In haste, your friend,

B.

141.

TO HERR KAUKA.

1815.

MY DEAR AND ESTEEMED K.,—­

What can I think, or say, or feel?  As for W. [Wolf], it seems to me that he not only showed his weak points, but gave himself no trouble to conceal them.  It is impossible that he can have drawn up his statement in accordance with all the actual evidence he had.  The order on the treasury about the rate of exchange was given by Kinsky previous to his consent to pay me my salary in Einloesung Schein, as the documents prove; indeed it is only necessary to examine the date to show this, so the first instruction is of importance.  The species facti prove that I was more than six months absent from Vienna.  As I was not anxious to get the money, I allowed the affair to stand over; so the Prince thus forgot to recall his former order to the treasury, but that he neither forgot his promise to me, nor to Varnhagen [an officer] in my behalf, is evident by the testimony of Herr von Oliva, to whom shortly before his departure from hence—­and indeed into another world—­he repeated his promise, making an appointment to see him when he should return to Vienna, in order to arrange the matter with the treasury, which of course was prevented by his untimely death.

The testimony of the officer Varnhagen is accompanied by a document (he being at present with the Russian army), in which he states that he is prepared to take his oath on the affair.  The evidence of Herr Oliva is also to the effect that he is willing to confirm his evidence by oath before the Court.  As I have sent away the testimony of Col.  Count Bentheim, I am not sure of its tenor, but I believe the Count also says that he is prepared at any time to make an affidavit on the matter in Court, and I am myself ready to swear before the Court that Prince Kinsky said to me in Prague, “he thought it only fair to me that my salary should be paid in Einloesung Schein.”  These were his own words.

He gave me himself sixty gold ducats in Prague, on account (good for about 600 florins), as, owing to my state of health, I could remain no longer, and set off for Toeplitz.  The Prince’s word was sacred in my eyes, never having heard anything of him to induce me either to bring two witnesses with me or to ask him for any written pledge.  I see from all this that Dr. Wolf has miserably mismanaged the business, and has not made you sufficiently acquainted with the papers.

Now as to the step I have just taken.  The Archduke Rudolph asked me some time since whether the Kinsky affair was yet terminated, having probably heard something of it.  I told him that it looked very bad, as I knew nothing, absolutely nothing, of the matter.  He offered to write himself, but desired me to add a memorandum, and also to make him acquainted with all the papers connected with the Kinsky case.  After having informed himself on the affair, he wrote to the Oberstburggraf, and enclosed my letter to him.