Station: [11] The merchants on the river Elbe
Hilde:
Hello. I am a domestic in the household of Mr. Schumann, who is a merchant and ship owner. He’s built a warehouse here in town along with storage sites called depots. In the early 18th century, the favourable location immediately on the River Elbe persuaded our master and Mr. Säurig, another ship owner and merchant, to settle on the banks of the Elbe in Riesa and organise a flourishing trade there.
The two gentlemen in Riesa trade mostly in grain, timber, coal, fruit and vegetables. There’s our master now, and Mr. Säurig is with him. Please remain silent, ladies and gentlemen.
Schumann:
What is the council even thinking? Do they imagine they can do what they want in their dealings with us? It seems they’re not aware of where all this leads!
Säurig:
I am just as horrified as you, my dear Schumann. It goes against common decency. Of course, I am equally affected.
Schumann:
We’re not going to put up with this, Säurig. That’s not what we built the river trade in this backwater up for. Our depots send out goods to the whole country – north and south, east and west.…
Säurig:
…and people everywhere are grateful to receive them. Except in the capital of the realm, it would seem!
Schumann:
We must take action against this – forcefully, I tell you. We mustn’t put up with this.
Säurig:
That’s how I see it, too. But what can we do?
Schumann:
Riesa’s sovereign lady will have to become involved. After all, Baroness von Wehlen as the estate owner once managed to ensure we got justice. Remember the letter she sent to his majesty!
Säurig:
A letter? From Baroness von Wehlen? To the king?
Schumann:
Don’t you remember? She sent us a copy of the letter. I still have it among my papers. Hold on, I’ll find it in a moment. Here, here it is …[liest] “Your royal majesty deigns to permit the account herein of what my subjects, Hans Georg Schumann and Christian Säurig of Riesa, have argued to me in their complaint: that, in the month of February 1728 past, when they travelled with two ships carrying grain, for the purpose of selling the same in Dresden, they were banned by Dresden council from undertaking this trade…”
Säurig:
Exactly the same situation as now! And once again, Dresden council is throwing its weight around.
Schumann:
“… whereas the two, Schumann and Säurig, have traded on the River Elbe for more than 15 years and even when prices were high, in the years 1719 and 1720, they supplied a large quantity of grain to Dresden at a tolerable charge …”
Säurig:
They would have starved at the royal palace back then without our grain. Then they were glad we delivered. But the moment things start to improve, they want to take over the business themselves.
Schumann:
That’s what’s behind this, nothing else. They can scent the opportunity to make a fortune from the forthcoming Campement – you know, the military display.
You’d better believe it, Säurig. August has invited royals from all over Europe. Hundreds of soldiers will be mustering on Zeithain Heath for the Campement. Can you imagine the amounts of timber, coal and grain they’ll be needing!?
Säurig:
And that’s the business Dresden wants to grab for itself – that’s why they’re locking us out?
Schumann:
What do you think? But we’ll put a great big spoke in their wheel, never fear. After all, Riesa has had a town charter since 1623.
Säurig:
I wouldn’t have thought relying on the town charter has much chance of success. Look around you, Schumann. How do these miserable hovels, bad roads and just over 400 residents even come close to being a town?
Schumann:
That’s not the issue. What counts is that the town charter includes the right of river trade, granted by the elector. That’s what we’ll be relying on!
Säurig:
But then we need to come up with a good strategy – fast.
Schumann:
So what do you suggest?
Säurig:
Come along, Schumann, I have an idea! Beide ab
Hilde:
A large encampment at Zeithain? Hundreds of troops on Zeithain Heath? They‘re not going to spend the whole time marching, are they. They’re sure to have time off as well, aren’t they. Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, something more important has come up; I’m sure you understand. You can doubtless find your own way…