d a few children; it is said the
people are mostly running away,"--owing to the Russian-Polish procedures
there, in consequence of the blessed Election they have had. King
August, whom your Majesty is not in love with, has prevailed at this
rate of expense. King Stanislaus, protected by your Majesty in spite of
Kaisers and Czarinas, waits in Konigsberg, till the Peace, now supposed
to be coming, say what is to become of him: once in Konigsberg, I shall
have the pleasure to see him. "A detachment of five-and-twenty Saxon
Dragoons of the Regiment Arnstedt, marching towards Dantzig, met me:
their horses were in tolerable case; but some are piebald, some sorrel,
and some brown among them," which will be shocking to your Majesty, "and
the people did not look well."...

"Got hither to Marienwerder, last night: have inspected the two
Companies which are here, that is to say, Lieutenant-Col. Meier's and
Rittmeister Haus's. In very good trim, both of them; and though neither
the men nor their horses are of extraordinary size, they are handsome
well-drilled fellows, and a fine set of stiff-built horses (GEDRUNGENEN
PFERDEN). The fellows sit them like pictures (REITEN WIE DIE PUPPEN); I
saw them do their wheelings. Meier has some fine recruits; in particular
two;"--nor has the Rittmeister been wanting in that respect. "Young
horses" too are coming well on, sleek of skin. In short, all is right on
the military side. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xxvii. part 3d, p. 97.]

Civil business, too, of all kinds, the Crown-Prince looked into, with
a sharp intelligent eye;--gave praise, gave censure in the right place;
put various things on a straight footing, which were awry when he found
them. In fact, it is Papa's second self; looks into the bottom of all
things quite as Papa would have done, and is fatal to mendacities,
practical or vocal, wherever he meets them. What a joy to Papa: "Here,
after all, is one that can replace me, in case of accident. This
Apprentice of mine, after all, he has fairly learned the Art; and will
continue it when I am gone!"--

Yes, your Majesty, it is a Prince-Royal wise to recognize your Majesty's
rough wisdom, on all manner of points; will not be a Devil's-FRIEND, I
think, any more than your Majesty was. Here truly are rare talents; like
your Majesty and unlike;--and has a steady swiftness in him, as of an
eagle, over and above! Such powers of practical judgment, of skilful
action, are rare in one's twenty-third