首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第115章
  "WedrovetoFerney,throughacharmingcountry,coveredwithcornandvines,inviewoftheLake,andMountainsofGex,SwitzerlandandSavoy。Onthelefthand,approachingtheHouse,isaneatChapelwiththisinscription:——
  ’DEOEREXITVOLTAIREMDCCLXI。’
  Isenttoinquire,WhetherastrangermightbeallowedtoseetheHouseandGardens;andwasansweredintheaffirmative。Aservantsooncame,andconductedmeintothecabinetorclosetwherehisMasterhadjustbeenwriting:thisisnevershownwhenheisathome;buthavingwalkedout,Iwasallowedthatprivilege。
  FromthenceIpassedtotheLibrary,whichisnotaverylargeone,butwellfilled。HereIfoundawhole—lengthFigureinmarbleofhimself,recumbent,inoneofthewindows;andmanycuriositiesinanotherroom;aBustofhimself,madenottwoyearssince;
  hisMother’spicture;thatofhisNiece,MadamDenis;hisBrother,M。Dupuis;theCalasFamily;andothers。ItisaveryneatandelegantHouse;notlarge,noraffectedlydecorated。
  "Ishouldfirsthaveremarked,thatclosetotheChapel,betweenthatandthehouse,istheTheatre,whichhebuiltsomeyearsago;
  wherehetreatedhisfriendswithsomeofhisownTragedies:itisnowonlyusedasareceptacleforwoodandlumber,therehavingbeennoplayactedinitthesefouryears。TheservanttoldmehisMasterwas78[76gone],butverywell。’ILTRAVAILLE,’saidhe,’PENDANTDIXHEURESCHAQUEJOUR,Hestudiestenhourseveryday;
  writesconstantlywithoutspectacles,andwalksoutwithonlyadomestic,oftenamileortwo——ETLEVOILA,LABAS,Andsee,yonderheis!’
  "Hewasgoingtohisworkmen。Myheartleapedatthesightofsoextraordinaryaman。HehadjustthenquittedhisGarden,andwascrossingthecourtbeforehisHouse。Seeingmychaise,andmeonthepointofmountingit,hemadeasigntohisservantwhohadbeenmyCICERONE,togotohim;inorder,Isuppose,toinquirewhoIwas。Aftertheyhadexchangedafewwordstogether,he,"M。deVoltaire,"approachedtheplacewhereIwasstandingmotionless,inordertocontemplatehispersonasmuchasIcouldwhilehiseyeswereturnedfromme;butonseeiughimmovetowardsme,Ifoundmyselfdrawnbysomeirresistiblepowertowardshim;and,withoutknowingwhatIdid,Iinsensiblymethimhalf—way。
  "ItisnoteasytoconceiveitpossibleforlifetosubsistinaformsonearlycomposedofmereskinandboneasthatofM。deVoltaire。"ExtremelyleanoldGentleman!"Hecomplainedofdecrepitude,andsaid,HesupposedIwasanxioustoformanideaofthefigureofonewalkingafterdeath。However,hiseyesandwholecountenancearestillfulloffire;andthoughsoemaciated,amorelivelyexpressioncannotbeimagined。
  "HeinquiredafterEnglishnews;andobservedthatPoeticalsquabbleshadgivenwaytoPoliticalones;butseemedtothinkthespiritofoppositionasnecessaryinpoetryasinpolitics。
  ’Lesquerellesd’auteurssontpourlebiendelalitterature,commedansungouvernementlibrelesquerellesdesgrands,etlesclameursdespetits,sontnecessairesalaliberte。’
  Andadded,’Whencriticsaresilent,itdoesnotsomuchprovetheAgetobecorrect,asdull。’HeinquiredwhatPoetswehadnow;ItoldhimwehadMasonandGray。’Theywritebutlittle,’saidhe:’andyouseemtohavenoonewholordsitovertherest,likeDryden,PopeandSwift。’ItoldhimthatitwasoneoftheinconveniencesofPeriodicalJournals,howeverwellexecuted,thattheyoftensilencedmodestmenofgenius,whileimpudentblockheadswereimpenetrable,andunabletofeelthecritic’sscourge:thatMr。GrayandMr。Masonhadbothbeenilliberallytreatedbymechanicalcritics,eveninnewspapers;
  andadded,thatmodestyandloveofquietseemedinthesegentlementohavegotthebetterevenoftheirloveoffame。
  "Duringthisconversation,weapproachedthebuildingsthathewasconstructingneartheroadtohisChateau。’These,’saidhe,pointingtothem,’arethemostinnocent,andperhapsthemostuseful,ofallmyworks。’Iobservedthathehadotherworks,whichwereoffarmoreextensiveuse,andwouldbemuchmoredurable,thanthose。Hewassoobligingastoshowmeseveralfarm—housesthathehadbuilt,andtheplansofothers:afterwhichItookmyleave。"[Burney’sPresentStateofMusic
  (London,1773),pp。55—62。
  NO。2。AREVERENDMR。SHERLOCKSEESVOLTAIRE,ANDEVEN
  DINESWITHHIM(April,1776)。
  Sherlock’sBookofTRAVELS,thoughhewroteitintwolanguages,anditoncehaditsvogue,isnowlittleotherthanaDanceofWill—o’—wispstous。ABooktawdry,incoherent,indistinct,atonceflashyandopaque,fullofidleexcrescencesandexuberances;——asisthepoormanhimself。Hewas"ChaplaintotheEarlofBristol,BishopofDerry;"gyratingaboutasecclesiasticalMoontothatfamedSolarLuminary,whatcouldyouexpect![TitleofhisBookis,LettersfromanEnglishTraveller;translatedfromtheFrenchOriginal(London,1780)。Ditto,
  LettersfromanEnglishTrader;writtenoriginallyinFrench;bytheRev。MartinSherlock,A。M。,ChaplaintotheEarlofBristol,&c。(anewEdition,2vols。,London,1802)。]PoorSherlockisnowhereintentionallyfabulous;norintrinsicallyaltogethersofoolishasheseems:letthatsufficeus。InhisDanceofWill—o’—wisps,whichinthispointhappilyisdated,——26th—27thApril,1776,——hehadcometoFerney,withproperintroductiontoVoltaire;andhere(aftersevereexcisionoftheflabbyparts,butwithoutotherchange)iscredibleaccountofwhathesawandheard。
  InThreeScenes;withthisPrologue,——astoCostume,whichisworthreadingtwice:——
  VOLTAIRE’SDRESS。"OnthetwodaysIsawhim,heworewhiteclothshoes,whitewoollenstockings,redbreeches,withanightgownandwaistcoatofbluelinen,flowered,andlinedwithyellow。Hehadonagrizzlewigwiththreeties,andoveritasilknightcapembroideredwithgoldandsilver。"
  SCENEI。THEENTRANCE—HALLOFFERNEY(Friday,26thApril,1776):
  EXUBERANTSHERLOCKENTERING,LETTEROFINTRODUCTIONHAVINGPRECEDED。
  "Hemetinthehall;hisNephewM。d’Hornoi"(Grand—nephew;
  AbbeMignot,famousforBURYINGVoltaire,andMadameDenis,whomweknow,wereD’Hornoi’sUncleandAunt)——Grand—nephew,"CounsellorintheParlementofParis,heldhimbythearm。Hesaidtome,withaveryweakvoice:’Youseeaveryoldman,whomakesagreatefforttohavethehonorofseeingyou。WillyoutakeawalkinmyGarden?
  Itwillpleaseyou,foritisintheEnglishtaste:——itwasIwhointroducedthattasteintoFrance,anditisbecomeuniversal。
  ButtheFrenchparodyyourGardens:theyputyourthirtyacresintothree。’
  "FromhisGardensyouseetheAlps,theLake,theCityofGenevaanditsenvirons,whichareverypleasant。Hesaid:——
  VOLTAIRE。"’Itisabeautifulprospect。’Hepronouncedthesewordstolerablywell。
  SHERLOCK。"’HowlongisitsinceyouwereinEngland?’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Fiftyyears,atleast。’[Notquite;in1728left;in1726hadcome。][Supra,vii。47。]
  D’HORNOI。"’ItwasatthetimewhenyouprintedtheFirstEditionofyourHENRIADE。’
  "WethentalkedofLiterature;andfromthatmomentheforgothisageandinfirmities,andspokewiththewarmthofamanofthirty。
  HesaidsomeshockingthingsagainstMosesandagainstShakspeare。
  [Likeenough!]……WethentalkedofSpain。
  VOLTAIRE。"’ItisaCountryofwhichweknownomorethanofthemostsavagepartsofAfrica;anditisnotworththetroubleofbeingknown。Ifamanwouldtravelthere,hemustcarryhisbed,&c。OnarrivinginaTown,hemustgointoonestreettobuyabottleofwine;apieceofamule[bywayofbeef]inanother;
  hefindsatableinathird,——andhesups。AFrenchNoblemanwaspassingthroughPampeluna:hesentoutforaspit;therewasonlyoneintheTown,andthatwaslentawayforawedding。’
  D’HORNOI。"’There,Monsieur,isaVillagewhichM。deVoltairehasbuilt!’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Yes,wehaveourfreedomshere。Cutoffalittlecorner,andweareoutofFrance。IaskedsomeprivilegesformyChildrenhere,andtheKinghasgrantedmeallthatIasked,andhasdeclaredthisPaysdeGexexemptfromallTaxesoftheFarmers—
  General;sothatsalt,whichformerlysoldfortensousapound,nowsellsforfour。Ihavenothingmoretoask,excepttolive。’——
  WewentintotheLibrary"(hadmadetheroundoftheGardens,Isuppose)。
  SCENEII。INTHELIBRARY。
  VOLTAIRE。"’Thereyoufindseveralofyourcountrymen[hehadShakspeare,Milton,Congreve,Rochester,Shaftesbury,Bolingbroke,Robertson,Humeandothers]。RobertsonisyourLivy;hisCHARLES
  FIFTHiswrittenwithtruth。HumewrotehisHistorytobeapplauded,Rapintoinstruct;andbothobtainedtheirends。’
  SHERLOCK。"’LordBolingbrokeandyouagreedthatwehavenotonegoodTragedy。’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Wedidthinkso。CATOisincomparablywellwritten:
  Addisonhadagreatdealoftaste;——buttheabyssbetweentasteandgeniusisimmense!Shakspearehadanamazinggenius,butnotaste:
  hehasspoiledthetasteoftheNation。Hehasbeentheirtastefortwohundredyears;andwhatisthetasteofaNationfortwohundredyearswillbesofortwothousand。Thiskindoftastebecomesareligion;thereare,inyourCountry,agreatmanyFanaticsforShakspeare。’
  SHERLOCK。"’WereyoupersonallyacquaintedwithLordBolingbroke?’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Yes。Hisfacewasimposing,andsowashisvoice;
  inhisWORKStherearemanyleavesandlittlefruit;
  distortedexpressions,andperiodsintolerablylong。[TAKINGDOWNA
  BOOK。]There,youseetheKORAN,whichiswellread,atleast。
  [Itwasmarkedthroughoutwithbitsofpaper。]ThereareHISTORIC
  DOUBTS,byHoraceWalpole[whichhadalsoseveralmarks];hereistheportraitofRichardIII。;youseehewasahandsomeyouth。’
  SHERLOCK(makinganabrupttransition)。"’YouhavebuiltaChurch?’
  VOLTAIRE。"’True;anditistheonlyoneintheUniverseinhonorofGod[DEOEREXITVOLTAIRE,aswereadabove]:youhaveplentyofChurchesbuilttoSt。Paul,toSt。Genevieve,butnotonetoGod。’"
  EXITSherlock(tohisInn;makesjottingasabove;——istodineatFerneyto—morrow)。
  SCENEIII。DINNER—TABLEOFVOLTAIRE。
  "Thenextday,aswesatdowntoDinner,"ourHostintheaboveshiningcostume,"hesaid,inEnglishtolerablypronounced:——
  VOLTAIRE。"’Wearehereforlibertyandproperty![parodyofsomeoldSpeechinParliament,letusguess,——libertyandproperty,myLords!]ThisGentleman——whomletmepresenttoMonsieurSherlock——
  isaJesuit[oldPereAdam,whomIkeepforplayingChess,inhisold,unsheltereddays];hewearshishat:Iamapoorinvalid,——
  Iwearmynightcap。’……
  "Idonotnowrecollectwhyhequotedtheseverses,alsoinEnglish,byRochester,onCHARLESSECOND:——
  ’Hereliesthemutton—eatingKing,Whoneversaidafoolishthing,Noreverdidawiseone。’
  ButspeakingofRacine,hequotedthisCouplet(ofRoscomman’sESSAYONTRANSLATEDVERSE):——
  ’TheweightybullionofonesterlinglineDrawntoFrenchwirewouldthroughwholepagesshine。
  SHERLOCK。"’TheEnglishpreferCorneilletoRacine。’
  VOLTAIRE。"’ThatisbecausetheEnglisharenotsufficientlyacquaintedwiththeFrenchtonguetofeelthebeautiesofRacine’sstyle,ortheharmonyofhisversification。Corneilleoughttopleasethemmorebecauseheismorestriking;butRacinepleasestheFrenchbecausehehasmoresoftnessandtenderness。’
  SHERLOCK。"’Howdidyoufind[LIKE]theEnglishfare(LACHERE
  ANGLAISE?’——whichVoltairemischievouslytakesfor’thedearEnglishwoman’)。
  VOLTAIRE。"’Ifoundherveryfreshandwhite,’——truly![Itshouldberemembered,thatwhenhemadethispunuponWomenhewasinhiseighty—thirdyear。]
  SHERLOCK。"’Theirlanguage?’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Energetic,preciseandbarbarous;theyaretheonlyNationthatpronouncetheirAasE……[Andsometimeafterwards]
  ThoughIcannotperfectlypronounceEnglish,myearissensibleoftheharmonyofyourlanguageandofyourversification。PopeandDrydenhavethemostharmonyinPoetry;AddisoninProse。’
  [Takesnowtheinterrogatingside。]
  VOLTAIRE。"’Howhaveyouliked(AVEX—VOUSTROUVE)theFrench?’
  SHERLOCK。"’Amiableandwitty。Ionlyfindonefaultwiththem:
  theyimitatetheEnglishtoomuch。’
  VOLTAIRE。"’How!Doyouthinkusworthytobeoriginalsourselves?’
  SHERLOCK。"’Yes,Sir。’
  VOLTAIRE。"’SodoItoo:——butitisofyourGovernmentthatweareenvious。’
  SHERLOCK。"’IhavefoundtheFrenchfreerthanIexpected。’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Yes,astowalking,oreatingwhateverhepleases,orlollinginhiselbow—chair,aFrenchmanisfreeenough;butastotaxes——Ah,Monsieur,youarealuckyNation;youcandowhatyoulike;poorweareborninslavery:wecannotevendieaswewill;
  wemusthaveaPriest[can’tgetburiedotherwise;amoftenthinkingofthat!]……Well,iftheEnglishdosellthemselves,itisaproofthattheyareworthsomething:weFrenchdon’tsellourselves,probablybecauseweareworthnothing。’
  SHERLOCK。"’WhatisyouropinionoftheELOISE’[Rousseau’simmortalWork]?
  VOLTAIRE。"’Thatitwillnotbereadtwentyyearshence。’
  SHERLOCK。"’Mademoiselledel’EncloswrotesomegoodLETTERS?’
