ChapterIV。
FATHER’SMOTHER。
FriedrichWilhelm’sMother，aswehinted，didnotlivetoseethismarriagewhichshehadforecastinhermaternalheart。Shedied，rathersuddenly，in1705，[1stFebruary（Erman，p。241；Forster，i。114）:born，20thOctober，1666；wedded，28thSeptember1684；
died，1stFebruary，1705。]atHanover，whithershehadgoneonavisit；shortlyafterpartingwiththisheroneboyandchild，FriedrichWilhelm，whoisthenaboutseventeen；whomshehadwitheffortforcedherselftosendabroad，thathemightseetheworldalittle，forthefirsttime。Hersorrowonthisoccasionhasinitsomethingbeautiful，insobrightandgayawoman:showsusthemotherstronginher，toatouchingdegree。Theroughcub，inwhomshenoticedruggedperverseelements，"tendenciestoavarice，"andawantofprincelygraces，andthemorebrilliantqualitiesinmindandmanner，hadgivenhermanythoughtsandsomeuneasyones。
Buthewasevidentlyallshehadtoloveintheworld；aruggedcreatureinexpressiblyprecioustoher。Fordaysafterhisdeparture，shehadkeptsolitary；busiedwithlittle；indulginginherownsadreflectionswithoutstint。Amongthepapersshehadbeenscribbling，therewasfoundoneslipwithaHEARTsketchedonit，androundtheheart"PARTI"（Gone）:Myheartisgone！——poorlady，andafterwhatajewel！ButNatureisverykindtoallchildrenandtoallmothersthataretruetoher。
SophieCharlotte’sdeepsorrowanddejectiononthispartingwasthesecretheraldoffatetoherself。Ithadmeantillhealthwithal，andthegloomofbrokennerves。Allautumnandintowintershehadfeltherselfindefinitelyunwell；shedetermined，however，onseeingHanoverandhergoodoldMotherattheusualtime。
ThegloomysorrowoverFriedrichWilhelmhadbeenthepremonitionofasuddenillnesswhichseizedherontheroadtoHanover，somefivemonthsafterwards，andwhichendedfatallyinthatcity。
HerdeathwasnotinthelightstyleFriedrichhergrandsonascribestoit；[MemoiresdeBrandebourg
（Preuss’sEditionofOEuvres，Berlin，1847
etseqq。），i。112。]shediedwithoutepigram，andthoughinperfectsimplecourage，withthereverseoflevity。
Here，atfirsthand，isthespecificaccountofthatevent；
which，asitisbriefandindisputable，wemayaswellfishfromtheimbroglios，andrenderlegible，tocounteractsuchnotions，andilluminateformomentsanoldsceneofthings。Thewriting，apparentlyaquiteprivatepiece，isby"M。delaBergerie，PastoroftheFrenchChurchatHanover，"respectableEdict—of—Nantesgentleman，whohadbeencalledinontheoccasion；——givesanauthenticmomentarypicture，thoughafeebleandvacantone，ofalocalityatthattimeveryinterestingtoEnglishmen。M。delaBergerieprivatelyrecords:——
"ThenightbetweenthelastofJanuaryandthefirstofFebruary，1705，betweenoneandtwoo’clockinthemorning，IwascalledtotheQueenofPrussia，whowasthendangerouslyill。
"Enteringtheroom，Ithrewmyselfatthefootofherbed，testifyingtoherinwordsmyprofoundgrieftoseeherinthisstate。AfterwhichItookoccasiontosay，’ShemightknownowthatKingsandQueensaremortalequallywithallothermen；
andthattheyareobligedtoappearbeforethethroneofthemajestyofGod，togiveanaccountoftheirdeedsdone，nolessthanthemeanestoftheirsubjects。’TowhichherMajestyreplied，（Iknowitwell（Jelesaisbien）。’——Iwentontosaytoher，’Madam，yourMajestymustalsorecognizeinthishourthevanityandnothingnessofthethingsherebelow，forwhich，itmaybe，youhavehadtoomuchinterest；andtheimportanceofthethingsofHeaven，whichperhapsyouhaveneglectedandcontemned。’ThereupontheQueenanswered，’True（Celaestvrai）！’’Nevertheless，Madam，’
saidI，’doesnotyourMajestyplacereallyyourtrustinGod？
Doyounotveryearnestly（bienserieusement）cravepardonofHimforallthesinsyouhavecommitted？
Donotyoufly（n’a—t—ellepasrecours）tothebloodandmeritsofJesusChrist，withoutwhichitisimpossibleforustostandbeforeGod？’TheQueenanswered，’Oui（Yes）。’——Whilethiswasgoingon，herBrother，DukeErnstAugust，cameintotheQueen’sroom，"——
