260 letter from the king of Prufsia to Voltaire, Ort. 166 
Sir, ‘  ‘Tothe Eduor of the Bee. 
A copy of the following letter was in the pofsefsion, of 
a deceased friend of mine. I believe it is not in any pub- 
lication of the late king of Prufsia’s works ; but if you 
think it worthy of a place in your Bee, it is much at your 
service. 1 am Sir, with great respect, yours &c. 
J. F. 
Copy of a letter from the king of Pru ta to Viltaire.—1460. 
I have received with pleasure two letters from you at 
one time. Prithee confefs, has not my. large pacquet of 
poetry appeared ridiculous to you? I fancy myself like 
Thersites, who attempis to compete with Achilles. I 
hope in your next to have a criticism upon what I have 
written, as you used formerly to let me have when I was 
a poor private inhabitant at Rheinsberg ; where the un- 
fortunate Keiserling, whom I regret, and fhall ever re- 
gret, gave you his tribute of praise. But Voltaire is be- 
come a courtier, and he can now part with nothing but. 
praise, and truly this may be the least dangerous trade of 
the two. Think not however, that my poetical self-suffi- 
ciency can be offended with your corrections ; I have not 
the folly to think that a German is capable of fhining in 
French poetry. Be so kind then as not to spare me, I 
know it is very pofsible to write better than I have done ; 
but then I fhould be glad co be told how. 
Are you not of my opinion, that writing verse well 
is a good introduction to writing prose well? will not this 
render the style more energetic, particularly if the writer 
is on his guard not to loxd his prose with epithets, cir. 
cumlocutions, or too poetical weer 
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