M.Damesin, a gentleman of Savoy, at that time equerry, and I believe favorite, of the Princess of Carignan; M.de Boze, Secretary of the Academy of Inscriptions, and keeper of the medals of the king's cabinet; and Father Castel, a Jesuit, author of the 'Clavecin oculaire' .-- [ocular harpsichord.] All these recommendations, except that to M.Damesin, were given me by the Abbe de Malby.
M.Damesin provided me with that which was most needful, by means of two persons with whom he brought me acquainted.

One was M.Gase, 'president a mortier' of the parliament of Bordeaux, and who played very well upon the violin; the other, the Abbe de Leon, who then lodged in the Sorbonne, a young nobleman; extremely amiable, who died in the flower of his age, after having, for a few moments, made a figure in the world under the name of the Chevalier de Rohan.

Both these gentlemen had an inclination to learn composition.

In this I gave them lessons for a few months, by which means my decreasing purse received some little aid.

The Abbe Leon conceived a friendship for me, and wished me to become his secretary; but he was far from being rich, and all the salary he could offer me was eight hundred livres, which, with infinite regret, I refused; since it was insufficient to defray the expenses of my lodging, food, and clothing.
I was well received by M.de Boze.