modest, honest, with abundance of
sense and spirit; kind too and good, hot temper well kept, temper hot
not harsh; quietly holds his own in all circles; good discourse in him,
too, and sharp repartee if requisite,--though he stammered somewhat in
speaking. Submissive Wilhelmina feels that one might easily have had a
worse husband. What glories for you in England! the Queen used to say
to her in old times: "He is a Prince, that Frederick, who has a good
heart, and whose genius is very small. Rather ugly than handsome;
slightly out of shape even (UN PEU CONTREFAIT). But provided you have
the complaisance to suffer his debaucheries, you will quite govern him;
and you will be more King than he, when once his Father is dead. Only
see what a part you will play! It will be you that decide on the weal or
woe of Europe, and give law to the Nation," [Wilhelmina, i. 143.]--in a
manner! Which Wilhelmina did not think a celestial prospect even then.
Who knows but, of all the offers she had, "four" or three "crowned
heads" among them, this final modest honest one may be intrinsically the
best? Take your portion, if inevitable, and be thankful!--

The Betrothal follows in about a week: Sunday, 3d June, 1731; with great
magnificence, in presence of the high guests and all the world: and
Wilhelmina is the affianced Bride of Friedrich of Baireuth:--and that
enormous Double-Marriage Tragi-comedy, of Much Ado about Nothing, is at
last ended. Courage, friends; all things do end!--

The high guests hereupon go their ways again; and the Court of Berlin,
one cannot but suppose, collapses, as after a great effort finished.
Do not Friedrich Wilhelm and innumerable persons--the readers and
the writer of this History included--feel a stone rolled off their
hearts?--It is now, and not till now, that Queen Sophie falls sick,
and like to die; and reproaches Wilhelmina with killing her. Friedrich
Wilhelm hopes confidently, not; waits out at Potsdam, for a few days,
till this killing danger pass; then departs, with double impetuosity,
for Preussen, and despatch of Public Business; such a mountain of
Domestic Business being victoriously got under.

Poor King, his life, this long while, has been a series of earthquakes
and titanic convulsions. Narrow miss he has had, of pulling down his
house about his ears, and burying self, son, wife, family and fortunes,
under the ruin-heap,--a monument to remote posterity. Never was such an
enchanted dance, of well