of making a book, to fill out their pages with commonplaces which the veriest blockhead knows. How often are these German luminaries, as they are called in their own country, the subject of merriment with Wesseling, Alberti, Wetstein, myself, and others. I wish you could be present to enjoy the fun. RUHNKEN TO RITTER. Leyden, Dec. 8, 1760. You have probably learned, from the letters of Ernesti, that I have left no stone unturned to remove you from unhappy Saxony into our happy Batavia. After experiencing successive frowns of fortune upon my attempts, I have now the inexpressible happiness of finding an opportunity for consummating my wishes. Andrew Weiss, a distinguished professor of law, who, for fifteen years, has adorned the university with his genius and learning, was invited the last year, by the authorities at the Hague, to become the teacher of the Prince of Orange. Though other candidates were recommended for the vacant professorship, yet, aided by the influence of Hemsterhuys, Gaub, and Alberti, I have so far succeeded in recommending you, as to render it no longer doubtful that the curators would appoint you, if they could be assured of your acceptance. * * * RUHNKEN TO RITTER. Leyden, Jan. 12, 1761. I wish that you might be as successful in accomplishing all your desires, as I have been in whatever I have undertaken in your behalf. All your competitors have failed; one of whom, supported by the favor of a great sovereign, had regarded his success as already certain. The votes in your favor were unanimous. Still, the official notice will hardly be communicated to you before the first of February; for the curators are not accustomed to have any thing of importance pass, except at the stated meetings, the first of which will take place on the day above-mentioned. I am very happy that you are satisfied with the terms. I know not how to express my joy, that you, at length, have become ours. As you seem to entertain some doubt in regard to the emoluments and perquisites, I will go through the calculation. The salary is 2000 florins. The tuition for a course of lectures,— none of which are public,-being thirty florins for each student, will amount to about 1300; but this will vary with the number of students. The other items are much more certain. Promotions to the degree of doctor, which occur almost every week, will bring you 1400 florins. Exemption from taxes is worth at least 300. All these together, make, as I said, 5000 florins. In this estimate, I have omitted several smaller perquisites, which, however, deserve consideration. Professor Weiss testifies to the correctness of the estimate. I now proceed to reply to your particular inquiries separately. 1. All public lectures are held in Latin; private instruction is sometimes given in French. I recommend to you to make it your first business to acquire a facility in speaking the French. You may converse in this language with the English, French, and most of the Swiss, all of whom, though they understand the Latin, are unable to speak a word. All persons of rank, too, male and female, speak French in preference to the Dutch. Most of the professors are acquainted with the German, but not many individuals in the higher circles. No lectures are given in this language. 2. The public law of Germany, according to Mascovius, is taught only when there are several German noblemen here. At other times, Otto's Notitia is explained, as being better adapted to the wants of the Dutch. 3. You are not called to pay a farthing by way of taxes; for, as I have said above, the university enjoys a complete exemption. So you can drink your wine cheap, while it comes very dear to other citizens. 4. A house is commonly rented by the professors, for about 500 florins. The services of a waiting-maid are from sixty to seventy; but when she receives something from the students, as yours will, the cost is only from forty to fifty. 5. Though you will find more teachers in painting, singing, and dancing, in Leyden than in Wittenberg, still, the charge for twenty lessons, is not less than eight or nine florins. 6. The style of dress among the professors is simple, and is commonly in black. The more illustrious one is in this country, and the greater the influence which he exerts, the more simple is his style of dress. But the servants glitter in gold and silver; houses are splendid, and entertainments princely. 7. The professors' wives are generally modest and domestic. If, however, any one desires to appear in public, and visit the theatres, she can gratify her tastes. The dress of these matrons is not splendid, but is extremely neat. You know, perhaps, that all Dutch women run mad after neatness. 8. A governess for daughters can be obtained here for 200 florins; but you will need none, as there are French schools, in which the daughters of noblemen are educated in all the branches of polite learning. 9. I would advise you to let rather than sell your house at present. If you wait till peace, you can then sell it on better terms, through an agent. Nor will it be necessary to sell your library, or any of your valuable articles of furniture. These may all, with the greatest convenience, be transported to Hamburg, and thence to Amsterdam and Leyden by water. There is no occasion for anxiety about the expense of your removal; for, as I wrote you, the curators will more than make it good. 10. Houses are always rented in Leyden without furniture; but it will be easy to hire the latter separately. Beds, bedding, looking-glasses, etc., you can transport with you. Your pewter ware, on account of its weight, it would be better to dispose of at Wittenberg, especially as it can be replaced here at a very cheap rate. Nearly all the articles pertaining to the table here are pewter; they are very rarely porcelain. Your title will be Professor Juris Publici et Privati; not that you will, as I could wish, teach the latter, but that you can examine candidates in that branch of the law. For writing books you will have more leisure than you can easily imagine; for the term of study amounts to only seven months and a half in all. The longer vacation commences near the end of June, and continues till the 17th of September, during which you can make an excursion into France or England, or visit your Saxon friends. Leyden, Dec. 18, 1761. O, Ritter! what have the curators, those respectable and honorable men, done, that you should so deceive them, or trifle with them? And I, of whose upright intentions God is witness, what have I done to deserve to be so treated? * * Blinded by the fascinations of your wife, you are plunging yourself into ruin. RUHNKEN TO D'ORVILLE. * * Leyden, Aug. 21, 1747. I have quite too long deferred writing to you, or rather expressing my gratitude to you. forgetting the favors you have But so far am I from conferred upon me, I would gladly find a daily occasion to show you how sensibly I feel my obligations. While considering what token of regard I might present you, Brissonius occurred to my mind, which had been emended in part, but was committed to my hands to be finished. Accept, therefore, this copy as a present, corresponding not to your favors, limited means. * * Having nothing else to do, I employ all my time in examining the old manuscripts of the library, an employment as profitable to my mind as it is ruinous to my purse. Since you were kind enough to promise never to withhold your aid from me, when it should be needed, I take the liberty to request you, if you judge it expedient, to give me something else to collate but to my Although I cherish sentiments of the warmest gratitude towards you for your almost royal munificence to me, yet as often as I am loaded anew with your favors, I feel provoked, to think that I have no better way of showing my gratitude by rendering you some service. There is no labor which I would not cheerfully undergo, if I might. thereby be of any use to you. Were you not at this time too much engaged in your business, I would submit to your practised eye a specimen of emendations to Callimachus, a poet corrupted by false readings and interpolations far beyond what is commonly supposed. At some future time, when you are more at leisure, I will, if you have no objections, ask your opinion in regard to this subject. * * RUHNKEN TO J. A. ERNESTI. Leyden, Nov. 28, 1751. Whenever I think of you, and I do so very often,— I am ashamed that I have not as yet been able to publish |