Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia"




BOOK VIII.

CROWN-PRINCE RETRIEVED: LIFE AT CUSTRIN.

November, 1730-February, 1732.

Chapter I.

CHAPLAIN MULLER WAITS ON THE CROWN-PRINCE.

Friedrich's feelings at this juncture are not made known to us by
himself in the least; or credibly by others in any considerable
degree. As indeed in these confused Prussian History-Books,
copulent in nugatory pedantisms and learned marine-stores, all
that is human remains distressingly obscure to us; so seldom, and
then only as through endless clouds of ever-whirling idle dust,
can we catch the smallest direct feature of the young man, and of
his real demeanor or meaning, on the present or other occasions!
But it is evident this last phenomenon fell upon him like an
overwhelming cataract; crushed him down under the immensity of
sorrow, confusion and despair; his own death not a theory now, but
probably a near fact,--a welcome one in wild moments, and then
anon so unwelcome. Frustrate, bankrupt, chargeable with a friend's
lost life, sure enough he, for one, is: what is to become of him?
Whither is he to turn, thoroughly beaten, foiled in all his
enterprises? Proud young soul as he was: the ruling Powers, be
they just, be they unjust, have proved too hard for him! We hear
of tragic vestiges still traceable of Friedrich, belonging to this
time: texts of Scripture quoted by him, pencil-sketches of his
drawing; expressive of a mind dwelling in Golgothas, and
pathetically, not defiantly, contemplating the very worst.

Chaplain Muller of the Gens-d,Armes, being found a pious and
intelligent man, has his orders not to return at once from
Custrin; but to stay there, and deal with the Prince, on that
horrible Predestination topic and his other unexampled
backslidings which have ended so. Muller stayed accordingly, for a
couple of weeks, intensely busy on the Predestination topic, and
generally in assuaging, and mutually mollifying, paternal Majesty
and afflicted Son. In all which he had good success;
and especially on the Predestination point was triumphantly
successful. Muller left a little Book in record of his procedures
there; which, had it not been bound over to the official tone,
might have told us something. His Correspondence with the King,
during those two weeks, has likewise been mostly printed;
[Forster, i. 376-379.] and is of course still more official,--
teaching us next to nothing, except poor Friedrich Wilhelm's
profoundly devotional mood, anxieties about "the claws of Satan"
and the like, which we were glad to hear of above. In Muller
otherwise is small help for us.

But, fifty years afterwards, there was alive a Son of this
Muller's; an innocent Country Parson, not wanting in sense, and
with much simplicity and veracity; who was fished out by Nicolai,
and set to recalling what his Father used to say of this
adventure, much the grandest of his life. In Muller Junior's
Letter of Reminiscences to Nicolai we find some details, got from
his Father, which are worth gleaning:--

"When my Father first attempted, by royal order, to bring the
Crown-Prince to acknowledgment and repentance of the fault
committed, Crown-Prince gave this excuse or explanation: 'As his
Father could not endure the sight of him, he had meant to get out
of the way of his displeasure, and go to a Court with which his
Father was in friendship and relationship,'"--clearly indicating
England, think the Mullers Junior and Senior.

"For proof that the intention was towards England this other
circumstance serves, that the one confidant--Herr van Keith, if I
mistake not [no, you don't mistake], had already bespoken a ship
for passage out."--Here is something still more unexpected:--

"My Father used to say, he found an excellent knowledge and
conviction of the truths of religion in the Crown-Prince. By the
Prince's arrangement, my Father, who at first lodged with the
Commandant, had to take up his quarters in the room right above
the Prince; who daily, often as early as six in the morning,
rapped on the ceiling for him to come down; and then they would
dispute and discuss, sometimes half-days long, about the different
tenets of the Christian Sects;--and my Father said, the Prince was
perfectly at home in the Polemic Doctrines of the Reformed
(Calvinistic) Church, even to the minutest points. As my Father
brought him proofs from Scripture, the Prince asked him one time,
How he could keep chapter and verse so exactly in his memory?
Father drew from his pocket a little Hand-Concordance, and showed
it him as one help. This he had to leave with the Prince for some
days. On getting it back, he found inside on the fly-leaf,
sketched in pencil,"--what is rather notable to History,--"the
figure of a man on his knees, with two swords hanging crosswise
over his head; and at the bottom these words of Psalm
Seventy-third (verses 25, 26),  Whom have I in Heaven but
thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.
My flesh and my heart fainteth and faileth; but God is the
strength of my heart, and my portion forever." --
Poor Friedrich, this is a very unexpected pen-sketch on his part;
but an undeniable one; betokening abstruse night-thoughts and
forebodings in the present juncture!--

"Whoever considers this fine knowledge of religion, and reflects
on the peculiar character and genius of the young Herr, which was
ever struggling towards light and clearness (for at that time he
had not become indifferent to religion, he often prayed with my
Father on his knees),--will find that it was morally impossible
this young Prince could have thought [as some foolish persons have
asserted] of throwing himself into the arms of Papal Superstition
[seeking help at Vienna, marrying an Austrian Archduchess, and I
know not what] or allow the intrigues of Catholic Priests to"--
Oh no, Herr Muller, nobody but very foolish persons could imagine
such a thing of this young Herr.

"When my Father, Herr von Katte's execution being ended, hastened
to the Crown-Prince; he finds him miserably ill (SEHR ALTERIRT);
advises him to take a cooling-powder in water, both which
materials were ready on the table. This he presses on him: but the
Prince always shakes his head." Suspects poison, you think?
"Hereupon my Father takes from his pocket a paper, in which he
carried cooling-powder for his own use; shakes out a portion of it
into his hand, and so into his mouth; and now the Crown-Prince
grips at my Father's powder, and takes that." Privately to be made
away with; death resolved upon in some way! thinks the desperate
young man? [Nicolai,  Anekdoten, 
vi. 183-189.]

That scene of Katte's execution, and of the Prince's and other
people's position in regard to it, has never yet been humanly set
forth, otherwise the response had been different. Not humanly set
forth,--and so was only barked at, as by the infinitude of little
dogs, in all countries; and could never yet be responded to in
austere VOX HUMANA, deep as a DE PROFUNDIS, terrible as a Chorus
of AEschylus,--for in effect that is rather the character of it,
had the barking once pleased to cease. "King of Prussia cannot
sleep," writes Dickens: "the officers sit up with him every night,
and in his slumbers he raves and talks of spirits and
apparitions." [Despatch, 3d October, 1730.] We saw him,
ghost-like, in the night-time, gliding about, seeking shelter with
Feekin against ghosts; Ginkel by daylight saw him, now clad in
thunderous tornado, and anon in sorrowful fog. Here, farther on,
is a new item,--and joined to it and the others, a remarkable
old one:--

"In regard to Wilhelmina's marriage, and whether a Father cannot
give his daughter in wedlock to whom he pleases, there have been
eight Divines consulted, four Lutheran, four Reformed (Calvinist);
who, all but one [he of the Garrison Church, a rhadamanthine
fellow in serge], have answered, 'No, your Majesty!' It is
remarkable that his Majesty has not gone to bed sober for this
month past." [Dickens, 9th and 19th December, 1730.]

What Seckendorf and Grumkow thought of all these phenomena?
They have done their job too well. They are all for mercy;
lean with their whole weight that way,--in black qualms, one of
them withal, thinking tremulously to himself, "What if his now
Majesty were to die upon us, in the interim!"



Chapter II.

CROWN-PRINCE TO REPENT AND NOT PERISH.

In regard to Friedrich, the Court-Martial needs no amendment from
the King; the sentence on Friedrich, a Lieutenant-Colonel guilty
of desertion, is, from President and all members except two, Death
as by law. The two who dissented, invoking royal clemency and
pardon, were Major-Generals by rank,--Schwerin, as some write, one
of them, or if not Schwerin, then Linger; and for certain,
Donhof,--two worthy gentlemen not known to any of my readers, nor
to me, except as names, The rest are all coldly of opinion that
the military code says Death. Other codes and considerations may
say this and that, which it is not in their province to touch
upon; this is what the military code says: and they leave
it there.

The Junius Brutus of a Royal Majesty had answered in his own heart
grimly, Well then! But his Councillors, Old Dessauer, Grumkow,
Seckendorf, one and all interpose vehemently. "Prince of the
Empire, your Majesty, not a Lieutenant-Colonel only! Must not,
cannot;"--nay good old Buddenbrock, in the fire of still
unsuccessful pleading, tore open his waistcoat: "If your Majesty
requires blood, take mine; that other you shall never get, so long
as I can speak!" Foreign Courts interpose; Sweden, the Dutch;
the English in a circuitous way, round by Vienna to wit;
finally the Kaiser himself sends an Autograph; [Date, 11th
October, 1730 (Forster, i. 380).] for poor Queen Sophie has
applied even to Seckendorf, will be friends with Grumkow himself,
and in her despair is knocking at every door. Junius Brutus is
said to have had paternal affections withal. Friedrich Wilhelm,
alone against the whispers of his own heart and the voices of all
men, yields at last in this cause. To Seckendorf, who has chalked
out a milder didactic plan of treatment, still rigorous enough,
[His Letter to the King, 1st November, 1730 (in Forster, i. 375,
376).] he at last admits that such plan is perhaps good; that the
Kaiser's Letter has turned the scale with him; and the didactic
method, not the beheading one, shall be tried. That Donhof and
Schwerin, with their talk of mercy, with "their eyes upon the
Rising Sun," as is evident, have done themselves no good, and
shall perhaps find it so one day. But that, at any rate,
Friedrich's life is spared; Katte's execution shall suffice in
that kind. Repentance, prostrate submission and amendment,--
these may do yet more for the prodigal, if he will in heart
return. These points, some time before the 8th of November, we
find to be as good as settled.

The unhappy prodigal is in no condition to resist farther.
Chaplain Muller had introduced himself with Katte's dying
admonition to the Crown-Prince to repent and submit.
Chaplain Muller, with his wholesome cooling-powders, with his
ghostly counsels, and considerations of temporal and eternal
nature,--we saw how he prospered almost beyond hope. Even on
Predestination, and the real nature of Election by Free Grace, all
is coming right, or come, reports Muller. The Chaplain's Reports,
Friedrich Wilhelm's grimly mollified Responses on the same:
they are written, and in confused form have been printed;
but shall be spared the English reader. And Grumkow has been out
at Custrin, preaching to the same purport from other texts:
Grumkow, with the thought ever present to him, "What if Friedrich
Wilhelm should die?" is naturally an eloquent preacher. Enough, it
has been settled (perhaps before the day of Katte's death, or at
the latest three days after it, as we can see), That if the Prince
will, and can with free conscience, take an Oath ("no mental
reservation," mark you!) of contrite repentance, of perfect
prostrate submission, and purpose of future entire obedience and
conformity to the paternal mind in all things, "GNADENWAHL"
included,--the paternal mind may possibly relax his durance a
little, and put him gradually on proof again. [King's Letter to
Muller, 8th November (Forster, i. 379).]

Towards which issue, as Chaplain Muller reports, the Crown-Prince
is visibly gravitating, with all his weight and will. The very
GNADENWAHL is settled; the young soul (truly a lover of Truth,
your Majesty) taps on his ceiling, my floor being overhead, before
the winter sun rises, as a signal that I must come down to him;
so eager to have error and darkness purged away. Believes himself,
as I believe him, ready to undertake that Oath; desires, however,
to see it first, that he may maturely study every clause of it.--
Say you verily so? answers Majesty. And MAY my ursine heart flow
out again, and blubber gratefully over a sinner saved, a poor Son
plucked as brand from the burning? "God, the Most High, give His
blessing on it, then!" concludes the paternal Majesty: "And as He
often, by wondrous guidances, strange paths and thorny steps, will
bring men into the Kingdom of Christ, so may our Divine Redeemer
help that this prodigal son be brought into His communion.
That his godless heart be beaten till it is softened and changed;
and so he be snatched from the claws of Satan. This grant us the
Almighty God and Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ and His passion
and death's sake! Amen!--I am, for the rest, your well-affectioned
King, FRIEDRICH WILHELM (WUSTERHAUSEN, 8th NOVEMBER, 1730)."
[Forster, i. 379.]


CROWN-PRINCE BEGINS A NEW COURSE.

It was Monday, 6th November, when poor Katte died. Within a
fortnight, on the second Sunday after, there has a Select
Commission, Grumkow, Borck, Buddenbrock, with three other
Soldiers, and the Privy Councillor Thulmeyer, come out to Custrin:
there and then, Sunday, November 19th, [Nicolai, exactest of men,
only that Documents were occasionally less accessible in his time,
gives (ANEKDOTEN, vi. 187), "Saturday, November 25th," as the day
of the Oath; but, no doubt, the later inquirers, Preuss (i. 56)
and others, have found him wrong in this small instance.] these
Seven, with due solemnity, administer the Oath (terms of Oath
conceivable by readers); Friedrich being found ready. He signs the
Oath, as well as audibly swears it: whereupon his sword is
restored to him, and his prison-door opened. He steps forth to the
Town Church with his Commissioners; takes the sacrament;
listens, with all Custrin, to an illusive Sermon on the subject;
"text happily chosen, preacher handling it well." Text was Psalm
Seventy-seventh, verse eleventh (tenth of our English version),
 And I said, This is my infirmity; but I will remember the
years of the right hand of the Host High;  or, as
Luther's version more intelligibly gives it,  This I have
to suffer; the right hand of the Most High can change all.  Preacher (not Muller but another) rose gradually into
didactic pathos; Prince, and all Custrin, were weeping, or near
weeping, at the close of the business. [Preuss, i. 56.]

Straight from Church the Prince is conducted, not to the Fortress,
but to a certain Town Mansion, which he is to call his own
henceforth, under conditions: an erring Prince half liberated, and
mercifully put on proof again. His first act here is to write, of
his own composition, or helped by some official hand, this Letter
to his All-serenest Papa; which must be introduced, though, except
to readers of German who know the "DERE" (TheirO),
"ALLERDURCHLAUCHTIGSTER," and strange pipe-clay solemnity of the
Court-style, it is like to be in great part lost in any
translation:--

"CUSTRIN, 19th November, 1730.

"ALL-SERENEST AND ALL-GRACIOUSEST FATHER,--To your Royal Majesty,
my All-graciousest Father, have,"--I.E. "I have," if one durst
write the "I,"--"by my disobedience as TheirO [YourO] subject and
soldier, not less than by my undutifulness as TheirO Son, given
occasion to a just wrath and aversion against me. With the
All-obedientest respect I submit myself wholly to the grace of my
most All-gracious Father; and beg him, Most All-graciously to
pardon me; as it is not so much the withdrawal of my liberty in a
sad arrest (MALHEUREUSEN ARREST), as my own thoughts of the fault
I have committed, that have brought me to reason: Who, with
all-obedientest respect and submission, continue till my end,

"My All-graciousest King's and Father's faithfully obedientest
Servant and Son,

"FRIEDRICH."

[Preuss, i. 56, 57; and Anonymous,  Friedrichs des Grossen
Briefe an seinen Vater  (Berlin, Posen und Bromberg,
1838), p. 3.] 

This new House of Friedrich's in the little Town of Custrin, he
finds arranged for him on rigorously thrifty principles, yet as a
real Household of his own; and even in the form of a Court, with
Hofmarschall, Kammerjunkers, and the other adjuncts;--Court
reduced to its simplest expression, as the French say, and
probably the cheapest that was ever set up. Hafmarschall
(Court-marshal) is one Wolden, a civilian Official here.
The Kammerjunkers are Rohwedel and Natzmer; Matzmer Junior, son of
a distinguished Feldmarschall: "a good-hearted but foolish forward
young fellow," says Wilhelmina; "the failure of a coxcomb
(PETIT-MAITRE MANQUE)." For example, once, strolling about in a
solemn Kaiser's Soiree in Vienna, he found in some quiet corner
the young Duke of Lorraine, Franz, who it is thought will be the
divine Maria Theresa's husband, and Kaiser himself one day.
Foolish Natzmer found this noble young gentleman in a remote
corner of the Soiree; went up, nothing loath, to speak
graciosities and insipidities to him: the noble young gentleman
yawned, as was too natural, a wide long yawn; and in an insipid
familiar manner, foolish Natzmer (Wilhelmina and the Berlin
circles know it) put his finger into the noble young gentleman's
mouth, and insipidly wagged it there. "Sir, you seem to forget
where you are!" said the noble young gentleman; and closing his
mouth with emphasis, turned away; but happily took no farther
notice. [Wilhelmina, i. 310.] This is all we yet know of the
history of Natzmer, whose heedless ways and slap-dash
speculations, tinted with natural ingenuity and good-humor, are
not unattractive to the Prince.

Hofmarschall and these two Kammerjunkers are of the lawyer
species; men intended for Official business, in which the Prince
himself is now to be occupied. The Prince has four lackeys, two
pages, one valet. He wears his sword, but has no sword-tash (PORTE
EPEE), much less an officer's uniform: a mere Prince put upon his
good behavior again; not yet a soldier of the Prussian Army, only
hoping to become so again. He wears a light-gray dress,
"HECHTGRAUER (pike-gray) frock with narrow silver cordings;"
and must recover his uniform, by proving himself gradually a
new man.

For there is, along with the new household, a new employment laid
out for him in Custrin; and it shall be seen what figure he makes
in that, first of all. He is to sit in the DOMANEN-KAMMER or
Government Board here, as youngest Rath; no other career
permitted. Let him learn Economics and the way of managing Domain
Lands (a very principal item of the royal revenues in this
Country): humble work, but useful; which he had better see well
how he will do. Two elder Raths are appointed to instruct him in
the Economic Sciences and Practices, if he show faculty and
diligence;--which in fact he turns out to do, in a superior
degree, having every motive to try.

This kind of life lasted with him for the next fifteen months, all
through the year 1731 and farther; and must have been a very
singular, and was probably a highly instructive year to him, not
in the Domain Sciences alone. He is left wholly to himself.
All his fellow-creatures, as it were, are watching him.
Hundred-eyed Argus, or the Ear of Dionysius, that is to say,
Tobacco-Parliament with its spies and reporters,--no stirring of
his finger can escape it here. He has much suspicion to encounter:
Papa looking always sadly askance, sadly incredulous, upon him.
He is in correspondence with Grumkow; takes much advice from
Grumkow (our prompter-general, president in the Dionysius'-Ear,
and not an ill-wisher farther); professes much thankfulness to
Grumkow, now and henceforth. Thank you for flinging me out of the
six-story window, and catching me by the coat-skirts!--Left
altogether to himself, as we said; has in the whole Universe
nothing that will save him but his own good sense, his own
power of discovering what is what, and of doing what will be
behooveful therein.

He is to quit his French literatures and pernicious practices, one
and all. His very flute, most innocent "Princess," as he used to
call his flute in old days, is denied him ever since he came to
Custrin;--but by degrees he privately gets her back, and consorts
much with her; wails forth, in beautiful adagios, emotions for
which there is no other utterance at present. He has liberty of
Custrin and the neighborhood; out of Custrin he is not to lodge,
any night, without leave had of the Commandant. Let him walk
warily; and in good earnest study to become a new creature, useful
for something in the Domain Sciences and otherwise.



Chapter III.

WILHELMINA IS TO WED THE PRINCE OF BAIREUTH.

Crown-Prince Friedrich being settled so far, his Majesty takes up
the case of Wilhelmina, the other ravelled skein lying on hand.
Wilhelmina has been prisoner in her Apartment at Berlin all this
while: it is proper Wilhelmina be disposed of; either in wedlock,
filially obedient to the royal mind; or in some much sterner way,
"within four walls," it is whispered, if disobedient.

Poor Wilhelmina never thought of disobeying her parents:
only, which of them to obey? King looks towards the Prince of
Baireuth again, agreed on before those hurly-burlies now past;
Queen looks far otherwards. Queen Sophie still desperately
believes in the English match for Wilhelmina; and has subterranean
correspondences with that Court; refusing to see that the
negotiation is extinct there. Grumkow himself, so over-victorious
in his late task, is now heeling towards England; "sincere in his
wish to be well with us," thinks Dickens: Grumkow solaces her
Majesty with delusive hopes in the English quarter: "Be firm,
child; trust in my management; only swear to me, on your eternal
salvation, that never, on any compulsion, will you marry another
than the Prince of Wales;--give me that oath!" [Wilhelmina,
i. 314.] Such was Queen Sophie's last proposal to Wilhelmina,--
night of the 27th of January, 1731, as is computable,--her Majesty
to leave for Potsdam on the morrow. They wept much together that
night, but Wilhelmina dexterously evaded the oath, on a religious
ground. Prince of Baireuth, whom Papa may like or may not like,
has never yet personally made appearance: who or what will make
appearance, or how things can or will turn, except a bad road, is
terribly a mystery to Wilhelmina.

What with chagrin and confinement, what with bad diet (for the
very diet is bad, quality and quantity alike unspeakable),
Wilhelmina sees herself "reduced to a skeleton;" no company but
her faithful Sonsfeld, no employment but her Books and Music;--
struggles, however, still to keep heart. One day, it is in
February, 1731, as I compute, they are sitting, her Sonsfeld and
she, at their sad mess of so-called dinner, in their remote upper
story of the Berlin Schloss, tramp of sentries the one thing
audible; and were "looking mournfully at one another, with nothing
to eat but a soup of salt and water, and a ragout of old bones
full of hairs and slopperies [nothing else; that was its real
quality, whatever fine name they might give it, says the vehement
Princess], we heard a sharp tapping at the window; and started up
in surprise, to see what it could be. It was a raven, carrying in
its beak a bit of bread, which it left on the window-sill, and
flew away." [Ib. i. 316.]

"Tears came into our eyes at this adventure." Are we become as
Hebrew Elijahs, then; so that the wild ravens have to bring us
food? Truth is, there was nothing miraculous, as Wilhelmina found
by and by. It was a tame raven,--not the soul of old George I.,
which lives at Isleworth on good pensions; but the pet raven of a
certain Margravine, which lost its way among the intricate roofs
here. But the incident was touching. "Well," exclaimed Wilhelmina,
"in the Roman Histories I am now reading, it is often said those
creatures betoken good luck." All Berlin, such the appetite for
gossip, and such the famine of it in Berlin at present, talked of
this minute event: and the French Colony--old Protestant Colony,
practical considerate people--were so struck by it, they brought
baskets of comfortable things to us, and left them daily, as if by
accident, on some neutral ground, where the maid could pick them
up, sentries refusing to see unless compelled. Which fine
procedure has attached Wilhelmina to the French nation ever since,
as a dexterous useful people, and has given her a disposition to
help them where she could.

The omen of the raven did not at once bring good luck: however, it
did chance to be the turning-point, solstice of this long
Greenland winter; after which, amid storms and alarms, daylight
came steadily nearer. Storms and alarms: for there came rumors of
quarrels out at Potsdam, quarrels on the old score between the
Royal Spouses there; and frightful messages, through one
Eversmann, an insolent royal lackey, about wedding Weissenfels,
about imprisonment for life and other hard things; through all
which Wilhelmina studied to keep her poor head steady, and
answer with dignity yet discreetly. On the other hand, her Sisters
are permitted to visit her, and perceptible assuagements come.
At length, on the 11th of May, there came solemn Deputation,
Borck, Grumkow, Thulmeyer in it, old real friends aud pretended
new; which set poor Wilhelmina wringing her hands (having had a
Letter from Mamma overnight); but did bring about a solution.
It was Friday, 11th of May; a day of crisis in Wilhelmina's
history; Queen commanding one thing, King another, and the hour of
decision come.

Entering, announcing themselves, with dreadful solemnity, these
gentlemen, Grumkow the spokesman, in soft phrase, but with strict
clearness, made it apparent to her, That marry she must,--the
Hereditary Prince of Baireuth,--and without the consent of both
her parents, which was unattainable at present, but peremptorily
under the command of one of them, whose vote was the supreme.
Do this (or even say that you will do it, whisper some of the
well-affected), his Majesty's paternal favor will return upon you
like pent waters;--and the Queen will surely reconcile herself (or
perhaps turn it all her own way yet! whisper the well-affected).
Refuse to do it, her Majesty, your Royal Brother, you yourself
Royal Highness, God only knows what the unheard-of issue will be
for you all! Do it, let us advise you: you must, you must!--
Wilhelmina wrung her hands; ran distractedly to and fro;
the well-affected whispering to her, the others "conversing at a
window." At length she did it. Will marry whom her all-gracious
Papa appoints; never wished or meant the least disobedience;
hopes, beyond all things, his paternal love will now return, and
make everybody blessed;--and oh, reconcile Mamma to me, ye
well-affected! adds she.--Bravissimo! answer they: her Majesty,
for certain, will reconcile herself; Crown-Prince get back from
Custrin, and all will be well. [Wilhelmina, i. 327-333.]

Friedrich Wilhelm was overjoyed; Queen Sophie Dorothee was in
despair. With his Majesty, who "wept" like a paternal bear, on
re-embracing Wilhelmina the obedient some days hence, it became a
settled point, and was indicated to Wilhelmina as such, That the
Crown-Prince would, on her actual wedding, probably get back from
Custrin. But her Majesty's reconcilement,--this was very slow to
follow. Her Majesty was still in flames of ire at their next
interview; and poor Wilhelmina fainted, on approaching to kiss her
hand. "Disgraced, vanquished, and my enemies triumphing!" said her
Majesty; and vented her wrath on Wilhelmina; and fell ill (so soon
as there was leisure), ill, like to die, and said, "Why pretend to
weep, when it is you that have killed me!"--and indeed was
altogether hard, bitter, upon the poor Princess; a chief sorrow to
her in these trying months. Can there be such wrath in celestial
minds, venting itself so unreasonably?--At present there is no
leisure for illness; grand visitors in quantity have come and are
coming; and the Court is brilliant exceedingly;--his Majesty
blazing out into the due magnificence, which was very great on
this occasion, domestic matters looking up with him again.
The Serenities of Brunswick are here, young and old; much liked by
Friedrich Wilhelm; and almost reckoned family people,--ever since
their Eldest Son was affianced to the Princess Charlotte here,
last visit they made. To Princess Charlotte, Wilhelmina's second
junior,--mischievous, coquettish creature she, though very pretty
and insinuating, who seems to think her Intended rather a
phlegmatic young gentleman, as Wilhelmina gradually discovers.
Then there is old Duke Eberhard Ludwig, of Wurtemberg, whom we saw
at Ludwigsburg last year, in an intricate condition with his
female world and otherwise, he too announces himself,--according
to promise then given. Old Duke Eberhard Ludwig comes, stays three
weeks in great splendor ofwelcome;--poor old gentleman, his one
son is now dead; and things are getting earnest with him. On his
return home, this time, he finds, according to order, the foul
witch Gravenitz duly cleared away; reinstates his injured Duchess,
with the due feelings, better late than never; and dies in a year
or two, still childless.--

These are among the high guests at Berlin; and there are plenty of
others whom we do not name. Magnificent dining;
with "six-and-twenty blackamoors," high-colored creatures,
marching up the grand staircase, round the table, round it, and
then down again, melodious, doing "janizary music," if you happen
to prefer that kind;--trained creatures these blackamoors, all got
when boys, and set to cymballing and fifing betimes, adds my
authority. [Fassmann, p. 726, &c.] Dining, boar-hunting (if the
boar be huntable), especially reviewing, fail not in those fine
summer days.

One evening, it is Sunday, 27th of May, latish, while the high
guests, with Queen and Wilhelmina, are just passing in to supper
(King's Majesty having "gone to bed at seven," to be well astir
for the review to-morrow), a sound of wheels is heard in the
court. Modest travelling-equipage rolls up into the inner court;
to the foot of the grand staircase there, whither only Princes
come:--who can it be? The Queen sends to inquire. Heavens, it is
the Hereditary Prince of Baireuth! "Medusa's Head never produced
such effect as did this bit of news: Queen sat petrified; and I,"
by reflex, was petrified too! Wilhelmina passed the miserablest
night, no wink of sleep; and felt quite ill in the morning;--
in dread, too, of Papa's rough jests,--and wretched enough.
She had begged much, last night! to be excused from the review.
But that could not be: "I must go," said the Queen after
reflection, "and you with me." Which they did;--and diversified
the pomp and circumstance of mock-war by a small unexpected scene.

Queen, Princess and the proper Dames had, by his Majesty's order,
to pass before the line: Princess in much trouble, "with three
caps huddled on me, to conceal myself," poor soul. Margraf of
Schwedt, at the head of his regiment, "looked swollen with rage,"
high hopes gone in this manner;--and saluted us with eyes turned
away. As for his Mother, the Dessau Margravine in high colors, she
was "blue in the face" all day. Lines passed, and salutations
done, her Majesty and Dames withdrew to the safe distance, to look
on:--Such a show, for pomp and circumstance, Wilhelmina owns, as
could not be equalled in the world. Such wheeling, rhythmic
coalescing and unfolding; accurate as clock-work, far and wide;
swift big column here, hitting swift big column there, at the
appointed place and moment; with their volleyings and trumpeting,
bright uniforms and streamers and field-music,--in equipment and
manoeuvre perfect all, to the meanest drummer or black
kettle-drummer:--supreme drill-sergeant playing on the thing, as
on his huge piano, several square miles in area! Comes of the Old
Dessauer, all this; of the "equal step;" of the abstruse
meditations upon tactics, in that rough head of his. Very pretty
indeed.--But in the mean while an Official steps up: cap in hand,
approaches the Queen's carriage; says, He is ordered to introduce
his Highness the Prince of Baireuth. Prince comes up accordingly;
a personable young fellow; intelligent-looking, self-possessed;
makes obeisance to her Majesty, who answers in frosty politeness;
and--and Wilhelmina, faint, fasting, sleepless all night, fairly
falls aswoon. Could not be helped: and the whole world saw it;
and Guy Dickens and the Diplomatists wrote home about it, and
there rose rumor and gossip enough! [Dickens, of 2d June, 1731 (in
pathetic terms); Wilhelmina, i. 341 (without pathos).] But that
was the naked truth of it: hot weather, agitation, want of sleep,
want of food; not aversion to the Hereditary Prince, nothing of
that. Rather the contrary, indeed; and, on better acquaintance,
much the contrary. For he proved a very rational, honorable and
eligible young Prince: modest, honest, with abundance of sense and
spirit; kind too and good, hot temper well kept, temper hot not
harsh; quietly holds his own in all circles; good discourse in
him, too, and sharp repartee if requisite,--though he stammered
somewhat in speaking. Submissive Wilhelmina feels that one might
easily have had a worse husband. What glories for you in England!
the Queen used. to say to her in old times: "He is a Prince, that
Frederick, who has a good heart, and whose genius is very small.
Rather ugly than handsome; slightly out of shape even (UN PEU
CONTREFAIT). But provided you have the complaisance to suffer his
debaucheries, you will quite govern him; and you will be more King
than he, when once his Father is dead. Only see what a part you
will play! It will be you that decide on the weal or woe of
Europe, and give law to the Nation," [Wilhelmina, i. 143.]--in a
manner! Which Wilhelmina did not think a celestial prospect even
then. Who knows but, of all the offers she had, "four" or three
"crowned heads" among them, this final modest honest one may be
intrinsically the best? Take your portion, if inevitable, and
be thankful!--

The Betrothal follows in about a week: Sunday, 3d June, 1731; with
great magnificence, in presence of the high guests and all the
world: and Wilhelmina is the affianced Bride of Friedrich of
Baireuth:--and that enormous Double-Marriage Tragi-comedy, of Much
Ado about Nothing, is at last ended. Courage, friends; all things
do end!--

The high guests hereupon go their ways again; and the Court of
Berlin, one cannot but suppose, collapses, as after a great effort
finished. Do not Friedrich Wilhelm and innumerable persons--the
readers and the writer of this History included--feel a stone
rolled off their hearts?--It is now, and not till now, that Queen
Sophie falls sick, and like to die; and reproaches Wilhelmina with
killing her. Friedrich Wilhelm hopes confidently, not; waits out
at Potsdam, for a few days, till this killing danger pass;
then departs, with double impetuosity, for Preussen, and despatch
of Public Business; such a mountain of Domestic Business being
victoriously got under.

