d Father's Mother of
Frederick the Great.

She was, in her time, a highly distinguished woman; and has left, one
may say, something of her likeness still traceable in the Prussian
Nation, and its form of culture, to this day. Charlottenburg
(Charlotte's-town, so called by the sorrowing Widower), where she lived,
shone with a much-admired French light under her presidency,--French
essentially, Versaillese, Sceptico-Calvinistic, reflex and
direct,--illuminating the dark North; and indeed has never been so
bright since. The light was not what we can call inspired; lunar rather,
not of the genial or solar kind: but, in good truth, it was the best
then going; and Sophie Charlotte, who was her Mother's daughter in this
as in other respects, had made it her own. They were deep in literature,
these two Royal Ladies; especially deep in French theological polemics,
with a strong leaning to the rationalist side.

They had stopped in Rotterdam once, on a certain journey homewards from
Flanders and the Baths of Aix-la-Chapelle, to see that admirable sage,
the doubter Bayle. Their sublime messenger roused the poor man, in his
garret there, in the Bompies,--after dark: but he had a headache that
night; was in bed, and could not come. He followed them next
day; leaving his paper imbroglios, his historical, philosophical,
anti-theological marine-stores; and suspended his never-ending scribble,
on their behalf;--but would not accept a pension, and give it up.
[Erman, pp. 111, 112. Date is 1700 (late in the autumn probably).]

They were shrewd, noticing, intelligent and lively women; persuaded that
there was some nobleness for man beyond what the tailor imparts to him;
and even very eager to discover it, had they known how. In these very
days, while our little Friedrich at Berlin lies in his cradle, sleeping
most of his time, sage Leibnitz, a rather weak but hugely ingenious old
gentleman, with bright eyes and long nose, with vast black peruke and
bandy legs, is seen daily in the Linden Avenue at Hanover (famed Linden
Alley, leading from Town Palace to Country one, a couple of miles long,
rather disappointing when one sees it), daily driving or walking towards
Herrenhausen, where the Court, where the old Electress is, who will have
a touch of dialogue with him to diversify her day. Not very edifying
dialogue, we may fear; yet once more, the best that can be had in
present circumstances. Here is some lunar reflex of Versailles, which
is