Autograph letter signed from Voltaire to Jean Le Rond d’ Alembert, dated 19 February [1757].
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire begins by saying that he encloses paperwork given to him by a Swiss scientist for an article of the Encyclopédie titled ‘Isis’. He then turns to discuss a sect in Paris that he calls the margouillistes (margouillis meaning slime), a name he believes should be applied to all sects. He claims that the margouillistes derive from the Jansenists and sends his compliments to père Berthier. Voltaire ends the letter by discussing plays and dinners undertaken in Lausanne. He asks what there is in Paris beyond the Encyclopédie.
The MS has been folded in half horizontally (since unfolded). There is some foxing throughout. There are two ink blots on f.1v, and one on f.2r. The ink of the lower of the two ink blots on f.1v has begun to cause some corrosion to the page.