The tenderness which I felt for Hahnemann was moral love in its most powerful manifestation; a love so rare because to experience it one must be profoundly virtuous, the greatest physical love will never produce a devotion like it. To swim the Hellespont, to jump from the rock of Leucate, seemed to me only feeble testimonies compared with what I feel. Human beings are no longer burnt alive; they are no longer put in the Bastillic, they are taken before a tribunal, but if I had to mount the scaffold for my homoeopathic convictions, I would do it without hesitation.
Here the copy is interrupted and the manuscript continues:
Veneration and faith are now lost in the love of material well-being; even if the whole of humanity is occupied with eating like horses at the manager, it will yet remain the duty of souls who have remained faithful to divine ideas to give an example, and continue on the path of virtue and sacrifice, in order to prove to future generations (discontinued-R.H.).
ALLEGED “EXTRACT FROM THE WILL OF GOHIER, THE LAST PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.”
Communicated by Madame Melanie Hahnemann without attention, or any kind of proof. (The date and signature are missing.)
Two women have inspired me with feelings bordering on adoration through their excellence, the one, my life-long companion, to whom I can only bring an offering of tears; the other, is Miss Melanie d’Hervilly. I should have been proud had I been able to adopt her, but as I was so fortunate as to be a father, it was not admissible. I would have offered her my hand, if her inclination to art, the only passion which so happily dominated her, would have allowed her to accept it.
And further:
As I wish to leave to miss d’Hervilly a special token of the great esteem which her extraordinary merits and talents inspired in me, I beg of her to fulfil the desire which my age allows me to express to her, and that is that after my death she would unite my name to hers on all documents which she signs in all the works that she will publish, etc., so that through the tie of mutual esteem my name shall be associated with her whom the rarest of talents will render celebrated.
After the old Government had been banished by the leaders of Bonaparte’s party on June 18th, 1799, Gohier the barrister was established as Director of the Republic, together with his colleagues Roger Ducos and General Moulins. Schlosser’s opinion of Gohier in his history of the World is that although he was well reputed as a barrister he was not suitable for a ruler,…. Gohier and MOulins who belonged to the Republicans, had only little reputation or importance and but few followers. According to Miguet’s History of the French Revolution, Gohier was President of the French Directorate, and not sole President of the Republic as Melanie d’Hervilly liked to represent. He was only in office until November 9th, 1799. Early in the morning of November 10th, an interim reign was declared for France, and a committee was put in office for the purpose of drawing up a new constitution. The resolution was as follows: “The Directorate is dissolved; three men, Bonaparte, Sieyes and Roger Ducos carry on the Government provisionally.”
ALLEGED “EXTRACT FROM THE WILL OF LE THIERE.”
(Here also the remarks made above apply in every way-R.H.)
I especially recommend Charles and Laetitia, the children of my son Alexander, of Miss Melanie d’Hervilly, and I authorise her to take them to live with her, and if she so desires, briefly, to act for them with the same interest she was always shown. This worthy and esteemed friend deserves all the esteem by reason of the remarkable qualities of her excellent character, and the tender and faithful affection which she has shown to me and mine. If she needed the present of a sum of money for her maintenance I would not hesitate to count her among my children; and let her enjoy the privileges. But as on the contrary she is entirely independent she will watch over my grandchildren; she has promised me so and she will keep her word.
MISS MELANIE D’HERVILLY’S APPEARANCE IN KOTHEN.
Dr. Puhlmann narrates (“Leipsic Pop. Ztschr. f. Hom,” 1891, Vol. 22, page 10):
The older inhabitants of Cothen told me, many years ago, veritably shocking stories about the emancipated appearance of the young French girl who had come to Hahnemann as a patient, and who walked about the streets in man’s attire. She was a keen horsewoman and swimmer (!-R.H.) and practised pistol shooting, and hunted; she painted…. Elderly vigorous men are easily inflamed with women of that temperament, especially is the latter are kindly disposed towards them.
SUPPLEMENT 157
HAHNEMANN’S SECOND MARRIAGE
Hahnemann to Boenninghausen: Cothen, February 8th, 1835.
