Mr. Moreau, rue de la Planche-Mibray, n. 13.

Paris, December 18, 1818.[1]

Sir,

The bearer of my last letter informed me of your intent to come visit me on the morning of the 17th of this month.  I waited for you in vain until three o’clock in the afternoon. I congratulated myself in advance on the double advantage that I believed I would gain from it; on the one hand, the honor of your visit, and on the other, seeing an end to my troubles soon. 

Perhaps it is your busy schedule that has prevented you from fulfilling this promise, as you had expressed was your desire.

You would oblige me, Sir, if you would write a reply to the bearer of this letter, or else let me know verbally the day and hour that I could have the honor of your visit, without uselessly waiting for it.

I have the honor to be,

M.B.

P.S. Tell me, Sir, I pray you, you to whom so much wisdom is granted, what I should think of all that happens to me. Do the evils that I experience day and night come from you, or from the different heads of the diabolical authority that I mentioned previously?  In the latter case, could you, as one of the principal officers of that authority, give them a report of my sad situation and try to obtain for me the means to alleviate it? In the former case, you could, according to the report of one of your subordinates (of whom I have already spoken), stop tormenting me, since he says that it is up to you alone. Tell me, please, if I need a police officer everywhere I go. Are these not dreadful procedures? Is this not horrible conduct? I hope, Sir, that you will put an end to it, because I must definitely not be your slave. 

[1] Originally dated 1/18/1818, given the context and tone and the later version of the address line I’m assuming this should have been a December letter. – JVW