perhapswithhiseyeuponmeandmymotions？"Astheywishedtospeaktogether，Iwithdrewbyorder。"
ThisDukeErnstAugust，agenow31，istheyoungestBrotherofthefamily；thereneverwasanySisterbutthisdyingone，whoisfouryearsolder。ErnstAugusthassometinctureofsoldiershipatthistime（MarlboroughWars，andthelike），asallhiskindredhad；butultimatelyhegottheBishopricofOsnabruck，thatsingularspiritualheirloom，orHALF—heirloomofthefamily；andtherelivedorvegetatedwithoutnoise。Poorsoul，heisthesameBishopofOsnabruck，towhosehouse，twenty—twoyearshence，GeorgeI。，struckbyapoplexy，wasbreathlesslygallopinginthesummermidnight，onewishnowleftinhim，tobewithhisbrother；——andarriveddead，orinthearticleofdeath。ThatwasanothersceneErnstAugusthadtowitnessinhislife。IsuspecthimatpresentofathoughtthatM。delaBergerie，withhispiouscommonplaces，islikelytodonogood。OthertraitofErnstAugust’slife；oroftheSchlossofHanoverthatnight，——orwherethesorrowingoldMothersat，invinciblethoughweeping，insomeneighboringroom，——
Icannotgive。M。delaBergeriecontinueshisnarrative:——
"Sometimeafter，IagainpresentedmyselfbeforetheQueen’sbed，toseeifIcouldhaveoccasiontospeaktoheronthematterofhersalvation。ButMonseigneurtheDukeErnstAugustthensaidtome，Thatitwasnotnecessary；thattheQueenwasatpeacewithherGod（etaitbienavecsonDieu）。"——WhichwillmeanalsothatM。delaBergeriemaygohome？However，hestillwrites:——
"NextdaythePrincetoldme，ThatobservingIwascomeneartheQueen’sbed，hehadaskedherifshewishedIshouldstillspeaktoher；butshehadreplied，thatitwasnotnecessaryinanyway（nullement），thatshealreadyknewallthatcouldbesaidtoheronsuchanoccasion；thatshehadsaidittoherself，thatshewasstillsayingit，andthatshehopedtobewellwithherGod。
"IntheendafaintcomingupontheQueen，whichwaswhatterminatedherlife，Ithrewmyselfonmykneesattheothersideofherbed，thecurtainsofwhichwereopen；andIcalledtoGodwithaloudvoice，’ThatHewouldrankhisangelsroundthisgreatPrincess，toguardherfromtheinsultsofSatan；thatHewouldhavepityonhersoul；thatHewouldwashherwiththebloodofJesusChristherheavenlySpouse；that，havingforgivenherallhersins，Hewouldreceivehertohisglory。’Andinthatmomentsheexpired。"[Eerman，p。242。]——Agethirty—sixandsomemonths。
OnlyDaughterofElectressSophie；andFather’sMotherofFredericktheGreat。
Shewas，inhertime，ahighlydistinguishedwoman；andhasleft，onemaysay，somethingofherlikenessstilltraceableinthePrussianNation，anditsformofculture，tothisday。
Charlottenburg（Charlotte’s—town，socalledbythesorrowingWidower），whereshelived，shonewithamuch—admiredFrenchlightunderherpresidency，——Frenchessentially，Versaillese，Sceptico—
Calvinistic，reflexanddirect，——illuminatingthedarkNorth；
andindeedhasneverbeensobrightsince。Thelightwasnotwhatwecancallinspired；lunarrather，notofthegenialorsolarkind:but，ingoodtruth，itwasthebestthengoing；andSophieCharlotte，whowasherMother’sdaughterinthisasinotherrespects，hadmadeitherown。Theyweredeepinliterature，thesetwoRoyalLadies；especiallydeepinFrenchtheologicalpolemics，withastrongleaningtotherationalistside。
TheyhadstoppedinRotterdamonce，onacertainjourneyhomewardsfromFlandersandtheBathsofAix—la—Chapelle，toseethatadmirablesage，thedoubterBayle。Theirsublimemessengerrousedthepoorman，inhisgarretthere，intheBompies，——afterdark:
buthehadaheadachethatnight；wasinbed，andcouldnotcome。
Hefollowedthemnextday；leavinghispaperimbroglios，hishistorical，philosophical，anti—theologicalmarine—stores；
andsuspendedhisneverendingscribble，ontheirbehalf；——butwouldnotacceptapension，andgiveitup。[Erman，pp。l1l，112。
