tic account of Wolf, and especially of all that,--with several
curious LETTERS of Wolf's.] So that Majesty, unable to distinguish top
or bottom in such a coil of argument; or to do justice in the case,
however willing and anxious, often passionately asked: "What, in
God's name, is the real truth of it?" Majesty appointed Commissions to
inquire; read Reports; could for a long while make out nothing certain.
At last came a decision on the sudden;--royal mind suddenly illuminated,
it is a little uncertain how. Some give the credit of it to Gundling,
which is unlikely; others to "Two Generals" of pious orthodox turn,
acquainted with Halle;--and I have heard obscurely that it was the Old
Dessauer, who also knew Halle; and was no doubt wearied to hear nothing
talked of there but injured Philosopher Wolf, and injuring Theologian
Lange, or VICE VERSA. Some practical military man, not given to take up
with shadows, it likeliest was. "In God's name, what is the real truth
of all that?" inquired his Majesty, of the practical man: "DOES Wolf
teach hellish doctrines; as Lange says, or heavenly, as himself says?"
"Teaches babble mainly, I should think, and scientific Pedler's French,"
intimated the practical man: "But they say he has one doctrine about
oaths, and what he calls foundation of duty, which I did not like. Not
a heavenly doctrine that. Follow out that, any of your Majesty's
grenadiers might desert, and say he had done no sin against God!"
[Busching, i. 8; Benekendorf, _Karakterzilge aus dem Leben Konig
Friedrich Wilhelm I._ (Anonymous, Berlin, 1787), ii. 23.] Friedrich
Wilhelm flew into a paroxysm of horror; instantly redacted brief Royal
Decree [15th November (Busching says 8th), 1723.] (which is still extant
among the curiosities of the Universe), ordering Wolf to quit Halle
and the Prussian Dominions, bag and baggage, forevermore, within
eight-and-forty hours, "BEY STRAFE DES STRANGES, under pain of the
halter!"

Halter: the Head-Philosopher of Nature, found too late, will be hanged,
as if he were a sheep-stealer; hanged, and no mistake! Poor Wolf
gathered himself together, wife and baggage; girded up his loins;
and ran with the due despatch. He is now found sheltered under
Hessen-Darmstadt, at Marburg, professing something there; and all the
intellect of the world is struck with astonishment, and with silent or
vocal pity for the poor man.--It is but fair to say, Friedrich Wilhelm,
gradually taking notice of the world