o end of proclamations, manifestoes,
rescripts, to inform the poor people, trembling at the Cossack
atrocities of last Year, "That his august Sovereign Elizabeth of All
the Russias has now become Proprietress of East Preussen, which shall be
perfectly protected and exquisitely well-governed henceforth; and that
all men of official or social position have, accordingly, to come and
take the oath to her, with the due alacrity and punctuality, at their
peril."

No man is willing for the operation, most men shudder at it; but who can
help them? Surely it was an unblessed operation. Poor souls, one pities
them; for at heart they were, and continued, loyal to their own King;
thoroughly abhorrent of becoming Russian, as Czarish Majesty has
thoroughly resolved they shall. Some few absconded, leaving their
property as spoil; the rest swore, with mental reservation, with shifts,
such as they could devise:--for example, some were observed to swear
with gloves on; the right hand, which they held up, was a mere right
FIST with a stuffed glove at the end of it,--SO help me Beelzebub (or
whoever is the recording Angel here)! [_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 141-149:
Preuss, ii. 145, iii. 578, iv. 477, &c.] And thus does Preussen, with
astonishment, as by the spell of a Czarina Circe, find itself changed
suddenly to Russian: and does not recover the old human form till four
years hence,--when, again suddenly, as we shall see, the Circe and her
wand chance to get broken.

Friedrich could not mend or prevent this bad Business; but was so
disgusted with it, he never set foot in East Preussen again,--never
could bear to behold it, after such a transformation into temporary
Russian shape. I cannot say he abhorred this constrained Oath as I
should have done: on the contrary, in the first spurt of indignation, he
not only protested aloud, but made reprisals,--"Swear ME those Saxons,
then!" said he; and some poor magistrates of towns, and official
people, had to make a figure of swearing (if not allegiance altogether,
allegiance for the time being), in the same sad fashion, till one's
humor cooled again. [Preuss, ii. 163: Oath given in _Helden-Geschichte,_
v. 631.] East Preussen, lost in this way, held by its King as before, or
more passionately now than ever; still loved Friedrich, say the Books;
but it is Russia's for the present, and the mischief is done. East
Preussen itself, Circe Czarina cherishing it as her own, had a much
peaceabler time: in