Item 14: Letter from Karl Auguste Christian Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, to His Sister, Louise Charlotte, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Enclosing a Lock of His Hair [German Language], 1799 March 11
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 14
Dates
- Created: 1799 March 11
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 and Lock of Hair
Condition Note:
Fair: document is browning; ink is faded; slight tear in the top of the document; no significant staining; lock of hair is well preserved
Measurements:
7 ¾ in. x 5 ⅝ in. (letter); 2 in. x 1 ¼ in. (approximate for lock of hair)
Description:
The following is a personal letter from Karl August Christian Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to his sister, [likely Louise Charlotte], containing a lock of blonde hair with a blue bow and signed in Saint Petersburg on March 11, 1799. The Duke of Mecklenburg joined the Russian Army in 1798 and quickly rose through the ranks. In this document, the Duke of Mecklenburg mentions his recent promotion to colonel, and he discusses his military training and ceremonies. The Duke likely joined the Russian army as a result of his older brother, Frederick Louis, marrying the Russian Grand Duchess, Helena Pavlona Romanova. Karl’s service in the Russian military could explain why he wrote to his sister from Saint Petersburg. Within the document, he asks his sister to give his regards to [likely Emil Leopold August, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg), Prince Friedrich [likely her brother-in-law, Frederick IV of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg], Miss Kamps, and von Wangenheim [possibly Major-General Christoph August von Wangenheim]. In 1701, the northern German territories of Mecklenburg were divided between the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Duke Karl and Duchesse Louise Charlotte were of the Mecklenburg-Schwerin line. The German script written on the back of this letter refers to the Princess of Gotha as the “late” princess; Louis Charlotte died in 1801, suggesting this note was written two or more years after the letter was written. In 1811, he adopted the son of a fallen Turkish soldier and raised him as his own. Karl continued his military service until May 1814 when he retired, dying in 1833.
Location:
St. Petersburg, Russia
Transcription:
Special thanks for transcript attempts conducted by German language Kurrentschrift experts, Lajos Adamik, Inscriptiones Alborum Amicorum, Klaus Graf from Archivalia.
[Front]
[In brown ink; German] Liebe Schwester, Verzeih mir daß ich Dir noch nicht geschrieben habe; ich werde aber diese kleine Nachlässigkeit wieder nachzuholen suchen. Der Kaiser ist so gnädig gegen uns, und überhäuft uns mit Gnadensbezeugungen. Ich bin hier so glücklich als ich es nur immer wünschen kann. Ich kann dir glaub ich nichts neues sagen, da Du es wahrscheinlich schon durch die Zeitungen weist daß ich Obrister geworden bin. Ich bin alle Tage mit auf der Parade, und lerne auch schon exxerciren[sic] [exerzieren]. Liebe Schwester habe die Güte den dabei liegenden Brief weiter zu besorgen. Empfehle mich deinem Mann, dem und Prinz Friedrich, der Fräulein Kamps(?) und dem Herrn von Wangenheim. Lebe wohl, und behalte lieb Deinen treuen Bruder Karl St. Petersburg den 11ten März 1799
[In pencil, English; likely former archivist notes] Letter of Prince Charles of Mecklenburg to his sister the Crown Princess of Gotha - containing this lock of hair.
[Back] [In pencil, English; likely former archivist notes] Letter of the Prince Charles of Mecklenburg Schwerin to his sister the Crown Princess of Gotha - enclosing a lock of his sweetheart’s, I suppose
[Back] [In black ink; German] Von Prinz Karl von Mecklenburg-Schwerin an die verstorbene Kronprinzessin von Gotha
Translation Attempt: [Front] Dear Sister, Please forgive me for not having written to you yet; however, I shall make an effort to compensate for this little negligence. The Emperor is being most gracious towards us and overwhelms us with acts of grace. I am here as happy as I could possibly wish. I believe I cannot tell you anything new, as you probably already know through the newspapers that I have become a Colonel. I attend the parade every day and am also already learning to perform exercises. Dear Sister, kindly take care of the enclosed letter as well. Please give my regards to your husband, to him and Prince Friedrich, to Miss Kamps, and to Mr. von Wangenheim. Farewell, and with fondness Your faithful brother Karl St. Petersburg, March 11th, 1799
[Back] From Prince Karl of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to the late Crown Princess of Gotha
[Front]
[In brown ink; German] Liebe Schwester, Verzeih mir daß ich Dir noch nicht geschrieben habe; ich werde aber diese kleine Nachlässigkeit wieder nachzuholen suchen. Der Kaiser ist so gnädig gegen uns, und überhäuft uns mit Gnadensbezeugungen. Ich bin hier so glücklich als ich es nur immer wünschen kann. Ich kann dir glaub ich nichts neues sagen, da Du es wahrscheinlich schon durch die Zeitungen weist daß ich Obrister geworden bin. Ich bin alle Tage mit auf der Parade, und lerne auch schon exxerciren[sic] [exerzieren]. Liebe Schwester habe die Güte den dabei liegenden Brief weiter zu besorgen. Empfehle mich deinem Mann, dem und Prinz Friedrich, der Fräulein Kamps(?) und dem Herrn von Wangenheim. Lebe wohl, und behalte lieb Deinen treuen Bruder Karl St. Petersburg den 11ten März 1799
[In pencil, English; likely former archivist notes] Letter of Prince Charles of Mecklenburg to his sister the Crown Princess of Gotha - containing this lock of hair.
[Back] [In pencil, English; likely former archivist notes] Letter of the Prince Charles of Mecklenburg Schwerin to his sister the Crown Princess of Gotha - enclosing a lock of his sweetheart’s, I suppose
[Back] [In black ink; German] Von Prinz Karl von Mecklenburg-Schwerin an die verstorbene Kronprinzessin von Gotha
Translation Attempt: [Front] Dear Sister, Please forgive me for not having written to you yet; however, I shall make an effort to compensate for this little negligence. The Emperor is being most gracious towards us and overwhelms us with acts of grace. I am here as happy as I could possibly wish. I believe I cannot tell you anything new, as you probably already know through the newspapers that I have become a Colonel. I attend the parade every day and am also already learning to perform exercises. Dear Sister, kindly take care of the enclosed letter as well. Please give my regards to your husband, to him and Prince Friedrich, to Miss Kamps, and to Mr. von Wangenheim. Farewell, and with fondness Your faithful brother Karl St. Petersburg, March 11th, 1799
[Back] From Prince Karl of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to the late Crown Princess of Gotha
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
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84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu