Voltaire writes that Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand had proposed he buy an querry’s post with the duchesse du Maine, but that he did not feel ready for this employment and so was obliged to wait for another occasion to pay court to her. He instead recommends the Abbé de Linant for the role, whom he says lacks nothing but a fortune. He asks du Deffand to supprt de Linant, adding that if she does she will be nurturing his poetic talents.

Voltaire tells Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand to have the ‘brimborion’ read to her in her spare time, adding that he hopes it will amuse her and convince her that La Pucelle d’Orleans is a very moral work. Voltaire writes that he is afraid the marquise will have sad times, adding that saddness must be brightened with colours. He instructs the marquise not to read La Pucelle d’Orleans until she has finished the Swiss novel by Jean Jacques Roussea and the Turkish novel by La Popliniere.

Voltaire writes that if he were a man of the world he would like to have the honour of living with Marie-Anne de Vichy-Chamrond, marquise Du Deffand. Instead, he notes, he is a man of letters and so needs her approval.

Voltaire writes to “R”, who is going to Berlin on an amorous mission, and teases him about his love affair.

A version of La Pucelle d’Orleans in 15 cantos, corresponding to the earliest printed (unauthorized) edition of 1755, with place of publication given as Louvain (actually Frankfort am Main) or Paris (actually Amsterdam). Of the manuscripts described by Vercruysse, the present most closely resembles his siglum D (Institut et musée Voltaire MSV 49), a version in 12 cantos in the hand of Marie-Louis Denis [née Mignot], produced after 1742 and with numerous variants from the pirated eds. Cf. Vercruysse, p. 89-90. A provenance note added to the front endpapers suggests that this manuscript was owned by Voltaire and presented to a prince.

This copy has 15 cantos and corresponds to the earliest printed (unauthorised) edition of 1755. A provenance note on the front endpaper suggests that this copy was owned by Voltaire and gifted to a prince.

The collection contains a translation of letter 1-150 (13 December 1746-26 December 1764).

The manuscript is copied from the first authorised edition published in Geneva by Cramer in 1762 and consists of 20 cantos.