Poor King, his life, this long while, has been a series of
earthquakes and titanic convulsions. Narrow miss he has had, of
pulling down his house about his ears, and burying self, son,
wife, family and fortunes, under the ruin-heap,--a monument to
remote posterity. Never was such an enchanted dance, of
well-intentioned Royal Bear with poetic temperament, piped to by
two black-artists, for the Kaiser's and Pragmatic Sanction's sake!
Let Tobacco-Parliament also rejoice; for truly the play was
growing dangerous, of late. King and Parliament, we may suppose,
return to Public Business with double vigor.



Chapter IV.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN PREUSSEN AND ELSEWHERE.

Not that his Majesty, while at the deepest in domestic
intricacies, ever neglects Public Business. This very summer he is
raising Hussar Squadrons; bent to introduce the Hussar kind of
soldiery into his Army;--a good deal of horse-breaking and new
sabre-exercise needed for that object. [Fassmann, pp. 417, 418.]
The affairs of the Reich have at no moment been out of his eye;
glad to see the Kaiser edging round to the Sea-Powers again, and
things coming into their old posture, in spite of that sad Treaty
of Seville.

Nay, for the last two years, while the domestic volcanoes were at
their worst, his Majesty has been extensively dealing with a new
question which has risen, that of the SALZBURG PROTESTANTS;
concerning which we shall hear more anon. Far and wide, in the
Diets and elsewhere, he has been diligently, piously and with
solid judgment, handling this question of the poor Salzburgers;
and has even stored up moneys in intended solace of them (for he
foresees what the end will be);--moneys which, it appears about
this time, a certain Official over in Preussen has been
peculating! In the end of June, his Majesty sets off to Preussen
on the usual Inspection Tour; which we should not mention, were it
not in regard to that same Official, and to something very
rhadamanthine and particular which befell him; significant of what
his Majesty can do in the way of prompt justice.


CASE OF SCHLUBHUT.

The Konigsberg Domain-Board (KRIEGS- UND DOMANEN-KAMMER) had
fallen awry, in various points, of late; several things known to
be out-at-elbows in that Country; the Kammer Raths evidently lax
at their post; for which reason they have been sharply questioned,
and shaken by the collar, so to speak. Nay there is one Rath, a
so-called Nobleman of those parts, by name Schlubhut, who has been
found actually defaulting; peculating from that pious hoard
intended for the Salzburgers: he is proved, and confesses, to have
put into his own scandalous purse no less than 11,000 thalers,
some say 30,000 (almost 5,000 pounds), which belonged to the
Public Treasury and the Salzburg Protestants! These things,
especially this latter unheard-of Schlubhut thing, the Supreme
Court at Berlin (CRIMINAL-COLLEGIUM) have been sitting on, for
some time; and, in regard to Schlubhut, they have brought out a
result, which Friedrich Wilhelm not a little admires at. Schlubhut
clearly guilty of the defamation, say they; but he has moneys,
landed properties: let him refund, principal and interest;
and have, say, three or four years' imprisonment, by way of
memento. "Years' imprisonment? Refund? Is theft in the highest
quarters a thing to be let off for refunding?" growls his Majesty;
and will not confirm this sentence of his Criminal-Collegium;
but leaves it till he get to the spot, and see with his own eyes.
Schlubhut, in arrest or mild confinement all this while, ought to
be bethinking himself more than he is!

Once on the spot, judge if the Konigsberg Domain-Kammer had not a
stiff muster to pass; especially if Schlubhut's drill-exercise was
gentle! Schlubhut, summoned to private interview with his Majesty,
carries his head higher than could be looked for: Is very sorry;
knows not how it happened; meant always to refund; will refund, to
the last penny, and make all good.--"Refund? Does He (ER) know
what stealing means, then? How the commonest convicted private
thief finds the gallows his portion; much more a public Magistrate
convicted of theft? Is He aware that He, in a very especial
manner, deserves hanging, then?"--Schlubhut looks offended
dignity; conscious of rank, if also of quasi-theft: "ES IST NICHT
MANIER (it is not the polite thing) to hang a Prussian Nobleman on
those light terms!" answers Schlubhut, high mannered at the wrong
time: "I can and will pay the money back!"--NOBLE-man? Money back?
"I will none of His scoundrelly money." To strait Prison with this
SCHURKE!--And thither he goes accordingly: unhappiest of mortals;
to be conscious of rank, not at the right place, when about to
steal the money, but at the wrong, when answering to Rhadamanthus
on it!

And there, sure enough, Schlubhut lies, in his prison on the
SCHLOSSPLATZ, or Castle Square, of Konigsberg, all night;
and hears, close by the DOMANEN-KAMMER, which is in the same
Square, DOMANEN-KAMMER where his Office used to be, a terrible
sound of carpentering go on;--unhappiest of Prussian Noblemen.
And in the morning, see, a high gallows built; close in upon the
Domain-Kammer, looking into the very windows of it;--and there,
sure enough, the unfortunate Schlubhut dies the thief's death, few
hours hence, speaking or thinking what, no man reports to me.
Death was certain for him; inevitable as fate. And so he vibrates
there, admonitory to the other Raths for days,--some say for
weeks,--till by humble petition they got the gallows removed.
The stumps of it, sawed close by the stones, were long after
visible in that Schlossplatz of Konigsberg. Here is prompt justice
with a witness! Did readers ever hear of such a thing? There is no
doubt about the fact, [Benekendorf (Anonymous), 
Karakterzuge aus dem Leben Konig Friedrich Wilhelm I. 
(Berlin, 1788), vii. 15-20; Forster (ii. 268), &c. &c.] though in
all Prussian Books it is loosely smeared over, without the least
precision of detail; and it was not till after long searching that
I could so much as get it dated: July, 1731, while Friedrich
Crown-Prince is still in eclipse at Custrin, and some six weeks
after Wilhelmina's betrothal. And here furthermore, direct from
the then Schlubhut precincts, is a stray Note, meteorological
chiefly; but worth picking up, since it is authentic. "Wehlau," we
observe, is on the road homewards again,--on our return from
uttermost Memel,--a day's journey hitherwards of that place, half
a day's thitherwards of Konigsberg:--

"TUESDAY, 10th JULY, 1731. King dining with General Dockum at
Wehlau,"--where he had been again reviewing, for about forty
hours, all manner of regiments brought to rendezvous there for the
purpose, poor "General Katte with his regiment" among them;--King
at dinner with General Dockum after all that, "took the resolution
to be off to Konigsberg; and arrived here at the stroke of
midnight, in a deluge of rain." This brings us within a day, or
two days, of Schlubhut's death, Terrible "combat of Bisons (URI,
or AUEROCHSEN, with such manes, such heads), of two wild Bisons
against six wild Bears," then ensued; and the Schlubhut human
tragedy; I know not in what sequence,--rather conjecture the
Schlubhut had gone FIRST. Pillau, road to Dantzig, on the narrow
strip between the Frische Haf and Baltic, is the next stage
homewards; at Pillau, General Finkenstein (excellent old Tutor of
the Crown-Prince) is Commandant, and expects his rapid Majesty,
day and hour given, to me not known, Majesty goes in three
carriages; Old Dessauer, Grumkow, Seckendorf, Ginkel are among his
suite; weather still very electric:--

"At Fischhausen, half-way to Pillau, Majesty had a bout of
elk-hunting; killed sixty elks [Melton-Mowbray may consider it],--
creatures of the deer sort, nimble as roes, but strong as bulls,
and four palms higher than the biggest horse,--to the astonishment
of Seckendorf, Ginkel and the strangers there. Half an hour short
of Pillau, furious electricity again; thunder-bolt shivered an
oak-tree fifteen yards from Majesty's carriage. And at Pillau
itself, the Battalion in Garrison there, drawn out in arms, by
Count Finkenstein, to receive his Majesty [rain over by this time,
we can hope], had suddenly to rush forward and take new ground;
Frische Haf, on some pressure from the elements, having suddenly
gushed out, two hundred paces beyond its old watermark in that
place." [See Mauvillon, ii. 293-297;--CORRECTING by Fassmann,
p. 422.]

Pillau, Fischhausen,--this is where the excellent old Adalbert
stamped the earth with his life "in the shape of a crucifix" eight
hundred years ago: and these are the new phenomena there!--
The General Dockum, Colonel of Dragoons, whom his Majesty dined
with at Wehlau, got his death not many months after. One of
Dockum's Dragoon Lieutenants felt insulted at something, and
demanded his discharge: discharge given, he challenged Dockum,
duel of pistols, and shot him dead. [7th April, 1732
( Militair-Lexikon,  i. 365).] Nothing more to
be said of Dockum, nor of that Lieutenant, in military annals.


CASE OF THE CRIMINAL-COLLEGIUM ITSELF.

And thus was the error of the Criminal-Collegium rectified IN RE
Schlubhut. For it is not in name only, but in fact, that this
Sovereign is Supreme Judge, and bears the sword in God's stead,--
interfering now and then, when need is, in this terrible manner.
In the same dim authentic Benekendorf (himself a member of the
Criminal-Collegium in later times), and from him in all the Books,
is recorded another interference somewhat in the comic vein;
which also we may give. Undisputed fact, again totally without
precision or details; not even datable, except that, on study, we
perceive it may have been before this Schlubhut's execution, and
after the Criminal-Collegium had committed their error about him,
--must have been while this of Schlubhut was still vividly in
mind; Here is the unprecise but indubitable fact, as the Prussian
Dryasdust has left us his smear of it:--

"One morning early" (might be before Schlubhut was hanged, and
while only sentence of imprisonment and restitution lay on him),
General Graf von Donhof, Colonel of a Musketeer Regiment, favorite
old soldier,--who did vote on the mild side in that Court-Martial
on the Crown-Prince lately; but I hope has been forgiven by his
Majesty, being much esteemed by him these long years past;--this
Donhof, early one morning, calls upon the King, with a grimly
lamenting air. "What is wrong, Herr General?"--"Your Majesty, my
best musketeer, an excellent soldier, and of good inches, fell
into a mistake lately,--bad company getting round the poor fellow;
they, he among them, slipt into a house and stole something;
trifle and without violence: pay is but three halfpence, your
Majesty, and the Devil tempts men! Well, the Criminal-Collegium
have condemned him to be hanged; an excellent soldier and of good
inches, for that one fault. Nobleman Schlubhut was 'to make
restitution,' they decreed: that was their decree on Schlubhut,
one of their own set; and this poor soldier, six feet three, your
Majesty, is to dance on the top of nothing for a three-halfpenny
matter!"--So would Donhof represent the thing,--"fact being," says
my Dryasdust, "it was a case of house-breaking with theft to the
value of 6,000 thalers and this musketeer the ringleader!"--Well;
but was Schlubhut sentenced to hanging? Do you keep two weights
and two measures, in that Criminal-Collegium of yours, then?

Friedrich Wilhelm feels this sad contrast very much; the more, as
the soldier is his own chattel withal, and of superlative inches:
Friedrich Wilhelm flames up into wrath; sends off swift messengers
to bring these Judges, one and all instantly into his presence.
The Judges are still in their dressing-gowns, shaving,
breakfasting; they make what haste they can. So soon as the first
three or four are reported to be in the anteroom, Friedrich
Wilhelm, in extreme impatience has them called in;
starts discoursing with them upon the two weights and two
measures. Apologies, subterfuges do but provoke him farther; it is
not long till he starts up, growling terribly: "IHR SCHURKEN (Ye
Scoundrels), how could you?" and smites down upon the crowns of
them with the Royal Cudgel itself. Fancy the hurry-scurry, the
unforensic attitudes and pleadings! Royal Cudgel rains blows,
right and left: blood is drawn, crowns cracked, crowns nearly
broken; and "several Judges lost a few teeth, and had their noses
battered," before they could get out. The second relay meeting
them in this dilapidated state, on the staircases, dashed home
again without the honor of a RoyaI interview. [Benekendorf, vii.
33; Forster, ii. 270.] Let them learn to keep one balance, and one
set of weights, in their Law-Court hence forth.--This is an actual
scene, of date Berlin, 1731, or thereby; unusual in the annals of
Themis. Of which no constitutional country can hope to see the
fellow, were the need never so pressing.--I wish his Majesty had
been a thought more equal, when he was so rhadamanthine!
Schlubhut he hanged, Schlubhut being only Schlubhut's chattel;
this musketeer, his Majesty's own chattel, he did not hang, but
set him shouldering arms again, after some preliminary dusting!--

His Majesty was always excessively severe on defalcations;
any Chancellor, with his Exchequer-bills gone wrong, would have
fared ill in that country. One Treasury dignitary, named Wilke
(who had "dealt in tall recruits," as a kind of by-trade, and
played foul in some slight measure), the King was clear for
hanging; his poor Wife galloped to Potsdam, shrieking mercy;
upon which Friedrich Wilhelm had him whipt by the hangman, and
stuck for life into Spandau. Still more tragical--was poor Hesse's
case. Hesse, some domain Rath out at Konigsberg, concerned with
moneys, was found with account-books in a state of confusion, and
several thousands short, when the outcome was cleared up. What has
become of these thousands, Sir? Poor old Hesse could not tell:
"God is my witness, no penny of them eyer stuck to me,"
asseverated poor old Hesse; "but where they are--?
My account-books are in such a state;--alas, and my poor old
memory is not what it was!" They brought him to Berlin; in the end
they actually hanged the poor old soul;--and then afterwards in
his dusty lumber-rooms, hidden in pots, stuffed into this nook and
that, most or all of the money was found! [Forster (ii. 269), &c.
&c.] Date and document exist for all these cases, though my
Dryasdust gives none; and the cases are indubitable;
very rhadamanthine indeed. The soft quality of mercy,--ah, yes, it
is beautiful and blessed, when permissible (though
thrice-accursed, when not): but it is on the hard quality of
justice, first of all, that Empires are built up, and beneficent
and lasting things become achievable to mankind, in this world!--


SKIPPER JENKINS IN THE GULF OF FLORIDA.

A couple of weeks before Schlubhut's death, the English Newspapers
are somewhat astir,--in the way of narrative merely, as yet.
Ship Rebecca, Captain Robert Jenkins Master, has arrived in the
Port of London, with a strange story in her log-book. Of which,
after due sifting, this is accurately the substance:--

"LONDON, 23d-27th JUNE, 1731. Captain Jenkins left this Port with
the Rebecca, several months ago; sailed to Jamaica, for a cargo of
sugar. He took in his cargo at Jamaica; put to sea again,
6th April, 1731, and proceeded on the Voyage homewards;
with indifferent winds for the first fortnight. April 20th, with
no wind or none that would suit, he was hanging about in the
entrance of the Gulf of Florida, not far from the Havana,"--almost
too near it, I should think; but these baffling winds!--"not far
from the Havana, when a Spanish Guarda-Costa hove in sight;
came down on Jenkins, and furiously boarded him: 'Scoundrel, what
do YOU want; contrabanding in these seas? Jamaica, say you? Sugar?
Likely! Let us see your logwood, hides, Spanish pieces-of-eight!'
And broke in upon Jenkins, ship and person, in a most extraorinary
manner. Tore up his hatches; plunged down, seeking logwood, hides,
pieces-of-eight; found none,--not the least trace of contraband on
board of Jenkins. They brought up his quadrants, sextants,
however; likewise his stock of tallow candles: they shook and
rummaged him, and all things, for pieces-of-eight; furiously
advised him, cutlass in hand, to confess guilt. They slashed the
head of Jenkins, his left ear almost off. Order had been given,
'Scalp him!'--but as he had no hair, they omitted that;
merely brought away the wig, and slashed:--still no confession,
nor any pieces-of-eight. They hung him up to the yard-arm,--actual
neck-halter, but it seems to have been tarry, and did not run:--
still no confession. They hoisted him higher, tied his cabin-boy
to his feet; neck-halter then became awfully stringent upon
Jenkins; had not the cabin-boy (without head to speak of) slipt
through, noose being tarry; which was a sensible relief to
Jenkins. Before very death, they lowered Jenkins, 'Confess,
scoundrel, then!' Scoundrel could not confess; spoke of 'British
Majesty's flag, peaceable English subject on the high seas.'--
'British Majesty; high seas!' answered they, and again hoisted.
Thrice over they tried Jenkins in this manner at the yard-arm,
once with cabin-boy at his feet: never had man such a day,
outrageous whiskerando cut-throats tossing him about, his poor
Rebecca and him, at such rate! Sun getting low, and not the least
trace of contraband found, they made a last assault on Jenkins;
clutched the bloody slit ear of him; tore it mercilessly off;
flung it in his face, 'Carry that to your King, and tell him of
it!' Then went their way; taking Jenkins's tallow candles, and the
best of his sextants with them; so that he could hardly work his
passage home again, for want of latitudes;--and has lost in goods
112 pounds, not to speak of his ear. Strictly true all this;
ship's company, if required, will testify on their oath." [Daily
Journal (and the other London Newspapers), 12th-17th June (o.s.),
1731. Coxe's  Walpole,  i. 579, 560
(indistinct, and needing correction).]

