\"Thissameday,24th,whileI[theNewspapervolunteerReporterorOwnCorrespondent,seeminglyapersonofsomestanding,whosewordscarrycredibilityinthetoneofthem]waswithField—
MarshalBroglioourGovernorhere,therecametwogentlementobepresentedtohim;’GermanCavaliers’theywerecalled;who,Inowfind,musthavebeenthePrinceofPrussiaandAlgarotti。
TheField—Marshal,\"——aratherhigh—stalkingwhite—headedoldmilitarygentleman,borderingonseventy,ofPiedmonteseairandbreed,apttobesuddenandmakeflounderings,butthesoulofhonor,\"wasverypolitetothetwoCavaliers,andkeptthemtodinner。Afterdinnertherecameaso—styled’SilesianNobleman,’
wholikewisewaspresentedtotheField—Marshal,andaffectednottoknowtheothertwo:himInowfindtohavebeenthePrinceofAnhalt。\"
OfhisMajesty’ssupperwiththeOfficersthatWednesday,wearelefttothinkhowbrilliantitwas:hisMajesty,wehearfarther,wenttotheOperathatnight,——thePolichinelloorwhateverthe\"ItalianCOMODIE\"was;——\"andalittlegirlcametohisboxwithtwolottery—ticketsfifteenpenceeach,beggingtheforeignGentlemanfortheloveofHeaventobuythemofher;whichhedid,tearingthemupatonce,andgivingthepoorcreaturefourducats,\"equivalenttotwoguineas,orsayineffectevenfivepoundsofthepresentBritishcurrency。ThefameofthisforeignCountandhispartyatTheRavenisbecomingveryloudoverStrasburg,especiallyinmilitarycircles。OurvolunteerOwnCorrespondentproceeds(whomwemeantocontrastwiththeRoyalDoggerelbyandby):——
\"Nextmorning,\"Thursday,25thAugust,\"astheMarshalwithabovetwohundredOfficerswasoutwalkingontheEsplanade,therecameasoldieroftheRegimentLuxemburg,who,aftersomestifffuglingmotions,ofthenatureofsalutationpartly,andpartlydemandforprivacy,intimatedtotheMarshalsurprisingnews:ThattheStrangerinTheRavenwastheKingofPrussiainperson;he,thesoldier,atpresentoftheRegimentLuxemburg,hadinotherdays,beforehedeserted,beenofthePrussianCrown—Prince’sregiment;
hadconsequentlyseenhiminBerlin,Potsdamandelsewhereathousandtimesandmore,andevenstoodsentrywherehewas:
thefactisbeyonddispute,yourExcellency!saidthissoldier。\"——Whew!
WhereuponacertainColonel,MarquisdeLoigle,withorwithoutahintfromBroglio,makesoffforTheRaven;introduceshimself,aswaseasy;contrivestogetinvitedtostaydinner,whichalsowaseasy。DuringdinnertheforeignGentlemanexpressedsomewishtoseetheirfortress。ColonelLoiglesendswordtoBroglio;
BrogliodespatchesstraightwayanOfficerandfinecarriage:
\"WilltheforeignGentlemandomethehonor?\"TheforeignGentleman,stillstrugglingforincognito,declinestheuppermostseatofhonorinthecarriage;thetwoOfficers,Loigleandthisnewone,insistontakingtheinferiorplace。Alas,theincognitoisprettymuchout。Callingatsomecoffee—houseorthelikeontheroad,acertainfemale,\"MadamedeFienne,\"namedtheforeignGentleman\"Sire,\"——whichsostartledhimthat,thoughheutterlydeclinedsuchtitle,thetwoOfficerssawwellhowitwas。
\"Aftersurveyoftheworks,thetwoattendantOfficershadreturnedtotheField—Marshal;andabout4P。M。thehighStrangermadeappearancethere。Butthethinghadnowgotwind,’KingofPrussiahereincognito!’TheplacewasfullofOfficers,whocamecrowdingabouthim:heescapeddeftlyintotheMarechal’sownCabinet;satthere,anhour,talkingtotheMarechal[littleadmiringtheMarechal’stalk,asweshallfind],stillinsistingontheincognito,\"——towhichBroglio,putoutinhishighpacesbythissuddenthing,andapttoflounder,asIhaveheard,wasnotpoliteenoughtoconformaltogether。\"WhatshallIdo,inthissuddencase?\"poorBroglioisthinkingtohimself:\"mustwritetoCourt;perhapstrytodetain——?\"Friedrioh’schiefthoughtnaturallyis,Onecannotbeawayoutofthistoosoon。\"Sha’n’twegotothePlay,then,MonsieurleMarechal?Play—houriscome!\"——
OwnCorrespondentoftheNewspaperproceeds:——
\"TheMarechalthenwenttothePlay,andallhisOfficerswithhim;thinkingtheirroyalprizewascloseattheirheels。
MarechalandOfficersfairlyahead,coastonceclear,theirroyalprizehastenedbacktoTheRaven,paidhisbill;hastilysummoningSchaffgotschandtheotherswithinhearing;shotofflikelightning;andwasseeninStrasburgnomore。Algarotti,whowasintheboxwithBroglio,heardthenewsinthehouse;regretfulrumoramongtheOfficers,’Heisgone!’InaboutaquarterofanhourAlgarottitooslippedout;andvanishedbyextrapost\"——
straighttowardsWesel;butcouldnotovertaketheKing(whoseroad,inthelatterpartofit,wentzigzag,onbusinessasislikely),norseehimagaintilltheymetinthatTown。
[FromHelden—Geschichte(i。420—424),&c。]
ThisistheProseTruthofthosefiftyoreight—and—fortyhoursinStrasburg,whichweresomythicandromanticatthattime。
ShallwenowapplytotheRoyalDoggerelagain,whereweleftoff,andseetheothersideofthepicture?OncesettledinTheRaven,withinStrasburg’swalls,theDoggerelcontinues:——
\"Youfancywellthattherewasnowsomethingtoexercisemycuriosity;andwhatdesireIhadtoknowtheFrenchNationinFranceitself。
ThereIsawatlengththoseFrench,Ofwhomyouhavesungtheglories;
ApeopledespisedbytheEnglish,Whomtheirsadrationalityfillswithblackbile;
ThoseFrench,whomourGermansReckonalltobedestituteofsense;
ThoseFrench,whoseHistoryconsistsofLove—stories,ImeanthewanderingkindofLove,nottheconstant;
FoolishthisPeople,headlong,high—going,Whichsingsbeyondendurance;
Loftyinitsgoodfortune,crawlinginitsbad;
Ofanunpityingextentofbabble,Tohidethevacancyofitsignorantmind。
OftheTriflingitisatenderlover;
TheTriflingalonetakespossessionofitsbrain。
Peopleflighty,indiscreet,imprudent,Turningliketheweathercocktoeverywind。
OftheagesoftheCaesarsthoseoftheLouisesaretheshadow;
Parisistheghost,ofRome,takeithowyouwill。
No,ofthosevileFrenchyouarenotone:
Youthink;theydonotthinkatall。
LajevisenfincesFrancaisDontvousavezchantelagloire;
Peuplemeprise’desAnglais,Queleurtristeraisonremplitdebilenoire;
CesFrancais,quenosAllemandsPensenttousprivesdebonsens;
CesFrancais,dontl’amourpourraitdicterl’histoire,Jedisl’amourvolage,etnonl’amourconstant;
Cepeuplefou,brusqueetgalant,Chansonnierinsupportable,Superbeensafortune,ensonmalheurrampant,D’unbavardageimpitoyable,Pourcacherlecreuxd’unespritignorant,Tendreamantdelabagatelle,Elleentreseuleensacervelle;
Leger,indiscret,imprudent,Commeumegirouetteilrevireatoutvent。
DessieclesdesCesarsceuxdesLouissontl’ombre;
RomeeffaceParisentoutsens,entoutpoint。
Non,desvilsFrancaisvousn’etespasdunombre;
Vouspensez,ilsnepensentpoint。
\"Pardon,dearVoltaire,thisdefinitionoftheFrench;atworst,itisonlyofthoseinStrasburgIspeak。Toscrapeacquaintance,IhadtoinvitesomeOfficersonourarrival,whomofcourseIdidnotknow。
Threeofthemcameatonce,Gayer,morecontentthanKings;
Singingwithrustyvoice。
