"Togetoutofpeople’ssightatleast,"continueshe,"Idecidedtoleavemynativeplace,andgotoBerlin,"250milesawayormore。"Andsoitwasthat,onJunethe20th,1750,IlandedatBerlinforthefirsttime:andherestraightwayatthePACKHOF(orCustom—house),insearchingofmythings,400THALERS(some60
pounds),allinNurnbergBATZEN,wereseizedfromme;"——BATZEN,quarter—groatswemaysay;7andahalfbatzengotoashilling;
whatasacktheremusthavebeenofthem,9,000inall,aboutthesizeofherring—scales,inbadsilver;fruitofLinsenbarth’ssternthriftfrombirthupwards:——allsnatchedfromhimatoneswoop。
"Andwhy?"sayshe,quitehistorically:Yes,Why?Thereader,tounderstanditwholly,wouldneedtoreadinMylius’s
Edicten—Sammlung,inSEYFARTHandelsewhere;[Mylius,Edictxli。,January,1744,&c。&c。]andtoknowthescandalousconditionofGermancoinageatthistimeandlongafter;everyneedylittlePotentatemixinghiscoinwithcopperatdiscretion,andswindlingmankindwithitforaseason;
needingtobeperemptorilyforbidden,confiscatedororderedhome,bythelikeofFriedrich。Linsenbarthanswershisown"Andwhy?"
withhistoricalcalmness:——
"Thekinghad,some(six)yearsago,hadthebatzenutterlycrieddown(GANZUNDGAR);theywerenottocirculateatallinhisCountries;andIwassobold,IhadbroughtbatzenhitherintotheKing’sCapital,KONIGLICHERESIDENZitself!AtthePackhof,therewasbutoneanswer,’Contraband,Contraband!’"——Herewasawelcomeforaman。"Imademyexcuses:Didnottheleastknow;
camestraightfromThuringen,manymilesofroad;couldnotguessthereWhatHisMajestytheKinghadbeenpleasedtoforbidinHis(THEIRO)Countries。’Youshouldhaveinformedyourself,’saidthePackhofpeople;andweredeaftosuchconsiderations。’AmancomingintosuchaResidenzTownasBerlin,withintenttoabidethere,shouldhaveinquiredalittlewhatwaswhat,especiallywhatcoinswerecrieddown,andwhatallowed,’saidtheyofthePackhof。"
PoorLinsenbarth!"’ButwhatamItodonow?HowamItolive,ifyoutakemyverymoneyfromme?’’Thatisyouroutlook,’saidthey;
——andadded,Hemustevenfindstowageforhisstackofherring—
scalesorbatzen,assoonasitwassealedup;’wehavenoroomforitinthePackhof!’"foraman:Hereisaroughishwelcome"Imustleaveallmymoneyhere;andfindstowageforit,inadayortwo。
"Therewas,accordingly,atruck—portercalledin;heloadedmyeffectsonhisbarrow,androlledaway。HebroughtmetotheWHITE
SWANintheJUDENSTRASSE[noneofthegrandestofstreets,thatBerlinJEWRY],threwmythingsout,anddemandedfourgroschen。
Twoofmybatzen"2andahalfexact,"wouldhavedone;butIhadnomoneyatall。Thelandlordcameout:seeingthatIhadastuffedfeather—bed[notetheluggageofLinsenbarth:"FEDER—BETT,"ofextremetenuity],atrunkfulloflinens,abagofBooksandothertrifles,hepaidtheman;andsentmetoasmallroominthecourt—
yard[InnformsaCourt,perhapsfourstorieshigh]:’Icouldstaythere,’hesaid;’hewouldgivemefoodanddrinkinthemeanwhile。’AndsoIlivedinthisInneightweekslong,withoutoneredfarthing,inmerefearandanxiety。"June20thPLUSeightweeksbringsustoAugust15th;VoltaireinHEIGHToffeather;
andverygreatthingsjustahead!["GrandCarrousel,25thAugust;"
&c。]——ofwhichsoon。
TheWhiteSwanwasaplacewhereCarrierslodged:somelimboftheLaw,ofSubalternsort,whomLinsenbarthcalls"DERADVOCATB。"
(oneoftheOustedofCocceji,shallwefancy!),hadtodowithCarriersandtheirpie—powderlawsuits。AdvocatB。hadnoticedthegraydrearyCANDIDATUS,sittingsparrow—likeinremotecorners;
hadspokentohim;——undertookforaLOUISD’OR,nopurchasenopay,togetbackhisbatzenforhim。Theywentaccordingly,onemorning,to"agrandHouse;"itwasaMinister’s(namenotgiven),verygrandOfficialMan:heheardtheAdvocatB。’sshortstatement;
andmadeanswer:"Monsieur,andisityouthatwillpickholesintheKing’sLaw?IhaveunderstoodyouwereratheraimingattheHAUSVOGTEI[CommonJailofBerlin]:Gooninthatway,andyouaresureofyourpromotion!"——AdvocatB。rushedoutwithLinsenbarthintothestreet;andtherewasneitherpaynorpurchaseinthatquarter。
PoorLinsenbarthwasnextadvised,bysimpleneighbors,togodirecttotheKing;aseverypoormancan,atcertainhoursoftheday。"WriteoutyourCase(Memorial)withextremebrevity,"saidthey;"nothingbuttheessentialpoints,andthoseclear。"
Linsenbarth,steamatthehigh—pressure,composed(CONZIPIRTE)aMemorialofthatrightlaconicsort;wroteitfair(MUNDIRTEES);——
andwentofftherewith"atopeningoftheGates[middletimeofAugust,1750,nodatefarther),[August21st?(SeeRodenbeck,DIARY,whichweoftenquote,i。205。)]——withoutonefarthinginmypocket,inGod’sname,toPotsdam。"Hecontinues:——
"AndatPotsdamIwasluckyenoughtoseetheKing;myfirstsightofhim。HewasonthePalaceEsplanadethere,drillinghistroops[finetrimsandedExpanse,withthePalacetorear,andGarden—
walksandRivertofront;whereFriedrichWilhelmsat,thelastdayhewasout,andorderedJockeyPhilips’shousetobeactuallysetabout;wherethetroopsdoevolutionseverymorning;——thereisFriedrichwithcocked—hatandbluecoat;sayabout11A。M。]。
"Whenthedrillwasover,hisMajestywentintotheGarden,andthesoldiersdispersed;onlyfourOfficersremainedloungingupontheEsplanade,andwalkedupanddown。ForfrightIknewnotwhattodo;IpulledthePapersoutofmypocket,——theseweremyMemorial,twoCertificatesofcharacter,andaThuringenPass[poorsoul]。
TheOfficersnoticedthis;camestraighttome,andsaid,’WhatlettershasHethere,then?’Ithankfullyandgladlyimpartedthewhole;andwhentheOfficershadreadthem,theysaid,’Wewillgiveyou[Him,notevenTHEE]agoodadvice,TheKingisextra—
graciousto—day,andisgonealoneintotheGarden。Followhimstraight。Thouwilthaveluck。’
"ThisIwouldnotdo;myawewastoogreat。Theythereuponlaidhandsonme[themischievousdogs,notill—humoredeither]:
onetookmebytherightarm,anotherbytheleft,’Off,off;
totheGarden!’Havinggotmethither,theylookedoutfortheKing。Hewasamongthegardeners,examiningsomerareplant;
stoopingoverit,andhadhisbacktous。HereIhadtohalt;
andtheOfficersbegan,inunderhandtone[thedogs!],toputmethroughmydrill:’Hatunderleftarm!——Rightfootforemost!——
Breastwellforward!——Headup!——Papersfrompouch!——Papersaloftinrighthand!——Steady!Steady!’——Andwenttheirways,lookingalwaysround,toseeifIkeptmyposture。Iperceivedwellenoughtheywerepleasedtomakegameofme;butIstood,allthesame,likeawall,beingfulloffear。TheOfficerswerehardlyoutoftheGarden,whentheKingturnedround,andsawthisextraordinarymachine,"——telegraphfigureorwhateverwemaycallit,withpaperspointingtothesky。"Hegavesuchalookatme,likeaflashofsunbeamsglancingthroughyou;andsentoneofthegardenerstobringmypapers。Whichhavinggot,hestruckintoanotherwalkwiththem,andwasoutofsight。Infewminutesheappearedagainattheplacewheretherareplantwas,withmyPapersopeninhislefthand;andgavemeawavewiththemTocomenearer。Ipluckedupaheart,andwentstraighttowardshim。Oh,howthriceandfour—timesgraciouslythisgreatMonarchdeignedtospeaktome!——
KING。"’MygoodThuringian(LIEBERTHURINGER),youcametoBerlin,seekingtoearnyourbreadbyindustriousteachingofchildren;
andhere,atthePackhof,insearchingyourthings,theyhavetakenyourThuringenhoardfromyou。True,thebatzenarenotlegalhere;
butthepeopleshouldhavesaidtoyou:Youareastranger,anddidn’tknowtheprohibition;——wellthen,wewillsealuptheBagofBatzen;yousenditbacktoThuringen,getitchangedforothersorts;wewillnottakeitfromyou!——
"’Beofheart,however;youshallhaveyourmoneyagain,andinteresttoo。——But,mypoorman,Berlinpavementisbare,theydon’tgiveanythinggratis:youareastranger;beforeyouareknownandgetteaching,yourbitofmoneyisdone;whatthen?’
