  Du Bos travelled to England in 1698 to meet John Locke at the request of their mutual friend Nicolas Toinard. Toinard wanted advice on the preparation of a translation of Locke’s Essay concerning Human Understanding. Locke and Du Bos became close friends and Locke asked his French friend to review the French translation of the Essay. The influence of Locke’s empiricism is evident throughout the Critical Reflections.