首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第69章
  [Adelung,vi。184,206;——"forCronstrom,"ifanyoneiscurious,"seeSchlotzer,SchwedischeBiographie,
  ii。252(invoce)。"]Asorestroke,thisofBergen,toBritannicMajestyandtheFriendsofLiberty;whoneverthelessrefusetobediscouraged。"
  DECEMBER25th,RUSSIANSINBEHALFOFHUMANLIBERTY。"Marchof36,000RussiansfromtheCityofMoscow,thisday;onaverylongjourney,inthehoaryChristmasweather!Most,ChristianMajestyisruinouslyshortofmoney;BritannicMajestyhasstillcredit,andavotingParliament,but,owingtoFrenchinfluenceontheContinent,cangetnorecruitstohire。GraduallydrivenuponRussia,insuchstress,BritannicMajestyhasthisyearhiredforhimselfa35,000
  Russians;30,000regularfoot;4,000dittohorse,and1,000
  Cossacks;——uncommonlycheap,only150,000poundsthelot,not,4
  poundsperheadbytheyear。And,inspiteofmanydifficultiesandhagglings,theyactuallygetonmarch,fromMoscow,25thDecember,1747;andcreepon,allWinter,throughthefrozenpeatswildernesses,throughLithuania,Poland,towardsBohmen,Mahren:
  aretoappearintheRhineCountries,joinedbycertainAustrians;
  andastonishmankindnextSpring。TheirCaptainisoneRepnin,PrinceRepnin,afterwardsfamousenoughinthosePolishCountries;"
  ——whichisnowtheonepointinterestingtousinthething。
  "TheirCaptainWAS,first,tobeLacy,oldMarshalLacy;
  then,failingLacy,’WhynotGeneralKeith?’——butprovestobeRepnin,aftermuchhustlingandintriguing:"Repnin,notKeith,thatistheinterestingpoint。
  "SuchmarchoftheRussians,onbehalfofHumanLiberty,inpayofBritannicMajesty,isasurprisingfact;andconsiderablydiscomposestheFrench。WhobestirthemselvesinSwedenandelsewhereagainstRussiaandit:withnoresult,——exceptperhapstheincidentalone,ofgettingouresteemedoldfriendGuyDickens,nowSirGuy,dismissedfromStockholm,andwehopeputonhalf—payonhisreturnhome。"[Adelung,vi。250,302:——SirGuy,notyetinvalided,"wenttoRussia,"andothererrands。]
  MARSHALKEITHCOMESTOPRUSSIA(September,1747)。
  "Muchhustlingandintriguing,"itappears,inregardtotheCaptaincyoftheseRussians。Concerningwhichthereisnowordworthytobesaid,——exceptforonereasononly,ThatitfinishedofftheconnectionofGeneralKeithwithRussia。ThatthisofseeingRepnin,hisjuniorandinferior,preferredtohim,was,ofmanydisgusts,thelastdropwhichmadethecuprunover;——andledthesaidGeneraltoflingitfromhim,andseeknewfieldsofemployment。FromHamburg,havinggotsofar,headdresseshimself,1stSeptember,1747,toFriedrich,withofferofservice;whograspseagerlyattheoffer:"Feldmarschallyourrank;income,$1,200ayear;income,welcome,allsuitable:"——and,October28th,FeldmarschallKeithfinishes,atPotsdam,alongLettertohisBrotherLordMarischal,inthesewords,worthgiving,asthoseofaveryclear—eyedsoundobserverofmenandthings:——
  "Ihavenowthehonor,and,whichisstillmore,thepleasure,ofbeingwiththeKingatPotsdam;whereheorderedmetocome,"17thcurrent,"twodaysafterhedeclaredmeFieldmarshal:WhereIhavethehonortodineandsupwithhimalmosteveryday。HehasmorewitthanIhavewittotellyou;speakssolidlyandknowinglyonallkindsofsubjects;andIammuchmistakenif,withtheexperienceofFourCampaigns,heisnotthebestOfficerofhisArmy。Hehasseveralpersons,"Rothenburg,Winterfeld,SwedishRudenskjold(justaboutdeparting),nottospeakofD’ArgensandtheFrench,"withwhomhelivesinalmostthefamiliarityofafriend,——buthasnofavorite;——andshowsanaturalpolitenessforeverybodywhoisabouthim。Foronewhohasbeenfourdaysabouthisperson,youwillsayIpretendtoknowagreatdealofhischaracter:butwhatItellyou,youmaydependupon。Withmoretime,Ishallknowasmuchofhimashewillletmeknow;——andallhisMinistryknowsnomore。"[VarnhagenvanEnse,LebendesFeldmarschallsJakobKeith(Berlin,1844,)p。100;
  Adelung,vi。244。]
  AnotableacquisitiontoFriedrich;——andtothetwoKeithswithal;
  forFriedrichattachedbothofthemtohisCourtandservice,aftertheirunluckywanderings;andtooktothemboth,innocommondegree。Aswillabundantlyappear。
  WhilethatRussiaCorpswasmarchingoutofMoscow,CoccejiandhisCommissionsreportfromPommern,thatthePomeranianLaw—stablesarecompletelyclear;thattheNewCourtshave,formanymonthsback,beeninwork,andarenow,attheendoftheYear,fairlyabreastwithit,accordingtoprogram;——have"decidedofOld—
  PendingLawsuits2,400,allthattherewere(oneofthem200yearsold,andfillingseventyVolumes);andofthe994Newones,772;
  notoneLawsuitremainingoverfromthepreviousYear。"AhighlygratifyingbitofnewstohisMajesty;whoanswersemphatically,EUGE!anddirectsthattheLawHerculesproceednowtotheotherProvinces,——totheKur—Mark,now,andBerlinitself,——withhissalutaryindustries。Naminghim"GrandChancellor,"moreover;
  thatistosay,underanewtitle,HeadofPrussianLaw,——oldArnim,"MinisterofJustice,"havingshownhimselfdisaffectedtoLaw—Reform,andgotrebukedinconsequence,andsulkilygoneintoprivatelife。[Stenzel,iv。321;Ranke,iii。389。]
  InFebruaryofthisYear,1747,Friedrichhadsomethinglikeastrokeofapoplexy;"sanksuddenlymotionless,oneday,"andsatinsensible,perhapsforhalfanhour:totheterrorandhorrorofthoseabouthim。Hemiplegia,hecallsit;rushofbloodtothehead;——probablyindigestion,orgoutyhumors,exasperatedbyover—
  fatigue。Whichoccasionedgreatrumorintheworld;andatParis,toVoltaire’shorror,reportsofhisdeath。Hehimselfmadelightofthematter:[ToVoltaire,22dFebruary,1747(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。164);seeIB。164n。]anditdidnotprovetohavebeenimportant;wasneverfollowedbyanythingsimilarthroughhislonglife;andproducednochangeinhisoften—
  waveringhealth,orinhishabits,whichwerealwayssteady。HeiswritingMEMOIRS;settling"Colonies"(onhiswastemoors);
  improvingHarbors。WaitingwhenthisEuropeanWarwillend;
  politelydeaftotheoffersofBritannicMajestyastotakingtheleastpersonalshareinit。
  ChapterIII。
  EUROPEANWARFALLSDONE:TREATYOFAIX—LA—CHAPELLE。
  ThepreparationsforCampaign1748wereonalargerscalethanever。BritannicSubsidies,aNewParliamentbeingofwillingmind,areopulenttoadegree;192,000men,60,000Austriansforoneitem,shallbeintheNetherlands;——coupledwiththisremarkablenewclause,"Andtheyaretobethereinfact,andnotonpaperonly,"andwithatare—and—tretof30or40percent,astoooftenheretofore!Holland,underitsnewStadtholder,isstanchofpurpose,ifofnothingelse。The35,000Russians,trampingalong,areactuallydawningoverthehorizon,towardsTeutschland,——KingFriedrichstandingtoarmsalonghisSilesianBorder,vigilant"CordonofTroopsalltheway,"inwatchofsuchquestionabletransit。[InADELUNG,vi。110,143,167,399("April,1747—August,1748"),accountofthemoreandmorevisibleill—willoftheCzarina:"jealousy"aboutSweden,aboutDantzig,Poland,&c。&c。]
  BritannicMajestyandParliamentseemresolutetotry,oncemore,totheutmost,thepowerofthebreeches—pocketindefendingthissacredCauseofLibertysocalled。
  Breeches—pocketMINUSmostotherrequisites:alas,withsuchmethodsasyouhave,whatcancomeofit?RoyalHighnessofCumberlandisavaliantman,knowingofWarlittlemorethantheWhiteHorseofHanoverdoes;——certainofruinagain,atthehandsofMarechaldeSaxe。Sothinkmany,andhavetheirdismalmisgivings。"SaxehavingeatenBergen—op—Zoombeforeoureyes,whatcanwithstandtheteethofSaxe?"Infact,thereremainsonlyMaestricht,ofconsiderable;andthenHollandisasgoodashis!
