HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA
Page: 25

more; having an eye and heart set on the practical only, and being
in mind as in body something of the genus ROBUSTUM, of the genus
FEROX withal. He has been wedded six years; lost two children,
as we saw; and now again he has two living.

His wife, Sophie Dorothee of Hanover, is his cousin as well.
She is brother's-daughter of his Mother, Sophie Charlotte:
let the reader learn to discriminate these two names.
Sophie Charlotte, late Queen of Prussia, was also of Hanover:
she probably had sometimes, in her quiet motherly thought,
anticipated this connection for him, while she yet lived. It is
certain Friedrich Wilhelm was carried to Hanover in early
childhood: his Mother,--that Sophie Charlotte, a famed Queen and
lady in her day, Daughter of Electress Sophie, and Sister of the
George who became George I. of England by and by,--took him
thither; some time about the beginning of 1693, his age then five;
and left him there on trial; alleging, and expecting, he might
have a better breeding there. And this, in a Court where Electress
Sophie was chief lady, and Elector Ernst, fit to be called
Gentleman Ernst, ["Her Highness (the Electress Sophie) has the
character of the merry debonnaire Princess of Germany; a lady of
extraordinary virtues and accomplishments; mistress of the
Italian, French, High and Low Dutch, and English languages,
which she speaks to perfection. Her husband (Elector Ernst) has
the title of the Gentleman of Germany; a graceful and," &c. &c.
W. Carr, Remarks of the Governments of the severall Parts
of Germanie, Denmark, Sweedland (Amsterdam, 1688),
p. 147. See also Ker of Kersland (still more
emphatic on this point, soepius )] the
politest of men, was chief lord,--and where Leibnitz, to say
nothing of lighter notabilities, was flourishing,--seemed a
reasonable expectation. Nevertheless, it came to nothing,
this articulate purpose of the visit; though perhaps the deeper
silent purposes of it might not be quite unfulfilled.

Gentleman Ernst had lately been made "Elector" ( Kurfurst,
instead of Herzog ),--his