VOLTAIRE (1694-1778). L.A., aux Délices "où nous voudrions bien vous tenir" November 13 [1756, to D'Alembert]; 4pages in-4. Magnificent letter about his collaboration on the Encyclopédie. "Mon cher maitre Je sera bientôt hors d'état de mettre des points et des commgules à votre grand trésor des connaissances humaines. However, before I join Archimage Yebor [Jean-François Boyer (1675-1755), bishop of Mirepoix and academician, Voltaire's enemy; Voltaire referred to him as such in Zadig] and his confreres, I shall try to fulfill the task you have kindly given me. Here's Froid, and a little tail to Français by a gallant A. and guarantor. The rest will come if I am alive. I am far from thinking that we should stick to definitions and examples, but I maintain that we need them everywhere, and that this is the essence of any useful dictionary. Jay vu par hazard quelques articles de ceux qui se font comme moy les garçons de cette grande boutique, ce sont pour la pluspart des dissertations sans méthode On vient d'imprimer dans un journal l'article Femme qu'on tourne horriblement en ridicule. I cannot believe that you have suffered such an article in such a serious work [...] It seems that this article was written by Gil Blas' lackey. I've seen entousiasme which is better. But one doesn't need such a long speech to know that entousiasm must be governed by reason. The reader wants to know where this word comes from, and why the ancients devoted it to divination, poetry, eloquence and the zeal of superstition. The reader wants examples of this secret transport of the soul called entousiasm. Then it may be said that reason, which presides over everything, must also drive this transport. Finally, I would like to see only truth and method in your dictionary. I don't care if anyone gives me their particular opinion on comedy. I want to learn about its birth and progress in every nation. This is what pleases, this is what instructs. One does not read these little declamations in which an author gives only his own ides, which are only a subject of dispute. This is the misfortune of almost all of today's writers. I tremble every time I present an article to you. There isn't one that doesn't require the precision of great erudition. I am without books. I am ill. I serve you as best I can. Throw what you don't like into the fire. During the war between the parliaments and the bishops, reasonable people have a field day, and you will have the leisure to stuff the encyclopedia with truths that twenty years ago we would not have dared to say. When pedants fight, philosophers triumph. [...] Farewell, finish the greatest work in the world". Correspondance (Pléiade), t.IV, n°4611.