THE CASANOVA TOUR
by Pablo Günther

( ContentsPart VIII:
TRAVELLING CARRIAGES - (part III, VII - VIII)  - Casanova's Carriages (3)  -15. The Chaise "Innsbruck"  -  16. The Travelling Coach "Paris 4"  -  17. The Calash "Dux"  (Part IX : Post Roads).

III. His Travelling Carriages from 1773 onwards.
    We are now in the last third of Casanova's life, a period that he had not described in his memoirs. However, the history of his carriage "Innsbruck" can be well reconstructed by letters and other documents in the Casanova archives.
15. The Chaise "Innsbruck"
Called by Casanova: sedia da posta.
Though the above chaise was painted about 1750, Casanova's travelling carriage "Innsbruck" could well have looked like this. - "The main-guard at Frankfurt on Main", by Christian Georg Schütz (cutting; full picture above). Photo taken from the original in the Historic Museum of Frankfurt by PG.
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Type: a four-wheeled travelling-chaise or -calash.
Model: a two-seater with a folding top.
Travelling speed: Augsburg - Frankfurt: 8.6 km/h, non-stop.
Former owner: unknown, in Innsbruck.
Price: unknown; perhaps 10 Louis d'or [2,400 Pence (d.)], as Casanova had demanded from the dealers in Mainz.
Route: 560 km. Innsbruck - Garmisch Partenkirchen - Augsburg - Stuttgart - Heidelberg - Frankfurt - Mainz.
Dates: June - December 1783.
New owner: unknown; perhaps the innkeeper of the Hotel "Roman Emperor" in Frankfurt.
Selling price: presumably 5 Louis d'or [1,200 d.].
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    In 1782, Casanova had to leave his native city again, and this time for ever. He travelled to Trieste and then on to Vienna. The next year, he returned briefly to Venice only to say goodbye to his girlfriend, Francesca Buschini, and her family, and set off again on a journey which was to become his last great one. With the carriage "Innsbruck" he travelled via Augsburg to Mainz, and then by boat and stage-coach to the Netherlands and Paris. From there he returned to Vienna with his brother Francesco in another carriage owned by himself (nr. 16 "Paris 4") via Frankfurt and Nuremberg.
    On the road, he often wrote to Francesca Buschini; her answering letters were found among Casanova's papers at Dux. Often she repeated her friend's statements and so from them we learn details of his travelling. We also have letters he wrote from Antwerp and Frankfurt to the Abbé della Lena in which he described his journey. These letters have already been published.
    However, in addition we have other letters and documents never before published, presumably because these deal only with the matter of his carriage in which evidently no one was interested: e.g. the letters to Casanova by the used carriage dealers Antonio Rossi and Laurent Raghianti from Mainz, as well as by their customer, the Canon Rumpler from Spa. That is why I would like to overscribe the story of the chaise "Innsbruck" with:
Correspondence when Selling a Used Carriage.
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    Francesca Buschini describes Casanova's departure from Mestre / Venice and his journey to Augsburg as follows:
[The letters of Francesca Buschini from: Marco Leeflang, Les Archives de Dux [Marr - numbers]. The following excerpts were translated by Gillian Rees.]
[Marr 8 - 194]
    A Monsieur Casanova de Seingalt
    en poste restante. Augsbourg.
    Venezia venerdi 27 giugno 1783.
        Amico amatissimo
Mio caro amico non manco di darvi pronta risposta dela cara vostra crita li 21 in Trento da la quale intesi molte cose (...).
Intesi dala cara vostra che siete partito da Mestre Martedì [17 giugno] matina alla punta del giorno e che siete rivato a Basano a mezzo giorno intesi che siete andato a pranzo dai frateli dela Catroli e che vi siete fermato a dormire la notte in nela soa casa (...).
Intesi que Mercordì matina siete partito da Basano per la posta e la sera siete giunto a Borgo di Valsugana (...).
Ho molto piasere che godiate perfeta salute desidero di rivedervi felise e contento vi abrasio di core e sono vostra vera amica
        Francesca Buschini
        Beloved Friend,
My dear friend, I hasten to reply to your dear letter written on the 21st from Trento from which I learnt many things (...). I understand from your dear letter that you left Mestre on Tuesday morning at dawn and reached Bassano at midday where you had lunch with the brothers of La Catroli and slept that night at their house (...).
I note that you left Bassano Wednesday morning by the post and reached Borgo di Valsugana in the evening (...).
I am glad you are in perfect health and wanting to see you again happy and content, I embrace you with all my heart, and remain your true friend.
        Francesca Buschini
..........
[Marr 8 - 166]
    A Monsieur Monsieur Casanova de Seingalt
    en poste restante a Spa.
    Venezia, venerdì 11 luglio 1783
Rispondo ala cara vostra che mi avete crito in Augusta il 29 de Giugno da la quale intesi che vie siete fermato in Imspruck per andare al teatro ove dite che avete avuto l'onore di parlar con la duchessa di Parma e poi che siete partito subito e che avete viaggiato quaranta otto ore senza mai fermarvi. gran uomo che siete voi per viagiar! (...).
Resto con abbrasiandovi di core vostra umilissima serva e amica
        Francesca Buschini.
I am replying to your dear letter that you wrote to me from Augsburg on the 29th June from which I learn that you stopped in Innsbruck to go to the theatre where you say you had the honour of speaking with the Duchess of Parma and that you left immediately afterwards and travelled for forty-eight hours without stopping.
What a great man you are for travelling! (...).
Embracing you with all my heart, I remain, your very humble servant and friend.
        Francesca Buschini.
    When Casanova wrote in his memoirs "I travelled without stopping", this was always in his own or in a hired carriage. Furthermore, the route from Innsbruck to Augsburg (via Füssen: 200 km) could not be covered by stage coach in only two days. Therefore it seems certain that Casanova must have purchased his own carriage in Innsbruck and travelled from there over the extra-post-road via Partenkirchen to Augsburg (175 km), where he presumably arrived on the 26th of June.
    Having arrived in Augsburg, a city highly esteemed by Casanova for many years, he put up at the "Golden Grape" of Sigismund Mayr (who later wrote letters to him in Frankfurt and Vienna, asking for money, perhaps for the hotel bill). Shortly before his departure, Casanova ordered a saddler to check and clean his new chaise. He kept the bill until his death:
Bill for cleaning and mending Casanova's chaise: "Sattlerzettel Fl 1 56 Kr. Nota. F(ür) einen Wagen zu Putzen und auszubessern. Fl 1 56. Augsburg d 2 ten July 1783 Erasimus Schlegel Sattlermeister."
"Saddler-slip Fl 1 56 Kr. Nota. For cleaning and repairing a carriage. 1 Florin 56 creitzers [58 d.]. Augsburg, the 2nd July 1783. Erasimus Schlegel, saddler-master." - M. Leeflang, Les Archives de Dux [Marr 4 - 64]. Photo: PG.
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    Let us see now what Francesca says about his continuing journey:
[Marr 8 - 169]
    A Monsieur Monsieur Casanova de Seingalt
    en poste restante a Spa
    Venezia mercordì 16 Luglio 1783.
        Amico Stimatisimo
Ricevei la cara vostra [di Francoforte] il giorno 14 che vol dir gieri l'altro, dala quale intesi con grandisimo piacere l'otimo vostro stato di salute; intesi con stupore il gran viagio que avete fato dicotto poste senza mai fermarvi che per cambiar cavalli e due volte per mangiare e che siete rivato a Francfort fresco come una rosa in quarantadue ore e che ne avete dormito ameno dicotto asai megio che se fosi stato a letto. Io sono molto sorpresa di aver inteso i gran viagi che avete fato e che siete per fare. (...).
(...) resto con abbraciandovi di tuto core vostra e cinesea amica
        Francesca Buschini.
        Most Esteemed Friend,
I received your dear letter [from Frankfurt] on the 14th, that is the day before yesterday, from which I learnt with the greatest pleasure of your excellent state of health; I am astonished at the long journey you have made, travelling eighteen posts without stopping except to change horses and on two occasions to eat, and that you arrived in Frankfurt after forty-two hours fresh as a rose, and that you slept at least eighteen hours as well as if you had been in bed. I am very surprised at the great journey you have made and that you are still intending to make (...).
(...) embracing you with all my heart, I remain, your sincere friend.
        Francesca Buschini.
    Casanova could have arrived  in Frankfurt by the 4th of July [recommending letter by Heyder & Comp. of the 5th of July, Marr 12-19], having taken the shortest (360 km) of several post roads from Augsburg to Frankfurt - eighteen stages - via Bruchsal, at a rather fast speed of 8.6 km/h.
    By 11th July at the latest, he arrived at the nearby town of Mainz where he met a friend, Count Giacomo Durazzo of Genoa, which caused him to put his carriage in the hands of Antonio Rossi & Company, presumably a dealer in second-hand carriages, with the order to sell it.
    Together with Durazzo, Casanova went on board a ship which brought them in two days to Cologne. From there he went on alone to Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), where he probably arrived on the 14th July.
    Casanova himself describes the journey from Trento to Aachen and farther on to Spa in a letter* as follows:
[* Helmut Watzlawick, Casanova and della Lena, Casanova Gleanings 1979. Translated by Gillian Rees.]
    A Monsieur
    Monsieur l'Abbé de la Lena
    au colege Theresien
    Vienne
    Anversa 6 7bre 1783
        Sigr Abbate Mio Venermo Prone
(...) indi mi fermai a Trento, poscia a Inspruck dove ebbi un lungo colloquio con la serenissima infanta duchessa di Parma, poi in Augusta otto giorni dove trovai tutti i miei amici morti, poi a Francfort e a Magonza, dove trovai il conte Durazzo, per unirmi al quale, lasciai là la mi sedia da posta, assai lieto di poter accompagnarlo fino a Cologna, e cosi risparmiare sei zecchini. Egli andò in Olanda, ed io in Acquisgrana, dove perdetti otto giorni con quel magistrato sovrano, che non intese il bello di una utilissima proposizione, che gli feci, e che a me sarebbe riuscita di sommo vantaggio. Di la me ne andai a Spa: in quel recinto in cui per non so qual convenzione concorrono una volta all'anno nell'estate tutte le nazioni dell' Europa per far mille pazzie, feci anch'io le mie, e vi passai quasi un mese. (...).
    L'abbraccio teneramente, e la prego di conservarmi intatta la sua amicizia, mentre sono, e sarò sempre.
    Suo Umo Obbo Servitore
        Casanova
(...). Afterwards I stopped at Trento, then at Innsbruck where I had a long talk with her Serene Highess the Infanta Duchess of Parma, then eight days in Augsburg where I found all my old friends dead, then to Frankfurt and Mainz, where I met the Count Durazzo and in order to remain with him I left my postchaise there, being happy enough to accompany him as far as Cologne and so save myself six zecchini. He went to Holland and I to Aachen where I wasted eight days with that Sovereign Magistrate, who did not understand the value of a very useful proposition I made him, and which could have brought me an advantageous sum. From there I went to Spa, in which resort for I know not what accepted custom, all the European nations once a year in summer come together to commit a thousand follies. I also committed mine, and spent there almost a month. (...).
    Your most humble and most obedient servant
        Casanova
    On the basis of Casanova's statement that he had saved 6 zecchini [660 d.] for the ride from Mainz to Cologne by extra-post I concluded that the number of post-horses Casanova needed here and on the other roads must have been two. This allows me to estimate the quality of the carriage and the number of passengers.
    The chaise was a light one; Casanova travelled alone and without much luggage (if there was a second passenger, he would have had to take three or even four posthorses).
    In Aachen, he wrote a letter to his used-carriage dealer, Antonio Rossi, who answered* as follows:
[* The following letters: Marco Leeflang, Les Archives de Dux. English Translation by Gillian Rees.]
[Marr 13 B 5]
    A Monsieur
    Monsieur Jacques Casanova
    présentmt à Spa
    Magenta il 29 Luglio 1783
        Riveritiss Se Se P.ron Colmo
gli diremo in riscontro de la Gentilisma Sua del 16 Spirante che il n.ro amico de Colonia ci scrise che al ricevendo gl n.o ordini, per pagarli li Conotte f 30 = VSa Era gia da Colà partitto Veramente Il Barcarolo con cui sono da qui partitti ha fatto piu breve viaggie Che noi vi Eramo figurati e ci ha dispiacuto Molto tal Invonvenienza, pero pregasimo il Sig Prengrueber de Colonia in Caso Che V.Sa gli Chiedese la detta Somma da Spa di Somministarglala p nro Conto Co Che fara anchora Se gliela Chiedera quando che in questo Intervalle non fose gia Seguito, siamo ben Sensibili alla bonta del Sig Marchese Durazzo che ci Voglia Conservare la Sua buona Memoria.
La Sedia qui lasciata da noi l'abbiamo offerta e datosi tutta la pena possibile per venderla ma fin qui non ci fu offerto que Cinque luiggi d'oro che fano Cinquanti Cinque fiorini d'Imperio e dietro tutt'aparenza non ne tiraremo al tutto più Che Sei Luiggi novi, poiche non è Secondo l'uso di qua, Se VSa Vuo Concederla per tal Prezzo non ha che dircelo, che la daremo.
Lo riveriamo distint^e e si diamo l'onore de Rassegnarci Con la più perfetta Stima
D Va Div. e Obi Servi
        Ant. Rossi & Compag
        My dear Sir,
In reply to your esteemed letter of the 16th of this month, we wish to inform you that our friend in Cologne has written to us that when he had received our order to pay you the said 30 Florins [900 d.], your excellency had already left there. Actually, the boatman, with whom you departed from here, had a shorter voyage than we had imagined, and we are very sorry for this inconvenience. However, we asked Mr Brengrueber of Cologne to send you the said sum to Spa, debited to our account, in case your excellency should demand that; this he will do even if in the meantime you have not yet arrived there. We well remember the kindness of Marchese Durazzo and wish to conserve his good opinion.
We offered the chaise for sale which you left with us and have made every possible effort to sell it. However, until today we have only been offered five Louis d'or [1,200 d.], which amounts to fifty-five Imperial Florins*, and it seems that we shall obtain at most six new Louis for it because such carriages are not much in use here. If your Excellency will agree to such a price, you have only to inform us and we will act accordingly.
Assuring you of our highest esteem, we have the honour to remain,
Your Excellency's most humble servants
        Ant. Rossi & Compagnie
[* Actually these were Dutch Florins à 21.82 Pence.]
    The realistic value of Casanova's carriage, "here not much in use", could have corresponded to the offer of five Louis d'or, or at the most six.
    From Aachen Casanova travelled on to nearby Spa, in his day one of the most famous spas in Europe, situated between Aachen and Liège, then in the Austrian Netherlands. He arrived on the 22nd or 23rd of July. This event was indicated in the List of newly arrived visitors, Number 25, of 26th July 1783:
    "Monsieur CASANOVA, Gentilhomme Vénitien, à l'Hotel du Louvre, rue d'entre les ponts."
    There he lived for one month, and met two gentlemen whose arrival also appeared in the list, Number 11, on the 7th of July:
    "Monsieur l'Abbé de KUMPLER [wrong printing; correct: RUMPLER] ancier Aumonier ordinaire de S.M. Très-Chrétienne, Chanoine de St. Jean de Varsovie & de St. Pierre de Strasbourg.
    Monsieur LOBSTEIN, Professeur en Médicine de l'Université de Strasbourg, au Pélican, grand'place."
    These two were about to go to Darmstadt and Heidelberg, presumably on their way back to Strasbourg. Casanova succeeded in interesting them in his chaise in Mainz. The result was:
[Marr 4 - 149]
    Monsieur
    Monsieur Casanova
    de Venise présent[ement] au Louvre
    rue d'entre les [ponts] à Spa
    Heidelberg ce 6. aoust 783
J'ay l'honeur de Vous prévenir, Monsieur, que nous nous sommes détournés de 3. lieues pour aller à Mayence dans l'intention de prendre votre chaise, mais elle n'a pas convenu à mon Docteur, et le maitre de poste vouloit nous y mettre 3. chevaux; cequi nous a déterminés à prendre un Equipage plus leger pour nous rendre à Darmstatt. Le S. Rossi m'a dit qu'il tacheroit d'en avoir dix Louis, et qu'au pis alloit il ne seroit pas embarassé pour en avoir neuf, si vous y consentés.
Agréez je vous prie la protestation de la parfaite considération avec laquelle j'ay l'h[onneur] d'etre, Monsieur
    Votre très humble et très obéis[san]t Serviteur
        Rumpler Chanoine
I have the honour, to inform you, Monsieur, that we took a detour of three miles to go to Mainz intending to take your chaise, but it was not suitable for my doctor, and the postmaster wanted it to be harnessed to three horses; which determined us to take a lighter equipage to go to Darmstadt. Mr Rossi told me he would try to get ten Louis [2,400 d.] for it, but if things went badly, he would be content with nine, if you would agree.
With great respect, I have the honour to remain,
    Your most humble and obedient servant
        Rumpler, Canon.
    From this letter we learn the price which Casanova demanded, ten Louis d'or, and that he did not give his permission to sell it for six Louis, as Rossi had proposed in his letter to him.
    A few days after Casanova had received Rumpler's letter, the following advertisment appeared in the foreigner's paper, Number 33, of 12th August:
"For sale a travelling carriage, with two seats, on four wheels. Address to Hotel du Louvre, street between the bridges."
    It might seem strange that a carriage was offered for sale in Spa when it was actually in Mainz; however, we have the letter of the Canon Rumpler. Thus I believe that it was Casanova - lodging in the above mentioned hotel - who placed this advertisment.
    All advertisments for carriages and horses of the season 1783 in the foreigner's paper of Spa, the "Liste des Seigneurs et Dames, Venus aux Eaux Minérales de Spa, l'an 1783" [Casanova - archive Gillian Rees].
    12.8.: Presumably, this was ordered by Casanova.
