Unpermittedthings,onceforall,hemustavoidtodo:perhapshewillgraduallydiscoverthatmanyofthemwerefoolishthingsbetternotdone。Hewalkswarily;tothisallthingscontinuallyadmonish。Wetraceinhimsomerealdesiretobewise,todoandlearnwhatisusefulifhecanhere。Butthegrandproblem,whichisrealityitselftohim,isalways,ToregainfavorwithPapa。
Andthis,Papabeingwhatheis,givesatwisttoallotherproblemstheyoungmanmayhave,fortheymustallshapethemselvesbythis;andintroducessomethingofartificial,——notproperlyofhypocritical,forthattooisfataliffoundout,——butofcalculated,reticent,ofhalf—sincere,ontheSon’spart:
aninevitablefeature,plentifullyvisibleintheirCorrespondencenowandhenceforth。CorrespondingwithPapaandhisGrumkow,andwatched,ateverystep,bysuchanArgusastheTobacco—Parliament,realfranknessofspeechisnotquitetherecommendablething;apparentfranknessmaybethesafer!
BesidesmasteryintheDomainSciences,IperceivetheCrown—Princehadtostudyhereanotherart,usefultohiminafterlife:theartofwearingamonghisfellow—creaturesapolitecloak—of—darkness。Graduallyhebecomesmasterofitasfeware:
amanpolitelyimpregnabletotheintrusionofhumancuriosity;
abletolookcheerilyintotheveryeyesofmen,andtalkinasocialwayfacetoface,andyetcontinueintrinsicallyinvisibletothem。AnartnolessessentialtoRoyaltythanthatoftheDomainSciencesitself;and,——ifatallconsummatelydone,andwithascornofmendacityforhelp,asinthiscase,——adifficultart。ItisthechieffeatureintheTwoorThreeThousandLETTERS
weyethaveofFriedrich’stoallmannerofcorrespondents:
Letterswrittenwiththegracefulestflowingrapidity;polite,affable,——refusingtogiveyoutheleastglimpseintohisrealinnerman,ortellyouanyparticularyoumightimpertinentlywishtoknow。
AstheHistoryofFriedrich,inthisCustrinepoch,andindeedinallepochsandparts,isstilllittleotherthanawhirlpoolofsimmeringconfusions,dustmainly,andsibyllinepaper—shreds,inthepagesofpoorDryasdust,perhapswecannotdobetterthansnatchashredortwo(ofthepartlylegiblekind,orcapableofbeingmadelegible)outofthathideouscaldron;pinthemdownattheirproperdates;andtryifthereadercan,bysuchmeans,catchaglimpseofthethingwithhisowneyes。Hereisshredfirst;aPieceinGrumkow’shand。
Thistreatsofaverygrandincident;whichformsaneraorturning—pointintheCustrinlife。Majestyhasactually,afterhopeslongheldoutofsuchathing,lookedinupontheProdigalatCustrin,intestimonyofpossiblepardoninthedistance;——seeshimagain,forthefirsttimesincethatsceneatWeselwiththedrawnsword,afteryearandday。Grumkow,forbehoofofSeckendorfandtheViennapeople,hasdrawnarough\"Protocol\"ofit;
andhereitis,snatchedfromtheDust—whirlwinds,andfaithfullypresentedtotheEnglishreader。HisMajestyistravellingtowardsSonnenburg,onsomegrandKnight—of—MaltaCeremonythere;
andhaltsatCustrinforacoupleofhoursashepasses:——
GRUMKOW’S\"PROTOKOLL\"OFTHE15thAUGUST,1731;ORSUMMARY
OFWHATTOOKPLACEATCUSTRINTHATDAY。
\"HisMajestyarrivedatCustrinyesterday[GESTERNMonday15th,——
hournotmentioned],andproceededatoncetotheGovernmentHouse,withanattendanceofseveralhundredpersons。
Major—GeneralLepel,\"CommandantofCustrin,\"ColonelDerschauandmyselfareimmediatelysentfortohisMajesty’sapartmentthere。
Privy—CouncillorWalden,\"Prince’sHofmarschall,asolidlegalman,\"isorderedbyhisMajestytobringtheCrown—Princeoverfromhishouse;whoaccordinglyinafewminutes,attendedbyRohwedelandNatzmer,\"thetwoKammerjunkers,\"enteredtheroomwherehisMajestyandwewere。
\"SosoonashisMajesty,turninground,hadsightofhim,theCrown—Princefellathisfeet。Havingbiddenhimrise,hisMajestysaidwithaseveremien:——
\"’Youwillnowbethinkyourselfwhatpassedyearanddayago;
andhowscandalouslyyousawfittobehaveyourself,andwhatagodlessenterpriseyoutookinhand。AsIhavehadyouaboutmefromthebeginning,andmustknowyouwell,Ididallintheworldthatwasinmypower,bykindnessandbyharshness,tomakeanhonorablemanofyou。AsIrathersuspectedyourevilpurpose,I
treatedyouintheharshestandsharpestwayintheSaxonCamp,’
atRadewitz,inthosegaladays,’inhopesyouwouldconsideryourself,andtakeanotherlineofconduct;wouldconfessyourfaultstome,andbegforgiveness。Butallinvain;yougrewevermorestiffnecked。Whenayoungmangetsintofollieswithwomen,onemaytrytooverlookitasthefaultofhisage:buttodowithforethoughtbasenesses(LACHETEEN)anduglyactions;’thatisunpardonable。Youthoughttocarryitthroughwithyourheadstronghumor:butharkye,mylad(HORE,MEINKERL),ifthouwertsixtyorseventyinsteadofeighteen,thoucouldstnotcrossmyresolutions。’Itwouldtakeabiggermantodothat,mylad!
’Andas,uptothisdate(BISDATO)Ihavemanagedtosustainmyselfagainstanycomer,therewillbemethodsfoundofbringingtheetoreasontoo!——
\"’HowhavenotI,onalloccasions,meanthonorablybyyou!
