aging is straightway to
be,--or indeed should have been some days ago, but has fallen behind by
delays in the Neisse affair.

The Breslau HULDIGUNG,--Friedrich sworn to and homaged with the due
solemnities as "Sovereign Duke of Lower Silesia,"--was an event to throw
into fine temporary frenzy the descriptive Gazetteers, and Breslau City,
overflowing with Quality people come to act and to see on the occasion.
Event which can be left to the reader's fancy, at this date. There
were Corporations out in quantity, "all in cloaks" and with sublime
Addresses, partly in poetry, happily rather brief. There were beautiful
Prussian Life-guards "First Battalion," admirable to the softer sex,
not to speak of the harder); much military resonance and splendor.
Friedrich drove about in carriages-and-six, "nay carriage-and-eight,
horses cream-color:" a very high King indeed; and a very busy one,
for those four days (November 4th-8th) 1741), but full of grace and
condescension. The HULDIGUNG itself took effect on the 7th; in the fine
old Rathhaus, which Tourists still know,--the surrounding Apple-women
sweeping themselves clear away for one day. Ancient Ducal throne and
proper apparatus there was; state-sword unluckily wanting: Schwerin, who
was to act Grand-Marshal, could find no state-sword, till Friedrich drew
his own and gave it him. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1022, 1025; ii. 349.]

Podewils the Minister said something, not too much; to which one
Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of which we shall know individuals,
made pithy and pretty response, before swearing. "There were above Four
Hundred of Quality present, all in gala." The customary Free-Gift of the
STANDE Friedrich magnanimously refused: "Impossible to be a burden to
our Silesia in such harassed war-circumstances, instead of benefactor
and protector, as we intended and intend!" The Ceremony, swearing and
all, was over in two hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of
the gold ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up joyfully
to dinner and festivities. And, after dinner, that evening, to
Illumination; followed by balls and jubilations for days after, in
a highly harmonious key. Of the lamps-festoons, astonishing
transparencies, and glad symbolic devices, I could say a great deal;
but will mention only two, both of comfortably edible or quasi-edible
tendency:--1. That of David Schulze, Flesher by profession; who had a
Transparency large as life, representing hi