war greatly confided, had agreed to deliver him up to the Auftrians; a defign which was to be executed when the King, as ufual, went out to reconnoitre, accompanied only by a few light hunters, and in which the Silefian was affifted by the curate of a neighbouring village. One day, as the King was going out for this purpose, a fervant of the Baron threw himfelf at his feet, and prefented him with a letter which he had been ordered to deliver to the curate, faying at the fame time, "Sire, I believe this letter contains fomething of confequence to your Majefty." The King perceiving in the letter evident marks of a confpiracy, and having discovered that an ambufcade was actually formed to surprise him, ordered a detachment of cavalry to feize upon the Baron. The officer who commanded the detachment being ignorant of the motive of this arreft, on the Baron's appearing to receive the King's or der with chearfulness and compofure, permitted him to retire for a moment in to another apartment, from whence he efcaped through the window. On the officer's return to the King, and acquainting him with the ill fuccefs of his commiffion, he only said to him, coldly, "Return to your corps: you're a clumfy fellow-I'll employ you no more on fuch an occafion." Another circumftance of extraordinary lenity is related with great confidence. While the King was in Silefia laft war, his confidential valet had been bribed to poifon him. The King, who is an excellent phyfiognomift, noticing one day that the valet trembled as he brought in his chocolate, looking ftedfastly in his face, faid to him, "I know you have been bribed to poifon me." He denied the charge; but the chocolate being given to a dog, it killed him in lefs than two hours. The King had fortitude enough to check his refentment; and having obliged the faithlefs wretch to difcover the perfon by whom he had been employed, only fent him to Spandau, from whence he has been fome years liberated. But while we do juftice to the character of this monarch, by adducing fuch circumftances as fpeak loudly for his merciful difpofition; we by no means think ourfelves intitled to fupprefs an inftance of indifputable authority, where the want of that lenity we have already feen fo eminently difplayed, was productive of a very melancholy confequence. The King's principal valet-de-chambre was a man greatly respected by persons of the firft rank, as well on account of his own perfonal qualities, as of the confequence which he derived from a freedom of intercourfe with his Majefty, whofe approbation he had for many years enjoyed: he had accumulated a little fortune by the perquifites of his office, and lived in a ftyle of confiderable elegance and comfort. It was this perfon's miffortune, about five year's fince, to offend his royal mafter, by what act we are unable to ascertain; but while the princeffes were at the new palace, the King had blamed him in very fevere terms; and, being diffatisfied with the excufes he made, told him he should be taken care of the moment the company departed. Accordingly, when the princeffes went to Berlin, his Majefty returned to his old palace at Sans-Souci; and, the next day, ordered an officer to conduct his valet to Potsdam, and place him as a drummer in the first regiment of foot guards. The poor man endeavoured to mollify the King by prayers and intreaties; but without fuccefs. He then begged the officer would permit him to take care of fome things in his room before he went; and, entering his own apartment, fhot himfelf through the head with a pistol which he had prepared for that purpose from the time when he was first threatened. The report of the pistol alarmed his Majefty, and the officer; they both went into the room, and found the unhappy creature expiring. This circumstance is faid to have greatly affected the King, who probably would not have permitted his old fervant to remain long in that ftate of degradation to which he had perhaps too hastily condemned him. Having given this anecdote of fudden and fevere refentment, we shall lay before our readers a remarkable display of deliberate generofity and munificence. General Lefchwitz had distinguished himself during the laft war in a very remarkable manner, on a variety of occafions, without receiving any fort of recompence; and after the conclufion of the peace, near fix years had elapfed, in all which time the King had hardly ever fpoke to him. At the end of this period, the government of Potsdam, and a regiment of guards, becoming at once vacant, this feemingly-neglected officer received them both from his royal master; and, in the fame year, a reverfionary Gg 2 grant grant of lands, to the amount of 200,000 crowns, falling into the King's hands, he embraced this new opportunity of rewarding the brave General, by a formal donation of them, accompanied with the following letter: "Monfieur le General Lefchwitz, the important fervices you rendered me laft war are ftill fresh in my remembrance. I have waited with impatience for an opportunity of rewarding you, which has not till this moment occurred. Go, and take poffeffion of the lands made over to you in the patent here inclofed. FREDERICK." The King's remarkable attachment to military affairs may be said to be hereditary. In the bed-chamber where the late King died, at the lower part of the window which looks into the garden, four panes of glafs have been removed, and their place fupplied by a fingle