Letter 340 – Caroline Schelling

• 340. Caroline to Wilhelm Schlegel in Berlin: Jena, 11–14 January 1802

[Jena] Monday, 11 [–14] Jan[uary] [18]02

|262| It is rather depressing for me to think that only tomorrow will you be receiving what I wrote a week ago. [1] The postal service has never been as disorganized as this winter; everyone is complaining about it. Yesterday I received your last letter, from 5 January. [2]

The business about the four letters that were allegedly “en route”: That is a little white lie, my good friend. The one yesterday was the third, indeed, in reality the second, since the one before that cannot be considered anything more than a hollow nut.

But let us put that aside, and I entreat you in general to write every week, otherwise it causes trouble; I get impatient and then sick. On that subject, I am feeling fairly healthy just now and have merely had to get through several severe headaches caused by the trip, the cold weather, my great joy, and all the writing concerning, regarding, and about Ion. [3]

If any measures need to be taken there at the theater with regard to the author of Ion becoming known, and if since your last letter you have not had any more appropriate occasion, then I would advise you to do so immediately and without further ado. [4] We here have hardly even had the opportunity to reveal you as the author, and I least of all. Goethe also advised us to remain steadfast in denying it, except that, as I already told you, things have happened such that no one has any doubt now, and |263| you can be assured that Kotzebue has already taken that certainty back to Berlin with him and has intentionally not mentioned you to Unzeline. [5] —

In the meantime, however, I am still hopeful that the ill consequences will not be so bad. He must take it on, they can prevent him from putting it off, and if Creusa and Ion perform well, he will not have the heart to make the play fail on his initiative. Truly, you should simply go straight to him and hold the dagger to this heart. He loves these theater coups, will weep innumerable tears, and then — accommodate himself.

Perhaps I can attend the first performance there. [6] But I cannot imagine it will be as gracious and delightful as ours here. Everything may well be put on more opulently and with more forceful colors, but probably not with these clear contours. For really, I would compare the performance here with one of the most beautiful Flaxmann pieces. [7] I fear most for Xuthus; you will find that Vohss is excellent in the role, and quite Greek. I imagine the director as performing the role more in the Dutch style. [8]

On Thursday Schelling submitted an account to Spatzier that I had composed. I would not under any circumstances have wanted to submit it under my own name. He will probably accept it from Schelling without reservation even though Schelling did remark to him that, since he was not the author, neither did he wish to be mentioned as the person who submitted it. It would not have made a particularly good impression had you yourself submitted the account, since you will doubtless very soon become publicly identified as the author of the piece, and someone would assuredly have beaten us to it had I sent it to you first.

If you are but now satisfied with it! A few more days’ time would admittedly have allowed it to be more fully developed. My headache hindered me even up to Thursday itself. [9] Schelling did away with the epistolary form I had initially given it |264| and in general teased me not a little because of my considerable affection for the piece and for everything connected with it, which was so obvious throughout. Indeed, I myself had to laugh at what a feminine appearance it had. Amid considerable mirth, we then removed the various all-too-tender traces of that tender hand. I think I may go ahead and enclose the brouillon for you. [10]

I suspect that especially the description of the costumes will not be precise enough for you. You yourself had described them much more precisely in your essay on The Brothers, but because I lack any knowledge of the technical terminology, I did not know what else to do. [11] Nor, in my experience, do additional details really make the description any more vivid, and are really necessary only if such costumes are actually to be imitated according to the description. One can, after all, later make up for what is lacking.

The temple was modeled after an old intaglio, but because it was too small, even in relationship to the theater, it tended too much towards the style of the English garden. [11a]

__________

Gries was just here, and for the first time since Ion. Do you know why? — because his deafness caused him such despair in the theater that he began a serious cure for the first time and was not supposed to go out. What he did manage to hear and see made him so anxious to hear even more, and so crazy because of his own neglect, that he immediately threw himself into Himly’s arms. He found Mademoiselle Jagemann too cold; except for a few passages, I cannot really say that. One simply must praise her so that she wholly warms up. —

Becker made no secret of the fact to Gries that he wanted the role of Xuthus for himself. It was, however, really quite perceptive not to assign it to him. — |265| Mephistopheles also remarked that Madame Teller was extremely satisfied with the way he dressed her up as Pythia (a task he assumed with regard to everyone — though, I am guessing, not from the ground up), so much so, in fact, that they could not get her away from the mirror. [11b]

Schelling, who slept at Goethe’s house that night, [12] got into a conversation with Geist just before bed, asking whether he, too, had attended the theater? — “No,” he was unable, and was very sorry, for he had ample opportunity to perlustrate it while copying it out for Berlin and also transcribing the roles, and Herr Geheimrath allegedly went to such unimaginable lengths, indeed, a punch can allegedly work miracles, nor did Herr Geheimrath spare even this, [13] even taking each aside one after the other and pleading with them: “For God’s sake, in the name of the devil (my invention), you must perform this well!” [14] — Is that not splendid?

Gries had spoken with Schiller beforehand, who told him that he intentionally did not read even a single word of the play beforehand so that its impression on him might be completely fresh and pure. He is allegedly quite satisfied with it. He would perhaps be even more satisfied were he not so satisfied. [15]

__________

12 Jan.

Because people in the know and those who understand the postal service confidently assure me that in these ill times, letters one sends on Thursday by way of Leipzig in fact arrive in Berlin as soon as those posted the preceding Monday, I intentionally did not send anything yesterday that I might include the program for you, which until this very moment was simply not to be had in any special printing, all efforts notwithstanding. [16] Schütz even managed to exercise a measure of courtesy toward |266| Schelling by loaning him his personal copy for perusal until the special printing, which had not even been arranged at the beginning, would be ready. [17] Indeed, Hufeland would gladly have loaned his copy to Tiek had he not had to surrender it to make the rounds such that even Hufeland himself did not get it back again until the end of the month.

In a word, it is not my fault if all of you there got it sooner, perhaps in the weekly issue of the Literatur Zeitung; as a matter of fact, I was planning to have the great pleasure of being the first to send it to you — all of you would no doubt have literally fallen on it out of sheer curiosity. It delighted all of us here beyond description, whereas there it will probably come across more polemically.

No one will be entirely satisfied with it, something of which the old gentleman was indeed obviously conscious. The naiveté with which some things are expressed in it does indeed contrast quite delightfully with the grander elements. At the last transition, he is simply unable to conceal the fact that this time, the undertaking did indeed press him rather hotly. [18]

Although I find the general comments good, one can certainly argue back and forth concerning the individual assessments. He would probably have praised Tiek more warmly had he not heard of the latter’s comments concerning Nahl etc. [19] — Catel already told me that he took quite ill note of them. Madam von Wolzogen especially probably presented them to him in an extremely unfavorable light. That displeased him as an indiscretion on the part of the young man — but, indeed, to use them to pay back the artist is admittedly the old gentleman’s morgue. [20]

Just do not tolerate it there should they incite people against him in some unjust fashion. [21] Every line attests how sincere his intentions were, and that he “faithfully endeavored to comprehend both art and nature.” I maintain that ultimately he was thinking of the system of identity, since virtually nothing, not a single seed, falls on infertile ground with him. [22] |267| I was particularly pleased that ultimately he really did become quite coarse with Gareis without completely rejecting him, saying that “raw products of that sort also waste what little time even the artist spends on them.” [23]

Schelling took along your list of lecture attendees to him. He was sincerely pleased, remarking immediately with respect to Schadow — “Well, he certainly has need of it!”

I can immediately see from the playbill that the piece by Kotzebue is inferior. [24] Goethe praised one of his that is also to be performed here quite soon: Der Wirwarr, that is, praised in the fashion “if one does not make excessively rigorous demands, perhaps one can praise his illumination a very tiny bit.” [25] I hope Kotzebue will be able to see Ion soon, that is, when Mademoiselle Jagemann is able to sing again, for she has a terrible cough just now. His dearest Christel sat across from me during the first performance. Apropos, is not the simplicity of the playbill for Ion quite tasteful? [26]

At this very hour, you are perhaps occupied with reading my account. [27] I am expecting you to be quite good to me in return.