That I might have peace of mind at last it was necessary that I should settle, during my life time, my eight heirs, including six children and two grandchildren, so that they should not fall into the hands of the greedy Law and the involved formalities of succession. I have, therefore, now invested for each of them, in the local Exchequer a capital of 4 per cent. interest, on which they could live in case of need, and in such a manner that from the 1st of January next they will draw the interest, and until then I shall provide for those that are single out of my own means. For myself I have only invested sufficient capital to be able if need be to live on it with her who has now become my wife since January 18th. Marie Melanie d’Hervilly, surnamed Gohier, a distinguished and excellent lady from Paris, who is held in great esteem there, of the purest morality, great learning, clear intelligence, and the best of hearts, who inspired me first with the most perfect love which she reciprocated in the fullest measure; she is handsome, tall and is 32 years of age. I am separated from my last two daughters by walls alone (I have bought a house for them next to mine and furnished it for their own particular use; it is accessible to mine through the yard) so that I can live if I like with Melanie in my own household, and also can see my daughters as often as I like.
My wife and I are each living on our separate incomes as arranged by a legal deed of marriage, so that my heirs can claim nothing from her (she is much more wealthy than I) and her heirs nothing from my estate. So far I feel very happy and cheerful in my new arrangement, to attain which I had to overcome countless difficulties.
SUPPLEMENT 158
JOYOUS DEMONSTRATION AT HIS RE-MARRIAGE,
Inspector Dellbruck to Hahnemann:
Most vencrable Parents,
With filial confidence and special pleasure we have accidentally heard of your marriage, and we send you our warmest congratulations. We who revere you both again ask to be accepted as your children. With profound emotion we embrace you dear Father, and reverently kiss the hand of Madame our Mother.
Through this rare occurrence homoeopathy celebrates with you at the same time a joyous triumph.
If Providence should arrange that from this union still greater deeds should come forth, they will be all the more good, and noble, and rich in blessings.
Your immortality is much more dear to us than our life. With all the reverence which you deserve we remain throughout life,
Your submissive children.
INSPECTOR DELLBRUCK,
Dresden, January 30th, 1835.
The friend of his youth, Fisher of Meissen, wrote to Hahnemann:
Meissen, February 20th, 1835.
Much esteemed Patron and Friend,
The impression which the announcement of your marriage with the Marquise d’Hervilly, surnamed Gohier, in the Leipsic Zeitung made upon me can hardly be described to you in words. I rejoiced as much as at the happiest moments of my own life. My wife and children share my feelings, and they join with me in wishing you many happy returns of the day of your union with your very esteemed wife.
Princess Louise Friedrich of Prussia, wrote:
Dusseldorf, February 14th, 1835.
My surprise was not small when I read in the local paper the announcement of your marriage as I had not any idea of it, and I send all good wishes for your welfare.
Louise Auguste, daughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm, III, and Queen Louise of Prussia was born in 1808, and was married in 1825 to Prince Friedrich of the Netherlands; she died in 1870.
Baron von Gersdorff wrote to his most esteemed friend and godfather Hahnemann:
Eisenach, June 1st, 1835.
The gallant Mauro (Dr. Guiseppe Mauro of Naples-R.H) who loves and worships you as if you were an angel, had bravely fought against the enemies when they were spreading stupid rumours about your marriage in Naples. I shall now write to him now happy you are and I wish you could only let me know that you are physically in good health, as the enemies think that it will bring about your early decease.
Your faithful friend and Godson, A. BARON VON GERSDORFF, Geh. Reg. Rath.
HAHNEMANN RIDICULED ON ACCOUNT OF RE-MARRYING.
The “Dorfzeitung von Sachsen-Meinigen” published in its 22nd number of the year 1835 (see also Wahrhold, “Volksblatter fur homoopathisches Heilverfahren,” 1835, Vol. I, page 150):
Richard Haehl was also an editor and publisher of the homeopathic journal Allgemcine, and other homeopathic publications.
Haehl was responsible for saving many of the valuable artifacts of Samuel Hahnemann and retrieving the 6th edition of the Organon and publishing it in 1921.
Richard Haehl was the author of - Life and Work of Samuel Hahnemann