History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 16 | Page 6

That is the Pyrmont Journey. It is no surprise to us to
hear, in these months, of new and continual attention to Army matters,
to Husbandry matters; and to making good, on all sides, the ruins left
by War. Of rebuilding (at the royal expense) "the town of
Schmiedeberg, which had been burnt;" of rebuilding, and repairing
from their damage, all Silesian villages and dwellings; and still more
satisfactory, How, "in May, 1746, there was, in every Circle of the
Country, by exact liquidation of Accounts [so rapidly got done], exact
payment made to the individuals concerned, 1. of all the hay, straw and
corn that had been delivered to his Majesty's Armies; 2. of all the
horses that had perished in the King's work; 3. of all the horses stolen
by the Enemy, and of all the money-contributions exacted by the
Enemy: payment in ready cash, and according to the rules of justice
(BAAR UND BILLIGMASSIG), by his Majesty." [Seyfarth, ii. 22, 23.]
It was from Pyrmont, May, 1746,--or more definitely, it was "at
Potsdam early in the morning, 15th September," following,--that
Friedrich launched, or shot forth from its moorings, after much
previous attempting and preparing, a very great Enterprise; which he
has never lost sight of since the day he began reigning, nor will till his
reign and life end: the actual Reform of Law in Prussia. "May 12th,
1746," Friedrich, on the road to Pyrmont, answers his Chief
Law-Minister Cocceji's REPORT OF PRACTICAL PLAN on this
matter: "Yes; looks very hopeful!"--and took it with him to consider at
Pyrmont, during his leisure. Much considering of it, then and
afterwards, there was. And finally, September 15th, early in the
morning, Cocceji had an Interview with Friedrich; and the decisive fiat
was given: "Yes; start on it, in God's name! Pommern, which they call

the PROVINCIA LITIGIOSA; try it there first!" [Ranke, ii. 392.] And
Cocceji, a vigorous old man of sixty- seven, one of the most learned of
Lawyers, and a very Hercules in cleaning Law-Stables, has, on
Friedrich's urgencies,--which have been repeated on every
breathing-time of Peace there has been, and even sometimes in the
middle of War (last January, 1745, for example; and again, express
Order, January, 1746, a fortnight after Peace was signed),--actually got
himself girt for this salutary work. "Wash me out that horror of
accumulation, let us see the old Pavements of the place again. Every
Lawsuit to be finished within the Year!" Cocceji, who had been
meditating such matters for a great while, ["1st March, 1738," Friedrich
Wilhelm's "Edict" on Law Reform: Cocceji ready, at that time;--but his
then Majesty forbore.] and was himself eager to proceed, in spite of
considerable wigged oppositions and secret reluctances that there were,
did now, on that fiat of September 15th, get his Select Commission of
Six riddled together and adjoined to him,--the likeliest Six that Prussia,
in her different Provinces, could yield;--and got the STANDE of
Pommern, after due committeeing and deliberating, to consent and
promise help. December 31st, 1746, was the day the STANDE
consented: and January 10th, 1747, Cocceji and his Six set out for
Pommern. On a longish Enterprise, in that Province and the others;--of
which we shall have to take notice, and give at least the dates as they
occur. To sweep out pettifogging Attorneys, cancel improper
Advocates, to regulate Fees; to war, in a calm but deadly manner,
against pedantries, circumlocutions and the multiplied forms of
stupidity, cupidity and human owlery in this department;--and, on the
whole, to realize from every Court, now and onwards, "A decision to
all Lawsuits within a Year after their beginning." This latter result,
Friedrich thinks, will itself be highly beneficial; and be the sign of all
manner of improvements. And Cocceji, scanning it with those potent
law-eyes of his, ventures to assure him that it will be possible. As, in
fact, it proved;--honor to Cocceji and his King, and King's Father
withal. "Samuel von Cocceji [says an old Note], son of a Law Professor,
and himself once such,--was picked up by Friedrich Wilhelm, for the
Official career, many years ago. A man of wholesome, by no means
weakly aspect,--to judge by his Portrait, which is the chief 'Biography' I
have of him. Potent eyes and eyebrows, ditto blunt nose; honest, almost

careless lips, and deep chin well dewlapped: extensive penetrative face,
not pincered together, but potently fallen closed;--comfortable to see, in
a wig of such magnitude. Friedrich, a judge of men, calls him 'a man of
sterling character (CARACTERE INTEGRE ET DROIT), whose
qualities would have suited the noble times of the Roman Republic.'"
[ OEuvres, iv. 2.] He has his Herculean battle, his
Master and he have, with the Owleries and the vulturous
Law-Pedantries,--which I always love Friedrich for detesting as he
does:--and,