• 79. Caroline to Lotte Michaelis in Göttingen: Clausthal 1787
[Clausthal] Tuesday evening [1787]
|162| My dear — let me thank you for your tidings, though I also had the pleasure of hearing it from our handsome Datter himself. I can vividly imagine how Schlözer looked, the same as in the poem Dortchen sent me [1] — modesty thrust forth in harsh words, with arrogance welling up behind, in his throat. And he also really believes he hit the mark just right, and is intent on attaining this or that goal with this or that remark, and if he only knew that Dortchen is in reality not at all the girl he thinks he is educating and raising — and is merely vis-à-vis de lui [2] a creature |163| of blind obedience, though one whose nature has absolutely nothing more in common with such subordination than a military exercitium [3] has with a human being. But I am nonetheless glad everything went so well.
Tomorrow we are traveling to Gittelde, where the Niepers held a rendésvous for us from Pyrmont. [4] . . .
Tatter writes that he has become a legation secretary and that the ministers would not allow the procuration. [5] Farewell. [6]
Notes
[1] Caroline is referring to Dorothea Schlözer’s successful examination on 17 September 1787 for her doctoral degree. See Caroline’s undated letter to Lotte in 1787 (letter 78), note 6, and Dorothea’s undated letter to Caroline after her examination (letter 81a). Back.
[2] Fr. “over against, relative to him.” Back.
[3] Exercitium in Latin in original. Back.
[4] Uncertain reference and event. Presumably Georg Heinrich and Charlotte (née Böhmer) Nieper. Back.
[5] Unclear reference; Tatter seems to have applied for more authority (procuration) than was granted. Back.
[6] Farewell in English in original. Back.
Translation © 2011 Doug Stott