The copy concerns Chapter 38 from the beginning to ‘vieillesse’ on l.156. This Chapter discusses the Jesuits driven out of Portugal and France and the assassination of the King of Portugal.

The MS also includes a section from the end of Chapter 37 beginning with ‘Trianon’ on l.50.

The notebook fragment constitutes a quote taken from André Duchesne discussing his publications of the French monarchy, and his fondness for the said monarchy.

Walpole thanks Berry for her last letter and expresses his sorrow at her falling ill just as he has recovered from his gout and fall. He goes on to discuss the French Revolution and notes that he has been reading Voltaire’s correspondence. He ends with some minor news, mentionin Tonton their dog and the terrible rains that they have had lade, concluding by saying that he looks forward to her return in September.

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.

The letter opens with a discussion of the “pecuniary vexations” of John W. Field and his wife, and a description of France. He encloses a copy of his Sonnets on the Erection of the Statue of Voltaire in Paris.

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.

Voltaire begins by saying that d’ Alembert has reassured him about the article for the Encyclopédie titled ‘Femme’. He then discusses the processes of creating such articles, questioning if there should be guidelines with regards length as d’ Alembert has complained of vague and methodless dissertations that several individuals have submitted to him. He asks why d’ Alembert did not issue authors with protocols regarding etymology, definitions, examples, reasons, clarity, and brevity stating that though he saw only a dozen articles, he could not find any of the above in them. Voltaire concludes, however, that such questioning wrongs d’ Alembert as there are bad soldiers in the army of a great general.

Voltaire then states that if he were in Paris, he would spend all his time in the king’s library so as to aid d’ Alembert in his Encyclopédie. He adds that he is interested in the work as it honours his homeland and is useful for the human race, but that he does not have access to any of the necessary books.

He then turns to the civil unrest in France and the civil wars of Germany, which he dubs sad and awful respectively. He notes that the next campaign will likely be a bloody one. Voltaire then mentions La Pucelle, noting that the ‘infamous’ edition afflicts him. He sends his and Madame Denis’ love, before concluding that the has received the entry for ‘Histoire’ and will return it in five days time.

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.

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.

The miscellany includes: P.1: Copy [c1700], endorsed ‘Coppie Letter Queen Katherine to King Henry being gone in an Expedition to France’
p.5: Copy [c.1800] endorsed: ‘Princess Mary’s letter to the Lord Admiral…’ [c1547]
p.9: Copy [c.1700] of letter from Lady Brian, governess to Princess Elizabeth, to Lord Cromwell [c1536]
p.13: Copy [c1700] of Wm. Cecil’s declaration on his actions after the death of Edward VI
p.17: Copy [c1700] of letter from Elizabeth to Mary, nd
p.19: Copy [c.1700] of letter from Elizabeth to Mary, 1558
p.23: Copy [c.1730] of letter from Elizabeth to Protector, Somerset, 21 February
p.27: Copy [c.1700] of letter from Elizabeth to Somerset, 7 March
p.31: Copy [c.1720] of letter ‘from Sir Henry Sydney to his son, Sir Philip Sydney’, nd
p.35: Letter to Nicholas Hardinge (Clerk to the House of Commons) from on the origin of the King’s Champion, 1734
p.39: Copy [c1750] of letter from M. de Fenelon to the Duke of Burgundy
p.43: Copy [c1750] of letter from King Stanislaus to his daughter, nd
p.51: Copy of letter from Voltaire to Mme. Denis, 1753
p.55: Verses, endorsed: Rondeau de Fontenelle sur le systeme cartesien
p.59: Verses on Mme. de Pompadour, by Fontenelle
p.61: Copy of letter from Voltaire to Rousseau, 1755, with reply
p.69: ‘Epitre de Voltaire en arrivant dans sa terre pres du lac Leman’, 1755
p.73: Verses, endorsed: ‘Voltaire a sa maison, 1755’, [in Lady Hervey’s hand]
p.75: ‘Supply and Ways and Means 1757’ [detailed estimate]
p.79: Letter from M. Gottched on the King of Prussia, 1757
p.83: Letter from Voltaire to M. D’Argent, 1758
p.88: ‘Supply of 1758’ [detailed estimate]
p.89: Copy of verses sent to the King of Prussia by his sister, 1758
p.91: ‘Supply for 1759’
p.96: ‘Supply for 1760’
p.97: ‘Verses of Voltaire to the President Renault, 1760’
p.99: ‘Vers de Voltaire – 1762’
p.103: Verses on Mme. d’Egmont
p.105: Epitaph on Mme. de Pompadour
p.107: Copy of above
p.111: Tragedy of Persifle (in French verse)
p.119: French verses
p.121: Letter to Lady Harvey from Mme. d’Estille[?]
p.125: Copy [by Lady Hervey[?] of French epigram on Marshal Soubise
p.127: French verses on Mme. du Deffand
p.129: French verses on Cupid, entitled ‘Enigme’
p.133-139: French verses
p.141: Verses, ‘a Madame de Clermont D’Amboise’
p.143: Endorsed by Lady Hervey: Vers de l’Abbe de Voisenon
p.145: Copy of undated letter from the King of Prussia to ‘my Lord Marshall’, [in French]
p.149: Verses by Voltaire and the Chevalier de Bouflers, 1765
p.153: Copy of letter from Voltaire to M. Thomas, 1765
p.157: Verses ‘A Mademoiselle Clairon’ by Voltaire. [printed paper]
p.161: Letter (partly in verse) from Voltaire to Tronchin, 28 April
p.165: Verses: ‘Epitre de M. de Voltaire au Roy de Prusse’
p.169: ‘Epitre de Volterre [sic] au Marechall de Richelieu’
p.173: ‘Verses: ‘M. de Voltaire au Roi de Prusse’
p.177: ‘Vers de M. de Voltaire au Cardinal Quirini’ [Querini]
p.181: Les Torts [Copy by Lady Hervey, endorsed by der: ‘de Voltaire’]
p.185: ‘Vers a mademoiselle de liveri’. [endorsed: ‘Epitre de Voltaire’]
p.189-197: Verses by Voltaire
p.201: ‘Voltaire a sa maison’