"Iunderstoodthespeechrightwell;butmyawewastoogreattosay:’YourMajestywillhavetheall—highestgracetoallowmesomething!’ButasIwassosimpleandaskedfornothing,hedidnotofferanything。Andsoheturnedaway;buthadscarcelygonesixoreightsteps,whenhelookedround,andgavemeasignIwastowalkbyhim;andthenbegancatechising:——
KING。"’Wheredidyou(ER)study?’
LINSENBARTH。"’YourMajesty,inJena。’
KING。"’Whatyears?’
LINSENBARTH。"’From1716to1720。’["Born1689"(Rodenbeck,p。
474);twenty—fivewhenhewent。]
KING。"’UnderwhatPro—rectorwereyouinscribed?’
LINSENBARTH。"’UnderthePROFESSORTHEOLOGIAEDr。Fortsch。’
KING。"’WhowereyourotherProfessorsintheTheologicalFaculty?’"
LINSENBARTH——namesfamedmen;sunknow,mostly,inthebottomlesswaste—basket:"Buddaus"(whodidaDICTIONARYoftheBAYLEsort,weighingfourstonetroy,outofwhichIhavelearnedmanyathing),"Buddaeus,""Danz,""Weissenborn,""Wolf"(nowbackatHalleafterhistribulations,——poorman,hisimmortalSystemofPhilosophy,whereisit!)。
KING。"’DidyoustudyBIBLICAdiligently?’
LINSENBARTH。"’WithBuddaeus(BEYMBUDDAO)。’
KING。"’ThatishewhohadsuchquarrellingwithWolf?’
LINSENBARTH。"’Yea,yourMajesty!Hewas——’
KING(doesnotwanttoknowwhathewas)。"’WhatotherusefulCoursesofLectures(COLLEGIA)didyouattend?’
LINSENBARTH。"’TheticsandExegeticswithFortsch[HowthedeucedidFortschteachthesethings?];HermeneuticsandPolemicswithWalch[editorofLuther’sWorks,Isuppose];
HebraicswithDr。Danz;HomileticswithDr。Weissenborn;PASTORALE
[notPastoralPoetry,buttheArtofPastorship]andMORALEwithDr。Buddaeus。’[There,yourMajesty!——whataglimpse,asintoinfiniteextinctContinents,filledwithponderousthornyinanities,invinciblenasaldrawlingofdidacticTitans,andtheawfulattempttospin,onallmannerofwheels,road—harnessoutofsplitcobwebs:Hoom!Hoom—m—m!Harnessnottobehadonthoseterms。LetthedrearyLimbuscloseagain,tillthegeneralDayofJudgmentforallthis。]
KING(gladtogetoutoftheLimbus)。"’WerethingsaswildthenatJena,inyourtime,asofold,whentheStudentswereforeverscufflingandruffling,andtheCoupletwent:——
"WerkommtvonJenaungeschlagen,DerhatvongrossenGluckzusagen。
"HethatcomesfromJenaSINEBELLO,Hemaythinkhimselfaluckyfellow"?’
LINSENBARTH。"’Thatsortoffollyisgonequiteoutoffashion;
andamancanleadasilentandquietlifethere,justasatotherUniversities,ifhewillattendtotheDIC,CURHIC?[orknowwhathisrealerrandis]。InmytimetheirSereneHighnesses,theNursing—fathersoftheUniversity(NUTRITORESACADEMIAE),——oftheErnestineLine[Weimar—GothaHighnesses,thatis],wereinthehabitofhavingtheRufflers(RENOMISTEN),Renownersastheyarecalled,whomadesomuchdisturbance,senttoEisenachtolieintheWartburgawhile;theretheylearnedtobequiet。’
[ClockstrikesTwelve,——dinner—timeofMajesty。]
KING。"’NowImustgo:theyarewaitingfortheirsoup’"(andsoendsDialogueforthepresent)。’DidtheKingbidmewait?
"WhenwegotoutoftheGarden,"saysLinsenbarth,silentonthispoint,"thefourOfficerswerestillthereupontheEsplanade[CaptainsofGuardbelike];theywentintothePalacewiththeKing,"——clearlymeaningtodinewithhisMajesty。
"IremainedstandingontheEsplanade。Fortwenty—sevenhoursIhadnottastedfood:notafarthingINBONIS[ofprincipalorinterest]
togetbreadwith;Ihadwadedtwentymileshither,inasultrymorning,throughthesand。Notadifficultthingtokeepdownlaughterinsuchcircumstances!"——Poorsoul;buttheRoyalmindishumantoo。——"Inthistremorofmyheart,therecameaKAMMER—HUSSAR
[Soldier—Valet,Valetreducedtohissimplestexpression]outofthePalace,andasked,’WhereisthemanthatwaswithmyKing(MEINEMKONIG,——THYKingparticularly?)intheGarden?’Ianswered,’Here!’AndheledmeintotheSchloss,toalargeRoom,wherepages,lackeys,andKammer—hussarswereabout。MyKammer—hussartookmetoalittletable,excellentlyfurnished;withsoup,beef;
likewisecarpdressedwithgarden—salad,likewisegamewithcucumber—salad:bread,knife,fork,spoonandsaltwereallthere[andIwithanappetiteoftwenty—sevenhours;Itoowasthere]。
Myhussarsetmeachair,said:’Thisthatisonthetable,theKinghasorderedtobeservedforyou(IHM):youaretoeatyourfill,andmindnobody;andIamtoserve。Sharp,then,fallto!’——
Iwasgreatlyastonished,andknewnotwhattodo;leastofallcoulditcomeintomyheadthattheKing’sKammer—hussar,whowaitedonhisMajesty,shouldwaitonme。Ipressedhimtositbyme;butasherefused,Ididasbidden;satdown,tookmyspoon,andwentatitwithawill(FRISCH)!
"Thehussartookthebeeffromthetable,setitonthecharcoaldish(tokeepithottillwanted);hedidthelikewiththefishandroastgame;andpouredmeoutwineandbeer——[waseversuchaluckyBarmecide!]IateanddranktillIhadabundantlyenough。
Dessert,confectionery,whatIcould,——aplatefulofbigblackcherries,andaplatefulofpears,mywaiting—manwrappedinpaperandstuffedthemintomypockets,tobearefreshmentonthewayhome。AndsoIrosefromtheRoyaltable;andthankedGodandtheKinginmyheart,thatIhadsogloriouslydined,"——HERRLICH,"gloriously"atlast。Poorexcellentdown—troddenLinsenbarth,one’sheartopenstohim,notone’slarderonly。
"Thehussartookaway。AtthatmomentaSecretarycame;broughtmeasealedOrder(Rescript)tothePackhofatBerlin,withmyCertificates(TESTIMONIA),andthePass;tolddownonthetablefiveTail—ducats(SCHWANZ—DUKATEN),andaGoldFriedrichunderthem[about3pounds10s。,Ithink;betterthan10poundsofourdaytoacommonman,andbetterthan100poundstoaLinsenbarth],——
saying,TheKingsentmethistotakemehometoBerlinagain。
"AndifthehussartookmeintothePalace,itwasnowtheSecretarythattookmeoutagain。Andthere,yokedwithsixhorses,stoodaroyalProviant—wagon;whichhavingledmeto,theSecretarysaid:’Youpeople,theKinghasgivenorderyouaretotakethisstrangertoBerlin,andalsotoacceptnodrink—moneyfromhim。’
Iagain,throughtheHERRNSECRETARIUM,testifiedmymostsubmissivethankfulnessforallRoyalgraciousnesses;tookmyplace,androlledaway。
"OnreachingBerlin,IwentatoncetothePackhof,straighttotheoffice—room,"——standingmoreerectthistime,——"andhandedthemmyRoyalRescript。TheHeadmanopenedtheseal;inreading,hechangedcolor,wentfrompaletored;saidnothing,andgaveittothesecondmantoread。Thesecondputonhisspectacles;read,andgaveittothethird。However,he[theHeadman]ralliedhimselfatlast:Iwastocomeforward,andbesogoodaswriteaquittance(receipt),’ThatIhadreceived,formy400thalersallinBatzen,thesamesuminBrandenburgcoin,readydown,withouttheleastdeduction。’Mycashwasatonceaccuratelypaid。AndthereupontheStewardwasordered,TogowithmetotheWhiteSwanintheJudenstrasse,andpaywhatIowedthere,whatevermyscorewas。
Forwhichendtheygavehimtwenty—fourthalers;andifthatwerenotenough,hewastocomeandgetmore。"OnthesehightermsLinsenbarthmarchedoutofthePackhofforthesecondtime;
thesublimeheadofhim(notturnedeither)sweepingtheverystars。
