And thereupon the Steward was
"ordered, To go with me to the White Swan in the Jiiden-
"strasse, and pay what I owed there, whatever my score was.
"ordered, To go with me to the White Swan in the Jiiden-
"strasse, and pay what I owed there, whatever my score was.
Thomas Carlyle
They went accordingly, one morning, to
"a grand House;" it was a Minister's (name not given), very
grand Official Man: he heard the Advocat B. 's short state-
ment; and made answer: "Monsieur, and is it you . that will
"pick holes in the King's Law? I have understood you were
"rather aiming at the Hausvogtei" (Common Jail of Berlin):
"Go on in that way, and you are sure of your promotion! " --
Advocat B. rushed out with Linsenbarth, into the street; and
there was neither pay nor purchase in that quarter.
Poor Linsenbarth was next advised, by simple neighbours,
to go direct to the King; as every poor man can, at certain
hours of the day. "Write out your Case (Memorial) with
"extreme brevity," said they; "nothing but the essential
"points, and those clear. " Linsenbarth, steam at the high
pressure, composed (conzipirte) a Memorial of that right
laconic sort; wrote it fair (mundirte es); -- and went off there-
with "at opening of the Gates" (middle time of August 1750,
no date farther) **--"without one farthing in my pocket, in
"God's name, to Potsdam. " He continues:
* "Grand Carrousel, 25th August;" &c. ** August 21st? (See ROdenbeck, Diary, which we often quote, i. 205.
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? CHAP, v. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 327
June --Aug. 1750.
"And at Potsdam I was lucky enough to see the King; my
"first sight of him. He was on the Palace Esplanade there,
"drilling his troops" (fine trim sanded Expanse, with the
Palace to rear, and Garden-walks and River to front; where
Friedrich Wilhelm sat, the last day he was out, and ordered
Jockey Philips's house to be actually set about; where the
troops do evolutions every morning; -- there is Friedrich with
cocked hat and blue coat; say about 11 A. m. ).
"When the drill was over, his Majesty went into the
"Garden, and the soldiers dispersed; only four Officers re-
"mained lounging upon the Esplanade, and walked up and
"down. For fright I knew not what to do; Ipulled thePapers
"out of my pocket, -- these were my Memorial, two Certi-
"ficates of character, and a Thiiringen Pass" (poor soul).
"The Officers noticed this; came straight to me, and said,
"'What Letters has He there, then? I thankfully and
"gladly imparted the whole; and when the Officers had read
"them, they said, 'We will give you' (Him, not even Thee)
"'a good advice. The King is extra-gracious today, and is
"' gone alone into the Garden. Follow him straight. Thou
"'wilt have luck. '
"This I would not do; my awe was too great. They there-
"upon laid hands on me" (the mischievous dogs, not ill-
humoured either): "one took me by the right arm, another
"by the left, 'Off, off; to the Garden! ' Having got me
"thither, they looked out for the King. He was among the
"gardeners, examining some rare plant; stooping over it,
"and had his back to us. Here I had to halt; and the Officers
"began, in underhand tone" (the dogs! ), "to put me through
"my drill: 'Hat under left arm! -- Right foot foremost! --
"' Breast well forward! -- Head up! -- Papers from Pouch! --
"'Papers aloft in right hand! -- Steady! Steady! ' -- And
"went their ways, looking always round, to see if I kept my
"posture. I perceived well enough they were pleased to
"make game of me; but I stood, all the same, like a wall,
"being full of fear. The Officers were hardly out of the
"Garden, when the King turned round, and saw thisextra-
"ordinary machine," -- telegraph figure or whatever we may
call it, with papers pointing to the sky. "He gave such a
"look at me, like a flash of sunbeams glancing through you;
"and sent one of the gardeners to bring my papers. Which
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? 328 THE TEN . YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June--Aug. 1750.
"having got, he struck into another walk with them, and
"was out of sight. In few minutes he appeared again at the
"place where the rare plant was, with my Papers open in his
"left hand; and gave me a wave with them To come nearer.
"I plucked up a heart, and went straight towards him. Oh,
"how thrice and four-times graciously this great Monarch
"deigned to speak to me! --
King. "My good Thuringian (lieber Thilringer), you came
"to Berlin, seeking to earn your bread by industrious teach-
"ing of children; and here, at the Packhof, in searching
"your things, they have taken your Thiiringen hoard from
"you. True, the batzen are not legal here; but! thepeople
"should have said to you: You are a stranger, and didn't
"know the prohibition; -- well then, we will seal up the Bag
"of Batzen; you send it back to Thiiringen, get it changed
"for other sorts; we will not take it from you! --
"Be of heart, however, you shall have your money again,
"and interest too. -- But, my poor man, Berlin pavement is
"bare, they don't give anything gratis: you are a stranger;
"before you are known and get teaching, your bit of money
"is done; what then? "
"I understood the speech right well; but my awe was too
"great to say: 'Your Majesty will have the all-highest grace
"'to allow me something! ' But as 1 was so simple and asked
"for nothing, he did not offer anything. And so he turned
"away; but had scarcely gone six or eight steps, when he
"looked round, and gave me a sign I was to walk by him;
"and then began catechising:
King. "Where did you (Er) study? "
Linsenbarth. "Your Majesty, in Jena. "
King. "Whatyears? "
Linsenbarth. "From 1716 to 1720. " *
King. "Under what Pro-rector were you inscribed? "
Linsenbarth. "Under the ProfessorTlieologimDr. Fortsch. "
King. "Who were your other Professors in the Theologi-
cal Faculty? "
Linsenbarth --names famed men; sunk now, mostly, in
the bottomless waste-basket: "Buddaus" (who did a Diction-
ary of the Bayle sort, weighing four stone troy, out of which
I have learned many a thing), "Buddaeus," "Danz," "Weis-
? Born 1689 (p. 474); twenty-five when he went.
