Racine begins by saying that he had received the verse attached to Heerkens’ letter, but that he has not yet received the beginning of the work which Heerkens had told him would be returned to him by one of his friends. He then goes on to discuss the “impertinent” article on Rousseau in Bayle’s supplement. He notes that Heerkens will find in Trévoux’s second brief of the month a letter from him in which he states that such slanders that hatred has dictated deserve only contempt. Racine then discusses a “violent fermentation” in the minds of the public, stating his hope for peace. He concedes, however, that given the King’s last response to the reprimands that this still seems very far away. He then comments on Damiens’ attempt to assassinate Louis XV of France the day before he wrote this letter on 5 January 1757. Racine notes that much is known of Damiens’ family and life story, but little of the plot itself, and quotes the King who remarked that if the blow is struck from abroad it is but a scratch, but if the blow comes from his people it is a deep wound. Racine concludes by discussing the seven octavo volumes that constitute Voltaire’s Histoire universelle, adding that Voltaire’s bold reflections and lively style encourage Racine to read all that he writes. He notes that Voltaire imposes on the ignorant, but will never impose on the savants who will not seek in him the truth of history.

The writer expresses deep loyalty and admiration for the monarch and comments on the recent assassination attempt. He reflects on how the religious devotion of the conspirators did not prevent the natural sentiments of humanity from emerging, possibly due to the monarch’s virtuous influence. He believes that this atrocity will ultimately benefit the monarch by reinforcing their position and making rebellion appear shameful. The writer requests a brief response to his query and asks that it be sent to Geneva.

Wagnière notes that the captain of the naval regiment was hanged in Bordeaux, the Prince of Condé was assassinated, and the Cardinal’s library was sold. He then notes that in May, the exiled princess remained in Paris and presented a request to parliament in April 1650. He concludes by noting that Cardinal Mazarin was called a rascal in Parliament in 1650.

Voltaire begins by expressing his gratitude to the reipient’s father for his longstanding kindness. He then turns to an account of a crime in the Pays de Gex. Voltaire writes that the son of a bourgeois from Saconey in the Pays de Gex was assassinated by a priest from a village named Moens, and by several peasant accomplices of the priest. He notes that the crime was committed on 28th January, and that it is currently 3rd January, yet only a weak procedure has been started by the justice of Gex. Voltaire adds that he saw the son of Sr. de Croze wounded and in bed, just waiting for death and that Sr. de Croze gave him a mémoire to send to the attorney general on his behalf as he was too old to pursue the matter himself. Voltaire begs La Marche to have the victim represented to him. He states that the officers of the justice of Gex were very eager to raid the scene two years ago when six walnuts were stolen from Voltaire’s land and a very light saber blow was given to the arm of the thief, hearing fifty-two witnesses in the hopes that Voltaire would pay their expenses (he adds that he did not). However, he writes that today it is a question of public safety, of a proven assassination, of a dying person, and of two wounds, adding that he believes they need La Marche’s authority to encourage the officers of Gex to do all due dilligence as deserves such an extraordinary case.

Voltaire compliments Walpole on his recent work, Historic Doubts; introduces himself as perhaps unknown to Walpole; begs him to send him a copy of Historic Doubts for use in his own ongoing work on history and asks specifically about the involvement of British soldiers in the assassination of M. de Jumonville; and apologizes for his boldness and ignorance. The date, closing, and signature are in Voltaire’s hand, and the manuscript also includes an annotation in the hand of Mary Berry. The letter is followed by a philosophical poem, in Voltaire’s hand, titled Epitre de Voltaire a un homme.