Reinhard begins by discussing the carnival at the Kessel court, before discussing Goethe’s chande to his coat of arms, remarking that he only owns the knight’s patent and not the baron title. He goes on to discuss his appointment as an honorary member of the Athéné de la Langue Française in Paris, and speaks of his answer with an allusion to Voltaire’s Candide.

Reinhard apologies for his delayed response and thanks Goethe for sending some of his writings. He praises Goethe’s biography and talks of having devoured it, before reflecting on the past. He suggests that today’s youth have it harder in the face of the destroyed values, if they want to settle at home on the barrier-free realm full of rubble, on desecrated ground. Reinhard goes on to speak of his literary studies in youth, noting that he read Voltaire’s writings as well as the excerpt from the general world history; his mother forbade him to read novels and other “bad” books. He then turns to German readers, who for some time, he remarks, have become such a shasty, grumpy, attitudeless and shapeless monster. He goes on to discuss literary and political matters, and especially about the growing tensions between England and France.