Newly transcribed and labelled; double collated
Benjamin Beresford to August Wilhelm von Schlegel
[1] Berlin 29 April 1800.
Sir
Your obliging letter of Oct: last gave me no small pleasure, for I could not but be highly flattered and gratified at your kind wish, however unavailing your attempt has been, to draw me nearer to you. –
As to the emolument, of my present situation, a man would be apt to think me unreasonable for intending to leave Berlin at all; for, as I think I have already told you, I get money enough here; and if there be any honour in teaching royal personages, I have enough of that too. – But royalty is not very generous here, and althoʼ Berlin abounds in enlightened people, among the middle [2] rank, yet it is a wretched residence (on account of its environs) for a lorn of nature; and, besides, every thing here gives way to the noble art of destroying the human race, for learning is nothing and the army every thing.
The Queen seems unwilling I should leave her, yet if her majesty cannot prevail on the King to give me some permanent establishment, I shall remove to Hamburg very soon, where I have, as I have already informed you, very flattering invitations.
I have lately published a fourth collection of Songs, a copy of which I have the honour of sending you with this. The editions announced at the end of the book are [3] now in the press. They will contain some new pieces – I shall send you copies when they come out, and shall then request youʼll take an early opportunity of reviewing the whole together in the Jena journal.
An engagement I am now entering into with Mr Kotzebue and the managers of the London Theatre, to translate his future plays, makes me less solicitous about royal patronage; but more of this in my next. I now look forward, at all events, to that leisure I have so long wished for, to cultivate German literature in general; – a prospect I can assure you, which affords me a very high degree of pleasure.
I should be glad to know whether [4] you make any excursion this summer, that I may order my annual one so as to be in your part of the world when you are there too or else to cross you in our routes. I remain with great esteem,
Sir,
Your obliged and obedient
humble servant
B Beresford
P. S.
A Line directed to me at Berlin, no 42 Unter den Linden, will find me here till the end of May. – and afterwards, no 18. Kreien Kamp Hamburg, will be my most eligible address.
Sir
Your obliging letter of Oct: last gave me no small pleasure, for I could not but be highly flattered and gratified at your kind wish, however unavailing your attempt has been, to draw me nearer to you. –
As to the emolument, of my present situation, a man would be apt to think me unreasonable for intending to leave Berlin at all; for, as I think I have already told you, I get money enough here; and if there be any honour in teaching royal personages, I have enough of that too. – But royalty is not very generous here, and althoʼ Berlin abounds in enlightened people, among the middle [2] rank, yet it is a wretched residence (on account of its environs) for a lorn of nature; and, besides, every thing here gives way to the noble art of destroying the human race, for learning is nothing and the army every thing.
The Queen seems unwilling I should leave her, yet if her majesty cannot prevail on the King to give me some permanent establishment, I shall remove to Hamburg very soon, where I have, as I have already informed you, very flattering invitations.
I have lately published a fourth collection of Songs, a copy of which I have the honour of sending you with this. The editions announced at the end of the book are [3] now in the press. They will contain some new pieces – I shall send you copies when they come out, and shall then request youʼll take an early opportunity of reviewing the whole together in the Jena journal.
An engagement I am now entering into with Mr Kotzebue and the managers of the London Theatre, to translate his future plays, makes me less solicitous about royal patronage; but more of this in my next. I now look forward, at all events, to that leisure I have so long wished for, to cultivate German literature in general; – a prospect I can assure you, which affords me a very high degree of pleasure.
I should be glad to know whether [4] you make any excursion this summer, that I may order my annual one so as to be in your part of the world when you are there too or else to cross you in our routes. I remain with great esteem,
Sir,
Your obliged and obedient
humble servant
B Beresford
P. S.
A Line directed to me at Berlin, no 42 Unter den Linden, will find me here till the end of May. – and afterwards, no 18. Kreien Kamp Hamburg, will be my most eligible address.