\"Togetoutofpeople’ssightatleast,\"continueshe,\"Idecidedtoleavemynativeplace,andgotoBerlin,\"250milesawayormore。\"Andsoitwasthat,onJunethe20th,1750,IlandedatBerlinforthefirsttime:andherestraightwayatthePACKHOF(orCustom—house),insearchingofmythings,400THALERS(some60
pounds),allinNurnbergBATZEN,wereseizedfromme;\"——BATZEN,quarter—groatswemaysay;7andahalfbatzengotoashilling;
whatasacktheremusthavebeenofthem,9,000inall,aboutthesizeofherring—scales,inbadsilver;fruitofLinsenbarth’ssternthriftfrombirthupwards:——allsnatchedfromhimatoneswoop。
\"Andwhy?\"sayshe,quitehistorically:Yes,Why?Thereader,tounderstanditwholly,wouldneedtoreadinMylius’s
Edicten—Sammlung,inSEYFARTHandelsewhere;[Mylius,Edictxli。,January,1744,&c。&c。]andtoknowthescandalousconditionofGermancoinageatthistimeandlongafter;everyneedylittlePotentatemixinghiscoinwithcopperatdiscretion,andswindlingmankindwithitforaseason;
needingtobeperemptorilyforbidden,confiscatedororderedhome,bythelikeofFriedrich。Linsenbarthanswershisown\"Andwhy?\"
withhistoricalcalmness:——
\"Thekinghad,some(six)yearsago,hadthebatzenutterlycrieddown(GANZUNDGAR);theywerenottocirculateatallinhisCountries;andIwassobold,IhadbroughtbatzenhitherintotheKing’sCapital,KONIGLICHERESIDENZitself!AtthePackhof,therewasbutoneanswer,’Contraband,Contraband!’\"——Herewasawelcomeforaman。\"Imademyexcuses:Didnottheleastknow;
camestraightfromThuringen,manymilesofroad;couldnotguessthereWhatHisMajestytheKinghadbeenpleasedtoforbidinHis(THEIRO)Countries。’Youshouldhaveinformedyourself,’saidthePackhofpeople;andweredeaftosuchconsiderations。’AmancomingintosuchaResidenzTownasBerlin,withintenttoabidethere,shouldhaveinquiredalittlewhatwaswhat,especiallywhatcoinswerecrieddown,andwhatallowed,’saidtheyofthePackhof。\"
PoorLinsenbarth!\"’ButwhatamItodonow?HowamItolive,ifyoutakemyverymoneyfromme?’’Thatisyouroutlook,’saidthey;
——andadded,Hemustevenfindstowageforhisstackofherring—
scalesorbatzen,assoonasitwassealedup;’wehavenoroomforitinthePackhof!’\"foraman:Hereisaroughishwelcome\"Imustleaveallmymoneyhere;andfindstowageforit,inadayortwo。
\"Therewas,accordingly,atruck—portercalledin;heloadedmyeffectsonhisbarrow,androlledaway。HebroughtmetotheWHITE
SWANintheJUDENSTRASSE[noneofthegrandestofstreets,thatBerlinJEWRY],threwmythingsout,anddemandedfourgroschen。
Twoofmybatzen\"2andahalfexact,\"wouldhavedone;butIhadnomoneyatall。Thelandlordcameout:seeingthatIhadastuffedfeather—bed[notetheluggageofLinsenbarth:\"FEDER—BETT,\"ofextremetenuity],atrunkfulloflinens,abagofBooksandothertrifles,hepaidtheman;andsentmetoasmallroominthecourt—
yard[InnformsaCourt,perhapsfourstorieshigh]:’Icouldstaythere,’hesaid;’hewouldgivemefoodanddrinkinthemeanwhile。’AndsoIlivedinthisInneightweekslong,withoutoneredfarthing,inmerefearandanxiety。\"June20thPLUSeightweeksbringsustoAugust15th;VoltaireinHEIGHToffeather;
andverygreatthingsjustahead![\"GrandCarrousel,25thAugust;\"
&c。]——ofwhichsoon。
TheWhiteSwanwasaplacewhereCarrierslodged:somelimboftheLaw,ofSubalternsort,whomLinsenbarthcalls\"DERADVOCATB。\"
(oneoftheOustedofCocceji,shallwefancy!),hadtodowithCarriersandtheirpie—powderlawsuits。AdvocatB。hadnoticedthegraydrearyCANDIDATUS,sittingsparrow—likeinremotecorners;
hadspokentohim;——undertookforaLOUISD’OR,nopurchasenopay,togetbackhisbatzenforhim。Theywentaccordingly,onemorning,to\"agrandHouse;\"itwasaMinister’s(namenotgiven),verygrandOfficialMan:heheardtheAdvocatB。’sshortstatement;
andmadeanswer:\"Monsieur,andisityouthatwillpickholesintheKing’sLaw?IhaveunderstoodyouwereratheraimingattheHAUSVOGTEI[CommonJailofBerlin]:Gooninthatway,andyouaresureofyourpromotion!\"——AdvocatB。rushedoutwithLinsenbarthintothestreet;andtherewasneitherpaynorpurchaseinthatquarter。
PoorLinsenbarthwasnextadvised,bysimpleneighbors,togodirecttotheKing;aseverypoormancan,atcertainhoursoftheday。\"WriteoutyourCase(Memorial)withextremebrevity,\"saidthey;\"nothingbuttheessentialpoints,andthoseclear。\"
Linsenbarth,steamatthehigh—pressure,composed(CONZIPIRTE)aMemorialofthatrightlaconicsort;wroteitfair(MUNDIRTEES);——
andwentofftherewith\"atopeningoftheGates[middletimeofAugust,1750,nodatefarther),[August21st?(SeeRodenbeck,DIARY,whichweoftenquote,i。205。)]——withoutonefarthinginmypocket,inGod’sname,toPotsdam。\"Hecontinues:——
\"AndatPotsdamIwasluckyenoughtoseetheKing;myfirstsightofhim。HewasonthePalaceEsplanadethere,drillinghistroops[finetrimsandedExpanse,withthePalacetorear,andGarden—
walksandRivertofront;whereFriedrichWilhelmsat,thelastdayhewasout,andorderedJockeyPhilips’shousetobeactuallysetabout;wherethetroopsdoevolutionseverymorning;——thereisFriedrichwithcocked—hatandbluecoat;sayabout11A。M。]。
\"Whenthedrillwasover,hisMajestywentintotheGarden,andthesoldiersdispersed;onlyfourOfficersremainedloungingupontheEsplanade,andwalkedupanddown。ForfrightIknewnotwhattodo;IpulledthePapersoutofmypocket,——theseweremyMemorial,twoCertificatesofcharacter,andaThuringenPass[poorsoul]。
TheOfficersnoticedthis;camestraighttome,andsaid,’WhatlettershasHethere,then?’Ithankfullyandgladlyimpartedthewhole;andwhentheOfficershadreadthem,theysaid,’Wewillgiveyou[Him,notevenTHEE]agoodadvice,TheKingisextra—
graciousto—day,andisgonealoneintotheGarden。Followhimstraight。Thouwilthaveluck。’
\"ThisIwouldnotdo;myawewastoogreat。Theythereuponlaidhandsonme[themischievousdogs,notill—humoredeither]:
onetookmebytherightarm,anotherbytheleft,’Off,off;
totheGarden!’Havinggotmethither,theylookedoutfortheKing。Hewasamongthegardeners,examiningsomerareplant;
stoopingoverit,andhadhisbacktous。HereIhadtohalt;
andtheOfficersbegan,inunderhandtone[thedogs!],toputmethroughmydrill:’Hatunderleftarm!——Rightfootforemost!——
Breastwellforward!——Headup!——Papersfrompouch!——Papersaloftinrighthand!——Steady!Steady!’——Andwenttheirways,lookingalwaysround,toseeifIkeptmyposture。Iperceivedwellenoughtheywerepleasedtomakegameofme;butIstood,allthesame,likeawall,beingfulloffear。TheOfficerswerehardlyoutoftheGarden,whentheKingturnedround,andsawthisextraordinarymachine,\"——telegraphfigureorwhateverwemaycallit,withpaperspointingtothesky。\"Hegavesuchalookatme,likeaflashofsunbeamsglancingthroughyou;andsentoneofthegardenerstobringmypapers。Whichhavinggot,hestruckintoanotherwalkwiththem,andwasoutofsight。Infewminutesheappearedagainattheplacewheretherareplantwas,withmyPapersopeninhislefthand;andgavemeawavewiththemTocomenearer。Ipluckedupaheart,andwentstraighttowardshim。Oh,howthriceandfour—timesgraciouslythisgreatMonarchdeignedtospeaktome!——
KING。\"’MygoodThuringian(LIEBERTHURINGER),youcametoBerlin,seekingtoearnyourbreadbyindustriousteachingofchildren;
andhere,atthePackhof,insearchingyourthings,theyhavetakenyourThuringenhoardfromyou。True,thebatzenarenotlegalhere;
butthepeopleshouldhavesaidtoyou:Youareastranger,anddidn’tknowtheprohibition;——wellthen,wewillsealuptheBagofBatzen;yousenditbacktoThuringen,getitchangedforothersorts;wewillnottakeitfromyou!——
\"’Beofheart,however;youshallhaveyourmoneyagain,andinteresttoo。——But,mypoorman,Berlinpavementisbare,theydon’tgiveanythinggratis:youareastranger;beforeyouareknownandgetteaching,yourbitofmoneyisdone;whatthen?’
\"Iunderstoodthespeechrightwell;butmyawewastoogreattosay:’YourMajestywillhavetheall—highestgracetoallowmesomething!’ButasIwassosimpleandaskedfornothing,hedidnotofferanything。Andsoheturnedaway;buthadscarcelygonesixoreightsteps,whenhelookedround,andgavemeasignIwastowalkbyhim;andthenbegancatechising:——
KING。\"’Wheredidyou(ER)study?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’YourMajesty,inJena。’
KING。\"’Whatyears?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’From1716to1720。’[\"Born1689\"(Rodenbeck,p。
474);twenty—fivewhenhewent。]
KING。\"’UnderwhatPro—rectorwereyouinscribed?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’UnderthePROFESSORTHEOLOGIAEDr。Fortsch。’
KING。\"’WhowereyourotherProfessorsintheTheologicalFaculty?’\"
LINSENBARTH——namesfamedmen;sunknow,mostly,inthebottomlesswaste—basket:\"Buddaus\"(whodidaDICTIONARYoftheBAYLEsort,weighingfourstonetroy,outofwhichIhavelearnedmanyathing),\"Buddaeus,\"\"Danz,\"\"Weissenborn,\"\"Wolf\"(nowbackatHalleafterhistribulations,——poorman,hisimmortalSystemofPhilosophy,whereisit!)。
KING。\"’DidyoustudyBIBLICAdiligently?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’WithBuddaeus(BEYMBUDDAO)。’
KING。\"’ThatishewhohadsuchquarrellingwithWolf?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’Yea,yourMajesty!Hewas——’
KING(doesnotwanttoknowwhathewas)。\"’WhatotherusefulCoursesofLectures(COLLEGIA)didyouattend?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’TheticsandExegeticswithFortsch[HowthedeucedidFortschteachthesethings?];HermeneuticsandPolemicswithWalch[editorofLuther’sWorks,Isuppose];
HebraicswithDr。Danz;HomileticswithDr。Weissenborn;PASTORALE
[notPastoralPoetry,buttheArtofPastorship]andMORALEwithDr。Buddaeus。’[There,yourMajesty!——whataglimpse,asintoinfiniteextinctContinents,filledwithponderousthornyinanities,invinciblenasaldrawlingofdidacticTitans,andtheawfulattempttospin,onallmannerofwheels,road—harnessoutofsplitcobwebs:Hoom!Hoom—m—m!Harnessnottobehadonthoseterms。LetthedrearyLimbuscloseagain,tillthegeneralDayofJudgmentforallthis。]
KING(gladtogetoutoftheLimbus)。\"’WerethingsaswildthenatJena,inyourtime,asofold,whentheStudentswereforeverscufflingandruffling,andtheCoupletwent:——
\"WerkommtvonJenaungeschlagen,DerhatvongrossenGluckzusagen。
\"HethatcomesfromJenaSINEBELLO,Hemaythinkhimselfaluckyfellow\"?’
LINSENBARTH。\"’Thatsortoffollyisgonequiteoutoffashion;
andamancanleadasilentandquietlifethere,justasatotherUniversities,ifhewillattendtotheDIC,CURHIC?[orknowwhathisrealerrandis]。InmytimetheirSereneHighnesses,theNursing—fathersoftheUniversity(NUTRITORESACADEMIAE),——oftheErnestineLine[Weimar—GothaHighnesses,thatis],wereinthehabitofhavingtheRufflers(RENOMISTEN),Renownersastheyarecalled,whomadesomuchdisturbance,senttoEisenachtolieintheWartburgawhile;theretheylearnedtobequiet。’
[ClockstrikesTwelve,——dinner—timeofMajesty。]
KING。\"’NowImustgo:theyarewaitingfortheirsoup’\"(andsoendsDialogueforthepresent)。’DidtheKingbidmewait?
\"WhenwegotoutoftheGarden,\"saysLinsenbarth,silentonthispoint,\"thefourOfficerswerestillthereupontheEsplanade[CaptainsofGuardbelike];theywentintothePalacewiththeKing,\"——clearlymeaningtodinewithhisMajesty。
\"IremainedstandingontheEsplanade。Fortwenty—sevenhoursIhadnottastedfood:notafarthingINBONIS[ofprincipalorinterest]
togetbreadwith;Ihadwadedtwentymileshither,inasultrymorning,throughthesand。Notadifficultthingtokeepdownlaughterinsuchcircumstances!\"——Poorsoul;buttheRoyalmindishumantoo。——\"Inthistremorofmyheart,therecameaKAMMER—HUSSAR
[Soldier—Valet,Valetreducedtohissimplestexpression]outofthePalace,andasked,’WhereisthemanthatwaswithmyKing(MEINEMKONIG,——THYKingparticularly?)intheGarden?’Ianswered,’Here!’AndheledmeintotheSchloss,toalargeRoom,wherepages,lackeys,andKammer—hussarswereabout。MyKammer—hussartookmetoalittletable,excellentlyfurnished;withsoup,beef;
likewisecarpdressedwithgarden—salad,likewisegamewithcucumber—salad:bread,knife,fork,spoonandsaltwereallthere[andIwithanappetiteoftwenty—sevenhours;Itoowasthere]。
Myhussarsetmeachair,said:’Thisthatisonthetable,theKinghasorderedtobeservedforyou(IHM):youaretoeatyourfill,andmindnobody;andIamtoserve。Sharp,then,fallto!’——
Iwasgreatlyastonished,andknewnotwhattodo;leastofallcoulditcomeintomyheadthattheKing’sKammer—hussar,whowaitedonhisMajesty,shouldwaitonme。Ipressedhimtositbyme;butasherefused,Ididasbidden;satdown,tookmyspoon,andwentatitwithawill(FRISCH)!
\"Thehussartookthebeeffromthetable,setitonthecharcoaldish(tokeepithottillwanted);hedidthelikewiththefishandroastgame;andpouredmeoutwineandbeer——[waseversuchaluckyBarmecide!]IateanddranktillIhadabundantlyenough。
Dessert,confectionery,whatIcould,——aplatefulofbigblackcherries,andaplatefulofpears,mywaiting—manwrappedinpaperandstuffedthemintomypockets,tobearefreshmentonthewayhome。AndsoIrosefromtheRoyaltable;andthankedGodandtheKinginmyheart,thatIhadsogloriouslydined,\"——HERRLICH,\"gloriously\"atlast。Poorexcellentdown—troddenLinsenbarth,one’sheartopenstohim,notone’slarderonly。
\"Thehussartookaway。AtthatmomentaSecretarycame;broughtmeasealedOrder(Rescript)tothePackhofatBerlin,withmyCertificates(TESTIMONIA),andthePass;tolddownonthetablefiveTail—ducats(SCHWANZ—DUKATEN),andaGoldFriedrichunderthem[about3pounds10s。,Ithink;betterthan10poundsofourdaytoacommonman,andbetterthan100poundstoaLinsenbarth],——
saying,TheKingsentmethistotakemehometoBerlinagain。
\"AndifthehussartookmeintothePalace,itwasnowtheSecretarythattookmeoutagain。Andthere,yokedwithsixhorses,stoodaroyalProviant—wagon;whichhavingledmeto,theSecretarysaid:’Youpeople,theKinghasgivenorderyouaretotakethisstrangertoBerlin,andalsotoacceptnodrink—moneyfromhim。’
Iagain,throughtheHERRNSECRETARIUM,testifiedmymostsubmissivethankfulnessforallRoyalgraciousnesses;tookmyplace,androlledaway。
\"OnreachingBerlin,IwentatoncetothePackhof,straighttotheoffice—room,\"——standingmoreerectthistime,——\"andhandedthemmyRoyalRescript。TheHeadmanopenedtheseal;inreading,hechangedcolor,wentfrompaletored;saidnothing,andgaveittothesecondmantoread。Thesecondputonhisspectacles;read,andgaveittothethird。However,he[theHeadman]ralliedhimselfatlast:Iwastocomeforward,andbesogoodaswriteaquittance(receipt),’ThatIhadreceived,formy400thalersallinBatzen,thesamesuminBrandenburgcoin,readydown,withouttheleastdeduction。’Mycashwasatonceaccuratelypaid。AndthereupontheStewardwasordered,TogowithmetotheWhiteSwanintheJudenstrasse,andpaywhatIowedthere,whatevermyscorewas。
Forwhichendtheygavehimtwenty—fourthalers;andifthatwerenotenough,hewastocomeandgetmore。\"OnthesehightermsLinsenbarthmarchedoutofthePackhofforthesecondtime;
thesublimeheadofhim(notturnedeither)sweepingtheverystars。
\"ThatwaswhattheKinghadmeantwhenhesaid,\"Youshallhaveyourmoneybackandinteresttoo:’VIDELICET,thatthePackhofwastopaymyexpensesattheWhiteSwan。Thescore,however,wasonly10thaler,’4groschen,6pfennigs[30shillings,5pence,and2orperhaps3quarter—farthings],forwhatIhadrunupineightweeks,\"——anuncommonlyfrugalrateofboard,foramanskilledinHermeneutics,Hebraics,Polemics,Thetica,Exegetics,Pastorale,Morale(andPracticalChristianityandthePhilosophyofZeno,carriedtoperfection,ornearlyso)!\"AndherewiththistroubledHistoryhaditsdesiredfinish。\"Andourgray—whiskered,raw—boned,great—heartedCandidatuslaydowntosleep,attheWhiteSwan;
probablythehappiestmaninallBerlin,forthetimebeing。
LinsenbarthdivednowintoPrivate—teaching,\"INFORMATION,\"ashecallsit;forming,andkneadingintohisownlikeness,suchoftheyoungBerlinersashecouldgetholdof:——surelynotwithoutsomegoodeffectonthem,themodelhaving,besidesHermeneuticsinabundance,somuchnaturalworthaboutit。HehimselffoundthemineofInformingaverybarrenone,astomoney:continuedpoorinahighdegree,withouthonor,withoutemolumenttospeakof;
andhadastraitened,laborious,andwhatwemightthinkverydarkLife—pilgrimage。Butthedarknesswasnothingtohim,hecarriedsuchaninextinguishablefrugalrushlightwithin。Meat,clothesandfirehedidnotagainlack,inBerlin,forthetimeheneededthem,——sometwenty—sevenyearsstill。AndifhegotnoprintedpraiseintheReviews,frombaddishjudgeswritingbythesheet,——
hereandtherebrothermortals,whoknewhimbytheirowneyesandexperiences,looked,ortransientlyspoke,andevendid,amostrealpraiseuponhimnowandthen。And,onthewhole,hecandowithoutpraise;andwillstandstrokesevenwithoutwincingorkicking,wherethereisnochance。
AcertainBerlinDruggist(\"HerrMedicinal—AssessorRose,\"whomwemaycallDruggistFirst,fortherewereTwothathadtodowithLinsenbarth)wasgoodandhumantohim。InRose’sHouse,wherehehadcometoteachthechildren,andwhichcontinued,alwaysthenceforth,ahometohimwhenneedful,hewrotethisNARRATIVE
(Anno1774);anddiedthere,threeyearsafterwards,——\"24thAugust,1777,ofapoplexy,age88,\"saytheBurialRegisters。
[InRodenbeck,Beitrage,i。472—475,theselatterDetails(withothers,inconfusedform);IB。462—471,theNARRATIVEitself。]DruggistSecond,onsucceedingthehumanePredecessor,foundLinsenbarth’spapersinthedrug—storesoftheplace:DruggistSecondchancedtobeoneKlaproth,famedamongtheScientificoftheworld;andbyhimtheLinsenbarthNarrativewasforwardedtopublication,andsuchfameasisrequisite。
SIRJONASHANWAYSTALKSACROSSTHESCENE,TOO;INA
PONDERINGANDOBSERVINGMANNER。
Ofthethenveryfamous\"BerlinCarrouselof1750\"weproposetosaylittle;thenowchiefinterestingpointinitbeingthatM。deVoltaireiscuriouslyvisibletousthere。Butthetruthis,theywereverygreatdaysatBerlin,thoseofAutumn,1750;
distinguishedstrangerscomeorcoming;theKinggivinghimselfuptoentertainmentofthem,toenjoymentofthem;withsuchaheartyoutburstofmagnificence,thisCarrouseltheapexofit,aswasrareinhisreign。TherewerehisSistersofSchwedtandBaireuth,withsuite,hisdearWilhelminaqueenofthescene;[\"Came8thAugust\"(Rodenbeck,205)。]therewere——ItwouldbetedioustocountwhatotherhighHerrschaftenandDurchlauchtigPersons。
Andtocrownthewhole,andentertainWilhelminaasaQueenshouldbe,therehadcomeM。deVoltaire;conqueredatlengthtous,aswehope,andtheDreamofourYouthrealized。Voltaire’sreception,July10thandeversince,hasbeenmeresplendorandkindness;
reallyextraordinary,asweshallfindfartheron。
Receptionperfectinallpoints,exceptthatofthePompadour’sComplimentsalone。\"Thatsublimecreature’scomplimentstoyourMajesty;suchherexpresscommand!\"saidVoltaire。\"JENELA
CONNAISPAS,\"answeredFriedrich,withhisclear—ringingvoice,\"Idon’tknowher;\"[VoltairetoMadameDenis,\"Potsdam,11thAugust,1750\"(OEuvres,lxxiv。184)。]——
sufficientintimationtoVoltaire,butpainfulandsurprising。
ForwhichsomediplomaticpersonsblameFriedrichtothisday;
butnotI,oranyreaderofmine。AveryproudyoungKing;inhissilentway,alwaystheprouder;andstandsinnoaweoftheDivineButterfliesandCrownedInfatuationsneversopotent,asmoreprudentpeopledo。
InaBerlinofsuchstirandsplendor,thearrivalsofSirJonasHanway,ofthe\"youngLordMalton\"(famedEarlorMarquisofRockinghamthatwillbe),orofthewittyExcellencyHanbury,areasnothing;——SirJonas’saslessthannothing。ASirJonasnoticedbynobody;buthimselftakingnote,dullworthyman;
andmentionablenowonthataccount。HereisaScrapregardinghim,notquitetobethrownaway:
\"SirJonasHanwaywasnotalwayssoextinctashehasnowbecome。
ReadersmightdoworsethanturntohisnowoldBookofTRAVELS
again,andthestrangeoldLondonitawakensforus:A’RussianTradingCompany,’fullofhopetothethenmercantilemind;
aMr。Hanwaydespatched,yearsago,asChiefClerk,inexpressiblyinterestedtomanagewell;——andmanaging,asyoumayreadatlarge。
Hasdonehisbestandutmost,allthiswhile;andhadsuchtravellingsthroughtheNaphthaCountries,sailingsontheCaspian;
suchdifficulties,successes,——ultimately,failure。OwingtoMr。
EltonandThamasKouliKhanmainly。ThamasKouliKhan——otherwisecalledNadirShah(andaveryhard—headedfellow,byallappearance)——wiledandseducedMr。Elton,anEx—Navalgentleman,awayfromhisLedgers,tobuildhimShips;havingsethisheartongettingaNavy。AndMr。Eltondidbuildhim(spiteofallIcouldsay)aBarkortwoontheCaspian;——mosthopefultothesaidNadirShah;butdiditcometoanything?Itdisgusted,italarmedtheRussians;andruinedSirJonas,——whoisreturningatthisperiod,preparedtorenderaccountofhimselfatLondon,inaloftilyresignedframeofmind。[JonasHanway,AnAccountof&c。
(orinbrief,TRAVELS:London,3vols。4to,1753),ii。183。\"ArrivedinBerlin,\"fromtheCaspianandPetersburgside,\"August15th,1750。\"]
\"TheremarksofSirJonasuponBerlin——forheexerciseseverywhereasapientobservationonmenandthings——areofdimtumidlyinsignificantcharacter,remindingusofanextinctMinerva’sOwl;
andreducethemselvesmainlytothisbitofoculartestimony,ThathisPrussianMajestyridesmuchabout,oftenatarapidrate;
withapleasantbusinessaspect,humanethoughimperative;
handsometolookupon,thoughwithfaceperceptiblyreddish[andperhapssnuffonit,wereyounear]。Hisagenowthirty—eightgone;
asetappearance,asifalreadygotintohisforties。Complexionflorid,figuremuscular,almosttendingtobeplump。
\"ListenwellthroughHanway,youwillfindKingFriedrichisanobjectofgreatinterest,personalaswellasofficial,andmuchthethemeinBerlinsociety;admirationofhim,prideinhim,notnowtheaudiblesttone,thoughitliesatthebottomtoo:
’OurFriedrichtheGreat,’afterall[soHanwayintimates,thoughnotexpressastoepithetsorwordsused]。TheKingdidabeautifulthingtoLieutenant—ColonelKeiththeotherday[assomereadersmayremember]:toLieutenant—ColonelKeith;thatpoorKeithwhowasnailedtothegallowsforhim(ineffigy),atWesellongago;
andgotfarlessthanhehadexpected。Theotherday,therehadbeenagrandReview,partofitextendingintoMadamKnyphausen’sgrounds,whoisKeith’sMother—in—law。’MonsieurKeith,’saidtheKingtohim,’IamsorrywehadtospoilMadam’sfineshrubberybyourmanoeuvres:havethegoodnesstogiveherthat,withmyapologies,’——andhandedhimaprettyCasketwithkeytoit,andintheinterior10,000crowns。NotashrubofMadam’shadbeencutorinjured;buttheKing,yousee,wouldcountit1,500poundsofdamagedone,andhereisacknowledgmentforit,whichpleaseaccept。Isnotthatagraciouslittletouch?
