If you're open to questions, I would love to hear anything that you may know about Jean Antoine Chais! I have been fixated on finding out more about this guy for years, but there's just so little available online. I'd appreciate any new sources you could share 🙏
I'm ashamed it took me two weeks to reply to you... I hope my answer satisfies you. I feel like John Laurens when he didn't reply
I suppose that this question was made because of the relation between Laurens and Chais, so I’m going to focus the post on it. (I’m going to do this post without a dictionary so it is probably that you find a lot of grammar and vocabulary mistakes)
Firstly, some information about Jean-Antonie Chais here!
Jean Antonie Chais was baptized at The Hague (March 6, 1735). He received a doctorate in law at Leyden in 1775. He moved to Genève in 1764 and became a member of Conseil des Deux-cents (like De Végobre). Before being fixed in Genève, he had married in
The Hague (XVIII century)
Leyden university
The Hague on July 26, 1761; with Cornelia-Bastiana von Swieten (native from The Hague). They had two children: Charles Alexandre (1st of June, 1763) and Marie Antoinette (14th Jan, 1766). Another thing about Chais is that he was châtelain de Peney, de Chapitre et de St-Victor (a type of “owner”/”noble title” idk how to describe it in this language TwT). I don’t know if he lived all the time in his house in Bel Air (where John and Harry lived) or if he moved there later. His parents were a French Huguenot family that was extracted (His father Chales Chais (1700-1785) he lived more than John Laurens lol) in 1722 after being consecrated minister of the French Church.
This is one of the places where Chais was Châtelain. It's not unusual for wealthy men to have communes or something similar to small states (for example, Voltaire with Ferney, now Ferney-Voltaire).
I've made some rather crude notes on this drawing of Geneva that might be helpful. Basically: Bel Air was where Chais's residence was located. Pâquis was the neighborhood where De Végobre, Voltaire and Pictet lived. If you ever want to visit the neighborhood, I'll just warn you that it's best not to do so at night (it's now the city's red-light district). Although it is still a pretty quiet place, but you know how Switzerland is with these matters. The Académie was the University of Geneva, which is still there and looks just as it did back then.
This is Bel Air! I took the street photo; it's one that overlooks what used to be Bel Air Square. The other photo is from the internet. (I didn't take many photos of Geneva because I never thought I'd be talking about the streets in a Tumblr post, lol. I'll be back soon, so I'll take some more photos.)The drawing is to give you an idea of what Bel Air looks like in the 18th century.
I think this is all the information that I know about him before Genève. But don’t worry! I have a lot more information about other interesting topics (Laurens-Chais relation).
Well, everyone knows that he was John Laurens’ tutor/teacher/responsible adult who cares about them (Harry and John). In my opinion Henry Laurens and Chais didn't know about each other before David Chauvet (second John’s tutor) recommended Chais’ residence to H. Laurens. I considered that because of this letter:
“If you find that Monsieur Chais is not the man for your purpose in Classics, speak Modestly and forcibly to the General, lose not a moment of time, apply to the most able and most eminent Tutor (but most able will do) in Geneva. I will pay any expense in preference to a delay of your advancement. Try the drawing Master immediately. If you like him, apply under his direction to Science. Loose no time in your laudable pursuits.”
25TH JUNE 1775 HENRY LAURENS TO JOHN LAURENS
“If you find that Monsieur Chais is not the man for your purpose in Classics”: We find two things in this quote. First, Chais was planned to be John’s teacher in Classics (important fact for latter). And second, Henry keeps for John’s capacity to judge Chais’ work. I think, if Henry met Chais before the recommendation he probably would know the quality of his work. (I’m going crazy with the verbs and conjugations).
“I am of opinion that you may prosecute your Studies at Geneve according to the plan which is laid down by Mr. Chais or any other & afterwards gratify your laudable desires of the Burnish or finishing Stroke of an English University”: In this quote Henry is literally saying: “just keep going with your studies I don’t mind who is your tutor”. Ah, I think there’s a letter on a private collection between Chais and James Laurens (Henry’s brother)
At some point, John gets mad with Chais and decides to move Harry to Chauvet’s residence. Is kind of strange because Henry was planning a visit to Geneva. John had to hurry to move Harry and we don’t know why, he didn’t ask about his father’s opinion, something strange. Chais writes to Henry about this (I don't have de letter) and Henry replies on 5th March, 1773
The subject of your favour of 22th surprised & affected me extremely. I had received a Letter from my Son John of so late a date as 16th February in which he speaks particularly of his Brother Harry's Education but intimates no dissatisfaction nor any thing like a design of removing the Child from your House. I am therefore altogether a Stranger to the Motive for so sudden & unexpected a step.
