The letter discusses Voltaire’s contempt for clergy, and the financial difficulties of his brother Tom, a sailor, with small annuity.

The pocket diary contains:

• Elegiac lines to the memory of Maurice Margarot by Clio Rickman
• A fragment by Clio Rickman
• Impromptu Reply to Impertinence by Clio [Rickman]
• A mathematical riddle on the name of Napoleon Buonaparte
• Passport issued to William Bland, 1816 to travel from London to Paris via Calais
• Half sheet of a letter about procuring certain Roman coins the writer requires and how much he is willing to pay. On the back is a sentence about Voltaire and ‘this blockhead Lewis’.

Hannah more begins by discussing Tom Paine’s pamphlet, noting that all the bold blasphemies of Voltaire, David Hume, d’Alembert, Bolingbroke, Helveticus etc. are brought together in it.

George Woodward begins by mentioning the popular resentment of new style calendar and discusses Christmas. He notes that the neighbouring clergyman was weakly observing the old style and may be subject to bishop’s discipline. He then says that he has been reading Clarendon’s history and description of gardens at Pekin, before making mention of Voltaire’s banishment from the Prussian Court. He concludes by saying that at Christmas a cheat obtained 10s. by admitting visitors to his thorn tree, which resembled Glastonbury one.

George Woodward begins by recommending the history of Pampadour by Voltaire. He then turns to Jack’s marriage, which he notes may cause expense to his relatives, and references Mr. Croft’s determined to maintain numbers. He concludes by saying that George has gone back to school, the disorder at Abingdon being over.

The letter claims that the outbreak of smallpox at Long Ditton was due to the carelessness of common people. It also makes long comments on the writings of Clarendon and Voltaire, states that atheist writings are contemptible, and considers the actions of the Prussian king against British merchants.

Lady Emily Jane James opens with a discussion of a play by Voltaire, before turning to French hairdressing fashions. She ends with a discussion of how barren the countryside is.