Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 22

Criminal-Collegium in later times), and from him in all the Books,
is recorded another interference somewhat in the comic vein;
which also we may give. Undisputed fact, again totally without
precision or details; not even datable, except that, on study, we
perceive it may have been before this Schlubhut's execution, and
after the Criminal-Collegium had committed their error about him,
--must have been while this of Schlubhut was still vividly in
mind; Here is the unprecise but indubitable fact, as the Prussian
Dryasdust has left us his smear of it:--

"One morning early" (might be before Schlubhut was hanged, and
while only sentence of imprisonment and restitution lay on him),
General Graf von Donhof, Colonel of a Musketeer Regiment, favorite
old soldier,--who did vote on the mild side in that Court-Martial
on the Crown-Prince lately; but I hope has been forgiven by his
Majesty, being much esteemed by him these long years past;--this
Donhof, early one morning, calls upon the King, with a grimly
lamenting air. "What is wrong, Herr General?"--"Your Majesty, my
best musketeer, an excellent soldier, and of good inches, fell
into a mistake lately,--bad company getting round the poor fellow;
they, he among them, slipt into a house and stole something;
trifle and without violence: pay is but three halfpence, your
Majesty, and the Devil tempts men! Well, the Criminal-Collegium
have condemned him to be hanged; an excellent soldier and of good
inches, for that one fault. Nobleman Schlubhut was 'to make
restitution,' they decreed: that was their decree on Schlubhut,
one of their own set; and this poor soldier, six feet three, your
Majesty, is to dance on the top of nothing for a three-halfpenny
matter!"--So would Donhof represent the thing,--"fact being," says
my Dryasdust, "it was a case of house-breaking with theft to the
value of 6,000 thalers and this musketeer the ringleader!"--Well;
but was Schlubhut sentenced to hanging? Do you keep two weights
and two measures, in that Criminal-Collegium of yours, then?

Friedrich Wilhelm feels this sad contrast very much; the more, as
the soldier is his own chattel withal, and of superlative inches: