a mood analogous to the Frenzy of John Dennis. This serves for the
Biography or Private Character of Friedrich; imputing all crimes
to him, natural and unnatural;--offering indeed, if combined with
facts otherwise known, or even if well considered by itself,
a thoroughly flimsy, incredible and impossible image. Like that of
some flaming Devil's Head, done in phosphorus on the walls of the
black-hole, by an Artist whom you had locked up there (not quite
without reason) overnight.

Poor Voltaire wrote that Vie Privee in a
state little inferior to the Frenzy of John Dennis,--how brought
about we shall see by and by. And this is the Document which
English readers are surest to have read, and tried to credit as
far as possible. Our counsel is, Out of window with it, he that
would know Friedrich of Prussia! Keep it awhile, he that would
know Francois Arouet de Voltaire, and a certain numerous
unfortunate class of mortals, whom Voltaire is sometimes
capable of sinking to be spokesman for, in this world!--Alas,
go where you will, especially in these irreverent ages,
the noteworthy Dead is sure to be found lying under infinite dung,
no end of calumnies and stupidities accumulated upon him. For the
class we speak of, class of "flunkies doing saturnalia
below stairs," is numerous, is innumerable; and can
well remunerate a "vocal flunky" that will serve their purposes on
such an occasion!--

Friedrich is by no means one of the perfect demigods; and there
are various things to be said against him with good ground. To the
last, a questionable hero; with much in him which one could have
wished not there, and much wanting which one could have wished.