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? CHAP, v. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 329
Jane --Aug. 1750.
senborn," "Wolf" (now back at Halle after his tribula-
tions, -- poor man, his immortal System of Philosophy, where
is it! )
King. "Did you study Biblica diligently? " Linsenbarth. "With Buddseus (beym Buddao). "
King. "That is he who had such quarrelling with Wolf? " Linsenbarth. "Yea, your Majesty! He was--"King (does not want to know what he was). "What other
"useful Courses of Lectures (Collegia) did you attend? "
Linsenbarth. "Thetics andExegetics with Fortsch" (How
the deuce did Fortsch teach these things? ); "Hermeneutics
"and Polemics with Walch" (editor of Luther's Works, I sup-
pose); "HebraicswithDr. Danz; HomileticswithDr. Weissen-
'' born; Pastorale (not Pastoral Poetry, but the Art of Pastor-
"ship) and Morale with Dr. Buddseus. " (There, your Majes-
ty! -- what a glimpse, as into infinite extinct Continents,
filled with ponderous thorny inanities, invincible nasal draw-
ling of didactic Titans, and the awful attempt to spin, on all
manner of wheels, road-harness out of split cobwebs: Hoom!
Hoom-m-m! Harness not to be had on those terms. Let the
dreary Limbus close again, till the general Day of Judgment
for all this. )
King (glad to get out of the Limbus). "Were things
"as wild then at Jena, in your time, as of old, when the
"Students were forever scuffling and ruffling, and the Coup-
"let went:
"Wer kommt von Jena unycschlagen,
"Der had von grossem Gliick zu sagen.
"He that comes from Jena sine bello,
"He may think himself a lucky fellow? "
Linsenbarth. "That sort of folly is gone quite out of
"fashion; and a man can lead a silent and quiet life there,
"just as at other Universities, if he will attend to the Die, cur
"hie? " (or know what his real errand is). "In my time their
"Serene Highnesses, the Nursing-fathers of the University
"(Nutritores Academics), -- of the Ernestine Line" (Weimar-
Gotha Highnesses, that is), "were in the habit of having the
"Rufflers (Renomisten), Renowners as they are called, who
"made so much disturbance, sent to Eisenach to lie in the
"Wartburg a while; there they learned to be quiet. " (Clock
strikes Twelve, -- dinner-time of Majesty. )
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? 330 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
Jane -- Aug. 1750.
King. "Now I must go: they are waiting for their soup"
(and so ends Dialogue for the present). Did the King bid me
wait?
"When we got out of the Garden," says Linsenbarth,
silent on this point, "the four Officers were still there upon
"the Esplanade" (Captains of Guard belike); "they went
"into the Palace with the King," -- clearly meaning to dine
with his Majesty.
"I remained standing on the Esplanade. For twenty -
"seven hours I had not tasted food: not a farthing in bonis"
(of principal or interest) "to get bread with; I had waded
"twenty miles hither, in a sultry morning, through the sand.
"Not a difficult thing to keep down laughter in such circum-
"stances! "-- Poor soul; but the Royal mind is human too. --
"In this tremor of my heart, there came a Kammer-hussar"
(Soldier-Valet, Valet reduced to his simplest expression)
"out of the Palace, and asked, 'Where is the man that was
"'with my King' (meinem Kd'nig, -- thy King particularly? )
"'in the Garden? ' I answered. 'Here! ' And he led me
"into the Schloss, to a large Room, where pages, lakeys, and
"Kammer-hussars were about. My Kammer-hussar took me
"to a little table, excellently furnished; with soup, beef;
"likewise carp dressed with garden-salad, likewise game
"with cucumber-salad: bread, knife, fork, spoon, and salt
"were all there" (and I with an appetite of twenty-seven
hours; I too was there). "My hussar set me a chair, said:
"' This that is on the table, the King has ordered to be served
'"for you (Ihm): you are to eat your fill, and mind nobody;
''' and I am to serve. Sharp, then, fall to! ' -- I was greatly
"astonished, and knew not what to do; least of all could it
"come into my head that the King's Kammer-hussar, who
"waited on his Majesty, should wait on me. I pressed him to
"sit by me; but as he refused, I did as bidden; sat down,
"took my spoon, and went at it with a will (frisch)!
"The hussar took the beef from the table, set it on the
"charcoal dish (to keep it hot till wanted); he did the like
"with the fish, and roast game; and poured me out wine and
"beer" -- (was ever such a lucky Barmecide)? "I ate and
'' drank till I had abundantly enough. Dessert, confectionery,
"what I could, -- a plateful of big black cherries, and a
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? CHAP, v. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 331
Jane -- Aug. 1750.
"plateful of pears, my waiting man wrapped in paper, and
"stuffed them into my pockets, to be a refreshment on the
"way home. And so I rose from the Royal table; and
"thanked God and the King in my heart, that I had so
"gloriously dined," -- herrlich "gloriously" at last. Poor ex-
cellent downtrodden Linsenbarth, one's heart opens to him,
not one's larder only.
"The hussar took away. At that moment a Secretary
"came; brought me a sealed Order (Rescript) to the Packhof
"at Berlin, with my Certificates (Testimonia), and the Pass;
"told down on the table five Tail-ducats (Schwanz-dukaten),
"and a Gold Friedrich under them" (about 3l. 10s. , I think; better than 10 /. of our day to a common man, and better than
100/. to a Linsenbarth), --? " saying, The King sent me this to
"take me home to Berlin again.
"And if the hussar took me into the Palace, it was now
"the Secretary that took me out again. And there, yoked
"with six horses, stood a royal Proviant-wagon; which having
"led me to, the Secretary said: 'You people, the King has
"'given order you are to take this stranger to Berlin, and
"' also to accept no drink-money from him. I again, through
"the Herrn Secretarium, testified my most submissive thank-
"fulness for all Royal graciousnesses; took my place, and
"rolled away.
"On reaching Berlin, I went at once to the Packhof,
"straight to the office-room," -- standing more erect this
time, -- "and handed them my Royal Rescript. The Head
"man opened the seal; in reading, he changed colour, went
"from pale to red; said nothing, and gave it to the second
"man to read. The second put on his spectacles; read, and
"gave it to the third. However, he" (the Head man) "rallied
"himself at last: I was to come forward, and be so good as
"write a quittance (receipt), 'That I had received, for my
"'400thalers all in batzen, the same sum in Brandenburg coin,
"' ready down, without the least deduction. ' My cash was at
"once accurately paid.
And thereupon the Steward was
"ordered, To go with me to the White Swan in the Jiiden-
"strasse, and pay what I owed there, whatever my score was.
"For which end they gave him twenty-four thalers; and if
'? 'that were not enough, he was to come and get more. " On
these high terms Linsenbarth marched out of the Packhof for
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? 332 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June--Aug. 1750.
the second time; the sublime head of him (not turned either)
sweeping the very stars.
"That was what the King had meant when he said, 'You
"'shall have your money back and interest too;' videlicet
"that the Packhof was to pay my expenses at the White
"Swan. The score, however, was only 10 thaler, 4 groschen,
"6 pfennigs" (30 shillings, 5 pence, and 2 or perhaps 3 quar-
ter-farthings) , "for what I had run up in eight weeks," -- an
uncommonly frugal rate of board, for a man skilled in Herme-
neutics, Hebraics, Polemics, Thetics, Exegetics, Pastorale,
Morale (and Practical Christianity and the Philosophy of
Zeno, carried to perfection, or nearly so)! "Andherewith
"this troubled History had its desired finish. " And our gray-
whiskered, raw-boned, great-hearted Candidatus lay down to
sleep, at the White Swan; probably the happiest man in all
Berlin, for the time being.
Linsenbarth dived now into Private-teaching, "Information" as he calls it; forming, and kneading into his own like-
ness, such of the young Berliners as he could get hold of: --
surely not without some good effect on them, the model
having, besides Hermeneutics in abundance, so much natural
worth about it. He himself found the mine of Informing a
very barren one, as to money: continued poor in a high
degree, without honour, without emolument to speak of; and
had a straitened, laborious, and what we might think very
dark Life-pilgrimage. But the darkness was nothing to him,
he carried such an inextinguishable frugal rushlight within.
Meat, clothes, and fire, he did not again lack, in Berlin, for
the time he needed them, -- some twenty-seven years still.
And if he got no printed praise in the Reviews, from baddish
judges writing by the sheet, -- here and there brother mor-
tals, who knew him by their own eyes and experiences,
looked, or transiently spoke, and even did, a most real praise
upon him now and then. And, on the whole, he can do with-
out praise; and will stand strokes even, without wincing or
kicking, where there is no chance.
A certain Berlin Druggist ("Herr Medicinal-Assessor
Rose," whom we may call Druggist First, for there were Two
that had to do with Linsenbarth) was good and human to him.
In Rose's House, where he had come to teach the children,
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? CSAP. V. ] strangers of NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 333
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
and which continued, always thenceforth, a home to him when
needful, he wrote this Narrative (Anno 1774); and died there,
three years afterwards, -- "24th August 1777, of apoplexy,
"age 88," say the Burial Registers. * Druggist Second, on
succeeding the humane Predecessor, found Linsenbarth's
papers in the drug-stores of the place: Druggist Second
chanced to be one Klaproth, famed among the Scientific of
the world; and by him the Linsenbarth Narrative was for-
warded to publication, and such fame as is requisite.
Sir Jonas Hanway stalks across the Scene, too; in a
pondering and observing Manner.
Of the then very famous "Berlin Carrousel of 1750"
we propose to say little; the now chief interesting point
in it being that M. de Voltaire is curiously visible to us
there. But the truth is, they were very great days at
Berlin, those of Autumn 1750; distinguished strangers
come or coming; the King giving himself up to enter-
tainment of them, to enjoyment of them; with such
a hearty outburst of magnificence, this Carrousel the
apex of it, as was rare in his reign. There were his
Sisters of Schwedt and Baireuth, with suite, his dear
Wilhelmina queen of the scene;** there were -- It
would be tedious to count what other high Herrschaften
and Durchlauchtig Persons. And to crown the whole,
and entertain Wilhelmina as a Queen should be, there
had come M. de Voltaire; conquered at length to us,
as we hope, and the Dream of our Youth realised.
Voltaire's reception, July 10th and ever since, has
? In Rodenbeck, Beytrage, i. 472-475, these latter Details (with others,
in confused form); ib. 462-471, the Narrative itself.
** "Came, 8th August" (Rodenbeck, 205. )
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? 334 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
been mere splendour and kindness; really extraordinary,
as we shall find farther on. Reception perfect in all
points, except that of the Pompadour's Compliments
alone. "That sublime creature's compliments to your
Majesty; such her express command! " said Voltaire.
"Je ne la connais pas" answered Friedrich, with his
clear-ringing voice, "I don't know her;"* -- sufficient
intimation to Voltaire, but painful and surprising. For
which some diplomatic persons blame Friedrich to this
day; but not I, or any reader of mine. A very proud
young King; in his silent way, always the prouder!
and stands in no awe of the Divine Butterflies and
Crowned Infatuations never so potent, as more prudent
people do.
In a Berlin of such stir and splendour, the arrivals
of Sir Jonas Hanway, of the "young Lord Malton"
(famed Earl or Marquis of Rockingham that will be),
or of the witty Excellency Hanbury, are as nothing;
-- Sir Jonas's as less than nothing. A Sir Jonas
noticed by nobody; but himself taking note, dull
worthy man; and mentionable now on that account
Here is a Scrap regarding him, not quite to be thrown
away:
"Sir Jonas Hanway was not always so extinct as he has
"now become. Readers might do worse than turn to his now
"old Book of Travels again, and the strange old London it
"awakens for us: A 'Russian Trading Company,' full of hope
"to the then mercantile mind; a Mr. Hanway despatched,
'* Voltaire to Madame Denis, "Potsdam, 11th August 1750" ((Euvres,
lxxiv. 184).
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? CHAP. V. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 335
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
"years ago, as Chief Clerk', inexpressibly interested to
"manage well; -- and managing, as you may read at large.
"Has done his best and utmost, all this while; and had such
"travellings through the Naphtha Countries, sailings on the
"Caspian; such difficulties, successes, -- ultimately, failure.
"Owing to Mr. Elton and Thamas Kouli Khan mainly.
