The manuscript is an autograph letter containing a poem comprised of 28 lines. In the body of the letter, Voltaire bestows compliments upon Bernard and reflects on the public’s erroneous tendency to classify Montezume as one of his literary creations. In fact, the misunderstanding originates from the use of the same location (Peru) in Votaire’s Alzire. Additionally, These were the lines to which Voltaire replied in the same metre (see D998) — entitled “Le Hameau” and starting with ‘Rien n’est si beau / Que mon hameau, /Oh quelle image! / Quel paysage / Fait pour Vateau!’ (Œuvres complètes de M. Bernard, [Londres 1777], pp. 173–176).