History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 11 | Page 3

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Prepared by D.R. Thompson

BOOK XI.
FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. June-December, 1740.

Chapter I.
PHENOMENA OF FRIEDRICH'S ACCESSION.
In Berlin, from Tuesday, 31st May, 1740, day of the late King's death,
till the Thursday following, the post was stopped and the gates closed;
no estafette can be despatched, though Dickens and all the
Ambassadors are busy writing. On the Thursday, Regiments, Officers,
principal Officials having sworn, and the new King being fairly in the
saddle, estafettes and post-boys shoot forth at the top of their speed;
and Rumor, towards every point of the compass, apprises mankind
what immense news there is. [Dickens (in State- Paper Office), 4th
June, 1740.]
A King's Accession is always a hopeful phenomenon to the public;
more especially a young King's, who has been talked of for his talents
and aspirings,--for his sufferings, were it nothing more, --and whose
ANTI-MACHIAVEL is understood to be in the press. Vaguely
everywhere there has a notion gone abroad that this young King will
prove considerable. Here at last has a Lover of Philosophy got upon the
throne, and great philanthropies and magnanimities are to be expected,
think rash editors and idle mankind. Rash editors in England and
elsewhere, we observe, are ready to believe that Friedrich has not only
disbanded the Potsdam Giants; but means to "reduce the Prussian Army
one half" or so, for ease (temporary ease which we hope will be lasting)
of parties concerned; and to go much upon emancipation, political
rose-water, and friendship to humanity, as we now call it.
At his first meeting of Council, they say, he put this question, "Could

not the Prussian Army be reduced to 45,000?" The excellent young
man. To which the Council had answered, "Hardly, your Majesty! The
Julich-and-Berg affair is so ominous hitherto!" These may be secrets,
and dubious to people out of doors, thinks a wise editor; but one thing
patent to the day was this, surely symbolical enough: On one of his
Majesty's first drives to Potsdam or from it, a thousand children,--in
round numbers a thousand of them, all with the RED STRING round
their necks, and liable to be taken for soldiers, if needed in the regiment
of their Canton,-- "a thousand children met this young King at a turn of
his road; and with shrill unison of wail, sang out: "Oh, deliver us from
slavery,"--from the red threads, your Majesty. Why should poor we be
liable to suffer hardship for our Country or otherwise, your Majesty!
Can no one else be got to do it? sang out the thousand children. And his
Majesty assented on the spot, thinks the rash editor. [
Gentleman's Magazine (London, 1740), x. 318;
Newspapers, &c.] "Goose, Madam?" exclaimed a philanthropist
projector once, whose scheme of sweeping chimneys by pulling a live
goose down