New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11
FREDERICK THE GREAT md PRINCE
HENRY or PRUSSIA.
FROM The spectqtor,s Rerie,c Of Rheinsberpn

From The Spectators Rerie,o of " Rheinsberg."
We had marked passage for quotation, but can
ton" at the little Court of Rheinsberg, where the
coming king lived till his fathers death. 1t
would be hard to 1d better Tjtra0n of the
The intoxicated guests the host and perhaps hostess
included behave as wildly as n set of under
gIdnates at pump supper perhaps r more %idy
Princess broke glass. This was, as it were the
signal for boisterous merriment, and an example
worthy of imitation. In an instant the wine
glasses dew into every corner of the room, and all
the crystal porcelain. bowls, mirrors, candlesticks,
One almost wishes that Frederick William could
have appeared at that moment on the scene.
The members of the family of that eccentric old
tyrant haied and loved one another, members of
other families often do FredeIick's favorite was
his sister Wilhelmina, and Henrys favorite was his
brother August William. Tho latter showed the
white feather after Kollin, and falling under the
kings displeasure, died, perhaps of broken heart
Henry, who had never liked Frederick. hencef0rth
hated him. He did not quarrel with him, because
it takes two to make quarrel. But he showed
his hatred i'll many ways while the king lived, and
after his death he raised obelisk to the memory
e 9 Pne % @R and e the SeF heroes o a
king. He characterized his brothers History of the
Seven, Years War as lying memoirs" and he
denied all military talent whatever to the greatest
warrior that Europe had seen since tho death of
Marlborough. AT the very close of his long life,
and when the victor Of Leuthen m had been many
taken" he said to Louis Bonaparte. " You have a
very high idea of my brother Frederick How you
French are mistaken You are not acquainted
with the secret of his victories. He ought to have
spent his life in writing; that was what nature
had called him to-"
This iudicious critic was curious replica of the
brother whom he detestsd. He lived apart from
his wife, as Frederick did and if Frederick played
with ardor on the nute, Henry played with equal
ardor On the violin. Moreover. he was so good
soldier that. at tho banquet given by Frederick TO
his officers after the war he toasted Prince Henry
as the only general who during the whole war had
mot ed a nul mi Is a. gr
seems to have been more amiable than the kings,
which was anything but lovely But for all that,
Frederick bears the unmstakable cachet OF "A great
man. and Henry the unmistakable cachet Of
little In personal appearance there was much
to choose between them Frederick, in early life,
was nothing than handsome but Henry was
scarcely beautiful than the Emperor Ncholas's
brother, Constantine, who abused the males
privilege of being ugly more than Wilkes himself
did. Short and slim, fand with figure which,
though he held himself very straight. had nothing
Dbie about it," with two great eyes, of which
looked TO the right and the other to the left" with
a huge head Of hair, which he wore clubbedD and
dressed with high toupee, we may fancy how
this mannkin hero looked when arrayed as
follows:
In Summer his dress was silk or satin In
Winter, cloth embroidered or bordered ways
with silk breeches ana stockings, and shoes with
huge buckles. Two or three immense watch
chains hung down in front to which are to be added
a hOweredsilk wastcoat large diamond rings,
gold-headed stick, with long silk ribbon, little
three-cOrnered hat, with n steel clasp ton great
occasions diamond one, In his hand gold smut
box in his pocket sort of operas glass perched
wig with cnrls and little pgtll OF in the
morning sometimes a cadOgan In imitation of his
cwn hair, and as q matter of course, enorm BUS
rufles"
1t NAV be unfair, but we cannot help appending
the character which the ruthless pen of Mirabeau
drew Of this bedizened dwarf
"Prince Henry has fixed Lhis lot. His petty |
character has split the rock of his huge vanity
He has made display all at once and at the same
time Of prodigious desire OF power most repusive
haughtness, insupportable pcdantry and disdan |
Of intrigue, while his whole life Is nothing more |
than one petty, low, vile intrigue contempt for |
the ministers In power. whilst, except one man |
the Baron kny yausenl, he has not creature about
him that Is not knave ~ a fool"