In this addition ot the Memoire, Voltaire describes having hear Francesco Algarotti speak about Sir Isaac Newton.

In the mémoire, Voltaire claims that his Histoire Universelle has been disfigured by Jean Néaulme in Berlin and Duchesne in Paris. He notes that it is not his fault if there have been unworthy popes, bad princes, and bad bishops, and neither is it his fault that people at court are ignorant. He asks the recipient to get rid of the existing copies of the work if possible, and asks to make public the purity of his conduct before the King, adding that he is threatened with an outburst from the Archibishop of Paris.

The letter has been encoded, with the numerical code running beneath the text.

Voltaire details the attack on Decroze by Ancian, providing an account of when the attack happened, who was involved, and the injuries sustained by Decroze.

Voltaire details the attack on Decroze by Ancian, providing an account of when the attack happened, who was involved, and the injuries sustained by Decroze.

Voltaire details the attack on Decroze by Ancian, providing an account of when the attack happened, who was involved, and the injuries sustained by Decroze.

The memoire begins by noting that the father of Decroze brought his case to the Lieutenant on 31 December who called two witnesses that same day. The case was then passed to the public prosecutor of the King on 5 January for him to give his conclusions, but the prosecutor refused to take the case. Decroze’s father was was unhappy about this, saying that theft of a life was equitable to theft of property, and saying that he would issue a summons to the lieutenant which would oblige the public prosecutor of the King to give a verdict. He did this, but the prosecutor refused to take the case until 11 January, by which time the attackers had had time to flee to other countries.

The memoire begins by noting that the father of Decroze brought his case to the Lieutenant on 31 December who called two witnesses that same day. The case was then passed to the public prosecutor of the King on 5 January for him to give his conclusions, but the prosecutor refused to take the case. Decroze’s father was was unhappy about this, saying that theft of a life was equitable to theft of property, and saying that he would issue a summons to the lieutenant which would oblige the public prosecutor of the King to give a verdict. He did this, but the prosecutor refused to take the case until 11 January, by which time the attackers had had time to flee to other countries.

The memoire is a series of requests set out by Ambroise Decroze for Jean Charles Girod. It begins by requesting that the minutes of the assault on Sr Vuaillet by Ancian be presented to the judges as proof of the violence typical of him. It also requests that one of the attackers, Benoit Brochut, should be added to the trial as he had given a confession before witnesses and signed it with his mark. Decroze also requests that the declaration of Gabriel Puet, made in the presence of witnesses be considered, and that a summons be given to Françoise Terron of Crelly who can testify that he was ordered to beat Decroze’s son with a stick. He notes that his lawyers have suggested that these pieces of evidence are favourable to his case. Decroze then requests that his daughter be heard under oath, as she was refused confession until she abandonned the cause of her brother. He demands that the Jesuit who refused her confession shouls also be heard under oath so that he might confess. He ends by saying that he will feel abandoned and betrayed by the world and delivered up to his persecutor if he is denied any of the above requests, begging Girod to assist his case.

The memoire recounts the attack on Decroze on 28 December 1760, and the subsequent assessment of the doctor, St Cabanis, who declared that Decroze would soon die from his injuries. It is noted that Decroze was dining with friends and that while he was dining Ancian went out secretly and sought out Benoit Brochut, arming him with a stick. Brochut had testified that this was true and signed the confession in front of witnesses. Along with Brochut, Ancian enlisted Jean Guar, Pierre Dubi, François Tiller, and others to attack Decroze and his friends. Decroze was struck on the head with a stick and the widow Burdet, with whom Decroze was dining, was also attacked and bruised. The memoire notes that he lay between life and death for a month. His father speaks of the anguish seeing his son in this state caused him, and the financial difficulties he faced when seeking justice. The remainder of the memoire recounts the legal process that Ambroise Decroze went through to try and bring Ancian and the other attackers to justice.