Letter 123 Euler to Teplov
Berlin, April 28/ May 9 1750
Synopsis: Resolution of the Gmelin issue. Euler's ability to negotiate third party causes.
[...] Here is Mr. Gmelin's response on the preliminary overture that I suggested to him concerning His Excellency's le Comte President's resolution which I hope will please you. In relation to the steps, with which he attracted the disfavor of Your Excellency, he recognizes with an open conscience, his mistake to which he has added a contrite confession concerning all his activities. He has also spared M. Muller, whom he detests and who gave him his bad advice. Under these circumstances he seeks the only available path to your Excellency's grace by promising to repair his conduct, which will finalize the glory and the service of the Imperial Academy. As I mentioned to You in my first letter, he should have sent a letter addressed directly to your Excellency. You will see by this letter addressed to me that he would never have forgone this duty, if he had known where to write since his Excellency since his removal from the dignity of Hetman. As I myself am not well-instructed, and by consequence unable to provide him with suitable illuminations, I am dearly suffering and am unable to present my very humble congratulations to His Excellency. I am awaiting with the utmost impatience for the address from Mr. Schumacher, from whom I have asked to have it communicated as soon as possible. Awaiting this, I implore, Monsieur, to extend my apologies to His Excellency, and to assure him of my most perfect joy and of my most sincere and respectful wishes that I have for the preservation and growth of his Excellency by recommending by my most respectful submission for the continuation of His grace and His protection.
However to return to Mr. Gmelin, You will see Monsieur, that he is entirely ready to fulfill the functions that Your Excellency would impose on him. He has adjoined a new plan by which he wishes to deliver his Siberian flora, which will be composed of six volumes, each of which will be about the same thickness as the first and I have reason to believe/112/ that we were pleased in regards to the first, and I hope that we will be with the following issues, which he will edit out all that could be considered extraneous. Mr. Gmelin is also extremely satisfied by the generous gratuity of 200 roubles which His Excellency is willing to provide to him for every volume, and as he has completed the first volume during which time he does not enjoy receiving his pension, or more likely that he has been obliged to restitute the 215Rs which he received, and he hopes in this matter that Your Excellency will not have any problems in offering him back the 15 Rs above the 200 Rs in consideration for the first volume's long preface, and as he has already delivered the second volume, and he is confident that we will provide him with the sum of 415 Rs. as soon as we are satisfied with his statement.
After this he is prepared to send instantly the 3rd volume which he has just about completed. He has also spoken about some small expenses concerning drawings and postal charges, of which I am not completely informed. You will decide, Monsieur , if this is a matter which you will award him or not? In anyway this is not likely to be an object to break the negotiations which appears to me to be nearly completed. I await with the greatest impatience Your feelings concerning Mr. Gmelin's preliminary statement and Your ulterior instructions to be completed/112r/ to Your Excellency's entire satisfaction. As I am prepared to make a trip to Frankfurt Am Main in 5 weeks, I am obliged to seek a response as soon as possible, so that I have my instructions prior to my departure. My trip will be at the longest 4 weeks , and I will attempt to take the necessary measures to ensure that your letters which could arrive after my departure, will be forwarded to me without any problems. If there is anything that I can do during my trip for You or for the Academy, I request that You entrust me with your orders, and that You may rest assured that I will faithfully acquit myself with an infinite joy so that I might prove to you the way which my feelings are filled with the recognition of so much goodness and brilliant kindnesses to which I am in your debt. Having the honor of being so perfectly attached[...]
Translated from the French
by J.S.D.Glaus
