Summaryis,theseMediatingPowerswillbeofnohelptohisMajesty;noteventheDutchwill,withwhomheisspeciallyinfriendship:nay,inthethirdyearitbecomesfatallymanifest,thechiefMediatingPowers,KaiserandFrance,listeningrathertopoliticalconvenience,thantotheclaimsofjustice,godirectinKur—Pfalz’sfavor;——byformaltreatyoftheirown,["Versailles,13thJanuary,1739"(Olrich,GeschichtederSchlesischenKriege,i。13);Mauvillon,ii405—446;&c。]FranceandtheKaisersettle,"ThattheSulzbachersshall,asapreliminary,getprovisionalpossession,onthenowSerenity’sdecease;andshallcontinueundisturbedfortwoyears,tillLawdecidebetweenhisPrussianMajestyandthem。"Twoyears;
Lawdecide;——andweknowwhataretheNINE—POINTSinaLaw—case!
This,atlast,provedtoomuchforhisMajesty。Majesty’sabstrusedubitations,meditationsonsuchtreatmentbyaKaiserandothers,didthen,itappears,gloomilysettleintofixedprivatepurposeoftryingitbytheironramrods,whenoldKur—Pfalzshoulddie,——
ofmarchingwitheightythousandmenintotheCleveCountries,andSOwelcominganySulzbachorothergueststhatmightarrive。
HappilyoldKur—PfalzdidnotdieinhisMajesty’stime;
survivedhisMajestyseveralyears:sothatthematterfellintootherhands,——andwassettledverywell,nearacenturyafter。
OfcertainwranglingswiththelittleTownofHerstal,——PrussianTown(partoftheOrangeHeritage,onceKINGPEPIN’STown,ifthatwereanymatternow)intheBishopofLiege’sneighborhood,Townhighlyinsignificantotherwise,——weshallsaynothinghere,astheywillfalltobetreated,andbesettled,atanafterstage。
FriedrichWilhelmwasmuchgrievedbythecontumaciesofthatpaltrylittleHerstal;andbytheBishopofLiege’shigh—flownproceduresincountenancingthem;——especiallyinarecruitingeasethathadfallenoutthere,andbroughtmatterstoahead。
["December,1738,"iscrisisoftherecruitingcase(Helden—Geschichte,ii。63);"17thFebruary,1739,"Bishop’shigh—flownappearanceinit(ib。67);Kaiser’sinconsequence,"10thApril,1739。"]TheKaisertoowasafflictivelyhighincountenancingtheBishop;———forwhichbothKaiserandBishopgotduepaymentintime。ButhisPrussianMajestywouldnotkindletheworldforsuchapaltriness;andsoleftithanginginavexatiouscondition。Suchthings,itisremarked,weighheavieronhisnowinfirmMajestythantheywerewont。Heismoresubjecttofitsofhypochondria,totalkofabdicating。"Allgonewrong!"
hewouldsay,ifanylittleflawrose,aboutrecruitingorthelike。"OnemightgoandliveatVenice,wereoneridofit!"
[Forster(placeLOST)。]Andhisdeep—stungclangorousgrowlagainsttheKaiser’streatmentofhimburstsout,fromtimetotime;thoughheoftenestpitiestheKaiser,too;seeinghimatsuchapasswithhisTurkWarandotherwise。
ItwasinthisPfalzbusinessthatHerrLuiscius,thePrussianMinisterinHolland,gotintotrouble;ofwhomthereisalightdashofoutline—portraiturebyVoltaire,whichhasmadehimmemorabletoreaders。This"fatKingofPrussia,"saysVoltaire,wasadreadfullyavariciousfellow,unbeautifultoahighdegreeinhisproceedingswithmankind:——
"HehadaMinisterattheHaguecalledLuiscius;whocertainlyofallMinistersofCrownedHeadswastheworstpaid。Thispoorman,towarmhimself,hadmadesometreesbefelledintheGardenofHonslardik,whichbelongedatthattimetotheHouseofPrussia;
hethereuponreceiveddespatchesfromtheKing,intimatingthatayearofhissalarywasforfeited。Luiscius,indespair,cuthisthroatwithprobablytheonerazorhehad(SEULRASOIRQU’ILEUT);
anoldvaletcametohisassistance,andunhappilysavedhislife。
Inafteryears,IfoundhisExcellencyattheHague;andhaveoccasionallygivenhimanalmsatthedooroftheVIEILLECOUR
(OldCourt),aPalacebelongingtotheKingofPrussia,wherethispoorAmbassadorhadlivedadozenyears。Itmustbeowned,TurkeyisarepublicincomparisontothedespotismexercisedbyFriedrichWilhelm。"[OEuvresdeVoltaire(ViePricee,orwhattheynowcallMemoires),ii。15。]
Heretrulyisawittysketch;consummatelydashedoff,asnobodybutVoltairecould;"roundasGiotto’sO,"doneatonestroke。
Ofwhichtheprosefactsareonlyasfollows。Luiscius,PrussianResident,notdistinguishedbysalaryorotherwise,had,atonestageofthesenegotiations,beentold,fromhead—quarters,Hemight,incasualextra—officialways,ifitseemedfurthersome,givetheirHighMightinessesthehope,ornotion,thathisMajestydidnotintendactualwaraboutthatCleve—JulichSuccession,——
beingapacificMajesty,andunwillingtoinvolvehisneighborsandmankind。Luiscius,insteadofcasualhintdelicatelydroppedinsomegoodway,hadproceededbydirectdeclaration;
frankassurancetotheHighMightinesses,Thattherewouldbenowar。WhichhadneverbeenquitehisMajesty’smeaning,andperhapswasnowbecomingratherthereverseofit。DisavowalofLuisciushadtoensuethereupon;whoproduceddefensivelyhisinstructionfromhead—quarters;butgotonlyrebukesforsuchheavy—footedclumsyprocedure,sounlikeDiplomacywithitsshoesoffelt;——
and,inbrief,wasturnedoutoftheDiplomaticfunction,asunfitforit;andappointedtomanagecertainOrangeProperties,fragmentsoftheOrangeHeritagewhichhisMajestystillhasinthoseCountries。ThismisadventuresankheavilyonthespiritsofLuiscius,otherwisenoneofthestrongest—mindedofmen。NordidheprosperinmanagingtheOrangeProperties:onthecontrary,heagainfellintomistakes;gotsoundlyrebukedforinjudiciousconductthere,——"cuttingtrees,"plantingtrees,orwhateveritwas;——andthisproducedsuchaneffectonLuiscius,thathemadeanattemptonhisownthroat,distractedmortal;andwasonlystoppedbysomebodyrushingin。"Itwasnotthefirsttimehehadtriedthatfeat,"saysPollnitz,"andbeenprevented;norwasitlongtillhemadeanewattempt,whichwasagainfrustrated:
andalwaysafterwardshisrelationskepthimcloseinview:"
Majestywritingcomfortableforgivenesstotheperturbedcreature,andalso"settlingapensiononhim;"adequate,wecanhope,andnotexcessive;"whichLuisciuscontinuedtoreceive,attheHague,solongashelived。"Thesearetheprosefacts;notdefinitelydatedtous,butperfectlyclearotherwise。[Pollnitz,ii。495,496;——the"NEWattempt"seemstohavebeen"June,1739"(
Gentleman’sMagazine,inmense,p。331)。]
Voltaire,inhisDutchexcursions,didsometimes,inafteryears,lodgeinthatoldvacantPalace,calledVIEILLECOUR,attheHague;wherehegracefullycelebratesthedecayedforsakenstateofmatters;duskyvastroomswithdimgilding;forgottenlibraries"veiledunderthebiggestspider—websinEurope;"fortherest,anuncommonlyquietplace,convenientforawritingman,besidescostingnothing。AsonofthisLuiscius,agoodyounglad,italsoappears,wasoccasionallyVoltaire’samanuensisthere;himhedidrecommendzealouslytothenewKingofPrussia,whowasnotdeafontheoccasion。This,inthefireofsatiricalwit,iswhatwecantransientlycall"givingalmstoaPrussianExcellency;"——
notnowexcellent,butpensionedandcracked;andthereaderperceives,Luisciushadprobablymorethanonerazor,hadnotonebeenenough,whenhedidtherashact。FriedrichemployedLuisciusJunior,withnoresultthatwehearoffarther;andseemstohavethoughtLuisciusSenioranabsurdfellow,notworthmentioningagain:"ranawayfromtheCleveCountry[probablysomemad—housethere]aboveayearago,Ihear;andwhatisthematterwheresuchacrack—brainend?"[Voltaire,OEuvres
(LettertoFriedrich,7thOctober,1740),lxxii。261;andFredrich’sanswer(wrongdated),ib。265;Preuss,xxii。33。]
ChapterV。
VISITATLOO。
ThePfalzquestionbeinginsuchapredicament,andLuisciusdiplomatizinguponitinsuchheavy—footedmanner,hisMajestythinksajourneytoHolland,tovisitone’sKinsfolkthere,andincidentallyspeakawordwiththeHighMightinessesuponPfalz,wouldnotbeamiss。Suchjourneyisdecidedon;Crown—Princetoaccompany。Summerof1738:ashortvisit,quitewithoutfuss;
tolastonlythreedays;——meresequeltotheReviewsheldinthoseadjacentCleveCountries;sothattheGazetteersmaytakenonotice。Allwhichwasdoneaccordingly:Crown—Prince’sfirstsightofHolland;andoneofthefewreportablepointsofhisReinsberglife,andnotquitewithoutmemorabilitytohimandus。
Onthe8thofJuly,1738,theReviewPartygotupontheroadforWesel:allthroughJuly,theydidtheirreviewinginthoseCleveCountries;andthenstruckacrossforthePalaceofLooinGeldern,whereaPrinceofOrangecountablekinsmantohisPrussianMajesty,andaPrincessstillmorenearlyconnected,——
EnglishGeorge’sDaughter,ownniecetohisPrussianMajesty,——areinwaitingforthisdistinguishedhonor。ThePrinceofOrangewehavealreadyseen,foramomentonce;atthesiegeofPhilipsburgfouryearsago,whenthesaleofChasot’shorseswentoffsowell。
"Nothinglikesellinghorseswhenyourcompanyhavedinedwell,"
whisperedhetoChasot,atthattime;sincewhichdatewehaveheardnothingofhisHighness。
Heisnotabeautifulman;hehasacrookedback,andfeaturesconformable;butisofpromptvivaciousnature,anddoesnotwantforsenseandgood—humor。PaternalGeorge,thegossipssay,warnedhisPrincess,whenthismarriagewastalkedof,"Youwillfindhimveryill—looking,though!""AndifIfoundhimababoon——!"
answeredshe;beingsoheartilytiredofSt。James’s。Andinfact,foranythingIhaveheard,theydowellenoughtogether。SheisGeorgeII。’seldestPrincess;——nexteldertoourpoorAmelia,whowasoncesointerestingtous!WhattheCrown—Princenowthoughtofallthat,Idonotknow;buttheBookssay,poorAmeliaworethewillow,andspeciallyworethePrince’sminiatureonherbreastallherdaysafter,whichweremany。Grewcorpulent,somewhatahuddleinappearanceandequipment,"eyelidslikeupper—LIPS,"foroneitem:butwhenlifeitselffled,theminiaturewasfoundinitsoldplace,restingontheoldheartaftersomesixtyyears。OTime,OSonsandDaughtersofTime!——
HisMajesty’sreceptionatLoowasofthekindheliked,——cordial,honorable,unceremonious;andthesewerethreepleasantdayshehad。PleasantfortheCrown—Princetoo;asthewholeJourneyhadratherbeen;Papa,withcovertsatisfaction,findinghimawisecreature,afterall,and"moreserious"thanformerly。"Hm,youdon’tknowwhatthingsareinthatFritz!"hisMajestymurmuredsometimes,intheselateryears,withafinelightinhiseyes。
LooitselfisabeautifulPalace:"Loo,closebytheVillageAppeldoorn,isastatelybrickedifice,builtwitharchitecturalregularity;hasfinelydecoratedrooms,beautifulgardens,androundaresuperballeysofoakandlinden。"[Busching,
Erdbeschreibung,viii。69。]TheresaunterspleasantlyourCrown—Prince,forthesethreedays;——andonegladincidentI
doperceivetohavebefallenhimthere:thearrivalofaLetterfromVoltaire。Lettermuchexpected,whichhadfollowedhimfromWesel;andwhichheanswershere,inthisbrickPalace,amongthesuperbavenuesandgardens。[OEuvres,xxi。
203,theLetter,"Cirey,June,1738;"Ib。222,theAnswertoit,"Loo,6thAugust,1738。"]
Nodoubtagladincident,irradiating,aswithasuddensunburstingrayweather,thecommonplaceofthings。Hereisnewsworthlisteningto;newsasfromtheempyrean!Freeinterchangeofpoetriesandproses,ofheroicsentimentsandopinions,betweentheUniqueofSagesandtheParagonofCrown—Princes;howcharmingtoboth!Literarybusiness,weperceive,isbriskonbothhands;
atCireytheDiscourssurl’Homme("SixthDISCOURS"arrivesinthispacketatLoo,surelyadeathlesspieceofsinging);norisReinsbergidle:Reinsbergiscopiouslydoingverse,suchverse!andinprose,veryearnestly,an"ANTI—
MACHIAVEL;"whichsoonafterwardsfilledallthethenworld,thoughithasnowfallensosilentagain。AndatParis,asVoltaireannounceswithaflourish,"M。deMaupertuis’sexcellentBook,FiguredelaT’erre,isout;"[Paris,1738:Maupertuis’s"measurementofadegree,"intheutmostNorth,1736—1737(toprovetheEarthflattenedthere)。VividNarrative;
somewhatgesticulative,butdulybrief。TheonlyBookofthatgreatMaupertuiswhichisnowreadabletohumannature。]M。deMaupertuis,homefromthePolarregionsandfrommeasuringtheEarththere;thesublimestmiracleinParissocietyatpresent。
Mightbuild,new—build,anACADEMYOFSCIENCESatBerlinforyourRoyalHighness,oneday?suggestsVoltaire,onthisoccasion:
andFriedrich,asweshallsee,takesthehint。OnepassageoftheCrown—Prince’sAnswerisintheseterms;——fixingthisLoovisittoitsdateforus,atanyrate:——
"LOOINHOLLAND,6thAUGUST,1739……Iwritefromaplacewheretherelivedonceagreatman[WilliamIII。ofEngland,ourDutchWilliam];whichisnowthePrinceofOrange’sHouse。ThedemonofAmbitionshedsitsunhappypoisonsoverhisdays。Hemightbethemostfortunateofmen;andheisdevouredbychagrinsinhisbeautifulPalacehere,inthemiddleofhisgardensandofabrilliantCourt。Itispityintruth;forheisaPrincewithnoendofwit(INFINIMENTD’ESPRIT),andhasrespectablequalites。"
NotStadtholder,unluckily;thatiswheretheshoepinches;
theDutchareontheRepublicantack,andwillnothaveaStadtholderatpresent。Nohelpforitinone’sbeautifulgardensandavenuesofoakandlinden。
"IhavetalkedagreatdealaboutNewtonwiththePrincess,"——
aboutNewton;neverhintedatAmelia;notpermissible!——"fromNewtonwepassedtoLeibnitz;andfromLeibnitztotheLateQueenofEngland,"Carolinelatelygone,"who,thePrincetoldme,wasofClarke’ssentiment"onthatimportanttheologicalcontroversynowdeadtomankind。——AndofJenkinsandhisEardidthePrincesssaynothing?ThatisnowbecomingahighphenomenoninEngland!
Butreadersmustwaitalittle。
PitythatwecannotgivethesetwoLettersinfull;thatnoreader,almost,couldbemadetounderstandthem,ortocareforthemwhenunderstood。SuchthecrueltyofTimeuponthisVoltaire—
FriedrichCorrespondence,andsomeothers;whichwereoncesorosy,sunny,andarenowfallendrearilyextinct,——studiablebyEditorsonly!InitselftheFriedrich—VoltaireCorrespondence,wecansee,wascharming;veryblossomyatpresent:businessesincreasing;mutualadmirationnowrisentoagreatheight,——
admirationsincereonbothsides,mostsoonthePrince’s,andextravagantlyexpressedonbothsides,mostsoonVoltaire’s。
CROWN—PRINCEBECOMESAFREEMASON;ANDISHARANGUEDBY
MONSIEURDEBIELFELD。
HisMajesty,wesaid,hadthreepleasantdaysatLoo;discoursing,aswithfriends,onpublicmatters,orevenonmoreprivatematters,inafrankunconstrainedway。Heisnottobecalled"Majesty"onthisoccasion;butthefact,atLoo,andbytheleadingMightinessesoftheRepublic,whocomecopiouslytocomplimenthimthere,iswellremembered。Talktherewas,withsuchleadingMightinesses,abouttheJulich—and—Bergquestion,aimofthisJourney:earnestenoughprivatetalkwithsomeofthem:
butitavailednothing;andwouldnotbeworthreportingnowtoanycreature,ifweevenknewit。Infact,theJourneyitselfremainsmentionablechieflybyoneverytriflingcircumstance;
andthenbyanother,notimportanteither,whichfollowedoutofthat。Thetriflingcircumstanceis,——ThatFriedrich,inthecourseofthisJourney,becameaFreemason:andtheunimportantsequelwas,ThathemadeacquaintancewithoneBielfeld,ontheoccasion;
whoafterwardswroteaBookabouthim,whichwasoncemuchread,thoughnevermuchworthreading,andisstillcitable,withprecaution,nowandthen。[MonsieurleBarondeBielfeld,
LettresFamilieresetAutres,1763;——secondedition,2vols。aLeide,1767,istheoneweusehere。]Triflingcircumstance,ofFreemasonry,aswereadinBielfeldandinmanyBooksafterhim,befellinmannerfollowing。
Amongthedinner—guestsatLoo,oneofthosethreedays,wasaPrinceofLippe—Buckeburg,——Princeofsmallterritory,butofgreatspeculation;whoseterritoryliesontheWeser,leadingtoDutchconnections;andwhosespeculationsstretchoveralltheUniverse,inahighfantasticstyle:——hewasadinner—guest;
andoneofthetopicsthatcameupwasFreemasonry;aphantasmalkindofobject,whichhadkindleditself,orrekindled,inthoseyears,inEnglandfirstofall;andwasnowhoveringabout,agooddeal,inGermanyandothercountries;pretendingtobeanewlightofHeaven,andnotabog—meteorofphosphoratedhydrogen,conspicuousinthemurkofthings。Bog—meteor,foolishputrescentwill—o’—wisp,hisMajestypromptlydefinedittobe:Tom—fooleryandKINDERSPIEL,whatelse?WhereuponingeniousBuckeburg,whowashimselfaMason,manoffortybythistime,andhadhighthingsinhimoftheQuixotictype,venturedondefence;andwassorespectful,eloquent,dexterous,ingenious,hequitecaptivated,ifnothisMajesty,atleasttheCrown—Prince,whowasmoreenthusiasticforhighthings。Crown—Prince,aftertable,tookhisDurchlauchtofBuckeburgaside;talkedfartheronthesubject,expressedhisadmiration,hisconviction,——hiswishtobeadmittedintosuchaHeroFraternity。NothingcouldbewelcomertoDurchlaucht。Andso,inallprivacy,itwasmadeupbetweeenthem,ThatDurchlaucht,summoningasmanymysticBrothersoutofHamburgaswereneedful,shouldbeinwaitingwiththem,ontheCrown—
Prince’sroadhomeward,——sayatBrunswick,nightbeforetheFair,wherewearetobe,——andtheremaketheCrown—PrinceaMason。
[Bielfeld,i。14—16;Preuss,i。111;Preuss,BuchfurJedermann,i。41。]
ThisisBielfeld’saccount,repeatedeversince;substantiallycorrect,exceptthatthescenewasnotLooatall:dinneranddialogue,itnowappears,tookplaceinDurchlaucht’sownneighborhood,duringtheCleveReviewtime;"probablyatMinden,17thJuly;"andallwassettledintofixedprogrambeforeLoocameinsight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvs。201:
Friedrich’sLettertothisDurchlaucht,"ComtedeSchaumbourg—
Lippe"hecallshim;date,"Moyland,26thJuly,1738:"Moyland,acertainSCHLOSS,orhabitableMansion,ofhisMajesty’s,fewmilestonorthofMorsintheCleveCountry;wherehisMajestyusedoftentopause;——andwhere(whatwillbemuchmoreremarkabletoreaders)theCrown—PrinceandVoltairehadtheirfirstmeeting,twoyearshence。]Bielfeld’sreportofthesubsequentprocedureatBrunswick,ashesawitandwashimselfpartofit,isliabletonomistakes,atleastoftheinvoluntarykind;andmay,foranythingweknow,becorrectineveryparticular。
Hesays(veilingitunderdiscreetasterisks,whicharenowdecipherableenough),TheDurchlauchtofLippe—BuckeburghadsummonedsixBrethrenoftheHamburgLodge;ofwhomwementiononlyaGrafvonKielmannsegge,aBaronvonOberg,bothfromHanover,andBielfeldhimself,aMerchant’sSon,ofHamburg;
these,with"Kielmannsegge’sValettoactasTiler,"ValetbeingalsoaMason,andtheruleequalityofmankind,——weretohavethehonorofinitiatingtheCrown—Prince。TheyarrivedattheWesternGateofBrunswickonthe11thofAugust,asprearranged;PrussianMajestynotyetcome,butcomingpunctuallyonthemorrow。ItisFair—time;allmanneroftraders,pedlers,showmenrendezvousing;
manyneighboringNobilitytoo,aswasstillthehabit。"Suchabulkoflightluggage?"saidtheCustom—housepeopleattheGate;
——butwerepacifiedbyslippingthemaducat。Uponwhichwedroveto"Korn’sHotel"(ifanybodynowknewit);andtherepatientlywaited。NogreatthingsofaHotel,saysBielfeld;butcanbeputupwith;——worstfeatureis,wediscoveraHanoveracquaintancelodgingcloseby,nothingbutawoodenpartitionbetweenus:
Howifheshouldoverhear!——
PrussianMajestyandsuite,underuniversalcannon—salvos,arrived,Sundaythe12th;tostaytillWednesday(threedays)withhisaugustSon—in—lawandDaughterhere。DurchlauchtLippepresentshimselfatCourt,therestofusnot;privatelysettleswiththePrince:"Tuesdaynight,eveofhisMajesty’sdeparture;
thatshallbethenight:atKorn’sHotel,lateenough!"Andthere,accordingly,ontheappointednight,14th—15thAugust,1738,thelight—luggagetrunkshaveyieldedtheirstage—properties;
JachinandBoazaresetup,andallthingsareready;
Tiler(Kielmannsegge’sValet)watchingwithdrawnswordagainsttheprofane。AstoourHanoverneighbor,ontheothersidethepartition,saysBielfeld,wewaitedonhim,thisdayafterdinner,successivelypayingourrespects;successivelypledgedhiminsomanybumpers,heislyingdeaddrunkhoursago,couldnotoverhearacannon—battery,he。Andsoonaftermidnight,theCrown—Princeglidesin,aCaptainWartenslebenaccompanying,whoisalsoacandidate;andthemysteriousritesareaccomplishedonbothofthem,ontheCrown—Princefirst,withoutaccident,andintheusualway。
BielfeldcouldnotenoughadmirethedemeanorofthisPrince,hisclearness,sense,quietbrilliancy;andhowhewasso"intrepid,"
and"possessedhimselfsogracefullyinthemostcriticalinstants。"Extremelygenialair,andsoyoung,looksyoungereventhanhisyears:handsometoadegree,thoughofshortstature。
Physiognomy,features,quitecharming;fineauburnhair(BEAU
BRUN),anegligentplentyofit;"hislargeblueeyeshavesomethingatoncesevere,sweetandgracious。"EligibleMasonindeed。Hadbettermakedespatchatpresent,lestPapabegettingontheroadbeforehim!——Bielfelddeliveredasmalladdress,composedbeforehand;withwhichthePrinceseemedtobecontent。
Andso,withmasonicgrip,theymadetheiradieusforthepresent;
andtheCrown—PrinceandWartenslebenwerebackattheirposts,readyfortheroadalongwithhisMajesty。