  AsforKingLouis,glory,withfundsrunningout,andthepotceasingtoboil,haslostitscharmtoanafflictedFranceandhim。
  KingLouis’swishesareknown,thislongwhile;——andLigonier,generouslydismissedbyhimafterLauffeld,hasbroughtexpresswordtothateffect,andoutlineofthemodesttermsproposedinone’shourofvictory,withpotceasingtoboil。
  Onasudden,too,"March18th,"——wintryblastsandhailstormsstillraging,——MarechaldeSaxe,regardlessofDomesticHunger,tookthefield,strongerthanever。Manoeuvredabout;bewilderingthemindofRoyalHighnessandtheStadtholder("WillhebesiegeBreda?
  Willhedothis,willhedothat?")——poorHighnessandpoorStadtholder;who"didnotagreewelltogether,"andhadnotthehalfoftheirforcescomein,nottospeakofhandlingthemwhencome!Bewildermentofthesetwooncecompleted,MarechaldeSaxemade"abeautifulmarchuponMaestricht;"and,April15th,openedtrenches,averyVesuviusofartillery,beforethatplace;
  RoyalHighnessgazingintoit,inadolefulmanner,fromtheadjacentsteeple—tops。RoyalHighness,valor’sself,hastoadmit:
  "Suchanoutlook;nothalfofusgottogether!The60,000Austriansarebut30,000;the——Infact,youwillhavetomakePeace,whatelse?"[HisLetters,inCoxe’sPelham
  ("March29th—April2d,1748"),i。405—410。]Nothingelse,ashasbeenevidenttopracticalOfficialPeople(especiallytofrugalPelham,Chesterfieldandotherleadingheads)forthesetwomonthslastpast。
  Inaword,those35,000Russiansarestillfarawayunderthehorizon,whenthoughtsofanewCongress,"CongressofAix—la—
  Chapelle,"arebusyingthepublicmind:"Meremoonshineagain?"
  "Somethingrealthistime?"——AndonandfromMarch17th(LordSandwichfirstontheground,andRobinsonfromViennacomingtohelp),theactualCongressbeginsassemblingthere。April24th,theCongressgetsactuallytobusiness;veryintentondoingit;
  atleastthethreemainparties,France,England,Holland,aresupremelyso。Who,finding,forfivediligentdays,nothingbuthaggleandobjectiononthepartoftheothers,didbythemselvesmeetundercloudofnight,"nightofApril29th—30th;"and——bringthePreliminariestoperfection。Andhavethemsignedbeforedaybreak;whichis,ineffect,signing,oratleastfixingascertain,theTreatyitself;sothatArmisticecanensuestraightway,andtheWaressentiallyend。
  Afixedthing;thePurseholdershavingsigned。Onthesaferearofwhich,yourrecipientSubsidiaryPartiescanargueandprotest(astheEmpress—QueenandherKaunitzvehementlydid,togreatlengths),andgraduallycomeinandfinish。Which,inthecourseofthenextsixmonths,theyalldid,Empress—QueenandExcellencyKaunitznotexcepted。Andso,October18th,1748,alldetailsbeing,intheinterim,eithergotsettled,orgotflungintocornersasunsettleable(mostlythelatter),——Treatyitselfwassignedbyeverybody;andtherewas"PeaceofAix—la—Chapelle。"
  Uponwhich,excepttoremarktransientlyhowinconclusiveaconclusionitwas,mereendofwarbecauseyourpowderisrunout,meretrucetillyougatherbreathandgunpowderagain,wewillspendnowordinthisplace。[CompletedetailsinADELUNG,vi。
  225—409:"October,1747,"Ligonierreturning,andfirstrumorofnewCongress(226);"17thMarch,1748,"Sandwichcome(323);
  "April29th—30th,"meetundercloudofnight(326);Kaunitzprotesting(339):"2dAugust,"Russianstohaltandturn(397);
  "areoverintotheOberpfalz,magazinesaheadatNurnberg;"inSeptember,gettoBohmenagain,andwinterthere:"18thOctober,1748,"Treatyfinished(398,409);Treatyitselfgiven(IB。,Beylage,44)。SeeGentleman’sMagazine,andOLDNEWSPAPERSof1748;Coxe’sPelham,ii。
  7—41,i。366—416。]
  "TheTreatyofAix—la—Chapellewasdoneinahurryandahuddle;
  greatlytoMariaTheresa’sdisgust。’Whynotgoonwithyourexpenditures,yeSea—Powers?Canmoneyandlifebespentbetter?
  IhaveyetconquerednexttonothingfortheCauseofLibertyandmyself!’ButtheSea—Powersweretiredofit;theDutchespecially,whohadbeenhoistedwithsuchdifficulty,tendedstrongly,NewStadtholdernotwithstanding,toplumpdownagainintostableequilibriumonthebroad—bottomprinciple。Huddleupthematter;
  endit,wellifyoucan;anywayendit。TheTreatycontainedmanyArticles,nowbecomeforgettabletomankind。ThereisonlyOneArticle,andtheWantofOne,whichshallconcernusinthisplace。
  TheOneArticleis:guaranteebyalltheEuropeanPowerstoFriedrich’sTreatyofDresden。Punctuallygotasbargainedfor,——
  Frenchespeciallywilling;BritannicMajestyperhapsalittlelanguid,buthisMinisterspositiveonthepoint;sothatFriedrioh’sEnvoyhadnotmuchdifficultyatAix。Andnow,Friedrich’sOwnershipofSilesiarecognizedbyallthePowerstobefinalandunquestionable,surelynothingmoreiswanted?Nothing,——
  exceptkeepingofthissolemnstipulationbyallthePowers。Howitwaskeptbysomeofthem;inwhatsensesomeofthemarekeepingitevennow,weshallseebyandby。
  "TheWantofanArticlewas,onthepartofEngland,concerningJENKINS’SEAR。ThereisnottheleastconclusionarrivedatonthatimportantSpanish—EnglishQuestion;blindbeginningofalltheseconflagrations;andwhich,initsmeaningtothesomnambulantNation,issoimmense。Nonoticetakenofit;huddledtogether,somehastyshovelfulortwoofdiplomaticashescastonit,’Asgoodasextinct,yousee!’Leftsmoking,whenalltherestisquenched。Considerablefeelingtherewas,onthispoint,intheheartofthepoorsomnambulantEnglishNation;muchdumborsemi—
  articulategrowlingonsuchaPeace—Treaty:’Wehavearrivednowhere,then,byallthisfighting,andsquandering,andperilousstumblingamongthechimney—pots?Spain(onitsownshowing)owedus95,000pounds。Spain’sdebttoHanover;yes,youtakecareofthat;someoldsixpennymatter,whichnobodyeverheardofbefore:
  andofSpain’shugedebttoEnglandyoudropnohint;ofthe95,000
  pounds,clearmoney,duebySpain;orofone’slibertytonavigatetheHighSeas,none!’[PROTESTOFENGLISHMERCHANTSAGAINST,&c。
  ("May,1748")giveninADELUNG,vi。353—358。]APeacethereverseofapplaudedinEngland;thoughthewiserSomnambulants,muchmorePittandFriends,whoarebroadawakeontheseGermanpoints,maywellbethankfultoseesuchaWarendonanyterms。"
  ——Well,surelythisoldadmitted95,000poundsshouldhavebeenpaid!And,toamoralcertainty,RobinsonandSandwichmusthavemadedemandofitfromtheSpaniard。ButthereisnogettingoldDebtsin,especiallyfromthatquarter。"KingFriedrich[letmeinterrupt,foramoment,withthispoorcompositeNote]istryinginSpainevennow,——eversince1746,whenTermagant’sHusbanddied,andanewKingcame,——forpaymentofolddebt:TwooldDebts;quitetolerablyjustbothofthem。KingFriedrichkeepstryingtill1749,threeyearsinall:and,intheend,getsnothingwhatever。
  Nothing,——exceptsomeMerinoRamsintheinterim,"giftfromthenewKingofSpain,Icansuppose,whichprovedextremelyusefulinourWoolIndustries;"and,fromthesamepoliteFerdinandVI。,aPorcelainVasefilledwithSpanishSnuff。"Thatwasall!——
  KingFriedrich,letmenotefarther,isgettingdecidedlydeepintosnuff;holdsbySPANIOL(adryyellowpungency,analogoustoLundy—
  footorIrish—Blackguard,knowntosnuffyreaders);alwaysbySpaniol,wesay;andmoreespecially"thekindusedbyherMajestyofSpain,"thenowDowagerTermagant:[Ordersthiskind,fromhisAmbassadorinParis,"30thSeptember,1743:"theearliestextanttraceofhissnuffinghabits(Preuss,i。409)。——NOTEFARTHER(ifinteresting):"TheTermagantstilllastedasDowager,consumingSPANIOLatleast,forneartwentyyears(died11thJuly,1766);
  ——thenewKing,FerdinandVI。,washerSTEPson,notherson;
  hewentmad,poorsoul,anddied(10thAugust,1759):uponwhich,CarlosofNaples,ourown’BabyCarlos’thatoncewas,succeededinSpain,’KingCarlosIII。ofSpain;’leavinghisSon,ayoungboyundertutelage,asKingoftheTwoSicilies(King’FerdinandIV。,’
  whodidnotdie,buthadhisdifficulties,till1825)。DonPhilip,whohadfoughtsointhoseSavoyPasses,andgotthebitofParmesanCountry,died1765,theyearbeforeMamma。"]which,also,istoberemembered。Dryasdustadds,inhissweetlyconsecutiveway:"Friedrichwasveryexpensiveabouthissnuff—boxes;woretwobigrichboxesinhispockets;fiveorsixstoodontablesabout;
  andmorethanahundredinstore,comingoutbyturnsforvariety。
  Thecheapestofthemcost300pounds(2,000thalers);hehadthemashighas1,500pounds。Athisdeath,therewerefound130ofvariousvalues:theywerethesubstanceofallthejewelryhehad;
  besidesthesesnuff—boxes,twogoldwatchesonly,andaverysmallmodicumofrings。HadyearlyforpersonalExpenditure1,200,000
  thalers[180,000poundsofCivilList,asweshouldsay];
  SPENT33,000poundsofit,andyearlygavetherestawayinRoyalbeneficences,aidofburntVillages,inundatedProvinces,andmultifariousPATER—PATRIAEobjects。"[Preuss,i。409,410,]——
  InregardtoJENKINS’SEAR,myConstitutionalFriendcontinues:——
  "SILESIAandJENKINS’SEAR,weoftensay,werethetwobitsofrealitiesinthisenormoushurly—burlyofimaginations,insaneambitions,andzerosandnegativequantities。NegativeBelleislegoeshome,notwithGermanycutinFourandputunderguidanceoftheFirstNationoftheUniverse(soextremelyfitforguidingselfandneighbors),butwiththeFirstNationitselfreducedalmosttowalletandstaff;bankrupt,beggared——’Yes,’itanswers,’inallbutglory!HavenotwegainedFontenoy,Roucoux,Lauffeld;
  andstrong—placesinnumerable[mostlyinastateofdry—rot]?
  DidmeneverfightasweFrenchmen;combiningitwiththeatricalentertainments,too!SublimeFrance,FirstNationoftheUniverse,willtryanotherflight(ESSOR),wereshebreathedalittle!’
  "Yes,anewESSORerelong,andperhapssurpriseherselfandmankind!Thelossesofmen,moneyandresource,underthismademptyEnterpriseofBelleisle’s,wereenormous,palpabletoFranceandallmortals:butperhapstheseweretriflingtothereplacementofthembysuchGLOIREastherehadbeen。AGLOIREofplungingintoWaronnocauseatall;andwithanissueconsistingonlyoffoulgasesofextremelevity。Messieursareofconfessedpromptitudetofight;andtheirtalentforit,insomekinds,isverygreatindeed。Butthistreatingofbattleandslaughter,ofdeath,judgmentandeternity,aslightplay—housematters;thisofrisingintosuchtranscendencyofvalor,astosnapyourfingersinthefaceoftheAlmightyMaker;this,Messieurs,givemeleavetosayso,isathingthatwillconductyouandyourPREMIERENATIONtotheDevil,ifyoudonotalterit。Inevitable,Itellyou!
  Yourroadliesthatway,then?Goodmorning,Messieurs;letmestillhope,Not!"
  DiplomatistKaunitzgainedhisfirstgloriesinthisCongressofAix;whicharestillgreatintheeyesofsome。Agenowthirty—
  seven;anativeoftheseWesternparts;buthenceforth,bydegreesevermore,theshiningstarandguideofAustrianPoliciesdownalmosttoourownNewEpoch。As,unluckily,hewillconcernusnotalittle,intimecoming,letusreadthisNote,asforeshadowofthemanandhisdoings:——
  "ThegloryofCount,ultimatelyPrince,vonKaunitz—Rietberg,isgreatinDiplomaticCirclesofthepastCentury。’ThegreatestofDiplomatists,’theyallsay;——andsurelyitisreckonedsomethingtobecomethegreatestinyourline。Fartherthanthis,tothereadersofthesetimes,Kaunitz—Rietberg’sglorydoesnotgo。
  Agreatcharacter,greatwisdom,lastinggreatresultstohisCountry,readersdonottraceinKaunitz’sdiplomacies,——onlytemporarygreatresults,orwhatheandtheby—standersthoughtsuch,toKaunitzhimself。HewastheSupremeJove,weperceive,inthatextinctOlympus;andregardswithsublimepity,notunalliedtocontempt,allotherdiplomaticbeings。Amansparingofwords,sparingevenoflooks;willhardlylifthiseyelidsforyoursake,——willliftperhapshischin,inslightmonosyllabicfashion,andstalksuperlativelythroughtheotherdoor。KingofthevanishedShadows。AdeterminedhaterofFreshAir;rodeunderglasscover,onthefinestday;madetheveryEmpressshutherwindowswhenhecametoaudience;fed,cautiouslydaring,onboiledcapons:moreI
  remembernot,——exceptalsothathewouldsuffernomentionofthewordDeathbyanymortal。[Hormayr,OEsterreichischerPlutarch,iv。(3tes),231—283。]Amosthigh—sniffing,fantastic,slightlyinsolentshadow—king;——ruled,inhistime,thenowvanishedOlympus;andhadthedifficultglory(defectiveonlyinresult)ofunitingFranceandAustriaAGAINSTthepooroldSea—
  Powermilk—cows,forthepurposeofrecoveringSilesiafromFriedrich,afewyearshence!"——Thesearewondrousresults;
  hiddenunderthehorizon,notveryfareither;andwillastonishBritannicMajestyandallreaders,inafewyears。
  MARECHALDESAXEPAYSFRIEDRICHAVISIT。
  InSummer,1749,MarechaldeSaxe,theothershinyfigureofthismadBusinessoftheNetherlands,paidFriedrichavisit;hadthehonortobeentertainedbyhimthreedays(July13th—16th,1749),inhisRoyalCottageofSans—Souciseemingly,inhischoicestmanner。Curiosity,whichisnownothinglikesovividasitthenwas,wouldbegladtolistenalittle,inthismeetingoftwoSuns,orofoneSunandoneimmenseTar—Barrel,orAtmosphericMeteorreallyofshiningnature,andtakenforaSun。ButtheBooksaresilent;nottheleastdetail,orhint,orfeaturegrantedus。
  OnlyFancy;——andthisofSmelfungus,bywayoflongfarewelltooneoftheparties:——……"ItwasatTongres,orinhead—quartersnearit,10thOctober,1746,——Battleexpectedonthemorrow[BattleofROUCOUX,overtowardsHerstal,whichweusedtoknow],—thatM。Favart,Saxe’sPlaywrightandTheatre—Director,gaveoutincheerfuldoggerelonfalloftheCurtain,theannouncement:——
  ’Demainnousdonneronsrelache,QuoiqueleDirecteurs’enfache,Vousvoircombleroitnosdesirs:
  ’To—morrowisnoPlay,TotheManager’sregret,Whosesolestudyistokeepyouhappy:
  Ondoitcedertoutalagloire;
  Vousnesongesqu’alavictoire,Nousnesongeonsqu’avosplaisires’
  [BiographicUniverselle,xiv。209,?Favart;
  Espagnac,ii。162。]
  But,youbeingbentuponvictory,Whatcanhedo?——
  Dayafterto—morrow,’——
  ’Dayafterto—morrow,’addedhe,takingtheo5cialtone,(inhonorofyourlaurels[gainedalready,sinceyouresolveongainingthem],wewillhavethehonorofpresenting’——suchandsuchagayFarce,toasmanyofyouasremainalive!whichwasreceivedwithgayclappingofhands:admirabletotheUniverse,atleasttotheParisianUNIVERSandoneself。SuchaprodigalityoflightdaringisintheseFrenchgentlemen,skilfullytickledbytheMarechal;
  whousesthisPlaywright,amongotherimplements,forkeepingthemattheproperpitch。Wasthereeverseensuchradiancyofvalor?