Inverse,theiramorousexploits,Settoahornpipe。
Troisd’euxs’envinrentalafois,Plusgais,pluscontentsquedesrois,Chantantd’unevoixenrouee,Envers,leursamoureuxexploits,Ajustessurunebourree。
\"M。delaCrochardiereandM。Malosa[twonamesfromthetablets,thirdwanting]hadjustcomefromadinnerwherethewinehadnotbeenspared。
OftheirhotfriendshipIsawtheflamegrow,TheUniversewouldhavetakenusforperfectfriends:
Buttheinstantofgood—nightblewoutthebusiness;
Friendshipdisappearedwithoutregrets,Withthegames,thewine,thetableandtheviands。
Deleurchaudeamitiejeviscroitreleflamme,L’universnouseutprispourdesamisparfaits;
Maisl’instantdesadieuxendetruisitlatrame,L’amitiedisparut,ssnscauserdesregrets,Aveclejeu,levin,etlatable,etlesmets。
\"Nextday,MonsieurtheGouverneuroftheTownandProvince,MarechalofFrance,ChevalieroftheOrdersoftheKing,&c。&c。,——MarechalDucdeBroglio,infact,\"whowassurprisedatSecchiainthelateWar,——
ThisGeneralalwayssurprised。
Whomwithregret,youngLouis[yourKing]
SawwithoutbreechesinItaly[\"Withonlyoneboot,\"wasthemilderrumor;whichweadopted(supra,vol。vi。p。472),butthissadderone,too,wascurrent;
and\"Broglio’sbreeches,\"orthevainaspirationafterthem,likeavanishedghostofbreeches,oftenenoughturnupintheoldPamphlets。]
GallopingtohideawayhislifeFromtheGermans,unpolitefighters;——
Cegeneraltoujourssurpris,Qu’aregretlejeuneLouisVitsansculottesenItalie,CourirpourderobersavieAuxGermains,guerriersimpolis。
thisGeneralwishedtoinvestigateyourComteDufour,——foreignCount,whotheinstanthearrivessetsaboutinvitingpeopletosupperthatareperfectstrangers。HetookthepoorCountforasharper;andprudentlyadvisedM。delaCrochardierenottobedupedbyhim。ItwasunluckilythegoodMarechalthatprovedtobeduped。
Hewasbornforsurprise。
Hiswhitehair,hisgraybeard,Formedareverendexterior。
Outsidesareoftendeceptive:
Hethat,bythebinding,judgesOfaBookanditsAuthorMay,afterapageofreading,Chancetorecognizehismistake。
Iletaitnepourlasurprise。
Sescheveuxblancs,sabarbegrise,Formaientunsageexterieur。
Ledehorsestsouventtrompeur;
QuijugeparlareliureD’unouvrageetdesonauteurDansunepagedelecturePeutreconnaitresonerreur。
\"Thatwasmyownexperience;forofwisdomIcouldfindnothingexceptinhisgrayhairanddecrepitappearance。Hisfirstopeningbetrayedhim;nogreatwellofwitthisMarechal,Who,drunkwithhisowngrandeur,Informsyouofhisnameandhistitles,Andauthorityasgoodasunlimited。
HecitedtomealltherecordsWherehisnameisregistered,Babbledabouthisimmensepower,Abouthisvalor,histalentsSosalutarytoFrance;——
Heforgotthat,threeyearsago[Sixtoanearness,——\"15thSeptember,1734,\"ifyourMajestywillbeexact。]
Mendidnotpraisehisprudence。
Qui,desagrandeurenivre;
Declinesonnometsestitres,Etsonpouvoirarienborne。
IlmecitatouslesregistresOusonnomestenregistre;
Bavarddesonpouvoirimmense,Desavaleur,decestalentsSisalutairesalaFrance:
Iloubliait,passetroisans,Qu’onnelouaitpassaprudence。
\"NotsatisfiedwithseeingtheMarechal,IsawtheguardmountedBytheseFrenchmen,burningwithglory,Who,onfoursousaday,WillmakeofKingsandofHeroesthememoryflourish:
SlavescrownedbythehandsofVictory,UnluckyherdswhomtheCourtTinkleshitherandthitherbythesoundoffifeanddrum。
AcesFrancaisbrulantsdegloire,Dotesdequatresousparjour,Quidesrois,desherosfontfleurirlamemoire,Esclavescouronnesdesmainsdelavictoire,TroupeauxmalheureuxquelacourDirigeauseulbruitdutambour。
\"Thatwasmyfatedterm。Adeserterfromourtroopsgoteyeonme,recognisedmeanddenouncedme。
Thiswretchedgallows—birdgoteyeonme;
Suchisthelotofallearthlythings;
AndsoofourfinemysteryThewholesecretcametolight。\"
Cemalheureuxpendardmevit,C’estlesortdetoutesleschoses;
AinsidemotrepotauxrosesToutlesecretsedecouvrit。
Well;wemusttakethisglimpse,suchasitis,intotheinterioroftheyoungman,——finebuoyant,pungentGermanspirit,roadwaysforitverybad,anduniversalrain—torrentsfalling,yetwithcoruscationsfromahigherquarter;——andyoucanforget,ifneedbe,the\"Literature\"ofthisyoungMajesty,asyouwouldastaccatoontheflutebyhim!Inaftermonths,onnewoccasionrising,\"therewasnoendtohisgibingsandbitterpleasantriesontheridiculousreceptionBrogliohadgivenhimatStrasburg,\"
saysValori,[Memoires,i。88。]——ofwhichthisDoggerelitselfoffersspecimen。
\"ProbablytheweakestPieceIevertranslated?\"exclaimsone,whohastranslatedseveralsuch。Neverthelessthereisastraggleofpungentsenseinit,——liketheoutskirtsoflightning,seeninthatdismallywetweather,whichtheRoyalPartyhad。Itswitisverycopious,butslashy,bantery,andproceedsmainlybyexaggerationandturningtopsy—turvy;aratherbarrenspeciesofwit。Ofhumor,inthefinepoeticsense,novestige。Butthereissurprisingveracity,——truthfulnessunimpeachable,ifyouwillreadwell。Whatpromptitude,too;——whatfundsforconversation,whenneeded!ThisscraggyPiece,whichisbetterthanthethingspeopleoftentalktooneanother,wasevidentlywrittenasfastasthepencouldgo。——\"Itisdone,ifsuchaHandcouldhaveDONEit,inthemannerofBachaumontandLaChapelle,\"saysVoltairescornfully,inthatscandalousVIEPRIVEE;——ofwhichphrasethisisthecommentary,ifreadersneedone:——
\"Someseventyoreightyyearsbeforethatdate,aM。BachaumontandaM。laChapelle,hisintimate,published,inProseskippingoffintodancingsofVerseeverynowandthen,’acharmingRELATIONofacertainVOYAGEorHomeTour’(whenceorwhither,orcorrectlywhen,thisEditorforgets),[\"Firstprintedin1665,\"
saytheBibliographies;\"butknowntoLaFontainesometimebefore。\"Good!——Bachaumont,practicallyanimportantanddistinguishedperson,notliterarybytrade,orindeedotherwisethanbyennui,washethathadgiven(somefifteenyearsbefore)
theNicknameFRONDE(BickeringofSchoolboys)tothewretchedHistoricalObjectwhichisstillsodesignatedinFrenchannals。]
whichtheyhadmadeinpartnership。’RELATION’capablestillofbeingread,ifoneweretolerablyidle;——itwasfoundthentobecharming,byalltheworld;andgaverisetoanewfashioninwriting;whichVoltaireoftenadopts,andissupremelygoodat;
andinwhichFriedrich,whoisalsofondofit,bynomeanssucceedssowell。\"
Enough,FriedrichgottoWesel,backtohisbusiness,inadayortwo;andhaddone,asweforeverhave,withtheStrasburgEscapadeanditsDoggerel。
FRIEDRICHFINDSM。DEMAUPERTUIS;NOTYETM。DEVOLTAIRE。
FriedrichgottoWeselonthe29th;foundMaupertuiswaitingthere,accordingtoappointment:anelaboratelypolite,somewhatsublimescientificgentleman;readyto\"engraftontheBerlincrab—tree,\"andproducerealapplesandAcademicsthere,sosoonastheKing,theproprietor,mayhaveleisureforsuchathing。
AlgarottihasalreadythehonorofsomeacquaintancewithMaupertuis。MaupertuishasbeenatBrussels,ontheroadhither;
sawVoltaireandevenMadame,——whichlatterwasratheraticklishoperation,owingtogrudgesandtiffsofquarrelthathadrisen,butitprovedsuccessfulunderthedelicateguidanceofVoltaire。
Voltaireisuptooilingthewheels:\"Thereyouare,Monsieur,likethe[don’tnameWhat,thoughprofaneVoltairedoes,writingtoMaupertuisamonthago]——ThreeKingsrunningafteryou!\"AnewPensiontoyoufromFrance;RussiaoutbiddingFrancetohaveyou;
andthenthatLETTERofFriedrich’s,whichisinalltheNewspapers:\"ThreeKings,\"——youplainlygreatman,TrismegistusoftheSciencescalledPure!Madamehonorsyou,hasalwaysdone:
onewordofapologytothehighfemalemind,itwillworkwonders;
——comenow![Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。217,216,230(Hague,21stJuly,1740,andBrussels,9thAug。&c)。]
NoreaderguessesinourtimewhatashiningcelestialbodytheMaupertuis,whoisnowfallensodimagain,thenwastomankind。
IncultivatedFrenchsocietythereisnosuchlionasM。MaupertuissincehereturnedfromflatteningtheEarthintheArcticregions。\"TheExactSciences,whatelseistheretodependon?\"thinksFrenchcultivatedsociety:\"andhasnotMonsieurdoneafeatinthatline?\"Monsieur,withfineex—militarymanners,hasacertainausteregravity,reticentloftinessandpolitedogmatism,whichconfirmsthatopinion。Astudiousex—militaryman,——wasCaptainofDragoonsonce,buttoofondofstudy,——whoisconscioustohimself,orwhowouldfainbeconscious,thatheis,inallpoints,mathematical,moralandother,theman。Adifficultmantolivewithinsociety。Comesreallynearthelimitofwhatwecallgenius,oforiginality,poeticgreatnessinthinking;——butneveroncecangetfairlyoversaidlimit,thoughalwaysstrugglingdreadfullytodoso。Thinkofit!Afatalkindofman;
especiallyifyouhavemadealionofhimatanytime。Ofhisenvies,deep—hiddenspleneticdiscontentsandrages,withVoltaire’sreturnforthem,therewillbeenoughtosayintheulteriorstages。Hewears——atleasttenyearshenceheopenlywears,thoughIhopeitisnotyetsoflagrant——\"aredwigwithyellowbottom(CRINIEREJAUNE);\"andasFlatteneroftheEarth,is,withhisownflattishredcountenanceandimpregnablestonyeyes,amanformidabletolookupon,thoughintenttobeamiableifyoudotheproperhomage。AstothequarrelwithMadametakethisNote;whichmayproveillustrativeofsomethingsbyandby:——
MaupertuisiswellknownatCirey;suchalioncouldnotfailthere。AllmannerofBernouillis,Clairauts,highmathematicalpeople,arefrequentguestsatCirey:reverencedbyMadame,——whoindeedhashadherownprivateProfessorofMathematics;oneKonigfromSwitzerland(recommendedbythoseBernouillis),diligentlyteachingherthePureSciencesthisgoodwhileback,notwithouteffect;andhasonlyjustpartedwithhim,whensheleftonthisBrusselsexpedition。ABONGARCON,Voltairesays;thoughotherwise,Ithink,alittlenoisyonoccasion。TherehasbeennoendofMadame’skindnesstohim,naytohisBrotherandhim,——sonsofaTheologicalProfessorialSyriac—HebrewkindofmanatBerne,whohastoomanysons;——andIgrievetoreportthatthisheedlessKonighasproducedanexplosioninMadame’sfeelings,suchaslittlebeseemedhim。OntheroadtoParis,namely,aswedrovehitherwardtotheHonsbruckLawsuitbywayofParis,inAutumnlast,therehadfallenoutsomedispute,aboutthemonads,theVIS
VIVA,theinfinitelylittle,betweenMadameandKonig;disputewhichroseCRESCENDOindisharmoniousduet,and\"ended,\"testifiesM。deVoltaire,\"inasceneTRESDESAGREABLE。\"Madame,withaneffort,forgavethethoughtlessfellow,whoisstillratheryoung,andiswithoutmalice。ButthoughtlessKonig,stronginhisopinionabouttheinfinitelylittle,appealedtoMaupertuis:
\"AmnotIright,Monsieur?\"\"HEisrightbeyondquestion!\"wroteMaupertuistoMadame;\"somewhatdryly,\"thinksVoltaire:andtheresultis,thereisconsiderablerageinonecelestialmindeversinceagainstanothermaleoneinredwigandyellowbottom;
andtheyarenotonspeakingterms,foragoodmanymonthspast。
Voltairehashisheartsore(\"J’ENAILECOEURPERCE\")aboutit,needstodouble—doseMaupertuiswithflattery;andinfacthasusedtheutmostdiplomacytoeffectsomevarnishofareconcilementasMaupertuispassedonthisoccasion。AsforKonig,whohadstudiedinsomeDutchuniversity,hewentbyandbytobeLibrariantothePrinceofOrange;andweshallnotfailtohearofhimagain,——oncemoreupontheinfinitelylittle。
[FromOEuvresdeVoltaire,ii。126,lxxii。
(20,216,230),lxiii。(229—239),&c。&c。]
Voltairetoo,inhisway,isfondofthesemathematicalpeople;
eagerenoughtofishforknowledge,hereasinallelements,whenhehasthechanceoffered:thisismuchaninterestofhisatpresent。Andhedoesattainsoundideas,outlinesofideas,inthisprovince,——thoughprivatelydefectiveintheduetranscendencyofadmirationforit;——waswonttodiscusscheerilywithKonig,aboutVISVIVA,monads,gravitationandtheinfinitelylittle;aboveall,bowstothegroundbeforethered—wiggedBashaw,FlatteneroftheEarth,whomforMadame’ssakeandhisownheisanxioustobewellwith。\"Fallonyourfaceninetimes,yeesotericofonlyImpureScience!\"——intimatesMaupertuistomankind。\"Byallmeans!\"answersM。deVoltaire,doingitwithalacrity;withakindofloyalty,onecanperceive,andalsowithahypocrisygroundedonloveofpeace。IfthatisthenatureoftheBashaw,andone’ssolemodeoffishingknowledgefromhim,whynot?thinksM。deVoltaire。HispatiencewithM。deMaupertuis,firstandlast,wasverygreat。Butweshallfinditexplodeatlength,adozenyearshence,inaconspicuousmanner!——
\"MaupertuishadcometoustoCirey,withJeanBernouilli,\"saysVoltaire;\"andthenceforthMaupertuis,whowasbornthemostjealousofmen,tookmefortheobjectofthispassion,whichhasalwaysbeenverydeartohim。\"[VIEPRIVEE。]Husht,Monsieur!——
HereisapoorrheumatickindofLetter,whichillustratestheinterimcondition,afterthatvarnishofreconcilementatBrussels:——
VOLTAIRETOM。DEMAUPERTUIS(atWesel,waitingfortheKing,orwithhimrather)。
\"BRUSSELS,29thAugust(1740),3dyearsincetheworldflattened。
\"HowtheDevil,greatPhilosopher,wouldyouhavehadmewritetoyouatWesel?IfanciedyougonefromWesel,toseektheKingofSagesonhisJourneysomewhere。Ihadunderstood,too,theyweresodelightedtohaveyouinthatfortifiedlodge(BOUGEFORTIFIE)
thatyoumustbetakingpleasurethere,forhethatgivespleasuregetsit。
\"YouhavealreadyseenthejollyAmbassadoroftheamiablestMonarchintheworld,\"——Camas,afattishman,onhisroadtoVersailles(whocalledatBrusselshere,withfinecompliments,andakegofHungaryWine,asYOUmayhaveheardwhispered)。
\"NodoubtM。deCamasiswithyou。Formyownshare,Ithinkitisafteryouthatheisrunningatpresent。Butintruth,atthehourwhileIsaythis,youarewiththeKing;\"——aluckyguess;KingdidreturntoWeselthisveryday。\"ThePhilosopherandthePrinceperceivealreadythattheyaremadeforeachother。YouandM。Algarottiwillsay,FACIAMUSHICTRIATABERNACULA:astome,IcanonlymakeDUOTABERNACULA,\"——profaneVoltaire!
