The first three pages of the letter are missing. Voltaire begins by saying that he intends to send Thieriot two or three poems by Mr Pope, whom he describes as ‘the best poet of England and, at present, of all the world’, in the hopes that Thieriot’s English is good enough to enable him to appreciate the charms of the works. He adds that he views Pope’s ‘the essay upon criticism’ as superior to the poetry of Horace and his Rape of the Lock as above Despreaux Le Lutrin. Voltaire then turns to his own ‘ever cursed fortune’, writing that he came into England at the end of July greatly dissatisfied with his secret voyage into France which proved both unsuccessful and expensive. He returned to England with only some bills of exchange upon a Jew called Medina for the sum of eight or nine thousand French livres but discovered uppon his arrival that Medina was broke. This left Voltaire alone and penniless in London, in the grips of a violent ague that left him too weak to visit the ambassador. He writes that he was helped by a gentleman who gave him accommodation at his country house, adding that the friendship of this man ‘sooths the bitterness’ of his life and makes him love Thieriot more and more. Voltaire claims to have seem Lord and Lady Bolingbroke numerous times and that they offered him money and their house, but that he refused their offers due to their status, instead accepting help from Mr Faulknear.
Voltaire then turns to matters of publishing, stating that he had thought to publish ‘Poor Henry’ at his own expense in London but the loss of his money had prevented him from doing so. He questions if he should attempt to publish via subscriptions by the favour of the court, but notes that he is weary of courts because ‘All that is King, or belongs to a King, frights my republican philosophy, j won’t drink the least draught of slavery in the land of liberty.’
The letter then addresses Voltaire’s correspondence with Desfontaines and his desire to see Thieriot in London, where he hopes to remain. He speaks of the benefits of remaining in England, writing that it is ‘a nation fond of their liberty, learned, witty, despising life and death, a nation of philosophers, not but that there are some fools in England, every country has its madmen. It may be, French folly is pleasanter, than English madness, but by god English wisdom and English Honesty is above yours.’ After discussing England at length, Voltaire writes that he fears Thieriot will take his letter for one of the ‘tedious English books’ Voltaire had advised him not to translate and so instead turns to the lateness of his reply. He blames his correspondent in Calais and asks Thieriot to send all letters henceforth to Bolingbroke’s house in London, asking him also to advise others who would correspond with him to do the same.
Voltaire then discusses his sister. He informs Thieriot that he has written so much about her to correspondents following her death that he had almost forgotten to write of her to Thieriot. He says that he has nothing to tell him about the accident, because Thieriot knows his heart and way of thinking already, but notes that he has wept for her death and wishes to be with her. He muses on her passing philosophically, writing: ‘Life is but a dream full of starts of folly, and of fancied, and true miseries. Death awakens us from this painful dream, and gives us, either a better existence or no existence at all.’

Celebration of the 192nd aniversary of the birth of Voltaire, the champion of freedom and free thought and one of the most brilliant ornaments of literature. Subscription list to provide a display of fireworks at the summit of Mount Eden on February 20th, the Anniversary Day

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.

Voltaire begins by saying that he pays his compliments to the Ancient Greek poet Tirtée and says that he flatters himself that Tirtée’s heoric trumpet will ‘animate courage’. He notes that Lebrun has been deceived if he thinks that the annuity Voltaire ‘put on Mademoiselle Corneille’s head’ was for her father, adding that she has many talents and a very kind character. Voltaire continues, saying that he would have liked to see the name of Monsieur le Prince de Conti honouring the list of subscribers for the uncle and niece. He thanks Lebrun for his ode, noting that ‘the votes of the public and the barking of Freron will also contribute to your glory.’

Voltaire explains that the delay in his response was caused by his Niece’s illness as she was the one transmitting his letter. He discusses the misfortune shared by disloyal people, noting that ‘misfortune lyes on those who violate the laws of mankind.’ He informs Rolt that he can count him in the rank of subscribers as well as in the rank of his friends because he likes his works and way of thinking, and adds that if his health was better he would come to ‘breath the air of liberty in england.’ Voltaire concludes by saying that he his happier in the French countryside than at court and states that he is less proud of his title as a gentleman of the King’s chamber than he is the status of being Rolt’s friend.

Hénault discusses Voltaire’s edition of Pierre Corneille, writing that he has read Voltaire’s little notices and, in particular, a letter from him to M. l’Abbé d’Olivet in which is contained a list of subscribers for the edition of Corneille. He commends Voltaire’s choice of subscribers, adding that he had a list of his own of around twenty subscribers that he had been waiting to give to Voltaire.

Walpole writes to introduce Voltaire, whom he describes as ‘a Poet, and an ingenious one, who is lately gone for England to print by subscription an excellent Poem called Henry ye 4th’.

Voltaire writes that he and Madame de Fontaine have been discussing what becomes of the soul after death, but hopes to remain in ignorance for some time yet. He asks d’Alembert to send him the articles from the encyclopedia, if he has them, a little in advance because ‘a patient is not always the master of his moments’. Voltaire notes that he is very unhappy with the ‘story article’ because he wanted to show the different literary styles appropriate for a variety of different writings. He states, however, that he was in a hurry, ill, and overwhelmed by ‘this accursed general story that you know.’ Voltaire goes on to say that he does not know the dictionary [of which, presumably, d’Alembert had spoke] because he did not subscribe to it. Instead, he says that he will buy it when it is finished but quickly adds that he will probably be dead by the time it is done and so asks d’Alembert to suggest that Briasson sends him the printed volumes and Voltaire will give him a bill of exchange on his notary. Voltaire then discusses the articles on theology and metaphysics, saying that they pain his heart and that it is very cruel to print the opposite of what one thinks. He notes that he is angry that people still write dissertations and give particular opinions on recognised truths as he would prefer to know the definition and origin of words with examples. Voltaire concludes by apologising, claiming to be ‘a talker who says what he should have done and didn’t do anything worthwhile’, and ends by saying that if d’Alembert was featured in a dictionary he would be defined as ‘the most amiable of men.’