Newly transcribed and labelled; double collated
Benjamin Beresford to August Wilhelm von Schlegel
[1] Goslar 5 Augt 1799.
Sir,
I was favourʼd with your letter before I left Berlin, and I expected, ’ere this, to have thanked you in person for your intended review of my publications; which I now see you have effected, and for which pray accept my thanks. – I have lately been at Hannover to see prince Adolphus, to whom I am strongly recommended by his brother at Berlin. Both these princes are endeavouring to procure me an establishment at Göttingen, but as it depends on the lords of the regency, who say they have no money to found a new professorship, I begin to consider it as an unlikely or [v]ery distant event. – I have just visited Göttingen, where I was wholly employed in making extracts from the public library for the purpose of compiling a work in prose and verse for the use of the learners of the English language. The collections I have hitherto seen are very defective, and most of them contemptible. At Hamburg, where I passed some time before I went to Hannover, I found that a reform in the Gymnasium offered me an eligible situation, and the principal people concerned in the nomination of the new professors seem much inclined to elect me. My situation at Berlin is lucrative enough, but very unfavourable [2] to my translations from the German, as it engrosses my whole day: – and, what I have published there has been written while the rest of the town were in their beds. This, you will think strange, when I tell you, I have the queen and her brother-in-law for scholars; but they do not pay so liberally as the generality of my other pupils. I would therefore willingly change Berlin for place where I could command more time though I got less money. – Hamburg now seems the most promising situation, yet before I determine on that, or return to Berlin, I wish to consult you on another scheme. Do you imagine I could procure a set of scholars by way of a collegium (or find a few single scholars, at a florin a lesson, or at least half a dollar) at Jena and Weimar. I am an active man, and could teach at both places alternately, conveniently enough – Do you suppose the Duke of Weimar would encourage such an undertaking; and that Mr Göthe, from the knowledge he has of me, as the translation of some of his poems, and your kind recommendation, might be prevailed upon to further the plan with the duke? If you can favour me with an answer within a week after you receive this, pray direct your letter to the care of Mr Timæus, [3] Luneberg – if not, please to direct, as soon as convenient, to the care of Doctor Ellison No 19, Krienkamp, Hamburg.
I should certainly have extended my present excursion to Jena, were I not obliged to return to Hamburg, to treat with an American, who wishes to encourage the sale of my publications in his own country, and who, I just hear, is shortly returning home. Whatever may be the purport of your letter, I still intend to have the pleasure of seeing you at Jena before winter; probably in my way to Berlin, whither I am going; if not to stay, yet to publish a new collection of songs. – I remain, Sir, with great esteem and regard,
Your very obedient hble sert
BBeresfort
[4] Professor Schlegel
Jena
Sir,
I was favourʼd with your letter before I left Berlin, and I expected, ’ere this, to have thanked you in person for your intended review of my publications; which I now see you have effected, and for which pray accept my thanks. – I have lately been at Hannover to see prince Adolphus, to whom I am strongly recommended by his brother at Berlin. Both these princes are endeavouring to procure me an establishment at Göttingen, but as it depends on the lords of the regency, who say they have no money to found a new professorship, I begin to consider it as an unlikely or [v]ery distant event. – I have just visited Göttingen, where I was wholly employed in making extracts from the public library for the purpose of compiling a work in prose and verse for the use of the learners of the English language. The collections I have hitherto seen are very defective, and most of them contemptible. At Hamburg, where I passed some time before I went to Hannover, I found that a reform in the Gymnasium offered me an eligible situation, and the principal people concerned in the nomination of the new professors seem much inclined to elect me. My situation at Berlin is lucrative enough, but very unfavourable [2] to my translations from the German, as it engrosses my whole day: – and, what I have published there has been written while the rest of the town were in their beds. This, you will think strange, when I tell you, I have the queen and her brother-in-law for scholars; but they do not pay so liberally as the generality of my other pupils. I would therefore willingly change Berlin for place where I could command more time though I got less money. – Hamburg now seems the most promising situation, yet before I determine on that, or return to Berlin, I wish to consult you on another scheme. Do you imagine I could procure a set of scholars by way of a collegium (or find a few single scholars, at a florin a lesson, or at least half a dollar) at Jena and Weimar. I am an active man, and could teach at both places alternately, conveniently enough – Do you suppose the Duke of Weimar would encourage such an undertaking; and that Mr Göthe, from the knowledge he has of me, as the translation of some of his poems, and your kind recommendation, might be prevailed upon to further the plan with the duke? If you can favour me with an answer within a week after you receive this, pray direct your letter to the care of Mr Timæus, [3] Luneberg – if not, please to direct, as soon as convenient, to the care of Doctor Ellison No 19, Krienkamp, Hamburg.
I should certainly have extended my present excursion to Jena, were I not obliged to return to Hamburg, to treat with an American, who wishes to encourage the sale of my publications in his own country, and who, I just hear, is shortly returning home. Whatever may be the purport of your letter, I still intend to have the pleasure of seeing you at Jena before winter; probably in my way to Berlin, whither I am going; if not to stay, yet to publish a new collection of songs. – I remain, Sir, with great esteem and regard,
Your very obedient hble sert
BBeresfort
[4] Professor Schlegel
Jena