• 239. Caroline to Luise Gotter in Gotha: Jena, 6 June 1799 [*]
[Jena, 6 June 1799]
|546| It was such a joy for me to see your sister and your brother, who just left my place. [1] Alas, had you yourself but been able to come along as well! . . .
I for my part must attend a social gathering this evening in honor of Herr von Dohm. [2] I did not intend to go, but since he paid us a visit this morning, it would be impolite. He related several noteworthy things to us concerning the recent abominations in Rastadt, telling us as well how that night was the most horrifying of his entire life. You have probably read the legation report he submitted. [3] —
Your brother declined to accompany us to the social gathering tonight, since he had to depart quite early tomorrow morning. [Errand requests.]
My domestic responsibilities have grown considerably, for only imagine, the Pauluses are eating with us now along with Professor Schelling. [4] Madam Paulus cannot yet find a cook, and since I had already taken on Schelling, they thought they might come as well, and now all these guests appear here at midday, which really is quite nice. |547| But it is causing me all sorts of headaches in these expensive, hungry times. But I do have a very good cook. [5] Apropos cooks — Lotte is here the entire time now with her child, and as an honorable woman at that. The rogue married her after all. The child is handsome, healthy, and above all quite contrary, and its name is Caroline Auguste. [6] . . .
May the mineral springs prove to be quite agreeable and beneficial to our Cécile this year! Otherwise the summer is certainly bad enough.
Stay well, dear, and regards to everyone around you there. Has Minchen not spoken about coming to visit us?
Your Caroline
Notes
[*] Date in Erich Schmidt, (1913), 1:546: [Jena, June 1799]. Precise dating according to Albert Leitzmann, “Aus Karolinens Lebenskreisen”, 128:
Letter 239 is probably to be dated to 6 June 1799, since Dohm was in Jena on that day (Schillers Calender. Nach dem im Jahre 1865 erschienenen Text, ed. Ernst Müller [Stuttgart 1893], 77), and early the following day already in Weimar (Goethe’s diaries, Weimarer Ausgabe 3:2:253). Back.
[1] Although the brother is presumably Adolph Stieler, who had studied in Jena, Luise had another younger brother, Christian August Stieler von Heydekampf; nothing is known about her sister. Back.
[2] Der Freund des schönen Geschlechts: ein angenehm und nützlicher Taschenkalender für das Jahr 1808:
[3] Concerning the Rastatt murders, see Wilhelm Schlegel’s letter to Johann Diederich Gries on 10 May 1799 (letter 236c), note 25.
The ninety-six-page report Authentischer Bericht von dem an der Französischen Friedensgesandtschaft bei ihrer Rückreise von dem Congress in der Nähe von Rastadt verübten Meuchelmord. Nebst einigen weiteren Actenstüken und Zusätzen des Herausgebers (n.p. 1799). Back.
[4] As Erich Schmidt, (1913), 1:739, points out, and as profusely demonstrated especially in volume 2 of this edition, this intimacy with the Paulus family was of short duration and ultimately turned into incurable hatred after Karoline Paulus, who spent time in Bamberg and Bocklet after Auguste’s death, and her intimate friend Dorothea Veit spread malicious gossip about the situation and perhaps also about Caroline’s past. Concerning the increasing and enduring animosity between the Pauluses, Caroline, Wilhelm, and Schelling, see supplementary appendix 239.1. Back.
[5] Der Freund des schönen Geschlechts: ein angenehm und nützlicher Taschenkalender für das Jahr 1808:
[6] Although Lotte’s identity is uncertain, the reference seems to be to Caroline’s cook, or former cook? Back.
Translation © 2013 Doug Stott