Wagnière notes that the captain of the naval regiment was hanged in Bordeaux, the Prince of Condé was assassinated, and the Cardinal’s library was sold. He then notes that in May, the exiled princess remained in Paris and presented a request to parliament in April 1650. He concludes by noting that Cardinal Mazarin was called a rascal in Parliament in 1650.

The collection includes:

• p.9: A satirical poem about Voltaire, 20 June 1778
• p.30-32: Articles on Voltaire (anti) and Dr. Johnson (pro), 1784

He begins with information about his childhood, including his godparents, the date of his innoculation against smallpox, and his education; and continues with biographical information about his college years; his first employment; his travels with Thomas Gray; and his Parliamentary activities. Much of the manuscript concerns the pieces he wrote, both published and unpublished, and those he published with the Strawberry Hill Press, as well as his reactions to the reviews he received. He also includes anecdotes concerning his attack by highwaymen in 1749; the family quarrel with his uncle Horace Walpole; and his disagreements with David Hume and Voltaire.

Notes from 1833 refer to article by Mr Everett on Tocqueville’s work on American penal system and articles from North American Review comparing prison regimes. Discusses in detail experiments by Mr Lawes in using sewerage as fertilizer to increase crop production; refers to letter in family’s possession from Voltaire to Samuel Estwick which has been dated by Macaulay and compared with Voltaire’s writing; letter copied on f 11v; refers to price of land at sales; includes notes in French on Thiers’ ‘Historie de l’Empire Vol 8’ from 1853; refers to trustees and arrangements for family trusts. Comments on parliamentary affairs during sessions of 1850-51 including vote on Greek Question 1850; refers to case in Court of Common Pleas; discusses workings of specific committees including those on gevernment finances; refers to resignation and reappointment of Government.

Os D 12/1/1 found enclosed.

Voltaire informs the Duc de Richelieu that an English gentleman named Mr. Makartney who is very young but very wise, highly educated but modest, and very rich but very simple who will soon shout in parliament better than any other denied that he had any kindness for Voltaire. Voltaire notes that he boasted of de Choiseul’s protection but that Makartney did not believe him and challenged him to write to de Choiseul to prove he was telling the truth. Voltaire adds that he couldn’t contain himself and begs the pardon of de Choiseul for his zeal.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand implores Voltaire to hurry to respond to her as she has heard that he said in the presence of witnesses that he had had a deed passed before a notary. She asks if the news is true, what the Act will do for him, if it will be before a tribunal of human or divine justice, if he will produce it at the Sorbonne or in Parliament, what his friends think, and why he did not warn them. She adds that this trait is so new in Voltaire that she cannot understand his reasoning. The Marquise then turns to her present company, noting that La Grand Maman does not want anyone else to read, and does it superiorly with a voice that goes to the heart and an intelligence that makes you feel and notice everything. She states that Voltaire would not know any others in her party, before noting that the President received with pleasure her message about Voltaire’s friendship for him. She concludes by asking Voltaire to thank his son-in-law on her behalf for sending her a copy of Voltaire’s homilies, stating that she will write to him herself, but that Voltaire’s words are a thousand times better than any she could write.

Disadvises his return to England; warns him that ‘the Parliament in less than two years will ring with declamation against the Plunderers of the East. How fair, how great it will then be not to see your name in the list. I do assure you Old Lawrence has a reputation in England which may well be envy’d (with all its fortunes) by the name of Clive. It is these cursed presents which stop my History. Why should I be doomed to commemorate the ignominy of my countrymen, and without giving the money story, that has accompanied every event since the first of April 1757, I shall not relate all the springs of action, that is I shall be a Jesuitical Historian, two terms which Voltaire says are incompatible, for no Jesuit could ever tell a true tale, much less write a true History.’

Denison opens the letter with a description of being kept awake by street seller, and states that a change in weather means wearing his ‘old French trousers’. He refers to Voltaire’s letter to [Samuel] Estwick [grandfather of Denison] which he thinks should be published in next edition of his works. He then goes on to describe a local fair and circus, and comments on improvement in his language skills which have allowed him to buy many books as result of cheap French currency. He refers to strong French feelings of liberty and equality and mentions both the land bills passing through parliament and the debate on law of entails. In the concluding part of his letter, he refers to debate concerning Catholic Question and discusses current French political situation. In particular, he references Charles Drury’s ‘disappointments’ at Ossington.