Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 19

[cahn]

Yuletide nominations:

18th Century CE Federician RPF
Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria
Voltaire
Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great
Ernst Ahasverus von Lehndorff
Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preußen | Henry of Prussia (1726-1802)
Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia (1709-1758)
Anna Amalie von Preußen | Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723-1787)
Catherine II of Russia
Hans Hermann von Katte
Peter Karl Christoph von Keith
Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf
August Wilhelm von Preußen | Augustus William of Prussia (1722-1758)

Circle of Voltaire RPF
Emilie du Chatelet
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (Madame de Pompadour)
John Hervey (1696-1743)
Marie Louise Mignot Denis
Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu
Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis
Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu (1696-1788)
Francesco Algarotti

Comments

Re: Early Fritz letter to Voltaire / Random Thoughts

[felis]

Hi, nice to meet you! :) I've learned so many things about Frederick et al these last few weeks and it's been quite a ride so far.

Did they have the same division of physics that we have now? I had the vague impression they kind of shoved everything science-related under "natural philosophy" and called it a day.

Yeah, as far as I know, they didn't have the clear science divisions yet, neither between natural sciences and philosophy as an umbrella term nor between the different natural sciences as we understand them today, that's why I added the hindsight comment. Although I think the 18th century was when that very slowly started to change - they do use the term physics and are employing scientific methods instead of placing the weight on the philosophy part of natural philosophy, even though it's still kind of seen as part of it (and taught that way at universities). Probably one reason why Voltaire's dabbling in it, too. Biology as a term doesn't exist yet, but chemistry as derived from alchemy is kind of around. (Although as Fredersdorf clearly shows, alchemy itself is still a thing as well.)

Re: Early Fritz letter to Voltaire / Random Thoughts

[mildred_of_midgard]

(Although as Fredersdorf clearly shows, alchemy itself is still a thing as well.)

So I was reading Oster's Wilhelmine bio, and I found this quote from a Fritz letter:

Fritz on October 19, 1732: If I could make gold, I would first use my knowledge to help out Wilhelmine.

To which I commented, "If you could make gold, huh? I wonder if Fritz talked about making gold before 1732, or if we're seeing traces of Fredersdorf here."

Do you know of any Fritzian references to alchemy before 1732? Or is this a sign that Fredersdorf was maybe talking about alchemy with Fritz from the beginning? (I mean, there could be many reasons this was on Fritz's mind, but I do find it curious that it's within a year after he met Fredersdorf.)

Re: Early Fritz letter to Voltaire / Random Thoughts

[felis]

I do not know of any earlier alchemy references, but I also feel like I'm not really the person to ask here, given that all I've read that's earlier than 1732 is everything you guys posted on the time period plus all the Fritz-FW and one or two Grumbkow letters. :D I'll certainly keep an eye out during future readings, though.

Re: Early Fritz letter to Voltaire / Random Thoughts

[mildred_of_midgard]

Thanks! Unfortunately, most of his correspondence from pre-1732 was destroyed, but perhaps there's an envoy report or something.

And until we find counterevidence, I'm reading between the lines and seeing Fredersdorf. :)