LasttimeIgotwindofyourdebts,howdidI,asaFather,admonishyoutotellmeall;Iwouldpayall,youwereonlytotellmethetruth。Whereuponyousaid,Therewerestilltwothousandthalersbeyondthesumnamed。Ipaidthesealsoatonce;
andfanciedIhadmadepeacewithyou。Andthenitwasfound,byandby,youowedmanythousandsmore;andasyounowknewyoucouldnotpay,itwasasgoodasifthemoneyhadbeenstolen;——
nottoreckonhowtheFrenchvermin,Montholieuandpartner,cheatedyouwiththeirnewloans。’Pfui!——’Nothingtouchedmesomuch[continueshisMajesty,vergingtowardsthepathetic],asthatyouhadnotanytrustinme。AllthisthatIwasdoingforaggrandizementoftheHouse,theArmyandFinances,couldonlybeforyou,ifyoumadeyourselfworthyofit!IheredeclareIhavedoneallthingstogainyourfriendship;——andallhasbeeninvain!’AtwhichwordstheCrown—Prince,withaverysorrowfulgesture,threwhimselfathisMajesty’sfeet,\"——tears(presumably)
inboththeireyesbythistime。
\"’WasitnotyourintentiontogotoEngland?’askedhisMajestyfartheron。ThePrinceanswered’JA!’——’Thenhearwhattheconsequenceswouldhavebeen。YourMotherwouldhavegotintothegreatestmisery;Icouldnotbuthavesuspectedshewastheauthorofthebusiness。YourSisterIwouldhavecast,forlife,intoaplacewheresheneverwouldhaveseensunandmoonagain。ThenonwithmyArmyintoHanover,andburnandravage;yes,ifithadcostmelife,landandpeople。Yourthoughtlessandgodlessconduct,seewhatitwasleadingto。Iintendedtoemployyouinallmannerofbusiness,civil,military;buthow,aftersuchanaction,couldIshowthefaceofyoutomyOfficers(soldiers)andotherservants?——Theonewayofrepairingallthisis,Thatyouseek,regardlessofyourverylifeincomparison,tomakethefaultgoodagain!’AtwhichwordstheCrown—PrincemournfullythrewhimselfathisRoyalMajesty’sfeet;beggingtobeputuponthehardestproofs:Hewouldendureallthings,soastorecoverhisMajesty’sgraceandesteem。
\"WhereupontheKingaskedhim:’WasitthouthattemptedstKatte;
ordidKattetemptthee?’TheCrown—Princewithouthesitationanswered,’Itemptedhim。’——’Iamgladtohearthetruthfromyou,atanyrate。’\"
TheDialoguenowbranchesout,intocomplexgeneralform;outofwhich,intentuponabridging,wegatherthefollowingpoints。
KingLOQUITUR:——
\"HowdoyoulikeyourCustrinlife?StillasmuchaversiontoWusterhausen,andtowearingyourshroud[STERBEKITTEL,nameforthetightuniformyouwouldnowbesogladof,andthinkquiteotherthanashroud!]asyoucalledit?\"Prince’sanswerwanting。
——\"Likelyenoughmycompanydoesnotsuityou:IhavenoFrenchmanners,andcannotbringoutBON—MOTSinthePETIT—MAITREway;
andtrulyregardallthatasathingtobeflungtothedogs。
IamaGermanPrince,andmeantoliveanddieinthatcharacter。
Butyoucannowsaywhatyouhavegotbyyourcapricesandobstinateheart;hatingeverythingthatIliked;andifI
distinguishedanyone,despisinghim!IfanOfficerwasputinarrest,youtooktolamentingabouthim。Yourrealfriends,whointendedyourgood,youhatedandcalumniated;thosethatflatteredyou,andencouragedyourbadpurpose,youcaressed。
Youseewhatthathascometo。InBerlin,inallPrussiaforsometimeback,nobodyasksafteryou,Whetheryouareintheworldornot;andwereitnotoneortheothercomingfromCustrinwhoreportsyouasplayingtennisandwearingFrenchhair—bags,nobodywouldknowwhetheryouwerealiveordead。\"
Hardsayings;towhichthePrince’sanswers(iftherewereanybeyondmournfulgestures)arenotgiven。WecomenowuponPredestination,ortheGNADENWAHL;andlearn(withrealinterest,notofthelaughingsortalone)howhis\"Majesty,inthemostconclusiveway,setforththehorribleresultsofthatAbsolute—Decreenotion;whichmakesoutGodtobetheAuthorofSin,andthatJesusChristdiedonlyforsome!UponwhichtheCrown—Princevowedanddeclared(HOCHUNDTHEUER),hewasnowwhollyofhisMajesty’sorthodoxopinion。\"
TheKing,nowthoroughlymoved,expressessatisfactionattheorthodoxy;andaddswithenthusiasm,\"WhengodlessfellowsaboutyouspeakagainstyourdutiestoGod,theKingandyourCountry,fallinstantlyonyourknees,andpraywithyourwholesoultoJesusChristtodeliveryoufromsuchwickedness,andleadyouonbetterways。Andifitcomeinearnestfromyourheart,Jesus,whowouldhaveallmensaved,willnotleaveyouunheard。\"No!AndsomayGodinhismercyaidyou,poorsonFritz。Andasforme,inhopesthetimecomingwillshowfruits,Iforgiveyouwhatispast。——TowhichtheCrown—Princeansweredwithmonosyllables,withmanytears;\"kissinghisMajesty’sfeet;\"——andastheKing’seyeswerenotdry,hewithdrewintoanotherroom;revolvingmanythingsinhisalteredsoul。
\"ItbeinghisMajesty’sbirthday[4thAugustbyOLDSTYLE,15thbyNEW,forty—thirdbirthday],thePrince,allbeweptandinemotion,followedhisFather;and,againfallingprostrate,testifiedsuchheartfeltjoy,gratitudeandaffectionoverthisblessedanniversary,asquitetouchedtheheartofPapa;whoatlastclaspedhiminhisarms[poorsoul,afterall!],andhurriedouttoavoidblubberingquitealoud。Hesteptintohiscarriage,\"
intendingforSonnenburg(chieflybywater)thisevening,whereaSereneCousin,oneoftheSchwedtMargraves,HeadKnightofMalta,hashisestablishment。