"Thamas Kouli Khan, -- otherwise called Nadir Shah (and a
"very hard-headed fellow, by all appearance), -- wiled and
"seduced Mr. Elton, an Ex-Naval gentleman, away from his
"Ledgers, to build him Ships; having set his heart on getting
"a Navy. And Mr. Elton did build him (spite of all I could
"say) a Bark or two on the Caspian; -- most hopeful to the
"said Nadir Shah: but did it come to anything? It disgusted,
"it alarmed the Russians; and ruined Sir Jonas, -- who is re-
"turningat this period, prepared to render account of him-
"self at London, in a loftily resigned frame of mind. *
"The remarks of Sir Jonas upon Berlin, -- for he exercises
"everywhere a sapient observation, on men and things, --
"are of dim tumidly insignificant character, reminding us of
"an extinct Minerva's Owl; and reduce themselves mainly to
"this bit of ocular testimony, That hisPrussian Majesty rides
"much about, often at a rapid rate; with a pleasant business
"aspect, humane though imperative; handsome to look upon,
"though with face perceptibly reddish" (and perhaps snuff
on it, were you near). "His age now thirty-eight gone; a set
"appearance, as if already got into his forties. Complexion
"florid, figure muscular, almost tending to be plump.
"Listen well through Hanway, you will find King Fried-
"rich is an object of great interest, personal as well as official,
"and much the theme in Berlin society; admiration of him,
"pride in him, not now theaudiblest tone, though it lies at
"the bottom too: 'Our Friedrich the Great' after all" (so
Hanway intimates, though not express as to epithets or words
used. ) "The King did a beautiful thing to Lieutenant-
"Colonel Keith the other day" (as some readers may re-
* Jonas Hanway, An Account of he. (or in brief. Travels' London,
3 voll. 4to, 1753), ii. 183. "Arrived in Berlin," from the Caspian and
Petersburg side, "August 15th, 1750. "
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? 336
[book XVI. 15th-25th Aug. 1750.
THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE.
member): "to Lieutenant-Colonel Keith; that poor Keith
"who was nailed to the gallows for him (in effigy), at Wesel
'' long ago; and got far less than he had expected. The other
"day, there had been a grand Review, part of it extending
"into Madame Knyphausen's ground, who is Keith's Mother-
'' in-law. 'Monsieur Keith,' said the King to him,'I am sorry
'"we had to spoil Madame's fine Shrubbery by our ma-
"'noeuvres: have the goodness to give her that, with my
"' apologies,' -- and handed him a pretty Casket with key to
"it, and in the interior 10,000 crowns. Not a shrub of Ma-
"dame's had been cut or injured; but the King, you see,
"would count it 1,5001. of damage done, and here is acknow-
"ledgment for it, which please accept. Is not that a gracious
"little touch?
"This King is doing something at Embden, Sir Jonas
"fears, or trying to do, in the Trade-and-Navigation way: "furtherance of such destructive schemes by the Foreigner!
"For the rest, Sir Jonas went to call on Lord Malton (Mar-
"quis of Rockingham that will be): an amiable and sober
"young Nobleman, come thus far on his Grand Tour," and in
time for the Carrousel. "His Lordship's reception at Court
"here, one regretted to hear, was nothing distinguished; quite
"indifferent, indeed, had not the Queen-Mother stept in with
"amendments. The Courts are not well together; pity for
"it. My Lord and his Tutor did me the honour to return my
"visit; the rather as we all quartered in the same Inn.
"Amiable young Nobleman," -- so distinguished since, for
having had unconsciously an Edmund Burke, and such tor-
rents of Parliamentary Eloquence, in his breeches-pocket
(breeches-pocket literally; how unknown to Hanway! ) --
"Amiable young Nobleman, is not it one's duty to salute, in
"passing such a one? Though I would by no means have it
"over-done, and am a calmly independent man.
"Sir Jonas also saw the Carrousel" (of which presently);
"and admired the great men of Berlin. Great men, allob-
"solete now, though then admired to infinitude, some of them:
"'You may abuse me,' said the King to some stranger arrived
'' in Berlin; 'you may abuse me, and perhaps here and there
"'get praise by doing it: but I advise you not to doubt of
"scandalous
capitalists
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? CHAP. V. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 337
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
"'Lieberkiihn' (the fashionable Doctor) 'in any company in
''' Berlin. '" * -- How fashionable are men!
One Collini, a young Italian, quite new in Berlin,
chanced also to be at the Carrousel, or at the latter
half of it, -- though by no means in quest of such
objects just at present, poor young fellow! As he came
afterwards to be Secretary or Amanuensis of Voltaire,
and will turn up in that capacity, let us read this Note
upon him:
"Signor Como Alessandro Collini, a young Venetian gen-
"tleman of some family and education, but of no employment
"or resource, had in late years been asking zealously all
"round among his home circle, What am I to do with myself?
"mere echo answering, What, -- till a Signora Sister of
"Barberina the Dancer's answered: 'Try Berlin, and King
"' Friderico il Grande there? I could give you a letter to my
"'Sister! ' At which Collini grasps; gets under way for
"Berlin, -- through wild Alpine sceneries, foreign guttural
"populations; and with what thoughts, poor young fellow.
"It is a common course to take, and sometimes answers,
"sometimes not. The cynosure of vague creatures, with a
"sense of faculty without direction. What clouds of winged
"migratory people gathering in to Berlin, all through this
"Reign! Not since Noah's Ark a stranger menagerie of
"creatures, mostly wild. Of whom Voltaire alone is, in our
"time, worth mention.
"Collini gazed upon the Alpine chasms, and shaggy ice-
"palaces, with tender memory of the Adriatic; courageously
"steered his way through the inoffensive guttural popula-
tions; had got to Berlin, just in this time; been had to
"dinner daily by the hospitable Barberinas, young Cocceii
"always his fellow-guest, -- 'Privately, my poor Signorina s
"Husband! ' whispered old Mamma. Both the Barberinas
"were very kind to Collini; cheering him with good auguries,
"and offers of help. Collini does not date with any punc-
* Hanway, u. 190, 202, &c.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIII.
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? 338 THE TEN TEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
"tuality; but the German Books will do it for him. August
"25th-27th, was Carrousel; and Collini had arrived few days
"before. "*
And now it is time we were at the Carrousel our-
selves, -- in a brief transient way.
