Philadelphia Visit
The Academy archives has in its possession a letter from Humboldt written to Zaccheus Collins (who later became an Academy member), dated May 20, 1804 from a ship on the Delaware River. In this letter, Humboldt begs Collins to pull whatever strings necessary to get him off the ship, so that he might visit the United States. We know that Collins was successful, for during this period Humboldt visited both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Translated, the letter reads:
Sir,
The well-known kindness of your character gives me hope that you will excuse me the liberty I have taken to address you in these lines. After 20 days of passage, having arrived at Havana where there has been no sickness even to this moment and a temperature of 70° not having a single ill person aboard our Frigate (La Concepcion addressed to Mr. Samuel Rhiaos) we fear a quarantine of several days. Having already been very limited in my time and not having come to the United States except for the sake of a moral interest in seeing a country so wisely governed, I infinitely desire to spend as much time as possible in Philadelphia with my 2 traveling companions Mr. Bonpland, distinguished naturalist, and Mr. Montufar, son of the Marquis de Selvalegre de Quito. I recognize very well the wisdom of health laws in a country where epidemics have been so devastating. However I hope that the season and the length of our voyage will speak in our favor and I beseech you, Monsieur, that you will be interested enough to desire to shorten our quarantine and to deliver us from these vexations.
I have the honor to have the highest consideration
Monsieur
In the Delaware River
May 20, 1804
Although I speak English easily I dare not write to you in English.
Your very humble and very abeyant servant,
Le Baron de Humboldt.
ANS Archives. Collection 129
Also in the Academy archives is the letter Zaccheus Collins wrote in response to Humboldt's request:
Sir:
I regret extremely my having been out of town on the arrival of your letter of the 20th instant, which I did not receive timely for an application to the Board of Health yesterday. I lost no time in waiting on one of its members who informed me the ship Concepcion was not under quarantine, but might be detained a day or two, for the performance of certain official duties at the Lazaretto - and that on my application to the Board permission would be readily granted for yourself and two friends to come up to the city. To day I will apply and doubt not I shall have the pleasure of enclosing the permit herein.
I shall be happy to see you and to render you and your friends any services in my power.
Being with much respect
Your ob. Serv.
Z.C.
23 May 1804
ANS Archives. Collection 129