__________

What you write about Friedrich should not really surprise me — it all falls under the rubric of Cervelat sausage and liqueure [28] — and yet it still pains me ever anew as if it were something entirely unexpected. You do not appear to be any closer or more cordial with him than here, which is a bad sign for him. I was hoping he would not drift away from you and Schleiermacher. —

What, given this Epicureanism, will now become of Plato? [29] Alas, wretched Friedrich! The nation seems to reckon him wholly among its people, and ultimately he allows himself to be supported by it. [30] I heard from the Frommans that he had some new |268| clothes made for himself when the suitcase took so long to arrive — perhaps Miss Levy paid for them. [31] Surely he is not going to Madam Herz, is he?

Julchen asked me to inquire whether Tiek frequently visits Madam von Humbold. So please do write and let me know, but do not betray her. [32] I for my part would like to know whether Madam Humbold has visited Madam Bernhardi; if not, then that speaks exceedingly ill of her.

What sort of foolery is that with Madam Sander? [33] I am, as usual, completely innocent, and it is merely that my name has been misused. You spoke about this quarrel once at dinner here — in person, not in a letter at all that I can remember. Luise probably mentioned it to Madam Vieweg again, something I can vividly imagine. [34] Madam Vieweg warned Madam Sander, since she imagines that Madam Sander loves, praises, and esteems her so very highly, in which capacity she then also sends extraordinarily flattering letters to her.

Now, however, I can but complain of Madam Vieweg yet again, and thus it goes, ever round and round in a circle. I am excessively put out that Madam Sander allegedly believes I am involved in such médisance concerning her. [35]

Thursday [14 January]

My head is burning, I did not sleep a wink last night, and heaven and earth have transformed themselves into numbers for me. See below for more and the enclosures. [36]

It is also cruelly cold, and not a single spot in the entire house besides your room genuinely gets warm enough for a person to be comfortable. I am convinced that we will need 30 or even 50 rh. less wood in a different apartment. [37] Given the configuration of the rooms and stoves here, the way the heat simply flies up the chimney is absolutely criminal. Just do not imagine that we ever lost any ourselves; particularly now, that possibility is completely eliminated. The stoves are the thieving culprits; we can see with our own eyes what escapes daily while we sit here and shiver like aspens. [38]

Day after day, a young gentleman comes and asks Mamsell Julchen to go for a sleigh ride, but the snow will probably not melt as quickly as does the silver. [39] —

Today there is a grand pickenik at the Frommans, the noblesse of Jena and Drakendorf. [40] Although they did invite me to take part, I have been unable to overcome myself and go. I would have had to forget myself to an extraordinary degree in order to watch a dance here with forgetfulness. [41] I will instead send Julchen over along with my last bit of tea. The Pauluses do not seem to be attending. —

On the same day Schütz brought Schelling the theater program, Schelling also took his Journal to Paulus and was received with embarrassed and awkward devotion. [42] Just why Schelling brought it to him can be seen from the conversation; now he must not reprove the modest little dig. [43]

My friend, do whatever you must to get Fichte to tell Schelling the name of whoever informed him of that ridiculous stuff; [44] or at least to assure him — if, that is, he can do so truthfully — that it did not come to him through Paulus. It is weighing heavily on Schelling that Hegel, to whom he related what he had told you concerning Paulus, also [betrayed] his idea to make public something about Fichte’s departure that would free him and Niethammer from the eternal offense of being mentioned as those who left him in the lurch [45] — and weighing heavily on him that Hegel, his friend, to a certain extent also betrayed him to Paulus. Paulus would then have had no trouble turning precisely this explanation, which was supposed to support Fichte, into something against him.

In general, let me ask you to take time to write to me without being rushed; it is a matter of a couple |270| of hours that, since you have been back in Berlin, you still have not granted me. That is also precisely why you have neither responded nor given any attention to the request that Schelling made of you. [46] Your lectures doubtless take a great deal of your time; but all of it? You have probably spoken extensively with Fichte by now. Schelling wrote him such a cordial, warm letter that I would think Fichte would once again be on good terms with him. That letter brought to expression all the enthusiasm of the most sincere intentions. [47]

Do you not find the introduction to the Journal to be composed and written most excellently? [48]

Enclosed you will find a page with the Greek citations. [49]

Jacobs received such an advantageous offer for an appointment in Kiel that he was on the verge of leaving his patriarchal nest there in Gotha. But then he decided against it and now remains happily situated where he is. The duke gave him a position in the large library and an additional allowance of 500 rh. so that he now has 1200 rh. [49a]

Roose will probably also be staying, [50] but Herr Feuerbach is hastening off to Kiel in the same carriage that is bringing the jurist Thibaud here. [51] Apropos the Danes: [52] Möller is a wonderful person, but one hears nothing from Steffens. [53]

Madam Vieweg also recently expressed the following opinion. [54] She interrogated Luise about where I would be residing and where you were currently residing. Luise told her what she knew, to wit, that the Grattenauers had offered a room etc. “Oh? Not together? The Berliners will certainly have a lot to say about that.” [55]

I am relating this to you, darling, that you might also reflect on it a bit, since it had not yet occurred to me in the first place to wonder what the Berliners might say; that is your affair. [56] [Financial matters.]

