Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 51

"MONSIEUR,--I trust your Excellency made your journey to Crossen
with all the satisfaction imaginable. Had I been warned sooner, I
would have come; not only to see the King, but for your
Excellency's sake and Truchsess's: but I received your
Excellency's Letter only yesterday morning; so I could not have
arrived before yesternight, and that late; for it is fifty miles
off, and one has to send relays beforehand; there being no
post-horses on that road.

"We are,--not to make comparisons,--like Harlequin! No sooner out
of one scrape, than we get into another; and all for the sake of
those Big Blockheads (L'AMOUR DE CES GRANDS COLOSSES). What the
Kurfurst of Koln has done, in his character of Bishop of
Osnabruck,"--a deed not known to this Editor, but clearly in the
way of snubbing our recruiting system,--"is too droll: but if we
avenge ourselves, there will be high play, and plenty of it, all
round our borders! If such things would make any impression on the
spirit, of our Master: but they do not; they"--in short, this
recruiting system is delirious, thinks the stiff Schulenburg;
and scruples not to say so, though not in his place in Parliament,
or even Tobacco-Parliament. For there is a Majesty's Opposition in
all lands and times. "We ruin the Country," says the Honorable
Member, "sending annually millions of money out of it, for a set
of vagabond fellows (GENS A SAC ET A CORDE), who will never do us
the least service. One sees clearly it is the hand of God,"
darkening some people's understanding; "otherwise it might be
possible their eyes would open, one time or another!"--A stiff
pipe-clayed gentleman of great wisdom, with plenty of sulphur
burning in the heart of him. The rest of his Letter is all in the
Opposition strain (almost as if from his place in Parliament, only
far briefer than is usual "within these walls"); and winds up with
a glance at Victor Amadeus's strange feat, or rather at the Son's
feat done upon Victor, over in Sardinia; preceded by this
interjectionary sentence on a Prince nearer home:--

"As to the Prince-Royal, depend on it he will do whatever is
required of him [marry anybody you like &c.], if you give him more