Pictet begins by saying that Voltaire will be surprised to receive a letter from him, but that the recent revolution has given rise to many reflections that he wished to discuss with him. He notes that anyone who knew Peter III of Russia, his behaviour, and his projects can only approve his being overthrown by his wife, Catherine the Great, whom he describes as ‘the most worthy and greatest Empress who has ever reigned in the Universe’. He assures Voltaire that it was not Catherine that sought the throne but that she was only following the general wish of the Nation, crediting the revolution to the difference in characters between Peter III and Catherine the Great.  He goes on to explore Peter’s faults in great depth before providing an account of the revolution and the movements of Peter III and Catherine the Great. Pictet concludes by discussing a proposal made by Catherine to D’Alembert.

De Lacretelle writes that he has just read an articel in the Journal des Débats written by a ‘wide-awake muse’. He adds that he likes the generous anger against the defamers of Voltaire and says that he enjoys seeing that there is still a brilliant and passionate defender of ‘this poor 18th century which Barbarians have drowned in blood and which other Barbarians want to bury in mud.’ He concedes that he is far from being comparable to Voltaire and Diderot and that there is an old quarrel between himself and Jules Janin. De Lacretelle continues by saying that Diderot has created a dreadful word which surpasses in cynicism and atrocity what language and ‘the revolutionary reign’ have produced. He concludes by saying that he would like to have the recipient as a secon in the ‘little war’ attempted in the name of deepest friendship.