The Secret History of the Court of Berlin Volume 2; Or, the Character of the King of Prussia, His Ministers, Mistresses, Generals, Courtiers, Favourites, and the Royal Family of Prussia (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: LETTER XLV November 2Oth, 1786. Unf0rtunately, I cannot be blind to what is here daily confirmed by traits which are each more pitiable than the other, concerning the opinion that I have so long forborne to take of the man and of affairs. The King has just bestowed the riband of the Black Eagle on Anhalt. This gentleman is the son of a cook-maid, and of a multitude of fathers. He was originally a groom; he next sold smuggled coffee to the officers. I know not by what means he became what he is, but I know that his principal function was that of a spy. He was afterwards placed in the service of the present King while Prince of Prussia; and, as he mingled poisonous advice and odious tales, they destined him, as it is said (and the word they is in this case the most bitter of the enemies of the late King), to execute a crime which they neither hadthe address to colour nor the courage to consummate. Anhalt possesses more military talents than his native foily could promise. His warlike vocation seems to be remarkable by this singular characteristic, that he never possesses coolness except when heading his men. He has arrived, whether by these or other means, at the rank of lieutenant-general. As he is without understanding (the little he had he was deprived of by a dreadful fall, for which he was obliged to be trepanned), he continued in favour. He was detested at Konigsberg, where he commanded, and this was a kind of recommendation to him at Potsdam, where the kingdom endured forty-six years of disgrace.1 Some days before the King's death, General Anhalt was sent for to Sans-Souci. " You have lately married one of your daughters," said the King.?" Yes, Sire, I feel I have."?" How much did you give with her?"?"Ten thousand crowns." ?" That is a large sum for you, who have...