ree or four years
past, in the state of a Haunted House; riotous Goblins, of unknown
dire intent, walking now in this apartment of it, now in that; no rest
anywhere for the perturbed inhabitants.

As to Friedrich Wilhelm, his plan in 1717, as all along, in this
bewitched state of matters, was: To fortify his Frontier Towns; Memel,
Wesel, to the right and left, especially to fortify Stettin, his new
acquisition;--and to put his Army, and his Treasury (or Army-CHEST),
more and more in order. In that way we shall better meet whatever
goblins there may be, thinks Friedrich Wilhelm. Count Lottum, hero
of the Prussians at Malplaquet, is doing his scientific uttermost in
Stettin and those Frontier Towns. For the rest, his Majesty, invited by
the Czar and France, has been found willing to make paction with them,
as he is with all pacific neighbors. In fact, the Czar and he had their
private Conference, at Havelberg, last year,--Havelberg, some sixty
miles from Berlin, on the road towards Denmark, as Peter was passing
that way;--ample Conference of five days; [23d-28th November, 1716:
Fassmann, p. 172.]--privately agreeing there, about many points
conducive to tranquillity. And it was on that same errand, though
ostensibly to look after Art and the higher forms of Civilization so
called, that Peter had been to France on this celebrated occasion
of 1717. We know he saw much Art withal; saw Marly, Trianon and the
grandeurs and politenesses;--saw, among other things, "a Medal of
himself fall accidentally at his feet;" polite Medal "just getting
struck in the Mint, with a rising sun on it; and the motto, VIRES
ACQUIRIT EUNDO." [Voltaire, _OEuvres Completes (Histoire du Czar
Pierre),_ xxxi. 336.--Kohler in _Munzbelustigungen_, xvii. 386-392 (this
very MEDAL the subject), gives authentic account, day by day, of the
Czar's visit there.] Ostensibly it was to see CETTE BELLE FRANCE; but
privately withal the Czar wished to make his bargain, with the Regent
d'Orleans, as to these goblins walking in the Northern and Southern
parts, and what was to be done with them. And the result has been,
the Czar, Friedrich Wilhelm and the said Regent have just concluded an
Agreement; [4th August, 1717; Buchholz, i. 43.] undertaking in general,
that the goblins shall be well watched; that they Three will stand by
one another in watching them. And now the Czar will visit Berlin in
passing homewards again. That is the position of affairs, when he pays
thi