POESIES.
In these years, Friedrich goes on victoriously with his Law-Reform;
Herculean Cocceji with Assistants, backed by Friedrich, beneficently
conquering Province after Province to him;--Kur-Mark, Neu-Mark,
Cleve (all easy, in comparison, after Pommern), and finally Preussen
itself;--to the joy and profit of the same. Cocceji's method, so far
as the Foreign on-looker can discern across much haze, seems to be
three-fold:--
1. Extirpation (painless, were it possible) of the Petti-fogger Species;
indeed, of the Attorney Species altogether: "Seek other employments;
disappear, all of you, from these precincts, under penalty!" The
Advocate himself takes charge of the suit, from first birth of it; and
sees it ended,--he knows within what limit of time.
2. Sifting out of all incompetent Advocates, "Follow that
Attorney-Company, you; away!"--sifting out all these, and retaining in
each Court, with fees accurately settled, with character stamped sound,
or at least SOUNDEST, the number actually needed. In a milder way, but
still more strictly, Judges stupid or otherwise incompetent are riddled
out; able Judges appointed, and their salaries raised.
3. What seems to be Friedrich's own invention, what in outcome he thinks
will be the summary of all good Law-Procedure: A final Sentence (three
"instances" you can have, but the third ends it for you) within the
Year. Good, surely. A justice that intends to be exact must front the
complicacies in a resolute piercing manner, and will not be tedious. Nay
a justice that is not moderately swift,--human hearts waiting for it,
the while, in a cancerous state, instead of hopefully following their
work,--what, comparatively, is the use of its being never so exact!--
Simple enough methods; rough and ready. Needing, in the execution, clear
human eyesight, clear human honesty,--which happen to be present here,
and without which no "method" whatever can be executed that will really
profit.
In the course of 1748, Friedrich, judging by Pommern and the other
symptoms that his enterprise was safe, struck a victorious Medal upon
it: "FRIDERICUS BORUSSORUM REX," pressing with his sceptre the oblique
Balance to a level posture; with Epigraph, "EMENDATO JURE." [Letter
to Cocceji, accompanying Copy of the Medal in Gold, "24th June, 1748"
(Seyfarth, ii. 67 n.).] And by New-year's day, 1750, the matter was in
effect completed; and "justice cheap, expeditious, certain," a fact in
all Prussian Lands.
Nay, in 1749-1751, to complete the matter, Cocceji's "Project of a
general Law-Code," PROJEKT DES CORPORIS JURIS FRIDERICIANI, came forth
in print: [Halle, 2 vols. folio (Preuss, i. 316; see IB. 315 n., as to
the LAW-PROCEDURE, $c. now settled by Cocceji).] to the admiration of
mankind, at home and abroad; "the First Code attempted since Justinian's
time," say they. PROJECT translated into all languages, and read in all
countries. A poor mildewed copy of this CODEX FRIDERICIANUS--done at
Edinburgh, 1761, not said by whom; evidently bought at least TWICE, and
mostly never yet read (nor like being read)--is known to me, for years
past, in a ghastly manner! Without the least profit to this present, or
to any other Enterprise;--though persons of name in Jurisprudence call
it meritorious in their Science; the first real attempt at a Code in
Modern times. But the truth is, this Cocceji CODEX remained a PROJECT
merely, never enacted anywhere. It was not till 1773, that Friedrich
made actual attempt to build a Law-Code and did build one (the
foundation-story of one, for his share, completed since), in which this
of Cocceji had little part. In 1773, the thing must again be mentioned;
the "Second Law-Reform," as they call it. What we practically know from
this time is, That Prussian Lawsuits, through Friedrich's Reign, do all
terminate, or push at their utmost for terminating, within one year from
birth; and that Friedrich's fame, as a beneficent Justinian, rose
high in all Countries (strange, in Countries that had thought him
a War-scourge and Conquering Hero); strange, but undeniable;
[See--Gentleman's Magazine,--xx. 215-218 ("May, 1750"): eloquent,
enthusiastic LETTER, given there, "of Baron de Spon to Chancellor
D'Aguessan," on these inimitable Law Achievements.] and that his own
People, if more silently, yet in practice very gladly indeed, welcomed
his Law-Reform; and, from day to day, enjoyed the same,--no doubt with
occasional remembrance who the Donor was.
Of Friedrich's Literary works, nobody, not even Friedrich himself, will
think it necessary that we say much. But the fact is, he is doing a
great many things that way: in Prose, the MEMOIRS OF BRANDENBURG, coming
out as Papers in the Academy from time to time; [From 1746 and onward:
first published complete (after slight revision by Voltaire), Berlin,
1751.] in Verse, very secret as yet, the PALLADION ("exquisite
Burlesque," think some), the ART OF WAR (reckoned truly his best Piece
in verse):--and wishes sometimes he had Voltaire here to perfect him
a little. This too would be one of the practical charms of Voltaire.
