Voltaire calls Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand a big and kind child for not believing that Voltaire thought like she did. He reminds her that he is of a persecuted party which has nevertheless obtained the greatest advantage over his enemies: returning them to the ridiculous and odious. Voltaire asks if the Marquise has seen a letter sent from himself to King Stanislas of Poland thanking him for a book that he co-wrote with Brother Menou. He offers to send a copy if the Marquise does not have one, and promises to look for anything else that will amuse her. He stresses the importance of amusement and frivolity, noting that it is because we are frivolous that most people do not commit suicide. Voltaire concludes his letter by promising to send a copy of l’Empire de touttes les Russies, which he claims has a laughable preface that will console her for the boredom of the book.

Voltaire writes that is is always raining in Strasbourg and that he has bought Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] a sedan that he hopes she will be happy with. He discusses buying land but notes that he is waiting for the approval of Champignele because it is so close to the court of the king of Poland. Voltaire adds that if it is too expensive he will not buy it, concluding that as long as he lives with Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] it does not matter where the land is. He then notes that he saw the General of the Saxons whom he felt was a man of merit. He writes that the General escaped last year from the Prussians with ten thousand men and led tom to Hungary and France. Voltaire adds that he believes that the King of Prussia is as embarrassed now as he was last year in July. He ends his discussion of the General and warfare by remarking that the army of Clermont is still without a General and states: ‘God help us.’ He concludes by asking Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] to write to him, before addressing Madame de Fontaine whom he ays he pities. He asks if she goes to the comedy in this abominable weather and enquires after her ‘fat offspring’. In final departing lines, he notes that Madame de Bentinck has arrived.

The miscellany includes: P.1: Copy [c1700], endorsed ‘Coppie Letter Queen Katherine to King Henry being gone in an Expedition to France’
p.5: Copy [c.1800] endorsed: ‘Princess Mary’s letter to the Lord Admiral…’ [c1547]
p.9: Copy [c.1700] of letter from Lady Brian, governess to Princess Elizabeth, to Lord Cromwell [c1536]
p.13: Copy [c1700] of Wm. Cecil’s declaration on his actions after the death of Edward VI
p.17: Copy [c1700] of letter from Elizabeth to Mary, nd
p.19: Copy [c.1700] of letter from Elizabeth to Mary, 1558
p.23: Copy [c.1730] of letter from Elizabeth to Protector, Somerset, 21 February
p.27: Copy [c.1700] of letter from Elizabeth to Somerset, 7 March
p.31: Copy [c.1720] of letter ‘from Sir Henry Sydney to his son, Sir Philip Sydney’, nd
p.35: Letter to Nicholas Hardinge (Clerk to the House of Commons) from on the origin of the King’s Champion, 1734
p.39: Copy [c1750] of letter from M. de Fenelon to the Duke of Burgundy
p.43: Copy [c1750] of letter from King Stanislaus to his daughter, nd
p.51: Copy of letter from Voltaire to Mme. Denis, 1753
p.55: Verses, endorsed: Rondeau de Fontenelle sur le systeme cartesien
p.59: Verses on Mme. de Pompadour, by Fontenelle
p.61: Copy of letter from Voltaire to Rousseau, 1755, with reply
p.69: ‘Epitre de Voltaire en arrivant dans sa terre pres du lac Leman’, 1755
p.73: Verses, endorsed: ‘Voltaire a sa maison, 1755’, [in Lady Hervey’s hand]
p.75: ‘Supply and Ways and Means 1757’ [detailed estimate]
p.79: Letter from M. Gottched on the King of Prussia, 1757
p.83: Letter from Voltaire to M. D’Argent, 1758
p.88: ‘Supply of 1758’ [detailed estimate]
p.89: Copy of verses sent to the King of Prussia by his sister, 1758
p.91: ‘Supply for 1759’
p.96: ‘Supply for 1760’
p.97: ‘Verses of Voltaire to the President Renault, 1760’
p.99: ‘Vers de Voltaire – 1762’
p.103: Verses on Mme. d’Egmont
p.105: Epitaph on Mme. de Pompadour
p.107: Copy of above
p.111: Tragedy of Persifle (in French verse)
p.119: French verses
p.121: Letter to Lady Harvey from Mme. d’Estille[?]
p.125: Copy [by Lady Hervey[?] of French epigram on Marshal Soubise
p.127: French verses on Mme. du Deffand
p.129: French verses on Cupid, entitled ‘Enigme’
p.133-139: French verses
p.141: Verses, ‘a Madame de Clermont D’Amboise’
p.143: Endorsed by Lady Hervey: Vers de l’Abbe de Voisenon
p.145: Copy of undated letter from the King of Prussia to ‘my Lord Marshall’, [in French]
p.149: Verses by Voltaire and the Chevalier de Bouflers, 1765
p.153: Copy of letter from Voltaire to M. Thomas, 1765
p.157: Verses ‘A Mademoiselle Clairon’ by Voltaire. [printed paper]
p.161: Letter (partly in verse) from Voltaire to Tronchin, 28 April
p.165: Verses: ‘Epitre de M. de Voltaire au Roy de Prusse’
p.169: ‘Epitre de Volterre [sic] au Marechall de Richelieu’
p.173: ‘Verses: ‘M. de Voltaire au Roi de Prusse’
p.177: ‘Vers de M. de Voltaire au Cardinal Quirini’ [Querini]
p.181: Les Torts [Copy by Lady Hervey, endorsed by der: ‘de Voltaire’]
p.185: ‘Vers a mademoiselle de liveri’. [endorsed: ‘Epitre de Voltaire’]
p.189-197: Verses by Voltaire
p.201: ‘Voltaire a sa maison’