history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第30节
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And so poor Fred is ended；and sulky people ask； in their cruel way； 〃Why not？〃 A poor dissolute flabby fellow…creature； with a sad destiny； and a sadly conspicuous too。 Could write Madrigals； be set to make Opposition cabals。 Read this sudden Epitaph in doggerel； an uncommonly successful Piece of its kind； which is now his main monument with posterity。 The 〃Brother〃 （hero of Culloden）； the 〃Sister〃 （Amelia； our Friedrich's first love； now growing gossipy and spiteful； poor Princess）； are old friends：
〃Here lies Prince Fred； Who was alive and is dead： Had it been his Father； I had much rather； Had it been his Brother； Sooner than any other；
Had it been his Sister； There's no one would have missed her； Had it been his whole generation； Best of all for the Nation： But since it's only Fred； There's no more to be said。〃 ＇Walpole； i。 436。＇
FRIEDRIAH VISITS OST…FRIESLAND。
A thing of more importance to us； two months after that catastrophe in London； is Friedrich's first Visit to Ost…Friesland。 May 3lst； having done his Berlin…Potsdam Reviews and other current affairs； Friedrich sets out on this Excursion。 With Ost…Friesland for goal； but much business by the way。 Towards Magdeburg； and a short visit to the Brunswick Kindred； first of all。 There is much reviewing in the Magdeburg quarter； and thereafter in the Wesel； and reviewing and visiting all along： through Minden； Bielfeld； Lingen： not till July 13th does he cross the Ost…Friesland Border； and enter Embden。 His three Brothers； and Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick； were with him。 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； iii。 506； Seyfarth； ii。 145； Rodenbeck； i。 216 （who gives a foolish German myth； of Voltaire's being passed off for the King's Baboon； &c。； Voltaire not being there at all）。＇ On catching view of Ost…Friesland Border； see； on the Border…Line； what an Arch got on its feet： Triumphal Arch； of frondent ornaments； inscriptions and insignia； 〃of quite extraordinary magnificence；〃 Arch which 〃sets every one into the agreeablest admiration。〃 Above a hundred such Arches spanned the road at different points； multitudinous enthusiasm reverently escorting； 〃more than 20；000〃 by count： till we enter Embden； where all is cannon…salvo； and three…times…three； the thunder…shots continuing； 〃above 2；000 of them from the walls； not to speak of response from the ships in harbor。〃 Embden glad enough； as would appear； and Ost…Friesland glad enough； to see their new King。 July 13th； 1751； after waiting above six years。
Next day； his Majesty gave audience to the new 〃Asiatic Shipping Company〃 （of which anon）； to the Stande； and Magisterial persons； with many questions； I doubt not； about your new embankments； new improvements； prospects； there being much procedure that way； in all manner of kinds； since the new Dynasty came in； now six years ago。 Embankments on your River； wide spaces changed from ooze to meadow； on the Dollart still more； which has lain 500 years hidden from the sun。 Does any reader know the Dollart？ Ost…Friesland has awakened to wonderful new industries within these six years； urged and guided by the new King； who has great things in view for it； besides what are in actual progress。
That of dikes； sea…embankments； for example； to Ost…Friesland； as to Holland； they are the first condition of existence； and； in the past times； of extreme Parliamentary vitality； have been slipping a good deal out of repair。 Ems River； in those flat rainy countries； has ploughed out for itself a very wide embouchure； as boundary between Groningen and Ost…Friesland。 Muddy Ems； bickering with the German Ocean； does not forget to act； if Parliamentary Commissioners do。 These dikes； 120 miles of dike； mainly along both banks of this muddy Ems River； are now water…tight again； to the comfort of flax and clover： and this is but one item of the diking now on foot。 Readers do not know the Dollart； that uppermost round gulf； not far from Embden itself； in the waste embouchure of Ems with its continents of mud and tide。 Five hundred years ago； that ugly whirl of muddy surf； 100 square miles in area； was a fruitful field； 〃50 Villages upon it； one Town； several Monasteries and 50；000 souls：〃 till on Christmas midnight A。D。 1277； the winds and the storm…rains having got to their height； Ocean and Ems did； 〃about midnight；〃 undermine the place； folded it over like a friable bedquilt or monstrous doomed griddle…cake； and swallowed it all away。 Most of it； they say； that night； the whole of it within ten years coming； ＇Busching； Erdbeschreibung； v。 845； 846； Preuss； i。 308； 309。＇and there it has hung； like an unlovely GOITRE at the throat of Embden； ever since。 One little dot of an Island； with six houses on it； near the Embden shore； is all that is left。 Where probably his Majesty landed （July 15th； being in a Yacht that day）； but did not see； afar off； the 〃sunk steeple… top；〃 which is fabled to be visible at low…water。
