#l'abbé de fayon

[nordleuchten]

From blood suckers, devils and daemons

I have to say that Halloween is not really my thing, I commemorate different things today – but I still could not resist taking a peek into La Fayette’s correspondences in search for some “spooky terms”. Unsurprisingly, there is not too much on this front. La Fayette used words like devil, spirit, horror, blood, etc. often enough, but mostly in different contexts (the men are in a great spirit, the horror of slavery, where the devil is Clinton, etc.) Nonetheless, there are a few interesting passages to be found that might fit the season

The Marquis de La Fayette to Henry Laurens, ca. January 5, 1778:

Remember, my dear Sir, what Lord North promised to your most cruel and tyrannic ennemys, when he foresaw in one of his speeches that dissensions should take place one day or another amongh the several States, the several members of Congress, and facilitate in the succès and vengeance of a master who is now as thirsty of your blood as he was before of your liberties and properties.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, Cornell University Press, 1977, p. 213.

The Marquis de La Fayette to the Chevalier de La Luzerne, June 16, 1781:

After having slipped rather fortunately between the enemy army and our stores, we made a junction with a few riflemen. Lord Cornwallis seemed not to like these hilly terrains and withdrew toward Richmond. We make it seem we are pursuing him, and my riflemen, their faces smeared with charcoal, make the woods resound with their yells; I have made them an army of devils and have given them plenary absolution.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 4, April 1, 1781–December 23, 1781, Cornell University Press, 1981, p. 186.

The Marquis de La Fayette to the L’Abbé Fayon, April 13, 1778:

I am so possessed by the daemon of war that I have totally abandoned myself to military occupations.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, 1778; Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, Cornell University Press, 1979, p. 24.

The Marquis de La Fayette to George Washington, May 14, 1784:

I know as Much as Any Conjurer Ever did, which Remind’s me of our old friend’s at Fiskills Enterwiew with the devil that Made us laugh So Much at His House (…)

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 5, January 4, 1782‑December 29, 1785, Cornell University Press, 1983, p. 216.

I am confident that the men had some sort of mock séance at Fishkill. I believe that there is also a similar story about Hamilton and some acquaintances pranking party goes by pretending to see and speak with ghosts.