Has anyone heard when Friedrich will be going to Dresden? [57] Madam is living here in the utmost obscurity. — I already wrote and let you know |271| that Tiek sent the manuscript of Kaiser Octavian. That will be magnificence itself. [58]

Goethe is still not yet here. [59]

[Postscript.]

I only just now received the program and am having to dry it off next to the stove. [60]

[Separate sheet, probably part of this letter.]

Listen up, my friend, and pay attention even though I will now speak of financial matters, something which, as I well know, is extremely vexing for you, which is also why I prefer to keep them at a distance of at least 40 miles from you. [61]

You know that I have called in the principal of 1000 rh. in Hannover. It will be paid out at the beginning of February. Well, this seemed like an immeasurable sum to me even though Philipp is to be paid from it — I thought I would take 7-league-boot strides with it and go ahead and also help Mother out (who is getting into an embarrassing position because of the lawsuit with Arnemann — who has not paid the interest for years now and who is the most despicable rogue — and would like to have a small sum in reserve); [62] indeed, I even promised to loan Schelling something at least until Easter that he might not have to work quite as fast and could do it all the better.

Calculations utterly into the blue! My thousand rh. are now no longer the infinite world, but rather merely a finite little globe. As the enclosed overviews show, they are hardly even adequate for the needs of the moment, which indeed made me afraid and anxious until, with the help of the perception of the eternal, I once again got hold of myself.

It seems to me that the great deficit derives more from the lack of |272| income, which for years now has inadvertently diminished, than from household expenses being incurred in dispersed and separate places.

For if my friend will consider that since the summer of 1800 I have cost him nothing — insofar as since that time I have provided a good 1500 rh. from my own money, namely, the 1000 rh. now and the more than 200 rh. along with interest I brought with me from Göttingen to Braunschweig — then he cannot say that circumstances have impaired his finances. [63]

You have the documentation for virtually all the money you have given me since then, not counting perhaps the money used for the journey to and from Bamberg, — but even if one also counts all this along with what in the enclosed papers is attributable to my personal expenses, what emerges is that you have received more from me than you have paid out for me and at my behest.

I make this remark, my splendid Schlegel (that is, my imperious Schlegel), [64] solely that I might, as is appropriate, defend myself against any accusations — for, moreover, ah, mon dieu: [65] if only I myself had a great deal that I might also give you a great deal! It is nothing more than that you do not inherit what we consume together. —

With regard to the future as well, I am confident you will earn increasingly more, that the ebb will indeed be followed by flood and that these capital expenses — which you, too, have had to make from your side — will not get us into financial distress. In my present circumstances, released from any responsibility for others, I really only have to reckon with the loss of annual interest.

Really, I originally was not thinking about coming away with more than 200 rh. at most from the 1000, except that I was hoping the remainder would extend further, e.g., that I would be able to buy some linens and cloth goods for the house, which are beginning to dwindle, also an additional 6 silver spoons and more comely table knives and |273| fork[s] for guests — and for myself, finally, and once and for all, instead of the usual makeshifts, a fur — item [66] quite frankly I wanted to expedite myself to Berlin without saying a word to you about it.

So, what is to be done now? My first response after the discovery was to cancel the trip to Berlin, which your mother also urgently advised, since my expenses are less here than in Berlin (even though my household arrangements and expenses are clearly excessive for only one woman, but, without knowing what your plans for the winter were, I had already gone ahead and hired a cook). But that is probably not what you desire, and to tell you the truth, nor do I, since my health is not really an issue. I do very much want to come and see you there and, if possible, be a credit to you to some modest extent insofar as I do not feel indisposed to being charming.

