Laennec letter 1805

Paris 15. Vendemiaire 14th. [07.10.1805]

My dear father,

You must have received, some eight days ago, a letter wherein I ask you to send me the Vendémiaire trimester as soon as possible. If you still have to send it to me when this letter reaches you, please send me the money in kind, either per messenger or by any more economical means, if there is one. the postal charges will be a bit higher in any case. But if you send me a bill of exchange it would possibly be acquitted in banknotes, which, at this moment, one can hardly redeem anywhere in Paris. Everybody rushes to the Bank of France at once, so to speak, to exchange the banknotes for silver coins and in order not to raise any fears that the bank lacks them, you have to wait from two in the morning to be able to exchange a bill at 1pm or noon.

I didn't have time to write you before today. I am preparing for a pathology antomy contest. I send you a Breton ode based on half of an ode of Horace. Correct it and be well. My respects to mom to whom Madame sends many greetings. I hug you, my dear father. Your son. Rene Laennec