Herschel recounts a story about Voltaire and makes arrangements to visit De Morgan.

He quotes from Sir Isaac Newton (‘Tho’ often he forgot to Eat / Never forgot to drink Sir!’), noting that this: ‘is a noble illustration but it puts me in mind of Voltaire’s rather unscrupulous procedure in re Habakkuk. On the chance of your not knowing it (rather a slender one since you seem to be use to, if not the actual author of all the fun that is going on in the world) I will tell it. He, the said Voltaire, was dictating a “moral” essay (after his fashion) to his secretary & was going on at a great rate quoting Habakkuk[…] The poor secretary wrote all down but with increasing dismay & misgiving till at length his heart kindled & he spoke with his tongue “Mais, Monsieur, Habakkuk ne dit nul part rien de parcil!!” Voltaire was down upon him at once with “Taissez vous, insolent! S’il ne le dit pas il l’a pu dire. Habakkuk est capable de tout!” Isn’t that sublime?’

Voltaire’s candidature was supported by six individuals between 1 April and 10 October 1743. His supporters were:

• George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield
• James Jurin
• Martin Folkes
• Shallett Turner
• William Jones
• James Bradley

His election was confirmed by Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond and Aubigny on 3 November that year.

Marx opens by saying that he has enclosed a photograph for Mrs Beesly. He then goes on to say that the Christian name of Mr. Greenwood is Frederick, adding in French that this is not the Frederick the Great. He continues by remarking that when Voltaire was in his Swiss retreat, he was accompanied by a Jesuit named Adam whom he introduced by visitors by saying: ‘he is not the first of men’. Returning to writing in English, Marx concludes the letter by saying that Jenny von Westphalen will call on Mrs Beesly the following Wednesday at 1pm.

This copy of the “fourth” London edition of 1728 includes a dedication in Voltaire’s hand that is dated 25 April 1728. In the dedication, Voltaire presents the edition to Queen Caroline, adding that he waited until the fourth edition was ready to send a copy of the work to the Queen as it was ‘plus correcte et plus épurée’. Despite his assertions in this dedication, Voltaire had written ten days earlier to present the Queen with a first edition copy of the work.

Voltaire’s dedication is, unusually, bound at the back of the volume and is upside down.

Voltaire dates his letter using the Julian calendar (21 April 1728).

Renouard begins with his regrets at his inability to visit Scotland. He then states that he is sending two Voltaire letters via Longman, as well as his work on Aldus. He concludes by saying that he plans to publish an edition of French fabliaux.

The manuscript is an autograph letter written in the hand of an anonymous author. The manuscript details Rousseau’s conclusion of his retreat in Switzerland (Geneva) in response to the conspiracy orchestrated by David Hume. The letter discusses Rousseau’s correspondence with the Chancellors, wherein he seeks guidance and protection, as well as his missive to Mr. Louvray from Dover, requesting permission to relocate to a free country. Additionally, MS1 is endorsed “Copie”, and this is what it appears to be; but as the conjugate address is present it must be assumed that the letter was addressed to another, and this copy was sent to Voltaire. In line 7 of MS1, there is a missing word ‘semaines’ (following the word ‘Quelques’).

Richard Owen Cambridge opens the letter with a mention of the Wilkes disturbances in London and goes on to talk about how the people of Geneva are ‘abandoning the foolish notions of liberty put into them by Rouisseau and fomented by Voltaire’.

De Missy begins by saying that his impatience does not allow him to let Mr. Gravelot leave from Paris without taking the opportunity to write to Voltaire. He discusses his failure to secure a publishing deal for an English version of Voltaire’s works, but adds that despite his failings he should like to receive a short word of comfort from Voltaire. He acknowledges his failings and says that he no longer desires condemnation but rather mercy. De Missy says that he recently saw an advertisement for an English Translation of Voltaire’s l’Anti-Machiavel, and asks if Voltaire has acquired the universal history he had told him about, adding that he is mortified that the bookseller that promised him he would send one to Voltaire broke their agreement.