Mes amies, here‘s Lehndorff in the year 1777, demonstrating that age does not wither one‘s inner tendency to draw sparkly hearts one bit:
1777 February 17th (...) I receive many letters, including one by Prince Heinrich. He writes me that he is quite content about this winter, which passed without a scandal - something of a rarity for Berlin, it is true. As for me, I‘m surprised by myself: I‘m not in a hurry to return to this city at all, where I did spend the majority of my life and where one has courted me with attentions. I feel so comfortable in my solitude that I only want to leave it in order to travel through warm countries. For a few days, I enjoy myself by riding a sledge and by the great scenery offered through the mountains. After a few days, I receive a letter from Buchholtz, the esteemed secretary of Prince Heinrich and without a doubt the most diligent of his servants. He tells me that the prince has travelled to Braunschweig with Herr v. Knyphausen, but has left Kaphengst behind, since the later has been stopped from travelling by a strong outbreak of the French sickness which he has picked up from German and French drama players. In Magdeburg his royal highness was in danger of getting smashed by a splinter of the great brdige which fell down right next to his carriage. Of course, I was completely shocked by these news and praised God for protecting my dear prince from this accident. But the very next day, I received a letter which still disturbes me. My dear prince has fallen dangerously sick in Braunschweig. He coughes blood and is extraordinarily weak, so it has been assumed that he was in great danger. Fortunately, he was bled at once, otherwise he might have been lost. My position is cruel. If I wasn’t away for more than 70 miles from him, I would have hurried to his side at once! The last few letters have somewhat reassured me, since I was told that he is out of danger now. But I will not rest until I know him to be safely back at Rheinsberg.
On May 2nd, Lehndorff while visiting Leipzig meets the Count of St. Germain himself.
(...)From there, I visit the Count Saint-Germain, who has been known for 50 years now under this name, but currently has assumed the alias of „Welton“, which in the English language meants philanthropist. Of this man, it is claimed that he has been alived since the birth of Christ. He himself doesn’t claim that directly, but he does indicate he has been living for a long time and doesn’t believe he will have to die, and that the people who follow his life plan would at the very least reach a great age. It is certain that he follows a strict diet. He lives with great moderation, drinks only water, never newly opened wine, and only eats a light supper once a day. His conversation is interesting; he preaches solely the virtues of moderation and philanthropy he himself displays. One can’t accuse him of doubletalk there. It is said he’s not as rich anymore as he used to be. In France, in England and in Venice, he used to spend 6000 ducats per annum without anyone knowing where that money came from. Here in Leipzig, people say, he’s lacking funds, but he hasn’t tried to borrow money from anyone yet; instead, he supposedly owns a lot of diamonds. His facial expression is verry high spirited. He talks with enthusiasm and pointedly, but doesn’t suffer counter arguments lightly. He claims to be able to read from anyone’s face whether they are able to understand him or not. In the later case, he refuses to see the person in question again. As for me, I have listened to him with great enjoyment. He seems to feel much friendliness for me, so I’ve spent about 24 hours with him over the last three days. (...) Some believe him to be a Portuegese Jew, others assume his life to have lasted for a few hundred years now, and believe him to be a dethroned prince. One accuses him to have told people that he was the third son of Prince Rackozy. He thinks he’s a great physicist. Above all things, he’s a doctor and talks a lot about his delicious powder which is to be drunken like a tea. I drank a cup of it. It tastes like anis and leads to increased bowel movement. He keeps preaching about the balance between mind and body; if one observes it carefully, he says, the machine of the body will never falter. Since my earliest youth I have heard tales about this man, and now I’m delighted to have finally met him. (...) Upon my return to the inn where I’m lodging the most pleasant surprise awaits me any feeling heart can experience. For as I climb up the stairs to the rooms in which so many strangers lodge, a pretty boy steps downwards to me. Even while I ponder who he might be, I’m told he is my son. This child, which has been so thin and worn out that I gave him to Herr Muzelius in Berlin to be cured, and then to Halle in the care of my niece Isenburg, married Countess Schlieben, has changed so much within only six months that I hardly recognized him. I cannot describe my joy. It feels like my soul became one with that of the child - this is how glad I am! No joy in the world can replace such happiness. My heart swam in delight, and yet I could not pronounce a single word. (...) I had dinner with my niece, my wife and my son, and must confess that this meal meant more to me than anyone with the most famous wits.
Awwww. But seriously, for a retired family man, Lehndorff finds an amazing amount of opportunities to make trips to, well...
May 16h: Early I was on my way to Rheinsberg. I couldn’t stand the journey; the terrible sand made me almost melancholic. But when I finally arrived, my joy was all the greater; now, all was forgotten. Rheinsberg is still a place where I have spend many pleasant hours. At first, we‘re completely alone, the Prince, Kaphengst and myself. Then, Herr v. Stosch arrives. We now make a trip to Meseberg, the beautiful estate which the Prince has bought wiht 130 000 Taler and given to Kaphengst as a gift. The mansion is furnished splendlidly, and this, too, the kind prince has paid for. One could admire him for it if only he would present his gifts according to merit, as opposed to favour. The health of the Prince improves. As we keep talking day in and day out, I always see how clever and gifted the Prince is. One can truly say of him that he is great in great matters, and small in small matters. (...)
June 1st. The Prince of Liechtenstein and Count Colloredo arrive. They are delighted by Rheinsberg and by the Prince. The Empress has explicitly ordered Prince Liechtenstein to go there and congratulate the Prince to his recovery. The King of France has ordered his envoy to do the same. Clearly, the Prince enjoys the respect given to great minds. If only this Prince whom my heart loves so tenderly would try to be as just as he is good and generous, he would be the object of universal admiration. Unfortunately, with him, passion always wins over sentiment. Thus he is able to give Kaphengst an estate for 150 000 Taler, but to refuse a young Wreech who is completely loyal to him 100 Louisdor. His loyalty is known to the prince, but as he is modesty itself, he doesn’t get anything out of it, while the other achieves everything through his impudence. This reminds me that one day, I strongly remonstrated with Mara, a strong favourite of the Prince’s, because he had behaved very impudently towards his Highness. The creature replied to me: „Oh, you don’t know this Prince as I do. If you don’t behave like a bastard towards him, you’re not getting anywhere.“ During my stay at Rheinsberg, I drive a few times to Meseberg, where Kaphengst marries one of his sisters to a Captain Beyer from the regiment Ferdinand. He throws them a princely wedding. Fourteen days, he hosts forty people, which all get supplied through the kitchen and the cellar of the Prince. While his royal highness limits himself to one bottle of Champagne for his evening table, people at Meseberg empty 1900. This favourite costs the Prince more than 10 000 Taler per annum, and that’s without counting the state.
Lehndorff, we knew that about Heinrich. You know that about Heinrich. I’m not expecting psychology on why Heinrich might have imprinted on charismatic bastards for life from you, but after all these decades, are you still expecting him to see the light? In July, Lehndorff is back at home when it’s family reunion time because old Uncle Du Rosey celebrates his 82nd birthday. This reminds Lehndorff:
I would like to add that I felt a certain satisfaction, which of course I did not pronounce out loud, when I saw the same Herr du Rosey in front of me who was 26 years ago my greatest enemy, when I proposed to Fräulein du Rosey. Through her mother, she was my cousin, and very rich, but her family sold her to a Herr v. Katt. All the people who were involved in this and scheming against me back then, I‘ve seen either take a bad ending or have seen them greatly humbled. There’s visible proof that there is such a thing as divine justice; God is just and knows what people deserve!
Nope, you’re still not forgiven, relations and Kattes. In August, he brings his son Karl to Berlin to go to school there, spends a few days in the capital, his wife has another daughter, the kid is duly baptized, and then Lehndorff is off to Rheinsberg again. No Kaphengst for a while, yay!
In the morning, I always take charming strolls with Prince Heinrich. Our conversation is extremely interesting to me, and covers subjects that only a few historians will know about. They will present the fascinating rule of Friedrich completely differently from how it should be written; the most interesting stories will be missed by them. (I dare say, Lehndorff.) They will seek for extraordinary causes for events which were more or less a work of accident as opposed to being the result of careful long term policy. The memorable partitioning of Poland, which people now believe to have been planned by the King throughout his entire rule, it started as a spontanous deal between the Czarina and Prince Heinrich during his first journey to Russia. The goal was to prevent that the House of Austria joined the war in favour of Turkey or concluded an alliance wiht them. This was the true cause for this great partitioning. But one could see from the Russian peace that Austria had already settled things with Turkey; they made deals with both sides. All the other guests who have assembled in Rheinsberg leave on August 22nd. I have rarely enjoyed eight consecutive days more. Without interruption, there was only pure happiness. The relaxed tone which the Prince has set makes Rheinsberg so charming. Everyone is allowed to amuse themselves according to their taste. While the young people play a lot of games, I take my strolls or withdraw to my room in order to paint. The Prince comes to me, and we chat. Every evening, there’s a theatre play. In the morning, one drives, rides, or walks in the open air. There’s always music. The conversation during meals is always light hearted. One cannot call my stay here anything but enchanting.
Theatre: Heinrich employed a troupe of players there - till the end of his life - which in the last fifteen years of same was the sole remaining ensemble of French players regularly performing in any German state. He often was on stage as well, and basically was a producer/director once Blainville had committed suicide (Blainville was the director before that time).
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The Lehndorff Report: 1777- A
Date: 2020-03-02 02:17 pm (UTC)1777 February 17th
(...) I receive many letters, including one by Prince Heinrich. He writes me that he is quite content about this winter, which passed without a scandal - something of a rarity for Berlin, it is true. As for me, I‘m surprised by myself: I‘m not in a hurry to return to this city at all, where I did spend the majority of my life and where one has courted me with attentions. I feel so comfortable in my solitude that I only want to leave it in order to travel through warm countries. For a few days, I enjoy myself by riding a sledge and by the great scenery offered through the mountains.
After a few days, I receive a letter from Buchholtz, the esteemed secretary of Prince Heinrich and without a doubt the most diligent of his servants. He tells me that the prince has travelled to Braunschweig with Herr v. Knyphausen, but has left Kaphengst behind, since the later has been stopped from travelling by a strong outbreak of the French sickness which he has picked up from German and French drama players. In Magdeburg his royal highness was in danger of getting smashed by a splinter of the great brdige which fell down right next to his carriage. Of course, I was completely shocked by these news and praised God for protecting my dear prince from this accident. But the very next day, I received a letter which still disturbes me. My dear prince has fallen dangerously sick in Braunschweig. He coughes blood and is extraordinarily weak, so it has been assumed that he was in great danger. Fortunately, he was bled at once, otherwise he might have been lost. My position is cruel. If I wasn’t away for more than 70 miles from him, I would have hurried to his side at once! The last few letters have somewhat reassured me, since I was told that he is out of danger now. But I will not rest until I know him to be safely back at Rheinsberg.
On May 2nd, Lehndorff while visiting Leipzig meets the Count of St. Germain himself.
(...)From there, I visit the Count Saint-Germain, who has been known for 50 years now under this name, but currently has assumed the alias of „Welton“, which in the English language meants philanthropist. Of this man, it is claimed that he has been alived since the birth of Christ. He himself doesn’t claim that directly, but he does indicate he has been living for a long time and doesn’t believe he will have to die, and that the people who follow his life plan would at the very least reach a great age. It is certain that he follows a strict diet. He lives with great moderation, drinks only water, never newly opened wine, and only eats a light supper once a day. His conversation is interesting; he preaches solely the virtues of moderation and philanthropy he himself displays. One can’t accuse him of doubletalk there. It is said he’s not as rich anymore as he used to be. In France, in England and in Venice, he used to spend 6000 ducats per annum without anyone knowing where that money came from. Here in Leipzig, people say, he’s lacking funds, but he hasn’t tried to borrow money from anyone yet; instead, he supposedly owns a lot of diamonds. His facial expression is verry high spirited. He talks with enthusiasm and pointedly, but doesn’t suffer counter arguments lightly. He claims to be able to read from anyone’s face whether they are able to understand him or not. In the later case, he refuses to see the person in question again. As for me, I have listened to him with great enjoyment. He seems to feel much friendliness for me, so I’ve spent about 24 hours with him over the last three days. (...)
Some believe him to be a Portuegese Jew, others assume his life to have lasted for a few hundred years now, and believe him to be a dethroned prince. One accuses him to have told people that he was the third son of Prince Rackozy. He thinks he’s a great physicist. Above all things, he’s a doctor and talks a lot about his delicious powder which is to be drunken like a tea. I drank a cup of it. It tastes like anis and leads to increased bowel movement. He keeps preaching about the balance between mind and body; if one observes it carefully, he says, the machine of the body will never falter. Since my earliest youth I have heard tales about this man, and now I’m delighted to have finally met him. (...)
Upon my return to the inn where I’m lodging the most pleasant surprise awaits me any feeling heart can experience. For as I climb up the stairs to the rooms in which so many strangers lodge, a pretty boy steps downwards to me. Even while I ponder who he might be, I’m told he is my son. This child, which has been so thin and worn out that I gave him to Herr Muzelius in Berlin to be cured, and then to Halle in the care of my niece Isenburg, married Countess Schlieben, has changed so much within only six months that I hardly recognized him. I cannot describe my joy. It feels like my soul became one with that of the child - this is how glad I am! No joy in the world can replace such happiness. My heart swam in delight, and yet I could not pronounce a single word. (...) I had dinner with my niece, my wife and my son, and must confess that this meal meant more to me than anyone with the most famous wits.
Awwww. But seriously, for a retired family man, Lehndorff finds an amazing amount of opportunities to make trips to, well...
May 16h: Early I was on my way to Rheinsberg. I couldn’t stand the journey; the terrible sand made me almost melancholic. But when I finally arrived, my joy was all the greater; now, all was forgotten. Rheinsberg is still a place where I have spend many pleasant hours.
At first, we‘re completely alone, the Prince, Kaphengst and myself. Then, Herr v. Stosch arrives. We now make a trip to Meseberg, the beautiful estate which the Prince has bought wiht 130 000 Taler and given to Kaphengst as a gift. The mansion is furnished splendlidly, and this, too, the kind prince has paid for. One could admire him for it if only he would present his gifts according to merit, as opposed to favour. The health of the Prince improves. As we keep talking day in and day out, I always see how clever and gifted the Prince is. One can truly say of him that he is great in great matters, and small in small matters. (...)
June 1st. The Prince of Liechtenstein and Count Colloredo arrive. They are delighted by Rheinsberg and by the Prince. The Empress has explicitly ordered Prince Liechtenstein to go there and congratulate the Prince to his recovery. The King of France has ordered his envoy to do the same. Clearly, the Prince enjoys the respect given to great minds. If only this Prince whom my heart loves so tenderly would try to be as just as he is good and generous, he would be the object of universal admiration. Unfortunately, with him, passion always wins over sentiment. Thus he is able to give Kaphengst an estate for 150 000 Taler, but to refuse a young Wreech who is completely loyal to him 100 Louisdor. His loyalty is known to the prince, but as he is modesty itself, he doesn’t get anything out of it, while the other achieves everything through his impudence. This reminds me that one day, I strongly remonstrated with Mara, a strong favourite of the Prince’s, because he had behaved very impudently towards his Highness. The creature replied to me: „Oh, you don’t know this Prince as I do. If you don’t behave like a bastard towards him, you’re not getting anywhere.“
During my stay at Rheinsberg, I drive a few times to Meseberg, where Kaphengst marries one of his sisters to a Captain Beyer from the regiment Ferdinand. He throws them a princely wedding. Fourteen days, he hosts forty people, which all get supplied through the kitchen and the cellar of the Prince. While his royal highness limits himself to one bottle of Champagne for his evening table, people at Meseberg empty 1900. This favourite costs the Prince more than 10 000 Taler per annum, and that’s without counting the state.
Lehndorff, we knew that about Heinrich. You know that about Heinrich. I’m not expecting psychology on why Heinrich might have imprinted on charismatic bastards for life from you, but after all these decades, are you still expecting him to see the light? In July, Lehndorff is back at home when it’s family reunion time because old Uncle Du Rosey celebrates his 82nd birthday. This reminds Lehndorff:
I would like to add that I felt a certain satisfaction, which of course I did not pronounce out loud, when I saw the same Herr du Rosey in front of me who was 26 years ago my greatest enemy, when I proposed to Fräulein du Rosey. Through her mother, she was my cousin, and very rich, but her family sold her to a Herr v. Katt. All the people who were involved in this and scheming against me back then, I‘ve seen either take a bad ending or have seen them greatly humbled. There’s visible proof that there is such a thing as divine justice; God is just and knows what people deserve!
Nope, you’re still not forgiven, relations and Kattes. In August, he brings his son Karl to Berlin to go to school there, spends a few days in the capital, his wife has another daughter, the kid is duly baptized, and then Lehndorff is off to Rheinsberg again. No Kaphengst for a while, yay!
In the morning, I always take charming strolls with Prince Heinrich. Our conversation is extremely interesting to me, and covers subjects that only a few historians will know about. They will present the fascinating rule of Friedrich completely differently from how it should be written; the most interesting stories will be missed by them. (I dare say, Lehndorff.) They will seek for extraordinary causes for events which were more or less a work of accident as opposed to being the result of careful long term policy. The memorable partitioning of Poland, which people now believe to have been planned by the King throughout his entire rule, it started as a spontanous deal between the Czarina and Prince Heinrich during his first journey to Russia. The goal was to prevent that the House of Austria joined the war in favour of Turkey or concluded an alliance wiht them. This was the true cause for this great partitioning. But one could see from the Russian peace that Austria had already settled things with Turkey; they made deals with both sides.
All the other guests who have assembled in Rheinsberg leave on August 22nd. I have rarely enjoyed eight consecutive days more. Without interruption, there was only pure happiness. The relaxed tone which the Prince has set makes Rheinsberg so charming. Everyone is allowed to amuse themselves according to their taste. While the young people play a lot of games, I take my strolls or withdraw to my room in order to paint. The Prince comes to me, and we chat. Every evening, there’s a theatre play. In the morning, one drives, rides, or walks in the open air. There’s always music. The conversation during meals is always light hearted. One cannot call my stay here anything but enchanting.
Theatre: Heinrich employed a troupe of players there - till the end of his life - which in the last fifteen years of same was the sole remaining ensemble of French players regularly performing in any German state. He often was on stage as well, and basically was a producer/director once Blainville had committed suicide (Blainville was the director before that time).