Keig, by Whitehouse
17th April, 1869
Lieber Black,
Aus einem gestern eingetroffenen Briefes [sic] d. Herrn Prof Schaarschmidt in Bonn melde ich folgendes:–
“Da Sie zu Heidelberg keine Lust zu haben scheinen und Berlin für einen Sommeraufenthalt auch nicht empfehlenswerth [sic] ist, so möchte ich Ihnen allerdings vorläufig Göttingen empfehlen, wo ich unter d. Prof. der Theol. einen nahen Freund Prof. A. Ritschl[2] habe einen der scharfsinnigsten Dogmatiker in Deutschland so dass Sie dort sogleich einen Anknüpfungspunkt finden. Wollen Sie aber nach Berlin gehen, so kann ich Sie dort zu Dorner[3] & Steinmeyer[4] empfehlen. Berlin ist am meisten ansprechend, indessen fällt dann der Zweck das milde Deutsche Klima zu geniessen, weg. Dieses würden Sie am besten in Heidelberg erreichen. Nun am besten ist Sie kommen her und wir besprechen at leisure diese Angelegenheit[,] bei der auch das Interesses Ihrer Freundes concurriert.“[5]
Commentary
1) Ritschl is the author of the Entstehung d. Altk. Kirche[6], was in Bonn and is a great chum of Sch.’s. I believe so that we have a prospect of getting well acquainted with him. I confess I shd. think this a motive.
2. S. has a strong tendency to view Scotland as a barren land with “rohem Clima”[7] . So his views as to das milde Deutsche Klima[8] are to be taken cum grano.
3. “Mein Freund”[9] is of course yourself. So much for Schaarschmidt who “übrigens”[10] is very friendly & I fancy will make it pleasant for us to be a day or two in Bonn.
I saw Prof. Davidson before leaving town. He also praises Göttingen highly — but it is a long time since he was there. Fortified by this testimony I have at least thought it well to ask Robertson for the promised introductions & also accept Tait’s offer to get me a letter to old Weber[11] from Sir W. Thomson.
A note from Lindsay this morning shows me that the Cunninghams[12] are mulled[13] as usual. Why did you not read orthodox books esp. Hengstenberg?[14] However it is no use complaining. I have not heard who have got the Fellowships.
Well the subject is a sore one to me & I daresay to you.
So I close here & am
Yours very sincerely
Wm R Smith
Do the events of last week make you anxious to go to Berlin in spite of the “Klima”?
“Verbosa et Grandis Epistola” venit a Millio, admitting an “oversight”.[15]
WRS
[1] CUL ADD 7449 A003 MS.
[2] Ritschl, Albrecht (1822–1889): German Protestant theologian. He taught at Bonn (1851–64) and Göttingen (from 1864). The Ritschlian theology, a reaction against rationalism, was influential in the 19th and early 20th cent. His theology stressed ethics and the community of man and repudiated metaphysics. Ritschl’s most natoable work was The Christian Doctrine of Justification and Reconciliation (1872 and 1900).
[3] Dorner, Isaak August (1809 –1884): German Lutheran theologian who studied at Tübingen before spending some years in England and the Netherlands, returning to Tübingen in 1834, where he became professor extraordinary of theology, subsequently teaching at Kiel, Königsberg, Bonn and Göttingen before finally moving to Berlin, where he was a member of the supreme consistorial council. His relatively moderate views were similar to those of Schleiermacher and Rothe.
[4] Steinmeyer, Franz Karl Ludwig (1811–1900): a German Evangelical theologian, noted for his preaching ability and influenced by Schleiermacher and Rothe. He held chairs at Breslau, Bonn and Berlin.
[5] In this curious letter, WRS seems to be trying out his own German while also testing Black’s linguistic skills, although the appended “Commentary” is in English. A loose translation of the German text is as follows: Dear Black: A letter received yesterday from Prof Schaarschmidt in Bonn includes the following: “As you seem disinclined to go to Heidelberg, and Berlin is not ideal for a stay in summer, I suggest you go to Göttingen at present, where I have a close friend among the Professors, Prof. A Ritschl, one of the most perceptive dogmaticians in Germany, so that you will immediately find a starting point there. But if you want to go to Berlin I can recommend you there to Dorner and Steinmeyer. Berlin is most appealing. However you will lose the chance there of enjoying the mild German climate that you would have in Heidelberg. The best plan would be for you to come here where we can discuss the matter at leisure, also considering the interests of your friend.
[6] Die Entstehung der altkatholischen Kirche (Bonn 1850).
[7] Rough climate.
[8] The mild German climate.
[9] “My friend”.
[10] “By the way”.
[11] Weber, Wilhelm (1804–1891): the very eminent German physicist and professor of natural philosophy at Leipzig and Göttingen. Along with Gauss, Weber is credited with constructing the first electric telegraph.
[12] The Cunningham Fellowship awards.
[13] Bungled.
[14] Hengstenberg, Ernst Wilhelm (1802–1869): an evangelical German theologian noted for his conservatism and strict orthodoxy. WRS frequently shows his disdain for Hengstenberg’s views and the short (unsigned) EB9 notice on Hengstenberg’s life and work is probably from his pen.
[15] The postscript is written crosswise at the head of the MS letter. WRS refers here (aping Cicero) to John Stuart Mill’s gracious response (see 1869-04-06) to Smith’s paper brusquely criticising Mill’s grasp of geometry.