Still going! Still clearing Fritz's valet/chamberlain Fredersdorf's name from the calumny enshrined in wikipedia that he was dismissed for financial irregularities!
If it can be done, and if there's no other method available, though, I'm intending to advise His Majesty to let the remaining lease of Kienberg be paid by the remaining horse fodder money of 1027XX8XX. True, the sum has been intended to redeem the old debts on a monthly basis; but there are cases when it can't be used only to this purpose without getting divided, as for example happened earlier this month, when His Majesty had to had to supply rations out of this remaining money for 71 horses of the Rosenburg and Preus stud farm. If you, mon tres cher compare, would provide a presentation addressed to His Majesty to me immediately which demonstrates to him that you want the remaining lease to be paid out of this foundation, I'll swear that it won't have a bad result. I've already told Horsemaster Korack to report to me why the Kienberg lease and the Xahren service money haven't been properly redeemed in time, and how he wants to make up for this failure?
As soon as I get a reply, I'll share it with you. Could you also be so kind as to tell me whether Roseno is really serious about taking over the Kienberg lease, and at which conditions he wants to do so? Whatever my poor self can accomplish so we can escape from this embarrassment, I'll joyfully do.
As regards to news, I don't have any to share except that our Zieten and the Czekel Hussars have fiercely engaged the Austrian Hussars on the day of our arrival at our current headquarters. A Captain was killed, a Lieutenant and 31 common soldiers and horses were captured. Now, we've encircled Prague. Braun has retreated into the city and across the Moldau and has entrenched himself there. What will happen further, only time will tell. Despite all the exhaustion, His Royal Majesty is cheerful and healthy. I recccommend myself in steadfast friendship and remain with sincere respect, Monsieur et tres chere compere, etc.
Getting enough money for horse fodder soon will be but one of many problems, Leining. But first, Heinrich will distinguish himself in the battle for Prague for the first but not the last time in this war, causing Fritz to say that he "accomplished miracles" (not to Heinrich, of course, to their sisters in his letter), and then Fritz will realise Prague wasn't his Pharsalos after all.
I've said so before, but Leining reassuring Fredersdorf that Fritz is fine and upbeat despite all the war stress is very touching indeed. cahn, Zieten, sometimes also spelled Ziethen, is the somewhat older general famous not just for his victories but for NOT following the Old Dessaur/FW school of drilling your soldiers brutally, and also for not allowing his soldiers to abuse civilians. Heinrich honored him on the Rheinsberg Obelisk with a plaque specifically praising his humanity. There's a famous anecdote which Fontane uses in a poem about Ziet(h)en of him falling asleep in his later years when invited chez Fritz and that Fritz didn't allow anyone to wake him up or disturb him and said that Ziet(h)hen had remained sleepless in his service long enough.
"Braun" is Browne, a name you may recognize from your studies of the Seven Years' War. He will be mortally wounded in the battle two days after Leining writes this letter, and die soon after.
Braun has retreated into the city and across the Moldau
I see why you translated "hinter" as "into", i.e. behind the city walls, but in this case I think it's "behind the city": Browne has passed the city, crossed the river, and entrenched himself in the heights outside the city, while an Austrian garrison holds the city itself. Or so my sources tell me (that's part of why I chose that decipherment.) (You can see the Royal Detective now has time to make occasional appearances again, at least on weekends. ;) )
I've said so before, but Leining reassuring Fredersdorf that Fritz is fine and upbeat despite all the war stress is very touching indeed.
Yeah, especially given Showalter's description of his state of mind:
Frederick for his part was much less sanguine than his rhetoric suggested. The force he left behind at Prague was disproportionally large merely to mask a fortress, and too weak to cut off the westward march of a presumably defeated foe...Another indication of the King’s state of mind was the stomach trouble that plagued him on the night of the 5th and 6th. The constant vomiting suggests that taut nerves played at least a partial role in the royal attack of ‘colic’. The King’s health, moreover, seems to have promptly improved with the news of Schwerin’s arrival.
Fredersdorf's worries are not without foundation! But we see that Fritz did a good job of presenting a cheerful front to those around him.
Speaking of Browne and Showalter, here are some insights into Browne's personality:
In December Browne had boasted that he was willing to confront the Prussian King at five-to-one odds in a campaign of manoeuvre: ‘I could keep a single march in front of him without fear of being seriously troubled’. This optimism was almost certainly overstated – perhaps it may be attributed to the periodic euphoria that can accompany the later stages of untreated tuberculosis. Browne was not, however, merely seeking to impress. He believed himself a match and better for Frederick in the open field. Browne still saw himself as the professional, Frederick as the amateur – ‘a Prince who may possess some great qualities, but in no way be considered a great captain’.
Based on Lobositz, Browne might even have been justified in his ability to embarrass Frederick. But by the time the Prussian columns actually crossed the border, Browne’s health had reached the breaking point. He proved unable to coordinate the half-hearted efforts of his subordinates to check the Prussian advance. Frederick and Moritz joined forces on 25 April. The same day Browne made contact with Schwerin’s advance guards. The Austrians fell back.