"ThatwaswhattheKinghadmeantwhenhesaid,"Youshallhaveyourmoneybackandinteresttoo:’VIDELICET,thatthePackhofwastopaymyexpensesattheWhiteSwan。Thescore,however,wasonly10thaler,’4groschen,6pfennigs[30shillings,5pence,and2orperhaps3quarter—farthings],forwhatIhadrunupineightweeks,"——anuncommonlyfrugalrateofboard,foramanskilledinHermeneutics,Hebraics,Polemics,Thetica,Exegetics,Pastorale,Morale(andPracticalChristianityandthePhilosophyofZeno,carriedtoperfection,ornearlyso)!"AndherewiththistroubledHistoryhaditsdesiredfinish。"Andourgray—whiskered,raw—boned,great—heartedCandidatuslaydowntosleep,attheWhiteSwan;
probablythehappiestmaninallBerlin,forthetimebeing。
LinsenbarthdivednowintoPrivate—teaching,"INFORMATION,"ashecallsit;forming,andkneadingintohisownlikeness,suchoftheyoungBerlinersashecouldgetholdof:——surelynotwithoutsomegoodeffectonthem,themodelhaving,besidesHermeneuticsinabundance,somuchnaturalworthaboutit。HehimselffoundthemineofInformingaverybarrenone,astomoney:continuedpoorinahighdegree,withouthonor,withoutemolumenttospeakof;
andhadastraitened,laborious,andwhatwemightthinkverydarkLife—pilgrimage。Butthedarknesswasnothingtohim,hecarriedsuchaninextinguishablefrugalrushlightwithin。Meat,clothesandfirehedidnotagainlack,inBerlin,forthetimeheneededthem,——sometwenty—sevenyearsstill。AndifhegotnoprintedpraiseintheReviews,frombaddishjudgeswritingbythesheet,——
hereandtherebrothermortals,whoknewhimbytheirowneyesandexperiences,looked,ortransientlyspoke,andevendid,amostrealpraiseuponhimnowandthen。And,onthewhole,hecandowithoutpraise;andwillstandstrokesevenwithoutwincingorkicking,wherethereisnochance。
AcertainBerlinDruggist("HerrMedicinal—AssessorRose,"whomwemaycallDruggistFirst,fortherewereTwothathadtodowithLinsenbarth)wasgoodandhumantohim。InRose’sHouse,wherehehadcometoteachthechildren,andwhichcontinued,alwaysthenceforth,ahometohimwhenneedful,hewrotethisNARRATIVE
(Anno1774);anddiedthere,threeyearsafterwards,——"24thAugust,1777,ofapoplexy,age88,"saytheBurialRegisters。
[InRodenbeck,Beitrage,i。472—475,theselatterDetails(withothers,inconfusedform);IB。462—471,theNARRATIVEitself。]DruggistSecond,onsucceedingthehumanePredecessor,foundLinsenbarth’spapersinthedrug—storesoftheplace:DruggistSecondchancedtobeoneKlaproth,famedamongtheScientificoftheworld;andbyhimtheLinsenbarthNarrativewasforwardedtopublication,andsuchfameasisrequisite。
SIRJONASHANWAYSTALKSACROSSTHESCENE,TOO;INA
PONDERINGANDOBSERVINGMANNER。
Ofthethenveryfamous"BerlinCarrouselof1750"weproposetosaylittle;thenowchiefinterestingpointinitbeingthatM。deVoltaireiscuriouslyvisibletousthere。Butthetruthis,theywereverygreatdaysatBerlin,thoseofAutumn,1750;
distinguishedstrangerscomeorcoming;theKinggivinghimselfuptoentertainmentofthem,toenjoymentofthem;withsuchaheartyoutburstofmagnificence,thisCarrouseltheapexofit,aswasrareinhisreign。TherewerehisSistersofSchwedtandBaireuth,withsuite,hisdearWilhelminaqueenofthescene;["Came8thAugust"(Rodenbeck,205)。]therewere——ItwouldbetedioustocountwhatotherhighHerrschaftenandDurchlauchtigPersons。
Andtocrownthewhole,andentertainWilhelminaasaQueenshouldbe,therehadcomeM。deVoltaire;conqueredatlengthtous,aswehope,andtheDreamofourYouthrealized。Voltaire’sreception,July10thandeversince,hasbeenmeresplendorandkindness;
reallyextraordinary,asweshallfindfartheron。
Receptionperfectinallpoints,exceptthatofthePompadour’sComplimentsalone。"Thatsublimecreature’scomplimentstoyourMajesty;suchherexpresscommand!"saidVoltaire。"JENELA
CONNAISPAS,"answeredFriedrich,withhisclear—ringingvoice,"Idon’tknowher;"[VoltairetoMadameDenis,"Potsdam,11thAugust,1750"(OEuvres,lxxiv。184)。]——
sufficientintimationtoVoltaire,butpainfulandsurprising。
ForwhichsomediplomaticpersonsblameFriedrichtothisday;
butnotI,oranyreaderofmine。AveryproudyoungKing;inhissilentway,alwaystheprouder;andstandsinnoaweoftheDivineButterfliesandCrownedInfatuationsneversopotent,asmoreprudentpeopledo。
InaBerlinofsuchstirandsplendor,thearrivalsofSirJonasHanway,ofthe"youngLordMalton"(famedEarlorMarquisofRockinghamthatwillbe),orofthewittyExcellencyHanbury,areasnothing;——SirJonas’saslessthannothing。ASirJonasnoticedbynobody;buthimselftakingnote,dullworthyman;
andmentionablenowonthataccount。HereisaScrapregardinghim,notquitetobethrownaway:
"SirJonasHanwaywasnotalwayssoextinctashehasnowbecome。
ReadersmightdoworsethanturntohisnowoldBookofTRAVELS
again,andthestrangeoldLondonitawakensforus:A’RussianTradingCompany,’fullofhopetothethenmercantilemind;
aMr。Hanwaydespatched,yearsago,asChiefClerk,inexpressiblyinterestedtomanagewell;——andmanaging,asyoumayreadatlarge。
Hasdonehisbestandutmost,allthiswhile;andhadsuchtravellingsthroughtheNaphthaCountries,sailingsontheCaspian;
suchdifficulties,successes,——ultimately,failure。OwingtoMr。
EltonandThamasKouliKhanmainly。ThamasKouliKhan——otherwisecalledNadirShah(andaveryhard—headedfellow,byallappearance)——wiledandseducedMr。Elton,anEx—Navalgentleman,awayfromhisLedgers,tobuildhimShips;havingsethisheartongettingaNavy。AndMr。Eltondidbuildhim(spiteofallIcouldsay)aBarkortwoontheCaspian;——mosthopefultothesaidNadirShah;butdiditcometoanything?Itdisgusted,italarmedtheRussians;andruinedSirJonas,——whoisreturningatthisperiod,preparedtorenderaccountofhimselfatLondon,inaloftilyresignedframeofmind。[JonasHanway,AnAccountof&c。
(orinbrief,TRAVELS:London,3vols。4to,1753),ii。183。"ArrivedinBerlin,"fromtheCaspianandPetersburgside,"August15th,1750。"]
"TheremarksofSirJonasuponBerlin——forheexerciseseverywhereasapientobservationonmenandthings——areofdimtumidlyinsignificantcharacter,remindingusofanextinctMinerva’sOwl;
andreducethemselvesmainlytothisbitofoculartestimony,ThathisPrussianMajestyridesmuchabout,oftenatarapidrate;
withapleasantbusinessaspect,humanethoughimperative;
handsometolookupon,thoughwithfaceperceptiblyreddish[andperhapssnuffonit,wereyounear]。Hisagenowthirty—eightgone;
asetappearance,asifalreadygotintohisforties。Complexionflorid,figuremuscular,almosttendingtobeplump。
"ListenwellthroughHanway,youwillfindKingFriedrichisanobjectofgreatinterest,personalaswellasofficial,andmuchthethemeinBerlinsociety;admirationofhim,prideinhim,notnowtheaudiblesttone,thoughitliesatthebottomtoo:
’OurFriedrichtheGreat,’afterall[soHanwayintimates,thoughnotexpressastoepithetsorwordsused]。TheKingdidabeautifulthingtoLieutenant—ColonelKeiththeotherday[assomereadersmayremember]:toLieutenant—ColonelKeith;thatpoorKeithwhowasnailedtothegallowsforhim(ineffigy),atWesellongago;
andgotfarlessthanhehadexpected。Theotherday,therehadbeenagrandReview,partofitextendingintoMadamKnyphausen’sgrounds,whoisKeith’sMother—in—law。’MonsieurKeith,’saidtheKingtohim,’IamsorrywehadtospoilMadam’sfineshrubberybyourmanoeuvres:havethegoodnesstogiveherthat,withmyapologies,’——andhandedhimaprettyCasketwithkeytoit,andintheinterior10,000crowns。NotashrubofMadam’shadbeencutorinjured;buttheKing,yousee,wouldcountit1,500poundsofdamagedone,andhereisacknowledgmentforit,whichpleaseaccept。Isnotthatagraciouslittletouch?
