ChapterIII。
WILHELMINAISTOWEDTHEPRINCEOFBAIREUTH。
Crown—PrinceFriedrichbeingsettledsofar,hisMajestytakesupthecaseofWilhelmina,theotherravelledskeinlyingonhand。
WilhelminahasbeenprisonerinherApartmentatBerlinallthiswhile:itisproperWilhelminabedisposedof;eitherinwedlock,filiallyobedienttotheroyalmind;orinsomemuchsternerway,"withinfourwalls,"itiswhispered,ifdisobedient。
PoorWilhelminaneverthoughtofdisobeyingherparents:
only,whichofthemtoobey?KinglookstowardsthePrinceofBaireuthagain,agreedonbeforethosehurly—burliesnowpast;
Queenlooksfarotherwards。QueenSophiestilldesperatelybelievesintheEnglishmatchforWilhelmina;andhassubterraneancorrespondenceswiththatCourt;refusingtoseethatthenegotiationisextinctthere。Grumkowhimself,soover—victoriousinhislatetask,isnowheelingtowardsEngland;"sincereinhiswishtobewellwithus,"thinksDickens:GrumkowsolacesherMajestywithdelusivehopesintheEnglishquarter:"Befirm,child;trustinmymanagement;onlysweartome,onyoureternalsalvation,thatnever,onanycompulsion,willyoumarryanotherthanthePrinceofWales;——givemethatoath!"[Wilhelmina,i。314。]SuchwasQueenSophie’slastproposaltoWilhelmina,——
nightofthe27thofJanuary,1731,asiscomputable,——herMajestytoleaveforPotsdamonthemorrow。Theyweptmuchtogetherthatnight,butWilhelminadexterouslyevadedtheoath,onareligiousground。PrinceofBaireuth,whomPapamaylikeormaynotlike,hasneveryetpersonallymadeappearance:whoorwhatwillmakeappearance,orhowthingscanorwillturn,exceptabadroad,isterriblyamysterytoWilhelmina。
Whatwithchagrinandconfinement,whatwithbaddiet(fortheverydietisbad,qualityandquantityalikeunspeakable),Wilhelminaseesherself"reducedtoaskeleton;"nocompanybutherfaithfulSonsfeld,noemploymentbutherBooksandMusic;——
struggles,however,stilltokeepheart。Oneday,itisinFebruary,1731,asIcompute,theyaresitting,herSonsfeldandshe,attheirsadmessofso—calleddinner,intheirremoteupperstoryoftheBerlinSchloss,trampofsentriestheonethingaudible;andwere"lookingmournfullyatoneanother,withnothingtoeatbutasoupofsaltandwater,andaragoutofoldbonesfullofhairsandslopperies[nothingelse;thatwasitsrealquality,whateverfinenametheymightgiveit,saysthevehementPrincess],weheardasharptappingatthewindow;andstartedupinsurprise,toseewhatitcouldbe。Itwasaraven,carryinginitsbeakabitofbread,whichitleftonthewindow—sill,andflewaway。"[Ib。i。316。]
"Tearscameintooureyesatthisadventure。"ArewebecomeasHebrewElijahs,then;sothatthewildravenshavetobringusfood?Truthis,therewasnothingmiraculous,asWilhelminafoundbyandby。Itwasatameraven,——notthesoulofoldGeorgeI。,whichlivesatIsleworthongoodpensions;butthepetravenofacertainMargravine,whichlostitswayamongtheintricateroofshere。Buttheincidentwastouching。"Well,"exclaimedWilhelmina,"intheRomanHistoriesIamnowreading,itisoftensaidthosecreaturesbetokengoodluck。"AllBerlin,suchtheappetiteforgossip,andsuchthefamineofitinBerlinatpresent,talkedofthisminuteevent:andtheFrenchColony——oldProtestantColony,practicalconsideratepeople——weresostruckbyit,theybroughtbasketsofcomfortablethingstous,andleftthemdaily,asifbyaccident,onsomeneutralground,wherethemaidcouldpickthemup,sentriesrefusingtoseeunlesscompelled。WhichfineprocedurehasattachedWilhelminatotheFrenchnationeversince,asadexteroususefulpeople,andhasgivenheradispositiontohelpthemwhereshecould。
Theomenoftheravendidnotatoncebringgoodluck:however,itdidchancetobetheturning—point,solsticeofthislongGreenlandwinter;afterwhich,amidstormsandalarms,daylightcamesteadilynearer。Stormsandalarms:fortherecamerumorsofquarrelsoutatPotsdam,quarrelsontheoldscorebetweentheRoyalSpousesthere;andfrightfulmessages,throughoneEversmann,aninsolentroyallackey,aboutweddingWeissenfels,aboutimprisonmentforlifeandotherhardthings;throughallwhichWilhelminastudiedtokeepherpoorheadsteady,andanswerwithdignityyetdiscreetly。Ontheotherhand,herSistersarepermittedtovisither,andperceptibleassuagementscome。
Atlength,onthe11thofMay,therecamesolemnDeputation,Borck,Grumkow,Thulmeyerinit,oldrealfriendsaudpretendednew;whichsetpoorWilhelminawringingherhands(havinghadaLetterfromMammaovernight);butdidbringaboutasolution。
ItwasFriday,11thofMay;adayofcrisisinWilhelmina’shistory;Queencommandingonething,Kinganother,andthehourofdecisioncome。
Entering,announcingthemselves,withdreadfulsolemnity,thesegentlemen,Grumkowthespokesman,insoftphrase,butwithstrictclearness,madeitapparenttoher,Thatmarryshemust,——theHereditaryPrinceofBaireuth,——andwithouttheconsentofbothherparents,whichwasunattainableatpresent,butperemptorilyunderthecommandofoneofthem,whosevotewasthesupreme。
Dothis(orevensaythatyouwilldoit,whispersomeofthewell—affected),hisMajesty’spaternalfavorwillreturnuponyoulikepentwaters;——andtheQueenwillsurelyreconcileherself(orperhapsturnitallherownwayyet!whisperthewell—affected)。
Refusetodoit,herMajesty,yourRoyalBrother,youyourselfRoyalHighness,Godonlyknowswhattheunheard—ofissuewillbeforyouall!Doit,letusadviseyou:youmust,youmust!——
Wilhelminawrungherhands;randistractedlytoandfro;
thewell—affectedwhisperingtoher,theothers"conversingatawindow。"Atlengthshedidit。Willmarrywhomherall—graciousPapaappoints;neverwishedormeanttheleastdisobedience;
hopes,beyondallthings,hispaternallovewillnowreturn,andmakeeverybodyblessed;——andoh,reconcileMammatome,yewell—affected!addsshe。——Bravissimo!answerthey:herMajesty,forcertain,willreconcileherself;Crown—PrincegetbackfromCustrin,andallwillbewell。[Wilhelmina,i。327—333。]
