Voltaire discusses the article ‘Mânne’ for the Encyclopédie. He notes that the article seems quite good to him, and that the philosophs and the curious can be happy with it. Voltaire notes, however, that a good apothecary would have said more and demonstrated the superiority of ‘mânne grasse’ over ‘mânne maigre’.

He then goes on to say that he is very happy to be in Lausanne when d’Alemberts theologian is in Geneva. He remarks upon d’Alembert’s saying that he might see the lake again this winter, noting that he should come and bring Diderot with him so that they may play his Les Fils naturel.

Voltaire ends by asking d’Alembert to tell Madame Du Deffand that he is thinking of her even though he does not write, and to pass on his compliments to President Henault.

The writer expresses sympathy for the harsh winter climate and acknowledges the recipient’s choice to leave Bologna for a milder location, although the exact destination is unclear. He describes his own situation, spending the winter in bed, and comments on the value of military principles over detailed battle accounts. He also mentions his intention to send the second volume of a book about Peter the Great and reflects on his preference for his peaceful life in Lapland, contrasting it with the recipient’s experiences in Italy.

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 he has just received a letter from m. Turkheim informing him that Schoepfling has satisfied his debt and so has nothing else to do but to beg Dupont to ‘put on the sheath’ and offer him his gratitude. He then notes that he and Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot] [née Mignot] will be spending the winter at Monrion and assures Dupont that he would be tempted to visit Colmar if there were not Jesuits. Voltaire then asks Dupont to tell Madame de Klinglin that she played a dreadful trick on him as she was at Saint-Claude just six miles from Voltaire in Délices. He adds that if she had told him he would have gone to visit her but he will now, instead, be forced to make a trip to Colmar. He concludes by syaing that new operas are being prepared in Italy, new comedies are going to be given in Paris, and a lottery of thirty million is also to be held.

Du Châtelet writes that she had planned to babysit de Graffigny this winter but that she is in no state to be pleasant because she is anxious about Voltaire who is in bed with a heavy fever. As such, she writes, her letter will be very sad and very short. She notes that de Graffigny is interested in Du Châtelet’s news and claims that her health does not matter to her but that she is well. Du Châtelet informs de Graffigny that Mme de Richelieu has written her a friendly letter, believing her to be staying with Du Châtelet. She concludes by telling de Graffigny that Mme de Chatelleraut told her that she is very fat and very handsome, that she is doing well, and that she is leaving for Languedoc. She signs off the letter asking de Graffigny to love and pity her.