The manuscript is a lettre en vers in the hand of Paul Desforges-Maillard, featuring seven poems. The author, praising Voltaire’s formidable superiority of intellect and character, implicitly urges his addressee to help him secure employment. The letter cites and refers to De rerum natura by Lucretius and Œdipe by Corneille.

Collini begins by saying that he is angry that Dupont did not get the post he wanted (which was instead given to Jean-Joseph Barth on 3 January 1755), especially after Voltaire wrote in favour of him. He adds that, in this instance, bad prose won over verse, quoting the only two lines of an epistle by Voltaire to d’Argenson to survive: ‘Rendez, rendez heureux l’avocat qui m’engage / Donnez-lui les grandeurs d’un Prévôt de village’.

Voltaire writes that Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand had proposed he buy an querry’s post with the duchesse du Maine, but that he did not feel ready for this employment and so was obliged to wait for another occasion to pay court to her. He instead recommends the Abbé de Linant for the role, whom he says lacks nothing but a fortune. He asks du Deffand to supprt de Linant, adding that if she does she will be nurturing his poetic talents.

Papillon writes to the Duke of Roxburgh seeking employment.

Wagnière thanks Madame de St. Julien and the duc de Choiseul for the post they have secured for his brother.