piece; through which the old King, whofe fupreme delight in life had been to see his troops exercise, used to fit and view them. Having at length become fo weak, from the increase of his diftemper, that he was unable to fit up, when at any time he was uncommonly languid, the attendants raised his head before the window, and a fight of the men under arms was perceived to operate like a cordial, and instantly to revive his fpirits. By frequent repetition, however, even this cordial loft its effect: his eyes became dim-when his head was raised, he could no longer perceive the foldiers and he expired! The literary character of the King of Pruffia is as confpicuous as his military genius: many of his productions have been tranflated into all the European languages; and his liberal patronage of learned men is fufficiently known. A variety of reafons have been given for the misunderstanding which prevailed between the King and Voltaire, after the friendship and familiarity they are known to have long experienced, and the honours and emoluments which had been conferred by the prince on the philofopher. The following is taken from the Memoirs of Voltaire, published by himfelf. Maupertuis, the French philofopher, who, as well as Voltaire, was then refident at the Pruffian court, became jealous of Voltaire's pre-eminence; and, in order to prejudice the fovereign against his cotemporary, propagated a report, that Voltaire, when the King one day fent him as ufual fome poetical produc tion to be corrected, obferved to a friend who happened to be prefent, that his Majefty had fent him fome of his foul linen to wash. Voltaire perceiving that he had fuffered from this report, returned the King, in the most respectful manner, his key of the chamberlainfhip, and the cross of the order with which he had been honoured, accompanied by the fol lowing verses. "Je les reçus avec tendreffe ; Je vous les rends avec douleur : Comme un amant jaloux, dans fa mau vaise humeur, Rend le portrait de fa maitreffe." Tranflation. These gifts which I was proud to wear, With poignant anguish I must now return: The lover thus, while jealous paffions burn, Sends back the picture of his fair. H—. The King, however, was far from being fo much offended as Voltaire had imagined, and fent him back the key and ribbon. But Maupertuis, during the absence of Voltaire, who immediately vifited the Duchefs of Gotha, under whofe patronage he wrote the Annals of the Empire, employed his malice so effectually, as confiderably to widen the breach. But this affair appears to have been foon forgotten by both parties, as a perfect amity is known to have afterwards fubfifted between them. The King is fond of the drama, as weli as of mufic; but he greatly prefers tragedy to comedy. When there is no reprefentation at the theatre, he frequently has private concerts in his own apartments, where he performs himself with the German flute, on which inftrument he has attained the highest degree of excellence. Extenfive as the King of Prussia's claims undoubtedly are to an intimate acquaintance with univerfal fcience, the connoiffeurs will not allow that he has a just tafte for painting, because he purchafes many pictures which they esteem very indifferent: and certain it is, that his Majefty pays not the leaft deference to thefe gentlemen; but collects fuch pieces as appear excellent in his own eyes, without regarding what any one may think of his judgement. It has no weight with him, that the piece is faid to be painted by Raphael, Guido, or Corregio Corregio; if he perceives no beauty in it, he very frankly fays fo, and without ceremony gives the preference to the production of a more modern or obscure artist. We have observed that the King of Pruffia is fond of repartee; and that he encourages, by his own example, a livelinefs of converfation at his table, where he is faid to have fometimes borne very severe retorts with the moft perfect good humour. The following well authenticated anecdote furnishes a very striking inftance of the freedom which may be ufed with him even on the scene of military ftrictness; and at a time too when he is not in the beft of humours. Two regiments were in the field, one of which was that of General This officer was fond of company, and ufually paffed more of his time with foreign ministers and ftrangers in general than most others in the Pruffian fervice. Something had probably happened to chagrin the King that morning; and while this regiment advanced in a line, he faid to the General, who ftood near him, "Your regiment is uneven, Monfieur! and it is not to be wondered at; you play too much at cards." The General called out inftantly with a loud voice to the regiment, "Hait;" and they instantly ftopped. Then, turning to the King, he replied, "I cannot, Sire, deny my attachment to cards-but have the goodness to fee if the regiment is not ftraight." The regiment was in a very exact line; and the King turned away, evidently difpleafed with himself. This manly officer had never afterwards the smallest reason to imagine that the King had taken his freedom amifs. There is a striking inftance of his Majefty's agreeable fpirit of pleafantry, in the ftory of the Princess of Brunswick and a custom-house officer. This Princess having ordered fome rich ftuffs from Lyons, which pay a confiderable duty at Stetin, the place of her confinement, the officer rudely detained them for the duties. The Princess, enraged at this infult, fent word, that if he would himself bring the goods, he fhould be satisfied. Accordingly, as foon as he arrived, the Princefs fecured every article, and, after complimenting him with three or four fmart cuffs on the face, turned him out of the apartment. Upon this he drew up a memorial, complaining bitterly of the treatment he had The King of Pruffia poffeffes a mind infinitely fuperior to that mean difpofition which liftens to the despicable retailers of flander. He is aware that the perfidy which can betray a real converfation, may be capable of inventing a falfe one; and will hear no little, malicious tales, of what has paffed in private companies, or during the hours of conviviality: any one who fhould attempt to infult his ear with anecdotes of this kind, would be driven from his prefence with difgrace. Nor will he pay the smallest attention to anonymous letters, or any other kind of injurious information, where the accufer declines appearing openly in fupport of the charge, but treats them with the utmost contempt. This great prince is fo perfectly free from fufpicion and perfonal apprehenfions, that he refides at Sans-Souci without any guard whatever; an orderly ferjeant only attending him in the day time, for the purpose of carrying occafional orders to the garrifon at Potsdam, who conftantly returns thither in the evening : in his houfe, where the King every night fleeps, there are seldom more than ten or a dozen perfons, the fervants included. When we confider that SansSouci is a folitary manfion half a league from Potsdam, where the guards are fhat up, and could therefore be of no fervice in case of an attack on his person during the night; and that he who lies thus defenceless is an arbitrary sovereign, governing agreeably to the dictates of his own humour and understanding, without regarding the murmurs or difcontents of any one, and who has no doubt many inveterate enemies; these circumstances muft certainly be allowed to argue very uncommon magnanimity. The laws of Pruffia, which his Majefty has collected, altered, and improved, are comprised in a very narrow compafs, and published under the title of the the Frederician Code; and the King is careful to see them properly enforced. His reverfion of the decree against Arnaud the miller, who was condemned to pay rent for his mill after the landlord had diverted the ftream fo as to render him incapable of working it, and his exemplary punishment of the judge who made this oppreffive decifion, are fresh in the memory of every one. All business with the King is tranfacted by letters; even the meaneft of his fubjects may apply to him this way, and is fure to receive an answer. Every petition or proposal must be made in writing; and no favour, however trifling, is ever granted, unless it be applied for in this manner, even though the party may have daily opportunities of making a perfonal requeft. This etiquette alfo extends to foreign ministers; who are not admitted to an audience at Sans-Souci, without afking it in writing. The King, who thinks the smallest controul over mens confciences highly unjuft, allows the free exercise of all religions throughout his dominions; and has even the delicacy not to influence them by the leaft preference to any particular fect. Inftead of faints or crucifixes, the King intends ornamenting his churches with the portraits of those men who are most serviceable to the ftate; and has actually begun, by already placing thofe of the Marthals Schwerin, Keith, Winterfield, and some others, in the great Lutheran church at Berlin. Notwithstanding the earnest attention difplayed by this fovereign for the eftablishment of commerce in his dominions, every effort has proved ineffectual; ow ing principally to injudicious taxes, monopolies, and other restrictions. The opinion of the King of Pruffia, on the affairs of Great Britain, as delivered a few years fince, though in a private converfation, will no doubt be accept able. The Duke of H-being at the Pruffian court, his Majesty asked him, among other questions refpecting England, at what age a peer could take his feat in parliament? On the Duke's replying," At twenty-one," "It is evident then," faid the King, "that the English patricians acquire the neceffary talents for legislation much fooner than thofe of ancient Rome, who were not admitted into the fenate till the age of forty." After this he inquired about the ftate of the Earl of Chatham's health, and expreffed the highest esteem for the cha racter of that minifter. He then asked if any letters had been lately received from America; obferving there were accounts by the way of Hol land, which mentioned that the English troops had been driven from Bofton, of which place the Americans were then in poffeffion. On being answered, that the Ïaft letters had indeed noticed the removal of our army from Boston, in order to make a more effectual attack elfewhere; he fmiled, and faid, "If you will not allow the retreat to have been an affair of neceffity, you must at leaft admit, that it was extremely apropos.” He faid, he was informed that feveral British officers had joined the Americans; and mentioned Col. Lee, whom he had feen at his court. He obferved that it was difficult to govern men at such a diftance by force-that if the Americans fhould be beat, (which appeared to him rather problematical), it would ftill be next to impossible to draw from them a revenue by taxation-that if we intended