History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [19]
a small Sea-Fortress
not far rearward, time being short. Thence into West-Preussen,
into Polish Territory, and swiftly across that; keeping Dantzig
and its noises wide enough to the left: one night in Poland;
and the next they are in Ost-Preussen, place called Liebstadt,--
again on home-ground, and diligently reviewing there.
"The review at Liebstadt is remarkable in this, That the
regiments, one regiment especially, not being what was fit, a
certain Grenadier-Captain got cashiered on the spot; and the old
Commandant himself was soon after pensioned, and more gently sent
his ways. So strict is his Majesty. Contrariwise, he found
Lieutenant-General von Katte's Garrison, at Angerburg, next day,
in a very high perfection; and Colonel Posadowsky's regiment
specially so; with which latter gentleman he lodged that night,
and made him farther happy by the ORDER OF MERIT: Colonel
Posadowsky, Garrison of Angerburg, far off in East-Preussen,
Chevalier of the Order of Merit henceforth, if we ever meet him
again. To the good old Lieutenant-General von Katte, who no doubt
dined with them, his Majesty handed, on the same occasion, a
Patent of Feldmarschall;--intends soon to make him Graf; and did
it, as readers know. Both Colonel and General attended him
thenceforth, still by a circuitous route, to Konigsberg, to assist
in the solemnities there. By Gumbinnen, by Trakehnen,--the Stud of
Trakehnen: that also his Majesty saw, and made review of;
not without emotion, we can fancy, as the sleek colts were trotted
out on those new terms! At Trakehnen, Katte and the Colonel would
be his Majesty's guests, for the night they stayed. This is their
extreme point eastward; Konigsberg now lies a good way west of
them. But at Trakehnen they turn; and, Saturday, 16th July, 1740,
after another hundred miles or so, along the pleasant valley of
the Pregel, get to Konigsberg: ready to begin business on Monday
morning,--on Sunday if necessary." [From Preuss,
Thronbesteigung, pp. 382, 385; Rodenbeck, p. 16; &c.]
On Sunday there did a kind of memorability occur: The HULDIGUNGS-
PREDIGT (Homage Sermon)--by a reverend Herr Quandt, chief Preacher
there. Which would not be worth mentioning, except for this
circumstance, that his Majesty exceedingly admired Quandt, and
thought him a most Demosthenic genius, and the best of all the
Germans. Quandt's text was in these words: "Thine are we,
David, and on thy side, thou Son of Jesse; Peace, peace be unto
thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee."
[ First Chronicles, xii. 18.]
Quandt began, in a sonorous voice, raising his face with
respectful enthusiasm to the King, "Thine are we, O Friedrich, and
on thy side, thou Son of Friedrich Wilhelm;" and so went on:
sermon brief, sonorous, compact, and sticking close to its text.
Friedrich stood immovable, gazing on the eloquent Demosthenic
Quandt, with admiration heightened by surprise;--wrote of Quandt
to Voltaire; and, with sustained enthusiasm, to the Public long
afterwards; and to the end of his days was wont to make Quandt an
exception, if perhaps almost the only one, from German barbarism,
and disharmony of mind and tongue. So that poor Quandt cannot ever
since get entirely forgotten, but needs always to be raked up
again, for this reason when others have ceased: an almost
melancholy adventure for poor Quandt and Another!--
The HULDIGUNG was rather grand; Harangue and Counter-harangue
permitted to the due length, and proper festivities following:
but the STANDE could not manage to get into vocal covenanting or
deliberating at all; Friedrich before leaving Berlin had answered
their hint or request that way, in these words: "We are likewise
graciously inclined to give to the said STANDE, before their
Homaging, the same assurance which they got from our Herr Father's
Majesty, who is now with God,"--general assurance that their, and
everybody's, "Rights shall be maintained [as we see they are],--
with which, it is hoped
not far rearward, time being short. Thence into West-Preussen,
into Polish Territory, and swiftly across that; keeping Dantzig
and its noises wide enough to the left: one night in Poland;
and the next they are in Ost-Preussen, place called Liebstadt,--
again on home-ground, and diligently reviewing there.
"The review at Liebstadt is remarkable in this, That the
regiments, one regiment especially, not being what was fit, a
certain Grenadier-Captain got cashiered on the spot; and the old
Commandant himself was soon after pensioned, and more gently sent
his ways. So strict is his Majesty. Contrariwise, he found
Lieutenant-General von Katte's Garrison, at Angerburg, next day,
in a very high perfection; and Colonel Posadowsky's regiment
specially so; with which latter gentleman he lodged that night,
and made him farther happy by the ORDER OF MERIT: Colonel
Posadowsky, Garrison of Angerburg, far off in East-Preussen,
Chevalier of the Order of Merit henceforth, if we ever meet him
again. To the good old Lieutenant-General von Katte, who no doubt
dined with them, his Majesty handed, on the same occasion, a
Patent of Feldmarschall;--intends soon to make him Graf; and did
it, as readers know. Both Colonel and General attended him
thenceforth, still by a circuitous route, to Konigsberg, to assist
in the solemnities there. By Gumbinnen, by Trakehnen,--the Stud of
Trakehnen: that also his Majesty saw, and made review of;
not without emotion, we can fancy, as the sleek colts were trotted
out on those new terms! At Trakehnen, Katte and the Colonel would
be his Majesty's guests, for the night they stayed. This is their
extreme point eastward; Konigsberg now lies a good way west of
them. But at Trakehnen they turn; and, Saturday, 16th July, 1740,
after another hundred miles or so, along the pleasant valley of
the Pregel, get to Konigsberg: ready to begin business on Monday
morning,--on Sunday if necessary." [From Preuss,
Thronbesteigung,
On Sunday there did a kind of memorability occur: The HULDIGUNGS-
PREDIGT (Homage Sermon)--by a reverend Herr Quandt, chief Preacher
there. Which would not be worth mentioning, except for this
circumstance, that his Majesty exceedingly admired Quandt, and
thought him a most Demosthenic genius, and the best of all the
Germans. Quandt's text was in these words:
David, and on thy side, thou Son of Jesse; Peace, peace be unto
thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee."
Quandt began, in a sonorous voice, raising his face with
respectful enthusiasm to the King, "Thine are we, O Friedrich, and
on thy side, thou Son of Friedrich Wilhelm;" and so went on:
sermon brief, sonorous, compact, and sticking close to its text.
Friedrich stood immovable, gazing on the eloquent Demosthenic
Quandt, with admiration heightened by surprise;--wrote of Quandt
to Voltaire; and, with sustained enthusiasm, to the Public long
afterwards; and to the end of his days was wont to make Quandt an
exception, if perhaps almost the only one, from German barbarism,
and disharmony of mind and tongue. So that poor Quandt cannot ever
since get entirely forgotten, but needs always to be raked up
again, for this reason when others have ceased: an almost
melancholy adventure for poor Quandt and Another!--
The HULDIGUNG was rather grand; Harangue and Counter-harangue
permitted to the due length, and proper festivities following:
but the STANDE could not manage to get into vocal covenanting or
deliberating at all; Friedrich before leaving Berlin had answered
their hint or request that way, in these words: "We are likewise
graciously inclined to give to the said STANDE, before their
Homaging, the same assurance which they got from our Herr Father's
Majesty, who is now with God,"--general assurance that their, and
everybody's, "Rights shall be maintained [as we see they are],--
with which, it is hoped