To Benjamin Franklin from La Rochefoucauld, 7 April [i.e., May] 1783
From La Rochefoucauld
AL: American Philosophical Society
Mercredi 7. Avril [i.e., May, 1783]5
Le Duc de la Rochefoucauld a l’honneur de faire Ses complimens à Monsieur franklyn, et de lui envoier un projet de lettre à M. le Garde des sceaux; il ne l’a pas terminée parce qu’il ignore le protocole des fins de lettre pour les Ministres Etrangers avec ce Ministre qui en a un particulier avec les Nationaux; il aura l’honneur d’aller chercher Monsieur franklyn aussitôt qu’il le pourra.
5. The date as written is unmistakable but impossible: April 7 was a Monday. The draft letter to Miromesnil that La Rochefoucauld enclosed with the present letter is missing, but we suspect that it was written after all the sheets of Constitutions des treize Etats-Unis de l’Amérique were printed. Pierres completed them by May 5, when he sent a set to BF (see his letter of that date). It makes sense, therefore, that BF would have written to Miromesnil after reviewing them, to inquire about permission to publish the work. That permission was granted on May 11: Miromesnil to BF, June 16, 1783, AAE. The book was not published until July, however, because of delays that will be explained in vol. 40.