InNo。3thereismentionlikewiseofthe"KurfurstofKoln,"——
ElectorofCologne;languidlankygentlemanofBavarianbreed,whomwesawlastyearatBonn,richestPluralistoftheChurch;
whomdoubtlessourpoorreadershaveforgottenagain。Mentionofhim;andalsoconsiderablesulkyhumor,oftheMajesty’s—Oppositionkind,onSchulenburg’spart;forwhichreason,andgenerallyasapoordirectreflexoftimeandplace,——
reflexbyruffledbog—water,throughsedges,andintwilight;
dimbutindubitable,——wegivetheLetter,thoughthePrinceislittlespokenofinit:——
No。3。TOTHEEXCELLENCYGRUMKOW(asabove),INBERLIN。
"LANDSBERG,22dOctober(Monday),1731。
"MONSIEUR,——ItrustyourExcellencymadeyourjourneytoCrossenwithallthesatisfactionimaginable。HadIbeenwarnedsooner,I
wouldhavecome;notonlytoseetheKing,butforyourExcellency’ssakeandTruchsess’s:butIreceivedyourExcellency’sLetteronlyyesterdaymorning;soIcouldnothavearrivedbeforeyesternight,andthatlate;foritisfiftymilesoff,andonehastosendrelaysbeforehand;therebeingnopost—horsesonthatroad。
"Weare,——nottomakecomparisons,——likeHarlequin!Nosooneroutofonescrape,thanwegetintoanother;andallforthesakeofthoseBigBlockheads(L’AMOURDECESGRANDSCOLOSSES)。WhattheKurfurstofKolnhasdone,inhischaracterofBishopofOsnabruck,"——adeednotknowntothisEditor,butclearlyinthewayofsnubbingourrecruitingsystem,——"istoodroll:butifweavengeourselves,therewillbehighplay,andplentyofit,allroundourborders!Ifsuchthingswouldmakeanyimpressiononthespirit,ofourMaster:buttheydonot;they"——inshort,thisrecruitingsystemisdelirious,thinksthestiffSchulenburg;
andscruplesnottosayso,thoughnotinhisplaceinParliament,orevenTobacco—Parliament。ForthereisaMajesty’sOppositioninalllandsandtimes。"WeruintheCountry,"saystheHonorableMember,"sendingannuallymillionsofmoneyoutofit,forasetofvagabondfellows(GENSASACETACORDE),whowillneverdoustheleastservice。OneseesclearlyitisthehandofGod,"
darkeningsomepeople’sunderstanding;"otherwiseitmightbepossibletheireyeswouldopen,onetimeoranother!"——Astiffpipe—clayedgentlemanofgreatwisdom,withplentyofsulphurburningintheheartofhim。TherestofhisLetterisallintheOppositionstrain(almostasiffromhisplaceinParliament,onlyfarbrieferthanisusual"withinthesewalls");andwindsupwithaglanceatVictorAmadeus’sstrangefeat,orratherattheSon’sfeatdoneuponVictor,overinSardinia;precededbythisinterjectionarysentenceonaPrincenearerhome:——
"AstothePrince—Royal,dependonithewilldowhateverisrequiredofhim[marryanybodyyoulike&c。],ifyougivehimmoreelbow—room,forthatiswhitherheaims。——Notabadstrokethat,oftheKingofSardinia"——Grandnewsoftheday,atthattime;
nowsomewhatforgotten,andrequiringawordfromus:
OldKingVictorAmadeusofSardiniahadsolemnlyabdicatedinfavorofhisSon;went,foratwelvemonthormore,intoprivatefelicitywithanelderlyLady—lovewhomhehadlongesteemedthefirstofwomen;——tiredofsuchfelicity,afteratwelvemonth;
demandedhiscrownback,andcouldnotgetit!Lady—loveandhearetakenprisoners;lodgedinseparatecastles:[2dSeptember,1730abdicated,wenttoChambery;reclaims,islockedinRivoli,8thOctober,1731(newsofitjustcometoSchulenburg);
diesthere,31stOctober,1732,his67thyear。]andthewrathoftheproudoldgentlemanisOlympianincharacter,——splitanoaktable,smitingitwhilehespoke(saythecicerones);——andhissilence,andthefierydaggershelooks,arestillmoreemphatic。
Buttheyoungfellowholdsout;youcannotplayhandy—dandywithaking’scrown,yourMajesty!sayhisnewMinisters。IsandwillcontinueKing。"Notabadstrokeofhim,"thinksSchulenburg,——
——"especiallyifhisFathermeanttoplayhimthesametrick,"
thatis,claphiminprison。Notabadstroke;——whichperhapsthereisanotherthatcouldimitate,"ifHISPapagavehimtheopportunity!ButTHISPapawilltakegoodcare;andtheQueenwillnotforgettheSardinianbusiness,whenhetalksagainofabdicating,"ashedoeswheninill—humor。——
"ButnowhadnotwebetterhavebeenfriendswithEngland,shouldwarriseuponthatSardinianbusiness?GeneralSchulenburg,"——thefamedVenetianField—marshal,bruiseroftheTurksinCandia,[SamewhowasbeatenbyCharlesXII。before;aworthysoldiernevertheless,saytheAuthorities:LIFEofhimbyVarnhagenvonEnse(BiographischeDenkmale,Berlin,1845)。]myhonoredUncle,whosometimesusedtovisithisSistertheMaypole,nowEMERITA,inLondon,andsipbeerandtaketobaccoonanevening,withGeorgeI。offamousmemory,——healso"writesmethisVictor—Amadeusnews,fromParis;"sothatitiscertain;
Ex—KinglockedinRivolinearafortnightago:"he,GeneralSchulenburg,saysfarther,Tojudgebytheoutside,allappearsveryquiet;butmanythink,atthebottomofthebagitwillnotbethesame。"——
"Iam,withrespect,"yourExcellency’smuchinbuckram,"LECOMTEDESCHOULENBOURG。"
[Forster,iii。73—75。]
SofarLieutenant—GeneralSchulenburg;whomwethankforthesecontemporaryglimpsesofayoungmanthathasbecomehistorical,andofthescenehelivedin。Andwiththesethreeaccidentalutterances,asifthey(whicharealoneleft)hadbeenthesumofallhesaidintheworld,lettheLieutenant—Generalwithdrawnowintosilence:hewillturnuptwiceagain,afterhalfascoreofyears,onceinanoblerthantalkingattitude,theclose—harnessed,stalwart,slightlyatrabiliarmilitarygentlemanoftheoldPrussianschool。
TheseglimpsesoftheCrown—Prince,reflectedonusinthismanner,arenotveryluculenttothereader,——lightbeingindifferent,andmirrornoneofthebest:——butsomefeaturesdogleamforth,goodandnotsogood;which,withotherscoming,maygraduallycoalesceintosomethingconceivable。APrinceclearlyofmuchspirit,andnotwithoutpetulance;abundantfire,muchofitshiningandburningirregularlyatpresent;beingsorehelddownfromwithout,andanomalouslysituated。Prideenough,thinksSchulenburg,capriciouspetulanceenough,——likelytogointo"areignofthepassions,"ifwelive。Aswillbeseen!——
WilhelminawasbetrothedinJunelast:Wilhelmina,aBridethesesixmonths,continuestobemuchtormentedbyMamma。ButtheBridegroom,PrinceofBaireuth,isgraduallyrecommendinghimselftopersonsofjudgment,toWilhelminaamongothers。Onedayhenarrowlymissedanunheard—ofaccident:afoolishservant,atsomeboar—hunt,gavehimaloadedpieceonthehalf—cock;half—cockslippedinthehandling;bulletgrazedhisMajesty’sverytemple,wasfelttwitchingthehairthere;——yeHeavens!WhereuponimpertinentremarksfromsomeoftheDessaupeople(alliesofSchwedtandtheMargravineinhighcolors);whichwerewellansweredbythePrince,andnoiselesslybutseverelycheckedbyawell—bredKing。[Wilhelmina,i。356。]KinghasgiventhePrinceofBaireutharegiment;andlikeshimtolerably,thoughtheyoungmanwillnotalwaysdrinkascouldbewished。Wedding,inspiteofcloudsfromherMajesty,iscomingsteadilyon。
HISMAJESTY’SBUILDINGOPERATIONS。
"Thisyear,"saysFassmann,"thebuildingoperationsbothinBerlinandStettin,"——inStettinwherenewfortificationsarecompleted,inBerlinwheregraduallywholenewquartersaregettingbuilt,——"wereexceedinglypushedforward(AUSSERST
POUSSIRT)。"Alas,yes;thistooisaquestionablememorablefeatureofhisMajesty’sreign。LateMajesty,oldKingFriedrichI。,wishful,——asothershadbeen,forthegrowthofBerlin,laidoutanewQuarter,andcalleditFriedrichsStadt;scraggyboggyground,plannedoutintostreets,FriedrichsStrassethechiefstreet,withhereandthereahousestandinglonesomelypropheticonit。ButitisthispresentMajesty,FriedrichWilhelm,thatgetstheplanexecuted,andtheFriedrichsStrasseactuallybuilt,notalwaysinasoftorspontaneousmanner。FriedrichWilhelmwastheAEdileofhisCountry,aswellastheDrill—sergeant;
BerlinCitydidnotriseofitsownaccord,orontheprincipleofleave—alone,anymorethanthePrussianArmyitself。WreckandrubbishFriedrichWilhelmwillnotleavealone,inanykind;
butisintentbyallchancestosweepthemfromthefaceoftheEarth,thatsomethinguseful,seemlytotheRoyalmind,maystandthereinstead。HencethesebuildingoperationsintheFriedrichStreetandelsewhere,so"exceedinglypushedforward。"
Thenumberofscraggywasteplaceshesweptclear,firstandlast,andbuilttighthumandwellingsupon,isalmostuncountable。
Acommongiftfromhim(asfromhisSonafterhim)toamaninfavor,wasthatofanewgoodHouse,——anexcellentgift。Orifthemanishimselfabletobuild,Majestywillhelphim,incitehim:
"Timberenoughisintheroyalforests;stone,limeareintheroyalquarries;scraggywasteisabundant:whyshouldanyman,oftheleastindustryorprivatecapital,liveinabadhouse?"
