Letter from Voltaire to François-Joachim de Pierres Bernis, written from Ferney and dated 27 November 1771 [D17474]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36717
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.85-6), ‘Au cardinal de Bernis, à Ferney, 25 novembre 1771 (M. 8417)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to François-Joachim de Pierres Bernis, written from Ferney and dated 27 November 1771 [D17474]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
On me mande, Monseigneur, qu’un Anglais, très anglais, qui s’appelle Mr Muller, homme d’esprit, pensant et parlant librement, a répandu dans Rome qu’à son retour il m’aporterait les oreilles du grand inquisiteur dans un papier de musique; et que le Pape e
Incipit Modernised:
On me demande, Monseigneur, qu’un Anglais, très anglais, qui s’appelle Mr Muller, homme d’esprit, pensant et parlant librement, a répandu dans Rome qu’à son retour il m’apporterait les oreilles du grand inquisiteur dans un papier de musique; et que le Pap
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to François-Joachim de Pierres Bernis, written from château de Ferney and dated 27 November 1771.
Detailed Summary:
The writer informs a cardinal that he has heard an Englishman named Mr Muller claimed in Rome he would bring back the Grand Inquisitor’s ears to Voltaire as a gift. The Pope, in jest, reportedly replied that the Inquisitor no longer had eyes or ears. Voltaire denies having made such a request and clarifies he bears no ill will, not even toward his critics. If the exchange did happen, he includes a light-hearted reply for the cardinal’s amusement, a witty poem addressing the Grand Inquisitor, expressing his own reflections on age and fame.
Keyword(s):
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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:
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Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
27 November 1771
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.122, p.156–157
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol.122, ‘MS2’, p.157
Record created by:
Record created on: