The note describes letters being presented to the Royal Society by Reverend Knyvett. The letters were written by Voltaire, Buffon, and Fontenelle and were all addressed to James Jurin, secretary of the Royal Society.

The note, in Voltaire’s hand, is corrected throughout. The anecdote relates to Chapter 18 of the Siècle de Louis XIV (see OCV, vol.13B, p.105-107 and notes).

Voltaire writes that he is sick and that he will immediately obey the orders of Madame Gallatin, adding that he will bring down justice. He concludes by noting that Betens is a fool.

A note introducing the text that follows in MS 54 (J). The note states that what follows in a letter in response to Voltaire’s ‘Mémoire’ in which Voltaire boasts of having rendered essential services to La Baumelle.