Probably Besslers last letter.

[Denker]

I don't know if this is helpful for you, but here is the probably last letter from Bessler. Written, Carlshaven april 25 or 26 1745.
A few months before he falling to death...



regards Sandro

[sadiq attamish]

hi
how to read this?

[Lightwave]

geez some of those words look like just squiggly lines :P
i do like is signature its almost looks like a clue

[scott]

please use the attachment feature

[broli]

I have enhanced the scans to the best of my ability, but it will still need an expert in the language and hand writing to translate them. Since it's too big to be attached...

http://img37.imageshack.us/f/kgbhbpzeenhanced.jpg/

[DrWhat]

Can anyone provide a translation? Thanks (poor Stewart... hint hint...!)

[Denker]

I would think the first few words are:

"Nachdem an EW. Hochwohlgeb. nun so offt und viel
geschrieben und gar keine Antwort erhalten, unterdessen aber in Hunger,
Kummer, Frust und Kälte geschmachtet (weil in langer Zeit keinen Stecken Holtz von Hn. Ambtmann bekommen) ja offt trocknes Brodt essen und Wasser trincken müssen, doch endlich gottlob es dahin gebracht, und das von Hrn. Oberhaubtmann von Mannsberg, unter auß England erlangter Commission verlangte Modell von dem motu perpetuo mittwochs den 14. Ap. fertig bekommen,"

[Ian G]

mmmmmm:!!!! ?

[Ian G]

Still don'tunz understandun

[jim_mich]

There exists a sadly evocative letter which the inventor wrote at the end of April, 1745, only a few months before his death, from his home in Karlshafen, in which he pleads, wretchedly, for some small help for him and his family. But as well there is, intriguingly, a reference to one more perpetual motion

Copyright © 1997-2003 John Collins. All rights reserved. 152

machine which he has been ordered to finish - and also to a steam engine. The letter is addressed to Baron Schrader von Schliestedt, Karl I's right hand man.

Sir, Baron and Highly Respected Court Councillor,

I have written often and many times to you, Highly Honourable Sire, but I have not received any answer. Meanwhile, I lack strength and will, through hunger, grief, frost and chill, because for a long time I have not received a single piece of wood from the District Magistrate. Indeed, I have often had only dry bread to eat and water to drink. However, at last, thank God, I have had the good luck to finish preparing the model of perpetual motion which was commissioned from England, as demanded by the Senior District Magistrate, von Mannsberg. It was ready at midnight on April 14th, and on the same day I had travelled to Karlshafen, borrowing two gulden from the Rev. Pastor.

Note that Bessler says that he finished "preparing the model of perpetual motion which was commissioned from England, as demanded by the Senior District Magistrate, von Mannsberg." This last perpetual motion machine model, finished by Bessler on April 14th, 1745, was never shown to von Mannsberg (Bessler's landlord) who was in England at the time Bessler finished it. Bessler died on November 30th, 1745, seven months later. This last PM wheel was not assembled at the time of Bessler's death.

[Stewart]

Hi Sandro

Thank you very much for posting the scan of Bessler's letter, which was probably one of his last. Although many of us are familiar with this letter because John Collins talks about it and gives a partial English translation in his book "Perpetual Motion: An Ancient Mystery Solved?", I haven't actually seen a copy of the original letter.

It's nice to have such a good scan since I'm used to working from quite poor quality scans of Bessler's writing, so this is a piece of cake ;-) Here's a quick attempt at transcribing the first page...

HochWohlgebohrner Herr Baron!
Hochgeehrtester Herr Hof-Rath! etc. etc.

