Letter signed : Paris, to [Gilles Germain Richard de Ruffey], 1782 Feb. 14.

Wishing that M. de Ruffey had more business on his lands in Montfort so that he would be more often near Montbard; writing that he will return to Montbard before Easter to spend the spring and summer; hoping that M. de Ruffey will visit during this time; explaining that M. de Ruffey's better health allows him to travel more easily, being, "en forces dix ans de moins que [lui]"; commenting that the festival [to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin, Louis-Joseph-Xavier] that occurred in Dijon was more orderly than the one in Paris; writing that the taxes that M. de Ruffey has mentioned are not a major threat because of the good work of the Ministre des finances [Jean-François Joly de Fleury], in spite of "cette guerre ruineuse qui engloutit tant de millions dans la mer" [the American Revolution]; relating that in one month he will publish a second volume of the Supplément aux animaux quadrupèdes, in four months a ninth and final volume of L'Histoire des oiseaux, and in eight months the first volume of L'Histoire des minéraux.