René-Théophile LAENNEC (1781-1826). L.A.S., Paris 25 brumaire XII (November 15, 1803), to his father; 4pages in-4. Long letter on his beginnings as a medical teacher. He first discusses his father's affairs, for which he has gone to see Poussielgue, who is going to see what he can do for him... "Your project to have yourself made a tribune seems to me the most beautiful and the most reasonable that you can form at present. Try to get on the list, and even if you can't become a tribune, try to get on the list of the legislative body. As it is the consul who chooses [...], make him a petition, briefly relate your rights, report on the prizes that your two sons have obtained"; and that he be recommended by Toulgoët and Fourcroy... "A few days after the prize-giving, the minister who had crowned me, had Mr. Leroux sound me out to see if I might need some financial help to settle in Paris"; Leroux replied that the family, though not very wealthy, was meeting its needs, but that it would be good "if they gave me the first place that came up in Paris"; so he hopes to be placed quickly, and needs money to pass his exams... "As for me, I'm going to give a course in pathological anatomy. No one will perhaps have begun the career of teaching under happier auspices than I did. Many students urge me every day to start. I'm pretty sure I'll have a hundred listeners. I'm a little worried that I'll be picked on because I haven't been accepted, but it will be easy enough for me to iron out these little difficulties. He had signed up to compete at the École Pratique, but no one dared to enter with him, as his name frightened the candidates, so he had to give up... He worried about whether his sister Marianne had been vaccinated and "whether vaccinia is in use in Quimper. If she hasn't, I can send her some. It's the best present you can give a country. He refers to verses he was asked to write "for the sister of one of the most famous anatomists in Paris", in imitation of the Latin poets, about artificial flowers: "So, in favor of my sister of an anatomist, I gave myself up a trade I had abandoned for more than two years"...