第17章
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  TabagieswerenotuncommonamongGermanSovereignsofthatepoch:

  GeorgeI。atHanoverhadhisSmoking—room,andselectsmokingPartyonanevening;andevenatLondon,aswenoticed,smokednightly,wettinghisroyalthroatwiththinbeer,inpresenceofhisfatandofhisleanMistress,iftherewerenoothercompany。

  Tobacco,——introducedbytheSwedishsoldiersintheThirty—YearsWar,saysome;orevenbytheEnglishsoldiersintheBohemianorPalatinatebeginningsofsaidWar,sayothers;——tobacco,onceshownthem,wasenthusiasticallyadoptedbytheGermanpopulations,longinwantofsuchanarticle;andhasdoneimportantmultifariousfunctionsinthatcountryeversince。

  Fortruly,inPolitics,Morality,andalldepartmentsoftheirPracticalandSpeculativeaffairs,wemaytraceitsinfluences,goodandbad,tothisday。

  Influencesgenerallybad;pacificatorybutbad,engagingyouinidlecloudydreams;——stillworse,promotingcomposureamongthepalpablychaoticanddiscomposed;soothingallthingsintolazypeace;thatallthingsmaybelefttothemselvesverymuch,andtothelawsofgravityanddecomposition。WherebyGermanaffairsarecometobegreatlyovergrownwithfungusesinourTime;andgivesymptomsofdryandofwetrot,whereverhandled。GeorgeI。,wesay,hadhisTabagie;andotherGermanSovereignshad:butnoneofthemturnedittoaPoliticalInstitution,asFriedrichWilhelmdid。Thethriftyman;findingitwouldserveinthatcapacitywithal。Hehadtakenitupasacommonplacesolaceandamusement:

  itisarewardfordoingstrenuouslytheday’sheavylabors,towindthemupinthismanner,inquietsocietyoffriendlyhumanfaces,intoacontemplativesmoke—canopy,slowlyspreadingintotherealmofsleepanditsdreams。FriedrichWilhelmwasamanofhabitudes;hiseveningTabagiebecamealawofNaturetohim,constantasthesettingofthesun。Favorablecircumstances,quietlynoticedandlaidholdofbythethriftyman,developedthissimpleeveningarrangementofhisintoasortofSmokingParliament,smallbutpowerful,whereState—consultations,inafitfulinformalway,tookplace;andtheweightiestaffairsmight,bydexterousmanagement,cunninginsinuationandmanoeuvringfromthosethatunderstoodtheartandtheplace,bebentthiswayorthat,andripenedtowardssuchissueaswasdesirable。

  Toascertainwhatthetruecourseinregardtothisortheotherhighmatterwillbe;whatthepublicwillthinkofit;and,inshort,whatandhowtheExecutive—RoyalshallDOtherein:

  this,theessentialfunctionofaParliamentandPrivy—Council,washere,byartlesscheapmethods,underthebiddingofmereNature,multifariouslydone;meretaciturnityandsedativesmokemakingthemostofwhatnaturalintellecttheremightbe。

  ThesubstitutionofTobacco—smokeforParliamentaryeloquenceis,bysome,heldtobeagreatimprovement。HereisSmelfungus’sopinion,quaintlyexpressed,withasmileinit,whichperhapsisnotallofjoy:——

  \"Tobacco—smokeistheoneelementinwhich,byourEuropeanmanners,mencansitsilenttogetherwithoutembarrassment,andwherenomanisboundtospeakonewordmorethanhehasactuallyandveritablygottosay。Nay,rathereverymanisadmonishedandenjoinedbythelawsofhonor,andevenofpersonalease,tostopshortofthatpoint;atallevents,toholdhispeaceandtaketohispipeagain,theinstanthehasspokenhismeaning,ifhechancetohaveany。Theresultsofwhichsalutarypractice,ifintroducedintoConstitutionalParliaments,mightevidentlybeincalculable。Theessenceofwhatlittleintellectandinsightthereisinthatroom:weshallorcangetnothingmoreoutofanyParliament;andsedative,gentlysoothing,gentlyclarifyingtobacco—smoke(iftheroomwerewellventilated,openatop,andtheairkeptgood),withtheobligationtoaMINIMUMofspeech,surelygiveshumanintellectandinsightthebestchancetheycanhave。Bestchance,insteadoftheworstchanceasatpresent:

  ahme,ahme,whowillreducefoolstosilenceagaininanymeasure?WhowilldelivermenfromthishideousnightmareofStump—Oratory,underwhichthegrandestNationsarechokingtoanamelessdeath,bleeding(tootruly)frommouthandnoseandears,inoursaddays?\"

  ThisTobacco—CollegeistheGrumkow—and—Seckendorfchieffieldofaction。ThesetwogentlemenunderstandthoroughlythenatureofthePrussianTobacco—Parliament;havestudiedtheconditionsofittothemostintricatecranny:noEnglishWhipper—inoreloquentPremierknowshisSt。Stephen’sbetter,orhowtohatchameasureinthatdimhotelement。Byhint,byinnuendo;bycontemplativesmoke,speechandforbearancetospeak;oftenlookingonewayandrowinganother,——theycantouchthesecretsprings,andguideinasurprisingmannerthebigdangerousFireship(forsucheveryState—Parliamentis)towardsthehaventheyintendforit。

  MostdexterousParliament—men(Smoke—Parliament);noWalpole,noDundas,orimmortalPitt,FirstorSecond,isclevererinParliamentarypractice。FortheirFireship,thoughsmallerthantheBritish,isverydangerouswithal。Lookatthis,forinstance:

  Seckendorf,oneevening,farcontrarytohiswont,whichwasprostraterespectineasyforms,andalwaysjudicioussubmissionofone’sownweakerjudgment,towardshisMajesty,——hasgotintosomedifficultdefenceoftheKaiser;defenceverydifficult,orinrealityimpossible。Thecautiousmanisflusteredbytheintricaciesofhisposition,byhisMajesty’sindignantcounter—volleys,andtheperilousnecessitythereistodotheimpossibleonthespuroftheinstant;——getsintoemphasis,answershisMajesty’svolcanicfirebyincipientheatofhisown;

  and,inshort,seemsindangerofforgettinghimself,andkindlingtheTobacco—Parliamentintoamereconflagration。Thatwillbeanissueforus!Andyetwhodareinterfere?FriedrichWilhelm’swords,inhighclangorousmetallicplangency,andthepathosofalionraisedbyangerintosong,fallhotterandhotter;

  Seckendorf’spuckeredbrowisgrowingofslate—color;

  hisshelf—lip,shuttlingviolently,lispsandsnufflesmereunconciliatorymatter:——Whatonearthwillbecomeofus?——\"Hoom!

  Boom!\"dexterousGrumkowhasdrawnaHumming—topfromhispocket,andsuddenlysentitspinning。Thereithumsandcaracoles,throughthebottlesandglasses;recklesswhatdangerousbreakageandspilthitmayoccasion。FriedrichWilhelmlookedasidetoitindignantly。\"Whatisthat?\"inquiredhe,inmetallictonestillhigh。\"Pooh,atoyIboughtforthelittlePrinceAugust,yourMajesty:amonlytryingit!\"HisMajestyunderstoodthehint,Seckendorfstillbetter;andajollytouchoflaughter,onbothsides,broughtthematterbackintothesafetobacco—cloudsagain。

  [Forster,ii。110。]

  ThisSmokingParliamentor(TABAKS—COLLEGIUMofhisPrussianMajestywasathingmuchtalkedofintheworld;buttillSeckendorfandGrumkowstartedtheirgraudoperationsthere,itsproceedingsarenotonrecord;norindeedtillthenhaditspoliticalorparliamentaryfunctionbecomesodecidedlyevident。

  ItwasoriginallyasimpleSmoking—Club;gottogetheronhestofNature,withoutulteriorintentions:——thusEnglishPARLIAMENTA

  themselvesareunderstoodtohavebeen,intheoldNormantime,mereroyalChristmas—Festivities,withnaturalcolloquyorPARLEYINGbetweenKingandNoblesensuingthereupon,andwhatwisestconsultationconcerningthearduousthingsoftherealmthecircumstancesgaveriseto。Suchparleyingsorconsultations,——

  alwaystwoinnumberinregardtoeverymatter,itwouldseem,oreventhree;onesober,onedrunk,andonejustafterbeingdrunk,——provingofextremeserviceinpractice,grewtobeParliament,withitsthreereadings,andwhatnot。

  ASmoking—room,——withwoodenfurniture,wecansuppose,——ineachofhisMajesty’sroyalPalaces,wassetapartforthiseveningservice,andbecametheTabagieofhisMajesty。ATabagie—roomintheBerlinSchloss,anotherinthePotsdam,iftheciceronehadanyknowledge,couldstillbepointedout:——buttheTobacco—PIPES

  thatareshownasFriedrichWilhelm’sintheKUNSTKAMMERorMuseumofBerlin,pipeswhichnorationalsmoker,notcompelledtoit,wouldhaveused,awakenjustdoubtastothecicerones;andyouleavetheLocalityoftheTabagieathingconjectural。Insummerseason,atPotsdamandincountrysituations,Tabagiecouldbeheldunderatent:weexpresslyknow,hisMajestyheldTabagieatWusterhausennightlyontheStepsofthebigFountain,intheOuterCourtthere。IssuingfromWusterhausenSchloss,anditslittleclippedlindens,bythewesternside;passingthesentries,bridgeandblackditch,withlivePrussianeagles,viciousblackbears,youcomeupontheroyalTabagieofWusterhausen;coveredbyanawning,Ishouldthink;sendingforthitsbitsofsmoke—clouds,anditshumofhumantalk,intothewidefreeDesertround。

  Anyroomthatwaslargeenough,andhadheightofceiling,andair—circulationandnocloth—furniture,woulddo:andineachPalaceisone,ormorethanone,thathasbeenfixeduponandfittedoutforthatobject。

  AhighlargeRoom,astheEngravings(mostlyworthless)giveitus:contentedsaturninehumanfigures,adozenorsoofthem,sittingroundalargelongTable,furnishedfortheoccasion;

  longDutchpipeinthemouthofeachman;suppliesofknastereasilyaccessible;smallpanofburningpeat,intheDutchfashion(sandynativecharcoal,whichburnsslowlywithoutsmoke),isatyourlefthand;atyourrightajug,whichIfindtoconsistofexcellentthinbitterbeer。Othercostliermaterialsfordrinking,ifyouwantsuch,arenotbeyondreach。Onside—tablesstandwholesomecold—meats,royalroundsofbeefnotwanting,withbreadthinlyslicedandbuttered:inarusticbutneatandabundantway,suchinnocentaccommodations,narcoticornutritious,gaseous,fluidandsolid,ashumannature,bentoncontemplationandaneveninglounge,canrequire。Perfectequalityistobetherule;

  norising,ornoticetaken,whenanybodyentersorleaves。Lettheenteringmantakehisplaceandpipe,withoutobligatoryremarks:

  ifhecannotsmoke,whichisSeckendorf’scaseforinstance,lethimatleastaffecttodoso,andnotruffletheestablishedstreamofthings。Andso,Puff,slowlyPff!——andanycomfortablespeechthatisinyou;ornone,ifyouauthenticallyhavenotany。

  Oldofficialgentlemen,militaryformostpart;Grumkow,Derschau,OldDessauer(whenathand),Seckendorf,oldGeneralFlans(ruggedPlatt—Deutschspecimen,capableofTOCADILLEorbackgammon,capableofroughslashesofsarcasmwhenheopenshisoldbeardforspeech):these,andthelikeofthese,intimateconfidantsoftheKing,menwhocouldspeakalittle,orwhocouldbesociallysilentotherwise,——seemtohavebeenthestapleoftheInstitution。Strangersofmark,whohappenedtobepassing,wereoccasionalguests;GinckeltheDutchAmbassador,thoughforeignlikeSeckendorf,waswellseenthere;garrulousPollnitz,whohaswanderedoveralltheworld,hadastandinginvitation。

  Kings,highPrincesonvisit,weresuretohavethehonor。

  TheCrown—Prince,nowandafterwards,wasoftenpresent;

  oftenerthanheliked,——insuchanatmosphere,insuchanelement。

  \"ThelittlePrinceswereallwonttocomein,\"doffingtheirbitsoftriangularhats,\"andbidPapagood—night。OneoftheoldGeneralswouldsometimesputthemthroughtheirexercise;andthelittlecreatureswereunwillingtogoawaytobed。\"

  InsuchAssemblage,whenbusinessofimportance,foreignordomestic,wasnotoccupyingtheroyalthoughts,——theTalk,wecanbelieve,wasramblingandmultifarious:theday’shunting,ifatWusterhausen;theday’snews,ifatBerlinorPotsdam;

  oldreminiscences,too,Icanfancy,turningup,andtalk,eveninSeckendorf’sowntime,aboutSiegeofMenin(whereyourMajestyfirstdidmethehonorofsomenotice),SiegeofStralsund,and——

  dulyonSeptember11thatleast——Malplaquet,withMarlboroughandEugene:whatMarlboroughsaid,looked:andespeciallyLottum,lateFeldmarschallLottum;[Died1719。]andhowthePrussianInfantryheldfirm,likeawallofrocks,whenthehorseweresweptaway,——

  rockshighlyvolcanic,andcapableofrollingforwardtoo;

  and\"howacertainAdjutant[Derschausmokesharder,andblushesbrown]snatchedpoorTettauonhisback,bleedingtodeath,amidtheironwhirlwinds,andbroughthimoutofshot—range。\"[

  Militair—Lexikon,iv。78,?Major—GeneralvonTettau,andi。348,?Derschau。ThiswasthebeginningofDerschau’sfavorwithFriedrichWilhelm,whohadwitnesssdthispieceoffaithfulwork。]——\"Hm,na,suchaDay,that,HerrFeldzeugmeister,asweshallnotseeagaintilltheLastoftheDays!\"

  Failingtalk,therewereNewspapersinabundance;scraggyDutchCourants,JournalsoftheRhine,FAMAS,FrankfurtZEITUNGS;

  withwhichhisMajestyexuberantlysuppliedhimself;——beingwillingtoknowwhatwaspassinginthehighplacesoftheworld,orevenwhatinthedarksnuffyEditor’sthoughtswaspassing。

  Thiskindofmatter,assomepictureoftheactualhour,hisMajestylikedtohavereadtohim,evenduringmeal—time。

  Somesubordinatecharacter,withclearwindpipe,——allthebettertoo,ifhebeabook—man,cognizantofHistory,Geography,andcanexplaineverything,——usuallyreadstheNewspaperfromsomehighseatbehindbacks,whilehisMajestyandHouseholddine。ThesamesubordinatepersonagemaybeworthhisplaceintheTabagie,shouldhisfunctionhappentoprovenecessarythere。

  Evenbook—men,thoughgenerallypedantsandmerebagsofwindandfolly,aregoodforsomething,moreespeciallyifrichminesofquizzabilityturnouttobeworkableinthem。

  OFGUNDLING,ANDTHELITERARYMENINTOBACCO—PARLIAMENT。

  FriedrichWilhelmhad,insuccessionorsometimessimultaneously,anumberofsuchNondescripts,toreadhisNewspapersandseasonhisTabagie;——lastevanescentphasisoftheoldCourt—Foolspecies;——whoformanoticeablefeatureofhisenvironment。

  Oneveryfamousliterarygentlemanofthisdescription,whodistancedeverycompetitor,intheTabagieandelsewhere,forservinghisMajesty’soccasions,wasJakobPaulGundling;anamestilllaughinglyrememberedamongthePrussianPeople。

  GundlingwasaCountry—Clergyman’sson,oftheNurnbergquarter;

  hadstudied,carryingoffthehonors,invariousUniversities;

  hadread,orturnedover,wholecartloadsofwiseandfoolishBooks(gravitating,Ifear,towardsthelatterkind);hadgonetheGrandTourastravellingtutor,\"ascompaniontoanEnglishgentleman。\"Hehadseencourts,perhapscamps,atlowestcitiesandinns;knewinamanner,practicallyandtheoretically,allthings,andhadpublishedmultifariousBooksofhisown。[Listofthem,Twenty—oneinnumber,mostlyonlearnedAntiquariansubjects,——inForster,ii。255,256。]Thesublimelong—earederuditionofthemanwasnottobecontested;manifesttoeverybody;thriceandfourtimesmanifesttohimself,inthefirstplace。

  Inthecourseofhisroamings,andgrandandlittletours,hehadcometoBerlininoldKingFriedrich’stime;hadthrownpowderintheeyesofmenthere,andbeenappointedtoProfessorshipsintheRitter—Academy,toChief—Heraldships,——\"HistoriographerRoyal,\"

  andperhapsotherhonorsandemoluments。ThewholeofwhichwerecutdownbytheruthlessscytheofFriedrichWilhelm,ruthlesslymowinghisfieldclear,inthemannerwesawathisAccession。

  WherebylearnedgrandiloquentGundling,muchaddictedtoliquorbythistime,andturningthecornerofforty,sawhimselfcastforthintothegeneralwilderness;thatistosay,walkingthestreetsofBerlin,withnoresourcesbutwhatlaywithinhimselfandhisownhungryskin。Muchgiventoliquortoo。Howhelived,forayearortwoafterthis,——eruditepenandbraggarttonguehisonlyresources,——weretragicaltosay。AtlengthafamousTavern—keeper,the\"LEIPZIGEPOLTER—HANS(LeipzigKill—Cow,orBOISTEROUS—JACK),\"astheycallhim,findingwhatadungeonoferuditetalkthisGundlingwas,andhowgentlemengotentertainedbyhim,gaveGundlingtherunofhisTavern(or,Ifear,onlyaseatinthedrinking—room);anditwasherethatGeneralGrumkowfoundhim,talkingbig,anddissertingDEOMNISCIBILI,totheancientBerlingentlemenovertheircups。AveryDictionaryofaman;whoknows,inamanner,allthings;andisbynomeansignorantthatheknowsthem:WouldnotthismansuithisMajesty?

  thoughtGrumkow;andbroughthimtoMajesty,toreadtheNewspapersandexplaineverything。Dateisnotgiven,orhintedat;butincidentallywefindGundlinginfullblast\"intheyear1718;\"[VonLoen,KleineSchriften,i。201(citedinForster,i。260)。]andconcludehisinstalmentwasayearortwobefore。GundlingcametohisMajestyfromtheTap—roomofBoisterous—Jack;readtheNewspapers,andexplainedeverything:

  suchaDictionary—in—breeches(muchgiventoliquor)ashisMajestyhadgot,wasneverseenbefore。Workingintotheman,hisMajesty,whohadagreattasteforsuchthings,discoveredinhimsuchminesofcollege—learning,court—learning,withoutend;

  self—conceit,anddepthofappetite,notlessconsiderable:

  infine,suchChaoticBlockheadismwiththeconsciousnessofbeingWisdom,aswaswondroustobehold,——asfilledhisMajesty,especially,withlaughterandjoyfulamazement。HereareminesofnativeDarknessandHumanStupidity,capableofbeingmadetophosphoresceandeffervesce,——aretherenot,yourMajesty?

  OmniscientGundlingwasaprimeresourceintheTabagie,formanyyearstocome。Manwithsublimerstoresoflong—earedLearningandOmniscience;manmoredestituteofMother—wit,wasnowheretobemetwith。Aman,bankruptofMother—wit;——whohasSquanderedanypoorMother—withehadintheprocessofacquiringhissublimelong—earedOmniscience;andhasretainedonlydepthofappetite,——

  appetiteforliquoramongotherthings,astheconsummationandbottomlesscesspoolofappetites:——isnotthisadiscoverywehavemade,inBoisterous—Jack’s,yourMajesty!

  ThemanwasanEldoradoforthepeculiarquizzinghumorofhisMajesty;whotookimmensedelightinworkinghim,whenoccasionserved。Inthefirstyears,hehadtoattendhisMajestyonalloccasionsofamusement;ifyouinvitehisMajestytodinner,Gundlingtoomustbeoftheparty。Daily,otherwise,GundlingwasattheTabagie;gettingdrunk,ifnothingbetter。Veinaftervein,richinbroadfun(verybroadandBrobdignagian,suchassuitsthere),isdiscoveredinhim:withoutwithimself,butmuchthecauseofwit。NoneoftenershooktheTabagiewithinextinguishableHahas:daily,bystirringintohim,youcouldwrinkletheTabagieintogrimradianceofbanterandsilentgrins。

  Heworesublimeclothes:FriedrichWilhelm,whomwesawdressuphisregimentalScavenger—ExecutionersinFrenchcostume,forCountRothenburg’sbehoof,madehastetoloadGundlingwithRathships,Kammerherrships,Titlessuchasfoolscovet;——gavehimtolerablepensionstoo,poordevil,andevenfunctions,iftheywereoftheimaginaryorbiginsignificantsort。Aboveallthings,hisMajestydressedhim,asthepinkoffortunateambitiouscourtiers。

  Superfinescarletcoat,goldbuttonholes,black—velvetfacingsandembroiderieswithoutend:\"straw—coloredbreeches;redsilkstockings,\"withprobablyblueclockstothem,\"andshoeswithredheels:\"onhislearnedheadsatanimmensecloud—periwigofwhitegoat’s—hair(themannowgrowingtowardsfifty);inthehataredfeather:——inthisguisehewalkedthestreets,thegoldKeyofKAMMERHERR(Chamberlain)conspicuouslyhangingathiscoat—breast;

  andlookedproudlydownupontheworld,whensober。Alas,hewasoftennotsober;andfiendsinhumanshapewerereadyenoughtotakeadvantageofhisunguardedsituation。Nomansufferedrudertarring—and—feathering;——andhisonlycomfortwashisbanewithal,thathehad,undersuchconditions,theuseoftheroyalcellars,andcouldalwayscommandgoodliquorthere。

  Hisillustriousscarletcoat,bytumblingsintheditch,soongotdirtytoadegree;andexposedhimtothebitingcensuresofhisMajesty,anxiousfortherespectabilityofhisHofraths。Oneday,twowickedCaptains,findinghimprostrateinsomeloneplace,cutoffhisKammerherrKEY;andprivatelygaveittohisMajesty。

  Majesty,inTabagie,noticesGundling’scoat—breast:\"WhereisyourKey,then,HerrKammerherr?\"\"Hm,hah——unfortunatelylostit,IhroMajestat!\"——\"Lostit,sayyou?\"andhisMajestylooksdreadfullygrave。——\"Keylost?\"thinksTabagie,graveSeckendorfincluded:\"JARNI—BLEU,thatissomethingserious!\"\"AsifaSoldierweretodrinkhismusket!\"thinkshisMajesty:\"Andwhatarethelaws,ifanignorantfellowisshot,andalearnedwiseoneescapes?\"HereismatterforadeliberativeTabagie;andtopoorGundlingabadoutlook,fatalorshortoffatal。Hehadbetternotevendrinkmuch;butdispensewithconsolation,andkeephiswitsabouthim,tillthissquallpass。Aftermuchdeliberating,itisfoundthattheroyalclemencycanbeextended;

  andanoutletdevised,underconditions。NextTabagie,aservantenterswithoneofthebiggesttraysintheworld,anduponita\"WoodenKeygilt,aboutanelllong;\"thisgiganticimplementissolemnlyhungroundtherepentantKammerherr;thisheshallwearpubliclyaspenance,andbeuponhisbehavior,tilltheroyalmindcanrelent。Figurethepoorblockheadtillthathappen!

  \"Onrecoveringhismetalkey,hegoestoasmith,andhasitfixedonwithwire。\"

  WhatGundlingthoughttohimself,amidthesepranksandhoaxings,wedonotknow。Thepoorsoulwasnotbornafool;thoughhehadbecomeone,bycollege—learning,vanity,strong—drink,andtheworld’sperversityandhisown。Undergoodguidance,especiallyifbredtostrictsilence,hemighthavebeeninsomemeasurealuminousobject,——notasnowaphosphorescentone,shiningbyitsmererottenness!Asad\"CalamityofAuthors\"indeed,whenitovertakesaman!——PoorGundlingprobablyhadlucidintervalsnowandthen;tragicfitsofdiscernment,intheinner—manofhim。

  HehadaBrother,alsoalearnedman,whoretainedhissenses;

  andwasevenaratherfamedProfessoratHalle;whosePortrait,lookingveryacademic,solemnandwell—to—do,turnsupinoldprintshops;whoseBooks,concerning\"HenrytheFowler(DeHenricoAucupe),\"\"KaiserConradI。,\"andotherdimHistoricalobjects,arestillconsultable,——thoughwithlittleprofit,tomyexperience。ThenameofthisonewasNICOLAUS

  HIERONYMUS;oursisJAKOBPAUL,theseniorbrother,——oncethehopeoftheHouse,itislikely,andafondFather’spride,——inthatpooroldNurnbergParsonagelongago!

  JakobPaullikewisecontinuedtowriteBooks,onBrandenburgHeraldries,Topography,Genealogies:evena\"LIFE\"ortwoofsomeoldBrandenburgElectorsarestillextantfromhishand;butnotlookedatnowbyanymortal。Hehadbeen,perhapswasagain,HistoriographerRoyal;andfeltboundtowritesuchBooks:severalofthemheprinted;andwehearofothersstillmanuscript,\"infivefoliovolumeswrittenfair。\"Heheldinnumerablehalf—mockTitlesandOffices;amongothers,wasactualPresidentoftheBerlinRoyalSociety,orACADEMIEDESSCIENCES,Leibnitz’spetdaughter,——thereGundlingactuallysatinOffice;anddrewthesalary,foronecertainty。\"Asgoodheasanother,\"thoughtFriedrichWilhelm:\"Whatistheuseofthesesolemnfellows,intheirbigperukes,withtheircrabbedXY’s,andscientiflcPedler’s—French;doingnothingthatIcansee,exceptannuallytheBerlinAlmanac,whichtheyliveupon?

