PHYSIOCRATIE. [Abbé Nicolas BAUDEAU (1730-1792), economist and philosopher, founder of the Physiocrates group's periodical les Éphémérides du citoyen]. L.A.S. "Robert" addressed to Abbé Baudeau, May 31; 2 1/2 pages in-4, addressed with black wax seal of arms. Letter from a physiocrat about the discovery of a way to preserve vegetables by drying. This Robert came to Abbé Baudeau to share an idea. "It's about a preparation that Mr Eisen, pastor of Livonia, claims to have found, for preserving vegetables from one year to the next by drying them in the sun. The success of this operation seems to be disputed by the Economic Society of Leipsick. Abbé Roubaud [an anti-slavery physiocrat] could obtain details of Mr. Eisen's processes and the reasoned judgments of the members of the Leipsick Economic Society. As a citizen, I learn with sorrow that his health does not permit him to continue a gazette so interesting for the certainty of its facts, the solidity of its reflections, and the pleasantness of its style; but as a member of the nascent society, which your genius inflamed by patriotism made you conceive and form, I have the consolation of knowing that he is dedicating his lights and talents to us". If Eisen's method is "insufficient for preserving vegetables", those who improve it should be rewarded: "soils that are too wet for growing grain, and excellent for growing vegetables, would acquire an increase in value, through a higher consumption of these products. The preservation of vegetables would be of the greatest use to all classes of citizens, but mainly to sailors. They would use up less salt, which is one of the main causes of scurvy, which undermines crews"... Etc.