  Veryradiantindeed;——yet,itseemstome,gonesomewhatintothephosphorescentkind;shininginthedark,asfishwilldowhenrotten!Warhasactuallyitsseriouscharacter;norisDeathafarcicaltransaction,howeverhighyourgeniusmaygo。Butwhatthen?itistheMarechal’stradetokeepthesepoorpeopleatthecuttingpitch,onanytermsthatwillholdforthemoment。
  "IknownotwhichwasthemostdissoluteArmyeverseenintheworld;butthisofSaxe’swasverydissolute。PlaywrightFavarthadwithalabeautifulcleverWife,——uponwhomthecourtships,munificentblandishments,threateningsandutmostendeavorsofMarechaldeSaxe(inhischaracterofgoat—footedSatyr)couldnotproducetheleastimpression。Forawholeyear,nottheleast。
  WhereupontheGoat—footedhadtogetLETTREDECACHETforher;
  hadto——infact,producethebrutalestAdventurethatisknownofhim,eveninthisbrutalkind。PoorFavart,rushingaboutindespair,notpermittedtorunhimthroughthebelly,anddiewithhisWifeundishonored,hadtoconsolehimself,heandshe;anddoagreeabletheatricalitiesforalivingasheretofore。Letusnotspeakofit!
  "OfSaxe’sGeneralship,whichisnowathingfallenprettymuchintooblivion,Ihavenoauthoritytospeak。Hehadmuchwildnaturalingenuityinhim;cunningrapidwhirlsofcontrivance;
  andgainedThreeBattlesandverymanySieges,amidtheloudestclappingofhandsthatcouldwellbe。Hehadperfectintrepidity;
  nottobeflurriedbyanyamountofperilorconfusion;lookedonthatEnglishColumn,advancingatFontenoywithitsFUEINFERNAL,steadilythroughhisperspective;chewinghisleadenbullet:
  ’Goingtobeatme,then?Well——!’Nobodyneededtobebraver。
  Hehadgreatgood—naturetoo,thoughofhottemperandsofullofmultifariousveracities;asubstratumofinarticulategoodsensewithal,andmuchmagnanimityrunwild,orruntoseed。Abig—
  limbed,swashing,perpendicularkindoffellow;haughtyofface,butjollytoo;withabig,notuglystrut;——captivatingtotheFrenchNation,andfitGodofWar(fitterthan’Dalhousie,’Iamsure!)forthatsusceptivePeople。UnderstoodtheirArmyalso,whatitwasthenandthere;andhow,bytheatricalsandotherwise,togetagreatdealoffireoutofit。Greatdealoffire;——whetherbygradualconflagrationornot,ontheroadtoruinornot;how,hedidnotcare。Inrespectofmilitary’fame’socalled,hehadthegreatadvantageoffightingalwaysagainstbadGenerals,sometimesagainsttheveryworst。Tohisfameanadvantage;tohimselfandhisrealworth,farthereverse。HadhefalleninwithaFriedrich,evenwithaBrowneoraTraun,theremighthavebeendifferentnewsgot。Friedrich(whowasneverstingyinsuchmatters,excepttohisownGenerals,whereitmightdohurt)isprofuseinhiseulogies,inhisadmirationsofSaxe;amiabletosee,andnotinsincere;
  butwhich,perhaps,practicallydonotmeanverymuch。
  "ItiscertaintheFrenchArmyreapednoprofitfromitsexperienceofMarechaldeSaxe,andthehightheatricalities,ornamentalblackguardisms,andridiculeofdeathandlife。Inthelong—runagraverfacewouldhavebeenofbetteraugury。KingFriedrich’ssoldiers,oneobserves,ontheeveofbattle,settletheirbitsofworldlybusiness;andwindup,manyofthem,withahoarsewhisperofprayer。OliverCromwell’ssoldiersdidso,GustafAdolf’s;infact,Ithinkallgoodsoldiers:RoucouxwithaPrinceKarl,LauffeldwithaDukeofCumberland;yougainyourRoucoux,yourLauffeld,HumanStupiditypermitting:butonedayyoufallinwithHumanIntelligence,inanextremelygraveform;——audyour’ELAN,’
  elasticoutburst,thequickestinNature,whatbecomesofit?
  Waitbutanotherdecade;weshallseewhatanArmythishasgrown。
  Cupidity,dishonesty,flounderingstupidity,indiscipline,mistrust;andanelasticoutspurt(ELAN)turnedoftenenoughiutotheformofSAUVE—QUI—PEUT!
  "M。leMarechalsurvivedAix—la—Chapellelittlemorethantwoyears。LivedatChambord,ontheLoire,anEx—RoyalPalace;insuchsplendorasneverwas。Wentdowninarose—pinkcloud,asifofperfectfelicity;ofglorythatwouldlastforever,——whichithasbynomeansdone。Hemadedespatch;escaped,inthisworld,theNemesis,whichoftenwaitsonwhattheycall’fame。’BydiligentserviceoftheDevil,inwaysnotworthspecifying,hesawhimself,November21st,1750,flungprostratesuddenly:’Putridfever!’
  gloomthedoctorsominouslytooneanother:and,November30th,theDevil(Iamafraiditwashe,thoughcladinroseateeffulgence,andmelodiousexceedingly)carriedhimhomeonthosekindterms,asfromaUniverseallofOpera。’Waittill1759,——till1789!’
  murmuredtheDeviltohimself。"
  TRAGICNEWS,THATCONCERNUS,OFVOLTAIREANDOTHERS。
  AbouttwomonthsafterthoseSaxe—FriedrichhospitalitiesatSans—Souci,Voltaire,writing,lateatnight,fromthehospitablePalaceofTitularStanislaus,hasthesewords,tohistrustedD’Argental:——
  LUNEVILLE,4thSEPTEMBER,1749……"MadameduChatelet,thisnight,whilescribblingoverherNEWTON,feltalittletwinge;
  shecalledawaiting—maid,whohadonlytimetoholdoutherapron,andcatchalittleGirl,whomtheycarriedtoitscradle。
  TheMotherarrangedherpapers,wenttobed;andthewholeofthat(TOUTCELA)issleepinglikeadormouse,atthehourIwritetoyou。"Myguardianangels,"poorIsha’n’thavesoeasyadeliveryofmyCATILINA"(myROMESAVED,fortheconfusionofoldCrebillonandthecabals)![OEuvres,lxxiv。57
  (VoltairetoD’Argental)。]……
  Andthen,sixclayslater,hearanotherWitnesspresentthere:——
  LUNEVILLEPALACE,10thSEPTEMBER。"Forthefirstthreeorfourdays,thehealthoftheMotherappearedexcellent;denotingnothingbuttheweaknessinseparablefromhersituation。Theweatherwasverywarm。Milk—fevercame,whichmadetheheatworse。Inspiteofremonstrances,shewouldhavesomeicedbarley—water;drankabigglassofit;——and,someinstantsafter,hadgreatpaininherhead;
  followedbyotherbadsymptoms。"WhichbroughttheDoctorinagain,severalDoctors,hastilysummoned;who,afterdifficulties,thoughtagainthatallwascomiugright。Andso,onthesixthnight,10thSeptember,inquiringfriendshadleftthesick—roomhopefully,andgonedowntosupper,"theratherasMadameseemedinclinedtosleep。ThereremainednonewithherbutM。deSt。Lambert,oneofhermaidsandI。M。deSt。Lambert,assoonasthestrangersweregone,wentforwardandspokesomemomentstoher;butseeinghersleepy,drewback,andsatchattingwithustwo。Eightortenminutesafter,weheardakindofrattleinthethroat,intermixedwithhiccoughs:werantothebed;foundher,senseless;raisedhertoasittingposture,triedvinaigrettes,rubbedherfeet,knockedintothepalmsofherhands;——allinvain;shewasdead!
