and other particulars, cannot rank among its blessings the neighbourhood of so great and warlike a monarch as the king of Prussia. In the course of the late war, both the Mecklenburgs suffered very severely from this circumstance. The Russians and Austrians, who pillaged the middle Mark of Brandenburg, did not ascertain with nicety where the king of Prussia's dominions ended, and the duke of Strelitz's began; but as often as there was any thing valuable to carry away, plundered both without distinction. And when that monarch himself was driven to extremity, and obliged to use every means of recruiting his army, the Mecklenburghers were cajoled and seduced by every art into the Prussian service; and when these methods failed, they were, as it is said, taken by force. Even at present, whenever the Prussian recruiting officers know of a strong well-looking peasant belonging to the duchy of Mecklenburg, they use every means they can devise to seduce him into their master's service. Complaints are frequently made. of these practices to his Prussian majesty, and redress will be given when it shall please the Lord.

The second day after our arrival, we spent the forenoon in viewing every thing worthy of notice in the town, and dined again at court, where there was a more numerous company than had been the first day. After dinner we accompanied his highness and the princess to an assembly in the town, and returned to sup at the court. During supper there was a concert of vocal and instru

mental music.

Having received every mark of polite attention from this prince, we took leave of him and the princess, and left the town early next morning, and returned by Old Strelitz, which is not in such a flourishing condition, or situated in so fine a country, as New Brandenburg. While British subjects pass through this country, they will naturally reflect with gratitude and veneration on the character of a princess whose virtues are an ornament to the British throne, and whose amiable manners and pru

dent conduct have united the affections of a people divided by party, and irreconcilable in sentiment on almost every other subject.

On our return to Berlin, I found a letter from Lord Marechal, informing me, that the king was expected at Potsdam within a very few days; that great preparations were making for the reception of the princess of Hesse and the duchess of Wurtemberg, who were then both at Berlin, and were to pay a visit to the king at Sans-Souci; that they would be accompanied by the princess Amelia, the king's unmarried sister, and his two sisters-in-law, for all of whom apartments were preparing at the new palace, where his majesty also was to reside all the time that his illustrious guests should remain. My lord added, that the celebrated Le Kain, and a company of French comedians, were already arrived, and also a company of Italian actors and singers for the opera; and that both companies were to perform at the theatre within the palace; that a great concourse of company was expected at Potsdam on the occasion; that most of the apartments in the town were already bespoke, and, as he imagined we should incline to be there, he had engaged lodgings for us.

The duke was extremely pleased with this obliging behaviour of Lord Marechal. I afterwards spoke to Mr. Harris on this subject, and inquired if he intended to be at Potsdam on the occasion? He told me, that as the plays, operas, and other entertainments, were to be given in the palace, nobody could attend them except those who had particular invitations; that neither he nor any of the foreign ministers had been, or, as he understood, were to be invited, nor did he hear that any strangers were expected; and that he imagined it would be unbecoming the duke of Hamilton to be at Potsdam at that time, except he could with propriety attend the entertainments at Sans-Souci.

His Grace, on hearing this account, determined to remain here; but some days after, I received a letter from Count Finkenstein, acquainting me, that he had orders

to invite the duke of Hamilton and me to attend the entertainments to be given at Sans-Souci. This afforded us great satisfaction, not so much on account of the public entertainments, as because it will give us opportunities, which we could not otherwise have, of seeing the king of Prussia, and probably in an easier way than at Berlin. As for the usual amusements and splendour of courts, his Grace displays more coolness about them than one would naturally imagine, considering the manner in which he is received, his time of life, and his personal appearance. Namque ipsa decoram

Cæsariem nato genetrix, lumenque juventæ
Purpurem, et lætos oculis afflârat honores.

Since our return from Mecklenburg, we have passed our time almost constantly with Mr. Harris, who accompanied the duke yesterday on his last visit to Shoenhausen; for we shall probably not return to this place from Potsdam. Mr. Fortescue set out a few days ago for Frankfort on the Maine; his easy humour, and original turn of thought, make his absence felt with pain by all who have tasted the pleasure of his conversation.

Adieu.

