De Missy writes that he received two examples of Voltaire’s Anti-Machiavel six months ago, one by the post, and the other was left at his house for him when he was not there. He notes that he flatters himself to think that one of the copies came from Voltaire as he recognised his arms on the seal of the envelope and believes he is unworthy of this favour despite having taken a keen interest in Voltaire’s concerns. He goes on to add that two words written in Voltaire’s hand on the title page made it impossible for him to doubt that it was Voltaire who had sent him the copy. He acknowledges that it has taken him too long to reply with his thanks, noting that he is aware of how precious time is to Voltaire and regrets the time he will lose in reading his letter. De Missy then remarks on his desire to be a correspondent of Voltaire’s, though he acknowledges that he has little to offer him. The letter then turns to what De Missy has done with Voltaire’s gift. He claims that he planned to make an extract of it for the British Library. Having transcribed the extract in haste, he intended to publish it as a volume at Christmas (though the volume was delayed longer than this and he regrets the errors that slipped into the extract as a consequence of his initial speed). He notes that he hopes Voltaire will approve of the edition, if only for the zeal with which he produced it.