dancing, in boundless mad whirl, round your devoted head;--
simmering and dancing, very much at its ease; no-whither;
asking YOU cheerfully, "What is your candid opinion, then?"
"Opinion," Heavens!--

You have to retire many yards, and gaze with a desperate
steadiness; assuring yourself: "Well, it does, right indisputably,
shadow forth SOMEthing. This was a Thing Alive, and did at one time
stick together, as an organic Fact on the Earth, though it now
dances in Dryasdust at such a rate!" It is only by self-help of
this sort, and long survey, with rigorous selection, and extremely
extensive exclusion and oblivion, that you gain the least light in
such an element. "Brevity"--little said, when little has been got
to be known--is an evident rule! Courage, reader; by good eyesight,
you will still catch some features of Friedrich as we go along.
To SAY our little in a not unintelligible manner, and keep the rest
well hidden, it is all we can do for you!--


FRIEDRICH DECLINES THE CAREER OF CONQUERING HERO; GOES INTO
LAW-REFORM; AND GETS READY A COTTAGE RESIDENCE FOR HIMSELF.

Friedrich's Journey to Pyrmont is the first thing recorded of him
by the Newspapers. Gone to take the waters; as he did after his
former War. Here is what I had noted of that small Occurrence, and
of one or two others contiguous in date, which prove to be of
significance in Friedrich's History.

"MAY 12-17th, 1746," say the old Books, "his Majesty sets out for
Pyrmont, taking Brunswick by the way; arrives at Pyrmont May 17th;