andwithdrewtoherinteriorprivacies；readingtherewithWilhelmina"theKing’scruelLetter，"andweepinglargely，thoughfirmtothedeath。[Wilhelmina，i。179—182。Dubourgayhasnothing，——probablyhadheardnothing，therebeing"silenceunderpainofdeath"forthemoment。]
Whattodoinsuchacrisis？AssembletheFemaleParliament，foronething:goodMadamFinkenstein（oldTutor’swife），goodMamsellBulow，MamsellSonsfeld（Wilhelmina’sGoverness），andotherfaithfulwomen:——wellifwecankeepawaytraitresses，femalespiesthatareprowlingabout；especiallyone"Ramen，"aQueen’ssoubrette，whogetstrustedwitheverything，andbetrayseverything；uponwhomWilhelminaisofteneloquent。Neverwassuchatraitress；tookDubourgay’sbribe，whichtheQueenhadadvised；
and，allthesame，betrayseverything，——bribeincluded。AndtheQueen，sobewitched，cankeepnothingfromher。FemaleParliamentmust，takeprecautionsabouttheRamen！——Fortherest，FemaleParliamentadvisestwothings:1。PressingLettertoEngland；
thatofcourse，writtenwiththeeloquenceofdespair:andthen2。Thatineaseofutterextremity，herMajesty"pretendtofallill。"ThatisCrisisFirst；andthatistheirexpedientuponit。
LettergoestoEngland，therefore；settingforththeextremityofstrait，andpinch:"Nowornever，OmySisterCaroline！"Manysuchhavegone，firstandlast；butthisisthestrongestofall。
NaytheCrown—PrincetooshallwritetohisAuntofEngland:
you，Wilhelmina，drawout，afitbriefLetterforhim:sendittoPotsdam，hewillcopyitthere！[Wilhelmina，i。183。]SoorderstheMother:Wilhelminadoesit，withaterrifiedheart；
Crown—Princecopieswithoutscruple:"IhavealreadygivenyourMajestymywordofhonornevertowedanyonebutthePrincessAmeliayourDaughter；IherereiteratethatPromise，incaseyourMajestywillconsenttomySister’sMarriage，"——shouldthataloneprovepossibleinthepresentintricacies。"Weareallreducedtosuchastatethat"——WilhelminagivestheLetterinfull；butasitisprofessedlyofherowncomposition，aloosevaguepiece，theverydateofwhichyouhavetogropeoutforyourself，itcannotevencountamongtheseveralLetterswrittenbytheCrown—Prince，bothbeforeandafterit，tothesameeffect，whicharenowprobablyallofthemlost，[TRACEofone，CopyofANSWERfromQueenCarolinetowhatseemstohavebeenone，Answerratherofdissuasivetenor，isinState—PaperOffice:PrussianDespatches，vol。xl，——dateless；probablysomemonthslaterin1780。]withoutregrettoanybody；andwewillnotreckonitworthtranscribingfarther。SuchMissive，suchtwoMissives（notnowfoundinanyarchive）speedtoEnglandbyexpress；
maythewindsbefavorable。HerMajestywaitsanxiousatBerlin；
readytotakerefugeinabedofsickness，shouldbadcometoworse。
DUBOURGAYSTRIKESALIGHTFORTHEENGLISHCOURT。
InEngland，inthemeanwhile，theyhavereceivedacuriouslittlepieceofsecretinformation。OneReichenbach，PrussianEnvoyatLondon——DubourgayhaslongmarvelledatthemanandatthenewshesendstoBerlin。Here，ofdate17thJanuary，1730，isaLetteronthatsubjectfromDubourgay，officialbutprivateasyet，for"GeorgeTilson，Esq。:"——TilsonisUnder—SecretaryintheForeignOffice，whosenameoftenturnsuponsuchoccasionsintheDUBOURGAY，theROBINSONandotherextinctPaper—heapsofthattime。Dubourgaydatesdoubly，byoldandnewstyle；ingeneralweprintbythenewonly，unlessthecontrarybespecified。
"TOGEORGETILSON，ESQ。（Private。）
"BERLIN，6thJan。1729（bynewstyle，17thJan。1730）。
"SIR，——IbelieveyoumayrememberthatwehaveforalongtimesuspectedthatmostofReichenbach’sDespatchesweredictatedbysomepeoplehere。AbouttwodaysagoaPaperfellintomyhands，"
realizedquietlyforaconsideration，"containinganAccountofmoneychargedtothe’BrothersJourdanandLautiers，’Merchantshere，bytheirCorrespondentinLondon，forsendingLettersfrom，"
properlyin，orthrough，"yourCitytoReichenbach。
"JourdanandLautiers’sLondonCorrespondentsareMr。ThomasGreenhillinLittleBellAlleyandMr。JohnMotteuxinSt。MaryAxe。Mr。GuerinmyAgentknowsthemverywell；havingpaidthemseverallittlebillsonmyaccount:"——BetteraskMr。Guerin。
"IknownotthroughthehandsofwhichofthoseMerchantstheabove—mentionedLettershavepassed；butyouhavewaysenoughtofinditout，ifyouthinkitworthwhile。ImakenomannerofdoubtbutGrumkowandhispartymakeuseofthisconveyanceto（SIC）theirinstructionstoReichenbach。IntheAccountwhichI
haveseen，’eighteen—pence’ischargedforcarryingeachLettertoReichenbach:thechargeingeneralisfor’Thirty—twoLetters；’
andreferstoaformerAccount。"Sothattheymusthavebeenlongatit。
"Iam，withthegreatesttruth，"DUBOURGAY。"
HereisatrailwhichTilsonwillhavenodifficultyinrunningdown。IforgetwhetheritwasinBellAlleyorSt。MaryAxethatthenestwasfound；butfounditsoonwas，andtheduespringeswereset；andgamecamesteadilydroppingin，——LetterstoandLettersfrom，——which，whenoncehisBritannicMajestyhad，withreluctance，givenwarranttoopenanddecipherthem，threwlightonPrussianAffairs，andyieldedfinesportandspeculationintheBritannicMajesty’sApartmentonanevening。
Thisisnootherthanthecelebrated"CipherCorrespondencebetweenGrumkowandReichenbach；"GrumkowcovertlyinstructinghisslaveReichenbachwhattheLondonnewsshallbe:Reichenbachansweringhim，Tohearistoobey！CorrespondencemuchnoisedofinthemodernPrussianBooks；andwhichwas，nodoubt，verywonderfultoTilsonandCompany；——capableofbeingturnedtouses，theythought。Thereadershallseespecimensbyandby；andhewillfinditunimportantenough，andunspeakablystupidtohim。
ItdoesshowGrumkowastheextremeofsubtlefowlers，andhowthedirty—fingeredSeckendorfandhecookedtheirbirdlime:buttousthatisnotnew，thoughatSt。James’sitwas。Perhapsusesmaylieinitthere？Atallevents，itisaprettytopicinQueenCaroline’sapartmentonanevening；andthelittleMajestyandshe，withvariouslaughtersandreflections，candiscern，alittle，HowapoorKingofPrussiaisbefooledbyhisservants，andinwhatwayafierceBearisledaboutbythenose，anddancestoGrumkow’spiping。Poorsoul，muchofhislateragingandgrowling，perhapsitwasonlyGrumkow’sandnothis！Doesnothateus，he，perhaps；butonlyGrumkowthroughhim？Thisdolefulenchantment，andthattheRoyalWildBeardancesonlytotunes，oughttobeheldinmind，whenwewantanythingwithhim。——
Those，amidtheteheeings，arereflectionsthatcannotescapeQueenCarolineandherlittleGeorge，whilethePrussianExpress，unknowntothem，isontheroad。
WILHELMINATOBEMARRIEDOUTOFHAND。CRISISSECOND:
ENGLANDSHALLHAVESAIDNO。
ThePrussianExpress，QueenSophie’sCouriertoEngland，madehisbestspeed:buthedependsonthewindsforevenarrivingthere；
andthenhedependsonthechancesforananswerthere；
anuncertainCourierastotime:anditwasnotinthepowerofspeedtokeeppacewithFriedrichWilhelm’simpatience。"Noansweryet？"growlsFriedrichWilhelmbeforeafortnightisgone。
"Noanswer？"——andJanuaryhasnotendedtillanewDeputationofthesameThreeGentlemen，Finkenstein，Borck，Grumkow，againwaitsontheQueen，forwhomthereisnowthisothermessage。
"Wednesday，25thJanuary，1730，"soDubourgaydatesit；
solikewiseWilhelmina，rightforonce:"adayIshallneverforget，"addsshe。
