afterwhichHirschwrites:）\"APROUVE，A。Hirschel。\"[Sic:thatisalwayshisSIGNATURE；\"AbrahamHirschEL，\"sogivenbyKlein，whileKleinandeverybodyCALLhimHirsch（STAG），aswehavedone，——ifonlytosaveasyllableonthebadbargain。]Andbetweenthesetwolines（\"……1750\"and\"APPROVED……\"），thereiscrushedin，asafterthought，\"VALUEDBYMYSELF[Hirsch’sself]，2，940，ADD60，IS
3，000。\"And，infine，belowtheHirschsignature，onwhatmaybecalledthebottommargin，thereis，——Ithink，avowedlyVoltaire’sandsubsequent，——this:\"N。B。thatHirsch’svaluingofallthejewels[presentlotandformerlot]is，byrealestimation，betweentwiceandthricetoohigh；\"ofwhich，itishoped，yourLordshipswilltakenotice！
WasthereeverseensuchaPaper；oneendofitcontradictingtheother？PaymentTOM。deVoltaire，andpaymentBYM。deVoltaire；——
withotherblottingsandfoistings，whichprintanditalicswillnotrepresent！HirschdeniesheeversignedthisPaper。Isnotthatyourwriting，then:\"APROUVE，A。Hirschel\"？——\"No！\"andtheyconvicthimoffalsityinthatrespect:thesignatureIShis，butthePaperhasbeenalteredsincehesignedit。Thatiswhatthepoordarkmortalmeanttoexpress；andinhismulishway，hehasexpressedintoafalsitywhatwasinitselfatruth。Thereisnot，oncandidexaminationofKlein’sFac—similesandtheotherevidence，thesmallestdoubtbutVoltairealtered，addedandintercalated，inhisownprivacy，thosewordswhichwehaveprintedinitalics；
TAXESchangedintoTAXABLES（\"estimatedat\"into\"estimableat\"），HIMforME，andsoon；andaboveall，thenowfirstlineofthePaper，FORPAYMENTOF3，000THALERSBYMEDUE，andinlastlinethewordsVALUEDBYMYSELF，&c。，arepalpableinterpolations，sheerfalsifications，whichHirschismadetocontinuesigningafterhisbackisturned！
Nofactismorecertain；andfewaresadderinthehistoryofM。deVoltaire。TothatlengthhashebeendrivenbystressofFortune。
Nay，whentheJudges，nothidingtheirsurpriseattheformofthisDocument，asked，Willyouswearitisallgenuine？Voltaireanswered，\"Yes，certainly！\"——forwhatwillapoormannotdoinextremestressofFortune？Hirsch，asaJew，isnotpermittedtomakeoath，whereaQuasi—Christianwillsweartothecontrary，orhegladlywould；andmightjustly。TheJudges，willingtopreventchanceofperjury，didnotbringVoltairetoswearing，butcontrivedawaytojusticewithoutthat。
FEBRUARY18th，1751，theCourtarrivesataconclusion。Hirsch’sDiamonds，whatevermayhavebeenwrittenorforged，arenot，norwere，worthmorethantheirvalue，thinktheJudges。TheParisBillisadmittedtobeVoltaire’s，notHirsch’s，continuethey；——andifHirschcanprovethatVoltairehaschangedtheDiamonds，notalikelyfact，lethimdoso。Therestdoesnotconcernus。Andtothateffect，ontheaboveday，runstheirSentence:\"You，Hirsch，shallrestoretheParisBill；mutualPaperstobeallrestored，orlegallyannihilated。JewelstobevaluedbyswornExperts，andpaidforatthatprice。Hirsch，ifhecanprovethattheJewelswerechanged，haslibertytotryit，inanewAction。Hirsch，forfalselydenyinghisSignature，isfinedtenthalers（thirtyshillings），suchliebeingacontemptofcourt，whatevermore。\"
\"Ha，fined，youJewVillain！\"hystericallyshrieksVoltaire:
\"inthewrong，weren’tyou，then；andfinedthirtyshillings？\"
hystericallytryingtobelieve，andmakeothersbelieve，thathehascomeofftriumphant。\"BeatenmyJew，haven’tI？\"sayshetoeverybody，thoughinwardlywellenoughawarehowitstands，andthatheisaPhoenixdouched，andhasatremorinthebones！
ChancellorCoccejiwasfarfromthinkingittriumphanttohim。
HereisasmallNoteofCocceji’s，addressedtohistwocolleagues，JarrigesandLoper，whichhasbeenfoundamongtheLawPapers:
\"BERLIN，20thFEBRUARY，1751。TheHerrPresidentvonJarrigesandPrivy—CouncillorLoperareherebyofficiallyrequestedtobringtheremainderoftheVoltaireSentencetoitsfulfilment:Iammyselfnotwell，andcanemploymytimemuchbetter。TheHerrvonVoltairehasgiveninadesperateMemorial（EINDESPERATESMEMORIAL）tothispurport:’Iswearthatwhatischargedtome[believedofme]intheSentenceistrue；andnowrequesttohavetheJewelsvalued。’
IhavereturnedhimthisPaper，withnoticethatitmustbesignedbyanAdvocate。——COCCEJI。\"[Klein，256。]
SowroteChancellorCocceji，ontheSaturday，washinghishandsofthissorrybusiness。Voltaireisreadytomakedesperateoath，ifneedful。Wesaidonce，M。deVoltairewasnotgiventolying；
farthereverse。Butyet，see，ifyoudrivehimintoacornerwithaswordathisthroat，——alas，yes，hewillliealittle！
Forgerylaystilllessinhishabits；buthecandoastrokethatway，too（onestroke，uniqueinhislife，Idobelieve），ifawildboar，withfrothytusks，isuponhim。TellitnotinGath，——exceptforscientificpurposes！Andbejudicial，arithmetical，inpassingsentenceonit；notshrieky，mobbish，andflyingoffintotheInfinite！
Berlin，ofcourse，isloudonthesematters。\"ThemanwhomtheKingdelightedtohonor，thisishe，then！\"KingFriedrichhasquittedTown，somewhileago；returnedtoPotsdam\"January30th。\"
Gladenough，Isuppose，tobeoutofallthisunmusicalblowingofcatcallsandindecentexposure。ToVoltairehehastakennonotice；
silentlyleavesVoltaire，inhisnookoftheBerlinSchloss，tillthefoulbusinessgetdone。\"VOLTAIREFILOUTELESJUIFS（picksJewpockets），\"writesheoncetoWilhelmina:\"willgetoutofitbysomeGAMBADE（summerset），\"writesheanothertime；\"but\"[\"31stDecember，1750\"（OEuvresdeFrederic，xxvii，i。198）；\"3dFebruary，1751\"（ib。201）。]——Andtakesthematterwithboundlesscontempt，doubtlesswithsomevexation，butwiththeminimumofnoise，asaRoyalgentlemanmight。JewHirschisbusypreparingforhisnewdesperateAction；gettingtogetherproofthattheJewelshavebeenchanged。InproofJewHirschwillbeweak；
butinpleading，inpublicpamphlets，andkeepingawingedApolloflutteringdisastrouslyinsuchamud—bath，JewHirschwillbestrong。Voltaire，\"outofmagnanimouspitytohim，\"consentsnextweektoanAgreement。AgreementissignedonThursday，26thFebruary，1751:——Papersalltobereturned，Jewelsnearlyall，exceptoneortwo，paidatHirsch’sownprice。Whereby，onthewhole，asKleincomputes，Voltairelostabout150pounds；——
elsewhereIhaveseenitcomputedat187pounds:nottheleastmatterwhich。OldHirschhasdiedintheinterim（\"Ofbrokenheart！\"blubberstheSon）；daynotknown。
And，ontheseterms，Voltairegetsoutofthebusiness；gladtoclosetheintolerablerumor，atsomecostofmoney。Foralltongueswerewagging；and，indefectofaTIMESNewspaper，itappears，therehadPamphletscomeout；printedSatires，boundorinbroadside；——sapid，exhilarative，foraseason，andinterestingtotheidlemind。Ofwhich，TANTALEENPROCESmaystill，forthesakeofthatPREFACEtoit，beconsideredtohaveanobscureexistence。
Andsuch，reducedtoitsauthenticities，wastheAdventureoftheSteuer—Notes。AverybadAdventureindeed；unspeakablytheworstthatVoltaireevertried，whohadsuchtalentinthefinanceline。
OnwhichpoorHistoryisreallyashamedtohavespentsomuchtime；
sortingitintoclearness，inthedisgustandsorrowofhersoul。
Butperhapsitneededtobedone。Letushope，atleast，itmaynotnowneedtobedoneagain。[BesidestheKLEIN，theTANTALEEN
PROCESandtheVoltaireLETTERScitedabove，thereis（in
OEuvresdeVoltaire，lxiv。pp。61—106，asSUPPLEMENT
there），writtenoff—hand，intheverythickoftheHirschAffair，aconsiderablesetofNOTESTOD’ARGET，whichmighthavebeenstillmoreelucidative；butare，intheirpresentdatelesstopsy—turviedcondition；averywonderofconfusiontothestudiousreader！]
ThisistheFIRSTACTofVoltaire’sTragic—FarceattheCourtofBerlin:readersmayconceivetowhatablearedfrost—bittenconditionithasreducedthefirstFavonianefflorescencethere。
HeconsiderablyrecoveredintheSECONDACT，suchtheindeliblecharmoftheVoltairegeniustoFriedrich。Butitiswellknown，theFirstActrulesalltheothers；andhere，accordingly，theThirdActfailednottoprovetragical。OutofFirstActintoSecondthefollowingEXTRACTSOFCORRESPONDENCEwillguidethereader，withoutcommentaryofours。
Voltaire，leftlanguishingatBerlin，hasfallensick，nowthatallisover；——nodoubt，inpartreallysick，theunfortunatePhoenix—
Peafowl，withsuchatremorinhisbones；——andwouldfainbenearFriedrichandwarmthagain；fainpersuadetheoutsideworldthatallissunshinewithhim。Voltaire’sLetterstoFriedrich，ifhewroteany，inthisJewtime，arelost；hereareFriedrich’sAnswerstoTwo，——onelost，whichhadbeenwrittenfromBerlinAFTERtheJewaffairwasoutofCourt；andtoanother（notlost）aftertheJewaffairwasdone。
1。KINGFRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIREATBERLIN。
\"POTSDAM，24thFebruary，1751。
\"Iwasgladtoreceiveyouinmyhouse；Iesteemedyourgenius，yourtalentsandacquirements；andIhadreasontothinkthatamanofyourage，weariedwithfencingagainstAuthors，andexposinghimselftothestorm，camehithertotakerefugeasinasafeharbor。
\"But，onarriving，youexactedofme，inarathersingularmanner，NottotakeFrerontowritemenewsfromParis；andIhadtheweakness，orthecomplaisance，tograntyouthis，thoughitisnotforyoutodecidewhatpersonsIshalltakeintomyservice。
D’Arnaudhadfaultstowardsyou；agenerousmanwouldhavepardonedthem；avindictivemanhuntsdownthosewhomhetakestohating。
Inaword，thoughtomeD’Arnaudhaddonenothing，itwasonyouraccountthathehadtogo。YouwerewiththeRussianMinister，speakingofthingsyouhadnoconcernwith[RussianExcellencyGross，offhomelately，insuddendudgeon，likeanangrysky—rocket，nobodycanguesswhy！[Adelung，vii。133（about1stDecember，1750）。]——anditwasthoughtIhadgivenyouCommission。\"
\"YouhavehadthemostvillanousaffairintheworldwithaJew。
IthasmadeafrightfulscandalalloverTown。AndthatSteuer—
ScheinbusinessissowellknowninSaxony，thattheyhavemadegrievouscomplaintsofittome。
\"Formyownshare，Ihavepreservedpeaceinmyhousetillyourarrival:andIwarnyou，thatifyouhavethepassionofintriguingandcaballing，youhaveappliedtothewronghand。Ilikepeaceablecomposedpeople；whodonotputintotheirconducttheviolentpassionsofTragedy。IncaseyoucanresolvetolivelikeaPhilosopher，Ishallbegladtoseeyou；butifyouabandonyourselftoalltheviolencesofyourpassions，andgetintoquarrelswithalltheworld，youwilldomenogoodbycominghither，andyoumayaswellstayinBerlin。\"[Preuss，xxii。262
（WANTINGintheFrenchEditions）。]——F。
TowhichVoltairesighingpatheticallyinresponse，\"Wrong，ahyes，yourMajesty；——andsicktodeath\"（seefartherdown），——hereisFriedrich’sSecondinAnswer:——
2。FRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIREAGAIN。
\"POTSDAM，28thFebruary，1751。
\"Ifyouwishtocomehither，youcandoso。IhearnothingofLawsuits，notevenofyours。Sinceyouhavegainedit，I
congratulateyou；andIamgladthatthisscurvyaffairisdone。
Ihopeyouwillhavenomorequarrels，neitherwiththeOLDnorwiththeNewTESTAMENT。Suchworryings（CESSORTESDECOMPROMIS）
leavetheirmarkonaman；andwiththetalentsofthefinestgeniusinFrance，youwillnotcoverthestainswhichthisconductwouldfastenonyourreputationinthelong—run。ABooksellerGosse[readJORE，yourMajesty？NobodyeverheardofGosseasanextantquantity:Jore，ofRouen，youmean，andhiscelebratedLawsuit，aboutprintingtheHENRIADE，orIknownotwhat，longsince[UnboundeddetailsontheJoreCase，andfrom1731to1738
continualLETTERSonit，inOEuvresdeVoltaire；——cametoaheadin1736（ib。lxix。375）；Jorepenitent，1738（ib。i。262），&c。&c。]，aBooksellerJore，anOperaFiddler[poorTravenol，wrongdogpinceredbytheear]，andaJewellerJew，theseare，ofasurety，nameswhichinnosortofbusinessoughttoappearbythesideofyours。IwritethisLetterwiththeroughcommon—senseofaGerman，whospeakswhathethinks，withoutemployingequivocalterms，andlooseassuagementswhichdisfigurethetruth:itisforyoutoprofitbyit。——F。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic，xxii。265。]
SothatVoltairewillhavetolanguish:\"Wrong，yes；——andsick，nighdead，yourMajesty！Ah，couldnotonegettosomeCountryLodgenearyou，’theMARQUISAT’forinstance？Livesilentthere，andseeyourfacesometimes？\"[InOEuvresdeFrederic（xxii。259—261，263—266）areFourlamentingandrepenting，wheedlingandultimatelywhining，LETTERSfromVoltaire，noneofthemdated，whichhavemuchabout\"mydreadfulstateofhealth，\"mypassion\"forreposinginthatMARQUISAT，\"&c。；——tooneofwhichFour，orperhapstothewholetogether，theaboveNo。2ofFriedrichseemstohavebeenAnswer。Ofthatindisputable\"MARQUISAT\"noNicolaisaysaword；evencarefulPreusspasses\"Gosse\"anditwithshutlips。]Languishingverymuch；——givescosylittledinners，however。HerearetwootherExcerpts；andthesewillsuffice:——
VOLTAIRETOFORMEY（\"BERLINPALACE；\"DATABLE，FIRSTDAYSOFMARCH）:
\"Willyou，Monsieur，comeandeattheKing’sroastmeat（ROTDU
ROI），to—day，Thursday，attwoo’clock，inaphilosophic，warmandcomfortablemanner（PHILOSOPHIQUEMENTETCHAUDEMENTETDOUCEMENT）。
Acoupleofphilosophers，withoutbeingcourtiers，maydineinthePalaceofaPhilosopher—King:IshouldeventakethelibertyofsendingoneofhisMajesty’sCarriagesforyou，—attwoprecise。
Afterdinner，youwouldbeathandforyourAcademymeeting。\"
[Formey，i。234。]——V。Howcosy！——AndKingFriedrichhasrelented，too；grantsmetheMarquisat；canrefusemenothing！
VOLTAIRETOD’ARGENTAL（POTSDAM，15thMARCH1751）……\"IcouldnotaccompanyourChamberlain[VonAmmon，goneasEnvoytoParis，onasmallmatter[\"CommercialTreaty；\"whichhegotdone。SeeLONGCHAMP，ifanyoneiscuriousotherwiseaboutthisGentleman:
\"D’Hamon\"theycallhim，andsometimes\"DAMON\"，——towhomNieceDeniswantedtobePhyllis，accordingtoLongchamp。]]，throughthemudsandthesnows，——whereIshouldhavebeenburied；Iwasill，\"
andhadtogototheMARQUISAT。\"D’ArnaudandthepackofScribblerswouldhavebeentooglad。D’Arnaud，animatedwiththetrueloveofglory，andnotyetgrownsufficientlyillustriousbyhisownimmortalWorks，hasdoneONEofthatkind，\"——byhisbehaviorhere。Hasbehavedtome——oh，likeamiserable，envious，intriguing，lyinglittlescoundrel；andmadeBerlintoohotforhim:seducedTinoismyClerk，stolebitsofthePucelle（briefSIGHTofbits，forPrinceHenri’ssake）toruinme。
\"D’ArnaudsenthisliestoFreronfortheParismeridian[thatishisrealcrime]；delightfulnewsfromcanailletocanaille:
’HowVoltairehadlostagreatLawsuit，respectableJewBankercheatedbyVoltaire；thatVoltairewasdisgracedbytheKing，’whoofcourselovesJews；’thatVoltairewasruined；wasill；nayatlast，thatVoltairewasdead。’\"TothejoyofFreron，andthescoundrelsthatareprintingone’sPUCELLE。\"Voltaireisstillinlife，however，myangels；andtheKinghasbeensogoodtomeinmysickness，IshouldbetheungratefulestofmenifIdidn’tstillpasssomemonthswithhim。WhenheleftBerlin[30thJanuary，sixweeksago]，andIwastooilltofollowhim，IwasthesoleanimalofmyspecieswhomhelodgedinhisPalacethere[whatabeautifulbitofcolortolayon！]——Heleftmeequipages，cooksETCETERA；
andhismulesandhorsescartedoutmytemporaryfurniture（MEUBLES
DEPASSADE）toadeliciousHouseofhis，closebyPotsdam[MARQUISATtowit，whereInowstretchmyselfatease；NieceDeniscomingtolivewithmethere，——talksofcoming，ifmyangelsknewit]，——andhehasreservedformeacharmingapartmentinhisPalaceofPotsdam，whereIpassapartoftheweek。
\"And，oncloseview，IstilladmirethisUniqueGenius；andhedeignstocommunicatehimselftome；——andifIwerenot300leaguesfromyou，andhadalittlehealth，Ishouldbethehappiestofmen。\"[OEuvresdeVoltaire，lxxiv。320。]……
Oh，myangels——
And，inshort，betterorworse，mySECONDACTisbegun，asyouperceive！——Andcertainreaderswillbeapttolookinagain，beforeallisover。
ChapterVIII。
OST—FRIESLANDANDTHESHIPPINGINTERESTS。
TwoForeignEvents，followingontheheeloftheHirschLawsuit，wereofinteresttoourBerlinfriends，thoughnotnowofmuchtousoranybody。April5th，1751，theoldKingofSweden，LandgrafofHessen—Cassel，died；wherebynotonlyourfriendWilhelm，themanagingLandgraf，becomesLandgrafindeed（ifheshouldeverturnuponusagain），butPrincessUlriqueishenceforthQueenofSweden，herHusbandthenewKing。NodoubtawelcomeeventtoPrincessUlrique，thehighbrave—mindedLady；butwhichprovedintrinsicallyanemptyone，nottosayworsethanempty，toherselfandherfriends，intimesfollowing。Friedrich’sconnectionwithSweden，whichhehadbeentighteninglatelybyaTreatyofAlliance，cameinthelong—runtonothingforhim，ontheSwedishside；andontheRussianhasalreadycreatedumbrages，kindledabstrusesuspicions，indignations，——RussianExcellencyGross，abruptly，atBerlin，demandinghorses，notlongsince，andpostinghomewithoutotherleave—taking，tothesurpriseofmankind；——
RussianCzarinaevidentlyinthesullensagainstFriedrich，thislongwhile；dullimpenetrablecloudsofangerlodgingyonder，bodinghimnogood。AllwhichtheAccessionofQueenUlriquewillrathertendtoaggravatethanotherwise。[Adelung，vii。205
（AccessionofAdolfFriedrich）；ib。133（Gross’ssuddenDeparture）。]
TheSecondForeignEventisEnglish，aboutaweekpriorindate，andisofstilllessmoment:March31st，1751，PrinceFred，theRoyalHeir—Apparent，hassuddenlydied。Hadbeenill，moreorless，foraneightdayspast；wasnowthoughtbetter，though\"stillcoughing，andbringingupphlegm，\"——when，on\"Wednesdaynightbetweennineandten，\"insomelengthierfitofthatkind，heclapthishandonhisbreast；andtheterrifiedvaletheardhimsay，\"JE
SUISMORT！\"——andbeforehispoorWifecouldrunforwardwithalight，helayverilydead。[Walpole，GEORGETHESECOND，i。71。]
TheRisingSuninEnglandisvanished，then。Yes；andwithhimhisMOONS，andconsiderablemoonyworkings，andslushingshitherandthither，whichtheyhaveoccasioned，inthemuddytide—currentsofthatConstitutionalCountry。Withoutinteresttoushere；orindeedelsewhere，——exceptperhapsthatourdearWilhelminawouldhearofit；andhavehersadreflectionsandreminiscencesawakenedbyit；
sadandmany—voiced，perhapsofanalmostdolefulnature，beingonasick—bedatthistime，poorLady。ShequittedBerlinmonthsago，asweobserved，——herfarewellLettertoFriedrich，writtenfromthefirststagehomewards，andmelodiousasthevoiceofsorrowfultrueheartstousandhim，dates\"November24th，\"justwhileVoltaire（whomshealwayslikes，andinabeautifulwayprotects，\"FRERE
VOLTAIRE，\"asshecallshim）wasdespatchingHirschonthatill—
omenedPredatorySTEUER—Mission。HerBrotherisinrealalarmforWilhelmina，aboutthistime；sendingoutCotheniushischiefDoctor，andthelike:butourdearPrincessre—emergesfromhereclipse；andweshallseeheragain，severaltimes，ifwebelucky。
AndsopoorFredisended；——andsulkypeopleask，intheircruelway，\"Whynot？\"Apoordissoluteflabbyfellow—creature；withasaddestiny，andasadlyconspicuoustoo。CouldwriteMadrigals；besettomakeOppositioncabals。ReadthissuddenEpitaphindoggerel；
anuncommonlysuccessfulPieceofitskind；whichisnowhismainmonumentwithposterity。The\"Brother\"（heroofCulloden），the\"Sister\"（Amelia，ourFriedrich’sfirstlove，nowgrowinggossipyandspiteful，poorPrincess），areoldfriends:——
\"HereliesPrinceFred，Whowasaliveandisdead:
HaditbeenhisFather，Ihadmuchrather；
HaditbeenhisBrother，Soonerthananyother；
HaditbeenhisSister，There’snoonewouldhavemissedher；
Haditbeenhiswholegeneration，BestofallfortheNation:
Butsinceit’sonlyFred，There’snomoretobesaid。\"[Walpole，i。436。]
FRIEDRIAHVISITSOST—FRIESLAND。
Athingofmoreimportancetous，twomonthsafterthatcatastropheinLondon，isFriedrich’sfirstVisittoOst—Friesland。May3lst，havingdonehisBerlin—PotsdamReviewsandothercurrentaffairs，FriedrichsetsoutonthisExcursion。WithOst—Frieslandforgoal，butmuchbusinessbytheway。TowardsMagdeburg，andashortvisittotheBrunswickKindred，firstofall。ThereismuchreviewingintheMagdeburgquarter，andthereafterintheWesel；andreviewingandvisitingallalong:throughMinden，Bielfeld，Lingen:nottillJuly13thdoeshecrosstheOst—FrieslandBorder，andenterEmbden。
HisthreeBrothers，andPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick，werewithhim。[Helden—Geschichte，iii。506；Seyfarth，ii。145；Rodenbeck，i。216（whogivesafoolishGermanmyth，ofVoltaire’sbeingpassedofffortheKing’sBaboon，&c。；Voltairenotbeingthereatall）。]OncatchingviewofOst—FrieslandBorder，see，ontheBorder—Line，whatanArchgotonitsfeet:TriumphalArch，offrondentornaments，inscriptionsandinsignia；\"ofquiteextraordinarymagnificence；\"Archwhich\"setseveryoneintotheagreeablestadmiration。\"AboveahundredsuchArchesspannedtheroadatdifferentpoints；multitudinousenthusiasmreverentlyescorting，\"morethan20，000\"bycount:tillweenterEmbden；
wherealliscannon—salvo，andthree—times—three；thethunder—shotscontinuing，\"above2，000ofthemfromthewalls，nottospeakofresponsefromtheshipsinharbor。\"Embdengladenough，aswouldappear，andOst—Frieslandgladenough，toseetheirnewKing。
July13th，1751；afterwaitingabovesixyears。
Nextday，hisMajestygaveaudiencetothenew\"AsiaticShippingCompany\"（ofwhichanon），totheStande，andMagisterialpersons；——
withmanyquestions，Idoubtnot，aboutyournewembankments，newimprovements，prospects；therebeingmuchprocedurethatway，inallmannerofkinds，sincethenewDynastycamein，nowsixyearsago。EmbankmentsonyourRiver，widespaceschangedfromoozetomeadow；ontheDollartstillmore，whichhaslain500yearshiddenfromthesun。DoesanyreaderknowtheDollart？Ost—Frieslandhasawakenedtowonderfulnewindustrieswithinthesesixyears；
urgedandguidedbythenewKing，whohasgreatthingsinviewforit，besideswhatareinactualprogress。
Thatofdikes，sea—embankments，forexample；toOst—Friesland，astoHolland，theyarethefirstconditionofexistence；and，inthepasttimes，ofextremeParliamentaryvitality，havebeenslippingagooddealoutofrepair。EmsRiver，inthoseflatrainycountries，hasploughedoutforitselfaverywideembouchure，asboundarybetweenGroningenandOst—Friesland。MuddyEms，bickeringwiththeGermanOcean，doesnotforgettoact，ifParliamentaryCommissionersdo。Thesedikes，120milesofdike，mainlyalongbothbanksofthismuddyEmsRiver，arenowwater—tightagain，tothecomfortofflaxandclover:andthisisbutoneitemofthedikingnowonfoot。ReadersdonotknowtheDollart，thatuppermostroundgulf，notfarfromEmbdenitself，inthewasteembouchureofEmswithitscontinentsofmudandtide。Fivehundredyearsago，thatuglywhirlofmuddysurf，100squaremilesinarea，wasafruitfulfield，\"50Villagesuponit，oneTown，severalMonasteriesand50，000souls:\"tillonChristmasmidnightA。D。1277，thewindsandthestorm—rainshavinggottotheirheight，OceanandEmsdid，\"aboutmidnight，\"underminetheplace，foldeditoverlikeafriablebedquiltormonstrousdoomedgriddle—cake，andswalloweditallaway。Mostofit，theysay，thatnight，thewholeofitwithintenyearscoming；[Busching，Erdbeschreibung，
