RAUBIER'S FREDERICK THE SECOND AND HIS TIMES.

VON Rstimen visited England in the beginning of 1835, to pur- sue historical researches in the British Museum and the State Paper 011ie°. He remained less than a twelvemonth; during which he not in saw all the sights of London and its vicinity, and

mixed m all the society to which he got necess, but made a run.

nine tour through England, Scotland, and 'Wired. The results of his observations on the present, he published in three volumes; besides which, he got up a thick book of extracts from the original

papers relating at the transactions of the whole of ELIZABETH'S

connexion with M ARY Queen of Scots. In add it ion to hese results of indefatigable but hasty industry, Von Rstreen has produced

another volume, ostensibly. professing to throw mneh new light

'spun the history of FREDERICK the Great, but in reality descrip- tive of the character of the kings, courtiers, and courts of Europe,

from 1740, the sear of FREDERICK'S accession to the throne of

Prussia, till the close of the Seven Years War in 1763. The sources whence he has drawn his materials, ore the despatehes of the English Ambassadors, to be found in our State Paper Office; and as those which passed through his hands consisted of 292 folio volumes, we may be tolerably sure, that unless in addition to his other avocations in society and at the British Museum, he VMS enabled to despatch more than a volume per m..rning, his exami- nation must have been cursory, and that the running reading of Von RAUMER has not exhausted all the treasures of our archives relating to European history in the eighteenth century. The apparent purpose of the publication is to exalt the cha- racter of FREDERICK. But if it more clearly shoe s that he was unwillingly driven into the Seven Years War, by a league which Russia, Austria, and France had formed to crush him, it also ex- hibits his invasion of Silesia, on his aeeession, in it more unjustifiable point of view. Neither do the documents bring out much of the heroic in his early character. According to the reports of the Ambassadors, he displays in his interviews with them a strange compound of impudence, trickery, skill, and openness, which in mode has a mixture of cunning and childishness, but which con- cealed a diplomatic substance that achieved its purposes, and without any actual commission of falsehood. In private life, we should have called him a deep oddity.

The matter whose results we have stated in n paragraph, woulC, even with its explanatory and connecting parts, have bard/ filled a pamphlet : but this brevity would not have paid the Pro- fessor for his morning labours. He therefore has taken out the most striking and readable passages of the Ambassador's despatches, which met his eye, relating to the foreign policy and domestic condition of the country ut whose court they were resid- ing, as well as sketches of the character of the Monarch, Minis- ters, favourites, and mistresses, and the best way of influencing them. Considering the purpose of the author, which seems to have been to present the reader with a sort of secret history of Europe during the reign of FREDERICK the Second, the book is unsuccessful ; being too fragmentary, too discursive, and for neral readers too obscure, as they cannot fully understand the extracts without consulting a history of the period. Some of it, however, is interesting, from the account given of the business manners of FREDERICK; much of it is amusing ; and much of it instructive, for its complete exhibition of vice in high quarters, and its perfect exposures of the meanness and folly by which an ignorant people may be governed either by a barbarous or polished court. The picture, perhaps exaggerated, which Lady MARY MONTAGU has drawn of the Court of GEORGE the First, is bad enough ; but it is nothing to the business-like narratives of the Ambassadors from Sweden and Russia, of the venality of the Ministers, and the profligacy of Queens nnd Princesses ; or of the accounts from Paris of the formal etiquette with which vice was openly acknowledged. Is it not lamentable to see peace or war—the happiness or misery of nations—dependent upon the whim of a strumpet queen, or the caprice of a royal mistress ? It would, how- ever, be still more melancholy, were it not that a people must deserve such degradation before they could submit to it.

As we propose laying before our readers a connected view of this courtly and national corruption, we will begin with the be- ginning. The first extract is from a despatch of the Swedish AmbasSador in 1740. The Diet alluded to was a species of Par- liament; and the object of England and Russia was to turn out the existing Ministry, reinstate the last, and secure a majority, in order to settle the succession to the crown ; a thing for which France was also striving.

On the Nth of May, Burnaby reports—" It is not yet fully decided whether the Diet shall meet. In the case of convocation, the sum of six thousand pounds and upwards will be necessary to he employed towards procuring a re- turn of the dietines of the best. intentioned of the burghers and the clergy: and towards making such of' the head families amongst the nobility, who are known to be well disposed, and have not wherewithal to be at the expense of the journey, to appear themselves at the Diet; and not throw away their proxies upon such of their relations who may happen to be so town, and who are frequently found to act in complaisance to private interests, contrary to the inclinations of their constituents; as was the case in the last Diet, when several sober heads of families remained in the country, out of indigence or laziness, and deputed their hot-headed sons, a parcel of young officers, to act for them, only because their posts obliged them to be upon the spot. " Of this sum of six thousand pounds, Mr. Bestucheff (a Russian) says, be is already empowered to pay one •half, and it is calculated to be sufficient to secure the election of a proper Marshal and a number of friends in the Secret Committee ; but then it is fit I should apprise your Lordship that further re-

mittances will be necessary when these points are gained." • • a On the 17th of June, the English Government assigned four thousand pounds for the above-mentioned expenses; and on the same day Burnaby writes- " The French Ambassador offers to the King of Sweden, that the King his master would immediately give regiments to his Swedish Majesty's two sons, by Mademoiselle Taube, and settle estates upon each of them in Alsace " Yet the King answered, " That no personal interest could have any influence in fixing his determination."

Ou the 1st of August, Burnaby writes—" If we are so happy as to get a plurality of voices in the election of a Marshal and of the members that com- pose the Select Committee, I think it will then be in his Majesty's and the Czarina's power, for a trifle of expense, to appoint the person they please for successor to these dominions, as it is generally allowed the French design doing, if their party prevail."

Soon afterwards, the Diet was summoned to meet on the 4th of December )740; and on the 29th of August, Burnaby writes—" My table is not less

frequented than any of the foreign ambassadors (which become extraordinary allowances) • the additional number of guests, who must be fed and caressed, to be kept firm during the Diet, will enhance my expenses far above what my

allowance is able to bear." • • • On the 9th of December, the Ambassador writes—" The speaker of the peasants has engaged himself to be our friend for the value of one hundred ducats, that be has already touched. The majorityof voices depends on giving money ; the demands for money are gradually rising." In the despatches of later years we find statements of what the clergy, nobles, citizens, and peasants (all without exception), received : nay, the Am- bassador writes, The nobles are to be had by the highest bidder, as we pur- chase cattle in Smithfield ; but Sweden is not worth so much money !" • • " None but members are allowed to be present at a debate in any of the As- semblies of the States, which makes it difficult to hear what passes among

them; but two of the College of the Nobles have offered, for the value of 1001., to bring me an account every other day of what passes in their house during the whole Diet. I have made each of them a present already of a suit of clothes, which they greatly wanted, by way of earnest."

At one time, however, there was a doubt whether all this trouble and money might not be thrown away, through the body already mentioned. See, 0 people ! the dilemmas of queens, kings, and counsellors, on account of a miss. BURNABY is writing- " According to the advices our friends say they receive of the elections in the provinces, we are sure of five parts in eight of the clergy, burghers, and pea- sant:, and in hopes of balancing the power of the nobility. The city of Stock- holm is so equally divided, that the election will entirely depend upon the old or new method of collecting the voices. The decision of this material point lies now before the senate, where the sentiments are also so nearly equal, that it may chance to depend on the King's double vote to determine it as be thinks fit. But what will your Lordship say or think it' his Swedish Majesty's deter- mination should be in favour of our adversaries? I own 1 apprehend some- thing like it ; for his Swedish Majesty, having nothing more at heart than to retain Mademoiselle Taube in town during the Diet, against the Queen's earnest entreaties and the advice of his most faithful servants, is capable, in a peevish humour, of risking his all, of throwing himself entirely into the hands of the French Ambassador and the French party, who have promised to support her. The Queen has already shown her husband such visible marks of coldness on this account, that to make her easy, his Swedish 31ajesty was pleased to promise that Mademoiselle Taube should be sent away. But Count Gyllenborg, Baron Spam, and Mr. St. Severin, are so perpetually with that lady, advising her not to leave the country, and assuring her that if she does it will be once for all, that it is doubtful whose influence will at last prevail, and whether the decision may not occasion au irreconcileable breach between their Swedish Majesties.

