Sheet music for the first violin, from the Marche des Insurgents, to celebrate the surrender of British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne at Saratoga, New York on October 17, 1777.
Deaths of M. Brillon and her granddaughter, aged three; crushed by these two sorrows; news of her two daughters, their husbands and their combined household; begs him to write.
Will return to Passy on the 21st. Hopes to see Franklin every Wednesday and Saturday evening at tea with her usual guests, Le Veillard, Abbé de la Roche and Abbé Morellet, Mme. Grand and her niece, M. Grand and M. Pagin.
Writes from a country residence where she is staying. Enjoys country life but does not like to be separated from her friends. If Franklin ever goes away altogether she will be very unhappy. Hopes he will revisit her rustic cottage. Asks him to write her a few lines in French.
Asks Franklin why he did not give her long ago the letter in French which he had written to her and in which he says he adopts her as his daughter. Being accustomed to write well in English he was doubtless somewhat ashamed to show his imperfect knowledge of French. Hopes he may never leave France. The thought of such a possibility saddens her soul. If the American people consulted their own interests they would leave Franklin in Paris. What friendship means to her. Asks him not to forget so often that he is her father. Reminds him how evil reports are circulated. People are judged by their outward acts, not by their intentions.
Has been ill for 69 days. Asks Franklin to write to her if he cannot call to see her. Hopes Franklin will find her letters easier to read than formerly, as she now writes in a larger hand on his son's advice. If she were a journalist Franklin's works in French would soon be published. Is afraid her husband may steal some of the droll stories which she is collecting for Franklin's amusement and tell them himself.
