Readersareimpatienttohavedonewiththesemiscellaneouspreludings,andtobeoncedefinitelyunderway,suchaJourneylyingahead。Yes,readers;aJourneyindeed!And,atthispoint,permitmetowarnyouthat,wheretheground,whereDryasdustandtheDestinies,yieldanythinghumanlyillustrativeofFriedrichandhisWork,onewillhavetolinger,andcarefullygatherit,evenashere。Largetractsoccur,bestrewnwithmerepedantisms,diplomaticcobwebberies,learnedmarine—stores,andinhumanmatter,overwhichweshallhavetoskipempty—handed:thisalsowasamongthesadconditionsofourEnterprise,thatithastogonowtooslowandagaintoofast;notinproportiontonaturalimportanceofobjects,buttoseveralinferiorconsiderationswithal。SobusyhasperverseDestinybeenonit;perverseDestiny,edaciousChance;——andtheDryasdusts,too,andNightmares,inPrussiaaselsewhere,weknowhowstrongtheyare!
Friedrich’scharacterinoldagehasdoubtlessitscuriousaffinities,itsdisguisedidentities,withtheseprognosticfeaturesandindicationsofhisyouth:andtoourreaders,——ifwedoevergetthemtothegoal,ofseeingFriedrichalittlewiththeirowneyesandjudgments,——theremaybepleasantcontrastsandcomparisonsofthatkindinstore,oneday。Butthefarcommonerexperience(whichalsohasbeenmyown),——hereisSmelfungus’ssternaccountofthat:——
"Myfriend,youwillbeluckierthanI,if,aftertenyears,nottosay,inasense,twentyyears,thirtyyears,ofreadingandrummaginginthosesadPrussianBooks,ancientandnew(whichoftenarelaudablyauthentic,too,andexactastodetails),youcangatheranycharacterwhateverofFriedrich,inanyperiodofhislife,orconceivehimasaHumanEntityatall!Itisstrange,aftersuchthousand—foldwriting,butitistrue,hisHistoryisconsiderablyunintelligibletomankindatthishour;leftchaotic,enigmatic,inagoodmanypoints,——themilitarypartofitalonebeingbroughttoclearness,andrenderedfairlyconceivableandcredibletothosewhowillstudy。AndastotheManhimself,orwhathisrealPhysiognomycanhavebeen——!Well,itmustbeownedfewmenwereofsuchRAPIDITYoffaceandaspect;sodifficulttoseizethefeaturesof。Inhisaction,too,therewassuchrapidity,suchsecrecy,suddenness:amanthatcouldnotberead,evenbythecandid,exceptasinflashesoflightning。Andthentheangerofby—standers,uncandid,whogothurtbyhim;thehastymalevolences,thestupidities,theopacities:enough,inmoderntimes,whatissayingmuch,perhapsnoman’smotives,intentions,andprocedurehavebeenmorebelied,misunderstood,misrepresented,duringhislife。Nor,Ithink,sincethat,havemanymenfaredworse,bytheLimnerorBiographicclass,thefavorabletohimandtheunfavorable;orbeensosmearedofandblotchedof,andreducedtoamerebluranddazzlementofcross—
lights,incoherences,incredibilities,inwhichnothing,notsomuchasahumannose,isclearlydiscerniblebywayoffeature!"——
Courage,reader,nevertheless;ontheabovetermsletusmarchaccordingtopromise。
ChapterII。
THEHOMAGINGS。
YoungFriedrich,ashisFatherhaddone,considersitunnecessarytobecrowned。OldFriedrich,firstofthename,andoftheKingseries,wedidseecrowned,withapinchofsnufftemperingthesolemnities。ThatCoronationoncewelldonesufficesallhisdescendantshitherto。Suchanexpenseofmoney,——ofdilutedmendacitytoo!Suchharanguing,gesturing,symbolicfugling,allgrownhalffalse:——avoidlying,evenwithyoureyes,orknees,orthecoatuponyourback,sofarasyoueasilycan!
NothingofCoronation:butitisthoughtneedfultohavetheHULDIGUNGEN(Homagings)done,theFealtiessworn;andtheyoungMajestyinduecoursegoesabout,orgivesdirections,nowherenowthere,inhisvariousProvinces,gettingthataccomplished。
Buteveninthat,Friedrichisbynomeansstrait—lacedorpunctilious;doesitcommonlybyDeputy:onlyinthreeplaces,Konigsberg,Berlin,Cleve,doesheappearinperson。Mainlybydeputy;andalwayswiththeminimumoffuss,andnoharanguingthatcouldbeavoided。NowherearetheoldSTANDE(ProvincialParliaments)assembled,noworafterwards:sufficientforthisandforeveryoccasionarethe"PermanentCommitteesoftheSTANDE;"
norismuchspeaking,unessentialfordespatchofbusiness,usedtothese。
"STANDE——ofRitterschaftmainly,ofGentrysmallandgreat——
existedonceinallthoseCountries,aselsewhere,"saysoneHistorian;"andsomeofthem,inPreussen,forexample,usedtoberatherloud,andinclinedtoturbulence,tillthecurb,fromajudiciousbridle—hand,wouldadmonishthem。But,foralongwhilepast,——especiallysincetheGreatElector’stime,whogotan’ExciseLaw’passed,orthefoundationsofagoodExciseLawlaid;
[Preuss,iv。432;andThronbesteigung,
pp。379—383。]and,whatwithExcise,whatwithDomain—Farms,hadafixedAnnualBudget,whichhereckonedfairtobothparties,——theyhavebeendyingoutforwantofwork;and,underFriedrichWilhelm,maybesaidtohavegonequitedead。Whatworkwasleftforthem?PrussianBudgetisfixed,manythingsarefixed:
whytalkofthemfarther?ThePrussianKing,nothingofafoollikecertainothers,"——whichindeedisthecardinalpoint,thoughmyAuthordoesnotsayso,——"isrespectfullyawareofthefactsroundhim;andcanlistentotherumorstoo,sofarashefindsgood。TheKingseeshimselfterriblyinterestedtogetintotherightcourseinallthings,andavoidthewrongone!Probablyhedoes,inhisway,seek’wiseAdviceconcerningthearduousmattersoftheKingdom;’nayIbelieveheisdiligenttohaveitofthewisest:——whoknowsifSTANDEwouldalwaysgiveitwiser;
especiallySTANDEintheharanguingcondition?"——Enough,theyarenotappliedto。ThereisnoFreedominthatCountry。"NoFreedomtospeakof,"continueshe:"butIdoalittleenvythemtheirFixedBudget,andsomeotherthings。WhatpleasuretherecanbeinhavingyourhouseholdarrangementstumbledintodisordereverynewYear,byanew—contrivedscaleofexpensesforyou,Inevercouldascertain!"——
FriedrichisnotthemantoawakenParliamentarysleeping—dogswellsettledbyhisAncestors。Onceortwice,outofPreussen,inFriedrichWilhelm’stime,therewasheardsomewhimper,whichsoundedlikethebeginningofabark。ButFriedrichWilhelmwasonthealertforit:AreyoucominginwithyourNIEPOZWALAM(yourLIBERUMVETO),then?NoneofyourPolishvagarieshere。"TOUTLE
PAYSSERARUINE(thewholeCountrywillberuined),"sayyou?
