第16章
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  ChapterIV。

  DOUBLE—MARRIAGETREATYCANNOTBESIGNED。

  Hithertotheworld—tides,andebbsandflowsofexternalPolitics,had,byaccident,ratherforwarded,thanhinderedtheDouble—Marriage。IntherearofsuchaTreatyofHanover,triumphantlyrightingtheEuropeanBalancesbyhelpofFriedrichWilhelm,onemighthavehopedthislittledomesticTreatywould,atlast,getitselfsigned。QueenSophiedidhastenofftoHanover,directlyafterherhusbandhadleftitunderthosefavorableaspects:butPapaagainprovedunmanageable;theTreatycouldnotbeachieved。

  Alas,andwhynot?ParentsandChildren,onbothsides,beingreallydesirousofit,whatreasonistherebutitshouldinduetimecometoperfection,and,withoutannihilatingTimeandSpace,makefourlovershappy?Noreason。RubsdoubtlesshadarisensincethatVisitofGeorgeI。,discordantprocedures,chieflyaboutFriedrichWilhelm’srecruitingoperationsintheHanoverterritory,asshallbenotedbyandby:butthesetheever—wakefulenthusiasmofQueenSophie,whohadsetherwholeheartwithafemalefixityonthisDouble—MarriageProject,hadsmootheddownagain:andnow,PapaandHusbandbeingsoblessedlyunitedintheirWorldPolitics,whynotsigntheMarriage—Treaty?

  HonoredMajesty—Papa,whynot!——\"Tush,child,youdonotunderstand。Inthesetremendouscircumstances,thecelestialSignoftheBALANCEjustaboutcanting,andtheObliquityoftheEclipticliketoalter,howcanonethinkoflittlemarriages?

  WaittilltheObliquityoftheEclipticcomesteadilytoitsoldpitch!\"——

  Truthis,Georgewasingeneralofaslow,solemn,Spanishturnofmanners;\"intolerablyproud,too,sincehegotthatEnglishdignity,\"saysWilhelmina:heseemedalwaystacitlytolookdownonFriedrichWilhelm,asifthePrussianMajestywereakindofinferiorclownishKingincomparison。ItiscertainheshowednoeagernesstogettheTreatyperfected。Againandagain,whenspeciallyappliedtobyQueenSophie,onFriedrichWilhelm’sorder,heintimatedonly:\"Itwasafixedthing,butnottobehurried,——EnglishParliamentswereconcernedinit,thepartieswerestillyoung,\"andsoon;——afterwhichbriefanswerhewouldtakeyoutothewindow,andask,\"IfyoudidnotthinktheHerrenhausenGardensandtheirLeibnitzwaterworks,andclipped—beechwallswereratherfine?\"[Pollnitz,

  Memoiren,ii。226,228,&c。]

  Infact,theEnglishParliaments,fromwhommoneywassooftendemandedforourfatImproperDarlingtons,leanImproperKendalsandotherroyaloccasions,wouldnaturallyhavetomakeamarriage—revenueforthisfineGrandsonofours;——GrandsonFred,whoisnowayoungloutof,eighteen;leadinganextremelydissolutelife,theysay,atHanover;andbynomeansthemostbeautifulofmortals,eitherheorthefoolishlittleFatherofhim,toouroldsadheart。Theycanwait,theycanwait!saidGeorgealways。

  ButundoubtedlyhedidintendthatbothMarriagesshouldtakeeffect:onlyhewasslow;andthemoreyouhurriedhim,perhapstheslower。HewouldhaveperfectedtheTreaty\"nextyear,\"saytheAuthorities;meanttodoso,ifwellletalone:butTownshendwhisperedwithal,\"Betternoturgehim。\"SurlyGeorgewasalwaysamanofhisword;notreacheryintendedbyhim,towardsFriedrichWilhelmoranyman。Itisveryclear,moreover,thatFriedrichWilhelm,inthisAutumn1725,was,andwasliketobe,ofhighimportancetoKingGeorge;amannottobeangeredbydishonorabletreatment,hadsuchotherwisebeenlikelyonGeorge’spart。

  NeverthelessGeorgedidnotsigntheTreaty\"nextyear\"either,——

  suchthingshavingintervened;——northenextyearafterthat,forreasonstragicallygoodonthelatteroccasion!

  ThesedelaysabouttheDouble—MarriageTreatyarenotapleasingfeatureofittoFriedrichWilhelm;whoisverycapableofbeinghurtbyslights;who,atanyrate,dislikestohaveloosethrumsflyingabout,orthatthebusinessofto—dayshouldbeshovedoveruponto—morrow。AndsoQueenSophiehasherownsoredifficulties;

  driventhusbetweentheBarbarians(thatis,herHusband),andthedeepSea(thatis,herFather),toandfro。Nevertheless,sinceallpartiestothematterwishedit,Sophieandtheyoungerpartiesgettingevenenthusiasticaboutit;andsincethematteritselfwasgood,agreeablesofartoPrussiaandEngland,toProtestantGermanyandtoHeavenandEarth,——mightnotSophieconfidentlyhopetovanquishtheseandotherdifficulties;andsobringallthingstoahappyclose?

  HaditnotbeenfortheImperialShadow—huntings,andthisricketyconditionofthecelestialBalance!Alas,theouterelementsinterferedwithQueenSophieinasingularmanner。Hugeforeignworld—movements,springingfromViennaandaspectre—hauntedKaiser,andspreadinglikeanavalancheoveralltheEarth,snatchedupthislittleDouble—Marriagequestion;toreitalongwiththem,reelingoverprecipices,oneknewnotwhitherward,atsucharateaswasseldomseenbefore。ScarcelyintheMinervaPressisthererecordofsuchsurprising,infiniteandinextricableobstructionstoaweddingoradouble—wedding。

  Timeandspace,whichcannotbeannihilatedtomaketwolovershappy,werehereturnedtopsy—turvy,asitwere,tomakefourlovers,——four,orattheveryleastthree,forWilhelminawillnotadmitshewasevertheleastinlove,notshe,poorsoul,eitherwithlooseFredorhisEnglishoutlooks,——fouryoungcreatures,andoneormoreelderlypersons,superlativelywretched;

  andeven,literallyenough,todoallbutkillsomeofthem。

  Whatisnoteworthytoo,itprovedwhollyinane,thishugeworld—oceanofIntriguesandImperialNecromancy;randryatlastintoabsolutenothingevenfortheKaiser,andmightaswellnothavebeen。AndMotherandFather,onthePrussianside,weredriventodespairandprettynearlytodeliriumbyit;andourpooryoungFritzgottormented,scourged,andthrottledinbodyandinsoulbyit,tillhegrewtoloathethelightofthesun,andinfactlookedsoontohavequittedsaidlightatonestageofthebusiness。

  WearenowapproachingActSecondoftheDouble—Marriage,whereImperialOrdnance—MasterGrafvonSeckendorf,aBlack—Artistofsupremequality,despatchedfromViennaonsecreterrand,\"crossesthePalaceEsplanadeatBerlinonasummereveningoftheyear1726;\"andevokesallthedemonsonourlittleCrown—Princeandthosedeartohim。Wemustfirstsaysomethingofanimportantstep,shortlyantecedentthereto,whichoccurredintheCrown—Prince’seducationalcourse。

  ChapterV。

  CROWN—PRINCEGOESINTOTHEPOTSDAMGUARDS。

  Amidsuchcommotionoftheforeignelementsandthedomestic,animportantchangeoccursintheCrown—Prince’scourseofschooling。

  Itisdecidedthat,whateverbehisprogressinthespeculativebranches,itistimeheshouldgointotheArmy,andpracticallylearnsoldiering。Inhisfourteenthyear,3dMay,1725,[Preuss,i。26;106;andBuchfurJedermann(aminorbookofhis,onthesamesubject,Berlin,1837),ii。13。]notlongbeforetheTreatyofHanover,hewasformallynamedCaptain,byPapainWar—council。GrenadierGuards,PotsdamLifeguards,tobetheregiment;andnextyearheisnominatedMajor,and,avacancyoccurring,appointedtobeginactualduty。Itisonthe\"20thofAugust,1726,thatheflratleadsouthisbattaliontothemuster,\"onthoseterms。Hisageisnotyetfifteenbyfourmonths;——averytinyMajoramongthosePotsdamgiants;butbyrank,weobserve,herides;andhishorseisdoubtlessofthedueheight。AndsothetinyCadet—drillingahaveended;longFilesofGiants,splendentingold—laceandgrenadier—caps,havesucceeded;

  andearnestworkinsteadofmimic,inthatmatter,hasbegun。

  Howeveritmayhavefaredwithhisotherschool—lessons,herenowisaschool—formheisadvancedto,inwhichtherewillbenoresourcebutlearning。Badspellingmightbeoverlookedbythosethathadchargeofit;baddrillingisnotpermissibleonanyterms。WeneednotdoubttheCrown—Princedidhissoldier—dutyfaithfully,andlearnedineverypointtheconductofanofficer:

  penaltyasofRhadamanthuswaiteduponallfailurethere。Thathelikeditisbynomeanssaid;hemuchdislikedit,andhisdisgustsweremany。Anairyyoungcreature:——anditwasinthistimetogiveoneinstance,thatthatshearingofhislocksoccurred:whichwasspokenofabove,wheretheCourt—Chirurgusprovedsomerciful。ToclogthewingedPsycheinever—returningparade—routineandmilitarypipe—clay,——itseemsverycruel。

  Butitisnottobealtered:inspiteofone’sdisgusts,thedullwork,tothelastitemofit,hasdailytobedone。WhichprovedinfinitelybeneficialtotheCrown—Prince,afterall。Hereby,tohisAthenian—Frenchelegancies,andairypromptitudesandbrilliancies,thereshalllieasbasisanadamantineSpartanismandStoicism;veryrare,butveryindispensable,forsuchasuperstructure。Wellexemplified,throughafterlife,inthisCrown—Prince。

  OFTHEPOTSDAMGIANTS,ASAFACT。

  HisregimentwasthePotsdamGrenadierGuard;thatuniquegiant—regiment,ofwhichtheworldhasheardsomuchinavaguehalf—mythicalway。Thegiant—regimentwasnotaMyth,however,butabig—bonedexpensiveFact,trampingveryhardupontheearthatonetime,thoughnowgonealltotheghostlystate。AsitwasaCLASS—BOOK,sotospeak,ofourFriedrich’s,——Class—Book(printedinhugetype)foracertainbranchofhisschooling,thedetailsofwhicharesodim,thoughthegeneraloutcomeofitprovedsounforgettable,——readers,apartfromtheircuriosityotherwise,mayaswelltakeaglimpseofitonthisoccasion。Vanishednow,andgrownaGiantPhantom,thelikeofithardlyagaintobeinthisworld;andbyaccident,theverysmallestFigureeverrankedinitmakesitmemorablethere!——

  Withawiseinstinct,FriedrichWilhelmhaddiscernedthatallthingsinPrussiamustpointtowardshisArmy;thathisArmywastheheartandpith;theStatebeingthetree,everybranchandleafbound,afteritssort,tobenutritiveandproductivefortheArmy’sbehoof。That,probablyforanyNationinthelong—run,andcertainlyforthePrussianNationstraightway,lifeordeathdependsontheArmy:FriedrichWilhelm’shead,inaninarticulatemanner,wasfullofthisjustnotion;andallhislifewasspentinorganizingittoapracticalfact。Themoreofpotentialbattle,themoreoflifeisinus:aMAXIMUMofpotentialbattle,therefore;andletitbetheOPTIMUMinquality!HowFriedrichWilhelmcared,dayandnight,withallhisheartandallhissoul,tobringhisArmytothesupremepitch,wehaveoftenheard;

  andthemorewelookintohisways,themoreweareimpressedwiththatfact。Itwasthecentralthingforhim;allotherthingscirculatingtowardsit,derivingfromit:nolabortoogreat,andnonetoolittle,tobeundergoneforsuchanobject。HewatchedoveritlikeanArgus,witheyesthatreachedeverywhere。

  DisciplineshallbeasexactasEuclid;——shortofperfectionwedonotstop!Disciplineandeverbetterdiscipline;enforcementoftheruleinallpoints,improvementoftheruleitselfwherepossible,werethegreatDrill—sergeant’scontinualcare。

  Dailyhadsomeloopfallen,whichmighthavegoneravellingfarenough;butdailywashetheretopickitupagain,andkeepthewebunrentandsolidlyprogressive。

  Wesaid,itwasthe\"poeticideal\"ofFriedrichWilhelm;whoisadumbpoetinseveralparticulars,——andrequirestheprivilegesofgeniusfromthosethatREADhisdumbpoem。Itmustbeownedherisesintothefantastichereandthere;andhascrotchetsofultraperfectionforhisArmy,whicharenotrationalatall。

  Crotchetsthatgrewevermadder,thefartherhefollowedthem。

  ThisLifeguardRegimentoffoot,forinstance,inwhichtheCrown—Princenowis,——FriedrichWilhelmgotitinhisFather’stime,nodoubtaregimentthenoffairqualities;andhehaskeptdrillingit,improvingit,aspoetspolishstanzas,unweariedlyeversince:——andseenowwhatithasgrownto!APotsdamGiantRegiment,suchastheworldneversaw,beforeorsince。

  ThreeBattalionsofthem,——twoalwayshereatPotsdamdoingformallifeguardduty,thethirdatBrandenburgondrill;800totheBattalion,——2,400sonsofAnakinall。Sublimeenough,hugelyperfecttotheroyaleye,suchamassofshininggiants,intheirlong—drawnregularitiesandmathematicalmanoeuvrings,——likesomestreakofPrometheanlightning,realizedhereatlast,inthevulgarduskofthings!

  Trulytheyaremensupremeindiscipline,inbeautyofequipment;

  andtheshortestmanofthemrises,Ithink,towardssevenfeet,somearenearlyninefeethigh。Menfromallcountries;ahundredandoddcomeannually,aswesaw,fromRussia,——averypreciouswindfall:theresthavebeencollected,crimped,purchasedoutofeveryEuropeancountry,atenormousexpense,nottospeakofothertroubletohisMajesty。JamesKirkman,anIrishrecruitofgoodinches,costhim1,200poundsbeforehecouldbegotinveigled,shippedandbroughtsafetohand。Thedocumentsareyetinexistence;[Forster,HandbuchderGeschichte,GeographieundStatistikdesPreussischenReichs(Berlin,1820),iv。130,132;——notinaverylucidstate。]andthePortraitofthisIrishfellow—citizenhimself,whoisbynomeansabeautifulman。Indeed,theyareallportrayed;alltheprivatesofthisdistinguishedRegimentare,ifanybodycaredtolookatthem——

  RedivanofffromMoscow\"seemsoffarbetterbonethanKirkman,thoughstillmorestolidofaspect。OneHohmann,abornPrussian,wassotall,youcouldnot,thoughyourselftall,touchhisbarecrownwithyourhand;AugusttheStrongofPolandtried,ononeoccasion,andcouldnot。BeforeHohmannturnedup,therehadbeen\"JonastheNorwegianBlacksmith,\",alsoadreadfullytallmonster。

  Giant\"Macdoll,\"——whowastobemarried,noconsentaskedonEITHERside,tothetallyoungwoman,whichlatterturnedouttobeadecrepitOLDwoman(allJest—Booksknowthemyth),——healsowasanIrishGiant;hisnameprobablyM’Dowal。[Forster,

  PreussensHeldenimKriegundFrieden(Berlin,l848),i。531;nodatetothestory,noevidencewhatgrainoftruthmaybeinit。]ThisHohmannwasnowFLUGELMANN(\"fugleman\"aswehavenamedit,leaderofthefile),theTallestoftheRegiment,averymountainofpipe—clayedfleshandbone。

  Here,inreferencetooneotherofthosepoorGiants,isanAnecdotefromFassmann(whoisveryfullonthissubjectoftheGiants;abstruseHistoricalFassmann,oftenpainfullycitedbyus):amostsmallAnecdote,butthenanindisputablycertainone;

  ——whichbringsbacktous,inastrangeway,thevanishedTimeanditspopulations;asthepoorestauthenticwoodenlucifermaydo,kindlingsuddenly,and’peoplingthevoidNightformoments,totheseeingeye!——

  Fassmann,averydarkGermanliteraryman,inobsoletecostumeandgarniture,howlivingorwhatdoingwecannotguess,foundhimselfatParis,gazingabout,intheyear1713;where,amongotherthings,theFairofSt。Germainwasgoingon。Loud,largeFairofSt。Germain,\"whichlastsfromCandlemastotheMondaybeforeEaster;\"andFassmannonedaytookawalkofcontemplationthroughthesame。Muchnoise,gesticulation,littlemeaning。Show—booths,temporarytheatres,merry—andrews,sleight—of—handmen;andavastpublic,drinking,dancing,gambling,flirting,asitswontis。

  Nothingnewforusthere;newonlythatitallliesfivegenerationsfromusnow。Did\"theOldPretender,\"whowastheninhisexpectantperiod,inthissamevillageofSt。Germain,seeittoo,asFassmanndid?AndLouisXIV。,heisatVersailles;

  droopingfast,verydulltohisMaintenon。AndourlittleFritzinBerlinisachildinarms;——andtheworldisallawakeasusual,whileFassmannstrollsthroughthisnoisyinanityofshow—booths,intheyear1713。

  Strollingalong,FassmanncameuponacertainboothwithanenormousPicturehungaloftinfrontofit:\"Pictureofaverytallman,inHEYDUClivery,coatreachingtohisankles,ingrandperuke,capandbigheron—plume,withthesewords,’LEGEANT

  ALLEMAND(GermanGiant),’writtenunderneath。Partlyfromcuriosity,partly\"forcountry’ssake,\"Fassmannexpendedtwopence;viewedthegiganticfellow—creature;admitshehadneverseenonesotall;though\"Bentenrieder,theImperialDiplomatist,\"

  thoughtbysometobethetallestofmen,hadcomeathwarthimonce。Thisgiant’snamewasMuller;birthplacetheneighborhoodofWeissenfels;——\"aSaxonlikemyself。HehadasmallGermanWife,nothalfhissize。Hemademoneyreadily,showinghimselfabout,inFrance,England,Holland;\"——andFassmannwenthisway,thinkingnomoreofthefellow。——Butnow,continuesFassmann:——

  \"ComingtoPotsdam,thirteenyearsafter,inthespringof1726,byhisMajesty’sorder,to\"——infact,toreadtheNewspaperstohisMajesty,andbegenerallyuseful,chieflyintheTobacco—College,asweshalldiscover,——\"whatwasmysurprisetofindthissame’GEANTALLEMAND’ofSt。GermainrankedamongtheKing’sGrenadiers!Nodoubtoftheidentity:Irenewedacquaintancewiththeman;hislittleGermanWifewasdead;

  buthehadgotanEnglishoneinstead,anuncommonlyshiftycreature。Theyhadaneatlittledwelling—house[asmostofthemarriedgiantshad],nearthePalace:heretheWifesoldbeer[brandynotpermissibleonanyterms],andlodgedtravellers;——

  Imyselfhavelodgedthereonoccasion。Inthecourseofsomeyears,themantookswellinginthelegs;goodfornothingasagrenadier;andwasliketofallheavyonsociety。Butno,hislittleWifesnatchedhimup,easilygettinghisdischarge;

  carriedhimoverwithhertoEngland,whereheagainbecameashow—giant,andtheyweredoingverywell,whenlastheardof,\"——

  intheCountry—WakesofGeorgeII。’searlytime。AndthatistherealBiographyofonePotsdamGiant,byaliterarygentlemanwhohadlodgedwithhimonoccasion。[Fassmann,pp。723—730。]

  ThepayofthesesublimeFootguardsisgreatlyhigherthancommon;

  theyhavedistinguishedprivilegesandtreatment:ontheotherhand,theirdisciplineisnonpareil,anddischargeisnevertobedreamtof,whilestrengthlasts。PoorKirkman,doeshesometimesthinkoftheHillofHowth,andthathewillneverseeitmore?

  Kirkman,Ijudge,isnotgiventothought;——considersthathehastobaccohere,andprivilegesandperquisites;andthatHowth,andHeavenitself,isinaccessibletomanyaman。

  FRIEDRICHWILHELM’SRECRUITINGDIFFICULTIES。

  Tallmen,notforthisregimentonly,hadbecomeanecessaryoflifetoFriedrichWilhelm。Indispensabletohimalmostashisdailybread,Tohisheartthereisnoroadsoreadyasthatofpresentingatallmanortwo。FriedrichWilhelm’sregimentsarenow,byhisexactnewregulations,leviedandrecruitedeachinitsownCanton,orspecificdistrict:thereallmalesassoonasbornareenrolled;liabletoserve,whentheyhavegrowntoyearsandstrength。Allgrownmen(undercertainexceptions,asofawidow’seldestson,orofthelikeevidentlyruinouscases)areliabletoserve;CaptainoftheRegimentandAMTMANNoftheCantonsettlebetweenthemwhichgrownmanitshallbe。Betterforyounottobetall!InfactitisalmostakindnessofHeaventobegiftedwithsomesafeimpedimentofbody,slightlycrookedbackorthelike,ifyoumuchdislikethecareerofhonorunderFriedrichWilhelm。Ageneralshadowofunquietapprehensionwecanwellfancyhangingoverthoseruralpopulations,andmuchunpleasanthagglingnowandthen;——nothingbuttheKing’sjusticethatcanbeappealedto。King’sjustice,verygreatindeed,butheavilycheckedbytheKing’svalueforhandsomesoldiers。

  Happilyhisvalueforindustriallaborersandincreaseofpopulationislikewisegreat。Townsfolk,skilfulworkmenasthetheorysupposes,areexempt;themoreingeniousclasses,generally,hisMajestyexemptsinthisrespect,toencouragetheminothers。For,onthewhole,heisnotlessaCaptainofWork,tohisNation,thanofotherthings。WhathedidforPrussiainthewayofindustries,improvements,newmanufactures,newmethods;

  insettling\"colonies,\"tearingupdrownedbogsandsubduingthemintodrycornfields;inbuilding,draining,digging,andencouragingorforcingotherstodoso,wouldtakealongchapter。

  HeistheenemyofChaos,notthefriendofit,whereveryoumeetwithhim。

  Forexample,Potsdamitself。Potsdam,nowapleasant,grassy,leafyplace,branchingoutextensivelyinfinestonearchitecture,withsweptpavements;where,asinotherplaces,thetravellerfindslandandwaterseparatedintotwofirmaments,——FriedrichWilhelmfoundmuchofitaquagmire,landandwaterstillwelteringinone。Intheseveryyears,hiscuttings,embankments,buildings,pile—drivingsthere,areenormous;andhisperseveranceneedstobeinvincible。Forinstance,lookingout,onemorningafterheavyrain,uponsomeextensiveanti—quagmireoperationsandstrongpile—drivings,hefindshalfafurlongofhislatestheavypilingcleangone。Whatintheworldhasbecomeofit?Pooh,theswollenlakehasburstittopsy—turvy;anditfloatsyonder,bottomuppermost,ahalf—furlongofdistractedliquid—peat。

  WhereathisMajestygavealoudlaugh,saysBielfeld,[BarondeBielfeld,LettresFamilieres(secondedition,aLeide,1767),i。31。]andcommencedanew。Thepilesnowstandfirmenough,liketherestoftheEarth’scrust,andcarrystrongashlarhousesandumbrageoustreesformankind;andtrivialmankindcanwalkincleanpumpsthere,shudderingorsniggeringatFriedrichWilhelm,astheirhumormaybe。

  Nodangerofthis\"Canton—system\"ofrecruitmenttothemoreingeniousclasses,whocoulddobetterthanlearndrill。Nor,tosaytruth,doesthepoorclayeypeasantsufferfromit,accordingtohisapprehensions。Oftenperhaps,couldhecountprofitandloss,hemightfindhimselfagainer:thecareerofhonorturnsouttobe,atleast,acareerofpracticalStoicismandSpartanism;usefultoanypeasantortoanyprince。Cleanliness,ofpersonandevenofmind;fixedrigorofmethod,sobriety,frugality,thesearevirtuesworthacquiring。Sobrietyinthematterofdrinkismuchattendedtohere:hisMajestypermitsnodistillationofstrong—watersinPotsdam,orwithinsomanymiles;

  [Fassmann,p。728。]norissaleofsuchallowed,exceptinthemostintenselyselectmanner。Thesoldier’spayisinthehighestdegreeexiguous;notabovethreehalfpenceaday,foracommonfoot—soldier,inadditiontowhatrationshehas:——butitisfoundadequatetoitspurpose,too;supportsthesoldierinsoundhealth,vigorouslyfitforhiswork;intowhichpointshisMajestylookswithhisowneyes,andwilladmitnodubiety。Often,too,ifnotalreadyOFTENEST(asitultimatelygrewtobe),thepeasant—soldiergetshomeformanymonthsoftheyear,asoldier—ploughman;andlaborsforhislivingintheoldway。

  HisCaptain(itisoneoftheCaptain’sperquisites,whoisgenerallyaveteranoffifty,withalongSpartantraining,beforehegetssohigh)pocketsthepayofallthesefurloughs,supernumerarytotherealworkoftheregiment;——andhascertainimportantfurnishingstoyieldinreturn。

  Atanyrate,enrolment,intimeofpeace,cannotfallonmany:

  threeorfourrecruitsintheyear,toreplacevacancies,willcarrytheCantonthroughitscrisis。Forwearetonotewithal,thethirdpartofeveryregimentcan,andshouldbyrule,consistof\"foreigners,\"——mennotbornPrussians。ThesearegenerallymenleviedintheImperialFree—towns;\"intheREICH\"orEmpire,astheytermit;thatistosay,orismainlytosay,inthecountriesofGermanythatarenotAustrianorPrussian。Forthisforeignthird—parttoo,therecruitsmustbegot;excusesnotadmissibleforCaptainorColonel;nothingbutrecruitsofthedueincheswilldo。CaptainandColonel(supportingtheirenterpriseonfrugaladequate\"perquisites,\"hintedofabove)havetobeontheoutlook;vigilantly,eagerly;andmustcontrivetogetthem。

  Nay,wecantakesupernumeraryrecruits;andhaveinfactalwaysonhand,attachedtoeachregiment,astockofsuch。Anynumberofrecruits,thatstandwellontheirlegs,arewelcome;andforatallmanthereisjoyinPotsdam,almostasifhewereawisemanoragoodman。

  Theconsequenceis,allcountries,especiallyallGermancountries,areinfestedwithanewspeciesofpredatorytwo—leggedanimals:Prussianrecruiters。Theyglideabout,underdisguiseifnecessary;lynx—eyed,eageralmostastheJesuithoundsare;nothuntingthesoulsofmen,asthespiritualJesuitsdo,buttheirbodiesinamercilesscarnivorousmanner。Betternottobetootall,inanycountry,atpresent!IrishKirkmancouldnotbeprotectedbytheaegisoftheBritishConstitutionitself。

  Ingeneral,however,thePrussianrecruiter,onBritishground,reports,Thatthepeoplearetoowelloff,thatthereislittletobedoneinthoseparts。AtallBritishsailor,ifwepickhimupstrollingaboutMemelortheBalticports,isinexorablyclaimedbytheDiplomatists;nobusinessdo—abletillafterrestorationofhim;andheprovesamerelosstous。[DespatchesintheState—PaperOffice。]Germany,Holland,Switzerland,theNetherlands,thesearethefruitfulfieldsforus,andtherewedohuntwithsomevigor。

  Forexample,inthetownofJulichtherelivedandworkedatallyoungcarpenter:onedayawell—dressedpositive—lookinggentleman(\"BaronvonHompesch,\"therecordsnamehim)enterstheshop;

  wants\"astoutchest,withlockonit,forhouseholdpurposes;

  mustbeofsuchandsuchdimensions,sixfeetsixinlengthespecially,andthatisanindispensablepoint,——infactitwillbelongerthanyourself,Ithink,HerrZimmermann:whatisthecost;whencanitbeready?\"Cost,time,andtherestaresettled。

  \"Arightstoutchest,then;andseeyoudon’tforgetthesize;

  iftooshort,itwillbeofnousetome:mind;\"——\"JAWOHL!

  GEWISS!\"Andthepositive—looking,well—cladgentlemangoeshisways。Attheappointeddayhereappears;thechestisready;——

  wehope,anunexceptionablearticle?\"Tooshort,asIdreaded!\"

  saysthepositivegentleman。\"Nay,yourhonor,\"saysthecarpenter,\"Iamcertainitissixfeetsix!\"andtakesouthisfoot—rule。——\"Pshaw,itwastobelongerthanyourself。\"\"Well,itis。\"——\"Noitisn’t!\"Thecarpenter,toendthematter,getsintohischest;andwillconvinceanyandallmortals。Nosoonerishein,rightlyflat,thanthepositivegentleman,aPrussianrecruitingofficerindisguise,slamsdowntheliduponhim;

  locksit;whistlesinthreestoutfellows,whopickupthechest,gravelywalkthroughthestreetswithit,openitinasafeplace;

  andfind—horribletorelate——thepoorcarpenterdead;chokedbywantofairinthisfrightfulmiddle—passageofhis。[Forster,ii。305,306;Pollnitz,ii。518,519。]NameoftheTownisgiven,Julichasabove;datenot。AndifthethinghadbeenonlyapopularMyth,isitnotasignificantone?Butitistootrue;

  thetallcarpenterlaydead,andHompeschgot\"imprisonedforlife\"bythebusiness。

  Burgermeistersofsmalltownshavebeencarriedoff;inonecase,\"arichmerchantinMagdeburg,\"whomitcostalargesumtogetfreeagain。[Stenzel,iii。356。]Prussianrecruitershoveraboutbarracks,parade—grounds,inForeignCountries;andiftheyseeatallsoldier(theDutchhavehadinstances,andareindignantatthem),willpersuadehimtodesert,——tomakeforthecountrywheresoldier—meritisunderstood,andatallfellowofpartswillgethispairofcolorsinno—time。

  ButthehigheststretchoftheirartwasprobablythatdoneontheAustrianAmbassador,——tallHerrvonBentenrieder;tallestofDiplomatists;whomFassmann,tilltheFairofSt。Germain,hadconsideredthetallestofmen。BentenriederwasonhisroadasKaiser’sAmbassadortoGeorgeI。,inthoseCongress—of—Cambraitimes;serenelyjourneyingon;when,nearbyHalberstadt,hiscarriagebroke。Carriagetakessometimeinmending;thetallDiplomaticHerrwalkson,willstretchhislonglegs,catchaglimpseoftheTownwithal,tilltheygetitreadyagain。Andnow,atsomeGuard—houseoftheplace,aPrussianOfficerinquires,nottooreverentlyofanoblemanwithoutcarriage,\"Whoareyou?\"

  \"Well,\"answeredhesmiling,\"IamBOTSCHAFTER(Message—bearer)

  fromhisImperialMajesty。Andwhomayyoubethatask?\"——\"TotheGuard—housewithus!\"Whitherheismarchedaccordingly。\"Kaiser’smessenger,whynot?\"Beingamosttallhandsomeman,thisKaiser’sBOTSCHAFTER,stridingalongonfoothere,theGuard—houseOfficialshavedecidedtokeephim,toteachhimPrussiandrill—exercise;——andarethrownintoasingularquandary,whenhisvaletsandsuitecomeup,fullofalarmdissolvingintojoy,andcallhim\"Excellenz!\"[Pollnitz,ii。207—209。]

  TallHerrvonBentenriederacceptedtheprostrateapologyoftheseGuard—houseOfficials。ButhenaturallyspokeofthemattertoGeorgeI。;whosepatience,oftenfrettedbycomplaintsonthathead,seemstohavetakenfireatthistranscendentinstanceofPrussianinsolency。Inconsequenceofthisadventure,hecommenced,saysPollnitz,asystemofdecisivemeasures;

  ofreprisalseven,andofaltogetherperemptory,minatoryprocedures,toclearHanoverofthisnuisance;andtomakeitcease,inveryfact,andnotinpromiseandprofessionmerely。

  ThesewerethefirstrubsQueenSophiemetwith,inpushingontheDouble—Marriage;andsorerubstheywere,thoughsheatlastgotoverthem。ComingonthebackofthatfineCharlottenburgVisit,almostwithinyearandday,anddirectlyintheteethofsuchfriendlyaspectsandprospects,thisconductonthepartofhisBritannicMajestymuchgrievedandangeredFriedrichWilhelm;

  andinfactinvolvedhiminconsiderablepracticaltroubles。

  Foritwasthesignalofasimilarsetofloudcomplaints,andmenacingremonstrances(withlittletwingesoffulfilmenthereandthere)fromallquartersofGermany;atempestoftroubleandpublicindignationrisingeverywhere,andraininginuponFriedrichWilhelmandthisunfortunateHobbyofhis。Noridingofone’spoorHobbyinpeaoehenceforth。FriedrichWilhelmalwaysanswered,whatwasonlysuperficiallythefact,ThatHEknewnothingoftheseviolencesandactsofill—neighborship;he,ajustKing,wassorrierthananymantohearofthem;andwouldgiveimmediateorderthattheyshouldend。Buttheyalwayswentonagain,muchthesame;andneverdidend。IamsorryajustKing,ledastraybyhisHobby,answersthuswhatisonlysuperficiallythefact。Butitseemshecannothelpit:hisHobbyistoostrongforhim;regardlessofcurbandbridleinthisinstance。Letuspityamanofgenius,mountedonsoungovernableaHobby;

  leapingthebarriers,inspiteofhisbestresolutions。

  Perhapsthepoetictemperamentismoreliabletosuchmorbidbiases,influxesofimaginativecrotchet,andmerefollythatcannothecured?FriedrichWilhelmneverwouldorcoulddismountfromhisHobby:butherodehimundermuchsorrowhenceforth;

  undershowersofangerandridicule;——contumeliouswordsandprocedures,asitwereSAXAETFAECES,batteringroundhim,toaheavyextent;therideravictimofTragedyandFarcebothatonce。

  QUEENSOPHIE’STROUBLES:GRUMKOWWITHTHEOLDDESSAUER,ANDGRUMKOWWITHOUTHIM。

  QueenSophiehad,bydelicatemanagement,gotoverthosefirstrubs,audarrivedataTreatyofHanover,andcleargroundagain;

  farworserubslayahead;butsmoothtravelling,towardssuchagoal,wasnotpossibleforthisQueen。PoorLady,herCourt,aswediscernfromWilhelminaandtheBooks,isasadwelterofintrigues,suspicions;oftreacherouschambermaids,head—valets,pickthankscoutsofofficialgentlemenandothersstrivingtosupplantoneanother。Satan’sInvisibleWorldverybusyagainstQueenSophie!Underanyterms,muchmoreunderthoseoftheDouble—Marriage,herplaceinakindlybutsuspiciousHusband’sfavorwasdifficulttomaintain。Restlessaspirants,climbingthiswayorthat,byladder—stepsdiscoverableinthisabstruseelement,areneverwanting,andhavethedueeavesdroppingsatellites,nowhere,nowthere。QueenSophieandherpartyhavetowalkwarily,asifamongprecipicesandpitfalls。Ofallwhichwidewelterofextinctcontemptibilities,thenandtheresoimportant,hereandnowbecomeminusquantities,weagainnoticetheexistence,butcanundertakenostudyorspecificationwhatever。TwoIncidents,thelatterofthemdatingnearthepointwherewenoware,willsufficientlyinstructthereaderwhatawelterthiswas,inwhichQueenSophieandherbrightlittleSon,thenewMajorofthePotsdamGiants,hadtopasstheirexistence。