v。845，846；Preuss，i。308，309。]——andthereithashung，likeanunlovelyGOITREatthethroatofEmbden，eversince。OnelittledotofanIsland，withsixhousesonit，neartheEmbdenshore，isallthatisleft。WhereprobablyhisMajestylanded（July15th，beinginaYachtthatday）；butdidnotsee，afaroff，the\"sunksteeple—
top，\"whichisfabledtobevisibleatlow—water。
UponthisDollartitselfthereisnowtobedikingtried；
King’sDomain—Kammershowingtheexample。WhichOfficialBodydidaccordingly（withoutBlue—Books，butingoodworkingcaseotherwise）breakground，fewmonthshence；andvictoriouslyachievedaPOLDER，orDikedTerritory，\"worthabout2，000poundsannually；\"\"which，in1756，wassoldtotheSTANDE；\"attwenty—fiveyearspurchase，letussay，orfor50，000pounds。Anexampleofaconvincingnature；whichmanyothers，andeverothers，havefollowedsince；togradualconsiderablediminutionoftheDollart，andreliefofOst—Frieslandonthisside。FurtheranceofthesethingsismuchaconcernofFriedrich’s。Theseconddayafterhisarrival，thoseaudiencesandceremonialsdone，FriedrichandsuitegotonboardaYacht，andsailedaboutalloverthisDollart，twentymilesouttosea；dinedonboard；andwouldhave，iftheweatherwasbright（whichIhope），apleasantlyedifyingday。
Theharborismuchinneedofdredging，thebuildingdocksconsiderablyindisrepair；butshallberefittedifthisKingliveandprosper。HehasdeclaredEmbdena\"Free—Haven，\"invitingtradetoitfromallpeaceableNations；——andreadersdonotknow（thoughSirJonasHanwayandthejealousmercantileworldwelldid）whatmagnificentShippingCompaniesandSea—Enterprises，ofhisdevising，areafootthere。Ofwhich，oneword，andnosecondshallfollow:
\"September1st，1750，thoseCarrouselgayetiesscarcedone，’TheAsiaticTradingCompany’steptformallyintoexistence；EmbdentheHead—quartersofit；[Patent，orFREYHEITS—BRIEFin
Helden—Geschichte，iii。457，458。]chiefManageraRitterDelaTouche；oneoftheDirectorsourfantasticBielfeld，thusturnedtopracticalvalue。ACompanypatronized，inallways，bytheKing；but，fortherest，founded，notonhismoney；
foundedonvoluntaryshares，which，totheregretofHanwayandothers，havehadmuchpopularityincommercialcircles。WilltradetoChina。AthinglookedatwithumbragebytheEnglish，bytheDutch。AshamethatEnglishpeopleshouldencouragesuchschemes，saysHanway。WhichneverthelessmanyDutchandmanyEnglishprivatepersonsdo，——amongthelatter，oneEnglishLady（nameunknown，butIalwayssuspect’MissBarbaraWyndham，oftheCollege，Salisbury’），concerningwhomtherewillbehonorablenoticebyandby。
\"AtthetimeofFriedrich’svisit，theAsiaticCompanyisinfullvogue；makingreadyitsfirstshipforCanton。Firstship，KONIG
VONPREUSSEN（tonsburdennotgiven），actuallysailed17thFebruarynext（1752）；andwasfollowedbyasecond，namedTOWNOFEMBDEN，onthe19thofSeptemberfollowing；bothofwhichprosperouslyreachedCanton，andprosperouslyreturnedwithcargoesofsatisfactoryprofit。Thefirstofthem，KONIGVONPREUSSEN，hadbeenboardedintheDownsbyanEnglishCaptainThomsonandhisFrigate，anddetainedsomedays，——tillThomson’tookSevenEnglishseamenoutofher。’’ActofParliament，express！’saidhisGraceofNewcastle。
Whichdone，ThomsonfoundthattheEnglishjealousieswouldhavetoholdtheirhand；nofarther，whateverone’swishesmaybe。
\"Naywithinayearhence，January24th，1753，FriedrichfoundedanotherCompanyforIndia:’BENGALISCHEHANDELS—GESELLSCHAFT；’
whichalsosentoutitspairofships，perhapsoftenerthanonce；
andpointed，astheotherwasdoing，towidefieldsofenterprise，forsometime。Butluckwaswanting。And，’inpart，mismanagement，’
and，inwhole，theSeven—YearsWarputanendtobothCompaniesbeforelong。Friedrichisfullofthesethoughts，amonghisotherIndustrialisms；andneverquitsthemfordiscouragement，buttriesagain，whentheobstaclesceasetobeinsuperable。EversincetheacquisitionofOst—Friesland，thefurtheranceofSea—CommercehadbeenoneofFriedrich’schosenobjects。’Letuscarryourowngoodsatleast，Silesianlinens，Memeltimbers，stock—fish；whatneedoftheDutchtodoit？’Andinmanybrancheshisprogresshadbeenremarkable，——especiallyinthiscarryingtrade，whiletheWarlasted，andcrippledallAnti—Englishbelligerents。Uponwhich，indeed，andtheconductoftheEnglishPrivateerstohim，thereisaControversygoingonwiththeEnglishCourtinthoseyears（beganin1747），mostdistressfultohisGraceofNewcastle；——whichinpartexplainsthosestingyproceduresofCaptainThomson（’Home，yousevenEnglishsailors！’）whenthefirstCantonshipputtosea。
ThatControversyisbynomeansendedafterthreeyears，butonthecontrary，aftertwoyearsmore，comestoacrisisquiteshockingtohisGraceofNewcastle，anddefyingallsolutiononhisGrace’sside，——theotherParty，aftersuchdelays，fiveyearswaiting，havingsettleditforhimself！\"Ofwhich，werethecrisiscome，wewillgivesomeaccount。
OnthethirddayofhisVisit，FriedrichdrovetoAurich，theseatofGovernment，andofficiallittlecapitalofOst—Friesland；
wheretriumphalarches，joyfulreverences，concourses，demonstrations，sumptuousDinneroneitem，awaitedhisMajesty:
Iknownotif，inthewaythitherorback，hepassedthose\"ThreehugeOaks[ortherottedstemsorrootsofthem]underwhichtheAncientFrisians，LordsofallbetweenWeserandRhine，werewonttoassembleinParliament\"（WITHOUTFourthEstate，oranyEloquenceexceptofthepurelyBusinesssort），——orwhathisthoughtsonthelateOst—FrieslandBandboxParliamentsmayhavebeen！HereturnedtoEmbdenthatnight；andonthemorrowstartedhomewards；wemayfancy，tolerablypleasedwithwhathehadseen。
\"KingFriedrich’smainObjectsofPursuitinthisPeriod，\"saysacertainAuthor，whomweoftenfollow，\"IdefineasbeingThree。
1。ReformoftheLaw；2。FurtheranceofHusbandryandIndustryinallkinds，especiallyofShippingfromEmbden；3。ImprovementofhisownDomesticitiesandHouseholdEnjoyments，\"——renewaloftheReinsbergProgram，inshort。
\"IntheFirstoftheseobjects，\"continueshe，\"KingFriedrich’ssuccesswasveryconsiderable，andgothimgreatfameintheworld。
InhisSecondheadofefforts，thatofimprovingtheIndustriesandHusbandriesamonghisPeople，hissuccess，thoughlessnoisedofinforeignparts，wastothenearobserverstillmoreremarkable。
Aperennialbusinesswithhim，this；which，eveninthetimeofWar，heneverneglects；andwhichspringsoutlikeastemmedflood，wheneverPeaceleaveshimfreeforit。Hislaborsbyallmethodstoawakennewbranchesofindustry，tocherishandfurthertheold，areincessant，manifold，unwearied；andwillsurprisetheuninstructedreader，whenhecomestostudythem。Anairy，poetizing，bantering，lightlybrilliantKing，supposedtobeseriousmainlyinthingsofWar，howishemoilingandtoiling，likeanever—vigilantLand—Steward，likethemostindustriousCityMerchant，hardest—workingMerchant’sClerk，toincreasehisindustrialCapitalbyanythesmallestitem！
\"Oneday，thesethingswilldeservetobestudiedtothebottom；
andtobesetforth，bywritinghandsthatarecompetent，fortheinstructionandexampleofWorkers，——thatistosay，ofallmen，Kingsmostofall，whenthereareagainKings。Atpresent，Icanonlysaytheyastonishme，andputmetoshame:theunrestingdiligencedisplayedinthem，andtheimmensesum—totalofthem，——
whatman，inanythenoblestpursuit，cansaythathehasstoodtoit，six—and—fortyyearslong，inthestyleofthisman？Nordidtheharvestfail；slowsureharvest，whichsufficedapatientFriedrichinhisownday；harvestnow，inourday，visibletoeverybody:inaPrussiaallshootingintomanufactures，intocommerces，opulences，——Ionlyhope，notTOOfast，andonmoresolidtermsthanareuniversalatpresent！Thosethingsmightbedidactic，truly，invariouspoints，tothisGeneration；andworthlookingbackupon，fromitshighLAISSEZ—FAIREaltitudes，itstriumphantScrip—
transactionsandcontinentsofgold—nuggets，——pleasing，itdoubtsnot，toallthegods。Towritewellofwhatiscalled’PoliticalEconomy’（meaningtherebyincreaseofmoney’s—worth）isreckonedmeritorious，andournearestapproachtotherationalsublime。
Buttoaccomplishsaidincreaseinahighandindisputabledegree；
andindisputablyverymuchbyyourownendeavorswiselyregulatingthoseofothers，doesnotthatapproachstillnearerthesublime？
\"Topreventdisappointment，IoughttoaddthatFriedrichisthereverseoforthodoxin’PoliticalEconomy；’thathehadnotfaithinFree—Trade，butthereverse；——norhadeverheardofthoseultimateEvangels，unlimitedCompetition，fairStart，andperfervidRacebyalltheworld（towards’CHEAP—AND—NASTY，’asthelikeliestwinning—postforalltheworld），whichhavesincebeenvouchsafedus。ProbablyintheworldtherewasneverlessofaFree—Trader！
Constraint，regulation，encouragement，discouragement，reward，punishment；theseheneverdoubtedwerethemethod，andthatgovernmentwasgoodeverywhereifwise，badonlyifnotwise。
Andsureenoughthesemethods，wherehumanjusticeandtheearnestsenseandinsightofaFriedrichpresideoverthem，haveresults，whichdiffernotablyfromoppositecasesthatcanbeimagined！
Thedesperatenotionofgivingupgovernmentaltogether，asarelieffromhumanblockheadisminyourgovernors，andtheirwantevenofawishtobejustorwise，hadnotenteredintothethoughtsofFriedrich；nordrivenhimupontryingtobelievethatsuch，inregardtoanyHumanInterestwhatever，was，orcouldbeexceptforalittlewhileinextremelydevelopedcases，thetruewayofmanagingit。Howdisgusting，accordingly，isthePrussiaofFriedrichtoaHanburyWilliams；whohasbadeyesanddirtyspectacles，andhatesFriedrich:howsingularandlamentabletoaMirabeauJunior，whohasgoodeyes，andloveshim！Noknave，noimpertinentblockheadeven，canfollowhisownbeautifuldeviceshere；butisinstantlyhadup，orcomesuponaturnpikestrictlyshutforhim。’Wasthelikeeverheardof？’snarlsHanburyfuriously（asanangrydogmight，inalabyrinthitseesnottheleastusefor）:’Whatunspeakablewantofliberty！’——andreadstoyouasifhewerelyingoutright；butgenerallyisnot，onlyexaggerating，tumblingupsidedown，toafuriousdegree；
knockingagainstthelabyrinthHEseesnottheleastusefor。
Mirabeau’sGospelofFree—Trade，preachedin1788，[MONARCHIE
PRUSSIENNEhecallsit（ALONDRES，privatelyParis，1788），8vols。
8vo；whichisaDead—SeaofStatistics，compiledbyindustriousMajorMauvillon，withthisfreshcurrentofa\"Gospel\"shiningthroughit，veryfreshandbrisk，offewyardsbreadth；——dedicatedtoPapa，thetruePROTevangelistofthething。]——acomparativelyrecentPerformance，thoughnowsomeseventyoreightyyearstheseniorofanEnglish（unconscious）Fac—simile，whichwehaveallhadthepleasureofknowing，——willfalltobenoticedafterwards[notbythisEditor，wehope！]
\"ManyofFriedrich’srestrictivenotions，——asthatofwatchingwithsuchanxietythat’money’（goldorsilvercoin）benotcarriedoutoftheCountry，——willbefoundmistakes，notinorthodoxDismalScienceasnowtaught，butinthenatureofthings；andindeedtheDismalSciencewillgenerallyexcommunicatetheminthelump，——too。
heedlessthatFacthasconspicuouslyvindicatedthegeneralsum—
totalofthem，anddeclaredittobemuchtruerthanitseemstotheDismalScience。DismalScience（ifthatwereimportanttome）
takesinsufficientheed，anddoesnotdiscriminatebetweentimespastandtimespresent，timeshereandtimesthere。\"
Certainitis，KingFriedrich’ssuccessinNationalHusbandrywasverygreat。ThedetailsoftheverymanynewManufactures，newsuccessfulever—spreadingEnterprises，fosteredintoexistencebyFriedrich；hisCanal—makings，Road—makings，Bog—drainings，Colonizingsandunweariedendeavoringsinthatkind，willrequireaTechnicalPhilosopheroneday；andwillwellrewardsuchstudy，andtroubleofrecordinginahumanmanner；butmustliemassedupinmereoutlineonthepresentoccasion。Friedrich，asLand—Father，ShepherdofthePeople，wasgreatontheHusbandrysidealso；
andwearetoconceivehimasamanofexcellentpracticalsense，doingunweariedlyhisbestinthatkind，allhislifelong。
AloneamongmodernKings；hislateFathertheoneexception；
andevenhisFatherhardlysurpassinghiminthatparticular。
InregardtoEmbdenandtheShippinginterests，Ost—Frieslandawakenedveryardentspeculations，whichwereanoveltyinPrussianaffairs；nothingofForeignTrade，exceptintothelimitedBaltic，hadbeenheardoftheresincetheGreatElector’stime。TheGreatElectorhadships，FortsontheCoastofAfrica；andtriedhardforAtlanticTrade，——outofthissameEmbden；where，beingsummonedtoprotectinthetroubles，hehadgotsomefootingasContingentHeirwithal，andkepta\"PrussianBattalion\"agoodwhile。Andnow，onmuchfairerterms，notlessdiligentlyturnedtoaccount，itishisGreat—Grandson’sturn。Friedrich’ssuccessesinthisdepartment，theratherasEmbdenandOst—FrieslandhaveinourtimeceasedtobePrussian，arenotmuchworthspeakingof；buttheyconnectthemselveswithsomepointsstillslightlymemorabletous。
How，forexample，hisvigilantesandendeavorsonthisscorebroughthimintorubbings，notcollisions，butjealousiesandgratings，withtheEnglishandDutch，thereaderwillseeanon。
Law—reformisgloriouslyprosperous；Husbandrythelike，andShippingInterestitselfasyet。ButintheThirdgrandHead，thatofrealizingtheReinsbergProgram，beautifyinghisDomesticities，andbringinghisownHearthandHouseholdnearertheIdeal，Friedrichwasnothinglikesosuccessful；infacthadnosuccessatall。ThatflatteringReinsbergProgram，itissingularhowFriedrichcannothelptryingitbyeverynewchance，norcastthenotionoutofhimthattheremustbeakindofMuses’—HeavenrealizableonEarth！ThatistheBiographicPhenomenonwhichhassurvivedofthoseYears；andtothatwewillalmostexclusivelyaddressourselves，onbehalfofingenuousreaders。
ChapterIX。
SECONDACT0FTEEVOLTAIREVISIT。
Voltaire’sVisitlasted，inall，aboutThirty—twoMonths；andisdivisibleintoThreeActsorStages。Thefirstwehaveseen:howitcommencedinbrightnessasofthesun，andended，bythatHirschbusiness，inwhirlwindsofsmokeandsoot，——Voltaireretiring，onhispassionateprayer，tothatsilentCountry—housewhichhecallstheMarquisat；theretolieinhospital，andwashhimselfalittle，andlettheskieswashthemselves。
TheHirschbusinesshavingblownover，asallthingsdo，VoltaireresumedhisplaceamongtheCourt—Planets，anddidhisrevolutions；
strivingtoforgetthatthereeverwasaHirsch，orasoot—
explosionofthatnature。Inwordsnobodyremindedhimofit，theKingleastofall:andbydegreesmatterswereagaintolerablyglorious，andallmighthavegonewellenough；thoughtheprimalperfectsplendor，suchfuliginousreminiscencebeingineffaceable，nevercouldbequitere—attained。ThediamondCrossofMerit，theChamberlaingoldKey，hungbrightupontheman；amantheadmiredofmen。Hehadworktodo:workofhisownwhichhereckonedpriceless（thatimmortalSIECLEDELOUISQUATORZE；whichhestoodby，andhonestlydid，whilehere；theonefixedaxisinthosefooleriesandwhirlingsofhis）；——workfortheKing，\"twohours，onehour，aday，\"whichtheKingreckonedpricelessinitssort。