  VOLTAIRE。"’Sheneverwroteone;theywerebythewretchedCrebillon’[mybeggarlyold"Rival"inthePompadourepoch]!……
  VOLTAIRE。"’TheItaliansareaNationofbrokers。ItalyisanOld—
  Clothesshop;inwhichtherearemanyOldDressesofexquisitetaste……Butwearestilltoknow,WhetherthesubjectsofthePopeoroftheGrandTurkarethemoreabject。’[WehavenowgonetotheDrawing—room,Ithink,thoughitisnotjotted。]
  "HetalkedofEnglandandofShakspeare;andexplainedtoMadameDenispartofaSceneinHenryFifth,wheretheKingmakeslovetoQueenCatherineinbadFrench;andofanotherinwhichthatQueentakesalessoninEnglishfromherWaiting—woman,andwherethereareseveralverygrossdouble—entendres"——but,Ihope,didnotlongdwellonthese……
  VOLTAIRE。"’WhenIseeanEnglishmansubtleandfondoflawsuits,I
  say,"ThereisaNorman,whocameinwithWilliamtheConqueror。"
  WhenIseeamangood—naturedandpolite,"ThatisonewhocamewiththePlantagenets;"abrutalcharacter,"ThatisaDane:"——foryourNation,Monsieur,aswellasyourLanguage,isamedleyofmanyothers。’
  "Afterdinner,passingthroughalittleParlorwheretherewasaheadofLocke,anotheroftheCountessofCoventry,andseveralmore,hetookmebythearmandstoppedme:’DoyouknowthisBust[bustofSirIsaacNewton]?Itisthegreatestgeniusthateverexisted:ifallthegeniusesoftheUniversewereassembled,heshouldleadtheband。’
  "ItwasofNewton,andofhisownWorks,thatM。deVoltairealwaysspokewiththegreatestwarmth。"[Sherlock,LETTERS(London,1802),i。98—106。](EXITSherlock,tojotdowntheabove,andthenceintoInfiniteSpace。)
  GENERALORFIELDMARSHALCONWAY,DIRECTFROMTHELONDONCIRCLES,ATTENDSONEOFFRIEDRICH’SREVIEWS(August—September,1774)。
  NowthatFriedrich’sMilitaryDepartmentisgotcompletelyintotrimagain,whichhereckonstohavebeenabout1770,hisannualReviewsarebecomingveryfamousoverEurope;andintelligentOfficersofallCountriesareeagertobepresent,andinstructthemselvesthere。TheReviewisbeautifulasaSpectacle;butthatisinnosorttheintentionofit。Rigorousbusiness,asinthestrictestofUniversitiesexaminingforDegrees,wouldbenearerthedefinition。Sometimes,whenanewmanoeuvreortacticalinventionofimportanceistobetriedbyexperiment,youwillfindformanymilestheenvironsofPotsdam,whichisusuallythesceneofsuchexperiments,carefullyshutin;sentriesoneveryroad,nounfriendlyeyeadmitted;thethingdoneaswithcloseddoors。Noratanytimecanyouattendwithoutleaveasked;thoughtoForeignOfficers,andpersonsthathavereallybusinessthere,thereappearstobeliberalityenoughingrantingit。Theconcourseofmilitarystrangersseemstokeepincreasingeveryyear,tillFriedrich’sdeath。[Rodenbeck,iii。INLOCIS。]French,moreandmoreinquantity,presentthemselves;multifariousGermannames;
  generallyafewEnglishtoo,——Burgoyne(ofSaratogafinally),Cornwallis,DukeofYork,MarshalConway,——ofwhichlastwehavesomethingfarthertosayatpresent。
  InSummer,1774,Conway——theMarshalConway,ofwhomWalpoleiscontinuallytalkingasofaconsiderableSoldierandPolitician,thoughhewasnotineithercharacterconsiderable,butwasWalpole’sfriend,andanhonestmodestman——hadmadeuphismind,perhapspartlyondomesticgrounds(forIhavenoticedglimpsesofa"LadyC。"muchoutofhumor),tomakeaTourinGermany,andseetheReviews,bothAustrianandPrussian,Prussianespecially。
  TwoimmenseLETTERSofhisonthatsubjecthavecomeintomyhands,[KindlypresentedmebyCharlesKnight,Esq。,thewell—knownAuthorandPublisher(whopossessesaCollectionbythesamehand):
  theseTworuntofourteenlargepagesinmyCopy!]andelsewhereincidentallythereisprintedrecordoftheTour;[InKeith(SirRobertMurray),MemoirsandCorrespondence,
  ii。21et,seq。]unimportantaspossible,bothTourandLetters,butcapable,ifsqueezedintocompass,ofstillbeingreadwithoutdisadvantagehere。
  SirRobertMurrayKeith——thatis,theyoungerExcellencyKeith,nowMinisteratDresden,whomwehavesometimesheardof——accompaniesConwayonthisTour,orfliesalongsideofhim,withfrequentintersectionsattheprincipalpoints;andthereisprintedrecordbySirRobert,butstilllessinterestingthanthisofConway,andperfectlyconformabletoit:——sothat,exceptforsomewordsabouttheLordMarischal,whichshallbegiven,Keithmustremainsilent,whilethediffuseConwaystrivestobecomeintelligible。
  Indeed,neitherConwaynorKeithtellustheleastthingthatisnotabundantly,andevenwearisomelyknownfromGermansources;
  buttoreadershere,apairofEnglisheyeslookingonthematter(putstraightinplacesbythehelpthereis),maygiveitacertainfreshnessofmeaning。HereareConway’sTwoLetters,withtheninepartsofwatercharitablysqueezedoutofthem,byaskilfulfriendofmineandhis。
  CONWAYTOHISBROTHER,MARQUISOFHERTFORD(inLondon)。
  "BERLIN,July17th,1774。
  "DEARBROTHER,——InthehurryIlivein——……LeavingBrunswick,where,inabsenceofmostoftheCourt,whoarevisitingatPotsdam,myoldCommander,"DukeFerdinand,nowestrangedfromPotsdam,[HadakindofquarrelwithFriedrichin1766(roughtreatmentbyAdjutantvonAnhalt,nottolerabletoaCaptainnowbecomesoeminent),andquietlywithdrew,——stillonspeakingtermswiththeKing,butneverhisOfficermore。]andlivinghereamongworksofArt,andspeculationsonFreeMasonry,"wasverykindtome,IwenttoCelle,inHanover,topaymyrespectstotheQueenofDenmark[unfortunatedivorcedMatilda,savedbymyfriendKeith,——
  innocent,Iwillhope!]……Sheisgrownextremelyfat……
  AtMagdeburg,thePrussianFrontieronthisside,oneisnotallowed,withoutapermit,eventowalkontheramparts,——suchthestrictnessofPrussianrule……DrivingthroughPotsdam,onmywaytoBerlin,IwasstoppedbyaservantofthegoodoldLordMarischal,whohadspiedmeasIpassedunderhiswindow。Hecameoutinhisnightgown,andinsisteduponourstayingtodinewithhim——[worthyoldman;awordofhim,werethisLetterdone]。
  Weended,onconsultationabouttimesandmovementsoftheKing,bystayingthreedaysatPotsdam,mostlywiththisexcellentoldLord。
  "Onthethirdday[yesterdayevening,infact],Iwent,byappointment,totheNewPalace,towaitupontheKingofPrussia。
  Therewassomedelay:hisMajestyhadgone,intheinterim,toaprivateConcert,whichhewasgivingtothePrincesses[DuchessofBrunswickandotherhighguests[Rodenbeck(INDIE)iii。98。]];
  butthemomenthewastoldIwasthere,hecameoutfromhiscompany,andgavemeamostflatteringgraciousaudienceofmorethanhalfanhour;talkingonagreatvarietyofthings,withaneaseandfreedomtheveryreverseofwhatIhadbeenmadetoexpect……Iasked,andreceivedpermission,tovisittheSilesianCampsnextmonth,hisMajestymostgraciouslytellingmetheparticulardaystheywouldbeginandend[27thAugust—3dSeptember,SchmelwitznearBreslau,aretimeandplace[Ib。iii。101。]]。
  ThisconsiderablyderangesmyAustrianmovements,andwillhurrymyreturnoutofthoseparts:butwhocouldresistsuchatemptation!
  ——IsawtheFoot—Guardsexercise,especiallythesplendid’FirstBattalion;’IcouldhaveconceivednothingsoperfectandsoexactasallIsaw:——sowelldressed,suchmen,andsopunctualinalltheydid。
  "TheNewPalaceatPotsdamisextremelynoble。Notsoperfect,perhaps,inpointoftaste,butbetterthanIhadbeenledtoexpect。TheKingdislikeslivingthere;neverdoes,exceptwhenthereishighCompanyabouthim;forsevenoreightmonthsintheyear,heprefersLittleSans—Souci,andfreedomamonghisintimatesandsomeofhisGenerals……HisMusicstilltakesupagreatshareoftheKing’stime。OnatableinhisCabinetthere,Isaw,I
  believe,twentyboxeswithaGermanfluteineach;inhisBed—
  chamber,twiceasmanyboxesofSpanishsnuff;and,alikeinCabinetandinBed—chamber,threearm—chairsinarowforthreefavoritedogs,eachwithalittlestoolbywayofstep,thatthegettingupmightbeeasy……
  "TheTownofPotsdamisamostextraordinaryand,initsappearance,beautifulTown;allthestreetsperfectlystraight,allatrightanglestoeachother;andallthehousesbuiltwithhandsome,generallyelegantfronts……Hebuildsforeverybodywhohasabadorasmallhouse,eventhelowestmechanic。HehasdonethesameatBerlin。"Altogether,hisMajesty’sbuildingoperationsareastonishing。And"fromwhencedoesthismoneycome,afteralongexpensiveWar?Itisallfairylandandenchantment,"——MAGNUM
  VECTIGALPARSIMONIA,infact!……"AtBerlinhere,IsawthePorcelainManufactureto—day,whichisgreatlyimproved。Ileavepresently。Adieu,dearBrother;excusemyendlessLetter[sinceyoucannotsqueezethewateroutofit,assomewill!]——
  Yoursmostsincerely,"HENRYSEYMOURCONWAY。"
  KeithisnowMinisteratDresdenforsomeyearsback;andhas,amongothertopics,muchtosayofourbrilliantfriendtheElectressthere:buthisgrandDiplomaticfeatwasatCopenhagen,onasuddensallyoutthither(in1771):[InKEITH,i。152&c。,nothingofintelligibleNarrativegiven,hardlythedatediscoverable。]thesavingofQueenMatilda,youngestSisterofGeorgeThird,fromaharddoom。UnfortunateQueenMatilda;
  oneneverknowshowguilty,orwhetherguiltyatall,butshewasveryunfortunate,pooryoungLady!WhatwithamadHusbandcollapsedbydebaucheriesintostuporofinsanity;whatwithaDoctor,graduallyaPrimeMinister,Struensee,wretchedscarecrowtolookupon,butwiserthanmostDanesabout;andfinally,withalynx—eyedStep—sister,whoseSon,shouldMatildamistake,willinherit,——unfortunateMatildahadfallenintotheawfulesttroubles;gotdivorced,imprisoned,wouldhavelostherheadalongwithscarecrowStruenseehadnotherBrotherGeorgeIII。
  emphaticallyintervened,——ExcellencyKeith,withSeventy—foursinthedistance,comingoutverystrongontheoccasion,——andgotherloose。LoosefromDanishaxeandjail,atanyrate;deliveredintosafetyandsolitudeatCelleinHanover,whereshenowis,——andsoonaftersuddenlydiesoffever,soclosingaverysadshorthistory。
  ExcellencyKeith,famedintheDiplomaticcircleseversince,isatpresentaheadofConwayontheirjointroadtotheAustrianReviews。BeforegivingConway’sSecondLetter,letushearKeithalittleonhiskinsmantheOldMarischal,whomhesawatBerlinyearsago,andstilloccasionallycorrespondswith,andmentionsinhisCorrespondence。KeithLOQUITUR;dateisDresden,February,1770:——
  HASVISITEDTHEOLDMARISCHALATPOTSDAMLATELY……"MystayofthreedayswithLordMarischal……HeisthemostinnocentofGod’screatures;andhisheartismuchwarmerthanhishead。Theplaceofhisabode,"Imustsay,"istheveryTempleofDulness;
  andhisFemaleCompanion[apoorTurkfoundling,aperishinginfantflungintohislateBrother’shandsattheFallofOczakow,[Supra,vii。82。]——whomtheMarischalhascarefullybroughtup,andwhorefusestomarryawayfromhim,——ratherstupid,notveryprettybythePortraits;mustnowbetwo—and—thirtygone]isperfectlycalculatedtobethePriestessofit!Yethedawdlesawayhisdayinamannernotunpleasanttohim;andIreallyampersuadedhehasaconsciencethatwouldgildtheinsideofadungeon。Thefeatsofourbare—leggedwarriorsinthelateWar[BERG—SCHOTTEN,amongwhomIwasaColonel],accompaniedbyaPIBRACH[elegiacbagpipedroningMORESUO]inhisouterroom,haveaneffectontheoldDon,whichwoulddelightyou。"[Keith,i。129;"Dresden,25thFebruary,1770:"
  tohisSisterinScotland。]
  ANDTHENSEENHIMINBERLIN,ONTHESAMEOCCASION……
  "LordMarischalcametomeetmeatSirAndrew’s[Mitchell’s,inBerlin,thelastyearofthebraveMitchell’slife],wherewepassedfivedaystogether。Myvisittohiscountryresidence,"asyoualreadyknow,"wasofthreedays;andIhadreasontobeconvincedthatitgavetheoldDongreatpleasure。Hetalkedtomewiththegreatestopennessandconfidenceofallthematerialincidentsofhislife;andhintedoftenthatthehonoroftheClanwasnowtobesupportedbyourfamily,forallofwhomhehadthegreatestesteem。Histaste,hisideas,andhismannerofliving,areamixtureofAberdeenshireandtheKingdomofValencia;andasheseekstomakenonewfriends,heseemstoretainastrong,thoughsilent,attachmentforhisoldones。Astohispoliticalprinciples,Ibelievehimthemostsincereofconverts"toWhiggeryandOrthodoxy……"SinceIbeganthis,IhavehadamostinimitableLetterfromLordMarischal。IhadmentionedDr。Bailiestohim[notedEnglishDoctoratDresden,bentoninoculatingandthelike],andbeggedhewouldsendmeastateofhiscaseandinfirmities,thattheDoctormightprescribeforhim。Thisisapartofhisanswer:——
  "’IthankyouforyouradviceofconsultingtheEnglishDoctortorepairmyoldcarcass。Ihavelatelydonesobymyoldcoach,anditisnowalmostasgoodasnew。Please,therefore,totelltheDoctor,thatfromhimIexpectagoodrepair,andshallstatethecase。First,hemustknowthatthemachineistheworseforwear,beingnearlyeightyyearsold。ThereparationIproposeheshallbeginwithis:Onepairofneweyes,onepairofnewears,someimprovementonthememory。Whenthisisdone,weshallasknewlegs,andsomechangeinthestomach。Forthepresent,thisfirstreparationwillbesufficient;andwemustnottroubletheDoctortoomuchatonce。’——YouseebythishoweasyhisLordship’sinfirmitiessituponhim;anditisreallysoashesays。
  YourfriendSirAndrewis,Iamafraid,lessgay;butIhavenotheardfromhimthesethreemonths。"[Keith,i。132,133;"Dresden,13thMarch,1770:"tohisFather。]
  CONWAYTOKEITH,ONTHELATETHREEDAYSATPOTSDAM。
  [Date,"Dresden,21stJuly,1774:"inKEITH,ii。15。]"IstayedthreedaysatPotsdam,withmuchentertainment,forgoodpartofwhichIamobligedtoyourExcellency’soldfriendLordMarischal,whoshowedmeallthekindnessandcivilitypossible。HestoppedmeasIpassed,andnotonlymademedinewithhimthatday,butinamannerlivewithhim。Heisnotatallblind,asyouimagined;
  somuchotherwise,thatIsawhimread,withoutspectacles,adifficulthandIcouldnoteasilydecipher……StayedbutadayatBerlin;"amrushingafteryou:——HereismySecondLetter:——
  CONWAY’SSECONDLETTER(tohisBrother,asbefore)。
  "SCHMELWITZ[nearBreslau]HEAD—QUARTERS,August31st,1774。
  "DEARBROTHER……IleftthatCamp[AustrianCamp,andReviewsinHungary,wheretheKaiserandeverybodyhadbeenverygracioustome]withmuchregret。"PartedregretfullywithKeith;——hadplayed,atPresburg,insightofhimandfourteenotherEnglishmen,agamewiththeChessAutomaton[brand—newmiracle,justout];[Accountofit,andofthisgame,inKEITHtoo(ii。18;"View,3dSeptember,1774:"KeithtohisFather)。]——cameonthroughViennahitherward,asfastaspost—horsescouldcarryus;travellingnightandday,withoutstopping,beingratherbehindtime。"ArrivedatBreslauneardark,lastnight;whereIlearntthattheCampwastwentymilesoff;thattheKingwasgonethere,andthattheManoeuvreswouldbeginatfourorfivethismorning。Ithereforeorderedmychaiseattwelveatnight,andsetout,indarknessandrain,tobepresentedtotheKingofPrussianextmorningatfive,attheheadofhistroops……WhenIarrived,beforefive,attheplacecalled’Head—quarters,’IfoundmyselfinthemiddleofamiserableVillage[thisSchmelwitzhere];nocreaturealiveorstirring,norasentinel,oranyMilitaryobjecttobeseen……Assoonasanythingalivewastobefound,weasked,IftheKingwaslodgedinthatVillage?’Yes,’theysaid,’inthatHouse’(pointingtoaclayHovel)。ButGeneralLentulussoonappeared;and——
  "HisMajestyhasbeenverygracious;askedmemanyquestionsaboutmytourtoHungary。IsawalltheTroopspasshimastheyarrivedinCamp。Theymadeaveryfineappearancereally,thoughitrainedhardthewholetimewewereout;andashisMajesty[age62]didnotcloak,wewereallheartilywet。And,whatwasworse,wentfromthefieldtoOrders[givingoutofParole,andthelike]athisQuarters,theretomakeourbow;——wherewestayedinourwetclothesanhourandhalf[towards10A。M。bythistime]……
  HowdifferentattheEmperor’s,whenhisImperialMajestyandeverybodywascloaked![Gotnohurtbythewet,strangetosay。]……Theseareournewstothisday。Andnow,havingsatupfivenightsoutofthelastsix,andbeeninrainanddirtalmostallday,Iwishyousincerelygood—night。——H。S。C。
  "P。S。Breslau,4thSeptember。——……MyPrussianCampaignisfinished,andasmuchtomysatisfactionaspossible。ThebeautyandorderoftheTroops,theirgreatdiscipline,their"&c。&c。,"almostpassallbelief……Yesterdaywewereonhorsebackearly,atfouro’clock。Themovementwasconductedwithaspiritandorder,onbothsides,thatwasastonishing,andstruckthemoredelightful(SIC)bythevariety,asinthecourseoftheActiontheEnemy,conductedbyGeneralAnhalt[headallrightasyet],tookthreedifferentpositionsbeforehisfinalretreat。
  "Themomentitwasover[nineo’clockorso],hisMajestygotafreshhorse,andsetoutforPotsdam,afterreceivingthecomplimentsofthosepresent,orratherholdingakindofshortLeveeinthefield。Ican’tsayhowmuch,inmyparticular,IamobligedtohisMajestyforhisextraordinaryreception,anddistinctionshownmethroughout。EachdayaftertheManoeuvre,andgivingtheOrdersoftheday,heheldalittleLeveeatthedoor,orinthecourt;atwhich,Icanassureyou,itisnotanexaggerationofvanitytosay,thathenotonlytalkedtome,butliterallytonobodyelseatall。Itwasagooddealeachtime,andassoonasfinishedhemadehisbow,andretired,thoughall,ormost,oftheotherForeignerswerestandingby,aswellashisownGenerals。Healsocalledmeup,andspoketomeseveraltimesonhorseback,whenwewereout,whichheseldomdidtoanybody。
  "ThePrinceRoyalalsoshowedmemuchcivility。Thesecondday,heaskedmetocomeanddrinkadishofteawithhimafterdinner,andkeptmeanhourandhalf。Hetoldme,amongotherthings,thattheKingofPrussiahadahighopinionofme,andthatitcamechieflyfromthefavorablemannerinwhichDukeFerdinandandtheHereditaryPrince[ofBrunswick]hadspokenofme……PrayletHoraceWalpoleknowmyaddress,thatImayhaveallthechanceI
  canofhearingfromhim。ButifhecomestoParis,Iforgivehim。——
  H。S。C。"
  Friedrich’sReviews,thoughfinetolookupon,orindeedthefinestintheworld,werebynomeansofspectacularnature;butofaltogetherseriousandpractical,almostofsolemnandterrible,tothepartiesinterested。LikethestrictestCollegeExaminationforDegrees,aswesaid;likeaRoyalAssizeorDoomsdayoftheYear;
  toMilitarypeople,andovertheupperclassesofBerlinSociety,nothingcouldbemoreserious,MajorKaltenborn,anEx—PrussianOfficer,presumablyofover—talkativehabits,whosoundsonuslikeaverymess—roomofthetimeallgatheredunderonehat,——describesinanalmostawfulmannerthekindofterrorwithwhichallpeopleawaitedtheseAnnualAssizesfortrialofmilitarymerit。
  "Whatasight,"sayshe,"andawakeningwhatthoughts,thatofabodyoffrom18,000to20,000soldiers,insolemnsilenceandindeepestreverence,awaitingtheirfatefromoneman!AReview,inFriedrich’stime,wasanimportantmomentforalmostthewholeCountry。Thefortuneofwholefamiliesoftendependedonit:
  fromwives,mothers,childrenandfriends,duringthoseterriblethreedays,therearoseferventwishestoHeaven,thatmisfortunemightnot,aswastoofrequentlythecase,befalltheirhusbands,fathers,sonsandfriends,inthecourseofthem。HeretheKing,asitwere,weighedthemeritsofhisOfficers,anddistributed,accordingashefoundthemlightorheavy,praiseorblame,rebukesorfavors;andoften,toooften,punishments,tobefeltthroughlife。Onesingleunhappymoment[especiallyifitwerethelastofalongseriesofsuch!]oftendeprivedthebravestOfficerofhisbread,painfullyearnedinpeaceandwar,andofhisreputationandhonor,atleastintheeyesofmostmen,whojudgeofeverythingonlybyitsissue。Thehigheryouhadrisen,theeasieranddeeperyourfallmightbeatanunluckyReview。TheHeadsandCommandersofregimentswerealwaysindangerofbeingsentabouttheirbusiness(WEGGEJAGT)。"
  Thefactis,IKaltenbornquittedthePrussianService,andtookHessian,——being(presumably)ofexaggerative,over—talkativenature,andstronglygravitatingOppositionway!——KaltenbornadmitsthattheKingdelightedinnothingsomuchastoseepeople’sfacescheerfulabouthim;providedthepriceforitwerenottoohigh。
  Hereisanotherpassagefromhim:——
  "Atlatestby9inthemorningtheday’sManoeuvrehadfinished,andeverythingwasalreadyinitsplaceagain。StraightfromthegroundallHeadsofregiments,theMajors—DE—JOUR,allAides—de—
  Camp,andfromeverybattaliononeOfficer,proceedtoHead—
  quarters。Itwasimpossibletospeakmorebeautifully,orinstructively,thantheKingdidonsuchoccasions,ifhewerenotinbadhumor。ItwasthenaverydelighttohearhimdeliveraMilitaryLecture,asitwere。Heknewexactlywhohadfailed,whatcausedthefault,andhowitmightandshouldhavebeenretrieved。
  Hisvoicewassoftandpersuasive(HINREISSEND);helookedkindly,andappearedratherbentupongivinggoodadvicethancommands。
  "Thus,forinstance,heoncesaidtoGeneralvanLossow,HeadoftheBlackHussars:’Your(SEINE)Attackwouldhavegoneverywell,hadnotyourownsquadronpressedforwardtoomuch(VORGEPRELLT)。
  Thebravefellowswantedtoshowmehowtheycanride。Butdon’tI
  knowthatwellenough;——andalsothatyou[covetousLossow]alwayschoosethebesthorsesfromthewholeremountforyourownsquadron!Therewas,therefore,noneedatallforthat。Tellyourpeoplenottodosoto—morrow,andyouwillseeitwillgomuchbetter;allwillremaincloserintheirplaces,andtheleftwingbeabletokeepbetterinline,incomingon。’——Anothertime,havingobserved,inacertainFoot—regiment,thatthesoldiersweretoolongingettingouttheircartridges,hesaidtotheCommandant:’Doyouknowthecauseofthis,mydearColonel?
  Look,thecartouche,inthecartridge—box,has32holes;intothesethefellowstickshiseightcartridges,withoutcaringhow:andsothepoordevilfumblesandgropesabout,andcannotgetholdofany。Butnow,iftheOfficerswouldlooktoitthatheplacethemallwelltogetherinthemiddleofthecartouche,hewouldnevermakeafalsegrasp,andtheloadingwouldgoasquickagain。
  OnlytellyourOfficersthatIhadmadethisobservation,andIamsuretheywillgladlyattendtoit。’"[Anonymous(Kaltenborn),BriefeeinesaltenPreussischenOfficiers
  (Hohenzollern,1790),ii。24—26。]
  OfhumaneconsolatoryAnecdotes,inthiskind,ourOppositionKaltenborngivesseveral;oftherhadamanthinedesolatingordestructivekind,thoughsuchalsocouldnotbewanting,ifyourAssizeistobegoodforanything,hegivesusnone。AndsofarasIcanlearn,theeffectivepunishments,dismissalsandthelike,wereoftheduerarityandpropriety;thoughtheflashesofunjustrebuke,fulminantseverity,lightningsfromthegloomofone’sownsorrowsandill—humor,weremuchmorefrequent,butwereseldom——I
  donotknowifever——persistedintothelengthofpracticalresult。ThisisaRhadamanthusmuchinterestednottobeunjust,andtodiscriminategoodfrombad!OfZiethentherearetwofamousReviewAnecdotes,omittedandomissiblebyKaltenborn,sowellknownarethey:oneofeachkind。AtacertainReview,yearnotascertainable,——longsince,priortotheSeven—YearsWar,——theKing’shumorwasofthegrimmest,nothingbutfaultsallround;
  toZiethenhimself,andtheZiethenHussars,hesaidvarioushardthings,andatlengththishardest:"Outofmysightwithyou!"
