Tuesday, August 16:
Napoleon claims to have repulsed the Prussians at Dongeville, but he is on the retreat to Verdun, and King Wilhelm reports to his consort: victory at Metz. It appears to have been an outpost skirmish. I receive two letters from Prof. Nietzsche, the first, delayed, from Basel, the other from Erlangen, where he is already tending the wounded. In a few days he will be going to Metz. I feel that Richter should also go, but he lacks the means, and we are in no position to support him adequately, either, which is sad, but must be borne.
From Paris 40,000 Germans have been banished in a scandalous manner, and there is no end to the barbarous behavior of the French troops.