LETTER

TO M. DE SAINT-FOIX,

HISTORIOGRAPHER

OF THE KING'S ORDERS,

On the Establishment of a Tribunal to write History.

Your Letter, Monsieur, on the subject of the Man in the Iron Mask, gave me the idea of writing to you about the obstacles, and even the unpleasantries, that exist in writing History, especially the History of one's own century; and for this, I propose to H.M. to establish a Tribunal: I dare therefore to put on paper my different reflections on this very important object (but, to keep nothing silent, so neglected among us), I willingly submit them to your judgment, Monsieur; I enter into the matter: assist my feeble lights.

When an honest Citizen, enemy of falsehood, friend of truth, undertakes to write the History of his century, what a crowd of obstacles presents itself to his imagination? Many are even frightening; he has the Government, the Police, the Censors