The elderly, ailing writer acknowledges receiving an unsigned letter dated 4 June. Though too distant from public affairs to engage in national disputes, he expresses deep respect for the correspondent’s achievements, which have helped protect Vienna from Ottoman control and may one day aid Europe’s liberation. He reflects on the failure of Christian princes to prioritise the common good over personal interests.

The writer, aged 78 and in poor health with failing eyesight, forgives any inaccuracies reported about his condition, attributing them to the Prince de Salm’s misunderstanding. He states that he cannot support the Ottoman Empire, citing its destruction of Greece and its cultural heritage. He laments that Polish allies did not join the Russians in expelling the Ottomans from Europe, but remains confident that Poland will preserve its freedom. He closes with a respectful acknowledgment of the recipient’s suffering and praises his noble spirit.