第117章
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  Hereconnoitreddiligently;rodeoutreconnoitring\"fifteenmilesthefirstday\"(July6th),dittothesecondandfollowing;andwasnearlyshotbyCroats,——byonespecificCroat,saysPrussianMythology,supportedbyEngraving。AnoldEngraving,whichIhaveneverseen;representsFriedrichreconnoitringthosefive—and—twentymilesofElbe,whichhavesomanyredoubtsontheirsideofit,andswarmwithCroatpartiesonbothsides:thisisallthetruththatisintheEngraving。[Rodenbeck,p。188。]Factsays:

  Friedrich(\"onthe8th,\"ifthatwereallthevariation)\"wasamarkfortheAustriansharpshootersforhalfanhour。\"Mythsays,andengravesit,withthedateof\"July7th:\"Friedrich,skirtingsomethicket,suddenlycameuponasingleCroatwithmusketlevelledathim,wildcreature’sfingerjustonthetrigger;——andquietlyadmonishing,Friedrichliftshisfingerwitha\"DU,DU(Ahyou!);\"uponwhich,suchthedivinitythathedgesone,thewildcreatureinstantlyflingsdownhismurder—weapon,and,kneeling,embracestheKing’sboot,——withkisses,foranythingIknow。Itiscertain,Friedrich,aboutsixtimesoverinthispaltryWarorQuasiNo—War,sethisattendantsonthetremble;wasnamely,fromCroateriesandArtilleries,inimminentperiloflife;socarelesswashe,anddangeroustospeaktoinhissourhumor。Humorverysour,theysay,formostpart;beinginrealityaltogetherbackwardandloathforgrandenterprise;andyetstrivingtothinkhewasnot;ashamedthatanyWarofhisshouldbeaNo—War。

  Schmettausays:——

  \"OnthedayofgettingintoJaromirtz[July8th],theKing,tiredofridingaboutwhiletheColumnswereslowlygettingin,laydownonthegroundwithhisAdjutantsabouthim。AyoungOfficercameridingpast;whomtheKingbeckonedtohim;——wrotesomethingwithpencil(anOrder,notoftheleastimportance),andsaid:’Here;

  thatOrdertoGeneralLossow,andtellhimheisnottotakeitillthatItroublehim,asIhavenoneinmySuitethatcandoanything。’\"LettheSuitetakeitastheycan!Amostpungent,severeoldKing;quiteperverseattimes,thinksSchmettau。

  Thusagain,morethanonce。:——

  \"OnarrivingwithhisColumnwheretheOfficer,aperfectlyskilfulman,hadmarkedouttheCamp,theKingwouldlifthisspy—glass;

  gazetorightandleft,ridingroundtheplaceatperhapsahundredyards’distance;andbegin:’SIEHTER,HERR,Butlook,Herr,whatabotchingyouhavemadeofitagain(WASERDAWIEDERFURDUMMZEUG

  GEMACHTHAT)!’andgrumblingandblaming,wouldaltertheCamp,tillitwasalloutofrule;andthensay,’Seethere,thatisthewaytomarkoutCamps。’\"[Schmettau,xxv。30,24。]

  Inaweek’stime,July13th,cameanotherfineexcuseforinaction;

  PlenipotentiaryThugut,namely,andtheKaiserinn’sLetter,whichwespokeof。AutographfromMariaTheresaherself,inspiredbytheterrorofViennaandofherbeautifulmotherlyheart。

  Negotiationtobeprivateutterly:\"MySon,theKaiser,knowsnothingofit;Ibegthemostabsolutesecrecy;\"whichwasaccordinglykept,whileThugut,withFinkensteinandHertzbergagain,held\"CongressofBraunau\"inthoseneighborhoods,——withaslittleeffectasever。Thugut’sName,itseems,wasoriginallyTUNICOTTO(Tyrolese—Italian);whichtheignorantViennapeoplechangedinto\"THU—NICHT—GUT(Do—no—good),\"tillMariaTheresa,inverycharity,struckoutthenegative,andmadehim\"Do—good。\"

  Do—goodandhisCongressheldFriedrichtillAugust10th:fivemoreweeksgone;andnothingbutreconnoitring,——withofcourseforaging,anddiligentlyeatingtheCountry,whichisadailyemployment,andproducesfencingandskirmishingenough。

  Henri,intheinterim,hasinvadedfromtheWest;seenLeitmeritz,Lobositz;——PragNobilityallrunning,andIsupposePrayerstoSt。

  Titusgoingagain,——andLoudoninalarm。Loudon,however,savedPrag\"bytwomasterlypositions\"(notmentionablehere);uponwhichHenritookcampatNiemes;Loudon,theweakerinthispart,seizingtheIserasabulwark,andrankinghimselfbehindit,back—to—backofLacy。HereforaboutfiveweekssatHenri,nothingonhandbuttoeattheCountry。OvertheheadsofLoudonandLacy,asthecrowflies,Henri’sCampmaybeabout70milesfromJaromirtz,wheretheKingis。HussarBelling,ouroldAnti—Swedefriend,abrilliantcuttingman,brokeovertheIseronce,perhapstwice;andtherewasprettyfencingbyhimandthelikeofhim:\"butPrinceHenrididnothing,\"saystheKing,[OEuvresdeFrederic,vi。154]——was,infact,helpingtheKingtodonothing。

  Bythe10thofSeptember,asHenrihascomputed,thisCountrywillbeeaten;\"Forage,Ifind,willbequitedonehereonSeptember10th,\"writesHenri,afteraweekortwo’sexperience。

  TherewasalwaystalkofHenriandtheKing,whoare100,000each,joininghandsbythepostofArnau,orsomeweakpointofLacy’swellnorthofKonigsgratz;thusofcuttingoffthemeal—cartsofthatback—to—backcopartnery,andsooftumblingitofftheground(whichwasperfectlypossible,saysSchmettau);andsmalldetachmentsandexpeditiouswerepushedout,GeneralDahlwig,GeneralAnhalt,partlyforthatobject:butnottheleastofitevertookeffect。\"Futile,lostbyloitering,asallelsewas,\"

  groansSchmettau。PrinceHenriwasaversetoattempt,intimatestheKing,——asindeed(thoughrefusingtoownit)wasI。

  \"September10th,myforagewillbeout,yourMajesty,\"saysHenri,alwaysapunctualcalculatingman。

  TheAustrians,ontheirside,wereequallystagnant;and,exceptthecontinualskirmishingwiththePrussianforagers,undertooknothing。\"Shamefullyill—cloneourforaging,too,\"exclaimsSchmettauagainandagain:\"Hadwedoneitwithneatness,withregularity,theCountrywouldhavelastedustwiceaslong。

  Doingitheadlong,wastefullyandbytherule—of—thumb,theCountrywasadesert,allitsinhabitantsfled,allitsediblesconsumed,beforesixweekswereover。Friedrichisnotnowhimselfatall;

  ingreatthingsorinlittle;whatachangedFriedrich!\"exclaimsSchmettau,withwearisomeiteration。

  FromaboutAugust6th,orespeciallyAugust10th,whentheMaria—

  TheresaCorrespondence,or\"CongressofBraunau,\"endedlikewiseinzero,FriedrichbecameimpatientforactualjunctionwithPrinceHenri,actualpushofbusiness;andbegantohintofanexcellentplanhehad:\"Burstthroughontheirleftflank;blowuptheirpostofHohenelbeyonder:thenceisbutonemarchtoIserriver;

  junctionwithPrinceHenrithere;andaLacyandaLoudontumbledtothewinds。\"\"Aplanperfectlyfeasible,\"saysSchmettau;\"whichsolacedtheKing’shumor,butwhichheneverreallyintendedtoexecute。\"Possiblynot;otherwise,accordingtooldwont,hewouldhaveforbornetospeakofitbeforehand。Atallevents,August15th,inthefeelingthatoneoughtreallytodosomething,theratherasforagehereaboutswasalmostoraltogetherrunningout,heactuallysetaboutthisgrandscheme。

  Gotonmarchtorightward,namely,uptheAupariver,throughthegloomychasmsofKingdom—Wood,memorableinolddays:hadhisbakeryshiftedtoTrautenau;hisheavycannongettingtuggedthroughthemireandtherains,whichbythistimewereabundant,towardsHohenelbe,forthegreatenterprise:andsatencampedonandabouttheBattle—groundofSohrforaweekorso,waitingtillallwereforward;eatingSohrCountry,whichwaspainfullyeasytodo。TheAustriansdidnexttonothingonhim;buttherains,themudandscarcityweredoingmuch。GettingontoHohenelberegion,afteraweek’swetwaiting,he,onocularsurveyofthegroundabout,washeardtosay,\"Thiscannotbedone,then!\"\"Hadnevermeanttodoit,\"sneersSchmettau,\"andonlywantedsomeexcuse。\"

  Whichisverylikely。SchmettaugivesanAnecdoteofhimhere:

  InregardtoacertainHill,theKeyoftheAustrianposition,whichtheKingwascontinuallyreconnoitring,andlamentingtheenormousheightof,\"Impossible,sohigh!\"OneoftheAdjutantstookhistheodolite,ascertainedtheheight,and,bywayofcomfortinghisMajesty,reportedtheexactnumberoffeetabovetheirpresentlevel。\"HowdoYOUknow,Herr?\"saidtheKingangrily。\"MeasureditbyTrigonometry,yourMajesty。\"——

  \"Trigonometry!SCHER’ERSICHZUMTEUFEL(Offwithyou,Sir,totheDevil,yourTrigonometryandyou!)\"——nobelieverinmathematics,thisKing。

  Hewasloathtogo;andlaidtheblameonmanythings。\"WerePrinceHenrinowbutacrosstheIser。HadthatstupidAnhalt,whenhewasuponit[gallopingabout,totheruinofhishead],onlyseizedArnau,ArnauanditsElbe—Bridge;andhaditinhandforjunctionwithPrinceHenri!\"Infine,justasthelastbatchofheavycannon——twentyorthirtyhungeredhorsestoagun,attherateoffivemilesadayinroadsunspeakable——weregettingin,heorderedthemalltobedraggedback,backtotheTrautenauroad;whitherwemustnowallgo。And,SEPTEMBER8th,inperfectorder,fortheAustrianslittlemolestedhim,andgotabadbargainwhentheydid,thegreatFriedrichwithhiswholeArmygotonmarchhomeward,aftersuchaCampaignaswesee。ClimbedtheTrautenau—LandshutPass,withnothingofeffectivelossexceptfromtherainyelements,thesteepmirywaysandthestarvedhorses;

  draught—horsesespeciallystarved,——whom,poorcreatures,\"youwouldseespringattheropes[draught—harness],thirtyofthemtoagun,whenstartedandgee—ho’dto;tugviolentlywithnoeffect,andfalldowninwholerows。\"

  PrinceHenri,foragedone,startedpunctuallySeptember10th,twodaysafterhisBrother;andwithlittleornopursuit,fromtheAustrians,andwithhorsesunstarved,gothomeincomparativelytolerablecircumstances。CantonedhimselfinDresdenneighborhood,andsatwaiting:hehadneverapprovedthisWar;andnow,I

  suppose,wouldnotwantforreflections。Friedrich’scantonmentswereroundLandshut,andspreadouttorightandtoleft,fromGlatzCountryandtheUpper—SilesianHills,toSilberbergandSchweidnitz;——hisownquarteristhesameregion,wherehelaysolonginSummer,1759,talkingonlearnedsubjectswiththelateQuintusIcilius,ifreadersremember,andwearilywaitingtillCunctatorDaun(likewisenowdeceased)tookhisstand,orhisseat,atMarkLissa,andtheKingcouldfollowhimtoSchmottseifen。

  FriedrichhimselfonthispresentoccasionstayedatSchatzlarasrear—guard,toseewhethertheAustrianswouldnotperhapstrytomakesomeWinterCampaignofit,andifso,whethertheywouldattemptonPrinceHenrioronhim。TheAustriansdidnotattemptoneither;showednosuchintention,——thoughmischievousenoughinothersmallways。FriedrichwrotetheELOGEofVoltaire[OEuvresdeFrederic,vii。50etseq。

  (\"finishedNov。26th,1778\")。]whilehewaitedhereatSchatzlar,amongtherainyMountains。Lateron,asprospectsaltered,hewasmuchatBreslau,orrunningaboutoncivicerrandswithBreslauascentre:atBreslauhehadmanyDialogueswithProfessorGarve,——inwhosegood,butoppressivelysolemn,littleBook,moreadull—

  droningPreachmentthanaNarrative,noreaderneedlookforthemorforhim。

  AstotheEULOGYOFVOLTAIRE,wemaysaythatitisgenerous,ingenious,succinct;andofdialectnowobsoletetous。Therewas(andis,thoughsuppressed)anotherEULOGY,brand—new,byaContemporaryofourown,——fromwhichIknownotifreaderswillpermitmeasentenceortwo,inthispauseamongtherainyMountains?……\"Awonderfultalentlayinthisman——[inVoltaire,towit;

  \"suchanintellect,thesharpest,swiftestoftheworld,\"thinksourContemporary;\"fathomingyouthedeepestsubject,toadepthfarbeyondmostmen’ssoundings,andcomingupwithvictoryandsomethingwiseandlogicallyspeakabletosayonit,soonerthananyotherman,——neverdoubtingbuthehasbeenatthebottom,whichisfromthreetotenmileslower!\"]wonderfultalent;butobservealways,ifyoulookclosely,itwasinessenceameretalentforSpeech;whichtalentBaviusandMaeviusandtheJewApellamayadmirewithoutlookingbehindit,butthisEulogistbynomeanswill。Speech,myfriend?Ifyoursublimetalentofspeechconsistsonlyinmakingignoranceappeartobeknowledge,andlittlewisdomappeartobemuch,Iwillthankyoutowalkonwithit,andapplyatsomeothershop。TheQUANTITYofshopswhereyoucanapplywiththrice—goldenadvantage,fromtheMorningNewspaperstotheNationalSenate,istremendousatthisepochofthepoorworld’shistory;——go,Irequestyou!Andwhilehisfootisonthestairs,descendingfrommygarret,Ithink:Ounfortunatefellow—creatureinanunfortunateworld,whyisnotthereaFriedrichWilhelmto’elect’you,ashedidGundling,tohisTOBACCOParliament,andtheresetFassmannuponyouwiththepansofburningpeat?Itwerebetterevenforyourself;wholesomelydidactictoyourpoorself,I

  cannotdoubt;andforthepoormultitudestowhomyouarenowtobesacredVATES,speakingandsingingYOURdismalGUNDLINGIANAasifinspiredbyHeaven,howinfinitelybetter!——Courage,courage!

  Idiscern,acrossthesehideousjargons,thereignofgreatersilenceapproachinguponrepentantmen;reignofgreatersilence,I

  say;orelsethatofannihilation,whichwillbethemostsilentofall……

  \"Voltaire,ifnotagreatman,isaremarkablypeculiarone;

  anddidsuchaworkintheseAgesaswillrenderhimlongmemorable,moreorless。Hekindledtheinfinitedrydung—heapofthings;setitblazingheaven—high;——andweallthought,intheFrenchRevolutiontime,itwouldburnoutrapidlyintoashes,andthentherewouldaclearUpperFirmament,ifoverablackenedEarth,beoncemorevouchsafedus。Theflameisnowdone,asIoncesaid;andonlythedulldung—heap,smokilyburning,butnotnowblazing,remains,——foritwasverydamp,EXCEPTonthesurface,andisbynatureslowofcombustion:——whoknowsbutitmayhavetoburnforcenturiesyet,poisoningbyitsvillanousmal—odorsthelife—

  atmosphereofallmen?EternalAuthorofthisUniverse,whosethroneisTruth,towhomalltheTrueareSons,wiltthounotlookdownuponus,then!——Tillthissadprocessiscomplete?Voltaireisliketobeverymemorable。\"……

  ToFriedrichtheWinterwasingeneraltranquil;aFriedrichbusypreparingallthingsforhisgrandMahrenEnterprise,andfor\"realworknextyear。\"ByandbytherecametoberealPeace—prospectsinstead。Meanwhile,theAustriansdotryalittle,inthesmallPandourway,todislodgehimfromtheUpper—SilesianorTeschenregions,wheretheErbprinzofBrunswickisincommand;amannottobeprickedintogratisbyPandours。Erbprinz,accordingly,provokedbytheirPandourings,brokeoutatlast;andaboutZuckmantelinstantlyscourgedthemhome,andhadpeaceafter。

  Foiledhere,theynexttrieduponGlatz;\"GetintohisGlatzCountry,then;——asnatchofthatwillbalancetheaccount\"(whichwasoneofNewspapergloryonly):andacertainWurmseroftheirs,expertinsuchthings,didburntheTownofHabelschwertonemorning;[\"18thJanuary,1779\"(Rodenbeck,iii。195;Schmettau,&c。)。]andtriedfarther,notwiselythistime,asurprisalofGlatzFortressitself;butgotsmittenhomebyouroldfriendGeneralWunsch,withoutprofitthere。ThiswasthesameWurmserwhocametobadissuesintheNapoleontimeafterwards;arisingmanthen;notadimOld—Newspaperghostasnow。

  MostshamefulthisburningofHabelschwertbywayofmerebravura,thinksFriedrich,inatimeofactualTreatyforPeace,whenourCongressofTeschenwasjuststrugglingtogettogether!ItwasthechiefstrokedonebytheAustriansinthisWar;gloriousorshameful,wewillnotthinkofinquiring。NorinfactofaddingonewordmoreonsuchaWar,——except,whateverybodylongsfor,That,NOVEMBER27th,1778,CzarinaCatharine,byherPrinceGalitzinatVienna,intervenedinthematter,inaloftyway;andendedit。

  CzarinaCatharine,——smallthankstoher,itseems,foritwasFriedrichthatbyhisindustriesandworld—diplomacies,Frenchandother,hadgotherTurks,whohadbeengivingtroubleagain,compescedintopeaceforher;andindeed,toFriedrichorhisinterests,thoughboundbyTreaty,shehadsmallregardintakingthisstep,butwishedmerelytoappearinGermanPoliticsasaShe—Jove,——CzarinaCatharinesignified,inhighandperemptorythoughpoliteDiplomaticterms,atVienna,\"ImperialMadam,howlongissuchaWartolast?BeatPeace,bothofyou;or——!

  Ishall,however,mediate,ifyoulike,beingtheheartyfriendofboth。\"[CopyofGalitzin’s\"Declaration,\"inFISCHER,ii。406—411。]

  \"Do,\"answersMariaTheresa,whosefinanceisquiteout,whosemotherlyheartisalmostbroken,thoughayoungKaiserstillprancesviolently,andkicksagainstthepricks:\"Do,yournobleCzarishMajesty;Francetooisinterfering:Franceandyouwilldecidewhatisjust,andwewillend。\"\"CongressofTeschen\"metaccordingly,MARCH10th,1779:Teschen,inAustrianSilesia,wherewehavebeen;——RepninasRussian,BreteuiltheFrenchman,CobentzlandHertzbergasAustrianandPrussian;——and,MAY13th(intwomonths’time,notintwoweeks’,ashadbeenexpected,forthereroseunexpectedhaggles),didcloseeverything,firmasDiplomacycoulddoit,intoequitable,orapproximatelyequitablefinis:

  \"Gohome,youAustria;quityourstolenBavaria(allbutarimorparing,CircleofBurghausen,sinceyoumusthavesomething!):

  Saxony,Mecklenburg,thesemustbesatisfiedtomoderatelength;

  andtherewithgeneralAS—YOU—WERE。\"

  RussiaandFrancewereagreedonthecase;andFriedrich,bitterlylongingtohavedonewithit,hadsaidtohimself,\"Intwoweeksorso:\"butitprovedfarotherwise。Neverweresuchhagglings,provocationsandunreasonableconfusionsasnowrose。TheburningofHabelschwertwasbutatypeofthem。HagglesonthepartofworthlessKarlTheodor,kindledbyJosephandhisKaunitz,kickingagainstthepricks。HagglesonSaxony’spart:\"Iclaimed7,000,000

  poundssterling,andyouallowme600,000pounds。\"\"Betterthatthannothing,\"answeredFriedrich。HaggleswithMecklenburg:

  \"InsteadofmyLeuchtenberg,IgetanimprovementinmyLaw—Courts,rightofJudgingwithoutAppeal;whatisthat!\"HaggleswiththeoncegratefulDukeofZweibruck:\"Can’tpartwithmyBurghausen。\"

  \"SupposeyouhadhadtopartwithyourBavariaaltogether?\"

  Inshort,Friedrich,whohadgainednothingforhimself,butsuchinfinityofoutlayinallkinds,neversawsuchacoilofhumanfolliesandcupiditiesbefore;andhadtoexhausthisutmostpatience,submittonewlossesofhisown,andtryallhisdexteritiesinpig—driving:overjoyed,atlast,togetoutofitonanyterms。OutlayofFriedrichisaboutTwoMillionssterling,andabove10,000men’slives(hisownnarrowlynotincluded),withcensures,criticisms,provocationsandbotherationswithoutend。

  Inreturnforwhich,hehas,truly,putaspokeinAustria’sproudwheelforthistime,andmanagedtoseefairplayintheReich;

  whichhadseemedtohim,andseems,aconsiderablething。Bywayofcodicil,AustriaagreesnottochicanehiminregardtoAnspach—

  Baireuth,——howgenerousofAustria,afterthisexperience!——

  Inreality,theWarwasanImaginaryWar;deservingonitsownscorelittlerecordanywhere;toreadershererequiringalmostlessthanithasgot。Schmettau,Schoningandothershavebeenabundantlyminuteuponit;buteventosoldiersthereislittleeitherofinterestorinstruction;tous,allityieldsiscertainAnecdotesofFriedrich’stemperandwaysinthatdifficultpredicament;which,ascomingatfirst—hand,gatheredforusbypunctualauthenticSchmettau,whowasconstantlyabouthim,witheyesopenandnote—bookready,haveakindofworthintheBiographicpointofview。

  ThePrussianSoldiery,ofwhomweseeatypeinSchmettau,weredisgustedwiththisWar,andcalledit,inallusiontotheforaging,Ascrambleforpotatoes,\"DERKARTOFFEL—KRIEG,ThePotatoWar;\"whichisitscommondesignationtothisday。TheAustrians,inalikehumor,calledit\"ZWETSCHKEN—RUMMEL\"(say\"THREE—BUTTON

  Loo\");agamenotworthplaying;especiallynotatsuchcost。

  Combinedcostcountedtohavebeeninsum—total4,350,000poundsand20,000men。[Preuss,iv。115。]\"ThePrussianArmywasfullofardor,neverablerforfight\"(insistsSchmettau),whichindeedseemstohavebeenthefactoneverysmalloccasion;——\"butfatallyforbiddentotry。\"Notsofatallyperhaps,hadSchmettaulookedbeyondhisepaulettes:wasnotthething,bythatslowmethod,gotdone?Bytheswiftermethod,awakeninganewSeven—Yearsbusiness,howinfinitelycostliermightithavebeen!

  Schmettau’sNARRATIVE,deductingtheendlesslamentings,especiallytheextensivedidacticdigressions,isveryclear,ocular,exact;

  and,incontrastwithFriedrich’sown,isreallyamusingtoread。

  ASchmettaugivingus,inhishaggardlightandobliquepointofvision,thenakedtruth,NAKEDandallinashiver;aFriedrichstrivingtodrapeitalittle,andmakeitcomfortabletohimself。

  ThosebitsofAnecdotesinSCHMETTAU,clear,credible,asifwehadseenthem,aresomanycrevicesthroughwhichitiscuriouslyworthwhiletolook。

  ChapterVII。

  MILLERARNOLD’SLAWSUIT。

  AbouttheSecondLaw—Reform,afterreadingandagainreadingmuchdrearydetail,Icansaynexttonothing,exceptthatitisdatedasbeginningin1776,nearthirtyyearsafterCocceji’s;[\"In1748\"

  Cocceji’swascompleted;\"in1774—1775,\"onoccasionoftheSilesianReviews,VonCarmer,ChancellorofSilesia,knowingoftheKing’simpatienceatthestateofLaw,presentedsuccessivelyTwoMEMORIALSonthesubject;theSecondofwhichbegan\"4thJanuary,1776\"tohavevisiblefruit。]thatevidently,bywhatcausesisnotstated,butmaybereadilyenoughconjectured(intheabsenceofCoccejibydeath,andofaFriedrichbyaffairsofWar),theabusesofLawhadagainbecomemoreorlessunendurabletothisKing;

  thatsaidabusesdidagaingetsomereform(againtemporary,suchtheLawofNature,whichbidsyousweepvigorouslyyourkitchen,thoughitwillnextmomentrecommencethegatheringofdirtuponit);andthat,infine,aftersomereluctanceintheLawcircles,anddebatingPROandCONTRA,oralsomeofit,anddoneintheKing’spresence,whoissointenttobeconvincedandseehispracticalwayinit,[AtPotsdam,\"4thJanuary,1776,\"Debate,bysolemnappointment,intheKing’spresence(Kingveryunwell),betweenSilesian—ChancellorvonCarmerandGrand—ChancellorvonFurst,astothefeasibilityofCarmer’sideas;oldFurststronginthenegative;——King,afterreflection,determiningtogoonnevertheless。(Rodenbeck,iii。131,133。)]——therewas,assupplementtothemereProjectorTheoryofaCODEXFREDERICIANUS

  inCocceji’stime,anactualPRUSSIANCODEsetabout;VonCarmer,theSilesianChancellor,thechiefagent:andaFirstFolio,oraFirstandpartlyaSecondofit,werebroughtoutinFriedrich’slifetime,theremainderfollowinginthatofhisSuccessor;

  whichCodeiseversincetheLawofthePrussianNationtothisday。[Notfinishedandpromulgatedtill\"5thFebruary,1794;\"

  FirstVolume(containingPROZESS—ORDNUNG,FormofProcedure,inallitsimportantdetails)hadcomeout\"26thApril,1784\"(Preuss,iii。418—422)。]OfitsworthasaCodeIhaveheardfavorableopinions,comparativelyfavorable;butcanmyselfsaynothing:

  famedSavignyfindsitsuperiorinintelligenceandlaw—knowledgetotheCODENAPOLEON,——uponwhichindeed,anduponallCodespossibletopoorhag—riddenandwig—riddengenerationslikeours,Savignyfeelsratherdesperate。Unfortunatemortalsdowanttohavetheirbitsoflawsuitssettled,nevertheless;andhave,ontrial,foundeventheignorantCODENAPOLEONamightybenefitincomparisontonone!——

  ReadersallseehowthisSecondPrussianLaw—ReformwasathingimportanttoPrussia,ofliveliestinteresttothethenKingofPrussia;andweremyknowledgeofitgreaterthanitis,thisisallIcouldhopetosayofitthatwouldbesuitableorprofitableatpresent。Letwell—disposedreaderstakeitupintheirimaginations,asafactandmassoffacts,veryseriousthereandthen;andcolorwithitinsomedegreethosefiveorsixlastyearsofthisKing’slife。

  ConnectedwiththisSecondLawReform,andindeedpartiallyasourceofit,orprovocationtogoonwithit,mendingyourspeed,thereisonelittleLawsuit,calledtheMILLERARNOLDCASE,whichmadeanimmensenoiseintheworld,andisstillknownbyrumortomanypersons,whowouldprobablybethankful,ascertainlyImyselfshould,forsomeintelligiblewordonit。Inregardtowhich,andtowhichalone,inthisplace,wewillpermitourselvesalittlemoredetail。

  InthesandymoorstowardstheSilesianborderoftheNeumark,southwestofZullichau,——whereweoncewere,withDictatorWedell,fightingtheRussiansinatragicway,——thereis,aswascasuallythenindicated,ononeofthepoorBrookstricklingintoOder,aMillcalledKREBSMUHLE(Crabmill);MillersofwhicharealineofdustyArnolds,laboriouslyforlonggenerationsgrindingintomealtheryes,pulses,barleysofthatdimregion;who,andwhoseCrabmill,intheyear1779—1780,burstintoanotorietytheylittledreamtof,andbecamefamousinthefashionablecirclesofthisUniverse,whereanindistinctrumorofthemlivestothisday。

  WeindicatedArnoldandhisMillinWedell’stime;Wedell’sscenebeingsoremoteandemptytoreaders:infact,nobodyknowsonwhatpaltriestofmoorsamemorablethingwillnothappen;——here,forinstance,iswithaltheBirthplaceofthatRhymingmiracle,FrauKarsch(Karschin,KarchESSastheycallher),theBerlinliteraryProdigy,towhomFriedrichwasnotsoflushofhelpashadbeenexpected。ThechildofutterlypoorPeasantsthere;whosepoverty,shiningoutasthrift,unweariableindustryandstoicalvalor,isbeautifultome,stillmoretheirpoorlittlegirl’sbitsoffortunes,\"tendingthreecows\"inthesolitudesthere,andgazingwistfullyintoEarthandHeavenwithheringenuouslittlesoul,——

  desiringmainlyonething,thatshecouldgetBooks,anyBookwhatever;havinghalf—accidentallypickeduptheartofreading,andfindinghereaboutsabsolutelynothingtoread。FrauKarsch,I

  havenodoubt,knowstheCrabmillrightwell;andcan,toallpermissiblelengths,informtheBerlinCirclesonthispoint。

  [SeeJORDENS(oKarschin),ii。607—640。AnexcellentSilesianNoblemanliftedhermiraculouslyfromthesloughsofmisery,landedherfromhistravelling—carriageintheupperworldofBerlin,\"January,1761\"(agethenthirty—nine,husbandKarschawretcheddrunkenTailoratGlogau,whothereuponenlisted,andhappilygotshotorfinished):Berlin’senthusiasmwas,andcontinuedtobe,considerable;——Karschin’shead,Ifear,provedweakish,thoughherrhymingfacultywasgreat。Friedrichsawheronce,October,1763,spokekindlytoher(DIALOGUEreportedbyherself,withaChodowieckiENGRAVINGtohelp,intheMUSEN—ALMANACHSensuing);

  andgavehera10pounds,butnevermuchmore:——\"somebodyhaddonemeillwithhim,\"thinkstheKarschin(notthinking,\"Orperhapsnobodybutmypoorself,andmyweaknessofhead\")。Shecontinuedrhymingandliving——certainPrincipalitiesandHighPeoplestillstandingtrue——till\"12thOctober,1791。\"

  CrabmillisinPommerzigTownship,notfarfromKay:——Zullichau,Kay,Palzig,Crossen,allcometospeechagain,inthisNarrative;

  fancyhowtheyturnedupinBerlindinner—circles,toDictatorWedell,grayoldgentleman,whoisnowthesemanyyearsWar—

  Minister,peaceable,andwellaccepted,butrememberstheflamyyouthhehad。LandlordoftheseArnoldsandtheirMillisMajorGrafvonSchmettau(noconnectionofourSchmettaus),——towhatinsignificantlysmallamountofrent,Icouldnotlearnonsearching;10poundsannuallyisatooliberalguess。Innumerablethings,ofnopertinencytous,arewearisomelytold,andeveragaintold,whilethepertinentareoftenmissedout,inthatdrearycart—loadofArnoldLaw—Papers,barelyreadable,barelyintelligible,tothemostpatientintellect:withdespatchletusfishupthesmallcardinalparticlesofit,andarrangeinsomechronologicalorhumanorder,thatreadersmayformtothemselvesanoutlineofthething。In1759,wementionedthatthisMillwasgoing;MillerofitanoldArnold,Miller’sLadayoung。Hereisthesubsequentsuccessionofoccurrencesthatconcernus。

  In1762,YoungArnold,asIdimlygather,hadgotmarried,apparentlyaWifewithportion;boughttheMillfromhisFather,heandWifeco—possessorsthenceforth;——\"RosinehisSpouse\"figuringjointlyinalltheseLaw—Papers;andtheSpouseespeciallyasamostshiftylitigant。Theretheycontinuetotallysilenttomankindforabouteightyears。HappytheNation,muchmoremaywesaytheHousehold,\"whosePublicHistoryisblank。\"Butintheeighthyear,————————————CORRECT。PARAGRAPHENDSWITHCOMMA————————————————————^

  In1770,FreyherrBaronvonGersdorfinKay,wholiesfartherupthestream,bethinkshimofFish—husbandry;makesaFish—pondtohimself,andforpartsupplythereof,layssomebeamorweiracrossthepoorBrook,anddeductsapartofArnold’swater。

  In1773,theArnoldsfallintoarrearofrent:\"Wantofwater;

  Fish—pondspoilsourwater,\"pleadtheytoMajorGrafvonSchmettau。\"ProsecuteVonGersdorf,then,\"saysSchmettau:\"Imusthavemyrent!Youshallhavetime,lengthenedterms;butpayTHEN,orelse—!\"ForfouryearstheArnoldstriedmoreorlesstopay,butnevercould,orneverdidcompletely:duringwhichperiodMajorvonSchmettauhadthemupinhisCourtofPommerzig,——manorialorfeudalkindofCourt;Ithinkitismoreorlesshis,thoughhedoesnotsitthere;andanAdvocate,notofhisappointing,thoughprobablyofhisaccepting,dispensesjusticethere。SchleckeristheAdvocate’sname;acquittedbyallOfficialpeopleofdoinganythingwrong。NoappearancethattheHerrGrafvonSchmettauputhandtothebalancesofjusticeinthisCourt;withhiseye,however,whoknowsbuthemightactonthemmoreorless!And,atanyrate,besuspectedbydistressedArnolds,especiallybyadistressedFrauArnold,ofdoingso。TheFrauArnoldhadastrongsuspicionthatway;andseemstohaverisenoccasionallyuponSchlecker,whodidonceorderthepoorwomantobelockedupforcontemptofCourt:\"Onlytwohours!\"asseveratesSchleckerafterwards;afterwhichshecameoutcoolandrespectfultoCourt。

  NottheleastaccountsurvivesofthoseproceduresinSchlecker’sCourt;butbyaccident,aftermanyreadings,youlightuponalittlefactwhichdoesshedatransientrayoverthem。Namely,thatalreadyin1775,fouryearsbeforetheCasebecameaudibleinOfficialcircles,muchmoreingeneralsociety,FrauArnoldhadseizedanopportunity,MajestybeingatCrosseninthoseneighborhoods,andpresentedaPetition:\"Oh,justKing,appointaMILITARYCOMMISSIONtoinvestigateourbusiness;impartialOfficerswillspeedilyfindoutthefacts,anddecidewhatisjust!\"

  [Preuss,iii。382。]WhichdenotesanirritatingexperienceinSchlecker’sCourt。Certainitis,Schlecker’sCourtdid,inthistediousharassingway,decideagainstFrauArnoldineverypoint。

  \"PayHerrGrafvonSchmettau,orelsedisappear;prosecuteVonGersdorf,ifyoulike!\"And,infine,astheArnoldscouldnotpayup,norseeanydaylightthroughprosecutingBaronvonGersdorf,thebiggentlemaninKay,——Schlecker,aftersomefiveyearsofthis,decreedSaleoftheMill:——andsolditwas。InZullichau,September7th,1778,thereisAuctionoftheMill;

  HerrLandeinnehmer(CESS—COLLECTOR)Kuppischboughtit;

  knockeddowntohimforthemoderatesumof600thalers,or90

  poundssterling,andtheArnoldsareanoustedfamily。

  \"September7th,\"——Potato—WarjustclosingitssadCampaign;

  to—morrow,marchforTrautenau,thirtyhorsestoagun。——

  TheArnoldsdidmakevariousattemptsandappealstotheNeumarkREGIERUNG(CollegeofJudges);butitwaswithouttheleastresult。

  \"Schleckerrightineverypoint;Gersdorfright,\"answeredtheCollege:\"go,willyou!\"AMillforfeitedbyeveryLaw,andfallentothehighestbidder。Cess—CollectorKuppisch,itwassoonknown,hadsoldhispurchasetoVonGersdorf:\"Hah!\"saidtheruralpublic,smellingsomethingbad。Certainitis,VonGersdorfisbecomeproprietorbothofPondandMill;anditisnottotheruinedArnoldsthatSchleckerlawcanseemanadmirablesample。

  Andtruly,readingoverthosebarrow—loadsofpleadingsandRELATIONES,onehastoadmitthat,takenasareasonforseeingoneselfruined,andone’sMillbecomethebiggentleman’swhofanciescarp,theydoseemconsiderablyinsufficient。TheLaw—

  Pleadingsaredulyvoluminous。Barrow—loadsofthem,dreariestreadinginCreation,remain;goingintoallmannerofquestions,proving,fromGrotiusandothers,thatlandlordshaverightsuponprivaterivers,andanothersortuponpublicditto;thatVonGersdorf,byLawof1566,hadverilytherighttoputdownhisFish—pond,——whetherSchmettauthedutytoindemnifyArnoldforthesame?thatisnottouchedupon:nor,singulartosay,isitanywheremadeout,orattemptedtobemadeout,HowmuchofwaterArnoldlostbythePond,muchlesswhatdegreeofrealimpediment,bylossofhisowntime,bylossofhiscustomers(tiredofsuchwaitingonamill),ArnoldsufferedbythePond。This,whichyouwouldhavethoughtthesoulofthematter,isabsolutelyleftout;

  altogetherunsettled,——after,Ithink,four,oratleastthree,expressCommissionshadsatonit,atsuccessivetimes,withthemostesteemedhydraulicsagesopiningandexamining;——andremains,likethepartofHamlet,omittedbyparticulardesire。NowonderFrauArnoldbeggedforaMilitaryCommission;thatistosay,adecisionfromrationalhumancreatures,insteadofjuridicalwigsproceedingatthisrate。

  Itwassometimein1775thatRosine(whatwereckonedaveryelucidativepoint!)hadgiveninherPetitiontotheKingatCrossen,showinghowillSchleckerwasusingthem。Shenow,\"aboutMayday,1779,\"inanewPetition,referredtothat,andagainbeggedaCommissionofSoldier—peopletosettleit。May4th,1779,——Kingnotyethome,butcoming,[\"ArrivedatBerlinMay27th\"

  (Rodenbeck,iii。201)。]——King’sCabinet,onOrder,\"SENDSthistoJustice—Department;\"nothingSAIDonit,theexistenceofthePetitionsufficientlySAYING。Justice—DepartmentthereupondemandstheLaw—Records,documentaryNarrativeofRESArnold,fromCustrin;

  findsallright:\"Peace,yeArnolds;whatwouldyouhave?\"

  [Preuss,iii。382。]

  Sameyear,1779(noexpressdate),Grand—ChancellorvonFurst,beingatCustrin,officiallyexaminingtheconditionofLaw—

  matters,FrauArnoldfailednottotrytherealsowithaPetition:

  \"See,greatLaw—gentlemancometoreformabuses,canthatpossiblybeLaw;orifso,isitnotInjusticeaswell?\"\"Tush!\"answeredFurst;——forIbelieveLaw—people,eversincethisnewstringencyofRoyalvigilanceuponthem,areplaguedwithsuchcomplaintsfromDorfshipsanddarkgreedyPeasantpeople;\"Tush!\"andflungitpromptlyintohiswaste—basket。

  Istherenohopeatall,then?ArnoldremembersthataBrotherofhisisaPrussiansoldier;andthathehasforColonel,PrinceLeopoldofBrunswick,aPrincealwayskindtothepoor。TheLeopoldRegimentliesatFrankfurt:tryPrinceLeopoldbythatchannel。

  PrinceLeopoldlistened;——theSoldierArnoldprobablyknowntohimasrationalandrespectable。PrinceLeopoldnowlikewiseappliestoFurst:\"Adefect,notofLaw,HerrKanzler,butofEquity,theredoesseem。Schmettauhadarighttohisrent;VonGersdorf,byDeedof1566,tohisPond:buttheArnoldshadnotwaterandhavelosttheirMill。Couldnotthere,\"suggestsLeopold,\"beappointed,withoutnoiseofanykind,aCommissionofneutralpeople,strangerstotheNeumark,tosearchthismattertotheactualrootofit,andletEquityensue?\"TowhomalsoFurstanswers,thoughinapolitershape,\"Tush,Durchlaucht!Everymantohistrade!\"

  SothatPrinceLeopoldhimself,theKing’sownNephew,provesfutile?SomethinkLeopolddid,thisveryAutumn,casually,orasifcasually,mentionthemattertotheKing,——whosemindisuneasilyawaketoallsuchcases,knowingwhatabuckramsethisLawyersare。\"AttheReviews,\"asthesepeoplesay,Leopoldcouldnothavedoneit;therebeing,thisYear,noReviews,merelyreturnofKingandArmyfromtheBavarianWar。ButduringAugust,andonintoSeptemberthisYear,itisveryevident,therewasaVisitoftheBrunswickFamilyatPotsdam,[Rodenbeck,iii。206etseq。]

  Leopold’sMammaandcertainofhisBrothers,——ofwhich,ColonelPrinceLeopold,thoughnotexpresslymentionedintheBooks,mayverypossiblyhavebeenpermitted,foradayortwo,toformpart,forMamma’sbehoofandhisown;andmayhavemadehiscasualobservation,atsomewell—chosenmoment,withtheeffectintended。

  Inwhichcase,Leopoldwasbynomeansfutile,butproved,afterall,tobethesavingclausefortheArnolds。

  Gallantyoungfellow,onelovestobelieveitofhim;andtoaddittotheoneotherfactnowknownofhim,whichwasalsobeautiful,thoughtragic。Sixyearsafter,Spring,1785,OderRiver,swollenbyrains,wasinwilddeluge;housesinthesuburbsliketobewashedaway。Leopold,lookingonitfromtheBridgeorshore,perhapspartlywithanOfficialeye,sawtheinhabitantsofsomehousesliketobedrowned;lookedwildlyforassistance,butfoundnone;anddid,himself,inuncontrollablepity,dashoffinalittleboat,throughthewild—eddyingsurges;andgothisowndeaththere,himselfdrownedinstrugglingtosaveothers。

  Whichoccasionedloudlamentationintheworld;inhispoorMother’sheartwhatunnamablevoicelesslamentation![Friedrich’sLettertoher:OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。

  351(\"12thMay,1785\")。]HehadfoundedaGarrisonSchoolatFrankfurt;sparednoexpenditureofpainsorofmoney。AmanadoredinFrankfurt。\"HisBrotherFriedrich,inmemoryofhim,presented,nextyear,theUniforminwhichLeopoldwasdrowned,totheFreemasonLodgeofBerlin,ofwhichhehadbeenmember。\"

  [Militair—Lexikon,i。24。]

  SUNTLACRYMAERERUM。

  ButtoreturntotheArnolds,andhavedonewiththem:forwearenow,byLeopold’shelporotherwise,gottothelastactofthattediousbusiness。

  August21st,1779(thesehighBrunswickersstillatPotsdam,ifthathadanyinfluence),theArnoldsagainmakePetitiontotheKing:\"Alas,nojusticeyet,yourMajesty!\"\"Shallweneverseetheendofthis,then?\"thinkstheKing:\"someSoldier,withhumaneyes,lethim,attendedbyoneoftheirLaw—wigs,goupontheground;andsearchit!\"And,nextday,havingtakenProtocoloftheArnoldComplaint,issuesCabinet—Order,orKing’sMessagetotheCustrinLaw—wigs:\"ColonelHeucking[whoseregimentliesinZullichaudistrict,apunctualenoughman],heshallbetheSoldier;towhomdoYOUadjoinwhatmemberofyourCourtyouthinkthefittest:andlet,atlast,justicebedone。Andswift,ifyouplease!\"

  TheCustrinRegierung,withoutdelay,nameREGIERUNGS—RATHNeumann;

  whoisswiftlyready,asisColonelHeuckingswiftly,——andtheytwosetouttogetherupthePommerzigBrook,overthatmoorCountry;

  investigating,pondering,hearingwitnesses,andnodoubtconsulting,anddiligentlyendeavoringtogettothebottomofthispoorArnoldquestion。ForhowmanySeptemberdays,Iknownot:

  everybodyknows,however,thattheycouldnotagree;inotherwords,thattheysawTWObottomstoit,——theLawgentlemanonebottom,theSoldieranother。\"Truebottomisalreadythere,\"arguedtheLawgentleman:\"confirmDecisionofCourtineverypoint。\"

  \"No;Arnoldhaslostwater,hassufferedwrong,\"thinksHeucking;\"thatisthetruebottom。\"Andsotheypart,eachwithhisownopinion。Neumannaffirmedafterwards,thattheColonelcamewithapredeterminationthatway,andeventhathesaid,onceoroftener,inhiseagernesstopersuade:\"HisMajestyhasgotitintohisthought;therewillbenothingbuttroubleifyoupersistinthatnotion。\"TowhichvirtuousNeumannwasdeaf。Neumannalsosays,TheColonel,acquaintedwithAustrianenemies,butnotwithLaw,hadbroughtwithhimhisRegiment’s—Auditor,oneBech,formerlyaLaw—practitionerinCrossen(readersknowCrossen,andEx—DictatorWedelldoes),——Law—practitionerinCrossen;whohadbeeninstrifewiththeCustrinRegierung,underrebukefromthem(tooimportunateforsomeofhispauperclients,belike);wasacunningfellowtoo,andhadthesaidRegierunginill—will。

  AnadroitfellowBechmightbe,ormusthavebeen;buthisnowofficeofRegiment’s—Auditoriscertificateofhonesty,——good,atleast,againstNeumann。

  Neumann’sCourtwassilentabouttheseNeumannsurmises;butsaidafterwards,\"Heuckinghadnotgonetothebottomofthething。\"

  Thiswasinasubsequentreport,somefiveorsixweekssubsequent。

  Theirpresentreporttheyredactedtotheeffect,\"Allcorrectasitstood,\"withoutoncementioningHeucking。Gaveitin,27thSeptember;bywhichtimeHeucking’salsowasin,andhadmadeastrongimpressiononhisMajesty。Presumablyanhonest,intelligiblereport;though,byill—luckforthecurious,itisnowlost;amongthebarrow—loadsofvaguewiggedstuff,thisonePiece,probablyhuman,isnottobediscovered。

  Friedrich’sindignationattheCustrinreport,\"Perfectlycorrectasitstood,\"andnomentionofHeuckingorhisdissent,wasconsiderable:already,27thSeptember,——thatis,ontheverydaywhilethoseCustrinpeopleweresigningtheirprovokingreport,——

  Friedrich,confidentinHeucking,hadtransmittedtohisSupremeBoardofJustice(KAMMERGERICHT)theimpartialHeucking’saccountoftheaffair,withorder,\"Seethere,animpartialhumanaccount,clearandcircumstantial(DEUTLICHESUNDGANZUMSTANDLICHES),goingdowntothetruerootsofthebusiness:swift,getmejusticefortheseArnolds!\"[Preuss,iii。480。]Scarcelywasthisgone,when,September29th,theCustrinimpertinence,\"Perfectlyrightasitstood,\"cametohand;kindlingtheKingintohotprovocation;

  \"extremedispleasure,AUSSERSTESMISFALLEN,\"ashisAnswerbore:

  \"Rectifymeallthatstraightway,andrelievetheseArnoldsoftheirinjuries!\"YouPettifoggingPedantKnaves,bringthatArnoldmattertoorder,willyou;youhadbetter!——

  TheCustrinKnaves,withwhatfeelingsIknownot,proceedaccordingly;appointanewCommission,oneormoreLawyersinit,andatleastoneHydraulicGentlemaninit,Schadethenameofhim;

  whoaretogoupontheground,hearwitnessesandthelike。

  Whowentaccordingly;andmanaged,nottoofast,HydraulicSchaderatherdisagreeingfromtheLegalGentlemen,toproduceaReport,reportedUPONbytheCustrinCourt,28thOctober:\"Thatthereisoneerrorfound:6pounds12s。asvalueofcornLEFT,clearlyArnold’sthat,whenhisMillwassold;that,withthisimprovement,allisNOWcorrecttotheuttermost;andthatHeuckinghadnotinvestigatedthingstothebottom。\"Bysomeaccident,thisReportdidnotcomeatoncetoFriedrich,orhadescapedhisattention;

  sothat——

  November21st,mattershangingfireinthisway,FrauArnoldappliesagain,byPetitiontohisMajesty;uponwhichisnewRoyal0rder,[Ib。iii。490。]farmorepatientthanmighthavebeenexpected:\"InGod’sname,rectifymethatArnoldmatter,andletusatlastseetheendofit!\"TowhichtheCustrinersanswer:\"Allisrectified,yourMajesty。FrauArnold,inherPetition,hasnotmentionedthatshegained6pounds12s。;\"——importantitemthat;

  6pounds12s。forCORNleft(clearlyArnold’sthat,whenhisMillwassold)!\"Oursentencewecannotalter;aCourt’ssentenceisalterableonlybyappeal;yourMajestydecideswheretheappealistolie!\"Friedrich’spatienceisnowwearingout;buthedoesnotyetgiveway:\"BerlinKammergerichtbeyourAppealCourt,\"decideshe,28thNovember:andwilladmitofnodelayontheKammergericht’sparteither。\"PapersallatCustrin,sayyou?

  Sendforthembyexpress;theywillcomeinoneday:beswift,Isay!\"

  ChancellorFurstisnotawillinghorseinthiscase;butheisobligedtogo。December7th,KammergerichtsitsontheArnoldAppeal;Kammergericht’sviewis:\"Custrinpapersallhere,nottheleastdelaypermitted;you,JudgeRannsleben,takethesePaperstoyou;downuponthem:letus,ifhumanlypossible,haveaReportbyto—morrow。\"RannslebentakesthePapersinhandDecember7th;

  worksuponthemallday,andallnightfollowing,atarateofenergymemorableamongLegalgentlemen;andDecember8thattendswithlucidReportuponthem,orcoupleofReports;oneonArnoldVERSUSSchmettau,insixfolios;oneonArnoldVERSUSGersdorf,intwoditto;drawsthesetwoDocumentsfromhispocketDecember8th;

  readstheminassembledCourt(sixoftheJudgespresent[Preuss,iii。496。],——which,withmarkedthankfulnesstotheswiftRannsleben,atonceadoptshisReport,andpronouncesupontheCustrinRaths,\"Rightineveryparticular。\"Witnessourhands:

  everyoneaffixinghissignature,astoamatterhappilygotdonewith。

  ItwasFriday,10thDecember,1779,beforeFriedrichgotthisfinebitofnews;Saturday11th,beforeheauthenticallysawtheirSentence。HeislyingmiserablyillofgoutintheSchlossofBerlin;andIsuppose,sincehisFather,ofblessedmemory,tookcudgeltocertainJudgesandknockedoutteethfromthem,andbrokethejudicialcrowns,nobodyinthatSchlosshasbeeninsuchhumoragainstmenofLaw。\"Attendmehereat2P。M。withtheThreeRathswhosignedinArnold’sCase:\"Saturday,about11A。M。,ChancellorFurstreceivesthiscommand;getsRannsleben,andtwoothers,Friedel,Graun,——andthereoccurredsuchascene——ButitwillbebettertoletRannslebenhimselftellthestory;whohasleftanAUTOBIOGRAPHY,punctuallycorrect,toallappearance,butexceptthisalonenotablepassageofit,stillunpublished,andliketocontinueso:——

  \"BERLIN,TUESDAY,7thDECEMBER,1779,\"saysRannsleben(lethimtellitagaininhisownwords),\"theACTA,whichhadarrivedfromCustrinINREMillerArnoldandhisWifeVERSUSLandrathvonGersdorf,asalsothose,inthesamematter,VERSUSCountvonSchmettau,wereassignedtome,tobereportedonQUAMPRIMUM;——ourPresidentvonRebeur,\"PresidentoftheSupremeKAMMERGERICHT

  (King’s—ChamberTribunal,sayExchequerHighCourt,orCOLLEGIUM),whereofIhavethehonortobeoneoftheSevenJudges,orRATHS,——

  \"ourPresidentvonRebeurenjoiningmetomakesuchutmostdespatchthatmyReportonboththesesetsofPapersmightbereadtotheassembledCourtnextday;wherebysaidCourtmightthenandtherebeenabledtopronouncejudgmentonthesame,Iatoncesettowork;wentonwithitallnight;andonthemorrowIbroughtbothmyReports(RELATIONES),\"——onereferringtotheGersdorf,theothertotheSchmettaupartofthesuit,——\"oneofsixsheets,theotheroftwosheets,totheKammergericht;wherebothRELATIONESwereread。Therewerepresent,besidesme,thefollowingsixmembersoftheCOLLEGIUM:PresidentvonRebeur,RathsUhl,Friedel,Kircheisen,Graun,Gassler。

  \"Appellant,\"asweallknow,\"wasMillerArnold;andalongwiththeACTAwerevarioussevereCabinet—Orders,inwhichtheKing,whohadtakenquiteparticularnoticeoftheCase,positivelyenjoined,ThatMillerArnoldshouldhavejusticedonehim。TheKinghadnot,however,givenformallyanyauthoritativeDecisionofhisown(KEINENEIGENTLICHENMACHTSPRUCHGETHAN),\"whichmighthavegivenuspause,thoughnotfull—stopbyanymeans:\"but,inhisOrdertotheKammergericht,hadmerelysaid,weweretodecidewiththeutmostdespatch,andthenatonceinformhisMajestyhow。\"Withthespeedoflightorofthought,Rannslebenhardlydonereading,thisKammergerichtdecided,——itiswellknownhow:\"IntheKing’sname;

  rightineveryparticular,youCustrinGentlemen;——whichbesogoodaspublishtopartiesconcerned!\"

  ReportofKammergericht’sJudgmenttothiseffect,forbehoofofCustrin,wasatoncegotunderway;andKammergericht,inregardtohisMajesty,agreedmerelytoannouncethefactinthatquarter:

  \"Judgmentarrivedat,pleaseyourMajesty;——JudgmentalreadyunderwayforCustrin:\"——you,Rannsleben,withoutsayingwhattheJudgmentis,youagainwriteforus。AndRannslebendoesso;

  writestheabovelittleMessagetohisMajesty,\"whichgottotheKing’shand,Friday,December10th。Andthesameday,\"continuesRannsleben,\"theKingdespatchedaverysevereCabinet—OrdertoMinistervonDornberg,\"——headoftheDepartmenttowhichtheKammergerichtbelongs,——\"demandingaCopyoftheJudgment。

