1780-1785.

symptoms we have, denote a sound-hearted brave old man; continually subduing to himself many ugly troubles; and, like the stars, always steady at his work. To sit grieving or desponding is, at all times, far from him: "Why despond? Won't it be all done presently; is it of much moment while it lasts?" A fine, unaffectedly vigorous, simple and manful old age;-rather serene than otherwise; in spite of electric outbursts and cloudy weather that could not be wanting.

Of all which there is not, in this place, much more to be said. Friedrich's element is itself wearing dim, sombre of hue; and the records of it, too, seem to grow dimmer, more and more intermittent. Old friends, of the intellectual kind, are almost all dead; the new are of little moment to us,-not worth naming in comparison. The chief, perhaps, is a certain young Marchese Lucchesini, who comes about this time, and continues in more and more favour both with Friedrich and his Successor,-employed even in Diplomatics by the latter. An accomplished young Gentleman, from Lucca ; fine intelligence, and, what was no less essential to him here, a perfect propriety in breeding and carriage. One makes no acquaintance with him in these straggling records, nor desires to make any. It was he that brought the inane, ever-scribbling Denina hither, if that can be reckoned a merit. Inane Denina came as Academician, October 1782; saw Friedrich, at least once ("Academician, Pension; yes, yes!")—and I know not whether any second time.

of

Friedrich, on loss of friends, does not take refuge in solitude; he tries always for something of substitute;

Chamberlain' (titular, with Pension &c.), '9th May 1780, age then 28' (Preuss, iv. 211);-arrived, when or how is not said.

Rödenbeck, iii. 285, 286.

1780-1785.

sees his man once or twice,-in several instances once only, and leaves him to his pension in sinecure thenceforth. Cornelius de Pauw, the rich Canon of Xanten (Uncle of Anacharsis Klootz, the afterwards renowned), came on those principles; hung on for six months, not liked, not liking; and was then permitted to go home for good, his pension with him. Another, a Frenchman, whose name I forget, sat gloomily in Potsdam, after his rejection; silent (not knowing German), unclipt, unkempt, rough as Nebuchadnezzar, till he died. Le Catt is still a resource; steady till almost the end, when somebody's tongue, it is thought, did him ill with the King.

Alone, or almost alone, of the ancient set is Bastiani; a tall, black-browed man, with uncommonly bright eyes, now himself old, and a comfortable Abbot in Silesia; who comes from time to time, awakening the King into his pristine topics and altitudes. Bastiani's history is something curious: as a tall Venetian Monk (son of a tailor in Venice), he had been crimped by Friedrich Wilhelm's people; Friedrich found him serving as a Potsdam Giant, but discerned far other faculties in the bright-looking man, far other knowledges; and gradually made him what we see. Banters him sometimes that he will rise to be Pope one day, so cunning and clever is he: "What will you say to me, a Heretic, when

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you get to be Pope; tell me now; out with it, I insist!" Bastiani parried, pleaded, but unable to get off, made what some call his one piece of wit: "I will say: 0

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Royal Eagle, screen me with thy wings, but spare me "with thy sharp beak!" This is Bastiani's one recorded piece of wit; for he was tacit rather, and practically watchful, and did not waste his fine intellect in that way.

Foreign Visitors there are in plenty; now and then something brilliant going. But the old Generals seem

1780-1785.

to be mainly what the King has for company. Dinner always his bright hour; from ten to seven guests daily. Seidlitz, never of intelligence on any point but Soldiering, is long since dead; Ziethen comes rarely, and falls asleep when he does; General Görtz (brother of the Weimar - München Görtz); Buddenbrock (the King's comrade in youth, in the Reinsberg times), who has good faculty; Prittwitz (who saved him at Kunersdorf, and is lively, though stupid); General and Head-Equerry Schwerin, of headlong tongue, not witty, but the cause of wit; Major Graf von Pinto, a magniloquent Ex-Austrian ditto ditto: these are among his chief dinnerguests. If fine speculation do not suit, old pranks of youth, old tales of war, become the staple conversation; always plenty of banter on the old King's part;-who sits very snuffy (says the privately ill-humoured Büsching), and does not sufficiently abhor grease on his fingers, or keep his nails quite clean. Occasionally laughs at the Clergy, too; and has little of the reverence seemly in an old King. The truth is, Doctor, he has had his sufferings from Human Stupidity; and was always fond of hitting objects on the raw. For the rest, as you may see, heartily an old Stoic, and takes matters in the rough; avoiding useless despondency above all; and intent to have a cheerful hour at dinner if he can.

Visits from his Kindred are still pretty frequent; never except on invitation. For the rest, completely an old Bachelor, an old Military Abbot; with business for every hour. Princess Amelia takes care of his linen, not very well, the dear old Lady, who is herself a cripple, suffering, and voiceless, speaking only in hoarse whisper. I think I have heard there were but twelve shirts, not in first-rate order, when the King died. A King supremely indifferent to small concerns; especially

1780-1785.

Holds to

to that of shirts and tailorages not essential. Literature, almost more than ever; occasionally still writes; has his daily Readings, Concerts, Correspondences as usual:-readers can conceive the dim House

hold Picture, dimly reported withal. The following Anecdotes may be added as completion of it, or at least of all I have to say on it:

You go on Wednesday, then?- Loss of time was one of the 'losses Friedrich could least stand. In visits even from his Brothers and Sisters, which were always by his own express 'invitation, he would say some morning (call it Tuesday morning): "You are going on Wednesday, I am sorry to hear" '(what you never heard before)!—" Alas, your Majesty, we 'must!" "Well, I am sorry: but I will lay no constraint on you. 'Pleasant moments cannot last forever!" And sometimes, after this had been agreed to, he would say: "But cannot you stay 'till Thursday, then? Come, one other day of it !"-" Well, since your Majesty does graciously press!" And on Thursday, not 'Wednesday, on those curious terms, the visit would terminate. This trait is in the Anecdote-Books: but its authenticity does 'not rest on that uncertain basis; singularly enough, it comes to 'me, individually, by two clear stages, from Friedrich's Sister the 'Duchess of Brunswick, who, if anybody, would know it well!”

Dinner with the Queen.-The Queen, a prudent, simpleminded, worthy person, of perfect behaviour in a difficult position, seems to have been much respected in Berlin Society and the Court Circles. Nor was the King wanting in the same feeling towards her; of which there are still many proofs: but as to personal intercourse,--what a figure has that gradually taken!

For one instance: The famous Pamphlet, De la Littérature Allemande (containing his onslaught on Shakespeare, and his first salutation, with the reverse of welcome, to Goethe's Götz von Berlichingen) ;—printed, under stupid Thiébault's care, Berlin, 1780. Stands now in Œuvres de Frédéric, vii. 89-122. The last Pieces of all are chiefly Military Instructions of a practical or official nature.

My informant is Sir George Sinclair, Baronet, of Thurso; his was the distinguished Countess of Finlater, still remembered for her graces of mind and person, who had been Maid-of-Honour to the Duchess.

6

6

1780-1785.

Preuss says, citing those who saw: 'When the King, after the 6 Seven-Years War, now and then, in Carnival season, dined 'with the Queen in her Apartments, he usually said not a word 'to her. He merely, on entering, on sitting down at table and 'leaving it, made the customary bows; and sat opposite to her. Once, in the Seventies' (years 1770, years now past), 'the 'Queen was ill of gout; table was in her Apartments; but she herself was not there, she sat in an easy-chair in the drawingroom. On this occasion the King stepped up to the Queen, ' and inquired about her health. The circumstance occasioned, among the company present, and all over Town as the news spread, great wonder and sympathy (Verwunderung und Theil6 nahme). This is probably the last time he ever spoke to her.'1o The Two Grand-Nephews.-The King was fond of children ; liked to have his Grand-Nephews about him. One day, while the ‹ King sat at work in his Cabinet, the younger of the two, a boy ' of eight or nine' (who died soon after twenty), 'was playing ball ' about the room; and knocked it once and again into the King's writing operation; who twice or oftener flung it back to him, but next time, put it in his pocket, and went on. "Please your Majesty, give it me back!" begged the Boy; and again begged: 'Majesty took no notice; continued writing. Till at length came, in the tone of indignation, "Will your Majesty give me my ball, then?" The King looked up; found the little Hohenzollern planted firm, hands on haunches, and wearing quite a peremptory air. "Thou art a brave little fellow; they won't get Silesia "out of thee!" cried he laughing, and flinging him his ball.”11

6

6

Of the elder Prince, afterwards Friedrich Wilhelm III. (Father of the now King), there is a much more interesting Anecdote, and of his own reporting too, though the precise terms are irrecoverable: 'How the King, questioning him about his bits of French studies, brought down a La Fontaine from the shelves, and said, "Translate me this Fable;" which the " Boy did, with such readiness and correctness as obtained the King's praises: praises to an extent that was embarrassing, and made the honest little creature confess, "I did it with my Tutor, a few days since!" To the King's much greater delight;

10 Preuss, iv. 187. VOL. VI.

11 Fischer, ii. 445 (year 1780').

TT