Letter to the author of the Book entitled: Of Errors and Of Truth. This letter is found in the Journal Encyclopédique of 1779, Vol. III, p. 511.

The light, Sir, that you allow to be perceived in your work, with that appropriate reserve, will be for those who have the good fortune to distinguish it, the most precious monument that we have in our day. I wish that our materialists Thinkers of the Enlightenment who argued that only physical matter exists, denying the reality of the soul or spirit. would read you, and profit from this ray of light that your generosity has placed before our eyes. To you alone, Sir, was reserved the task of pulling man out of the state of debasement in which he has plunged himself, for having wished only to follow impressions that are too material. Since your book appeared, you are what the carbuncle original: "escarboucle." A legendary gemstone, often identified as a deep red garnet or ruby, believed in ancient times to emit its own light in the dark. of the ancients was, after having been purified by the clear water of a celestial fountain that flows at sunrise, and returns to its source at the moment that darkness succeeds the light. Whoever you may be, generous and virtuous Scholar, accept my compliments on your profound knowledge.

I am, Sir, your very humble and very obedient servant, Crater
at Marseille, April 8, 1779.

There is in the Volume of my Collectanea A Latin word meaning "collected things," referring to a personal notebook or scrapbook of miscellaneous transcriptions and notes. p. [blank] another letter of the same kind taken from the same Journal.