  Letthemliveuponit,andbethankful;withGundlingfortheirheadman。\"

  AcademyofSciencesmakesitsALMANAC,andsomepeculiumofprofitbyit;lecturesperhapsalittle\"onAnatomy\"(goodforsomething,that,inhisMajesty’smind);butlanguishes——withoutencouragementduringthepresentreign。HashisMajestynoprizequestionstopropose,then?None,orworse。HeonceofficiallyputtheselearnedAssociatesuponascertainingforhim\"WhyChampagnefoamed?\"They,withahiddenveinofpleasantry,required\"materialtoexperimentupon。\"FriedrichWilhelmsentthemadozen,orcertaindozens;andthematterprovedinsolubletothisday。NoKing,scarcelyanyman,hadlessofreverencefortheSciencessocalled;forAcademicculture,andtheartoftheTalking—Schoolmasteringeneral!AKingobtusetothefineArts,especiallytothevocalArts,inahighdegree。Literaryfameitselfheregardsasmountebankfame;theartofwritingbigadmirablefoliosislittlebettertohimthanthatofvomitinglongcoilsofwonderfulribbon,fortheidlersofthemarket—place;andhebear—baitshisGundling,inthismanner,asphosphorescentblockheadofthefirstmagnitude,worthyofnothingbetter。

  Nay,itisbutlately(1723theexactyear)thathedidhisever—memorablefeatinregardtoWolfandhisPhilosophy,atHalle。IllustriousWolfwasrecognized,atthattime,asthesecondgreaterLeibnitz,andHead—PhilosopherofNature,who\"bymathematicalmethod\"hadasitweretakenNatureinthefact,andilluminatedeverything,sothatwhosoeverranmightread,——whichallmannerofpeoplethentriedtodo,but,havenowquiteceasedtrying\"bytheWolf—method:\"——ImmortalWolf,somewhatofastiff,reservedhumor,inwardlyalittleproud,andnotwantinginprivatecontemptofthecontemptible,hadbeenaccusedofheterodoxybytheHalleTheologians。ImmortalWolf,croakilysatiricalwithal,hadofcoursedefendedhimself;andofcoursegotintoashorelessseaofcontroversywiththeHalleTheologians;pesteringhisMajestywithmerewars,andrumorsofwar,foralengthoftime,fromthatHalleUniversity。

  [InBusching(Beitrage,i。l—140)isroughauthenticaccountofWolf,andespeciallyofallthat,——withseveralcuriousLETTERSofWolf’s。]SothatMajesty,unabletodistinguishtoporbottominsuchacoilofargument;ortodojusticeinthecase,howeverwillingandanxious,oftenpassionatelyasked:\"What,inGod’sname,istherealtruthofit?\"MajestyappointedCommissionstoinquire;readReports;

  couldforalongwhilemakeoutnothingcertain。Atlastcameadecisiononthesudden;——royalmindsuddenlyilluminated,itisalittleuncertainhow。SomegivethecreditofittoGundling,whichisunlikely;othersto\"TwoGenerals\"ofpiouisorthodoxturn,acquaintedwithHalle;——andIhaveheardobscurelythatitwastheOldDessauer,whoalsoknewHalle;andwasnodoubtweariedtohearnothingtalkedoftherebutinjuredPhilosopherWolf,andinjuringTheologianLange,orVICEVERSA。Somepracticalmilitaryman,notgiventotakeupwithshadows,itlikeliestwas。

  \"InGod’sname,whatistherealtruthofallthat?\"inquiredhisMajesty,ofthepracticalman:\"DOESWolfteachhellishdoctrines;

  asLangesays,orheavenly,ashimselfsays?\"\"Teachesbabblemainly,Ishouldthink,andscientificPedler’sFrench,\"intimatedthepracticalman:\"Buttheysayhehasonedoctrineaboutoaths,andwhathecallsfoundationofduty,whichIdidnotlike。Notaheavenlydoctrinethat。Followoutthat,anyofyourMajesty’sgrenadiersmightdesert,andsayhehaddonenosinagainstGod!\"

  [Busching,i。8;Benekendorf,KarakterzilgeausdemLebenKonigFriedrichWilhelmI。(Anonymous,Berlin,1787),ii。23。]FriedrichWilhelmflewintoaparoxysmofhorror;

  instantlyredactedbriefRoyalDecree[15thNovember(Buschingsays8th),1723。](whichisstillextantamongthecuriositiesoftheUniverse),orderingWolftoquitHalleandthePrussianDominions,bagandbaggage,forevermore,withineighb—and—fortyhours,\"BEYSTRAFEDESSTRANGES,underpainofthehalter!\"

  Halter:theHead—PhilosopherofNature,foundtoolate,willbehanged,asifhewereasheep—stealer;hanged,andnomistake!

  PoorWolfgatheredhimselftogether,wifeandbaggage;girdeduphisloins;andranwiththeduedespatch。HeisnowfoundshelteredunderHessen—Darmstadt,atMarburg,professingsomethingthere;andalltheintellectoftheworldisstruckwithastonishment,andwithsilentorvocalpityforthepoorman。——

  Itisbutfairtosay,FriedrichWilhelm,graduallytakingnoticeoftheworld’shumorinregardtothis,begantohavehisownmisgivings;anddeterminedtoreadsomeofWolf’sBooksforhimself。ReadinginWolf,hehadsensetodiscernthatherewasamanofundeniabletalentandintegrity;thatthePracticalMilitaryjudgment,loadingwiththeironramrod,hadshotwideofthemark,inthismatter;and,inshort,thatapalpablebitoffoul—playhadbeendone。Thiswasin1733;——tenyearsaftertheshot,whenhisMajestysaw,withhisowneyes,howwideithadgone。HeappliedtoWolfearnestly,morethanonce,tocomebacktohim:Halle,Frankfurt,anyPrussianUniversitywithavacancyinit,wasnowwideopentoWolf。ButWolfknewbetter:Wolf,withbowsdowntotheground,answeredalwaysevadingly;——andneverwouldcomebacktilltheNewReignbegan。

  FriedrichWilhelmknewlittleofBook—learningorBook—writing;

  andhisnotionofitisveryshockingtous。Butthefactis,Oreader,Book—writingisoftwokinds:onewise,andmaybeamongthewisestofearthlythings;theotherfoolish,sometimesfarbeyondwhatcanbereachedbyhumannatureelsewhere。

  Blockheadism,Unwisdom,whilesilent,isreckonedbad;

  butBlockheadismgettingvocal,abletospeakpersuasively,——haveyouconsideredthatatall?HumanOpacityfallingintoPhosphorescence;thatistosay,becomingluminous(toitselfandtomanymortals)bytheveryexcessofit,bytheveryburstingofitintoputridfermentation;——allotherformsofChaosarecosmicincomparison!——OurpoorFriedrichWilhelmhadseenonlyGundlingsamongtheBook—writingclass:hadheseenwiserspecimens,hemighthaveformed,ashedidinWolf’scase,anotherjudgment。

  NayinregardtoGundlinghimself,itisobservablehow,withhisunutterablecontempt,heseemstonoticeinhimglimpsesoftheadmirable(suchacquirements,suchdictionary—faculties,thoughgonedistracted!),——andalmosthasakindoflovefortheabsurddog。Gundling’spensionsamounttosomethinglike150pounds;

  animmensesuminthisCourt。[Forster,i。263,284(ifyoucanRECONCILEthetwopassages)。]Ablockheadadmirableinsomesorts;

  andofimmenseresourceinTobaoco—Parliamentwhenbusinessisslack!——

  Noendtothewildpranks,theHouyhnhnmhorse—playtheyhadwithdrunkenGundling。Hehasstaggeredoutinadrunkstate,andfound,ornotclearlyFOUNDtillthemorrow,youngbearslyinginhisbed;——hasfoundhisroom—doorwalledup;beenobligedtogropeabout,staggeringfromdoortodoorandfromporttoport,andlandultimatelyinthebigBears’den,whohuggedandsqueezedhiminhumanlythere。OnceatWusterhausen,staggeringblind—drunkoutoftheSchlosstowardshislair,thesentriesattheBridge(instigatedtoitbytheHouyhnhnms,wholookon)pretendtofastensomemilitaryblameonhim:Whyhasheomittedorcommittedso—and—so?Gundling’sdrunkanswerisunsatisfactory。\"Arrest,HerrKammerrath,isittobethat,then!\"Theyhustlehimabout,amongtheBearswhichlodgethere;——atlengththeylayhimhorizontallyacrosstworopes;——taketoswinginghimhitherandthither,upanddown,acrosstheblackAcheronticDitch,whichisfrozenover,itbeingthedeadofwinter:oneoftheropes,LOWER

  rope,breaks;Gundlingcomessouseupontheicewithhissitting—part;breaksabigholeintheice,andscarcelywithlegs,armsandtheremainingrope,canbegotoutundrowned。

  [Forster(i。254—280);founding,Isuppose,onLebenundThatendesFreiherrnPaulvonGundling(Berlin,1795);probablynotoneoftheexactestBiographies。]

