PEEP AT
VOLTAIRE
AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE (BY CANDLE-
LIGHT) IN THE TIDE OF EVENTS.
LIGHT) IN THE TIDE OF EVENTS.
Thomas Carlyle
Pommern, which they call the Provincia lili-
"giosa; try it there first! "** AndCocceji, a vigorous old man
of sixty-seven, one of the most learned of Lawyers, and a
very Hercules in cleaning Law-Stables, has, on Friedrich's
urgencies, -- which have been repeated on every breathing-
time of Peace there has been, and even sometimes in the
middle of War (last January, 1745, for example; and again,
express Order, January 1746, a fortnight after Peace was
signed), -- actually got himself girt for this salutary work.
"Wash me out that horror of accumulation, let us see the old
"Pavements of the place again. Every Lawsuit to be finished
"within the Year! "
Cocceji, who had been meditating such matters for a great
? Seyfarth, n. 22, 23.
** Ranke, n. 392.
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? CHAP. I. ]
10th Jan. 1747.
6ANS-S0UCI.
261while, * and was himself eager to proceed, in spite of con-
siderable wigged oppositions and secret reluctances that
there were, did now, on that fiat of September 15th, get his
Select Commission of Six riddled together and adjoined to
him, -- the likeliest Six that Prussia, in her different Pro-
vinces, could yield; -- and got the Stande of Pommern, after
due committee-ing and deliberating, to consent and promise
help. December 31st, 1746, was the day the Stande con-
sented: and January 10th, 1747, Cocceji and his Six set out
for Pommern. On a longish Enterprise, in that Province and
the others; -- of which we shall have to take notice, and give
at least the dates as they occur.
To sweep out pettifogging Attorneys, cancel improper
Advocates, to regulate Fees; to war, in a calm but deadly
manner, against pedantries, circumlocutions, and the multi-
plied forms of stupidity, cupidity, and human owlery in this
department; -- and, on the whole, to realise from every
Court, now and onwards, "A decision to all Lawsuits, within
"a Year after their beginning. " This latter result, Friedrich
thinks, will itself be highly beneficial; and be the sign of all
manner of improvements. And Cocceji, scanning it with
those potent law-eyes of his, ventures to assure him that it
will be possible. As, in fact, it proved, -- honour to Cocceji
and his King, and King's Father withal. "Samuel von
"Cocceji" (says an old Note), "son of a Law-Professor, and
"himself once such, -- was picked up by Friedrich Wilhelm,
"for the Official career, many years ago. A man of whole-
"some, by no means weakly aspect, -- to judge by his Por-
"trait, which is the chief'Biography'I have ofhim. Potent
"eyes and eyebrows, ditto blunt nose; honest, almost care-
"less lips, and deep chin well dewlapped: extensive pene-
"frative face, not pincered together, but potently fallen
"closed; -- comfortable to see, in a wig of such magnitude.
"Friedrich, a judge of men, calls him 'a man of sterling cha-
"' racter (caractere integre et droit), whose qualities would have
"'suited the noble times of the Eoman Republic'" ** He has
his Herculean battle, his Master and he have, with the Owler-
* "1st March 1738," Friedrich Wilhelm's "Edict" on Law Keform:
Cocceji ready, at that time; -- but his then Majesty forbore.
** (Euvres, iv. 2.
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? 262 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
1746-1M7.
ies and the vulturous Law-Pedantries,-- which I always love
Friedrich for detesting as he does: -- and, during the next
five years, the world will hear often of Cocceji, and of this
Prussian Law-Reform by Friedrich and him.
HisMajesty's exertions to makePeace were not successful;
what does lie in his power is, to keep out of the quarrel him-
self. It appears great hopes were entertained, by some in
England, of gaining Friedrich over; of making him Supreme
Captain to the Cause of Liberty. And prospects were held
out to him, quasi-offers made, of a really magnificent nature,
-- undeniable, though obscure. Herr Ranke has been among
the Archives again; and comes out with fractional snatches of
a very strange "Paper fromEngland;" capriciously hiding all
details about it, all intelligible explanation: so that you in vain
ask, "Where, When, How, By whom? " -- and can only guess
to yourself that Carteret was somehow at the bottom of the
thing; aut Carteretus aut Diabolus. "What would your Majesty
think to be elected Stadtholder of Holland? Without a Stadt-
holder, these Dutch are worth nothing; not hoistable, nor of
use when hoisted, all palavering and pulling different ways.
Must have a Stadtholder; and one that stands firm on some
basis of his own. Stadtholder of Holland, King of Prussia, --
you then, in such position, take the reins of this poor flounder-
ing English-Dutch Germanic Anti-French War, you; and
drive it in the style you have. Conquer back the Netherlands
to us; French Netherlands as well. French and Austrian
Netherlands together, yours in perpetuity; Dutch Stadtholder-
ate as good as ditto: this, with Prussia and its fighting capa-
bilities, will be a pleasant Protestant thing. Austria cares
little about the Netherlands, in comparison. Austria, getting
back its Lorraine andAlsace, will be content, will be strongon
its feet. What if it should even lose Italy? France, Spain,
Sardinia, the Italian Petty Principalities and Anarchies: sup-
pose they tug and tussle, and collapse there as they can? But
let France try to look across the Rhine again; and to threaten
Teutschland, England, and the Cause ofHuman Liberty tem-
poral or spiritual! "
This is authentically the purport of Herr Ranke's extra-
ordinary Document;* guessable as due to Carteretus or Dia-
* Ranke, m. 359.
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? CHAP. I. ] SANS-SOTJCI. 263
1746-17*7.
bolus. Here is an outlook; here is a career as Conquering
Hero, if that were one's line! A very magnificent ground-
plan; hung up to kindle the fancy of a young King, -- who is
far too prudent to go into it at all. More definite quasi-official
offers, it seems, were made him from the same quarter: Sub-
sidies to begin with, such subsidies as nobody ever had be-
fore ;say 1,000,000/. sterlingby the Year. To whichFriedrich
answered, "Subsidies, yourExcellency? " (Are We a Hackney-
Coachman, then? )-- and with much contempt, turned his back
on that offer. No fighting to be had, by purchase or seduction,
out of this young man. Will not play the Conquering Hero at
all, nor the Hackney-Coachman at all; has decided "not to
fight a cat" if let alone; but to do and endeavour a quite other
set of things, for the rest of his life.
Friedrich, readers can observe, is not uplifted with his
greatness. He has been too much beaten and bruised to be
anything but modestly thankful, for getting out of such a
deadly clash of chaotic swords. Seems to have little pride
even in his "Five Victories;" or hides it well. Talks not over-
much about these things; talks of them, so far as we can hear,
with his old comrades only, in praise of their prowesses; as a
simple human being, not as a supreme of captains; and at
times acknowledges, in a fine sincere way, the omnipotence of
Luck in matters of War.
One of the most characteristic traits, extensivelysymbolical
of Friedrich's intentions and outlooks at this Epoch, is his in-
stalling of himself in the little Dwelling-House, which has since
become so celebrated under the name of Sans-Souci. The plan
of Sans-Souci, --an elegant commodious little " Country Box,"
quite of modest pretensions, one story high; on the pleasant
Hill-top near Potsdam, with other little green Hills, and plea-
sant views of land and water, all round, -- had been sketched
in part by Friedrich himself; and the diggings and terracings
of the Hill-side were just beginning, when he quitted for the
Last War. 'April 14th, 1745,' while he lay in those perilous
enigmatic circumstances at Neisse with Pandours and devour-
ing bugbears round him, 'the foundation-stone was laid'
(Knobelsdorf being architect, once more, as in the old Reins-
berg case): and the work, which had been steadily proceeding
while the Master struggled in those dangerous battles and ad-
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? 264 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
1st May 1747.
ventures far away from it, was in good forwardness at his re-
turn. An object of cheerful interest to him; prophetic of calmer
years ahead.
It was not till May 1747, that the formal occupation took
place: "Mayday 1747," he had a grand House-heating, or
"First Dinner, of 200 covers: and May 19th-20th was the first
"night of his sleeping there. " For the next Forty Years,
especially as years advanced, he spent the most of his days
and nights in this little Mansion; which became more and
more his favourite retreat, whenever the noises and scenic
etiquettes were not inexorable. "Sans-Souci;" which we may
translate "No-Bother. " A busy place this too, but of the quiet
kind; and more a home to him than any of the Three fine
Palaces (ultimately Four), which lay always waiting for him
in the neighbourhood. Berlin and Charlottenburg are about
twenty miles off; Potsdam, which, like the other two, is rather
consummate among Palaces, lies leftwise in front of him
within a short mile. And at length, to right hand, in a similar
distance and direction, came the "Neue Schloss" (New Palace
of Potsdam), called also the "Palace of Sans-Souci," in distinc-
tion from the Dwelling-House, or as it were Garden-House,
which made that name so famous.
Certainly it is a significant feature of Friedrich; and dis-
closes the inborn proclivity he had to retirement, to study and
reflection, as the chosen element of human life. Why he fell
upon so ambitious a title for his Royal Cottage? "2Vb-Bother"
was not practically a thing he, of all men, could consider
possible in this world: at the utmost perhaps, by good care,
"Xess-Bother! " The name, it appears, came by accident.
He had prepared his Tomb, and various Tombs, in the skirts of
this new Cottage: lookingat these, as the building of them went
on, he was heard to say, one day (Spring, 1746), D'Argens
strolling beside him: "Qui, alorsje serai sans souci (Once there,
one will be out of bother)! " A saying which was rumoured
of, and repeated in society, being by such a man. Out of which
rumour in society, and the evident aim of the Cottage Royal,
there was gradually born, as Venus from the froth of the sea,
this name: "Sans-Souci;" -- which Friedrich adopted; and,
before the Year was out, had put upon his lintel in gold letters.
So that, by 'Mayday 1747,' the name was in all men's memo-
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? CHAP. I. ]
265
SANS-SOUCI.
1746-1747.
ries; and has continued ever since. * Tourists know this
Cottage Royal: Friedrich's "Three Rooms in it; one of them a
"Library; in another, a little Alcove with an iron Bed" (iron,
without curtains; old softened hat the usual royal nightcap)--
altogether a soldier's lodging: -- all this still stands as it did.
Cheerfully looking down on its garden-terraces, stairs, Greek
statues, and against the free sky: -- perhaps we may visit it in
time coming, and take a more special view. In the Years now
on hand, Friedrich, I think, did not much practically live
there, only shifted thither now and then. His chief residence
is still Potsdam Palace; and in Carnival time, that of Berlin;
with Charlottenburg for occasional festivities, especially in
summer, the gardens there being fine.
This of Sans-Souci is but portion of a wider Ten-
dency, wider set of endeavours on Friedrich's part,
which returns upon him now that Peace has returned:
That of improving his own Domesticities, while he
labours at so many public improvements. Gazing long
on that simmering "Typhoon of Marine-stores" above
mentioned, we do trace Three great Heads of En-
deavour in this Peace Period. First, the Reform of
Law; which, as above hinted, is now earnestly pushed
forward again, and was brought to what was thought
completion before long. With much rumour of ap-
plause from contemporary mankind. Concerning which
we are to give some indications, were it only dates in
their order: though, as the affair turned out not to be
completed, but had to be taken up again long after,
and is an affair lying wide of British ken, -- there
need not, and indeed cannot, be much said of it just
now. Secondly, there is eager Furthering of the Hus-
bandries, the Commerces, Practical Arts, -- especially
at present, that of Foreign Commerce, and Shipping
* Preuss, i. 268, &c. ; Nicolai, in. 1200.
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? 266 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
1746-1747.
from the Port of Embden. Which shall have due
notice. And thirdly, what must be our main topic here,
there is that of Improving the Domesticities, the House-
hold Enjoyments such as they were; -- specially de-
finable as Renewal of the old Reinsberg Program;
attempt more strenuous than ever to realise that beauti-
ful ideal. Which, and the total failure of which, and
the consequent quasi-abandonment of it for time coming,
are still, intrinsically and by accident, of considerable
interest to modern readers.
Curious, and in some sort touching, to observe how
that old original Life-Program still reemerges on this
King: "Something of melodious possible in one's poor
life, is not there? A Life to the Practical Duties, yes;
but to the Muses as well! " -- Of Friedrich's success
in his Law-Reforms, in his Husbandries, Commerces
and Furtherances, conspicuously great as it was, there
is no possibility of making careless readers cognisant
at this day. Only by the great results, -- a "Prussia
quadrupled" in his time, and the like, -- can studious
readers convince themselves, in a cold and merely sta-
tistic way. But in respect of Life to the Muses, we
have happily the means of showing that in actual
vitality; in practical struggle towards fulfilment, -- and
how extremely disappointing the result was. In a
word, Voltaire pays his Fifth and final Visit in this
Period; the Voltaire matter comes to its consummation.
To that, as to one of the few things which are perfectly
knowable in this Period of Ten-Years Peace, and in
which mankind still take interest, we purpose mostly
to devote ourselves here.
Ten years of a great King's life, ten busy years
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? CHAP. I. ]
267
SANS-SOUCI.
1740-1747.
too; and nothing visible in them, of main significance,
but a crash of Author's Quarrels, and the Crowning
Visit of Voltaire? Truly yes, reader; so it has been
ordered. Innumerable high-dressed gentlemen, gods of
this lower world, are gone all to inorganic powder, no
comfortable or profitable memory to be held of them
more; and this poor Voltaire, without implement except
the tongue and brain of him, -- he is still a shining
object to all the populations; and they say and symbol
to me, "Tell us of him! He is the man! " Very
strange indeed. Changed times since, for dogs barking
at the heels of him, and lions roaring ahead, -- for
Asses of Mirepoix, for foul creatures in high dizenment,
and foul creatures who were hungry valets of the same,
-- this man could hardly get the highways walked!
And indeed had to keep his eyes well open, and al-
ways have covert within reach, -- under pain of being
torn to pieces, while he went about in the flesh, or
rather in the bones, poor lean being. Changed times;
within the Century last past! For indeed there was
in that man what far transcends all dizenment, and
temporary potency over valets, over legions, treasure-
vaults, and dim millions mostly blockhead: a spark of
Heaven's own lucency, a gleam from the Eternities (in
small measure); -- which becomes extremely noticeable
when the Dance is over, when your tallow-dips and
wax-lights are burnt out, and the brawl of the night is
gone to bed.
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? 268
[book xvi. 1746-1747.
THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE.
CHAPTER II.
PEEP AT VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE (BY CANDLE-
LIGHT) IN THE TIDE OF EVENTS.
Public European affairs require little remembrance;
the War burning well to leeward of us henceforth. A
huge world of smoky chaos; the special fires of it, if
there be anything of fire, are all the more clear far in
the distance. Of which sort, and of which only, the
reader is to have notice. Marechal de Saxe, -- King
Louis oftenest personally there, to give his name and
countenance to things done, -- is very glorious in the
Netherlands; captures, sometimes by surprisal, place
after place (beautiful surprisal of Brussels last winter);
with sieges of Antwerp, Mons, Charleroi, victoriously
following upon Brussels: and, before the end of 1746,
he is close upon Holland itself; intent on having Namur
and Maestricht; for which the poor Sea-Powers, with a
handful of Austrians, fight two Battles, and are again
beaten both times. * A glorious, ever-victorious Mare-
chal; and has an Army very "high-toned," in more
than one sense: indeed, I think, one of the loudest-
toned Armies ever on the field before. Loud not with
* 1". Battle of Roucoux, 11th October 1746; Prince Karl commanding,
English taking mainly the stress of fight, -- Saxe having already outwitted
poor Karl, and got Namur. 2". Battle of Lawfelt, or Lauffeld, called also
of Vol, 2d July 1747; Royal Highness of Cumberland commanding (and
taking most of the stress; Ligonier made prisoner, &c. ), -- Dutch fighting
ill, and Bathyani and his Austrians hardly in the fire at all.
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? CHaP. II. ] VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMUJE. 269
1746-1747.
well-served Artillery alone, but with playactor Thun-
derbarrels (always an itinerant Theatre attends), with
gasconading talk, with orgies, debaucheries, -- busy
service of the Devil, and pleasant consciousness that
we are Heaven's masterpiece, and are in perfect readi-
ness to die at any moment; -- our elasticity and agility
("e'Zan" as we call it) well kept up, in that manner,
for the time being.
Hungarian Majesty, contrary to hope, neglects the
Netherlands, "Holland and England, for their own
sake, will manage there! " -- and directs all her re-
sources, and her lately Anti-Prussian Armies (General
Browne leading them) upon Italy, as upon the grand
interest now. Little to the comfort of the Sea-Powers.
But Hungarian Majesty is decided to cut in upon the
French and Spaniards, in that fine Country, -- who
had been triumphing too much of late; Maillebois and
Senor de Gages doing their mutual exploits (though
given to quarrel); Don Philip wintering in Milan even
(1745--1746); and the King of Sardinia getting into
French courses again.
Strong cuts her Hungarian Majesty does inflict, on
the Italian side; tumbles Infant Philip out of Milan
and his Carnival gaieties, in plenty of hurry; besieges Genoa, Marquis Botta dAdorno (our old acquaintance
Botta) her siege-captain, a native of this region; brings
back the wavering Sardinian Majesty; captures Genoa,
and much else. Captures Genoa, we say, -- had not
Botta been too rigorous on his countrymen, and pro-
voked a revolt again, Revolt of Genoa, which proved
difficult to settle. In fine, Hungarian Majesty has, in
the course of this year 1746, with aid of the reconfirmed
Sardinian Majesty, satisfactorily beaten the French and
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? 270
[book XVI. 1746-1747.
THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE.
Spaniards. Has, -- after two murderous Battles gained
over the Maillebois-Gages people, -- driven both French
and Spaniards into corners, Maillebois altogether home
again across the Var; -- nay has descended in actual
Invasion upon France itself. And, before New-year's
day 1747, General Browne is busy besieging Antibes,
aided by English Seventy-fours; so that "sixty French
Battalions" have to hurry home, from winter-quarters,
towards those Provencal Countries; and Mare'chal de
Belleisle, who commands there, has his hands full.
Triumphant enough her Hungarian Majesty, in Italy;
while in the Netherlands, the poor Sea-Powers have
met with no encouragement from the Fates or her. *
All which the reader may keep imagining at his con-
venience; -- but will be glad rather, for the present,
to go with us for an actual look at M. de Voltaire and
the divine Emilie, whom we have not seen for a long
time. Not much has happened in the interim; one or
two things only which it can concern us to know;--
scattered fragments of memorial, on the way thus far:
1? . M. de Voltaire has, in 1745, made way at Court. Divine
Emilie picked up her Voltaire from that fine Diplomatic
* "Battle of Piacenza" (Prince Lichtenstein, with whom is Browne,
versus Gages and Maillebois), 16th June 1746 (Adelung, v. 427); "Battle of
Rottofreddo" (Botta chief Austrian there, and our old friend Barenklau getting killed there), 12th August 1746 (ib. 462): whereupon, 1th September,
Genoa (which had declared itself Anti-Austrian latterly, not without cause,
and brought the tug of War into those parts) is coerced by Botta to open
its gates, on grievous terms (ib. 484-489); so that, November ZOlh, Browne,
no Bourbon Army now on the field, enters Provence (crosses the Var, that
day), and tries Antibes: 5th-llth December, Popular Revolt in Genoa, and
Expulsion of proud Botta and his Austrians (ib. 518-523); upon which sur-
prising event (which could not be mended during the remainder of the
War), Browne's enterprise became impossible. See Buonamici, Histoire de
la demiere Revolution de Genes; Adelung, v. 516; vi. 31; &c. fcc.
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? CHAP, n. l VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE. 271
1746-1747.
course, and went home with him out of our sight, in the end of
1743; the Diplomatic career gradually declaring itself barred
to him thenceforth. Since which, nevertheless, he has had his
successes otherwise, especially in his old Literary course: on
the whole, brighter sunshine than usual, though never without
tempestuous clouds attending. Goes about, with his divine
EmQie, now wearing browner and leaner, both of them, and
takes the good and evil of life, mostly in a quiet manner; sensible that afternoon is come.
The thrice-famous Pompadour, who had been known to
him in the Chrysalis state, did not forget him on becoming
Head-Butterfly of the Universe. By her help, one long wish
of his soul was gratified, and did not hunger or thirst any
more. Some uncertain footing at Court, namely, was at
length vouchsafed him: -- uncertain; for the Most Christian
Majesty always rather shuddered under those carbuncle eyes,
under that voice "sombre and majestious," with such turns
lying in it: -- some uncertain footing at Court; and from the
beginning of 1745, his luck, in the Court spheres, began to
mount in a wonderful and world-evident manner. On grounds
tragically silly, as he thought them. On the Dauphin's
Wedding, -- a Termagant's Infanta coming hither asDauphi-
ness, at this time, -- there needed to be Court-shows, Drama-
ticules, Transparencies, Feasts of Lanterns, or I know not
what. Voltaire was the chosen man; Voltaire and Rameau
(readers have heard of Rameau's Nephew, and musical readers
still esteem Rameau) did their feat; we may think with what
perfection, with what splendour of reward. Alas, and the feat
done was, to one of the parties, so unspeakably contemptible.
Voltaire pensively surveying Life, brushes the sounding
strings; and hums to himself, the carbuncle eyes carrying in
them almost something of wet:
"Mon Henri Quatre et ma Zaire,
"Et mon Americain Alzire,
"Ne m'ont jamais valu un seul regard du Hoi;
"J'avais mille enncmis ct Ires peu de gloirei
"Les honneurs et les Mens pleuvent enfin sur moi
"Pour une Farce de la Fuirc. " *
* "My Henri Quatrc, my Zaire, my Alzire' (high works very many),
"could never purchase me a single glance of the King; I had multitudes
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? 272 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [fiOOKXVI.
