an old
gentleman of sixty, died lately, "by stroke of apoplexy while at
dinner;" [21st June, 1731: Fassmann, p. 423; Pollnitz, ii. 390.]--and
his eldest Son, Margraf Karl, with whom his Majesty lodges to-night, is
now Herrmeister. "Majesty came at 6 P.M. to Sonnenburg [must have left
Custrin about five]; forty-two Ritters made at Sonnenburg next day,"--a
certain Colonel or Lieutenant-General von Wreech, whom we shall soon
see again, is one of them; Seckendorf another. "Fresh RITTER-SCHLAG
["Knight-stroke," Batch of Knights dubbed] at Sonnenburg, 29th September
next," which shall not the least concern us. Note Margraf Karl, however,
the new Herrmeister; for he proves a soldier of some mark, and will turn
up again in the Silesian Wars;--as will a poor Brother of his still more
impressively, "shot dead beside the King," on one occasion there.

We add this of Dickens, for all the Diplomatists, and a discerning
public generally, are much struck with the Event at Custrin; and take
to writing of it as news;--and "Mr. Ginkel," Dutch Ambassador here, an
ingenious, honest and observant man, well enough known to us, has
been out to sup with the Prince, next day; and thus reports of him to
Dickens: "Mr. Ginkel, who supped with the Prince on Thursday last,"
day after the Interview, "tells me that his Royal Highness is extremely
improved since he had seen him; being grown much taller; and that his
conversation is surprising for his age, abounding in good sense and the
prettiest turns of expression." [Despatch, 18th August, 1731.]

Here are other shreds, snatched from the Witch-Caldron, and pinned down,
each at its place; which give us one or two subsequent glimpses:--

POTSDAM, 21st AUGUST, 1731 (King to Wolden the Hofmarschall)....
"Crown-Prince shall travel over, and personally inspect, the following
Domains: Quartschen, Himmelstadt, Carzig, Massin, Lebus, Gollow and
Wollup," dingy moor-farms dear to Antiquarians; "travel over these and
not any other. Permission always to be asked, of his Royal Majesty, in
writing, and mention made to which of them the Crown-Prince means to go.
Some one to be always in attendance, who can give him fit instruction
about the husbandry; and as the Crown-Prince has yet only learned the
theory, he must now be diligent to learn the same practically. For
which end it must be minutely explained to him, How the husbandry is
managed,--how ploughed, manured, sown, in every particular; and what
the differenc