To George Washington from the Mademoiselles Chavexult, 17 September 1785
From the Mademoiselles Chavexult
17th Septr 1785.
Sir
Two French Ladies, who have always Admired your Virtues, find themselves, by an Unlucky accident, in great Distress, & we take the liberty of Addressing you, as to a feeling, & Compassionate Heart, (with the Same Confidence, that all the World have[)]. Adieu. 3000 Ml. Livres in a Purse, will be of Great Service to us,1 we have the Honour to be with Respect Sir Your Hble & Obedt servt
Chavexult
Translation, DLC:GW; ALS, in French, DLC:GW. The translation of the address on the cover of the letter reads: “To Mr Washington General of the Army, of the United States of America, at New England By Nante.” A transcription of the ALS is in CD-ROM:GW.
1. The clause in the original after “Heart” (“coeur”) reads: “et avec la meme confianse que tou les home en nont a dieu 3000 millione arjan de franse ferai le boneur de notre vie.”
2. Saulieu is 23 miles north of Autun on the northeast slopes of the Morvan mountains.
3. What the writer of the letter wrote was: “jai lhoneur de vous ecrire par triplata,” meaning that she had written the letter in triplicate. There is in DLC:GW a document dated October 1785 that appears to be a second (partial) translation of the Chavexults’ letter.