The letter reflects on the suicide of Mr. Martignac and features his suicide note. The manuscript is written in Wagnière’s hand, but the titular phrase ‘Anecdote étrange’ is in Voltaire’s handwriting.

The manuscript is a copy of a letter in Wagnière’s hand. Voltaire reflects upon Epître, composed by Frederick II at Erfurt on 23 September. Addressed to Argens (Œuvres de Frédéric, xii.60), it distinctly portrays his contemplation of suicide; on the 28th the king sent a copy to Wilhelmina for Voltaire, having in the meanwhile sent him one direct (‘je vous l’envoie en vous suppliant d’en envoyer une copie à Voltaire, c’est ce que j’ai fait de même’); see Politische Correspondenz, xv.383; the hc sent to Voltaire passed at the R[ather]y sale, Charavay (Paris 30 novembre 1863), p.32, no.228; Voltaire had endorsed it ‘testament en vers du roi de Prusse, lorsqu’il voulait mourir, en 1757, quelques mois avant Rosbac, écrit de sa main’. Additionally, Voltaire remarks on his addresse’s interest in Antiquity that eclipses prevailing trends and ideas as well as stipulating the caveats of contemplating suicide.

The manuscript is a copy of a letter in Wagnière’s hand. The author references Epître, composed by Frederick II at Erfurt on 23 September, which clearly reflects his contemplation of suicide. Voltaire praises the glory and military prowess of Frederick II of Prussia purporting to dissuade the monarch from seriously committing to such a destructive pursuit. The author also mentions The Battle of Kolín where the Austrians defeated the Prussians and draws analogies between Frederick II of Prussia and Prince Louis II de Bourbon-Condé as well as Charles XII of Sweden. Additionally, the letter cites an ending of a poem, penned by Frederick II and featured in D7414.

The first dated 3 January 1814, describes a new acquaintance, Mrs Lewen, and discusses her reading matter. The second, dated 16 January 1813 or 1814, criticises Voltaire; praises Byron; and mentions her seven-year old son, Francis, having drawn a picture of Napoleon and of Portsdown Fair. The third letter is undated, but is a copy of part of 23M93/30/1/18 below. The fourth is a mere fragment, concerning the taking of spa waters, for health. The final one focuses on acquiring a wife and a profession. She recounts an unhappy tale of adultery, faked suicide and murder by a family whose girls were pupils of Mrs Wollstonecraft [Mary Wollstonecraft 1759-1797]. Then she rebukes him for writing a complaining letter to Lord Clancarty, claiming his father lost a peerage owing to a similar letter to Lord Buckingham. [Accompanied by a copy in the hand of Richard Chenevix Trench, of part of the final letter].

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.

Robinson writes of an accident that has become the talk of Paris, noting that the week before, Mr. du Fournier, a member of the grand conseil, shot himself in Mme. Tansin’s [Tancin’s] house, having excused himself to her cabinet to write a letter. Mme. Tansin sent immediate notice to the grand conseil and they, to avoid any disgrace, took possession of the body and took it away. They then committed Mme. Tansin to prison. Robinson notes that Mr. du Fournier was ruined in his fortunes and frequently spoke of killing himself, adding that he had recently quarelled with Mme. Tansin and that her friends were speaking ill of him for his malicious decision to choose her house as the scene of his death and bring Mme. Tansin into trouble. He then turns to the extraordinary will that Mr. du Fournier had prepared just before his death, noting that he had drawn up a list of Mme. Tansin’s admirers and, having no possessions of his own, distributed her favours to them all, including Mr. Fontenelle, Saladin, and Tronchin. Robinson calls this ‘a new kind of jealousy yt never was thought of by Shakespear.’ He concludes the letter by begging the pardon of Horation Walpole, and of Voltaire for havin in a former letter committed him to the Bastille. He notes that an undated letter from Voltaire has since come to light.

Voltaire begins with a discussion of suicide, before turning to the health of his recipient and himself. He notes that the marquise has lost two eyes but has retained friends, wit, imagination, and a good stomach. He, on the other hand, is much older, can’t digets, is going deaf, and is being made blind by the snows of Mont Jura. Voltaire adds that he can neither stay in nor leave Ferney, noting that he has wanted to found a colony there and establish two fine watch factories. He then discusses his financial woes, concluding that he will not kill himself and noting that philosophy is good for something- it consoles. He then discusses his desire to please the recipient’s grandmother and her husband and die as their vassal. He briefly remarks on the visits of Mr. Seguier and Mr. d’Alembert before bidding the marquise farewell.