If we turn to St. Petersburg, about the same time, when the Empress ELIZABETH was on the throne, we shall see that there were other methods of gaining an influence besides money and treating. Mr. WIcH is an English Ambassador ; LErrocoa was the physician of the Empress, and a great political intriguer.

" I brought Lestocq to a reconciliation with Messrs. Bestucheff, and pre- vailed on him to take a pension from his Majesty the King of England of yearly 600/. He was highly gratified, promised much, but at the same time is paid by France. The Empress hates and tear, the King of Prussia. " The Russian nobles love above all things to live at their ease and to tyran- nize over their miserable boors, who are the greatest slaves in the world. " I ant informed that they intend, at Paris, to choose the handsomest young nobleman they can find in France, and send him hither as ambassador. This is note bad scheme ; and they may found great hopes thereupon. ' A younger man and a new face,' says Wich, ' will do perfectly well at this court.' The Empress frequently appears in man's clothes; and the ornament of the Garter, Would, 1 ant sure, please her above all things."

A new Ambassador goes on upon a grander scale—

Mr. Olsufiow is the soul of Woronzow, who speaks but as Olsufiow prompts. For 1500 ducats ready money and 500 per annum pension, I can secure this person, and I imagine I can make very great use of him. Funk, the Saxon Ambassador, has similar influence : he serves his court faithfully, but has re- ceived no salary for nine quarters, and therefore is often in great distress. He will serve the King faithfully for the same sum which I have proposed for Olsufiow.

" The third person who must be gained is Wolkow, the private secretary of Bestucheff. A present of 500 ducats and a pension of 250 will make this per- son my own. Hitherto, however, I have made preliminary offers only to Olsus Low."

On the 24th of July, Holderness approves the payment of all these sums ; and on the 9th of August Williams writes, that " a convention had at length been signed with Russia, the main object of which was aid against France and eoeration with Austria." Besides the usual diplomatic presents, Bestucheff received 10,000/, and then ininningly enough requested that an extraordinary present might be given to Woronzow. Olsufiow accepted with thanks what was offered ; whether a similar artangentent was effected with Funk does not appear. " It is certain," continues Williams, " that whatever money this court is to receive by the first secret article, goes iuto the Empress's privy purse : and as he is at present building two or three very large palaces, she wants a sum of

money to carry on these buildings; and this has greatly contributed to finish the convention so soon.

The Ambassador continues—" The great Chancellor Bestucheff exerted him- self much to our advantage. Great joy appeared in his face when he found his avarice satisfied by the private offers. Woronzow, too, did his best. Would his Majesty be pleased to give him something above his ordinary free, to buy him a ring : 5001. bestowed in this manner would have a great effect is carrying on future business in this court."

Two days after, 11th of August, Williams writes—" The great Chancellor assured me, in the strongest terms, that any augmentation of the first payment stipulated by the first secret article, would be extremely agreeable, and a sort of personal obligation to her Imperial Majesty. This augmentation «hall put both this court and the Empress entirely into his Majesty's management: 50,000/. or so, fur the Empress's private use, would have a great effect. In short, all that has been given hitherto, is to purchase the assistance of the forces of Russia, but this last sum, if given, will purchase the Empress." • • • " Bestucheff complains, that the Empress gives him oniv 7000 rubles a year, which is not enough to make him independent. If the Xing of England will give him it pension of 2500/. he will, in future, serve and be wholly de- voted to him." Tills desire was granted on the 8th of August.

