e
conversation; always plenty of banter on the old King's part;--who
sits very snuffy (says the privately ill-humored Busching) and does not
sufficiently abhor grease on his fingers, or keep his nails quite clean.
Occasionally laughs at the Clergy, too; and has little of the reverence
seemly in an old King. The truth is, Doctor, he has had his sufferings
from Human Stupidity; and was always fond of hitting objects on the raw.
For the rest, as you may see, heartily an old Stoic, and takes matters
in the rough; avoiding useless despondency above all; and intent to have
a cheerful hour at dinner if he can.

Visits from his Kindred are still pretty frequent; never except on
invitation. For the rest, completely an old Bachelor, an old Military
Abbot; with business for every hour. Princess Amelia takes care of
his linen, not very well, the dear old Lady, who is herself a cripple,
suffering, and voiceless, speaking only in hoarse whisper. I think I
have heard there were but twelve shirts, not in first-rate order,
when the King died. A King supremely indifferent to small concerns;
especially to that of shirts and tailorages not essential. Holds to
Literature, almost more than ever; occasionally still writes; [For one
instance: The famous Pamphlet, DE LA LITTERATURE ALLEMANDE (containing
his onslaught on Shakspeare, and his first salutation, with the reverse
of welcome, to Goethe's GOTZ VON BERLICHINGEN);--printed, under stupid
Thiebault's care, Berlin, 1780. Stands now in _OEuvres de Frederic,_
vii. 89-122. The last Pieces of all are chiefly MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS
of a practical or official nature.] has his daily Readings, Concerts,
Correspondences as usual:--readers can conceive the dim Household
Picture, dimly reported withal. The following Anecdotes may be added as
completion of it, or at least of all I have to say on it:--

YOU GO ON WEDNESDAY, THEN?--"Loss of time was one of the losses
Friedrich could least stand. In visits even from his Brothers and
Sisters, which were always by his own express invitation, he would say
some morning (call it Tuesday morning): 'You are going on Wednesday, I
am sorry to hear' (what YOU never heard before)!--'Alas, your Majesty,
we must!' 'Well, I am sorry: but I will lay no constraint on you.
Pleasant moments cannot last forever!' And sometimes, after this had
been agreed to; he would say: 'But cannot you stay till Thursday, then?
Come, one other day of it!'--'Well, since your Majesty does g