I thought myself happy in having them both under your Roof, & the apparent Harmony which subsisted between you, Sir, & the Eldest afforded me the most pleasing prospect of their pass-ing their time at Geneva with you to mutual satisfaction. I hope my Son for his own Honour will have assigned you a competent reason for his conduct. I must beg your Permission to suspend my Judgement thereon until I shall have received some account from him which I expect by the next Mail. In the meantime I cannot forbear to make my acknowledgement of thanks to Madam Chais as well as to yourself for your kind attention to Harry so far as I was a Witness & if it shall appear that his Brother perhaps from Zeal for his Welfare has been precipitate in his determination, let me entreat you, Sir, to pass as favorable a construction as the nature & design of the Act will admit of making allowances for his want of experience & please to be assured that disrespectful & improper behaviour of which I should however hope him incapable will receive no sanction from his Father. My best wishes & compliments.
9th March After having wrote to you as on the other side I determined to delay my Letter for a Post in hopes of hearing from my Son upon a subject which had affected my mind the more for his Silence. Yesterday his Letter of the 27 February reached me. He assigns such reasons for the removal of his Brother as appear to be very good. If they are not, & I would rather doubt my own judgement than his veracity, he speaks as if you were reconciled to the Measure, tho I can perceive that you might have been more Chagrined by the manner in which the Change was effected than from any loss which you could apprehend from such Change because the Pension paid for the Child could not be an object worth your attention.
My Son makes an apology for acting from his own motion without consulting me. I hope he has done the same to you, if he was deficient in that delicacy & regard which were certainly due to you previous to the alteration which he was about to make. I shall endeavour to visit Geneve some time the ensuing Summer. It would have given me pleasure to have met those Boys together in the old way. However if there is a prospect that the late measure will prove beneficial to Harry I am persuaded that you have too much gen-erosity to regret it, & I shall always hold my self obliged for your goodness to both of them. An awkward situation in which I sit to write having one Leg on a Chair & in some Pain will excuse me for incorrectness in the above. I beg leave to repeat my respects.
I also don't have John's letter where he explains the reason for his brother's move, but I do have the response his father sent him.
The Receipt of a Letter last Week from M. Chais informing me of the removal of Harry without explanation of the Cause from you occasioned some anxiety on my mind till yesterday yours of the 27th came to hand. I had wrote to M. Chais the 5th, but I laid my answer on the Table. Now I have added a Postscript & it will go in the same Mail with this. Your attention to your Brother's Education is very commendable & it is obliging to me. The reasons which you have assigned for the Change, have weight, but the Step with respect to me was sudden & perhaps the manner in which it was conducted might have greived the heads of the Family more than any other consideration. For your own Honour & Peace of Mind you will not be wilfully deficient in Politeness & respectful deportment in order to preserve that Harmony which had subsisted. A contrary conduct may involve me in painful explanations & perhaps controversies. Be watchful over yourself, my Dear Child, & remember my admonitions if you have been too hasty in your proceedings, don't attempt to avail your self even of good inten-tions, but make a proper apology. Harry's late situation at M. Chais's as you describe it must have been disagreeable to both of you, and his progress in learning must also have been impeded by those rencounters with Master Charles & the resentment from Mamma. Upon the whole 'tis prob-able he will benefit in general by the alteration which you have made, but is there no danger of his loosing in English Reading by your distance from him? I shall send to Morrow to enquire if the General is arrived in London. One of my first Visits shall be to wait on him. I hope, my Dear, you did not put him in mind of the price of the Chaiz." Give my Love to Harry & my respectful compliments to the two families in which you live.
We found quite a bit of information here. What do you think might have happened? The next year after Harry’s removal, John escapes from the house (I don’t know why) with a servant of the Chais family and rents a departament a few days. He receives this letter from Chais: (Sorry, I think this post is raising more questions than answers, because honestly, not much is known about the breakup of their friendship(?))
Monsieur, L’estime sincère que j’ai conçue pour vous dès que j’ai eu le bonheur de vous connaître, m’a attaché à vous par les liens de la plus sincère amitié. Les premiers mois que nous avons passés ensemble m’avaient fait espérer que j’avais trouvé pour toute ma vie un vrai Pylade, et je m’en félicitais bien sincèrement. Depuis quelque temps, j’ai aperçu avec un grand regret que vous ne nous regardiez pas avec le même œil d’amitié, et quoique nous tous, et moi en particulier, devions de faire tout ce qui dépend de nous pour vous faire plaisir, je crains de m’apercevoir que nous ne réussissons pas. Veuillez, Monsieur, s’il y a quelque chose qui vous fasse de la peine, vous expliquer librement et amicalement avec moi. Soyez sûr que mon cœur vous est sincèrement attaché, et que je ferai tout ce qui dépendra de moi pour vous agréer. Comme il n’est pas impossible que Monsieur votre père ait quelque conversation avec nous pendant son séjour à Genève, je désirerais que rien ne pût que la manière dont je lui parlerai de mon amitié pour vous, et du désir de la continuer. Veuillez en agir ouvertement avec moi. Vous ne serez certainement pas mécontent de mes sentiments, et en tout temps je tâcherai de vous prouver combien je suis véritablement, Monsieur, Votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur, J. Chais; Genève, dimanche 1774
I transcribed it into French as best I could, although I hesitated over some words. I've tried to translate it into English as best I could. I don't think the official or complete transcription is online, at least I haven't found it.
