Letter from Voltaire to Pierre de Buisson de Beauteville, written from Ferney and dated 4 November 1768 [D15293]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36715
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.82-3), ‘Au chevalier de Beauteville, 4 novembre 1768 (M. 7378)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Pierre de Buisson de Beauteville, written from Ferney and dated 4 November 1768 [D15293]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Monsieur, Je suis obligé en honneur de rendre compte à votre Exse de ce qui vient de m’arriver.
Incipit Modernised:
Monsieur, Je suis obligé en honneur de rendre compte à votre Excellence de ce qui vient de m’arriver.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Pierre de Buisson de Beauteville, written from château de Ferney and dated 4 November 1768.
Detailed Summary:
The writer reports an encounter with a distressed woman who, despite her personal troubles, seeks the ambassador’s assistance to ease her situation. Her husband, a poet whose work has led to his banishment from Geneva, is the source of her woes, and she implores the ambassador to intervene on his behalf. The writer assures her that the ambassador, known for his benevolence, could likely assist by requesting a reduction in her husband’s banishment. The writer ends by expressing continued respect and attachment to the ambassador.
Keyword(s):
Genre(s):
Status:
Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
1
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
According to T. D. N. Besterman, the foliation is 82.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
4 November 1768
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:
118, 118–119
OCV Manuscript Reference:
118, ‘MS2’, p. 119
Record created by:
Record created on: