338 Kant: A Biography
Of the idea to make the Churfürst of Saxony the King of Poland.
The injuriousness of this plan to our state, etc.
The Countess Keyserlingk.: If my husband was still alive, he would certainly have made
clear to the king by means of a concrete deduction that his best ally is Russia, that the
house of Austria is his real enemy, and that it will always remain such an enemy.
Lady von Recke: Those Saxons who surround the king. - Something about Saxony,
while the Mrs. Colonel Heykings started something with Kant.
The Countess Keyserlingk: Russia really has no interest in taking anything from us.
Kurland is a real wall of separation.
I: I still do not believe that they do not have any interests in East Prussia and the
properties in former Poland, given the trade in the Baltic sea, etc.
The Countess did not change her mind, and the Lady von Recke supported her in
this as a courageous Russian women.
After dinner
Lady von Recke and Kant
Lady von Recke: What do you think of my dispute with Starck?
Kant: I am sorry that My Lady has to contend with a man who is so energetic, smart
and proud. My Lady should stop and not read another word of his writings.
Lady von Recke: But that would really be too timid; I have once made a sacrifice for
the truth, I will finish it.
Kant: But could one not get evidence from France?
Lady von Recke: But how?
Kant: There must be people who still live by the Library, and who know about every¬
thing; and since so many citizens of Kurland travel there - letters should work.
Lady von Recke: You know how our young people are traveling today. Libraries are
the last coffeehouse they visit —
The society dispersed and left, or rather, left the stage. Lady von Recke had it arranged
that I would be asked not to leave before I saw her alone.^29
This conversation is symptomatic of a fairly recent change in the political
atmosphere. Frederick William II and his advisors had decided soon after
the inauguration that religion needed to be defended. The king had liked
Kant, giving him special honors at the very beginning of his reign. Yet,
given Kant's religious views and his ever-increasing reputation as "the all-
crushing Kant," the new king soon regretted his support of Kant. Much
like the unfortunate Würzer, who was at first accepted by the king but later
thrown into prison, Kant had a right to be concerned.
Frederick William II was no Frederick the Great. Without a firm char¬
acter, he followed his advisors more than his own will. It has been said that
he "was over-dependent on these advisors, and as his advisors advocated
divergent views his policies necessarily lacked consistency."^30 His private
life was characterized by several sexual scandals of the most sordid kind,
while his public policy was marked by a campaign for religious righteous-