Letter from Voltaire to Henri-Jean-Baptiste Fabry de Moncault Autrey, dated 6 September 1765 [D12871]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36731
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.107-8), ‘6 septembre 1765. Réponse à M. le comte d’Autrey (M. 6106)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Henri-Jean-Baptiste Fabry de Moncault Autrey, dated 6 September 1765 [D12871]
Collection(s):
Link to Archive Catalogue:
Link to Digital Resource:
OCLC Number:
Reproductions:
The Besterman Collection, Geneva, photocopy
Content
People:
Incipit Diplomatic:
Ce n’est donc plus le temps, Monsieur, où les Pithagores voiageaient pour aller enseigner les pauvres Indiens; vous préférez vôtre campagne à mes mazures.
Incipit Modernised:
Ce n’est donc plus le temps, Monsieur, où les Pythagores voyageaient pour aller enseigner les pauvres Indiens; vous préférez votre campagne à mes mazures.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
Partly
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Henri-Jean-Baptiste Fabry de Moncault Autrey, dated 6 September 1765.
Detailed Summary:
The writer expresses regret over not having met the recipient and reflects on the virtues of simple, traditional cuisine compared to modern, elaborate dishes. They describe their preferences for modest and wholesome food, criticising overly complicated or pretentious dishes and dining customs. The letter also touches on their current illness and diminished appetite, while noting the appreciation of a shared acquaintance for the recipient’s memory. The writer closes by requesting continued goodwill despite their inability to host the recipient in person.
Keyword(s):
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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.
Marginalia Keywords:
Inclusions:
History
Date:
6 September 1765
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:
113, p. 287–288
OCV Manuscript Reference:
113, ‘MS1’, p. 288
Record created by:
Record created on: