Autograph letter to Voltaire, written from London and dated 29 May 1767 [D14204].

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV33947

Shelfmark:

5-240 (II, f.409-410), ‘Lettre de Londres, 29 mai 1767’

Title:

Autograph letter to Voltaire, written from London and dated 29 May 1767 [D14204].

Related record(s):

No related manuscripts found.

Link to Archive Catalogue:

Link to Digital Resource:

OCLC Number:

Reproductions:

Content

People:

Unknown: Author
Voltaire: Recipient

Incipit Diplomatic:

Apropos de Geneve, Rousseau, ennuïé de ce qu’on s’occupoit pas de lui, a quitté sa retraite

Incipit Modernised:

À propos de Genève, Rousseau, ennuyé de ce qu’on s’occupait pas de lui, a quitté sa retraite

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

No

Brief Summary:

Autograph letter to Voltaire, written from London and dated 29 May 1767.

Detailed Summary:

The manuscript is an autograph letter written in the hand of an anonymous author. It recounts Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s conclusion of his retreat in Geneva, undertaken in response to a perceived conspiracy orchestrated by David Hume. The letter describes Rousseau’s correspondence with various chancellors, from whom he seeks guidance and protection, as well as a letter sent from Dover to Mr. Louvray requesting permission to relocate to a free country.

MS1 is endorsed ‘Copie’, which is consistent with its appearance. However, the presence of a conjugate address suggests that the letter was originally directed to another recipient, and that this copy was instead sent to Voltaire. In line 7 of MS1, a word appears to be missing: ‘semaines’, following ‘Quelques’.

Genre(s):

Status:

Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

2 ff.

Format:

Dimensions:

Hands:

1

Watermark:

Countermark:

Binding:

The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.

Additional Comments:

Materiality Keywords:

Decorations:

Additions:

The envelope carries the address and endorsement. The address reads, ‘à Monsieur/ Monsieur de Voltaire/ &&&a/ à Ferney, par Geneve.’ The endorsement reads, ‘franco’ Copie.’

Marginalia Keywords:

Inclusions:

History

Date:

29 May 1767

Ownership:

Origin (transcript):

Origin:

Provenance:

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)

OCV Reference:

vol.116, p.133

OCV Manuscript Reference:

vol.116, ‘MS1’, p.133

Record created by:

Aušra Bukniute

Record created on:

29 August 2024