Okay, I’ve alloted myself just two hours per day to spend at the Stabi with Lehndorff, since I need to be doing other tihngs as well, and of course the Stabi is closed at the weekend, but I have to give you now the first installment of the Lehndorff Volume 4 report.
LOL. Our Editor, Dr. K.Ed. Schmidt-Lötzen, says in his preface that while Lehndorff’s diaries post retirement are mainly about his life in the countryside and his estate, our Lehndorff also keeps up an intense correspondence with all the obvious suspects. Editor thanks G. Volz - the very same - for helping him because the excentric ortography of some of those letters, and of the diaries themselves, are a trial, and Volz has gone through the hardcore school of decyphering Fritz letters. Also, our editor doesn’t know whether he’ll live long enough to publish all of Lehndorff’s journals, because looking at all those volumes still ahead, he doubts it. Aw. Editor, some of this material will go up in flames in 1945, so we’re grateful for anything you publish, you’re doing an intense public service, believe me.
Our editor by now is firmly attached to Lehndorff and tells us furtherly in the preface that he thinks Lehndorff would have made a great diplomat if Fritz had chosen to put him into the service (whether in England or elsewhere), and he, editor, can’t understand why Fritz didn’t, unless it was a bias against Lehndorff for being lame. The diaries as preserved in the year 1921 run from April 1st 1750 to October 8th 1806, just a few days before Prussia lost to Napoleon, big time, at Jena.
Now, onwards to what our Lehndorff wrote. Remember, when last we left him, he retired from EC‘s service, said goodbye to Heinrich and went home to Eastern Prussia to his estate Steinort. Which, btw, is in Poland today, along with most other locations I‘ve seen mentioned so far.
In the summer of 1775, there’s gossip in the provinces Fritz is at death’s door and gets wrapped in paper and lead for treatment. Lehndorff, who is corresponding with the capital, thinks it‘s all nonsense and probably inspired by Fritz suffering through a particularly painful attack of gout. Then there‘s this entry. The greatest princess is of course Catherine. The Count of St. Germain is one of the 18th century‘s most successful con men and adventurer‘s, pretending to be immortal. „Mariamme“ is a tragedy by Voltaire about Herod‘s wife. February 1776: In this time, I make the aquaintance of the famous prince Orlov, the lover of the greatest princess of the world. He arrives in Königsberg under the alias of a Russian major, lodges in the inn „Prince of Prussia“ and remains unrecognized for the entire evening. The next morning, rumor of his arrival spreads, and I meet him at Countess Keyserlingk’s. I liked him a lot. He doesn’t show pride, but a natural behavior, still remembers his old friends and talks about his good fortune with modesty. He shows me the empress’ portrait which is uniquely precious; the painting itself is covered by a flat diamond the size of a dollar. I dine with him, and he shows himself so delighted at finding his old acquaintances again that he’d have liked to stay longer with us, if Prince Lobkovitz, the Viennese envoy at the court of St. Petersburg, hadn’t arrived at the same time. This disturbs him, since he’d wanted to arrive at St. Petersburg before Lobkovitz did, without the Empress knowing about it. He also meets Count Schwerin, colonel in the Regiment Krockow, who has been the cause of his good fortune, and talks with him without restraint.
Staying at Königsberg also allows me to make a charming aquaintance, with the famous Chevalier Sagramoso, the Maltese envoy in Warsaw. (...) He is a polymath with whom I‘ve spent ten agreeable days. He has known the infamous Count of St. Germain pretty well, the one who claims to be eternal and of whom he has told me the following anecdote: At a performance of the tragedy „Mariamme“, he declared he was doubly touched since he had known the amiable princess very well. A lady present who wanted to embarass him adressed him by saying: „Then you probably knew our Lord Jesus Christ as well?“. „Whether I knew him?“ he replied. „Why, so well that I told him after that business in the Temple had happened: My dear friend, this can‘t end well!“ (...)
And we‘re only a few pages into the start of this journal, when guess whose name makes a return appearance: We talk most of all about the arrival of Prince Heinrich, who will stop in Königsberg on his way to Russia. He has written to me several times, and I could come with him on the journey if I wasn’t worried about leaving my wife, who is pregnant. My dear prince arrives on March 26th. I am endlessly glad to see him again and am always with him. He tells me a great deal strange and extremely interesting things, and I see him part from Königsberg with great regret. A few days later I travel to Steinort, but as I am disturbed by the news that my wife might give birth earlier than supposed, I return to Königsberg on April 28th. My wife immediately takes lodging at my house there, and we await her giving birth until the end of June.
In the meantime, I have made my preparations in order to follow Prince Heinrich to St. Petersburg, my clothes have arrived, and June 9th has been named as the day of my departure. I have received several letters by the Prince which promise me the most pleasing reception, and wherein he tells me there has already been an apartment prepared for me in Zarkoje Selo. But just as I enter the carriage and want to leave, a terrible fever attacks me, and I am - (This is where the diary book ends, and Lehndorff starts a new volume thusly) On June 21st at 3 am, my wife gives birth to a daughter in Königsberg most happily. At the same time, I receive a letter from Prince Heinrich announcing he will arrive at Königsberg in the company of the Grand Duke on July 10th. Thus I see myself forced to abandon the plan of a journey to St. Petersburg which I had carried with me through the entire summer. I must admit this is rather painful for me, for I will never have the chance again to get know this country under such pleasant circumstances as they would have been in the company of Prince Heinrich for me. But one cannot fight destiny!
Lehndorff, I dare say your wife would have had something to say about you leaving her just after she’s given birth to go holidaying in Russia with the crush of your life! Though at least she fares better than the other pregnant woman mentioned in these pages. The Grand Duke is Catherine‘s son Paul. Nominally also the late Peter IIII‘s son. Paul is very touchy about the question mark on his paternity and thus is making a point of being as much like (P)Russian Pete as he possibly can, including being a Fritz fan. Prussia cultivates him, of course, since no one has forgotten what it‘s like to be at war with Russians. The following passage also illustrates Heinrich‘s own streak of political ruthlessness, less bloody than that of Fritz but no less cold if needs must. (The need in case being keeping the next Czar in the family.) „We both have the same coldness“, as Fritz would put it.
At July 6th, the serene Prince Heinrich arrives. He shows himself so pleased to see me that I am delighted. We think about a thousand preparations to receive the Grand Duke in the entire country. I am spending the entire day in the company of my adored prince, who tells me a thousand anecdotes about Russia, about the Empress and her entire court which I have to write down at once. The prince was in a very strange situation there. Just after his arrival, he found the Empress full of attitude against us, because the Polish General Branicki has helped Potjemkin to influence her against us. Additionally, he found the Grand Duchess, the sister of our Princess of Prussia, to be dying due to a pregnancy which took a fateful course. For this reason, the Prince spent several days alone without getting to see the Empress. The envoys of other courts were already triumphant and flattered themselves that the prince would not be as successful this time as during his first journey. But then, Prince Heinrich used an opportune moment to get a message through the Empress via General Kaskin to tell her that nothing was more of concern to him than her distress, and that he asked her to use him as she saw fit if he could be of any service to her. Very pleased about the offer, the Empress replies that she appreciates his sincere friendship in her sad situation, and that she asks him to come to her as soon as possible and to take the Grand Duke under his wing, who was wrecked with pain over his dying wife. At once, the Prince follows suit, and he manages to talk the Grand Duke out of the room of the dying woman. He behaves so well that (...) this misfortune is an occasion to win the trust of the Empress and the Grand Duke so thoroughly that even before the later’s wife has expired, there has already been a new spouse arranged, the charming princess of Würtemberg, the great niece of our King and daughter of the most estimable parents of the world. (...) At last after ten days of the most terrible suffering, the unfortunate princess dies without having given birth as the child, a boy, was still attached to her. She bore all the operations with the greatest endurance and died in the same way. (...) So this entire day passes very agreeable for me; the joy of the prince at my company is so sincere and his conversation is so interesting that the hours pass as in flight. In the evening, he has the kindness to ask me to come with him to meet the Grand Duke the next morning.
So Lehndorff might not have had the chance to travel with Heinrich to Russia, but he gets to travel with him and Grand Duke Paul through the newly aquired Poland, err, even Easterner Prussia. This, btw, is of additional political importance since the inhabitants of Danzig - Gdansk - used to be HRE subjects, Danzig having been a Free City, and are less than thrilled that they‘re now Prussians. Extra bonus for Lehndorff: he gets to lord it over one of Heinrich‘s exes, to wit, Kalckreuth.
(...) On the 9th, we drive through the most beautiful area of the world to Insterburg, always through arches of honor. (...) About a mile away from Isenburg, I see Lieutenant Colonel Kalckreuth whose anger I can spot on his face, as this is the first time that he, who had once been Prince Heinrich‘s big favourite, will see the later after his disgrace. He has written to the Prince and his royal highness has asked me to tell him that he would not treat him badly, but also that there was nothing left between them in his favor. At last, I arrive in Insterburg, where I enjoy meeting Madame General Platen again. She entertains me with all types of outbursts Kalckreuth has made in her presence.
Life is sweet for Lehndorff. (One hopes also for Mrs. Lehndorff and the baby, still at Königsberg.)
On to Danzig, aka Gdansk:
The way to the town Danzig is beautiful, the view of the gigantic crowd splended; all the public stairs, all windows are full of women wearing their most beautiful dresses who greet us in the most amiable way. This is true in all the suburbs of Danzig as well. One has put up tents and prepared a great picknick for the Prince; but the Grand Duke didn‘t want to have anything to do with this, since he declared he does not want to be polite to people who are unkind to the King of Prussia. He really seems to be that attached to our royal house. As he is greeted by the city council with a speech, he only replies with a bow, while Prince Heinrich takes care to speak with such friendliness with them that they are delighted.
That would be why Paul, once he‘s Czar, will end up just about as popular as his legal Dad. He won‘t end much more happily, too. But for now, all is smiles.
18th July. At 8 am, the entire noble company leaves Oliva, and I have to take leave of my amiable prince who has asked me urgently to come with him till Berlin. But I remain firm! Prince Heinrich now gives me a beautiful gift; he presents me with a box of gold, decorated with emeralds and diamonds. Once all the carriages have left, I am amazed to find myself alone at a place which I had seen overcrowded with people just a moment earlier. Since I had spent the night rather badly in a tiny room, I go to the suit where the Grand Duke has been lodging, lie down on a comfortable chaiselongue and sleep there for three or four hours. Then I take my dinner with the Chamberlain Keyslerlingk and the abbot of Oliva.
Bless. After a few more days in Danzig, he goes back to Königsberg to reunite with Mrs. Lehndorff and the baby. Scheming Kalkreuth continues to be a thing, btw, since he‘s in a mini war with the Platens, and Lehndorff, of course, is Team Platen. (And also Team Muwahaa, Whom Is Heinrich Still Fond of Now, Kalkreuth?) And there I must leave him for the weekend.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Lehndorff Report: 1776
Date: 2020-02-28 01:46 pm (UTC)LOL. Our Editor, Dr. K.Ed. Schmidt-Lötzen, says in his preface that while Lehndorff’s diaries post retirement are mainly about his life in the countryside and his estate, our Lehndorff also keeps up an intense correspondence with all the obvious suspects. Editor thanks G. Volz - the very same - for helping him because the excentric ortography of some of those letters, and of the diaries themselves, are a trial, and Volz has gone through the hardcore school of decyphering Fritz letters. Also, our editor doesn’t know whether he’ll live long enough to publish all of Lehndorff’s journals, because looking at all those volumes still ahead, he doubts it. Aw. Editor, some of this material will go up in flames in 1945, so we’re grateful for anything you publish, you’re doing an intense public service, believe me.
Our editor by now is firmly attached to Lehndorff and tells us furtherly in the preface that he thinks Lehndorff would have made a great diplomat if Fritz had chosen to put him into the service (whether in England or elsewhere), and he, editor, can’t understand why Fritz didn’t, unless it was a bias against Lehndorff for being lame. The diaries as preserved in the year 1921 run from April 1st 1750 to October 8th 1806, just a few days before Prussia lost to Napoleon, big time, at Jena.
Now, onwards to what our Lehndorff wrote. Remember, when last we left him, he retired from EC‘s service, said goodbye to Heinrich and went home to Eastern Prussia to his estate Steinort. Which, btw, is in Poland today, along with most other locations I‘ve seen mentioned so far.
In the summer of 1775, there’s gossip in the provinces Fritz is at death’s door and gets wrapped in paper and lead for treatment. Lehndorff, who is corresponding with the capital, thinks it‘s all nonsense and probably inspired by Fritz suffering through a particularly painful attack of gout. Then there‘s this entry. The greatest princess is of course Catherine. The Count of St. Germain is one of the 18th century‘s most successful con men and adventurer‘s, pretending to be immortal. „Mariamme“ is a tragedy by Voltaire about Herod‘s wife.
