Rise of Russia and Prussia 325 nevertheless, if it will give you pleasure, they shall certainly be sent. . . . For the present I am confining my attention to the opera- tion I have undertaken. There is quite enough to keep a young man busy, but what a life for an old man, worn out and broken clown like me, whose memory is beginning to fail and who feels his senses weakening and his force of character declining ! There is a fitting time of life for all things. At my age, my dear marquis, books, conversation, a comfortable armchair by the fire, — these are all that remain for me, and then in a few moments the grave. Farewell, my dear marquis; may you live happily and in tranquillity and not forget me. Another letter to the same, dated at Bogendorf, Sep- tember 27, 1762, reads as follows : I am so accustomed to reverses and mishaps and I am 362. Fred- becoming so indifferent to the events of this world, that erick de- things which would formerly have made the most profound J^is 8 T**- impression upon me now glide but lightly over my spirit. I ing old. can assure you, my dear marquis, that I have really made some progress in the practice of philosophy. I am growing old, the end of my days draws near, and my spirit is grad- ually detaching itself from the fleeting spectacle of this world, which I -shall leave so soon. The circumstances of the past winter, the revolution in Russia, the perfidy of the English, — what subjects for cultivating one's reason if one but reflects on them ! And who would wish to keep low company all one's life in this worst of all possible worlds ? I mention only a few of my causes for disgust, but I have had so many during this war that my capacity for feeling is exhausted, and a callus of insensibility and indifference has formed that makes me good for nothing. I write you naturally, just as I feel. It will pain you a little, but believe me that it is a great relief to unburden one's heart, and consider the situation in which I am placed. Farewell, my dear marquis; I will write no more this time, and I close with assurances of my sincere friendship.
