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THE ENGLISHMAN GREEN. 1223
of the "Conflagration in Stockholm" (Document 273, p. 628) and of
the "Lost Receipt" (Document 274, p . 635), we quote here the follow
ing account which Jachmann, who finished Borowski’s Life of Kant,
gives of that gentleman. He wrote in 1804:
"The most intimate and trusty friend whom Kant had during
his whole life, was the English merchant Green, who has now been
dead for upwards of twenty years. The peculiar worth of this man,
and the important influence which he exerted on our philosopher,
appears from the following description of their bond of friendship.
It sprang from a singular incident, which threatened at first to
generate a deadly hatred between them.
"At the time of the Anglo-American war [see below] Kant one
afternoon was taking a walk in Dänhoff’s garden, and stopped before
an arbour in which he saw one of his acquaintances in company
with some gentlemen whom he did not know. He entered into con
versation, in which they all took part. Soon contemporaneous
events engaged their attention. Kant took the part ofthe Americans,
he defended their just cause, and blamed the conduct of the English
in strong language. Suddenly one of the gentlemen of the company
jumped up full of rage, stepped in front of Kant, told him that
he was an Englishman, and declared that he considered his whole
countrymen and himself personally insulted by his language. He,
therefore, full of indignation, demanded satisfaction from him, and
challenged him to a bloody duel. Kant was not in the least discon
certed by the ebullition of the gentleman, but continued the con
versation; and he now began with such powerful eloquence to explain
his political principles and views, and to show the point of view
from which every man, in his character as a cosmopolitan, and
without in the least interfering with his patriotism, must look upon
this and similar historical events, that Green-for he was the
Englishman-full of astonishment seized his hand in a friendly
manner, assented to the lofty ideas of Kant, begged his pardon for
his rashness, accompanied him in the evening to his residence, and
invited him to pay him a friendly visit. Green’s partner, the late
Mr. Motherby, was present during this incident, and he often assured
me that Kant while delivering his speech appeared to himself and
the rest who were present, as inspired with a heavenly power, and
conquered their hearts for ever."
Dr. Im. Tafel takes exception here to the expression, "at the
time of the Anglo-American war," for he shows (see Document 272,
p. 621) that Kant and Green were intimate friends long before the
beginning of the American war, i. e. long before 1775. The causes,
however, which brought about the American revolution, existed as
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