第20章
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  FriedrichWilhelmfeelsthatallthisisapettifoggingvexatiouscourseofprocedure;andthathislittleCousintheCOMODIANTisnottreatinghimverylikeagentleman。\"Ishe,yourMajesty!\"

  suggeststheSmokingParliament。——AboutthemiddleofMarch,DubourgayhearsBorck,anOfficialnotoftheGrumkowparty,sulkilycommentingon\"theconstanthostilityoftheHanoverMinistrytous\"inallmannerofpoints;———inquireswithal,CouldnotMecklenburgbesomehowsettled,hisPrussianMajestybeingsomewhatanxiousuponit?[Despatch,17thMarch,1729。]

  Anxious,yes:hispoorMajesty,intenselymeditativeofsuchamatterinthenight—watches,iscapableofspringingoutofbed,withan\"Eureka!Ihavefoundwhatwilldo!\"anddemandingwritingmaterials。Hewritesordictatesinhisshirt,thegoodanxiousMajesty;despatcheshisEurekabyestafetteonthewingsofthewind:andyourTownshend,yourUNmeditativeGeorge,receivesitwithcurtofficialnegative,andapolitesneer。[Dubourgay,12th—14thApril,1729;andtheAnswerfromSt。James’s。]

  Afewweeksfartheron,thisiswhattheNewspapersreportofMecklenburg,inspiteofhisPrussianMajesty’sdesiretohavesomemercyshownthepoorinfatuatedDuke:\"TheElectorofHanoverandtheDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,\"hisBritannicMajestyandSquireinthatsadbusiness,\"REFUSEtowithdrawtheirforcesoutofMecklenburg,orpartwiththeChestoftheRevenuesthereof,untilanentiresatisfactionbegiventhemforthearrearsoftheChargestheyhavebeenatinputtingtheSentenceoftheAulicCouncil[Kaiser’sREICHSHOFRATHandrustythunder]intoexecutionagainstthesaidDuke。\"[Salmon’sChronologicalHistorian(London,1748,——aBooknevertobequotedwithoutcaution),ii。216;——date(translatedintonewstyle),10thJuly,1729。]

  MattersgrewgreatlyworsewhenGeorgepaidhisfirstVisittoHanoverincharacterofKing,earlyintheSummerof1729。PartofhisroadliesthroughPrussianTerritory:\"Shallhehavefreepost—horses,ashislateMajestywaswont?\"asksthePrussianOfficialperson。\"Ifhewritetorequestthem,yes,\"answersFriedrichWilhelm;\"ifhedon’twrite,no。\"Georgedoesnotwrite;

  paysforhispost—horses;——flourishesalongtoHanover,inabsolutesilencetowardshisclownishBrother—in—Law。Youwouldsayhelooksovertheheadofhim,asiftherewerenosuchclowninexistence;——hehasneveryetsomuchasnotifiedhisarrival。

  \"Whatisthis?ThereexistsnoPrussia,then,forlittleGeorge?\"

  FriedrichWilhelm’sinarticulate,interjectionaryutterances,inclangorousmetallictone,wecanfancythem,nowandthen;andtheTobacco—Parliamentisbusy!BritishMinisterDubourgay,steadyoldmilitarygentleman,whospellsimperfectly,butisintenttokeepdownmischief,writesatlasttoHanover,submissivelysuggesting,\"Couldnot,aswastheoldwont,somenotificationoftheKing’sarrivalbesenthither,whichwouldconsolehisPrussianMajesty?\"

  TowhichmyLordTownshendanswers,\"Hasnotbeenthecustom,Iaminformed[WRONGinformed,yourLordship];notnecessaryinthecircumstances。\"Whichisahighcoursebetweenneighborsandroyalgentlemenandkinsfolk。ThePrussianCourthereuponlikewiseshutsitslips;nomentionoftheHanoverianCourt,notevenbyherMajestyandtoEnglishmen,forseveralweekspast。[Dubourgay。]

  Someinarticulatemetallicgrowl,inprivate,atdinnerorintheTABAKS—COLLEGIUM:therestistruculentsilence。NorareourpoorHanoverRecruits(accordingtoourListofPressedHanoverians)intheleastsentback;northeClameiMeadowssettled;\"BigMeadow\"

  or\"Littleone,\"bothofwhichtheBrandenburgershavemowninthemeantime。

  HanoverPressedmennotcominghome,——Ithink,notoneofthem,——

  theHanoverOfficialsdecidetoseizesuchPrussianSoldiersashappentobeseizable,inHanoverTerritory。Thehighwayinthatborder—countryrunsnowonthissideofthemarch,nowonthat;——

  watchwell,andyouwillgetPrussianSoldiersfromtimetotime!

  WhichtheHanoverpeopledo;andseizeseveral,commonmenandevenofficers。Hereisoncemoreahighcourseofproceeding。

  Hereiscoaltoraisesmokeenough,ifwellblownupon,——which,withSeckendorfandGrumkowworkingthebellows,wemaywellfancyitwas!Butlistentowhatfollows,independentlyofbellows。

  Onthe28thJune,1729,haylyingnowquitedryupontheMeadowofClamei,lo,theBailiffofHanoverianBuhlitz,UnpicturesqueTravellerwillfindthepeat—smokylittleVillageofBuhlitznearbyadustylittleTowncalledLuchow,midwayfromHamburgtoMagdeburg;altogetherpeaty,mossycountry;intheSalzwedeldistrict,whereusedtobeWendicpopulations,andaMarckorBorderFortressofSalzwedelsetupagainstthem:——BailiffofBuhlitz,Isay,salliesforthwithseveralcarts,withallthepopulationoftheVillage,withatroopofhorsetoescort,andprobablyflagsflyingandsomekindofdrumsbeating;——publiclyrakestogetherthehay,defiantofthePrussianMajestyandallmen;loadsitonhiscarts,androllshomewithit;leavingtotheBrandenburgersnothingbutstubbleandthememoryofhavingmownforHanovertoeat。Thisisthe28thJune,1729;KingofPrussiaisnowatMagdeburg,reviewinghistroops;withinahundredmilesofthesecontestedquag—countries:whocanblamehimthatheflamesupnowintoclearblazeofroyalindignation?

  Thecorrespondencehenceforthbecomesaltogetherlively:

  butintheBritannicArchivesthereisnothingofit,——DubourgayhavingreceivedwarningfrommyLordTownshendtobealtogetherignorantofthematterhenceforth,andlettheHanoverOfficialsmanageit。HisPrussianMajestyreturnshomeinthemosttempestuouscondition。

  WemayjudgewhatatimeQueenSophiehadofit;whatscenestherewerewithCrown—PrinceFriedrichandWilhelmina,inherMajesty’sApartmentandelsewhere!FriedrichWilhelmisfastmountingtothered—hotpitch。Thebullyings,thebeatingseven,ofthesepoorChildren,love—sickoneofthem,arelamentabletohearof,asalltheworldhasheard:——\"Disobedientunnaturalwhelps,bitingtheheelsofyourpooroldparentmastiffinhisextremeneed,whatistobedonewithyou?\"Fritzheoftenenoughbeats,givesaslaptowithhisrattan;hashurledaplateathim,onoccasion,whenbadtopicsroseattable;nayatWilhelminatoo,shesays:butthepoorchildrenalwaysducked,andnothingbutalittlenoiseandlossofcrockeryensued。Fritzhedeliberatelydetests,asaservantoftheDevil,incorrigiblyrebellingagainstthepaternalwill,andgoingonthosedissolutecourses:asillyFrenchcockatoo,suspectedofdisbeliefinScripture;giventonothingbutfifingandplay—books;whowillbringPrussiaaudhimselftoabadend。\"Godgranthedonotfinishonthegallows!\"sighedthesadFatheroncetoGrumkow。Therecordsofthesethingsliewrittenfarandwide,inthearchivesofmanycountriesaswellasinWilhelmina’sBook。

  Tometherewasoneundiplomaticreflectioncontinuallypresent:

  Heavens,couldnobodyhavegotabitofrope,andhangedthosetwoDiplomaticswindlers;clearlyofthescoundrelgenus,morethancommonpickpocketsare?Therebyhadcertainyounghearts,andhonestoldonestoo,escapedbeingbroken;andmanyathingmighthavegonebetterthanitdid。JARNI—BLEU,HerrFeldzeugmeister,thoughyouareanorthodoxProtestant,thisthousand—foldperpetualhabitofdistilledlyingseemstomeabadone。Idonotblameanoldmilitarygentleman,withabrowsopuckeredasyours,forhavinglittleofthemilkofhumankindnesssocalled:

  butthisofbreaking,byforceofliesmerely,andforyourownuses,theheartsofpoorinnocentcreatures,nayofgrindingthemslowlyinthemortar,andemployingtheirFather’shandtodoitwithal;this——HerrGeneral,forgiveme,buttherearemomentswhenIfeelasiftheextinctionofprobablytheintensestscoundrelofthatepochmighthavebeenasatisfactoryevent!——Alas,itcouldnotbe。SeckendorfislyingabroadforhisKaiser;\"theonlyreallyablemanwehave,\"saysEugenesometimes。Snufflesandlisps;andtravelsinall,astheycount,about25,000miles,keepinghisMajestyincompany。Herearesomeglimpsesintotheinterior,dullbutatfirst—hand,whichareworthclippingandcondensingfromDubourgay,withtheirdates:——

  30thJULY,1729。TotherespectableoldBrigadier,thisdayoryesterday,\"herMajesty,allintears,complainedofhersituation:KingisnighlosinghissensesonaccountofthedifferenceswithHanover;goesfrombedtobedinthenight—time,andfromchambertochamber,’likeonewhosebrainsareturned。’Tookafit,attwointhemorning,lately,tobeofftoWusterhausen:\"——aboutayearagoSeckendorfandGrumkowhadbuiltaLodgeoutthere,wherehisMajesty,whenheliked,couldbesnugandprivatewiththem:thitherhisMajestynowrushed,attwointhemorning;butseeminglyfoundlittleassuagement。

  \"Sincehisreturn,hegiveshimselfupentirelytodrink:——

  Seckendorf,\"thesnufflingBelial,\"isbusy,abovegroundandbelow;hasbeenheardsayingHealonecouldsettlethesebusinesses,Double—Marriageandall,wouldherMajestybuttrusthim!\"——

  \"TheKingwillnotsufferthePrince—RoyaltositnexthisMajestyattable,butobligeshimtogotothelowerend;wherethingsaresoordered,\"saysthesympatheticDubourgay,\"thatthepoorPrinceoftenriseswithoutgettingonebit,\"——woe’sme!\"InsomuchthattheQueenwasobligedtwodaysago[28thJuly,1729,letusdatesuchanoccurrence]tosend,byoneoftheservantswhocouldbetrusted,aBoxofcoldfowlsandothereatablesforhisRoyalHighness’ssubsistence!\"[Dubourgay,30thJuly,1729。]

  InthefirstblazeoftheoutrageatClamei,FriedrichWilhelm’sardentmindsuggestedtohimthemethodofsinglecombat:defianceofGeorge,bycartel,Togivethesatisfactionofagentleman。

  TherehavebeensuchinstancesonthepartofSovereigns;

  thoughtheyarerare:KarlLudwigofthePfalz,Winter—king’sSon,forexample,did,asisunderstood,challengeTurenneforburningthePfalz(FIRSTburningthatpoorcountrygot);butnothingcameofit,owingtoTurenne’sprudence。FriedrichWilhelmseeswellthatitallcomesfromGeorge’sprivatehumor:WhyshouldhumanbloodbeshedexceptGeorge’sandmine?FriedrichWilhelmisdecisiveforsendingoffthecartel;hehasevensettledtheparticulars,andseesinhisglowingpoeticmindhowthetransactionmaybe:say,atHildesheimforplace;Derschaushallbemysecond;BrigadierSutton(ifanybodynowknowsuchaman)

  maybehis。Seconds,placeandgeneraloutlinehehasschemedout,andfixed,sofarasdependsononeparty;willfairlyfenceandfightthisinsolentlittleRoyalGentleman;givetheworldaspectacle(whichmighthavebeenverywholesometotheworld)oftwoKingsvoidingtheirquarrelbyduelandfairpersonalfence。

  InEnglandthereportgoes,\"notwithoutfoundation,\"thinkLordHerveyandmenofsarcasticinsightinthehighercircles,ThatitwashisBritannicMajestywho\"sentorwouldhavesentachallengeofsinglecombattohisPrussianMajesty,\"thelatterbeingthepassiveparty!ReportflungintoanINVERSEposture,asisliabletohappen;\"going\"nowwithitsfeetuppermost;\"notwithoutfoundation,\"thinksLordHervey。\"Butwhetherit[thecartel]wascarriedandrejected,orwhethertheprayersandremonstrancesofLordTownshendpreventedthegauntletbeingactuallythrowndown,isapointwhich,tome[LordHervey]atleast,hasneverbeencleared。\"[LordHervey,MemoirsofGeorgeII。(London,1848),i。127。]

  ThePrussianMinisters,nolessthanTownshendwould,feelwellthatthisofDuelwillneverdo。Astonishment,FLEBILELULIBRIUM,tragicalteheefromgodsandmen,willcomeoftheDuel!Buthowtoturnitaside?FortheKingisdetermined。Histruculentveracityofmindpointsoutthisastherealwayforhim;

  reasoning,entreatingaretonopurpose。\"Thetruemethod,Itellyou!Astotheworldanditscackling,——lettheworldcackle!\"

  AtlengthBorckhitsonaconsideration:\"YourMajestyhasbeenilllately;handperhapsnotsosteadyasusual?NowifitshouldturnoutthatyourMajestyprovedsoinferiortoyourselfasto——

  GoodHeavens!\"This,itissaid,wasthepointthatstaggeredhisMajesty。Tobacco—Parliament,andBorckthere,pusheditsadvantage:themethodofduel(prevalentthroughtheearlypartofJuly,Ishouldguess)wasgivenup。[Bielfeld,Lettresfamilieresetautres(Secondedition,2vols。Leide,1767),i。117,118。]WhywastherenoHansardinthatInstitutionoftheCountry?Patience,idlereader!WeshallgetsomescrapsoftheDebatesonothersubjects,byandby。——ButhearDubourgayagain,intheabsenceofMorningNewspapers:——

  AUGUST9th,1729。\"Berlinlooksaltogetherwarlike。AtMagdeburgtheyarebusymakingovenstobakeAmmunition—bread;ArtilleryisgettinghauledoutoftheArsenalhere;\"allisclangor,dinofpreparation。\"ItissaidtheKingwillfallonMecklenburg;\"canatonce,ifhelike。\"TheseintolerableusagesfromEngland[Seckendorfisrumoredtohavesaid],canyourMajestyendurethemforever?WhynotmarrythePrince—Royal,atonce,toanotherPrincess,andhavedonewiththem!\"——orwordstothateffect,asreportedbyCourt—rumortoherMajestyandDubourgay。AndthereisaPrincesstalkedofforthisMatch,RussianPrincess,littleCzar’sSister(littleCzartohaveWilhelmina,Double—MarriagetobewithRussia,notwithEngland);butthelittleCzarsoondied,littleCzar’sSisterwentoutofsight,orIknownotwhathappened,andonlybriefrumorcameofthat。

  AsfortheCrown—Prince,hehasnotfallendesperate;no;

  butappearstohavestrangeschemesinhim,deepundercover。

  \"Hehassaidtoaconfidant[Wilhelmina,itisprobable],’Astohisill—treatment,hewellknewhowtofreehimselfofthat[willflytoforeignparts,yourHighness?],andwouldhavedonesolongsince,wereitnotforhisSister,uponwhomthewholeweightofhisFather’sresentmentwouldthenfall。Happenwhatwill,therefore,heisresolvedtosharewithherallthehardshipswhichtheKinghisFathermaybepleasedtoputuponher。\"

  [Dubourgay,11thAugust,1729。]MeansprivatelyaflighttoEngland,Dubourgaysees,andinareticentdiplomaticwayisgladtosee。

  IpossessnearadozenHanoverianandPrussianDespatchesuponthisstrangeBusiness;butshouldshuddertoinflictthemonanyinnocentreader。Clear,graveDespatches,verybriefandjust,especiallyonthePrussianside:andonamattertoo,whichtrulyisnotlighterthananyotherDespatchmatterofthatintrinsicallyvacantEpoch:——Oreader,wouldIcouldburyallvacanttalkandwritingwhatsoever,asIdothesepoorDespatchesaboutthe\"eightcart—loadsofhay\"!FriedrichWilhelmisfair—playitself;willdoallthinge,thatEarthorHeavencanrequireofhim。Only,heismuchinahurrywithal;andofthistheHanoverOfficialstakeadvantage,perhapsunconsciously,tokeephiminprovocation。Heliesawakeatnight,hisheartissore,andhehasfledtodrink。TowardsthemiddleofAugust,——

  hereagainisaphenomenon,——\"hespringsoutofbedinthemiddleofnight,\"hasagainanEUREKAastothisofClamei:\"Eureka,I

  seenowwhatwillbringasettlement!\"andsendsoffpost—hastetoKannegiesseratHanover。ToKannegiesser,——HerrReichenbach,thespecialEnvoyinthismatter,beingabsentatthemoment,gonetotheGohrde,Ibelieve,whereBritannicMajestyitselfis:

  butKannegiesseristhere,upontheAhldenHeritages;acquaintedwiththeground,aratherpreciseofficialman,whowillserveforthehurrywearein。Post—haste;dovewitholive—branchcannotgotooquick;——Kannegiesserapplyingforaninterview,notwiththeBritannicMajesty,whoisatGohrde,hunting,butwiththeHanoverCouncil,is——refusedadmittance。HereareHerrKannegiesser’sofficialReports;whichwillthemselvestelltherestofthestory,thankHeaven:——

  TOHISPRUSSIANMAJESTY(FromHerrKannegiesser)。

  No。1。\"DONEATHANOVER,15thAUGUST,1729。

  \"Onthe15thdayofAugust,atteno’clockinthemorning,I

  receivedTwoOrdersofCouncil[theseareTHEEUREKA,neveraskfartherwhattheyare];despatchedonthe13thinstantatsevenintheevening;whereuponIimmediatelywenttotheCouncil—chamberhere;andinformedtheHerrvonHartoff,PrivateSecretary,whometmeinaroomadjoining,’That,havingsomethingtoproposetohisMinistry[nowsittingdeliberativeintheinteriorhere;

  somethingtoproposetohisMinistry]onthepartofthePrussianMinisters,itwasnecessaryIshouldspeaktothem。’HerrvonHartoff,afterhavingreportedmydemand,letmeknow,’HehadreceivedordersfromtheMinistrytodeferwhatIhadtosaytoanothertime。’

  \"Ireplied,’That,sinceIcouldnotbeallowedthehonorofanaudienceatthattime,IthoughtmyselfobligedtoacquainthimI

  hadreceivedanOrderfromBerlintoapplytotheMinistryofthisplace,inthenameoftheMinistersofPrussia,andmakethemostpressinginstancesforaspeedyAnswertoaLetterlatelydeliveredtothembyHerrHofrathReichenbath[myworthyAssistanthere;AnswertohisLetterinthefirstplace];andtodesirethattheAnswermightbelodgedinmyhands,inordertoremititwithsafety。’

  \"HerrvonHartoffreturnedimmediatelytotheCouncil—chamber;

  andafterhavingtoldtheMinisterswhatIhadsaid,broughtmethefollowinganswer,inabouthalf—a—quarterofanhour[sevenminutesbythewatch]:’ThattheMinistersofthisCourtwouldnotfailansweringthesaidLetterassoonaspossible;andwouldtakecaretogivemenoticeofit,andsendtheAnswertome。’\"

  ThatwasallthatthepunctualKannegiessercouldgetoutofthem。

  \"But,\"continueshe,\"notthinkingthisreplysufficient,Iadded,’Thatdelaysbeingdangerous,Iwouldcomeagainthenextdayforamorepreciseanswer。’\"

  Ratherahigh—manneredpositiveman,thisKannegiesser,oftheAhldenHeritages;notwithoutsharpnessoftemper,iftheHanoverOfficialsdriveittoofar。

  No。2。——\"ATHANOVER,16thAUGUST,1729。

  \"AccordingtotheordersreceivedfromtheKingmyMaster,andpursuantofmypromiseofyesterday,IwentatnoonthisdaytotheCastle(SCHLOSS),forthepurpose,ofmakingappearanceintheCouncil—chamber,wheretheMinisterswereassembled。

  \"IletthemknowIwasthere,byVanHartoff,PrivySecretary;

  and,inthemildestterms,desiredtobeadmittedtospeakwiththem。Whichwasrefusedmeasecondtime;andthefollowinganswerdeliveredmebyVanHartoff:’ThatsincethePrussianMinistershadintrustedmewiththisCommission,theMinistersofthisCourthaddirectedhimtodrawupmyyesterday’sProposalsinwriting,andreportthemtotheCouncil。’

  \"WhereuponIsaid,’IcouldnotconceiveanyreasonwhyIwastheonlypersonwhocouldnotbeadmittedtoaudience。That,however,astheMinistersofthisCourtwerepleasedtoauthorizehim,HerrvonHartoff,toreceivemyProposals,Iwasobligedtotellhim,’

  asthefirstorpreliminarypointofmyCommission,’IhadreceivedorderstobeverypressingwiththesaidMinistersofthisCourt,foranAnswertoaLetterfromthePrussianMinistry,latelydeliveredbyHerrLegationsrathvonReichenbach;

  andfindingthatthesaidAnswerwasnotyetfinished,Iwouldstaytwodaysforit,thatImightbemoresecureofgettingit。

  ButthatthenIshouldcometoputtheminmindofit,anddesireaudienceinordertoacquitmyselfoftheRESTofmyCommission。’

  \"ThePrivySecretarydrewupwhatIsaidinwriting。ImmediatelyafterwardshereportedittotheMinistry,andbroughtmethisanswer:’ThattheMinistersofthisCourtwouldbeasgoodastheirwordofyesterday,andanswertheabove—mentionedLetterwithallpossibleexpedition。’Afterwhichweparted。\"

  No。3。——\"ATHANOVER,17thAUGUST,1729

  \"Attwointheafternoon,thisday,HerrvonHartoffcametomyhouse;andletmeknow’HehadbusinessofconsequencefromtheMinistry,andthathewouldreturnatfive。’Bymydirectionhewastold,’Ishouldexpecthim。’

  \"Atthetimeappointedhecame;andtoldme,’ThattheMinistersoftheCourt,understandingfromhimthatIdesignedtoaskaudienceto—morrow,didnotdoubtbutmybusinesswouldbetoremindthemoftheAnswerwhichIhaddemandedyesterdayandthedaybefore。ThatsuchapplicationswerenotcustomaryamongsovereignPrinces;thatthey,theMinisters;’darednottreatfartherinthataffairwithme;thattheydesiredmenottomentionittothemagaintilltheyhadreceiveddirectionsfromhisBritannicMajesty,towhomtheyhadmadetheirreport;

  andthatassoonastheyreceivedtheirinstructions,theresultoftheseshouldbecommunicatedtome。’

  \"TothisIreplied,’ThatIdidnotexpecttheMinistersofthisCourtwouldrefusemetheaudiencewhichIdesignedtoaskto—morrow;andthatthereforeIwouldnotfailofbeingattheCouncil—chamberateleven,nextday,’accordingtobargain,’toknowtheiranswertotherestofmyProposals。’——SecretaryVonHartoffwouldnothearofthisresolution;andassuredmepositivelyhehadorderstolistentonothingmoreonthesubjectfromme。Afterwhichheleftme?\"

  No。4。——\"ATHANOVER,18thAUGUST,1729。

  \"Ateleven,thisday,IwenttotheCouncil—chamber,forthethirdtime;anddesiredSecretaryHartoff’ToprevailwiththeMinistrytoallowmetospeakwiththem,andcommunicatewhattheKingofPrussiahadorderedmetopropose。’

  \"HerrvonHartoffgavethemanaccountofmyrequest;andbroughtmeforanswer,’ThatImustwaitalittle,becausetheMinisterswerenotyetallassembled。’\"WhichIdid。\"Butafterhavingmademestayalmostanhour,andafterthePresidentoftheCouncilwascome,HerrvonHartoffcameouttome;andrepeatedwhathehadsaidyesterday,inverypositiveandabsoluteterms,’ThattheMinisterswereresolvednottoseeme,andhadexpresslyforbidhimtakinganyPaperatmyhands。’

  \"TowhichIreplied,’Thatthiswasveryhardusage;andtheworldwouldseehowtheKingofPrussiawouldrelishit。ButhavingstrictordersfromhisMajesty,mymostgraciousMaster,tomakeaDeclarationtotheMinistersofHanoverinhisname;andfindingHerrvonHartoffwouldneitherreceiveit,nortakeacopyofit,IhadonlytotellhimthatIwasunderthenecessityofleavingitinwriting,——andhadbroughtthePaperwithme,’\"letHerrvonHartoffobserve!——\"’Andthatnow,astheCouncilwerepleasedtorefusetotakeit,IwasobligedtoleavethesaidDeclarationonatableinanadjoiningroom,inthepresenceofHerrvonHartoffandotherSecretariesoftheCouncil,whomIdesiredtolayitbeforetheMinistry。’

  \"AfterthisIwenthome;buthadscarcelyenteredmyapartment,whenamessengerreturnedmetheDeclaration,stillsealedasI

  leftit,byorderoftheMinisters:andperceivingIwasnotinclinedtoreceiveit,helaiditonmytable,andimmediatelyleftthehouse。\"[ALetterfromanEnglishTravellertohisFriendatLondon,relatingtotheDifferencesbetwixttheCourtsofPrussiaandHanover,withCopiesof,&c。TranslatedfromtheFrench(London,A。Millar,atBuchanan’sHead,1730),pp。29—34。

  AnexcellentdistinctlittlePamphlet;veryexplanatoryinthismatter,——likethesmallestrushlightinadarkcellarofshot—lumber。]

  WhereuponKannegiesser,withoutlossofamoment,returnstoBerlin,19thAugust;andreportsprogress。

  SimplehonestOrsonofaPrussianMajesty,whatabepainted,beribbonedinsultingPlay—actorMajestyhashefalleninwith!——

  \"Hm,so?Hm,na!\"andIseethefaceofhim,allcolorsoftheprism,andeyesinafinefrenzy;betokeningthunderyweathertosomepeople!Instantlyheorders44,000mentogetonmarch;

  [FriedrichWilhelm’s\"Manifesto\"isinMauvillon,ii。210—215,dated\"20thAugust,1729\"(thedayafterKannegieseer’sreturn)。]andtheseinstantlybegintostir;

  smallpreparationneeded,ever—readybeingthewordwiththem。

  Fromheavyguns,ammunition—wagonsanddraught—horses,downtothelastbuckleofaspatterdash,thingsareallticketedandreadyinhisMajesty’scountry;things,andstillmoreevidentlymen。

  Withinaweek,theamazedGazetteers{NewspaperEditorswenowcallthem)canbeholdtheactualadventofhorse,footandartilleryregimentsatMagdeburg;actualrendezvousbegun,andwithafrightfulequablevelocitygoingondayafterday。Onthe15thdayofSeptember,ifFate’salmanacholdsteady,therewillbe44,000ofthemreadythere。Suchamassofpotential—battleasGeorgeortheHanoverOfficialityare——readytofight?