  IncidentFirstfelloutsomesixyearsagoormore,——in1719,yearoftheHeidelbergProtestants,ofClementtheForger,whenhisMajesty\"sleptforweekswithapistolunderhispillow,\"andhadothertroubles。HisMajesty,ononeofhisjourneys,whichwerealwaysmany,wastakensuddenlyillatBrandenburg,thatyear:

  soviolentlyill,thatthinkinghimselfabouttodie,hesentforhisgoodQueen,andmadeaWillappointingherRegentincaseofhisdecease。HisMajestyquiterecoveredbeforelong。ButGrumkowandtheoldDessauer,mainaspirants;gettingwindofthisWill,andhuntingoutthetruthofit,——whatapuddlingofthewatersthesetwomadeinconsequence;stirringupmireanddirtroundthegoodQueen,findingshehadbeenpreferredtothem![Wilhelmina,i。26,29。]NayWilhelmina,inherwildway,believestheyhad,notlongafter,plannedto\"fireaTheatre\"abouttheKing,oneafternoon,inBerlinCity,andtakehislife,therebysecuringforthemselvessuchbenefitinprospectastheremightbe!Notadoubtofit,thinksWilhelmina:\"TheyoungMargraf,[Born1700(seevol。v。p。393。]ourpreciousCousin,ofSchwedt,isnotheSister’s—sonofthatOldDessauer?GrandsonoftheGreatElector,evenasPapais。Papaoncekilled(andourpoorCrown—Princealsomadeawaywith),——thatyoungMargraf,andhisblueFox—tigerofanUncleoverhim,isKinginPrussia!ObviouslytheymeanttoburnthatTheatre,andkillPapa!\"ThisisWilhelmina’sdistractedbelief;as,doubtless,itwasherMother’sonthedayinquestion:

  ajealous,much—suffering,transcendentlyexasperatedMother,aswesee。

  IncidentSecondshowsusthose,tworoughGentlemenfallenoutofpartnership,intoopenquarrelandevenduel。\"DuelattheCopenickGate,\"muchnoisedofinthedulloldPrussianBooks,——

  thoughalwaysinareservedmanner;noteventheDATE,asifthatweredangerous,beingclearlygiven!ItcameinthewakeofthatHanoverTreaty,asisnowguessed;thetwohavingtakenoppositesidesonthatmeasure,andgotprovokedintorippingupoldsoresingeneral。DessauwasAGAINSTKingGeorgeandtheTreaty,itappears;havinghisreasons,family—reasonsofoldstanding:

  Grumkow,abribablegentleman,wasFOR,——havingalsoperhapshisreasons。Enough,itcametoaltercations,objurgationsbetweenthetwo;whichroseeverhigher,——roseatlengthtowager—of—battle。IndignantchallengeonthepartoftheOldDessauer;which,however,Grumkow,notregardedasaBARESARKinthefightingway,regretsthathisChristianprinciplesdonot,forsooth,allowhimtoaccept。TheKingisappealedto;theKing,beinghimself,thoughanorthodoxChristian,yetastillmoreorthodoxSoldier,decidesThat,onthewhole,GeneralGrumkowcannotbutacceptthischallengefromtheField—marshalPrinceofDessau。

  Dessauisonthefield,attheCopenickGate,accordingly,——

  late—autumnafternoon(Icalculate)oftheyear1725;——waitspatientlytillGrumkowmakehisappearance。Grumkow,withachosensecond,doesatlastappear;advancespensivelywithslowsteps。

  GunpowderDessau,blackasasilentthunder—cloud,drawshissword:andGrumkow——doesnotdrawhis;presentsitundrawn,withunconditionalsubmissionandapology:\"Slayme,ifyoulike,oldFriend,whomIhaveinjured!\"WhereatDessau,utteringnoword,utteringonlysomecontemptuoussnort,turnshisbackonthephenomenon;mountshishorseandrideshome。[Pollnitz,ii。212,214。]AdividedmanfromthisGrumkowhenceforth。ThePrincewaitedonherMajesty;signifiedhissorrowforpastestrangements;hisgreatwishnowtohelpher,buthistotalinability,beingoustedbyGrumkow:WeareforHalle,Madam,whereourRegimentis;thereletusservehisMajesty,sincewecannothere![Wilhelmina,i。90,93。]——AndinfacttheOldDessauerlivesmostlythereintimecoming;sunkinarticulateintacticsofatrulydeepnature,notstrandingonpoliticsofashallow;——

  amanstillmemorableinthemythictraditionsofthatplace。

  Bettertodrillmentoperfection,andinventironramrods,againstthedaytheyshallbeneeded,thangojostling,onsuchterms,withcattleoftheGrumkowkind!Andthus,weperceive,Grumkowisin,andtheOldDessauerout;andtherehasbeen\"achangeofMinistry,\"changeof\"Majesty’s—Advisers,\"broughtabout;——maytheAdvicegoingbewisernow!

  WhattheyoungCrown—Princedid,said,thought,insuchenvironment,ofbackstairsdiplomacies,femalesighsandaspirations,Grumkowduels,drillingsintheGiantRegiment,isnotspecifiedforusinthesmallestparticular,intheextensiverubbish—booksthathavebeenwrittenabouthim。Oursis,toindicatethatsuchenvironmentwas:howalivelysoul,actedonbyit,didnotfailtoreact,chameleon—liketakingcolorfromit,andcontrariwisetakingcoloragainstit,mustbelefttothereader’simagination——Onethingwehavegatheredandwillnotforget,ThattheOldDessauerisout,andGrumkowin,thattheruggedSonofGunpowder,drillingmenhenceforthatHalle,andinadumbwaymeditatingtacticsasfeweverdid,hasnoshareinthefoulenchantmentsthatnowsuperveneatcourt。

  ChapterVI。

  ORDNANCE—MASTERSECKENDORFCROSSESTHEPALACEESPLANADE。

  TheKaiser’sterrorandembarrassmentattheconclusionoftheHanoverTreaty,aswesaw,wereextreme。Warpossibleorlikely;

  andnothingbutthetermagantcapricesofElizabethFarnesetodependon:nocashfromtheSea—Powers;onlycannonshot,invasionandhostility,fromtheircashandthem:Whatistobedone?

  To\"caresstheprideofSpain;\"tokeepalivethehopes,inthatquarter,ofmarryingtheirDonCarlos,thesupplementaryInfant,tooureldestArchduchess;whichindeedhassettheSea—Powersdreadfullyonfire,butwhichdoesleaveParmaandPiacenzaquietforthepresent,andmakesthePragmaticSanctiontooanaffairofSpain’sown:thisisoneresource,thoughapoorone,andadangerous。Anotheris,tomakealliancewithRussia,bywellflatteringthepoorlittlebrownCzarinathere:butisnotthatastillpoorer?Andwhatthirdisthere!——

  Thereisathirdworthboththeothers,coulditbegotdone:

  TodetachFriedrichWilhelmfromthosedangerousHanoverConfederates,andbringhimgentlyovertoourselves。Hehasanarmyof60,000,inperfectequipment,andmoneytomaintainthemso。Againstusorforus,——60,000PLUSor60,000MINUS;——thatwillmean120,000fightingmen;amostweightyiteminanyfieldthereisliketobe。Ifitlieinthepowerofhumanart,letusgainthiswildirritatedKingofPrussia。Dareanyhenchmanofoursventuretogo,withhoney—cakes,withpattingsandcajoleries,andsliptheimperialmuzzlewellroundthesnoutofthatruggedursineanimal?Aniracundbear,ofdangerousproportions,andjustlyirritatedagainstusatpresent?OurexperiencedFELDZEUGMEISTER,Ordnance—MasterandDiplomatist,GrafvonSeckendorf,aconscientiousProtestant,andthecunningestofmen,abletolietoalllengths,——darehetryit?Hehasfoughtinallquartersoftheworld;andliedinall,whereneedful;andsavedmoneyinall:hewilltryit,andwillsucceedinittoo!

  [Pollnitz,ii。235;Stenzel,iii。544;Forster,ii。59,iii。235,239。]

  TheSecondAct,therefore,ofthisfoolishWorld—DramaoftheDouble—Marriageopens,——onthe11thMay,1726,towardssunset,intheTABAGIEoftheBerlinPalace,aswegatherfromlaboriouscomparisonofwindyPollnitzwithotherindistinctwitnessesofadrearynature,——inthefollowingmanner:——

  PrussianMajestysitssmokingatthewindow;nothingparticulargoingon。Asquare—builtshortishsteel—grayGentleman,ofmilitarycut,pastfifty,isstrollingovertheSCHLOSSPLATZ

  (spaciousSquareinfrontofthePalace),conspicuousamidthesparsepopulationsthere;pensivelyrecreatinghimself,intheyellowsunlightandlongshadows,asafteraday’shardlaborortravel。\"Whoisthat?\"inquiresFriedrichWilhelm,suspendinghistobacco。Grumkowanswerscautiously,aftersurvey:HethinksitmustbeOrdnance—MasterSeckendorf;whowaswithhimto—day;

  passingonrapidlytowardsDenmark,onbusinessthatwillnotwait。——\"ExperiencedFeldzeugmeisterGrafvonSeckendorf,whomwestandincorrespondencewith,oflate,andwereexpectingaboutthistime?WhomwehaveknownattheSiegeofStralsund,nayeversincetheMarlboroughtimesandtheSiegeofMenin,inwarandpeace;andhavealwaysreckonedasolidreasonablemanandsoldier:Whyhashenotcometous?\"——\"YourMajesty,\"confessesGrumkow,\"hisbusinessissopressing!BusinessinDenmarkwillnotwait。Seckendorfownedhehadcomeslightlyround,inhiseagernesstoseeourgrandReviewatTempelhofthedayafterto—morrow:Whatsoldierwouldomitthesight(sohewaspleasedtointimate)ofsoldieringcarriedtothenon—plus—ultra?Buthehopedtodoitquiteincognito,amongthegeneralpublic;——andthentobeatthegallopagain:notabletohavethehonorofpayinghiscourtatthistime。\"——\"Court?NARREN—POSSEN

