To Benjamin Franklin from Bailly, 16 June 1784
From Bailly
AL: American Philosophical Society
ce mercredi 16 juin. [1784]
M Bailly presente ses hommages a Monsieur franklin et le prie de lui renvoier le registre original de la commission5 qu’il a eu l’honneur de lui envoier la semaine derniere, parcequ’on a indispensablement besoin demain dès le matin, qu’on doit commencer a le copier. Si Mr franklin ne l’avoit pas encore lu, il peut le garder encore jusqu’a ce soir, pourvû qu’il ait la bonté de le renvoier ce soir a chaillot a mr Bailly.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin ministre / plenipotentiaire des etats unis de / l’amerique en son hotel / a passy
Notation: Bailly.—
5. The commission to investigate animal magnetism kept a detailed log (now missing) that was periodically sent to BF for his review and signature. All the commissioners evidently signed this official, confidential record of their ongoing experiments. In BF’s case, however, the register also served as his primary means of keeping abreast of the experiments performed in Paris, which he was unable to attend.