Letter 55
Euler to Teplov
Berlin, January 9/20 1748
Synopsis: Fire at the Imperial Academy and the loss of the Observatory. Euler stands firm against D. Bernoulli's detractors.
[...] It is with the greatest pain that I learned the terrible news that the Academy has just suffered and I would be inconsolable if the loss were as great as had it been originally predicted. Mr. Schumacher remarked, that you had the good fortune to save practically the entirety of what was located in the Library and the Hall of Rarities. This considerably diminishes the extent of this catastrophe. However, the loss of the Observatory and all of the excellent instruments which were a part of it is enormously significant. Do you suppose that it will be immediately restored ? You are afflicted by this serious misfortune and I wish to offer a complement of condolences as though you yourself had suffered the great loss of which I am so deeply touched. It is also to you Sir, to who I must display my most sincere thanks for my pension which has been paid to me and for which I am infinitely obliged. All the more reason because you are the author of the rehabilitation of the Academy, which makes all of us happy. However, allow me to make my humble presentation on the Bernoulli subject. I owe a certain obligation to him, since all of the negotiations passed through my hands. It was with great regret that I noticed in Mr. Schumacher's last letter that his Excellency Msgr. le Comte is indignant towards Mr. Bernoulli because of his refusal to accept the proposal which the Academy had offered and has now relieved him of his past and future annuity.
It is true, and he told me from the start, that Your Excellency had been placed in charge of the Academy's administration and that as a result of the of the restoration of the Academy he could very well resolve to return since he was living in very menial conditions in his country. It is that I took the liberty to notify Your Excellency first, and if we have taken this statement as a declared fact, I beseech you not to look upon Mr. Bernoulli as the guilty party, perhaps the words that I made use of were particularly strong and it would be me and not Mr. Bernoulli who has sinned. But for whatever reasons, his last statement is entirely justified, because based on the proposals that were made to him on behalf of the Academy, he did not hesitate to accept them immediately. However he needed as You can readily understand, the consent of his father. Can you imagine this venerable old man of 80, near his end, trying to find the reasons to dissuade his son of such a decision. For me there is no doubt whatsoever, that Mr. Bernoulli acted in good faith in attributing the cause of his refusal to his father. You will also grant me that Mr. Bernoulli was obliged to obey his father, who asked for nothing out of the ordinary except that his son was not to leave prior to his death. And in fact the last news from Basel is that the father died at the end of last year. He had a sizable estate and the oldest son had good reasons to be present at the probating of the will. Even if he had been in Petersburg, he would have asked permission to return to his country for the occasion. I sincerely ask You to consider these circumstances, and I am assured that you will no longer find Mr. Bernoulli to blame; or at least if he is excused on this issue, I feel that all the other considerations will be favorable. Amongst all the foreign members he is perhaps the only one who has provided the Academy with real services and he is even ready to continue his duty with the greatest zeal. These attributes for which he can honestly boast are known to all and from there You must judge yourself what we might say and reason on his manner of acting with such a distinguished member. His Excellency, M. le Comte de Keyserling was astonished by this process and has entrusted me to undertake all possible proceedings insofar as to lift Mr. Bernoulli's warrant at the earliest moment. He has serious feelings for the consequences.
It is this reason why I took the liberty to detail all of the circumstances and since it alludes to the interest and glory of the Academy, I implore You, Sir, to condescend your attention and to provide a favorable report to His Excellency Mr. le Comte, so that this situation can be remedied in favor of Mr. Bernoulli. As I confide exclusively in your discretion and friendship, I did not wish to annoy His Excellency with a letter on this topic which would have been exhaustive. But I request that you present my most humble respects to His Excellency Msgr. le Comte President as my family does to you, I have the honor of having the most perfect consideration[...]
Translated from the French
by J.S.D.Glaus
