To Benjamin Franklin from Count von Sickingen, [11 September 1778]
From Count von Sickingen4
AL: American Philosophical Society
Ce vendredi [September 11, 17785]
a Paris Barriere du Roule
Mr: Leroy Et d’autres personnes de La Connaissance de Monsieur franklin, se rassembleronts Lundi 14 7bre chez Le Comte de Sickingen, et on s’y occuppera de quelques recherches sur la Platine; si Cette Societé et Le motif qui La rassemble pouvaient Engager Monsieur franklin a faire L’honneur au Comte de Sickingen de Diner ce jour Chez Luy, il En serait infiniment flatté; il a L’honneur de le saluer.
R.S.V.P.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Francklin / A Passi
4. Karl Heinrich Joseph, Reichsgraf von Sickingen, had been the Elector Palatine’s minister to France since at least 1770: Lewis, Walpole Correspondence, IV, 442 n. The Almanach royal for 1778, p. 163, confirms the address given here. On Sept. 5 he had read a report on platinum to the Academy of Sciences: procès-verbaux, XCVII, fol. 305.
5. We assume that he wrote on the Friday before the gathering.