ot
have been a very strict drill-sergeant in the arbitrary branches of
schooling!

"Mon cher Duhan Je Vous promais (PROMETS) que quand j'aurez (J'AURAI)
mon propre argent en main, je Vous donnerez (DONNERAI) enuelement
(ANNUELLEMENT) 2400 ecu (ECUS) par an, et je vous aimerais (AIMERAI)
toujour encor (TOUJORS ENCORE) un peu plus q'asteure (QU'A CETTE HEURE)
s'il me l'est (M'EST) posible (POSSIBLE)."

"MY DEAR DUHAN,--I promise to you, that when I shall have my money in my
own hands, I will give you annually 2400 crowns [say 350 pounds]
EVERY YEAR; and that I will love you always even a little more than at
present, if that be possible.

"FRIDERIC P.R. [Prince-Royal]."

"POTSDAM, le 20 de juin, 1727." [Preuss, i. 22.]

The Document has otherwise its beauty; but such is the spelling of
it. In fact his Grammar, as he would himself now and then regretfully
discern, in riper years, with some transient attempt or resolution to
remedy or help it, seems to have come mainly by nature; so likewise
his "STYLUS" both in French and German,--a very fair style, too, in the
former dialect:--but as to his spelling, let him try as he liked, he
never came within sight of perfection.

The things ordered with such rigorous minuteness, if but arbitrary
things, were apt to be neglected; the things forbidden, especially
in the like case, were apt to become doubly tempting. It appears, the
prohibition of Latin gave rise to various attempts, on the part of
Friedrich, to attain that desirable Language. Secret lessons, not from
Duhan, but no doubt with Duhan's connivance, were from time to time
undertaken with this view: once, it is recorded, the vigilant Friedrich
Wilhelm, going his rounds, came upon Fritz and one of his Preceptors
(not Duhan but a subaltern) actually engaged in this illicit employment.
Friedrich himself was wont to relate this anecdote in after life.
[Busching, _Beitrage zu der Lebensgeschichte denkwurdiger Personen,_ v.
33. Preuss, i. 24.] They had Latin books, dictionaries, grammars on the
table, all the contraband apparatus; busy with it there, like a pair of
coiners taken in the fact. Among other Books was a copy of the Golden
Bull of Kaiser Karl IV.,--_Aurea Bulla,_ from the little golden BULLETS
or pellets hung to it,--by which sublime Document, as perhaps we hinted
long ago, certain so-called Fundamental Constitutions, or at least
formalities and solemn practices, method of election, rule of
precedence, and the l