Circa 500 letters written by and to Madame du Deffand, arranged in chronological order. The main correspondents are the Duc and Duchesse de Choiseul; the Abbe Barthelemy; and and with three to Horace Walpole. The letters primarily discuss social events and activities such as dinners, news about friends, quotations from acquaintances’ letters, popular songs, current reading, and routine expressions of friendship. Du Deffand frequently mentions Walpole and Voltaire in her letters to others; other topics include Barthelemy’s desire for a harpsichord; gossip about the comte de Guerchy, ambassador to London; a description of a gift of a chamber pot; her irritation with the incessant talk of the mathematician Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise Du Châtelet; and her opinions on the works Memoire de la Chalottais and La rivalte de l’Angleterre et de la France.

Voltaire begins by asking Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand for a topic of conversation, saying that he likes to talk to her but does not have a subject on which to write. He states that he is neither devout nor ungodly, and that he is a lone farmer buried in a barbaric country, likening those in Paris to monkeys and those in Ferney as bears. He notes that he avoids both where possible, but that the teeth and claws of persecution have lengthened until his retirement and wish to poison his last days. Voltaire then claims that the King, who is not jealous of either his verse or prose, will not believe his persecutors and will not use his powers to expatriate a 65-year-old patient who has only done good in the country he lives in. He then turns to Jean-Philippe-René de La Bléterie whom he reports is a Janesnist seeking the protection of the Duc de Choiseul. He speaks of his dislike of La Bléterie because he insulted Voltaire in the notes of his translation of Tacitus. Voltaire questions why anyone seeking the favour of the Duc de Choiseul should insult him in passing. He concludes with a discussion of the ‘innocent and cheerful pieces’ that the Marquise spoke to him about, asking how he should send them to her, and musing on whether sending them to her would result in malicious jokes and slander.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand begins the letter by stating that she will respect Voltaire as a king. She then turns to her poor health, noting that she has taken infusions of linden, chamomile, and white broth. She adds that old age would be bearable is she had someone to talk to, but that it seems to her that all men are madmen or beasts. The Marquise then questions whether or not she is both of those things, noting that she tells herself that she is like those who have Jaundice and see everything yellow. She then turns to her acquaintances, writing that she sees D’Alembert often and, like Voltaire, finds him very witty. She also adds that the president is well, that his taste for the world is not weakening, and that he is much sought after because he is very friendly despite becoming deaf. She advises Voltaire to address his letters and stories to Étienne François de Choiseul, assuring him that by doing so they will reach her. The Marquise concludes by discussing her current displeasure with reading, remarking that boredom overcomes her for what little good reasoning and truth is contained within a book is all too often drowned in a jumble of eloquence and academic style, inclining her more towards the Bibliothèque bleue.

Voltaire begins by saying that there are two people in the world that he has never had the pleasure of seeing, but to whom he has the greatest obligations: Jean-Joseph de Laborde himself and Etienne-François de Choiseul. He then remarks upon his age and illness, and says that if he is damned upon his death it will not be for the sin of ingratitude, adding that ingratitude should be considered the eighth mortal sin. Voltaire then references a recent event which he claims does irreparable harm to his colony, before wishing the recipient and his family all the prosperity that they deserve.