PARIS, All-Saints’ day, 1688, nine o’clock at night.
_Philipsburg is taken, and your son is well!_ I have only to turn this
phrase in every possible way, for I will not change my text. Learn then
again from this note, that _your son is well, and that Philipsburg is
taken_! A courier is just arrived at M. de Villacerf’s, who says that
the dauphin’s courier reached Fontainebleau while Father Gaillard was
preaching; and that the sermon was immediately interrupted, and thanks
returned to God for this brilliant achievement. No further particulars
are known, except that there was no assault, and that M. du Plessis
was right when he said the governor had ordered wagons to carry away
his equipage. Recover your breath, then, my dear child, and let the
first thing you do be to return thanks to God. No other siege is talked
of; rejoice that your son has witnessed that of Philipsburg; it is an
admirable period for him; it is the dauphin’s first campaign. Would you
not have been grieved if he was the only person of his age who was not
present on the occasion, in which all the rest glory? But let us not
look back; every thing has happened as we could have wished. It is you,
my dear count, we may thank for it. I congratulate you on the joy you
must experience, and beg my compliments also to the coadjutor; you are
all relieved from great anxiety. Sleep soundly, then, my dearest, sleep
soundly on the assurance we give you; if you are covetous of grief, as
we formerly said, seek some other occasion, for God has preserved your
dear child to you. We are in raptures, and in this feeling I embrace
you with an affection that I believe you can not doubt.