To Benjamin Franklin from the Baronne d’Ahax, with Franklin’s Draft of a Reply, 12 May 1783
From the Baronne d’Ahax,2 with Franklin’s Draft of a Reply
AL: American Philosophical Society
paris le 12 may 1783
Monsieur apres avoir eu le bonheur de vous voir je desir de le renouveller et vous demande votre heurs la plus Comode ou je puis avoir la bonheur de vous revoir Seul car jai besoin dun Confidant et jesper de le trouver dans L’etre que je revere le plus au monde.
Jai l’honneur d’etre avec la plus grand veneration monsieur votre tres humble et tres obeisante servante
LA Baronne D’AHAX
Je prie de vouloir avoir la bonte de mètre sur mon adresse L’envelope de Mr dupont directeur des subistance militairs au Bureau gènéral rúe charlot au marais a paris
Endorsed: Mr Franklin having much Business finds that previous Appointments of Days & Hours to see Persons on their private Affairs proves often inconvenient to him: And as it may be so to Madam la Baronne to come so far as Passy upon an Uncertainty, he submits it to her Consideration, whether if she has need of his Advice, it may not be best to state the Affair to him in a Letter, which he will immediately answer.
Notation: D’Ahas. 12 May 1783.—
2. The baronness had written once before, on March 8, to ask BF who Mr. “Jenjnis” (corrected from “Jenijns”) actually was, and to beg for an appointment. BF should send his reply to the care of Mr. Cuny at the Hôtel d’Orléans. APS. On the day she wrote the present letter she also wrote to Henry Laurens and called on him in person. Laurens could not understand exactly what her grievances were, but the affair involved James Bourdieu and Edmund Jenings, who had duped her. Laurens judged her to be “some very high Personage,” but excused himself as quickly as he could from further contact: Laurens Papers, XVI, 197.