Voltaire thanks the Pope for his kindness in gifting him his portrait. He adds that he would like the Pope to know that he is entirely devoted to his service and that he admires all of his eminent qualities. In thanks for the gift, Voltaire includes two lines of Latin verse in praise of Pope Benedict XIV: Lambertinus hic est Romae decus, et pater orbis / qui mundum scriptus docuit, virtutibus ornat. These would be repeated, with minor variation, in D3193.

Alongside copies of letters from Voltaire to Quirini, there are printed copies of ‘Epistola celeberrimo Poetae Voltairio Brixiae 1752’ and ‘Épitre de Monsieur de Voltaire au Cardinal De Quirini’, also dating to 1752. The ‘Reponce du card. Quirini a M. de Voltaire’ is also included.