[Beginning lost.] There arrived here about a month ago an Abbé who has been Professor of Philosophy at Perpignan, and who is attested to have radically healed six paralytics by means of electricity. The magistrates having sent him to the faculty of Medicine in order to verify the success of the new experiments he was to perform here, the faculty appointed [torn: certain?] members to preside over this [investigation?], of whose number I am one. The Abbé began to [torn: treat?] patients [with electricity?] fifteen days ago. The first of the three patients is feeling very well as a result, and progress is considerable from one day to the next. The other two have cause to be nothing but pleased with the treatment so far, but progress is slow. Every day we write up a sort of official report of the proceedings, which I will share with you at the end, at least if things turn out well. He does not have them receive any kind of shock; he is satisfied to have them receive the electrical matter by means of an iron chain attached to the healthy part of the body. He adds to this treatment, with an air of mystery, a few other small remedies appropriate to the patient’s condition. For the rest, he seems to be a simple, good-natured fellow rather than a transcendent genius. He honors you on the basis of your renown, and knows little of your [torn: works?], but he is going to set about studying them.

A young man of unusual worth and talent has begged me to consult you about America and about an honor done to Newton. I take the liberty of enclosing his little note, and I can answer for it that he will not put your instructions to bad use; he is a philosopher-poet, who has as much taste as passion.

[I am going?] to send [you?], at the first opportunity, the new volumes of the Citizen’s [Ephemerides], but it is not possible for me to put them into this packet. I will try to enclose some other novelties with them, if there are any of merit.

I have not yet received the packet that was left for me by Monsieur Rush at the Messieurs Dilly. However, I hope that I will soon be able to have a friend pick it up for me, as I am extremely impatient to see it.

As for letters and small packets like this one, I was assured that we could, by means of the enclosed address, be completely at ease about our correspondence on both sides, however frequent it should prove to be; it is to my colleague Monsieur Poissonier that I owe this favor, and he enchants me further by saying that we will be able to go on corresponding in this way from one hemisphere to the other, [with] the same openness.

I have a thousand compliments to give you from everyone who has had the honor of becoming acquainted with you here; for my part, I offer you compliments only for Mr. Pringle, your worthy and respectable friend whom I honor with all my soul. If it had been possible for me to visit your isle, I would have wished with all my heart to be presented by you personally to Mr. Maty—whom you do me the honor of telling me about—for I regret that I did not have the pleasure of seeing him when he came to France. I am, with a sincere and respectful attachment, Monsieur and dear friend, your very humble and very obedient servant