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Literary
July 14, 1758
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Voltaire's admiring portrait of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, as a multifaceted ruler who rises early to promote happiness, enacts reforms, wins battles, and balances duties with intellectual pursuits, likening him to Marcus Aurelius.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The CHARACTER of the Present King of PRUSSIA.
[Drawn by Mr. DE VOLTAIRE.]
There is a Man in Europe, who rises at Five in the Morning, to endeavour to diffuse Happiness over Four Hundred Leagues of Land: He is a King, a Legislator, a Minister, and a General: He has gained Five Battles, and in the midst of Victory has given Peace: His Country has been enriched, instructed, and rendered polite, by himself: He has done what other Princes have scarce attempted: He has put a Period throughout his Dominions, to the Arts of eternizing Suits at Law, and has forced Courts to be just: He has given the lowest of his Subjects the Permission to write to him; and if the Letter is worthy of an Answer, he condescends to return one. His Relaxations are the Occupations of a Man of Genius: I don't know whether there be in all Europe a better Metaphysician, and whether if he had been born the Contemporary and Countryman of Chapelle, Boileau, and Chaulieu, these Gentlemen would ever have obtained a distinguished Reputation. Tho' a Philosopher and a Monarch, he is sensible to the Charms of Friendship: In short, if he perishes, he will shew, that it is possible for the World to have had a Marcus Aurelius.
The King of Prussia employs himself in times of peace in the following manner: He rises at five: on business till seven, dresses and receives letters and petitions till nine; from nine to eleven with his Ministers; then on the Parade, to exercise the guards; dines at half an hour after twelve with some of his officers; at half an hour after one he retires till five; then somebody reads to him till seven: then the concert; at nine come the men of genius; they sup half an hour after, and converse till eleven; then the king retires, and at twelve goes to bed. He is a statesman, soldier, author and musician; indefatigable in business: and by method overlooks and directs every thing; very frugal; without farce of state; the idle officers of the court have the usual titles but no pay for drones, tho' they are mostly officers.
[Drawn by Mr. DE VOLTAIRE.]
There is a Man in Europe, who rises at Five in the Morning, to endeavour to diffuse Happiness over Four Hundred Leagues of Land: He is a King, a Legislator, a Minister, and a General: He has gained Five Battles, and in the midst of Victory has given Peace: His Country has been enriched, instructed, and rendered polite, by himself: He has done what other Princes have scarce attempted: He has put a Period throughout his Dominions, to the Arts of eternizing Suits at Law, and has forced Courts to be just: He has given the lowest of his Subjects the Permission to write to him; and if the Letter is worthy of an Answer, he condescends to return one. His Relaxations are the Occupations of a Man of Genius: I don't know whether there be in all Europe a better Metaphysician, and whether if he had been born the Contemporary and Countryman of Chapelle, Boileau, and Chaulieu, these Gentlemen would ever have obtained a distinguished Reputation. Tho' a Philosopher and a Monarch, he is sensible to the Charms of Friendship: In short, if he perishes, he will shew, that it is possible for the World to have had a Marcus Aurelius.
The King of Prussia employs himself in times of peace in the following manner: He rises at five: on business till seven, dresses and receives letters and petitions till nine; from nine to eleven with his Ministers; then on the Parade, to exercise the guards; dines at half an hour after twelve with some of his officers; at half an hour after one he retires till five; then somebody reads to him till seven: then the concert; at nine come the men of genius; they sup half an hour after, and converse till eleven; then the king retires, and at twelve goes to bed. He is a statesman, soldier, author and musician; indefatigable in business: and by method overlooks and directs every thing; very frugal; without farce of state; the idle officers of the court have the usual titles but no pay for drones, tho' they are mostly officers.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Political
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
King Of Prussia
Frederick The Great
Voltaire
Philosopher King
Daily Routine
Reforms
Enlightened Despotism
What entities or persons were involved?
Drawn By Mr. De Voltaire.
Literary Details
Title
The Character Of The Present King Of Prussia.
Author
Drawn By Mr. De Voltaire.
Key Lines
There Is A Man In Europe, Who Rises At Five In The Morning, To Endeavour To Diffuse Happiness Over Four Hundred Leagues Of Land: He Is A King, A Legislator, A Minister, And A General.
He Has Gained Five Battles, And In The Midst Of Victory Has Given Peace: His Country Has Been Enriched, Instructed, And Rendered Polite, By Himself.
If He Perishes, He Will Shew, That It Is Possible For The World To Have Had A Marcus Aurelius.
He Is A Statesman, Soldier, Author And Musician; Indefatigable In Business: And By Method Overlooks And Directs Every Thing; Very Frugal; Without Farce Of State;