Threeofthemwere，theVONSBlumenthal，Massow，Hagen，unknowntoreadershere:fourthandfifthwere，theVonWedellasWar—
Minister，onceDictatoratZullichan；andaVonderHorst，whohadwhatwemightpartiallycalltheHomeDepartment，andwhomaybyaccidentonceorsobenamableagain。
NorwasWarall，saystheKing:"accidentalFiresindifferentplaces，"whilewestruggledtorepairtheravagingsofWar，"wereofunexampledfrequency，anddidimmensefartherdamage。From1765
to1769，hereisthelistofplacesburnt:InEastPreussen，theCityofKonigsbergtwiceover；inSilesia，theTownsofFreystadt，Ober—Glogau[doreadersrecollectManteuffelofFootand"WIR
WOLLENIHMWAS"！]，Parchwitz，Naumburg—on—Queiss，andGoldberg；
intheMark，Nauen；intheNeumark，CaliesandapartofLansberg；
inPommern，BelgardandTempelburg。Theseaccidentsrequiredincessantlynewexpenditurestorepairthem。"
FriedrichwasnottheleastofaFreeTrader，exceptwhereitsuitedhim:andhiscontinualsubventionsanddonations，guidances，encouragements，commandingsandprohibitions，wisesupervisionandimpulsion，——areathingIshouldliketohearanintelligentMirabeau（JuniororSenior）discourseupon，afterhehadwellstudiedthem！Forexample:"ONRENDITLESPRETRESUTILES，ThePriests，CatholicPriests，wereturnedtousebyobligingalltherichAbbeystoestablishmanufactures:hereitwasweaversmakingdamasksandtable—cloths；thereoil—mills[oilfromlinseed]；
orworkersincopper，wire—drawers；assuitedthelocalitiesandthenaturalproducts，——theflaxesandthemetals，withwater—power，markets，andsoon。"WhatacharmingresuscitationoftherichAbbeysfromtheirdormantcondition！
Ishouldlikestillbettertoexplainhow，inLowerSilesia，"we（ON）managedtoincreasethenumberofHusbandmenby4，000
families。YouwillbesurprisedhowitwaspossibletomultiplytothisextentthepeoplelivingbyAgricultureinaCountrywherealreadynotafieldwaswaste。Thereasonwasthis。ManyLordsofLand，toincreasetheirDomain，hadimperceptiblyappropriatedtothemselvestheholdings（TERRES）oftheirvassals。Hadthisabusebeensufferedtogoon，intimeagreat"——Butthecommentaryneededwouldbetoolengthy；wewillgiveonlytheresult:"Inthelong—run，everyVillagewouldhavehaditsLord，buttherewouldhavebeennotax—payingFarmersleft。"TheLandlord，ruleroftheseLandless，mighthimself（asMajestywellknows）havebeenmadetoPAY，hadthatbeenall；butitwasnot。"Topossesssomething；
thatiswhatmakesthecitizenattachedtohisCountry；thosewhohavenoproperty，andhavenothingtolose，whattiehavethey？"
Aweakone，incomparison！"AllthesethingsbeingrepresentedtotheLandlordClass，theirownadvantagemadethemconsenttoreplacetheirPeasantsontheoldfooting。"……
"Tomakeheadagainstsomanyextraordinarydemands，"addstheKing（lookingovertoanewChapter，thatoftheMILITARY，whichDepartment，tohiseyes，wasnotlessshockinglydilapidatedthantheCIVIL，andequallyormoreneededinstantrepair），"newresourceshadtobedevised。For，besideswhatwasneededforre—establishmentoftheProvinces，newFortificationswerenecessary；andallourCannon，E’VASES（worntoowideinthebore），neededtoberefounded；whichoccasionedconsiderablenewexpense。
ThisledustoimprovementoftheExcises，"——concerningwhichtherewillhavetobeaSectionbyitself。
OFFRIEDRICH’SNEWEXCISESYSTEM。
InhislateInspection—JourneytoCleveCountry，D’Alembert，fromParis，byappointmentwaitedfortheKing；[In（OEuvresdeFrederic，xxiv。377—380（D’Alembert’sfinebitsofLettersinprospectofPotsdam，"Paris，7thMarch—29thApril，1763；"andtwosmallNoteswhilethere，"Sans—Souci，6thJuly—15thAugust，1763"）。]——pickedupatGeldern（June11th），aswesawabove。D’AlembertgottoPotsdamJune22d；stayedtillmiddleofAugust。HehadmettheKingoncebefore，in1755；whofoundhim"aBONGARCON，"aswethensaw。D’Alembertwasalways，sincethattime，anagreeable，estimablelittlemantoFriedrich。Agenowaboutforty—six；haslatelyrefusedthefineRussianpostof"TutortotheCzarowitsh"（CzarowitshPaul，poorlittleBoyofeightornine，whomwe，orHerrBuschingforus，sawgallopingabout，notlongsince，"inhisdressing—gown，"underPanin’sTutorage）；
refusesnow，inadelicategradualmanner，thefinePrussianpostofPerpetualPresident，orSuccessortoMaupertuis；——definitelypreferringhisfrugalpensionsatParis，andgarretallhisownthere。Continues，especiallyafterthistwomonths’visitof1763，oneoftheKing’schiefcorrespondentsforthenexttwentyyears。
["29thOctober，1783，"D’Alembertdied:"born16thNovember，1717；"
——aFoundling，asiswellknown；"MotheraSisterofCardinalTencin’s；Father，"accidental，"anOfficerintheArtillery。"]
Amanofmuchclearintellect；athoughtSHRIEKYinhiswayssometimes；butalwaysprudent，rational，polite，andloyallyrecognizingFriedrichasapreciousarticleinthisworld。HereisawordofD’Alembert’stoMadameduDeffand，atParis，sometenortwelvedaysaftertheClevemeeting，andthethirddayafterhisarrivalhere:——
"POTSDAM，25thJUNE，1763。MADAME，——……IwillnotgointothepraisesofthisPrince，"KingFriedrich，mynowHost；"inmymouthitmightbesuspicious:Iwillmerelysendyoutwotraitsofhim，whichwillindicatehiswayofthinkingandfeeling。WhenIspoketohim[atGeldern，probably，onourfirstmeeting]ofthegloryhehadacquired，heanswered，withthegreatestsimplicity，Thattherewasafuriousdiscounttobedeductedfromsaidglory；thatchancecameinforalmostthewholeofit；andthathewouldfarratherhavedoneRatine’sATHALIEthanallthisWar:——ATHALIEistheworkhelikes，andrereadsoftenest；Ibelieveyouwon’tdisapprovehistastethere。TheothertraitIhavetogiveyouis，Thatontheday[15thFebruarylast]ofconcludingthisPeace，whichissoglorioustohim，someonesaying，’ItisthefinestdayofyourMajesty’slife:’’Thefinestdayoflife，’answeredhe，’isthedayonwhichonequitsit。’……——Adieu，Madame。"["OEuvresPosthumesdeD’Alembert（Paris，1799）。i。197:"citedinPREUSS，ii。348。]
ThemeetinginCleveCountrywas，nodoubt，averyprettypassage，withTwoprettyMonthsfollowing；——andifitbetruethatHELVETIUS
wasaconsequence，the11thofJune，1763，mayalmostclaimtobeakindofepochinFriedrich’slaterhistory。TheopulentandingeniousM。Helvetius，whowroteDEL’ESPRIT，andhasgotbanishedforthatfeat（lostinthegloomofLondoninthosemonths），hadbeenamightyTax—gathereraswell；D’Alembert，asbrotherPhilosophe，wasfamiliarwithHelvetius。Itiscertain，also，KingFriedrich，atthistime，foundhewouldrequireannuallytwomillionthalersmore；——wheretogetthem，seemedtheimpossibility。
AGeneralKrockow，whohadlongbeeninFrenchService，andismuchabouttheKing，wasoftenrecommendingtheFrenchExcisesystem；——
heistheKrockowofDOMSTADTL，andthatSIEGEOFOLMUTZ，memorabletosomeofus:——"AwonderfulExcisesystem，"Krockowisoftensaying，inthistimeofstraits。"Whocompletelyunderstandsit？"
theKingmightask。"Helvetius，againsttheworld！"D’Alembertcouldjustlyanswer。"InviteHelvetiustoleavehisLondonexile，andacceptanasylumhere，wherehemaybeofvitalusetome！"
concludesFriedrich。
HelvetiuscameinMarch，1765；stayedtillJune，1766:[Rodenbeck，ii。254；Preuss，iii。11。]——withinwhichtimeaFrenchExcisesystem，whichhehadbeendevisingandputtingtogether，hadjustgotingear，andbeeninactionforamonth，toHelvetius’ssatisfaction。Whothereuponwenthisway，andneverreturned；——
takingwithhim，asmanandtax—gatherer，theKing’slastinggratitude；butbynomeansthatofthePrussianNation，inhistax—
gatheringcapacity！AllPrussia，orallofitthatfellunderthisHelvetiusExcisesystem，unitedtocondemnit，inallmannerofdialects，louderandlouder:here，forinstance，istheutteranceofHerrHamann，himselfakindofCustom—houseClerk（atKonigsberg，inEastPreussen），andonmodesttermsaLiterarymanofrealmeritandoriginality，whomaybesupposedtounderstandthissubject:"Andso，"saysHamann，"theStatehasdeclareditsownsubjectsincapableofmanagingitsFinancesystem；andinthiswayhasintrusteditsheart，thatisthepurseofitssubjects，toacompanyofForeignScoundrels，ignorantofeverythingrelatingtoit！"["HamanntoJacobi"（seePreuss，iii。1—35），"Konigsberg，18thJanuary，1786。"]
ThislastedallFriedrich’slifetime；andgaverisetonotalittlebuzzing，especiallyinitsprimaryorincipientstages。ItseemstohavebeenoneoftheunsuccessfulestFinanceadventuresFriedricheverengagedin。Itcosthissubjectsinfinitesmalltrouble；
awakenedverygreatcomplaining；and，forthefirsttime，realdiscontent，——skin—deepbutsincereanduniversal，——againstthemisguidedVaterFritz。Muchnoisyabsurditytherewasuponit，athome，andespeciallyabroad:"Gripingmiser，""greedytyrant，"andsoforth！Deductingallwhich，everybodynowadmitsthatFriedrich’saimwasexcellentandproper；butnobodydenieswithalthatthemeanswereinconsiderate，ofnoprofitinproportiontothetroubletheygave，andimpropertoadoptunlessthenecessitycompelled。
Friedrichisforbidden，orforbidshimself，aswehaveoftenmentioned，toimposenewtaxes:andneverthelessnow，oncalculationsdeep，minuteandnodoubtexact，hejudgesThatformeetingnewattacksofWar（orbeingreadytomeet，whichwilloftenestmeanavertingthem），——athingwhich，ashehasjustseen，mayconcerntheveryexistenceoftheState，——itisnecessarythatthereshouldbeonfootsuchandsuchquotitiesandkindsofSoldieryandWar—furniture，visibletoallneighbors；andprivatelyintheTreasuryneverlessthansuchandsuchasum。TowhichendArithmeticdeclaresthatthereisrequiredaboutTwoMillionthalersmoreofyearlyrevenuethanwenowhave。Andwhere，inthesecircumstances，arethemeansofraisingsuchasum？
Friedrichimposesnonewtaxes；buttheremaybestrictermethodsoflevyingtheold；——theremay，andinfacttheremust，bemeansfound！FriedrichhasconsultedhisFinanceMinisters；putthequestionSERIATIMtothesewiseheads:theyanswerwithonevoice，"Therearenomeans。"[Rodenbeck，ii。256。]Friedrich，therefore，hasrecoursetoHelvetius；who，ondueconsideration，andaftersurveyofmuchdocumentaryandtabularyraw—material，isofopinion，ThatthePrussianExciseswould，ifleviedwiththepunctuality，precisionandvigilantexactitudeofFrenchmethods，actuallyyieldtherequiredoverplus。"Organizemethemethods，then；getthemputinactionhere；underFrenchhands，ifthatbeindispensable。"HelvetiusbethoughthimofwhatfittestFrenchhandsthereweretohisknowledge，——inFrancethereareagreatmanyhandsflungidleinthepresentdownbreakoffinancethere:——
Helvetiusappearstohaveselected，arrangedandcontrivedinthismatterwithhisbestdiligence。DeLaunay，theHead—engineerofthething，wasadmittedbyallPrussia，afterTwenty—twoyearsunfriendlyexperienceofhim，tohavebeenasuitableandestimableperson；amanofjudiciousways，ofnosmallintelligence，prudence，andofverygreatskillinadministeringbusiness。
Head—engineerDeLaunay，onemayguess，wouldbeconsultedbyHelvetiusinchoiceofthesubalternOfficials，thestokersandsteerersinthisnewSteam—Machinery，whichhadalltobemannedfromFrance。TherewereFourheadsofdepartmentsimmediatelyunderDeLaunay，orscarcelyunderhim，juniorbrothersrather:——whochosetheseIdidnothear；buttheselatter，itisevident，werenotasuperiorqualityofpeople。OftheseFour，——allatveryhighsalaries，fromDeLaunaydownwards；"higherthanaPrussianMinisterofState！"murmuredthepublic，——two，withinthefirstyear，gotintoquarrel；foughtaduel，fataltooneofthem；
sothattherewerenowonlyThreeleft。"Three，withDeLaunay，willdo，"opinedFriedrich；anddividedthevacantsalaryamongthesurvivors:inwhichformtheyhadatleastnomoreduelling。
Astothesubalternworking—parties，theVISITATEURS，CONTROLLEURS，JAUGEURS（Gaugers），PLOMBEURS（Lead—stampers），orthestrangestkindofall，called"Cellar—Rats（COMMISRATS—DE—CAVE），"theyweresodetestedandexclaimedagainst，byaPublicimpatientoftheworkitself，thereisnoknowingwhattheirdegreeofscoundrelismwas，noreven，withinamazinglywidelimits，whatthearithmeticalnumberofthemwas。About500inthewholeofPrussia，saysaquietPrussian，whohasmadesomeinquiry；["Beguelin，ACCISE—UNDZOLL—
VERFASSUNG，s。138"（Preuss，iii，18）。]1，500saysMirabeau；
3，000sayotherexaggerativepersons，oreven5，000；DeLaunay’saccountis，Notatanytimeabove200。Butwecanallimaginehowvexatioustheyandtheirbusinesswere。Nobodynowisprivilegedwithexemption:fromoneandallofyou，Nobles，Clergy，People，strictaccountisrequired，aboutyourbeersandliquors；
yourcoffee，salt；yourconsumptionsandyourpurchasesofallexcisablearticles:——nay，Ithinkincoffeeandsalt，insaltforcertain，whatyouwillrequire，accordingtoyourstationanddomesticnumbers，iscomputedforyou，tosavetrouble；suchandsuchquantitiesyouwillpleasetobuyinourpresence，ortopaydutyfor，whetheryoubuythemornot。Intoallhouses，atanyhourofthedayorofthenight，thesecellar—ratshadliberty，——（onwarrantfromsomehigherratoftheirowntype，Iknownothowmuchhigher；andnosureappealforyou，excepttotheKing；tolerablysurethere，ifyoubeINNOCENT，butevidentlyperilousifyoubeonlyNOT—CONVICTED！）——hadliberty，Isay，tosearchforcontraband；
allyourpresses，drawers，repositories，youmustopentothesebeautifulcreatures；watchinnightcap，andcandleinhand，whileyourthingsgetalltumbledhitherandthither，inthesearchforwhatperhapsisnotthere；nay，itwassaidandsuspected，butI
neverknewitforcertain，thatthesepoisonousFrencharecapableofslippinginsomethingcontraband，onpurposetohaveyoufinedwhetherornot。
Readerscanconceive，thoughapparentlyFriedrichdidnot，whataworldofvexationallthisoccasioned；andhow，inthecontinualannoyancetoallmankind，theirritation，provocationandquerulouseloquencespreadamonghighandlow。OfwhichtheKingknewsomething；butfarfromthewhole。Hisobjectwasoneofvitalimportance；andhisplanoncefixed，hewentonwithit，accordingtohiscustom，regardlessoflittlerubs。TheAnecdoteBooksarefullofdetails，comicmostly，onthissubject:HowtheFrenchratspounceddownupongoodharmlesspeople，innocentfrugalparsonages，farm—houses；andwerecomicallyflungprostratebynativereadywit，orbydirectappealtotheKing。Details，neversoauthentic，couldnotbeadvisableinthisplace。PerhapstherearenotmorethanTwoauthenticPassages，knowntome，whichcannowhavetheleastinterest，evenofamomentarysort，toEnglishreaders。
Thefirstis，OfKingFriedrichcaricaturedasaMisergrindingCoffee。Igiveit，withoutessentialalterationofanykind，inHerrPreuss’swords，copiedfromthoseofonewhosawit:——thesecond，whichrelatestoaPrincessorEx—PrincessoftheRoyalHouse，Imustreserveforalittlewhile。HerrPreusssays:——
"Onceduringthetimeofthe’Regie’[whichlastedfrom1766to1786andtheKing’sdeath:nootherdateassignable，though1768，orso，maybeimaginableforourpurpose]，astheKingcameridingalongtheJagerStrasse，therewasvisiblenearwhatiscalledtheFurstenhaus，"kindofBerlinSomersetHouse，[Nicolai，i。155。]"agreatcrowdofpeople。’Seewhatitis！’theKingsenthisoneattendant，aheiducorgroom，intoit，tolearnwhatitwas。
