The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-05-16

purpose. Her death set him at liberty, and
he determined to take refuge in Ber-
lin., -tit s.- .-..
To Berlin he was invited in series Of
letters couched in the most enthusiastic
terms of friendship and admiration. For
once the rigid parsimony of Fredrick the
Great seemed to have relaxed. Orders.
honorable Offices, liberal pension, a we'll
served table, stately apartments under a
royal roof, We're offered in return for the
pleasure and honor which were expected
from the society of the first wit of the age.
A thousand louis were remitted for the
charges of the journey. No ambassador
setting out from Berlin fof court of the
first rank had been more amply supplied
But Voltaire was not satisfied. At a later
PERIOD, when he possessed an ample fortune,
he was one of the most liberal of men; but
till his means had become equal to his wish
es, his greediness fof lucre was unrestrained
either by justice or shame. He had the ef-
frontery to ask for thousand louis more in
order to enable him to bring his niece; Ma
dame Denis, the ugliest of coquettes, in his
company.
The indelcate rapicity of the poet produc-
ed its natural effect on the severe sad frugal
king. The answer was a dry refusal. 81
did not" said his Majesty, "soicit the hon.
or Of the lady's society,"" On this Voltaire
went off into.a paroxyism Of childish rage.
Was there ever such avarice! He has
hundred tubs full of dollars in his vaults,
and haggles with me about a poor thousand
louis" 1t seemed that the negotiation
would be broken off; but Frederick, with
great dexterity, affected Indifference, and
seemed inclined to transfer his idolatry to
Baculard D'Arnaud. His Majesty even
wrote some bad verses, of which the sense
was that Voltaire was q setting sun, and
that Arnaud was rising. Good-natured
friends soon carried the lines to Voltaire.
He was in bed. He jumped out in his
shirt, and danced about the room with rage,
and sent for his passport and post.horses -
1t was not difficult to foresce the end of
which had such begin
ing. ae
1t was in the year 1850 that Voltaire left
the great capital which he was not again to
see till, after the lapse of nearly thirty years,
ne returned to die in the midst of splendid
and ghastly triumph. His reception in
Prussia was such as might we'll have elated
/ less vain and excitable mind He wrote
10 his friends at Paris that the kindness and
he attention with which he had been well
,omed surpassed description-thatth the king was
he most amiable of men-that Potsdam was
his paradise PHILOSOPHERS. He was cre-
tied chamberlain, and received, together
With his gold key, the cress of an order, and
patent insurng him pension of eight hun
|red pounds sterling a year for life. Alum
red and sixty pounds year was prom
sed to his niece if she survived him. The
oyal cooks and coachmen were put at his
sPosal. He was lodged in the same a.
artment in which SAKE had lived, when, at
he high power and glory, he had visited
Prussia. Frederick, indeed, stopped for
ime to use the language of adulation. He
ressed to his lips the meager hand of the
title grining skeleton, whom he regarded
s the dispenser of immortal renown He
,ould add, he said, to the titles, which he
wed to his ancestors and his sword, anoth-
r title, derived from his last and proudest
cquisition. His style should run thus:
Frederick, King of Prussia, Margrave of
Sovereign Duke Of Slesia,
'ossessor Of Voltaire." But even amidst
he delights of the honeymoon, Voltaire's
ensitive' vanity began to take alarm. A
ew days after his arrival he could not
clip telling his niece that the amiable king
ad trick of giving sly scratch with
ne hand while pattirg and stroking with
he other. Soon came hints not the less a.
arming because mysterious. "The king
J the life of the company. Butt have
peras and comedies, reviewed and concerts,
ny studies and books. But-but-- Berlin
} fine, the princess charming, the maids of
,onor handsome. But''-- .!,ag aH.@a |
This eccentric friendship was fast cooling.
lever had there met two persons so exquis-
tely fitted to pleague each other. Each
ad exactly the fault of which the other
,as impatient; and they were, in different
rays, the most impatient Of mankind
frederick was frugal, almost nigardly. When
e had secured his plaything he began to
mink he had bought ittoo dear. Voltaire,
n the other hand, was greedy even to the
xtent of imprudence and knavery; and
onceived that the favorite of monarch who
ad barrels o1gold and silver laid up in cell
ars ought to make fortune which receiv-
might envy. They soon discov-
red each others feelings. Both were angry,
nd d war began in which, Frederick ,stoop-
d to the part of Harpagon and Voltaire to
hat of Scapin. Tt is humiliating to relate
hat the great warrior and statesman gave
rders that his guests allowance of sugar
nd chocolate should be curtailed. It, is,
possible a still more humiliatiug fact that
'oltaire iHdemnifed himself by pocketing. |
he wax candles In the royal ante chamber.
disputes about money, however, were not
he most serious disputes of these extraor-