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Item 17: Letter from Johann Gottfried von Herder to Unknown [in German], 1799 December 9

 Item — Box: 4, Folder: 17

Dates

  • Created: 1799 December 9

Creator

Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities

Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Good. Some vinegar smell.

Measurements:

9 in. x 7 ½ in

Description:

The letter is authored on December 9, 1799, by German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic, Johann Gottfried Herder, to an unknown receiver named Gentleman Rath. In the letter, von Herder speaks to the professional success and interests of his son as an economic advisor of the municipality Colmberg. It continues on to discuss expanding upon business ideas, and von Herder is asking for best practice advice from the recipient, Gentleman Rath. He notes that his son has been conducting his own economic research, and is interested in having it published in one of “Gentleman Rath’s” publications if amenable with their content. Further information sources on the author’s consideration of philosophy can be found at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s digital archive.

Location:

Kolmberg (Colmberg); Germany; Kamm (Cham), Germany;

Transcription:

Hochzuverehrender Herr Rath.

Mein Sohn der Öconomie Verwalter Herder, zu Kolmberg bei Kamm (Cham) in Baiern, wünscht Ihren so beliebten als gemeinnützigen Reichsanzeiger zu halten. Er bittet daher um die Güte ihm denselben mit Anfang des künftigen Jahrs wöchentlich, wie gewöhnlich auf der Post über Nürnberg, unter obiger Adresse zuzusenden.

Sodann wünscht er den Titel des öconomischen Journals für alle Stände zu wissen, das bei Ihnen herauskommt; er hat darinnen einen Aufsatz vom Gh.(?) Stallmeister Seidler über Pferdebeschlag gelesen. Haben Sie die Güte mir zu melden, wieviel Stücke davon in diesem laufenden Jahr herausgekommen sind u.(nd) was dieser Jahrgang kostet? Wenn es nicht hoch kommt so will er diesen Jahrgang kaufen u.(nd) das Journal mithalten.

Da er über manche Gegenstände der Öconomie Aufsätze gemacht hat, die alle aus der Erfahrung gewonnen sind; so wie er denn die Öconomie in Preussen, Hollstein (Holstein), Sachsen u.(nd) Franken theils erlernt u.(nd) gesehen hat, u.(nd) jetzt in Baiern die Öconomie praktisch treibt, so werden Sie dadurch ertheilen, das seine gesammelten Erfahrungen Werth haben. Er frägt daher, ob Sie Aufsätze von ihm in Ihr Öconomisches Journal aufnehmen u.(nd) was Sie für den Bogen zahlen? Die gütige Beantwortung dieser Fragen senden Sie mir gefälligst zu. Für die Bezahlung des Reichsanzeigers als auch des Öconomischen Journals stehe ich Ihnen.

Noch wünscht man zu wissen wo, oder bei wem, kann man das richtige Verhältnis des verschiedenen Maates in Deutschland, der kleinen u.(nd) grossen Districte desselben, nach Gewicht oder Maas erfahren? Sollte diese Frage schon beantwortet seyn, so bitte um gefällige Anzeige. Ist dies aber nicht, so haben Sie die Güte diese Frage in den Reichsanzeiger setzen zu lassen.

In Erwartung gefälliger Antwort befasse(?) mit großer Hochachtung verfletzter (?) Mann

Ihr ergebenster Herder

Weimar d.(en) 9. Dec. 1799

Esteemed Gentleman Rath.

[My son, the administrator of the economy to Kolmberg near Kamm in Bavaria, He therefore asks for the goodness of sending it to him weekly at the beginning of next year, as usual by post via Nuremberg, to the above address.]

[Then he wishes to know the title of the economic journal for all estates which you publish; Inside he read an essay by Gh.(?) Stable Master Seidler about shoeing horses. Would you be so good as to let me know how many pieces have been released this year a(nd) how much this vintage costs? If it doesn't come off, he wants to buy this year a(nd) keep up with the journal.]

[Since he has written essays on many subjects of economics, all of which are derived from experience; just as he learned a(nd) saw economics in Prussia, Hollstein (Holstein), Saxony a(nd) Franconia in part, a(nd) is now practically driving economics in Bavaria, you will thereby convey, that his accumulated experiences have value. He therefore asks whether you will include articles by him in your economic journal a(nd) how much you pay for the sheet? Kindly send me the kind answers to these questions. I stand by you for paying for the Reichsanzeiger and the Economic Journal.]

[One still wishes to know where, or from whom, one can find out the correct ratio of the different scales in Germany, the small and (nd) large districts of the same, according to weight or scale? If this question has already been answered, please let us know. But if this is not the case, then you have the goodness to have this question put in the Reichsanzeiger.]

[In anticipation of an obliging answer, dealt with(?) with great respect, hurt(?) man [Your Humble Herder]

Repository Details

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