  (Nonsense)!\"answersFriedrichWilhelm,——andopeningthewindow,beckonsSeckendorfup,withhisownroyalheadandhand。

  Theconversationofamanwhohadrationalsense,andcouldtellhimanything,wereitonlynewsafforeignpartsinarationalmanner,wasalwayswelcometoFriedrichWilhelm。

  AndsoSeckendorf,howcanhehelpit,isinstalledintheTabagie;glidesintopleasantconversationthere。Acaptivatingtalker;solidforreligion,fortherightsofGermanyagainstintrusiveFrenchandothers:suchinsight,orthodoxy,senseandingenuity;pleasanttohear;andallwiththeduequantityofoil,thoughhe\"bothsnufflesandlisps;\"andhasprivately,incaseofneed,acapacityoflying,——forhecuriouslydistilsyouanylie,inhisreligiousalembics,tillitbecometolerabletohisconscience,orevenpalatable,aselixirsare;——capacityofdouble—distilledlyingprobablythegreatestofhisday。——

  SeckendorfassistsatthegrandReview,13thMay,1726;witnesseswithunfeignedadmirationthenon—plus—ultraofmanoeuvring,and,infact,thegeneralmanagement,militaryandother,ofthisadmirableKing。[Pollnitz,ii。235;Fassmann,pp。367,368。]

  Seckendorf,noquestionofit,willdohisDenmarkbusinessswiftly,then,sinceyourMajestyispleasedsotowish。

  Seckendorf,sureenough,willreturnswiftlytosuchaKing,whosefamiliarcompany,vouchsafedhiminthisnoblemanner,helikes,——

  oh,howhelikesit!

  Inaweekortwo,SeckendorfisbacktoBerlin;attendshisMajestyontheannualMilitaryTourthroughPreussen;attendshimeverywhere,becomingquiteanecessaryoflifetohisMajesty;

  anddoesnotgoawayatall。Seckendorf’sbusiness,ifhisMajestyknewit,willnotleadhim\"away;\"butlieshereonthisspot;

  andisnowgoingon;themagic—apparatus,Grumkowthemainspringofit,gettingallintogear!GrumkowwasonceclearforKingGeorgeandtheHanoverTreaty,havinghisreasonsthen;butnowhehasotherreasons,andisclearagainstthoseforeignconnections。

  \"Hm,hah——Yes,myestimable,justlypowerfulHerrvonGrumkow,hereisalittlePensionof1,600ducats(only500poundsasyet),whichtheImperialMajesty,thinkingoftheserviceyoumaydoPrussiaandGermanyandhim,graciouslycommandsmetopresent;——

  only500poundsbytheyearasyet;butthereshallbenolackofmoneyifweprosper!\"[Forster,iii。233,232;seealsoiv。172,121,157,&c。]

  AndsotherearenowtwoBlack—Artists,ofthefirstquality,busyontheunconsciousFriedrichWilhelm;andSeckendorf,forthenextsevenyears,willsticktoFriedrichWilhelmlikehisshadow;

  andfascinatehiswholeexistenceandhim,asfewwizardscouldhavedone。FriedrichWilhelm,likeSt。PaulinMelita,warminghisinnocenthandsatthefireofdrybranchesherekindledforhim,——

  thatmiracleofavenomousserpentisthisthathasfixeditselfuponhisfinger?ToFriedrichWilhelm’senchantedsenseitseemsabird—of—paradise,trustfullyperchingthere;butitisofthewhip—snakekind,oraworse;andwillsticktohimtragically,ifalsocomically,foryearstocome。Theworldhasseenthecomedyofit,andhashowledscornfullaughteruponFriedrichWilhelmforit:butthereisatragicside,notsowellseeninto,wheretearsareduetothepoorKing;andtocertainothershorsewhips,andalmostgallows—ropes,aredue!——Yes,hadSeckendorfandGrumkowbothbeenwellhanged,atthisstageoftheaffair,wherebytheaffairmighthavesoonendedonfairterms,ithadbeenwelcometomankind;welcomesurelytothepresentEditor;forone;suchasavingtohim,oftimewasted,ofdisgustendured!Andindeeditisasolacementhehasoftenlongedfor,inthesedrearyoperationsofhis。ButtheFatesappointedotherwise;wehavealltoacceptourFate!——

  GrumkowissworntoImperialorthodoxy,then,——probablythevulpineMIND(sototermit)wentalwaysratherthatway,andonlyhisinteresttheother;——Grumkowiswellbribed,suppliedforbribingotherswhereneedful;standsorthodoxnow,underperilofhisveryhead。Allthingshavebeengotdistilledintothepalatablestate,spiritualandeconomic,foroneselfandone’sgrandTrojan—HorseofaGrumkow;andtheadventureproceedsapace。

  SeckendorfsitsnightlyintheTABAGIE(akindof\"SmokingParliament,\"asweshallseeanon);attendsonallpromenadesandjourneys:oneofthewisestheads,andsopleasantindiscourse,heisgrownindispensable,andanecessaryoflifetous。

  Seckendorf’sBiographercomputes,\"hemusthaveridden,inthosesevenyears,continuallyattendinghisMajesty,above5,000Germanmiles,\"[Anonymous(Seckendorf’sGrand—Nephew)VersucheinerLebensbeschreibungdesFeldmarschallsGrafenvonSeckendorf(Leipzig,1792,1794),i。6。]——thatis25,000

  Englishmiles;oratriflemorethanthelengthoftheTerrestrialEquator。

  Inamonthortwo,[13thAugust,1726(Preuss,i。37)。]

  Seckendorf——sinceMajestyvouchsafestohonorusbywishingit——

  contrivestogetnominatedKaiser’sMinisteratBerlin:unlimitedprospectsofTabagie,andgoodtalk,nowopeningonMajesty。

  AndimpartialGrumkow,inTabagieorwhereverweare,cannotbutadmit,nowandthen,thattheExcellenzHerrGrafOrdnance—MasterhasadealofreasoninwhathesaysaboutForeignPolitics,aboutintrusiveFrenchandotherpoints。\"Hm,Na,\"musesFriedrichWilhelmtohimself,\"iftheKaiserhadnotbeensoloftyonusinthatHeidelberg—Protestantaffair,intheRitter—Dienstbusiness,inthosedamned’recruiting’brabbles;alwaysaveryhigh—sniffingsurlyKaisertous!\"ForinfacttheKaiserhas,allalong,usedFriedrichWilhelmbitterlyill;andcontemplatesnobetterusageofhim,exceptinshow。Usage?thinkstheKaiser:AbigPrussianpieceofCannon,whomwewishtoenchantovertous!DidLAZYPEG

  complainofher\"usage\"?——SothattheExcellenzandGrumkowhaveaheavyproblemofit;weretheynotsodiligent,andtheCannonitselfwelldisposed。\"ThoseBLITZFRANZOSEN(blastedFrench)!\"

  growlsFriedrichWilhelmsometimes,intheTobacco—Parliament:

  [Forster,ii。12,&c。]forhehatestheFrench,andwouldfainlovehisKaiser;beingGermantothebone,andofrightloyalheart,thoughcountedonlyapieceofcannonbysome。Foronething,hisPrussianMajestydeclinessigningthatTreatyofHanoverasecondtime:nowwhentheDutchaccedetoit,afteralmostayear’stroublewiththem,thePrussianAmbassador,singulartoobserve,\"hasnoorderstosign;\"leavestheEnglishwiththeirHollandersandBlitzFranzosentosignbythemselves,thistime。[9thAugust,1726。(Boyer,ThePoliticalStateofGreatRrilain,amonthlyperiodical,vol。xxxii。

  p。77,whichisthenumberforJuly,1726。)]\"Wewillwait,wewillwait!\"thinkshisPrussianMajesty:——\"Whoknows?\"

  \"ButthenJulichandBerg!\"urgeshealways;\"BritannicMajestyandtheBlitzFranzosenweretosecuremethereversionthere。

  Thatwastheessentialpoint!\"——ForthistooExcellenzhasaremedy;worksoutgraduallyaremedyfromheadquarters,theamiabledexterousman:\"Kaiserwilldothelike,yourMajesty;

  Kaiserhimselfwillsecureityou!\"——Inbrief,somethreemonthsafterSeckendorf’sinstalmentasKaiser’sMinister,notyetfivemonthssincehisappearanceintheSchlossplatzthatMayevening,——itisnowHunting—season,andweareatWusterhausen;

