History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [3]
these words, legible soon
after to a glad Berlin public: "Our grand care will be, To further
the Country's well-being, and to make every one of our subjects
(EINEN JEDEN UNSERER UNTERTHANEN) contented and happy. Our will
is, not that you strive to enrich Us by vexation of Our subjects;
but rather that you aim steadily as well towards the advantage of
the Country as Our particular interest, forasmuch as We make no
difference between these two objects," but consider them one and
the same. This is written, and gets into print within the month;
and his Majesty, that same day (Wednesday, 2d June), when it came
to personal reception, and actual taking of the Oath, was pleased
to add in words, which also were printed shortly, this comfortable
corollary: "My will henceforth is, If it ever chance that my
particular interest and the general good of my Countries should
seem to go against each other,--in that case, my will is, That the
latter always be preferred." [Dickens, Despatch, 4th June, 1740:
Preuss, Friedrichs Jugend und Thronbesteigung italic> (Berlin, 1840), p. 325;--quoting from the Berlin
Newspapers of 28th June and 2d July, 1740.]
This is a fine dialect for incipient Royalty; and it is brand-
new at that time. It excites an admiration in the then
populations, which to us, so long used to it and to what commonly
comes of it, is not conceivable at once. There can be no doubt the
young King does faithfully intend to develop himself in the way of
making men happy; but here, as elsewhere, are limits which he will
recognize ahead, some of them perhaps nearer than was expected.
Meanwhile his first acts, in this direction, correspond to these
fine words. The year 1740, still grim with cold into the heart of
summer, bids fair to have a late poor harvest, and famine
threatens to add itself to other hardships there have been.
Recognizing the actualities of the case, what his poor Father
could not, he opens the Public Granaries,--a wise resource they
have in Prussian countries against the year of scarcity;--orders
grain to be sold out, at reasonable rates, to the suffering poor;
and takes the due pains, considerable in some cases, that this be
rendered feasible everywhere in his dominions. "Berlin, 2d June,"
is the first date of this important order; fine program to his
Ministers, which, we read, is no sooner uttered, than some
performance follows. An evident piece of wisdom and humanity;
for which doubtless blessings of a very sincere kind rise to him
from several millions of his fellow-mortals.
Nay furthermore, as can be dimly gathered, this scarcity
continuing, some continuous mode of management was set on foot for
the Poor; and there is nominated, with salary, with outline of
plan and other requisites, as "Inspector of the Poor," to his own
and our surprise, M. Jordan, late Reader to the Crown-Prince, and
still much the intimate of his royal Friend. Inspector who seems
to do his work very well. And in the November coming this is what
we see: "One thousand poor old women, the destitute of Berlin, set
to spin," at his Majesty's charges; vacant houses, hired for them
in certain streets and suburbs, have been new-planked,
partitioned, warmed; and spinning is there for any diligent female
soul. There a thousand of them sit, under proper officers, proper
wages, treatment;--and the hum of their poor spindles, and of
their poor inarticulate old hearts, is a comfort, if one chance to
think of it.--Of "distressed needlewomen" who cannot sew, nor be
taught to do it; who, in private truth, are mutinous maid-servants
come at last to the net upshot of their anarchies; of these, or of
the like incurable phenomena, I hear nothing in Berlin; and can
believe that, under this King, Indigence itself may still have
something of a human aspect, not a brutal or diabolic as is
commoner in some places.--This is one of Friedrich's first acts,
this opening of the Corn-magazines, and arrangements for the
Destitute; [ Helden-Geschichte, i. 367.
Rodenbeck,
after to a glad Berlin public: "Our grand care will be, To further
the Country's well-being, and to make every one of our subjects
(EINEN JEDEN UNSERER UNTERTHANEN) contented and happy. Our will
is, not that you strive to enrich Us by vexation of Our subjects;
but rather that you aim steadily as well towards the advantage of
the Country as Our particular interest, forasmuch as We make no
difference between these two objects," but consider them one and
the same. This is written, and gets into print within the month;
and his Majesty, that same day (Wednesday, 2d June), when it came
to personal reception, and actual taking of the Oath, was pleased
to add in words, which also were printed shortly, this comfortable
corollary: "My will henceforth is, If it ever chance that my
particular interest and the general good of my Countries should
seem to go against each other,--in that case, my will is, That the
latter always be preferred." [Dickens, Despatch, 4th June, 1740:
Preuss,
Newspapers of 28th June and 2d July, 1740.]
This is a fine dialect for incipient Royalty; and it is brand-
new at that time. It excites an admiration in the then
populations, which to us, so long used to it and to what commonly
comes of it, is not conceivable at once. There can be no doubt the
young King does faithfully intend to develop himself in the way of
making men happy; but here, as elsewhere, are limits which he will
recognize ahead, some of them perhaps nearer than was expected.
Meanwhile his first acts, in this direction, correspond to these
fine words. The year 1740, still grim with cold into the heart of
summer, bids fair to have a late poor harvest, and famine
threatens to add itself to other hardships there have been.
Recognizing the actualities of the case, what his poor Father
could not, he opens the Public Granaries,--a wise resource they
have in Prussian countries against the year of scarcity;--orders
grain to be sold out, at reasonable rates, to the suffering poor;
and takes the due pains, considerable in some cases, that this be
rendered feasible everywhere in his dominions. "Berlin, 2d June,"
is the first date of this important order; fine program to his
Ministers, which, we read, is no sooner uttered, than some
performance follows. An evident piece of wisdom and humanity;
for which doubtless blessings of a very sincere kind rise to him
from several millions of his fellow-mortals.
Nay furthermore, as can be dimly gathered, this scarcity
continuing, some continuous mode of management was set on foot for
the Poor; and there is nominated, with salary, with outline of
plan and other requisites, as "Inspector of the Poor," to his own
and our surprise, M. Jordan, late Reader to the Crown-Prince, and
still much the intimate of his royal Friend. Inspector who seems
to do his work very well. And in the November coming this is what
we see: "One thousand poor old women, the destitute of Berlin, set
to spin," at his Majesty's charges; vacant houses, hired for them
in certain streets and suburbs, have been new-planked,
partitioned, warmed; and spinning is there for any diligent female
soul. There a thousand of them sit, under proper officers, proper
wages, treatment;--and the hum of their poor spindles, and of
their poor inarticulate old hearts, is a comfort, if one chance to
think of it.--Of "distressed needlewomen" who cannot sew, nor be
taught to do it; who, in private truth, are mutinous maid-servants
come at last to the net upshot of their anarchies; of these, or of
the like incurable phenomena, I hear nothing in Berlin; and can
believe that, under this King, Indigence itself may still have
something of a human aspect, not a brutal or diabolic as is
commoner in some places.--This is one of Friedrich's first acts,
this opening of the Corn-magazines, and arrangements for the
Destitute; [
Rodenbeck,