Letter from Voltaire to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, dated 21 February 1770 [D16170]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36738
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.126-7), ‘‘A Madame du Deffand’ 21 février 1770 (M. 7792)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, dated 21 February 1770 [D16170]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Digital Resource:
Link to Archive Catalogue:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva, photocopy
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
J’ai reçu, Madame, le Charlequint anglais.
Incipit Modernised:
J’ai reçu, Madame, le Charles Quint anglais.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, dated 21 February 1770.
Detailed Summary:
The writer thanks the lady for sending him the English Charles V but says he can barely read it, as his eyesight fails during the snowy months. Though he regrets remaining in his cold solitude, he finds it too troublesome to move at his age.
He apologises for writing late, explaining that recent unrest in Geneva has distracted him — people have been shot in the streets, including an eighty-year-old man and even a pregnant woman, which he finds shocking.
He (jokingly?) reveals that he has been made a Capuchin monk, thanks to her grandmother and Saint Cucufin, and that he holds both spiritual and temporal authority over the Capuchins of Gex. Despite these “honours”, he insists his character is unchanged and remains devoted to her.
The writer also refers to Jerusale Delivered by Torquato Tasso, which he has been asked to translate.
Keyword(s):
Genre(s):
Status:
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:
MS2 lacks the postscript.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
21 February 1770
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:
vol.120, p.45–46
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol.120, ‘MS2’, p.46
Record created by:
Record created on: