As soon, however as he had mastered his new position, the young king was again the patron of art, of science, of literature, and of social improvements of every kind. Voltaire had been invited to Berlin, to organize a French theatre, when suddenly the news of the death of Charles VI., the Emperor of Germany, arrived at Berlin. How well Frederic understood what was to follow, we learn from a letter to Voltaire:— “Mon cher Voltaire,—L’événement le moins prévu du monde m’empêche, pour cette fois, d’ouvrir mon âme à la vôtre comme d’ordinaire, et de bavarder comme je le voudrais. L’empereur est mort. Cette mort dérange toutes mes idées pacifiques, et je crois qu’il s’agira, au mois de juin, plutôt de poudre à canon, de soldats, de tranchées, que d’actrices, de ballets et de théâtre.” He was suffering from fever, and he adds:— “Je vais faire passer ma fièvre, car j’ai besoin de ma machine, et il en faut tirer à présent tout le parti possible.” Again he writes to Algarotti:— “Une bagatelle comme est la mort de l’empereur ne demande pas de grands mouvements. Tout était prévu, tout était arrangé. Ainsi il ne s’agit que d’exécuter des desseins que j’ai roulés depuis long temps dans ma tête.” We need not enter into the history of the first Silesian war; but we see clearly from these expressions, that the occupation of Silesia, which the house of Brandenburg claimed by right, had formed part of the policy of Prussia long before the death of the emperor; and the peace of Breslau, in 1742, realized a plan which had probably been the subject of many debates at Rheinsberg. During this first war, Chasot obtained the most brilliant success. At Mollwitz, he saved the life of the king; and the following account of this exploit was given to M. de Schlözer by members of Chasot’s family: An Austrian cavalry officer, with some of his men, rode up close to the king. Chasot was near. “Where is the king?” the officer shouted; and Chasot, perceiving the imminent danger, sprang forward, declared himself to be the king, and sustained for some time single-handed the most violent combat with the Austrian soldiers. At last he was rescued by his men, but not without having received a severe wound across his forehead. The king thanked him, and Voltaire afterwards celebrated his bravery in the following lines:— “Il me souvient encore de ce jour mémorable Où l’illustre Chasot, ce guerrier formidable, Sauva par sa valeur le plus grand de nos rois. O Prusse! élève un temple à ses fameux exploits.”