Stands there, hand-
somely abutting on the Lake with two Towers, a
Tower at each angle, which it has on that lakeward side;
and looks, over Reinsberg, and its steeple rising amid
friendly umbrage which hides the housetops, towards
the rising sun.
somely abutting on the Lake with two Towers, a
Tower at each angle, which it has on that lakeward side;
and looks, over Reinsberg, and its steeple rising amid
friendly umbrage which hides the housetops, towards
the rising sun.
Thomas Carlyle
handle.
net/2027/hvd.
hwiijl Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.
hathitrust.
org/access_use#pd-google
? CHaP. XI. ] END OF WAR. 115
May 1736.
matter; and, for his own share, winded up by a strict
prohibition of Prussian recruiting in any and every part
of the Imperial Dominions. Which Friedrich Wilhelm
took extremely ill. This is from a Letter of his to the
Crown-Prince, and after the first gust of wrath had
spent itself: "It is a clear disadvantage, this prohibition
"of recruiting in the Kaiser's Countries. That is our
"thanks for the Ten Thousand men sent him, and for
"all the deference I have shown the Kaiser at all
"times; and by this you may see that it would be of
"no use if one even sacrificed oneself to him. So long
"as they need us, they continue to flatter; but no
"sooner is the strait thought to be over, and help not
"wanted, than they pull off the mask, and have not
"the least acknowledgment. The considerations that
"will occur to you on this matter may put it in your
"power to be prepared against similar occasions in time
"coming. " *
Thus, again, in regard to the winter-quarters of the
Ziethen Hussars. Prussian Majesty, we recollect, had
sent a Supernumerary Squadron to the last Campaign
on the Rhine. They were learning their business,
Friedrich Wilhelm knew; but also were fighting for
the Kaiser, -- that was what the Kaiser knew about
them. Somewhat to his surprise, in the course of next
year, Friedrich Wilhelm received, from the Vienna
War-Office, a little Bill of 10,284 florins (1,028Z. 8s. ),
charged to him for the winter-quarters of these Hussars.
He at once paid the little Bill, with only this observa-
* 6th February 1736; (Euvres de Frederic, xxvii. part 3d, p. 102.
8<<
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? 116 friedrich's apprenticeship, last STAGE. [boOKIX.
May 1736.
tion: "Heartily glad that I can help the Imperial JEra- "rium with that 1,028/. 8s. With the sincerest wishes
"for hundred thousandfold increase to it in said j? ra-
"rium; otherwise it won't go very far! "*
At a later period, in the course of his disastrous
Turk War, the Kaiser, famishing for money, set about
borrowing a million gulden (100,000Z. ) from the Bank-
ing House Splittgerber and Daun at Berlin. Splitt-
gerber and Daun had not the money, could not raise
it: "Advance us that sum, in their name, your Majesty,"
proposes the Vienna Court: "There shall be three-per-
cent bonus, interest six per cent, and security beyond
all question! " To which fine offer his Majesty answers,
addressing Seckendorf Junior: "Touching the proposal
"of my lifting the Bankers Splittgerber and Daun up
"behind me, with a million gulden, to assist in that loan
"of theirs, -- said proposal, as I am not a merchant
"accustomed to deal in profits and percentages, cannot
"in that form take effect. Out of old friendship, how-
"ever, I am, on Theiro Imperial Majesty's request, ex-
"tremely ready to pay down, once and away (d fond
"perdu), a couple of million gulden, provided the Im-
perial Majesty will grant me the conditions known to
"your Uncle" (fulfilment of that now oldish Jiilich-and- Berg promise, namely! ), "which are fair. In such
"case the thing shall be rapidly completed! "**
In a word, Friedrich Wilhelm falls out with the
Kaiser more and more; experiences more and more
* Letter to Seckendorf (Senior): Forster, 1i. 150.
<<<< Fb'rstor, ii. 151 (without date there).
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? CHAP. 33. ] END OF WAR. 117
May 1736.
what a Kaiser this has been towards him. Queen
Sophie has fallen silent in the History-Books; both the
Majesties may look remorsefully, but perhaps best in
silence, over the breakages and wrecks this Kaiser has
brought upon them. Friedrich Wilhelm does not meanly
hate the Kaiser: good man, he sometimes pities him;
sometimes, we perceive, has a touch of authentic con-
tempt for him. But his thoughts, in that quarter, pre-
mature old age aggravating them, are generally of a
tragic nature, not to be spoken without tears; and the
tears have a flash at the bottom of them, when he looks
round on Fritz and says, "There is one, though, that
will avenge me! " Friedrich Wilhelm, to the last a
broad strong phenomenon, keeps wending downward,
homeward, from this point; the Kaiser too, we perceive,
is rapidly consummating his enormous Spectre-Hunts
and Duels with Termagants, and before long will be
at rest. We are well-nigh done with both these Ma-
jesties.
The Crown-Prince, by his judicious obedient pro-
cedures in these Four Years at Ruppin, at a distance
from Papa, has, as it were, completed his Apprentice-
ship; and, especially by this last Inspection-Journey
into Preussen, may be said to have delivered his Proof-
Essay with a distinguished success. He is now out of
his Apprenticeship; entitled to lift his Indentures, when-
ever need shall be. The rugged old Master cannot
but declare him competent, qualified to try his own
hand without supervision: -- after all those unheard-of
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? 118 friedrich's apprenticeship, last stage, [book IX.
May 1736.
confusions, like to set the shop on fire at one time, it
is a blessedly successful Apprenticeship! Let him now,
theoretically at least, in the realms of Art, Literature,
Spiritual Improvement, do his Wanderjahre, over at
Reinsberg, still in the old region, -- still well apart
from Papa, who agrees best not in immediate contact;
-- and be happy in the new Domesticities, and larger
opportunities, provided for him there; till a certain time
come, which none of us are in haste for.
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? BOOK X.
AT KEINSBEEG.
1736-1740.
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? Aug. 1736.
CHAPTER L
MANSION OF REINSBERG.
On the Crown-Prince's Marriage, three years ago,
when the Amt or Government-District Ruppin, with its
incomings, was assigned to him for revenue, we heard
withal of a Residence getting ready. Hint had fallen
from the Prince, That Reinsberg, an old Couutry-seat,
standing with its Domain round it in that little Terri-
tory of Ruppin, and probably purchaseable as was
understood, might be pleasant, were it once his and
well put in repair. Which hint the kind paternal Ma-
jesty instantly proceeded to act upon. He straightway
gave orders for the purchase of Reinsberg; concluded
said purchase, on fair terms, after some months bar-
gaining;* -- and set his best Architect, one Kemeter,
to work, in concert with the Crown-Prince, to new-
build and enlarge the decayed Schloss of Reinsberg
into such a Mansion as the young Royal Highness and
his Wife would like.
