My illustrious colleague, I must inconvenience you once again; the weather is so terrible that I cannot go to see you.

There is a practice in the Academy that when an academician receives an honor, such as getting appointed to a new post, or given a new title, the Academy appoints several members to a committee to compliment him on this new honor. Everyone says that you are to receive the title and position of Minister of the United States of North America, tomorrow at Versailles. Please let me know if such is the case, so that as Director I can appoint this committee which will bring, I assure you, the greatest pleasure to all my colleagues. Since the Academy meets tomorrow, because of Wednesday's celebration, you would give me great pleasure to let me know what will happen in a little note tomorrow before two o'clock, so that I can promptly carry out this pleasurable duty. People noticed that you wore a white hat at your audience Friday. It was thought that there was a reason behind this. I said that you had a white hat that you often wore when you couldn't find the other one, and that I didn't believe there was anything mysterious to it. I don't know whether I was right or wrong. Excuse me for this long note: I cannot refrain from adding the renewed assurances of my enchantment, that things have prospered so well.