"ThisKingisdoingsomethingatEmbden,SirJonasfears,ortryingtodo,intheTrade—and—Navigationway;scandalousthatEnglishcapitalistswilllendmoneyinfurtheranceofsuchdestructiveschemesbytheForeigner!Fortherest,SirJonaswenttocallonLordMalton(MarquisofRockinghamthatwillbe):anamiableandsoberyoungNobleman,comethusfaronhisGrandTour,"andintimefortheCarrousel。"HisLordship’sreceptionatCourthere,oneregrettedtohear,wasnothingdistinguished;quiteindifferent,indeed,hadnottheQueen—Mothersteptinwithamendments。TheCourtsarenotwelltogether;pityforit。MyLordandhisTutordidmethehonortoreturnmyvisit;theratherasweallquarteredinthesameInn。AmiableyoungNobleman,"——sodistinguishedsince,forhavinghadunconsciouslyanEdmundBurke,andsuchtorrentsofParliamentaryEloquence,inhisbreeches—pocket(BREECHES—POCKET
literally;howunknowntoHanway!)——"AmiableyoungNobleman,isnotitone’sdutytosalute,inpassingsuchaone?ThoughIwouldbynomeanshaveitover—done,andamacalmlyindependentman。
"SirJonasalsosawtheCarrousel[ofwhichpresently];andadmiredthegreatmenofBerlin。Greatmen,allobsoletenow,thoughthenadmiredtoinfinitude,someofthem:’Youmayabuseme,’saidtheKingtosomestrangerarrivedinBerlin;’youmayabuseme,andperhapshereandtheregetpraisebydoingit:butIadviseyounottodoubtofLieberkuhn[thefashionableDoctor]inanycompanyinBerlin,’"[Hanway,ii。190,202,&c。]——Howfashionablearemen!
OneCollini,ayoungItalian,quitenewinBerlin,chancedalsotobeattheCarrousel,oratthelatterhalfofit,——thoughbynomeansinquestofsuchobjectsjustatpresent,pooryoungfellow!
AshecameafterwardstobeSecretaryorAmanuensisofVoltaire,andwillturnupinthatcapacity,letusreadthisNoteuponhim:——
"SignorComoAlessandroCollini,ayoungVenetiangentlemanofsomefamilyandeducation,butofnoemploymentorresource,hadinlateyearsbeenaskingzealouslyallroundamonghishomecircle,WhatamItodowithmyself?mereechoanswering,What,——tillaSignoraSisterofBarberinatheDancer’sanswered:’TryBerlin,andKingFRIDERICOILGRANDEthere?IcouldgiveyoualettertomySister!’
AtwhichCollinigrasps;getsunderwayforBerlin,——throughwildAlpinesceneries,foreigngutturalpopulations;andwithwhatthoughts,pooryoungfellow。Itisacommoncoursetotake,andsometimesanswers,sometimesnot。Thecynosureofvaguecreatures,withasenseoffacultywithoutdirection。WhatcloudsofwingedmigratorypeoplegatheringintoBerlin,allthroughthisReign。
NotsinceNoah’sArkastrangermenagerieofcreatures,mostlywild。OfwhomVoltairealoneis,inourtime,worthmention。
"CollinigazedupontheAlpinechasms,andshaggyice—palaces,withtendermemoryoftheAdriatic;courageouslysteeredhiswaythroughtheinoffensivegutturalpopulations;hadgottoBerlin,justinthistime;beenhadtodinnerdailybythehospitableBarberinas,youngCoccejialwayshisfellow—guest,——’Privately,mypoorSignorina’sHusband!’whisperedoldMamma。BoththeBarberinaswereverykindtoCollini;cheeringhimwithgoodauguries,andoffersofhelp。Collinidoesnotdatewithanypunctuality;buttheGermanBookswilldoitforhim。August25th—27thwasCarrousel;
andCollinihadarrivedfewdaysbefore。"[Collini,MonSejouraupresdeVoltaire(Paris,1807),pp。1—21。]
AndnowitistimewewereattheCarrouselourselves,——inabrieftransientway。
ChapterVI。
BERLINCARROUSEL,ANDVOLTAIREVISIBLETHERE。
ReadershaveheardofthePLACEDUCARROUSELatParis;andknowprobablythatLouisXIV。heldworld—famousCarrouselthere(A。D。
1662);and,ingeneral,thatCarrouselhassomethingtodowithTourneying,ortheShadowofTourneying。Itis,infact,akindofsuperbbe—tailoredrunningatthering,insteadofbe—blacksmithedrunningatoneanother。ASecondmilderEditionofthoseTournamentsports,anddangeroustrialsofstrengthanddexterity,whichweresograndabusinessintheOldironAges。Ofwhich,intheformofCarrouselorotherwise,downalmosttothepresentday,therehavebeenexamples,amongpuissantLords;——thoughnowitisfelttohavebecomeextremelyhollow;perhapsincapableoffullyentertaininganybody,exceptchildrenandtheirnursesonahighoccasion。
Acenturyago,beforethevolcanicexplosionofsomanythingswhichithassincebecomewearisometothinkofinthisearnestworld,theTournament,emblemofanAgeofChivalry,whichwasgone:buthadnotyetdeclareditselftobequitegone,andeventobeturnedtopsy—turvy,hadstillsubstanceasamummery,——notenough,Ishouldsay,tospendmuchmoneyupon。Notmuchrealmoney:except,indeed,themoneywereofferedyougratis,fromotherpartiesinterested?SirJonaskindlyinformsus,byinsinuation,thatthiswas,toagooddegree,Friedrich’scaseinthenowCarrousel:"athinggotupbytheprivateeffortsofdifferentgreatLordsandPrincesoftheblood;"eachpartytailoring,harnessingandfurbishinghimselfandfollowers;
Friedrichcontributinglittlebutthearenaandgeneraloutfit。
Iknownotwhethereventhe40,000lamps(forittookplacebynight)wereofhispurchase,thoughthatislikely;andknowonlythattheSuppersandinteriorPalaceEntertainmentswouldbehis。
"DidnotcosttheKingmuchmoney,"saysSirJonas;whichissatisfactorytoknow。ForoftheCarrouselkind,oroftheRoyal—
Mummerykindingeneral,therehasbeen,forgracefularrangement,formagnificenceregardlessofexpense,——invitingyouramiableLordMalton,andtheidlersofallCountries,andawakeningtheraptureofGazetteers,——nothinglikeitsinceLouistheGrand’stime。
Nothing,——exceptperhapsthatCampofMuhlbergorRadowitz,whereweoncewere。Done,thisone,notattheKing’sexpensealone,butatotherpeople’schiefly:thatisanunexpectedfeature,welcomeiftrue;and,exceptforSirJonas,wouldnothavehelpedtoexplainthepuzzleforus,asitdidinthethenBerlincircles。
Muhlberg,inmyhumblejudgment,wasworthtwoofthisasaMummery;——butthemeritoriousfeatureofFriedrich’sis,thatitcosthimverylittle。
Itwas,sayallGazetteersandidleeye—witnesses,ahighlysplendidspectacle。BymuchthemosteffulgentexhibitionFriedrichevermadeofhimselfintheExpensive—Mummerydepartment:andI
couldgiveinextremedetailthephenomenaofit;but,inmercytopoorreaders,willnot。FancytheassiduoushammeringandsawingontheSchloss—Platz,amidcrowdsofgayloungers,givingcheerfulnoteofpreparation,inthoselatterdaysofAugust,1750。And,onWEDNESDAYNIGHT,25thAUGUST,lookandsee,——fortheduemomentsonly,andvaguelyenough(asinthefollowingExcerpt):——
PALACE—ESPLANADEOFBERLIN,25thAUGUST,1750(dusksinkingintodark):"Underawindynocturnalsky,aspaciousParallelogram,enclosedforjoustingasatAspramontorTrebisond。Wideenougharenainthecentre;vastamphitheatreofwoodenseatsandpassages,firmcarpentryandfittedforitsbusiness,risingallround;Audience,selectthoughmultitudinous,sittingdecorousandgarrulous,saysincehalf—pasteight。Thereisroyalboxontheground—tier;andtheKinginit,King,withPrincessAmeliafortheprizes:oppositetothisisentrancefortheChevaliers,——fourseparateentrances,Ithink。Whocome,——lo,atlast!——withbreathingsandbigswellsofmusic,asResuscitationsfromtheburiedAges。
"Theyareinfour’Quadrilles,’sotermed:Romans,Persians,Carthaginians,Greeks。FourJoustingParties,headedeachbyaPrinceoftheBlood:——withsuchasplendorofequipmentforjewels,silverhelmets,sashings,housings,aseyeneversaw。Prancingontheirgloriousbattle—steeds(sham—battle,steedsnotsham,butchampingtheirbitsasrealquadrupedswithfireintheirinterior):——howmanyinall,Iforgottocount。Perhaps,ontheaverage,sixtyineachQuadrille,fifteenofthempracticalRitters;therestmythologicwingedstandard—bearers,blackamoors,lictors,trumpetersandshiningmelodiousphantasmsasescort,——ofthislatterkindsayinroundnumbersTwoHundredaltogether;
andofactualRittersthreescore。[Blumenthal,LifeofDeZiethen(Ziethenwasinit,andgainedaprize),i。257—263etseq。;Voltaire’sLETTERStoNieceDenis(OEuvres,lxxiv。174,179,198);——andtwocontemporary4tosonthesubject,withDrawings&c。,whichmaywellcontinueunknowntoeveryreader。]Whorunatrings,atTurks’
