VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) "The goodwill you will have for a nascent society of which you will be one of the benefactors"

VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) "The goodwill you will have for a nascent society of which you will be one of the benefactors"

VOLTAIRE: (1694-1778) French Enlightenment Writer and Philosopher. Voltaire is a pseudonym, his name being François-Marie Arouet. Voltaire is known for his attacks on Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion and expression, and separation of church and state. Rare L.S., `Voltaire´, two pages, 4to, Ferney, Geneva, 7th February 1774, in French. The letter is in the hand of Voltaire´s secretary Mr. Wagniere. Voltaire refers to the shipments he is sending from his beloved "small colony" town of Ferney in Switzerland, where he went into exile and where he is often referred to as "The Patriarch of Ferney", thanking his correspondent and another person for the help received, stating `Monsieur d'Ogny, Monsieur, a la bonté de vouloir bien se charger lui-même de faire parvenir à leur destination, les envois de la petite colonie que j'ai établie à Ferney. Bezançon est si près que j'ai cru devoir épargner le chemin de Ferney à Paris, et de Paris en Franche Comté. Je me suis flatté que vous auriez pour moi la même bonté que Mr d'Ogny, et que vous voudriez bien faire remettre aux Sr Pellier et Pochet dans votre ville la petite boëte que je prends la liberté de vous envoier, et qu´on demande avec le plus grand empressement, je vous serai très obligé.´ (Translation: "Monsieur d'Ogny, Sir, has the kindness to take charge himself of sending to their destination the consignments of the small colony that I have established at Ferney. Bezançon is so close that I thought it necessary to save the journey from Ferney to Paris, and from Paris to Franche Comté. I flattered myself that you would have the same kindness for me as Mr. d'Ogny, and that you would be kind enough to have the little box that I am taking the liberty of sending you delivered to Mr. Pellier and Mr. Pochet in your town, and that is being requested with the greatest eagerness, I would be very obliged to you.") Further Voltaire thanks again his correspondent for the help he is supplying and for his support to a newborn society, stating `La bienveillance que vous aurez pour une société naissante dont vous serez un des bienfaiteurs, nous sera extrêmement précieuse. Je voudrais bien être à portée de recevoir quelques uns de vos ordres...´ (Translation: "The goodwill you will have for a nascent society of which you will be one of the benefactors, will be extremely precious to us. I would like to be within reach of receiving some of your orders...") Paper with watermark. With blank integral leaf. Overall creasing, otherwise G

The provenance of the present letter is the former collection Chaper.