  [MadamedeBlumenthal,LifeofZiethen,i。
  265。]UponwhichZiethen——astratumofred—hotkindlinginZiethentoo,aswaseasilypossible——turnstohisHussars,"Rightabout,RECHTSUM:march!"andontheinstantdidasbidden。
  Disappeared,double—quick;andatthesamehighpace,inahighframeofmind,rattledontoBerlin,hometohisquarters,andtherefirstdrewbridle。"Turn;forHeaven’ssake,bethinkyou!"
  saidmorethanonefriendwhomhemetontheroad:butitwasofnouse。Everybodysaid,"Ziethenisruined;"butZiethenneverheardofthethingmore。
  AnecdoteSecondisnotproperlyofaReview,butofanincidentalParadeoftheGuard,atBerlin(25thDecember,1784),bytheKinginperson:Parade,orrathergivingoutoftheParoleafterit,intheKing’sApartments;whichisalwaysakindofMilitaryLeveeaswell;——andwhich,inthisinstance,waslongfamousamongtheBerlinpeople。KingisjustarrivedforCarnivalseason;
  oldZiethenwillnotfailtopayhisduty,thoughclimbingofthestairsisheavytoamanof85gone。ThisisMadamBlumenthal’sNarrative(corrected,asitneeds,incertainpoints):——
  "SATURDAY,25thDECEMBER,1784,Ziethen,inspiteoftheburdenofeighty—sixyears,wenttothePalace,attheendoftheParade,topayhisSovereignthislasttributeofrespect,andtohavethepleasureofseeinghimaftersixmonths’absence。TheParolewasgivenout,theordersimpartedtotheGenerals,andtheKinghadturnedtowardsthePrincesoftheBlood,——whenheperceivedZiethenontheothersideoftheHall,betweenhisSonandhistwoAides—
  de—Camp。Surprisedinaveryagreeablemanneratthisunexpectedsight,hebrokeoutintoanexclamationofjoy;anddirectlymakinguptohim,——’What,mygoodoldZiethen,areyouthere!’saidhisMajesty:’HowsorryamIthatyouhavehadthetroubleofwalkingupthestaircase!Ishouldhavecalleduponyoumyself。Howhaveyoubeenoflate?’’Sire,’answeredZiethen,(myhealthisnotamiss,myappetiteisgood;butmystrength!mystrength!’
  ’Thisaccount,’repliedtheKing,’makesmehappybyhalvesonly:
  butyoumustbetired;——Ishallhaveachairforyou。’
  [ThingunexampledintheannalsofRoyalty!]Achair,"onordertoZiethen’sAides—de—Camp,"wasquicklybrought。Ziethen,however,declaredthathewasnotatallfatigued:theKingmaintainedthathewas。’Sitdown,goodFather(MEINLIEBERALTERPAPAZIETHEN,SETZEERSICHDOCH)!’continuedhisMajesty:’Iwillhaveitso;
  otherwiseImustinstantlyleavetheroom;forIcannotallowyoutobeincommodedundermyownroof。’TheoldGeneralobeyed,andFriedrichtheGreatremainedstandingbeforehim,inthemidstofabrilliantcirclethathadthrongedroundthem。Afteraskinghimmanyquestionsrespectinghishearing,hismemoryandthegeneralstateofhishealth,heatlengthtookleaveofhiminthesewords:
  ’Adieu,mydearZiethen[itwashislastadieu!]——takecarenottocatchcold;nurseyourselfwell,andliveaslongasyoucan,thatImayoftenhavethepleasureofseeingyou。’Afterhavingsaidthis,theKing,insteadofspeakingtotheotherGenerals,andwalkingthroughthesaloons,asusual,retiredabruptly,andshuthimselfupinhiscloset。"[Blumenthal,ii。341;
  Militair—Lexikon,iv。318。ChodowieckihasmadeanEngravingofthisScene;usefultolookatforitsmilitaryPortraits,ifoflittleesteemotherwise。Strangelyenough,bothinBLUMENTHALandinChodowiecki’sENGRAVINGtheyearisgivenas1785
  (plainlyimpossible);Militair—Lexikon
  misprintsthemonth;and,onewayorother,onlyRodenbeck(iii。
  316)isrightinbothdayandyear。]
  FollowingindatethesesmallConwayPhenomena,ifthese,soextraneousandinsignificant,canhaveanyglimmerofmemorabilitytoreaders,aretwootheroccurrences,especiallyoneother,whichcomeinatthispartoftheseries,andgreatlymorerequiretobedisengagedfromthedust—heaps,andpresentedforremembrance。
  In1775,theKinghadafitofillness;whichlongoccupiedcertainGazetteersandothers。Thatisthefirstoccurrenceofthetwo,andfarthemoreimportant。Hehimselfsaysofit,inhisHISTORY,allthatisessentialtoushere:——
  "Towardstheendof1775,theKingwasattackedbyseveralstrongconsecutivefitsofgout。VanSwieten,afamousDoctor’sSon,andMinisteroftheImperialCourtatBerlin,tookitintohisheadthatthisgoutwasadeclareddropsy;and,gladtoannouncetohisCourttheapproachingdeathofanenemythathadbeendangeroustoit,boldlyinformedhisKaiserthattheKingwasdrawingtohisend,andwouldnotlastouttheyear。AtthisnewsthesoulofJosephflamesintoenthusiasm;alltheAustriantroopsaregotonmarch,theirRendezvousmarkedinBohemia;andtheKaiserwaits,fullofimpatience,atVienna,tilltheexpectedeventarrives;
  readythentopenetrateatonceintoSaxony,andthencetotheFrontiersofBrandenburg,andthereproposetotheKing’sSuccessorthealternativeofeithersurrenderingSilesiastraightwaytotheHouseofAustria,orseeinghimselfoverwhelmedbyAustriantroopsbeforehecouldgethisownassembled。Allthesethings,whichwereopenlydone,gotnoisedabroadeverywhere;anddidnot,asiseasytobelieve,cementthefriendshipoftheTwoCourts。TothePublicthissceneappearedthemoreridiculous,astheKingofPrussia,havingonlyhadacommongoutinlargerdosethancommon,wasalreadywellofitagain,beforetheAustrianArmyhadgottotheirRendezvous。TheKaisermadeallthesetroopsreturntotheiroldquarters;andtheCourtofViennahadnothingbutmockeryforitsimprudentconduct。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,
  vi。124。]
  Thefirstofthesegout—attacksseemstohavecomeintheendofSeptember,andtohavelastedaboutamonth;afterwhichtheillnessabated,andeverybodythoughtitwasgone。TheKaiser—
  JosephevolutionmusthavebeeninOctober,andhavegotitsmockeryinthenextmonths。Friedrich,writingtoVOLTAIRE,October22d,hasthesewords:……"ApairofcharmingLettersfromFerney;
  towhich,hadtheybeenfromthegreatDemiurgushimself,IcouldnothavedictatedAnswer。Goutheldmetiedandgarrotedforfourweeks;——goutinbothfeetandinbothhands;and,suchitsextremeliberality,inbothelbowstoo:atpresentthepainsandthefeverhaveabated,andIfeelonlyaverygreatexhaustion。"[Ib。xxv。
  44。]"Fourconsecutiveattacks;hopetheyarenowallover;"butweread,withintheSpringfollowing,thattherehavebeeninalltwelveofthem;andinMay,1776,theNewspaperscounteighteenquasi—consecutive。SothatinrealitytheKing’sstrengthwassadlyreduced;andhishealth,whichdidnotrecoveritsoldaveragetillabout1780,continued,forseveralyearsafterthisbadfit,tobeaconstantthemeofcuriositytotheGazetteerspecies,andamatterofsolicitudetohisfriendsandtohisenemies。
  OftheKaiser’simmenseambitiontherecanbenoquestion。Heisstretchinghimselfoutoneveryside;"seriouslywishing,"thinksFriedrich,"thathecould’revivifytheGermanReich,’"——newBarbarossainimprovedFIXEDform;hownoble!Certainly,toKingFriedrich’ssadconviction,"theAustrianCourtisaimingtoswallowallmannerofdominionsthatmayfallwithinitsgrasp。"