    Translation (without "à vendre" / for sale, and the addresses):
12.7.: Superb cabriolet, mounted upon four goldened double springs à la Polignac [French Cee-springs], with harness.
18.7.: Totally new cabriolet.
25.7.: (A saddler sells) a cabriolet with two and one with four seats, likewise a French chaise de poste. He sells bits & stirrups plated with gold, spurs from England & riding-whips of bamboo.
3.8.: (The same as that of 12.7.)
7.8.: A French cabriolet, upon springs, with vache [boot; leathern cover for trunks]; price 26 louis [6,240 d.].
A very beautiful saddle-horse from Cannes, clear bay.
A chaise de poste with glass-windows, with a very comfortable boot upon the roof of the body, very little used.
12.8.: A travelling carriage, with two seats, on four wheels.
24.8.: A travelling carriage, with four seats, on four wheels.
31.8.: An English berlin, with crane-neck, with very light springs, & which can serve for the town as well as for travelling, also having drawers under the cushioned seats.
Two carriage-horses, from six to seven years, black coat, also a little German carriage in good condition & very comfortable for travelling.
A chestnut horse, neck and tail hairs red-yellow, six years old, 15 to 16 hands in height, suitable for riding as well as for the cabriolet.
    A little more than a week after the appearance of the advertisment, Casanova travelled via Amsterdam and Brussels to Paris, where he arrived on the 11th, 18th (according to M.Leeflang) or 19th of September. There he stayed two months.
    On 22nd November on the latest, he left Paris together with his brother Francesco in an own travelling coach (nr. 16 "Paris 4"; see above). Presumably on 26th November the brothers arrived in  Frankfurt.
    For some days, Giacomo owns two travelling carriages. I would now like to separate the overlapping events and continue telling the story of the chaise from Innsbruck, which is still  for sale in Mainz, until the end.
Frankfurt on Main,
hotel "Roman Emporer" in the Zeil:
"The main-guard at Frankfurt on Main", by Christian Georg Schütz, about 1750. In the background, is a view of the Zeil where Casanova's hotel, the "Roman Emperor", was situated. - Photo taken from the original in the Historic Museum of Frankfurt/M by PG.
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26th November:
    Arrival of Giacomo and Francesco Casanova.
    Giacomo sends for a physician, for "the drunken postilion had overturned you and the fall had dislocated your left shoulder, but a good physician was able to put it back in place again" [letter by Francesca Buschini, Marr 8 - 185].
    Giacomo writes to Mr Raghianti in Mainz, a partner of Rossi, asking for his chaise.
28th November:
    Giacomo writes a long letter to the Abbate della Lena in Vienna (text above).
He receives the answering letter by Raghianti:
[Marr 13 B 3]
    Messieurs
    Messieurs Casanova
    Logé à L'empeureur de Romain.
    à Francfort
    [Mainz, 27? November 1783]
        Signorij
In risposta alla sua grata del 26. Corente, ho l'onore di dirly che Io ho condutto alcune Personne a vedere La Sua carossa, ma infino adesso nesuno L'a voluta comprare, tutti dicendomi che gli è tropo pesa per conducerla con due cavally, è che non è Moderna, Io faro il mio possibile ma dubito di non potere riucire a venderla con avantagio, perchè effetivavente gli è un pogo pesa, è in tempo d'Inverno poge gente viagano; e per conseguensia L'occasiony sono più rare; ma Siano assegurati che io faro come se fusse mia; faro tutti le diligenze possibile;
mi a fatto pure piacere d'intendre che Loro Signorij Si portano bene, e che sono assai contenti della osteria dove allogano; e li prego di credere che Io Sono e resto con la più perfetta considerazione
    D.L.S. Il Suo Servo affemo
        Laurent Raghianti
        Gentlemen,
In reply to your esteemed letter of the 26th of this month, I have the honour to inform you that I have shown your carosse to several people, but up until now no one has wanted to buy it; they all told me it is too heavy to drive with two horses, and furthermore it is not modern. I shall do everything possible but I doubt I shall succeed in selling it advantageously because in fact it is a little heavy; also in winter time not many people are travelling and in consequence there are fewer opportunities [to sell it], but you can be assured that I shall act as though it were my own and make every effort.
I was very pleased to learn that your Excellencies are well and are happy enough with the hotel where you are staying.
With my most sincere respects.
    Your Excellencies' most humble servant
        Laurent Raghianti
    Giacomo answers, and sends a letter to Rossi, too. It seems that he now lowers the price to six Louis d'or, and that he names a person interested in the chaise who can be contacted over a Mr Mathey.
29th November:
    Giacomo writes to Francesca reporting the accident with the coach.
30th November:
    Giacomo receives a further letter by Raghianti:
[Marr 13 B 4]
     A Monsieur
    Monsieur Jacques Casanova
    Logé à L'Empereur
    à Francfort
    Magonza Li 29. 9bre 1783
        Signorij e Padronij Stimatissimij
In conformità della Sua Stimata Lettera d'Ieri, ho l'onore di dirle che questa mattina sono stato del Sigre Mathey e abbiamo fatto venire l'istesso Ebreo, che voleva comprare La Sua Carosa ne gli abbiamo offerta per f 66. ma non La voluta, Siche dunque noij abiamo fatto Cercare un veturino, il quale ve la Conducera à Costi, vogliamo vedere Se il dito veturino trova qualcheduno che vogli andare à f[ranco]forti e che pagi qualche cosa per fare che non Li divengi tropo Caro il porto; e credo che quando anchora V.S. non possino venderla Subito troverano Sempre più d'occasione di venderla à Costi, che quivi perche ci sono sempre Molti Forestiery.
Andando a Wienna gli agurio un buon viago, e ringrasio per adesso il Suo Sig^re Fratello de L'offerta che mi fa per Parigi e quandi ci andaro Profittero del grasioso offro che mi fa, Se infratanto posso Servirly à qualche Cosa, dispuongino di quello che a L'Onore di dirsi quivi con la più perfetta Stima./.
D.V.S.
