Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 30

FRIEDRICHSFELDE in consequence)," [See Map] dim mossy Steadings,
which pious Antiquarianism can pilgrim to if it likes, were built
or rebuilt by him:--and it is remarkable withal how thoroughly
instructed Friedrich Wilhelm shows himself in such matters;
and how paternally delighted to receive such proposals of
improvement introducible at the said Carzig and Himmelstadt, and
to find young Graceless so diligent, and his ideas even good.
Forster, ii. 390, 387, 391.] Perhaps a momentary glance into those
affairs may be permitted farther on.

The Prince's life, in this his eclipsed state, is one of
constraint, anxiety, continual liability; but after the first
months are well over, it begins to be more supportable than we
should think. He is fixed to the little Town; cannot be absent any
night, without leave from the Commandant; which, however, and the
various similar restrictions, are more formal than real.
An amiable Crown-Prince, no soul in Custrin but would run by night
or by day to serve him. He drives and rides about, in that green
peaty country, on Domain business, on visits, on permissible
amusement, pretty much at his own modest discretion. A green flat
region, made of peat and sand; human industry needing to be always
busy on it: raised causeways with incessant bridges, black sedgy
ditch on this hand and that; many meres, muddy pools, stagnant or
flowing waters everywhere; big muddy Oder, of yellowish-drab
color, coming from the south, big black Warta (Warthe) from the
Polish fens in the east, the black and yellow refusing to mingle
for some miles. Nothing of the picturesque in this country; but a
good deal of the useful, of the improvable by economic science;
and more of fine productions in it, too, of the floral, and still
more interesting sorts, than you would suspect at first sight.
Friedrich's worst pinch was his dreadful straitness of income;
checking one's noble tendencies on every hand: but the gentry of
the district privately subscribed gifts for him (SE COTISIRENT,
says Wilhelmina); and one way and other he contrived to make ends
meet. Munchow, his President in the Kammer, next to whom sits