This copy of the poem is given an alternative title: ‘A Mr le Prince et Mme la Pcesse de Craon qui l’invitaient à venir chez eux.’

In the letter, Voltaire notes that as soon as Émilie du Châtelet has finished her great business, he will have no more pressing matters than to take advantage of the kindnesses of the Prince and Princess. He ends by asking them to accept his deepest respects. The letter is dated 15 August 1749.

The poem preceding the letter was written by Voltaire whilst in Lorraine, likely between February and December 1748. In it, he praises Lunéville and the pleasures he experienced there amongst the wise. The final lines of the poem have been heavily corrected. Besterman suggests that they may have been transcribed from the autograph original (CMV34556) which is similarly revised.

In the manuscript, the poem is titled: ‘Quatrains par Voltaire sur le malheur d’avoir près de 50 ans’.

Jaucourt sent the manuscript to Théodore Tronchin on 4 November 1743.

Toward the beginning of the letter he says that Frederick is “counted among the kings” but is “more than them”. Voltaire compliments Frederick on performing big actions, and being wise, and writing poetry and music with ease. He writes of his hope that Frederick will “strengthen Europe, as it has shaken.” The letter ends with Voltaire saying- “The philosopher king is exactly what the philosopher who is not king tried in vain to become.” The remainder of the letter is missing.

This letter begins with a poem which Voltaire wrote for Frederick the Great. The poem talks of Frederick’s greatness- “In your achievements, in your writings; astonish the great and wise; who before you are too little.” Other interesting stanzas in the poem are as follows- “I had too much hope in my youth; and in the middle age, too much trouble; but in the old age where I am; alas, I have too little wisdom….In France…we do not have too many scholars; we have too few geniuses.” After the poem, Voltaire writes a short personal letter, in which he mentions how Frederick “beat us in Thuringia, and create[s] poetry better than we do!”