(SuchhadbeenthepoorMarshalorProvincialSPEAKER’S
Remonstranceononeoccasion):"Idon’tbelieveawordofthat。
ButIdobelievetheGovernmentbyJUNKERS[CountrySquires]andNIEPOZWALAMwillberuined,"——asitisfullymeanttobe!"IamestablishingtheKing’sSovereigntylikearockofbronze(ICH
STABILIREDIESOUVERAINETATWIEEINENROCHERVONBRONZE),"someextremelystrongkindofrock![Forster,b。iii。
(Urkundenbuch,i。50);Preuss,iv。420n。
"NIEPOZWALAM"(theformulaofLIBERUMVETO)signifies"IDon’tPermit!"]ThiswasoneofFriedrichWilhelm’smarginaliainresponsetosuchathing;andthemutinouswhimperdiedoutagain。
ParliamentaryAssemblagesaresometimesCollectiveWisdoms,butbynomeansalwaysso。InMagdeburgwerememberwhattroubleFriedrichWilhelmhadwithhisunreasonableRitters。
Rittersthere,intheirassembledcapacity,hadtheReichbehindthem,andcouldnotbedealtwithlikePreussen:butFriedrichWilhelm,bywiseslowmethods,managedMagdeburgtoo,andreducedittosilence,ortowordsnecessaryfordespatchofbusiness。
IneachProvince,aPermanentCommittee——chosen,Isuppose,byKingandKnightsassenting;chosenIknownothow,butadmittedtobewiselychosen——representstheonceParliamentorSTANDE;andhasitspotencyfordoinggoodserviceinregardtoallProvincialmatters,fromroadsandbridgesupwards,andisimpotenttodotheleastharm。Roadsandbridges,Churchmatters,repartitionoftheLand—dues,Armymatters,——infacttheyareaneffectivenon—
haranguingParliament,totheKing’sDeputyineverysuchProvince;wellcalculatedtoilluminateandforwardhissubalternAMTmenandhim。Nay,weobserveitisoftenestinthewayofgiftsandsolacementsthattheKingarticulatelycommunicateswiththeseCommitteesortheirRitterschafts。ProjectsforDrainingofBogs,forimprovedHighways,forbetterHusbandry;loansgrantedthem,Loan—BanksestablishedfortheProvince’sbehoof:——noneedofparliamentaryeloquenceonsuchoccasions,butofsomethingfardifferent。
Itisfromthisquiescent,orbusybutnoiselesskindofSTANDE
andPopulationsthatFriedrichhashisHULDIGUNGtotake;——andtheoperation,whetherdonepersonallyorbydeputy,mustbeanabundantlysimpleone。He,forhispart,isfortunateenoughtofindeverywheretheSovereigntyESTABLISHED;"rockofbronze"nottheleastshakeninhistime。Hewillgraciouslyundertake,byWrittenAct,whichisreadbeforetheSTANDE,KingorKing’sDeputywitnessingthere,"Tomaintaintheprivileges"ofhisSTANDEandPopulations;theSTANDEanswer,onoath,withliftedhand,andexpressinvocationofHeaven,Thattheywillobeyhimastruesubjects;Andso——doubtlesswithsomethingofdiningsuperadded,butnowhisperofitputonrecord——theHULDIGUNGwilleverywhereveryquietlytransactitself。
TheHULDIGUNGitselfisnothingtous,evenwithFriedrichthere,——asatKonigsberg,Berlin,Cleve,thethreeexceptionalplaces。
Towhich,nevertheless,letusbrieflyattendhim,forthesakeofhereandtheresomedirectglimpsewemaygetofthethenFriedrich’sactualphysiognomyandways。Otherdirectview,orthechanceofsuch,isnotconcededusoutofthosesadPrussianBooks;whichareveryfullonthisoftheHULDIGUNG,ifsilentonsomanyotherpoints。[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。382。]
FRIEDRICHACCEPTSTHEHOMAGES,PERSONALLY,INTHREEPLACES。
ToKonigsbergishisfirstexcursiononthiserrand。Preussenhasperhaps,ormaybesuspectedofhaving,someremnantsofsourhumorsleftinit,andremembrancesofSTANDEwithharanguingsandevenmutinies:thereifanywheretheKinginpersonmaydogoodonsuchanoccasion,HeleftBerlin,July7th,boundthitherward;
hereisNoteofthatfirstRoyalTour,——specimenofseveralhundredssuch,whichhehadtodointhecourseofthenextforty—fiveyears。
"FriendAlgarotti,charmingtalker,attendedhim;whoelse,officialandnon—official,asknot。TheJourneyistobecircuitous;tocombinevariousbusinesses,andalsotohaveitsamusements。TheywentbyCustrin;glancingatoldknownCountry,whichisatitsgreenestinthisseason。ByCustrin,acrosstheNeumark,intoPommern;afterthatbyanintricatewindingroute;
reviewingregiments,inspectinggarrisons,nowherenowthere;
doingallmannerofinspections;talkingIknownotwhat;oftenestlodgingwithfavoredGenerals,ifitsuited。DistancetoKonigsberg,bythedirectroad,isabout500miles;bythiswindingone,itmusthavebeen800:Journeythithertookninedaysinall。ObliquelythroughPommern,almosttothecoastoftheBaltic;theirultimatumthereaplacecalledCoslin,wheretheyreviewedwithstrictness,——omittingColberg,asmallSea—Fortressnotfarrearward,timebeingshort。ThenceintoWest—Preussen,intoPolishTerritory,andswiftlyacrossthat;keepingDantziganditsnoiseswideenoughtotheleft:onenightinPoland;
andthenexttheyareinOst—Preussen,placecalledLiebstadt,——
againonhome—ground,anddiligentlyreviewingthere。
"ThereviewatLiebstadtisremarkableinthis,Thattheregiments,oneregimentespecially,notbeingwhatwasfit,acertainGrenadier—Captaingotcashieredonthespot;andtheoldCommandanthimselfwassoonafterpensioned,andmoregentlysenthisways。SostrictishisMajesty。Contrariwise,hefoundLieutenant—GeneralvonKatte’sGarrison,atAngerburg,nextday,inaveryhighperfection;andColonelPosadowsky’sregimentspeciallyso;withwhichlattergentlemanhelodgedthatnight,andmadehimfartherhappybytheORDEROFMERIT:ColonelPosadowsky,GarrisonofAngerburg,faroffinEast—Preussen,ChevalieroftheOrderofMerithenceforth,ifweevermeethimagain。TothegoodoldLieutenant—GeneralvonKatte,whonodoubtdinedwiththem,hisMajestyhanded,onthesameoccasion,aPatentofFeldmarschall;——intendssoontomakehimGraf;anddidit,asreadersknow。BothColonelandGeneralattendedhimthenceforth,stillbyacircuitousroute,toKonigsberg,toassistinthesolemnitiesthere。ByGumbinnen,byTrakehnen,——theStudofTrakehnen:thatalsohisMajestysaw,andmadereviewof;
notwithoutemotion,wecanfancy,asthesleekcoltsweretrottedoutonthosenewterms!AtTrakehnen,KatteandtheColonelwouldbehisMajesty’sguests,forthenighttheystayed。Thisistheirextremepointeastward;Konigsbergnowliesagoodwaywestofthem。ButatTrakehnentheyturn;and,Saturday,16thJuly,1740,afteranotherhundredmilesorso,alongthepleasantvalleyofthePregel,gettoKonigsberg:readytobeginbusinessonMondaymorning,——onSundayifnecessary。"[FromPreuss,
Thronbesteigung,pp。382,385;Rodenbeck,p。16;&c。]
OnSundaytheredidakindofmemorabilityoccur:TheHULDIGUNGS—
PREDIGT(HomageSermon)——byareverendHerrQuandt,chiefPreacherthere。Whichwouldnotbeworthmentioning,exceptforthiscircumstance,thathisMajestyexceedinglyadmiredQuandt,andthoughthimamostDemosthenicgenius,andthebestofalltheGermans。Quandt’stextwasinthesewords:"Thinearewe,David,andonthyside,thouSonofJesse;Peace,peacebeuntothee,andpeacebetothinehelpers;forthyGodhelpeththee。"
[FirstChronicles,xii。18。]
Quandtbegan,inasonorousvoice,raisinghisfacewithrespectfulenthusiasmtotheKing,"Thinearewe,OFriedrich,andonthyside,thouSonofFriedrichWilhelm;"andsowenton:
sermonbrief,sonorous,compact,andstickingclosetoitstext。
Friedrichstoodimmovable,gazingontheeloquentDemosthenicQuandt,withadmirationheightenedbysurprise;——wroteofQuandttoVoltaire;and,withsustainedenthusiasm,tothePubliclongafterwards;andtotheendofhisdayswaswonttomakeQuandtanexception,ifperhapsalmosttheonlyone,fromGermanbarbarism,anddisharmonyofmindandtongue。SothatpoorQuandtcannoteversincegetentirelyforgotten,butneedsalwaystoberakedupagain,forthisreasonwhenothershaveceased:analmostmelancholyadventureforpoorQuandtandAnother!——
TheHULDIGUNGwasrathergrand;HarangueandCounter—haranguepermittedtotheduelength,andproperfestivitiesfollowing:
buttheSTANDEcouldnotmanagetogetintovocalcovenantingordeliberatingatall;FriedrichbeforeleavingBerlinhadansweredtheirhintorrequestthatway,inthesewords:"WearelikewisegraciouslyinclinedtogivetothesaidSTANDE,beforetheirHomaging,thesameassurancewhichtheygotfromourHerrFather’sMajesty,whoisnowwithGod,"——generalassurancethattheir,andeverybody’s,"Rightsshallbemaintained[asweseetheyare],——
withwhich,itishoped(HOFFENTLICH),theywillbecontent,andgettopeaceuponthismatter(SICHDABEIBERUHIGENWERDEN)。"
[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。380。]Itwillbebestforthem!
