Voltaire notes that his strongest desire was to be naturalised in England, and that the Royal Society, prompted by Folkes, have given him that great honour. He lists the English writes who have influenced him: Shakespeare, Addison, Dryden, and Pope, and adds that he also entered into the ‘temple of philosophy’ where he admired the ‘altar of Newton’. Voltaire states that he was so bold as to introduce Newton into France, but that in doing so he became not only a confessor to his faith but a martyr also. He then turns to press, bemoaning and satirising its restrictions, and noting that the Royal Society has rewarded him for his sufferings. He ends by paying his respect to the brethren of the Royal Society and stating his desire to cross the sea in order to give them his ‘hearty thanks’.

The Royal Society dates the letter to 29 November 1743, however Besterman instead gives the date as 25 November 1743.

Voltaire notes that his strongest desire was to be naturalised in England, and that the Royal Society, prompted by Folkes, have given him that great honour. He lists the English writes who have influenced him: Shakespeare, Addison, Dryden, and Pope, and adds that he also entered into the ‘temple of philosophy’ where he admired the ‘altar of Newton’. Voltaire states that he was so bold as to introduce Newton into France, but that in doing so he became not only a confessor to his faith but a martyr also. He then turns to press, bemoaning and satirising its restrictions, and noting that the Royal Society has rewarded him for his sufferings. He ends by paying his respect to the brethren of the Royal Society and stating his desire to cross the sea in order to give them his ‘hearty thanks’.

The Royal Society dates the letter to 29 March 1743, however Besterman instead gives the date as 25 November 1743. As Voltaire was elected on 3 November 1743, we have followed Besterman’s dating here.

Herschel recounts a story about Voltaire and makes arrangements to visit De Morgan.

He quotes from Sir Isaac Newton (‘Tho’ often he forgot to Eat / Never forgot to drink Sir!’), noting that this: ‘is a noble illustration but it puts me in mind of Voltaire’s rather unscrupulous procedure in re Habakkuk. On the chance of your not knowing it (rather a slender one since you seem to be use to, if not the actual author of all the fun that is going on in the world) I will tell it. He, the said Voltaire, was dictating a “moral” essay (after his fashion) to his secretary & was going on at a great rate quoting Habakkuk[…] The poor secretary wrote all down but with increasing dismay & misgiving till at length his heart kindled & he spoke with his tongue “Mais, Monsieur, Habakkuk ne dit nul part rien de parcil!!” Voltaire was down upon him at once with “Taissez vous, insolent! S’il ne le dit pas il l’a pu dire. Habakkuk est capable de tout!” Isn’t that sublime?’

The notes were produced by an unknown transcriber and are undated.

In this addition ot the Memoire, Voltaire describes having hear Francesco Algarotti speak about Sir Isaac Newton.

Voltaire begins by discussing the work of Alexis Clairaut in the context of Leibniz, Émilie du Châtelet, and Sir Isaac Newton. He concludes by mentioning his prior corresponsance with Clairaut [D8455]. The copyist states that the recipient of the letter is ‘Mr. de Varennes, Receveur des Tailles de Montargin’. Besterman, however, instead notes that the recipient is Philibert Charles Marie Varenne de Fénille.

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.

M.F. Lomax asks questions about the nebuar hypothesis proposed in William Whewell’s Bridgwater treatise. He also enquires as to whether or not Sir Isaac Newton was a Unitarian, writing: ‘they see no difference between Newton and Voltaire and Laplace (not that they know any more than their names) and class them altogether as a set of clever learned infidels’.

Voltaire writes that he has read Robert Smith’s book of optics, adding that he cannot be so mightily please with a book without loving the author of it. He adds that Smith follows Sir Isaac Newton closely in ‘the path of truth and glory’.

Voltaire writes that he has read Robert Smith’s book of optics, adding that he cannot be so mightily please with a book without loving the author of it. He adds that Smith follows Sir Isaac Newton closely in ‘the path of truth and glory’.