\"ThisKingisdoingsomethingatEmbden,SirJonasfears,ortryingtodo,intheTrade—and—Navigationway;scandalousthatEnglishcapitalistswilllendmoneyinfurtheranceofsuchdestructiveschemesbytheForeigner!Fortherest,SirJonaswenttocallonLordMalton(MarquisofRockinghamthatwillbe):anamiableandsoberyoungNobleman,comethusfaronhisGrandTour,\"andintimefortheCarrousel。\"HisLordship’sreceptionatCourthere,oneregrettedtohear,wasnothingdistinguished;quiteindifferent,indeed,hadnottheQueen—Mothersteptinwithamendments。TheCourtsarenotwelltogether;pityforit。MyLordandhisTutordidmethehonortoreturnmyvisit;theratherasweallquarteredinthesameInn。AmiableyoungNobleman,\"——sodistinguishedsince,forhavinghadunconsciouslyanEdmundBurke,andsuchtorrentsofParliamentaryEloquence,inhisbreeches—pocket(BREECHES—POCKET
literally;howunknowntoHanway!)——\"AmiableyoungNobleman,isnotitone’sdutytosalute,inpassingsuchaone?ThoughIwouldbynomeanshaveitover—done,andamacalmlyindependentman。
\"SirJonasalsosawtheCarrousel[ofwhichpresently];andadmiredthegreatmenofBerlin。Greatmen,allobsoletenow,thoughthenadmiredtoinfinitude,someofthem:’Youmayabuseme,’saidtheKingtosomestrangerarrivedinBerlin;’youmayabuseme,andperhapshereandtheregetpraisebydoingit:butIadviseyounottodoubtofLieberkuhn[thefashionableDoctor]inanycompanyinBerlin,’\"[Hanway,ii。190,202,&c。]——Howfashionablearemen!
OneCollini,ayoungItalian,quitenewinBerlin,chancedalsotobeattheCarrousel,oratthelatterhalfofit,——thoughbynomeansinquestofsuchobjectsjustatpresent,pooryoungfellow!
AshecameafterwardstobeSecretaryorAmanuensisofVoltaire,andwillturnupinthatcapacity,letusreadthisNoteuponhim:——
\"SignorComoAlessandroCollini,ayoungVenetiangentlemanofsomefamilyandeducation,butofnoemploymentorresource,hadinlateyearsbeenaskingzealouslyallroundamonghishomecircle,WhatamItodowithmyself?mereechoanswering,What,——tillaSignoraSisterofBarberinatheDancer’sanswered:’TryBerlin,andKingFRIDERICOILGRANDEthere?IcouldgiveyoualettertomySister!’
AtwhichCollinigrasps;getsunderwayforBerlin,——throughwildAlpinesceneries,foreigngutturalpopulations;andwithwhatthoughts,pooryoungfellow。Itisacommoncoursetotake,andsometimesanswers,sometimesnot。Thecynosureofvaguecreatures,withasenseoffacultywithoutdirection。WhatcloudsofwingedmigratorypeoplegatheringintoBerlin,allthroughthisReign。
NotsinceNoah’sArkastrangermenagerieofcreatures,mostlywild。OfwhomVoltairealoneis,inourtime,worthmention。
\"CollinigazedupontheAlpinechasms,andshaggyice—palaces,withtendermemoryoftheAdriatic;courageouslysteeredhiswaythroughtheinoffensivegutturalpopulations;hadgottoBerlin,justinthistime;beenhadtodinnerdailybythehospitableBarberinas,youngCoccejialwayshisfellow—guest,——’Privately,mypoorSignorina’sHusband!’whisperedoldMamma。BoththeBarberinaswereverykindtoCollini;cheeringhimwithgoodauguries,andoffersofhelp。Collinidoesnotdatewithanypunctuality;buttheGermanBookswilldoitforhim。August25th—27thwasCarrousel;
andCollinihadarrivedfewdaysbefore。\"[Collini,MonSejouraupresdeVoltaire(Paris,1807),pp。1—21。]
AndnowitistimewewereattheCarrouselourselves,——inabrieftransientway。
ChapterVI。
BERLINCARROUSEL,ANDVOLTAIREVISIBLETHERE。
ReadershaveheardofthePLACEDUCARROUSELatParis;andknowprobablythatLouisXIV。heldworld—famousCarrouselthere(A。D。
1662);and,ingeneral,thatCarrouselhassomethingtodowithTourneying,ortheShadowofTourneying。Itis,infact,akindofsuperbbe—tailoredrunningatthering,insteadofbe—blacksmithedrunningatoneanother。ASecondmilderEditionofthoseTournamentsports,anddangeroustrialsofstrengthanddexterity,whichweresograndabusinessintheOldironAges。Ofwhich,intheformofCarrouselorotherwise,downalmosttothepresentday,therehavebeenexamples,amongpuissantLords;——thoughnowitisfelttohavebecomeextremelyhollow;perhapsincapableoffullyentertaininganybody,exceptchildrenandtheirnursesonahighoccasion。
Acenturyago,beforethevolcanicexplosionofsomanythingswhichithassincebecomewearisometothinkofinthisearnestworld,theTournament,emblemofanAgeofChivalry,whichwasgone:buthadnotyetdeclareditselftobequitegone,andeventobeturnedtopsy—turvy,hadstillsubstanceasamummery,——notenough,Ishouldsay,tospendmuchmoneyupon。Notmuchrealmoney:except,indeed,themoneywereofferedyougratis,fromotherpartiesinterested?SirJonaskindlyinformsus,byinsinuation,thatthiswas,toagooddegree,Friedrich’scaseinthenowCarrousel:\"athinggotupbytheprivateeffortsofdifferentgreatLordsandPrincesoftheblood;\"eachpartytailoring,harnessingandfurbishinghimselfandfollowers;
Friedrichcontributinglittlebutthearenaandgeneraloutfit。
Iknownotwhethereventhe40,000lamps(forittookplacebynight)wereofhispurchase,thoughthatislikely;andknowonlythattheSuppersandinteriorPalaceEntertainmentswouldbehis。
\"DidnotcosttheKingmuchmoney,\"saysSirJonas;whichissatisfactorytoknow。ForoftheCarrouselkind,oroftheRoyal—
Mummerykindingeneral,therehasbeen,forgracefularrangement,formagnificenceregardlessofexpense,——invitingyouramiableLordMalton,andtheidlersofallCountries,andawakeningtheraptureofGazetteers,——nothinglikeitsinceLouistheGrand’stime。
Nothing,——exceptperhapsthatCampofMuhlbergorRadowitz,whereweoncewere。Done,thisone,notattheKing’sexpensealone,butatotherpeople’schiefly:thatisanunexpectedfeature,welcomeiftrue;and,exceptforSirJonas,wouldnothavehelpedtoexplainthepuzzleforus,asitdidinthethenBerlincircles。
Muhlberg,inmyhumblejudgment,wasworthtwoofthisasaMummery;——butthemeritoriousfeatureofFriedrich’sis,thatitcosthimverylittle。
Itwas,sayallGazetteersandidleeye—witnesses,ahighlysplendidspectacle。BymuchthemosteffulgentexhibitionFriedrichevermadeofhimselfintheExpensive—Mummerydepartment:andI
couldgiveinextremedetailthephenomenaofit;but,inmercytopoorreaders,willnot。FancytheassiduoushammeringandsawingontheSchloss—Platz,amidcrowdsofgayloungers,givingcheerfulnoteofpreparation,inthoselatterdaysofAugust,1750。And,onWEDNESDAYNIGHT,25thAUGUST,lookandsee,——fortheduemomentsonly,andvaguelyenough(asinthefollowingExcerpt):——
PALACE—ESPLANADEOFBERLIN,25thAUGUST,1750(dusksinkingintodark):\"Underawindynocturnalsky,aspaciousParallelogram,enclosedforjoustingasatAspramontorTrebisond。Wideenougharenainthecentre;vastamphitheatreofwoodenseatsandpassages,firmcarpentryandfittedforitsbusiness,risingallround;Audience,selectthoughmultitudinous,sittingdecorousandgarrulous,saysincehalf—pasteight。Thereisroyalboxontheground—tier;andtheKinginit,King,withPrincessAmeliafortheprizes:oppositetothisisentrancefortheChevaliers,——fourseparateentrances,Ithink。Whocome,——lo,atlast!——withbreathingsandbigswellsofmusic,asResuscitationsfromtheburiedAges。
\"Theyareinfour’Quadrilles,’sotermed:Romans,Persians,Carthaginians,Greeks。FourJoustingParties,headedeachbyaPrinceoftheBlood:——withsuchasplendorofequipmentforjewels,silverhelmets,sashings,housings,aseyeneversaw。Prancingontheirgloriousbattle—steeds(sham—battle,steedsnotsham,butchampingtheirbitsasrealquadrupedswithfireintheirinterior):——howmanyinall,Iforgottocount。Perhaps,ontheaverage,sixtyineachQuadrille,fifteenofthempracticalRitters;therestmythologicwingedstandard—bearers,blackamoors,lictors,trumpetersandshiningmelodiousphantasmsasescort,——ofthislatterkindsayinroundnumbersTwoHundredaltogether;
