ults,
that of "LIEBSTEN-SCHEINE, Sweetheart-TICKETS,"--or actual military
legalizing of Temporary Marriages, with regular privileges attached, and
fixed rules to be observed,--might perhaps be the notablest point, and
the SEMI-lamentablest, to a man or demon in the habit of lamenting.
[Preuss, i. 426.] For the rest, a considerably dreadful place this
Potsdam, to the flaccid, esurient and disorderly of mankind;--"and
strict as Fate [Demon correct for once] in inexorably punishing military
sins.

"This King," he says, "has a great deal of ESPRIT; much less of real,
knowledge (CONNAISSANCES) than is pretended. He excels only in the
military part; really excellent there. Has a facile expeditious pen and
head; understands what you say to him, at the first word. Not taking nor
wishing advice; never suffering replies or remonstrances, not even from
his Mother. Pretty well acquainted with Works of ESPRIT, whether in
Prose or in Verse: burning [very hot indeed] to distinguish himself by
performance of that kind; but unable to reach the Beautiful, unless
held up by somebody (ETAYE). It is said that, in a splenetic moment, his
Skeleton of an Apollo [SQUELETTE D'APOLLON, M. de Voltaire, who is lean
exceedingly] exclaimed once, some time ago, 'When is it, then, that he
will have done sending me his dirty linen to wash?'

"The King is of a sharp mocking tongue withal; pricking into whoever
displeases him; often careless of policy in that. Understands nothing
of Finance, or still less of Trade; always looking direct towards more
money, which he loves much; incapable of sowing [as some of US do!]
for a distant harvest. Treats, almost all the world as slaves. All his
subjects are held in hard shackles. Rigorous for the least shortcoming,
where his interest is hurt:--never pardons any fault which tends to
inexactitude in the Military Service. Spandau very full,"--though I did
not myself count. "Keeps in his pay nobody but those useful to him, and
capable of doing employments well [TRUE, ALWAYS]; and the instant he has
no more need of them, dismissing them with nothing [FALSE, GENERALLY].
The Subsidies imposed on his subjects are heavy; in constant proportion
to their Feudal Properties, and their Leases of Domains (CONTRATS ET
BAUX); and, what is dreadful, are exacted with the same rigor if your
Property gets into debt,"--no remission by the iron grip of this King
in the name of the State! Sell, if you can find a Purchaser; or get
confi