The manuscript is an autograph letter featuring a decastich, with the rhyme scheme ABABCDCDDC. The poem explores the themes of creation, imitation, and authenticity/counterfeit. The author betrays his fascination with Voltaire’s creative prowess. According to T. D. N. Besterman, ‘Caussy, p. 9, makes it appear that MS1 is dated 1732, which is not the case; this note may be supposed to have been written after the publication of the Temple du goût, and of course, before Formont left Paris for Rouen.’

The manuscript is an autograph letter containing a poem comprised of 28 lines. In the body of the letter, Voltaire bestows compliments upon Bernard and reflects on the public’s erroneous tendency to classify Montezume as one of his literary creations. In fact, the misunderstanding originates from the use of the same location (Peru) in Votaire’s Alzire. Additionally, These were the lines to which Voltaire replied in the same metre (see D998) — entitled “Le Hameau” and starting with ‘Rien n’est si beau / Que mon hameau, /Oh quelle image! / Quel paysage / Fait pour Vateau!’ (Œuvres complètes de M. Bernard, [Londres 1777], pp. 173–176).