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VOLTAIRE (AROUET, FRANCOIS-MARIE). (1694-1778). French writer and philosopher. ALS. (“V.”). 1p. 8vo. N.p., “the 22” [December 22, 1759]. (To French poet FRANCOIS DE CHENNEVIERES; 1699-1779). In French with translation. “My dear correspondent, the bishops do not want to do good because the worldly people do it. These are pleasant maxims. You will have a pension on the condition that you are unhappy? Pleasant charity. I hope that the year 1760 will be a happy one. God has given us ample harvests. Ma[rsha]l de Broglie will give us Te Deums, and the finest of all will be that of peace. I commend the inclusions to your kindness. V/ this 22” Appreciated in aristocratic circles for his humor, it was Voltaire’s relentless display of sarcasm that led to imprisonment and exile early in his career. In addition to his personal attacks on French nobility, Voltaire used his pen to assault the Catholic Church. It was in his role as a leader of the Enlightenment, a movement that argued against dogma and tradition, which led the French government’s ban on the publication of Voltaire’s poem defending religious tolerance, Poème de la ligue. His unconventional views on religion were detailed in writings such as his first philosophical poem Le pour et le contre, in which he expressed anti-Christian views. Similarly in his Essai sur l’histoire générale et sur les moeurs et l’esprit des nations, first published in 1756, Voltaire vilified organized religion and the influence of the clergy, while professing his own belief in God. Despite his unconventional views and the condemnation of the French government, Voltaire was read and admired throughout Europe. Our letter criticizes Catholic bishops for abrogating their duty to ease human suffering and mentions his hope that Te Deums, will be sung to celebrate the victories of the French military leader Victor-François, 2nd Duke of Broglie (1718-1804) and bring an end to The Seven Years’ War that had pitted France, Austria and Spain against Britain and Prussia since 1756. On December 16, 1759, less than a week before Voltaire penned our letter, the Duke became a Marshal of France and later, for his distinguished wartime service, Emperor Frances I made him a prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Chennevieres was the inspector general of military hospitals, a poet, librettist and Voltaire’s frequent correspondent. His one-act ballet Célime, ou le Temple de l’indifférence détruit par l’amour was performed in 1756 at the Académie royale de musique. Published in The Complete Works of Voltaire, Volume 21 (p. 58, D8671), ed. Besterman, which notes that the letter was offered at the Rauch sale in Geneva on April 29, 1957. Neatly written on the first leaf of a folded sheet of which the conjugate leaf is blank. In excellent condition and a fine example of the philosopher’s wit.