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Thomas Carlyle
" "Surely not ill, your Majesty); and much better
in late years," answered Sulzer. -- "In late years:
why? " "Well, your Majesty, in former time, the
notion being that mankind were naturally inclined to
evil, a system of severity prevailed in schools: but
now, when we recognise that the inborn inclination of
men is rather to good than to evil, schoolmasters have
adopted a more generous procedure. " "Inclination
rather to good? " said Friedrich, shaking his old head,
* AUgemeine Theorie der Schonen Kinslc, 3 voll. ; &c. &o.
7*
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? 100 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
with a sad smile: "Alas, dear Sulzer, Ach, mein lieber
"Sulzer, I see you don't know that damned race of
"creatures (Er kennt nicht diese verdammte Race) as I
"do! "* Here is a speech for you! "Pardon the King,
"who was himself so beneficent and excellent a King! "
cry several Editors of the rosepink type. This present
Editor, for his share, will at once forgive; but how can
he ever forget! --
"Perhaps I mistake," owns Voltaire, in his Pas-
quinade of a Vie Prive'e, "but it seems to me, at these
"Suppers there was a great deal of esprit (real wit and
"brilliancy) going. The King had it, and made others
"have; and, what is extraordinary, I never felt myself
"so free at any table. " "Conversation most pleasant,"
testifies another, "most instructive, animated; not to be
"matched, I should guess, elsewhere in the world. "**
Very sprightly indeed: and a fund of good sense, a
basis of practicality and fact, necessary to be in it
withal; though otherwise it can foam over (if some
La Mettrie be there, and a good deal of wine in him)
to very great heights.
A Demon Newswriter gives an "Idea" of Friedrich; in-
telligible to the Knowing Classes in England and else-
where.
Practically I can add only, That these Suppers of
the gods begin commonly at half-past eight ("Concert
* Nicolai, in. 274; --the thing appears to have been said in French
(' Je vois bien, mon cher Sulzer, que vous ne connaissez pas, comme mot, cette
'race maudite a laquelle nous appartenons'); but the German form is irre-
sistibly attractive, and is now heard proverbially from time to time in cer-
tain mouths. ** Bielfeld, Letters; Voltaire, Vie Privee.
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? CHAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWKITER, OP 1752. 101
June 1752.
just over"); and last till towards midnight,-- not later
conveniently, as the King must be up at five (in Summer
time at four), and "needs between five and six hours
of sleep. " Or would the reader care to consult a Piece
expressly treating on all these points ', kind of Manuscript
Newspaper, fallen into my hands, which seems to have
had a widish circulation in its day. * I have met with
Two Copies of it, in this Country: one of them, to
appearance, once the property of George Selwyn. The
other is among the Robinson Papers: doubtless very
luculent to Robinson, who is now home in England,
but remembers many a thing. Judging from various
symptoms, I could guess this Ms. to have been much
about, in the English Aristocratic Circles of that time;
and to have, in some measure, given said Circles their
"Idea" (as they were pleased to reckon it) of that
wonderful and questionable King: . -- highly distracted
"Idea;" which, in diluted form, is still the staple
English one.
By the label, Demon Newswriter, it is not meant
that the Author of this poor Paper was an actual Devil,
or infernal Spiritual Essence of miraculous spectral
nature. By no means! Beyond doubt, he is some poor
Frenchman, more or less definable as flesh-and-blood;
gesturing about, visibly, at Berlin in 1752; in cocked
hat and bright shoe-buckles; grinning elaborate saluta-
tions to certain of his fellow-creatures there. Possibly
some hungry Attache of Milord Tyrconnel's Legation;
fatally shut out from the beatitudes of this barbarous
Court, and willing to seek solacement, and turn a dis * "Idee de la Personne, de la Maniere de Viwre, el dc la Cour du Roi de
"Prusse: juin 1752. " In (heRobinson Papers (one Copy) now in the British
Museum.
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? 102 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
honest penny, in the per-contra course? Who he is,
we need not know or care: too evident, he has the sad
quality of transmuting, in his dirty organs, heavenly
Brilliancy, more or less, into infernal Darkness and
Hatefulness; which I reckon to have been, at all times,
the principal function of a Devil; -- function still
carried on extensively, under Firms of another title,
in this world.
Some snatches we will give. For, though it does
not much concern a Man or King, seriously busy, what
the idle outer world may see good to talk of him, his Bio-
graphers, in time subsequent, are called to notice the
matter, as part of his Life-element, and characteristic
of the world he had round him. Friedrich's affairs
were much a wonder to his contemporaries. Especially
his Domesticities, an item naturally obscure to the
outer world, were wonderful; sure to be commented
upon, to all lengths; and by the unintelligent, first of
all. Of contemporary mankind, as we have sometimes
said, nobody was more lied of: -- of which, let this
of the Demon Newswriter be example, one instead of
many. The Demon Newswriter, deriving only from out-
side gossip and eaves-dropping, is wrong very often, --
in fact, he is seldom right, except on points which
have been Officially fixed, and are within reach of an
inquisitive Clerk of Legation. Wrong often enough,
even in regard to external particulars, how much more
as to internal; -- and will need checking, as we go
along.
Demon speaks first of Friedrich's stature, 5 ft. 6 in. (as we
know better than this Demon); "pretty well proportioned,
"not handsome, and even something of awkward (gaucJie),
"acquired by a constrained bearing (head slightly off the
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? CHAP. X. J DEMON NEWSWRITER, OF 1752. 103
June 1752.
perpendicular, acquired by his flute, say the better in-
formed). "Is of the greatest politeness. Fine tone of voice,
"--fine even in swearing, which is as common with him as
"with a grenadier," adds this Demon; not worth attending
to, on such points.
"Has never had a nightcap" (sleeps bareheaded; in his
later times, would sleep in his hat, which was always soft as
duffel, kneaded to softness as its first duty, and did very well):
"Never a nightcap, dressing-gown, or pair of slippers"
(true); "only a kind of cloth cloak" (not quite), "much worn
"and very dirty, for being powdered in. The whole year
"round he goes in the uniform of his First Battalion of
"Guards: -- olue with red facings, button-hole trimmings in
"silver, frogs at the inner end; coat buttons close to the
"shape; waistcoat is plain yellow" (straw-colour); "hat
"(three-cornered) has edging of Spanish lace, white plume"
(horizontal, resting on the lace all round): "boots on his legs
"all his life. He cannot walk with shoes " (pooh, you--! ).
"He rises daily at five:" -- No, he doesn't at all! In fact,
we had better clap the lid on this Demon, ill-informed as to
all these points; and, on such suggestion, give the real ac-
count of them, distilled from Preuss, and the abundant
authentic sources.
Preuss says (if readers could but remember him): "An
"Almanac lies on the King's Table, marking for each day,
"what specific duties the day will bring. From five to six
"hours of sleep: in summer he rises about three, seldom after
"four; in winter perhaps an hour later. In his older time,
"seven hours sleep came to be the stipulated quantity; and
"he would sleep occasionally eight hours or even nine, in
"certain medical predicaments. Not so in his younger years:
"4a. m. and 5, the set hours then. Summer and winter, fire
"is lighted for him a quarter of an hour before. King rises;
"gets into his clothes: 'stockings, breeches, boots, he did
"sitting on the bed' (for one loves to be particular); the rest
"in front of the fire, in standing posture. Washing followed;
"more compendious than his Father's used to be.
"Letters specifically to his address, a courier (leaving
"Berlin, 9 p. m. ) had brought him, in the dead of night: these
"on the instant of the King's calling, 'Here! ' a valet in the
"antechamber brought in to him, to be read while his hair
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? 104 THE TEN YEARS Off PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
"was being done. His uniform the King did not at once put
"on; but got into a Casaquin" (loose article of the dressing-
gown kind, only shorter than ours) "of rich stuff, sometimes
"of velvet with precious silver embroideries. These Casa-
"quins were commonly sky-blue (which colour he liked), pre-
"sents from his Sisters and Nieces. Letters being glanced
"over, and hair-club done, the Lifeguard General-Adjutant
"hands-in the Potsdam Report (all strangers that have
"entered Potsdam or left it, the principal item): this, with a
"Berlin Report, which had come with the Letters; and what
"of Army-Reports had arrived (Adjutant-General delivering
"these), -- were now glanced over. And so, by five o'clock
"in the summer morning, by six in the winter, one sees, in the
"gross, what one's Day's-work is to be; the miscellaneous
"stones of it are now mostly here, only mortar and walling of
"them to be thought of. General-Adjutant and his affairs
"are first settled: on each thing, a word or two, which the
"General-Adjutant (always a highly confidential Officer,
"a Hacke, a Winterfeld, or the like) pointedly takes down.
"General-Adjutant gone, theKing, in sky-blue casaquin"
(often in very faded condition) "steps into his writing-room;
"walks about, reading his Letters more completely; drink-
"ing, first, several glasses of water; then coffee, perhaps
"three cups with or without milk" (likes coffee, and very
strong). "After coffee he takes his flute; steps about practis-
"ing, fantasying: he has been heard to say, speaking of
"music and its effects on the soul, That during this fantasying
"he would get to considering all manner of things, with no
"thought of what he was playing; and that sometimes even
"the luckiest ideas about business matters have occurred to
"him while dandling with the flute. Sauntering so, he is gra-
dually breakfasting withal: will eat, intermittently, small
"chocolate cakes; and after his coffee, cherries, figs, grapes,
"fruits in their season" (very fond of fruit, and has elaborate
hot-houses). "So passes the early morning. "
"Between nine and ten, most of one's plan-workbeing got
"through, the questions of the day are settled, or laid hold of
"for settling. Between nine and ten, King takes to reading
"the 'Excerpts' (I suppose, of the more intricate or lengthier
"things) of Yesterday, which his three Cabinet Raths " (Clerk
Eicheland the other Two) "have prepared for him. King
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? CHAP. X. J DEMON NEWSWRITBR, OF 1752. 105
June 1752.
"summons these Three, one after the other, according to
"their Department; hands them the Letters just read, the
"Excerpts now decided on, and signifies, in a minimum of
"words, what the answers are to be, -- Clerk, always in full
"dress, listening with both his ears, and pencil in hand. May
"have, of Answers, Cabinet-Orders so-called, perhaps a dozen,
"to be ready with before evening. *
"Eichel and Company dismissed, King flings off his casa-
"quin, takes his regimental coat; has his hair touched off
"withlpomade, with powder; and is buttoned and ready in
"about five minutes; -- ready for Parade, which is at the
"stroke of eleven, instead of later, as it used to be in Papa's
"time. If eleven is not yet come, he will get on horseback;
"go sweeping about, oftenest with errands still, at all events
"in the free solitude of air, till Parade-time do come. The
"Parole" (Sentry's-toord of the Day) "he has already given
"his Adjutant-General. Parole, which only the Adjutant
"andCommandant had known till now, is formally given out;
"and the troops go through their exercises, manoeuvres,
"under a strictness of criticism which never abates. " "Parade
"he, by no chance, ever misses," says our Demon friend.
"At the stroke of twelve," continues Preuss, "dinneris
"served. Dinner threefold; that is, a second table and a
"third. Only two courses, dishes only eight, even at the
"King's Table (eight also at the Marshal's or second Table);
"guests from seven to ten. Dinner plentiful and savoury
"(for the King had his favourites among edibles), by no means
"caring to be splendid, -- yearly expense of threefold Dinner
"(done accurately by contract) was 1,8001. " Linsenbarth,
we saw, at the Third Table, and how he fared. "The
"dinner-service was of beautiful porcelain; not silver, still
"less gold, except on the grandest occasions. Every guest
"eats at discretion,' -- of course! -- "and drinks at discre-
tion. Moselle, orPontac" (kind of claret); "Champagne
"and Hungary are handed round on the King's signal. King
"himself drinks Bergerac, or other clarets, with water.
"Dinner lasts till two; -- if the conversation be seductive, it
* "In a certain Copy or Final-Register Book" (HerrPreuss's Windfall,
of which, infra), "entitled Kabinetsurderhopialbuch, of One of the three
"Clerks, years 1746-1752, there are, on the average, ten Cabinet-Orders
"daily, Sundays included" (Preuss, i. 352n. ).
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? lO& THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book xvr.
June 1752.
"has been known to stretch to four. The King's great passion
"is for talk of the right kind; he himself talks a great deal,
"tippling wine and water to the end, and keeps on a level
"with the rising tide.
"With a bow from Majesty, dinner ends; guests gently,
"with a little saunter of talk to some of them, afl vanish; and
"the King is in his own Apartment again. Generally flute- "playing for about half an hour; till Eichel and the others
"come with their day's work: tray-loads of Cabinet-Orders,
"I can fancy; which are to be 'executed,' that is, to be
"glanced through, and signed. Signature for most part is
"all; but there are Marginalia and Postscripts, too, in great
"number, often of a spicy biting character; which, in our
"time, are in request among the curious. " Herr Preuss, who
has right to speak, declares that the spice of mockery has
been exaggerated; and that serious sense is always the aim
both of Document and of Signer. Preuss had a windfall;
12,000 of these Pieces, or more, in a lump, in the way of gift;
which fell on him like manna, -- and led, it is said, to those
Friedrich studies, extensive faithful quarryings in that vast
wilderness of sliding shingle and chaotic boulders.
"Coffee follows this despatch of Eichel and Consorts; the
"day now one's own. " Scandalous rumours, prose and verse,
connect themselves with this particular epoch of the day;
which appear to be wholly lies. Of which presently. "In this
"after-dinner period fall the literary labours," says Preuss:
-- a facile pen, this King's; only two hours of an afternoon
allowed it, instead of all day and the top of the morning.
"About six, or earlier even, came the Reader" (La Mettrie or
another), "came artists, came learned talk. At seven is
"Concert, which lasts for an hour; half-past eight is
"Supper. "*
Demon Newswriter says, of the Concert: "It is mostly of
"wind-instruments," King himself often taking part with
hisflute; "performers theDest in Europe. He has three" --
what shall we call them? of male gender, -- "a counter-alt,
"and Mamsell Astrua, an Italian; they are unique voices.
"He cannot bear mediocrity. It is but seldom he has any
"singing here. To be admitted, needs the most intimate
* Preuss, i. 344-347 (and with intermittent'ies , pp. 356, 361, 363, &c. to
376): abridged.
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? CBAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWRITEK, OP 1752. 107
June 1752.
"favour; now and then some young Lord, of distinction, if
"he meet with such. " Concert, very well j -- but let us now,
suppressing any little abhorrences, hear him on another sub-
ject:
"Dinner lasts one hour" (says our Demon, no better in-
formed): "upon which the King returns to his Apartment
"with bows. It pretty often happens that he takes with him
"one of his young fellows. These are all handsome, like a
"picture (faits a peindre), and of the beautifullest face," --
adds he, still worse informed; poisonous malice mixing itself,
this time, with the human darkness, and reducing it to
diabolic. ThisDemon's Paper abounds with similar allusions;
as do the more desperate sort of Voltaire utterances, -- Vie
Prive'e treating it as known fact; Letters to Denis in oc-
casional paroxysms, as rumour of detestable nature, probably
true of one who is so detestable, at least so formidable, to a
guilty sinner his Guest. Others, not to be called diabolical,
as Herr Dr. Biisching, for example, speak of it as a thing
credible; as good as known to the well-informed. And,
beyond the least question, there did a thrice-abominable
rumour of that kind run, whispering audibly, over all the
world; and gain belief from those who had appetite. A most
melancholy business. Solacing to human envy:-- explaining
also, to the dark human intellect, why this King had com-
monly no Women at his Court. A most melancholy portion
of my raw-material, this; concerning which, since one must
speak of it, here is what little I have to say:
1? . That proof of the negative, in this or in any such case,
is by the nature of it impossible. That it is indisputable
Friedrich did not now live with his Wife, nor seem to concern
himself with the empire of women at all; having, except now
and then his Sisters and some Foreign Princess on short visit,
no women in his Court; and though a great judge of Female
merits, graces and accomplishments, seems to worship women
in that remote way alone, and not in any nearer. Which
occasioned great astonishment in a world used so much to the
contrary. And gave rise to many conjectures among the idle
of mankind, "What, on Earth, or under Earth, can be the
meaning of it? " -- and among others, to the above scan-
dalous rumour, as some solacement to human malice and im-
pertinent curiosity.
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? 108 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
20. That an opposite rumour, -- which would indeed
have been pretty fatal to this one, but perhaps still more dis-
graceful in the eyes of a Demon Newswriter, -- was equally
current; and was much elaborated by the curious imperti-
nent. Till Nicolai got hold of it, in Herr Dr. Zimmermann's
responsible hands; and conclusively knocked it on the head. *
3? . That, for me, proof in the affirmative, or probable
indication that way, has not anywhere turned up. Nowhere
for me, in these extensive minings and siftings. Not the
least of probable indication; but contrariwise, here and
there, rather definite indications pointing directly the op-
posite way. ** Friedrich, in his own utterances and oc-
casional rhymes, is abundantly cynical; now and then rises
to a kind of epic cynicism, on this very matter. But at no
time can the painful critic call it cynicism as of other than an
observer; always a kind of vinegar cleanness in it, except in
theory. Cynicism of an impartialobserver in a dirty element;
observer epically sensible (when provoked to it) of the brutal
contemptibilities which lie in Human Life, alongside of its
big struttings and pretensions. In Friedrich's utterances
there is that kind of cynicism undeniable; -- and yet he had
a modesty almost female in regard to his own person; "no
servant having ever seen him in an exposed state. *'*** Which
had considerably strengthened rumour No. 2. O ye poor im-
pious Long-eared, -- Long-eared I will call you, instead of
Two-horned and with only One hoof cloven! Among the
tragical platitudes of Human Nature, nothing so fills a con-
sidering brother mortal with sorrow and despair, as this
innate tendency of the common crowd in regard to its Great
Men, whensoever, or almost whensoever, the Heavens do,
at long intervals, vouchsafe us, as their all-including blessing,
anything of such! Practical "Blasphemy," -- is it not, if you
reflect? Strangely possible that sin, even now. And ought
to be religiously abhorred by every soul that has the least
piety or nobleness. Act not the mutinous flunkey, my friend;
though there be great wages going in that line.
4". That in these circumstances, and taking into view
the otherwise known qualities of this high Fellow-Creature,
* See Zimmermann's Fragmente, and Nicolai patiently pounding it to
powder (whoever is curious on this disgusting subject).
** For example {"Correspondence with Fredersdorf"), (Euvres, xxvn.
in. 145. *** Preuss, i. 876.
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? CHAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWRITEK, OP 1752. 109
June 1752.
the present Editor does not, for his own share, value the
rumour at a pin's fee. And leaves it, and recommends his
readers to leave it, hanging by its own head, in the sad sub-
terranean regions, -- till (probably not for a long while yet)
it drop to a far Deeper and dolefuller Region, out of our way
altogether.
"Lamentable, yes," comments Diogenes; "and especially
"so, that the idle public has a hankering for such things!
"But are there no obscene details at all, then? grumbles the
"disappointed idle public to itself, something of reproach in
"its tone. A public idle-minded; much depraved in every
"way. Thus, too, you will observe of dogs: two dogs, at
"meeting, run, first of all, to the shameful parts of the con-
stitution; institute a strict examination, more or less satis-
"factory, in that department. That once settled, their in-
"terest in ulterior matters seems pretty much to die away,
"and they are ready to part again, as from a problem done. "
-- Enough, oh, enough!
Practically we are getting no good of our Demon;
-- and will dismiss him, after a taste or two more.
This Demon Newswriter has, evidently, never been to
Potsdam; which he figures as the abode of horrid cruelty, a
kind of Tartarus on Earth; -- where there is a dreadful
scarcity of women, for one item; lamentable to one's moral
feelings. Scarcity nothing like so great, even among the
soldier-classes, as the Demon Newswriter imagines to him-
self; nor productive of the results lamented. Prussian sol-
diers are not encouraged to marry, if it will hurt the service;
nor do their wives march with the Regiment except in such
proportions as there may be sewing, washing, and the like
women's work fairly wanted in their respective Companies:
the Potsdam First Battalion, I understand, is hardly per-
mitted to marry at all. And in regard to lamentable results,
that of "Liebsten-Scheine, Sweetheart-7Ycfcete," -- or actual
military legalising of Temporary Marriages, with regular
privileges attached, and fixed rules to be observed, -- might
perhaps be the notablest point, and the smi-lamentablest, to
a man or demon in the habit of lamenting. * For the rest, a
* Preuse, i. 426.
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? 110 THE TEN YEAKS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
considerably dreadful place this Potsdam, to the flaccid,
esurient and disorderly of mankind; -- "and strict as Fate"
(Demon correct for once) "in inexorably punishing military
sins.
"This King," he says, "has a great deal of esprit; much
"less of real Knowledge (connaissances) than is pretended.
"He excels only in the military part; really excellent there.
"Has a facile expeditious pen and head; understands what
"you say to him, at the first word. Not taking nor wishing
"advice; never suffering replies or remonstrances, not even
"from his Mother. Pretty well acquainted with Works of
"Esprit, whether in Prose or in Verse: burning" (very hot
indeed) "to distinguish himself by performance of that kind;
"but unable to reach the Beautiful, unless held up by some-
"body (e'laye). It is said that, in a splenetic moment, his
"Skeleton of an Apollo" (squeletted'Apollon, M. de Voltaire,
who is lean exceedingly) "exclaimed once, some time ago,
"'When is it, then, that he will have done sending me nis
"'dirty linen to wash? '
"The King is of a sharp mocking tongue withal; pricking
"into whoever displeases him; often careless of policy in
"that. Understands nothing of Finance, or still less of
"Trade; always looking direct towards more money, which
"he loves much; incapable of sowing" (as some of us do! )
"for a distant harvest. Treats almost all the world as slaves.
"All his subjects are held in hard shackles. Rigorous for
"the least shortcoming, where his interest is hurt: --never
"pardons any fault which tends to inexactitude in theMili-
"tary Service. Spandau very full," -- though 1 did not
myself count. "Keeps in his pay nobody but those useful
"to him, and capable of doing employments well" (true,
always); "and the instant he has no more need of them, dis-
"missing them with nothing" (false, generally). "The Sub-
sidies imposed on his subjects are heavy; in constant pro-
"portion to their Feudal Properties, and their Leases of
"Domains (Contrats et Baux); and, what is dreadful, are
"exacted with the same rigour if your Property gets into
"debt," -- no remission by the iron grip of this King in the
name of the State! Sell, if you can find a Purchaser; or get
confiscated altogether; that is your only remedy. Surely a
tyrant of a King.
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? CHAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWRITER, Or 1752. Ill
June 1752.
"People who get nearest him will tell you that his Polite-
"ness is not natural, but a remnant of old habit, when he
"had need of everybody, against the persecutions of his
"Father. He respects his Mother; the only Female for
"whom he has a sort of attention. He esteems his Wife, and
"cannot endure her; has been married nineteen years, and
"has not yet addressed one word to her" (howtrue! ). "It was
"but a few days ago she handed him a Letter, petitioning
"some things of which she had the most pressing want. He
"took the Letter, with that smiling, polite and gracious air
"which he assumes at pleasure; and without breaking the
"seal, tore the Letter up before her face, made her a pro-
found bow, and turned his back on her. " Was there ever
such a Pluto varnished into Literary Rosepink? Very proper
Majesty for the Tartarus that here is.
* * "The Queen-Mother," continues our Small Devil,
"is a good fat woman, who lives and moves in her own way
"(rondement). She has 16,000J. a year for keeping up her
"House. It is said she hoards. Four days in the week she
"has Apartment" (Royal Soiree); "to which you cannot go
"without express invitation. There is supper-table of
"twenty-four covers; only eight dishes, served in a shabby
"manner (indecemment) by six little scoundrels of Pages.
"Men and women of the Country" (shivering Natives,
cheering their dull abode) "go and eat there. Steward Royal
"sends the invitations. At eleven, everybody has withdrawn.
"Other days, this Queen eats by herself. Stewardess Royal
"and three Maids of Honour have their separate table; two
"dishes the whole. She is shabbily lodged (in my opinion),
"when at the Palace. Her Monbijou, which is close to
"Berlin" (now well within it), "would be pretty enough, for
"a private person.
"The Queen Regnant is the best woman in the world. All
"the year" (not quite) "she dines alone. Has Apartment on
"Thursdays; everybody gone at nine o'clock. Her morsels
"are cut for her, her steps are counted, and her words are
"dictated; she is miserable, and does what she can to hide
"it"-- according to our Small Devil. "She has scarcely
"the necessaries of life allowed her," -- spends regularly
two-thirds of her income in charitable objects; translates
French-Calvinist Devotional Works, for benefit of the
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? 112 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [bookxVT.
June 1752.
German mind; and complains to no Small Devil, of never
so sympathising nature. "At Court she is lodged on the
"second floor" (scandalous). "Schonhausen her Country
"House, with the exception of the Garden which is pretty
"enough, -- our Shopkeepers of the Rue St. Honore* would
"sniff at such a lodging.
"Princess Amelia is rather amiable" (thank you for
nothing, Small Devil); "often out of temper because -- this
"is so shocking a place for Ladies, especially for maiden
"Ladies. Lives with her Mother; special income very small;
"--Coadjutress of Quedlinburg; will be actual Abbess," in
a year or two. *
"Eldest Prince, Heir Apparent," -- do not speak of him,
Small Devil, for you are misinformed in every feature and
particular: -- enough, "he is facsimile of his Brother. He
"has only 18,0001, a-year, for self, Wife, Household, and
"Children" (two, bothBovs); "--and is said" (falsely) "to
"hoard, and to follow Trade, extensive Trade with his
'' Brother's Woods.
"Prince Henri, who is just going to be married," --
thank you, Demon, for reminding us of that. Bride is
Wilhelmina, Princess of Hessen-Cassel. Marriage, 25th June
1752; -- did not prove, in the end, very happy. A small
contemporary event; which would concern Voltaire and
others that concern us. Three months ago, April 14th, 1752,
the BerlinPowder-Magazine flew aloft with horrible crash;*
-- and would be audible to Voltaire, in this his Second Act.
Events, audible or not, never cease.
"Prince Henri," in Demon's opinion, "is the amiablest
"of the House. He is polite, generous, and loves good com-
"pany. Has 12,000/. a-year left him by Papa. " Not enough,
as it proved. "If, on this Marriage, his Brother, who
"detests him" (witness Reinsberg and other evidences, now
and onward), "gives him nothing, he won't be well off. They
"are furnishing a House for him, where he will lodge after
"wedding. Is reported to be -- Potzdamiste" (says the scan-
dalous Small Devil, whom we are weary of contradicting), --
Potsdamite, in certain respects. "Poor Princess, what a
"destiny for you!
* llth April 1756: Preuss, xxvn. p. xxxrv. (of Preface).
