t; scraggy
boggy ground, planned out into streets, Friedrichs Strasse the chief
street, with here and there a house standing lonesomely prophetic on it.
But it is this present Majesty, Friedrich Wilhelm, that gets the plan
executed, and the Friedrichs Strasse actually built, not always in a
soft or spontaneous manner. Friedrich Wilhelm was the AEdile of his
Country, as well as the Drill-sergeant; Berlin City did not rise of
its own accord, or on the principle of leave-alone, any more than the
Prussian Army itself. Wreck and rubbish Friedrich Wilhelm will not leave
alone, in any kind; but is intent by all chances to sweep them from the
face of the Earth, that something useful, seemly to the Royal mind, may
stand there instead. Hence these building operations in the Friedrich
Street and elsewhere, so "exceedingly pushed forward."

The number of scraggy waste places he swept clear, first and last, and
built tight human dwellings upon, is almost uncountable. A common gift
from him (as from his Son after him) to a man in favor, was that of a
new good House,--an excellent gift. Or if the man is himself able to
build, Majesty will help him, incite him: "Timber enough is in the
royal forests; stone, lime are in the royal quarries; scraggy waste is
abundant: why should any man, of the least industry or private capital,
live in a bad house?" By degrees, the pressure of his Majesty upon
private men to build with encouragement became considerable, became
excessive, irresistible; and was much complained of, in these years
now come. Old Colonel Derschau is the King's Agent, at Berlin, in this
matter; a hard stiff man; squeezes men, all manner of men with the least
capital, till they build.

Nussler, for example, whom we once saw at Hanover, managing a certain
contested Heritage for Friedrich Wilhelm; adroit Nussler, though he has
yet got no fixed appointment, nor pay except by the job, is urged to
build;--second year hence, 1733, occurs the case of Nussler, and is
copiously dwelt upon by Busching his biographer: "Build yourself a
house in the Friedrichs Strasse!" urges Derschau. "But I have no pay, no
capital!" pleads Nussler.--"Tush, your Father-in-law, abstruse Kanzler
von Ludwig, in Halle University, monster of law-learning there, is not
he a monster of hoarded moneys withal? He will lend you, for his own
and his Daughter's sake. [Busching, _Beitrage,_ i. 324.] Or shall his
Majesty compel him?" urges Derschau. And slowly, continu