I wrote you a long letter this spring, my estimable friend; my friend Le Veillard claimed to have a speedy and certain means of getting it to you. Mr. Brillon had added a letter for you and one for your [grand]son to our neighbor's package; everything was lost. I quarrelled with my neighbor which was of no use, and I feared above all to appear negligent toward you, my good papa. But you know my heart; you will never doubt its unchanging tenderness for you. It is while looking at your portrait that I swear, my estimable friend, that this heart shall be destroyed before it stops loving you. This year I have suffered a series of misfortunes whose blows your sweet company and philosophy of life would have softened. It is when the soul suffers that it regrets more keenly and feels, if it is possible, more strongly the absence of a friend such as you. My older daughter lost a five-month old boy, very strong and handsome as the day. She was nursing him which greatly increased her sadness. My younger daughter miscarried a baby at seven months, for no good reason and after the most uneventful pregnancy. Adding to these losses, my good papa, was the distress of looking after my sick husband since Easter. In appearance it is a slight humor of gout, but it made him slip into a frightening state of languor, melancholy, and weakness. He had no more appetite, no more resilience; so he decided to spend the winter in Nice. It seems that the change of air and location are the only remedies which can give us hope. He did not want me to come with him, which adds to my worries! He left with a loyal friend, a woman to take care of him, and two servants. I am staying here with my children, who take very good care of me, with my little granddaughter whose mother you once saw nursing her and who has become as beautiful and lovable as a child can be. Such are my resources, my consolations, but my husband traveling sick during the winter alarms and torments me! So far, all is well; may God continue to help us. And you, my good papa? Did you have an attack of gout? I heard it from Mr. Grand whom I see often and who gives me precious news of you every time he receives any. He also forwarded us the two excellent hams you had sent for us, and which were eaten accompanied by repeated drinks to your health, to America's prosperity, and to that of your family. This is how one must receive and celebrate presents from one's friends.

I send you no news of this country; everything is pleasant and frivolous as usual. Yet, solid friendships do exist of which I have irrefutable evidence regarding myself. Please accept, my good papa, the respect and homages of my whole family; give our regards to your two grandsons, and think of me only once for every twelve times I think of you! My granddaughter knows your portrait very well and says, there's good papa Franklin. When she will be old enough to practice and love wisdom and virtue, then I shall often speak to her about you.

Everyone you saw regularly at my home want me to mention them to you; it would be an endless litany, but Pagin receives a distinguished spot because of his sincere attachment.