That I had travelled in Great Britain and America, to obtain knowledge; and was come to Paris for the same purpose.—
Said he, I am employed by the court of Spain on the same business, and have travelled through England, Scotland, and Ireland; and am come here to collect all the knowledge I possibly can. He gave me a description of the state and condition of the hospitals in Paris; and told me where I could obtain the publications I wanted, which are entirely new, and had not reached London. He also advised me to view the hospitals, and to go to Cherenton and see the anatomical productions there, which he said exceeded every thing of the kind in the world.
He visited me three times, and brought a French physician to see me once.
I visited M. Iberti once, and he gave me a book he had published, entitled, Observations Generales sur les Hopitauz; suivies d'un Projeett d'Hospital. In consequence of which the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences at Paris had honoured him with a medal, in token that his works were highly applauded. He also told me that he had the use of the king's library.
I told him that I would endeavour to make him a present of a New Dispensatory, if he would let me know where I could send one that would get to him: he thanked me, and desired I would send one to the Spanish Ambassador in Great Britain, with whom he said he was well acquainted.
The Spanish physician's advice did me infinite service: I followed his direction, and obtained what I went after.
Among the many curiosities that I viewed this day was the ground where the Bastille stood, which had been a horrible place of punishment for about 400 years. I found this prison almost demolished, though a few of the dungeons remained: but the people were taking down the arches, walls, &c. An amazing quantity of stone had been carried from this disagreeable prison, and piled up in a street that environs the city, besides those at the Champ de Mars.
Before this prison was demolished it was surrounded by a ditch, and had no entrance to it but by a draw-bridge.
On the 6th of July, 1789, the National Assembly having established a committee of finances, which consisted of 64 members, and appointed M. Necker, president; the king afterwards appointed Baron de Breteuil, president, in the room of M. Necker; and having removed several other officers, the indignation of the populace was raised, who armed themselves, and were joined by the French guards. A slight skirmish ensued in the Place de Louis XV. in which two was killed, and two wounded, which belonged to the Duc de Choiseu's regiment of dragoons.
On the 8th the populace forced the convent of St. Lazare, in which was found a quantity of corn, arms, ammunition, &c. A general consternation prevailed; the shops were shut, and business was at a stand.