Dateis1700（lateintheautumnprobably）。]
Theywereshrewd，noticing，intelligentandlivelywomen；
persuadedthattherewassomenoblenessformanbeyondwhatthetailorimpartstohim；andevenveryeagertodiscoverit，hadtheyknownhow。Intheseverydays，whileourlittleFriedrichatBerlinliesinhiscradle，sleepingmostofhistime，sageLeibnitz，aratherweakbuthugelyingeniousoldgentleman，withbrighteyesandlongnose，withvastblackperukeandbandylegs，isseendailyintheLindenAvenueatHanover（famedLindenAlley，leadingfromTownPalacetoCountryone，acoupleofmileslong，ratherdisappointingwhenoneseesit），dailydrivingorwalkingtowardsHerrenhausen，wheretheCourt，wheretheoldElectressis，whowillhaveatouchofdialoguewithhimtodiversifyherday。Notveryedifyingdialogue，wemayfear；
yetoncemore，thebestthatcanbehadinpresentcircumstances。
HereissomelunarreflexofVersailles，whichisapolitecourt；
directraystherearefromtheoldestwrittenGospelsandthenewest；fromthegreatunwrittenGospeloftheUniverseitself；
andfromone’sownrealeffort，moreorlessdevout，toreadallthesearight。LetusnotcondemnthatpoorFrenchelementofEclecticism，Scepticism，Tolerance，Theodicea，andBayleoftheBompiesversustheCollegeofSaumur。Letusadmitthatitwasprofitable，atleastthatitwasinevitable；letuspityit，andbethankfulforit，andrejoicethatwearewelloutofit。
Scepticism，whichistherebeginningattheverytopoftheworld—
tree，andhastodescendthroughalltheboughswithterribleresultstomankind，isasyetpleasant，tintingtheleaveswithfineautumnalred。
SophieCharlottepartookofherMother’stendencies；andcarriedthemwithhertoBerlin，theretobeexpandedinmanywaysintoamplerfulfilment。ShetoohadthesageLeibnitzoftenwithher，atBerlin；noendtoherquestioningsofhim；eagerlydesiroustodrawwaterfromthatdeepwell，——awetrope，withcobwebsstickingtoit，toooftenallshegot；endlessrope，andthebucketnevercomingtoview。Which，however，shetookpatiently，asathingaccordingtoNature。ShehadherlearnedBeausobresandotherReverendEdict—of—Nantesgentlemen，famedBerlindivines；whom，ifanyPapistnotability，Jesuitambassadororthelike，happenedtobethere，shewouldsetdisputingwithhim，intheSoireeatCharlottenburg。ShecouldrightwellpresideoversuchabattleoftheCloud—Titans，andconductthelightningssoftly，withoutexplosions。ThereisaprettyandverycharacteristicLetterofhers，stillpleasanttoread，thoughturningontheologiesnowfallendimenough；addressedtoFatherVota，thefamousJesuit，King’s—confessor，anddiplomatist，fromWarsaw，whohadbeendoinghisbestinonesuchrencontrebeforeherMajesty（dateMarch，1703），——seeminglyonaseriesofevenings，intheintervalsofhisdiplomaticbusiness；theBeausobrechampionsbeingintroducedtohimsuccessively，oneeachevening，byQueenSophieCharlotte。
Toallappearancethefencinghadbeenkeen；thelightningsinneedofsomedexterousconductor。Vota，onhiswayhomeward，hadwrittentoapologizeforthesputteringsoffirestruckoutofhimincertainpinchesofthecombat；says，ItwastheroughhandlingthePrimitiveFathersgotfromtheseBeausobregentlemen，whoindeedtome，Votainperson，underyourMajesty’sfinepresidency，werepolitenessitself，thoughtheytreatedtheFatherssoill。HerMajesty，withbeautifulart，inthisLetter，smoothstheravenplumageofVota；——and，atthesametime，throwsintohim，aswithinvisibleneedle—points，anexcellentdoseofacupuncturation，onthesubjectofthePrimitiveFathersandtheEcumenicCouncils，onherownscore。LetusgivesomeExcerpt，incondensedstate:——
"HowcanSt。Jerome，forexample，beakeytoScripture？"sheinsinuates；citingfromJeromethisremarkableavowalofhismethodofcomposingbooks；"especiallyofhismethodinthatBook，CommentaryontheGalatians，whereheaccusesbothPeterandPaulofsimulationandevenofhypocrisy。
ThegreatSt。Augustinehasbeencharginghimwiththissadfact，"
