Suzanne Dupin de Francueil

This chapter presents Jean-Jacques Rousseau's letter to Suzanne Dupin de Francueil on April 20, 1751. Shortly after the publication of the First Discourse at the beginning of 1751, Rousseau left his position as secretary and research assistant with the Dupin family. Rousseau wrote this letter to the wife of his employer's son the year after he had his third child (out of an eventual five) put into a foundling hospital. Rousseau kept a copy of this letter in his papers, rendered in a numerical code much simpler than ones he had used in Venice and was to use later. He mentions poverty and his ills as the reasons behind his decision to put his children in the foundling hospital. Rousseau also explains that “domestic cares and the bother of children” would prevent him to have “the tranquility of mind” necessary to do the profession of author.