Ministers, especially Herzberg, when actual Peace came to be the
matter in hand. Henri, before that, had gone home: "Peace being now
the likelihood;--Home; and recruit one's poor health, at Berlin, among
friends!"

Before getting to Leipzig, the King paid a flying Visit at
Gotha;--probably now the one fraction of these manifold Winter movements
and employments, in which readers could take interest. Of this, as there
happens to be some record left of it, here is what will suffice. From
Meissen, Friedrich writes to his bright Grand-Duchess, always a bright,
high and noble creature in his eyes: "Authorized by your approval [has
politely inquired beforehand], I shall have the infinite satisfaction of
paying my duties on December 3d [four days hence], and of reiterating
to you, Madam, my liveliest and sincerest assurances of esteem and
friendship.... Some of my Commissariat people have been misbehaving?
Strict inquiry shall be had," [To the Grand-Duchess, "Meissen, 29th
November" (_OEuvres de Frederic,_ xviii. 199).]--and we soon find WAS.
But the Visit is our first thing.

The Visit took place accordingly; Seidlitz, a man known in Gotha ever
since his fine scenic-military procedures there in 1757, accompanied
the King. Of the lucent individualities invited to meet him, all are
now lost to me, except one Putter, a really learned Gottingen Professor
(deep in REICHS-HISTORY and the like), whom the Duchess has summoned
over. By the dim lucency of Putter, faint to most of us as a rushlight
in the act of going out, the available part of our imagination must
try to figure, in a kind of Obliterated-Rembrandt way, this glorious
Evening; for there was but one,--December 3d-4th,--Friedrich having
to leave early on the 4th. Here is Putter's record, given in the third
person:--

"During dinner, Putter, honorably present among the spectators of this
high business, was beckoned by the Duchess to step near the King [right
hand or left, Putter does not say]; but the King graciously turned
round, and conversed with Putter." The King said:--

KING. "In German History much is still buried; many important Documents
lie hidden in Monasteries." Putter answered "schicklich--fitly;" that is
all we know of Putter's answer.

KING (thereupon). "Of Books on Reichs-History I know only the PERE
BARRI." [_Barri de Beaumarchais,_ 10 vols. 4to, Paris, 1748: I believe,
an extremely feeble Pillar of Will-o'-Wisps by Night;--as I can
expressly testify Pf