Dickens opens the letter by discussing his payment of Income Tax before offering several pieces of news: he reports on the weather, discusses the progress of his Christmas book, outlines his plans to move to the Palazzo Peschiere in October, and details his upcoming travel plans. He notes that the box of book has now arrived in Italy, but that they are stuck at the Customs House where they are examined by priests. He writes: ‘As some Volumes of a French author, Voltaire, are among them, who always wrote against Priests, I fully expect them to be stopped. Though I am not likely to read them to the Genevese, and woo them to their damnation, I am sure.’ He concludes by mentioning the titles of further books he wishes to have sent to Italy and relays several family anecdotes. In a postscript, Dickens returns to Voltaire, writing: ‘They never pass Voltaire; but with great politeness, passed it for me.’

The copy also features notes pertaining to performances of the play made at the Comédie Française between 9 and 15 August 1742.

Dunlop begins by explaining why Burns’ last letter offended her, noting that some of his poems were unfair to women and left her feeling mortified and degraded. She adds that in writing in this manner, he has destroyed a scheme she had for his advancement because this scheme involved a number of respectable ladies. Dunlop then remarks that she had been told that Voltaire read all of his manuscripts to an elderly woman, and only printed that which she approved off, adding that she wished Burns had cast her in this role. She concludes by asking if there are still books for sale from the last print run, and quotes Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

The writer praises Pallas Athena for both her military and legislative virtues, contrasting her influence with the outdated codes of the Levitical laws and the Qur’an. They express hope that northern regions will be illuminated by universal tolerance, as a reaction to past oppressive regimes. The writer laments that a misinformed censor in Paris prevented the entry of an important imperial instruction into France, blaming the error on the incompetence of lower officials rather than national fault. They conclude by wishing for a glorious peace and maintaining a respectful tone towards the recipient and their family.

The letter seems to have been addressed to Voltaire’s printer in Geneva, Crammer. It mentions Joseph Marie Terray, finance minister under Louis XV, who had encouraged the censorship of some of Voltaire’s works. Also included is a pen and ink drawing of the church Voltaire erected in Ferney, beneath which is Voltaire’s dedicatory inscription ‘Deo erexit Voltaire 1761’. His name in this inscription has been written in large letters.

Prault writes that he has deferred replying to Voltaire’s last letter [D8704] because he fell out with the editors of Receuil D1 who wanted to include the libellous piece that Prault wanted to remove to protect Voltaire’s reputation. He claims that the editors wanted this piece printed in other collections and that he protested against this (to no avail). Prault then notes that he visited D’Argental three times, knowing him to be a friend to Voltaire, but that he never found him at home, finding him there on a fourth visit. He begged for D’Argental’s help, he notes, and D’Argental promised to do so. Prault then notes that he visited Malesherbes, explaining to him that he had the rights to Voltaire’s libellous work because he had bought it from his father, and showing Malesherbes his correspondence with Voltaire outlining his commitment to prevent the piece from being published. Malesherbes told him to order the printers not to print the collections, and to see the censor to recommend that he did not approve the documents if they were sent to him.