begged
this bit of Antique Indecency from Friedrich Wilhelm; who, we may fancy,
would give him such an article with especial readiness. That same day,
fourth of the Visit, Thursday, 23d of the month, the august Party went
its ways again; Friedrich Wilhelm convoying "as far as Potsdam;" Czar
and Suite taking that route towards Mecklenburg, where he still intends
some little pause before proceeding homeward. Friedrich Wilhelm took
farewell; and never saw the Czar again.

It was on this Journey, best part of which is now done, that the famous
Order bore, "Do it for six thousand thalers; won't allow you one other
penny (_nit einen Pfennig gebe mehr dazu _); but give out to the world
that it costs me thirty or forty thousand!" Nay, it is on record that
the sum proved abundant, and even superabundant, near half of it being
left as overplus. [Forster, i. 215.] The hospitalities of Berlin,
Friedrich Wilhelm took upon himself, and he has done them as we see.
You shall defray his Czarish Majesty, to the last Prussian milestone;
punctually, properly, though with thrift!

Peter's, VIATICUM, the Antique Indecency, Friedrich Wilhelm did not
grudge to part with; glad to purchase the Czar's good-will by coin of
that kind. Last year, at Havelberg, he had given the Czar an entire
Cabinet of Amber Articles, belonging to his late Father. Amber Cabinet,
in the lump; and likewise such a Yacht, for shape, splendor and outfit,
as probably Holland never launched before;--Yacht also belonging to his
late Father, and without value to Friedrich Wilhelm. The old King had
got it built in Holland, regardless of expense,--15,000 pounds, they
say, perhaps as good as 50,000 pounds now;--and it lay at Potsdam: good
for what? Friedrich Wilhelm sent it down the Havel, down the Elbe, silk
sailors and all, towards Hamburg and Petersburg, with a great deal of
pleasure. For the Czar, and peace and good-will with the Czar, was of
essential value to him. Neither, at any rate, is the Czar a man to take
gifts without return. Tall fellows for soldiers: that is always one
prime object with Friedrich Wilhelm; for already these Potsdam Guards of
his are getting ever more gigantic. Not less an object, though less an
ideal or POETIC one (as we once defined), was this other, to find buyers
for the Manufactures, new and old, which he was so bent on encouraging.
"It is astonishing, what quantities of cloth, of hardware, salt, and all
kinds of manufactured articles the Ru