The manuscript offers variants of Act IV, l.166a-182 and Act V, l.53-68. It is the only known original manuscript of Alzire to have survived. The variant for Act V is written in the left-hand margin of f.1r in Voltaire’s hand.

Walker begins by apologising for his delayed reply, explaining that his father died in a fire that destroyed the upper stories of their house at Eccles Street, and that Lord Charlemont also died, resulting in him being unwell from a cold and mental suffering. He then turns to literary matters, mentioning Sheridan’s Pizarro, Malone, Pope Agris, and Voltaire’s Merope.

The documents are part of a broader collection of letters.

The letter concerns the refusal of the Cordeliers to celebrate the mass on the anniversary of Voltaire’s death requested by l’Académie française.

The manuscript is a draft of a lettre en vers, starting with a poem numbering 34 lines, allegedly dedicated to the eldest sister of Frederick II, Wilhelmine of Prussia, Margravine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. Voltaire reflects upon the recent death of one of the monarch’s siblings, praising her virtues, notably her diplomatic endeavours in negotiating peace across Europe. The author also mentions her interactions with Théodore Tronchin and urges his correspondent to attend to his health.

The manuscript is a draft of a letter praising Frederick II, especially his virtues of hospitality and kindness. Additionally, the author draws parallels between the potential for passionless love for God and that for mathematical truths.

Voltaire opens by saying that the recipient makes his heart bleed with the news that the Duc de Bourgogne is near death, and that the Duc de Berry is afflicted with the same illness. He adds that he does not want to believe it because the news is too distressing. Voltaire then turns to political concerns, discussing the Congress of Breda and negotiations of peace with England. He ends by saying that he has read Spartacus, leant to him by Mr. Saurin, writing that it is not touching but contains some beautiful moments.

~With thanks to Rumi Kitahara for her assistance in identifying this manuscript.

The letter is written from the son of the apothecary in charge of Voltaire’s embalming. He offers the brain of Voltaire, conserved in the spirit of wine, to the Republic.

The poem muses on death and the transitory nature of life.

Voltaire writes that George Keate had informed him that he might have the honour of seeing a very famous lady-captain before his death [D20765]. He adds that he longs after that pleasure and presents his respects to the said lady-captain. This lady-captain refers to the recipient, the chevalier d’Éon who often dressed as a woman when serving as a secret agent and, for a short while in 1760, was captain of dragoons.