Ritmennt - 01.01.2005, Side 120

BENEDIKT S. BENEDIKZ
RITMENNT
Áritan: To Charles Wilson Esqre, No 42 Great
Andrew street Seven dials London
Copenhagen August 31st 1791
My dear Friend!
I am really at a loss of words expressive
of my obligations to you for your unshaken
friendship and the last token of your affectionate
remembrance conveyed to me by our mutual
friend the Captain Silverskildt.6 He returns (I
envy him) to London, and leaves me behind
fighting cum blattis tineisque old scrapes of
sheepskins and the like beings or matters. Really
these things have given me much to do and
scarce left me for a moment to myself and the
fullfilling of that duty, which ought to be the
tribute of gratitude to my friends.
In your letter you have told me that the
sketches have been reviewed to my honour in
the Monthly review - for the sake of heaven, let
me get that number. I wish Mr Ridgway would
republish the pamphlet. Will you spealt with
him about it, and let me know his opinion. I
have great many things to add - many to alter
for the better - the Prince Royal proceed (svo) on
the road to honour without rest, or interruption
- heaven bless him and send us a Prince worthy
a father who is the delight of Denmark. Every
moment we expect His Royal consort to come
forth with the wished for pledge of roseeat
health, and the purest love.
How are your matters going on. How many
victories have you gained at sea this summer, and
who has gained the most precious laurels either
Mr Pitt og Mr Fox. Hail! the sage Cathrine,7 who
knew the value the friend of Britain equal to
Demosthenes and Cicero in point of eloquence
but far superior with respect to his character.
What becomes of the affair of Birmingham
- they disgrace the eighteenth century - the
boasted age of philosophy. Good God can any
such thing happen in Great Britain. I am sure Dr
Gregory, that truly human and patriotic Divine
shudders at the bigotry and intolerance of some
of his brethern (svo). Pray give my best respect
to the Dr, and tell him, that I will remember his
good friendship towards me with equal pride and
anxiety of procuring me the continuation of his
good offices.8 Mr Silverskildt is bent and keenly
bent upon writing English - let me entreat you
to lead him on to the end - and make him as
stout an English scholar as he is good soldier.
This will on his return to Copenhagen render
him still greater delight of the Royal Prince
and his own father-in-law, who you lcnow is an
English man.
6 Kapteinn Silverskildt þessi mun vera Jacob Fried-
rich von Silberschildt, sá sem ofursti í her Dana
bauð út í einvígi 20 árum síðar Fredrik Caspar Con-
rad von Frieboe hershöfðingja, æskuvini Friðriks
konungs VI, vegna þess að von Frieboe hafði gerst
helst til nærgöngull við konu hans. Einvíginu var
afstýrt vegna þess að von Frieboe gekk á konungs-
fund til að kveðja hann, en þegar kóngur komst að
því hvað var í húfi bannaði hann þeim einvígið. Von
Silberschildt var að öðru leyti merkilegur maður
og hefði fullt eins átt að hafa sæti í DBL og von
Frieboe.
7 „The sage Cathrine" er Katrín mikla Rússakeisari,
þótt ekki sé vitað að hún væri neinn sérstakur
vinur þeirra Pitt og Fox.
8 Osköpin í Birmingham komu til af því að hinn
heimsfrægi vísindaiðkari Joseph Priestley (1733-
1804), uppgötvari súrefnis og sódavatnsgerðar, bjó
þar sem únítaraprestur. Hann var mjög frjálslyndur
í stjórnmálavangaveltum sínum í ræðustól, og því
lauk með því að hann lenti í illindum við flolck
þeirra sem kenndu sig við „Kirkju og Kóng", en
sá flokkur réðist á hús únítara þar í borg og rupl-
aði, brenndi og eyðilagði allt sem hann gat komist
til áður en herflokkur fékkst til að tvístra þeim
og friða bæinn. Priestley og fjölskylda hans kom-
ust nauðuglega undan skrílnum og flúðu svo til
London. Þar féklc liann að vísu kcnnarastarf í New
College Haclcney, en engan mun furða að hann undi
sér ekki lengur á Bretlandi og fluttist með allt sitt
til Philadelphia og andaðist þar áratug síðar.
Dr Gregory var Dr George Gregory (1754-1808),
frjálslyndur klerkur Ríkiskirkjunnar, sem var
Prebendary (kanúki) St. Pálsdómkirkju og mikils-
virtur ritgerðahöfundur (DNB). Grími hefir auðsýni-
lega geðjast vel að honum.
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