267b. Friedrich Schlegel and Dorothea Veit to Wilhelm Schlegel in Bamberg: Jena, 4 September 1800 [*]
Jena, 4 September 1800
. . . We are doing fairly well, and through the younger Schelling I at least know that Karoline has likely recovered from the most recent indisposition that kept her bedridden. [1] I hope to hear from you soon. . . .
I must also confess that, since you have stayed away for so long, I violated your orders with respect to the wine. In the meantime, however, you will, I hope, find some here when you do return; I have ordered some, and of the same sort. —
[Dorothea:]
I just arrived home and found Friedrich about to seal this letter, hence I do not have time for anything but a nice, cordial greeting and a few items about financial matters. . . .
What should I do about the wood? the wood merchant was here and said you had ordered some, but I first want to ask you again how much I should have delivered for you.
What about Lene? [2] How should we send you Rose? and should we perhaps take someone in here to watch over the house when we move, or do you not also believe that Mademoiselle Faber keeps a close enough watch on things, considering that the entire front part of the house is occupied? [3] . . .
Notes
[*] Sources: Walzel, 436–38; KFSA 25:171–72. Back.
[1] Illustration: Christophe Schmid (Christoph von Schmid), La guirlande de houblon (1836), Oeuvres choisies, vol. 4, new ed. (Tours 1867), plate following p. 262:
[2] Lene was the cook Caroline had earlier engaged, Rose the maidservant. Dorothea is trying to determine the disposition of their employment with Caroline; see Friedrich’s letter to Wilhelm on 6 August 1800 (letter 265j) and Dorothea’s to Wilhelm on 22 August 1800 (letter 266b).
Rose, moreover, ultimately was sent ahead from Jena to Gotha to join Caroline and Wilhelm, who would be traveling through Gotha in early October 1800 on their way from Bamberg to Braunschweig, where they would be staying with Caroline’s sister, Luise Wiedemann (Caroline’s mother was also living there) (Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]):
Caroline and Wilhelm seem already to have made such plans. Back.
[3] Otherwise unidentified, presumably a resident in the front part of the house at Leutragasse 5. Friedrich and Dorothea were planning to move out of the house and into an apartment in a different part of town; see their letter to Schleiermacher on ca. 1 July 1800 (letter 264c), note 2.
Since Caroline and Auguste had been gone since early May 1800, and Wilhelm since 21 July 1800, the apartment in the house would be unoccupied once Friedrich and Dorothea moved out, nor was there any indication yet when — or even whether — Caroline and/or Wilhelm would be returning. As it was, Wilhelm would not return until the following summer (August 1801), Caroline not until 23 April 1801, albeit without Wilhelm, who moved to Berlin in February 1801 (Rudolf Koch and Fritz Kredel, Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete [Leipzig 1937]):
Translation © 2014 Doug Stott