Voltaire states that he asked for nothing more than an explanation and that the recipient was good enough to give him that. He thanks them for doing so.

The first six lines are written in the hand of Wagnière. The remainder is written in the hand of Voltaire.

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.