  Majesty,histwoBlack—Artistsandthepropersatellitesonbothsidesallthere,——anewandoppositeTreaty,inextremeprivacy,onthe12thofOctober,1726,issignedatthatsequesteredHunting—Schloss:\"TreatyofWusterhausen\"socalled;whichwasonceveryfamousandmysterious,andcausedmanywigstowag。

  Wigstowag,inthosedaysespecially,whenknowledgeofitwasfirsthad;theratherasonlyhalfknowledgecouldbehadofit;——

  orcan,mournsDryasdust,whohasstilldifficultiesaboutsome\"secretarticles\"intheDocument。[Buchholz,i。94n。]Courage,myfriend;theyarenowofnoimportancetoanycreature。

  TheessentialpurportofthisTreaty,[GivenINEXTENSO(withoutthesecretarticles)inForster,iv。159—166。]legibletoalleyes,is,\"ThatFriedrichWilhelmsilentlydropstheHanoverTreatyandBlitzFranzosen;andexplicitlystepsovertotheKaiser’sside;stipulatestoassisttheKaiserwithsomanythousand,ifattackedinGermanybyanyBlitzFranzoseorintrusiveForeignerwhatever。Inreturnforwhich,theKaiser,besidesassistingPrussiainthelikecasewithalikequotityofthousands,engages,incircuitouschancerylanguage,Tobehelpful,andhumanlyspeakingeffectua1,inthatgrandmatterofJulichandBerg;——somewhatinthefollowingstrain:’ToourImperialminditdoesappeartheKingofPrussiahasmanifestrighttothesuccessioninJulichandBerg;rightgroundedonexpressERBVERGLEICHof1624,nottospeakofDeedssubsequent:

  theImperialmind,assupremejudgeofsuchmattersintheReich,willnotfailtodecidethisCausesoonandjustly,shoulditcometothat。Butwehopeitmaytakeastillbettercourse:fortheImperialmindwillstraightwaysetaboutpersuadingKur—Pfalztocomplypeaceably;andevenundertakestohavesomethingdone,thatway,beforesixmonthspass。’\"[Art。v。inForster,ubisupra。]

  Humanlyspeaking,surelytheImperialmindwillbeeffectualintheJulichandBergmatter。Butitwasverynecessarytousecircuitouschancerylanguage,——inasmuchastheImperialmind,desirousalsotosecureKur—Pfalz’shelpinthissorecrisis,had,aboutthreemonthsago,[TreatywithKur—Pfalz,16thAugust,1726

  (Forster,ii。71)。]expresslyengagedtoKur—Pfalz,ThatJulichandBergshouldNOTgotoFriedrichWilhelmintermsoftheoldDeed,buttoKur—Pfalz’sCousinsofSulzbach,whomtheoldgentleman(inspiteofDeeds)wasobstinatetoprefer!Thereisnodoubtaboutthatfact,aboutthatself—devouringpairoffacts。

  TosuchstraitsisaKaiserdrivenwhenhegetsdeepintospectre—hunting。

  Thisistheoncefamous,nowforgotten,\"TreatyofWusterhausen,12thOctober,1726;\"whichprovedsoconsolatorytotheKaiserinthatdreadcrisisofhisSpectre—Hunt;andtheeffectsofwhichareveryvisibleinthisHistory,ifnowhereelse。ItcaughtupthePrussian—EnglishDouble—Marriage;launcheditintothehugetideofImperialSpectrePolitics,intotheawfulswaggingsandswayingsoftheTerrestrialLIBRAingeneral;andnearlybroketheheartofseveralRoyalpersons;ofamemorableCrown—Prince,amongothers。Whichlastisnow,prettymuch,itssoleclaimtobeevermentionedagainbymankind。Astherewasnoperformance,noranintentionofany,inthatJulich—Bergmatter,ExcellenzSeckendorfhadthetaskhenceforthofkeeping,byart—magicorthePRETERnaturalmethod,——thatis,bymerehelpofGrumkowandtheDevil,——hisPrussianMajestysteadytotheKaisernevertheless。

  AlwayswelldividedfromtheEnglishespecially。WhichtheExcellencySeckendorfmanagedtodo。Forsixorsevenyearscoming;or,infact,tilltheseSpectre—chasingsended,orranelse—whitherforconsummation。Steadyalways,jealousoftheEnglish;sometimesnearlymad,butalwaysreadyasaprimedcannon:soFriedrichWilhelmwasaccordinglymanagedtobekept;——

  hisownHouseholdgonealmostintodelirium;hehimselflookingout,withloyallyfiercesurvey,foranyAnti—KaiserWar:\"Whendowegooff,then?\"——thoughnoneevercame。Andindeednothingcame;

  andexceptthosetormentstoyoungFriedrichandothers,itwasallNothing。OneofthestrangestpiecesofBlack—Arteverdone。

  ExcellenzSeckendorf,whomFriedrichWilhelmsoloves,isbynomeansabeautifulman;farthereverse。Bodily,——andthespiritcorresponds,——astiff—backed,petrified,stony,inscrutable—looking,andmostunbeautifuloldIntriguer。

  Portraitsofhim,whicharefrequent,tellallonestory。

  Thebrowpuckeredtogether,inawidewebofwrinklesfromeachtemple,asifitmeanttohidethebadpairofeyes,whichlooksuspicion;inquiry,apprehension,habitofdouble—distilledmendacity;theindeterminateprojectingchin,withitsthick,chappedunder—lip,isshakenout,orshovedout,inmill—hopperfashion,——asiftoswallowanythingtheremaybe,spokenthingorother,andgrindittoprofitablemealforitself。SpirituallyhewasanoldSoldierletforhire;anoldIntriguer,Liar,Fighter,whatyoulike。WhatwemaycallahumanSoulstandinglikeahackney—coach,thishalf—centurypast,withhead,tongue,heart,conscience,atthehestofadiscerningpublicanditsshilling。

  Thereisconsiderablefaculty,acertainstiff—neckedstrengthintheoldfellow;infact,naturehadbeenratherkindtohim;

  andcertainlyhisUncleandGuardian——thedistinguishedSeckendorfwhodidtheHISTORIALUTHERANISMI,aRITTER,andmanofgoodmark,inErnstTHEPIOUSofSaxe—Gotha’stime——tookpainsabouthiseducation。ButNature’sgiftshavenotprosperedwithhim:

  howcouldthey,inthathackney—coachwayoflife?

  Considerablegifts,wesay;shrunkintoastrangebankruptcyinthedevelopmentofthem。Astiff—backed,close—fistedoldgentleman,withmill—hopperchin,——withpuckerymuch—inquiringeyes,whichhaveneverdiscoveredanynoblepathforhiminthisworld。HeisastrictlyorthodoxProtestant;zealousaboutexternalpointsofmoralconduct;yetscruplesnot,fortheKaiser’sshilling,toliewithenergytoalllengths;andfight,accordingtotheReichs—Hofrathcode,foranygodorman。Heisgonemostlytoavarice,inthesematureyears;allhisvariousstrengthsturnedintostrengthofgrasping。Heisnowfifty—four;

  amanpublicintheworld,especiallysincehebecametheKaiser’sman:buthehasservedvariousmasters,invariouscapacities,andbeeninmanywars;——andforthenextthirtyyearsweshallstilloccasionallymeethim,seldomtoouradvantage。

  HecomesfromAnspachoriginally;andhaskindredSeckendorfsinofficethere,oldRittersinthatCountry。Heinheritedahandsomecastleandestate,Meuselwitz,nearAltenburgintheThuringenregion,fromthatUncle,ErnstofSaxe—Gotha’sman,whomwespokeof;andhasotherwisegainedwealth;allwhichheholdslikeavice。Once,atMeuselwitz,theysay,heandsomeyoungsecretary,ofasmartishturn,satworkingorconversing,inalargeroomwithonlyonecandletoilluminateit:thesecretary,snuffingthecandle,snuffeditout:\"Pshaw,\"saidSeckendorfimpatiently,\"wheredidyoulearntohandlesnuffers?\"\"Excellenz,inaplacewherethereweretwolightskept!\"repliedthe0ther。[

  SechendorjeLeben(alreadycited),i。4。]——Fortherest,hehasagoodoldWifeatMeuselwitz,whoisnowold,andhadneveranychildren;wholoveshimmuch,andismuchlovedbyhim,itwouldappear:thisisreallythebestfactIeverknewofhim,——poorbankruptcreature;gonealltospiritualrheumatism,tostrictorthodoxy,withunlimitedmendacity;andavariceasthegeneraloutcome!Stiff—backed,close—fistedstrength,allgrownwoodenorstony;yetsomelittlewellofhumanSympathydoesliefarintheinterior:onewishes,afterall(sincehecouldnotbegothangedintimeforus),gooddaystohispooroldWifeandhim!Hebothlispsandsnuffles,aswasmentioned;writescunninglyacresofdespatchestoPrinceEugene;neverswears,thoughamilitaryman,exceptongreatoccasionsoneoath,JARNI—BLEU,——whichisperhapssomeflash—noteversionofCHAIR—DE—DIEU,likePARBLEU,’Zoundsandtherestofthem,whichtheDevilcannotprosecuteyoufor;wherebyaneconomicmanhasthepleasureofswearingoncheapterms。

  HerrPollnitz’saccountofSeckendorfisunusuallyemphatic;

  babblingPollnitzrisesintoastrainofpulpiteloquence,inspiredbyindignation,onthistopic:\"HeaffectedGermandownrightness,towhichhewasastranger;andfollowed,underadeceitfulshowofpiety,alltheprinciplesofMachiavel。Withthemostsordidloveofmoneyhecombinedboorishmanners。Lies[ofthedistilledkindchiefly]hadsobecomeahabitwithhim,thathehadaltogetherlostnotionofemployingtruthinspeech。Itwasthesoulofausurer,inhabitingnowthebodyofawar—captain,nowtransmigratingintothatofahuckster。Falseoaths,andtheabominablestbasenesses,costhimnothing,sohisobjectmightbereached。Hewasmiserlywithhisown,butlavishwithhisMaster’smoney;dailyhegavemoststrikingproofsofboththesehabitudes。

  Andthiswasthemanwhomwesaw,foraspaceoftime,attheheadoftheKaiser’sArmies,andatthehelmoftheStateandoftheGermanEmpire,\"[Pollnitz,ii。238。]——havingdonethePrussianaffairsowell。

  ThiscunningoldGentleman,todatefromtheautumnof1726,maybesaidtohavetakenpossessionofFriedrichWilhelm;tohavegoneintohim,Grumkowandhe,astwodevilswouldhavedoneintheoldmiraculoustimes:and,inmanysenses,itwasthey,notthenominalproprietor,thatlivedFriedrichWilhelm’slife。

  Forthenextsevenyears,afigurewentabout,notdoubtingitwasFriedrichWilhelm;butitwasinrealitySeckendorf—and—Grumkowmuchmore。Thesetwo,conjurerandhisman,bothinvisible,havecaughttheirroyalwildBear;gotaroperoundhismuzzle;——andsodancehimabout;nowterrifying,nowexhilaratingallthemarketbythepranksheplays!Grumkow,averyMachiavelafterhissort,knewthenatureoftheroyalanimalasnootherdid。Grumkow,purchasedbyhisPensionof500pounds,isdog—cheapattheMoney,asSeckendorfoftenurgesatVienna,Ishenot?Andtheyaddatouchofextraordinarygiftnowandthen,40,000florins(4,000

  pounds)ononeoccasion:[In1732:Forster,iii。232。]for\"GrumkowDIENETEHRLICH(serveshonorably),\"urgesSeckendorf;

  andagain,\"Ifanybodydeservesfavor[GNADE,meaningextrapay],itisthisgentleman;\"——WAHRLICH!PurchasedGrumkowhasamplemoneyatcommand,topurchaseotherpeopleneeded;anddoespurchase;sothatallthingsandpersonscanbefalsifiedandenchanted,asneedis。Byandbyithasgotsofar,thatFriedrichWilhelm’sAmbassadoratLondonmaintainsacipher—correspondencewithGrumkow;andwritestoFriedrichWilhelm,notwhatispassingincityorcourtthere,butwhatGrumkowwishesFriedrichWilhelmtothinkispassing。

  Ofinsinuations,byassentorcontradiction,potentifyouknowthenatureofthebeast;oftheseweneednotspeak。

  Tabaks—Collegiumhasbecomeaworkshop:——humannaturecanfancyit!NayhumannaturecanstillreaditintheBritishState—PaperOffice,toboundlessstupendousextent;——butoughtmostlytosuppressitwhenread。

  ThisisaverystrangepartofFriedrichWilhelm’shistory;

  andhascausedmuchwonderintheworld:Wilhelmina’sBookratheraggravatingthanassuagingthatfeeling,onthepartofintelligentreaders。ABookwrittenlongafterwards,fromherrecollections,fromherownobliquepointofview;inabeautifullyshrillhumor;running,notunnaturally,intoconfusedexaggerationsanddistortionsofallkinds。Notmendaciouslywrittenanywhere,yeterroneouslyeverywhere。Wilhelminahadnoknowledgeofthemagicalmachinerythatwasatwork:shevaguelysuspectsGrumkowandSeckendorf;butdoesnotguess,inthemadexplosionsofPapa,thattwodevilshavegotintoPapa,andaredoingthemischief。Trustingtomemoryalone,shemisdates,mistakes,misplaces;jumblesallthingstopsy—turvy;——giving,onthewhole,animageofaffairswhichisaltogetheroblique,dislocated,exaggerative;andwhich,infine,provesunintelligible,ifyoutrytoconstrueitintoafactorthingDONE。YetherHumanNarrative,inthatwidewasteofmerelyPedantMaunderings,isofgreatworthtous。Agreentree,aleafygrove,betterorworse,inthewildernessofdeadbonesandsand,——howwelcome!ManyotherBookshavebeenwrittenonthematter;butthesetomyexperience,onlydarkenitmoreandmore。

  PullWilhelminaSTRAIGHT,thebestyoucan;deductatwenty—fiveorsometimesevenaseventy—fivepercent,fromtheexaggerativeportionsofherstatement;youwillfindheralwaystrue,lucid,charminglyhuman;andbyfarthebestauthorityonthispartofherBrother’sHistory。State—Paperstosomeextenthavealsobeenprintedonthematter;andofwrittenState—Papers,hereinEnglandandelsewhere,thisEditorhas,hadseveralhundred—weightsdistilledforhim:butexceptaslightshungoutoverWilhelmina,nothingyetknown,ofpublishedormanuscript,canberegardedasgoodformuch。

  OHeavens,hadonebutseven—leagueboots,togetacrossthatinanecountry,——abottomlesswhirlpoolofdustandcobwebsinmanyplaces;——where,atanyrate,wehadsolittletodo!Elucidating,rectifying,painfullycontrasting,comparing,letustrytoworkoutsomeconceivablepictureofthisstrangeImperialMUCHADO

  ABOUTNOTHING;andgetourunfortunateCrown—Prince,andourunfortunateselves,alivethroughit。

  ChapterVII。

  TOBACCO—PARLIAMENT。

  Inthesedistressingjunctures,itmaycheerthereader’sspirits,andwilltendtoexplainforhimwhatiscoming,ifweglancealittleintotheFriedrich—WilhelmTABAGIE(TABAKS—COLLEGIUMorSmokingCollege),moreworthytobecalledTobacco—Parliament,ofwhichtherehavealreadybeenincidentalnotices。FartooremarkableanInstitutionofthecountrytobeoverlookedbyushere。

  FriedrichWilhelm,thoughanabsoluteMonarch,doesnotdreamofgoverningwithoutLaw,stilllesswithoutJustice,whichheknowswelltobetheonebasisforhimandforallKingsandmen。

  Hislife—effort,prosecutedinagrand,unconscious,unvaryingandinstinctiveway,maybedefinedratherastheefforttofindouteverywhereinhisaffairswhatwasjustice;tomakeregulations,lawsinconformitywiththat,andtoguidehimselfandhisPrussiarigorouslybythese。Trulyheisnotofconstitutionalturn;

  careslittleaboutthewigsandformalitiesofjustice,pressingonsofiercelytowardstheessenceandfactofit;hehasbeenknowntotearasunderthewigsandformalities,inanotablyimpatientmanner,whentheystoodbetweenhimandthefact。

  ButPrussiahasitsLawswithal,tolerablyabundant,tolerablyfixedandsupreme:andthemeanestPrussianmanthatcouldfindoutadefiniteLaw,comingathwartFriedrichWilhelm’swrath,wouldcheckFriedrichWilhelminmid—volley,——orhopewithgoodgroundtodoit。Hope,wesay;fortheKingisinhisownandhispeople’seyes,tosomeindefiniteextent,alwayshimselfthesupremeultimateInterpreter,andgrandlivingcodex,oftheLaws,——alwaystosomeindefiniteextent;——andthereremainsforasubjectmannothingbuttheappealtoPHILIPSOBER,insomerashcases!Onthewhole,however,FriedrichWilhelmisbynomeansalawlessMonarch;norarehisPrussiansslavesbyanymeans:

  theyarepatient,stout—hearted,subjectmen,withaveryconsiderablequantityofradicalfire,verywellcoveredin;

  preventedfromidleexplosions,boundtoarespectfuldemeanor,andespeciallytoholdtheirtonguesasmuchaspossible。

  FriedrichWilhelmhasnottheleastshadowofaConstitutionalParliament,norevenaPrivy—Council,asweunderstandit;

  hisMinistersbeingingeneralmereClerkstoregisterandexecutewhathehadotherwiseresolvedupon:buthehadhisTABAKS—COLLEGIUM,Tobacco—College,SmokingCongress,TABAGIE,whichhasmadesomuchnoiseintheworld,andwhich,inaroughnaturalway:affordshimtheusesofaParliament,onmostcheapterms,andwithouttheformidableinconveniencesattachedtothatkindofInstitution。AParliamentreducedtoitssimplestexpression,and,insteadofParliamentaryeloquence,providedwithDutchclay—pipesandtobacco:sowemaydefinethiscelebratedTabagieofFriedrichWilhelm’s。

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