\"WithoutdoubtIwouldbewithyouifIwerenotatBrussels;
butmyheartiswithyouallthesame;andisthesubject,allthesame,ofaKingwhois,formedtoreignovereverythinkingandfeelingbeing。IdonotdespairthatMadameduChateletwillfindherselfsomewhereonyourroute:itwillbeasceneinafairytale;——shewillarrivewithaSUFFICIENTREASON[asyourLeibnitzsays]andwithMONADS。ShedoesnotloveyouthelessthoughshenowbelievestheuniverseaPLENUM,andhasrenouncedthenotionofVOID。Overheryouhaveanascendantwhichyouwillneverlose。
Infine,mydearMonsieur,Iwishasardentlyasshetoembraceyouthesoonestpossible。IrecommendmyselftoyourfriendshipintheCourt,worthyofyou,whereyounoware。\"——TOUTAVOUS,somewhatrheumatic![Voltaire,lxxii。p。243。]
Alwaysananxiousalmosttremulousdesiretoconciliatethisbigglaringgeometricalbullyinredwig。ThroughthesensitivetransparentbeingofM。deVoltaire,youmayseethatfeelingalmostpainfullybusyineveryLetterhewritestotheFlatteneroftheEarth。
ChapterIV。
VOLTAIRE’SFIRSTINTERVIEWWITHFRIEDRICH。
AtWesel,intherearofallthistravellingandexcitement,Friedrichfallsunwell;breaksdownthereintoanaguishfeverishdistemper,which,forseveralmonthsafter,impededhismovements,wouldhehaveyieldedtoit。Hehasmuchbusinessonhand,too,——
someofitofpricklynaturejustnow;——butisintentaseveronseeingVoltaire,amongthefirstthings。DiligentlyreadingintheVoltaire—FriedrichCorrespondence(whichisasadjumbleofmisdatesandopacities,inthecommoneditions),[Preuss(therecentlatestEditor,andtheonlywell—informedone,aswesaid)
printswithaccuracy;butcannotbereadatall(inthesenseofUNDERSTOOD)withoutotherlight。]thisoftheaguishconditionfrequentlyturnsup;\"Quartanague,\"itseems;occasionallyverybad;butFriedrichstruggleswithit;willnotbecheatedofanyofhispurposesbyit。
Hehadabusyfortnighthere;busierthanweyetimagine。
MuchemploymenttherenaturallyisoftheusualInspectionsort;
whichfailsinnoquarterofhisDominions,butwhichmaybeparticularlyimportanthere,inthesedisputedBerg—JulichCountries,whenthetimeofdecisionfalls。HowhedoeshisInspectionsweknow;——andtherearestillweightiermattersafoothere,inasilentway,ofwhichweshallhavetospeakbeforelong,andalltheworldwillspeak。Businessenough,partsofitgraveandsilent,goingon,andthemuchthatispublic,miscellaneous,small:done,allofit,inarapid—punctualprecisemanner;——andalways,afterthecrowdedday,somepassagesofSupperwiththeSages,towindupwithonmelodiousterms。AmostalertandmiscellaneouslybusyyoungKing,inspiteoftheague。
ItwasintheseCleveCountries,andnowasprobablyasafterwards,thatthelightscenerecordedinLaveaux’spoorHISTORY,andinalltheAnecdote—Books,transacteditselfoneday。
Substanceofthestoryistrue;thoughthedetailsofitgoallatrandom,——somewhattothiseffect:——
\"InspectinghisFinanceAffairs,andquestioningthepartiesinterested,FriedrichnoticesacertainConventinCleve,whichappearstohave,payablefromtheForest—dues,considerablerevenuesbequeathedbytheoldDukes,’formassestobesaidontheirbehalf。’Hegoestolookattheplace;questionstheMonksonthispoint,whoarealldrawnoutintworows,andhavebrokenintoTE—DEUMatsightofhim:’Husht!YoustillsaythoseMasses,then?’’Certainly,yourMajesty!’——’Andwhatgooddoesanybodygetofthem?’’YourMajesty,thoseoldSovereignsaretoobtainHeavenlymercybythem,tobedeliveredoutofPurgatorybythem。’——’Purgatory?ItisasorethingfortheForests,allthiswhile!Andtheyarenotyetout,thosepoorsouls,aftersomanyhundredyearsofpraying?’Monkshaveafatalapprehension,No。
’Whenwilltheybeout,andthethingcomplete?’Monkscannotsay。
’Sendmeacourierwheneveritiscomplete!’sneerstheKing,andleavesthemtotheirTE—DEUM。\"[C。Hildebrandt’sModernEditionofthe(mostlydubious)AnekdotenundCharakterzugeausdemLebenFriedrichsdesGrossen(andaveryignorantandcarelessEditionitis;6vols。12mo,Halberstadt,1829),ii。
160;Laveaus(whomwealreadycited),ViedeFrederic;
&c。&c。Nicolai’sAnekdoten
alone,whicharenotincludedinthisHildebrandtCollection,areofsureauthenticity;therest,occasionallytrue,andoftenwithakindofMYTHICtruthinthemworthattendingto,areotherwiseofalldegreesofdubiety,downtothepalpablyfalseandabsurd。]
MournfulstateoftheCatholicReligionsocalled!HowlongmustthesewretchedMonksgoondoingtheirlazythrice—deleterioustorpidblasphemy;andaKing,nothistrionicbutreal,merelysignifythathelaughsatthemandit?Meseemsaheavierwhipthanthatofsatiremightbeinplacehere,yourMajesty?Thelighterwhipiseasier;——Ahyes,undoubtedly!crymanymen。Buthorribleaccountsarerunningup,enoughtosinktheworldatlast,whiletheheavierwhipislazilywithheld,andlazyblasphemy,fallentorpid,chronic,andquiteunconsciousofbeingblasphemous,insinuatesitselfintotheveryheart’s—bloodofmankind!
Patience,however;theheavywhiptooiscoming,——unlessuniversaldeathbecoming。KingFriedrichisnotthemantowieldsuchwhip。
QuiteotherworkisinstoreforKingFriedrich;andNaturewillnot,byanysuggestionofthatterribletask,puthimoutintheonehehas。HeisnothingofaLuther,ofaCromwell;canlookuponfakirsprayingbytheirrotatorycalabash,asaludicrousplatitude;andgrindelicatelyasabove,withtheapprovalofhiswisercontemporaries。Speedtohimonhisowncourse!