’TheyhavesomethingpostedupaboutyourMajesty，’reportedthegroom；andFriedrich，whobythistimehadriddenforward，tookalookatthething；whichwasaCaricaturefigureofhimself:
Kinginverymelancholyguise，seatedonaStool，aCoffee—millbetweenhisknees；diligentlygrindingwiththeonehand，andwiththeotherpickingupanybeanthatmighthavefallen。’Hangitlower，’saidtheKing，beckoninghisgroomwithawaveofthefinger:’Lower，thattheymaynothavetohurttheirnecksaboutit！’Nosoonerwerethewordsspoken，whichspreadinstantly，thanthererosefromthewholecrowdoneuniversalhuzzaofjoy。
TheytoretheCaricatureintoathousandpieces，androlledaftertheKingwithloud（LEBEHOCH，OurFriedrichforever！’asherodeslowlyaway。"[Preuss，iii。275（"fromBERLINCONVERSUTIONSBLATT
&c。of1827，No。253"）。]ThatistheirFriedrich’smethodwiththeCaricatureDepartment。Heffner，KapellmeisterinUpsala，reportsthisbitofmemorability；hewasthenoftheKing’sMusic—ChapelinBerlin，andsawthiswithhiseyes。
TheKing’stendencyatalltimes，andhispracticegenerally，whenwehearofit，wastotakethepeople’sside；sothatgraduallytheseFrenchprocedureswereagreatdealmitigated；andDIEREGIE
——sotheycalledthishatefulnew—fangledsystemofExcisemachinery——becamemuchmoresupportable，"thesorrowsofitnothingbutatraditiontotheyoungersort，"reportsDohm，whoisextremelyampleonthissubject。[ChristianWilhelmvonDohm，DenkwurdigkeitenmeinerZeit（LemgoundHanover，1819），iv。500etseq。]DeLaunaywashonorablydismissed，andthewholeRegieabolished，amonthortwoafterFriedrich’sdeath。
WithaspleneticsatisfactionauthenticDohm，whosufficientlycondemnstheREGIE，addsthatitwasnotevensuccessful；andshowsbyevidence，andcomputationtotheuttermostfarthing，thatinsteadoftwomillionthalersannually，ityieldedontheaverageratherlessthanone。Thedesiredoverplusoftwomillions，andagooddealmoredidindeedcomein，sayshe:butitwasowingtothegreatprosperityofPrussiaatlarge，aftertheSeven—YearsWar；
tothemanifoldindustriesawakening，whichhavegoneonprogressiveeversince。Dohmdeclaresfarther，thattheveryobjectwasinasortfanciful，nugatory；arguingthatnobodydidattackFriedrich；——butomittingtoprovethatnobodywouldhavedoneso，hadFriedrichNOTstoodreadytoreceivehim。Wewillremarkonly，whatisveryindisputable，thatFriedrich，owingtotheRegie，ortoothercauses，didgetthehumbleoverplusnecessaryforhim；
anddidstandreadyforanywarwhichmighthavecome（andwhichdidinasortcome）；thathemoreandmorerelaxedtheRegie，asitbecamelessindispensabletohim；andwaswilling，ifhefoundtheCaricaturesandOppositionPlacardstoohighposted，tosavethepoorreadingpeopleanytroublethatwaspossible。
AFrencheye—witnesstestifies:"Theyhadnotalent，theseRegiefellows，butthatofwritingandciphering；extremelyconceitedtoo，andwerecapableofthemostridiculousfollies。Once，forinstance，theycondemnedacommonsoldier，whohadhiddensomepoundsoftobacco，toafineof200thalers。TheKing，onreviewingitforconfirmation，wroteonthemargin:’Beforeconfirmingthissentence，IshouldwishtoknowwheretheSoldier，whogets8
groschen[ninepencehalfpenny]inthe5days，willfindthe200
crownsforpayingthisFine！’"[Laveaux（2dedition），iii。228。]
Innumerableinstancesofaconstantdispositionthatway，ontheKing’spart，standonrecord。"Acrownaheadontheimportoffatcattle，Taxonbutcher’s—meat？"writesheoncetoDeLaunay:
"No，thatwouldfallonthepoorerclasses:tothatImustsayNo。
Iam，byoffice，ProcuratorofthePoor（L’AVOCATDUPAUVRE）。"
Elsewhereitis"AVOCATDECPAUVREETDUSOLDAT（oftheworking—manandofthesoldier）；andhavetopleadtheircause。"
[Preuss，iii。20。]
WewillnowgiveourSecondAnecdote；whichhaslessofmemorabilitytousstrangersatpresent，thoughdoubtlessitwasthen，inBerlinsociety，themorecelebratedofthetwo；
relating，asitdid，toahighCourt—Lady，almostthehighest，andwhowasherselfonlytoocelebratedinthoseyears。TheheroineisPrincessElizabethofBrunswick，King’sownNieceandaprettywoman；whoforfouryears（14thJuly，1765—18thApril，1769）ofherlonglifewasPrincessRoyalofPrussia，——WifeofthattallyoungGentlemanwhomweusedtoseedancingabout，whomwelastsawatSchweidnitzgettingflungfromhishorse，onthedayofPirch’ssaddlethere:——hisWifeforfouryears，butinthefourthyearceasedtobeso[Rodenbeck，ii。241，257。]（forexcellentreasons，onbothsides），andlivedthenceforthinadivorcedeclipsedstateatStettin，whereislaidthesceneofourAnecdote。Iunderstandittobeperfectlytrue；butcannotascertainfromanyofthewitnessesinwhatyearthethinghappened；orwhetheritwasatStettinorBerlin，——thoughmyauthorhasguessed，"Stettin，intheLady’sdivorcedstate，"asappears。
"ThisPrincesshadcommissioned，directfromLyon，averybeautifuldress；whicharrivedduly，addressedtoheratStettin。Asthiskindofstuffsischargedwithveryheavydues，theDOUANIER，headCustom—housePersonageoftheTown，hadtheimpertinencetodetainthedresstillpaymentweremade。ThePrincess，inaloftyindignation，sentwordtothisperson，Tobringthedressinstantly，andshewouldpaytheduesonit。Heobeyed:but，"——marktheresult，——"scarcelyhadthePrincessgoteyeonhim，whensheseizedherLyonDress；and，givingtheDouanieracoupleofgoodslapsontheface，orderedhimoutofherapartmentandhouse。
"TheDouanier，thinkinghimselfoneandsomewhat，withdrewinhighcholer；hadalongPROCES—VERBALofthethingdrawnout；andsentittotheKingwitheloquentcomplaint，’Thathehadbeendishonoredindoingthefunctionappointedhim。’Friedrichrepliedasfollows:TOTHEDOUANIERATSTETTIN:’ThelossoftheExcise—
duesshallfalltomyscore；theDressshallremainwiththePrincess；theslapstohimwhohasreceivedthem。AstothepretendedDishonor，Ientirelyrelievethecomplainantfromthat:
nevercantheapplianceofabeautifulhanddishonorthefaceofanOfficerofCustoms。——F。’"[Laveaux（abridged），iii。229。]
NorthernTourists，Wraxallandothers，passingthatway，speakofthisPrincess，downtorecenttimes，asaphenomenonoftheplace。
ApparentlyahighandperemptorykindofLady，disdainingtobebowedtoolowbyherdisgraces。Shesurvivedallhergeneration，andthenextandthenext，andindeedintoourown。Died18thFebruary，1840:attheageofninety—six。ThreescoreandelevenyearsofthateclipsedStettinExistence；thisoftheLyongown，andcaitiffofaCustom—houserslappedontheface，heroneadventureputonrecordforus！——
ShewassignallyblamableinthatoftheDivorce；butnotshealone，norfirstoftheTwo。HerCrown—Prince，FriedrichWilhelm，calledafterwards，asKing，"DERDICKE（theFat，ortheBig），"andheldinlittleesteembyPosterity，——aheadlong，ratherdarkandphysicalkindofcreature，thoughnotill—meaningordishonest，——
washimselfadreadfulsinnerinthatdepartmentofthings；andhadBEGUNthebadgameagainsthispoorCousinandSpouse！Readersofdiscursiveturnareperhapsacquaintedwithacertain"GrafinvonLichtenau，"andherMEMOIRSsocalled:——notwillingly，butdriven，Ifishuponespecimen，andoneonly，fromthatrecordofhumanpuddlesandperversities:——
"Fromthefirstyearofourattachment，"saysthispreciousGrafin，"Iwasalreadytheconfidantofhis，"thePrinceofPrussia’s，"mostsecretthoughts。Oneday[in1767，secondyearofhismarriedlife，Ithenfifteen，slimDaughterofaPlayerontheFrenchHorn，inhisMajesty’spay]，thePrincehappenedtobeveryserious；
andwasowningtomewithfranknessthathehadsomewrongstowardsmysextoreproachhimselfwith，"——alas，yes，somefew:——"andhesworethathewouldneverforsakeME；andthatifHeavendisposedofmylifebeforehis，nonebutheshouldclosemyeyes。Hewasfingeringwithapenknifeatthetime；hestruckthepointofitintothepalmofhislefthand，andwrotewithhisblood[theuncleancreature]，onalittlebitofpaper，theOathwhichhislipshadjustpronouncedinsosolemnatone。VainlyshouldI
undertaketopaintmyemotiononthisactionofhis！ThePrincesawwhatIfelt；andtookadvantageofittobegthatIwouldfollowhisexample。Ihastenedtosatisfyhim；andtraced，ashehaddone，withmyblood，thepromisetoremainhisfriendtothetomb，andnevertoforsakehim。ThisPromisemusthavebeenfoundamonghisPapersafterhisdeath[stillintheArchives？wewillhopenot！]——
BothofusstoodfaithfultothisOath。Thetieoflove，itistrue，webroke:butthatwasbymutualconsent，andthebettertofixourselvesinthebondsofaninviolablefriendship。
Othermistressesreignedoverhissenses；butI"——ACHGOTT，nomoreofthat。[MemoiresdelaComtessedeLichtenau（aLondres，chezColburnLibraire，Conduit—street，Bond—
street，2tomes，small8vo，1809），i。129。]
TheKing’sownaccountoftheaffairissufficientlyexplicit。
Hiswordsare:"Notlongago[abouttwoyearsbeforethisofthepenknife]wementionedthePrinceofPrussia’smarriagewithElizabethofBrunswick[hisCousintwiceover，herMother，PrincessCharlotteofPrussia，beinghisFather’sSisterandmine，andherFatherHISMother’sBrother，——ifyouliketocountit]。
Thisengagement，fromwhicheverybodyhadexpectedhappyconsequences，didnotcorrespondtothewishesoftheRoyalHouse。"
OnlyonePrincesscouldberealized（subsequentlyWifetothelateDukeofYork），——shecamethissameyearofthepenknife，——andbadoutlooksformore。"TheHusband，younganddissolute（SANSMOEURS），givenuptoacrapulouslife，fromwhichhisrelativescouldnotcorrecthim，wascontinuallycommittinginfidelitiestohisWife。
ThePrincess，whowasintheflowerofherbeauty，feltoutragedbysuchneglectofhercharms；hervivacity，andthegoodopinionshehadofherself，broughtheruponthethoughtofavengingherwrongsbyretaliation。Speedilyshegaveintoexcesses，scarcelyinferiortothoseofherHusband。Familyquarrelsbrokeout，andweresoonpubliclyknown。Theantipathythatensuedtookawayallhopeofsuccession[haditbeendesirableinthesesadcircumstances！]。
PrinceHenri[JUNIOR，thishopefulPrinceofPrussia’sBrother]，whowasgiftedwithallthequalitiestobewishedinayoungman[witnessmytearsforhim]，hadbeencarriedoffbysmall—pox。
["26thMay，1767，"age19gone；ELOGEofhimbyFriedrich（"MS。stillstainedwithtears"），inOEuvresdeFrederic，vii。37etseq。]TheKing’sBrothers，PrincesHenriandFerdinand，avowedfranklythattheywouldneverconsenttohave，bysomeaccidentalbastard，theirrightsofsuccessiontothecrowncarriedoff。Intheend，therewasnothingforitbutproceedingtoadivorce。"[OEuvresdeFrederic，vi。23。]
Divorcewasdoneinabeautifulprivatemanner；casetriedwithstrictlyshutdoors；allthefivejudgesunderoathtocarryintothegravewhatevertheycametoknowofit:[Preuss，iv。180—186。]
divorcecompleted18thApril，1769；and，withinthreemonths，anewmarriagewasaccomplished，PrincessFrederikaLuisaofHessen—
Darmstadtthehappywoman。BymeansofwhomtherewasdulyrealizedaFriedrichWilhelm，whobecame"KingFriedrichWilhelmIII。"（amuch—enduring，excellent，thoughinarticulateman），aswellasvariousotherPrincesandPrincesses，inspiteofinterruptionsfromtheLichtenauSisterhood。High—souledElizabethwasrelegatedtoStettin；heramountofPensionisnotmentioned；herFamily，aftertheunhappyproofscommunicatedtothem，hadgiventheirconsentandsanction；——andshestayedthere，idle，orherownmistressofwork，forthenextseventy—oneyears。——EnoughofHER
LyonDress，surely，andoftheExcisesystemaltogether！——
THENEUEPALAIS，INSANS—SOUCINEIGHBORHOOD，ISFOUNDED
ANDFINISHED（1763—1770）。
IfD’Alembert’sVisitwasthegermoftheExcisesystem，itwillbecurioustonote，——andindeedwhetherornot，itwillbechronologicallyserviceabletoushere，andworthnoting，——thattherewentonasmallsynchronousaffair，stillvisibletoeverybody:namely，ThatintheveryhourswhileFriedrichandD’AlembertweresalutingmutuallyatGeldern（11thJune，1763），therewaslaidthefoundationofwhattheycalltheNEUEPALAIS；
NewPalaceofSans—Souci:[Rodenbeck，ii。219。]asumptuousEdifice，inthecuriousLOUIS—QUINZEorwhatiscalled"Rococo"
styleofthetime；PalacenevermuchinhabitedbyFriedrichorhissuccessors，whichstillstandsinthoseornamentalPotsdamregions。
Whybuilt，especiallyinthethendown—pressedfinancialcircumstances，somehavehadtheirdifficultiestoimagine。
Itappears，thisNewPalacehadbeendeterminedonbeforetheWarbrokeout；andFriedrichsaidtohimself:"Wewillbuilditnow，tohelpthemechanicalclassesinBerlin，——perhapsalso，inpart[thinksome，andwhyshouldnotthey，alittle？]toshowmankindthatwehavestillreadymoney；andarenothinglikesoruinedastheyfancy。"
"ThisNEUEPALAIS，"saysonerecentTourist，"isapleasantquaintobject，nowadays，tothestranger。IthastheairDEGAGE
POCOCURANTE；pleasantlyfineinaspectandinposture；——spaciousexpansesroundit，notinawaste，butstilllessinastrictcondition；and（initsdesertedstate）hasasilence，especiallyatotalabsenceofneedlessflunkiesandofgapingfellow—loungers，whichischarming。Standsmutethere，initssolitude，initsstatelysilenceandnegligence，likesomeTadmoroftheWildernessinsmall。ThebigsquareofStables，Coach—houses，nearby，waslockedup，——probablyonesleepinggroominit。TheveryCUSTOSofthegrandEdifice（suchtherarityoffeestohim）Icouldnotawakenwithoutdifficulty。Inthegrayautumnzephyrs，nosoundwhateveraboutthisNewPalaceofKingFriedrich’s，excepttherustleofthecrispbrownleaves，andofanyfadedorfadingmemoriesyoumayhave。
"Ishouldsay，"continueshe，"itsomehowremindsyouoftheCityofBath。IthasthecutofabatteredBeauofolddate；Beaustillextant，thoughinstrangelyothercircumstances；somethinginhimofpatheticdignityinthatkind。Itshowsexcellentsoundmasonries；whichhaveanover—tendencytojerkthemselvesintopinnacles，curvaturesandgraciosities；manystatuesatop，——threethereare，inakindofgroupedorpartnershipattitude；
’These，’saiddiligentscandal，’notethem；thesemeanMariaTheresa，PompadourandCATINDUNORD’（mereMuses，Ibelieve，oroftheNymphorHamadryadkind，nothingofharminthem）。Inshort，youmaycallitthestoneApotheosisofanoldFrenchBeau。
Considerablyweather—beaten（thebrownoflichensspreadingvisiblyhereandthere，thefirm—setashlartellingyou，’Ihavestoodahundredyears’）；——Beauoldandweather—beaten，withhiscocked—hatnotinthefreshcondition，allhisgold—lacestarnished；
andgenerallylookingstrange，andinasorttragical，tofindhimself，fleetingcreature，becomeadenizenoftheArchitecturalFixitiesandearnestEternities！"——
FromPotsdamPalacetotheNewPalaceofSans—Soucimaybeamiledistance；flatground，paralleltothefootofHills；allthrougharbors，parterres，water—works，andornamentalgardeningsandcottagingsorvilla—ings，——Cottage—VillaforLordMarischalisoneofthem。Thismileofdistance，takingtheCOTTAGERoyalofSans—
Soucionitshill—topasvertex，willbethebaseofanisoscelesornearlyisoscelestriangle，flatterthanequilateral。TotheCottageRoyalofSans—Soucimaybeaboutthree—quartersofamilenortheastfromthisNewPalace，andfromPotsdamPalacetoitratherless。Andthewholesquare—mileorsoofspaceiscontinuouslyaGarden，notintheEnglishsense，thoughithasitsownbeautiesofthemoreartificialkind；and，atanyrate，hasmemoriesforyou，andfootstepsofpersonsstillunforgottenbymankind。——HereisaNoticeofLordMarischal；whichreaderswillnotgrudge；thechronologyoftheworthyman，inthesehislaterepochs，beinginsohazyastate:——
LordMarischal，weknowwellandPittknows，wasinEnglandin1761，——ostensiblyontheKintoreHeritage；andinpart，perhaps，reallyonthaterrand。Buthewentandcame，atdatesnowuncertain；wasbackinSpainafterthat，haddifficultvoyagingsabout；[King’sLetterstohim，inOEuvresdeFrederic，xx。282—285。]——anddidnotgettorestagain，inhisGovernmentofNeufchatel，tillApril，1762。ThereisaLetteroftheKing’s，whichatleastfixesthatpoint:——
"BRESLAU，10thAPRIL，1762。Mynoseisthemostimpertinentnoseintheuniverse，MONCHERMYLORD[Queen—Dowagersnuff，SPANIOLfromthefountain—head，ofMarischal’sproviding；qualityexquisite，butdifficulttogettransmittedintheStormsofWar]；Iamashamedofthetroubleitcostsyou！Ibegmanypardons；——andshouldbequiteabashed，didInotknowhowyoucompassionatetheweakpointsofyourfriends，andthat，foralongtimepast，youhaveasingularindulgenceformynose。IamverygladtoknowyouhappilyreturnedtoyourGovernment，safeatColombier（DOVE—COTE）inNeufchatelagain。"Thisis10thApril，1762。There，asIgather，quietinhisDove—cote，Marischalcontinued，thoughratherwearyofthebusiness，foraboutayearmore；ortilltheKinggothome，——whodelightsincompanionship，andiswillingtoletanoldmandemitforgood。
ItwasinSummer，1762（aboutthreemonthsaftertheaboveLetterfromtheKing），thatRousseaumadehiscelebratedexodusintoNeufchatelCountry，andfoundtheoldGovernorsogoodtohim，——
gladtobeallowedtoshelterthepoorskinlesscreature。And，markascurious，itmusthavebeenontwoofthosemornings，towardstheendoftheSiegeofSchweidnitz，whenthingsweregettingsointolerable，andattimesbreakingoutintoelectricity，into"rebukeallround，"thatFriedrichreceivedthatsingularpairofLaconicNotesfromRousseauinNeufchatel:forwarded，successively，byLordMarischal；NOTEFIRST，ofdate，"Motier—Travers，Neufchatel，September，"nobodycanguesswhatday，"1762:""Ihavesaidmuchillofyou，anddon’trepentit。Noweverybodyhasbanishedme；anditisonyourthresholdthatIsitdown。Killme，ifyouhaveamind！"Andthen（after，notdeath，butthegiftof100crowns），NOTESECOND，"October，1762:"……"Takeoutofmysightthatsword，whichdazzlesandpainsme；IThasonlytoowelldoneitsduty，whilethesceptreisabandoned:"MakePeace，can’tyou！[OEuvrescompletesdeRousseau（aGeneve，1782—1789），xxxiii。64，65。]——WhatcuriousreadingforaKinginsuchposture，amongthemiscellaneousarrivalsovernight！
AbovesixweeksbeforeeitheroftheseNOTES，Friedrich，hearingofhimfromLordMarischal，hadanswered:"Anasylum？Yes，byallmeans:theunluckycynic！"ItisonSeptember1st，thathesends，bythesamechannel，100crownsforhisuse，withadviceto"givetheminNATURA，lestherefuseotherwise；"asFriedrichknowstobepossible。Inwords，theRousseauNotesgotnothingofAnswer。
"AGARCONSINGULIER，"saysFriedrich:oddfellow，yesindeed，yourMajesty；——andhassuchapungencyofflatteryinhimtoo，presentedinthewayofsnarl！HisMajestymighttakehim，Isuppose，withakindofrelish，likeQueen—Dowagersnuff。
Therewasstillanothershiftofplace，shiftwhichprovedtemporary，inoldMarischal’slife:HometonativeAberdeenshire。
ThetwochildlessBrothers，EarlsofKintore，haddiedsuccessively，thelastofthemNovember22d，1761:titleandheritage，notconsiderablethelatter，fellduly，bywhatpreparativesweknow，tooldMarischal；buthisKeithkinsfolk，furthermore，wouldhavehimpersonallyamongthem，——nay，afterthat，wouldhavehimtowedandproducenewKeiths。Attheageof78；decidedlyaninconvenientthing！OldMarischalleftPotsdam"August，1763，"[LetterofhistotheKing（"LONDRES，14AOUT，1763"），inOEuvresdeFrederic，xx。293。——InLettersofEminentPersonstoDavidHume
（Edinburgh，1849），pp。57—71，aresomeNinefromtheOldMarischal；
incuriouslymixeddialect，cheerful，butindistinct；thetwochiefdatesofwhichare:"Touch"（gutturalTuCH，inAberdeenshire），"28
October，1763，"and"Potsdam，20February，1765。"]——NEW—PALACE
scaffoldingsandbigstoneblocksconspicuousinthoselocalities；
pleasantD’Alembertnowjustaboutleaving，intheotherdirection；
——muchtoFriedrich’sregret，theoldMarischalespecially，asisstillfinelyevident。
FRIEDRICHTOLORDMARISCHAL（inScotlandforthelastsixmonths）。
"SANS—SOUCI，16thFebruary，1764。
"IamnotsurprisedthattheScotchfighttohaveyouamongthem；
andwishtohaveprogenyofyours，andtopreserveyourbones。
YouhaveinyourlifetimethelotofHomerafterdeath:Citiesarguingwhichisyourbirthplace；——ImyselfwoulddisputeitwithEdinburghtopossessyou。IfIhadships，IwouldmakeadescentonScotland，tostealoffmyCHERMYLORD，andbringhimhither。
Alas，ourElbeBoatscan’tdoit。Butyougivemehopes；——whichI
seizewithavidity！IwasyourlateBrother’sfriend，andhadobligationstohim；Iamyourswithheartandsoul。Thesearemytitles，thesearemyrights:——yousha’n’tbeforcedinthematterofprogenyhere（FAIREL’ETALONICI），neitherpriestsnorattorneysshallmeddlewithyou；youshalllivehereinthebosomoffriendship，libertyandphilosophy。"Cometome！……——F。
[OEuvresdeFrederic，xx。295。]
OldMarischaldidcome；andbeforelong。Iknownottheprecisemonth:but"hisVilla—Cottagewasbuiltforhim，"theBookssay，"in1764。"HehadleftD’Alembertjustgoing；nextyearhewillfindHelvetiuscoming。Helivedhere，agreattreasuretoFriedrich，tillhisdeath，25thMay，1778，age92。
TheNewPalacewasnotfinishedtill1770；——inwhichyear，also，FriedrichreckonsthatthegeneralProblemofRepairingPrussiawasvictoriouslyover。NewPalace，growingorcomplete，looksdownonalltheseoperationsandoccurrences。Initscradle，itseesD’Alembertgo，LordMarischalgo；Helvetiuscome，LordMarischalcome；initsboyhoodormaturity，theExcise，andFrenchRATS—DE—
CAVE，springup；Crown—PrinceFriedrichWilhelmprickhishandforafitkindofink；FriedrichWilhelm’sDivorcedWifegiveherDouaniertwoslapsintheface，bywayofpayment。Nay，thesameFriedrichWilhelm，become"FriedrichWilhelmII。，orDERDICKE，"
diedinit，——hisLichtenauANDhissecondWife，jewelofwomen，nursinghiminhislastsicknessthere。["Died16thNovember，1797。"]
TheviolentstressofeffortforrepairingPrussia，Friedrichintimates，wasmostlyoverin1766:tillwhichdatespecifically，andinaloosersensetill1770，thatmaybeconsideredashismainbusiness。Butitwasnotatanytimehissolebusiness；
norlatterlyatallequalininteresttosomeothersthathadrisenonhim，asthenextChapterwillnowshow。Here，first，isalittleFractionofNECROLOGY，whichmaybeworthtakingwithus。
ReaderscanspreadthesefatefulspecialtiesoverthePeriodinquestion；andknowthateachofthemcamewithakindofknelluponFriedrich’sheart，whateverhemightbeemployedabout。
HourstrikingafterhourontheHorologeofTime；intimatinghowtheAfternoonwore，andthatNightwascoming。VariousmeaningstherewouldbetoFriedrichinthesefootfallsofdepartingguests，thedear，thelessdear，andtheindifferentorhostile；buteachofthemwouldmean:"Gone，then，gone；thusweallgo！"
"OBITUARYINFRIEDRICH’SCIRCLETILL1771。"
OfPolishMajesty’sdeath（5thOctober，1763），andthen（2dDecemberfollowing）ofhisKurprinzorSuccessor’s，withwhomwedinedatMoritzburgsorecently，therewillbementionbyandby。
November28th，1763，intheintervalbetweenthesetwo，thewretchedBruhlhaddied。April14th，1764，diedthewretchedPompadour；——"Tousnotknown，JENELACONNAISPAS:"——haplessButterfly，shehadbeentwentyyearsinthewingedcondition；
agenowforty—four:dullLouis，theysay，lookedoutofwindowasherhearsedeparted，"FROIDEMENT，"withoutemotionofanyvisiblekind。TheselittleconcernFriedrichorus；wewillrestrictourselvestoFriends。
"DIEDIN1764。AtPisa，Algarotti（23dMay，1764，agefifty—two）；
withwhomFriedrichhasalwayshadsomecorrespondencehitherto（tohimselfinteresting，thoughnottous），andwillneverhenceforthhavemore。FriedrichraisedaMonumenttohim；MonumentstilltobeseenintheCampo—SantoofPisa:’HICJACETOVIDIIAEMULUSET
NEUTONIDISCIPULUS；’friendshaveadded’FREDERICUSMAGNUSPONI
FECIT；’andonanotherpartoftheMonument，’ALGAROTTUSNON
OMNIS。’[Preuss，iv。188。]
"——IN1765。Attheageofeighty，November18th，GrafinCamas，’MA
BONNEMAMAN’（widowsince1741）；excellentoldLady，——oncebrilliantlyyoung，Germanbybirth，hernameBrandt；——towhomtheKing’sLETTERSusedtobesopretty。"Thissameyear，too，KaiserFranzdied；buthimwewillreserve，asnotbelongingtothisSelectList。
"——IN1766。AtNanci，23dFebruary，ageeighty—six，KingStanislausLeczinsky:’hisclothescaughtfire’（accidentalsparkorsputteronsomedamaskdressing—gownorthelike）；andthemuch—enduringinnocentoldsoulendedpainfullyhisTitularcareer。
"DIEDIN1767。October22d，theGrand—DuchessofSachsen—Gotha，agefifty—seven；asadstrokethisalso，amongone’snarrowingListofFriends。——IdoubtifFriedricheversawthishighLadyaftertheVisitwelatelywitnessed。HisLETTERStoherarestillintheArchivesofGotha:notherstohim；alllost，theselatter，butanaccidentalTwo，whicharestillbeautifulintheirkind。[GiveninOEuvresdeFrederic，xviii。165，256。]
"——IN1770。Bielfeld，thefantasticindividualofolddays。
HadlongbeenoutofFriedrich’scircle，——inAltenburgCountry，I
think；——withoutimportancetoFriedrichorus:theyearofhimwilldo，withoutsearchfordayormonth。
"———IN1771。Twoheavydeathscomethisyear。January28th，1771，atBerlin，diesourvaluableoldfriendExcellencyMitchell，——stillhereonthepartofEngland，incordialesteemasamanandcompanion；thoughasMinister，Isuppose，withfunctionmoreandmoreimaginary。Thispainfullyushersintheyear。Tousheritout，thereisstillworse:faithfulD’Argensdies，26thDecember，1771，onavisitinhisnativeProvence，——leaving，asisstillvisible，[Friedrich’stwoLetterstotheWidow（Ib。xix。427—429）。]abigandsadblankbehindhimatPotsdam。"Butweneednotcontinue；
atleastnotatpresent。
Longbeforeallthese，Friedrichhadlostfriends；withasadbutquietemotionheoftenalludestothistragicfact，thatallthesoulshelovedmostaregone。HisWinterfelds，hisKeiths，manylovedfaces，theWarhassnatched:atMonbijou，atBaireuth，itwasnotWar；buttheytooaregone。IstheworldbecomingallaMausoleum，then；nothingofdivineinitbuttheTombsofvanishedlovedones？Friedrichmakesnonoiseonsuchsubjects:lovedandunlovedalikemustgo。
WehavestilltomarkKaiserFranz’ssuddendeath；athingpoliticallyinteresting，ifnototherwise。August，1765，atInnspruck，duringtheMarriage—festivitiesofhisSecondSon，Leopold（DukeofFlorence，whoafterwards，onJoseph’sdeath，wasKaiser），——KaiserFranz，saunteringaboutintheeveninggala，"18thAugust，about9P。M。，"suddenlytottered，staggeredasfalling；fellintoSonJoseph’sarms；andwasdead。Aboveayearbefore，thissameJoseph，hisEldestSon，hadbeenmadeKingoftheRomans:"elected26thMarch；crowned3dApril，1764；"——Friedrichfurtheringit，wishfultobefriendlywithhislateenemies。
[Rodenbeck，ii。234。]
OnthisInnspruckTragedy，JosephnaturallybecameKaiser，——Part—
Kaiser；hisDowager—Mother，onwhomaloneitdepends，havingdecidedthatway。ThepoorLadywasatfirstquiteoverwhelmedwithhergrief。Shehadthedeath—roomofherHusbandmadeintoaChapel；shefoundedfurthermoreaMonasteryinInnspruck，"TwelveCanonessestopraythereforthereposeofFranz；"washerselfabouttobecomeAbbessthere，andquitthesecularworld；butintheendwasgotpersuadedtocontinue，andtakeSonJosephasCoadjutor。[Hormayr，OESTERREICHISCHERPLUTARCH（oMariaTheresa），iv。（2tesBandchen）6—124；MARIATHERESIENSLEBEN，p。30。]Inwhichcapacityweshallmeettheyoungmanagain。
ChapterIII。
TROUBLESINPOLAND。
April11th，1764，oneyearafterhisSeven—YearslaborofHercules，FriedrichmadeTreatyofAlliancewiththenewCzarinaCatharine。
Englandhaddesertedhim；Francewashisenemy，especiallyPompadourandChoiseul，andrefusedreconcilement，thoughprivatelysolicited:hewaswithoutanAllyanywhere。TheRussianshaddonehimfrightfuldamageinthelastWar，andweremostofalltobedreadedinthecaseofanynewone。TheTreatywasamatterofnecessityaswellaschoice。Agreementformutualgoodneighborhoodandfriendlyoffices；guaranteeofeachotheragainstintrusivethirdparties:shouldeithergetengagedinwarwithanyneighbor，practicalaidtothelengthof12，000men，orelsemoneyinlieu。
Treatywasforeightyearsfromdayofdate。
AsFriedrichdidnotgetintowar，andCatharinedid，withtheTurksandcertainloosePolacks，theburdenoffulfilmenthappenedtofallwhollyonFriedrich；andhewasextremelypunctualinperformance，——eagernow，andallhislifeafter，tokeepwellwithsuchaCountryundersuchaCzarina。WhichprovedtobethewholeruleofhispolicyonthatRussianside。"GoodthatCountrycannotbringmebyanyquarrelwithit；evilitcan，toafrightfulextent，incaseofmyquarrellingwithothers！Bewary，bepunctual，magnanimouslypolite，withthatgrandioseCzarinaandherhugeterritoriesandnotions:"thiswasFriedrich’sconstantruleinpublicandinprivate。NorisitthoughthisCORRESPONDENCEWITH
THEEMPRESSCATHARINE，whenfuturegenerationsseeitinprint，willdisclosetheleastgroundofoffencetothathigh—flyingFemalePotentateoftheNorth。NorwilliteverbeknownwhatthesilentlyobservantFriedrichthoughtofher，exceptindeedwhatwealreadyknow，orasgoodasknow，Thathe，ifanybodydid，sawherclearlyenoughforwhatshewas；andfoundgoodtorepressintoabsolutezerowhateverhadnobearinguponbusiness，andmightbypossibilitygiveoffenceinthatquarter。ForweareanoldKing，andhavelearnedbybitterexperiences！Nomorenicknames，bitingverses，orwordswhichabirdoftheaircouldcarry；thoughthispoorLadytoohasherliabilities，werenotweoldandprudent；——
andisentirelyasweakoncertainpoints（deductingthedevotionsandthebrandy—and—water）assomeotherswere！TheTreatywasrenewedwhennecessary；andcontinuedvalidandvitalineveryparticular，solongasFriedrichruled。
Bytheendofthefirsteightyears，bystrictlyfollowingthispassiverule，Friedrich，incounterbalanceofhislosses，unexpectedlyfoundhimselfinvestedwithaverysingularbitofgain，——"unjustgain！"criedallmen，makingitofthenatureofgainandlosstohim，——whichisstillpracticallyhis，andwhichhasmade，andmakestothisday，animmensenoiseintheworld。
EverybodyknowswemeanWest—Preussen；PartitionofPoland；
bloodiestpictureintheBookofTime，Sarmatia’sfallunweptwithoutacrime；——andthatwehavecomeuponaveryintricatepartofourpoorHistory。
Noprudentman——especiallyiftohimself，asismyownpoorcaseinregardtoit，thesubjecthavelongbeenaltogetherdeadandindifferent——wouldwishtowriteofthePolishQuestion。ForalmostahundredyearsthePolishQuestionhasbeenveryloudintheworld；andeverandanonrisesagainintovocalityamongAbleEditors，asathingpretendingnottobedeadandburied，butcapableofrisingagain，andsettingitselfright，bygoodeffortathomeandabroad。Notadvisable，beyondthestrictlimitsofcompulsion，towriteofitatpresent！TheratherastheHistoryofit，anyHistorywehave，isnotanintelligibleseriesofevents，butaseriesofvociferousexecrations，fillingallNature，withnothinglefttothereaderbutdarkness，andsuchremediesagainstdespairashehimselfcansummonorcontrive。
