Catherine notes that she has learned that Marie-Louise is going to give her her uncle’s library. She adds that sensitive souls will never see Voltaire’s library without remembering that he knew how to inspire in people a universal benevolence that also comes across strongly in his writings. Voltaire’s library would be sold to Catherine II a month later, with Marie-Louise receiving a payment of 135,000 lt in return in December.

The letter is accompanied by a draft of Marie-Louise Dénis’ reply, and a concerned letter from Alexandre d’Hornoy who writes to the Chevalier de Florian to express his dismay at Marie’s actions, asking de Florian to intercede on his behalf and make Catherine aware of the deep family divisions that the sale of Voltaire’s library has caused. d’Hornoy’s letter was written from Paris and is dated 9 August 1778.

Voltaire begins by saying that he is sending Cramer a new Russian chapter. He adds that they should leave Andromeda and run quickly to the Tsar and the histoire genérale, noting that the advent of Catherine and the coming peace are pressing Cramer. Voltaire then notes that he asked Cramer for a copy of La Pucelle, questioning whether or not he has any relics. He adds that he likes to give out copies every now and again and currently has a desire to give out four or five.

Voltaire signs the letter as: ‘le vieux mouton broutant au pied des alpes’.

Voltaire signs the letter as: ‘le vieux mouton broutant au pied des alpes’.

Voltaire begins by discussing the succession of Catherine the Great, before going on to ask Cramer for ‘une pucelle’ [La Pucelle d’Orléans], noting that he has given out four or five on occasion. He goes on to note that he has not corrected the sheets he saw at Les Délices.

This translation apparently predated the earliest printed edition of a Russian translation which appeared in 1820.

Included in the collection is an autograph letter signed from Jean-Rodolphe Vautravers to Benjamin Franklin, dated 21 September 1777. The letter begins by discussing electrical experiments exhibited at Zurich by the Chevalier de Volta of Como before moving on to discuss the contemptuous treatment of the republics of Switzerland by the present rulers of Great Britain. Vautravers notes that he encloses the fruit of his neglect and adds to it a copy of verses sent by Voltaire to [Charles Gravier,] Comte de Vergennes. The conclusion of the letter turns to diplomacy, with Vautravers noting that His Excellency is to proceed to Venice to secure that republic in the Bourbonian interest, having already secured Portugal. There is a brief discussion of the attitude of Russia toward Hanover, and Vautravers provides proofs of the Emperor’s aversion to republics. The letter concludes by noting that Franklin’s adversaries are now crowing over Burgoyne’s success in Canada.

Shiffner’s notes refer to:

• Voltaire’s Siècle de Louis XIV and Précis du siècle de Louis XV
• Copies of French verse
• Dr Goldsmith’s Life of … Bolingbroke
• Russian history in the eighteenth century
• The ice-house at Coombe
• The landing of émigres at Quiberon Bay
• The Franco-Spanish peace, 1795
• Various anecdotes

The notes run to three volumes.

Voltaire opens the letter by saying that it has been a long time since her wrote to Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand, describing himself as ‘Pierre Corneille’s pedantic commentator’. He then recounts a story of a local woman in his neighbourhood who, at the age of 104, had her periods return. He notes that jokers have suggested that she remarries, but that she loves her family too much to give her children brothers. Voltaire writes that this woman walks, digests, writes, and governs the affairs of her house very well, suggesting that the Marquise might follow her example. He adds that he doesn’t know of any comparable men, and that Bernard de Fontenelle is but a little boy compared to the Genevan woman. Voltaire then turns to François Augustin Paradis de Montcrif, whom Voltaire fears will ‘bury us all’. He remarks that Montcrif’s wig is better arranged and powdered than ever, and that Montcrif annoys him no end because he no longer writes little verses. Voltaire ends the letter by saying that he made a considerable loss in losing the Russian Empress as a subscriber, but that he immediately gained Maria Theresa as a subscriber instead. He implores the Marquise to live, digest, think, and laugh at the nonsense in the world.