374c. Schelling to Goethe in Weimar: Jena, mid-January 1803 [*]
[Jena, mid-January 1803]
With assurances of the client’s profound gratitude [1] for your having so kindly taken over guidance of this matter, [2] I am honored to send along the letter to His Excellency. [3] The blanquet for both parties will follow as soon as possible. [4] . . .
Notes
[*] Sources: Goethe und die Romantik 1:229; Fuhrmans 2:483. Back.
[1] I.e., Caroline. Back.
[2] I.e., in the matter of Wilhelm Schlegel and Caroline’s divorce petition to Duke Karl August (letter/document 371) (Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, Scheidung [“divorce”] [1788], Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Museums./Signatur DChodowiecki AB 3.775):
The reference is also to Goethe having taken over their petitions to be excused from appearing as supplicants in the matter before the High Consistory in Weimar (see Johann Gottfried Herder’s missive to Wilhelm on 14 December 1802 [letter 373b]). — Here Chodowiecki’s illustrations of (1) a meeting of hierarchical consistory members ca. 1774, and (2) an individual having to appear before such a consistory (“Ein hierarchisches Konsistorium,” from the Kupfersammlung zu J[ohann] B[ernhard] Basedows Elementarwerke für die Jugend und ihre Freunde: Erste Lieferung in 53 Tafeln. Zweyte Lieferung in 47 Tafeln von L bis XCVI [Leipzig, Dessau, Berlin 1774], plate LXXIII d; Sebaldus vor dem Consistorium [1774]; Herzog August Bibliothek; Museums./Signatur Chodowiecki Sammlung [1-51]; both illustrations Herzog August Bibliothek; Museums./Signatur Chodowiecki Sammlung [1-15]):
Wilhelm Schlegel was unaware that the contact in Weimar was Goethe. Back.
[3] Schelling mentions this letter from Caroline to Duke Karl August in his letter to Wilhelm on 7 January 1803 (letter 374b). Back.
[4] Viz., documents from Wilhelm and Caroline granting power of attorney in their petition for a release from the summons from the High Consistory to appear in person in the matter of their divorce, including presumably the petition for divorce itself (letter/document 371); see Goethe’s letter to Schelling on 7 January 1803 (letter 374a). Back.
Translation © 2016 Doug Stott