"Rulhiere’sonthatsubject，"saysaNotewhichImaycite，"istheonlyarticulate—speakingBooktowhichmankindasyetcanapply；
[Cl。Rulhiere，Histoiredel’AnarchiedePologne（Paris，1807），4vols。12mo。]andtheywillbynomeansfindthatasufficientone。Rulhiere’sBookhasitsconsiderablemerits；butitabsolutelywantsthoseofaHistory；andcanberecognizedbynomindasanintelligiblecosmicPortraitureofthatchaoticMassofOccurrences:chronology，topography，precisionofdetailbytimeandplace；scene，andactorsonscene，remainunintelligible。RulhierehimselfknewPoland，atleasthadlookedonitfromWarsawoutwards，yearafteryear，andknewofitwhataninquiringSecretaryofLegationcouldpickuponthoseterms，whichperhaps，afterall，isnotverymuch。HisNarrativeisdrownedinbeautifulseasofdescriptionandreflection；hasneitherdatesnorreferences；andadvancesatanintolerablerateofslowness；
infact，ratherturnsonitsaxisthanadvances；producesonyoutheeffectofamelodiousSonata，notofalucidandcomfortablyinstructiveHistory。
"IforgetforhowlongRulhierehadbeeninPoland，asAmbassador’sAssistant:buttheCountry，theKingandleadingPersonageswerepersonallyknowntohim，moreorless；Eventswithalldetailsofthemwereknown:’WhynotwriteaHistoryoftheAnarchyandWrecktheyfellinto？’saidtheOfficialpeopletohim，onhisreturnhome:’ForbehoofoftheDauphin[whoistobeLouisXVI。shortly]；
maynotheperhapsdrawprofitfromit？AtthetopoftheUniverse，experienceissometimeswanted。HerearetheArchives，hereisSalary，herearewhatappliancesyouliketoname:Write！’Itiswellknownhewasappointed，onaPensionof250poundsayear，withaccesstoallarchives，documentsandappliancesinpossessionoftheFrenchGovernment，andexpresschargetodelineatethissubjectforbenefitoftheDauphin’syoungmind。NorcanIwonder，consideringeverything，thattheprocessonRulhiere’spart，beingsofullofdifficulties，wasextremelydeliberate；thatthisBookdidnotgrowsosteadilyorfastastheDauphindid；andthatinfactthepoorDauphinnevergottheleastbenefitfromit，——beingguillotined，he，in1793，andtheBookintendedforhimnevercomingtolightforfourteenyearsafterwards，ittooinaposthumousandstillunfinishedcondition。
"Rulhierehasheardthevoicesofrumor，knowsaninfinitudeofeventsthatweretalkedof；buthasnotdiscriminatedwhichwerethevital，whichweretheinsignificant；treatsthevitalandtheinsignificantalike；seldomwithsatisfactoryprecision；
mournfullyseldomgivinganydate，andbynochanceanyvoucherorauthority；——andinsteadofpracticalterrestrialsceneofaction，withdistances，milestones，definitesequenceofoccurrences，andofcausesandeffects，paintsusarosycloudland，whichiftrueatall，ashewellintendsittobe，islittlemorethansymbolicallyorallegoricallyso；andcansatisfynoclear—headedDauphinorman。Rulhierestrivestobeauthentic，too；givesyounosuspicionofhisfairness。Thereisreallyfinehigh—coloredpaintinginRulhiere！andyouhopealwayshewillletyouintothesecretofthematter:butthesadfactis，heneverdoes。Hemerelyloseshimselfinpicturesquedetails，philosophiceloquences，elegancies；
takesyoutoaCastleofChoczim，aMonasteryofCzenstochow，aBayofTschesme，andletsoffextensivefire—worksthatcontainlittleornoshot；leadsyouontracklessmarches，inroadsoroutroads，throughtheLithuanianPeat—bogs，ondaringadventuresandhair—
breadthescapesofmerePulawski，Potockiandthelike；——hadnotgottounderstandthematterhimself，youperceive:howhopelesstomakeyouunderstandit！"
Englishreaders，however，havenoothershift；therestoftheBooksIhaveseen，——HistoiredesRevolutionsdePologne；
[1778（AWARSOVIE，ETSETROUVEAPARIS），2vols。
8vo。]HistoiredesTroisDemembremensdelaPologne；
[Anonymous（byoneFERRAND，otherwiseunknowntome），Paris，1820，3vols。8vo。]LettersonPoland；
[Anonymous（bya"ReverendMr。Lindsey，"itwouldseem），LETTERS
CONCERNINGTHEPRESENTSTATEOFPOLAND，TOGETHERWITH&c。（London，1773；1vol。8vo）:oftheseLETTERS，oratleastofReverendLindsey，Authorofthem，"TutortoKingStanislaus’sNephew，"andamanofpainfullyloudloosetongue，theremayperhapsbementionafterwards。]andmanymore，——arenotworthmentioningatall。
ComfortableinthemaddanceoftheseisHermann’srecentdullvolume；[Hermann，GeschichtedesRussischenStaats，vol。v。（alreadycitedinregardtothePeter—Catharinetragedy）；seemstobecompiledmainlyfromtheSaxonArchives，fromDESPATCHESwrittenonthespotandatthetime。]——commonplace，dull，butsteadyandfaithful；yieldingusatleastdates，andanimmunityfromnoise。ByhelpofHermannandtheothers，distilledtoCAPUTMORTUUM，afewdatedfacts（cardinalwedarenotcallthem）maybeextracted；——dimlyoutofthese，tothemeditatingmind，someoutlineofthephenomenonmaybegintobecomeconceivable。KingofPolanddies；andthereensuehugeAnarchiesinthatCountry。
KINGOFPOLANDDIES；ANDTHEREENSUEHUGEANARCHIESINTHATCOUNTRY。
ThepooroldKingofPoland——whomwesaw，onthatfallofthecurtainatPirnasevenyearsago，rushoffforWarsawwithhisBruhl，withexpressivespeedandexpressivesilence，andwhohasbeenwaitingthereeversince，sublimelyconfidentthathispowerfulterrestrialfriends，Austria，Russia，France，nottospeakofHeaven’sjusticeatall，wouldexactduepenalty，ofsignalandtremendousnature，onthePrussianAggressor——hasagainbeendisappointed。ThepooroldGentlemangotnocompensationforhismanifoldlossesandwoesatPirnaorelsewhere；nottheleastmentionofsuchathing，onthefinalwinding—upofthatWarofSevenYears，inwhichhissharehadbeensotragical；
noalleviationwasprovidedforhiminthisworld。HissorrowsinPolandhavebeenmanifold；nothingbutanarchies，confusionsandcontradictionshadbeenhisRoyalportionthere:inaboutFortydifferentDietshehadtriedtogetsomebusinessdone，——nouseaskingwhat；fortheDiets，oneandall，explodedinNIEPOZWALAM；
andcoulddonobusiness，good，badorindifferent，forhimoranybody。Anunwise，mostidleCountry；followingaschiefemploymentperpetualdiscrepancywithitsidleunwiseKingandself；Russiathevirtualheadofitthislongwhile，sofarasithasanyhead。
FEBRUARY—AUGUST，1763，justwhiletheTreatyofHubertsburgwasblessingeverybodywiththereturnofPeace，andforlongmonthsafterPeacehadreturnedtoeverybody，PolishMajestywasinsoretrouble。TroubleinregardtoCourland，tohispoorSonKarl，whofanciedhimselfelected，underfavorandpermissionofthelateCzarinaourgraciousProtectressandAlly，tothedifficultpostofDukeinCourland；andhadproceeded，threeorfouryearsago，totakepossession，——butwasnowinterruptedbyRussianencroachmentsandviolences。Notatallwelldisposedtohim，thesenewPeters，newCatharines。TheyhaverecalledtheirBierenfromSiberia；
declarethatoldBierenisagainDuke，oratleastthatyoungBierenis，andnotSaxonKarlatall；andhaveproceeded，CzarinaCatharinehas，toinstallhimforciblywithRussiansoldiers。
Karldeclares，"YoushallkillMEbeforeyouorhegetintothisPalaceofMietau！"——andbyDomesticsmerely，andarmedprivateGentlemen，hedoesmaintainhimselfinsaidPalatialMansion；
valiantlyindignant，foraboutsixmonths；theRussianBattalionsgirdlinghimonallsides，minatorymoreandmore，butloathtobeginactualbloodshed。[Rulhiere，ii。（livrev。）81etantea；