heads,andatotherobjectswithdeath—doinglance;andpranceandflashandcareeralong:glorioustoseeandhear。Underproudflourishingsofdrumsandtrumpets,underburstsandbreathingsofwind—music;undertheshineofFortyThousandLamps,foroneitem。
AllBerlinandthenocturnalfirmamentlookingon,——nightrathergusty,’whichblewoutmanyofthelamps,’insinuatesHanway。
"Aboutmidnight,BeautyintheformofPrincessAmeliadistributestheprizes;Musicfillingtheair;andhuman’EUGE’S,’andthesurvivinglamps,doingtheirbest。AfterwhichthePrincipalitiesandRitterswithdrawtotheirPalace,totheirBallsandtheirSupperofthegods;andalltheworldandhiswifegoeshomeagain,amidvariouscommentaryfromhighandlow。’JAMAIS,Never,’
murmuredonehighGentleman,oftheImpromptukind,atthePalaceSupper—table:——
’JamaisdansAtheneetdansRomeOnn’eutdeplusbeauxjours,nideplusdigneprix。
J’aivulefilsdeMarssouslestraitsdeParis,EtVenusquidonnaitlapomme。’"
[NeverinAthensorRomeweretherebraversightsoraworthierprize:IhaveseenthesonofMars[KingFriedrich]withParis’sfeatures,andVenus[Amelia]crowningthevictorious。"
(OEuvresdeVoltaire,xviii。320。]
AndAmphitheatreandLampslapsewhollyintodarkness,andthethinghasfinished,forthetimebeing。August27th,itwasrepeatedbydaylight:ifpossible,morecharmingthanever;butnottobespokenoffarther,underpenalties。Tobemildlyforgottenagain,everyjotandtittleofit,——exceptonesmallinsignificantiota,which,byaccident,stillmakesitremarkable。Namely,thatColliniandtheBarberinaswerethere;andthatnotonlywasVoltaireagainthere,amongthePrincesandPrincesses;butthatCollinisawVoltaire,andgivesustransientsightofhim,——thankstoCollini。Thursday,27thAugust,1750,wastheDaylightversionoftheCarrouse1;whichCollini,ifitwereofanymoment,takestohavePRECEDEDthatofthe40,000Lamps。SureenoughColliniwasthere,witheyesopen:——
"MadamedeCocceji[soonemaycallher,thoughtheknownaliasisBarberina]hadengagedplaces;sheinvitedmetocomeandseethisFestivity。Wewent;"andverygranditwas。"ThePalace—Esplanadewaschanged"bycarpentriesanddraperies"intoavastAmphitheatre;theslopesofitfurnishedwithbenchesforthespectators,andatthefourcornersofitandatthebottom,magnificentlydecoratedboxesfortheCourt。"VastovalAmphitheatre,theinteriorarenarectangular,withitsFourEntrances,oneforeachoftheFourQuadrilles。"Theassemblagewasnumerousandbrilliant:alltheCourthadcomefromPotsdamtoBerlin。
"AlittlewhilebeforetheKinghimselfmadeappearance,thererosesuddenlyamurmurofadmiration,andIheardallroundme,fromeverybody,thename’Voltaire!Voltaire!’Lookingdown,IsawVoltaireaccordingly;amongagroupofgreatlords,whowerewalkingovertheArena,towardsoneoftheCourtBoxes。Heworeamodestcountenance,butjoypainteditselfinhiseyes:youcannotloveglory,andnotfeelgratefullytheprizeattachedtoit,"——
attainedashere。"Ilostsightofhiminfewinstants,"asheapproachedhisBox"theplacewhereIwasnotpermittingfartherview。"[Collini,MonSejour,p。21。]
ThiswasCollini’sfirstsightofthatgreatman(DECEGRAND
HOMME)。Withwhom,thankstoBarberina,hehad,inadayortwo,thehonorofanInterview(judgmentfavorable,hecouldhope);
andbeforemanymonths,Accidentalsofavoring,theinexpressiblehonorofseeinghimselfthegreatman’sSecretary,——howfarbeyondhopeoraspiration,intheseCarrouseldays!
VoltairehadnowbeenheresomeSevenWeeks,——arrived10thJuly,asweoftennote;——after(onhisownpart)agreatdealofhaggling,hesitatingandnegotiating;whichwespareourreaders。ThepoormanhavingnowbecomeaQuasi—Widower;painfullyrallying,withhiswholestrength,towardsnewarrangements,——nowwasthetimeforFriedrichtourgehim:"Cometome!Awayfromallthatdismalimbroglio;hither,Isay!"TowhichVoltaireisnotinattentive;
thoughhehesitates;cannot,inanycase,comewithoutdelay;——
lingersinParis,readjustingmanythings,thepoorshipwreckedbeing,amongkindD’Argentalsandfriends。PoorIshmael,gettinggray;andhistentinthedesertsuddenlycarriedoffbyablastofwind!
TothelegalWidower,M。leMarquis,hebehavesinmoneymatterslikeaPrince;takesthatParisDomicile,intheRueTraversiere,alltohimself;institutesanewhouseholdthere,——NieceDenistobefemalepresident。NieceDenis,widowwithoutencumbrances;
whominhermarriedstate,wifetosomekindofCommissariat—
OfficeratLille,wehaveseentransientlyinthatCity,herUnclelodgingwithherashepassed。Agadding,flaunting,unreasonable,would—befashionablefemale——(aDuChateletwithoutthegraceorgenius,andwhoneverwasinlovewithyou!)——withwhompoorUnclehadabaddishlifeintimecoming。Allwhichsettled,hestilllingers。Widowed,grownoldandlessadventurous!’ThatHouseintheRueTraversiere,oncehisandAnother’s,nowhisalone,——forthetimebeing,itisprobablymorelikeaMausoleumthanaHousetohim。AndVersailles,withitssulkyTrajans,itsCrebilloncabals,whatcharmisinVersailles?HethinksofgoingtoItalyforawhile;hasneverseenthatfineCountry:ofgoingtoBerlinforawhile:ofgoingto——Infact,Berlinisclearlytheplacewherehewillland;buthehesitatesgreatlyaboutliftinganchor。
Friedrichinsists,inabright,bantering,kindlyway;"Youwereduetomeayearago;yousaidalways,’Sosoonasthelying—inisover,Iamyours:’——andnow,whydon’tyoucome?"
Friedrich,sincetheymetlast,hashadsomeexperiencesofVoltaire,whichhedoesnotlike。Theirroads,truly——oneadulatingTrajaninVersailles,andgrowinggreatby"FarcesoftheFair;"
theotherbattlingforhisexistenceagainstmenanddevils,TrajanandCompanyincluded——havelainfarapart。TheirCorrespondenceperceptiblylanguishing,inconsequence,andevenrumorsrisingonthesubject,Voltairewroteonce:"Givemeayardofribbon,Sire[yourORDEROFMERIT,Sire],tosilencethosevilerumors!"
WhichFriedrich,onsuchfree—and—easyterms,hadsilentlydeclined。"Ameddlesome,forwardkindoffellow;alwaysgettingintoscrapesandbrabbles!"thinksFriedrich。Butisreallyanxious,nowthatthechanceoffersagain,tohavesuchaLeviteforhisPriest,theevidentpinkofHumanIntellect;andtriesvariousincitementsuponhim;——hitsatlast(Iknownotwhetherbydeviceorbyaccident)ononewhich,saytheFrenchBiographers,didraiseVoltaireandsethimunderway。
AcertainM。Baculardd’Arnaud,aconceited,foolishyoungfellow,muchpatronizedbyVoltaire,andgiventowriteverses,whichareunknowntome,hasbeen,onVoltaire’srecommending,"LiteraryCorrespondent"toFriedrich(ParisBook—Agentandthelike)forsometimepast;correspondingmuchwithPotsdam,inawayfoundentertaining;andisnow(April,1750)actuallygoingthither,toFriedrich’sCourt,orperhapshasgone。Atanyrate,Friedrich——byaccidentorbydevice——hadansweredsomerhymesofthisD’Arnaud,"Yes;welcome,youngsunrise,sinceVoltaireisabouttoset!"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。95(Verses"AD’ARNAUD,"ofdateDecember,1749。)]Ihopeitwasbydevice;
D’Arnaudissuchasillyfellow;tooabsurd,toreckonasmorningtoanybody’ssunset。Exceptforhisinvoluntaryservice,forandagainst,inthisVoltaireJourney,hisnamewouldnotnowbementionableatall。"Sunset?"exclaimedVoltaire,springingoutofbed(saytheBiographers),andskippingaboutindignantlyinhisshirt:"IwillshowthemIamnotsetyet!"[Duvernet(Second),p。159。]AndinstantlyresolvedontheBerlinExpedition。WenttoCompiegne,wheretheCourtthenwas;tobidhisadieus;naytoaskformallytheRoyalleave,——forweareHistoriographerandtitularGentlemanoftheChamber,andKing’sservantinasense。Leavewasatoncegrantedhim,almosthuffingly;wehopenotwithtoomuchreadiness?Forthisisaticklishpoint:oneisgoingtoPrussia"onaVisit"merely(thoughitmaybelongish);onewouldnothavethedoorofFranceslammedtobehindone!ThetoneatCourtdidseemalittlesuccinct,somethingalmostofsneerinit。ButfromthePompadourherselfallwasfriendly;merewitty,cheerygraciosities,and"MyComplimentstohisMajestyofPrussia,"——
Complimentshowansweredwhentheycametohand:"JENELA
CONNAISPAS!"