** In Helden-Geschichte (m. 531) the details.
in late years," answered Sulzer. -- "In late years:
why? " "Well, your Majesty, in former time, the
notion being that mankind were naturally inclined to
evil, a system of severity prevailed in schools: but
now, when we recognise that the inborn inclination of
men is rather to good than to evil, schoolmasters have
adopted a more generous procedure. " "Inclination
rather to good? " said Friedrich, shaking his old head,
* AUgemeine Theorie der Schonen Kinslc, 3 voll. ; &c. &o.
7*
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? 100 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
with a sad smile: "Alas, dear Sulzer, Ach, mein lieber
"Sulzer, I see you don't know that damned race of
"creatures (Er kennt nicht diese verdammte Race) as I
"do! "* Here is a speech for you! "Pardon the King,
"who was himself so beneficent and excellent a King! "
cry several Editors of the rosepink type. This present
Editor, for his share, will at once forgive; but how can
he ever forget! --
"Perhaps I mistake," owns Voltaire, in his Pas-
quinade of a Vie Prive'e, "but it seems to me, at these
"Suppers there was a great deal of esprit (real wit and
"brilliancy) going. The King had it, and made others
"have; and, what is extraordinary, I never felt myself
"so free at any table. " "Conversation most pleasant,"
testifies another, "most instructive, animated; not to be
"matched, I should guess, elsewhere in the world. "**
Very sprightly indeed: and a fund of good sense, a
basis of practicality and fact, necessary to be in it
withal; though otherwise it can foam over (if some
La Mettrie be there, and a good deal of wine in him)
to very great heights.
A Demon Newswriter gives an "Idea" of Friedrich; in-
telligible to the Knowing Classes in England and else-
where.
Practically I can add only, That these Suppers of
the gods begin commonly at half-past eight ("Concert
* Nicolai, in. 274; --the thing appears to have been said in French
(' Je vois bien, mon cher Sulzer, que vous ne connaissez pas, comme mot, cette
'race maudite a laquelle nous appartenons'); but the German form is irre-
sistibly attractive, and is now heard proverbially from time to time in cer-
tain mouths. ** Bielfeld, Letters; Voltaire, Vie Privee.
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? CHAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWKITER, OP 1752. 101
June 1752.
just over"); and last till towards midnight,-- not later
conveniently, as the King must be up at five (in Summer
time at four), and "needs between five and six hours
of sleep. " Or would the reader care to consult a Piece
expressly treating on all these points ', kind of Manuscript
Newspaper, fallen into my hands, which seems to have
had a widish circulation in its day. * I have met with
Two Copies of it, in this Country: one of them, to
appearance, once the property of George Selwyn. The
other is among the Robinson Papers: doubtless very
luculent to Robinson, who is now home in England,
but remembers many a thing. Judging from various
symptoms, I could guess this Ms. to have been much
about, in the English Aristocratic Circles of that time;
and to have, in some measure, given said Circles their
"Idea" (as they were pleased to reckon it) of that
wonderful and questionable King: . -- highly distracted
"Idea;" which, in diluted form, is still the staple
English one.
By the label, Demon Newswriter, it is not meant
that the Author of this poor Paper was an actual Devil,
or infernal Spiritual Essence of miraculous spectral
nature. By no means! Beyond doubt, he is some poor
Frenchman, more or less definable as flesh-and-blood;
gesturing about, visibly, at Berlin in 1752; in cocked
hat and bright shoe-buckles; grinning elaborate saluta-
tions to certain of his fellow-creatures there. Possibly
some hungry Attache of Milord Tyrconnel's Legation;
fatally shut out from the beatitudes of this barbarous
Court, and willing to seek solacement, and turn a dis * "Idee de la Personne, de la Maniere de Viwre, el dc la Cour du Roi de
"Prusse: juin 1752. " In (heRobinson Papers (one Copy) now in the British
Museum.
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? 102 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
honest penny, in the per-contra course? Who he is,
we need not know or care: too evident, he has the sad
quality of transmuting, in his dirty organs, heavenly
Brilliancy, more or less, into infernal Darkness and
Hatefulness; which I reckon to have been, at all times,
the principal function of a Devil; -- function still
carried on extensively, under Firms of another title,
in this world.
Some snatches we will give. For, though it does
not much concern a Man or King, seriously busy, what
the idle outer world may see good to talk of him, his Bio-
graphers, in time subsequent, are called to notice the
matter, as part of his Life-element, and characteristic
of the world he had round him. Friedrich's affairs
were much a wonder to his contemporaries. Especially
his Domesticities, an item naturally obscure to the
outer world, were wonderful; sure to be commented
upon, to all lengths; and by the unintelligent, first of
all. Of contemporary mankind, as we have sometimes
said, nobody was more lied of: -- of which, let this
of the Demon Newswriter be example, one instead of
many. The Demon Newswriter, deriving only from out-
side gossip and eaves-dropping, is wrong very often, --
in fact, he is seldom right, except on points which
have been Officially fixed, and are within reach of an
inquisitive Clerk of Legation. Wrong often enough,
even in regard to external particulars, how much more
as to internal; -- and will need checking, as we go
along.
Demon speaks first of Friedrich's stature, 5 ft. 6 in. (as we
know better than this Demon); "pretty well proportioned,
"not handsome, and even something of awkward (gaucJie),
"acquired by a constrained bearing (head slightly off the
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? CHAP. X. J DEMON NEWSWRITER, OF 1752. 103
June 1752.
perpendicular, acquired by his flute, say the better in-
formed). "Is of the greatest politeness. Fine tone of voice,
"--fine even in swearing, which is as common with him as
"with a grenadier," adds this Demon; not worth attending
to, on such points.
"Has never had a nightcap" (sleeps bareheaded; in his
later times, would sleep in his hat, which was always soft as
duffel, kneaded to softness as its first duty, and did very well):
"Never a nightcap, dressing-gown, or pair of slippers"
(true); "only a kind of cloth cloak" (not quite), "much worn
"and very dirty, for being powdered in. The whole year
"round he goes in the uniform of his First Battalion of
"Guards: -- olue with red facings, button-hole trimmings in
"silver, frogs at the inner end; coat buttons close to the
"shape; waistcoat is plain yellow" (straw-colour); "hat
"(three-cornered) has edging of Spanish lace, white plume"
(horizontal, resting on the lace all round): "boots on his legs
"all his life. He cannot walk with shoes " (pooh, you--! ).
"He rises daily at five:" -- No, he doesn't at all! In fact,
we had better clap the lid on this Demon, ill-informed as to
all these points; and, on such suggestion, give the real ac-
count of them, distilled from Preuss, and the abundant
authentic sources.
