The collection was compiled between 1730 and 1780, though the majority of the collection was formed by 1740.

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.

The letter is incomplete as the beginning is missing. Voltaire writes that, while waiting for the Berlin package, there is a little joke with which d’Arnaud can feast on with Frederick II of Prussia; he ran very unfaithful copies. Voltaire asks for d’Arnaud’s opinion on this matter and adds that he should learn news from Catilina, a tragedy Voltaire would publish in 1752. He concludes by saying that he still has no news of the English packet, and adds that he awaits with impatience Frederick II of Prussia. In a postscript, Voltaire states that he will be in Cirey for the entirety of January and would be glad if d’Arnaud could write to him.

The copy is part of a 153 ff. recueil of prose and verse compiled in the eighteenth-century.

The MS forms part of a recueil of various documents whose provenance and acquisition have gone unrecorded. Their order within the recueil corresponds to their approximate arrival in the BNF’s manuscripts department.

The manuscript is a copy of a letter in Wagnière’s hand. The author references Epître, composed by Frederick II at Erfurt on 23 September, which clearly reflects his contemplation of suicide. Voltaire praises the glory and military prowess of Frederick II of Prussia purporting to dissuade the monarch from seriously committing to such a destructive pursuit. The author also mentions The Battle of Kolín where the Austrians defeated the Prussians and draws analogies between Frederick II of Prussia and Prince Louis II de Bourbon-Condé as well as Charles XII of Sweden. Additionally, the letter cites an ending of a poem, penned by Frederick II and featured in D7414.

The manuscript is an exordium of Voltaire’s poem ‘La Religion naturelle’, comprised of four parts. It is a variant of the poem more commonly known as ‘Poème sur la loi naturelle’, with the incipit reading ‘Oh vous! Dont les exploits…’. In a letter of 22 March 1756 to the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha, Voltaire recalls that he completed his poem while staying at her château in Gotha in 1753. The poem explores the themes of happiness, morality, and natural laws. Most likely the poem is dedicated to the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha. The poem incurred the condemnation of the Parlement de Paris in early 1759, along with Helvétius’s De l’esprit and four other works (D8086, D8137, D8159). Voltaire’s reaction was bitter (D15618).

The manuscript is the lettre en vers, containing three poems interspersed with prose passages. In praising Voltaire’s literary prowess, Baron de Rouville highlights the publication of odes lavishly extolling Voltaire’s tragedy D’Alzire. The author underscores his steadfast loyalty to Voltaire, pledging to staunchly defend him against adversaries and prosecutors. Baron de Rouville concludes the letter by expressing keen interest in the latest publications of the philosopher Sans Souci.