    Devmo ed obidmo Servitore
        Laurent Raghianti
        Gentleman,
In accordance with your esteemed letter of yesterday, I have the honour to inform you that I was at Mr Mathey's this morning where we asked this Jew to come who wanted to buy your carosse. We offered it to him for 66 [Dutch] Florins [6 Louis d'or or 1,440 d.] but he did not want it. Therefore we are looking for a carrier to bring it to you, hoping he will be able to find someone who wants to go to Frankfurt and who will pay something for the journey, so that the transportation will not be too expensive for you; also, I believe that if your Excellency cannot sell it immediately, you will find many more opportunities to do so there, where there are always many foreigners.
I wish you a good journey to Vienna, and I thank your brother for the offer which he makes me for Paris; when I go there, I shall avail myself of his kind offer. If, in the meantime, I can be of use to you in any way, you may consider me at your disposal.
I have the honour to remain,
    Your Excellency's most devoted and obedient servant.
        Laurent Raghianti
1st or 2nd December:
    The chaise arrives in Frankfurt, together with a letter by Rossi:
[Marr 13 B 6]
    A Monsieur
    Monsieur Jacques Casanova
    logé à L'Empereur
    à Francfort
    Magonza il 1mo Decembre 1783
        Sig e Pne Stimatissmi
In risposta alla gratissma Sua del 28 Spirato, tanto noi che il Sig Lorenzo Raghiante si siamo dati tutta la pena posibile per vendere la Sua Sedia ma non fu posibile de trovare un amatore, la onde oggi glie l'abbiamo mandata Con un Chochiere [omission] Vettura fl 3 x 12 a miglior pato non abbiamo potutto trovar di mandargliela.
Non dubitiamo Che L'avera ricevuta a dovere, a f[ranco]forte trovera più tosto amatore estero, che Colà si presentino alle Volte forestieri Che sono di viaggie et cercheno Simile Sedie, in altro le desidriamo un felice Viaggio, pregandola di presentare le n.re Complimenti a Suo Sig fratello e si Rassegniamo Con la più distinta Stima
di V Sa Devotissmi & obl Servi
Antonio Rossi & Compag
        My dear Sir,
In reply to your esteemed letter of the 28th of last month, we beg to inform you that we ourselves, as well as Mr Lorenzo Raghianti, have done all we possibly can to sell your chaise, but it has not been possible to find anybody who liked it, so today we have sent it to you by a carrier; the cheapiest we could find cost 3 [German] Florins and 12 creitzers [96 d.].
We are sure you will have received it safely, and in Frankfurt you will more quickly find an interested foreign buyer, because many strangers are travelling through there and could be seeking a similar chaise.
In addition, we wish you a good journey, and beg you to present our compliments to your brother.
Assuring you of our respects, we remain
    Your Excellency's most devoted and obedient servant
        Antonio Rossi & Compagnie.
    Could Casanova sell his chaise in Frankfurt before his departure? Or did he simply leave it at the hotel? Or did the innkeeper accept it against payment? Anyway, its story has found an end for us with the transportation from Mainz to Frankfurt.


16. The Travelling Coach "Paris 4"
Called by Casanova: la nostra carrozza chiusa.
The carriage of the brothers Casanova could have looked like this four-seater travelling coach in English style - only the C-springs were not yet in use in 1783, but in S-form. - Photo: Bentheim-Tecklenburg.
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Type: a four-wheeled, four-seater closed travelling coach.
Travelling speed: Paris - Frankfurt: 5 days or 5.5 km/h.
Owners: Francesco and Giacomo Casanova.
Former owner: unknown, in Paris.
Price: unknown.
Route: 1,360 km. Paris - Metz - Mannheim - Frankfurt - Würzburg - Emskirchen - Nuremberg - Passau - Vienna.
Dates: November - December 1783.
New owner: presumably Francesco who stayed in Vienna.
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    Francesco Casanova, in 1783 already a famous painter, was about to move to Vienna. It was lucky that his brother Giacomo was just leaving Paris for the same destination. For this purpose they bought a four-seater closed travelling coach.
    So they set off together, as they had done once before, 31 years ago. However, this time they did not travel by stage coach, and via Mainz (where Giacomo could have negotiated personally with the carriage dealers) to Frankfurt, but presumably via Mannheim and Darmstadt. Having arrived there on Wednesday 26th of November, they had left behind them a non-stop ride of five days covering 660 kilometres with a speed of 5.5 km/h.
    The references to the carriage and other travelling circumstances originate from a letter by Giacomo that he wrote in Frankfurt to the Abbate della Lena in Vienna. Though this letter is rather long, I would like to present the whole text of this unique example of a detailed travelling letter:
[From: Bruno Brunelli, Giacomo Casanova e l'Abate Della Lena, Venezia 1931. - Special thanks to Helmut Watzlawick.]
    All' Ill.mo Sig.r Sig.r P.ron Col.mo
    Il Sig.r Abatte (sic) D. Eusebio della Lena
    nel coleggio (sic) Teresiano
    Vienna
    Francoforte, 28 Novembre 1783
        Sig.r Abbate pregiat.mo mio P.rone, ed Amico Vener.mo
Quindici giorni fa l'amico suo in Parigi mi mandò a casa una sua gent.ma: io corsi tosto da lui, poichè avevo gran desiderio di conoscerlo per ciò che il Bartoli me ne aveva detto, ma non potei star seco que pochi minuti, poich'era appunto il giorno della rientrata dell'Accademia delle Scienze, alla cui assemblea mi aveva impegnato di essere il celebre americano Franklin: dovetti poi andare a Fontaneblò, e di ritorno avanti di lasciar Parigi finiva mille cosuccie, che mi consumavano il tempo, talmente que non potei ritornare a godere delle solide dottrine tanto nelle matematiche quanto nella morale cristiana del preg.mo suo signor Cagnoli, il quale non interrompe il suo studio degli astri che per comporre i dispacci di due ambasciatori.
