And her Pupil, too, we agreeably perceive, was
always grateful for her services in that capacity.
always grateful for her services in that capacity.
Thomas Carlyle
102 Genealogical Diagram: TJie Two Culmbach Lines.
3d Kurftirst (1471-1486),
Albert Achilles.
r
j
Elder Culmbach Line.
Friedrich, second Son of Kurftirst Albert Achilles* younger Brother
of Johannes Cicero, got Culmbach: Anspach first, then Baireuth on the
death of a younger Brother. Born 1460; got Anspach 1486, Baireuth
1495; followed Max in his Venetian Campaign, 1508; fell imbecile 1515;
dies 1536. Had a Polish Wife; from whom camo interests in Hungary
as well as Poland to his children. Friedrich had Three notable Sons,
? A?
1. Casimir, who
got Baireuth (1515):
born 1481; diedl527.
Very truculent in
the Peasants* War.
2. George the Pious, who 3. Albert: born
got Anspach (1515): born 1484; 1490; Hochmeister
died 1543; got Jagerndorf, by of the Tentsch Rit-
purchase, from his Mother's ters, 1511; declares
Hungarian connexion, 1524. himself Protestant,
Protestant declared, 1528; and
makes honourable figure in
the Histories thenceforth. The
George of Kaiser Karl's "JVif-
Kop-ab. " One Son,
and Duke of Prus-
sia, 1525; died 1568.
Albert Alcibia-
des'' a man of great
mark in his day
(1522-1557); never
married. Two Sis-
ther.
George Friedrich : born 1539;
went to administer Preussen
when Cousin became incom-
petent; died 1603. Heir to his
Father in Anspach and J&gern-
ters, with one of dorf; also, to his Cousin Alci-
whom hetookshel- biados in Baireuth' Had been
ter at last; no Bro- left a minor (boy of four, as the
reader sees); Alcibiades his
Guardian for a little while: from
which came great difficulties,
and unjust ruin would have
come, had not Knrftirst Joa-
chim I. been helpful and vigor-
ous In his behalf. George Fried-
rich got at length most of his
Territories into hand: Anspach
and Baireuth unimpaired, Ja>
gerndorf too, except thatRatibor
and Oppeln were much eaten-
into by the Imperial chicaneries
inthatquarter. Died 1603, with-
out children; -- upon which his
Territories all reverted to the
main Brandenburg'line, name-
ly, to Johann George Seventh
Kurfiirst, or his representatives,
according to the GeraBond; and
the "Elder Culmbach Line"
had ended in this manner.
One Son, Albert
Friedrich: born
1553; follows as
? ? Duke 1568, declared
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? Genealogical Diagram: The Two Culmbach Lines, 103
7ih Kurfiirst (1571-1598),
JOHANN GreOBGe.
Younger Culmbach Line.
Kurfiirst Johann George settled Baireuth and Anspach on Two of his
Younger Sons, who are Founders of the "Younger Culmbach Line"
(Split-Line or Pair of Lines). Jagerndorf the new Kurfiirst, Joachim
Friedrich, kept; settled it on one of his younger sons. Here are the
two new Founders in Baireuth and Anspach, and some indication of their
"Lines" so far as important to us at present
.
Baireuth.
(1. ) Christum, secondson of
Kurfiirst JohannGeorge: born
1581; got Baireuth 1603; died
1655. A distinguished Gover-
nor in his sphere. Had two
sons; the elder died before him, but left a son, Christian
Ernst; who (2. ) succeeded,
and (3. ) whose son, George
Wilhelm: 1644,1655,1712; 1678,
1712,1726 (are birth, accession,
end, of these two); the latter
of whom had no son that lived*
Upon which, the posterity
of Christian's second son suc-
ceeded. Second son of Chris-
tian notable to us*In two little
ways:
First, That he, George Al-
bert, Margraf of Culmbach, is
the inscrutable "Marquis de
Lulenb&ch** of Bromley's Let-
ters(V\deVo\. l. p. 264, letthe
Commentators take comfort! ):
Second and better, That from
him came our little Wilhclmi-
,ia'a Husband, --as will be af-
terwards explained. Itwashis
grandson (4. ) that succeeded
in Baireuth, George Friedrich
Karl (1688,1726,1735); Father
of Wilhelmina'sHusband. Af-
ter whom (5. ) his Son Friedrich
(1711,1735,1763),Wilhelmina'. i
Husband; who leaving (1763)
nothing but a daughter, Bai-
reuth fell to Anspach, 1769,
after an old Uncle (6. ), child-
less, had also died.
Six Baireuth Margraves of
this Line; five generations:
and then to Anspach, in 1769.
Anspach.
(1. ) Joachim Ernst, third son ofKur-
fiirst Johann George: born 1583, got
Anspach 1603; died 1625. Had military tendencies, experiences; did not thrive
as Captain of the Evangelical Union (1619-
1620) when Winter-King came up and Thirty-Years War along with him. Left
two sons; elder of whom, (2. ) Friedrich,
nominally Sovereign, age still only eigh-
teen, fell in the Battle of NSrdlingen
(worst battle of the Thirty-Years War,
1734); and the younger of whom, (3. ) Al-
bert, succeeded (1620, 1634, 1667); and his
son, (4. ) Johann Friedrich (1654, 1667,
1686): and (5, 6, 7. ) no fewer than three
grandsons, -- children mostly, though
entitled "sovereign," --in a parallel way
? ? (ChristianAlbert, 1675,1686,1692; George
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? BOOK IV.
FRIEDRlCH'S APPRENTICESHIP, FIRST STAGE.
1713-1723.
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? 1713.
CHAPTER I.
childhood: double educational element.
Op Friedrich's childhood, there is not, after all our
reading, much that it would interest the English public
to hear tell of. Perhaps not much of knowable that
deserves anywhere to be known. Books on it, ex-
pressly handling it, and Books on Friedrich Wilhelm's
Court and History, of which it is always a main ele-
ment, are not wanting: but they are mainly of the sad
sort which, with pain and difficulty, teach us nothing.
Books done by pedants and tenebrific persons, under
the name of men; dwelling not on things, but, at end-
less length, on the outer husks of things: of unparalleled
confusion, too; -- not so much as an Index granted you;
to the poor half-peck of cinders, hidden in these wagon-
loads of ashes, no sieve allowed! Books tending really
to fill the mind with mere dust-whirlwinds, -- if the
mind did not straightway blow them out again; which
it does. Of these let us say nothing. Seldom had so
curious a Phenomenon worse treatment from the Dryas-
dust species.
