I was disappointed yesterday, my illustrious doctor, to have been unable to spend the evening with you as I had promised. But I had to see if my balloons were in good shape and how much time they were taking to fill up; all this took me much longer than I thought, so much so that despite my intentions I could not have the honor of seeing you. And to top this misfortune, the weather is so terrible today. The barometer is so low that I countermanded the people that I had invited. Consequently I have the honor of proposing two things to you, to make up for what I missed yesterday. The first is to do us the honor of coming to take tea with us, or to invite us over for some. Please send a little note of reply, my illustrious doctor, and kindly pass on a thousand thanks on our behalf to Monsieur your grandson for his obliging offers for our tea, which we ask him to confirm with us for the first days after the weather gets better; I hope that you will still be willing then to come to us and watch the balloons take off.

Please accept, my illustrious doctor, the sincere assurances of the sentiments of attachment which I have dedicated to you for life