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?——