\"TheCrown—PrincefollowedhisMajestyout;and,inthepresenceofmanyhundredpeople,kissedhisMajesty’sfeet\"again(linengaiters,notDay—and—Martinshoes);\"andwasagainembracedbyhisMajesty,whosaid,’Behavewell,asIseeyoumean,andIwilltakecareofyou,’whichthrewtheCrown—Princeintosuchanecstasyofjoyasnopencanexpress;\"andsothecarriagesrolledaway,——towardstheKnights—of—MaltabusinessandPalaceoftheHeadKnightofMalta,inthefirstplace。[Forster,iii。50—54。]
Thesearethemainpoints,saysGrumkow,reportingnextday;
andthereadermustinterpretthemashecan,ACrown—Princewithexcellenthistrionictalents,thinksthereader。Well;acertainexaggeration,immensityofwishbecomingitselfenthusiasm;
somewhatofthat:butthatisbynomeansthewholeoreventhemainpartofthephenomenon,Oreader。ThisCrown—PrincehasarealaffectiontohisFather,asweshallintimeconvinceourselves。Say,atlowest,aCrown—Princeloyaltofact;abletorecognizeoverwhelmingfact,andawarethathemustsurrenderthereto。Surrenderoncemade,theelementmuchclearsitself;
Papa’ssideofthequestiongettingfairlystatedforthefirsttime。Sureenough,Papa,isGod’sVicegerentinseveralundeniablerespects,mostimportantsomeofthem:bettertryifwecanobeyPapa。
DimoldFassmannyieldsasparkortwo,——astohisMajesty’serrandatSonnenburg。Majestyisgoingtopresideto—morrow\"attheInstallationofyoungMargrafKarl,newHERRMEISTER
(Grand—Master)oftheKnightsofSt。John\"there;\"theOfficehavingsuddenlyfallenvacantlately。\"Officewhichisanheirloom;——usuallyheldbyoneoftheMargraves,half—unclesoftheKing,——somejuniorofthem,notprovidedforatSchwedtorotherwise。MargrafAlbert,thelastoccupant,anoldgentlemanofsixty,diedlately,\"bystrokeofapoplexywhileatdinner;\"
[21stJune,1731:Fassmann,p。423;Pollnitz,ii。390。]——andhiseldestSon,MargrafKarl,withwhomhisMajestylodgesto—night,isnowHerrmeister。\"Majestycameat6P。M。toSonnenburg[musthaveleftCustrinaboutfive];forty—twoRittersmadeatSonnenburgnextday,\"——acertainColonelorLieutenant—GeneralvonWreech,whomweshallsoonseeagain,isoneofthem;Seckendorfanother。\"FreshRITTER—SCHLAG[\"Knight—stroke,\"BatchofKnightsdubbed]atSonnenburg,29thSeptembernext,\"whichshallnottheleastconcernus。NoteMargrafKarl,however,thenewHerrmeister;
forheprovesasoldierofsomemark,andwillturnupagainintheSilesianWars;——aswillapoorBrotherofhisstillmoreimpressively,\"shotdeadbesidetheKing,\"ononeoccasionthere。
WeaddthisofDickens,foralltheDiplomatists,andadiscerningpublicgenerally,aremuchstruckwiththeEventatCustrin;
andtaketowritingofitasnews;——and\"Mr。Ginkel,\"DutchAmbassadorhere,aningenious,honestandobservantman,wellenoughknowntous,hasbeenouttosupwiththePrince,nextday;
andthusreportsofhimtoDickens:\"Mr。Ginkel,whosuppedwiththePrinceonThursdaylast,\"dayaftertheInterview,\"tellsmethathisRoyalHighnessisextremelyimprovedsincehehadseenhim;beinggrownmuchtaller;andthathisconversationissurprisingforhisage,aboundingingoodsenseandtheprettiestturnsofexpression。\"[Despatch,18thAugust,1731。]
Hereareothershreds,snatchedfromtheWitch—Caldron,andpinneddown,eachatitsplace;whichgiveusoneortwosubsequentglimpses:——
POTSDAM,21stAUGUST,1731(KingtoWoldentheHofmarschall)……
\"Crown—Princeshalltravelover,andpersonallyinspect,thefollowingDomains:Quartschen,Himmelstadt,Carzig,Massin,Lebus,GollowandWollup,\"dingymoor—farmsdeartoAntiquarians;\"travelovertheseandnotanyother。Permissionalwaystobeasked,ofhisRoyalMajesty,inwriting,andmentionmadetowhichofthemtheCrown—Princemeanstogo。Someonetobealwaysinattendance,whocangivehimfitinstructionaboutthehusbandry;andastheCrown—Princehasyetonlylearnedthetheory,hemustnowbediligenttolearnthesamepractically。Forwhichenditmustbeminutelyexplainedtohim,Howthehusbandryismanaged,——howploughed,manured,sown,ineveryparticular;andwhatthedifferencesofgoodandbadhusbandryare,sothathemaybeableofhimselftoknowandjudgethesame。OfCattle—husbandrytoo,andtheaffairsofBrewing(VIEHZUCHTUNDBRAUWESEN),thedueunderstandingtobegivenhim;andinthematterofBrewing,showhimhowthingsarehandled,mixed,thebeerdrawnoff,barrelled,andallhowtheydowithit(WIEUBERALLDABEIVERFAHREN);
alsothemalt,howitmustbeprepared,andwhatlike,whengood。
Usefuldiscoursetobekeptupwithhimonthesejourneys;
pointingouthowandwhythisisandthat,andwhetheritcouldnotbebetter:\"——OKingofathousand!——\"Haslibertytoshootstags,moorcocks(HUHNER)andthelike;andasmall—hunt[KLEINE
JAGD,notaPARFORCEorbigone]canbegotupforhisamusementnowandthen;\"furthermore\"alittleduck—shootingfromboat,\"onthesedgywatersthere,——ifthepoorsoulshouldcareaboutit。
Wolden,oroneoftheKammerjunkers,toaccompanyalways,andberesponsible。\"NoMADCHENorFRAUENSMENSCH,\"noshadowofwomankind;——\"keepaneyeonhim,youthree!\"
ThesethingsareinthePrussianArchives;ofdatetheweekafterthatinterview。Intwoweeksfarther,followsthePrince’sspeculationaboutCarzigandtheBuildingofaFarmsteadthere;
withPapa’s\"realcontentmentthatyoucomeuponsuchproposals,andseektomakeimprovements。Only\"——
WUSTERHAUSEN,11thSEPTEMBER(KingtoCrown—Prince)……\"Onlyyoumustexaminewhetherthereismeadow—groundenough,andhowmanyacrescanactuallybeallottedtothatFarm。[HearhisMajesty!]
