首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第1章
  BookI。
  BIRTHANDPARENTAGE。
  1712。
  ChapterI。
  PROEM:FRIEDRICH’SHISTORYFROMTHEDISTANCEWEAREAT。
  Aboutfourscoreyearsago,thereusedtobeseensaunteringontheterracesofSansSouci,forashorttimeintheafternoon,oryoumighthavemethimelsewhereatanearlierhour,ridingordrivinginarapidbusinessmannerontheopenroadsorthroughthescraggywoodsandavenuesofthatintricateamphibiousPotsdamregion,ahighlyinterestingleanlittleoldman,ofalertthoughslightlystoopingfigure;whosenameamongstrangerswasKingFRIEDRICHTHESECOND,orFredericktheGreatofPrussia,andathomeamongthecommonpeople,whomuchlovedandesteemedhim,wasVATERFRITZ,——FatherFred,——anameoffamiliaritywhichhadnotbredcontemptinthatinstance。HeisaKingeveryinchofhim,thoughwithoutthetrappingsofaKing。PresentshimselfinaSpartansimplicityofvesture:nocrownbutanoldmilitarycocked—hat,——generallyold,ortrampledandkneadedintoabsoluteSOFTNESS,ifnew;——nosceptrebutonelikeAgamemnon’s,awalking—
  stickcutfromthewoods,whichservesalsoasariding—stick(withwhichhehitsthehorse"betweentheears,"sayauthors);——
  andforroyalrobes,ameresoldier’sbluecoatwithredfacings,coatlikelytobeold,andsuretohaveagooddealofSpanishsnuffonthebreastofit;restoftheappareldim,unobtrusiveincolororout,endinginhighover—kneemilitaryboots,whichmaybebrushed(and,Ihope,keptsoftwithanunderhandsuspicionofoil),butarenotpermittedtobeblackenedorvarnished;DayandMartinwiththeirsoot—potsforbiddentoapproach。
  Themanisnotofgodlikephysiognomy,anymorethanofimposingstatureorcostume:close—shutmouthwiththinlips,prominentjawsandnose,recedingbrow,bynomeansofOlympianheight;
  head,however,isoflongform,andhassuperlativegrayeyesinit。Notwhatiscalledabeautifulman;noryet,byallappearance,whatiscalledahappy。Onthecontrary,thefacebearsevidenceofmanysorrows,astheyaretermed,ofmuchhardlabordoneinthisworld;andseemstoanticipatenothingbutmorestillcoming。Quietstoicism,capableenoughofwhatjoytherewere,butnotexpectinganyworthmention;greatunconsciousandsomeconsciouspride,welltemperedwithacheerymockeryofhumor,——arewrittenonthatoldface;whichcarriesitschinwellforward,inspiteoftheslightstoopabouttheneck;snuffynoseratherflungintotheair,underitsoldcocked—hat,——likeanoldsnuffyliononthewatch;andsuchapairofeyesasnomanorlionorlynxofthatCenturyboreelsewhere,accordingtoallthetestimonywehave。"Thoseeyes,"saysMirabeau,"which,atthebiddingofhisgreatsoul,fascinatedyouwithseductionorwithterror(portaient,augredesonameheroique,laseductionoulaterreur)。"[Mirabeau,
  HistoireSecretedelaCourdeBerlin,Lettre28??
  (24September,1786)p。128(ineditionofParis,1821)]。
  Mostexcellentpotentbrillianteyes,swift—dartingasthestars,steadfastasthesun;gray,wesaid,oftheazure—graycolor;
  largeenough,notofglaringsize;thehabitualexpressionofthemvigilanceandpenetratingsense,rapidityrestingondepth。
  Whichisanexcellentoombination;andgivesusthenotionofalambentouterradiancespringingfromsomegreatinnerseaoflightandfireintheman。Thevoice,ifhespeaktoyou,isofsimilarphysiognomy:clear,melodiousandsonorous;alltonesareinit,fromthatofingenuousinquiry,gracefulsociality,light—
  flowingbanter(ratherpricklyformostpart),uptodefinitewordofcommand,uptodesolatingwordofrebukeandreprobation;
  avoice"theclearestandmostagreeableinconversationIeverheard,"sayswittyDr。Moore。[Moore,ViewofSocietyandMannersinFrance,SwitzerlandandGermany(London,1779),ii。246。]
  "Hespeaksagreatdeal,"continuesthedoctor;"yetthosewhohearhim,regretthathedoesnotspeakagooddealmore。
  Hisobservationsarealwayslively,veryoftenjust;andfewmenpossessthetalentofreparteeingreaterperfection。"
  Justaboutthreescoreandtenyearsago,[A。D。1856,——17thAugust,1786]hisspeakingsandhisworkingscametofinisinthisWorldofTime;andhevanishedfromalleyesintootherworlds,leavingmuchinquiryabouthiminthemindsofmen;——which,asmyreadersandImayfeeltoowell,isyetbynomeanssatisfied。Astohisspeech,indeed,thoughithadtheworthjustascribedtoitandmore,andthoughmassesofitweredeliberatelyputonpaperbyhimself,inproseandverse,andcontinuetobeprintedandkeptlegible,whathespokehasprettymuchvanishedintotheinane;
  andexceptasrecordordocumentofwhathedid,hardlynowconcernsmankind。Butthethingshedidwereextremelyremarkable;
  andcannotbeforgottenbymankind。Indeed,theybearsuchfruittothepresenthourasalltheNewspapersareobligedtobetakingnoteof,sometimestoanunpleasantdegree。Editorsvaguelyaccountthismanthe"CreatorofthePrussianMonarchy;"whichhassincegrownsolargeintheworld,andtroublesometotheEditorialmindinthisandothercountries。Hewasindeedthefirstwho,inahighlypublicmanner,notifieditscreation;
  announcedtoallmenthatitwas,inverydeed,created;standingonitsfeetthere,andwouldgoagreatway,ontheimpulseithadgotfromhimandothers。Asithasaccordinglydone;
  andmaystillkeepdoingtolengthslittledreamtofbytheBritishEditorinourtime;whoseprophesyingsuponPrussia,andinsightsintoPrussia,initspast,orpresentorfuture,aretrulyasyetinconsiderable,inproportiontothenoisehemakeswiththem!Themoreisthepityforhim,——andformyselftoointheEnterprisenowonhand。
  ItisofthisFigure,whomweseebythemind’seyeinthosePotsdamregions,visibleforthelasttimeseventyyearsago,thatwearenowtotreat,inthewayofsolacingingenuoushumancuriosity。WearetotryforsomeHistoricalConceptionofthisManandKing;someanswertothequestions,"Whatwashe,then?
  Whence,how?Andwhatdidheachieveandsufferintheworld?"——
  suchanswerasmayproveadmissibletoingenuousmankind,especiallysuchasmaycorrespondtotheFact(whichstandsthere,abstruseindeed,butactualandunalterable),andsobesureofadmissibilityoneday。
  AnEnterprisewhichturnsouttobe,thelongeronelooksatit,themoreofaformidable,nottosayunmanageablenature!
  Concerningwhich,ononeortwopoints,itweregood,ifconvenientlypossible,tocometosomepreliminaryunderstandingwiththereader。Here,flyingonlooseleaves,arecertainincidentalutterances,ofvariousdate:these,asthetopicisdifficult,Iwillmerelylabelandinsert,insteadofaformalDiscourse,whichweretooapttoslideintosomethingofaLamentation,orotherwisetakeanunpleasantturn。
  1。FRIEDRICHTHEN,ANDFRIEDRICHNOW。
  Thiswasamanofinfinitemarktohiscontemporaries;whohadwitnessedsurprisingfeatsfromhimintheworld;veryquestionablenotionsandways,whichhehadcontrivedtomaintainagainsttheworldanditscriticisms。Asanoriginalmanhasalwaystodo;muchmoreanoriginalrulerofmen。Theworld,infact,hadtriedhardtoputhimdown,asitdoes,unconsciouslyor,consciously,withallsuch;andafterthemostconsciousexertions,andatonetimeadead—liftspasmofallitsenergiesforSevenYears,hadnotbeenable。Principalitiesandpowers,Imperial,Royal,Czarish,Papal,enemiesinnumerableastheseasand,hadrisenagainsthim,onlyonehelperleftamongtheworld’sPotentates(andthatoneonlywhilethereshouldbehelprenderedinreturn);andheledthemallsuchadanceashadastonishedmankindandthem。
  Nowondertheythoughthimworthyofnotice。Everyoriginalmanofanymagnitudeis;——nay,inthelong—run,whoorwhatelseis?
  Buthowmuchmoreifyouroriginalmanwasakingovermen;
  whosemovementswerepolar,andcarriedfromdaytodaythoseoftheworldalongwiththem。TheSamsonAgonistes,——werehislifepassedlikethatofSamuelJohnsonindirtygarrets,andtheproduceofitonlysomebitsofwrittenpaper,——theAgonistes,andhowhewillcomporthimselfinthePhilistinemill;thisisalwaysaspectacleoftrulyepicandtragicnature。Therather,ifyourSamson,royalorother,isnotyetblindedorsubduedtothewheel;muchmoreifhevanquishhisenemies,notbysuicidalmethods,butmarchoutatlastflourishinghismiraculousfightingimplement,andleavingtheirmillandtheminquiteruinouscircumstances。AsthisKingFriedrichfairlymanagedtodo。
  Forhelefttheworldallbankrupt,wemaysay;fallenintobottomlessabyssesofdestruction;hestillinapayingcondition,andwithfootingcapabletocarryhisaffairsandhim。Whenhedied,in1786,theenormousPhenomenonsincecalledFRENCH
  REVOLUTIONwasalreadygrowlingaudiblyinthedepthsoftheworld;meteoric—electriccoruscationsheraldingit,allroundthehorizon。Strangeenoughtonote,oneofFriedrich’slastvisitorswasGabrielHonoreRiquetti,ComtedeMirabeau。Thesetwosawoneanother;twice,forhalfanhoureachtime。ThelastoftheoldGodsandthefirstofthemodernTitans;——beforePelionleaptonOssa;andthefoulEarthtakingfireatlast,itsvilemephiticelementswentupinvolcanicthunder。ThisalsoisoneofthepeculiaritiesofFriedrich,thatheishithertothelastoftheKings;thatheushersintheFrenchRevolution,andclosesanEpochofWorld—History。FinishingoffforeverthetradeofKing,thinkmany;whohavegrownprofoundlydarkastoKingshipandhim。
  TheFrenchRevolutionmaybesaidtohave,forabouthalfacentury,quitesubmergedFriedrich,abolishedhimfromthememoriesofmen;andnowoncomingtolightagain,heisfounddefacedunderstrangemud—incrustations,andtheeyesofmankindlookathimfromasingularlychanged,whatwemustcallobliqueandperversepointofvision。ThisisoneofthedifficultiesindealingwithhisHistory;——especiallyifyouhappentobelievebothintheFrenchRevolutionandinhim;thatistosay,boththatRealKingshipiseternallyindispensable,andalsothatthedestructionofShamKingship(afrightfulprocess)isoccasionallyso。Onthebreaking—outofthatformidableExplosion,andSuicideofhisCentury,Friedrichsankintocomparativeobscurity;
  eclipsedamidtheruinsofthatuniversalearthquake,theverydustofwhichdarkenedalltheair,andmadeofdayadisastrousmidnight。Blackmidnight,brokenonlybytheblazeofconflagrations;——wherein,toourterrifiedimaginations,wereseen,notmen,Frenchandother,butghastlyportents,stalkingwrathful,andshapesofavenginggods。ItmustbeownedthefigureofNapoleonwastitanic;especiallytothegenerationthatlookedonhim,andthatwaitedshudderingtobedevouredbyhim。Ingeneral,inthatFrenchRevolution,allwasonahugescale;ifnotgreaterthananythinginhumanexperience,atleastmoregrandiose。Allwasrecordedinbulletins,too,addressedtotheshilling—gallery;andtherewerefellowsonthestagewithsuchabreadthofsabre,extentofwhiskerage,strengthofwindpipe,andcommandofmenandgunpowder,ashadneverbeenseenbefore。Howtheybellowed,stalkedandflourishedabout;
  counterfeitingJove’sthundertoanamazingdegree!TerrificDrawcansirfigures,ofenormouswhiskerage,unlimitedcommandofgunpowder;notwithoutsufficientferocity,andevenacertainheroism,stage—heroism,inthem;comparedwithwhom,totheshilling—gallery,andfrightenedexcitedtheatreatlarge,itseemedasiftherehsdbeennogenerals。orsovereignsbefore;
  asifFriedrich,Gustavus,Cromwell,WilliamConquerorandAlexandertheGreatwerenotworthspeakingofhenceforth。
  Allthis,however,inhalfacenturyisconsiderablyaltered。
  TheDrawcansirequipmentsgettinggraduallytornoff,thenaturalsizeisseenbetter;translatedfromthebulletinstyleintothatoffactandhistory,miracles,eventotheshilling—
  gallery,arenotsomiraculous。ItbeginstobeapparentthattherelivedgreatmenbeforetheeraofbulletinsandAgamemnon。
  AusterlitzandWagramshotawaymoregunpowder,——gunpowderprobablyintheproportionoftentoone,orahundredtoone;
  butneitherofthemwastenth—partsuchabeatingtoyourenemyasthatofRossbach,broughtaboutbystrategicart,humaningenuityandintrepidity,andthelossof165men。Leuthen,too,thebattleofLeuthen(thoughsofewEnglishreaderseverheardofit)mayverywellholdupitsheadbesideanyvictorygainedbyNapoleonoranother。Fortheoddswerenotfarfromthreetoone;thesoldierswereofnotfarfromequalquality;andonlytheGeneralwasconsummatelysuperior,andthedefeatadestruction。
  Napoleondidindeed,byimmenseexpenditureofmen,andgunpowder,overrunEuropeforatime:butNapoleonnever,byhusbandingandwiselyexpendinghismenandgunpowder,defendedalittlePrussiaagainstallEurope,yearafteryearforsevenyearslong,tillEuropehadenough,andgaveuptheenterpriseasoneitcouldnotmanage。SosoonastheDrawcansirequipmentsarewelltornoff,andtheshilling—gallerygottosilence,itwillbefoundthatthereweregreatkingsbeforeNapoleon,——andlikewiseanArtofWar,groundedonveracityandhumancourageandinsight,notuponDrawcansirrodomontade,grandioseDick—Turpinism,revolutionarymadness,andunlimitedexpenditureofmenandgunpowder。"Youmaypaintwithaverybigbrush,andyetnotbeagreatpainter,"
  saysasatiricalfriendofmine!Thisisbecomingmoreandmoreapparent,asthedust—whirlwind,andhugeuproarofthelastgeneration,graduallydiesawayagain。
  2。EIGHTEENTHCENTURY。
  OneofthegranddifficultiesinaHistoryofFriedrichis,allalong,thissame,ThathelivedinaCenturywhichhasnoHistoryandcanhavelittleornone。ACenturysoopulentinaccumulatedfalsities,——sadopulencedescendingonitbyinheritance,alwaysatcompoundinterest,andalwayslargelyincreasedbyfreshacquirementonsuchimmensityofstandingcapital;——opulentinthatbadwayasneverCenturybeforewas!Whichhadnolongertheconsciousnessofbeingfalse,sofalsehaditgrown;andwassosteepedinfalsity,andimpregnatedwithittotheverybone,that——infactthemeasureofthethingwasfull,andaFrenchRevolutionhadtoendit。Tomaintainmuchveracityinsuohanelement,especiallyforaking,wasnodoubtdoublyremarkable。
  Butnow,howextricatethemanfromhisCentury?Howshowtheman,whoisaRealityworthyofbeingseen,andyetkeephisCentury,asaHypocrisyworthyofbeinghiddenandforgotten,inthedueabeyance?
  ToresuscitatetheEighteenthCentury,orcallintomen’sview,beyondwhatisnecessary,thepoorandsordidpersonagesandtransactionsofanepochsorelatedtous,canbenopurposeofmineonthisoccasion。TheEighteenthCentury,itiswellknown,doesnotfiguretomeasalovelyone;needingtobekeptinmind,orspokenofunnecessarily。TometheEighteenthCenturyhasnothinggrandinit,exceptthatgranduniversalSuicide,namedFrenchRevolution,bywhichitterminateditsotherwisemostworthlessexistencewithatleastoneworthyact;——settingfiretoitsoldhomeandself;andgoingupinflamesandvolcanicexplosions,inatrulymemorableandimportantmanner。Averyfittermination,asIthankfullyfeel,forsuchaCentury。
  Centuryspendthrift,fraudulent—bankrupt;goneatlengthutterlyinsolvent,withoutrealMONEYofperformanceinitspocket,andtheshopsdecliningtotakehypocrisiesandspeciositiesanyfarther:——whatcouldthepoorCenturydo,butatlengthadmit,"Well,itisso。Iamaswindler—century,andhavelongbeen,——
  havinglearnedthetrickofitfrommyfatherandgrandfather;
  knowinghardlyanytradebutthatinfalsebills,whichI
  thoughtfoolishlymightlastforever,andstillbringatleastbeefandpuddingtothefavoredofmankind。Andbeholditends;
  andIamadetectedswindler,andhavenothingeventoeat。
  WhatremainsbutthatIblowmybrainsout,anddoatlengthonetrueaction?"WhichthepoorCenturydid;manythankstoit,inthecircumstances。
  FortherewasneedoncemoreofaDivineRevelationtothetorpidfrivolouschildrenofmen,iftheywerenottosinkaltogetherintotheapecondition。AndinthatwhirlwindoftheUniverse,——
  lightsobliterated,andthetornwrecksofEarthandHellhurledaloftintotheEmpyrean;blackwhirlwind,whichmadeevenapesserious,anddrovemostofthemmad,——therewas,tomen,avoiceaudible;voicefromtheheartofthingsoncemore,asiftosay:
  "LyingisnotpermittedinthisUniverse。Thewagesoflying,youbehold,aredeath。LyingmeansdamnationinthisUniverse;
  andBeelzebub,neversoelaboratelydeckedincrownsandmitres,isNOTGod!"ThiswasarevelationtrulytobenamedoftheEternal,inourpoorEighteenthCentury;andhasgreatlyalteredthecomplexionofsaidCenturytotheHistorianeversince。
  Whereby,inshort,thatCenturyisquiteconfiscate,fallenbankrupt,givenuptotheauctioneers;——Jew—brokerssortingoutofitatthismoment,inaconfuseddistressingmanner,whatisstillvaluableorsalable。And,infact,itliesmassedupinourmindsasadisastrouswreckedinanity,notusefultodwellupon;akindofduskychaoticbackground,onwhichthefiguresthathadsomeveracityinthem——asmallcompany,andevergrowingsmallerasourdemandsriseinstrictness——aredelineatedforus。——"AndyetitistheCenturyofourownGrandfathers?"criesthereader。
  Yes,reader!truly。Itisthegroundoutofwhichweourselveshavesprung;whereonnowwehaveourimmediatefooting,andfirstofallstrikedownourrootsfornourishment;——and,alas,inlargesectionsofthepracticalworld,it(whatwespeciallymeanbyIT)
  stillcontinuesflourishingallroundus!Toforgetitquiteisnotyetpossible,norwouldbeprofitable。Whattodowithit,anditsforgottenfooleriesand"Histories,"worthyonlyofforgetting?——Well;somuchofitasbynatureADHERES;whatofitcannotbedisengagedfromourHeroandhisoperations:
  approximatelysomuch,andnomore!Letthatbeourbargaininregardtoit。
  3。ENGLISHPREPOSSESSIONS。
  Withsuchwagon—loadsofBooksandPrintedRecordsasexistonthesubjectofFriedrich,ithasalwaysseemedpossible,evenforastranger,toacquiresomerealunderstandingofhim;——
  thoughpractically,hereandnow,Ihavetoown,itprovesdifficultbeyondconception。Alas,theBooksarenotcosmic,theyarechaotic;andturnoutunexpectedlyvoidofinstructiontous。Smalluseinatalentofwriting,iftherebenotfirstofallthetalentofdiscerning,ofloyallyrecognizing;
  ofdiscriminatingwhatistobewritten!BooksbornmostlyofChaos——whichwantallthings,evenanINDEX——areapainfulobject。
  Insorrowanddisgust,youwanderoverthosemultitudinousBooks:
  youdwellinendlessregionsofthesuperficial,ofthenugatory:
  toyourbewilderedsenseitisasifnoinsightintotherealheartofFriedrichandhisaffairswereanywheretobehad。
  Truthis,thePrussianDryasdust,otherwiseanhonestfellow,andnotafraidoflabor,excelsallotherDryasdustsyetknown;
  IhaveoftensorrowfullyfeltasiftherewerenotinNature,fordarkness,dreariness,immethodicplatitude,anythingcomparabletohim。HewritesbigBookswantinginalmosteveryquality;anddoesnotevengiveanINDEXtothem。HehasmadeofFriedrich’sHistoryawide—spread,inorganic,tracklessmatter;
  dismaltoyourmind,andbarrenasacontinentofBrandenburgsand!——Enough,hecoulddonoother:Ihavestriventoforgivehim。Letthereadernowforgiveme;andthinksometimeswhatprobablymyraw—materialwas!——