WhatanswerFriedrichfoundtohisEnglishproposals,——answerduehereonthe24thfromCaptainDickens,——Idonotpointedlylearn;
butcanjudgeofitbyHarrington’sreplytothatDespatchofDickens’s,whichentreatedcandorandopendealingtowardshisPrussianMajesty。HarringtonisatHerrenhausen,stillwiththeBritannicMajestythere;bothofthemmuchatalossabouttheirSpanishWar,andtheFrenchandotheraspectsuponit:\"SupposehisPrussianMajestyweretogivehimselftoFranceagainstus!\"
Wewillhope,not。Harrington’sreplyistotheeffect,\"Hum,drum:——BergandJulich,sayyou?Impossibletoanswer;mindsnotmadeuphere:——WhatwillhisPrussianMajestydoforUS?\"
Notmuch,Ishouldguess,tillsomethingmorecategoricalcomefromyou!HisPrussianMajestyiscarefulnottospoilanythingbyover—haste;butwillwaitandtryfarthertotheutmost,WhetherEnglandorFranceisthelikelierbargainforhim。
Betterstill,thePrussianMajestyisintenttodosomethingforhimselfinthatBerg—Julichmatter:wefindhimsilentlyexaminingtheseWesellocalitiesforaproper\"entrenchedCamp,\"Campsayof40,000,againstacertaincontingencythatmaybelookedfor。
CampwhichwillmuchoccupytheGazetteerswhentheygeteyeonit。Thisisoneoftheconcernshesilentlyattendsto,onoccasion,whileridingaboutintheCleveCountries。Thenthereisanothersmallitemofbusiness,importanttodowell,whichisnowinsilencediligentlygettingunderwayatWesel;whichalsoisofremarkablenature,andwillastonishtheGazetteerandDiplomaticcircles。ThisistheaffairwiththeBishopofLiege,calledalsotheAffairofHerstal,whichhisMajestyhashadprivatelylaidupinthecornerofhismind,asathingtobedoneduringthisExcursion。Ofwhichthereadershallhearanon,togreatlengths,——wereacertainsmallpreliminarymatter,Voltaire’sArrivalintheseparts,onceoffourhands。
Friedrich’sFirstMeetingwithVoltaire!TheseotherhighthingswereonceloudintheGazetteerandDiplomaticcircles,andhadnodoubttheyweretheWorld’sHistory;andnowtheyaresunkwhollytotheNightmares,andallmortalshaveforgottenthem,——anditissuchataskasseldomwastoresuscitatetheleastmemoryofthem,onjustcauseofaFriedrichorthelike,soimpatientaremenofwhatisputridandextinct:——andaquiteunnoticedthing,Voltaire’sFirstInterview,allreadersareonthealertforit,andreadytodemandofmeimpossibilitiesaboutit!Patience,readers。Youshallseeit,withoutandwithin,insuchlightastherewas,andformsomeactualnotionofit,ifyouwillco—operate。Fromthecircum—ambientinanityofOldNewspapers,Historicalshot—rubbish,andunintelligibleCorrespondences,wesiftoutthefollowingparticulars,ofthisFirstMeeting,oractualOsculationoftheStars。
TheNewspapers,thoughtheireyeswerenotyetoftheArgusqualitynowfamiliartous,havebeenintentonFriedrichduringthisBaireuth—CleveJourney,especiallysincethatsuddeneclipseofhimatStrasburglately;formingnowoneschemeofrouteforhim,nowanother;Newspapers,andevenprivatefriends,beingagooddealuncertainabouthismovements。Rumornowran,sincehisreappearanceintheCleveCountries,thatFriedrichmeanttohavealookatHollandbeforegoinghome,Andthathad,infact,beenanotionorintentionofFriedrich’s。\"Holland?WecouldpassthroughBrusselsontheway,andseeVoltaire!\"thoughthe。
InBrusselsthiswas,ofcourse,therumorofrumors。
AsVoltaire’sLetters,visiblyinatwitter,stilltestifytous。
KingofPrussiacoming!MadameduChatelet,the\"PrincessTour\"
(thatis,Tour—and—Taxis),allmannerofhighDamesareonthetiptoe。PrincessTourhopessheshalllodgethisunparalleledPrinceinherPalace:\"You,Madame?\"answerstheDuChatelet,privately,withatossofherhead:\"HisMajesty,Ihope,belongsmoretoM。deVoltaireandme:heshalllodgehere,pleaseHeaven!\"Voltaire,Icanobserve,hassublimehostelryarrangementschalkedoutforhisMajesty,incasehegotoParis;
whichhedoesn’t,asweknow。Voltaireisallonthealert,awaketothegreatcontingenciesfarandnear;theChatelet—Voltairebreakfast—table,——fancyitonthoseinterestingmornings,whilethepostcomesround![Voltaire,xxii。238—256(Letters22dAugust—22dSeptember,1740)。]
Alas,inthefirstdaysofSeptember,——Friedrich’sLetterisdated\"Wesel,2d\"(andhastheSTRASBURDDOGGERELenclosedinit),——theBrusselsPostmandeliversfarotherintelligenceatone’sdoor;
verymortifyingtoMadame:\"ThathisMajestyisfallenillatWesel;hasanaguishfeverhangingonhim,andonlyhopestocome:\"VOILA,Madame!——NextLetter,Wesel,Monday,5thSeptember,istotheeffect:\"Dostillmuchhopetocome;to—morrowismytremblingday;ifthatprovetobeoff!\"——Outuponit,thatprovesnottobeoff;thatison:nextLetter,Tuesday,September6th,whichcomesbyexpress(Courierdashingupwithit,sayontheThursdayfollowing)is,——alas,Madame!——hereitis:——
KINGFRIEDRICHTOM。DEVOLTAIREATBRUSSELS。
\"WESEL,6thSeptember,1740。
\"MYDEARVOLTAIRE,——Inspiteofmyself,IhavetoyieldtotheQuartanFever,whichismoretenaciousthanaJansenist;
andwhateverdesireIhadofgoingtoAntwerpandBrussels,Ifindmyselfnotinaconditiontoundertakesuchajourneywithoutrisk。Iwouldaskofyou,then,iftheroadfromBrusselstoClevewouldnottoyouseemtoolongforameeting;itistheonemeansofseeingyouwhichremainstome。ConfessthatIamunlucky;
fornowwhenIcoulddisposeofmyperson,andnothinghindersmefromseeingyou,thefevergetsitshandintothebusiness,andseemstointenddisputingmethatsatisfaction。
\"Letusdeceivethefever,mydearVoltaire;andletmeatleasthavethepleasureofembracingyou。Makemybestexcuses[polite,ratherthansincere]toMadametheMARQUISE,thatIcannothavethesatisfactionofseeingheratBrussels。AllthatareaboutmeknowtheintentionIwasin;whichcertainlynothingbutthefevercouldhavemademechange。
\"SundaynextIshallbeatalittlePlacenearCleve,\"——SchlossofMoyland,which,andtheroutetowhich,thisCouriercantellyouof;——\"whereIshallbeabletopossessyouatmyease。Ifthesightofyoudon’tcureme,IwillsendforaConfessoratonce。
Adieu;youknowmysentimentsandmyheart。[Preuss,
OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。27。]FREDERIC。\"
AfterwhichtheCorrespondencesuddenlyextinguishesitself;
ceasesforaboutafortnight,——inthebadmisdatedEditionsevendoesworse;——andwearelefttothickdarkness,toourownpoorshifts;Dryasdustbeinggrandlysilentonthissmallinterestofours。Whatistobedone?
