The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-12-20

lcountrymen; and, in general, where there
| is great ambition for popularity, this per.
|nicious effect Of high fortune will be in a
great degree avoided. But the ordinary
class Of arbitrary rulers, who found their
whole claim TO distinction upon the acci-
dent ofstheir birth aud station, may be
expectsd 10 realize all that we have init
mated as to the peculiar manners and dis
positions Of the caste; to sink, like their
bfsthfen Of the theatre, when their hour
lof representation is over, into gross SEN
Esdali;y, paltry intrigues and dishonorable
Fsquabbies; and in short to be fully more
fhkely to beat their wives and cheat their
fbenefactors, than any other set Of per-
(sons out of the condition Of tinkers.
"But though these opinions have long
Iseemed to be pretty reasonable to those
lwho presumed to reason at all on such
ssbjeets, and even appeared to be tolera-
IDLY well confirmed by the few indications
lthst 6ould be obtained as to the state OF
the Fact, ibers was but little prospect OF
fthes World at large getting at the exact
truth either by actual observation or by
|credibse report. The tone OF adulation
i and outrageous compliment is so firmly
Established, and. as il were positively pre-
scribedjfo all authorized communications
from the interior Of a palace thasfit would
beridiculous even TO form a guess, as to
fits actual condition from such materials.
land With regardtto the casual observers,
who might furnish less suspected informa-
tons great part are too vain and too
fgratelul for the opportunities they have
enjoyed, TO do anything which might pre-
went their recurrence; while others are
kept silent by a viftuous shame; and the
lremainder are diseredited and perhaps
not always without reason, as the instru-
Emsnisof faction or envy. There seemed
lgreat reason to fear, therefore that this
curious branch OF Natural History would
be left to mere theory and conjecture and
] never eiucidated by the testimony Of any
lcompeteatg observer; when the volumes
befofesus made their appearance to- set
1theory and conjecture at rest, and make
the private character of such sovereigns
4 matter ofshistorical record.
Ee Lord Jeffrey here alludes to the memo
Etiss Of a daughter Of Frederick William,
King of Prussia. and sister Of FrSderick
the Great. But we will give a little more
Of the reviewers own language:
ssWhat is now before Us is hut frag-
Iment extending from the. birth Of the au-
Ithorein 1907 TO the year l742, and is chiefly
i occupied with thescourt of Berlin down
till her marriage with the Prince Of Bareith
j in i73f She sets off with portrait oil
her father, Frederick William, whose pecu.
4 |liarities are already pretty well known by
|the daiisul commentaries OF his son and
yoitaire. His daughter begins with him
q little more handsomely; and assures US
that he had staleBts Of the first order--an
excellent heart, and in short all the quail
lies which go 10 the constitution Of great
men, aSuchis the f1attering outline: But
candori requires some shading and we
must confess that it is laid on freely and
with good effect. His temper she admits
was ungovernable, and often hurried him
into excesses altogether unworthy of his
rank and situation. Then it must be al
lowed that ne was somewhathard- hearted;
and throughout his whole life, gave de.
cided reference to the cardinal virtue oi
Justice over the weaker attribute of mercy
posed him her Royal Highness seems to
think very unjustly to the imputation o
.avarice. And finally she informs US
without any circumlocution. that he was
a crazy bigot in religion--suspicious jeal
lous and deceitful--and entertained pro
/ found contempt Tor the whole sex. TO which
his duiiful lbiographer belongs.
!. s4"This great and amiable prince was
married as everybody knows, to a:princess
of Hanover, daughter OF our George the
First; of whom he was outrageously jeal
!. Gus. and whom he treated with a degree
). lof brutality that would almost have justi
fled any form Of revenge. The PRINCES:
I however, seems to have been irreproacha
!, bly, .chaste; but had notwithstanding some
q ofsihe usual vices of slaves; and torment
ed her tyrant TO very good purpose by ar
interminable system OF the most crooked
and provoking intrigues, chiefly about tht
, marriages Of her family, but occasionally
1 upon other subjects, carried on by the
basest tools and instruments, and for 9
long time in conlederacy with the daughter
who has here recorded their history. Blu
i though she had thus the satisfaction o
lfrequently enraging her husband, we can
, not help thinking that she had herself by
f fer the worst of The game, and indeed it il
impossible to read without a mixed feeling
d Iof pity and contempt, the catalogue Q
miserable shifts which this poor creature
was perpetually forced 10 employ to avoit
/ detection, and escape the beatings, will
j which il was frequently accompanied
II ieignsd sickness midnight consultation.