HisMajestycameonSunday;goesonWednesday,homenowatastretch;and,wehope,hashadagoodtimeofithere,thesethreedays。DaughterCharlotteandherSereneHusband,wellwiththeirsubjects,wellwithoneanother,aredoingwell;havealreadytwolittleChildren;aBoytheelder,ofwhomwehaveheard:
Boy’snameisKarl,agenowthree;sprightly,reckonedveryclever,bythefondparents;——whohasmanythingstodointheworld,byandby;toattacktheFrenchRevolution,andbeblowntopiecesbyitontheFieldofJena,forfinalthing!ThatisthefateoflittleKarl,whofrolicsabouthere,sosunshinyandingenuousatpresent。
Karl’sGrandmother,theSereneDowagerDuchess,Friedrich’sownMother—in—law,hisMajestyandFriedrichwouldalsoofcourseseehere。FineYoungerSonsofhersarecomingforward;thereigningDukebeautifullycarefulaboutthefurtheranceoftheseCadetsoftheHouse。HereisPrinceFerdinand,forinstance;justgettingreadyfortheGrandTour;goesinamonthhence:[Mauvillon(FILS,sonofhimwhomweciteotherwise),GeschichteFerdinandsHerzogsvonBraunschweig—Luneburg(Leipzig,1794),i。17—25。]afineeupepticloyalyoungfellow;who,inatwentyyearsmore,willbeChatham’sGeneralissimo,andfighttheFrenchtosomepurpose。ABrotherofhis,thenextelder,isnowfightingtheTurksforhisKaiser;doesnotlikeitatall,undersuchSeckendorfsandWar—Ministriesasthereare。Then,elderstill,eldestofalltheCadets,thereisAntonUlrich,overatPetersburgforsomeyearspast,withoutlookshighenough:TowedtheMecklenburgPrincessthere(DaughteroftheunutterableDuke),andbeasgoodasCzarofalltheRussiasoneday。Littletohisprofit,poorsoul!——These,historicallyascertainable,aretheaspectsoftheBrunswickCourtduringthosethreedaysofRoyalVisit,inFair—time;andmayservetodatetheMasonicTransactionforus,whichtheCrown—PrincehasjustaccomplishedoveratKorn’s。
AsfortheTransactionitself,thereisintrinsicallynoharminthisinitiation,wewillhope:butitbehoovestobekeptwellhiddenfromPapa。Papa’sgoodopinionofthePrincehassensiblyrisen,inthecourseofthisJourney,"sorational,serious,notdanglingaboutamongthewomenasformerly;"——andwhatashockwouldthisofKorn’sHotelbe,shouldPapahearofit!PoorPapa,fromofficioustale—bearershehearsmanythings:isindistressaboutVoltaire,aboutHeterodoxies;——andsummonedtheCrown—
Prince,byexpress,fromReinsberg,ononeoccasionlately,overtoPotsdam,"totaketheCommunion"there,bywayofcase—
hardeningagainstVoltaireandHeterodoxies!Thinkofit,humanreaders!——Wewilladdthefollowingstrayparticulars,moreorlessillustrativeoftheMasonicTransaction;andsoendthattriflingaffair。
TheCaptainWartensleben,fellow—recipientofthemysteriesatBrunswick,isyoungestson,byasecondmarriage,ofoldFeldmarschallWartensleben,nowdeceased;andisconsequentlyUncle,Half—Uncle,ofpoorLieutenantKatte,thoughsomeyearsyoungerthanKattewouldnowhavebeen。TendermemorieshangbyWartensleben,inasilentway!HeisCaptaininthePotsdamGiants;somewhatanintimate,andnotundeservedlyso,oftheCrown—Prince;——succeedsWoldenasHofmarschallatReinsberg,notmanymonthsafterthis;Woldenhavingdiedofanapoplecticstroke。OfBielfeldcomesaBook,slightlycitable;fromnootheroftheBrethren,ortheirFeatatKern’s,comes(wemaysay)anythingwhatever。TheCrown—PrinceprosecutedhisMasonry,atReinsbergorelsewhere,occasionally,forayearortwo;butwasneverardentinit;andverysoonafterhisAccession,leftoffaltogether:"Child’s—playandIGNISFATUUS
mainly!"ARoyalLodgewasestablishedatBerlin,ofwhichthenewKingconsentedtobepatron;butheneveronceenteredtheplace;andonlyhisPortrait(awelcomelygoodone,stilltobefoundthere)presidedoverthemysteriesinthatEstablishment。
Harmless"fire,"buttoo"fatuous;"mereflame—circlescutintheair,forinfants,weknowhow!——
WithLippe—BuckeburgthereensuedsomeCorrespondence,highenoughonhisSerenity’sside;butitsoonlanguishedonthePrince’sside;andinprivatePoetry,withinatwoyearsofthisBrunswickscene,wefindLippeusedproverbiallyforatype—specimenofFools。["Taciturne,Caton,avecmesbonsparents,AussifouquelaLippemetlesjeunesgens。"
OEuvres,xi。80(DiscourssurlaFaussete,written1740)。]Awindyfantasticindividual;——overwhelmedinfinance—difficultiestoo!
Lippecontinuedwriting;but"onlySecretariesnowansweredhim"fromBerlin。Asonofhis,sonandsuccessor,somethingofaQuixotetoo,butnotableinArtillery—practiceandotherwise,willturnupatafuturestage。
NorisBielfeldwithhisBookathingofmuchmomenttoFriedrichortous。Bielfeldtoohasalightairyveinoftalk;
lovesVoltaireandthePhilosophiesinalightway;——knowstheartsofSociety,especiallytheartofflattering;andwouldfainmakehimselfagreeabletotheCrown—Prince,beinganxioustoriseintheworld。HisFatherisaHamburgMerchant,Hamburg"Sealing—waxManufacturer,"notilloffformoney:Sonhasbeenatschools,highschools,undertutors,posture—masters;
swashesaboutonthoseterms,withFrenchESPRITinhismouth,andlacerufflesathiswrists;stillunderthirty;showyenough,sharpenough;considerablyacoxcomb,asisstillevident。HedidtransientlygetaboutFriedrich,asweshallsee;andhopedtohavesoldhishearttogoodpurposethere;——
was,byandby,employedinslightfunctions;notfoundfitforgraveones。Inthecourseofsomeyears,hegotatitleofBaron;andsoldhisheartmoreadvantageously,tosomerichWidoworFraulein;withwhomheretiredtoSaxony,andtherelivedonanEstatehehadpurchased,astrangertoPrussiathenceforth。
HisBook(LettresFamilieresetAutres,
allturningonFriedrich),whichcameoutin1763,attheheightofFriedrich’sfame,andwasmuchread,isstillfreelycitedbyHistoriansasanAuthority。Butthereadingofafewpagessufficientlyintimatesthatthese"Letters"nevercanhavegonethroughaterrestrialPost—office;thattheyareanafterthought,composedfromvaguememoryandimagination,inthatfineSaxonretreat;——asorrowfulghost—like"TRAVELSOF
ANACHARSIS,"insteadoflivingwordsbyaneye—witness!Nottobecited"freely"atall,butsparinglyandunderconditions。
Theyaboundinsmallerrors,inmisdates,mistakes;
smallfictionseven,andimpossiblepretensions:——foolishmortal,towritedownhisbitofknowledgeinthatform!
Fortheman,inspiteofhislacerufflesandgesticulations,hasbriskeyesightofasuperficialkind:heCOULDhavedoneusthislittleservice(apparentlyhisonemissionintheworld,forwhichNaturegavehimbedandboardhere);andhe,thelaceruffleshavinggoneintohissoul,hasbeentemptedintomisdoingit!——BielfeldandBielfeld’sBook,suchastheyare,appeartobetheoneconquestFriedrichgotofFreemasonry;
nootherresultnowtraceabletousofthatadventureinKorn’sHotel,crowningeventoftheJourneytoLoo。
SECKENDORFGETSLODGEDINGRATZ。
FeldmarschallSeckendorf,afterunheard—ofwrestlingswiththeTurkWar,andtheViennaWar—Office(HOFKRIEGSRATH),issitting,forthelastthreeweeks,——wherethinksthereader?——intheFortressofGratzamongtheHillsofStyria;aState—Prisoner,notlikelytogetoutsoon!Seckendorfledforth,in1737,"suchanArmy,fornumber,spiritandequipment,"saytheViennapeople,"asnevermarchedagainsttheTurkbefore;"anditmustbeowned,hisillsuccesshasbeenunparalleled。Theblamewasnotaltogetherhis;notchieflyhis,exceptforhisrashundertakingofthething,onsuchtermsastherewere。Butthetruthis,thatfirstscenewesawofhim,——anArmyallgoneouttrumpetinganddrummingintothewoodstoFINDitsCommander—in—Chief,——wasanemblemoftheCampaigningeneral。ExcellentArmy;butcommandedbynobodyinparticular;commandedbyaHOFKRIEGSRATHatVienna,byaFranzDukeofTuscany,byFeldmarschallSeckendorf,andbysubordinateswhoweredisobedienttohim:whichaccordingly,almostwithouthelpoftheTurkandhisdisorderlyferocity,rubbeditselftopiecesbeforelong。Roamedabout,nowhithernowthither,withplanslaidandthenwithplanssuddenlyaltered,CaptainbeingChaosmainly;inswampycountries,byoverflowingrivers,inhunger,hotweather,forcedmarches;tillitwasmarchedgradualIyoffitsfeet;andthecloudsofchaoticTurks,whodidfinallyshowface,hadacheappennyworthofit。NeverwassuchacampaignseenasthisofSeckendorfin1737,saidmankind。
