Voltaire writes that after having seen their friends in Colmar, suffered from indigestion caused by venison, cured his postilion with cinchona and his mare with wine, and travelling like a tortoise, he has the pleasure of writing to Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] as soon as he had a moment alone. He says that he arrived in Strasbourg at dinner time and that the steward told him that the Elector Palatin had just lost Dusseldorf to the Hanoverians. He critiques briefly the Minister of State Nicolas-René Berryer and notes that the Empress of Austria has both generals and ministers. He also adds that the manouvers of Count Leopold Joseph von Daun are to be admired as he took all the ammunition of the King of Prussia, and his military chest [at the battle of Domstadt, 30 June 1758]. Voltaire remarks that the Count of Daun defeated a body of eleven thousand men, two battalions of Prussian grenadiers laid down their arms and the rest were killed, dispersed, or taken. Frederick II of Prussia then quickly lifted the siege of Hormuz. Voltaire writes that Frederick was in Silesia and that before three weeks are up he will probably be between the Russians and the Austrians, adding that this is how fortune is made. Voltaire then turns away from news of battle to his own health. He remarks that he finds himself very ill everywhere that he is far from Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] and asks her to embrace for him all that is in her and love a little a man who breathes only to love her with all his heart. He writes that Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] is his consolation. In answer to her questions about his passport, he notes that he has it with him but does not use it, remarking that all doors are open to him and noone enquires as to whether he is received well or badly at Court but instead simply shrug their shoulders. He discusses his hopes of being able to buy castles in Lorraine and the estates of Champigneulles from the Count of Fontenoy and talks of the beatuy of the palaces in Strasbourg. Voltaire ends the letter by saying that he raises his hands to heaven in the hopes of seeing Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] again soon.

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.