The writer expresses deep admiration for the recipient’s poetic work, praising its elegance and flexibility, which surpasses the limitations of the French language compared to Italian. Despite the difficulties posed by the French language, the recipient’s poem achieves a level of grace and artistry reminiscent of Ariosto and Tasso. The writer regrets that their own work, constrained by the seriousness of its subject, cannot match this fluidity but appreciates being enhanced by the recipient’s superior craftsmanship. They express a hope to meet the recipient in their retreat, finding solace in their achievement of elevating a French poem into Italian verse.

This is likely the memorandum he mentions in D12326, though if this is the case then six further pages of the MS are missing. It is written as a dramatic dialogue between Boswell and Voltaire and covers topics such as language, religion, superstition, poetry, literature, and painting

The collection includes:

• p.9: A satirical poem about Voltaire, 20 June 1778
• p.30-32: Articles on Voltaire (anti) and Dr. Johnson (pro), 1784

The two volumes contain transcriptions and notes in French and were used by Ord to help with his French language skills. One volume contains instructions on using French verbs. The examples used include excerpts from Voltaire and Rousseau.

William Duncombe begins by saying that he agrees with criticism of the French language. He adds that he is sending a copy of The Prompter, the author of which admires Nat Lee, and notes that he also sent a copy to Voltaire. He recommends Lillo’s The Christian Hero, but notes that he disapproves of the use of phrases from Scriptures in the play.

Thomas Jefferson thanks William Pelham for his notebook containing passages written in several phonetic alphabets, and notes on Voltaire’s attempts to reform the French language. He asks Pelham to send him Austin’s book on the human character of Jesus.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand asks if Voltaire is sleeping, adding that he often makes her take pains in patience. She notes that she finds all books tiresome other than Voltaire’s. She then states that she has heard about a supplement to the Dictionnaire philosophique and questions why she does not have a copy of it, adding that she is not afraid of the costs involved. The Marquise then turns to Voltaire’s suspicion of four enemies, only three of whom he identified in his last letter (La Beaumelle, Beloste, and Belestat). She asks Voltaire for his opinion on the use of the term ‘fresh’ to denote a new or naive thought, before asking whether or not she had sent him the verses of the Abbé de Voisenon for the King of Denmark. 

Boswell writes that the politeness with which he was received at Ferney has never faded from his memory, adding that he often recalls with pleasure the time he spent with Voltaire. He remarks that his travels since his last letter in Napels [D12525] have given him lits of idea to mull over. Boswell recalls his time spent in Corsica, noting that General Paoli is an extraordinary man, and the people brave for vindicating their liberty ‘with as much real spirit as was ever found in antiquity’. He adds that he is writing an account of Corsica with memoirs of General Paoli which will be published next winter, noting that David Hume has taken charge of this publication as he cannot be in London himself. He asks what Voltaire thinks of the Corsicans and asks why he does not write on them. Boswell concludes by stating that he is now to stay in Scotland for half a year as an Advocate, and the other half as a country gentleman, and sends his regards to Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] and Pére Adan. In a postscript, he adds (in French) that he dares not write to Voltaire in French because he feels it better to write in one’s own language, even when you know another, and even more so when you know very little.