Georges-Louis Leclerc comte de BUFFON. L.S., Jardin du Roi 12 July 1787, to Monseigneur 2 pages folio (engraved portrait enclosed). He thanks for the interest shown in his son. He wrote to Marshal de Ségur "asking him to give an account to the King of the voluntary sacrifice my son is making today out of honour, and this sacrifice is great, because he is losing the promise of the rank of Colonel. I was not afraid to ask the Minister for the equivalent, and in the meantime he could be employed on the staff of the troops being assembled at Givet"... He adds that "the Count de Mercy, the Emperor's ambassador, who has kindness for me, informed the Queen of my request, and found her favourably disposed".