[Paméla], letter from Voltaire to Marie-Louise Denis, in the hand of Villaume, dated 29 August 1750 [D4205]

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV37733

Shelfmark:

2-540, vol.13, ff.133-134

Title:

[Paméla], letter from Voltaire to Marie-Louise Denis, in the hand of Villaume, dated 29 August 1750 [D4205]

Collection(s):

Related record(s):

No related manuscripts found.

Link to Digital Resource:

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OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

People:

Voltaire: Author
Samuel Villaume: Secretary

Incipit Diplomatic:

Incipit Modernised:

Pardonnez-moi d’égayer un peu la noirceur que ma transplantation répand dans mon âme; et comptez que je n’en ai pas le cœur moins déchiré en vous parlant de l’aventure d’un cul, à laquelle j’ai part malgré moi.

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

Partly

Brief Summary:

Detailed Summary:

In this reworked letter, Voltaire recounts to his niece an amusing anecdote in which the marquis de Montperny, chambellan of the margravine of Bareith, mistakes a priest for an apothecary. Voltaire’s secretary of the time, Ponce-Simon Tinois, wrote verses about the episode, which circulated in September 1750 and were attributed to Voltaire (Vers de l’illustre Voltaire sur le cul d’un chambellan de Bayreuth).

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

2 folios

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Dimensions:

Hands:

1

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History

Date:

29 août 1750

Ownership:

Origin (transcript):

Berlin

Origin:

Provenance:

Bibliography

Bibliography:

OCV Reference:

OCV, vol.45C, pp.91-95

OCV Manuscript Reference:

OCV, vol.45C, p.59

Record created by:

Claire Douard

Record created on:

31 July 2026