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CHARACTERS.
WE have ſet apart this article, for ſome remarkable characters of thoſe, whether in the political or literary world, whether living or dead, who have been diſtinguiſhed by ſuch talents as merit the public attention. The three firſt are drawn by hands altogether worthy their ſubjeƈts; neither are the others contemptibly executed. If the firſt of theſe piƈtures inclines ſomewhat towards panegyric, and if the ſecond ſhould be thought to partake of ſatire, the reader will not therefore think either of them leſs juſt.
An eſſay towards the charaƈter of the King of Pruſſia, translated from the French of M. Maupertuis.
THE moſt faithful and ſcrupulous hiſtorian would be the beſt panegyriſt of Frederick king of Pruſſia. I pretend to be neither; I only attempt the out-lines of his charaƈter, which even cotemporary jealouſy, envy and malignity, are forced to admire, and which more impartial poſterity, if it can believe, will almoſt adore.
By the mere natural ſtrength and ſuperiority of his genius, without experience, he broke out at once, a general and a hero. He diſtinguiſhed with preciſion, what inferior minds never diſcover at all, the difference between great difficulties and impoſſibilities, and being never diſcouraged by the former, has often ſeemed to execute the latter.
Indefatigably laborious and active, coolly intrepid in aƈtion, he diſcerns, as by intuition, ſeizes with rapidity, and improves with ſkill, the ſhort, favourable, and often deciſive moments of battle. Modeſt and magnanimous after viƈtory, he becomes the generous proteƈtor of his ſubdued, and captive enemies. Reſolute and undejeƈted in misfortunes, he has ariſen ſuperior to diſtreſſes, and ſtruggled with difficulties, which no courage, no conſtancy but his own would have reſiſted, nor could have ſurmounted.
But as he cannot always command the ſucceſs which he always deſerves, he may perhaps be obliged to yield at laſt to the ſuperior numbers of almoſt all Europe combined againſt him; their legions may perhaps conquer, but his virtues muſt triumph.
As a king, he is a man, a citizen, a legiſlator, and a patriot. His own extenſive mind forms all his plans of government, undebaſed by ſelfiſh miniſterial interests and miſrepreſentations. Juſtice and humanity are his only miniſters.[1]
- ↑ The following account, the truth of which is not diſputed, will ſerve to give ſome idea of that great prince in that part of his charaƈter. An Engliſh lady being poſſeſſed of aƈtions [ſhares] in the Embden company, and having occaſion to raiſe money on them, repaired to Antwerp, and