FinkensteinandBorck，mercifulpersons，andalwaysoftheEnglishparty，wereagainprofoundlysorry。Borckhasablazeoftemperinhimwithal；wehearheapprisedGrumkow，atonepointofthedialogue，thathe，Grumkow，wasa"scoundrel，"soDubourgaycallsit，——whichwasoneundeniabletruthofferedtherethatday。
Butwhatcananythingprofit？TheMessageis:"WhatevertheanswernowbefromEngland，Iwillhavenothingtodowithit。
Negative，procrastinative，affirmative，tomeitshallbezero。
You，Madam，havetochoose，forWilhelmina，betweenWeissenfelsandSchwedt；otherwiseImyselfwillchoose:anduponyouandherwillalightOranienburg，outerdarkness，andjustpenaltiesofmutinyagainsttheAuthoritysetoveryoubyGodandmen。
WeissenfelsorSchwedt:choosestraightway。"ThisistheKing’smessagebytheseThree。
"YoucaninformtheKing，"repliedherMajesty，[Wilhelmina，i。188。]"thathewillnevermakemeconsenttorendermyDaughtermiserable；andthat，solongasabreathoflife（UNSOUFFLEDE
VIE）remainsinme，Iwillnotpermithertotakeeithertheoneortheotherofthosepersons。"Isthatenough？"Foryou，Sir，"
addedherMajesty，turningtoGrumkow，"foryou，Sir，whoaretheauthorofmymisfortunes，maymycursefalluponyouandyourhouse！Youhavethisdaykilledme。ButIdoubtnot，Heavenwillhearmyprayer，andavengethesewrongs。"[Dubourgay，28thJanuary，1730；Wilhelmina，i。188（whosuppressesthemaledictorypart）。]——Andherewithtoabedofsickness，astheonerefugeleft！
HerMajestydoesnow，infact，taketobedatBerlin；"fallenveryill，"itwouldappear；whichgivessomepausetoFriedrichWilhelmtillheascertain。"Poorly，forcertain，"reporttheDoctors，evenFriedrichWilhelm’sDoctor。ThehumaneDoctorshavesilentlygivenoneanotherthehint；forBerlinisonetempestofwhispersaboutherMajesty’sdomesticsorrows，"Poorly，forinterestingreasons:
——perhapsbeworsebeforesheisbetter，yourMajesty！"——"Hmph！"
thinksFriedrichWilhelmoutatPotsdam。AndthenthetreacherousRamenreportsthatitisallshamming；andhisMajesty，aBear，thoughalovingone，isdrivenintowrathagain；andsowaversfromsidetoside。
ItiscertaintheQueenheld，fasterorlooser，byherbedofsickness，asamainrefugeintheseemergencies:thelastshiftofoppressedwomankind；——sanctionedbyFemaleParliament，inthisinstance。"Hashadamiscarriage！"writesDubourgay，fromBerlingossip，atthebeginningofthebusiness。Nayatonetimeshebecamereallyill，toadangerouslength；andhisMajestydidnotatfirstbelieveit；andthenwasliketobreakhisheart，poorBear；audpardonedWilhelminaandevenFritz，attheMother’srequest，——tillsymptomsmendedagain。[Wilhelmina，i。207。]
JARNI—BLEU，HerrSeckendorf，"Grumkowservesushonorably（DIENET
EHRLICH）"——doesnothe！——Ambiguousbedofsickness，arefugeintimeoftrouble，didnotquiteterminatetillMaynext，whenherMajesty’stimecame；afineyoungPrincetheresult；[23dMay，1730，AugustFerdinand；herlastchild。]andthismodeofrefugeintroubleceasedtobenecessary。
WILHELMINATOBEMARRIEDOUTOFHAND。CRISISTHIRD:
MAJESTYHIMSELFWILLCHOOSE，THEN。
DirectlyonthebackofthatperemptoryactofdisobediencebythewomankindonWednesdaylast，FriedrichWilhelmcametoBerlinhimself。HestormfullyreproachedhisQueen，regardlessofthesick—bed；intimatedtheinfalliblecertainty，ThatWilhelminaneverthelesswouldwedwithoutdelay，andthateitherWeissenfelsorSchwedtwouldbetheman。Andthissaid，hestraightwaywalkedouttoputthesameinexecution。
Walked，namely，totheMotherMargravineofSchwedt，theladyinhighcolors，OldDessauer’sSister；andproposedtoherthatWilhelminashouldmarryherSon。——"Thesupremewishofmylife，yourMajesty，"repliedsheofthehighcolors:"But，againstthePrincess’sownwill，howcanIacceptsuchhappiness？Alas，yourMajesty，Inevercan！"——andflatlyrefusedhisMajestyonthoseterms:athingWilhelminawillevergratefullyrememberofher。
[Wilhelmina，i。197。]
SothattheKingisnowreducedtoWeissenfels；andreturnsstillmoreindignanttoherMajesty’sapartment。Weissenfels，however，itshallbe；andfrightfulrumorsgothatheiswrittento，thatheisprivatelycoming，andthattherewillbenoremedy。
[Wilhelmina，i。197。]Wilhelmina，formerlyalmosttooflorid，isgonetoashadow；"herwaisthardlyhalfanell；"worndownbytheseagitations。ThePrinceandshe，iftheKingseeeitherofthem，——itissafertorun，orsquatbehindscreens。
HOWFRIEDRICHPRINCEOFBAIREUTHCAMETOBETHEMAN，AFTERALL。
Inthishighwindofextremity，theKingnowonthespotandinsuchtemper，Borckprivatelyadvises，"ThatherMajestybendalittle，——pretendtogiveuptheEnglishconnection，andproposeathirdparty，togetridofWeissenfels。"——"Whatthirdparty，then？"——"Well，thereisyoungBrandenburg—Culmbach，forexample，Heir—ApparentofBaireuth；Friedrich，ahandsomeenoughyoungPrince，justcominghomefromtheGrandTour，wehear；willhaveafineTerritorywhenhisFatherdies:ageissuitable；oldkinshipwiththeHouse，allmoney—quarrelssettledeightortenyearsago:
whynothim？"——"Excellent！"saidherMajesty；anddoessuggesthimtotheKing，inthenextSchwedt—Weissenfelsonslaught。
FriedrichWilhelmgrumblesanassent，"Well，then:——butIwillbepassive，observe；notaGROSCHENofDowry，foronething！"——
AndthisisthefirstappearanceoftheyoungMargrafFriedrich，Heir—ApparentofBaireuth；whocomesinasahypotheticfigure，atthislatestage；——andwillcarryoffthefairprize，asiswellknown。StillonlydoingtheGrandTour；littledreamingofthehighfortuneabouttodropintohismouth。Somanywooers，"fourKings"amongthem，suinginvain；him，withoutsuing，theFatesappointtobetheman。
Notabadyoungfellowatall，thoughnoKing。Wilhelmina，weshallfind，takescharminglytohim，likeagoodfemalesoul；
regretlessoftheFourKings；——findsherownsafelittleislandtheretheprettiestintheworld，aftersuchperilsofdrowninginstormyseas。——OfhisBrandenburggenealogy，degreeofcousinshiptoQueenCarolineofEngland，andtothelatelyweddedyounggentlemanofAnspachQueenCaroline’sNephew，weshallsaynothingfarther，havingalreadyspokenofit，andevendrawnanabstruseDiagramofit，[Antea，vol。v。p。309c。]sufficientforthemostgenealogicalreader。Butinregardtothatoftheperemptory"NotaGROSCHENofDowry"fromFriedrichWilhelm（whichwasbutabark，afterall，andprovedthereverseofabite，fromhisMajesty），theremayawordofexplanationbepermissible。
TheAncestorofthisBaireuthPrinceFriedrich，——asreadersknewonce，butdoubtlesshaveforgottenagain，——wasaYoungerSon；
andforsixgenerationssoitstood:nottilltheFatherofthisFriedrichwasofgoodage，andonlywithinthesefewyears，didtheElderbranchdieout，andtheYounger，inthepersonofsaidFather，succeedtoBaireuth。Friedrich’sGrandfather，asalltheseprogenitorshaddone，livedpoorly，likeCadets，onapanagesandmakeshifts。
SothattheYoungPrince’sFather，GeorgeFriedrich，presentincumbent，aswemaycallhim，ofBaireuth，foundhimself——withacoupleofBrothershehas，whomalsowemaytransientlyseebyandby——inverystraitenedcircumstancesintheiryoungyears。
THEIRFather，sonofyoungersonsaswesaw，washimselfpoor，andhehadFourteenofthemasfamily。Now，inoldKingFriedrichI。’stime，itbecameapparent，asthethenreigningMargrafofBaireuth’schildrenalldiedsoonafterbirth，thatoneofthesenecessitousFourteenwaslikelytosucceedinBaireuth，iftheycouldholdout。OldKingFriedrichthereuponsaid，"Youhavechancesofsuccession；trueenough，——butnobodyknowswhatwillbecomeofthat。Sellyourchancetome，whoamultimateHeirofall:Iwillgiveyouaroundsum，——thelittle’DomainofWeverlingen’intheHalberstadtCountry，andsay’HalfaMillionThalers；’thereyoucanlivecomfortably，andsupportyourFourteenChildren，"——"Done，"saidthenecessitousCousin；wenttoWeverlingenaccordingly；andtherelivedtherestofhisdays，till1708；leavinghisnecessitousFourteen，oraboutTenofthemthatwerealiveandgrowingup，stillallminors，andnecessitousenough。
Theyoungmen，GeorgeFriedrichatthetopofthem，keptsilenceinWeverlingen，andconformedtoPapa；havingnothingtoliveuponelsewhere。Buttheyhadtheirownthoughts；especiallyastheirCousinofBaireuthwasmoreandmorelikelytodiechildless。
Andatlength，beingintheKaiser’sserviceassoldierssomeofthem，andhavingmadewhatinterestwasfeasible，they，earlyinFriedrichWilhelm’sreign，burstout。Thatistosay，appealedtotheREICHSHOFRATH（ImperialAulicCouncilatVienna；chiefCourtoftheEmpireinsuchcases）；openlyprotestingthere，ThattheirPapahadnopowertomakesuchabargain，sellingtheirbirthrightforimmediatepottage；andthat，inbrief，theywouldnotstandbyitatall；——andsummonedFriedrichWilhelmtoshowcausewhytheyshould。
Longlawsuit，inconsequence；lengthylaw—pleadings，andmuchparchmentandwiggery，inthatGermanTriple—ElixirofChancery；——
littletothejoyofFriedrichWilhelm。FriedrichWilhelm，fromthefirst，wasfairnessitself:"Paymebackthemoney；andletitbe，inallpoints，asyousay！"answeredFriedrichWilhelm，fromthefirst。Alas，themoneywaseaten；howcouldthemoneybepaidback？TheReichshofrathdubitativelyshookitswig，foryears:
"BargainbadinLaw；butMoneyclearlyrepayable:theMoneywasandisgood；——whatshallbedoneabouttheMoney！"Atlength，in1722，FriedrichWilhelm，ofhimself，settledwiththispresentMargraf，thenHeir—Presumptive，How，bysteadyslowinstalments，itcouldbepossible，fromtherevenuesofBaireuth，thriftilyadministered，topaybackthatHalf—MillionandoddThalers；
andthenowMargraf，eversincehisaccessionin1726，hasbeenannuallydoingit。Sothatthereis，atthistime，nothingbutcomposedkinshipandfriendshipbetweenthetwoCourts，thelittleandthebig:onlyFriedrichWilhelm，especiallywithhiswillcrossedinthismatteroftheBaireuthMarriage，thinkstohimself，"Throwmoremoneyintosuchagulf？The600，000Thalershadbetterbegotoutfirst！"andsays，hewillgivenoDowryatall，nortakeanycharge，notsomuchasgiveawaytheBride，butbepassiveinthematter。
QueenSophie，delightedtoconquerGrumkowatanyrate，ischarmedwiththisnotionofBaireuth；andforamomentforgetsallotherconsiderations:ShouldEnglandproveslackandfail，whataresourcewillBaireuthbe，comparedwithWeissenfels！
AndWilhelminaentering，herMajestybreaksforthintoadmirationoverthevictory，orhalf—victory，justgained:Whatahusbandforyouthis，mydear，incomparison！AndasWilhelminacannotquitejoinintheraptureonasudden；andcannotevenconsent，unlessPapatoogivehisrealcountenancetothematch，MammafliesoutuponthepooryoungLady:[Wilhelmina，i。201。]"TaketheGrandTurkortheGreatMogul，then，"saidtheQueen，"andfollowyourowncaprice！Ishouldnothavebroughtsomanysorrowsonmyself，hadIknownyoubetter。FollowtheKing’sbidding，then；itisyourownaffair。Iwillnolongertroublemyselfaboutyourconcerns；——andspareme，please，thesorrowofyourodiouspresence，forIcannotstandit！"Wilhelminawishedtoreply，buttheanswerwas，"Silence！Go，Itellyou！""AndIretiredallintears。"
"Allintears。"TheDouble—Marriagedriftingfuriouslythislongwhile，insuchaseaasneverwas；andbreakersnowClosea—lee，——
havethedesperatecrewfallentostaving—intheliquor—casks，andquarrellingwithoneanother？——Evidentonethingis，herMajestycannotbeconsideredaperfectlywiseMother！Weshallseewhatherbehavioris，whenWilhelminaactuallywedsthisrespectableyoungPrince。Ungratefulcreature，towishPapa’sconsentaswellasmine！thatisthematernalfeelingatthismoment；
andWilhelminaweepsbitterly，asoneoftheunluckiestofyoungLadies。
Nay，herBrotherhimself，whoissickofthispermanenthurricane，andwouldfainseetheendofitatanyprice，takesMamma’spart；
andWilhelminaandhecometohighwordsonthematter。Thiswastheunkindestcutofall:——but，ofcourse，thishealedinaday。
PoorPrince，hehashisownallowanceofinsults，disgraces，blows；hasjustbeenfoundoutinsomeplan，orsuspicionofaplan；foundouttobeindebtatleast，andbeenhalfmiraculouslypardoned；——and，except，inflight，hestillseesnodeliveranceahead。Fivedaysago，22dJanuary，1730，therecameoutaCabinet—Order（summaryActofParliament，sotospeak）against"lendingmoneytoPrincesoftheBlood，wereiteventothePrince—Royal。"Acrimeandmisdemeanor，thatshallnowbe；
andForfeitureoftheMoneyisonlypartofthepenalty，accordingtothisCabinet—Order。Rumoris，theCrown—PrincehadpurchasedavehicleandappurtenancesatLeipzig，andwasforrunningoff。
Certaintyis，hewasdiscoveredtohaveborrowed1，000ThalersfromacertainmoneyedmanatBerlin（moneymadefromFrenchscrip，inMississippiLaw’stime）；——whichdebtFriedrichWilhelminstantlypaid。"Yourwholedebt，then，isthat？Tellmethewhole！"——"Mywholedebt，"answeredthePrince；whodurstnotowntoabout9，000otherThalers（1，500pounds）hehasborrowedfromotherquarters，firstandlast。FriedrichWilhelmsawperhapssomepremonitionofflight，orofdesperatemeasures，inthisbusiness；
andwasunexpectedlymild:paidthe1，000Thalersinstantly；
addingtheCabinet—Orderagainstfuturecontingencies。[Ranke，i。296；Forster，&c。]ThePrincewasinthishumorwhenhetookMamma’sside，andredoubledWilhelmina’sgrief。
DOUBLE—MARRIAGE，ONTHEEDGEOFSHIPWRECK，FLIESOFFAKINDOF
CARRIER—PIGEON，ORNOAH’S—DOVE，TOENGLAND，WITHCRYFORHELP。
FaithfulMamsellBulowconsolesthePrincess:"Wait，IhavenewsthatwillputherMajestyinfinehumor！"——Andshereallyprovedasgoodasherword。Hernewsis，DubourgayandKnyphausen，inthisextremityofpinch，havedecidedtosendoffnotlettersmerely；butaspeakingMessengertotheEnglishCourt。OneDr。
Villa；somekindof"EnglishChaplain"here，[Wilhelmina，i。203；
Dubourgay’sDespatch，28thJanuary，1730。]whosechieftradeisthatheteachesWilhelminaEnglish；Rev。Dr。Villa，whohonorsWilhelminaasheought，shallbetheman。Istogoinstantly；
willexplainwhatthefatalpasswearereducedtois，andwhetherPrincessWilhelminaisthefrightsomerepresentherthereornot。
HerMajestyisoverjoyedtohearit:whowouldnotbe？HerMajesty"writesLetters"oftheduevehemency，thinksWilhelmina，——darenotwriteatall，saysDubourgay；——butloadsVillawithpresents，withadvices；withherwholeheartspeedshimunderway。
"Dismissed，turnedoffforsomefaultorother——orperhapsbecausethePrincessknowsenoughofEnglish？"sotherumorgoes，inVilla’sBerlincircle。
"TheChaplainsetoutwithhisdespatches，"saysWilhelmina，whodoesnotnamehim，butisrathereloquentuponhiserrand；"loadedwithpresentsfromtheQueen。Ontakingleaveofmeheweptwarmtears。Hesaid，salutingintheEnglishfashion，"——Ihopewithbendedknee，andthemaiden’sfingersathislips——"’HewoulddenyhisCountry，ifitdidnotdoitsdutyonthisoccasion。’"Andsohastenedforthonhiserrand。LikeaCarrier—Pigeonsentinextremity；——likeNoah’s—DoveintheDeluge:mayherevisitourperishingArkwithOliveinhisbill！