  Curiousenough,FriedrichlivedintheWritingEra,——morningofthatstrangeErawhichhasgrowntosuchanoonforus;——andhisfavoritesociety,allhisreign,waswiththeliteraryorwritingsort。Norhavetheyfailedtowriteabouthim,theyamongtheothers,abouthimandabouthim;anditisnotablehowlittlereallight,onanypointofhisexistenceorenvironment,theyhavemanagedtocommunicate。Dimindeed,formostpartamereepigrammaticsputterofdarknessvisible,isthe"picture"theyhavefashionedtothemselvesofFriedrichandhisCountryandhisCentury。Mennot"ofgenius,"apparently?Alas,no;menfatallydestituteoftrueeyesight,andofloyalheartfirstofall。
  SofarasIhavenoticed,therewasnot,withthesingleexceptionofMirabeauforonehour,anymantobecalledofgenius,orwithanadequatepowerofhumandiscernment,thateverpersonallylookedonFriedrich。HadmanysuchmenlookedsuccessivelyonhisHistoryandhim,wehadnotfounditnowinsuchacondition。
  StillaltogetherchaoticasaHistory;fatallydestituteevenoftheIndexesandmechanicalappliances:Friedrich’sself,andhisCountry,andhisCentury,stillundeciphered;verydarkphenomena,allthree,totheintelligentpartofmankind。
  InPrussiatherehaslongbeenacertainstubbornthoughplanlessdiligenceindiggingfortheoutwarddetailsofFriedrich’sLife—
  History;thoughastoorganizingthem,assortingthem,orevenputtinglabelsonthem;muchmoreastotheleastinterpretationorhumandelineationofthemanandhisaffairs,——youneednotinquireinPrussia。InFrance,inEngland,itisstillworse。
  ThereanimmenseignoranceprevailsevenastotheoutwardfactsandphenomenaofFriedrich’slife;andinsteadofthePrussianno—interpretation,youfind,inthesevacantcircumstances,agreatpromptitudetointerpret。Wherebyjudgmentsandprepossessionsexistamongusonthatsubject,especiallyonFriedrich’scharacter,whichareveryignorantindeed。
  ToEnglishmen,thesourcesofknowledgeorconvictionaboutFriedrich,Ihaveobserved,aremainlythesetwo。FIRST,forhisPublicCharacter:itwasanall—importantfact,nottoIT,buttothiscountryinregardtoit,ThatGeorgeII。,seeinggoodtoplungehead—foremostintoGermanPolitics,andtotakeMariaTheresa’ssideintheAustrian—SuccessionWarof1740—1748,neededtobeginbyassuringhisParliamentandNewspapers,profoundlydarkonthematter,thatFriedrichwasarobberandvillainfortakingtheotherside。Whichassurance,restingonwhatbasisweshallseebyandby,George’sParliamentandNewspaperscheerfullyaccepted;nothingdoubting。Andtheyhavere—echoedandreverberatedit,theyandtherestofus,eversince,toalllengths,downtothepresentday;asafactquiteagreedupon,andthepreliminaryiteminFriedrich’scharacter。
  Robberandvillaintobeginwith;thatwasonesettledpoint。
  AfterwardswhenGeorgeandFriedrichcametobeallies,andthegrandfightingsoftheSeven—YearsWartookplace,George’sParliamentandNewspaperssettledasecondpoint,inregardtoFriedrich:"Oneofthegreatestsoldierseverborn。"ThisseconditemtheBritishWriterfullyadmitseversince:buthestilladdstoitthequalityofrobber,inalooseway;——andimagestohimselfaroyalDickTurpin,ofthekindknowninReview—Articles,anddisquisitionsonProgressoftheSpecies,andlabelsitFREDERICK;veryanxioustocollectnewbabblementoflyingAnecdotes,falseCriticisms,hungryFrenchMemoirs,whichwillconfirmhiminthatimpossibleidea。Hadsuchproved,onsurvey,tobethecharacterofFriedrich,thereisoneBritishWriterwhosecuriosityconcerninghimwouldprettysoonhavediedaway;
  norcouldanyamountofunwisedesiretosatisfythatfeelinginfellow—creatureslessseriouslydisposedhavesustainedhimalive,inthosebalefulHistoricAcheronsandStygianFens,wherehehashadtodigandtofishsolong,farawayfromtheupperlight!——
  Letmerequestallreaderstoblowthatsorrychaffentirelyoutoftheirminds;andtobelievenothingonthesubjectexceptwhattheygetsomeevidencefor。
  SECONDEnglishsourcerelatestothePrivateCharacter。
  Friedrich’sBiographyorPrivateCharacter,theEnglish,liketheFrench,havegatheredchieflyfromascandalouslibelbyVoltaire,whichusedtobecalled