La lettera, signore, con la quale ella mi onorò, mi fece molto piacere, tra quali grande fu quello che mi recò il sapere, che S. E. Ambasciatore abbia consolidata a codesti bagni di Baden la preziosa sua salute. Io verrò a goderne qualche cortese influenza, se S. E. lo permetterà nel giorno 8, o 9 del prossimo, ed ora per lei corr. mese di Dicembre. Ella perdoni, se affidato al suo bel core ardisco adesso supplicarla di un imbarrazzo (sic), che non è picciolo, ma ch'è infinitamente minore delle sue forze.
Io arriverò fra dieci, o dodici giorni a Vienna con un assai caro compagno per passarvi l'inverno, e la primavera, onde bramo, non tanto a cagione dell'economia quanto per ischivar l'imbroglio, di sapere dove alloggiare, quando usciremo dalla nostra carrozza. Vorrei ch'ella o in città, o in qualche sobborgo mi trovasse un decente allogio composto di due buone stanze contigue, atte, se si potesse, ad essere riscaldate da un solo forno, poichè costì le legna sono care. Vorrei che queste stanze fossero in bel lume, fornite ambe di buon letto, di cantarano, di due tavolini, di quattro o sei sedie, e di più vorrei che in casa, o in luogo vicino si potesse porre la nostra carrozza chiusa, acciò non rimanesse esposta alle ingiurie della stagione, ed a quelle de' ladri. Per l'affitto ella resti d'accordo, e pagheremo subito un mese anticipato: io la faccio con questa mia arbitro fino alla somma di 6 zecchini [660 d.] al mese, e sia sicura che saremo contenti dell' accordo che farà, e che gliene avremo obbligazione. Oltre di questo sarebbe bene la bella cosa, s' ella ci trovasse un servitore che oltre il tedesco parlasse l' italiano, ovvero il francese! Se poi questo servitore sapesse un poco pettinare sarebbe ancora meglio, e se gli potrebbe accordare un più pingue salario. Credo poi che a Vienna sarà facile che da luogo vicino, o in casa ci facciamo potare il nostro pranzo quando vorremo mangiare in casa. Ora ella discerne benissimo che il tempo stringe, e che conviene ch' ella abbia la bontà di operar subito, e dopo che ha fissato l' appartamento porrà il colmo alla grazia scrivendomi una letteruccia nella quale troverò scritto l' indirizzo, ed ordinerò al postiglione di condurci là. Questa letteruccia istruttiva ella la mandi diretta a me a Burckendorff [today: Purkersdorf], ch'è l'ultima stazione per quelli che arrivano a Vienna per la strada di Ratisbona e Lintz. Avrei piacere che l' alloggio non fosse lontanissimo da Vienna. Le dirò anche di più per avviso del mio compagno, che so ch' ella avrà piacere di conoscere. Se ella trovasse un alloggio, che valesse il prezzo, la faccio padrone di accordarlo anche a 7 zecchini [770 d.] al mese, ed anche qualche cosa di più, se così paresse a lei, poichè almeno una di queste stanze debb' essere bella, e spaziosa.
Quando ci vedremo io non le parlerò della donna inglese, ma le narrerò il il perchè rifiutai di andar a Madagascar, ed ella mi loderà. Aspiro alla mia quiete, signor abbate veneratissimo, e non mi curo più ne pure della fortuna poichè non ho più alcuna di quelle ambizioni, che fanno che l' uomo le corra dietro.
La prego di portare la mia umilissima riverenza a S. E. Ambasciatore, ed all' Ecc.mo Sig. Giacomo figlio, che spero di vedere alla Cavallerizza trottare e galoppare, divenuto abilissimo al maneggio, e di più sono sicuro che il troverò avanzato ne' suoi studj.
Confabuleremo costì di varie cose dopo che in Vienna avrò passato qualche giorno in casa per ristorarmi dalla fatica del viaggio, poichè ho fatto in cinque giorni da Parigi a qui 400 [Italian] miglia [600 km; in reality: 660 km], e adesso in altri cinque o sei farò 480 [720 km], che separano codesta città da questo Francfort, in cui fa un freddo orribile. Il Bartoli è molto amico suo, e m' impose riverirlo. Non mi fermai a Parigi che due soli mesi, e partii malgrado l' opinione di possenti signori, che volevano fermarmi, ma ebbi le mie gran ragioni. Potrò ritornarvi nell' estate. Finiscio di attediarla assicurandola che non vedo l' ora di abbracciarla, e di darle più con fatti che con parole veraci segni dell' alta stima con cui mi pregio di essere
    Sig.r Abbate pregiat.mo mio P.rone, ed Amico Vener.mo
    Suo Um.mo ed Ob. Servitore
        Giacomo Casanova
[Translation by Gillian Rees:]
    Frankfurt, 28 November 1783
        Signor Abbate, my very dear Sir, and revered Friend
Two weeks ago your friend in Paris sent one of his dear friends to my house; I ran immediately to him as I had a great desire to know him because of what Bartoli had told me about him, but I could only stay a few minutes because it was precisely the day of the return of the Academy of Science, at which assembly the celebrated American Franklin had engaged me to attend. Then I had to go to Fontainebleau and on my return to finish a thousand trifling things before leaving Paris, that took up my time, so that I could not return to enjoy the sound doctrines as much in mathematics as in Christian morals of your dear Signor Cagnoli, who did not break off his study of the stars except to compose the dispatches of two ambassadors.
The letter, Signore, with which you honoured me, gave me much pleasure, paticularly to know that his Excellency the Ambassador had improved his precious health at those baths in Baden [near by Vienna]. I shall come to enjoy some small influence from it, if His Excellency will permit me on the 8th or 9th of next month, and now through you the current month of December. You will forgive me if, trusting to your goodness, I venture now to entreat your kindness over a difficulty, which is not small, but which is infinitely with your powers.
