Thomas Jefferson thanks William Pelham for his notebook containing passages written in several phonetic alphabets, and notes on Voltaire’s attempts to reform the French language. He asks Pelham to send him Austin’s book on the human character of Jesus.

Included in the collection is a letter from Voltaire to Nicolas Claude Thieriot, dated 30 August 1765. In the letter, Voltaire discusses his health, before recounting two recent visits from the actress Mlle Clairon, and Damilaville whom he describes as a true “philosphe”, unlike Rousseau who has promised he would write against “Helvitius” to please the priest in his village. Voltaire then mentions the theological war in Geneva which he has avoided. He ends the letter by remarking on his uselessness to the world and the fact that he finds consolation in gardening.

In the letter, Thomas Jefferson gives John Barnes instructions about collecting William Short’s dividends and their payment to James Monroe. In the notes in Oeuvres de Sénèque, Jefferon questions the identity of the author and the editor, and attempts to identify the translator. In his notes on Le vrai sens du systême de la nature, Jefferson identifies the author as the baron d’Holbach, discusses letters by d’Alembert and Voltaire, and summarises a paragraph with a Latin quotation.

In the undated letter, Voltaire addresses a request Madame Gallatin had made of him, noting that he will have a Bétemps do it for him as his health is too miserable.