  If,withnaturalindignation,heshuthisdoor,andrefusetocometotheTabagie,theyknockinapanelofhisdoor;andforcehimoutwithcrackers,fire—works,rocketsandmalodorousprojectiles。

  Oncethepoorblockhead,becominghumanforamoment,wentcleanaway;toHallewherehisBrotherwas,ortosomesaferplace:

  butthedueinveiglements,sublimeapologies,increaseoftitles,salaries,wereused;andtheindispensablePhosphorescentBlockhead,andPresidentoftheAcademyofPedler’s—French,wasgotback。Drinkremainedalwaysashisconsolation;drink,andthedeathlessVolumeshewaswritingandprinting。Sublimereturnscametohim;——Kaiser’sPortraitsetindiamonds,ononeoccasion,——forhisPresentation—Copiesinhighquarters:immortalfame,isitnothisclearportion;stillmoreclearlyabundanceofgoodwine。FriedrichWilhelmdidnotlethimwantforTitles;——raisedhimatlasttothePeerage;drawingouttheDiplomaandArmorialBlazonry,inatrulyFriedrich—Wilhelmmanner,withhisownhand。

  TheGundlings,invirtueofthetranscendentintellectandmeritsofthisFounderGundling,are,andareherebydeclaredtobe,ofBaronialdignitytothelastscionofthem;andin\"allRITTER—RENNEN(Tournaments),Battles,Fights,Camp—pitchings,Sealings,Siguetings,shallandmayusetheabove—saidShieldofArms,\"——ifitcanbeofanyadvantagetothem。APrussianMajestywhogivesus150poundsyearly,withboardandlodgingandtherunofhiscellar,andhonorssuchasthese,isnottobelightlysneezedaway,thoughofqueerhumorsnowandthen。ThehighestPersonages,aswesaid,morethanoncemadegiftstoGundling;

  miniaturessetindiamonds;pursesofahundredducats:

  evenGundling,itwasthought,mightthrowinaword,madorotherwise,whichwouldbearfruit。Itwassaidofhim,heneverspoketoharmanybodywithhisMajesty。Thepoorblown—upblockheadwasradicallynotill—natured,——atleast,ifyoulethis\"phosphorescences\"alone。

  Butthegrandestexplosious,inTobacco—Parliament,wereproducible,whenyougotTwoliteraryfools;and,asifwithLeyden—jars,positiveandnegative,broughttheirvanitiestobearononeanother。Thissometimeshappened,whenTobacbo—Parliamentwasinluck。FriedrichWilhelmhadavarietyofMerry—AndrewRathsoftheGundlingsort,thoughnoneevercameuptoGundling,orapproachedhim,inworthasaMerry—Andrew。

  HerrFassmann,whowroteBooks,byPatronageorfortheLeipzigBooksellers,andwanderedabouttheworldasastarorcometofsomemagnitude,isnotmuchknowntomyreaders:——butheistoowellknowntome,forcertaindarkBooksofhiswhichIhavehadtoread。[LifeofFriedrichWilhelm,

  occasionallycitedhere;LifeofAugusttheStrong;

  &c。]AverydimLiteraryFigure;undeniable,indecipherableHumanFact,ofthosedays;nowfallenquiteextinctandobsolete;hisgarniture,equipment,environmentallverydarktous。Probablyatoorestless,imponderouscreature,toomuchoftheGundlingtype;structureofhimGASEOUS,notsolid;Perhapsalittleofthecoxcombnaturally;muchofthesycophantoncompulsion,——beingsorelyjammedintocorners,andwithoutelbow—roomatall,inthisworld。Has,fortherest,arecognizabletalentfor\"Magazinewriting,\"——forNewspaperediting,hadthatrichmine,\"CaliforniaoftheSpirituallyVagabond,\"beenopenedinthosedays。PoorextinctFassmann,onediscoversatlastaveinofweakgenialityinhim;hereandthere,realhumansenseandeyesight,underthosestrangeconditions;

  andhispoorBooks,rottednowtoinanity,haveleftasmallseed—pearlortwo,totheearnestreader。Alas,ifheWAStobecome\"spirituallyvagabond\"(\"spiritually\"andotherwise),mightitnotperhapsbewholesometohimthattheCaliforniawasNOTdiscovered?——

  FassmannwasbynomeanssuchafoolasGundling;but,hewasmuchofafooltoo。HehadcometoBerlin,aboutthistime,[1726,ashehimselfsays(suprap。8)。]inhopesofpatronagefromtheKingorsomebody;mightsaytohimself,\"SurelyIamabettermanthanGundling,iftheBerlinCourthaseyesight。\"BytheKing,onsomewiseGeneral’srecommendingit,hewas,asapreliminary,introducedtotheTabagieatleast。HereisthecelebratedGundling;thereisthecelebratedFassmann。PositiveLeyden—jar,withnegativecloseby:ineachofthesetwomenlodgesafull—chargedfieryelectricvirtueofself—conceit;destructiveeachoftheother;——couldaconductorbediscovered。

  Conductorsarediscoverable,conductorsarenotwanting;andmanyaretheexplosionsbetweenthesemutually—destructivehumanvarieties;——welcomedwithhilarious,rathervacant,hugehorse—laughter,inthisTobacco—ParliamentandSynodoftheHouyhnhnms。

  Ofwhichtakethisacme;andthenend。Fassmann,afellownotwithoutsarcasmandsharpness,asyoumaystillsee,hasoneeveningprovokedGundlingtothetranscendentpitch,——tillwordsareweak,andonlyactionwillanswer。Gundling,driventotheexplodingpoint,suddenlyseizeshisDutchsmoking—pan,ofpeat—charcoalashesandred—hotsand;anddashesitinthefaceofFassmann;whoisofcoursedreadfullyastonishedthereby,andhasgothisveryeyebrowsburnt,nottospeakofotherinjuries。

  Standtohim,Fassmann!Fassmannstandstohimtightly,beingthebettermanaswellasthemoresatirical;graspsGundlingbythecollar,wrencheshimabout,layshimatlastoverhisknee,sitting—partuppermost;slapssaidsitting—part(poorsitting—partthathadbrokentheiceofWusterhausen)withthehotpan,——naysomesay,stripsitandslaps。Amidtheinextinguishablehorse—laughter(sincerebutvacant)oftheHouyhnhnmOlympus。

  Afterwhich,hisMajesty,asepiloguetosuchplay,suggests,Thatfeatsofthatnatureareunseemlyamonggentlemen;thatwhengentlemenhaveaquarrel,thereisanotherwayofsettlingit。

  FassmannthereuponchallengesGundling;Gundlingaccepts;timeandplacearesettled,pistolstheweapon。AttheappointedtimeandplaceGundlingstands,accordingly,pistolinhand;butatsightofFassmann,throwshispistolaway;willnotshootanyman,norhaveanymanshoothim。Fassmannsternlyadvances;shootshispistol(powdermerely)intoGundling’ssublimegoat’s—hairwig:

  wigblazesintoflame;Gundlingfallsshrieking,adeadman,totheearth;andtheyquenchandrevivehimwithabucketofwater。

  Wasthereeverseensuchhorse—play?Roaringlaughter,huge,rude,andsomewhatvacant,asthatoftheNorsegodsovertheiraleatYuletime;——asifthefaceoftheSphinxweretowrinkleitselfinlaughter;orthefabulousHouyhnhnmsthemselvesweretheretomockintheirpeculiarfashion。

  HisMajestyatlengthgaveGundlingawine—cask,dulyfigured;

  \"paintedblackwithawhitecross,\"whichwastostandinhisroomasMEMENTO—MORI,andbehiscoffin。Itstoodfortenyears;

  Gundlingoftensittingtowriteinit;agoodscreenagainstdraughts。Andthepoormonsterwasactuallyburiedinthiscask;

  [Died11thApril,1731,age58:descriptionoftheBurial\"atBornstadtnearPotsdam,\"inForster,i。276。]Fassmannpronouncingsomefuneraloration,——andtheorthodoxclergyuttering,fromthedistance,onlyamutegroan。\"TheHerrBaronvonGundlingwasamanofmanydignities,ofmuchBook—learning;amanofgreatmemory,\"admitsFassmann,\"butofnojudgment,\"insinuateshe,——

  LOOKINGFORtheJudgment(EXPECTANSJUDICIUM),\"saysFassmann,withapleasantwit。Fassmannsucceededtoalltheemolumentsandhonors;butdidnotholdthem;preferredtorunawaybeforelong:

  andafterhimcameoneandtheother,whomthereaderisnottobetroubledwithhere。Enoughifthepatientreaderhaveseen,alittle,intothatbackgroundofFriedrichWilhelm’sexistence;

  and,forthedidacticpart,havecaughtuphisrealviewsorinstinctsuponSpiritualPhosphorescence,orStupiditygrownVocal,whicharemuchsounderthanmostofussuspect。

