Lafayette, a French military officer who played a distinguished part in both the American Revolution and the French Revolution, was nicknamed the Hero of the Two Worlds.* In 1803, the American Congress granted 11,520 acres of land to Lafayette. However, by some inadvertency a portion of the same land was afterwards granted to the Corporation of New Orleans.
Lafayette was advised by eminent lawyers to bring forward his claim, to which the gallant Frenchman replied, "The land was gratuitously bestowed on me by Congress. I cannot for a moment think of entering into litigation with any public body in the United States."
On the tract that Lafayette relinquished was built the City of New Orleans.
法國軍官拉法埃脫曾先後參與美國獨立戰爭與法國大革命，功勳彪炳，因有「新舊世界之英雄」美譽*。一八零三年，美國國會贈以一萬一千五百二十英畝土地。但是，由於某方疏忽，這幅地有一部分後來許與新奧爾良公司。
有著名律師勸拉法埃脫申明其所有權。但是，這位法國俠客說：「那幅地本由國會惠賜，我決不會為之而向美國的公立機構興訟。」
拉法埃脫放棄的那幅地，後來建成新奧爾良市。
*美國獨立戰爭時，拉法埃脫率法軍相助，與華盛頓成為朋友。一七八九年，法國國民議會成立，拉法埃脫根據美國《獨立宣言》草成《人民與公民權利宣言》。