n it. George, guided by pacific Walpole, backed by pacific
Fleury, answers the ardent firing by phlegmatic patience and
protocolling; not by counter-firing, except quite at his convenience,
from privateers, from war-ships here and there, and in sulky defence
from Gibraltar itself. Probably the Termagant, with all the fire she
has, will not do much damage upon Gibraltar? Such was George's hope.
Whereby the flame of war, ardent only in certain Spanish batteries upon
the point of San Roque, does not spread hitherto,--though all mortals,
and Friedrich Wilhelm as much as any, can see the imminent likelihood
there is. In such circumstances, what a stroke of policy to have
disjoined Friedrich Wilhelm from the Hanover Alliance, and brought
him over to our own! Is not Grumkow worth his pension? "Grumkow serves
honorably." Let the invaluable Seckendorf persevere.

CROWN-PRINCE SEEN IN DRYASDUST'S GLASS, DARKLY.

To know the special figure of the Crown-Prince's way of life in
those years, who his friends, companions were, what his pursuits and
experiences, would be agreeable to us; but beyond the outline already
given, there is little definite on record. He now resides habitually at
Potsdam, be the Court there or not; attending strictly to his military
duties in the Giant Regiment; it is only on occasion, chiefly perhaps in
"Carnival time," that he gets to Berlin, to partake in the gayeties of
society. Who his associates there or at Potsdam were? Suhm, the Saxon
Resident, a cultivated man of literary turn, famed as his friend in time
coming, is already at his diplomatic post in Berlin, post of difficulty
just now; but I know not whether they have yet any intimacy. [Preuss,
_Friedrich mit seinen Verwandten und Freunden_, p. 24.] This we do know,
the Crown-Prince begins to be noted for his sprightly sense, his love
of literature, his ingenuous ways; in the Court or other circles,
whatsoever has intelligence attracts him, and is attracted by him. The
Roucoulles Soirees,--gone all to dim backram for us, though once so
lively in their high periwigs and speculations,--fall on Wednesday. When
the Finkenstein or the others fall,--no doubt his Royal Highness knows
it. In the TABAKS-COLLEGIUM, there also, driven by duty, he sometimes
appears; but, like Seckendorf and some others, he only affects to smoke,
and his pipe is mere white clay. Nor is the social element, any more
than the narcotic vapor which prevails there, attractive to th