Hence please write immediately and tell me how best to arrange things. I have already looked around here for companions for the journey itself but have heard nothing as yet. Gries would go along if Tasso were not keeping him here. [67] There is no way at all for Schelling to come along at that time; and he himself does not have the money for it. [68]

. . . I cannot leave here before all the financial matters have been settled, hence will not be ready before the end of February, at the earliest mid-February. Whether I should also come later would depend on you. — We have announced from both sides that for that reason as well, I must come. — Or do you perhaps not want me to come after all, my good, dear, gracious friend? [69]

Have a careful look through the invoices, not merely a fleeting look as if you might burn your fingers doing so. You will then also see that I have gone to considerable effort to be frightfully clear and unequivocal. [70]

Received from Schlegel since the beginning of November 1801 [71]

left behind for me: 19 [Reichsthaler],12 [Groschen], — [Pfennig]
for sales of clothing and books: 12,2,6
received from Berlin: 164,3
[Total:] 195,17,6

My earned interest from Hannover: 33,12
Schelling’s portion of the Almanach: 14,6
[Total:] 243,11,6

Transpose 243,11,6

What Loder gave me for my brother in gr. money: 13,21,—
What I received in cash from Branschweig to pay out here: 12,18
[Total:] 270,2,6

Main expenses since early November 1801:

Paid for wine in Erfurt: 19,12
Having 4 shirts for Schlegel sewn: 3,4
Repairing 2 suitcases for him: —, 22
Invoice from the academic bookstore: 4,18 [71a]
With the Cabinetmaker: [71b]
frame for Schlegel’s picture: 1,18
Cost of sending picture to Hamburg along with glass: 1,12
Mirror frame and other incidental expenses: 2,13
Stove screen, frame with accessories: 3,18
Previous debt to Schelling: 47,8
[Total:] 85,5

Paid out toward firewood used since April 1801: 32,12 [71c]
2 pairs of short stockings for Schlegel: 1,4 [71d]
To the cooper for washing vessels and kneading trough: 5,— [71e]
Christmas for the two maids re: money, items, and cakes, also for
elderly Christiane: 7,9,3
Maids’ salary: 7,—,—
New Year’s monies for the various officiants: 2,—,—
Various postage, approx.: 6,—,—
[Total:] 146,6,3

For my household finances for 10 weeks: 60
[Total:] 206,6,3

The rest was (largely) paid out for having wood cut, laundry, [71f] lighting, smaller household needs, the trip to Weimar. Also included is what I owed Madam Tischbein and also a housedress for Julchen, also several gifts of knitted items for my nephews and nieces. For myself a foot muff with fur and a knitted woolen undergarment.

Ion genuinely did cost me over 7 rh. because I was forced to spend the night and did not want to have Schelling pay for the carriage this time, since he rode his own horse alongside on the way over so he could return later. Of the 6 loge tickets, I returned 2 and gave Carl one, who is making such a sincere effort to sell your books. [72]

Debts at the beginning of November 1801:

Firewood: 30 [rht]
Sugar and coffee in Braunschweig: 17
Wine: 20
one copper washing basin: 7,16
Rent: 45
For the cooper: 5
For Paulssen, approx.: 20
For Möllenbeck, approx.: 50
To Schelling: 47,8
[Total:] 242

In February 1801, Philipp gave us in louis d’or at 5 rht. [Reichstaler]: 400 rht.
Schlegel received for him from Hufeland [73] 9 louis d’or: 45 rht.
Hufeland still owes Philipp far more and is immediately to pay out all he can to Schlegel. Philipp wrote and told him this.

Received from Schlegel since his departure from Braunschweig at the end of February [1801], left behind for me: 19,3
through Wiedemann 3 louis d’or
from Cotta: 17,—
through Nicolovius: 163
Since his arrival in Jena 17 louis d’or: 97,1
[Total:] 296,4

