Jan.-Aug., 1744.

erike to Catharine-Alexiewna (“Let it be Catharine,” said Elizabeth, "my dear Mother's name !"-little brown Czarina's, whom we have seen)—all this was completed by the 12th of July following. And, in fine, next year (September 1st, 1745), Peter Federowitz and this same Catharine-Alexiewna, second-cousins by blood, were vouchsafed the Nuptial Benediction, and, with invocation of the Russian Heaven and Russian Earth, were declared to be one flesh,6 though at last they turned out to be two fleshes, as my reader well knows! Some eighteen or nineteen years hence we may look in upon them again, if there be a moment to spare. This is Marriage First-a purely Russian one-built together and launched on its course, so to say, by Friedrich at Berlin, who had his own interest in it.

Marriage Second, done at Berlin in the same months, was of still more interesting sort to Friedrich and us—that of Princess Ulrique to the above-named Adolf Friedrich, future King of Sweden-marriage which went on preparing itself by the side of the other, and was of twin importance with it in regard to the Russian Question. The Swedish Marriage was not heard of, except in important whispers, during the Carnival time; but a Swedish Minister had already come to Berlin on it, and was busy first in a silent and examining, then in a speaking and proposing way. It seems the Czarina herself had suggested the thing as a counter-politeness to Friedrich, so content with him at this time. A thing welcome to Friedrich. And in due course ("June, 1744") there comes express Swedish Embassy, some Rödenskjold or Tessin, with a very shining train of Swedes, "To demand Princess Ulrique in marriage for our Future King."

To which there is assent, by no means denial, in the proper quarter; whereupon, after the wide-spread necessary fuglings and preliminaries, there occurs (all by Procuration, Brother August Wilhelm doing the Bridegroom's part), "July 17th, 1744," the Marriage itself: all done, this last act, and the foregoing ones and the following, with a grandeur and a splendor-unspeakable,

6 Ranke, iii., 129; Mémoires de Catherine II. (Catharine's own very curious bit of Autobiography, published by Mr. Herzen, London, 1859), p. 7-46.

VOL. III.-B B

17th July, 1744.

we may say, in short. Fantastic Bielfeld taxes his poor rouged Muse to the utmost on this occasion, and becomes positively wearisome, chanting the upholsteries of Life; foolish fellow, spoiling his bits of facts withal by misrecollections, and even by express fictions thrown in as garnish; so that, beyond the general impression, given in a high-rouged state, there is nothing to be depended on. One Scene out of his many, which represents to us on those terms the finale, or actual departure of Princess Ulrique, we shall offer--with corrections (a few, not all)-having nothing better or other on the subject:

But, in fine, the day of departure did arrive"-eve of it did: 25th July, 1744; hour of starting to be 2 A.M. to-morrow. "The King had nominated Grand-Marshal Graf von Gotter”-(same Gotter whom we saw at Vienna once: King had appointed Gotter and two others; not to say that two of the Princess's Brothers, with her Sister the Margravine of Schwedt, were to accompany as far as Schwedt-six in all, though one's poor memory fails one on some occasions!)—" to escort the Princess to Stralsund, where two Swedish Senators and different high Lords and Ladies awaited her. Her Majesty the Queen-Mother, judging by the movements of her own heart that the moment of separation would produce a scene difficult to bear, had ordered an Opera to divert our chagrin; and, instead of supper, a superb collation en ambigu” (kind of supper-breakfast, I suppose)," in the great Hall of the Palace. Her Majesty's plan was, The Princess, on coming from the Opera, should, almost on flight, taste a morsel; take her traveling equipment, embrace her kinsfolk, dash into her carriage, and go off like lightning. Herr Graf von Gotter was charged with executing this design, and with hurrying the departure.

"But all these precautions were vain. The incomparable Ulrique was too dear to her Family and to her Country to be parted with forever without her meed of tears from them in those cruel instants. On entering the Opera-Hall, I noticed every where prevalent an air of sorrow, of sombre melancholy. The Princess appeared in Amazon-dress" (riding-habit, say)" of rose-color trimmed with silver; the little vest turned up with green-blue (céladon), and collar of the same; a little bonnet, English fashion, of black velvet, with a white plume to it; her hair floating, and tied with a rose-colored ribbon. She was beautiful as Love; but this dress, so elegant, and so well setting-off her charms, only the more sensibly awakened our regrets to lose her, and announced

"Helden-Geschichte, ii., 1045-51.

26th July, 1744.

that the hour was come in which all this appeared among us for the last time. At the second act, young Prince Ferdinand" (Youngest Brother, Father of the Jena Ferdinand) "entered the Royal Box, and, flinging himself on the Princess's neck, with a burst of tears, said,‘Ah! my dear Ulrique, it is over, then, and I shall never see you more!' These words were a signal given to the grief which was shut in all hearts to burst forth with the greatest vehemence. The Princess replied only with sobs, holding her Brother in her arms. The Two Queens could not restrain their tears; the Princes and Princesses followed the example: grief is epidemical; it gained directly all the Boxes of the first rank, where the Court and Nobility were. Each had his own causes of regret, and each melted into tears. Nobody paid the least attention farther to the Opera, and, for my own share, I was glad to see it end.

