Fréron seeks to humiliate the critic Jean-Francois de La Harpe who had attacked his recently deceased father, Elie Fréron. He recounts a dinner at the house of Mr. Dorat during which his father was ridiculed, and speaks of his hopes that the recipient can offer a contradictory account. He notes that he has heard from Mr. de La Harpe that they were discussing Voltaire and the unworthy treatment he received from Fréron in the style of his writing. Louis-Marie questions if the recipient ever remembers seeing his father baffled by a philosophy schoolboy, and asks if it was in his father’s character to say: ‘ah, il écrira et Dieu nous verrons’.

The manuscript is an eleven-line poem, with a rhyme scheme ABBAAACACACA, authored for the poets La Harpe and Chabanon, mildly praising their literary talent. The latter was also an actor and a playwright who had been leisuring at Ferney. The poem is a response to ‘Vers de Monsieur de La Harpe à Monsieur de Voltaire, pour le jour de la Saint-Francois’. Voltaire’s response was featured in the periodical press. Additionally, in comparison with other manuscripts, line 12 has minor discrepancies, reading ‘Qu’ils m’ont pris aussi mon’.

Voltaire thanks Villette for publically acknowledging their friendship. He then praises Jean-François de La Harpe and his wife who are living with him at Ferney, noting that they are talented individuals.

In this letter, the writer expresses profound gratitude and humility for the kind words received from Monsieur, emphasising the value of such sincere expressions of friendship. They also voice disdain for the contemporary literary scene and its lack of appreciation for true talent, lamenting that only superficial works seem to gain favour. Additionally, the writer reflects on the unfortunate circumstances of Mr de Laharpe and others in their time, while noting their relief at the dismissal of a deceitful legal case. The letter concludes with a request to retain Monsieur’s favour, which the writer finds deeply comforting.

Frederick begins by saying that he is not the only one who notices that genius and talents are rarer in Europe in the current century than they were at the end of the previous one. He adds that there are three poets remaining, though they are of the second order: La Harpe; Marmontal, and Saint-Lambert. He then discusses outbreaks of violence and death warrants, before turning to an article Voltaire had written, remarking that he enjoyed it but that he would have liked Voltaire to have been more considerate of the Abbé de La Bletterie. He then talks of Jansenism.