Kemeter has been busy, all this while; a solid, ele-
gant, yet frugal builder: and now the main body of the
Mansion is complete, or nearly so, the wings and ad-
juncts going steadily forward; Mansion so far ready
* 23d October 1733, order given, -- 16th March 1734, purchase completed
(Preuss, i. 75).
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? 122 AT EEINSBERG. [book X.
6th Aug. 1736.
that the Royal Highnesses can take up their abode in
it. Which they do, thi3 Autumn, 1736; and fairly
commence Joint Housekeeping, in a permanent manner.
Hitherto it has been intermittent only: hitherto the
Crown-Princess has resided in their Berlin Mansion, or
in her own Country-House at Schonhausen; Husband
not habitually with her, except when on leave of ab-
sence from Kuppin, in Carnival time or for shorter
periods. At Ruppin his life has been rather that of a
bachelor, or husband abroad on business, up to this
time. But now at Reinsberg they do kindle the sacred
hearth together; "6th August 1736" the date of that
important event. They have got their Court about
them, dames and cavaliers more than we expected;
they have arranged the furnitures of their existence
here on fit scale, and set up their Lares and Penates
on a thrifty footing. Majesty and Queen come out on
a visit to them next month; * -- raising the sacred
hearth into its first considerable blaze, and crowning
the operation in a human manner.
And so there has a new epoch arisen for the Crown- Prince and his Consort. A new, and much improved
one. It lasted into the fourth year; rather improving
all the way: and only Kingship, which, if a higher
sphere, was a far less pleasant one, put an end to it
.
Friedrich's happiest time was this at Reinsberg; the
little Four Years of Hope, Composure, realisable Ide-
alism: an actual snatch of something like the Idyllic,
appointed him in a life-pilgrimage consisting otherwise
* 4th September 1736 (lb. ).
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? CHaP. I. ] MANSION OP REINSBERG. 123
Aug. 1736.
of realisms oftenest contradictory enough, and some-
times of very grim complexion. He is master of his
work, he is adjusted to the practical conditions set
him: conditions once complied with, daily work done,
he lives to the Muses, to the spiritual improvements, to
the social enjoyments; and has, though not without
flaws of ill weather, -- from the Tobacco Parliament
perhaps rather less than formerly, and from the Finance-
quarter perhaps rather more, -- a sunny time. His in-
nocent insipidity of a Wife, too, appears to have been
happy. She had the charm of youth, of good looks; a
wholesome perfect loyalty of character withal; and did
not "take to pouting," as was once apprehended of her,
but pleasantly gave and received of what was going.
This poor Crown-Princess, afterward Queen, has been
heard, in her old age, reverting, in a touching transient
way, to the glad days she had at Reinsberg. Com-
plaint openly was never heard from her, in any kind
of days; but these doubtless were the best of her life.
Reinsberg, we said, is in the Amt Ruppin; naturally
under the Crown-Prince's government at present: the
little Town or Village of Reinsberg stands about ten
miles north of the Town Ruppin; -- not quite a third-
part as big as Ruppin is in our time, and much more
pleasantly situated. The country about is of comfort-
able, not unpicturesque character; to be distinguished
almost as beautiful, in that region of sand and moor.
Lakes abound in it; tilled fields, heights called "hills;"
and wood of fair growth, -- one reads of "beech-
avenues," of "high linden-avenues:" -- a country
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? 124 AT KEINSBERG. [BooK X.
Aug. 1736.
rather of the ornamented sort, before the Prince with
his improvements settled there. Many lakes and
lakelets in it, as usual hereabouts; the loitering waters
straggle, all over that region, into meshes of lakes.
Reinsberg itself, Village and Schloss, stands on the
edge of a pleasant Lake, last of a mesh of such: the
summary, or outfall, of which, already here a good
strong brook or stream, is called the Rhein, Rhyn, or
Rein; and gives name to the little place. We heard
of the Rein at Ruppin: it is there counted as a kind
of river; still more, twenty miles farther down, where
it falls into the Havel, on its way to the Elbe. The
waters, I think, are drab-coloured, not peat-brown: and
here, at the source, or outfall from that mesh of lakes,
where Reinsberg is, the country seems to bo about the
best; -- sufficient, in picturesqueness and otherwise, to
satisfy a reasonable man.
The little Town is very old; but, till the Crown-
Prince settled there, had no peculiar vitality in it. I
think there are now some potteries, glass-manufactories:
Friedrich Wilhelm, just while the Crown-Prince was
removing thither, settled a first Glass-work there; which
took good root, and rose to eminence in the crystal,
Bohemian-crystal, white-glass, cut-glass, and other
commoner lines, in the Crown-Prince's time. *
Reinsberg stands on the east or southeast side of
its pretty Lake: Lake is called "the Grinerick See"
(as all those remote Lakes have their names); Mansion
* DetchreibHng des Lnstschlosses Ac. zu Reinsberg (Berlin, 1778). Author,
a 'Lieutenant Hennert,' thoroughly acquainted with his subject.
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? CHAP. I. ] MANSION OF REINSBERG. 125
Aug. 1736.
is between the Town and Lake. A Mansion fronting,
we may say, four ways; for it is of quadrangular form,
with a wet moat from the Lake begirdling it, and has
a spacious court for interior: but the principal entrance
is from the Town side; for the rest, the Building is
ashlar on all sides, front and rear.
Stands there, hand-
somely abutting on the Lake with two Towers, a
Tower at each angle, which it has on that lakeward side;
and looks, over Reinsberg, and its steeple rising amid
friendly umbrage which hides the housetops, towards
the rising sun. Townward there is room for a spacious
esplanade; and then for the stables, outbuildings, well
masked; which still farther shut off the Town. To
this day, Reinsberg stands with the air of a solid
respectable Edifice; still massive, rain-tight, though
long since deserted by the Princeships, -- by Friedrich
nearly six-score years ago, and nearly three-score by
Prince Henri, a Brother of Friedrich's, who afterwards
had it. Last accounts I got were, of talk there had
risen of planting an extensive Normal-School there;
which promising plan had been laid aside again for
the time.
The old Schloss, residence of the Bredows and
other feudal people for a long while, had good solid
masonry in it, and around it orchards, potherb gardens;
which Friedrich Wilhelm's Architects took good care
to extend and improve, not to throw away: the result
of their art is what we see, a beautiful Country-House,
what might be called a Country-Palace with all its
adjuncts; -- and at a rate of expense which would fill
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? 126
[book x.
