Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Chaumont, 21 August 1779

From Chaumont

AL: American Philosophical Society

Passi ce 21. aout 1779.

M de Chaumont a l’honneur de prévenir Monsieur franklin qu’il a fait Venir de Bordeaux par M Grignon une petite Caisse de quina à l’adresse de M de Chalut fermier général pour être remise à Monsieur franklin cette caisse a été apportée par le Nommé Lemaille Courier de Bordeaux.5 Monsieur franklin voudra bien la faire demander à M de Chalut le fermier général par M L’abbé de Chalut.6

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5Discovered in Peru in the 17th century, quinquina or quina (cinchona bark, also known as Peruvian or Jesuit’s bark) was popularized in France under the reign of Louis XIV and widely used to combat fever. Poor Richard for 1758 prints a remedy for the “Fever and Ague” containing the bark, and JA used it while in Paris: VII, 350; XXIX, 3.

6Indeed, the abbés Chalut and Arnoux had already told BF on Aug. 12 that a crate had arrived for him at the Paris residence, Place Vendôme, of Farmer General Geoffroy Chalut de Vérin, in whose house they lived. APS. BF paid 46 l.t. 16 s. for its delivery: Account XXIII (XXIX, 3).

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