His reports to Amelot are of sanguine tone; but indicate, to the by-stander, small progress; ice slippery, and a twinkle of the comic. Many of them are lost (or lie hidden in the French Archives, and are not worth disinterring): but here is one, saved by Beaumarchais and published long afterwards, which will sufficiently bring home the old scene to us. In the Palace of Berlin or else of Potsdam (date must be, 6th-8th September, 1743), Voltaire from his Apartment hands in a "Memorial" to Friedrich; and gets it back with Marginalia,--as follows:
"Would your Majesty be pleased to have the kind condescension (ASSEZ DE BONTE) to put on the margin your reflections and orders."MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"1. Your Majesty is to know that the Sieur Bassecour [signifies BACKYARD], chief Burghermaster of Amsterdam, has come lately to beg M. de la Ville, French Minister there, to make Proposals of Peace.
La Ville answered, If the Dutch had offers to make, the King his master could hear them.
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"1. This Bassecour, or Backyard, seems to be the gentleman that has charge of fattening the capons and turkeys for their High Mightinesses?
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"2. Is it not clear that the Peace Party will infallibly carry it, in Holland,--since Bassecour, one of the most determined for War, begins to speak of Peace? Is it not clear that France shows vigor and wisdom?
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"2. I admire the wisdom of France; but God preserve me from ever imitating it!
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"3. In these circumstances, if your Majesty took the tone of a Master, gave example to the Princes of the Empire in assembling an Army of Neutrality,--would not you snatch the sceptre of Europe from the hands of the English, who now brave you, and speak in an insolent revolting manner of your Majesty, as do, in Holland also, the party of the Bentincks, the Fagels, the Opdams? I have myself heard them, and am reporting nothing but what is very true.
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"3. This would be finer in an ode than in actual reality. I disturb myself very little about what the Dutch and English say, the rather as I understand nothing of those dialects (PATOIS) of theirs.
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"4. Do not you cover yourself with an immortal glory in declaring yourself, with effect, the protector of the Empire? And is it not of most pressing interest to your Majesty, to hinder the English from making your Enemy the Grand-Duke [Maria Theresa's Husband]
King of the Romans?
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"4. France has more interest than Prussia to hinder that. Besides, on this point, dear Voltaire, you are ill informed. For there can be no Election of a King of the Romans without the unanimous consent of the Empire;--so you perceive, that always depends on me.
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"5. Whoever has spoken but a quarter of an hour to the Duke d'Ahremberg [who spilt Lord Stair's fine enterprises lately, and reduced them to a DETTINGEN, or a getting into the mouse-trap and a getting out], to the Count Harrach [important Austrian Official], Lord Stair, or any of the partisans of Austria, even for a quarter of an hour [as I have often done], has beard them say, That they burn with desire to open the campaign in Silesia again. Have you in that case, Sire, any ally but France? And, however potent you are, is an ally useless to you? You know the resources of the House of Austria, and how many Princes are united to it. But will they resist your power, joined to that of the House of Bourbon?
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"5. <italic> On les y recevra, Biribi, A la facon de Barbari, Mon ami. <end italic>
We will receive them, Twiddledee, In the mode of Barbary, Don't you see?
[Form of Song, very fashionable at Paris (see Barbier soepius) in those years: "BIRIBI," I believe, is a kind of lottery-game.]
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"6. If you were but to march a body of troops to Cleves, do not you awaken terror and respect, without apprehension that any one dare make war on you? Is it not, on the contrary, the one method of forcing the Dutch to concur, under your orders, in the pacification of the Empire, and re-establishment of the Emperor, who will thus a second time he indebted to you for his throne, and will aid in the splendor of yours?
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"6. <italic> Vous voulez qu'en vrai dieu de la machine, <end italic>
"You will have me as theatre-god, then, <italic> "J'arrive pour te denouement? <end italic>
"Swoop in, and produce the catastrophe?
<italic> "Qu'aux Anglais, aux Pandours, a ce peuple insolent, "J'aille donner la discipline?-- <end italic>
"Tame to sobriety those English, those Pandours, and obstreperous people?
<italic> "Mais examinez mieux ma mine; <end italic>
"Examine the look of me better;
<italic> "Je ne suis pas assez mechant! <end italic>
"I have not surliness euough.
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"7. Whatever resolution may be come to, will your Majesty deign to confide it to me, and impart the result,--to your servant, to him who desires to pass his life at your Court? May I have the honor to accompany your Majesty to Baireuth; and if your goodness go so far, would you please to declare it, that I may have time to prepare for the journey? One favorable word written to me in the Letter on that occasion [word favorable to France, ostensible to M. Amelot and the most Christian Majesty], one word would suffice to procure me the happiness I have, for six years, been aspiring to, of living beside you." Oh, send it!
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.
"7. If you like to come to Baireuth, I shall be glad to see you there, provided the journey don't derange your health. It will depend on yourself, then, to take what measures you please.
[And about the ostensible WORD,--Nothing!]
MEMORIAL BY VOLTAIRE.
"8. During the short stay I am now to make, if I could be made the bearer of some news agreeable to my Court, I would supplicate your Majesty to honor me with such a commission. [This does not want for impudence, Monsieur! Friedrich answers, from aloft!]
MARGINALIA BY FRIEDRICH.