SUPPLEMENT 233
CONCERNING HAHNEMANN’S LEGACY.
On behalf of Hahnemann’s daughter Eleonore, widow Klemmen, the solicitor Dr. Aug. Hermann of Kothen wrote, on July 28th, 1845, to the Ducal Government of Anhalt for the release of 700 thalers, which sum in addition to 4,000 thalers was invested in Ducal revenues. In this letter the representative of Mrs. Eleonore Klemmen, nee Hahnemann, says:
The whole sum which was left to Madame Klemmen amounts to 6,000 thalers; the furniture which was left to her, in addition, is valued at the most at 500 thalers. Therefore, the legatee has not received, either according to general or even to French laws, the share due to her from her father, as it could be proved that at his death he left more than 200,000 thalers.
Hahnemann’s executor, C.L. Behr, replied to this on August 20th, 1845:
Mr. Hermann says in his petition that Hofrath Hahnemann had been proved to have left 200,000 thaler and that therefore the portion due to his client should amount to 12,500 Rthl. But Mr. Hermann has probably not considered how he is to produce this proof. In his will (of the year 1835-R.H.) the deceased declared his estate in 2 excel. to consist of his two houses, valuables and furniture amounting in all to a little more than 60,000 Rthl., which we have to accept as correct until Mr. Hermann can give us the alleged proof.
This proof as far as we know has never been produced and cannot be produced.
Dr. Suss-Hahnemann writes in the “Allg. hom. Ztg.” (September 26th, 1864, page 103) after a reproduction of the will:
Within a short time he (Hahnemann) was enabled to exchange his comparatively obscure dwelling near the Luxembourg for a large mansion in the Rue de Milan, and within nine years to acquire enormous wealth (4,000,000 francs) which in accordance with his will belonged entirely to his wife and of which she never even gave one penny to Hahnemann’s family. From this we can explain the unusual severity and threats on the part of Hahnemann in his will directed against his children when he speaks of reducing them to their entailed portion-he who otherwise was kindness and love itself towards his family-must have been advised by his second wife, to hold over the members of his family the most callous punishments should they make the least sign of demanding the share of their father’s legacy due to them.
And in another passage of the same letter he says:
Madame Hahnemann was a woman of the world and knew that if she succeeded in bringing the founder of Homoeopathy to Paris her fortune was made; therefore, to obtain the fullest measure of enjoyment from it, she induced her aged husband to threaten his own children with severe punishments should they have the natural desire to seek a share in the wealth which their father had accumulated by hard work at such an advanced age, and try to put their wish into execution.
SUPPLEMENT 234
LEOPOLD SUSS, HAHNEMANN’S GRANDSON, TO MR. VON BOENNINGHAUSEN.
Paris, July 21st, 1843.
Esteemed Baron, My dear good grandmother, Madame Hahnemann, received your esteemed letter yesterday and as she is still weak from grief and is suffering from the many worries due to my late grandfather’s decease, she therefore charges me to send you the following reply.
Your dear letter has made a great impression upon my dear grandmother. She feels that you worshipped my dear grandfather, and she also knows how highly he valued you. As soon as my good grandmother is able to write again, she will do so herself in order to express her feelings to you. My mother, Amalie, widow of Dr. Suss, nee Hahnemann, who visited you in Munster, and I (sixteen years of age) are now in Paris to see once more our beloved grandfather. But my studies, begun at Dresden, compel me to leave my dear grandmother who is so weak as early as tomorrow. It is a great sorrow to us to leave our grandmother who cannot be comforted, but she herself wishes what is best for me, so that I may come back to her as quickly as possible, that is, when I shall be so far advanced that I can begin my doctor’s studies here in Paris; I, therefor, shall be as diligent as I possibly can in order to honour the name of my dearly beloved grand- father.
My dear good little grandmother, my good mother and I send their kind regards to you, Sir, as the friend of our beloved deceased grandfather, and I remain, with the greatest admiration and esteem.
Your humble, LEOPOLD SUSS.
