第28章
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  InNo。3thereismentionlikewiseofthe\"KurfurstofKoln,\"——

  ElectorofCologne;languidlankygentlemanofBavarianbreed,whomwesawlastyearatBonn,richestPluralistoftheChurch;

  whomdoubtlessourpoorreadershaveforgottenagain。Mentionofhim;andalsoconsiderablesulkyhumor,oftheMajesty’s—Oppositionkind,onSchulenburg’spart;forwhichreason,andgenerallyasapoordirectreflexoftimeandplace,——

  reflexbyruffledbog—water,throughsedges,andintwilight;

  dimbutindubitable,——wegivetheLetter,thoughthePrinceislittlespokenofinit:——

  No。3。TOTHEEXCELLENCYGRUMKOW(asabove),INBERLIN。

  \"LANDSBERG,22dOctober(Monday),1731。

  \"MONSIEUR,——ItrustyourExcellencymadeyourjourneytoCrossenwithallthesatisfactionimaginable。HadIbeenwarnedsooner,I

  wouldhavecome;notonlytoseetheKing,butforyourExcellency’ssakeandTruchsess’s:butIreceivedyourExcellency’sLetteronlyyesterdaymorning;soIcouldnothavearrivedbeforeyesternight,andthatlate;foritisfiftymilesoff,andonehastosendrelaysbeforehand;therebeingnopost—horsesonthatroad。

  \"Weare,——nottomakecomparisons,——likeHarlequin!Nosooneroutofonescrape,thanwegetintoanother;andallforthesakeofthoseBigBlockheads(L’AMOURDECESGRANDSCOLOSSES)。WhattheKurfurstofKolnhasdone,inhischaracterofBishopofOsnabruck,\"——adeednotknowntothisEditor,butclearlyinthewayofsnubbingourrecruitingsystem,——\"istoodroll:butifweavengeourselves,therewillbehighplay,andplentyofit,allroundourborders!Ifsuchthingswouldmakeanyimpressiononthespirit,ofourMaster:buttheydonot;they\"——inshort,thisrecruitingsystemisdelirious,thinksthestiffSchulenburg;

  andscruplesnottosayso,thoughnotinhisplaceinParliament,orevenTobacco—Parliament。ForthereisaMajesty’sOppositioninalllandsandtimes。\"WeruintheCountry,\"saystheHonorableMember,\"sendingannuallymillionsofmoneyoutofit,forasetofvagabondfellows(GENSASACETACORDE),whowillneverdoustheleastservice。OneseesclearlyitisthehandofGod,\"

  darkeningsomepeople’sunderstanding;\"otherwiseitmightbepossibletheireyeswouldopen,onetimeoranother!\"——Astiffpipe—clayedgentlemanofgreatwisdom,withplentyofsulphurburningintheheartofhim。TherestofhisLetterisallintheOppositionstrain(almostasiffromhisplaceinParliament,onlyfarbrieferthanisusual\"withinthesewalls\");andwindsupwithaglanceatVictorAmadeus’sstrangefeat,orratherattheSon’sfeatdoneuponVictor,overinSardinia;precededbythisinterjectionarysentenceonaPrincenearerhome:——

  \"AstothePrince—Royal,dependonithewilldowhateverisrequiredofhim[marryanybodyyoulike&c。],ifyougivehimmoreelbow—room,forthatiswhitherheaims。——Notabadstrokethat,oftheKingofSardinia\"——Grandnewsoftheday,atthattime;

  nowsomewhatforgotten,andrequiringawordfromus:

  OldKingVictorAmadeusofSardiniahadsolemnlyabdicatedinfavorofhisSon;went,foratwelvemonthormore,intoprivatefelicitywithanelderlyLady—lovewhomhehadlongesteemedthefirstofwomen;——tiredofsuchfelicity,afteratwelvemonth;

  demandedhiscrownback,andcouldnotgetit!Lady—loveandhearetakenprisoners;lodgedinseparatecastles:[2dSeptember,1730abdicated,wenttoChambery;reclaims,islockedinRivoli,8thOctober,1731(newsofitjustcometoSchulenburg);

  diesthere,31stOctober,1732,his67thyear。]andthewrathoftheproudoldgentlemanisOlympianincharacter,——splitanoaktable,smitingitwhilehespoke(saythecicerones);——andhissilence,andthefierydaggershelooks,arestillmoreemphatic。

  Buttheyoungfellowholdsout;youcannotplayhandy—dandywithaking’scrown,yourMajesty!sayhisnewMinisters。IsandwillcontinueKing。\"Notabadstrokeofhim,\"thinksSchulenburg,——

  ——\"especiallyifhisFathermeanttoplayhimthesametrick,\"

  thatis,claphiminprison。Notabadstroke;——whichperhapsthereisanotherthatcouldimitate,\"ifHISPapagavehimtheopportunity!ButTHISPapawilltakegoodcare;andtheQueenwillnotforgettheSardinianbusiness,whenhetalksagainofabdicating,\"ashedoeswheninill—humor。——

  \"ButnowhadnotwebetterhavebeenfriendswithEngland,shouldwarriseuponthatSardinianbusiness?GeneralSchulenburg,\"——thefamedVenetianField—marshal,bruiseroftheTurksinCandia,[SamewhowasbeatenbyCharlesXII。before;aworthysoldiernevertheless,saytheAuthorities:LIFEofhimbyVarnhagenvonEnse(BiographischeDenkmale,Berlin,1845)。]myhonoredUncle,whosometimesusedtovisithisSistertheMaypole,nowEMERITA,inLondon,andsipbeerandtaketobaccoonanevening,withGeorgeI。offamousmemory,——healso\"writesmethisVictor—Amadeusnews,fromParis;\"sothatitiscertain;

  Ex—KinglockedinRivolinearafortnightago:\"he,GeneralSchulenburg,saysfarther,Tojudgebytheoutside,allappearsveryquiet;butmanythink,atthebottomofthebagitwillnotbethesame。\"——

  \"Iam,withrespect,\"yourExcellency’smuchinbuckram,\"LECOMTEDESCHOULENBOURG。\"

  [Forster,iii。73—75。]

  SofarLieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg;whomwethankforthesecontemporaryglimpsesofayoungmanthathasbecomehistorical,andofthescenehelivedin。Andwiththesethreeaccidentalutterances,asifthey(whicharealoneleft)hadbeenthesumofallhesaidintheworld,lettheLieutenant—Generalwithdrawnowintosilence:hewillturnuptwiceagain,afterhalfascoreofyears,onceinanoblerthantalkingattitude,theclose—harnessed,stalwart,slightlyatrabiliarmilitarygentlemanoftheoldPrussianschool。

  TheseglimpsesoftheCrown—Prince,reflectedonusinthismanner,arenotveryluculenttothereader,——lightbeingindifferent,andmirrornoneofthebest:——butsomefeaturesdogleamforth,goodandnotsogood;which,withotherscoming,maygraduallycoalesceintosomethingconceivable。APrinceclearlyofmuchspirit,andnotwithoutpetulance;abundantfire,muchofitshiningandburningirregularlyatpresent;beingsorehelddownfromwithout,andanomalouslysituated。Prideenough,thinksSchulenburg,capriciouspetulanceenough,——likelytogointo\"areignofthepassions,\"ifwelive。Aswillbeseen!——

  WilhelminawasbetrothedinJunelast:Wilhelmina,aBridethesesixmonths,continuestobemuchtormentedbyMamma。ButtheBridegroom,PrinceofBaireuth,isgraduallyrecommendinghimselftopersonsofjudgment,toWilhelminaamongothers。Onedayhenarrowlymissedanunheard—ofaccident:afoolishservant,atsomeboar—hunt,gavehimaloadedpieceonthehalf—cock;half—cockslippedinthehandling;bulletgrazedhisMajesty’sverytemple,wasfelttwitchingthehairthere;——yeHeavens!WhereuponimpertinentremarksfromsomeoftheDessaupeople(alliesofSchwedtandtheMargravineinhighcolors);whichwerewellansweredbythePrince,andnoiselesslybutseverelycheckedbyawell—bredKing。[Wilhelmina,i。356。]KinghasgiventhePrinceofBaireutharegiment;andlikeshimtolerably,thoughtheyoungmanwillnotalwaysdrinkascouldbewished。Wedding,inspiteofcloudsfromherMajesty,iscomingsteadilyon。

  HISMAJESTY’SBUILDINGOPERATIONS。

  \"Thisyear,\"saysFassmann,\"thebuildingoperationsbothinBerlinandStettin,\"——inStettinwherenewfortificationsarecompleted,inBerlinwheregraduallywholenewquartersaregettingbuilt,——\"wereexceedinglypushedforward(AUSSERST

  POUSSIRT)。\"Alas,yes;thistooisaquestionablememorablefeatureofhisMajesty’sreign。LateMajesty,oldKingFriedrichI。,wishful,——asothershadbeen,forthegrowthofBerlin,laidoutanewQuarter,andcalleditFriedrichsStadt;scraggyboggyground,plannedoutintostreets,FriedrichsStrassethechiefstreet,withhereandthereahousestandinglonesomelypropheticonit。ButitisthispresentMajesty,FriedrichWilhelm,thatgetstheplanexecuted,andtheFriedrichsStrasseactuallybuilt,notalwaysinasoftorspontaneousmanner。FriedrichWilhelmwastheAEdileofhisCountry,aswellastheDrill—sergeant;

  BerlinCitydidnotriseofitsownaccord,orontheprincipleofleave—alone,anymorethanthePrussianArmyitself。WreckandrubbishFriedrichWilhelmwillnotleavealone,inanykind;

  butisintentbyallchancestosweepthemfromthefaceoftheEarth,thatsomethinguseful,seemlytotheRoyalmind,maystandthereinstead。HencethesebuildingoperationsintheFriedrichStreetandelsewhere,so\"exceedinglypushedforward。\"

  Thenumberofscraggywasteplaceshesweptclear,firstandlast,andbuilttighthumandwellingsupon,isalmostuncountable。

  Acommongiftfromhim(asfromhisSonafterhim)toamaninfavor,wasthatofanewgoodHouse,——anexcellentgift。Orifthemanishimselfabletobuild,Majestywillhelphim,incitehim:

  \"Timberenoughisintheroyalforests;stone,limeareintheroyalquarries;scraggywasteisabundant:whyshouldanyman,oftheleastindustryorprivatecapital,liveinabadhouse?\"

  Bydegrees,thepressureofhisMajestyuponprivatementobuildwithencouragementbecameconsiderable,becameexcessive,irresistible;andwasmuchcomplainedof,intheseyearsnowcome。

  OldColonelDerschauistheKing’sAgent,atBerlin,inthismatter;ahardstiffman;squeezesmen,allmannerofmenwiththeleastcapital,tilltheybuild。

  Nussler,forexample,whomweoncesawatHanover,managingacertaincontestedHeritageforFriedrichWilhelm;adroitNussler,thoughhehasyetgotnofixedappointment,norpayexceptbythejob,isurgedtobuild;——secondyearhence,1733,occursthecaseofNussler,andiscopiouslydweltuponbyBuschinghisbiographer:\"BuildyourselfahouseintheFriedrichsStrasse!\"

  urgesDerschau。\"ButIhavenopay,nocapital!\"pleadsNussler。——

  \"Tush,yourFather—in—law,abstruseKanzlervonLudwig,inHalleUniversity,monsteroflaw—learningthere,isnotheamonsterofhoardedmoneyswithal?Hewilllendyou,forhisownandhisDaughter’ssake。[Busching,Beitrage,

  i。324。]OrshallhisMajestycompelhim?\"urgesDerschau。

  Andslowly,continuallyturnsthescrewuponNussler,tillhetooraisesforhimselfafirmgoodhouseintheFriedrichsStadt,——

  FriedrichsStrasse,orSTREET,astheynowcallit,whichtheTouristofthesedaysknows。SubstantialclearashlarStreet,milesorhalf—mileslong;straightasaline:——FriedrichWilhelmfounditscragandquagmire;andleftitwhattheTouristsees,bythesehardmethods。ThusHerrPrivy—CouncillorKlinggraftoo,Nussler’snextneighbor:hedidnotwanttobuild;farfromit;

  butwasobliged,onworsetermsthanNussler。Youhavesuchwork,foundingyourhouse;——fortheNussler—Klinggrafspotwasafish—pool,and\"carpsweredugup\"infounding;——suchpiles,boundplatformofsolidbeams;\"4,000thalersgonebeforethefirststoneislaid:\"and,infact,thehousemustbebuilthonestly,oritwillbeworseforthehouseandyou。\"Costme12,000thalers(l,800pounds)inall,andisworthperhaps2,000!\"sorrowfullyejaculatesNussler,whenthejobisover。StillworsewithPrivy—CouncillorKlinggraf:hishouse,thenexttoNussler’s,isworthmerenothingtohimwhenbuilt;asoap—boileroffershim800

  thalers(120pounds)forit;andNussler,toavoidsuffocation,purchasesithimselfofKlinggrafforthatsum。Derschau,withhisslowscrew—machinery,isveryformidable;——andBuschingknowsitforafact,\"thatrespectableBerlinpersonsusedtorunoutofthewayofBurgermeisterKochandhim,wheneitherofthemturneduponthestreets!\"

  Thesethingswereheavytobear。Truly,yes;whereisthelibertyofprivatecapitalorlibertyofalmostanykind,onthoseterms?

  LibertytoANNIHILATErubbishandchaos,underknownconditions,youmayhave;butnottheleastlibertytokeepthemaboutyou,thoughneversofondofdoingit!Whatshallwesay?NusslerandtheSoap—boilerdobothliveinhousesmorehumanthantheyoncehad。Berlinitself,andsomeotherthings,didnotspringfromFree—trade。BerlinCitywould,tothisday,havebeenaPlaceofSCRUBS(\"theBERLIN,\"amereappellativenountothateffect),hadFree—tradealwaysbeentherulethere。IamsorryhisMajestytransgressesthelimits;——andwe,myfriends,ifwecanmakeourChaosintoCosmosbyfiringParliamentaryeloquenceintoit,andbombardingitwithBlue—Books,wewillmuchtriumphoverhisMajesty,oneday!——

  Thusarethebuildingoperationsexceedinglypushedforward,theEarofJenkinstornoff,andVictorAmadeuslockedinward,whileourCrown—Prince,intheeclipsedstate,isinspectedbyaSageinpipe—clay,andWilhelmina’sweddingiscomingon。

  ChapterVI。

  WILHELMINA’SWEDDING。

  Tuesday,20thNovember,1731,Wilhelmina’swedding—dayarrived,afterabrideshipofeightmonths;andthatyoungLady’stroublesomeromance,morehappilythanmighthavebeenexpected,didatlastwinditselfup。Mamma’sunreasonablehumorscontinued,moreorless;butthesealsomustnowend。Oldwooersandoutlooks,\"thefourorthreecrownedheads,\"——theyliefaroverthehorizon;fadedoutofone’sverythoughts,allthese。

  CharlesXII。,PeterII。aredead;Weissenfelsisnot,butmightaswellbe。PrinceFred,notyetweddedelsewhere,isdoingFrenchmadrigalsinLeicesterHouse;tendingfowardsthe\"WestWickham\"

  setofPoliticians,thePitt—Lytteltonset;standsillwithFatherandMother,andwillnotcometomuch。AugusttheDilapidated—StrongisdeepinPolishtroubles,inAnti—Kaiserpolitics,indrinking—bouts;——hisgreat—toenevermended,neverwillmend。Gonetothespectralstateallthese:here,bloomingwithlifeinitscheeks,istheonepracticalFact,ourgoodHereditaryPrinceofBaireuth,——privatelyourfateallalong;——

  whichwewillwelcomecheerfully;andbethankfultoHeaventhatwehavenotdiedingettingitdecidedforus!——

  Weddingwasofgreatmagnificence;BerlinPalaceandallthingsandcreaturesattheirbrightest:theBrunswick—Bevernshere,andotherhighGuests;noendofpompousceremonials,solemnitiesandsplendors,——theverytrainofone’sgownwas\"twelveyardslong。\"

  Eschewingallwhich,thereadershallcommodiouslyconceiveitall,bytwosampleswehavepickedoutforhim:onesampleofaPerson,highGuestpresent;oneofanApartmentwherethesublimitieswenton。

  TheDuchessDowagerofSachsen—Meiningen,whohascometohonorusonthisoccasion,averylargeLady,vergingtowardssixty;sheistheperson。AlivingelderlyDaughteroftheGreatElectorhimself;half—sistertothelateKing,half—aunttoFriedrichWilhelm;widownowofherthirdhusband:asingularphenomenontolookupon,foramoment,throughWilhelmina’ssatiricalspectacles。Oneofherthreehusbands,\"ChristianErnstofBaireuth\"(Margrafthere,whilethepresentLinewasbutexpectant),hadbeenakindofWelsh—UncletothePrincenowBridegroom;sothatshehasadoublerighttobehere。\"ShehadfoundthesecretoftotallyruiningBaireuth,\"saysWilhelmina;

  \"Baireuth,andCourlandaswell,whereherfirstwedlockwas;\"——

  perhapsMeiningenwasdonetoherhand?HereisthePortraitof\"myGrand—Aunt;\"dashedoffinveryhighcolors,notbyaflatteringpencil:——

  \"Itissaidshewasveryfondofpleasing,inheryouth;onesawasmuchstillbyheraffectedmanners。Shewouldhavemadeanexcellentactress,toplayfantasticpartsofthatkind。

  Herflamingredcountenance,hershape,ofsuchmonstrousextentthatshecouldhardlywalk,gavehertheairofaFemaleBacchus。

  Shetookcaretoexposetoviewher\"——apartofherperson,largebutnolongerbeautiful,——\"andcontinuallykeptpattingitwithherhands,toattractattentionthither。Thoughsixtygone,\"——

  fifty—seveninpointoffact,——\"shewastrickedoutlikeagirl;

  hairdoneinribbon—locks(MARRONNES),allfilledwithgewgawsofrose—pinkcolor,whichwastheprevailingtintinhercomplexion,andsoloadedwithcoloredjewels,youwouldhavetakenherfortherainbow。\"[Wilhelmina,i。375。]

  ThischarmingoldLady,daughteroftheGROSSEKURFURST,andsoveryfatandrubicund,hadaSononce:hetooismentionableinhisway,——asamilestone(parishmilestone)intheobscureChronologyofthoseparts。HerfirsthusbandwastheDukeofCourland;tohimshebroughtanheir,whobecameDukeinhisturn,——andwasthefinalDuke,LASTofthe\"Kettler\"ornativeLineofDukesthere。TheKettlershadbeenTeutschRitters,CommandantsinCourland;theypickedupthatCountry,fortheirownbehoof,whentheRitterdomwentdown;andthiswasthelastofthem。HemarriedAnneofRussiawiththebigcheek(CzarPeter’sNiece,whoissincebecomeCzarina);anddiedshortlyafter,twentyyearsago;withtearsdoubtlessfromthepoorrose—pinkMother,farawayinBaireuthandchildlessotherwise;andalsoinasensetothesorrowofCourland,whichwasherebyleftvacant,apreytoenterprisingneighbors。AndonthosetermsitwasthatSaxonsMoritz(ourdissolutefriend,whowillbeMARECHALDESAXE

  oneday)madehisclutchatCourland,backedbymoneysoftheFrenchactress;rumorofwhichstillfloatsvaguelyabout。

  Moritzmighthavesucceeded,couldhehavedonethefirstpartofthefeat,falleninlovewithSwoln—cheekedAnne,Dowagerthere;

  buthecouldnot;couldonlypretendit:Courlandtherefore(nowthattheSwoln—cheekisbecomeCzarina)fallstooneBieren,abornCourlander,whocould。[LastKettler,Anne’sHusband,died(leavingonlyanoldUncle,fallenIntoPapistryandotherfutility,who,tillhisdeathsometwentyyearsafter,hadtoresideabroadandbenominalmerely),1711;Moritz’sattemptwithAdrienneLecouvreur’scashwas,1726;AnnebecameSovereignofalltheRussias(onherpoorCousinPeterII。’sdeath),1730;

  Bieren(BIRONashetriedtowritehimself,beingofpoorbirth)

  didnotgetinstalledtill1737;andhad,heandCourlandboth,severaltumblesafterthatbeforegettingtostableequilibrium。]

  ——Wehurrytothe\"GrandApartment\"inBerlinSchloss,andglancerapidly,withWilhelmina(inanabridgedform),howmagnificentitis:——

  RoyalApartment,thirdfloorofthePalaceatBerlin,onemustsay,fewthingsequalitintheworld。\"FromtheOuterSaloonorAntechamber,calledSALLEDESSUISSES[wherethehalberdierandvaletpeoplewait]youpassthroughsixgrandrooms,intoasaloonmagnificentlydecorated:thencethroughtworoomsmore,andsointowhattheycallthePicture—Gallery,aroomninetyfeetlong。

  Allthisisinaline。\"Grandallthis;butstillonlycommonincomparison。FromthePicture—Galleryyouturn(torightorleftisnotsaid,nordoesitmatter)intoasuiteoffourteengreatrooms,eachmoresplendidthantheother:lustrefromtheceilingofthefirstroom,forexample,isofsolidsilver;weighs,inpoundsavoirdupoisIknownotwhat,butinsilvercoin\"10,000

  crowns:\"ceilingspaintedasbyCorreggio;\"wall—mirrorsbetweeneachpairofwindowsaretwelvefeethigh,andtheirpiers(TRUMEAUX)areofmassivesilver;infrontofeachmirror,tablecanbelaidfortwelve;\"twelveSerenitiesmaydinethere,flankedbytheirmirror,enjoyingtheCorreggiositiesabove,andthepracticalsublimitiesallround。\"Andthisisbutthefirstofthefourteen;\"andyougoonincreasinginsuperbness,till,forexample,inthelast,orsuperlativeSaloon,youfind\"alustreweighing50,000crowns;theglobeofitbigenoughtoholdachildofeightyears;andthebranches(GUERIDONS)ofit,\"Iforgethowmanyfeetorfathomsinextent:silvertotheheart。Naythemusic—balconyisofsilver;weariedfiddlerlayshiselbowonbalustradesofthatpreciousmetal。Seldomifeverwasseenthelike。InthissuperlativeSaloontheNuptialBenedictionwasgiven。[Wilhelmina,i。381;Nicolai,ii。881。]

  OldKingFriedrich,theexpensiveHerr,itwashethatdidthefurnishingandCorreggio—paintingofthesesublimerooms:butthisofthemassesofwroughtsilver,thiswasdonebyFriedrichWilhelm,——incitedtheretobywhathesawatDresdeninAugusttheStrong’sEstablishment;andreflecting,too,thatsilverissilver,whetheryoukeepitinbarrelsinacoinedform,orworkitintochandeliers,mirror—framesandmusic—balconies。——

  Thesethingsweshouldnothavementioned,excepttosaythatthemassivesilverdidproveahoardavailable,inaftertimes,againstarainyday。Massivesilver(wellmixedwithcopperfirst)

  wasallmelteddown,stampedintocurrentcoins,nativeandforeign,andsentwanderingovertheworld,beforeacertainPrincegotthroughhisSeven—YearsWarsandotherpinchesthatareahead!——

  Infine,Wilhelmina’sWeddingwasmagnificent;thoughonehadrubstoo;andMammawasrathersevere。\"Hairwentallwrong,bydintofoverdressing;andhungonone’sfacelikeaboy’s。Crown—royaltheyhadput(asindeedwasproper)onone’shead:hairwasintwenty—fourlocksthesizeofyourarm:suchwastheQueen’sorder。Gownwasofcloth—of—silver,trimmedwithSpanishgold—lace(AVECUNPOINTD’ESPAGNED’OR);traintwelveyardslong;——onewasliketosinktotheearthinsuchequipment。\"Courage,myPrincess!——Infact,theWeddingwentbeautifullyoff;withdancesandsublimities,slowsolemnTorch—dancetoconcludewith,inthoseunparalleledupperrooms;Grand—AuntMeiningenandmanyotherstarsandrainbowswitnessing;eventheMargravineofSchwedt,inherhighcolors,wascompelledtobethere。

  Suchvariegatedsplendor,suchadancingoftheConstellations;

  sublunaryBerlin,andalltheworld,ontiptoeroundit!

  SlowTorchdance,windingitup,meltedintotheshadesofmidnight,forthistime;andtherewassilenceinBerlin。

  But,onthefollowingnights,therewereBallsofalesssolemncharacter;farpleasanterfordancingpurposes。Itistothese,tooneofthese,thatwedirecttheattentionofallreaders。

  Friday,23d,therewasagainBallandRoyalEveningParty——\"GrandApartment\"socalled。ImmenseBall,\"sevenhundredcouples,allpeopleofcondition:\"therewere\"FourQuadrilles,\"ordancingplacesinthebigseaofquality—figures;eachatitsduedistanceinthegrandsuiteofrooms:WilhelminapresidesinQuadrilleNUMBERONE;placeassignedherwasintheroomcalledPicture—Gallery;QueenandallthePrincipalitieswerewithWilhelmina,sheistoleadofftheirquadrille,andtakechargeofit。Whichshedid,withheraccustomedfireandelasticity;——andwascirclingthere,onthelightfantastictoe,timesixintheevening,whenGrumkow,whomshehadbeendunningforhisbargainaboutFriedrichthedaybefore,cameup:——

  \"Ilikeddancing,\"saysshe,\"andwastakingadvantageofmychances。Grumkowcameup,andinterruptedmeinthemiddleofaminuet:’EH,MONDIEUMADAME!’saidGrumkow,’youseemtohavegotbitbythetarantula!Don’tyouseethosestrangerswhohavejustcomein?’Istoptshort;andlookingallround,Inoticedatlastayoungmandressedingray,whomIdidnotknow。’Go,then,embracethePriuce—Royal;thereheisbeforeyou!’saidGrumkow。

  Allthebloodinmybodywenttopsy—turvyforjoy。’OHeaven,myBrother?’criedI:’ButIdon’tseehim;whereishe?InGod’sname,letmeseehim!’Grumkowledmetotheyoungmaningray。

  Comingnear,Irecognizedhim,thoughwithdifficulty:hehadgrownamazinglystouter(PRODIGIEUSEMENTENGRAISSE),shortenedabouttheneck;hisfacetoohadmuchchanged,andwasnolongersobeautifulasithadbeen。Ispranguponhimwithopenarms(SAUTAIAUCOU);Iwasinsuchastate,Icouldspeaknothingbutbrokenexclamations:Iwept,Ilaughed,likeonegonedelirious。

  InmylifeIhaveneverfeltsolivelyajoy。

  \"ThefirstsanestepwastothrowmyselfatthefeetoftheKing:

  Kingsaid,’Areyoucontentwithme?YouseeIhavekeptmyword!’

  ItookmyBrotherbythehand;andentreatedtheKingtorestorehimhisfriendship。Thisscenewassotouching,itdrewtearsfromtheeyesofeverybody。IthenapproachedtheQueen。Shewasobligedtoembraceme,theKingbeingcloseopposite;butI

  remarkedthatherjoywasonlyaffected。\"——Whythen,OPrincess?

  Guess,ifyoucan,thefemalehumorsofherMajesty!——

  \"IturnedtomyBrotheragain;Igavehimathousandcaresses,andsaidthetenderestthingstohim:toallwhichheremainedcoldasice,andansweredonlyinmonosyllables。IpresentedthePrince(myHusband);towhomhedidnotsayoneword。Iwasastonishedatthisfashionofprocedure!ButIlaidtheblameofitontheKing,whowasobservingus,andwhoIjudgedmightbeintimidatingmyBrother。Butevenhiscountenancesurprisedme:heworeaproudair,andseemedtolookdownoneverybody。\"

  Amuch—changedCrown—Prince。Whatcanbethemeaningofit?

  NeitherKingnorheappearedatsupper:theyweresuppingelsewhere,withaselectcircle;andthewhisperranamongus,HisMajestywastreatinghimwithgreatfriendliness。AtwhichtheQueen,contrarytohope,couldnotconcealhersecretpique。

  \"Infact,\"saysWilhelmina,againtoohardonMamma,\"shedidnotloveherchildrenexceptastheyservedherambitiousviews。\"

  ThefactthatitwasI,andnotshe,whohadachievedthePrince’sdeliverance,waspainfultoherMajesty:alas,yes,insomedegree!

  \"Ballhavingrecommenced,Grumkowwhisperedtome,’ThattheKingwaspleasedwithmyfrankkindwaystomyBrother;andnotpleasedwithmyBrother’scoldwayofreturningit:Doeshesimulate,andmeanstilltodeceiveme?OrISthatallthethankshehasforWilhelmina?thinkshisMajesty。Goonwithyoursincerity,Madam;

  andforGod’ssakeadmonishtheCrown—Princetoavoidfinessing!’

  Crown—Prince,whenIdid,insomeintervalofthedance,reportthisofGrumkow,andsay,Whysochangedandcold,then,Brotherofmyheart?answered,Thathewasstillthesame;andthathehadhisreasonsforwhathedid。\"Wilhelmiuacontinues;andcannotunderstandherCrown—Princeatall:——

  \"Nextmorning,bytheKing’sorder,hepaidmeavisit。

  ThePrince,\"myHusband,\"waspoliteenoughtowithdraw,andleftmeandSousfeldalonewithhim。Hegavemearecitalofhismisfortnues;Icommunicatedminetohim,\"——andhowIhadatlastbargainedtogethimfreeagainbymycompliance。\"Heappearedmuchdiscountenancedatthislastpartofmynarrative。

  HereturnedthanksfortheobligationsIhadlaidonhim,——withsomecaressings,whichevidentlydidnotproceedfromtheheart。

  Tobreakthisconversation,hestartedsomeindifferenttopic;

  and,underpretenceofseeingmyApartment,movedintothenextroom,wherethePrincemyHusbandwas。Himheranoverwithhiseyesfromheadtofoot,forsometime;then,aftersomeconstrainedcivilitiestohim,wenthisway。\"Whattomakeofallthis?\"MadamSonsfeldshruggedhershoulders;\"noendofMadamSousfeld’sastonishmentatsuchaCrown—Prince。

  Alas,yes,poorWilhelmina;aCrown—Princegotintoterriblecognizanceoffactssincewelastmethim!Perhapsalreadysees,notonlywhataHeightofplaceiscutoutforhiminthisworld,butalsoinadimwaywhatasolitudeofsoul,ifhewillmaintainhisheight?TopofthefrozenSchreckhorn;——haveyouwellconsideredsuchaposition!Andeventhewaythitherisdangerous,isterribleinthiscase。BenottooharduponyourCrown—Prince。

  Foritiscertainhelovesyoutothelast!

  CaptainDickens,whoaloneofalltheExcellencieswasnotattheWedding,——andneverhadbelieveditwouldbeawedding,butonlyarumortobringEnglandround,——dulychroniclesthishappyreappearanceofthePrince—Royal:\"aboutsix,yesterdayevening,asthecompanywasdancing,——tothegreatjoyandsurpriseofthewhaleCourt;\"——andadds:\"ThismorningthePrincecametothepublicParade;wherecrowdsofpeopleofallranksflockedtoseehisRoyalHighness,andgavethemostopendemonstrationsofpleasure。\"[Despatch24thNovember,1731。]

  Wilhelmina,thesenoisytumults,notallofthemdelightful,oncedone,getsoutoftheperplexedhurly—burly,hometowardsstillBaireuth,shortlyafterNew—year。[11thJanuary,1732(Wilhelmina,ii。20。]\"Berlinwasbecomeasodioustomeasithadoncebeendear。Iflatteredmyselfthat,renouncinggrandeurs,ImightleadasoftandtranquillifeinmynewHome,andbeginahappieryearthantheonethathadjustended。\"Mammawasstillperverse;

  butontheedgeofdepartureWilhelminacontrivedtogetawordofherFather,andprivatelyopenherhearttohim。PoorFather,afterallthathascomeandgone:——

  \"Mydiscourseproduceditseffect;hemeltedintotears,couldnotanswermeforsobs;heexplainedhisthoughtsbyhisembracingsofme。Makinganeffort,atlength,hesaid:’IamindespairthatI

  didnotknowthee。Theyhadtoldmesuchhorribletales,IhatedtheeasmuchasInowlovethee。IfIhadaddressedmyselfdirecttothee,Ishouldhaveescapedmuchtrouble,andthoutoo。

  Buttheyhinderedmefromspeaking;saidthouwertill—naturedastheDevil,andwouldstdrivemetoextremitiesIwantedtoavoid。

  ThyMother,byherintriguings,isinpartthecauseofthemisfortunesofthefamily;Ihavebeendeceivedanddupedoneveryside。Butmyhandsaretied;andthoughmyheartistorninpieces,Imustleavetheseiniquitiesunpunished!’\"——TheQueen’sintentionswerealwaysgood,urgedWilhelmina。\"Letusnotenterintothatdetail,\"answeredhe:\"whatispastispast;Iwilltrytoforgetit;\"andassuredWilhelminathatshewasthedearesttohimofthefamily,andthathewoulddogreatthingsforherstill,——onlypartofwhichcametoeffectinthesequel。\"Iamtoosadofhearttotakeleaveofyou,\"concludedhe:\"embraceyourHusbandonmypart;IamsoovercomethatImustnotseehim。\"

  [Wilhelmina,ii。4;whodates11thJanuary,1732。]Andsotheyrolledaway。

  Crown—PrincewasbacktoCustrinagain,manyweeksbefore。BacktoCustrin;butundertotallychangedomens:hishistory,afterthatfirstemergenceinWilhelmina’sdance\"23dNovemberaboutsixP。M。,\"andappearanceatParadeonthemorrow(Saturdaymorning),hadbeenasfollows。MondayNovember26th)therewasagaingrandBall,andthePrincethere,notingraythistime。Nextday,theoldDessauerandallthehigherOfficersinBerlinpetitioned,\"LetushavehimintheArmyagain,yourMajesty!\"Majestyconsented:andso,Friday,30th,therewasgranddinneratSeckendorf’s,Crown—Princethere,insoldier’suniformagain;acompletelypardonedyouth。HisuniformisoftheGoltzRegiment,Infantry:GoltzRegiment,whichliesatRuppin,——atandabout,inthatmooryCountrytotheNortheast,somethirtyorfortymilesfromBerlin;——whitherhisdestinationnowis。

  Crown—PrincehadtoresumehisKammerworkatCustrin,andseetheBuildingsatCarzig,forathreemonthslonger,tillsomearrangementsintheRegimentGoltzwereperfected,andfinishingimprovementsgiventoit。But\"onthelastdayofFebruary\"(29th)

  1732beingleap—year),hisRoyalHighness’sCommissiontobeColonelCommandantofsaidRegimentismadeout;andheproceeds,indischargeofthesame,toRuppin,wherehismenlie。Andsoputsoffthepike—graycoat,andputsonthemilitaryblueone,[Preuss,i。69。]——nevertoquititagain,asturnedout。

  RuppinisalittleTown,inthatnorthwestFehrbellinregion:

  RegimentGoltzhadlainindetachedquartershitherto;butisnowtolieatRuppin,thefirstBattalionofitthere,andtherestwithinreach。Here,inRuppinitself,orultimatelyatReinsbergintheneighborhood,wasFriedrich’sabode,forthenexteightyears。Habitualresidence:withtransientexcursions,chieflytoBerlininCarnivaltime,oronothergreatoccasions,andalwaysstrictlyonleave;hisemploymentbeingthatofColonelofFoot,athingrequiringcontinualvigilanceandindustryinthatCountry。

  Leastofalltobeneglected,inanypoint,byoneinhiscircumstances。HedidhismilitarydutiestoaperfectionsatisfactoryeventoPapa;andachievedonhisownscoremanyotherdutiesandimprovements,forwhichPapahadlessvalue。

  Theseeightyears,itisalwaysunderstood,wereamongthemostimportantofhislifetohim。

  ENDOFBOOKVIII

  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV9

  byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s\"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia\"

  BOOKIX。

  LASTSTAGEOFFRIEDRICH’SAPPRENTICESHIP:

  LIFEINRUPPIN。

  1732—1736。

  ChapterI。

  PRINCESSELIZABETHCHRISTINAOFBRUNSWICK—BEVERN。

  WedescribedtheCrown—Princeasintenttocomply,especiallyinallvisibleexternalparticulars,withPapa’swillandpleasure;——

  todistingnishhimselfbyrealexcellenceinCommandantshipoftheRegimentGoltz,firstofall。Butbeforeevergettingintothat,therehasanotherpointrisen,onwhichobedience,equallyessential,maybestillmoredifficult。

  EversincethegrandCatastrophewentoffWITHOUTtakingFriedrich’sheadalongwithit,andtherebegantobehopesofapacificsettlement,questionhasbeen,WhomshalltheCrown—Princemarry?AndthedebatesaboutitintheRoyalbreastandinTobacco—Parliament,andrumorsaboutitintheworldatlarge,havebeenmanifoldandcontinual。IntheSchulenburgLetterswesawtheCrown—Princehimselfmuchinterested,andeagerlyinquisitiveonthathead。Aswasnatural:butitisnotintheCrown—Prince’smind,itisintheTobacco—Parliament,andtheRoyalbreastasinfluencedthere,thatthethingmustbedecided。

  Whointheworldwillitbe,then?Crown—Princehimselfhearsnowofthisparty,nowofthat。Englandisquiteover,andthePrincessAmeliasunkbelowthehorizon。FriedrichhimselfappearsalittlepiquedthatHothamcarriedhisnosesohigh;thattheEnglishwouldnot,inthoselife—and—deathcircumstances,abatetheleastfromtheir\"Bothmarriagesornone,\"——thinkstheyshouldhavesavedWilhelmina,andtakenhiswordofhonorfortherest。

  Englandisnowoutofhishead;——allromanceistoosorrowfullysweptout:andinsteadofthe\"sacredair—citiesofhope\"inthishighsectionofhishistory,theyoungmanislookingintothe\"meanclayhamletsofreality,\"withaneyewellrecognizingthemforreal。Withaneyeandheartalreadytemperedtotheduehardnessforthem。Notafortunateresult,thoughitwasaninevitableone。WesawhimflirtingwiththebeautifulweddedWreech;talkingtoLieutenant—GeneralSchulenburgaboutmarriage,inawaywhichshookthepipe—clayofthatvirtuousman。Heknowshewouldnotgethischoice,ifhehadone;strivesnottocare。

  Nordoeshe,infact,muchcare;theromancebeingalloutofit。

  Helooksmainlytooutwardadvantages;topersonalappearance,temper,goodmanners;to\"religiousprinciple,\"sometimesratherinthereverseway(fearinganOVERPLUSrather);——butalwaystolikelihoodofmoneysbythematch,asaverydirectitem。

  Readycommandofmoney,hefeels,willbeextremelydesirableinaWife;desirableandalmostindispensable,inpresentstraitenedcircumstances。Thesearethenotionsofthisill—situatedCoelebs。

  Thepartiesproposedfirstandlast,andrumoredofinNewspapersandtheidlebrainsofmen,havebeenverymany,——nolimittotheirnumbers;itMAYbeanybody:anintendingpurchaser,thoughbutpossessedofsixpence,isinasenseproprietorofthewholeFair!ThroughSchulenburgweheardhisownaccountofthem,lastAutumn;——butthefarnoblestofthelotwashardlyglancedat,ornotatall,onthatoccasion。TheKaiser’seldestDaughter,soleheiressofAustriaandthesevastPragmatic—Sanctionoperations;

  ArchduchessMariaTheresaherself,——itisaffirmedtohavebeenPrinceEugene’soften—expressedwish,ThattheCrown—PrinceofPrussiashouldwedthefutureEmpress[Hormayr,

  AllgemeineGeschichtederneueslenZeit(Wien,1817),i。13;citedinPreuss,i。71。]Whichwouldindeedhavesavedimmenseconfusionstomankind!NayshealoneofPrincesses,beautiful,magnanimous,brave,wasthemateforsuchaPrince,——

  hadtheGoodFairiesbeenconsulted,whichseldomhappens:——andRomanceitselfmighthavebecomeRealityinthatcase:withhighresultstotheverysoulofthisyoungPrince!Wishesarefree:

  andwiseEugenewillhavebeenheard,perhapsoften,toexpressthiswish;butthatmusthavebeenall。Alas,thepreliminaries,political,especiallyreligious,areatonceindispensableandimpossible:wehavetodismissthatdaydream。APapal—ProtestantControversystillexistsamongmankind;andthisisonepenaltytheypayfornothavingsettleditsooner。TheImperialCourtcannotafforditsArchduchessonthetermspossibleinthatquarter。

  WhattheImperialCourtcandois,torecommendaNieceoftheirs,insignificantyoungPrincess,ElizabethChristinaofBrunswick—Bevern,whoisNiecetotheEmpress;andmaybemadeusefulinthisway,toherselfandus,thinktheImperialMajesties;——willbeanewtieuponthePrussiansandthePragmaticSanction,andkeeptheAlliancestillsurerforourArchduchessintimescoming,thinktheirMajesties。She,itisinsinuatedbySeckendorfinTobaoco—Parliament;oughtnotshe,DaughterofyourMajesty’sesteemedfriend,——modest—minded,innocentyoungPrincess,withaBrotheralreadybetrothedinyourMajesty’sHouse,——tobetheLady?Itisprobableshewill。

  DidweinformthereaderonceaboutKaiserKarl’syoungmarriageadventures;andmaywe,toremindhim,mentionthemasecondtime?

