History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [18]
what trouble
Friedrich Wilhelm had with his unreasonable Ritters.
Ritters there, in their assembled capacity, had the Reich behind
them, and could not be dealt with like Preussen: but Friedrich
Wilhelm, by wise slow methods, managed Magdeburg too, and reduced
it to silence, or to words necessary for despatch of business.
In each Province, a Permanent Committee--chosen, I suppose, by
King and Knights assenting; chosen I know not how, but admitted to
be wisely chosen--represents the once Parliament or STANDE; and
has its potency for doing good service in regard to all Provincial
matters, from roads and bridges upwards, and is impotent to do the
least harm. Roads and bridges, Church matters, repartition of the
Land-dues, Army matters,--in fact they are an effective non-
haranguing Parliament, to the King's Deputy in every such
Province; well calculated to illuminate and forward his subaltern
AMTmen and him. Nay, we observe it is oftenest in the way of gifts
and solacements that the King articulately communicates with these
Committees or their Ritterschafts. Projects for Draining of Bogs,
for improved Highways, for better Husbandry; loans granted them,
Loan-Banks established for the Province's behoof:--no need of
parliamentary eloquence on such occasions, but of something
far different.
It is from this quiescent, or busy but noiseless kind of STANDE
and Populations that Friedrich has his HULDIGUNG to take;--and the
operation, whether done personally or by deputy, must be an
abundantly simple one. He, for his part, is fortunate enough to
find everywhere the Sovereignty ESTABLISHED; "rock of bronze" not
the least shaken in his time. He will graciously undertake, by
Written Act, which is read before the STANDE, King or King's
Deputy witnessing there, "To maintain the privileges" of his
STANDE and Populations; the STANDE answer, on oath, with lifted
hand, and express invocation of Heaven, That they will obey him as
true subjects; And so--doubtless with something of dining
superadded, but no whisper of it put on record--the HULDIGUNG will
everywhere very quietly transact itself.
The HULDIGUNG itself is nothing to us, even with Friedrich there,
--as at Konigsberg, Berlin, Cleve, the three exceptional places.
To which, nevertheless, let us briefly attend him, for the sake of
here and there some direct glimpse we may get of the then
Friedrich's actual physiognomy and ways. Other direct view, or the
chance of such, is not conceded us out of those sad Prussian
Books; which are very full on this of the HULDIGUNG, if silent on
so many other points. [Preuss, Thronbesteigung, italic> p. 382.]
FRIEDRICH ACCEPTS THE HOMAGES, PERSONALLY, IN THREE PLACES.
To Konigsberg is his first excursion on this errand. Preussen has
perhaps, or may be suspected of having, some remnants of sour
humors left in it, and remembrances of STANDE with haranguings and
even mutinies: there if anywhere the King in person may do good on
such an occasion, He left Berlin, July 7th, bound thitherward;
here is Note of that first Royal Tour,--specimen of several
hundreds such, which he had to do in the course of the next
forty-five years.
"Friend Algarotti, charming talker, attended him; who else,
official and non-official, ask not. The Journey is to be
circuitous; to combine various businesses, and also to have its
amusements. They went by Custrin; glancing at old known Country,
which is at its greenest in this season. By Custrin, across the
Neumark, into Pommern; after that by an intricate winding route;
reviewing regiments, inspecting garrisons, now here now there;
doing all manner of inspections; talking I know not what; oftenest
lodging with favored Generals, if it suited. Distance to
Konigsberg, by the direct road, is about 500 miles; by this
winding one, it must have been 800: Journey thither took nine days
in all. Obliquely through Pommern, almost to the coast of the
Baltic; their ultimatum there a place called Coslin, where they
reviewed with strictness,--omitting Colberg,
Friedrich Wilhelm had with his unreasonable Ritters.
Ritters there, in their assembled capacity, had the Reich behind
them, and could not be dealt with like Preussen: but Friedrich
Wilhelm, by wise slow methods, managed Magdeburg too, and reduced
it to silence, or to words necessary for despatch of business.
In each Province, a Permanent Committee--chosen, I suppose, by
King and Knights assenting; chosen I know not how, but admitted to
be wisely chosen--represents the once Parliament or STANDE; and
has its potency for doing good service in regard to all Provincial
matters, from roads and bridges upwards, and is impotent to do the
least harm. Roads and bridges, Church matters, repartition of the
Land-dues, Army matters,--in fact they are an effective non-
haranguing Parliament, to the King's Deputy in every such
Province; well calculated to illuminate and forward his subaltern
AMTmen and him. Nay, we observe it is oftenest in the way of gifts
and solacements that the King articulately communicates with these
Committees or their Ritterschafts. Projects for Draining of Bogs,
for improved Highways, for better Husbandry; loans granted them,
Loan-Banks established for the Province's behoof:--no need of
parliamentary eloquence on such occasions, but of something
far different.
It is from this quiescent, or busy but noiseless kind of STANDE
and Populations that Friedrich has his HULDIGUNG to take;--and the
operation, whether done personally or by deputy, must be an
abundantly simple one. He, for his part, is fortunate enough to
find everywhere the Sovereignty ESTABLISHED; "rock of bronze" not
the least shaken in his time. He will graciously undertake, by
Written Act, which is read before the STANDE, King or King's
Deputy witnessing there, "To maintain the privileges" of his
STANDE and Populations; the STANDE answer, on oath, with lifted
hand, and express invocation of Heaven, That they will obey him as
true subjects; And so--doubtless with something of dining
superadded, but no whisper of it put on record--the HULDIGUNG will
everywhere very quietly transact itself.
The HULDIGUNG itself is nothing to us, even with Friedrich there,
--as at Konigsberg, Berlin, Cleve, the three exceptional places.
To which, nevertheless, let us briefly attend him, for the sake of
here and there some direct glimpse we may get of the then
Friedrich's actual physiognomy and ways. Other direct view, or the
chance of such, is not conceded us out of those sad Prussian
Books; which are very full on this of the HULDIGUNG, if silent on
so many other points. [Preuss,
FRIEDRICH ACCEPTS THE HOMAGES, PERSONALLY, IN THREE PLACES.
To Konigsberg is his first excursion on this errand. Preussen has
perhaps, or may be suspected of having, some remnants of sour
humors left in it, and remembrances of STANDE with haranguings and
even mutinies: there if anywhere the King in person may do good on
such an occasion, He left Berlin, July 7th, bound thitherward;
here is Note of that first Royal Tour,--specimen of several
hundreds such, which he had to do in the course of the next
forty-five years.
"Friend Algarotti, charming talker, attended him; who else,
official and non-official, ask not. The Journey is to be
circuitous; to combine various businesses, and also to have its
amusements. They went by Custrin; glancing at old known Country,
which is at its greenest in this season. By Custrin, across the
Neumark, into Pommern; after that by an intricate winding route;
reviewing regiments, inspecting garrisons, now here now there;
doing all manner of inspections; talking I know not what; oftenest
lodging with favored Generals, if it suited. Distance to
Konigsberg, by the direct road, is about 500 miles; by this
winding one, it must have been 800: Journey thither took nine days
in all. Obliquely through Pommern, almost to the coast of the
Baltic; their ultimatum there a place called Coslin, where they
reviewed with strictness,--omitting Colberg,