lies in this young King; and how high his hopes go for mankind and
himself? Yes, surely;--and introducing, we remark withal, the "New
Era," of Philanthropy, Enlightenment and so much else; with French
Revolution, and a "world well suicided" hanging in the rear!
Clearly enough, to this young ardent Friedrich, foremost man of
his Time, and capable of DOING its inarticulate or dumb aspirings,
belongs that questionable honor; and a very singular one it would
have seemed to Friedrich, had he lived to see what it meant!

Friedrich's rapidity and activity, in the first months of his
reign, were wonderful to mankind; as indeed through life he
continued to be a most rapid and active King. He flies about;
mustering Troops, Ministerial Boards, passing Edicts, inspecting,
accepting Homages of Provinces;--decides and does, every day that
passes, an amazing number of things. Writes many Letters, too;
finds moments even for some verses; and occasionally draws a
snatch of melody from his flute.

His Letters are copiously preserved; but, as usual, they are in
swift official tone, and tell us almost nothing. To his Sisters he
writes assurances; to his friends, his Suhms, Duhans, Voltaires,
eager invitations, general or particular, to come to him.
"My state has changed," is his phrase to Voltaire and other dear
intimates; a tone of pensiveness, at first even of sorrow and
pathos traceable in it; "Come to me,"--and the tone, in an old
dialect, different from Friedrich's, might have meant, "Pray for
me." An immense new scene is opened, full of possibilities of good
and bad. His hopes being great, his anxieties, the shadow of them,
are proportionate. Duhan (his good old Tutor) does arrive,
Algarotti arrives, warmly welcomed, both: with Voltaire there are