ith that view,--Friedrich does at length send him
Certificate of Leave; "which is drawn out with all the forms, and was
despatched through Eichel to the proper Board;" but which bears
date APRIL FIRST, and though officially valid, is of quizzical
nature:---perhaps already known to some readers; having got into the
Newspapers, and widely abroad, at a subsequent time. As authentic sample
of Friedrich in that kind, here it accurately is, with only one or two
slight abridgments, which are indicated:--

"Whereas the Baron de Pollnitz, born at Berlin [at Koln, if it made any
matter], of honest parents so far as We know,--after having served
Our Grandfather as Gentleman of the Chamber, Madam d'Orleans [wicked
Regent's Mother, a famed German Lady] in the same rank, the King of
Spain in quality of Colonel, the deceased Kaiser in that of Captain of
Horse, the Pope as Chamberlain, the Duke of Brunswick as Chamberlain,
Duke of Weimar as Ensign, our Father as Chamberlain, and, in fine, Us as
Grand Master of the Ceremonies,"--has, in spite of such accumulation
of honors, become disgusted with the world; and requests a Parting
Testimony, to support his good reputation,--

"We, remembering his important services to the House, in diverting for
nine years long the late King our Father, and doing the honors of our
Court during the now Reign, cannot refuse such request; but do hereby
certify, That the said Baron has never assassinated, robbed on the
highway, poisoned, forcibly cut purses, or done other atrocity or legal
crime at our Court; but has always maintained gentlemanly behavior,
making not more than honest use of the industry and talents he has
been endowed with at birth; imitating the object of the Drama, that
is, correcting mankind by gentle quizzing; following, in the matter
of sobriety, Boerhaave's counsels; pushing Christian charity so far as
often to make the rich understand that it is more blessed to give than
to receive;--possessing perfectly the anecdotes of our various Mansions,
especially of our worn-out Furnitures; rendering himself, by his merits,
necessary to those who know him; and, with a very bad head, having a
very good heart.

"Our anger the said Baron never kindled but once,"--in atrociously
violating the grave of an Ancestress (or Step Ancestress) of ours.
[Step-Ancestress was Dorothea, the Great Elector's second Wife; of whom
Pollnitz, in his _Memoirs and Letters,_ repeats the rumor that once she,
perhaps,