Friedrichgaveawaymuchcornhere;thatis,openedhisCorn—
Granaries,oncharitableterms,andtookallmannerofmeasures,hereasinotherplaces,forreliefofthescarcitytherewas。
Oftheilluminations,neversogrand,thereadershallhearnothing。A"Torch—ProcessionoftheStudents"turnedoutaprettything:——Studentsmarchingwithtorches,withfinewind—music,regulatedenthusiasm,finesuccinctaddresstohisMajesty;
andalltheworldescorting,withits"LiveForever!"FriedrichgavetheStudents"aTRINK—GELAG(BanquetofLiquors),"howarrangedIdonotknow:andtotheSpeakeroftheAddress,alikelyyounggentlemanwithVONtohisname,heofferedanEnsigncyofFoot("inCamas’sFusileerRegiment,"——CamasnowgonetoParis,embassying),whichwasjoyfullyaccepted。
Joyfullyaccepted;——anditturnedoutwellforallparties;
theyounggentlemanhavingrisen,wheremeritwastheruleofrising,andbecomeGrafandLieutenant—General,inthecourseofthenextfiftyyears。[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。387。]
HuldigungandTorch—Processionover,theRoyalPartydashedrapidlyoff,nextmorning(21stJuly),homewardsbytheshortestroute;and,inthreedaysmore,byFrankfurt—on—Oder(whereaglimpseofGeneralSchwerin,afavoriteGeneral,wastobehad),weresafeinBerlin;receivedwithacclamation,naywith"blessingsandeventears"somesay,afterthispleasantFortnight’sTour。GeneralSchwerin,itisrumored,willbemadeFeldmarschallstraightway,theMunchowsaregettingsopromotedaswesaid;edictsarecomingout,muchbusinessspeedingforward,andthetonguesofmenkeepwagging。
BerlinHULDIGUNG——andindeed,byDeputy,thatofnearlyalltheotherTowns——wasonTuesday,August2d。AtBerlinhisMajestywaspresentinthematter:but,exceptthegazingmultitudes,andhussarregiments,rankedintheSchloss—Platzandstreetsadjoining,therewaslittleofnotableinit;theupholsteryarrangementsthriftyintheextreme。HisMajestyispronetothriftinthisoftheHuldigung,aswouldappear;perhapsregardingtheaffairasscenicmerely。Here,besidesthisofBerlin,isanotherinstancejustoccurring。Itappears,theQuedlinburgpeople,shutoutfromthelightoftheactualRoyalCountenance,cannotdotheirHomagingbyDeputy,withoutatleastaPortraitoftheKingandoftheQueen:Howmanage?askstheOfficialPerson。"HaveaCoupleofDaubsdoneinBerlin,threeguineasapiece;sendthemthese,"answerstheKing!["OndoitfairebarbouillerdemauvaisescopiesaBerlin,lapiecea20
ecus。{enditalic>——FR。"Preuss,ii。(Urkundenbuch,s。222)。]
HereintheBerlinSchloss,scenetheLargeHallwithindoors,thereisa"platformraisedthreesteps;andonthis,bywayofakindofthrone,anarm—chaircoveredwitholdblackvelvet;"thewholesurmountedbyacanopyalsoofoldblackvelvet:notasublimepieceofupholstery;butreckonedadequate。
Friedrichmountedthethreesteps;stoodbeforetheoldchair,hisPrincesstandingpromiscuouslybehindit;hisRittersinquantity,infrontandtorightandleft,onthefloor。SomeMinisteroftheInteriorexplainssuitably,notattoogreatlength,whattheyaremetfor;somejuniorOfficial,juniorbutofquality,respondedbriefly,forhimselfandhisorder,totheeffect,"Yea,truly:"
theHULDIGUNGENS—URKUNDE(DeedofHomage)wasthenreadbytheproperClerk,andtheRittersallswore;audibly,withliftedhands。ThisistheRitterHuldigung。
HisMajestythenstepsouttotheBalcony,forOathandHomageofthegeneralPopulation。Generalpopulationgaveitsoath,and"threegreatshoutsoverandabove。""ESLEBEDERKONIG!"thrice,withalltheirthroats。UponwhichashowerofMedals,"Homage—
Medals,"goldandsilver(quantitynotmentioned)raineddownuponthem,induesuccession;andwerescrambledfor,intheusualway。
"HisMajesty,"theywrite,andthisisperhapstheonepointworthnotice,"hisMajesty,contrarytocustomandtoetiquette,remainedontheBalcony,sometimeaftertheceremony,perhapsafullhalf—hour;"——silentthere,"withhislookfixedattentivelyontheimmeasurablemultitudebeforetheSchloss;andseemedsunkindeepreflection(BETRACHTUNG):"——analmostawfullyeloquentthoughinarticulatephenomenontohisMajesty,thatofthosemultitudesscramblingandhuzzaingthere![Preuss,
Thronbesteigung,p。389。]
These,withtheCleveone,arealltheHornagingsFriedrichwaspersonallypresentat;theothershedidbyDeputy,allinoneday(2dAugust);andwithoutfuss。Scenicmattersthese;inwhich,exceptwherehecan,asintheKonigsbergcase,combineinspectionsandgravebusinesseswiththem,hetakesnointerest。
However,heisnow,forthesakechieflyofinspectionsandotherrealobjects,bentonaJourneytoCleve;——thefellowofthattoKonigsberg:Konigsberg,Preussen,theeasternmostoutlyingwingofhislongstragglingDominions;andthenCleve—Julich,itscounterpartonthesouthwesternside,——therealso,withsuchcontingencieshangingoverCleve—Julich,itwerepropertomakesomemusteringoftheFrontiergarrisonsandaffairs。[InregardtotheDayofHULDIGUNGatCleve,whichhappilyisnotoftheleastmomenttous,Preuss(Thronbesteigung,
p,390)andHelden—Geschichte,(i。423)seemtobeinflatcontradiction。]HisMajestysopurposes:andwepurposeagaintoaccompany,——notforinspectionandmustering,butforanunexpectedreason。ThegraveJourneytoClevehasanappendage,orcomicside—piece,hangingtoit;morethanoneappendage;whichthereadermustnotmiss!——Beforesettingout,readthesetwoFractions,snatchedfromtheDiplomatistWastebag;
lookingwell,wegaintheresomemomentaryviewofFriedrichonthebusinessside。OfFriedrich,andalsoofAnother:——
Sunday,14thAugust,1740,Dickens,whohasbeenreportinghithertoinafavorable,thoughinalanguidexotericmanner,notbeinginanyheightoffavor,Englandorhe,——hadexpressAudienceofhisMajesty;beingsummonedouttoPotsdamforthatend:
"Sundayevening,about7P。M。"——MajestyintendingtobeoffontheCleveJourneyto—morrow。LetusaccompanyDickens。Readersmayremember,GeorgeII。hasbeenatHanoverforsomeweekspast;
Bielfelddiligentlygrinningeuphemismsandcourtlygraciositiestohim;Truchsesshinting,onopportunity,thatthereareperhapsweightybusinessesintherear;which,however,ontheBritannicside,seemloathtostart。BritannicMajestyismuchatalossabouthisSpanishWar,sodangerousforkindlingFranceandthewholeworlduponhim。InregardtowhichPrussiamightbesoimportant,fororagainst。——This,incompressedform,iswhatDickenswitnessesatPotsdamthatSundayeveningfrom7P。M。:——
"Audiencelastedaboveanhour:Kingturneddirectlyuponbusiness;wishestohave’CategoricalAnswers’astoThreePointsalreadysubmittedtohisBritannicMajesty’sconsideration。
Clearfootingindispensablebetweenus。Whatyouwantofme?sayit,andbeplain。WhatIwantofyouis,Thesethreethings:——
"1。GuaranteeforJulichandBerg。AlltheworldknowsWHOSE
theseDuchiesare。WillhisBritannicMajestyguaranteemethere?