I shall arrive within ten or twelve days in Vienna with a dear companion [his brother Francesco] to pass the winter and spring there, where I desire, not so much for reasons of economy as to avoid being cheated, to know where to lodge when we get out of our coach. I should like you to find me a decent lodging, either in the city or in some suburb, comprising two good sized adjoining rooms, and if it is possible, that can be suitably heated by a single stove, because wood is expensive there. I should like these rooms to be light, both furnished with a good bed, a chest of drawers, two small tables and four or six chairs, and in addition, I should like to be able to put our closed coach, either in the house or somewhere nearby, so that it does not remain exposed to the ravages of the weather, and to those of thieves. For the rent, you can make an agreement, and we will immediately pay a month in advance: I will agree up to the sum of 6 zecchini [660 d.] a month, and you can be sure we shall be happy with the agreement you make and shall be much obliged to you for it. Besides this, it would be wonderful if you could find us a servant, who as well as German, also speaks Italian, or French! If this servant knows how to dress hair, it would be better still, and if he could agree to a very small salary. I believe that in Vienna, it is easy to have our meals delivered, either from somewhere nearby or in the house, when we wish to dine at home. Now you will clearly realise that time is short and it is necessary for you to be kind enough to start searching immediately, and after you have reserved the apartment, you would have the goodness to write me a note in which I shall find the address written down, and I will order the postilion to take us there. This note should be sent direct to me at Burckendorff [today: Purkersdorf], which is the last post-station for those arriving in Vienna by the road from Ratisbona and Lintz. I should be pleased if the lodging is not very far from Vienna. I will tell also on the advice of my companion, whom I know you will be pleased to meet, that if you should find a lodging that costs more, I authorise you to agree also to 7 zecchini [770 d.] a month, and even a bit more, provided it appears to you that at least one of those rooms is fine and spacious.
When we see each other I will not speak about the English lady [met in Spa], but I will tell you why I refused to go to Madagascar, and you will approve. I desire to find peace, dear Sir, and not to be buffeted any more by fate as I no longer have any of those ambitions that make a man chase after fame and fortune.
I beg you to convey my most humble respects to His Excellency the Ambassador, and to his son Signor Giacomo, whom I hope to see at the riding school, trotting and galloping, having become very proficient at dressage, and furthermore I am sure I shall find him advanced in his studies.
We will chat about various things in Vienna after I have spent some days in the apartment there recovering from the fatigue of the journey, as I have done 400 [Italian] miles [600 km; in reality: 660 km] from Paris to here in five days, and now in another five or six I will do 480 [720 km; correct!], which separate Vienna from Frankfurt, where it is bitterly cold. Bartoli is a great friend of yours, and asked me to greet you. I only stayed two months in Paris, and left despite the opinion of powerful gentlemen who wished to stop me, but I had good reasons. I shall be able to return there in the summer. I shall finish wearying you, assuring you that I long to embrace you, and to give you with deeds more than with words, true marks of the high esteem with which I have the honour to be
Signor Abbate, my very dear Sir, and revered Friend
    Your humble and obedient servant
        Giacomo Casanova
If the brothers Casanova wanted to arrive in Vienna between the 8th and 10th of December ("fra dieci, o dodici giorni"), they must have set off from Frankfurt at the latest on December 5, since travelling 700 kilometres in winter must have taken at least six days.
    These dates are of particular importance for the history of my family, as will be seen now.
The posting inn "Zum Goldenen Hirschen" (Golden Stag) in Emskirchen of my ancestor Johannes Eckart, and his wife Maria Christina who became postmaster after her husband's death. Today it is a hotel with the old name, additionally called "Alte Post". The house is regarded as the best-preserved 18th century post-stage in Germany. - Photos: PG, the portraits after pictures in Werner Eckart, Chronik der Familie Eckart, Munich 1967.
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    We have also read in the letter to della Lena that the brothers intended to take the post road via Regensburg and Linz to Vienna; this means they travelled along the direct road, also passing Würzburg and Emskirchen, two stages before Nuremberg.
    The inn and former brewery "Zum Goldenen Hirschen" in Emskirchen still exists. It is a big old building, almost unchanged; in the 18th century it was owned by one of my ancestors, namely Johannes Eckart, who was born in the same year as Giacomo Casanova, and whose daughter Johanna became the great-grandmother of my grandmother Anna Günther.
Johanna Eckart  Anna Günther  The author (old pastel)
    Additionally, in 1758 he acquired the lease to operate a post station from the Thurn und Taxis Reichspost. Eckart was the postmaster of Emskirchen until his death in 1790.
    According to my estimated dates of departure, the brothers Casanova reached the stage of Emskirchen on the 4th, 5th, or Saturday the 6th, of December 1783, having covered 185 kilometres since leaving Frankfurt.
    With their coach they passed through the gate (cf photo below) and entered a long hall, on the right side of which were the stables (today a room for banquets). I am fairly certain that they would have warmed up in the general room (on the left side of the hall) while post-horses and postillons were being changed. Furthermore, they had to settle their accounts, perhaps with the postmaster himself, because the Casanovas appeared with their own coach as wealthy gentlemen. If this happened, the chances are even better that they met his wife Maria Christina, too, and - who knows - their five year old daughter Johanna.
The Thurn und Taxis-arms above the gate of the stage in Emskirchen. - Photo: PG.
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    Safely arrived in Vienna around the 10th of December, Giacomo soon wrote a letter to his girlfriend Francesca in Venice. With excerpts of her answering letter I would like to close the story of his penultimate carriage, whose further destination remains unknown (Francesco lived in Vienna for the rest of his life; his carriage from Paris might have remained with him for some time).
[Marr 8 - 188]
    A Monsieur
    Monsieur Jaques Casanova
    en poste restante
    a Vienne
    Venezia mercordi ultimo giorno del anno 1783
        Amico stimatisimo
Ricevei la cara vostra che mi avete crito il 15 Xbre a Vienna e ritrovai dentro incrusa la canbiale di otto zecchini e due lire che mi avete mandato con tanto bon core. Amico mio caro, io vene sono tanto riconocente e tanto grata di tanto bene che mi fatte a iutandomi in tel gran bisogno che siamo. (...).
