History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 05Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 05
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"Coming to Potsdam, thirteen years after, in the spring of 1726, by his
Majesty's order, to"--in fact, to read the Newspapers to his Majesty,
and be generally useful, chiefly in the Tobacco-College, as we shall
discover,--"what was my surprise to find this same 'GEANT ALLEMAND'
of St. Germain ranked among the King's Grenadiers! No doubt of the
identity: I renewed acquaintance with the man; his little German Wife
was dead; but he had got an English one instead, an uncommonly shifty
creature. They had a neat little dwelling-house [as most of the married
giants had], near the Palace: here the Wife sold beer [brandy not
permissible on any terms], and lodged travellers;--I myself have lodged
there on occasion. In the course of some years, the man took swelling in
the legs; good for nothing as a grenadier; and was like to fall heavy
on society. But no, his little Wife snatched him up, easily getting his
discharge; carried him over with her to England, where he again became a
show-giant, and they were doing very well, when last heard of,"--in the
Country-Wakes of George II.'s early time. And that is the real Biography
of one Potsdam Giant, by a literary gentleman who had lodged with him on
occasion. [Fassmann, pp. 723-730.]
The pay of these sublime Footguards is greatly higher than common; they
have distinguished privileges and treatment: on the other hand, their
discipline is nonpareil, and discharge is never to be dreamt of, while
strength lasts. Poor Kirkman, does he sometimes think of the Hill of
Howth, and that he will never see it more? Kirkman, I judge, is not
given to thought;--considers that he has tobacco here, and privileges
and perquisites; and that Howth, and Heaven itself, is inaccessible to
many a man.
FRIEDRICH WILHELM'S RECRUITING DIFFICULTIES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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