Exceptindeedthatthepresentone,Campaignof1738,inthoseparts,underadifferenthand,isstillworse;andtheCampaignof1739,understilladifferent,willbeworstofall!——KaiserKarlandhisAustriansdonotprosperinthisTurkWar,astheRussiansdo,——whoindeedhavegotaGeneralequaltohistask:Munnich,afamedmasterintheartofhandlingTurksandWar—Ministries:
realfatherofRussianSoldiering,saytheRussiansstill。
[SeeMANNSTEINforMunnich’splanswiththeTurk(methodsanddevicesofsteadyDisciplineinsmallnumbersVERSUSimpetuousFerocityingreat);andBerenhorst(BetrachtungenuberdieKriegskunst,Leipzig,1796),afirst—rateAuthority,forexamplesandeulogiesofthem。]
Campaign1737,withcloudsofchaoticTurksnowsabringontheskirtsofit,hadnotyetended,whenSeckendorfwascalledoutofit;onpolitepretexts,hometoVienna;andthecommandgiventoanother。AtthegatesofVienna,inthelastdaysofOctober,1737,anOfficialPerson,waitingfortheFeldmarschall,wassorrytoinformhim,Thathe,FeldmarschallSeckendorf,wasunderarrest;arrestinhisownhouse,intheKOHLMARKT(Cabbage—marketsocalled),acaptainandtwelvemusketeerstowatchoverhimwithfixedbayonetsthere;strictlyprivate,tilltheHOFKRIEGSRATHhadsatisfiedthemselvesinapointortwo。"Hmph!"snuffledhe;
withbrowblushingslate—color,Ishouldthink,andgrayeyesmuchalight。Andeversince,fortenmonthsorso,Seckendorf,sealedupintheCabbage—market,hasbeenfencingforlifewiththeHOFKRIEGSRATH;whowantsatisfactionupon"eighty—six"different"points;"andmakenoendofchicaningtoone’sclearanswers。
AndtheJesuitspreach,too:"AHeretic,bornenemyofChristandhisKaiser;whatistheuseofquestioning!"AndtheHeathenrage,andallmengnashtheirteeth,inthisuncomfortablemanner。
Answeringdone,therecomesnoverdict,muchlessanyacquittal;
thecaptainandtwelvemusketeers,threeofthemwithfixedbayonetsinone’sverybedroom,continue。Oneevening,21stJuly,1738,gloriousnewsfromtheseatofWar——notTILLevening,astheImperialMajestywasouthunting——entersVienna;blowingtrumpets;
shakingflags:"GrandVictoryovertheTurks!"sowecallsomepoorskirmishtherehasbeen;andViennaburstingallintothree—
times—three,thepopulacegetveryhigh。PopulacerushtotheKohlmarkt:breaktheSeckendorfwindows;intenttomassacretheSeckendorf;hadnotfreshmilitarycome,whowereobligedtofireandkilloneortwo。"Thehousecaptainandhistwelvemusketeers,ofthemselves,didwonders;Seckendorfandallhisdomesticswereinarms:""JARNI—BLEU"forthelasttime!——ThisiswhiletheCrown—PrinceisatWesel;soundasleep,mostlikely;Loo,andtheMasonicadventure,perhapstwinklingpropheticallyinhisdreams。
Attwonextmorning,anOfficialGentlemaninformsSeckendorf,Thathe,forhispart,mustawaken,andgotoGratz。Andinonehourmore(3A。M。),theOfficialGentlemanrollsoffwithhim;
drivesallday;anddelivershisPrisoneratGratz:——"Notsomuchasaroomreadythere;Prisonerhadtowaitanhourinthecarriage,"tillsomesummarypreparationweremade。Wall—neighborsofthepoorFeldmarschall,inhisFortresshere,were"aGOLD—COOK
(swindlingAlchemist),whohadgonecrazy;andanIrishLieutenant,confinedthirty—twoyearsforsomelove—adventure,likewiseprettycrazy;theirnoisesinthenight—timemuchdisturbedtheFeldmarschall。"[SeckendorfsLeben,ii。170—277。SeeSchmettau,
pp。27—59。]Onehumanthingtherestillisinhislot,theFeldmarschall’soldGrafinn。TrueoldDame,she,bothintheKohlmarktandatGratz,standsbyhim,"imprisonedalongwithhim"
ifitmustbeso;ministering,comforting,asonlyatrueWifecan;——andhopehasnotquitetakenwing。
RougholdFeldmarschall;nowturnedofsixty:nevermadesuchaCampaignbefore,asthisof1737followedby1738!Theresitshe;
andwillnottroubleusanymoreduringthepresentKaiser’slifetime。FriedrichWilhelmisamazedatthesesuddencantingsofFortune’swheel,andgrieveshonestlyasforanoldfriend:
eventheCrown—PrincefindsSeckendorfpunishedunjustly;andisalmost,sorryforhim,afterallthathascomeandgone。
THEEAROFJENKINSRE—EMERGES。
Wemustaddthefollowing,distilledfromtheEnglishNewspapers,thoughitisnowalmostfourmonthsafterdate:——
"LONDON,1stAPRIL,1738。IntheEnglishHouseofCommons,muchmoreintheEnglishPublic,therehasbeenfuriousdebatingforafortnightpast:CommitteeofthewholeHouse,examiningwitnesses,hearingcounsel;subject,theTermagantofSpain,andherWest—
Indianprocedures;——she,byherproceduressomewhere,isalwayscuttingoutworkformankind!HowEnglishandotherstrangers,fallen—inwithinthoseseas,aretreatedbytheSpaniards,readershaveheard,nayhavechancedtosee;anditisafactpainfullyknowntoallnations。FactwhichEngland,foronenation,cannolongerputupwith。WalpoleandtheOfficialPersonswouldfainsmooththematter;buttheWest—IndiaInterest,theCity,allMercantileandNavigationInterestsareindeadearnest:CommitteeofthewholeHouse,’PresidedbyAldermanPerry,’hasnotearsenoughtoheartheimmensitiesofevidenceoffered;slowPublicisgraduallykindlingtosomesenseofit。
Thishadgoneonfortwoweeks,when——whatshallwesay?——theEAROFJENKINSre—emergedforthesecondtime;andproducedimportanteffects!
"WhereJenkinshadbeenallthiswhile,——steadfastlynavigatingtoandfro,steadfastlyeatingtoughjunkwithawettingofrum;
notthinkingtoomuchofpastlabors,yetprivately’alwayskeepinghislostEarincotton’(withakindofursinepiety,orotherdumbfeeling),——nomortalnowknows。ButtoallmortalsitisevidenthewashomeinLondonatthistime;nodoubtanotedmemberofWappingsociety,themuch—enduringJenkins。
Andwitnesses,probablynotonebutmany,hadmentionedhimtothisCommittee,asacaseeminentlyinpoint。Committee,ascanstillbereadinitsRhadamanthineJournals,orders:’DIEJOVIS,16*MARTII1737—1738,ThatCaptainRobertJenkinsdoattendthisHouseimmediately;’andthenmorespecially,’17*MARTII"captiousobjectionshavingriseninOfficialquarters,asweguess,——’ThatCaptainRobertJenkinsdoattenduponTuesdaymorningnext。’
[CommonsJournals,xxiii。(indiebus)。]
Tuesdaynextis2lstMarch,——1stofApril,1738,byourmodernCalendar;——andonthatday,notadoubt,Jenkinsdoesattend;
narratesthattremendouspassagewealreadyheardof,sevenyearsago,intheentranceoftheGulfofFlorida;andproduceshisEarwraptincotton:——settingallonflame(excepttheOfficialpersons)atsightofit。"
Officialpersons,astheirwontisinthepressureofdebate,endeavoredtodeny,toinsinuateintheirvileNewspapers,ThatJenkinslosthisEarnearerhomeandnotfornothing;asonestillreadsintheHistoryBooks。[Tindal(xx。372)。Coxe,&c。]Sheercalumnies,wenowfind。Jenkins’saccountwasdoubtlessabundantlyemphatic;butthereisnogroundtoquestionthesubstantialtruthofhimandit。Andso,aftersevenyearsofunnoticeableburninguponthethickskinoftheEnglishPublic,thecaseofJenkinsaccidentallyburnsthrough,andsetsEnglandbellowing;suchasmartisthereofit,——nottobesoothedbyOfficialwet—cloths;
butgettingworseandworse,forthenineteenmonthsensuing。
Andinshort——Butwewillnotanticipate!
