cahn

I dimly recall that one of the few letters from Fredersdorf to Fritz (instead of the other way around) in the Richter edited correspondence contains the observation that since Algarottti's absence seems to be permanent this time, should his salary (as an academy member or secret councillor, don't remember which one) still be paid?

Ah, right, I dimly remember the salary discussion too. Okay, that makes sense. It makes far more sense than any sexy explanations!

Abbe de Prades: remind me again, he doesn't get busted as a spy until 1758, doesn't he?

1757 according to Wikipedia, but I don't have time to confirm. But I do vaguely remember it in connection with Rossbach, so maybe in the second half of the year.

I very much doubt Glasow handled the actual Fritz/Algarotti correspondance, in the sense of writing it, because as opposed to Henri de Catt, there's no way Glasow knew enough high level French for that.

I mean, I was very surprised to see Glasow involved in the correspondence!

But if he took care of Algarotti's pension (or was supposed to), he presumably was able to forward letters as well, and Fritz might assume spies were less likely to be interested in a letter from Algarotti to Friedrich Christian Glasow than in a letter from Algarotti to Frederick the Great.

That does make sense! Thank you for coming up with a plausible explanation for this.

I still share your surprise that the hot young model got entrusted with this much responsibility, but I guess there you have it.