Among these Books, touching on Friedrich's child-
hood, and treating of his Father's Court, there is hardly
above one that we can characterise as fairly human:
the Book written by his little Sister Wilhelmina, when
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? 108 priedrich's apprenticeship, feecst stage, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
she grew to size and knowledge of good and evil;* --
and this, of what flighty uncertain nature it is, the
world partly knows. A human Book, however, not a
pedant one: there is a most shrill female soul busy
with intense earnestness here; looking, and teaching
us to look. We find it a veracious Book, done with
heart, and from eyesight and insight; -- of a veracity
deeper than the superficial sort. It is full of mistakes,
indeed; and exaggerates dreadfully, in its shrill female
way; but is above intending to deceive: deduct the due
subtrahend, -- say perhaps twenty-five per cent, or
in extreme cases as high as seventy-five, -- you will
get some human image of credible actualities from
Wilhelmina. Practically she is our one resource on
this matter. Of the strange King Friedrich Wilhelm
and his strange Court, with such an Heir-Apparent
growing-up in it, there is no real light to be had,
except what Wilhelmina gives, -- or kindles dark
Books of others into giving. For that, too, on long
study, is the result of her, here and there. With so
flickery a wax-taper held over Friedrich's childhood,
-- and the other dirty tallow-dips all going out in
intolerable odour, -- judge if our success can be very
triumphant!
We perceive the little creature has got much from
Nature; not the big arena only, but fine inward gifts,
for he is well-born in more senses than one; -- and
? Mtmoires de Friderique Sophie Wilhelmine de Prusse, Margrave de
Jlareith (Brunswick, Paris et fcondres, 1812), ? toIs. 8vo<
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? CHAP. I. J CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. 109
1713-1723.
that in the breeding of him there are two elements
noticeable, widely diverse: the French and the Ger-
man. This is perhaps the chief peculiarity; best worth
laying-hold of, with the due comprehension, if our
means allow.
First educational Element, the French one.
His nurses, governesses, simultaneous and succes-
sive, mostly of French breed, are duly set down in the
Prussian Books, and held in mind as a point of duty
by Prussian men; but, in foreign parts, cannot be con-
sidered otherwise than as a group, and merely with
generic features. He had a Frau von Kamecke for
Head Governess, -- the lady whom Wilhelmina, in
her famed Memoir eg, always writes Kamken; and of
whom, except the floating gossip found in that Book,
there is nothing to be remembered. Under her, as
practical superintendent, Sous-gouvernante and quasi-
mother, was the Dame de Roucoulles, a more important
person for us here. Dame de Roucoulles, once de Mont-
bail, the same respectable Edict-of-Nantes French lady
who, five-and-twenty years ago, had taken similar
charge of Friedrich Wilhelm; a fact that speaks well
for the character of her performance in that office. She
had done her first edition of a Prussian Prince in a
satisfactory manner; and not without difficult accidents
and singularities, as we have heard: the like of which
were spared her in this her second edition (so we may
call it); a second and, in all manner of ways, an im-
proved one. The young Fritz swallowed no shoebuckles;
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? 110 friedkich's apprenticeship. FIRST STAGE, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
did not leap out of window, hanging-on by the hands;
nor achieve anything of turbulent, or otherwise memo-
rable, in his infantine history; the course of which was
in general smooth, and runs, happily for it, below the
ken of rumour. The Boy, it is said, and is easily
credible, was of extraordinary vivacity; quick in ap-
prehending all things, and gracefully relating himself
to them. One of the prettiest vividest little boys; with
eyes, with mind and ways, of uncommon brilliancy; --
only he takes less to soldiering than the paternal heart
could wish; and appears to find other things in the
world fully as notable as loud drums, and stiff men
drawn-up in rows. Moreover, he is apt to be a little
unhealthy now and then, and requires care from his
nurses, over whom the judicious Eoucoulles has to be
very vigilant.
Of this respectable Madame de Roucoulles I have
read, at least seven times, what the Prussian Books
say of her by way of Biography; but it is always given
in their dull tombstone style; it has moreover next to
no importance; and I, -- alas, I do not yet too well
remember it! She was from Normandy; of gentle blood,
never very rich; Protestant, in the Edict-of-Nantes
time; and had to fly her country, a young widow, with
daughter and mother-in-law hanging on her; the whole
of them almost penniless. However, she was kindly
received at the Court of Berlin, as usual in that sad
case; and got some practical help towards living in her
new country. Queen Sophie Charlotte had liked her
society; and finding her of prudent intelligent turn, and
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? CHAP. I. ] CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. Ill
1713-1723.
with the style of manners suitable, had given her
Friedrich Wilhelm to take charge of. She was at that
time Madame de Montbail; widow, as we said: she
afterwards wedded Roucoulles, a refugee gentleman of
her own Nation, who had gone into the Prussian Army,
as was common for the like of him. She had again
become a widow, Madame de Roucoulles this time,
with her daughter Montbail still about her, when by
the grateful good sense of Friedrich Wilhelm, she was
again intrusted as we see; -- and so had the honour
of governessing Frederick the Great for the first seven
years of his life. Respectable lady, she oversaw his
nurses, pap-boats, -- "beer-soup and bread," he him-
self tells us once, was his main diet in boyhood, --
beer-soups, dress-frocks, first attempts at walking; and
then also his little bits of intellectualities, moralities;
his incipiencies of speech, demeanour, and spiritual de-
velopment; and did her function very honestly, there is
no doubt.
Wilhelmina mentions her, at a subsequent period;
and we have a glimpse of this same Eoucoulles, gli-
ding about among the royal young-folk, "with only one
tooth left" (figuratively speaking), and somewhat given
to tattle, in Princess Wilhelmina's opinion. Grown
very old now, poor lady; and the dreadfullest bore,
when she gets upon Hanover, and her experiences,
and Queen Sophie Charlotte's, in that stupendously
magnificent court under Gentleman Ernst. Shun that
topic, if you love your peace of mind! * -- She did
? MHnoires, (above cited).
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? 112 fbiedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
certainly superintend the Boy Fritzkin for his first
seven years; that is a glory that cannot be taken from
her.
And her Pupil, too, we agreeably perceive, was
always grateful for her services in that capacity. Once
a-week, if he were in Berlin, during his youthful time,
he was sure to appear at the Roucoulles Soiree, and
say and look various pleasant things to his "cher
Maman (dear Mamma)," as he used to call her, and
to the respectable small party she had. Not to speak
of other more substantial services, which also were not
wanting.
Roucoulles and the other female souls, mainly
French, among whom the incipient Fritz now was, ap-
pear to have done their part as well as could be looked
for. Respectable Edict-of-Nantes French ladies, with
high head-gear, wide hoops; a clear, correct, but some-
what barren and meagre species, tight-laced and high-
frizzled in mind and body. It is not a very fertile ele-
ment for a young soul: not very much of silent piety
in it; and perhaps of vocal piety more than enough in
proportion. An element founding on what they call
"enlightened Protestantism," "freedom of thought," and
the like, which is apt to become loquacious, and too
conscious of itself; tending, on the whole, rather to con-
tempt of the false, than to deep or very effective re-
cognition of the true.
But it is, in some important senses, a clear and pure
element withal. At lowest, there are no conscious
semifalsities, or volunteer hypocrisies, taught the poor
Boy: honour, clearness, truth of word at least; a de-
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? CHAP. 1. 1 CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. 113
1713-1723.
corous dignified bearing; various thin good things, are
honestly inculcated and exemplified; nor is any bad,
ungraceful or suspicious thing permitted there, if re-
cognised for such. It might have been a worse ele-
ment; and we must be thankful for it . Friedrich,
through life, carries deep traces of this French-Pro-
testant incipiency: -- a very big wide-branching royal
tree, in the end; but as small and flexible a seedling
once as any one of us!
The good old Dame de Roucoulles just lived to
witness his accession; on which grand juncture and
afterwards, as he had done before, he continued to ex-
press, in graceful and useful ways, his gratitude and
honest affection to her and hers. Tea-services, pre-
sents in cut-glass and other kinds, with Letters that
were still more precious to the old Lady, had come
always at due intervals: and one of his earliest kingly
gifts was that of some suitable small Pension for Mont-
bail, the elderly daughter of this poor old Roucoulles,*
? Preuss: Friedrich der Grosse, eine Lcbensgeschichle (5 vols. Berlin,
1832-1834), v. (Urkundenbuch, p. 4). (Euvres de Fridiric (same Prelum's.
Edition, Berlin, 1846-1850, Ac), xvi. 184, 191. -- The Herr Doctor J. I). E.
Preuss, "Historiographer of Brandenburg," devoted wholly to the study of
Friedrich for five-and-twenty years past, and for above a dozen years
busily engaged in editing the (Euvres de Frederic, -- has, besides that Le~
bensgeschichte just cited, three or four smaller Books, of indistinctly dif-
ferent titles, on the same subject. A meritoriously exact man; acquainted
with the outer details of Friedrich's Biography (had he any way of
arranging, organising or setting them forth) as few men ever were or will
be. We shall mean always this Lebensgeschichle here, when no other title
is given; and (Enures de Fridiric shall signify his Edition, unless the
the contrary be stated.
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. II. 8
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? 114 friedrich's appkenticeship, fikst stage, [bookw,
1713-1723.
. who was just singing her Dimittas, as it were, still in
a blithe and pious manner. For she saw now (in
1740) her little nurseling grown to be a brilliant man
and King; King gone out to the Wars, too, with all
Europe inquiring and wondering what the issue would
be. As for her, she closed her poor old eyes, at this
stage of the business; piously, in foreign parts, far
from her native Normandy; and did not see farther
what the issue was. Good old Dame, I have, as was
observed, read some seven times over what they call
biographical accounts of her; but have seven times (by
Heaven's favour, I do partly believe) mostly forgotten
them again; and would not, without cause, inflict on
any reader the like sorrow. To remember one worthy
thing, how many thousand unworthy things must a man
be able to forget!
From this Edict-of-Nantes environment, which taught
our young Fritz his first lessons of human behaviour,
-- a polite sharp little Boy, we do hope and under-
stand, -- he learned also to clothe his bits of notions,
emotions, and garrulous utterabilities, in the French
dialect. Learned to speak, and likewise, what is more
important, to think, in French; which was otherwise
quite domesticated in the Palace, amd became his se-
cond mother-tongue. Not a bad dialect; yet also none
of the best . Very lean and shallow, if very clear and
convenient; leaving much in poor Fritz unuttered, un-
thought, unpractised, which might otherwise have come
into activity in the course of his life. He learned to
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? CHAP. I. J CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. 115
1713-1723.
read very soon, I presume; but he did not, now or
afterwards, ever learn to spell. He spells indeed dread-
fully ill, at his first appearance on the writing stage, as
we shall see by and by; and he continued, to the last,
one of the bad spellers of his day. A circumstance
which I never can fully account for, and will leave to
the reader's study.
From all manner of sources, -- from inferior vale-
taille, Prussian Officials, Royal Majesty itself when not
in gala, -- he learned, not less rootedly, the corrupt
Prussian dialect of German; and used the same, all his
days, among his soldiers, native officials, common sub-
jects and wherever it was most convenient; speaking
it, and writing and misspelling it, with great freedom,
though always with a certain aversion and undisguised
contempt, which has since brought him blame in some
quarters. It is true, the Prussian form of German is
but rude; and probably Friedrich, except sometimes
in Luther's Bible, never read any German Book. What,
if we will think of it, could he know of his first mother-
tongue? German, to this day, is a frightful dialect
for the stupid, the pedant and dullard sort! Only in
the hands of the gifted does it become supremely
good. It had not yet been the language of any Goethe,
any Lessing; though it stood on the eve of becoming
such. It had already been the language of Luther, of
Ulrich Hutten, Friedrich Barbarossa, Charlemagne and
others. And several extremely important things had
8*
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? 116 friedrich's apprenticeship, FIRST STAGE, [book IT.
J713'1723
been said in it, and some pleasant ones even sung in
it, from an old date, in a very appropriate manner, --
had Crown-Prince Friedrich known all that. But he
could not reasonably be expected to know: -- and the
wiser Germans now forgive him for not knowing, and
are even thankful that he did not.
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? CHAP. II. ]
117
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
1713-1723.
CHAPTEE n.
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
So that, as we said, there are two elements for
young Fritz, and highly diverse ones, from both of
which he is to draw nourishment, and assimilate what
he can. Besides that Edict-of-Nantes French element,
and in continual contact and contrast with it, which
prevails chiefly in the Female quarters of the Palace,
-- there is the native German element for young Fritz,
of which the centre is Papa, now come to be King,
and powerfully manifesting himself as such. An abrupt
peremptory young King; and German to the bone.
Along with whom, companions to him in his social
hours, and fellow-workers in his business, are a set of
very rugged German sons of Nature; differing much
from the French sons of Art. Baron Grumkow, Leo-
pold Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (not yet called the "Old
Dessauer," being under forty yet), General Glasenap,
Colonel Derschau, General Flans; these, and the other
nameless Generals and Officials, are a curious counter-
part to the Camases, the Hautcharmoys and Forcades,
with their nimble tongues and rapiers; still more to the
Beausobres, Achards, full of ecclesiastical logic, made
of Bayle and Calvin kneaded together; and to the
high-frizzled ladies rustling in stiff silk, with the shadow
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? 118 friedrich's apprenticeship, first STAGE. [BOOK Iv.
'1713-1723.
of Versailles and of the Dragonades alike present to
them.
Born Hyperboreans these others; rough as hemp,
and stout of fibre as hemp; native products of the
rigorous North. Of whom, after all our reading, we
know little. -- O Heaven, they have had long lines of
rugged ancestors, cast in the same rude stalwart mould,
and leading their rough life there, of whom we know
absolutely nothing! Dumb all those preceding busy
generations; and this of Friedrich Wilhelm is grown
almost dumb. Grim semi-articulate Prussian men; gone
all to pipeclay and moustache for us. Strange blond-
complexioned, not unbeautiful Prussian honourable
women, in hoops, brocades, and unintelligible head-gear
and hair-towers, -- ach Gott, they too are gone; and
their musical talk, in the French or German language,
that also is gone; and the hollow Eternities have swal-
lowed it, as their wont is, in a very surprising man-
ner! --
Grumkow, a cunning, greedy-hearted, long-headed
fellow, of the old Pomeranian Nobility by birth, has a
kind of superficial polish put upon his Hyperborea-
nisms: he has been in foreign countries, doing lega-
tions, diplomacies, for which, at least for the vulpine
parts of which, he has a turn. He writes and speaks
articulate grammatical French; but neither in that, nor
in native Pommerish Platt-Deutsch, does he show us
much, except the depths of his own greed, of his own
astucities and stealthy audacities. Of which we shall
hear more than enough by and by.
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? CHAP, n. l
119
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
1713-1723.
Of the Dessauer, not yet "Old. "
As to the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, rugged man,
whose very face is the colour of gunpowder, he also
knows French, and can even write in it, if he like, --
having duly had a Tutor of that nation, and strange
adventures with him on the grand tour and elsewhere;
-- but does not much practise writing, when it can be
helped. His children, I have heard, he expressly did
not teach to read or write, seeing no benefit in that
effeminate art, but left them to pick it up as they could.
His Princess, all rightly ennobled now, -- whom he
would not but marry, though sent on the grand tour to
avoid it, -- was the daughter of one Fos an Apothe-
cary at Dessau; and is still a beautiful and prudent
kind of woman, who seems to suit him well enough,
no worse than if she had been born a Princess. Much
talk has been of her, in princely and other circles; nor
is his marriage the only strange thing Leopold has
done. He is a man to keep the world's tongue wag-
ging, not too musically always; though himself of very
unvocal nature. Perhaps the biggest mass of inarti-
culate human vitality, certainly one of the biggest, then
going about in the world. A man of vast dumb faculty;
dumb, but fertile, deep; no end of ingenuities in the
rough head of him: -- as much mother-wit there,
I often guess, as could be found in whole talking par-
liaments, spouting themselves away in vocables and
eloquent wind!
A man of dreadful impetuosity withal. Set upon
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? 120 fkiedrich's apprenticeship, fikst stage, [book IT.
1713-1723.
Ms will as the one law of Nature; storming forward
with incontrollable violence: a very whirlwind of a man.
He was left a minor; his Mother guardian. Nothing
could prevent him from marrying this Fos the Apothe-
cary's Daughter; no tears nor contrivances of his
Mother, whom he much loved, and who took skilful
measures. Fourteen months of travel in Italy; grand
tour, with eligible French Tutor, -- whom he once
drew sword upon, getting some rebuke from him one
night in Venice, and would have killed, had not the
man been nimble, at once dextrous and sublime: -- it
availed not. The first thing he did on reentering Des-
sau, with his Tutor, was to call at Apothecary Fos's,
and see the charming Mamsell; to go and see his
Mother, was the second thing. Not even his grand pas-
sion for war could eradicate Fos: he went to Dutch Wil-
liam's wars; the wise Mother still counselling, who was
own Aunt to Dutch William, and liked the scheme. He
besieged Namur; fought and besieged up and down, --
with insatiable appetite for fighting and sieging; with
great honour, too, and ambitions awakening in him; --
campaign after campaign: but along with the flamy-
thundery ideal bride, figuratively called Bellona, there
was always a soft real one, Mamsell Fos of Dessau, to
whom he continued constant . The Government of his
Dominions he left cheerfully to his Mother, even when
he came of age: "I am for learning War, as the one
right trade; do with all things as you please, Mamma,
-- only not with Mamsell, not with her! " --
Headers may figure this scene too, and shudder
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? CHAP, n. ] THE GERMAN ELEMENT. 121
1713-1723.
over it. Some rather handsome male Cousin of Mam-
sell, Medical Graduate or whatever he was, had ap-
peared in Dessau: -- "Seems to admire Mamsell much;
of course, in a Platonic way," said rumour. -- "He?
Admire? " thinks Leopold; -- thinks a good deal of it,
not in the philosophic mood. As he was one day pass-
ing Fos's, Mamsell and the Medical Graduate are
visible, standing together at the window inside. Plea-
santly looking-out upon Nature, -- of course quite ca-
sually, say some Histories with a sneer. In fact, it
seems possible this Medical Graduate may have been
set to act shoeing-horn; but he had better not. Leopold
storms into the House, "Draw, scandalous canaille,
and defend yourself! " -- And in this, or some such
way, a confident tradition says, he killed the poor Me-
dical Graduate there and then. One tries always to
hope not: but Varnhagen is positive, though the other
Histories say nothing of it . God knows. The man
was a Prince; no Reichshofrath, Speyer-Wetzlar Ram-
mer, or other Supreme Court, would much trouble itself,
except with formal shakings of the wig, about such a
peccadillo. In fine, it was better for Leopold to marry
the Miss Fos; which he actually did (1698, in his
twenty-second year), "with the left-hand," -- and then
with the right and both hands; having got her properly
ennobled before long, by his splendid military services.
She made, as we have hinted, an excellent Wife to
him, for the fifty or sixty ensuing years.
