182 GERMANY. 



Numerous and profound are said to have been the colloquies on 

 military uniforms between George the Fourth and Frederick William ; 

 and to the valuable hints acquired in these " entrctiens," may be attri- 

 buted the splendid appearance of some of our crack cavalry regiments. 

 Great is also said to be the impatience of our naval dandies for the 

 appearance of the naval uniform of Prussia (for like Austria, this power, 

 since the arrival of the model frigate sent out by our King, is ambitious 

 of becoming a maritime state), they look to the genius of the Prussian 

 monarch to deliver them from the present hermaphrodite rig with which 

 they are so disfigured and dissatisfied. 



The anecdotes related of the ridiculous importance which this prince 

 attaches to military costume would fill volumes. One of them only we 

 shall venture to quote. Frederick, some years ago, was passing the Cur- 

 zeit either at Toplitz or Carlsbad. Early one morning a Prussian estafette 

 was observed to leave the place " ventre a terre." The corp diplomatique 

 was immediately en mouvemetit ; up went the hopes of the war party 

 down went the Austrian Metalliques three of the first bankers at 

 Leipsig and Vienna stopped payment Metternich was at fault 

 Rothschild in a fever and half a dozen English honourables, attaches to 

 the different legations in Germany, went into galloping consumptions 

 from twenty-four hours hard writing an event unexampled in their 

 diplomatique career. At the expiration of a week, when nothing less 

 than another seven year's war was expected by every one, the Berlin 

 Gazette tranquillized Germany, by publishing the order of which the 

 estafette was the bearer, and which was nothing more or less than his 

 majesty's commands to lower the shakos of his guards, and compress 

 their waists two inches smaller ! After all, it is fortunate for Prussia 

 that her monarch has no more expensive taste. A Pompadour, or a 

 palace, would be much more costly hobbyhorses; for in justice to him we 

 must say, that economy and good taste go hand in hand, and preside 

 over all his freaks. 



I tarried in Berlin till after the autumnal reviews. Nothing can 

 exceed the magnificence of these military spectacles. If the science of 

 war can be learnt by any thing short of actual experience in the field, it 

 is to be done at these camps of instruction, annually formed in the north 

 of Germany. 



Warned by the sad experience of the past, and by the geographical con- 

 figuration of her territory, which floats like a riband over the surface of 

 the European continent, from the Oder to the frontiers of France, 

 Prussia is sensible that her independence resides in the force of her 

 army. Russia threatens her in the east, France in the west, while 

 Austria, by debouching from Bohemia, strikes at her very heart. The 

 anxious solicitude of the government has been directed almost exclu- 

 sively to this object, and the genius of Scharnhorst has certainly pro- 

 duced one of me most perfect military systems the world ever saw. 

 According to this system, every male inhabitant in Prussia, from the 

 age of sixteen to forty-five, must bear arms, five years in the line, and 

 the remainder of the term in the landwehr. The whole population 

 therefore of Prussia is essentially military. 



At a moment like this, when the contemporary events in Southern 

 and Rhenish Germany, and the fierce crusade of the established govern- 

 ments against liberal principles, proclaim the general mal aise of society, 

 and fix the attention of Europe, a few observations upon the present 

 state of Germany and her prospects, may not be ill timed. 