PARTICULARSOFFIRSTINTERVIEW,ONSEVERESCRUTINY。
Here,fromapainfulPredecessorwhosePapersIinherit,aresomeolddocumentsandStudiesonthesubject,——sorrowfulcollection,infact,ofwhatpoorsparksofcertaintyweretobefoundhoveringinthatdarkelement;——whichdoatlast(soluminousarecertaintiesalways,or\"sparks\"thatwillshinesteady)coalesceintosomefeeblegeneraltwilight,feeblebutindubitable;
andevenshowthesympatheticreaderhowtheyweresearchedoutandbroughttogether。WenumberandlabelthesepoorPatchesofEvidenceonsosmallamatter;andleavethemtothecurious:——
No。1。DATEOFTHEFIRSTINTERVIEW。ItiscertainVoltairedidarriveatthelittleSchlossofMoyland,Septemberllth,Sundaynight,——whichisthe\"Sunday\"justspecifiedinFriedrich’sLetter。Voltairehadatoncedecidedoncomplying,——whatelse?——
andlostnotimeinpackinghimself:King’sCourieronThursdaylate;VoltaireontheroadonSaturdayearly,orthenightbefore。
WithMadame’sshrillblessing(notthemostmusicalinthisvexingcase),andplentyoffuss。\"Waswonttotravelinconsiderablestyle,\"Iamtold;\"theinnkeeperscallinghim\"YourLordship(M。LECOMTE)。\"Arrives,sureenough,Sundaynight;oldSchlossofMoyland,sixmilesfromCleve;\"moonlight,\"Ifind,——theHarvestMoon。Visitlastedthreedays。[Rodenbeck,p。21;Preuss,&c。&c。]
No。2。VOLTAIRE’SDRIVETHITHER。SchlossMoyland:HowfarfromBrussels,andbywhatroute?ByLouvain,Tillemont,TongrestoMaestricht;thenfromMaestrichtuptheMaas(leftbank)toVenlo,wherecross;throughGeldernandGochtoCleve:betweentheMaasandRhinethislastportion。Flatdampcountry;tolerablyundertillage;originalconstituentsbogandsand。DistancesIguesstobe:ToTongres60milesandodd;toMaestricht12or15,fromMaestricht75;inall150milesEnglish。Twodays’driving?
Thereisequinoctialmoon,andstillabovetwelvehoursofsunlightfor\"M。leComte。\"
No。3。OFTHEPLACEWHERE。Voltaire,whoshouldhaveknown,callsit\"PETITCHATEAUDEMEUSE;\"whichisaCastleexistingnowherebutinDreams。OtherFrenchBiographersarestillmoreimaginary。
ThelittleSchlossofMoyland——bynomeans\"Meuse,\"norevenMORS,whichVoltaireprobablymeansinsayingCHATEAUDEMEUSE——was,astheleastinquirysettlesbeyondquestion,theplacewhereVoltaireandFriedrichfirstmet。FriedrichWilhelmusedoftentolodgethereinhisClevejourneys:hemadethitherforshelter,inthesicknessthatovertookhiminfriendGinkel’shouse,cominghomefromtheRhineCampaignin1734;laythereforseveralweeksafterquittingGinkel’s。AnyotherlightIcangetuponit,isdarknessvisible。Buschingpointedlyinformsme,[Erdbeschreibung,v。659,677。]\"ItisaParish[orpatchofcountryunderonepriest],andTillANDitareaJurisdiction\"
(pairofpatchesunderonecourtofjustice):——whichdoesnotmuchilluminatetheinquiringmind。Smallpatch,thisofMoyland,sizenotgiven;\"wasbought,\"sayshe,\"in1695,byFriedrichafterwardsFirstKing,fromtheFamilyofSpaen,\"——weonceknewaLieutenantSpaen,ofthoseDutchregions,——\"andwasnamedaRoyalMansioneverthereafter。\"Wholivedinit;whatkindofthingwasit,isit?ALTUMSILENTIUM,fromBuschingandmankind。BelongedtotheSpaens,fiftyyearsago;——someshadowofourpoorbanishedfriendtheLieutenantrestingonit?DimenougholdMansion,with\"court\"toit,withmodicumofequipment;lyingthereinthemoonlight;——didnotlooksublimetoVoltaireonsteppingout。
Sothatallourknowledgereducesitselftothisonepoint:
offindingMoylandintheMap,withDATE,withREMINISCENCEtous,hangingbyithenceforth!Good。[Stieler’sDeutschland(excellentMapin25Pieces),Piece12。——TillisamileortwonortheastfromMoyland;Moylandabout5or6southeastfromCleve。]
Mors——whichisneartheTownofRuhrort,aboutmidwaybetweenWeselandDusseldorf——mustbesomefortymilesfromMoyland,forty—fivefromCleve;southwardofboth。Sothattheplace,\"ADEUXLIEUESDECLEVES,\"is,evenbyVoltaire’sshowing,thisMoyland;werethereotherwiseanydoubtuponit。\"CHATEAUDE
MEUSE\"——hangingoutaprospectofMORStous——isbadusagetoreaders。Ofanintelligentman,nottosayaTrismegistusofmen,oneexpectshewillknowinwhattownheis,afterthreedays’
experience,ashere。Buthedoesnotalways;hehangsoutamere\"shadowofMarsbymoonlight,\"tillwelearnbetter。Duvernet,hisBiographer,evencallsit\"SLEUS—MEUSE;\"somewonderfulideaofSluicesandaRiverattachedtoit,inDuvernet’shead![Duvernet(2dFORMofhim,——thatis,ViedeVoltaire
parT。J。D。V。),p。117。]
WHATVOLTAIRETHOUGHTOFTHEINTERVIEWTWENTYYEARSAFTERWARDS
OftheInterviewitself,withgeneralbird’s—eyeviewoftheVisitcombined(inaveryincorrectstate),thereisdirecttestimonybyVoltairehimself。Voltairehimself,twentyyearsafter,infarotherhumor,alljarredintoangrysarcasm,forcausesweshallseebyandby,——Voltaire,attherequestoffriends,writesdown,ashisFriedrichReminiscences,thatscandalousVIEPRIVEEabovespokenof,amostsadDocument;andthisisthepassagereferringto\"thelittlePlaceintheneighborhoodofCleve,\"whereFriedrichnowwaitedforhim:errorscorrectedbyourlaboriousFriend。AfterquotingsomethingofthatStrasburgDoggerel,thewholeofwhichisnowtoowellknowntous,Voltaireproceeds:——
\"FromStrasburghe,\"KingFriedrich,\"wenttoseehisLowerGermanProvinces;hesaidhewouldcomeandseemeincognitoatBrussels。
Wepreparedafinehouseforhim,\"——werereadytopreparesuchhiredhouseaswehadforhim,withmanyapologiesforitsslightdegreeofperfection(ERRORFIRST),——\"buthavingfallenillinthelittleMansion—RoyalofMeuse(CHATEAUDEMEUSE),acoupleofleaguesfromCleve,\"——fellillatWesel;andthereisnoChateaudeMEUSEintheworld(ERRORS2dAND3d),——\"hewrotetomethatheexpectedIwouldmaketheadvances。Iwent,accordingly,topresentmyprofoundhomages。Maupertuis,whoalreadyhadhisviews,andwaspossessedwiththerageofbeingPresidenttoanAcademy,hadofhisownaccord,\"——no,beinginvited,andatmysuggestion(ERROR4th),——\"presentedhimselfthere;andwaslodgedwithAlgarottiandKeyserling[whichlatter,Isuppose,hadcomefromBerlin,notbeingoftheStrasburgparty,he]inagarretofthisPalace。
\"Atthedoorofthecourt,Ifound,bywayofguard,onesoldier。
Privy—CouncillorRambonet,MinisterofState——[verysubalternman;
neverheardofhimexceptintheHerstalBusiness,andhere]waswalkinginthecourt;blowinginhisfingerstokeepthemwarm。\"
Sundaynight,11thSeptember,1740;worldallbathedinmoonshine;
andmortalsmostlyshrunkintotheirhuts,outoftherawair。
