It has been Ages since I have heard news of you, Monsieur, yet you know how much they interest me. I impatiently await the moment of our celebration for the marriage of M. Le Dauphin because I hope that it will bring Englishmen to us and there will be some among them who will bring me a few letters from you. You may be assured of the pleasure I will have in receiving them. I hoped to come visit you this spring but since one hardly ever acts as one wishes in this world, family business caused by the loss I suffered prevented me from coming. However, if my wishes are granted, the year will not pass before I make a trip to England. I hope that affairs with America will prevent you from returning there and that I will have the pleasure of seeing you. I recently asked M. Francis to send to you a copy of my brother's book, which contains details of the principles and construction of the marine clock. You may have seen it announced in the newspapers. I can't tell you how upset I was not to have sent it to you earlier. I was counting on some people who were to go to England but they disappointed me, so I strongly recommended it to M. Francis and I hope he will see that it gets to you soon. I think you will be pleased with this book, which is none other than my brother's memoir, which received the Academy's prize. You will find it a little more clear than the book by M. Harrison. I wanted to send you this winter the study by the Abbé Galliani on grain trade, which caused a great commotion among the economists here, but I couldn't find the occasion to send it to you while it was still a novelty. Since then I imagine that you have come across a copy; however, if you are not familiar with it, one word and you will have it. Monsieur Franklin will never be able to furnish me with as many occasions as I would like to be able to do something here that would please him.

Do not be angry with me if I haven't yet examined the translation of your book that M. Du Bourg had done by a cleric. I have not yet heard about it.

I don't know of anything new in the sciences which might interest your curiosity, but in literature you should know that, following from far behind in the footsteps of the English, our men of letters took up a collection to erect a statue of Voltaire while he is alive. Pigal [Pigalle], whose mausoleum of the m[aréch]al de Saxe we went to see, has been charged to do it; he must leave any day for Fernet to do this great man's portrait. It is said that it will be the first example of such a thing in our country; that there be a beginning to everything, I wish it indeed. Anyhow, this public mark of recognition by the nation's enlightened men, who owe so much to Voltaire, was decided last Tuesday at a large assembly. What is curious is that the statue's location is totally undecided. We still cling to barbarity by a corner. I have acquainted you, Monsieur, with all that might interest you. In a few days there will be talk about nothing but fireworks and Celebrations. I wish that you were a little less of a Philosopher, so I could hope that those festivities would bring you back to us. This, I believe, is the time of the election of foreign members to the Royal Society. I don't need to recommend to you my brother the Doctor. I hope and flatter myself that you and M. le Ch[evalie]r Pringle will convince your friends to be favorable towards him. I plan to write first thing to Dr. Matty and to a few other friends I have in the Royal Society, to ask them the same favor. It is truly time to end such a long letter, in assuring you of all the most sincere sentiments of esteem and friendship, with which I am and I will be all my life Your very humble and obedient servant