Georg von Löw writes that he is sending Budé a box for Colonel Abercromby that will also contain works by Voltaire for Budé, prints ordered by the late Merrick, and a selection of music presented to the Coldstream Guards by the Duke of York and additional books also for Merrick. He asks Budé to send fruit liqeur, described as shrub, rum for the Duke of York, and cloth for breeches. He concludes with a report on the building of new staff quarters for the Duke’s staff.

The book opens with a preface entitled “avertissement”, that can be translated as follows: “this collection volume contains the elite of the best anecdotical songs from the ministry of the Cardinal de Richelieu until now: attention was paid to the accuracy of the names; to the order and faithfulness of periods, and of interesting facts; to the correctness of the marginalia […].” The collection covers mostly the reign of Louis XIV of France and the beginning of the reign of Louis XV of France. The songs seem to mock a wide range of subjects, but focus predominantly on the aristocracy, the court, the government, and the clergy, and refer to many current scandals, military events, and political affairs. Many songs are quite bawdy, especially the songs relating to ladies of the court – the three mistresses of Louis XIV (Louise de La Vallière, Madame de Montespan, and Madame de Maintenon) are well represented there. At pp. 510-515 there is also a song entitled “Autres Mirlitons” on the subject of homosexuality, with marginal notes explaining that it is “about the young lords of the court”. Some other noteworthy songs include:
– songs about John Law (1671-1729), the Scottish economist who was a minister under Louis XV; the annotator notes how he was apparently hanged in effigy in London after he was condemned for murder.
– a song at pp. 525-531 that has a reference to Mississipi, and one at pp. 381-388 to the Goa Inquisition (the Portuguese Inquisition in India).
– a song at pp. 553-554 about the philosopher Voltaire relating to his altercation with the Chevalier de Rohan in 1726.
– songs about Jansenism, and (at pp. 557-559, 565-567, 579-582) on the recent Cadière affair (1730-31), the scandalous case of a Jesuit confessor who was accused of sexually abusing a young female penitent, whom he in retaliation accused of witchcraft.

The earlier songs are of the “Mazarinade” variety, with a large portion of the later 17th-century examples directed against the court of young Louis XIV, presided over by Cardinal Mazarin. Later songs include satires on John Law and his disastrous speculation in the Mississippi project, on the religious cult of the Convulsionnaires in Paris, on the morality of the clergy and of the women of the Paris theatre, and one on Voltaire, condemned for his Lettres philosophiques.

Schiller begins by saying that Körner will not come to Lauchstädt and that he will not travel their either because of his poor health. He then addresses Goethe’s translation of Voltaire’s Tancrède, stating that the freedom Goethe has demonstrated suggests that he will go a step further than he did with Mahomet. He notes that Goethe’s intention to use choirs in the theatre will be an important experiment, and adds that he hopes to present his finished version of La Pucelle d’Orleans upon Goethe’s return. He concludes by discussing his collection of poems and suggests that Goethe could get finished printed sheets of them.

The compilation is a collection of 122 épîtres, épigrammes, épitaphes, chansons, discours, répliques, and contes by a variety of authors. The works of Voltaire are especially prominent. The collection also includes a letter from Voltaire to Jean André Deluc, dating to February 1767 [D13961]. The texts range in date from 1747 to 1785, and some of the chants have staves of music drawn in to accompany them.

The commonplace book contains selections from several sources including: Voltaire, Maréchal, Beaumarchais, Boufflers, and Gentil-Bernard. The entries mostly concern women and wine, many giving the air to be used.

Topics include modern theology and philosophy; natural history; antiquarian discoveries and definitions, local history and folklore; travels and voyages; medicine; and music. There are many lengthy musical entries, including a detailed description of the 1783 Grand Jubilee Handel concert and a discussion of early musical notation systems. Identified authors quoted include Bishop Tillotson; Voltaire; Rousseau; Linnaeus; Bougainville; William Stukeley; and William Godwin.

Circa 500 letters written by and to Madame du Deffand, arranged in chronological order. The main correspondents are the Duc and Duchesse de Choiseul; the Abbe Barthelemy; and and with three to Horace Walpole. The letters primarily discuss social events and activities such as dinners, news about friends, quotations from acquaintances’ letters, popular songs, current reading, and routine expressions of friendship. Du Deffand frequently mentions Walpole and Voltaire in her letters to others; other topics include Barthelemy’s desire for a harpsichord; gossip about the comte de Guerchy, ambassador to London; a description of a gift of a chamber pot; her irritation with the incessant talk of the mathematician Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise Du Châtelet; and her opinions on the works Memoire de la Chalottais and La rivalte de l’Angleterre et de la France.

Louis Benjamin Aunet, baron du Montmoreau, writes to Pierre Laulaine de Sudrac to return the last two volumes of Voltaire’s Commentaires sur Corneille (1764) that de Sudrac had kindly allowed him to borrow. He goes on to discuss various aspects of French arts, music, and culture.

Toward the beginning of the letter he says that Frederick is “counted among the kings” but is “more than them”. Voltaire compliments Frederick on performing big actions, and being wise, and writing poetry and music with ease. He writes of his hope that Frederick will “strengthen Europe, as it has shaken.” The letter ends with Voltaire saying- “The philosopher king is exactly what the philosopher who is not king tried in vain to become.” The remainder of the letter is missing.