\"He\"Rambonet\"worebiglinenrufflesathiswrists,verydirty[visiblysointhemoonlight?ERROR5thextendsADLIBITUMoverallthefollowingdetails];aholedhat;anoldofficialperiwig,\"——ruinedintoatotallyunsymmetricstate,aswouldseem,——\"onesideofwhichhungdownintooneofhispockets,andtheotherscarcelycrossedhisshoulder。Iwastold,thismanwasnowintrustedwithanaffairofimportancehere;andthatprovedtrue,\"——theHerstalAffair。
\"IwasledintohisMajesty’sapartment。Nothingbutfourbarewallsthere。Bythelightofacandle,Iperceived,inacloset,alittletruckle—bedtwofeetandahalfbroad,onwhichlayamanmuffledupinadressing—gownofcoarseblueduffel:thiswastheKing,sweatingandshiveringunderawretchedblanketthere,inaviolentfitoffever。Imademyreverence,andbegantheacquaintancebyfeelinghispulse,asifIhadbeenhischiefphysician。Thefitover,hedressedhimself,andtookhisplaceattable。Algarotti,Keyserling,Maupertuis,andtheKing’sEnvoytotheStates—General\"——oneRasfeld(skilledinHERSTALmatters,I
couldguess),——\"wewereofthissupper,anddiscussed,naturallyinaprofoundmanner,theImmortalityoftheSoul,Liberty,Fate,theAndrogynesofPlato[theANDROGYNOI,orMen—Women,inPlato’sCONVIVIUM;bynomeansthefinestsymbolicfancyofthedivinePlato],——andothersmalltopicsofthatnature。\"[Voltaire,OEuvres,(PieceoncecalledVIEPRIVEE),ii。26,27。]
ThisisVoltaire’saccountoftheVisit,——whichincludedthree\"Suppers,\"allhuddledintoonebyhimhere;——andhesaysnothingmoreofit;launchingoffnowintonewerrors,aboutHERSTAL,theANTI—MACHIAVEL,andsoforth:newandugliererrors,withmuchmoreofmendacityandseriousmaliceinthem,thaninthisharmlesshalf—dozennowputonthescoreagainsthim。
OfthisSupper—Party,Iknowbyfacefouroftheguests:
Maupertuis,Voltaire,Algarotti,Keyserling;——Rasfeld,Rambonetcansitassimulacraormuteaccompaniment。VoltairearrivedonSundayevening;stayedtillWednesday。Wednesdaymorning,14thofthemonth,thePartybrokeup:Voltairerollingofftolefthand,towardsBrussels,ortheHague;Kingtoright,oninspectionbusiness,andcircuitouslyhomewards。ThreeSupperstherehadbeen,twobusyDaysintervening;discussionsaboutFateandtheAndrogynoiofPlatobynomeanstheonethingdonebyVoltaireandtherest,onthisoccasion。Weshallfindelsewhere,\"hedeclaimedhisMAHOMET\"(sublimenewTragedy,notyetcomeout),inthecourseofthesethreeevenings,tothe\"speechlessadmiration\"ofhisRoyalHost,forone;and,inthedaytime,thatheevendrewhispenabouttheHerstalBusiness,whichisnowgettingtoitscrisis,andwroteoneoftheManifestoes,stilldiscoverable。
Andweneednotdoubt,inspiteofhisnowsneeringtone,thatthingsranhighandgrandhere,inthispaltrylittleSchlossofMoyland;andthatthosethreewereactuallySuppersoftheGods,forthetimebeing。
\"CouncillorRambonet,’,withtheholedhatandunsymmetricwig,continuesVoltaireinthesatiricalvein,\"hadmeanwhilemountedahiredhack(CHEVALDELOUAGE;\"mischievousVoltaire,Ihavenodoubthewentonwheels,probablyofhisown):\"herodeallnight;
andnextmorningarrivedatthegatesofLiege;wherehetookActinthenameoftheKinghisMaster,whilst2,000menoftheWeselTroopslaidLiegeundercontribution。ThepretextofthisfineMarchingofTroops,\"——notapretextatall,buttheassertion,correctinallpoints,ofjustclaimslongtroddendown,andnowmadegoodwithmorespiritthanhadbeenexpected,——\"wascertainrightswhichtheKingpretendedto,overasuburbofLiege。
HeevenchargedmetoworkataManifesto;andImadeone,goodorbad;notdoubtingbutaKingwithwhomIsupped,andwhocalledmehisfriend,mustbeintheright。Theaffairsoonsettleditselfbymeansofamillionofducats,\"——nothinglikethesum,asweshallsee,——\"whichheexactedbyweight,toclearthecostsoftheTourtoStrasburg,which,accordingtohiscomplaintinthatPoeticLetter[Doggerelabovegiven],weresoheavy。\"
ThatisVoltaire’sview;grownverycorrosiveafterTwentyYears。
Headmits,withallthesatire:\"Inaturallyfeltmyselfattachedtohim;forhehadwit,graces;andmoreoverhewasaKing,whichalwaysformsapotentseduction,soweakishumannature。
UsuallyitisweofthewritingsortthatflatterKings:butthisKingpraisedmefromheadtofoot,whiletheAbbeDesfontainesandotherscoundrels(GREDINS)werebusydefamingmeinParisatleastonceaweek。\"
WHATVOLTAIRETHOUGHTOFTHEINTERVIEWATTHETIME。
Butletustakethecontemporaryaccount,whichalsowehaveatfirsthand;whichisalmostpathetictoread;suchacontrastbetweenruddymorningandthestormsoftheafternoon!HerearetwoLettersfromVoltaire;finetransparenthumanLetters,ashisgenerallyare:thefirstofthemwrittendirectlyongettingbacktotheHague,andtothefeelingofhiseclipsedcondition。
VOLTAIRETOM。DEMAUPERTUIS(withtheKing)。
\"THEHAGUE,18thSeptember,1740。
\"Iserveyou,Monsieur,soonerthanIpromised;andthatisthewayyououghttobeserved。IsendyoutheanswerofM。Smith,\"——
probablysomeGermanorDutchSCHMIDT,spelthereinEnglish,connectedwiththeSciences,saywithwater—carriage,thetypographies,oroneneednotknowwhat;\"youwillseewherethequestionstands。
\"WhenwebothleftCleve,\"——14thofthemonth,Wednesdaylast;
18thisSunday,inthisoldcobwebbyPalace,whereIamcorrectingANTI—MACHIAVEL,——\"andyoutooktotheright,\"——King,homewards,gottoHAMthatevening,——\"IcouldhavethoughtIwasattheLastJudgment,wheretheBonDieuseparatestheelectfromthedamned。
DIVUSFREDERICUSsaidtoyou,’SitdownatmyrighthandintheParadiseofBerlin;’andtome,’Depart,thouaccursed,intoHolland。’
\"HereIamaccordinglyinthisphlegmaticplaceofpunishment,farfromthedivinefirewhichanimatestheFriedrichs,theMaupertuis,theAlgarottis。ForGod’slove,domethecharityofsomesparksinthesestagnantwaterswhereIam,\"——stiffening,cooling,——\"stupefyingtodeath。Instructmeofyourpleasures,ofyourdesigns。YouwilldoubtlessseeM。deValori,\"——readersknowdeValori;hisBookhasbeenpublished;edited,astoousual,byaHumanNightmare,ignorantofhissubjectandindeedofalmostallotherthings,andliabletomistakesineverypage;yetpartlyreadable,ifyoucarrylanterns,andlove\"MONGROSVALORI:\"——
\"offerhim,Iprayyou,myrespects。IfIdonotwritetohim,thereasonis,Ihavenonewstosend:IshouldbeasexactasIamdevoted,ifmycorrespondencecouldbeusefuloragreeabletohim。
\"Won’tyouhavemesendyousomeBooks?IfIbestillinHollandwhenyourorderscome,Iwillobeyinamoment。IprayyoudonotforgetmetoM。deKeyserling,\"——CaesarionwhomweoncehadatCirey;aheadlongduskylittlemanofwit(libraryturnedtopsy—
turvy,asWilhelminacalledhim),whomwehaveseen。
\"Tellme,Ibeg,iftheenormousmonadofVolfius——[Wolf,wouldthereaderliketohearabouthim?Ifso,hehasonlytospeak!]