These surely are singular facts; calculated to awaken a maritime
public careful of its honor. Which they did,--after about eight
years, as the reader will see! For the present, there are
growlings in the coffee-houses; and, "THURSDAY, 28th JUNE," say
the Newspapers, "This day Captain Jenkins with his Owners," ear in
his pocket, I hope, "went out to Hampton Court to lay the matter
before his Grace of Newcastle:" "Please your Grace, it is hardly
three months since the illustrious Treaty of Vienna was signed;
Dutch and we leading in the Termagant of Spain, and nothing but
halcyon weather to be looked for on that side!" Grace of
Newcastle, anxious to avoid trouble with Spain, answers I can only
fancy what; and nothing was done upon Jenkins and his ear;
  ["The Spaniards own they did a witty thing,
    Who cropt our ears, and sent them to the King."
             POPE (date not given me).]
--may "keep it in cotton," if he like; shall have "a better ship"
for some solacement. This is the first emergence of Jenkins and
his ear upon negligent mankind. He and it will marvellously
re-emerge, one day!--


BABY CARLOS GETS HIS APANAGE.

But in regard to that Treaty of Vienna, seventh and last of the
travail-throes for Baby Carlos's Apanage, let the too oblivious
reader accept the following Extract, to keep him on a level with
Public "Events," as they are pleased to denominate themselves:--

"By that dreadful Treaty of Seville, Cardinal Fleury and the
Spaniards should have joined with England, and coerced the Kaiser
VI ET ARMIS to admit Spanish Garrisons [instead of neutral] into
Parma and Piacenza, and so secure Baby Carlos his heritage there,
which all Nature was in travail till he got. 'War in Italy to a
certainty!' said all the Newspapers, after Seville:
and Crown-Prince Friedrich, we saw, was running off to have a
stroke in said War;--inevitable, as the Kaiser still obstinately
refused. And the English, and great George their King, were ready.
Nevertheless, no War came. Old Fleury, not wanting war, wanting
only to fish out something useful for himself,--Lorraine how
welcome, and indeed the smallest contributions are welcome!--
Old Fleury manoeuvred, hung back; till the Spaniards and Termagant
Elizabeth lost all patience, and the very English were weary, and
getting auspicious. Whereupon the Kaiser edged round to the
Sea-Powers again, or they to him; and comfortable AS-YOU-WERE was
got accomplished: much to the joy of Friedrich Wilhelm and others.
Here are some of the dates to these sublime phenomena:

"MARCH 16th, 1731, Treaty of Vienna, England and the Kaiser
coalescing again into comfortable AS-YOU-WERE. Treaty done by
Robinson [Sir Thomas, ultimately Earl of Grantham, whom we shall
often hear of in time coming]; was confirmed and enlarged by a
kind of second edition, 22d July, 1731; Dutch joining, Spain
itself acceding, and all being now right. Which could hardly have
been expected.

"For before the first edition of that Treaty, and while Robinson
at Vienna was still laboring like Hercules in it,--the poor Duke
of Parma died. Died; and no vestige of a 'Spanish Garrison' yet
there, to induct Baby Carlos according to old bargain. On the
contrary, the Kaiser himself took possession,--'till once the
Duke's Widow, who declares herself in the family-way, be brought
to bed! If of a Son, of course he must have the Duchies; if of a
Daughter only, then Carlos SHALL get them, let not Robinson fear.'
The due months ran, but neither son nor daughter came; and the
Treaty of Vienna, first edition and also second, was signed;
and,
  "OCTOBER 20th, 1731, Spanish Garrisons, no longer an hypothesis,
but a bodily fact, 6,000 strong, 'convoyed by the British Fleet,'
came into Leghorn, and proceeded to lodge themselves in the
long-litigated Parma and Piacenza;--and, in fine, the day after
Christmas, blessed be Heaven,
  "DECEMBER 26th, Baby Carlos in highest person came in:
Baby Carlos (more power to him!) got the Duchies, and we hope
there was an end. No young gentleman ever had such a pother to
make among his fellow-creatures about a little heritable property.
If Baby Carlos's performance in it be anything in proportion, he
will be a supereminent sovereign!--

"There is still some haggle about Tuscany, the Duke of which is
old and heirless; Last of the Medici, as he proved. Baby Carlos
would much like to have Tuscany too; but that is a Fief of the
Empire, and might easily be better disposed of, thinks the Kaiser.
A more or less uncertain point, that of Tuscany; as many points
are! Last of the Medici complained, in a polite manner, that they
were parting his clothes before he had put them off: however,
having no strength, he did not attempt resistance, but politely
composed himself, 'Well, then!' [Scholl, ii. 219-221; Coxe's
 Walpole,  i. 346; Coxe's  House of
Austria  (London, 1854), iii. 151.] Do readers need to
be informed that this same Baby Carlos came to be King of Naples,
and even ultimately to be Carlos III. of Spain, leaving a younger
Son to be King of Naples, ancestor of the now Majesty there?"

And thus, after such Diplomatic earthquakes and travail of Nature,
there is at last birth; the Seventh Travail-throe has been
successful, in some measure successful. Here actually is Baby
Carlos's Apanage; there probably, by favor of Heaven and of the
Sea-Powers, will the Kaiser's Pragmatic Sanction be, one day.
Treaty of Seville, most imminent of all those dreadful Imminencies
of War, has passed off as they all did; peaceably adjusts itself
into Treaty of Vienna: A Termagant, as it were, sated; a Kaiser
hopeful to be so, Pragmatic Sanction and all: for the Sea-Powers
and everybody mere halcyon weather henceforth,--not extending to
the Gulf of Florida and Captain Jenkins, as would seem! Robinson,
who did the thing,--an expert man, bred to business as old Horace
Walpole's Secretary, at Soissons and elsewhere, and now come to
act on his own score,--regards this Treaty of Vienna (which indeed
had its multiform difficulties) as a thing to immortalize a man.

Crown-Prince has, long since, by Papa's order, written to the
Kaiser, to thank Imperial Majesty for that beneficent
intercession, which has proved the saving of his life, as Papa
inculcates. We must now see a little how the saved Crown-Prince is
getting on, in his eclipsed state, among the Domain Sciences
at Custrin.



Chapter V.

INTERVIEW OF MAJESTY AND CROWN-PRINCE AT CUSTRIN.

Ever since the end of November last year, Crown-Prince Friedrich,
in the eclipsed state, at Custrin, has been prosecuting his
probationary course, in the Domain Sciences and otherwise, with
all the patience, diligence and dexterity he could. It is false,
what one reads in some foolish Books, that Friedrich neglected the
functions assigned him as assessor in the KRIEGS- UND
DOMANEN-KAMMER. That would not have been the safe course for him!
The truth still evident is, he set himself with diligence to learn
the Friedrich-Wilhelm methods of administering Domains, and the
art of Finance in general, especially of Prussian Finance, the
best extant then or since;--Finance, Police, Administrative
Business;--and profited well by the Raths appointed as tutors to
him, in the respective branches. One Hille was his Finance-tutor;
whose "KOMPENDIUM," drawn up and made use of on this occasion, has
been printed in our time; and is said to be, in brief compass, a
highly instructive Piece; throwing clear light on the exemplary
Friedrich-Wilhelm methods. [Preuss, i. 59 n.] These the Prince did
actually learn; and also practise, all his life,--"essentially
following his Father's methods," say the Authorities,--with great
advantage to himself, when the time came.

Solid Nicolai hunted diligently after traces of him in the
Assessor business here; and found some: Order from Papa, to "make
Report, upon the Glass-works of the Neumark:" Autograph signatures
to common Reports, one or two; and some traditions of his having
had a hand in planning certain Farm-Buildings still standing in
those parts:--but as the Kammer Records of Custrin, and Custrin
itself, were utterly burnt by the Russians in 1758, such traces
had mostly vanished thirty years before Nicolai's time.
[Nicolai,  Anekdoten,  vi. 193.] Enough have
turned up since, in the form of Correspondence with the King and
otherwise: and it is certain the Crown-Prince did plan
Farm-Buildings;--"both Carzig and Himmelstadt (Carzig now called
FRIEDRICHSFELDE in consequence)," [See Map] dim mossy Steadings,
which pious Antiquarianism can pilgrim to if it likes, were built
or rebuilt by him:--and it is remarkable withal how thoroughly
instructed Friedrich Wilhelm shows himself in such matters;
and how paternally delighted to receive such proposals of
improvement introducible at the said Carzig and Himmelstadt, and
to find young Graceless so diligent, and his ideas even good.
Forster, ii. 390, 387, 391.] Perhaps a momentary glance into those
affairs may be permitted farther on.

The Prince's life, in this his eclipsed state, is one of
constraint, anxiety, continual liability; but after the first
months are well over, it begins to be more supportable than we
should think. He is fixed to the little Town; cannot be absent any
night, without leave from the Commandant; which, however, and the
various similar restrictions, are more formal than real.
An amiable Crown-Prince, no soul in Custrin but would run by night
or by day to serve him. He drives and rides about, in that green
peaty country, on Domain business, on visits, on permissible
amusement, pretty much at his own modest discretion. A green flat
region, made of peat and sand; human industry needing to be always
busy on it: raised causeways with incessant bridges, black sedgy
ditch on this hand and that; many meres, muddy pools, stagnant or
flowing waters everywhere; big muddy Oder, of yellowish-drab
color, coming from the south, big black Warta (Warthe) from the
Polish fens in the east, the black and yellow refusing to mingle
for some miles. Nothing of the picturesque in this country; but a
good deal of the useful, of the improvable by economic science;
and more of fine productions in it, too, of the floral, and still
more interesting sorts, than you would suspect at first sight.
Friedrich's worst pinch was his dreadful straitness of income;
checking one's noble tendencies on every hand: but the gentry of
the district privately subscribed gifts for him (SE COTISIRENT,
says Wilhelmina); and one way and other he contrived to make ends
meet. Munchow, his President in the Kammer, next to whom sits
Friedrich, "King's place standing always ready but empty there,"
is heartily his friend; the Munchows are diligent in getting up
balls, rural gayeties, for him; so the Hilles,--nay Hille, severe
Finance Tutor, has a Mamsell Hille whom it is pleasant to dance
with; [Preuss, i. 59.] nor indeed is she the only fascinating
specimen, or flower of loveliness, in those peaty regions, as we
shall see. On the whole, his Royal Highness, after the first
paroxysms of Royal suspicion are over, and forgiveness beginning
to seem possible to the Royal mind, has a supportable time of it;
and possesses his soul in patience, in activity and hope.

Unpermitted things, once for all, he must avoid to do: perhaps he
will gradually discover that many of them were foolish things
better not done. He walks warily; to this all things continually
admonish. We trace in him some real desire to be wise, to do and
learn what is useful if he can here. But the grand problem, which
is reality itself to him, is always, To regain favor with Papa.
And this, Papa being what he is, gives a twist to all other
problems the young man may have, for they must all shape
themselves by this; and introduces something of artificial,--not
properly of hypocritical, for that too is fatal if found out,--but
of calculated, reticent, of half-sincere, on the Son's part:
an inevitable feature, plentifully visible in their Correspondence
now and henceforth. Corresponding with Papa and his Grumkow, and
watched, at every step, by such an Argus as the
Tobacco-Parliament, real frankness of speech is not quite the
recommendable thing; apparent frankness may be the safer!
Besides mastery in the Domain Sciences, I perceive the
Crown-Prince had to study here another art, useful to him in after
life: the art of wearing among his fellow-creatures a polite
cloak-of-darkness. Gradually he becomes master of it as few are:
a man politely impregnable to the intrusion of human curiosity;
able to look cheerily into the very eyes of men, and talk in a
social way face to face, and yet continue intrinsically invisible
to them. An art no less essential to Royalty than that of the
Domain Sciences itself; and,--if at all consummately done, and
with a scorn of mendacity for help, as in this case,--a difficult
art. It is the chief feature in the Two or Three Thousand LETTERS
we yet have of Friedrich's to all manner of correspondents:
Letters written with the gracefulest flowing rapidity; polite,
affable,--refusing to give you the least glimpse into his real
inner man, or tell you any particular you might impertinently wish
to know.

As the History of Friedrich, in this Custrin epoch, and indeed in
all epochs and parts, is still little other than a whirlpool of
simmering confusions, dust mainly, and sibylline paper-shreds, in
the pages of poor Dryasdust, perhaps we cannot do better than
snatch a shred or two (of the partly legible kind, or capable of
being made legible) out of that hideous caldron; pin them down at
their proper dates; and try if the reader can, by such means,
catch a glimpse of the thing with his own eyes. Here is shred
first; a Piece in Grumkow's hand.

This treats of a very grand incident; which forms an era or
turning-point in the Custrin life. Majesty has actually, after
hopes long held out of such a thing, looked in upon the Prodigal
at Custrin, in testimony of possible pardon in the distance;--sees
him again, for the first time since that scene at Wesel with the
drawn sword, after year and day. Grumkow, for behoof of Seckendorf
and the Vienna people, has drawn a rough "Protocol" of it;
and here it is, snatched from the Dust-whirlwinds, and faithfully
presented to the English reader. His Majesty is travelling towards
Sonnenburg, on some grand Knight-of-Malta Ceremony there;
and halts at Custrin for a couple of hours as he passes:--

GRUMKOW'S "PROTOKOLL" OF THE 15th AUGUST, 1731; OR SUMMARY
OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AT CUSTRIN THAT DAY.

"His Majesty arrived at Custrin yesterday [GESTERN Monday 15th,--
hour not mentioned], and proceeded at once to the Government
House, with an attendance of several hundred persons.
Major-General Lepel," Commandant of Custrin, "Colonel Derschau and
myself are immediately sent for to his Majesty's apartment there.
Privy-Councillor Walden," Prince's Hofmarschall, a solid legal
man, "is ordered by his Majesty to bring the Crown-Prince over
from his house; who accordingly in a few minutes, attended by
Rohwedel and Natzmer," the two Kammerjunkers, "entered the room
where his Majesty and we were.

