66 THELIFEOF 



It is impoflible, without having feen the Pruf- 

 lian troops, to form an idea of their appearance 

 and difcipline; no miftakes ever happen, no 

 awkwardnefs is to be feen; they feem rather dif- 

 ferent branches of the fame grand machine than 

 dillindl beings. Every thing is perfedt, every 

 thing is in a ftate of readinefs ; fo that were it 

 neceffary to fend the whole army to the frontiers, 

 or further, in an inftant they would begin their 

 march. 



The Great Frederic ufed to pay vifits on horfe- 

 back, with little ceremony ; of which an inftance 

 happened, in the beginning of the winter 1784, 

 when the then reigning Duke of Courland came 

 to Potfdam, to pay his refpedls to his Pruflian 

 Majefty. The Duke had taken up his refidence 

 at an hotel clofe to the parade, but by no means 

 the bcfl: in the place. Here in a little, fliabby 

 parlour, was his Serene Highnefs, dreffed in the 

 moll fplendid ftylc, blazing with diamonds, and 

 covered with the richefl: embroideries. In this 

 place, immediately on his arrival, he had the 

 honour of a vifit from the King, who in his old 

 uniform coat and other ufual accoutrements, 

 'rode up to the door of the hotel, alighted in a 

 mom.ent, and without further ceremony went 

 into the parlour; he flopped a few minutes in 

 converfation, when he took leave, remounted his 



horfe. 



