The manuscript is an autograph letter written in the hand of an anonymous author. The manuscript details Rousseau’s conclusion of his retreat in Switzerland (Geneva) in response to the conspiracy orchestrated by David Hume. The letter discusses Rousseau’s correspondence with the Chancellors, wherein he seeks guidance and protection, as well as his missive to Mr. Louvray from Dover, requesting permission to relocate to a free country. Additionally, MS1 is endorsed “Copie”, and this is what it appears to be; but as the conjugate address is present it must be assumed that the letter was addressed to another, and this copy was sent to Voltaire. In line 7 of MS1, there is a missing word ‘semaines’ (following the word ‘Quelques’).

Manuscript travel journals, 1784-1790, comprising part of a ‘Journal of an 8 month’s (sic) tour on the Continent’, 25 Apr-10 May 1784, describing the final phase of a tour from Sedan to Calais and London which lasted from October 1783 to May 1784, and including an itinerary of the whole voyage through Picardy, Paris, Burgundy, Switzerland and Belgium, and an anecdote concerning Voltaire; a ‘Journal of a tour to the West in the summer 1788’, describing a journey from London through Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall; and an unfinished ‘Journal of a tour into Sussex’, Jul 1790.

The recueil contains a contemporary copy of a letter from Voltaire to Turgot, written from Ferney and dated 18 May [1776]. In the letter, Voltaire discusses Turgot’s governance and notes that Mr de Trudaine claims that in Geneva, Switzerland, Franchecomté, and all along the Lion Road people are convinced that they have lost their father.

Johann Georg Altmann discusses his anti-Koenig sentiments, noting that he has circulated three ant-Koenig letters among distinguished individuals, and is planning on publishing further anti-Koenig material after objection to his role in the controversy surrounding the theory of least action. He goes on to say that literary disputes have been raging in Switzerland, ‘especially after M. de Voltaire has begun to meddle officiously in it, and since Koenig and his defender [i.e. Voltaire] have been so very insolent’. He concludes by providing extensive details about a dispute between Voltaire and and the magistrates in Bern.

Voltaire writes that he has been ill and could not have the honour of thanking Jacob Bouthillier de Beaumont for the offers he made. He asks him to give Gabriel Cramer the money for his bills of exchange, adding that it should arrive from Basel by courier. He asks de Beaumont to have it collected from Mr. Astruc, the directeur du coche in Switzerland.

Reflected in the collection are his early years as a Swiss immigrant, his life on the Pennsylvania frontier, his service as a Senator and Congressman from that state from 1784 to 1801, his work as Secretary of the Treasury during 1801-1814, and his later career as a diplomat. There is also genealogical material on the Gallatin family, including source documents. Topics given coverage in the collection include Pennsylvania and United States politics, U.S. foreign policy and treaties, revolution in Geneva, roads and canals, land speculation, banking, tariff, Americans in Europe, Indian languages and affairs, U.S. expansion, the Northeastern boundary settlement, and the slave trade. Among the numerous correspondents found in the collection are John Quincy Adams, Jean Badollet, Susanne Gallatin-Vaudenet, Voltaire, Catherine Pictet, James W. Nicholson, Alexander Dallas, Thomas Worthington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Tench Coxe, John Randolph, John Jacob Astor, James Monroe, Comte de Romanzoff, Lord Ashburton, Henry Clay, W.H. Crawford, Hannah Nicholson Gallatin, Marquis de Lafayette, Madame de Stael, G.W. Erving, Duc de Richelieu, Richard Rush, J.C. Hottingeur, John Forsyth, Etienne Denis de Pasquier, Baron Hyde de Neuville, French foreign minister Chateaubriand, Peter Stephen Du Ponceau, Nicholas Biddle, H.U. Addington, George Canning, David Gelston, Albert Rolaz Gallatin, David Shriver, Jr., A.R. Gallatin, and A.H. Gallatin.

Included in the collection is an autograph letter signed from Jean-Rodolphe Vautravers to Benjamin Franklin, dated 21 September 1777. The letter begins by discussing electrical experiments exhibited at Zurich by the Chevalier de Volta of Como before moving on to discuss the contemptuous treatment of the republics of Switzerland by the present rulers of Great Britain. Vautravers notes that he encloses the fruit of his neglect and adds to it a copy of verses sent by Voltaire to [Charles Gravier,] Comte de Vergennes. The conclusion of the letter turns to diplomacy, with Vautravers noting that His Excellency is to proceed to Venice to secure that republic in the Bourbonian interest, having already secured Portugal. There is a brief discussion of the attitude of Russia toward Hanover, and Vautravers provides proofs of the Emperor’s aversion to republics. The letter concludes by noting that Franklin’s adversaries are now crowing over Burgoyne’s success in Canada.

Refers, inter alia, to his banking interests, his fluency in Italian, his travels around the Courts of Europe, his meeting in Switzerland with Jean Jaques Rousseau (“a poor depressed melancholy misanthrope”) and Voltaire (“full of spirit, vivacity and intelligence”), his retirement, etc.

A diary describing Richard Neville Aldworth Neville’s travels in France and Switzerland with his children Dick and Fanny. In the diary, he provides a detailed description of a meeting with Voltaire on 4 July 1772, and an account of Voltaire’s opinions of literature and politics. An account of this meeting was printed in the Gentleman’s Magazine. This is available for comparison at: Essex Record Office, D/Dby Z19.

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