This Eveng. Mr. & Miss Laurens2 favor’d me wth. their Company, and as they set out tomorrow for England I could not suffer them to go without a little token of my remembrance, & that they might be ennabled to give you an account of yr. little girls I sent for them down, & was not a little flatter’d by Miss Maria’s behaviour—she does not yet speak, but she improves in her health & looks. Louisson3 still continues to take great care of the Children & is quite delighted wth. her new situation. As the weather is very fine she walks wth. the Children ^them^ on ^the^ terrace & I rarely omit giving them a ride— Every body that sees the house now is surprised it has so long remain’d unoccupied it ^is^ so gay so lively that I am sure you’ll be pleased with it—yesterday the windows were open in my Cabinet while I was dressing & it was even then too warm— Dr. Franklin & his Grandsons & Mr. & Mrs. Cays & the Miss Walpoles4 drank tea wth. me likewise drank tea with me likewise this Evening & they all approve yr. Choice; as the sky is very clear & the moon shines very bright we were tempted to walk from the Salloon upon the terrace & while the Company were admiring my situation my imagination was retracing the pleasing Evenings that you & I have pass’d together in contemplating the mild & gentle rays of the moon— Shd. the whether be less pleasant when you return I shall be mortified— It is wth. regret that I’m obliged to quit subjects that afford pleasing ideas, for one that I fear has already given you pain, but as Mr. Franklin tells me that ^he has^ inform’d you of Abbe’s leaving Passy,5 my further silence about it instead of preventing anxiety would only appear misterious— I fancy her extreme jealousy of Louisson added to the inticements of an English Washer-woman who promised to pay her if she would assist her in washing, was the cause of that mis step—she had for some time treated Louisson so uncivilly that she had told me that were it in my power to dismiss Abbe, & I still chose to keep her, she should be obliged to leave me, but that as she found that Abbe was impertinent to me, she must bear it likewise—immediately upon finding that Abbe was gone wth. her Cloaths Mr. Franklin wrote to the Lieutenant of the Police who had her taken up (at that washer woman’s) and put in a house of confinement—four days after Peter went to see her as if without my knowledge, & advised her to let him solicit my permission for her return, but she reply’d that instead of desiring that, she would run-away again were I to send for her, & that she wd. remain where she was ’till yr. return, or ’till she might be sent to America instead of returning home to be laughed at [illegible] ^&^ work too—as she inquired about the family, Peter told her that the Children were well & that my Cook seem’d a Clever woman. She said she hop’d I was [then?] Content since she was gone for that I was intirely govern’d by Louisson—to day Peter call’d again, telling her that as he had come to Paris to pay some visits he could not forbear calling to see if she was more reasonable—but she remain’d still obstinate— Dr. Franklin thinks I ought not to take notice of her for 15 or 20 days; but I’m so afraid of her suffering from the Cold that I think it better that Peter shd. call now & then as if by accident that she may not suffer after her repentance— Pray don’t let this affair make you uneasy—the irregularity of her Conduct for some time past has made me expect the step she has taken—

When you return bring me if you please 2 Doz. Knives & a silver tea-pot & tea-bowl—

Mr. Poussin6 has been very dilatory indeed—we have not yet half the Kitchin furniture but I hope after a few more messages he’ll think fit to comply wth his engagement—

I believe I did not tell you that 2 or 3 weeks ago I din’d with Mr. Pitt7 at the Marquis de la Fayette’s— You can’t imagine how much I’m obliged to you for your frequent letters; I wish it was in my power to make you as agreeable returns, but you are so good that you’ll take the will for the deed & be content with the assurance of the sincere regard of Yr: Affecte: Wife