ChapterVI。
LASTYEAROFREINSBERG;JOURNEYTOPREUSSEN。
TheIdylliumofReinsberg——ofwhich,exceptinthewayofsketchysuggestion,therecannohistorybegiven——lastedlessthanfouryears;andisnowcomingtoanend,unexpectedlysoon。ApleasantArcadianSummerinone’slife;——thoughithasnotwanteditsoccasionaldiscords,flawsofillweatherinthegeneralsunshine。
Papa,alwaysinuncertainhealthoflate,isgettingheavieroffootandofheartunderhisheavyburdens;andsometimesfallsabstruseenough,liabletobewildermentsfrombadpeopleandevents:notmuchworthnoticinghere。[SeePollnitz,ii。509—515;
Friedrich’sLettertoWilhelmina("Berlin,20thJanuary,1739:"inOEuvres,xxvii。part1st,pp。60,61);&c。
&c。]ButtheCrown—Princehaslearnedtodealwithallthis;allthisisoftransientnature;andabrightlongfutureseemstolieaheadatReinsberg;——brightenedespeciallybytheLiteraryElement;which,inthisyearof1739,isbriskerthanithadeverbeen。DistinguishedVisitors,ofaliteraryturn,lookinatReinsberg;theVoltaireCorrespondenceisverylively;
onFriedrich’spartthereiscopiousproduction,variousenterprise,intheformofproseandverse;thoughtsevenofgoingtopresswithsomeofit:inshort,theLiteraryInterestrisesveryprominentatReinsbergin1739。BiographyisapttoforgettheLiteraturethere(havingherreasons);butmustatlasttakesomenoticeofit,amongthephenomenaoftheyear。
TotheyoungPrincehimself,"courtingtranquillity,"ashisdoor—
lintelintimated,["Fredericotranquillitatemcolenti"
(Infra,p。123)。]andforbiddentobeactiveexceptwithinlimits,thisofLiteraturewasallalongthegreatlightofexistenceatReinsberg;thesupplementtoallotheremploymentsorwantsofemploymentthere。ToFriedrichhimself,inthoseolddays,agreatandsupremeinterest;whileagain,tothemodernBiographerofhim,ithasbecomedarkandvacant;athingtobeshunned,notsought。SothatthefactasitstoodwithFriedrichdiffersfarfromanydescriptionthatcanbegivenofthefact。
Alas,wehavesaidalready,andtheconstanttruthis,Friedrich’sliteratures,hisdistinguishedliteraryvisitorsandenterprises,whichwereoncebrand—newandbrilliant,havegrownoldasagarment,andareasorrowratherthanotherwisetoexistingmankind!Conscientiousreaders,whowouldrepresenttothemselvesthevanishedsceneatReinsberg,inthispointmoreespecially,mustmakeaneffort。
Asbiographicaldocuments,thesePoetriesandProsesoftheyoungmangiveaveryprettytestimonyofhim;butarenotofvalueotherwise。Infact,theypromise,ifwelookwellintothem,Thathereisprobablyapracticalfacultyandintellectofthehighestkind;whichagain,onthespeculative,especiallyonthepoeticalside,willneverbeconsiderable,norhaseventriedtobeso。
Thisyoungsouldoesnotdealinmeditationatall,andhistendenciesarethereverseofsentimental。Hereisnointrospection,morbidorother,nopathosorcomplaint,nomelodiousinformingofthepublicwhatdreadfulemotionsyoulaborunder:here,inrapidpromptform,indicatingthatitistruthandnotfable,aregenerousaspirationsfortheworldandyourself,generouspride,disdainoftheignoble,ofthedark,mendacious;——
here,inshort,isaswift—handed,valiant,STEEL—brightkindofsoul;verylikelyforaKing’s,ifotherthingsanswer,andnotlikelyforaPoet’s。NodoubthecouldhavemadesomethingofLiteraturetoo;couldhavewrittenBooks,andleftsomestampofaveracious,moreorlessvictoriousintellect,inthatstrangeprovincetoo。Butthenhemusthaveappliedhimselftoit,ashedidtoreigning:doneinthecursorystyle,weseewhatithascometo。
Itiscertain,Friedrich’sreputationsuffers,atthisday,fromhiswriting。FromhisNOThavingwrittennothing,hestandslowerwiththeworld。Whichseemshardmeasure;——thoughperhapsitisthelawofthecase,afterall。"Nobodyinthesedays,"saysmypoorFriend,"hastheleastnotionofthesinfulwastethereisintalk,whetherbypenortongue。BetterprobablythatKingFriedrichhadwrittennoVerses;nayIknownotthatDavid’sPsalmsdidDavid’sKingshipanygood!"Whichmaybetruerthanitseems。Fineaspirations,generousconvictions,purposes,——theyarethoughtveryfine:butitisgood,onvariousaccounts,tokeepthemrathersilent;strictlyunvocal,exceptoncallofrealbusiness;sodangerousaretheyforbecomingconsciousofthemselves!Mostthingsdonotripenatallexceptunderground。
Anditisasadbutsuretruth,thateverytimeyouSPEAKofafinepurpose,especiallyifwitheloquenceandtotheadmirationofby—standers,thereistheLESSchanceofyourevermakingafactofitinyourpoorlife。——IfReinsberg,anditsvacancyofgreatemployment,wasthecauseofFriedrich’sverse—writing,wewillnotpraiseReinsbergonthathead!Butthetruthis,Friedrich’sversescamefromhimwithuncommonfluency;andwerenotadeepmatter,butashallowone,inanysense。Notmuchmoretohimthanspeakingwithawill;thanfantasyingonthefluteinananimatedstrain。Everandanonthroughhislife,onsmallhintfromwithoutorongreat,therewasfoundacertainleakageofverses,whichhewasprompttoutter;——andthecaseatReinsberg,orafterwards,isnotsoseriousaswemightimagine。
PINE’SHORACE;ANDTHEANTI—MACHIAVEL。
InlatemonthsFriedrichhadconceivedonenotableproject;whichdemandsawordinthisplace。Didmodernreaderseverhearof"JohnPine,thecelebratedEnglishEngraver"?JohnPine,amanofgoodscholarship,goodskillwithhisburin,did"TapestriesoftheHouseofLords,"andotherthingsofacelebratednature,famousathomeandabroad:buthispeculiarfeat,whichhadcommendedhimatReinsberg,wasanEditionofHORACE:exquisiteoldFLACCUSbroughttoperfection,asitwere;alldonewithvignettes,classicalborderings,symbolicmarginalornaments,infinetasteandaccuracy,theTextitselfengraved;allbytheexquisiteburinofPine。["London,1737"(BiographieUniverselle,xxxiv。465)。]ThisEditionhadcomeoutlastyear,famousovertheworld;andwasbyandby,asrumorbore,tobefollowedbyaVIRGILdoneinthelikeexquisitemanner。
ThePineHORACE,partofthePineVIRGILtoo,stillexistinthelibrariesofthecurious;andaredoubtlessknowntotheproperparties,thoughmuchforgottenbyothersofus。ToFriedrich,scanningthePinephenomenonwithinterestthenbrand—new,itseemedanadmirabletributetoclassicalgenius;andtheideaoccurredtohim,"Isnotthere,byHeaven’sblessing,alivinggenius,classicallikethoseantiqueRomans,andworthyofaliketribute?"Friedrich’sideawas,ThatVoltairebeingclearlythesupremeofPoets,theHENRIADE,hissupremeofPoems,oughttobeengravedlikeFLACCUS;textandall,withvignettes,tail—pieces,classicalborderingsbeautifullysymbolicandexact;bytheexquisiteburinofPine。Whichideatheyounghero—worshipper,inspiteofhisfinance—difficulties,hadresolvedtorealize;
andwasevennowbusywithit,sincehisreturnfromLoo。
"Suchbeautifulenthusiasm,"saysomereaders;"andinbehalfofthatparticulardemi—god!"Alas,yes;toFriedrichhewasthebestdemi—godthengoing;andFriedrichneverhadanydoubtabouthim。
Fortherest,thisheroicideacouldnotrealizeitself;andwearehappytohavenothingmoretodowithPineortheHENRIADE。
CorrespondenceswereenteredintowithPine,audsomepainstaken:
Pine’shighpriceswereasnothing;butPinewasbusywithhisVIRGIL;probably,infact,hadlittlestomachfortheHENRIADE;
"couldnotforsevenyearstocomeenteruponit:"sothatthematterhadtodieaway;andnothingcameofitbutasmallDISSERTATION,orIntroductoryEssay,whichthePrincehadgotready,——whichisstilltobefoundprintedinVoltaire’sWorks[OEuvres,xiii。393—402。]andinFriedrich’s,ifanybodynowcaredmuchtoreadit。Preusssaysitwasfinished,"the10thAugust,1739;"andthatminutefactinChronology,withtheabovetaleofHero—worshiphangingtoit,willsufficemyreadersandme。
Butthereisanotherliteraryprojectonhand,whichdidtakeeffect;——muchworthyofmention,thisyear;thewholeworldhavingrisenintosuchaChorusofTEDEUMatsightofitnextyear。
Inthisyearfalls,whatatanyratewasagreateventtoFriedrich,asliteraryman:theprintingofhisfirstBook,——
