FREDERIC II. (or in the German form Friedrich), King of Prussia, was, says Lord Macaulay, "the greatest king that has, in modern times, succeeded, by right of birth, to a throne." His contemporaries bestowed on him the surname of "the Great," and posterity has confirmed the title. Carlyle has devoted to the record of his life the longest of his works, and

presents him as the modern embodiment of the divine right of the able or "cunning" man, the man that can, to be könig or king.

Frederic's father, Frederic William I., was a man of violent temper, whose ruling passion was the love of money, and who did much to promote the prosperity of his country, then the humblest of kingdoms. His wife, Sophia Dorothea, was a daughter of that George who became Elector of Hanover in 1698, and King of England in 1714. Frederic was born in the palace at Berlin, on the 24th of January, 1712, a year before his father succeeded to the throne. Frederic was instructed first by Madame de Roucoulles, a French refugee, who had also instructed his father. His eldest sister, Frederica Sophia Wilhelmina, was educated with him, and a mutual affection and admiration for each other's talents continued unchanged and undiminished till the death of the princess.

Frederic had also as tutor M. Duhan de Jandun, who had fled from France on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and had finished his education at the French college at Berlin. To this course of instruction was due that marked preference for the French language and literature which remained one of Frederic's notable characteristics throughout life. For other accomplishments Frederic was placed under the care of Count Finkenstein and Colonel Kalkstein. In mathematics and fortification he was instructed by Major Schöning, an engineer of great merit.

In youth, Frederic's allowance consisted of but 360 dollars, afterwards increased to 600, a petty income for a crown prince. At the age of fourteen he was pronounced the most amiable prince possible, handsome and well-made. "His intellect was superior to his age; and he possessed all the qualities which can make up a perfect prince." Such merits should have inspired his father with increased affection for him; yet it was just then that he began to show a dislike to his son. This unnatural feeling was occasioned by the mutual dislike of father and son for each other's pursuits, which, as Frederic grew up, became still more marked. Among other causes which roused the father's resentment was the young man's fondness for dress and fine clothes, which, joined to his love of literature, occasioned the old king to say: "He is nothing but a coxcomb and a French wit, who will ruin all that I have done."

When Frederic had reached the age of eighteen, Count Finkenstein and Colonel Kalkstein were dismissed, and Colonel Rocho and Major Keyserling were assigned as his companions. Rocho was a man without talent; but Keyserling, young, thoughtless and inexperienced, yet agreeable and lively, secured Frederic's favor. The prince was entirely attached to his mother, and his devotion to her increased as his father's conduct became more and more severe.

Frederic William's dislike for his son terminated in actual and degrading brutality. Dreadful scenes of violence were enacted by the King, not only on Frederic, but also on his wife and eldest daughter. He now conceived the idea of forcing his eldest son, by a mixture of severities and entrea

ties, to abandon formally his rights of primogeniture, and to sign an act renouncing his claim to the succession of the Prussian throne in favor of his next brother. To such proposals Frederic would never listen, and when his father urged them, only answered: "Declare my birth illegitimate, and I give up the throne to my brother."

At length, driven almost to despair, young Frederic determined to seek refuge in England, where he hoped to marry the Princess Anne, partly from the persuasions of his mother, and partly from a sort of amorous correspondence which had gone on for some time between them. His sister Frederica, and two of his friends, Lieutenants Katte and Keith, were entrusted with the secret of his intended flight, which was to take place during a journey he was about to undertake with the King to Anspach and Wesel. Katte and Keith were to meet him in his flight, and accompany him to England. Katte is said to have been indiscreet. The arrangement, however, was discovered to Frederic William by a magistrate of Nuremberg, who had opened a letter, containing the whole plan of flight. The King preserved secrecy with regard to the intelligence he had received.

They started on the journey, and Frederic determined to put his design into execution at a small village between Anspach and Frankfort. The King, resolved to catch his son in the very act of flight, set spies to watch his every movement. At midnight the prince arose, left the village and proceeded to a field where horses were to be provided. Before, however, he could mount, he was seized by the patrol and taken back to the village. When taken before the King, a fearful scene ensued. The infuriated father flew at his son's throat and tried to strangle him, and it was with the greatest difficulty that one of his generals prevented him from doing so. He tore handfuls of hair from the prince's head, and struck a blow across his face with a heavy cane, which drew blood. Frederic cried out in all the bitterness of despair: "The face of one of the House of Brandenburg never suffered such an insult before." From this moment the crown prince was treated as a state prisoner; his sword was taken from him, and all his effects were seized by the king's order. He was

taken to Wesel, to which place Frederic William had preceded him and his guards.

On the morning after his arrival, Frederic was again brought into the presence of his father. Another violent scene followed, and the king would have run his sword through his son, had not General Mosel thrown himself before him and cried out: "Sire, you may kill me, but spare your son." The task of guarding Frederic was confided to Colonel Rocho and the Generals Valdo and Dosso. Orders were issued for the arrest of Katte and Keith. Keith managed to escape to England; but Katte was taken and condemned, by an order of the King, to be beheaded. In the meantime Frederic was kept in rigorous confinement at Custrin. Katte was taken thither and beheaded in the courtyard, whilst the unhappy Frederic, attired in a coarse prison dress, was compelled to witness the execution of his friend. Such had been the express orders of the unnatural father. "Pardon me, my dear Katte," cried Frederic to his unfortunate friend, who nobly replied: "Death for so amiable a prince is sweet."

Frederic himself was at the point of death for weeks after. It appears certain that the King had resolved to take away his son's life, and was only prevented by the intercession of Charles VI., Emperor of Austria, and Augustus II., King of Poland. Fifteen months later, the prince, having been released from his strict confinement in the Castle of Custrin, was employed by his father as the youngest member of the Chamber of Domains, but was not permitted to return to court until the marriage of his sister, the Princess Frederica, to the hereditary prince, Frederic of Baireuth. Shortly after this his father obliged him to marry the Princess Elizabeth Christina, daughter of Ferdinand Albrecht, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern. The ceremony took place on the 12th of June, 1733. Frederic's submission in this instance helped to regain for him his father's good will. Frederic William gave the princess the palace of Schönhausen, and to the prince the county of Ruppin, and in 1734, the town of Reinsberg, where his life was peaceful and happy, though he neglected his wife, who strove to please him.