* Collini, Mon Sejour aupres de Voltaire (Paris, 1807), pp. 1-21.
END OF VOL. VIII.
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? PRINTING OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER.
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"a grand House;" it was a Minister's (name not given), very
grand Official Man: he heard the Advocat B. 's short state-
ment; and made answer: "Monsieur, and is it you . that will
"pick holes in the King's Law? I have understood you were
"rather aiming at the Hausvogtei" (Common Jail of Berlin):
"Go on in that way, and you are sure of your promotion! " --
Advocat B. rushed out with Linsenbarth, into the street; and
there was neither pay nor purchase in that quarter.
Poor Linsenbarth was next advised, by simple neighbours,
to go direct to the King; as every poor man can, at certain
hours of the day. "Write out your Case (Memorial) with
"extreme brevity," said they; "nothing but the essential
"points, and those clear. " Linsenbarth, steam at the high
pressure, composed (conzipirte) a Memorial of that right
laconic sort; wrote it fair (mundirte es); -- and went off there-
with "at opening of the Gates" (middle time of August 1750,
no date farther) **--"without one farthing in my pocket, in
"God's name, to Potsdam. " He continues:
* "Grand Carrousel, 25th August;" &c. ** August 21st? (See ROdenbeck, Diary, which we often quote, i. 205.
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? CHAP, v. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 327
June --Aug. 1750.
"And at Potsdam I was lucky enough to see the King; my
"first sight of him. He was on the Palace Esplanade there,
"drilling his troops" (fine trim sanded Expanse, with the
Palace to rear, and Garden-walks and River to front; where
Friedrich Wilhelm sat, the last day he was out, and ordered
Jockey Philips's house to be actually set about; where the
troops do evolutions every morning; -- there is Friedrich with
cocked hat and blue coat; say about 11 A. m. ).
"When the drill was over, his Majesty went into the
"Garden, and the soldiers dispersed; only four Officers re-
"mained lounging upon the Esplanade, and walked up and
"down. For fright I knew not what to do; Ipulled thePapers
"out of my pocket, -- these were my Memorial, two Certi-
"ficates of character, and a Thiiringen Pass" (poor soul).
"The Officers noticed this; came straight to me, and said,
"'What Letters has He there, then? I thankfully and
"gladly imparted the whole; and when the Officers had read
"them, they said, 'We will give you' (Him, not even Thee)
"'a good advice. The King is extra-gracious today, and is
"' gone alone into the Garden. Follow him straight. Thou
"'wilt have luck. '
"This I would not do; my awe was too great. They there-
"upon laid hands on me" (the mischievous dogs, not ill-
humoured either): "one took me by the right arm, another
"by the left, 'Off, off; to the Garden! ' Having got me
"thither, they looked out for the King. He was among the
"gardeners, examining some rare plant; stooping over it,
"and had his back to us. Here I had to halt; and the Officers
"began, in underhand tone" (the dogs! ), "to put me through
"my drill: 'Hat under left arm! -- Right foot foremost! --
"' Breast well forward! -- Head up! -- Papers from Pouch! --
"'Papers aloft in right hand! -- Steady! Steady! ' -- And
"went their ways, looking always round, to see if I kept my
"posture. I perceived well enough they were pleased to
"make game of me; but I stood, all the same, like a wall,
"being full of fear. The Officers were hardly out of the
"Garden, when the King turned round, and saw thisextra-
"ordinary machine," -- telegraph figure or whatever we may
call it, with papers pointing to the sky. "He gave such a
"look at me, like a flash of sunbeams glancing through you;
"and sent one of the gardeners to bring my papers. Which
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? 328 THE TEN . YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June--Aug. 1750.
"having got, he struck into another walk with them, and
"was out of sight. In few minutes he appeared again at the
"place where the rare plant was, with my Papers open in his
"left hand; and gave me a wave with them To come nearer.
"I plucked up a heart, and went straight towards him. Oh,
"how thrice and four-times graciously this great Monarch
"deigned to speak to me! --
King. "My good Thuringian (lieber Thilringer), you came
"to Berlin, seeking to earn your bread by industrious teach-
"ing of children; and here, at the Packhof, in searching
"your things, they have taken your Thiiringen hoard from
"you. True, the batzen are not legal here; but! thepeople
"should have said to you: You are a stranger, and didn't
"know the prohibition; -- well then, we will seal up the Bag
"of Batzen; you send it back to Thiiringen, get it changed
"for other sorts; we will not take it from you! --
"Be of heart, however, you shall have your money again,
"and interest too. -- But, my poor man, Berlin pavement is
"bare, they don't give anything gratis: you are a stranger;
"before you are known and get teaching, your bit of money
"is done; what then? "
"I understood the speech right well; but my awe was too
"great to say: 'Your Majesty will have the all-highest grace
"'to allow me something! ' But as 1 was so simple and asked
"for nothing, he did not offer anything. And so he turned
"away; but had scarcely gone six or eight steps, when he
"looked round, and gave me a sign I was to walk by him;
"and then began catechising:
King. "Where did you (Er) study? "
Linsenbarth. "Your Majesty, in Jena. "
King. "Whatyears? "
Linsenbarth. "From 1716 to 1720. " *
King. "Under what Pro-rector were you inscribed? "
Linsenbarth. "Under the ProfessorTlieologimDr. Fortsch. "
King. "Who were your other Professors in the Theologi-
cal Faculty? "
Linsenbarth --names famed men; sunk now, mostly, in
the bottomless waste-basket: "Buddaus" (who did a Diction-
ary of the Bayle sort, weighing four stone troy, out of which
I have learned many a thing), "Buddaeus," "Danz," "Weis-
? Born 1689 (p. 474); twenty-five when he went.
