To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Teissier, 27 June 1778
From ——— Teissier5
AL: American Philosophical Society
Présenté çe 27 juin 1778
Le Sieur Teissier chirurgien qui a eu l’honneur d’estre présenté et Recommandé a Son Excellence par Mr. le Comte de Sarsfield, se Dispose a partir Dans les premiers jours du Mois prochain sur un des vaisseaux que Mr. De Monthieu fait armer a nantes, pour aller offrir ses serviçes aux Etats unis. Il supplie son Exçellençe, de vouloir bien lui accorder la lettre de Recommandation, qu’il a eu la bonté de lui promettre,6 sur la demande de mr. le Comte de Sarsfield, et de plusieurs autres personnes de consideration qui Daignent s’interesser a lui.
A Son Exçellençe Monsieur franklin Ministre plenipotentiaire Des Etats unis de l’Amerique
Endorsed: M. Tessier’s Memoire Surgeon
5. The surgeon whom Sarsfield had recommended in his letter above, May 7. An undated memorandum that Teissier drew up, presumably before the interview he mentions here, gives some biographical details; two copies are among BF’s papers in the APS. He studied at the Paris academy of surgery and in Montpellier, and knows the theory of his craft. He has practiced for two years at the hospital in Alais, for four as surgeon of the Médoc regiment, and for eighteen months at the Bicêtre and then at the Salpêtrière. He entered the profession at fourteen and is’now twenty-nine. His parents can no longer support him, and if he does not emigrate he must choose between returning to the army in the event of war, or to drag out in the provinces a listlessness that would sap his talents. He will gladly consecrate his life to the heroes of Philadelphia, but must point out that his current position in Paris is a good one.
6. BF obliged in his letter to Rush below, June 30.