"So soon as his Majesty, turning round, had sight of him, the
Crown-Prince fell at his feet. Having bidden him rise, his Majesty
said with a severe mien:--

"'You will now bethink yourself what passed year and day ago;
and how scandalously you saw fit to behave yourself, and what a
godless enterprise you took in hand. As I have had you about me
from the beginning, and must know you well, I did all in the world
that was in my power, by kindness and by harshness, to make an
honorable man of you. As I rather suspected your evil purpose, I
treated you in the harshest and sharpest way in the Saxon Camp,'
at Radewitz, in those gala days, 'in hopes you would consider
yourself, and take another line of conduct; would confess your
faults to me, and beg forgiveness. But all in vain; you grew ever
more stiffnecked. When a young man gets into follies with women,
one may try to overlook it as the fault of his age: but to do with
forethought basenesses (LACHETEEN) and ugly actions; 'that is
unpardonable. You thought to carry it through with your headstrong
humor: but hark ye, my lad (HORE, MEIN KERL), if thou wert sixty
or seventy instead of eighteen, thou couldst not cross my
resolutions.' It would take a bigger man to do that, my lad!
'And as, up to this date (BIS DATO) I have managed to sustain
myself against any comer, there will be methods found of bringing
thee to reason too!--

"'How have not I, on all occasions, meant honorably by you!
Last time I got wind of your debts, how did I, as a Father,
admonish you to tell me all; I would pay all, you were only to
tell me the truth. Whereupon you said, There were still two
thousand thalers beyond the sum named. I paid these also at once;
and fancied I had made peace with you. And then it was found, by
and by, you owed many thousands more; and as you now knew you
could not pay, it was as good as if the money had been stolen;--
not to reckon how the French vermin, Montholieu and partner,
cheated you with their new loans.' Pfui!--'Nothing touched me so
much [continues his Majesty, verging towards the pathetic], as
that you had not any trust in me. All this that I was doing for
aggrandizement of the House, the Army and Finances, could only be
for you, if you made yourself worthy of it! I here declare I have
done all things to gain your friendship;--and all has been in
vain!' At which words the Crown-Prince, with a very sorrowful
gesture, threw himself at his Majesty's feet,"--tears (presumably)
in both their eyes by this time.

"'Was it not your intention to go to England?' asked his Majesty
farther on. The Prince answered 'JA!'--'Then hear what the
consequences would have been. Your Mother would have got into the
greatest misery; I could not but have suspected she was the author
of the business. Your Sister I would have cast, for life, into a
place where she never would have seen sun and moon again. Then on
with my Army into Hanover, and burn and ravage; yes, if it had
cost me life, land and people. Your thoughtless and godless
conduct, see what it was leading to. I intended to employ you in
all manner of business, civil, military; but how, after such an
action, could I show the face of you to my Officers (soldiers) and
other servants?--The one way of repairing all this is, That you
seek, regardless of your very life in comparison, to make the
fault good again!' At which words the Crown-Prince mournfully
threw himself at his Royal Majesty's feet; begging to be put upon
the hardest proofs: He would endure all things, so as to recover
his Majesty's grace and esteem.

"Whereupon the King asked him: 'Was it thou that temptedst Katte;
or did Katte tempt thee?' The Crown-Prince without hesitation
answered, 'I tempted him.'--'I am glad to hear the truth from you,
at any rate.'"

The Dialogue now branches out, into complex general form; out of
which, intent upon abridging, we gather the following points.
King LOQUITUR:--

"How do you like your Custrin life? Still as much aversion to
Wusterhausen, and to wearing your shroud [STERBEKITTEL, name for
the tight uniform you would now be so glad of, and think quite
other than a shroud!] as you called it?" Prince's answer wanting.
--"Likely enough my company does not suit you: I have no French
manners, and cannot bring out BON-MOTS in the PETIT-MAITRE way;
and truly regard all that as a thing to be flung to the dogs.
I am a German Prince, and mean to live and die in that character.
But you can now say what you have got by your caprices and
obstinate heart; hating everything that I liked; and if I
distinguished any one, despising him! If an Officer was put in
arrest, you took to lamenting about him. Your real friends, who
intended your good, you hated and calumniated; those that
flattered you, and encouraged your bad purpose, you caressed.
You see what that has come to. In Berlin, in all Prussia for some
time back, nobody asks after you, Whether you are in the world or
not; and were it not one or the other coming from Custrin who
reports you as playing tennis and wearing French hair-bags, nobody
would know whether you were alive or dead."

Hard sayings; to which the Prince's answers (if there were any
beyond mournful gestures) are not given. We come now upon
Predestination, or the GNADENWAHL; and learn (with real interest,
not of the laughing sort alone) how his "Majesty, in the most
conclusive way, set forth the horrible results of that
Absolute-Decree notion; which makes out God to be the Author of
Sin, and that Jesus Christ died only for some! Upon which the
Crown-Prince vowed and declared (HOCH UND THEUER), he was now
wholly of his Majesty's orthodox opinion."

The King, now thoroughly moved, expresses satisfaction at the
orthodoxy; and adds with enthusiasm, "When godless fellows about
you speak against your duties to God, the King and your Country,
fall instantly on your knees, and pray with your whole soul to
Jesus Christ to deliver you from such wickedness, and lead you on
better ways. And if it come in earnest from your heart, Jesus, who
would have all men saved, will not leave you unheard." No! And so
may God in his mercy aid you, poor son Fritz. And as for me, in
hopes the time coming will show fruits, I forgive you what is
past.--To which the Crown-Prince answered with monosyllables, with
many tears; "kissing his Majesty's feet;"--and as the King's eyes
were not dry, he withdrew into another room; revolving many things
in his altered soul.

"It being his Majesty's birthday [4th August by OLD STYLE, 15th by
NEW, forty-third birthday], the Prince, all bewept and in emotion,
followed his Father; and, again falling prostrate, testified such
heartfelt joy, gratitude and affection over this blessed
anniversary, as quite touched the heart of Papa; who at last
clasped him in his arms [poor soul, after all!], and hurried out
to avoid blubbering quite aloud. He stept into his carriage,"
intending for Sonnenburg (chiefly by water) this evening, where a
Serene Cousin, one of the Schwedt Margraves, Head Knight of Malta,
has his establishment.

"The Crown-Prince followed his Majesty out; and, in the presence
of many hundred people, kissed his Majesty's feet" again (linen
gaiters, not Day-and-Martin shoes); "and was again embraced by his
Majesty, who said, 'Behave well, as I see you mean, and I will
take care of you,' which threw the Crown-Prince into such an
ecstasy of joy as no pen can express;" and so the carriages rolled
away,--towards the Knights-of-Malta business and Palace of the
Head Knight of Malta, in the first place. [Forster, iii. 50-54.]

These are the main points, says Grumkow, reporting next day;
and the reader must interpret them as he can, A Crown-Prince with
excellent histrionic talents, thinks the reader. Well; a certain
exaggeration, immensity of wish becoming itself enthusiasm;
somewhat of that: but that is by no means the whole or even the
main part of the phenomenon, O reader. This Crown-Prince has a
real affection to his Father, as we shall in time convince
ourselves. Say, at lowest, a Crown-Prince loyal to fact; able to
recognize overwhelming fact, and aware that he must surrender
thereto. Surrender once made, the element much clears itself;
Papa's side of the question getting fairly stated for the first
time. Sure enough, Papa, is God's Vicegerent in several undeniable
respects, most important some of them: better try if we can
obey Papa.

Dim old Fassmann yields a spark or two,--as to his Majesty's
errand at Sonnenburg. Majesty is going to preside to-morrow "at
the Installation of young Margraf Karl, new HERRMEISTER
(Grand-Master) of the Knights of St. John" there; "the Office
having suddenly fallen vacant lately." Office which is an
heirloom;--usually held by one of the Margraves, half-uncles of
the King,--some junior of them, not provided for at Schwedt or
otherwise. Margraf Albert, the last occupant, an old gentleman of
sixty, died lately, "by stroke of apoplexy while at dinner;"
[21st June, 1731: Fassmann, p. 423; Pollnitz, ii. 390.]--and his
eldest Son, Margraf Karl, with whom his Majesty lodges to-night,
is now Herrmeister. "Majesty came at 6 P.M. to Sonnenburg [must
have left Custrin about five]; forty-two Ritters made at
Sonnenburg next day,"--a certain Colonel or Lieutenant-General von
Wreech, whom we shall soon see again, is one of them; Seckendorf
another. "Fresh RITTER-SCHLAG ["Knight-stroke," Batch of Knights
dubbed] at Sonnenburg, 29th September next," which shall not the
least concern us. Note Margraf Karl, however, the new Herrmeister;
for he proves a soldier of some mark, and will turn up again in
the Silesian Wars;--as will a poor Brother of his still more
impressively, "shot dead beside the King," on one
occasion there.

We add this of Dickens, for all the Diplomatists, and a discerning
public generally, are much struck with the Event at Custrin;
and take to writing of it as news;--and "Mr. Ginkel," Dutch
Ambassador here, an ingenious, honest and observant man, well
enough known to us, has been out to sup with the Prince, next day;
and thus reports of him to Dickens: "Mr. Ginkel, who supped with
the Prince on Thursday last," day after the Interview, "tells me
that his Royal Highness is extremely improved since he had seen
him; being grown much taller; and that his conversation is
surprising for his age, abounding in good sense and the prettiest
turns of expression." [Despatch, 18th August, 1731.]

Here are other shreds, snatched from the Witch-Caldron, and
pinned down, each at its place; which give us one or two
subsequent glimpses:--

POTSDAM, 21st AUGUST, 1731 (King to Wolden the Hofmarschall). ...
"Crown-Prince shall travel over, and personally inspect, the
following Domains: Quartschen, Himmelstadt, Carzig, Massin, Lebus,
Gollow and Wollup," dingy moor-farms dear to Antiquarians; "travel
over these and not any other. Permission always to be asked, of
his Royal Majesty, in writing, and mention made to which of them
the Crown-Prince means to go. Some one to be always in attendance,
who can give him fit instruction about the husbandry; and as the
Crown-Prince has yet only learned the theory, he must now be
diligent to learn the same practically. For which end it must be
minutely explained to him, How the husbandry is managed,--how
ploughed, manured, sown, in every particular; and what the
differences of good and bad husbandry are, so that he may be able
of himself to know and judge the same. Of Cattle-husbandry too,
and the affairs of Brewing (VIEHZUCHT UND BRAUWESEN), the due
understanding to be given him; and in the matter of Brewing, show
him how things are handled, mixed, the beer drawn off, barrelled,
and all how they do with it (WIE UBERALL DABEI VERFAHREN);
also the malt, how it must be prepared, and what like, when good.
Useful discourse to be kept up with him on these journeys;
pointing out how and why this is and that, and whether it could
not be better:"--O King of a thousand!--"Has liberty to shoot
stags, moorcocks (HUHNER) and the like; and a small-hunt [KLEINE
JAGD, not a PARFORCE or big one] can be got up for his amusement
now and then;" furthermore "a little duck-shooting from boat," on
the sedgy waters there,--if the poor soul should care about it.
Wolden, or one of the Kammerjunkers, to accompany always, and be
responsible. "No MADCHEN or FRAUENSMENSCH," no shadow of
womankind;--"keep an eye on him, you three!"

These things are in the Prussian Archives; of date the week after
that interview. In two weeks farther, follows the Prince's
speculation about Carzig and the Building of a Farmstead there;
with Papa's "real contentment that you come upon such proposals,
and seek to make improvements. Only"--

WUSTERHAUSEN, 11th SEPTEMBER (King to Crown-Prince). ... "Only you
must examine whether there is meadow-ground enough, and how many
acres can actually be allotted to that Farm. [Hear his Majesty!]
Take a Land-surveyor with you; and have all well considered; and
exactly inform yourself what kind of land it is, whether it can
only grow rye, or whether some of it is barley-land: you must
consider it YOURSELF, and do it all out of your own head, though
you may consult with others about it. In grazing-ground (HUTHUNG)
I think it will not fail; if only the meadow-land"--

in fact, it fails in nothing; and is got all done ("wood laid out
to season straightway," and "what digging and stubbing there is,
proceeded with through the winter"): done in a successful and
instructive manner, both Carzig and Himmelstadt, though we will
say nothing farther of them. [Forster, i. 387-392.]

CUSTRIN, 22d SEPTEMBER (Crown-Prince to Papa). ... "Have been at
Lebus; excellent land out there; fine weather for the husbandman."
"Major Roder," unknown Major, "passed this way; and dined with me,
last Wednesday. He has got a pretty fellow (SCHONEN KERL) for my
Most All-Gracious Father's regiment [the Potsdam Giants, where I
used to be]; whom I could not look upon without bleeding heart.
I depend on my Most All-Gracious Father's Grace, that he will be
good to me: I ask for nothing and no happiness in the world but
what comes from You; and hope You will, some day, remember me in
grace, and give me the Blue Coat to put on again!" [BRIEFWECHSEL
MIT VATER (OEuvres, xxvii. part 3d, p. 27).]--To which Papa
answers nothing, or only "Hm, na, time MAY come!"

Carzig goes on straightway; Papa charmed to grant the moneys;
"wood laid out to season," and much "stubbing and digging" set on
foot, before the month ends. Carzig; and directly on the heel of
it, on like terms, Himmelstadt,--but of all this we must say no
more. It is clear the Prince is learning the Domain Sciences;
eager to prove himself a perfect son in the eyes of Papa. Papa, in
hopeful moments, asks himself: "To whom shall we marry him, then;
how settle him?" But what the Prince, in his own heart, thought of
it all; how he looked, talked, lived, in unofficial times?
Here has a crabbed dim Document turned up, which, if it were not
nearly undecipherable to the reader and me, would throw light on
the point:--


SCHULENBURG'S THREE LETTERS TO GRUMKOW, ON VISITS TO THE
CROWN-PRINCE, DURING THE CUSTRIN TIME.

The reader knows Lieutenant-General Schulenburg; stiff little
military gentleman of grave years, nephew of the maypole EMERITA
who is called Duchess of Kendal in England. "Had a horse shot
under him at Malplaquet;" battlings and experiences enough, before
and since. Has real sense, abundant real pedantry; a Prussian
soldier every inch. He presided in the Copenick Court-martial;
he is deeply concerned in these Crown-Prince difficulties.
His Majesty even honors him by expecting he should quietly keep a
monitorial eye upon the Crown-Prince;--being his neighbor in those
parts; Colonel-Commandant of a regiment of Horse at Landsberg not
many miles off. He has just been at Vienna [September, 1731
( Militair-Lexikon,  iii. 433).] on some
"business", (quasi-diplomatic probably, which can remain unknown
to us); and has reported upon it, or otherwise finished it off, at
Berlin;--whence rapidly home to Landsberg again. On the way
homewards, and after getting home, he writes these three Letters;
off-hand and in all privacy, and of course with a business
sincerity, to Grumkow;--little thinking they would one day get
printed, and wander into these latitudes to be scanned and
scrutinized! Undoubtedly an intricate crabbed Document to us;
but then an indubitable one. Crown-Prince, Schulenburg himself,
and the actual figure of Time and Place, are here mirrored for us,
with a business sincerity, in the mind of Schulenburg,--as from an
accidental patch of water; ruffled bog-water, in sad twilight, and
with sedges and twigs intervening; but under these conditions we
do look with our own eyes!

Could not one, by any conceivable method, interpret into
legibility this abstruse dull Document; and so pick out here and
there a glimpse, actual face-to-face view, of Crown-Prince
Friedrich in his light-gray frock with the narrow silver tresses,
in his eclipsed condition there in the Custrin region? All is very
mysterious about him; his inward opinion about all manner of
matters, from the GNADENWAHL to the late Double-Marriage Question.
Even his outward manner of life, in its flesh-and-blood
physiognomy,--we search in vain through tons of dusty lucubration
totally without interest, to catch here and there the corner of a
feature of it. Let us try Schulenburg. We shall know at any rate
that to Grumkow, in the Autumn 1731, these words were luculent and
significant: consciously they tell us something of young
Friedrich; unconsciously a good deal of Lieutenant-General
Schulenburg, who with his strict theologies, his military
stiffnesses, his reticent, pipe-clayed, rigorous and yet human
ways, is worth looking at, as an antique species extinct in our
time. He is just home from Vienna, getting towards his own
domicile from Berlin, from Custrin, and has seen the Prince.
He writes in a wretched wayside tavern, or post-house, between
Custrin and Landsberg,--dates his letter "WIEN (Vienna)," as if he
were still in the imperial City, so off-hand is he.