1746-1747.
Yes, my friend; it is a considerable ass, this world; by no
means the Perfectly Wise put at the top of it (as one could
wish), and the Perfectly Foolish at the bottom. Witness --
nay, witness Psyche Pompadour herself, is not she an em-
blem! Take your luck without criticism; luck good and bad
visits all.
2? . And got into the Academy next Year, in consequence. In
1746, the Academy itself, Pompadour favouring, is made
willing; Voltaire sees himself among the Forty: soul, on that
side too, be at ease, and hunger not nor thirst any more. *
This highest of felicities could notbe achieved without an ugly
accompanimentfrom the surroundingPopulace. Desfontaines
is dead, safe down in Sodom; butwants not for a whole succes-
sor, for a Doggery of such. Who are all awake, and giving
tongue on this occasion. There isM. Roithe "Poet," as he
was then reckoned; jingling Roi, who concocts satirical
calumnies; who collects old ones, reprints the same, -- and
sends Travenol, an Opera-Fiddler, to vend them. From which
sprang a Lawsuit, Proces Travenol, of famous melancholy sort.
As Voltaire had rather the habit of such sad melancholy Law-
suits, we will pause on this of Travenol for a moment:
3? . Summary of Travenol Lawsuit. "Monday, 9th May 1746,
"was the Day of reception at the Academy; reception and
"fruition, thrice savoury to Voltaire. But what an explosion
"of the Doggeries, before, during, and after that event!
"Voltaire had tried to be prudent, too. He had been corre-
"sponding with Popes, with Cardinals; and, in a fine frank-
"looking way, capturing their suffrages: -- not by lying,
"of enemies, and very little fame: -- honours and riches rain on me, at
"last, for a Farce of the Fair" ((Euvres, n. 151).
The "Farce" (which by no means called itself such) was Princessede
Navarre ((Euvres, Lxxin. 251): first acted, 23d February 1745, Day of the Wedding. Gentlemanship of the Chamber thereupon (which Voltaire, by
permission, sold, shortly after, for 2,500/. , with titles retained), and ap-
pointment as Historiographer Royal. Poor Dauphiness did not live long;
Louis XVI. 's Mother was a second Wife, Saxon-Polish Majesty's Daughter.
* "May 9th, 1746, Voltaire is received at the Academy; and makes a
"very fine Discourse" (Barbier, n. 488). (Euvres de Voltaire, i>xxm, 355,
385, and t. 97.
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? CHAP. II. ] VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE. 273
1746-1747.
"which in general he wishes to avoid, but by speaking half the
"truth; in short, by advancing, in a dexterous, diplomatic
"way, the tmcloven foot, in those Vatican precincts. And had
"got the Holy Father's own suffrage for Mahomet (think of
"that, you Ass of Mirepoix! ), among other cases that might
"rise. When this seat among the Forty fell vacant, his very
"first measure, -- mark it, Orthodox reader, -- was a Letter
"to the Chief Jesuit, Father Latour,Head of one's old College
"of Louis le Grand. A Letter of fine filial tenor: 'My ex-
pedient old Schoolmasters, to whom I owe everything; the
"'representatives of learning, of decorum, of frugality and
"'modest human virtue: --in what contrast to the obscure
"' Doggeries poaching about in the street-gutters, and flying
"'atthe peaceable passenger! '* Which captivated Father
"Latour; and made matters smooth on that side; so that
"even the Ancien de Mirepoix said nothing, this time: What
"could he say? No cloven foot visible, and the Authorities
"strong.
"Voltaire had started as Candidate with these judicious
"preliminaries. Voltaire was elected, as we saw; fineDis-
course, 9th May; and on the Official side all things comfort- "able. But, in the mean while, the Doggeries, as natural,
"seeing the thing now likely, had risen to a never-imagined
"pitch; and had filled Paris, and, to Voltaire's excruciated
"sense, the Universe, with their howlings and their hyaena-
"laughter, with their pasquils, satires, old and new. So that
"Voltaire could not stand it; and, in evil hour, rushed down
"stairs upon them; seized one poor dog, Travenol, unknown
"to him as Fiddler or otherwise; pinioned Dog Travenol, with
"pincers, bytheears, himfor one; -- proper Police-pincers,
"for we are now well at Court; -- and had a momentary joy!
"And, alas, this was not the right dog; this, we say, was
"Travenol a Fiddler at the Opera, who, except the street
"noises, knew nothing of Voltaire; much less had the least
"pique at him; but had taken to hawking certain Pasquils
"(JinglerRoi's Collection,it appears),to turn a desirable penny
"by them.
* In Voltairiana, oil ElogesAmphigouriques, &c. (Paris, 1748), 1. 150-160, - )fc$> . J
the Letter itself, "Paris, 7th February 1746;" omitted (without need, or
real cause on any side) in the common Collections of (Euvres de Voltaire.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIII. 18
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? 274 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
1746-1747.
"And mistakes were made in the Affair Travenol, -- old
"Father Travenol haled to prison, instead of Son, -- by the
"Lieutenant of Police and his people. And Voltaire took
"the high-hand method (being well at Court): -- and there-
upon hungry Advocates took up Dog Travenol and his
"pincered ears: 'Serene Judges of the Chatelet, Most Christian
"' Populace of Paris, did you ever see aDog so pincered by an
'"Academical Gentleman before, merely for being hungry? '
"And Voltaire, getting madder and madder, appealed to the
"Academy (which would not interfere); filed Criminal Infor-
"mations; appealed to the Chatelet, to the Courts above and
"to the Courts below; and, for almost a year, there went on
"the 'Proces-Travenol:'* Olympian Jove in distressed circum-
"stances, versus a hungry Dog who had eaten dirty puddings.
"Paris, in all its Saloons and Literary Coffeehouses (figure
"the Antre de Procope, on Publication nights! ), had, monthly
"or so, the exquisite malign banquet; and grinned over the
"Law Pleadings: what Magazine Serial of our day can be so
"interesting to the emptiest mind!
"Lasted, I find, for above a year. From Spring 1746 till
"towards Autumn 1747: Voltaire's feelings being -- Haha, so
"exquisite, all the while! -- Well, reader, I can judge how
"amusing it was to high and low. And yet Phoebus Apollo
"going about as mere Cowherd of Admetus, and exposed to
"amuse the populace by his duels with dogs that have bitten
"him? It is certain Voltaire was a fool, not to be more
"cautious of getting into gutter quarrels; not to have a
"thicker skin, in fact. "
Proces-Travenol escorting one's Triumphal Entry; what
an adjunct! Always so: always in your utmost radiance of
sunshine a shadow; and in your softest outburst of Lydian or
Spheral symphonies, something of eating Care! Then too,
in the Court circle itself, "is Trajan pleased," or are all
things well? Readers have heard of that "Trajan est-ilcon * About Mayday 1746, Seizure of Travenol; Pleadings are in vigour,
August 1746; not done, April 1747. In Voltairiana, n. 141-206, Pleadings &c.
copiously given; and most of the original Libels, in different parts of that
sad Book (compiled by Travenol's Advocate, a very sad fellow himself):
see also tEuvres tie Voltaire, lxxiii. 355n. , 385n. ; ib. i. 97; liarbier, u. 487.
All in a very jumbled, dateless, vague and incorrect condition.
