o Karl XII.: he is "Bishop of Lubeck" or of Eutin, so styled;
now in his thirty-third year; and at least drawing the revenues of that
See, though I think, not ecclesiastically given, but living oftener in
Hamburg, the then fashionable resort of those Northern Grandees. On the
whole, a likely young gentleman; accepted by parties concerned;--and
surely good enough for the Office as it now is. Of whom, for a reason
coming, let readers take note, in this place.

Above a year before this time, Czarina Elizabeth, a provident female,
and determined not to wed, had pitched upon her own Successor: [7th
November, 1742 (Michaelis, ii. 627).] one Karl Peter Ulrich; who was
also of the same Holstein-Gottorp set, though with Russian blood in him.
His Grandfather was full cousin, and chosen comrade, to Karl XII.; got
killed in Karl's Russian Wars; and left a poor Son dependent on Russian
Peter the Great,--who gave him one of his Daughters; whence this Karl
Peter Ulrich, an orphan, dear to his Aunt the Czarina. A Karl Peter
Ulrich, who became tragically famous as Czar Peter Federowitz, or Czar
Peter III., in the course of twenty years! His Father and Mother
are both dead; loving Aunt has snatched the poor boy out of
Holstein-Gottorp, which is a narrow sphere, into Russia, which is wide
enough; she has had him converted to the Greek Church, named him Peter
Federowitz, Heir and Successor;--and now, wishing to see him married,
has earnestly consulted Friedrich upon it.

Friedrich is decidedly interested; would grudge much to see an
Anti-Prussian Princess, for instance a Saxon Princess (one of whom is
said to Be trying), put into this important station! After a little
thought, he fixes,--does the reader know upon whom? Readers perhaps,
here and there, have some recollection of a Prussian General, who
is Titular Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst on his own score; and is actual
Commandant of Stettin in Friedrich's service, and has done a great deal
of good fortification there and other good work. Instead of Titular,
he has now lately, by decease of an Elder Brother, become Actual or
Semi-Actual (a Brother joined with him in the poor Heirship); lives
occasionally in the Schloss of Zerbst; but is glad to retain Stettin as
a solid supplement. His Wife, let the reader note farther, is Sister
to the above-mentioned Adolf Friedrich, "Bishop of Lubeck," now
Heir-Apparent to Sweden,--in whom, as will soon appear, we are otherwise
interested. Wife seems to me