The manuscript is a 19-line poem about the priest Desfontaine’s homosexuality, its historical impermissibility, and punitive measures. The manuscript does not replicate the entire poem, excluding the prefatory lines that read ‘L’abbe Desfontaines et le ramoneur, ou le ramoneur et l’abbé / Desfontaines, conte par feu m. de la Faye.’ According to T. D. N. Besterman, ‘despite m. de la Faye being named as the author, the poem ‘ is of course by Voltaire himself’. Furthermore; the poem is a fragment of D1514 that discusses the wedding of Marie Elisabeth Mignot, Voltaire’s younger niece, as well as an influential book by Maupertuis (perhaps La Figure de la Terre, déterminée par les Observations de Messieurs Maupertuis, Clairaut, Camus, Le Monnier & de M. l’Abbé Outhier, accompagnés de M. Celsius) and the faulty edition of Eléments de Newton.

Voltaire writes that he and Madame de Fontaine have been discussing what becomes of the soul after death, but hopes to remain in ignorance for some time yet. He asks d’Alembert to send him the articles from the encyclopedia, if he has them, a little in advance because ‘a patient is not always the master of his moments’. Voltaire notes that he is very unhappy with the ‘story article’ because he wanted to show the different literary styles appropriate for a variety of different writings. He states, however, that he was in a hurry, ill, and overwhelmed by ‘this accursed general story that you know.’ Voltaire goes on to say that he does not know the dictionary [of which, presumably, d’Alembert had spoke] because he did not subscribe to it. Instead, he says that he will buy it when it is finished but quickly adds that he will probably be dead by the time it is done and so asks d’Alembert to suggest that Briasson sends him the printed volumes and Voltaire will give him a bill of exchange on his notary. Voltaire then discusses the articles on theology and metaphysics, saying that they pain his heart and that it is very cruel to print the opposite of what one thinks. He notes that he is angry that people still write dissertations and give particular opinions on recognised truths as he would prefer to know the definition and origin of words with examples. Voltaire concludes by apologising, claiming to be ‘a talker who says what he should have done and didn’t do anything worthwhile’, and ends by saying that if d’Alembert was featured in a dictionary he would be defined as ‘the most amiable of men.’