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? CHAP, v. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 329
Jane --Aug. 1750.
senborn," "Wolf" (now back at Halle after his tribula-
tions, -- poor man, his immortal System of Philosophy, where
is it! )
King. "Did you study Biblica diligently? " Linsenbarth. "With Buddseus (beym Buddao). "
King. "That is he who had such quarrelling with Wolf? " Linsenbarth. "Yea, your Majesty! He was--"King (does not want to know what he was). "What other
"useful Courses of Lectures (Collegia) did you attend? "
Linsenbarth. "Thetics andExegetics with Fortsch" (How
the deuce did Fortsch teach these things? ); "Hermeneutics
"and Polemics with Walch" (editor of Luther's Works, I sup-
pose); "HebraicswithDr. Danz; HomileticswithDr. Weissen-
'' born; Pastorale (not Pastoral Poetry, but the Art of Pastor-
"ship) and Morale with Dr. Buddseus. " (There, your Majes-
ty! -- what a glimpse, as into infinite extinct Continents,
filled with ponderous thorny inanities, invincible nasal draw-
ling of didactic Titans, and the awful attempt to spin, on all
manner of wheels, road-harness out of split cobwebs: Hoom!
Hoom-m-m! Harness not to be had on those terms. Let the
dreary Limbus close again, till the general Day of Judgment
for all this. )
King (glad to get out of the Limbus). "Were things
"as wild then at Jena, in your time, as of old, when the
"Students were forever scuffling and ruffling, and the Coup-
"let went:
"Wer kommt von Jena unycschlagen,
"Der had von grossem Gliick zu sagen.
"He that comes from Jena sine bello,
"He may think himself a lucky fellow? "
Linsenbarth. "That sort of folly is gone quite out of
"fashion; and a man can lead a silent and quiet life there,
"just as at other Universities, if he will attend to the Die, cur
"hie? " (or know what his real errand is). "In my time their
"Serene Highnesses, the Nursing-fathers of the University
"(Nutritores Academics), -- of the Ernestine Line" (Weimar-
Gotha Highnesses, that is), "were in the habit of having the
"Rufflers (Renomisten), Renowners as they are called, who
"made so much disturbance, sent to Eisenach to lie in the
"Wartburg a while; there they learned to be quiet. " (Clock
strikes Twelve, -- dinner-time of Majesty. )
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? 330 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
Jane -- Aug. 1750.
King. "Now I must go: they are waiting for their soup"
(and so ends Dialogue for the present). Did the King bid me
wait?
"When we got out of the Garden," says Linsenbarth,
silent on this point, "the four Officers were still there upon
"the Esplanade" (Captains of Guard belike); "they went
"into the Palace with the King," -- clearly meaning to dine
with his Majesty.
"I remained standing on the Esplanade. For twenty -
"seven hours I had not tasted food: not a farthing in bonis"
(of principal or interest) "to get bread with; I had waded
"twenty miles hither, in a sultry morning, through the sand.
"Not a difficult thing to keep down laughter in such circum-
"stances! "-- Poor soul; but the Royal mind is human too. --
"In this tremor of my heart, there came a Kammer-hussar"
(Soldier-Valet, Valet reduced to his simplest expression)
"out of the Palace, and asked, 'Where is the man that was
"'with my King' (meinem Kd'nig, -- thy King particularly? )
"'in the Garden? ' I answered. 'Here! ' And he led me
"into the Schloss, to a large Room, where pages, lakeys, and
"Kammer-hussars were about. My Kammer-hussar took me
"to a little table, excellently furnished; with soup, beef;
"likewise carp dressed with garden-salad, likewise game
"with cucumber-salad: bread, knife, fork, spoon, and salt
"were all there" (and I with an appetite of twenty-seven
hours; I too was there). "My hussar set me a chair, said:
"' This that is on the table, the King has ordered to be served
'"for you (Ihm): you are to eat your fill, and mind nobody;
''' and I am to serve. Sharp, then, fall to! ' -- I was greatly
"astonished, and knew not what to do; least of all could it
"come into my head that the King's Kammer-hussar, who
"waited on his Majesty, should wait on me. I pressed him to
"sit by me; but as he refused, I did as bidden; sat down,
"took my spoon, and went at it with a will (frisch)!
"The hussar took the beef from the table, set it on the
"charcoal dish (to keep it hot till wanted); he did the like
"with the fish, and roast game; and poured me out wine and
"beer" -- (was ever such a lucky Barmecide)? "I ate and
'' drank till I had abundantly enough. Dessert, confectionery,
"what I could, -- a plateful of big black cherries, and a
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? CHAP, v. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 331
Jane -- Aug. 1750.
"plateful of pears, my waiting man wrapped in paper, and
"stuffed them into my pockets, to be a refreshment on the
"way home. And so I rose from the Royal table; and
"thanked God and the King in my heart, that I had so
"gloriously dined," -- herrlich "gloriously" at last. Poor ex-
cellent downtrodden Linsenbarth, one's heart opens to him,
not one's larder only.
"The hussar took away. At that moment a Secretary
"came; brought me a sealed Order (Rescript) to the Packhof
"at Berlin, with my Certificates (Testimonia), and the Pass;
"told down on the table five Tail-ducats (Schwanz-dukaten),
"and a Gold Friedrich under them" (about 3l. 10s. , I think; better than 10 /. of our day to a common man, and better than
100/. to a Linsenbarth), --? " saying, The King sent me this to
"take me home to Berlin again.
"And if the hussar took me into the Palace, it was now
"the Secretary that took me out again. And there, yoked
"with six horses, stood a royal Proviant-wagon; which having
"led me to, the Secretary said: 'You people, the King has
"'given order you are to take this stranger to Berlin, and
"' also to accept no drink-money from him. I again, through
"the Herrn Secretarium, testified my most submissive thank-
"fulness for all Royal graciousnesses; took my place, and
"rolled away.
"On reaching Berlin, I went at once to the Packhof,
"straight to the office-room," -- standing more erect this
time, -- "and handed them my Royal Rescript. The Head
"man opened the seal; in reading, he changed colour, went
"from pale to red; said nothing, and gave it to the second
"man to read. The second put on his spectacles; read, and
"gave it to the third. However, he" (the Head man) "rallied
"himself at last: I was to come forward, and be so good as
"write a quittance (receipt), 'That I had received, for my
"'400thalers all in batzen, the same sum in Brandenburg coin,
"' ready down, without the least deduction. ' My cash was at
"once accurately paid.
And thereupon the Steward was
"ordered, To go with me to the White Swan in the Jiiden-
"strasse, and pay what I owed there, whatever my score was.