Bydegrees,thepressureofhisMajestyuponprivatementobuildwithencouragementbecameconsiderable,becameexcessive,irresistible;andwasmuchcomplainedof,intheseyearsnowcome。
OldColonelDerschauistheKing’sAgent,atBerlin,inthismatter;ahardstiffman;squeezesmen,allmannerofmenwiththeleastcapital,tilltheybuild。
Nussler,forexample,whomweoncesawatHanover,managingacertaincontestedHeritageforFriedrichWilhelm;adroitNussler,thoughhehasyetgotnofixedappointment,norpayexceptbythejob,isurgedtobuild;——secondyearhence,1733,occursthecaseofNussler,andiscopiouslydweltuponbyBuschinghisbiographer:"BuildyourselfahouseintheFriedrichsStrasse!"
urgesDerschau。"ButIhavenopay,nocapital!"pleadsNussler。——
"Tush,yourFather—in—law,abstruseKanzlervonLudwig,inHalleUniversity,monsteroflaw—learningthere,isnotheamonsterofhoardedmoneyswithal?Hewilllendyou,forhisownandhisDaughter’ssake。[Busching,Beitrage,
i。324。]OrshallhisMajestycompelhim?"urgesDerschau。
Andslowly,continuallyturnsthescrewuponNussler,tillhetooraisesforhimselfafirmgoodhouseintheFriedrichsStadt,——
FriedrichsStrasse,orSTREET,astheynowcallit,whichtheTouristofthesedaysknows。SubstantialclearashlarStreet,milesorhalf—mileslong;straightasaline:——FriedrichWilhelmfounditscragandquagmire;andleftitwhattheTouristsees,bythesehardmethods。ThusHerrPrivy—CouncillorKlinggraftoo,Nussler’snextneighbor:hedidnotwanttobuild;farfromit;
butwasobliged,onworsetermsthanNussler。Youhavesuchwork,foundingyourhouse;——fortheNussler—Klinggrafspotwasafish—pool,and"carpsweredugup"infounding;——suchpiles,boundplatformofsolidbeams;"4,000thalersgonebeforethefirststoneislaid:"and,infact,thehousemustbebuilthonestly,oritwillbeworseforthehouseandyou。"Costme12,000thalers(l,800pounds)inall,andisworthperhaps2,000!"sorrowfullyejaculatesNussler,whenthejobisover。StillworsewithPrivy—CouncillorKlinggraf:hishouse,thenexttoNussler’s,isworthmerenothingtohimwhenbuilt;asoap—boileroffershim800
thalers(120pounds)forit;andNussler,toavoidsuffocation,purchasesithimselfofKlinggrafforthatsum。Derschau,withhisslowscrew—machinery,isveryformidable;——andBuschingknowsitforafact,"thatrespectableBerlinpersonsusedtorunoutofthewayofBurgermeisterKochandhim,wheneitherofthemturneduponthestreets!"
Thesethingswereheavytobear。Truly,yes;whereisthelibertyofprivatecapitalorlibertyofalmostanykind,onthoseterms?
LibertytoANNIHILATErubbishandchaos,underknownconditions,youmayhave;butnottheleastlibertytokeepthemaboutyou,thoughneversofondofdoingit!Whatshallwesay?NusslerandtheSoap—boilerdobothliveinhousesmorehumanthantheyoncehad。Berlinitself,andsomeotherthings,didnotspringfromFree—trade。BerlinCitywould,tothisday,havebeenaPlaceofSCRUBS("theBERLIN,"amereappellativenountothateffect),hadFree—tradealwaysbeentherulethere。IamsorryhisMajestytransgressesthelimits;——andwe,myfriends,ifwecanmakeourChaosintoCosmosbyfiringParliamentaryeloquenceintoit,andbombardingitwithBlue—Books,wewillmuchtriumphoverhisMajesty,oneday!——
Thusarethebuildingoperationsexceedinglypushedforward,theEarofJenkinstornoff,andVictorAmadeuslockedinward,whileourCrown—Prince,intheeclipsedstate,isinspectedbyaSageinpipe—clay,andWilhelmina’sweddingiscomingon。
ChapterVI。
WILHELMINA’SWEDDING。
Tuesday,20thNovember,1731,Wilhelmina’swedding—dayarrived,afterabrideshipofeightmonths;andthatyoungLady’stroublesomeromance,morehappilythanmighthavebeenexpected,didatlastwinditselfup。Mamma’sunreasonablehumorscontinued,moreorless;butthesealsomustnowend。Oldwooersandoutlooks,"thefourorthreecrownedheads,"——theyliefaroverthehorizon;fadedoutofone’sverythoughts,allthese。
CharlesXII。,PeterII。aredead;Weissenfelsisnot,butmightaswellbe。PrinceFred,notyetweddedelsewhere,isdoingFrenchmadrigalsinLeicesterHouse;tendingfowardsthe"WestWickham"
setofPoliticians,thePitt—Lytteltonset;standsillwithFatherandMother,andwillnotcometomuch。AugusttheDilapidated—StrongisdeepinPolishtroubles,inAnti—Kaiserpolitics,indrinking—bouts;——hisgreat—toenevermended,neverwillmend。Gonetothespectralstateallthese:here,bloomingwithlifeinitscheeks,istheonepracticalFact,ourgoodHereditaryPrinceofBaireuth,——privatelyourfateallalong;——
whichwewillwelcomecheerfully;andbethankfultoHeaventhatwehavenotdiedingettingitdecidedforus!——
Weddingwasofgreatmagnificence;BerlinPalaceandallthingsandcreaturesattheirbrightest:theBrunswick—Bevernshere,andotherhighGuests;noendofpompousceremonials,solemnitiesandsplendors,——theverytrainofone’sgownwas"twelveyardslong。"
Eschewingallwhich,thereadershallcommodiouslyconceiveitall,bytwosampleswehavepickedoutforhim:onesampleofaPerson,highGuestpresent;oneofanApartmentwherethesublimitieswenton。
TheDuchessDowagerofSachsen—Meiningen,whohascometohonorusonthisoccasion,averylargeLady,vergingtowardssixty;sheistheperson。AlivingelderlyDaughteroftheGreatElectorhimself;half—sistertothelateKing,half—aunttoFriedrichWilhelm;widownowofherthirdhusband:asingularphenomenontolookupon,foramoment,throughWilhelmina’ssatiricalspectacles。Oneofherthreehusbands,"ChristianErnstofBaireuth"(Margrafthere,whilethepresentLinewasbutexpectant),hadbeenakindofWelsh—UncletothePrincenowBridegroom;sothatshehasadoublerighttobehere。"ShehadfoundthesecretoftotallyruiningBaireuth,"saysWilhelmina;
"Baireuth,andCourlandaswell,whereherfirstwedlockwas;"——
perhapsMeiningenwasdonetoherhand?HereisthePortraitof"myGrand—Aunt;"dashedoffinveryhighcolors,notbyaflatteringpencil:——
"Itissaidshewasveryfondofpleasing,inheryouth;onesawasmuchstillbyheraffectedmanners。Shewouldhavemadeanexcellentactress,toplayfantasticpartsofthatkind。
Herflamingredcountenance,hershape,ofsuchmonstrousextentthatshecouldhardlywalk,gavehertheairofaFemaleBacchus。
Shetookcaretoexposetoviewher"——apartofherperson,largebutnolongerbeautiful,——"andcontinuallykeptpattingitwithherhands,toattractattentionthither。Thoughsixtygone,"——
fifty—seveninpointoffact,——"shewastrickedoutlikeagirl;
hairdoneinribbon—locks(MARRONNES),allfilledwithgewgawsofrose—pinkcolor,whichwastheprevailingtintinhercomplexion,andsoloadedwithcoloredjewels,youwouldhavetakenherfortherainbow。"[Wilhelmina,i。375。]
ThischarmingoldLady,daughteroftheGROSSEKURFURST,andsoveryfatandrubicund,hadaSononce:hetooismentionableinhisway,——asamilestone(parishmilestone)intheobscureChronologyofthoseparts。HerfirsthusbandwastheDukeofCourland;tohimshebroughtanheir,whobecameDukeinhisturn,——andwasthefinalDuke,LASTofthe"Kettler"ornativeLineofDukesthere。TheKettlershadbeenTeutschRitters,CommandantsinCourland;theypickedupthatCountry,fortheirownbehoof,whentheRitterdomwentdown;andthiswasthelastofthem。HemarriedAnneofRussiawiththebigcheek(CzarPeter’sNiece,whoissincebecomeCzarina);anddiedshortlyafter,twentyyearsago;withtearsdoubtlessfromthepoorrose—pinkMother,farawayinBaireuthandchildlessotherwise;andalsoinasensetothesorrowofCourland,whichwasherebyleftvacant,apreytoenterprisingneighbors。AndonthosetermsitwasthatSaxonsMoritz(ourdissolutefriend,whowillbeMARECHALDESAXE
oneday)madehisclutchatCourland,backedbymoneysoftheFrenchactress;rumorofwhichstillfloatsvaguelyabout。
Moritzmighthavesucceeded,couldhehavedonethefirstpartofthefeat,falleninlovewithSwoln—cheekedAnne,Dowagerthere;
buthecouldnot;couldonlypretendit:Courlandtherefore(nowthattheSwoln—cheekisbecomeCzarina)fallstooneBieren,abornCourlander,whocould。[LastKettler,Anne’sHusband,died(leavingonlyanoldUncle,fallenIntoPapistryandotherfutility,who,tillhisdeathsometwentyyearsafter,hadtoresideabroadandbenominalmerely),1711;Moritz’sattemptwithAdrienneLecouvreur’scashwas,1726;AnnebecameSovereignofalltheRussias(onherpoorCousinPeterII。’sdeath),1730;
Bieren(BIRONashetriedtowritehimself,beingofpoorbirth)
didnotgetinstalledtill1737;andhad,heandCourlandboth,severaltumblesafterthatbeforegettingtostableequilibrium。]
——Wehurrytothe"GrandApartment"inBerlinSchloss,andglancerapidly,withWilhelmina(inanabridgedform),howmagnificentitis:——
RoyalApartment,thirdfloorofthePalaceatBerlin,onemustsay,fewthingsequalitintheworld。"FromtheOuterSaloonorAntechamber,calledSALLEDESSUISSES[wherethehalberdierandvaletpeoplewait]youpassthroughsixgrandrooms,intoasaloonmagnificentlydecorated:thencethroughtworoomsmore,andsointowhattheycallthePicture—Gallery,aroomninetyfeetlong。
Allthisisinaline。"Grandallthis;butstillonlycommonincomparison。FromthePicture—Galleryyouturn(torightorleftisnotsaid,nordoesitmatter)intoasuiteoffourteengreatrooms,eachmoresplendidthantheother:lustrefromtheceilingofthefirstroom,forexample,isofsolidsilver;weighs,inpoundsavoirdupoisIknownotwhat,butinsilvercoin"10,000
crowns:"ceilingspaintedasbyCorreggio;"wall—mirrorsbetweeneachpairofwindowsaretwelvefeethigh,andtheirpiers(TRUMEAUX)areofmassivesilver;infrontofeachmirror,tablecanbelaidfortwelve;"twelveSerenitiesmaydinethere,flankedbytheirmirror,enjoyingtheCorreggiositiesabove,andthepracticalsublimitiesallround。"Andthisisbutthefirstofthefourteen;"andyougoonincreasinginsuperbness,till,forexample,inthelast,orsuperlativeSaloon,youfind"alustreweighing50,000crowns;theglobeofitbigenoughtoholdachildofeightyears;andthebranches(GUERIDONS)ofit,"Iforgethowmanyfeetorfathomsinextent:silvertotheheart。Naythemusic—balconyisofsilver;weariedfiddlerlayshiselbowonbalustradesofthatpreciousmetal。Seldomifeverwasseenthelike。InthissuperlativeSaloontheNuptialBenedictionwasgiven。[Wilhelmina,i。381;Nicolai,ii。881。]
OldKingFriedrich,theexpensiveHerr,itwashethatdidthefurnishingandCorreggio—paintingofthesesublimerooms:butthisofthemassesofwroughtsilver,thiswasdonebyFriedrichWilhelm,——incitedtheretobywhathesawatDresdeninAugusttheStrong’sEstablishment;andreflecting,too,thatsilverissilver,whetheryoukeepitinbarrelsinacoinedform,orworkitintochandeliers,mirror—framesandmusic—balconies。——
Thesethingsweshouldnothavementioned,excepttosaythatthemassivesilverdidproveahoardavailable,inaftertimes,againstarainyday。Massivesilver(wellmixedwithcopperfirst)
wasallmelteddown,stampedintocurrentcoins,nativeandforeign,andsentwanderingovertheworld,beforeacertainPrincegotthroughhisSeven—YearsWarsandotherpinchesthatareahead!——
Infine,Wilhelmina’sWeddingwasmagnificent;thoughonehadrubstoo;andMammawasrathersevere。"Hairwentallwrong,bydintofoverdressing;andhungonone’sfacelikeaboy’s。Crown—royaltheyhadput(asindeedwasproper)onone’shead:hairwasintwenty—fourlocksthesizeofyourarm:suchwastheQueen’sorder。Gownwasofcloth—of—silver,trimmedwithSpanishgold—lace(AVECUNPOINTD’ESPAGNED’OR);traintwelveyardslong;——onewasliketosinktotheearthinsuchequipment。"Courage,myPrincess!——Infact,theWeddingwentbeautifullyoff;withdancesandsublimities,slowsolemnTorch—dancetoconcludewith,inthoseunparalleledupperrooms;Grand—AuntMeiningenandmanyotherstarsandrainbowswitnessing;eventheMargravineofSchwedt,inherhighcolors,wascompelledtobethere。
Suchvariegatedsplendor,suchadancingoftheConstellations;
sublunaryBerlin,andalltheworld,ontiptoeroundit!
SlowTorchdance,windingitup,meltedintotheshadesofmidnight,forthistime;andtherewassilenceinBerlin。
But,onthefollowingnights,therewereBallsofalesssolemncharacter;farpleasanterfordancingpurposes。Itistothese,tooneofthese,thatwedirecttheattentionofallreaders。
Friday,23d,therewasagainBallandRoyalEveningParty——"GrandApartment"socalled。ImmenseBall,"sevenhundredcouples,allpeopleofcondition:"therewere"FourQuadrilles,"ordancingplacesinthebigseaofquality—figures;eachatitsduedistanceinthegrandsuiteofrooms:WilhelminapresidesinQuadrilleNUMBERONE;placeassignedherwasintheroomcalledPicture—Gallery;QueenandallthePrincipalitieswerewithWilhelmina,sheistoleadofftheirquadrille,andtakechargeofit。Whichshedid,withheraccustomedfireandelasticity;——andwascirclingthere,onthelightfantastictoe,timesixintheevening,whenGrumkow,whomshehadbeendunningforhisbargainaboutFriedrichthedaybefore,cameup:——
"Ilikeddancing,"saysshe,"andwastakingadvantageofmychances。Grumkowcameup,andinterruptedmeinthemiddleofaminuet:’EH,MONDIEUMADAME!’saidGrumkow,’youseemtohavegotbitbythetarantula!Don’tyouseethosestrangerswhohavejustcomein?’Istoptshort;andlookingallround,Inoticedatlastayoungmandressedingray,whomIdidnotknow。’Go,then,embracethePriuce—Royal;thereheisbeforeyou!’saidGrumkow。
Allthebloodinmybodywenttopsy—turvyforjoy。’OHeaven,myBrother?’criedI:’ButIdon’tseehim;whereishe?InGod’sname,letmeseehim!’Grumkowledmetotheyoungmaningray。
Comingnear,Irecognizedhim,thoughwithdifficulty:hehadgrownamazinglystouter(PRODIGIEUSEMENTENGRAISSE),shortenedabouttheneck;hisfacetoohadmuchchanged,andwasnolongersobeautifulasithadbeen。Ispranguponhimwithopenarms(SAUTAIAUCOU);Iwasinsuchastate,Icouldspeaknothingbutbrokenexclamations:Iwept,Ilaughed,likeonegonedelirious。
InmylifeIhaveneverfeltsolivelyajoy。
"ThefirstsanestepwastothrowmyselfatthefeetoftheKing:
Kingsaid,’Areyoucontentwithme?YouseeIhavekeptmyword!’