  HowImperialMajesty,somefive—and—twentyyearsago,thenonlyKingofSpain,askedPrincessCarolineofAnspach,whowasverypoor,andanorphanintheworld。Whoatoncerefused,decliningtothinkofchangingherreligiononsuchascore;——andnowgovernsEngland,telegraphingwithWalpole,asQueenthereinstead。HowKarl,nowImperialMajesty,thenKingofSpain,nextappliedtoBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel;andmetwithamuchbetterreceptionthere。AppliedtooldAntonUlrich,reigningDuke,whowritesbigNovels,anddoesotherfoolishgood—naturedthings;——

  whopersuadedhisGrand—daughterthatachangetoCatholicismwasnothinginsuchacase,thathehimselfshouldnotcareintheleasttochange。HowtheGrand—daughterchangedaccordingly,wenttoBarcelona,andwaswedded;——andhadtodunoldGrandpapa,\"Whydon’tyouchange,then?\"Whodidchangethereupon;thinkingtohimself,\"PlagueonitImust,then!\"thefoolisholdHerr。

  Heisdead;andhisNovels,insixvolumesquarto,arealldead:

  andtheGrand—daughterisKaiserinn,onthoseterms,aserenemonotonouswell—favoredLady,diligentinherCatholicexercises;

  ofwhomIneverheardanyevil,goodrather,inhereminentsereneposition。PityperhapsthatshehadrecommendedherNieceforthisyoungPrussiangentleman;whomitbynomeansdid\"attachtotheFamily\"soverycarefulabouthimatVienna!Butiftherelayasin,andapunishmentfollowingonit,hereorelsewhere,inherImperialposition,surelyitistobechargedonfoolisholdAntonUlrich;notonher,poorLady,whohadnevercovetedsuchheight,nordurstforhersoultaketheleapthitherward,tillthesereneoldliterarygentlemanshowedherhoweasyitwas。

  Well,oldAntonUlrichislongsincedead,[1714,age70。Huber,t。190。]andhisreligiousaccountsareallsettledbeyondcavil;

  andonlythesaddutydevolvesonmeofexplainingalittlewhatandwhohisratherinsipidoffspringare,sofarasrelatedtoreadersofthisHistory。AntonUlrichlefttwosons;theelderofwhomwasDuke,andtheyoungerhadanApanage,Blankenburgbyname。Onlythisyoungerhadchildren,——sereneKaiserinnthatnowis,oneofthem:Theelderdiedchildless,[1731,Michaelis,i。132。]preciselyafewmonthsbeforethetimeswearenowgotto;reigningDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,[\"Welf—BOOTHS\"

  (HuntedCampoftheWelfs),accordingtoEtymology。\"Brunswick,\"

  again,isBRAUN’S—Wick;\"Braun\"(Brown)beinganoldmilitantWelfinthoseparts,whobuiltsomelodgeforhimself,asaconveniencethere,——Year880,saytheuncertainoldBooks。Hubner,t。149;

  Michaelis,&c。]allbutcertainApanages,anddoesnotconcernusfarther。Tothatsupremedignitytheyoungerhasnowcome,andhisApanageofBlankenburgandchildrenwithhim;——sothatthereisnowonlyoneoutstandingApanage(Bevern,notknowntousyet);

  whichalsowillperhapsgetreunited,ifwecaredforit。

  LudwigRudolfisthenameofthisnewsovereignDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,orDukeinchief;agenowsixty;hasashining,bustling,somewhatirregularDuchess,saysWilhelmina;

  andanose——orratheralmostnonose,forsadreasons!

  [Wilhelmina,ii。121。]OtherqualitiesoraccidentsIknownotofhim,——exceptthatheisFatheroftheViennaKaiserinn;

  GrandfatherofthePrincesswhomSeckendorfsuggestsforourFriedrichofPrussia。

  InLudwigRudolf’sinsipidoffspringourreadersareunexpectedlysomewhatinterested;letreaderspatientlyattend,therefore。

  HehadthreeDaughters,neveranyson。TwoofhisDaughters,eldestandyoungest,arealivestill;themiddleonehadasadfatelongago。Shemarried,in1711,AlexiustheCzarowitzofPetertheGreat:foolishCzarowitz,miserableandmakingothersmiserable,brokeherheartbyillconduct,illusage,infouryears;sothatshedied;leavinghimonlyapoorsmallPeterII。,whoisnowdeadtoo,andthatmatterendedallbutthememoryofit。Someaccountsbear,thatshedidnotdie;thatsheonlypretendedit,andranandleftherintolerableCzarowitz。Thatshewedded,atParis,indeepobscurity,anOfficerjustsettingoutforLouisiana;livedmanyyearsthereasathriftysoldier’swife;

  returnedtoPariswithherOfficerreducedtohalf—pay;andtoldhim——ortoldsomeselectOfficialpersonafterhim,underseven—foldoath,beingthenawidowandnecessitous——hersublimesecret。Sublimesecret,whichcamethustobeknowntoasupremelyselectcircleatParis;andwaspublishedinBooks,whereonestillreadsit。Novestigeoftruthinit,——exceptthatperhapsanecessitoussoldier’swidowatParis,consideringofwaysandmeans,foundthatshehadsometraceoflikenesstothePicturesofthisPrincess,andhadheardhertragicstory。

  LudwigRudolf’ssecondDaughterisdeadlongyearsago;norhasthisfableasyetrisenfromherdust。OfLudwigRudolf’sothertwoDaughters,wehavesaidthatone,theeldest,wastheKaiserinn;EmpressElizabethChristina,agenowpreciselyforty;

  withtwobeautifulDaughters,sublimeMariaTheresatheelderofthem,andnosonthatwouldlive。WhichlastlittlecircumstancehascausedthePragmaticSanction,andtormenteduniversalNatureforsomanyyearsback!LudwigRudolfhasayoungestDaughter,alsomarried,andaMotherinGermany,——tothisdayconspicuouslyso;——ofwhomnext,orratherofherHusbandandFamily—circle,wemustsayaword。

  HerHusbandisnootherthantheesteemedFriendofFriedrichWilhelm;DukeofBrunswick—Bevern,bytitle;who,asajuniorbranch,livesontheApanageofBevern,ashisFatherdid;butissurenowtoinheritthesovereigntyandbeDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttelatlarge,heorhisSons,werethepresentincumbent,LudwigRudolf,onceout。Presentincumbent,wehavejustintimated,ishisFather—in—law;butitisnotonthatgroundthathelookstoinherit。HeisNephewofoldAntonUlrich,SonofayoungerBrother(whowasalso\"Bevern\"inAnton’stime);andistheevidentHeir—male;oldAntonbeingalreadyfallenintothedistaff,withnothingbutthreeGrand—daughters。Anton’sheirwillnowbethisNephew;NephewhasweddedoneoftheGrand—daughters,youngestoftheThree,youngestDaughterofLudwigRudolf,SovereignDukethatnowis;whichLady,bythefamilyshebroughthim,ifnootherwise,ismemorableormentionablehere,andmaybecalled,aMotherinGermany。

  [ANTONULRICH(1833—1714)。DukeinChief;thatis,DukeofBrunswick—WOLFENBUTTEL。

  AUGUSTWILHELM,elderSonandHeir(1662,1714,1731);hadnochildren。

  LUDWIGRUDOLF,theyoungerSon(1671,1731,1735),apanagadinBlankenburg:DukeofBrunswick—BLANKENBURG;becameWOLFENBUTTEL。

  1731,died,1stMarch,1735。NoSon;sothatnowtheBevernsucceeded。ThreeDaughters:

  ElizabethChristina,theKaiserinn(1691,1708,1750)。

  CharlotteChristina(1694,1711,1715),AlexiusofRussia’s,hadaFABULOUSend。

  AntoinetteAmelia(1695,1712,1762);Bevern’sWife,——a\"MotherinGermany。\"

  FERDINANDALBERT(1636—1687),hisyoungerBrotherapanagedinBevern;thatis,DukeofBrunswick—BEVERN。

  FERDINANDALBERT,eldestSon(anelderhadperished,1704,ontheSchellenbergunderMarlborough),followedinBevern(1680,1687—1704,1735);Kaiser’ssoldier,FriedrichWilhelm’sfriend;

  marriedhisCousin,AntoinetteAmelia(\"MotherinGermany,\"aswecallher)。DukeinChief,1stMarch,1785,onLudwigRudolf’sdecease;diedhimself,3dSeptembersameyear。

  BORN1713,KarltheHeir(tomarryourFriedrich’sSister)。

  1714,AntonUlrich(Russia;tragedyofCzarIwan)。

  1715,8thNovember,ElizabethChristina(CrownPrince’s)。

  1718,LudwigErnst(Holland,1787)。

  1721,Ferdinand(Chatham’sandEngland’s)oftheSevenYearsWar。

  1722,1724,1725,1732,Fourothers;BoystheyoungestTwo,whowerebothkilledinFriedrich’sWars。]

  FatherBevernherHusband,FerdinandAlbertthenameofhim,isnowjustfifty,onlytenyearsyoungerthanhissereneFather—in—

  law,LudwigRudolf:——whom,Imayaswellsayhere,hedoesatlastsucceed,threeyearshence(1735)andbecomesDukeofBrunswickinGeneral,accordingtohope;butonlyforafewmonths,havinghimselfdiedthatsameyear。PoorDuke;ratheragoodman,byalltheaccountsIcouldhear;thoughnotofqualitiesthatshone。

  Heisatpresent\"DukeofBrunswick—Bevern,\"——suchhisactualnomenclatureinthoseever—fluctuatingSibyl’s—leavesofGermanHistory—Books,Wilhelmina’sandtheothers;——expectantDukeofBrunswickinGeneral;muchafriendofFriedrichWilhelm。AkindofAustriansoldierhewasformerly,andwillagainbeforbrieftimes;General—Feldmarschallsostyled;butisnotnotableinWar,norotherwiseatall,exceptfortheoffspringhehadbythissereneSpouseofhis。Insipidoffspring,theimpatientreadersays;butpermitsmetoenumerateoneortwoofthem:——

  1。Karl,eldestSon;whoissuretobeBrunswickinGeneral;

  whoisbetrothedtoPrincessCharlotteofPrussia,——\"asatiricalcreature,she,fonderofmyPrincethanofhim,\"Wilhelminathinks。Theweddingneverthelesstookeffect。BrunswickinGeneraldulyfellin,firsttotheFather;then,inafewmonthsmore,toKarlwithhisCharlotte:andfromthemproceeded,induetime,anotherKarl,ofwhomweshallhearinthisHistory;——andofwhomalltheworldheardmuchintheFrenchRevolutionWars;in1792,andstillmoretragicallyafterwards。Shot,todeathorworse,attheBattleofJena,October,1806;\"battlelostbeforeitwasbegun,\"——suchthestrategichistorytheygiveofit。

  HeperemptorilyorderedtheFrenchRevolutiontosuppressitself;

  andthatwastheanswertheFrenchRevolutionmadehim。FromthisKarl,whatNEWQueensCarolineofEnglandandportentousDukesofBrunswick,sentupontheirtravelsthroughtheanarchicworld,profitableonlytoNewspapers,weneednotsay!——

  2。AntonUlrich;namedafterhisaugustGreat—Grandfather;

  doesnotwritenovelslikehim。Atpresentayounggentlemanofeighteen;goesintoRussiabeforelong,hopingtobegetCzars;

  whichissuesdreadfullyforhimselfandthepotentialCzarshebegot。Thereaderhasheardofapotential\"CzarIwan,\"violentlydonetodeathinhisroom,onedimmoonlightnightof1764,intheFortressofSchlusselburg,middleofLakeLadoga;mistymoonlookingdownonthestonebattlements,onthemelancholywaters,audsayingnothing。——Butletusnotanticipate。

  3。ElizabethChristina;tousmoreimportantthananyofthem。

  NamesakeoftheKaiserinn,heraugustAunt;agenowseventeen;

  insipidfine—complexionedyounglady,whoistalkedoffortheBrideofourCrown—Prince。Ofwhomthereaderwillhearmore。

  Crown—Princefearssheis\"tooreligious,\"——andwillhave\"CAGOTS\"

  abouther(solemnpersonsinblack,highlyunconscioushowlittlewisdomtheyhave),whomaybetroublesome。

  4。AmerryyoungBoy,nowten,calledFerdinand;withwhomEnglandwithinthenextthirtyyearswillring,forsometime,loudenough:thegreat\"PrinceFerdinand\"himself,——underwhomtheMarquisofGranbyandothersbecamegreat;Chathamsuperintendingit。Thisreallywasarespectablegentleman,anddidconsiderablethings,——aTrismegistusincomparisonwiththeDukeofCnmberlandwhomhesucceeded。Acheerful,singularlypolite,modest,well—conditionedmanwithal。Tobeslightlybetterknowntous,ifwelive。HeatpresentisaBoyoften,chasingthethistle’sbeard。

  5。Threeothersons,allsoldiers,twoofthemyoungerthanFerdinand;whosenameswereinthegazettesdowntoalateperiod;——whomweshallignoreinthisplace。ThelastofthemwasmarchedoutofHolland,wherehehadlongbeenCommander—in—chiefonratherToryprinciples,inthetroublesof1787。Othersofthemweshallseestormingforwardonoccasion,valiantlymeetingdeathinthefieldoffight,allconspicuouslybraveofcharacter;

  butthisshallbeenoughofthematpresent。

  ItisofthesethatLudwigRudolf’syoungestdaughter,thesereneFerdinandAlbert’swife,isMotherinGermany;highlyconspicuousintheirday。Ifthequestionisput,itmustbeownedtheyareallratheroftheinsipidtype。Nothingbutakindofalbuminoussimplicitynoticeableinthem;nowit,originality,brightnessinthewayofutteredintellect。Ifitisasked,Howcametheytotheleastdistinctioninthisworld?——theanswerisnotimmediatelyapparent。ButindeedtheyareWelfoftheWelfs,inthisrespectasinothers。Oneasks,withincreasedwonder,noticingintheWelfsgenerallynothiugbutthesamealbuminoussimplicity,andpovertyratherthanopulenceofutteredintellect,orofqualitiesthatshine,HowtheWelfscametoplaysuchapart,forthelastthousandyears,andstilltobeatit,inconspicuousplaces?

  Reader,Ihaveobservedthatutteredintellectisnotwhatpermanentlymakesway,butunuttered。Wit,logicalbrilliancy,spiritualeffulgency,trueorFALSE,——howprecioustoidlemankind,andtotheNewspapersandHistory—Books,evenwhenitisfalse:while,again,NatureandPracticalFactcarenexttonothingforitincomparison,evenwhenitistrue!TwosilentqualitiesyouwillnoticeintheseWelfs,modernandancient;

  whichNaturemuchvalues:FIRST,consummatehumanCourage;

  anoble,perfect,andasitwereunconscioussuperioritytofear。

  AndthenSECONDLY,muchweightofmind,anoblenottooconsciousSenseofwhatisRightandNot—Right,Ihavefoundinsomeofthem;——whichmeansmostlyWEIGHT,orgoodgravitation,goodobservanceoftheperpendicular;andiscalledjustice,veracity,high—honor,andothersuchnames。Thesearefinequalitiesindeed,especiallywithan\"albuminoussimplicity\"asvehicletothem。

  IftheWelfshadnotmucharticulateintellect,letusguesstheymadeagooduse,notabadorindifferent,asiscommoner,ofwhattheyhad。

  WHOHISMAJESTY’SCHOICEIS;ANDWHATTHECROWN—PRINCETHINKSOFIT。

  PrincessElizabethChristina,theinsipidBrunswickspecimen,backedbySeckendorfandVienna,provesonconsiderationthedesirabletoFriedrichWilhelminthismatter。ButhisSon’snotions,whoasyetknowsheronlybyrumor,donotgothatway。

  Insipidity,triviality;thefearof\"CAGOTAGE\"andfrightfulfellowsinblacksupremelyunconsciouswhatblockheadstheyare,hauntshimagooddeal。Andasforanymoneycoming,——hersublimeAunttheKaiserinnneverhadmuchreadymoney;one’sresourcesonthatsidearelikelytobeexiguous。HewouldpreferthePrincessofMecklenburg,Semi—RussianCatharineorAnna,ofwhomwehaveheard;wouldpreferthePrincessofEisenach(whosenamehedoesnotknowrightly);thinkstherearemanyPrincessespreferable。

  Mostofallhewouldprefer,whatiswellknownofhiminTobacco—Parliament,butknowntobeimpossible,thislongwhileback,togouponaroundoftravel,——asforinstancethePrinceofLorraineisnowdoing,——andlookabouthimalittle。

  ThesecandidconsiderationstheCrown—PrinceearnestlysuggeststoGrumkow,andthesecretcommitteeofTobacco—Parliament;

  earnestlyagainandagain,inhisCorrespondencewiththatgentleman,whichgoesonverybriskatpresent。\"Muchofitlost,\"

  wehear;——butenough,andtospare,issaved!Notabeautifulcorrespondence:thetoneofitshallow,hardofheart;tragicallyflippant,especiallyontheCrown—Prince’spart;nowandthenevenatouchofthehypocriticalfromhim,slighttouchandnotwithwill:alas,whatcanthepooryoungmando?Grumkow——whoseground,Ithink,isneverquitesosecuresincethatNostibusiness——

  professesardentattachmenttotherealinterestsofthePrince;

  anddoessolidlyadvisehimofwhatisfeasible,whatnot,inhead—quarters;veryexemplary\"attachment;\"credibletowhatlength,thePrincewellenoughknows。AndsotheCorrespondenceisunbeautiful;notverydescriptiveeven,——forpoorFriedrichisconsiderablyundermask,whilehewritestothataddress;andofGrumkowhimselfwewantnomore\"description;\"andis,infact,onitsownscore,anavoidablearticleratherthanotherwise;

  thoughperhapsthereader,forapoorinvolvedCrown—Prince’ssake,willwishanexactExcerptortwobeforewequitedismissit。

