Lehndorff: The Return (aka Diaries 1775 - 1784)

[selenak]

While researching the Marchese di Lucchesini's diaries, I'd come across a quote in the introduction to said diaries that mentioned a volume IV of Lehndorff's diaries, covering a near decade of his retirement years. This, naturally, I had to check out.

It turned out to have been so very much worth it. Post-retirement Lehndorff may now have made his East Prussian family estate, Steinort, his main place of residence, but not only does he travel a lot (as you do, when retired, not poor and finally having your monarch's permission), but he makes annual trips to Berlin and to Rheinsberg, finding it impossible to stay away too long from the man who is still the love of his life. (Otherwise known as Prince Heinrich of Prussia.) All of which means a lot of gems like Lehndorff's meetings with colourful contemporaries, like not one but two of Catherine the Great's exes, and the Comte de Saint Germain, one of the most famous con men of the Rokoko age, but a continuing first row seat to the soap opera that is Hohenzollern family life.

Our Editor, Dr. K.Ed. Schmidt-Lötzen, thanks G. Volz - the very same - for helping him because the excentric ortography of some of those letters, and of the diaries themselves, are a trial, and Volz has gone through the hardcore school of decyphering Fritz letters. Also, our editor doesn’t know whether he’ll live long enough to publish all of Lehndorff’s journals (he wouldn't), because looking at all those volumes still ahead, he doubts it. Aw. Editor, some of this material will go up in flames in 1945, so we’re grateful for anything you published, you were doing an intense public service, believe me.

(Today, post WWII, there are far fewer manuscripts still in existence, but there are some, thankfully, in the Lehndorff family archive as preserved in the Leipzig State Archive.)

Now, onwards to what our Lehndorff wrote. Remember, when last we left him, he retired from Queen EC‘s service, said goodbye to Heinrich and went home to Eastern Prussia to his estate Steinort. Which, btw, is in Poland today, along with a lot of other locations that will be mentioned in this volume; some even are in Russia now.



In the summer of 1775, there’s gossip in the provinces Fritz is at death’s door and gets wrapped in paper and lead for treatment. Lehndorff, who is corresponding with the capital, thinks it‘s all nonsense and probably inspired by Fritz suffering through a particularly painful attack of gout. Then there‘s this entry. The greatest princess is of course Catherine. The Count of St. Germain is one of the 18th century‘s most successful con men and adventurer‘s, pretending to be immortal. „Mariamme“ is a tragedy by Voltaire about Herod‘s wife.

February 1776: In this time, I make the aquaintance of the famous prince Orlov, the lover of the greatest princess of the world. He arrives in Königsberg under the alias of a Russian major, lodges in the inn „Prince of Prussia“ and remains unrecognized for the entire evening. The next morning, rumor of his arrival spreads, and I meet him at Countess Keyserlingk’s. I liked him a lot. He doesn’t show pride, but a natural behavior, still remembers his old friends and talks about his good fortune with modesty. He shows me the empress’ portrait which is uniquely precious; the painting itself is covered by a flat diamond the size of a dollar. I dine with him, and he shows himself so delighted at finding his old acquaintances again that he’d have liked to stay longer with us, if Prince Lobkovitz, the Viennese envoy at the court of St. Petersburg, hadn’t arrived at the same time. This disturbs him, since he’d wanted to arrive at St. Petersburg before Lobkovitz did, without the Empress knowing about it. He also meets Count Schwerin, colonel in the Regiment Krockow, who has been the cause of his good fortune, and talks with him without restraint.

Staying at Königsberg also allows me to make a charming aquaintance, with the famous Chevalier Sagramoso, the Maltese envoy in Warsaw. (...) He is a polymath with whom I‘ve spent ten agreeable days. He has known the infamous Count of St. Germain pretty well, the one who claims to be eternal and of whom he has told me the following anecdote: At a performance of the tragedy „Mariamme“, he declared he was doubly touched since he had known the amiable princess very well. A lady present who wanted to embarass him adressed him by saying: „Then you probably knew our Lord Jesus Christ as well?“. „Whether I knew him?“ he replied. „Why, so well that I told him after that business in the Temple had happened: My dear friend, this can‘t end well!“ (...)


And we‘re only a few pages into the start of this journal, when guess whose name makes a return appearance:

We talk most of all about the arrival of Prince Heinrich, who will stop in Königsberg on his way to Russia. He has written to me several times, and I could come with him on the journey if I wasn’t worried about leaving my wife, who is pregnant. My dear prince arrives on March 26th. I am endlessly glad to see him again and am always with him. He tells me a great deal strange and extremely interesting things, and I see him part from Königsberg with great regret. A few days later I travel to Steinort, but as I am disturbed by the news that my wife might give birth earlier than supposed, I return to Königsberg on April 28th. My wife immediately takes lodging at my house there, and we await her giving birth until the end of June.

In the meantime, I have made my preparations in order to follow Prince Heinrich to St. Petersburg, my clothes have arrived, and June 9th has been named as the day of my departure. I have received several letters by the Prince which promise me the most pleasing reception, and wherein he tells me there has already been an apartment prepared for me in Zarkoje Selo. But just as I enter the carriage and want to leave, a terrible fever attacks me, and I am -
(This is where the diary book ends, and Lehndorff starts a new volume thusly)

On June 21st at 3 am, my wife gives birth to a daughter in Königsberg most happily. At the same time, I receive a letter from Prince Heinrich announcing he will arrive at Königsberg in the company of the Grand Duke on July 10th. Thus I see myself forced to abandon the plan of a journey to St. Petersburg which I had carried with me through the entire summer. I must admit this is rather painful for me, for I will never have the chance again to get know this country under such pleasant circumstances as they would have been in the company of Prince Heinrich for me. But one cannot fight destiny!

Lehndorff, I dare say your wife would have had something to say about you leaving her just after she’s given birth to go holidaying in Russia with the crush of your life! Though at least she fares better than the other pregnant woman mentioned in these pages. The Grand Duke is Catherine‘s son Paul. Nominally also the late Peter IIII‘s son. Paul is very touchy about the question mark on his paternity and thus is making a point of being as much like (P)Russian Pete as he possibly can, including being a Fritz fan. Prussia cultivates him, of course, since no one has forgotten what it‘s like to be at war with Russians. The following passage also illustrates Heinrich‘s own streak of political ruthlessness, less bloody than that of Fritz but no less cold if needs must. (The need in case being keeping the next Czar in the family.) „We both have the same coldness“, as Fritz would put it.

At July 6th, the serene Prince Heinrich arrives. He shows himself so pleased to see me that I am delighted. We think about a thousand preparations to receive the Grand Duke in the entire country. I am spending the entire day in the company of my adored prince, who tells me a thousand anecdotes about Russia, about the Empress and her entire court which I have to write down at once. The prince was in a very strange situation there. Just after his arrival, he found the Empress full of attitude against us, because the Polish General Branicki has helped Potjemkin to influence her against us. Additionally, he found the Grand Duchess, the sister of our Princess of Prussia, to be dying due to a pregnancy which took a fateful course. For this reason, the Prince spent several days alone without getting to see the Empress. The envoys of other courts were already triumphant and flattered themselves that the prince would not be as successful this time as during his first journey. But then, Prince Heinrich used an opportune moment to get a message through the Empress via General Kaskin to tell her that nothing was more of concern to him than her distress, and that he asked her to use him as she saw fit if he could be of any service to her. Very pleased about the offer, the Empress replies that she appreciates his sincere friendship in her sad situation, and that she asks him to come to her as soon as possible and to take the Grand Duke under his wing, who was wrecked with pain over his dying wife. At once, the Prince follows suit, and he manages to talk the Grand Duke out of the room of the dying woman. He behaves so well that (...) this misfortune is an occasion to win the trust of the Empress and the Grand Duke so thoroughly that even before the later’s wife has expired, there has already been a new spouse arranged, the charming princess of Würtemberg, the great niece of our King and daughter of the most estimable parents of the world. (...) At last after ten days of the most terrible suffering, the unfortunate princess dies without having given birth as the child, a boy, was still attached to her. She bore all the operations with the greatest endurance and died in the same way. (...)
So this entire day passes very agreeable for me; the joy of the prince at my company is so sincere and his conversation is so interesting that the hours pass as in flight. In the evening, he has the kindness to ask me to come with him to meet the Grand Duke the next morning.

So Lehndorff might not have had the chance to travel with Heinrich to Russia, but he gets to travel with him and Grand Duke Paul through the newly aquired Poland, err, West Prussia and Danzig. This, btw, is of additional political importance since the inhabitants of Danzig - Gdansk - weren't included in the first Partitioning of Poland, did not want to be Prussian subjects, and are still a free Hanseatic City. Extra bonus for Lehndorff: he gets to lord it over one of Heinrich‘s exes, to wit, Kalckreuth.

(...) On the 9th, we drive through the most beautiful area of the world to Insterburg, always through arches of honor. (...) About a mile away from Isenburg, I see Lieutenant Colonel Kalckreuth whose anger I can spot on his face, as this is the first time that he, who had once been Prince Heinrich‘s big favourite, will see the later after his disgrace. He has written to the Prince and his royal highness has asked me to tell him that he would not treat him badly, but also that there was nothing left between them in his favor. At last, I arrive in Insterburg, where I enjoy meeting Madame General Platen again. She entertains me with all types of outbursts Kalckreuth has made in her presence.

Life is sweet for Lehndorff. (One hopes also for Mrs. Lehndorff and the baby, still at Königsberg.)

On to Danzig, aka Gdansk:

The way to the town Danzig is beautiful, the view of the gigantic crowd splended; all the public stairs, all windows are full of women wearing their most beautiful dresses who greet us in the most amiable way. This is true in all the suburbs of Danzig as well. One has put up tents and prepared a great picknick for the Prince; but the Grand Duke didn‘t want to have anything to do with this, since he declared he does not want to be polite to people who are unkind to the King of Prussia. He really seems to be that attached to our royal house. As he is greeted by the city council with a speech, he only replies with a bow, while Prince Heinrich takes care to speak with such friendliness with them that they are delighted.

That would be why Paul, once he‘s Czar, will end up just about as popular as his legal Dad. He won‘t end much more happily, too. But for now, all is smiles.


18th July. At 8 am, the entire noble company leaves Oliva, and I have to take leave of my amiable prince who has asked me urgently to come with him till Berlin. But I remain firm! Prince Heinrich now gives me a beautiful gift; he presents me with a box of gold, decorated with emeralds and diamonds. Once all the carriages have left, I am amazed to find myself alone at a place which I had seen overcrowded with people just a moment earlier. Since I had spent the night rather badly in a tiny room, I go to the suit where the Grand Duke has been lodging, lie down on a comfortable chaiselongue and sleep there for three or four hours. Then I take my dinner with the Chamberlain Keyslerlingk and the abbot of Oliva.

Bless. After a few more days in Danzig, he goes back to Königsberg to reunite with Mrs. Lehndorff and the baby. Scheming Kalkreuth continues to be a thing, btw, since he‘s in a mini war with the Platens, and Lehndorff, of course, is Team Platen. (And also Team Muwahaa, Whom Is Heinrich Still Fond of Now, Kalkreuth?)



Mes amies, here‘s Lehndorff in the year 1777, demonstrating that age does not wither one‘s inner tendency to draw sparkly hearts one bit:

1777 February 17th:

(...) I receive many letters, including one by Prince Heinrich. He writes me that he is quite content about this winter, which passed without a scandal - something of a rarity for Berlin, it is true. As for me, I‘m surprised by myself: I‘m not in a hurry to return to this city at all, where I did spend the majority of my life and where one has courted me with attentions. I feel so comfortable in my solitude that I only want to leave it in order to travel through warm countries. For a few days, I enjoy myself by riding a sledge and by the great scenery offered through the mountains.
After a few days, I receive a letter from Buchholtz, the esteemed secretary of Prince Heinrich and without a doubt the most diligent of his servants. He tells me that the prince has travelled to Braunschweig with Herr v. Knyphausen, but has left Kaphengst behind, since the later has been stopped from travelling by a strong outbreak of the French sickness which he has picked up from German and French drama players. In Magdeburg his royal highness was in danger of getting smashed by a beam of the great brdige which fell down right next to his carriage. Of course, I was completely shocked by these news and praised God for protecting my dear prince from this accident. But the very next day, I received a letter which still disturbes me. My dear prince has fallen dangerously sick in Braunschweig. He coughes blood and is extraordinarily weak, so it has been assumed that he was in great danger. Fortunately, he was bled at once, otherwise he might have been lost. My position is cruel. If I wasn’t away for more than 70 miles from him, I would have hurried to his side at once! The last few letters have somewhat reassured me, since I was told that he is out of danger now. But I will not rest until I know him to be safely back at Rheinsberg.

On May 2nd, Lehndorff while visiting Leipzig meets the Count of St. Germain himself.

(...)From there, I visit the Count Saint-Germain, who has been known for 50 years now under this name, but currently has assumed the alias of „Welton“, which in the English language meants philanthropist. Of this man, it is claimed that he has been alived since the birth of Christ. He himself doesn’t claim that directly, but he does indicate he has been living for a long time and doesn’t believe he will have to die, and that the people who follow his life plan would at the very least reach a great age. It is certain that he follows a strict diet. He lives with great moderation, drinks only water, never newly opened wine, and only eats a light supper once a day. His conversation is interesting; he preaches solely the virtues of moderation and philanthropy he himself displays. One can’t accuse him of doubletalk there. It is said he’s not as rich anymore as he used to be. In France, in England and in Venice, he used to spend 6000 ducats per annum without anyone knowing where that money came from. Here in Leipzig, people say, he’s lacking funds, but he hasn’t tried to borrow money from anyone yet; instead, he supposedly owns a lot of diamonds. His facial expression is verry high spirited. He talks with enthusiasm and pointedly, but doesn’t suffer counter arguments lightly. He claims to be able to read from anyone’s face whether they are able to understand him or not. In the later case, he refuses to see the person in question again. As for me, I have listened to him with great enjoyment. He seems to feel much friendliness for me, so I’ve spent about 24 hours with him over the last three days. (...)
Some believe him to be a Portuegese Jew, others assume his life to have lasted for a few hundred years now, and believe him to be a dethroned prince. One accuses him to have told people that he was the third son of Prince Rackozy. He thinks he’s a great physicist. Above all things, he’s a doctor and talks a lot about his delicious powder which is to be drunken like a tea. I drank a cup of it. It tastes like anis and leads to increased bowel movement. He keeps preaching about the balance between mind and body; if one observes it carefully, he says, the machine of the body will never falter. Since my earliest youth I have heard tales about this man, and now I’m delighted to have finally met him. (...)
Upon my return to the inn where I’m lodging the most pleasant surprise awaits me any feeling heart can experience. For as I climb up the stairs to the rooms in which so many strangers lodge, a pretty boy steps downwards to me. Even while I ponder who he might be, I’m told he is my son. This child, which has been so thin and worn out that I gave him to Herr Muzelius in Berlin to be cured, and then to Halle in the care of my niece Isenburg, married Countess Schlieben, has changed so much within only six months that I hardly recognized him. I cannot describe my joy. It feels like my soul became one with that of the child - this is how glad I am! No joy in the world can replace such happiness. My heart swam in delight, and yet I could not pronounce a single word. (...) I had dinner with my niece, my wife and my son, and must confess that this meal meant more to me than anyone with the most famous wits.

Awwww. But seriously, for a retired family man, Lehndorff finds an amazing amount of opportunities to make trips to, well...

May 16h: Early I was on my way to Rheinsberg. I couldn’t stand the journey; the terrible sand made me almost melancholic. But when I finally arrived, my joy was all the greater; now, all was forgotten. Rheinsberg is still a place where I have spend many pleasant hours.
At first, we‘re completely alone, the Prince, Kaphengst and myself. Then, Herr v. Stosch arrives. We now make a trip to Meseberg, the beautiful estate which the Prince has bought wiht 130 000 Taler and given to Kaphengst as a gift. The mansion is furnished splendlidly, and this, too, the kind prince has paid for. One could admire him for it if only he would present his gifts according to merit, as opposed to favour. The health of the Prince improves. As we keep talking day in and day out, I always see how clever and gifted the Prince is. One can truly say of him that he is great in great matters, and small in small matters. (...)

June 1st. The Prince of Liechtenstein and Count Colloredo arrive. They are delighted by Rheinsberg and by the Prince. The Empress has explicitly ordered Prince Liechtenstein to go there and congratulate the Prince to his recovery. The King of France has ordered his envoy to do the same. Clearly, the Prince enjoys the respect given to great minds. If only this Prince whom my heart loves so tenderly would try to be as just as he is good and generous, he would be the object of universal admiration. Unfortunately, with him, passion always wins over sentiment. Thus he is able to give Kaphengst an estate for 150 000 Taler, but to refuse a young Wreech who is completely loyal to him 100 Louisdor. His loyalty is known to the prince, but as he is modesty itself, he doesn’t get anything out of it, while the other achieves everything through his impudence. This reminds me that one day, I strongly remonstrated with Mara, a strong favourite of the Prince’s, because he had behaved very impudently towards his Highness. The creature replied to me: „Oh, you don’t know this Prince as I do. If you don’t behave like a bastard towards him, you’re not getting anywhere.“
During my stay at Rheinsberg, I drive a few times to Meseberg, where Kaphengst marries one of his sisters to a Captain Beyer from the regiment Ferdinand. He throws them a princely wedding. Fourteen days, he hosts forty people, which all get supplied through the kitchen and the cellar of the Prince. While his royal highness limits himself to one bottle of Champagne for his evening table, people at Meseberg empty 1900. This favourite costs the Prince more than 10 000 Taler per annum, and that’s without counting the state.

