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Source: Sämtliche schriften und briefe series I, volume 14 Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften (ed) p 167 Date: 10 May1697 Translated from the French View this translation in PDF format (88k) Back to home page Search texts by keyword(s): (For search strings, just type the words; don't use quotation marks) |
LEIBNIZ TO JEAN-JACQUES BOISOT[A I 14, 167] To Monsieur le President Boisot at Besançon Hanover, 10 May 1697 I had the honour of receiving the catalogue of pieces you so generously offered to communicate to me to enrich my Diplomatic Code.1 You not only carrying out, Sir, the wishes of the late Abbé de St. Vincent, your brother, but you are also showing that you are driven by the same spirit, by contributing to the public good, and to the instruction of posterity. It would be desirable that these noble sentiments were a little more common, but since that cannot be, and the laws of nature do not allow diamonds to be as common as pebbles, there will be reason to prize all the more those who rise above the inclinations of what is deservedly called the common folk. I hope one day to be able to inform the public what they owe you.2 However, I give you my thanks in advance, while waiting for me to be able to make my choice by more closely comparing this catalogue with what I have or can have. And I am sincerely and with obligation etc. NOTES: 1. Leibniz is referring to a now-lost catalogue of manuscripts pertaining to his historical research. 2. See the first page of Leibniz's preface in G. W. Leibniz, Mantissa codicis juris gentium diplomatici (Hanover: Freytag, 1700). © Lloyd Strickland 2022 |