Reflections on the English and French Establishments in America
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36057
Repository:
Shelfmark:
Voltaire Library, 5-240 (VIII, f.20v-21), ‘Notice sur les établissements des Anglais et des Français en Amérique’
Title:
Reflections on the English and French Establishments in America
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Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Incipit Modernised:
Language(s):
In Own Hand:
Yes
Brief Summary:
The manuscript is an autograph draft containing Voltaire’s reflections on the English and French Establishments in America. Written in his own hand, it likely served as a preparatory material for ‘Chapter CLI’ from l’Essai sur les mœurs.
Detailed Summary:
In ‘Chapter CLI’, Voltaire discusses the French colonisation efforts in America, comparing them with those of their Spanish and English rivals. The chapter features historical figures, such as Admiral Gaspard II de Coligny and John Calvin, and references notable locations, including Eldorado, Cayenne islands and Florida. Voltaire also discusses the spread of religion by Spanish and French missionaries, the governance, laws, traditions and indigenous peoples of Canada, and the practice of anthropophagy in the region. Additionally, he mentions Acadia and Louisiana, concluding with speculative advantages and disadvantages of establishing French settlers in Louisiana.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 ff.
Format:
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Hands:
1
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Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
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History
Date:
c.1756
Ownership:
After Voltaire’s death, the MS passed into the ownership of Catherine II and remained in the imperial and then national collection thereafter.
Origin (transcript):
[Geneva]
Origin:
Provenance:
This MS was probably taken to St Petersburg by Wagnière in the summer of 1779 along with the rest of Voltaire’s library.
Bibliography
Bibliography:
Fernand Caussy, Inventaire des manuscrits de la bibliothèque de Voltaire conservée à la bibliothèque impériale publique de Saint-Pétersbourg (Geneva, Slatkine reprints, 1970), p.38.
OCV Reference:
26A, p.263-275
OCV Manuscript Reference:
26A, ‘MSL’, p.xxv-xxvi