Naadigste Prinds!
Med Følelse af Glæde og Erkjendtlighed som jeg umuligen kan fortolke med Pennen har jeg modtaget Deres Høyheds meget ærede Skrivelse af 3de Septembre d.A. hvori De Naadigst har den Bevaagenhed at tilkjendegive mig med saa smigrende Deeltagelse at Hans Kongelige Majestæt allernaadigst har bemyndiget den høye Commission for Slottets og Raad og Domhusets Opbyggelse at tilskrive mig min Rejse til Kiøbenhavn angaaende. Deres Højhed formodede endog at jeg maatte være i Besiddelse af Commissionens Brev; men det er ikke ennu ankommen. – I Forventning af dette anførte Brev hvis modtagelse jeg bestandig ansaae meget nær udsatte jeg Tiid efter anden besvarelsen af Deres naadige og mig saa kjærkomne Skrivelse, saaledes beder jeg ydmygst om Naadigst tilgivelse for min lange Tavshed; – Ingenlunde var det Følge af lunkent Tilbøielighed til at besøge mit Fædreland, nej den inderligste Følelse og Hengivenhed for Dem ædle Prinds der sætter saa høj Priis paa Kunsten og dens Dyrkere og med saa megen Iver søger at udbrede den i Fædrelandet opflammer hos mig en brændende Længsel snarest muligst at nyde den Glæde Personlig at kunne tilbyde Dem naadige Prinds alle mine Kræfter for at opfylde den bestemmelse De maatte værdige mig. –
Det vil fornøje mig meget at kiende Maler Eckersberg[.] Deres Højhed har opvakt min Agtelse for denne unge Kunstner og jeg skal ikke mangle at give ham al den Vejledning under hans Ophold her i Rom der staaer i min Magt. Ikke ugrundet er Deres Højheds Forventning om Stadsbygmester Malling, han anvender sin Tiid vel her i Rom og forbereder sig til ved sin Tilbagekomst at gavne Fædrelandet. –
Gracious Prince,
I have received Your Highness’ favour of September 3rd this year with a feeling of joy and gratitude which I cannot possibly express with the pen, in which you most graciously have the favour to inform me with so flattering sympathy that His Royal Majesty has most graciously authorized the high Building Commission for Christiansborg Palace and the building of the court and town hall to write to me regarding my journey to Copenhagen. Your Highness even presumed that I would be in receipt of the Commission’s letter; but it has not yet arrived. – Expecting this mentioned letter the receipt of which I constantly expected to be very near I postponed from time to time answering your gracious letter to me so dear, so I most humbly ask for gracious forgiveness for my long silence; – it was by no means a consequence of a half-hearted inclination to visit my native land, no, the most sincere feeling and affection for you, noble Prince, who so highly appreciate art and its devotees and who with so great zest seek to spread it in the native land stir up in me an ardent longing as soon as possible to enjoy the pleasure in person to be able to offer to you, noble Prince, all my effort to fulfil the decision you might vouchsafe me. –
I shall feel very pleased to get to know the painter Eckersberg. Your Highness has awakened my respect for this young artist and I shall not omit to give all possible guidance which I can during his stay here in Rome.
Your Highness’ expectation to Mr Malling, City Clerk of Works is not unfounded, he uses his time well here in Rome and prepares himself to be of use to the native land at his return. –
[Translated by Karen Husum]
