To Madame Brillon (unpublished)
Phila. April 19. 1788.
My dear dear Friend,

I received by this last Pacquet your kind Letter dated in October last. I am glad to hear that you continue well, with what is left of the amiable Family in whose sweet Society I pass’d so many happy Evenings while I liv’d in Passy. I sympathise with you in all your Losses and Afflictions, and hope the rest of your Life will be as tranquil and free from Trouble as it had been for some Years before we parted.

You have given me Pleasure by informing me of the Welfare and present agreable Circumstances of your self and Children; and I am persuaded that your Friendship for me will render a similar Account of my Situation pleasing to you. I am in a Country where I have the happiness of being universally respected and beloved, of which three successive annual Elections to the Chief Magistracy, in which Elections, the Representatives of the People in Assembly and the Supreme Council join’d and were unanimous, is the strongest Proof; this is a Place of Profit as well as of Honour; and my Friends chearfully assist in making the Business as easy to me as possible. I live in a good House which I built 25 Years ago, contriv’d to my Mind, and made still more convenient by an Addition since my Return. A dutiful and affectionate Daughter, with her Husband and Six Children compose my Family. The Children are all promising, and even the youngest, who is but four Years old, contributes to my Amusement. The oldest, Benjamin, you may remember. He has finish’d his Studies at our University, and is preparing to enter into Business as a Printer, the original Occupation of his Grand-father. Temple, who was likewise with me in France, is settled about 6 Leagues from me on his Plantation, which contains about 600 Acres; but when in Town lives with me. My Rents and Incomes are amply sufficient, for all my present Occasions, and if no unexpected Misfortunes happen during the little time I have to live, I shall leave a handsome Estate to be divided among my Relatives.—As to my Health, it continues the same or rather better than when I left Passy; but being now in my 83d Year, I do not expect to continue much longer a Sojourner in this World, and begin to promise myself much Gratification of my Curiosity in soon visiting some other. Wherever I may hereafter travel, be assured, my dear Friend, that if I shall be capable of remembring anything, the Remembrance of your Friendship will be retained, as having made too deep an Impression to be obliterated, and will ever, as it always has done, afford me infinite Pleasure. Adieu. Adieu.

B. Franklin

J’ay commené deux ou trois fois de vous écrire en François, mais je l’ay trouvé trop difficile, ayant oublié beaucoup de ce que j’ay appris quand j’etois en France. Ainsi il faut desirer à M. le Veillard notre bon ami commun, de nous servir d’interprete. Madam Brillon
644090 = 045-u476.html