  TowardsturningofftheBrunswickspeculation,orturningontheMecklenburgorEisenachoranyotherinitsstead,theCorrespondencenaturallyavailsnothing。SeckendorfhashisordersfromVienna:Grumkowhashispension,——hiscream—bowldulyset,——

  forhelpingBeckendorf。Thoughangelspleaded,notinatoneoftragicflippancy,butwiththevoiceofbreakinghearts,itwouldbetonopurpose。TheImperialMajestieshaveordered,MarryhimtoBrunswick,\"bindhimthebettertoourHouseintimecoming;\"

  naytheRoyalmindatPotsdamgravitates,ofitself,thatway,afterthefirsthintisgiven。TheImperialwillhasbecomethePaternalone;noanswerbutobedience。WhatGrumkowcandowillbe,ifpossible,toleadordrivetheCrown—Princeintoobeyingsmoothly,orwithoutbreakingofharnessagain。Which,accordingly,isprettymuchthesumofhispartinthisunlovelyCorrespondence:thegeeho—ingofanexpertwagoner,whohasgotafieryyoungArabthoroughlytiedintohisdastardsand—cart,andhastodrivehimbyvoice,oratmostbyslightcrackofwhip;

  anddoesit。Canwehope,aselectspecimenortwooftheseDocuments,notonGrumkow’spart,orforGrumkow’sunlovelysake,maynowbeacceptabletothereader?ALetterortwopickedfromthatlargestock,inalegiblestate,willshowusFatherandSon,andhowthattragicmatterwenton,betterthandescriptioncould。

  Papa’sLetterstotheCrown—PrinceduringthatfinalCustrinperiod,——whenCarzigandHimmelstadtweregoingon,andtherewassuchprogressinEconomics,areallofhopefulruggedlyaffectionatetenor;andthereareagoodfewofthem:

  stylecuriouslyrugged,intricate,headlong;andastrongsubstanceofsenseandworthtortuouslyvisibleeverywhere。

  LetterssodelightfultothepoorretrievedCrown—Princethenandthere;andwhicharestillalmostpleasantreadingtothird—parties,onceyouintroducegrammarandspelling。Thisisoneexactspecimen;mostimportanttothePrinceandus。

  Suddenly,onenight,byestafette,hisMajesty,meaningnothingbutkindness,andgratefultoSeckendorfandTobacco—Parliamentforsuchanidea,proposes,——intheseterms(merelyreducedtoEnglishandthecommonspelling):——

  \"TOTHECROWN—PRINCEATCUSTRIN(fromPapa)。

  \"POTSDAM,4thFebruary,1732

  \"MYDEARSONFRITZ,——Iamverygladyouneednomorephysic。Butyoumusthaveacareofyourself,somedaysyet,forthesevereweather;whichgivesmeandeverybodycolds;sopraybeonyourguard(NEHMETEUCHKUBSCHINACHT)。

  \"Youknow,mydearSon,thatwhenmychildrenareobedient,Ilovethemmuch:so,whenyouwereatBerlin,Ifrommyheartforgaveyoueverything;andfromthatBerlintime,sinceIsawyou,havethoughtofnothingbutofyourwell—beingandhowtoestablishyou,——notintheArmyonly,butalsowitharightStep—daughter,andsoseeyoumarriedinmylifetime。YoumaybewellpersuadedI

  havehadthePrincessesofGermanytakensurveyof,sofaraspossible,andexaminedbytrustypeople,whattheirconductis,theireducationandsoon:andsoaPrincesshasbeenfound,theEldestoneofBevern,whoiswellbroughtup,modestandretiring,aswomenoughttobe。

  \"Youwillwithoutdelay(CITO)writemeyourmindonthis。IhavepurchasedtheVonKatschHouse;theFeldmarschall,\"oldWartensleben,poorKatte’sgrandfather,\"asGovernor\"ofBerlin,\"willgetthattolivein:andhisGovernmentHouse,[FineenougholdHouse,orPalace,builtbytheGreatElector;givenbyhimtoGrafFeldmarschallvonSchomberg,the\"DukeSchomberg\"whowaskilledintheBattleoftheBoyne:\"sameHouse,oppositetheArsenal,whichbelongsnow(1855)tohisRoyalHighnessPrinceFriedrichWilhelmofPrussia。\"(Preuss,i。73;and

  OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。12n。)]Iwillhavemadenewforyou,andfurnishitall;andgiveyouenoughtokeephouseyourselfthere;andwillcommandyouintotheArmy,Aprilcoming[whichisquiteasubordinatestory,yourMajesty!]。

  \"ThePrincessisnotugly,norbeautiful。Youmustmentionittonomortal;——writeindeedtoMamma(DERMAMA)thatIhavewrittentoyou。AndwhenyoushallhaveaSon,IwillletyougoonyourTravels,——wedding,however,cannotbebeforewinternext。

  MeanwhileIwilltryaudcontriveopportunitythatyouseeoneanother,afewtimes,inallhonor,yetsothatyougetacquaintedwithher。SheisaGod—fearingcreature(GOTTESFURCHTIGESMENSCH),whichisallinall;willsuitherselftoyou[beCOMPORTABLEtoyou]asshedoestotheParents—in—law。

  \"Godgivehisblessingtoit;andblessYouandyourPosterity,andkeepTheeasagoodChristian。AndhaveGodalwaysbeforeyoureyes;——anddon’tbelievethatdamnablePARTICULARtenet[Predestination];andbeobedientandfaithful:soshallit,hereinTimeandthereinEternity,gowellwiththee;——andwhoeverwishesthatfromtheheart,lethimsayAmen。

  \"YourtrueFathertothedeath,\"FRIEDRICHWILHELM。

  \"WhentheDukeofLorrainecomes,Iwillhavetheecome。IthinkthyBridewillbeherethen。Adieu;Godbewithyou。\"[

  OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii,part3d,p。55。]

  ThisimportantMissivereachedCustrin,byestafette,thatsamemidnight,4th—5thFebruary;whenWolden,\"HofmarschallofthePrince’sCourt\"(titularGoldstickthere,butwithabundanceofrealfunctionslaidonhim),hadthehonortoawakentheCrown—Princeintothejoyofreading。Crown—Princeinstantlydespatched,byanotherestafette,therequisiteresponsestoPapaandMamma,——ofwhichWoldendoesnotknowthecontentsatall,nothe,theobsequiousGoldstick;——butdoubtlesstheymean\"Yes,\"

  Crown—PrinceappearingsooverjoyedatthissplendidevidenceofPapa’slove,astheGoldstickcouldperceive。[Wolden’sLETTERtoFriedrichWilhelm,\"5thFebruary,1732:\"inPreuss,ii。part2d(orURKUNDENOUCH),p。206。Mamma’sanswertothemessagebroughtherbythisreturnestafette,amereformalVERY—WELL,writtenfromthefingersoutward,exists(OEuvres,

  xxvi。65);theresthavehappilyvanished。]

  WhatthePrince’sactualamountofjoywas,weshalllearnbetterfromthefollowingthreesuccessiveutterancesofhis,confidentiallydespatchedtoGrumkowintheintermediatedays,beforeBerlinorthis\"DukeofLorraine\"(whomourreadersandtheCrown—Princearetowaitupon),withactualsightofPapaandtheIntended,cameincourse。Grumkow’sLetterstotheCrown—Princeinthisimportantintervalarenotextant,noriftheywerecouldwestandthem:fromthePrince’sAnswersitwillbesufficientlyapparentwhatthetenorofthemwas。Utterancefirstisaboutaweekafterthatoftheestafetteatmidnight:——

  TOGENERALFELDMARSCHALLVONGRUMKOW,ATPOTSDAM

  (fromtheCrown—Prince)。

  \"CUSTRIN,11thFebruary,1732。

  \"MYDEARGENERALANDFRIEND,——IwascharmedtolearnbyyourLetterthatmyaffairsareonsogoodafooting[Papasowellsatisfiedwithmyprofessionsofobedience];andyoumaydependonitIamdociletofollowyouradvice。Iwilllendmyselftowhateverispossibleforme;andprovidedIcansecuretheKing’sfavorbymyobedience,Iwilldoallthatiswithinmypower。

  \"Nevertheless,inmakingmybargainwiththeDukeofBevern,managethattheCORPUSDELICTI[myIntended]bebroughtupunderherGrandmother[DuchessofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,LudwigRudolf’sSpouse,anairycoquettishLady,——letherbethetutoressandmodelofmyIntended,OGeneral]。ForIshouldpreferbeingmadea\"——whatshallwesay?byalightwife,——\"ortoserveunderthehaughtyFONTANGE[Speciesoftopknot;sonamedfromFontange,anunfortunatefemaleofLouisFourteenth’s,whoinventedtheornament。]ofmySpouse[asLudwigRudolfdoes,byallaccounts],thantohaveablockheadwhowoulddrivememadbyherineptitudes?andwhomIshouldbeashamedtoproduce。

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