The MS forms part of a recueil of works from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

This version of the text reproduces only the dialogue, omitting the Mandarin’s ‘profession of faith’ at ll.393-504.

The copy begins at l.244 of the text and runs to l.276.

Marx opens by saying that he has enclosed a photograph for Mrs Beesly. He then goes on to say that the Christian name of Mr. Greenwood is Frederick, adding in French that this is not the Frederick the Great. He continues by remarking that when Voltaire was in his Swiss retreat, he was accompanied by a Jesuit named Adam whom he introduced by visitors by saying: ‘he is not the first of men’. Returning to writing in English, Marx concludes the letter by saying that Jenny von Westphalen will call on Mrs Beesly the following Wednesday at 1pm.

The copy concerns Chapter 38 from the beginning to ‘vieillesse’ on l.156. This Chapter discusses the Jesuits driven out of Portugal and France and the assassination of the King of Portugal.

The MS also includes a section from the end of Chapter 37 beginning with ‘Trianon’ on l.50.

The memoire is a series of requests set out by Ambroise Decroze for Jean Charles Girod. It begins by requesting that the minutes of the assault on Sr Vuaillet by Ancian be presented to the judges as proof of the violence typical of him. It also requests that one of the attackers, Benoit Brochut, should be added to the trial as he had given a confession before witnesses and signed it with his mark. Decroze also requests that the declaration of Gabriel Puet, made in the presence of witnesses be considered, and that a summons be given to Françoise Terron of Crelly who can testify that he was ordered to beat Decroze’s son with a stick. He notes that his lawyers have suggested that these pieces of evidence are favourable to his case. Decroze then requests that his daughter be heard under oath, as she was refused confession until she abandonned the cause of her brother. He demands that the Jesuit who refused her confession shouls also be heard under oath so that he might confess. He ends by saying that he will feel abandoned and betrayed by the world and delivered up to his persecutor if he is denied any of the above requests, begging Girod to assist his case.

The writer humbly apologises to a lady, calling himself unworthy of her and her grandmother’s kindness. He praises the grandmother’s generosity, which has extended even to helping his craftsmen, though he feels too ashamed to address her directly after past criticisms. He encloses an article on the soul, inviting the lady to burn it if she dislikes it, and jokes about his ignorance on the subject.

He recounts how he once defended nine impoverished Huguenots from the Jesuits, who had tried to seize their property, and expresses satisfaction at having thwarted them. One of these Huguenots now seeks a favour at Versailles, but the writer refuses to trouble the grandmother to intercede, feeling he has already abused her benevolence.

He gratefully acknowledges that all the pleasures of his later life stem from the lady’s introduction to her grandmother, whose friendship and conversation he deeply values.

The verse was sent with a letter from Voltaire to Pierre Paul d’Ossun, marquis d’Ossun, written from Ferney and dated 16 July 1770 [D16527], and a price list for watches produced at a Ferney factory. One of the watches available was a repeating watch featuring a portrait of Pedro Pablo Abarca de Bolea y Jiménez de Urrea, 10th Count of Aranda. The verse mentions his triumph over the Jesuits, his suppression of superstition, and his masterful control of Spain.