A Fragment of an Unpublished Letter from Voltaire to Richard Rolt

The Voltaire Foundation’s decision to update Theodore Besterman’s masterful edition of Voltaire’s correspondence in the Electronic Enlightenment data base has led to many exciting discoveries.1 The following letter was identified by Besterman, though he was never able to put his hands on it, and so the text remained unknown.2 It came on the market in November 2012 at the Swann Gallery in New York City. Thus far, this fascinating document has escaped the notice of specialists of Voltaire’s writings. Richard Rolt (1724–1770) was a minor literary figure who began corresponding with Voltaire at the time he published his book on the War of the Austrian Succession (An Impartial representation of the conduct of the several powers of Europe engaged in the late general war…from 1739 … to 1748, 4 vols. [London 1749–1750]). All Voltaire’s extant letters to Rolt (including the one below) reference that work, which he claimed to have enjoyed (D4536). Rolt’s one surviving letter to Voltaire, dated 18 August 1750, expresses his deep appreciation for Voltaire’s support and encouragement (D4189). Inexplicably, Rolt’s four-volume set is not to be found in Voltaire’s library today.3 There is little that needs to be said about Richard Rolt. He was only 25 when he published his Impartial representation. Voltaire’s kindly attitude toward the younger man was characteristic of his dealings with aspiring writers, though in Rolt’s case, the promise of youth was never entirely fulfilled. Following his early success, he tried his hand at several genres, including Grub Street. His commemorative poetry was well received. But by far his greatest success was as a librettist and lyricist. Rolt reportedly wrote more than a hundred songs and cantatas for Sadler’s Wells and Vauxhall Gardens. In addition, he collaborated with Arne and Battishill at Drury Lane (Almena, an English Opera, 1754). His adaptation of Metastasio’s Il re pastore provided the libretto for George Rush’s The Royal Shepherd, also performed at Drury Lane in 1764. Sadly, Richard Rolt died at age 45 in 1770. Voltaire’s letters in English are remarkable documents, not least for their quirky expression. Yet, even in a foreign tongue, Voltaire’s persona as Europe’s ‘apostle of freedom’ is abundantly apparent. The fragment below requires only a couple of notes. Voltaire’s ruminations on life ‘in courts’ is an obvious allusion to his disastrous episode at the court of Frederick the Great (1751–1753). The ‘niknaks’ referred to may well be the odd collection of characters he encountered there (nitwits?), perhaps Frederick himself, and the ‘country’ where he ‘played’ with them is clearly Prussia. So far as I am aware, Voltaire never owned property in Alsace, though he did live in the town of Colmar from October 1753 until June 1754. Finally, there is no record of Rolt’s having published a collection of select poems in two volumes. One wonders what became of Voltaire’s half guinea! The Swann Galley published a scanned image of one of two pages and gave a summary of the first page. Voltaire, we learn, ‘explain[s] that his delay in replying was due to the illness of [his] niece who transmitted his [Rolt’s] letter’. He then discusses ‘the misfortune shared by disloyal people’ and withdraws praise for certain ‘niknaks’ and the ‘country’ where he once played with them (?). The letter referred to by Voltaire is no doubt lost since, as previously stated, his surviving letters to Richard Rolt date from 1750 and 1751. The following is a literal transcription apart from the personal pronoun ‘I’ which Voltaire writes ‘J’. Autograph letter signed ‘Voltaire’ to Richard Rolt, 20 February 1754, D5684. 2 pages, 4to with integral address leaf. Provenance: Swann Gallery, 29 November 2012, Sale 2296, lot 272. Price Realized: $ 12,000 USD. Seller’s transcription in italics followed by scanned text. […] much like a correspondence in the west indies; letters come once in four months… . [T]hat abominable treatment which draws an eternal shame upon its authors is the only misfortune you must lament for with me… misfortune lyes on those who violate the laws of mankind… […] where I play’d once with these niknaks. You may well enlist me amongst yr subscribers*, as well as in the rank of yr friends. I like yr works and yr way of thinking. If I could enjoy a more tolerable state of health, I would come over to breath the air of liberty in england but my soul is free everywhere. I’ll continue for some time in alzace, where I have some lands; and here I live more happy than in courts. T’is true, I am Gentleman of the most chr. King’s chamber, but less proud of that tittle, than pleased with the name of your friend. And so I am truly yr faithful serv Voltaire Colmar in alzace 20 february 1754 *To a select Collection of poems wch Mr Rolt intends to publish by Subscription in two volumes, for half a Guinea. À Monsieur [illegible]

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