During my stay in Paris I have not ceased to wish you were here, for the particular benefit which I should have gained from your conversation. But now I would wish you were here for the benefit of the public as well, which would have the opportunity to take advantage of your presence at the Assembly which I have told you about. In my previous letters I mentioned to you that M. de Montmor had done me the honor of informing me about his plan to invite a certain number of selected individuals to his house to discuss questions of natural science, or experiments and fine discoveries, and that he had given me the task of drafting a possible procedure for discussions which would work for the public good, as well as the amusement of those who took part. With M. du Prat I prepared some rules, and they were presented at the first meeting of the Assembly, which was composed of a good number of interested people. They were examined and some objections were raised by people who did not wish to write anything. Since you ask me for them, I send them to you; and I really do not mind if they are seen by everyone, as they will testify to our good intentions, and they may not be unhelpful, perhaps, to those who intend to apply themselves to the same sort of inquiries as those we have decided upon.

The age of iron will not last for ever.  Peace, in turn, will come back to visit the earth.  The Muses will not be exiled for eternity.  The Arts will return to life.  The Sciences will regain their proper place.  And the influence of the stars--an influence more gentle than the one which today produces only soldiers and captains--will produce Gilberts, Bacons, Harveys, Sarpis, Galileos, Mersennes, Descartes, and Gassendis once again.  It is to the credit of our age that these illustrious people may learn, upon their return, that despite the barbarism in which we have lived, there have been a number of worthy individuals who have not lost love for philosophical studies.  It has not been the fault of these people if, after the great path-breaking achievements made by the people I have just mentioned, more progress has not been made than is being made now in improving all areas of knowledge.

When I have told you the names of those who compose our Assembly, you will admit  it would be hard to put together a comparable gathering anywhere, even if one could choose from among all the enquiring spirits outside Paris or, indeed, outside this realm.  But it would be better to let you see directly what you seek.

Rule I. The purpose of the discussions will not consist at all of an empty parade of wit over useless subtleties; instead, they shall aim always at the clearest knowledge of the works of God, and the advancement of practical benefits in those arts and sciences best suited to achieve them.

II. The individual who presides will establish, according to the wishes of those assembled, the topic for the next discussion, and will ask the two named individuals whom he judges best informed on that subject to present their opinions, leaving the rest free to express their thoughts on it.

III. These statements of opinion will be read out and submitted in writing.  They should be expressed with economy, with reasons fully stated, without rhetorical embellishment or citation of authorities.

IV. They will be read without interruption, the two chosen individuals producing theirs first.

V. After they have all been read completely, each person will express, briefly and in turn, his objections to what has been read, or his confirmations of it. After a reply has been made, the matter will not be pressed further without permission of the person presiding.

VI.  Anyone unable to attend in person may send in his opinion on the proposed topic.

VII. The Assembly will ask those who have the opportunity to do so to correspond with learned men in France, and abroad, to learn from them about work in progress, or about things which have already been published in the arts and sciences.  The Assembly will be informed of these matters at the close of its sessions.

VIII.  Once the Assembly has been convened, no applicants will be admitted unless two-thirds of those present agree when the proposal is put to them.

IX.  Only members of the Assembly will be allowed into the room where the discussion takes place, the Assembly being composed of people who have an interest in natural science, medicine, mathematics, the liberal arts, and mechanics, unless permission has been asked in advance to bring there some worthy person.

We have started work on our discussions according to this plan, and we have already dealt with many important topics there, methodically and with great precision. But we have need of you, Sir, as well as the good Minim father and the sagacious M. Gassendi, whom I address in a Preface, which I shall place in front of his works, in which I speak of our Assembly:

'Be present too, Gassendi, best of men, so that the image of your modesty and wisdom may always be seen by all.  Indeed, once your works have been published we shall have everything we need to see you in your entirety.  We shall not only have the benefit of your acuity and learning but also, by keeping our eyes constantly fixed on your wisdom, we shall be able to follow, by means of your superior ability, the true method of philosophizing, of which you gave us such a distinguished example. And as long as the world endures, after the passage of countless years, you will still be studied by those who strive after good sense, and hence, if anyone then stills enjoys reading authors who philosophize in a barbarous or abstruse way, it will be possible to use the word of Cicero to oppose them:  'What is this madness from which men suffer, that having found grain they feed on acorns?' 

May God make me a true prophet when I say I hope people will imitate M. Gassendi's modesty, that his gentle and tranquil spirit reign over our Assembly, and that this new Academy will not disappoint the hopes raised by the rules I send you.  But we have good reason to suspect, as I started to say, that we shall have need of you, as well as of those two other philosophers no longer with us.  We shall not be able to avail ourselves of your subtle and penetrating mind, your lively wit, and those judgments of yours always repleat with some learned allusion or surprising novelty; no more than we shall be able to enjoy the gentleness, moderation, and perfect judgment of that person I described and brought forth as an example, or the diligence and talent of the good Father, whom you used to call in jest 'the good thief,' as he was always working to collect the arguments of others, to share them with others who wished to hear.  But I still have consolation in writing to you, and occassionally receiving your letters or seeing those addressed to our good friends M. du Bosc and M. du Prat, in which I continue to find signs that you have not forgotten me.  I beg you Sir, never tire of sending me your news, and to believe that the possession of your friendship is so dear to me, that there is nothing I would not do to retain it.  I am,

Sir,
Your most humble and obedient servant,

Paris, 1 February 1658