The text notes that Quintus Curtius made Alexander the Great write a letter to Darius. In the letter, it was remarked that the world cannot endure two suns or two masters and Voltaire questions whether this was actually written by Alexander or not. He quotes Don Japhet of Armenia, the fool of Charles V, before questioning Titus Livius’ habit of attributing speeches to his heroes. Voltaire adds that he would harangue Livius and tell him that if he wants to write history he should tell only the truth. In the conclusion of the passage, Voltaire discusses Thalestris, queen of the Amazons who met with Alexander on the banks of the Tanais and asked him to give her a child.

The variants in this draft were introduced in the Kehl edition.

Voltaire writes that he entrusts Fabry with the attached letter that the son of Mr. Sedillot son sent him under the envelope of Mr. the controlleur général. He adds that if there is something he must do, he is at Fabry’s command.

Voltaire notes that he arrived at his destination very unwell, and only yesterday received his papers, meaning that he was unable to respond to Vernes’ letter sooner. He notes that he has always passionately loved letters and would therefore like to serve all those who cultivate them, especially a young gentleman such as Vernes who does him so much honour by writing to him. Voltaire goes on to say that he would like to be a part of Vernes’ project, likely the Choix littéraire, if he could find something to submit that was not unworthy of Vernes’ taste. He concludes by saying that poor health and a house to arrange does not leave much space for work, imploring Vernes to leave him in the present moment only the desire to respond to his letter.

Voltaire opens by saying that the recipients would not believe how impressed he was at the letter they were willing to write to him dated 2nd December [D20936], adding that they restored his life. Voltaire presents his gratitude to His Serene Highness as well as the council and notes that he is counting on their kindness for the few days that remain of his life.  He concludes by saying that he will live and die filled with the deepest gratitude for them.

Voltaire begins by saying that he did not plead in council about the hundredth penny required for the sale of Tourney, but instead wrote to Monsieur de Chauvelin. He adds that in this letter, he noted that the land of Tourney is considered foreign, as it was in the old census, and exempt from all imposition and tax. He notes that he also wrote that it is preserved in its immunities, exemptions and franchises since the acquisition of the country of Gex by Henry IV; that these franchises were preserved by Louis XIV in the treaty of Arau 1658; and that the current King specially maintained this land in its privileges, by a patent to Mr de Brosses in 1755. Voltaire then states that he claims rights to the land and is ready to pay any necessary fees. He concludes by asking the recipient to send a copy of his letter to whomever may be interested in it.

The MS is part of a collection of letters that also includes:
f. 1 Milan, Duchy of. Ludovico Maria: Letter to, from P. de Comines: 1495.: Fr.
f. 1 Philippe de Comines, Sire d’Argenton: Letter to the Duke of Milan: 1495.: Fr.
f. 2 Cosmo I; Grand Duke of Tuscany: Letter to M. Niccolini and L. Ridolphi: 1537.
f. 2 Matheo Niccolini: Letter to, from Catherine de’ Medici: 1537.: Ital.
f. 2 Giorgio Ridolphi: Letter respecting his imprisonment at Florence: 1537: Ital.
f. 2 Luigi Ridolphi: Letter to, from C. de’ Medici: 1536.: Ital.
f. 4 Françoise de Harlay, wife of Robert de Harlay, Baron de Monglat: Letter to, from Elizabeth, Queen of Spain: 1560-1568.
f. 5 Philip II of Spain: Letter to the Estates of the Walloon Provinces: 1579.: Fr.
f. 5 Walloons: Letter to the Estates of the Walloon provinces, from Philip II. of Spain: 1579.: Fr.
f. 6 Sir John Floyer, MD (ob. 1734): Letter to W. Whiston: 1715.
f. 8 James II of England; Mary of Modena: Letter to Count Lauzun: circ. 1690.
f. 8 John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort; styled 1st Duke of Melfort: Letter on his political position at Rome: circ. 1690.
f. 8 Antoine Nompar de Caumont, Comte de Lauzun; Commanding French troops in Ireland: Letter to, from Qu. Mary of Modena: circ. 1690.: Fr.
f. 10 François Marie Arouet de Voltaire: Memorial to M. Girard: 1759.: Fr.
f. 11 François Marie Arouet de Voltaire: Poem entitled “Mon Testament”: 18th cent.: Hologr.
ff. 13, 14 Pius VII; Pope: Letter to L. Bonaparte: 1808.: Ital. and Fr.
ff. 13, 14 Letitia Ramolini Buonaparte, Mother of Napoleon I: Letters to, from Pius VII.: 1808.: Ital. and Fr.
f. 15 Jean Jacques Rousseau, philosopher: Letter relating to his epitaph on Voltaire: 1844.
f. 15 P- D- de Launey, Comte d’Entraigues: Letter to J. Sainsbury: 1844.
f. 15 François Marie Arouet de Voltaire: Letter relating to Rousseau’s epitaph on: 1844.

The collection features a variety of poems, letters, mottos, and inscriptions from graves. These are taken from authors including: Gunnar Schevenius, Olof Bergklint, Johan Simmingsköld, Johan Henric Kellgren, Voltaire, and Jöns Bernard Santesson. The poems largely date to the 1770s.