On offer is a very well written letter of reference for a French doctor in early 19th century France. The letter, although unsigned, appears to be sent from the Hopital de la Charite. It highly recommends a Doctor Chretien Lalame for a position at the Children’s Hospital of Paris. An excerpt follows: Le Doctor Chretien Lalame age de 44, medecin de la Faculte de Paris. Membre titulaire de l'Academie de Medecine, medecin ordinaire du 5em dispensaire, d'un des trois premier candidate designes par le Conseil General des hospices dans sa seance du 17 avril donner et presentes a son excellence le ministre de l'interior pour remplir la place de Medecine de l'hospital des Enfants , demande celle du Medicin suppliant de la Charite vacante par le deces de M. Bayle... [Translation: Doctor Chretien Lalame, age 44, doctor of the Faculty of Paris. Full member of the Academy of Medicine, ordinary doctor of the 5th dispensary, one of the first three candidates designated by the General Council of Hospices in its session of April 17, and submitted to his excellency the Minister of the Interior to fill the place of Doctor of the Children's Hospital asks for the position of the Deputy Physician of the Charity that is vacant by the death of Mr. Bayle...] The Hopital de la Charite was established in 1613 through the initial efforts of Marie de Medici. For over 300 years, it served the needs of the citizens of Paris. The hospital was remodelled by Suzanne Necker to create the Necker Hospital. The hospital building was demolished around 1935 to make place for the new Faculté de médecine de Paris, now part of the Sorbonne. The Necker Hospital continues as one of France’s great teaching hospitals, partnered with the Enfants Malades Hopital. The Children’s Hospital (or Enfants Malades Hopital) was the first children’s hospital in the world. It remains one of the great children’s hospitals today. Established at the beginning of the 19th century, it benefited from the patronage of Suzanne Necker, the wife of the Minister of Finance for France and her daughter, Anne Louise Germaine, the future writer and philosopher now better known as Madame de Staël. the noted intellectual and writer who rose to become one of the most prominent persons in European politics. She was also wealthy and extraordinarily connected to centres of power across European societies. In 1920, the Children’s Hospital merged with its next door neighbour The Necker Hospital, founded by Jacques Necker. The letter goes on to extol his titles already obtained, his accomplishments and his service over a 15 year period. This is an excellent example of the type of reference letter that was used in French society in the early 19th century. The letter measures 8.5 inches by 6.25 inches and is a single sheet of paper. The page is in very good condition and the handwriting is quite legible.
