第39章
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  Readersareimpatienttohavedonewiththesemiscellaneouspreludings,andtobeoncedefinitelyunderway,suchaJourneylyingahead。Yes,readers;aJourneyindeed!And,atthispoint,permitmetowarnyouthat,wheretheground,whereDryasdustandtheDestinies,yieldanythinghumanlyillustrativeofFriedrichandhisWork,onewillhavetolinger,andcarefullygatherit,evenashere。Largetractsoccur,bestrewnwithmerepedantisms,diplomaticcobwebberies,learnedmarine—stores,andinhumanmatter,overwhichweshallhavetoskipempty—handed:thisalsowasamongthesadconditionsofourEnterprise,thatithastogonowtooslowandagaintoofast;notinproportiontonaturalimportanceofobjects,buttoseveralinferiorconsiderationswithal。SobusyhasperverseDestinybeenonit;perverseDestiny,edaciousChance;——andtheDryasdusts,too,andNightmares,inPrussiaaselsewhere,weknowhowstrongtheyare!

  Friedrich’scharacterinoldagehasdoubtlessitscuriousaffinities,itsdisguisedidentities,withtheseprognosticfeaturesandindicationsofhisyouth:andtoourreaders,——ifwedoevergetthemtothegoal,ofseeingFriedrichalittlewiththeirowneyesandjudgments,——theremaybepleasantcontrastsandcomparisonsofthatkindinstore,oneday。Butthefarcommonerexperience(whichalsohasbeenmyown),——hereisSmelfungus’ssternaccountofthat:——

  \"Myfriend,youwillbeluckierthanI,if,aftertenyears,nottosay,inasense,twentyyears,thirtyyears,ofreadingandrummaginginthosesadPrussianBooks,ancientandnew(whichoftenarelaudablyauthentic,too,andexactastodetails),youcangatheranycharacterwhateverofFriedrich,inanyperiodofhislife,orconceivehimasaHumanEntityatall!Itisstrange,aftersuchthousand—foldwriting,butitistrue,hisHistoryisconsiderablyunintelligibletomankindatthishour;leftchaotic,enigmatic,inagoodmanypoints,——themilitarypartofitalonebeingbroughttoclearness,andrenderedfairlyconceivableandcredibletothosewhowillstudy。AndastotheManhimself,orwhathisrealPhysiognomycanhavebeen——!Well,itmustbeownedfewmenwereofsuchRAPIDITYoffaceandaspect;sodifficulttoseizethefeaturesof。Inhisaction,too,therewassuchrapidity,suchsecrecy,suddenness:amanthatcouldnotberead,evenbythecandid,exceptasinflashesoflightning。Andthentheangerofby—standers,uncandid,whogothurtbyhim;thehastymalevolences,thestupidities,theopacities:enough,inmoderntimes,whatissayingmuch,perhapsnoman’smotives,intentions,andprocedurehavebeenmorebelied,misunderstood,misrepresented,duringhislife。Nor,Ithink,sincethat,havemanymenfaredworse,bytheLimnerorBiographicclass,thefavorabletohimandtheunfavorable;orbeensosmearedofandblotchedof,andreducedtoamerebluranddazzlementofcross—

  lights,incoherences,incredibilities,inwhichnothing,notsomuchasahumannose,isclearlydiscerniblebywayoffeature!\"——

  Courage,reader,nevertheless;ontheabovetermsletusmarchaccordingtopromise。

  ChapterII。

  THEHOMAGINGS。

  YoungFriedrich,ashisFatherhaddone,considersitunnecessarytobecrowned。OldFriedrich,firstofthename,andoftheKingseries,wedidseecrowned,withapinchofsnufftemperingthesolemnities。ThatCoronationoncewelldonesufficesallhisdescendantshitherto。Suchanexpenseofmoney,——ofdilutedmendacitytoo!Suchharanguing,gesturing,symbolicfugling,allgrownhalffalse:——avoidlying,evenwithyoureyes,orknees,orthecoatuponyourback,sofarasyoueasilycan!

  NothingofCoronation:butitisthoughtneedfultohavetheHULDIGUNGEN(Homagings)done,theFealtiessworn;andtheyoungMajestyinduecoursegoesabout,orgivesdirections,nowherenowthere,inhisvariousProvinces,gettingthataccomplished。

  Buteveninthat,Friedrichisbynomeansstrait—lacedorpunctilious;doesitcommonlybyDeputy:onlyinthreeplaces,Konigsberg,Berlin,Cleve,doesheappearinperson。Mainlybydeputy;andalwayswiththeminimumoffuss,andnoharanguingthatcouldbeavoided。NowherearetheoldSTANDE(ProvincialParliaments)assembled,noworafterwards:sufficientforthisandforeveryoccasionarethe\"PermanentCommitteesoftheSTANDE;\"

  norismuchspeaking,unessentialfordespatchofbusiness,usedtothese。

  \"STANDE——ofRitterschaftmainly,ofGentrysmallandgreat——

  existedonceinallthoseCountries,aselsewhere,\"saysoneHistorian;\"andsomeofthem,inPreussen,forexample,usedtoberatherloud,andinclinedtoturbulence,tillthecurb,fromajudiciousbridle—hand,wouldadmonishthem。But,foralongwhilepast,——especiallysincetheGreatElector’stime,whogotan’ExciseLaw’passed,orthefoundationsofagoodExciseLawlaid;

  [Preuss,iv。432;andThronbesteigung,

  pp。379—383。]and,whatwithExcise,whatwithDomain—Farms,hadafixedAnnualBudget,whichhereckonedfairtobothparties,——theyhavebeendyingoutforwantofwork;and,underFriedrichWilhelm,maybesaidtohavegonequitedead。Whatworkwasleftforthem?PrussianBudgetisfixed,manythingsarefixed:

  whytalkofthemfarther?ThePrussianKing,nothingofafoollikecertainothers,\"——whichindeedisthecardinalpoint,thoughmyAuthordoesnotsayso,——\"isrespectfullyawareofthefactsroundhim;andcanlistentotherumorstoo,sofarashefindsgood。TheKingseeshimselfterriblyinterestedtogetintotherightcourseinallthings,andavoidthewrongone!Probablyhedoes,inhisway,seek’wiseAdviceconcerningthearduousmattersoftheKingdom;’nayIbelieveheisdiligenttohaveitofthewisest:——whoknowsifSTANDEwouldalwaysgiveitwiser;

  especiallySTANDEintheharanguingcondition?\"——Enough,theyarenotappliedto。ThereisnoFreedominthatCountry。\"NoFreedomtospeakof,\"continueshe:\"butIdoalittleenvythemtheirFixedBudget,andsomeotherthings。WhatpleasuretherecanbeinhavingyourhouseholdarrangementstumbledintodisordereverynewYear,byanew—contrivedscaleofexpensesforyou,Inevercouldascertain!\"——

  FriedrichisnotthemantoawakenParliamentarysleeping—dogswellsettledbyhisAncestors。Onceortwice,outofPreussen,inFriedrichWilhelm’stime,therewasheardsomewhimper,whichsoundedlikethebeginningofabark。ButFriedrichWilhelmwasonthealertforit:AreyoucominginwithyourNIEPOZWALAM(yourLIBERUMVETO),then?NoneofyourPolishvagarieshere。\"TOUTLE

  PAYSSERARUINE(thewholeCountrywillberuined),\"sayyou?

  (SuchhadbeenthepoorMarshalorProvincialSPEAKER’S

  Remonstranceononeoccasion):\"Idon’tbelieveawordofthat。

  ButIdobelievetheGovernmentbyJUNKERS[CountrySquires]andNIEPOZWALAMwillberuined,\"——asitisfullymeanttobe!\"IamestablishingtheKing’sSovereigntylikearockofbronze(ICH

  STABILIREDIESOUVERAINETATWIEEINENROCHERVONBRONZE),\"someextremelystrongkindofrock![Forster,b。iii。

  (Urkundenbuch,i。50);Preuss,iv。420n。

  \"NIEPOZWALAM\"(theformulaofLIBERUMVETO)signifies\"IDon’tPermit!\"]ThiswasoneofFriedrichWilhelm’smarginaliainresponsetosuchathing;andthemutinouswhimperdiedoutagain。

  ParliamentaryAssemblagesaresometimesCollectiveWisdoms,butbynomeansalwaysso。InMagdeburgwerememberwhattroubleFriedrichWilhelmhadwithhisunreasonableRitters。

  Rittersthere,intheirassembledcapacity,hadtheReichbehindthem,andcouldnotbedealtwithlikePreussen:butFriedrichWilhelm,bywiseslowmethods,managedMagdeburgtoo,andreducedittosilence,ortowordsnecessaryfordespatchofbusiness。

  IneachProvince,aPermanentCommittee——chosen,Isuppose,byKingandKnightsassenting;chosenIknownothow,butadmittedtobewiselychosen——representstheonceParliamentorSTANDE;andhasitspotencyfordoinggoodserviceinregardtoallProvincialmatters,fromroadsandbridgesupwards,andisimpotenttodotheleastharm。Roadsandbridges,Churchmatters,repartitionoftheLand—dues,Armymatters,——infacttheyareaneffectivenon—

  haranguingParliament,totheKing’sDeputyineverysuchProvince;wellcalculatedtoilluminateandforwardhissubalternAMTmenandhim。Nay,weobserveitisoftenestinthewayofgiftsandsolacementsthattheKingarticulatelycommunicateswiththeseCommitteesortheirRitterschafts。ProjectsforDrainingofBogs,forimprovedHighways,forbetterHusbandry;loansgrantedthem,Loan—BanksestablishedfortheProvince’sbehoof:——noneedofparliamentaryeloquenceonsuchoccasions,butofsomethingfardifferent。

  Itisfromthisquiescent,orbusybutnoiselesskindofSTANDE

  andPopulationsthatFriedrichhashisHULDIGUNGtotake;——andtheoperation,whetherdonepersonallyorbydeputy,mustbeanabundantlysimpleone。He,forhispart,isfortunateenoughtofindeverywheretheSovereigntyESTABLISHED;\"rockofbronze\"nottheleastshakeninhistime。Hewillgraciouslyundertake,byWrittenAct,whichisreadbeforetheSTANDE,KingorKing’sDeputywitnessingthere,\"Tomaintaintheprivileges\"ofhisSTANDEandPopulations;theSTANDEanswer,onoath,withliftedhand,andexpressinvocationofHeaven,Thattheywillobeyhimastruesubjects;Andso——doubtlesswithsomethingofdiningsuperadded,butnowhisperofitputonrecord——theHULDIGUNGwilleverywhereveryquietlytransactitself。

  TheHULDIGUNGitselfisnothingtous,evenwithFriedrichthere,——asatKonigsberg,Berlin,Cleve,thethreeexceptionalplaces。

  Towhich,nevertheless,letusbrieflyattendhim,forthesakeofhereandtheresomedirectglimpsewemaygetofthethenFriedrich’sactualphysiognomyandways。Otherdirectview,orthechanceofsuch,isnotconcededusoutofthosesadPrussianBooks;whichareveryfullonthisoftheHULDIGUNG,ifsilentonsomanyotherpoints。[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。382。]

  FRIEDRICHACCEPTSTHEHOMAGES,PERSONALLY,INTHREEPLACES。

  ToKonigsbergishisfirstexcursiononthiserrand。Preussenhasperhaps,ormaybesuspectedofhaving,someremnantsofsourhumorsleftinit,andremembrancesofSTANDEwithharanguingsandevenmutinies:thereifanywheretheKinginpersonmaydogoodonsuchanoccasion,HeleftBerlin,July7th,boundthitherward;

  hereisNoteofthatfirstRoyalTour,——specimenofseveralhundredssuch,whichhehadtodointhecourseofthenextforty—fiveyears。

  \"FriendAlgarotti,charmingtalker,attendedhim;whoelse,officialandnon—official,asknot。TheJourneyistobecircuitous;tocombinevariousbusinesses,andalsotohaveitsamusements。TheywentbyCustrin;glancingatoldknownCountry,whichisatitsgreenestinthisseason。ByCustrin,acrosstheNeumark,intoPommern;afterthatbyanintricatewindingroute;

  reviewingregiments,inspectinggarrisons,nowherenowthere;

  doingallmannerofinspections;talkingIknownotwhat;oftenestlodgingwithfavoredGenerals,ifitsuited。DistancetoKonigsberg,bythedirectroad,isabout500miles;bythiswindingone,itmusthavebeen800:Journeythithertookninedaysinall。ObliquelythroughPommern,almosttothecoastoftheBaltic;theirultimatumthereaplacecalledCoslin,wheretheyreviewedwithstrictness,——omittingColberg,asmallSea—Fortressnotfarrearward,timebeingshort。ThenceintoWest—Preussen,intoPolishTerritory,andswiftlyacrossthat;keepingDantziganditsnoiseswideenoughtotheleft:onenightinPoland;

  andthenexttheyareinOst—Preussen,placecalledLiebstadt,——

  againonhome—ground,anddiligentlyreviewingthere。

  \"ThereviewatLiebstadtisremarkableinthis,Thattheregiments,oneregimentespecially,notbeingwhatwasfit,acertainGrenadier—Captaingotcashieredonthespot;andtheoldCommandanthimselfwassoonafterpensioned,andmoregentlysenthisways。SostrictishisMajesty。Contrariwise,hefoundLieutenant—GeneralvonKatte’sGarrison,atAngerburg,nextday,inaveryhighperfection;andColonelPosadowsky’sregimentspeciallyso;withwhichlattergentlemanhelodgedthatnight,andmadehimfartherhappybytheORDEROFMERIT:ColonelPosadowsky,GarrisonofAngerburg,faroffinEast—Preussen,ChevalieroftheOrderofMerithenceforth,ifweevermeethimagain。TothegoodoldLieutenant—GeneralvonKatte,whonodoubtdinedwiththem,hisMajestyhanded,onthesameoccasion,aPatentofFeldmarschall;——intendssoontomakehimGraf;anddidit,asreadersknow。BothColonelandGeneralattendedhimthenceforth,stillbyacircuitousroute,toKonigsberg,toassistinthesolemnitiesthere。ByGumbinnen,byTrakehnen,——theStudofTrakehnen:thatalsohisMajestysaw,andmadereviewof;

  notwithoutemotion,wecanfancy,asthesleekcoltsweretrottedoutonthosenewterms!AtTrakehnen,KatteandtheColonelwouldbehisMajesty’sguests,forthenighttheystayed。Thisistheirextremepointeastward;Konigsbergnowliesagoodwaywestofthem。ButatTrakehnentheyturn;and,Saturday,16thJuly,1740,afteranotherhundredmilesorso,alongthepleasantvalleyofthePregel,gettoKonigsberg:readytobeginbusinessonMondaymorning,——onSundayifnecessary。\"[FromPreuss,

  Thronbesteigung,pp。382,385;Rodenbeck,p。16;&c。]

  OnSundaytheredidakindofmemorabilityoccur:TheHULDIGUNGS—

  PREDIGT(HomageSermon)——byareverendHerrQuandt,chiefPreacherthere。Whichwouldnotbeworthmentioning,exceptforthiscircumstance,thathisMajestyexceedinglyadmiredQuandt,andthoughthimamostDemosthenicgenius,andthebestofalltheGermans。Quandt’stextwasinthesewords:\"Thinearewe,David,andonthyside,thouSonofJesse;Peace,peacebeuntothee,andpeacebetothinehelpers;forthyGodhelpeththee。\"

  [FirstChronicles,xii。18。]

  Quandtbegan,inasonorousvoice,raisinghisfacewithrespectfulenthusiasmtotheKing,\"Thinearewe,OFriedrich,andonthyside,thouSonofFriedrichWilhelm;\"andsowenton:

  sermonbrief,sonorous,compact,andstickingclosetoitstext。

  Friedrichstoodimmovable,gazingontheeloquentDemosthenicQuandt,withadmirationheightenedbysurprise;——wroteofQuandttoVoltaire;and,withsustainedenthusiasm,tothePubliclongafterwards;andtotheendofhisdayswaswonttomakeQuandtanexception,ifperhapsalmosttheonlyone,fromGermanbarbarism,anddisharmonyofmindandtongue。SothatpoorQuandtcannoteversincegetentirelyforgotten,butneedsalwaystoberakedupagain,forthisreasonwhenothershaveceased:analmostmelancholyadventureforpoorQuandtandAnother!——

  TheHULDIGUNGwasrathergrand;HarangueandCounter—haranguepermittedtotheduelength,andproperfestivitiesfollowing:

  buttheSTANDEcouldnotmanagetogetintovocalcovenantingordeliberatingatall;FriedrichbeforeleavingBerlinhadansweredtheirhintorrequestthatway,inthesewords:\"WearelikewisegraciouslyinclinedtogivetothesaidSTANDE,beforetheirHomaging,thesameassurancewhichtheygotfromourHerrFather’sMajesty,whoisnowwithGod,\"——generalassurancethattheir,andeverybody’s,\"Rightsshallbemaintained[asweseetheyare],——

  withwhich,itishoped(HOFFENTLICH),theywillbecontent,andgettopeaceuponthismatter(SICHDABEIBERUHIGENWERDEN)。\"

  [Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。380。]Itwillbebestforthem!

  Friedrichgaveawaymuchcornhere;thatis,openedhisCorn—

  Granaries,oncharitableterms,andtookallmannerofmeasures,hereasinotherplaces,forreliefofthescarcitytherewas。

  Oftheilluminations,neversogrand,thereadershallhearnothing。A\"Torch—ProcessionoftheStudents\"turnedoutaprettything:——Studentsmarchingwithtorches,withfinewind—music,regulatedenthusiasm,finesuccinctaddresstohisMajesty;

  andalltheworldescorting,withits\"LiveForever!\"FriedrichgavetheStudents\"aTRINK—GELAG(BanquetofLiquors),\"howarrangedIdonotknow:andtotheSpeakeroftheAddress,alikelyyounggentlemanwithVONtohisname,heofferedanEnsigncyofFoot(\"inCamas’sFusileerRegiment,\"——CamasnowgonetoParis,embassying),whichwasjoyfullyaccepted。

  Joyfullyaccepted;——anditturnedoutwellforallparties;

  theyounggentlemanhavingrisen,wheremeritwastheruleofrising,andbecomeGrafandLieutenant—General,inthecourseofthenextfiftyyears。[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。387。]

  HuldigungandTorch—Processionover,theRoyalPartydashedrapidlyoff,nextmorning(21stJuly),homewardsbytheshortestroute;and,inthreedaysmore,byFrankfurt—on—Oder(whereaglimpseofGeneralSchwerin,afavoriteGeneral,wastobehad),weresafeinBerlin;receivedwithacclamation,naywith\"blessingsandeventears\"somesay,afterthispleasantFortnight’sTour。GeneralSchwerin,itisrumored,willbemadeFeldmarschallstraightway,theMunchowsaregettingsopromotedaswesaid;edictsarecomingout,muchbusinessspeedingforward,andthetonguesofmenkeepwagging。

  BerlinHULDIGUNG——andindeed,byDeputy,thatofnearlyalltheotherTowns——wasonTuesday,August2d。AtBerlinhisMajestywaspresentinthematter:but,exceptthegazingmultitudes,andhussarregiments,rankedintheSchloss—Platzandstreetsadjoining,therewaslittleofnotableinit;theupholsteryarrangementsthriftyintheextreme。HisMajestyispronetothriftinthisoftheHuldigung,aswouldappear;perhapsregardingtheaffairasscenicmerely。Here,besidesthisofBerlin,isanotherinstancejustoccurring。Itappears,theQuedlinburgpeople,shutoutfromthelightoftheactualRoyalCountenance,cannotdotheirHomagingbyDeputy,withoutatleastaPortraitoftheKingandoftheQueen:Howmanage?askstheOfficialPerson。\"HaveaCoupleofDaubsdoneinBerlin,threeguineasapiece;sendthemthese,\"answerstheKing![\"OndoitfairebarbouillerdemauvaisescopiesaBerlin,lapiecea20

  ecus。{enditalic>——FR。\"Preuss,ii。(Urkundenbuch,s。222)。]

  HereintheBerlinSchloss,scenetheLargeHallwithindoors,thereisa\"platformraisedthreesteps;andonthis,bywayofakindofthrone,anarm—chaircoveredwitholdblackvelvet;\"thewholesurmountedbyacanopyalsoofoldblackvelvet:notasublimepieceofupholstery;butreckonedadequate。

  Friedrichmountedthethreesteps;stoodbeforetheoldchair,hisPrincesstandingpromiscuouslybehindit;hisRittersinquantity,infrontandtorightandleft,onthefloor。SomeMinisteroftheInteriorexplainssuitably,notattoogreatlength,whattheyaremetfor;somejuniorOfficial,juniorbutofquality,respondedbriefly,forhimselfandhisorder,totheeffect,\"Yea,truly:\"

  theHULDIGUNGENS—URKUNDE(DeedofHomage)wasthenreadbytheproperClerk,andtheRittersallswore;audibly,withliftedhands。ThisistheRitterHuldigung。

  HisMajestythenstepsouttotheBalcony,forOathandHomageofthegeneralPopulation。Generalpopulationgaveitsoath,and\"threegreatshoutsoverandabove。\"\"ESLEBEDERKONIG!\"thrice,withalltheirthroats。UponwhichashowerofMedals,\"Homage—

  Medals,\"goldandsilver(quantitynotmentioned)raineddownuponthem,induesuccession;andwerescrambledfor,intheusualway。

  \"HisMajesty,\"theywrite,andthisisperhapstheonepointworthnotice,\"hisMajesty,contrarytocustomandtoetiquette,remainedontheBalcony,sometimeaftertheceremony,perhapsafullhalf—hour;\"——silentthere,\"withhislookfixedattentivelyontheimmeasurablemultitudebeforetheSchloss;andseemedsunkindeepreflection(BETRACHTUNG):\"——analmostawfullyeloquentthoughinarticulatephenomenontohisMajesty,thatofthosemultitudesscramblingandhuzzaingthere![Preuss,

  Thronbesteigung,p。389。]

  These,withtheCleveone,arealltheHornagingsFriedrichwaspersonallypresentat;theothershedidbyDeputy,allinoneday(2dAugust);andwithoutfuss。Scenicmattersthese;inwhich,exceptwherehecan,asintheKonigsbergcase,combineinspectionsandgravebusinesseswiththem,hetakesnointerest。

  However,heisnow,forthesakechieflyofinspectionsandotherrealobjects,bentonaJourneytoCleve;——thefellowofthattoKonigsberg:Konigsberg,Preussen,theeasternmostoutlyingwingofhislongstragglingDominions;andthenCleve—Julich,itscounterpartonthesouthwesternside,——therealso,withsuchcontingencieshangingoverCleve—Julich,itwerepropertomakesomemusteringoftheFrontiergarrisonsandaffairs。[InregardtotheDayofHULDIGUNGatCleve,whichhappilyisnotoftheleastmomenttous,Preuss(Thronbesteigung,

  p,390)andHelden—Geschichte,(i。423)seemtobeinflatcontradiction。]HisMajestysopurposes:andwepurposeagaintoaccompany,——notforinspectionandmustering,butforanunexpectedreason。ThegraveJourneytoClevehasanappendage,orcomicside—piece,hangingtoit;morethanoneappendage;whichthereadermustnotmiss!——Beforesettingout,readthesetwoFractions,snatchedfromtheDiplomatistWastebag;

  lookingwell,wegaintheresomemomentaryviewofFriedrichonthebusinessside。OfFriedrich,andalsoofAnother:——

  Sunday,14thAugust,1740,Dickens,whohasbeenreportinghithertoinafavorable,thoughinalanguidexotericmanner,notbeinginanyheightoffavor,Englandorhe,——hadexpressAudienceofhisMajesty;beingsummonedouttoPotsdamforthatend:

  \"Sundayevening,about7P。M。\"——MajestyintendingtobeoffontheCleveJourneyto—morrow。LetusaccompanyDickens。Readersmayremember,GeorgeII。hasbeenatHanoverforsomeweekspast;

  Bielfelddiligentlygrinningeuphemismsandcourtlygraciositiestohim;Truchsesshinting,onopportunity,thatthereareperhapsweightybusinessesintherear;which,however,ontheBritannicside,seemloathtostart。BritannicMajestyismuchatalossabouthisSpanishWar,sodangerousforkindlingFranceandthewholeworlduponhim。InregardtowhichPrussiamightbesoimportant,fororagainst。——This,incompressedform,iswhatDickenswitnessesatPotsdamthatSundayeveningfrom7P。M。:——

  \"Audiencelastedaboveanhour:Kingturneddirectlyuponbusiness;wishestohave’CategoricalAnswers’astoThreePointsalreadysubmittedtohisBritannicMajesty’sconsideration。

  Clearfootingindispensablebetweenus。Whatyouwantofme?sayit,andbeplain。WhatIwantofyouis,Thesethreethings:——

  \"1。GuaranteeforJulichandBerg。AlltheworldknowsWHOSE

  theseDuchiesare。WillhisBritannicMajestyguaranteemethere?

  Andifso,How,andtowhatlengths,willheproceedaboutit?

  \"2。SettlementaboutOst—Friesland。ExpectancyofOst—Frieslandsoontofallheirless,whichwasgrantedmelongsince,thoughHanovermakeshagglings,counter—claimings:ImusthavesomeSettlementaboutthat。

  \"3。ThelikeaboutthoseperplexitiesinMecklenburg。

  Nodifficultythereifwetryheartily,noristheresuchpressinghasteaboutit。

  \"ThesearemythreeclaimsonEngland;andIwilltrytoserveEnglandasfarinreturn,ifitwilltellmehow。’Ah,bewareofthrowingyourselfintothearmsofFrance!’modestlysuggestsDickens。——’Well,ifFrancewillguaranteemethoseDuchies,andyouwillnotdoanything?’answershisMajestywithafinelaugh:

  ’EnglandIconsidermymostnaturalfriendandally;butImustknowwhatthereistodependonthere。Princesareruledbytheirinterest;cannotfollowtheirfeelings。Letmehaveanexplicitanswer;say,atWesel,whereIamtobeonthe24th,’\"tendayshence。BritannicMajestyisatHanover,andcananswerwithinthattime。\"Thishetwicetoldme,’Wesel,24th,’inthecourseofourinterview。PermitmetorecommendthemattertoyourLordship,\"——

  myLordHarrington,nowattendingtheBritannicMajesty。

  \"Duringthewholeaudience,\"addsDickens,\"theKingwasinextremegoodhumor;andnotonlyheardwithattentionalltheconsiderationsIoffered,butwasnottheleastoffendedatanyobjectionsImadetowhathesaid。Itisundoubtedlythebestwaytobehavewithfranknesstohim。\"TheselastareDickens’sownwords;letthemmodestlybeamemorandumtoyourLordship。

  ThisKinggoeshimselfdirecttothepoint;andstraightforwardness,asaprimarycondition,willprofityourLordshipwithhim。[Dickens(inState—PaperOffice,17thAugust,1740)。]

  Mosttrueadvice,this;——andwouldperhapsbefollowed,wereitquiteeasy!Butthingsareverycomplicated。AndtheBritannicMajesty,muchplaguedwithSpanishWarandParliamentarynoisesinthatunquietIsland,isdoubtlessgladtogetawaytoHanoverforalittle;andwouldfainbeonholidayinthesefineruralmonths。

  Whichisnotwellpossibleeither。Jenkins’sEar,risingatlastlikeafieryportent,haskindledtheLondonFogoveryonder,inastrangeway,andthemurkystagnancyisallgettingonfire;

  theEnglishintent,asseldomanyNationwas,togivetheSpaniardsaneffectualbeating。Whichtheyhopetheycan,——thoughunexpecteddifficultieswilloccur。And,inthemeanwhile,whatariddleofpotentialitiesforhispoorMajestytoread,andpickhiswayfrom!——

  Bielfeld,inspiteofallthis,wouldfainbefullofadmirationfortheBritannicMajesty。Confessesheisbelowthemiddlesize,infactatinylittlecreature,butthenhisshapeisperfect;

  legmuchtobecommended,——whichhisMajestyknows,standingalwayswithonelegslightlyadvanced,andtheOrderoftheGarteronit,thatmankindmaytakenotice。HereisBielfeld’sdescriptionfaithfullyabridged:——

  \"Bigblueeyes,perhapsratherofparboiledcharacter,thoughproudenough;eyesflushwithhisfaceormore,ratherINRELIEF

  thanonalevelwithit,\"——AFLEURDETETE,afterthemannerofafish,ifonemightsayso,andbetokeningsuchanintellectbehindthem!\"Attitudeconstrained,legadvancedinthatway;

  hiscourtierscallitmajestic。Biggishmouth,strictlyshutinthecrescentorhorse—shoeform(FERMEEENCROISSANT);curlywig(ANOEUDS,remindingyouoflamb’s—wool,colornotknown);

  eyebrows,however,youcanseeareashy—blond;generaltintisfundamentallylivid;butwheningoodcase,theroyalskinwilltaketolerablybrightcolors(PRENDD’ASSEZBELLESCOULEURS)。

  Astotheroyalmindandunderstanding,whatshallBielfeldsay?

  ThathisMajestysometimesmakesingeniousandjustremarks,andislaudablyseriousatalltimes,andcanmajesticallyholdhistongue,andstandwithadvancedleg,andeyesrathermorethanflush。Senseofhisdignityishigh,asitoughttobe;ongreatoccasionsyouseeprideandakindofjoymantlingintheroyalcountenance。Hasbeenknowntomakeexplosions,andtobeveryfurioustoPrinceFredandothers,whenprickedinto:——but,myfriend,whatmortalisexemptfromfailings?MajestyreadstheEnglishNewspaperseverymorninginbed,whichareoftenbiting。

  MajestyhashisWalmoden,aHanoverianImproperFemale,CountessofYarmouthsocalled;quiet,autumnal,faircomplexioned,stupid;

  whoismuchacomforttohim。Shekeepsoutofmischief,politicalorother;andgivesBielfeldagraciousnodnowandthen。\"

  [Bielfeld,i。158。]Harringtonisheretoo;——andBritannicMajestyandhearebusygoverningtheEnglishNationontheseterms。——

  WereturnnowtothePrussianMajesty。

  AboutsixweeksafterthatofDickens,——CleveJourneyandmuchelsenowended,——PraetoriustheDanishEnvoy,whomweslightlyknewatReinsbergonce,givesthistestimony;writinghometoanExcellencyatCopenhagen,whosenameweneednotinquireinto:——

  \"TogiveyourExcellencyajustideaofthenewGovernmenthere,ImustobservethathithertotheKingofPrussiadoesasitwereeverythinghimself;andthat,exceptingtheFinanceMinistervonBoden,whopreachesfrugality,andfindsforthatdoctrineuncommonacceptance,almostgreatereventhanintheformerreign,hisMajestyallowsnocounsellingfromanyMinister;sothatHerrvonPodewils,whoisnowtheworkinghandinthedepartmentofForeignAffairs,hasnothinggivenhimtodobuttoexpeditetheordershereceivesfromtheCabinet,hisadvicenotbeingaskeduponanymatter;andsoitiswiththeotherMinisters。

  PeoplethoughtthelossofHerrvonThulmeyer,\"veteranForeignMinisterwhomwehavetransientlyheardofintheDouble—Marriagetime,andperhapshaveevenseenatLondonorelsewhere,[Died4thAugust(Rodenbeck,p。20)。]\"wouldbeirreparable;soexpertwashe,andalivingarchiveinthatbusiness:however,hispostseemstohavevanishedwithhimself。HissalaryisdividedbetweenHerrvonPodewils,\"whomthereaderwillsometimeshearofagain,\"Kriegsrath(CouncillorofWar)vonIlgen,\"sonoftheoldgentlemanweusedtoknow,\"andHofrathSellentinwhoisRENDANT

  OFTHELEGATIONS—KASSE\"(Ambassadors’Paymaster,wecouldguess,AmbassadorBodyhavingspecialtyofcashassignedit,comparablewiththespecialtyofvaluereceivedfromit,inthisstrictfrugalCountry),——neitherofwhichtwolatternamesshallthereaderbetroubledwithfarther。\"Agoodmanyresolutions,andresponsesbytheKing,Ihaveseen:theycombinelaconicexpressionwithanadmirablebusinesseye(GESCHAFTSBLICK)。

  Unhappily,\"——atleastforusintheDiplomaticline,foryourExcellencyandmeunhappily,——\"thereisnobodyabouttheKingwhopossesseshiscompleteconfidence,orwhomwecanmakeuseofinregardtothenecessaryintroductionsandpreliminarymovements。

  Herebyitcomesthat,——ascertainthingscanonlybehandledwithcautiousforesightandcircumlocution,andinthewayofbeginningwide,——anAmbassadorhereismorethrownoutofhiscoursethaninanyotherCourt;andknowsnot,thoughhisobjectweresteadilyinsight,whatroadtostrikeintoforgettingtowardsit。\"[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。377(2dOctober,1740)。]

  ChapterIII。

  FRIEDRICHMAKESANEXCURSION,NOTOFDIRECTSORT

  INTOTHECLEVECOUNTRIES。

  KingFriedrichdidnotquitekeephisdayatWesel;indeedthis24thwasnotthefirstday,butthelastofseveral,hehadappointedtohimselfforfinistothatJourneyintheCleveCountries;Journeyrathercomplextoarrange。Hehasseveralbusinessesaheadinthoseparts;and,asusual,willgroupthemwithgoodjudgment,andthriftoftime。Notinspectionsmerely,butamusements,meetingswithfriends,especiallyFrenchfriends:

  thequestionis,howtogroupthemwithskill,sothatthenecessaryelementsmayconvergeattherightmoment,andoneshotkillthreeorfourbirds。ThisisFriedrich’sfineway,perceptibleinalltheseJourneys。TheFrenchfriends,flyingeachonhisowntrack,withhisownloadofimpediments,VoltairewithhisMadameforinstance,areadifficultelementinsuchproblem;

  andtherehasbeen,andis,muchschemingandcorrespondingaboutit,withinthelastmonthespecially。

  VoltaireisnowatBrussels,withhisDuChatelet,prosecutingthatendless\"lawsuitwiththeHouseofHonsbruck,\"——whichhe,andwe,arebothdesiroustohavedonewith。HeisattheHague,too,nowandthen;printing,abouttoprint,theANTI—MACHIAVEL;

  corresponding,torightandleft,quarrellingwithVanDurenthePrinter;lives,whilethere,intheVIEILLECOUR,inthevastduskyroomswithfadedgilding,andgrandoldBookshelves\"withthebiggestspider—websinEurope。\"BrusselsishisplaceforLaw—

  Consultations,generalfamilyresidence;theHagueandthatoldspider—webPalaceforcorrectingProof—sheets;doingone’sownprivatestudies,whichweneverquiteneglect。FainwouldFriedrichseehim,fainheFriedrich;butthereisadivineEmilie,thereisaMaupertuis,thereare——Inshort,neverweresuchdifficulties,inthecookingofaneggwithwaterboiling;

  andmuchvaincorrespondencehasalreadybeenonthatsubject,asonothersequallyextinct。Correspondencewhichisnotpleasantreadingatthistime;theratherasnoreadercan,withoutendlesssearching,evenunderstandit。Correspondencelefttous,notinthecosmic,elucidatedorlegiblestate;leftmainlyastheEditorialrubbish—wagonschosetoshootit;likeatumbledquarry,liketheruinsofasackedcity;——avoidablebyreaderswhoarenotforcedintoit![HerrPreuss’sedition(OEuvresdeFrederic,vols。xxi。xxii。xxiii。)hascomeoutsincetheabovewaswritten:itisagreeablyexceptional;being,forthefirsttime,correctlyprinted,andtheeditorhimselfhavingmostlyunderstoodit,——thoughthereaderstillcannot,onthetermsthereallowed。]Takethefollowingselectbricksassample,whichareofsomeuse;thegeneralHeadingis,KINGFRIEDERICTOM。DEVOLTAIRE(attheHague,oratBrussels)。

  \"CHARLOTTENBURG,12thJUNE,1740。——……MydearVoltaire,resistnolongertheeagernessIhavetoseeyou。Doinmyfavorwhateveryourhumanityallows。IntheendofAugust,IgotoWesel,andperhapsfarther。Promisethatyouwillcomeandjoinme;forI

  couldnotlivehappy,nordietranquil,withouthavingembracedyou!ThousandcomplimentstotheMarquise,\"divineEmilie。\"Iambusywithbothhands[Corn—Magazines,FreePress,AbolitionofTorture,andmuchelse];workingattheArmywiththeonehand,atthePeopleandtheFineArtswiththeother。\"

  \"BERLIN,5thAUGUST,1740。——……IwillwritetoMadameduChatelet,incompliancewithyourwish:\"markit,reader。

  \"Tospeaktoyoufranklyconcerningherjourney,itisVoltaire,itisyou,itismyFriendthatIdesiretosee;andthedivineEmiliewithallherdivinityisonlytheAccessoryoftheApolloNewtonized。

  \"IcannotyetsaywhetherIshalltravel[incognitointoforeignpartsalittle]ornottravel;\"therehavebeenrumors,perhapsprivatewishes;but——……\"Adieu,dearfriend;sublimespirit,first—bornofthinkingbeings。Lovemealwayssincerely,andbepersuadedthatnonecanloveandesteemyoumorethanI。

  VALE。FEDERIC。\"

  \"BERLIN,6thAUGUST[whichisnextday]。——YouwillhavereceivedaLetterfrommedatedyesterday;thisisthesecondIwritetoyoufromBerlin;Ireferyoutowhatwasintheother。Ifitmustbe(FAUT)thatEmilieaccompanyApollo,Iconsent;butifIcouldseeyoualone,thatiswhatIwouldprefer。Ishouldbetoomuchdazzled;Icouldnotstandsomuchsplendorallatonce;itwouldoverpowerme。IshouldneedtheveilofMosestotempertheunitedradianceofyourtwodivinities。\"……Inshort,don’tbringher,ifyouplease。

  \"REMUSBERG[poeticforREINSBERG],8thAUGUST,1740。——……MydearVoltaire,IdobelieveVanDurencostsyoumoretroubleandpainsthanyouhadwithHENRIQUATRE。InversifyingtheLifeofaHero,youwrotethehistoryofyourownthoughts;butincoercingascoundrelyoufencewithanenemywhoisnotworthyofyou。\"

  Topunishhim,andcutshorthisprofits,\"PRINT,then,asyouwish[yourowneditionoftheANTI—MACHIAVEL,togoalongwithhis,andtripthefeetfromit]。FAITESROULERLAPRESSE;erase,change,correct;doasyouseebest;yourjudgmentaboutitshallbemine。\"——\"IneightdaysIleavefor[wherethinksthereader?

  \"DANTZIG\"deliberatelyprintalltheEditors,carefulPreussamongthem;overturningtheterrestrialazimuthsforus,andmakingdaynight!]——forLeipzig,andreckononbeingatFrankfurtonthe22d。

  Incaseyoucouldbethere,Iexpect,onmypassage,togiveyoulodging!AtCleveorinHolland,Idependforcertainonembracingyou。\"[Preuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xx。

  pp。5,19—21;Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。226,&c。(notworthciting,incomparison)。]

  IntrinsicallytheFriedrichcorrespondenceatthistime,withVoltaireespecially,amongmanyfriendsnowonthewingtowardsBerlinandsendingletters,has,——ifyouareforcedintostrugglingforsomeunderstandingofit,anddogettoreadpartsofitwiththeeyesofFriedrichandVoltaire,——hasacertainamiability;andisnothinglikesowasteanddrearyasitlooksinthechaoticorsacked—citycondition。Friedrichwriteswithbrevity,oftenestonpracticalities(theANTI—MACHIAVEL,thecomingInterview,andthelike),evidentlynotimetospare;

  writesalwayswithconsiderablesincerity;withfriendliness,muchadmiration,andaningenuousvivacity,toM。deVoltaire。

  Voltaire,athisleisureinBrusselsortheOldPalaceanditsspider—webs,writesmuchmoreexpansively;notwithinsincerity,heeither;——withendlessairygraciosities,andingenioustwirls,andtouchesofflatteringunction,whichlatter,heisaware,mustnotbelaidontoothick。Asthus:——

  InregardtotheANTI—MACHIAVEL,——Sire,deigntogivemeyourpermissionsastothescoundrelofaVanDuren;wellworthwhile,Sire,——\"ITisamonumentforthelatestposterity;theonlyBookworthyofaKingforthesefifteenhundredyears。\"

  Thisisastrongishtrowelful,thrownondirect,withadroitness;

  andeventhishasakindofsincerity。Safer,however,todoitintheobliqueorreflexway,——byAmbassadorCumas,forexample:——

  \"Iwilltellyouboldly,Sir[youM。deCamas],IputmorevalueonthisBook(ANTI—MACHIAVEL)thanontheEmperorJulian’sCAESAR,orontheMAXIMSofMarcusAurelius,\"——Idoindeed,havingakindofpropertyinitwithal![Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。280(toCamas,18thOctober,1740)。]

  Infact,Voltairetooisbeautiful,inthispartoftheCorrespondence;butmuchinatwitter,——theQueenofSheba,notthesedateSolomon,inprospectofwhatiscoming。Heplumeshimselfalittle,weperceive,tohisd’ArgentalsandFrenchCorrespondents,onthissublimeintercoursehehasgotintowithaCrownedHead,thecynosureofmankind:———Perhapsevenyou,mybestfriend,didnotquiteknowme,andwhatmeritsIhad!

  Plumeshimselfalittle;butstudiestobemodestwithal;hasnotmuchofthepeacock,andoftheturkeyhasnothing,tohisoldfriends。Allwhichisverynaiveandtransparent;naturalandevenpretty,onthepartofM。deVoltaireastheweakervessel。——

  Fortherest,itiscertainMaupertuisisgettingunderwayatParistowardstheCleverendezvous。Brussels,too,issoneartheseCleveCountries;withintwodays’gooddriving:——ifonlythetimesandrouteswouldrightlyintersect?

  Friedrich’sintentionisbynomeansforastraightjourneytowardsCleve:heintendsforBaireuthfirst,thenbackfromBaireuthtoCleve,——makingahugesouthwardelbowonthemap,withBaireuthforapexorturning—point:——inthismannerhewillmakethetimessuit,andhaveaconvergenceatCleve。ToBaireuth;——whoknowsifnotfarther?Allsummertherehasgonefitfullyarumor,thathewishedtoseeFrance;perhapsParisitselfincognito?

  Therumor,whichwasheardevenatPetersburg,[Raumer’s

  Beitrage(EnglishTranslation,London,1837),p。15

  (Finch’sDespatch,24thJune,1740)。]isnowsunkdeadagain;

  butprivately,thereisnodoubt,aglimpseofthesublimeFrenchNationwouldbewelcometoFriedrich。HecouldnevergettoTravellinginhisyoungtime;missedhisGrandTouraltogether,muchashewishedit;andheiscapableofpranks!——Enough,onMondaymorning,15thAugust,1740,[Rodenbeck,p。15,slightlyinerror:seeDickens’sInterview,supra,p。187。]FriedrichandSuiteleavePotsdam;earlyenough;go,byLeipzig,bytheroutealreadyknowntoreaders,throughCoburgandtheVoigtlandregions;Wilhelminahasgotwarning,sitseagerlyexpectingherBrotherintheHermitageatBaireuth,gladdestofshrillsisters;

  andfullofanxietieshowherBrotherwouldnowbe。Thetravellingpartyconsisted,besidestheKing,ofsevenpersons:PrinceAugustWilhelm,King’snextBrother,Heir—apparentiftherecomenochildren,nowabriskyouthofeighteen;LeopoldPrinceofAnhalt—

  Dessau,OldDessauer’seldest,whatwemaycallthe\"YoungDessauer;\"ColonelvonBorck,whomweshallhearofagain;

  ColonelvonStille,alreadyheardof(gravemenoffifty,thesetwo);milk—beardMunchow,anAdjutant,youngestofthepromotedMunchows;Algarotti,indispensablefortalk;andFredersdorf,theHouse—StewardanddomesticFactotum,oncePrivateinSchwerin’sRegiment,whomBielfeldsoadmiredatReinsberg,foreseeingwhathewouldcometo。OneofFriedrich’slateactswastogiveFactotumFredersdorfanEstateofLand(smallenough,Ifancy,butwithcountry—houseonit)forsolacetotheleisureofsousefulaman,——studiousofchemistrytoo,asIhaveheard。Seveninall,besidestheKing。[Rodenbeck,p。19(andforChamberlainFredersdorf’sestate,p。15)。]DirecttowardsBaireuth,incognito,andatthetopoftheirspeed。Wednesday,17th,theyactuallyarrive。PoorWilhelmina,shefindsherBrotherchanged;becomeaKinginfact,andsternlysolitary;aloneinsoul,evenasaKingmustbe![Wilhelmina,ii。322,323。]——

  \"Algarotti,oneofthefirstBEAUX—ESPRITSofthisage,\"asWilhelminadefineshim,——FriendAlgarotti,theyoungVenetiangentlemanofelegance,induskyskin,inverywhitelinenandfrills,withhisfervidblackeyes,\"doestheexpensesoftheconversation。\"Heisfullofelegantlogic,hasspeculationsonthegreatworldandthelittle,onNature,Art,Papistry,Anti—

  Papistry,andtakesuptheOperainanearnestmanner,ascapableofbeingaschoolofvirtueandthemoralsublime。HisrespectableBooksontheOperaandothertopicsarenowallforgotten,andcravenottobementioned。Tomeheisnotsupremelybeautiful,thoughmuchthegentlemaninmannersasinruffles,andingeniouslylogical:——ratheryellowtome,inmindasinskin,andwithataintofobsoleteVenetianMacassar。ButtoFriedrichheisthrice—dear;wholovestheSharpfacetedcutoftheman,anddoesnotobjecttohisyelloworExtinct—Macassarqualitiesofmind。

  ThankstothatwanderingBaltimoreforpickingupsuchajewelandcarryinghimNorthward!AlgarottihimselflikestheNorth:hereinourhardyclimates,——especiallyatBerlin,andwerehislovedFriedrichNOTaKing,——Algarotticouldbeveryhappyinthelibertyallowed。AtLondon,wherethereisnoKing,ornonetospeakof,andplentyoffreeIntelligences,Carterets,Lytteltons,youngPittsandthelike,heisalsowell,wereitnotforthehorridsmokeuponone’slinen,andthelittleornoFrenchofthoseproudIslanders。

  Wilhelminaseemstolikehimhere;isglad,atanyrate,thathedoesthecostsofconversation,betterorworse。Intherestisnohope。Stille,Borckareaccomplishedmilitarygentlemen;butoftacitnature,reflective,practical,ratherthandiscursive,anddonotwastethemselvesbyincontinenceoftongue。Stille,byhismilitaryCommentaries,whicharestillknowntosoldiersthatread,maintainssomelastingremembranceofhimself:Borckweshallseeengagedinasmallbitofbusinessbeforelong。AstoMunchow,theJEUNEMORVEUXofanAdjutant,he,thoughhismannersarewellenough,andhewearsmilitaryplumesinhishat,isstillanunfledgedyoungcreature,\"billstillyellow,\"sotospeak;——

  andmarkshimselfchieflybyavisiblehankeringafterthattroublesomecreatureMarwitz,whoisalwayscoquetting。

  Friedrich’sconversation,especiallytomeWilhelmina,seems\"GUINDE,setonstilts,\"likewisetherearefrequentcutsofbanterinhim;anditispainfullyevidenthedistinguishesmySisterofAnspachandherfoolishHusband,whomhehasinvitedoverhitherinamosteagermanner,beyondwhatapoorWilhelminawithheroldlovecanpretendto。Patience,myshrillPrincess,BeautyofBaireuthandtheworld;letushopeallwillcomerightagain!MyshrillPrincess——whohasamelodiousstrengthlikethatofwar—fifes,too——knowshowtobepatient;andveilsmanythings,thoughofahighlyunhypocriticalnature。

  ThesewereThreegreatDaysatBaireuth;Wilhelminaistocomesoon,andreturnthevisitatBerlin。TowaitupontheKing,knownthoughincognito,\"theBishopofBamberg\"camedrivingover:

  [Helden—Geschichte,i。419。]Schonborn,AustrianKanzler,orwho?HisoldCityweoncesaw(andplentyofhangedmalefactorsswingingroundit,duringthatJOURNEYTOTHE

  REICH);——buttheBishophimselfnevertoourknowledge,Bishopbeingabsentthen,IhopeitisthesameBishopofBamberg,whomaFriendofBusching’s,touringthereaboutthatsametime,sawdininginaveryextraordinarymanner,withmedievaltrumpeters,\"withwaitersinspursandbuff—belts;\"[Busching’s

