| Description | Dear Father,
Scarcely have we met, scarcely have I embraced you, than we must again be separated. How unhappy is man! he must sacrifice his youth in order to enjoy the short space which rests after. Perhaps after passing his days far from his father, from all that is dear to him, he returns, and in one day the fruits of his labours are lost. Should my pains ever afford you that short pleasure, they will be amply recompensed.
Mr. Streiber has not left anything undone which friendship could suggest to render our journey agreable: besides the letters which he gave us for the different post-masters, he sent with us a young man in order that we might be better served, but the bad policy of the little princes who possess this country has rendered his services useless; however, I shall ever justly esteem his good intentions. In spite of the dangerous roads and the worst of carriages, we arrived safely at Staedfelt.
I will attempt to give you some idea of this village. It contains about forty houses, and is situated at the foot of [a] high hill. It looks upon a fine valley bordered on the other side by mountains covered with woods. Eisenach is distant about three miles; when the roads are good it is a pleasant walk, but the least rain renders them unpassable, and then we are cut off from the rest of the world. The society of Staedfield consists of two or three barons; they are very affable, contrary to the general idea that strangers entertain of the German nobility.
The character of Mr. Rheinhard is known to you; from my short acquaintance with him I can only confirm every goodness which fame has attribuated to him. The death of his wife greatly [a]fflicts him; in order to devest his mind [of] the melancholy thoughts which occu[py it] at present he intends going to Leipsick, [and I] shall accompany him. He desires his compliments to you, with many excuses for not having wrote you this post.
My kindest love to my sister, and believe me to be your dutiful son,
Mattw. R. Boulton
[Edited transcript.] |