ENDOFBOOK6
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV7
byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia"
BOOKVII。
FEARFULSHIPWRECKOFTHE
DOUBLE—MARRIAGEPROJECT。
February—November，1730。
ChapterI。
ENGLANDSENDSTHEEXCELLENCYHOTHAMTOBERLIN。
Things，therefore，aregottoadead—lockatBerlin:rebelliousWomankindperemptorilyrefuseWeissenfels，andtaketoabedofsickness；inexpugnablethere，forthemoment。Baireuthisbutaweakmiddleterm；andtherearedisagreementsonit。AnswerfromEngland，affirmativeorevennegative，wehaveyetnone。
Promptlyaffirmative，thatmightstillavail，andbeanhonorableoutcome。Perhapsbetterpausetillthatarrive，anddeclareitself？——FriedrichWilhelmknowsnothingoftheVillamission，oftheurgenciesthathavebeenusedinEngland:but，inpresentcircumstances，hecanpausefortheiranswer。
MAJESTYANDCROWN—PRINCEWITHHIMMAKEARUNTODRESDEN
Tooutwardappearance，FriedrichWilhelm，havingwrittenthatmessagetoBaireuth，seemseasierinmind；quietwiththeQueen；
thoughdangerousforexplodingifWilhelminaandthePrincecomeinview。Wilhelminamostlysquats；Prince，whohastobeinview，getsslapsandstrokes"daily（JOURNELLEMENT），"saysthePrincess，——oralmostdaily。Fortherest，itisevidentenough，Weissenfels，ifnotgotpassedthroughtheFemaleParliament，isthrownoutonthesecondreading，andsoisatleastfinished。
OughtwenottomakearuntoDresden，therefore，andapprisethePolishMajesty？ShortruntoDresdenisappointedforFebruary18th；[Fassmann，p。404。]andthePrince—Royal，perhapssuspectedofmeditatingsomething，andsaferinhisFather’scompanythanelsewhere，istogo。Wilhelminahadtakenleaveofhim，nightofthe17th，inherMajesty’sApartment；andwasintheactofundressingforbed，when，——judgeofayoungPrincess’sterrorandsurprise，——
"Theresteptintotheanteroom，"visibleinthehalf—lightthere，amosthandsomelittleCavalier，dressed，notsuccinctlyasColonelofthePotsdamGiants，but"inmagnificentFrenchstyle。——
Igaveashriek，notknowingwhoitwas；andhidmyselfbehindascreen。MadamdeSonsfeld，myGoverness，notlessfrightenedthanmyself，ranout"toseewhataudaciousperson，atsuchunduehour，itcouldbe。"Butshereturnednextmoment，accompanyingtheCavalier，whowaslaughingheartily，andwhomIrecognizedformyBrother。Hisdresssoalteredhim，heseemedadifferentperson。
Hewasinthebesthumorpossible。
"’Iamcometobidyoufarewelloncemore，mydearSister，’saidhe:’andasIknowthefriendshipyouhaveforme，Iwillnotkeepyouignorantofmydesigns。Igo，anddonotcomeback。IcannotenduretheusageIsuffer；mypatienceisdriventoanend。Itisafavorableopportunityforflingingoffthatodiousyoke；IwillglideoutofDresden，andgetacrosstoEngland；whereIdonotdoubtIshallworkoutyourdeliverancetoo，whenIamgotthither。SoIbegyou，calmyourself，Weshallsoonmeetagaininplaceswherejoyshallsucceedourtears，andwhereweshallhavethehappinesstoseeourselvesinpeace，andfreefromthesepersecutions。’"[Wilhelmina，i。205。]
Wilhelminastoodstupefied，insilenceforsomemoments；——arguedlongwithherBrother；finallygothimtorenouncethosewildplans，oratleastpostponethem；andgiveherhiswordthathewouldattemptnothingonthepresentoccasion。ThissmallDresdenExcursionofFebruary，1730，passed，accordingly，withoutaccident，ItwasbutthepreludetoamuchgranderVisitnowagreeduponbetweentheneighboringMajesties。Forthereisagrandthinginthewind。Somethingtrulysublime，ofthescenic—militarykind，whichhasnotyetgotaname；butshallsoonhaveaworld—wideone，——"CampofMuhlberg，""CampofRadewitz，"orhowevertobenamed，——whichhisPolishMajestywillholdinthoseSaxonparts，inamonthortwo。Athingthatwillastonishalltheworld，wemayhope；andwheretheKingandPrinceofPrussiaaretoattendaschiefguests。
ItwasduringthisbriefabsenceinFebruary，ordirectlyafterFriedrichWilhelmhadreturned，thatQueenSophiehadthatfitofrealsicknesswespokeof。ScarcelywashisMajestygothome，whentheQueen，ratherambiguousinhersicknessesoflate，fellreallyanddangerouslyill:sothatFriedrichWilhelm，atlastrecognizingitforreal，camehurryinginfromPotsdam；weptloudandabundantly，poorman；declaredinprivate，"HewouldnotsurvivehisFeekin；"andforhersakesolemnlypardonedWilhelmina，andevenFritz，——tillthesymptomsmended。
[Wilhelmina，i。306。]
HOWVILLAWASRECEIVEDINENGLAND。
MeanwhileDr。Villa，inEngland，hasspednotill。Villa’seloquenceoftruth；theGrumkow—ReichenbachCorrespondenceinSt。MaryAxe:thesetwothingsproducetheireffect。Theseontheonehand；andthenontheother，certainquestionableaspectsofFleury，afterthatfineSoissonsCatastrophetotheKaiser；
andcertaininteriorquarrelsintheEnglishMinistry，partlygroundedthereon:——"Onthewhole，whyshouldnotwedetachFriedriohWilhelmfromtheKaiser，ifwecould，andcomplywithaRoyalSister？"thinktheyatSt。James’s。
Politicalmentakesomeinterestinthequestion；"WhyneglectyourPrinceofWales？"grumblesthePublic:"ItisasolidProtestantmatch，eligibleforPrinceFredandus！"——"WhybotherwiththeKaiserandhisGermanpuddles？"asksWalpole:
"OncedetachPrussiafromhim，theKaiserwillperhapssitstill，andleavetheworldandusfreeofhisPragmaticsandhisSanctionsandApanages。"——"Quitofhim？Germanpuddles？"answersTownshenddubitatively，——whohasgainedfavoratheadquartersbygoingdeeplyintosaidpuddles；andisnotsoardentforthePrussianMatch；andindeedisgraduallygettingintoquarrelwithWalpoleandQueenCaro1ine。{Coxe，i。332—339。]ThesethingsareallfavorabletoDr。Villa。
Infact，thereisoneofthosepoliticaltempests（dreadfultotheteapot，wereitnotexperiencedinthem）goingoninEngland，atthistime，——whatwecallaChangeofMinistry；——dailycrisislaboringtowardsfulfilment，orbrewingitselfripe。TownshendandWalpolehavehad（howmanyweeksagoCoxedoesnottellus）thatmeetinginColonelSelwyn’s，whichendedintheirclutchingatswords，nayalmostatcoat—collars:[Ib。p。335。]honorableBrothers—in—law:butthegoodSister，whousedtoreconcilethem，isnowdead。Theirquarrels，growingforsomeyearspast，arecomingtoahead。"WhenthefirmusedtobeTownshendandWalpole，allwaswell；whenithadtobecomeWalpoleandTownshend，allwasnotwell！"saidWalpoleafterwards。
Thingshadalreadygonesofar，thatTownshendbroughtChesterfieldoverfromtheHague，lastAutumn；——aBarondeMontesquieu，withtheESPRITDELOISinhishead，sailedwithLordChesterfieldonthatoccasion，andisnowinEngland"fortwoyears；"——butChesterfieldcouldnotbemadeSecretary；industriousDukeofNewcastlestucksoclosebythatoffice，andbytheskirtsofWalpole。ChesterfieldandTownshendVERSUSWalpole，ColonelStanhope（Harrington）andthePelhams:thePrussianMatchisacardinthatgame；andDr。Villa’seloquenceoftruthisnotlostonQueenCaroline，whoinaprivatewaymanages，asalways，toruleprettysupremeinit。
ThereliesintheState—PaperOffice，[ClosebyDespatch（Prussian）:"London，8thFebruary（o。s。）1729—1730。"]withoutdateorsignature，aloosedetachedbitofwriting，inscholasticstyle，butbriefandtothepurpose，whichisevidentlytheMemorialofVilla；butasitteachesusnothingthatwedonotalreadyknow，itneednotbeinsertedhere。Theman，wecanperceivefarther，continuedusefulinthoseOfficialquarters，answeringquestionsaboutPrussia，helpingintheSt。—Mary—Axedecipherings，andinothersmallways，forsometimelonger；