Nachdem an Ew: Hochwohlgeb: nun so offt und viel geschrieben
und gar keine Antwort erhalten, unterdessen aber in Hunger, Kummer,
Frost und Kälte geschmachtet (: weil in langer Zeit keinen Stecken Holtz &c. von Dhln: Ambt-
mann bekommen :) ja offt trocknes Brod essen und Wasser trincken müssen,
doch endlich gottlob es dahin gebracht und das von Dhln: Oberhaubtmann
von Mannsberg, unter auß England erlangter Commission verlangte
Modell von den Motu Perpetuo, mittwochs den 14. Ap: ferttig bekommen, und
an ermeldten Tage noch mit 2. nur von Dhln: Pastore gelehnten Gulden Geld
nach Carlshafen gereiset. Den 15. dito muste auß der Kirche nach Hauße u.
s.w. ins Bette, weil mit der hefftigsten Colica Biliosa, Flatulenta Pituitosa &c.
befallen ward, die mir Kälte, elendes Leben, tägl. Chagrin &c.&c. auf den
Fürstenberg zugezogen, und ein 8. 9. Tage lang dergestallt gequählet worden,
daß gantz gewiß den Todt vermuthet, sintemahlen ein durch etl. hartte Fälle
zu Fürstenb. causirtes Accidens noch hinzukommen. Mein Gott aber auf eine
Wunder-Weise, durch ein eintziges mir im Sinn gebrachtes guttes Mittel endlich
mir solche Linderung verschaffet, daß diese Woche wiederum nach Fürstenberg
zu gehen vermögende zu seÿn verhoffe, Ihm seÿ Lob und Danck gesaget.
Ew: Hochwohlgeb: muß aber ohne langen Aufschub einen artigen Casum
hirmit hinterbringen, der den allhiesigen ehrl. Doct: Appenroth passiret,
der gutte alte redl. Freünd (: welchen alle meine Patienten anvertrauet :)
kam am heil. Oster-Tage voller Consternation zu mir, mit verwundrung
erzahlendt : was Ihm Tages vorhero, am heil. Oster-Sonnabendt, mittags
zwischen 12. und 1. Uhr beÿ Meinbrexen passiret, als er von Holtzminden kommen.

I've translated it in my head as I've been typing it up and it does seem to tally with John's translation. I'll finish transcribing it and then post a full translation as soon as I can.

Your efforts in sourcing original Bessler material are greatly appreciated (I've "punched your greenie"!). Living in Germany you're in a better position to source certain material than the rest of us. I'm currently trying to collect all documentation relating to Bessler, transcribing it and translating it into English, and making it all available from my website, so any original documents you can provide are gratefully received and I'll be putting your name on the "thanks go to" page.

If you're up for a challenge then perhaps you could see if you can source copies of the following documents...

"Das Evangelische sondersame Grosse Jubel-Jahr 1717 / wolte An dem durch Gottes Güte ... wiederum erlebten ... Hohen Gebuhrts-Tage, Des ... grossen Fürstens ... Herren Carols Landgraffens zu Hessen ... Mit etlich-hundert-außerlesenen ... Biblischen Dictis ... Dem lieben Hessen-Lande ... zu vergnügendem Nachsinnen ... vorstellen und celebriren helffen der bekandte Orffyreus, Fürstl. Hess. Commercien-Raht, Kassel" [1717]

"Der recht-glaubige Orffyrer: oder die einige Vereinigung der uneinigen Christen in Glaubens-Sachen: sie nennen sich gleich: evangelisch-luthrisch, evangelisch-reformirt, römisch-catholisch oder papistisch / in fünffzig Fragen abgefasset zu einem Neuen-Jahrs-Opffer 1723, allen ... teutschen Christen-Seelen ... in unglaublicher Eyl entworffen und ... praesentiret von ... Orffyreo, Kassel 1723"

"Kurtz verfaßter und unumstößlicher Inbegriff Der allerreinesten Christen-Religion An den glorieusen Nahmens-Tage So wohl Ihr. Maj. des Röm. Kaysers &c. &c. &c. Als auch Des Durchlauchtigsten, Unsers Gnädigsten Fürstens und Herrens, Herren Carls, Landgrafens zu Hessen, Fürstens zu Herßfeld, Grafens zu Catzenelnbogen, Dietz, Ziegenhayn, Nidda und Schaumburg, &c. &c. : Nebst unterthänigsten Neu-Jahr-Wunsche 1724 ; Anbey die bekannte ... Einige Vereinigung der uneinigen Christen..., Karlshafen 1724"

"Das neu-erfundene orffyreische Schiff! : oder eine besondere Conversations-Machine auf der See und großen Wassern, fals ein Schiff stranden oder zerscheitern und untergehen solte, daß jedennoch die nothleydende Schiff-Patronen &c. mit göttlicher Hülffe ihr Leben und Capital-Effecten &c. conserviren und retten können / ... von dem ... Mathematico und Commercien-Rathe Orffyreo, M.D. ..., 1738"


All the best,
Stewart

[sadiq attamish]

hi
all the credit it should be go to mr johan colin,if any body get very near to bessler clues must be remember that great man (johan colin),but this does not mean to forget our historical leader (we very sad feeling on him ) the pioner MR BESSLE.thank

[sadiq attamish]

hi
sorry mr bessler.thanks