1 4 6 D O C U M E N T 5 7 F E B R U A R Y 1 9 2 2 nous le pourrons. J’ai conservé moi-même un délicieux souvenir de votre passage en 1913, sans compter les autres circonstances dans lesquelles nous nous sommes rencontrés à l’étranger.[6] Croyez-moi, je vous prie, votre bien affectueusement dévoué et envoyez-moi bien vite une bonne réponse P. Langevin TLS. Langevin, L. 1972, p. 11. [15 341]. Written on letterhead “Collège de France, Laboratoire de physique expérimentale.” [1]An earlier invitation to give the Michonis Lectures was extended to Einstein in the fall of 1913 (see Vol. 5, Doc. 505a, in the present volume). In its meeting of 12 February 1922, members of the Collège de France made proposals for a possible Michonis lecturer (FrPCF, G-iv-j, 5K). Paul Casa- nova, specialist in Arabic language and literature, proposed Richard Gottheil, Professor of Semitic Languages and Rabbinical Literature at Columbia University. “Langevin, supported by Mr. Hada- mard,” proposed Einstein. He reminded the assembly that Einstein, “having been designated in 1914, his designation now could not raise any objections” (“M. Langevin, appuyé par M. Hadamard, rapelle que M. Einstein ayant été désigné en 1914, sa désignation ne peut soulever actuellement aucune objection”). Joseph Loth, a specialist in Celtic languages and literature, proposed Holger Pedersen, Professor of Celtic Languages at the University of Copenhagen. Antoine Meillet, expert in compara- tive grammar, mentioned that he would have proposed a Spanish scholar known for his studies on Spanish civilization, but that he “supports the candidacy of Einstein” (“mais il se rallie à la candida- ture de M. Einstein.”) After a short discussion, the thirty-six members present proceeded to a vote. Two members cast “blank” votes eighteen votes were cast in support of Einstein ten members supported Gottheil and six votes were cast for Pedersen. Einstein, “having obtained the absolute majority,” was designated to deliver the Michonis Lectures for 1922. Langevin was asked to contact Einstein on this subject on behalf of the Collège. [2]Einstein had visited Paris in late March 1913 and had delivered a lecture to the Paris meeting of the Societé française de physique (see Vol. 4, Doc. 12, and Vol. 5, Chronology). [3]Langevin and Einstein shared the common ideal of international reconciliation within the scien- tific community (see Doc. 63). [4]See Biezunski 1991 for more on the reception of relativity in Paris and on Langevin’s lectures on the subject. [5]H. A. Lorentz lectured at the Collège de France in November 1912 (see Lorentz 1916 for the printed version of his lectures). [6]They met in Leyden during the “Magnet-Woche” (see Einstein to Max Born, 26 January 1920 [Vol. 10, Doc. 182]). 57. To Paul Ehrenfest [Berlin,] 20 II. [1922] Lieber Ehrenfest! Selbstverständlich komme ich in diesem Falle zweite Hälfte April, überhaupt zweimal im Jahr. Du weisst ja überhaupt , wie gerne ich dort bin. Du hättest gar nicht viel Worte verlieren müssen dafür.[1] Ich arbeite mit Grommer wegen Quan-
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