ary 8, 1762.

My brother shall have a Meslier soon as I shall have received the order;
it would seem that my brother has not the facts. Fifteen to twenty years
ago the manuscript of this work sold for eight Louis-d'or; it was a very
large quarto. There are more than a hundred copies in Paris. Brother
Thiriot understands the facts. It is not known who made the abstract,
but it is taken wholly, word for word, from the original. There are
still many persons who have seen the curate Meslier. It would be very
useful to make a new edition of this little work in Paris; it can be
done easily in three or four days.

VOLTAIRE TO THE SAME.

FERNEY, December 6, 1762.

But I believe there will never be another impression of the little book
of Meslier. Think of the weight of the testimony of one dying, of a
priest, of a good man.

VOLTAIRE TO THE SAME.

FERNEY, July 6, 1764.

Three hundred Mesliers distributed in a province have caused many
conversions. Ah, if I was assisted!

VOLTAIRE TO THE SAME.

FERNEY, September 29, 1764.

There are too few Mesliers and too many swindlers.

VOLTAIRE TO THE SAME.

AUX DELICES, October 8, 1764.

Names injure the cause; they awaken prejudice. Only the name of Jean
Meslier can do good, because the repentance of a good priest in the hour
of death must make a great impression. This Meslier should be in the
hands of all the world.

VOLTAIRE TO MADAM DE FLORIAN.

AUX DELICES, May 20, 1762.

My dear niece, it is very sad to be so far from you. Read and read again
Jean Meslier; he is a good curate.

VOLTAIRE TO THE MARQUIS D'ARGENCE.

March 2, 1763.

I have found a Testament of Jean Meslier, which I send you. The
simplicity of this man, the purity of his manners, the pardon which he
asks of God, and the authenticity of his book, must produce a great
effect. I will send you as many copies as you want of the Testament of
this good curate.

VOLTAIRE TO HELVETIUS.

AUX DEUCES, May 1, 1763.

They have sent me the two abstracts of Jean Meslier. It is true that it
is written in the style of a carriage-horse, but it is well suited to
the street. And what testimony! that of a priest who asks pardon in
dying, for having taught absurd and horrible things! What an answer to
the platitudes of fanatics who have the audacity to assert that
philosophy is but the fruit of libertinage!

End of Project Gutenberg's Superstition In All Ages (1732), by Jean Meslier

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