In the letter, Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian discusses gossip concerning his aunt, and Voltaire’s niece, Marie-Louise Denis, and speaks of postponing the publication of Estelle because of the tense political situation. He concludes by discussing the difficulties he has faced with book shops.

In his letter to Catherine Félicité Marie, queen consort of France [née Leszczyńska] dated 10 October 1748, Voltaire begs the queen consort to not allow an ‘odious satire’ against him to be performed before her at Fontainebleau. He adds that his La Tragédie de Sémiramis is moral and so he expects her protection. Voltaire contines by noting that as he is the King’s servant, he is also the queen consort’s, writing that if the satire is to be performed he will be forced to resign from his position due to the ‘cruel debasement’ he would face. He therefore asks again for protection from his enemies who wish to destroy him via public stigma. In the final section of the letter, Voltaire notes that satirical parodies have been forbidden in Paris for several years and asks the queen consort to act out of the goodness of her heart to protect him.

With the letter are included a variety of short satirical poems that concern French and wider European politics. The poems provided with titles include:

f.5r: ‘Couplet Sur L’air dansom le naveau Cotillon’
f.5r: ‘Air de Joconde’
f.5v: ‘Sur Lair. vous m’entendès bien.’
f.7r: ‘Sur Lair des mousquetaire’
f.8v: ‘Sur Lair Reveillès-vous’
f.8v: ‘Sur la bequille’
f.9r: ‘Marche des Bostangise’
f.9v: ‘air des Pendus’
f.13v: ‘Air de Joconde’
f.14r: ‘Sur L’air v’la ceque l’est que d’aller au bois’
f.14r: ‘Sur Lair de la Baronne.’
f.14r: ‘a La tournelle.’
f.14v: ‘Sur L’air des trivlets’
f.14v: ‘Sur L’air Oreguingnotte’
f.15v: ‘Air Mr Le Revot’
f.16r: ‘Epitaphe de Mr de fort Caltier Roy des Huns.’
f.16r: ‘Chanson composée par les grenadiers de Regt du Roy sur l’air Mr Les allemanes’
f.17r: ‘Epitaphe de Mr de Breteuil’
f.17v: ‘air ou est il ce petit nouveau né’
f.17v: ‘De Luxembourg et de Turenne’
f.18r: ‘Sur l’air trent qurde ma pipe serre mon briquet’
f.18v: ‘air de tous les Capucin du monde’
f.18v: ‘air L’aire laire &c’
f.19r: ‘air des Pendus’
f.25r: ‘Chanson sur les revolutions arrivées à St Peterdbourg air des Pendus’
f.25r: ‘air de la marche francoise’
f.25v: ‘air de tous le Capuccins du monde.’
f.25v: ‘air. j’aurai une robbe’
f.25v: ‘air que n’aimés vous seurs insensible’

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.

The commonplace book contains entries on literary gossip, many of which are in verse satirising famous writers dating from 9 February 1762-18 December 1778. Voltaire is quoted numerous times.

In the second letter dated 23 June 1771 to John Fitzpatrick, Lord of Ossory, Walpole discusses printing and antiquarian matters as well as gossip among their acquaintances. Walpole offers to print a pamphlet for Ossory at Strawberry Hill; shares his findings about the foundation and devices of Stoughton; and mentions various romantic attachments and pursuits of the British nobility, as well as gossips about Voltaire and the Duchess de Choiseul.

Voltaire updates his “dear old friend” on his condition and what he is doing with his life. He begins by saying “We have both begun to be up in age, where it must be carefully addressed to save the rest of the machine.” He then jokes that “I bet that you are drinking wine and champagne while I am drinking milk.” For the remainder of the letter Voltaire talks about how he is translating a Spanish work, he talks of his commentaries on certain works, and he shares some gossip about mutual friends. Voltaire concludes by asking for forgiveness for not writing in his hand, adding that he is extremely weak.

A series of thoughts and anecdotes in the hand of Voltaire describing court events and gossip.