137a. Friedrich Schlegel to Wilhelm Schlegel in Amsterdam: Leipzig, 24 December 1793 [*]
[Leipzig, 24 December 1793]
My good brother, I am just about to go out, so you must excuse the fact that you are receiving only these few lines.
I did not write you on the last postal day. Although [Caroline] B[öhmer] was doing well, she was in great danger of losing Iul[ius]. [1] (This is probably also the reason you are receiving nothing from her today.) But now he is doing better, as I learned yesterday evening, and at least until now her own condition has gotten no worse, as I had greatly feared it would. —
Your letter contained an extremely pleasant bit of news, and please accept once more my most ardent thanks for your friendship. Let me ask that you repeat the acceptance to Mastiaux. [2] — Should I write him as well? . . .
I will now make every effort to keep myself afloat until then, and since I can unequivocally promise, it is considerably easier. It will, however, probably be unavoidably necessary for me to leave Leipzig after the New Year and move to Dresden if C. can do without me by then. [3] I will remain there until I receive the money. —
Let me ask you in any event, after receiving this letter, to address your letters to C. “to Madam Brun” in care of Göschen. [4] . . .
My good friend, I must yet go see Göschen and also get some Christmas things for Gustel; then I must hasten to depart. Perhaps a few lines later.
24 December 1793
Notes
[*] Sources: Walzel, 156–57; KFSA 23:170–71. Back.
[1] Caroline seems to have chosen to call her son, Wilhelm Julius Krantz (in reality: Böhmer), by his middle name.
Concerning infant mortality and the perils of childbirth for both mother and child, see Caroline’s letter to Luise Gotter on 22 June 1785 (letter 57), notes 2, 3, and 5. Back.
[2] Both Wilhelm and Caspar Anton von Mastiaux seems to have agreed to help Friedrich out with a loan. Back.
[3] Friedrich would be moving from Leipzig to Dresden in January 1794 (Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]):
Caroline and Auguste, albeit without her son, Julius, would be in Leipzig at latest by 4 February 1794 (see her letter to Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter on that date [letter 139]). From Leipzig she and Auguste would then journey to Gotha:
[4] “Madam Brun” was an employee of Georg Joachim Göschen, to whose address the letters to Caroline were to be sent. Back.
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott