Scope and arrangement
The collection consists of 3 undated letters and 12 dated letters from Viotti (1801-1821), all in French ; 20 undated and 34 dated letters (1793-1822) to Viotti and several others from various correspondents, chiefly in French with several letters in English or Italian. The earliest dated letter (1793) is from Pugnani. Muzio Clementi, Johann Dussek, and Ferdinando Pa̋er are represented by one letter each. Two unsigned notes are attributed to Mme. de Staël, and 2 unsigned letters, to Stéphanie Félicité Genlis, the author of La duchesse de La Vallière. One letter is signed "Albertine de Staël" (duchesse de Broglie). Several items in 1821 relate to Viotti's having been named Chevalier de l'Ordre royal de la Légion d'honneur. Many letters are from and to the Chinnery family with little musical content. Viotti often signed letters "Amico" or "L'amico.".