Voltaire begins by saying that he read de Missy’s last letter with great pleasure, as did Émilie du Châtelet, about whom de Missy had composed a poem in the said letter (see D2539). Voltaire, in turn, composes a verse in honour of de Missy. He concludes by saying that he will spend two or three months in France before returning to Brussels where Émilie du Châtelet’s great trial will keep him for at least two years. He adds that he will put off until that time any further discussion of literature and an Enligh universal history. He begs de Missy to continue his friendship for Voltaire, adding that he was touchd by his last letter.

De Missy writes that he luckily received Voltaire’s last letter (D2648) whilst in the company of a bookseller who has agreed to carry out Voltaire’s commission for a universal history, and, provided he obtains the consent of his Father, will also undertake a new edition of Voltaire’s works. He adds that the bookseller does not believe they should wait until then to publish Mahomet, stating that the bookseller would have printed it on the spot if he had it. De Missy promises that it would be printed correctly as he himself would read the proofs. He asks Voltaire to send him a memorandum of what he must, and what he could, say to the bookseller. The letter then turns to Voltaire’s persecution in France, with de Missy noting that superstition makes the greatest souls very small and causes them to be petty.

Voltaire opens the letter by saying a small trip has prevented him from replying to de Missy’ last letter (D2659) sooner. He writes that he has just learned that Mahomet has been printed in Paris under the name of Brussels and that this addition is not only incorrect but made from an inaccurate copy that was stolen from him. He therefore states that he is in need of a real copy that is printed and would be delighted to send a copy to de Missy to this end. He says there will be some delay, however, as his copy of the work is in Paris. In response to de Missy’s request for order to give the bookseller, Voltaire writes only that he prints Mahomet and his other works correctly. He asks de Missy to recommend a bookseller who sells l’histoire universelle and to have the sheets from the Babylonian captivity to the last sent to one Jean de Cleves, a banker in Brussels, who will pay for them. He ends by saying that he is in a country that is very unphilosophical as the people speak only of cavalry and fodder.

Voltaire briefly touches upon the Dias brothers and James Shephard, before mentioning a forgotten word. He then states that he defers to de Missy for the preface to Mahomet as he sees from his letters that he is far from superstitious and that he is a good editor and friend. He ends by asking about the progress of the universal histoy.

De Missy begins by saying that his impatience does not allow him to let Mr. Gravelot leave from Paris without taking the opportunity to write to Voltaire. He discusses his failure to secure a publishing deal for an English version of Voltaire’s works, but adds that despite his failings he should like to receive a short word of comfort from Voltaire. He acknowledges his failings and says that he no longer desires condemnation but rather mercy. De Missy says that he recently saw an advertisement for an English Translation of Voltaire’s l’Anti-Machiavel, and asks if Voltaire has acquired the universal history he had told him about, adding that he is mortified that the bookseller that promised him he would send one to Voltaire broke their agreement.