Lehndorff, we knew that about Heinrich. You know that about Heinrich. I’m not expecting psychology on why Heinrich might have imprinted on charismatic bastards for life from you, but after all these decades, are you still expecting him to see the light? In July, Lehndorff is back at home when it’s family reunion time because old Uncle Du Rosey celebrates his 82nd birthday. This reminds Lehndorff:

I would like to add that I felt a certain satisfaction, which of course I did not pronounce out loud, when I saw the same Herr du Rosey in front of me who was 26 years ago my greatest enemy, when I proposed to Fräulein du Rosey. Through her mother, she was my cousin, and very rich, but her family sold her to a Herr v. Katt. All the people who were involved in this and scheming against me back then, I‘ve seen either take a bad ending or have seen them greatly humbled. There’s visible proof that there is such a thing as divine justice; God is just and knows what people deserve!

Nope, you’re still not forgiven, relations and Kattes. In August, he brings his son Karl to Berlin to go to school there, spends a few days in the capital, his wife has another daughter, the kid is duly baptized, and then Lehndorff is off to Rheinsberg again. No Kaphengst for a while, yay!

In the morning, I always take charming strolls with Prince Heinrich. Our conversation is extremely interesting to me, and covers subjects that only a few historians will know about. They will present the fascinating rule of Friedrich completely differently from how it should be written; the most interesting stories will be missed by them. (I dare say, Lehndorff.) They will seek for extraordinary causes for events which were more or less a work of accident as opposed to being the result of careful long term policy. The memorable partitioning of Poland, which people now believe to have been planned by the King throughout his entire rule, it started as a spontanous deal between the Czarina and Prince Heinrich during his first journey to Russia. The goal was to prevent that the House of Austria joined the war in favour of Turkey or concluded an alliance wiht them. This was the true cause for this great partitioning. But one could see from the Russian peace that Austria had already settled things with Turkey; they made deals with both sides.
All the other guests who have assembled in Rheinsberg leave on August 22nd. I have rarely enjoyed eight consecutive days more. Without interruption, there was only pure happiness. The relaxed tone which the Prince has set makes Rheinsberg so charming. Everyone is allowed to amuse themselves according to their taste. While the young people play a lot of games, I take my strolls or withdraw to my room in order to paint. The Prince comes to me, and we chat. Every evening, there’s a theatre play. In the morning, one drives, rides, or walks in the open air. There’s always music. The conversation during meals is always light hearted. One cannot call my stay here anything but enchanting.

Theatre: Heinrich employed a troupe of players there - till the end of his life - which in the last fifteen years of same was the sole remaining ensemble of French players regularly performing in any German state. He often was on stage as well, and basically was a producer/director once Blainville had committed suicide (Blainville was the director before that time).

On September 4th, Lehndorff - who is back in the provinces again, and spefically in Glogau - has the opportunity for another scoop, as he meets a couple of former readers:

Here I meet Herr Francheville again, Prince Heinrich‘s former reader, who feels quite comfortable enjoying his big pension, and the famous Abbé Prades, whom the King had had arrested during the war and had banished to Glogau afterwards. He tells me a lot about this story and claims that the true reason had been his many visits to the late Prince of Prussia, who was at odds with the King during that time. (Stern footnote by our editor: De Prades so WAS a traitor, and his punishment lightly. He‘s bamboozling Lehndorff, whose fondness of AW he knows.) We talk a lot about the King travelling to Silesia. I see how the judgment people make about the King depends on the plans everyone has for their future. Some believe that he’s probably been for the last time in Silesia. They claim he is so weak he can’t live much longer. Others are certain he will live for a few years more at the very least. I agree with the later. If this Prince had no more life powers, he would not be able to achieve what he still achieves and to undertake such demanding journeys as the one he makes annually to Prussia and to Silesia. All in all, I consider life under his rule to be pleasant, if one has no special claims. One can live in peace and isn’t exposed to great injustices, which is what counts. I had grown up devoted to him. Hostile circumstances ensured that he did far more evil to me than good, without me having given him the slightest reason to. But heaven has ensured my happiness in other ways, and God knows, there can’t be many subjects who wish him more happiness than I do. (...)

In Glogau, I also see President Cocceji, with whom I used to be friends during my earliest time in Berlin. Due to his marriage with the famous dancer Barbarina, he had to leave the capital. This marriage, which caused him great distress and a position as Staatsminister, and which had cost his parents a part of their fortune, didn’t provide him with the satisfaction he had hoped to achieve through it. She’s still living on an estate near Glogau which she has purchased for herself and doesn’t allow her husband to participate in the great wealth she has accumulated through her career and amours.

Go Barbarina!

Oh God. Lehndorff’s favourite niece, the one who married a Schlieben, turns out to have married a bad egg. He‘s a money wasting spendthrift and lothario. Speaking of the type, by October 23, Lehndorff is back in Rheinsberg again. The current visitor there is the Heriditary Prince of Braunschweig (one of Charlotte’s sons and thus a nephew of Heinrich’s).

He plays with Prince Heinrich the tragedies „Lothar“ and „Oedipus“. Prince Heinrich plays with a devotion, an intensity, a truth which puts him on the side of such men as Baron and Lekain. (Famous actors of the day.) The Heriditary Prince speaks his parts with wit. We have pretty plays of all kinds. It’s amazing in which high degree Prince Heinrich has trained his ensemble to. T’he two operas - „The Queen of Colconde“ and „Alzira“ - which we hear would have been worth being shown on any great stage in the world, both regarding the musical skill and the set decorations. „Alzira“ has been composed by a young man named Orginski. He is a nice man whom the Prince had taken under his wing from an early age and who has excelled in all expectations. He is a philosopher, and what counts more, a decent human being in the youthful age of 22.
Our main topic of conversation is the fight of the Americans. The two Princes are on the side of the colonial rebels; but their conversation often ends as debates usually do when there is a difference of opinion; each retains his own view. (...)
The Prince’s health is well. The exercise of the production of the two playes „Lothar“ and „Oedipus“, which showcased the Prince’s extraordinary gift of declamation to the full - the Heriditary Prince is really his inferior there, despite not without talent - doesn’t tire him at all.

It’s winter time, which means the Lehndorff clan goes to Berlin, where it’s warm. Well, warmer than in Steinort, East Prussia, at any rate.

At Prince Heinrich’s, I meet a very old aquaintance, to wit, Count Lamberg. I knew him as a particular favourite of the Prince’s. He then was toppled by Kalkreuth and left the court in sadness, after having wasted his entire fortune. Now, he has withdrawn to Brunn, where he has married a sister of the Countess Cobenzl, the wife of the current Viennese envoy. This was the reason of his visit to Berlin. He will find everything much changed and especially the court of Prince Heinrich. Lamberg always was a good egg, who in his younger years had a lot of sympathetic qualities. He was always cheerful, if a bit of a spendthrift. This of course leads to having to fight for your existence in old age more often than not.
If I ponder how many men have been enjoying the Prince’s greatest favour and how many during the last thirty years of my relationship with the Prince have tried their best to blacken my name with him, to get rid of me and how this was all in vain and didn’t change anything regarding my relationship with the Prince, I come to the conclusion that honest behavior does pay off, and that a balance will be achieved. One should not attempt to force a decision, better to think everything through ten times and especially never leave a position, even if it seems unbearable, without knowing you are exchanging it for a much better one.
News from England sound quite differently now. There is no doubt anymore, the Americans will free themselves. The entire army of Bourgonynnes has been captured, and Howes is in the greatest distress. This now is the main topic of conversation.



Unlike certain royal brothers we could name, Lehndorff actually watches Shakespeare (Hamlet) in German in 1778. ZOMG. Likes it, but still thinks French theatre is superior, and all the swooning on the audience’s part not quite justified. And it's a bit strange that there are more and more German language theatres playing this stuff...

1778 starts with worries about Bavaria, since the Prince Elector has just died. Lehndorff, who with his family is in Berlin for the Carneval months, is not happy.

The sudden death of the Elector of Bavaria by smallpox upsets half of Germany. The first few days we spent in great concern. All officers were preparing themselves. All the world expected our army to get marching. One thought that the Emperor would take all of Bavaria. Since, however, the prince elector of the Palatinate has demanded homage as the legitimate heir, things have quieted down. But a certain concern remains, and I watch often enough how the face of Prince Heinrich gets longer and longer, so that I cannot get rid of my worry.(...)

