History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 08Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 08
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
WUSTERHAUSEN, 11th SEPTEMBER (King to Crown-Prince).... "Only you must
examine whether there is meadow-ground enough, and how many acres
can actually be allotted to that Farm. [Hear his Majesty!] Take a
Land-surveyor with you; and have all well considered; and exactly inform
yourself what kind of land it is, whether it can only grow rye, or
whether some of it is barley-land: you must consider it YOURSELF, and
do it all out of your own head, though you may consult with others about
it. In grazing-ground (HUTHUNG) I think it will not fail; if only the
meadow-land"--in fact, it fails in nothing; and is got all done ("wood
laid out to season straightway," and "what digging and stubbing there
is, proceeded with through the winter"): done in a successful and
instructive manner, both Carzig and Himmelstadt, though we will say
nothing farther of them. [Forster, i. 387-392.]
CUSTRIN, 22d SEPTEMBER (Crown-Prince to Papa).... "Have been at Lebus;
excellent land out there; fine weather for the husbandman." "Major
Roder," unknown Major, "passed this way; and dined with me, last
Wednesday. He has got a pretty fellow (SCHONEN KERL) for my Most
All-Gracious Father's regiment [the Potsdam Giants, where I used to be];
whom I could not look upon without bleeding heart. I depend on my Most
All-Gracious Father's Grace, that he will be good to me: I ask for
nothing and no happiness in the world but what comes from You; and hope
You will, some day, remember me in grace, and give me the Blue Coat
to put on again!" [BRIEFWECHSEL MIT VATER (OEuvres, xxvii. part 3d, p.
27).]--To which Papa answers nothing, or only "Hm, na, time MAY come!"
Carzig goes on straightway; Papa charmed to grant the moneys; "wood laid
out to season," and much "stubbing and digging" set on foot, before
the month ends. Carzig; and directly on the heel of it, on like terms,
Himmelstadt,--but of all this we must say no more. It is clear the
Prince is learning the Domain Sciences; eager to prove himself a perfect
son in the eyes of Papa. Papa, in hopeful moments, asks himself: "To
whom shall we marry him, then; how settle him?" But what the Prince,
in his own heart, thought of it all; how he looked, talked, lived, in
unofficial times? Here has a crabbed dim Document turned up, which,
if it were not nearly undecipherable to the reader and me, would throw
light on the point:--
SCHULENBURG'S THREE LETTERS TO GRUMKOW, ON VISITS TO THE CROWN-PRINCE,
DURING THE CUSTRIN TIME.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account