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family ; but after long and careful reflection, down to 

 the 27th of January, to bequeath it to my native town 

 of Minden, in such form that the highest military and 

 civil authorities of the province, together with the 

 mayor of the town, should decide the place and mode 

 of its future preservation. Moreover, on that very 

 28th of January, I took active steps towards executing 

 other plans connected with the hope thus graciously 

 afforded me. These plans have occupied me much 

 during the last few months. In order appropriately 

 to receive the portrait of our highly-revered monarch, 

 it is requisite that the place where I intend to have it 

 hung should be put in the best possible order; I, 

 therefore, passed sentence on the present fittings and 

 furniture of the rooms, and ordered a new set, as lux- 

 urious and tasteful (for a professor you must recollect !) 

 as I could devise. The orders for the execution of 

 these measures were immediately despatched, so that 

 the opening of the navigation in spring will con- 

 vey to me all that I can wish for. I shall find fault 

 with no one who calls me foolish for pursuing plans of 

 improvement in my dwelling-place whilst the proba- 

 bility of my soon leaving it is overwhelmingly great ; 

 but were I to defer it, the prospect of the King's por- 

 trait arriving would trouble me, instead of, as it now 

 does, raising me above my many woes. If I do but 

 enjoy the sight of that picture for a single day, my 

 passage from this world to another will be, if through 

 a narrow, through a lovely border land ! 



One thing more I will add before I cease weary- 

 ing your Excellency with the train of consequences 

 which have flowed from the priceless, anxiously- 

 expected gift of my liege lord. Chancellor von 



