Autograph letter from Voltaire to Stanislas II Auguste Poniatowski, dated 6 December 1771.
Detailed Summary:
The writer expresses deep personal loyalty to the monarch and refers to reports that Cosinski and other conspirators swore a religious oath to the Virgin Mary before attempting their crime. He observes, with irony, that many notorious assassins have also been deeply religious.
He suggests that the monarch’s presence, virtues, and humanity may have awakened natural feelings of compassion in the would-be assassin, counteracting the influence of religious fanaticism. The writer further argues that this event will ultimately reinforce the monarch’s authority and render rebellion shameful. He requests a brief reply to be sent to Geneva and closes with renewed expressions of respect and devotion.
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
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History
Date:
6 December 1771
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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)