This is a strange rugged specimen, this inarticulate
Leopold; already getting mythic, as we can perceive,
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3d Kurftirst (1471-1486),
Albert Achilles.
r
j
Elder Culmbach Line.
Friedrich, second Son of Kurftirst Albert Achilles* younger Brother
of Johannes Cicero, got Culmbach: Anspach first, then Baireuth on the
death of a younger Brother. Born 1460; got Anspach 1486, Baireuth
1495; followed Max in his Venetian Campaign, 1508; fell imbecile 1515;
dies 1536. Had a Polish Wife; from whom camo interests in Hungary
as well as Poland to his children. Friedrich had Three notable Sons,
? A?
1. Casimir, who
got Baireuth (1515):
born 1481; diedl527.
Very truculent in
the Peasants* War.
2. George the Pious, who 3. Albert: born
got Anspach (1515): born 1484; 1490; Hochmeister
died 1543; got Jagerndorf, by of the Tentsch Rit-
purchase, from his Mother's ters, 1511; declares
Hungarian connexion, 1524. himself Protestant,
Protestant declared, 1528; and
makes honourable figure in
the Histories thenceforth. The
George of Kaiser Karl's "JVif-
Kop-ab. " One Son,
and Duke of Prus-
sia, 1525; died 1568.
Albert Alcibia-
des'' a man of great
mark in his day
(1522-1557); never
married. Two Sis-
ther.
George Friedrich : born 1539;
went to administer Preussen
when Cousin became incom-
petent; died 1603. Heir to his
Father in Anspach and J&gern-
ters, with one of dorf; also, to his Cousin Alci-
whom hetookshel- biados in Baireuth' Had been
ter at last; no Bro- left a minor (boy of four, as the
reader sees); Alcibiades his
Guardian for a little while: from
which came great difficulties,
and unjust ruin would have
come, had not Knrftirst Joa-
chim I. been helpful and vigor-
ous In his behalf. George Fried-
rich got at length most of his
Territories into hand: Anspach
and Baireuth unimpaired, Ja>
gerndorf too, except thatRatibor
and Oppeln were much eaten-
into by the Imperial chicaneries
inthatquarter. Died 1603, with-
out children; -- upon which his
Territories all reverted to the
main Brandenburg'line, name-
ly, to Johann George Seventh
Kurfiirst, or his representatives,
according to the GeraBond; and
the "Elder Culmbach Line"
had ended in this manner.
One Son, Albert
Friedrich: born
1553; follows as
? ? Duke 1568, declared
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? Genealogical Diagram: The Two Culmbach Lines, 103
7ih Kurfiirst (1571-1598),
JOHANN GreOBGe.
Younger Culmbach Line.
Kurfiirst Johann George settled Baireuth and Anspach on Two of his
Younger Sons, who are Founders of the "Younger Culmbach Line"
(Split-Line or Pair of Lines). Jagerndorf the new Kurfiirst, Joachim
Friedrich, kept; settled it on one of his younger sons. Here are the
two new Founders in Baireuth and Anspach, and some indication of their
"Lines" so far as important to us at present
.
Baireuth.
(1. ) Christum, secondson of
Kurfiirst JohannGeorge: born
1581; got Baireuth 1603; died
1655. A distinguished Gover-
nor in his sphere. Had two
sons; the elder died before him, but left a son, Christian
Ernst; who (2. ) succeeded,
and (3. ) whose son, George
Wilhelm: 1644,1655,1712; 1678,
1712,1726 (are birth, accession,
end, of these two); the latter
of whom had no son that lived*
Upon which, the posterity
of Christian's second son suc-
ceeded. Second son of Chris-
tian notable to us*In two little
ways:
First, That he, George Al-
bert, Margraf of Culmbach, is
the inscrutable "Marquis de
Lulenb&ch** of Bromley's Let-
ters(V\deVo\. l. p. 264, letthe
Commentators take comfort! ):
Second and better, That from
him came our little Wilhclmi-
,ia'a Husband, --as will be af-
terwards explained. Itwashis
grandson (4. ) that succeeded
in Baireuth, George Friedrich
Karl (1688,1726,1735); Father
of Wilhelmina'sHusband. Af-
ter whom (5. ) his Son Friedrich
(1711,1735,1763),Wilhelmina'. i
Husband; who leaving (1763)
nothing but a daughter, Bai-
reuth fell to Anspach, 1769,
after an old Uncle (6. ), child-
less, had also died.
Six Baireuth Margraves of
this Line; five generations:
and then to Anspach, in 1769.
Anspach.
(1. ) Joachim Ernst, third son ofKur-
fiirst Johann George: born 1583, got
Anspach 1603; died 1625. Had military tendencies, experiences; did not thrive
as Captain of the Evangelical Union (1619-
1620) when Winter-King came up and Thirty-Years War along with him. Left
two sons; elder of whom, (2. ) Friedrich,
nominally Sovereign, age still only eigh-
teen, fell in the Battle of NSrdlingen
(worst battle of the Thirty-Years War,
1734); and the younger of whom, (3. ) Al-
bert, succeeded (1620, 1634, 1667); and his
son, (4. ) Johann Friedrich (1654, 1667,
1686): and (5, 6, 7. ) no fewer than three
grandsons, -- children mostly, though
entitled "sovereign," --in a parallel way
? ? (ChristianAlbert, 1675,1686,1692; George
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? BOOK IV.
FRIEDRlCH'S APPRENTICESHIP, FIRST STAGE.
1713-1723.
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? 1713.
CHAPTER I.
childhood: double educational element.
Op Friedrich's childhood, there is not, after all our
reading, much that it would interest the English public
to hear tell of. Perhaps not much of knowable that
deserves anywhere to be known. Books on it, ex-
pressly handling it, and Books on Friedrich Wilhelm's
Court and History, of which it is always a main ele-
ment, are not wanting: but they are mainly of the sad
sort which, with pain and difficulty, teach us nothing.
Books done by pedants and tenebrific persons, under
the name of men; dwelling not on things, but, at end-
less length, on the outer husks of things: of unparalleled
confusion, too; -- not so much as an Index granted you;
to the poor half-peck of cinders, hidden in these wagon-
loads of ashes, no sieve allowed! Books tending really
to fill the mind with mere dust-whirlwinds, -- if the
mind did not straightway blow them out again; which
it does. Of these let us say nothing. Seldom had so
curious a Phenomenon worse treatment from the Dryas-
dust species.
