Byron discusses various literary works and corrects a series of errors he feels Goethe has made, adding that he regrets if Goethe is upset by the hasty and unjust judgements of English critics, about which he notes that he himself complained. He then offers his appreciation of Goethe’s works, and mentions Voltaire, Alexander Pope, and Jonathan Swift.

The excerpt concerning Voltaire reads: ‘Voltaire writes that the Dutchess told him that after her Four Daughters had got their shares, she had remaining without any favour from ye Government £70,000 a year.’