From the education of children for life Richter turned naturally to the education of his fellow Germans for citizenship.  It was a time of national crisis.  Already in 1805 he had published a Little Book of Freedom, in protest against the censorship of books.  Now to his countrymen, oppressed by Napoleon, he addressed at intervals from 1808 to 1810, a Peace Sermon, Twilight Thoughts for Germany and After Twilight.  Then, as the fires of Moscow heralded a new day, came Butterflies of the Dawn; and when the War of Liberation was over and the German rulers had proved false to their promises, these “Butterflies” were expanded and transformed, in 1817, into Political Fast-Sermons for Germany’s Martyr-Week, in which Richter denounced the princes for their faithlessness as boldly as he had done the sycophants of Bonaparte.

Most noteworthy of the minor writings of this period is Dr. Katzenberger’s Journey to the Baths, published in 1809.  The effect of this rollicking satire on affectation and estheticism was to arouse a more manly spirit in the nation and so it helped to prepare for the way of liberation.  The patriotic youth of Germany now began to speak and think of Richter as Jean Paul the Unique.  In the years that follow Waterloo every little journey that Richter took was made the occasion of public receptions and festivities.  Meanwhile life in the Bayreuth home grew somewhat strained.  Both partners might well have heeded Levana’s counsel that “Men should show more love, women more common sense.”

Of Richter’s last decade two books only call for notice here, Truth about Jean Paul’s Life, a fragment of autobiography written in 1819, and The Comet, a novel, also unfinished, published at intervals from 1820 to 1822.  Hitherto, said Richter of The Comet, he had paid too great deference to rule, “like a child born curled and forthwith stretched on a swathing cushion.”  Now, in his maturity, he will, he says, let himself go; and a wild tale he makes of it, exuberant in fancy, rich in comedy, unbridled in humor.  The Autobiography extends only to Schwarzenbach and his confirmation, but of all his writings it has perhaps the greatest charm.

Richter’s last years were clouded by disease, mental and physical, and by the death of his son Max.  A few weeks before his own death he arranged for an edition of his complete works, for which he was to receive 35,000 thaler ($26,000).  For this he sought a special privilege, copyright being then very imperfect in Germany, on the ground that in all his works not one line could be found to offend religion or virtue.

He died on November 14, 1825.  On the evening of November 17 was the funeral.  Civil and military, state and city officials took part in it.  On the bier was borne the unfinished manuscript of Selina, an essay on immortality.  Sixty students with lighted torches escorted the procession.  Other students bore, displayed, Levana and the Introduction to Esthetics.