History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [59]
Berlin,
25th April, 1850).
Incapable of falsity prepense, we say; but the known facts, which
stand abundantly on record if you care to search them out, are
merely as follows: Friedrich, with such sincerity as there might
be, did welcome Wilhelmina on the morrow of her arrival; spoke of
Reinsberg, and of air and rest, and how pleasant it would be;
rolled off next morning, having at last gathered up his
businesses, and got them well in hand, to Reinsberg accordingly;
whither Wilhelmina, with the Queen Regnant and others of agreeable
quality, followed in two days; intending a long and pleasant spell
of country out there. Which hope was tolerably fulfilled, even for
Wilhelmina, though there did come unexpected interruptions, not of
Friedrich's bringing.
UNEXPECTED NEWS AT REINSBERG.
Friedrich's pursuits and intended conquests, for the present, are
of peaceable and even gay nature. French Theatre, Italian Opera-
House, these are among the immediate outlooks. Voltaire, skilled
in French acting, if anybody ever were, is multifariously
negotiating for a Company of that kind,--let him be swift, be
successful. [Letters of Voltaire (PASSIM, in these months).]
An Italian Opera there shall be; the House is still to be built:
Captain Knobelsdorf, who built Reinsberg, whom we have known, is
to do it. Knobelsdorf has gone to Italy on that errand; "went by
Dresden, carefully examining the Opera-House there, and all the
famed Opera-Houses on his road." Graun, one of the best judges
living, is likewise off to Italy, gathering singers. Our Opera
too shall be a successful thing, and we hope, a speedy. Such are
Friedrich's outlooks at this time.
A miscellaneous pleasant company is here; Truchsess and Bielfeld,
home from Hanover, among them; Wilhelmina is here;--Voltaire
himself perhaps coming again. Friedrich drinks his Pyrmont waters;
works at his public businesses all day, which are now well in
hand, and manageable by couriers; at evening he appears in
company, and is the astonishment of everybody; brilliant, like a
new-risen sun, as if he knew of no illness, knew of no business,
but lived for amusement only. "He intends Private Theatricals
withal, and is getting ready Voltaire's MORT DE CESAR." [Preuss,
Thronbesteigung, p. 415.] These were pretty
days at Reinsberg. This kind of life lasted seven or eight weeks,
--in spite of interruptions of subterranean volcanic nature, some
of which were surely considerable. Here, in the very first week,
coming almost volcanically, is one, which indeed is the sum of
them all.
Tuesday forenoon, 25th October, 1740, Express arrives at
Reinsberg; direct from Vienna five days ago; finds Friedrich under
eclipse, hidden in the interior, laboring under his ague-fit:
question rises, Shall the Express be introduced, or be held back?
The news he brings is huge, unexpected, transcendent, and may
agitate the sick King. Six or seven heads go wagging on this
point,--who by accident are namable, if readers care: "Prince
August Wilhelm," lately betrothed; "Graf Truchsess," home from
Hanover; "Colonel Graf von Finkenstein," old Tutor's Son, a
familiar from boyhood upwards; "Baron Pollnitz" kind of chief
Goldstick now, or Master of the Ceremonies, not too witty, but the
cause of wit; "Jordan, Bielfeld," known to us; and lastly,
"Fredersdorf," Major-domo and Factotum, who is grown from Valet to
be Purse-Keeper, confidential Manager, and almost friend,--
a notable personage in Friedrich's History. They decide,
"Better wait!"
They wait accordingly; and then, after about an hour, the
trembling-fit being over, and Fredersdorf having cautiously
preluded a little, and prepared the way, the Despatch is
delivered, and the King left with his immense piece of news.
News that his Imperial Majesty Karl VI. died, after short illness,
on Thursday, the 20th last. Kaiser dead: House of Hapsburg, and
its Five Centuries of tough wrestling, and uneasy Dominancy in
this world, ended, gone to the distaff:--the counter-wrestling
Ambitions and
25th April, 1850).