FriedrichWilhelmwasoverjoyed;QueenSophieDorotheewasindespair。WithhisMajesty,who"wept"likeapaternalbear,onre—embracingWilhelminatheobedientsomedayshence,itbecameasettledpoint,andwasindicatedtoWilhelminaassuch,ThattheCrown—Princewould,onheractualwedding,probablygetbackfromCustrin。ButherMajesty’sreconcilement,——thiswasveryslowtofollow。HerMajestywasstillinflamesofireattheirnextinterview;andpoorWilhelminafainted,onapproachingtokissherhand。"Disgraced,vanquished,andmyenemiestriumphing!"saidherMajesty;andventedherwrathonWilhelmina;andfellill(sosoonastherewasleisure),ill,liketodie,andsaid,"Whypretendtoweep,whenitisyouthathavekilledme!"——andindeedwasaltogetherhard,bitter,uponthepoorPrincess;achiefsorrowtoherinthesetryingmonths。Cantherebesuchwrathincelestialminds,ventingitselfsounreasonably?——Atpresentthereisnoleisureforillness;grandvisitorsinquantityhavecomeandarecoming;andtheCourtisbrilliantexceedingly;——hisMajestyblazingoutintotheduemagnificence,whichwasverygreatonthisoccasion,domesticmatterslookingupwithhimagain。
TheSerenitiesofBrunswickarehere,youngandold;muchlikedbyFriedrichWilhelm;andalmostreckonedfamilypeople,——eversincetheirEldestSonwasaffiancedtothePrincessCharlottehere,lastvisittheymade。ToPrincessCharlotte,Wilhelmina’ssecondjunior,——mischievous,coquettishcreatureshe,thoughveryprettyandinsinuating,whoseemstothinkherIntendedratheraphlegmaticyounggentleman,asWilhelminagraduallydiscovers。
ThenthereisoldDukeEberhardLudwig,ofWurtemberg,whomwesawatLudwigsburglastyear,inanintricateconditionwithhisfemaleworldandotherwise,hetooannounceshimself,——accordingtopromisethengiven。OldDukeEberhardLudwigcomes,staysthreeweeksingreatsplendorofwelcome;——pooroldgentleman,hisonesonisnowdead;andthingsaregettingearnestwithhim。Onhisreturnhome,thistime,hefinds,accordingtoorder,thefoulwitchGravenitzdulyclearedaway;reinstateshisinjuredDuchess,withtheduefeelings,betterlatethannever;anddiesinayearortwo,stillchildless。——
TheseareamongthehighguestsatBerlin;andthereareplentyofotherswhomwedonotname。Magnificentdining;
with"six—and—twentyblackamoors,"high—coloredcreatures,marchingupthegrandstaircase,roundthetable,roundit,andthendownagain,melodious,doing"janizarymusic,"ifyouhappentopreferthatkind;——trainedcreaturestheseblackamoors,allgotwhenboys,andsettocymballingandfifingbetimes,addsmyauthority。[Fassmann,p。726,&c。]Dining,boar—hunting(iftheboarbehuntable),especiallyreviewing,failnotinthosefinesummerdays。
Oneevening,itisSunday,27thofMay,latish,whilethehighguests,withQueenandWilhelmina,arejustpassingintosupper(King’sMajestyhaving"gonetobedatseven,"tobewellastirforthereviewto—morrow),asoundofwheelsisheardinthecourt。Modesttravelling—equipagerollsupintotheinnercourt;
tothefootofthegrandstaircasethere,whitheronlyPrincescome:——whocanitbe?TheQueensendstoinquire。Heavens,itistheHereditaryPrinceofBaireuth!"Medusa’sHeadneverproducedsucheffectasdidthisbitofnews:Queensatpetrified;andI,"
byreflex,waspetrifiedtoo!Wilhelminapassedthemiserablestnight,nowinkofsleep;andfeltquiteillinthemorning;——
indread,too,ofPapa’sroughjests,——andwretchedenough。
Shehadbeggedmuch,lastnight!tobeexcusedfromthereview。
Butthatcouldnotbe:"Imustgo,"saidtheQueenafterreflection,"andyouwithme。"Whichtheydid;——anddiversifiedthepompandcircumstanceofmock—warbyasmallunexpectedscene。
Queen,PrincessandtheproperDameshad,byhisMajesty’sorder,topassbeforetheline:Princessinmuchtrouble,"withthreecapshuddledonme,toconcealmyself,"poorsoul。MargrafofSchwedt,attheheadofhisregiment,"lookedswollenwithrage,"
highhopesgoneinthismanner;——andsaluteduswitheyesturnedaway。AsforhisMother,theDessauMargravineinhighcolors,shewas"blueintheface"allday。Linespassed,andsalutationsdone,herMajestyandDameswithdrewtothesafedistance,tolookon:——Suchashow,forpompandcircumstance,Wilhelminaowns,ascouldnotbeequalledintheworld。Suchwheeling,rhythmiccoalescingandunfolding;accurateasclock—work,farandwide;
swiftbigcolumnhere,hittingswiftbigcolumnthere,attheappointedplaceandmoment;withtheirvolleyingsandtrumpeting,brightuniformsandstreamersandfield—music,——inequipmentandmanoeuvreperfectall,tothemeanestdrummerorblackkettle—drummer:——supremedrill—sergeantplayingonthething,asonhishugepiano,severalsquaremilesinarea!ComesoftheOldDessauer,allthis;ofthe"equalstep;"oftheabstrusemeditationsupontactics,inthatroughheadofhis。Veryprettyindeed。——ButinthemeanwhileanOfficialstepsup:capinhand,approachestheQueen’scarriage;says,HeisorderedtointroducehisHighnessthePrinceofBaireuth。Princecomesupaccordingly;
apersonableyoungfellow;intelligent—looking,self—possessed;
makesobeisancetoherMajesty,whoanswersinfrostypoliteness;
and——andWilhelmina,faint,fasting,sleeplessallnight,fairlyfallsaswoon。Couldnotbehelped:andthewholeworldsawit;
andGuyDickensandtheDiplomatistswrotehomeaboutit,andthereroserumorandgossipenough![Dickens,of2dJune,1731(inpatheticterms);Wilhelmina,i。341(withoutpathos)。]Butthatwasthenakedtruthofit:hotweather,agitation,wantofsleep,wantoffood;notaversiontotheHereditaryPrince,nothingofthat。Ratherthecontrary,indeed;and,onbetteracquaintance,muchthecontrary。Forheprovedaveryrational,honorableandeligibleyoungPrince:modest,honest,withabundanceofsenseandspirit;kindtooandgood,hottemperwellkept,temperhotnotharsh;quietlyholdshisowninallcircles;gooddiscourseinhim,too,andsharpreparteeifrequisite,——thoughhestammeredsomewhatinspeaking。SubmissiveWilhelminafeelsthatonemighteasilyhavehadaworsehusband。WhatgloriesforyouinEngland!
theQueenused。tosaytoherinoldtimes:"HeisaPrince,thatFrederick,whohasagoodheart,andwhosegeniusisverysmall。
Ratheruglythanhandsome;slightlyoutofshapeeven(UNPEU
CONTREFAIT)。Butprovidedyouhavethecomplaisancetosufferhisdebaucheries,youwillquitegovernhim;andyouwillbemoreKingthanhe,whenoncehisFatherisdead。Onlyseewhatapartyouwillplay!ItwillbeyouthatdecideonthewealorwoeofEurope,andgivelawtotheNation,"[Wilhelmina,i。143。]——inamanner!WhichWilhelminadidnotthinkacelestialprospecteventhen。Whoknowsbut,ofalltheoffersshehad,"four"orthree"crownedheads"amongthem,thisfinalmodesthonestonemaybeintrinsicallythebest?Takeyourportion,ifinevitable,andbethankful!——
TheBetrothalfollowsinaboutaweek:Sunday,3dJune,1731;withgreatmagnificence,inpresenceofthehighguestsandalltheworld:andWilhelminaistheaffiancedBrideofFriedrichofBaireuth:——andthatenormousDouble—MarriageTragi—comedy,ofMuchAdoaboutNothing,isatlastended。Courage,friends;allthingsdoend!——
Thehighguestshereupongotheirwaysagain;andtheCourtofBerlin,onecannotbutsuppose,collapses,asafteragreateffortfinished。DonotFriedrichWilhelmandinnumerablepersons——thereadersandthewriterofthisHistoryincluded——feelastonerolledofftheirhearts?——Itisnow,andnottillnow,thatQueenSophiefallssick,andliketodie;andreproachesWilhelminawithkillingher。FriedrichWilhelmhopesconfidently,not;waitsoutatPotsdam,forafewdays,tillthiskillingdangerpass;
thendeparts,withdoubleimpetuosity,forPreussen,anddespatchofPublicBusiness;suchamountainofDomesticBusinessbeingvictoriouslygotunder。
PoorKing,hislife,thislongwhile,hasbeenaseriesofearthquakesandtitanicconvulsions。Narrowmisshehashad,ofpullingdownhishouseabouthisears,andburyingself,son,wife,familyandfortunes,undertheruin—heap,——amonumenttoremoteposterity。Neverwassuchanenchanteddance,ofwell—intentionedRoyalBearwithpoetictemperament,pipedtobytwoblack—artists,fortheKaiser’sandPragmaticSanction’ssake!
LetTobacco—Parliamentalsorejoice;fortrulytheplaywasgrowingdangerous,oflate。KingandParliament,wemaysuppose,returntoPublicBusinesswithdoublevigor。
ChapterIV。
CRIMINALJUSTICEINPREUSSENANDELSEWHERE。
NotthathisMajesty,whileatthedeepestindomesticintricacies,everneglectsPublicBusiness。ThisverysummerheisraisingHussarSquadrons;benttointroducetheHussarkindofsoldieryintohisArmy;——agooddealofhorse—breakingandnewsabre—exerciseneededforthatobject。[Fassmann,pp。417,418。]
TheaffairsoftheReichhaveatnomomentbeenoutofhiseye;
gladtoseetheKaiseredgingroundtotheSea—Powersagain,andthingscomingintotheiroldposture,inspiteofthatsadTreatyofSeville。
Nay,forthelasttwoyears,whilethedomesticvolcanoeswereattheirworst,hisMajestyhasbeenextensivelydealingwithanewquestionwhichhasrisen,thatoftheSALZBURGPROTESTANTS;
concerningwhichweshallhearmoreanon。Farandwide,intheDietsandelsewhere,hehasbeendiligently,piouslyandwithsolidjudgment,handlingthisquestionofthepoorSalzburgers;
andhasevenstoredupmoneysinintendedsolaceofthem(forheforeseeswhattheendwillbe);——moneyswhich,itappearsaboutthistime,acertainOfficialoverinPreussenhasbeenpeculating!IntheendofJune,hisMajestysetsofftoPreussenontheusualInspectionTour;whichweshouldnotmention,wereitnotinregardtothatsameOfficial,andtosomethingveryrhadamanthineandparticularwhichbefellhim;significantofwhathisMajestycandointhewayofpromptjustice。
CASEOFSCHLUBHUT。
TheKonigsbergDomain—Board(KRIEGS—UNDDOMANEN—KAMMER)hadfallenawry,invariouspoints,oflate;severalthingsknowntobeout—at—elbowsinthatCountry;theKammerRathsevidentlylaxattheirpost;forwhichreasontheyhavebeensharplyquestioned,andshakenbythecollar,sotospeak。NaythereisoneRath,aso—calledNoblemanofthoseparts,bynameSchlubhut,whohasbeenfoundactuallydefaulting;peculatingfromthatpioushoardintendedfortheSalzburgers:heisproved,andconfesses,tohaveputintohisownscandalouspursenolessthan11,000thalers,somesay30,000(almost5,000pounds),whichbelongedtothePublicTreasuryandtheSalzburgProtestants!Thesethings,especiallythislatterunheard—ofSchlubhutthing,theSupremeCourtatBerlin(CRIMINAL—COLLEGIUM)havebeensittingon,forsometime;and,inregardtoSchlubhut,theyhavebroughtoutaresult,whichFriedrichWilhelmnotalittleadmiresat。Schlubhutclearlyguiltyofthedefamation,saythey;buthehasmoneys,landedproperties:lethimrefund,principalandinterest;
andhave,say,threeorfouryears’imprisonment,bywayofmemento。"Years’imprisonment?Refund?Istheftinthehighestquartersathingtobeletoffforrefunding?"growlshisMajesty;
andwillnotconfirmthissentenceofhisCriminal—Collegium;
butleavesittillhegettothespot,andseewithhisowneyes。
Schlubhut,inarrestormildconfinementallthiswhile,oughttobebethinkinghimselfmorethanheis!
