Voltaire writes that Chamfort has caught him at a moment when the sad state of his eyes leves him free to write. He notes that Chamfort speaks so well of his art that even if Voltaire had not seen such charming verses in la Jeune Indienne [a comedy written by Chamfort published on 30 April 1764, which Voltaire must have read in manuscript form] he would have been entitled to say that here is a young man who will write as they did a hundred years ago. Voltaire continues by saying that the nation only emerged from barbarism because there were three or four people who possessed genius and taste. Corneille, for example, wrote 200 verses, Boileau used an art unknown before him to put reason into verses, and Pascal and Bossuet changed the ‘welches’ into French. Voltaire notes, however, that de Chamfort seems convinced that the Crebillons and all those who have made tragedies as bad and verses as hard as his have changed French into welches. To this, he adds that the nation has taste by accident and so it is to be expected that a people who did not know the merit of Misatrope and Athalie will be ignorant and weak people who need to be led by the small number of enlightened men. He goes on to say that the likes of Freron do not fail to contribute to bringing back barbarism and misleading the tastes of young people who would reather read cheap books than buy more expensive good books, and who are often not in a condition to form a library. Voltaire quips that ‘loose leaves are the plague of literature.’ He concludes by saying that he looks forward to de Chamfort’s book as the subject is very touching and he knows how to successfully write touching verses.