AT REINSBERG.
Aug. 1736.
English readers, of this time, with amazement. Much is
admirable to us as we study Reinsberg, what it had been,
what it became, and how it was made; but nothing more
so than the small modicum of money it cost. To our
wondering thought, it seems as if the shilling, in those
parts, were equal to the guinea in these; and the reason,
if we ask it, is by no means flattering altogether.
"Change in the value of money? " Alas, reader, no;
that is not above the fourth part of the phenomenon.
Three-fourths of the phenomenon are change in the
methods of administering money, -- difference between
managing it with wisdom and veracity on both sides,
and managing it with unwisdom and mendacity on both
sides. Which is very great indeed; and infinitely
sadder than any one, in these times, will believe! --
But we cannot dwell on this consideration. Let the
reader take it with him, as a constant accompaniment
in whatever work of Friedrich Wilhelm's or of Fried-
rich his Son's, he now or at any other time may be
contemplating. Impious waste, which means disorder
and dishonesty, and loss of much other than money to
all parties, -- disgusting aspect of human creatures,
master and servant, working together as if they were
not human, -- will be spared him in those foreign
departments; and in an English heart, thoughts will
arise, perhaps, of a wholesome tendency, though very
sad, as times are. t
It would but weary the reader to describe this
Crown-Prince Mansion; which, by desperate study of
our abstruse materials, it is possible to do with auc-
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? CHaP. 1. 1 MANSION OF REINSBEKG. 127
Aug. 1736.
tioneer minuteness. There are engraved Views of
Reinsberg and its Environs; which used to lie con-
spicuous in the portfolios of collectors, -- which I have
not seen. * Of the House itself, engraved Frontages
{? hgades), Groundplans, are more accessible; and along
with them, descriptions which are little descriptive, --
wearisomely detailed, and as it were dark by excess
of light (auctioneer light) thrown on them. The reader
sees, in general, a fine symmetrical Block of Buildings,
standing in rectangular shape, in the above locality:
-- about two hundred English feet, each, the two
longer sides measure, the Townward and the Lake-
ward, on their outer front: about a hundred and thirty,
each, the two shorter; or a hundred and fifty, taking
in their Towers just spoken of. The fourth or Lake-
ward side, however, which is one of the longer pair,
consists mainly of "Colonnade;" spacious Colonnade
"with vases and statues;" catching up the outskirts of
said Towers, and handsomely uniting everything.
Beyond doubt, a dignified, substantial pile of stone-
work; all of good proportions. Architecture every-
where of cheerfully serious, solidly graceful character;
all of sterling ashlar; the due risalites (projecting
spaces) with their attics and statues atop, the due
architraves, cornices and corbels, -- in short, the due
opulence of ornament being introduced, and only the
due. Genuine sculptors, genuine painters, artists have
been busy; and in fact all the suitable fine arts, and
all the necessary solid ones, have worked together,
* See Hennert, jnst cited, for the titles of them.
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? 128
[BooK X. Aug. 1736.
AT REINSBERG.
with a noticeable fidelity, comfortable to the very
beholder to this day. General height is about forty
feet; two stories of ample proportions: the Towers
overlooking them are sixty feet in height. Extent of
outer frontage, if you go all round, and omit the
Colonnade, will be five hundred feet and more: this,
with the rearward face, is a thousand feet of room
frontage: -- fancy the extent of lodging space. For
"all the kitchens and appurtenances are underground;"
the "left front" (which is a new part of the Edifice)
rising comfortably over these. Windows I did not
count; but they must go high up into the Hundreds.
No end to lodging space. Nay in a detached side-
edifice subsequently built, called Cavalier House, I
read of there being, for one item, "fifty lodging-rooms,"
and for another "a theatre. " And if an English Duke
of Trumps were to look at the bills for all that, -- his
astonishment would be extreme, and perhaps in a
degree painful and salutary to him.
In one of these Towers, the Crown-Prince has his
Library: a beautiful apartment; nothing wanting to it
that the arts could furnish, "ceiling done by Pesne"
with allegorical geniuses and what not; looks out on
mere sky, mere earth and water in an ornamental
state: silent as in Elysium. It is there we are to fancy
the Correspondence written, the Poetries and literary
industries going on. There or stepping down for a
turn in the open air, or sauntering meditatively under
the Colonnade with its statues and vases (where
weather is no object), one commands the Lake, with
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? CHaP. 1. 1 MANSION OF REINSBERG. 129
Aug. 1736.
its little tufted Islands, "Remus Island" much famed
among them, and "high beechwoods" on the farther
side. The Lake is very pretty, all say; lying between
you and the sunset; -- with perhaps some other
lakelet, or solitary pool in the wilderness, many miles
away, "revealing itself as a cup of molten gold," at
that interesting moment. What the Book-Collection
was, in the interior, I know not except by mere guess.
The Crown-Princess's Apartment, too, which re-
mained unaltered at the last accounts had of it,* is
very fine; -- take the anteroom for specimen: "This
fine room," some twenty feet height of ceiling, "has six
"windows; three of them, in the main front, looking
"towards the Town, the other three towards the In-
"terior Court. The light from these windows is
"heightened by mirrors covering all the piers (Schdfte,
"interspaces of the walls), to an uncommonly splendid
"pitch; and shows the painting of the ceiling, which
"again is by the famous Pesne, to much perfection.
"The Artist himself, too, has managed to lay on his
"colours there so softly, and with such delicate skill,
"that the light-beams seem to prolong themselves in
"the painted clouds and air, as if it were the real sky
"you had overhead. " There in that cloud-region
"Mars is being disarmed by the Love-Goddesses, and
"they are sporting with his weapons. He stretches out
"his arm towards the Goddess, who looks upon him
"with fond glances. Cupids are spreading out a
"draping. " That is Pesne's luxurious performance in
* From Hennert, namely, in 1778.
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. V. 9
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? 130 AT REINSBERG. [book X.
Aug. 1736.
the ceiling. -- "Weapon-festoons, in basso-relievo, gilt,
"adorn the walls of this room; and two Pictures, also
"by Pesne, which represent, in life size, the late King
and Queen" (our good friends Friedrich Wilhelm and
his Sophie), "are worthy of attention. Over each of
"the doors, you find in low-relief the Profiles of
"Hannibal, Pompey, Scipjo, Caesar, introduced as Me-
dallions"
All this is very fine: but all this is little to another
ceiling, in some big Saloon elsewhere, Music-saloon I
think: Black Night, making off, with all her sickly
dews, at one end of the ceiling; and at the other end,
the Steeds of Phoebus bursting forth, and the glittering
shafts of Day, -- with Cupids, Love-goddesses, War-
gods, not omitting Bacchus and his vines, all getting
beautifully awake in consequence. A very fine room
indeed; -- used as a Music-Saloon, or I know not
what, -- and the ceiling of it almost an ideal, say the
connoisseurs. --
Endless gardens, pavilions, grottoes, hermitages,
orangeries, artificial ruins, parks and pleasances sur-
round this favoured spot and its Schloss; nothing want-
ing in it that a Prince's establishment needs, -- except
indeed it be hounds, for which this Prince never had
the least demand.
Except the old Ruppin duties, which imply con-
tinual journeyings thither, distance only a morning's
ride; except these, and occasional commissions from
Papa, Friedrich is left master of his time and pursuits
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? CHaP. I. ] MANSION OP REINSBERG. 131
Aug. 1736.
in this new Mansion. There are visits to Potsdam,
periodical appearances at Berlin; some Correspondence
to keep the Tobacco-Parliament in tune. But Fried-
rich's taste is for the Literatures, Philosophies: a young
Prince bent seriously to cultivate his mind; to attain
some clear knowledge of this world, so all-important to
him. And he does seriously read, study and reflect, a
good deal; his main recreations, seemingly, are Music,
and the converse of well-informed friendly men. In
Music we find him particularly rich. Daily, at a fixed
hour of the afternoon, there is concert held; the reader
has seen in what kind of room: and if the Artists enter-
tained here for that function were enumerated (high
names, not yet forgotten in the Musical world), it would
still more astonish readers. I count them to the num-
ber of Twenty or Nineteen; and mention only that
"the two Brothers Graun" and "the two Brothers Benda"
were of the lot; suppressing four other Fiddlers of emi-
nence, and "a Pianist who is known to everybody. "*
The Prince has a fine sensibility to Music: does him-
self, with thrilling adagios on the flute, join in these
harmonious acts; and, no doubt, if rightly vigilant
against the Nonsenses, gets profit, now and henceforth,
from this part of his resources.
He has visits, calls to make, on distinguished per-
sons within reach; he has much Correspondence, of a
Literary or Social nature. For instance, there is Suhm
the Saxon Envoy translating Wolfs Philosophy into
French for him: sending it in fascicles; with endless
* Hennert, p. 21.
9*
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? 132 AT REIHSBEKG. [book*.
Aug. 1736.
Letters to and from, upon it, -- which were then
highly interesting, but are now dead to every reader.
The Crown-Prince has got a Post-Office established at
Reinsberg; leathern functionary of some sort comes
lumbering round, southward, "from the Mecklenburg
"quarter twice a week, and goes by Fehrbellin," for
the benefit of his Correspondences. Of his calls in the
neighbourhood, we mean to show the reader one sample,
before long; and only one.
There are Lists given us of the Prince's "Court"
at Reinsberg; and one reads, and again reads, the
dreariest unmemorable accounts of them; but cannot,
with all one's industry, attain any definite understand-
ing of what they were employed in, day after day, at
Reinsberg: -- still more are their salaries and main-
tenance a mystery to us, in that frugal establishment
.
There is Wolden for Hofmarschall, our old Ciistrin
friend; there is Colonel Senning, old Marlborough Co-
lonel with the wooden leg, who taught Friedrich his
drillings and artillery-practices in boyhood, a fine
sagacious old gentleman this latter. There is a M.
Jordan, Ex-Preacher, an ingenious Prussian-French-
man, still young, who acts as "Reader and Librarian;"
of whom we shall hear a good deal more. "Intendant"
is Captain (Ex-Captain) Knobelsdorf; a very sensible
accomplished man, whom we saw once at Baireuth;
who has been to Italy since, and is now returned with
beautiful talents for Architecture: it is he that now
undertakes the completing of Reinsberg,* which he
* Hcnnort, p. 29.
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? CHaP. I. J MANSION OF REINSBERG. 133
Aug. 1736.
will skilfully accomplish in the course of the next
three years. Twenty Musicians on wind or string;
Painters, Antoine Pesne but one of them; Sculptors,
Glume and others of eminence; and Hof Cavaliers, to
we know not what extent: -- How was such a Court
kept up, in harmonious free dignity, and no halt in its
finances, or mean pinch of any kind visible? The
Prince did get in debt; but not deep, and it was mainly
for the tall recruits he had to purchase. His money-
accounts are by no means fully known to me: but I
should question if his expenditure (such is my guess)
ever reached 3,0001, a year; and am obliged to reflect
more and more, as the ancient Cato did, what an ad-
mirable revenue frugality is!
Many of the Cavaliers, I find, for one thing, were
of the Regiment Goltz; that was one evident economy.
"Rittmeister von Chasot," as the Books call him:
readers saw that Chasot flying to Prince Eugene, and
know him since the Siege of Philipsburg. He is not
yet Rittmeister, or Captain of Horse, as he became;
but is of the Ruppin Garrison; Hof-Cavalier; "attended
Friedrich on his late Prussian journey;" and is much
a favourite, when he can be spared from Ruppin.
Captain Wylich, afterwards a General of mark; the
Lieutenant Buddenbrock who did the parson-charivari
at Ruppin, but is now reformed from those practices:
all these are of Goltz. Colonel Keyserling, not of
Goltz, nor in active military duty here, is a friend of
very old standing; was officially named as "Com-
panion" to the Prince, a long while back; and got into
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? 134 AT REINSBERG. [BooK X,
aug. 1736.
trouble on his account in the disastrous Ante-Ciistrin or
Flight Epoch: one of the Prince's first acts, when he
got pardoned, after Custrin, was to beg for the pardon
of this Keyserling; and now he has him here, and is
very fond of him. A Courlander, of good family, this
Keyserling; of good gifts too, -- which, it was once
thought, would be practically sublime; for he carried
off all manner of college prizes, and was the Admirable-
Crichton of Konigsberg University and the Graduates
there. But in the end they proved to be gifts of the
vocal sort rather; and have led only to what we see.
A man, I should guess, rather of buoyant vivacity than
of depth or strength in intellect or otherwise. Exces-
sively buoyant, ingenious; full of wit, kindly exuber-
ance; a loyal-hearted gay-tempered man, and much a
favourite in society as well as with the Prince. If we
were to dwell on Reinsberg, Keyserling would come
prominently forward.
