The manuscript is a 19-line poem about the priest Desfontaine’s homosexuality, its historical impermissibility, and punitive measures. The manuscript does not replicate the entire poem, excluding the prefatory lines that read ‘L’abbe Desfontaines et le ramoneur, ou le ramoneur et l’abbé / Desfontaines, conte par feu m. de la Faye.’ According to T. D. N. Besterman, ‘despite m. de la Faye being named as the author, the poem ‘ is of course by Voltaire himself’. Furthermore; the poem is a fragment of D1514 that discusses the wedding of Marie Elisabeth Mignot, Voltaire’s younger niece, as well as an influential book by Maupertuis (perhaps La Figure de la Terre, déterminée par les Observations de Messieurs Maupertuis, Clairaut, Camus, Le Monnier & de M. l’Abbé Outhier, accompagnés de M. Celsius) and the faulty edition of Eléments de Newton.

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

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.

A document concerning the case of François-Jean de la Barre, and Mr Belleval prepared by or for Voltaire’s great nephew, Alexandre Marie François de Paule de Dompierre d’Hornoy. The document contains abstracts from 50 documents relating to the order of procedure in the trial of de la Barre between 1765 and 1766.

Part of a dossier concerning the trial of Jean François Lefèvre, chevalier de La Barre, mostly documents for the defence prepared by or for Voltaire’s great nephew, Alexandre Marie François de Paule de Dompierre d’Hornoy.

Extrait d’une lettre d’Abbeville du 7 juillet 1766′. [D.app.279] In this letter, Voltaire writes that a resident of Abbeville named Belleval lived intimately with L’abbesse de Vignacour. Two young men arrived in Abbeville and the abbess received them at home and housed them in the convent as they were her cousins. The abbess preferred the younger of the two men, the Chever de la Barre, to Belleval and so he grew jealous and resolved to take revenge. Voltaire writes that Belleval knew that the Chever de La Barre had committed great indecency 4 months earlier and had been criticised for not removing his hat at a procession carrying the Blessed Sacrament, so he ran from house to house recounting these tales. He then went to all of the witnesses and threatened them, forcing the judge of to hear the case. The judge, however, discovered that Belleval’s son had been the leader of the indecent acts with which the Chever de la Barre was involved. Belleval, Voltaire notes, made his son escape with Sr de Talonde and the son of the mayor of the city then had the Chever de la Barre followed by a spy, leading to his arrest. Voltaire notes that he was in Abbeville on business when de la Barre and an acomplice named Moisnel were escorted there from Paris, writing that there was great consternation in the city. In an ‘Autre extrait’ appended to the tale, Voltaire writes that the accused were condemned by the Paris parliament to have their tongue and fist cut off, their heads cut off, and their body thrown into flames. This happened to the Chever de la Barre but a similar fate had not yet befallen Moisnel. Several lawyers signed a consultation proving the illegality of the judgement (of 25 judges, 15 opined death, and 10 opined light correction.)

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.

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.