  Alas,farenoughfromthat。Forcesoftheirowntheyhave,afterasort;subsidizedHessians,Danes,thesetheycanbegintostirup;

  buttheyhavenotaregimentreadyforfighting;andhaveNOTHING,ifallwereready,whichthis44,000cannottooprobablysweepoutoftheworld。IsupposelittleGeorgemusthaveexhibitedsomeprismaticcolorsofcountenance,too。ThisinsultedOrsonisswingingatremendousclubuponthelittleperukedribbonedhighgentleman,promenadingloftilyinhispreservesyonder!

  ThePrussianforcesmarch,steady,continual;Crown—PrinceFriedrich’sregimentofGiantsisonmarch,expresslyunderchargeofFriedrichhimself:——theyoungman’sthoughtsarenotrecordedforus;onlythathegetspraisefromhisFather,sodexterousandperfectishewiththeGiantsandtheirgettingintogear。Noristhere,saysourForeignCorrespondent,theleasttruth,inyourrumorthatthePrussianforces,officersormen,marchedwithbadwill;\"conspicuouslythereverseisthetruth,asImyselfcantestify。\"[Pamphletcitedabove。]AndhisBritannicMajesty,nowmakingadreadfulfluttertoassembleasfastaspossible,isliketogetquiteflungintothebogsbythisterribleOrson!——

  Whatanamazement,amongtheGazetteers:thunder—cloudsofwarmountingupoverthezenithinthismanner,andblottingoutthesun;mayproduceaneffectontheCongressofSoissons?

  Presumably:andhisImperialMajesty,leftsittingdesolateonhisPragmaticSanction,gloomilywatchingevents,mayfindsomethingturnuptohisadvantage?PrussiaandEnglandaresufficientlyinquarrel,atanyrate;perhapsalmosttoomuch。——ThePope,inthesecircumstances,didacuriousthing。ThePope,havingprayedlatelyforrainandgotit,proceedsnow,intheendofSeptember,whilesuchwar—rumorsarestillattheirheightinRome,topray,orevendoaPublicMass,orsomeotherso—calledPontificality,\"intheChapelofPhilipNeriintheNewChurch,\"bywayofstillmoreeffectualmiracle。Prays,namely,ThatHeavenwouldbegraciouslypleasedtofoment,andblowuptotheproperdegree,thisquarrelbetweenthetwochiefHereticPowers,Heaven’schiefenemies,wherebyHolyReligionmightreapagoodbenefit,ifitpleasedHeaven。But,thistime,themiracledidnotgooffaccordingtoprogram。[\"ExtractofaLetterfromRome,24thSeptember,1729,\"inTownshend’sDespatch,Whitehall,10thOutober,1729。]

  Foratthispoint,beforethePopehadprayed,butwhilethetroopsandartillerywereevidentlyallonmarch(\"SuchanartilleryasI,\"whoamKaiser’sArtillery—Master,\"formypoorpart,neverhadthehappinesstoseebeforeinanycountry,\"

  snufflesSeckendorfintheSmokingParliament),andnowswordsare,asitwere,drawn,andintheairmakehorridcircles,——theneighborsinterfere:\"HeavensIputupyourswords!\"——andthehugeworld—widetumultsuddenly(Ithink,intheveryfirstdaysofthismonthSeptember)collapses,sinksintosomethingyoucanputintoasnuff—box。

  Ofcourseitcouldnevercometoactualbattle,afterall。

  Toohighapickle—herringtragedythat。HereisaCOMODIANTnotwantingtobesmittenintothebogs;anhonestOrsonwhowantsnothing,norhaseverwanted,butfair—play。Fair—play;andnottobeinsultedonthestreets,orhaveone’spoorHobbyquiteknockedfromunderone!——Neighbors,aswesay,struckin;France,Holland,alltheneighbors,atthispoint:\"Doitbyarbitration;

  Wolfenbuttelfortheone,Sachsen—Gothafortheother;

  CommissionerstomeetatBrunswick!\"Andthat,accordingly,wasthecoursefixedupon;andsettlement,bythatmethod,wasaccomplished,withoutdifficulty,insomesixmonthshence。

  [16thApril,1730(Forster,ii。105)。]WhetherClameiwasawardedtoHanoverortoBrandenburg,Ineverknew,orhowthehayofitiscutatthismoment。Ionlyknowtherewasnobattleonthesubject;thoughatonetimetherewasliketobesuchaclashofbattleastheoldMarkgravesneverhadwiththeiroldWends;

  notifweputalltheirbattlingsintoone。

  Seckendorf’sradiantbrowhastopuckeritselfagain:thisfineproject,ofboilingtheKaiser’seggsbysettingtheworldonfire,hasnotprosperedafterall。ThegloomyoldvillaincametoherMajestyoneday,[Dubourgay,30thJuly,1729。]whilethingswerenearthehottest;andsaidorinsinuated,Hewasthemanthatcoulddothesebusinesses,andbringabouttheDouble—Marriageitself,ifherMajestywerenotsoharshuponhim。WhereuponherMajesty,reportingtoDubourgay,threwoutthehint,\"Whatifwe(thatis,you)didgivehimafortyorfiftythousandthalersverily,forhewilldoanythingformoney?\"TowhichTownshendanswersfromtheGohrde,totheeffect:\"Pooh,heisamerebagofnoxiousfutilities;consistsofgallmainly,andrustyoldliesandcrotchets;breathingverycopperasthroughthoseoldchoppylipsofhis:lethimgotothe——!\"NextSpring,atthehappyendoftheArbitration,whichhehadstrivenallhecouldtomarandtoretard,hefellquiteill;tooktohisbedfortwodays,——

  colics,oroneknowsnotwhat;——\"andIcan’tsayIamverysorryforhim,\"writestherespectableDubourgay。[25thApril,1730。]

  Onthe8thdayofSeptember,1729,FriedrichCrown—Princere—entersPotsdam[Ib。11thSept。1729。]withhistwobattalionsofGiants;hehasdonesowell,theKinggoesoutfromBerlintoseehimmarchinwiththem;rejoicingtofindsomethingofasoldierintheyounggraceless,afterall。\"TheKingdistributed100,000thalers(15,000pounds)amonghisArmy;\"beingwellpleasedwiththeirbehavior,anddoubtlessrightgladtobeoutofsuchaBusiness。TheAhldenHeritageswillnowgetliquidated;

  Mecklenburg,——ourKnyphausen,withtheHanoverConsorts,willsettleMecklenburg;andallshallbewellagain,wehope!——

  Thefact,onsomeofthesepoints,turnedoutdifferent;butitwasnowoflessimportance。AstoKnyphausen’sproceedingsatMecklenburg,afterthehappyPeace,theywerenotsosuccessfulashadbeenhoped。Needofquarrel,however,betweentheMajesties,therehenceforthwasnotinMecklenburg;andifslightrufflingsandcollisionsdidarise,itwasnottillafterourpoorDouble—Marriagewasatanyratequiteoutofthegame,andtheyarewithoutsignificancetous。Butthetruthis,thoughKnyphausendidhisbest,nosettlementcame;norindeedcouldevercome。Shallwesumupthatsorrymatterhere,andwashourhandsofit?

  TROUBLESOFMECKLENBURG,FORTHELASTTIME。

  Knyphausen,wesay,provedfutile;norcouldhumanwithavesucceeded。TheexasperatedDukewascontumacious,irrational;

  thetwoMajestieskeptpullingdifferentwaysuponhim。

  Mattersgrewfromverybadtoworse;andMecklenburgcontinuedlongarunningsore。Notmanymonthsafterthis(Ithink,stillin1729),theirrationalDuke,havinggotmoneyoutofRussia,camehomeagainfromDantzig;tonotableincreaseoftheAnarchiesinMecklenburg,thoughwithoutotherresultforhimself。

  TheirrationalDukeprovedmorecontumaciousthanever,fellintodeepertroublethanever;——atlength(1733)hemadeProclamationtothePeasantrytoriseandfightforhim;whodidturnout,withtheirbill—hooksandbludgeons,underCaptainsnamedbyhim,\"totheamountof18,000Peasants,\"——withsuchriotasmaybefancied,butwithoutotherresult。SothattheHanoverCommissionersdecidedtoseizetheveryRESIDENZCities(SchwerinandDomitz)

  fromthismadDuke,andmakethecountryclearofhim,——hisBrotherbeingInterimManageralways,undercountenanceoftheCommissioners。Whichtransactions,especiallywhichcontemplatedseizureoftheResidenceCities,FriedrichWilhelm,eventualheir,couldnotseewithequanimityatall。Buthavingnoforcesinthecountry,whatcouldhedo?Being\"Joint—Commissioner\"thislongwhilepast,thoughwithoutarmedinterferencehitherto,heprivatelyresolvesthathewillhaveforcesthere;theratherasthepoorDukeprofessespenitence,andfliestohimforhelp。

  Poorsoul,hisRussianUniqueofWiveshasjustdied,farenoughawayfromhimthislongwhilepast:whatalifetheyhavehad,thesetwoUniques!——

  Enough,\"onthe19thofOctober,1733,Lieutenant—GeneralSchwerin,\"——thesamewhowasColonelSchwerin,theDuke’schiefCaptainhere,atthebeginningofthesetroubles,nowLientenant—GeneralandadistinguishedPRUSSIANofficer,——

  \"marchesintoMecklenburgwiththreeregiments,oneoffoot,twoofhorse:\"[Buchholz,i。122,142;Michaelis,ii。433,437。]he,doubtless,willhelpinquellingthosePeasantandotherAnarchies?Privatelyhismissionismostdelicate。HeisnottofightwiththeHanoverians;isdelicatelybuteffectuallytoshovethemwellawayfromtheResidenceCities,andfastenhimselfdowninthoseparts。WhichtheLieutenant—Generaldexterouslydoes。

  \"Anight’squarterhereinParchim,\"——suchistheLieutenant—General’srequest,politebutimpressive,fromtheoutskirtsofthatlittleTown,aTownessentialtocertainobjects,andinfactthepointheisaimingat:\"night’squarter;

  youcannotrefuseittothisPrussianCompanymarchingundertheKaiser’sCommission?\"No,theHanoverianLieutenantofFootdarenottakeuponhimtorefuse:——butnextmorning,heishimselfinvitedtowithdraw,thePrussianshavingorderstocontinuehereinParchim!Andsowiththeotherpointsandtowns,thatareessentialintheenterpriseonhand。AdexterousLieutenant—GeneralthisSchwerin:——histwoHorse—Colonelsarelikewisementobenoted;ColonelWreech,withacharmingyoungWife,perhapsatoocharming;ColonelTruchsessvonWaldburg,knownafterwards,withdistinction,inLondonSocietyandwidelyotherwise。Andthus,intheendof1733,theMecklenburgResidenceCities,happenwhatmay,aresecuredfortheirpoorirrationalDuke。ThesethingsmayslightlyrufflesometempersatHanover;

  butitisnow1733,andourpoorDouble—Marriageiscleanoutofthegamebythattime!——

  TheirrationalDukecouldnotcontinueinhisResidenceCities,withtheBrotheradministeringoverhim;stillprovingcontumacious,heneededabsolutelytobedrivenout,toWismarorIknownotwhither;wentwanderingaboutforalmosttwentyyearstocome;disturbed,andstirringupdisturbance。Died1747,stillinthatsadposture;InterimBrother,withPosterity,succeeding。

  [Michaelis,ii。434—440。]ButHanoverandPrussiainterferednofarther;thebrotheradministeredonhisownfooting,\"supportedbytroopshiredfromHamburg。HanoverandPrussia,400

  Hanoverians,200Prussians,merelyretainedholdoftheirrespectiveHypothecs[Districtsheldinpawn]tilltheexpensesshouldbepaid,\"——millionofTHALERS,andbythoselateanarchiesanewheavyscorerunup。

  PrussiaandHanoverretainedholdoftheirHypothecs;forastotheexpenses,whathopewasthere?FiftyyearshencewefindthePrussianHypothecsoccupiedasatfirst;and\"rightsofenlistmentexercised。\"Neverinthisworldwerethoseexpensespaid;——norcouldbe,anypartofthem。Thelastaccountswere:GeorgeIII。ofEngland,onmarrying,in1761,aMecklenburgPrincess,——\"OldQueenCharlotte,\"thenyoungenough,——handsomelytoreupthebill;

  andsoendedthatpartofadesperatedebt。ButofthePrussianparttherewasnoend,norliketobeany:\"downtothisday[saysBuchholz,in1775],twosquadronsoftheZiethenHussarsusuallyliethere,\"andrightsofenlistingareexercised。Iconclude,theFrenchRevolutionanditsWarswipedawaythisotherdesperateitem。AndnowletushopethatMecklenburgisbetteroffthanformerly,——that,atleast,ourhandsareclearofitintimecoming。Iaddonly,withsatisfaction,thatthisUniqueofDukeswasnoancestorofOldQueenCharlotte’s,butonlyaremoteWelsh—Uncle,farenoughapart;——cannotbetoofar。

  ONENUSSLERSETTLESTHEAHLDENHERITAGES;SENDSTHEMONEYHOMEINBOXES。

  KnyphausendidnotsettleMecklenburg,asweperceive!NeitherdidKannegiesserandtheunliquidatedHeritagesprosper,atHanover,quitetoperfection。OneHeritage,thatofUncleOsnabruck,littleGeorgeflatlyrefusedtoshare:FEUDUMthewholeofthat,notALLODIUManypartofit,sothataSistercannotclaim。Which,I

  think,wasconfirmedbytheArbitratorsatBrunswick;

  therebyendingthat。ThenastotheAhldenALLODIAorFEUDA,——

  Kannegiesser,blamablyornot,nevercouldmakemuchofthebusiness。Aprecisestrictman,aswesawattheHanoverCouncil—roomlately;whomtheHanoverpeopledidnotlike。Sohemadelittleofit。Nayattheendofnextyear(December,1730),sendinginhisaccountstoBerlin,hedemands,inadditiontothethreethalers(ornineshillings)dailyallowedhim,almostasecondnineshillingsforsundries,chieflyfor\"hair—powderandshoe—blacking\"!Andisinstantlyrecalled;andvanishesfromHistoryatthispoint。[Busching,Beitrage,

  i。307,&c。?Nussler。]

  UponwhichFriedrichWilhelmselectsanother;\"sendsdealboxesalongwithhim,\"tobringhomewhatcashthereis。Thisone’snameisNussler;anexpectantPrussianOfficial,anadroitman,whomweshallmeetagaindoingwork。Hehasthenineshillingsaday,withouthair—powderorblacking,whileemployedhere;atBerlinnoconstantsalarywhatever,——hadto\"borrow75poundsforoutfitonthisbusiness;\"——doesagreatdealofworkwithoutwages,inhopeofeffectivepromotionbyandby。Whichdidfollow,aftertediousyears;FriedrichWilhelmfindinghim,onsuchproof(otherproofwillnotdo),FITforpromotingtosteadyemployment。

  NusslerwasveryactiveatHanover,andhadhisdealboxes;

  buthardlygotthemfilledaccordingtohope。However,insomeeighteenmonthshehadactuallyworkedout,indifficultinstalments,about13,000pounds,anddugthemattertothebottom。Hecamehomewithhislastinstalment,notdisapprovedof,toBerlin(May,1732);sixyearsafterthepoorDuchess’sdeath,sotheAhldenALLODIAtoohadtheirend。

  ChapterVII。

  AMARRIAGE:NOTTHEDOUBLE—MARRIAGE:CROWN—PRINCEDEEPINTROUBLE。

  WhiletheHanoverImminencywasbutbeginning,andhorridcrisisofWarorDuel——wasyetinnobody’sthoughts,theAnspachWedding[30thMay,1729]hadgoneonatBerlin。ToFriedrichWilhelm’ssatisfaction;nottohisQueen’s,thematchbeingbutapoorone。

  ThebridewasFrederikaLouisa,nottheeldestoftheirDaughters,butthenext—eldest:youngerthanWilhelmina,andstillhardlyfifteen;thefirstmarriedoftheFamily。Veryyoungshe:andgetsaveryyoungMargraf,——whohasbeen,andstillisaminor;

  underhisMother’sguardianshiptillnow:notrich,andwhohasnothadagoodchancetobewise。TheMother——anexcellentmagnanimousPrincess,stillyoungandbeautiful,butlaboringsilentlyundersomemortaldisease——hasdoneherbesttomanageforhimtheselastfourorfiveyears;[Pollnitz,MemoirsandLetters(EnglishTranslation,London,I745),i。200—204。Thereare\"MEMOIRSofPollnitz,\"then\"MEMOIRSAND

  LETTERS,\"besidesthe\"MEMOIRSofBrandenburg\"(posthumous,whichweoftencite);allbythispoorman。OnlythelasthasanyHistoricalvalue,andthatnotmuch。Thefirsttwoareonlyworthconsulting,cautiously,asloosecontemporarybabble,——writtenfortheDutchBooksellers,onecanperceive。]and,asIgather,isimpatienttoseehimsettled,thatshemayretireanddie。

  Fridayforenoon,19thMay,1729,theyoungMargrafarrivedinpersonatBerlin,——justseventeengoneSaturdaylast,pooryoungsoul,andveryfoolish。SublimeroyalcarriagemethimatthePrussianfrontier;andthisday,whatismoreinteresting,our\"Crown—Princeridesouttomeethim;mountsintotheroyalcarriagebesidehim;\"andthetwoyoungfoolsdrive,insuchacavalcadeofhoofsandwheels,——talkingweknownotwhat,——intoPotsdam;metbyhisMajestyandallthehonors。WhatillustriousgalatherethenwasinPotsdamandtheCourtworld,read,——withtedium,unlessyouareinthetailorline,——describedwithminutedistinctnessbytheadmiringFassmann。[pp。396—401。]ThereareGenerals,highLadies,sonsofBellonaandLatona;therearedinners,therearehautboys,——\"two—and—thirtyblackamoors,\"inflaminguniforms,capableofcymballingandhautboying\"upthegrandstaircase,androundyourtable,anddownagain,\"inafrightfullyeffectivemanner,whileyoudine。MadameKameckeistogoasOberhofmeisterinntoAnspach;andallthelackeysdestinedthitherareintheirnewliveries,blueturnedupwithredvelvet。