andofactualRittersthreescore。[Blumenthal,LifeofDeZiethen(Ziethenwasinit,andgainedaprize),i。257—263etseq。;Voltaire’sLETTERStoNieceDenis(OEuvres,lxxiv。174,179,198);——andtwocontemporary4tosonthesubject,withDrawings&c。,whichmaywellcontinueunknowntoeveryreader。]Whorunatrings,atTurks’
heads,andatotherobjectswithdeath—doinglance;andpranceandflashandcareeralong:glorioustoseeandhear。Underproudflourishingsofdrumsandtrumpets,underburstsandbreathingsofwind—music;undertheshineofFortyThousandLamps,foroneitem。
AllBerlinandthenocturnalfirmamentlookingon,——nightrathergusty,’whichblewoutmanyofthelamps,’insinuatesHanway。
\"Aboutmidnight,BeautyintheformofPrincessAmeliadistributestheprizes;Musicfillingtheair;andhuman’EUGE’S,’andthesurvivinglamps,doingtheirbest。AfterwhichthePrincipalitiesandRitterswithdrawtotheirPalace,totheirBallsandtheirSupperofthegods;andalltheworldandhiswifegoeshomeagain,amidvariouscommentaryfromhighandlow。’JAMAIS,Never,’
murmuredonehighGentleman,oftheImpromptukind,atthePalaceSupper—table:——
’JamaisdansAtheneetdansRomeOnn’eutdeplusbeauxjours,nideplusdigneprix。
J’aivulefilsdeMarssouslestraitsdeParis,EtVenusquidonnaitlapomme。’\"
[NeverinAthensorRomeweretherebraversightsoraworthierprize:IhaveseenthesonofMars[KingFriedrich]withParis’sfeatures,andVenus[Amelia]crowningthevictorious。\"
(OEuvresdeVoltaire,xviii。320。]
AndAmphitheatreandLampslapsewhollyintodarkness,andthethinghasfinished,forthetimebeing。August27th,itwasrepeatedbydaylight:ifpossible,morecharmingthanever;butnottobespokenoffarther,underpenalties。Tobemildlyforgottenagain,everyjotandtittleofit,——exceptonesmallinsignificantiota,which,byaccident,stillmakesitremarkable。Namely,thatColliniandtheBarberinaswerethere;andthatnotonlywasVoltaireagainthere,amongthePrincesandPrincesses;butthatCollinisawVoltaire,andgivesustransientsightofhim,——thankstoCollini。Thursday,27thAugust,1750,wastheDaylightversionoftheCarrouse1;whichCollini,ifitwereofanymoment,takestohavePRECEDEDthatofthe40,000Lamps。SureenoughColliniwasthere,witheyesopen:——
\"MadamedeCocceji[soonemaycallher,thoughtheknownaliasisBarberina]hadengagedplaces;sheinvitedmetocomeandseethisFestivity。Wewent;\"andverygranditwas。\"ThePalace—Esplanadewaschanged\"bycarpentriesanddraperies\"intoavastAmphitheatre;theslopesofitfurnishedwithbenchesforthespectators,andatthefourcornersofitandatthebottom,magnificentlydecoratedboxesfortheCourt。\"VastovalAmphitheatre,theinteriorarenarectangular,withitsFourEntrances,oneforeachoftheFourQuadrilles。\"Theassemblagewasnumerousandbrilliant:alltheCourthadcomefromPotsdamtoBerlin。
\"AlittlewhilebeforetheKinghimselfmadeappearance,thererosesuddenlyamurmurofadmiration,andIheardallroundme,fromeverybody,thename’Voltaire!Voltaire!’Lookingdown,IsawVoltaireaccordingly;amongagroupofgreatlords,whowerewalkingovertheArena,towardsoneoftheCourtBoxes。Heworeamodestcountenance,butjoypainteditselfinhiseyes:youcannotloveglory,andnotfeelgratefullytheprizeattachedtoit,\"——
attainedashere。\"Ilostsightofhiminfewinstants,\"asheapproachedhisBox\"theplacewhereIwasnotpermittingfartherview。\"[Collini,MonSejour,p。21。]
ThiswasCollini’sfirstsightofthatgreatman(DECEGRAND
HOMME)。Withwhom,thankstoBarberina,hehad,inadayortwo,thehonorofanInterview(judgmentfavorable,hecouldhope);
andbeforemanymonths,Accidentalsofavoring,theinexpressiblehonorofseeinghimselfthegreatman’sSecretary,——howfarbeyondhopeoraspiration,intheseCarrouseldays!
VoltairehadnowbeenheresomeSevenWeeks,——arrived10thJuly,asweoftennote;——after(onhisownpart)agreatdealofhaggling,hesitatingandnegotiating;whichwespareourreaders。ThepoormanhavingnowbecomeaQuasi—Widower;painfullyrallying,withhiswholestrength,towardsnewarrangements,——nowwasthetimeforFriedrichtourgehim:\"Cometome!Awayfromallthatdismalimbroglio;hither,Isay!\"TowhichVoltaireisnotinattentive;
thoughhehesitates;cannot,inanycase,comewithoutdelay;——
lingersinParis,readjustingmanythings,thepoorshipwreckedbeing,amongkindD’Argentalsandfriends。PoorIshmael,gettinggray;andhistentinthedesertsuddenlycarriedoffbyablastofwind!
TothelegalWidower,M。leMarquis,hebehavesinmoneymatterslikeaPrince;takesthatParisDomicile,intheRueTraversiere,alltohimself;institutesanewhouseholdthere,——NieceDenistobefemalepresident。NieceDenis,widowwithoutencumbrances;
whominhermarriedstate,wifetosomekindofCommissariat—
OfficeratLille,wehaveseentransientlyinthatCity,herUnclelodgingwithherashepassed。Agadding,flaunting,unreasonable,would—befashionablefemale——(aDuChateletwithoutthegraceorgenius,andwhoneverwasinlovewithyou!)——withwhompoorUnclehadabaddishlifeintimecoming。Allwhichsettled,hestilllingers。Widowed,grownoldandlessadventurous!’ThatHouseintheRueTraversiere,oncehisandAnother’s,nowhisalone,——forthetimebeing,itisprobablymorelikeaMausoleumthanaHousetohim。AndVersailles,withitssulkyTrajans,itsCrebilloncabals,whatcharmisinVersailles?HethinksofgoingtoItalyforawhile;hasneverseenthatfineCountry:ofgoingtoBerlinforawhile:ofgoingto——Infact,Berlinisclearlytheplacewherehewillland;buthehesitatesgreatlyaboutliftinganchor。
Friedrichinsists,inabright,bantering,kindlyway;\"Youwereduetomeayearago;yousaidalways,’Sosoonasthelying—inisover,Iamyours:’——andnow,whydon’tyoucome?\"
Friedrich,sincetheymetlast,hashadsomeexperiencesofVoltaire,whichhedoesnotlike。Theirroads,truly——oneadulatingTrajaninVersailles,andgrowinggreatby\"FarcesoftheFair;\"
theotherbattlingforhisexistenceagainstmenanddevils,TrajanandCompanyincluded——havelainfarapart。TheirCorrespondenceperceptiblylanguishing,inconsequence,andevenrumorsrisingonthesubject,Voltairewroteonce:\"Givemeayardofribbon,Sire[yourORDEROFMERIT,Sire],tosilencethosevilerumors!\"
WhichFriedrich,onsuchfree—and—easyterms,hadsilentlydeclined。\"Ameddlesome,forwardkindoffellow;alwaysgettingintoscrapesandbrabbles!\"thinksFriedrich。Butisreallyanxious,nowthatthechanceoffersagain,tohavesuchaLeviteforhisPriest,theevidentpinkofHumanIntellect;andtriesvariousincitementsuponhim;——hitsatlast(Iknownotwhetherbydeviceorbyaccident)ononewhich,saytheFrenchBiographers,didraiseVoltaireandsethimunderway。
AcertainM。Baculardd’Arnaud,aconceited,foolishyoungfellow,muchpatronizedbyVoltaire,andgiventowriteverses,whichareunknowntome,hasbeen,onVoltaire’srecommending,\"LiteraryCorrespondent\"toFriedrich(ParisBook—Agentandthelike)forsometimepast;correspondingmuchwithPotsdam,inawayfoundentertaining;andisnow(April,1750)actuallygoingthither,toFriedrich’sCourt,orperhapshasgone。Atanyrate,Friedrich——byaccidentorbydevice——hadansweredsomerhymesofthisD’Arnaud,\"Yes;welcome,youngsunrise,sinceVoltaireisabouttoset!\"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。95(Verses\"AD’ARNAUD,\"ofdateDecember,1749。)]Ihopeitwasbydevice;