TakeaLand—surveyorwithyou;andhaveallwellconsidered;andexactlyinformyourselfwhatkindoflanditis,whetheritcanonlygrowrye,orwhethersomeofitisbarley—land:youmustconsideritYOURSELF,anddoitalloutofyourownhead,thoughyoumayconsultwithothersaboutit。Ingrazing—ground(HUTHUNG)
Ithinkitwillnotfail;ifonlythemeadow—land\"——
infact,itfailsinnothing;andisgotalldone(\"woodlaidouttoseasonstraightway,\"and\"whatdiggingandstubbingthereis,proceededwiththroughthewinter\"):doneinasuccessfulandinstructivemanner,bothCarzigandHimmelstadt,thoughwewillsaynothingfartherofthem。[Forster,i。387—392。]
CUSTRIN,22dSEPTEMBER(Crown—PrincetoPapa)……\"HavebeenatLebus;excellentlandoutthere;fineweatherforthehusbandman。\"
\"MajorRoder,\"unknownMajor,\"passedthisway;anddinedwithme,lastWednesday。Hehasgotaprettyfellow(SCHONENKERL)formyMostAll—GraciousFather’sregiment[thePotsdamGiants,whereI
usedtobe];whomIcouldnotlookuponwithoutbleedingheart。
IdependonmyMostAll—GraciousFather’sGrace,thathewillbegoodtome:IaskfornothingandnohappinessintheworldbutwhatcomesfromYou;andhopeYouwill,someday,remembermeingrace,andgivemetheBlueCoattoputonagain!\"[BRIEFWECHSEL
MITVATER(OEuvres,xxvii。part3d,p。27)。]——TowhichPapaanswersnothing,oronly\"Hm,na,timeMAYcome!\"
Carziggoesonstraightway;Papacharmedtograntthemoneys;
\"woodlaidouttoseason,\"andmuch\"stubbinganddigging\"setonfoot,beforethemonthends。Carzig;anddirectlyontheheelofit,onliketerms,Himmelstadt,——butofallthiswemustsaynomore。ItisclearthePrinceislearningtheDomainSciences;
eagertoprovehimselfaperfectsonintheeyesofPapa。Papa,inhopefulmoments,askshimself:\"Towhomshallwemarryhim,then;
howsettlehim?\"ButwhatthePrince,inhisownheart,thoughtofitall;howhelooked,talked,lived,inunofficialtimes?
HerehasacrabbeddimDocumentturnedup,which,ifitwerenotnearlyundecipherabletothereaderandme,wouldthrowlightonthepoint:——
SCHULENBURG’STHREELETTERSTOGRUMKOW,ONVISITSTOTHE
CROWN—PRINCE,DURINGTHECUSTRINTIME。
ThereaderknowsLieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg;stifflittlemilitarygentlemanofgraveyears,nephewofthemaypoleEMERITA
whoiscalledDuchessofKendalinEngland。\"HadahorseshotunderhimatMalplaquet;\"battlingsandexperiencesenough,beforeandsince。Hasrealsense,abundantrealpedantry;aPrussiansoldiereveryinch。HepresidedintheCopenickCourt—martial;
heisdeeplyconcernedintheseCrown—Princedifficulties。
HisMajestyevenhonorshimbyexpectingheshouldquietlykeepamonitorialeyeupontheCrown—Prince;——beinghisneighborinthoseparts;Colonel—CommandantofaregimentofHorseatLandsbergnotmanymilesoff。HehasjustbeenatVienna[September,1731
(Militair—Lexikon,iii。433)。]onsome\"business\",(quasi—diplomaticprobably,whichcanremainunknowntous);andhasreporteduponit,orotherwisefinisheditoff,atBerlin;——whencerapidlyhometoLandsbergagain。Onthewayhomewards,andaftergettinghome,hewritesthesethreeLetters;
off—handandinallprivacy,andofcoursewithabusinesssincerity,toGrumkow;——littlethinkingtheywouldonedaygetprinted,andwanderintotheselatitudestobescannedandscrutinized!UndoubtedlyanintricatecrabbedDocumenttous;
butthenanindubitableone。Crown—Prince,Schulenburghimself,andtheactualfigureofTimeandPlace,areheremirroredforus,withabusinesssincerity,inthemindofSchulenburg,——asfromanaccidentalpatchofwater;ruffledbog—water,insadtwilight,andwithsedgesandtwigsintervening;butundertheseconditionswedolookwithourowneyes!
