courtier, and an officer in the finest, bravest, and best
disciplined corps in Europe. My good fortune seemed unlimited,
when, in the month of August, 1743, the King selected me to go and
instruct the Silesian cavalry in the new manoeuvres: an honour
never before granted to a youth of eighteen.

I have already said we were garrisoned at Berlin during winter,
where the officers' table was at court: and, as my reputation had
preceded me, no person whatever could be better received there, or
live more pleasantly.

Frederic commanded me to visit the literati, whom he had invited to
his court: Maupertuis, Jordan, La Mettrie, and Pollnitz, were all
my acquaintance. My days were employed in the duties of an officer,
and my nights in acquiring knowledge. Pollnitz was my guide, and
the friend of my heart. My happiness was well worthy of being
envied. In 1743, I was five feet eleven inches in height, and
Nature had endowed me with every requisite to please. I lived, as I
vainly imagined, without inciting enmity or malice, and my mind was
wholly occupied by the desire of earning well-founded fame.

I had hitherto remained ignorant of love, and had been terrified
from illicit commerce by beholding the dreadful objects of the
hospital at Potzdam. During the winter of 1743, the nuptials of his
Majesty's sister were celebrated, who was married to the King of
Sweden, where she is at present Queen Dowager, mother of the
reigning Gustavus. I, as officer of my corps, had the honour to
mount guard and escort her as far as Stettin. Here first did my
heart feel a passion of which, in the course of my history, I shall
have frequent occasion to speak. The object of my love was one whom