him was Freedom of the Press, or an attempt that way!
From England, from Holland, Friedrich had heard of Free Press, of
Newspapers the best Instructors: it is a fact that he hastens to
plant a seed of that kind at Berlin; sets about it "on the second
day of his reign," so eager is he. Berlin had already some meagre
INTELLIGENZ-BLATT (Weekly or Thrice-Weekly Advertiser), perhaps
two; but it is a real Newspaper, frondent with genial leafy
speculation, and food for the mind, that Friedrich is intent upon:
a "Literary-Political Newspaper," or were it even two Newspapers,
one French, one German; and he rapidly makes the arrangements for
it; despatches Jordan, on the second day, to seek some fit
Frenchman. Arrangements are soon made: a Bookselling Printer,
Haude, Bookseller once to the Prince-Royal,--whom we saw once in a
domestic flash-of-lightning long ago, [Antea, Book vi. c. 7.]--is
encouraged to proceed with the improved German article, MERCURY or
whatever they called it; vapid Formey, a facile pen, but not a
forcible, is the Editor sought out by Jordan for the French one.
And, in short, No. 1 of Formey shows itself in print within a
month; ["2d July, 1740:" Preuss, Thronbesteigung, italic> p. 330; and Formey, Souvenirs,
i. 107, rectified by the exact Herr Preuss.] and Haude and he,
Haude picking up some grand Editor in Hamburg, do their best for
the instruction of mankind.

In not many months, Formey, a facile and learned but rather vapid
gentleman, demitted or was dismissed; and the Journals coalesced
into one, or split into two again; and went I know not what road,
or roads, in time coming,--none that led to results worth naming.
Freedom of the Press, in the case of these Journals, was never
violated, nor was any need for violating it. General Freedom of