[Friedrich's Letter to Algarotti (--OEuvres,--xviii. 66), "12th
September, 1749."] For though King Friedrich knows and remembers always,
that these things, especially the Verse part, are mere amusements in
comparison, he has the creditable wish to do these well; one would
not fantasy ILL even on the Flute, if one could help it. "Why does n't
Voltaire come; as Quantz of the Flute has done?" Friedrich, now that
Voltaire has fallen widower, renews his pressings, "Why don't you come?"
Patience, your Majesty; Voltaire will come.
Nobody can wish details in this Department: but there is one thing
necessary to be mentioned, That Friedrich in these years, 1749-1752,
has Printers out at Potsdam, and is Printing, "in beautiful quarto
form, with copperplates," to the extent of twelve copies, the OEUVRES
(Poetical, that is) DU PHILOSOPHE DE SANS-SOUCI. Only twelve copies,
I have heard; gift of a single copy indicating that you are among the
choicest of the chosen. Copies have now fallen extremely rare (and are
not in request at all, with my readers or me); but there was one Copy
which, or the Mis-title of which, as OEUVRE DE "POESHIE" DU ROI MON
MAITRE, became miraculously famous in a year or two;--and is still
memorable to us all! On Voltaire's arrival, we shall hear more of these
things. Enough to say at present that the OEUVRES DU PHILOSOPHE DE
SANS-SOUCI: AU DONJON DU CHATEAU: AVEC PRIVILEGE D'APOLLON,--"three
thinnish quarto volumes, all the Poetry then on hand,"--was finished
early in 1750, before Voltaire came. That, when Voltaire came, a revisal
was undertaken, a new Edition, with Voltaire's corrections and other
changes (total suppression of the PALLADION, for one creditable
change): that this Edition was to have been in Two Volumes; that One,
accordingly, rather thicker than the former sort, was got finished in
1752 (same TITLE, only the new Date, and "no DONJON DU CHATEAU this
time"), One Volume in 1752; after which, owing to the explosions that
ensued, no Second came, nor ever will;--and that the actual contents of
that far-famed OEUVRE DE "POESHIE" (number of volumes even) are points
of mystery to me, at this day. [Herr Preuss--in the CHRONOLOGICAL LIST
of Friedrich's Writings (a useful accurate Piece otherwise), and in two
other places where he tries--is very indistinct on this of DONJON DU
CHATEAU; and it is all but impossible to ascertain from him WHAT, in an
indisputable manner, the OEUVRE DE "POESHIE" may have been. Here are
the places for groping, if another should be induced to try:--OEuvres
de Frederic,--x. (Preface, p. ix); IB. xi. (Preface, p. ix); IB.--Table
Chhronologique--(in what Volume this is, you cannot yet say; seems
preliminary to a GENERAL INDEX, which is infinitely wanted, but has not
yet appeared to this Editor's aid), p. 14.]
Friedrich's other employments are multifarious as those of a Land's
Husband (not inferior to his Father in that respect); and, like the
benefits of the diurnal Sun, are to be considered incessant, innumerable
and, in result to us-ward, SILENT also, impossible to speak of in this
place. From the highest pitch of State-craft (Russian Czarina now fallen
plainly hostile, and needing lynx-eyed diplomacy ever and anon), down
to that of Dredging and Fascine-work (as at Stettin and elsewhere), of
Oder-canals, of Soap-boiler Companies, and Mulberry-and-Silk Companies;
nay of ordaining Where, and where not, the Crows are to be shot, and
(owing to cattle-murrain) No VEAL to be killed: [Seyfarth, ii. 71, 83,
81; Preuss,--Buch fur Jedermann,--i. 101-109; &c.] daily comes the tide
of great and of small, and daily the punctual Friedrich keeps abreast
of it,--and Dryasdust has noted the details, and stuffed them into blind
sacks,--for forty years.
The Review seasons, I notice, go somewhat as follows. For Berlin and
neighborhood, May, or perhaps end of April (weather now bright, and
ground firm); sometimes with considerable pomp ("both Queens out," and
beautiful Female Nobilities, in "twenty-four green tents"), and often
with great complicacy of manoeuvre. In June, to Magdeburg, round by
Cleve; and home again for some days. July is Pommern: Onward thence to
Schlesien, oftenest in August; Schlesien the last place, and generally
not done with till well on in September. But we will speak of these
things, more specially, another time. Such "Reviews," for strictness of
inspection civil and military, as probably were not seen in the world
since,--or before, except in the case of this King's Father only.