Fragment of an autograph draft of a letter : place not specified, to Frederick the Great, [ca. 15 Oct. 1738].

Record ID: 
308748
Accession number: 
MA 986.14
Author: 
Voltaire, 1694-1778.
Credit: 
Purchased by J.P. Morgan Jr., 1923.
Description: 
1 item (2 p.) ; 32.6 cm
Notes: 

A retained draft of the final third of a letter written on ca. 15 Oct. 1738 by Voltaire to Frederick the Great, headed "Au [prince] royal de Prusse."
A note at the head of this letter dates it to 22 Aug. 1738; corrected dating from Besterman.
Part of a large collection of letters from Voltaire to Frederick the Great. Letters have been cataloged individually; see collection-level record for more information.

Summary: 

Saying that he is grateful for his support; drawing a parallel between himself and persecuted scientists and writers; saying that without Louis XIV's protection Racine and Boileau would have been unhappy; considering himself more fortunate than these great men; inquiring whether he would like to receive Mérope's fifth act; informing him that Emilie du Chatelet received [Keyserlingk's] plans for Remusberg.

Provenance: 
Charavay sale (Paris, 17 April 1880), p.11, in no.28; Morrison collection; Sotheby's (London, 19 April 1918), p.289, in no.1768; purcahsed by J.P. Morgan Jr. from the London dealer J. Pearson & Co. in 1923.