Okay, off to letter 9, written a few days after the battle! We shall see what it holds.
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cahn
Re: Leining to Fredersdorf: Letter 8, page 3 and 4 Translations
Date: 2023-04-23 05:36 am (UTC)If it can be done, and if there's no other method available, though, I'm intending to advise His Majesty to let the remaining lease of Kienberg be paid by the remaining horse fodder money of 1027XX8XX. True, the sum has been intended to redeem the old debts on a monthly basis; but there are cases when it can't be used only to this purpose without getting divided, as for example happened earlier this month, when His Majesty had to had to supply rations out of this remaining money for 71 horses of the Rosenburg and Preus stud farm. If you, mon tres cher compare, would provide a presentation addressed to His Majesty to me immediately which demonstrates to him that you want the remaining lease to be paid out of this foundation, I'll swear that it won't have a bad result. I've already told Horsemaster Korack to report to me why the Kienberg lease and the Xahren service money haven't been properly redeemed in time, and how he wants to make up for this failure?
As soon as I get a reply, I'll share it with you. Could you also be so kind as to tell me whether Roseno is really serious about taking over the Kienberg lease, and at which conditions he wants to do so? Whatever my poor self can accomplish so we can escape from this embarrassment, I'll joyfully do.
As regards to news, I don't have any to share except that our Zieten and the Czekel Hussars have fiercely engaged the Austrian Hussars on the day of our arrival at our current headquarters. A Captain was killed, a Lieutenant and 31 common soldiers and horses were captured. Now, we've encircled Prague. Braun has retreated into the city and across the Moldau and has entrenched himself there. What will happen further, only time will tell. Despite all the exhaustion, His Royal Majesty is cheerful and healthy. I recccommend myself in steadfast friendship and remain with sincere respect, Monsieur et tres chere compere, etc.
Getting enough money for horse fodder soon will be but one of many problems, Leining. But first, Heinrich will distinguish himself in the battle for Prague for the first but not the last time in this war, causing Fritz to say that he "accomplished miracles" (not to Heinrich, of course, to their sisters in his letter), and then Fritz will realise Prague wasn't his Pharsalos after all.
I've said so before, but Leining reassuring Fredersdorf that Fritz is fine and upbeat despite all the war stress is very touching indeed.
Re: Leining to Fredersdorf: Letter 8, page 3 and 4 Translations
Date: 2023-04-23 01:31 pm (UTC)Quick notes before I resume deciphering:
"Braun" is Browne, a name you may recognize from your studies of the Seven Years' War. He will be mortally wounded in the battle two days after Leining writes this letter, and die soon after.
Braun has retreated into the city and across the Moldau
I see why you translated "hinter" as "into", i.e. behind the city walls, but in this case I think it's "behind the city": Browne has passed the city, crossed the river, and entrenched himself in the heights outside the city, while an Austrian garrison holds the city itself. Or so my sources tell me (that's part of why I chose that decipherment.) (You can see the Royal Detective now has time to make occasional appearances again, at least on weekends. ;) )
I've said so before, but Leining reassuring Fredersdorf that Fritz is fine and upbeat despite all the war stress is very touching indeed.
Yeah, especially given Showalter's description of his state of mind:
Frederick for his part was much less sanguine than his rhetoric suggested. The force he left behind at Prague was disproportionally large merely to mask a fortress, and too weak to cut off the westward march of a presumably defeated foe...Another indication of the King’s state of mind was the stomach trouble that plagued him on the night of the 5th and 6th. The constant vomiting suggests that taut nerves played at least a partial role in the royal attack of ‘colic’. The King’s health, moreover, seems to have promptly improved with the news of Schwerin’s arrival.
Fredersdorf's worries are not without foundation! But we see that Fritz did a good job of presenting a cheerful front to those around him.
Speaking of Browne and Showalter, here are some insights into Browne's personality:
In December Browne had boasted that he was willing to confront the Prussian King at five-to-one odds in a campaign of manoeuvre: ‘I could keep a single march in front of him without fear of being seriously troubled’. This optimism was almost certainly overstated – perhaps it may be attributed to the periodic euphoria that can accompany the later stages of untreated tuberculosis. Browne was not, however, merely seeking to impress. He believed himself a match and better for Frederick in the open field. Browne still saw himself as the professional, Frederick as the amateur – ‘a Prince who may possess some great qualities, but in no way be considered a great captain’.
Based on Lobositz, Browne might even have been justified in his ability to embarrass Frederick. But by the time the Prussian columns actually crossed the border, Browne’s health had reached the breaking point. He proved unable to coordinate the half-hearted efforts of his subordinates to check the Prussian advance. Frederick and Moritz joined forces on 25 April. The same day Browne made contact with Schwerin’s advance guards. The Austrians fell back.
Okay, off to letter 9, written a few days after the battle! We shall see what it holds.