Letter 40
Euler to Teplov
Berlin, 18/29 October 1746
Synopsis: Euler's disapproval of some St. Petersburger
academicians. His short list of candidates to fill positions. Lends help to those who are on staff and dismisses the hoity toity. Whisperings of a university and the gossip of the day.
Sir,
The Commission, which has been entrusted to me by Your Excellency as the President, requires that I no longer defer my response which would happen if I wrote in Russian. I must respond to your very obliging letter by which you have honored me.
I easily understand that you are extremely occupied with the steps you are taking to rehabilitate the Academy which must be accompanied by much disappointment. For I can see by the letters that I have received from time to time from the Academicians, that they appear to have developed an idealistic plan for the perfect Academy and become disenchanted when one steps aside from it. It seems to me that practically everyone would rather stick their noses into the direction of the Academy rather than fulfill their duties. Above all, M. Muller should not forget that he was a large part of the administration of the Chancellery. I have nothing but disdain for these men who refuse to eat their words and not submit to a well-oiled administration. I do feel sorry that you should find yourself with so many obstacles to overcome in the execution of your useful projects. However, I do not think that these disaffected persons would dare to deprecate the present state of the Academy, and anyhow they would hardly succeed, since everyone is convinced of your Excellency's good intentions for the welfare of the Academy. I hope that Mr. Weitbrecht's example will succeed in providing the necessary effect, because I have no doubt whatsoever, that he has not obtained a new position. He will repent and implore your Excellency's good graces to keep his job while promising to behave himself in the future. Notwithstanding his presumptuousness, an increase in his pension is owed to him, due to the fact that he is a very able man at his job, and we would be hard pressed to find someone as able as him, but he is wrong to attempt this by coercion and without attempting to seek the beneficence of Your Excellency. By bringing others onto the straight and narrow is apparently the best way of hiring those who are not yet scratching as one would a rash in opposition to a well-organized administration. In Paris there are in effect some excellent candidates, but I am fearful that that those which have been proposed for the Academy are not in the number. You should be without any doubt that there are still a great number of flighty characters, who would spoil everything for the Academy. If, of those which have been recommended to you are of a Clairaut, or a d'Alembert or a Fontaine, You can proffer your hand without hesitation. But I think You would do well, not to lean on the recommendations of others but rather ask the advice of M. de Maupertuis, our President, who is best prepared to provide you with an idea of the merits of each one. However, to my knowledge the French are too dear, and there is not one, who would prefer a stipend of a few hundred pounds in France, than a thousand roubles in Petersburg. There are a few good people in Leipzig that we could have relatively inexpensively, In fact there is one by the name of Oechliz, who brings both an in-depth knowledge of mathematics and a gentle disposition: in Halle there is a Mr. Kratzenstein, who is very able in physics and mathematics, who won the Bordeaux Academy prize with an excellent paper. You are aware of the merits of Professor Braun , who would hope to finally find a solid institution for himself. Notwithstanding his knowledge of philosophy and physics, his good nature should be well-known to you, and rest-assured that you have nothing to fear on his behalf. He is not shy to push himself further, and I believe that he could fill his responsibilities at the Academy honorably, but in the case that the situation is as entrenched in the Academy, You know as well as I do that he could be very useful at the projected University. For persons of better value, who could fill the adjunct positions, I have to recommend a Mr. Brauser of Dantzig, who has made considerable progress in mathematics. If the Academy would have need of a good calculator for almanacs, as well as for astronomical computations, You could not find a more appropriate candidate than Schumacher, who has been hired by our Academy to calculate the astronomical tables. Unfortunately he is being made redundant due to a lack of funds. Should Mr. Delisle receive his slip, I would not know where in Germany to find anyone more appropriate to replace him were it not Mr. Walz of Dresden. But having recently married and obtained a considerable increase in his salary, I strongly fear that he will not change his opinion on this subject. As for Mr. Bernoulli, I will not miss the opportunity to sound him out on the topics which will help him to resolve his issues, however, I feel that he will formulate some outrageous pretensions. I am extremely sensitive to the gracious promises that You have made to me and, I approach my obligations with the greatest impatience so that I might dignify the Academy in some way. As there is nothing to which I can contribute even if I were there other than my papers, I am prepared to forward as many as are asked of me. For not having anything else to do, I can use my time here working on my studies.
I would be very obliged to You if you would send me news on the project to establish a University, which in no doubt will be as propitious for the Academy as it is useful to the Empire. I trust that it will reach a happy conclusion, and You can rest assured that I will maintain an absolute silence on the matter. I also wish to thank you most humbly for the advice that you were able to give me concerning the books which were provided to me as a year's salary, however in the future cash will be more agreeably accepted. You will see by my comments on the paper by M. Ferette that it is one of the worst papers that has ever appeared on the subject, and I must ask to be excused if it seems that my resentment on the ignorance and impertinence of this man brings out statements from me that appear outrageous. In regards to the well-being of our Academy, nothing out of the ordinary has occurred; we exist in a very perfect bond and in harmony with Our President, who takes part in everything which has to do with the St. Petersburg's Academy, of which he has the honor of being a member. Mr. Kies has just married the late Professor Naude's eldest daughter. As for Mr. Farber's crime and demise, You will read about it in the tabloids. My entire family sends to You their regards, and I have the honor of being in this perfect setting,
Your very humble and obedient servant,
L. Euler
Berlin, October 29, 1746
Translated from the French
by J.S.D.Glaus