Andifso,How,andtowhatlengths,willheproceedaboutit?
"2。SettlementaboutOst—Friesland。ExpectancyofOst—Frieslandsoontofallheirless,whichwasgrantedmelongsince,thoughHanovermakeshagglings,counter—claimings:ImusthavesomeSettlementaboutthat。
"3。ThelikeaboutthoseperplexitiesinMecklenburg。
Nodifficultythereifwetryheartily,noristheresuchpressinghasteaboutit。
"ThesearemythreeclaimsonEngland;andIwilltrytoserveEnglandasfarinreturn,ifitwilltellmehow。’Ah,bewareofthrowingyourselfintothearmsofFrance!’modestlysuggestsDickens。——’Well,ifFrancewillguaranteemethoseDuchies,andyouwillnotdoanything?’answershisMajestywithafinelaugh:
’EnglandIconsidermymostnaturalfriendandally;butImustknowwhatthereistodependonthere。Princesareruledbytheirinterest;cannotfollowtheirfeelings。Letmehaveanexplicitanswer;say,atWesel,whereIamtobeonthe24th,’"tendayshence。BritannicMajestyisatHanover,andcananswerwithinthattime。"Thishetwicetoldme,’Wesel,24th,’inthecourseofourinterview。PermitmetorecommendthemattertoyourLordship,"——
myLordHarrington,nowattendingtheBritannicMajesty。
"Duringthewholeaudience,"addsDickens,"theKingwasinextremegoodhumor;andnotonlyheardwithattentionalltheconsiderationsIoffered,butwasnottheleastoffendedatanyobjectionsImadetowhathesaid。Itisundoubtedlythebestwaytobehavewithfranknesstohim。"TheselastareDickens’sownwords;letthemmodestlybeamemorandumtoyourLordship。
ThisKinggoeshimselfdirecttothepoint;andstraightforwardness,asaprimarycondition,willprofityourLordshipwithhim。[Dickens(inState—PaperOffice,17thAugust,1740)。]
Mosttrueadvice,this;——andwouldperhapsbefollowed,wereitquiteeasy!Butthingsareverycomplicated。AndtheBritannicMajesty,muchplaguedwithSpanishWarandParliamentarynoisesinthatunquietIsland,isdoubtlessgladtogetawaytoHanoverforalittle;andwouldfainbeonholidayinthesefineruralmonths。
Whichisnotwellpossibleeither。Jenkins’sEar,risingatlastlikeafieryportent,haskindledtheLondonFogoveryonder,inastrangeway,andthemurkystagnancyisallgettingonfire;
theEnglishintent,asseldomanyNationwas,togivetheSpaniardsaneffectualbeating。Whichtheyhopetheycan,——thoughunexpecteddifficultieswilloccur。And,inthemeanwhile,whatariddleofpotentialitiesforhispoorMajestytoread,andpickhiswayfrom!——
Bielfeld,inspiteofallthis,wouldfainbefullofadmirationfortheBritannicMajesty。Confessesheisbelowthemiddlesize,infactatinylittlecreature,butthenhisshapeisperfect;
legmuchtobecommended,——whichhisMajestyknows,standingalwayswithonelegslightlyadvanced,andtheOrderoftheGarteronit,thatmankindmaytakenotice。HereisBielfeld’sdescriptionfaithfullyabridged:——
"Bigblueeyes,perhapsratherofparboiledcharacter,thoughproudenough;eyesflushwithhisfaceormore,ratherINRELIEF
thanonalevelwithit,"——AFLEURDETETE,afterthemannerofafish,ifonemightsayso,andbetokeningsuchanintellectbehindthem!"Attitudeconstrained,legadvancedinthatway;
hiscourtierscallitmajestic。Biggishmouth,strictlyshutinthecrescentorhorse—shoeform(FERMEEENCROISSANT);curlywig(ANOEUDS,remindingyouoflamb’s—wool,colornotknown);
eyebrows,however,youcanseeareashy—blond;generaltintisfundamentallylivid;butwheningoodcase,theroyalskinwilltaketolerablybrightcolors(PRENDD’ASSEZBELLESCOULEURS)。
Astotheroyalmindandunderstanding,whatshallBielfeldsay?
ThathisMajestysometimesmakesingeniousandjustremarks,andislaudablyseriousatalltimes,andcanmajesticallyholdhistongue,andstandwithadvancedleg,andeyesrathermorethanflush。Senseofhisdignityishigh,asitoughttobe;ongreatoccasionsyouseeprideandakindofjoymantlingintheroyalcountenance。Hasbeenknowntomakeexplosions,andtobeveryfurioustoPrinceFredandothers,whenprickedinto:——but,myfriend,whatmortalisexemptfromfailings?MajestyreadstheEnglishNewspaperseverymorninginbed,whichareoftenbiting。
MajestyhashisWalmoden,aHanoverianImproperFemale,CountessofYarmouthsocalled;quiet,autumnal,faircomplexioned,stupid;
whoismuchacomforttohim。Shekeepsoutofmischief,politicalorother;andgivesBielfeldagraciousnodnowandthen。"
[Bielfeld,i。158。]Harringtonisheretoo;——andBritannicMajestyandhearebusygoverningtheEnglishNationontheseterms。——
WereturnnowtothePrussianMajesty。
AboutsixweeksafterthatofDickens,——CleveJourneyandmuchelsenowended,——PraetoriustheDanishEnvoy,whomweslightlyknewatReinsbergonce,givesthistestimony;writinghometoanExcellencyatCopenhagen,whosenameweneednotinquireinto:——
"TogiveyourExcellencyajustideaofthenewGovernmenthere,ImustobservethathithertotheKingofPrussiadoesasitwereeverythinghimself;andthat,exceptingtheFinanceMinistervonBoden,whopreachesfrugality,andfindsforthatdoctrineuncommonacceptance,almostgreatereventhanintheformerreign,hisMajestyallowsnocounsellingfromanyMinister;sothatHerrvonPodewils,whoisnowtheworkinghandinthedepartmentofForeignAffairs,hasnothinggivenhimtodobuttoexpeditetheordershereceivesfromtheCabinet,hisadvicenotbeingaskeduponanymatter;andsoitiswiththeotherMinisters。
PeoplethoughtthelossofHerrvonThulmeyer,"veteranForeignMinisterwhomwehavetransientlyheardofintheDouble—Marriagetime,andperhapshaveevenseenatLondonorelsewhere,[Died4thAugust(Rodenbeck,p。20)。]"wouldbeirreparable;soexpertwashe,andalivingarchiveinthatbusiness:however,hispostseemstohavevanishedwithhimself。HissalaryisdividedbetweenHerrvonPodewils,"whomthereaderwillsometimeshearofagain,"Kriegsrath(CouncillorofWar)vonIlgen,"sonoftheoldgentlemanweusedtoknow,"andHofrathSellentinwhoisRENDANT
OFTHELEGATIONS—KASSE"(Ambassadors’Paymaster,wecouldguess,AmbassadorBodyhavingspecialtyofcashassignedit,comparablewiththespecialtyofvaluereceivedfromit,inthisstrictfrugalCountry),——neitherofwhichtwolatternamesshallthereaderbetroubledwithfarther。"Agoodmanyresolutions,andresponsesbytheKing,Ihaveseen:theycombinelaconicexpressionwithanadmirablebusinesseye(GESCHAFTSBLICK)。
Unhappily,"——atleastforusintheDiplomaticline,foryourExcellencyandmeunhappily,——"thereisnobodyabouttheKingwhopossesseshiscompleteconfidence,orwhomwecanmakeuseofinregardtothenecessaryintroductionsandpreliminarymovements。
Herebyitcomesthat,——ascertainthingscanonlybehandledwithcautiousforesightandcircumlocution,andinthewayofbeginningwide,——anAmbassadorhereismorethrownoutofhiscoursethaninanyotherCourt;andknowsnot,thoughhisobjectweresteadilyinsight,whatroadtostrikeintoforgettingtowardsit。"[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。377(2dOctober,1740)。]
ChapterIII。
FRIEDRICHMAKESANEXCURSION,NOTOFDIRECTSORT
INTOTHECLEVECOUNTRIES。