  ThesewerethesportsoftheTobacco—Parliament;anditwasalwaysmeantprimarilyforsport,forrecreation:butthereisnodoubtithadaseriousfunctionaswell。\"Businessmatters,\"addsBeneckendorf,whohadmeansofknowing,[Benekendorf,

  Karakterzuge,i。137—149;vi。37。]\"wereoftenasubjectofcolloquyintheTABAKS—COLLEGIUM。Notthattheyweretherefinishedoff,decidedupon,ormeanttobeso。ButFriedrichWilhelmoftenpurposelybroughtupsuchthingsinconversationthere,thathemightlearnthedifferentopinionsofhisgeneralsandchiefmen,withouttheirobservingit,\"——andsomightprofitbytheCollectiveWisdom,inshort。

  ChapterVIII。

  SECKENDORF’SRETORTTOHERMAJESTY。

  TheTreatyofWusterhausenwasnotyetknowntoQueenSophie,toherFatherGeorge,ortoanyexternalcreature:butthatopenflinching,andgradualwithdrawal,fromtheTreatyofHanoverwastoowellknown;andbodednogoodtoherpetproject。Femalesighs,maleobduracies,andotherdomesticphenomena,aretobeimaginedinconsequence。\"AgrandBritannicMajestyindeed;

  veryloftyFathertous,Madam,eversincehecametobeKingofEngland:Stalkingalongthere,withhisnoseintheair;

  notdeigningtheleastnoticeofus,exceptasofathingthatmaybegottofightforhim!AndhedoesnotsigntheDouble—MarriageTreaty,Madam;onlytalksofsigningit,——asifwewereastarvedcoach—horse,tobequickenedalongbyawispofhayputuponthecoach—polecloseaheadofusalways!\"——\"JARNI—BLEU!\"snufflesSeckendorfwithavirtuouszeal,orlooksit;andthingsarenotpleasantattheroyaldinner—table。

  ExcellenzSeckendorf,wefindatthistime,\"oftenhashisMajestytodinner:\"andsuchdinners;fittingone’stastesinallpoints,——noexpenseregarded(whichindeedistheKaiser’s,ifweknewit)!Andinreturn,ExcellenzisfrequentlyatdinnerwithhisMajesty;wheretheconversation;ifitturnonEngland,whichoftenhappens,ismoreandmoreanoffencetoQueenSophie。

  Seckendorfstudiestobepolite,reservedbeforetheQueen’sMajestyatherowntable;yetsometimeshelispsout,inhisvilesnufflingtone,half—insinuations,remarksonourRoyalKindred,whichareirritatingintheextreme。QueenSophie,thepolitestofwomen,didonce,saysPollnitz,onsomeexcessivepressureofthatlispingsnufflingunendurability,loseherroyalpatienceandflameout。Withhumanfrankness,anduncommonlykindledeyes,shesignifiedtoSeckendorf,ThatnonewhowasnothimselfakindofscoundrelcouldentertainsuchthoughtsofKingsandgentlemen!

  Whichhardsayingkindledthestiff—backedrheumaticsoulofSeckendorf(Excellenzhadwithalatemperinhim,fardowninthedeeps);whoanswered:\"YourMajesty,thatiswhatnooneelsethinksofme。ThatisanameIhaveneverpermittedanyonetogivemewithimpunity。\"Andverily,hekepthisthreatinthatlatterpoint,saysPollnitz。[ii。244。]

  Atthisstage,itisbecoming,inthenatureofthings,unlikelythattheprojectedDouble—Marriage,oranyunionwithEngland,caneverrealizeitselfforQueenSophieandherHouse。TheKaiserhasdecreedthatitnevershall。HereistheKingalreadyirritated,grownindisposedtoit;hereistheKaiser’sSeckendorf,withpreternaturalApparatus,cometomaintainhiminthathumor。

  ToQueenSophieherself,whosawonlytheoutsideofSeckendorfandhisApparatus,thematterdoubtlessseemedbigwithdifficulties;buttous,whoseetheinterior,thedifficultiesareplainlyhopeless。UnlesstheKaiser’smindchange,unlessmanyfixedthingschange,theDouble—Marriageisimpossible。

  Onethingonlyisasorrow;andthisprovedanimmeasurableone:

  Thattheydidnot,thatQueenSophiedidnot,insuchcase,franklygiveitup:Double—MarriageisnotalawofNature;itisonlyaprojectatHanoverthathasgoneoffagain。TherewillbealifeforourCrown—Prince,andPrincess,withoutamarriagewithEngland!—Itisgreatlywisetorecognizetheimpossible,theunreasonablydifficult,whenitpresentsitself:butwhoofmenisthere,muchmorewhoofwomenthatcanalwaysdoit?

  QueenSophieDorotheewillhavethisDouble—Marriage,anditshallbepossible。PourLady,shewasveryobstinate;andherHusbandwasveryarbitrary。AroughbearofaHusband,yetbynomeansanunlovingone;aHusbandwhomighthavebeenmanaged。Sheevidentlymadeagreatmistakeindecidingnottoobeythisman;asshehadoncevowed。ByperfectpromptobedienceshemighthavehadaverytolerablelifewiththeruggedOrsonfallentoherlot;whowasaveryhonest—heartedcreature。Shemighthavedoneaprettystrokeoffemalework,withal,intamingherOrson;mighthaveledhimbythemuzzlefarenoughinaprivateway,——byobedience。

  Butbydisobedience,byrebellionopenorsecret?FriedrichWilhelmwasaHusband;FriedrichWilhelmwasaKing;andthemostimperativemanthenbreathing。DisobediencetoFriedrichWilhelmwasathingwhich,inthePrussianState,stillmoreintheBerlinSchlossandvitalheartofsaidState,thelawsofHeavenandofEarthhadnotpermitted,foranyman’soranywoman’ssake,tobe。

  ThewideoverarchingskylooksdownonnomoreinflexibleSovereignManthanhiminthered—collaredbluecoatandwhiteleggings,withthebambooinhishand。Apeaceable,capacious,notill—givenSovereignMan,ifyouwilllethimhavehisway。Buttobarhisway;totweakthenoseofhissovereignroyalty,andignominiouslyforcehimintoanotherway:thatisanenterprisenomanordevil,orbodyofmenordevils,needattempt。

  SeckendorfandGrumkow,inTobacco—Parliament,understanditbetter。Thatattemptisimpossible,onceforall。ThefirststepinsuchattemptwillrequiretobeassassinationofFriedrichWilhelm;foryoumaydependonit,royalSophie,solongasheisalive,thefeatcannotbedone。OroyalSophie,OprettyFeekin,whatabusinessyouaremakingofit!

  Theyear1726wasthroughoutatroublousonetoQueenSophie。

  Seckendorf’sadvent;KingGeorge’smanifestoing;alarmofimminentuniversalWar,naysputtersofitactuallybeginning(GibraltarinvestedbytheSpaniards,readyforbesieging,itissaid):

  norwasthisall。Sophie’spoorMother,worntoatragicMegaera,lockedsolongintheCastleofAhlden,hastakenupwildplansofoutbreak,ofescapebymeansofsecretaries,moneysintheBankofAmsterdam,andIknownotwhat;withallwhichSophie,correspondingindoubleandtriplemystery,hasherownterrorsandsorrows,tryingtokeepitdown。Andnow,inthedepthoftheyear,thepooroldMothersuddenlydies。[13thNovember,1726:

  MemoirsofSophiaDorothea,ConsortofGeorgeI。(i。386),——wherealaosomeofherconcludingLetters(\"edited\"asifbytheNightmares)canberead,butnexttonosensemadeofthem。]Burntoutinthismanner,shecollapsesintoashesandlongrest;closingsohernamelesstragedyofthirtyyears’continuance:——whataBluebeard—chamberinthemindofSophie!NaythererisequarrelsabouttheHeritageoftheDeceased,whichwillproveanothersorrow。

  ENDOFBOOKV

  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV6

  byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s\"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia\"

  BOOKVI。

  DOUBLE—MARRIAGEPROJECT,ANDCROWN—PRINCE,GOINGADRIFTUNDERTHESTORM—WINDS。

  1727—1730。

  ChapterI。

  FIFTHCRISISINTHEKAISER’SSPECTRE—HUNT。

  TheCrown—Prince’syoungLifebeing,byperversechance,involvedandasitwereabsorbedinthatfoolishquestionofhisEnglishMarriage,wehavenothingforitbuttocontinueoursadfunction;

  andgoonpainfullyfishingout,andreducingtoanauthenticform,whattracesofhimthereare,fromthatdisastrousbeggarlyelement,——tilloncehegetfreeofit,eitherdeadoralive。

  TheWINDS(partlybyArt—Magic)risetothehurricanepitch,uponthisMarriageProjectandhim;andasforthesea,orgeneraltideofEuropeanPolitics——Butletthereaderlookwithhisowneyes。

  Inthespringof1727,War,asanticipated,breaksout;SpaniardsactuallybeginbatteringatGibraltar;Kaiser’sAmbassadoratLondonisangrilyorderedtobegone。Causesofwarweremany:

  1。DukedeRipperda——tumbledoutnow,thatillustriousdiplomaticbulldog,atMadrid——soughtasylumintheEnglishAmbassador’shouse;andnorespectwashadtosuchasylum:thatisonecause。

  2。Then,youEnglish,whatisthemeaningofthesewar—fleetsintheWestIndies;intheMediterranean,ontheverycoastofSpain?

