me three weeks, after kindling such an
effulgence about Berlin as was never seen before or since in Friedrich
Wilhelm's reign, went his way again,--"towards Poland for the Diet," or
none of us cares whither or for what. Here at Berlin he has been sublime
enough. Some of the phenomena surpassed anything Wilhelmina ever saw:
such floods and rows of resplendent people crowding in to dinner; and
she could not but contrast the splendor of the Polish retinues and their
plumages and draperies, with the strait-buttoned Prussian dignitaries,
all in mere soldier uniform, succinct "blue coat, white linen gaiters,"
and no superfluity even in the epaulettes and red facings. At table, she
says, they drank much, talked little, and bored one another a great deal
(S'ENNUYOIENT BEAUCOUP).

OF PRINCESS WHILHELMINA'S FOUR KINGS AND OTHER INEFFECTUAL SUITORS.

Dilapidated Polish Majesty, we observed, was extremely attentive to
Wilhelmina; nor could she ascertain, for long after, what the particular
reason was. Long after, Wilhelmina ascertained that there had been
the wonderfulest scheme concocting, or as good as concocted, in these
swearings of eternal friendship: no other than that of marrying her,
Wilhelmina, now a slim maiden coming nineteen, to this dilapidated
Saxon Man of Sin going (or limping) fifty-five, and broken by DEBAUCHES
TERRIBLES (rivers of champagne and tokay, for one item), who had
fallen a Widower last year! They had schemed it all out, Wilhelmina
understands: Friedrich Wilhelm to advance such and such moneys as dowry,
and others furthermore as loan, for the occasions of his Polish Majesty,
which are manifold; Wilhelmina to have The Lausitz (LUSATIA) for
jointure, Lausitz to be Friedrich Wilhelm's pledge withal; and other
intricate conditions; [Wilhelmina, i. 114.] what would Wilhelmina have
thought? One shudders to contemplate;--hopes it might mostly be loose
brain-web and courtier speculation, never settled towards fact.

It is certain, the dilapidated Polish Majesty having become a Widower,
questions would rise, Will not he marry again? And with whom? Certain
also, he wants Friedrich Wilhelm's alliance; having great schemes on
the anvil, which are like to be delicate and perilous,--schemes
of "partitioning Poland," no less; that is to say, cutting off the
outskirts of Poland, flinging them to neighboring Sovereigns as
propitiation, or price of good-will, and rendering the rest hereditary
in his family. Pragmat