417d. Adalbert Friedrich Marcus to Schelling in Munich: Bamberg, 17 August 1806 [*]
Bamberg, 17 August 1806
Beloved friend!
As longingly as I have awaited news from you, all the more am I now relieved concerning your situation, which I would almost extol as most fortunate. [1] A liberal kingdom will doubtless add whatever may be lacking in the way of loose change. [2] How vexing to be so near to the spring, to be thirsty, and yet not to be able to draw water from it. An académicien should at least be set up such that no earthly concerns oppress him, and that he has no need to sell his intellectual wares cheaply. Three thousand Gulden is the least you must have considering your situation in Munich. Herr von Zentner will have to take care of that yet; whatever your literary works bring in must be money for leisure and travel.
We really should go to Paris together; I will be glad to wait until you can come along. [3] . . .
Notes
[*] Source: Fuhrmans 3:352. — Marcus remained in Bamberg for the rest of his life (Rudolf Koch and Fritz Kredel, Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete [Leipzig 1937]):
[1] See Schelling’s letter to his father on 7 August 1806 (letter 417c) concerning the news he received from the Bavarian administration concerning his admittedly attractive appointment to the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities. Back.
[2] I.e., in enhancing Schelling compensation. Bavaria had been a kingdom at Napoleon’s initiative since the implementation of the Treaty of Pressburg at the beginning of 1806. Back.
[3] An intriguing prospect, though Schelling never accompanied Marcus there; it is not entirely clear whether Marcus himself made such a trip (W. R. Shepherd, Historical Map of Central Europe about 1786 [1926]):
Translation © 2018 Doug Stott