Hermann，v。348etseq。]Atransactionveryfamedinthoseparts，andstillgivingloudvoiceinthePolishBooks，whichindeedgetevernoisierfromthispointonward，tilltheyendininarticulateshrieks，asweshalltoowellhear。
EmpressCatharine，afterthelapseofsixmonths，sendsanAmbassadortoWarsaw（Kayserlingbyname），whodeclares，intonealtogetherimperative，thatCzarishMajestyfeelsherselfwearyofsuchcontumacy，wearygenerallyofPolishMajesty’sandPolishRepublic’smultifariouscontumacies；and，infine，cruelestofall，thatshehastroopsonthefrontier；thatCourlandisnottheonlyplacewhereshehastroops。Whatastabtothepooroldman！
"Contumacies？"HasnothebeenRussia’spatientstepping—stone，allalong；hisanarchicPolandandheaccordantinthat，ifinnothingelse？"LetustoSaxony，"decideshepassionately，"andleaveallthis。"InSaxonyhispooroldQueenisdeadlongsince；muchisdead:SaxonyandLifegenerally，whataGolgotha！HeimmediatelysendswordtoKarl，"GiveupCourland；Iamgoinghome！"——anddidhastilymakehispackages，andbidadieutoWarsaw，and，inafewweeksaftertothisanarchicworldaltogether。DiedatDresden，5thOctober，1763。
PolishMajestyhadbeenelected5thOctober，1733；died，youobserve，5thOctober，1763；——wasKingofPoland（"King，"savethemark！）for30yearstoaday。Waselected——doreadersstillrememberhow？LeavesaruinedSaxonylyingroundhim；aruinedlifemutelyaskinghim，"Couldstthouhavedonenobetter，then？"
WretchedBruhlfollowedhiminfourorfiveweeks。Nay，inabouttwomonths，hisSonandSuccessor，"FriedrichChristian"（withwhomwedinedatMoritzburg），hadfollowedhim；[Princedied17thDecember（Bruhl，18thNovember），1763。]leavingasmallBoy，age13，asnewKurfurst，"FriedrichAugust"thenameofhim，withguardianstomanagetheMinority；especiallywithhisMotheraschiefguardian，——ofwhom，fortworeasons，wearenowtosaysomething。ReasonFIRSTis，Thatsheisreallyaratherbrilliant，distinguishedcreature，distinguishedmoreespeciallyinFriedrich’sworld；whoseLETTERStoherarenumerous，and，intheirkind，amongthenotablesthewrote；——ofwhichwewouldgladlygivesomespecimen，betterorworse；andreasonSECOND，Thatinsodoing，wemaycontrivetolook，foramomentortwo，intothepreliminaryPolishAnarchiesatfirst—hand；and，transientlyandfaroff，seesomethingofthemasifwithourowneyes。
Marie—Antoine，orMarie—Antoinette，ElectressofSaxony，isstillabrightLady，andamongthebusiestliving；nowinher40thyear:
"born17thJuly，1724；secondchildofKaiserKarlVII。；"——alivingmementotousofthoseoldtimesoftrouble。Papa，whenshecametohim，wasinhis27thyear；thiswashisseconddaughter；
threeyearsafterwardshehadason（born1727；died1777），whomadethe"PeaceofFussen，"toFriedrich’sdisgust，in1745，ifreadersrecollect；——andwho，dyingchildless，willgiverisetoanotherWar（the"PotatoWar"socalled），forFriedrich’sbehoofandours。ThislittlecreaturewouldbeinherteensduringthatfatalKaisership（1742—1745，heragethen18—21），——duringthosetriumphs，flightsandfurnished—lodgingintricacies。HerMamma，whomwehaveseen，alittlefatbulletgiventodevotion，wasfouryearsyoungerthanPapa。Mammadied"11thDecember，1756，"GermanyallblazingoutinWaragain；shehadbeenaWidowelevenyears。
Marie—AntoinewasweddedtoFriedrichChristian，SaxonKurprinz，"20thJune，1747；"herage23，his25:——Chronologyitselfissomething，ifonewillattendtoit，intheabsenceofallelse！
TheyoungpairwereCousins，theirMothersbeingSisters；
PolishMajestyone’sUncle，agenow51，——whowasveryfondofus，poorindolentsoul，andgladofourcompanyonanafternoon，"beingalwaysinhisdressing—gownby2o’clock。"ConcerningwhichthetongueofCourtscandalwasnotentirelyidle，——Hanburychronicling，asweoncenoticed。AllwhichIbelievetobemerelyingwind。TheyoungPrincesswasbeautiful；extremelyclever，gracefulandlively，wecanstillseeforourselves:nowonderpoorPolishMajesty，alwaysinhisdressing—gownby2，wascharmedtohavehercompany，——theratherasIhopeshepermittedhimalittlesmokingwithal。
Herhusbandwascrook—backed；and，exceptthoseslight，alwaysperfectlypolitelittlepassages，inSchmettau’sSiege（1759），intheHubertsburgTreatyaffair，inthedinneratMoritzburg，Ineverheardmuchhistoryofhim。HebecameElector5thOctober，1763；
butenjoyedthedignitylittlemorethantwomonths。OurPrincesshadbornehimsevenchildren，——threeboys，fourgirls，——theeldestabout13，aBoy，whosucceeded；theyoungestagirl，hardly3。
TheBoyishewhosentGellertthecaparisonedHorse，andhadestafettesontheroadwhileGellertlaydying。ThisBoylivedtobe77，andsawstrangethingsintheworld；hadseenNapoleonandtheFrenchRevolution；wasthefirst"KingofSaxony"socalled；
sawJena，retreatofMoscow；sawthe"BattleoftheNations"
（Leipzig，15th—18thOctober，1813），andhisgreatNapoleonterminateinbankruptcy。HeleftnoSon。ABrother，age72，succeededhimasKingforafewyears；whomagainaBrotherwouldhavesucceeded，hadnothe（thisthirdBrother，agenow66）
renounced，infavorofHISSon，thepresentKingofSaxony。
Enough，enough！——
August28th，1763，whileafflictedPolishMajestyismakinghispackagesatWarsaw，faraway，——Marie—Antoinette，inDresden，hadsentFriedrichanOperaofhercomposing，justbroughtoutbyheronherCourt—theatrethere。HereisFriedrich’sAnswer，——towhatkindofOPERAIknownot，buttoaLetteraccompanyingitwhichisextremelypretty。
FRIEDRICHTOTHEELECTORALPRINCESS（atDresden）。
"POTSDAM，5thSeptember，1763。
"MADAMMYSISTER，——TheremembranceyourRoyalHighnesssendsisthemoreflatteringtome，asIregretinfinitelynottohavebeenspectatorandhearerofthefinethings[OperaTHALESTRIS，wordsandmusicentirelylosttous]whichIhaveadmiredformyselfinthesilentstate。
"IwishIcouldsendyouthingsaspleasantoutoftheseparts:
but，Madam，Iamobligedtogiveyouahint，whichmaybeusefulifyoucanhaveitfollowed。InSaxony，however，myLettersgetopened；——whichobligesmetosendthisbyaspecialMessenger；
andhim，thathemaycausenosuspicion，Ihavechargedwithfruitsfrommygarden。Youwillhavethegoodnesstosay[ifanybodyiseavesdropping]thatyouaskedthemofmeatMoritzburg，whenIwashappyenoughtoseeyouthere[sixmonthsago，cominghomefromtheSeven—YearsWar]。ThehintIhadtogivewasthis:——
"InPetersburgpeople’smindsaregettingangryatthestubbornnessyourfriendsshowinrefusingtorecognizeDukeBieren[homefromSiberia，againDukeofCourland，byRussianappointment，asifRussiahadthatright；PolishMajestyandhisPrinceKarlresistingtotheuttermost]。Icounselyoutoinducethepowerfulinyourcircletohavethiscondescension[theyhavehadit，beenobligedtohaveit，thoughFriedrichdoesnotyetknow]；foritwillturnoutilltothem，iftheypersistinbeingobstinatelystiff。
ItbeginsalreadytobesaidThattherearemorethanamillionRussiansubjectsatthistimerefugeesinPoland；whom，byIforgetwhatcartel，theRepublicwasboundtodeliverup。OrdershavebeengiventoDetachmentsofMilitarytoentercertainplaces，andbringawaytheseRussiansbyforce。Inaword，youwillruinyouraffairsforever，unlessyoufindmeanstoproduceachangeofconductonthepartofhimtheycomplainof。Take，Madam，whatInowsayasamarkoftheesteemandprofoundregardwithwhich——"——F。
[OEuvresdeFrederic，xxiv。46。]
Thishint，iftheKingknew，hadbeengiven，inalesskindshape，byNecessityitself；andhadsentPolishMajesty，andhisBruhlsand"powerfulpeople，"bodilyhome，andoutofthatPolishRussianwelter，inaheadlongandtragicallypassionatecondition。
ElectoralPrincess，nexttimeshewrites，isbecomeElectressallatonce。
ELECTRESSMARIE—ANTOINETOFRIEDRICH。
"DRESDEN，5thOctober，1763。