51a. Lotte Michaelis to Luise Michaelis (in Gotha?): Göttingen, 1785? [*]
[Göttingen, undated 1785?]
Although I need to give you an account of two balls, let me tell you first that I was over at the Heynes’ until 8:00 and took a walk alone with Therese. [1] I can assure you that this girl could take the place of a man for me; indeed, I believe I would never fall prey to any sort of unpleasant ideas could I but keep Therese as my friend, nor would my heart ever need any other object for its focus. [2]
To be honest, Therese has taken your place beyond all expectation, or rather: she would take it were I able to be around her more; she divines my most secret, innermost thoughts and reproaches me when appropriate, for which I ardently embraced her in gratitude. We had an extremely serious conversation about how since girls in our position very, very rarely, or indeed: never marry out of love, [3] we must thus be even less romantic than others, resisting any such lofty ideas concerning our future husbands and the unattainable happiness of marrying out of love, and becoming accustomed to the notion of domestic happiness without — at least for us — extravagant notions about marriage. [4]
I certainly have no need to point out to you how very much this discussion fits my own situation, and yet it came about quite naturally. I am so fond of Therese that I will seek every opportunity to speak with her, for I keenly sense how valuable this afternoon cannot but be for me, and what a fortunate revolution of ideas it has prompted in me, ideas which, after the two opportunities of always having Mila [?] around me, were in need of someone like Therese to elevate them again. [5]
Notes
[*] Source: Luise Wiedemann, née Michaelis, Erinnerungen, 103, undated.
Lotte’s letter attests her growing fondness, friendship, and intimacy with Therese Heyne since Luise’s absence at school in Gotha (“Les confiances,” Almanach de Gotha von 1776; Österreichische Nationalbibliothek Signatur: LAV 452/15676):
Concerning dating: Since Lotte mentions attending balls at the Heynes’, she is obviously writing from Göttingen. Luise, however, is apparently not there, suggesting the letter may have been written when Luise herself was in Gotha at the boarding school of Sarah Schläger, which she attended beginning in the autumn of 1784. Therese Heyne is definitely still in Göttingen. Although Therese became engaged to Georg Forster on 18 April 1784, she did not marry him until 4 September 1785, so the letter may have been written during that period, though the subject of the conversations between Lotte and Therese does seem peculiar given Therese’s recent status as a fiancée. In any event, this dating is still uncertain. Back.
[1] The family of Christian Gottlob Heyne lived at Papendiek 16, just around the corner from the Michaelis family at Prinzenstrasse 21 (Plan der Stadt Goettingen wie solche im Monath December A° 1760… bloquirt und eingeschlossenworden [n.p. 1760]; Bibliothèque nationale de France):
In the illustration below: to the left with the staircase, the Michaelis house; to the right directly behind the bridge, the Heynes’ garden house; and to its left, just visible behind the elongated wing of the university museum and laboratory, part of the Heynes’ house (Friedrich Besemann [1830]; Städtisches Museum Göttingen; illustration: Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, Alexander blickt aus dem Fenster [1778–81]; Herzog August Bibliothek; Museums./Signatur Chodowiecki Sammlung [4-221]):
[2] Berlinischer Damen Kalender auf das Jahr 1799; Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung:
[3] Romanen-Kalender für das Jahr 1801; Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung:
Concerning Caroline’s own experience with the harsh truth of this assessment, see her letter to Julie von Studnitz on 17 February 1784 (letter 39), note 1a. Back.
[4] Illustrations: Goettinger Taschen Calender vom Jahr 1787 and 1790; Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung:
[5] Goettinger Taschen Calender für das Jahr 1794; Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung:
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott