Gobineau struck up a friendship and had voluminous correspondence with Alexis de Tocqueville.[22][23][24][25] Tocqueville praised Gobineau in a letter: "You have wide knowledge, much intelligence, and the best of manners".[26] He later gave Gobineau an appointment in the Quai d'Orsay (the French foreign ministry) while serving as foreign minister during the Second Republic of France.[27]