The letter reads: ‘M. de voltaire m’a prie, ‘Monsieur, de vous engager à lui procureur des éclair cissements au sujet d’un ouvrage imprimé en Hollande dont il paroit avoir fort à se plaindre. Il vous en a ecrit lui même et vous savez de quoi il est question. je ne puis refuser à ce celebre auteur de vous recommander ses interêts et vous me ferus plaisir de lui rendre touche les services qui dependrout de vous en observant neammoins de ne compromettre et votre personne ni votre caractere je suis, Monsieur, entierement à vous le Duc de Praslin.’

Frederick II asks Maupertuis to send him a complete collection of all the editions of the works of Voltaire that have been printed in Paris, London, Holland and Geneva, adding that Thiériot can help him. Frederick acknowledges that he is asking for an entire library, but states simply that he wants to have it. He asks that Maupertuis have everything bound in morocco with gilded edges, and tells him to send him the account of the disbursement. In a postscript, Frederick asks if d’Argens has shown him a letter he wrote on Voltaire’s on latest work, the Nouveaux mélanges, adding that he thinks that it will be printed in the Mercure de France.

Frederick discusses Voltaire’s works and thanks him for representing his interests. He asks for Voltaire’s judgements on his own works, before turning to his early departure to Baruth, Frankfurt am Main, Kleve, and Holland. He adds that he hopes to meet Voltaire. Frederick concludes by discussing his desire to gather even more people who suit Voltaire’s tastes besides Maupertuis.