January 18th: The King celebrates Prince Heinrich’s birthday. One dines from golden table wear. In the evening, the King hosts a great ball which he himself attends. But there is a terrible hurlyburly, so no one finds their place at the right table, and it’s even hard to get a glass of water. The people fill all the ballrooms, and it’s tiring and doesn’t allow for a real mood to be enjoyed. The King himself seems to have taken on too much, since he’s sick the next morning, and everyone is very concerned about him. (...)
Prince Ferdinand, too, celebrates a great party on the occasion of Prince Heinrich‘s birthday. Two days later, Kaphengst throws a ball for a hundred people due to the same reason. When the Prince sees the souper, the ball, the waste and the superflousness everywhere, he vents his exasparation with the words: „Since I‘m doing the honneurs for this - i.e. pays for it- you might as well amuse yourself.“ This favour is incomprehensible. I‘ve never seen two characters more different than the Prince and Kaphengst. All the quality is on the side of the former, and yet he’s dominated by the later. (...)

But enough about Heinrich's love life (for some paragraphs). On to politics!


As he's invited me to supper, I find Prince Heinrich darkly brooding, triggered by the news that the Emperor has taken Lower Bavaria. He wishes our King should try to foil this enterprise through negotiations, instead of reacting beyond measure. For he has said he wants war any price, even if he has to be carried in front of his army. He shared his plans with Prince Heinrich who remains convinced that peace could still be maintained.

The health of the King remains a matter of concern. He is often feverish. On the day after Prince Heinrich’s birthday party, an odd accident happened to the King. When he got undressed, people put his waistcoat and everything else pulled off him near the fireplace. The clothing caught fire, and everything was in flames. But since he only has incompetent footmen around himself, the fire remained unnoticed, and it could have spread, if not for another footman who thankfully woke up and quenched the fire. The King is very angry that his tobacco box, several important papers and especially his spectacles did get burned. To indicate the state of wardrobe of this great man, I shall note that on the next day, he did not have an overcoat to wear; they had to send a messenger on horseback to Potsdam in order to get him such a piece of clothing.

All this, Prince Heinrich discusses with me. He heaps a lot of deserved praise on the Heriditary Prince of Braunschweig, but he says in this war matter he will not argue with the King. I suspect that this Prince, who after all is still in the full vigour of his years, secretly does desire war in order to distinguish himself. He is a man of supreme qualities, and I consider him one of the great minds of Europe and especially admire his calm state of mind. One can’t read from his face that he’s pondering the matters of Europe and is aware of the various agencies of the different courts as usually only a prime minister would be. I don’t say all of this because I love him. This is my sincere, impartial judgment. This estimable prince presents his portrait to me as a gift, which I shall always consider a precious family heritage and will honor as such.

Since Heinrich first will drag out going to the front as long as he can and later will end up after an argument with Fritz stepping down from his command in favour of his Braunschweig nephew, after which the record one and a half years of fraternal silence ensue, I'm not sure that Lehndorff is right about him secretly wanting another war despite of what he says. Though on the other hand, he could be, or at the very least torn. He is restless, he knows he's good at war, and like all of FW's kids, he believes in being useful. Then again, he probably imagines, like MT at the same time in Vienna, what a disaster another bloody war would be for everyone involved and shudders.

Fron Hohenzollern family drama to Lehndorff family drama:

I have a great grief through my nephew Schlieben, who has made such horrendous debts and pulls the most estimable of women into misfortune. (...) One fine morning, as I am sitting in my room, I’m told that my niece if I don’t send her on a journey in the next fifteen minutes will be arrested (for his debts) and brought into the Hausvogtei. The poor woman sees herself forced to leave her home with a bleeding heart. I send her to my wife‘s uncle, Count Schwerin, in Wolfshagen. All happens within the quarter of an hour, but it has so upset me that I haven‘t calmed down yet. I shall not miss naming the man who has done me such service and has informed me secretly of the shame which was supposed to fall on my niece. It is General Ramin, who has acted so honorably. I shall never forget it. And this man was supposed to be malicious! Again a proof one can be entirely wrong about someone. How different acts this hypocritical Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg, whom my mother has clothed and fed when he was Major in the regiment „Lehwaldt“! He, a close relation of my niece‘s, he who always plays the good Christian, he has caused this misfortune.

So: some people actually get out of town when told they should get out of town! Just saying. Lehndorff's niece is back in town next year, unarrested, so apparantly the matter is settled.

May 1778: Lehndorff the aristocrat meets Goethe and Carl August and isn‘t impressed. This is a great passage for illustrating the generational difference and the ongoing cultural shift in the German states, because you can see Lehndorff doesn‘t get that Goethe isn‘t along as his Duke‘s entertainment and really doesn‘t feel obliged to function as such, nor does Goethe see the job of a writer to occupy himself with the history of the House of Weimar. Which of course would have been what favoured court artists in Lehndorff‘s youth would have done. As for some middle class guy (who hasn‘t been ennobled yet by his Duke, that‘s still to come) fancying himself a key part of the government!!!

During the month of May, the Duke of Weimar arrives incognito under the name of Baron v. Altenstein, but the Queen doesn‘t give up until he shows himself in society. I dine with him, Prince Heinrich and Prince Ferdinand. He appears to be a pretty young man, but with an unfriendly trait on his face. With him, he had the famous author of „Werther“ and „Götz von Berlichingen“. Herr Goethe, whom the Duke has made a Councillor. This man now dominates him, after pushing aside the former chief minister, Count Görtz, who has now entered our services. This Herr Goethe sits next to me at dinner. I do my best to carry a conversation, but he seems quite laconic. He probably thinks himself too much a grandseigneur now to be a poet and entertain people. This is in general the mistake educated Germans make: whenever they achieve a certain position, they become insufferably arrogant.
Prince Heinrich asked Herr Goethe whether the Weimar archive didn’t have letters from the famous Bernhard of Weimar. The young Duke claimed they were there, but this great scholar doesn‘t know about them. This makes a very bad impression on me. Since this concerns one of the most glorious parts of the history of the ducal house, he ought to know about them.

Goethe: has zilch interest in Bernhard of Weimar. He‘s got a dukedom to co-govern, masterpieces of German literature to write, oh, and to keep Carl August from joining the Prussian army, which is the main purpose of this Berlin visit. That, and a side tourist trip to Sanssouci.

News from Rokoko Dallas: At the same time, I hear that (Baron Taube) has been commanded to tell the King that the King of Sweden has decided to banish his mother, since he cannot live with her any longer due to their constant arguments, to Stralsund. Their feud was caused by the Queen Mother having urged her other sons to protest when the young Queen of Sweden got pregnant. She claimed the King was impotent and that the child which the Queen was carrrying was from a certain Munk. The Queen-Mother in turn accuses her second son to be the origin of this gossip. Whatever is true about this, the noise caused will resound in all of Europe.
On this occasion, I can’t help but recall what the late Prince of Prussia used to say: „I’m glad my sisters aren’t foreign princesses, for otherwise I’d have gotten in the position of having to marry one of them. This would have been a misfortune since they are all extremely strong willed and argumentative.“ It is true that the widowed Queen of Sweden is an educated woman with wit; but she has a very unruly disposition which has caused her sufferings throughout her life.
News from Paris: For a short time, we stop talking about politics in order to talk about the
death of Voltaire. (30. May 1778.) His end was brought about by an accident, for he took a dose of opium which he was supposed to take in ten parts all at once. The opium was sent to him by the Duke de Richelieu who - despite his eighty years being just as flighty as the other - forgot to name the exact dose which Voltaire was supposed to take.

Okay, Lehndorff, that story is one I hadn‘t heard before. Also, the Duc de Richelieu is of course Émilie‘s pre-Voltaire lover whom she remained friends with. I do find it interesting that Prussian gossip about Voltaire’s death picks this, and not the question of whether or not he repented, or his arguments with the priests who tried a deathed confession out of him, which is the direct opposite of the gossip as recorded by the Duc de Croy in Paris. Incidentally, if Voltaire did take too much opium, then, based on the fact he spent the last week of his life in tremendous physical pain, I'd speculate it was quite intentionally (on both his and Richelieu's part).

Lehndorff records the tale of the Miller Arnold, in German, not French, which makes it harder to read (sudden Rokoko spelling and vocabulary is sudden, with Fritz being wrong, and himself deeply shocked.

Throughout 1780: One announces the death of the Empress-Queen as impending, but one also keeps letting our King die, and I see people who don‘t consider the present anymore but live already entirely in the future. Happy the wise man who regards all events with an even mind and doesn’t lose this disposition!

Lehndorff, back in East Prussia now that any danger of war is over, becomes buddies with retired Austrian General Broune whom he meets at Königsberg and who reminds him of George Keith, Lord Merischal. He even warms up to Kalkreuth (!), though doesn't say why, just that they had a nice chat.

Future FW2 travels to Russia to meet Catherine after Joseph‘s journey to Catherine was a success and worried the Prussians who feel the need to send her a royal visitor of their own again. Remember, this is during the big - and last - Fritz-Heinrich non-talking era, so Fritz can't or at any rate doesn't ask Heinrich to go. Lehndorff is still full of love for Crown Prince Jr., whom he meets when future FW2 passes through East Prussia both times en route to and from Russia. But Catherine, our editor notes, wasn‘t impressed by this latest Hohenzollern, compared him to his uncles, and told her court, alluding to the medieval custom of apprentices going on their journeys in order to become masters of their craft: "The apprentice has travel a lot further than that in order to become a master!“

Biggest surprise of this last few couple of entries: Lehndorff knows about Fritz' spectacles and mentions them casually, so presumably this isn't newas or something lately learned by him. Now, Lehndorff only sees Fritz on court occasions (like Heinrich's birthday party or the party after the 7 Years War or the receptions for Ulrike and Gustav). Fritz can't have been wearing his spectacles then. So does he know via Heinrich? (Just like he knows about the fire?) Or via the staff after 30 years at court? We will never find out, I guess.



Whereas we do find out the answer to the question as to whether Lehndorff has the same taste in men as Catherine the Great. Remember, he'd quite liked the dashing Orlov.

Now, 1781 and 1782 are Lehndorff's years of travelling. As you do, when you're retired. Since he's an East Prussian, there's one obvious destination he hasn't visited yet, except in passing through it. Yep, Lehndorff heads off to Poland. Currently ruled by none other but that enterprising gentleman, the King formerly known as Poniatowski. It's the lovely month of May 1781, Lehndorff likes Warsaw just fine, though he thinks the palace is a bit too overbudget for the Poles. He successfully angles for an invitation at court.

On the 9th at 10 am, I get presented to the King of Poland. He asks me to join him in his study and greets me with charming amiablity. He is still a beautiful man. He rises from his desk and tells me several pleasantries, while recalling that he has met me thirty years ago in Berlin. The conversation extends for quite a while. Finally, he tells me that he wants to show me his country seat himself. I must admit: even leaving his royal dignity aside, he is the most charming and witty man his kingdom has to offer, and he has a nice figure besides.

See, Lehndorff is deeply appreciative of your legs and hips just as they are, Poniatowski!

He meets the royal siblings as well, but in this case, Lehndorff clearly thinks the brother on the throne is the one who's hottest. You and Catherine both, Lehndorff, even if she's since moved on. Speaking of moving, Lehndorff isn't the only traveller hitting the road a lot in that year. So does Joseph. Since he's been doing that for a while, loyal Prussians like Lehndorff are starting to get worried. After all, their King has identified ViennaJoe as the coming menace of Europe!

„All the world is talking about the Emperor‘s travels. This prince with his captivating nature developes more and more into a farseeing statesman. While he shows the greatest respect to our royal house at all opportunities, he takes our allies and our influence from us. (...) in short, he does all we used to du until 1756 and we are turning from a first rate to a second rate power again without noticing.“

Not quite. (Speaking as a Southern German, I'm tempted to add "would that it were so", but then I remember that after Joseph and Poldl there came the arch reactionary Franz as Emperor, and that wouldn't have done anyone any good, either.) But it says something about current Prussian mentality that Lehndorff, who isn't gung ho about war, still after decades of Fritz rule has gotten used to the idea that Prussia needs to be the coolest, the most admired, or something is off.

Now, Lehndorff has of course been noticing that Heinrich and Fritz have been at it again ever since the war of the Bavarian succession. Or, as Lehndorff puts it about Heinrich "He has been sulking with the Firstborn". The Firstborn hasn't been seen a lot around anyway, which is worrying. Lehndorff therefore notes with some relief in early 1782:

February 1782: The King has dined this winter at Princess Amalie‘s, at Prince Heinrich‘s and even in great society. He is very well, and has been in a good mood despite the serious matters occupying him and despite his advanced age. Among other things, he said after hearing people talk about a girl who they said had much intelligence and could play the piano very well, then she was bound to be ugly.(...)

Fritz making sexist cracks is Fritz normal, so no more "he's at death's door " stories. And now comes one of Lehndorff's hands-down best pen portraits. Remember EC throwing her fan at her Oberhofmarschall Wartensleben? That guy dies. And as much as Lehndorff is fun when gushing, he's just as much fun when he's bitching:

The Queen’s eternal Count Wartensleben has died. He was, in short, a unique creature of his type. For 43 years, he has been at this court, and during these 43 years he didn’t miss executing the duties of his office for a single day. He only left the antechambre of the Queen in order to go to sleep. Despite the two of them living in each other’s pocket for all this time, they were constantly at odds. Never has a soldier guarded his position so well like Count Wartensleben has the Queen’s antechambre. She accused him of interfering in all her affairs, that he was listening at doors, that he was reporting on her to other people, that he even dared once to approach her as a lover. All this has given cause to the most stormy scenes. The queen, who usually is benevolent but also has a touchy temper, sometimes threw napkins at his head. One day, I witnessed an actual battle. Wartensleben made an objection which the Queen didn’t like. At first, she tried to change his mind in kindness. When she didn’t manage to do this, she hit him so heavily with her fan on the shoulder that the unfortunate fan burst into a thousand pieces. Despite such scenes, he remained the one constant inhabitant of the antechambre, for 43 long years. AT noon, he arrived in a carriage with horses which were as old as he was at the palace. The two footmen who were with him then had to inspect the entire palace, all corridors and corners and report to him what was happening. This kept him occupied until 2 pm, which was when the Queen sat down for her lunch. After the meal, he planted himself in the miserable, sleazy antechambre, stole all the sugar cubes from us which we were being given to drink our coffee with and remained there until the arrival of the guests at 7 pm. While everyone was gambling, he slinked away through the corridors, in his younger years in order to seduce the wardrobe ladies, and later in order to spy. He only left the palace after all the candles had been extinguished. Other than the urge to spy, hiis primary motivation was avarice. About a hundred times he has told me that he was saving a lot by not having to heat his room, use any light or furniture. Day after day, he nicked a piece of white bread from the table for his breakfeast the next morning, and he only had made gloves for the right hand which he needed to walk with the Queen. He was truly the worst of misers. Besides, he was as dull as dirt; he always talked about himself and what was going on in his house. I remember how he told us for eight days about an ulcer his youngest daughter had on her backside. At which point the splendid and witty stewardess of the Queen’s, Countess Camas, who was thoroughly fed up with the story, said: „My dear Count, I know a wonderful way to treat this ulcer.“ Delighted, he exclaimed: „My dear lady, I urge you tell me which it is!“ Quickly, she returned: „Her Daddy has to put his nose into it!“ It has to be said that Wartensleben‘s nose was one of the most impressive which have ever existed.

Like I said: one of Lehndorff's best. (Wartensleben stealing everyone's sugar cubes is my favourite detail.) He's off travelling again, via Silesia and today's Slovakia to Austrian territories and then to Bavaria and Franconia.

First, the cause of so much invasion and counter attack:

June 1782: Silesia shows rests of his former splendor, but in the four years I haven‘t been here, it has gone down with it. The great misery of our fatherland has spread everywhere. All the world is depressed and complains, especially because trade isn‘t going well. I was surprised when I saw at the window of a post station the words inscribed: Better a night in cold Russia than a hundred years in this land of famine.

Then he enters the arch enemy's territory for the first time in his life, when being at the Spa in Kalrsbad.:

„On Sunday the 9th of June I enjoy sitting down at a window and watching the droves of people hurrying towards the various churches. The people have been dressed well, acording to their respective stations, which makes me assume a shared prosperity. But sadly, I have only heard complaints about the terrible changes the Emperor has caused. Especially the high nobility and the clergy is very discontent. HIs Imperial Majesty oppresses and damages them as much as he can. Everyone has tears in their eyes as they talk of the late Empress. The freedom to write against the Catholic religion has been distorted into impudence. At all the bookstores, one sees pamphlets in which complaints against the celibacy of priests, against mass and against all the clerical privileges are made.“

Joseph, we're rooting for you, and it's depressing to know it will all have been in vain, well, a lot of it. Lehndorff now enters Franconia. What's in Franconia? Bayreuth, that's what's in Franconia! So where does a loyal Hohenzollern fan go in the June of 1782?

„From there, I visit the Eremitage, about an hour away from Bayreuth. This is a beautiful palace. I have never seen anything which has caused me as much pleasure to watch. It shows an exquisite, incomparable sense of art. The spirit of the late Margravine, the older sister of my King, can be found everywhere. Especially beautiful to me is the grave of Vergil which the Margravine has had copied exactly as she herself as seen it. There is a grotto theatre here which is unique for its kind. In order to get to the palace, one has to cross the Parnassuss, the mountain of the Muses. I spend four hours in this wonderful place. Sadness fills me as I have to leave it, and have to tell me that so much beauty no longer finds any attention since the serene lady who has created it has gone. Oh vanity of vanities!
The new palace with its grotto and shell decoration in blue and white looks like it has escaped a fairy tale. Further, I visit the new Bayreuth promenade, which has been built under the supervision of Baron Seckendorff, who is the current first minister. I visit the opera house as well. Everything shows its builder’s wonderful taste. But all is dead! It is this which fills me with sadness.


We're with you, Lehndorff. But it's nice that you could see it; I think Fritz never did...

In October, he’s in Dresden: (Herr v. Hallberg) tells me of all kind of love affairs the late Princess Elector (Maria Antonia), who had been a born princess of Bavaria has conducted, worse than Messalina. It is strange that all her children have become very pious pricks since their mother has only been a sacred Venus.

Lehndorff, you should really find another designation for sexually active royal ladies than "Messalina". I'm just saying. Maria Antonia, btw, was MT's and Fritz' pen pal. Travelling through Saxony, Lehndorff uses the time to catch up on his reading:

(...) Through terrible ways, I get to Bautzen, where I stay for the night. Throughout the entire journey, I’m reading J.Jaques Rousseau’s „Confessions“. I can’t praise destiny enough for the fact my health and my eyes are still as good as if I was only 25. Rousseau has written his confessions exactly like everyone should write their life story. It would be the most interesting of all stories, for it is the history of the heart.

It's interesting that Lehndorff turns out to be a Rousseau fan. On the one hand, it's very him - the Confessions are famously emo, and of course shocked because they also (artfully) confessed to dastardly deeds of their author as well - , on the other, Rousseau was of course the literary god of all those revolutionaries currently still being young lawyers but soon ready to storm the Bastille.

Heinrich asks him to come to Berlin. Give you three guesses as to whether he goes. There, Amalie greets him kindly. He also visits EC, his former boss. It‘s November now.

On Friday, I have lunch at the Queen‘s. At this court nothing ever changes, the rooms, the tone, the tables are just like in 1747, when I entered this world. One has to respect the Queen, but it isn‘t really possible to love her, though she basically has all that would invite such a feeling, including a winning kindness. However, one never feels at ease in her company, not least because she gets so easily upset about small matters which others would dismiss with a laugh. (...)

I think this, as opposed to Lehndorff's complaints while he was still working for her, can be taken as a fair assessment on his part.

After I have attended the Queen, I drive on to Prince Heinrich. I find he’s better looking than four years ago. He reminds me on the painful moment of our separation when he had to leave for the war. My joy is all the greater to see him now, especially since he is extremely charming to me. Good old Ludwig Wreech I find down with a worrying fever, Kaphengst with a double chin, Knyphausen is doing well, Tauentzien has grown into a man. And now there’s a new favourite. Count Wartensleben, formerly known under the nickname of „Nantchen!“. He’s been entrusted with the business of the princely household and seems to be very esteemed.

Love you noticing Kaphengst's double chin, Lehndorff. One appreciates the little things, eh?

December 10 - 16: I’m still busy making new acquaintances or to refresh old ones. I’m so delighted by Prince Heinrich and his natkure that I can hardly bear to leave him again. The conversation with him is always interesting, and I learn a lot. Sometimes I’m sitting alone with him till 1 in the morning, and if not for having to think of his and my health, I would like to remain until 4 am. No one will ever be quite like him.

You and your sparkly hearts drawing are forever, Lehndorff.



At the start of 1783, Lehndorff sees the main Hohenzollern again - and meets his new reader:

1783 - Januar 3rd: Finally after five years, I see the King agian. He looks extraordinarily healthy, his voice is strong, his face full of grace, so one almost forgets his age. We watch him during his audience for the foreign envoys. It is a pleasure to listen to how he talks to the representatives of different nations, finding a suitable individual tone for each of them. All the more painful it is for us, to see, how rarely this prince graces his subject with a conversation. He himself says he hardly knows anyone in Berlin.
A charming man, the Marchese Lucchesini, an Italian, now belongs to his most trusted circle. I often have heard him mentioned, and was looking forward with the greatest interest to making his aquaintance. Then he lets himself be introduced to me at the opera. He reminds me vividly of Count Algarotti, who used to occupy a similar position in the King‘s life. One can call his nature angelic. Despite his position is designed to evoke envy and jealousy, he is still popular everywhere, both with the military and with civilians. This universal esteem is owed to his extraordinary intellegence. He knows a lot, has much wit, and has a very honest nature. Towards the King, he has managed to win his respect like few others, to a degree where the King spares him from being the target of his mockery. Nearly daily, I meet with this man at lunch, and his society is always the greatest pleasure to me.

And this was the quote which drew my attention to the fact there was a fourth Lehndorff diary volume published. Thank you, Lucchesini.

18. Januar 1783: The King celebrates the birthday of Prince Heinrich through a big feast using the golden table wear. He himself has put on the Order of the Black Eagle and sends a box ornamented with diamonds made of Chrysopras, which costs at least 10 000 Taler, as a gift to his royal highness, together with a charming letter. The letter says, among other things: I wanted to throw you a ball, but neither you nor myself are up to dancing anymore. The Prince agrees with this, but the public would have very much liked to dance.

(cahn, the order of the Black Eagle was the highest that Prussia had to offer. Upon being saved by his fanboy, Fritz gave it to Peter, but being a pragmatist, he gave it to Catherine as well once Peter had met his demise at the hands of her minions. Hohenzollern princes got that medal pinned on them before they could deserve it, as kids, which is why you see Crown Prince Fritz wear it in Der Thronfolger and on portraits, for example.)

Prince Heinrich sends me a message to tell me that he’s alone and hopes I would spend the evening with him. I had a migraine through the entire day, so I get dressed only at 6 pm and am on my way to the Prince. We are midway through a most beautiful conversation when the door opens, and the Prince of Prussia enters. With the greatest amiability he says that he didn’t want to miss out of the pleasure to spend such a meaningful day with his royal highness.

Oh fortune why did it happen thus! one is tempted to say. But Lehndorff is loyally fond of his Crown Prince Jr. as well and so bids him welcome. Meanwhile, Fritz is still remarkably mellow:

January 20th: Our Carnival is coming to an end, and the King leaves well and content. The Master of the Horses Schwerin, who plays a kind of court jester to the King, tells him: „You‘ve behaved pretty well this winter; everyone is content with you.“. It is true that his majesty hasn‘t indulged in as many sarcasms this time as he used to. However, I am quite sure we owe this solely to the Marchese di Luchesini, who is always near him and knows how to captivate him through witty conversation. The men who used to surround the King were lacking in wit; their conversation was only gossip revolving around people the King didn’t even know.
During the party Prince Ferdinand throws on the occasion of Prince Heinrich’s birthday, Luchesini told me: „If one can’t do any good, one should at least try to prevent evil, and if one believes that the daily news could cause damage, one has to talk about Greece or Egypt, especially when dealing with a prince who is receptive to such subjects.

Speaking of fraternal feelings: Ulrike is dead, Gustav keeps pissing off his nobility, and Heinrich is in a rare mood about the Swedish relations. The Duke of Södermanland is Charles, the second son who first used Mom to spread the word about Gustav's heir's illegitimacy and then blamed her when Gustav called him out on this.

I often talk with Prince Heinrich about the late Queen of Sweden, his sister, of all the grief she has had in her life, and especially of the terrible quarrel with her son, the current King of Sweden, which has eventually led to her death. The Prince is very bitter about the King and against the King’s brother, the Duke of Södermanland. As often as he talks about this subject, he is unforgiving. He often has had long arguments with Count Hordt, who takes the King’s party. It is indisputable that the late Queen of Sweden had extraordinarily much esprit, but she was very despotic, too, and passionate, and these two qualities have been her misfortune.

Re: Heinrich taking Ulrike‘s part - not surprising considering the combination of dead sibling who died heartbroken and sent away by despotic monarch. Otoh, it is interesting that Lehndorff is able to see the situation as more complex than that.

Lehndorff's conversation with Heinrich on this subject leads him into musing about the Hohenzollern clan in totem. He's travelled a long road from the young man who was all "our princes are the best and all the others should be like them":


The main flaw of our royal family is jealousy. Their highnesesses are, it has to be admitted, jealous of everything, especially of the people who are devoted to one of them. This goes so far that the King hates those who love his brothers, and his brothers hate those who enjoy his majesty’s favour. Which creates a bad situation for us mere mortals. I can sing a song; I have had some experiences in this regard.

