gship? How did the like of him contrive to achieve Kingship? We may
answer: It was not he that achieved it; it was those that went before
him, who had gradually got it,--as is very usual in such cases. All that
he did was to knock at the gate (the Kaiser's gate and the world's),
and ask, "IS it achieved, then?" Is Brandenburg grown ripe for having
a crown? Will it be needful for you to grant Brandenburg a crown? Which
question, after knocking as loud as possible, they at last took the
trouble to answer, "Yes, it will be needful."--

Elector Friedrich's turn for ostentation--or as we may interpret it, the
high spirit of a Hohenzollern working through weak nerves and a crooked
back--had early set him a-thinking of the Kingship; and no doubt, the
exaltation of rival Saxony, which had attained that envied dignity (in
a very unenviable manner, in the person of Elector August made King of
Poland) in 1697, operated as a new spur on his activities. Then also
Duke Ernst of Hanover, his father-in-law, was struggling to become
Elector Ernst; Hanover to be the Ninth Electorate, which it actually
attained in 1698; not to speak of England, and quite endless prospects
there for Ernst and Hanover. These my lucky neighbors are all rising;
all this the Kaiser has granted to my lucky neighbors: why is there no
promotion he should grant me, among them!--

Elector Friedrich had 30,000 excellent troops; Kaiser Leopold, the
"little man in red stockings," had no end of Wars. Wars in Turkey, wars
in Italy; all Dutch William's wars and more, on our side of Europe;--and
here is a Spanish-Succession War, coming dubiously on, which may prove
greater than all the rest together. Elector Friedrich sometimes in
his own high person (a courageous and high though thin-skinned man),
otherwise by skilful deputy, had done the Kaiser service, often signal
service, in all these wars; and was never wanting in the time of need,
in the post of difficulty with those famed Prussian Troops of his. A
loyal gallant Elector this, it must be owned; capable withal of doing
signal damage if we irritated him too far! Why not give him this
promotion; since it costs us absolutely nothing real, not even the price
of a yard of ribbon with metal cross at the end of it? Kaiser Leopold
himself, it is said, had no particular objection; but certain of his
ministers had; and the little man in red stockings--much occupied in
hunting, for one thing--let them have their way, at the ris