Walker begins by noting that he is sending Caldwell a copy of Mrs Smith’s Emigrants as the poetry is of the first order. He then questions whether or not Caldwell has ‘searched Voltaire for M. Lindelle’s Letter on the Merope’ before turning to other literary works.

Racine begins by saying that he had received the verse attached to Heerkens’ letter, but that he has not yet received the beginning of the work which Heerkens had told him would be returned to him by one of his friends. He then goes on to discuss the “impertinent” article on Rousseau in Bayle’s supplement. He notes that Heerkens will find in Trévoux’s second brief of the month a letter from him in which he states that such slanders that hatred has dictated deserve only contempt. Racine then discusses a “violent fermentation” in the minds of the public, stating his hope for peace. He concedes, however, that given the King’s last response to the reprimands that this still seems very far away. He then comments on Damiens’ attempt to assassinate Louis XV of France the day before he wrote this letter on 5 January 1757. Racine notes that much is known of Damiens’ family and life story, but little of the plot itself, and quotes the King who remarked that if the blow is struck from abroad it is but a scratch, but if the blow comes from his people it is a deep wound. Racine concludes by discussing the seven octavo volumes that constitute Voltaire’s Histoire universelle, adding that Voltaire’s bold reflections and lively style encourage Racine to read all that he writes. He notes that Voltaire imposes on the ignorant, but will never impose on the savants who will not seek in him the truth of history.

Voltaire begins by saying that the verses that he had been sent for St Francis’ Day were signed DB, but that they were not as pretty as Madame Du Boccage’s verses. He asks who the lady is whose name starts like hers, and who dares to make verses almost as well as she does. Voltaire then goes on to say that the misunderstanding earned him a charming answer. He ends by saying that he is sending her a rogaton which was sent to him from Marseille (The Marseillais et le lion (Geneva, 1768)).

The quatrain is taken from a longer work, Stances Irregulières, which Voltaire sent to Louisa Ulrika of Sweden in January 1747. The verse reads: ‘S’occuper c’est savoir jouir / L’oisiveté pèse et tourmente; / L’âme est un feu, qu’il nourrir / Et qui s’éteint, s’il ne s’augmente’. Turgenev studied philosophy and history in Berlin and grew to love Germany and its developments since the Enlightenment. He befriended writers such as Gustave Flaubert, George Sand, Emile Zola, and Henry James, and was heavily influenced by the earlier writings of Voltaire.

Claude Henri de Fusée de Voisenon praises Voltaire’s tragedy titled Les Guêbres, and includes some verse of his own.

Collini begins by saying that he is angry that Dupont did not get the post he wanted (which was instead given to Jean-Joseph Barth on 3 January 1755), especially after Voltaire wrote in favour of him. He adds that, in this instance, bad prose won over verse, quoting the only two lines of an epistle by Voltaire to d’Argenson to survive: ‘Rendez, rendez heureux l’avocat qui m’engage / Donnez-lui les grandeurs d’un Prévôt de village’.

Collini writes that Dupont’s provost gives him work, and that many letters on this subject have been dictated to him so far, adding that dictated letters have never given him so much pleasure. He notes that he is really interested in Dupont and would like him to succeed in this matter, stating his belief (which he asks to remain private) that a charming epistle in verse if being prepared for d’Argenson. Collini concludes by sating that Dupont’s philosopher has taken the matter to heart, and that he has never seen him act with as much warmth as he does for his provost.

Voltaire begins by saying that it has been three or four years since he last cried and that he expected that he would not cry again until his death, however the secretary of the comte du Stadian found him in tears yesterday as he wept over Marie’s departure. He adds that the atrocity of what she had suffered lost its horror when she was with him, but after his departure he was no longer supported. He asks what her crime was as she had only travelled to lead her dying uncle, whom she thinks of as a father, to the Eaux de Plombières. He then turns to Frederick II of Prussia, noting that he had Voltaire arrested in order to get back the book of poetry he had given to him as a pledge of his kindness, and adding that if he had wanted it back he need only have asked. Voltaire recounts the services he has done Frederick II, and wonders how Frederick will undo the damage he has caused Marie and Voltaire. He then tells Marie of two letters for her: one from her sister and the other from the Abbot of Renel, adding that Madame de Fontaine’s is not comforting as it insists that Voltaire is Prussian.

P. Grandey thanks Achard for the parcel and discusses Achard’s view on both a poem attributed to Voltaire and political news from at home and abroad. He enquires after Achard’s health in view of his recent cold and the time of year, and notes that Sir George [Savile, 8th Baronet] is talking of going to London after Christmas, but the newlyweds [Mr and Mrs John Thornhagh] have all they need for happiness at Shireoakes. Grandey reports that the Duchess of Norfolk arrived ‘at the Mannor’ on Friday, and that he is amusing himself by reading letters from Mr Locke to Mr Molineux and ‘Limborch’ and his posthumous works. He asks Achard’s opinion on a poem in Latin called ‘On Molly B– wedding night’, beginning ‘Hic Jacet…’, and remarks that he is worried about his brother’s and sister’s silence. He concludes by writing that it froze hard but did not last, and that Rev. Sutton lent them a French book called ‘les Memoires Tures.’

Voltaire begins this letter with several lines of poetry, and then goes on to talk about Alexander the Great of Macedon. He tells Frederick about how Alexander the Great had a love for the fine arts. Alexander was a skilled writer of poetry, something which surprised the Macedonians, because they only knew him as a “brave warrior”. Voltaire mentions a scholar who apparently retired in the Caucasus Mountains after serving in the court of Alexander. Voltaire “would give all the Caucasus Mountains in order to see this foreigner for two days in the Court of Alexander.”

This item has been miscatalogued by the University of Southern California and actually dates to 9 December 1769.