Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand begins by saying that she does not understand why Voltaire did not reply to her last letter, adding that she has been waiting for a response for three weeks. She notes that their renewed correspondence has been a remedy to her boredom, and bemoans that he should abandon here at the moment she most needs his help. The Marquise goes on to say that Mr Craufurt returned to England a few days ago and her only occupation has been to reread and learn by heart verses from Voltaire’s Religion naturelle. She asks him to guess which verses she has learnt, adding that there are 34 from the first chant, 16 from the third chant, and 8 from the final chant. She concludes by reflecting on the absurdity of some peoples’ claims that she is infatuated with Voltaire, adding that Voltaire has been deified but that such glory would not be enough to make him happy if his talents diminished.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand begins by saying that she has a copy of Voltaire’s letter to Horace Walpole, which she describes as a masterpiece of taste, common sense, wit, eloquence, and politeness. She adds that she will no longer speak to him about Lableterie, as should would have like Voltaire to have not spoken about it. The Marquise then notes that she is at the height of her joy as she has just received as her birthday gift the first seven volumes of Voltaire’s latest edition, adding that she had the tables read to her.  She then asserts that she only sees and loves those who admire Voltaire, saying that they should forgive Walpole’s former errors because national pride is great amongst the English and they have difficulty in granting the French superiority in matters of taste. She concludes by saying that only Voltaire can get her out of boredom and quotes Philippe Quinault’s Issé.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand begins the letter by stating that she will respect Voltaire as a king. She then turns to her poor health, noting that she has taken infusions of linden, chamomile, and white broth. She adds that old age would be bearable is she had someone to talk to, but that it seems to her that all men are madmen or beasts. The Marquise then questions whether or not she is both of those things, noting that she tells herself that she is like those who have Jaundice and see everything yellow. She then turns to her acquaintances, writing that she sees D’Alembert often and, like Voltaire, finds him very witty. She also adds that the president is well, that his taste for the world is not weakening, and that he is much sought after because he is very friendly despite becoming deaf. She advises Voltaire to address his letters and stories to Étienne François de Choiseul, assuring him that by doing so they will reach her. The Marquise concludes by discussing her current displeasure with reading, remarking that boredom overcomes her for what little good reasoning and truth is contained within a book is all too often drowned in a jumble of eloquence and academic style, inclining her more towards the Bibliothèque bleue.