Racine writes that he sees from the letter Dr. Heerckens received from Amsterdam (which he sent Racine a copy of) that he has fled from a violent enemy because of his love for Rousseau. Racine advises him not to take Rousseau’s side so warmly because he must avoid literary quarrels. He advises Dr. Heerckens to let people think what they will of Rousseau in Amsterdam and to also let them condemn Racine for having defended him, with Racine adding that he is indifferent to these condemnations. He then references a letter in the journaux de Trévoux, stating that one may think of it what one will but everything in it is true. He ends by saying that if Dr. Heerckens has read the new edition of l’Histoire universelle by Voltaire then he will be indignant at the way in which Voltaire speaks of those who write Latin verse not as poets but as writers using a dead language.

Voltaire writes that César de Missy will no doubt accuse him of laziness, but he has been unwell and forced to take the water which has interrupted his business for some time. He writes that as a citizen of the world he takes great interest in the maxims of antimachiavellianism, but so few share his interest that he had abandonned his work entirely. He adds that he published it hoping to do some good, but only prduced money for booksellers. Voltaire sends his best to Monsieur de Nency and asks how he can get hold of nova reperta et antiqua deperdita printed recently in London with notes. He discusses his Lettres philosophiques and comments on their flaws, suggesting that they were turned upside down and truncated. He then notes that he lives in a barren country for literature as foreign newspapers are forbidden and only almanacs are printed there, remarking that the Univerdity of Louvain does not yet know of Sir Isaac Newton. He adds that Émilie du Châtelet is the only philosopher in Brabant, and that it is a pity that she prefers Leibnitz to Newton.

Voltaire opens the letter by saying a small trip has prevented him from replying to de Missy’ last letter (D2659) sooner. He writes that he has just learned that Mahomet has been printed in Paris under the name of Brussels and that this addition is not only incorrect but made from an inaccurate copy that was stolen from him. He therefore states that he is in need of a real copy that is printed and would be delighted to send a copy to de Missy to this end. He says there will be some delay, however, as his copy of the work is in Paris. In response to de Missy’s request for order to give the bookseller, Voltaire writes only that he prints Mahomet and his other works correctly. He asks de Missy to recommend a bookseller who sells l’histoire universelle and to have the sheets from the Babylonian captivity to the last sent to one Jean de Cleves, a banker in Brussels, who will pay for them. He ends by saying that he is in a country that is very unphilosophical as the people speak only of cavalry and fodder.