KingFriedrichdidnotquitekeephisdayatWesel;indeedthis24thwasnotthefirstday,butthelastofseveral,hehadappointedtohimselfforfinistothatJourneyintheCleveCountries;Journeyrathercomplextoarrange。Hehasseveralbusinessesaheadinthoseparts;and,asusual,willgroupthemwithgoodjudgment,andthriftoftime。Notinspectionsmerely,butamusements,meetingswithfriends,especiallyFrenchfriends:
thequestionis,howtogroupthemwithskill,sothatthenecessaryelementsmayconvergeattherightmoment,andoneshotkillthreeorfourbirds。ThisisFriedrich’sfineway,perceptibleinalltheseJourneys。TheFrenchfriends,flyingeachonhisowntrack,withhisownloadofimpediments,VoltairewithhisMadameforinstance,areadifficultelementinsuchproblem;
andtherehasbeen,andis,muchschemingandcorrespondingaboutit,withinthelastmonthespecially。
VoltaireisnowatBrussels,withhisDuChatelet,prosecutingthatendless"lawsuitwiththeHouseofHonsbruck,"——whichhe,andwe,arebothdesiroustohavedonewith。HeisattheHague,too,nowandthen;printing,abouttoprint,theANTI—MACHIAVEL;
corresponding,torightandleft,quarrellingwithVanDurenthePrinter;lives,whilethere,intheVIEILLECOUR,inthevastduskyroomswithfadedgilding,andgrandoldBookshelves"withthebiggestspider—websinEurope。"BrusselsishisplaceforLaw—
Consultations,generalfamilyresidence;theHagueandthatoldspider—webPalaceforcorrectingProof—sheets;doingone’sownprivatestudies,whichweneverquiteneglect。FainwouldFriedrichseehim,fainheFriedrich;butthereisadivineEmilie,thereisaMaupertuis,thereare——Inshort,neverweresuchdifficulties,inthecookingofaneggwithwaterboiling;
andmuchvaincorrespondencehasalreadybeenonthatsubject,asonothersequallyextinct。Correspondencewhichisnotpleasantreadingatthistime;theratherasnoreadercan,withoutendlesssearching,evenunderstandit。Correspondencelefttous,notinthecosmic,elucidatedorlegiblestate;leftmainlyastheEditorialrubbish—wagonschosetoshootit;likeatumbledquarry,liketheruinsofasackedcity;——avoidablebyreaderswhoarenotforcedintoit![HerrPreuss’sedition(OEuvresdeFrederic,vols。xxi。xxii。xxiii。)hascomeoutsincetheabovewaswritten:itisagreeablyexceptional;being,forthefirsttime,correctlyprinted,andtheeditorhimselfhavingmostlyunderstoodit,——thoughthereaderstillcannot,onthetermsthereallowed。]Takethefollowingselectbricksassample,whichareofsomeuse;thegeneralHeadingis,KINGFRIEDERICTOM。DEVOLTAIRE(attheHague,oratBrussels)。
"CHARLOTTENBURG,12thJUNE,1740。——……MydearVoltaire,resistnolongertheeagernessIhavetoseeyou。Doinmyfavorwhateveryourhumanityallows。IntheendofAugust,IgotoWesel,andperhapsfarther。Promisethatyouwillcomeandjoinme;forI
couldnotlivehappy,nordietranquil,withouthavingembracedyou!ThousandcomplimentstotheMarquise,"divineEmilie。"Iambusywithbothhands[Corn—Magazines,FreePress,AbolitionofTorture,andmuchelse];workingattheArmywiththeonehand,atthePeopleandtheFineArtswiththeother。"
"BERLIN,5thAUGUST,1740。——……IwillwritetoMadameduChatelet,incompliancewithyourwish:"markit,reader。
"Tospeaktoyoufranklyconcerningherjourney,itisVoltaire,itisyou,itismyFriendthatIdesiretosee;andthedivineEmiliewithallherdivinityisonlytheAccessoryoftheApolloNewtonized。
"IcannotyetsaywhetherIshalltravel[incognitointoforeignpartsalittle]ornottravel;"therehavebeenrumors,perhapsprivatewishes;but——……"Adieu,dearfriend;sublimespirit,first—bornofthinkingbeings。Lovemealwayssincerely,andbepersuadedthatnonecanloveandesteemyoumorethanI。
VALE。FEDERIC。"
"BERLIN,6thAUGUST[whichisnextday]。——YouwillhavereceivedaLetterfrommedatedyesterday;thisisthesecondIwritetoyoufromBerlin;Ireferyoutowhatwasintheother。Ifitmustbe(FAUT)thatEmilieaccompanyApollo,Iconsent;butifIcouldseeyoualone,thatiswhatIwouldprefer。Ishouldbetoomuchdazzled;Icouldnotstandsomuchsplendorallatonce;itwouldoverpowerme。IshouldneedtheveilofMosestotempertheunitedradianceofyourtwodivinities。"……Inshort,don’tbringher,ifyouplease。
"REMUSBERG[poeticforREINSBERG],8thAUGUST,1740。——……MydearVoltaire,IdobelieveVanDurencostsyoumoretroubleandpainsthanyouhadwithHENRIQUATRE。InversifyingtheLifeofaHero,youwrotethehistoryofyourownthoughts;butincoercingascoundrelyoufencewithanenemywhoisnotworthyofyou。"
Topunishhim,andcutshorthisprofits,"PRINT,then,asyouwish[yourowneditionoftheANTI—MACHIAVEL,togoalongwithhis,andtripthefeetfromit]。FAITESROULERLAPRESSE;erase,change,correct;doasyouseebest;yourjudgmentaboutitshallbemine。"——"IneightdaysIleavefor[wherethinksthereader?
"DANTZIG"deliberatelyprintalltheEditors,carefulPreussamongthem;overturningtheterrestrialazimuthsforus,andmakingdaynight!]——forLeipzig,andreckononbeingatFrankfurtonthe22d。
Incaseyoucouldbethere,Iexpect,onmypassage,togiveyoulodging!AtCleveorinHolland,Idependforcertainonembracingyou。"[Preuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xx。
pp。5,19—21;Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。226,&c。(notworthciting,incomparison)。]
IntrinsicallytheFriedrichcorrespondenceatthistime,withVoltaireespecially,amongmanyfriendsnowonthewingtowardsBerlinandsendingletters,has,——ifyouareforcedintostrugglingforsomeunderstandingofit,anddogettoreadpartsofitwiththeeyesofFriedrichandVoltaire,——hasacertainamiability;andisnothinglikesowasteanddrearyasitlooksinthechaoticorsacked—citycondition。Friedrichwriteswithbrevity,oftenestonpracticalities(theANTI—MACHIAVEL,thecomingInterview,andthelike),evidentlynotimetospare;
writesalwayswithconsiderablesincerity;withfriendliness,muchadmiration,andaningenuousvivacity,toM。deVoltaire。
Voltaire,athisleisureinBrusselsortheOldPalaceanditsspider—webs,writesmuchmoreexpansively;notwithinsincerity,heeither;——withendlessairygraciosities,andingenioustwirls,andtouchesofflatteringunction,whichlatter,heisaware,mustnotbelaidontoothick。Asthus:——
InregardtotheANTI—MACHIAVEL,——Sire,deigntogivemeyourpermissionsastothescoundrelofaVanDuren;wellworthwhile,Sire,——"ITisamonumentforthelatestposterity;theonlyBookworthyofaKingforthesefifteenhundredyears。"
Thisisastrongishtrowelful,thrownondirect,withadroitness;
andeventhishasakindofsincerity。Safer,however,todoitintheobliqueorreflexway,——byAmbassadorCumas,forexample:——
"Iwilltellyouboldly,Sir[youM。deCamas],IputmorevalueonthisBook(ANTI—MACHIAVEL)thanontheEmperorJulian’sCAESAR,orontheMAXIMSofMarcusAurelius,"——Idoindeed,havingakindofpropertyinitwithal![Voltaire,OEuvres,lxxii。280(toCamas,18thOctober,1740)。]
Infact,Voltairetooisbeautiful,inthispartoftheCorrespondence;butmuchinatwitter,——theQueenofSheba,notthesedateSolomon,inprospectofwhatiscoming。Heplumeshimselfalittle,weperceive,tohisd’ArgentalsandFrenchCorrespondents,onthissublimeintercoursehehasgotintowithaCrownedHead,thecynosureofmankind:———Perhapsevenyou,mybestfriend,didnotquiteknowme,andwhatmeritsIhad!
Plumeshimselfalittle;butstudiestobemodestwithal;hasnotmuchofthepeacock,andoftheturkeyhasnothing,tohisoldfriends。Allwhichisverynaiveandtransparent;naturalandevenpretty,onthepartofM。deVoltaireastheweakervessel。——
Fortherest,itiscertainMaupertuisisgettingunderwayatParistowardstheCleverendezvous。Brussels,too,issoneartheseCleveCountries;withintwodays’gooddriving:——ifonlythetimesandrouteswouldrightlyintersect?
Friedrich’sintentionisbynomeansforastraightjourneytowardsCleve:heintendsforBaireuthfirst,thenbackfromBaireuthtoCleve,——makingahugesouthwardelbowonthemap,withBaireuthforapexorturning—point:——inthismannerhewillmakethetimessuit,andhaveaconvergenceatCleve。ToBaireuth;——whoknowsifnotfarther?Allsummertherehasgonefitfullyarumor,thathewishedtoseeFrance;perhapsParisitselfincognito?
Therumor,whichwasheardevenatPetersburg,[Raumer’s
Beitrage(EnglishTranslation,London,1837),p。15
(Finch’sDespatch,24thJune,1740)。]isnowsunkdeadagain;
butprivately,thereisnodoubt,aglimpseofthesublimeFrenchNationwouldbewelcometoFriedrich。HecouldnevergettoTravellinginhisyoungtime;missedhisGrandTouraltogether,muchashewishedit;andheiscapableofpranks!——Enough,onMondaymorning,15thAugust,1740,[Rodenbeck,p。15,slightlyinerror:seeDickens’sInterview,supra,p。187。]FriedrichandSuiteleavePotsdam;earlyenough;go,byLeipzig,bytheroutealreadyknowntoreaders,throughCoburgandtheVoigtlandregions;Wilhelminahasgotwarning,sitseagerlyexpectingherBrotherintheHermitageatBaireuth,gladdestofshrillsisters;
andfullofanxietieshowherBrotherwouldnowbe。Thetravellingpartyconsisted,besidestheKing,ofsevenpersons:PrinceAugustWilhelm,King’snextBrother,Heir—apparentiftherecomenochildren,nowabriskyouthofeighteen;LeopoldPrinceofAnhalt—
Dessau,OldDessauer’seldest,whatwemaycallthe"YoungDessauer;"ColonelvonBorck,whomweshallhearofagain;
ColonelvonStille,alreadyheardof(gravemenoffifty,thesetwo);milk—beardMunchow,anAdjutant,youngestofthepromotedMunchows;Algarotti,indispensablefortalk;andFredersdorf,theHouse—StewardanddomesticFactotum,oncePrivateinSchwerin’sRegiment,whomBielfeldsoadmiredatReinsberg,foreseeingwhathewouldcometo。OneofFriedrich’slateactswastogiveFactotumFredersdorfanEstateofLand(smallenough,Ifancy,butwithcountry—houseonit)forsolacetotheleisureofsousefulaman,——studiousofchemistrytoo,asIhaveheard。Seveninall,besidestheKing。[Rodenbeck,p。19(andforChamberlainFredersdorf’sestate,p。15)。]DirecttowardsBaireuth,incognito,andatthetopoftheirspeed。Wednesday,17th,theyactuallyarrive。PoorWilhelmina,shefindsherBrotherchanged;becomeaKinginfact,andsternlysolitary;aloneinsoul,evenasaKingmustbe![Wilhelmina,ii。322,323。]——
"Algarotti,oneofthefirstBEAUX—ESPRITSofthisage,"asWilhelminadefineshim,——FriendAlgarotti,theyoungVenetiangentlemanofelegance,induskyskin,inverywhitelinenandfrills,withhisfervidblackeyes,"doestheexpensesoftheconversation。"Heisfullofelegantlogic,hasspeculationsonthegreatworldandthelittle,onNature,Art,Papistry,Anti—
Papistry,andtakesuptheOperainanearnestmanner,ascapableofbeingaschoolofvirtueandthemoralsublime。HisrespectableBooksontheOperaandothertopicsarenowallforgotten,andcravenottobementioned。Tomeheisnotsupremelybeautiful,thoughmuchthegentlemaninmannersasinruffles,andingeniouslylogical:——ratheryellowtome,inmindasinskin,andwithataintofobsoleteVenetianMacassar。ButtoFriedrichheisthrice—dear;wholovestheSharpfacetedcutoftheman,anddoesnotobjecttohisyelloworExtinct—Macassarqualitiesofmind。
ThankstothatwanderingBaltimoreforpickingupsuchajewelandcarryinghimNorthward!AlgarottihimselflikestheNorth:hereinourhardyclimates,——especiallyatBerlin,andwerehislovedFriedrichNOTaKing,——Algarotticouldbeveryhappyinthelibertyallowed。AtLondon,wherethereisnoKing,ornonetospeakof,andplentyoffreeIntelligences,Carterets,Lytteltons,youngPittsandthelike,heisalsowell,wereitnotforthehorridsmokeuponone’slinen,andthelittleornoFrenchofthoseproudIslanders。
Wilhelminaseemstolikehimhere;isglad,atanyrate,thathedoesthecostsofconversation,betterorworse。Intherestisnohope。Stille,Borckareaccomplishedmilitarygentlemen;butoftacitnature,reflective,practical,ratherthandiscursive,anddonotwastethemselvesbyincontinenceoftongue。Stille,byhismilitaryCommentaries,whicharestillknowntosoldiersthatread,maintainssomelastingremembranceofhimself:Borckweshallseeengagedinasmallbitofbusinessbeforelong。AstoMunchow,theJEUNEMORVEUXofanAdjutant,he,thoughhismannersarewellenough,andhewearsmilitaryplumesinhishat,isstillanunfledgedyoungcreature,"billstillyellow,"sotospeak;——
andmarkshimselfchieflybyavisiblehankeringafterthattroublesomecreatureMarwitz,whoisalwayscoquetting。
Friedrich’sconversation,especiallytomeWilhelmina,seems"GUINDE,setonstilts,"likewisetherearefrequentcutsofbanterinhim;anditispainfullyevidenthedistinguishesmySisterofAnspachandherfoolishHusband,whomhehasinvitedoverhitherinamosteagermanner,beyondwhatapoorWilhelminawithheroldlovecanpretendto。Patience,myshrillPrincess,BeautyofBaireuthandtheworld;letushopeallwillcomerightagain!MyshrillPrincess——whohasamelodiousstrengthlikethatofwar—fifes,too——knowshowtobepatient;andveilsmanythings,thoughofahighlyunhypocriticalnature。
ThesewereThreegreatDaysatBaireuth;Wilhelminaistocomesoon,andreturnthevisitatBerlin。TowaitupontheKing,knownthoughincognito,"theBishopofBamberg"camedrivingover:
[Helden—Geschichte,i。419。]Schonborn,AustrianKanzler,orwho?HisoldCityweoncesaw(andplentyofhangedmalefactorsswingingroundit,duringthatJOURNEYTOTHE
REICH);——buttheBishophimselfnevertoourknowledge,Bishopbeingabsentthen,IhopeitisthesameBishopofBamberg,whomaFriendofBusching’s,touringthereaboutthatsametime,sawdininginaveryextraordinarymanner,withmedievaltrumpeters,"withwaitersinspursandbuff—belts;"[Busching’s
Beitrage;——Schlosser(HistoryoftheEighteenthCentury)alsoquotesthescene。]ifitisnot,Ihavenottheslightestshadowofacquaintancewithhim,——
therehavebeensomanyBishopsofBambergwithwhomonewishestohavenone!OnthethirddayFriedrichandhiscompanywentaway,towardsWurzburg;andWilhelminawasleftalonewithherreflections。"Ihadhadsomuchtosaytohim;Ihadgotnothingsaidatall:"alas,itiseverso。"TheKingwassochanged,grownsomuchbigger(GRANDI),youcouldnothaveknownhimagain;"
standsfinelyerectandatfullbreadth,everyinchaKing;
hisverystature,youwouldsay,increased。——Adieu,myPrincess,pearlofPrincesses;allreaderswillexpectyourreturn—visitatBerlin,whichistobesoon。
FRIEDRICHSTRIKESOFFTOTHELEFT,ANDHASAVIEWOF
STRASBURGFORTWODAYS。
ThroughWurzburg,Frankfurt—on—Mayn,speedsFriedrich;——
WilhelminaandmankindunderstandthatitishomewardsandtoCleve;butatFrankfurt,indeepestprivacy,thereoccursasuddenwhirlsouthward,——uptheRhine—Valley;directtowardsStrasburg,forasightofFranceinthatquarter!SohasFriedrichdecided,——
notquitesuddenly,onnewLettershere,ornewcomputationsaboutCleve;butbyforethoughttakenatBaireuth,asratherappears。
FromFrankfurttoStrasburg,say150miles;fromStrasburghome,isnotmuchfartherthanfromFrankfurthome:itcanbedone,then;husht!
