n of Democracy, and War of the Giants;
and--unless Napoleon's "Confederation of the Rhine" were perhaps some
transitory ghost of it?--left not even a ghost behind. A FURSTENBUND
of which we must say something, when its Year comes; but obviously not
much.

Nor are the Domesticities, as set forth by our Prussian authorities,
an opulent topic for us. Friedrich's Old Age is not unamiable; on the
contrary, I think it would have made a pretty Picture, had there been
a Limner to take it, with the least felicity or physiognomic
coherency;--as there was not. His Letters, and all the symptoms we have,
denote a sound-hearted brave old man; continually subduing to himself
many ugly troubles; and, like the stars, always steady at his work. To
sit grieving or desponding is, at all times, far from him: "Why despond?
Won't it be all done presently; is it of much moment while it lasts?" A
fine, unaffectedly vigorous, simple and manful old age;--rather serene
than otherwise; in spite of electric outbursts and cloudy weather that
could not be wanting.

Of all which there is not, in this place, much more to be said.
Friedrich's element is itself wearing dim, sombre of hue; and the
records of it, too, seem to grow dimmer, more and more intermittent. Old
friends, of the intellectual kind, are almost all dead; the new are
of little moment to us,--not worth naming in comparison, The chief,
perhaps, is a certain young Marchese Lucchesini, who comes about this
time, ["Chamberlain [titular, with Pension, &c.], 9th May, 1780, age
then 28" (Preuss, iv. 211);-arrived when or how is not said.]
and continues in more and more favor both with Friedrich and his
Successor,--employed even in Diplomatics by the latter. An accomplished
young Gentleman, from Lucca; of fine intelligence, and, what was no less
essential to him here, a perfect propriety in breeding and carriage. One
makes no acquaintance with him in these straggling records, nor desires
to make any. It was he that brought the inane, ever scribbling
Denina hither, if that can be reckoned a merit. Inane Denina came as
Academician, October, 1782; saw Friedrich, [Rodenbeck, iii. 285, 286.]
at least once ("Academician, Pension; yes, yes!")--and I know not
whether any second time.

Friedrich, on loss of friends, does not take refuge in solitude;
he tries always for something of substitute; sees his man once or
twice,--in several instances once only, and leaves him to his pension in
sinecure thence