Sir, The sincere esteem I felt for you from the moment I had the happiness of meeting you has attached me to you by the bonds of the truest friendship. The first months we spent together made me hope I had found for life a true Pylades, and I sincerely congratulated myself on it. For some time now, I have noticed with great regret that you no longer look upon us with the same eye of friendship, and although all of us—and I in particular—are doing everything we can to please you, I fear to realize that we are not succeeding. Please, Sir, if there is anything that troubles you, explain it to me freely and amicably. Be assured that my heart is sincerely attached to you, and I will do everything in my power to please you. As it is not impossible that your father may have some conversation with us during his stay in Geneva, I would wish that nothing could contradict the way I shall speak to him of my friendship for you and of my desire to continue it. Please act openly with me. You will certainly not be displeased with my sentiments, and at all times I will endeavor to prove to you how truly I am, Sir, Your very humble and very obedient servant, J. Chais Geneva, Sunday, 1774
A while back, I saw a very good post on Tumblr that analyzed the mention of Pylades in the letter, but I have a different opinion. It's worth noting that while he is a fairly homoerotic figure, the Greeks themselves didn't classify it as a relationship as we understand it today. This didn't change in the 18th century, because even though the term "sodomite" was used, there was no clear line between where a friendship ends and (at least) a romantic relationship begins. They used the term sodomite exclusively for sexual relationships, not romantic ones. So yes, I regret to say that Pylades isn't a canonically gay figure, but rather an ideal of friendship. I encourage you to read original classics without thinking about fanfics (I love fanfics, I don't hate them, but we must be objective). Yes, it's a little strange that Chais uses Pylades in particular, because was he really that close to Laurens? I mean, I'm not surprised by the fact that the figure of Pylades has a certain homosexual connotation today (not to be confused with homoerotic, a connotation it has had since ancient Greece) and that Chais used it. I'm surprised by the fact that Chais considers them to be so close and friendly that he thought he "had found a Pylades"... I mean, why? We all know that De Végobre and Laurens were close "friends" (I repeat, I disagree with categorizing who his friend and lover were; I'll write the next post about that because I think my point is being misunderstood). De Végobre himself called Laurens "my fiancé" in a letter (among other things). So, did the relationship deteriorate so much that Chais and Laurens never exchanged letters again? Maybe John didn't feel the same way about him? In my opinion, the love simply wasn't reciprocated (and this isn't the only time this happened during Laurens's life).
It's important to mention something I think I've already mentioned in another post: Chais didn't like De Végobre. This is very strange, considering everyone says he was a charming person. I mean, everyone thought he was a sweetheart: the General, M. Chauvet, Henry Laurens, obviously his friends… The only answer I have for this is: he's jealous. But don't get me wrong, he's jealous not only in his personal life, but also professionally. I mean, De Végobre was John's tutor, Chais too… John preferred spending time with De Végobre, and he loved mathematics much more than classics, and they spent hours, even days, vacations, and entire weekends together. Chais's ego was probably somewhat damaged. Imagine, you're an experienced teacher and a 19-year-old kid comes to tutor your student John Laurens in mathematics, and he becomes your student's favorite teacher. And we're not even talking about jealousy in personal matters, which I have no idea about. Of course, this theory is quite plausible, if Chais didn't hate De Végobre even before John arrived. Which is even more curious, because I don't know if you remember how I said De Végobre was held prisoner for a time and that some family heads paid to free him when he was a child/teenager. Well, one of them was Chais, so… something happened after that.
I think I've more or less given you enough information and a bit of my opinion, although I don't want to go into too much detail unless you ask me. I try to be as objective as possible, but it's true that I like to give my opinion hehehe… After this, John went to live with Chauvet, and we don't know much more about Chais other than that he continued to have students, was a lawyer, and a member of Congress… If you have any questions or requests, don't hesitate to ask me; I'll be happy to answer (this time I won't take two weeks to reply). I'm sure I have some more information about Chais that I'm forgetting, so this post might have a second part.