Wilhelmina’s Letter to her Mother.--Cruel Response.--The Court Festival.--First Interview with the Prince of Baireuth.--His Character and Appearance.--Interview between the King and Fritz.-- The Partial Reconciliation.--Divine Decrees.--The King’s Sense of Justice.--The King’s Discipline of the Judges.--Character of Fritz.--Wilhelmina’s Annoyances.--Her Marriage.--Interview between Wilhelmina and Fritz.--The Departure 118 CHAPTER VII. THE MARRIAGE OF THE CROWN PRINCE. Matrimonial Intrigues.--Letters from the King to his Son.--Letter from Fritz to Grumkow.--Letter to Wilhelmina.--The Betrothal.-- Character of Elizabeth.--Her cruel Reception by the Prussian Queen.--Letter from Fritz to Wilhelmina.--Disappointment and Anguish of Elizabeth.--Studious Habits of Fritz.--Continued Alienation of his Father.--The Marriage.--Life in the Castle at Reinsberg 136 CHAPTER VIII. DEVELOPMENTS OF CHARACTER. The Castle at Reinsberg.--Slender Purses of Fritz and Wilhelmina.-- Liberality of Fritz.--The Ball at Monbijou.--Adventures of Fritz and Wilhelmina.--Letters.--The Interview.--Anecdote of the King.-- Wilhelmina’s Account of her Brother.--Mental and Physical Maladies of the King.--Frederick’s cruel Neglect of his Wife.--Daily Habits of the young Prince.--The shameful Carousal 152 CHAPTER IX. THE DEATH OF FREDERICK WILLIAM. Voltaire and Madame Du Châtelet.--Letter from Frederick to Voltaire.-- The Reply.--Visit to the Prince of Orange.--Correspondence.--The Crown Prince becomes a Mason.--Interesting Letter from the Crown Prince.--Petulance and declining Health of the King.--Scenes in the Death-chamber.--Characteristic Anecdotes.--The Dying Scene 172 CHAPTER X. THE ACCESSION OF FREDERICK THE SECOND. Establishment of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.--Religious Toleration.--A Free Press.--Sternness of the young King.--Domestic Habits of the King.--Provision for the Queen-mother.--Absolutism of the King.--Journey to Strasbourg.--First Interview with Voltaire 191 CHAPTER XI. DIPLOMATIC INTRIGUES. The Herstal Affair.--The Summons.--Voltaire’s Manifesto.--George II. visits Hanover.--The Visit of Wilhelmina to Berlin.--Unpopularity of the King.--Death of the Emperor Charles VI. 206 CHAPTER XII. THE INVASION OF SILESIA. Deceptive Measures of Frederick.--Plans for the Invasion of Silesia.-- Avowed Reasons for the Invasion.--The Ball in Berlin.--The March of the Army.--Hardships and Successes.--Letter to Voltaire.--Capture of Glogau.--Capture of Brieg.--Bombardment of Neisse 218 CHAPTER XIII. THE CAMPAIGN OF MOLLWITZ.