To Mr. de J–, Advocate 

8/18/1818

I had the pleasure of writing you two letters, the first dated May 11, and the second, June 13, both concerning the affairs of my uncle’s estate. I don’t know what reasons excuse you from replying. Is it because you’re more wealthy than I am? In that case, it gives me even more regret, which would make me a millionaire today, [1] and less worthy of your contempt. But the loss of my uncle is more painful than losing the estate. I did not collect it, despite his kindness in leaving it to me, and I missed it by a death as sudden as it was surprising. This day, which should have been the happiest of my life, was instead the most unfortunate. I had seen him the day before, and he was healthy. The next day, I was called over, only to see him dying, and that day I lost both his fortune and the best of relatives.

But as you were appointed his executor, you know better than anyone the condition of his estate. How could you not see that the claims Mrs. Berbiguier have made through you about my uncle’s alleged debts could not be real, since with the money he left, he could have easily paid for them during his lifetime? 

I beg you, sir, to communicate this to Mrs. Berbiguier. 

Sincerely, 

M.B.

[1] Currency conversion across two centuries is a somewhat pointless exercise, but at the time, one franc was worth about .3 grams of gold, which in 2025 in US$ is worth about $31,000,000. So quite a nice fortune.