Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from Ferney and dated 24 March 1772 [D17658]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36683
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.32-3), ‘Au roi de Prusse, à Ferney, 24 mars 1772 (M. 8501)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from Ferney and dated 24 March 1772 [D17658]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Sire, Quand même messieurs Formey, Prémonval, Toussaint, Mérian, me diraient, c’est nous qui avons composé le discours sur l’utilité des sciences et des arts dans un état, je leur répondrais, Messieurs, je n’en crois rien; je trouve à chaque page la main
Incipit Modernised:
Seigneur, Quand même messieurs Formey, Prémonval, Toussaint, Mérian, me diraient, c’est nous qui avons composé le discours sur l’utilité des sciences et des arts dans un état, je leur répondrais, Messieurs, je n’en crois rien; je trouve à chaque page la m
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, in Wagnière’s hand, written from château de Ferney and dated 24 March 1772.
Detailed Summary:
In this letter, Voltaire comments on the literary abilities of Emperor Qianlong (Kien-Long), implying that he falls short compared to an unnamed author identified as ‘un roi du Nord’ (a Northern king). Additionally, Voltaire mentions Abbé de Chaulieu and his creative pursuits.
Keyword(s):
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
The MS is a copy of original document: transcription, with a few autograph additions.
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History
Date:
24 March 1772
Ownership:
After Voltaire’s death, the MS passed into the ownership of Catherine II and remained in the imperial and then national collection thereafter.
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Provenance:
This MS was probably taken to St Petersburg by Wagnière in the summer of 1779 along with the rest of Voltaire’s library.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Fernand Caussy, Inventaire des manuscrits de la bibliothèque de Voltaire conservée à la bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg (Geneva, Slatkine reprints, 1970)
OCV Reference:
122, p. 310–311
OCV Manuscript Reference:
122, p. 311
Record created by:
Record created on: