第36章
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  Summaryis,theseMediatingPowerswillbeofnohelptohisMajesty;noteventheDutchwill,withwhomheisspeciallyinfriendship:nay,inthethirdyearitbecomesfatallymanifest,thechiefMediatingPowers,KaiserandFrance,listeningrathertopoliticalconvenience,thantotheclaimsofjustice,godirectinKur—Pfalz’sfavor;——byformaltreatyoftheirown,[\"Versailles,13thJanuary,1739\"(Olrich,GeschichtederSchlesischenKriege,i。13);Mauvillon,ii405—446;&c。]FranceandtheKaisersettle,\"ThattheSulzbachersshall,asapreliminary,getprovisionalpossession,onthenowSerenity’sdecease;andshallcontinueundisturbedfortwoyears,tillLawdecidebetweenhisPrussianMajestyandthem。\"Twoyears;

  Lawdecide;——andweknowwhataretheNINE—POINTSinaLaw—case!

  This,atlast,provedtoomuchforhisMajesty。Majesty’sabstrusedubitations,meditationsonsuchtreatmentbyaKaiserandothers,didthen,itappears,gloomilysettleintofixedprivatepurposeoftryingitbytheironramrods,whenoldKur—Pfalzshoulddie,——

  ofmarchingwitheightythousandmenintotheCleveCountries,andSOwelcominganySulzbachorothergueststhatmightarrive。

  HappilyoldKur—PfalzdidnotdieinhisMajesty’stime;

  survivedhisMajestyseveralyears:sothatthematterfellintootherhands,——andwassettledverywell,nearacenturyafter。

  OfcertainwranglingswiththelittleTownofHerstal,——PrussianTown(partoftheOrangeHeritage,onceKINGPEPIN’STown,ifthatwereanymatternow)intheBishopofLiege’sneighborhood,Townhighlyinsignificantotherwise,——weshallsaynothinghere,astheywillfalltobetreated,andbesettled,atanafterstage。

  FriedrichWilhelmwasmuchgrievedbythecontumaciesofthatpaltrylittleHerstal;andbytheBishopofLiege’shigh—flownproceduresincountenancingthem;——especiallyinarecruitingeasethathadfallenoutthere,andbroughtmatterstoahead。

  [\"December,1738,\"iscrisisoftherecruitingcase(Helden—Geschichte,ii。63);\"17thFebruary,1739,\"Bishop’shigh—flownappearanceinit(ib。67);Kaiser’sinconsequence,\"10thApril,1739。\"]TheKaisertoowasafflictivelyhighincountenancingtheBishop;———forwhichbothKaiserandBishopgotduepaymentintime。ButhisPrussianMajestywouldnotkindletheworldforsuchapaltriness;andsoleftithanginginavexatiouscondition。Suchthings,itisremarked,weighheavieronhisnowinfirmMajestythantheywerewont。Heismoresubjecttofitsofhypochondria,totalkofabdicating。\"Allgonewrong!\"

  hewouldsay,ifanylittleflawrose,aboutrecruitingorthelike。\"OnemightgoandliveatVenice,wereoneridofit!\"

  [Forster(placeLOST)。]Andhisdeep—stungclangorousgrowlagainsttheKaiser’streatmentofhimburstsout,fromtimetotime;thoughheoftenestpitiestheKaiser,too;seeinghimatsuchapasswithhisTurkWarandotherwise。

  ItwasinthisPfalzbusinessthatHerrLuiscius,thePrussianMinisterinHolland,gotintotrouble;ofwhomthereisalightdashofoutline—portraiturebyVoltaire,whichhasmadehimmemorabletoreaders。This\"fatKingofPrussia,\"saysVoltaire,wasadreadfullyavariciousfellow,unbeautifultoahighdegreeinhisproceedingswithmankind:——

  \"HehadaMinisterattheHaguecalledLuiscius;whocertainlyofallMinistersofCrownedHeadswastheworstpaid。Thispoorman,towarmhimself,hadmadesometreesbefelledintheGardenofHonslardik,whichbelongedatthattimetotheHouseofPrussia;

  hethereuponreceiveddespatchesfromtheKing,intimatingthatayearofhissalarywasforfeited。Luiscius,indespair,cuthisthroatwithprobablytheonerazorhehad(SEULRASOIRQU’ILEUT);

  anoldvaletcametohisassistance,andunhappilysavedhislife。

  Inafteryears,IfoundhisExcellencyattheHague;andhaveoccasionallygivenhimanalmsatthedooroftheVIEILLECOUR

  (OldCourt),aPalacebelongingtotheKingofPrussia,wherethispoorAmbassadorhadlivedadozenyears。Itmustbeowned,TurkeyisarepublicincomparisontothedespotismexercisedbyFriedrichWilhelm。\"[OEuvresdeVoltaire(ViePricee,orwhattheynowcallMemoires),ii。15。]

  Heretrulyisawittysketch;consummatelydashedoff,asnobodybutVoltairecould;\"roundasGiotto’sO,\"doneatonestroke。

  Ofwhichtheprosefactsareonlyasfollows。Luiscius,PrussianResident,notdistinguishedbysalaryorotherwise,had,atonestageofthesenegotiations,beentold,fromhead—quarters,Hemight,incasualextra—officialways,ifitseemedfurthersome,givetheirHighMightinessesthehope,ornotion,thathisMajestydidnotintendactualwaraboutthatCleve—JulichSuccession,——

  beingapacificMajesty,andunwillingtoinvolvehisneighborsandmankind。Luiscius,insteadofcasualhintdelicatelydroppedinsomegoodway,hadproceededbydirectdeclaration;

  frankassurancetotheHighMightinesses,Thattherewouldbenowar。WhichhadneverbeenquitehisMajesty’smeaning,andperhapswasnowbecomingratherthereverseofit。DisavowalofLuisciushadtoensuethereupon;whoproduceddefensivelyhisinstructionfromhead—quarters;butgotonlyrebukesforsuchheavy—footedclumsyprocedure,sounlikeDiplomacywithitsshoesoffelt;——

  and,inbrief,wasturnedoutoftheDiplomaticfunction,asunfitforit;andappointedtomanagecertainOrangeProperties,fragmentsoftheOrangeHeritagewhichhisMajestystillhasinthoseCountries。ThismisadventuresankheavilyonthespiritsofLuiscius,otherwisenoneofthestrongest—mindedofmen。NordidheprosperinmanagingtheOrangeProperties:onthecontrary,heagainfellintomistakes;gotsoundlyrebukedforinjudiciousconductthere,——\"cuttingtrees,\"plantingtrees,orwhateveritwas;——andthisproducedsuchaneffectonLuiscius,thathemadeanattemptonhisownthroat,distractedmortal;andwasonlystoppedbysomebodyrushingin。\"Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadtriedthatfeat,\"saysPollnitz,\"andbeenprevented;norwasitlongtillhemadeanewattempt,whichwasagainfrustrated:

  andalwaysafterwardshisrelationskepthimcloseinview:\"

  Majestywritingcomfortableforgivenesstotheperturbedcreature,andalso\"settlingapensiononhim;\"adequate,wecanhope,andnotexcessive;\"whichLuisciuscontinuedtoreceive,attheHague,solongashelived。\"Thesearetheprosefacts;notdefinitelydatedtous,butperfectlyclearotherwise。[Pollnitz,ii。495,496;——the\"NEWattempt\"seemstohavebeen\"June,1739\"(

  Gentleman’sMagazine,inmense,p。331)。]

  Voltaire,inhisDutchexcursions,didsometimes,inafteryears,lodgeinthatoldvacantPalace,calledVIEILLECOUR,attheHague;wherehegracefullycelebratesthedecayedforsakenstateofmatters;duskyvastroomswithdimgilding;forgottenlibraries\"veiledunderthebiggestspider—websinEurope;\"fortherest,anuncommonlyquietplace,convenientforawritingman,besidescostingnothing。AsonofthisLuiscius,agoodyounglad,italsoappears,wasoccasionallyVoltaire’samanuensisthere;himhedidrecommendzealouslytothenewKingofPrussia,whowasnotdeafontheoccasion。This,inthefireofsatiricalwit,iswhatwecantransientlycall\"givingalmstoaPrussianExcellency;\"——

  notnowexcellent,butpensionedandcracked;andthereaderperceives,Luisciushadprobablymorethanonerazor,hadnotonebeenenough,whenhedidtherashact。FriedrichemployedLuisciusJunior,withnoresultthatwehearoffarther;andseemstohavethoughtLuisciusSenioranabsurdfellow,notworthmentioningagain:\"ranawayfromtheCleveCountry[probablysomemad—housethere]aboveayearago,Ihear;andwhatisthematterwheresuchacrack—brainend?\"[Voltaire,OEuvres

  (LettertoFriedrich,7thOctober,1740),lxxii。261;andFredrich’sanswer(wrongdated),ib。265;Preuss,xxii。33。]

  ChapterV。

  VISITATLOO。

  ThePfalzquestionbeinginsuchapredicament,andLuisciusdiplomatizinguponitinsuchheavy—footedmanner,hisMajestythinksajourneytoHolland,tovisitone’sKinsfolkthere,andincidentallyspeakawordwiththeHighMightinessesuponPfalz,wouldnotbeamiss。Suchjourneyisdecidedon;Crown—Princetoaccompany。Summerof1738:ashortvisit,quitewithoutfuss;

  tolastonlythreedays;——meresequeltotheReviewsheldinthoseadjacentCleveCountries;sothattheGazetteersmaytakenonotice。Allwhichwasdoneaccordingly:Crown—Prince’sfirstsightofHolland;andoneofthefewreportablepointsofhisReinsberglife,andnotquitewithoutmemorabilitytohimandus。

  Onthe8thofJuly,1738,theReviewPartygotupontheroadforWesel:allthroughJuly,theydidtheirreviewinginthoseCleveCountries;andthenstruckacrossforthePalaceofLooinGeldern,whereaPrinceofOrangecountablekinsmantohisPrussianMajesty,andaPrincessstillmorenearlyconnected,——

  EnglishGeorge’sDaughter,ownniecetohisPrussianMajesty,——areinwaitingforthisdistinguishedhonor。ThePrinceofOrangewehavealreadyseen,foramomentonce;atthesiegeofPhilipsburgfouryearsago,whenthesaleofChasot’shorseswentoffsowell。

  \"Nothinglikesellinghorseswhenyourcompanyhavedinedwell,\"

  whisperedhetoChasot,atthattime;sincewhichdatewehaveheardnothingofhisHighness。

  Heisnotabeautifulman;hehasacrookedback,andfeaturesconformable;butisofpromptvivaciousnature,anddoesnotwantforsenseandgood—humor。PaternalGeorge,thegossipssay,warnedhisPrincess,whenthismarriagewastalkedof,\"Youwillfindhimveryill—looking,though!\"\"AndifIfoundhimababoon——!\"

  answeredshe;beingsoheartilytiredofSt。James’s。Andinfact,foranythingIhaveheard,theydowellenoughtogether。SheisGeorgeII。’seldestPrincess;——nexteldertoourpoorAmelia,whowasoncesointerestingtous!WhattheCrown—Princenowthoughtofallthat,Idonotknow;buttheBookssay,poorAmeliaworethewillow,andspeciallyworethePrince’sminiatureonherbreastallherdaysafter,whichweremany。Grewcorpulent,somewhatahuddleinappearanceandequipment,\"eyelidslikeupper—LIPS,\"foroneitem:butwhenlifeitselffled,theminiaturewasfoundinitsoldplace,restingontheoldheartaftersomesixtyyears。OTime,OSonsandDaughtersofTime!——

  HisMajesty’sreceptionatLoowasofthekindheliked,——cordial,honorable,unceremonious;andthesewerethreepleasantdayshehad。PleasantfortheCrown—Princetoo;asthewholeJourneyhadratherbeen;Papa,withcovertsatisfaction,findinghimawisecreature,afterall,and\"moreserious\"thanformerly。\"Hm,youdon’tknowwhatthingsareinthatFritz!\"hisMajestymurmuredsometimes,intheselateryears,withafinelightinhiseyes。

  LooitselfisabeautifulPalace:\"Loo,closebytheVillageAppeldoorn,isastatelybrickedifice,builtwitharchitecturalregularity;hasfinelydecoratedrooms,beautifulgardens,androundaresuperballeysofoakandlinden。\"[Busching,

  Erdbeschreibung,viii。69。]TheresaunterspleasantlyourCrown—Prince,forthesethreedays;——andonegladincidentI

  doperceivetohavebefallenhimthere:thearrivalofaLetterfromVoltaire。Lettermuchexpected,whichhadfollowedhimfromWesel;andwhichheanswershere,inthisbrickPalace,amongthesuperbavenuesandgardens。[OEuvres,xxi。

  203,theLetter,\"Cirey,June,1738;\"Ib。222,theAnswertoit,\"Loo,6thAugust,1738。\"]

  Nodoubtagladincident,irradiating,aswithasuddensunburstingrayweather,thecommonplaceofthings。Hereisnewsworthlisteningto;newsasfromtheempyrean!Freeinterchangeofpoetriesandproses,ofheroicsentimentsandopinions,betweentheUniqueofSagesandtheParagonofCrown—Princes;howcharmingtoboth!Literarybusiness,weperceive,isbriskonbothhands;

  atCireytheDiscourssurl’Homme(\"SixthDISCOURS\"arrivesinthispacketatLoo,surelyadeathlesspieceofsinging);norisReinsbergidle:Reinsbergiscopiouslydoingverse,suchverse!andinprose,veryearnestly,an\"ANTI—

  MACHIAVEL;\"whichsoonafterwardsfilledallthethenworld,thoughithasnowfallensosilentagain。AndatParis,asVoltaireannounceswithaflourish,\"M。deMaupertuis’sexcellentBook,FiguredelaT’erre,isout;\"[Paris,1738:Maupertuis’s\"measurementofadegree,\"intheutmostNorth,1736—1737(toprovetheEarthflattenedthere)。VividNarrative;

  somewhatgesticulative,butdulybrief。TheonlyBookofthatgreatMaupertuiswhichisnowreadabletohumannature。]M。deMaupertuis,homefromthePolarregionsandfrommeasuringtheEarththere;thesublimestmiracleinParissocietyatpresent。

  Mightbuild,new—build,anACADEMYOFSCIENCESatBerlinforyourRoyalHighness,oneday?suggestsVoltaire,onthisoccasion:

  andFriedrich,asweshallsee,takesthehint。OnepassageoftheCrown—Prince’sAnswerisintheseterms;——fixingthisLoovisittoitsdateforus,atanyrate:——

  \"LOOINHOLLAND,6thAUGUST,1739……Iwritefromaplacewheretherelivedonceagreatman[WilliamIII。ofEngland,ourDutchWilliam];whichisnowthePrinceofOrange’sHouse。ThedemonofAmbitionshedsitsunhappypoisonsoverhisdays。Hemightbethemostfortunateofmen;andheisdevouredbychagrinsinhisbeautifulPalacehere,inthemiddleofhisgardensandofabrilliantCourt。Itispityintruth;forheisaPrincewithnoendofwit(INFINIMENTD’ESPRIT),andhasrespectablequalites。\"

  NotStadtholder,unluckily;thatiswheretheshoepinches;

  theDutchareontheRepublicantack,andwillnothaveaStadtholderatpresent。Nohelpforitinone’sbeautifulgardensandavenuesofoakandlinden。

  \"IhavetalkedagreatdealaboutNewtonwiththePrincess,\"——

  aboutNewton;neverhintedatAmelia;notpermissible!——\"fromNewtonwepassedtoLeibnitz;andfromLeibnitztotheLateQueenofEngland,\"Carolinelatelygone,\"who,thePrincetoldme,wasofClarke’ssentiment\"onthatimportanttheologicalcontroversynowdeadtomankind。——AndofJenkinsandhisEardidthePrincesssaynothing?ThatisnowbecomingahighphenomenoninEngland!

  Butreadersmustwaitalittle。

  PitythatwecannotgivethesetwoLettersinfull;thatnoreader,almost,couldbemadetounderstandthem,ortocareforthemwhenunderstood。SuchthecrueltyofTimeuponthisVoltaire—

  FriedrichCorrespondence,andsomeothers;whichwereoncesorosy,sunny,andarenowfallendrearilyextinct,——studiablebyEditorsonly!InitselftheFriedrich—VoltaireCorrespondence,wecansee,wascharming;veryblossomyatpresent:businessesincreasing;mutualadmirationnowrisentoagreatheight,——

  admirationsincereonbothsides,mostsoonthePrince’s,andextravagantlyexpressedonbothsides,mostsoonVoltaire’s。

  CROWN—PRINCEBECOMESAFREEMASON;ANDISHARANGUEDBY

  MONSIEURDEBIELFELD。

  HisMajesty,wesaid,hadthreepleasantdaysatLoo;discoursing,aswithfriends,onpublicmatters,orevenonmoreprivatematters,inafrankunconstrainedway。Heisnottobecalled\"Majesty\"onthisoccasion;butthefact,atLoo,andbytheleadingMightinessesoftheRepublic,whocomecopiouslytocomplimenthimthere,iswellremembered。Talktherewas,withsuchleadingMightinesses,abouttheJulich—and—Bergquestion,aimofthisJourney:earnestenoughprivatetalkwithsomeofthem:

  butitavailednothing;andwouldnotbeworthreportingnowtoanycreature,ifweevenknewit。Infact,theJourneyitselfremainsmentionablechieflybyoneverytriflingcircumstance;

  andthenbyanother,notimportanteither,whichfollowedoutofthat。Thetriflingcircumstanceis,——ThatFriedrich,inthecourseofthisJourney,becameaFreemason:andtheunimportantsequelwas,ThathemadeacquaintancewithoneBielfeld,ontheoccasion;

  whoafterwardswroteaBookabouthim,whichwasoncemuchread,thoughnevermuchworthreading,andisstillcitable,withprecaution,nowandthen。[MonsieurleBarondeBielfeld,

  LettresFamilieresetAutres,1763;——secondedition,2vols。aLeide,1767,istheoneweusehere。]Triflingcircumstance,ofFreemasonry,aswereadinBielfeldandinmanyBooksafterhim,befellinmannerfollowing。

  Amongthedinner—guestsatLoo,oneofthosethreedays,wasaPrinceofLippe—Buckeburg,——Princeofsmallterritory,butofgreatspeculation;whoseterritoryliesontheWeser,leadingtoDutchconnections;andwhosespeculationsstretchoveralltheUniverse,inahighfantasticstyle:——hewasadinner—guest;

  andoneofthetopicsthatcameupwasFreemasonry;aphantasmalkindofobject,whichhadkindleditself,orrekindled,inthoseyears,inEnglandfirstofall;andwasnowhoveringabout,agooddeal,inGermanyandothercountries;pretendingtobeanewlightofHeaven,andnotabog—meteorofphosphoratedhydrogen,conspicuousinthemurkofthings。Bog—meteor,foolishputrescentwill—o’—wisp,hisMajestypromptlydefinedittobe:Tom—fooleryandKINDERSPIEL,whatelse?WhereuponingeniousBuckeburg,whowashimselfaMason,manoffortybythistime,andhadhighthingsinhimoftheQuixotictype,venturedondefence;andwassorespectful,eloquent,dexterous,ingenious,hequitecaptivated,ifnothisMajesty,atleasttheCrown—Prince,whowasmoreenthusiasticforhighthings。Crown—Prince,aftertable,tookhisDurchlauchtofBuckeburgaside;talkedfartheronthesubject,expressedhisadmiration,hisconviction,——hiswishtobeadmittedintosuchaHeroFraternity。NothingcouldbewelcomertoDurchlaucht。Andso,inallprivacy,itwasmadeupbetweeenthem,ThatDurchlaucht,summoningasmanymysticBrothersoutofHamburgaswereneedful,shouldbeinwaitingwiththem,ontheCrown—

  Prince’sroadhomeward,——sayatBrunswick,nightbeforetheFair,wherewearetobe,——andtheremaketheCrown—PrinceaMason。

  [Bielfeld,i。14—16;Preuss,i。111;Preuss,BuchfurJedermann,i。41。]

  ThisisBielfeld’saccount,repeatedeversince;substantiallycorrect,exceptthatthescenewasnotLooatall:dinneranddialogue,itnowappears,tookplaceinDurchlaucht’sownneighborhood,duringtheCleveReviewtime;\"probablyatMinden,17thJuly;\"andallwassettledintofixedprogrambeforeLoocameinsight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvs。201:

  Friedrich’sLettertothisDurchlaucht,\"ComtedeSchaumbourg—

  Lippe\"hecallshim;date,\"Moyland,26thJuly,1738:\"Moyland,acertainSCHLOSS,orhabitableMansion,ofhisMajesty’s,fewmilestonorthofMorsintheCleveCountry;wherehisMajestyusedoftentopause;——andwhere(whatwillbemuchmoreremarkabletoreaders)theCrown—PrinceandVoltairehadtheirfirstmeeting,twoyearshence。]Bielfeld’sreportofthesubsequentprocedureatBrunswick,ashesawitandwashimselfpartofit,isliabletonomistakes,atleastoftheinvoluntarykind;andmay,foranythingweknow,becorrectineveryparticular。

  Hesays(veilingitunderdiscreetasterisks,whicharenowdecipherableenough),TheDurchlauchtofLippe—BuckeburghadsummonedsixBrethrenoftheHamburgLodge;ofwhomwementiononlyaGrafvonKielmannsegge,aBaronvonOberg,bothfromHanover,andBielfeldhimself,aMerchant’sSon,ofHamburg;

  these,with\"Kielmannsegge’sValettoactasTiler,\"ValetbeingalsoaMason,andtheruleequalityofmankind,——weretohavethehonorofinitiatingtheCrown—Prince。TheyarrivedattheWesternGateofBrunswickonthe11thofAugust,asprearranged;PrussianMajestynotyetcome,butcomingpunctuallyonthemorrow。ItisFair—time;allmanneroftraders,pedlers,showmenrendezvousing;

  manyneighboringNobilitytoo,aswasstillthehabit。\"Suchabulkoflightluggage?\"saidtheCustom—housepeopleattheGate;

  ——butwerepacifiedbyslippingthemaducat。Uponwhichwedroveto\"Korn’sHotel\"(ifanybodynowknewit);andtherepatientlywaited。NogreatthingsofaHotel,saysBielfeld;butcanbeputupwith;——worstfeatureis,wediscoveraHanoveracquaintancelodgingcloseby,nothingbutawoodenpartitionbetweenus:

  Howifheshouldoverhear!——

  PrussianMajestyandsuite,underuniversalcannon—salvos,arrived,Sundaythe12th;tostaytillWednesday(threedays)withhisaugustSon—in—lawandDaughterhere。DurchlauchtLippepresentshimselfatCourt,therestofusnot;privatelysettleswiththePrince:\"Tuesdaynight,eveofhisMajesty’sdeparture;

  thatshallbethenight:atKorn’sHotel,lateenough!\"Andthere,accordingly,ontheappointednight,14th—15thAugust,1738,thelight—luggagetrunkshaveyieldedtheirstage—properties;

  JachinandBoazaresetup,andallthingsareready;

  Tiler(Kielmannsegge’sValet)watchingwithdrawnswordagainsttheprofane。AstoourHanoverneighbor,ontheothersidethepartition,saysBielfeld,wewaitedonhim,thisdayafterdinner,successivelypayingourrespects;successivelypledgedhiminsomanybumpers,heislyingdeaddrunkhoursago,couldnotoverhearacannon—battery,he。Andsoonaftermidnight,theCrown—Princeglidesin,aCaptainWartenslebenaccompanying,whoisalsoacandidate;andthemysteriousritesareaccomplishedonbothofthem,ontheCrown—Princefirst,withoutaccident,andintheusualway。

  BielfeldcouldnotenoughadmirethedemeanorofthisPrince,hisclearness,sense,quietbrilliancy;andhowhewasso\"intrepid,\"

  and\"possessedhimselfsogracefullyinthemostcriticalinstants。\"Extremelygenialair,andsoyoung,looksyoungereventhanhisyears:handsometoadegree,thoughofshortstature。

  Physiognomy,features,quitecharming;fineauburnhair(BEAU

  BRUN),anegligentplentyofit;\"hislargeblueeyeshavesomethingatoncesevere,sweetandgracious。\"EligibleMasonindeed。Hadbettermakedespatchatpresent,lestPapabegettingontheroadbeforehim!——Bielfelddeliveredasmalladdress,composedbeforehand;withwhichthePrinceseemedtobecontent。

  Andso,withmasonicgrip,theymadetheiradieusforthepresent;

  andtheCrown—PrinceandWartenslebenwerebackattheirposts,readyfortheroadalongwithhisMajesty。

  HisMajestycameonSunday;goesonWednesday,homenowatastretch;and,wehope,hashadagoodtimeofithere,thesethreedays。DaughterCharlotteandherSereneHusband,wellwiththeirsubjects,wellwithoneanother,aredoingwell;havealreadytwolittleChildren;aBoytheelder,ofwhomwehaveheard:

  Boy’snameisKarl,agenowthree;sprightly,reckonedveryclever,bythefondparents;——whohasmanythingstodointheworld,byandby;toattacktheFrenchRevolution,andbeblowntopiecesbyitontheFieldofJena,forfinalthing!ThatisthefateoflittleKarl,whofrolicsabouthere,sosunshinyandingenuousatpresent。

  Karl’sGrandmother,theSereneDowagerDuchess,Friedrich’sownMother—in—law,hisMajestyandFriedrichwouldalsoofcourseseehere。FineYoungerSonsofhersarecomingforward;thereigningDukebeautifullycarefulaboutthefurtheranceoftheseCadetsoftheHouse。HereisPrinceFerdinand,forinstance;justgettingreadyfortheGrandTour;goesinamonthhence:[Mauvillon(FILS,sonofhimwhomweciteotherwise),GeschichteFerdinandsHerzogsvonBraunschweig—Luneburg(Leipzig,1794),i。17—25。]afineeupepticloyalyoungfellow;who,inatwentyyearsmore,willbeChatham’sGeneralissimo,andfighttheFrenchtosomepurpose。ABrotherofhis,thenextelder,isnowfightingtheTurksforhisKaiser;doesnotlikeitatall,undersuchSeckendorfsandWar—Ministriesasthereare。Then,elderstill,eldestofalltheCadets,thereisAntonUlrich,overatPetersburgforsomeyearspast,withoutlookshighenough:TowedtheMecklenburgPrincessthere(DaughteroftheunutterableDuke),andbeasgoodasCzarofalltheRussiasoneday。Littletohisprofit,poorsoul!——These,historicallyascertainable,aretheaspectsoftheBrunswickCourtduringthosethreedaysofRoyalVisit,inFair—time;andmayservetodatetheMasonicTransactionforus,whichtheCrown—PrincehasjustaccomplishedoveratKorn’s。

  AsfortheTransactionitself,thereisintrinsicallynoharminthisinitiation,wewillhope:butitbehoovestobekeptwellhiddenfromPapa。Papa’sgoodopinionofthePrincehassensiblyrisen,inthecourseofthisJourney,\"sorational,serious,notdanglingaboutamongthewomenasformerly;\"——andwhatashockwouldthisofKorn’sHotelbe,shouldPapahearofit!PoorPapa,fromofficioustale—bearershehearsmanythings:isindistressaboutVoltaire,aboutHeterodoxies;——andsummonedtheCrown—

  Prince,byexpress,fromReinsberg,ononeoccasionlately,overtoPotsdam,\"totaketheCommunion\"there,bywayofcase—

  hardeningagainstVoltaireandHeterodoxies!Thinkofit,humanreaders!——Wewilladdthefollowingstrayparticulars,moreorlessillustrativeoftheMasonicTransaction;andsoendthattriflingaffair。

  TheCaptainWartensleben,fellow—recipientofthemysteriesatBrunswick,isyoungestson,byasecondmarriage,ofoldFeldmarschallWartensleben,nowdeceased;andisconsequentlyUncle,Half—Uncle,ofpoorLieutenantKatte,thoughsomeyearsyoungerthanKattewouldnowhavebeen。TendermemorieshangbyWartensleben,inasilentway!HeisCaptaininthePotsdamGiants;somewhatanintimate,andnotundeservedlyso,oftheCrown—Prince;——succeedsWoldenasHofmarschallatReinsberg,notmanymonthsafterthis;Woldenhavingdiedofanapoplecticstroke。OfBielfeldcomesaBook,slightlycitable;fromnootheroftheBrethren,ortheirFeatatKern’s,comes(wemaysay)anythingwhatever。TheCrown—PrinceprosecutedhisMasonry,atReinsbergorelsewhere,occasionally,forayearortwo;butwasneverardentinit;andverysoonafterhisAccession,leftoffaltogether:\"Child’s—playandIGNISFATUUS

  mainly!\"ARoyalLodgewasestablishedatBerlin,ofwhichthenewKingconsentedtobepatron;butheneveronceenteredtheplace;andonlyhisPortrait(awelcomelygoodone,stilltobefoundthere)presidedoverthemysteriesinthatEstablishment。

  Harmless\"fire,\"buttoo\"fatuous;\"mereflame—circlescutintheair,forinfants,weknowhow!——

  WithLippe—BuckeburgthereensuedsomeCorrespondence,highenoughonhisSerenity’sside;butitsoonlanguishedonthePrince’sside;andinprivatePoetry,withinatwoyearsofthisBrunswickscene,wefindLippeusedproverbiallyforatype—specimenofFools。[\"Taciturne,Caton,avecmesbonsparents,AussifouquelaLippemetlesjeunesgens。\"

  OEuvres,xi。80(DiscourssurlaFaussete,written1740)。]Awindyfantasticindividual;——overwhelmedinfinance—difficultiestoo!

  Lippecontinuedwriting;but\"onlySecretariesnowansweredhim\"fromBerlin。Asonofhis,sonandsuccessor,somethingofaQuixotetoo,butnotableinArtillery—practiceandotherwise,willturnupatafuturestage。

  NorisBielfeldwithhisBookathingofmuchmomenttoFriedrichortous。Bielfeldtoohasalightairyveinoftalk;

  lovesVoltaireandthePhilosophiesinalightway;——knowstheartsofSociety,especiallytheartofflattering;andwouldfainmakehimselfagreeabletotheCrown—Prince,beinganxioustoriseintheworld。HisFatherisaHamburgMerchant,Hamburg\"Sealing—waxManufacturer,\"notilloffformoney:Sonhasbeenatschools,highschools,undertutors,posture—masters;

  swashesaboutonthoseterms,withFrenchESPRITinhismouth,andlacerufflesathiswrists;stillunderthirty;showyenough,sharpenough;considerablyacoxcomb,asisstillevident。HedidtransientlygetaboutFriedrich,asweshallsee;andhopedtohavesoldhishearttogoodpurposethere;——

  was,byandby,employedinslightfunctions;notfoundfitforgraveones。Inthecourseofsomeyears,hegotatitleofBaron;andsoldhisheartmoreadvantageously,tosomerichWidoworFraulein;withwhomheretiredtoSaxony,andtherelivedonanEstatehehadpurchased,astrangertoPrussiathenceforth。

  HisBook(LettresFamilieresetAutres,

  allturningonFriedrich),whichcameoutin1763,attheheightofFriedrich’sfame,andwasmuchread,isstillfreelycitedbyHistoriansasanAuthority。Butthereadingofafewpagessufficientlyintimatesthatthese\"Letters\"nevercanhavegonethroughaterrestrialPost—office;thattheyareanafterthought,composedfromvaguememoryandimagination,inthatfineSaxonretreat;——asorrowfulghost—like\"TRAVELSOF

  ANACHARSIS,\"insteadoflivingwordsbyaneye—witness!Nottobecited\"freely\"atall,butsparinglyandunderconditions。

  Theyaboundinsmallerrors,inmisdates,mistakes;

  smallfictionseven,andimpossiblepretensions:——foolishmortal,towritedownhisbitofknowledgeinthatform!

  Fortheman,inspiteofhislacerufflesandgesticulations,hasbriskeyesightofasuperficialkind:heCOULDhavedoneusthislittleservice(apparentlyhisonemissionintheworld,forwhichNaturegavehimbedandboardhere);andhe,thelaceruffleshavinggoneintohissoul,hasbeentemptedintomisdoingit!——BielfeldandBielfeld’sBook,suchastheyare,appeartobetheoneconquestFriedrichgotofFreemasonry;

  nootherresultnowtraceabletousofthatadventureinKorn’sHotel,crowningeventoftheJourneytoLoo。

  SECKENDORFGETSLODGEDINGRATZ。

  FeldmarschallSeckendorf,afterunheard—ofwrestlingswiththeTurkWar,andtheViennaWar—Office(HOFKRIEGSRATH),issitting,forthelastthreeweeks,——wherethinksthereader?——intheFortressofGratzamongtheHillsofStyria;aState—Prisoner,notlikelytogetoutsoon!Seckendorfledforth,in1737,\"suchanArmy,fornumber,spiritandequipment,\"saytheViennapeople,\"asnevermarchedagainsttheTurkbefore;\"anditmustbeowned,hisillsuccesshasbeenunparalleled。Theblamewasnotaltogetherhis;notchieflyhis,exceptforhisrashundertakingofthething,onsuchtermsastherewere。Butthetruthis,thatfirstscenewesawofhim,——anArmyallgoneouttrumpetinganddrummingintothewoodstoFINDitsCommander—in—Chief,——wasanemblemoftheCampaigningeneral。ExcellentArmy;butcommandedbynobodyinparticular;commandedbyaHOFKRIEGSRATHatVienna,byaFranzDukeofTuscany,byFeldmarschallSeckendorf,andbysubordinateswhoweredisobedienttohim:whichaccordingly,almostwithouthelpoftheTurkandhisdisorderlyferocity,rubbeditselftopiecesbeforelong。Roamedabout,nowhithernowthither,withplanslaidandthenwithplanssuddenlyaltered,CaptainbeingChaosmainly;inswampycountries,byoverflowingrivers,inhunger,hotweather,forcedmarches;tillitwasmarchedgradualIyoffitsfeet;andthecloudsofchaoticTurks,whodidfinallyshowface,hadacheappennyworthofit。NeverwassuchacampaignseenasthisofSeckendorfin1737,saidmankind。

  Exceptindeedthatthepresentone,Campaignof1738,inthoseparts,underadifferenthand,isstillworse;andtheCampaignof1739,understilladifferent,willbeworstofall!——KaiserKarlandhisAustriansdonotprosperinthisTurkWar,astheRussiansdo,——whoindeedhavegotaGeneralequaltohistask:Munnich,afamedmasterintheartofhandlingTurksandWar—Ministries:

  realfatherofRussianSoldiering,saytheRussiansstill。

  [SeeMANNSTEINforMunnich’splanswiththeTurk(methodsanddevicesofsteadyDisciplineinsmallnumbersVERSUSimpetuousFerocityingreat);andBerenhorst(BetrachtungenuberdieKriegskunst,Leipzig,1796),afirst—rateAuthority,forexamplesandeulogiesofthem。]

  Campaign1737,withcloudsofchaoticTurksnowsabringontheskirtsofit,hadnotyetended,whenSeckendorfwascalledoutofit;onpolitepretexts,hometoVienna;andthecommandgiventoanother。AtthegatesofVienna,inthelastdaysofOctober,1737,anOfficialPerson,waitingfortheFeldmarschall,wassorrytoinformhim,Thathe,FeldmarschallSeckendorf,wasunderarrest;arrestinhisownhouse,intheKOHLMARKT(Cabbage—marketsocalled),acaptainandtwelvemusketeerstowatchoverhimwithfixedbayonetsthere;strictlyprivate,tilltheHOFKRIEGSRATHhadsatisfiedthemselvesinapointortwo。\"Hmph!\"snuffledhe;

  withbrowblushingslate—color,Ishouldthink,andgrayeyesmuchalight。Andeversince,fortenmonthsorso,Seckendorf,sealedupintheCabbage—market,hasbeenfencingforlifewiththeHOFKRIEGSRATH;whowantsatisfactionupon\"eighty—six\"different\"points;\"andmakenoendofchicaningtoone’sclearanswers。

  AndtheJesuitspreach,too:\"AHeretic,bornenemyofChristandhisKaiser;whatistheuseofquestioning!\"AndtheHeathenrage,andallmengnashtheirteeth,inthisuncomfortablemanner。

  Answeringdone,therecomesnoverdict,muchlessanyacquittal;

  thecaptainandtwelvemusketeers,threeofthemwithfixedbayonetsinone’sverybedroom,continue。Oneevening,21stJuly,1738,gloriousnewsfromtheseatofWar——notTILLevening,astheImperialMajestywasouthunting——entersVienna;blowingtrumpets;

  shakingflags:\"GrandVictoryovertheTurks!\"sowecallsomepoorskirmishtherehasbeen;andViennaburstingallintothree—

  times—three,thepopulacegetveryhigh。PopulacerushtotheKohlmarkt:breaktheSeckendorfwindows;intenttomassacretheSeckendorf;hadnotfreshmilitarycome,whowereobligedtofireandkilloneortwo。\"Thehousecaptainandhistwelvemusketeers,ofthemselves,didwonders;Seckendorfandallhisdomesticswereinarms:\"\"JARNI—BLEU\"forthelasttime!——ThisiswhiletheCrown—PrinceisatWesel;soundasleep,mostlikely;Loo,andtheMasonicadventure,perhapstwinklingpropheticallyinhisdreams。

  Attwonextmorning,anOfficialGentlemaninformsSeckendorf,Thathe,forhispart,mustawaken,andgotoGratz。Andinonehourmore(3A。M。),theOfficialGentlemanrollsoffwithhim;

  drivesallday;anddelivershisPrisoneratGratz:——\"Notsomuchasaroomreadythere;Prisonerhadtowaitanhourinthecarriage,\"tillsomesummarypreparationweremade。Wall—neighborsofthepoorFeldmarschall,inhisFortresshere,were\"aGOLD—COOK

  (swindlingAlchemist),whohadgonecrazy;andanIrishLieutenant,confinedthirty—twoyearsforsomelove—adventure,likewiseprettycrazy;theirnoisesinthenight—timemuchdisturbedtheFeldmarschall。\"[SeckendorfsLeben,ii。170—277。SeeSchmettau,

  pp。27—59。]Onehumanthingtherestillisinhislot,theFeldmarschall’soldGrafinn。TrueoldDame,she,bothintheKohlmarktandatGratz,standsbyhim,\"imprisonedalongwithhim\"

  ifitmustbeso;ministering,comforting,asonlyatrueWifecan;——andhopehasnotquitetakenwing。

  RougholdFeldmarschall;nowturnedofsixty:nevermadesuchaCampaignbefore,asthisof1737followedby1738!Theresitshe;

  andwillnottroubleusanymoreduringthepresentKaiser’slifetime。FriedrichWilhelmisamazedatthesesuddencantingsofFortune’swheel,andgrieveshonestlyasforanoldfriend:

  eventheCrown—PrincefindsSeckendorfpunishedunjustly;andisalmost,sorryforhim,afterallthathascomeandgone。

  THEEAROFJENKINSRE—EMERGES。

  Wemustaddthefollowing,distilledfromtheEnglishNewspapers,thoughitisnowalmostfourmonthsafterdate:——

  \"LONDON,1stAPRIL,1738。IntheEnglishHouseofCommons,muchmoreintheEnglishPublic,therehasbeenfuriousdebatingforafortnightpast:CommitteeofthewholeHouse,examiningwitnesses,hearingcounsel;subject,theTermagantofSpain,andherWest—

  Indianprocedures;——she,byherproceduressomewhere,isalwayscuttingoutworkformankind!HowEnglishandotherstrangers,fallen—inwithinthoseseas,aretreatedbytheSpaniards,readershaveheard,nayhavechancedtosee;anditisafactpainfullyknowntoallnations。FactwhichEngland,foronenation,cannolongerputupwith。WalpoleandtheOfficialPersonswouldfainsmooththematter;buttheWest—IndiaInterest,theCity,allMercantileandNavigationInterestsareindeadearnest:CommitteeofthewholeHouse,’PresidedbyAldermanPerry,’hasnotearsenoughtoheartheimmensitiesofevidenceoffered;slowPublicisgraduallykindlingtosomesenseofit。

  Thishadgoneonfortwoweeks,when——whatshallwesay?——theEAROFJENKINSre—emergedforthesecondtime;andproducedimportanteffects!

  \"WhereJenkinshadbeenallthiswhile,——steadfastlynavigatingtoandfro,steadfastlyeatingtoughjunkwithawettingofrum;

  notthinkingtoomuchofpastlabors,yetprivately’alwayskeepinghislostEarincotton’(withakindofursinepiety,orotherdumbfeeling),——nomortalnowknows。ButtoallmortalsitisevidenthewashomeinLondonatthistime;nodoubtanotedmemberofWappingsociety,themuch—enduringJenkins。

  Andwitnesses,probablynotonebutmany,hadmentionedhimtothisCommittee,asacaseeminentlyinpoint。Committee,ascanstillbereadinitsRhadamanthineJournals,orders:’DIEJOVIS,16*MARTII1737—1738,ThatCaptainRobertJenkinsdoattendthisHouseimmediately;’andthenmorespecially,’17*MARTII\"captiousobjectionshavingriseninOfficialquarters,asweguess,——’ThatCaptainRobertJenkinsdoattenduponTuesdaymorningnext。’

  [CommonsJournals,xxiii。(indiebus)。]

  Tuesdaynextis2lstMarch,——1stofApril,1738,byourmodernCalendar;——andonthatday,notadoubt,Jenkinsdoesattend;

  narratesthattremendouspassagewealreadyheardof,sevenyearsago,intheentranceoftheGulfofFlorida;andproduceshisEarwraptincotton:——settingallonflame(excepttheOfficialpersons)atsightofit。\"

  Officialpersons,astheirwontisinthepressureofdebate,endeavoredtodeny,toinsinuateintheirvileNewspapers,ThatJenkinslosthisEarnearerhomeandnotfornothing;asonestillreadsintheHistoryBooks。[Tindal(xx。372)。Coxe,&c。]Sheercalumnies,wenowfind。Jenkins’saccountwasdoubtlessabundantlyemphatic;butthereisnogroundtoquestionthesubstantialtruthofhimandit。Andso,aftersevenyearsofunnoticeableburninguponthethickskinoftheEnglishPublic,thecaseofJenkinsaccidentallyburnsthrough,andsetsEnglandbellowing;suchasmartisthereofit,——nottobesoothedbyOfficialwet—cloths;

  butgettingworseandworse,forthenineteenmonthsensuing。

  Andinshort——Butwewillnotanticipate!

  ChapterVI。

  LASTYEAROFREINSBERG;JOURNEYTOPREUSSEN。

  TheIdylliumofReinsberg——ofwhich,exceptinthewayofsketchysuggestion,therecannohistorybegiven——lastedlessthanfouryears;andisnowcomingtoanend,unexpectedlysoon。ApleasantArcadianSummerinone’slife;——thoughithasnotwanteditsoccasionaldiscords,flawsofillweatherinthegeneralsunshine。

  Papa,alwaysinuncertainhealthoflate,isgettingheavieroffootandofheartunderhisheavyburdens;andsometimesfallsabstruseenough,liabletobewildermentsfrombadpeopleandevents:notmuchworthnoticinghere。[SeePollnitz,ii。509—515;

  Friedrich’sLettertoWilhelmina(\"Berlin,20thJanuary,1739:\"inOEuvres,xxvii。part1st,pp。60,61);&c。

  &c。]ButtheCrown—Princehaslearnedtodealwithallthis;allthisisoftransientnature;andabrightlongfutureseemstolieaheadatReinsberg;——brightenedespeciallybytheLiteraryElement;which,inthisyearof1739,isbriskerthanithadeverbeen。DistinguishedVisitors,ofaliteraryturn,lookinatReinsberg;theVoltaireCorrespondenceisverylively;

  onFriedrich’spartthereiscopiousproduction,variousenterprise,intheformofproseandverse;thoughtsevenofgoingtopresswithsomeofit:inshort,theLiteraryInterestrisesveryprominentatReinsbergin1739。BiographyisapttoforgettheLiteraturethere(havingherreasons);butmustatlasttakesomenoticeofit,amongthephenomenaoftheyear。

  TotheyoungPrincehimself,\"courtingtranquillity,\"ashisdoor—

  lintelintimated,[\"Fredericotranquillitatemcolenti\"

  (Infra,p。123)。]andforbiddentobeactiveexceptwithinlimits,thisofLiteraturewasallalongthegreatlightofexistenceatReinsberg;thesupplementtoallotheremploymentsorwantsofemploymentthere。ToFriedrichhimself,inthoseolddays,agreatandsupremeinterest;whileagain,tothemodernBiographerofhim,ithasbecomedarkandvacant;athingtobeshunned,notsought。SothatthefactasitstoodwithFriedrichdiffersfarfromanydescriptionthatcanbegivenofthefact。

  Alas,wehavesaidalready,andtheconstanttruthis,Friedrich’sliteratures,hisdistinguishedliteraryvisitorsandenterprises,whichwereoncebrand—newandbrilliant,havegrownoldasagarment,andareasorrowratherthanotherwisetoexistingmankind!Conscientiousreaders,whowouldrepresenttothemselvesthevanishedsceneatReinsberg,inthispointmoreespecially,mustmakeaneffort。

  Asbiographicaldocuments,thesePoetriesandProsesoftheyoungmangiveaveryprettytestimonyofhim;butarenotofvalueotherwise。Infact,theypromise,ifwelookwellintothem,Thathereisprobablyapracticalfacultyandintellectofthehighestkind;whichagain,onthespeculative,especiallyonthepoeticalside,willneverbeconsiderable,norhaseventriedtobeso。

  Thisyoungsouldoesnotdealinmeditationatall,andhistendenciesarethereverseofsentimental。Hereisnointrospection,morbidorother,nopathosorcomplaint,nomelodiousinformingofthepublicwhatdreadfulemotionsyoulaborunder:here,inrapidpromptform,indicatingthatitistruthandnotfable,aregenerousaspirationsfortheworldandyourself,generouspride,disdainoftheignoble,ofthedark,mendacious;——

  here,inshort,isaswift—handed,valiant,STEEL—brightkindofsoul;verylikelyforaKing’s,ifotherthingsanswer,andnotlikelyforaPoet’s。NodoubthecouldhavemadesomethingofLiteraturetoo;couldhavewrittenBooks,andleftsomestampofaveracious,moreorlessvictoriousintellect,inthatstrangeprovincetoo。Butthenhemusthaveappliedhimselftoit,ashedidtoreigning:doneinthecursorystyle,weseewhatithascometo。

  Itiscertain,Friedrich’sreputationsuffers,atthisday,fromhiswriting。FromhisNOThavingwrittennothing,hestandslowerwiththeworld。Whichseemshardmeasure;——thoughperhapsitisthelawofthecase,afterall。\"Nobodyinthesedays,\"saysmypoorFriend,\"hastheleastnotionofthesinfulwastethereisintalk,whetherbypenortongue。BetterprobablythatKingFriedrichhadwrittennoVerses;nayIknownotthatDavid’sPsalmsdidDavid’sKingshipanygood!\"Whichmaybetruerthanitseems。Fineaspirations,generousconvictions,purposes,——theyarethoughtveryfine:butitisgood,onvariousaccounts,tokeepthemrathersilent;strictlyunvocal,exceptoncallofrealbusiness;sodangerousaretheyforbecomingconsciousofthemselves!Mostthingsdonotripenatallexceptunderground。

  Anditisasadbutsuretruth,thateverytimeyouSPEAKofafinepurpose,especiallyifwitheloquenceandtotheadmirationofby—standers,thereistheLESSchanceofyourevermakingafactofitinyourpoorlife。——IfReinsberg,anditsvacancyofgreatemployment,wasthecauseofFriedrich’sverse—writing,wewillnotpraiseReinsbergonthathead!Butthetruthis,Friedrich’sversescamefromhimwithuncommonfluency;andwerenotadeepmatter,butashallowone,inanysense。Notmuchmoretohimthanspeakingwithawill;thanfantasyingonthefluteinananimatedstrain。Everandanonthroughhislife,onsmallhintfromwithoutorongreat,therewasfoundacertainleakageofverses,whichhewasprompttoutter;——andthecaseatReinsberg,orafterwards,isnotsoseriousaswemightimagine。

  PINE’SHORACE;ANDTHEANTI—MACHIAVEL。

  InlatemonthsFriedrichhadconceivedonenotableproject;whichdemandsawordinthisplace。Didmodernreaderseverhearof\"JohnPine,thecelebratedEnglishEngraver\"?JohnPine,amanofgoodscholarship,goodskillwithhisburin,did\"TapestriesoftheHouseofLords,\"andotherthingsofacelebratednature,famousathomeandabroad:buthispeculiarfeat,whichhadcommendedhimatReinsberg,wasanEditionofHORACE:exquisiteoldFLACCUSbroughttoperfection,asitwere;alldonewithvignettes,classicalborderings,symbolicmarginalornaments,infinetasteandaccuracy,theTextitselfengraved;allbytheexquisiteburinofPine。[\"London,1737\"(BiographieUniverselle,xxxiv。465)。]ThisEditionhadcomeoutlastyear,famousovertheworld;andwasbyandby,asrumorbore,tobefollowedbyaVIRGILdoneinthelikeexquisitemanner。

  ThePineHORACE,partofthePineVIRGILtoo,stillexistinthelibrariesofthecurious;andaredoubtlessknowntotheproperparties,thoughmuchforgottenbyothersofus。ToFriedrich,scanningthePinephenomenonwithinterestthenbrand—new,itseemedanadmirabletributetoclassicalgenius;andtheideaoccurredtohim,\"Isnotthere,byHeaven’sblessing,alivinggenius,classicallikethoseantiqueRomans,andworthyofaliketribute?\"Friedrich’sideawas,ThatVoltairebeingclearlythesupremeofPoets,theHENRIADE,hissupremeofPoems,oughttobeengravedlikeFLACCUS;textandall,withvignettes,tail—pieces,classicalborderingsbeautifullysymbolicandexact;bytheexquisiteburinofPine。Whichideatheyounghero—worshipper,inspiteofhisfinance—difficulties,hadresolvedtorealize;

  andwasevennowbusywithit,sincehisreturnfromLoo。

  \"Suchbeautifulenthusiasm,\"saysomereaders;\"andinbehalfofthatparticulardemi—god!\"Alas,yes;toFriedrichhewasthebestdemi—godthengoing;andFriedrichneverhadanydoubtabouthim。

  Fortherest,thisheroicideacouldnotrealizeitself;andwearehappytohavenothingmoretodowithPineortheHENRIADE。

  CorrespondenceswereenteredintowithPine,audsomepainstaken:

  Pine’shighpriceswereasnothing;butPinewasbusywithhisVIRGIL;probably,infact,hadlittlestomachfortheHENRIADE;

  \"couldnotforsevenyearstocomeenteruponit:\"sothatthematterhadtodieaway;andnothingcameofitbutasmallDISSERTATION,orIntroductoryEssay,whichthePrincehadgotready,——whichisstilltobefoundprintedinVoltaire’sWorks[OEuvres,xiii。393—402。]andinFriedrich’s,ifanybodynowcaredmuchtoreadit。Preusssaysitwasfinished,\"the10thAugust,1739;\"andthatminutefactinChronology,withtheabovetaleofHero—worshiphangingtoit,willsufficemyreadersandme。

  Butthereisanotherliteraryprojectonhand,whichdidtakeeffect;——muchworthyofmention,thisyear;thewholeworldhavingrisenintosuchaChorusofTEDEUMatsightofitnextyear。

  Inthisyearfalls,whatatanyratewasagreateventtoFriedrich,asliteraryman:theprintingofhisfirstBook,——

  assiduouswritingofitwithaneyetoprint。TheBookisthat\"celebratedANTI—MACHIAVEL,\"ever—praiseworthyRefutationofMachiavel’sPRINCE;concerningwhichtherearesuchimmensitiesofVoltaireCorrespondence,nowbecome,liketheBookitself,inanetoallreaders。Thiswasthechosensoul’semploymentofFriedrich,thefloweroflifetohim,atReinsberg,throughtheyea?1739。ItdidnotactuallygettopresstillSpring1740;

  noractuallycomeouttillAutumn,——bywhichtimeagreatchangehadoccurredinFriedrich’stitleandcircumstances:butwemayaswellsayherewhatlittleistobesaidofitformodernreaders。

  \"TheCrown—Prince,readingthisbadBookofMachiavel’s,yearsago,hadbeenstruck,asallhonestsouls,especiallygovernorsorapprenticestogoverning,mustbe,iftheythoughtofreadingsuchathing,withitsbadness,itsfalsity,detestability;andcamebydegrees,obliquelyfishingoutVoltaire’sopinionashewentalong,onthenotionofrefutingMachiavel;anddidrefutehim,thebesthecould。Setdown,namely,hisownearnestcontradictiontosuchungroundednoxiousdoctrines;elaboratingthesamemoreandmoreintoclearlogicalutterance;tillitswelledintoalittleVolume;which,soexcellentwasit,soimportanttomankind,Voltaireandfriendswereclearforpublishing。

