Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse d’Houdetot, [1 April 1781]

From the Comtesse d’Houdetot2

AL: American Philosophical Society

a Sanois Dimanche au Soir [April 1, 1781]3

Madame la Comtesse D’houdetot Et toutte Sa Societé Sont tres affligées de ne pas Voir Demain Monsieur franklin. Madame D’houdetot Espere qu’il Voudra Bien L’En dedomager un autre jour Et ne point oublier qu’il Est attendû a Sanois pour une petite Ceremonie a Laquelle Madame La Comtesse Est fort attachée Et que L’arbre qui Doit Estre placé dans son Jardin ne prospererait pas s’il n’etait planté De Sa Main. Elle Le prie Donc De Vouloir Bien Luy Donner un jour Depuis Dimanche huit Jusqu’a Jeudy Douze Et s’il n’etait pas libre de Venir un de Ces jours La il voudra Bien En Choisir un autre pouvû qu’il ne passe pas le Douze jour auquel on Retourne Le Matin a La Ville. Madame D’houdetot Envoyera Scavoir Son jour apres demain au Matin.4 Elle offre Mille Et Mille Tendres Complimens a Monsieur franklin.

Notation: Me. la Comtesse de Houdetot

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2Elisabeth-Françoise-Sophie de La Live de Bellegarde, comtesse d’Houdetot (1730–1813), was made famous by Rousseau who identified her with Julie, the heroine of his novel La Nouvelle Héloise. Cross-eyed and marked by small pox, Sophie d’Houdetot was widely praised for her wit, generosity, and talent. She gathered around her a society of literary people that included the comte de Tressan and her ami, the marquis de Saint-Lambert (1716–1803). Her circle seems to have included Mme Helvétius: XXVII, 495; Larousse.

3Her letter of Aug. 10, 1781 (APS) alludes to his visit “ce printems” and April is the only month that spring in which the eighth falls on a Sunday, one of the days specified below.

4The following Tuesday, “a Sanois mardy matin,” the comtesse wrote again, begging him to choose a day to make up for his absence on Monday. She reminds him that in her previous note she specified when she would be leaving (APS).

BF evidently selected April 12, her last day in the country; a description of the party in his honor is below under that date.

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