o the circle she inhabits. Duke is now fifty-eight,
Duchess forty-seven; and they lost their eldest Son last year. There has
been lately a considerable private brabble as to Tutorage of the Duke
of Weimar (Wilhelmina's maddish Duke, who is dead lately; and a Prince
left, who soon died also, but left a Son, who grew to be Goethe's
friend); Tutorage claimed by various Cousins, has been adjudged to this
one, King Friedrich co-operating in such result.

"As to the famed Grand-Duchess, she is a Sachsen-Meiningen Princess,
come of Ernst the Pious, of Johann the Magnanimous, as her Husband
and all these Sachsens are: when Voltaire went precipitant, with such
velocity, from the Potsdam Heaven, she received him at Gotha; set him on
writing his HISTORY OF THE EMPIRE, and endeavored to break his fall. She
was noble to Voltaire, and well honored by that uncertain Spirit. There
is a fine Library at Gotha; and the Lady bright loves Books, and those
that can write them;--a friend of the Light, a Daughter of the Sun and
the Empyrean, not of Darkness and the Stygian Fens." [Michaelis, i. 517;
&c. &c.]

Friedrich's first Letter to her Highness was one of thanks, above a year
ago, for an act of kindness, act of justice withal, which she did to
one of his Official people. Here, on the morrow of that dinner, is the
second Letter, much more aerial and cordial, in which style they all
continue, now that he has seen the admired Princess.

TO THE MOST SERENE GRAND-DUCHESS OF SACHSEN-GOTHA.

DITTELSTADT, "16th September, 1757.

"MADAM,--Yesterday was a Day I shall never forget; which satisfied a
just desire I have had, this long while, to see and hear a Princess whom
all Europe admires. I am not surprised, Madam, that you subdue people's
hearts; you are made to attract the esteem and the homage of all who
have the happiness to know you. But it is incomprehensible to me how you
can have enemies; and how men representing Countries that by no means
wish to pass for barbarous, can have been so basely (INDIGNEMENT)
wanting in the respect they owe you, and in the consideration which is
due to all sovereigns [French not famous for their refined demeanor in
Saxony this time]. Why could not I fly to prevent such disorders, such
indecency! I can only offer you a great deal of good-will; but I feel
well that, in present circumstances, the thing wanted is effective
results and reality. May I, Madam, be so happy as to render you some
service! May your