  Wedemandthatyouatoncetakethemhomeagain:——whichcannotbecompliedwith。3。Butaboveallthings,wedemandGibraltarofyou:——whichcanstilllessbecompliedwith。TermagantElizabethhassetherheartonGibraltar:that,insuchopportunityasthisunexpectedconditionoftheBalancesnowgivesher,istherealcauseoftheWar。

  CessionofGibraltar:therehadbeenvaguepromises,yearsago,ontheKaiser’spart;nayGeorgehimself,rawtoEnglandatthatdate,issaidtohavethoughtthethingmightperhapsbedone。——

  Doitatonce,then!\"saidtheTermagantQueen,andrepeated,withevermoreemphasis;——andtherebeingnottheleastcompliance,shehasopenedparallelsbeforetheplace,andbegunwarandardentfiringthere;[22dFebruary,1727(Scholl,ii。212)。Salmon,ChronologicalHistorian(London,1747;

  averyincorrectdarkBook,usefulonlyindefectofbetter),ii。173。Coxe,MemoirsofWalpole,i。260,261;ii。498—515。]precededbyprotocols,debatesinParliament;

  andtheusualphenomena。ItistheFifthgrandCrisisintheKaiser’sspectre—huntings;fifthchangeinthecoloroftheworld—lobstergettingboiledinthatsingularmanner;——SecondSputterofactualWar。

  Whichprovedfutilealtogether;andamountsnow,inthehumanmemory;toflatzero,——unlessthefollowinginfinitesimallysmallfractionbecountableagain:——

  \"SputteringofWar;thatistosay,SiegeofGibraltar。Asiegeutterlyunmemorable,andwithouttheleastinterest,forexistingmankindwiththeirungratefulhumor,——ifitbenot;oncemore,thattheFatherofTRISTRAMSHANDYwasinit:stillaLieutenantoffoot,poorfellow;brisk,small,hot—tempered,loving,’liabletobecheatedtentimesadayifninewillnotsufficeyou。’

  HewasinthisSiege;shippedtotheRocktomakestandthere;

  andwouldhavedonesowiththeboldest,——onlyhegotintoduel(hot—tempered,thoughoflamb—likeinnocence),andwasrunthroughthebody;notentirelykilled,butwithinahair’sbreadthofit;

  andunableforservicewhilethissputteringwenton。LittleLorryisstillliving;gonetoschoolinYorkshire,afterpranksenough,andmisventures,——half—drowning’inthemill—raceatAnnamoeinIreland,’forone。[LaurenceSterne’sAutobiography(citedabove)。]ThepoorLieutenantFatherdied,soldieringintheWestIndies;soonafterthis;andweshallnotmentionhimagain。ButHistoryoughttorememberthatheis’UncleToby,’thispoorLieutenant,andtakehermeasures!——TheSiegeofGibraltar,westillseewithoureyes,wasinitselfNothing。\"

  TrulyitmightwellenoughhavegrowntouniversalflameofWar。

  Butthisalwaysneedstwoparties;andpacificGeorgewouldnotbesecondpartyinit。George,guidedbypacificWalpole,backedbypacificFleury,answerstheardentfiringbyphlegmaticpatienceandprotocolling;notbycounter—firing,exceptquiteathisconvenience,fromprivateers,fromwar—shipshereandthere,andinsulkydefencefromGibraltaritself。ProbablytheTermagant,withallthefireshehas,willnotdomuchdamageuponGibraltar?

  SuchwasGeorge’shope。Wherebytheflameofwar,ardentonlyincertainSpanishbatteriesuponthepointofSanRoque,doesnotspreadhitherto,——thoughallmortals,andFriedrichWilhelmasmuchasany,canseetheimminentlikelihoodthereis。Insuchcircumstances,whatastrokeofpolicytohavedisjoinedFriedrichWilhelmfromtheHanoverAlliance,andbroughthimovertoourown!IsnotGrumkowworthhispension?\"Grumkowserveshonorably。\"

  LettheinvaluableSeckendorfpersevere。

  CROWN—PRINCESEENINDRYASDUST’SGLASS,DARKLY。

  ToknowthespecialfigureoftheCrown—Prince’swayoflifeinthoseyears,whohisfriends,companionswere,whathispursuitsandexperiences,wouldbeagreeabletous;butbeyondtheoutlinealreadygiven,thereislittledefiniteonrecord。HenowresideshabituallyatPotsdam,betheCourtthereornot;attendingstrictlytohismilitarydutiesintheGiantRegiment;itisonlyonoccasion,chieflyperhapsin\"Carnivaltime,\"thathegetstoBerlin,topartakeinthegayetiesofsociety。WhohisassociatesthereoratPotsdamwere?Suhm,theSaxonResident,acultivatedmanofliteraryturn,famedashisfriendintimecoming,isalreadyathisdiplomaticpostinBerlin,postofdifficultyjustnow;butIknownotwhethertheyhaveyetanyintimacy。[Preuss,FriedrichmitseinenVerwandtenundFreunden,p。24。]

  Thiswedoknow,theCrown—Princebeginstobenotedforhissprightlysense,hisloveofliterature,hisingenuousways;

  intheCourtorothercircles,whatsoeverhasintelligenceattractshim,andisattractedbyhim。TheRoucoullesSoirees,——

  gonealltodimbackramforus,thoughoncesolivelyintheirhighperiwigsandspeculations,——fallonWednesday。WhentheFinkensteinortheothersfall,——nodoubthisRoyalHighnessknowsit。IntheTABAKS—COLLEGIUM,therealso,drivenbyduty,hesometimesappears;but,likeSeckendorfandsomeothers,heonlyaffectstosmoke,andhispipeismerewhiteclay。Noristhesocialelement,anymorethanthenarcoticvaporwhichprevailsthere,attractivetotheyoungPrince,——thoughhehadbetterhidehisfeelingsonthesubject。

  OutatPotsdam,again,lifegoesveryheavy;thewingedPsychemuchimprisonedinthatpipe—clayelement,apreytovacancyandmanytediumsandlongings。Dailyreturnthegiantdrill—duties;

  anddaily,totheuttermostofrigorousperfection,theymustbedone:——\"This,then,isthesumofone’sexistence,this?\"

  Patience,young\"manofgenius,\"astheNewspaperswouldnowcallyou;itisindispensablybeneficialnevertheless!Toswallowone’sdisgusts,anddofaithfullytheuglycommandedwork,takingnocouncilwithfleshandblood:knowthat\"genius,\"everywhereinNature,meansthisfirstofall;thatwithoutthis,itmeansnothing,generallyevenless。AndbethankfulforyourPotsdamgrenadiersandtheirpipe—clay!——

  HappilyhehashisBooksabouthim;hisflute:Duhan,too,ishere,stillmoreorlessdidacticinsomebranches;

  alwaysinstructiveandcompanionable,tohim。

  TheCrown—Princereadsagreatdeal;verymanyFrenchBooks,newandold,hereads;amongthenew,weneednotdoubt,the

  HenriadeofM。ArouetJunior(whonowcallshimselfVOLTAIRE),whichhasrisenlikeastarofthefirstmagnitudeintheseyears。[London,1723,insurreptitiousincompletestate,LaLiguethetitle;thenatlength,London,1726,asHenriade,insplendid4to,——bysubscription(King,PrinceandPrincessofWalesatthetopofit),whichyielded8,000pounds:seeVoltaire,OEuvresCompletes,xiii。408。]Anincomparablepiece,patronizedbyRoyaltyinEngland;thedelightofallkindredCourts。Thelightdancingmarchofthisnew\"Epic,\"andthebriskclashofcymbalmusicaudibleinit,had,aswefindafterwards,greatlycaptivatedtheyoungman。Allisnotpipe—clay,then,andtorpidformalism;aloftfromthemurkofcommonplaceriseglancingsofastarrysplendor,betokening——oh,howmuch!

