of the court and city; to
these names were added a frivolous and voluptuous personal description
of every lady, and to this the name of the French officer which each was
supposed to favor. [Footnote: Thiebault, p. 90.]

An outcry of scorn and rage was heard throughout Berlin; every one was
excited at the boundless shamelessness of the French officers, and on
this occasion the mass of the people took the part of the rich and
the distinguished, whom generally they envied and despised. They felt
themselves aggrieved by the contempt and ridicule which these Frenchmen
had cast upon the daughters of Prussians, and no police force was
necessary to tear these placards from the walls; they were torn off and
trampled under foot, or torn into a thousand pieces and scattered to
the winds. If a Frenchman dared to show himself on the street, he was
received with curses and threats, and the police were obliged to forbid
them to appear in any public place, as they feared they would not be
able to protect them from the fierce indignation of the people. The
doors of all the prominent houses, in which heretofore they had received
so much attention, were now closed against them. The commandant of
Berlin had sent a detailed account of the conduct of the French officers
to the king, and the answer had been received.

Eight days after the placards had been pasted up by the Frenchmen,
exactly upon the same places new placards were to be found, around which
the people were again assembled; on every face was seen a happy smile,
from every lip was heard expressions of harmony and approbation. This
was a greeting of the king not only to his Berliners, but to Prussia and
to the world; he was now "the Great Frederick," and all Europe listened
when he spake. Frederick's greeting read thus:

"It is known to all Europe that I have provided every possible comfort
to all officers who are prisoners of war. Swedes, Frenchmen, Russians,
Austrians I have allowed to pass the time of their captivity at my
capital. Many among them have taken advantage of the confidence reposed
in them and carried on a forbidden correspondence; they have also,
by unmannerly and presumptuous conduct, greatly abused the privileges
allowed them; I therefore feel myself constrained to send them to
Spandau, which city must not be confounded with the fortress of the same
name at Spandau; they will be no more restricted than in Berlin, but
they will be more closely watched."

"For