Physische Briefe über Hildesheim und dessen Gegend

Joseph Anton Cramer (1737-1794), Professor of Mathematics and Prefect at the Hildesheim Gymnasium Josephinum, stands in the tradition of 18th-century naturalists. By the time his "Physical Letters" were published in 1792, the "three kingdoms of nature" had already been systematically recorded and classified. Like many of his contemporaries, he set out to explore his homeland using these classifications. Cramer's "Physical Letters" are structured as walks around Hildesheim. In addition to describing the plant, animal, and mineral worlds, Cramer details the mountains, rivers, springs, and surrounding villages of Hildesheim, reports on experiments and superstitions, calculates the position of the sun, characterizes the typical Hildesheimer, describes important events such as the cattle market, addresses the opportunities and challenges faced by farmers, discusses contemporary techniques, and vividly portrays the beautiful landscape around Hildesheim in enthusiastic language. He also defends his city against "travel dilettantes" who dare to judge it after only a fleeting glance at the land. Those interested in Hildesheim and its surroundings will find in this book a rich repository of knowledge from the perspective of a Hildesheim citizen at the end of the 18th century. It may inspire some to rediscover Hildesheim following Cramer's footsteps. The book contains 328 pages with a comprehensive index and a list of the ferns and flowering plants mentioned by Cramer, including their names from that time and today.