Here I send you a little production of my pen, which may perhaps give pleasure to my dear Mother and Sisters; for it should be at least written for ladies. In the year 1790 Wieland edited the _Historical Calendar_, and in this of 1791 and in the 1792 that will follow, I have undertaken the task. Insignificant as a _Calendar_ seems to be, it is that kind of book which the Publishers can circulate the most extensively, and which accordingly brings them the best payment. To the Authors also they can, accordingly, offer much more. For this Essay on the _Thirty-Years War_ they have given me 80 Louis-d'or, and I have in the middle of my Lectures written it in four weeks. Print, copperplates, binding, Author's honorarium cost the Publisher 4,500 _reichsthaler_ (675_l._), and he counts on a sale of 7,000 copies or more. "_28th._ Today," so he continues, after some remarks on a good old friend of his Father's, written after interruption,—"Today is your Birthday, dearest Father, which we both celebrate with a pious joy that Heaven has still preserved you sound and happy for us thus far. May Heaven still watch over your dear life and your health, and preserve your days to the latest age, that so your grateful Son may be able to spread, with all the power he has, joy and contentment over the evening of your life, and pay the debts of filial duty to you! "Farewell, my dearest Father; loving kisses to our dearest Mother and my dear Sisters. We will soon write again. "The Wine has arrived in good condition; once more receive our hearty thanks.—Your grateful and obedient Son "FRIEDRICH."