The hand suggests that this copy was produced in the eighteenth century.

Voltaire notes that his strongest desire was to be naturalised in England, and that the Royal Society, prompted by Folkes, have given him that great honour. He lists the English writes who have influenced him: Shakespeare, Addison, Dryden, and Pope, and adds that he also entered into the ‘temple of philosophy’ where he admired the ‘altar of Newton’. Voltaire states that he was so bold as to introduce Newton into France, but that in doing so he became not only a confessor to his faith but a martyr also. He then turns to press, bemoaning and satirising its restrictions, and noting that the Royal Society has rewarded him for his sufferings. He ends by paying his respect to the brethren of the Royal Society and stating his desire to cross the sea in order to give them his ‘hearty thanks’.

The Royal Society dates the letter to 29 November 1743, however Besterman instead gives the date as 25 November 1743.

White opens by confirming that he had received Knyvett’s memorandum of an inscription for the portrait of James Jurin that will be presented to the Royal Society. He adds that the Society would like to maintain in their collections the letters sent to Jurin by: Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de Buffon, Pierre Louis Maupertuis, and Voltaire.

James acknowledges Jusserand’s letter dated 4 September and says in response that no portrait of Voltaire, Shakespeare, the Pope, or Saint Evremond hangs in the rooms of the Royal Society. He adds that he does not know what has become of the portrait of Voltaire referred to in abbé Coyer’s letter.

Herschel recounts a story about Voltaire and makes arrangements to visit De Morgan.

He quotes from Sir Isaac Newton (‘Tho’ often he forgot to Eat / Never forgot to drink Sir!’), noting that this: ‘is a noble illustration but it puts me in mind of Voltaire’s rather unscrupulous procedure in re Habakkuk. On the chance of your not knowing it (rather a slender one since you seem to be use to, if not the actual author of all the fun that is going on in the world) I will tell it. He, the said Voltaire, was dictating a “moral” essay (after his fashion) to his secretary & was going on at a great rate quoting Habakkuk[…] The poor secretary wrote all down but with increasing dismay & misgiving till at length his heart kindled & he spoke with his tongue “Mais, Monsieur, Habakkuk ne dit nul part rien de parcil!!” Voltaire was down upon him at once with “Taissez vous, insolent! S’il ne le dit pas il l’a pu dire. Habakkuk est capable de tout!” Isn’t that sublime?’

The copy of the poem is found within a collection of miscellaneous items belonging to the Dashwood family of West Wycombe. Also included in the collection are notes on the family of George Ogilvy, 3rd Lord Banff, relating to clandestine marriages.

The MS was burned and destroyed when the Bibliothèque de la ville d’Arras was bombed in 1915 during the First World War.