Autograph letter from Voltaire to Stanislas II Auguste Poniatowski, dated 6 December 1771 [D17500].

Identifiers

CMV:

CMV36713

Shelfmark:

5-240 (VII, f.79), ‘Au roi de Pologne Auguste-Stanislas, 6 décembre 1771 (M. 8429)’

Title:

Autograph letter from Voltaire to Stanislas II Auguste Poniatowski, dated 6 December 1771 [D17500].

Related record(s):

No related manuscripts found.

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Content

People:

Incipit Diplomatic:

Sire, Permettez à mon sincère attachement pour votre Personne, pour votre cause, pour vos vertus de dire encor un mot à votre majesté.

Incipit Modernised:

Seigneur, Permettez à mon sincère attachement pour votre Personne, pour votre cause, pour vos vertus de dire encor un mot à votre majesté.

Language(s):

In Voltaire’s Hand:

Yes

Brief Summary:

Autograph letter from Voltaire to Stanislas II Auguste Poniatowski, dated 6 December 1771.

Detailed Summary:

The writer expresses deep personal loyalty to the monarch and refers to reports that Cosinski and other conspirators swore a religious oath to the Virgin Mary before attempting their crime. He observes, with irony, that many notorious assassins have also been deeply religious.

He suggests that the monarch’s presence, virtues, and humanity may have awakened natural feelings of compassion in the would-be assassin, counteracting the influence of religious fanaticism. The writer further argues that this event will ultimately reinforce the monarch’s authority and render rebellion shameful. He requests a brief reply to be sent to Geneva and closes with renewed expressions of respect and devotion.

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Physical Description

Material(s):

Extent:

1 f.

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Binding:

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

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History

Date:

6 December 1771

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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.122, p.177–178

OCV Manuscript Reference:

vol.122, ‘MS1’, p.178

Record created by:

Aušra Bukniute

Record created on:

29 August 2024