Allow me, my illustrious doctor, to have the honor to send you this memoir for MM. Birian from Bayonne, who passionately wish to have the honor of being the consuls for the United States of America in that city. I know that you are, I won't say troubled, but overwhelmed by solicitations such as this; however, I ask you to please distinguish this one from the others, as these Messieurs are very respectable gentlemen, and M. le Comte d'Ornano, whom I know well, will answer for them as he would for himself. I believe that M. le Comte d'Angiviller has written to you about this in the same terms. I was hoping, my illustrious doctor, to have the honor of going to see you during the past few days, in order to hand you this memoir directly, but some accursed affairs prevented me from going. I hope, however, that this week will not go by without my having that honor. Adieu, my illustrious doctor; please accept the sincere assurances of all the sentiments that attach me to you for life.