Voltaire is in Senones undertaking research in the library for his universal history (Essai sur les mœurs). Villaume writes a bibliographic reference at the top of the letter, to which Voltaire appends a quote in Latin, both of which are omitted from published versions of this letter. Voltaire is asking Dupont for information relating to this reference.

The provided incipit represents the introductory annotation at the beginning of the manuscript, which has been crossed out. The body of the letter begins with the following sentence « Je supplie Monsieur Dupont de vouloir bien me mander, quelle est cette malheureuse édition allemande, qui contredit si cruellement celle de Baluse »

Writing to his brother, Lamennais discusses the revue for which he wanted to write an article outlining his new theory of spiritual power, though he acknowledges that the said revue does not work. He goes on to discuss a contribution by Louis de Bonald and an article by Antoine Eugène Genoud concerning Voltaire, Helvétius, and Rousseau that could not be published and would therefore need to be replaced.

Voltaire has added a postscript in his own hand.

The note reads:

L’empereur 100
l’impératrice 100.
mr de caunits 6
mr de voronsof 10
mr de la balle 4

The letter opens with nineteen lines of verse known as ‘Épître à Monsieur le Président Hénault’. The final seven words of the letter have been added in Voltaire’s hand.

The fragment gives l.16-27 of Act II Scene 2 only.