For In Almost Every Newspaper That
Appears, There Are Some Verses On The Great Katterfelto, Which Some
One Or Other Of His Hearers Are Said To Have Made Extempore.
Every
sensible person considers Katterfelto as a puppy, an ignoramus, a
braggadocio, and an impostor; notwithstanding which he has a number
of followers.
He has demonstrated to the people, that the influenza
is occasioned by a small kind of insect, which poisons the air; and
a nostrum, which he pretends to have found out to prevent or destroy
it, is eagerly bought of him. A few days ago he put into the
papers: "It is true that Mr. Katterfelto has always wished for cold
and rainy weather, in order to destroy the pernicious insects in the
air; but now, on the contrary, he wishes for nothing more than for
fair weather, as his majesty and the whole royal family have
determined, the first fine day, to be eye-witnesses of the great
wonder, which this learned philosopher will render visible to them."
Yet all this while the royal family have not so much as even thought
of seeing the wonders of Mr. Katterfelto. This kind of rhodomontade
is very finely expressed in English by the word puff, which in its
literal sense, signifies a blowing, or violent gust of wind, and in
the metaphorical sense, a boasting or bragging.
Of such puffs the English newspapers are daily full, particularly of
quack medicines and empirics, by means of which many a one here (and
among others a German who goes by the name of the German doctor) are
become rich. An advertisement of a lottery in the papers begins
with capitals in this manner, - "Ten Thousand Pounds for a Sixpence!
Yes, however astonishing it may seem, it is nevertheless undoubtedly
true, that for the small stake of sixpence, ten thousand pounds, and
other capital prizes, may be won, etc." - But enough for this time of
the puffs of the English.
I yesterday dined with the Rev. Mr. Schrader, son-in-law to
Professor Foster of Halle. He is chaplain to the German chapel at
St. James's; but besides himself he has a colleague or a reader, who
is also in orders, but has only fifty pounds yearly salary. Mr.
Schrader also instructs the younger princes and princesses of the
royal family in their religion. At his house I saw the two
chaplains, Mr. Lindeman and Mr. Kritter, who went with the
Hanoverian troops to Minorca, and who were returned with the
garrison. They were exposed to every danger along with the troops.
The German clergy, as well as every other person in any public
station immediately under Government, are obliged to pay a
considerable tax out of their salaries.
The English clergy (and I fear those still more particularly who
live in London) are noticeable, and lamentably conspicuous, by a
very free, secular, and irregular way of life. Since my residence
in England, one has fought a duel in Hyde Park, and shot has
antagonist.
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