The writer expresses sympathy for the harsh winter climate and acknowledges the recipient’s choice to leave Bologna for a milder location, although the exact destination is unclear. He describes his own situation, spending the winter in bed, and comments on the value of military principles over detailed battle accounts. He also mentions his intention to send the second volume of a book about Peter the Great and reflects on his preference for his peaceful life in Lapland, contrasting it with the recipient’s experiences in Italy.