DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.58927#0394
370
Rezensionen
„I devote two hours, every week, to two gentlemen of great merit and learning. These are Mr. (Sir
William) Hamilton, Minister plenipotentiary from the court of London to that of Naples, and My Lord
Stormont, the English Ambassador at the court of Vienna. This Lord is one of the most learned men
that I know: he is even well versed in the Greek language. He had married a Countess de Bunau, whose
death had very sensibly affected him. His regrets for the loss of her, and the melancholy occasioned by
it, brought him hither. Accordingly, the dark vapours which clouded his mind have been dissipated in
this happy climate, by the contemplation of a thousand objects of curiosity.“
In other letters, he relates his intercourse with the Prince of Anhalt Dessau, and the Prince of
Brunswec. Speaking of the former, in a letter to his friend, Franke, he says — „The Prince of Anhalt - is
a sage, born for the happiness and delight of his subjects. The first time that I saw him, he entered my
chamber at night, with a walking stick in his hand, and without any attendant. - I am De Dessau, my
dear Winkelmann, said he; I am come to Rome for Information, and I have need of you. He remained
with me till midnight; and I have shed tears of joy, on felicitating my country on its having produced
such a character.“
In a letter written to the same friend, not much more than a year before his death, speaking of the
Prince of Brunswic, he says „I have for this fortnight past constantly attended the Achilles of Brunswic,
the hereditary Prince. - He has received here all the public honours due to his rank and personal quali-
ties. I can boast of having been on the most familiär footing with him. He one day expressed a desire to
run with me; and we have sometimes exercised ourselves in this way, with a view [379] of tiring oursel-
ves; and have sometimes so well succeeded, as to take away our appetites for our dinners. I have taken
every opportunity of speaking certain truths of these spoiled children of fortune. One thing which I
have frequently repeated to them is, that I sincerely returned thanks to Providence, for my not having
been born in a rank so elevated. It is certain, that true content is not their lot. How often have I not
told this amiable Prince, that I was possessed of more resources for happiness than himself! An intimate
connection with the great is the best school of content for people of our rank.“
It will immediately appear, however, that the poor Abbe, in his lower rank of life, was doomed
soon to experience that discontent which he here so feelingly imputes to those who move in the more
elevated situations: though possibly the subsequent extraordinary change in the state of his own mind
might proceed only from physical causes, or some corporeal derangement. The most affecting part of
these Memoirs ofhis life is perhapes that which presents the Abbe himself in this uncomfortable, indeed
horrible Situation; especially as it was the pre-disposing or distant cause ofhis untimely death.
After a residence of about 12 or 13 years at Rome, the Abbe projected a visit to his native country,
in which he promised himself much pleasure; for he announced his intentions to his German friends
in a männer which expressed the highest satisfaction. He was accompanied by Μ. Cavaceppi, a cele-
brated Roman sculptor; who has given a particular account of the singulär alteration in his humour,
and particularly the unaccountable depression of spirits, which suddenly seized his companion soon
after they had set off on their journey. As they were advancing in their passage through the Alps, at
the foot of the mountains, he suddenly changed countenance; and Μ. Cavaceppi first perceived this
change in the mind of his fellow-traveller. The view of the mountains offended him, and he exclaimed,
„See, my friend, what a horrible aspect they present, and what frightful heights!“ Soon afterwards,
Rezensionen
„I devote two hours, every week, to two gentlemen of great merit and learning. These are Mr. (Sir
William) Hamilton, Minister plenipotentiary from the court of London to that of Naples, and My Lord
Stormont, the English Ambassador at the court of Vienna. This Lord is one of the most learned men
that I know: he is even well versed in the Greek language. He had married a Countess de Bunau, whose
death had very sensibly affected him. His regrets for the loss of her, and the melancholy occasioned by
it, brought him hither. Accordingly, the dark vapours which clouded his mind have been dissipated in
this happy climate, by the contemplation of a thousand objects of curiosity.“
In other letters, he relates his intercourse with the Prince of Anhalt Dessau, and the Prince of
Brunswec. Speaking of the former, in a letter to his friend, Franke, he says — „The Prince of Anhalt - is
a sage, born for the happiness and delight of his subjects. The first time that I saw him, he entered my
chamber at night, with a walking stick in his hand, and without any attendant. - I am De Dessau, my
dear Winkelmann, said he; I am come to Rome for Information, and I have need of you. He remained
with me till midnight; and I have shed tears of joy, on felicitating my country on its having produced
such a character.“
In a letter written to the same friend, not much more than a year before his death, speaking of the
Prince of Brunswic, he says „I have for this fortnight past constantly attended the Achilles of Brunswic,
the hereditary Prince. - He has received here all the public honours due to his rank and personal quali-
ties. I can boast of having been on the most familiär footing with him. He one day expressed a desire to
run with me; and we have sometimes exercised ourselves in this way, with a view [379] of tiring oursel-
ves; and have sometimes so well succeeded, as to take away our appetites for our dinners. I have taken
every opportunity of speaking certain truths of these spoiled children of fortune. One thing which I
have frequently repeated to them is, that I sincerely returned thanks to Providence, for my not having
been born in a rank so elevated. It is certain, that true content is not their lot. How often have I not
told this amiable Prince, that I was possessed of more resources for happiness than himself! An intimate
connection with the great is the best school of content for people of our rank.“
It will immediately appear, however, that the poor Abbe, in his lower rank of life, was doomed
soon to experience that discontent which he here so feelingly imputes to those who move in the more
elevated situations: though possibly the subsequent extraordinary change in the state of his own mind
might proceed only from physical causes, or some corporeal derangement. The most affecting part of
these Memoirs ofhis life is perhapes that which presents the Abbe himself in this uncomfortable, indeed
horrible Situation; especially as it was the pre-disposing or distant cause ofhis untimely death.
After a residence of about 12 or 13 years at Rome, the Abbe projected a visit to his native country,
in which he promised himself much pleasure; for he announced his intentions to his German friends
in a männer which expressed the highest satisfaction. He was accompanied by Μ. Cavaceppi, a cele-
brated Roman sculptor; who has given a particular account of the singulär alteration in his humour,
and particularly the unaccountable depression of spirits, which suddenly seized his companion soon
after they had set off on their journey. As they were advancing in their passage through the Alps, at
the foot of the mountains, he suddenly changed countenance; and Μ. Cavaceppi first perceived this
change in the mind of his fellow-traveller. The view of the mountains offended him, and he exclaimed,
„See, my friend, what a horrible aspect they present, and what frightful heights!“ Soon afterwards,