Sire, Vôtre Majesté m’a honoré de trop de bontés pour que je ne mêle pas ma voix à toutes celles qui font des vœux pour vôtre conservation et pour vôtre bonheur.
Incipit Modernised:
Seigneur, Votre Majesté m’a honoré de trop de bontés pour que je ne mêle pas ma voix à toutes celles qui font des vœux pour votre conservation et pour votre bonheur.
Letter from Voltaire to Stanislas II Auguste Poniatowski of Poland, written from château de Ferney and dated 3 December 1771.
Detailed Summary:
The writer expresses profound gratitude for the monarch’s kindness and joins others in wishing for His Majesty’s well-being and happiness. Though he feels his voice may seem insignificant, he assures that his sentiments are heartfelt and sincere. He affirms that true virtue and goodness ultimately prevail, and offers his most sincere wishes for the monarch’s continued happiness and success.
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)