ItookmyBrotherbythehand;andentreatedtheKingtorestorehimhisfriendship。Thisscenewassotouching,itdrewtearsfromtheeyesofeverybody。IthenapproachedtheQueen。Shewasobligedtoembraceme,theKingbeingcloseopposite;butI
remarkedthatherjoywasonlyaffected。"——Whythen,OPrincess?
Guess,ifyoucan,thefemalehumorsofherMajesty!——
"IturnedtomyBrotheragain;Igavehimathousandcaresses,andsaidthetenderestthingstohim:toallwhichheremainedcoldasice,andansweredonlyinmonosyllables。IpresentedthePrince(myHusband);towhomhedidnotsayoneword。Iwasastonishedatthisfashionofprocedure!ButIlaidtheblameofitontheKing,whowasobservingus,andwhoIjudgedmightbeintimidatingmyBrother。Butevenhiscountenancesurprisedme:heworeaproudair,andseemedtolookdownoneverybody。"
Amuch—changedCrown—Prince。Whatcanbethemeaningofit?
NeitherKingnorheappearedatsupper:theyweresuppingelsewhere,withaselectcircle;andthewhisperranamongus,HisMajestywastreatinghimwithgreatfriendliness。AtwhichtheQueen,contrarytohope,couldnotconcealhersecretpique。
"Infact,"saysWilhelmina,againtoohardonMamma,"shedidnotloveherchildrenexceptastheyservedherambitiousviews。"
ThefactthatitwasI,andnotshe,whohadachievedthePrince’sdeliverance,waspainfultoherMajesty:alas,yes,insomedegree!
"Ballhavingrecommenced,Grumkowwhisperedtome,’ThattheKingwaspleasedwithmyfrankkindwaystomyBrother;andnotpleasedwithmyBrother’scoldwayofreturningit:Doeshesimulate,andmeanstilltodeceiveme?OrISthatallthethankshehasforWilhelmina?thinkshisMajesty。Goonwithyoursincerity,Madam;
andforGod’ssakeadmonishtheCrown—Princetoavoidfinessing!’
Crown—Prince,whenIdid,insomeintervalofthedance,reportthisofGrumkow,andsay,Whysochangedandcold,then,Brotherofmyheart?answered,Thathewasstillthesame;andthathehadhisreasonsforwhathedid。"Wilhelmiuacontinues;andcannotunderstandherCrown—Princeatall:——
"Nextmorning,bytheKing’sorder,hepaidmeavisit。
ThePrince,"myHusband,"waspoliteenoughtowithdraw,andleftmeandSousfeldalonewithhim。Hegavemearecitalofhismisfortnues;Icommunicatedminetohim,"——andhowIhadatlastbargainedtogethimfreeagainbymycompliance。"Heappearedmuchdiscountenancedatthislastpartofmynarrative。
HereturnedthanksfortheobligationsIhadlaidonhim,——withsomecaressings,whichevidentlydidnotproceedfromtheheart。
Tobreakthisconversation,hestartedsomeindifferenttopic;
and,underpretenceofseeingmyApartment,movedintothenextroom,wherethePrincemyHusbandwas。Himheranoverwithhiseyesfromheadtofoot,forsometime;then,aftersomeconstrainedcivilitiestohim,wenthisway。"Whattomakeofallthis?"MadamSonsfeldshruggedhershoulders;"noendofMadamSousfeld’sastonishmentatsuchaCrown—Prince。
Alas,yes,poorWilhelmina;aCrown—Princegotintoterriblecognizanceoffactssincewelastmethim!Perhapsalreadysees,notonlywhataHeightofplaceiscutoutforhiminthisworld,butalsoinadimwaywhatasolitudeofsoul,ifhewillmaintainhisheight?TopofthefrozenSchreckhorn;——haveyouwellconsideredsuchaposition!Andeventhewaythitherisdangerous,isterribleinthiscase。BenottooharduponyourCrown—Prince。
Foritiscertainhelovesyoutothelast!
CaptainDickens,whoaloneofalltheExcellencieswasnotattheWedding,——andneverhadbelieveditwouldbeawedding,butonlyarumortobringEnglandround,——dulychroniclesthishappyreappearanceofthePrince—Royal:"aboutsix,yesterdayevening,asthecompanywasdancing,——tothegreatjoyandsurpriseofthewhaleCourt;"——andadds:"ThismorningthePrincecametothepublicParade;wherecrowdsofpeopleofallranksflockedtoseehisRoyalHighness,andgavethemostopendemonstrationsofpleasure。"[Despatch24thNovember,1731。]
Wilhelmina,thesenoisytumults,notallofthemdelightful,oncedone,getsoutoftheperplexedhurly—burly,hometowardsstillBaireuth,shortlyafterNew—year。[11thJanuary,1732(Wilhelmina,ii。20。]"Berlinwasbecomeasodioustomeasithadoncebeendear。Iflatteredmyselfthat,renouncinggrandeurs,ImightleadasoftandtranquillifeinmynewHome,andbeginahappieryearthantheonethathadjustended。"Mammawasstillperverse;
butontheedgeofdepartureWilhelminacontrivedtogetawordofherFather,andprivatelyopenherhearttohim。PoorFather,afterallthathascomeandgone:——
"Mydiscourseproduceditseffect;hemeltedintotears,couldnotanswermeforsobs;heexplainedhisthoughtsbyhisembracingsofme。Makinganeffort,atlength,hesaid:’IamindespairthatI
didnotknowthee。Theyhadtoldmesuchhorribletales,IhatedtheeasmuchasInowlovethee。IfIhadaddressedmyselfdirecttothee,Ishouldhaveescapedmuchtrouble,andthoutoo。
Buttheyhinderedmefromspeaking;saidthouwertill—naturedastheDevil,andwouldstdrivemetoextremitiesIwantedtoavoid。
ThyMother,byherintriguings,isinpartthecauseofthemisfortunesofthefamily;Ihavebeendeceivedanddupedoneveryside。Butmyhandsaretied;andthoughmyheartistorninpieces,Imustleavetheseiniquitiesunpunished!’"——TheQueen’sintentionswerealwaysgood,urgedWilhelmina。"Letusnotenterintothatdetail,"answeredhe:"whatispastispast;Iwilltrytoforgetit;"andassuredWilhelminathatshewasthedearesttohimofthefamily,andthathewoulddogreatthingsforherstill,——onlypartofwhichcametoeffectinthesequel。"Iamtoosadofhearttotakeleaveofyou,"concludedhe:"embraceyourHusbandonmypart;IamsoovercomethatImustnotseehim。"
[Wilhelmina,ii。4;whodates11thJanuary,1732。]Andsotheyrolledaway。
Crown—PrincewasbacktoCustrinagain,manyweeksbefore。BacktoCustrin;butundertotallychangedomens:hishistory,afterthatfirstemergenceinWilhelmina’sdance"23dNovemberaboutsixP。M。,"andappearanceatParadeonthemorrow(Saturdaymorning),hadbeenasfollows。MondayNovember26th)therewasagaingrandBall,andthePrincethere,notingraythistime。Nextday,theoldDessauerandallthehigherOfficersinBerlinpetitioned,"LetushavehimintheArmyagain,yourMajesty!"Majestyconsented:andso,Friday,30th,therewasgranddinneratSeckendorf’s,Crown—Princethere,insoldier’suniformagain;acompletelypardonedyouth。HisuniformisoftheGoltzRegiment,Infantry:GoltzRegiment,whichliesatRuppin,——atandabout,inthatmooryCountrytotheNortheast,somethirtyorfortymilesfromBerlin;——whitherhisdestinationnowis。
