etter to
cease prophesying the downfall of this much-hated State? After each
prostration it rose so vigorously, its injuries and wounds from war
were so quickly healed, as has not been the case with any other; wealth
and intelligence assumed larger proportions there than in any portion
of Germany!

Undoubtedly it was a peculiar nature, a new phase of German character,
which shewed itself in the Hohenzollerns and their people in the
conquered Sclavonian territory. It appears that there were greater
contrasts of character there; for the virtues and failings of its
governors, the greatness and weakness of their policy, appeared there
in glaring contrast: narrow-mindedness became more striking,
shortcomings appeared more conspicuous, and that which was worthy of
admiration, more wonderful. It appeared that this State produced
everything that was most strange and uncommon, and only the quiet
mediocrity, which may elsewhere be useful and bearable, could not exist
there without injury.

Much of this arose from the position of the country: it had as
contiguous neighbours Swedes, Sclavonians, French, and Dutch. There was
scarcely a question of European politics which did not produce welfare
or injury to this State; scarce a complication which active princes did
not take advantage of to put in claims. The failing power of Sweden,
the already beginning process of dissolution in Poland, occasioned
perplexity of views; the preponderating power of France, the suspicious
friendship of Holland, necessitated prompt and vigorous foresight.
After the first year in which the Elector Frederic William took
possession, by force and cunning, of his own fortresses, it became
manifest that there, in a corner of the German soil, a powerful,
circumspect military government would not be wanting for the
preservation of Germany. After the beginning of the French war, in
1674, Europe beheld with astonishment the wary policy that proceeded
from this little spot, which undertook, with heroic daring, to defend
the west frontier of Germany against the all-powerful King of France.

There was, also, perhaps something peculiar in the character of the
Brandenburg people, in which both princes and subjects had an equal
share. The district of Prussia, up to the time of Frederic the Great,
had given to Germany comparatively few men of learning, poets, or
artists; even the passionate zeal of the period of the Reformation
appeared there to be damped. The peopl