Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 55

with encouragement became considerable, became excessive,
irresistible; and was much complained of, in these years now come.
Old Colonel Derschau is the King's Agent, at Berlin, in this
matter; a hard stiff man; squeezes men, all manner of men with
the least capital, till they build.

Nussler, for example, whom we once saw at Hanover, managing a
certain contested Heritage for Friedrich Wilhelm; adroit Nussler,
though he has yet got no fixed appointment, nor pay except by the
job, is urged to build;--second year hence, 1733, occurs the case
of Nussler, and is copiously dwelt upon by Busching his
biographer: "Build yourself a house in the Friedrichs Strasse!"
urges Derschau. "But I have no pay, no capital!" pleads Nussler.--
"Tush, your Father-in-law, abstruse Kanzler von Ludwig, in Halle
University, monster of law-learning there, is not he a monster of
hoarded moneys withal? He will lend you, for his own and his
Daughter's sake. [Busching, Beitrage,
i. 324.] Or shall his Majesty compel him?" urges Derschau.
And slowly, continually turns the screw upon Nussler, till he too
raises for himself a firm good house in the Friedrichs Stadt,--
Friedrichs Strasse, or STREET, as they now call it, which the
Tourist of these days knows. Substantial clear ashlar Street,
miles or half-miles long; straight as a line:--Friedrich Wilhelm
found it scrag and quagmire; and left it what the Tourist sees, by
these hard methods. Thus Herr Privy-Councillor Klinggraf too,
Nussler's next neighbor: he did not want to build; far from it;
but was obliged, on worse terms than Nussler. You have such work,
founding your house;--for the Nussler-Klinggraf spot was a
fish-pool, and "carps were dug up" in founding;--such piles, bound
platform of solid beams; "4,000 thalers gone before the first
stone is laid:" and, in fact, the house must be built honestly,
or it will be worse for the house and you. "Cost me 12,000 thalers
(l,800 pounds) in all, and is worth perhaps 2,000!" sorrowfully
ejaculates Nussler, when the job is over. Still worse with
Privy-Councillor Klinggraf: his house, the next to Nussler's, is