  Beitrage;——Schlosser(HistoryoftheEighteenthCentury)alsoquotesthescene。]ifitisnot,Ihavenottheslightestshadowofacquaintancewithhim,——

  therehavebeensomanyBishopsofBambergwithwhomonewishestohavenone!OnthethirddayFriedrichandhiscompanywentaway,towardsWurzburg;andWilhelminawasleftalonewithherreflections。\"Ihadhadsomuchtosaytohim;Ihadgotnothingsaidatall:\"alas,itiseverso。\"TheKingwassochanged,grownsomuchbigger(GRANDI),youcouldnothaveknownhimagain;\"

  standsfinelyerectandatfullbreadth,everyinchaKing;

  hisverystature,youwouldsay,increased。——Adieu,myPrincess,pearlofPrincesses;allreaderswillexpectyourreturn—visitatBerlin,whichistobesoon。

  FRIEDRICHSTRIKESOFFTOTHELEFT,ANDHASAVIEWOF

  STRASBURGFORTWODAYS。

  ThroughWurzburg,Frankfurt—on—Mayn,speedsFriedrich;——

  WilhelminaandmankindunderstandthatitishomewardsandtoCleve;butatFrankfurt,indeepestprivacy,thereoccursasuddenwhirlsouthward,——uptheRhine—Valley;directtowardsStrasburg,forasightofFranceinthatquarter!SohasFriedrichdecided,——

  notquitesuddenly,onnewLettershere,ornewcomputationsaboutCleve;butbyforethoughttakenatBaireuth,asratherappears。

  FromFrankfurttoStrasburg,say150miles;fromStrasburghome,isnotmuchfartherthanfromFrankfurthome:itcanbedone,then;husht!

  Theincognitoistoberigorous:FriedrichbecomesCOMTEDUFOUR,aPrussian—Frenchgentleman;PrinceAugustWilhelmisGrafvonSchaffgotsch,AlgarottiisGrafvonPfuhl,Germansthesetwo;

  whatLeopold,theYoungDessauer,calledhimself,——stilllesswhattheothers,orwhethertheotherswerethereatall,andnotshovedon,directtowardsWesel,outofthewayasislikelier,——

  canremainuncertaintoreadersandme。FromFrankfurt,then,onMondaymorning,22dAugust,1740,asIcompute,througholdknownPhilipsburgCampaigncountry,andthelinesofEttlingenandStollhofen;theretheRoyalPartyspeedseagerly(weatherverybad,asappears):anditiscertaintheyareatKehlonTuesdayevening;lookingacrossthelongRhineBridge,Strasburganditssteeplesnowcloseathand。

  ThislookstobearomanticfinepassageintheHistoryoftheyoungKing;——thoughintruthitisnot,andprovesbutafeeblestoryeithertohimorus。Concerningwhich,however,thereader,especiallyifheshouldhearthatthereexistspreciseAccountofit,TwoAccountsindeed,onefromtheKing’sownhand,willnotfailofacertaincravingtobecomeacquaintedwithdetails。

  Thiscraving,foolishratherthanwise,weconsideritthriftiesttosatisfyatonce;andshallgivetheKing’sNARRATIVEentire,thoughitisajinglingleanscraggyPiece,partlyrhyme,\"inthemannerofBachaumontandLaChapelle;\"writtenatthegallop,afewdayshence,anddespatchedtoVoltaire:——\"You,\"dearVoltaire,\"wishtoknowwhatIhavebeenabout,sinceleavingBerlin;

  annexedyouwillfindadescriptionofit,\"writesFriedrich。

  [OEuvres,xxii。25(Wesel,2dSeptemher,1740)。]OutofVoltaire’sandotherpeople’swaste—baskets,ithasatlengthbeenfishedup,patchbypatch,andpastedtogetherbyvictoriousmodernEditors;andhereitisagainentire。TheotherNarrative,whichgotintotheNewspaperssoonafter,islikewiseofauthenticnature,——Fassmann,ourpooroldfriend,confirmingit,ifthatwereneedful,——andishappilyinprose。[GiveninHelden—Geschichte,i。420—423;——seelikewiseFassmann’sMerkwurdigsterRegierungs—Antritt

  (pooroldBookonFRIEDRICH’SACCESSION);Preuss(Thronbesteigung,pp。395—400);&c。&c。]

  HoldingthesetwoPieceswelltogether,andgivingtheKing’sfaithfullytranslated,inacompletestate,itwillbepossibletosatisfyfoolishcravings,andmakethisStrasburgAdventureluminousenough。

  KINGFRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIRE(fromWesel,2dSeptember,1740),CHIEFLYINDOGGEREL,CONCERNINGTHERUNTOSTRASBURG。

  Partofit,incorrect,inVoltaire,OEuvres

  (scandalousPiecenowcalledMemoires,onceViePriveeduRoidePrusse),ii。24—26;

  finally,inPreuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,

  xiv。156—161,therealandcompleteaffair,asfishedupbyvictoriousPreussandothers。

  \"IhavejustfinishedaJourney,intermingledwithsingularadventures,sometimespleasant,sometimesthereverse。YouknowI

  hadsetoutforBaireuth,\"——BRUXELLESthebeautifulFrenchEditorwrote,whichmakesEgyptiandarknessofthePiece!——\"toseeaSisterwhomIlovenolessthanesteem。Ontheroad[thitherorthence;orlikeliest,THERE],AlgarottiandIconsultedthemap,tosettleourrouteforreturningbyWesel。Frankfurt—on—Mayncomesalwaysasaprincipalstage;——Strasburgwasnogreatroundabout:wechosethatrouteinpreference。TheINCOGNITOwasdecided,namespitchedupon[ComteDufour,andtheothers];

  storyweweretotell:infine,allwasarrangedandconcertedtoanicetyaswellaspossible。WefanciedweshouldgettoStrasburginthreedays[fromBaireuth]。

  ButHeaven,whichdisposesofallthings,Differentlyregulatedthisthing。

  Withlank—sidedcoursers,LinealdescendantsfromRosinante,Withploughmeninthedressofpostilions,Blockheadsofimpertinentnature;

  Ourcarriagesstickingfastahundredtimesintheroad,Wewentalongwithgravityataleisurelypace,Knockingagainstthecrags。

  Theatmosphereinuproarwithloudthunder,Therain—torrentsstreamingovertheEarthThreatenedmankindwiththeDayofJudgment[VERYBADWEATHER],Andinspiteofourimpatience,Fourgooddaysare,inpenance,Lostforeverinthesejumblings。

  Maisleciel,quidetoutdispose,Regladifferemmentlachose。

  Avecdecoursiersefflanques,EnlignedroitesissusdeRosinante,Etdespaysansenpostillonsmasques,Dutorsderaceimpertinente,Notrecarrosseencentlieuxaccroche,Nousallionsgravement,d’uneallureindolente,Gravitantcontrelesrochers。

  Lesairsemusparlebruyanttonnerre,Lestorrentsd’eaurepandussurlaterre,Dudernierjourmenacaientleshumains;

  Etmalgrenotreimpatience,QuatrebonsjoursenpenitenceSontpourjamaisperdusdanslescharrains。

  \"Hadallourfatalitiesbeenlimitedtostoppagesofspeedonthejourney,weshouldhavetakenpatience;but,afterfrightfulroads,wefoundlodgingsstillfrightfuler。

  ForgreedylandlordsSeeinguspressedbyhungerDid,inamorethanfrugalmanner,Intheirinfernalhovels,Poisoninginsteadoffeeding,Stealfromusourcrowns。

  Oagedifferent[ingoodcheer]fromthatofLucullus!

  Cardeshotesinteresses,Delafaimnousvoyantpresses,D’unefaconplusquefrugale,Dansunechaumiereinfernale,Ennousempoisonnant,Nousvolaientnosecus。

  OsiecledifferentdestempsdeLucullus!

