Voltaire complains about the ‘bad sketch’ that Richelieu made d’Argenson read. He adds that he has included a petition for a Champagne gentleman named de Riaucourt, lieutenant in the batallion of St Dizier, whose father had just died. He writes that the widow and seven children had had a trial in the principality of Joinville and, in order to pay the attorney, they have to sell chickens at market for twenty sous. Voltaire notes that to pay for justice they die of hunger. He concludes by asking d’Argenson to protect him from Richelieu and adds that Emilie du Châtelet sends her compliments.