163e. Mother (Johanna Christiane Erdmuthe) Schlegel to Wilhelm Schlegel: Hannover, undated [*]
[Hannover, undated]
— — I have had some contact with the wife of Bailiff Alberti, [1] who is a quite excellent woman and is considered to be so by everyone, and I occasionally go over there in the morning so I can converse and visit with her better. She is very interested in our family, and especially in you. She knows much of what you have written, what Bürger thought about you, etc.
She turned the conversation in a polite fashion to the Böhmers. She spoke enthusiastically about the late Herr Böhmer, and said his wife [2] was the most charming and bright woman one could imagine, and that what one might say about her in reproach was surely smoothed over by her harsh experiences, among other things she said she had such a melotic voice. [3] — —
Notes
[*] Source: Waitz (1882), 31–32. Passages Waitz did not include are indicated by “—.” Back.
[1] Unidentified; she reappears in Mother Schlegel’s letter to Wilhelm on 9 November 1800 (letter 273d). Back.
[2] I.e., Caroline. Back.
[3] Mother Schlegel uses the phonetic orthography melotisch. Back.
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott