By such
fierce riding, and defiance of the winter elements and rules of regimen,
his Majesty returned to Potsdam with ill symptoms of health;--symptoms
never seen before; except transiently, three years ago, after a similar
bout; when the Doctors, shaking their heads, had mentioned the word
"Gout."--"NARREN-POSSEN!" Friedrich Wilhelm had answered, "Gout?"--But
now, February, 1729, it is gout in very deed. His poor Majesty has to
admit: "I am gouty, then! Shall have gout for companion henceforth. I am
breaking up, then?" Which is a terrible message to a man. His Majesty's
age is not forty-one till August coming; but he has hunted furiously.

Adoring Fassmann gives a quite touching account of Friedrich Wilhelm's
performances under gout, now and generally, which were begun on this
occasion. How he suffered extremely, yet never neglected his royal
duties in any press of pain. Could seldom get any sleep till towards
four or five in the morning, and then had to be content with an hour or
two; after which his Official Secretaries came in with their Papers,
and he signed, despatched, resolved, with best judgment,--the top of the
morning always devoted to business. At noon, up if possible; and dines,
"in dressing-gown, with Queen and children." After dinner, commonly
to bed again; and would paint in oil; sometimes do light joiner-work,
chiselling and inlaying; by and by lie inactive with select friends
sitting round, some of whom had the right of entry, others not, under
penalties. Buddenbrock, Derschau, rough old Marlborough stagers,
were generally there; these, "and two other persons,"--Grumkow
and Seckendorf, whom Fassmann does not name, lest he get into
trouble,--"sat, well within earshot, round the bed. And always at the
head was TheirO Majesty the Queen, sometimes with the King's hand laid
in hers, and his face turned up to her, as if he sought assuagement"--O
my dim old Friend, let us dry our tears!

"Sometimes the Crown-Prince read aloud in some French Book," Title not
given; Crown-Prince's voice known to me as very fine. Generally the
Princess Louisa was in the room, too; Louisa, who became of Anspach
shortly; not Wilhelmina, who lies in fever and relapse and small-pox,
and close at death's door, almost since the beginning of these bad days.
The Crown-Prince reads, we say, with a voice of melodious clearness,
in French more or less instructive. "At other times there went on
discourse, about public matters, foreign new