we see, never rose to the extreme pitch, and it rather sank than
increased as he continued his experiences of men and things.
This of Formey and the two Newspapers was the only express attempt
he made in that direction; and it proved a rather disappointing
one. The two Newspapers went their way thenceforth, Friedrich
sometimes making use of them for small purposes, once or twice
writing an article himself, of wildly quizzical nature, perhaps to
be noticed by us when the time comes; but are otherwise, except
for chronological purposes, of the last degree of insignificance
to gods or men.

"Freedom of the Press," says my melancholic Friend, "is a noble
thing; and in certain Nations, at certain epochs, produces
glorious effects,--chiefly in the revolutionary line, where that
has grown indispensable. Freedom of the Press is possible, where
everybody disapproves the least abuse of it; where the
'Censorship' is, as it were, exercised by all the world. When the
world (as, even in the freest countries, it almost irresistibly
tends to become) is no longer in a case to exercise that salutary
function, and cannot keep down loud unwise speaking, loud unwise
persuasion, and rebuke it into silence whenever printed, Freedom
of the Press will not answer very long, among sane human
creatures: and indeed, in Nations not in an exceptional case, it
becomes impossible amazingly soon!"--

All these are phenomena of Friedrich's first week. Let these
suffice as sample, in that first kind. Splendid indications
surely; and shot forth in swift enough succession, flash following
flash, upon an attentive world. Betokening, shall we say, what
internal sea of splendor, struggling to disclose itself, probably