The letter expresses profuse gratitude for a gift of nine volumes of the finest literature, received from Amsterdam from an unknown sender, urging Voltaire to identify this respectable anonymous figure.

Additionally, according to T.D.N. Besterman, Caussy misidentified the sender, incorrectly referring to him as ‘Moisnel’.

Voltaire thanks de Crassier for the partridges and asks him to do him the honour of coming to Ferney to eat them with him. He adds that the household will work hard to finish the Château so that they might receive de Crassier there. Voltaire concludes the letter by noting that he had, at first, only thought to invite six gentlemen who were done an injustice, but adds that since he has the honour of knowing de Crassier it is him that he will serve.

The manuscript is an autograph letter, written in the hand of Du Gard d’Echichens, expressing gratitude to an unidentified recipient for a gift. The letter makes references to Voltaire, both indirectly and directly, portraying him as an unparalleled author and expressing a desire to create a monument titled ‘Triomphes de Voltaire’. The letter also mentions the unknown correspondent’s stay at Ferney. NB: Besterman maintains that ‘This letter is clearly not to Voltaire, as stated by ED1, but if it is correctly dated I cannot identify the addressee with any certainty. At so remote a spot as Echichens, the writer may not have heard of the sad events of the previous year, and if so the letter was probably to La Harpe.’

The letter seems to have originally accompanied a ‘tabatière’ sent on the orders of the queen, containing two portraits of unidentified subjects. Jordan asks that in return for the portraits, Voltaire send him one of his tragedies titled Zulime. He then thanks Voltaire for a ring that he had sent him and adds that he will wear it forever. He concludes by asking Voltaire where he is living. In the catalogue entry for this letter in McGill University Library, this letter has been misattributed to Voltaire.

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.

William Duncombe begins by saying that he agrees with criticism of the French language. He adds that he is sending a copy of The Prompter, the author of which admires Nat Lee, and notes that he also sent a copy to Voltaire. He recommends Lillo’s The Christian Hero, but notes that he disapproves of the use of phrases from Scriptures in the play.

Rex Whilstler berates Edith Olivier for not writing to him from Rome as she had promised to do, and for not writing to tell him that she had returned ill, despite her not being unwell. He admits his own faults in not thanking her for a wonderful weekend in Wilton and the Christmas present of a set of Voltaire’s works that she gave him. He concludes by speaking of his regret at not giving her a gift or coming to say goodbye to her before her trip.

Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] thanks de Rebecque for his kindness in sending her some clothes. She adds that she was not old enough to wear them so saved them for Mme. Dupuits, who said that they were too young and too brilliant for a woman living in the country. As such, Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] writes that she is returning the gift and is very sorry that she is not old enough to wear it. She then turns to her uncle, Voltaire, writing that he is in a painful situation. She notes that he doesn’t sleep well and that he has a ‘tasteful mood’ that seems to wander around with him without settling, adding that she is pinning all her hopes on the ‘beautiful season’. The letter ends with Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] sending her best wishes to de Rebecque’s wife and daughters.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand begins by saying that she has a copy of Voltaire’s letter to Horace Walpole, which she describes as a masterpiece of taste, common sense, wit, eloquence, and politeness. She adds that she will no longer speak to him about Lableterie, as should would have like Voltaire to have not spoken about it. The Marquise then notes that she is at the height of her joy as she has just received as her birthday gift the first seven volumes of Voltaire’s latest edition, adding that she had the tables read to her.  She then asserts that she only sees and loves those who admire Voltaire, saying that they should forgive Walpole’s former errors because national pride is great amongst the English and they have difficulty in granting the French superiority in matters of taste. She concludes by saying that only Voltaire can get her out of boredom and quotes Philippe Quinault’s Issé.