Onceonthespot,judgeiftheKonigsbergDomain—Kammerhadnotastiffmustertopass;especiallyifSchlubhut’sdrill—exercisewasgentle!Schlubhut,summonedtoprivateinterviewwithhisMajesty,carrieshisheadhigherthancouldbelookedfor:Isverysorry;
knowsnothowithappened;meantalwaystorefund;willrefund,tothelastpenny,andmakeallgood。——"Refund?DoesHe(ER)knowwhatstealingmeans,then?Howthecommonestconvictedprivatethieffindsthegallowshisportion;muchmoreapublicMagistrateconvictedoftheft?IsHeawarethatHe,inaveryespecialmanner,deserveshanging,then?"——Schlubhutlooksoffendeddignity;consciousofrank,ifalsoofquasi—theft:"ESISTNICHT
MANIER(itisnotthepolitething)tohangaPrussianNoblemanonthoselightterms!"answersSchlubhut,highmanneredatthewrongtime:"Icanandwillpaythemoneyback!"——NOBLE—man?Moneyback?
"IwillnoneofHisscoundrellymoney。"TostraitPrisonwiththisSCHURKE!——Andthitherhegoesaccordingly:unhappiestofmortals;
tobeconsciousofrank,notattherightplace,whenabouttostealthemoney,butatthewrong,whenansweringtoRhadamanthusonit!
Andthere,sureenough,Schlubhutlies,inhisprisonontheSCHLOSSPLATZ,orCastleSquare,ofKonigsberg,allnight;
andhears,closebytheDOMANEN—KAMMER,whichisinthesameSquare,DOMANEN—KAMMERwherehisOfficeusedtobe,aterriblesoundofcarpenteringgoon;——unhappiestofPrussianNoblemen。
Andinthemorning,see,ahighgallowsbuilt;closeinupontheDomain—Kammer,lookingintotheverywindowsofit;——andthere,sureenough,theunfortunateSchlubhutdiesthethief’sdeath,fewhourshence,speakingorthinkingwhat,nomanreportstome。
Deathwascertainforhim;inevitableasfate。Andsohevibratesthere,admonitorytotheotherRathsfordays,——somesayforweeks,——tillbyhumblepetitiontheygotthegallowsremoved。
Thestumpsofit,sawedclosebythestones,werelongaftervisibleinthatSchlossplatzofKonigsberg。Hereispromptjusticewithawitness!Didreaderseverhearofsuchathing?Thereisnodoubtaboutthefact,[Benekendorf(Anonymous),
KarakterzugeausdemLebenKonigFriedrichWilhelmI。
(Berlin,1788),vii。15—20;Forster(ii。268),&c。&c。]thoughinallPrussianBooksitislooselysmearedover,withouttheleastprecisionofdetail;anditwasnottillafterlongsearchingthatIcouldsomuchasgetitdated:July,1731,whileFriedrichCrown—PrinceisstillineclipseatCustrin,andsomesixweeksafterWilhelmina’sbetrothal。Andherefurthermore,directfromthethenSchlubhutprecincts,isastrayNote,meteorologicalchiefly;butworthpickingup,sinceitisauthentic。"Wehlau,"weobserve,isontheroadhomewardsagain,——onourreturnfromuttermostMemel,——aday’sjourneyhitherwardsofthatplace,halfaday’sthitherwardsofKonigsberg:——
"TUESDAY,10thJULY,1731。KingdiningwithGeneralDockumatWehlau,"——wherehehadbeenagainreviewing,foraboutfortyhours,allmannerofregimentsbroughttorendezvousthereforthepurpose,poor"GeneralKattewithhisregiment"amongthem;——KingatdinnerwithGeneralDockumafterallthat,"tooktheresolutiontobeofftoKonigsberg;andarrivedhereatthestrokeofmidnight,inadelugeofrain。"Thisbringsuswithinaday,ortwodays,ofSchlubhut’sdeath,Terrible"combatofBisons(URI,orAUEROCHSEN,withsuchmanes,suchheads),oftwowildBisonsagainstsixwildBears,"thenensued;andtheSchlubhuthumantragedy;Iknownotinwhatsequence,——ratherconjecturetheSchlubhuthadgoneFIRST。Pillau,roadtoDantzig,onthenarrowstripbetweentheFrischeHafandBaltic,isthenextstagehomewards;atPillau,GeneralFinkenstein(excellentoldTutoroftheCrown—Prince)isCommandant,andexpectshisrapidMajesty,dayandhourgiven,tomenotknown,Majestygoesinthreecarriages;OldDessauer,Grumkow,Seckendorf,Ginkelareamonghissuite;weatherstillveryelectric:——
"AtFischhausen,half—waytoPillau,Majestyhadaboutofelk—hunting;killedsixtyelks[Melton—Mowbraymayconsiderit],——
creaturesofthedeersort,nimbleasroes,butstrongasbulls,andfourpalmshigherthanthebiggesthorse,——totheastonishmentofSeckendorf,Ginkelandthestrangersthere。HalfanhourshortofPillau,furiouselectricityagain;thunder—boltshiveredanoak—treefifteenyardsfromMajesty’scarriage。AndatPillauitself,theBattalioninGarrisonthere,drawnoutinarms,byCountFinkenstein,toreceivehisMajesty[rainoverbythistime,wecanhope],hadsuddenlytorushforwardandtakenewground;
FrischeHaf,onsomepressurefromtheelements,havingsuddenlygushedout,twohundredpacesbeyonditsoldwatermarkinthatplace。"[SeeMauvillon,ii。293—297;——CORRECTINGbyFassmann,p。422。]
Pillau,Fischhausen,——thisiswheretheexcellentoldAdalbertstampedtheearthwithhislife"intheshapeofacrucifix"eighthundredyearsago:andthesearethenewphenomenathere!——
TheGeneralDockum,ColonelofDragoons,whomhisMajestydinedwithatWehlau,gothisdeathnotmanymonthsafter。OneofDockum’sDragoonLieutenantsfeltinsultedatsomething,anddemandedhisdischarge:dischargegiven,hechallengedDockum,duelofpistols,andshothimdead。[7thApril,1732
(Militair—Lexikon,i。365)。]NothingmoretobesaidofDockum,norofthatLieutenant,inmilitaryannals。
CASEOFTHECRIMINAL—COLLEGIUMITSELF。
AndthuswastheerroroftheCriminal—CollegiumrectifiedINRE
Schlubhut。Foritisnotinnameonly,butinfact,thatthisSovereignisSupremeJudge,andbearstheswordinGod’sstead,——
interferingnowandthen,whenneedis,inthisterriblemanner。
InthesamedimauthenticBenekendorf(himselfamemberoftheCriminal—Collegiuminlatertimes),andfromhiminalltheBooks,isrecordedanotherinterferencesomewhatinthecomicvein;
whichalsowemaygive。Undisputedfact,againtotallywithoutprecisionordetails;notevendatable,exceptthat,onstudy,weperceiveitmayhavebeenbeforethisSchlubhut’sexecution,andaftertheCriminal—Collegiumhadcommittedtheirerrorabouthim,——musthavebeenwhilethisofSchlubhutwasstillvividlyinmind;Hereistheunprecisebutindubitablefact,asthePrussianDryasdusthasleftushissmearofit:——
"Onemorningearly"(mightbebeforeSchlubhutwashanged,andwhileonlysentenceofimprisonmentandrestitutionlayonhim),GeneralGrafvonDonhof,ColonelofaMusketeerRegiment,favoriteoldsoldier,——whodidvoteonthemildsideinthatCourt—MartialontheCrown—Princelately;butIhopehasbeenforgivenbyhisMajesty,beingmuchesteemedbyhimtheselongyearspast;——thisDonhof,earlyonemorning,callsupontheKing,withagrimlylamentingair。"Whatiswrong,HerrGeneral?"——"YourMajesty,mybestmusketeer,anexcellentsoldier,andofgoodinches,fellintoamistakelately,——badcompanygettingroundthepoorfellow;
they,heamongthem,sliptintoahouseandstolesomething;
trifleandwithoutviolence:payisbutthreehalfpence,yourMajesty,andtheDeviltemptsmen!Well,theCriminal—Collegiumhavecondemnedhimtobehanged;anexcellentsoldierandofgoodinches,forthatonefault。NoblemanSchlubhutwas’tomakerestitution,’theydecreed:thatwastheirdecreeonSchlubhut,oneoftheirownset;andthispoorsoldier,sixfeetthree,yourMajesty,istodanceonthetopofnothingforathree—halfpennymatter!"——SowouldDonhofrepresentthething,——"factbeing,"saysmyDryasdust,"itwasacaseofhouse—breakingwiththefttothevalueof6,000thalersandthismusketeertheringleader!"——Well;
butwasSchlubhutsentencedtohanging?Doyoukeeptwoweightsandtwomeasures,inthatCriminal—Collegiumofyours,then?
FriedrichWilhelmfeelsthissadcontrastverymuch;themore,asthesoldierishisownchattelwithal,andofsuperlativeinches:
FriedrichWilhelmflamesupintowrath;sendsoffswiftmessengerstobringtheseJudges,oneandallinstantlyintohispresence。
TheJudgesarestillintheirdressing—gowns,shaving,breakfasting;theymakewhathastetheycan。Sosoonasthefirstthreeorfourarereportedtobeintheanteroom,FriedrichWilhelm,inextremeimpatiencehasthemcalledin;
startsdiscoursingwiththemuponthetwoweightsandtwomeasures。Apologies,subterfugesdobutprovokehimfarther;itisnotlongtillhestartsup,growlingterribly:"IHRSCHURKEN(YeScoundrels),howcouldyou?"andsmitesdownuponthecrownsofthemwiththeRoyalCudgelitself。Fancythehurry—scurry,theunforensicattitudesandpleadings!RoyalCudgelrainsblows,rightandleft:bloodisdrawn,crownscracked,crownsnearlybroken;and"severalJudgeslostafewteeth,andhadtheirnosesbattered,"beforetheycouldgetout。Thesecondrelaymeetingtheminthisdilapidatedstate,onthestaircases,dashedhomeagainwithoutthehonorofaRoyaIinterview。[Benekendorf,vii。
33;Forster,ii。270。]Letthemlearntokeeponebalance,andonesetofweights,intheirLaw—Courthenceforth。——Thisisanactualscene,ofdateBerlin,1731,orthereby;unusualintheannalsofThemis。Ofwhichnoconstitutionalcountrycanhopetoseethefellow,weretheneedneversopressing。——IwishhisMajestyhadbeenathoughtmoreequal,whenhewassorhadamanthine!
