356c. Schelling to Wilhelm Schlegel in Berlin: Jena, 12 April 1802 [*]
Jena, 12 Ap[ril 18]02
Dearest friend,
Today a copy of the entire dialogue has gone off to Unger. Many, many thanks for the part you played, including in the final turn of events. [1] If it be allowed to multiply both the number and size of the things for which I am obliged to you by yet a new favor, and if I may take courage from your all-too-kind offer of reading the entire proofs, then let me now ask you, if possible, to have someone show you the proofs of the 8th and 9th printer’s sheets, since I had to send off an impure copy of the first that was ruined by corrections, and a copy of the latter in my own wholly illegible handwriting. —
The following sheets were copied out by an extremely legible hand and should present as few difficulties as the initial printed ones.
My warmest regards. Let me ask that you give Caroline this letter, I have received no news from her and am really extremely worried about her given the abominable weather. [2] I must close if I am not to miss the post.
Yours truly,
Schelling
Notes
[*] Sources: Plitt 1:364; Fuhrmans 2:399; Briefe 2:1:428. Back.
[1] Wilhelm’s and Christoph Wilhelm Hufeland’s efforts on Schelling’s behalf with the publisher Friedrich Unger in Berlin were successful; Unger did indeed publish Schelling’s dialogue, Bruno; oder, Über das göttliche und natürliche Princip der Dinge. Ein Gespräch (Berlin 1802).
Concerning Schelling’s problems with his earlier publisher and Wilhelm’s offers of help, see his letter to Wilhelm on 29 March 1802 (letter 356a), note 2, and Caroline’s letter to Wilhelm on 18 March 1802 (letter 356), note 8, the latter including a reference to Hufeland’s role. Back.
[2] No letters from Caroline in Berlin to Schelling in Jena have been preserved. As seen in Caroline’s letter to Julie Gotter on 24 April 1802 (letter 357), Caroline was not at all pleased with Berlin notwithstanding the copious distractions.
As also seen in coming letters, it is unclear when the obscure incident occurred between Caroline and Wilhelm that seems to have prompted the decision to seek a divorce. That is, Caroline’s silence was likely not merely incidental (Göttinger Taschenkalender für das Jahr 1799, Inhaltsverzeichnis deutscher Almanache, Theodor Springmann Stiftung):
Translation © 2016 Doug Stott