We have had in the French Comedy a new play called _Le Philosophie sans
le savoir_ done and acted in a new stile, quite natural and moving: it
has a prodigious success and deserves it extremely well. Marmontel
will give us very soon upon the Italian stage his comical opera of
_La Bergere des Alpes_. I hope it will prove very agreeable to the
Publick, having been very much delighted by the rehearsal of it; the
music was done by Mr Cohaut who teaches my wife to play on the luth.
We expect a tragedy of the Dutch Barnvelt.

Mr Wilkes is still in this town, where he intends to stay until you
give him leave to return to his native country. We have had the
pleasure of seeing Mr Chanquion, your friend, who seems to be a very
discerning gentleman and to whom in favor of your friendship I have
shown all the politeness I could. I hear that Sr James Macdonald has
been ill at Parma, but is now recovered and in Rome. Abbe Galliani is
still at Naples and stands a fair chance of being employ'd in the
ministry there.

Adieu, very dear Sir and remember your affectionate friend
D'HOLBACH


HOLBACH TO WILKES
(Brit. Mus. Mss., Vol. 30869, p. 39)
PARIS the 22d Of May (1766)

_My dear Sir_

I am extremely glad to know your lucky passage and happy arrival
in your native country. I hope you know too well the sincere