Among these Books, touching on Friedrich's child-
hood, and treating of his Father's Court, there is hardly
above one that we can characterise as fairly human:
the Book written by his little Sister Wilhelmina, when
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? 108 priedrich's apprenticeship, feecst stage, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
she grew to size and knowledge of good and evil;* --
and this, of what flighty uncertain nature it is, the
world partly knows. A human Book, however, not a
pedant one: there is a most shrill female soul busy
with intense earnestness here; looking, and teaching
us to look. We find it a veracious Book, done with
heart, and from eyesight and insight; -- of a veracity
deeper than the superficial sort. It is full of mistakes,
indeed; and exaggerates dreadfully, in its shrill female
way; but is above intending to deceive: deduct the due
subtrahend, -- say perhaps twenty-five per cent, or
in extreme cases as high as seventy-five, -- you will
get some human image of credible actualities from
Wilhelmina. Practically she is our one resource on
this matter. Of the strange King Friedrich Wilhelm
and his strange Court, with such an Heir-Apparent
growing-up in it, there is no real light to be had,
except what Wilhelmina gives, -- or kindles dark
Books of others into giving. For that, too, on long
study, is the result of her, here and there. With so
flickery a wax-taper held over Friedrich's childhood,
-- and the other dirty tallow-dips all going out in
intolerable odour, -- judge if our success can be very
triumphant!
We perceive the little creature has got much from
Nature; not the big arena only, but fine inward gifts,
for he is well-born in more senses than one; -- and
? Mtmoires de Friderique Sophie Wilhelmine de Prusse, Margrave de
Jlareith (Brunswick, Paris et fcondres, 1812), ? toIs. 8vo<
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? CHAP. I. J CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. 109
1713-1723.
that in the breeding of him there are two elements
noticeable, widely diverse: the French and the Ger-
man. This is perhaps the chief peculiarity; best worth
laying-hold of, with the due comprehension, if our
means allow.
First educational Element, the French one.
His nurses, governesses, simultaneous and succes-
sive, mostly of French breed, are duly set down in the
Prussian Books, and held in mind as a point of duty
by Prussian men; but, in foreign parts, cannot be con-
sidered otherwise than as a group, and merely with
generic features. He had a Frau von Kamecke for
Head Governess, -- the lady whom Wilhelmina, in
her famed Memoir eg, always writes Kamken; and of
whom, except the floating gossip found in that Book,
there is nothing to be remembered. Under her, as
practical superintendent, Sous-gouvernante and quasi-
mother, was the Dame de Roucoulles, a more important
person for us here. Dame de Roucoulles, once de Mont-
bail, the same respectable Edict-of-Nantes French lady
who, five-and-twenty years ago, had taken similar
charge of Friedrich Wilhelm; a fact that speaks well
for the character of her performance in that office. She
had done her first edition of a Prussian Prince in a
satisfactory manner; and not without difficult accidents
and singularities, as we have heard: the like of which
were spared her in this her second edition (so we may
call it); a second and, in all manner of ways, an im-
proved one. The young Fritz swallowed no shoebuckles;
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? 110 friedkich's apprenticeship. FIRST STAGE, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
did not leap out of window, hanging-on by the hands;
nor achieve anything of turbulent, or otherwise memo-
rable, in his infantine history; the course of which was
in general smooth, and runs, happily for it, below the
ken of rumour. The Boy, it is said, and is easily
credible, was of extraordinary vivacity; quick in ap-
prehending all things, and gracefully relating himself
to them. One of the prettiest vividest little boys; with
eyes, with mind and ways, of uncommon brilliancy; --
only he takes less to soldiering than the paternal heart
could wish; and appears to find other things in the
world fully as notable as loud drums, and stiff men
drawn-up in rows. Moreover, he is apt to be a little
unhealthy now and then, and requires care from his
nurses, over whom the judicious Eoucoulles has to be
very vigilant.
Of this respectable Madame de Roucoulles I have
read, at least seven times, what the Prussian Books
say of her by way of Biography; but it is always given
in their dull tombstone style; it has moreover next to
no importance; and I, -- alas, I do not yet too well
remember it! She was from Normandy; of gentle blood,
never very rich; Protestant, in the Edict-of-Nantes
time; and had to fly her country, a young widow, with
daughter and mother-in-law hanging on her; the whole
of them almost penniless. However, she was kindly
received at the Court of Berlin, as usual in that sad
case; and got some practical help towards living in her
new country. Queen Sophie Charlotte had liked her
society; and finding her of prudent intelligent turn, and
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? CHAP. I. ] CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. Ill
1713-1723.
with the style of manners suitable, had given her
Friedrich Wilhelm to take charge of. She was at that
time Madame de Montbail; widow, as we said: she
afterwards wedded Roucoulles, a refugee gentleman of
her own Nation, who had gone into the Prussian Army,
as was common for the like of him. She had again
become a widow, Madame de Roucoulles this time,
with her daughter Montbail still about her, when by
the grateful good sense of Friedrich Wilhelm, she was
again intrusted as we see; -- and so had the honour
of governessing Frederick the Great for the first seven
years of his life. Respectable lady, she oversaw his
nurses, pap-boats, -- "beer-soup and bread," he him-
self tells us once, was his main diet in boyhood, --
beer-soups, dress-frocks, first attempts at walking; and
then also his little bits of intellectualities, moralities;
his incipiencies of speech, demeanour, and spiritual de-
velopment; and did her function very honestly, there is
no doubt.
Wilhelmina mentions her, at a subsequent period;
and we have a glimpse of this same Eoucoulles, gli-
ding about among the royal young-folk, "with only one
tooth left" (figuratively speaking), and somewhat given
to tattle, in Princess Wilhelmina's opinion. Grown
very old now, poor lady; and the dreadfullest bore,
when she gets upon Hanover, and her experiences,
and Queen Sophie Charlotte's, in that stupendously
magnificent court under Gentleman Ernst. Shun that
topic, if you love your peace of mind! * -- She did
? MHnoires, (above cited).
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? 112 fbiedrich's apprenticeship, first stage, [book Iv.
1713-1723.
certainly superintend the Boy Fritzkin for his first
seven years; that is a glory that cannot be taken from
her.
And her Pupil, too, we agreeably perceive, was
always grateful for her services in that capacity. Once
a-week, if he were in Berlin, during his youthful time,
he was sure to appear at the Roucoulles Soiree, and
say and look various pleasant things to his "cher
Maman (dear Mamma)," as he used to call her, and
to the respectable small party she had. Not to speak
of other more substantial services, which also were not
wanting.
Roucoulles and the other female souls, mainly
French, among whom the incipient Fritz now was, ap-
pear to have done their part as well as could be looked
for. Respectable Edict-of-Nantes French ladies, with
high head-gear, wide hoops; a clear, correct, but some-
what barren and meagre species, tight-laced and high-
frizzled in mind and body. It is not a very fertile ele-
ment for a young soul: not very much of silent piety
in it; and perhaps of vocal piety more than enough in
proportion. An element founding on what they call
"enlightened Protestantism," "freedom of thought," and
the like, which is apt to become loquacious, and too
conscious of itself; tending, on the whole, rather to con-
tempt of the false, than to deep or very effective re-
cognition of the true.
But it is, in some important senses, a clear and pure
element withal. At lowest, there are no conscious
semifalsities, or volunteer hypocrisies, taught the poor
Boy: honour, clearness, truth of word at least; a de-
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? CHAP. 1. 1 CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. 113
1713-1723.
corous dignified bearing; various thin good things, are
honestly inculcated and exemplified; nor is any bad,
ungraceful or suspicious thing permitted there, if re-
cognised for such. It might have been a worse ele-
ment; and we must be thankful for it . Friedrich,
through life, carries deep traces of this French-Pro-
testant incipiency: -- a very big wide-branching royal
tree, in the end; but as small and flexible a seedling
once as any one of us!
The good old Dame de Roucoulles just lived to
witness his accession; on which grand juncture and
afterwards, as he had done before, he continued to ex-
press, in graceful and useful ways, his gratitude and
honest affection to her and hers. Tea-services, pre-
sents in cut-glass and other kinds, with Letters that
were still more precious to the old Lady, had come
always at due intervals: and one of his earliest kingly
gifts was that of some suitable small Pension for Mont-
bail, the elderly daughter of this poor old Roucoulles,*
? Preuss: Friedrich der Grosse, eine Lcbensgeschichle (5 vols. Berlin,
1832-1834), v. (Urkundenbuch, p. 4). (Euvres de Fridiric (same Prelum's.
Edition, Berlin, 1846-1850, Ac), xvi. 184, 191. -- The Herr Doctor J. I). E.
Preuss, "Historiographer of Brandenburg," devoted wholly to the study of
Friedrich for five-and-twenty years past, and for above a dozen years
busily engaged in editing the (Euvres de Frederic, -- has, besides that Le~
bensgeschichte just cited, three or four smaller Books, of indistinctly dif-
ferent titles, on the same subject. A meritoriously exact man; acquainted
with the outer details of Friedrich's Biography (had he any way of
arranging, organising or setting them forth) as few men ever were or will
be. We shall mean always this Lebensgeschichle here, when no other title
is given; and (Enures de Fridiric shall signify his Edition, unless the
the contrary be stated.
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. II. 8
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? 114 friedrich's appkenticeship, fikst stage, [bookw,
1713-1723.
. who was just singing her Dimittas, as it were, still in
a blithe and pious manner. For she saw now (in
1740) her little nurseling grown to be a brilliant man
and King; King gone out to the Wars, too, with all
Europe inquiring and wondering what the issue would
be. As for her, she closed her poor old eyes, at this
stage of the business; piously, in foreign parts, far
from her native Normandy; and did not see farther
what the issue was. Good old Dame, I have, as was
observed, read some seven times over what they call
biographical accounts of her; but have seven times (by
Heaven's favour, I do partly believe) mostly forgotten
them again; and would not, without cause, inflict on
any reader the like sorrow. To remember one worthy
thing, how many thousand unworthy things must a man
be able to forget!
From this Edict-of-Nantes environment, which taught
our young Fritz his first lessons of human behaviour,
-- a polite sharp little Boy, we do hope and under-
stand, -- he learned also to clothe his bits of notions,
emotions, and garrulous utterabilities, in the French
dialect. Learned to speak, and likewise, what is more
important, to think, in French; which was otherwise
quite domesticated in the Palace, amd became his se-
cond mother-tongue. Not a bad dialect; yet also none
of the best . Very lean and shallow, if very clear and
convenient; leaving much in poor Fritz unuttered, un-
thought, unpractised, which might otherwise have come
into activity in the course of his life. He learned to
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? CHAP. I. J CHILDHOOD: DOUBLE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENT. 115
1713-1723.
read very soon, I presume; but he did not, now or
afterwards, ever learn to spell. He spells indeed dread-
fully ill, at his first appearance on the writing stage, as
we shall see by and by; and he continued, to the last,
one of the bad spellers of his day. A circumstance
which I never can fully account for, and will leave to
the reader's study.
From all manner of sources, -- from inferior vale-
taille, Prussian Officials, Royal Majesty itself when not
in gala, -- he learned, not less rootedly, the corrupt
Prussian dialect of German; and used the same, all his
days, among his soldiers, native officials, common sub-
jects and wherever it was most convenient; speaking
it, and writing and misspelling it, with great freedom,
though always with a certain aversion and undisguised
contempt, which has since brought him blame in some
quarters. It is true, the Prussian form of German is
but rude; and probably Friedrich, except sometimes
in Luther's Bible, never read any German Book. What,
if we will think of it, could he know of his first mother-
tongue? German, to this day, is a frightful dialect
for the stupid, the pedant and dullard sort! Only in
the hands of the gifted does it become supremely
good. It had not yet been the language of any Goethe,
any Lessing; though it stood on the eve of becoming
such. It had already been the language of Luther, of
Ulrich Hutten, Friedrich Barbarossa, Charlemagne and
others. And several extremely important things had
8*
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? 116 friedrich's apprenticeship, FIRST STAGE, [book IT.
J713'1723
been said in it, and some pleasant ones even sung in
it, from an old date, in a very appropriate manner, --
had Crown-Prince Friedrich known all that. But he
could not reasonably be expected to know: -- and the
wiser Germans now forgive him for not knowing, and
are even thankful that he did not.
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? CHAP. II. ]
117
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
1713-1723.
CHAPTEE n.
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
So that, as we said, there are two elements for
young Fritz, and highly diverse ones, from both of
which he is to draw nourishment, and assimilate what
he can. Besides that Edict-of-Nantes French element,
and in continual contact and contrast with it, which
prevails chiefly in the Female quarters of the Palace,
-- there is the native German element for young Fritz,
of which the centre is Papa, now come to be King,
and powerfully manifesting himself as such. An abrupt
peremptory young King; and German to the bone.
Along with whom, companions to him in his social
hours, and fellow-workers in his business, are a set of
very rugged German sons of Nature; differing much
from the French sons of Art. Baron Grumkow, Leo-
pold Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (not yet called the "Old
Dessauer," being under forty yet), General Glasenap,
Colonel Derschau, General Flans; these, and the other
nameless Generals and Officials, are a curious counter-
part to the Camases, the Hautcharmoys and Forcades,
with their nimble tongues and rapiers; still more to the
Beausobres, Achards, full of ecclesiastical logic, made
of Bayle and Calvin kneaded together; and to the
high-frizzled ladies rustling in stiff silk, with the shadow
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? 118 friedrich's apprenticeship, first STAGE. [BOOK Iv.
'1713-1723.
of Versailles and of the Dragonades alike present to
them.
Born Hyperboreans these others; rough as hemp,
and stout of fibre as hemp; native products of the
rigorous North. Of whom, after all our reading, we
know little. -- O Heaven, they have had long lines of
rugged ancestors, cast in the same rude stalwart mould,
and leading their rough life there, of whom we know
absolutely nothing! Dumb all those preceding busy
generations; and this of Friedrich Wilhelm is grown
almost dumb. Grim semi-articulate Prussian men; gone
all to pipeclay and moustache for us. Strange blond-
complexioned, not unbeautiful Prussian honourable
women, in hoops, brocades, and unintelligible head-gear
and hair-towers, -- ach Gott, they too are gone; and
their musical talk, in the French or German language,
that also is gone; and the hollow Eternities have swal-
lowed it, as their wont is, in a very surprising man-
ner! --
Grumkow, a cunning, greedy-hearted, long-headed
fellow, of the old Pomeranian Nobility by birth, has a
kind of superficial polish put upon his Hyperborea-
nisms: he has been in foreign countries, doing lega-
tions, diplomacies, for which, at least for the vulpine
parts of which, he has a turn. He writes and speaks
articulate grammatical French; but neither in that, nor
in native Pommerish Platt-Deutsch, does he show us
much, except the depths of his own greed, of his own
astucities and stealthy audacities. Of which we shall
hear more than enough by and by.
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? CHAP, n. l
119
THE GERMAN ELEMENT.
1713-1723.
Of the Dessauer, not yet "Old. "
As to the Prince of Anhalt-Dessau, rugged man,
whose very face is the colour of gunpowder, he also
knows French, and can even write in it, if he like, --
having duly had a Tutor of that nation, and strange
adventures with him on the grand tour and elsewhere;
-- but does not much practise writing, when it can be
helped. His children, I have heard, he expressly did
not teach to read or write, seeing no benefit in that
effeminate art, but left them to pick it up as they could.
His Princess, all rightly ennobled now, -- whom he
would not but marry, though sent on the grand tour to
avoid it, -- was the daughter of one Fos an Apothe-
cary at Dessau; and is still a beautiful and prudent
kind of woman, who seems to suit him well enough,
no worse than if she had been born a Princess. Much
talk has been of her, in princely and other circles; nor
is his marriage the only strange thing Leopold has
done. He is a man to keep the world's tongue wag-
ging, not too musically always; though himself of very
unvocal nature. Perhaps the biggest mass of inarti-
culate human vitality, certainly one of the biggest, then
going about in the world. A man of vast dumb faculty;
dumb, but fertile, deep; no end of ingenuities in the
rough head of him: -- as much mother-wit there,
I often guess, as could be found in whole talking par-
liaments, spouting themselves away in vocables and
eloquent wind!
A man of dreadful impetuosity withal. Set upon
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? 120 fkiedrich's apprenticeship, fikst stage, [book IT.
1713-1723.
Ms will as the one law of Nature; storming forward
with incontrollable violence: a very whirlwind of a man.
He was left a minor; his Mother guardian. Nothing
could prevent him from marrying this Fos the Apothe-
cary's Daughter; no tears nor contrivances of his
Mother, whom he much loved, and who took skilful
measures. Fourteen months of travel in Italy; grand
tour, with eligible French Tutor, -- whom he once
drew sword upon, getting some rebuke from him one
night in Venice, and would have killed, had not the
man been nimble, at once dextrous and sublime: -- it
availed not. The first thing he did on reentering Des-
sau, with his Tutor, was to call at Apothecary Fos's,
and see the charming Mamsell; to go and see his
Mother, was the second thing. Not even his grand pas-
sion for war could eradicate Fos: he went to Dutch Wil-
liam's wars; the wise Mother still counselling, who was
own Aunt to Dutch William, and liked the scheme. He
besieged Namur; fought and besieged up and down, --
with insatiable appetite for fighting and sieging; with
great honour, too, and ambitions awakening in him; --
campaign after campaign: but along with the flamy-
thundery ideal bride, figuratively called Bellona, there
was always a soft real one, Mamsell Fos of Dessau, to
whom he continued constant . The Government of his
Dominions he left cheerfully to his Mother, even when
he came of age: "I am for learning War, as the one
right trade; do with all things as you please, Mamma,
-- only not with Mamsell, not with her! " --
Headers may figure this scene too, and shudder
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? CHAP, n. ] THE GERMAN ELEMENT. 121
1713-1723.
over it. Some rather handsome male Cousin of Mam-
sell, Medical Graduate or whatever he was, had ap-
peared in Dessau: -- "Seems to admire Mamsell much;
of course, in a Platonic way," said rumour. -- "He?
Admire? " thinks Leopold; -- thinks a good deal of it,
not in the philosophic mood. As he was one day pass-
ing Fos's, Mamsell and the Medical Graduate are
visible, standing together at the window inside. Plea-
santly looking-out upon Nature, -- of course quite ca-
sually, say some Histories with a sneer. In fact, it
seems possible this Medical Graduate may have been
set to act shoeing-horn; but he had better not. Leopold
storms into the House, "Draw, scandalous canaille,
and defend yourself! " -- And in this, or some such
way, a confident tradition says, he killed the poor Me-
dical Graduate there and then. One tries always to
hope not: but Varnhagen is positive, though the other
Histories say nothing of it . God knows. The man
was a Prince; no Reichshofrath, Speyer-Wetzlar Ram-
mer, or other Supreme Court, would much trouble itself,
except with formal shakings of the wig, about such a
peccadillo. In fine, it was better for Leopold to marry
the Miss Fos; which he actually did (1698, in his
twenty-second year), "with the left-hand," -- and then
with the right and both hands; having got her properly
ennobled before long, by his splendid military services.
She made, as we have hinted, an excellent Wife to
him, for the fifty or sixty ensuing years.
This is a strange rugged specimen, this inarticulate
Leopold; already getting mythic, as we can perceive,
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