The play was first performed at the Comédie-Française on 12 January 1750. Lekain played the role of Oreste 17 times between 1761 and 1777.

Rome sauvée was first performed at the Comédie-Française on 24 February 1752. Lekain played the role of Cicéron twice between 1761 and 1762. In eleven other productions of the same play, he played Catilina instead.

Brutus was first performed at the Comédie-Française on 11 December 1730. Lekain first took on the role of Titus on 14 September 1750. He would perform the role 20 times between 1753 and 1770.

The play was first perfomred at the Comédie-Française on 24 February 1752. Lekain would act in the play 11 times. Between 1761 and 1762, he played the role of Cicero twice.

The play premiered at the Comédie-Française on Thursday 29 August 1748. It was performed 68 times by Lekain between 1756 and 1778.

This manuscript gives the names of the actors and their roles as follows:

• Sémiramis – Marie Dumesnil
• Arzace – Henri Louis Lekain
• Azéma – Sophie Hus
• Assur – Jean Claude Gilles Colson, a.k.a. Bellecour
• Oroès – Charles-François Racot de Gradval
• Otane – Dubois
• Mitrane – Mr Deborneval
• Cédar – Mr Dubreuil

This copy is limited to the verse only. The autograph copy is dated 2 November 1744, rather than 1 November as stated on this MS.

The letter contains a copy of a short verse titled ‘À Mme la Duchesse de ***’. The lines of the poem have been added to the bottom of f.97v in two columns of four lines each.

Voltaire notes that his strongest desire was to be naturalised in England, and that the Royal Society, prompted by Folkes, have given him that great honour. He lists the English writes who have influenced him: Shakespeare, Addison, Dryden, and Pope, and adds that he also entered into the ‘temple of philosophy’ where he admired the ‘altar of Newton’. Voltaire states that he was so bold as to introduce Newton into France, but that in doing so he became not only a confessor to his faith but a martyr also. He then turns to press, bemoaning and satirising its restrictions, and noting that the Royal Society has rewarded him for his sufferings. He ends by paying his respect to the brethren of the Royal Society and stating his desire to cross the sea in order to give them his ‘hearty thanks’.

The Royal Society dates the letter to 29 November 1743, however Besterman instead gives the date as 25 November 1743.

Voltaire notes that his strongest desire was to be naturalised in England, and that the Royal Society, prompted by Folkes, have given him that great honour. He lists the English writes who have influenced him: Shakespeare, Addison, Dryden, and Pope, and adds that he also entered into the ‘temple of philosophy’ where he admired the ‘altar of Newton’. Voltaire states that he was so bold as to introduce Newton into France, but that in doing so he became not only a confessor to his faith but a martyr also. He then turns to press, bemoaning and satirising its restrictions, and noting that the Royal Society has rewarded him for his sufferings. He ends by paying his respect to the brethren of the Royal Society and stating his desire to cross the sea in order to give them his ‘hearty thanks’.

The Royal Society dates the letter to 29 March 1743, however Besterman instead gives the date as 25 November 1743. As Voltaire was elected on 3 November 1743, we have followed Besterman’s dating here.