and into the arms of my family!
I brought to Berlin about a score of teeth, there remain to me something
like six; I brought two eyes, I have nearly lost one of them; I brought
no erysipelas, and I have got one, which I take a great deal of care
of.... Meanwhile I have buried almost all my Doctors; even La Mettrie.
Remains only that I bury Codenius [Cothenius], who looks too stiff,
however,"--and, at any rate, return to you in Spring, when roads and
weather improve. [--OEuvres de Voltaire,--lxxxv. 141.]

FRIEDRICH TO VOLTAIRE (Potsdam, uncertain date). "There was no need of
that pretext about the waters of Plombieres, in demanding your leave
(CONGE). You can quit my service when you like: but, before going, be
so good as return me the Contract of your Engagement, the Key
[Chamberlain's], the Cross [of Merit], and the Volume of Verses which I
confided to you.

"I wish my Works, and only they, had been what you and Konig attacked.
Them I sacrifice, with a great deal of willingness, to persons who think
of increasing their own reputation by lessening that of others. I have
not the folly nor vanity of certain Authors. The cabals of literary
people seem to me the disgrace of Literature. I do not the less esteem
honorable cultivators of Literature; it is only the caballers and their
leaders that are degraded in my eyes. On this, I pray God to have you in
his holy and worthy keeping.--FRIEDRICH."

[In De Prades's hand;--OEuvres de Frederic,--xxii. 308, 309: Friedrich's
own Minute to De Prades has, instead of these last three lines: "That
I have not the folly and vanity of authors, and that the cabals of
literary people seem to me the depth of degradation," &c.]

VOLTAIRE SPECTRALLY GIVEN (Collini LOQUITUR). "One evening walking
in the garden [at rural Belvedere,--after March 5th], talking of our
situation, he asked me, 'Could you drive a coach-and-two?' I stared at
him a moment; but knowing that there must be no direct contradiction
of his ideas, I said 'Yes.'--'Well, then, listen; I have thought of a
method for getting away. You could buy two horses; a chariot after that.
So soon as we have horses, it will not appear strange that we lay in a
little hay.'--'Yes, Monsieur; and what should we do with that?' said I.
'LE VOICI (this is it). We will fill the chariot with hay. In the middle
of the hay we will put all our baggage. I will place myself, disguised,
on the top of the hay; and give myself out for a Calvinist Curate go