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? CHAP. H. 1 VOLTAIKE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE. 275
1746-1747.
"giosa; try it there first! "** AndCocceji, a vigorous old man
of sixty-seven, one of the most learned of Lawyers, and a
very Hercules in cleaning Law-Stables, has, on Friedrich's
urgencies, -- which have been repeated on every breathing-
time of Peace there has been, and even sometimes in the
middle of War (last January, 1745, for example; and again,
express Order, January 1746, a fortnight after Peace was
signed), -- actually got himself girt for this salutary work.
"Wash me out that horror of accumulation, let us see the old
"Pavements of the place again. Every Lawsuit to be finished
"within the Year! "
Cocceji, who had been meditating such matters for a great
? Seyfarth, n. 22, 23.
** Ranke, n. 392.
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? CHAP. I. ]
10th Jan. 1747.
6ANS-S0UCI.
261while, * and was himself eager to proceed, in spite of con-
siderable wigged oppositions and secret reluctances that
there were, did now, on that fiat of September 15th, get his
Select Commission of Six riddled together and adjoined to
him, -- the likeliest Six that Prussia, in her different Pro-
vinces, could yield; -- and got the Stande of Pommern, after
due committee-ing and deliberating, to consent and promise
help. December 31st, 1746, was the day the Stande con-
sented: and January 10th, 1747, Cocceji and his Six set out
for Pommern. On a longish Enterprise, in that Province and
the others; -- of which we shall have to take notice, and give
at least the dates as they occur.
To sweep out pettifogging Attorneys, cancel improper
Advocates, to regulate Fees; to war, in a calm but deadly
manner, against pedantries, circumlocutions, and the multi-
plied forms of stupidity, cupidity, and human owlery in this
department; -- and, on the whole, to realise from every
Court, now and onwards, "A decision to all Lawsuits, within
"a Year after their beginning. " This latter result, Friedrich
thinks, will itself be highly beneficial; and be the sign of all
manner of improvements. And Cocceji, scanning it with
those potent law-eyes of his, ventures to assure him that it
will be possible. As, in fact, it proved, -- honour to Cocceji
and his King, and King's Father withal. "Samuel von
"Cocceji" (says an old Note), "son of a Law-Professor, and
"himself once such, -- was picked up by Friedrich Wilhelm,
"for the Official career, many years ago. A man of whole-
"some, by no means weakly aspect, -- to judge by his Por-
"trait, which is the chief'Biography'I have ofhim. Potent
"eyes and eyebrows, ditto blunt nose; honest, almost care-
"less lips, and deep chin well dewlapped: extensive pene-
"frative face, not pincered together, but potently fallen
"closed; -- comfortable to see, in a wig of such magnitude.
"Friedrich, a judge of men, calls him 'a man of sterling cha-
"' racter (caractere integre et droit), whose qualities would have
"'suited the noble times of the Eoman Republic'" ** He has
his Herculean battle, his Master and he have, with the Owler-
* "1st March 1738," Friedrich Wilhelm's "Edict" on Law Keform:
Cocceji ready, at that time; -- but his then Majesty forbore.
** (Euvres, iv. 2.
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? 262 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
1746-1M7.
ies and the vulturous Law-Pedantries,-- which I always love
Friedrich for detesting as he does: -- and, during the next
five years, the world will hear often of Cocceji, and of this
Prussian Law-Reform by Friedrich and him.
HisMajesty's exertions to makePeace were not successful;
what does lie in his power is, to keep out of the quarrel him-
self. It appears great hopes were entertained, by some in
England, of gaining Friedrich over; of making him Supreme
Captain to the Cause of Liberty. And prospects were held
out to him, quasi-offers made, of a really magnificent nature,
-- undeniable, though obscure. Herr Ranke has been among
the Archives again; and comes out with fractional snatches of
a very strange "Paper fromEngland;" capriciously hiding all
details about it, all intelligible explanation: so that you in vain
ask, "Where, When, How, By whom? " -- and can only guess
to yourself that Carteret was somehow at the bottom of the
thing; aut Carteretus aut Diabolus. "What would your Majesty
think to be elected Stadtholder of Holland? Without a Stadt-
holder, these Dutch are worth nothing; not hoistable, nor of
use when hoisted, all palavering and pulling different ways.
Must have a Stadtholder; and one that stands firm on some
basis of his own. Stadtholder of Holland, King of Prussia, --
you then, in such position, take the reins of this poor flounder-
ing English-Dutch Germanic Anti-French War, you; and
drive it in the style you have. Conquer back the Netherlands
to us; French Netherlands as well. French and Austrian
Netherlands together, yours in perpetuity; Dutch Stadtholder-
ate as good as ditto: this, with Prussia and its fighting capa-
bilities, will be a pleasant Protestant thing. Austria cares
little about the Netherlands, in comparison. Austria, getting
back its Lorraine andAlsace, will be content, will be strongon
its feet. What if it should even lose Italy? France, Spain,
Sardinia, the Italian Petty Principalities and Anarchies: sup-
pose they tug and tussle, and collapse there as they can? But
let France try to look across the Rhine again; and to threaten
Teutschland, England, and the Cause ofHuman Liberty tem-
poral or spiritual! "
This is authentically the purport of Herr Ranke's extra-
ordinary Document;* guessable as due to Carteretus or Dia-
* Ranke, m. 359.
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? CHAP. I. ] SANS-SOTJCI. 263
1746-17*7.
bolus. Here is an outlook; here is a career as Conquering
Hero, if that were one's line! A very magnificent ground-
plan; hung up to kindle the fancy of a young King, -- who is
far too prudent to go into it at all. More definite quasi-official
offers, it seems, were made him from the same quarter: Sub-
sidies to begin with, such subsidies as nobody ever had be-
fore ;say 1,000,000/. sterlingby the Year. To whichFriedrich
answered, "Subsidies, yourExcellency? " (Are We a Hackney-
Coachman, then? )-- and with much contempt, turned his back
on that offer. No fighting to be had, by purchase or seduction,
out of this young man. Will not play the Conquering Hero at
all, nor the Hackney-Coachman at all; has decided "not to
fight a cat" if let alone; but to do and endeavour a quite other
set of things, for the rest of his life.
Friedrich, readers can observe, is not uplifted with his
greatness. He has been too much beaten and bruised to be
anything but modestly thankful, for getting out of such a
deadly clash of chaotic swords. Seems to have little pride
even in his "Five Victories;" or hides it well. Talks not over-
much about these things; talks of them, so far as we can hear,
with his old comrades only, in praise of their prowesses; as a
simple human being, not as a supreme of captains; and at
times acknowledges, in a fine sincere way, the omnipotence of
Luck in matters of War.
One of the most characteristic traits, extensivelysymbolical
of Friedrich's intentions and outlooks at this Epoch, is his in-
stalling of himself in the little Dwelling-House, which has since
become so celebrated under the name of Sans-Souci. The plan
of Sans-Souci, --an elegant commodious little " Country Box,"
quite of modest pretensions, one story high; on the pleasant
Hill-top near Potsdam, with other little green Hills, and plea-
sant views of land and water, all round, -- had been sketched
in part by Friedrich himself; and the diggings and terracings
of the Hill-side were just beginning, when he quitted for the
Last War. 'April 14th, 1745,' while he lay in those perilous
enigmatic circumstances at Neisse with Pandours and devour-
ing bugbears round him, 'the foundation-stone was laid'
(Knobelsdorf being architect, once more, as in the old Reins-
berg case): and the work, which had been steadily proceeding
while the Master struggled in those dangerous battles and ad-
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? 264 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
1st May 1747.
ventures far away from it, was in good forwardness at his re-
turn. An object of cheerful interest to him; prophetic of calmer
years ahead.
It was not till May 1747, that the formal occupation took
place: "Mayday 1747," he had a grand House-heating, or
"First Dinner, of 200 covers: and May 19th-20th was the first
"night of his sleeping there. " For the next Forty Years,
especially as years advanced, he spent the most of his days
and nights in this little Mansion; which became more and
more his favourite retreat, whenever the noises and scenic
etiquettes were not inexorable. "Sans-Souci;" which we may
translate "No-Bother. " A busy place this too, but of the quiet
kind; and more a home to him than any of the Three fine
Palaces (ultimately Four), which lay always waiting for him
in the neighbourhood. Berlin and Charlottenburg are about
twenty miles off; Potsdam, which, like the other two, is rather
consummate among Palaces, lies leftwise in front of him
within a short mile. And at length, to right hand, in a similar
distance and direction, came the "Neue Schloss" (New Palace
of Potsdam), called also the "Palace of Sans-Souci," in distinc-
tion from the Dwelling-House, or as it were Garden-House,
which made that name so famous.
Certainly it is a significant feature of Friedrich; and dis-
closes the inborn proclivity he had to retirement, to study and
reflection, as the chosen element of human life. Why he fell
upon so ambitious a title for his Royal Cottage? "2Vb-Bother"
was not practically a thing he, of all men, could consider
possible in this world: at the utmost perhaps, by good care,
"Xess-Bother! " The name, it appears, came by accident.
He had prepared his Tomb, and various Tombs, in the skirts of
this new Cottage: lookingat these, as the building of them went
on, he was heard to say, one day (Spring, 1746), D'Argens
strolling beside him: "Qui, alorsje serai sans souci (Once there,
one will be out of bother)! " A saying which was rumoured
of, and repeated in society, being by such a man. Out of which
rumour in society, and the evident aim of the Cottage Royal,
there was gradually born, as Venus from the froth of the sea,
this name: "Sans-Souci;" -- which Friedrich adopted; and,
before the Year was out, had put upon his lintel in gold letters.
So that, by 'Mayday 1747,' the name was in all men's memo-
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? CHAP. I. ]
265
SANS-SOUCI.
1746-1747.
ries; and has continued ever since. * Tourists know this
Cottage Royal: Friedrich's "Three Rooms in it; one of them a
"Library; in another, a little Alcove with an iron Bed" (iron,
without curtains; old softened hat the usual royal nightcap)--
altogether a soldier's lodging: -- all this still stands as it did.
Cheerfully looking down on its garden-terraces, stairs, Greek
statues, and against the free sky: -- perhaps we may visit it in
time coming, and take a more special view. In the Years now
on hand, Friedrich, I think, did not much practically live
there, only shifted thither now and then. His chief residence
is still Potsdam Palace; and in Carnival time, that of Berlin;
with Charlottenburg for occasional festivities, especially in
summer, the gardens there being fine.
This of Sans-Souci is but portion of a wider Ten-
dency, wider set of endeavours on Friedrich's part,
which returns upon him now that Peace has returned:
That of improving his own Domesticities, while he
labours at so many public improvements. Gazing long
on that simmering "Typhoon of Marine-stores" above
mentioned, we do trace Three great Heads of En-
deavour in this Peace Period. First, the Reform of
Law; which, as above hinted, is now earnestly pushed
forward again, and was brought to what was thought
completion before long. With much rumour of ap-
plause from contemporary mankind. Concerning which
we are to give some indications, were it only dates in
their order: though, as the affair turned out not to be
completed, but had to be taken up again long after,
and is an affair lying wide of British ken, -- there
need not, and indeed cannot, be much said of it just
now. Secondly, there is eager Furthering of the Hus-
bandries, the Commerces, Practical Arts, -- especially
at present, that of Foreign Commerce, and Shipping
* Preuss, i. 268, &c. ; Nicolai, in. 1200.
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? 266 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [book XVI.
1746-1747.
from the Port of Embden. Which shall have due
notice. And thirdly, what must be our main topic here,
there is that of Improving the Domesticities, the House-
hold Enjoyments such as they were; -- specially de-
finable as Renewal of the old Reinsberg Program;
attempt more strenuous than ever to realise that beauti-
ful ideal. Which, and the total failure of which, and
the consequent quasi-abandonment of it for time coming,
are still, intrinsically and by accident, of considerable
interest to modern readers.
Curious, and in some sort touching, to observe how
that old original Life-Program still reemerges on this
King: "Something of melodious possible in one's poor
life, is not there? A Life to the Practical Duties, yes;
but to the Muses as well! " -- Of Friedrich's success
in his Law-Reforms, in his Husbandries, Commerces
and Furtherances, conspicuously great as it was, there
is no possibility of making careless readers cognisant
at this day. Only by the great results, -- a "Prussia
quadrupled" in his time, and the like, -- can studious
readers convince themselves, in a cold and merely sta-
tistic way. But in respect of Life to the Muses, we
have happily the means of showing that in actual
vitality; in practical struggle towards fulfilment, -- and
how extremely disappointing the result was. In a
word, Voltaire pays his Fifth and final Visit in this
Period; the Voltaire matter comes to its consummation.
To that, as to one of the few things which are perfectly
knowable in this Period of Ten-Years Peace, and in
which mankind still take interest, we purpose mostly
to devote ourselves here.
Ten years of a great King's life, ten busy years
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? CHAP. I. ]
267
SANS-SOUCI.
1740-1747.
too; and nothing visible in them, of main significance,
but a crash of Author's Quarrels, and the Crowning
Visit of Voltaire? Truly yes, reader; so it has been
ordered. Innumerable high-dressed gentlemen, gods of
this lower world, are gone all to inorganic powder, no
comfortable or profitable memory to be held of them
more; and this poor Voltaire, without implement except
the tongue and brain of him, -- he is still a shining
object to all the populations; and they say and symbol
to me, "Tell us of him! He is the man! " Very
strange indeed. Changed times since, for dogs barking
at the heels of him, and lions roaring ahead, -- for
Asses of Mirepoix, for foul creatures in high dizenment,
and foul creatures who were hungry valets of the same,
-- this man could hardly get the highways walked!
And indeed had to keep his eyes well open, and al-
ways have covert within reach, -- under pain of being
torn to pieces, while he went about in the flesh, or
rather in the bones, poor lean being. Changed times;
within the Century last past! For indeed there was
in that man what far transcends all dizenment, and
temporary potency over valets, over legions, treasure-
vaults, and dim millions mostly blockhead: a spark of
Heaven's own lucency, a gleam from the Eternities (in
small measure); -- which becomes extremely noticeable
when the Dance is over, when your tallow-dips and
wax-lights are burnt out, and the brawl of the night is
gone to bed.
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? 268
[book xvi. 1746-1747.
THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE.
CHAPTER II.
PEEP AT VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE (BY CANDLE-
LIGHT) IN THE TIDE OF EVENTS.
Public European affairs require little remembrance;
the War burning well to leeward of us henceforth. A
huge world of smoky chaos; the special fires of it, if
there be anything of fire, are all the more clear far in
the distance. Of which sort, and of which only, the
reader is to have notice. Marechal de Saxe, -- King
Louis oftenest personally there, to give his name and
countenance to things done, -- is very glorious in the
Netherlands; captures, sometimes by surprisal, place
after place (beautiful surprisal of Brussels last winter);
with sieges of Antwerp, Mons, Charleroi, victoriously
following upon Brussels: and, before the end of 1746,
he is close upon Holland itself; intent on having Namur
and Maestricht; for which the poor Sea-Powers, with a
handful of Austrians, fight two Battles, and are again
beaten both times. * A glorious, ever-victorious Mare-
chal; and has an Army very "high-toned," in more
than one sense: indeed, I think, one of the loudest-
toned Armies ever on the field before. Loud not with
* 1". Battle of Roucoux, 11th October 1746; Prince Karl commanding,
English taking mainly the stress of fight, -- Saxe having already outwitted
poor Karl, and got Namur. 2". Battle of Lawfelt, or Lauffeld, called also
of Vol, 2d July 1747; Royal Highness of Cumberland commanding (and
taking most of the stress; Ligonier made prisoner, &c. ), -- Dutch fighting
ill, and Bathyani and his Austrians hardly in the fire at all.
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? CHaP. II. ] VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMUJE. 269
1746-1747.
well-served Artillery alone, but with playactor Thun-
derbarrels (always an itinerant Theatre attends), with
gasconading talk, with orgies, debaucheries, -- busy
service of the Devil, and pleasant consciousness that
we are Heaven's masterpiece, and are in perfect readi-
ness to die at any moment; -- our elasticity and agility
("e'Zan" as we call it) well kept up, in that manner,
for the time being.
Hungarian Majesty, contrary to hope, neglects the
Netherlands, "Holland and England, for their own
sake, will manage there! " -- and directs all her re-
sources, and her lately Anti-Prussian Armies (General
Browne leading them) upon Italy, as upon the grand
interest now. Little to the comfort of the Sea-Powers.
But Hungarian Majesty is decided to cut in upon the
French and Spaniards, in that fine Country, -- who
had been triumphing too much of late; Maillebois and
Senor de Gages doing their mutual exploits (though
given to quarrel); Don Philip wintering in Milan even
(1745--1746); and the King of Sardinia getting into
French courses again.
Strong cuts her Hungarian Majesty does inflict, on
the Italian side; tumbles Infant Philip out of Milan
and his Carnival gaieties, in plenty of hurry; besieges Genoa, Marquis Botta dAdorno (our old acquaintance
Botta) her siege-captain, a native of this region; brings
back the wavering Sardinian Majesty; captures Genoa,
and much else. Captures Genoa, we say, -- had not
Botta been too rigorous on his countrymen, and pro-
voked a revolt again, Revolt of Genoa, which proved
difficult to settle. In fine, Hungarian Majesty has, in
the course of this year 1746, with aid of the reconfirmed
Sardinian Majesty, satisfactorily beaten the French and
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? 270
[book XVI. 1746-1747.
THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE.
Spaniards. Has, -- after two murderous Battles gained
over the Maillebois-Gages people, -- driven both French
and Spaniards into corners, Maillebois altogether home
again across the Var; -- nay has descended in actual
Invasion upon France itself. And, before New-year's
day 1747, General Browne is busy besieging Antibes,
aided by English Seventy-fours; so that "sixty French
Battalions" have to hurry home, from winter-quarters,
towards those Provencal Countries; and Mare'chal de
Belleisle, who commands there, has his hands full.
Triumphant enough her Hungarian Majesty, in Italy;
while in the Netherlands, the poor Sea-Powers have
met with no encouragement from the Fates or her. *
All which the reader may keep imagining at his con-
venience; -- but will be glad rather, for the present,
to go with us for an actual look at M. de Voltaire and
the divine Emilie, whom we have not seen for a long
time. Not much has happened in the interim; one or
two things only which it can concern us to know;--
scattered fragments of memorial, on the way thus far:
1? . M. de Voltaire has, in 1745, made way at Court. Divine
Emilie picked up her Voltaire from that fine Diplomatic
* "Battle of Piacenza" (Prince Lichtenstein, with whom is Browne,
versus Gages and Maillebois), 16th June 1746 (Adelung, v. 427); "Battle of
Rottofreddo" (Botta chief Austrian there, and our old friend Barenklau getting killed there), 12th August 1746 (ib. 462): whereupon, 1th September,
Genoa (which had declared itself Anti-Austrian latterly, not without cause,
and brought the tug of War into those parts) is coerced by Botta to open
its gates, on grievous terms (ib. 484-489); so that, November ZOlh, Browne,
no Bourbon Army now on the field, enters Provence (crosses the Var, that
day), and tries Antibes: 5th-llth December, Popular Revolt in Genoa, and
Expulsion of proud Botta and his Austrians (ib. 518-523); upon which sur-
prising event (which could not be mended during the remainder of the
War), Browne's enterprise became impossible. See Buonamici, Histoire de
la demiere Revolution de Genes; Adelung, v. 516; vi. 31; &c. fcc.
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? CHAP, n. l VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE. 271
1746-1747.
course, and went home with him out of our sight, in the end of
1743; the Diplomatic career gradually declaring itself barred
to him thenceforth. Since which, nevertheless, he has had his
successes otherwise, especially in his old Literary course: on
the whole, brighter sunshine than usual, though never without
tempestuous clouds attending. Goes about, with his divine
EmQie, now wearing browner and leaner, both of them, and
takes the good and evil of life, mostly in a quiet manner; sensible that afternoon is come.
The thrice-famous Pompadour, who had been known to
him in the Chrysalis state, did not forget him on becoming
Head-Butterfly of the Universe. By her help, one long wish
of his soul was gratified, and did not hunger or thirst any
more. Some uncertain footing at Court, namely, was at
length vouchsafed him: -- uncertain; for the Most Christian
Majesty always rather shuddered under those carbuncle eyes,
under that voice "sombre and majestious," with such turns
lying in it: -- some uncertain footing at Court; and from the
beginning of 1745, his luck, in the Court spheres, began to
mount in a wonderful and world-evident manner. On grounds
tragically silly, as he thought them. On the Dauphin's
Wedding, -- a Termagant's Infanta coming hither asDauphi-
ness, at this time, -- there needed to be Court-shows, Drama-
ticules, Transparencies, Feasts of Lanterns, or I know not
what. Voltaire was the chosen man; Voltaire and Rameau
(readers have heard of Rameau's Nephew, and musical readers
still esteem Rameau) did their feat; we may think with what
perfection, with what splendour of reward. Alas, and the feat
done was, to one of the parties, so unspeakably contemptible.
Voltaire pensively surveying Life, brushes the sounding
strings; and hums to himself, the carbuncle eyes carrying in
them almost something of wet:
"Mon Henri Quatre et ma Zaire,
"Et mon Americain Alzire,
"Ne m'ont jamais valu un seul regard du Hoi;
"J'avais mille enncmis ct Ires peu de gloirei
"Les honneurs et les Mens pleuvent enfin sur moi
"Pour une Farce de la Fuirc. " *
* "My Henri Quatrc, my Zaire, my Alzire' (high works very many),
"could never purchase me a single glance of the King; I had multitudes
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? 272 THE TEN YEARS OF PEACE. [fiOOKXVI.
1746-1747.
Yes, my friend; it is a considerable ass, this world; by no
means the Perfectly Wise put at the top of it (as one could
wish), and the Perfectly Foolish at the bottom. Witness --
nay, witness Psyche Pompadour herself, is not she an em-
blem! Take your luck without criticism; luck good and bad
visits all.
2? . And got into the Academy next Year, in consequence. In
1746, the Academy itself, Pompadour favouring, is made
willing; Voltaire sees himself among the Forty: soul, on that
side too, be at ease, and hunger not nor thirst any more. *
This highest of felicities could notbe achieved without an ugly
accompanimentfrom the surroundingPopulace. Desfontaines
is dead, safe down in Sodom; butwants not for a whole succes-
sor, for a Doggery of such. Who are all awake, and giving
tongue on this occasion. There isM. Roithe "Poet," as he
was then reckoned; jingling Roi, who concocts satirical
calumnies; who collects old ones, reprints the same, -- and
sends Travenol, an Opera-Fiddler, to vend them. From which
sprang a Lawsuit, Proces Travenol, of famous melancholy sort.
As Voltaire had rather the habit of such sad melancholy Law-
suits, we will pause on this of Travenol for a moment:
3? . Summary of Travenol Lawsuit. "Monday, 9th May 1746,
"was the Day of reception at the Academy; reception and
"fruition, thrice savoury to Voltaire. But what an explosion
"of the Doggeries, before, during, and after that event!
"Voltaire had tried to be prudent, too. He had been corre-
"sponding with Popes, with Cardinals; and, in a fine frank-
"looking way, capturing their suffrages: -- not by lying,
"of enemies, and very little fame: -- honours and riches rain on me, at
"last, for a Farce of the Fair" ((Euvres, n. 151).
The "Farce" (which by no means called itself such) was Princessede
Navarre ((Euvres, Lxxin. 251): first acted, 23d February 1745, Day of the Wedding. Gentlemanship of the Chamber thereupon (which Voltaire, by
permission, sold, shortly after, for 2,500/. , with titles retained), and ap-
pointment as Historiographer Royal. Poor Dauphiness did not live long;
Louis XVI. 's Mother was a second Wife, Saxon-Polish Majesty's Daughter.
* "May 9th, 1746, Voltaire is received at the Academy; and makes a
"very fine Discourse" (Barbier, n. 488). (Euvres de Voltaire, i>xxm, 355,
385, and t. 97.
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? CHAP. II. ] VOLTAIRE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE. 273
1746-1747.
"which in general he wishes to avoid, but by speaking half the
"truth; in short, by advancing, in a dexterous, diplomatic
"way, the tmcloven foot, in those Vatican precincts. And had
"got the Holy Father's own suffrage for Mahomet (think of
"that, you Ass of Mirepoix! ), among other cases that might
"rise. When this seat among the Forty fell vacant, his very
"first measure, -- mark it, Orthodox reader, -- was a Letter
"to the Chief Jesuit, Father Latour,Head of one's old College
"of Louis le Grand. A Letter of fine filial tenor: 'My ex-
pedient old Schoolmasters, to whom I owe everything; the
"'representatives of learning, of decorum, of frugality and
"'modest human virtue: --in what contrast to the obscure
"' Doggeries poaching about in the street-gutters, and flying
"'atthe peaceable passenger! '* Which captivated Father
"Latour; and made matters smooth on that side; so that
"even the Ancien de Mirepoix said nothing, this time: What
"could he say? No cloven foot visible, and the Authorities
"strong.
"Voltaire had started as Candidate with these judicious
"preliminaries. Voltaire was elected, as we saw; fineDis-
course, 9th May; and on the Official side all things comfort- "able. But, in the mean while, the Doggeries, as natural,
"seeing the thing now likely, had risen to a never-imagined
"pitch; and had filled Paris, and, to Voltaire's excruciated
"sense, the Universe, with their howlings and their hyaena-
"laughter, with their pasquils, satires, old and new. So that
"Voltaire could not stand it; and, in evil hour, rushed down
"stairs upon them; seized one poor dog, Travenol, unknown
"to him as Fiddler or otherwise; pinioned Dog Travenol, with
"pincers, bytheears, himfor one; -- proper Police-pincers,
"for we are now well at Court; -- and had a momentary joy!
"And, alas, this was not the right dog; this, we say, was
"Travenol a Fiddler at the Opera, who, except the street
"noises, knew nothing of Voltaire; much less had the least
"pique at him; but had taken to hawking certain Pasquils
"(JinglerRoi's Collection,it appears),to turn a desirable penny
"by them.
* In Voltairiana, oil ElogesAmphigouriques, &c. (Paris, 1748), 1. 150-160, - )fc$> . J
the Letter itself, "Paris, 7th February 1746;" omitted (without need, or
real cause on any side) in the common Collections of (Euvres de Voltaire.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VIII. 18
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? 274 THE TEN YEARS OP PEACE. [book XVI.
1746-1747.
"And mistakes were made in the Affair Travenol, -- old
"Father Travenol haled to prison, instead of Son, -- by the
"Lieutenant of Police and his people. And Voltaire took
"the high-hand method (being well at Court): -- and there-
upon hungry Advocates took up Dog Travenol and his
"pincered ears: 'Serene Judges of the Chatelet, Most Christian
"' Populace of Paris, did you ever see aDog so pincered by an
'"Academical Gentleman before, merely for being hungry? '
"And Voltaire, getting madder and madder, appealed to the
"Academy (which would not interfere); filed Criminal Infor-
"mations; appealed to the Chatelet, to the Courts above and
"to the Courts below; and, for almost a year, there went on
"the 'Proces-Travenol:'* Olympian Jove in distressed circum-
"stances, versus a hungry Dog who had eaten dirty puddings.
"Paris, in all its Saloons and Literary Coffeehouses (figure
"the Antre de Procope, on Publication nights! ), had, monthly
"or so, the exquisite malign banquet; and grinned over the
"Law Pleadings: what Magazine Serial of our day can be so
"interesting to the emptiest mind!
"Lasted, I find, for above a year. From Spring 1746 till
"towards Autumn 1747: Voltaire's feelings being -- Haha, so
"exquisite, all the while! -- Well, reader, I can judge how
"amusing it was to high and low. And yet Phoebus Apollo
"going about as mere Cowherd of Admetus, and exposed to
"amuse the populace by his duels with dogs that have bitten
"him? It is certain Voltaire was a fool, not to be more
"cautious of getting into gutter quarrels; not to have a
"thicker skin, in fact. "
Proces-Travenol escorting one's Triumphal Entry; what
an adjunct! Always so: always in your utmost radiance of
sunshine a shadow; and in your softest outburst of Lydian or
Spheral symphonies, something of eating Care! Then too,
in the Court circle itself, "is Trajan pleased," or are all
things well? Readers have heard of that "Trajan est-ilcon * About Mayday 1746, Seizure of Travenol; Pleadings are in vigour,
August 1746; not done, April 1747. In Voltairiana, n. 141-206, Pleadings &c.
copiously given; and most of the original Libels, in different parts of that
sad Book (compiled by Travenol's Advocate, a very sad fellow himself):
see also tEuvres tie Voltaire, lxxiii. 355n. , 385n. ; ib. i. 97; liarbier, u. 487.
All in a very jumbled, dateless, vague and incorrect condition.
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? CHAP. H. 1 VOLTAIKE AND HIS DIVINE EMILIE. 275
1746-1747.
