Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 44

[cahn]

Not only are these posts still going, there is now (more) original research going on in them deciphering and translating letters in archives that apparently no one has bothered to look at before?? (Which has now conclusively exonerated Fritz's valet/chamberlain Fredersdorf from the charge that he was dismissed because of financial irregularities and died shortly thereafter "ashamed of his lost honor," as Wikipedia would have it. I'M JUST SAYING.)

Comments

Fritz to Karl Ernst

[mildred_of_midgard]

I can only approve of the career you have chosen, according to your letter yesterday. It has distinct attractions for a man of birth, who joins talents and enough wealth to support it. I am therefore quite ready to associate you with those destined for the Ambassadors abroad, and I grant you for this purpose the title of My Chamberlain, attached to My Department of Foreign Affairs. I have also already given my orders to the latter, to send you the certificate, and therefore have no doubt that you will make every effort to make yourself more and more skilful at the post you aspire to. May God keep you in his holy and worthy keeping.

Potsdam ce 14 de fevrier
1772
Federic

That is...a lot nicer than the letter about why Peter would make a terrible ambassador! I mean, we knew that, because one got the job and one didn't, but...kind of interesting that Peter has insufficient money to be an ambassador in 1747 and his wife has very little money in 1750, which is all going to the education of their sons, but in 1772 Keith Jr. has enough money to make a go of a career as an ambassador. I guess those maternal Knyphausen relatives (and in-laws, like Hertzberg) must be coming in handy, either directly for money or indirectly for connections that lead to lucrative opportunities, or both). But there was also "he has no idea of what it is to negotiate" about Peter, which apparently doesn't apply here either!

P.S. As a reminder, we learned long ago that "May God keep you in his holy and worthy keeping" is a sign a secretary wrote the letter. I can now add that so is the handwriting and spelling. :P Which is why you're getting this sooner than more intrinsically interesting material.