a reconciliation with America, some of our measures were too rough; but if we meant its fubjection, they were much too gentle. He concluded by faying, "However, I do not understand these matters; I have no colonies- I hope you will get fafely through your difficulties, but it appears to me a very doubtful bufinefs." The fpirit and activity of this wonderful monarch feem but little abated, though he is now in his feventy-fecond year; and he has conftantly his eye on every military and political operation in Europe. It is a fact of indifputable authority, that he wrote very lately to Gen. Eliott, commending his vaft skill and bravery in the defence of Gibraltar, and expreffing the higheft approbation of every part of his conduct during the whole fiege of that important fortrefs, which he had watched with the most minute attention: and ftill later we find him encountering Dutch politics with a high hand, in behalf of his nephew the Prince of Orange. The King of Pruffia married, in 1733, Elifabeth Christina of Brunswick Wolfenbuttel, aunt to the prefent Duke, and fifter to the mother of the prince royal as well as to the Queen Dowager of Denmark, by whom he has no issue : and though the King, who is by no means fond REPORT 8. of the Commiffioners of Accounts, A manner: A lift of the claimants intitled to wages from fhips that have been paid, is fent from the hip where they are on board, to the pay office at the port; this lift is examined with the fhip's books that are in the office; and the perfons upon the lift who can be paid, are diftinguished from those who cannot. The current number in the fhip's book is entered upon the lift, opposite the name of the perfon, that he may be the more eafily found upon the book when he comes to be paid. The lift, thus corrected, is returned to the captain; who fends on fhore, under the care of a commiflioned officer, thofe men who appear upon the lift intitled to receive their wages: they are paid each upon the book of that fhip to which he be longed, and the date of the day he is paid apon is fet oppofite to his name. Where the lift contains the names of men belonging to fhips whose books are not at that port, the pay-clerks apply to the payofficers of thefe ports where the books are, for extracts; that is, for copies of the entries relative to thofe men, in the books from which they severally claim their wages: Upon the receipt of thefe extracts, the lift is corrected by them, in fuch a manner as to inform the captain which of those men he may fend to be paid; and, that these pay ments may be fet off upon the proper fhip's books, the account of the extracts, that is, of the men thus paid, is fent every quarter to the feveral ports. In payments by lifts, either previous to the pay day of the ship, or after the fhip's book is made up, or by tickets, the name, time of fervice, defalcations, and other cir cumftances of each perfon, are tranferibed from the book of that fhip from which be Each entry is an exact copy of the entry reclaims his wages, into the lift or ticket. lative to the fame perfon in the fhip's book; and it must be fo; for otherwife the remain ing defalcations, and the full and nett wages, could not be calculated. After this is done, where the payment is by lift, previous to the payment of the fhip, or by ticket, the wages are calculated; the open columns all filled up; and if by lift, the nett wages are paid; or if by ticket, that ticket is affigned upon the treasurer for payment of the nett fum therein mentioned; and in both thefe modes, to prevent double payments, the fhip's book is marked, oppofite the name of each perfon, in what manner paid, and by what treasurer. A payment fubfequent to the making up of the hip's book, is made upon a lift of arrears, that is, a book that contains the name of each ship, and the names and circumftances, extracted from the feveral ships books, of all perfons paid after the books on which they claim wages have been made up and finally clofed. All fhips books are at pre fent made up and remain afterwards at the navy-office in London. A claimant upon fuch books must first apply for his wages to the navy-board: they refer to the ship's book lodged in the ticket office; and if he appears to be intitled, they order him to be entered and paid upon the lift of the arrears, and his name is marked upon the fhip's book as paid in that manner, and by what treasurer. Thefe different modes of payment vary the vouchers of the treasurer. The previous lift or ticket is a voucher for the total of the nett fums contained in the lift, or for the fingle nett fum in the ticket, for that frea furer who pays it, whether he continues in office long enough, or not, to pay the book from whence the lift or ticket is extracted. When a book is finally made up, the de fons, who have been paid, either by prefalcations oppofite the names of thofe pere vious lifts or tickets, and of thofe who remain unpaid, are entered in the proper columns. The defalcations of each are caft up, and the total entered in the column of full wages. Every column is caft up to a total, and the treasurer, whose book it is, is allowed, and that book fo filled up is his voucher, for the total fum in the column of full their full but their nett wages only, he dif wages; but as he has paid the seamen, not charges himself of the difference, that is, of the defalcations, by the receipts of the purfer, or other perfons entitled, to whom he has |