The collection includes: XII, 227. Bevos, to Benjamin Franklin, 1778 December 21. A.L.S. 1p. Paris. Had the pleasure of sitting between Franklin and the poet Rocher at dinner, the day they celebrated the Apotheosis of Voltaire. Is deputed by the Chamber of Commerce, at Languedoc, to ascertain the products of the United States; desires an audience for this purpose. (In French.)
IX, 51. Dupont, to Benjamin Franklin, 1778 April 16. A.L.S. 3p. Colmar. Has not the honour of being known to Franklin, but M. Voltaire, the genius of France, is an old friend of his father and M. Gérard knows his family well; desires to enter the American army. (In French.)
LXII, 107. Desrivières, Ferdinand. to Benjamin Franklin, 1778 April 22. A.L.S. 4p. Paris. He tells of his offer to go to Canada with three or four hundred men; of his literary efforts and Voltaire’s criticism of them; asks to enter the American service. (In French.)
LI, 85. Unidentified, to Benjamin Franklin, [1778 June]. Verses. 1p. Lines on the refusal by the Church authorities to hold a religious service over Voltaire’s remains. (In French.)
XII, 127. Bérenger, M. (Jean-Pierre), 1740-1807 to Benjamin Franklin, 1778 November 12. A.L.S. 2p. Lausanne. Desire of five young Genevese to settle in America; requests Franklin to aid them in this project, though they are provided for in a pecuniary way; considers the feasibility of establishing a Genovese clock and watch factory at Boston or Philadelphia. Hopes his opinion of the “Histoire de Genève” will coincide with Voltaire’s which he quotes. (In French.)

Included in the collection is: XLVII, 88. Voltaire, 1694-1778. to Madame Duboccage, 1777 November 2. L. 2p. Ferney. Reply about his tragedy “Alzire.” Says he is not a genius but a man of 84 weighed down with infirmities, half poet and of philosopher. Will soon rejoin his old masters, Socrates and Sophos. Compliments Mme. Duboccage. If he desired anything now, would be to return to Paris to enjoy her agreeable society. His niece has been very ill also. (In French. Copy) [D20876].

The collection includes: XLII, 179. Le Roy, Jean Baptiste, 120-1800. to Benjamin Franklin, 1770 April 22. A.L. 4p. Plans for seeing Franklin in England before the end of the year. Has sent him his brother’s [Pierre LeRoy] work on the determination of longitude at sea. Promises to send him Abbe Galiani’s work, Sur les Commerces des Bles. Project to raise a statue to Voltaire before his death. Recommending his brother, the physician [Charles LeRoy], to Franklin and Mr. Pringle. (In French).

Included in the collection is: XVII, 13. Woodmason, James. to Benjamin Franklin, 1780 January 4. A.L.S. 2p. London. Has shipped the paper; M. Beaumarchais’s agent, M. Le Tailleir, returns to England in three weeks and will take charge to any letters; he has purchased Baskerville type for Voltaire’s works. Superiority of English over foreign papers. Talk concerning peace very confident.

Included in the collection is an autograph letter signed from Voltaire to the Marquis de Modêne, written from Ferney and dated 15 February 1768. 1p. ^ 1/4″ x 7 3/4″.

Included in the collection is: XLII, 119., an autograph letter signed from Devellenne, to Benjamin Franklin, written from Paris and undated. In the letter, Devellenne discusses a statement in Bacon’s Philosophical Works that the claims that the Greeks condemned to death the first physicists who presumed to explain the natural causes of thunder. Devellenne then applies to Franklin to aid in verifying this claim, before turning to the question of belief in God, using Voltaire and Socrates in an attempt to find a resolution.

Included in the collection is an autograph letter signed from Jean-Rodolphe Vautravers to Benjamin Franklin, dated 21 September 1777. The letter begins by discussing electrical experiments exhibited at Zurich by the Chevalier de Volta of Como before moving on to discuss the contemptuous treatment of the republics of Switzerland by the present rulers of Great Britain. Vautravers notes that he encloses the fruit of his neglect and adds to it a copy of verses sent by Voltaire to [Charles Gravier,] Comte de Vergennes. The conclusion of the letter turns to diplomacy, with Vautravers noting that His Excellency is to proceed to Venice to secure that republic in the Bourbonian interest, having already secured Portugal. There is a brief discussion of the attitude of Russia toward Hanover, and Vautravers provides proofs of the Emperor’s aversion to republics. The letter concludes by noting that Franklin’s adversaries are now crowing over Burgoyne’s success in Canada.

Included in the collection is an autograph letter signed from François Astori to Benjamin Franklin, written from Naples and dated 13 March 1779. In the letter, Astori pays Franklin extravagant compliments. He goes on to speak of Franklin having introduced his grand-son to Voltaire, adding that he might say like Ovid did of Virgil; “Virgilium vidi.”

Included in the collection is an autograph letter signed from James Woodmason to Benjamin Franklin, written from London and dated 4 January 1780. In the letter, Woodmason notes that he has shipped the paper, adding that M. Beaumarchais’s agent, M. Le Tailleir, returns to England in three weeks and will take charge to any letters. He also notes that he has purchased Baskerville type for Voltaire’s works, before going on to discuss the superiority of English paper over others. He concludes by stating that recent talk concerning peace has been very confident.

The two volumes contain transcriptions and notes in French and were used by Ord to help with his French language skills. One volume contains instructions on using French verbs. The examples used include excerpts from Voltaire and Rousseau.