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 4 Feb. 1790To previous “journal” entry 4 Feb. 1790To next “journal” entry 15 Feb. 1790
8 fevrier [1790]—
Mlle Emilie a trouvé L’autre jour La Chere Bath toute seule en phaeton avec Mr Coppe qui alloit Chez une Mde De Modes, tu vois qu’elle se met un peu au dessus des prejuges je t’ai dejà dit que notre Liaison étoit un peu refroidie et qu’actuellement C’etoit Bouscaren La Pte et Lançon qui etoient ses bonnes amies, mais surtout Lançon Cette derniere. Bath sort avec elle Chez son pere, va au spectacle avec Lui enfin un jour Lancon alloit diner Chez son procureur Bath L’accompagna en recompense Bath presente Lancon dans Les maisons de sa Connoissance. C’e Ce sont exactement deux jeunes femmes (du moins elles en ont Le ton Comme tu vois) qui ne peuvent se quitter—jenny ne demanderoit pas mieux, je Crois, que d’en faire autant Mais elle n’est pas tout a fait si Libre. La societé va demain prendre Le thé Chez Mde De gibertés C’est encore une nouvelle Connoissance faite Chez Mde Cuppe je ne sais si Mr Bath renouera avec elle=La sœur Catherine a fait assigner Ces dames pour Lui faire une pension don Frenelay qui s’est Chargé de Cette affaire etoit Chez Le [. . .] Lieutenant Civil Lorsqu’on rendoit La sentence. voyant qu’on vouloit La faire trop forte il a prié de faire attention que Ce n’etoit qu’une servante. on a Crié d’une belle maniere Contre Lui pour Ce propos et enfin sr Catherine a eu 900₶ de pension. tu peux imaginer Le dépit de Ces dames de se voir Condamnées. La Mere de viz avoit tenu Le même propos à Mr roy president du district, or Ce mr roy president avoit eu La Complaisance de venir 30 fois à panthemont parler aux religieuses de Cette affaire tacher de L’arranger & & il est Cousin de Sr Magdeleine en outre, il a donc été très Choqué par rapport à sa Cousine et Sr Madeleine à dit à mlle Denis qu’elle pouvoit bien Le dire à Ces dames que son Cousin Le president avoit été très scandalisé de voir qu’on parloit de Cette Maniere en religion. Ce n’est pas tout dom Frenelay est venu travailler au dépot L’autre jour, il a diné à L’infermerie et devant sr Clotilde qui Le servoit il a racconté La scene de Chez Le Lieutenant Civil Cela a rouvert Les anciennes blessures. sr Clotilde a répété Cela à ses Compagnes. et Les voila qui en Corps attendont Le pauvre dom Frenelay sur L’escalier et puis Lui en disent jusqu’à extinqtion. enfin Le Combat finit non pas faute de Combattants mais faute de voix—
actuellement il faut te parler de mes avantures. tu sais que dés Le Commencement, pour faire endever Les religieuses, je disois qu’on avoit taquiné sr Catherine qu’on La Mettoit en penitence pour des riens & j’ai répété tout Cela a La Mere fay il y a près de 15 jours elle n’osa presque pas me répondre mais a peine sortie elle fut répéter Ce que j’avois dit de Maniere que de grandes plaintes furent portées a d’audincthun sur mon Compte, que je prenois Le parti de La sr Catherine a Cause quelle etoit toute La journée chez moi a me Conter tout Ce qui se passoit dans La Maison (Noter que j’etois quelquefois un mois et 6 semaines sans L’appercevoir seulement dans Le Corridor) que surement je parlerois aussi d’elles dans Le Monde et que j’en donnerois bien Mauvaise opinion—La pauvre d’audincthun se tuoit de me deffendre et de M’excuser sans en pouvoir venir a bout enfin il y a 3 ou 4 jours qu’on me redit Chez La Pte Ce propos faites attention que Ce n’est qu’une servante. La dessus je Commence un beau sermon bien haut pour que brugète L’entendit. Mlle Denis me faisoit signe qu’elle frappoit, je Croyois que C’etoit pour me dire qu’elle entendoit et Comme C’etoit Mon intention je recommencai encore plus haut a dire que C’etoit bien singulier que des religieuses qui avoient fait Vœu d’humilité fussent d’une hauteur si singuliere et en même tems si grossiere qu’une femme du Monde a qui il seroit permis d’avoir de L’orgueil ne feroit pas Cette distinction—que Comme il n’y a rien de si uni qu’un grand seigneur et rien de si haut que Ceux qui ne Le sont pas et qui Le Veulent paroître de même personne n’est si difficile