    No. 1. TO HIS EXCELLENZ (add a shovelful of other titles)
   LIEUTENANT-GENERAL HERR BARON VON GRUMKOW, PRESIDENT OF THE
KRIEGES- UND DOMANEN-DIRECTORIUM, OF THE (in fact, Vice-President
              of the Tobacco-Parliament) IN BERLIN.

"WIEN [properly Berlin-Landsberg Highway,
other side of Custrin], 4th October, 1731.

"I regret much to have missed the pleasure of seeing your
Excellency again before I left Berlin. I set off between seven and
eight in the morning yesterday, and got to Custrin [seventy miles
or so] before seven at night. But the Prince had gone, that day,
to the Bailliage of Himmelstadt" (up the Warta Country, eastward
some five-and-thirty miles, much preparatory digging and stubbing
there); and he "slept at Massin [circuitous road back], where he
shot a few stags this morning. As I was told he might probably
dine at Kammin [still nearer Custrin, twelve miles from it;
half that distance east of Zorndorf,--mark that, O reader (see
Map)] with Madam Colonel Schoning, I drove thither. He had
arrrived there a moment before me." And who is Madam Schoning,
lady of Kammin here?--Patience, reader.

"I found him much grown; an air of health and gayety about him.
He caressed me greatly (ME GRACIEUSA FORT); afterwards questioned
me about my way of life in Vienna; and asked, if I had diverted
myself well there? I told him what business had been the occasion
of my journey, and that this rather than amusements had occupied
me; for the rest, that there had been great affluence of company,
and no lack of diversions. He spoke a long time to Madam
de Wreech "--

"Wrochem" Schulenburg calls her: young Wife of Lieutenant-General
von Wreech, a Marlborough Campaigner, made a Knight of Malta the
other day; [ Militair-Lexikon,  iv. 269.]--
HIS charming young Wife, and Daughter of Madam Colonel Schoning
our hostess here; lives at Tamsel, in high style, in these parts:
mark the young Lady well,--

"who did not appear indifferent to him." No!--"and in fact she was
in all her beauty; a complexion of lily and rose."

Charming creature; concerning whom there are anecdotes still
afloat, and at least verses of this Prince's writing; not too well
seen by Wreech, lately made a Knight of Malta, who, though only
turning forty, is perhaps twice her age. The beautifulest,
cleverest,--fancy it; and whether the peaty Neumark produces
nothing in the floral kind!

"We went to dinner; he asked me to sit beside him.
The conversation fell, among other topics, on the Elector
Palatine's Mistress," crotchety old gentleman, never out of
quarrels, with Heidelberg Protestants, heirs of Julich and Berg,
and in general with an unreasonable world, whom we saw at Mannheim
last year; has a Mistress,--"Elector Yalatine's Mistress, called
Taxis. Crown-Prince said: 'I should like to know what that good
old gentleman does with a Mistress?' I answered, that the fashion
had come so much in vogue, Princes did not think they were Princes
unless they had mistresses; and that I was amazed at the facility
of women, how they could shut their eyes on the sad reverse of
fortune nearly inevitable for them;--and instanced the example of
Madam Gravenitz"--

"Gravenitz;" example lately fallen out at Wurtemberg, as we
predicted. Prayers of the Country, "Deliver us from evil," are now
answered there: Gravenitz quite over with it! Alas, yes; lately
fallen from her high estate in Wurtemberg, and become the topic of
dinner-tables; seized by soldiers in the night-time; vain her high
refusals, assurances of being too unwell to dress, "Shall go in
your shift, then,"--is in prison, totally eclipsed. [Michaelis,
iii. 440; Pollnitz, i. 297.] Calming her fury, she will get out;
and wearisomely wander about in fashionable capitals, TOUJOURS UN
LAVEMENT A SES TROUSSES!

"There were other subjects touched upon; and I always endeavored
to deduce something of moral instruction from them," being a
military gentleman of the old school.

"Among other things, he said, He liked the great world, and was
charmed to observe the ridiculous weak side of some people.
'That is excellent,' said I, 'if one profit by it oneself: but if
it is only for amusement, such a motive is worth little; we should
rather look out for our own ridiculous weak side.' On rising,
Hofmarschall Wolden said to me," without much sincerity, "'YOU
have done well to preach a little morality to him.' The Prince
went to a window, and beckoned me thither.

"'You have learned nothing of what is to become of me?' said he.
I answered: 'It is supposed your Royal Highness will return to
Berlin, when the Marriage [Wilhelmina's] takes place; but as to
what will come next, I have heard nothing. But as your Highness
has friends, they will not fail to do their endeavor; and M. de
Grumkow has told me he would try to persuade the King to give you
a regiment, in order that your Highness might have something to
do.' It seemed as if that would give him pleasure. I then took the
liberty of saying: 'Monseigneur, the most, at present, depends on
yourself.--'How so?' asked he. I answered, 'It is only by showing
good conduct, and proofs of real wisdom and worth, that the King's
entire favor can be gained First of all, to fear God'"--And, in
fact, I launched now into a moral preachment, or discursive
Dialogue, of great length; much needing to have the skirts of it
tucked up, in a way of faithful abridgment, for behoof of poor
English readers. As follows:--

"SCHULENBURG: If your Highness behave well, the King will accord
what you want: but it is absolutely necessary to begin by that.--
PRINCE: I do nothing that can displease the King.--
SCHULENBURG: It would be a little soon yet! But I speak of the
future. Your Highness, the grand thing I recommend is to fear God!
Everybody says, you have the sentiments of an honest man;
excellent, that, for a beginning; but without the fear of God,
your Highness, the passions stifle the finest sentiments.
Must lead a life clear of reproach; and more particularly on the
chapter of women! Need not imagine you can do the least thing
without the King's knowing it: if your Highness take the bad road,
he will wish to correct it; the end will be, he will bring you
back to live beside him; which will not be very agreeable.--
PRINCE: Hmph, No!--SCHULENBURG: Of the ruin to health I do not
speak; I--PRINCE: Pooh, one is young, one is not master of that;"
--and, in fact, on this delicate chapter, which runs to some
length, Prince answers as wildish young fellows will; quizzing my
grave self, with glances even at his Majesty, on alleged old
peccadilloes of ours. Which allegations or inferences I rebutted
with emphasis. "But, I confess, though I employed all my rhetoric,
his mind did not seem to alter; and it will be a miracle if he
change on this head." Alas, General! Can't be helped, I fear!

"He said he was not afraid of anything so much as of living
constantly beside the King.--SCHULENBURG: Arm yourself with
patience, Monseigneur, if that happen. God has given you sense
enough; persevere to use it faithfully on all occasions, you will
gain the good graces of the King.--PRINCE: Impossible; beyond my
power, indeed, said he; and made a thousand objections.--
SCHULENBURG: Your Highness is like one that will not learn a trade
because you do not already know it. Begin; you will certainly
never know it otherwise! Before rising in the morning, form a plan
for your day,"--in fact, be moral, oh, be moral!

His Highness now got upon the marriages talked of for him;
an important point for the young man. He spoke, hopefully rather,
of the marriage with the Princess of Mecklenburg,--Niece of the
late Czar Peter the Great; Daughter of that unhappy Duke who is in
quarrel with his Ritters, and a trouble to all his neighbors, and
to us among the number. Readers recollect that young Lady's Serene
Mother, and a meeting she once had with her Uncle Peter,--at
Magdeburg, a dozen years ago, in a public drawing-room with alcove
near; anecdote not lightly to be printed in human types, nor
repeated where not necessary. The Mother is now dead; Father still
up to the eyes in puddle and trouble: but as for the young Lady
herself, she is Niece to the now Czarina Anne; by law of
primogeniture Heiress of all the Russias; something of a
match truly!

"But there will be difficulties; your Highness to change your
religion, for one thing?--PRINCE: Won't, by any means:--
SCHULENBURG: And give up the succession to Prussia?--
PRINCE: A right fool if I did!--SCHULENBURG: Then this marriage
comes to nothing.--Thereupon next he said, If the Kaiser is so
strong for us, let him give me his second Daughter;" lucky Franz
of Lorraine is to get the first.--"SCHULENBURG: Are you serious?--
PRINCE: Why not? with a Duchy or two it would do very well.--
SCHULENBURG: No Duchies possible under the Pragmatic Sanction,
your Highness: besides, your change of religion?--PRINCE: Oh, as
to that, never!--Then this marriage also comes to nothing
Of the English, and their Double-Marriage, and their Hotham
brabble, he spoke lightly, as of an extinct matter,--in terms
your Excellency will like.

"But, said I, since you speak so much of marriages, I suppose you
wish to be married?--PRINCE: No; but if the King absolutely will
have it, I will marry to obey him. After that, I will shove my
wife into the corner (PLANTERAI LA MA FEMME), and live after my
own faucy.--SCHULENBURG: Horrible to think of! For, in the first
place, your Highness, is it not written in the Law of God,
Adulterers shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?" And in the
second place; and in the third and fourth place!--To all which he
answered as wild young fellows do, especially if you force
marriage on them. "I can perceive, if he marries, it will only be
to have more liberty than now. It is certain, if he had his elbows
free, he would strike out (S'EN DONNERAIT A GAUCHE). He said to me
several times: 'I am young; I want to profit by my youth.'"
A questionable young fellow, Herr General; especially if you force
marriage on him.

"This conversation done," continues the General, "he set to
talking with the Madam Wreech," and her complexion of lily and
rose; "but he did not stay long; drove off about five [dinner at
the stroke of twelve in those countries], inviting me to see him
again at Custrin, which I promised."

And so the Prince is off in the Autumn sunset, driving down the
peaty hollow of the Warta, through unpicturesque country, which
produces Wreechs and incomparable flowers nevertheless. Yes; and
if he look a six miles to the right, there is the smoke of the
evening kettles from Zorndorf, rising into the sky; and across the
River, a twenty miles to the left, is Kunersdorf: poor sleepy
sandy hamlets; where nettles of the Devil are to be plucked
one day!--

"The beautiful Wreech drove off to Tamsel," her fine house; I to
this wretched tavern; where, a couple of hours after that
conversation, I began writing it all down, and have nothing else
to do for the night. Your Excellency's most moral, stiff-necked,
pipe-clayed and extremely obedient,

"VON SCHULENBUBG."

[Forster, iii. 65-71.]

This young man may be orthodox on Predestination, and outwardly
growing all that a Papa could wish; but here are strange
heterodoxies, here is plenty of mutinous capricious fire in the
interior of him, Herr General! In fact, a young man unfortunately
situated; already become solitary in Creation; has not, except
himself, a friend in the world available just now.
Tempestuous Papa storms one way, tempestuous Mamma Nature
another; and between the outsids and the inside there are
inconsistencies enough.

Concerning the fair Wreech of Tamsel, with her complexion of lily
and rose, there ensued by and by much whispering, and rumoring
underbreath; which has survived in the apocryphal Anecdote-Books,
not in too distinct a form. Here, from first hand, are three
words, which we may take to be the essence of the whole.
Grumkow reporting, in a sordid, occasionally smutty, spy manner,
to his Seckendorf, from Berlin, eight or ten months hence, has
this casual expression: "He [King Friedrich Wilhelm] told me in
confidence that Wreech, the Colonel's Wife, is--to P. R.
(Prince-Royal); and that Wreech vowed he would not own it for his.
And his Majesty in secret is rather pleased," adds the smutty spy.
[Grumkow to Seckendorf, Berlin, 20th August, 1732 (Forster, iii.
112).] Elsewhere I have read that the poor object, which actually
came as anticipated (male or female, I forget), did not live
long;--nor had Friedrich, by any opportunity, another child in
this world. Domestic Tamsel had to allay itself as it best could;
and the fair Wreech became much a stranger to Friedrich,--
surprisingly so to Friedrich the KING, as perhaps we may see.--

Predestination, GNADENWAHL, Herr General: what is orthodoxy on
Predestination, with these accompaniments! [For Wreech, see
 Benekendorf,  v. 94; for Schulenburg,
ib. 26;--and  Militair-Lexikon,  iii. 432,
433, and iv. 268, 269. Vacant on the gossiping points; cautiously
official, both these.] We go now to the Second Letter and the
Third,--from Landsberg about a fortnight later:--

No. 2. TO HIS EXCELLENCY (shovelful of titles) VON GRUMKOW, IN BERLIN.

"LANDSBERG, 19th October, 1731.

"The day before yesterday [that is, Wednesday, 17th October] I
received an Order, To have only fifty Horse at that post, and"--
Order which shows us that there has fallen out some recruiting
squabble on the Polish Frontier hereabouts; that the Polack
gentlemen have seized certain Corporals of ours, but are about
restoring them; Order and affair which we shall omit. "Corporals
will be got back: but as these Polack gentlemen: will see, by the
course taken, that we have no great stomach for BITING, I fancy
they will grow more insolent; then, 'ware who tries to recruit
there for the future!

"On the same day I was apprised, from Custrin, That the
Prince-Royal had resolved on an excursion to Carzig, and thence to
the Bailliage of Himmelstadt [digging and stubbing now on foot at
Himmelstadt too], which is but a couple of miles ["DEMI-MILLE"
German.] from this; that there would be a little hunt between the
two Bailliages; and that if I chose to come, I might, and the
Prince would dine with me."--Which I did; and so, here again,
Thursday, 18th October, 1731, in those remote Warta-Oder
Countries, is a glimpse of his Royal Highness at first hand.
Schulenburg continues; not even taking a new paragraph, which
indeed he never does:--

"They had shut up a couple of SPIESSER (young roes), and some
stags, in the old wreck of a SAUGARTEN [Boar-park, between Carzig
and Himmelstadt; FAST RUINIRTEN SAUGARTEN, he calls it, daintily
throwing in a touch of German here]: the Prince shot one or two of
them, and his companions the like; but it does not seem as if this
amusement were much to his taste. He went on to Himmelstadt;
and at noon he arrived here," in my poor Domicile at Landsberg.

"At one o'clock we went to table, and sat till four. He spoke only
of very indifferent things; except saying to me: 'Do you know, the
King has promised 400,000 crowns (60,000 pounds) towards
disengaging those Bailliages of the Margraf of Baireuth's,'"--
old Margraf, Bailliages pawned to raise ready cash; readers
remember what interminable Law-pleading there was, till Friedrich
Wilhelm put it into a liquid state, "Pay me back the moneys,
then!" [Supra, pp. 161-163.]--"'400,000 thalers to the old
Margraf, in case his Prince (Wilhelmina's now Bridegroom) have a
son by my Sister.' I answered, I had heard nothing of it.--'But,'
said he, 'that is a great deal of money! And some hundred
thousands more have gone the like road, to Anspach, who never will
be able to repay. For all is much in disorder at Anspach. Give the
Margraf his Heron-hunt (CHASSE AU HERON), he cares for nothing;
and his people pluck him at no allowance.' I said: That if these
Princes would regulate their expenditure, they might, little by
little, pay off their debts; that I had been told at Vienna the
Baireuth Bailliages were mortgaged on very low terms, those who
now held them making eight or ten per cent of their money;"--that
the Margraf ought to make an effort; and so on. "I saw very well
that these Loans the King makes are not to his mind.

"Directly on rising from table, he went away; excusing himself to
me, That he could not pass the night here; that the King would not
like his sleeping in the Town; besides that he had still several
things to complete in a Report he was sending off to his Majesty.
He went to Nassin, and slept there. For my own share, I did not
press him to remain; what I did was rather in the way of form.
There were with him President Munchow," civil gentleman whom we
know, "an Engineer Captain Reger, and the three Gentlemen of his
Court," Wolden, Rohwedel, Katzmer who once twirled his finger in a
certain mouth, the insipid fellow.


MAP GOES HERE----------------


"He is no great eater; but I observed he likes the small dishes
(PETITS PLATS) and the high tastes: he does not care for fish;
though I had very fine trouts, he never touched them. He does not
take brown soup (SOUPE AU BOUILLON). It did not seem to me he
cared for wine: he tastes at all the wines; but commonly stands by
burgundy with water.

