Voltaire thanks the recipient for acquainting him with a letter that he wrote to Frederick II of Prussia. He states that it has been two years since he wrote to Frederick, and adds that as their relationship caused much comment it is not unreasonable to assume that the letter is from him. Voltaire notes that everyone in Geneva has advised him to repudiate the letter in the public papers. He asks the recipient to allow him to send him a letter on this matter that he sent to the Duke of Grafton. He concludes by musing on the English press, noting that the liberty of the press is extended a little too far.

Byron discusses various literary works and corrects a series of errors he feels Goethe has made, adding that he regrets if Goethe is upset by the hasty and unjust judgements of English critics, about which he notes that he himself complained. He then offers his appreciation of Goethe’s works, and mentions Voltaire, Alexander Pope, and Jonathan Swift.

Frederick begins the letter with a discussion of England, France, and Prussia, and the political situation between them. He adds that he plans to attend the congress at Augsburg, but concedes that he has no faith in it. Frederick then turns to Voltaire’s new work, adding that it does little to assuage his worries, and concludes the letter by providing an account of his ill health.

Frederick begins by saying that he hopes the marquis has a peaceful summer, before moving on to political matters. He discusses the negotiations between the French and the English, and criticises Voltaire for his desire to become rich.

The declaration was to be given by Richelieu in England at the time of the Jacobean expedition.

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.

Voltaire writes that Henry Fox was born to do good. He asks Fox to protect the Shakespear of France in spite of the war. He states that his proposal is modest and his work useful, adding that he, Corneille, and his offspring will be most obliged to him and his English generosity. Voltaire concludes by sending his best wishes to Fox’s son.

The ode describes Marie-Thérèse d’Autriche, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary. In the manuscript, it is given the alternative title of: ‘Ode sur les affaires du temps faitte le 30 Juin de lannée 1742’ / Ode on the affairs of the time written on 30 June 1742. In the accompanying letter, written on the back of the ode, Voltaire describes the poem as a ‘citizen’s ode’, adding that is could appear following a tragedy. Voltaire adds that he is waiting for a response from the recipient, noting that the tragedy has also been printed in Holland, but that it would be more successful in England than elsewhere if it were printed with a preface in the recipient’s style. He ends by asking de Missy to write to him at Fauxbourg St Honoré, and notes that this package will not reach de Missy as soon as he would like as the post has already left and the package will have to wait four more days.

De Missy writes to Voltaire about his edition of Voltaire’s tragedy Mahomet. De Missy divides the letter into a series of numbered points. Point One concerns the beginning of Act Three which is in need of revision. De Missy says that he could have corrected the Act himself but did not want to taint Voltaire’s writing. Point Two concerns a few passages that De Missy notes he will not punctuate in line with Voltaire’s intentions. He notes that this is particularly relevant to the first verses of p.55 in At IV. Point Three concerns various corrections in Voltaire’s copy that are in the London edition, and some passages in this edition that have been more heavily corrected than Voltaire’s version. He draws attention to p.7, p.33, p.42, p.45, p.48, and p.50. He asks Voltaire how he would like these sections to read, and whether or not he should follow the example of the London edition. Point Four concerns p.28 where the printer had written ‘They sit’ and Voltaire had not corrected it. De Missy asks if Voltaire’s lack of correction was intentional or not. Point Five concerns a verse on p.13, about which De Missy questions Voltaire’s phrasing. There then follow two paragraphs that are left incomplete, with large gaps in the copy suggesting that De Missy intended to expand on them and complete them. The paragraphs concern the topics of gender, virtues, and vices, with De Missy noting that men and women alike have both vices and virtues, and that one gender cannot be said to be more virtuous than the other. De Missy then goes on to discuss religion, and the ways in which divides between various religious denominations are largely artificial because human action traverses them. He states that he does not want to go to America but would do so tomorrow if they were the place that hated fraud and tyranny. He says he should like to do this journey with Voltaire. De Missy makes mention of the letter to Frederick II that Voltaire had sent him [D2386], adding some further details about the people mentioned in the letter: The Dias brothers, James Shepherd, and Luther. He then turns to Muhammad himself, questioning why Christians should be offended by Voltaire’s play when it shows Islam in a bad light as it was, he writes, founded on deceit and violence, not Christianity which was established with, he suggests, the best faith, great sweetness, and patience. De Missy then turns to Pascal’s comments on inconceivable proposals, problematising Voltaire’s understanding of this notion. De Missy ends his letter with a discussion of a Warning in the English papers from a wife whose husband had left home and not returned, with the wife claiming that if he came back within three days he would be graciously received. He writes that he had discussed this with a friend who concluded that the woman perhaps beat her husband. By means of an ending, he summarises his earlier questions about his edition of Mahomet, and this copy is left unfinished at the reiteration of Point Four.

Voltaire writes that he found de Missy’s last letter on his return to Brussels. He asks de Missy to send him everything that his been done in the universal history in English from chapter 7 concerning the Jews to the captivity of Babylon. He notes that a small edition of his works has recently been printed in Paris under the title d’Edition de Genève chez Bousquet and adds that this is the least faulty and the most complete that he has seen. Voltaire says that he will send a copy to de Missy. He adds that if some bookseller in London wanted to reprint them, we would send them a corrected copy and put them in a better order, accompanied by as yet unpublished pieces such as Mahomet. He remarks that the play was made for English heads rather than for French hearts and that they found it too bold for Paris.