Written over three days as follows: A Livry mard[i] s[ain]t 24e mars [1671], A Livry jeud[i] saint 26e mars [1671] and [A Paris ce vendredi saint 27e mars 1671].
With address and two wax seals "pour / Madame la Comtesse / de Grignan."
Year of writing for the letters dated 24 and 26 March is from printed edition; the date and place of writing for the third portion of the letter, Paris, March 27, are from the printed edition.
The last page of the portion dated March 26 is missing, though it is reproduced in the printed edition; the first page of the portion dated March 27 is missing though it is reproduced in the printed edition.
Writing that she has arrived in Livry and plans to remain in retreat and to devote her time to prayer, walking, fasting and reflection; saying that everything there reminds her of her daughter and that she misses her very much; continuing that if she had cried for her sins as much as she has for Mme de Grignan, she would be very well prepared, "pour faire [ses] pâques et [son] jubilé;" reflecting on the nature of memory and imagination and the relationship of these concepts to place; expressing her hope that M. le p[remier] p[résident] will do "l'impossible;" mentioning Monsieur de Marseille and hoping that he will be worthy of the political relationship that Mme de Grignan has cultivated with him; mentioning that she heard the Passion of Mascaron; referring to the Grignan marriage and the importance of marital happiness to Mme de Grignan's satisfaction with her life in Provence; discussing the legal success of the Maréchal d'Albret who has won back his ancestral lands which must be returned by their new owners to the financial detriment of much of the Béarn region; writing that she is upset with her granddaughter [Pauline de Grignan, marquise de Simiane] because she refused to laugh for her the previous day; discussing her wish to bring her to Bretagne; adding that the abbé will do what Mme de Grignan wishes.