Autograph draft of a passage of Siècle de Louis XIV concerning Queen Anne of England
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV32904
Repository:
Shelfmark:
MS 12, ‘Siècle de Louis XIV’
Title:
Autograph draft of a passage of Siècle de Louis XIV concerning Queen Anne of England
Collection(s):
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
attendrie par les discours de madame masham sa favorite, intimidée par les representations des prélats toris [deleted: dans elle et] qui lenvironaient elle se reprochait cette prescription dénaturée.
Incipit Modernised:
Language(s):
In Own Hand:
Brief Summary:
Autograph draft of a passage at OCV, vol.13B, ch.24, p.212-13, l.36-52.
Detailed Summary:
In this extract, Voltaire discusses Queen Anne of England. He writes that Anne was moved by the speeches of her favourite, Madame Masham, and intimidated by the Tory prelates who surrounded her, so she reproached herself. The Duchess of Marlborough was persuaded that the Queen had brought her brother in secret to England, kissed him, and would have made him her successor despite his Roman Catholic religious views. Voltaire notes that it is claimed that on the eve of her death, Anne wrote several times: ‘Ah! My brother, my dear brother!’ She died of apoplexy aged 49 on 12th August 1714 and both her followers and enemies agreed that she was a mediocre woman. However, Voltaire claims that there has been no glorious reign, no great captains on land or sea, no high ministers, and no eloquent speakers since those of Edward III and Henry V. The date of Anne’s death given by Voltaire in this manuscript—12th August 1714—differs to that given in the printed edition—22nd August 1714.
Keyword(s):
Genre(s):
Status:
Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
Dimensions:
192 x 148 mm
Hands:
1
Watermark:
The paper is watermarked with a crown and a bell. Also included in the watermark is the date ‘1742’.
Countermark:
Binding:
Additional Comments:
The ink has been smudged on line 16 of the text on p.1.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
Voltaire has made a number of revisions throughout the text.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
A sheet of paper containing brief notes in an unknown modern hand on the provenance and content of the manuscript written in blue and red ink.
History
Date:
Ownership:
Origin (transcript):
Origin:
Provenance:
Bibliography
Bibliography:
J. Vidal-Mégret, Collection d’autographes littéraires, lettres et manuscrits des XVIIe, XVIIIe, XIXe et XXe siècles. 2ème partie. Catalogue de la vente aux enchères du 26 février 1969 à l’Hôtel Drouot (Paris, 1969), no.156 (6).
OCV Reference:
OCV Manuscript Reference: