Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Frederick The Great And His Times.
embarrassments whieh he and his companions had to encounter , in preserving the necessary secresy . " I left Hamburgh , " he says in his report to M . von Striven , " you know with whom , on the 10 th of August ; on the evening of the next day we were at the gates of Brunswick . The custom-house officer made preparations to search our baggage , as it was his duty to do ; this threw
us into no little perplexity , as you may judge yourself . We had a large chest filled with the implements belonging to the Lodge . In spite of the freedom enjoyed during the fair time at Brunswick , these things might be prohibited goods . We considered for a moment , if the searcher had insisted on the opening of the box , we should have had no other resource but to give ourselves out for conjurors or gold-makers . All , however , passed off well . I slipped a ducat into the man ' s hand , on which he said he was sure we were real gentlemen , who would not smuggle any thing contraband into the city . We took up our quarters at Korn ' s hotel .
" Next morning the thunder of the cannon proclaimed the arrival of the King of Prussia and his retinue . The presence of that monarch , and the numerous strangers whom the fair attracts to Brunswick , produced an extraordinary bustle in the city . We agreed that none of us should be presented at court but the Count of Lippe , who was directed to settle with the Prince Royal the day , hour , and place of reception . He appointed the ni ght between the 14 th and loth , and fixed upon our
quarters as the place for holding the Lodge , which being very spacious , were well adapted to the purpose ; the only objection seemed to be the proximity of a Mr . von W , whose apartment was separated from the saloon onl y by a thin boarded partition , so that he might hear all that passed , and betray us . This gave us at first some uneasiness ; but our Brethren from Hanover being acquainted with the happy disposition of our nei ghbour , began plying him with bumpers in his room after dinner ,
and reduced him to such a state , that he would probably have slept close to a battery without waking . " The whole of tbe 14 th was spent in preparations for the Lodge , and at twelve at night the Prince Royal arrived , accompanied by Count Wartensleben , a captain in the King ' s regiment at Potsdam . The Prince introduced him to us as a candidate whom he very warmly recommendedand begged that he miht be admitted immediately after
him-, g self . At the same time he desired that he might be treated like any private individual , ancl that none of the usual ceremonies might be altered on his account . Accordingly , he was admitted in the customary form , and I could not sufficiently admire his fearlessness , his composure , and his address . After the double reception , a Lotlge was held . All was over b y four in the morning , and the Prince returned to the ducal palace well with ire charmed with him
, apparently as pleased us as were . " The zeal of " the Prince for the Brotherhood induced him to invite the Baron von Oberg and Bielefeld to Rheinsberg , where , in 1739 , they founded a Lodge , into which Keyserling , Jordan , Mollendorf , Quels , and even Frederick ' s first valet-de-chambre , Fredersdorf , were admitted . Bielefeld" gained a patron in the Prince , and subsequently entered into the Prussian service at his invitation . " t
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Frederick The Great And His Times.
embarrassments whieh he and his companions had to encounter , in preserving the necessary secresy . " I left Hamburgh , " he says in his report to M . von Striven , " you know with whom , on the 10 th of August ; on the evening of the next day we were at the gates of Brunswick . The custom-house officer made preparations to search our baggage , as it was his duty to do ; this threw
us into no little perplexity , as you may judge yourself . We had a large chest filled with the implements belonging to the Lodge . In spite of the freedom enjoyed during the fair time at Brunswick , these things might be prohibited goods . We considered for a moment , if the searcher had insisted on the opening of the box , we should have had no other resource but to give ourselves out for conjurors or gold-makers . All , however , passed off well . I slipped a ducat into the man ' s hand , on which he said he was sure we were real gentlemen , who would not smuggle any thing contraband into the city . We took up our quarters at Korn ' s hotel .
" Next morning the thunder of the cannon proclaimed the arrival of the King of Prussia and his retinue . The presence of that monarch , and the numerous strangers whom the fair attracts to Brunswick , produced an extraordinary bustle in the city . We agreed that none of us should be presented at court but the Count of Lippe , who was directed to settle with the Prince Royal the day , hour , and place of reception . He appointed the ni ght between the 14 th and loth , and fixed upon our
quarters as the place for holding the Lodge , which being very spacious , were well adapted to the purpose ; the only objection seemed to be the proximity of a Mr . von W , whose apartment was separated from the saloon onl y by a thin boarded partition , so that he might hear all that passed , and betray us . This gave us at first some uneasiness ; but our Brethren from Hanover being acquainted with the happy disposition of our nei ghbour , began plying him with bumpers in his room after dinner ,
and reduced him to such a state , that he would probably have slept close to a battery without waking . " The whole of tbe 14 th was spent in preparations for the Lodge , and at twelve at night the Prince Royal arrived , accompanied by Count Wartensleben , a captain in the King ' s regiment at Potsdam . The Prince introduced him to us as a candidate whom he very warmly recommendedand begged that he miht be admitted immediately after
him-, g self . At the same time he desired that he might be treated like any private individual , ancl that none of the usual ceremonies might be altered on his account . Accordingly , he was admitted in the customary form , and I could not sufficiently admire his fearlessness , his composure , and his address . After the double reception , a Lotlge was held . All was over b y four in the morning , and the Prince returned to the ducal palace well with ire charmed with him
, apparently as pleased us as were . " The zeal of " the Prince for the Brotherhood induced him to invite the Baron von Oberg and Bielefeld to Rheinsberg , where , in 1739 , they founded a Lodge , into which Keyserling , Jordan , Mollendorf , Quels , and even Frederick ' s first valet-de-chambre , Fredersdorf , were admitted . Bielefeld" gained a patron in the Prince , and subsequently entered into the Prussian service at his invitation . " t