  WantsBosniaandServiaintheEast;longstoseizecertainVenetianTerritories,whichwoulduniteTriesteandtheMilanesetotheTyrol。IsthrowingouthooksonModena,ontheFerrarese,onthisandonthat。LookingwitheagereyesonBavaria,——thesituationofwhichispeculiar;thepresentKur—Baiernbeingelderly,childless;andhisHeirthelike,whowithalisalreadyKur—Pfalz,andwillunitetheTwoElectoratesunderonehead;
  athingwhichAustriaregardswithmarkeddislike。
  [OEuvresdeFrederic,vi。123。]TheseareanxiousconsiderationstoaKinginFriedrich’ssickstate。Inhisprivatecircle,too,therearesorrows:deathofFouquet,deathofQuintusIcilius,ofSeidlitz,Quantz(goodoldQuantz,withhisfineFlutingsthesefiftyyears,andthestillfinermemoriesheawoke![Friedrich’sTeacheroftheFlute;procuredforhimbyhisMother(supravi。144)。]),——latterlyanunusualnumberofdeaths。
  TheruggedlyintelligentQuintus,adailycompanion,andguestatthesupper—table,diedfewmonthsbeforethisfitofgout;andmusthavebeengreatlymissedbyFriedrich。Fouquet,atBrandenburg,diedlastyear:hisbenefactorintheearlyCustrindistresses,his"Bayard,"andchosenfriendeversince;howconspicuouslydeartoFriedrichtothelastisstillevident。AFriedrichgettinglonelyenough,andthelightsofhislifegoingoutaroundhim;——hasbutonesureconsolation,whichcomestohimascompulsionwithal,andisnotneglected,thatofstandingsteadfasttohiswork,whateverthemoodandposturebe。
  TheEventof1776isCzarowitshPaul’sarrivalinBerlin,andBetrothaltoasecondWifethere;hisfirsthavingdiedinchildbirthlately。ThefirsthadbeenofFriedrich’schoosing,buthadbehavedill,——seducedbySpanish—FrenchDiplomacies,bythisandthat,pooryoungcreature:——thesecondalsowasofFriedrich’schoosing,andastillnearerconnection:figurewhatatriumphantevent!Eventnowfallendeadtoeveryoneofus;andhardlyadmittingthesmallestNote,——exceptforchronology’ssake,whichitisalwayssatisfactorytokeepclear:——
  "CzarowitshPaul’sfirstWife,theHessen—DarmstadtPrincessofThree,diedofherfirstchildApril26th,1776:everybodywhispered,’ItisnoneofPaul’s!’who,nevertheless,wasinconsolable,thewildheartofhimliketobreakontheoccurrence。Bygoodluck,PrinceHenrihadsetout,byinvitation,onasecondvisittoPetersburg;andarrivedtherealsoonApril26th,[Rodenbeck,iii。139—146。]theverydayofthefatality。
  PrinceHenrisoothed,consoledthepoorCzarowitsh;
  graduallybroughthimround;agreedwithhisCzarinaMother,thathemusthaveanewWife;anddexterouslyfixedherchoiceona’NieceoftheKing’sandHenri’s。’EldestDaughterofEugenofWurtemberg,ofwhom,asanexcellentGeneral,thoughalsoasasurlyHusband,readershavesomememory;nowlivingwithdrawnatMumpelgard,theWurtembergApanage[Montbeillard,astheFrenchcallit],inthesepipingtimesofPeace:——sheisthePrincess。
  ToKingFriedrich’sgreatsurpriseandjoy。TheMumpelgardPrincipalities,andfortunatePrincess,aresummonedtoBerlin。
  CzarowitshPaul,underHenri’sescort,andundergalaandfestivitiesfromtheFrontieronward,arrivedinBerlin21stJuly,1776;wasbetrothedtohisWurtembergPrincessstraightway;
  andafteraboutafortnightoffestivitiesstillmoretranscendent,wenthomewithhertoPetersburg;andwastherewedded,18thOctoberfollowing;——CzarandCzarina,sheandhe,twentyyearsafter,andtheirposterityreigningeversince。[OEuvresdeFrederic,vi。120—122。]
  "AtVienna,"saystheKing,"everybodywaspersuadedtheCzarowitshwouldnevercometoBerlin。PrinceKaunitzhadbeen,"——beenathisoldtricksagain,playinghissharpest,intheCourtofPetersburgagain:whattricks(aboutPolandandotherwise)letusnotreport,foritisnowinterestingtonobody。OftheCzarowitshVisititselfIwillremarkonly,——whatseemstobeitsonechanceofdatingitselfinanyofourmemories,——thatitfelloutshortlyaftertheSherlockdinnerwithVoltaire(in1776,April27ththeoneevent,July21sttheother);——andthathereis,bypureaccident,theexuberanterraticSherlock,oncemore,andonceonly,emergingonusforafewmoments!——
  EXUBERANTSHERLOCKANDELEVENOTHERENGLISHAREPRESENTEDTO
  FRIEDRICHONACOURTOCCASION(8thOctober,1777);ANDTWO
  OFTHEMGETSPOKENTO,ANDSPEAKEACHAWORD。EXCELLENCY
  HUGHELLIOTISTHEIRINTRODUCER。
  Harris,afterwardsEarlofMalmesbury,succeededMitchellatBerlin;"Polishtroubles"(heartilyindifferenttoEngland),"Dantzigsquabbles"(miraculouslyimportantthere),——nothingworththeleastmentionnow。ExcellencyHarrisquittedBerlininAutumn,1776;gaveplacetoanExcellencyHughElliot(oneoftheMintoElliots,BrotherofthefirstEarlofMinto,andhimselfconsiderablynotedintheworld),ofwhomwehaveafewwordstosay。
  ElliothasbeenheresinceApril,1777;stayssomefiveyearsinthispost;——withnotmuchDiplomaticemployment,Ishouldthink,butwithastyleofgeneralbearingandsocialphysiognomy,which,withsomeprocedurespartlyincidentalaswell,arestillrememberedinBerlin。Somethingofspying,too,doubtlesstherewas;bribingofmenials,openingofLetters:Ibelieveagreatdealofthatwenton;impossibletopreventunderthecarefulestofKings。[AningeniousyoungFriendofmine,connectedwithLegationaryBusiness,foundlately,attheHague,aconsecutiveSeries,completeforfourorfiveyears(Ithink,from1780
  onwards),ofFriedrich’sLETTERStohisMINISTERINLONDON,——CopiespunctuallyfilchedastheywentthroughthePost—officethere:——
  specimensofwhichIsaw;andthewholeofwhichImighthaveseen,haditbeenworththeeffortnecessary。ButFriedrich’sLondonMinister,inthiscase,wasapersonofnosignificanceorintimacy;andtheKing’sLetters,thoughstrangelyexact,clearandevenelucidativeonEnglishCourt—Politicsandvicissitudes,seemedtobenearlybarrenastoPrussian。]Hitherto,withoneexceptiontobementionedpresently,hismainbusinessseemstohavebeenthatofintroducing,ondifferentCourt—Days,agreatnumberofTravellingEnglish,whowanttoseetheKing,andwhomtheKinglittlewants,butquietlysubmitsto。IncoherentSherlock,whomwediscovertohavebeenofthenumber,has,inhistawdrydisjointedBook,thisPassage:——
  "Thelasttimeofmyseeinghim[thisHero—Kingofmyheart]wasatBerlin[notahintofthetimewhen]。HecamethithertoreceivetheadieusoftheBarondeSwieten,MinisterfromtheirImperialMajesties[thankyou;thatmeans8thOctober,1777[Rodenbeck,iii。
  172。]],andtogiveaudiencetothenewMinister,theCountCobenzl。TheForeignMinisters,thepersonswhoweretobepresented[we,forinstance],andtheMilitary,wereallthatwereatCourt。WeweretenEnglish[thirteenbytale]:theKingspoketothefirstandthelast;notonaccountoftheirsituation,butbecausetheirnamesstruckhim。ThefirstwasMajorDalrymple。
  TohimtheKingsaid:’Youhavebeenpresentedtomebefore?’