a servir que Celles qui ne sont ni accoutumées1 ni faites pour L’être. Mere brugete voyant que ses Coups de poings dans La Muraille n’y faisoient rien, ne pouvant plus y tenir elle s’enfut à La Communauté ou elle dit à sr Marie qu’on disoit des impertinences incroyables Chez La Pte et Le Lendemain en plein reffectoire elle se Leva et dit à toutes Ses religieuses que Mlle Botidoux avoit dit telle telle et telle Chose (elle Leur racconta tout Mon beau sermon) [. . .] tu peux imaginer Leur Colere, il fallut encore que Le soir Daudincthun entendit Leurs reproches, [. . .] Mes anciens torts d’avoir ri de La suppression des Saints Monasteres d’avoir pris Le parti de sr Catherine tout fut rappellé et Le resultat en fut qu’il falloit que je Les detestassent detestasse beaucoup pour ne dire jamais que des Choses desagreables pour sur Leur Compte
Le Lendemain sans faire semblant de rien je rencontre Mde De Matarete à qui je propose des gazettes pour envoyer à son frere (elle M’en avoit demandé il y avoit Long tems) surprise de Cette honnêteté elle me fait de grands remerciements Le surlendemain je Lui porte Le Discours du roi à L’assemblée de jeudi dernier Cette derniere prevenance Lui a tout a fait tourné La tête j’espere que Ma finesse en Cela ne t’echappe pas. elle disoit surement pis que pendre de Moi ainsi que Les autres actuellement elle ne saura plus quel role jouer Car il seroit impossible de dire du Mal de quelqu’un qui donne des gazettes. tu vois que je M’y entends. je suis reellement desesperée que tu ne sois pas ici pour partager mes plaisirs tu n’a pas d’idée Combien Cette histoire M’amuse, je n’ai pas besoin de te dire que Les sœurs m’aiment a La folie quand Mlle Emilie Va demander quelque Chose à La Cuisine ce sont des Compliments sans fin—nous sommes réellement bien heureuses2 d’avoir mlle B. qui prenne notre parti Car sans elle je ne sais pas pour qui on nous feroit passer—jusque Mr Bertin qui Le frotteur, qui a eu La bonté de parler de moi à L’hotel Conti de maniere qu’un jour Mlle Emilie a été fort etonnée qu’on Lui ai fait Compliment sur Ce que sa Maitresse etoit si bonne démagogue enfin je suis si bien Connue dans Le Quartier que je ne Crains aucune revolution de Lanterne ou autre Chose, du reste Ma reputation de Savante, ne fait que Croître et embellir et Mlle Lancon Me disoit encore L’autre jour qu’il n’y avoit que moi qu’elle supportoit entendre parler politique parsceque je savois Ce que je disois et pourquoi j’etois demagogue, et que pour Les autres elles prenoient un parti sans savoir pourquoi et parloient sans savoir Ce qu’elles disoient qu’aussi Cela L’impatientoit furieusement—j’espere que tu as des nouvelles du Couvent par dessus La tête, pour Changer de sujet je vais te parler d’un Marriage qu’on me propose pour n’y rien gater et que tu sois bien au Courant je vais te Copier La [. . .] Lettre de Mon Cher oncle—après M’avoir parlé d’affaires d’interêt & il Continue ainsi—Mais avant que vous vous decidiez a placer ainsi j’ai une Confidence a vous faire et a Laquelle je vous prie de me repondre par Le premier Courier. dans un Colloque que j’ai eu avec Mr Le Marquis de .... il M’a paru fort incliné pour vous sans toutefois se déclarer jusqu’a savoir [. . .]ue3 si vous n’avez pas de projet engagé qu’il n’oseroit deranger et que sa delicatesse ne Lui permit pas d’y penser. Soyez bien assurée Ma Chere niece de Mon entiere discretion dans La Confidence que Vous me ferez et de toute La prudence que je Mettrai a tout Ce qui pourra Contribuer à votre felicité C’est Le desir de vous voir heureuse et d’en être L’interprête. C’est un aimable homme qui a fait Le Bonheur de Celle qui Le Meritoit Le plus. je ne vois personne qui fut plus Capable que vous de La representer. il appelle qulque fois Ma fille Claire sa Cousine et me demande très souvent des nouvelles de tous Les miens, me disant qu’il ira à paris au pr[in]temps et me demandant Mes Commissions soit de Lettres ou de toute autre Chose qui pourroit M’être bon quant au personel il a prouvé toutes Les qualités requises a faire Le bonheur d’une épouse il a 20000₶ de rentes Connues il a 40 a 45 ans. il est venu passer L’hiver dans notre ville tient L’assemblée 2 fois par semaines et retient grande partie de L’assemblée a souper. il a Les plus grandes attentions pour toute Ma Maison et vient demander souvent a faire La partie de Ma femme à La Maison et est tout a fait honnête et aimable et propre a faire Le bonheur de Celle qui recevra sa Main &—N’est Ce pas La une proposition assaisonnée de tout Ce qui peut faire decider en faveur de Cet homme qui appelle Ma petite Cousine Claire et va faire La partie de La femme. au fait je ne sais encore si j’accepterai [. . .] ou refuserai. La fortune et surtout La Naissance sont belles Mais il est un peu vieux. j’ai demandé des informations sur son Caractere. je me deciderai La dessus. a propos de Lettres j’oubliois Le plus beau qui Croirois tu que j’ai trouvé avant hier Chez Mde Dublanc il signor Noidans non pas en habit noir et nœud d’epée mais en frac—L’œil Morne maintenant et La tête baissée Daudincthun La veille M’avoit dit L’avoir vu a L’opera sans Cela je ne L’aurois pas reconnu tant je L’avois bien regardé Lors de nos amours. j’etois avec Bouscaren et Lancon qui eclatoient de rire avec du blanc, j’en faisois autant. je n’ai point fait La déconcertée j’ai parlé des affaires du tems plaisanté Légérement sur Mon anciene Conquête dont je t’ai parlé et qui, a Ce que disoit Mde Dublanc, avoit remis un voyage qu’il devoit faire exprès pour venir prendre Le thé avec moi, Cependant je ne Le regardois pas. ensuite nous nous sommes mises a dancer a valser j’ai fait La folle plus que toute autre. il a du talent Ce jeune homme C’est Lui qui a joué du violon et vraiment pas mal nous avons un peu exercé sa Complaisance Car nous L’avons fait jouer 2 heures de suite Même je Lui ai fait La grace une fois de Lui dire de jouer Les valses plus vite. en passant d’une chambre dans L’autre Le pied M’a glissé il alloit pour entrer d’ou je sortois dans ce moment de maniere qu’il ne s’en est rien fallu que je Lui donnasse dans Le Nez [. . .] je me suis assez retenue pour que Ma chute se soit bornée a une très grande glissade Ce qui je Crois ne Lui a pas fait plaisir puisqu’il auroit eu Le bonheur de me soutenir dans ses bras, en general il n’a été ni gay ni triste [. . .] n’a presque rien dit et il me semble qu’il a un peu abbandonné Les affaires politiques. C’est vraiment domage! Je retourne jeudi chez mde du Blanc très Certainement il y sera, tout Mon desir est d’y retrouver Mon ancienne Conquête si je suis assez heureuse pour cela je Compte faire Mes jolis yeux et etre bien Coquête et même M’adoucir et faire bonne mine à Mon imbecile Le tout pour Le faire endiabler je ne dis pas pour me faire regretter, Car il est impossible qu’il n’ait pas Ce sentiment j’ai reçu une autre Lettre de Curson ou elle M’apprend que sa santé est fort rétablie Mais que Cependant Les Medecins La trouvent encore fort derangée, qu’elle Compte toujours aller aux eaux de bristol. qu’elle esperoit, Lorsquelle Me proposa d’aller La voir Cet été, Me Mener à Londre à Bath aux Courses & & Mais que C’etoit une Chose si ennuyeuse d’être avec une Malade que [. . .] je ferois Mieux [. . .] de remettre Mon voyage à L’autre année,—que si je ne Connoissois pas aussi bien son Cœur et son amitié elle Craindroit de Me donner son avis aussi Librement Mais qu’elle Me regardoit Comme sa Sœur. ensuite à La fin de sa Lettre elle Me dit que son mari Lui a promis de La mener en france sitot quelle sera rétablie et quelle espere qu’alors j’irai Chez elle. ne voila-t-il pas deux [. . .] invitations bien d’accord entre elles d’autant plus qu’une fois en france elle y restera deux ans (du moins elle Le dit). je Lui ai envoyé ton adresse quelle M’avoit demandée pour t’écrire. Daschwood Me fait infidelité voila 2 Mois que je n’ai entendu parler d’elle au fait je n’en suis pas fachée si elle vouloit faire [. . .] seule Les frais de La Correspondance, Cela M’arrangeroit bien Mais [. . .] quand il faut Lui répondre je ne sais que Lui dire d’autant plus quelle voudroit des Lettres de 7 a 8 pages==
editors’ translation
8 February [1790]
The other day Mlle Emilie saw dear Bath alone in a phaeton with Mr Coppe. They were going to the house of a certain lady of fashion. As you see, Bath considers herself somewhat above prejudice. I already told you that our relationship had cooled a bit and that, presently, Bouscaren, the Little One, and Lançon are her good friends, but especially the last. Bath goes with her to her father’s and to shows. One day Lançon dined at her lawyer’s and took Bath with her. As a reward Bath has been introducing Lançon in the houses of all her acquaintances. These two young women simply cannot be away from each other (at least, it looks like it, as you can see)—I think that Jenny wished she could do the same, but she is not quite as free. Tomorrow the group is going to Mde de Gibertés for tea . She is yet another acquaintance made at Mde Coppe’s. I do not know whether Bath will visit her again==
Sister Catherine had the ladies summoned to court to sue for a pension. Don Frennelet, who has taken charge of this affair, was in court with the Lieutenant Civil when the verdict was read. Seeing that the pension was going to be very high, he urged the court to consider that she was only a servant. These words prompted a resounding outcry against him, and in the end Sister Catherine was awarded a pension of 900₶. You can imagine the bitterness of these ladies when they saw that they had lost the case. Mother de Vis had uttered similarly bitter words in front of a district-court president, Mr Roy, and this President Roy was so kind as to come 30 times to Panthemont to discuss the affair with the nuns and try to settle it, etc., etc. Moreover, he is a cousin of Sister Madeleine, and he was therefore very shocked on behalf of his cousin. Sister Madeleine gave Mlle Denis liberty to tell the ladies that her cousin the president had been scandalized to see church members speak in this manner. That is not all. Don Frennelet came to work on the abbey’s accounts the other day. He had dinner in the infirmary and, in front of Sister Clotilde, who was serving him, he recounted the scene in the court of the Lieutenant Civil. That reopened old wounds. Sister Clotilde repeated it to the other nuns and, as one body, they waited for poor Don Frennelet on the stairs and dished it out to him until they lost their voices. The battle ended at last not for lack of combatants but for lack of voice—
Now I must tell you of my adventures. From the beginning you know that, in order to irritate the nuns, I said that Sister Catherine had been teased, that she was ordered to do penance for trivialities, etc. I repeated all that to Mother Fay almost 15 days ago. She did not dare to answer me directly, but as soon as she was out the door she went and repeated my words, so that plenty of complaints about me were reported to d’Audincthun, to the effect that I was siding with Sister Catherine because she was with me all day long, telling me everything that was going on in the house (note that sometimes a month or 6 weeks elapsed without my even seeing her in the hall), and that I surely spoke of them in public, depicting them very badly—Poor d’Audincthun was killing herself defending me and apologizing for me without being able to close the subject, however. Then, 3 or 4 days ago, at the Little One’s place, someone repeated these exact words to me: “consider that she is only a servant.” Thereupon I began delivering a beautiful sermon, speaking quite loudly, so that Brugète would hear me. Mlle Denis signaled to me that Brugète was knocking on something, I suppose to tell me that she could hear me, and since that was my intention, I said even louder that it was rather odd that nuns who had made vows of humility would be at once so haughty and so vulgar. Even a worldly woman, who might be allowed some pride, would not make such a distinction. And since no one is more modest than a great lord, and no one as proud of their rank as those who have none but wish they did, no one is more difficult to serve than those who are neither accustomed nor fit to be served. Seeing that punching the wall was of no use, Mother Brugète could stand it no more and fled to the nunnery, where she told Sister Marie that someone was speaking with unbelievable effrontery at the Little One’s place. The next day she got up in the middle of the refectory and told all her nuns that Mlle Botidoux had said such and such things (recounting my entire beautiful sermon). You can imagine their anger. In the evening d’Audincthun had to listen to their reproaches again. My old mistakes, laughing at the abolition of holy monasteries, siding with Sister Catherine, and all that, came up again, and they concluded that I must have detested them very much to say only unpleasant things about them
The next day, pretending to know nothing, I run into Mde de Matarete, to whom I offer some newspapers to send to her brother (she had asked me for them long ago). Surprised by this kindness, she thanked me greatly. Two days later, I bring her last Thursday’s address of the king to the Assembly. This last attention made her head spin. I hope that my cleverness in doing so does not escape you. She surely had a low opinion of me as well as the others. Now she will not know which part to play, since she could not speak ill of someone who gives her newspapers. As you see, I know my way around. I am truly distressed that you are not here to share my pleasures. You have no idea how much this story amuses me. I need not tell you that the sisters love me madly. When Mlle Emilie goes to the kitchen to ask for something, she is met with endless compliments. “We are really very happy to have Mlle B. take our side, because without her, I do not know how we would be seen.” Even Mr Bertin, the floor scrubber, had the kindness to speak of me at the Hôtel Conti, so that, one day, Mlle Emilie was quite surprised to receive compliments because her mistress was such a good people’s advocate. In short, I am so well known in the district that I do not fear revolutions, lamppost or otherwise. Moreover, my reputation as a learned woman keeps growing and improving. The other day Mlle Lançon was again telling me that I was the only one with whom she tolerated discussing politics, because I knew what I was talking about and why I was a people’s advocate, whereas the others took up positions without knowing why and spoke without knowing what they were saying, which made her furiously impatient—I hope that you are now up to your eyebrows with news of the convent. To change subjects, I will tell you about a marriage that has been proposed to me. So as to spoil nothing and still keep you fully informed, I will copy my dear uncle’s letter for you—After telling me about business, interest rates, etc., he goes on like this—“But before you decide to invest in this way, I must tell you something confidentially, and ask you to answer me in your next letter. During a meeting with the marquis de ..., it seemed to me that he was interested in you, although he will not declare himself until he knows whether you have any commitments, which he would not dare disturb, and his scruples would not allow him even to think of proposing. My dear niece, please be quite assured of my total discretion regarding whatever you tell me in confidence and of my prudence concerning everything that may contribute to your felicity. It is my wish to see you happy and to play a part in your happiness. He is an amiable man, who made happy she who deserved it most. I see no one more capable than you of taking her place. Sometimes he calls my daughter Claire his cousin, and asks me often for news of everyone in the family. He tells me that he will go to Paris in the spring and asks if I have any letters for him to convey, or if there is anything else he can do for me. As to his person, he has given proofs of all the qualities required to make a spouse happy. His known revenue is 20,000₶. He is between 40 and 45 years old. He has come to spend the winter in our city where the assembly meets twice a week, and he invites a good many assemblymen to supper. He shows the kindest concern for everyone in my household and comes often to the house to join my wife for games. He is quite a gentleman, amiable, and fit to make the one who will take his hand happy,” etc.—Is not this a proposal seasoned with everything that may make one decide in favor of this man, who calls Claire his little cousin and plays games with the wife? In fact, I still do not know whether I will accept or refuse him. His wealth, and especially his lineage, are beautiful, but he is a bit old. I have asked for information concerning his temperament, and then I will decide. Speaking of letters, I was forgetting the best. Whom would you believe I met two days ago at Mde Dublanc’s? Signor Noidans, this time not in a black dress coat and carrying a tasseled sword, but in a frock coat, his head hanging low and a dejected look on his face. The evening before, d’Audincthun had told me that she had seen him at the opera. I would not have recognized him otherwise, despite having taken long looks at him when we were in love. I was with Bouscaren and Lançon, who burst out laughing with Dublanc. I did the same. I did not act disconcerted. I spoke of current events, made a few lighthearted jokes about my old conquest, of whom I told you and who, according to Mde Dublanc, had postponed a trip he was to make for the sole purpose of having tea with me. However, I did not look at him. Then we began dancing, waltzing. I made a fool of myself more than anyone else. He is talented, this young man. He was the one who played the violin, and truly not at all badly. We stretched his kindness a little, as we made him play two full hours. Once I was even so good as to tell him to play the waltzes faster. While passing from one room to another my foot slipped, and since he was about to come in at the same time as I was going out, I almost hit him in the nose. I caught myself so that my fall was nothing more than a long glide, which, I believe, he did not like, since he would otherwise have had the pleasure of holding me in his arms. Overall he was neither merry nor sad, said almost nothing, and to my mind has neglected politics a little. It is really too bad! I return to Mde Dublanc’s on Thursday. He will most certainly be there. All I desire is to meet my old conquest again. If I am that lucky, I plan to use my beautiful eyes, to be very coquettish, and even to look sweet and attractive to my imbecile, all in order to incense him. I do not say to make him miss me, because it is impossible that he does not. I have received another letter from Curzon, in which she informs me that her health is much better, although the doctors still find her quite shaky; that she still intends to go to the springs in Bristol; that, when she proposed that I visit her this summer, she hoped to take me to London, to Bath, to the races, etc., etc.; that being with a sick person is so boring that I had best postpone my trip to another year; and that, if I did not know her heart and friendship as well as I do, she would fear giving me her opinion so freely, but that she regarded me as a sister. Then, at the end of her letter, she tells me that her husband has promised to take her to France as soon as she has recovered and that she hopes that I will visit her then. Do you not think that these two invitations go well together, all the more since she will remain in France for two years (at least that is what she says)? I sent her your address, which she requested so as to write you. Dashwood has been unfaithful to me. It has been two months since I last heard from her. This does not actually upset me. If she were willing to have a one-sided correspondence, that would suit me well, but when I must answer, I do not know what to tell her, all the more since she wants letters from 7 to 8 pages long==
To next “journal” entry 15 Feb. 1790
Mr. and Mrs. coppe were unidentified Britons whom Botidoux referred to variously as Coppe, Cuppe, Cupe, or Cupp. In the early days of the French Revolution, mobs in Paris shouted “à la lanterne” (“to the lamppost”) while hunting down hated officials to hang from street lanterns (Gregory Fremont-Barnes, ed., Encyclopedia of the Age of Political Revolutions and New Ideologies, 1760–1815 [2007], 1:388–9).