Papers of John Adams, volume 17

To Philippe André Joseph de Létombe, 14 April 1785 Adams, John Létombe, Philippe André Joseph de

To Philippe André Joseph de Létombe

Sir Auteuil near Paris April 14 1785

The Packetts which go Monthly from L’Orient to New york are very beneficial in my humble opinion both to France and America—and I cannot say that they would be more so if any alteration were made in the Plan

But some Americans are of opinion it would be better to have them Sail from Havre de Grace as that is the sea Port of Paris the Convenience of transporting both Mails Passengers and Merchandizes would be greater to Havre: this Should be sett over against the Inconvenience of a Longer Passage sometimes and greater Risque in the Channell— I have not knowledge enough to determine even in my own Mind another thought has been mentioned viz. that the Packetts should go in the summer to Boston & the Winter to N York I beg leave to suggest this subject to your thoughts and Enquiries and to ask your opinion. the Passages I think would be Shorter and surer to Boston in May June July August and September. Perhaps in April—

I am much obliged to you for Several letters and am really ashamed to be so much in Debt but I hope to do better as my Health is much improved1

Give me leave to introduce to you one who will have no need however of my recommendation Mr Chaumont—2 Mrs Adams desires her respectfull Compliments—

I have the Honour to be sir your most obedient / and most humble servt—

LbC in AA2’s hand (Adams Papers); internal address: “Mr De L’Etombe / Consul De France”; APM Reel 107.

1 The most recent extant letters from Létombe, French consul at Boston, were of 20 Sept., 20 Nov. and 31 Dec. 1783, all Adams Papers; but JA’s last extant letter to Létombe was of 11 March 1781 (vol. 11:193–194).

This was Jacques Le Ray de Chaumont, son of Jacques Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, an old acquaintance of JA’s and owner of Benjamin Franklin’s residence at Passy. Known as James Le Ray upon becoming a U.S. resident after 1800, the younger Chaumont would be JQA’s traveling companion between New York and Boston in Aug. 1785, and the two would carry on an irregular correspondence through 1821 ( AFC , 6:84–85; JQA, Diary , 1:237). This letter introducing Chaumont to Létombe was one of seven similar letters by JA on this date. The others were to Samuel Adams (NN:George Bancroft Coll.), Thomas Cushing (LbC, APM Reel 107), John Hancock (same), Samuel Allyne Otis (same), William Smith (MHi:Smith-Carter Family Papers), and William Tudor (MHi:Tudor-Adams Correspondence). For AA’s comments on the younger Chaumont and JA’s efforts on his behalf, see her 15 April 1785 letter to Mary Smith Cranch ( AFC , 6:82–83).

From Ebenezer Crosby, 14 April 1785 Crosby, Ebenezer Adams, John

From Ebenezer Crosby

Sir New-York 14th. April 1785—

From a grateful & lively recollection of your former favours & friendly disposition towards me, I am induced to trouble you with a request, which, tho’ sensible it will be readily granted, I do with great reluctance, well knowing your time is too important to the public, to be intruded upon by your private Friends—1

I have lately been honoured with the appointment of Obstetrick Professor in the University in this City—to discharge the duties of which, I am obliged to provide myself with a Female-Apparatus from London—the price of which I cannot learn—2 Having no other Friend or Acquaintance in London, I beg leave to take the liberty of enclosing five Guineas to you, & requesting you will do me the favour of advancing enough to make up the deficiency, if there should be any, which shall be remitted to you as soon as known—

A Mr: Wright-Post, a Student in Medicine now in London from this City, is recommended to me, as a Gentleman who will readily 28and faithfully procure me the Machine—him I shall direct to wait upon your Excellency for the money3

I hope Mrs: & Miss Adams arrived safe & in health—also that you all continue to enjoy this great blessing—

Mrs: Crosby joins in most respectful regards to you & them, with your most Obedient & / most Humle: Servant

Ebenr: Crosby

RC (Adams Papers); internal address: “His Excellency John Adams.—”

Born in Braintree, Dr. Ebenezer Crosby graduated from Harvard in 1777, completed his medical education at the University of Pennsylvania, and served as surgeon at George Washington’s headquarters during the Revolution. After the war he established a practice in New York City and in 1785 was appointed professor of midwifery at Columbia College, a post he held until his death in 1788 (Thacher, Amer. Medical Biog., 1:57). Crosby would spend time with JQA after the younger Adams’ arrival in New York (JQA, Diary , 1:295, 296, 303).

The “Female-Apparatus” that Crosby sought is generally called an “obstetrical phantom,” a mannequin of a pregnant woman’s torso used to teach midwives and physicians the mechanics of childbirth. The device that Crosby purchased was likely made of wood, leather, and canvas and was necessary to his teaching because cultural restrictions would have made it impossible to use a live subject for instruction (Michael W. Propper and Virginia G. Campen, “Wooden Woman: Cherchez le Fantôme!,” OB/GYN World, April 1985, p. 2–5).

JA replied on 3 Sept. 1785 that Dr. Wright Post, then studying in London and later a noted physician and professor of surgery at Columbia College, had procured the apparatus at a cost of seventeen guineas, leaving a balance of twelve guineas that he should pay to Charles Storer (LbC, APM Reel 107; DAB ). For Crosby’s settlement of the account, see AFC , 7:5, 53.