  ’IaskyourMajesty’spardon;itwasmyUncle’(LordDalrymple,ofwhompresently)。Mr。Pitt[unknowntomewhichPitt,subsequentLordCamelfordoranother]wasthelast。THEKING:’AreyouarelationofLordChatham’s?’’Yes,Sire。’——’HeisamanwhomI
  highlyesteem’[read"esteemed"]。
  "HethenwenttotheForeignMinisters;andtalkedmoretoPrinceDolgorucki,theRussianAmbassador,thantoanyother。InthemidstofhisconversationwiththisPrince,heturnedabruptlytoMr。
  Elliot,theEnglishMinister,andasked:’WhatistheDuchessofKingston’sfamilyname?’ThistransitionwaslessPindaricthanitappears;hehadjustbeenspeakingoftheCourtofPetersburg,andthatLadywasthenthere。"[Sherlock,ii。27。]WhereuponSherlockhopshiswaysagain;leavingusconsiderablyuncertain。But,byacuriousaccident,here,atfirst—hand,isconfirmationoftheflightycreature;——aLetterfromExcellencyElliothimselfhavingcomeourway:——
  TOWILLIAMEDEN,ESQUIRE(oftheForeignOffice,London;
  Elliot’sBrother—in—law;afterwardsLORDAUCKLAND)。
  "BERLIN,12thOctober,1777。
  "MYDEAREDEN,——IfyouarewaitinguponthepinnacleofallimpatiencetogivemenewsfromtheHowes[outontheirthenfamous"SeizureofPhiladelphia,"whichcametowhatweknow!],Iamwaitingwithnolessimpatiencetoreceiveit,andthinkeveryothersubjecttoolittleinterestingtobementioned。Imust,however,tellyou,theKinghasbeenhere;["CametoBerlin8thOctober,"ontheVan—Swietenerrand;"sawPrincessAmeliatwice;
  andonthe9threturnedtoPotsdam"(Rodenbeck,iii。172)。]totheastonishmentofallcroakers,heartyandinhighspirits。Hewasveryciviltoallofus。IwasattendedbyonedozenEnglish,whichnearlycompletesmyhalf—hundredthisseason。Pittmadeoneofthetwelve,andwasparticularlydistinguished。
  KING:"Monsieurest—ilparentdeMylordChatham?’PITT:’Oui,Sire。’KING:
  ’C’estunhommequej’aibeaucoupestime。’
  "YouhavenoideaofthejoythepeopleexpressedtoseetheKingonHorseback,——alltheGrub—streetnonsenseof’aCountrygroaningundertheweightofitsburdens,’of’aNationgovernedwitharodofiron,’vanishedbeforethesincereacclamationsofallranks,whojoinedintestifyingtheirenthusiasmfortheirgreatMonarch。
  IlongforHarrisandCompany[ExcellencyHarris;makingforRussia,Ibelieve];theyaretopigtogetherinmyhouse;sothatI
  flattermyselfwithhavinganearview,ifnotataste,ofconnubialjoys。MylovetoEand_e_[yourbig_E_leanorandyourLITTLE,ababyinarms,whoaremySisterandNiece;——pretty,this!]。Yourmostaffectionate,H。E。
  "P。S。Iquiteforgottotellyou,IsentoutaservantsometimeagotoEnglandtobringacoupleofHorses。HewilldeliversomePacketstoyou;whichIbegyouwillsend,withLordMarischal’scompliments,totheirrespectiveAddresses。ThereisalsoachinacupforMr。Macnamara,Lawyer,intheTempleorLincoln’sInn,fromthesameperson[livelyoldgentleman,age91gone;diddienextyear]。WhatdoesEleanormeanaboutmyCongratulatoryLettertoLordSuffolk[ourForeignSecretary,onhismarriagelately]?
  IwishedhisLordship,mostsincerely,everyhappinessinhisnewstate,assoonasIknewofit。Ibeg,however,Eleanorwilldothelike;——andalthoughitisnotmysystemto’congratulate’anybodyuponmarriage,yetIneverfailtowishthemwhat,Ithink,itisalwaystwotoonetheydonotobtain。"[EDEN—HOUSECORRESPONDENCE
  (partofwhich,notthis,hasbeenpublishedinlateyears)。]
  AstotheDalrympleofSHERLOCK,readthis(FRIEDRICHTO
  D’ALEMBERT,twoyearsbefore[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxv。21:5thAugust,1775。]):……"AMylordofwonderfulname[LordDalrymple,ifIcouldrememberit],ofamiablegenius(AUNOMBAROQUE,AL’ESPRITAIMABLE),gavemeaLetteronyourpart。’Ah,howgoesthePrinceofPhilosophers,then?Ishegay;
  ishebusy;didyouseehimoften?’TowhichtheMylord:’I?No;
  IamstraightfromLondon!’"——"QUOIDONC——?"Inshort,knowingmyAnaxagoras,thisMylordpreferredtobeintroducedbyhim;andwasright:"OneoftheamiablestEnglishmenIhaveseen;Iexceptonlythename,whichIshallneverremember[butdo,onthisnewoccasion]:Whydoesn’thegethimselfunchristenedofit,andtakethatofStair,whichequallybelongstohim?"(EarlofStairbyandby;Nephew,orGrand—Nephew,ofthegreatEarlofStair,oncesowellknowntosomeofus。BecomesEnglishMinisterherein1785,ifwemuchcared。)
  ThatwordofreminiscenceaboutPittisworthmoreattention。
  Notspokenlightly,butwithmeaningandsincerity;
  somethingalmostpatheticinit,afterthesixteenyearsseparation:"AmanwhomImuchesteemed,"——andhadgoodreasontodoso!Pitt’ssubsequentsadandbrightfortunes,fromtheendoftheSeven—YearsWarandtriumphantsummingupoftheJENKINS’S—EAR
  QUESTION,areknowntoreaders。HisBurton—Pynsentmeedofhonor(Estateof3,000poundsayearbequeathedhimbyanagedPatriot,"LetTHISbitofEnglandgoanobleroad!");hisloftysilences,intheWorldPolitical;hisvehementattemptsinit,whenagainaskedtoattempt,allfutile,——withgreatpaintohim,andgreatdisdainfromhim:——hispassionateimpatiencesonminormatters,"laborers[ornamentingBurton—PynsentPark,inSomersetshire]plantingtreesbytorchlight;""kitchenpeople[atHayesinNorthKent,Housestilltobeseen]roastingaseriesofchickens,chickenafterchickenallday,thatatanyhour,withintenminutes,myLordmaydine!"——thesethingsdwellinthememoryofeveryworthyreader。
  Here,savedfrommypoorfriendSmelfungus(nobodyknowshowmuchofhimIsuppress),isabriefjotting,intheformofroughMEMORANDA,ifitbepermissible:——
  "PittfouryearsKing;lostinquicksandsafterthat;offtoBath,fromgout,fromsemi—insanity;’Indiashouldpay,buthow?’LostinGeneral—Warrants,inWilkesControversies,AmericanRevolts,——
  generally,inshallowquicksands;——diesathispost,buthisposthadbecomeadeliriousone。
  "Adelicate,proud,nobleman;pureasrefinedgold。
  Somethingsensitive,almostfeminineinhim;yetwithanedge,afire,asteadiness;likerFriedrich,insomefineprincipalpoints,thananyofhisContemporaries。TheoneKingEnglandhashad,thisKingofFourYears,sincetheConstitutionalsystemsetin。
  OliverCromwell,yesindeed,——buthedied,andtherewasnothingforitbuttohanghisbodyonthegallows。DutchWilliam,too,mighthavebeenconsiderable,——buthewasDutch,andtousprovedtobenothing。Thenagain,solongasSarahJenningsheldtheQueen’sMajestyinbondage,somegleamsofKinghoodforusunderMarlborough:——afterwhomNoodleismandSomnambulism,zeroonthebackofzero,andallourAffairs,temporal,spiritualandeternal,jumblingatrandom,whichwecalltheCareerofFreedom,tillPittstretchedouthishanduponthem。Forfouryears;neveragain,he;
  neveragainoneresemblinghim,——norindeedcaneverbe。
  "Never,Ishouldthink。Pittsarenotbornoften;thisPitt’sideascouldoccurintheHistoryofMankindonceonly。Strangertheoryofsociety,completelybelievedinbyaclear,sharpandaltogetherhumanhead,incapableoffalsity,wasseldomheardofintheworld。
  ForKing:openyourmouth,letthefirstgentlemanthatfallsintoit(amassofHanoverstolidity,stupidity,foreigntoyou,heedlessofyou)beKing:SupremeMajestyhe,withhypotheticaldecorations,dignities,solemnappliances,highasthestars(thewhole,exceptthemoney,amendacity,andsinagainstHeaven):
  himyoudeclareSent—of—God,supremeCaptainofyourEngland;
  andhavingdoneso,——tiehimup(accordingtoPitt)withConstitutionalstraps,sothathecannotstirhandorfoot,forfearofaccidents:inwhichstateheisfullycooked;throwmeathisMajesty’sfeet,andletmeblessHeavenforsuchaPillarofCloudbyday。
  "Pitt,closelyasIcouldscrutinize,seemsnevertohavedoubtedinhisnobleheartbuthehadsomereverenceforGeorgeII。
  ’ReverencedhisOffice,’saysasimplereader?Alas,no,myfriend,mandoesnot’reverenceOffice,’butonlysham—reverencesit。
  IdefyhimtoreverenceanythingbutaManfillinganOffice(withorwithoutsalary)nobly。Fillinganobleofficeignobly;doingacelestialtaskinaquietlyinfernalmanner?Itwerekinderperhapstorunyourswordthroughhim(orthroughyourself)thantotaketoreveringhim!Ifinconvenienttoslayhimortoslayyourself(asisoftenestlikely),——keepwelltowindwardofhim;benot,withoutnecessity,partakerofhisadventuresinthisextremelyearnestUniverse!……
  "No;NaturedoesnotproducemanyPitts:——norwillanyPitteveragainapplyinParliamentforacareer。’Yourvoices,yourmostsweetvoices;yemelodioustorrentsofGadarenesSwine,gallopingrapidlydownsteepplaces,I,forone;knowwhitherI’"