Major von Stille, ultimately Major-General von
Stille, I should also mention: near twenty years older
than the Prince; a wise thoughtful soldier (went, by
permission, to the Siege of Dantzig lately, to improve
himself); a man capable of rugged service, when the
time comes. His military writings were once in con-
siderable esteem with professional men; and still im-
press a lay reader with favourable notions towards
Stille, as a man of real worth and sense. *
* Campagnes du Roi de Prion; -- a posthumous Book; anterior to the
Seven-Years War.
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? CHaP. XI. ] END OF WAR. 115
May 1736.
matter; and, for his own share, winded up by a strict
prohibition of Prussian recruiting in any and every part
of the Imperial Dominions. Which Friedrich Wilhelm
took extremely ill. This is from a Letter of his to the
Crown-Prince, and after the first gust of wrath had
spent itself: "It is a clear disadvantage, this prohibition
"of recruiting in the Kaiser's Countries. That is our
"thanks for the Ten Thousand men sent him, and for
"all the deference I have shown the Kaiser at all
"times; and by this you may see that it would be of
"no use if one even sacrificed oneself to him. So long
"as they need us, they continue to flatter; but no
"sooner is the strait thought to be over, and help not
"wanted, than they pull off the mask, and have not
"the least acknowledgment. The considerations that
"will occur to you on this matter may put it in your
"power to be prepared against similar occasions in time
"coming. " *
Thus, again, in regard to the winter-quarters of the
Ziethen Hussars. Prussian Majesty, we recollect, had
sent a Supernumerary Squadron to the last Campaign
on the Rhine. They were learning their business,
Friedrich Wilhelm knew; but also were fighting for
the Kaiser, -- that was what the Kaiser knew about
them. Somewhat to his surprise, in the course of next
year, Friedrich Wilhelm received, from the Vienna
War-Office, a little Bill of 10,284 florins (1,028Z. 8s. ),
charged to him for the winter-quarters of these Hussars.
He at once paid the little Bill, with only this observa-
* 6th February 1736; (Euvres de Frederic, xxvii. part 3d, p. 102.
8<<
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? 116 friedrich's apprenticeship, last STAGE. [boOKIX.
May 1736.
tion: "Heartily glad that I can help the Imperial JEra- "rium with that 1,028/. 8s. With the sincerest wishes
"for hundred thousandfold increase to it in said j? ra-
"rium; otherwise it won't go very far! "*
At a later period, in the course of his disastrous
Turk War, the Kaiser, famishing for money, set about
borrowing a million gulden (100,000Z. ) from the Bank-
ing House Splittgerber and Daun at Berlin. Splitt-
gerber and Daun had not the money, could not raise
it: "Advance us that sum, in their name, your Majesty,"
proposes the Vienna Court: "There shall be three-per-
cent bonus, interest six per cent, and security beyond
all question! " To which fine offer his Majesty answers,
addressing Seckendorf Junior: "Touching the proposal
"of my lifting the Bankers Splittgerber and Daun up
"behind me, with a million gulden, to assist in that loan
"of theirs, -- said proposal, as I am not a merchant
"accustomed to deal in profits and percentages, cannot
"in that form take effect. Out of old friendship, how-
"ever, I am, on Theiro Imperial Majesty's request, ex-
"tremely ready to pay down, once and away (d fond
"perdu), a couple of million gulden, provided the Im-
perial Majesty will grant me the conditions known to
"your Uncle" (fulfilment of that now oldish Jiilich-and- Berg promise, namely! ), "which are fair. In such
"case the thing shall be rapidly completed! "**
In a word, Friedrich Wilhelm falls out with the
Kaiser more and more; experiences more and more
* Letter to Seckendorf (Senior): Forster, 1i. 150.
<<<< Fb'rstor, ii. 151 (without date there).
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? CHAP. 33. ] END OF WAR. 117
May 1736.
what a Kaiser this has been towards him. Queen
Sophie has fallen silent in the History-Books; both the
Majesties may look remorsefully, but perhaps best in
silence, over the breakages and wrecks this Kaiser has
brought upon them. Friedrich Wilhelm does not meanly
hate the Kaiser: good man, he sometimes pities him;
sometimes, we perceive, has a touch of authentic con-
tempt for him. But his thoughts, in that quarter, pre-
mature old age aggravating them, are generally of a
tragic nature, not to be spoken without tears; and the
tears have a flash at the bottom of them, when he looks
round on Fritz and says, "There is one, though, that
will avenge me! " Friedrich Wilhelm, to the last a
broad strong phenomenon, keeps wending downward,
homeward, from this point; the Kaiser too, we perceive,
is rapidly consummating his enormous Spectre-Hunts
and Duels with Termagants, and before long will be
at rest. We are well-nigh done with both these Ma-
jesties.
The Crown-Prince, by his judicious obedient pro-
cedures in these Four Years at Ruppin, at a distance
from Papa, has, as it were, completed his Apprentice-
ship; and, especially by this last Inspection-Journey
into Preussen, may be said to have delivered his Proof-
Essay with a distinguished success. He is now out of
his Apprenticeship; entitled to lift his Indentures, when-
ever need shall be. The rugged old Master cannot
but declare him competent, qualified to try his own
hand without supervision: -- after all those unheard-of
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? 118 friedrich's apprenticeship, last stage, [book IX.
May 1736.
confusions, like to set the shop on fire at one time, it
is a blessedly successful Apprenticeship! Let him now,
theoretically at least, in the realms of Art, Literature,
Spiritual Improvement, do his Wanderjahre, over at
Reinsberg, still in the old region, -- still well apart
from Papa, who agrees best not in immediate contact;
-- and be happy in the new Domesticities, and larger
opportunities, provided for him there; till a certain time
come, which none of us are in haste for.
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? BOOK X.
AT KEINSBEEG.
1736-1740.
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? Aug. 1736.
CHAPTER L
MANSION OF REINSBERG.
On the Crown-Prince's Marriage, three years ago,
when the Amt or Government-District Ruppin, with its
incomings, was assigned to him for revenue, we heard
withal of a Residence getting ready. Hint had fallen
from the Prince, That Reinsberg, an old Couutry-seat,
standing with its Domain round it in that little Terri-
tory of Ruppin, and probably purchaseable as was
understood, might be pleasant, were it once his and
well put in repair. Which hint the kind paternal Ma-
jesty instantly proceeded to act upon. He straightway
gave orders for the purchase of Reinsberg; concluded
said purchase, on fair terms, after some months bar-
gaining;* -- and set his best Architect, one Kemeter,
to work, in concert with the Crown-Prince, to new-
build and enlarge the decayed Schloss of Reinsberg
into such a Mansion as the young Royal Highness and
his Wife would like.