LETTER LXXIV.

Potsdam.

WE have been here about a fortnight. His majesty arrived at the new palace of Sans-Souci about the same time that we came to Potsdam. The princess Amelia, who is mistress of the ceremonies, was there to receive him. The company I formerly mentioned are all lodged in the palace. I will give you a short sketch of what has passed.

There has been a theatrical entertainment every second or third day. His Grace and I attend at Sans-Souci on these days only. We drive from Potsdam about five in the evening. The company assemble in one of the apartments of the palace about that time, and walk to the playhouse a little before six. The theatre is very well

contrived for the accommodation of a small audience. There are neither boxes nor pit; but semicircular benches in the front of the stage. The foremost bench is upon the floor; the others rise gradually behind, that all the spectators may see equally well.

A few minutes after the company are placed, the royal family arrive. The princess Amelia is led in by Prince Frederick of Brunswick, and the princess of Hesse by the king. The duchess of Wurtemberg, and the other princesses, are led in after: they, and the ladies their attendants, sit in the first rows. The king generally seats

The piece then begins,

himself in the third or fourth. and is usually finished about nine, after which all the company return to the large apartment, where the king remains conversing in a familiar manner till supper is ready. He then retires, and goes to bed at ten.

Those whom the princess Amelia, orders to be invited, stay to supper; and there is generally a pretty numerous company. We have been at this repast three or four times, and usually get to our lodgings at Potsdam about midnight.

Hitherto there have been no comedies acted, and I understand there are to be none, because Le Kain never acts in comedy; and for another reason, which is equivalent to a thousand, his majesty loves tragedy better.

Le Kain has already appeared in some of his principal characters. You need not doubt of his exerting all his powers before such an audience-I might have said, such an auditor. The king seemed pleased with his acting, and of consequence the courtiers were in raptures, and vied with each other who should praise him most.

The tragedy of Oedipus is his majesty's favourite piece. This has been represented twice, and he seemed to enjoy it very much on both occasions; particularly when the following speech against priests was pronounced.—

Tandis que par vos soins vous pouves tout apprendre,
Quel besoin que le Ciel ici se fasse entendre?

Ces Dieux, dont le pontife a promis le secours,

Dans leurs temples, Seigneur, n'habitent pas toujours;

On ne voit point leur bras si prodigue en miracles;
Ces antres, ces trépieds, qui rendent leur oracles,
Ces organes d'airain que nos mains ont formés,
Toujours d'un souffle pur ne sont point animés.
Ne nous endormons point sur la foi de leurs prêtres ;
Au pied du sanctuaire il est souvent des traîtres,
Qui nous asservissant sous un pouvoir sacré,
Font parler les destins, les font taire à leur gré.
Voyez, examinez, avec un soin extrême,
Philoctète, Phorbas, & Jocaste elle-même.

Ne nous fions qu'à nous, voyons tout par nos yeux,

Ce sont là nos trépieds, nos oracles, nos Dieux.

And afterwards, when Jocasta pours forth another tirade of the same kind, which terminates with these lines,Nos Prêtres ne sont point ce qu'un vain peuple pense;

Notre crédulité fait toute leur science;

I happened to sit next to the abbé Bastiani, and, while the actress spoke this, the king started up, coughed, and laughed, with very significant gestures, to the ecclesiastic.

But though these passages, and some others, seem at first sight to be severe against priests, the tragedy of Oedipus, upon the whole, does them great honour. For all that is said against them, turns out to be unjust, and it appears that the oracle, which had been treated in such severe terms, was true, and that the high-priest had acted throughout like an honest and virtuous man. It surprises me, therefore, that Voltaire should have taken the plot of his play from the Greek tragedy on this subject, which has constrained him, like Balaam the son of Barak, to do honour to those whom he would have been better pleased to have cursed.And the king on his part (if I may presume to say it) could not have pitched upon a tragedy less à-propos, if his intention was to turn the clergy into ridicule.

I have no objection to this piece, on account of the honour done to the clergy; because I cannot help forming an opinion of men from my own experience: And I have known so many good men of that profession, that I should respect it on their account, exclusive of other reasons.