The manuscript is an exordium of Voltaire’s poem ‘La Religion naturelle’, comprised of four parts. It is a variant of the poem more commonly known as ‘Poème sur la loi naturelle’, with the incipit reading ‘Oh vous! Dont les exploits…’. In a letter of 22 March 1756 to the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha, Voltaire recalls that he completed his poem while staying at her château in Gotha in 1753. The poem explores the themes of happiness, morality, and natural laws. Most likely the poem is dedicated to the Duchess of Saxe-Gotha. The poem incurred the condemnation of the Parlement de Paris in early 1759, along with Helvétius’s De l’esprit and four other works (D8086, D8137, D8159). Voltaire’s reaction was bitter (D15618).

Topics include modern theology and philosophy; natural history; antiquarian discoveries and definitions, local history and folklore; travels and voyages; medicine; and music. There are many lengthy musical entries, including a detailed description of the 1783 Grand Jubilee Handel concert and a discussion of early musical notation systems. Identified authors quoted include Bishop Tillotson; Voltaire; Rousseau; Linnaeus; Bougainville; William Stukeley; and William Godwin.

Notes on theological and moral principles, catechism, epistle to the Romans, comments on Deist writers and extracts from Voltaire. Includes a discussion of the Poor Bill and Cavalry Act.

Included in the collection is a letter from Voltaire to Nicolas Claude Thieriot, dated 30 August 1765. In the letter, Voltaire discusses his health, before recounting two recent visits from the actress Mlle Clairon, and Damilaville whom he describes as a true “philosphe”, unlike Rousseau who has promised he would write against “Helvitius” to please the priest in his village. Voltaire then mentions the theological war in Geneva which he has avoided. He ends the letter by remarking on his uselessness to the world and the fact that he finds consolation in gardening.

Voltaire begins by saying that an illustrious theologian from Basel has written that Lord Bolingbroke has the ‘chaude-pisse’, a popular term for gonorrhœa, and from there draws the conclusion that Moses is the author of the pentateuch. He remarks that Lord Chesterfield’s chaplain took up Lord Bolingbroke’s cause like a good Christian and defended it in a pious and modest letter, the translation of which arrived in Potsdam with the permission of the superiors. He adds that the King laughed a lot and so should Formey. He jokingly instructs Formey to live cheerfully on the gospel and philosophy, let the profane doubt the chronology of Moses and the monads, get covered in pitch-resin, put big pins in his ass, and follow the advice of the author of the newsletters. He continues, telling him to feel the centrifugal forces, or have himseld embalmed while still alive. Voltaire then writes that he intends to take a trip to the southern lands with Dalichamp and dissect the brains of twelve-foot-tall giants and men as hairy as bears with the tails of monkeys. He philosophises that ‘those who turn the foolishness of this world into mockery will always be the happiest’ and advises Formey to ‘put only their price on things, and don’t take large scales to weigh cobwebs.’ He then concludes by speaking of a song by the Archbishop of Cambrai that the Marquis de Fénélon recited to him at the Hague in front of his wife and the Abbé de la Ville.