  Publishedaccordinglyitwas;goesthroughthepressnextSummer(1740),underVoltaire’sanxioussuperintendence:[Here,gatheredfromFriedrich’sLetterstoVoltaire,istheChronologyofthelittleEnterprise:——

  1738,MARCH21,JUNE17,\"Machiavelabanefulman,\"thinksFriedrich。\"Oughttoberefutedbysomebody?\"thinkshe(datenotknown)。

  1739,MARCH22,Friedrichthinksofdoingithimself。Hasdoneit,DECEMBER4;——\"aBookwhichoughttobeprinted,\"sayVoltaireandtheliteraryvisitors。

  1740,APRIL26,BookgivenuptoVoltaireforprinting。Printingfinished;Bookappears,\"endofSEPTEMBER,\"whenagreatchangehadoccurredinFriedrich’stitleandposition。]forthePrincehasatlengthconsented;andVoltairehandstheManuscript,withmysteryyetwithhints,toaDutchBookseller,oneVanDurenattheHague,whoiseagerenoughtoprintsuchanarticle。

  Voltairehimself——suchhismagnanimousfriendship,especiallyifonehaveDutchLawsuits,orbusinessofone’sown,inthoseparts——takeschargeofcorrecting;lodgeshimselfinthe’OldCourt’

  (PrussianMansion,calledVIEILLECOUR,attheHague,where’Luiscius,’figurativelyspeaking,may’getanalms’fromus);

  andtherefromcorrects,alters;correspondswiththePrinceandVanDuren,atagreatrate。Keepscorrecting,altering,tillVanDurenthinksheisspoilingitforsale;——andprivatelydeterminestopreservetheoriginalManuscript,andhaveaneditionofthat,withonlysuchcorrectionsasseemgoodtoVanDuren。AtreasonoussteponthismuleofaBookseller’spart,thinksVoltaire;

  butmulishlypersistedinbytheman。Endlesscorrespondence,torightandleft,ensues;intolerablywearisometoeveryreader。

  And,infine,therecameout,inAutumnnext,\"——theCrown—PrincenolongeraCrown—Princebythattime,butshiningconspicuousunderHigherTitle,——\"notoneANTI—MACHIAVELonly,butacoupleoratrioofANTI—MACHIAVELS;asprinted’attheHague;’asreprinted’atLondon’orelsewhere;theconfusedBibliographyofwhichhasnowfallenveryinsignificant。FirsttherewastheVoltairetext,AuthorizedEdition,’endofSeptember,1740;’thencame,infewweeks,theVanDurenone;then,probably,athird,combiningthetwo,thevariationsgivenasfoot—notes:——inshort,Iknownothowmanyeditions,translations,printingsandreprintings;alltheworldbeingmuchtakenupwithsuchamessagefromtheupperregions,andeagertoreaditinanyform。

  \"AstoFriedrichhimself,whoofcoursesaysnothingoftheANTI—MACHIAVELinpublic,heprivately,toVoltaire,disownsalltheseeditions;andintendstogiveanewoneofhisown,whichshallbetherightarticle;butneverdidit,havingfarotherworkcutoutforhiminthemonthsthatcame。Buthowzealoustheworldshumorwasinthatmatter,nomodernreadercanconceivetohimself。InthefrightfulCompilationcalledHELDEN—GESCHICHTE,whichwesometimescite,thereare,excerptedfromthethen’Bibliotheques’(NOUVELLEBIBLIOTHEQUEandanother;shiningPeriodicalsofthetime,nowgonequitedead),two’reviews’oftheANTI—MACHIAVEL,whichfillmodernreaderswithamazement:

  suchaDOMINEDIMITTASchantedoversuchanarticle!——Thesedetails,inanyotherthantheBiographicalpointofview,arenowinfinitelyunimportant。\"

  Truly,yes!TheCrown—Prince’sANTI—MACHIAVEL,finalcorrectedition(intwoforms,Voltaire’sascorrected,andthePrince’sownaswritten),standsnowincleartype;[Preuss,

  OEuvresdeFrederic,viii。61—163。]and,afterallthatjumbleofprintingandcounter—printing,wecananyofusreaditinafewhours;but,alas,almostnoneofuswiththeleastinterest,or,asitwere,withanyprofitwhatever。

  Sodifferentispresenttensefrompast,inallthings,especiallyinthingslikethese!ItissixscoreyearssincetheANTI—MACHIAVELappeared。ThespectacleofonewhowashimselfaKing(forthemysteriousfactwaswellknowntoVanDurenandeverybody)steppingforthtosaywithconviction,ThatKingshipwasnotathingofattorneymendacity,tobedoneunderthepatronageofBeelzebub,butofhumanveracity,tobesetaboutunderquiteOtherpatronage;andthat,infact,aKingwasthe\"bornservantofhisPeople\"(DOMESTIQUEFriedrichoncecallsit),ratherthanotherwise:this,naturallyenough,roseuponthethenpopulations,unusedtosuchlanguage,likethedawnofanewday;

  andwaswelcomedwithsuchapplausesasarenowincredible,afterallthathascomeandgone!Alas,inthesesixscoreyears,ithasbeenfoundsoeasytoprofessandspeak,evenwithsincerity!TheactualHero—Kingswerelongusedtobesilent;andtheSham—Herokindgrowonlythemoredesperateforus,themoretheyspeakandprofess!——ThisANTI—MACHIAVELofFriedrich’sisacleardistinctTreatise;confutes,oratleastheartilycontradicts,paragraphbyparagraph,theincrediblesophistriesofMachiavel。Nayitleavesus,ifwesufficientlyforceourattention,withthecomfortablesensethathisRoyalHighnessisspeakingwithconviction,andhonestlyfromtheheart,intheaffair:butthatisalltheconquestwegetofit,inthesedays。Treatisefallenmoreextincttoexistingmankinditwouldnotbeeasytoname。

  Perhapsindeedmankindisgettingwearyofthequestionaltogether。Machiavelhimselfonenowreadsonlybycompulsion。

  \"WhatistheuseofarguingwithanybodythatcanbelieveinMachiavel?\"asksmankind,ormightwellask;and,exceptforEditorialpurposes,eschewsanyANTI—MACHIAVEL;impatienttoberidofbaneandantidoteboth。TrulytheworldhashadapotherwiththislittleNicoloMachiavelliandhisperverselittleBook:

  ——pityalmostthataFriedrichWilhelm,takinghisroundsatthatpointoftime,hadnothadthe\"refuting\"ofhim;FriedrichWilhelm’smethodwouldhavebeenbrieferthanFriedrich’s!Butletushopethethingisnow,practically,aboutcompleted。Andastotheotherquestion,\"WastheSignorNicoloseriousinthisperverselittleBook;ordidheonlydoitironically,withaseriousinversepurpose?\"wewillleavethattobedecided,anytimeconvenient,bypeoplewhoaremuchatleisureintheworld!——

  TheprintingoftheANTI—MACHIAVELwasnotintrinsicallymomentousinFriedrich’shistory;yetitmightaswellhavebeendispensedwith。Hehadheredrawnafineprogram,andneedlesslyplacardeditforthestreetpopulations:andafterwardsthererose,ascouldnotfailontheirpart,comparisonbetweenprogramandperformance;scornfulcry,chieflyfrommenofweakjudgment,\"IsthisKinganANTI—Machiavel,then?Pfui!\"Ofwhich,——thoughVoltaire’svoice,too,washeardinit,inangrymoments,——weshallsaynothing:thereader,lookingforhimself,willjudgebyandby。AndherewithenoughoftheANTI—MACHIAVEL。CompositionofANTI—MACHIAVELandspeculationofthePineHENRIADElasted,bothofthem,allthroughthisYear1739,andfarther:fromthesetwoitems,nottomentionanyother,readerscanfiguresufficientlyhowliteraryayearitwas。

  FRIEDRICHINPREUSSENAGAIN;ATTHESTUDOFTRAKEHNEN。

  ATRAGICALLYGREATEVENTCOMINGON。

  InJulythisyeartheCrown—PrincewentwithPapaonthePrussianReview—journey。[\"Setout,7thJuly\"(OEuvres,xxvii。partlst,67n。)。]SuchattendanceonReview—

  journeys,amarkofhisbeingwellwithPapa,isnowbecomingusual;theyareagreeableexcursions,andcannotbutbeinstructiveaswell。Onthisoccasion,thingswentbeautifullywithhim。OutinthosegrassyCountries,inthebrightSummer,oncemorehehadanunusuallyfinetime;——andtwoveryspecialpleasuresbefellhim。Firstwas,asightoftheEmigrants,ourSalzburgersandother,intheirflourishingcondition,overinLithuaniayonder。Delightfultoseehowthewasteisblossomingupagain;busymen,withtheirindustries,theirsteadypioushusbandries,makingallthingsgreenandfruitful:horse—droves,cattle—herds,wavingcornfields;——avery\"SCHMALZGRUBE(Butter—

  pit)\"ofthoseNorthernparts,asitissincecalled。[Busching,Erdbeschreibung,ii。1049。]TheCrown—Prince’sownwordsonthismatterwewillgive;theyareinaLetterofhistoVoltaire,perhapsalreadyknowntosomereaders;——andwecanobservehewritesrathercopiouslyfromthoselocalitiesatpresent,andinacheerfulhumorwitheverybody。

  \"INSTERBURG,27thJULY,1739(Crown—PrincetoVoltaire)……

  PrussianLithuaniaisaCountryahundredandtwentymileslong,byfromsixtytofortybroad;[\"MilesENGLISH,\"wealwaysmean,UNLESS&c。]itwasravagedbyPestilenceatthebeginningofthisCentury;andtheysaythreehundredthousandpeoplediedofdiseaseandfamine。\"RavagedbyPestilenceandtheneglectofKingFriedrichI。;tillmyFather,oncehishandswerefree,madepersonalsurveyofit,andtookitup,inearnest。

  \"Sincethattime,\"saytwentyyearsago,\"thereisnoexpensethattheKinghasbeenafraidof,inordertosucceedinhissalutaryviews。Hemade,inthefirstplace,regulationsfullofwisdom;

  herebuiltwhereverthePestilencehaddesolated:thousandsoffamilies,fromtheendsofEurope,\"seventeenthousandSalzburgersforthelastitem,\"wereconductedhither;theCountryrepeopleditself;tradebegantoflourishagain;——andnow,inthesefertileregions,abundancereignsmorethaniteverdid。

  \"ThereareabovehalfamillionofinhabitantsinLithuania;

  therearemoretownsthanthereeverwere,moreflocksthanformerly,morewealthandmoreproductivenessthaninanyotherpartofGermany。AndallthisthatItellyouofisduetotheKingalone:whonotonlygavetheorders,butsuperintendedtheexecutionofthem;itwashethatdevisedtheplans,andhimselfgotthemcarriedtofulfilment;andsparedneithercarenorpains,norimmenseexpenditures,norpromisesnorrecompenses,tosecurehappinessandlifetothishalf—millionofthinkingbeings,whoowetohimalonethattheyhavepossessionsandfelicityintheworld。

  \"Ihopethisdetaildoesnotwearyyou。IdependonyourhumanityextendingitselftoyourLithuanianbrethren,aswellastoyourFrench,English,German,orother,——allthemoreas,tomygreatastonishment,IpassedthroughvillageswhereyouhearnothingspokenbutFrench。——Ihavefoundsomethingsoheroic,inthegenerousandlaboriouswayinwhichtheKingaddressedhimselftomakingthisdesertflourishwithinhabitantsandhappyindustriesandfruits,thatitseemedtomeyouwouldfeelthesamesentimentsinlearningthecircumstancesofsuchare—establishment。

  \"IdailyexpectnewsofyoufromEnghien[inthoseDutch—LawsuitCountries]……ThedivineEmilie;……theDuke[D’Aremberg,AustrianSoldier,ofconvivialturn,——remoteWelsh—UncletoacertainlittlePrincedeLigne,nowspinningtopsinthoseparts;

  [Born23dMay,1735,thislatterlittlePrince;lastedtill13thDecember,1814(\"DANSE,MAISILNEMARCHEPAS\")。]nototherwiseinteresting],whomApollocontendsforagainstBacchues……

  Adieu。NEM’OUBLIEZPAS,MONCHERAMI。\"[OEuvres,xxi。304,305。]

  Thisisonepleasantscene,totheCrown—Princeandus,inthosegrassylocalities。Andnowwehavetomentionthat,aboutafortnightlater,atKonigsbergoneday,inreferencetoacertainRoyalStudorHorse—breedingEstablishmentinthosesameLithuanianregions,therehadastillliveliersatisfactionhappenedhim;satisfactionofapersonalandfilialnature。

  ThenameofthisRoyalStud,inestimableonsuchground,isTrakehnen,——liessouthofTilsit,inanuppervalleyofthePregelriver;——veryextensiveHorse—Establishment,\"withsevenfarmsunderit,\"saytheBooks,andall\"inthemostperfectorder,\"

  theyneedhardlyadd,FriedrichWilhelmbeingmasterofit。

  Well,theRoyalPartywasatKonigsberg,sofarontheroadhomewardsagainfromthoseoutlyingparts,whenFriedrichWilhelmsaidonedaytohisSon,quiteinacursorymanner,\"IgivetheethatStudofTrakehnen;thoumustgobackandlooktoit;\"whichstruckFritzquitedumbatthemoment。

  Foritisworthnearupon2,000poundsayear(12,000thalers);

  awelcomenewiteminourimpoverishedbudget;anditisanundeniablesignofPapa’sgood—humorwithus,whichismorepreciousstill。Fritzmadehisacknowledgments,eloquentwithlooks,eloquentwithvoice,oncomingtohimself;andis,infact,veryproudofhisgift,andcelebratesittohisWilhelmina,toCamasandotherswhohavearighttoknowsuchathing。

  Grandusefulgift;andhandedoverbyPapagrandly,inthreebusinesswords,asifithadbeenabraceofgame:\"Igiveitthee,Fritz!\"Athingnottobeforgotten。\"Atbottom,FriedrichWilhelmwasnotavaricious\"(notamiser,onlyamangrandlyabhorringwaste,asthepoorvulgarcannotdo),\"notavaricious,\"

  saysPollnitzonce;\"hemademunificentgifts,andneverthoughtofthemmore。\"ThisofTrakehnen,——perhapstheremightbeawhiffofcomingFateconcernedinitwithal:\"Ishallsoonbedead,notabletogivetheeanything,poorFritz!\"TothePrinceandusitisverybeautiful;afineeffulgenceoftheinnermanofFriedrichWilhelm。ThePrincereturnedtoTrakehnen,onthisgladerrand;

  settledthebusinessdetailsthere;and,afterafewdays,wenthomebyarouteofhisown;——wellsatisfiedwiththisPrussian—

  Reviewjourney,aswemayimagine。

  SEEEARLIER———PrussianReview—journey(placingofhyphen)

  Onesadthingtherewas,thoughFriedrichdidnotyetknowhowsad,inthisReview—journey:thenewfitofillnessthatovertookhisMajesty。FromPollnitz,whowasoftheparty,wehavedetailsonthathead。InhisMajesty’slastbadillness,fiveyearsago,whenallseemedhopeless,itappearsthesurgeonshadrelievedhim,——infactrecoveredhim,bringingoffthebadhumorsinquantity,——byanincisioninthefootorleg。Inthecourseofthepresentfatigues,thisoldwoundbrokeoutagain;whichofcoursestoodmuchinthewayofhisMajesty;andcouldnotbeneglected,asprobablythecausesofitwere。Aregimentalsurgeon,Pollnitzsays,wascalledin;who,intwodays,healedthewound,——anddeclaredalltoberightagain;thoughinfact,aswemayjudge,itwasdangerouslyworsethanbefore。\"Allwellhere,\"writesFriedrich;\"theKinghasbeenoutoforder,butisnowentirelyrecovered(TOUTAFAITREMIS)。\"[\"Konigsberg,30thJuly,1739,\"tohisWife(OEuvres,xxvi。6)。]

  MuchreviewingandheavybusinessfollowedatKonigsberg;——giftofTrakehnen,anddepartureoftheCrown—PrinceforTrakehnen,windingitup。Directlyontheheelofwhich,hisMajestyturnedhomewards,theCrown—PrincenottomeethimtillonceatBerlinagain。Majesty’sfirststagewasatPillau,wherewehavebeen。

  AtPillau,ornextdayatDantzig,PollnitzobservedachangeinhisMajesty’shumor,whichhadbeenquitesunshinyallthisjourneyhitherto。AtDantzigPollnitzfirstnoticedit;butateverynewstageitgrewworse,evilaccidentsoccurringtoworsenit;andatBerlinitwasworstofall;——and,alas,hispoorMajestyneverrecoveredhissunshineinthisworldagain!HereisPollnitz’saccountofthejourneyhomewards:——

  \"Tillnow,\"tillPillauandDantzig,\"hisMajestyhadbeeninespeciallygoodhumor;butinDantzighischeerfulnessforsookhim;——anditnevercameback。HearrivedabouttenatnightinthatCity[Wednesday,12thAugust,orthereby];sleptthere;

  andwasoffagainnextmorningatfive。Hedroveonlythirtymilesthisday;stoppedinLupow[coastroadthroughPommern],withHerrvonGrumkow[thelateGrumkow’sBrother],KammerPresidentinthisPommernProvince。FromLupowhewenttoapoorVillagenearBelgard,EIGHTYmilesfarther;\"——lastvillageonthegreatroad,Belgardlyingtoleftalittle,onasideroad;——\"andstayedthereovernight。

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