The poem is titled ‘Vers de Mr Harouet, A Mr. Racine, sur son Poëme sur la grace’ and is dated 1722.

The MS is in the hand of an unidentified copyist, and is incomplete. The copy contains three chapters in the following order: 33, 32, 31. These chapters concern religious matters (Calvinism, Jansenism, and ecclesiastical affairs), and their numbering corresponds to the first printed edition of the work (1751).

Voltaire begins by saying that he is afraid of making himself ridiculous because of memoirs, but that he is reassured of the public good by two words given to him in writing by Davenel. He goes on to say that he mistook Jorri’s printing house for that of Josse because of Davenal’s poor spelling. Josse, he continues, is a Jansenist printer and a determined rascal. He therefore asks Feydeau de Marville to be able to maintain these individuals when his orders have provided for their safety. Voltaire next discusses Bienvenu’s innocence, stating that a boy of Lormel, a ‘little rascal’ has raised false claims to divert suspicions from his master. He then writes of La Mazuel who insists that she did not know who sold her the copies of a work. He concedes that this may be true, adding that what is certain is that she is miserable and worthy of pity if she and her husband has not printed the works of Desforges. Voltaire suggests that a visit be paid to the man who was denounced by Phélizot, recommends the Abbé Desforges and reports that a new libel was sold the previous day at the palace on the subject of the academy. Feydeau de Marville has added notes to the letter detailing arrests and searches to be made at booksellers and printers, and stating that Maurepas is opposed to the release of the widow Bienvenu.

Voltaire begins by saying that he encloses paperwork given to him by a Swiss scientist for an article of the Encyclopédie titled ‘Isis’. He then turns to discuss a sect in Paris that he calls the margouillistes (margouillis meaning slime), a name he believes should be applied to all sects. He claims that the margouillistes derive from the Jansenists and sends his compliments to père Berthier. Voltaire ends the letter by discussing plays and dinners undertaken in Lausanne. He asks what there is in Paris beyond the Encyclopédie.

Contains extracts from Isaac de Benserade, Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Abbé Jean-Baptiste Willart de Grécourt, Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Jean-Baptiste de Santeul, Paul Scarron, and Voltaire.

Voltaire writes that he did not receive de Missy’s letter dated 18 November until yesterday and answers it as quickly as he can. He says that there must have been a lost sheet in the Third Act of Mahomet that de Missy received so he sends a copy of the entire scene exactly as it must be printed. He answers each of the other concerns raised by de Missy in his letter [D2689] and then goes on to discuss Blaise Pascal and Jansenism. He concludes by asking how he might send de Missy a copy of the small Geneva edition of his writings that are full of printing errors that he will correct by hand, and attaches a copy of the third act of Mahomet.

The volume contains extracts from Isaac de Benserade, Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Abbé Jean- Baptiste Willart de Grécourt, Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Jean-Baptiste Santeul, Paul Scarron, and Voltaire.

The volume contains extracts from Isaac de Benserade, Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Abbé Jean- Baptiste Willart de Grécourt, Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Jean-Baptiste de Santeul, Paul Scarron, and Voltaire.

The volume contains extracts from Isaac de Benserade, Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Abbé Jean- Baptiste Willart de Grécourt, Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Jean-Baptiste de Santeul, Paul Scarron, and Voltaire.

The volume contains extracts from Isaac de Benserade, Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Abbé Jean- Baptiste Willart de Grécourt, Jean-Baptiste-Louis Gresset, Jean-Baptiste de Santeul, Paul Scarron, and Voltaire.