From Rev. Paul Christopher Reiche (unpublished)
To the most illustrious minister of the united states of the
united states in America Paulus Christopher Reiche, master of arts
and Lutheran minister, prays all sorts of most fortunate things.
When, because in your country (which,if it has not been from its
beginnings certainly now will be America) things were conducted in
accordance with the law, I could not prevent myself from greatly
rejoicing that a race of men was present who not only perceives
what rights are theirs but also excellently defends them; when, in
truth, I also examined those laws [which were] passed by the most
illustrious and, I trust, most tranquil Congress of the Americans
for establishing a republic, straightaway I prayed God that He
might ordain the same [i.e. the laws] to be very salubrious not
only for Americans but for any nations throughout the world and
that it might be permitted to me and mine also to live sometime
under arrangements so just and conforming to nature. That I truly
prayed and pray still.
For indeed, however, we are not permitted to leave our country,
unless secretly, and almost all that we have, of whatever kind and
however much, we must leave behind. Also it is perhaps a long and
dangerous journey to those regions which God favors [and] also
[it] must be feared whether it be permitted to us to live there as
well and as pleasantly as we have lived and must be indicated by
you, The Most Illustrious Way/Road [n.b. this is apparently
referring to BF since all the other words capitalized in the
letter are “you” and “your” perhaps imitating the German Sie (?)]
and some things will have to be asked and these things [i.e. the
following, I believe] I ask to be able to explain?
For my part, I was born in Berlin. I am 36 years old and
studied—principally Theology, Philosophy and History—at Halle and
Göttingen. At school I held the title of Rector now [word cut off]
from the sacred pulpit for nine years I had [i.e. delivered (?)]
sermons, as the pastors of our country (from whose company I am)
are accustomed [to do]. But although I was born, live and teach
among Lutherans, nevertheless I only believe in God and in those
things which sound reason teaches; not however, in those things
which Theologians, even the most praised, teach, nor do I hate
anyone feeling otherwise.
1. | Dissertationes a) de misericordia b) de laboriositate c) de |
| eo qui [should be “quod” instead of “qui” by rules of |
| grammar] possit esse utile in tradendis linguis. |
2. | Wieder den Verfolgungsgeist. |
3. | Ueber den Nachtheil dessen, dass Prediger, nur Prediger |
4. | Wieder den Eid auf symbolisches Bücher der Kirche |
5. | Socratischer Religions Unterricht für die Jugend. |
6. | Die wahre Religion eines freyen Geistes. |
7. | Predigten im Ton für Leute vom Lande, auf alle Sonn |
8. | Betrachtungen aus der Natur, zur Freude der Leute vom |
9. | Schulbuch für diese Leute. |
10. | Antiparadoxie i.e.: Betrachtungen über die abweichende |
| Lehrsaeze der Religion, und deren Unschaedlichkeit in |
11. | Dass der Glaube an eine Offenbahrung nicht allgemein |
| nothwendig und nüzlich sey. |
13. | Wieder die falschen Gedancken vom Glauben an Jesum. |
14. | Ueber den Werth eines guten Theaters. |
15. | Ueber das grosse Glück, das jeder guter Mensch in sich |
16. | Allgemeine synchronistische Weltgeschichte, in welcher |
| von Jahr zu jahr, die Begebenheiten der vorigen Zeit, so |
| erzaehlet und anschauend gemachet werden, als die jezigen |
| Begebenheiten, in unsern politischen Zeitungen. |
If therefore in YOUR country—that which I do not know; how
many there are who willing ly read theological or philosophical or
historical writings, or if those who give pleasure even as they
pay attention to instructing [hard to get the syntax and words to
work here; in addition there is a problem with one word navent or
ravent (seemingly) neither of which exist in Lation. Operam dare
is a familiar idiom and for the lack of something better I’ve
translated it as such, but in fact it is impossible for me to
imagine that the first letter is a “d” and there remain other
problems in the passage], I hope in these things also to be able
to support myself well, together with my household.
Nevertheless I would prefer to have regard for YOUR
convenience—not only my own—and since I would prefer this and
[since] not only is war being waged in YOUR most dear country but
now there is a rumor, that the general Howe [? Howium] has almost
completed YOUR [pl.] destruction, the same [who] has conquered
with great slaughter, I desire to be present in time. For at the
same time as I began to love that country of YOURS and I saw so
many mercenaries led against your republic, I read zealously the
strategies of ancient generals and I provided myself with so great
a knowledge of their strategies that, if I were with your armies,
I would have the hope, if not pretty often, certainly sometimes,
of marvelously harming the enemy. For I believe that these will
have to be more safely opposed with cleverness than with force.
And these are the things which I thought must be indicated. From
the same, indeed, you will gather , how necessary it is that
before I prepare my departure, I would ask the following:
1) Whether in YOUR republic, men, such as I have described myself,
knowing moreover French but not English, [and] with so large a
household, might be able to make a living by either teaching or
writing or even by farming, not [word cut out] luxurious but
modest, not wretched, not a burden to the republic.
2) Whether, if they cannot, at least what has been said regarding
strategies does not seem absurd.
3) Whether, where my love for YOUR country must be praised, I must
depart, and to what end, when and with what plan.
For although I value brave men very much who [ut? = as] you do,
vigorously defend the rights of men, nevertheless I ought not
value them to such a degree that, for their sake, I would think
those whom the most benevolent ruler of all things joined with me
by a most pleasant and — [cannot make out this word anything
ressembling a Latin one] chain ought to be boldly abandoned. In
truth, I would certainly be abandoning them if straightaway,
uncertain of my fate, I set out from here, and on the journey, I
should either perish or be captured by the enemy and if, having
crossed the ocean, no opportunity of serving YOU [pl.] and my own
family well is given by Congress.
You know therefore what I think and what I wish. I pray, let me
soon know what I should do. Above all, fare well, fare well a long
while; nay , rather fare as well as I myself pray you may fare
[well]. I wrote [this] at Deslau on the 9th day of January 1778.
Letters are given to me with this name.
For thus am I distinguished from others here having that same last
name, whom I very much wish not to know what I have written, for
they laugh if they hear such things.