  \"Frightfulroads;shortofvictual,shortofdrink:norwasthatall。Wehadtoundergoavarietyofaccidents;andcertainlyourequipagemusthavehadasingularair,forineverynewplacewecameto,theytookusforsomethingdifferent。

  SometookusforKings,Someforpickpocketswelldisguised;

  Othersforoldacquaintances。

  Attimesthepeoplecrowdedout,Lookedusintheeyes,Likeclownsimpertinentlycurious。

  OurlivelyItalian[Algarotti]swore;

  FormyselfItookpatience;

  TheyoungCount[mygayyoungerBrother,eighteenatpresent]

  quizzedandfrolicked;

  ThebigCount[Heir—apparentofDessau]silentlyswunghishead,WishingthisfineJourneytoFrance,Inthebottomofhisheart,mostchristianlyattheDevil。

  Lesunsnousprenaientpourdesrois,D’autrespourdesfilouscourtois,D’autrespourgensdeconnaissance;

  Parfoislepeuples’attroupait,EntrelesyeuxnousregardaitEnbadaudscurieux,remplisd’impertinence。

  NotrevifItalienjurait,Pourmoijeprenaispatience,LejeuneComtefolatrait,LegrandComtesedandinait,EtcebeauvogagedeFranceDanslefonddesoncoeurchretiennementdamnait。

  \"Wefailednot,however,tostrugglegraduallyalong;atlastwearrivedinthatStronghold,where[asprefacetotheWarof1734,knowntosomeofus]——

  Wherethegarrison,toosupple,SurrenderedsopiteouslyAfterthefirstblurtofexplosionFromthecannonoftheFrench。

  Ouagarnison,troupeflasque,SerenditsipiteusementApreslapremierebourasqueDucanonfrancaisfoudroyant。

  YourecognizeKehlinthisdescription。ItwasinthatfineFortress,——where,bytheway,thebreachesarestilllyingunrepaired[Reichbeingaslowcorpusinregardtosuchthings],——thatthePostmaster,amanofmoreforesightthanwe,askedIfwehadgotpassports?

  No,saidItohim;ofpassportsWeneverhadthewhim。

  StrongonesIbelieveitwouldneedTorecall,tooursideofthelimit,SubjectsofPlutoKingoftheDead:

  But,fromtheGermanicEmpireIntothegallantandcynicalabodeOfMessieursyourprettyFrenchmen,——

  Ajollyandbeamingair,Rubicundfaces,notignorantofwine,Thesearethepassportswhich,legibleifyoulookonus,Ourtroopproducestoyouforthatend。

  Non,luidis—je,despasse—portsNousn’eumesjamaislafolie。

  Ilenfaudrait,jecrois,defortsPourressusciteralavieDechezPlutonleroidesmorts;

  Maisdel’empiregermaniqueAusejourgalantetcyniqueDeMessieursvosjolisFrancais,Unairrebondissantetfrais,Unefacerougeetbachique,Sontlespasse—portsqu’ennostraitsVousproduiticinotreclique。

  \"No,Messieurs,saidtheprovidentMasterofPassports;

  nosalvationwithoutpassport。SeeingthenthatNecessityhadgotusinthedilemmaofeithermanufacturingpassportsourselvesornotenteringStrasburg,wetooktheformerbranchofthealternativeandmanufacturedone;——inwhichfeat,thePrussianarms,whichIhadonmyseal,weremarvellouslyfurthersome。\"

  Thisisafact,astheoldNewspapersandconfirmatoryFassmannmoredirectlyappriseus。\"TheLandlord[orPostmaster]atKehl,havingsignifiedthattherewasnocrossingwithoutPassport,\"

  Friedrich,atfirst,somewhattakenaback,bethoughthimofhiswatch—sealwiththeRoyalArmsonit;andsoonmanufacturedthenecessaryPassport,signetedindueform;——which,however,gaveasuspiciontotheInnkeeperastothequalityofhisGuest。

  Afterwhich,Tuesdayevening,23dAugust,\"theyatoncegotacrosstoStrasburg,\"saysmyNewspaperFriend,\"andputupattheSIGN

  OFTHERAVEN,there。\"OrinFriedrich’sownjingle:——

  \"WearrivedatStrasburg;andtheCustom—housecorsair,withhisinspectors,seemedcontentwithourevidences。

  Thesescoundrelsspiedus,Withoneeyereadingourpassport,Withtheotheroglingourpurse。

  Gold,whichwasalwaysaresource,Whichbrought,JovetotheenjoymentOfDanaewhomhecaressed;

  Gold,bywhichCaesargovernedTheworldhappyunderhissway;

  Gold,moreadivinitythanMarsorLove;

  Wonder—workingGoldintroducedusThatevening,withinthewallsofStrasburg。\"

  [Giventhusfar,withseveralslighterrors,inVoltaire,ii。

  24—26;——theremainder,longunknown,hadtobefishedup,patchbypatch(Preuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。

  159—161)。]

  Cessceleratsnousepiaient,D’unoeillepasse—portlisaient,Del’autrelorgnaientnotrebourse。

  L’or,quitoujoursfutderessource,ParlequelJupinjouissaitDeDanae,qu’ilcaressait;

  L’or,parquiCesargouvernaitLemondeheureuxsoussonempire;

  L’or,plusdieuqueMarsetl’Amour,Lesoir,danslesmursdeStrasbourg。

  Saddoggerel;permissibleperhapsasasampleoftheFriedrichmanufacture,surelynototherwise!Thereremainsyetmorethanhalfofit;readersseewhattheirfoolishcravinghasbroughtuponthem!Doggereloutofwhichnoclearstory,suchstoryasthereis,canbehad;though,excepttheexaggerationandcontortion,thereisnothingoffictioninit。WeflytotheNewspaper,happilyatleastaprosecomposition,whichbeginsatthispoint;andshallusetheDoggerelhenceforthasillustrationonlyorasrepetitionintheFriedrich—mirror,ofathingOTHERWISEmadecleartous:——

  HavinggotintoStrasburgandtheRAVENHOTEL;FriedrichnowonFrenchgroundatlast,oratleastonHalf—French,German—French,isintenttomakethemostofcircumstances。TheLandlord,withoneofFriedrich’sservants,isstraightwaydespatchedintothepropercoffee—housestoraiseasupper—partyofOfficers;politelyasksanylikelyOfficer,\"IfhewillnotdoaforeignGentleman[seeminglyofsomedistinction,signifiesBoniface]thehonortosupwithhimattheRaven?\"——\"No,byJupiter!\"answerthemost,intheirvariousdialects:\"whoishethatweshouldsupwithhim?\"

  Three,struckbythesingularityofthething,undertake;andwiththesewemustbecontent。Friedrich——orcallhimM。leComteDufour,withPfuhl,Schaffgotschandsuchescortaswesee——

  politelyapologizesontheentranceoftheseofficers:

  \"Manypardons,gentlemen,andmanythanks。Knowingnobody;

  desirousofacquaintance:——sinceyouaresogood,howhappy,byalittleinformality,tohavebroughtbraveOfficerstokeepmecompany,whomIvaluebeyondotherkindsofmen!\"

  TheOfficersfoundtheirhostamostengaginggentleman:

  hissupperwassuperb,plentyofwine,\"andoneredkindtheyhadnevertastedbefore,andlikedextremely;\"——ofwhichhesentsomebottlestotheirlodgingnextday。Theconversationturnedonmilitarymatters,andwasenlivenedwiththeduesallies。

  ThisforeignCountspeaksFrenchwonderfully;abrilliantman,whomtheothersratherfear:perhapssomethingmorethanaCount?

  TheOfficers,loathtogo,rememberedthattheirtwobattalionshadtoparadenextmorning,thatitwastimetobeinbed:\"Iwillgotoyourreview,\"saidtheStrangerCount:thedelightedOfficersundertaketocomeandfetchhim,theysettlewithhimtimeandmethod;howhappy!

  Onthemorrow,accordingly,theycallandfetchhim;helooksatthereview;reviewdone,theyaskhimtosupperforthisevening:

  \"Withpleasure!\"and\"walkswiththemabouttheEsplanade,toseetheguardmarchby。\"Beforeparting,hetakestheirnames,writestheminhistablets;says,withasmile,\"Heistoomuchobligedevertoforgetthem。\"ThisisWednesday,the24thofAugust,1740;

  Field—MarshalBroglioisCommandantinStrasburg,andtheseobligingOfficersare\"oftheregimentPiedmont,\"——theirnamesontheKing’stabletsIneverheardmentionedbyanybody(ornevertilltheKing’sDoggerelwasfishedupagain)。Field—MarshalBrogliomyreadershavetransientlyseen,afaroff;——\"gallopingwithonlyoneboot,\"somesay\"almostinhisshirt,\"attheFordofSecchia,inthoseItaliancampaigns,fiveyearsago,theAustrianshavingstolenacrossuponhim:——hehadafuriousgallop,withnoendofridicule,onthatoccasion;isnowCommandanthere;

  andweshallhaveagreatdealmoretodowithhimwithinthenextyearortwo。

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