  "Ofcoursethesupper—partyburstupintoherroom;M。leMarquisdeChatelet,M。deVoltaire,andtheothers。Profoundconsternation:totears,tocriessucceededamournfulsilence。
  VoltaireandSt。Lambertremainedthelastaboutherbed。AtlengthVoltairequittedtheroom;gotoutbytheGrandEntrance,hardlyknowingwhichwayhewent。AtthefootoftheOuterStairs,nearasentry’sbox,hefellfulllengthonthepavement。Hislackey,whowasasteportwobehind,rushedforwardtoraisehim。AtthatmomentcameM。deSt。Lambert;whohadtakenthesameroad,andwhonowhastenedtohelp。M。deVoltaire,onceonhisfeetagain,andrecognizingwhoitwas,said,throughhistearsandwiththemostpatheticaccent,’AH,MONAMI,itisyouthathavekilledhertome!’——andthensuddenly,asifstartingawake,withthetoneofreproachanddespair,’EH,MONDIEU,MONSIEUR,DEQUOIVOUS
  AVISIEZ—VOUSDELUIFAIREUNENFANT(GoodGod,Sir,whatputitintoyourheadto——to——)!’"[LongchampetWagniere,
  MemoiressurVoltaire,ii。250,251;——LongchampLOQUITUR。]
  PoorM。deVoltaire;suddenlybecomewidower,andflungoutuponhisshiftsagain,athistimeoflife!Maynowwander,Ishmael—
  like,whitherhewill,inthishardlonesomeworld。Hisgriefisoverwhelming,mixedwithothersharpfeelingsclueonthematter;
  butdoesnotlastverylong,inthatpoignantform。Hewillturnuponus,inhisnewcapacityofsingle—man,againbrilliantenough,withinyearandday。
  LastAutumn,September,1748,Wilhelmina’soneDaughter,onechild,waswedded;tothatyoungDurchlauchtofWurtemberg,whomwesawgallantingthelittlegirl,toWilhelmina’samusement,someyearsago。Aboutthewedding,nothing;norabouttheweddedlife,whatwouldhavebeenmorecurious:——noWilhelminanowtotellusanything;notevenwhetherMammatheImproperDuchesswasthere。
  FromBerlin,theTwoyoungestPrinces,HenriandFerdinand,attendedatBaireuth;——Mannstein,ouroldRussianfriend,nowPrussianagain,escortingthem。[Seyfarth,ii。76。]TheKing,toobusy,Isuppose,withSilesianReviewsandthelike,sendshisbestwishes,——forindeedtheMatchwasofhissanctioningandadvising;
  ——thoughhiswishesprovedmeredisappointmentinthesequel。
  Friedrichgotno"furtheranceintheSwabian—FranconianCircles,"
  orfavoranywhere,bymeansofthisDurchlaucht;intheend,farthereverse!——Inaword,thehappycouplerolledawaytoWurtemberg(September26th,1748);hetwenty,shesixteen,pooryoungcreatures;andinyearsfollowingbecameunhappytoadegree。
  Therewasbutonechild,anditsoondied。TheyoungSereneLadywasofairyhighspirit;graceful,clever,goodtoo,theysaid;
  perhapsathoughttooproud:——butasforherReigningDuke,therewasseldomseensoluridaSerenity;anditwasdifficulttolivebesidehim。AmostarbitraryHerr,withgloomsandwhims;dim—eyed,ambitious,voracious,andthetemperofanangrymule,——veryfittohavebeenhaltered,inajudiciousmanner,insteadofbeingsettohalterothers!Enough,insixorsevenyearstime,thebrightPairfounditselfgrownthunderous,opaquebeyonddescription;and(in1759)hadtosplitasunderforgood。"OwingtothereigningDuke’sbehavior,"saideverybody。"Hasbehavedso,Iwouldrunhimthroughthebody,ifwemet!"saidhisownBrotheronce:——BrotherFriedrichEugen,aPrussianGeneralbythattime,whomweshallhearof。
  [Preuss,iv。149;Michaelis,iii。451。]WhatthoughtsforourdearWilhelmina,inherlatterweakyears;——lappedineternalsilence,assomuchelseis。
  ChapterIV。
  COCCEJIFINISHESTHELAW—REFORM;FRIEDRICHISPRINTING
  HISPOESIES。
  Intheseyears,FriedrichgoesonvictoriouslywithhisLaw—Reform;
  HerculeanCoccejiwithAssistants,backedbyFriedrich,beneficentlyconqueringProvinceafterProvincetohim;——Kur—Mark,Neu—Mark,Cleve(alleasy,incomparison,afterPommern),andfinallyPreussenitself;——tothejoyandprofitofthesame。
  Cocceji’smethod,sofarastheForeignon—lookercandiscernacrossmuchhaze,seemstobethree—fold:——
  1。Extirpation(painless,wereitpossible)ofthePetti—foggerSpecies;indeed,oftheAttorneySpeciesaltogether:"Seekotheremployments;disappear,allofyou,fromtheseprecincts,underpenalty!"TheAdvocatehimselftakeschargeofthesuit,fromfirstbirthofit;andseesitended,——heknowswithinwhatlimitoftime。
  2。SiftingoutofallincompetentAdvocates,"FollowthatAttorney—
  Company,you;away!"——siftingoutallthese,andretainingineachCourt,withfeesaccuratelysettled,withcharacterstampedsound,oratleastSOUNDEST,thenumberactuallyneeded。Inamilderway,butstillmorestrictly,Judgesstupidorotherwiseincompetentareriddledout;ableJudgesappointed,andtheirsalariesraised。
  3。WhatseemstobeFriedrich’sowninvention,whatinoutcomehethinkswillbethesummaryofallgoodLaw—Procedure:AfinalSentence(three"instances"youcanhave,butthethirdendsitforyou)withintheYear。Good,surely。Ajusticethatintendstobeexactmustfrontthecomplicaciesinaresolutepiercingmanner,andwillnotbetedious。Nayajusticethatisnotmoderatelyswift,——humanheartswaitingforit,thewhile,inacancerousstate,insteadofhopefullyfollowingtheirwork,——what,comparatively,istheuseofitsbeingneversoexact!——
  Simpleenoughmethods;roughandready。Needing,intheexecution,clearhumaneyesight,clearhumanhonesty,——whichhappentobepresenthere,andwithoutwhichno"method"whatevercanbeexecutedthatwillreallyprofit。
  Inthecourseof1748,Friedrich,judgingbyPommernandtheothersymptomsthathisenterprisewassafe,struckavictoriousMedaluponit:"FRIDERICUSBORUSSORUMREX,"pressingwithhissceptretheobliqueBalancetoalevelposture;withEpigraph,"EMENDATOJURE。"
  [LettertoCocceji,accompanyingCopyoftheMedalinGold,"24thJune,1748"(Seyfarth,ii。67n。)。]AndbyNew—year’sday,1750,thematterwasineffectcompleted;and"justicecheap,expeditious,certain,"afactinallPrussianLands。
  Nay,in1749—1751,tocompletethematter,Cocceji’s"ProjectofageneralLaw—Code,"PROJEKTDESCORPORISJURISFRIDERICIANI,cameforthinprint:[Halle,2vols。folio(Preuss,i。316;seeIB。315
  n。,astotheLAW—PROCEDURE,$c。nowsettledbyCocceji)。]totheadmirationofmankind,athomeandabroad;"theFirstCodeattemptedsinceJustinian’stime,"saythey。PROJECTtranslatedintoalllanguages,andreadinallcountries。ApoormildewedcopyofthisCODEXFRIDERICIANUS——doneatEdinburgh,1761,notsaidbywhom;evidentlyboughtatleastTWICE,andmostlyneveryetread(norlikebeingread)——isknowntome,foryearspast,inaghastlymanner!Withouttheleastprofittothispresent,ortoanyotherEnterprise;——thoughpersonsofnameinJurisprudencecallitmeritoriousintheirScience;thefirstrealattemptataCodeinModerntimes。Butthetruthis,thisCoccejiCODEXremainedaPROJECTmerely,neverenactedanywhere。Itwasnottill1773,thatFriedrichmadeactualattempttobuildaLaw—Codeanddidbuildone(thefoundation—storyofone,forhisshare,completedsince),inwhichthisofCoccejihadlittlepart。In1773,thethingmustagainbementioned;the"SecondLaw—Reform,"astheycallit。
  Whatwepracticallyknowfromthistimeis,ThatPrussianLawsuits,throughFriedrich’sReign,doallterminate,orpushattheirutmostforterminating,withinoneyearfrombirth;andthatFriedrich’sfame,asabeneficentJustinian,rosehighinallCountries(strange,inCountriesthathadthoughthimaWar—scourgeandConqueringHero);strange,butundeniable;[See
  Gentleman’sMagazine,xx。215—218("May,1750"):
  eloquent,enthusiasticLETTER,giventhere,"ofBarondeSpontoChancellorD’Aguessan,"ontheseinimitableLawAchievements。]andthathisownPeople,ifmoresilently,yetinpracticeverygladlyindeed,welcomedhisLaw—Reform;and,fromdaytoday,enjoyedthesame,——nodoubtwithoccasionalremembrancewhotheDonorwas。
  OfFriedrich’sLiteraryworks,nobody,notevenFriedrichhimself,willthinkitnecessarythatwesaymuch。Butthefactis,heisdoingagreatmanythingsthatway:inProse,theMEMOIRSOF
  BRANDENBURG,comingoutasPapersintheAcademyfromtimetotime;
  [From1746andonward:firstpublishedcomplete(afterslightrevisionbyVoltaire),Berlin,1751。]inVerse,verysecretasyet,thePALLADION("exquisiteBurlesque,"thinksome),theARTOFWAR
  (reckonedtrulyhisbestPieceinverse):——andwishessometimeshehadVoltaireheretoperfecthimalittle。ThistoowouldbeoneofthepracticalcharmsofVoltaire。[Friedrich’sLettertoAlgarotti(OEuvres,xviii。66),"12thSeptember,1749。"]ForthoughKingFriedrichknowsandremembersalways,thatthesethings,especiallytheVersepart,aremereamusementsincomparison,hehasthecreditablewishtodothesewell;onewouldnotfantasyILLevenontheFlute,ifonecouldhelpit。"Whydoesn’tVoltairecome;asQuantzoftheFlutehasdone?"Friedrich,nowthatVoltairehasfallenwidower,renewshispressings,"Whydon’tyoucome?"Patience,yourMajesty;Voltairewillcome。