Inshort,M。deVoltairemadeallhisarrangements;gotunderway;
piouslyvisitedFontenoyandtheBattle—fieldsinpassing:andishere,sinceJuly10th,——inverygreatsplendor,aswesee:——onhisFifthVisittoFriedrich。Fifth;whichprovedhisLast,——andisstillextremelycelebratedintheworld。VisitmuchmisunderstoodinFranceandEngland,downtothisday。Bynomeanssortedoutintoaccuracyandintelligibility;butleftas(whatissayingagreatdeal!)probablythewastestchaosofalltheSectionsofFriedrich’sHistory。Andhas,aloneofthem,goneoverthewholeworld;beingwithalamusingtoread,andthereforewellandwidelyremembered,inthatmendaciousandsemi—intelligiblestate。Tolaythesegoblins,fullofnoise,ignoranceandmendacity,andgivesometrueoutlineofthematter,withwhatbrevityisconsistentwithdecipheringitatall,isnowoursadtask,——laborious,perhapsdisgusting;notimpossible,ifreaderswillloyallyassist。
VoltairehadtakeneveryprecautionthatthisVisitshouldsucceed,oratleastbenolosstooneoftheparties。InapreliminaryLetterfromParis,——proseandverse,oneofthecleverestdiplomaticpieceseverpenned;Letterreallyworthlookingat,cunningasthesongofApollo,Voltairesymbolicallyintimates:
"Well,Sire,youroldDanae,poormalingeringoldwretch,iscomingtoherJove。ItisJoveshewants,nottheShowerofJove;
nevertheless"——AndFriedrich(thankHanbury,inpart,forthatbitofknowledge)hadremittedhiminhardmoney600pounds"topaythetollsonhisroad。"[Walpole,i。451("HaditfromPrincessAmeliaherself");seeVoltairetoFriedrich,"Paris,9thJune,1750;"
FriedrichtoVoltaire,"Potsdam,24thMay"(OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiv。158,155)。]Asahighgentlemanwould;tohavedonewiththosebaseelementsofthebusiness。
Nayfurthermore,preciselytwodaysbeforethosesplendorsoftheCarrousel,Friedrich,——inanswertonewcunningcroakeriesandcontrivances("Sire,thisLetterfrommyNiece,whoisinconsolablethatIshouldthinkofstayinghere;"where,findingoneselfsodivinized,oneisdisposedtostay),——hasansweredhimlikeaKing:
ByGoldKeyofChamberlain,CrossoftheOrderofMerit,andPensionof20,000francs(850pounds)ayear,——conveyedinasroyalaLetterofBusinessasIhaveoftenread;melodiousasApollo,thistoo,thoughallinbusinessprose,and,likeApollo,practicalGodoftheSUNinthiscase。["Berlin,23dAugust,1750"
(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。255);——VoltairetoNieceDenis,"24thAugust"(misprinted"14th");toD’Argental,"28thAugust"(OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiv。
185,196)。]Dated23dAugust,1750。ThisLetterofFriedrich’sI
fancytobewhatVoltairecalls,"YourMajesty’sgraciousAgreementwithme,"andoftenappealsto,insubsequenttroubles。NotquiteaNotarialPiece,onFriedrich’spart;butstrictlyobservedbyhimassuch。
Fourdaysafterwhich,ColliniseesVoltaireserenelyshiningamongthePrincesandPrincessesoftheworld;Amphitheatreallwhisperingwithbatedbreath,"Voltaire!Voltaire!"ButletushearVoltairehimself,fromtheinteriorofthePhenomenon,atthisitsculminatingpoint:——
VoltairetohisD’Argentals,——toNieceDeniseven,withwhom,ifwithnoother,heisquitewithoutreserve,inshowingthebadandthegood,——continuesradiantlyeloquentinthesefirstmonths:……"Carrousel,twiceover;thelikeneverseenforsplendor,for[rathercopiousonthissublimity]——AfterwhichweplayedROME
SAUVEE[myAnti—Crebillonmasterpiece],inaprettylittleTheatre,whichIhavegotconstructedinthePrincessAmelia’sAntechamber。
I,whospeaktoyou,IplayedCICERO。"Yes;andwasmanagerandgeneralstage—kingandcontriver;beingexpertatthis,ifatanything。AndthesebeautifulTheatricalshadbegunweeksago,andstilllastedmanyweeks;[Rodenbeck,"August—October,"1750。]——withsuchdivineconsultings,directings,evenorderingsofthebrilliantRoyaltiesconcerned。——Duvernet(probablyonD’Arget’sauthority)informsusthat"once,inoneoftheinter—acts,findingthesoldiersallowedhimforPretorianGuardsnottounderstandtheirbusinesshere,"nothere,astheydidatHohenfriedbergandelsewhere,"Voltaireshrilledvolcanicallyouttothem[happilyunintelligible):’F————,Deviltakeit,Iaskedformen;andtheyhavesentmeGermans(J’AIDEMANDEDESHOMMES,ETL’ONM’ENVOIEDES
ALLEMANDS)!’AtwhichthePrincessesweregood—naturedenoughtoburstintolaughter。"[Duvernet(Second),p。162,——timeprobably15thOctober。]Voltairecontinues:"ThereisanEnglishAmbassadorherewhoknowsCicero’sOrationsINCATILINAMbyheart;"anexcellentEtonian,surely。"ItisnotMilordTyrconnell"
(blusterousIrishJacobite,OURAmbassador,notehim,fatValorihavingbeenrecalled);no,"itistheEnvoyfromEngland,"
ExcellencyHanburyhimself,whoknowshisCicerobyheart。"HehassentmesomefineversesonROMESAUVEE;hesaysitismybestwork。ItisaPieceappropriateforMinisterialpeople;MadamelaChanceliere,"Cocceji’sbetterhalf,"iswellpleasedwithit。
[OEuvres,lxxiv。(LETTERS,totheD’ArgentalsandDenis,"20thAugust—23dSeptember,1750"),pp。187,219,231,&c。&c。]Andthen,"——Butenough。
InPrincessAmelia’sAntechamber,thereorinothercelestialplaces,inPalaceafterPalace,itgoeson。Gayetysucceedinggayety;merePrincessesandPrincesdoingparts;inROMESAUVEE,andinmasterpiecesofVoltaire’s,VoltairehimselfactingCICERO
andelderlycharacters,LUSIGNANandthelike。Excellentinacting,saythewitnesses;superlative,forcertain,asPreceptoroftheart,——thoughimpatientnowandthen。AndwearssuchJewel—ornaments(borrowedpartlyfromaHebrew,ofwhomanon),suchmagnificenceoftastefuldress;——andwalkshisminuetamongtheMorningStars。NottomentiontheSuppersoftheKing:chosencircle,withtheKingforcentre;aradiantFriedrichflashingouttorightandleft,tillallkindlesintocoruscationroundhim;anditissuchablazeofspiritualsheet—lightnings,——wonderfultothinkof;Voltaireespeciallyelectric。Never,orseldom,wereseensuchsuppers;
suchalifeforaSupremeManofLetterssofittedwiththeplaceduetohim。Smelfungussays:——
"AndsoyourSupremeofLiteraturehasgotintohisdueplaceatlast,——atthetopoftheworld,namely;though,alas,butformomentsorformonths。TheKing’sownFriend;hewhomtheKingdelightstohonor。ThemostshiningthinginBerlin,atthismoment。VirtuallyakindofPAPA,orIntellectualFatherofMankind,"sneersSmelfungus;"Popeimprovisedforthenonce。
ThenewFridericusMagnusdoesastheoldPipinus,oldCarolusMagnusdid:recognizeshisPope,indespiteofthebasevulgar;
elevateshimaloftintoworship,forthevulgarandforeverybody!
