This was a fascinating read. I didn't realize that Mendelssohn had an advocate so close to Fritz.
Re: the great "not so catholic philosopher..." quote, I just saw that the second sentence is slightly different at Trier! (Was looking for possible Mendelssohn mentions there.) Preuss gives Il y a dans tout ceci trop peu de religion pour que la raison ne soit pas du côté de la demande., even saying that it's slightly different from Nicolai. The meaning is almost the same, but with "little enough religion" vs. "enough philosophy", the emphasis is different. Preuss says he copied it from the original, owned by an unnamed individual during his time. Huh.
But yeah, the precariousness of living as a Jew comes through very clearly, and the prevalence of "that's just the law / how it's done" even among people who are themselves very much pro-enlightenment. Your addendum on the other hand emphasizes why I feel like this was such a missed chance, because it's not like Fritz' principles wouldn't have allowed him to take the necessary steps.
Aside from that, this also gives quite a vivid picture of D'Argens, which I appreciate.
petition had to have been lost through an unusual accident
Like the flute was at fault for the wrong notes? I mean I get that Fritz didn't want his friends involved in his politics, but, well. *side-eyes* (On the other hand, I have wondered before just how much got lost on his way to or from Fritz with his style of government.)
Nevertheless, this part -
When the Marquis visited the King that evening, he started to chide him as soon as he had stepped into the room.
- made me smile. Probably a tale that became a bit bigger in the telling, but still, it's a great scene.
Re: Moses Mendelsohn (aka Nicolai, Volume I, b)
Re: the great "not so catholic philosopher..." quote, I just saw that the second sentence is slightly different at Trier! (Was looking for possible Mendelssohn mentions there.) Preuss gives Il y a dans tout ceci trop peu de religion pour que la raison ne soit pas du côté de la demande., even saying that it's slightly different from Nicolai. The meaning is almost the same, but with "little enough religion" vs. "enough philosophy", the emphasis is different. Preuss says he copied it from the original, owned by an unnamed individual during his time. Huh.
But yeah, the precariousness of living as a Jew comes through very clearly, and the prevalence of "that's just the law / how it's done" even among people who are themselves very much pro-enlightenment. Your addendum on the other hand emphasizes why I feel like this was such a missed chance, because it's not like Fritz' principles wouldn't have allowed him to take the necessary steps.
Aside from that, this also gives quite a vivid picture of D'Argens, which I appreciate.
petition had to have been lost through an unusual accident
Like the flute was at fault for the wrong notes? I mean I get that Fritz didn't want his friends involved in his politics, but, well. *side-eyes* (On the other hand, I have wondered before just how much got lost on his way to or from Fritz with his style of government.)
Nevertheless, this part -
When the Marquis visited the King that evening, he started to chide him as soon as he had stepped into the room.
- made me smile. Probably a tale that became a bit bigger in the telling, but still, it's a great scene.