The Empress ELIZABETH in her youth- " Princess Elizabeth is sick, or has feigned herself so, fur some time. Some report it is because she was not chosen instead of the present Empress, and others nay not to be at the coronation, because it is thought she is with child by a grenadier, whom she is in love with, and that she could not appear in robes without discovering, her condition. If this be the reason or not, I cannot affirm ; but so far is certain, she leads a very irregular life, and the Czarina seems not to dislike, I suppose, that she should ruin her interest ; for instead of sending away the favourite grenadier, who is, it is true. a gentleman, her Majesty has dismissed him her service, that he may be always at the Priocess'a command ; he will in time probably ruin her. When I consider the wit and beauty of that young lady, I cannot forbear being sorry to see she orposes her- self to such a degree, for an time it must be known. This has been told me is great confidence by the surgeon, M. Lestocq, who was born at Hanover." • • " There has been a great intrigue carried on to get away Princess Elizabeth's favourite, the great grenadier, and substitute in his place Major Bitola, who she doth (? nut) love ; but, nevertheless, lie is continually with her, and the grenadier has been stripped of all she has given him. and sent to Siberia! this had very much chagrined the Dutchess of 3Iecklenburg, who fears, by the interest of the Iliron family, the Princess Elizabeth will lie more caressed by the Czarina than herself and her daughter. " The Dutchess of .Mecklenburg continues to be very much indisposed, and it is thought she will have a great deal of trouble to escape, considering she has drank a great deal of brandy of late years. " Money is continually wanted here ; and I believe nobody can imagine but those who have been at Peterehurg, how expensive a p' ace it is, particularly for foreign ministers, who are obliged to have fine equipages ; and ou all great holydays fine new clothes, that cost as much again as at London ur Paris. But as her Majesty loves to see every body very tine, I must submit to it, and conform to the fashion, as all the other foreign ministers are obliged to do."

Here is the person who afterwards became so famous as CATHERINE the Second- " She is very uneasy about the reports of this court entering into measures with France, and of a French ambassador's coining here. Site offered to do every thing I could suggest to prevent all this. I drew her attention to the circumstance of the danger which would hence accrue to her and her husband, for without French assistance her adversaries, the Szhowaloifs, were not powerful enough to disturb the sucees,ion to the throne. " She thanked time ten times over for these hints: she said she saw the danger, and that she would animate the Great Duke to do the utmost in this affair ; that she could du a great deal more if she had money. for that here nothing can be done without it ; that she was forced to keep even the Empress's chambermaids in pay ; that she had nobody to address herself to upon such an occasion ; but that, if the King would graciously and generously be pleased to lend her a sum of money, she would give his Majesty her note for it, and would repay it to him the moment she had it in her power to do so. And, at the same time, I might give her word of honour to the King, that every farthing of it should be applied to what she hoped was their common service ; and she desired 1 would be an- swerable to his Majesty fur her manner of thinking and acting. She asks twenty thousand ducats." This sum was granted her on the 8th of August.

This is pretty well; but there is more of it, could we spare the space for its full display. Even the confidential minister of FREDERICK was riot, it would seem, inaccessible to a bribe; but as the veteran diplomatic Peer, Lord HYNDFORD, who states the fact, admitted the receipt of a present of 10,000 dollars for himself,.

his evidence at best is that of an approver. But these things were nothing to the difficulties at Paris,' where Louts the Fif-

teenth was in a sad dilemma. He had been smitten by a new face ; and the lady (the sister of his old flame) required sole supremacy, claim ng the house and all the etceteras attachett

to the office of " King's Mistress," and demanding the rustica- tion of her rival; so that, what with the opposite attractions of novelty and old associations, the regal debauchee was sorely

" puzzled which to choose." Yet this regime, according to BURKE, was " the unbought grace of life, the cheap defence of nations, the nurse of manly sentiment and heroic enter- prise : this is the system under which flourished " that sen- sibility of principle, that chastity of honour which felt a stain like a wound, which inspired courage whilst it mitigated ferocity, which ennobled whatever it touched, and under which vice itself lost half its evil by losing all its grossness.- So far from grieving that " the age of chivalry is gone;' one ...tight to cons.der its de- parture a blessing. A question arises—is our own age better? In pecuniary mat- ters we suspect it is, on account of the diminution of the " secret service money," which no longer permits such wholesale bribery. It is, however, yet whispered—or at least within a very few )ears it was—that "a handsome young man" is still the most effective ambassador to a court where there happens to be a reigning or a ruling wanton. It should be observed that there is an appendix, which Rittman desires should be read first ; and which consists of selections from the correspondence of the Russian Ambassador during the earlier part of the century from 1704 to 1730-9. As regards the- quality of the matter, these are the gems of the book; for the

Ambassadors did not confine themselves merely to what are called affairs of state, but described the face of the country, and investigated the condition of the people: of which Wrstrwonris furnishes brief but graphic accounts. Indeed, the whole corre- spondence does not suggest very favourable comparisons with regard to modern diplomatists. In the mere art of writing—the power of formal arrangement, and rounded composition—they would have the advantage ; but the old school are more natural and more real.