ForFriedrichhimselfVoltairehas，withtouchesofreallovecomingoutnowandthen，averysincereadmirationmixedwithfear；
anddelightsinshiningtohim，andbeingwellwithhim，asthegreatestpleasurenowleftinlife。BesidestheKing，hehadsocietyenough，Frenchintype，andbrilliantenough:plentyofsociety；or，athiswish，whatwasstillbetter，noneatall。
Hewasbedded，boarded，lodged，asifbeneficentfairieshaddoneitforhim；andforallthesethingsnopriceasked，youmightsay，butthathewouldnotthrowhimselfoutofwindow！Hadthemanbeenwise——Buthewasnotwise。Hehad，ifnobiggloomydevilinhimamongthebrightangelsthatwerethere，amultitudeofraveningtumultuaryimps，orlittledevilsveryILL—CHAINED；andwaslodged，heandhisrestlesslittledevils，inaskinfartoothinforhimandthem！——
Reckoningupthematter，onecannotfindthatVoltaireevercouldhavebeenablessingatBerlin，eitherforFriedrichorhimself；
anditistobeownedthatFriedrichwasnotwiseinsolongingforhim，orclaspinghimsofranklyinhisarms。AsFriedrich，bythistime，probablybeginstodiscover；——thoughindeedtoFriedrichthethingisoffinitemoment；bynomeansofinfinite，asitwastoVoltaire。\"Atworst，nothingbutalittlemoneythrownaway！\"
thinksFriedrich:\"Sureenough，thisisastrangeTrismegistus，thisofmine:starfire—workshallwecallhim，orterrestrialsmoke—and—sootwork？Butonecanfenceoneselfagainsttheblindvagariesoftheman；andgetagreatdealofgoodbyhim，inthelucidintervals。\"ToVoltairehimselfthepositionismostagitating；butthenitsglories，weretherenothingmore！
Besideshyisalwaysthinkingtoquititshortly；whichisagreatsedativeintroubles。Whatwithintermittencies（safehidingsinone’sMARQUISAT，orvacantinterlunarcave），withalternationsofoffenceandreconcilement；whatwithoccasionalactualflightstoParis（whitherwardVoltaireisalwaysbusytokeepaposternopen；
andofwhichthereisfrequenttalk，andalmostcontinualthought，allalong），flightstobecalled\"visits，\"andprivatelyintendingtobefinal，butneverprovingso，——theVoltaire—Friedrichrelation，iflefttoitself，mightperhapslonghavestaggeredabout，andnotendedasitdid。
But，alas，norelationcanbelefttoitselfinthisworld，——
especiallyifyouhaveaporousskin！TherewereotherFrenchhere，aswellasVoltaire，revolvingintheCourt—circle；andthat，beyondallothers，provedthefatalcircumstancetohim。
\"NESAVEZ—VOUSPAS，Don’tyouknow，\"saidhetoChancellorJarrigesoneday，\"thatwhentherearetwoFrenchmeninaForeignCourtorCountry，oneofthemmustdie（FAUTQUEL’UNDESDEUXPERISSE）？\"
[Seyfarth，ii。191；&c。&c。]WhichshockedthemindofJarriges；
buthadakindoftruth，too。JewHirsch，runintoforlowsmugglingpurposes，hadbeenaCapeofStorms，difficulttoweather；butthecontinualleeshorewerethoseFrench，——withaheavygaleon，andoneoftherashestpilots！Hedidstrikethebreakersthere，atlast；anditiswellknown，totalshipwreckwastheissue。OurSecondAct，holdingoutdubiously，incontinualperils，tillAutumn，1752，willhavetopassthenintoaThirdofdarkercomplexion，andintoaCatastropheverydarkindeed。
Catastrophewhich，byfartherillaccident，provednoisyintheextreme；producingworld—wideshrieksfromtheoneparty，stone—
silencefromtheother；whichwereansweredbyunlimitedhooting，catcallingandhaha—ingfromallpartsoftheWorld—Theatre，uponboththeshriekyandthesilentparty；catcallingnotfallenquitedeadtothisday。ToFriedrichthecatcallingwasnotmomentous（beingusedtosuchthings）；thoughtopoorVoltaireitwasunlimitedlyso:——andtoreadersinterestedinthismemorablePairofMen，therightsandwrongsoftheAffairoughttoberenderedauthenticallyconceivable，nowatlast。Wereithumanlypossible，——
aftersomuchcatcallingatrandom！Smelfungushasarighttosay，speakingofthismatter:——
\"Neverwassuchajumbleofloud—roaringignorances，delusionsandconfusions，asthecurrentRecordsofitare。Editors，especiallyFrenchEditors，treatingofaHyperborean，Cimmeriansubject，likethis，areeasy—goingcreatures。Andtrulytheyhaveleftitforusinawonderfulstate。Dateless，muchofit，bynature；and，bythelazyEditors，MISdatedintoverychaos；jumblingalongthere，inmaddefianceoftopandbottom；oftentheveryYeargivenwrong:——
fulleverywhereoflazydarkness，irradiatedonlybystupidrages，ill—directedmockeries:——andforissue，cheerfullymalicioushootingsfromthegeneralmobofmankind，withunboundedcontemptoftheirbetters；whichisnotpleasanttosee。Whenmobsdogettogether，roundanysignalobject；andeditorialgentlemen，withtalentforit，pouroutfromtheirrespectivebarrel—heads，inapersuasivemanner，insteadofknowledge，ignorancesetonfire，theyarecapableofcarryingitfar！——Willitbepossibletopickoutthesmallglimmeringsofreallight，fromthismaddanceofwill—o’—wispsandfire—fliesthrownintoagitation？\"
Itwillbeverydifficult，myfriend；——whydidnotyouyourselfdoit？Mosttrue，\"thoseactualVoltaire—FriedrichLETTERSofthetimearearesource，andprettymuchthesoleone:Lettersagoodfew，stillextant；whichallHADtheirbitofmeaning；andhaveitstill，ifwelltorturedtilltheygiveitout，orgivesomeglimmerofitout:\"——butyouhavenottorturedthem；youhaveleftittome，ifIwould！AsIassuredlywillnot（neverfear，reader！）——
exceptinthethriftiestdegree。
DETACHEDFEATURES（NOTFABULOUS）OFVOLTAIREANDHIS
BERLIN—POTSDAMENVIRONMENTIN1751—1752。
Totheoutsidecrowdofobservers，andtohimselfingoodmoments，Voltairerepresentshissituationasthefinestintheworld:——
\"PotsdamisSpartaandAthensjoinedinone；nothingbutreviewingandpoetrydaybyday。TheAlgarottis，theMaupertuises，arehere；
haveeachhiswork，seriousforhimself；thengaySupperwithaKing，whoisagreatmanandthesoulofgoodcompany。\"……
SpartaandAthens，Itellyou:\"aCampofMarsandtheGardenofEpicurus；trumpetsandviolins，WarandPhilosophy。Ihavemytimealltomyself；amatCourtandinfreedom，——ifIwerenotentirelyfree，neitheranenormousPension，noraGoldKeytearingoutone’spocket，norahalter（LICOU），whichtheycallCORDONofanORDER，noreventheSupperswithaPhilosopherwhohasgainedFiveBattles，couldyieldmetheleasthappiness。\"[OEuvres，lxxiv。325，326，333（Letters，toD’Argentalandothers，\"27thApril—8thMay，1751\"）。]Lookedatbyyou，myoutsidefriends，——ah，hadIhealthandYOUhere，whatasituation！
Butseenfromwithin，itisfarotherwise。AlongsideofthesewarblingsofaheartgratefultothefirstofKings，theregoesonaseriesofutterancestoNieceDenis，remarkableforthemiserydrivenintomeanness，thatcanbereadinthem。Ill—health，discontent，vagueterror，suspicionthatdarenotgotosleep；
astrangevagueterror，shapelessortakingallshapes——abodydiseasedandaminddiseased。Fear，quakingcontinuallyfornothingatall，isnottobeborneinahandsomemanner。Anditpasses，oftenenough（inthesepoorLETTERS），intotransientmalignity，intogustsoftremblinghatred，withatendencytorelieveoneselfbyprivatescandalofthehousewearein。Seldomwasamiserablerwrong—sideseentoabitofroyaltapestry。Amanhuntedbythelittledevilsthatdwellunchainedwithinhimself；likePentheusbytheMaenads，likeActaeonbyhisownDogs。Nay，withoutdevils，withonlythoseterriblebowelsofmine，andscorbuticgums，itisbadenough:\"Gloriouspromotionstomehere，\"sneershebitterly；