(...) i sopraprio de denaro che ne è restato mi ho fatto far delle sarpe e mi ho conprato due pera di calce e il resto per viver qualche giorni. (...).
intesi dala cara vostra che andate a Dresda e poi a Berlino e che sarete di ritorno a Vienna il 10 jennaro. (...).
resto sorpresa, mio caro amico, di vostri gran viagi che fatte con sto gran fredo, ma per altro voi siete un gran uomo poiche siete pieno di anima, di spirito e di coragio, poiche viagiate co sto gran fredo e non vi par niente. (...).
resto con abbraciandovi di vero core e con bramastra senpre di rivedervi e di abbraciarvi vostra vera e cinsera amica
        Francesca Buschini
    Venice, Wednesday, on the last day of the year 1783.
        Beloved Friend,
I received your dear letter which you wrote to me on the 15th of December from Vienna inside of which I found enclosed the bill of exchange for eight zecchini and two lire that you so kindly sent me. My dear friend, I am infinitely grateful to you for all the good you show me by helping us to cope in the dire situation in which we find ourselves. (…)
(...) and for the rest of the money I had myself made a pair of shoes and bought two pairs of stockings. We will be able to live on what’s left for a few days. (…)
I understood from your dear letter that you will go to Dresden and then on to Berlin. On the 10th of January you will be back in Vienna. (…)
My dear friend, I am surprised about your travelling over such long distances in this extremely cold weather, but you are a great man, because you are full of soul, spirit and courage. I say this because you travel far in this cold and it seems to be nothing to you. (…)
    Your true and sincere friend
        Francesca Buschini


17. The Calash "Dux"
Called by Casanova: voiture; chaise; carro da posta.
Not having a picture from a calash of about 1780, I show here one of the next generation which was built since about 1790, so that Count Waldstein could have owned such a carriage and even could have loaned it to Casanova for his last three journeys. - Photo: PG (my Syrgenstein calash - cf. Four Wheeled Carriages - , inside: my mother).
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Type: a four-wheeled carriage, with a half top and coachman's seat, viz. to designate as chaise (like by Casanova) or better as calash.
Former and new owner: unknown.
Route: I reckon 2,950 km of the journeys nr. 12 until nr. 20, when travelling from Dux to Carlsbad, Prague, Dresden, Leipzig and Sagan.
Dates: July 1786 - September 1791.
Value in 1789: less than 50 ducats (6,000 d.).
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    It seems that Casanova had his own travelling carriage in Dux already in 1786, for sure, however, in 1789. For the following time I did not find any references. I imagine that he gave the chaise away in October 1791, because from then onwards he did not travel for 4 years, and that he managed his last 3 journeys (in 1795, 1796 and 1797) by a chaise loaned from Count Waldstein.
    Concerning the carriage "Dux", the sources are as follows [with special thanks to Marco Leeflang]:
    1) Count Waldstein wrote from Paris on the 21st June 1786 to Casanova at Dux [Marr14M1] that he should travel to Carlsbad and that his "director will give you horses". Because Waldstein did not write "will give you a carriage", I believe that Casanova had his own. ["Vous feriez bien d'aller à Carlsbad avant mon arrivez qui sera dans le courant du mois d'aout; pour y aller le directeur vous donnera des chevaux, et pour revenir vous trouverez facillement une occasion puisque c'est sur la route de Töplitz et de Dresde".]
    2) There is a copy by Casanova of his letter to Prince Belozelski of 30th October 1788 from Dux [Marrco 40-14;& [Laf]vol.3,p.1185f.] . Here he describes his departure from Dresden with a "voiture" (carriage), and how he and his "chaise" were forced by the guard to be inquired (because people were looking for Correggio's "Maddalena" that just was stolen).
    3) Soon after, on 2nd February 1789, Casanova in Dux wrote a letter to his nephew Carlo in Dresden [Marrco 40-139; & Intermédiaire 1991 p.31] , in which he reports his accident on the way back from Prague, near the town Laun. His "carro da posta" (chaise de poste) skidded into the river, together with him, his servant, the postillon and the horses.
    4) In his "Essai d'Égoisme" [Marr 18-36; & LaffontIII,pp.1227ff.] , written on the 27th June 1789, Casanova mentioned his carriage ("ma voiture") on the occasion of a discussion with another occupant, Count Sesbelloni. This person wanted Casanova's appartment; he agreed on condition that the Count bought his carriage for 50 ducats (6,000 d.); the latter refused saying it was old and not worth this sum. Finally, they found a compromise and Casanova kept his carriage.
    5) Documents concerning the administration of the castle of Dux  are again available from 1789 onwards; they bear the headings "Duxer Schloßßer [locksmith] Conto" and "Satler [saddler] Conto" [State Archives, Prague; copies: M. Leeflang] and show that extensive repair work had been done on "Casanova's carriage":
Sattler Conto: Item (..) das Cassanove Waagen [Casanova's carriage] (..) aufgetrennt (..) Vorfall angenäht (..) Knöpfen und (..) angestochen (..) wieder zugenäht und eingefaßt den gutscher Sitz [coachman's seat] in und auswendig mit ganz neuen (..) ausgepolstert und eingefaßt den Fuß Sack ausgebessert (..) strippen und schnallen angemacht. 6 [Gulden] 15 [Kreuzer; = 187,5 d.].
Schlosser Conto:(..) v. Casanova seinem Wagen (..) zum Gutscher Sitz ( - - - ) Vorfall ( - - - ) Schrauben und Mutter ( - ). 1 [Gulden] 9 [Kreuzer; = 34,5 d.].

    At the end of November 1797 Casanova planned a journey for the following spring to Venice, which in the meantime became Austrian. This visit was "to say a last good-bye to my fortunate country*". In a letter* to Count Waldstein he asked for permission to leave Dux, and to equip himself with a "closed carriage" [sic!]. Waldstein answered* that he "approves the zeal with all my heart". However, when spring came, Casanova's travelling days were over.
    [* M. Leeflang, Les Archives de Dux, Marr 14 M 36, footnote.]
Giacomo Casanova at the age of  71 years (1796) in Dux.
Copy by Schuddebeurs after a painting by Francesco Casanova.
Former owner Marco Leeflang, now in the Casanova-Museum in Dux. Photo: PG.

Continuation: Post Roads ( part IX ).

Copyright by Pablo Günther, Hergensweiler 2001

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