History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [6]
DEPARTEMENT (Board of Religion, we
may term it) reports that the Roman-Catholic Schools, which have
been in use these eight years past, for children of soldiers
belonging to that persuasion, "are, especially in Berlin,
perverted, directly in the teeth of Royal Ordinance, 1732, to
seducing Protestants into Catholicism;" annexed, or ready for
annexing, "is the specific Report of Fiscal-General to this
effect:"--upon which, what would it please his Majesty to direct
us to do?
His Majesty writes on the margin these words, rough and ready,
which we give with all their grammatical blotches on them;
indicating a mind made up on one subject, which was much more
dubious then, to most other minds, than it now is:--
"Die Religionen Musen (MUSSEN) alle Tollerirt (TOLERIRT) werden,
und Mus (MUSS) der Fiscal nuhr (NUR) das Auge darauf haben, das
(DASS) keine der andern abrug Tuhe (ABBRUCH THUE), den (DENN) hier
mus (MUSS) ein jeder nach seiner Fasson Selich (FACON SELIG)
werden." [Preuss, Thronbesteigung, p. 333;
Rodenbeck, IN DIE.
Which in English might run as follows:--
"All Religions must be tolerated (TOLLERATED), and the Fiscal must
have an eye that none of them make unjust encroachment on the
other; for in this Country every man must get to Heaven in his
own way."
Wonderful words; precious to the then leading spirits, and which
(the spelling and grammar being mended) flew abroad over all the
world: the enlightened Public everywhere answering his Majesty,
once more, with its loudest "Bravissimo!" on this occasion.
With what enthusiasm of admiring wonder, it is now difficult to
fancy, after the lapse of sixscore years! And indeed, in regard to
all these worthy acts of Human Improvement which we are now
concerned with, account should be held (were it possible) on
Friedrich's behalf how extremely original, and bright with the
splendor of new gold, they then were: and how extremely they are
fallen dim, by general circulation, since that. Account should be
held; and yet it is not possible, no human imagination is adequate
to it, in the times we are now got into.
FREE PRESS, AND NEWSPAPERS THE BEST INSTRUCTORS.
Toleration, in Friedrich's spiritual circumstances, was perhaps no
great feat to Friedrich: but what the reader hardly expected of
him was Freedom of the Press, or an attempt that way!
From England, from Holland, Friedrich had heard of Free Press, of
Newspapers the best Instructors: it is a fact that he hastens to
plant a seed of that kind at Berlin; sets about it "on the second
day of his reign," so eager is he. Berlin had already some meagre
INTELLIGENZ-BLATT (Weekly or Thrice-Weekly Advertiser), perhaps
two; but it is a real Newspaper, frondent with genial leafy
speculation, and food for the mind, that Friedrich is intent upon:
a "Literary-Political Newspaper," or were it even two Newspapers,
one French, one German; and he rapidly makes the arrangements for
it; despatches Jordan, on the second day, to seek some fit
Frenchman. Arrangements are soon made: a Bookselling Printer,
Haude, Bookseller once to the Prince-Royal,--whom we saw once in a
domestic flash-of-lightning long ago, [Antea, Book vi. c. 7.]--is
encouraged to proceed with the improved German article, MERCURY or
whatever they called it; vapid Formey, a facile pen, but not a
forcible, is the Editor sought out by Jordan for the French one.
And, in short, No. 1 of Formey shows itself in print within a
month; ["2d July, 1740:" Preuss, Thronbesteigung, italic> p. 330; and Formey, Souvenirs,
i. 107, rectified by the exact Herr Preuss.] and Haude and he,
Haude picking up some grand Editor in Hamburg, do their best for
the instruction of mankind.
In not many months, Formey, a facile and learned but rather vapid
gentleman, demitted or was dismissed; and the Journals coalesced
into one, or split into two again; and went I know not what road,
or roads, in time coming,--none that led to results worth naming.
Freedom of the Press, in the
may term it) reports that the Roman-Catholic Schools, which have
been in use these eight years past, for children of soldiers
belonging to that persuasion, "are, especially in Berlin,
perverted, directly in the teeth of Royal Ordinance, 1732, to
seducing Protestants into Catholicism;" annexed, or ready for
annexing, "is the specific Report of Fiscal-General to this
effect:"--upon which, what would it please his Majesty to direct
us to do?
His Majesty writes on the margin these words, rough and ready,
which we give with all their grammatical blotches on them;
indicating a mind made up on one subject, which was much more
dubious then, to most other minds, than it now is:--
"Die Religionen Musen (MUSSEN) alle Tollerirt (TOLERIRT) werden,
und Mus (MUSS) der Fiscal nuhr (NUR) das Auge darauf haben, das
(DASS) keine der andern abrug Tuhe (ABBRUCH THUE), den (DENN) hier
mus (MUSS) ein jeder nach seiner Fasson Selich (FACON SELIG)
werden." [Preuss,
Rodenbeck, IN DIE.
Which in English might run as follows:--
"All Religions must be tolerated (TOLLERATED), and the Fiscal must
have an eye that none of them make unjust encroachment on the
other; for in this Country every man must get to Heaven in his
own way."
Wonderful words; precious to the then leading spirits, and which
(the spelling and grammar being mended) flew abroad over all the
world: the enlightened Public everywhere answering his Majesty,
once more, with its loudest "Bravissimo!" on this occasion.
With what enthusiasm of admiring wonder, it is now difficult to
fancy, after the lapse of sixscore years! And indeed, in regard to
all these worthy acts of Human Improvement which we are now
concerned with, account should be held (were it possible) on
Friedrich's behalf how extremely original, and bright with the
splendor of new gold, they then were: and how extremely they are
fallen dim, by general circulation, since that. Account should be
held; and yet it is not possible, no human imagination is adequate
to it, in the times we are now got into.
FREE PRESS, AND NEWSPAPERS THE BEST INSTRUCTORS.
Toleration, in Friedrich's spiritual circumstances, was perhaps no
great feat to Friedrich: but what the reader hardly expected of
him was Freedom of the Press, or an attempt that way!
From England, from Holland, Friedrich had heard of Free Press, of
Newspapers the best Instructors: it is a fact that he hastens to
plant a seed of that kind at Berlin; sets about it "on the second
day of his reign," so eager is he. Berlin had already some meagre
INTELLIGENZ-BLATT (Weekly or Thrice-Weekly Advertiser), perhaps
two; but it is a real Newspaper, frondent with genial leafy
speculation, and food for the mind, that Friedrich is intent upon:
a "Literary-Political Newspaper," or were it even two Newspapers,
one French, one German; and he rapidly makes the arrangements for
it; despatches Jordan, on the second day, to seek some fit
Frenchman. Arrangements are soon made: a Bookselling Printer,
Haude, Bookseller once to the Prince-Royal,--whom we saw once in a
domestic flash-of-lightning long ago, [Antea, Book vi. c. 7.]--is
encouraged to proceed with the improved German article, MERCURY or
whatever they called it; vapid Formey, a facile pen, but not a
forcible, is the Editor sought out by Jordan for the French one.
And, in short, No. 1 of Formey shows itself in print within a
month; ["2d July, 1740:" Preuss,
i. 107, rectified by the exact Herr Preuss.] and Haude and he,
Haude picking up some grand Editor in Hamburg, do their best for
the instruction of mankind.
In not many months, Formey, a facile and learned but rather vapid
gentleman, demitted or was dismissed; and the Journals coalesced
into one, or split into two again; and went I know not what road,
or roads, in time coming,--none that led to results worth naming.
Freedom of the Press, in the