KONIGSBERG TO BERLIN 27 



many officers of my regiment vied to kiss my hand in 

 deepest emotion until the time when I drove away again 

 in the evening, the awful howling never ceased, but con- 

 tinued in my ears long through the night. My poor par- 

 ents are well and in safety. Papa will go to England, but 

 he does not run away; he received a mission from the 

 King. I have seen both of them. Everything is in per- 

 fect quiet and safety here in Potsdam. The local protec- 

 tion committee is uncommonly well organized. My other 

 younger relatives, with the exception of cousin Freder- 

 ick Karl, and my sister, are all in safety, but not with us. 

 The poor Charlotte is nearly beside herself, having es- 

 caped almost miraculously. When will her confirmation* 

 take place and mine? God alone knows. 



But I have not lost courage. I trust in God! He will 

 do all things well. Now it is time for me to close. I have 

 given you as many particulars as possible, whatever 

 passed through my heart. 



But I have scrawled terribly. I hope you will be able 

 to read it all. That you are rejoicing now and able to 

 forget the past, seems quite probable to me, in considera- 

 tion of the present excitement. I, for my part, cannot be 

 happy, but bow in obedience to the new measures, taken 

 by the King, which will prove beneficial with the help of 

 God. It will be a long time before I shall be really happy 

 again! You will not see me very soon in Berlin. Fare- 

 well. Pardon the poor handwriting and convey my most 

 sincere greetings to all friends. Tell them, as well as our 

 teachers, that I always remember them, that I am in 

 safety and ready to trust God in all things, and that I am 

 well prepared to bear, with courage and fortitude, the 

 great misfortune which has befallen us, and which I look 

 upon as sent by God. Tell all friends from the contents 

 of this letter, whatever you may doom proper for thorn 

 to know, nothing or all; I leave that to your judgment. 



*The royal family is Lutheran, and the confirmation here men- 

 tioned refers to the church ceremony, during which a promise of 

 perseverance in the Lutheran faith is made. — Trans. 



