Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-06-27

WANT The sergeant did as he was ordered. : Now
add, continued the King, that we old soldiers are
of opinion that your excelency does nos treat the
veterans of the army of the King with the considers
ton due to their services and merits and that un
less Justice is done to ourselves and our comrades
we shall take measures to procure your exceiency
removal. and the appointment OF some one VINO VIII
treat us better in your place" The OLD sergeant
stared and wondered, but obeyed orders without a
question Good said the King st now sign your
name and then give me the PEN" The sergeant
signed and handed the pen to the King who at once
appended his own signature below that OF the petit
TONER and sent the document to the minister saying
with SMILE tive old soldiers must make common
cause when the great folks treat us i'll let US see
what the minister will say to that petitioner" 1T
needless to add that in this case, as well as IN all Of
similar character, there no longer any ground
for any complaint the score OF nattenton or neg
lect
corporal of the guard whose gallantry in the field
was only equaled by his love of display upon parade
sported a dashng watch-chain and bunch OF seals
to which. for want of watch, he attached muske
bullet which he carried in his fob. Frederick found
it out Really, corporal said he to him one day
YOU must have been very economical to have saved
enough out of your pay to buy watch; what time
are you al am just six" &c Sire" replied the
corporal, q my watch says neither six nor seven
all it is good for is to remind to be ready at any
hour to die for your majesty" 'Here my friend, >
returned the King, handing the corporal his own
watch, which was enriched with diamonds, /" take
this if you should be called upon to die for me,
will indicate the hour more exactly"
Equally mild and gentle was the King to his per-
sona attendants and his household servants He sell
dom spoke to domestic or page without using some
kindly appellation, q my friend" or my child :;
and all who were faithful and deserving received
from him the most paternal treatment Faults were
frequently forg iyen or overlooked; and sometimes
when liberties, which in most royal households
would have been considered unpardonable were ia
ken with him. they only elected some arch good -hu-
mored reproof which, while it checked presumption,
inflicted no serious wound upon the feelings Passing
looking glass one day. he observed one of his pages
behind his back helping himself to pinch from the
royal snuff-box. How do you like it o. asked the
King, turning quickly, and addressing himself to
the embarrassed attendant. Confused and abashed.
the young man could not answer word 81 asked
you how you liked my snuff repeated the King
sand expect an answer" Forced to reply, the
culprit at last stammered out that it very good
:; Put the box in your pocket, them. said Frederick;
" it is not large enough for both of u.s.
The freedom which this absolute monarch accor-
ded to the press virtually great that which
it enjoys under the most liberal governments for
notwithstanding his ministers wrung from him an
ordinance restricting it, under the pretext of re.
straining it's RIGHTEOUSNESS it powerless from
the fact that the King invariably defeated its enforce
ment by the exercise of his supreme prerogative.-
Any prosecuted and convicted under this law for
political reasons had only to apply to the King and
his penalty to be remitted-the words % !
wish the press to be ree being usually appended to
the royal pardon. 1t is difficult to reconcile such
exercise of power with ideas of despotism and
yet, if the absolute and unlimited control and dispo-
sal of the lives and property of people constitute
despotism, the Prussian monarchy in the time OF
Frederick the Great most undoubtedly one. Had
his lot been cast in this country in the nineteenth
century, Frederick might have proved Jackson
had Jackson been born in the eighteenth, to the
throne of Prussia, he would have filled the part OF
Frederick to perfection. Seldom. in the whole range
of history do encounter striking resemblance
mental, moral or even physical, between two prom
inent characters is presented by glance at the
two great personages whom we have ust named.