From 1807 onwards, Carter dropped out from Canton trade and lived in Europe until 1819. While in Paris in 1815, he wrote a letter to the French Sinologist Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat (1788-1832) introducing himself and asked for help from the latter. He requested the scholar to inform him of the facilities in Paris where he might obtain books on the Chinese language.[21] In 1819, Carter returned to New York and lived permanently in the city until his death. He kept in touch with Rémusat, discussing the question of translating Christian terms into Chinese and providing the Chinese publications of the Baptist Missionary Society.[22] Carter was elected as honorary member to the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1823, and passed away in 1831.
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[21] The letter is kept in the “Carter-Danforth Papers: Family of Providence, R.I. Papers, 1722-1929” deposited at the Rhode Island Historical Society, box MSS336, folder 10. The letter was only dated “Oct. 26” but most likely it was written in year of 1815.
[22] Kenny, “Physician Extraordinary”, pp. 106-107. The letter is kept in the “John Carter family papers 1769-1917 (bulk 1769-1844)” deposited at the John Carter Brown Library, Brown University, dated Feb. 23nd 1819. Two other letters, one from Rémusat to Carter and one from Carter to Rémusat, dated Feb. 4th, 1823 and Nov. 15th. 1825 respectively, are also kept in the same papers.