history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第31节
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ost distressful to his Grace of Newcastle；which in part explains those stingy procedures of Captain Thomson （'Home； you seven English sailors！'） when the first Canton ship put to sea。 That Controversy is by no means ended after three years； but on the contrary； after two years more； comes to a crisis quite shocking to his Grace of Newcastle； and defying all solution on his Grace's side；the other Party； after such delays； five years waiting； having settled it for himself！〃 Of which； were the crisis come； we will give some account。
On the third day of his Visit； Friedrich drove to Aurich； the seat of Government； and official little capital of Ost…Friesland； where triumphal arches； joyful reverences； concourses； demonstrations； sumptuous Dinner one item； awaited his Majesty： I know not if； in the way thither or back； he passed those 〃Three huge Oaks ＇or the rotted stems or roots of them＇ under which the Ancient Frisians； Lords of all between Weser and Rhine； were wont to assemble in Parliament〃 （WITHOUT Fourth Estate； or any Eloquence except of the purely Business sort）；or what his thoughts on the late Ost…Friesland Bandbox Parliaments may have been！ He returned to Embden that night； and on the morrow started homewards； we may fancy； tolerably pleased with what he had seen。
〃King Friedrich's main Objects of Pursuit in this Period；〃 says a certain Author； whom we often follow； 〃I define as being Three。 1。 Reform of the Law； 2。 Furtherance of Husbandry and Industry in all kinds； especially of Shipping from Embden； 3。 Improvement of his own Domesticities and Household Enjoyments；〃renewal of the Reinsberg Program； in short。
〃In the First of these objects；〃 continues he； 〃King Friedrich's success was very considerable； and got him great fame in the world。 In his Second head of efforts； that of improving the Industries and Husbandries among his People； his success； though less noised of in foreign parts； was to the near observer still more remarkable。 A perennial business with him； this； which； even in the time of War； he never neglects； and which springs out like a stemmed flood； whenever Peace leaves him free for it。 His labors by all methods to awaken new branches of industry； to cherish and further the old； are incessant； manifold； unwearied； and will surprise the uninstructed reader； when he comes to study them。 An airy； poetizing； bantering； lightly brilliant King； supposed to be serious mainly in things of War； how is he moiling and toiling； like an ever…vigilant Land…Steward； like the most industrious City Merchant； hardest…working Merchant's Clerk； to increase his industrial Capital by any the smallest item！
〃One day； these things will deserve to be studied to the bottom； and to be set forth； by writing hands that are competent； for the instruction and example of Workers；that is to say； of all men； Kings most of all； when there are again Kings。 At present； I can only say they astonish me； and put me to shame： the unresting diligence displayed in them； and the immense sum…total of them； what man； in any the noblest pursuit； can say that he has stood to it； six…and…forty years long； in the style of this man？ Nor did the harvest fail； slow sure harvest； which sufficed a patient Friedrich in his own day； harvest now； in our day； visible to everybody： in a Prussia all shooting into manufactures； into commerces； opulences； I only hope； not TOO fast； and on more solid terms than are universal at present！ Those things might be didactic； truly； in various points； to this Generation； and worth looking back upon； from its high LAISSEZ…FAIRE altitudes； its triumphant Scrip… transactions and continents of gold…nuggets；pleasing； it doubts not； to all the gods。 To write well of what is called 'Political Economy' （meaning thereby increase of money's…worth） is reckoned meritorious； and our nearest approach to the rational sublime。 But to accomplish said increase in a high and indisputable degree； and indisputably very much by your own endeavors wisely regulating those of others； does not that approach still nearer the sublime？
