Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-43-02-0200

From Benjamin Franklin to Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, 29 November 1784

To Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy

ALS: Yale University; press copy of ALS: American Philosophical Society

ce 29 Novre. 84—

Je vous felicite trés cordialement, ma trés chere amie, de l’heureux Accouchement de notre Fille.6 Puisse l’Enfante être aussi bonne & aussi aimable que sa mere, sa grandemere, sa grandegrandemere, &c. Je me souviens d’avoir un jour rencontré chez vous quatre de vos Generations, quand vos Enfans etoient tres jeunes; & que j’ai dit alors, que j’esperoit vivre à voir la cinquieme. Voici mon Souhait prophetique accompli! Je fais des Voeux actuellement pour la Prosperité continuelle de toute la bonne Famille. Avez-vous des nouvelles de notre bon Eveque? Ou est-il? Comment se porte t-il?7 Je vous embrasse fortement.

B.F.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

6Cunégonde gave birth to a daughter on Nov. 26, as stated in the printed announcement issued by her husband, Antoine-Marie Paris d’Illins (XLI, 136n); WTF’s copy is at the APS. The daughter was christened Blanche: Christine de Pas, Madame Brillon de Jouy et son salon: Une musicienne des Lumières, intime de Benjamin Franklin (Pantin, 2014), p. 166.

7The “bon Eveque” was Pierre Peineau du Verdier, bishop of Mariana and Accia in Corsica: XXXVIII, 218n. Mme Brillon refers to him in two undated letters that appear to precede this inquiry; we therefore assign them a date of [before Nov. 29, 1784]. In the first, dated only Wednesday morning, she forwards to BF a letter from the bishop, who left for Corsica the previous day. His letter contains two recommendations, and Mme Brillon hopes that BF will be able to do what the bishop asks of him. She also wants BF, WTF, and BFB to come visit her family that evening. The second letter is written on a Saturday: Mme Brillon thanks BF on behalf of the bishop and requests that he return the bishop’s letter to her, because it contains his address. She and her children will not be able to lunch with BF the next day, but they plan to visit him the following week. Both letters are at the APS.

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