Papers of John Adams, volume 14
bre.1782.
Hôtel du Roi, au Carrousel.
Je viens d’ecrire à M. de Lassonne1 que Je m’etois adressé à la societé Royale de Medecine par la voye de M. Vicq d’Asir son secretaire perpetuel, pour etablir une correspondence entrè la Societé Royale et le College de Medecine de Boston dans la nouvelle Angleterre. M. Vicq d’Asir m’a fait l’honneur de venir me voir et de m’apporter une reponse très flateuse.2
Permettez moi, Monsieur, de vous prier de renouveller mes remercimens à votre Compagnie, en attendant que le College de Medecine de Boston les lui fasse lui meme.
Je suis avec respect, / Monsieur / votre très humble / & très obeissant Serviteur.
Translation
Hôtel du Roi, au Carrousel
I have just written to Mr. Lassonne1 informing him I had approached the Royal Society of Medicine through its permanent secretary, Mr. Vicq d’Azyr, with a view to establishing a correspondence between that society and the Boston college of medicine in New England. Mr. Vicq d’Azyr paid me the honor of a visit and brought a very pleasing reply.2
Please thank your society again for me, sir, pending the time when the Boston college of medicine does so itself.
I am respectfully, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant
RC in John Thaxter's hand (Bibliothèque de l’Académie Nationale de Médecine); internal address in JA's hand: “Monsieur Geofroy Docteur Regent / de la Faculté de Medicine de Paris.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 110.
Joseph Marie François de Lassone was a noted French surgeon, personal physician to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and founder of the Royal Society of Medicine (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale
). JA's letter to Lassone was virtually identical to this one (Bibliothèque de l’Académie Nationale de Médecine; LbC, APM Reel 110).
JA's effort to form a connection between the Royal Society and the newly established Massachusetts Medical Society was owing to Cotton Tufts’ request in a letter of 26 Sept. (
AFC
, 4:386). For the results of JA's effort, see Geoffroy's reply of 22 Dec., and the 3 Feb. 1783 letter from Félix Vicq d’Azyr, both below.
r.22
d.1782.
Your Letter of Novr. 14/25 I recieved the night before last, & went out with it yesterday to Passy. Dr. Franklin & I agreed to desire Mr. Grand to give Orders to the Banker his Correspondent at St. Petersbourg to furnish You with the Sum of Money You may have occasion for, so that your Treaty may be made as soon as You please. I should not be surprized, if the English Minister to the Empress should negotiate for You. The four Ministers for Peace have written You their Advice, that now is the Time for You to apply.1
Penobscot and the Fisheries are very safe. But it is the most curious History in the World, that of our Preliminaries.
The King of Sweden, by his Ambassador at Versailles, has been the first Power in Europe to propose a Treaty with the United States. He has given his Ambassador here full Power to treat & Dr. Franklin has recd. from Congress full Power to treat with him. They are now in Negotiation, & the Treaty will probably be finished in a few days.2
With great Esteem, I have the honor / to be, / Sir, / your most obedient & / most humble Servant.
RC in John Thaxter's hand (MHi:Dana Family Papers); addressed: “Honorable / Francis Dana Esqr / at / St. Petersbourg”; internal address: “Mr. Dana.”; endorsed: “Mr: Adams's Letter. / Dated Decr: 22d. 1782 / Recd. Jany: 15th—O.S.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 108.
On 12 Dec., above.
Benjamin Franklin's letter to Livingston of 7 March 1783 indicates that the treaty was signed on 5 March, although the document, with its attendant separate articles, is dated 3 April (Wharton, Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 6:276; Miller, Treaties
, 2:144, 145, 149).