Letter from Voltaire to Louise Élisabeth Nicole de La Rochefoucauld, dated 26 November 1774 [D19201]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36728
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.103-4), ‘‘Mad. la duchesse d’Anville, 26 novembre 1774’ (M. 9232)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Louise Élisabeth Nicole de La Rochefoucauld, dated 26 November 1774 [D19201]
Collection(s):
Related record(s):
No related manuscripts found.
Link to Digital Resource:
Link to Archive Catalogue:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva, photocopy
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Madame, J’ai appris par Mr D’Argental l’action généreuse que vous daignez faire, et je n’en ai point été surpris.
Incipit Modernised:
Madame, J’ai appris par Mr D’Argental l’action généreuse que vous daignez faire, et je n’en ai point été surpris.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Louise Élisabeth Nicole de La Rochefoucauld, dated 26 November 1774.
Detailed Summary:
The writer thanks Madame for her generous intervention in a grave miscarriage of justice, praising her compassion and moral courage. He denounces the absurd and brutal conviction of two young noblemen — barely seventeen — for trivial acts of irreverence, such as reciting satirical verses and failing to salute monks, which resulted in a horrific sentence of torture and execution. He argues that the charges were frivolous and the punishment barbaric, driven by fanaticism rather than reason. Confident that Madame’s influence will help bring about a just resolution, he expresses hope that figures like Monsieur le Comte de Maurepas will lend their support. The letter ends with a heartfelt plea for her continued advocacy in the name of humanity and justice. According to T. D. N. Besterman, the foliation is 103.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
2 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 manuscript carries a few autograph additions.
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Inclusions:
History
Date:
26 November 1774
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.125, p.216
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol.125, ‘MS1’, p.216
Record created by:
Record created on: