![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenak posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
rheinsbergWhile the estimable Dr. Schmidt(-Lötzen) only had the chance to publish four volumes of Lehndorff's diaries in book form, with volume IV covering the time until and including 1784, he did continue to publish his translations in the journal "Masovia" (where the first four volumes also made their debut in separate installments before being collected in book volumes), up to and including the year 1787.
As every winter, the royal family and the nobility is in the capital. This isn't all fun:
January 2nd, 1785: The King interrogates several doctors a second time in ordert o choose the one whom he'll give the honorary pension to which has become available due to the death of Dr. Zelius. On this occasion, he treats them harshly. Thus he says to Roloff: "Your father was a clergyman. Why didn't you become one was well?" To Sprögel: "Your father was an idiot!" To Loose: "Where did you say you've been? In St. Peterburg and Stockholm together with Prince Heinrich? Clearly you can't have learned anything there!" Finally to Selle: "I know that you often experiment at the poor sick in a barbaric fashion. Devil take you if you don't take better care of the lives of these unfortunates!" Despite this not very flattering address, he's given Selle the pension. To the others, he recommended reading Boerhave.
One marvels at this prince using such a harsh language since a couple of years now which does not fit with his disposition. I remember earlier days when he used to say pleasantries, and this with an enchanting timbre in his voice.
Um. Lehndorff, you have written down similar statements from Fritz in earlier years, too.
Prince Heinrich is missing several enjoyments he had in France dreadfully, and that makes him feel sad. He has another reason for feeling low, for Knesebeck and Kaphengst have left him, and yet the departure oft he later ought to be very pleasing to him, since there has never been a man with such ingratitude towards the Prince, who has caused him as many problems.
No, Lehndorff will never get over hating Kaphengst with the double chin. The fact that Heinrich is sad about the bastard seems to have made him wonder whether or not Heinrich really likes him for the first time since eons, for:
After I presented myself to the Queen, I rushed to Prince Heinrich, whom I find painting with his reader. He has to like me very much after all, for as soon as I arrive, he sents the reader away in order to talk with me without disturbances. To be thus alone with the Prince is enchanting. Then, his soul opens to me. His views are always those of a humane, enlightened man. Thus we remain alone until 9 pm. Then Herr v. Wreech arrives, and now the Prince presents the Dolphin Lottery to us which he has just been sent from Paris. It is a pretty amusing game. Our dinner a trois is very cozy.
Given Fritz has been so sharp in public recently, Lehndorff has a big shock when:
Januar 15th. I'm staying at home quietly. My children want to see the King. As I knew he wanted to have lunch with Princess Amalie today, I'm sending them with their governor and governess to Madame de Maupertuis where they were to watch the arrival of His Majesty from the window. I have to add here that my son wears a uniform which I had ordered for him, because he dedicates himself with great eagerness under the supervision of a subultern officer from the Regiment Braun to military exercises. Now, the governor, who is a Frenchman and thus not familiar with our customs, believes himself to act cleverly when presenting himself with the child in the antechambre where all the people invited to lunch are waiting. The King arrives, spots the child in uniform and asks: "Who is the pretty little subaltern?"
Count Sacken replies to him: "It's a young Count Lehndorff." The children return, and the governor, who otherwise is a capital fellow, shows up in my room with a beaming face and tells me that the King has adressed Count Heinrich. (Lehndorff's son.) I'm thunderstuck. As I fear the biting taunts from the King, I'm desperate. But with all that I did have to laugh at Masson insisting in the joy of his heart that something like this surely was better for Count Heinrich than a swarm of hussars. The King surely had to be pleased to see a little man showing such eagerness for royal service.
Later in the evening at 6 pm at the party thrown by count Sacken I finally hear that the whole affair happened far better than I dared to hope, as the King has talked kindly to the child. God bless the King for his kindness! It is so blissful to be able to love one's souvereign.
Aw. And on a similar note:
Januar 18th: Blessed be thou to me! Under your light, my Prince Heinrich was born! - All the noble society shows up at his place in the morning. But the Prince has to go to the King early, since the King has organized a gigantic meal with the golden plates in his honor, where the ladies are obliged to show up in their grand robes. Around 4 pm, he's back at home and sends for me in order to show me the snuffbox richly decorated with diamonds which the King has given him.
Then, we visit Frau van Verelst together, where the Prince hopes to spend a quiet hour. Earlier, I had sent my wife and my three children to this place, and both had put the Prince's portrait on an easel and decorated it with laurel. As soon as the Prince arrived, the children declaimed poems praising him which made him cry. It is a joy to celebrate the Prince; it touches his heart. He repeatedly pets my children, and universal satisfaction reigns.
Lehndorff, I don't know how I feel about the fact you're making your children declaim praise poems about your life long crush in front of your wife.
Heinrich is reading Figaro's Wedding by Beaumarchais to Lehndorff through the winter. (They both like it very much; Lehndorff shows no sign of detecting the social criiticism. Also ,there's this:
In the evening, I visit Prince Heinrich, where the various subjects addressed are discussed thoroughly. Among other things, we speak of Voltaire, who in a bad mood said about the Solomon of the North that he was a mixture of Attila, Hans Wurst and Abbe Cotti.
Footnote from the editor and translator here that Coti, 1604 - 1682, royal councillor and preacher was a wit in various salons and wrote some philosophical treatises and verses which gave him some literary reputation until he was ridiculed by other wits. The editor also adds that "At the end of the ninth manuscript folder" (of Lehndorff's diaries?), it says " a mixture of Alexander, Attila and Abbe Coti" instead. Editor, which is it? There's a difference between Hanswurst and Alexander, I dare say.
Heinrich is sick a few times, Lehndorff frets, and tells him to take it easier. He's pleased as punch though when he hears from Prince Friedrich of Württemberg this story:
We talk of the horrors which happened in Saxony during the Seven-Years-War, for example the sacking of Hubertusburg, a palace of King August's, and of all the houses of Count Brühl. The Prince shows us on this occasion a letter by a Herr v. Lüttichau who killed himself out of pain about the misfortune of his fatherland. Before he did this, he wrote this very letter in which he declared that the terrible fate of Saxony was unbearable to him, and that he departed this life. He cursed all those who caused this misfortune and says at the end: "Only Prince Heinrich has treated Saxony well." Now this is truly a testimony for my Prince's noble attitude.
Lehndorff also hears this quote from a letter by Fritz to Grimm (remember him? Go-to cultural agent in Paris for European nobility, hosting the Mozarts the first time they were there?): My brother Heinrich is delighted by Paris, and after everything he told me about the reception he's been given, I must say he's right to be. As every true Muslim in order to achieve bliss has to make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in his life, I believe that every European has to visit Paris at least once. I am infinitely sorry that my duties compell me to remain forever with my Goths and Vandals.
That's your choice, Fritz, not your duties. You could, say, make Heinrich Regent for some months and make the trip….
Foreshadowing of the post Fritz bane of Heinrich's life:
The Prince doesn't like Herr von Hertzberg the cabinet minister very much. Now there are many who delight in incensing his royal highness even further against this man. Just now the Prince was sent a letter which Herr v. Hertzberg wrote to the English doctor Bayliss regarding a sick child at his country estate of Britz. This letter goes directly against the humane philosophy the Minister always presents to the world.
A few entries later:
I'm now reading a book which caused quite a stir, as it was intended to. Our cabinet minister Herr v. Hertzberg every year reads a speech praising the King at the Academy, wherein he lauds the generosity oft he King, and talks about the florishing trade and the growing wealth and population. Many malcontents regard this as low flattery. It can't be denied that one can complain about his style and his manner of reading. Now we have here a M. Laveaux, who believes himself to be a grand language purist. He first chided our preachers whom he proved to not understand much French, and lately he's gone on the attack against Herr v. Hertzberg, whom he believed to be guilty of various Germanisms and of a wrong judgment. A calm temper would have simply left the matter alone, but Herr v. Hertzberg was incensed and forbade Laveaux to write anything further. Now the mocker has published a "Eusöbe" in the style of Voltaire's "Candide". Without naming Herr v. Hertzberg, he talks of him quite a lot. If no one had objected to the pamphlet, it would have been read by only a few people, and even fewer would have recognized its target. But Herr v. Hertzberg had to get into a big public huff and made the bookstore owners pay a penalty. Thus he caused a pamphlet which would otherwise soon have been forgotten to become very famous. The enemies of the minister, who are quite a few and are headed by Prince Heinrich, were delighted and will provoke this Laveaux to further impudences.
Heinrich goes quite early to Rheinsberg that year, before the snow is gone, and Lehndorff follows, but while the first few days where it's just Heinrich and him are bliss, then Heinrich's little court arrives, and Lehndorff declares he can't stand them and departs. Since he frets a few months later whether he's lost Heinrich's favor (he hasn't), I presume he told Heinrich so, but that's guessing, the entry itself doesn't say so. Thus, Lehndorff does not hear what Heinrich thinks of Lafayette, BUT he meets Lafayette himself before either Fritz or Heinrich do!
July 30th. I dine in great company at Count Sacken's. There, I watch a tall thin man in the uniform of a French General enter, and learn to my great delight that it is the famous Marquis de Lafayette, who has distinguished himself so extraordinarily in America. I sit at his side, and we conduct a vivid conversation. He enlightens me about various American matters. He is first very quiet, even a bit embarassed, but if one acts in a relaxed way around him, then one sees from his thoughtful gaze that he is pleased by this. With great respect, he speaks of the Duke of Braunschweig, whose acquaintance he has made. He wants to see Prince Heinrich , and he has asked the King's permission to present himself to him. When we rise from the table, we have become such friends that he asks me to come with him to Rheinsberg. To my great regret, I have to decline.
This evening I'm spending with my children to my great delight.
(Lafayette was the whole reason whymildred_of_midgard went on a hunt for any remaining Lehndorff diaries, as she found next to Lafayette's famous description of his encounter with Frederick the Great a very warm tribute to Heinrich. The hero of two revolutions writes:
I had new opportunities of knowing the hereditary prince of Prussia, who is a good officer, an honest man, a man of plain and good sense, but does not come up to the abilities of his two uncles. His second uncle, Prince Henry, I have kept to the last, because he is by far the best acquaintance I have made. I do not inquire who is the greater general, his brother or he, a question that divides the military world; but to first rate abilities, both as a soldier and a politician, to a perfect literary knowledge, and all the endowments of the mind, he joins an honest heart, philanthropic feelings, and rational ideas on the rights of mankind. I have spent a fortnight with him at his country-seat, and we kept up an epistolary correspondence.
This led our salon to wonder whether there was a way to find out what Heinrich thought about Lafayette, which in turn caused Mildred to discover the Masovia publications.)
Back at Lehndorff's estate, here comes the fretting entry: I'm sick at heart. I think it's the sense of having lost what was dear to me, the friendship of Prince Heinrich and the unchanging benevolence of the Prince of Prussia, and thus the respect of courts and of the city of Berlin. All of this causes me to feel the agreeability of the country life not as much as I would otherwise. But then right now there is such a bad weather that I can't leave my room, and my garden, which otherwise is my greatest joy when I'm in the country, gets neglected since the death of an excellent young gardener whom I had hired, and the climate bodes ill for the harvest, which worries the farmers and mea s well. Thus fourteen days pass. I try to hide my sorrows as much as I can and always show a happy countenance in order not to worry my family. The charming letters I receive from Berlin, full of regret about my departure, only deepen my sad mood instead of a lessening it.
Henrich writes, all is well again. Also, Lehndorff is eagerly following international news and picks up what in retrospect certainly was the story of the year:
In France, something unique has happened. Cardinal Rohan, Archbishop of Strassbourg, one of the first gentlemen of France, popular with the King and the Queen both, esteemed for his personal qualities, an extraordinary mind, suddenly gets ordered in front of the King's council and gets interrogated in the Queen's presence. After not even half an hour, he gets arrested and is brought to the Bastille. All of France gets in an uproar about this, and wants to know the reason, since never before a Cardinal has been thrown into prison. A few days later, one learns he's become entangled in the nets of an evil wman named LaMotte, a descendant of a bastard of Henri II. This woman caused him to buy diamonds for more than two millions Francs by claiming that the Queen wanted to have them but was asking for discretion. The woman even presented a letter signed by the Queen. The jeweller didn't trust this Lamotte, however. So she asked the Cardinal for his sponsoring. When the date of the first payment arrived, and the jeweller didn't get anything, he approached the Queen. She swore that she didn't know anything about this, and because of this the Cardinal got arrested. LaMotte has made off with all the diamonds by now. That's all the world knows. It seems to me that a lot of this bears further investigation.
You can say that again, Lehndorff.
Then there's this gossipy tale which somehow all the fictionalizers of Catherine the Great's life seem to have missed out on:
At the 5th, I return, have lunch in Angerburg with the Archpriest and in the evening arrive at home. Here, the sudden death of Countess Moltke, the mother of the Duke of Holstein, is confirmed to me. This woman has finished her life at the age of 48 years. She could have been the happiest of woman, but through her conduct she has drawn countless misfortunes and universal contempt at herself. She had a very eventful life. Born the daughter of Count zu Dohna, the Queen's Oberhofmeister, and of a Princess of Holstein-Beck, she was her family's idol. Her mother, two princesses of Holstein who were her aunts, and an old Duke of Holstein all competed in spoiling her rotten. At the age of 15, she already ruled her family completely and chose a husband for herself whom no one else liked. Thus, she was quickly married to her cousin, a young Prince of Holstein, Major in a Silesian regiment. Now she followed her moods and her passions. Of course she wasn't lacking in admirers. One talks of a Herr v. Flörke and of General Rebentisch. Her husband died in one of the earliest battles of the 7 Years War. Then she returned to her family in Prussia, but kept up her previous conduct. When near the end of the war Peter III. ascended the Russian throne, he ordered anything named Holstein to Russia for love of his family. She was included in that number. Soon, the Emperor distinguished her more than any of the others, and gave her a pension, estates and a lot of diamonds. People even claim that he had been so much in love with her that he wanted to marry her and had the intention to banish the Empress who is today the pride of Europe. She then acted with a wisdom she otherwise never showed. She refused all the suggestions by the Emperor and doubled her attentiveness towards the Empress. The later would not forget this. After the great revolution which brought Catherine on the throne and her husband into his grave, (the Countess) was left enjoying all her pensions, and she even was supposed to remain at court. The King of Poland - that's Poniatowski, Catherine's ex, remember - told me a few years ago that the Empress had intended to marry him to her cousin. But the later loved her freedom more than anything and asked the Empress to permit her to sell the estates the Emperor had given her in order to return to Prussia. So she arrived with the order of St. Catherine, countless diamonds and riches. If she had only enjoyed her happiness in an orderly fashion, she could have become the toast of Königsberg and of the entire province, where the name of Holstein is known and respected. By the Prince of Holstein, she had had a son, a charming child, whose guardian she became and whose fortune she wasted. Her entire being was only mood and passion. First she wanted to marry a Count Knorr, then she fell in love with a Herr v. Negelein, and finally she married a young Lieutenant v. Moltke, whom she had made into a Count. Now she couldn't stay in Prussia anymore, so she went to Mecklenburg and bought herself an estate there. There, she regretted her foolishness a thousand times and now suddenly died, leaving several children from her second marriage behind.
What distinguishes her son, the Duke of Holstein, ist hat he has never failed to honor this mother who has harmed him in so many ways, and to oblige her whenever he could.
There was a time when I met her quite often, since we are related. She was a dazzling figure, could be quite charming and told intriguing stories of her Russian adventures. She was with Peter III. when he received the message about the Revolution. It was at a party in Peterhof, where the Emperor was surrounded by many ladies. He then entreated them to get on a boat with him and to go to Kronstadt. This was his misfortune. The ladies started to cry and to shout, and that slowed down his decisiveness. As is known he was brought to Oranienbaum instead, and was only seen in the tomb by the public again. The poor Princess of Holstein had been dumped in the garden and had to remain there for the entire night. She told me that all her aquaintances who came by and who the day before had shown her the greatest respect now pretended not to know her and did not listen to her. She was wearing courtly wardrobe and nearly died of fear and of the cold, until the Empress heard about her awful situation and ordered her sent to her father-in-law in St. Petersburg, to the Duke of Holstein who was then governor of Reveal.
1.) Wasn't Peter's official mistress a Russian lady?
2.) Methinks Lehndorff should have checked for other sources.
mildred_of_midgard: Yes to both. Elizaveta Vorontsova, sister of Catherine's BFF the princess Dashkova.
By now, we're in the summer of 1786, and Fritz is dying. As early as January, Lehndorff is sure he will this time - for that matter, that was Heinrich's impression as well, I think - and every news from Berlin seems to confirm it. In July, Lehndorff notes:
The King, who is still very weak, has ordered the famous Dr. Zimmermann from Hannover to come to him. One fears in every moment for the life of this great man. The judgments on him vary greatly. I am happy to note down while he's still alive what is surely going to said once he's dead: his little weaknesses will be forgotten, and one will only admire him as a great man. My judgment is all the more impartial since I never received the slightest benevolence from him. On the contrary, he often put obstructions in my path. But that was due to his character, and didn't come from his heart. Firmness is part of his nature. When I entered the wide world, he at first showed himself gracious towards me and offered me the position of Chamberlain of the Queen, despite my being only 19 years of age. I first refused, for I could already see the entire hollowness of such a position. But he replied to me: "Just take the position on a preliminary basis until I can give you one in my direct surroundings." So this was his intention. But then distrust and jealousy appeared. I was young, excitable, didn't have the slightest experience, but did have a loving heart and attached myself to his brothers, the Prince of Prussia and Prince Heinrich. This displeased the King. Additionally there were the evil minded schemers, headed by the arch villain Pöllnitz, who couldn't stand the King to have a good opinion of me and slandered me to him in an outrageous fashion. He believed them, and from this point onwards he made me feel without mercy, as is his way, his displeasure about the fact I was able to form attachments to people other than himself. He did say repeatedly: "Lehndorff did not want to belong to me."
Those who were serving him directly will not mourn him as much as the many living under his rule. The former often had to suffer due to his excentric nature, to which belonged the fact he could immediately forget all the greatest services at the slightest failure. The others, whose numbers are far larger, didn't have to bear the injustices of the rich and mighty, since anyone could address themselves directly to him and trust in finding justice from him. He definitely improved the situation of the people and has spent large summs on the provinces. Only for (East) Prussia, he never cared. He couldn't forgive it for having become Russian. And yet Prussia had proven the greatest devotion during the Russian occupation.
Returning to the men around him, I can declare that I have seen most of them either leave in bitterness or die. The harsh upbringing he was subjected to was most to blame for this. It is really the case that he never asked his companions, once they were in good quarters, whether they were lacking something; on the contrary, if he could spoil their good mood, he did. He couldn't stand it if those who were with him at Potsdam went to Berlin. I remember that the famous Baron Bielfeld who had business to conduct in Berlin but didn't dare to tell this to the King wrote to his Majesty that he was suffering from terrible toothache and thus had to go to Berlin in order to have a tooth removed. Then, the King told him that he'd order the dentist to Potsdam. This really happened, and the poor man had to have a completely healthy tooth pulled in order not to be exposed as a liar.
Okay, that's worth chewing on. I mean, partly Lehndorff, forty years later, is definitely doing that thing you often do with such a long distance and rewriting history, because I don't recall any mention of Pöllnitz scheming against him back in the day, and Lehndorff mentions Pöllnitz a lot, and also I doubt anyone saw Lehndorff as enough of a threat to badmouth him to Fritz, full stop. Did Fritz see Lehndorff's attachment to his brothers as a minus? Undoubtedly. Was this the reason why he never promoted him? I doubt it. I think he was grateful to have filled the position, whatever he may or may not have said when hiring Lehndorff, and did not intend to bother with hiring someone else.
While it's not true Fritz didn't enquire after anyone's health or comfort once he had them - ask Fredersdorf! -, overall, leaving Lehndorff's personal "I could have been a contender, err, Fritz courtier" rewriting aside, it's pretty fair judgment, and he even correctly blames FW's parenting.
Fritz is still alive when Lehndorff meets Heinrich's 7 Years War diary writing AD, Henckel von Donnersmark, and does some projecting, methinks, though otoh he's probably not wrong:
The conversation with Henckel is a great pleasure. He has lived forty years in the same company I did. We both belonged to the circle of the Prince of Prussia and Prince Heinrich without interruptions. But he always felt very miserably. He descended from noble, high minded but penniless parents, and was angry at his fate, and became sulking and jealous. I don't believe he's had a truly happy hour in his life. Despite having advanced to Generalmajor, he still calls his fate unjust. He wants to become Field Marshall. He complaints about Prince Heinrich despite all the good the later has done for him. He wanted to be the sole favourite. He was pushed out of this position with the Prince by Herr von Kalckreuth. Now he married a rich burgher's daughter from Halberstadt, a Fräulein Weckerhagen. But she died before her parents did, and thus his expectations were ruined. That made him bitter; moreover, the two daughters from this marriage caused him much grief. His second wife is a Countess Lepel, his own niece, whom he believed to be rich, which she wasn't. Thus he feels entitled to curse at his fate. And yet with a content temper, he could be very happy, since he otherwise has many good qualities, does his military service with great eagerness, and is universally regarded as one of the best officers in the army. At the moment, he's fretting with worry about what will happen to him once the King is dead.
His Majesty is verey weak, and if the reports from Potsdam are true, he won't remain alive much longer. Dr. Zimmermann supposedly told him simply that it was too late and there were no means for him. This naturally did not satisfy his Majesty, who gave him 2000 Taler and sent him away. Then, a doctor from Halberstadt named Fritsch was called. But one fears it's too late, the dropsy takes ist course.
And then he dies. Lehndorff, who hears about it via mail and talk, has this version of events:
The departed has concluded his days with the dignity of a Seneca. At the 14th, things were bad with him already; he was lying in a daze. Sometimes he regained consciousness, and then he occupied himself with state business as in his best days. He was so swollen up that he couldn't get out of his trousers anymore, or lie in his bed. He remained in his armchar and gave his orders with the usual circumspection, while being surrounded by the same people as always. He only allowed himself to be served by his hussar who replaced a valet with him. At the 16th around 5 pm he regained consciousness and immediately ordered his letters and orders brought to him in order to sign them. Sometimes he let the quill drop and said then: "It doesn't work anymore." Still, he picked it up again and signed some more. When the quill dropped out of his hand again and his servant told him there were only three letters left, he pulled himself together and signed them. Immediately afterwards a stroke came, and a second attack took him on the 17th around 4 am.
Now, Lehndorff has only had pleasant contacts with FW2 until this point. So the conclusion as to whether he wants to go to Berlin or not he arrives at is:
August 31t: I begin to collect my thoughts which were directed at a distance for days now and only occupied with a single question. A change of goverment changes all our plans. If I didn't have children, I would remain quietly at home, and would watch the entire thunderstorm from afar, but as it is, I need to use the time I'm still alive and think of my children's welfare The new King has only shown himself benevolent to me for all his life, and his father basically has left me to him. So nothing else remains but to show myself there. I was determined already to go to Berlin for my oldest son's sake. But while I start to prepare, I receive the news the King is coming to Königsberg immediately to receive homage.
Renember,cahn, the Kings of Prussia, other than F1, weren't crowned at Königsberg, but they did receive homage there. Anyway, this makes life easier for Lehndorff, since he can present himself and his kids to FW2 there, and from there go to back to Potsdam and Berlin with him. The Duke of Holstein who has gone to Berlin for Fritz' funeral brings news that Heinrich was a bit in a mood already because of Wusterhausen (which according to FW's last will would once Fritz and AW were both dead go to Heinrich), but FW2 has persuaded him to accept an annual income of 50 000 Taler instead. (I think FW3 is the one who just gives him Wusterhausen instead.) Heinrich seems to be so satisfied by this that he accepted without protest having to walk behind FW2's sons at the funeral procession which Lehndorff had been sure he would not.
After dinner, I am eager to have my son come to me. Our reunion is touching. I love my children more than anything, and I only live fort hem. The boy has grown a lot, and makes an excellent impression. I notice that I have to change my plans concerning his future completely. I had destined him to study at the university so he would become an envoy, but I now see that he has a great passion for the soldier's profession. Now I have to make a decision. May God guide my thoughts!
FW2 is totally nice and all, but once in Berlin, Lehndorff sees there are clouds on the horizon, for :
I wake up with a headache. It becomes so bad that I must give up the pleasure of presenting myself to the King, and decide to remain quietly at home. But around noon, the Duke of Holstein shows up at the order of Prince Heinrich and tells me I'm to present myself in boots and with a hat on my head to him. Miserable as I am, I still go to the Prince and am immediately received in his beautiful, wonderfully decorated apartment. The topics we talk about are so serious in nature that I have to declare I shall think about them thoroughly and write them down at another time.
If he did, Schmidt-Lötzen doesn't provide the entry. At a guess, Heinrich has found out FW2 has not the slightest intention of letting him rejoin the army or of giving him any job whatsoever. It becomes ever more apparant in the diary Lehndorff didn't just go to Berlin for his sons' sakes, he did expect FW2 to give him a job as well, but while FW2 keeps inviting him to meals and parties and adresses him in company and what not, a job offer of course does not happen.
We truly live in a strange time. It has so many mysteries and provides so much food for thought. My dear sons, when you read my writings, then let me tell you this: always keep your indenpendence, by keeping the fortune your parents will leave to you, however large or small it might be. Then you can await whatever fate will bring you. If I didn't always stick to this principle, I would currently be in the greatest embarassment. I had great expectations. The late King has treated me ill for forty years, because I was devoted to the father of the current King. The current one has always been gracious towards me, has treated me with distinction and has ordered me to come here. The people even talked of high positions. I now arrive here, but - I hear of nothing. I still don't get upset about this. I still have my lovely estate Steinort, which provides comfort through all the troubles for me. Never, my dear sons, devote yourself to deceptive hopes! Restrain yourself, limit your wishes, and withdraw to your homes when you're fed up with people!
On the bright side:
In the evening, I was supposed to visit Prince Ferdinand, but when I get home, I find a letter from him wherein he writes he had to surrender me to Prince Heinrich, because the later has asked him to. I rush to him. I enjoy the treat of sitting in conversation with the Prince from 6 to 9 and to debate about all kind of matters. Among other things, he shows me a splendid watch set with diamonds hwich was the late King's last gift to him. He also reads a eulogy to me which he has written about him. It is far more than that, it is a description of his entire government, with all his wars. If this piece of writing were ever known to anyone else, it would cause the greatest sensation. It is so clear and so true and with such deep knowledge as only a general who has commanded himself could write it.
Dammit, Lehndorff, you couldn't have asked Heinrich for a copy? I want to read his eulogy to Fritzthe bastard!
For a newly free man, Heinrich keeps bringing up Fritz suspiciously often.
In the evening, I visit the Queen Widow. Prince Heinrich arrives to participate at the gambling, and I afterwards have dinner with him. The conversation is captivating as always. The Prince makes a remark which actually cannot be refuted. He said that when reading the eulogies to the late King he keeps finding people insisting the King was now among the blessed. Now we know the principles of this monarch. He believed in complete annihilation (of the soul). Therefore, the Prince concludes, that one can't exactly rely on theologians and their judgment anymore.
Lehndorff meets Mirabeau at Hertzberg's, but doesn't like him. Heinrich gets increasingly suspicious of the various sects and secret organizations and all the religion now getting into vogue in Berlin.
Much food for conversation offers a new religious direction which is becoming very popular. Its desciples call themsels the Inspired (Footnote: the Illuminati.) They include the free masons, the Herrenhuter and all kind of sects. One claims former Jesuits have provided the model. Prince Heinrich talks of this the entire evening and is terribly upset about it. He thinks this is very dangerous and thinks the movement gaining such momentum that all of Europe might be endangered. The Prince, who posses so much wit, has the gift to argue so clearly and to speak so charmingly that it is always a pleasure to listen to him. But I do believe that his welfare is suffering from it. Because he's driven with such fire that the blood rushes to his head, and woe to him who argues against him!
What Lehndorff doesn't mention: FW2 was increasingly influenced and ruled by such a sect, the Rosencreuzer, and that presumably was one big reason why Heinrich was so upset.
Meanwhile, Mina: The King organizes a dinner in honor of the Princess Heinrich. By sheer accident, General Kalckreuth and his wife have arrived from his garnison and join. This meeting has to be deeply embarassing to both regarding what has happened between them twenty years ago.
Huh. Lehndorff, do you mean you actually believe Kalckreuth/Mina was a thing?
Prince Heinrich is sick as well and worried about a thousand things. I try as much as I can to calm him down, and he promises me to be content. But - I really don't marvel at the belief of the ancient ones that there were two souls in every human's breast, a good and a bad one. The later always destroys every good thing the first one creates. Thus, the good intention of keeping calm whatever happens are destroyed in the moment one is tested and has to show one's equanimity. I muse about this, thinking about myself as well as him.
Translation: neither Heinrich nor Lehndorff manage stoicism about the increasingly obvious truth they're regarded as useless antiquities.
Meanwhile, Kalckreuth: General Kalckreuth and his wife leave for their garnison. The two people who are rich and have wit still don't manage to make themselves popular. They weren't even here for eight days before everyone was sick of her, while he believed himself obliged to complain about everything, especially about the princes Heinrich and Ferdinand. After the dinner to which the King had invited Princess Heinrich and both Kackreuths, Kalckreuth complained harshly about the Princess to whom he once had been so close. I see once more that human beings don't change. I can't see any change with Kalckreuth, he's still exactly like he was in 1764, when I met him as Prince Heinrich's AD. But with all that, he's still an able soldier in all directions, and a well read man. Also he was lucky. But his excitable temper has caused him a lot of difficulties.
Hmmm. Firstly, Lehndorff, you didn't meet Kalckreuth in 1764, you met and complained about him and Heinrich already in 1756. Secondly, Schmidt-Lötzen, did Kalckreuth complain about the Princess or the Prince? Could you have transcribed something wrongly? Because that sentence makes much more sense if Kalckreuth was close to Heinrich and now complains. Even if Lehndorff really believes Kalckreuth made an accepted pass at Mina in 1764/1765, which no one else did at the time, it was only a brief event in the twilight days of his relationship with Heinrich and born out of his jealousy of Kaphengst. So, what gives?
Soon, Lehndorff has other worries, though.
When I'm already in the carriage in order to join the King at mass, I'm told Karl is in a bad state, that he has pangs at the side and that he's bled for this reason. I am in the greatest disquiet during the preaching and at the Queen's table despite the King participating, and await only the end of the meal to rush to my child. I do find him in danger. His veins have been opened twice, and a Spanish fly was used. In terrible fear, I go to Prince Heinrich whom I find with Prince Friedrich of Braunschweig. The former assures me of his deepest sympathy.
Monday the 14th. My poor child seems to be somewhat better, but around 10, the pangs get more violent again, and he's again bled. There is danger. I remain at home with my sad thoughts. How human life always turns out differently than expected! I was supposed to see a French play and attend a ball and a grand party at Prince Heinrich's, but I cannot and am alone with my worries.
15th. The same. The pangs have lessened, but his weakness has grown. My heart trembles all the time.
16h. I'm incapable of doing anything else. The thought of my son never leaves me. Several times a day, I hurry to him. I am satisfied with Dr. Richter, and also with the nursing done by Captain Boiton. His great weakness and his harsh breathing worry me continously. (…)
17th. Despite I'm given hope my son will get better, I don't dare to rejoice just yet. He is so weak and has slept so little! I spend a moment with the Queen Widow and then hurry to Prince Heinrich. He also gives me hope, and swears that he has had the same sickness and survived. But that doesn't comfort me, and I return to my lonely home.
(…)
20th: My poor Karl is somewhat better, but I still wonder what will become of him. Six bloodlettings at the age of 16, at a time where he grows the most, are able to destroy one's health!
Karl makes it out of the sickness alive, though. Lehndorff's wife and his two other children get smallpox the same year, but survive as well, so there is more fretting and worrying, and then once he doesn't have worry about their lives anymore, Heinrich gives up and decides to go to Rheinsberg.
16th: I'm going with Prince Ferdinand to Oranienburg, where the Prince has invited his brother Heinrich, who will leave Berlin probably for a long time, to share lunch. We are four people at the table, as Prince Heinrich arrives in the company of Tauentzien. During the meal, we often think of the Prince of Prussia, the father of the current King, the most noble of men, who lived here in retreat. Here grief ended the days of one who was born to make millions happy. Such sad contemplations are made by us until 5 pm, and then Prince Heinrich leaves for Rheinsberg and we for Berlin.
Lehndorff is invited by FW2 to spend the summer with him at Sanssouci. (BTW, no mention that parts are uninhabitable due to Fritz.) Lehndorff, for one, enjoys what FW2 has done with the place (and is thrilled to finally be able to say he's been invited to life at Sanssouci for a while):
The King has made changes in the garden which one can only call very good. The former garden plots are now English gardens, and between groups of blooming flowers, there are the most beautiful statues. Admiringly, I watch the beautiful Mercury by Pigalle, and also the group around Adam, and the antique Antinous. There is no place in the whole of Germany which offers such a rich variety of statues as Sanssouci.
And then Amalie dies. Cahn, the Princess Henriette Lehndorff is reminded of is Minette, Charles II's sister.
30th. Around 5 pm, I want to drive to the Princess Sacken. When my people open the carriage for me, they call: "The Princess Amalie has died!" In my first shock, I have to think about the passage in Flechier where he describes the universal horror which the death of the Princess Henriette caused in France, and where he says: Night of horrors in which one heard the call: Madame is dead! Madame is no more!" Deeply sad, I arrive at the Princess Sacken's. The news I bring, no one wants to believe; one doubts and sends enquiries. But unfortunately, the sad news is confirmed. I would have gone immediately, but I had an invitation to the Queen Widow's, and so I go there. But at the foot of the stairs I already meet a servant of the Queen's, who tells she was deeply shaken and unable to receive anyone.
I meet up with old Count Podewils and bring him to the Gusow Podewils'place while I hurry to the mourning place. I find Madame de Maupertuis, the Fräuleins of Zerbst and v. Dönhoff and all belonging to the house in deep pain, added to which is the shock about the sudden death. At lunch the Princess was still doing well. Since eight days, she was complaining about a strong cough, but no one assumed a serious danger. Around 3 am Madame de Maupertuis was called, and she found her already without consciousness. Now the entire royal family was notified, and everyone rushed to her. But she was already gone. There was hardly any death struggle; she died in the arms of her first chamber woman, Fräulein Hartmann, in her 64th year of life. My pain is great. I've known her since forty years, and have been in her particular favor. She had very much esprit, but also many excentricities, and at any rate she had the mindset of a great princess, one can say, the Brandenburg mindset, which is very characteristic.
After having cried hot tears in the first floor, I went to the chamber women. They told me about several traits oft he Princess and led me to the chamber where the royal corpse was lying. At such an opportunity, one can only exclaim: Vanity, vanity, all is vanity! This Princess, who had so many rich spiritual qualities, who had a great nature, a high flowing mind, she awoke the respect in everyone which her high birth alone would not have produced. There she lies stretched on a bed and regarded with melancholy by everyone. One only talks of the weakness of her body, which has housed such a beautiful soul. Since twenty years, she has been sick, and getting sicker. The food she ate had to be cut for her, since she had become paralysed. Morever, she had ordered a sick eye to be removed and did this with an amazing stoicism. Despite all this, she did not want to be at rest. Eighteen years ago, she had all the trees removed from her garden because she wanted to have an English Garden. People hinted she would not live to see the new garden, given her bad health, but her strong will kept her going, and I have seen her walk among the new plants.
April 1st. I leave Berlin in order to go to Rheinsberg, where Prince Heinrich now lives alone and will surely be very sad about this death. I follow the pull of my heart and want to find out whether I can serve this great man about whom people care so little now. The Prince receives me with open arms and overwhelmes my son and myself with kindness and attentions. We're only five people here, but we feel no boredom the entire day, which can be found so often in the noble world. (…)
A letter from the late princess has been found wherein she declares she wants to be buried without any fuss. The coffin was only supposed to cost 10 Taler, and no more than 300n Taler should be spent on the entire entombement. No ceremony should happen, and the remaining money was tob e shared among the poor. Next to this letter was a parcel on which the Princess had written in her own hand: Here is my shroud. One can see from this that she thought about her final hour in great strength. The shroud was made of simple linnen.
May 13th. Now six weeks have gone with lightning speed in the most pleasant way. I tear myself away from the Prince with the greatest regret. This is a friendship which has lasted all my life. God knows when we will see each other again. He goes to France, and I shall withdraw into a corner of Prussia. That's how things stand with us right now. If I look back, I feel so much happier than a hundred other people. But it would be different if I could look ahead.
This would be a good place to end this write up, but unfortunately, there's still a decades-in-the-making rant to go through. It's one long outburst about how much life has screwed Lehndorff over, and thus he concludes 1787:
It seems to me as if this year and this time on which I had put all my hope only brings embarassing disappointments to me. The great Friedrich dies. A new career seems to open up to me. From all sides I'm told that there is talk I'm destined for the highest offices. All who return from Berlin to Prussia tell me that the new King has asked about me in such a loving manner. This feeds my hopes. Finally I see the dear King. He approches me with the greatest kindness and asks me to come to Berlin with him. I hurry there, enjoy the best reception, but it doesn't change anything in my position. In the meantime, my wife's only sister dies, Countess Reuß. She loved my children and my wife tenderly, but she still leaves 130 000 Taler to her husband and not a penny to my family. I accept this. Then I get a letter that my wife and daughters have the small pox. I am desperate. The good Lord preserves them. Fourteen days later my son gets a terrible pneumonia. For three weeks, I am full of lethal fears. He recovers. But now I worry for his future. Then I get the news that the incredibly rich great uncle of my wife, the childless Count Dönhoff, who wrote about his tender love on every post day, has died, but left a last will which is to be opened in six weeks. The closest family gets invited to the opening. My hopes rise. Then yesterday I get the news that he left his entire fortune to the poor and doesn't even mention us in his last will. I could say a lot about this, but I'm better silent. (…)
The King appointed me as Chamberlain of the Queen when I was 19. I wrote to him that I couldn't regard this position as one in which I was of use to the state. His reply was: Accept this position preliminarily until I can use you in my surroundings. This sounded pretty hopeful, but the opposite happened. The Prince of Prussia, the father of our currrent King, assured me of his friendship and showed me the greatest confidence which grew until his death. His brother Heinrich has always had much affection for me, through forty years, has made me countless promises and has accused himself of ingratitude towards me countless times. But in the meantime, he has given Kaphengst 150 000 Taler and ruined himself for others who rewarded him with the deepest ingratitude. Our present King, too, has shown me great friendship (…) When he ascended to the throne, he distinguished me so much that people thought I was meant for the highest offices. In Königsberg he wished I would go to Berlin with him. Here, I was invited to all his little evening parties, and he invited me to join him at Sanssouci. I lived there and was with him from morning to night. And now he lets me return to Prussia exactly how I arrived. (…)
I've made the same experience in money matters. When I was twenty, I was supposed to marry a very rich Fräulein du Rosey. Her family was all for the match while mine nearly had to force me into it. But in the last moment, an evil mother-in-law ruined everything. The young miss had a half brother, Marschall v. Bieberstein, who had much affection for me while he couldn't stand his sister. He wanted to leave all his fortune to me. Then he comes to Berlin, wants to make a last will in my favor, gets small pox, loses his head and dies. Then I marry rich Fräulein von Hasel. She makes me happy and gives me four children, of whom two live and are well. She has only one sister who spits blood and a mother who keeps having strokes and who isn't likely to want me to have the family fortune. Then I suffer a horrible fate within eight months. My two charming children die within twenty four hours of diphteria. My wife, who is pregnant at the time, gets nervous attacks, gets into labor too early, keeps weakening and dies in Koblenz, and I remain alone with the greatest suffering of the heart and without all the enormous fortune. (…)
As I write all of this with some bitterness, I still have to praise fate for giving me a happy life and an independent state still, which not many possess. I am healthy, and content, and I have an excellent ("vortreffliche") wife. That counts more than all the money I missed out on.
As every winter, the royal family and the nobility is in the capital. This isn't all fun:
January 2nd, 1785: The King interrogates several doctors a second time in ordert o choose the one whom he'll give the honorary pension to which has become available due to the death of Dr. Zelius. On this occasion, he treats them harshly. Thus he says to Roloff: "Your father was a clergyman. Why didn't you become one was well?" To Sprögel: "Your father was an idiot!" To Loose: "Where did you say you've been? In St. Peterburg and Stockholm together with Prince Heinrich? Clearly you can't have learned anything there!" Finally to Selle: "I know that you often experiment at the poor sick in a barbaric fashion. Devil take you if you don't take better care of the lives of these unfortunates!" Despite this not very flattering address, he's given Selle the pension. To the others, he recommended reading Boerhave.
One marvels at this prince using such a harsh language since a couple of years now which does not fit with his disposition. I remember earlier days when he used to say pleasantries, and this with an enchanting timbre in his voice.
Um. Lehndorff, you have written down similar statements from Fritz in earlier years, too.
Prince Heinrich is missing several enjoyments he had in France dreadfully, and that makes him feel sad. He has another reason for feeling low, for Knesebeck and Kaphengst have left him, and yet the departure oft he later ought to be very pleasing to him, since there has never been a man with such ingratitude towards the Prince, who has caused him as many problems.
No, Lehndorff will never get over hating Kaphengst with the double chin. The fact that Heinrich is sad about the bastard seems to have made him wonder whether or not Heinrich really likes him for the first time since eons, for:
After I presented myself to the Queen, I rushed to Prince Heinrich, whom I find painting with his reader. He has to like me very much after all, for as soon as I arrive, he sents the reader away in order to talk with me without disturbances. To be thus alone with the Prince is enchanting. Then, his soul opens to me. His views are always those of a humane, enlightened man. Thus we remain alone until 9 pm. Then Herr v. Wreech arrives, and now the Prince presents the Dolphin Lottery to us which he has just been sent from Paris. It is a pretty amusing game. Our dinner a trois is very cozy.
Given Fritz has been so sharp in public recently, Lehndorff has a big shock when:
Januar 15th. I'm staying at home quietly. My children want to see the King. As I knew he wanted to have lunch with Princess Amalie today, I'm sending them with their governor and governess to Madame de Maupertuis where they were to watch the arrival of His Majesty from the window. I have to add here that my son wears a uniform which I had ordered for him, because he dedicates himself with great eagerness under the supervision of a subultern officer from the Regiment Braun to military exercises. Now, the governor, who is a Frenchman and thus not familiar with our customs, believes himself to act cleverly when presenting himself with the child in the antechambre where all the people invited to lunch are waiting. The King arrives, spots the child in uniform and asks: "Who is the pretty little subaltern?"
Count Sacken replies to him: "It's a young Count Lehndorff." The children return, and the governor, who otherwise is a capital fellow, shows up in my room with a beaming face and tells me that the King has adressed Count Heinrich. (Lehndorff's son.) I'm thunderstuck. As I fear the biting taunts from the King, I'm desperate. But with all that I did have to laugh at Masson insisting in the joy of his heart that something like this surely was better for Count Heinrich than a swarm of hussars. The King surely had to be pleased to see a little man showing such eagerness for royal service.
Later in the evening at 6 pm at the party thrown by count Sacken I finally hear that the whole affair happened far better than I dared to hope, as the King has talked kindly to the child. God bless the King for his kindness! It is so blissful to be able to love one's souvereign.
Aw. And on a similar note:
Januar 18th: Blessed be thou to me! Under your light, my Prince Heinrich was born! - All the noble society shows up at his place in the morning. But the Prince has to go to the King early, since the King has organized a gigantic meal with the golden plates in his honor, where the ladies are obliged to show up in their grand robes. Around 4 pm, he's back at home and sends for me in order to show me the snuffbox richly decorated with diamonds which the King has given him.
Then, we visit Frau van Verelst together, where the Prince hopes to spend a quiet hour. Earlier, I had sent my wife and my three children to this place, and both had put the Prince's portrait on an easel and decorated it with laurel. As soon as the Prince arrived, the children declaimed poems praising him which made him cry. It is a joy to celebrate the Prince; it touches his heart. He repeatedly pets my children, and universal satisfaction reigns.
Lehndorff, I don't know how I feel about the fact you're making your children declaim praise poems about your life long crush in front of your wife.
Heinrich is reading Figaro's Wedding by Beaumarchais to Lehndorff through the winter. (They both like it very much; Lehndorff shows no sign of detecting the social criiticism. Also ,there's this:
In the evening, I visit Prince Heinrich, where the various subjects addressed are discussed thoroughly. Among other things, we speak of Voltaire, who in a bad mood said about the Solomon of the North that he was a mixture of Attila, Hans Wurst and Abbe Cotti.
Footnote from the editor and translator here that Coti, 1604 - 1682, royal councillor and preacher was a wit in various salons and wrote some philosophical treatises and verses which gave him some literary reputation until he was ridiculed by other wits. The editor also adds that "At the end of the ninth manuscript folder" (of Lehndorff's diaries?), it says " a mixture of Alexander, Attila and Abbe Coti" instead. Editor, which is it? There's a difference between Hanswurst and Alexander, I dare say.
Heinrich is sick a few times, Lehndorff frets, and tells him to take it easier. He's pleased as punch though when he hears from Prince Friedrich of Württemberg this story:
We talk of the horrors which happened in Saxony during the Seven-Years-War, for example the sacking of Hubertusburg, a palace of King August's, and of all the houses of Count Brühl. The Prince shows us on this occasion a letter by a Herr v. Lüttichau who killed himself out of pain about the misfortune of his fatherland. Before he did this, he wrote this very letter in which he declared that the terrible fate of Saxony was unbearable to him, and that he departed this life. He cursed all those who caused this misfortune and says at the end: "Only Prince Heinrich has treated Saxony well." Now this is truly a testimony for my Prince's noble attitude.
Lehndorff also hears this quote from a letter by Fritz to Grimm (remember him? Go-to cultural agent in Paris for European nobility, hosting the Mozarts the first time they were there?): My brother Heinrich is delighted by Paris, and after everything he told me about the reception he's been given, I must say he's right to be. As every true Muslim in order to achieve bliss has to make the pilgrimage to Mecca once in his life, I believe that every European has to visit Paris at least once. I am infinitely sorry that my duties compell me to remain forever with my Goths and Vandals.
That's your choice, Fritz, not your duties. You could, say, make Heinrich Regent for some months and make the trip….
Foreshadowing of the post Fritz bane of Heinrich's life:
The Prince doesn't like Herr von Hertzberg the cabinet minister very much. Now there are many who delight in incensing his royal highness even further against this man. Just now the Prince was sent a letter which Herr v. Hertzberg wrote to the English doctor Bayliss regarding a sick child at his country estate of Britz. This letter goes directly against the humane philosophy the Minister always presents to the world.
A few entries later:
I'm now reading a book which caused quite a stir, as it was intended to. Our cabinet minister Herr v. Hertzberg every year reads a speech praising the King at the Academy, wherein he lauds the generosity oft he King, and talks about the florishing trade and the growing wealth and population. Many malcontents regard this as low flattery. It can't be denied that one can complain about his style and his manner of reading. Now we have here a M. Laveaux, who believes himself to be a grand language purist. He first chided our preachers whom he proved to not understand much French, and lately he's gone on the attack against Herr v. Hertzberg, whom he believed to be guilty of various Germanisms and of a wrong judgment. A calm temper would have simply left the matter alone, but Herr v. Hertzberg was incensed and forbade Laveaux to write anything further. Now the mocker has published a "Eusöbe" in the style of Voltaire's "Candide". Without naming Herr v. Hertzberg, he talks of him quite a lot. If no one had objected to the pamphlet, it would have been read by only a few people, and even fewer would have recognized its target. But Herr v. Hertzberg had to get into a big public huff and made the bookstore owners pay a penalty. Thus he caused a pamphlet which would otherwise soon have been forgotten to become very famous. The enemies of the minister, who are quite a few and are headed by Prince Heinrich, were delighted and will provoke this Laveaux to further impudences.
Heinrich goes quite early to Rheinsberg that year, before the snow is gone, and Lehndorff follows, but while the first few days where it's just Heinrich and him are bliss, then Heinrich's little court arrives, and Lehndorff declares he can't stand them and departs. Since he frets a few months later whether he's lost Heinrich's favor (he hasn't), I presume he told Heinrich so, but that's guessing, the entry itself doesn't say so. Thus, Lehndorff does not hear what Heinrich thinks of Lafayette, BUT he meets Lafayette himself before either Fritz or Heinrich do!
July 30th. I dine in great company at Count Sacken's. There, I watch a tall thin man in the uniform of a French General enter, and learn to my great delight that it is the famous Marquis de Lafayette, who has distinguished himself so extraordinarily in America. I sit at his side, and we conduct a vivid conversation. He enlightens me about various American matters. He is first very quiet, even a bit embarassed, but if one acts in a relaxed way around him, then one sees from his thoughtful gaze that he is pleased by this. With great respect, he speaks of the Duke of Braunschweig, whose acquaintance he has made. He wants to see Prince Heinrich , and he has asked the King's permission to present himself to him. When we rise from the table, we have become such friends that he asks me to come with him to Rheinsberg. To my great regret, I have to decline.
This evening I'm spending with my children to my great delight.
(Lafayette was the whole reason why
mildred_of_midgard went on a hunt for any remaining Lehndorff diaries, as she found next to Lafayette's famous description of his encounter with Frederick the Great a very warm tribute to Heinrich. The hero of two revolutions writes: I had new opportunities of knowing the hereditary prince of Prussia, who is a good officer, an honest man, a man of plain and good sense, but does not come up to the abilities of his two uncles. His second uncle, Prince Henry, I have kept to the last, because he is by far the best acquaintance I have made. I do not inquire who is the greater general, his brother or he, a question that divides the military world; but to first rate abilities, both as a soldier and a politician, to a perfect literary knowledge, and all the endowments of the mind, he joins an honest heart, philanthropic feelings, and rational ideas on the rights of mankind. I have spent a fortnight with him at his country-seat, and we kept up an epistolary correspondence.
This led our salon to wonder whether there was a way to find out what Heinrich thought about Lafayette, which in turn caused Mildred to discover the Masovia publications.)
Back at Lehndorff's estate, here comes the fretting entry: I'm sick at heart. I think it's the sense of having lost what was dear to me, the friendship of Prince Heinrich and the unchanging benevolence of the Prince of Prussia, and thus the respect of courts and of the city of Berlin. All of this causes me to feel the agreeability of the country life not as much as I would otherwise. But then right now there is such a bad weather that I can't leave my room, and my garden, which otherwise is my greatest joy when I'm in the country, gets neglected since the death of an excellent young gardener whom I had hired, and the climate bodes ill for the harvest, which worries the farmers and mea s well. Thus fourteen days pass. I try to hide my sorrows as much as I can and always show a happy countenance in order not to worry my family. The charming letters I receive from Berlin, full of regret about my departure, only deepen my sad mood instead of a lessening it.
Henrich writes, all is well again. Also, Lehndorff is eagerly following international news and picks up what in retrospect certainly was the story of the year:
In France, something unique has happened. Cardinal Rohan, Archbishop of Strassbourg, one of the first gentlemen of France, popular with the King and the Queen both, esteemed for his personal qualities, an extraordinary mind, suddenly gets ordered in front of the King's council and gets interrogated in the Queen's presence. After not even half an hour, he gets arrested and is brought to the Bastille. All of France gets in an uproar about this, and wants to know the reason, since never before a Cardinal has been thrown into prison. A few days later, one learns he's become entangled in the nets of an evil wman named LaMotte, a descendant of a bastard of Henri II. This woman caused him to buy diamonds for more than two millions Francs by claiming that the Queen wanted to have them but was asking for discretion. The woman even presented a letter signed by the Queen. The jeweller didn't trust this Lamotte, however. So she asked the Cardinal for his sponsoring. When the date of the first payment arrived, and the jeweller didn't get anything, he approached the Queen. She swore that she didn't know anything about this, and because of this the Cardinal got arrested. LaMotte has made off with all the diamonds by now. That's all the world knows. It seems to me that a lot of this bears further investigation.
You can say that again, Lehndorff.
Then there's this gossipy tale which somehow all the fictionalizers of Catherine the Great's life seem to have missed out on:
At the 5th, I return, have lunch in Angerburg with the Archpriest and in the evening arrive at home. Here, the sudden death of Countess Moltke, the mother of the Duke of Holstein, is confirmed to me. This woman has finished her life at the age of 48 years. She could have been the happiest of woman, but through her conduct she has drawn countless misfortunes and universal contempt at herself. She had a very eventful life. Born the daughter of Count zu Dohna, the Queen's Oberhofmeister, and of a Princess of Holstein-Beck, she was her family's idol. Her mother, two princesses of Holstein who were her aunts, and an old Duke of Holstein all competed in spoiling her rotten. At the age of 15, she already ruled her family completely and chose a husband for herself whom no one else liked. Thus, she was quickly married to her cousin, a young Prince of Holstein, Major in a Silesian regiment. Now she followed her moods and her passions. Of course she wasn't lacking in admirers. One talks of a Herr v. Flörke and of General Rebentisch. Her husband died in one of the earliest battles of the 7 Years War. Then she returned to her family in Prussia, but kept up her previous conduct. When near the end of the war Peter III. ascended the Russian throne, he ordered anything named Holstein to Russia for love of his family. She was included in that number. Soon, the Emperor distinguished her more than any of the others, and gave her a pension, estates and a lot of diamonds. People even claim that he had been so much in love with her that he wanted to marry her and had the intention to banish the Empress who is today the pride of Europe. She then acted with a wisdom she otherwise never showed. She refused all the suggestions by the Emperor and doubled her attentiveness towards the Empress. The later would not forget this. After the great revolution which brought Catherine on the throne and her husband into his grave, (the Countess) was left enjoying all her pensions, and she even was supposed to remain at court. The King of Poland - that's Poniatowski, Catherine's ex, remember - told me a few years ago that the Empress had intended to marry him to her cousin. But the later loved her freedom more than anything and asked the Empress to permit her to sell the estates the Emperor had given her in order to return to Prussia. So she arrived with the order of St. Catherine, countless diamonds and riches. If she had only enjoyed her happiness in an orderly fashion, she could have become the toast of Königsberg and of the entire province, where the name of Holstein is known and respected. By the Prince of Holstein, she had had a son, a charming child, whose guardian she became and whose fortune she wasted. Her entire being was only mood and passion. First she wanted to marry a Count Knorr, then she fell in love with a Herr v. Negelein, and finally she married a young Lieutenant v. Moltke, whom she had made into a Count. Now she couldn't stay in Prussia anymore, so she went to Mecklenburg and bought herself an estate there. There, she regretted her foolishness a thousand times and now suddenly died, leaving several children from her second marriage behind.
What distinguishes her son, the Duke of Holstein, ist hat he has never failed to honor this mother who has harmed him in so many ways, and to oblige her whenever he could.
There was a time when I met her quite often, since we are related. She was a dazzling figure, could be quite charming and told intriguing stories of her Russian adventures. She was with Peter III. when he received the message about the Revolution. It was at a party in Peterhof, where the Emperor was surrounded by many ladies. He then entreated them to get on a boat with him and to go to Kronstadt. This was his misfortune. The ladies started to cry and to shout, and that slowed down his decisiveness. As is known he was brought to Oranienbaum instead, and was only seen in the tomb by the public again. The poor Princess of Holstein had been dumped in the garden and had to remain there for the entire night. She told me that all her aquaintances who came by and who the day before had shown her the greatest respect now pretended not to know her and did not listen to her. She was wearing courtly wardrobe and nearly died of fear and of the cold, until the Empress heard about her awful situation and ordered her sent to her father-in-law in St. Petersburg, to the Duke of Holstein who was then governor of Reveal.
1.) Wasn't Peter's official mistress a Russian lady?
2.) Methinks Lehndorff should have checked for other sources.
mildred_of_midgard: Yes to both. Elizaveta Vorontsova, sister of Catherine's BFF the princess Dashkova.By now, we're in the summer of 1786, and Fritz is dying. As early as January, Lehndorff is sure he will this time - for that matter, that was Heinrich's impression as well, I think - and every news from Berlin seems to confirm it. In July, Lehndorff notes:
The King, who is still very weak, has ordered the famous Dr. Zimmermann from Hannover to come to him. One fears in every moment for the life of this great man. The judgments on him vary greatly. I am happy to note down while he's still alive what is surely going to said once he's dead: his little weaknesses will be forgotten, and one will only admire him as a great man. My judgment is all the more impartial since I never received the slightest benevolence from him. On the contrary, he often put obstructions in my path. But that was due to his character, and didn't come from his heart. Firmness is part of his nature. When I entered the wide world, he at first showed himself gracious towards me and offered me the position of Chamberlain of the Queen, despite my being only 19 years of age. I first refused, for I could already see the entire hollowness of such a position. But he replied to me: "Just take the position on a preliminary basis until I can give you one in my direct surroundings." So this was his intention. But then distrust and jealousy appeared. I was young, excitable, didn't have the slightest experience, but did have a loving heart and attached myself to his brothers, the Prince of Prussia and Prince Heinrich. This displeased the King. Additionally there were the evil minded schemers, headed by the arch villain Pöllnitz, who couldn't stand the King to have a good opinion of me and slandered me to him in an outrageous fashion. He believed them, and from this point onwards he made me feel without mercy, as is his way, his displeasure about the fact I was able to form attachments to people other than himself. He did say repeatedly: "Lehndorff did not want to belong to me."
Those who were serving him directly will not mourn him as much as the many living under his rule. The former often had to suffer due to his excentric nature, to which belonged the fact he could immediately forget all the greatest services at the slightest failure. The others, whose numbers are far larger, didn't have to bear the injustices of the rich and mighty, since anyone could address themselves directly to him and trust in finding justice from him. He definitely improved the situation of the people and has spent large summs on the provinces. Only for (East) Prussia, he never cared. He couldn't forgive it for having become Russian. And yet Prussia had proven the greatest devotion during the Russian occupation.
Returning to the men around him, I can declare that I have seen most of them either leave in bitterness or die. The harsh upbringing he was subjected to was most to blame for this. It is really the case that he never asked his companions, once they were in good quarters, whether they were lacking something; on the contrary, if he could spoil their good mood, he did. He couldn't stand it if those who were with him at Potsdam went to Berlin. I remember that the famous Baron Bielfeld who had business to conduct in Berlin but didn't dare to tell this to the King wrote to his Majesty that he was suffering from terrible toothache and thus had to go to Berlin in order to have a tooth removed. Then, the King told him that he'd order the dentist to Potsdam. This really happened, and the poor man had to have a completely healthy tooth pulled in order not to be exposed as a liar.
Okay, that's worth chewing on. I mean, partly Lehndorff, forty years later, is definitely doing that thing you often do with such a long distance and rewriting history, because I don't recall any mention of Pöllnitz scheming against him back in the day, and Lehndorff mentions Pöllnitz a lot, and also I doubt anyone saw Lehndorff as enough of a threat to badmouth him to Fritz, full stop. Did Fritz see Lehndorff's attachment to his brothers as a minus? Undoubtedly. Was this the reason why he never promoted him? I doubt it. I think he was grateful to have filled the position, whatever he may or may not have said when hiring Lehndorff, and did not intend to bother with hiring someone else.
While it's not true Fritz didn't enquire after anyone's health or comfort once he had them - ask Fredersdorf! -, overall, leaving Lehndorff's personal "I could have been a contender, err, Fritz courtier" rewriting aside, it's pretty fair judgment, and he even correctly blames FW's parenting.
Fritz is still alive when Lehndorff meets Heinrich's 7 Years War diary writing AD, Henckel von Donnersmark, and does some projecting, methinks, though otoh he's probably not wrong:
The conversation with Henckel is a great pleasure. He has lived forty years in the same company I did. We both belonged to the circle of the Prince of Prussia and Prince Heinrich without interruptions. But he always felt very miserably. He descended from noble, high minded but penniless parents, and was angry at his fate, and became sulking and jealous. I don't believe he's had a truly happy hour in his life. Despite having advanced to Generalmajor, he still calls his fate unjust. He wants to become Field Marshall. He complaints about Prince Heinrich despite all the good the later has done for him. He wanted to be the sole favourite. He was pushed out of this position with the Prince by Herr von Kalckreuth. Now he married a rich burgher's daughter from Halberstadt, a Fräulein Weckerhagen. But she died before her parents did, and thus his expectations were ruined. That made him bitter; moreover, the two daughters from this marriage caused him much grief. His second wife is a Countess Lepel, his own niece, whom he believed to be rich, which she wasn't. Thus he feels entitled to curse at his fate. And yet with a content temper, he could be very happy, since he otherwise has many good qualities, does his military service with great eagerness, and is universally regarded as one of the best officers in the army. At the moment, he's fretting with worry about what will happen to him once the King is dead.
His Majesty is verey weak, and if the reports from Potsdam are true, he won't remain alive much longer. Dr. Zimmermann supposedly told him simply that it was too late and there were no means for him. This naturally did not satisfy his Majesty, who gave him 2000 Taler and sent him away. Then, a doctor from Halberstadt named Fritsch was called. But one fears it's too late, the dropsy takes ist course.
And then he dies. Lehndorff, who hears about it via mail and talk, has this version of events:
The departed has concluded his days with the dignity of a Seneca. At the 14th, things were bad with him already; he was lying in a daze. Sometimes he regained consciousness, and then he occupied himself with state business as in his best days. He was so swollen up that he couldn't get out of his trousers anymore, or lie in his bed. He remained in his armchar and gave his orders with the usual circumspection, while being surrounded by the same people as always. He only allowed himself to be served by his hussar who replaced a valet with him. At the 16th around 5 pm he regained consciousness and immediately ordered his letters and orders brought to him in order to sign them. Sometimes he let the quill drop and said then: "It doesn't work anymore." Still, he picked it up again and signed some more. When the quill dropped out of his hand again and his servant told him there were only three letters left, he pulled himself together and signed them. Immediately afterwards a stroke came, and a second attack took him on the 17th around 4 am.
Now, Lehndorff has only had pleasant contacts with FW2 until this point. So the conclusion as to whether he wants to go to Berlin or not he arrives at is:
August 31t: I begin to collect my thoughts which were directed at a distance for days now and only occupied with a single question. A change of goverment changes all our plans. If I didn't have children, I would remain quietly at home, and would watch the entire thunderstorm from afar, but as it is, I need to use the time I'm still alive and think of my children's welfare The new King has only shown himself benevolent to me for all his life, and his father basically has left me to him. So nothing else remains but to show myself there. I was determined already to go to Berlin for my oldest son's sake. But while I start to prepare, I receive the news the King is coming to Königsberg immediately to receive homage.
Renember,
cahn, the Kings of Prussia, other than F1, weren't crowned at Königsberg, but they did receive homage there. Anyway, this makes life easier for Lehndorff, since he can present himself and his kids to FW2 there, and from there go to back to Potsdam and Berlin with him. The Duke of Holstein who has gone to Berlin for Fritz' funeral brings news that Heinrich was a bit in a mood already because of Wusterhausen (which according to FW's last will would once Fritz and AW were both dead go to Heinrich), but FW2 has persuaded him to accept an annual income of 50 000 Taler instead. (I think FW3 is the one who just gives him Wusterhausen instead.) Heinrich seems to be so satisfied by this that he accepted without protest having to walk behind FW2's sons at the funeral procession which Lehndorff had been sure he would not. After dinner, I am eager to have my son come to me. Our reunion is touching. I love my children more than anything, and I only live fort hem. The boy has grown a lot, and makes an excellent impression. I notice that I have to change my plans concerning his future completely. I had destined him to study at the university so he would become an envoy, but I now see that he has a great passion for the soldier's profession. Now I have to make a decision. May God guide my thoughts!
FW2 is totally nice and all, but once in Berlin, Lehndorff sees there are clouds on the horizon, for :
I wake up with a headache. It becomes so bad that I must give up the pleasure of presenting myself to the King, and decide to remain quietly at home. But around noon, the Duke of Holstein shows up at the order of Prince Heinrich and tells me I'm to present myself in boots and with a hat on my head to him. Miserable as I am, I still go to the Prince and am immediately received in his beautiful, wonderfully decorated apartment. The topics we talk about are so serious in nature that I have to declare I shall think about them thoroughly and write them down at another time.
If he did, Schmidt-Lötzen doesn't provide the entry. At a guess, Heinrich has found out FW2 has not the slightest intention of letting him rejoin the army or of giving him any job whatsoever. It becomes ever more apparant in the diary Lehndorff didn't just go to Berlin for his sons' sakes, he did expect FW2 to give him a job as well, but while FW2 keeps inviting him to meals and parties and adresses him in company and what not, a job offer of course does not happen.
We truly live in a strange time. It has so many mysteries and provides so much food for thought. My dear sons, when you read my writings, then let me tell you this: always keep your indenpendence, by keeping the fortune your parents will leave to you, however large or small it might be. Then you can await whatever fate will bring you. If I didn't always stick to this principle, I would currently be in the greatest embarassment. I had great expectations. The late King has treated me ill for forty years, because I was devoted to the father of the current King. The current one has always been gracious towards me, has treated me with distinction and has ordered me to come here. The people even talked of high positions. I now arrive here, but - I hear of nothing. I still don't get upset about this. I still have my lovely estate Steinort, which provides comfort through all the troubles for me. Never, my dear sons, devote yourself to deceptive hopes! Restrain yourself, limit your wishes, and withdraw to your homes when you're fed up with people!
On the bright side:
In the evening, I was supposed to visit Prince Ferdinand, but when I get home, I find a letter from him wherein he writes he had to surrender me to Prince Heinrich, because the later has asked him to. I rush to him. I enjoy the treat of sitting in conversation with the Prince from 6 to 9 and to debate about all kind of matters. Among other things, he shows me a splendid watch set with diamonds hwich was the late King's last gift to him. He also reads a eulogy to me which he has written about him. It is far more than that, it is a description of his entire government, with all his wars. If this piece of writing were ever known to anyone else, it would cause the greatest sensation. It is so clear and so true and with such deep knowledge as only a general who has commanded himself could write it.
Dammit, Lehndorff, you couldn't have asked Heinrich for a copy? I want to read his eulogy to Fritz
For a newly free man, Heinrich keeps bringing up Fritz suspiciously often.
In the evening, I visit the Queen Widow. Prince Heinrich arrives to participate at the gambling, and I afterwards have dinner with him. The conversation is captivating as always. The Prince makes a remark which actually cannot be refuted. He said that when reading the eulogies to the late King he keeps finding people insisting the King was now among the blessed. Now we know the principles of this monarch. He believed in complete annihilation (of the soul). Therefore, the Prince concludes, that one can't exactly rely on theologians and their judgment anymore.
Lehndorff meets Mirabeau at Hertzberg's, but doesn't like him. Heinrich gets increasingly suspicious of the various sects and secret organizations and all the religion now getting into vogue in Berlin.
Much food for conversation offers a new religious direction which is becoming very popular. Its desciples call themsels the Inspired (Footnote: the Illuminati.) They include the free masons, the Herrenhuter and all kind of sects. One claims former Jesuits have provided the model. Prince Heinrich talks of this the entire evening and is terribly upset about it. He thinks this is very dangerous and thinks the movement gaining such momentum that all of Europe might be endangered. The Prince, who posses so much wit, has the gift to argue so clearly and to speak so charmingly that it is always a pleasure to listen to him. But I do believe that his welfare is suffering from it. Because he's driven with such fire that the blood rushes to his head, and woe to him who argues against him!
What Lehndorff doesn't mention: FW2 was increasingly influenced and ruled by such a sect, the Rosencreuzer, and that presumably was one big reason why Heinrich was so upset.
Meanwhile, Mina: The King organizes a dinner in honor of the Princess Heinrich. By sheer accident, General Kalckreuth and his wife have arrived from his garnison and join. This meeting has to be deeply embarassing to both regarding what has happened between them twenty years ago.
Huh. Lehndorff, do you mean you actually believe Kalckreuth/Mina was a thing?
Prince Heinrich is sick as well and worried about a thousand things. I try as much as I can to calm him down, and he promises me to be content. But - I really don't marvel at the belief of the ancient ones that there were two souls in every human's breast, a good and a bad one. The later always destroys every good thing the first one creates. Thus, the good intention of keeping calm whatever happens are destroyed in the moment one is tested and has to show one's equanimity. I muse about this, thinking about myself as well as him.
Translation: neither Heinrich nor Lehndorff manage stoicism about the increasingly obvious truth they're regarded as useless antiquities.
Meanwhile, Kalckreuth: General Kalckreuth and his wife leave for their garnison. The two people who are rich and have wit still don't manage to make themselves popular. They weren't even here for eight days before everyone was sick of her, while he believed himself obliged to complain about everything, especially about the princes Heinrich and Ferdinand. After the dinner to which the King had invited Princess Heinrich and both Kackreuths, Kalckreuth complained harshly about the Princess to whom he once had been so close. I see once more that human beings don't change. I can't see any change with Kalckreuth, he's still exactly like he was in 1764, when I met him as Prince Heinrich's AD. But with all that, he's still an able soldier in all directions, and a well read man. Also he was lucky. But his excitable temper has caused him a lot of difficulties.
Hmmm. Firstly, Lehndorff, you didn't meet Kalckreuth in 1764, you met and complained about him and Heinrich already in 1756. Secondly, Schmidt-Lötzen, did Kalckreuth complain about the Princess or the Prince? Could you have transcribed something wrongly? Because that sentence makes much more sense if Kalckreuth was close to Heinrich and now complains. Even if Lehndorff really believes Kalckreuth made an accepted pass at Mina in 1764/1765, which no one else did at the time, it was only a brief event in the twilight days of his relationship with Heinrich and born out of his jealousy of Kaphengst. So, what gives?
Soon, Lehndorff has other worries, though.
When I'm already in the carriage in order to join the King at mass, I'm told Karl is in a bad state, that he has pangs at the side and that he's bled for this reason. I am in the greatest disquiet during the preaching and at the Queen's table despite the King participating, and await only the end of the meal to rush to my child. I do find him in danger. His veins have been opened twice, and a Spanish fly was used. In terrible fear, I go to Prince Heinrich whom I find with Prince Friedrich of Braunschweig. The former assures me of his deepest sympathy.
Monday the 14th. My poor child seems to be somewhat better, but around 10, the pangs get more violent again, and he's again bled. There is danger. I remain at home with my sad thoughts. How human life always turns out differently than expected! I was supposed to see a French play and attend a ball and a grand party at Prince Heinrich's, but I cannot and am alone with my worries.
15th. The same. The pangs have lessened, but his weakness has grown. My heart trembles all the time.
16h. I'm incapable of doing anything else. The thought of my son never leaves me. Several times a day, I hurry to him. I am satisfied with Dr. Richter, and also with the nursing done by Captain Boiton. His great weakness and his harsh breathing worry me continously. (…)
17th. Despite I'm given hope my son will get better, I don't dare to rejoice just yet. He is so weak and has slept so little! I spend a moment with the Queen Widow and then hurry to Prince Heinrich. He also gives me hope, and swears that he has had the same sickness and survived. But that doesn't comfort me, and I return to my lonely home.
(…)
20th: My poor Karl is somewhat better, but I still wonder what will become of him. Six bloodlettings at the age of 16, at a time where he grows the most, are able to destroy one's health!
Karl makes it out of the sickness alive, though. Lehndorff's wife and his two other children get smallpox the same year, but survive as well, so there is more fretting and worrying, and then once he doesn't have worry about their lives anymore, Heinrich gives up and decides to go to Rheinsberg.
16th: I'm going with Prince Ferdinand to Oranienburg, where the Prince has invited his brother Heinrich, who will leave Berlin probably for a long time, to share lunch. We are four people at the table, as Prince Heinrich arrives in the company of Tauentzien. During the meal, we often think of the Prince of Prussia, the father of the current King, the most noble of men, who lived here in retreat. Here grief ended the days of one who was born to make millions happy. Such sad contemplations are made by us until 5 pm, and then Prince Heinrich leaves for Rheinsberg and we for Berlin.
Lehndorff is invited by FW2 to spend the summer with him at Sanssouci. (BTW, no mention that parts are uninhabitable due to Fritz.) Lehndorff, for one, enjoys what FW2 has done with the place (and is thrilled to finally be able to say he's been invited to life at Sanssouci for a while):
The King has made changes in the garden which one can only call very good. The former garden plots are now English gardens, and between groups of blooming flowers, there are the most beautiful statues. Admiringly, I watch the beautiful Mercury by Pigalle, and also the group around Adam, and the antique Antinous. There is no place in the whole of Germany which offers such a rich variety of statues as Sanssouci.
And then Amalie dies. Cahn, the Princess Henriette Lehndorff is reminded of is Minette, Charles II's sister.
30th. Around 5 pm, I want to drive to the Princess Sacken. When my people open the carriage for me, they call: "The Princess Amalie has died!" In my first shock, I have to think about the passage in Flechier where he describes the universal horror which the death of the Princess Henriette caused in France, and where he says: Night of horrors in which one heard the call: Madame is dead! Madame is no more!" Deeply sad, I arrive at the Princess Sacken's. The news I bring, no one wants to believe; one doubts and sends enquiries. But unfortunately, the sad news is confirmed. I would have gone immediately, but I had an invitation to the Queen Widow's, and so I go there. But at the foot of the stairs I already meet a servant of the Queen's, who tells she was deeply shaken and unable to receive anyone.
I meet up with old Count Podewils and bring him to the Gusow Podewils'place while I hurry to the mourning place. I find Madame de Maupertuis, the Fräuleins of Zerbst and v. Dönhoff and all belonging to the house in deep pain, added to which is the shock about the sudden death. At lunch the Princess was still doing well. Since eight days, she was complaining about a strong cough, but no one assumed a serious danger. Around 3 am Madame de Maupertuis was called, and she found her already without consciousness. Now the entire royal family was notified, and everyone rushed to her. But she was already gone. There was hardly any death struggle; she died in the arms of her first chamber woman, Fräulein Hartmann, in her 64th year of life. My pain is great. I've known her since forty years, and have been in her particular favor. She had very much esprit, but also many excentricities, and at any rate she had the mindset of a great princess, one can say, the Brandenburg mindset, which is very characteristic.
After having cried hot tears in the first floor, I went to the chamber women. They told me about several traits oft he Princess and led me to the chamber where the royal corpse was lying. At such an opportunity, one can only exclaim: Vanity, vanity, all is vanity! This Princess, who had so many rich spiritual qualities, who had a great nature, a high flowing mind, she awoke the respect in everyone which her high birth alone would not have produced. There she lies stretched on a bed and regarded with melancholy by everyone. One only talks of the weakness of her body, which has housed such a beautiful soul. Since twenty years, she has been sick, and getting sicker. The food she ate had to be cut for her, since she had become paralysed. Morever, she had ordered a sick eye to be removed and did this with an amazing stoicism. Despite all this, she did not want to be at rest. Eighteen years ago, she had all the trees removed from her garden because she wanted to have an English Garden. People hinted she would not live to see the new garden, given her bad health, but her strong will kept her going, and I have seen her walk among the new plants.
April 1st. I leave Berlin in order to go to Rheinsberg, where Prince Heinrich now lives alone and will surely be very sad about this death. I follow the pull of my heart and want to find out whether I can serve this great man about whom people care so little now. The Prince receives me with open arms and overwhelmes my son and myself with kindness and attentions. We're only five people here, but we feel no boredom the entire day, which can be found so often in the noble world. (…)
A letter from the late princess has been found wherein she declares she wants to be buried without any fuss. The coffin was only supposed to cost 10 Taler, and no more than 300n Taler should be spent on the entire entombement. No ceremony should happen, and the remaining money was tob e shared among the poor. Next to this letter was a parcel on which the Princess had written in her own hand: Here is my shroud. One can see from this that she thought about her final hour in great strength. The shroud was made of simple linnen.
May 13th. Now six weeks have gone with lightning speed in the most pleasant way. I tear myself away from the Prince with the greatest regret. This is a friendship which has lasted all my life. God knows when we will see each other again. He goes to France, and I shall withdraw into a corner of Prussia. That's how things stand with us right now. If I look back, I feel so much happier than a hundred other people. But it would be different if I could look ahead.
This would be a good place to end this write up, but unfortunately, there's still a decades-in-the-making rant to go through. It's one long outburst about how much life has screwed Lehndorff over, and thus he concludes 1787:
It seems to me as if this year and this time on which I had put all my hope only brings embarassing disappointments to me. The great Friedrich dies. A new career seems to open up to me. From all sides I'm told that there is talk I'm destined for the highest offices. All who return from Berlin to Prussia tell me that the new King has asked about me in such a loving manner. This feeds my hopes. Finally I see the dear King. He approches me with the greatest kindness and asks me to come to Berlin with him. I hurry there, enjoy the best reception, but it doesn't change anything in my position. In the meantime, my wife's only sister dies, Countess Reuß. She loved my children and my wife tenderly, but she still leaves 130 000 Taler to her husband and not a penny to my family. I accept this. Then I get a letter that my wife and daughters have the small pox. I am desperate. The good Lord preserves them. Fourteen days later my son gets a terrible pneumonia. For three weeks, I am full of lethal fears. He recovers. But now I worry for his future. Then I get the news that the incredibly rich great uncle of my wife, the childless Count Dönhoff, who wrote about his tender love on every post day, has died, but left a last will which is to be opened in six weeks. The closest family gets invited to the opening. My hopes rise. Then yesterday I get the news that he left his entire fortune to the poor and doesn't even mention us in his last will. I could say a lot about this, but I'm better silent. (…)
The King appointed me as Chamberlain of the Queen when I was 19. I wrote to him that I couldn't regard this position as one in which I was of use to the state. His reply was: Accept this position preliminarily until I can use you in my surroundings. This sounded pretty hopeful, but the opposite happened. The Prince of Prussia, the father of our currrent King, assured me of his friendship and showed me the greatest confidence which grew until his death. His brother Heinrich has always had much affection for me, through forty years, has made me countless promises and has accused himself of ingratitude towards me countless times. But in the meantime, he has given Kaphengst 150 000 Taler and ruined himself for others who rewarded him with the deepest ingratitude. Our present King, too, has shown me great friendship (…) When he ascended to the throne, he distinguished me so much that people thought I was meant for the highest offices. In Königsberg he wished I would go to Berlin with him. Here, I was invited to all his little evening parties, and he invited me to join him at Sanssouci. I lived there and was with him from morning to night. And now he lets me return to Prussia exactly how I arrived. (…)
I've made the same experience in money matters. When I was twenty, I was supposed to marry a very rich Fräulein du Rosey. Her family was all for the match while mine nearly had to force me into it. But in the last moment, an evil mother-in-law ruined everything. The young miss had a half brother, Marschall v. Bieberstein, who had much affection for me while he couldn't stand his sister. He wanted to leave all his fortune to me. Then he comes to Berlin, wants to make a last will in my favor, gets small pox, loses his head and dies. Then I marry rich Fräulein von Hasel. She makes me happy and gives me four children, of whom two live and are well. She has only one sister who spits blood and a mother who keeps having strokes and who isn't likely to want me to have the family fortune. Then I suffer a horrible fate within eight months. My two charming children die within twenty four hours of diphteria. My wife, who is pregnant at the time, gets nervous attacks, gets into labor too early, keeps weakening and dies in Koblenz, and I remain alone with the greatest suffering of the heart and without all the enormous fortune. (…)
As I write all of this with some bitterness, I still have to praise fate for giving me a happy life and an independent state still, which not many possess. I am healthy, and content, and I have an excellent ("vortreffliche") wife. That counts more than all the money I missed out on.
Tags:
- amalie of prussia,
- catherine the great,
- ernst ahasverus von lehndorff,
- frederick the great,
- friedrich adolf von kalckreuth,
- friedrich wilhelm ii,
- lehndorff diaries,
- marie antoinette,
- marquis de lafayette,
- peter iii,
- prince augustus william of prussia,
- prince henry of prussia,
- stanislaw august poniatowski