\"butonethingisindisputable，IhavelostsevenofmypoorresidueofteethsinceIcame！\"Intruth，weareinasadlyscorbuticstate；andthat，andthedevilswelodgewithinourselves，istheonerealevil。CouldnotSuspicion——whycannotshe！——takehernaturalrest；andalltheseterrorsvanish？
Oh，M。deVoltaire！——Thepracticalpurport，toNieceDenis，alwaysis:KeepmyretreattoParisopen；inthenameofHeaven，noobstructionthatway！
Miserableindeed；amanfatallyunfitforhispresentelement！
ButhehasTwoconsiderableSedatives，allalong；two，andnothirdvisibletome。SedativeFIRST:that，hecan，atanytime，quitthisillustriousTartarus—Elysium，theenvyofmankind；——andindeed，practically，heisalwaysasifontheslip；thinkingtobeoffshortly，foratime，orinpermanence；canbeoffatonce，ifthingsgrowtoobad。SedativeSECONDisfarbetter:HisownlaboronLOUISQUATORZE，whichissteadilygoingon，andmusthavebeenapotentquietusinthoseCourt—whirlwindsinwardandoutward。
FromBerlin，alreadyinAutumn，1750，VoltairewritestoD’Argental:\"Isha’n’tgotoItalythisAutumn[noreverinmylife]，asIhadprojected。ButIwillcometoseeYOUinthecourseofNovember\"（farfromit，IgotintoSTEUER—SCHEINEthen！）——
Andagain，aftersomeweeks:\"IhaveputoffmyjourneytoItalyforayear。NextWintertoo，therefore，Ishallseeyou，\"ontheroadthither。\"TomyCountry，sinceyouliveinit，Iwillmakefrequentvisits，\"very！\"ItalyandtheKingofPrussiaaretwooldpassionswithme；butIcannottreatFrederic—le—GrandasIcantheHolyFather，withamerelookinpassing。\"[ToD’Argental，\"Berlin，14thSeptember，——Potsdam，15thOctober，1750\"（OEuvres，lxxiv。220，237）。]Letthisone，towhichmanymightbeadded，serveassampleofSedativeFirst，orthepowerandintentiontobeoffbeforelong。
InregardtoSedativeSecond，again:……\"Thehappiestcircumstanceis，\"broughtwithmeallmyLOUIS—FOURTEENTHPapersandExcerpts。
’IgetfromLeipzig，ifnonearer，whateverBooksareneeded；’\"andlaborfaithfullyatthisimmortalProduction。Yes，daybyday，toseegrowing，bythecunningofone’sownrighthand，suchperennialSolomon’s—TempleofaSIECLEDELOUISQUATORZE:——whichofyourKings，ortruculent，Tiglath—Pilesers，coulddothat？Topoorme，eveninthePotsdamtempests，itispossible:whatugliestdayisnotbeautifulthatseesastoneortwoaddedthere！——DailyVoltaireseeshimselfatworkonhisSIECLE，onthosefineterms；trowelinonehand，weaponofwarintheother。Anddoesactuallyaccomplishit，inthecourseofthisYear1751，——withagreatdealofpunctualityandseverepainstaking；whichreadersofourday，fallencarelessofthesubject，arelittleawareof，onVoltaire’sbehalf。Voltaire’srewardwas，thathedidNOTgomadinthatBerlinelement，buthadthroughoutabower—anchortorideby。
\"TheKingofFrancecontinuesmeasGentlemanoftheChamber，sayyou；buthastakenawaymyTitleofHistoriographer？Thatlatter，however，shallstillbemyfunction。’Mypresentindependencehasgivenweighttomyverdictsonmatters。ProbablyInevercouldhavewrittenthisBookatParis。’Aconsolationforone’sexile，MON
ENFANT。\"[ToNieceDenis（OEuvres，lxxiv。
247，&c。&c。），\"28thOctober，1750，\"andsubsequentdates。]
Itisproperalsotoobservethat，besidesshiningattheKing’sSupperslikenoother，VoltaireapplieshimselfhonestlytodoforhisMajestythesmallworkrequiredofhim，——thatofVerse—
correctingnowandthen。TwoSpecimensexist；twoPiecescriticised，ODEAUXPRUSSIENS，andTHEARTOFWAR:portionsofthatReprintnowgoingon（\"totheextentofTwelveCopies，\"——woeliesinoneofthem，mostunexpectedatthistime！）\"AUDONJONDU
CHATEAU；\"——underbenefitofVoltaire’sremarks。Whichonereadscuriously，notwithoutsomesurprise。[InOEuvresdeFrederic，x。276—303。]Surprise，firstatVoltaire’sofficialfidelity；hisfrankness，rigorousstrictnessinthissmallduty:thenatthekindofcorrecting，instructingandlessoning，thathadbeendemandedofhimbyhisRoyalPupil。Meregrammaticalstylisticskin—deepwork:nothing（or，atleast，intheseSpecimensnothing）ofattemptupontheinteriorstructure，ortheinteriorharmonyevenofutterance:solelytheParisianniceties，graces，lawsofpoeticlanguage，theFASandtheNEFASinregardtoallthat:thisiswhathisMajestywouldfainbetaughtfromthefountain—head；——onewondershisMajestydidnotlearntospell，whichmighthavebeengotfromalowersource！——AndallthisVoltairedoesteachwithgreatstrictness。Forexample，intheveryfirstline，intheveryfirstword，set，beforehim:——
\"PRUSSIENS，QUELAVALEURCONDUISITALAGLOIRE，\"soFriedrichhadwritten（ODEAUXPRUSSIENS，whichisspecimenFirst）；andthusVoltairecriticises:\"TheHeroheremakeshisPRUSSIENSoftwosyllables；andafterwards，inanotherstrophe，hegrantsthemthree。AKingismasterofhisfavors。Atthesametime，onedoesrequirealittleuniformity；andtheIENSareusuallyoftwosyllables，asLIENS，SILESIENS，AUTRICHIENS；exceptingthemonosyllablesBIEN，RIEN\"——Enough，enough！——Asevere，punctual，painstakingVoltaire，sittingwiththeschoolmaster’sbonnetonhead；ferulavisible，ifnotactuallyinhand。Forwhich，asappears，hisMajestywasverygratefultotheTrismegistusofmen。
Voltaire’sflatteriestoFriedrich，inthosescatteredlittleBilletswiththeirsnatchesofverse，aretheprettiestintheworld，——andapproachveryneartosincerity，thoughseldomquiteattainingit。Somethingtraceableoffalse，ofsuspicious，feline，nearlyalways，inthoseseductivewarblings；whichotherwisearethemostmelodiousbitsofidleingenuitythehumanbrainhaseverspunfromitself。Forinstance，thisheadingofaNotesentfromoneroomtoanother，——perhapswithpiecesofanODEAUXPRUSSIENS
accompanying:——
\"VouguidaignezmedepartirLesfruitsd’uneMusedivine，Oroi！jenepuisconsentirQue，sansdaignerm’enavertir，Vousalliezprendremedecine。
Jesuisvotremalade—ne，Etsurlacasseetlesene，J’aidesnotionsnoncommunes。
Noussommesdemenemetier；
Faut—ildemoivousdefier，Etcachervosbonnesfortunes？\"
Wasthereeversuchaturngiventotakingphysic！Stillbetteristhisother，thetopicworse，——HAEMORRHOIDS（akindofannualorperiodicalaffairwiththeRoyalPatient，whousedtofeelimprovedafter）:——……（Tenortwelveversesonanotherpoint；thensuddenly——）
\"QuelaveinehemorroidaleDevotrepersonneroyaleCessedetroublerlerepos！
Quandpourrai—jed’unestylehonneteDire:’LeculdemonherosVatoutaussibienquesatete’？\"
[InOEuvresdeFrederic，xxii。283，267。]
Akittenishgraceinthesethings，whichispleasantinsooldacat。
Smelfungussays:\"HeisaconsummateArtistinSpeech，ourVoltaire:that，ifyoutakethewordSPEECHinitswidestsense，andconsiderthemuchthatcanbespoken，andtheinfinitelymorethatcannotandshouldnot，isVoltaire’ssupremeexcellencyamonghisfellow—creatures；neverrivalled（tomypoorjudgment）anywherebeforeorsince，——norworthrivalling，ifweknewitwell。\"
Anotherfinecircumstanceis，thatVoltairehasfrequentleaveofabsence；andineffectpassesagreatdealofhistimealtogetherbyhimself，orinhisownwayotherwise。WhatwithFriedrich’sReviewJourneysandBusinessCircuits，considerableseparationsdooccurofthemselves；andatanytime，Voltairehasbuttopleadillness，whichheoftendoes；withgroundandwithout，andgetawayforweeks，safeintothedistancemoreorlessremote。HeisattheMarquisat（aswelaboriouslymakeout）；atBerlin，intheemptyPalace，perhapsinLodgingsofhisown（thoughonewouldprefertheGRATISmethod）；nursinghismaladies，whicharemany；writinghisLOUISQUATORZE；\"lonelyaltogether，yourMajesty，andsadofhumor，\"——yetgivinghiscosylittledinners，andrunningout，prettyoften，ifwellinvited，intothebrillianciesandgayeties。
