (1735-1813) |
| Place written | Middletown, Connecticut |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Foreign Affairs; Naval & Maritime |
| Sub-collection | The Henry Knox Papers |
| Additional Information | While the location of writing is simply listed as "Middletown," a response to Monsieur De Jean dated 31 December 1786 was directed to him at Middletown, Connecticut. See GLC02437.03396. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Related documents | Henry Knox's response to Monsieur De Jean about his dispute |