History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"Gotzkowsky's House was like a general storeroom for everybody's
preciosities; his time, means, self were the refuge of all the needy.
In Zorndorf time, when this Czernichef [if readers can remember], who
is now so supreme,--Czernichef, Soltikof and others,--had nothing for
it but to lodge in the cellars of burnt Custrin, Gotzkowsky, with ready
money, with advice, with assuagement, had been their DEUS EX MACHINA:
and now Czernichef remembers it; and Gotzkowsky, as Papa, has to go with
continual prayers, negotiations, counsellings, expedients, and be the
refuge of all unjustly suffering men Berlin has immensities of trade in
war-furnitures: the capitals circulating are astonishing to Archenholtz;
million on the back of million; no such city in Germany for trade. The
desire of the Three-days Lacy Government is towards any Lager-Haus;
any mass of wealth, which can be construed as Royal or connected with
Royalty. Ephraim and Itzig, mint-masters of that copper-coinage; rolling
in foul wealth by the ruin of their neighbors; ought not these to bleed?
Well, yes,--if anybody; and copiously if you like! I should have said
so: but the generous Gotzkowsky said in his heart, 'No;' and again
pleaded and prevailed. Ephraim and Itzig, foul swollen creatures, were
not broached at all; and their gratitude was, That, at a future day,
Gotzkowsky's day of bankruptcy, they were hardest of any on Gotzkowsky.
"Archenholtz and the Books are enthusiastically copious upon Gotzkowsky
and his procedures; but we must be silent. This Anecdote only, in regard
to Freedom of the Press,--to the so-called 'air we breathe, not having
which we die!' Would modern Friends of Progress believe it? Because,
in former stages of this War, the Berlin Newspapers have had offensive
expressions (scarcely noticeable to the microscope in our day, and below
calculation for smallness) upon the Russian and Austrian Sovereigns or
Peoples,--the Able Editors (there are only Two) shall now in person,
here in the market-place of Berlin, actually run the gantlet for
it,--'run the rods (GASSEN-LAUFEN'), as the fashion now is; which is
worse than GANTLET, not to speak of the ignominy. That is the barbaric
Russian notion: 'who are you, ill-formed insolent persons, that give a
loose to your tongue in that manner? Strip to the waistband, swift! Here
is the true career opened for you: on each hand, one hundred sharp rods
ranked waiting you; run your courses there,--no hurry more than you
like!' The alternative of death, I suppose, was open to these Editors;
Roman death at least, and martyrdom for a new Faith (Faith in the Loose
Tongue), very sacred to the Democratic Ages now at hand. But nobody
seems to have thought of it; Editors and Public took the thing as a
'sorrow incident to this dangerous Profession of the Tongue Loose (or
looser than usual); which nobody yet knew to be divine. The Editors made
passionate enough lamentation, in the stript state; one of then, with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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