D’Arnaudissuchasillyfellow;tooabsurd,toreckonasmorningtoanybody’ssunset。Exceptforhisinvoluntaryservice,forandagainst,inthisVoltaireJourney,hisnamewouldnotnowbementionableatall。\"Sunset?\"exclaimedVoltaire,springingoutofbed(saytheBiographers),andskippingaboutindignantlyinhisshirt:\"IwillshowthemIamnotsetyet!\"[Duvernet(Second),p。159。]AndinstantlyresolvedontheBerlinExpedition。WenttoCompiegne,wheretheCourtthenwas;tobidhisadieus;naytoaskformallytheRoyalleave,——forweareHistoriographerandtitularGentlemanoftheChamber,andKing’sservantinasense。Leavewasatoncegrantedhim,almosthuffingly;wehopenotwithtoomuchreadiness?Forthisisaticklishpoint:oneisgoingtoPrussia\"onaVisit\"merely(thoughitmaybelongish);onewouldnothavethedoorofFranceslammedtobehindone!ThetoneatCourtdidseemalittlesuccinct,somethingalmostofsneerinit。ButfromthePompadourherselfallwasfriendly;merewitty,cheerygraciosities,and\"MyComplimentstohisMajestyofPrussia,\"——
Complimentshowansweredwhentheycametohand:\"JENELA
CONNAISPAS!\"
Inshort,M。deVoltairemadeallhisarrangements;gotunderway;
piouslyvisitedFontenoyandtheBattle—fieldsinpassing:andishere,sinceJuly10th,——inverygreatsplendor,aswesee:——onhisFifthVisittoFriedrich。Fifth;whichprovedhisLast,——andisstillextremelycelebratedintheworld。VisitmuchmisunderstoodinFranceandEngland,downtothisday。Bynomeanssortedoutintoaccuracyandintelligibility;butleftas(whatissayingagreatdeal!)probablythewastestchaosofalltheSectionsofFriedrich’sHistory。Andhas,aloneofthem,goneoverthewholeworld;beingwithalamusingtoread,andthereforewellandwidelyremembered,inthatmendaciousandsemi—intelligiblestate。Tolaythesegoblins,fullofnoise,ignoranceandmendacity,andgivesometrueoutlineofthematter,withwhatbrevityisconsistentwithdecipheringitatall,isnowoursadtask,——laborious,perhapsdisgusting;notimpossible,ifreaderswillloyallyassist。
VoltairehadtakeneveryprecautionthatthisVisitshouldsucceed,oratleastbenolosstooneoftheparties。InapreliminaryLetterfromParis,——proseandverse,oneofthecleverestdiplomaticpieceseverpenned;Letterreallyworthlookingat,cunningasthesongofApollo,Voltairesymbolicallyintimates:
\"Well,Sire,youroldDanae,poormalingeringoldwretch,iscomingtoherJove。ItisJoveshewants,nottheShowerofJove;
nevertheless\"——AndFriedrich(thankHanbury,inpart,forthatbitofknowledge)hadremittedhiminhardmoney600pounds\"topaythetollsonhisroad。\"[Walpole,i。451(\"HaditfromPrincessAmeliaherself\");seeVoltairetoFriedrich,\"Paris,9thJune,1750;\"
FriedrichtoVoltaire,\"Potsdam,24thMay\"(OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiv。158,155)。]Asahighgentlemanwould;tohavedonewiththosebaseelementsofthebusiness。
Nayfurthermore,preciselytwodaysbeforethosesplendorsoftheCarrousel,Friedrich,——inanswertonewcunningcroakeriesandcontrivances(\"Sire,thisLetterfrommyNiece,whoisinconsolablethatIshouldthinkofstayinghere;\"where,findingoneselfsodivinized,oneisdisposedtostay),——hasansweredhimlikeaKing:
ByGoldKeyofChamberlain,CrossoftheOrderofMerit,andPensionof20,000francs(850pounds)ayear,——conveyedinasroyalaLetterofBusinessasIhaveoftenread;melodiousasApollo,thistoo,thoughallinbusinessprose,and,likeApollo,practicalGodoftheSUNinthiscase。[\"Berlin,23dAugust,1750\"
(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。255);——VoltairetoNieceDenis,\"24thAugust\"(misprinted\"14th\");toD’Argental,\"28thAugust\"(OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiv。
185,196)。]Dated23dAugust,1750。ThisLetterofFriedrich’sI
fancytobewhatVoltairecalls,\"YourMajesty’sgraciousAgreementwithme,\"andoftenappealsto,insubsequenttroubles。NotquiteaNotarialPiece,onFriedrich’spart;butstrictlyobservedbyhimassuch。
Fourdaysafterwhich,ColliniseesVoltaireserenelyshiningamongthePrincesandPrincessesoftheworld;Amphitheatreallwhisperingwithbatedbreath,\"Voltaire!Voltaire!\"ButletushearVoltairehimself,fromtheinteriorofthePhenomenon,atthisitsculminatingpoint:——
VoltairetohisD’Argentals,——toNieceDeniseven,withwhom,ifwithnoother,heisquitewithoutreserve,inshowingthebadandthegood,——continuesradiantlyeloquentinthesefirstmonths:……\"Carrousel,twiceover;thelikeneverseenforsplendor,for[rathercopiousonthissublimity]——AfterwhichweplayedROME
SAUVEE[myAnti—Crebillonmasterpiece],inaprettylittleTheatre,whichIhavegotconstructedinthePrincessAmelia’sAntechamber。
I,whospeaktoyou,IplayedCICERO。\"Yes;andwasmanagerandgeneralstage—kingandcontriver;beingexpertatthis,ifatanything。AndthesebeautifulTheatricalshadbegunweeksago,andstilllastedmanyweeks;[Rodenbeck,\"August—October,\"1750。]——withsuchdivineconsultings,directings,evenorderingsofthebrilliantRoyaltiesconcerned。——Duvernet(probablyonD’Arget’sauthority)informsusthat\"once,inoneoftheinter—acts,findingthesoldiersallowedhimforPretorianGuardsnottounderstandtheirbusinesshere,\"nothere,astheydidatHohenfriedbergandelsewhere,\"Voltaireshrilledvolcanicallyouttothem[happilyunintelligible):’F————,Deviltakeit,Iaskedformen;andtheyhavesentmeGermans(J’AIDEMANDEDESHOMMES,ETL’ONM’ENVOIEDES
ALLEMANDS)!’AtwhichthePrincessesweregood—naturedenoughtoburstintolaughter。\"[Duvernet(Second),p。162,——timeprobably15thOctober。]Voltairecontinues:\"ThereisanEnglishAmbassadorherewhoknowsCicero’sOrationsINCATILINAMbyheart;\"anexcellentEtonian,surely。\"ItisnotMilordTyrconnell\"
(blusterousIrishJacobite,OURAmbassador,notehim,fatValorihavingbeenrecalled);no,\"itistheEnvoyfromEngland,\"
ExcellencyHanburyhimself,whoknowshisCicerobyheart。\"HehassentmesomefineversesonROMESAUVEE;hesaysitismybestwork。ItisaPieceappropriateforMinisterialpeople;MadamelaChanceliere,\"Cocceji’sbetterhalf,\"iswellpleasedwithit。
[OEuvres,lxxiv。(LETTERS,totheD’ArgentalsandDenis,\"20thAugust—23dSeptember,1750\"),pp。187,219,231,&c。&c。]Andthen,\"——Butenough。
InPrincessAmelia’sAntechamber,thereorinothercelestialplaces,inPalaceafterPalace,itgoeson。Gayetysucceedinggayety;merePrincessesandPrincesdoingparts;inROMESAUVEE,andinmasterpiecesofVoltaire’s,VoltairehimselfactingCICERO
andelderlycharacters,LUSIGNANandthelike。Excellentinacting,saythewitnesses;superlative,forcertain,asPreceptoroftheart,——thoughimpatientnowandthen。AndwearssuchJewel—ornaments(borrowedpartlyfromaHebrew,ofwhomanon),suchmagnificenceoftastefuldress;——andwalkshisminuetamongtheMorningStars。NottomentiontheSuppersoftheKing:chosencircle,withtheKingforcentre;aradiantFriedrichflashingouttorightandleft,tillallkindlesintocoruscationroundhim;anditissuchablazeofspiritualsheet—lightnings,——wonderfultothinkof;Voltaireespeciallyelectric。Never,orseldom,wereseensuchsuppers;
suchalifeforaSupremeManofLetterssofittedwiththeplaceduetohim。Smelfungussays:——
\"AndsoyourSupremeofLiteraturehasgotintohisdueplaceatlast,——atthetopoftheworld,namely;though,alas,butformomentsorformonths。TheKing’sownFriend;hewhomtheKingdelightstohonor。ThemostshiningthinginBerlin,atthismoment。VirtuallyakindofPAPA,orIntellectualFatherofMankind,\"sneersSmelfungus;\"Popeimprovisedforthenonce。
ThenewFridericusMagnusdoesastheoldPipinus,oldCarolusMagnusdid:recognizeshisPope,indespiteofthebasevulgar;
elevateshimaloftintoworship,forthevulgarandforeverybody!