February 1776: In this time, I make the aquaintance of the famous prince Orlov, the lover of the greatest princess of the world. He arrives in Königsberg under the alias of a Russian major, lodges in the inn „Prince of Prussia“ and remains unrecognized for the entire evening. The next morning, rumor of his arrival spreads, and I meet him at Countess Keyserlingk’s. I liked him a lot. He doesn’t show pride, but a natural behavior, still remembers his old friends and talks about his good fortune with modesty. He shows me the empress’ portrait which is uniquely precious; the painting itself is covered by a flat diamond the size of a dollar. I dine with him, and he shows himself so delighted at finding his old acquaintances again that he’d have liked to stay longer with us, if Prince Lobkovitz, the Viennese envoy at the court of St. Petersburg, hadn’t arrived at the same time. This disturbs him, since he’d wanted to arrive at St. Petersburg before Lobkovitz did, without the Empress knowing about it. He also meets Count Schwerin, colonel in the Regiment Krockow, who has been the cause of his good fortune, and talks with him without restraint.
Staying at Königsberg also allows me to make a charming aquaintance, with the famous Chevalier Sagramoso, the Maltese envoy in Warsaw. (...) He is a polymath with whom I‘ve spent ten agreeable days. He has known the infamous Count of St. Germain pretty well, the one who claims to be eternal and of whom he has told me the following anecdote: At a performance of the tragedy „Mariamme“, he declared he was doubly touched since he had known the amiable princess very well. A lady present who wanted to embarass him adressed him by saying: „Then you probably knew our Lord Jesus Christ as well?“. „Whether I knew him?“ he replied. „Why, so well that I told him after that business in the Temple had happened: My dear friend, this can‘t end well!“ (...)
And we‘re only a few pages into the start of this journal, when guess whose name makes a return appearance:
We talk most of all about the arrival of Prince Heinrich, who will stop in Königsberg on his way to Russia. He has written to me several times, and I could come with him on the journey if I wasn’t worried about leaving my wife, who is pregnant. My dear prince arrives on March 26th. I am endlessly glad to see him again and am always with him. He tells me a great deal strange and extremely interesting things, and I see him part from Königsberg with great regret. A few days later I travel to Steinort, but as I am disturbed by the news that my wife might give birth earlier than supposed, I return to Königsberg on April 28th. My wife immediately takes lodging at my house there, and we await her giving birth until the end of June.
In the meantime, I have made my preparations in order to follow Prince Heinrich to St. Petersburg, my clothes have arrived, and June 9th has been named as the day of my departure. I have received several letters by the Prince which promise me the most pleasing reception, and wherein he tells me there has already been an apartment prepared for me in Zarkoje Selo. But just as I enter the carriage and want to leave, a terrible fever attacks me, and I am -
(This is where the diary book ends, and Lehndorff starts a new volume thusly)
On June 21st at 3 am, my wife gives birth to a daughter in Königsberg most happily. At the same time, I receive a letter from Prince Heinrich announcing he will arrive at Königsberg in the company of the Grand Duke on July 10th. Thus I see myself forced to abandon the plan of a journey to St. Petersburg which I had carried with me through the entire summer. I must admit this is rather painful for me, for I will never have the chance again to get know this country under such pleasant circumstances as they would have been in the company of Prince Heinrich for me. But one cannot fight destiny!
Lehndorff, I dare say your wife would have had something to say about you leaving her just after she’s given birth to go holidaying in Russia with the crush of your life! Though at least she fares better than the other pregnant woman mentioned in these pages. The Grand Duke is Catherine‘s son Paul. Nominally also the late Peter IIII‘s son. Paul is very touchy about the question mark on his paternity and thus is making a point of being as much like (P)Russian Pete as he possibly can, including being a Fritz fan. Prussia cultivates him, of course, since no one has forgotten what it‘s like to be at war with Russians. The following passage also illustrates Heinrich‘s own streak of political ruthlessness, less bloody than that of Fritz but no less cold if needs must. (The need in case being keeping the next Czar in the family.) „We both have the same coldness“, as Fritz would put it.