Nowantofbrilliantsociallifehere，whichcanshine，moreorless，andappreciateone’sshining。TheKing’sSupper—parties——
Yes，andthese，thoughthebrightest，arenottheonlybrightthingsinourPotsdam—Berlinworld。Takewithyou，reader，oneortwoofthethenandthereChiefFigures；Voltaire’sfellow—players；
struttingandfrettingtheirhouronthatStageofLife。Theyaremostlynotquitestrangerstoyou。
WeknowthesublimePerpetualPresidentinhisredwig，andsublimesupremacyofPureScience。Agloomysetfigure；affectingthesententious，theemphaticandacomposedimpregnability，——liketheJoveofScience。Withimmensitiesofgloomyvanity，notcompressibleatalltimes。FriedrichalwaysstrovetohonorhisPerpetualPresident，anddulyadorethePureSciencesinhim；
butinwardlycouldnotquitemanageit，thoughoutwardlyhefailedinnothing。Impartialwitnessesconfess，theKinghadagreatdealoftroublewithhisgloomingsandhim。\"WhoisthisVoltaire？\"
gloomilythinksthePerpetualPresidenttohimself。\"Afellowwithanimbletongue，thatisall。KnowsnothingwhateverofPureSciences，exceptwhatfractionortincturehehasbeggedorstolenfrommyself。AndhereistheKingoftheworldinraptureswithhim！\"
VoltairefromofoldhadfaithfullydonehiskowtowstothisKingoftheSciences；and，withasortofterror，hadsufferedwithincrediblepatienceagreatdealfromhim。Buttherecomesanendtoallthings；Voltaire’spatiencenotexcepted。ItlayinthefatesthatMaupertuisshouldsteadilyaccumulate，dayafterday，andnowmorethaneverheretofore，uponthesensitiveVoltaire。
Till，aswillbeseen，thesensitiveVoltairecouldendureitnolonger；buthadtoexplodeuponthisbigBully（accidentlendingaspark）；togoofflikeaVesuviusofcrackers，fire—serpentsandsky—rockets；enveloptheredwig，andmuchelse，indeliriousconflagration；——andproducethecatastropheofthisBerlinDrama。
D’Argens，poordissolutecreature，isthebestoftheFrenchlot。
Hehasmarried，aftersomanytemporarymarriageswithActresses，oneActressinpermanence，MamsellCochois，apatientkindbeing；
andsettlednow，atPotsdamhere，intoperfectlycomposedhouseholdlife。ReallylovesFriedrich，theysay；theonlyFrenchmanofthemthatdoes。Hasabundanceoflightsputterywit，andProvencalfireandingenuity；noill—natureagainstanyman。Neverinjuresanybody，norliesatallaboutanything。Agreatfriendoffineweather；regrets，ofhisinheritancesinProvence，chieflyoneitem，andthisnotovermuch，——thebrightsouthernsun。
Sitsshiveringinwinter—time，wrappinghimselfinmoreandmoreflannel，twodressing—gowns，twonightcaps:——loyaltothisKing，ingoodtimesandinevil。
WastheKing’sfriendforthirtyyears；helpedseveralmeritoriouspeopletohisMajesty’snotice；andneverdidanymanamischiefinthatquarter。Anerect，guilelessfigure；verytall；withvividcountenance，chaoticallyvividmind:fullofbrightsallies，irregularingenuities；hadahottempertoo，whichdidnotoftenrunawaywithhim，butsometimesdid。HethricemadeavisittoProvence，——infactranawayfromtheKing，feelingbanteredandroastedtoamercilessdegree，——butthricecameback。\"Attheendofthefirststage，hehadalwaysprivatelyforgiventheKing，anddeterminedthatthepretendedvisitshouldreallybeavisitonly。\"
\"ReadstheKing’sLetters，\"whicharemanytohim，\"alwaysbare—
headed，inspiteofthedraughts！\"[Nicolai，Anekdoten，i。11—75，&c。&c。]
Algarottiistooprudent，politelyegoisticandself—contained，totakethetroubleofhurtinganybody，orgethimselfintotroubleforloveorhatred。HefellintodisfavornotlongafterthatunsuccessfullittlemissioninthefirstSilesianWar，ofwhichthereaderhaslostremembrance。Goodfornothingindiplomacy，thoughtFriedrich，butagreeableascompany。\"Companyintents，intheseatofWar，hasitsunpleasantness，\"thoughtAlgarotti；——andbeganveryprivatelysoundingthewatersatDresdenforaneligiblesituation；
sothattherehasensuedaquarrelsince；thenhumbleapologiesfollowedbyprofoundsilence，——tillnowthereisreconcilement。
ItisadmittedFriedrichhadsomerealloveforAlgarotti；
Algarotti，aswegather，noneatallforhim；butonlyforhisgreatness。Theypartedagain（February，1753）withoutquarrel，butforthelasttime；[Algarotti—Correspondence（OEuvresdeFrederic，xviii。86）。]——andIconfesstoareliefontheoccasion。
Friedrich，readersknowbythistime，hadagreatappetiteforconversation:hetalkedwell，listenedwell；oneofhischiefenjoymentswas，togiveandreceivefromhisfellow—creaturesinthatway。Ihope，andindeedhaveevidence，thatherequiredgoodsenseasthestaple；butintheform，heallowedgreatlatitude。
Hebynomeansaffectedsolemnity，ratherthereverse；goesmuchuponthebanteringvein；fartoomuch，accordingtothecomplainingparties。Tookpleasure（cruelmortal！）instirringuphiscompanybythewhip，andevenbythewhipappliedtoRAWS；forwefindhehad\"established，\"liketheDublinHackney—Coachman，\"rawsforhimself；\"andhabituallypliedhisimplementthere，whendesiroustogetintothegallop。Inaninhumanmanner，saidthesufferingCattle；whousedtorebelagainstit，andgooffinthesulksfromtimetotime。Itiscertainhecould，especiallyinhisyoungeryears，putupwithagreatdealofzanyism，ingeniousfooleryandroughtumbling，ifithadanybasistotumbleon；thoughwithyearshebecamemoresaturnine。
ByfarhischiefArtistinthiskind，indeedproperlytheonlyone，wasLaMettrie，whomweoncesawtransientlyasArmy—SurgeonatFontenoy:heisnowoutofallthat（flungout，withthedogsathisheels）；hasbeensafeinBerlinforthreeyearspast。
Friedrichnotonlytoleratesthepoormadcap，buttakessomepleasureinhim:madcapwesay，thoughpoorLaMettriehadremarkablegifts，exuberantlaughteroneofthem，andwasfarfromintendingtobemad。NotZanyism，butWisdomofthehighestnature，waswhathedroveat，——unluckily，withopenmouth，andmindallintumult。LaMettriehadlefttheArmy，soonafterthatbusyFontenoyevening:ChivalrousGrammont，hispatronandprotector，whohadsavedhimfrommanyscrapes，layshotonthefield。LaMettrie，rushingonwithmouthopenandmindintumult，had，fromofold，beencontinuallygettingintoscrapes。Unorthodoxtoadegree；theSorbonnegreedyforhimlongsince；suchhisaudacitiesinprint，hisheavyhits，boisterous，quizzical，logical。AndnowhehadsettoattackingtheMedicalFaculty，toquizzingMedicineinhiswildway；DoctorAstruc，DoctorThisandThat，ofthefirstcelebrity，takingitveryill。SothatLaMettriehadtodemit；togetoutofFranceratherinahurry，lestworsebefell。
HehadstudiedatLeyden，underBoerhaave。Hehadinfactconsiderablemedicalandothertalent，hadhenotbeensotumultuousandopen—mouthed。HefledtoLeyden；andshotforth，insafetythere，hisfierydartsuponSorbonneandFaculty，athisowndiscretion，——whichwasalwaysaMINIMUMquantity:——hehad，beforelong，madeLeydenalsotoohotforhim。HisBooksgainedakindofcelebrityintheworld；awokelaughterandattention，amongtheadventurousofreaders；astonishmentattheblazingmadcap（aBON
DIABLE，too，asonecouldsee）；andarestillknowntoCatalogue—
makers，——though，withoneexception，L’HOMMEMACHINE，nototherwise，norreadatall。L’HOMMEMACHINE（ManaMachine）istheexceptionalBook；smallestofDuodecimostohavesomuchwildfireinit，ThisMANAMACHINE，thoughtumultuousLaMettriemeantnothingbutopen—mouthedWisdombyit，gavescandalinabundance；
sothateventheLeydenMagistrateswerescandalized；andhadtoburntheafflictinglittleDuodecimobythecommonhangman，andorderLaMettrietodisappearinstantlyfromtheirCity。