Rise of Russia and Pries sia 321 remarkable in each country ; and, above all, my son must be carefully taught the history of his own house. His tutors must take the greatest pains to imbue my son with a sincere love for the soldier's profession and to im- press upon him that nothing else in the world can confer upon a prince such fame and honor as the sword, and that he will be despised by all the world if he does not only love it but seek in it his only glory; and his chief tutor shall pro- vide for his being taught the practice of arms as play in his recreation hours. Nothing is more becoming or more necessary in a prince than the ability to speak well under all circumstances ; there- fore my son's tutors must look to it that he accustom himself betimes to this art by practice. . . . The following is a suggestive letter of the crown prince, Frederick, written at the age of sixteen, to his father, Frederick William I. Wusterhausen, September 11, 1728. I have not ventured for a long time to present myself 359. a before my dear papa, partly because I was advised against youthful it, but chiefly because I anticipated an even worse reception Frederick than usual and feared to vex my dear papa still further by the Great the favor I have now to ask; so I have preferred to put it in t ohisfather writing. I beg my dear papa that he will be kindly disposed toward me. I do assure him that after long examination of my conscience I do not find the slightest thing with which to reproach myself; but if, against my wish and will, I have vexed my dear papa, I hereby beg most humbly for forgive- ness, and hope that my dear papa will give over the fearful hate which has appeared so plainly in his whole behavior and to which I cannot accustom myself. I have always thought hitherto that I had a kind father, but now I see the contrary. However, I will take courage and hope that my dear papa will think this all over and take me again into his favor. Meantime I assure him that I will never, my life