Crown—PrincehadtoresumehisKammerworkatCustrin,andseetheBuildingsatCarzig,forathreemonthslonger,tillsomearrangementsintheRegimentGoltzwereperfected,andfinishingimprovementsgiventoit。But"onthelastdayofFebruary"(29th)
1732beingleap—year),hisRoyalHighness’sCommissiontobeColonelCommandantofsaidRegimentismadeout;andheproceeds,indischargeofthesame,toRuppin,wherehismenlie。Andsoputsoffthepike—graycoat,andputsonthemilitaryblueone,[Preuss,i。69。]——nevertoquititagain,asturnedout。
RuppinisalittleTown,inthatnorthwestFehrbellinregion:
RegimentGoltzhadlainindetachedquartershitherto;butisnowtolieatRuppin,thefirstBattalionofitthere,andtherestwithinreach。Here,inRuppinitself,orultimatelyatReinsbergintheneighborhood,wasFriedrich’sabode,forthenexteightyears。Habitualresidence:withtransientexcursions,chieflytoBerlininCarnivaltime,oronothergreatoccasions,andalwaysstrictlyonleave;hisemploymentbeingthatofColonelofFoot,athingrequiringcontinualvigilanceandindustryinthatCountry。
Leastofalltobeneglected,inanypoint,byoneinhiscircumstances。HedidhismilitarydutiestoaperfectionsatisfactoryeventoPapa;andachievedonhisownscoremanyotherdutiesandimprovements,forwhichPapahadlessvalue。
Theseeightyears,itisalwaysunderstood,wereamongthemostimportantofhislifetohim。
ENDOFBOOKVIII
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV9
byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia"
BOOKIX。
LASTSTAGEOFFRIEDRICH’SAPPRENTICESHIP:
LIFEINRUPPIN。
1732—1736。
ChapterI。
PRINCESSELIZABETHCHRISTINAOFBRUNSWICK—BEVERN。
WedescribedtheCrown—Princeasintenttocomply,especiallyinallvisibleexternalparticulars,withPapa’swillandpleasure;——
todistingnishhimselfbyrealexcellenceinCommandantshipoftheRegimentGoltz,firstofall。Butbeforeevergettingintothat,therehasanotherpointrisen,onwhichobedience,equallyessential,maybestillmoredifficult。
EversincethegrandCatastrophewentoffWITHOUTtakingFriedrich’sheadalongwithit,andtherebegantobehopesofapacificsettlement,questionhasbeen,WhomshalltheCrown—Princemarry?AndthedebatesaboutitintheRoyalbreastandinTobacco—Parliament,andrumorsaboutitintheworldatlarge,havebeenmanifoldandcontinual。IntheSchulenburgLetterswesawtheCrown—Princehimselfmuchinterested,andeagerlyinquisitiveonthathead。Aswasnatural:butitisnotintheCrown—Prince’smind,itisintheTobacco—Parliament,andtheRoyalbreastasinfluencedthere,thatthethingmustbedecided。
Whointheworldwillitbe,then?Crown—Princehimselfhearsnowofthisparty,nowofthat。Englandisquiteover,andthePrincessAmeliasunkbelowthehorizon。FriedrichhimselfappearsalittlepiquedthatHothamcarriedhisnosesohigh;thattheEnglishwouldnot,inthoselife—and—deathcircumstances,abatetheleastfromtheir"Bothmarriagesornone,"——thinkstheyshouldhavesavedWilhelmina,andtakenhiswordofhonorfortherest。
Englandisnowoutofhishead;——allromanceistoosorrowfullysweptout:andinsteadofthe"sacredair—citiesofhope"inthishighsectionofhishistory,theyoungmanislookingintothe"meanclayhamletsofreality,"withaneyewellrecognizingthemforreal。Withaneyeandheartalreadytemperedtotheduehardnessforthem。Notafortunateresult,thoughitwasaninevitableone。WesawhimflirtingwiththebeautifulweddedWreech;talkingtoLieutenant—GeneralSchulenburgaboutmarriage,inawaywhichshookthepipe—clayofthatvirtuousman。Heknowshewouldnotgethischoice,ifhehadone;strivesnottocare。
Nordoeshe,infact,muchcare;theromancebeingalloutofit。
Helooksmainlytooutwardadvantages;topersonalappearance,temper,goodmanners;to"religiousprinciple,"sometimesratherinthereverseway(fearinganOVERPLUSrather);——butalwaystolikelihoodofmoneysbythematch,asaverydirectitem。
Readycommandofmoney,hefeels,willbeextremelydesirableinaWife;desirableandalmostindispensable,inpresentstraitenedcircumstances。Thesearethenotionsofthisill—situatedCoelebs。
Thepartiesproposedfirstandlast,andrumoredofinNewspapersandtheidlebrainsofmen,havebeenverymany,——nolimittotheirnumbers;itMAYbeanybody:anintendingpurchaser,thoughbutpossessedofsixpence,isinasenseproprietorofthewholeFair!ThroughSchulenburgweheardhisownaccountofthem,lastAutumn;——butthefarnoblestofthelotwashardlyglancedat,ornotatall,onthatoccasion。TheKaiser’seldestDaughter,soleheiressofAustriaandthesevastPragmatic—Sanctionoperations;
ArchduchessMariaTheresaherself,——itisaffirmedtohavebeenPrinceEugene’soften—expressedwish,ThattheCrown—PrinceofPrussiashouldwedthefutureEmpress[Hormayr,
AllgemeineGeschichtederneueslenZeit(Wien,1817),i。13;citedinPreuss,i。71。]Whichwouldindeedhavesavedimmenseconfusionstomankind!NayshealoneofPrincesses,beautiful,magnanimous,brave,wasthemateforsuchaPrince,——
hadtheGoodFairiesbeenconsulted,whichseldomhappens:——andRomanceitselfmighthavebecomeRealityinthatcase:withhighresultstotheverysoulofthisyoungPrince!Wishesarefree:
andwiseEugenewillhavebeenheard,perhapsoften,toexpressthiswish;butthatmusthavebeenall。Alas,thepreliminaries,political,especiallyreligious,areatonceindispensableandimpossible:wehavetodismissthatdaydream。APapal—ProtestantControversystillexistsamongmankind;andthisisonepenaltytheypayfornothavingsettleditsooner。TheImperialCourtcannotafforditsArchduchessonthetermspossibleinthatquarter。
WhattheImperialCourtcandois,torecommendaNieceoftheirs,insignificantyoungPrincess,ElizabethChristinaofBrunswick—Bevern,whoisNiecetotheEmpress;andmaybemadeusefulinthisway,toherselfandus,thinktheImperialMajesties;——willbeanewtieuponthePrussiansandthePragmaticSanction,andkeeptheAlliancestillsurerforourArchduchessintimescoming,thinktheirMajesties。She,itisinsinuatedbySeckendorfinTobaoco—Parliament;oughtnotshe,DaughterofyourMajesty’sesteemedfriend,——modest—minded,innocentyoungPrincess,withaBrotheralreadybetrothedinyourMajesty’sHouse,——tobetheLady?Itisprobableshewill。
DidweinformthereaderonceaboutKaiserKarl’syoungmarriageadventures;andmaywe,toremindhim,mentionthemasecondtime?