Schlubhuthehanged,SchlubhutbeingonlySchlubhut’schattel;
thismusketeer,hisMajesty’sownchattel,hedidnothang,butsethimshoulderingarmsagain,aftersomepreliminarydusting!——
HisMajestywasalwaysexcessivelysevereondefalcations;
anyChancellor,withhisExchequer—billsgonewrong,wouldhavefaredillinthatcountry。OneTreasurydignitary,namedWilke(whohad"dealtintallrecruits,"asakindofby—trade,andplayedfoulinsomeslightmeasure),theKingwasclearforhanging;hispoorWifegallopedtoPotsdam,shriekingmercy;
uponwhichFriedrichWilhelmhadhimwhiptbythehangman,andstuckforlifeintoSpandau。Stillmoretragical——waspoorHesse’scase。Hesse,somedomainRathoutatKonigsberg,concernedwithmoneys,wasfoundwithaccount—booksinastateofconfusion,andseveralthousandsshort,whentheoutcomewasclearedup。Whathasbecomeofthesethousands,Sir?PooroldHessecouldnottell:
"Godismywitness,nopennyofthemeyerstucktome,"
asseveratedpooroldHesse;"butwheretheyare——?
Myaccount—booksareinsuchastate;——alas,andmypooroldmemoryisnotwhatitwas!"TheybroughthimtoBerlin;intheendtheyactuallyhangedthepooroldsoul;——andthenafterwardsinhisdustylumber—rooms,hiddeninpots,stuffedintothisnookandthat,mostorallofthemoneywasfound![Forster(ii。269),&c。
&c。]Dateanddocumentexistforallthesecases,thoughmyDryasdustgivesnone;andthecasesareindubitable;
veryrhadamanthineindeed。Thesoftqualityofmercy,——ah,yes,itisbeautifulandblessed,whenpermissible(thoughthrice—accursed,whennot):butitisonthehardqualityofjustice,firstofall,thatEmpiresarebuiltup,andbeneficentandlastingthingsbecomeachievabletomankind,inthisworld!——
SKIPPERJENKINSINTHEGULFOFFLORIDA。
AcoupleofweeksbeforeSchlubhut’sdeath,theEnglishNewspapersaresomewhatastir,——inthewayofnarrativemerely,asyet。
ShipRebecca,CaptainRobertJenkinsMaster,hasarrivedinthePortofLondon,withastrangestoryinherlog—book。Ofwhich,afterduesifting,thisisaccuratelythesubstance:——
"LONDON,23d—27thJUNE,1731。CaptainJenkinsleftthisPortwiththeRebecca,severalmonthsago;sailedtoJamaica,foracargoofsugar。HetookinhiscargoatJamaica;puttoseaagain,6thApril,1731,andproceededontheVoyagehomewards;
withindifferentwindsforthefirstfortnight。April20th,withnowindornonethatwouldsuit,hewashangingaboutintheentranceoftheGulfofFlorida,notfarfromtheHavana,"——almosttoonearit,Ishouldthink;butthesebafflingwinds!——"notfarfromtheHavana,whenaSpanishGuarda—Costahoveinsight;
camedownonJenkins,andfuriouslyboardedhim:’Scoundrel,whatdoYOUwant;contrabandingintheseseas?Jamaica,sayyou?Sugar?
Likely!Letusseeyourlogwood,hides,Spanishpieces—of—eight!’
AndbrokeinuponJenkins,shipandperson,inamostextraorinarymanner。Toreuphishatches;plungeddown,seekinglogwood,hides,pieces—of—eight;foundnone,——nottheleasttraceofcontrabandonboardofJenkins。Theybroughtuphisquadrants,sextants,however;likewisehisstockoftallowcandles:theyshookandrummagedhim,andallthings,forpieces—of—eight;furiouslyadvisedhim,cutlassinhand,toconfessguilt。TheyslashedtheheadofJenkins,hisleftearalmostoff。Orderhadbeengiven,’Scalphim!’——butashehadnohair,theyomittedthat;
merelybroughtawaythewig,andslashed:——stillnoconfession,noranypieces—of—eight。Theyhunghimuptotheyard—arm,——actualneck—halter,butitseemstohavebeentarry,anddidnotrun:——
stillnoconfession。Theyhoistedhimhigher,tiedhiscabin—boytohisfeet;neck—halterthenbecameawfullystringentuponJenkins;hadnotthecabin—boy(withoutheadtospeakof)sliptthrough,noosebeingtarry;whichwasasensiblerelieftoJenkins。Beforeverydeath,theyloweredJenkins,’Confess,scoundrel,then!’Scoundrelcouldnotconfess;spokeof’BritishMajesty’sflag,peaceableEnglishsubjectonthehighseas。’——
’BritishMajesty;highseas!’answeredthey,andagainhoisted。
ThriceovertheytriedJenkinsinthismannerattheyard—arm,oncewithcabin—boyathisfeet:neverhadmansuchaday,outrageouswhiskerandocut—throatstossinghimabout,hispoorRebeccaandhim,atsuchrate!Sungettinglow,andnottheleasttraceofcontrabandfound,theymadealastassaultonJenkins;
clutchedthebloodyslitearofhim;toreitmercilesslyoff;
flungitinhisface,’CarrythattoyourKing,andtellhimofit!’Thenwenttheirway;takingJenkins’stallowcandles,andthebestofhissextantswiththem;sothathecouldhardlyworkhispassagehomeagain,forwantoflatitudes;——andhaslostingoods112pounds,nottospeakofhisear。Strictlytrueallthis;
ship’scompany,ifrequired,willtestifyontheiroath。"[DailyJournal(andtheotherLondonNewspapers),12th—17thJune(o。s。),1731。Coxe’sWalpole,i。579,560