  NobodycanwishdetailsinthisDepartment:butthereisonethingnecessarytobementioned,ThatFriedrichintheseyears,1749—1752,hasPrintersoutatPotsdam,andisPrinting,"inbeautifulquartoform,withcopperplates,"totheextentoftwelvecopies,theOEUVRES(Poetical,thatis)DUPHILOSOPHEDE
  SANS—SOUCI。Onlytwelvecopies,Ihaveheard;giftofasinglecopyindicatingthatyouareamongthechoicestofthechosen。
  Copieshavenowfallenextremelyrare(andarenotinrequestatall,withmyreadersorme);buttherewasoneCopywhich,ortheMis—titleofwhich,asOEUVREDE"POESHIE"DUROIMONMAITRE,becamemiraculouslyfamousinayearortwo;——andisstillmemorabletousall!OnVoltaire’sarrival,weshallhearmoreofthesethings。EnoughtosayatpresentthattheOEUVRESDU
  PHILOSOPHEDESANS—SOUCI:AUDONJONDUCHATEAU:AVECPRIVILEGE
  D’APOLLON,——"threethinnishquartovolumes,allthePoetrythenonhand,"——wasfinishedearlyin1750,beforeVoltairecame。
  That,whenVoltairecame,arevisalwasundertaken,anewEdition,withVoltaire’scorrectionsandotherchanges(totalsuppressionofthePALLADION,foronecreditablechange):thatthisEditionwastohavebeeninTwoVolumes;thatOne,accordingly,ratherthickerthantheformersort,wasgotfinishedin1752(sameTITLE,onlythenewDate,and"noDONJONDUCHATEAUthistime"),OneVolumein1752;afterwhich,owingtotheexplosionsthatensued,noSecondcame,noreverwill;——andthattheactualcontentsofthatfar—
  famedOEUVREDE"POESHIE"(numberofvolumeseven)arepointsofmysterytome,atthisday。[HerrPreuss——intheCHRONOLOGICALLIST
  ofFriedrich’sWritings(ausefulaccuratePieceotherwise),andintwootherplaceswherehetries——isveryindistinctonthisofDONJONDUCHATEAU;anditisallbutimpossibletoascertainfromhimWHAT,inanindisputablemanner,theOEUVREDE"POESHIE"mayhavebeen。Herearetheplacesforgroping,ifanothershouldbeinducedtotry:OEuvresdeFrederic,x。
  (Preface,p。ix);IB。xi。(Preface,p。ix);IB。TableChhronologique(inwhatVolumethisis,youcannotyetsay;seemspreliminarytoaGENERALINDEX,whichisinfinitelywanted,buthasnotyetappearedtothisEditor’said),p。14。]
  Friedrich’sotheremploymentsaremultifariousasthoseofaLand’sHusband(notinferiortohisFatherinthatrespect);and,likethebenefitsofthediurnalSun,aretobeconsideredincessant,innumerableand,inresulttous—ward,SILENTalso,impossibletospeakofinthisplace。FromthehighestpitchofState—craft(RussianCzarinanowfallenplainlyhostile,andneedinglynx—eyeddiplomacyeverandanon),downtothatofDredgingandFascine—work(asatStettinandelsewhere),ofOder—canals,ofSoap—boilerCompanies,andMulberry—and—SilkCompanies;nayofordainingWhere,andwherenot,theCrowsaretoheshot,and(owingtocattle—
  murrain)NoVEALtobekilled:[Seyfarth,ii。71,83,81;Preuss,BuchfurJedermann,i。101—109;&c。]dailycomesthetideofgreatandofsmall,anddailythepunctualFriedrichkeepsabreastofit,——andDryasdusthasnotedthedetails,andstuffedthemintoblindsacks,——forfortyyears。
  TheReviewseasons,Inotice,gosomewhatasfollows。ForBerlinandneighborhood,May,orperhapsendofApril(weathernowbright,andgroundfirm);sometimeswithconsiderablepomp("bothQueensout,"andbeautifulFemaleNobilities,in"twenty—fourgreentents"),andoftenwithgreatcomplicacyofmanoeuvre。InJune,toMagdeburg,roundbyCleve;andhomeagainforsomedays。JulyisPommern:OnwardthencetoSchlesien,oftenestinAugust;
  Schlesienthelastplace,andgenerallynotdonewithtillwelloninSeptember。Butwewillspeakofthesethings,morespecially,anothertime。Such"Reviews,"forstrictnessofinspectioncivilandmilitary,asprobablywerenotseenintheworldsince,——orbefore,exceptinthecaseofthisKing’sFatheronly。
  ChapterV。
  STRANGERSOFNOTECOMETOBERLIN,IN1750。
  BritishDiplomacies,nexttotheRussian,causesomedifficultiesinthoseyears:ofwhichmorebyandby。Earlyin1748,whileAix—
  la—Chapellewasstarting,Ex—ExchequerLeggecametoBerlin;
  onsomeobscureobjectofasmallPatchofPrincipality,hanginglooseduringthoseNegotiations:"CouldnotwesecureitforhisRoyalHighnessofCumberland,thinksyourMajesty?"Ex—ExchequerLeggewashere;[Coxe’sPelham,i。431,&c。;
  Rodenbeck,pp。155,160(firstaudience1stMay,1748);——recalled22dNovember,Aixbeingover。]gothandsomeassurancesofageneralnature;butnofurtherancetowardshisobscure,completelyimpracticableobject;andwenthomeinNovemberfollowing,toanewParliamentaryCareer。
  Andthesecondyearafter,earlyin1750,cameSirHanburyWilliams,famedLondonWitofWalpole’scircle,onobjectswhich,inthemain,wereequallychimerical:"KingoftheRomans,muchwanted;""NoDamagetoyourMajesty’sShippingfromourBritishPrivateers;"andthelike;——aboutwhichsomenotice,andnotverymuch,willbeduefartheron。Here,inhisownwords,isHanbury’sAccountofhisFirstAudience:——……"OnThursday,"16thJuly,1750,"IwenttoCourtbyappointment,at11A。M。TheKingofPrussiaarrivedabout12[atBerlin;KinginfromPotsdam,foroneday];andCountPodewilsimmediatelyintroducedmeintotheRoyalcloset;whenIdeliveredhisBritannicMajesty’sLettersintotheKingofPrussia’shands,andmadetheusualcomplimentstohiminthebestmannerIwasable。TowhichhisPrussianMajestyreplied,tothebestofmyremembrance,asfollows:——
  "’IhavethetruestesteemfortheKingofBritain’sperson;andI
  setthehighestvalueonhisfriendship。Ihaveatdifferenttimesreceivedessentialproofsofit;andIdesireyouwouldacquainttheKingyourMasterthatIwill(SIC)neverforgetthem。’HisPrussianMajestyafterwardssaidsomethingwithrespecttomyself,andthenaskedmeseveralquestionsaboutindifferentthingsandpersons。HeseemedtoexpressagreatdealofesteemformyLordChesterfield,andagreatdealofkindnessforMr。Villiers,"
  usefulinthePeace—of—Dresdentime;"butdidnotoncementionLordHyndfordorMr。Legge,"——howsingular!
  "IwasintheclosetwithhisMajestyexactlyfiveminutesandahalf。Myaudiencedone,PrussianMajestycameoutintothegeneralroom,whereForeignMinisterswerewaiting。Hesaid,onsteppingin,justoneword"totheAustrianExcellency;notevenonetotheRussianExcellency,nortometheBritannic;"conversedwiththeFrench,Swedish,Danish;"——happytobeoff,whichIdonotwonderat;todinewithMammaatMonbijou,amongfacespleasanttohim;
  andreturntohisBusinessesandBooksnextday。[Walpole,
  GeorgetheSecond,i。449;Rodenbeck,i。204。]
  WittyExcellencyHanburydidnotsucceedatBerlinonthe"Romish—
  KingQuestion,"orotherwise;andindeedwentoffratherinahurry。Butforthenextsixorsevenyearshepuddlesabout,atagreatrate,inthoseNorthernCourts;givingawayagreatdealofmoney,hatchingmanyfutileexpensiveintriguesatPetersburg,Warsaw(notmuchatBerlin,afterthefirsttrialthere);andwillnotbealtogetheravoidabletousintimecoming,asonecouldhavewished。Besides,heisHoraceWalpole’sfriendandselectLondonWit:hecontributedagooddealtotheEnglishnotionsaboutFriedrich;andhasleftconsiderablebitsofacridtestimonyonFriedrich,"clearwordsofanEye—witness,"mencallthem,——whicharestillreadbyeverybody;thesaidWalpole,andothers,havingsinceprintedthem,inverydarkcondition。[InWalpole,
  GeorgetheSecond(i。448—461),thePieceswhichregardFriedrich。InSirCharlesHanburyWilliams’sWorks(editedbyadiligent,reverential,butignorantgentleman,whomIcouldguesstobeBooksellerJefferyinperson:
  London,1822,3vols。small8vo)arewittyVerses,andconsiderablesectionsofProse,relatingtootherpersonsandobjectsnowratherofanobsoletenature。]BrevityismuchduetoHanburyandhistestimonies,sincesilenceinthecircumstancesisnotallowable。
  HereisoneExcerpt,withthenecessarylightforreadingit:——……ItisonthisRomish—Kingandotherthelikechimericalerrands,thatwittyHanbury,thenamuchmoreadmirablemanthanwenowfindhim,isprowlingaboutintheGermanCourts,offandon,forsometenyearsinall,sixofthemstilltocome。Asharp—eyedman,ofshrewishquality;giventointriguing,tospying,tobribing;anxioustowinhisDiplomaticgamebyeverymethod,thoughthestake(ashere)isoftenestzero:withfatalproclivitytoScandal,andwhatinLondoncircleshehasheardcalledWit。
  Littleornothingofreallaughterinthesoulofhim,atanytime;
  onlyalaboredcontinualgrin,alwaysofmaliciousnature,andmuchtroubleandjerkingabout,tokeepthatup。Hadevidentlysomemodicumofrealintellect,ofcapacityforbeingwise;butnowhasfatallydevoteditnearlyalltobeingwitty,onthosepoorterms!
