s to assure him that it will be possible. As, in fact,
it proved;--honor to Cocceji and his King, and King's Father withal.
"Samuel von Cocceji [says an old Note], son of a Law Professor, and
himself once such,--was picked up by Friedrich Wilhelm, for the
Official career, many years ago. A man of wholesome, by no means weakly
aspect,--to judge by his Portrait, which is the chief 'Biography' I
have of him. Potent eyes and eyebrows, ditto blunt nose; honest, almost
careless lips, and deep chin well dewlapped: extensive penetrative face,
not pincered together, but potently fallen closed;--comfortable to see,
in a wig of such magnitude. Friedrich, a judge of men, calls him 'a
man of sterling character (CARACTERE INTEGRE ET DROIT), whose
qualities would have suited the noble times of the Roman Republic.'"
[--OEuvres,--iv. 2.] He has his Herculean battle, his Master and he
have, with the Owleries and the vulturous Law-Pedantries,--which I
always love Friedrich for detesting as he does:--and, during the next
five years, the world will hear often of Cocceji, and of this Prussian
Law-Reform by Friedrich and him.

His Majesty's exertions to make Peace were not successful; what does lie
in his power is, to keep out of the quarrel himself. It appears great
hopes were entertained, by some in England, of gaining Friedrich over;
of making him Supreme Captain to the Cause of Liberty. And prospects
were held out to him, quasi-offers made, of a really magnificent
nature,--undeniable, though obscure. Herr Ranke has been among the
Archives again; and comes out with fractional snatches of a very strange
"Paper from England;" capriciously hiding all details about it, all
intelligible explanation: so that you in vain ask, "Where, When, How, By
whom?"--and can only guess to yourself that Carteret was somehow at
the bottom of the thing; AUT CARTERETUS AUT DIABOLUS. "What would
your Majesty think to be elected Stadtholder of Holland? Without a
Stadtholder, these Dutch are worth nothing; not hoistable, nor of use
when hoisted, all palavering and pulling different ways. Must have
a Stadtholder; and one that stands firm on some basis of his own.
Stadtholder of Holland, King of Prussia,--you then, in such position,
take the reins of this poor floundering English-Dutch Germanic
Anti-French War, you; and drive it in the style you have. Conquer back
the Netherlands to us; French Netherlands as well. French and Austrian
Netherlands together, yours in pe