Couldnotone,byanyconceivablemethod,interpretintolegibilitythisabstrusedullDocument;andsopickouthereandthereaglimpse,actualface—to—faceview,ofCrown—PrinceFriedrichinhislight—grayfrockwiththenarrowsilvertresses,inhiseclipsedconditionthereintheCustrinregion?Allisverymysteriousabouthim;hisinwardopinionaboutallmannerofmatters,fromtheGNADENWAHLtothelateDouble—MarriageQuestion。
Evenhisoutwardmanneroflife,initsflesh—and—bloodphysiognomy,——wesearchinvainthroughtonsofdustylucubrationtotallywithoutinterest,tocatchhereandtherethecornerofafeatureofit。LetustrySchulenburg。WeshallknowatanyratethattoGrumkow,intheAutumn1731,thesewordswereluculentandsignificant:consciouslytheytellussomethingofyoungFriedrich;unconsciouslyagooddealofLieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg,whowithhisstricttheologies,hismilitarystiffnesses,hisreticent,pipe—clayed,rigorousandyethumanways,isworthlookingat,asanantiquespeciesextinctinourtime。HeisjusthomefromVienna,gettingtowardshisowndomicilefromBerlin,fromCustrin,andhasseenthePrince。
Hewritesinawretchedwaysidetavern,orpost—house,betweenCustrinandLandsberg,——dateshisletter\"WIEN(Vienna),\"asifhewerestillintheimperialCity,sooff—handishe。
No。1。TOHISEXCELLENZ(addashovelfulofothertitles)
LIEUTENANT—GENERALHERRBARONVONGRUMKOW,PRESIDENTOFTHE
KRIEGES—UNDDOMANEN—DIRECTORIUM,OFTHE(infact,Vice—PresidentoftheTobacco—Parliament)INBERLIN。
\"WIEN[properlyBerlin—LandsbergHighway,othersideofCustrin],4thOctober,1731。
\"IregretmuchtohavemissedthepleasureofseeingyourExcellencyagainbeforeIleftBerlin。Isetoffbetweensevenandeightinthemorningyesterday,andgottoCustrin[seventymilesorso]beforesevenatnight。ButthePrincehadgone,thatday,totheBailliageofHimmelstadt\"(uptheWartaCountry,eastwardsomefive—and—thirtymiles,muchpreparatorydiggingandstubbingthere);andhe\"sleptatMassin[circuitousroadback],whereheshotafewstagsthismorning。AsIwastoldhemightprobablydineatKammin[stillnearerCustrin,twelvemilesfromit;
halfthatdistanceeastofZorndorf,——markthat,Oreader(seeMap)]withMadamColonelSchoning,Idrovethither。Hehadarrrivedthereamomentbeforeme。\"AndwhoisMadamSchoning,ladyofKamminhere?——Patience,reader。
\"Ifoundhimmuchgrown;anairofhealthandgayetyabouthim。
Hecaressedmegreatly(MEGRACIEUSAFORT);afterwardsquestionedmeaboutmywayoflifeinVienna;andasked,ifIhaddivertedmyselfwellthere?Itoldhimwhatbusinesshadbeentheoccasionofmyjourney,andthatthisratherthanamusementshadoccupiedme;fortherest,thattherehadbeengreataffluenceofcompany,andnolackofdiversions。HespokealongtimetoMadamdeWreech\"——
\"Wrochem\"Schulenburgcallsher:youngWifeofLieutenant—GeneralvonWreech,aMarlboroughCampaigner,madeaKnightofMaltatheotherday;[Militair—Lexikon,iv。269。]——
HIScharmingyoungWife,andDaughterofMadamColonelSchoningourhostesshere;livesatTamsel,inhighstyle,intheseparts:
marktheyoungLadywell,——
\"whodidnotappearindifferenttohim。\"No!——\"andinfactshewasinallherbeauty;acomplexionoflilyandrose。\"
Charmingcreature;concerningwhomthereareanecdotesstillafloat,andatleastversesofthisPrince’swriting;nottoowellseenbyWreech,latelymadeaKnightofMalta,who,thoughonlyturningforty,isperhapstwiceherage。Thebeautifulest,cleverest,——fancyit;andwhetherthepeatyNeumarkproducesnothinginthefloralkind!
\"Wewenttodinner;heaskedmetositbesidehim。
Theconversationfell,amongothertopics,ontheElectorPalatine’sMistress,\"crotchetyoldgentleman,neveroutofquarrels,withHeidelbergProtestants,heirsofJulichandBerg,andingeneralwithanunreasonableworld,whomwesawatMannheimlastyear;hasaMistress,——\"ElectorYalatine’sMistress,calledTaxis。Crown—Princesaid:’IshouldliketoknowwhatthatgoodoldgentlemandoeswithaMistress?’Ianswered,thatthefashionhadcomesomuchinvogue,PrincesdidnotthinktheywerePrincesunlesstheyhadmistresses;andthatIwasamazedatthefacilityofwomen,howtheycouldshuttheireyesonthesadreverseoffortunenearlyinevitableforthem;——andinstancedtheexampleofMadamGravenitz\"——
\"Gravenitz;\"examplelatelyfallenoutatWurtemberg,aswepredicted。PrayersoftheCountry,\"Deliverusfromevil,\"arenowansweredthere:Gravenitzquiteoverwithit!Alas,yes;latelyfallenfromherhighestateinWurtemberg,andbecomethetopicofdinner—tables;seizedbysoldiersinthenight—time;vainherhighrefusals,assurancesofbeingtoounwelltodress,\"Shallgoinyourshift,then,\"——isinprison,totallyeclipsed。[Michaelis,iii。440;Pollnitz,i。297。]Calmingherfury,shewillgetout;
andwearisomelywanderaboutinfashionablecapitals,TOUJOURSUN
LAVEMENTASESTROUSSES!
