The text is largely written in the secretarial hand of Samuel Villaume. Voltaire has added corrections throughout.

Many of the works were written by Adolphe de Circourt.

The manifestion discusses Great Britain’s relationship with America, declarations of war, international relations, and piracy.

In ‘Chapter CLI’, Voltaire discusses the French colonisation efforts in America, comparing them with those of their Spanish and English rivals. The chapter features historical figures, such as Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny and John Calvin, and references notable locations, including Eldorado, Cayenne islands and Florida. Voltaire also discusses the spread of religion by Spanish and French missionaries, the governance, laws, traditions and indigenous peoples of Canada, and the practice of anthropophagy in the region. Additionally, he mentions Acadia and Louisiana, concluding with speculative advantages and disadvantages of establishing French settlers in Louisiana.

In this chapter, Voltaire discusses the expedition of Christopher Columbus, highlighting the challenges of securing sponsorships, including failed attempts in England, Portugal and France, before finally gaining support from Spain under Queen Isabella I of Castile. The chapter details Columbus’ discovery of the Santo Domingo Islands, the Caribbean, and Jamaica, amongst others, and explores his resourcefulness in addressing the scepticism and jealousy of his critics. Voltaire also discusses Amerigo Vespucci and his expeditions, as well as the indigenous peoples of the Americas, their physical characteristics, customs, and interactions with the Spaniards. The chapter concludes with a discussion of America’s flora and fauna, as well as the Columbian Exchange, the laws regulating Spanish trade and the disadvantages of the Columbian expeditions, including Spanish emigration driven by colonisation and the spread of infections, to mention a few.

This text discusses America, Egypt, Ancient Greece, and India, as well as topics such as idolatry, miracles, temples, magic, Jews, and Ancient Romans. In the preface, it is said that the MS was offered by the author’s nephew to Catherine II of Russia. The manuscript is either unfinished or incomplete.

Commonplace book, mostly in one hand, some poetry in another. Six pages are written in cypher. Reverse entries. A compendium of literary and political pieces from the first half of the eighteenth century. The pages in cypher have some headings in English, including: ‘On Epilogues Modern’ [Epilogue Spoken by Mrs. Oldfield in The Tragedy of Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester by Ambrose Philips… 1723], Philip Bonus, the Good Duke of Burgundy, Hostratus the Friar – [Richard Burton’s Anatomy of Melancholy], American/Columbus/Pennsylvania/Delaware/Baltimore. Other headings in the main text include: “Adversaria”, Lord Bolingbroke; “Augustini Opp. Ed. Lugd. 8o”; “La Henriade” by Voltaire; “Histoire des Papes… 1732” by François Bruys; “Histoire du Regne de Louis XIII. par Michel Le Vassor” etc.

This poetry collection includes poems by Mary Stevenson Hewson herself, Francis Hopkinson, Thomas Gray, Peter Pindor, and translations from Voltaire and other French writers. Also included are two poems by Benjamin Franklin and an unattributed poem titled ‘Eligiac Ode, On The Death of Dr. Franklin.’ The collection is accompanied by a contemporary table of contents written on a sheet of European paper. The rest of the collection is written on American paper. A free endpaper of the casing is dated 1787 and signed Mary Hewson. Hewson was the well-educated daughter of Benjamin Franklin’s London landlady, his friend and correspondent.

Notes from 1833 refer to article by Mr Everett on Tocqueville’s work on American penal system and articles from North American Review comparing prison regimes. Discusses in detail experiments by Mr Lawes in using sewerage as fertilizer to increase crop production; refers to letter in family’s possession from Voltaire to Samuel Estwick which has been dated by Macaulay and compared with Voltaire’s writing; letter copied on f 11v; refers to price of land at sales; includes notes in French on Thiers’ ‘Historie de l’Empire Vol 8’ from 1853; refers to trustees and arrangements for family trusts. Comments on parliamentary affairs during sessions of 1850-51 including vote on Greek Question 1850; refers to case in Court of Common Pleas; discusses workings of specific committees including those on gevernment finances; refers to resignation and reappointment of Government.

Os D 12/1/1 found enclosed.