le; the usages, rights, and duties of
humble life. He even absorbed something of the pride with which the
King boasted of his business knowledge; and when he himself had become
the all-powerful administrator of his State, the unbounded advantage
which was due to his knowledge of the people and of trade became
manifest. Only in this way was the wise economy made possible with
which he managed his own household and the State finances, as well as
the unceasing care for detail by which he developed agriculture,
trade, prosperity, and culture among his people. He could examine
equally well the daily accounts of his cooks and the estimates of the
income from the domains, forests, and taxes. For his ability to judge
with precision the smallest things as well as the greatest, his people
were in great part indebted to the years during which he had sat
unwillingly as assessor at the green table at Ruppin. Sometimes,
however, there befell him also what in his father's time had been
vexatious--that his knowledge of business details was, after all, not
extensive enough, and that he, like his father, gave orders which
arbitrarily interfered with the life of his Prussians, and could not
be carried out.

Scarcely had Frederick partially recovered from the blows of the great
catastrophe of his youth, when a new misfortune fell upon him, just as
terrible as the first, and in its consequences still more momentous
for his life. He was forced by the King to marry. Heartrending is the
sorrow with which he struggles to free himself from the bride chosen
for him. "She may be as frivolous as she pleases if only she is not a
simpleton! That I cannot bear." It was all in vain. He looked upon
this alliance with bitterness and anger almost to the very day of his
wedding, and never outgrew the bitter belief that his father had thus
destroyed his emotional life. His sensitive feelings, his affectionate
heart, were bartered away in the most reckless manner. Nor by this act
was he alone made unhappy, but also a good woman who was worthy of a
better fate. Princess Elizabeth of Bevern had many noble qualities of
heart; she was not a simpleton, she did not lack beauty, and could
pass muster before the fierce criticism of the princesses of the royal
house. But we fear that, if she had been an angel from heaven, the
pride of the Prince would have protested against her, for he was
offended to the depths of his nature by the needless barbarity of a
compulsor