HowImperialMajesty,somefive—and—twentyyearsago,thenonlyKingofSpain,askedPrincessCarolineofAnspach,whowasverypoor,andanorphanintheworld。Whoatoncerefused,decliningtothinkofchangingherreligiononsuchascore;——andnowgovernsEngland,telegraphingwithWalpole,asQueenthereinstead。HowKarl,nowImperialMajesty,thenKingofSpain,nextappliedtoBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel;andmetwithamuchbetterreceptionthere。AppliedtooldAntonUlrich,reigningDuke,whowritesbigNovels,anddoesotherfoolishgood—naturedthings;——
whopersuadedhisGrand—daughterthatachangetoCatholicismwasnothinginsuchacase,thathehimselfshouldnotcareintheleasttochange。HowtheGrand—daughterchangedaccordingly,wenttoBarcelona,andwaswedded;——andhadtodunoldGrandpapa,"Whydon’tyouchange,then?"Whodidchangethereupon;thinkingtohimself,"PlagueonitImust,then!"thefoolisholdHerr。
Heisdead;andhisNovels,insixvolumesquarto,arealldead:
andtheGrand—daughterisKaiserinn,onthoseterms,aserenemonotonouswell—favoredLady,diligentinherCatholicexercises;
ofwhomIneverheardanyevil,goodrather,inhereminentsereneposition。PityperhapsthatshehadrecommendedherNieceforthisyoungPrussiangentleman;whomitbynomeansdid"attachtotheFamily"soverycarefulabouthimatVienna!Butiftherelayasin,andapunishmentfollowingonit,hereorelsewhere,inherImperialposition,surelyitistobechargedonfoolisholdAntonUlrich;notonher,poorLady,whohadnevercovetedsuchheight,nordurstforhersoultaketheleapthitherward,tillthesereneoldliterarygentlemanshowedherhoweasyitwas。
Well,oldAntonUlrichislongsincedead,[1714,age70。Huber,t。190。]andhisreligiousaccountsareallsettledbeyondcavil;
andonlythesaddutydevolvesonmeofexplainingalittlewhatandwhohisratherinsipidoffspringare,sofarasrelatedtoreadersofthisHistory。AntonUlrichlefttwosons;theelderofwhomwasDuke,andtheyoungerhadanApanage,Blankenburgbyname。Onlythisyoungerhadchildren,——sereneKaiserinnthatnowis,oneofthem:Theelderdiedchildless,[1731,Michaelis,i。132。]preciselyafewmonthsbeforethetimeswearenowgotto;reigningDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,["Welf—BOOTHS"
(HuntedCampoftheWelfs),accordingtoEtymology。"Brunswick,"
again,isBRAUN’S—Wick;"Braun"(Brown)beinganoldmilitantWelfinthoseparts,whobuiltsomelodgeforhimself,asaconveniencethere,——Year880,saytheuncertainoldBooks。Hubner,t。149;
Michaelis,&c。]allbutcertainApanages,anddoesnotconcernusfarther。Tothatsupremedignitytheyoungerhasnowcome,andhisApanageofBlankenburgandchildrenwithhim;——sothatthereisnowonlyoneoutstandingApanage(Bevern,notknowntousyet);
whichalsowillperhapsgetreunited,ifwecaredforit。
LudwigRudolfisthenameofthisnewsovereignDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,orDukeinchief;agenowsixty;hasashining,bustling,somewhatirregularDuchess,saysWilhelmina;
andanose——orratheralmostnonose,forsadreasons!
[Wilhelmina,ii。121。]OtherqualitiesoraccidentsIknownotofhim,——exceptthatheisFatheroftheViennaKaiserinn;
GrandfatherofthePrincesswhomSeckendorfsuggestsforourFriedrichofPrussia。
InLudwigRudolf’sinsipidoffspringourreadersareunexpectedlysomewhatinterested;letreaderspatientlyattend,therefore。
HehadthreeDaughters,neveranyson。TwoofhisDaughters,eldestandyoungest,arealivestill;themiddleonehadasadfatelongago。Shemarried,in1711,AlexiustheCzarowitzofPetertheGreat:foolishCzarowitz,miserableandmakingothersmiserable,brokeherheartbyillconduct,illusage,infouryears;sothatshedied;leavinghimonlyapoorsmallPeterII。,whoisnowdeadtoo,andthatmatterendedallbutthememoryofit。Someaccountsbear,thatshedidnotdie;thatsheonlypretendedit,andranandleftherintolerableCzarowitz。Thatshewedded,atParis,indeepobscurity,anOfficerjustsettingoutforLouisiana;livedmanyyearsthereasathriftysoldier’swife;
returnedtoPariswithherOfficerreducedtohalf—pay;andtoldhim——ortoldsomeselectOfficialpersonafterhim,underseven—foldoath,beingthenawidowandnecessitous——hersublimesecret。Sublimesecret,whichcamethustobeknowntoasupremelyselectcircleatParis;andwaspublishedinBooks,whereonestillreadsit。Novestigeoftruthinit,——exceptthatperhapsanecessitoussoldier’swidowatParis,consideringofwaysandmeans,foundthatshehadsometraceoflikenesstothePicturesofthisPrincess,andhadheardhertragicstory。
LudwigRudolf’ssecondDaughterisdeadlongyearsago;norhasthisfableasyetrisenfromherdust。OfLudwigRudolf’sothertwoDaughters,wehavesaidthatone,theeldest,wastheKaiserinn;EmpressElizabethChristina,agenowpreciselyforty;
withtwobeautifulDaughters,sublimeMariaTheresatheelderofthem,andnosonthatwouldlive。WhichlastlittlecircumstancehascausedthePragmaticSanction,andtormenteduniversalNatureforsomanyyearsback!LudwigRudolfhasayoungestDaughter,alsomarried,andaMotherinGermany,——tothisdayconspicuouslyso;——ofwhomnext,orratherofherHusbandandFamily—circle,wemustsayaword。
HerHusbandisnootherthantheesteemedFriendofFriedrichWilhelm;DukeofBrunswick—Bevern,bytitle;who,asajuniorbranch,livesontheApanageofBevern,ashisFatherdid;butissurenowtoinheritthesovereigntyandbeDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttelatlarge,heorhisSons,werethepresentincumbent,LudwigRudolf,onceout。Presentincumbent,wehavejustintimated,ishisFather—in—law;butitisnotonthatgroundthathelookstoinherit。HeisNephewofoldAntonUlrich,SonofayoungerBrother(whowasalso"Bevern"inAnton’stime);andistheevidentHeir—male;oldAntonbeingalreadyfallenintothedistaff,withnothingbutthreeGrand—daughters。Anton’sheirwillnowbethisNephew;NephewhasweddedoneoftheGrand—daughters,youngestoftheThree,youngestDaughterofLudwigRudolf,SovereignDukethatnowis;whichLady,bythefamilyshebroughthim,ifnootherwise,ismemorableormentionablehere,andmaybecalled,aMotherinGermany。
[ANTONULRICH(1833—1714)。DukeinChief;thatis,DukeofBrunswick—WOLFENBUTTEL。
AUGUSTWILHELM,elderSonandHeir(1662,1714,1731);hadnochildren。
LUDWIGRUDOLF,theyoungerSon(1671,1731,1735),apanagadinBlankenburg:DukeofBrunswick—BLANKENBURG;becameWOLFENBUTTEL。
1731,died,1stMarch,1735。NoSon;sothatnowtheBevernsucceeded。ThreeDaughters:
ElizabethChristina,theKaiserinn(1691,1708,1750)。
CharlotteChristina(1694,1711,1715),AlexiusofRussia’s,hadaFABULOUSend。
AntoinetteAmelia(1695,1712,1762);Bevern’sWife,——a"MotherinGermany。"
FERDINANDALBERT(1636—1687),hisyoungerBrotherapanagedinBevern;thatis,DukeofBrunswick—BEVERN。
FERDINANDALBERT,eldestSon(anelderhadperished,1704,ontheSchellenbergunderMarlborough),followedinBevern(1680,1687—1704,1735);Kaiser’ssoldier,FriedrichWilhelm’sfriend;
marriedhisCousin,AntoinetteAmelia("MotherinGermany,"aswecallher)。DukeinChief,1stMarch,1785,onLudwigRudolf’sdecease;diedhimself,3dSeptembersameyear。
BORN1713,KarltheHeir(tomarryourFriedrich’sSister)。
1714,AntonUlrich(Russia;tragedyofCzarIwan)。
1715,8thNovember,ElizabethChristina(CrownPrince’s)。
1718,LudwigErnst(Holland,1787)。
1721,Ferdinand(Chatham’sandEngland’s)oftheSevenYearsWar。
1722,1724,1725,1732,Fourothers;BoystheyoungestTwo,whowerebothkilledinFriedrich’sWars。]
FatherBevernherHusband,FerdinandAlbertthenameofhim,isnowjustfifty,onlytenyearsyoungerthanhissereneFather—in—
