| Description | Dear Father,
I hope you will excuse the hasty conclusion of my last letter, but I thought it was better to relieve you from you anxiety as soon as possible than wait to send you a formal letter. You certainly had sufficient cause to think me negligent, but I trust now you will judge more favorably of my fault.
This town is very full, in cons[e]quence of the notables who are here. They meet every day at the different bureaus of the princes of the blood, and I believe there will be soon a general meeting to consider and finish the different propositions and objects; however, at present they are much divided in opinion, and Monsieur de Calonne is in a precarious situation, for the diferent taxes which he proposed are much rejected.
I have been much diverted with the curious scene during the carnival; the streets are crowded with people in the most fantastical masks that there imagination can invent, and the poorest workman gives a ball to his friends; the barack which you saw preparing in the park was most elegantly decorated for the amusement of the court.
Last week Mr. Argand called on me to say farewell; he desired to be remembered to his old friends at Soho, wishing them every happiness this world can afford.
I have continued regular[l]y to ta. . . of the different masters, and I hope to so[me advan]tage, but owing to the bad weather I have not yet begun to learn to ride.
Pray give my love to my sister, with many thanks for her few . . .ils. I remain your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
PS. I shoul[d] be greatly obliged to you (if convenient) to send, with my sword, two dozen of gilt buttons and Mr. Taylor’s Arithmetick.
[Edited transcript.]
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