(indistinct,andneedingcorrection)。]
Thesesurelyaresingularfacts;calculatedtoawakenamaritimepubliccarefulofitshonor。Whichtheydid,——afterabouteightyears,asthereaderwillsee!Forthepresent,therearegrowlingsinthecoffee—houses;and,"THURSDAY,28thJUNE,"saytheNewspapers,"ThisdayCaptainJenkinswithhisOwners,"earinhispocket,Ihope,"wentouttoHamptonCourttolaythematterbeforehisGraceofNewcastle:""PleaseyourGrace,itishardlythreemonthssincetheillustriousTreatyofViennawassigned;
DutchandweleadingintheTermagantofSpain,andnothingbuthalcyonweathertobelookedforonthatside!"GraceofNewcastle,anxioustoavoidtroublewithSpain,answersIcanonlyfancywhat;andnothingwasdoneuponJenkinsandhisear;
["TheSpaniardsowntheydidawittything,Whocroptourears,andsentthemtotheKing。"
POPE(datenotgivenme)。]
——may"keepitincotton,"ifhelike;shallhave"abettership"
forsomesolacement。ThisisthefirstemergenceofJenkinsandhisearuponnegligentmankind。Heanditwillmarvellouslyre—emerge,oneday!——
BABYCARLOSGETSHISAPANAGE。
ButinregardtothatTreatyofVienna,seventhandlastofthetravail—throesforBabyCarlos’sApanage,letthetooobliviousreaderacceptthefollowingExtract,tokeephimonalevelwithPublic"Events,"astheyarepleasedtodenominatethemselves:——
"BythatdreadfulTreatyofSeville,CardinalFleuryandtheSpaniardsshouldhavejoinedwithEngland,andcoercedtheKaiserVIETARMIStoadmitSpanishGarrisons[insteadofneutral]intoParmaandPiacenza,andsosecureBabyCarloshisheritagethere,whichallNaturewasintravailtillhegot。’WarinItalytoacertainty!’saidalltheNewspapers,afterSeville:
andCrown—PrinceFriedrich,wesaw,wasrunningofftohaveastrokeinsaidWar;——inevitable,astheKaiserstillobstinatelyrefused。AndtheEnglish,andgreatGeorgetheirKing,wereready。
Nevertheless,noWarcame。OldFleury,notwantingwar,wantingonlytofishoutsomethingusefulforhimself,——Lorrainehowwelcome,andindeedthesmallestcontributionsarewelcome!——
OldFleurymanoeuvred,hungback;tilltheSpaniardsandTermagantElizabethlostallpatience,andtheveryEnglishwereweary,andgettingauspicious。WhereupontheKaiseredgedroundtotheSea—Powersagain,ortheytohim;andcomfortableAS—YOU—WEREwasgotaccomplished:muchtothejoyofFriedrichWilhelmandothers。
Herearesomeofthedatestothesesublimephenomena:
"MARCH16th,1731,TreatyofVienna,EnglandandtheKaisercoalescingagainintocomfortableAS—YOU—WERE。TreatydonebyRobinson[SirThomas,ultimatelyEarlofGrantham,whomweshalloftenhearofintimecoming];wasconfirmedandenlargedbyakindofsecondedition,22dJuly,1731;Dutchjoining,Spainitselfacceding,andallbeingnowright。Whichcouldhardlyhavebeenexpected。
"ForbeforethefirsteditionofthatTreaty,andwhileRobinsonatViennawasstilllaboringlikeHerculesinit,——thepoorDukeofParmadied。Died;andnovestigeofa’SpanishGarrison’yetthere,toinductBabyCarlosaccordingtooldbargain。Onthecontrary,theKaiserhimselftookpossession,——’tilloncetheDuke’sWidow,whodeclaresherselfinthefamily—way,bebroughttobed!IfofaSon,ofcoursehemusthavetheDuchies;ifofaDaughteronly,thenCarlosSHALLgetthem,letnotRobinsonfear。’
Theduemonthsran,butneithersonnordaughtercame;andtheTreatyofVienna,firsteditionandalsosecond,wassigned;
and,"OCTOBER20th,1731,SpanishGarrisons,nolongeranhypothesis,butabodilyfact,6,000strong,’convoyedbytheBritishFleet,’
cameintoLeghorn,andproceededtolodgethemselvesinthelong—litigatedParmaandPiacenza;——and,infine,thedayafterChristmas,blessedbeHeaven,"DECEMBER26th,BabyCarlosinhighestpersoncamein:
BabyCarlos(morepowertohim!)gottheDuchies,andwehopetherewasanend。Noyounggentlemaneverhadsuchapothertomakeamonghisfellow—creaturesaboutalittleheritableproperty。
IfBabyCarlos’sperformanceinitbeanythinginproportion,hewillbeasupereminentsovereign!——
"ThereisstillsomehaggleaboutTuscany,theDukeofwhichisoldandheirless;LastoftheMedici,asheproved。BabyCarloswouldmuchliketohaveTuscanytoo;butthatisaFiefoftheEmpire,andmighteasilybebetterdisposedof,thinkstheKaiser。
Amoreorlessuncertainpoint,thatofTuscany;asmanypointsare!LastoftheMedicicomplained,inapolitemanner,thattheywerepartinghisclothesbeforehehadputthemoff:however,havingnostrength,hedidnotattemptresistance,butpolitelycomposedhimself,’Well,then!’[Scholl,ii。219—221;Coxe’sWalpole,i。346;Coxe’sHouseofAustria(London,1854),iii。151。]DoreadersneedtobeinformedthatthissameBabyCarloscametobeKingofNaples,andevenultimatelytobeCarlosIII。ofSpain,leavingayoungerSontobeKingofNaples,ancestorofthenowMajestythere?"
