Letters to Benjamin Franklin 349 



From [Abbe] Lefebvre de la Roche. 1787. July 27. Auteuil. 



Necessary to communicate with Franklin as the devout commune with 

 celestial substances; their sacrifice in giving him up to America; their 

 pleasure to imagine that he will be the one benefactor of men to escape 

 their ingratitude. Account of a fete given in honor of the Lady of 

 Auteuil [Madame Helvetius] ; French politics; results of the Assemble 

 des Notables; disordered state of finance; misery of the people; difficult 

 to foresee the outcome. Affairs in Holland. Visit from the Arch- 

 bishop of Bordeaux; much talk of Franklin. A. L. S. 4 p. (In 

 French.) XXXV, 96. 



From Ezra Stiles. 1787. July 31. Yale College, New Haven. 



Acknowledging Franklin's favor of the 14th inst. with the list of 

 Philosophical Societies in Europe; discouraged by his advice to wait 

 until they can send forth a volume themselves, before applying for pub- 

 lications from learned Societies; fears this will mean a long delay. De- 

 lighted to see an example of the new method of taking copies of papers 

 from the originals. Acknowledging the second volume of the Transac- 

 tions of the American Philosophical Society. A. L. S. i p. 



XXXV, 97. 



From Joshua Steele. 1787. July 31. Kendal's Plantation in Barbados. 



Has been in Barbados over seven years looking after his estates there. 

 A. L. S. I p. XXXV, 98. 



From Abbe Morellet. 1787. July 31. Auteuil. 



Pleasure derived from Franklin's letters by the whole " Academy of 

 Auteuil." Religious toleration. Commercial regulations as to imposts 

 and taxation; opposed to duties on foreign merchandise. Affairs in 

 France; praises the Archbishop of Toulouse, the new Minister of Fi- 

 nance. Madame Helvetius; amusing account of their sufferings from 

 her cats. Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson's work [Notes on Virginia] the 

 Abbe [Morellet] translated, much liked. [Thomas] Paine's model 

 of an iron bridge. Demand for an Assembly of the States-General. 

 Messages from friends. A. L. S. 8 p. (In French.) XXXV, 99. 



Printed in Works (Sparks, X, 313; Bigelow, IX, 399). 



