To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Grand, [18 June? 1783]
From Henry Grand
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Wednesday Morn. [June 18, 1783?]6
Sir
I was thinking you might perhaps be desirous to see la Procession du Bon Dieu, a most magnificent Shew, with an excellent Band of Martial Musik & as they are to make a full Stop at St. Joseph our house is the very best place to enjoy that Sight.7 Not Knowing precisely what time they’ll begin their March between 11 & 1 o.Clock, I think the first is the hour for coming.
That will not prevent your being back at Passy at ½ past one or 2 at latest.
I Should have done my self the honour of waiting upon you personally were it not that I just begin to be convalessent & that am not Strong enough yet.
I crave to be Kindly remembered to your grand Son & that you will believe me with due Respect Sir Your most obedt. & most humble servt.
Hy. Grand
To morrow Thursday is the Fête & Procession du bon Dieu.
Addressed: The Honourable / Doctor Franklin / Passy.
Notation: Henry Grand.
6. Though this invitation may well date from an earlier year, it is unlikely that it is later. We place it in 1783 because of Grand’s comment about his convalescence, which possibly relates to his only other mention in these papers of an indisposition, which occurred c. May, 1783; see our annotation of Francis Dana to BF, June [20]. The feast of Corpus Christi (la Fête-Dieu), which always takes place on a Thursday, fell on June 19 in 1783: Almanach royal for 1783, p. 5.
7. JA attended the procession but reported that the stormy weather rendered it “less brilliant than ordinary”: Butterfield, John Adams Diary, III, 139. The cemetery and chapel of St. Joseph were located at the intersection of the rue du Temps-Perdu (now St. Joseph) and rue Montmartre, where the Grand family lived: XXXIII, 321; Hillairet, Rues de Paris, II, 154.