CarolusMagnusdidthatthrice—salutaryfeat[sublimelyhuman,ifyouthinkofit,andforlongcenturiessuccessfulmoreorless];
FridericusMagnus,underotheromens,unconsciouslydoesthelike,——thebesthecan!LettheOperaFiddlers,theFrerons,TravenolsandDesfontaines—of—Sodom’sGhostlookandconsider!\"——
MadameDenis,anexpensivegayLady,stillonlyinherthirties,improvablebyrouge,carriesongreatworkintheRueTraversiere;
privatetheatricals,suppers,flirtationswithItaliantravellingMarquises;——findsIntendantLongchampmuchinherway,withhisrigorousaccount—books,andrestrictionto100louispermonth;
wishesevenherUnclewereback,andcautionshim,NottobelieveinFriedrich’sflatteringunctions,orputhistrustinPrincesatall。Voltaire,withtheduepreliminaries,showsFriedrichherLetter,oneofherLetters,[Nowlost,asmostofthemare;
Voltaire’sAnswertoit,alreadycited,is\"24thAugust,1750\"
(misprinted\"14thAugust,\"OEuvres,lxxiv。
185;seeIB。lxxv。135);KingFriedrich’sPRACTICALAnswer(somunificenttoDenisandVoltaire),\"YourMajesty’sgraciousAgreement,\"boredate\"August23d。\"]——withresultaswesawabove。
Formeysays:\"IntheCarnivaltime,whichVoltaireusuallypassedatBerlin,inthePalace,peoplepaidtheircourttohimastoadeclaredFavorite。Princes,Marshals,MinistersofState,ForeignAmbassadors,Lordsofthehighestrank,attendedhisaudience;
andwerereceived,\"saysFormey,nowherefreefromspiteonthissubject,\"inasufficientlyloftystyle(HAUTEURASSEZ
DEDAIGNEUSE)。[Formey,Souvenirs,i。235,236。]AgreatPrincehadthecomplaisancetoplaychesswithhim;
andtolethimwinthepistolesthatwerestaked。Sometimeseventhepistoledisappearedbeforetheendofthegame,\"continuesFormey,greenwithspite;——andreportsthatsadstoryofthecandle—ends;bitsofwax—candle,whichshouldhaveremainedasperquisitetothevalets,butwhichwereconfiscatedbyVoltaireandsentacrosstothewax—chandler’s。So,doubtless,thespitefulrumorran;probablylittlebutspiteandfable,Berlinbeingbitterinitsgossip。StupidThiebaultrepeatsthatofthecandle—ends,likeathinghehadseen(twelveyearsBEFOREhisarrivalinthoseparts);andaddsthatVoltaire\"puttheminhispocket,\"——likeonebothstupidandsordid。Alas,thebrighteryourshine,theblackeristheshadowyoucast。
Friedrich,withtheknowledgehealreadyhadofhisyoke—fellow,——
oneofthemostskittish,explosive,unrulycreaturesinharness,——
cannotbecountedwisetohaveplungedsoheartilyintosuchanadventurewithhim。\"AnundoubtedCourseroftheSun!\"thoughtFriedrich;——andforgottoomuchthesignsofbadgoinghehadsometimesnoticedinhimonthecommonhighways。ThereisnodoubthewasperfectlysincereandsimpleinallthishightreatmentofVoltaire。\"Theforemost,literaryspiritoftheworld,amantobehonoredbyme,andbyallmen;theTrismegistusofHumanIntellects,whataconquesttohavemade;howcheapisalittlemoney,alittlepatienceandguidance,forsuchsolacementandornamenttoone’sbarrenLife!\"Hehadrashlyhopedthatthedreamsofhisyouthcouldherebystillbealittlerealized;andsomethingoftheoldReinsbergProgrambecomeafruitfulandblessedfact。
FriedrichisloyallygladoverhisVoltaire;eagerinallwaystocontenthim,makehimhappy;andkeephimhere,astheTalkingBird,theSingingTreeandtheGoldenWaterofintelligentmankind;
thegloryofone’sownCourt,andtheenvyoftheworld。
\"WillteachusthesecretoftheMuses,too;FrenchMuses,andhelpusinourbitsofLiterature!\"Thislatter,too,isaconsiderationwithFriedrich,aswhyshoulditnot,——thoughbynomeansthesoleorchiefone,astheFrenchgiveitouttobe。
Onhisside,Voltaireisnotdisloyaleither;butisnothinglikesocompletelyloyal。Hehas,andcontinuedalwaystohave,notunmixedwithfear,arealadmirationforFriedrich,thatterriblepracticalDoer,withthecuttingbrilliancesofmindandcharacter,andtheirrefragablecommonsense;nayhehasevenakindoflovetohim,orsomethinglikeit,——lovemadeupofgratitudeforpastfavors,andlivelyanticipationoffuture。Voltaireis,bynature,anattachedorattachablecreature;flingingoutfondboughstoeverykindofexcellence,andespeciallyholdingfirmbyoldtieshehadmade。Onefanciesinhimamixedsetofemotions,directandreflex,——theconsciousnessofsafeshelter,weretherenothingmore;ofglorytooneself,derivedandstillderivablefromthishighman:——infine,asum—totalofactualdesiretolivewithKingFriedrich,whichmight,surely,havealmostsufficedevenforVoltaire,inaquieterelement。Buttheelementwasnotquiet,——farfromit;norwasVoltaireeasilysufficeable!
PERPETUALPRESIDENTMAUPERTUISHASAVISITFROMONEKONIG,OUTOFHOLLAND,CONCERNINGTHEINFINITELYLITTLE。
WhetherMaupertuis,inredwigwithyellowbottom,sawthesehighgauderiesoftheCarrousel,thePlaysinPrincessAmelia’sAntechamber,andtherestofit,Idonotknow:butifso,hewasnotinthetopplace;nordidanybodytakenoticeofhim,aseverybodydidofVoltaire。Meanwhile,Ihavesomethingtoquote,asabridgedanddistilledfromvarioussources,chieflyfromFormey;
whichwillbeofmuchconcernmentfartheron。
SomefourweeksafterthoseCarrouseleffulgencies,PerpetualPresidentMaupertuishadavisit(September21st,justwhiletheSunwascrossingtheLine;thankstoFormeyforthedate,whokeepsaNote—book,usefulintheseintricacies):visitfromProfessorKonig,aneffectivemathematicalmanfromtheDutchparts。
Whomreadershaveforgottenagain;thoughtheysawhimonce:
inviolentquarrel,abouttheInfinitelyLittle,withMadameduChatelet,Voltairewitnessingwithpain;——itwasjustastheyquittedCireytogether,tenyearsago,forthesenewcoursesofadventure。Doreadersrecallthecircumstance?Maupertuis,refereeinthatquarrel,had,withabluntnessoffensivetothefemalemind,declaredKonigindisputablyintheright;andtherehadfollowedadrynessbetweenthedivineEmilieandtheFlatteneroftheEarth,scarcelytobehealedbyVoltaire’sbestefforts。
Konighasgonehisroadsincethen;becomeafinesolidfellow;
ProfessorinaDutchUniversity;morelatterlyLibrariantotheDutchStadtholder:stillfrankofspeech,andwitharuggedfree—
and—easyturn,butofmanfulmanners;reallyapersonofvariousculture,andasisstillnoticeable,ofasolidgeometricturnofmind。Havingnow,asLibrarianattheHague,moreleisureandmoremoney,hehasmadearuntoBerlin,——chieflyorentirelytoseehisMaupertuisagain,whomhestillremembersgratefullyashisfirstPatroninoldertimes,andamanofsoundparts,thoughratherblusterousnowandthen,Alittlebitofscientificbusinessalsohehaswithhim。KonigisMemberoftheBerlinAcademy,forsomeyearsback;andthereisathinghewouldspeakwiththePerpetualPresidentupon。\"WantsnothingelseinBerlin,\"saysFormey:
ahearingbytheroadthatMaupertuiswasnotthere,hehadactuallyturnedhomewardsagain:butgottruertidings,andcameon。\"Themorewasthepity,asperhapswillappear!\"HearrivedSeptember20th[ifyouwillbeparticularoncheese—parings];
calledonmethatday,beinglodgedinmyneighborhood;andnextday,foundMaupertuisathome;\"[Formey,i。176—179。]——andflewintohisarmsagain,likeagoodboylongabsent。
Maupertuis,notmanymonthsago,had,inTwosuccessivePapers,I
thinkTwo,communicatedtotheAcademyaDiscoveryofMetaphysico—
MathematicaloraltogetherMetaphysicalnature,ontheLawsofMotion;——Discoverywhichhehas,sincethat,broughttocompleteperfection,andsentforthtotheUniverseatlarge,inhissublimelittleBookofCOSMOLOGY;[InLaBeaumelle,ViedeMaupertuis(Paris,1856),pp。105—130,confusedaccountofthis\"Discovery,\"andofthegradualPublicationofittomankind,——verygradual;firstofallintheoldParistimes;
intheBerlinACADEMYlatterly;andinfine,toalltheworld,inthisESSAIDECOSMOLOGIE(Berlin,Summerof1750)。]——gratefulAcademystrivingtoadmire,andbelieve,withitsPerpetualPresident,thattheDiscoverywassublimetoadegree;secondonlytotheflatteningoftheEarth;andwouldprobablystandthenceforthasamilestoneintheProgressofHumanThought。
\"WhichDiscovery,then?\"Benottoocurious,reader;takeonlyofitwhatshallconcernyou!
