The writer thanks the captain for sending a copy of a charming letter from a lady known as “petite mère” and reflects on the value and reception of such correspondence. They express dissatisfaction with the misplacement of a valuable piece of work and lament being misunderstood for their foreign perspectives and political critiques. The writer also comments on various figures in literature and politics, expressing a mix of critique and resignation, and asks for a bit more time to live, despite their age. The letter ends with a light-hearted note, acknowledging the inevitable approach of death and sending regards to the captain and his wife.

In 1863, Dupanloup opposed the condidacy of Emile Littré due to his atheism and prevented his election to l’Académie française. In 1871, Littré was again a candidate and this time was elected, angering Dupanloup who then resigned. He was encouraged to reconsider his resignation by [François] Guizot and composed this letter in 1872 to explain his reasons for resigning. He notes that he still feels that the election of Littré was a ‘very regretable error’ on the part of l’Académie française before discussing their election of atheists in the past. Dupanloup first turns to Voltaire, whom he calls a ‘great wrecker’, adding that he thought it clever to wage war on Christianity and hide in l’Académie française behing auxiliaries more advanced than himself, and that Voltaire tried to get his fellow atheists [Denis] Diderot, [Claude Adrien] Helvétius, and [Paul-Henri Thiry] Baron D’Holbach elected as well but failed to succeed despite putting pressure on [Jean le Rond] D’Alembert. He notes that Voltaire had counted on the protection of Madame de Pompadour but that she could not help. He concludes that l’Académie française did not allow itself to be undermined by atheism in the eighteenth century and those that claimed to be Professors of Atheism, such as [Pierre Jean Georges] Cabanis and [François-Joseph-Victor] Broussais were never able to break through, and that this was one more reason for him to believe that he had to resign.