  Aperverse,barren,spitefullittlewretch;thegrinofhimgenerallyanaffliction,atthisdate。HisDiplomaticCorrespondenceIdonotknow。[NothingofhimisdiscoverableintheState—PaperOffice。ManyofhisPapers,itwouldseem,areintheEarlofEssex’shands;——andmightbeofsomeHistoricaluse,notofverymuch,couldtheBritishMuseumgetpossessionofthem。
  AbundanceofBACKSTAIRSHistory,onthoseNorthernCourts,especiallyonPetersburg,andWarsaw—Dresden,——authenticCourt—gossip,generallymalicious,oftennottrue,butnevermendaciousonthepartofWilliams,——isonelikelyitem。]HedidagreatdealofDiplomaticbusiness,issuinginzero,ofwhichIhavesometimeslongedtoknowtheexactdates;seldomanythingfarther。
  His"HistoryofPoland,"transmittedtotheRightHon。HenryFox,byinstalmentsfromDresden,in1748,is[SeeHanbury’sWorks,vol。iii。]——Well,IshouldbeobligedtocallitworthierofGoodyTwo—ShoesthanofthatRightHon。Henry,whowasamanofparts,butevidentlyquiteavacuumonthePolishside!
  OfHanbury’sNews—LettersfromForeignCourts,fourorfive,incidentallyprinted,arelikethecontentsofaslop—pail;
  uncomfortabletothedelicatemind。NotliesonthepartofHanbury,butfoolishscandalpouredintohim;amanmorefilledwithcredulousincrediblescandal,evilrumors,ofmalfeasancesbykingsandmagnates,thanmostpeopleknown。HisrumoredmysteriesbetweenpoorPolishMajestyandprettyDaughter—in—law(thelatteracleverandgracefulcreature,DaughterofthelateunfortunateKaiser,andadistinguishedCorrespondentofFriedrich’s)aretoberegardedasmerepoisonedwind。[SeeHanbury’sWorks,ii。209—240。]That"PolishMajestygetsintohisdressing—
  gownattwointheafternoon"(inaccessiblethenceforth,poorlazycreature),onemostreadilybelieves;butthere,orprettymuchthere,one’sbeliefhastostop。Thestories,inWALPOLE,ontheKingofPrussia,haveagrainoffactinthem,twistedintohugeirrecognizablecaricatureintheWilliamsoptic—machinery。
  Muchelseonecandiscerntobe,inessence,falsealtogether。
  Friedrich,whocouldnotstandthatintriguing,spying,shrewish,unfriendlykindoffellowathisCourt,appliedtoEnglandinnotmanymonthshence,andgotWilliamssentaway:["22dJanuary,1751"
  (MS。LISTinState—PaperOffice)。]ontoRussia,orIforgetwhither;——whichdidnotmendtheHanburyoptical—machineryonthatside。Thedull,tobacco—smokingSaxon—PolishMajesty,aboutwhomheidlyretailssomanyscandals,hadneverdonehimanyoffence。
  Onthewhole,ifanybodywantedaswimintheslop—pailsofthatextinctgeneration,Hanbury,couldhefindanEditortomakehimlegible,mightbeprinted。Forhereallywasdeepinthatslop—pailorextinct—scandaldepartment,andhadheardagreatmanythings。
  Apartfromthat,inalmostanyotherdepartment,——exceptinsofarasheseemstoDATErathercarefully,——Icouldnotrecommendhim。
  TheLettersandExcerptsgiveninWalpolearedefinableasonepennyworthofbread,——muchruinedbysuchimmersion,butveryharmlessotherwise,couldyoupickitoutandcleanit,——totwentygallonsofHanburysherris—sack,orchamber—slop。Ihavefoundnothingthatseemstobe,inallpoints,trueorprobable,butthis;worthcuttingout,andrenderinglegible,onotheraccounts。
  HanburyLOQUITUR(incondensedform):
  "Inthesummeroflastyear,1749,therewas,somewhereinMahren,agreatAustrianMusterorReview;"allthemoreinteresting,asitwasbelieved,orknown,thatthePrussianmethodsandmanoeuvreswerenowtobetheruleforAustria。NotmuchofaReviewotherwise,thisof1749;Empress—QueenandHusbandnotpersonallythere,asincomingYearstheyarewonttobe;thathighLadybeingardenttoreformherArmy,rootandbranch,accordingtothePrussianmodel,——morepraisetoher。[MariaTheresiensLeben,p。160(whatshedidthatway,ANNO1749);
  p。162(PRESENTattheReviews,ANNO1750)。]"AtthisMusterinMahren,ThreePrussianOfficershappenedtomaketheirappearance,——forseveralimaginablereasons,oflittlesignificance:’Forthepurposeofinveiglingpeopletodesert,andenlistwiththem!’saidtheAustrianAuthorities;andorderedtheThreePrussianOfficersunceremoniouslyofftheground。WhichFriedrich,whenheheardofit,thoughtanunhandsomepipe—clayprocedure,andkeptinmindagainsttheAustrianAuthorities。
  "NextSummer,"nextSpring,1750,"anAustrianCaptainbeinginMecklenburg,travellingabout,metthereanoldacquaintance,oneChapeau[HAT!canitbepossible?],whoisingreatfavorwiththeKingofPrussia:"——verywell,ExcellencyHanbury;butwho,inthenameofwonder,canthisHAT,orChapeau,havebeen?Afterstudy,oneperceivesthatHanburywroteChazeau,meaningCHASOT,anoldacquaintanceofourown!Brilliant,sabring,melodyingChasot,Lieutenant—ColoneloftheBaireuthDragoons;wholiesatTreptow,closeonMecklenburg,andisadeclaredfavoriteoftheDuchess,oftenrunningovertotheRESIDENZthere。Oftenenough;butHONI
  SOIT,Oreader;thecleverLadyistowardssixty,childless,musical;andherHusband——doreadersrecollecthimatall?——isthatcollapsedTAILORINGDukewhomFriedrichoncevisited,——andwhoseNiece,Half—Niece,isCharlotte,wiselittlehard—favoredcreaturenowofsix,incleanbibandtucker,AncestressofEnglandthatistobe;whosePapawillsucceed,iftheSereneTailordiefirst,——
  whichhedidnotquite。TothisDuchess,musicalgallantChasotmaywellbearesource,andshetohim。NaturallytheAustrianCaptain,havingcometoMecklenburg,dinedwithSereneHighness,heandChasottogether,withconcertfollowing,andwhatnot,attheSchlossofNeu—Strelitz:——Andnowwewilldropthe’Chapeau,’andsayChasot,withcomfort,andashadeofnewinterest。
  "’ThegrandMayReviewatBerlinjustahead,won’tyoulookin;
  itisstraightonyourroadhome?’suggestsChasottohistravellingfriend。’Onewouldlikeit,ofallthings,’answeredtheother:’buttheKing?’’Tush,’saidChasot;’Iwillmakethatallstraight!’AndappliestotheKingaccordingly:’PermissiontoanAustrianOfficer,agoodacquaintanceofmine。’’AustrianOfficer?’
  Friedrich’seyeslighten;andhereadilygivesthepermission。
  ThiswasatBerlin,ontheveryeveoftheReview;andChasotandhisAustrianaremadehappyinthatsmallmatter。Andonthemorrow[endofMay,1750],theAustrianattendsaccordingly;but,tohisastonishment,hashardlybeguntotastethemanoeuvres,when——oneofFriedrich’sAides—de—Campgallopsup:’BytheKing’scommand,MeinHerr,youretireontheinstant!’