2 September 2 louis d’or: 11,10
Weinbrunn 2 louis d’or: 11,8
on 16 September 2 louis d’or: 11,8
on 16 September 2 louis d’or: 11,8
received on 21 September: 2,5
In Weimar 8 louis d’or: 45,16
[Total:] 378,3

received up to the end of October: 378,3
of which the following was sent for Schlegel: 192,8

hence for me: 185,19

200 louis d’or
To be paid to my brother in louis d’or

rht. gr. — Louis d’or

at 5 rht capital from: 400,—,— 80 louis d’or
Interest from February 1801 till 1802: 15,—,—,3
Expenses for 1 piece of English furniture
Catten [cotton material for furniture],
Bitter oranges, herring, and the like: 25,—,—,5
What Hufeland paid out to Schlegel during the summer 1801: 45,—,—,9
What he will yet pay out, approx.: 47,12—,9 1/2
Loder has now paid me for him: 12,12,—,2 1/2
Hence comes to 545 rht. or 109 louis d’or

To Claproth in Göttingen remittance of a sum I had to borrow for only 1 to 8 years: 100,—,—,20
[Total:] 645,—,—,129

71 louis d’or remain

In addition, in Braunschweig there still must be paid in louis d’or at: 5 rht,6 gr.
to Moellenbeck: 56 [rt]

rht. gr.

to Moellenbeck 56
Apothecary: 9,3
Sugar and coffee during the summer: 17,—
Sugar and coffee received this winter: 9,21
For porcelain: 18,14 [74]
An invoice with the Jew largely for me, lace, clothing, scarves, finally also the dress for Julchen (also the dress for Caroline Tischbein): 66,4 [75]
Linen cloth for the house: 4,20
Further: partly in the way of received goods for the house such as
mahogany dishes and wine bottles and glasses, in part cash to be paid out here
to Madam Fleischer in February: 25,—

Music sent to Berlin [for Ion]: 9,10
[Total:] 216

Comes to about 41 louis d’or
Remaining from the 71 louis d’or above
N.B. 30 louis d’or
N.B. of these 30 louis d’or or 166 rht
6gr. ge [?] money I must still pay here at least for
firewood before my departure: 66 rht.,6 gr.
various other small invoices: 20
to Kilian 20

finally also for tea, 3/4 of which
went to Berlin
4 Carolin therefore: 26 rht.
[Total:] 132,6 gr.

34 rht remain for a fur

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Notes

[1] Viz., her letter to Wilhelm of 4 January 1802 (letter 339). Back.

[2] Not extant. Back.

[3] That is, the trip over to Weimar for the performance of Ion: ein Schauspiel on 2 January 1802 (Post Karte Durch ganz Deutschland, ed. J. Walch [Augsburg 1795]):

Weimar_Jena_postal_map

Caroline had eaten and then remained overnight in the Erbprinz Hotel with Julie Gotter ([1] early-twentieth-century postcard; [2] a comparable dining experience at the Parisian Restaurant du Boeuf à la Mode in 1792):

Erbprinz_hotel

Dining_1792

They had returned to Jena on 3 January, where Caroline also had composed a review of the play (see below), quite apart from her letter to Wilhelm on 4 January. Back.

[4] Concerning Wilhelm’s wish to remain anonymous as the author of the play, see Caroline’s letter to him on 20–21 December 1801 (letter 336).

Friedrich Schlegel and Dorothea Veit seem to have played a significant role in his authorship becoming known both in Jena and in Berlin.

In Berlin, knowledge of his authorship could influence August Wilhelm Iffland’s decision whether to have the play performed, since he and Wilhelm had not been on the best of terms since the premiere of Hamlet in Berlin in Wilhelm’s and Caroline’s translation.

See Ella Horn’s essay on the background to the premiere of Hamlet in Berlin concerning the affair surrounding the troubled history of this performance of Hamlet as well as the progressively troubled relationship between Madam Iffland and her husband, August Wilhelm Iffland, on the one hand, and Wilhelm and Caroline, on the other. Back.

[5] August von Kotzebue had just traveled back to Berlin from Jena. See Caroline’s letter to Wilhelm on 20–21 December 1801 (letter 336), note 1. Back.

[6] Caroline would be in Berlin for the premiere of Ion on 15 May 1802. Back.

[7] Concerning John Flaxman, see Caroline’s letter to Wilhelm on 16 November 1801 (letter 330) note 16.

Caroline is clearly thinking of the distinctly stylized drawings Flaxman did to accompany classics of Greek literature by Hesiod, Homer, and Aeschylus; here samples from Ernst Beutler, ed. John Flaxman’s Zeichnungen zu Sagen des klassischen Altertums (Leipzig 1910), plates xxxviii, l, cxxix, cxxxix:

Flaxman_Greek