History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 11 | Page 6

you strive to enrich Us by
vexation of Our subjects; but rather that you aim steadily as well
towards the advantage of the Country as Our particular interest,
forasmuch as We make no difference between these two objects," but
consider them one and the same. This is written, and gets into print
within the month; and his Majesty, that same day (Wednesday, 2d
June), when it came to personal reception, and actual taking of the Oath,
was pleased to add in words, which also were printed shortly, this
comfortable corollary: "My will henceforth is, If it ever chance that my
particular interest and the general good of my Countries should seem to
go against each other,--in that case, my will is, That the latter always be
preferred." [Dickens, Despatch, 4th June, 1740: Preuss,
Friedrichs Jugend und Thronbesteigung (Berlin, 1840), p.
325;--quoting from the Berlin Newspapers of 28th June and 2d July,
1740.]

This is a fine dialect for incipient Royalty; and it is brand- new at that
time. It excites an admiration in the then populations, which to us, so
long used to it and to what commonly comes of it, is not conceivable at
once. There can be no doubt the young King does faithfully intend to
develop himself in the way of making men happy; but here, as
elsewhere, are limits which he will recognize ahead, some of them
perhaps nearer than was expected.
Meanwhile his first acts, in this direction, correspond to these fine
words. The year 1740, still grim with cold into the heart of summer,
bids fair to have a late poor harvest, and famine threatens to add itself
to other hardships there have been. Recognizing the actualities of the
case, what his poor Father could not, he opens the Public Granaries,--a
wise resource they have in Prussian countries against the year of
scarcity;--orders grain to be sold out, at reasonable rates, to the
suffering poor; and takes the due pains, considerable in some cases, that
this be rendered feasible everywhere in his dominions. "Berlin, 2d
June," is the first date of this important order; fine program to his
Ministers, which, we read, is no sooner uttered, than some performance
follows. An evident piece of wisdom and humanity; for which
doubtless blessings of a very sincere kind rise to him from several
millions of his fellow-mortals.
Nay furthermore, as can be dimly gathered, this scarcity continuing,
some continuous mode of management was set on foot for the Poor;
and there is nominated, with salary, with outline of plan and other
requisites, as "Inspector of the Poor," to his own and our surprise, M.
Jordan, late Reader to the Crown-Prince, and still much the intimate of
his royal Friend. Inspector who seems to do his work very well. And in
the November coming this is what we see: "One thousand poor old
women, the destitute of Berlin, set to spin," at his Majesty's charges;
vacant houses, hired for them in certain streets and suburbs, have been
new-planked, partitioned, warmed; and spinning is there for any
diligent female soul. There a thousand of them sit, under proper officers,
proper wages, treatment;--and the hum of their poor spindles, and of
their poor inarticulate old hearts, is a comfort, if one chance to think of
it.--Of "distressed needlewomen" who cannot sew, nor be taught to do

it; who, in private truth, are mutinous maid-servants come at last to the
net upshot of their anarchies; of these, or of the like incurable
phenomena, I hear nothing in Berlin; and can believe that, under this
King, Indigence itself may still have something of a human aspect, not
a brutal or diabolic as is commoner in some places.--This is one of
Friedrich's first acts, this opening of the Corn-magazines, and
arrangements for the Destitute; [ Helden-Geschichte, italic> i. 367. Rodenbeck, Tagebuch aus Friedrichs des
Grossen Regentenleben (Berlin, 1840), i. 2, 26 (2d June,
October, 1740): a meritorious, laborious, though essentially chaotic
Book, unexpectedly futile of result to the reader; settles for each Day of
Friedrich's Reign, so far as possible, where Friedrich was and what
doing; fatally wants all index &c., as usual.] and of this there can be no
criticism. The sound of hungry pots set boiling, on judicious principles;
the hum of those old women's spindles in the warm rooms: gods and
men are well pleased to hear such sounds; and accept the same as part,
real though infinitesimally small, of the sphere-harmonies of this
Universe!
ABOLITION OF LEGAL TORTURE.
Friedrich makes haste, next, to strike into Law-improvements. It is but
the morrow after this of the Corn-magazines, by KABINETS-ORDRE
(Act of Parliament such as they can have in that Country, where the
Three Estates sit all under one Three-cornered Hat, and the debates are