At July 6th, the serene Prince Heinrich arrives. He shows himself so pleased to see me that I am delighted. We think about a thousand preparations to receive the Grand Duke in the entire country. I am spending the entire day in the company of my adored prince, who tells me a thousand anecdotes about Russia, about the Empress and her entire court which I have to write down at once. The prince was in a very strange situation there. Just after his arrival, he found the Empress full of attitude against us, because the Polish General Branicki has helped Potjemkin to influence her against us. Additionally, he found the Grand Duchess, the sister of our Princess of Prussia, to be dying due to a pregnancy which took a fateful course. For this reason, the Prince spent several days alone without getting to see the Empress. The envoys of other courts were already triumphant and flattered themselves that the prince would not be as successful this time as during his first journey. But then, Prince Heinrich used an opportune moment to get a message through the Empress via General Kaskin to tell her that nothing was more of concern to him than her distress, and that he asked her to use him as she saw fit if he could be of any service to her. Very pleased about the offer, the Empress replies that she appreciates his sincere friendship in her sad situation, and that she asks him to come to her as soon as possible and to take the Grand Duke under his wing, who was wrecked with pain over his dying wife. At once, the Prince follows suit, and he manages to talk the Grand Duke out of the room of the dying woman. He behaves so well that (...) this misfortune is an occasion to win the trust of the Empress and the Grand Duke so thoroughly that even before the later’s wife has expired, there has already been a new spouse arranged, the charming princess of Würtemberg, the great niece of our King and daughter of the most estimable parents of the world. (...) At last after ten days of the most terrible suffering, the unfortunate princess dies without having given birth as the child, a boy, was still attached to her. She bore all the operations with the greatest endurance and died in the same way. (...)
So this entire day passes very agreeable for me; the joy of the prince at my company is so sincere and his conversation is so interesting that the hours pass as in flight. In the evening, he has the kindness to ask me to come with him to meet the Grand Duke the next morning.
So Lehndorff might not have had the chance to travel with Heinrich to Russia, but he gets to travel with him and Grand Duke Paul through the newly aquired Poland, err, even Easterner Prussia. This, btw, is of additional political importance since the inhabitants of Danzig - Gdansk - used to be HRE subjects, Danzig having been a Free City, and are less than thrilled that they‘re now Prussians. Extra bonus for Lehndorff: he gets to lord it over one of Heinrich‘s exes, to wit, Kalckreuth.
(...) On the 9th, we drive through the most beautiful area of the world to Insterburg, always through arches of honor. (...) About a mile away from Isenburg, I see Lieutenant Colonel Kalckreuth whose anger I can spot on his face, as this is the first time that he, who had once been Prince Heinrich‘s big favourite, will see the later after his disgrace. He has written to the Prince and his royal highness has asked me to tell him that he would not treat him badly, but also that there was nothing left between them in his favor. At last, I arrive in Insterburg, where I enjoy meeting Madame General Platen again. She entertains me with all types of outbursts Kalckreuth has made in her presence.
Life is sweet for Lehndorff. (One hopes also for Mrs. Lehndorff and the baby, still at Königsberg.)
On to Danzig, aka Gdansk:
The way to the town Danzig is beautiful, the view of the gigantic crowd splended; all the public stairs, all windows are full of women wearing their most beautiful dresses who greet us in the most amiable way. This is true in all the suburbs of Danzig as well. One has put up tents and prepared a great picknick for the Prince; but the Grand Duke didn‘t want to have anything to do with this, since he declared he does not want to be polite to people who are unkind to the King of Prussia. He really seems to be that attached to our royal house. As he is greeted by the city council with a speech, he only replies with a bow, while Prince Heinrich takes care to speak with such friendliness with them that they are delighted.
That would be why Paul, once he‘s Czar, will end up just about as popular as his legal Dad. He won‘t end much more happily, too. But for now, all is smiles.
18th July. At 8 am, the entire noble company leaves Oliva, and I have to take leave of my amiable prince who has asked me urgently to come with him till Berlin. But I remain firm! Prince Heinrich now gives me a beautiful gift; he presents me with a box of gold, decorated with emeralds and diamonds. Once all the carriages have left, I am amazed to find myself alone at a place which I had seen overcrowded with people just a moment earlier. Since I had spent the night rather badly in a tiny room, I go to the suit where the Grand Duke has been lodging, lie down on a comfortable chaiselongue and sleep there for three or four hours. Then I take my dinner with the Chamberlain Keyslerlingk and the abbot of Oliva.
Bless. After a few more days in Danzig, he goes back to Königsberg to reunite with Mrs. Lehndorff and the baby. Scheming Kalkreuth continues to be a thing, btw, since he‘s in a mini war with the Platens, and Lehndorff, of course, is Team Platen. (And also Team Muwahaa, Whom Is Heinrich Still Fond of Now, Kalkreuth?) And there I must leave him for the weekend.