History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 16Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 16
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"May 28th-8th OCTOBER, 1751. Maupertuis, compressing himself what he
can, writes to Konig: 'Very good, Monsieur. But please inform me
where is that Letter of Leibnitz's; I have never seen or heard of it
before,--and I want to make use of it myself.' To which Konig answers:
'Henzi gave it me, in Copy [unfortunate Conspirator Henzi, who lost his
head three years ago, by sentence of the Oligarch Government at Berne]:
[Government by "The Two Hundred;" of Select-Vestry nature, very stiff,
arbitrary and become rife in abuses; against whom had risen angry
mutterings more than once, and in 1749 a Select Plot (not select ENOUGH,
for they discovered it in time). Poor Ex-Captain Henzi, "Clerk *of the
Salt-Office," most frugal, studious and quiet of men; a very miracle, It
would appear, of genius, solid learning, philosophy and piety,--not
the chief or first of the conspirators, but by far the most
distinguished,--was laid hold of, July 2d, 1749, and beheaded, with
another of them, a day or two after. Much bewailed in a private
way, even by the better kinds of people. (Copious account of him
in--Adelung,--vii. 86-91.)]--he, poor fellow, had no end of Papers and
Excerpts; had, as we know, above a hundred volumes of the latter kind;
this, and some other Letters of Leibnitz's, among them,--I send you the
whole Letter, copied faithfully from his Copy.' ["The Hague, 26th June,"
in--Maupertuisiana,--No. iv. 130.] To that effect, still in perfect
good-humor, was Konig's reply to his Maupertuis.
"'Hm, Copy? By Henzi?' grumbles Maupertuis to himself:--'Search in
Berne, then; it must be there, if anywhere!' To Konig Maupertuis answers
nothing: but sulkily resolves on having Search made;--and, to give
solemnity to the matter, requests his Excellency Marquis de Paulmy, the
French Ambassador at Berne, to ask the Government there,--Government
having seized all Henzi's Papers, on beheading him. Excellency Paulmy
does, accordingly, make inquiry in the highest quarter; some inquiries
up and down. Not the least account of this, or of any Leibnitz Letter,
to be had from among Henzi's Papers,--the 'hundred volumes,' seemingly,
exist no longer;--Original of this Leibnitz Piece is nowhere. For eight
months the highest Authorities have been looking about (with one
knows not what vivacity or skill in searching), and have found nothing
whatever." Stage second of the Business finishes in this manner.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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