Fragments from Reimarus

1768, he invited a number of his most intimate friends to his house for a midday meal, and on that occasion, he was as cheerful and amiable as ever. However, upon parting, he told them with solemn certainty that this would be the last time they would meet. Three days afterward, he became seriously ill and expired peacefully at 3 a.m. on the 1st of March.

The above extract was taken by Strauss from an interesting and valuable memorial written by Reimarus's friend, Büsch, Professor of Mathematics.*

In this memorial, the Fragments published a few years later by Lessing are not alluded to, and it is very possible that Büsch may not have known of their existence. We know from his son, J. A. Reimarus, that Reimarus imparted their contents in strict confidence to two or three of his friends, among whom was the well-known poet Brockes, but whether Büsch was among these confidential friends is impossible to say. Even if he were, he may have considered it his duty not to mention them; for Reimarus used to say that the time had not yet come for him "to bring forward openly his theological denials." So, after

• Original: "Memoriæ immortali H. S. Reimari linguarum orientalium in Gymnasio Hamburgensi per XLI. annos professoris, qualecunque hoc monumentum officii et pietatis causâ posuit J. G. Büsch, Math. P., etc., in Gymnasio Hamburgensi. 33 fol." Translation: "To the immortal memory of H. S. Reimarus, professor of Oriental languages at the Hamburg Gymnasium for 41 years, this humble monument of duty and piety was placed by J. G. Büsch, Professor of Mathematics, etc., at the Hamburg Gymnasium."