Papers of John Adams, volume 14

From Alleyne Fitzherbert, 3 February 1783 Fitzherbert, Alleyne Adams, John

From Alleyne Fitzherbert

Hotel du Pe: Royl: Feby. 3d 1783

Mr Fitz-Herbert presents his Compliments to Mr Adams, and as he is obliged to go to Versailles tomorrow, begs leave to propose to him and the other American Ministers Plenipotentiary for the Peace 232to meet at his (Mr F's) lodgings on Wednesday next at eleven o’clock for the purpose of conferring together upon the subject of the definitive treaty: however should that time or place be inconvenient to Mr Adams or either of his brother-commissioners, Mr FitzHerbert will be very happy to agree to any other.1

In consequence of what Mr Adams has been so obliging as to communicate to him respecting the passports which he and his brother-commissioners have ordered to be prepared, Mr FitzHerbert purposes writing to England this afternoon to desire a like number may be expedited to him forthwith from the Admiralty.

RC (Adams Papers).

Wednesday was 5 February. JA indicated in his earlier letter of 3 Feb., above, that Fitzherbert should name the location for his meeting with the commissioners. Apparently JA conferred with Fitzherbert again and in his letters to Benjamin Franklin (DLC: Franklin Papers) and John Jay (LbC, APM Reel 108) later on the evening of 3 Feb., he informed them that the meeting would be at Fitzherbert's residence at the Hotel du Parc Royal.

From Félix Vicq d'Azyr, 3 February 1783 d'Azyr, Félix Vicq Adams, John

From Félix Vicq d'Azyr

Monsieur. 3 fevr. 1783

La Socièté Royale de Medecine après S’être Empresseé de Contracter une association de Correspondance avec le Collegè de Boston, association qui la flatte infiniment, m’a Chargé de Vous adresser le Diplôme qui Constate l’union de Ces deux Compagnies. Elle Vous prie de Vouloir bien le faire parvenir aux Membres illustres qui composent le Collegè de Boston;1

Parmi le petit Nombre d’exemplaires, du Journal de Medecine Militaire, dont elle peut disposer, elle en a Reservé un pour La Bibliothéque du Collegè de Boston;2 elle a desiré que je Vous l’adresse pour cette Compagnie, et elle la prie de l’agréer Comme une marque de sa déférence et de son attachement. Je le joins ici. cet Exemplaire est le 1er. Cahier pour l’année 1783; Les 4 premiers Cahiers pour 1782. n’ont été donnés à la Société qu’en nombre a peine Suffisant pour ses membres Residens à Paris.

J’ai L’honneur d’etre avec Respect / Monsieur / Votre très humble et très / obeissant Serviteur

Vicq d’azyr 233 234

Translation

Sir 3 February 1783

The Royal Society of Medicine, after eagerly forming an association by correspondence with the college of Boston, a connection it finds most flattering, has instructed me to send you the diploma recording the union of these two bodies. It asks if you would please see that it reaches the illustrious members who constitute the college of Boston.1

Among the small numbers of copies of the Journal de médecine militaire at its disposal, the Royal Society has reserved one for the library of the college of Boston.2 It has asked me to send it to you, so that you might pass it on to that institution, as a mark of its deference and attachment. I am enclosing the first issue for the year 1783. The four first issues for 1782 were given to our society in quantities that scarcely sufficed for those of its members who live in Paris.

I have the honor to be, with respect, sir, your very humble and very obedient servant

Vicq d’azyr

RC and enclosure (MBCo:Bowditch Book); internal address: “M John Adams” endorsed: “M. Vicq. d’Azyr / 3. Feb. 7 1783.” LbC (Adams Papers); APM Reel 110. LbC-Tr (Adams Papers); APM Reel 109.

For more on Félix Vicq d’Azyr and the Royal Society of Medicine, see Descriptive List of Illustrations, No. 6, above. JA sent copies of this letter and the diploma to the newly formed Massachusetts Medical Society enclosed in his 10 June letter to its president, Edward Augustus Holyoke (MBCo: Bowditch Book).

The location of the number of the Journal de médecine militaire mentioned here is unknown. Though JA states in his 28 Feb. response to Vicq d’Azyr, below, that he would forward it to the society, the 10 June letter to Holyoke does not list it as an enclosure. A history of the society suggests the journal was received from JA, but it does not include the journal in a 1788 catalog of the society library (Walter L. Burrage, A History of the Massachusetts Medical Society, Norwood, Mass., 1923, p. 47, 390, 394). The society collection at MBCo includes a copy, but it bears a stamp that states it was acquired in 1890. The journal is not in JA's library at MB ( Catalogue of JA's Library ).