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Literary
June 14, 1770
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A satirical letter purportedly from Voltaire to Marshal Duke de Richelieu, in which Voltaire humorously claims to be a newly appointed Capuchin monk, offers to free one of the Duke's deceased mistresses from purgatory, and resigns his claims to estates from the late Princess de Guise and the Duke's intendant.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
The following copy of a letter from M. de Voltaire, to the Marshal Duke de Richelieu, is handed about at Paris:
"I wish, my Lord, to have the pleasure of giving you my blessing before I die. The expression may be new to you, but it is nevertheless true. I have the honour to be a Capuchin; our General at Rome has just sent me my patent, in which I am styled Spiritual Brother, and Temporal Father Capuchin. Send me word which of your deceased mistresses you would wish to get out of purgatory, and I swear by my beard she shall not be there twenty four hours longer. As in consequence of my new vocation I must give up the good things of this world, I have resigned to my relations what is due to me of the estate of the late Princess de Guise, and from that of Monsieur votre Intendant. They will apply to you for your directions in these affairs, which they will esteem a favour. I sincerely give you my blessing, and am, &c."
"I wish, my Lord, to have the pleasure of giving you my blessing before I die. The expression may be new to you, but it is nevertheless true. I have the honour to be a Capuchin; our General at Rome has just sent me my patent, in which I am styled Spiritual Brother, and Temporal Father Capuchin. Send me word which of your deceased mistresses you would wish to get out of purgatory, and I swear by my beard she shall not be there twenty four hours longer. As in consequence of my new vocation I must give up the good things of this world, I have resigned to my relations what is due to me of the estate of the late Princess de Guise, and from that of Monsieur votre Intendant. They will apply to you for your directions in these affairs, which they will esteem a favour. I sincerely give you my blessing, and am, &c."
What sub-type of article is it?
Epistolary
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Commerce Trade
What keywords are associated?
Voltaire
Richelieu
Capuchin
Purgatory
Blessing
Estate
Satire
What entities or persons were involved?
M. De Voltaire
Literary Details
Author
M. De Voltaire
Subject
To The Marshal Duke De Richelieu
Form / Style
Satirical Letter In Prose
Key Lines
I Have The Honour To Be A Capuchin; Our General At Rome Has Just Sent Me My Patent, In Which I Am Styled Spiritual Brother, And Temporal Father Capuchin.
Send Me Word Which Of Your Deceased Mistresses You Would Wish To Get Out Of Purgatory, And I Swear By My Beard She Shall Not Be There Twenty Four Hours Longer.
I Sincerely Give You My Blessing, And Am, &C.