History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 10 | Page 6

interesting moment.
What the Book-Collection was, in the interior, I know not except by
mere guess.
The Crown-Princess's Apartment, too, which remained unaltered at the
last accounts had of it, [From Hennert, namely, in 1778.] is very
fine;--take the anteroom for specimen: "This fine room," some twenty
feet height of ceiling, "has six windows; three of them, in the main
front, looking towards the Town, the other three, towards the Interior
Court. The light from these windows is heightened by mirrors covering
all the piers (SCHAFTE, interspaces of the walls), to an uncommonly
splendid pitch; and shows the painting of the ceiling, which again is by
the famous Pesne, to much perfection. The Artist himself, too, has
managed to lay on his colors there so softly, and with such delicate skill,
that the light-beams seem to prolong themselves in the painted clouds

and air, as if it were the real sky you had overhead." There in that
cloud-region "Mars is being disarmed by the Love-goddesses, and they
are sporting with his weapons. He stretches out his arm towards the
Goddess, who looks upon him with fond glances. Cupids are spreading
out a draping." That is Pesne's luxurious performance in the
ceiling.--"Weapon-festoons, in basso-relievo, gilt, adorn the walls of
this room; and two Pictures, also by Pesne, which represent, in life size,
the late King and Queen [our good friends Friedrich Wilhelm and his
Sophie], are worthy of attention. Over each of the doors, you find in
low-relief the Profiles of Hannibal, Pompey, Scipio, Caesar, introduced
as Medallions."
All this is very fine; but all this is little to another ceiling, in some big
Saloon elsewhere, Music-saloon, I think: Black Night, making off, with
all her sickly dews, at one end of the ceiling; and at the other end, the
Steeds of Phoebus bursting forth, and the glittering shafts of Day,--with
Cupids, Love-goddesses, War- gods, not omitting Bacchus and his
vines, all getting beautifully awake in consequence. A very fine room
indeed;--used as a Music- saloon, or I know not what,--and the ceiling
of it almost an ideal, say the connoisseurs.
Endless gardens, pavilions, grottos, hermitages, orangeries, artificial
ruins, parks and pleasances surround this favored spot and its Schloss;
nothing wanting in it that a Prince's establishment needs,--except
indeed it be hounds, for which this Prince never had the least demand.
Except the old Ruppin duties, which imply continual journeyings
thither, distance only a morning's ride; except these, and occasional
commissions from Papa, Friedrich is left master of his time and
pursuits in this new Mansion. There are visits to Potsdam, periodical
appearances at Berlin; some Correspondence to keep the
Tobacco-Parliament in tune. But Friedrich's taste is for the Literatures,
Philosophies: a--young Prince bent seriously to cultivate his mind; to
attain some clear knowledge of this world, so all-important to him. And
he does seriously read, study and reflect a good deal; his main
recreations, seemingly, are Music, and the converse of well-informed,
friendly men. In Music we find him particularly rich. Daily, at a fixed

hour of the afternoon, there is concert held; the reader has seen in what
kind of room: and if the Artists entertained here for that function were
enumerated (high names, not yet forgotten in the Musical world), it
would still more astonish readers. I count them to the number of twenty
or nineteen; and mention only that "the two Brothers Graun" and "the
two Brothers Benda" were of the lot; suppressing four other Fiddlers of
eminence, and "a Pianist who is known to everybody." [Hennert, p. 21.]
The Prince has a fine sensibility to Music: does himself, with thrilling
adagios on the flute, join in these harmonious acts; and, no doubt, if
rightly vigilant against the Nonsenses, gets profit, now and henceforth,
from this part of his resources.
He has visits, calls to make, on distinguished persons within reach; he
has much Correspondence, of a Literary or Social nature. For instance,
there is Suhm the Saxon Envoy translating Wolf's Philosophy
into French for him; sending it in fascicles; with endless
Letters to and from, upon it,--which were then highly interesting, but
are now dead to every reader. The Crown-Prince has got a Post-Office
established at Reinsberg; leathern functionary of some sort comes
lumbering round, southward, "from the Mecklenburg quarter twice a
week, and goes by Fehrbellin," for the benefit of his Correspondences.
Of his calls in the neighborhood, we mean to show the reader one
sample, before long; and only one.
There are Lists given us of the Prince's "Court" at Reinsberg; and one
reads, and again reads, the dreariest unmemorable accounts of them;
but cannot, with all one's industry, attain any definite understanding of
what they were employed in, day after day, at Reinsberg:--still more are
their salaries and maintenance a mystery to