CarolusMagnusdidthatthrice—salutaryfeat[sublimelyhuman,ifyouthinkofit,andforlongcenturiessuccessfulmoreorless];
FridericusMagnus,underotheromens,unconsciouslydoesthelike,——thebesthecan!LettheOperaFiddlers,theFrerons,TravenolsandDesfontaines—of—Sodom’sGhostlookandconsider!"——
MadameDenis,anexpensivegayLady,stillonlyinherthirties,improvablebyrouge,carriesongreatworkintheRueTraversiere;
privatetheatricals,suppers,flirtationswithItaliantravellingMarquises;——findsIntendantLongchampmuchinherway,withhisrigorousaccount—books,andrestrictionto100louispermonth;
wishesevenherUnclewereback,andcautionshim,NottobelieveinFriedrich’sflatteringunctions,orputhistrustinPrincesatall。Voltaire,withtheduepreliminaries,showsFriedrichherLetter,oneofherLetters,[Nowlost,asmostofthemare;
Voltaire’sAnswertoit,alreadycited,is"24thAugust,1750"
(misprinted"14thAugust,"OEuvres,lxxiv。
185;seeIB。lxxv。135);KingFriedrich’sPRACTICALAnswer(somunificenttoDenisandVoltaire),"YourMajesty’sgraciousAgreement,"boredate"August23d。"]——withresultaswesawabove。
Formeysays:"IntheCarnivaltime,whichVoltaireusuallypassedatBerlin,inthePalace,peoplepaidtheircourttohimastoadeclaredFavorite。Princes,Marshals,MinistersofState,ForeignAmbassadors,Lordsofthehighestrank,attendedhisaudience;
andwerereceived,"saysFormey,nowherefreefromspiteonthissubject,"inasufficientlyloftystyle(HAUTEURASSEZ
DEDAIGNEUSE)。[Formey,Souvenirs,i。235,236。]AgreatPrincehadthecomplaisancetoplaychesswithhim;
andtolethimwinthepistolesthatwerestaked。Sometimeseventhepistoledisappearedbeforetheendofthegame,"continuesFormey,greenwithspite;——andreportsthatsadstoryofthecandle—ends;bitsofwax—candle,whichshouldhaveremainedasperquisitetothevalets,butwhichwereconfiscatedbyVoltaireandsentacrosstothewax—chandler’s。So,doubtless,thespitefulrumorran;probablylittlebutspiteandfable,Berlinbeingbitterinitsgossip。StupidThiebaultrepeatsthatofthecandle—ends,likeathinghehadseen(twelveyearsBEFOREhisarrivalinthoseparts);andaddsthatVoltaire"puttheminhispocket,"——likeonebothstupidandsordid。Alas,thebrighteryourshine,theblackeristheshadowyoucast。
Friedrich,withtheknowledgehealreadyhadofhisyoke—fellow,——
oneofthemostskittish,explosive,unrulycreaturesinharness,——
cannotbecountedwisetohaveplungedsoheartilyintosuchanadventurewithhim。"AnundoubtedCourseroftheSun!"thoughtFriedrich;——andforgottoomuchthesignsofbadgoinghehadsometimesnoticedinhimonthecommonhighways。ThereisnodoubthewasperfectlysincereandsimpleinallthishightreatmentofVoltaire。"Theforemost,literaryspiritoftheworld,amantobehonoredbyme,andbyallmen;theTrismegistusofHumanIntellects,whataconquesttohavemade;howcheapisalittlemoney,alittlepatienceandguidance,forsuchsolacementandornamenttoone’sbarrenLife!"Hehadrashlyhopedthatthedreamsofhisyouthcouldherebystillbealittlerealized;andsomethingoftheoldReinsbergProgrambecomeafruitfulandblessedfact。
FriedrichisloyallygladoverhisVoltaire;eagerinallwaystocontenthim,makehimhappy;andkeephimhere,astheTalkingBird,theSingingTreeandtheGoldenWaterofintelligentmankind;
thegloryofone’sownCourt,andtheenvyoftheworld。
"WillteachusthesecretoftheMuses,too;FrenchMuses,andhelpusinourbitsofLiterature!"Thislatter,too,isaconsiderationwithFriedrich,aswhyshoulditnot,——thoughbynomeansthesoleorchiefone,astheFrenchgiveitouttobe。
Onhisside,Voltaireisnotdisloyaleither;butisnothinglikesocompletelyloyal。Hehas,andcontinuedalwaystohave,notunmixedwithfear,arealadmirationforFriedrich,thatterriblepracticalDoer,withthecuttingbrilliancesofmindandcharacter,andtheirrefragablecommonsense;nayhehasevenakindoflovetohim,orsomethinglikeit,——lovemadeupofgratitudeforpastfavors,andlivelyanticipationoffuture。Voltaireis,bynature,anattachedorattachablecreature;flingingoutfondboughstoeverykindofexcellence,andespeciallyholdingfirmbyoldtieshehadmade。Onefanciesinhimamixedsetofemotions,directandreflex,——theconsciousnessofsafeshelter,weretherenothingmore;ofglorytooneself,derivedandstillderivablefromthishighman:——infine,asum—totalofactualdesiretolivewithKingFriedrich,whichmight,surely,havealmostsufficedevenforVoltaire,inaquieterelement。Buttheelementwasnotquiet,——farfromit;norwasVoltaireeasilysufficeable!
PERPETUALPRESIDENTMAUPERTUISHASAVISITFROMONEKONIG,OUTOFHOLLAND,CONCERNINGTHEINFINITELYLITTLE。
WhetherMaupertuis,inredwigwithyellowbottom,sawthesehighgauderiesoftheCarrousel,thePlaysinPrincessAmelia’sAntechamber,andtherestofit,Idonotknow:butifso,hewasnotinthetopplace;nordidanybodytakenoticeofhim,aseverybodydidofVoltaire。Meanwhile,Ihavesomethingtoquote,asabridgedanddistilledfromvarioussources,chieflyfromFormey;
whichwillbeofmuchconcernmentfartheron。
SomefourweeksafterthoseCarrouseleffulgencies,PerpetualPresidentMaupertuishadavisit(September21st,justwhiletheSunwascrossingtheLine;thankstoFormeyforthedate,whokeepsaNote—book,usefulintheseintricacies):visitfromProfessorKonig,aneffectivemathematicalmanfromtheDutchparts。
Whomreadershaveforgottenagain;thoughtheysawhimonce:
inviolentquarrel,abouttheInfinitelyLittle,withMadameduChatelet,Voltairewitnessingwithpain;——itwasjustastheyquittedCireytogether,tenyearsago,forthesenewcoursesofadventure。Doreadersrecallthecircumstance?Maupertuis,refereeinthatquarrel,had,withabluntnessoffensivetothefemalemind,declaredKonigindisputablyintheright;andtherehadfollowedadrynessbetweenthedivineEmilieandtheFlatteneroftheEarth,scarcelytobehealedbyVoltaire’sbestefforts。
Konighasgonehisroadsincethen;becomeafinesolidfellow;
ProfessorinaDutchUniversity;morelatterlyLibrariantotheDutchStadtholder:stillfrankofspeech,andwitharuggedfree—
and—easyturn,butofmanfulmanners;reallyapersonofvariousculture,andasisstillnoticeable,ofasolidgeometricturnofmind。Havingnow,asLibrarianattheHague,moreleisureandmoremoney,hehasmadearuntoBerlin,——chieflyorentirelytoseehisMaupertuisagain,whomhestillremembersgratefullyashisfirstPatroninoldertimes,andamanofsoundparts,thoughratherblusterousnowandthen,Alittlebitofscientificbusinessalsohehaswithhim。KonigisMemberoftheBerlinAcademy,forsomeyearsback;andthereisathinghewouldspeakwiththePerpetualPresidentupon。"WantsnothingelseinBerlin,"saysFormey:
ahearingbytheroadthatMaupertuiswasnotthere,hehadactuallyturnedhomewardsagain:butgottruertidings,andcameon。"Themorewasthepity,asperhapswillappear!"HearrivedSeptember20th[ifyouwillbeparticularoncheese—parings];
calledonmethatday,beinglodgedinmyneighborhood;andnextday,foundMaupertuisathome;"[Formey,i。176—179。]——andflewintohisarmsagain,likeagoodboylongabsent。
Maupertuis,notmanymonthsago,had,inTwosuccessivePapers,I
thinkTwo,communicatedtotheAcademyaDiscoveryofMetaphysico—
MathematicaloraltogetherMetaphysicalnature,ontheLawsofMotion;——Discoverywhichhehas,sincethat,broughttocompleteperfection,andsentforthtotheUniverseatlarge,inhissublimelittleBookofCOSMOLOGY;[InLaBeaumelle,ViedeMaupertuis(Paris,1856),pp。105—130,confusedaccountofthis"Discovery,"andofthegradualPublicationofittomankind,——verygradual;firstofallintheoldParistimes;
intheBerlinACADEMYlatterly;andinfine,toalltheworld,inthisESSAIDECOSMOLOGIE(Berlin,Summerof1750)。]——gratefulAcademystrivingtoadmire,andbelieve,withitsPerpetualPresident,thattheDiscoverywassublimetoadegree;secondonlytotheflatteningoftheEarth;andwouldprobablystandthenceforthasamilestoneintheProgressofHumanThought。
"WhichDiscovery,then?"Benottoocurious,reader;takeonlyofitwhatshallconcernyou!
