History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 7 | Page 6

with us, who can prevail against us?" For
the Grumkow can quote Scripture; nay solaces himself with it, which is
a feat beyond what the Devil is competent to.

EXCELLENCY HOTHAM ARRIVES IN BERLIN.
The Special Envoy to be sent to Berlin on this interesting occasion is a
dignified Yorkshire Baronet; Sir Charles Hotham, "Colonel of the
Horse-Grenadiers;" he has some post at Court, too, and is still in his
best years. His Wife is Chesterfield's Sister; he is withal a kind of
soldier, as we see;--a man of many sabre-tashes, at least, and
acquainted with Cavalry-Drill, as well as the practices of Goldsticks:
his Father was a General Officer in the Peterborough Spanish Wars.
These are his eligibilities, recommending him at Berlin, and to Official
men at home. Family is old enough: Hothams of Scarborough in the
East Riding; old as WILHELMUS BASTARDUS; and subsists to our
own day. This Sir Charles is lineal Son of the Hothams who lost their
heads in the Civil War; and he is, so to speak, lineal UNCLE of the
Lords Hotham that now are. For the rest, a handsome figure, prompt in
French, and much the gentleman. So far has Villa sped.
Hotham got to Berlin on Sunday, 2d April, 1730. He had lingered a
little, waiting to gather up some skirts of that Reichenbach-Grumkow
Correspondence, and have them ready to show in the proper Quarter.
For that is one of the chief arrows in his quiver. But here he is at last:
and on Monday, he is introduced at Charlottenburg to the Prussian
Majesty; and finds an abundant welcome to himself and his
preliminaries. "Marriage into that fine high Country (MAGNIFIKE
LAND) will be welcome to my Daughter, I believe, as flowers in May:
to me also how can it be other than welcome!--'Farther instructions,'
you say? Yes, surely; and terms honorable on both sides. Only say
nothing of it, I had rather tell the girl myself." [Ranke, i. 284.] To that
frank purport spoke his Majesty;--and invites the Excellency Hotham to
stay dinner.
Great dinner at Charlottenburg, accordingly; Monday, 3d April, 1730:
the two English Excellencies Hotham and Dubourgay, then General
Borck, Knyphausen, Grumkow, Seckendorf and others;-- "where," says
Hotham, giving Despatch about it, "we all got immoderately drunk." Of
which dinner there is sordid narrative, from Grumkow to his NOSTI (to
his Reichenbach, in cant speech), still visible through St. Mary Axe,

were it worth much attention from us. Passages of wit, loaded with
allusion, flew round the table: "A German ducat is change for an
English half-guinea," and the like sprightly things. Nay at one time,
Hotham's back being turned, they openly drink,--his Majesty in a state
of exhilaration, having blabbed the secret:--"To the health of
Wilhelmina Princess of Wales!" Upon which the whole Palace of
Charlottenburg now bursts into tripudiation; the very valets cuttiug
capers, making somersets,--and rushing off with the news to Berlin.
Observable, only, that Hotham and Dubourgay sat silent in the
tripudiation; with faces diplomatically grave. Several points to be
settled first; no hallooing till we are out of the wood.
News came to Berlin Schloss, doubtless at full gallop, which would
only take a quarter of an hour. This is Wilhelmina's experience of it.
Afternoon of Monday, 3d of April, 1730, in the Schloss of
Berlin,--towards sunset, some ornamental seam in one's hand:--
"I was sitting quiet in my Apartment, busy with work, and some one
reading to me, when the Queen's Ladies rushed in, with a torrent of
domestics in the rear; who all bawled out, putting one knee to the
ground, 'They were come to salute the Princess of Wales.' I fairly
believed these poor people had lost their wits; they would not cease
overwhelming me with noise and tumult, their joy was so great they
knew not what they did. When the farce had lasted some time, they at
last told me"--what our readers know. What the demure Wilhelmina
professes she cared next to nothing about. "I was so little moved by it,
that I answered, going on with my work, 'Is that all?' Which greatly
surprised them. A while afterwards my Sisters and several Ladies came
also to congratulate me. I was much loved; and I felt more delighted at
the proofs each gave me of that than at what occasioned them. In the
evening I went to the Queen's: you may readily conceive her joy. On
my first entrance, she called me 'her dear Princess of Wales;' and
addressed Madam de Sonsfeld as 'Milady.' This latter took the liberty
of hinting to her, that it would be better to keep quiet; that the King
having yet given no notice of this business, might be provoked at such
demonstration, and that the least trifle could still ruin all her hopes. The