isarguingatMarburg,atBerlin,oratHall[HALLE,whichisaverydifferentplace]。
\"Adieu,Monsieur:youcanaddressyourorderstome’AttheHague:’theywillbeforwardedwhereverIam;andIshallbe,anywhereonearth,——Yoursforever(AVOUSPOURJAMAIS)。\"
[Voltaire,lxxii。252。]
LetterSecond,ofwhichafragmentmaybegiven,istooneCideville,amonthlater;allthemoregenuineastherewasnochanceoftheKing’shearingaboutthisone。Cideville,somekindofliteraryAdvocateatRouen(whoiswearisomelyknowntothereaderofVoltaire’sLetters),haddone,whatisratheranendemicaldisorderatthistime,someVersesfortheKingofPrussia,whichhewishedtobepresentedtohisMajesty。
Thepresentation,owingtoaccidents,didnottakeplace;
hearhowVoltaire,fromhiscobwebPalaceattheHague,busywithANTI—MACHIAVEL,VanDurenandmanyotherthings,——18thOctober,1740,onwhichdaywefindhimwritingmanyLetters,——explainsthesadaccident:——
VOLTAIRETOM。DECIDEVILLE(atRouen)。
\"ATTHEHAGUE,KINGOFPRUSSIA’SPALACE,18thOctober,1740。
\"……Thisismycase,dearCideville。Whenyousentme,enclosedinyourLetter,thoseVerses(amongwhichtherearesomeofcharmingandinimitableturn)forourMarcusAureliusoftheNorth,Ididwelldesigntopaymycourttohimwiththem。HewasatthattimetohavecometoBrusselsincognito:weexpectedhimthere;buttheQuartanFever,whichunhappilyhestillhas,derangedallhisprojects。HesentmeacouriertoBrussels,\"——
markthatpoint,myCideville;——\"andsoIsetouttofindhimintheneighborhoodofCleve。
\"ItwasthereIsawoneoftheamiablestmenintheworld,whoformsthecharmofsociety,whowouldbeeverywheresoughtafterifhewerenotKing;aphilosopherwithoutausterity;fullofsweetness,complaisanceandobligingways(AGREMENS);
notrememberingthatheisKingwhenhemeetshisfriends;indeedsocompletelyforgettingitthathemademetooalmostforgetit,andIneededaneffortofmemorytorecollectthatIheresawsittingatthefootofmybedaSovereignwhohadanArmyof100,000men。ThatwasthemomenttohavereadyouramiableVersestohim:\"——yes;butthen?——\"MadameduChatelet,whowastohavesentthemtome,didnot,NEL’APAFAIT。\"Alas,no,theyarestillatBrussels,thosecharmingVerses;andI,foramonthpast,amhereinmycobwebPalace!ButIsweartoyou,theinstantI
returntoBrussels,I,&c。&c。[Voltaire,lxii。282。]
Finally,hereiswhatFriedrichthoughtofit,tendaysafterpartingwithVoltaire。Wewillreadthisalso(thoughotherwiseaheadofusasyet);tobecertifiedonallsides,andsatedfortherestofourlives,concerningtheFriedrich—VoltaireFirstInterview。
KINGFRIEDRICHTOM。JORDAN(atBerlin)。
POTSDAM,24thSeptember,1740。
\"MostrespectableInspectorofthepoor,theinvalids,orphans,crazypeopleandBedlams,——IhavereadwithmaturemeditationtheveryprofoundJordanicLetterwhichwaswaitinghere;\"——anddoacceptyourlearnedproposal。
\"IhaveseenthatVoltairewhomIwassocurioustoknow;butI
sawhimwiththeQuartanhangingonme,andmymindasunstrungasmybody。Withmenofhiskindoneoughtnottobesick;oneoughteventobespeciallywell,andinbetterhealththancommon,ifonecould。
\"HehastheeloquenceofCicero,themildnessofPliny,thewisdomofAgrippa;hecombines,inshort,whatistobecollectedofvirtuesandtalentsfromthethreegreatestmenofAntiquity。
Hisintellectisatworkincessantly;everydropofinkisatraitofwitfromhispen。HedeclaimedhisMAHOMETtous,anadmirableTragedywhichhehasdone,\"——whichtheOfficialpeoplesmellingheresiesinit(\"toleration,\"\"horrorsoffanaticism,\"andthelike)willnotlethimact,asreaderstoowellknow:——\"hetransportedusoutofourselves;Icouldonlyadmireandholdmytongue。TheDuChateletisluckytohavehim:forofthegoodthingsheflingsoutatrandom,apersonwhohadnofacultybutmemorymightmakeabrilliantBook。ThatMinervahasjustpublishedherWorkonPHYSICS:notwhollybad。ItwasKonig\"——whomweknow,andwhoselatetempestinacertainteapot——\"thatdictatedthethemetoher:shehasadjusted,ornamentedhereandtherewithsometouchpickedfromVoltaireatherSuppers。
TheChapteronSpaceispitiable;the\"——inshort,sheisstillrawinthePureSciences,andshouldhavewaited……
\"Adieu,mostlearned,mostscientific,mostprofoundJordan,——orrathermostgallant,mostamiable,mostjovialJordan;——Isalutethee,withassuranceofallthoseoldfeelingswhichthouhasttheartofinspiringineveryonethatknowsthee。VALE。
\"Iwritethemomentofmyarrival:beobligedtome,friend;forI
havebeenworking,Iamgoingtoworkstill,likeaTurk,orlikeaJordan。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvii。71。]
ThisishastilythrownoffforFriendJordan,theinstantafterhisMajesty’scircuitousreturnhome。ReaderscannotyetattendhisMajestythere,tilltheyhavebroughttheAffairofHerstal,andotherremaindersoftheCleveJourney,alongwiththem。
ChapterV。
AFFAIROFHERSTAL。
ThisRambonet,whomVoltairefoundwalkinginthecourtoftheoldCastleofMoyland,isanofficialgentleman,otherwiseunknowntoHistory,whohaslatelybeenengagedinaPublicAffair;andisnowoffagainaboutit,\"onahiredhack\"orotherwise,——withverygoodinstructionsinhishead。Affairwhich,thoughinitselfbutsmall,isnowbeginningtomakegreatnoiseintheworld,asFriedrichwendshomewardsoutofhisCleveJourney。Hehassetitfairlyalight,Voltaireandhe,beforequittingMoyland;andnowitwillgoofitself。TheAffairofHerstal,oroftheBishopofLiege;Friedrich’sfirstappearanceonthestageofpolitics。
Concerningwhichsomeverybriefnotice,ifintelligible,willsufficereadersofthepresentday。
Heristal,nowcalledHerstal,wasonceaCastleknowntoallmankind;KingPipin’sCastle,whostyledhimself\"PipinofHeristal,\"beforehebecameKingoftheFranksandbegotCharlemagne。ItliesontheMaas,inthatfruitfulSpaCountry;
leftbankoftheMaas,alittletothenorthofLiege;
andprobablybeganexistenceasagranderplacethanLiege(LUTTICH),whichwas,atfirst,someMonasterydependentonsecularHerstalanditsgrandeurs:——thinkonlyhowtheracehasgonebetweenthesetwoentities;spiritualLiegenowabigCity,blackwiththesmokeofforgesandsteam—mills;HerstalaninsignificantVillage,accidentallytalkedofforafewweeksin1740,andnochanceevertobementionedagainbymen。
Herstal,intheconfusedvicissitudesofathousandyears,hadpassedthroughvariousfortunes,andundergonechangeofownersoftenenough。FiftyyearsagoitwasinthehandsoftheNassau—
OrangeHouse;DutchWilliam,ourEnglishProtestantKing,whoprobablyscarceknewofhispossessingit,wasLordofHerstaltillhisdeath。DutchWilliamhadnochildrentoinheritHerstal:
hewasofkinshiptothePrussianHouse,asreadersareaware;
andfromthatcircumstance,notwithoutagreatdealofdiscussion,anddifficult\"DivisionoftheOrangeHeritage,\"thisHerstalhad,atthelonglast,fallentoFriedrichWilhelm’sshare;itandNeuchatel,andtheCobwebPalace,andsomeotherplacesandpertinents。