Voltaire begins by saying that the verses that he had been sent for St Francis’ Day were signed DB, but that they were not as pretty as Madame Du Boccage’s verses. He asks who the lady is whose name starts like hers, and who dares to make verses almost as well as she does. Voltaire then goes on to say that the misunderstanding earned him a charming answer. He ends by saying that he is sending her a rogaton which was sent to him from Marseille (The Marseillais et le lion (Geneva, 1768)).

Mrs. Pye seems to have been one of Mrs. Garrick’s consultants on Paris fashions. In her letter to Garrick, no. 34, November 21, 1774, she also comments on the French theatre and opera, Préville and Mlle. Rocourt, her visit to Voltaire who spoke with approval of Garrick’s alteration of Hamlet; she had seen Foote and heard a rumour that Bickerstaffe had brought out a comic opera at Marseilles. In no. 33, September 17, [1776], she writes of having called on Mrs. Montagu. In no. 35, February 8, 1779, she writes on the death of Garrick.

Voltaire writes that he is a poor and ill old man who thanks Audibert tenderly for his oil. He tells Audibert to have fun with his beautiful business while he is young, and says that he blieves that Audibert won’t bother him for long. Voltaire then responds to Audibert’s attempts to convince him that the sun of Marseille would be favourable in the last days of his life, saying that it is too difficult for him to move and so it will be necessary for him to die in the snows that he had chosen. He concludes by noting that he cannot be angry with them, because they introduced him to Audibert.