The copy was made by Emmanuel Louis Henri Alexandre de Launai, comte d’Antraigues (1753-1812). Within the letter is a poem, ‘Ode sur la paix de 1736’. This copy of the poem contains several variants.

The MS opens with a poem titled ‘Epitre a M. Thieriot’. In the letter that follows, Voltaire writes that he sends a thousand compliments to his friend Bernard for cultivating the muses. He adds that he does not know why the public persists in believing that he wrote Montézume, adding that his scene in Zadig is set in Peru. He then turns to ‘Le Franc’ whom he claims has prevented Mademoiselle Dufresne from playing and expresses his doubts over the suitability of Mademoiselle Gossin for the role. Voltaire ends by remarking upon his ill health.

The sheets present a selection of variants for both the 1730 and 1737 editions, and are pinned into a 1728 London edition of La Henriade. The edition also features marginalia by Voltaire.

The letter is incomplete as the beginning is missing. Voltaire writes that, while waiting for the Berlin package, there is a little joke with which d’Arnaud can feast on with Frederick II of Prussia; he ran very unfaithful copies. Voltaire asks for d’Arnaud’s opinion on this matter and adds that he should learn news from Catilina, a tragedy Voltaire would publish in 1752. He concludes by saying that he still has no news of the English packet, and adds that he awaits with impatience Frederick II of Prussia. In a postscript, Voltaire states that he will be in Cirey for the entirety of January and would be glad if d’Arnaud could write to him.

The copy was produced for the Beaumarchais-Kehl edition of Voltaire’s complete works.