Der Band enthält 14 Korrespondenzen Eulers mit Gelehrten aus dem Umfeld der Universität Halle, der damals grössten und bedeutendsten Universität in Preussen. Er umfasst mehr als zweihundert Briefe aus der Zeit, als Euler in Berlin Direktor der Mathematischen Klasse der preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften war und engen Kontakt zur Petersburger Akademie der Wissenschaften pflegte. Abgesehen von drei lateinischen Briefen, die von den Herausgebern übersetzt wurden, sind alle Briefe in deutscher Sprache abgefasst. Die Briefpartner waren in der Zeit ihrer Korrespondenz mit Euler zwischen 20 und 60 Jahre alt. Viele der jüngeren beschreiben ihre berufliche Situation und bitten Euler um Empfehlungen und Protektion, während ältere auch technische und mathematische Probleme erörtern und sich dabei als durchaus ebenbürtige Partner erweisen. Dazu kommen Verhandlungen im Zusammenhang mit der Besetzung von Professorenstellen, die Euler im Auftrag Friedrichs II. führte. Neben dem unmittelbaren und anschaulichen Einblick in das akademische Leben des 18. Jahrhunderts und speziell in die Zustände an der halleschen Universität bezeugen viele Briefe die Sorgen und Belastungen, welche die Zeitumstände, insbesondere der Siebenjährige Krieg, für die Bewohner der Stadt Halle mit sich brachten.
This volume of the Opera omnia contains Euler's correspondence with scientists connected to the University of Halle, the most prestigious Prussian university in the 18th century. It includes more than 200 letters dating from the period when Euler served as director of the class of mathematics of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin, yet still remained in close contact with the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Except for three letters written in Latin and translated into German by the editors, all the letters were originally written in German. At the time when the correspondents were in touch with Euler, their ages varied between twenty and sixty years old. Many of the younger ones were dissatisfied with their professional situation and asked Euler for support or for letters of recommendation, whereas some of the older correspondents discussed high-level technical and mathematical problems as equal partners of the Berlin mathematician. Additional letters reveal negotiations with scientists who were being considered for university professorships by the Prussian King Frederick II. The letters provide an immediate and vivid insight into academic life, and in particular, into working conditions, at the University of Halle at the time of Euler. They shed light on the worries and hardships endured by the population of that city during the Seven Years' War and other contemporary events.
This volume of the Opera omnia contains Euler's correspondence with scientists connected to the University of Halle, the most prestigious Prussian university in the 18th century. It includes more than 200 letters dating from the period when Euler served as director of the class of mathematics of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin, yet still remained in close contact with the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg. Except for three letters written in Latin and translated into German by the editors, all the letters were originally written in German. At the time when the correspondents were in touch with Euler, their ages varied between twenty and sixty years old. Many of the younger ones were dissatisfied with their professional situation and asked Euler for support or for letters of recommendation, whereas some of the older correspondents discussed high-level technical and mathematical problems as equal partners of the Berlin mathematician. Additional letters reveal negotiations with scientists who were being considered for university professorships by the Prussian King Frederick II. The letters provide an immediate and vivid insight into academic life, and in particular, into working conditions, at the University of Halle at the time of Euler. They shed light on the worries and hardships endured by the population of that city during the Seven Years' War and other contemporary events.