afterwhichhevanishesagainfromallrecord，——whethertoteachEnglishfarther，orliveonsomemodicumofpensiongranted，nomanknows。PooroldDove，letoutupontheDelugeinsergegown:
hedidbringbackabitofolive，sotospeak；——hadthepresagebutheld，asitdidinNoah’scase！
Inaword，theEnglishSovereigntiesandMinistrieshavedeterminedthatanEnvoyExtraordinary（oneHotham，theythinkof），withtheduesolemnity，besentstraightwaytoBerlin；
totreatofthoseinterestingmatters，andofficiallyputthequestionthere。WhomDubourgayisinstructedtoannouncetohisPrussianMajesty，withsalutationfromthisCourt。AsDubourgaydoesstraightway，withagreatdealofpleasure。[Despatches:
London，8thFebruary；Berlin，2dMarch，1780]HowwelcometohisMajestyweneednotsay。
Andindeed，aftersuchanannouncement（1stMarch，1730，thedayofit），theyfellintocheerfuldialogue；andtheBrigadierhadsomefrankconversationwithhisMajestyaboutthe"ArbitrationCommission"thensittingatBrunswick，andEuropeanaffairsingeneral。ConversationwhichiscarefullypreservedforusintheBrigadier’sDespatchofthemorrow。Itneverwasintrinsicallyofmuchmoment；andisnowfallenveryobsolete，andaltogetherofnone:butasaglanceatfirst—handintothedimoldthoughtsofFriedrichWilhelm，thereadermaytakeitwithhim:——
"TheKingsaidnext，Thatthoughwemadelittlenoise，yetheknewwellourdesign——wastokindleafireinotherpartsofLowerGermany。TowhichIanswered，ThatifhisMajestywouldgivemefavorablehearing，IcouldeasilypersuadehimofthepeaceableintentionsofourAllies。’Well，’sayshe，’theEmperorwillabandontheNetherlands，andwhowillbemasterofthem？IseethedaywhenyouwillmakeFrancesopowerful，thatitwillbedifficulttobringthemtoreasonagain。’——DUBOURGAY:’IftheEmperorabandonedtheNetherlands，theywouldbegovernedbytheirownMagistrate，anddefendedbytheirownMilitia。AstotheFrench，wearetoowellpersuadedofthebenefitofourAllies，to——’UponwhichtheKingofPrussiasaid，’ItappearedplainlywehadamindtodisposeaswepleasedofKingdomsandprovincesinItaly，sothatprobablyournextthoughtwouldbetodothesameinGermany。’——DUBOURGAY:’TheallotmentsmadeinfavorofDonCarloshavebeenmadewiththeconsentoftheEmperorandthewholeEmpire。WecouldnotsufferalongerinterruptionofourcommercewithSpain，forthesakeofthesmalldifferencebetweentheTreatyofSevilleandtheQuadrupleAlliance，inregardtotheGarrison，’"——totheintroducingofSpanishGarrisons，atonce，intoParmaandPiacenza；whichwasthespecialthunder—boltofthelateSoissonsCatastrophe，orTreatyofSeville。——"’Well，then，’
sayshisPrussianMajesty，’youmustallow，then，thereISaninfractionoftheQuadrupleAlliance，andthattheEmperorwillmakewar！’’Ihopenot，’saidI:（butifso，aTen—YearsWar，inconjunctionwiththeAlliesofSeville，neverwouldbesobadastheinterruptionofourCommercewithOldandNewSpainforoneyear。’
"TheKingofPrussia’snotionaboutourDISPOSINGOFPROVINCESIN
GERMANY，"addsDubourgay，"is，Ibelieve，aninsinuationofSeckendorf，who，Idoubtnot，hasmadehimbelieveweintendedtodosowithrespecttoBergandJulich。"
Veryprobably:——butHothamisgettingunderway，hopefultospoilthatgame。PrussianMajesty，wesee，isnotinsensibletosomuchhonor；andbrightensintohopefulnessandfinehumorinconsequence。WhatradiancyspreadovertheQueen’ssideoftheHouseweneednotsay。TheTobacco—Parliamentisliketohaveahardtask。——FriedrichWilhelmprivatelyiswellinclinedtohavehisDaughtermarried，withsuchoutlooks，ifitcanbedone。
ThemarriageoftheCrown—Princeintosuchafamilywouldalsobeverywelcome；only——only——Thereareconsiderationsonthatside。
Therearereasons；stillmoretherearewhims，feelingsofthemindtowardsanunlovedHeir—Apparent:upontheselatterchieflyliethehopesofSeckendorfandtheTobacco—Parliament。
WhattheTobacco—Parliament’sspecificinsinuationsanddeliberationswere，inthisalarminginterim，noHansardgivesusahint。Faintandtimidtheyneeded，atfirst，tobe；
suchunfavorablewindshavingrisen，blowingoffatasadratethesmokeofthatabstruseInstitution。——"JARNI—BLEU！"snufflestheFeldzeugmeistertohimself。But"SIDEUSESTNOBISCUM，"asGrumkowexclaimsoncetohisbeautifulReichenbach，orNOSTIashecallshimintheirslangorcipherlanguage，"IfGodiswithus，whocanprevailagainstus？"FortheGrumkowcanquoteScripture；
naysolaceshimselfwithit，whichisafeatbeyondwhattheDeviliscompetentto。
EXCELLENCYHOTHAMARRIVESINBERLIN。
TheSpecialEnvoytobesenttoBerlinonthisinterestingoccasionisadignifiedYorkshireBaronet；SirCharlesHotham，"ColoneloftheHorse—Grenadiers；"hehassomepostatCourt，too，andisstillinhisbestyears。HisWifeisChesterfield’sSister；
heiswithalakindofsoldier，aswesee；——amanofmanysabre—tashes，atleast，andacquaintedwithCavalry—Drill，aswellasthepracticesofGoldsticks:hisFatherwasaGeneralOfficerinthePeterboroughSpanishWars。Thesearehiseligibilities，recommendinghimatBerlin，andtoOfficialmenathome。Familyisoldenough:HothamsofScarboroughintheEastRiding；oldasWILHELMUSBASTARDUS；andsubsiststoourownday。ThisSirCharlesislinealSonoftheHothamswholosttheirheadsintheCivilWar；andheis，sotospeak，linealUNCLEoftheLordsHothamthatnoware。Fortherest，ahandsomefigure，promptinFrench，andmuchthegentleman。SofarhasVillasped。
HothamgottoBerlinonSunday，2dApril，1730。Hehadlingeredalittle，waitingtogatherupsomeskirtsofthatReichenbach—GrumkowCorrespondence，andhavethemreadytoshowintheproperQuarter。Forthatisoneofthechiefarrowsinhisquiver。Buthereheisatlast:andonMonday，heisintroducedatCharlottenburgtothePrussianMajesty；andfindsanabundantwelcometohimselfandhispreliminaries。"MarriageintothatfinehighCountry（MAGNIFIKELAND）willbewelcometomyDaughter，I
believe，asflowersinMay:tomealsohowcanitbeotherthanwelcome！——’Fartherinstructions，’yousay？Yes，surely；andtermshonorableonbothsides。Onlysaynothingofit，Ihadrathertellthegirlmyself。"[Ranke，i。284。]TothatfrankpurportspokehisMajesty；——andinvitestheExcellencyHothamtostaydinner。
GreatdinneratCharlottenburg，accordingly；Monday，3dApril，1730:thetwoEnglishExcellenciesHothamandDubourgay，thenGeneralBorck，Knyphausen，Grumkow，Seckendorfandothers；——
"where，"saysHotham，givingDespatchaboutit，"weallgotimmoderatelydrunk。"Ofwhichdinnerthereissordidnarrative，fromGrumkowtohisNOSTI（tohisReichenbach，incantspeech），stillvisiblethroughSt。MaryAxe，wereitworthmuchattentionfromus。Passagesofwit，loadedwithallusion，flewroundthetable:"AGermanducatischangeforanEnglishhalf—guinea，"andthelikesprightlythings。Nayatonetime，Hotham’sbackbeingturned，theyopenlydrink，——hisMajestyinastateofexhilaration，havingblabbedthesecret:——"TothehealthofWilhelminaPrincessofWales！"UponwhichthewholePalaceofCharlottenburgnowburstsintotripudiation；theveryvaletscuttiugcapers，makingsomersets，——andrushingoffwiththenewstoBerlin。Observable，only，thatHothamandDubourgaysatsilentinthetripudiation；withfacesdiplomaticallygrave。
Severalpointstobesettledfirst；nohallooingtillweareoutofthewood。