I‘ve heard a story which is hardly believable. The Abbé Prades had been banished by his majesty, but with a light sentence, to Glogau. The reason for his disgrace has been declared to be the fact that he‘d been a confidant of the Prince of Prussia during the time when the later after the misfortune of Zittau had been in disgrace with the King. Thus he’s spent 24 years in exile, when near the end of his life a clerical position got available which had been promised to him during the time when he’d still been enjoying the King’s favour. Now he’s written to his majesty and asked for the position. The answer was, according to rumor, that he should rather approach the manes of those whose favour he had courted. To carry such a grudge for twentyfour years is incomprehensible to me.


(Our editor keeps reminding us that de Prades so was a traitor and his being banished had nothing to do with AW. I believe him, but otoh I'm not entirely sure that supposed Fritz quote was made up from thin air, because "the manes" is a Roman mythology allusion which does sound like Fritz.

Main topics of the day in the spring of 1783 for conversation are the Austro-Russian alliance (everyone's worried) and the Miller Arnold business from last year. Mildred already summarized it briefly elsehwere: in short, Fritz overruled his own judges, twice, on the matter of the Miller Arnold, which got him a reputation of standing up for the little man against the bureaucrats and nobles, except that the "honest miller" wasn't so honest after all, and historians pretty much agree the judges were in the right, and Fritz in the wrong. Lehndorff's sympathies are entirely NOT with the Miller, as in this story, which provides us with some Fritz quotes in German (our editor as well as the spelling point out Lehndorff here switches from French to German in the original manuscript):

Februar to March 1783: One afternoon I spend with the great chancellor Fürst who‘d lost his office. What he tells me of his story raises my hair. When the famous Miller Arnold brought his suit to the King, the later commanded the Großkanzler and the three Gerichtsräte to him. He began to dictate the judgment himself. When he confused the tribunal with the Kammergericht, the chancellor wanted to point this out to him. Then his majesty yelled: „Halt er das Maul!“ (Shut up!) and shortly afterwards, pointing to the door, „Marsch, ich habe seinen Posten schon vergeben“ - „out, I’ve already given his office to someone else!“ And the three councillors were brought to the Kalandshof, the prison for villains and thieves.

That's what we call populism these days, Fritz. Meanwhile, Lehndorff is far more sceptical towards another bit of gossip:

(..) Something else occupies the public. There are rumors that the King will celebrate his golden wedding anniversary. Which certainly won’t happen.

Spoiler: it did not. Although the court painter actually did a golden anniversary painting for which neither of the two marrieds posed. Poor painted EC has to hold a fertlity symbol in her hand, too. On to more fun subjects, to wit: it's time for Lehndorff's annual Rheinsberg visit:

March 16th: I leave for Rheinsberg in the most despicable weather and find the Prince alone with young Tauentzien. I still experience five pleasant weeks there. When Tauentzien leaves, I am completely alone with my Prince. He‘s never more charming than when he‘s able to talk about all kind of subjects without having to restrain himself, and then he talks with a fire, a clarity and a logic that one is dazzled. The morning, I spend in my room with reading. At 10, the Prince comes, and we chat. Then I get dressed in order to lunch with his Royal Highness. After lunch, we drive through the countryside. At 4 pm I’m back at home and read, till the Prince calls me at 6. Then I enter his gallery, which he calls his atelier, where he sits down behind his painting and I sit down behind mine. Toussaint reads out loud the journeys to India. Around 10 pm, we sit down for supper, and we never part before midnight. When the weather is nice, I walk a lot through the lovely gardens of Rheinsberg. (...)

Sounds lovely. However, you might remember who lives nearby?

On our way back, we stop for a moment at Meseberg. This beautiful estate which the Prince has bought for 150 000 and given to Kaphengst as a present has been nearly run down completely by the creature already. I still marvel at this favour. Never have there been two men less fitting with each other than the Prince and Kaphengst. The former, all mind, passion and fire, loves a debauched, ignorant man who only loves women and gambling. When they are together, they bore each other. And still of all the men who‘ve enjoyed his favour, this one has evoked the most passion from him, and if the good Prince weren‘t in debts himself now, he‘d probably give as much to Kaphengst as he‘s already given him. I have so often pondered the human mind; my own stands still eavery time when I see he won‘t be led to reason. From now on, life at Rheinsberg isn‘t as cozy anymore, despite the Prince being doubly as kind to me. I often see him sad, and that grieves me. (...) Finally, I receive a letter and a messenger from my niece Schlieben with the news that her husband is in a very bad way. This causes me to return to Berlin.

Lehndorff hears bad things in Berlin about the health and nature of Schlieben the no good husband of his niece, no big surprise there, who after some weeks of lingering on dies. Even Lehndorff finds it hard to be sorry about this. Otoh, he does feel sorry for one of Catherine's lovers whom he met just a few years earlier:

May 1783: The famous Orlov has died in madness. He had owed everything to fortune. High favour has changed him from a small lieutenant to the Emperor of Russia and to the lord over all the riches of that country. I knew him. He was never happier than when drinking his beer together with the citizens of Königsberg. And he had to die with a disturbed mind!

In October, young Tauentzien, son of the Fritzian general of the same name, part of Heinrich's circle and about to finally topple Kaphengst there, causes a big scandal by getting one Fräulein von Marschall pregnant and hadtily marrying her without parental consent. Fräulein von Marschall is a lady-in-waiting to Mina, so everyone is upset - her parents, his parents, Mina and Heinrich. By December, however, Lehndorff writes:

I must report a noble action on the part of my splendid Prince Heinrich. He adopts the cause of Tauentzien and his young wife’s, arranges their reconciliation with General Tauentzien and provides the young couple both in Berlin and in Spandau with a free apartment and food, and with an equipage of their own.“

Next, we get a glimpse of Prussian recruiting practices in peace time many years after FW's death:

December 1783: I am in great distress because suddenly my carpenter gets drafted to the army. He’s five feet seven inches; consequently, it would be only a favour on the General‘s side that could allow me to free him. For now, I’m sending him to Königsberg, but give him a letter for General Anhalt. The later is indeed kind enough to return my carpenter to me.

Good for the carpenter, I guess. Lehndorff’s mother-in-law dies in March 1784 unexpectedly (a stroke and a very quick death), and since as opposed to his first mother-in-law, he liked this one, he's sad. Hers is not the only unexpected death:

On the occasion of my mother-in-law‘s death, I receive a lot of condolence letters, among them one by our dear Prince of Prussia, who shows again what an excellent heart he has. Prince Heinrich writes: „Your mother-in-law has taken everyone‘s respect with her in her grave. Her passing has been a quick and easy one. However, I have had to witness a painful dying.“ For Fräulein Marschall, whose surprising quick marriage to Tauentzien a few months ago I have noted down, has given birth and died nine days later in the most terrible torment. The Prince had provided her with rooms in his palace, and she believed herself the happiest of mortals, adored her husband and was adored by him. Now she had to die in her 20th year of life.


Lehndorff is still chewing on the Miller Arnold matter and reveals to posterity that Heinrich didn't sit that one out:

April: One writes to me from Berlin that Casot, Bastiani and Luchesini form the King‘s company. The former two are old acquaintances, the last a man of much wit. In this moment, I remember a beautiful action on Prince Heinrich‘s part. When the King has fired Großkanzler Fürst from his position and had ordered Minister Zedlitz to investigate the trial around the Miller Arnold again, people were afraid that Herr v. Zedlitz out of sycophancy would pronounce his judgment according to the wishes of the monarch. But Prince Heinrich stepped towards him and said emphatically: „Sir, now is the time to show mankind you’re a man of honor! If you are afraid to lose your salary, don’t be, I will continue to pay it from now on.“ And thus it came to be that Zedlitz told the monarch that the judgment against the Miller had been fair.

And then it's time for another Rheinsberg visit. Lehndorff's opening paragraph to this one is so lovely and so very him that I'll put it on the end of this post, and you'll see why. Heinrich entertains French visitors, and what should they have brought with them but a copy of Voltaire’s memoirs. Fun times for everyone!

When the Prince after tea has left his guests at the gambling tables, I withdraw with him, Count Podewils and Ludwig Wreech into his room where he reads to us the secret history which Voltaire has written about our King. The anecdotes the Prince adds to his readings are even more interesting than the history itself, which is already interesting in a very high degree. The days are much too short for all my dear Prince has to offer in pleasantries, despite the fact we rarely go to bed before 1 pm.

Look, Lehndorff, if Heinrich can outtrash talk Voltaire‘s trashy tell all, it‘s really irresponsible of you not to write those damn anecdotes down! Never mind Heinrich's commentary on Fritz' account of the 7 Years War, we want Heinrich's commentary on Voltaire's memoirs! Seriously. In other news, Heinrich reading Voltaire's memoirs out loud to Lehndorff has to be the most Hohenzollern experience ever. You can not make these people up.

According to Lehndorff, Heinrich got Fritz‘ permission to finally go to Paris for the first time because Gustav has threatened to visit Berlin again, and Fritz wants to avoid a Heinrich/Gustav clash. Be that as it may: Lehndorff‘s Prince is off to Paris!