〃To prevent disappointment； I ought to add that Friedrich is the reverse of orthodox in 'Political Economy；' that he had not faith in Free…Trade； but the reverse；nor had ever heard of those ultimate Evangels； unlimited Competition； fair Start； and perfervid Race by all the world （towards 'CHEAP…AND…NASTY；' as the likeliest winning…post for all the world）； which have since been vouchsafed us。 Probably in the world there was never less of a Free…Trader！ Constraint； regulation； encouragement； discouragement； reward； punishment； these he never doubted were the method； and that government was good everywhere if wise； bad only if not wise。 And sure enough these methods； where human justice and the earnest sense and insight of a Friedrich preside over them； have results； which differ notably from opposite cases that can be imagined！ The desperate notion of giving up government altogether； as a relief from human blockheadism in your governors； and their want even of a wish to be just or wise； had not entered into the thoughts of Friedrich； nor driven him upon trying to believe that such； in regard to any Human Interest whatever； was； or could be except for a little while in extremely developed cases； the true way of managing it。 How disgusting； accordingly； is the Prussia of Friedrich to a Hanbury Williams； who has bad eyes and dirty spectacles； and hates Friedrich： how singular and lamentable to a Mirabeau Junior； who has good eyes； and loves him！ No knave； no impertinent blockhead even； can follow his own beautiful devices here； but is instantly had up； or comes upon a turnpike strictly shut for him。 'Was the like ever heard of？' snarls Hanbury furiously （as an angry dog might； in a labyrinth it sees not the least use for）： 'What unspeakable want of liberty！'and reads to you as if he were lying outright； but generally is not； only exaggerating； tumbling upside down； to a furious degree； knocking against the labyrinth HE sees not the least use for。 Mirabeau's Gospel of Free…Trade； preached in 1788； ＇MONARCHIE PRUSSIENNE he calls it （A LONDRES； privately Paris； 1788）； 8 vols。 8vo； which is a Dead…Sea of Statistics； compiled by industrious Major Mauvillon； with this fresh current of a 〃Gospel〃 shining through it； very fresh and brisk； of few yards breadth；dedicated to Papa； the true PROTevangelist of the thing。＇a comparatively recent Performance； though now some seventy or eighty years the senior of an English （unconscious） Fac…simile； which we have all had the pleasure of knowing；will fall to be noticed afterwards ＇not by this Editor； we hope！＇
〃Many of Friedrich's restrictive notions；as that of watching with such anxiety that 'money' （gold or silver coin） be not carried out of the Country；will be found mistakes； not in orthodox Dismal Science as now taught； but in the nature of things； and indeed the Dismal Science will generally excommunicate them in the lump；too。 heedless that Fact has conspicuously vindicated the general sum… total of them； and declared it to be much truer than it seems to the Dismal Science。 Dismal Science （if that were important to me） takes insufficient heed； and does not discriminate between times past and times present； times here and times there。〃
Certain it is； King Friedrich's success in National Husbandry was very great。 The details of the very many new Manufactures； new successful ever…spreading Enterprises； fostered into existence by Friedrich； his Canal…makings； Road…makings； Bog…drainings； Colonizings and unwearied endeavorings in that kind； will require a Technical Philosopher one day； and will well reward such study； and trouble of recording in a human manner； but must lie massed up in mere outline on the present occasion。 Friedrich； as Land…Father； Shepherd of the People； was great on the Husbandry side also； and we are to conceive him as a man of excellent practical sense； doing unweariedly his best in that kind； all his life long。 Alone among modern Kings； his late Father the one exception； and even his Father hardly surpassing him in that particular。
In regard to Embden and the Shipping interests； Ost…Friesland awakened very ardent speculations； which were a novelty in Prussian affairs； nothing of Foreign Trade； except into the limited Baltic； had been heard of there since the Great Elector's time。 The Great Elector had ships； Forts on the Coast of Africa； and tried hard for Atlantic Trade；out of this same Embden； where； being summoned to protect in the troubles； he had got some footing as Contingent Heir withal； and kept a 〃Prussian Battalion〃 a good while。 And now； on much fairer terms； not less diligently turned to account； it is his Great…Grandson's turn。 Friedrich's successes in this department； the rather as Embden and Ost…Friesland have in our time ceased to be Prussian； are not much worth speaking of； but they connect themselves with some points still slightly memorable to us。 How； for example； his vigilantes and endeavors on this score brought him into rubbings； not collisions； but jealousies and gratings； with the English and Dutch； the reader will see anon。
Law…reform is gloriously prosperous； Husbandry the like； and Shipping Interest itself as yet。 But in the Thi
