To Benjamin Franklin from the Abbé Thomas du Rouzeau, [16 August 1779]
From the Abbé Thomas du Rouzeau9
LS: American Philosophical Society
[August 16, 1779]
L∴R∴L∴D∴N∴S∴1
Extraordinairement convoqué ce jourdhuy 16. du Courant a arreté
1º. que Le Venerable F franklin Lui ayant fait present de Son Buste,2 L’inauguration S’en fera dans Son assemblée academique du Dix huit.
2º. que Comme cette Ceremonie ne Sauroit être trop Solemnelle il est de La dignité de L.L. que Chacun de Ses Membres y Vienne et y Contribue.
3º. que Le prix de La Souscription de 9 l.t. sera exigible même des freres absents Comme La Cotisation annuelle.
Par Mandement de L∴R∴L
L’Ab. DU Rouzeau Secret.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin / A Passy / N.S
Notation: L’Ab. Du Rouzeau
9. The abbé’s post as secretary lasted exactly one year, from late May, 1779, to late May, 1780. The allusion to the assemblée académique of the eighteenth makes it certain that this convocation was sent on Aug. 16, 1779. See our annotation of the fête académique under Aug. 18. Of the forty-odd invitations to masonic convocations preserved at the APS (their dates run from April 9, 1779, through July 4, 1785), a fair number, including this one, have duplicates addressed to WTF. The tone of these communications is both urgent (“very important deliberation”) and stern (“send excuse motivée if you cannot attend”). Fines are sometimes threatened, and the brothers are advised as to the wearing of ornaments.
1. La Royale Loge des Neuf Soeurs.
2. Sellers, Franklin in Portraiture, pp. 306–7, describes the Houdon bust, but misdates the invitations to the inauguration. The bust is reproduced as the frontispiece to this volume.