NewscametoBerlinSchloss，doubtlessatfullgallop，whichwouldonlytakeaquarterofanhour。ThisisWilhelmina’sexperienceofit。AfternoonofMonday，3dofApril，1730，intheSchlossofBerlin，——towardssunset，someornamentalseaminone’shand:——
"IwassittingquietinmyApartment，busywithwork，andsomeonereadingtome，whentheQueen’sLadiesrushedin，withatorrentofdomesticsintherear；whoallbawledout，puttingonekneetotheground，’TheywerecometosalutethePrincessofWales。’
Ifairlybelievedthesepoorpeoplehadlosttheirwits；
theywouldnotceaseoverwhelmingmewithnoiseandtumult，theirjoywassogreattheyknewnotwhattheydid。Whenthefarcehadlastedsometime，theyatlasttoldme"——whatourreadersknow。
WhatthedemureWilhelminaprofessesshecarednexttonothingabout。"Iwassolittlemovedbyit，thatIanswered，goingonwithmywork，’Isthatall？’Whichgreatlysurprisedthem。
AwhileafterwardsmySistersandseveralLadiescamealsotocongratulateme。Iwasmuchloved；andIfeltmoredelightedattheproofseachgavemeofthatthanatwhatoccasionedthem。
IntheeveningIwenttotheQueen’s:youmayreadilyconceiveherjoy。Onmyfirstentrance，shecalledme’herdearPrincessofWales；’andaddressedMadamdeSonsfeldas’Milady。’Thislattertookthelibertyofhintingtoher，thatitwouldbebettertokeepquiet；thattheKinghavingyetgivennonoticeofthisbusiness，mightbeprovokedatsuchdemonstration，andthattheleasttriflecouldstillruinallherhopes。TheCountessFinkensteinjoiningherremonstrancestoSonsfeld’s，theQueen，thoughwithregret，promisedtomoderateherself。"
[Wilhelmina，i。215。]
Thisistheeffulgentflaming—pointofthelong—agitatedEnglishMatch，whichwehavesooftencaughtinabitterlysmokingcondition。"TheKingindeedspokenothingofittous，onhisreturntoBerlininadayortwo，"saysWilhelmina；"whichwethoughtstrange。"Buteverybodyconsidereditcertain，nothingbutthedetailslefttosettle。"HothamhaddailyconferenceswiththeKing。""EverypostbroughtlettersfromthePrinceofWales:"ofwhichWilhelminasawseveral，——thisforonespecimen，generalpurportofthewhole:"Iconjureyou，mydearHotham，getthesenegotiationsfinished！Iammadlyinlove（AMOUREUXCOMMEUNFOU），andmyimpatienceisunequalled。"{Ib。i。218。]Wilhelminathoughtthesesentiments"very，romantic"onthepartofPrinceFred，"whohadneverseenme，knewmeonlybyrepute:"——andansweredhisromancesandhimwithtiffsoflaughter，inaprettilyfleeringmanner。
Effulgentflame—point；——whichwasofverybriefdurationindeed，andwhichsanksoonintobitterersmokethanever，downalmosttothechokingstate。TherearenowsixweeksofDiplomaticHistoryattheCourtofBerlin，whichendfarotherwisethantheybegan。
Weekswell—nighindecipherable；sodistractedarethey，byblack—artandabstruseactivitiesabovegroundandbelow，andsodistractedlyrecordedforus:ofwhich，ifitbehumanlypossible，wemusttrytoconveysomefaintnotiontomankind。
ChapterII。
LANGUAGEOFBIRDS:EXCELLENCYHOTHAMPROVESUNAVAILING。
Alreadynextmorning，afterthatgrandDinneratCharlottenburg，FriedrichWilhelm，awakeningwithhisdueheadache，thought，andwasheardsaying，Hehadgonetoofar！ThosegloomylooksofHothamandDubourgay，ontheoccasion；theyareasadmementothatourjoyancewaspremature。TheEnglishmeantheDouble—Marriage；
andFriedrichWilhelmisnotready，andneverfairlywas，formorethantheSingle。"WilhelminaPrincessofWales，yeswithallmyheart；butFriedrichtoanEnglishPrincess——Hm，na；"——andinadaymore:["InstructiontohisMinisters，5thApril，"citedbyRanke，i。285n。]plainly"No。"Andthereitfinallyrests；orifrockedabout，alwayssettlesthereagain。
Andwhy，No？——Truly，asregardedCrown—PrinceFriedrich’smarriage，thequestionhaditsrealdifficulties:andthen，stillmore，ithaditsimaginary；andthesubterraneanactivitieswerebusy！Thewitnesses，contemporaneousandother，assignthreereasons，orconsiderationsandquasi—reasons，whichtheTobacco—ParliamentandFriedrichWilhelm’slivelyfancycouldinsistuponittilltheybecameirrefragable:——
FIRST，hisrooteddiscontentwiththeCrown—Prince，someevensayhisjealousyoftheCrown—Prince’stalents，renderitunpleasanttothinkofpromotinghiminanyway。SECOND，naturalGermanloyalty，enlivenedbythehopeofJulichandBerg，attachingFriedrichWilhelmtotheKaiser’ssideofthings，repelshimwithakindofhorrorfromtheAnti—KaiserorFrench—Englishside。
"MarrymyDaughter，ifyoulike；IshallbegladtosaluteherasPrincessofWales；butnounioninyourTreaty—of—Sevilleoperations:inpoliticsgoyouyourownroad，ifthatisit，whileIgomine；notyingofus，byDoubleorotherMarriages，togooneroad。"THIRD，themagnificenceofthoseEnglish。"Regardlessofexpense，"insinuatestheTobacco—Parliament；"theywillsendtheirgrandPrincesshither，withnoendofmoney；broughtupingrandeurtolookdownonthelikeofus。Shecandazzle，shecanpurchase:intheend，maytherenotbeaCrown—PrinceParty，capableofextinguishingyourMajestyhereinyourownCourt，andmakiugPrussiaabitofEngland；alleyesbeingturnedtosuchsumptuousPrincessandherCrown—Prince，——Heir—Apparent，or’RisingSun’aswemaycallhim！"——
Thesereallyarethreeweightyalmostdreadfulconsiderationstoapoetic—temperedKingandSmokingParliament。Outofwhichthereisnorefugeexceptindeedthisplainfourthone:"NohurryaboutFritz’smarriage；[FriedrichWilhelmtoReichenbach（13thMay），infra。]heisbuteighteengone；evidentlytooyoungforhousekeeping。Thirtyisagoodtimeformarrying。’Thereis，thankGod，nolackofroyallineage；IhavetwootherPrinces，’"——andanotherjustathand，ifIknewit。
Toallwhichthereistobeaddedthatever—recurringinvinciblegravitationtowardstheKaiser，andalsotowardsJulichandBerg，bymeansofhim，——wellactedonbytheTobacco—Parliamentforthespaceofthosesixweeks。Duringwhich，accordingly，almostfromthefirstdayafterthatHothamDinnerofApril3d，theansweroftheroyalmind，withsuperficialfluctuations，alwaysis:
"Wilhelminaatonce，ifyouchoose；likelyenoughwemightagreeaboutCrown—PrinceFriedrichtoo，ifonceallweresettled；butoftheDouble—Marriage，atthispresenttime，HORENIT，[Ranke，i。285n。]Iwillhavenothingtosay。"AndastheEnglishanswersteadily，"Bothornone！"——meaningindeedtodrawPrussiaawayfromtheKaiser’sleading—strings，andoutofhispresentenchantedconditionunderthetwoBlack—Artistshehasabouthim，theNegotiationsinksagainintoameresmoking，andextinctorplainlyextinguishingstate。
TheGrumkow—NOSTICipherCorrespondencemightbereckonedasanotherefficientcause；though，infact，itwasonlyabigconcomitantsymptom，muchdependedonbybothparties，andmuchdisappointingboth。InthewayofpersuadingorpervertingFriedrichWilhelm’sjudgmentaboutEngland，thisdeep—laidpieceofmachinerydoesnotseemtohavedonemuch，ifanything；
andHotham，whowiththeEnglishCourthadcalculatedonit（ontheirdetectionofit）asthegrandmeansofblowingGrumkowoutofthefield，producedafaroppositeresultontrying，asweshallsee！Thatwasabitofheavyordnancewhichdisappointedeverybody。Seizedbytheenemybeforeitcoulddoanymischief；
enemyturneditroundontheinventor；fireditoffontheinventor，and——itexplodedthroughthetouch—hole；singeingsomepeople’swhiskers:nothingmore！——
APEEPINTOTHENOSTI—GRUMKOWCORRESPONDENCECAUGHTUPINST。MARYAXE。
