kept silent, and only the upshot of them, more or less faithfully, is made
public),--by Cabinet Order, 3d June, 1740, he abolishes the use of
Torture in Criminal Trials. [Preuss, Friedrichs Jugend und
Thronbesteigung (Berlin, 1840,--a minor Book of Preuss's),
p. 340. Rodenbeck, i. 14 ("3d June").] Legal Torture, "Question" as
they mildly call it, is at an end from this date. Not in any Prussian
Court shall a "question" try for answer again by that savage method.
The use of Torture had, I believe, fallen rather obsolete in Prussia; but
now the very threat of it shall vanish,--the threat of it, as we may
remember, had reached Friedrich himself, at one time. Three or four
years ago, it is farther said, a dark murder happened in Berlin: Man
killed one night in the open streets; murderer discoverable by no
method,--unless he were a certain CANDIDATUS of Divinity to whom
some trace of evidence pointed, but who sorrowfully persisted in
absolute and total denial. This poor Candidatus had been threatened
with the rack; and would most likely have at length got it, had not the
real murderer been discovered,--much to the discredit of the rack in
Berlin. This Candidatus was only threatened; nor do I know when the
last actual instance in Prussia was; but in enlightened France, and most
other countries, there was as yet no scruple upon it. Barbier, the Diarist
at Paris, some time after this, tells us of a gang of thieves there, who
were regularly put to the torture; and "they blabbed too, ILS ONT
JASE," says Barbier with official jocosity. [Barbier, Journal
Historique du Regne de Louis XV. (Paris, 1849), ii. 338
(date "Dec. 1742").]
Friedrich's Cabinet Order, we need not say, was greeted everywhere, at
home and abroad, by three rounds of applause;--in which surely all of
us still join; though the PER CONTRA also is becoming visible to
some of us, and our enthusiasm grows less complete than formerly.
This was Friedrich's first step in Law- Reform, done on his fourth day
of Kingship. A long career in that kind lies ahead of him; in reform of
Law, civil as well as criminal, his efforts ended with life only. For his
love of Justice was really great; and the mendacities and wiggeries,
attached to such a necessary of life as Law, found no favor from him at
any time.
WILL HAVE PHILOSOPHERS ABOUT HIM, AND A REAL
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
To neglect the Philosophies, Fine Arts, interests of Human Culture, he
is least of all likely. The idea of building up the Academy of Sciences
to its pristine height, or far higher, is evidently one of those that have
long lain in the Crown-Prince's mind, eager to realize themselves.
Immortal Wolf, exiled but safe at Marburg, and refusing to return in
Friedrich Wilhelm's time, had lately dedicated a Book to the
Crown-Prince; indicating that perhaps, under a new Reign, he might be
more persuadable. Friedrich makes haste to persuade; instructs the
proper person, Reverend Herr Reinbeck, Head of the Consistorium at
Berlin, to write and negotiate. "All reasonable conditions shall be
granted" the immortal Wolf,--and Friedrich adds with his own hand as
Postscript: "I request you (IHN) to use all diligence about Wolf. A man
that seeks truth, and loves it, must be reckoned precious in any human
society; and I think you will make a conquest in the realm of truth if
you persuade Wolf hither again." [In OEuvres de Frederic
(xxvii. ii. 185), the Letter given.] This is of date June 6th;
not yet a week since Friedrich came to be King. The Reinbeck-Wolf
negotiation which ensued can be read in Busching by the curious.
[Busching's Beitrage (? Freiherr von Wolf), i.
63-137.] It represents to us a croaky, thrifty, long-headed old Herr
Professor, in no haste to quit Marburg except for something better:
"obliged to wear woollen shoes and leggings;" "bad at mounting stairs;"
and otherwise needing soft treatment. Willing, though with caution, to
work at an Academy of Sciences;--but dubious if the French are so
admirable as they seem to themselves in such operations. Veteran Wolf,
one dimly begins to learn, could himself build a German Academy of
Sciences, to some purpose, if encouraged! This latter was probably the
stone of stumbling in that direction. Veteran Wolf did not get to be
President in the New Academy of Sciences; but was brought back,
"streets all in triumph," to his old place at Halle; and there, with little
other work that was heard of, but we hope in warm shoes and without
much mounting of stairs, lived peaceably victorious the rest of his days.
Friedrich's thoughts are not of a German home-built Academy, but of a
French one: and
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