Frederick begins the letter with a discussion of England, France, and Prussia, and the political situation between them. He adds that he plans to attend the congress at Augsburg, but concedes that he has no faith in it. Frederick then turns to Voltaire’s new work, adding that it does little to assuage his worries, and concludes the letter by providing an account of his ill health.

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.

Voltaire writes that he has received d’Alembert’s letter dated 1 December and thanks him for his excellent work honouring the memory of du Marsais. He adds that he can never thank him enough for backing him up with his eloquence and reasoning as they say he did about the infamous murder of Servetus and the virute of tolerance in the Geneva article (which Voltaire notes he eagerly awaits). Voltaire then writes that wretches have tried to justify the assassination of Servetus and that these wretches are priests, though he admits that he has not read any of their works. One of these priests, whom Voltaire calls a rascal, asked the Council of Twenty-Five of Geneva for communication of the trial which, Voltaire writes, ‘will make Calvin forever execrable’ and the boarded viewed with contempt. He then asks d’Alembert who the other young priest is that wants to pass him off as a loan shark, questioning whether d’Alembert borrowed at usury from the Battle of Kollin, noting that d’Alembert had condessed that at the battle of the 5th everyone had to advance him money. Discussion then turns to war and Voltaire writes that the Austrians avenge and humiliate them terribly, noting that they have made thirteen attacks at the same time on the Prussian intrenchments, and that these attacks lasted six hours. He writes that ‘never was a victory more bloody and more horribly beautiful’, quipping that the French are more expeditious, completing their business in 5 minutes. Voltaire then discusses Frederick II, King of Prussia, remarking that Frederick always sends him verses, sometimes in despair and sometimes as a hero, and that he tries to be ‘a philosopher in my hermitage’ upon receiving them. He adds that Frederick achieved what he always wanted (to beat the French) but that the Austrians laugh at him. ‘Our shame of the 5 gave him glory’, Voltaire writes, ‘but he will have to be content with this passing glory, too easily purchased. He will lose his states with those he has taken.’ In response to d’Alembert’s suggestion that Voltaire writes a biography of Frederick II, Voltaire writes that Frederick will allow noone to write his story except for himself. Concluding the letter, Voltaire writes that there are aspects of the eulogy of du Marsais that will do great good as ‘it only takes five or six philosophers who agree to overthrow the colossus.’ He adds that he does not wish to prevent people from going to mass or hearing sermons but that it is ‘a question of snatching the fathers of families from the tyranny of imposters, and of inspiring the spirit of tolerance,’ noting that the ‘vine of truth’ has already been well cultivated by d’Alembert, Diderot, Bolingbroke, David Hume, etc. He ends by sending d’Alembert the good wishes of Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] and asking if her ever sees the blind clairvoyant, charging d’Alembert with informing the clairvoyant that Voltaire is still very attached to her if so.

This is a libellous account of life at the Prussian court that insults Frederick II of Prussia. It was variably attributed to La Beaumelle and Voltaire.

In the letter, Voltaire writes that it has been three or four years since he last cried and he had hoped his old eyes no longer knew the weakness but, after Marie Louise Denis left him last, he wept as he was mourning her departure and her stay. Voltaire adds that the atrocity of what Denis has suffered is what upsets him, and questions whether a Lady of Paris (Denis), travelling with a passport of Frederick II, King of Prussia, could really have been dragged into the streets of Frankfurt by soldiers, and taken to prison without any trial, maid, or servants when her only crime was to travel two hundred leagues to convey a dying uncle to the Eaux de Plombières. He notes that is is sad for Frederick II to have not yet repaired the indignity committed in his name. Voltaire then turns to his own misfortune, saying that he had been arrested by Frederick II in order for him to get back his book of poems that he had left to Voltaire as a pledge of his goodness and a reward for Voltaire’s care. He notes that he would have returned the volume if he had been asked and that it was not worth having an old man imprisoned for. He bemoans Frederick II’s actions, writing of the many years of cordiality and friendship they had shared, and wondering how Frederick II can repair the damage done to Denis. Voltaire writes that he has sent back letters here for Madame Denis, noting that one from Madame de Fontaine was not consoling as it referred to Voltaire as Prussian, a claim he adamantly denies. He then acknowledges that some letters written against him have been erroneously circulated under Frederick II’s name, adding that Frederick II would not have written such letters as he is too aware of how to write properly given that he is King. He ends the letter by stating his wish to die in Denis’ arms, ignored by men and especially kings.

A list of the contents of a folder in Voltaire’s hand. Amongst the items listed are Marquis D’Argenson on the Battle of Fontenoy, a ‘card de fleuri’, ‘St florentin etc.’, letters from Monsieur de Mainevas and Émilie du Châtelet, correspondences from a trip to Prussia, and a letter from the Queen of Sweden.

Voltaire begins by saying that it has been three or four years since he last cried and that he expected that he would not cry again until his death, however the secretary of the comte du Stadian found him in tears yesterday as he wept over Marie’s departure. He adds that the atrocity of what she had suffered lost its horror when she was with him, but after his departure he was no longer supported. He asks what her crime was as she had only travelled to lead her dying uncle, whom she thinks of as a father, to the Eaux de Plombières. He then turns to Frederick II of Prussia, noting that he had Voltaire arrested in order to get back the book of poetry he had given to him as a pledge of his kindness, and adding that if he had wanted it back he need only have asked. Voltaire recounts the services he has done Frederick II, and wonders how Frederick will undo the damage he has caused Marie and Voltaire. He then tells Marie of two letters for her: one from her sister and the other from the Abbot of Renel, adding that Madame de Fontaine’s is not comforting as it insists that Voltaire is Prussian.

Voltaire proposes that Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] should marry Louis François Toussaint du Ravet de Champbonin, the son of a neighbor, and offers a dowry and help with her establishment. He then denies rumors that he planned to move to Prussia at the invitation of Frederick II, and comments on his relationship with the du Châtelets.

The letter discusses Jean Le Rond d’Alembert’s appointment to Berlin, Voltaire, Laurent Angliviel de La Beaumelle, and a depiction of the Prussian court published in Paris.