saysherMajesty，whogiveschapterandverse；["Epist。28*，edit。
Paris。"AndJerome’sanswer，"Ibid。Epist。76*。"]"andJeromeanswers:’IfollowedtheCommentariesofOrigen，of’"——fiveorsixdifferentpersons，whoturnedoutmostlytobehereticsbeforeJeromehadquitedonewiththemincomingyears！——"’Andtoconfessthehonesttruthtoyou，’continuesJerome，’Ireadallthat；
andafterhavingcrammedmyheadwithagreatmanythings，Isentformyamanuensis，anddictatedtohimnowmyownthoughts，nowthoseofothers，withoutmuchrecollectingtheorder，norsometimesthewords，noreventhesense。’Inanotherplace（intheBookitselffartheron["CommentaryontheGalatians，chap。iii。"]），hesays:’Idonotmyselfwrite；
Ihaveanamanuensis，andIdictatetohimwhatcomesintomymouth。IfIwishtoreflectalittle，tosaythethingbetterorabetterthing，heknitshisbrows，andthewholelookofhimtellsmesufficientlythathecannotenduretowait。’"——Hereisasacredoldgentleman，whomitisnotsafetodependonforinterpretingtheScriptures，thinksherMajesty；butdoesnotsayso，leavingFatherVotatohisreflections。
Thenagain，comingtoCouncils，shequotesSt。GregoryNazianzenuponhim；whoistrulydreadfulinregardtoEcumenicCouncilsoftheChurch，——andindeedmayawakenthoughtsofDeliberativeAssembliesgenerally，inthemodernconstitutionalmind。"Hesays，["Greg。Nazian。deVitasua。"]NoCouncileverwassuccessful；somanymeanhumanpassionsgettingintoconflagrationthere；withnoise，withviolenceanduproar，’morelikethoseofatavernorstillworseplace，’——thesearehiswords。He，forhisownshare，hadresolvedtoavoidallsuch’rendezvousingoftheGeeseandCranes，flockingtogethertothrottleandtatteroneanotherinthatsadmanner。’NorhadSt。TheodoretmuchopinionoftheCouncilofNice，exceptasakindofmiracle。’NothinggoodtobeexpectedfromCouncils，’
sayshe，’exceptwhenGodispleasedtointerpose，anddestroythemachineryoftheDevil。’"
——Withmoreofthelikesort；alldelicate，asinvisibleneedle—
points，inherMajesty’shand。[Letterundated（datable"Lutzelburg，March，1708，"）istobefoundentire，withallitsadjuncts，inErman，pp。246—255。ItwassubsequentlytranslatedbyToland，audpublishedhere，asanexcellentPolemicalPiece，——entirelyforgotteninourtime（ALetteragainstPoperybySophiaCharlotte，thelateQueenofPrussia:Being，&c。&c。London，1712）。
ButthefinestDuelofallwasprobablythatbetweenBeausobreandTolandhimself（reportedbyBeausobre，insomethingofacrowingmanner，inErman，pp。203—241，"October，1701"），ofwhichTolandmakesnomentionanywhere。]WhatisFatherVotatosay？——Themodernreaderlooksthroughthesechinksintoastrangeoldscene，thestuffofitfallenobsolete，thespiritofitnot，norworthytofall。
ThesewereSophieCharlotte’sreunions；verycharmingintheirtime。AtwhichhowjoyfulforIrishTolandtobepresent，aswasseveraltimeshisluck。Toland，amerebrokenhereticinhisowncountry，whowentthitheronceasSecretarytosomeEmbassy（EmbassyofMacclesfield’s，1701，announcingthattheEnglishCrownhadfallenHanover—wards），andwasnodoubtglad，poorheadlongsoul，tofindhimselfagentlemanandChristianagain，forthetimebeing，——admiresHanoverandBerlinverymuch；
andlooksuponSophieCharlotteinparticularasthepinkofwomen。SomethingbetweenanearthlyQueenandadivineEgeria；
"Serena"hecallsher；and，inhishigh—flownfashion，isverylaudatory。"ThemostbeautifulPrincessofhertime，"sayshe，——
meaningoneofthemostbeautiful:herfeaturesareextremelyregular，andfullofvivacity；copiousdarkhair，blueeyes，complexionexcellentlyfair；——"notverytall，andsomewhattooplump，"headmitselsewhere。Andthenhermind，——forgifts，forgraces，culture，wherewillyoufindsuchamind？"Herreadingisinfinite，andsheisconversantinallmannerofsubjects；"
"knowstheabstrusestproblemsofPhilosophy；"saysadmiringToland:muchknowledgeeverywhereexact，andhandledasbyanartistandqueen；for"herwitisinimitable，""herjustnessofthought，herdelicacyofexpression，"herfelicityofutteranceandmanagement，aregreat。Foreigncourtierscallher"theRepublicanQueen。"Shedetectsyouasophistryatoneglance；
piercesdowndirectupontheweakpointofanopinion:neverinmywholelifedidI，Toland，comeuponaswifterorsharperintellect。Andthensheissogoodwithal，sobrightandcheerful；
and"hastheartofunitingwhattotherestoftheworldareantagonisms，mirthandlearning，"——sayeven，mirthandgoodsense。
Isdeepinmusic，too；playsdailyonherharpsichord，andfantasies，andevencomposes，inaneminentmanner。[AnAccountoftheCourtsofPrussiaandHanover，senttoaMinisterofStateinHolland，byMr。Toland（London，1705），p。322。Toland’sotherBook，whichhasreferencetoher，isofdidacticnature（"immortalityofthesoul，""originofidolatry，"
&c。），butwithmuchfinepanegyricdirectandoblique:
LetterstoSerena（"Serena"beingQueen），athin8vo，London，1704。]Toland’sadmiration，deductingthehigh—flowntemperandmanneroftheman，issincereandgreat。
Beyonddoubtabrightairylady，shininginmildradianceinthoseNorthernparts；verygraceful，verywittyandingenious；skilledtospeak，skilledtoholdhertongue，——whichlatterartalsowasfrequentlyinrequisitionwithher。ShedidnotmuchvenerateherHusband，northeCourtpopulation，maleorfemale，whomhechosetohaveabouthim:hisandtheirwayswerebynomeanshers，ifshehadcaredtopublishherthoughts。FriedrichI。，itisadmittedonallhands，was"anexpensiveHerr；"muchgiventomagnificentceremonies，etiquettesandsolemnities；makingnogreatwayany—whither，andthatalwayswithnoiseenough，andwithadustvortexofcourtierintriguesandcabalsencirclinghim，——
fromwhichitisbettertostandquitetowindward。Moreover，hewasslightlycrooked；mostsensitive，thinofskinandliabletosuddenflawsoftemper，thoughatheartverykindandgood。
SophieCharlotteisshewhowroteonce，"Leibnitztalkedtomeoftheinfinitelylittle（del’infinimentpetit）:monDieu，asifIdidnotknowenoughofthat！"Besides，itiswhisperedshewasoncenearmarryingtoLouisXIV。’sDauphin；herMotherSophie，andherCousintheDowagerDuchessofOrleans，cunningwomenboth，hadbroughthertoParisinhergirlhood，withthatsecretobject；andhadverynearlymanagedit。QueenofFrancethatmighthavebeen；andnowitisbutBrandenburg，andthedicehavefallensomewhatwrongforus！ShehadFriedrichWilhelm，theroughboy；andperhapsnothingmoreofverypreciousproperty。Herfirstchild，likewiseaboy，hadsoondied，andtherecamenothird:tediousceremonials，andtheinfinitelylittle，weremainlyherlotinthisworld。
Allwhich，however，shehadthearttotakeupnotinthetragicway，butinthemildlycomic，——oftennottotakeupatall，butleavelyingthere；——andthustomanageinahandsomeandsoftlyvictoriousmanner。Withdelicatefemaletact，withfinefemalestoicismtoo；keepingallthingswithinlimits。ShewasmuchrespectedbyherHusband，muchlovedindeed；andgreatlymournedforbythepoorman:thevillageLutzelburg（Little—town），closebyBerlin，whereshehadbuiltamansionforherself，hefondlynamedCharlottenburg（Charlotte’s—town），afterherdeath，whichnamebothHouseandVillagestillbear。
Leibnitzfoundherofanalmosttroublesomesharpnessofintellect；"wantstoknowthewhyevenofthewhy，"saysLeibnitz。
Thatisthewayoffemaleintellectswhentheyaregood；nothingequalstheiracuteness，andtheirrapidityisalmostexcessive。
SamuelJohnson，too，hadayoung—ladyfriendonce"withtheacutestintellectIhaveeverknown。"
Onthewhole，wemaypronounceherclearlyasuperiorwoman，thisSophieCharlotte；notablenotforherGrandsonalone，thoughnowprettymuchforgottenbytheworld，——asindeedallthingsandpersonshave，onedayorother，tobe！ALIFEofher，infeeblewaterystyle，anddistractedarrangement，byoneErman，