law,LudwigRudolf:——whom,Imayaswellsayhere,hedoesatlastsucceed,threeyearshence(1735)andbecomesDukeofBrunswickinGeneral,accordingtohope;butonlyforafewmonths,havinghimselfdiedthatsameyear。PoorDuke;ratheragoodman,byalltheaccountsIcouldhear;thoughnotofqualitiesthatshone。
Heisatpresent"DukeofBrunswick—Bevern,"——suchhisactualnomenclatureinthoseever—fluctuatingSibyl’s—leavesofGermanHistory—Books,Wilhelmina’sandtheothers;——expectantDukeofBrunswickinGeneral;muchafriendofFriedrichWilhelm。AkindofAustriansoldierhewasformerly,andwillagainbeforbrieftimes;General—Feldmarschallsostyled;butisnotnotableinWar,norotherwiseatall,exceptfortheoffspringhehadbythissereneSpouseofhis。Insipidoffspring,theimpatientreadersays;butpermitsmetoenumerateoneortwoofthem:——
1。Karl,eldestSon;whoissuretobeBrunswickinGeneral;
whoisbetrothedtoPrincessCharlotteofPrussia,——"asatiricalcreature,she,fonderofmyPrincethanofhim,"Wilhelminathinks。Theweddingneverthelesstookeffect。BrunswickinGeneraldulyfellin,firsttotheFather;then,inafewmonthsmore,toKarlwithhisCharlotte:andfromthemproceeded,induetime,anotherKarl,ofwhomweshallhearinthisHistory;——andofwhomalltheworldheardmuchintheFrenchRevolutionWars;in1792,andstillmoretragicallyafterwards。Shot,todeathorworse,attheBattleofJena,October,1806;"battlelostbeforeitwasbegun,"——suchthestrategichistorytheygiveofit。
HeperemptorilyorderedtheFrenchRevolutiontosuppressitself;
andthatwastheanswertheFrenchRevolutionmadehim。FromthisKarl,whatNEWQueensCarolineofEnglandandportentousDukesofBrunswick,sentupontheirtravelsthroughtheanarchicworld,profitableonlytoNewspapers,weneednotsay!——
2。AntonUlrich;namedafterhisaugustGreat—Grandfather;
doesnotwritenovelslikehim。Atpresentayounggentlemanofeighteen;goesintoRussiabeforelong,hopingtobegetCzars;
whichissuesdreadfullyforhimselfandthepotentialCzarshebegot。Thereaderhasheardofapotential"CzarIwan,"violentlydonetodeathinhisroom,onedimmoonlightnightof1764,intheFortressofSchlusselburg,middleofLakeLadoga;mistymoonlookingdownonthestonebattlements,onthemelancholywaters,audsayingnothing。——Butletusnotanticipate。
3。ElizabethChristina;tousmoreimportantthananyofthem。
NamesakeoftheKaiserinn,heraugustAunt;agenowseventeen;
insipidfine—complexionedyounglady,whoistalkedoffortheBrideofourCrown—Prince。Ofwhomthereaderwillhearmore。
Crown—Princefearssheis"tooreligious,"——andwillhave"CAGOTS"
abouther(solemnpersonsinblack,highlyunconscioushowlittlewisdomtheyhave),whomaybetroublesome。
4。AmerryyoungBoy,nowten,calledFerdinand;withwhomEnglandwithinthenextthirtyyearswillring,forsometime,loudenough:thegreat"PrinceFerdinand"himself,——underwhomtheMarquisofGranbyandothersbecamegreat;Chathamsuperintendingit。Thisreallywasarespectablegentleman,anddidconsiderablethings,——aTrismegistusincomparisonwiththeDukeofCnmberlandwhomhesucceeded。Acheerful,singularlypolite,modest,well—conditionedmanwithal。Tobeslightlybetterknowntous,ifwelive。HeatpresentisaBoyoften,chasingthethistle’sbeard。
5。Threeothersons,allsoldiers,twoofthemyoungerthanFerdinand;whosenameswereinthegazettesdowntoalateperiod;——whomweshallignoreinthisplace。ThelastofthemwasmarchedoutofHolland,wherehehadlongbeenCommander—in—chiefonratherToryprinciples,inthetroublesof1787。Othersofthemweshallseestormingforwardonoccasion,valiantlymeetingdeathinthefieldoffight,allconspicuouslybraveofcharacter;
butthisshallbeenoughofthematpresent。
ItisofthesethatLudwigRudolf’syoungestdaughter,thesereneFerdinandAlbert’swife,isMotherinGermany;highlyconspicuousintheirday。Ifthequestionisput,itmustbeownedtheyareallratheroftheinsipidtype。Nothingbutakindofalbuminoussimplicitynoticeableinthem;nowit,originality,brightnessinthewayofutteredintellect。Ifitisasked,Howcametheytotheleastdistinctioninthisworld?——theanswerisnotimmediatelyapparent。ButindeedtheyareWelfoftheWelfs,inthisrespectasinothers。Oneasks,withincreasedwonder,noticingintheWelfsgenerallynothiugbutthesamealbuminoussimplicity,andpovertyratherthanopulenceofutteredintellect,orofqualitiesthatshine,HowtheWelfscametoplaysuchapart,forthelastthousandyears,andstilltobeatit,inconspicuousplaces?
Reader,Ihaveobservedthatutteredintellectisnotwhatpermanentlymakesway,butunuttered。Wit,logicalbrilliancy,spiritualeffulgency,trueorFALSE,——howprecioustoidlemankind,andtotheNewspapersandHistory—Books,evenwhenitisfalse:while,again,NatureandPracticalFactcarenexttonothingforitincomparison,evenwhenitistrue!TwosilentqualitiesyouwillnoticeintheseWelfs,modernandancient;
whichNaturemuchvalues:FIRST,consummatehumanCourage;
anoble,perfect,andasitwereunconscioussuperioritytofear。
AndthenSECONDLY,muchweightofmind,anoblenottooconsciousSenseofwhatisRightandNot—Right,Ihavefoundinsomeofthem;——whichmeansmostlyWEIGHT,orgoodgravitation,goodobservanceoftheperpendicular;andiscalledjustice,veracity,high—honor,andothersuchnames。Thesearefinequalitiesindeed,especiallywithan"albuminoussimplicity"asvehicletothem。
IftheWelfshadnotmucharticulateintellect,letusguesstheymadeagooduse,notabadorindifferent,asiscommoner,ofwhattheyhad。
WHOHISMAJESTY’SCHOICEIS;ANDWHATTHECROWN—PRINCETHINKSOFIT。
PrincessElizabethChristina,theinsipidBrunswickspecimen,backedbySeckendorfandVienna,provesonconsiderationthedesirabletoFriedrichWilhelminthismatter。ButhisSon’snotions,whoasyetknowsheronlybyrumor,donotgothatway。
Insipidity,triviality;thefearof"CAGOTAGE"andfrightfulfellowsinblacksupremelyunconsciouswhatblockheadstheyare,hauntshimagooddeal。Andasforanymoneycoming,——hersublimeAunttheKaiserinnneverhadmuchreadymoney;one’sresourcesonthatsidearelikelytobeexiguous。HewouldpreferthePrincessofMecklenburg,Semi—RussianCatharineorAnna,ofwhomwehaveheard;wouldpreferthePrincessofEisenach(whosenamehedoesnotknowrightly);thinkstherearemanyPrincessespreferable。
Mostofallhewouldprefer,whatiswellknownofhiminTobacco—Parliament,butknowntobeimpossible,thislongwhileback,togouponaroundoftravel,——asforinstancethePrinceofLorraineisnowdoing,——andlookabouthimalittle。
ThesecandidconsiderationstheCrown—PrinceearnestlysuggeststoGrumkow,andthesecretcommitteeofTobacco—Parliament;
earnestlyagainandagain,inhisCorrespondencewiththatgentleman,whichgoesonverybriskatpresent。"Muchofitlost,"
wehear;——butenough,andtospare,issaved!Notabeautifulcorrespondence:thetoneofitshallow,hardofheart;tragicallyflippant,especiallyontheCrown—Prince’spart;nowandthenevenatouchofthehypocriticalfromhim,slighttouchandnotwithwill:alas,whatcanthepooryoungmando?Grumkow——whoseground,Ithink,isneverquitesosecuresincethatNostibusiness——
professesardentattachmenttotherealinterestsofthePrince;
anddoessolidlyadvisehimofwhatisfeasible,whatnot,inhead—quarters;veryexemplary"attachment;"credibletowhatlength,thePrincewellenoughknows。AndsotheCorrespondenceisunbeautiful;notverydescriptiveeven,——forpoorFriedrichisconsiderablyundermask,whilehewritestothataddress;andofGrumkowhimselfwewantnomore"description;"andis,infact,onitsownscore,anavoidablearticleratherthanotherwise;