Theincognitoistoberigorous:FriedrichbecomesCOMTEDUFOUR,aPrussian—Frenchgentleman;PrinceAugustWilhelmisGrafvonSchaffgotsch,AlgarottiisGrafvonPfuhl,Germansthesetwo;
whatLeopold,theYoungDessauer,calledhimself,——stilllesswhattheothers,orwhethertheotherswerethereatall,andnotshovedon,directtowardsWesel,outofthewayasislikelier,——
canremainuncertaintoreadersandme。FromFrankfurt,then,onMondaymorning,22dAugust,1740,asIcompute,througholdknownPhilipsburgCampaigncountry,andthelinesofEttlingenandStollhofen;theretheRoyalPartyspeedseagerly(weatherverybad,asappears):anditiscertaintheyareatKehlonTuesdayevening;lookingacrossthelongRhineBridge,Strasburganditssteeplesnowcloseathand。
ThislookstobearomanticfinepassageintheHistoryoftheyoungKing;——thoughintruthitisnot,andprovesbutafeeblestoryeithertohimorus。Concerningwhich,however,thereader,especiallyifheshouldhearthatthereexistspreciseAccountofit,TwoAccountsindeed,onefromtheKing’sownhand,willnotfailofacertaincravingtobecomeacquaintedwithdetails。
Thiscraving,foolishratherthanwise,weconsideritthriftiesttosatisfyatonce;andshallgivetheKing’sNARRATIVEentire,thoughitisajinglingleanscraggyPiece,partlyrhyme,"inthemannerofBachaumontandLaChapelle;"writtenatthegallop,afewdayshence,anddespatchedtoVoltaire:——"You,"dearVoltaire,"wishtoknowwhatIhavebeenabout,sinceleavingBerlin;
annexedyouwillfindadescriptionofit,"writesFriedrich。
[OEuvres,xxii。25(Wesel,2dSeptemher,1740)。]OutofVoltaire’sandotherpeople’swaste—baskets,ithasatlengthbeenfishedup,patchbypatch,andpastedtogetherbyvictoriousmodernEditors;andhereitisagainentire。TheotherNarrative,whichgotintotheNewspaperssoonafter,islikewiseofauthenticnature,——Fassmann,ourpooroldfriend,confirmingit,ifthatwereneedful,——andishappilyinprose。[GiveninHelden—Geschichte,i。420—423;——seelikewiseFassmann’sMerkwurdigsterRegierungs—Antritt
(pooroldBookonFRIEDRICH’SACCESSION);Preuss(Thronbesteigung,pp。395—400);&c。&c。]
HoldingthesetwoPieceswelltogether,andgivingtheKing’sfaithfullytranslated,inacompletestate,itwillbepossibletosatisfyfoolishcravings,andmakethisStrasburgAdventureluminousenough。
KINGFRIEDRICHTOVOLTAIRE(fromWesel,2dSeptember,1740),CHIEFLYINDOGGEREL,CONCERNINGTHERUNTOSTRASBURG。
Partofit,incorrect,inVoltaire,OEuvres
(scandalousPiecenowcalledMemoires,onceViePriveeduRoidePrusse),ii。24—26;
finally,inPreuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,
xiv。156—161,therealandcompleteaffair,asfishedupbyvictoriousPreussandothers。
"IhavejustfinishedaJourney,intermingledwithsingularadventures,sometimespleasant,sometimesthereverse。YouknowI
hadsetoutforBaireuth,"——BRUXELLESthebeautifulFrenchEditorwrote,whichmakesEgyptiandarknessofthePiece!——"toseeaSisterwhomIlovenolessthanesteem。Ontheroad[thitherorthence;orlikeliest,THERE],AlgarottiandIconsultedthemap,tosettleourrouteforreturningbyWesel。Frankfurt—on—Mayncomesalwaysasaprincipalstage;——Strasburgwasnogreatroundabout:wechosethatrouteinpreference。TheINCOGNITOwasdecided,namespitchedupon[ComteDufour,andtheothers];
storyweweretotell:infine,allwasarrangedandconcertedtoanicetyaswellaspossible。WefanciedweshouldgettoStrasburginthreedays[fromBaireuth]。
ButHeaven,whichdisposesofallthings,Differentlyregulatedthisthing。
Withlank—sidedcoursers,LinealdescendantsfromRosinante,Withploughmeninthedressofpostilions,Blockheadsofimpertinentnature;
Ourcarriagesstickingfastahundredtimesintheroad,Wewentalongwithgravityataleisurelypace,Knockingagainstthecrags。
Theatmosphereinuproarwithloudthunder,Therain—torrentsstreamingovertheEarthThreatenedmankindwiththeDayofJudgment[VERYBADWEATHER],Andinspiteofourimpatience,Fourgooddaysare,inpenance,Lostforeverinthesejumblings。
Maisleciel,quidetoutdispose,Regladifferemmentlachose。
Avecdecoursiersefflanques,EnlignedroitesissusdeRosinante,Etdespaysansenpostillonsmasques,Dutorsderaceimpertinente,Notrecarrosseencentlieuxaccroche,Nousallionsgravement,d’uneallureindolente,Gravitantcontrelesrochers。
Lesairsemusparlebruyanttonnerre,Lestorrentsd’eaurepandussurlaterre,Dudernierjourmenacaientleshumains;
Etmalgrenotreimpatience,QuatrebonsjoursenpenitenceSontpourjamaisperdusdanslescharrains。
"Hadallourfatalitiesbeenlimitedtostoppagesofspeedonthejourney,weshouldhavetakenpatience;but,afterfrightfulroads,wefoundlodgingsstillfrightfuler。
ForgreedylandlordsSeeinguspressedbyhungerDid,inamorethanfrugalmanner,Intheirinfernalhovels,Poisoninginsteadoffeeding,Stealfromusourcrowns。
Oagedifferent[ingoodcheer]fromthatofLucullus!
Cardeshotesinteresses,Delafaimnousvoyantpresses,D’unefaconplusquefrugale,Dansunechaumiereinfernale,Ennousempoisonnant,Nousvolaientnosecus。
OsiecledifferentdestempsdeLucullus!