\"Therewereothersubjectstouchedupon;andIalwaysendeavoredtodeducesomethingofmoralinstructionfromthem,\"beingamilitarygentlemanoftheoldschool。
\"Amongotherthings,hesaid,Helikedthegreatworld,andwascharmedtoobservetheridiculousweaksideofsomepeople。
’Thatisexcellent,’saidI,’ifoneprofitbyitoneself:butifitisonlyforamusement,suchamotiveisworthlittle;weshouldratherlookoutforourownridiculousweakside。’Onrising,HofmarschallWoldensaidtome,\"withoutmuchsincerity,\"’YOU
havedonewelltopreachalittlemoralitytohim。’ThePrincewenttoawindow,andbeckonedmethither。
\"’Youhavelearnednothingofwhatistobecomeofme?’saidhe。
Ianswered:’ItissupposedyourRoyalHighnesswillreturntoBerlin,whentheMarriage[Wilhelmina’s]takesplace;butastowhatwillcomenext,Ihaveheardnothing。ButasyourHighnesshasfriends,theywillnotfailtodotheirendeavor;andM。deGrumkowhastoldmehewouldtrytopersuadetheKingtogiveyouaregiment,inorderthatyourHighnessmighthavesomethingtodo。’Itseemedasifthatwouldgivehimpleasure。Ithentookthelibertyofsaying:’Monseigneur,themost,atpresent,dependsonyourself。——’Howso?’askedhe。Ianswered,’Itisonlybyshowinggoodconduct,andproofsofrealwisdomandworth,thattheKing’sentirefavorcanbegainedFirstofall,tofearGod’\"——And,infact,Ilaunchednowintoamoralpreachment,ordiscursiveDialogue,ofgreatlength;muchneedingtohavetheskirtsofittuckedup,inawayoffaithfulabridgment,forbehoofofpoorEnglishreaders。Asfollows:——
\"SCHULENBURG:IfyourHighnessbehavewell,theKingwillaccordwhatyouwant:butitisabsolutelynecessarytobeginbythat。——
PRINCE:IdonothingthatcandispleasetheKing。——
SCHULENBURG:Itwouldbealittlesoonyet!ButIspeakofthefuture。YourHighness,thegrandthingIrecommendistofearGod!
Everybodysays,youhavethesentimentsofanhonestman;
excellent,that,forabeginning;butwithoutthefearofGod,yourHighness,thepassionsstiflethefinestsentiments。
Mustleadalifeclearofreproach;andmoreparticularlyonthechapterofwomen!NeednotimagineyoucandotheleastthingwithouttheKing’sknowingit:ifyourHighnesstakethebadroad,hewillwishtocorrectit;theendwillbe,hewillbringyoubacktolivebesidehim;whichwillnotbeveryagreeable。——
PRINCE:Hmph,No!——SCHULENBURG:OftheruintohealthIdonotspeak;I——PRINCE:Pooh,oneisyoung,oneisnotmasterofthat;\"
——and,infact,onthisdelicatechapter,whichrunstosomelength,Princeanswersaswildishyoungfellowswill;quizzingmygraveself,withglancesevenathisMajesty,onallegedoldpeccadilloesofours。WhichallegationsorinferencesIrebuttedwithemphasis。\"But,Iconfess,thoughIemployedallmyrhetoric,hisminddidnotseemtoalter;anditwillbeamiracleifhechangeonthishead。\"Alas,General!Can’tbehelped,Ifear!
\"HesaidhewasnotafraidofanythingsomuchasoflivingconstantlybesidetheKing。——SCHULENBURG:Armyourselfwithpatience,Monseigneur,ifthathappen。Godhasgivenyousenseenough;perseveretouseitfaithfullyonalloccasions,youwillgainthegoodgracesoftheKing。——PRINCE:Impossible;beyondmypower,indeed,saidhe;andmadeathousandobjections。——
SCHULENBURG:YourHighnessislikeonethatwillnotlearnatradebecauseyoudonotalreadyknowit。Begin;youwillcertainlyneverknowitotherwise!Beforerisinginthemorning,formaplanforyourday,\"——infact,bemoral,oh,bemoral!
HisHighnessnowgotuponthemarriagestalkedofforhim;
animportantpointfortheyoungman。Hespoke,hopefullyrather,ofthemarriagewiththePrincessofMecklenburg,——NieceofthelateCzarPetertheGreat;DaughterofthatunhappyDukewhoisinquarrelwithhisRitters,andatroubletoallhisneighbors,andtousamongthenumber。ReadersrecollectthatyoungLady’sSereneMother,andameetingsheoncehadwithherUnclePeter,——atMagdeburg,adozenyearsago,inapublicdrawing—roomwithalcovenear;anecdotenotlightlytobeprintedinhumantypes,norrepeatedwherenotnecessary。TheMotherisnowdead;Fatherstilluptotheeyesinpuddleandtrouble:butasfortheyoungLadyherself,sheisNiecetothenowCzarinaAnne;bylawofprimogenitureHeiressofalltheRussias;somethingofamatchtruly!