Kemeter has been busy, all this while; a solid, ele-
gant, yet frugal builder: and now the main body of the
Mansion is complete, or nearly so, the wings and ad-
juncts going steadily forward; Mansion so far ready
* 23d October 1733, order given, -- 16th March 1734, purchase completed
(Preuss, i. 75).
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? 122 AT EEINSBERG. [book X.
6th Aug. 1736.
that the Royal Highnesses can take up their abode in
it. Which they do, thi3 Autumn, 1736; and fairly
commence Joint Housekeeping, in a permanent manner.
Hitherto it has been intermittent only: hitherto the
Crown-Princess has resided in their Berlin Mansion, or
in her own Country-House at Schonhausen; Husband
not habitually with her, except when on leave of ab-
sence from Kuppin, in Carnival time or for shorter
periods. At Ruppin his life has been rather that of a
bachelor, or husband abroad on business, up to this
time. But now at Reinsberg they do kindle the sacred
hearth together; "6th August 1736" the date of that
important event. They have got their Court about
them, dames and cavaliers more than we expected;
they have arranged the furnitures of their existence
here on fit scale, and set up their Lares and Penates
on a thrifty footing. Majesty and Queen come out on
a visit to them next month; * -- raising the sacred
hearth into its first considerable blaze, and crowning
the operation in a human manner.
And so there has a new epoch arisen for the Crown- Prince and his Consort. A new, and much improved
one. It lasted into the fourth year; rather improving
all the way: and only Kingship, which, if a higher
sphere, was a far less pleasant one, put an end to it
.
Friedrich's happiest time was this at Reinsberg; the
little Four Years of Hope, Composure, realisable Ide-
alism: an actual snatch of something like the Idyllic,
appointed him in a life-pilgrimage consisting otherwise
* 4th September 1736 (lb. ).
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? CHaP. I. ] MANSION OP REINSBERG. 123
Aug. 1736.
of realisms oftenest contradictory enough, and some-
times of very grim complexion. He is master of his
work, he is adjusted to the practical conditions set
him: conditions once complied with, daily work done,
he lives to the Muses, to the spiritual improvements, to
the social enjoyments; and has, though not without
flaws of ill weather, -- from the Tobacco Parliament
perhaps rather less than formerly, and from the Finance-
quarter perhaps rather more, -- a sunny time. His in-
nocent insipidity of a Wife, too, appears to have been
happy. She had the charm of youth, of good looks; a
wholesome perfect loyalty of character withal; and did
not "take to pouting," as was once apprehended of her,
but pleasantly gave and received of what was going.
This poor Crown-Princess, afterward Queen, has been
heard, in her old age, reverting, in a touching transient
way, to the glad days she had at Reinsberg. Com-
plaint openly was never heard from her, in any kind
of days; but these doubtless were the best of her life.
Reinsberg, we said, is in the Amt Ruppin; naturally
under the Crown-Prince's government at present: the
little Town or Village of Reinsberg stands about ten
miles north of the Town Ruppin; -- not quite a third-
part as big as Ruppin is in our time, and much more
pleasantly situated. The country about is of comfort-
able, not unpicturesque character; to be distinguished
almost as beautiful, in that region of sand and moor.
Lakes abound in it; tilled fields, heights called "hills;"
and wood of fair growth, -- one reads of "beech-
avenues," of "high linden-avenues:" -- a country
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? 124 AT KEINSBERG. [BooK X.
Aug. 1736.
rather of the ornamented sort, before the Prince with
his improvements settled there. Many lakes and
lakelets in it, as usual hereabouts; the loitering waters
straggle, all over that region, into meshes of lakes.
Reinsberg itself, Village and Schloss, stands on the
edge of a pleasant Lake, last of a mesh of such: the
summary, or outfall, of which, already here a good
strong brook or stream, is called the Rhein, Rhyn, or
Rein; and gives name to the little place. We heard
of the Rein at Ruppin: it is there counted as a kind
of river; still more, twenty miles farther down, where
it falls into the Havel, on its way to the Elbe. The
waters, I think, are drab-coloured, not peat-brown: and
here, at the source, or outfall from that mesh of lakes,
where Reinsberg is, the country seems to bo about the
best; -- sufficient, in picturesqueness and otherwise, to
satisfy a reasonable man.
The little Town is very old; but, till the Crown-
Prince settled there, had no peculiar vitality in it. I
think there are now some potteries, glass-manufactories:
Friedrich Wilhelm, just while the Crown-Prince was
removing thither, settled a first Glass-work there; which
took good root, and rose to eminence in the crystal,
Bohemian-crystal, white-glass, cut-glass, and other
commoner lines, in the Crown-Prince's time. *
Reinsberg stands on the east or southeast side of
its pretty Lake: Lake is called "the Grinerick See"
(as all those remote Lakes have their names); Mansion
* DetchreibHng des Lnstschlosses Ac. zu Reinsberg (Berlin, 1778). Author,
a 'Lieutenant Hennert,' thoroughly acquainted with his subject.
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? CHAP. I. ] MANSION OF REINSBERG. 125
Aug. 1736.
is between the Town and Lake. A Mansion fronting,
we may say, four ways; for it is of quadrangular form,
with a wet moat from the Lake begirdling it, and has
a spacious court for interior: but the principal entrance
is from the Town side; for the rest, the Building is
ashlar on all sides, front and rear.
Stands there, hand-
somely abutting on the Lake with two Towers, a
Tower at each angle, which it has on that lakeward side;
and looks, over Reinsberg, and its steeple rising amid
friendly umbrage which hides the housetops, towards
the rising sun. Townward there is room for a spacious
esplanade; and then for the stables, outbuildings, well
masked; which still farther shut off the Town. To
this day, Reinsberg stands with the air of a solid
respectable Edifice; still massive, rain-tight, though
long since deserted by the Princeships, -- by Friedrich
nearly six-score years ago, and nearly three-score by
Prince Henri, a Brother of Friedrich's, who afterwards
had it. Last accounts I got were, of talk there had
risen of planting an extensive Normal-School there;
which promising plan had been laid aside again for
the time.
The old Schloss, residence of the Bredows and
other feudal people for a long while, had good solid
masonry in it, and around it orchards, potherb gardens;
which Friedrich Wilhelm's Architects took good care
to extend and improve, not to throw away: the result
of their art is what we see, a beautiful Country-House,
what might be called a Country-Palace with all its
adjuncts; -- and at a rate of expense which would fill
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? 126
[book x.
AT REINSBERG.
Aug. 1736.
English readers, of this time, with amazement. Much is
admirable to us as we study Reinsberg, what it had been,
what it became, and how it was made; but nothing more
so than the small modicum of money it cost. To our
wondering thought, it seems as if the shilling, in those
parts, were equal to the guinea in these; and the reason,
if we ask it, is by no means flattering altogether.
"Change in the value of money? " Alas, reader, no;
that is not above the fourth part of the phenomenon.
Three-fourths of the phenomenon are change in the
methods of administering money, -- difference between
managing it with wisdom and veracity on both sides,
and managing it with unwisdom and mendacity on both
sides. Which is very great indeed; and infinitely
sadder than any one, in these times, will believe! --
But we cannot dwell on this consideration. Let the
reader take it with him, as a constant accompaniment
in whatever work of Friedrich Wilhelm's or of Fried-
rich his Son's, he now or at any other time may be
contemplating. Impious waste, which means disorder
and dishonesty, and loss of much other than money to
all parties, -- disgusting aspect of human creatures,
master and servant, working together as if they were
not human, -- will be spared him in those foreign
departments; and in an English heart, thoughts will
arise, perhaps, of a wholesome tendency, though very
sad, as times are. t
It would but weary the reader to describe this
Crown-Prince Mansion; which, by desperate study of
our abstruse materials, it is possible to do with auc-
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? CHaP. 1. 1 MANSION OF REINSBEKG. 127
Aug. 1736.
tioneer minuteness. There are engraved Views of
Reinsberg and its Environs; which used to lie con-
spicuous in the portfolios of collectors, -- which I have
not seen. * Of the House itself, engraved Frontages
{? hgades), Groundplans, are more accessible; and along
with them, descriptions which are little descriptive, --
wearisomely detailed, and as it were dark by excess
of light (auctioneer light) thrown on them. The reader
sees, in general, a fine symmetrical Block of Buildings,
standing in rectangular shape, in the above locality:
-- about two hundred English feet, each, the two
longer sides measure, the Townward and the Lake-
ward, on their outer front: about a hundred and thirty,
each, the two shorter; or a hundred and fifty, taking
in their Towers just spoken of. The fourth or Lake-
ward side, however, which is one of the longer pair,
consists mainly of "Colonnade;" spacious Colonnade
"with vases and statues;" catching up the outskirts of
said Towers, and handsomely uniting everything.
Beyond doubt, a dignified, substantial pile of stone-
work; all of good proportions. Architecture every-
where of cheerfully serious, solidly graceful character;
all of sterling ashlar; the due risalites (projecting
spaces) with their attics and statues atop, the due
architraves, cornices and corbels, -- in short, the due
opulence of ornament being introduced, and only the
due. Genuine sculptors, genuine painters, artists have
been busy; and in fact all the suitable fine arts, and
all the necessary solid ones, have worked together,
* See Hennert, jnst cited, for the titles of them.
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? 128
[BooK X. Aug. 1736.
AT REINSBERG.
with a noticeable fidelity, comfortable to the very
beholder to this day. General height is about forty
feet; two stories of ample proportions: the Towers
overlooking them are sixty feet in height. Extent of
outer frontage, if you go all round, and omit the
Colonnade, will be five hundred feet and more: this,
with the rearward face, is a thousand feet of room
frontage: -- fancy the extent of lodging space. For
"all the kitchens and appurtenances are underground;"
the "left front" (which is a new part of the Edifice)
rising comfortably over these. Windows I did not
count; but they must go high up into the Hundreds.
No end to lodging space. Nay in a detached side-
edifice subsequently built, called Cavalier House, I
read of there being, for one item, "fifty lodging-rooms,"
and for another "a theatre. " And if an English Duke
of Trumps were to look at the bills for all that, -- his
astonishment would be extreme, and perhaps in a
degree painful and salutary to him.
In one of these Towers, the Crown-Prince has his
Library: a beautiful apartment; nothing wanting to it
that the arts could furnish, "ceiling done by Pesne"
with allegorical geniuses and what not; looks out on
mere sky, mere earth and water in an ornamental
state: silent as in Elysium. It is there we are to fancy
the Correspondence written, the Poetries and literary
industries going on. There or stepping down for a
turn in the open air, or sauntering meditatively under
the Colonnade with its statues and vases (where
weather is no object), one commands the Lake, with
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? CHaP. 1. 1 MANSION OF REINSBERG. 129
Aug. 1736.
its little tufted Islands, "Remus Island" much famed
among them, and "high beechwoods" on the farther
side. The Lake is very pretty, all say; lying between
you and the sunset; -- with perhaps some other
lakelet, or solitary pool in the wilderness, many miles
away, "revealing itself as a cup of molten gold," at
that interesting moment. What the Book-Collection
was, in the interior, I know not except by mere guess.
The Crown-Princess's Apartment, too, which re-
mained unaltered at the last accounts had of it,* is
very fine; -- take the anteroom for specimen: "This
fine room," some twenty feet height of ceiling, "has six
"windows; three of them, in the main front, looking
"towards the Town, the other three towards the In-
"terior Court. The light from these windows is
"heightened by mirrors covering all the piers (Schdfte,
"interspaces of the walls), to an uncommonly splendid
"pitch; and shows the painting of the ceiling, which
"again is by the famous Pesne, to much perfection.
"The Artist himself, too, has managed to lay on his
"colours there so softly, and with such delicate skill,
"that the light-beams seem to prolong themselves in
"the painted clouds and air, as if it were the real sky
"you had overhead. " There in that cloud-region
"Mars is being disarmed by the Love-Goddesses, and
"they are sporting with his weapons. He stretches out
"his arm towards the Goddess, who looks upon him
"with fond glances. Cupids are spreading out a
"draping. " That is Pesne's luxurious performance in
* From Hennert, namely, in 1778.
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. V. 9
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? 130 AT REINSBERG. [book X.
Aug. 1736.
the ceiling. -- "Weapon-festoons, in basso-relievo, gilt,
"adorn the walls of this room; and two Pictures, also
"by Pesne, which represent, in life size, the late King
and Queen" (our good friends Friedrich Wilhelm and
his Sophie), "are worthy of attention. Over each of
"the doors, you find in low-relief the Profiles of
"Hannibal, Pompey, Scipjo, Caesar, introduced as Me-
dallions"
All this is very fine: but all this is little to another
ceiling, in some big Saloon elsewhere, Music-saloon I
think: Black Night, making off, with all her sickly
dews, at one end of the ceiling; and at the other end,
the Steeds of Phoebus bursting forth, and the glittering
shafts of Day, -- with Cupids, Love-goddesses, War-
gods, not omitting Bacchus and his vines, all getting
beautifully awake in consequence. A very fine room
indeed; -- used as a Music-Saloon, or I know not
what, -- and the ceiling of it almost an ideal, say the
connoisseurs. --
Endless gardens, pavilions, grottoes, hermitages,
orangeries, artificial ruins, parks and pleasances sur-
round this favoured spot and its Schloss; nothing want-
ing in it that a Prince's establishment needs, -- except
indeed it be hounds, for which this Prince never had
the least demand.
Except the old Ruppin duties, which imply con-
tinual journeyings thither, distance only a morning's
ride; except these, and occasional commissions from
Papa, Friedrich is left master of his time and pursuits
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? CHaP. I. ] MANSION OP REINSBERG. 131
Aug. 1736.
in this new Mansion. There are visits to Potsdam,
periodical appearances at Berlin; some Correspondence
to keep the Tobacco-Parliament in tune. But Fried-
rich's taste is for the Literatures, Philosophies: a young
Prince bent seriously to cultivate his mind; to attain
some clear knowledge of this world, so all-important to
him. And he does seriously read, study and reflect, a
good deal; his main recreations, seemingly, are Music,
and the converse of well-informed friendly men. In
Music we find him particularly rich. Daily, at a fixed
hour of the afternoon, there is concert held; the reader
has seen in what kind of room: and if the Artists enter-
tained here for that function were enumerated (high
names, not yet forgotten in the Musical world), it would
still more astonish readers. I count them to the num-
ber of Twenty or Nineteen; and mention only that
"the two Brothers Graun" and "the two Brothers Benda"
were of the lot; suppressing four other Fiddlers of emi-
nence, and "a Pianist who is known to everybody. "*
The Prince has a fine sensibility to Music: does him-
self, with thrilling adagios on the flute, join in these
harmonious acts; and, no doubt, if rightly vigilant
against the Nonsenses, gets profit, now and henceforth,
from this part of his resources.
He has visits, calls to make, on distinguished per-
sons within reach; he has much Correspondence, of a
Literary or Social nature. For instance, there is Suhm
the Saxon Envoy translating Wolfs Philosophy into
French for him: sending it in fascicles; with endless
* Hennert, p. 21.
9*
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? 132 AT REIHSBEKG. [book*.
Aug. 1736.
Letters to and from, upon it, -- which were then
highly interesting, but are now dead to every reader.
The Crown-Prince has got a Post-Office established at
Reinsberg; leathern functionary of some sort comes
lumbering round, southward, "from the Mecklenburg
"quarter twice a week, and goes by Fehrbellin," for
the benefit of his Correspondences. Of his calls in the
neighbourhood, we mean to show the reader one sample,
before long; and only one.
There are Lists given us of the Prince's "Court"
at Reinsberg; and one reads, and again reads, the
dreariest unmemorable accounts of them; but cannot,
with all one's industry, attain any definite understand-
ing of what they were employed in, day after day, at
Reinsberg: -- still more are their salaries and main-
tenance a mystery to us, in that frugal establishment
.
There is Wolden for Hofmarschall, our old Ciistrin
friend; there is Colonel Senning, old Marlborough Co-
lonel with the wooden leg, who taught Friedrich his
drillings and artillery-practices in boyhood, a fine
sagacious old gentleman this latter. There is a M.
Jordan, Ex-Preacher, an ingenious Prussian-French-
man, still young, who acts as "Reader and Librarian;"
of whom we shall hear a good deal more. "Intendant"
is Captain (Ex-Captain) Knobelsdorf; a very sensible
accomplished man, whom we saw once at Baireuth;
who has been to Italy since, and is now returned with
beautiful talents for Architecture: it is he that now
undertakes the completing of Reinsberg,* which he
* Hcnnort, p. 29.
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? CHaP. I. J MANSION OF REINSBERG. 133
Aug. 1736.
will skilfully accomplish in the course of the next
three years. Twenty Musicians on wind or string;
Painters, Antoine Pesne but one of them; Sculptors,
Glume and others of eminence; and Hof Cavaliers, to
we know not what extent: -- How was such a Court
kept up, in harmonious free dignity, and no halt in its
finances, or mean pinch of any kind visible? The
Prince did get in debt; but not deep, and it was mainly
for the tall recruits he had to purchase. His money-
accounts are by no means fully known to me: but I
should question if his expenditure (such is my guess)
ever reached 3,0001, a year; and am obliged to reflect
more and more, as the ancient Cato did, what an ad-
mirable revenue frugality is!
Many of the Cavaliers, I find, for one thing, were
of the Regiment Goltz; that was one evident economy.
"Rittmeister von Chasot," as the Books call him:
readers saw that Chasot flying to Prince Eugene, and
know him since the Siege of Philipsburg. He is not
yet Rittmeister, or Captain of Horse, as he became;
but is of the Ruppin Garrison; Hof-Cavalier; "attended
Friedrich on his late Prussian journey;" and is much
a favourite, when he can be spared from Ruppin.
Captain Wylich, afterwards a General of mark; the
Lieutenant Buddenbrock who did the parson-charivari
at Ruppin, but is now reformed from those practices:
all these are of Goltz. Colonel Keyserling, not of
Goltz, nor in active military duty here, is a friend of
very old standing; was officially named as "Com-
panion" to the Prince, a long while back; and got into
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijl Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 134 AT REINSBERG. [BooK X,
aug. 1736.
trouble on his account in the disastrous Ante-Ciistrin or
Flight Epoch: one of the Prince's first acts, when he
got pardoned, after Custrin, was to beg for the pardon
of this Keyserling; and now he has him here, and is
very fond of him. A Courlander, of good family, this
Keyserling; of good gifts too, -- which, it was once
thought, would be practically sublime; for he carried
off all manner of college prizes, and was the Admirable-
Crichton of Konigsberg University and the Graduates
there. But in the end they proved to be gifts of the
vocal sort rather; and have led only to what we see.
A man, I should guess, rather of buoyant vivacity than
of depth or strength in intellect or otherwise. Exces-
sively buoyant, ingenious; full of wit, kindly exuber-
ance; a loyal-hearted gay-tempered man, and much a
favourite in society as well as with the Prince. If we
were to dwell on Reinsberg, Keyserling would come
prominently forward.
Major von Stille, ultimately Major-General von
Stille, I should also mention: near twenty years older
than the Prince; a wise thoughtful soldier (went, by
permission, to the Siege of Dantzig lately, to improve
himself); a man capable of rugged service, when the
time comes. His military writings were once in con-
siderable esteem with professional men; and still im-
press a lay reader with favourable notions towards
Stille, as a man of real worth and sense. *
* Campagnes du Roi de Prion; -- a posthumous Book; anterior to the
Seven-Years War.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:22 GMT / http://hdl.
