The writer laments the recipient’s lack of interest in significant historical and religious texts, arguing that the Old Testament offers a richer narrative than contemporary English novels. They express a preference for traditional literature and critique the superficiality of modern reading habits. Despite their personal struggles with illness and appetite, they offer recommendations for engaging literature and philosophical works, contrasting them with what they perceive as the inadequacies of French and English literature. The letter concludes with a reflection on the value of enjoying life and dismisses the current challenges as less significant compared to past hardships.