\"Buttherewillbedifficulties;yourHighnesstochangeyourreligion,foronething?——PRINCE:Won’t,byanymeans:——
SCHULENBURG:AndgiveupthesuccessiontoPrussia?——
PRINCE:ArightfoolifIdid!——SCHULENBURG:Thenthismarriagecomestonothing。——Thereuponnexthesaid,IftheKaiserissostrongforus,lethimgivemehissecondDaughter;\"luckyFranzofLorraineistogetthefirst。——\"SCHULENBURG:Areyouserious?——
PRINCE:Whynot?withaDuchyortwoitwoulddoverywell。——
SCHULENBURG:NoDuchiespossibleunderthePragmaticSanction,yourHighness:besides,yourchangeofreligion?——PRINCE:Oh,astothat,never!——ThenthismarriagealsocomestonothingOftheEnglish,andtheirDouble—Marriage,andtheirHothambrabble,hespokelightly,asofanextinctmatter,——intermsyourExcellencywilllike。
\"But,saidI,sinceyouspeaksomuchofmarriages,Isupposeyouwishtobemarried?——PRINCE:No;butiftheKingabsolutelywillhaveit,Iwillmarrytoobeyhim。Afterthat,Iwillshovemywifeintothecorner(PLANTERAILAMAFEMME),andliveaftermyownfaucy。——SCHULENBURG:Horribletothinkof!For,inthefirstplace,yourHighness,isitnotwrittenintheLawofGod,AdulterersshallnotinherittheKingdomofHeaven?\"Andinthesecondplace;andinthethirdandfourthplace!——Toallwhichheansweredaswildyoungfellowsdo,especiallyifyouforcemarriageonthem。\"Icanperceive,ifhemarries,itwillonlybetohavemorelibertythannow。Itiscertain,ifhehadhiselbowsfree,hewouldstrikeout(S’ENDONNERAITAGAUCHE)。Hesaidtomeseveraltimes:’Iamyoung;Iwanttoprofitbymyyouth。’\"
Aquestionableyoungfellow,HerrGeneral;especiallyifyouforcemarriageonhim。
\"Thisconversationdone,\"continuestheGeneral,\"hesettotalkingwiththeMadamWreech,\"andhercomplexionoflilyandrose;\"buthedidnotstaylong;droveoffaboutfive[dinneratthestrokeoftwelveinthosecountries],invitingmetoseehimagainatCustrin,whichIpromised。\"
AndsothePrinceisoffintheAutumnsunset,drivingdownthepeatyhollowoftheWarta,throughunpicturesquecountry,whichproducesWreechsandincomparableflowersnevertheless。Yes;andifhelookasixmilestotheright,thereisthesmokeoftheeveningkettlesfromZorndorf,risingintothesky;andacrosstheRiver,atwentymilestotheleft,isKunersdorf:poorsleepysandyhamlets;wherenettlesoftheDevilaretobepluckedoneday!——
\"ThebeautifulWreechdroveofftoTamsel,\"herfinehouse;Itothiswretchedtavern;where,acoupleofhoursafterthatconversation,Ibeganwritingitalldown,andhavenothingelsetodoforthenight。YourExcellency’smostmoral,stiff—necked,pipe—clayedandextremelyobedient,\"VONSCHULENBUBG。\"
[Forster,iii。65—71。]
ThisyoungmanmaybeorthodoxonPredestination,andoutwardlygrowingallthataPapacouldwish;butherearestrangeheterodoxies,hereisplentyofmutinouscapriciousfireintheinteriorofhim,HerrGeneral!Infact,ayoungmanunfortunatelysituated;alreadybecomesolitaryinCreation;hasnot,excepthimself,afriendintheworldavailablejustnow。
TempestuousPapastormsoneway,tempestuousMammaNatureanother;andbetweentheoutsidsandtheinsidethereareinconsistenciesenough。
ConcerningthefairWreechofTamsel,withhercomplexionoflilyandrose,thereensuedbyandbymuchwhispering,andrumoringunderbreath;whichhassurvivedintheapocryphalAnecdote—Books,notintoodistinctaform。Here,fromfirsthand,arethreewords,whichwemaytaketobetheessenceofthewhole。
Grumkowreporting,inasordid,occasionallysmutty,spymanner,tohisSeckendorf,fromBerlin,eightortenmonthshence,hasthiscasualexpression:\"He[KingFriedrichWilhelm]toldmeinconfidencethatWreech,theColonel’sWife,is——toP。R。
(Prince—Royal);andthatWreechvowedhewouldnotownitforhis。
AndhisMajestyinsecretisratherpleased,\"addsthesmuttyspy。
[GrumkowtoSeckendorf,Berlin,20thAugust,1732(Forster,iii。
112)。]ElsewhereIhavereadthatthepoorobject,whichactuallycameasanticipated(maleorfemale,Iforget),didnotlivelong;——norhadFriedrich,byanyopportunity,anotherchildinthisworld。DomesticTamselhadtoallayitselfasitbestcould;
andthefairWreechbecamemuchastrangertoFriedrich,——
surprisinglysotoFriedrichtheKING,asperhapswemaysee。——
Predestination,GNADENWAHL,HerrGeneral:whatisorthodoxyonPredestination,withtheseaccompaniments![ForWreech,seeBenekendorf,v。94;forSchulenburg,ib。26;——andMilitair—Lexikon,iii。432,433,andiv。268,269。Vacantonthegossipingpoints;cautiouslyofficial,boththese。]WegonowtotheSecondLetterandtheThird,——fromLandsbergaboutafortnightlater:——
No。2。TOHISEXCELLENCY(shovelfuloftitles)VONGRUMKOW,INBERLIN。
\"LANDSBERG,19thOctober,1731。
\"Thedaybeforeyesterday[thatis,Wednesday,17thOctober]I
receivedanOrder,TohaveonlyfiftyHorseatthatpost,and\"——
OrderwhichshowsusthattherehasfallenoutsomerecruitingsquabbleonthePolishFrontierhereabouts;thatthePolackgentlemenhaveseizedcertainCorporalsofours,butareaboutrestoringthem;Orderandaffairwhichweshallomit。\"Corporalswillbegotback:butasthesePolackgentlemen:willsee,bythecoursetaken,thatwehavenogreatstomachforBITING,Ifancytheywillgrowmoreinsolent;then,’warewhotriestorecruitthereforthefuture!
