The list accompanying the Lee Collection suggests that this letter was intended for Voltaire. However, given that it is dated 1786 (after Voltaire’s death), and that the name ‘M. du Perron’ is written at the bottom of the letter, it is likely that the recipient was Abraham-Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron who, in 1763 was elected an associate of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres and began publishing materials from his travels. Louis-Charles-Auguste Le Tonnelier, baron de Breteuil opens by stating that he has been informed that the printing of the first volume of the extract submitted to the Comité de l’académie du belles lettres has barely begun at the Imprimerie Royale. He notes that the King’s intention in establishing the committe was that the public would quickly recognise its usefulness. He acknowledges the recipient’s frustration at this slow progress.

The letter reads: ‘M. de voltaire m’a prie, ‘Monsieur, de vous engager à lui procureur des éclair cissements au sujet d’un ouvrage imprimé en Hollande dont il paroit avoir fort à se plaindre. Il vous en a ecrit lui même et vous savez de quoi il est question. je ne puis refuser à ce celebre auteur de vous recommander ses interêts et vous me ferus plaisir de lui rendre touche les services qui dependrout de vous en observant neammoins de ne compromettre et votre personne ni votre caractere je suis, Monsieur, entierement à vous le Duc de Praslin.’

Voltaire begins by saying that whilst they await the paquet from Berlin, he is sending the recipient a small funny thing with which to treat Frederic II of Prussia, adding that very unfaithful copies of it have been circulated. He instructs Baculard d’Arnaud to give him his thoughts on the trifle, and give him news of his tragedy Catiline. He ends by bidding farewell to Baculard d’Arnaud and noting that he will be in Cirey for all of January. In an addition to the copy of this letter used for the Besterman edition (BNF, MS f.fr. 12941, p.305), Voltaire also notes that he knowns nothing more of the paquet from England and awaits with impatience news of Frederic II, ending his letter with the line: ‘vous serez bien aimable de m’ecrire’.

In the mémoire, Voltaire claims that his Histoire Universelle has been disfigured by Jean Néaulme in Berlin and Duchesne in Paris. He notes that it is not his fault if there have been unworthy popes, bad princes, and bad bishops, and neither is it his fault that people at court are ignorant. He asks the recipient to get rid of the existing copies of the work if possible, and asks to make public the purity of his conduct before the King, adding that he is threatened with an outburst from the Archibishop of Paris.

The marquise Du Châtelet reports that Voltaire is unwell with a fever and so she consequently did not show him d’Argental’s letter as the news of Rousseau’s return and Desfontaine’s public criticism would upset him too much. She then turns to Lamare, remarking on his attitude towards Voltaire, and adding that she wished his L’Envieux would not be published. She enquires as to whether or not L’Envieux has yet been presented to the actors and asks d’Argental to use his influence to seize the original manuscript from Lamare. Du Châtelet then turns to the correcting of Voltaire’s epistles including L’homme and Le plaisir, which she notes will be sent to Prault. She concludes by deploring the Dutch printers who have threatened Voltaire with public criticism and asks d’Argental to intervene on his behalf.

The letter discusses matters concerning the couple’s family, and gives news on their friends. Gravelot notes that he is currently working on some engravings to be used in the works of Voltaire.

Matthew Arnold discusses literature and expresses happiness at his brother knowin about Merope. He praises Maffei’s version of Merope before commenting on Voltaire’s, comparing both versions with Alfieri’s and concluding that Maffei’s was ‘poetically the best tragedy of the three’. He then goes on to discuss Wordsworth, Shelley, and Coleridge and their popularity within England, remarking that the contemporary period is intellectually richer than Pope’s time but that modern poetry is inadequate. He moves on to discuss Ancient Greek literature, comparing it to Shakespeare, and offering his opinions on the works of Voltaire and Goethe. He adds that these thoughts will form the basis of his inaugural lecture.

Dunlop begins by explaining why Burns’ last letter offended her, noting that some of his poems were unfair to women and left her feeling mortified and degraded. She adds that in writing in this manner, he has destroyed a scheme she had for his advancement because this scheme involved a number of respectable ladies. Dunlop then remarks that she had been told that Voltaire read all of his manuscripts to an elderly woman, and only printed that which she approved off, adding that she wished Burns had cast her in this role. She concludes by asking if there are still books for sale from the last print run, and quotes Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Voltaire begins by saying that he is afraid of making himself ridiculous because of memoirs, but that he is reassured of the public good by two words given to him in writing by Davenel. He goes on to say that he mistook Jorri’s printing house for that of Josse because of Davenal’s poor spelling. Josse, he continues, is a Jansenist printer and a determined rascal. He therefore asks Feydeau de Marville to be able to maintain these individuals when his orders have provided for their safety. Voltaire next discusses Bienvenu’s innocence, stating that a boy of Lormel, a ‘little rascal’ has raised false claims to divert suspicions from his master. He then writes of La Mazuel who insists that she did not know who sold her the copies of a work. He concedes that this may be true, adding that what is certain is that she is miserable and worthy of pity if she and her husband has not printed the works of Desforges. Voltaire suggests that a visit be paid to the man who was denounced by Phélizot, recommends the Abbé Desforges and reports that a new libel was sold the previous day at the palace on the subject of the academy. Feydeau de Marville has added notes to the letter detailing arrests and searches to be made at booksellers and printers, and stating that Maurepas is opposed to the release of the widow Bienvenu.

Prault writes that he has deferred replying to Voltaire’s last letter [D8704] because he fell out with the editors of Receuil D1 who wanted to include the libellous piece that Prault wanted to remove to protect Voltaire’s reputation. He claims that the editors wanted this piece printed in other collections and that he protested against this (to no avail). Prault then notes that he visited D’Argental three times, knowing him to be a friend to Voltaire, but that he never found him at home, finding him there on a fourth visit. He begged for D’Argental’s help, he notes, and D’Argental promised to do so. Prault then notes that he visited Malesherbes, explaining to him that he had the rights to Voltaire’s libellous work because he had bought it from his father, and showing Malesherbes his correspondence with Voltaire outlining his commitment to prevent the piece from being published. Malesherbes told him to order the printers not to print the collections, and to see the censor to recommend that he did not approve the documents if they were sent to him.