Voltaire thanks Guazzesi for sending him a book [Guazzesi’s translation of Alzire, published together with Racine’s Iphigenie in 1762], adding that he is too ill to thank him in his own hand, the letter instead being written by his secretary. Voltaire goes on to say that Iphigenie was worthy of being translated by Guazzesi, but that the translator does others [Voltaire] too much honour. He then turns to Guazzesi’s poetry, remarking that his compositions are instructive and agreeable, before speaking of the ancient Romans, noting that they had an unrefined sense of humour. He adds that he can see the mountains that were crossed by Hannibal through his windows.

Frederick remarks upon how busy he is, claiming that many matters require his attention at present. He goes on to note that he will no longer be shocked after what he has witnessed during this monstrous century, writing that his books from Berlin are his only consolation. Frederick then mentions the works he has been reading, notably Charles Batteux’s Les Beaux-arts réduites à un même principe (1746), before discussing a series of literary figures including Nicolas Boileau, Virgil, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Jean Racine, Homer, Pierre Corneille, Joseph de La Grange Chancel, Claude-Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, and Voltaire.

The letter critiques the recipient’s poetry before going on to mention a series of poets: Voltaire; Jacques Pradon; Jean Racine; William Shakespeare; John Milton; Samuel Johnson; Edmund Waller; and John Dryden.

The recueil includes patents and letters-patent for a number of individuals including Voltaire, Jean Racine, Pasquier Quesnel, Jean Law de Lauriston, Guillaume-François Joly de Fleury, Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle, André-Hercule de Fleury, François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon, Gabrielle-Angélique de Bourbon, mademoiselle de Verneuil, Gabriel Daniel, Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon, and Charles-Antoine Coypel.

The poems are chosen from the works of Jean de Rotrou, François de Malherbe, Honorat de Bueil, marquis de Racan, François Maynard, Antoine Godeau, évêque de Vence, Robert Arnauld d’Andilly, Pierre Corneille, Louis Racine, Étienne Pavillon; Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Jean-Baptiste Rousseau,  and Voltaire.

The poems are chosen from the works of Jean Rotrou, François de Malherbe, Honorat de Bueil, marquis de Racan, François de Maynard, Antoine Godeau, évêque de Vence, Robert Arnauld d’Andilly, Pierre Corneille, Louis Racine, Étienne Pavillon; Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, Jean-Baptiste Rousseau, and Voltaire.