Autograph draft of a letter : place not specified, to Frederick the Great, ca. 1738 Dec. 5.

Record ID: 
308751
Accession number: 
MA 986.16
Author: 
Voltaire, 1694-1778.
Credit: 
Purchased by J.P. Morgan Jr., 1923.
Description: 
1 item (3 p.) ; 32.6 cm
Notes: 

A retained draft, headed "28e," and with a note by Voltaire indicating that the letter is in response to a letter of 9 November.
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: 

Discussing Frederick's writing and praising his philanthropy; informing him that he and Emilie du Chatelet will be making arrangements to see him soon; mentioning the sixth "Discours sur l'homme" on the nature of man; discussing, at length, Emilie's essay on fire which Frederick has read.

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.