Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from Ferney and dated 22 April 1773 [D18331]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36688
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.40-2), ‘Au roi de Prusse, à Ferney, 22 avril 1773 (M. 5820)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from Ferney and dated 22 April 1773 [D18331]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
J’allais passer les trois rivières
Incipit Modernised:
J’allais passer les trois rivières
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Frederick II of Prussia, written from château de Ferney and dated 22 April 1773.
Detailed Summary:
The manuscript is a lettre en vers, opening with a twenty-line poem that engages with themes of Greek mythology, spirituality, religion, and Christianity. The author refers to the La Barre affair involving François-Jean Lefebvre de La Barre and Sir Morival, and alludes to violence committed by Christians in the name of the Virgin Mary. The text also offers a critique of the political system of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, particularly the use of the liberum veto.
According to T. D. N. Besterman, the folios are numbered 40–41.
Status:
Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
3 ff.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
2
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
Decorations:
Additions:
The MS is a copy of original document: transcription, with a few autograph additions.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
22 April 1773
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):
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)
OCV Reference:
vol.123, p.397–398
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol.123, ‘MS1’, p.398
Record created by:
Record created on: