64 THE LIFE or 



approach of a vifitor, without the trouble 0/ 

 withdrawing them. 



He lived however but little in this palace, as 

 his principal relidence was at Sajis Souci^ a fhorc 

 diftance from the gates of Potfdam. Here was 

 his favourite retirement ; here he unburthened 

 himfelf from the cares of ftate; here he was the 

 philofopher, the poiilhed fcholar, and he may be 

 properly ftyled the father of the Pruflian helles 

 iettres. His company at Sans Souci was ex- 

 tremely feledj it confifted of the firft literary 

 charad:ers and a few diftinguifhed generals; 

 with thefe he palTed his time in converfation 

 and mufic, in which his excellence, both as a 

 compofer and performer, is admitted by all the 

 world. 



While I was in Pruffia, his Majefty had a 

 violent illnefs, a little before the time appoint- 

 ed for the Silelian manoeuvres; his attendance 

 was thought to be impoflible, a circumftance 

 the more remarkable, as, during his long and 

 glorious reign, he had never been difappointed 

 of any military operation for which he had fixed 

 the time, either by fickncfs or bad weather. 



However, juft as the feafon approached, and 

 as if fuch was decreed to be the unchangeable 

 fortune of the Great Frederic, he recovered;, 

 contrary to all cxped:ation, and was perfedly 

 able to review his gallant troops as uAial. 



During 