Itiswellknowntherehavebeen,tothemetaphysicalhead,difficultiesalmostinsuperableastoHow,intheSystemofNature,Motionis?How,inthenameofwonder,itcanbe;andeven,Whetheritisatall?Difficultiestothemetaphysicalhead,stickingitsnoseintothegutterthere;——notdifficulttomyreadersandme,whocanatalltimeswalkacrosstheroom,andtriumphantlygetoverthem。Butstickyournoseintoanygutter,entity,orobject,thisofMotionoranother,withobstinacy,——youwilleasilydrown,ifthatbeyourdetermination!——Sufficeitforustoknowinthismatter,thatMaupertuis,intenselywatchingNature,hasdiscovered,Thatthekeyofherenigma(oratleasttheultimatecentralDOOR,whichhidesallherMotionalenigmas,thekeytoWHICHcannotevenbeimaginedasdiscoverable!)is,that\"NatureissuperlativelyTHRIFTYinthisaffairofmotion;\"thatsheemploys,foreveryMotiondoneordo—able,\"aMINIMUMOFACTION;\"andthat,ifyouwellunderstandthis,youwill,atleast,announceallherproceduresinoneproposition,andhavefoundtheDOORwhichleadstoeverything。Whichwillbeacomforttoyou;stilllookingvainlyforthekey,ifthereisstillnokeyconceivable。
PerpetualPresidentMaupertuis,havingsurprisedNatureinthismanner,readPapersuponittoanAcademylisteningwithupturnedeyes;newPapers,perfectedoutofold,——forhehaslongbeenhatchingthesePhoenix—eggs;andhassentthemoutcomplete,quitelately,inalittleBookcalledCOSMOLOGIE,wherealoneIhavehadthequestionablebenefitofreadingthem。Grandlybrief,asifcomingfromDelphi,theutteranceis;loftilysolemn,elaboratelymodest,abstrusetothenowhumanmind;butintelligible,haditonlybeenworthunderstanding:——apainfullittleBook,thatCOSMOLOGIE,asthePerpetualPresident’sgenerallyare。\"MinimumofAction,LOID’EPARGNE,LawofThrift,\"hecallsthissublimeDiscovery;——thinksitwillbeSovereigninNaturalTheologyaswell:\"ForhowcouldNaturebeaSave—all,withoutDesignerpresent?\"——andspeaks,ofcourse,amongothertechnicalpoints,about\"VISVIVA,orVelocitymultipliedbytheSquareoftheTime:\"
whichtwopoints,\"LOID’EPARGNE,\"andthat\"theVISVIVAisalwaysaMinimum,\"thereadercantakealongwithhim;IwillpermithimtoshaketheothersintoLimboagain,asforgettablebyhumannatureatthisepochandhenceforth。
InLaBeaumelle’sViedeMaupertuis(printedatlast,Paris,1856,afterlyingnearlyacenturyinmanuscript,anobtuseworthlessleadenlittleBook),thereismuchlouddroninganddetailing,aboutthisCOSMOLOGIE,thissublime\"Discovery,\"andtheothersublimeDiscoveries,InsightsandApocalypticUtterancesofMaupertuis;thoughinsoconfusedafashion,itisseldomyoucanhavethepoorpleasureoflearningexactlywhen,orexceptbyyourownseverescrutiny,exactlywhat。Forreasonsthatwillappear,certainofthoseApocalypticUtterancesbyPerpetualPresidentMaupertuishavesincegotanewinterest,andonehasactuallyakindofwishtoreadtheIPSISSIMAVERBAofthem,atthisdate!ButinLaBeaumelle(hismodernEditorlyingfastasleepthroughout)thereisnovestigeofhelp。NayMaupertuis’sownBook,[OEuvresdeMaupertuis,Lyon,1756,4vols。
4to。]luxuriouscream—paperQuartos,orOctavesmadefour—squarebymargin,——whichyoubuyfortheseandthecognateobjects,——provesaltogetherworthlesstoyou。TheMaupertuisQuartosarenotreadablefortheirownsake(solemnlyemphaticstatementofwhatyoualreadyknow;concentratedstruggletogetonwing,andfailurebysonarrowamiss;strugglewhichgetsonlyontiptoe,andwon’tceasewrigglingandflapping);andthen(toyourhorror)theyprovetobecarefullycleanedofalltheMaupertuis—VOLTAIREmatter;——
editionbeingSUBSEQUENTtothatworld—famousexplosion。
CAVEATEMPTOR。——OurExcerptproceeds:——
\"IndustriousKonig,likeothermathematicalpeople,hasbeenlisteningtotheseOraclesonthe’LawofMinimum,’bythePerpetualPresident;andgrievestofind,afterstudy,ThatsaidLawdoesnotquitehold;thatinfactitis,likeDescartes’soldkeyorgeneraldoor,worthlittleornothing;asLeibnitzlongagoseemstohavetransientlyrecognized。Konighasputhisstricturesonpaper:butwillnotdreamofpublishing,tillthePerpetualPresidenthaveexaminedthemandsatisfiedhimself;andthatisKonig’sbusinessatpresent,asheknocksonMaupertuis,whileSoliscrossingtheLine。MaupertuishasaHouseoftheduestyle:
WifeadaughterofMinisterBorck’s(highBorcks,’oldastheDIUVEL’);nochildren;——hisbackcourtsalwaysagooddealdirtywithpelicans,bustards,perhapssnakesandotherzoologicalwretches,whichsometimesintrudeintothedrawing—rooms,otherwiseveryfine。Amanofsomewhims,somehabits;arbitrarybynature,butreallyhonest,thoughrathersublimishinhisinterior,withredWigandyellowbottom。
\"Konig,allfilialgladness,isreceivedgladly;——though,bydegrees,withsomesurprise,onthepaternalpart,tofindKonigripenedoutofson,clientandpupil,intoindependentpostureofagrownman。Franklycertainenoughabouthimself,andabouttheaxiomsofmathematics。Standing,evidently,onhisownlegs;
kindlyasever,butonthesenewterms,——infactratheranoutspokenfree—and—easyfellow(Ishouldguess),notthinkingthatoffencecanbetakenamongfriends。Formeyconfesses,thiswasuncomfortabletoMaupertuis;infact,ashockwhichhecouldnotrecoverfrom。Theyhadvariousmeetings,overdinneraudotherwise,atthePerpetualPresident’s,forperhapstwoweeksatthistime(datesalltobehadinFormey’sNote—book,ifanybodywouldconsult);inthewholecourseofwhichtheshocktothePerpetualPresidentincreased,insteadofdiminishing。RepublicanfreedomandequalityisevidentlyKonig’smethod;KonigheedsnotawhittheoraculartalentormajesticpositionofMaupertuis;argueswiththefrankestlogic,whenhefeelsdissent;——drivesamajesticPerpetualPresident,especiallyinthepresenceofthirdparties,muchoutofpatience。Thus,oneevening,replyingtosomeargumentofthePerpetualPresident’s,hebegins:’Mypoorfriend,MONPAUVREAMI,don’tyouperceive,then’——UponwhichMaupertuissprangfromhischair,violentlystamping,andpirouettedroundtheroom,’Poorfriend,poorfriend?areyousorich:then!’frankKonigmerelygrinningtilltheparoxysmpassed。[Formey,i。177。]Konigwenthomeagain,REINFECTAabouttheendofthemonth。\"
SuchaKonig——hadbetternothavecome!AstohisstricturesontheLAWOFTHRIFT,thearguingsonthem,alonetogether,orwithfriendsby,merelysetMaupertuispirouetting:andastotheKonigManuscriptsonthem\"tobepublishedintheLeipzigACTA,afteryourremarksandpermission,\"MaupertuisabsolutelyrefusedtolookatsaidManuscripts:\"Publishthemthere,here,everywhere,intheDevilandhisGrandmother’sname;andthenthereisanend,Monsieur!\"Konigwenthiswaystherefore,findingnothingelseforit;publishedhisstrictures,intheLeipzigACTAinMarchnext,——
andneversawMaupertuisagain,foroneresult,outofseveralthatfollowed!IhavenodoubthewasouttoVoltaire,morethanonce,inthisfortnight;andeat\"theKing’sroast\"pleasantlywiththateminentoldfriend。VoltairealwaysthoughthimaBONGARCON
(justly,byalltheevidenceIhave);andfindshistalkagreeable,andhisBerlinnews——especiallythatofMaupertuisandhisexplosivepirouettings。Adieu,HerrProfessor;youknownot,withyourLeipzigACTAandFragmentofLeibnitz,whatanexplosionyouarepreparing!