Voltaire discusses the article ‘Mânne’ for the Encyclopédie. He notes that the article seems quite good to him, and that the philosophs and the curious can be happy with it. Voltaire notes, however, that a good apothecary would have said more and demonstrated the superiority of ‘mânne grasse’ over ‘mânne maigre’.

He then goes on to say that he is very happy to be in Lausanne when d’Alemberts theologian is in Geneva. He remarks upon d’Alembert’s saying that he might see the lake again this winter, noting that he should come and bring Diderot with him so that they may play his Les Fils naturel.

Voltaire ends by asking d’Alembert to tell Madame Du Deffand that he is thinking of her even though he does not write, and to pass on his compliments to President Henault.

Voltaire begins by saying that he encloses paperwork given to him by a Swiss scientist for an article of the Encyclopédie titled ‘Isis’. He then turns to discuss a sect in Paris that he calls the margouillistes (margouillis meaning slime), a name he believes should be applied to all sects. He claims that the margouillistes derive from the Jansenists and sends his compliments to père Berthier. Voltaire ends the letter by discussing plays and dinners undertaken in Lausanne. He asks what there is in Paris beyond the Encyclopédie.

In the poem, the commanding eagle hovers in long circuits high in the sky. He sees himself as the king of nature, claiming that victory has placed its laurels in his claws. The eagle lands on an oak tree at the centre of the forest and begins talking about his glory and royalty. The eagle’s neighbour, however, a nightingale, sings in a sheltered, leafy elm tree.

Voltaire discusses the article ‘Mânne’ in the Encyclopedia noting that he thinks it is good, if a bit rabbanistic, and that the philosophers and the curious should be content with it. He adds, however, that an apothecary would have said more, knowing that a fat mânne was better than a meagre one. Voltaire then writes that he is very sorry to be in Lausane when d’Alembert’s Téologal is at Geneva, noting that they say the lake can be seen again this winter, and wondering if they could bring the comedy to Lausanne. He then asks d’Alembert to pass on his regards to Madame du Deffand and [Charles-Jean-François] Hénault.

The collection includes a copy of a letter from Voltaire to Albrecht von Haller, baron Haller dated 13 February 1759. In the letter, Voltaire sends a certificate [wanting] to introduce Grasset who wishes for recipient’s protection. He then discusses a text printed at Lausanne which represents an abominable libel against the Moors, religion etc. He adds that he thinks recipient should refuse a protection to such a rascal, noting that the author of the libel is a man named Verlecke or Leveche, formerly teacher of M. Constant, and is minister of a village near Lausanne