History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 21 | Page 9

to your Majesty the written Specification you
were graciously pleased to command of us. It contains only the
indispensablest things that the Circles are in need of. Moreover, it
regards only the STANDE [richer Nobility], who pay contribution; the
Gentry [ADEL], and other poor people, who have been utterly
plundered out by the Russians, are not included in it:--the Gentry too
have suffered very much by the War and the Plundering."
KING. "What EDELLEUTE that are members of STANDE have you
[ER] got in your Circle?"
NUSSLER (names them; and, as finis of the list, adds): ... "I myself,
too, your Majesty, I have suffered more than anybody: I absolutely
could not furnish those 4,000 bushels of meal ordered of me by the
Russians; upon which they--"
KING. "I cannot give to all: but if you have poor Nobles in your Circle,
who can in no way help themselves, I will give them something."
NUSSLER (has not any in Nether-Barnim who are altogether in that
extreme predicament; but knows several in Lebus Circle, names them
to the King;--and turning to the Landrath of Lebus, and to another who
is mute): "Herr, you can name some more in Lebus; and you, in Teltow
Circle, Herr Landrath, since his Majesty permits." ... In a word, the
King having informed himself and declared his intention, Nussler leads
the Landraths to their old County Hall, and brings to Protocol what had
taken place.
Next day, the Kammer President (Exchequer President), Van der
Groben, had Nussler, with other Landraths, to dinner. During dinner,
there came from Head Secretary Eichel (Majesty's unwearied Clerk of

the PELLS, Sheepskins, or PAPERS) an earnest request to Von der
Groben for help,--Eichel not being able to remember, with the requisite
precision, everything his Majesty had bid him put down on this matter.
"You will go, Herr von Nussler; be so kind, won't you?" And Nussler
went, and fully illuminated Eichel. ...
To the poorest of the Nobility, Busching tells us, what is otherwise well
known, the King gave considerable sums: to one Circle 12,000 pounds,
to another 9,000 pounds, 6,000 pounds, and so on. By help of which
bounties, and of Nussler laboring incessantly with all his strength,
Nieder-Barnim Circle got on its feet again, no subject having been
entirely ruined, but all proving able to recover. [Busching,
Beitrage (º Nussler), i. 401-405.]
This Busching Fragment is not in the style of the Elder Dramatists, or
for the Bankside Theatre; but this represents a Fact which befell in
God's Creation, and may have an interest of its own to the Practical
Soul, especially in anarchic Countries, far advanced in the
"Gold-nugget and Nothing to Buy with it" Career of unexampled
Prosperities.
On these same errands the King is soon going on an Inspection Journey,
where we mean to accompany. But first, one word, and one will suffice,
on the debased Coin. The Peace was no sooner signed, than Friedrich
proceeded on the Coin. The third week after his arrival home, there
came out a salutary Edict on it, April 21st; King eager to do it without
loss of time, yet with the deliberation requisite. Not at one big leap,
which might shake, to danger of oversetting, much commercial
arrangement; but at two leaps, with a halfway station intervening.
Halfway station, with a new coinage ready, much purer of alloy (and
marked HOW much, for the benefit of parties with accounts to settle),
is to commence on TRINITATIS (Whitsunday) instant; from and after
Whitsunday the improved new coin to be sole legal tender, till farther
notice. Farther notice comes accordingly, within a year, March 29th,
1764: "Pure money of the standard of 1750 [honest silver coinage:
readers may remember Linsenbarth, the CANDIDATUS
THEOLOGIAE, and his sack of Batzen, confiscated at the Paekhof]

shall be ready on the 1st of June instant;" [Rodenbeck, ii. 214,
234.]--from and after which day we hear no more of that sad matter.
Finished off in about fourteen months. Here, meanwhile, is the
Inspection Journey.
KRIEGSRATH RODEN AND THE KING (6th-13th June, 1763).
JUNE 2d, 1763, Friedrich left Potsdam for Westphalia; got as far as
Magdeburg that day. Intends seeing into matters with his own eyes in
that region, as in others, after so long and sad an absence. There are
with him Friedrich Wilhelm Prince of Prussia, a tall young fellow of
nineteen; General-Adjutant von Anhalt; and one or two Prussian
military people. From Magdeburg and onwards the great Duke
Ferdinand accompanies,--who is now again Governor of Magdeburg,
and a quiet Prussian Officer as heretofore, though with excellent
Pensions from England, and glory from all the world.
The Royal Party goes by Halberstadt, which suffered greatly in the War;
thence by MINDEN (June 4th); and the first thing next day, Friedrich
takes view of the