The event of the Count de Vergennes's death, of which I had the honor to inform you in a letter of the 4th instant, the appointment of the Count Montmorin, and the propriety of my attending at his first audience, which will be on the 27th, have retarded the journey I proposed a few days. The journey above mentioned was a trip to Aix, whither he was ordered by his surgeon, in order to try the effect of its mineral-waters on his dislocated wrist. In the letters which he wrote to his daughter Martha, while absent on this occasion, he alludes frequently to his youngest daughter, Mary, or Polly, as she was sometimes called. As I have before mentioned, she and her younger sister, Lucy, were left by their father in Virginia, with their kind uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Eppes. Lucy died in the fall of the year 1784, and her death was announced to her father in a letter from Mr. Eppes, who writes: I am sorry to inform you that my fears about the welfare of our children, which I mentioned in my last, were too well founded. Yours, as well as our dear little Lucy, have fallen sacrifices to the most horrible of all disorders, the whooping-cough. They both suffered as much pain, indeed more than ever I saw two of their ages experience. We were happy in having had every experience this country afforded; however, they were beyond the reach of medicine.[31] [31] With the tender sensibility of a mother, Mrs. Eppes announced this event to Jefferson in the following touching letter: Eppington, October 13th, 1784. Dear Sir--It is impossible to paint the anguish of my heart on this melancholy occasion. A most unfortunate whooping-cough has deprived you and us of two sweet Lucys within a week. Ours was the first that fell a sacrifice. She was thrown into violent convulsions, lingered out a week, and then died. Your dear angel was confined a week to her bed, her sufferings were great, though nothing like a fit; she retained her senses perfectly, called me a few minutes before she died and asked distinctly for water. Dear Polly has had it most violently, though always kept about, and is now quite recovered.... Life is scarcely supportable under such severe afflictions. Be so good as to remember me most affectionately to my dear Patsy, and beg she will excuse my not writing till the gloomy scene is a little forgotten. I sincerely hope you are both partaking of every thing that can in the smallest degree entertain and make you happy. Our warmest affections attend you both. Your sincere friend, E. EPPES.