Incapable of falsity prepense, we say; but the known facts, which
stand abundantly on record if you care to search them out, are
merely as follows: Friedrich, with such sincerity as there might
be, did welcome Wilhelmina on the morrow of her arrival; spoke of
Reinsberg, and of air and rest, and how pleasant it would be;
rolled off next morning, having at last gathered up his
businesses, and got them well in hand, to Reinsberg accordingly;
whither Wilhelmina, with the Queen Regnant and others of agreeable
quality, followed in two days; intending a long and pleasant spell
of country out there. Which hope was tolerably fulfilled, even for
Wilhelmina, though there did come unexpected interruptions, not of
Friedrich's bringing.
UNEXPECTED NEWS AT REINSBERG.
Friedrich's pursuits and intended conquests, for the present, are
of peaceable and even gay nature. French Theatre, Italian Opera-
House, these are among the immediate outlooks. Voltaire, skilled
in French acting, if anybody ever were, is multifariously
negotiating for a Company of that kind,--let him be swift, be
successful. [Letters of Voltaire (PASSIM, in these months).]
An Italian Opera there shall be; the House is still to be built:
Captain Knobelsdorf, who built Reinsberg, whom we have known, is
to do it. Knobelsdorf has gone to Italy on that errand; "went by
Dresden, carefully examining the Opera-House there, and all the
famed Opera-Houses on his road." Graun, one of the best judges
living, is likewise off to Italy, gathering singers. Our Opera
too shall be a successful thing, and we hope, a speedy. Such are
Friedrich's outlooks at this time.
A miscellaneous pleasant company is here; Truchsess and Bielfeld,
home from Hanover, among them; Wilhelmina is here;--Voltaire
himself perhaps coming again. Friedrich drinks his Pyrmont waters;
works at his public businesses all day, which are now well in
hand, and manageable by couriers; at evening he appears in
company, and is the astonishment of everybody; brilliant, like a
new-risen sun, as if he knew of no illness, knew of no business,
but lived for amusement only. "He intends Private Theatricals
withal, and is getting ready Voltaire's MORT DE CESAR." [Preuss,
days at Reinsberg. This kind of life lasted seven or eight weeks,
--in spite of interruptions of subterranean volcanic nature, some
of which were surely considerable. Here, in the very first week,
coming almost volcanically, is one, which indeed is the sum of
them all.
Tuesday forenoon, 25th October, 1740, Express arrives at
Reinsberg; direct from Vienna five days ago; finds Friedrich under
eclipse, hidden in the interior, laboring under his ague-fit:
question rises, Shall the Express be introduced, or be held back?
The news he brings is huge, unexpected, transcendent, and may
agitate the sick King. Six or seven heads go wagging on this
point,--who by accident are namable, if readers care: "Prince
August Wilhelm," lately betrothed; "Graf Truchsess," home from
Hanover; "Colonel Graf von Finkenstein," old Tutor's Son, a
familiar from boyhood upwards; "Baron Pollnitz" kind of chief
Goldstick now, or Master of the Ceremonies, not too witty, but the
cause of wit; "Jordan, Bielfeld," known to us; and lastly,
"Fredersdorf," Major-domo and Factotum, who is grown from Valet to
be Purse-Keeper, confidential Manager, and almost friend,--
a notable personage in Friedrich's History. They decide,
"Better wait!"
They wait accordingly; and then, after about an hour, the
trembling-fit being over, and Fredersdorf having cautiously
preluded a little, and prepared the way, the Despatch is
delivered, and the King left with his immense piece of news.
News that his Imperial Majesty Karl VI. died, after short illness,
on Thursday, the 20th last. Kaiser dead: House of Hapsburg, and
its Five Centuries of tough wrestling, and uneasy Dominancy in
this world, ended, gone to the distaff:--the counter-wrestling
Ambitions and