"For which end they gave him twenty-four thalers; and if
'? 'that were not enough, he was to come and get more. " On
these high terms Linsenbarth marched out of the Packhof for
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? 332 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June--Aug. 1750.
the second time; the sublime head of him (not turned either)
sweeping the very stars.
"That was what the King had meant when he said, 'You
"'shall have your money back and interest too;' videlicet
"that the Packhof was to pay my expenses at the White
"Swan. The score, however, was only 10 thaler, 4 groschen,
"6 pfennigs" (30 shillings, 5 pence, and 2 or perhaps 3 quar-
ter-farthings) , "for what I had run up in eight weeks," -- an
uncommonly frugal rate of board, for a man skilled in Herme-
neutics, Hebraics, Polemics, Thetics, Exegetics, Pastorale,
Morale (and Practical Christianity and the Philosophy of
Zeno, carried to perfection, or nearly so)! "Andherewith
"this troubled History had its desired finish. " And our gray-
whiskered, raw-boned, great-hearted Candidatus lay down to
sleep, at the White Swan; probably the happiest man in all
Berlin, for the time being.
Linsenbarth dived now into Private-teaching, "Information" as he calls it; forming, and kneading into his own like-
ness, such of the young Berliners as he could get hold of: --
surely not without some good effect on them, the model
having, besides Hermeneutics in abundance, so much natural
worth about it. He himself found the mine of Informing a
very barren one, as to money: continued poor in a high
degree, without honour, without emolument to speak of; and
had a straitened, laborious, and what we might think very
dark Life-pilgrimage. But the darkness was nothing to him,
he carried such an inextinguishable frugal rushlight within.
Meat, clothes, and fire, he did not again lack, in Berlin, for
the time he needed them, -- some twenty-seven years still.
And if he got no printed praise in the Reviews, from baddish
judges writing by the sheet, -- here and there brother mor-
tals, who knew him by their own eyes and experiences,
looked, or transiently spoke, and even did, a most real praise
upon him now and then. And, on the whole, he can do with-
out praise; and will stand strokes even, without wincing or
kicking, where there is no chance.
A certain Berlin Druggist ("Herr Medicinal-Assessor
Rose," whom we may call Druggist First, for there were Two
that had to do with Linsenbarth) was good and human to him.
In Rose's House, where he had come to teach the children,
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? CSAP. V. ] strangers of NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 333
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
and which continued, always thenceforth, a home to him when
needful, he wrote this Narrative (Anno 1774); and died there,
three years afterwards, -- "24th August 1777, of apoplexy,
"age 88," say the Burial Registers. * Druggist Second, on
succeeding the humane Predecessor, found Linsenbarth's
papers in the drug-stores of the place: Druggist Second
chanced to be one Klaproth, famed among the Scientific of
the world; and by him the Linsenbarth Narrative was for-
warded to publication, and such fame as is requisite.
Sir Jonas Hanway stalks across the Scene, too; in a
pondering and observing Manner.
Of the then very famous "Berlin Carrousel of 1750"
we propose to say little; the now chief interesting point
in it being that M. de Voltaire is curiously visible to us
there. But the truth is, they were very great days at
Berlin, those of Autumn 1750; distinguished strangers
come or coming; the King giving himself up to enter-
tainment of them, to enjoyment of them; with such
a hearty outburst of magnificence, this Carrousel the
apex of it, as was rare in his reign. There were his
Sisters of Schwedt and Baireuth, with suite, his dear
Wilhelmina queen of the scene;** there were -- It
would be tedious to count what other high Herrschaften
and Durchlauchtig Persons. And to crown the whole,
and entertain Wilhelmina as a Queen should be, there
had come M. de Voltaire; conquered at length to us,
as we hope, and the Dream of our Youth realised.
Voltaire's reception, July 10th and ever since, has
? In Rodenbeck, Beytrage, i. 472-475, these latter Details (with others,
in confused form); ib. 462-471, the Narrative itself.
** "Came, 8th August" (Rodenbeck, 205. )
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? 334 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
been mere splendour and kindness; really extraordinary,
as we shall find farther on. Reception perfect in all
points, except that of the Pompadour's Compliments
alone. "That sublime creature's compliments to your
Majesty; such her express command! " said Voltaire.
"Je ne la connais pas" answered Friedrich, with his
clear-ringing voice, "I don't know her;"* -- sufficient
intimation to Voltaire, but painful and surprising. For
which some diplomatic persons blame Friedrich to this
day; but not I, or any reader of mine. A very proud
young King; in his silent way, always the prouder!
and stands in no awe of the Divine Butterflies and
Crowned Infatuations never so potent, as more prudent
people do.
In a Berlin of such stir and splendour, the arrivals
of Sir Jonas Hanway, of the "young Lord Malton"
(famed Earl or Marquis of Rockingham that will be),
or of the witty Excellency Hanbury, are as nothing;
-- Sir Jonas's as less than nothing. A Sir Jonas
noticed by nobody; but himself taking note, dull
worthy man; and mentionable now on that account
Here is a Scrap regarding him, not quite to be thrown
away:
"Sir Jonas Hanway was not always so extinct as he has
"now become. Readers might do worse than turn to his now
"old Book of Travels again, and the strange old London it
"awakens for us: A 'Russian Trading Company,' full of hope
"to the then mercantile mind; a Mr. Hanway despatched,
'* Voltaire to Madame Denis, "Potsdam, 11th August 1750" ((Euvres,
lxxiv. 184).
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? CHAP. V. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 335
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
"years ago, as Chief Clerk', inexpressibly interested to
"manage well; -- and managing, as you may read at large.
"Has done his best and utmost, all this while; and had such
"travellings through the Naphtha Countries, sailings on the
"Caspian; such difficulties, successes, -- ultimately, failure.
"Owing to Mr. Elton and Thamas Kouli Khan mainly.
"Thamas Kouli Khan, -- otherwise called Nadir Shah (and a
"very hard-headed fellow, by all appearance), -- wiled and
"seduced Mr. Elton, an Ex-Naval gentleman, away from his
"Ledgers, to build him Ships; having set his heart on getting
"a Navy. And Mr. Elton did build him (spite of all I could
"say) a Bark or two on the Caspian; -- most hopeful to the
"said Nadir Shah: but did it come to anything? It disgusted,
"it alarmed the Russians; and ruined Sir Jonas, -- who is re-
"turningat this period, prepared to render account of him-
"self at London, in a loftily resigned frame of mind. *
"The remarks of Sir Jonas upon Berlin, -- for he exercises
"everywhere a sapient observation, on men and things, --
"are of dim tumidly insignificant character, reminding us of
"an extinct Minerva's Owl; and reduce themselves mainly to
"this bit of ocular testimony, That hisPrussian Majesty rides
"much about, often at a rapid rate; with a pleasant business
"aspect, humane though imperative; handsome to look upon,
"though with face perceptibly reddish" (and perhaps snuff
on it, were you near). "His age now thirty-eight gone; a set
"appearance, as if already got into his forties. Complexion
"florid, figure muscular, almost tending to be plump.
"Listen well through Hanway, you will find King Fried-
"rich is an object of great interest, personal as well as official,
"and much the theme in Berlin society; admiration of him,
"pride in him, not now theaudiblest tone, though it lies at
"the bottom too: 'Our Friedrich the Great' after all" (so
Hanway intimates, though not express as to epithets or words
used. ) "The King did a beautiful thing to Lieutenant-
"Colonel Keith the other day" (as some readers may re-
* Jonas Hanway, An Account of he. (or in brief. Travels' London,
3 voll. 4to, 1753), ii. 183. "Arrived in Berlin," from the Caspian and
Petersburg side, "August 15th, 1750. "
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? 336
[book XVI. 15th-25th Aug. 1750.
THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE.
member): "to Lieutenant-Colonel Keith; that poor Keith
"who was nailed to the gallows for him (in effigy), at Wesel
'' long ago; and got far less than he had expected. The other
"day, there had been a grand Review, part of it extending
"into Madame Knyphausen's ground, who is Keith's Mother-
'' in-law. 'Monsieur Keith,' said the King to him,'I am sorry
'"we had to spoil Madame's fine Shrubbery by our ma-
"'noeuvres: have the goodness to give her that, with my
"' apologies,' -- and handed him a pretty Casket with key to
"it, and in the interior 10,000 crowns. Not a shrub of Ma-
"dame's had been cut or injured; but the King, you see,
"would count it 1,5001. of damage done, and here is acknow-
"ledgment for it, which please accept. Is not that a gracious
"little touch?
"This King is doing something at Embden, Sir Jonas
"fears, or trying to do, in the Trade-and-Navigation way: "furtherance of such destructive schemes by the Foreigner!
"For the rest, Sir Jonas went to call on Lord Malton (Mar-
"quis of Rockingham that will be): an amiable and sober
"young Nobleman, come thus far on his Grand Tour," and in
time for the Carrousel. "His Lordship's reception at Court
"here, one regretted to hear, was nothing distinguished; quite
"indifferent, indeed, had not the Queen-Mother stept in with
"amendments. The Courts are not well together; pity for
"it. My Lord and his Tutor did me the honour to return my
"visit; the rather as we all quartered in the same Inn.
"Amiable young Nobleman," -- so distinguished since, for
having had unconsciously an Edmund Burke, and such tor-
rents of Parliamentary Eloquence, in his breeches-pocket
(breeches-pocket literally; how unknown to Hanway! ) --
"Amiable young Nobleman, is not it one's duty to salute, in
"passing such a one? Though I would by no means have it
"over-done, and am a calmly independent man.
"Sir Jonas also saw the Carrousel" (of which presently);
"and admired the great men of Berlin. Great men, allob-
"solete now, though then admired to infinitude, some of them:
"'You may abuse me,' said the King to some stranger arrived
'' in Berlin; 'you may abuse me, and perhaps here and there
"'get praise by doing it: but I advise you not to doubt of
"scandalous
capitalists
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? CHAP. V. ] STRANGERS OF NOTE COME TO BERLIN. 337
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
"'Lieberkiihn' (the fashionable Doctor) 'in any company in
''' Berlin. '" * -- How fashionable are men!
One Collini, a young Italian, quite new in Berlin,
chanced also to be at the Carrousel, or at the latter
half of it, -- though by no means in quest of such
objects just at present, poor young fellow! As he came
afterwards to be Secretary or Amanuensis of Voltaire,
and will turn up in that capacity, let us read this Note
upon him:
"Signor Como Alessandro Collini, a young Venetian gen-
"tleman of some family and education, but of no employment
"or resource, had in late years been asking zealously all
"round among his home circle, What am I to do with myself?
"mere echo answering, What, -- till a Signora Sister of
"Barberina the Dancer's answered: 'Try Berlin, and King
"' Friderico il Grande there? I could give you a letter to my
"'Sister! ' At which Collini grasps; gets under way for
"Berlin, -- through wild Alpine sceneries, foreign guttural
"populations; and with what thoughts, poor young fellow.
"It is a common course to take, and sometimes answers,
"sometimes not. The cynosure of vague creatures, with a
"sense of faculty without direction. What clouds of winged
"migratory people gathering in to Berlin, all through this
"Reign! Not since Noah's Ark a stranger menagerie of
"creatures, mostly wild. Of whom Voltaire alone is, in our
"time, worth mention.
"Collini gazed upon the Alpine chasms, and shaggy ice-
"palaces, with tender memory of the Adriatic; courageously
"steered his way through the inoffensive guttural popula-
tions; had got to Berlin, just in this time; been had to
"dinner daily by the hospitable Barberinas, young Cocceii
"always his fellow-guest, -- 'Privately, my poor Signorina s
"Husband! ' whispered old Mamma. Both the Barberinas
"were very kind to Collini; cheering him with good auguries,
"and offers of help. Collini does not date with any punc-
* Hanway, u. 190, 202, &c.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIII.
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? 338 THE TEN TEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
15th-25th Aug. 1750.
"tuality; but the German Books will do it for him. August
"25th-27th, was Carrousel; and Collini had arrived few days
"before. "*
And now it is time we were at the Carrousel our-
selves, -- in a brief transient way.
* Collini, Mon Sejour aupres de Voltaire (Paris, 1807), pp. 1-21.
END OF VOL. VIII.
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? PRINTING OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl.
