court of Berlin.

I had scarcely been six weeks a cadet before the King took me aside,
one day, after the parade, and having examined me near half an hour,
on various subjects, commanded me to come and speak to him on the
morrow.

His intention was to find whether the accounts that had been given
him of my memory had not been exaggerated; and that he might be
convinced, he first gave me the names of fifty soldiers to learn by
rote, which I did in five minutes. He next repeated the subjects of
two letters, which I immediately composed in French and Latin; the
one I wrote, the other I dictated. He afterwards ordered me to
trace, with promptitude, a landscape from nature, which I executed
with equal success; and he then gave me a cornet's commission in his
body guards.

Each mark of bounty from the monarch increased an ardour already
great, inspired me with gratitude, and the first of my wishes was to
devote my whole life to the service of my King and country. He
spoke to me as a Sovereign should speak, like a father, like one who
knew well how to estimate the gifts bestowed on me by nature; and
perceiving, or rather feeling, how much he might expect from me,
became at once my instructor and my friend.

Thus did I remain a cadet only six weeks, and few Prussians can
vaunt, under the reign of Frederic, of equal good fortune.

The King not only presented me with a commission, but equipped me
splendidly for the service. Thus did I suddenly find myself a