The MS forms part of a volume containing:

• Copies of various criticisms of Le Temple de Goût, including a Lettre de Mr. Rousseau (D561)
• A printed edition of Le Temple de Goût
• A manuscript copy of Lettre de M. de V… à M. de C…, copied under the title of ‘Epître à Monsieur de ****’
• A manuscript copy of Le Temple de Goût

The volume appears to have been owned by Pierre Crozat, being marked D[ominus]. Crozat by Mariette who acquired the MS for the library.

The poem offers a playful critique of traditional romantic songs, ridiculing their themes of love and virtue as outdated and unrealistic. The speaker encourages fellow songwriters to abandon sentimental topics in favour of scandalous or bawdy stories, while still maintaining a sense of decorum. He dismisses refined madrigals as bland, preferring the raw humour of simple, unpolished songs.

‘Brevet de calotte au public’ is a satirical poem by Alexis Piron that critiques the public’s poor taste in art and literature. The poem presents the public as a foolish and inconsistent judge of artistic merit, favouring trivial and mediocre works while neglecting the classics and mocks the public’s ability to be swayed by superficial trends.

This is likely the memorandum he mentions in D12326, though if this is the case then six further pages of the MS are missing. It is written as a dramatic dialogue between Boswell and Voltaire and covers topics such as language, religion, superstition, poetry, literature, and painting

Voltaire writes that Chamfort has caught him at a moment when the sad state of his eyes leves him free to write. He notes that Chamfort speaks so well of his art that even if Voltaire had not seen such charming verses in la Jeune Indienne [a comedy written by Chamfort published on 30 April 1764, which Voltaire must have read in manuscript form] he would have been entitled to say that here is a young man who will write as they did a hundred years ago. Voltaire continues by saying that the nation only emerged from barbarism because there were three or four people who possessed genius and taste. Corneille, for example, wrote 200 verses, Boileau used an art unknown before him to put reason into verses, and Pascal and Bossuet changed the ‘welches’ into French. Voltaire notes, however, that de Chamfort seems convinced that the Crebillons and all those who have made tragedies as bad and verses as hard as his have changed French into welches. To this, he adds that the nation has taste by accident and so it is to be expected that a people who did not know the merit of Misatrope and Athalie will be ignorant and weak people who need to be led by the small number of enlightened men. He goes on to say that the likes of Freron do not fail to contribute to bringing back barbarism and misleading the tastes of young people who would reather read cheap books than buy more expensive good books, and who are often not in a condition to form a library. Voltaire quips that ‘loose leaves are the plague of literature.’ He concludes by saying that he looks forward to de Chamfort’s book as the subject is very touching and he knows how to successfully write touching verses.

Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand begins by saying that she has a copy of Voltaire’s letter to Horace Walpole, which she describes as a masterpiece of taste, common sense, wit, eloquence, and politeness. She adds that she will no longer speak to him about Lableterie, as should would have like Voltaire to have not spoken about it. The Marquise then notes that she is at the height of her joy as she has just received as her birthday gift the first seven volumes of Voltaire’s latest edition, adding that she had the tables read to her.  She then asserts that she only sees and loves those who admire Voltaire, saying that they should forgive Walpole’s former errors because national pride is great amongst the English and they have difficulty in granting the French superiority in matters of taste. She concludes by saying that only Voltaire can get her out of boredom and quotes Philippe Quinault’s Issé.

Louis Benjamin Aunet, baron du Montmoreau, writes to Pierre Laulaine de Sudrac to discuss his literary tastes.

Louis Benjamin Aunet, baron du Montmoreau writes to Pierre Laulanie de Sudrac. He discusses his literary tastes and alerts the recipient to the latest releases, including works by Voltaire.