Voltaire opens by saying that he is distressed that his senses leave him one after the other despite the best efforts of his doctor, Tronchin. He adds that nature is stronger than him in his frail machine and that she undermines him from all sides. He goes on to discuss and inflammation which has made him deaf and almost blind, before turning to Alexandre’s family, noting that he left her until he was suffering less with his health but did not abandon the Calas family which was as unhappy as Alexandre’s. Voltaire then says that he is sending the cardinal a curious memoir, Histoire d’Elisabeth Canning, on the cruel affair, noting that the first part might amuse him and the second part move and outrage him. He adds that the council has seized the documents and will review the judgement of Toulouse, stating that he took charge of this trial because no-one was responsible for it and it seemed to him that men were too indifferent to the misfortunes of others. Voltaire next discusses Peter III, stating that if he had not been a drunkard, his adventure would be a great subject for a tragedy. He concludes by discussing the theatre and remarking that Mademoiselle Corneille will not play Olimpie badly, but that she will play Chimène better.

Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] thanks de Rebecque for his kindness in sending her some clothes. She adds that she was not old enough to wear them so saved them for Mme. Dupuits, who said that they were too young and too brilliant for a woman living in the country. As such, Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] writes that she is returning the gift and is very sorry that she is not old enough to wear it. She then turns to her uncle, Voltaire, writing that he is in a painful situation. She notes that he doesn’t sleep well and that he has a ‘tasteful mood’ that seems to wander around with him without settling, adding that she is pinning all her hopes on the ‘beautiful season’. The letter ends with Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] sending her best wishes to de Rebecque’s wife and daughters.