29 SEPTEMBER 1923, Page 14

J.-J. ROUSSEAU'S LETTERS.

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I shall be much obliged if I may take advantage of the hospitality of your columns to make it known to the British public, especially to owners of literary documents and to librarians, that as Hon. Secretary of the " Societ6 J.-J. Rosseau " (Geneva) and editor of its Annales for fifteen years, I have' been 'asked by that society to prepare for the press a complete edition of Rousseau's letters. The work will be published by Hachette in the well-known series, " Collection des Grands Ecrivains," and arrangements have been made for it to be completed in twenty octavo volumes.

I need not lay stress upon the interest of the undertaking, nor emphasize the desirability of the publication being as complete as possible. I should therefore be very much obliged for any communication on the subject from those who possess or know of letters of J.-J. Rousseau in Great Britain, and.most grateful if the owners and librarians would be good enough to offer me any suggestion or information as to what steps should be taken to secure authentic copies or preferably photographs of the originals. My friend, Professor G. Rudler, of Oxford University, 18 Bradmore Road, Oxford, is prepared to have copies made at his home, or at the Bodleian or Taylorian Libraries, under his personal supervision. The greatest care would be taken either by him or by me of all papers lent. They would be returned in the shortest possible time, and gratefully acknowledged in the edition.—I am, Sir, &c., ALEXIS FRANCOIS.

(Docteur ea Lettres,

Professor of the Univerety of Geneva.)

8 Florissant, Geneva, Switzerland.