thoughperhapsthereader,forapoorinvolvedCrown—Prince’ssake,willwishanexactExcerptortwobeforewequitedismissit。
TowardsturningofftheBrunswickspeculation,orturningontheMecklenburgorEisenachoranyotherinitsstead,theCorrespondencenaturallyavailsnothing。SeckendorfhashisordersfromVienna:Grumkowhashispension,——hiscream—bowldulyset,——
forhelpingBeckendorf。Thoughangelspleaded,notinatoneoftragicflippancy,butwiththevoiceofbreakinghearts,itwouldbetonopurpose。TheImperialMajestieshaveordered,MarryhimtoBrunswick,"bindhimthebettertoourHouseintimecoming;"
naytheRoyalmindatPotsdamgravitates,ofitself,thatway,afterthefirsthintisgiven。TheImperialwillhasbecomethePaternalone;noanswerbutobedience。WhatGrumkowcandowillbe,ifpossible,toleadordrivetheCrown—Princeintoobeyingsmoothly,orwithoutbreakingofharnessagain。Which,accordingly,isprettymuchthesumofhispartinthisunlovelyCorrespondence:thegeeho—ingofanexpertwagoner,whohasgotafieryyoungArabthoroughlytiedintohisdastardsand—cart,andhastodrivehimbyvoice,oratmostbyslightcrackofwhip;
anddoesit。Canwehope,aselectspecimenortwooftheseDocuments,notonGrumkow’spart,orforGrumkow’sunlovelysake,maynowbeacceptabletothereader?ALetterortwopickedfromthatlargestock,inalegiblestate,willshowusFatherandSon,andhowthattragicmatterwenton,betterthandescriptioncould。
Papa’sLetterstotheCrown—PrinceduringthatfinalCustrinperiod,——whenCarzigandHimmelstadtweregoingon,andtherewassuchprogressinEconomics,areallofhopefulruggedlyaffectionatetenor;andthereareagoodfewofthem:
stylecuriouslyrugged,intricate,headlong;andastrongsubstanceofsenseandworthtortuouslyvisibleeverywhere。
LetterssodelightfultothepoorretrievedCrown—Princethenandthere;andwhicharestillalmostpleasantreadingtothird—parties,onceyouintroducegrammarandspelling。Thisisoneexactspecimen;mostimportanttothePrinceandus。
Suddenly,onenight,byestafette,hisMajesty,meaningnothingbutkindness,andgratefultoSeckendorfandTobacco—Parliamentforsuchanidea,proposes,——intheseterms(merelyreducedtoEnglishandthecommonspelling):——
"TOTHECROWN—PRINCEATCUSTRIN(fromPapa)。
"POTSDAM,4thFebruary,1732
"MYDEARSONFRITZ,——Iamverygladyouneednomorephysic。Butyoumusthaveacareofyourself,somedaysyet,forthesevereweather;whichgivesmeandeverybodycolds;sopraybeonyourguard(NEHMETEUCHKUBSCHINACHT)。
"Youknow,mydearSon,thatwhenmychildrenareobedient,Ilovethemmuch:so,whenyouwereatBerlin,Ifrommyheartforgaveyoueverything;andfromthatBerlintime,sinceIsawyou,havethoughtofnothingbutofyourwell—beingandhowtoestablishyou,——notintheArmyonly,butalsowitharightStep—daughter,andsoseeyoumarriedinmylifetime。YoumaybewellpersuadedI
havehadthePrincessesofGermanytakensurveyof,sofaraspossible,andexaminedbytrustypeople,whattheirconductis,theireducationandsoon:andsoaPrincesshasbeenfound,theEldestoneofBevern,whoiswellbroughtup,modestandretiring,aswomenoughttobe。
"Youwillwithoutdelay(CITO)writemeyourmindonthis。IhavepurchasedtheVonKatschHouse;theFeldmarschall,"oldWartensleben,poorKatte’sgrandfather,"asGovernor"ofBerlin,"willgetthattolivein:andhisGovernmentHouse,[FineenougholdHouse,orPalace,builtbytheGreatElector;givenbyhimtoGrafFeldmarschallvonSchomberg,the"DukeSchomberg"whowaskilledintheBattleoftheBoyne:"sameHouse,oppositetheArsenal,whichbelongsnow(1855)tohisRoyalHighnessPrinceFriedrichWilhelmofPrussia。"(Preuss,i。73;and
OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。12n。)]Iwillhavemadenewforyou,andfurnishitall;andgiveyouenoughtokeephouseyourselfthere;andwillcommandyouintotheArmy,Aprilcoming[whichisquiteasubordinatestory,yourMajesty!]。
"ThePrincessisnotugly,norbeautiful。Youmustmentionittonomortal;——writeindeedtoMamma(DERMAMA)thatIhavewrittentoyou。AndwhenyoushallhaveaSon,IwillletyougoonyourTravels,——wedding,however,cannotbebeforewinternext。
MeanwhileIwilltryaudcontriveopportunitythatyouseeoneanother,afewtimes,inallhonor,yetsothatyougetacquaintedwithher。SheisaGod—fearingcreature(GOTTESFURCHTIGESMENSCH),whichisallinall;willsuitherselftoyou[beCOMPORTABLEtoyou]asshedoestotheParents—in—law。
"Godgivehisblessingtoit;andblessYouandyourPosterity,andkeepTheeasagoodChristian。AndhaveGodalwaysbeforeyoureyes;——anddon’tbelievethatdamnablePARTICULARtenet[Predestination];andbeobedientandfaithful:soshallit,hereinTimeandthereinEternity,gowellwiththee;——andwhoeverwishesthatfromtheheart,lethimsayAmen。
"YourtrueFathertothedeath,"FRIEDRICHWILHELM。
"WhentheDukeofLorrainecomes,Iwillhavetheecome。IthinkthyBridewillbeherethen。Adieu;Godbewithyou。"[
OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii,part3d,p。55。]
ThisimportantMissivereachedCustrin,byestafette,thatsamemidnight,4th—5thFebruary;whenWolden,"HofmarschallofthePrince’sCourt"(titularGoldstickthere,butwithabundanceofrealfunctionslaidonhim),hadthehonortoawakentheCrown—Princeintothejoyofreading。Crown—Princeinstantlydespatched,byanotherestafette,therequisiteresponsestoPapaandMamma,——ofwhichWoldendoesnotknowthecontentsatall,nothe,theobsequiousGoldstick;——butdoubtlesstheymean"Yes,"
Crown—PrinceappearingsooverjoyedatthissplendidevidenceofPapa’slove,astheGoldstickcouldperceive。[Wolden’sLETTERtoFriedrichWilhelm,"5thFebruary,1732:"inPreuss,ii。part2d(orURKUNDENOUCH),p。206。Mamma’sanswertothemessagebroughtherbythisreturnestafette,amereformalVERY—WELL,writtenfromthefingersoutward,exists(OEuvres,
xxvi。65);theresthavehappilyvanished。]
WhatthePrince’sactualamountofjoywas,weshalllearnbetterfromthefollowingthreesuccessiveutterancesofhis,confidentiallydespatchedtoGrumkowintheintermediatedays,beforeBerlinorthis"DukeofLorraine"(whomourreadersandtheCrown—Princearetowaitupon),withactualsightofPapaandtheIntended,cameincourse。Grumkow’sLetterstotheCrown—Princeinthisimportantintervalarenotextant,noriftheywerecouldwestandthem:fromthePrince’sAnswersitwillbesufficientlyapparentwhatthetenorofthemwas。Utterancefirstisaboutaweekafterthatoftheestafetteatmidnight:——
TOGENERALFELDMARSCHALLVONGRUMKOW,ATPOTSDAM
(fromtheCrown—Prince)。
"CUSTRIN,11thFebruary,1732。
"MYDEARGENERALANDFRIEND,——IwascharmedtolearnbyyourLetterthatmyaffairsareonsogoodafooting[Papasowellsatisfiedwithmyprofessionsofobedience];andyoumaydependonitIamdociletofollowyouradvice。Iwilllendmyselftowhateverispossibleforme;andprovidedIcansecuretheKing’sfavorbymyobedience,Iwilldoallthatiswithinmypower。
"Nevertheless,inmakingmybargainwiththeDukeofBevern,managethattheCORPUSDELICTI[myIntended]bebroughtupunderherGrandmother[DuchessofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,LudwigRudolf’sSpouse,anairycoquettishLady,——letherbethetutoressandmodelofmyIntended,OGeneral]。ForIshouldpreferbeingmadea"——whatshallwesay?byalightwife,——"ortoserveunderthehaughtyFONTANGE[Speciesoftopknot;sonamedfromFontange,anunfortunatefemaleofLouisFourteenth’s,whoinventedtheornament。]ofmySpouse[asLudwigRudolfdoes,byallaccounts],thantohaveablockheadwhowoulddrivememadbyherineptitudes?andwhomIshouldbeashamedtoproduce。