Abstract

In 1696/97 Leibniz wrote for the Nouveau Journal des Sçavans — a periodical edited by Etienne Chauvin — a French refugee in Berlin. His contributions aimed among other things at providing for himself a professional position in Berlin, succeeding Samuel von Pufendorf, at the same time encouraging the foundation of an Academy of Science. Especially in one long letter he describes his own scientific contributions and plans for the future, including the development of the calculating-machine, his researches in German medieval history and his talking philosophy in German. Leibniz does not forget to emphasize his wide knowledge of publications and his international connections