  Whichisdelightfultosee。ReviewoftheGiantgrenadierscannotfail;conspicuousonparadewiththemourCrown—PrinceasLieutenant—Colonel:\"thebeautyofthisCorpsaswellastheperfectionoftheirEXERCITIA,\"——ahyes,weknowit,mydimoldfriend。TheMarriageitselffollowed,atBerlin,aftermanyexercitia,snipe—shootings,feastings,hautboyings;onthe30thofthemonth;withtorch—danceandtheothercustomarytrimmings;

  \"Bride’sgartercutinsnips\"fordreamingupon\"byhisRoyalMajestyhimself。\"TheLUSTBARKEITEN,thestupendouspublicentertainmentshavingended,thereisweepingandembracing(MORE

  HUMANO);andthehappycouple,so—calledhappy,retiretoAnspachwiththeirdestiniesandeffects。

  Afoolishyoungfellow,thisnewBrother—in—law,testifiesWilhelminainmanyplaces。Financesindisorder;Mother’swisemanagement,ceasingtoosoon,hasonlypartiallyavailed。

  King\"haslentsomehundredsofthousandsofcrownstoAnspach[saysFriedrichatalaterperiod],whichthereisnochanceofeverbeingrepaid。Allisindisorderthere,inthefinanceway;

  iftheMargrafgetshishuntingandhisheroning,helaughsatalltherest;andhispeoplepluckhimbareateveryhand。\"

  [Schulenburg’sLetter(inForster,iii。72)。]Nordothemarriedcoupleagreetoperfection;——farfromit:\"hateoneanotherlikecatanddog(likethefire,COMMELEFEU),\"saysFriedrich:

  [Correspondence(morethanonce)。]\"hisMajestymayseewhatcomesofill—assortedmarriages!\"——Infact,theunionprovednoneofthemostharmonious;subjecttosquallsalways;——buttosquallsonly;

  noopentempest,farlessanyshipwreck:themarriageheldtogethertilldeath,theHusband’sdeath,nearlythirtyyearsafter,dividedit。TherewasthenleftoneSon;thesamewhoatlengthinheritedBaireuthtoo,——inheritedLadyCraven,——anddiedinBubbDoddington’sMansion,asweoftenteachourreaders。

  Lastyear,theThirdDaughterwasengagedtotheHeir—ApparentofBrunswick;willbemarried,whenofage。Wilhelmina,flowerofthemall,stillhangsonthebush,\"asked,\"orsupposedtobe\"askedbyfourKings,\"butnotattainedbyanyofthem;andoneknowsnotwhatwillbeherlot。Sheisnowrisenoutofthesicknessshehashad,——notsmall—poxatall,asmaliciousEnglishrumorgaveitinEngland;——and\"looksprettierthanever,\"

  writesDubourgay。

  Hereisamarriage,then;firstintheFamily;——butnottheDouble—Marriage,byalongway!ThelateHanoverTornado,suddenWaterspoutaswecalledit,hasquenchedthatNegotiation;andoneknowsnotinwhatformitwillresuscitateitself。Theroyalmind,bothatBerlinandSt。James’s,isinaveryuncertainstateaftersuchaphenomenon。

  FriedrichWilhelm’sfavorfortheCrown—Prince,marchinghomesogallantlywithhisPotsdamGiants,didnotlastlong。AfewweekslaterintheAutumnwehaveagainominousnoticesfromDubourgay。

  Andhere,otherwiseobtained,isaglimpseintotheinterioroftheBerlinSchloss;momentaryperfectclearness,asbyaflashoflightning,onthestateofmattersthere;whichwillbeilluminativetothereader。

  CROWN—PRINCE’SDOMESTICITIESSEENINAFLASHOFLIGHTNING。

  Thisisanotherofthosetragi—comicscenes,tragicenoughineffect,betweenFatherandSon;Sonnowabouteighteen,——fittobegettingthroughOxford,hadhebeenanEnglishgentlemanofprivatestation。ItcomesfromtheirrefragableNicolai;whodatesitaboutthistime,uncertainastomonthorday。

  Fritz’sloveofmusic,especiallyoffluting,isalreadyknowntous。NowacertainQuantzwasoneofhisprincipalinstructorsinthatart,andindeedgavehimthelastfinishofperfectioninit。

  Quantz,famedSaxonmusic—masterandcomposer,LeaderoftheCourt—BandinSaxony,kingofflute—playersinhisday,——

  (avillage—farrier’ssonfromtheGottingenregion,andhimselfdestinedtoshoehorses,hadnotimperativeNatureprevailedoverhindrances);——Quantz,everfromFritz’ssixteenthyear,waswonttocomeoccasionally,expressfromDresden,foraweekortwo,andgivetheyoungmanlessonsontheflute。Theyoungman’sMother,goodQueenFeekin,hadbeggedthisfavorforhimfromtheSaxonSovereignties;andpleadedhardforitathome,oratworstkeptitsecretthere。Itwasoneofthemanygoodmaternities,clandestineandpublic,whichshewasalwaysreadytoachieveforhimwherepossible;——ashealsoknewfullwellinhisyounggratefulheart,andneverforgot,howeveroldhegrew!IllustriousQuantz,wesay,givesFritzlessonsontheflute;andhereisascenetheyunderwent;——theyandacertainbriskyoungsoldierfellow,LieutenantvonKatte,whowastheretoo;ofwhomthereaderwilltragicallyhearmoreintime。

  OnsuchoccasionsFritzwaswonttopulloffthetightPrussiancoatorCOATIE,andclaphimselfintoflowingbrocadeofthedueroominessandsplendor,——brightscarletdressing—gown,doneingold,withtagsandsashescomplete;——andso,inatemporarymanner,feelthattherewassuchathingasagentleman’ssuitableapparel。Hewouldtakehismusic—lessons,followhisclandestinestudies,inthatfavorabledress:——thusBuffon,wehear,waswonttoshave,andputoncleanlinen,beforehesatdowntowrite,findingitmorecomfortableso。Though,again,therehavebeenotherswhocouldwriteinconsiderabledisorder;nottosaylitter,andpalpableimperfectionofequipment:SamuelJohnson,forinstance,didsomereallygrandwritinginaroomwheretherewasbutonechair,andthatoneincapableofstandingunlessyousatonit,havingonlythreefeet。Amanistofithimselftowhatisroundhim:butsurelyaCrown—Princemaybeindulgedinalittlebrocadeinhisleisuremoments!——

  FritzandQuantzsatdoingmusic,anunlawfulthing,inthispleasant,butalsounlawfulcostume;whenLieutenantKatte,whowasonwatchintheouterroom,rushesin,distractioninhisaspect:Majestyjusthere!Quick,doublequick!Kattesnatchesthemusic—booksandflutes,snatchesQuantz;hurrieswithhimandthemintosomewall—press,orclosetforfirewood,andstandsquakingthere。OurpoorPrincehasflungasidehisbrocade,gotonhismilitarycoatie;andwouldfainseembusywithimportantorindifferentroutinematters。But,alas,hecannotundotheFrenchhairdressing;cannotchangethegracefulFrenchbagintothestrictPrussianqueueinamoment。TheFrenchbagbetrayshim;

  kindlesthepaternalvigilance,——alas,thepaternalwrath,intoatornadopitch。ForhisvigilantsuspectingMajestysearchesabout;

  findsthebrocadearticlebehindascreen;cramsit,withloudindignation,intothefire;findsalltheillicitFrenchBooks;

  confiscatesthemonthespot,confiscatesallmannerofcontrabandgoods:——andtherewasmeresulphurouswhirlwindinthoseserenespacesforaboutanhour!IfhisMajestyhadlookedintothewood—closet?HisMajesty,byHeaven’sexpressmercy,omittedthat。

  HaudetheBooksellerwassentfor;orderedtocarryoffthatpoisonousFrenchcabinet—libraryinmass;selleveryBookofit,toanundiscerningpublic,atwhatpriceitwillfetch。

  Whichlatterpartofhisorder,Haude,indeepsecrecy,venturedtodisobey,beinginfluencedthereto。Haude,indeepsecrecy,keptthecabinet—librarysecure;and\"lent\"thePrincebookafterbookfromit,ashisRoyalHighnessrequiredthem。

  Friedrich,itiswhisperedinTobacco—Parliament,hasbeenknown,inhisirreverentimpatience,tocalltheGrenadieruniformhis\"shroud(STERBEKITTEL,ordeath—clothes);\"soimprisoningtotheyoungmindandbody!PaternalMajestyhasheardthisblasphemousrumor;hencedoubtless,inpart,hisfuryagainstthewiderbrocadegarment。

  ItwasQuantzhimselfthatreportedthisexplosiontoauthenticNicolai,manyyearsafterwards;confessingthathetrembled,everyjointofhim,inthewood—closet,duringthathourofhurricane;

  andtheratherashehadon\"areddress—coat,\"whiohcolor,foremostoftheflaringcolors,heknewtobehisMajesty’saversion,onaman’sback。[Nicolai,Anekdoten(Berlin,1790),ii。148。]OfincomparableQuantz,andhisheart—thrillingadagios,wehopetoheartransientlyagain,underjoyfulercircumstances。OfLieutenantvonKatte,——ashortstoutyoungfellow,withblackeyebrows,pock—markedface,andratherdissolutemanners,——weshallnotfailtohear。

  ChapterVIII。

  CROWN—PRINCEGETTINGBEYONDHISDEPTHINTROUBLE。

  ItisnotcertainthatthelateImminencyofDuelhadmuchtodowithsuchexplosions。TheHanoverImminency,whichwelikenedtoatropicalwaterspout,orsuddenthunderousblotting—outoftheskytotheastonishedGazetteers,seemsrathertohavepassedawayaswaterspoutsdo,——leavingtheearthandair,ifanything,alittleREFRESHEDbysuchcrisis。Leaving,thatistosay,thetwoMajestiesalittlelessdisposedforopenquarrel,orrashutteranceoftheirillhumorintimecoming。But,inthemeanwhile,allmutualinterestsareinapainfulstateofsuspendedanimation:inBerlinthereisaprivatelyrebelliousSpouseandHousehold,thereisaTobacco—Parliamentwithal;——andtheroyalmind,sensitive,imaginativeasapoet’s,asawoman’s,andliabletotransportsasofaNorseBaresark,isofuncertainmovement。

  Suchaloadofintricaciesandexaggeratedanxietieshangingonit,theroyalmindgoeslikethemostconfusedsmoke—jack,sureonlytoHAVErevolutions;andweknowhow,afarfromSoissons,andathomeinTobacco—Parliament,themachineisinfluenced!

  Enough,theexplosiveprocedurescontinue,andareontheincreasinghand。

  Majesty’shuntingatWusterhausenwashardlydone,whenthatalarmingTreatyofSevillecametolight(9thNovember,1729),FranceandEnglandrankedbythesideofSpain,disposingofPrincesandApanagesattheirwill,andaKaiserleftsittingsolitary,——whichawakensthedomesticwhirlwindsatBerlin,amongotherresults。\"CANAILLEANGLAISE,EnglishDoggery!\"andsimilarfineepithets,addressedtoWilhelminaandtheCrown—Prince,flyabout;nottospeakofoccasionalcrockeryandothermissiles。

  FriedrichWilhelmhasforbiddenthesetwohispresencealtogether,exceptatdinner:Outofmysight,yeCanailleAnglaise;

  darkennotthesunlightformeatall!

  ThisisintheWusterhausentime,——HanoverImminencyonlytwomonthsgone。AndMammasendsforustohaveprivatedialoguesinherApartmentthere,withspiesoutineverydirectiontomakesignalofMajesty’sreturnfromhishunt,——who,however,surprisesasononeoccasion,sothatwehavetosquatforhours,andalmostgetsuffocated。[Wilhelmina,i。172。]WhereupontheCrown—Prince,whowillbeeighteeninacoupleofmonths,andfeelstheindignityofsuchthings,begsofMammatobeexcusedinfuture。

  HehasmuchtosufferfromhisFatheragain,writesDubourgayintheendofNovember:\"itisdifficulttoconceivethevilestratagemsthataremadeuseoftoprovoketheFatheragainsttheSon。\"[Dubourgay,28thNovember,1729。]Oragain,takethis,asperhapsmarkinganepochinthebusiness,afortnightfartheron:——

  DECEMBER10th1729。\"HisPrussianMajestycannotbearthesightofeitherthePrinceorPrincessRoyal:Theotherday,heaskedthePrince:’KalksteinmakesyouEnglish;doesnothe?’\"Kalkstein,youroldTutor,Borck,Knyphausen,Finkenstein,theyareallofthatvileclique!\"TowhichthePrinceanswered,’IrespecttheEnglishbecauseIknowthepeoplethereloveme;’uponwhichtheKingseizedhimbythecollar,struckhimfiercelywithhiscane,\"

  infactrainedshowersofblowsuponhim;\"anditwasonlybysuperiorstrength,\"thinksDubourgay,\"thatthepoorPrinceescapedworse。Thereisageneralapprehensionofsomethingtragicaltakingplacebeforelong。\"

  Trulythesituationissoviolent,itcannotlast。Andineffectawildthought,notquitenew,ripenstoaresolutionintheCrown—Princeundersuchpressures:Inreferencetowhich,aswegropeandguess,hereisaBillettoMamma,whichWilhelminahaspreserved。Wilhelminaomitsalltraceofdate,asusual;butDubourgay,intheaboveExcerpt,probablysuppliesthatdefect:——

  FRIEDRICHTOHISMOTHER(Potsdam,December,1729)。

  \"Iamintheuttermostdespair。WhatIhadalwaysapprehendedhasatlastcomeonme。TheKinghasentirelyforgottenthatIamhisSon。ThismorningIcameintohisroomasusual;atthefirstsightofme,\"oratthefirstpassageofKalkstein—dialoguewithme,\"hesprangforward,seizedmebythecollar,andstruckmeashowerofcruelblowswithhisrattan。Itriedinvaintoscreenmyself,hewasinsoterriblearage,almostoutofhimself;

  itwasonlyweariness,\"notmysuperiorstrength,\"thatmadehimgiveup。\"

  \"Iamdriventoextremity。Ihavetoomuchhonortoenduresuchtreatment;andIamresolvedtoputanendtoitinonewayoranother。\"[Wilhelmina,i。175。]

  Isnotthisitselfsufficientlytragical?Notthefirststrokehehadgot,wecansurmise;butthefirsttorrentofstrokes,andopenbeatinglikeaslave;——whichtoaproudyoungmanandPrince,atsuchage,isindeedINtolerable。Wilhelminaknowstoowellwhathemeausby\"endingitinonewayoranother;\"butstrivestoreassureMammaastoitsmeaning\"flight,\"orthelikedesperateresolution。\"Mereviolenceofthemoment,\"arguesWilhelmina;

  terriblyawarethatitisdeeper—rootedthanthat。

  FlightisnotanewideatotheCrown—Prince;inanegativeformwehaveseenitpresentinthemindsofby—standers:

  \"aCrown—PrincedeterminedNOTtofly,\"whisperedthey。[Dubourgay(9thAugust,1729),supra,p。129。]Someweeksago,Wilhelminawrites:\"TheKing’sbadtreatmentsbeganagainonhisreappearance\"atPotsdamaftertheHunting;\"heneversawmyBrotherwithoutthreateninghimwithhiscane。MyBrothertoldmedayafterday,HewouldendureeverythingfromtheKing,onlynotblows;andthatifitevercametosuchextremity,hewouldbepreparedtodeliverhimselfbyrunningoff。\"Andhere,itwouldseem,theextremityhasactuallycome。

  Wilhelmina,pityingherpoorBrother,butcondemninghimonmanypoints,continues:[i。173,174。]\"LieutenantKeith,\"thatwildcompanionofhis,\"hadbeengonesometime,stationedinWeselwithhisregiment。\"Whichfactletusalsokeepinmind。

  \"Keith’sdeparturehadbeenagreatjoytome;inthehopemyBrotherwouldnowleadamoreregularlife:butitprovedquiteotherwise。Asecondfavorite,andamuchmoredangerous,succeededKeith。ThiswasayoungmanofthenameofKatte,Captain—LieutenantintheregimentGENS—D’ARMES。HewashighlyconnectedintheArmy;hisMotherhadbeenadaughterofFeldmarschallGrafvonWartensleben,\"——ahighestdignitaryofthelastgeneration。Katte’sFather,nowaGeneralofdistinction,rosealsotobeFeldmarschall;Cousinstoo,sonsofaKammer—PresidentvonKatteatMagdeburg,rosetoArmyrankintimecoming;butnotthispoorKatte,——whomletthereadernote!