August of 1784: I receive a delightful letter from Prince Heinrich, from Geneva. If I wanted to, I could travel to Paris at once, where the Prince is headed to, and where he promises me an apartment and all kind of delights. Surely I would have many of those, since people there will certainly try to honor the Prince in all kind of ways, and I would have my share in these honors. But if I consider I would have to leave my family behind which needs me right now, especially my oldest son, I have to decline, obeying to reason. It is hard for me to make this sacrifice, but the fulfiilment of duty, too, has its satisfaction, and in missing there is reward.

It's good that you remember you're a family man and want to be a responsible dad, Lehndorff, we love you for it. Also, it gives you the opportunity to share some tea with Frau von Katte at Ferdinand's, which is interesting because I had dimly recalled someone - wiki? Fontane? - claims she died in the late 1770s. But here she is, alive and having tea with Lehndorff in 1784.

While Heinrich is having a great time in Hohenzollern dream country, aka Paris, young Tauentzien is back in Prussia, but only temporarily. Time for a Lehndorff pen portrait of the new guy! Complete with pen portrait of the old guy.

September 1784: „In the morning, I‘m visited by Tauentzien, who has gone with Prince Heinrich as far as Dijon, and then has returned for the manoeuvres. He‘s on his way back to Paris to Prince Heinrich, and will be returning here after two months. He is a pretty boy, barely twenty four years of age, but who has already had all kind of adventures. A year ago, he married against the will of the King and his parents a young Fräulein von Marschall, who had become pregnant by him. No sooner was the affair settled did she give birth and died. Four years ago, he already had become a father during his stay in Dresden, through a lady in waiting to the Prince Electress of Saxony, which is why Prince Heinrich had removed him from that post. Currently, he’s trying to marry the sole daughter of the famous Monsieur Necker, the richest heiress of Europe. (Mes amies, this is Germaine De Stael, famous writer and wit, and no, Tauentzien does not score there.) This is one of his main reasons for returning to Paris. Considering his pretty face and his vivacity, I understand he’s taken the position with Prince Heinrich which the infamous Kaphengst used to have, who hasn’t been as high in the Prince’s favour since he has abused it. Hardly ever has a man pushed fortune which had almost thrown itself at him so badly away as Kaphengst did. He was an insignificant ensign with the Green Husars, then he was ordered to Prince Heinrich, to command the fifteen Hussars who formed the Rheinsberg guard. The honor to dine at the Prince’s table hadn’t been his yet. However, his beautiful face and his vivacious nature attracted the Prince’s attention, and since at that time Kalkreuth fell into disfavour, Kaphengst got the position as ordonance of the Prince and thus the greatest influence on him. He received an estate for 150 000 Taler as a present and had the Prince’s house, stable and cellar - which he used a lot - at his disposal, and his purse. It is clear that this man has cost his royal highness incredible sums. He caused his lord immense distress through a lot countless stupidities and foolish pranks. And still the later tried to cover all up, regardless on how this put a bad light on his own reputation. Despite all this, Kaphengst has ruined himself in body and soul, now socializes only with scum anymore, and is at a point where he loses his entire possessions. He is a telling example of where a debauched life can lead to. In other circumstances, one has to say, he might have become a gentleman and a good officer. The overabundance of favour and lack of strictness has spoiled him.

So much for Kaphengst. This is indeed the year in which Heinrich ends relation for good (after having to sell his paintings to Catherine to cover Kaphengst's debts one last time).

October 1784, this is interesting, de Catt is still listed as one of Fritz’ lectors by Lehndorff who evidently hasn't heard about the firing back in Steinort, or during his occasional trips: „With pleasure, I hear the Abbé Denina talk, who is a scholar of the first rank. He tells us that the King now has four readers, de Catt, the Abbé du Val, who has lately arrived from Paris, and the son of a tailor from Berlin.“ And Luchesini, one might add.

October 29th : Lehndorff becomes a Liselotte fan: For eight days, I read day and night extremely interesting writings of the Duchess de Orleans about the government of her brother-in-law, King Louis XIV, as well as the memoirs of one Count Christoph Dohna about the government of the Great Prince Elector and of King Friedrich I.

Lehndorff spots Voltaire‘s memoirs translated into German in the bookshops and that does shock him, as opposed to hearing them read to him out loud by Heinrich. „It is amazing how much liberty is enjoyed in our country by writers and bookshop owners if such works can be sold in public!“

I'll say. Mind you, not for much longer. Once Fritz is dead, those memoirs so get on the Prussian index and aren't reprinted in Germany again until the 20th century.

Late November: „Finally, Prince Heinrich leaves Paris. To the Prince de Condé, he said: „All my life, I longed to go to France, and for the rest of my days, I shall long to go back there.“ The Queen of France, who has treated him somewhat coldly, did not have public opinion on her side. The affection which was shown to him grew rather from day to day, and even the Queen at last grew more amiable and said as a farewell: „Your departure is our loss.“. The Prince has seen a lot and has always followed the advice of Grimm, a respectable man, who enjoys the Czarina of Russia’s favour.

The Queen is of course Marie Antoinette, loyal daughter to dead MT, who saw Heinrich's visit as a sneak Prussian attack to woo France back from the alliance with Austria. (She wasn't totally wrong in that the letters between Fritz and Heinrich showed that he was supposed to try if he could, but they didn't really expect it, and mainly this was indeed a fun visit.)

November 28th: I go to the Dorotheenkirche to hear M. Sonnier preach. On that occasion, I see the monuments of Mitchell and the Count Verelsts. These were men who played an important role in their day, and now no one talks of them anymore.

But Mitchell's reports live on, Lehndorff, we promise.

December 2nd: I had the great joy of seeing Ludwig Wreech enter. He is well, and has made it through the journey to France and back in one piece. He has left the Prince in Brandenburg in order to come here straight away. His Royal Highness has gone to Potsdam, and has been received by his Majesty with love and distinction. He had sent him his horses and his pages, he rushed into the Prince’s room in order to greet him, in short, he has left nothing out in order to receive him in splendour. He also has gifted him with two pounds of Spanish tobacco and remarked that he’d like to contribute to the Prince’s travelling expenses but that he couldn’t right now, his treasure being exhausted.

December 5th: Lehndorff’s own reunion with Heinrich goes well, too, and then he has a moment of Schadenfreude when spotting a certain someone:

„In the antechamber I see a personality which illustrates the changeability of all earthly matters to me. It is Kaphengst (...) His health is gone, he has lost his position, and is in the greatest embarrasment. The Prince’s embarassment towards him is even larger. At heart, he still has some fondness for him, but he knows that he has done all for him that he could do, and now sees that he hasn’t managed to make this man happy or reasonable. He had given him the beautiful estate of Meseberg, in the belief of having given him an assured basis of living, and in the hope to enjoy his grateful favourite’s happiness when visiting him now and then. All of this has found a bad ending. He took whores and showed various desires disliked by the Prince, and so these two have tormented themselves through fifteen years. I had seen all of this coming, but I kept my mouth shut, and now this favourite, who outshone all others, who had made everyone wait in the antechambre while he locked himself up with the Prince doesn’t know what to do with himself. (...)

„My dear Prince’s entourage isn’t really satisfied by the visit to France. They claim that the King has been too thrifty. This had annoyed Herr von Knesebeck so much that he left Paris before the prince did. One can see once again how hard it is to make everyone happy. I must say, there’s hardly another prince who is so considerate towards his entourage, and there are still so many displeased and grasping people around him. As for me, I love him for his personality, and I am never happier than when I am with him.“

Lehndorff spends the December with his family in Berlin and with Heinrich. Heinrich reads to him - no more Voltaire, stories of Florian, a dramatist and fable write, and btw, this consistent of the decades reading out loud by Heinrich is another trait shared with the Firstborn. With the December of 1784, this volume, which doesn't have a register, ends, but not this writing-up.

As promised, I'll finish with a Lehndorff entry from June that same year (1784), which this man, now in his 60s, who fell in love with Heinrich as far as I can tell from the tone of his entries on him during late 1751 and through 1752, writes thusly:

June 1784: From there, I hurry home, change my clothing and jump, after I had talked for a moment with my wife and her visitor, into the post carriage. In order to avoid the heat, I drive through the entire night and arrive on the 6th in the evening at Rheinsberg. I always experience a particular sensation whenever I get close to this charming place, when I think of the fact that in an hour, in half an hour, in a quarter of an hour I shall see Prince Heinrich again, who when it comes down to it has been for as long as I can remember the Prince whom I love best. I had all reason to be satisfied with his greeting. I cannot adequately render the emotion that moves inside me, but I am his, utterly and completely. (Ich bin auf jeden Fall ganz sein eigen.)