Wednesday, August 3:
Very distasteful letter from R.’s nephew, R. Avenarius, demanding 100 thalers for his cousin Rosalie; the letter is foolish and importunate.
I read in the Illustrirte Zeitung a report about the promulgation of the Pope’s infallibility; when the result of the vote was put in his hands and he was about to proclaim his infallibility, a thunderstorm plunged the assembly room into such darkness that two candles had to be brought in order that the Pope could read out his own deification. Worked with the children; at one o’clock Frl. v. M[eysenbug] with Frl. Herzen; a pleasant, sympathetic visit. At lunch I receive the document confirming my divorce.
News that Saarbrücken, often attacked in vain by the French, has now at last been taken by them. An unimportant outpost.
Grand presentation of children; our friend finds the little ones charming and well behaved.