To Benjamin Franklin from Barbeu-Dubourg, [26 May 1778]
From Barbeu-Dubourg
ALS: University of Pennsylvania Library
[May 26, 1778]
Mon cher Maitre
Je vous prie de prendre lecture de la lettre cy jointe que j’ai reçue de M. Busson Lt. g[énéra]l de la fleche qui vous avoit eté recommandé par notre pauvre Ami Dalibard avec qui il etoit fort lié; et de me marquer ce que je dois lui repondre.6 On m’a chargé aussi de vous demander si les hernies (ou descentes d’intestins) sont plus ou moins rares en Amerique qu’en Europe, si on faisoit venir d’Angleterre des bandages, ou brayers, pour ces infirmités; et plus specialement si les hernies ombilicales ou exomphales y sont communes, et si on connoit des bandages singulierement appropriés a ce mal.
Voudrez vous bien aussi me renvoyer par le porteur ou me rapporter samedi chez M. le Comte de Brancas mon petit manuscrit.7 Je suis toujours le plus devoué de vos serviteurs
Dubourg
Notation: Dubourg Paris 26 May. 1778
6. Busson’s letter to Dubourg from la Flèche, near Le Mans (University of Pa. Library), was written on May 16 and had to do with getting his “pauvre neveu,” Patrice-François Busson, passage from Bordeaux on the Boston as a volunteer marine; unless he was “poor” because he suffered from a hernia, which seems unlikely, the letter had no relation to the inquiries that follow. As for Dalibard, the date of his death is usually given as 1779, though for some reason 1799 has also found favor, even with our predecessors: above, IV, 302 n. In fact the electrician died in the late winter of 1778; his burial was announced in the Jour. de Paris, March 14, 1778.
7. For the comte de Brancas see above, p. 27–8 n. Dubourg’s “petit manuscrit” was doubtless his translation of Melmoth’s pamphlet; see the latter to BF above, March 30.