Letter from Voltaire to Maria Anna Louisa de La Trémouille princesse de Talmont, written from Ferney and dated 15 June 1771 [D17240]
Identifiers
CMV:
CMV36769
Repository:
Shelfmark:
5-240 (VII, f.175), ‘A la Princesse de Talmont, Ferney, 15 juin 1771 (M. 8308)’
Title:
Letter from Voltaire to Maria Anna Louisa de La Trémouille princesse de Talmont, written from Ferney and dated 15 June 1771 [D17240]
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:
Made,
Un vieillard aveugle et mourant, a été instruit par les yeux d’autrui que vôtre cachet était à une Lettre du 4 juin non signée de vous.
Incipit Modernised:
Madame, Un vieillard aveugle et mourant, a été instruit par les yeux d’autrui que votre cachet était à une Lettre du 4 juin non signée de vous.
Language(s):
In Voltaire’s Hand:
No
Brief Summary:
Letter from Voltaire to Maria Anna Louisa de La Trémouille princesse de Talmont, written from château de Ferney and dated 15 June 1771.
Detailed Summary:
The elderly, ailing writer acknowledges receiving an unsigned letter dated 4 June. Though too distant from public affairs to engage in national disputes, he expresses deep respect for the correspondent’s achievements, which have helped protect Vienna from Ottoman control and may one day aid Europe’s liberation. He reflects on the failure of Christian princes to prioritise the common good over personal interests.
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Physical Description
Material(s):
Extent:
1 f.
Format:
Dimensions:
Hands:
1
Watermark:
Countermark:
Binding:
The manuscript is bound with other documents in contemporary red morocco.
Additional Comments:
Materiality Keywords:
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History
Date:
15 June 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.121, p.432–433
OCV Manuscript Reference:
vol.121, ‘MS1’, p.433
Record created by:
Record created on: