Mirabcau's Secret Mission to Berlin 251 him up the while by word and by gesture, addressed these very words to me, — The Stadholder is constitutionally the executive power of Holland, or, to put it more clearly, his position in Holland is precisely similar to that of the King in England. I answered with frigid irony, — Let us therefore hope the Hollanders will not cut his head off. The laugh was not with Mr. Ewart ! " To conclude with the afftiirs of Holland, it may be noted that not the least interesting of Mirabeau's dispatches from Berlin are those that refer to the efforts made by him to recover the ground lost by French diplomacy in this business. His arguments are plausible and show a fine grasp of political principles, but they leave an overwhelming impression of the falsity of the writer. It must be pronounced more than probable that both in the case of the negotia- tions with the Duke of Brunswick and with Baron de Reede, Mira- beau was actively engaged inventing diplomatic positions with the sole object of thereby securing his employment in the French dip- lomatic service. On a small point of etiquette, a stupid slight had been pu ont the French ambassador ; Mirabeau relates, in a pungent letter, how Frederick William tried to efface the bad impression that had been created. " I shall commence this dispatch with some perfectly authentic in- formation'that appears to me decisive as to the character of the new reign. I will recall what I wrote on the 29th of August. — 'The King seems to have determined to give up all his old habits ; it is a noble effort ! He retires before ten, he rises at four. ... If only he perseveres he will afford a unique example of the habits of thirty years conquered. If he succeeds, he will reveal a force of character that will prove too much for all of us.' Well ! like all the rest I was taken in by appearances. The truth is that at half-past nine, while we thought him asleep, he was cele- brating Sardanapalian orgies in the innermost apartments of the palace. . . . What sort of mortal then is the master? I still think it would be hasty to come to a conclusion to-day, but one is tempted to answer, — the king of weaklings. No wit, no strength, no logic, no application, the taste of the hog of Epicurus, and of the heroic, nothing but pride, unless I mistake for that quality a narrow, shopkeeping vanity. . . . However I am not engaged on a second volume of Madame de Sevigne. I am not speaking evil of Frederick William because I have nothing to do with him, as she used to praise Louis XIV. because he had just made her dance a minuet. Yesterday at the Queen's circle he three times addressed me, and this for the first time in public. ' You have been to Magdeburg and Brunswick?' 'Yes, Sire.' ' What did you think of the manoeuvres ?' ' I admired greatly.' ' I am asking you for the truth and not for a com- pliment.' 'Sire, the truth is to me that only the presence of Your Majesty could have enhanced such a superb sight.' 'And how is the Duke?' 'Perfectly well. Sire.' 'Will he soon be here?' 'Your Majesty alone can know.' . . . He smiled . . . That is a sample! You may well imagine that what is said before the whole court is a matter
