The notes were produced by an unknown transcriber and are undated.

The author expresses deep gratitude upon receiving a porcelain bust from the King, praising it as a nobler gift than any given by other monarchs. He mentions a new edition detailing the life of a celebrated figure who shared the King’s achievements, and suggests that Détalonde Morival could adeptly illustrate the King’s military campaigns due to his remarkable skill in drawing. He requests an extension of Morival’s leave, emphasizing Morival’s dedication and the impact of the King’s support. The author concludes with a reflection on the King’s dual roles as a hero in both war and philosophy, expressing lifelong appreciation.

The manifestion discusses Great Britain’s relationship with America, declarations of war, international relations, and piracy.

The commonplace book was likely produced by a woman c1808 and primarily features poems by early Romantic English and Scottish poets. The book begins with several excepts from poems on the subject of war,including James Thomson’s “O beauteous peace!” from Act II, Scene 4 of Tancred and Sigismunda, quotes from William Thomas Fitzgerald, James Macpherson’s Poems of Ossian, and two excerpts from Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian: “On court bien loin pour cherchr le bonheur …” and “Heureux le mortel obscur qui, sans rang, sans biens, sans naissance, ne connait d’autres devoirs …”. The book appears to have been dedicated to one Capt. Colquhoun of the 40th Regiment, given that illustrations of love letters added to the volume are addressed to him, perhaps explaining this early focus on warfare. It is likely that this was Captain Archibald Colquhoun who who fought in the Napoleonic Wars in Portugal with the 2nd Battalion, 40th Regiment of Foot, and was wounded in the Battle of Talavera in July 1809. The book then explores a second theme of slavery, quoting from anti-slavery poets such as William Cowper and James Beattie. The remainder of the book has no theme, but strong Romantic sentiments, quoting from Shakespeare, Homer, Voltaire, Goldsmith, Robert Bloomfield, and Melin de Saint Gelais. In addition, her commonplace book contains excerpts from he works of several women writers and poets including Hannah More, Charlotte Smith, Sophia Lee, and one Mrs Kerr, the author of a poem titled “The Complaint.”

The letter opens with a discussion of the “pecuniary vexations” of John W. Field and his wife, and a description of France. He encloses a copy of his Sonnets on the Erection of the Statue of Voltaire in Paris.

Voltaire opens by saying that the recipient makes his heart bleed with the news that the Duc de Bourgogne is near death, and that the Duc de Berry is afflicted with the same illness. He adds that he does not want to believe it because the news is too distressing. Voltaire then turns to political concerns, discussing the Congress of Breda and negotiations of peace with England. He ends by saying that he has read Spartacus, leant to him by Mr. Saurin, writing that it is not touching but contains some beautiful moments.

~With thanks to Rumi Kitahara for her assistance in identifying this manuscript.

Georg von Löw begins by discussing the delivery of works by Voltaire and the whereabouts of a set of engravings by Télémaque. The then repeats his earlier request for glasses to replace those that had arrived broken. In a postscript, Löw writes that General Grenville sends his compliments and discusses a work by the Marquis of Saint-Simon titled La Guerre des Alpes.

The manuscript is signed original in Marie François L’Huillier d’Orville de Marigny’s hand. According to T. D. N. Besterman, the folios are numbered 402-403. In the letter, the author politely expresses his discontent and upset over Voltaire’s lack of communication, opting to blame the inefficient postal service of the day rather than Voltaire’s intentional disinterest. Throughout the letter, the correspondent recounts his travels, the times of ill health, and the war of 1744, incessantly praising the virtues of friendship. Marigny ends the letter expressing his gratitude for the portrait gifted to him by Voltaire in 1751, bearing an inscription ‘Amico De Marigny, amicus of Voltaire’. Additionally, the author adds his ode to the portrait – the 8-line verse, with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD.

Voltaire begins by saying that d’ Alembert has reassured him about the article for the Encyclopédie titled ‘Femme’. He then discusses the processes of creating such articles, questioning if there should be guidelines with regards length as d’ Alembert has complained of vague and methodless dissertations that several individuals have submitted to him. He asks why d’ Alembert did not issue authors with protocols regarding etymology, definitions, examples, reasons, clarity, and brevity stating that though he saw only a dozen articles, he could not find any of the above in them. Voltaire concludes, however, that such questioning wrongs d’ Alembert as there are bad soldiers in the army of a great general.

Voltaire then states that if he were in Paris, he would spend all his time in the king’s library so as to aid d’ Alembert in his Encyclopédie. He adds that he is interested in the work as it honours his homeland and is useful for the human race, but that he does not have access to any of the necessary books.

He then turns to the civil unrest in France and the civil wars of Germany, which he dubs sad and awful respectively. He notes that the next campaign will likely be a bloody one. Voltaire then mentions La Pucelle, noting that the ‘infamous’ edition afflicts him. He sends his and Madame Denis’ love, before concluding that the has received the entry for ‘Histoire’ and will return it in five days time.

This lengthy letter discusses certain figures in Russia’s leadership. Von Bassewitz talks about Peter the Third’s reign and that he may “incur a new war”, but luckily the war should be short and peace will reign shortly after. The letter then goes on to talk about a manuscript of the life of Alexis of Russia, and quotes directly from the manuscript. The quoted passage from the manuscript paints a picture of the child Alexis, who was neglected and given governors to care for him so that he would behave himself. Once he was given a good governor/ teacher, his genius began to show that he could speak, write, and draw very well. By 1705, he had read the Bible 5 times in Slavonian, one time in Luther’s German version, and the works of several Greek fathers. Then Von Bassewitz mentions some manuscripts regarding Peter the Great, who was the son of Alexis. The letter is signed “Your very humble and very obedient servant.” The letter has been misdated in the University of Southern California’s catalogue and should instead be dated 9 March 1762.