Letter 329
Euler to Teplov
Berlin, November 11, 1755
Synopsis: Euler's "Differential Calculus" book is printed but is short on funds. Euler fights for funding to pay creditors. Magnetized bars arrive from Basel. Kotelnikoff and Rumoffsky arrive in Berlin for the Master's instruction. Mention of Euler's magic lantern.
It was your trip to Ukraine and your promotion which in some ways forced you from the Academy, and which deprived me of the honor of your correspondence. However, I flatter myself that you might have kept the same feelings towards me, that you gave to me and having given to me such marks of substance which will require my eternal recognition. Even though your current obligations no longer compel your immediate interests to the Academy, I have learned with he greatest satisfaction that these interests are still part of you and that the glory of the Academy requests that you dedicate a part of your abilities. I believe that she often needs of your help. Please suffer along with me as I address certain articles which concern the honor of the Academy and which have been extremely embarrassing to me. As without doubt know that I had printed copies of my of Differential Calculus by order of his Excellency Monsignor the Hetman. The Academy provided me with the amount of 345 ecus 5 groschen that I estimated to be half of the amount necessary to defray the costs with the promise to be reimbursed for the remaining amount as soon as the work was completed.. Already more than 4 months have passed and I have not received anything eventhough I sent the Chancellery the net amount of 325 roubles. The work had grown a little larger than I had expected/229r/ and having had to have the paper shipped from Holland during winter increased the costs. Now I am being hounded by the printer and the paper wholesaler for payment and they are threatening to litigate their complaints to the courts if I do not pay within two months. To have these terms accepted, I have had to promise a percentage which only comes to 10 roubles, at the most, but which now brings the amount to 335 roubles which will bring this to a close.
Another article regards the two prizes that were given by the Imperial Academy this year. Mr. Splittgerber paid them with the assurances that that they would be reimbursed immediately in Petersburg, but until know I have not heard that they payment was made. You yourself will judge, Sir, how much the Academy 's reputation is at stake.
I have also sent 30 magnetized steel bars to the Academy to produce artificial magnets with instructions in their use as well as how to conduct a number of experiments with this important material. All of this has been communicated to us by Dieterich of Basel with the understanding that he will be reasonably compensated. The statement for all of this has come to 100 roubles , which includes some geographic maps that the Academy requested that I order from Paris. Eventhough it has been 8 months and I have yet to see the money.
/230/ I have also sent at the request of the Academy my invention of a magical lantern which costs 25 ecus. As the year is about to end, I am taking the liberty of forwarding a statement for the cost to postage for the letters and books which includes 25 ecus for the magic lantern bringing the total to 70 roubles which I sent at the behest of the Academy during the past year.
Allow me to identify one more instance which has to do with cash and one of which is not entirely unknown to you. Currently, I have two students from the academy staying with me, Messrs. Kotelnikoff and Rumoffsky with whom I am doing all that I can to have them ready for the Academy, and I hope that they will be valuable and it will no longer be necessary to look for competent mathematicians. As they have taken up lodging with me and that I am supplying them with furniture, wood, candles, tea and coffee and as you well know it is very expensive here in Berlin. However, since they must support themselves, I am only requesting 15 ecus from each month, which allows them a sufficient amount to clothe themselves, pay for their French and music lessons and to buy some books from time to time. I have been satisfied with this paltry sum because Mr. Schumacher allowed me to hope that the Academy would pay for the instruction I am providing them. Because if they had to live exclusively on their stipends at some university and still pay their part to the colleges, their stipends would barely be enough, besides which they would make very little progress and do quite poorly in mathematics. To me it appears that there is no better way for the Academy to invest a little money and produce truly useful persons for the nation. /230r/ I take this opportunity to humbly request that you approach His Excellency in my favor on this matter. In that which concerns the matters which were mentioned, I hope that you will be gracious to dispense with them as soon as possible. Notwithstanding Mr. Splittberger's reimbursement that I trust has been done by now, there is the matter of :
Payment due for the remaining amount on my book... 335 roubl.
The magnetic bars and maps...................................... 110 roubl.
The last of the postage, books and lantern.................. 70 roubl.
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Total 515 roubl.
And I must mention that by losing the students my personal revenues drop considerably not considering that I would not have anyone to teach. I am placing myself entirely at Mons. le Hetman's generosity and I request that you inform him of my unchanging respects. My entire household takes the liberty to present their humble compliments and while I repeat my fervent acclamations of perpetual thanks, I have the honor of having the very strongest and highest consideration[....]
Translated from the French
by J.S.D.Glaus