  "Nextday,theAustrianisforchallengingChasot。’Asyoulike,thatway,’answersChasot;’butlearnfirst,thatonyouraffrontI
  rodeuptotheKing;andasked,publicly,DidnotyourMajestygrantmepermission?Unquestionably,MonsieurChasot;——andifhehadnotcome,howcouldIhavepaidbacktheMoravianbusinessoflastyear!’"[Walpole,GeorgetheSecond,
  i。457,459。]——ThisismuchinFriedrich’sway;nottheunwelcomerthatitincludesasatiricaltwitchonChasot,whomhetrulylikeswithal,ordidlike,thoughnowalittledissatisfiedwiththosetoofrequentMecklenburgexcursionsandextra—militarycares。
  Ofthis,merelysqueezingtheHanburyvenomoutofit,Icanbelieveeveryparticular。
  "Didyoueverhearofanythingsoshocking?"isHanbury’smeaninghereandelsewhere。"ImusttellyouastoryoftheKingofPrussia’sregardfortheLawofNations,"continueshetoWalpole?
  [Ib。i。458。]Whichprovestobeastory,turnedtopsy—turvy,ofoneHofmann,BrunswickEnvoy,who(quiteBEYONDcommission,andathingthatmustnotbethoughtofatall!)hadbeendetectedindangerousintriguingswiththeever—busyRussianExcellency,oranother;andgotflungintoSpandau,[Adelung,v。534;
  vii。132—144。]——seeminglyprettymuchhisdueinthematter。AndsoofotherHanburythings。"WhataPrussia;forrigorofcommand,onehugeprison,inamanner!"Kingintentonpunctuality,andallhisbusinessuponthesquare。Society,officialandunofficial,keptratherstrictlytotheirtackle;theirmodeofmovementnotthatoflooseoxenatall!"SuchadetestableTyrant,"——whohasorderedME,Hanbury,else—whitherwithmyexquisitetalentsandadmiredwit!——
  CANDIDATUSLINSENBARTH(QUASI"Lentil—beard")LIKEWISE
  VISITSBERLIN。
  ByfarthenotablestarrivalinBerlinisM。deVoltaire’sJuly10th;afewdaysbeforeHanburygothisFirstAudience,"fiveminuteslong。"ButthatarrivalwillrequireaChaptertoitself;
  ——mostimportantarrival,that,ofall!Theleastimportant,again,isprobablythatofCandidatusLinsenbarth,inthesesameweeks;——
  aruggedpoverty—strickenoldLicentiateofTheology;importanttonomortalinBerlinorelsewhere:——uponwhom,however,anduponhisproceduresinthatCity,wepropose,forourownobjects,tobestowafewglances;ruggedNarrativeofthething,insingularexoticdialect,buttrueeveryword,havingfortunatelycometousfromLinsenbarth’sownhand。[ThroughRodenbeck,Beitrage,i。463etseq。]
  Berlin,itmustbeadmitted,afterallone’sreadinginpoorDryasdust,remainsadimemptyobject;Teutschlandisdimandempty:andoutofthefortyblindsacks,oroutoffourhundredsuch,whatpicturecananyhumanheadformtoitselfofFriedrichasKingorMan?AtriflingAdventureofthatpoorindividual,calledLinsenbarthCANDIDATUSTHEOLOGIAE,oneofthepoorestofmortals,buttrueandcredibleineveryparticular,comesglidingbychanceathwartallthat;andliketheglimmerofapoorrushlight,orkindledstraw,showsitusformoments,athingvisible,palpable,asitworkedandlived。Inthegreatdearth,Linsenbarth,ifIcanfaithfullyinterprethimforthemodernreader,willbeworthattendingto。
  DateofLinsenbarth’sAdventureisJune—August,1750。"SchlossofBeichlingen"and"VillageofHemmleben"areintheThuringenHillCountry(Weimarnotfarofftoeastward):theHerohimself,atallawkwardraw—bonedcreature,is,forperhapsnearfortyyearspast,aCANDIDATUS,sayLicentiate,orCuratewithoutCure。Subsists,I
  shouldguess,byschoolmastering——cheapestschoolmasterconceivable,wagesmerenothing——intheVillagesabout;intheVillageofHemmlebenlatterly;age,asIdiscover,growntobesixty—one,inthosestraitenedbutbynomeansforlorncircumstances。Andso,hereisveteranLinsenbarthofHemmleben,akindofThuringianDominieSampson;whoseInterviewwithsuchabrothermortalasFriedrichKingofPrussiamaybeworthlookingat,——ifIcanabridgeitproperly。
  Well,itappears,intheyear1750,atthisthrice—obscureVillageofHemmleben,theworthyoldpastorCannabichdied;——worthyoldman,howhehadlivedthere,modestlystudious,frugal,chieflyonfarm—produce,withtobaccoandDutchtheology;amodestblessingtohisfellow—creatures!Andnowheisdead,andtheplacevacant。
  TwentypoundsaYearcertain;letusguessittwenty,withglebe—
  land,piggeries,poultry—hutches:whoisnowtogetallthat?
  LinsenbarthstartswithhisNarrative,inearnest。
  Linsenbarth,whoIguessmayhavebeenAssistanttothedeceasedCannabich,andwasnowoutofwork,says:"Ihadnottheleastthoughtofprofitingbythisvacancy;butwhathappened?TheHerrGrafvonWerthern,atSchlossBeichlingen,senthisSteward[LEHNSDIRECTOR,FIEF—DIRECTORisthetitleofthisSteward,whichgivesrisetoobsoletethoughtofmill—dues,road—labor,paymentsINNATURA],hisLehnsdirector,HerrKettenbeil,overtomyLOGIS
  [cheapboardingquarters];whobroughtagracioussalutationfromhisLord;sayingfarther,ThatIknewtoowell[excellentCannabichgonefromus,alas!]thePastorateofHemmlebenwasvacant;
  thattherehadvariouscompetitorsannouncedthemselves,SUPPLICANDO,fortheplace;theHerrGraf,however,hadyetgivennoneofthemtheFIAT,butwaitedalwaystillIshouldapply。AsI
  hadnotdoneso,he(theLordGraf)wouldnowofhisownmotiongivemethepreference,andherebyconferthePastorateuponme!"——
  "Withoutallcontroversy,herewasaVOCATIODIVINA,tobereceivedwiththemostsubmissivethanks!Butthelamesecondmessengercamehitchingin[HALTINGMESSENGER,Germanproverb]verysoon。
  Kettenbeilbeganagain:’HemustmentiontomeSUBROSA,HerLadyshiptheFrauGrafinwantedtohaveherLady’s—maidprovidedforbythispromotion,too;Imustmarryher,andtakethelivingatthesametime。’"
  Whew!AndthisisthenobleLady’swayofthinking,upinherfineSchlossyonder?Linsenbarthwillnoneofit。"Formynotionfellatonce,"sayshe,"whenIhearditwasDOUTFACIAS,FACIOUTFACIAS
  (Igivethatthoumayestdo,Idothatthoumayestdo;Wilthavethekirk,thentaketheirk,WILLSTDUDIEPFARRE,SONIMMDIE
  QUARRE);onthoseterms,myreplywas:’Mostrespectfulthanks,HerrFief—judge,andNo,forsuchavocation!Andwhy?ThevocationmusthaveLIBERTATEM,theremustbenoVITIUMESSENTIALEinit;
  itmustberightINESSENTIALI,otherwisenohonestmancanacceptitwithagoodconscience。Thiswereamarriageonconstraint;
  outofwhichathousandINCONVENIENTIAEmightspring!’"
  HearLinsenbarth,inthepiebalddialect,withthesoundheart,andpreferenceofstarvationitselftosomeotherthings!Kettenbeil(CHAIN—AXE)wenthome;andtherewasfoundanotherCandidatuswillingforthemarriageonconstraint,"outofwhichINCONVENIENTIAEmightspring,"inLinsenbarth’sopinion。
  "Andsodidthesneakishcourtlygentleman[HOFMANN,courtierasLinsenbarthhasit],whograspedwithbothhandsatmyrejectedoffer,experiencebeforelong,"continuesLinsenbarth。"Fortheloosethingofcourt—tattersledhimsuchalifethat,withinthreeyears,ageyetonlythirty,hehadtobitethedust"(BITEATTHE
  GRASS,saysLinsenbarth,proverbially),whichwasanINCONVENIENTIA
  includingallothers。"AndIhadLEGITIMAMCAUSAMtorefusethevocationCUMTALICONDITIONE。
  "However,itwasveryilltakenofme。AlloverthatThuringianregionIwascriedoutuponasaheadstrongfoolishperson:
  TheHerrGrafvonWerthern,soranthestory,hadofhisownkindness,withoutrequestofmine,offeredmealiving;RARAAVIS,singularinstance;andI,rashandwithouthead,flungawaysuchgraciousoffer。Inshort,Iwastoldtomyface[bygood—naturedfriends],Nobodywouldeverthinkofmeforpromotionagain;"——
  universalsuffragegivingitclearagainstpoorLinsenbarth,inthisway。