Preuss says (if readers could but remember him): "An
"Almanac lies on the King's Table, marking for each day,
"what specific duties the day will bring. From five to six
"hours of sleep: in summer he rises about three, seldom after
"four; in winter perhaps an hour later. In his older time,
"seven hours sleep came to be the stipulated quantity; and
"he would sleep occasionally eight hours or even nine, in
"certain medical predicaments. Not so in his younger years:
"4a. m. and 5, the set hours then. Summer and winter, fire
"is lighted for him a quarter of an hour before. King rises;
"gets into his clothes: 'stockings, breeches, boots, he did
"sitting on the bed' (for one loves to be particular); the rest
"in front of the fire, in standing posture. Washing followed;
"more compendious than his Father's used to be.
"Letters specifically to his address, a courier (leaving
"Berlin, 9 p. m. ) had brought him, in the dead of night: these
"on the instant of the King's calling, 'Here! ' a valet in the
"antechamber brought in to him, to be read while his hair
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? 104 THE TEN YEARS Off PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
"was being done. His uniform the King did not at once put
"on; but got into a Casaquin" (loose article of the dressing-
gown kind, only shorter than ours) "of rich stuff, sometimes
"of velvet with precious silver embroideries. These Casa-
"quins were commonly sky-blue (which colour he liked), pre-
"sents from his Sisters and Nieces. Letters being glanced
"over, and hair-club done, the Lifeguard General-Adjutant
"hands-in the Potsdam Report (all strangers that have
"entered Potsdam or left it, the principal item): this, with a
"Berlin Report, which had come with the Letters; and what
"of Army-Reports had arrived (Adjutant-General delivering
"these), -- were now glanced over. And so, by five o'clock
"in the summer morning, by six in the winter, one sees, in the
"gross, what one's Day's-work is to be; the miscellaneous
"stones of it are now mostly here, only mortar and walling of
"them to be thought of. General-Adjutant and his affairs
"are first settled: on each thing, a word or two, which the
"General-Adjutant (always a highly confidential Officer,
"a Hacke, a Winterfeld, or the like) pointedly takes down.
"General-Adjutant gone, theKing, in sky-blue casaquin"
(often in very faded condition) "steps into his writing-room;
"walks about, reading his Letters more completely; drink-
"ing, first, several glasses of water; then coffee, perhaps
"three cups with or without milk" (likes coffee, and very
strong). "After coffee he takes his flute; steps about practis-
"ing, fantasying: he has been heard to say, speaking of
"music and its effects on the soul, That during this fantasying
"he would get to considering all manner of things, with no
"thought of what he was playing; and that sometimes even
"the luckiest ideas about business matters have occurred to
"him while dandling with the flute. Sauntering so, he is gra-
dually breakfasting withal: will eat, intermittently, small
"chocolate cakes; and after his coffee, cherries, figs, grapes,
"fruits in their season" (very fond of fruit, and has elaborate
hot-houses). "So passes the early morning. "
"Between nine and ten, most of one's plan-workbeing got
"through, the questions of the day are settled, or laid hold of
"for settling. Between nine and ten, King takes to reading
"the 'Excerpts' (I suppose, of the more intricate or lengthier
"things) of Yesterday, which his three Cabinet Raths " (Clerk
Eicheland the other Two) "have prepared for him. King
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? CHAP. X. J DEMON NEWSWRITBR, OF 1752. 105
June 1752.
"summons these Three, one after the other, according to
"their Department; hands them the Letters just read, the
"Excerpts now decided on, and signifies, in a minimum of
"words, what the answers are to be, -- Clerk, always in full
"dress, listening with both his ears, and pencil in hand. May
"have, of Answers, Cabinet-Orders so-called, perhaps a dozen,
"to be ready with before evening. *
"Eichel and Company dismissed, King flings off his casa-
"quin, takes his regimental coat; has his hair touched off
"withlpomade, with powder; and is buttoned and ready in
"about five minutes; -- ready for Parade, which is at the
"stroke of eleven, instead of later, as it used to be in Papa's
"time. If eleven is not yet come, he will get on horseback;
"go sweeping about, oftenest with errands still, at all events
"in the free solitude of air, till Parade-time do come. The
"Parole" (Sentry's-toord of the Day) "he has already given
"his Adjutant-General. Parole, which only the Adjutant
"andCommandant had known till now, is formally given out;
"and the troops go through their exercises, manoeuvres,
"under a strictness of criticism which never abates. " "Parade
"he, by no chance, ever misses," says our Demon friend.
"At the stroke of twelve," continues Preuss, "dinneris
"served. Dinner threefold; that is, a second table and a
"third. Only two courses, dishes only eight, even at the
"King's Table (eight also at the Marshal's or second Table);
"guests from seven to ten. Dinner plentiful and savoury
"(for the King had his favourites among edibles), by no means
"caring to be splendid, -- yearly expense of threefold Dinner
"(done accurately by contract) was 1,8001. " Linsenbarth,
we saw, at the Third Table, and how he fared. "The
"dinner-service was of beautiful porcelain; not silver, still
"less gold, except on the grandest occasions. Every guest
"eats at discretion,' -- of course! -- "and drinks at discre-
tion. Moselle, orPontac" (kind of claret); "Champagne
"and Hungary are handed round on the King's signal. King
"himself drinks Bergerac, or other clarets, with water.
"Dinner lasts till two; -- if the conversation be seductive, it
* "In a certain Copy or Final-Register Book" (HerrPreuss's Windfall,
of which, infra), "entitled Kabinetsurderhopialbuch, of One of the three
"Clerks, years 1746-1752, there are, on the average, ten Cabinet-Orders
"daily, Sundays included" (Preuss, i. 352n. ).
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? lO& THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book xvr.
June 1752.
"has been known to stretch to four. The King's great passion
"is for talk of the right kind; he himself talks a great deal,
"tippling wine and water to the end, and keeps on a level
"with the rising tide.
"With a bow from Majesty, dinner ends; guests gently,
"with a little saunter of talk to some of them, afl vanish; and
"the King is in his own Apartment again. Generally flute- "playing for about half an hour; till Eichel and the others
"come with their day's work: tray-loads of Cabinet-Orders,
"I can fancy; which are to be 'executed,' that is, to be
"glanced through, and signed. Signature for most part is
"all; but there are Marginalia and Postscripts, too, in great
"number, often of a spicy biting character; which, in our
"time, are in request among the curious. " Herr Preuss, who
has right to speak, declares that the spice of mockery has
been exaggerated; and that serious sense is always the aim
both of Document and of Signer. Preuss had a windfall;
12,000 of these Pieces, or more, in a lump, in the way of gift;
which fell on him like manna, -- and led, it is said, to those
Friedrich studies, extensive faithful quarryings in that vast
wilderness of sliding shingle and chaotic boulders.
"Coffee follows this despatch of Eichel and Consorts; the
"day now one's own. " Scandalous rumours, prose and verse,
connect themselves with this particular epoch of the day;
which appear to be wholly lies. Of which presently. "In this
"after-dinner period fall the literary labours," says Preuss:
-- a facile pen, this King's; only two hours of an afternoon
allowed it, instead of all day and the top of the morning.
"About six, or earlier even, came the Reader" (La Mettrie or
another), "came artists, came learned talk. At seven is
"Concert, which lasts for an hour; half-past eight is
"Supper. "*
Demon Newswriter says, of the Concert: "It is mostly of
"wind-instruments," King himself often taking part with
hisflute; "performers theDest in Europe. He has three" --
what shall we call them? of male gender, -- "a counter-alt,
"and Mamsell Astrua, an Italian; they are unique voices.
"He cannot bear mediocrity. It is but seldom he has any
"singing here. To be admitted, needs the most intimate
* Preuss, i. 344-347 (and with intermittent'ies , pp. 356, 361, 363, &c. to
376): abridged.
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? CBAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWRITEK, OP 1752. 107
June 1752.
"favour; now and then some young Lord, of distinction, if
"he meet with such. " Concert, very well j -- but let us now,
suppressing any little abhorrences, hear him on another sub-
ject:
"Dinner lasts one hour" (says our Demon, no better in-
formed): "upon which the King returns to his Apartment
"with bows. It pretty often happens that he takes with him
"one of his young fellows. These are all handsome, like a
"picture (faits a peindre), and of the beautifullest face," --
adds he, still worse informed; poisonous malice mixing itself,
this time, with the human darkness, and reducing it to
diabolic. ThisDemon's Paper abounds with similar allusions;
as do the more desperate sort of Voltaire utterances, -- Vie
Prive'e treating it as known fact; Letters to Denis in oc-
casional paroxysms, as rumour of detestable nature, probably
true of one who is so detestable, at least so formidable, to a
guilty sinner his Guest. Others, not to be called diabolical,
as Herr Dr. Biisching, for example, speak of it as a thing
credible; as good as known to the well-informed. And,
beyond the least question, there did a thrice-abominable
rumour of that kind run, whispering audibly, over all the
world; and gain belief from those who had appetite. A most
melancholy business. Solacing to human envy:-- explaining
also, to the dark human intellect, why this King had com-
monly no Women at his Court. A most melancholy portion
of my raw-material, this; concerning which, since one must
speak of it, here is what little I have to say:
1? . That proof of the negative, in this or in any such case,
is by the nature of it impossible. That it is indisputable
Friedrich did not now live with his Wife, nor seem to concern
himself with the empire of women at all; having, except now
and then his Sisters and some Foreign Princess on short visit,
no women in his Court; and though a great judge of Female
merits, graces and accomplishments, seems to worship women
in that remote way alone, and not in any nearer. Which
occasioned great astonishment in a world used so much to the
contrary. And gave rise to many conjectures among the idle
of mankind, "What, on Earth, or under Earth, can be the
meaning of it? " -- and among others, to the above scan-
dalous rumour, as some solacement to human malice and im-
pertinent curiosity.
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? 108 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
20. That an opposite rumour, -- which would indeed
have been pretty fatal to this one, but perhaps still more dis-
graceful in the eyes of a Demon Newswriter, -- was equally
current; and was much elaborated by the curious imperti-
nent. Till Nicolai got hold of it, in Herr Dr. Zimmermann's
responsible hands; and conclusively knocked it on the head. *
3? . That, for me, proof in the affirmative, or probable
indication that way, has not anywhere turned up. Nowhere
for me, in these extensive minings and siftings. Not the
least of probable indication; but contrariwise, here and
there, rather definite indications pointing directly the op-
posite way. ** Friedrich, in his own utterances and oc-
casional rhymes, is abundantly cynical; now and then rises
to a kind of epic cynicism, on this very matter. But at no
time can the painful critic call it cynicism as of other than an
observer; always a kind of vinegar cleanness in it, except in
theory. Cynicism of an impartialobserver in a dirty element;
observer epically sensible (when provoked to it) of the brutal
contemptibilities which lie in Human Life, alongside of its
big struttings and pretensions. In Friedrich's utterances
there is that kind of cynicism undeniable; -- and yet he had
a modesty almost female in regard to his own person; "no
servant having ever seen him in an exposed state. *'*** Which
had considerably strengthened rumour No. 2. O ye poor im-
pious Long-eared, -- Long-eared I will call you, instead of
Two-horned and with only One hoof cloven! Among the
tragical platitudes of Human Nature, nothing so fills a con-
sidering brother mortal with sorrow and despair, as this
innate tendency of the common crowd in regard to its Great
Men, whensoever, or almost whensoever, the Heavens do,
at long intervals, vouchsafe us, as their all-including blessing,
anything of such! Practical "Blasphemy," -- is it not, if you
reflect? Strangely possible that sin, even now. And ought
to be religiously abhorred by every soul that has the least
piety or nobleness. Act not the mutinous flunkey, my friend;
though there be great wages going in that line.
4". That in these circumstances, and taking into view
the otherwise known qualities of this high Fellow-Creature,
* See Zimmermann's Fragmente, and Nicolai patiently pounding it to
powder (whoever is curious on this disgusting subject).
** For example {"Correspondence with Fredersdorf"), (Euvres, xxvn.
in. 145. *** Preuss, i. 876.
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? CHAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWRITEK, OP 1752. 109
June 1752.
the present Editor does not, for his own share, value the
rumour at a pin's fee. And leaves it, and recommends his
readers to leave it, hanging by its own head, in the sad sub-
terranean regions, -- till (probably not for a long while yet)
it drop to a far Deeper and dolefuller Region, out of our way
altogether.
"Lamentable, yes," comments Diogenes; "and especially
"so, that the idle public has a hankering for such things!
"But are there no obscene details at all, then? grumbles the
"disappointed idle public to itself, something of reproach in
"its tone. A public idle-minded; much depraved in every
"way. Thus, too, you will observe of dogs: two dogs, at
"meeting, run, first of all, to the shameful parts of the con-
stitution; institute a strict examination, more or less satis-
"factory, in that department. That once settled, their in-
"terest in ulterior matters seems pretty much to die away,
"and they are ready to part again, as from a problem done. "
-- Enough, oh, enough!
Practically we are getting no good of our Demon;
-- and will dismiss him, after a taste or two more.
This Demon Newswriter has, evidently, never been to
Potsdam; which he figures as the abode of horrid cruelty, a
kind of Tartarus on Earth; -- where there is a dreadful
scarcity of women, for one item; lamentable to one's moral
feelings. Scarcity nothing like so great, even among the
soldier-classes, as the Demon Newswriter imagines to him-
self; nor productive of the results lamented. Prussian sol-
diers are not encouraged to marry, if it will hurt the service;
nor do their wives march with the Regiment except in such
proportions as there may be sewing, washing, and the like
women's work fairly wanted in their respective Companies:
the Potsdam First Battalion, I understand, is hardly per-
mitted to marry at all. And in regard to lamentable results,
that of "Liebsten-Scheine, Sweetheart-7Ycfcete," -- or actual
military legalising of Temporary Marriages, with regular
privileges attached, and fixed rules to be observed, -- might
perhaps be the notablest point, and the smi-lamentablest, to
a man or demon in the habit of lamenting. * For the rest, a
* Preuse, i. 426.
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? 110 THE TEN YEAKS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
June 1752.
considerably dreadful place this Potsdam, to the flaccid,
esurient and disorderly of mankind; -- "and strict as Fate"
(Demon correct for once) "in inexorably punishing military
sins.
"This King," he says, "has a great deal of esprit; much
"less of real Knowledge (connaissances) than is pretended.
"He excels only in the military part; really excellent there.
"Has a facile expeditious pen and head; understands what
"you say to him, at the first word. Not taking nor wishing
"advice; never suffering replies or remonstrances, not even
"from his Mother. Pretty well acquainted with Works of
"Esprit, whether in Prose or in Verse: burning" (very hot
indeed) "to distinguish himself by performance of that kind;
"but unable to reach the Beautiful, unless held up by some-
"body (e'laye). It is said that, in a splenetic moment, his
"Skeleton of an Apollo" (squeletted'Apollon, M. de Voltaire,
who is lean exceedingly) "exclaimed once, some time ago,
"'When is it, then, that he will have done sending me nis
"'dirty linen to wash? '
"The King is of a sharp mocking tongue withal; pricking
"into whoever displeases him; often careless of policy in
"that. Understands nothing of Finance, or still less of
"Trade; always looking direct towards more money, which
"he loves much; incapable of sowing" (as some of us do! )
"for a distant harvest. Treats almost all the world as slaves.
"All his subjects are held in hard shackles. Rigorous for
"the least shortcoming, where his interest is hurt: --never
"pardons any fault which tends to inexactitude in theMili-
"tary Service. Spandau very full," -- though 1 did not
myself count. "Keeps in his pay nobody but those useful
"to him, and capable of doing employments well" (true,
always); "and the instant he has no more need of them, dis-
"missing them with nothing" (false, generally). "The Sub-
sidies imposed on his subjects are heavy; in constant pro-
"portion to their Feudal Properties, and their Leases of
"Domains (Contrats et Baux); and, what is dreadful, are
"exacted with the same rigour if your Property gets into
"debt," -- no remission by the iron grip of this King in the
name of the State! Sell, if you can find a Purchaser; or get
confiscated altogether; that is your only remedy. Surely a
tyrant of a King.
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? CHAP. X. ] DEMON NEWSWRITER, Or 1752. Ill
June 1752.
"People who get nearest him will tell you that his Polite-
"ness is not natural, but a remnant of old habit, when he
"had need of everybody, against the persecutions of his
"Father. He respects his Mother; the only Female for
"whom he has a sort of attention. He esteems his Wife, and
"cannot endure her; has been married nineteen years, and
"has not yet addressed one word to her" (howtrue! ). "It was
"but a few days ago she handed him a Letter, petitioning
"some things of which she had the most pressing want. He
"took the Letter, with that smiling, polite and gracious air
"which he assumes at pleasure; and without breaking the
"seal, tore the Letter up before her face, made her a pro-
found bow, and turned his back on her. " Was there ever
such a Pluto varnished into Literary Rosepink? Very proper
Majesty for the Tartarus that here is.
* * "The Queen-Mother," continues our Small Devil,
"is a good fat woman, who lives and moves in her own way
"(rondement). She has 16,000J. a year for keeping up her
"House. It is said she hoards. Four days in the week she
"has Apartment" (Royal Soiree); "to which you cannot go
"without express invitation. There is supper-table of
"twenty-four covers; only eight dishes, served in a shabby
"manner (indecemment) by six little scoundrels of Pages.
"Men and women of the Country" (shivering Natives,
cheering their dull abode) "go and eat there. Steward Royal
"sends the invitations. At eleven, everybody has withdrawn.
"Other days, this Queen eats by herself. Stewardess Royal
"and three Maids of Honour have their separate table; two
"dishes the whole. She is shabbily lodged (in my opinion),
"when at the Palace. Her Monbijou, which is close to
"Berlin" (now well within it), "would be pretty enough, for
"a private person.
"The Queen Regnant is the best woman in the world. All
"the year" (not quite) "she dines alone. Has Apartment on
"Thursdays; everybody gone at nine o'clock. Her morsels
"are cut for her, her steps are counted, and her words are
"dictated; she is miserable, and does what she can to hide
"it"-- according to our Small Devil. "She has scarcely
"the necessaries of life allowed her," -- spends regularly
two-thirds of her income in charitable objects; translates
French-Calvinist Devotional Works, for benefit of the
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? 112 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [bookxVT.
June 1752.
German mind; and complains to no Small Devil, of never
so sympathising nature. "At Court she is lodged on the
"second floor" (scandalous). "Schonhausen her Country
"House, with the exception of the Garden which is pretty
"enough, -- our Shopkeepers of the Rue St. Honore* would
"sniff at such a lodging.
"Princess Amelia is rather amiable" (thank you for
nothing, Small Devil); "often out of temper because -- this
"is so shocking a place for Ladies, especially for maiden
"Ladies. Lives with her Mother; special income very small;
"--Coadjutress of Quedlinburg; will be actual Abbess," in
a year or two. *
"Eldest Prince, Heir Apparent," -- do not speak of him,
Small Devil, for you are misinformed in every feature and
particular: -- enough, "he is facsimile of his Brother. He
"has only 18,0001, a-year, for self, Wife, Household, and
"Children" (two, bothBovs); "--and is said" (falsely) "to
"hoard, and to follow Trade, extensive Trade with his
'' Brother's Woods.
"Prince Henri, who is just going to be married," --
thank you, Demon, for reminding us of that. Bride is
Wilhelmina, Princess of Hessen-Cassel. Marriage, 25th June
1752; -- did not prove, in the end, very happy. A small
contemporary event; which would concern Voltaire and
others that concern us. Three months ago, April 14th, 1752,
the BerlinPowder-Magazine flew aloft with horrible crash;*
-- and would be audible to Voltaire, in this his Second Act.
Events, audible or not, never cease.
"Prince Henri," in Demon's opinion, "is the amiablest
"of the House. He is polite, generous, and loves good com-
"pany. Has 12,000/. a-year left him by Papa. " Not enough,
as it proved. "If, on this Marriage, his Brother, who
"detests him" (witness Reinsberg and other evidences, now
and onward), "gives him nothing, he won't be well off. They
"are furnishing a House for him, where he will lodge after
"wedding. Is reported to be -- Potzdamiste" (says the scan-
dalous Small Devil, whom we are weary of contradicting), --
Potsdamite, in certain respects. "Poor Princess, what a
"destiny for you!
* llth April 1756: Preuss, xxvn. p. xxxrv. (of Preface).
** In Helden-Geschichte (m. 531) the details.
