Provost Goodall recounts his journey through France, beginning with a description of Dijon. He remarks upon his arrival in Geneva and includes a description of a visit to Ferney during which time he viewed Voltaire’s rooms.

Walpole thanks Berry for her last letter and expresses his sorrow at her falling ill just as he has recovered from his gout and fall. He goes on to discuss the French Revolution and notes that he has been reading Voltaire’s correspondence. He ends with some minor news, mentionin Tonton their dog and the terrible rains that they have had lade, concluding by saying that he looks forward to her return in September.

Collini begins by offering Dupont his resects, noting that the mountains of Colmar are not pleasant, but that he would find them charming if Dupont were there. He adds that Voltaire, who sends Dupont his most tender compliments, has resolved to spend the winter in Colmar, noting that Voltaire looks on Dupont as a friend he cannot do without, and who will be his only consolation during the horrors of the cold. Collini remarks that Voltaire will stay in Colmar as long as there are sunny days, and will flee at the first frost.

Voltaire writes that is is always raining in Strasbourg and that he has bought Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] a sedan that he hopes she will be happy with. He discusses buying land but notes that he is waiting for the approval of Champignele because it is so close to the court of the king of Poland. Voltaire adds that if it is too expensive he will not buy it, concluding that as long as he lives with Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] it does not matter where the land is. He then notes that he saw the General of the Saxons whom he felt was a man of merit. He writes that the General escaped last year from the Prussians with ten thousand men and led tom to Hungary and France. Voltaire adds that he believes that the King of Prussia is as embarrassed now as he was last year in July. He ends his discussion of the General and warfare by remarking that the army of Clermont is still without a General and states: ‘God help us.’ He concludes by asking Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] to write to him, before addressing Madame de Fontaine whom he ays he pities. He asks if she goes to the comedy in this abominable weather and enquires after her ‘fat offspring’. In final departing lines, he notes that Madame de Bentinck has arrived.

Rain. Route from Tunbridge to Richmond. Lady M Forbes well and repeats former invitations. My Lord’s note for Lord Polwarth. Last brochure sent to Richmond for your use to initiate you again into the art or at least the practice of reading before you come to Wimpole; including Voltaire.

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 writes that he is touched by de Laurencin’s letter. He notes that he has been in the Pays de Gex for thirteen years and, whilst he has his fortune, his age, the snow that surrounds him eight months a year, the disturbances of Geneva, and the interruption of trade has made him think of acquiring somewhere in a milder climate. He adds that he was offered twenty houses near Lyon. Voltaire then notes that he would like to live with de Laurencin but there are too many people that depend on him for him to leave Ferney. He notes that he gave his niece the land he lives on, and married a descendant of Corneille to a gentleman from the neighbourhood, with the couple and their children staying in his château. He adds that he also has to attend to two other households, an impotent parent, a chaplain that was previously a Jesuit, a young man whom Richelieu entrusted to him, and numerous servants, and that he must govern the Pays de Gex because the cessation of trade with Geneva prevents farmers from being found. He concludes that he must stay at Ferney, whatever the weather, and adds that his disadvantages are compensated for because he pays nothing to the King and is perfectly free except in the jurisdiction of justice. He thanks de Laurencin again and notes that he would like to send him some books, beginning with a small writing that he has given to Mr. Tabarau to give to him as it is difficult to pass books from Geneva to Lyon.

This is the earliest example of a signed Voltaire letter. Voltaire writes that he has postponed his response by two or three days so that he can tell La Marche about the tragedy that Father Lejay [Gabriel-François Lejay, professor of rhetoric at Louis-le-Grand] has just represented. He writes that a heavy rain caused the show to be divided into two after dinner, which gave the schoolchildren as much pleasure as it did Father Lejay. Voltaire then describes the play, remarking that two monks broke their neckes one after another so skilfully that they seemed to fall over only for the audience’s entertainment, that the nuncio of His Holiness gave them eight days of leave, that Monsieur Theuenart sang, and Fathe Lejay got hoarse, and that Father Porée prayed to God for better weather but at the height of his prayers the sky only gave an abundance of rain. He ends the letter by saying that he desires to see La Marche in Paris but that that is not a possibility, concluding that he cannot write a longer letter because the post office is leaving and forces him to write in haste.

Grandey begins by saying that he would have written earlier but they had had company at Rufford and Shireoaks, adding that he is glad to hear that Achard is well. He informs Achard that he has been greatly troubled by rheumatic pain but that the sun has been shining all day which is supposed to be good for that ailment. He then notes that a week last Thursday Sir George [Savile, 8th Baronet] and Mr and Mrs Thornhagh went to Welbeck, and that he does not expect to see Achard until near Christmas. He adds that he can’t stop reading Montaigne, and that he does not think the Voltaire verses are actually by him, noting that he would like to read his tragedy ‘Serimamis’. Grandey ends by sending best wishes from his brother and sister, adding that Sir George has gone fox hunting and continues to work on the gardens at Rufford.

Amabel thanks Mary for her entertaining letter and the concern she expressed about Amabel’s state of solitude. She mentions cats, then notes that the box of books arrived safely. Amabel then discusses works by Voltaire and comments on her embroidery efforts. She also mentions: weather, that Lord Polwarth is rides Mary’s horse often ‘& flatters himself it will answer to your satisfaction.’ Amabel ends by wishing that she could hear that her father was more free from complaints.