Letter dated 6 January 1858
Notes
1. Scan of original and a scan of an English translation (cursive). Original held by Eric Streitberg in WA (I think).
2. Thanks to Dossie Shearman who provided these copies.
3. I've typed the English translation below.
4. The Prussian thaler with a fine silver content of 16.7 g and the south German florin with a fine silver content of 9.5 g established themselves as the dominant currencies (in particular thanks to the Dresden Coinage Convention of 1838 and the Vienna Monetary Treaty of 1857). https://www.bundesbank.de/en/statistics/economic-activity-and-prices/producer-and-consumer-prices/purchasing-power-comparisons-of-historical-amounts-of-money-795290
9.5 grams of silver is currently over, $11.00 (au). 45,000 florins = c.$500,000.
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6th Jan 1858
Nice to get your letter. It was a lovely Xmas present. Its a year since we wrote and gave one to the family to take. On the 28th Dec 1856 we had a fine baby boy and took the liberty of making you Godfather. You were represented by your father with great pleasure.
Its been a terrible year for rain and we had snow in the winter. No rain has fallen since Whitsun[day]. Its the driest year in living memory. Because its been a dry year the wine was a superlative vintage and has caused some mischief.
It's as strong as brandy. A strong man had six glasses and fell dead on the floor. There were many similar cases. It even tempted me. It led me up the garden path on only two glasses. Half a glass is enough to set you on the way out of the pub.
There has also been a very great deal of fruit and I have a great deal of hemp to cut. The family called Morgansteiner, Herbert and Sialer (?) came to visit.
I have as much cutting and tailoring to do as Johann and can't take on any more work.
It was very cold at my place to the extent that the water froze. The tanners have done very well. Leather was very expensive. They are selling shoe soling leather at one florin and calfskin at two to three florins. From the butcher [illegible] cost 50 [illegible].
The cost of everything is now falling sharply and fruit is now down by one half. You can now buy [illegible] for ten florins and less.
[three sentences illegible]
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As soon as its cheaper I will restart the tanning. Until now I've been tied up with improving the plant. Also last summer I built [illegible].
The wine dealer Midel had a setback. He stood guarantor for his brother in America and lost his shirt. He had to pay out 45,000 florins.
The young inn-keepers wife died but otherwise everyone is fine. All are well and send their best wishes and hope you are doing well.
Fritz Hoffgarden who had to join the army was in Morgantein (?) last summer and send his best.
I can't tell you much about your local friends in Niederstetten. Heinrich Kohler is vicar near Stuttgart. Hans Broyer (?) is at home. Gary Lynda no one knows and his father has been on the booze.
They are selling coal at 50 florins a bucket. [illegible] owes father some money and wants to pay him back in installments, so he is not very happy about that.
Friedrich Katzermuller died and left nothing but debts. They just managed to cover all he owed from his estate. He promised [illegible] 2,000 florins if he'd marry his daughter and the old man died and now he's got the daughter and no money.
No one knows about Johann Friedrich. He wrote once from Australia and we sent him your address but he is supposed to have done a bunk in London with a lot of money he supposed to be taking to [illegible] for his boss.
The parents told me not to wait for a reply to your letters as quite often you don't
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get our letters, so you should write more often.
Greetings from all, friends, relatives, brothers, sisters, in laws and outlaws and from from my own dear wife whom I live very happily. And best wishes from your godparents.
Your loving brother,
Jacob Streitberger.
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