This version of the text reproduces only the dialogue, omitting the Mandarin’s ‘profession of faith’ at ll.393-504.

The MS opens with a quote that has been misattributed to Augustine.

The draft is incomplete and represents just one part of Rousseau’s much longer ‘Lettre sur la providence’. The symbol at the beginning of the draft suggests that this manuscript may have been an addendum that was to be inserted into the final draft of the letter.

Frederick begins by describing himself as ‘The Damned Philosopher’ who is compelled to send Voltaire his thoughts, despite them being nonsense. He asks Voltaire not to accuse him if indiscretion, but rather to put his letter into the category of Bluebeard and the thousand and one (Perrault’s famous fairytale) if it bores him. He then enters a philosophical discussion in the form of an allegory in which the leading writers of the Enlightenment, led by Voltaire, fight against the “infamous”. Frederick writes that he does not believe that Mustafa III, sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1757 to 1774, or many others are concerned about this, with only those aware of the Greek saying: ‘Know thyself’ wanting to what they are, and who they are, and indeed what they must forget about themselves in order to advance knowledge. Frederick ends the letter by noting that the Grand Cordelier of Saint-Pierre knows what to expect but has been paid not to reveal the secrets of the Church, adding that he reckons the Grand Cordelier will be more concerned about Avignon than Jerusalem. In a humorous tone, he concludes that he wants to be discreet and not steal a moment from a man whose moments are so well spent that Frederick wishes that he may last as long as his statue.

The MS is in the hand of an unidentified copyist, and is incomplete. The copy contains three chapters in the following order: 33, 32, 31. These chapters concern religious matters (Calvinism, Jansenism, and ecclesiastical affairs), and their numbering corresponds to the first printed edition of the work (1751).

Katharina talks of the Frankfurt accident, and the French occupation of the city. She talks of the burning of the Judengasse, and reports on the state of the roads and their former home, Frieburger gaße which was also burned down. The situation is, she notes, fatal and threatening. She concludes by saying that almost all of her friends have emigrated so she is usually at home, playing the piano or reading. She notes that she is especially enjoying Voltaire’s Essai sur les mœeurs et l’esprit des nations.

The manuscript is an exordium of Voltaire’s poem ‘La Religion naturelle’, comprised of four parts. It is a variant of the poem more commonly known as ‘Poème sur la loi naturelle’, with the incipit reading ‘Oh vous! Dont les exploits…’. In a letter of 22 March 1756 to the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha, Voltaire recalls that he completed his poem while staying at her château in Gotha in 1753. The poem explores the themes of happiness, morality, and natural laws. Most likely the poem is dedicated to the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha. The poem incurred the condemnation of the Parlement de Paris in early 1759, along with Helvétius’s De l’esprit and four other works (D8086, D8137, D8159). Voltaire’s reaction was bitter (D15618).