  \"GeneralKattehisFather,\"continuesWilhelmina,\"hadsenthimtotheUniversities,andafterwardstotravel,desiringheshouldbeaLawyer。ButastherewasnofavortoexpectoutoftheArmy,theyoungmanfoundhimselfatlastplacedthere,contrarytohisexpectation。Hecontinuedtoapplyhimselftostudies;hehadwit,book—culture,acquaintancewiththeworld;thegoodcompanywhichhecontinuedtofrequenthadgivenhimpolitemanners,toadegreethenrareinBerlin。Hisphysiognomywasratherdisagreeablethanotherwise。Apairofthickblackeyebrowsalmostcoveredtheeyesofhim;hislookhadinitsomethingominous,presageofthefatehemetwith:atawnyskin,tornbysmall—pox,increasedhisugliness。Heaffectedthefreethinker,andcarriedlibertinismtoexcess;agreatdealofambitionandheadlongrashnessaccompaniedthisvice。\"AdangerousadviserhereintheBerlinelement,withlightningsgoing!\"SuchafavoritewasnotthemantobringbackmyBrotherfromhisfollies。ThisIlearnedatour[Mamma’sandmy]returntoBerlin,\"fromtheWusterhausenandthePotsdamtribulations;——andthinkofit,notwithoutterror,nowthattheextremityseemscomingorcome。

  ChapterIX。

  DOUBLE—MARRIAGESHALLBEORSHALLNOTBE。

  Foronething,FriedrichWilhelm,wearyofallthisEnglishpotherandfutility,willendtheDouble—Marriagespeculation;Wilhelminashallbedisposedof,andsoanend。FriedrichWilhelm,oncethehuntingwasoveratWusterhausen,ranacross,southward,——to\"Lubnow,\"Wilhelminacallsit,——toLubbenintheNetherLausitz,[25thOctober,1729(Fassmann,p。404)。]ashortday’sdrive;

  theretomeetincognitothejovialPolishMajesty,onhisroutetowardsDresden;toseearevieworso;andhavealittletalkwiththeever—cheerfulManofSin。GrumkowandSeckendorf,ofcoursetheseaccompany;Majesty’sshadowisnotsurer。

  ReviewwasheldatLubben,WeissenfelsCommander—in—chieftakingcharge;dinneralso,adinnerortwo,withmuchtalkanddrink;——

  andthereitwassettled,Wilhelminahassinceknown,thatWeissenfels,RoyalHighnessintheAbstract,wastobeherHusband,afterall。Weissenfelswilldo;eitherWeissenfelsorelsetheMargrafofSchwedt,thinksFriedrichWilhelm;somebodyshallmarrythebaggageoutofhand,andletushavedonewiththat。Grumkow,asweknow,wasveryanxiousforit;calculatingtherebytooutthegroundfromundertheOldDessauer,andmakethisWeissenfelsGeneralissimoofPrussia;apatrioticthought。

  PolishMajestylenthand,alwayswillingtooblige。

  FriedrichWilhelm,onhisreturnhomewards,wentroundbyDahmeforanight:——not\"Dam,\"OPrincess,thereisnosuchtownorschloss!RoundbyDahme,alittletownandpatchofterritory,intheSaxonCountries,whichwasWeissenfels’sApanage;——\"whereplentyofTokay\"cheeredtheroyalheart;and,insuchmood,itseemedasifone’sDaughtermightdoverywellinthisextremelylimitedposition。AndWeissenfels,thoughwithdarkmisgivingsastoQueenSophie,wasbuttoohappytoconsent:thefoolishcreature;alittlegiventoliquortoo!FriedrichWilhelm,withthisfineprojectinhishead,drovehometoPotsdam;——andtherelaidabouthim,onthepoorCrown—Prince,inthewaywehaveseen;

  terrifyingQueenandPrincess,whoareatBerlintillChristmasandtheCarnivalbeover。FriedrichWilhelmmeanstoseethePolishMajestyagainbeforelong,——probablysosoonasthisofWeissenfelsisfairlygotthroughtheFemaleParliament,whereitisliketherewillbedifficulties。

  ChristmascametoBerlin,andtheKingwithit;whodidthegayetiesforaweekortwo,andspokenothingaboutbusinesstohisFemaleParliament。Dubourgaysawhim,atParade,onNew—Year’smorning;whitherallmannerofForeignDignitarieshadcometopaytheirrespects:\"Well,\"criedtheKingtoDubourgay,\"weshallhaveaWar,then,\"——universa1deadlytugatthoseItalianApanages,forandagainstaninsultedKaiser,——\"War;andthenallthatiscrookedwillbepulledstraight!\"SospakeFriedrichWilhelmontheNew—Year’smorning;WarinItaly,universalspasmofwrestlethere,beingnowtheexpectationoffoolishmankind:

  Crookedwillbepulledstraight,thinksFriedrichWilhelm;

  andperhapscertainhighMajesties,deaftothevoiceofShould—not,willunderstandthatofCan—not,Excellenz!——

  Crookedwillbecomestraight?\"Indeedifso,yourMajesty,thesoonerthebetter!\"Iventuredtoanswer。[Dubourgay,8thJanuary,1730。]

  NewYear’sdayisnotwellin,andtheceremonialwishesover,whenFriedrichWilhelm,hismindfullofseriousdomesticandforeignmatter,withdrawstoPotsdamagain;andtherefrombeginsfulminatinginaterriblemanneronhiswomankindatBerlin,whatwecalledhisFemaleParliament,——toomuchgiventooppositioncoursesatpresent。Intendstohavehismeasurespassedthere,indefianceofopposition;straightway;andanendputtothisinexpressibleDouble—Marriagehiggle—haggle。Speedtohim!wewillsay。——ThreehighCrisesoccur,threeorevenfour,whichcannowwithoutmuchdetailbemadeintelligibletothepatientreader:

  onthebackofwhichwelookforsomecatastropheandfinistotheBusiness;——anycatastrophethatwillproveafinis,howwelcomewillitbe!

  WILHELMINATOBEMARRIEDOUTOFHAND。CRISISFIRST:

  ENGLANDSHALLSAYYESORSAYNO。

  StillearlyinJanuary,afewdaysafterhisMajesty’sreturntoPotsdam,threehighOfficialgentlemen,CountFinkvanFinkenstein,oldTutortothePrince,GrumkowandGeneralBorckannouncethemselvesonemorning;\"HaveapressingmessagefromtheKingtoherMajesty。\"[Wilhelmina,i。180。]Queenisastonished;

  expectinganythingsooner。——\"Thisregardsme,Ihaveadreading!\"

  shudderedWilhelminatoMamma。\"Nomatter,\"saidtheQueen,shrugginghershoulders;\"onemusthavefirmness;andthatisnotwhatIshallwant;\"——andherMajestywentintotheAudience—chamber,leavingWilhelminainsuchtremors。

  Finkenstein,afriendlyman,asBorcktoois,explainstoherMajesty,\"ThattheythreehavereceivedeachaLetterovernight,——

  LetterfromtheKing,enjoiningintheFIRSTplace’silenceunderpainofdeath;’intheSECONDplace,apprisingthemthathe,theKing,willnolongerendureherMajesty’sdisobedienceinregardtothemarriageofhisDaughter,butwillbanishDaughterandMother’toOranienburg,’quasi—divorce,andouterdarkness,unlesstherebecompliancewithhissovereignwill;THIRDLY,thattheyareaccordinglytogo,allthree,toherMajesty,todelivertheenclosedRoyalAutograph[whichFinkensteinpresents],testifyingwhatsaidsovereignwillis,andontheabovetermsexpectherMajesty’sreply;\"——astheyhavenowsorrowfullydone,FinkensteinandBorckwithrealsorrow;Grumkowwiththereverseofreal。

  Sovereignwillistotheeffect:\"WritetoEnglandoneothertime,Willyouatoncemarry,ornotatonce;YeaorNo?Answercanbeherewithinafortnight;threeweeks,evenincaseofbadwinds。

  IftheanswerbenotYeaatonce;thenyou,Madam,youatoncechooseWeissenfelsorSchwedt,oneortheother,——underwhatpenaltiesyouknow;Oranienburgandworse!\"

  Hereisacrisis。ButherMajestydidnotwantfirmness。\"WritetoEngland?Yes,willingly。ButastoWeissenfelsandSchwedt,whateveranswercomefromEngland,——Impossible!\"steadilyanswersherMajesty。Therewasmuchdiscourse,suasive,argumentative;

  Grumkow\"quotingScriptureonherMajesty,astheDevilcanonoccasion,\"saysWilhelmina。ExpressScriptures,Wives,beobedienttoyourhusbands,andtheliketexts:

  butherMajesty,ontheScripturesidetoo,gavehimasgoodashebrought。\"DidnotBethuelthesonofMilcah,[Genesisxxiv。

  14—58。]whenAbraham’sservantaskedhisdaughterinmarriageforyoungIsaac,answer,Wewillcallthedamselandinquireofhermouth。AndtheycalledRebecca,andsaiduntoher,Wiltthougowiththisman?Andshesaid,Iwillgo。\"

  ScriptureforScripture,HerrvonGrumkow!\"Wivesmustobeytheirhusbands;surelyyes。Butthehusbandsaretocommandthingsjustandreasonable。TheKing’sprocedureisnotaccordantwiththatlaw。HeisfordoingviolencetomyDaughter’sinclination,andrenderingherunhappyfortherestofherdays;——willgiveherabrutaldebauchee,\"fatWeissenfels,sodescribableinstronglanguage;\"ayoungerbrother,whoisnothingbuttheKingofPoland’sOfficer;landless,andwithoutmeanstoliveaccordingtohisrank。OrcanitbetheStatethatwillprofitfromsuchamarriage?IftheyhaveaHousehold,theKingwillhavetosupportit。——WritetoEngland;Yes;butwhatevertheanswerofEngland,Weissenfelsnever!Athousandtimessoonerseemychildinhergravethanhopelesslymiserable!\"HereaqualmovertookherMajesty;forinfactsheisinaninterestingstate,thirdmonthofhertime:\"Iamnotwell;Youshouldspareme,Gentlemen,inthestateIamin。——IdonotaccusetheKing,\"concludedshe:

  \"Iknow,\"hurlingaglanceatGrumkow,\"towhomIoweallthis;\"——

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