Upon this Dollart itself there is now to be diking tried； King's Domain…Kammer showing the example。 Which Official Body did accordingly （without Blue…Books； but in good working case otherwise） break ground； few months hence； and victoriously achieved a POLDER； or Diked Territory； 〃worth about 2；000 pounds annually；〃 〃which； in 1756； was sold to the STANDE；〃 at twenty…five years purchase； let us say； or for 50；000 pounds。 An example of a convincing nature； which many others； and ever others； have followed since； to gradual considerable diminution of the Dollart； and relief of Ost…Friesland on this side。 Furtherance of these things is much a concern of Friedrich's。 The second day after his arrival； those audiences and ceremonials done； Friedrich and suite got on board a Yacht； and sailed about all over this Dollart； twenty miles out to sea； dined on board； and would have； if the weather was bright （which I hope）； a pleasantly edifying day。 The harbor is much in need of dredging； the building docks considerably in disrepair； but shall be refitted if this King live and prosper。 He has declared Embden a 〃Free…Haven；〃 inviting trade to it from all peaceable Nations；and readers do not know （though Sir Jonas Hanway and the jealous mercantile world well did） what magnificent Shipping Companies and Sea…Enterprises； of his devising； are afoot there。 Of which； one word； and no second shall follow：
〃September 1st； 1750； those Carrousel gayeties scarce done； 'The Asiatic Trading Company' stept formally into existence； Embden the Head…quarters of it； ＇Patent； or FREYHEITS…BRIEF in Helden…Geschichte； iii。 457； 458。＇ chief Manager a Ritter De la Touche； one of the Directors our fantastic Bielfeld； thus turned to practical value。 A Company patronized； in all ways； by the King； but； for the rest； founded； not on his money； founded on voluntary shares； which； to the regret of Hanway and others； have had much popularity in commercial circles。 Will trade to China。 A thing looked at with umbrage by the English； by the Dutch。 A shame that English people should encourage such schemes； says Hanway。 Which nevertheless many Dutch and many English private persons do；among the latter； one English Lady （name unknown； but I always suspect 'Miss Barbara Wyndham； of the College； Salisbury'）； concerning whom there will be honorable notice by and by。
〃At the time of Friedrich's visit； the Asiatic Company is in full vogue； making ready its first ship for Canton。 First ship； KONIG VON PREUSSEN （tons burden not given）； actually sailed 17th February next （1752）； and was followed by a second； named TOWN OF EMBDEN； on the 19th of September following； both of which prosperously reached Canton； and prosperously returned with cargoes of satisfactory profit。 The first of them； KONIG VON PREUSSEN； had been boarded in the Downs by an English Captain Thomson and his Frigate； and detained some days；till Thomson 'took Seven English seamen out of her。' 'Act of Parliament； express！' said his Grace of Newcastle。 Which done； Thomson found that the English jealousies would have to hold their hand； no farther； whatever one's wishes may be。
〃Nay within a year hence； January 24th； 1753； Friedrich founded another Company for India： 'BENGALISCHE HANDELS…GESELLSCHAFT；' which also sent out its pair of ships； perhaps oftener than once； and pointed； as the other was doing； to wide fields of enterprise； for some time。 But luck was wanting。 And； 'in part； mismanagement；' and； in whole； the Seven…Years War put an end to both Companies before long。 Friedrich is full of these thoughts； among his other Industrialisms； and never quits them for discouragement； but tries again； when the obstacles cease to be insuperable。 Ever since the acquisition of Ost…Friesland； the furtherance of Sea…Commerce had been one of Friedrich's chosen objects。 'Let us carry our own goods at least； Silesian linens； Memel timbers； stock…fish； what need of the Dutch to do it？' And in many branches his progress had been remarkable；especially in this carrying trade； while the War lasted； and crippled all Anti…English belligerents。 Upon which； indeed； and the conduct of the English Privateers to him； there is a Controversy going on with the English Court in those years （began in 1747）； most dis
