The manuscript is an autograph letter featuring a décima written in honour of the priest Jeannot. Praising Voltaire’s literary prowess throughout the letter, Kansquer mentions his travels in Europe and Vernay and expresses his hope to have the good fortune of eventually seeing Voltaire in person. The author includes a poetic portrait of a good parish priest Jeannot who had recently passed away, procuring a funeral oration from Cambry de Kansquer.

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 notes concern European vital statistics and are followed by anecdotes about individuals including Cardinal Mazarin and the Duke of Buckingham.

The notes provide some statistics on Europe, before turning to anecdotes concerning, amongst others, Cardinal Mazarin and the Duke of Buckingham.

Leslie begins by thanking d’Adhemar’s brother for sending him a copy of Voltaire’s Siècle de Louis XIV. He then laments the fate of Voltaire who, after his star shone in Europe for so long, can now hardly find asylum there.

In his letter to Catherine Félicité Marie, queen consort of France [née Leszczyńska] dated 10 October 1748, Voltaire begs the queen consort to not allow an ‘odious satire’ against him to be performed before her at Fontainebleau. He adds that his La Tragédie de Sémiramis is moral and so he expects her protection. Voltaire contines by noting that as he is the King’s servant, he is also the queen consort’s, writing that if the satire is to be performed he will be forced to resign from his position due to the ‘cruel debasement’ he would face. He therefore asks again for protection from his enemies who wish to destroy him via public stigma. In the final section of the letter, Voltaire notes that satirical parodies have been forbidden in Paris for several years and asks the queen consort to act out of the goodness of her heart to protect him.

With the letter are included a variety of short satirical poems that concern French and wider European politics. The poems provided with titles include:

f.5r: ‘Couplet Sur L’air dansom le naveau Cotillon’
f.5r: ‘Air de Joconde’
f.5v: ‘Sur Lair. vous m’entendès bien.’
f.7r: ‘Sur Lair des mousquetaire’
f.8v: ‘Sur Lair Reveillès-vous’
f.8v: ‘Sur la bequille’
f.9r: ‘Marche des Bostangise’
f.9v: ‘air des Pendus’
f.13v: ‘Air de Joconde’
f.14r: ‘Sur L’air v’la ceque l’est que d’aller au bois’
f.14r: ‘Sur Lair de la Baronne.’
f.14r: ‘a La tournelle.’
f.14v: ‘Sur L’air des trivlets’
f.14v: ‘Sur L’air Oreguingnotte’
f.15v: ‘Air Mr Le Revot’
f.16r: ‘Epitaphe de Mr de fort Caltier Roy des Huns.’
f.16r: ‘Chanson composée par les grenadiers de Regt du Roy sur l’air Mr Les allemanes’
f.17r: ‘Epitaphe de Mr de Breteuil’
f.17v: ‘air ou est il ce petit nouveau né’
f.17v: ‘De Luxembourg et de Turenne’
f.18r: ‘Sur l’air trent qurde ma pipe serre mon briquet’
f.18v: ‘air de tous les Capucin du monde’
f.18v: ‘air L’aire laire &c’
f.19r: ‘air des Pendus’
f.25r: ‘Chanson sur les revolutions arrivées à St Peterdbourg air des Pendus’
f.25r: ‘air de la marche francoise’
f.25v: ‘air de tous le Capuccins du monde.’
f.25v: ‘air. j’aurai une robbe’
f.25v: ‘air que n’aimés vous seurs insensible’

This poetry collection includes poems by Mary Stevenson Hewson herself, Francis Hopkinson, Thomas Gray, Peter Pindor, and translations from Voltaire and other French writers. Also included are two poems by Benjamin Franklin and an unattributed poem titled ‘Eligiac Ode, On The Death of Dr. Franklin.’ The collection is accompanied by a contemporary table of contents written on a sheet of European paper. The rest of the collection is written on American paper. A free endpaper of the casing is dated 1787 and signed Mary Hewson. Hewson was the well-educated daughter of Benjamin Franklin’s London landlady, his friend and correspondent.

Toward the beginning of the letter he says that Frederick is “counted among the kings” but is “more than them”. Voltaire compliments Frederick on performing big actions, and being wise, and writing poetry and music with ease. He writes of his hope that Frederick will “strengthen Europe, as it has shaken.” The letter ends with Voltaire saying- “The philosopher king is exactly what the philosopher who is not king tried in vain to become.” The remainder of the letter is missing.

In this letter, Frederick wishes that the “hot fever” of Europe would recover soon. He tells Voltaire that he himself is no longer sick in body or mind. The end of the letter turns political as Frederick addresses the Austrians directly, telling them that their ambition and their desire to dominate everything actually created more enemies for them, and that there will always be defenders of German and European liberties. This is probably a reference to the Seven Years War, which was fought from 1754-1763.

Voltaire begins by saying that he has so far confined himself to a tacit admiration of Charles Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, comte de Morville’s management of the public affairs of Europe, but that he can no longer withhold his sincere compliments on the wisdom of de Morville’s conduct. Voltaire then invites the comte to dine with Dean Swift and Charles-Jean-François Hénault.