The copy was produced by Stöterogge. This could either be Leonhard Georg V. Stöterogge (b. 1671) or his brother Hieronymus Hartewich V. Stöterogge (b. 1672).

The MS was compiled by Christian Masius (1711-1787), professor in Erlangen from 1768 onwards. The compilation includes works by:

• Du Jurien
• Franz Hollmann
• d’Argens
• Alexander Pope
• Harris
• Voltaire
• David Hume
• Plato
• Bumet

The verses are found in a historical miscellany. A second hand has added a note to the text stating that the true author of the verses is Ernst Christoph von Manteuffel.

The translation is part of a wider collection of ‘strange and curious’ writings (verschiedene merckwürdige und curieuse Schrifften).

The translation was produced by L.C.C. v. Thienen.

Knebel begins by saying that he regrets Goethe’s discomfort, and encourages him to continue to think positively about Lukrez. He adds that Lucretius was a reformer whose teaching is not as dangerous as is often believed, noting that Voltaire considered the places of the complete dissolution of man after death to be the most effective in Lucretius’ De rerum natura. He concludes by discussing mutual friends, and the expectation of an imminent earthquake following the flood of the Saale.

Karl Ernst Schubarth speaks of the joy that Goethe’s last letter brought him as he is lonely in his current situation. He mentions a number of literary figures and their works including Faust, Homer, A. Müllner, Calderón, Shakespeare, and Lessing. He then turns to Christianity and the New Testament, making reference to H.E.G. Paulus, Raphael, Pindar, Muhammad, and Voltaire.

Katharina talks of the Frankfurt accident, and the French occupation of the city. She talks of the burning of the Judengasse, and reports on the state of the roads and their former home, Frieburger gaße which was also burned down. The situation is, she notes, fatal and threatening. She concludes by saying that almost all of her friends have emigrated so she is usually at home, playing the piano or reading. She notes that she is especially enjoying Voltaire’s Essai sur les mœeurs et l’esprit des nations.

Schiller begins by speaking of the baptism of his daughter, Karoline, before turning to Goethe’s adaptation of Voltaire’s Mahomet. He notes that of the French pieces, Mahomet is the best suited for a German translation, and that whilst he believes in the project he is hesitant to attempt the same with other French pieces due to their content and the formal difficulties that arise.

Schlegel thanks Goethe for sending him sonnets by Guarini which he says remind him of Petrarch. He adds that he is reading de Parny’s La guerre desieux anciens et modernes in comparison with Voltaire’s La Pucelle d’Orleans. He goes on to discuss literary and theatrical works.