Itiswellknowntherehavebeen,tothemetaphysicalhead,difficultiesalmostinsuperableastoHow,intheSystemofNature,Motionis?How,inthenameofwonder,itcanbe;andeven,Whetheritisatall?Difficultiestothemetaphysicalhead,stickingitsnoseintothegutterthere;——notdifficulttomyreadersandme,whocanatalltimeswalkacrosstheroom,andtriumphantlygetoverthem。Butstickyournoseintoanygutter,entity,orobject,thisofMotionoranother,withobstinacy,——youwilleasilydrown,ifthatbeyourdetermination!——Sufficeitforustoknowinthismatter,thatMaupertuis,intenselywatchingNature,hasdiscovered,Thatthekeyofherenigma(oratleasttheultimatecentralDOOR,whichhidesallherMotionalenigmas,thekeytoWHICHcannotevenbeimaginedasdiscoverable!)is,that"NatureissuperlativelyTHRIFTYinthisaffairofmotion;"thatsheemploys,foreveryMotiondoneordo—able,"aMINIMUMOFACTION;"andthat,ifyouwellunderstandthis,youwill,atleast,announceallherproceduresinoneproposition,andhavefoundtheDOORwhichleadstoeverything。Whichwillbeacomforttoyou;stilllookingvainlyforthekey,ifthereisstillnokeyconceivable。
PerpetualPresidentMaupertuis,havingsurprisedNatureinthismanner,readPapersuponittoanAcademylisteningwithupturnedeyes;newPapers,perfectedoutofold,——forhehaslongbeenhatchingthesePhoenix—eggs;andhassentthemoutcomplete,quitelately,inalittleBookcalledCOSMOLOGIE,wherealoneIhavehadthequestionablebenefitofreadingthem。Grandlybrief,asifcomingfromDelphi,theutteranceis;loftilysolemn,elaboratelymodest,abstrusetothenowhumanmind;butintelligible,haditonlybeenworthunderstanding:——apainfullittleBook,thatCOSMOLOGIE,asthePerpetualPresident’sgenerallyare。"MinimumofAction,LOID’EPARGNE,LawofThrift,"hecallsthissublimeDiscovery;——thinksitwillbeSovereigninNaturalTheologyaswell:"ForhowcouldNaturebeaSave—all,withoutDesignerpresent?"——andspeaks,ofcourse,amongothertechnicalpoints,about"VISVIVA,orVelocitymultipliedbytheSquareoftheTime:"
whichtwopoints,"LOID’EPARGNE,"andthat"theVISVIVAisalwaysaMinimum,"thereadercantakealongwithhim;IwillpermithimtoshaketheothersintoLimboagain,asforgettablebyhumannatureatthisepochandhenceforth。
InLaBeaumelle’sViedeMaupertuis(printedatlast,Paris,1856,afterlyingnearlyacenturyinmanuscript,anobtuseworthlessleadenlittleBook),thereismuchlouddroninganddetailing,aboutthisCOSMOLOGIE,thissublime"Discovery,"andtheothersublimeDiscoveries,InsightsandApocalypticUtterancesofMaupertuis;thoughinsoconfusedafashion,itisseldomyoucanhavethepoorpleasureoflearningexactlywhen,orexceptbyyourownseverescrutiny,exactlywhat。Forreasonsthatwillappear,certainofthoseApocalypticUtterancesbyPerpetualPresidentMaupertuishavesincegotanewinterest,andonehasactuallyakindofwishtoreadtheIPSISSIMAVERBAofthem,atthisdate!ButinLaBeaumelle(hismodernEditorlyingfastasleepthroughout)thereisnovestigeofhelp。NayMaupertuis’sownBook,[OEuvresdeMaupertuis,Lyon,1756,4vols。
4to。]luxuriouscream—paperQuartos,orOctavesmadefour—squarebymargin,——whichyoubuyfortheseandthecognateobjects,——provesaltogetherworthlesstoyou。TheMaupertuisQuartosarenotreadablefortheirownsake(solemnlyemphaticstatementofwhatyoualreadyknow;concentratedstruggletogetonwing,andfailurebysonarrowamiss;strugglewhichgetsonlyontiptoe,andwon’tceasewrigglingandflapping);andthen(toyourhorror)theyprovetobecarefullycleanedofalltheMaupertuis—VOLTAIREmatter;——
editionbeingSUBSEQUENTtothatworld—famousexplosion。
CAVEATEMPTOR。——OurExcerptproceeds:——
"IndustriousKonig,likeothermathematicalpeople,hasbeenlisteningtotheseOraclesonthe’LawofMinimum,’bythePerpetualPresident;andgrievestofind,afterstudy,ThatsaidLawdoesnotquitehold;thatinfactitis,likeDescartes’soldkeyorgeneraldoor,worthlittleornothing;asLeibnitzlongagoseemstohavetransientlyrecognized。Konighasputhisstricturesonpaper:butwillnotdreamofpublishing,tillthePerpetualPresidenthaveexaminedthemandsatisfiedhimself;andthatisKonig’sbusinessatpresent,asheknocksonMaupertuis,whileSoliscrossingtheLine。MaupertuishasaHouseoftheduestyle:
WifeadaughterofMinisterBorck’s(highBorcks,’oldastheDIUVEL’);nochildren;——hisbackcourtsalwaysagooddealdirtywithpelicans,bustards,perhapssnakesandotherzoologicalwretches,whichsometimesintrudeintothedrawing—rooms,otherwiseveryfine。Amanofsomewhims,somehabits;arbitrarybynature,butreallyhonest,thoughrathersublimishinhisinterior,withredWigandyellowbottom。
"Konig,allfilialgladness,isreceivedgladly;——though,bydegrees,withsomesurprise,onthepaternalpart,tofindKonigripenedoutofson,clientandpupil,intoindependentpostureofagrownman。Franklycertainenoughabouthimself,andabouttheaxiomsofmathematics。Standing,evidently,onhisownlegs;
kindlyasever,butonthesenewterms,——infactratheranoutspokenfree—and—easyfellow(Ishouldguess),notthinkingthatoffencecanbetakenamongfriends。Formeyconfesses,thiswasuncomfortabletoMaupertuis;infact,ashockwhichhecouldnotrecoverfrom。Theyhadvariousmeetings,overdinneraudotherwise,atthePerpetualPresident’s,forperhapstwoweeksatthistime(datesalltobehadinFormey’sNote—book,ifanybodywouldconsult);inthewholecourseofwhichtheshocktothePerpetualPresidentincreased,insteadofdiminishing。RepublicanfreedomandequalityisevidentlyKonig’smethod;KonigheedsnotawhittheoraculartalentormajesticpositionofMaupertuis;argueswiththefrankestlogic,whenhefeelsdissent;——drivesamajesticPerpetualPresident,especiallyinthepresenceofthirdparties,muchoutofpatience。Thus,oneevening,replyingtosomeargumentofthePerpetualPresident’s,hebegins:’Mypoorfriend,MONPAUVREAMI,don’tyouperceive,then’——UponwhichMaupertuissprangfromhischair,violentlystamping,andpirouettedroundtheroom,’Poorfriend,poorfriend?areyousorich:then!’frankKonigmerelygrinningtilltheparoxysmpassed。[Formey,i。177。]Konigwenthomeagain,REINFECTAabouttheendofthemonth。"
SuchaKonig——hadbetternothavecome!AstohisstricturesontheLAWOFTHRIFT,thearguingsonthem,alonetogether,orwithfriendsby,merelysetMaupertuispirouetting:andastotheKonigManuscriptsonthem"tobepublishedintheLeipzigACTA,afteryourremarksandpermission,"MaupertuisabsolutelyrefusedtolookatsaidManuscripts:"Publishthemthere,here,everywhere,intheDevilandhisGrandmother’sname;andthenthereisanend,Monsieur!"Konigwenthiswaystherefore,findingnothingelseforit;publishedhisstrictures,intheLeipzigACTAinMarchnext,——
andneversawMaupertuisagain,foroneresult,outofseveralthatfollowed!IhavenodoubthewasouttoVoltaire,morethanonce,inthisfortnight;andeat"theKing’sroast"pleasantlywiththateminentoldfriend。VoltairealwaysthoughthimaBONGARCON
(justly,byalltheevidenceIhave);andfindshistalkagreeable,andhisBerlinnews——especiallythatofMaupertuisandhisexplosivepirouettings。Adieu,HerrProfessor;youknownot,withyourLeipzigACTAandFragmentofLeibnitz,whatanexplosionyouarepreparing!