Madame Hahnemann in spite of her debility and illness could not deny herself the adding of a few French sentences which denote her business capacity and which in the translation read as follows:
Esteemed Sir, and Friend, I am in the greatest despair!
Why should you not come to Paris, reside here and continue the work of Hahnemann who loved you so much.
Reply to me regarding this. If you find any difficulties in this I shall no doubt be able to help you with them.
Reply to me soon, May God bless you, MIE. HAHNEMANN.
SUPPLEMENT 235
DAUGHTER AND STEP-MOTHER.
Extracts from letters of Amalie, widow of Dr. Suss, to Madame Melanie Hahnemann:
Dresden, 17th October, 1844.
Darling little Mother, Great anxiety impels me to write to enquire how you are. Many people are dying here from nerve-fever; after God you are our only treasure on earth… I also wish to let you know that in two months time we shall have to leave this house as it has been sold, and the future owner will occupy the rooms I now have; that again is a terrible blow. and the winter is at our door.
Dresden, January, 1845 (without giving the actual day).
You have again been very kind to us by sending us one hundred francs; accept our heartiest thanks for it, and be assured that we are very grateful for it. You, dear little mother, are our only happiness on earth-none of my sisters gives me the pleasure of such a dear letter, on the contrary they are all jealous of me, because I am your dear daughter.
Enclosed is a New Year’s letter from Leopold, written in French, addressed to the “Chere, chere grand mere,” together with a copy of the following school report:
Friedrich Leopold Robert Suss of Leinungen, near Sangerhausen, has been a pupil of the Creuz Schule since Michaelmas, 1842; since Michaelmas of this year he has been a member of the second class; during the time that he has frequented this school he had distinguished himself by exemplary conduct and indefatigable endeavour to develop and apply the good talents given him by Nature so that we may have good hopes for his further scientific education. May he continue the career which he has begun in such a praiseworthy manner with courage.
Dresden, December 15th, 1844.
DR. CHRISTIAN ERNST AUGUST GROBEL, Rector Gymnasii, Knight of the Royal Saxon Civil Order.
Dresden, April 16th, 1845.
Dear beloved little Mother,
How glad I am to have received a letter from you. Leopold and I were already despairing, thinking that something had happened to you… As regards Leopold I may just tell you that he has made a confession to me. He is worrying because at the beginning of next year he will have to become a soldier, as he will then be twenty years old. No excuse will avail, and he cannot buy himself out as it would cost too much money. What a disturbance it would create to break his studies in order to serve as a soldier for six years; there is only one escape and that is to go abroad, and then they could do nothing. Recruiting is very much to the fore, because many soldiers are required. Be good enough to allay our anxiety by an immediate reply to this letter, otherwise Leopold would think the letter had been opened. Should you, dear little mother, be too busy to write yourself, send just a line through your servant. Accept our many thanks for which you wish to send us. The 10th of April we celebrated the dear good departed father’s birthday with heartfelt intimate thoughts, and we also lovingly remembered you-as you were the one who made the evening of his life happy. Who would have thought that the good God would have sent you from a distance as our angel; you are equally one of God’s angels for me and my Leopold.
Dresden, May 19th, 1845.
I am afraid you worry too much on my behalf as you wish that I too should come to Paris, which I recognise with gratitude. I know it is no small matter as everything there is so expensive. But besides that-I believe that it is much better for Leopold if I am not always with him; because a mother is too yielding to her child and too indulgent in everything. I rather believe, that under your guidance alone he will become more independent, however much I might desire to be always with him but conscience’sake I would willingly sacrifice everything, and I shall have to part from him some time.
In a letter written in French Leopold again expresses thanks for the receipt of one hundred francs. The mother encloses two small notes; in the one is written:
Dresden, May 24th, 1845.
I generally put all my trust in you concerning the further education of Leopold, because your judgment is unequalled. And as Leopold has such a great affection for you, as well as a good disposition, you certainly will make a very good man of him. I believe that you will not have any trouble with him; he is intelligent, diligent in his studies, which is particularly shown by the satisfaction he gives to his teachers.
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