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 Rodenskjold 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, we may say, in short. [_Helden-Geschichte,_
ii. 1045-1051.] 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 van Gotter [same Gotter whom we saw a