I confess that I am a little unreasonable as a Correspondent. I wish to hear from my Friends by every Pacquet, and presume they may excuse me if I write once a Year. The only Apology I can make, and that not a very good one, is, that Indolence is natural to Age and that I am too much engag’d in Business. But I have too long omitted Writing to my Friends at Auteuil; I throw myself upon their Good Nature, and beg their Forgiveness. Their continued Kindness towards me express’d in their Letters, affected me much; and I never peruse those Letters, but with fresh Pleasure, mix’d with the Remembrance of the many delightful Hours I pass’d in that sweet Society, and the Regret with which I find myself forever separated from it.

I wrote in November last to the Archbishop of Bourdeaux, and executed his Commission so far as to send him the Seeds he desired, which I hope arrived in good Order, tho’ I have not since heard from him. The kind of wooden houses he wrote for are not usually made here; tho’ possibly they may at Boston. But that being remote from me, so that I could not have the least Inspection of the Workmen, I have advis’d his writing to the French Consul who resides there, and sending him an exact Plan of the Buildings with all their Proportions; the Description in the Letter you sent me not being sufficiently precise to be intelligible by our ignorant Carpenters, who therefore could not compute the Cost.

It is rare that we see the Cardinal Bird so far north as Pennsylvania. Those sent here from Virginia generally perish by the Way, being a tender Bird, and not well bearing the Sea; So that we have not hitherto been able to get any for Benjamin to take care of. Mr. Alexander has, I understand, sent several for our Dame in his Tobacco Ships to France, which never arriv’d; and unless a Friend was going in the Ship who would take more than common Care of them, I suppose one might send an hundred without landing one alive. They would be very happy, I know, if they were once under her Protection; but they cannot come to her and she will not come to them. She may remember the Offer I made her of 1000 Acres of Woodland out of which she might cut a great Garden, and have 1000 Aviarys if she pleased. I have a large Tract on the Ohio where Cardinals are plenty. If I had been a Cardinal myself perhaps I might have prevail’d with her. I am much oblig’d by her kind Offer of sending Robes, Hats, Bonnets and other French Modes to my good Daughter the Mother of Benjamin to whose filial Care of me and Attention to me, I owe much of my present Happiness. Inclos’d I send her Commission, which if Notre Dame will be so good as to execute with her usual good Taste and Judgment, Mr. Grand will immediately pay the Bill, and I shall be very thankful.

You have as we hear an Assembly of Notables, to confer and advise on the Amendment of your Laws and Constitutions of Government. It is remarkable that we should have the same Project here at the same time. Our Assembly is to meet next Month. I pray God that Success may attend the Deliberation of both Assemblies, for the Happiness of both Nations.

My Health continues much in the same State as when I left France, my old Malady not growing worse, so that I am able to go through a good deal of Business, and enjoy the Conversation of my Friends as usual. I hope your Family all continue well and happy. My Grandsons present their Respects and join with me in best Wishes for your constant Prosperity. We often talk and think of you all. And I am ever, with sincere and great Esteem, My dear Friend, Yours most affectionately,