Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) (1684-1778) French author, historian. Voltaire was famous for his wit, his attacks on the established Catholic Church, and his advocacy of freedom of religion, freedom of expression, and separation of church and state. He was a versatile writer, producing works in almost every literary form, including plays, poems, novels, essays, and historical and scientific works. He was an outspoken advocate, despite the risk this placed him in under the strict censorship laws of the time. 4†x 6†letter signed, Ferney, July 3, 1773, in French. “…I received eighteen thousand pounds…from Monsieur Roze…He only owes me this day six thousand, two hundred pounds for the last quarter…The rent of twenty-eight thousand pounds per year, remaining always payable by Monsieur Roze, at Seven thousand pounds per quarter. Done at Ferney, July 3, 1773….†Matted with a color photograph to 14†x 11â€.