  Whichorderwasatonceobeyed。

  \"Hereupon,onSaturday,about11A。M。,therecametoGrand—

  ChancellorvonFurst,\"sublimeheadofusandofallLawyers,\"aCabinet—Order,’Appearbeforemehere,thisday,at2o’clock;andbringwithyouyourThreeKammergerichtRathswhodrewup(MINUTIRT)theJudgmentintheArnoldCase。’\"MessagebodefultoFurstandthethreeRaths。

  \"NOTA,\"saysRannslebenhere,\"theKingisundertheimpressionthat,injudgingaCase,ThreeRathsarealwaysemployed,andthereforedemandsThreeofus。But,properly,alltheabove—namedSixMEMBRACOLLEGII,besidesmyself,oughttohavegonetothePalace,orelseIalone。\"Onsomepointsanill—informedKing。

  Rannslebencontinues:——

  \"PresidentvonRebeurcametomeinhiscarriage,ataquarterto12;toldmeoftheKing’sOrder;andsaid,astheKingdemandedonlyThreeRaths,therewasnothingforitbuttonamemeandRathsFriedelandKircheisen,myusualpartnersinJudgmentbusiness。

  Finding,however,onlookingintotheSentenceitself,thatKircheisenwasnotamongstthesignersofit,he[Rebeur]named,insteadofhim,RathGraun,whowas。FortheHerrPresidentapprehendedtheKingmightdemandtoseeourSentenceINORIGINALI,andwouldthenbeangrythatapersonhadbeensenttohimwhohadnotsignedthesame。PresidentvonRebeurinstructedmefarther,ThatI,asReporterintheCase,wastobespokesmanatthePalace;

  andshouldexplaintohisMajestythereasonswhichhadweighedwiththeKammergerichtincomingtosuchdecision。

  \"TomydearWifeI,\"asbeseemedagoodhusband,\"saidnothingofallthis;confidingitonlytomyFather—in—law,whotriedtocheerme。Nor,indeed,didIfeelanyfearwithinme,beingpersuadedinmyconsciencethat,inthisdecisionoftheArnoldCase,Ihadproceededaccordingtothebestofmyknowledgeandconviction。

  \"At1o’clockIdrovetotheGrand—Chancellor’s,whereIfoundtheRathsFriedelandGraunalreadyarrived。TheChancellor,\"oldFurst,\"instructedusastowhatwehadtodowhenwecamebeforetheKing。Andthen,towards2o’clock,hetookusinhiscarriagetothePalace。WeenteredtheroomimmediatelyattheendoftheGreatHall。Herewefoundaheyduc[tallporter],bywhomtheChancellorannouncedtotheKingthatwewerehere。Heyducsooncamebacktoinquire,WhethertheCABINETS—RATHStellter,\"aSecretaryorShort—handwriterofhisMajesty’s,\"hadarrivedyet;

  andwhetherwe[WE,whatadoubt!]werePrivyCouncillors。WewerethenshortlyaftershownintotheKing。Wepassedthroughthreerooms,thesecondofwhichwasthatinwhichstandstheCONFIDENZ

  TAFEL[Tablethatgoesbypulleysthroughthefloor,andcomesuprefurnished,whenyouwishtobespeciallyprivatewithyourfriends]。Inthefourth,asmallroomwithonewindow,wastheKing。TheChancellorwalkedfirst;Ifollowedhimclose;behindmecametheRathFriedel,andthenGraun。Somewaywithin,oppositethedoor,stoodascreen;withourbackstothis,\"theKingwardsideofthis,\"werangedourselves,\"——inrespectfulrowofFour,Furstattheinwardendofus(rightorleftisnomatter)。

  \"TheKingsatinthemiddleoftheroom,sothathecouldlookpoint—blankatus;hesatwithhisbacktothechimney,inwhichtherewasafireburning。Hehadonawornhat,oftheclericalshape[old—militaryinfact,notashovelatall];CASSAQUIN,\"

  shortdressing—gown,\"ofred—brown(MORDORE)velvet;

  blackbreeches,andbootswhichcamequiteupovertheknee。

  Hishairwasnotdressed。Threelittlebenchletsorstools,coveredwithgreencloth,stoodbeforehim,onwhichhehadhisfeetlying[terriblyillofgout]。Inhislaphehadasortofmuff,withoneofhishandsinit,whichseemedtobegivinghimgreatpain。

  IntheotherhandheheldourSentenceontheArnoldCase。Helayreclining(LAG)inaneasy—chair;athisleftstoodatable,withvariouspapersonit,——andtwogoldsnuffboxes,richlysetwithbrilliants,fromwhichhekepttakingsnuffnowandthen。

  \"Besidesus,therewaspresentintheroomtheCabinets—RathStellter[oftheshort—hand],whostoodatadesk,andwasgettingreadyforwriting。TheKinglookedatus,saying,’Comenearer!’

  Whereuponweadvancedanotherstep,andwerenowwithinlessthantwostepsofhim。HeaddressedhimselftousthreeRaths,takingnonoticeatalloftheGrand—Chancellor:——

  KING。\"’IsityouwhodrewupthejudgmentintheArnoldcase?’

  WE(especiallyI,withabow)。\"’Yea。’

  \"TheKingthenturnedtotheRathFriedel[toFriedel,asthecentralfigureoftheThree,perhapsastheportliest,thoughpoorFriedel,exceptsigning,hadlittlecognizanceofthething,inwhichnothebutRannslebenwastohavebeenspokesman],andaddressedtoFriedelthosequestions,ofwhich,withtheiranswers,thereisProtocolpublished,underRoyalauthority,intheBerlinnewspapersofDecember14th,1779;\"[VONSEINERKONIGLICHEN

  MAJESTATHOCHSTSELBATANGEHALTENESPROTOCOLL:\"Protocol[MinuteofProceedings]heldbyRoyalMajesty’sHighest—self,onthe11thDecember,1779,concerningthethreeKammergerichts—Raths,Friedel,GraunandRannsleben:\"inPREUSS,iii。495。]ShorthandStelltertakingdownwhatwassaid,——quiteaccurately,testifiesRannsleben。

  FromStellter(thatistosayfromthe\"Protocol\"justmentioned),orfromStellterandRannslebentogether,wecontinuetheDialogue:——

  KINGtoFriedel[inthetoneofaRhadamanthussufferingfromgout]。\"’TogivesentenceagainstaPeasantfromwhomyouhavetakenwagon,ploughandeverythingthatenableshimtogethisliving,andtopayhisrentandtaxes:isthatathingthatcanbedone?’

  FRIEDEL(andthetwoMutes,bowing)。\"’No。’

  KING。\"’MayaMillerwhohasnowater,andconsequentlycannotgrind,and,therefore,notearnanything,havehismilltakenfromhim,onaccountofhisnothavingpaidhisrent:isthatjust?’

  FRIEDEL(andMutesasaforesaid)。\"’No。’

  KING。\"’ButherenowisaNobleman,wishingtomakeaFish—pond:

  togetmorewaterforhisPond,hehasaditchdug,todrawintoitthewaterfromasmallstreamwhichdrivesawater—mill。

  TherebytheMillerloseshiswater,andcannotgrind;or,atmost,canonlygrindinthespringforthespaceofafortnight,andlateintheautumn,perhapsanotherfortnight。Yet,inspiteofallthis,itispretendedthattheMillershallpayhisrentquitethesameasatthetimewhenhehadfullwaterforhismill。Ofcourse,hecannotpayhisrent;hisincomingsaregone!AndwhatdoestheCustrinCourtofJusticedo?Itordersthemilltobesold,thattheNoblemanmayhavehisrent。AndtheBerlinTribunal’\"——

  ChancellorFurst,standingpainfullymute,unspokento,unnoticedhitherto,morelikeabroomstickthanaChancellor,venturestostrikeinwithasyllableofemendation,asmallcorrection,ofthesewords\"BerlinTribunal\"——

  FURST(suggestively)。\"’Kammergericht[mildlysuggestive,andperhapswithsomethinginhistonewhichmeans,\"Iamnotabroomstick!\"]:Kammergericht!’

  KING(toshort—handStellter)。\"’Kammergerichts—Tribunal:——[thentoFurst]Goyou,Sir,aboutyourbusiness,ontheinstant!

  YourSuccessorisappointed;withyouIhavenothingmoretodo。

  Disappear!’\"——\"Ordered,\"saysOfficialRannsleben,\"orderedtheGrand—Chancellor,inverysevereterms,Tobegone!tellinghimthathisSuccessorwasalreadyappointed。WhichorderHerrvonFurst,withoutsayingaword,hastilyobeyed,passinginfrontofusthree,withtheutmostspeed。\"Infront,——screen,Isuppose,nothavingroombehindit,——andaltogethervanishesfromFriedrich’sHistory;allbutsomeGHOSTofhim(sowemaytermit),whichreappearsforaninstantonce,aswillbenoticed。

  KING(continuestoFriedel,notinalowertoneprobably):——\"’theKammergerichts—Tribunalconfirmsthesame。Thatishighlyunjust;

  andsuchSentenceisaltogethercontrarytohisMajesty’slandsfatherlyintentions:——myname[yougiveit,\"IntheKing’sName,\"forsooth]cruellyabused!’\"

  Sofarissetforthinthe\"RoyalProtocolprintednextTuesday,\"

  aswellasinRannsleben。Butfromthispoint,theDialogue——ifitcanbecalledDialogue,beingmerelyarebukeandexpectorationofRoyalwrathagainstFriedelandhisTwo,whoareallmute,sofarasIcanlearn,andstandlikecriminalsinthedock,feelingthemselvesunjustlycondemned——getsmoreandmoreintoconflagration,andcannotbedistinctlyreported。\"MYnametosuchathing!WhenwasIfoundtooppressapoormanforloveofarich?

  Tofollowwiggeriesandformswithsolemnattention,carelesswhatbecameoftheinternalfact?Actof1566,allowingGersdorftomakehisPond?Likeenough;——andArnold’slossofwater,thatisnotworththeascertaining;youknownotyetwhatitwas,someofyouevensayitwasnothing;carenotwhetheritwasanything。

  CouldArnoldgrind,ornot,asformerly?WhatisActof1566,oranyorallActs,incomparison?Wretchedmortals,hadyouwigsafathomlong,andLaw—booksonyourback,andActsof1566bythehundredweight,whatcouldithelp,iftherightofapoormanwereleftbyyoutrampledunderfoot?WhatisthemeaningofyoursittingthereasJudges?DispensersofRightinGod’sNameandmine?Iwillmakeanexampleofyouwhichshallberemembered!——

  Outofmysight!\"WhereuponEXEUNTinhaste,allThree,——thoughnotfar,nothome,aswillbeseen。

  Onlytheessentialsenseofallthis,nottheexactterms,could(orshould)anyStelltertakeinshort—hand;andintheProtocolitisdecorouslyomittedaltogether。Rannslebenmerelysays:\"TheKingfarthermadeuseofverystrongexpressionsagainstus,\"——toostrongtoberepeated,——\"and,atlast,dismisseduswithoutsayingwhatheintendedtodowithus。Wehadhardlylefttheroom,whenhefollowedus,orderingustowait。TheKing,duringtheinterviewwithus,heldtheSentence,ofmycomposition,inhishand;

  andseemedparticularlyirritatedaboutthecircumstanceofthejudgmentbeingpronouncedinhisname,asistheusualform。

  Hestruckthepaperagainandagainwithhisotherhand,\"——heatofindignationquiteextinguishinggout,forthemoment,——\"exclaimingatthesametimerepeatedly,’Cruellyabusedmyname(MEINENNAMEN

  CRUELMISSBRAUCHT)!’\"[Preuss,iii。495—498。]——WewillnowgivetheremainingpartoftheProtocol(whatdirectlyfollowstheaboveCATECHETICALorDIALOGUEpartbeforethatcaughtfire),——astakendownbyStellter,andreadinalltheNewspapersnextTuesday:——

  \"PROTOCOL[ofDecember11th,Titlealreadygiven;[Supra,p。439n。]Docketingadds],WHICHISTOBEPRINTED。\"……(CATECHETICSASABOVE,——ANDTHEN):\"TheKing’sdesirealwaysisandwas,Thateverybody,behehighorlow,richorpoor,getpromptjustice;andthat,withoutregardofpersonorrank,nosubjectofhisfailatanytimeofimpartialrightandprotectionfromhisCourtsofLaw。

  \"Wherefore,withrespecttothismostunjustSentenceagainsttheMillerArnoldofthePommerzigCrabmill,pronouncedintheNeumark,andconfirmedhereinBerlin,hisMajestywillestablishanemphaticexample(EINNACHDRUCKLICHESEXEMPELSTATUIREN);totheendthatallCourtsofJustice,inalltheKing’sProvinces,maytakewarningthereby,andnotcommitthelikeglaringunjustacts。

  For,letthembearinmind,Thattheleastpeasant,yea,whatisstillmore,thatevenabeggar,is,nolessthanhisMajesty,ahumanbeing,andonetowhomduejusticemustbemetedout。AllmenbeingequalbeforetheLaw,ifitisaprincecomplainingagainstapeasant,orVICEVERSA,theprinceisthesameasthepeasantbeforetheLaw;and,onsuchoccasions,purejusticemusthaveitscourse,withoutregardofperson:LettheLaw—Courts,inalltheProvinces,takethisfortheirrule。Andwhenevertheydonotcarryoutjusticeinastraightforwardmanner,withoutanyregardofpersonandrank,butputasidenaturalfairness,——thentheyshallhavetoanswerhisMajestyforit(SOLLENSICESMITSEINER

  KONIGLICHENMAJESTATZUTHUNKRIEGEN)。ForaCourtofLawdoinginjusticeismoredangerousandperniciousthanabandofthieves:

  againsttheseonecanprotectoneself;butagainstrogueswhomakeuseofthecloakofjusticetoaccomplishtheirevilpassions,againstsuchnomancanguardhimself。Theseareworsethanthegreatestknavestheworldcontains,anddeservedoublepunishment。

  \"Fortherest,beitalsoknowntothevariousCourtsofJustice,ThathisMajestyhasappointedanewGrand—Chancellor。\"

  Furstdismissed。\"YethisMajestywillnotthelesslooksharplywithhisowneyesaftertheLaw—proceedingsinalltheProvinces;

  andhecommandsyou\"——thatis,alltheLaw—courts——\"urgentlyherewith:FIRSTLY,\"——whichisalsolastly,——\"Toproceedtodealequallywithallpeopleseekingjustice,beitprinceorpeasant;

  for,there,allmustbealike。However,ifhisMajesty,atanytimehereafter,comeuponafaultcommittedinthisregard,theguiltyCourtscannowimaginebeforehandhowtheywillbepunishedwithrigor,PresidentaswellasRaths,whoshallhavedeliveredajudgmentsowickedandopenlyopposedtojustice。WhichallCollegesofJusticeinallhisMajesty’sProvincesareparticularlytotakenoticeof。\"

  \"MEM。ByhisMajesty’sspecialcommand,measuresaretakenthatthisProtocolbeinsertedinalltheBerlinJournals。\"[In

  Berlin’scheNachrichtenvonStaatsundGelehrtenSachen,No。149,\"Tuesday,14thDecember,1779。\"Preuss,iii。494。]

  TheremainderofRannsleben’sNarrativeisbeautifullybriefandsignificant。——\"Wehadhardlylefttheroom,\"saidheSUPRA,\"whentheKingfollowedus,\"lameashewas,withafulminant\"Waitthere!\"Rannslebencontinues:\"ShortlyaftercameanAide—de—Camp,whotookusinacarriagetothecommonTown—prison,theKalandshof;heretwoCorporalsandtwoPrivatesweresettoguardus。Onthe13thDecember,1779,\"thirddayofourarrest,\"aCabinet—Orderwaspublishedtous,bywhichtheKinghadappointedaCommissionofInquiry;buthad,atthesametime,commandedbeforehandthattheSentenceshouldnotbelessthanayear’sconfinementinafortress,dismissalfromoffice,andpaymentofcompensationtotheArnoldpeopleforthelossestheyhadsustained。\"Whichcertainlywasabadoutlookforus。

  PreciselythesamehasbefallenourBrethrenofCustrin;allsuddenlypackedintoPrison,justwhilereadingourApprovalofthem;——theretheysit,theirSentencetobelikeours。\"OurarrestintheKalandshoflastedfrom11thDecember,1779,till5thJanuary,1780,\"threeweeksandthreedays,——when(withTwoExceptions,tobenotedpresently)wewereall,KammergerichtersandCustrinersalike,transferredtoSpandau。

  IspokeofwhatmightbecalledaghostofKanzlerFurstoncerevisitingtheglimpsesoftheMoon,orSuniftherewereanyinthedismalDecemberdays。Thisisit,witnessonewhosawit:

  \"OnthemorningofDecember12th,thedayaftertheGrand—

  Chancellor’sdismissal,theStreetinwhichhelivedwasthrongedwiththecarriagesofcallers,whocametotestifytheirsympathy,andtooffertheircondolencetothefallenChancellor。ThecrowdofcarriagescouldbeseenfromthewindowsoftheKing’sPalace。\"

  ThesameyoungLegalGentleman,byandbyaveryoldone,who,himselfoneofthecallersattheEx—Chancellor’shousethatday,sawthis,andrelateditinhisoldagetoHerrPreuss,[Preuss,iii。499,500。]remembersandrelatesalsothisothersignificantfact:——

  \"Duringthedaysthatfollowed\"theaboveeventandPublicationoftheRoyalProtocol,\"Ioftencrossed,intheforenoon,theEsplanadeinfrontofthePalace(SCHLOSSPLATZ),atthatsidewheretheKing’sapartmentswere;thesamewhichhisRoyalHighnesstheCrown—Princenow[1833]occupies。Irememberthathere,onthatpartoftheEsplanadewhichwasdirectlyunderFriedrich’swindows,therestoodconstantlynumbersofPeasants,nottenortwelve,butasmanyasahundredatatime;allwithPetitionsintheirhands,whichtheywereholdinguptowardsthewindow;shouting,’PleasehisMajestytolookatthese;wehavebeenstillworsetreatedthantheArnolds!’Andindeed,IhaveunderstoodtheLaw—Courts,forsometimeafter,foundgreatdifficultytoasserttheirauthority:

  thepartiesagainstwhomjudgmentwent,takingrefugeintheArnoldprecedent,andappealingdirecttotheKing。\"

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