Marie Jacinthe de Botidoux to Martha Jefferson Randolph
editorial note
The text that follows is part of what Botidoux referred to as one of her “journal” letters. The Editors have broken this manuscript, which spans nearly three months, into sections dated as Botidoux dated them, and grouped each transcription together with its translation. Unless otherwise noted, Botidoux’s original punctuation and spelling have been retained. Links to navigate from one dated section to another appear below.
To “journal” beginning 12 Mar. 1790To previous “journal” entry 9 Apr. 1790To next “journal” entry 17 Apr. 1790
14 avril [1790]==
Il y a deux jours que La Pte Dit à Descahaux en sortant de table quelle etoit Chargée de La part de Mlles L. B et jenny de Lui dire Combien elles etoient fachées1 d’être brouillées2 avec elle, quelles desiroient beaucoup se raccommoder et que Même elles feroient toutes Les avances—tu imagine L’orgueil de Cette Charmante D. elle soutint son ton de dignité a Merveille et enfin La Pte donna un thé Cette après Midi pour achever3 La reconciliation—moi je suis très piquée de n’y pas être Comprise Car, sans me flatter j’ai rien plus de Malhonnêtetés que personne, Comme j’ai L’air de n’y pas faire attention et que, sans jamais aller Chez Ces dlles, je Leur parle quelques fois Comme à L’ordinaire peut être ont elles pensé que nous n’etions pas assez brouillées4 pour être raccommodées5 peut être aussi ne Me trouvent-elles pas digne d’avances. C’est Ce que nous saurons par La Suite—Le Cte est enfin parti il y a Le Lendemain du dernier dejeuner, Mais Comme Ces hommes sont trompeurs! On Ne sait jamais sur quoi Compter avec eux——L’imaginerois tu—La veille de son depart C’est à jenny qu’il a écrit pour demander à dejeuner et il n’etoit pas plus question de Miss B dans Ce billet que si elle N’avoit jamais existé. celui La n’est vraiment pas pardonable, aussi y a-t-on été très sensible==D’havrincourt te dit un Million de Choses et te prie de ne pas oubliér ses oiseaux==tu te souviens que Le jour du dernier bal du Duc Dorset nous avons envoyé chercher des bouquets et des Ceintures Chez Mlle omont. te Les a-t elles Mises sur ton Memoire? elle Me les Met sur Le Mien Mais je Lui ai dit que je ne La payrois pas jusqu’à ce que j’aye recu ta reponce. ainsi réponds Moi tout de suite sur Cet article
editors’ translation
14 April [1790]==
Two days ago, as they were rising from the table, the Little One told Descahaux that she had been sent by the Mlles L., B., and Jenny to tell her how embarrassed they were to have been angry with her, that they very much wanted to be reconciled, and that they would even take the first steps—You can imagine the pride of charming D. She played her dignified part marvelously and, finally, the Little One gave a tea that afternoon to seal the reconciliation—I am quite stung not to have been included, because, not to flatter myself, my behavior is no worse than anyone else’s. Since I look as though I do not care and sometimes speak to them in the usual way even though I never go to their places, perhaps they thought that our falling-out was not such as to require reconcilation. Perhaps they also think me unworthy of their advances. We will know soon enough—The comte has finally departed, on the day after the last lunch. But how deceitful men are! One never knows how much to rely on them——Would you imagine?—On the eve of his departure, it was to Jenny that he wrote inviting her to lunch, and there was no mention of Miss B. in his note, as if she had never existed. That is truly unforgivable, and someone has been very much hurt==d’Havrincourt has a million things she wants me to tell you and begs you not to forget her birds==You will recall that on the day of the last ball at the Duke of Dorset’s, we sent someone to Mlle Omont’s for bouquets and belts. Did she put them on your bill? She put them on mine, but I told her that I would not pay her until I received your answer. Therefore, answer me right away on this matter
To next “journal” entry 17 Apr. 1790