Andthus,aftersuchDiplomaticearthquakesandtravailofNature,thereisatlastbirth;theSeventhTravail—throehasbeensuccessful,insomemeasuresuccessful。HereactuallyisBabyCarlos’sApanage;thereprobably,byfavorofHeavenandoftheSea—Powers,willtheKaiser’sPragmaticSanctionbe,oneday。
TreatyofSeville,mostimminentofallthosedreadfulImminenciesofWar,haspassedoffastheyalldid;peaceablyadjustsitselfintoTreatyofVienna:ATermagant,asitwere,sated;aKaiserhopefultobeso,PragmaticSanctionandall:fortheSea—Powersandeverybodymerehalcyonweatherhenceforth,——notextendingtotheGulfofFloridaandCaptainJenkins,aswouldseem!Robinson,whodidthething,——anexpertman,bredtobusinessasoldHoraceWalpole’sSecretary,atSoissonsandelsewhere,andnowcometoactonhisownscore,——regardsthisTreatyofVienna(whichindeedhaditsmultiformdifficulties)asathingtoimmortalizeaman。
Crown—Princehas,longsince,byPapa’sorder,writtentotheKaiser,tothankImperialMajestyforthatbeneficentintercession,whichhasprovedthesavingofhislife,asPapainculcates。WemustnowseealittlehowthesavedCrown—Princeisgettingon,inhiseclipsedstate,amongtheDomainSciencesatCustrin。
ChapterV。
INTERVIEWOFMAJESTYANDCROWN—PRINCEATCUSTRIN。
EversincetheendofNovemberlastyear,Crown—PrinceFriedrich,intheeclipsedstate,atCustrin,hasbeenprosecutinghisprobationarycourse,intheDomainSciencesandotherwise,withallthepatience,diligenceanddexterityhecould。Itisfalse,whatonereadsinsomefoolishBooks,thatFriedrichneglectedthefunctionsassignedhimasassessorintheKRIEGS—UND
DOMANEN—KAMMER。Thatwouldnothavebeenthesafecourseforhim!
Thetruthstillevidentis,hesethimselfwithdiligencetolearntheFriedrich—WilhelmmethodsofadministeringDomains,andtheartofFinanceingeneral,especiallyofPrussianFinance,thebestextantthenorsince;——Finance,Police,AdministrativeBusiness;——andprofitedwellbytheRathsappointedastutorstohim,intherespectivebranches。OneHillewashisFinance—tutor;
whose"KOMPENDIUM,"drawnupandmadeuseofonthisoccasion,hasbeenprintedinourtime;andissaidtobe,inbriefcompass,ahighlyinstructivePiece;throwingclearlightontheexemplaryFriedrich—Wilhelmmethods。[Preuss,i。59n。]ThesethePrincedidactuallylearn;andalsopractise,allhislife,——"essentiallyfollowinghisFather’smethods,"saytheAuthorities,——withgreatadvantagetohimself,whenthetimecame。
SolidNicolaihunteddiligentlyaftertracesofhimintheAssessorbusinesshere;andfoundsome:OrderfromPapa,to"makeReport,upontheGlass—worksoftheNeumark:"AutographsignaturestocommonReports,oneortwo;andsometraditionsofhishavinghadahandinplanningcertainFarm—Buildingsstillstandinginthoseparts:——butastheKammerRecordsofCustrin,andCustrinitself,wereutterlyburntbytheRussiansin1758,suchtraceshadmostlyvanishedthirtyyearsbeforeNicolai’stime。
[Nicolai,Anekdoten,vi。193。]Enoughhaveturnedupsince,intheformofCorrespondencewiththeKingandotherwise:anditiscertaintheCrown—PrincedidplanFarm—Buildings;——"bothCarzigandHimmelstadt(CarzignowcalledFRIEDRICHSFELDEinconsequence),"[SeeMap]dimmossySteadings,whichpiousAntiquarianismcanpilgrimtoifitlikes,werebuiltorrebuiltbyhim:——anditisremarkablewithalhowthoroughlyinstructedFriedrichWilhelmshowshimselfinsuchmatters;
andhowpaternallydelightedtoreceivesuchproposalsofimprovementintroducibleatthesaidCarzigandHimmelstadt,andtofindyoungGracelesssodiligent,andhisideasevengood。
Forster,ii。390,387,391。]Perhapsamomentaryglanceintothoseaffairsmaybepermittedfartheron。
ThePrince’slife,inthishiseclipsedstate,isoneofconstraint,anxiety,continualliability;butafterthefirstmonthsarewellover,itbeginstobemoresupportablethanweshouldthink。HeisfixedtothelittleTown;cannotbeabsentanynight,withoutleavefromtheCommandant;which,however,andthevarioussimilarrestrictions,aremoreformalthanreal。
AnamiableCrown—Prince,nosoulinCustrinbutwouldrunbynightorbydaytoservehim。Hedrivesandridesabout,inthatgreenpeatycountry,onDomainbusiness,onvisits,onpermissibleamusement,prettymuchathisownmodestdiscretion。Agreenflatregion,madeofpeatandsand;humanindustryneedingtobealwaysbusyonit:raisedcausewayswithincessantbridges,blacksedgyditchonthishandandthat;manymeres,muddypools,stagnantorflowingwaterseverywhere;bigmuddyOder,ofyellowish—drabcolor,comingfromthesouth,bigblackWarta(Warthe)fromthePolishfensintheeast,theblackandyellowrefusingtomingleforsomemiles。Nothingofthepicturesqueinthiscountry;butagooddealoftheuseful,oftheimprovablebyeconomicscience;
andmoreoffineproductionsinit,too,ofthefloral,andstillmoreinterestingsorts,thanyouwouldsuspectatfirstsight。
Friedrich’sworstpinchwashisdreadfulstraitnessofincome;
checkingone’snobletendenciesoneveryhand:butthegentryofthedistrictprivatelysubscribedgiftsforhim(SECOTISIRENT,saysWilhelmina);andonewayandotherhecontrivedtomakeendsmeet。Munchow,hisPresidentintheKammer,nexttowhomsitsFriedrich,"King’splacestandingalwaysreadybutemptythere,"
isheartilyhisfriend;theMunchowsarediligentingettingupballs,ruralgayeties,forhim;sotheHilles,——nayHille,severeFinanceTutor,hasaMamsellHillewhomitispleasanttodancewith;[Preuss,i。59。]norindeedisshetheonlyfascinatingspecimen,orflowerofloveliness,inthosepeatyregions,asweshallsee。Onthewhole,hisRoyalHighness,afterthefirstparoxysmsofRoyalsuspicionareover,andforgivenessbeginningtoseempossibletotheRoyalmind,hasasupportabletimeofit;
andpossesseshissoulinpatience,inactivityandhope。