Frede- 
rick ILL 
-_— y= 
752 
to give direction respecting his health. He then con- 
versed with his friends until mid-day, when he gene- 
rally dined alone. In the afternoon signed the dis- 
and letters, which he had dictated in the morn- 
ing. He joined his friends again in conversation frony 
five to eight o'clock in the evening; and, after their 
departure, listened to from ancient authors till 
he retired to rest. In this course of labour he perseve- 
red till two days before his death ; although for several 
weeks preceding, he was so swollen with the dropsy, 
that he could not move without assistance, and was 
obliged to remain day and night in his chair. Though 
he suffered dreadfully, he betrayed no symptom of un- 
easiness or impatience ; but conversed with t com- 
posure on general subjects, and without ever alluding 
to his own state of health. On the 16th of August he 
was deprived of sense, while his friends were reading 
to him from Cicero and Plutarch; and on the morn- 
ing of the 17th, he expired without any convulsive 
motion, in the 75th year of his age, and the 47th of his 
reign. 
Frederick, in his person, was below the middle sta- 
ture, and of a slight form, but possessed of a vigoruus 
constitution. _ In his earlier years his figure was grace- 
ful; but in the latter part of his life, in consequence of 
incessant fatigue, or as some suppose of his incessant cus- 
tom of making extremely low bows, he stooped consi- 
derably, and his head was inclined to one side. He 
was short-sighted, and his eyes were of a fine blue co- 
Jour, but full of fire, and expressive of uncommon keen- 
ness and penetration. His tone of voice was extremely 
clear and agreeable; and he spoke with the utmost 
fluency and sprightliness. He was, especially in the 
latter part of his life, a great economist, or rather un- 
“commonly shabby in his dress, which was usually a 
plain suit of regimentals, consisting of a blue coat faced 
with red, and yellow waistcoat and breeches. He al- 
ways wore boots, which being rarely renewed, were ge- 
nerally of a dirty brown colour. His hair was simply 
queued, and he had no other mark of distinction than the 
order of the black eagle. His whole wardrobe, says 
Dr Moore, to whom it was shewn at Potsdam, consisted 
of two blue coats faced with red, the lining of one a 
little torn ; two yellow waistcoats a good deal soiled 
with Spanish snuff; three pair of yellow breeches, and 
a suit of blue velvet, embroidered with silver for grand 
occasions. I imagined at first, that the man had got a 
few of the king’s old clothes, and kept them here to 
amuse $ ; but upon enquiry I was assured, that 
what I have mentioned, with two suits of uniform which 
he has at Sans Souci, forms the entire wardrobe of the 
King of Prussia. Our attendant said he had never 
known it more complete. When residing at Berlin, 
and particularly on public days, he made a great dis- 
play of royal magnificence ; but his ordinary mode of 
iving was remarkably plain 
place of residence was the lace at Sans Souci, about 
a mile from Potsdam. His bed-chamber was beauti- 
fully furnished and provided with the ap of a 
rich state-bed ; but he always slept in a concealed bed- 
stead, upon a hard mattress. He rose generally at five 
o'clock in the morning, and sometimes’ earlier. He 
dressed his hair himself, seldom employing above two 
minutes for that purpose; and pulled on his boots at 
his bed-side, never using either shoes or sli As 
soon as he was dressed, the adjutant of his batta- 
lion of s brought him a list of all the who 
had arrived at Po or d d thence, with an ac- 
count of any occurrences in the garrison. Having de- 
and uniform. His usual « 
FREDERICK. 
ment of 
throughout the provinces were em 
manner. He then walked in the gai 
cipal officers, and the rest of the 
invited to dinner. At one, he sat down to 
dom with more than -four 
more than an hour, 
a 
i ome 
wi 
who were 
table, sel- 
him, who was generally one of his friends; and 
reading about two hours, he joined in a musical concert 
till nine. He was then attended by a few of his learn- 
ed friends, and favourite wits, whom he had invited to 
‘supper, and with whom he in in the utmost free- 
dom of conversation till twelve, when he went to bed. 
Afterwards he omitted these su and spent a long- 
er time at dinner, where he to eat with good 
tite, and was particularly nice in regard to fruit.’ He 
was not less fond of Spanish snuff, of which he was ac- 
customed to take immoderate ities; and used a 
large golden snuff-box, richly ornamented with dia- 
monds. He was much attach pO Pi Nae 
nerally beside him two or three I “greyhounds, 
which he often caressed, and even kept leather 
balls in his rooms in order to amuse them. He took 
little pleasure in the company of ladies, and rarely in- 
vited them to his private parties. His great and 
amusement consisted in musical concerts, at which he 
— on the flute; but he confined himself chief- 
to his own compositions, and those of his instractor 
ra His hates 
inndl'tb madiralacienes. > Sie little knowledge 
of the Greek and Latin 3 and his’ t~ 
ance with classical au was derived pri 
the works which have been already mentioned, he 
wrote letters on patriotism and on German literature ; 
and left behind him in manuscript, Memoirs of his own 
Time, the el 1740 to ma Peace o; fas y wy 
History of the War of Seven Year. “a 7) 
the tb Rest "fron the Peace of Hubersburgh ; w! AA 
were published after his death. His pi compo-~ 
sitions, consisting of his on the art of war, with 
a variety of odes and epistles, are collected under the 
title of Ouvres melées du Philosophe de Sans Souci. He 
displayed, in his capacity of a ruler, more of personal 
ability than of political wisdom. He was constantly 