  OutofBooks,rumorsandexperiences,youngimaginationisformingtoitselfsomePictureoftheWorldasitis,asithasbeen。

  Thecurtainsofthisstrangelife—theatrearemounting,mounting,——wondrouslyasinthecaseofallyoungsouls;butwithwhatspecialties,moodsorphenomenaoflightandshadow,tothisyoungsoul,isnotinanypointrecordedforus。The\"earlyLetterstoWilhelmina,whichexistingreatnumbers,\"fromthesewehadhopedelucidation:butthesethelearnedEditorhas\"whollywithheldasuseless,\"forthepresent。Letthembecarefullypreserved,onthechanceofsomebody’sarisingtowhomtheymayhaveuses!——

  TheworstfeatureoftheseyearsisFriedrichWilhelm’sdiscontentwiththem。ACrown—PrincesadlyoutoffavorwithPapa。Thishaslongbeenonthegrowinghand;andtheseDouble—Marriagetroubles,nottomentionagainthenew—fangledFrenchtendencies(BLITZ

  FRANZOSEN!),muchaggravatethematter,andaccelerateitsrateofgrowth。Alreadythepaternalcountenancedoesnotshineuponhim;

  flamesoften;andthunders,toashockingdegree;——andworsedaysarecoming。

  ChapterII。

  DEATHOFGEORGEI。

  Gibraltarstillkeepssputtering;ardentineffectualbombardmentfromtheoneside,sulky,heavyblastofresponsenowandthenfromtheother:butthefiredoesnotspread;norwill,wemayhope。Itistrue,SwedenandDenmarkhavejoinedtheTreatyofHanover,thisspring;andhavetroopsonfoot,andmoneypaidthem;ButGeorgeispacific;Gibraltarisimpregnable;lettheSpaniardsspendtheirpowderthere。

  AsfortheKaiser,heisdreadfullypoor;inaptforbattlehimself。AndintheendofthissameMay,1727,wehear,hisprincipalally,CzarinaCatherine,hasdied;——poorbrownlittlewoman,Lithuanianhousemaid,RussianAutocrat,itisnowallone;

  ——deadshe,andcandonothing。ProbablytheKaiserwillsitstill?TheKaisersitsstill;witheyesbentonGibraltar,orrollingingraudImperialinquiryandanxietyroundtheworld;

  war—outlooksmuchdimmedforhimsincetheendofMay。

  Alas,intheendofJune,whatfarotherJob’s—postisthisthatreachesBerlinandQueenSophie?ThatGeorgeI。,herroyalFather,hassuddenlysunkdead!WiththeSolstice,orSummerpauseoftheSun,21stor22dJune,almostuncertainwhich,theMajestyofGeorgeI。didlikewisepause,——inhiscarriage,ontheroadtoOsnabruck,——nevertomovemore。Whereupon,amongthesimplePeople,aroserumorsofomens,preternaturalisms,forandagainst:

  HowhisdesperateMegaeraofaWife,intheactofdying,hadsummonedhim(aswaspresumable),toappearalongwithherattheGreatJudgment—Barwithinyearandday;andhowhehasheredoneit。Ontheotherhand,somewouldhaveitnoted,How\"thenightingalesinHerrenhausenGardenshadallceasedsingingfortheyear,thatnighthedied,\"——outofloyaltyonthepartoftheselittlebirds,itseemedpresumable。[SeeKohler,

  Munzbelustigungen,x。88。]

  Whatweknowis,hewasjourneyingtowardsHanoveragain,hopefulofalittlehuntingattheGorhde;andintendedseeingOsnabruckandhisBrothertheBishopthere,ashepassed。Thatday,21stJune,1727,fromsomefeelingsofhisown,hewasingreathasteforOsnabruck;hurryingalongbyextra—post,withoutrealcausesavehurryofmind。HehadlefthispooroldMaypoleofaMistressontheDutchFrontier,thatmorning,tofollowatmoreleisure。

  Hewasstruckbyapoplexyontheroad,——armfallenpowerless,earlyintheday,headdimandheavy;obviouslyanalarmingcase。

  Butherefusedtostopanywhere;refusedanysurgerybutsuchascouldbedoneatonce。\"Osnabruck!Osnabruck!\"hereiterated,growingvisiblyworse。TwosubalternHanoverOfficials,\"Privy—CouncillorvonHardenberg,KAMMERHERR(Chamberlain)vonFabrice,wereinthecarriagewithhim;\"[Gottfried,

  HistorischeChronik(Frankfurt,1759),iii。872。

  Boyer,ThePoliticalStateofGreatBritain,

  vol。xxxiii。pp。545,546。]Kingchieflydozing,andatlastsupportedinthearmsofFabrice,washeardmurmuring,\"C’ESTFAIT

  DEMOI(’Tisalloverwithme)!\"And\"Osnabruck!Osnabruck!\"

  slumberouslyreiteratedhe:ToOsnabruck,wheremypooroldBrother,Bishopastheycallhim,oncealittleBoythattrottedatmykneewithblitheface,willhavesomehumanpityonme!

  Sotheyrushedalongallday,asatthegallop,hisfewattendantsandhe;andwhentheshadesofnightfell,andspeechhadnowleftthepoorman,hestillpassionatelygaspedsomegurgleofasoundlike\"Osnabruck;\"——hanginginthearmsofFabrice,andnowevidentlyinthearticleofdeath。Whatagallop,sweepingthroughtheslumberoftheworld:ToOsnabruck,Osnabruck!

  Inthehollowofthenight(somesay,oneinthemorning),theyreachOsnabruck。AndthepooroldBrother,——ErnstAugust,onceyoungestofsixbrothers,ofsevenchildren,nowtheonesurvivor,hashumanpityintheheartofhimfullsurely。ButGeorgeisdead;carelessofitnow。[Coxe(i。266)is\"indebtedtohisfriendNathanielWraxall\"forthesedetails,——thesincefamousSirNathaniel,inwhoseMemoirs(vague,butNOT

  mendacious,notunintelligent)theyarenowpublishedmoreatlarge。SeehisMemoirsoftheCourtsofBerlin,Dresden,&c。(London。1799),i。35—40;also

  HistoricalMemoirs(London,1836),iv。516—518。]

  Aftersixty—sevenyearsofit,hehasflunghisbigburdens,——

  Englishcrowns,Hanoveriancrownlets,sulkinesses,indignations,leanwomenandfat,andearthlycontradictionsandconfusions,——

  fairlyoffhim;andliesthere。

  Themanhadhisbigburdens,bighonorssocalled,absurdenoughsomeofthem,inthisworld;butheborethemwithacertaingravityanddiscretion:amanofmoreprobity,insightandgeneralhumanfacultythanhenowgetscreditfor。Hiswordwassacredtohim。HehadthecourageofaWelf,orLion—Man;quietlyroyalinthatrespectatleast。Hissenseofequity,ofwhatwastrueandhonorableinmenandthings,remaineduneffacedtoarespectabledegree;andsurelyithadresistedmuch。Wilderpuddleofmuddyinfatuationsfromwithoutandfromwithin,ifweconsideritwell,——ofirreconcilableincoherences,bottomlessuniversalhypocrisies,solecismsbredwithhimandimposedonhim,——fewsonsofAdamhadhithertolivedin。

  Hewas,inoneword,thefirstofourHanoverSeriesofEnglishKings;thathithertouniquesort,whoarereallystrangetolookatintheHistoryoftheWorld。Ofwhom,intheEnglishannals,thereishithertonoPicturetobehad;nothingbutanemptyblurofdiscordantnonsenses,andidle,generallyangry,flourishingsofthepen,bywayofPicture。TheEnglishNation,havingflungitsoldPuritan,Sword—and—BibleFaithintothecesspool,——orratherhavingsetitsoldBible—Faith,MINUSanySword,wellupintheorgan—loft,withplentyofrevenue,theretopreachandorganatdiscretion,onconditionalwaysofmeddlingwithnobody’spracticefarther,——thoughtthesame(suchtheirmistake)amightyprettyarrangement;butfoundithitchbeforelong。TheyhadtothrowouttheirbeautifulNell—GwynnDefendersoftheFaith;

  flingthemalsointothecesspool;andwereratheratalosswhatnexttodo。\"WhereisourrealKing,then?WhoIStoleadusHeavenward,then;torallythenobleofustohim,insomesmallmeasure,andsavetherestandtheiraffairsfromrunningDevilward?\"——TheEnglishNationbeinginsomedifficultyastoKings,theEnglishNationclutchedupthereadiestthatcametohand;\"HereisourKing!\"saidthey,——againundermistake,stillundertheiroldmistake。And,whatwassingular,theythenavengedthemselvesbymocking,calumniating,byangrilyspeaking,writingandlaughingatthepoormistakenKingsoclutched!——ItishightimetheEnglishwerecandidlyaskingthemselves,withverygreatseriousnessindeed,WHATitwastheyhaddone,inthesightofGodandman,onthatandtheprioroccasion?Andaboveall,Whatitistheywillnowproposetodointhesequelofit!Diggold—nuggets,andrallytheIGnobleofus?——

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