After Rousseau's Emile had outraged the French parliament, an arrest order had ben issued by parliament against him, causing him to flee to Switzerland.

Subsequently, when the Swiss authorities also prove unsympathetic to him—condemning both Emile, and also The Social Contract—Voltaire issues an invitation to Rousseau to come and reside with him, commenting that: "I shall always love the author of the 'Vicaire savoyard' whatever he has done, and whatever he may do...Let him come here [to Ferney]! He must come! I shall receive him with open arms. He shall be master here more than I. I shall treat him like my own son."

Rousseau will later expressed regret that he had not replied to Voltaire's invitation.

In July 1762, after Rousseau is informed that he cannot continue to reside in Bern, d'Alembert advises him to move to the Principality of Neuchâtel, ruled by Frederick the Great of Prussia.

Subsequently, Rousseau accepts an invitation to reside in Môtiers, fifteen miles from Neuchâtel.

Rousseau writes to Frederick on July 11, 1762, describing how he had been driven from France, from Geneva, and from Bern; and seeking Frederick's protection.

He also mentions that he had criticized Frederick in the past and would continue to be critical of Frederick in the future, stating however: "Your Majesty may dispose of me as you like.

Frederick, still in the middle of the Seven Years' War, now writes to the local governor of Neuchatel, Marischal Keith, who is a mutual friend of theirs:

    We must succor this poor unfortunate. His only offense is to have strange opinions which he thinks are good ones. I will send a hundred crowns, from which you will be kind enough to give him as much as he needs. I think he will accept them in kind more readily than in cash. If we were not at war, if we were not ruined, I would build him a hermitage with a garden, where he could live as I believe our first fathers did...I think poor Rousseau has missed his vocation; he was obviously born to be a famous anchorite, a desert father, celebrated for his austerities and flagellations...I conclude that the morals of your savage are as pure as his mind is illogical.

Rousseau, touched by the help he received from Frederick, will states that from then onward he took a keen interest in Frederick's activities.

As the Seven Years' War is about to end, Rousseau writes to Frederick again, thanking him for the help received and urging him to put an end to military activities and to endeavor to keep his subjects happy instead.

Frederick makes no known reply, but comments to Keith that Rousseau has given him a "scolding".

Rousseau has lived at Môtiers for two years, spending his time in reading and writing, and meeting visitors.

In the meantime, the local ministers have become aware of the apostasies in some of his writings, and resolve not to let him stay in the vicinity.

Rousseau is summoned by the Neuchâtel Consistory on the charge of blasphemy.

He writes back asking to be excused due to his inability to sit for a long time due to his ailment.

Subsequently, Rousseau's own pastor, Montmollin, starts denouncing him publicly as the Antichrist.

In one inflammatory sermon, Montmollin quotes Proverbs 15:8: "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight"; this is interpreted by everyone to mean that Rousseau's taking communion is detested by the Lord.

The ecclesiastical attacks inflame the parishioners who proceed to pelt Rousseau with stones when he goes out for walks.

Around midnight of  September 6-7, stones are thrown at the house Rousseau is staying in, and some glass windows are shattered.

When a local official, Martinet, arrives at Rousseau's residence he sees so many stones on the balcony that he exclaimes "My God, it's a quarry!"

At this point, Rousseau's friends in Môtiers advise him to leave the town.