Fair copy of a letter from Voltaire to Françoise Paule Huguet de Graffigny [née d’Issembourg Du Buisson d’Happoncourt], written from Les Délices and dated 16 May 1758 [D7736]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV33309
Repository:
Shelfmark:
*KGV+ 11-194 (p.34-35), ‘Lettres de Mons. de Voltaire a mad. la marq. du Deffand’
Title:
Fair copy of a letter from Voltaire to Françoise Paule Huguet de Graffigny [née d’Issembourg Du Buisson d’Happoncourt], written from Les Délices and dated 16 May 1758 [D7736]
Collection(s):
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
767738209
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Je suis bien sensible, madame, à la marque de confiance que vous me donnez.
Incipit Modernised:
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In Own Hand:
Brief Summary:
Fair copy of a letter from Voltaire to Françoise Paule Huguet de Graffigny [née d’Issembourg Du Buisson d’Happoncourt], written from Les Délices and dated 16 May 1758.
Detailed Summary:
Voltaire begins by saying that he is appreciative of the mark of confidence that de Graffigny has given him. He then discusses the public, depicting them as a stormy sea which sometimes delivers you to the port and other times smashes you against a reef. He adds that this judgement of the public is random, and that men should not be subjected to their judgement or make their happiness dependent upon their way of thinking, noting that he has tried this ‘abominable slavery’ before. Voltaire goes on to say that one should live amongst one’s society, for to live for the world is to live in a constant state of war. He concludes by saying that he does not dare ask de Graffigny to send him her Greek, but adds that the letters of the mother make him keen to see the daughter.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 pp.
Format:
Dimensions:
Height: 330 mm
Hands:
2
Watermark:
The paper is watermarked with three different watermarks: text reading ‘Sebille van Ketel & Wassenbergh’; a shield with the initials ‘SKW’; and text reading ‘D&C Blauw’.
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Binding:
Additional Comments:
The text is contained within frames of plummet. The binder’s blank flyleaves at the beginning and end are in c.19th wove paper. The binder has titled the collection: ‘Recueil de letters. Tome 1’.
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Undecorated
Additions:
There are corrections and marginal notes scattered throughout. Additional pencil annotations have been added in a later hand.
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