\"OnthesamedayIwasapprised,fromCustrin,ThatthePrince—RoyalhadresolvedonanexcursiontoCarzig,andthencetotheBailliageofHimmelstadt[diggingandstubbingnowonfootatHimmelstadttoo],whichisbutacoupleofmiles[\"DEMI—MILLE\"
German。]fromthis;thattherewouldbealittlehuntbetweenthetwoBailliages;andthatifIchosetocome,Imight,andthePrincewoulddinewithme。\"——WhichIdid;andso,hereagain,Thursday,18thOctober,1731,inthoseremoteWarta—OderCountries,isaglimpseofhisRoyalHighnessatfirsthand。
Schulenburgcontinues;noteventakinganewparagraph,whichindeedheneverdoes:——
\"TheyhadshutupacoupleofSPIESSER(youngroes),andsomestags,intheoldwreckofaSAUGARTEN[Boar—park,betweenCarzigandHimmelstadt;FASTRUINIRTENSAUGARTEN,hecallsit,daintilythrowinginatouchofGermanhere]:thePrinceshotoneortwoofthem,andhiscompanionsthelike;butitdoesnotseemasifthisamusementweremuchtohistaste。HewentontoHimmelstadt;
andatnoonhearrivedhere,\"inmypoorDomicileatLandsberg。
\"Atoneo’clockwewenttotable,andsattillfour。Hespokeonlyofveryindifferentthings;exceptsayingtome:’Doyouknow,theKinghaspromised400,000crowns(60,000pounds)towardsdisengagingthoseBailliagesoftheMargrafofBaireuth’s,’\"——
oldMargraf,Bailliagespawnedtoraisereadycash;readersrememberwhatinterminableLaw—pleadingtherewas,tillFriedrichWilhelmputitintoaliquidstate,\"Paymebackthemoneys,then!\"[Supra,pp。161—163。]——\"’400,000thalerstotheoldMargraf,incasehisPrince(Wilhelmina’snowBridegroom)haveasonbymySister。’Ianswered,Ihadheardnothingofit。——’But,’
saidhe,’thatisagreatdealofmoney!Andsomehundredthousandsmorehavegonethelikeroad,toAnspach,whoneverwillbeabletorepay。ForallismuchindisorderatAnspach。GivetheMargrafhisHeron—hunt(CHASSEAUHERON),hecaresfornothing;
andhispeoplepluckhimatnoallowance。’Isaid:ThatifthesePrinceswouldregulatetheirexpenditure,theymight,littlebylittle,payofftheirdebts;thatIhadbeentoldatViennatheBaireuthBailliagesweremortgagedonverylowterms,thosewhonowheldthemmakingeightortenpercentoftheirmoney;\"——thattheMargrafoughttomakeaneffort;andsoon。\"IsawverywellthattheseLoanstheKingmakesarenottohismind。
\"Directlyonrisingfromtable,hewentaway;excusinghimselftome,Thathecouldnotpassthenighthere;thattheKingwouldnotlikehissleepingintheTown;besidesthathehadstillseveralthingstocompleteinaReporthewassendingofftohisMajesty。
HewenttoNassin,andsleptthere。Formyownshare,Ididnotpresshimtoremain;whatIdidwasratherinthewayofform。
TherewerewithhimPresidentMunchow,\"civilgentlemanwhomweknow,\"anEngineerCaptainReger,andthethreeGentlemenofhisCourt,\"Wolden,Rohwedel,Katzmerwhooncetwirledhisfingerinacertainmouth,theinsipidfellow。
MAPGOESHERE————————————————
\"Heisnogreateater;butIobservedhelikesthesmalldishes(PETITSPLATS)andthehightastes:hedoesnotcareforfish;
thoughIhadveryfinetrouts,henevertouchedthem。Hedoesnottakebrownsoup(SOUPEAUBOUILLON)。Itdidnotseemtomehecaredforwine:hetastesatallthewines;butcommonlystandsbyburgundywithwater。
\"IintroducedtohimalltheOfficersofmyRegimentwhoarehere;
hereceivedtheminthestyleofaking[ENROI,plentyofquietprideinhim,HerrGeneral]。Itiscertainhefeelswhatheisbornto;andifeverhegettoit,willstandonthetopofit。
Astome,Imeantokeepmyselfretired;andshallseeofhimaslittleasIcan。Iperceivewellhedoesnotlikeadvice,\"
especiallywhenadministeredinthewayofpreachment,bystiffoldmilitarygentlemenoftheall—wisestamp;——\"anddoesnottakepleasureexceptwithpeopleinferiortohiminmind。Hisfirstaimistofindouttheridiculoussideofeveryone,andhelovestobanterandquiz。ItisafaultinaPrince:heoughttoknowpeople’sfaults,andnottomakethemknowntoanybodywhatever,\"
——which,weperceive,isnotquitethemethodwithprivategentlemenoftheall—wisetype!——
\"IspeaktoyourExcellencyasafriend;andassureyouheisaPrincewhohastalent,butwhowillbetheslaveofhispassions(SEFERADOMINERPARSESPASSIONS,\"——notafelicitousprophecy,HerrGeneral);\"andwilllikenobodybutsuchasencouragehimtherein。Forme,IthinkallPrincesarecastinthesamemould;
thereisonlyamoreandaless。
\"Atparting,heembracedmetwice;andsaid,’IamsorryIcannotstaylonger;butanothertimeIwillprofitbetter。’Wolden[oneoftheThree]toldmehecouldnotdescribehowwell—intentionedforyourExcellencythePrince—Royalis[cunningdog!],whosaysoftentoWolden[doubtlessguessingitwillbere—said],’IfI
cannotshowhimmygratitude,Iwillhisposterity:’\"——profoundlyobligedtotheGrumkowkindredfirstandlast!——\"IremainyourExcellency’s\"mostpipe—clayed\"VONSCHULENBURG。\"
[Forster,iii。71—73。]
Andso,aftersurveyofthespademenatCarzigandHimmelstadt(whereColonelWreech,bytheway,isAMTS—HAUPTMANN,officialHead—Man),aftershootingaSPIESSERortwo,anddiningandtalkinginthissort,hisRoyalHighnessgoestosleepatMassin;
andendsonedayofhisthenlife。WeproceedtoLetterNo。3。
AdayortwoafterNo。2,itwouldappear,hisMajesty,whoiscommonlyatWusterhausenhuntinginthisseason,hasbeenrapidlyouttoCrossen,intheseLandsbergregions(tosouth,withinaday’sdriveofLandsberg),rapidlylookingaftersomething;
GrumkowandanotherOfficialattendinghim;——otherOfficial,\"Truchsess,\"isTruchsessvonWaldburg,aworthysoldierandgentlemanofthoseparts,whomweshallagainhearof。