july, 4, 2012 (sat.) château de la grange-bléneau, france

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette, a French lover of liberty and fighter in the American Revolution, wrote to his friend and colleague in the great cause of freedom, Thomas Jefferson. France, too, had had its troubles, but the former general was optimistic about the future of both young republics.

"Here is, my dear friend, the Anniversary of the Great day on which Both the deed and the Expression were worthy of Each other -- This double Rememberance in your Quiete Retirements is Happily Refreshed By the Extension of independance to all America -- an event which, altho' we Have Had the pleasure to foresee and the Good fortune to prepare it, we should not, Had it not Been for the Ambition of an European despot, probably Have witnessed -- you Have Seen me in france, a few days after one 4h of July, very Sanguine and I was Approved By you in a short declaration the Effect of which we Hoped to Be as durable as it Had Been Communicative and determining -- But whatever Has Since Been the violation, Corruption, and Lately the Avowed proscription of Liberal ideas, I am Convinced more Seed Has Been preserved than is Commonly thought; nor do I Question their Reviving Again to Enliven the old as well as the New world. ..."

(What with the war disrupting shipping and thus international mail, the letter didn't arrive until October 30.)

june 24, 1812 (wed.)

A letter from the President. Mr. Jefferson's old friend, Jemmy Madison,  came in today's mail, with a copy of the Declaration of war on England enclosed.

1812: war officially declared on britain

June 18, 1812: President Madison signed Congress' declaration of war. The news would take a few days to get to Monticello.

The History Guys: The War of 1812: Which One Was That?

War of 1812

Wikipedia: War of 1812

History.com: War of 1812

Legacy of The War of 1812