When the king arrived, sixteen maidens from the town in white dresses with green trimming, presented him with a poem on a taffeta or velvet pillow, and in return he gave each of them a pair of gold earrings and a necklace, which were bought in Nenndorf from Aron Escamp of Hamburg.

Moreover, the king was kind to everyone. Best of all, he decked out from head to toe three gentile chasanim and kalles (grooms and brides) in festive clothes, and besides that he gave each couple 300 talers in cash as a dowry. They had to marry during his stay here, on a Sunday. On that occasion, there was a great ball, open to everyone, with grand fireworks, festive lights, pole-climbing, races, cannon salutes, and a lottery with all kinds of s’chaures (goods), part of which we supplied. The brides and grooms received wares from me and Gumpel that were worth about 300 talers. [ . . . ]

The year 1810 was a quiet time with no business, and for this reason I was often at home and dependent on what little business I did there. In order to earn something in some other way, I obtained the office of tax collector for the community of Grove, at Mühlenstrasse and Rodenberger Tor. My fee for the monthly collection was 37 groschen and for additional collection I got 2–3 groschen per head. [ . . . ]

In January 1812 many French and Dutch marched through here once more on the way to Danzig. Their passage lasted until the end of March. Every day during that time we had to billet all kinds of people speaking every possible language: Swiss, Croats, Dutch, French, Italians, Germans.

In January 1813 this army returned from Russia, like sheep without a shepherd, mechulle mit die Pulle [broke and druck].

In July 1813 the president of the Jewish Consistory, Israel Jacobson, came to Nenndorf with a coach, riding horses, and servants. One Schabbes he attended the schul of my brother Feibisch. He himself functioned as chasen there and he also chanted the Torah portion for the week, and then he delivered an edifying sermon. The next Schabbes he wanted to attend the schul in Rodenberg, but he was hindered by bad weather. Then he came here on the Thursday before his departure, gave a lovely sermon in schul, and said a prayer of thanksgiving because God had restored his health in Nenndorf.

We, my brothers Feibisch and Aron and I, Itzig, sent him, as the president of the Israelite Consistory, a German letter, in which we expressed our respect for him, and our teacher, Herr Sussman Cohn, sent him one in Hebrew. The testimonial was presented to him on a green and gold embroidered pillow by three young girls dressed in white, my daughter Marianne, my niece Pesche (Betti), the daughter of my brother Feibisch, and my niece Caroline, the daughter of my brother Aron. Caroline gave a fitting speech. Also present was my nephew Behrend, Aron’s son, who had just become Bar Mizwa, and who recited his drosche. Our president was deeply touched by all this. Soon thereafter, all four children received presents from him. Behrend got a silver medallion, Caroline a pretty sewing-cushion, Marianne a string of yellow beads, and Betti the same. For the rest, he behaved in a friendly and kind way to rich and poor. He gave the poor handsome presents of money. His stay in Nenndorf had much pleased him and on the day of his departure he regaled many of the spa guests, also inviting several local personages. Zahn supplied the food, and there was no lack of wine and music. It cost him over 100 talers. During his stay at the spa he took his meals (koscher) from Gottschalk. [ . . . ]