Silesia
contains today. What was it then that, immediately after the battles
of the Thirty Years' War, aroused the jealousy of all the governments,
and especially of the Imperial house, and which since then has made
such warm friends and such bitter enemies for the Brandenburg
government? For two centuries neither Germans nor foreigners ceased to
set their hopes on this new State, and for an equally long time
neither Germans nor foreigners ceased to call it--at first with
ridicule, and then with spite--"an artificial structure which cannot
endure heavy storms, which has intruded without justification among
the powers of Europe." How did it come about that impartial judges
finally, soon after the death of Frederick the Great, declared that it
was time to cease prophesying the destruction of this widely hated
power? For after every defeat, they said, it had risen more
vigorously, and had repaired all the damages and losses of war more
quickly than was possible elsewhere; its prosperity and intelligence
also were increasing more rapidly than in any other part of Germany.

It was indeed a very individual and new shade of German character
which appeared in the Hohenzollern princes and their people on the
territory conquered from the Slavs, and forced recognition with sharp
challenge. It seemed that the characters there embraced greater
contrasts; for the virtues and faults of the rulers, the greatness and
the weakness of their policies, stood forth in sharp contradiction,
every limitation appeared more striking, every discord more violent,
and every achievement more astonishing. This State could apparently
produce everything that was strange and unusual, but could not endure
one thing--peaceful mediocrity, which elsewhere may be so comfortable
and useful.

With this the situation of the country had much to do. It was a border
land, making head at once against the Swedes, the Slavs, the French,
and the Dutch. There was hardly a question of European diplomacy which
did not affect the weal and woe of this State; hardly an entanglement
which did not give an active prince the opportunity to validate his
claim. The decadent power of Sweden and the gradual dissolution of
Poland opened up extensive prospects; the superiority of France and
the distrustful friendship of Holland urged armed caution. From the
very first year, in which Elector Frederick William had been obliged
to take possession of his own fortresses by force and cunn