Letter 1954

Castel asks Sloane whether it is true that he thinks a peace between their two nations is unattainable. For ‘c’est a dire’ that Sloane is one of those who does not foresee a lasting peace in the Treaty of Utrecht. Castel states that if this is true he will personally come to London to try to convince Sloane and his like-minded friends that peace in Europe is achievable. He requests a response as well as Sloane’s thoughts on the subject. Charles-Irenee Castel de Saint-Pierre (1658-1743) was a French clergyman and author. He proposed an international political organization be founded in Europe and influenced the thought of Kant and Rousseau. He was made a fellow of the Academie francaise in 1695 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles-Irenee_Castel_de_Saint-Pierre).