WouldthereaderwishtolookintothisNosti—GrumkowCorrespondenceatall？Iadvisehim，not。GoodpartofitstillliesinthePaper—Officehere；[PrussianDespatches，vols。xl。
xli。:inafragmentarystate；somuchofitastheyhadcaughtup，andtriedtomakeuseof；——fartoomuch。]likelytobepublishedbythePrussianDryasdustincomingtime:butamoresordidmassofeavesdroppings，kitchen—ashesandfloor—sweepings，collectedandinterchangedbyapairoftreacherousFlunkies（bigbullyingFlunkyandlittletremblingcringingone，GrumkowandReichenbach），wasnevergottogetheroutofagentleman’shousehold。Tonoidlestreader，armedevenwithbarnacles，andholdingmouthandnose，canthestirring—upofsuchadust—binbelongtolerable。ButtheamazingproblemwasthisEditor’s，doomedtospelltheEventintoclearnessifhecould，andputdates，physiognomyandoutlinetoit，byhelpofsuchFlunky—Sanscrit！——
ThatNosti—GrumkowCorrespondence，aswenowhaveitinthePaper—Office，——interpretableonlybyacresofBritishDespatches，byinconditedatelesshelplessPrussianBooks（"printedBlotchesofHumanStupor，"asSmelfunguscallsthem）:howgladlywouldonereturnthemalltoSt。MaryAxe，theretoliethroughEternity！
Itislikeholdingdialoguewitharookery；askingyourway（perhapsinflightforlife，aswaspartlymyowncase）bycolloquywithsuccessiveorevensimultaneousRookeries。
Reader，haveyoutriedsuchathing？Anadventure，nevertobespokenofagain，whenonceDONE！
Wilhelminapretendstogivequotations[Wilhelmina，i。233—235。]
fromthissubterraneanGrumkow—ReichenbachCorrespondence；
buthersareonlyextractsfromsomedescriptionorremembrance；
hardlyonewordisclosetotheoriginal，thoughhereandtheresomeoutlineorshadowofarealpassageistraceable。
Whatfractionalelements，capableofgainingsomevestigeofmeaningwhenlaidtogetherintheircosmicorder，Icouldpickfromthecircumambientimmensitynotcosmic，arehereforthereader’sbehoof。Lethimskip，if，likemyself，heisweary；
forthesubstanceofthestoryiselsewheregiven。Orperhapshehasthecuriositytoknowthespeechofbirds？Withabridgment，byoccasionalchangeofphrase，aboveallbyimmenseomission，——here，inspecimen，issomethinglikewhattheRookerysaystopoorFriedrichWilhelmandus，throughSt。MaryAxeandtheCopyistsintheForeignOffice！FriedrichWilhelmreadsit（Hothamgiveshimreadingofit）someweekshence；wenottillgenerationsafterwards。Iabridgetotheutmost；——willmarkinsinglecommaswhatisnotAbridgmentbutexactTranslation；——withrigorousattentiontodates，andmybestfidelitytoanymeaningtheremaybe:——
TONOSTI（theso—calledExcellenzReichenbach）INLONDON:
GumkowfromBerlinLOQUITUR，Reichenbachlisteningwithbothhisears（wordscaughtupinSt。MaryAxe）。
BERLIN，3dMARCH，1730。"ThetimehasnowcomewhenReichenbachmustplayhisgame。LethimwritethattheheadsoftheOpposition，whoplayAustriaasacardinParliament，’areinconsternation，WalpolehavinghintedtothemthathewasabouttomakefriendswiththeKingofPrussia；’’thatbymeansofcertainministersatBerlin，andbyothersubterraneanchannels（AUTRES
SOUTERRAINS），hisPrussianMajestyhadbeenbroughttoadispositionofthatkind’[Knyphausen，BorckandotherswillbemuchobligedtoReichenbachforsowriting！]，ThatReichenbachknowstheyintendsendingaMinistertoBerlin；butiscertainenough，asperhapstheyare，hisPrussianMajestywillnotlethimselfbeluredorcaughtinthetrap:butthattheveryrumorofitsbeingpossibleforhimtochange"fromAustria，"wouldbeaninfinitegaintotheEnglishMinistry，"——salvationofthem，infact，intheParliamentarycockpit。"Thattheyhadalreadygivenoutinthewayofrumor，HowsuretheywereoftheCourtofBerlinwheneveritcametothepoint。ThatReichenbachhadtriedtolearnfrom73[AnIndecipherable。]whattherealresultfromBerlinwas；
anddidnotthinkitmuch，thoughtheWalpolepeople，"allhangingsoperilouslyuponPrussiafortheirexistence，’affectedagreatgayety；andindeedfeltwhatagainitwaseventohaverenewedtheNegotiationwithhisPrussianMajesty。’HereisaKinglikelytogethimselfilluminatedatfirst—handuponEnglishaffairs；
byMinisterslyingabroadforhim，andlyingathome！——
’AndsotheKing，’concludesGrumkow，’willthinkReichenbachisawitch（SORVIER）tobesowellinformedaboutallthat，andwillredoublethegoodopinionhehasofReichenbach。Andso，ifReichenbachsecondmyideas，wewillpackBorckandKnyphausenabouttheirbusiness；andwilldotheKingfaithfulservice，’——
having，someofus，ourprivate500poundsayearfromAustriafordoingit。’TheKingperceivesonlytoowellthattheQueen’ssicknessisbutsham（MOMERIE）:judgeoftheeffectthathas！Iamyoursentirely（TOUTAVOUS）。Iwaitingreatimpatiencetohearyournewsuponallthis:forIinformyouaccuratelyhowthelandlieshere；sothatitonlydependsuponyourselftoshine，andtopassforamiracleofjustinsight，’——"SORCIER，"orwitchatguessingmysteries，Grumkowcallsitagain。HecontinuesinanotherMissive:——
BERLIN，7thMARCH。（Letusgivetheoriginalforalineortwo）:
’QueenSophiewillsoonrisefromherbedofsickness，werethismarriagedone；LaMereduPrince—Royalaffectetoujoursd抏trebienmal；maisdesquel抋ffaireentrelePrincedeGallesetlaPrincesse—Royaleserafaite，onlaverrabientotsurpied。’
"ItwillbehoovethatReichenbachsignifytothePrince—Royal’sFatherthatallthisaffairhasbeenconcoctedatBerlinwithBorckandby71[AnIndecipherable。]withKnyphausenand103。[AnIndeciherable。]ThattheyneverlosesightofanalliancewiththeEnglishPrincessandthePrinceofPrussia；
andflatterthemselvesthePrince—RoyalofPrussiawillaccompanythePrincess—Royal，"Wilhelmina，"onHERmarriagethere。""Inaword，thatallturnsonthislatterpoint，"marriageofthePRINCE—Royalaswell；and"thatVillahasgivensofavorableadescriptionofthisPrince，thattheEnglishPrincesswillhavehimatwhatpricesoever。Nosticanalsoallegetheaffairof100，"——whomweatlastdeciphertobeLORDHARRINGTON，onceColonelStanhope，ofSoissons，oftheMadridEmbassy，ofthedescentonVigo；adistinguishednewLord，withwhomNewcastlehopestoshoveoutTownshend，——"LordHarrington，andthedivisionamongtheMinisters:"——greatquestion，ShallthefirmbeTownshendandWalpole，orWalpoleandTownshend？justgoingon；brewingtowardsdecision；inwhichthePrussianDouble—Marriageisreallyakindofcard，andmaybyNostiberepresentedasatrumpcard。
"ThewholeTownofBerlinsaid，ThisVillawasdismissedbyorderoftheKing，forhetaughttheeldestPrincessEnglish；butIseewellitwasBorck，107，[AnIndecipherable。]KnyphausenandDubourgaythatdespatchedhim，togiveatruepictureofthesituationhere。AndifNostihaswrittentohisMajestytothesameeffectashedoestohisFriend[DespatchtoMajestyhasnotyetcomeunderFriend’seye]ontheQueenofEngland’sviewsaboutthePrince—RoyalofPrussia，itwillanswermarvellously（CELA
VIENTAMERVEILLE）。IhaveapprisedSeckendorfofallthatNostiwritestome。"’Fortherest，NostimayperfectlyassurehimselfthattheKingneverwillabandonReichenbach；andifthePrince—Royal，’suddenFateinterfering，’hadthereinsinhishand，——inthatcase，SeckendorfpromisestoReichenbach，onthepartoftheKaiser，allormorethanallhecanlosebytheaccessionofthePrince。MonsieurReichenbachmaydependuponthat。’[PrussianDespatches，vol。xl。ThesecondofthesetwoLettersiscopied，weperceive，byVILLA；whotransmitsittoHotham’sSecretaryatBerlin，withgreathopesfromit。
Letter"unsigned，"addsVilla（POINTSIGNEE）。FirstwastransmittedbyTownshend。——Followingaretransmittedby&c。&c。
ItisinthatwaytheyhavegotintotheState—PaperOffice，——asENCLOSURESinthevarionsDespatchesthatcarriedthemouttoBerlintoserveasDiplomaticAmmunitionthere。]
SlaveReichenbachatLondon，whenthismissivecomestohand，isbusycopyingscandalaccordingtoformerinstructionsforbehoofofhisPrussianMajesty，andmyBashawGrumkow；forexample:——
TOTHEHERRGRUMKOWATBERLIN:
ExcellenzReiohenbachLOQUITUR；——snatchedinSt。MaryAxe。
LONDON，10thMARCH，1730。"……ReichenbachhastoldhisPrussianMajestyto—daybyaCourierwhoistopassthroughBrussels[AustrianKinsky’sCourier，nodoubt]，whatamoursthePrinceofWales，"dissoluteFred，"hasonhandatpresentwithactressesandopera—girls。TheKingofPrussiawillundoubtedlybeastonished。
Theaffairmeritssomeattentionatpresent，"——especialIyfromanExcellenzlikeme。——
[MISSIVE（bodyofimportantGrumkowInstructionsjustreadbyus）
COMESTOHAND。]
LONDON，14thMARCH，1730。’Reichenbachwillwritebythefirst，Ordinary[sotheynamePost，inthosedays]allthatGlumkoworders。Reichenbachseeswell，theymeantoplaythedeucehere（jouentlediableaquatreici）:
butReichenbachwilltellhisPrussianMajestywhatGrumkowfindsfit。’GoodExcellenzReichenbach’flattershimselftheKingwillremainfirm，andnotlethisenemiesdeceivehim。IfGrumkowandSeckendorfhaveopportunitytheymaytellhisPrussianMajestythatthewholedesignofthisCourtistorenderhisCountryaProvincedependentonEngland。WhenoncethePrincess—RoyalofEnglandshallbeweddedtothePrince—RoyalofPrussia，theEnglish，bythatmeans，willformsuchapartyatBerlin，thattheywillaltogethertiehisPrussianMajesty’shands。’
AcomfortablepieceofnewstohisPrussianMajestyinTobacco—Parliament。’Reichenbachwillassuredlybevigilant；
dependonhisansweringGrumkowalwaysbythefirstpost。’
Continues；——turninghisrook—billtowardsMajestynow。Samedate（14thMarch），sametime，placeandbird:——
TOHISPRUSSIANMAJESTY（fromExcellenzReichenbach）。
’……P。S。IhadclosedthisLetterwhenapersonofconfidencecamein[thefactbeing，myGrumkow’sMissiveofinstructionscamein，orfigurativelyspeaking，myGrumkowhimself]，andundertooktogivemeinafewdaysathoroughinsightintotheintrigueswhichareconcealedunderthesendingofthisnewMinister，’
Hotham，’toBerlin；which，andhowtheyhavebeenconcocted，hesays，itwillastonishmetohear。OfallthisIshallimmediatelyinformyourMajestyinaletterofmyownhand；beingevereagertoserveyourMajestyalone。’
Hothamisnowfairlygone，weeksago；concludedtobenowinBerlin，——tothehorrorofbothrooks。HereisacroakfromNOSTI:——
TOTHEHERRGRUMKOWATBERLIN。
LONDON，APRIL，1730。"……HothamisnosuchconjurerastheyfancyinBerlin；——singularenough，howtheseEnglisharegiventoundervaluetheGermans；whilstweinGermanyovervaluethem"
（avonsuneideetropvaste，they
trappetite）。’Thereis，forinstance，LordChesterfield，passeshereforafair—enoughkindofman（BON
HOMME），andisafavoritewiththeKing[notwithWalpoleortheQueen，ifNostiknewit]；butnobodythinkshimsuchaprodigyasyoualldoinGermany，’——whichlatterbitofGermanismisanundoubtedfact；curiousenoughtotheEnglish，andtotheGermansthatnowreadinextinctBooks。
Hotham，aswesaid，gottoBerlinonthe2dofApril。FromBerlincomesthereupon，atgreatlength，sordiddescriptionbyGrumkow，ofthatinitiatoryHothamDinner，AprilThird，withfearfuldetailsoftheblazingfavorHothamisin。WhichhisMajesty（whenHothamhandsittohim，induetime）willreadwithpainfulinterest；asReichenbachnowdoes；——butwhichtousisallmerepuddle，omissibleinthisplace。
TowhichsadStrophe，therestraightwayfollowsdueAnti—strophe，Reichenbachcroakingresponsive；——andwearetonote，therooksalwaysspeakinthethirdpersonandbyambiguousperiphrasis；
neveroncesay"I"or"You，"unlessforcedbythisEditor，forbrevity’ssake，todoit。Reichenbachfromhisperchthushoarselychants:——
TOTHEHERRGRUMKOWATBERLIN。
LONDON，11thAPRIL。’ReichenbachESTCOUP—DE—FOUDRE，——isstruckbylightning，——toheartheseBerlinnews；’——andexpresses，inthestyleofawhiptdog，hissorrows，uncertaintiesandterrors，ontheoccasion。"Struckwithlightning。Feelmyselfquiteill，andnotinaconditiontowritemuchtoday。Itrequiresanotherheadthanminetoveerroundsooften（changersisouventdesystame）。Infine，Nostiestauboutdesonlatin[isathiswit’send，poordevil）！
BothMajestieshavespokenopenlyofthefavorablenewsfromBerlin；fundsroseinconsequence。NewMinister[WalpolecometothetopoftheFirm，Townshendsoontowithdraw，impatientofthebottom]isall—powerfulnow:OTEMPORA，OMORES！""Ireceiveuniversalcongratulations，andhavetosmile"inaghastlymanner。
"TheKingandQueendespiseme。IputmyselfintheirwaylastLevee，bowingtotheground；buttheydidnotevencondescendtolook。"’Notregrandpetit—maitre，’littleGeorge，theOlympianJoveoftheseparts，"passedonasifIhadnotbeenthere。"’Chesterfield，theysay，istogo，ingreatpomp，asAmbassadorExtraordinary，andfetchthePrincessover。And？—Alas，inshort，OnceIwashap—hap—happy，butnowI’mMEEserable！
LONDON，14thAPRIL。"SlaveReichenbaohcannotanylongerwritesecretLetterstohisPrussianMajestyaccordingtotheoldstrain，ofyourprescribing；butmuststandbyhisvacantOfficialDespatches:thescenebeingentirelychanged，healsomustchangehismannerofwriting"——poorknave。"HewillhavetoinformhisMajesty，however，byandby，thoughitisnotsafeatpresent，"——
forexample，——’ThathisBritannicMajestyisbecomingfromdaytodaymorehatedbyalltheworld；andthatthePrinceofWalesisnolongerlikedbythePublic，asatfirst；becausehebeginstogivehimselfairs，andtakesaltogetherthemannersofhisBritannicMajesty，thatistosayofapuppy（PETIT—MAITRE）；
letmyAmiable[Grumkow]beawareofthat’——
Yes，lethimbeawareofthat，tohiscomfort，——andstillmore，andallreadersalongwithhim，ofwhatfollows:——
’ReichenbachlikewisewithgreatconfidenceinformstheGreatestConfidanthehasintheworld[sameamiableGlumkow]，thathehasdiscoveredwithinthisdayortwo，’atremendousfact，knowntoourreaderssometimeago，’ThatthePrince—RoyalofPrussiahasgivenhiswrittenassurancestotheQueenhere，NevertomanyanybodyintheworldexceptthePrincessAmeliaofEngland，happenwhatwill[PrussianMajestywillreadthiswithaterribleinterest！Muchnearertohimthanitistous]。InconsiderationofwhichPromise，theQueenofEnglandisunderstood，’falsely，’tohaveansweredthattheyshould，atpresent，askonlythePrincess—RoyalofPrussiafortheirPrinceofWales，’andlettheDouble—MarriageBE，seemingly，ashisPrussianMajestywishesit。
’MonsieurdeReichenbaoh，didnotspeakofthistohisPrussianMajesty；feelingittoodangerousjustnow。——
’LordTownshendisstillathisplaceinthecountry[RainhaminNorfolk]:butitissaidhewillsooncometoTown；havingheardthegreatnewsthattheyhadalreadygothisPrussianMajestybythenose。ReichenbachforgetsifhealreadytoldGrumkowthattherumorruns，LordChesterfield，inqualityofAmbassadortoBerlin，istobringthePrincessWilhelminaoverhither:’——youdidalready，poorconfusedwretch；unusuallybewildered，andunderfrightfuleclipseatpresent。
Continuesafterfourdays:——