Scope and Content Voltaire begins this letter with several lines of poetry, and then goes on to talk about Alexander the Great of Macedon. He tells Frederick about how Alexander the Great had a love for the fine arts. Alexander was a skilled writer of poetry, something which surprised the Macedonians, because they only knew him as a "brave warrior". Voltaire mentions a scholar/ foreigner who apparently retired in the Caucasus Mountains after serving in the court of Alexander. Voltaire "would give all the...

Scope and Content This letter begins with a poem which Voltaire wrote for Frederick the Great. The poem talks of Frederick's greatness- "In your achievements, in your writings; astonish the great and wise; who before you are too little." Other interesting stanzas in the poem are as follows- "I had too much hope in my youth; and in the middle age, too much trouble; but in the old age where I am; alas, I have too little wisdom....In France...we do not have too many scholars; we have too few geniuses." After the...

Scope and Content

This letter was difficult to translate and summarize. It begins with several lines of poetry written by Voltaire, which briefly mention some religious topic such as excommunication, the Holy Father, friars and monks. The rest of the letter continues on these religious topics. Saint Francis and Saint Ignatius are mentioned. At the end Voltaire asks Frederick to have pity on his old prejudices against the Curia. Voltaire signs the letter- "The old, ill hermit, V"

Scope and Content In this letter, Voltaire updates his "dear old friend" on his condition and what he is doing with his life. He begins by saying "We have both begun to be up in age, where it must be carefully addressed to save the rest of the machine." He then jokes that "I bet that you are drinking wine and champagne while I am drinking milk." For the remainder of the letter Voltaire talks about how he is translating a Spanish work, he talks of his commentaries on certain works, and he shares some gossip...

Scope and Content These three letters are all addressed to "My dear angel" or "My divine angels". In the letters, Voltaire talks of his ailing health. In the letter of April 25, 1764, he mentions his dealings with foreign contacts from Italy and Spain. In the two letters from 1769, he talks of his ailing health and hopes that Madame D'Argental is in good health. In both letters from 1769 he discusses religious matters, mentions the pope and some mythological figures such as Pluto and Venus. In the letter of...

Scope and Content In this letter, Louis La Valliere tells Voltaire that he has received the sermon which Voltaire sent, and says that the sermon inspired more respect for the author than for the "sound philosophy which reigns there". La Valliere then asks Voltaire for "the most meager friendship which you can give me." He compliments Voltaire on the fact that he has the "greatest genius and the most harmonious head." La Valliere tells Voltaire about his own career, which he began in order to care for his 15...

Scope and Content This is a letter to Derrey de Rocqueville, who was a lawyer to the Parliament of Toulouse. A note beneath the letter explains that Rocqueville had made a plea for a man named Louis Dussot, "the father of a large and poor family". Louis Dussot wanted to claim part of a large inheritance which his brother had bequeathed to the Hospital of Montpellier. In the body of the letter Voltaire praises Rocqueville's eloquence, and offers his opinions on the Louis Dussot case. He ends by...

Scope and Content This lengthy letter discusses certain figures in Russia's leadership. Von Bassewitz talks about Peter the Third's reign and that he may "incur a new war", but luckily the war should be short and peace will reign shortly after. The letter then goes on to talk about a manuscript of the life of Alexis of Russia, and quotes directly from the manuscript. The quoted passage from the manuscript paints a picture of the child Alexis, who was neglected and given governors to care for him so that he...

Scope and Content

This letter begins with a line that reads "I welcome you, sir, and from the best of my heart, do not be dead. Voltaire needs to live as long as possible." The rest of the letter goes on to wish that Voltaire recovers soon from his illness, and that he soon completes his history of "heroes of the north".

Scope and Content

This folder contains three sheets of paper, on which Voltaire wrote 4 poems. Two poems are addressed to Madame de Pompadour, one is addressed to Le Duc d'Olonne, and one is addressed to Monsieur de Chambon. The poems are short and make use of many metaphors as well as references to mythology.