[Extract]

. . . my yesterday's letters have informed me of the departure of three of my vessels in three days; one from L'Orient, one from Nantes and the other from Havre. But without the cannon there is no pleasure. M de Sartine summons me this evening to Versailles. May he at last, with a stroke of the pen, save me from the perpetual and insupportable reproaches which I receive without complaint . . .