"An involuntary movement took me toward the Palace. I entered the King's Apartments, and found the Royal Family and part of the Court assembled. Grief had reached its height; every body had his handkerchief out; and I witnessed emotions quite otherwise affecting than those that Theatric Art can produce. The King had composed an Ode on the Princess's departure, bidding her his last adieus in the most tender and touching manner. It begins with these words:

"Partez, ma Sœur, partez;

La Suède vous attend, la Suède

vous désire.'

Go, my Sister, go;
Sweden waits you, Sweden
wishes you.'8

9

His Majesty gave it her at the moment when she was about to take leave of the Two Queens." (No, Monsieur, not then; it came to her hand the second evening hence, at Schwedt; most likely not yet writ ten at the time you fabulously give, you foolish fantast, and "artist" of the sham-kind!) "The Princess threw her eyes on it, and fell into a faint" (No, you Sham, not for it); "the King had almost done the like. His tears flowed abundantly. The Princes and Princesses were overcome with sorrow. At last, Gotter judged it time to put an end to this tragic scene. He entered the Hall almost like Boreas in the Ballet of The Rose; that is to say, with a crash. He made one or two whirlwinds, clove the press, and snatched away the Princess from the arms of the Queen-Mother, took her in his own, and whisked her out of the Hall. All the world followed; the carriages were waiting in the court; and the Princess, in a moment, found herself in hers. I was in such a state I know not how we got down stairs; I remember only that it

8 Does not now exist (see Euvres de Frédéric, xiv., 88, and ib., Preface, p. xv.).

9 Her own Letter to Friedrich (Euvres de Frédéric, xxvii., 372; "Schwedt, 28th July, 1744").

26th July, 1744.

was in a concert of lamentable sobbings. Madame the Margräfin von Schwedt, who had been named to attend the Princess to Stralsund” (read Schwedt)," on the Swedish Frontier-this high Lady and the two Dames D'Atours, who were for Sweden itself, having sprung into the same carriage, the door of it was shut with a slam, the postillions cracked, the carriage shot away, and hid the adorable Ulrique from the eyes of King and Court, who remained motionless for some minutes, overcome by their feelings.'

We said this Marriage was like the other, important for Public Affairs. In fact, security on the Russian and Swedish side is "That always an object with Friedrich when undertaking war. the French bring about, help me to bring about, a Triple Alliance of Prussia, Russia, Sweden:" this was a thing Friedrich had bargained to see done before joining in the War ahead; but by these Two Espousals Friedrich hopes he has himself as good as done it. Of poor Princess Ulrique and her glorious reception in Sweden (after near miss of shipwreck in the Swedish Frigate from Stralsund), we shall say nothing more at present, except that her glories, all along, were much dashed by chagrins, and dangerous imminencies of shipwreck, which latter did not quite overtake her, but did her sons and grandsons, being inevitable or nearly so, in that element, in the course of time.

Sister Amelia, whom some thought disappointed, as perhaps, in her foolish thought, she might a little be, was made Abbess of Quedlinburg, which opulent benefice had fallen vacant, and, there or at Berlin, lived a respectable Spinster life, doubtless on easier terms than Ulrique's; always much loved by her Brother, and loving him (and "taking care of his shirts" in the final times)-noted in society for her sharp tongue and ways; concerning whom Thiébault and his Trenck romances are worth no notice, if it be not with horsewhips on opportunity. Scandalum Magnatum, where your Magnates are not fallen quite counterfeit, was and is always (though few now reflect on it) a most punishable crime.

Glance at the Belligerent Powers; Britannic Majesty narrowly misses an Invasion that might have been dangerous. Princess Ulrique was hardly yet home in Sweden when her 10 Bielfeld, ii., 107–110.

15th March, 1744.

Brother had actually gone forth upon the Wars again! So different is outside from interior now and then. "While the dancing and the marriage-festivities went on at Court, we, in private, were busily completing the preparations for a Campaign," dreamed of by no mortal, "which was on the point of being opened."11 July 2d, three weeks before Princess Ulrique left, a certain Adventure of Prince Karl's in the Rhine Countries had accomplished itself (of which in the following Book), and Friedrich could discern clearly that the moment drew rapidly nigh.

On the French side of the War there has been visible, since those high attempts of Britannic George and the Hungarian Majesty, contumeliously spurning the Peace offered them, and grasping evidently at one's Lorraines, Alsaces, and Three Bishoprics, a marked change, comfortable to look at from Friedrich's side. Most Christian Majesty, from the sad bent attitude of insulted repentance, has started up into the perpendicular one of indignation: "Come on, then!" and really makes efforts, this Year, quite beyond expectation. "Oriflamme Enterprises, private intentions of cutting Germany in Four-well, have not I smarted for them? as good as owned they were rather mad? But to have my apology spit upon? but to be myself publicly cut in pieces for them?"

March 15th, 1744, Most Christian Majesty did, as we saw, duly declare War against England; against Austria, April 26th: "England," he says, "broke its Convention of Neutrality (signed 27th September, 1741)-broke said Convention" (as was very natural, no term being set) "directly after Maillebois was gone; England, by its Mediterranean Admirals and the like, has, to a degree beyond enduring, insulted the French coasts, harbors, and royal Navy: We declare War on England." And then, six weeks hence, in regard to Austria: "Austria, refusing to make Peace with a virtuous Kaiser, whom we, for the sake of peace, had magnanimously helped, and then magnanimously ceased to help-Austria refuses peace with him or us; on the contrary, Austria attempts, and has attempted, to invade France itself: We, therefore, on and from this 26th of April, 1744, let the

11 Euvres de Frédéric, iii., 41.