assiduouswritingofitwithaneyetoprint。TheBookisthat"celebratedANTI—MACHIAVEL,"ever—praiseworthyRefutationofMachiavel’sPRINCE;concerningwhichtherearesuchimmensitiesofVoltaireCorrespondence,nowbecome,liketheBookitself,inanetoallreaders。Thiswasthechosensoul’semploymentofFriedrich,thefloweroflifetohim,atReinsberg,throughtheyea?1739。ItdidnotactuallygettopresstillSpring1740;
noractuallycomeouttillAutumn,——bywhichtimeagreatchangehadoccurredinFriedrich’stitleandcircumstances:butwemayaswellsayherewhatlittleistobesaidofitformodernreaders。
"TheCrown—Prince,readingthisbadBookofMachiavel’s,yearsago,hadbeenstruck,asallhonestsouls,especiallygovernorsorapprenticestogoverning,mustbe,iftheythoughtofreadingsuchathing,withitsbadness,itsfalsity,detestability;andcamebydegrees,obliquelyfishingoutVoltaire’sopinionashewentalong,onthenotionofrefutingMachiavel;anddidrefutehim,thebesthecould。Setdown,namely,hisownearnestcontradictiontosuchungroundednoxiousdoctrines;elaboratingthesamemoreandmoreintoclearlogicalutterance;tillitswelledintoalittleVolume;which,soexcellentwasit,soimportanttomankind,Voltaireandfriendswereclearforpublishing。
Publishedaccordinglyitwas;goesthroughthepressnextSummer(1740),underVoltaire’sanxioussuperintendence:[Here,gatheredfromFriedrich’sLetterstoVoltaire,istheChronologyofthelittleEnterprise:——
1738,MARCH21,JUNE17,"Machiavelabanefulman,"thinksFriedrich。"Oughttoberefutedbysomebody?"thinkshe(datenotknown)。
1739,MARCH22,Friedrichthinksofdoingithimself。Hasdoneit,DECEMBER4;——"aBookwhichoughttobeprinted,"sayVoltaireandtheliteraryvisitors。
1740,APRIL26,BookgivenuptoVoltaireforprinting。Printingfinished;Bookappears,"endofSEPTEMBER,"whenagreatchangehadoccurredinFriedrich’stitleandposition。]forthePrincehasatlengthconsented;andVoltairehandstheManuscript,withmysteryyetwithhints,toaDutchBookseller,oneVanDurenattheHague,whoiseagerenoughtoprintsuchanarticle。
Voltairehimself——suchhismagnanimousfriendship,especiallyifonehaveDutchLawsuits,orbusinessofone’sown,inthoseparts——takeschargeofcorrecting;lodgeshimselfinthe’OldCourt’
(PrussianMansion,calledVIEILLECOUR,attheHague,where’Luiscius,’figurativelyspeaking,may’getanalms’fromus);
andtherefromcorrects,alters;correspondswiththePrinceandVanDuren,atagreatrate。Keepscorrecting,altering,tillVanDurenthinksheisspoilingitforsale;——andprivatelydeterminestopreservetheoriginalManuscript,andhaveaneditionofthat,withonlysuchcorrectionsasseemgoodtoVanDuren。AtreasonoussteponthismuleofaBookseller’spart,thinksVoltaire;
butmulishlypersistedinbytheman。Endlesscorrespondence,torightandleft,ensues;intolerablywearisometoeveryreader。
And,infine,therecameout,inAutumnnext,"——theCrown—PrincenolongeraCrown—Princebythattime,butshiningconspicuousunderHigherTitle,——"notoneANTI—MACHIAVELonly,butacoupleoratrioofANTI—MACHIAVELS;asprinted’attheHague;’asreprinted’atLondon’orelsewhere;theconfusedBibliographyofwhichhasnowfallenveryinsignificant。FirsttherewastheVoltairetext,AuthorizedEdition,’endofSeptember,1740;’thencame,infewweeks,theVanDurenone;then,probably,athird,combiningthetwo,thevariationsgivenasfoot—notes:——inshort,Iknownothowmanyeditions,translations,printingsandreprintings;alltheworldbeingmuchtakenupwithsuchamessagefromtheupperregions,andeagertoreaditinanyform。
"AstoFriedrichhimself,whoofcoursesaysnothingoftheANTI—MACHIAVELinpublic,heprivately,toVoltaire,disownsalltheseeditions;andintendstogiveanewoneofhisown,whichshallbetherightarticle;butneverdidit,havingfarotherworkcutoutforhiminthemonthsthatcame。Buthowzealoustheworldshumorwasinthatmatter,nomodernreadercanconceivetohimself。InthefrightfulCompilationcalledHELDEN—GESCHICHTE,whichwesometimescite,thereare,excerptedfromthethen’Bibliotheques’(NOUVELLEBIBLIOTHEQUEandanother;shiningPeriodicalsofthetime,nowgonequitedead),two’reviews’oftheANTI—MACHIAVEL,whichfillmodernreaderswithamazement:
suchaDOMINEDIMITTASchantedoversuchanarticle!——Thesedetails,inanyotherthantheBiographicalpointofview,arenowinfinitelyunimportant。"
Truly,yes!TheCrown—Prince’sANTI—MACHIAVEL,finalcorrectedition(intwoforms,Voltaire’sascorrected,andthePrince’sownaswritten),standsnowincleartype;[Preuss,
OEuvresdeFrederic,viii。61—163。]and,afterallthatjumbleofprintingandcounter—printing,wecananyofusreaditinafewhours;but,alas,almostnoneofuswiththeleastinterest,or,asitwere,withanyprofitwhatever。
Sodifferentispresenttensefrompast,inallthings,especiallyinthingslikethese!ItissixscoreyearssincetheANTI—MACHIAVELappeared。ThespectacleofonewhowashimselfaKing(forthemysteriousfactwaswellknowntoVanDurenandeverybody)steppingforthtosaywithconviction,ThatKingshipwasnotathingofattorneymendacity,tobedoneunderthepatronageofBeelzebub,butofhumanveracity,tobesetaboutunderquiteOtherpatronage;andthat,infact,aKingwasthe"bornservantofhisPeople"(DOMESTIQUEFriedrichoncecallsit),ratherthanotherwise:this,naturallyenough,roseuponthethenpopulations,unusedtosuchlanguage,likethedawnofanewday;
andwaswelcomedwithsuchapplausesasarenowincredible,afterallthathascomeandgone!Alas,inthesesixscoreyears,ithasbeenfoundsoeasytoprofessandspeak,evenwithsincerity!TheactualHero—Kingswerelongusedtobesilent;andtheSham—Herokindgrowonlythemoredesperateforus,themoretheyspeakandprofess!——ThisANTI—MACHIAVELofFriedrich’sisacleardistinctTreatise;confutes,oratleastheartilycontradicts,paragraphbyparagraph,theincrediblesophistriesofMachiavel。Nayitleavesus,ifwesufficientlyforceourattention,withthecomfortablesensethathisRoyalHighnessisspeakingwithconviction,andhonestlyfromtheheart,intheaffair:butthatisalltheconquestwegetofit,inthesedays。Treatisefallenmoreextincttoexistingmankinditwouldnotbeeasytoname。
Perhapsindeedmankindisgettingwearyofthequestionaltogether。Machiavelhimselfonenowreadsonlybycompulsion。
"WhatistheuseofarguingwithanybodythatcanbelieveinMachiavel?"asksmankind,ormightwellask;and,exceptforEditorialpurposes,eschewsanyANTI—MACHIAVEL;impatienttoberidofbaneandantidoteboth。TrulytheworldhashadapotherwiththislittleNicoloMachiavelliandhisperverselittleBook:
——pityalmostthataFriedrichWilhelm,takinghisroundsatthatpointoftime,hadnothadthe"refuting"ofhim;FriedrichWilhelm’smethodwouldhavebeenbrieferthanFriedrich’s!Butletushopethethingisnow,practically,aboutcompleted。Andastotheotherquestion,"WastheSignorNicoloseriousinthisperverselittleBook;ordidheonlydoitironically,withaseriousinversepurpose?"wewillleavethattobedecided,anytimeconvenient,bypeoplewhoaremuchatleisureintheworld!——
TheprintingoftheANTI—MACHIAVELwasnotintrinsicallymomentousinFriedrich’shistory;yetitmightaswellhavebeendispensedwith。Hehadheredrawnafineprogram,andneedlesslyplacardeditforthestreetpopulations:andafterwardsthererose,ascouldnotfailontheirpart,comparisonbetweenprogramandperformance;scornfulcry,chieflyfrommenofweakjudgment,"IsthisKinganANTI—Machiavel,then?Pfui!"Ofwhich,——thoughVoltaire’svoice,too,washeardinit,inangrymoments,——weshallsaynothing:thereader,lookingforhimself,willjudgebyandby。AndherewithenoughoftheANTI—MACHIAVEL。CompositionofANTI—MACHIAVELandspeculationofthePineHENRIADElasted,bothofthem,allthroughthisYear1739,andfarther:fromthesetwoitems,nottomentionanyother,readerscanfiguresufficientlyhowliteraryayearitwas。
FRIEDRICHINPREUSSENAGAIN;ATTHESTUDOFTRAKEHNEN。
ATRAGICALLYGREATEVENTCOMINGON。
InJulythisyeartheCrown—PrincewentwithPapaonthePrussianReview—journey。["Setout,7thJuly"(OEuvres,xxvii。partlst,67n。)。]SuchattendanceonReview—
journeys,amarkofhisbeingwellwithPapa,isnowbecomingusual;theyareagreeableexcursions,andcannotbutbeinstructiveaswell。Onthisoccasion,thingswentbeautifullywithhim。OutinthosegrassyCountries,inthebrightSummer,oncemorehehadanunusuallyfinetime;——andtwoveryspecialpleasuresbefellhim。Firstwas,asightoftheEmigrants,ourSalzburgersandother,intheirflourishingcondition,overinLithuaniayonder。Delightfultoseehowthewasteisblossomingupagain;busymen,withtheirindustries,theirsteadypioushusbandries,makingallthingsgreenandfruitful:horse—droves,cattle—herds,wavingcornfields;——avery"SCHMALZGRUBE(Butter—
pit)"ofthoseNorthernparts,asitissincecalled。[Busching,Erdbeschreibung,ii。1049。]TheCrown—Prince’sownwordsonthismatterwewillgive;theyareinaLetterofhistoVoltaire,perhapsalreadyknowntosomereaders;——andwecanobservehewritesrathercopiouslyfromthoselocalitiesatpresent,andinacheerfulhumorwitheverybody。
"INSTERBURG,27thJULY,1739(Crown—PrincetoVoltaire)……
PrussianLithuaniaisaCountryahundredandtwentymileslong,byfromsixtytofortybroad;["MilesENGLISH,"wealwaysmean,UNLESS&c。]itwasravagedbyPestilenceatthebeginningofthisCentury;andtheysaythreehundredthousandpeoplediedofdiseaseandfamine。"RavagedbyPestilenceandtheneglectofKingFriedrichI。;tillmyFather,oncehishandswerefree,madepersonalsurveyofit,andtookitup,inearnest。
"Sincethattime,"saytwentyyearsago,"thereisnoexpensethattheKinghasbeenafraidof,inordertosucceedinhissalutaryviews。Hemade,inthefirstplace,regulationsfullofwisdom;
herebuiltwhereverthePestilencehaddesolated:thousandsoffamilies,fromtheendsofEurope,"seventeenthousandSalzburgersforthelastitem,"wereconductedhither;theCountryrepeopleditself;tradebegantoflourishagain;——andnow,inthesefertileregions,abundancereignsmorethaniteverdid。
"ThereareabovehalfamillionofinhabitantsinLithuania;
therearemoretownsthanthereeverwere,moreflocksthanformerly,morewealthandmoreproductivenessthaninanyotherpartofGermany。AndallthisthatItellyouofisduetotheKingalone:whonotonlygavetheorders,butsuperintendedtheexecutionofthem;itwashethatdevisedtheplans,andhimselfgotthemcarriedtofulfilment;andsparedneithercarenorpains,norimmenseexpenditures,norpromisesnorrecompenses,tosecurehappinessandlifetothishalf—millionofthinkingbeings,whoowetohimalonethattheyhavepossessionsandfelicityintheworld。
"Ihopethisdetaildoesnotwearyyou。IdependonyourhumanityextendingitselftoyourLithuanianbrethren,aswellastoyourFrench,English,German,orother,——allthemoreas,tomygreatastonishment,IpassedthroughvillageswhereyouhearnothingspokenbutFrench。——Ihavefoundsomethingsoheroic,inthegenerousandlaboriouswayinwhichtheKingaddressedhimselftomakingthisdesertflourishwithinhabitantsandhappyindustriesandfruits,thatitseemedtomeyouwouldfeelthesamesentimentsinlearningthecircumstancesofsuchare—establishment。
"IdailyexpectnewsofyoufromEnghien[inthoseDutch—LawsuitCountries]……ThedivineEmilie;……theDuke[D’Aremberg,AustrianSoldier,ofconvivialturn,——remoteWelsh—UncletoacertainlittlePrincedeLigne,nowspinningtopsinthoseparts;
[Born23dMay,1735,thislatterlittlePrince;lastedtill13thDecember,1814("DANSE,MAISILNEMARCHEPAS")。]nototherwiseinteresting],whomApollocontendsforagainstBacchues……
Adieu。NEM’OUBLIEZPAS,MONCHERAMI。"[OEuvres,xxi。304,305。]
Thisisonepleasantscene,totheCrown—Princeandus,inthosegrassylocalities。Andnowwehavetomentionthat,aboutafortnightlater,atKonigsbergoneday,inreferencetoacertainRoyalStudorHorse—breedingEstablishmentinthosesameLithuanianregions,therehadastillliveliersatisfactionhappenedhim;satisfactionofapersonalandfilialnature。
ThenameofthisRoyalStud,inestimableonsuchground,isTrakehnen,——liessouthofTilsit,inanuppervalleyofthePregelriver;——veryextensiveHorse—Establishment,"withsevenfarmsunderit,"saytheBooks,andall"inthemostperfectorder,"
theyneedhardlyadd,FriedrichWilhelmbeingmasterofit。
Well,theRoyalPartywasatKonigsberg,sofarontheroadhomewardsagainfromthoseoutlyingparts,whenFriedrichWilhelmsaidonedaytohisSon,quiteinacursorymanner,"IgivetheethatStudofTrakehnen;thoumustgobackandlooktoit;"whichstruckFritzquitedumbatthemoment。
Foritisworthnearupon2,000poundsayear(12,000thalers);
awelcomenewiteminourimpoverishedbudget;anditisanundeniablesignofPapa’sgood—humorwithus,whichismorepreciousstill。Fritzmadehisacknowledgments,eloquentwithlooks,eloquentwithvoice,oncomingtohimself;andis,infact,veryproudofhisgift,andcelebratesittohisWilhelmina,toCamasandotherswhohavearighttoknowsuchathing。
Grandusefulgift;andhandedoverbyPapagrandly,inthreebusinesswords,asifithadbeenabraceofgame:"Igiveitthee,Fritz!"Athingnottobeforgotten。"Atbottom,FriedrichWilhelmwasnotavaricious"(notamiser,onlyamangrandlyabhorringwaste,asthepoorvulgarcannotdo),"notavaricious,"
saysPollnitzonce;"hemademunificentgifts,andneverthoughtofthemmore。"ThisofTrakehnen,——perhapstheremightbeawhiffofcomingFateconcernedinitwithal:"Ishallsoonbedead,notabletogivetheeanything,poorFritz!"TothePrinceandusitisverybeautiful;afineeffulgenceoftheinnermanofFriedrichWilhelm。ThePrincereturnedtoTrakehnen,onthisgladerrand;
settledthebusinessdetailsthere;and,afterafewdays,wenthomebyarouteofhisown;——wellsatisfiedwiththisPrussian—
Reviewjourney,aswemayimagine。
SEEEARLIER———PrussianReview—journey(placingofhyphen)
Onesadthingtherewas,thoughFriedrichdidnotyetknowhowsad,inthisReview—journey:thenewfitofillnessthatovertookhisMajesty。FromPollnitz,whowasoftheparty,wehavedetailsonthathead。InhisMajesty’slastbadillness,fiveyearsago,whenallseemedhopeless,itappearsthesurgeonshadrelievedhim,——infactrecoveredhim,bringingoffthebadhumorsinquantity,——byanincisioninthefootorleg。Inthecourseofthepresentfatigues,thisoldwoundbrokeoutagain;whichofcoursestoodmuchinthewayofhisMajesty;andcouldnotbeneglected,asprobablythecausesofitwere。Aregimentalsurgeon,Pollnitzsays,wascalledin;who,intwodays,healedthewound,——anddeclaredalltoberightagain;thoughinfact,aswemayjudge,itwasdangerouslyworsethanbefore。"Allwellhere,"writesFriedrich;"theKinghasbeenoutoforder,butisnowentirelyrecovered(TOUTAFAITREMIS)。"["Konigsberg,30thJuly,1739,"tohisWife(OEuvres,xxvi。6)。]
MuchreviewingandheavybusinessfollowedatKonigsberg;——giftofTrakehnen,anddepartureoftheCrown—PrinceforTrakehnen,windingitup。Directlyontheheelofwhich,hisMajestyturnedhomewards,theCrown—PrincenottomeethimtillonceatBerlinagain。Majesty’sfirststagewasatPillau,wherewehavebeen。
AtPillau,ornextdayatDantzig,PollnitzobservedachangeinhisMajesty’shumor,whichhadbeenquitesunshinyallthisjourneyhitherto。AtDantzigPollnitzfirstnoticedit;butateverynewstageitgrewworse,evilaccidentsoccurringtoworsenit;andatBerlinitwasworstofall;——and,alas,hispoorMajestyneverrecoveredhissunshineinthisworldagain!HereisPollnitz’saccountofthejourneyhomewards:——
"Tillnow,"tillPillauandDantzig,"hisMajestyhadbeeninespeciallygoodhumor;butinDantzighischeerfulnessforsookhim;——anditnevercameback。HearrivedabouttenatnightinthatCity[Wednesday,12thAugust,orthereby];sleptthere;
andwasoffagainnextmorningatfive。Hedroveonlythirtymilesthisday;stoppedinLupow[coastroadthroughPommern],withHerrvonGrumkow[thelateGrumkow’sBrother],KammerPresidentinthisPommernProvince。FromLupowhewenttoapoorVillagenearBelgard,EIGHTYmilesfarther;"——lastvillageonthegreatroad,Belgardlyingtoleftalittle,onasideroad;——"andstayedthereovernight。