Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" BOOK VIII.
Page: 60

like. In this superlative Saloon the Nuptial Benediction was
given. [Wilhelmina, i. 381; Nicolai, ii. 881.]

Old King Friedrich, the expensive Herr, it was he that did the
furnishing and Correggio-painting of these sublime rooms: but this
of the masses of wrought silver, this was done by Friedrich
Wilhelm,--incited thereto by what he saw at Dresden in August the
Strong's Establishment; and reflecting, too, that silver is
silver, whether you keep it in barrels in a coined form, or work
it into chandeliers, mirror-frames and music-balconies.--
These things we should not have mentioned, except to say that the
massive silver did prove a hoard available, in after times,
against a rainy day. Massive silver (well mixed with copper first)
was all melted down, stamped into current coins, native and
foreign, and sent wandering over the world, before a certain
Prince got through his Seven-Years Wars and other pinches that
are ahead!--

In fine, Wilhelmina's Wedding was magnificent; though one had rubs
too; and Mamma was rather severe. "Hair went all wrong, by dint of
overdressing; and hung on one's face like a boy's. Crown-royal
they had put (as indeed was proper) on one's head: hair was in
twenty-four locks the size of your arm: such was the Queen's
order. Gown was of cloth-of-silver, trimmed with Spanish gold-lace
(AVEC UN POINT D'ESPAGNE D'OR); train twelve yards long;--one was
like to sink to the earth in such equipment." Courage, my
Princess!--In fact, the Wedding went beautifully off; with dances
and sublimities, slow solemn Torch-dance to conclude with, in
those unparalleled upper rooms; Grand-Aunt Meiningen and many
other stars and rainbows witnessing; even the Margravine of
Schwedt, in her high colors, was compelled to be there.
Such variegated splendor, such a dancing of the Constellations;
sublunary Berlin, and all the world, on tiptoe round it!
Slow Torchdance, winding it up, melted into the shades of
midnight, for this time; and there was silence in Berlin.

But, on the following nights, there were Balls of a less solemn
character; far pleasanter for dancing purposes. It is to these, to