History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 14 | Page 8

there were floods of tears (as when his Mother died); and he has
been heard saying, not bragging but lamenting, what was truly the fact,
that "he had more feeling than other men." But it was honest human

feeling always; and was repressed, where not irrepressible;--as it
behooved to be.
Friedrich's suite was not considerable, says the French spy at Aix on
this occasion; pomp of Entrance,--a thing to be mute upon! "Came
driving in with the common post-horses of the country; and such a set
of carriages as your Lordship, intent on the sublime, has no idea of."
[Spy-Letter, in Campagnes des Trois Marechaux, i.
222.] Rumor was, His Britannic Majesty was coming (also on pretext
of the waters) to confer with him; other rumor is, If King George came
in at one gate, King Friedrich would go out at the other. A dubious
Friedrich, to the French spy, at this moment; nothing like so admirable
as he once was!--
The French emotions (of which we say little), on Friedrich's making
Peace for himself, had naturally been great. To the French Public it was
unexpected, somewhat SUDDEN even to the Court; and, sure enough,
it was of perilous importance in the circumstances. Few days ago,
Broglio (by order given him) "could not spare a man," for the Common
Cause;--and now the Common Cause has become entirely the Broglio
one, and Broglio will have the full use of all his men! "Defection
[plainly treasonous to your Liege Lord and Nation]! horrible to think
of!" cried the French Public; the Court outwardly taking a lofty
tragic-elegiac tone, with some air of hope that his Prussian Majesty
would perhaps come round again, to the side of his afflicted France! Of
which, except in the way of helping France and the other afflicted
parties to a just Peace if he could, his Prussian Majesty had small
thought at this time.
More affecting to Friedrich were the natural terrors of the poor Kaiser
on this event. The Kaiser has already had his Messenger at Berlin, in
consequence of it; with urgent inquiries, entreaties;-- an expert
Messenger, who knows Berlin well. So other than our old friend, the
Ordnance-Master Seckendorf, now titular Feldmarschall, --whom one
is more surprised than delighted to meet again! Being out with Austria
(clamoring for great sums of "arrears," which they will not pay), he has
been hanging about this new Kaiser, ever since Election-time; and is

again getting into employment, Diplomatic, Strategic, for some
years,--though we hope mostly to ignore him and it. Friedrich's own
feeling at sight of him,--ask not about it, more than if there had been
none! Friedrich gave him "a distinguished reception;" Friedrich's
answer sent by him to the Kaiser was all kindness; emphatic assurance,
"That, not 'hostility' by any means, that loyalty, friendship, and aid
wherever possible within the limits, should always be his rule towards
the now Kaiser, lawful Head of the Reich, in difficult circumstances."
["Audience, 30th July" (Adelung, iii. A, 217).] Which was some
consolation to the poor man,--stript of his old revenues, old Bavarian
Dominions, and unprovided with new; this sublime Headship of the
Reich bring moneyless; and one's new "Kingdom of Bohemia" hanging
in so uncertain a state, with nothing but a Pharsalia-Sahay to show for
itself!--
Among Friedrich's "inconsiderable suite," at Aachen, was Prince Henri
(his youngest Brother, age now sixteen, a small, sensitive, shivering
creature, but of uncommon parts); and another young man, Prince
Ferdinand of Brunswick, his Wife's youngest Brother; a soldier, as all
the Brothers are; soldier in Friedrich's Army, this one; in whose fine
inarticulate eupeptic character are excellent dispositions and capacities
discernible. Ferdinand goes generally with the King; much about him
in these years. All the Brothers follow soldiering; it is the one trade of
German Princes. When at home, Friedrich is still occasionally with his
Queen; who lives at Schonhausen, in the environs of Berlin, but goes
with him to Charlottenburg, to old Reinsberg; and has her share of
galas in his company, with the Queen Mother and cognate Highnesses.
Another small fact, still more memorable at present, is, That Voltaire
now made him a Third Visit,--privately on Fleury's instance, as is
evident this time. Of which Voltaire Visit readers shall know duly, by
and by, what little is knowable. But, alas, there is first an immense
arrear of War-matters to bring up; to which, still more than to Voltaire,
the afflicted reader must address himself, if he would understand at all
what Friedrich's Environment, or circumambient Life-element now was,
and how Friedrich, well or ill, comported himself in the same. Brevity,
this Editor knows, is extremely desirable, and that the scissors should

be merciless on those sad Paper-Heaps, intolerable to the modern mind;
but, unless the modern mind chance to prefer ease