For quite some time I have made fruitless inquiries to find out what part of the world you inhabit. I was even told that you had returned to Boston, but my brother-in-law, who has been at Paris for a month and whom I accordingly charged with making inquiries, just sent me word that we have the good fortune to have you still in France and that you are living at Auteuil. I hurry to write to you there in order to relive my memories with you. The affection that you, your kind family, and your countrymen so deeply inspired in me, the wishes that I at length make for your preservation and perfect happiness, all these feelings, far from being altered in me by time and distance, can only increase with the flattering decoration that I received only this past December, though the letter from the Comte d’Estaing that informed me of the honor of admission to the Society of the Cincinnati was from the month of August.1 Please be fully convinced of the value that I place on it. I would have been so much the more mortified not to have had, the same as many others, this honor, which I prize more than anyone. Even if I am no longer in a position to render military service to your country, I would consider myself very fortunate to be able to deploy a heart that is devoted to you, to have it in my power some day to be useful to you or your dear children or your countrymen in some way. Madame de 524 Chavagnes, who is very well, just as I am, shares these feelings. We lead a sweet and tranquil life, both of us needing much solicitude. For your part, my dear sir, you are a hero of sacrifice. Your country must be extremely grateful to you. Having the good fortune to be acquainted with the treasures that you left at Boston, I know that it would be very pleasant for you to go and rejoin them. When you write to them, I beg you to give them my respects, compliments, and prayers. I offer very sincere ones for a quick and happy end to your great and noble enterprises and for your preservation and perfect health. I ask you to keep me in your memory and friendship and not to doubt at all the feelings of sincere and respectful affection with which I will have the honor my entire life of being, my dear sir, your very humble and very obedient servant