I could not bring myself to go say farewell, my good friend; my heart was so heavy yesterday, when I left you, that I feared, for you and for myself, another such moment which would have only added to my misery without further proving the tender, unchanging love I have devoted to you forever. Every day of my life I shall remember that a great man, a sage has wanted to be my friend. My best wishes will follow him everywhere, my heart will constantly miss him, I shall forever repeat that I spent eight years with Doctor Franklin! They are gone and I shall never see him again! Nothing in the world could lessen the pain of this loss if not the idea of the peace and happiness you shall find in the bosom of your family, except for the glory you shall enjoy in a country that owes you its freedom. Oh, my friend, my good friend, be happy, tell me so, send me news from time to time. If it ever pleases you to remember the woman who loved you the most, think of me. Remember that my whole family was and will always be your best friends. Farewell, my heart aches; it was not meant to be separated from you, but it shall not be, my lovable papa; you shall find it often near yours, speak to it and it shall answer you.

[In Mr. Brillon's handwriting] My very dear papa, I have nothing to add, and even if I wanted to, my tears would not let me see.