"I introduced to him all the Officers of my Regiment who are here;
he received them in the style of a king [EN ROI, plenty of quiet
pride in him, Herr General]. It is certain he feels what he is
born to; and if ever he get to it, will stand on the top of it.
As to me, I mean to keep myself retired; and shall see of him as
little as I can. I perceive well he does not like advice,"
especially when administered in the way of preachment, by stiff
old military gentlemen of the all-wise stamp;--"and does not take
pleasure except with people inferior to him in mind. His first aim
is to find out the ridiculous side of every one, and he loves to
banter and quiz. It is a fault in a Prince: he ought to know
people's faults, and not to make them known to anybody whatever,"
--which, we perceive, is not quite the method with private
gentlemen of the all-wise type!--

"I speak to your Excellency as a friend; and assure you he is a
Prince who has talent, but who will be the slave of his passions
(SE FERA DOMINER PAR SES PASSIONS,"--not a felicitous prophecy,
Herr General); "and will like nobody but such as encourage him
therein. For me, I think all Princes are cast in the same mould;
there is only a more and a less.

"At parting, he embraced me twice; and said, 'I am sorry I cannot
stay longer; but another time I will profit better.' Wolden [one
of the Three] told me he could not describe how well-intentioned
for your Excellency the Prince-Royal is [cunning dog!], who says
often to Wolden [doubtless guessing it will be re-said], 'If I
cannot show him my gratitude, I will his posterity:'"--profoundly
obliged to the Grumkow kindred first and last!--"I remain your
Excellency's" most pipe-clayed

"VON SCHULENBURG."

[Forster, iii. 71-73.]

And so, after survey of the spademen at Carzig and Himmelstadt
(where Colonel Wreech, by the way, is AMTS-HAUPTMANN, official
Head-Man), after shooting a SPIESSER or two, and dining and
talking in this sort, his Royal Highness goes to sleep at Massin;
and ends one day of his then life. We proceed to Letter No. 3.

A day or two after No. 2, it would appear, his Majesty, who is
commonly at Wusterhausen hunting in this season, has been rapidly
out to Crossen, in these Landsberg regions (to south, within a
day's drive of Landsberg), rapidly looking after something;
Grumkow and another Official attending him;--other
Official, "Truchsess," is Truchsess von Waldburg, a worthy
soldier and gentleman of those parts, whom we shall again hear of.
In No. 3 there is mention likewise of the "Kurfurst of Koln,"--
Elector of Cologne; languid lanky gentleman of Bavarian breed,
whom we saw last year at Bonn, richest Pluralist of the Church;
whom doubtless our poor readers have forgotten again. Mention of
him; and also considerable sulky humor, of the
Majesty's-Opposition kind, on Schulenburg's part; for which
reason, and generally as a poor direct reflex of time and place,--
reflex by ruffled bog-water, through sedges, and in twilight;
dim but indubitable,--we give the Letter, though the Prince is
little spoken of in it:--

  No. 3. TO THE EXCELLENCY GRUMKOW (as above), IN BERLIN.

"LANDSBERG, 22d October (Monday), 1731.

"MONSIEUR,--I trust your Excellency made your journey to Crossen
with all the satisfaction imaginable. Had I been warned sooner, I
would have come; not only to see the King, but for your
Excellency's sake and Truchsess's: but I received your
Excellency's Letter only yesterday morning; so I could not have
arrived before yesternight, and that late; for it is fifty miles
off, and one has to send relays beforehand; there being no
post-horses on that road.

"We are,--not to make comparisons,--like Harlequin! No sooner out
of one scrape, than we get into another; and all for the sake of
those Big Blockheads (L'AMOUR DE CES GRANDS COLOSSES). What the
Kurfurst of Koln has done, in his character of Bishop of
Osnabruck,"--a deed not known to this Editor, but clearly in the
way of snubbing our recruiting system,--"is too droll: but if we
avenge ourselves, there will be high play, and plenty of it, all
round our borders! If such things would make any impression on the
spirit, of our Master: but they do not; they"--in short, this
recruiting system is delirious, thinks the stiff Schulenburg;
and scruples not to say so, though not in his place in Parliament,
or even Tobacco-Parliament. For there is a Majesty's Opposition in
all lands and times. "We ruin the Country," says the Honorable
Member, "sending annually millions of money out of it, for a set
of vagabond fellows (GENS A SAC ET A CORDE), who will never do us
the least service. One sees clearly it is the hand of God,"
darkening some people's understanding; "otherwise it might be
possible their eyes would open, one time or another!"--A stiff
pipe-clayed gentleman of great wisdom, with plenty of sulphur
burning in the heart of him. The rest of his Letter is all in the
Opposition strain (almost as if from his place in Parliament, only
far briefer than is usual "within these walls"); and winds up with
a glance at Victor Amadeus's strange feat, or rather at the Son's
feat done upon Victor, over in Sardinia; preceded by this
interjectionary sentence on a Prince nearer home:--

"As to the Prince-Royal, depend on it he will do whatever is
required of him [marry anybody you like &c.], if you give him more
elbow-room, for that is whither he aims.--Not a bad stroke that,
of the King of Sardinia"--Grand news of the day, at that time;
now somewhat forgotten, and requiring a word from us:

Old King Victor Amadeus of Sardinia had solemnly abdicated in
favor of his Son; went, for a twelvemonth or more, into private
felicity with an elderly Lady-love whom he had long esteemed the
first of women;--tired of such felicity, after a twelvemonth;
demanded his crown back, and could not get it! Lady-love and he
are taken prisoners; lodged in separate castles: [2d September,
1730 abdicated, went to Chambery; reclaims, is locked in Rivoli,
8th October, 1731 (news of it just come to Schulenburg);
dies there, 31st October, 1732, his 67th year.] and the wrath of
the proud old gentleman is Olympian in character,--split an oak
table, smiting it while he spoke (say the cicerones);--and his
silence, and the fiery daggers he looks, are still more emphatic.
But the young fellow holds out; you cannot play handy-dandy with a
king's crown, your Majesty! say his new Ministers. Is and will
continue King. "Not a bad stroke of him," thinks Schulenburg,--

--"especially if his Father meant to play him the same trick,"
that is, clap him in prison. Not a bad stroke;--which perhaps
there is another that could imitate, "if HIS Papa gave him the
opportunity! But THIS Papa will take good care; and the Queen will
not forget the Sardinian business, when he talks again of
abdicating," as he does when in ill-humor.--

"But now had not we better have been friends with England, should
war rise upon that Sardinian business? General Schulenburg,"--the
famed Venetian Field-marshal, bruiser of the Turks in Candia,
[Same who was beaten by Charles XII. before; a worthy soldier
nevertheless, say the Authorities: LIFE of him by Varnhagen von
Ense ( Biographische Denkmale,  Berlin,
1845).] my honored Uncle, who sometimes used to visit his Sister
the Maypole, now EMERITA, in London, and sip beer and take tobacco
on an evening, with George I. of famous memory,--he also "writes
me this Victor-Amadeus news, from Paris;" so that it is certain;
Ex-King locked in Rivoli near a fortnight ago: "he, General
Schulenburg, says farther, To judge by the outside, all appears
very quiet; but many think, at the bottom of the bag it will not
be the same."--


"I am, with respect," your Excellency's much in buckram,

"LE COMTE DE SCHOULENBOURG."

[Forster, iii. 73-75.]

So far Lieutenant-General Schulenburg; whom we thank for these
contemporary glimpses of a young man that has become historical,
and of the scene he lived in. And with these three accidental
utterances, as if they (which are alone left) had been the sum of
all he said in the world, let the Lieutenant-General withdraw now
into silence: he will turn up twice again, after half a score of
years, once in a nobler than talking attitude, the
close-harnessed, stalwart, slightly atrabiliar military gentleman
of the old Prussian school. 

These glimpses of the Crown-Prince, reflected on us in this
manner, are not very luculent to the reader,--light being
indifferent, and mirror none of the best:--but some features do
gleam forth, good and not so good; which, with others coming, may
gradually coalesce into something conceivable. A Prince clearly of
much spirit, and not without petulance; abundant fire, much of it
shining and burning irregularly at present; being sore held down
from without, and anomalously situated. Pride enough, thinks
Schulenburg, capricious petulance enough,--likely to go into
"a reign of the passions," if we live. As will be seen!--

Wilhelmina was betrothed in June last: Wilhelmina, a Bride these
six months, continues to be much tormented by Mamma. But the
Bridegroom, Prince of Baireuth, is gradually recommending himself
to persons of judgment, to Wilhelmina among others. One day he
narrowly missed an unheard-of accident: a foolish servant, at some
boar-hunt, gave him a loaded piece on the half-cock; half-cock
slipped in the handling; bullet grazed his Majesty's very temple,
was felt twitching the hair there;--ye Heavens! Whereupon
impertinent remarks from some of the Dessau people (allies of
Schwedt and the Margravine in high colors); which were well
answered by the Prince, and noiselessly but severely checked by a
well-bred King. [Wilhelmina, i. 356.] King has given the Prince of
Baireuth a regiment; and likes him tolerably, though the young man
will not always drink as could be wished. Wedding, in spite of
clouds from her Majesty, is coming steadily on.


HIS MAJESTY'S BUILDING OPERATIONS.

"This year," says Fassmann, "the building operations both in
Berlin and Stettin,"--in Stettin where new fortifications are
completed, in Berlin where gradually whole new quarters are
getting built,--"were exceedingly pushed forward (AUSSERST
POUSSIRT)." Alas, yes; this too is a questionable memorable
feature of his Majesty's reign. Late Majesty, old King Friedrich
I., wishful,--as others had been, for the growth of Berlin, laid
out a new Quarter, and called it Friedrichs Stadt; scraggy boggy
ground, planned out into streets, Friedrichs Strasse the chief
street, with here and there a house standing lonesomely prophetic
on it. But it is this present Majesty, Friedrich Wilhelm, that
gets the plan executed, and the Friedrichs Strasse actually built,
not always in a soft or spontaneous manner. Friedrich Wilhelm was
the AEdile of his Country, as well as the Drill-sergeant;
Berlin City did not rise of its own accord, or on the principle of
leave-alone, any more than the Prussian Army itself. Wreck and
rubbish Friedrich Wilhelm will not leave alone, in any kind;
but is intent by all chances to sweep them from the face of the
Earth, that something useful, seemly to the Royal mind, may stand
there instead. Hence these building operations in the Friedrich
Street and elsewhere, so "exceedingly pushed forward."

The number of scraggy waste places he swept clear, first and last,
and built tight human dwellings upon, is almost uncountable.
A common gift from him (as from his Son after him) to a man in
favor, was that of a new good House,--an excellent gift. Or if the
man is himself able to build, Majesty will help him, incite him:
"Timber enough is in the royal forests; stone, lime are in the
royal quarries; scraggy waste is abundant: why should any man, of
the least industry or private capital, live in a bad house?"
By degrees, the pressure of his Majesty upon private men to build
with encouragement became considerable, became excessive,
irresistible; and was much complained of, in these years now come.
Old Colonel Derschau is the King's Agent, at Berlin, in this
matter; a hard stiff man; squeezes men, all manner of men with
the least capital, till they build.

Nussler, for example, whom we once saw at Hanover, managing a
certain contested Heritage for Friedrich Wilhelm; adroit Nussler,
though he has yet got no fixed appointment, nor pay except by the
job, is urged to build;--second year hence, 1733, occurs the case
of Nussler, and is copiously dwelt upon by Busching his
biographer: "Build yourself a house in the Friedrichs Strasse!"
urges Derschau. "But I have no pay, no capital!" pleads Nussler.--
"Tush, your Father-in-law, abstruse Kanzler von Ludwig, in Halle
University, monster of law-learning there, is not he a monster of
hoarded moneys withal? He will lend you, for his own and his
Daughter's sake. [Busching,  Beitrage, 
i. 324.] Or shall his Majesty compel him?" urges Derschau.
And slowly, continually turns the screw upon Nussler, till he too
raises for himself a firm good house in the Friedrichs Stadt,--
Friedrichs Strasse, or STREET, as they now call it, which the
Tourist of these days knows. Substantial clear ashlar Street,
miles or half-miles long; straight as a line:--Friedrich Wilhelm
found it scrag and quagmire; and left it what the Tourist sees, by
these hard methods. Thus Herr Privy-Councillor Klinggraf too,
Nussler's next neighbor: he did not want to build; far from it;
but was obliged, on worse terms than Nussler. You have such work,
founding your house;--for the Nussler-Klinggraf spot was a
fish-pool, and "carps were dug up" in founding;--such piles, bound
platform of solid beams; "4,000 thalers gone before the first
stone is laid:" and, in fact, the house must be built honestly,
or it will be worse for the house and you. "Cost me 12,000 thalers
(l,800 pounds) in all, and is worth perhaps 2,000!" sorrowfully
ejaculates Nussler, when the job is over. Still worse with
Privy-Councillor Klinggraf: his house, the next to Nussler's, is
worth mere nothing to him when built; a soap-boiler offers him 800
thalers (120 pounds) for it; and Nussler, to avoid suffocation,
purchases it himself of Klinggraf for that sum. Derschau, with his
slow screw-machinery, is very formidable;--and Busching knows it
for a fact, "that respectable Berlin persons used to run out of
the way of Burgermeister Koch and him, when either of them turned
up on the streets!"

These things were heavy to bear. Truly, yes; where is the liberty
of private capital or liberty of almost any kind, on those terms?
Liberty to ANNIHILATE rubbish and chaos, under known conditions,
you may have; but not the least liberty to keep them about you,
though never so fond of doing it! What shall we say? Nussler and
the Soap-boiler do both live in houses more human than they once
had. Berlin itself, and some other things, did not spring from
Free-trade. Berlin City would, to this day, have been a Place of
SCRUBS ("the BERLIN," a mere appellative noun to that effect), had
Free-trade always been the rule there. I am sorry his Majesty
transgresses the limits;--and we, my friends, if we can make our
Chaos into Cosmos by firing Parliamentary eloquence into it, and
bombarding it with Blue-Books, we will much triumph over his
Majesty, one day!--

Thus are the building operations exceedingly pushed forward, the
Ear of Jenkins torn off, and Victor Amadeus locked in ward, while
our Crown-Prince, in the eclipsed state, is inspected by a Sage in
pipe-clay, and Wilhelmina's wedding is coming on.



Chapter VI.

WILHELMINA'S WEDDING.

Tuesday, 20th November, 1731, Wilhelmina's wedding-day arrived,
after a brideship of eight months; and that young Lady's
troublesome romance, more happily than might have been expected,
did at last wind itself up. Mamma's unreasonable humors continued,
more or less; but these also must now end. Old wooers and
outlooks, "the four or three crowned heads,"--they lie far over
the horizon; faded out of one's very thoughts, all these.
Charles XII., Peter II. are dead; Weissenfels is not, but might as
well be. Prince Fred, not yet wedded elsewhere, is doing French
madrigals in Leicester House; tending fowards the "West Wickham"
set of Politicians, the Pitt-Lyttelton set; stands ill with Father
and Mother, and will not come to much. August the
Dilapidated-Strong is deep in Polish troubles, in Anti-Kaiser
politics, in drinking-bouts;--his great-toe never mended, never
will mend. Gone to the spectral state all these: here, blooming
with life in its cheeks, is the one practical Fact, our good
Hereditary Prince of Baireuth,--privately our fate all along;--
which we will welcome cheerfully; and be thankful to Heaven that
we have not died in getting it decided for us!--


Wedding was of great magnificence; Berlin Palace and all things
and creatures at their brightest: the Brunswick-Beverns here, and
other high Guests; no end of pompous ceremonials, solemnities and
splendors,--the very train of one's gown was "twelve yards long."
Eschewing all which, the reader shall commodiously conceive it
all, by two samples we have picked out for him: one sample of a
Person, high Guest present; one of an Apartment where the
sublimities went on.

The Duchess Dowager of Sachsen-Meiningen, who has come to honor us
on this occasion, a very large Lady, verging towards sixty; she is
the person. A living elderly Daughter of the Great Elector
himself; half-sister to the late King, half-aunt to Friedrich
Wilhelm; widow now of her third husband: a singular phenomenon to
look upon, for a moment, through Wilhelmina's satirical
spectacles. One of her three husbands, "Christian Ernst of
Baireuth" (Margraf there, while the present Line was but
expectant), had been a kind of Welsh-Uncle to the Prince now
Bridegroom; so that she has a double right to be here. "She had
found the secret of totally ruining Baireuth," says Wilhelmina;
"Baireuth, and Courland as well, where her first wedlock was;"--
perhaps Meiningen was done to her hand? Here is the Portrait of
"my Grand-Aunt;" dashed off in very high colors, not by a
flattering pencil:--

"It is said she was very fond of pleasing, in her youth; one saw
as much still by her affected manners. She would have made an
excellent actress, to play fantastic parts of that kind.
Her flaming red countenance, her shape, of such monstrous extent
that she could hardly walk, gave her the air of a Female Bacchus.
She took care to expose to view her"--a part of her person, large
but no longer beautiful,--"and continually kept patting it with
her hands, to attract attention thither. Though sixty gone,"--
fifty-seven in point of fact,--"she was tricked out like a girl;
hair done in ribbon-locks (MARRONNES), all filled with gewgaws of
rose-pink color, which was the prevailing tint in her complexion,
and so loaded with colored jewels, you would have taken her for
the rainbow." [Wilhelmina, i. 375.]

This charming old Lady, daughter of the GROSSE KURFURST, and so
very fat and rubicund, had a Son once: he too is mentionable in
his way,--as a milestone (parish milestone) in the obscure
Chronology of those parts. Her first husband was the Duke of
Courland; to him she brought an heir, who became Duke in his
turn,--and was the final Duke, LAST of the "Kettler" or native
Line of Dukes there. The Kettlers had been Teutsch Ritters,
Commandants in Courland; they picked up that Country, for their
own behoof, when the Ritterdom went down; and this was the last of
them. He married Anne of Russia with the big cheek (Czar Peter's
Niece, who is since become Czarina); and died shortly after,
twenty years ago; with tears doubtless from the poor rose-pink
Mother, far away in Baireuth and childless otherwise; and also in
a sense to the sorrow of Courland, which was hereby left vacant, a
prey to enterprising neighbors. And on those terms it was that
Saxons Moritz (our dissolute friend, who will be MARECHAL DE SAXE
one day) made his clutch at Courland, backed by moneys of the
French actress; rumor of which still floats vaguely about.
Moritz might have succeeded, could he have done the first part of
the feat, fallen in love with Swoln-cheeked Anne, Dowager there;
but he could not; could only pretend it: Courland therefore (now
that the Swoln-cheek is become Czarina) falls to one Bieren, a
born Courlander, who could. [Last Kettler, Anne's Husband, died
(leaving only an old Uncle, fallen Into Papistry and other
futility, who, till his death some twenty years after, had to
reside abroad and be nominal merely), 1711; Moritz's attempt with
Adrienne Lecouvreur's cash was, 1726; Anne became Sovereign of all
the Russias (on her poor Cousin Peter II.'s death), 1730;
Bieren (BIRON as he tried to write himself, being of poor birth)
did not get installed till 1737; and had, he and Courland both,
several tumbles after that before getting to stable equilibrium.]
--We hurry to the "Grand Apartment" in Berlin Schloss, and glance
rapidly, with Wilhelmina (in an abridged form), how magnificent
it is:--

Royal Apartment, third floor of the Palace at Berlin, one must
say, few things equal it in the world. "From the Outer Saloon or
Antechamber, called SALLE DES SUISSES [where the halberdier and
valet people wait] you pass through six grand rooms, into a saloon
magnificently decorated: thence through two rooms more, and so
into what they call the Picture-Gallery, a room ninety feet long.
All this is in a line." Grand all this; but still only common in
comparison. From the Picture-Gallery you turn (to right or left is
not said, nor does it matter) into a suite of fourteen great
rooms, each more splendid than the other: lustre from the ceiling
of the first room, for example, is of solid silver; weighs, in
pounds avoirdupois I know not what, but in silver coin "10,000
crowns:" ceilings painted as by Correggio; "wall-mirrors between
each pair of windows are twelve feet high, and their piers
(TRUMEAUX) are of massive silver; in front of each mirror, table
can be laid for twelve;" twelve Serenities may dine there, flanked
by their mirror, enjoying the Correggiosities above, and the
practical sublimities all round. "And this is but the first of the
fourteen;" and you go on increasing in superbness, till, for
example, in the last, or superlative Saloon, you find "a lustre
weighing 50,000 crowns; the globe of it big enough to hold a child
of eight years; and the branches (GUERIDONS) of it," I forget how
many feet or fathoms in extent: silver to the heart. Nay the
music-balcony is of silver; wearied fiddler lays his elbow on
balustrades of that precious metal. Seldom if ever was seen the
like. In this superlative Saloon the Nuptial Benediction was
given. [Wilhelmina, i. 381; Nicolai, ii. 881.]

Old King Friedrich, the expensive Herr, it was he that did the
furnishing and Correggio-painting of these sublime rooms: but this
of the masses of wrought silver, this was done by Friedrich
Wilhelm,--incited thereto by what he saw at Dresden in August the
Strong's Establishment; and reflecting, too, that silver is
silver, whether you keep it in barrels in a coined form, or work
it into chandeliers, mirror-frames and music-balconies.--
These things we should not have mentioned, except to say that the
massive silver did prove a hoard available, in after times,
against a rainy day. Massive silver (well mixed with copper first)
was all melted down, stamped into current coins, native and
foreign, and sent wandering over the world, before a certain
Prince got through his Seven-Years Wars and other pinches that
are ahead!--

In fine, Wilhelmina's Wedding was magnificent; though one had rubs
too; and Mamma was rather severe. "Hair went all wrong, by dint of
overdressing; and hung on one's face like a boy's. Crown-royal
they had put (as indeed was proper) on one's head: hair was in
twenty-four locks the size of your arm: such was the Queen's
order. Gown was of cloth-of-silver, trimmed with Spanish gold-lace
(AVEC UN POINT D'ESPAGNE D'OR); train twelve yards long;--one was
like to sink to the earth in such equipment." Courage, my
Princess!--In fact, the Wedding went beautifully off; with dances
and sublimities, slow solemn Torch-dance to conclude with, in
those unparalleled upper rooms; Grand-Aunt Meiningen and many
other stars and rainbows witnessing; even the Margravine of
Schwedt, in her high colors, was compelled to be there.
Such variegated splendor, such a dancing of the Constellations;
sublunary Berlin, and all the world, on tiptoe round it!
Slow Torchdance, winding it up, melted into the shades of
midnight, for this time; and there was silence in Berlin.

But, on the following nights, there were Balls of a less solemn
character; far pleasanter for dancing purposes. It is to these, to
one of these, that we direct the attention of all readers.
Friday, 23d, there was again Ball and Royal Evening Party--"Grand
Apartment" so called. Immense Ball, "seven hundred couples, all
people of condition:" there were "Four Quadrilles," or dancing
places in the big sea of quality-figures; each at its due distance
in the grand suite of rooms: Wilhelmina presides in Quadrille
NUMBER ONE; place assigned her was in the room called
Picture-Gallery; Queen and all the Principalities were with
Wilhelmina, she is to lead off their quadrille, and take charge of
it. Which she did, with her accustomed fire and elasticity;--and
was circling there, on the light fantastic toe, time six in the
evening, when Grumkow, whom she had been dunning for his bargain
about Friedrich the day before, came up:--

"I liked dancing," says she, "and was taking advantage of my
chances. Grumkow came up, and interrupted me in the middle of a
minuet: 'EH, MON DIEU MADAME!' said Grumkow, 'you seem to have got
bit by the tarantula! Don't you see those strangers who have just
come in?' I stopt short; and looking all round, I noticed at last
a young man dressed in gray, whom I did not know. 'Go, then,
embrace the Priuce-Royal; there he is before you!' said Grumkow.
All the blood in my body went topsy-turvy for joy. 'O Heaven, my
Brother?' cried I: 'But I don't see him; where is he? In God's
name, let me see him!' Grumkow led me to the young man in gray.
Coming near, I recognized him, though with difficulty: he had
grown amazingly stouter (PRODIGIEUSEMENT ENGRAISSE), shortened
about the neck; his face too had much changed, and was no longer
so beautiful as it had been. I sprang upon him with open arms
(SAUTAI AU COU); I was in such a state, I could speak nothing but
broken exclamations: I wept, I laughed, like one gone delirious.
In my life I have never felt so lively a joy.

"The first sane step was to throw myself at the feet of the King:
King said, 'Are you content with me? You see I have kept my word!'
I took my Brother by the hand; and entreated the King to restore
him his friendship. This scene was so touching, it drew tears from
the eyes of everybody. I then approached the Queen. She was
obliged to embrace me, the King being close opposite; but I
remarked that her joy was only affected."--Why then, O Princess?
Guess, if you can, the female humors of her Majesty!--

"I turned to my Brother again; I gave him a thousand caresses, and
said the tenderest things to him: to all which he remained cold as
ice, and answered only in monosyllables. I presented the Prince
(my Husband); to whom he did not say one word. I was astonished at
this fashion of procedure! But I laid the blame of it on the King,
who was observing us, and who I judged might be intimidating my
Brother. But even his countenance surprised me: he wore a proud
air, and seemed to look down on everybody."

A much-changed Crown-Prince. What can be the meaning of it?
Neither King nor he appeared at supper: they were supping
elsewhere, with a select circle; and the whisper ran among us, His
Majesty was treating him with great friendliness. At which the
Queen, contrary to hope, could not conceal her secret pique.
"In fact," says Wilhelmina, again too hard on Mamma, "she did not
love her children except as they served her ambitious views."
The fact that it was I, and not she, who had achieved the Prince's
deliverance, was painful to her Majesty: alas, yes, in
some degree!

"Ball having recommenced, Grumkow whispered to me, 'That the King
was pleased with my frank kind ways to my Brother; and not pleased
with my Brother's cold way of returning it: Does he simulate, and
mean still to deceive me? Or IS that all the thanks he has for
Wilhelmina? thinks his Majesty. Go on with your sincerity, Madam;
and for God's sake admonish the Crown-Prince to avoid finessing!'
Crown-Prince, when I did, in some interval of the dance, report
this of Grumkow, and say, Why so changed and cold, then, Brother
of my heart? answered, That he was still the same; and that he had
his reasons for what he did." Wilhelmiua continues; and cannot
understand her Crown-Prince at all:--

"Next morning, by the King's order, he paid me a visit.
The Prince," my Husband, "was polite enough to withdraw, and left
me and Sousfeld alone with him. He gave me a recital of his
misfortnues; I communicated mine to him,"--and how I had at last
bargained to get him free again by my compliance. "He appeared
much discountenanced at this last part of my narrative.
He returned thanks for the obligations I had laid on him,--with
some caressings, which evidently did not proceed from the heart.
To break this conversation, he started some indifferent topic;
and, under pretence of seeing my Apartment, moved into the next
room, where the Prince my Husband was. Him he ran over with his
eyes from head to foot, for some time; then, after some
constrained civilities to him, went his way." What to make of all
this? "Madam Sonsfeld shrugged her shoulders;" no end of Madam
Sousfeld's astonishment at such a Crown-Prince.

Alas, yes, poor Wilhelmina; a Crown-Prince got into terrible
cognizance of facts since we last met him! Perhaps already sees,
not only what a Height of place is cut out for him in this world,
but also in a dim way what a solitude of soul, if he will maintain
his height? Top of the frozen Schreckhorn;--have you well
considered such a position! And even the way thither is dangerous,
is terrible in this case. Be not too hard upon your Crown-Prince.
For it is certain he loves you to the last!

Captain Dickens, who alone of all the Excellencies was not at the
Wedding,--and never had believed it would be a wedding, but only a
rumor to bring England round,--duly chronicles this happy
reappearance of the Prince-Royal: "about six, yesterday evening,
as the company was dancing,--to the great joy and surprise of the
whale Court;"--and adds: "This morning the Prince came to the
public Parade; where crowds of people of all ranks flocked to see
his Royal Highness, and gave the most open demonstrations of
pleasure." [Despatch 24th November, 1731.]

Wilhelmina, these noisy tumults, not all of them delightful, once
done, gets out of the perplexed hurly-burly, home towards still
Baireuth, shortly after New-year. [11th January, 1732 (Wilhelmina,
ii. 20.] "Berlin was become as odious to me as it had once been
dear. I flattered myself that, renouncing grandeurs, I might lead
a soft and tranquil life in my new Home, and begin a happier year
than the one that had just ended." Mamma was still perverse;
but on the edge of departure Wilhelmina contrived to get a word of
her Father, and privately open her heart to him. Poor Father,
after all that has come and gone:--

"My discourse produced its effect; he melted into tears, could not
answer me for sobs; he explained his thoughts by his embracings of
me. Making an effort, at length, he said: 'I am in despair that I
did not know thee. They had told me such horrible tales, I hated
thee as much as I now love thee. If I had addressed myself direct
to thee, I should have escaped much trouble, and thou too.
But they hindered me from speaking; said thou wert ill-natured as
the Devil, and wouldst drive me to extremities I wanted to avoid.
Thy Mother, by her intriguings, is in part the cause of the
misfortunes of the family; I have been deceived and duped on every
side. But my hands are tied; and though my heart is torn in
pieces, I must leave these iniquities unpunished!'"--The Queen's
intentions were always good, urged Wilhelmina. "Let us not enter
into that detail," answered he: "what is past is past; I will try
to forget it;" and assured Wilhelmina that she was the dearest to
him of the family, and that he would do great things for her
still,--only part of which came to effect in the sequel. "I am too
sad of heart to take leave of you," concluded he: "embrace your
Husband on my part; I am so overcome that I must not see him."
[Wilhelmina, ii. 4; who dates 11th January, 1732.] And so they
rolled away.

Crown-Prince was back to Custrin again, many weeks before. Back to
Custrin; but under totally changed omens: his history, after that
first emergence in Wilhelmina's dance "23d November about six
P.M.," and appearance at Parade on the morrow (Saturday morning),
had been as follows. Monday November 26th) there was again grand
Ball, and the Prince there, not in gray this time. Next day, the
old Dessauer and all the higher Officers in Berlin petitioned,
"Let us have him in the Army again, your Majesty!" Majesty
consented: and so, Friday, 30th, there was grand dinner at
Seckendorf's, Crown-Prince there, in soldier's uniform again; a
completely pardoned youth. His uniform is of the Goltz Regiment,
Infantry: Goltz Regiment, which lies at Ruppin,--at and about, in
that moory Country to the Northeast, some thirty or forty miles
from Berlin;--whither his destination now is.

Crown-Prince had to resume his Kammer work at Custrin, and see the
Buildings at Carzig, for a three months longer, till some
arrangements in the Regiment Goltz were perfected, and finishing
improvements given to it. But "on the last day of February" (29th)
1732 being leap-year), his Royal Highness's Commission to be
Colonel Commandant of said Regiment is made out; and he proceeds,
in discharge of the same, to Ruppin, where his men lie. And so
puts off the pike-gray coat, and puts on the military blue one,
[Preuss, i. 69.]--never to quit it again, as turned out.

Ruppin is a little Town, in that northwest Fehrbellin region:
Regiment Goltz had lain in detached quarters hitherto; but is now
to lie at Ruppin, the first Battalion of it there, and the rest
within reach. Here, in Ruppin itself, or ultimately at Reinsberg
in the neighborhood, was Friedrich's abode, for the next eight
years. Habitual residence: with transient excursions, chiefly to
Berlin in Carnival time, or on other great occasions, and always
strictly on leave; his employment being that of Colonel of Foot, a
thing requiring continual vigilance and industry in that Country.
Least of all to be neglected, in any point, by one in his
circumstances. He did his military duties to a perfection
satisfactory even to Papa; and achieved on his own score many
other duties and improvements, for which Papa had less value.
These eight years, it is always understood, were among the most
important of his life to him.



END OF BOOK VIII-----