"Frightfulroads;shortofvictual,shortofdrink:norwasthatall。Wehadtoundergoavarietyofaccidents;andcertainlyourequipagemusthavehadasingularair,forineverynewplacewecameto,theytookusforsomethingdifferent。
SometookusforKings,Someforpickpocketswelldisguised;
Othersforoldacquaintances。
Attimesthepeoplecrowdedout,Lookedusintheeyes,Likeclownsimpertinentlycurious。
OurlivelyItalian[Algarotti]swore;
FormyselfItookpatience;
TheyoungCount[mygayyoungerBrother,eighteenatpresent]
quizzedandfrolicked;
ThebigCount[Heir—apparentofDessau]silentlyswunghishead,WishingthisfineJourneytoFrance,Inthebottomofhisheart,mostchristianlyattheDevil。
Lesunsnousprenaientpourdesrois,D’autrespourdesfilouscourtois,D’autrespourgensdeconnaissance;
Parfoislepeuples’attroupait,EntrelesyeuxnousregardaitEnbadaudscurieux,remplisd’impertinence。
NotrevifItalienjurait,Pourmoijeprenaispatience,LejeuneComtefolatrait,LegrandComtesedandinait,EtcebeauvogagedeFranceDanslefonddesoncoeurchretiennementdamnait。
"Wefailednot,however,tostrugglegraduallyalong;atlastwearrivedinthatStronghold,where[asprefacetotheWarof1734,knowntosomeofus]——
Wherethegarrison,toosupple,SurrenderedsopiteouslyAfterthefirstblurtofexplosionFromthecannonoftheFrench。
Ouagarnison,troupeflasque,SerenditsipiteusementApreslapremierebourasqueDucanonfrancaisfoudroyant。
YourecognizeKehlinthisdescription。ItwasinthatfineFortress,——where,bytheway,thebreachesarestilllyingunrepaired[Reichbeingaslowcorpusinregardtosuchthings],——thatthePostmaster,amanofmoreforesightthanwe,askedIfwehadgotpassports?
No,saidItohim;ofpassportsWeneverhadthewhim。
StrongonesIbelieveitwouldneedTorecall,tooursideofthelimit,SubjectsofPlutoKingoftheDead:
But,fromtheGermanicEmpireIntothegallantandcynicalabodeOfMessieursyourprettyFrenchmen,——
Ajollyandbeamingair,Rubicundfaces,notignorantofwine,Thesearethepassportswhich,legibleifyoulookonus,Ourtroopproducestoyouforthatend。
Non,luidis—je,despasse—portsNousn’eumesjamaislafolie。
Ilenfaudrait,jecrois,defortsPourressusciteralavieDechezPlutonleroidesmorts;
Maisdel’empiregermaniqueAusejourgalantetcyniqueDeMessieursvosjolisFrancais,Unairrebondissantetfrais,Unefacerougeetbachique,Sontlespasse—portsqu’ennostraitsVousproduiticinotreclique。
"No,Messieurs,saidtheprovidentMasterofPassports;
nosalvationwithoutpassport。SeeingthenthatNecessityhadgotusinthedilemmaofeithermanufacturingpassportsourselvesornotenteringStrasburg,wetooktheformerbranchofthealternativeandmanufacturedone;——inwhichfeat,thePrussianarms,whichIhadonmyseal,weremarvellouslyfurthersome。"
Thisisafact,astheoldNewspapersandconfirmatoryFassmannmoredirectlyappriseus。"TheLandlord[orPostmaster]atKehl,havingsignifiedthattherewasnocrossingwithoutPassport,"
Friedrich,atfirst,somewhattakenaback,bethoughthimofhiswatch—sealwiththeRoyalArmsonit;andsoonmanufacturedthenecessaryPassport,signetedindueform;——which,however,gaveasuspiciontotheInnkeeperastothequalityofhisGuest。
Afterwhich,Tuesdayevening,23dAugust,"theyatoncegotacrosstoStrasburg,"saysmyNewspaperFriend,"andputupattheSIGN
OFTHERAVEN,there。"OrinFriedrich’sownjingle:——
"WearrivedatStrasburg;andtheCustom—housecorsair,withhisinspectors,seemedcontentwithourevidences。
Thesescoundrelsspiedus,Withoneeyereadingourpassport,Withtheotheroglingourpurse。
Gold,whichwasalwaysaresource,Whichbrought,JovetotheenjoymentOfDanaewhomhecaressed;
Gold,bywhichCaesargovernedTheworldhappyunderhissway;
Gold,moreadivinitythanMarsorLove;
Wonder—workingGoldintroducedusThatevening,withinthewallsofStrasburg。"
[Giventhusfar,withseveralslighterrors,inVoltaire,ii。
24—26;——theremainder,longunknown,hadtobefishedup,patchbypatch(Preuss,OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。
159—161)。]
Cessceleratsnousepiaient,D’unoeillepasse—portlisaient,Del’autrelorgnaientnotrebourse。
L’or,quitoujoursfutderessource,ParlequelJupinjouissaitDeDanae,qu’ilcaressait;
L’or,parquiCesargouvernaitLemondeheureuxsoussonempire;
L’or,plusdieuqueMarsetl’Amour,Lesoir,danslesmursdeStrasbourg。
Saddoggerel;permissibleperhapsasasampleoftheFriedrichmanufacture,surelynototherwise!Thereremainsyetmorethanhalfofit;readersseewhattheirfoolishcravinghasbroughtuponthem!Doggereloutofwhichnoclearstory,suchstoryasthereis,canbehad;though,excepttheexaggerationandcontortion,thereisnothingoffictioninit。WeflytotheNewspaper,happilyatleastaprosecomposition,whichbeginsatthispoint;andshallusetheDoggerelhenceforthasillustrationonlyorasrepetitionintheFriedrich—mirror,ofathingOTHERWISEmadecleartous:——
HavinggotintoStrasburgandtheRAVENHOTEL;FriedrichnowonFrenchgroundatlast,oratleastonHalf—French,German—French,isintenttomakethemostofcircumstances。TheLandlord,withoneofFriedrich’sservants,isstraightwaydespatchedintothepropercoffee—housestoraiseasupper—partyofOfficers;politelyasksanylikelyOfficer,"IfhewillnotdoaforeignGentleman[seeminglyofsomedistinction,signifiesBoniface]thehonortosupwithhimattheRaven?"——"No,byJupiter!"answerthemost,intheirvariousdialects:"whoishethatweshouldsupwithhim?"
Three,struckbythesingularityofthething,undertake;andwiththesewemustbecontent。Friedrich——orcallhimM。leComteDufour,withPfuhl,Schaffgotschandsuchescortaswesee——
politelyapologizesontheentranceoftheseofficers:
"Manypardons,gentlemen,andmanythanks。Knowingnobody;
desirousofacquaintance:——sinceyouaresogood,howhappy,byalittleinformality,tohavebroughtbraveOfficerstokeepmecompany,whomIvaluebeyondotherkindsofmen!"
TheOfficersfoundtheirhostamostengaginggentleman:
hissupperwassuperb,plentyofwine,"andoneredkindtheyhadnevertastedbefore,andlikedextremely;"——ofwhichhesentsomebottlestotheirlodgingnextday。Theconversationturnedonmilitarymatters,andwasenlivenedwiththeduesallies。
ThisforeignCountspeaksFrenchwonderfully;abrilliantman,whomtheothersratherfear:perhapssomethingmorethanaCount?
TheOfficers,loathtogo,rememberedthattheirtwobattalionshadtoparadenextmorning,thatitwastimetobeinbed:"Iwillgotoyourreview,"saidtheStrangerCount:thedelightedOfficersundertaketocomeandfetchhim,theysettlewithhimtimeandmethod;howhappy!
Onthemorrow,accordingly,theycallandfetchhim;helooksatthereview;reviewdone,theyaskhimtosupperforthisevening:
"Withpleasure!"and"walkswiththemabouttheEsplanade,toseetheguardmarchby。"Beforeparting,hetakestheirnames,writestheminhistablets;says,withasmile,"Heistoomuchobligedevertoforgetthem。"ThisisWednesday,the24thofAugust,1740;
Field—MarshalBroglioisCommandantinStrasburg,andtheseobligingOfficersare"oftheregimentPiedmont,"——theirnamesontheKing’stabletsIneverheardmentionedbyanybody(ornevertilltheKing’sDoggerelwasfishedupagain)。Field—MarshalBrogliomyreadershavetransientlyseen,afaroff;——"gallopingwithonlyoneboot,"somesay"almostinhisshirt,"attheFordofSecchia,inthoseItaliancampaigns,fiveyearsago,theAustrianshavingstolenacrossuponhim:——hehadafuriousgallop,withnoendofridicule,onthatoccasion;isnowCommandanthere;
andweshallhaveagreatdealmoretodowithhimwithinthenextyearortwo。