Marx opens by saying that he has enclosed a photograph for Mrs Beesly. He then goes on to say that the Christian name of Mr. Greenwood is Frederick, adding in French that this is not the Frederick the Great. He continues by remarking that when Voltaire was in his Swiss retreat, he was accompanied by a Jesuit named Adam whom he introduced by visitors by saying: ‘he is not the first of men’. Returning to writing in English, Marx concludes the letter by saying that Jenny von Westphalen will call on Mrs Beesly the following Wednesday at 1pm.

Voltaire begins by saying that whilst they await the paquet from Berlin, he is sending the recipient a small funny thing with which to treat Frederic II of Prussia, adding that very unfaithful copies of it have been circulated. He instructs Baculard d’Arnaud to give him his thoughts on the trifle, and give him news of his tragedy Catiline. He ends by bidding farewell to Baculard d’Arnaud and noting that he will be in Cirey for all of January. In an addition to the copy of this letter used for the Besterman edition (BNF, MS f.fr. 12941, p.305), Voltaire also notes that he knowns nothing more of the paquet from England and awaits with impatience news of Frederic II, ending his letter with the line: ‘vous serez bien aimable de m’ecrire’.