Permit me to ask the attention of your Honorable Society to an Extract of a Letter I recd. lately from the Honorable Wm. Carmichael Secretary to the Legation from these States at the Court of Spain.
Madrid 13 March 1783 (1)
"Since my residence in this Capital I have written several long letters to the Philadelphia Philosophical Society, in which among other things I recommended to its Attention the Nomination of Persons in this Country as honorary members. I know not whether these Letters ever came to hand, for which reason permit me to suggest to you, whether the Nomination of the most Distinguished Litterary characters in the Different Countries of Europe might not be useful. The Suffrage of the Republic of Letters has contributed to give us a celebrity during the War and this union formed with its Cheifs in various Countries will secure useful Connections to our Ministers, as well as to the American Youth who may travel for Instruction: Should this Idea meet your Approbation, I would take the Liberty of recommending the Count de Campomanes Fiscal of the Council of Castille, The Above mentioned Dr. Gaspar Jove Llanos (2) & the Abbe Gavarra Secretary of the Academy of History(3) &c&."
As I have no doubt of the attachment of your learned Society to the Interests of America and their real desire of aiding in every Thing that will advance her reputation & dignity I shall make no Apology for the Liberty I have taken in thus laying before you an Application that may possibly benefit our Comon Country. If you should think proper to take any resolutions in Consequence of this Information, I will forward the result to our Minister at the Court of Spain with great Pleasure.
I have the honor to be with every Sentiment of respect & the most earnest wishes for the increase of experimental Knowledge and the prosperity of your useful & honorable Society.
Sir, Your most Obed & very Hbl Sev,
E. Boudinot
FC (DLC: Boudinot Papers). In the hand of Elias Boudinot and addressed by him: "To the President or Vice President of the Philosophical Society in Philadelphia."
1 At this point Boudinot wrote "print Extract." The text of the extract in Boudinot, Life and Letters, 1:396-97, from a now missing letterbook, is highly unreliable. The extract printed here is taken from the original of Carmichael's letter in PCC, item 88, fol. 357.
2 That is, Pedro Rodríguez Campomanes (1723-1803), Count de Campomanes, and Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos y Ramírez (1744-1811). Although Jovellanos did not become a member of the Society, the Count de Campomanes is listed among the foreign members who had been inducted before 1786. Gilbert Chinard, "The American Philosophical Society and the World of Science, 1768-1800," American Philosophical Society Proceedings 87 (July 1943): 3.
3 Not further identified.