OFFICIAL EMPLOYMENT. 155 



ires-habile person may have the brain of a hundred, but I fancy 

 it would be more to the point if he had the arms of 25,000. 

 But this is a foolish notion I have brought with me from Bay- 

 reuth ! Herr von Hardenberg wished at first to send Sieur W., 

 because he is a man of energy and of high character. As the 

 French are fond of pictures, he'might perhaps have presented 

 them with some of his or (if you will) with the portrait of 

 Madame de H. But, sic Dii non voluere. Prince Hohenlohe 

 conceived the unfortunate notion of objecting to Sieur W., and 

 of proposing me. Thus I was caught. Without consulting me, 

 they placed the matter before the king ; and how on earth was 

 I to refuse ? ' . . . 



A fortnight later, while still at Ingelflnden, he writes to 

 Freiesleben on August 2 : 



6 1 have returned from the French army to the head-quarters 

 of the Prince of Hohenlohe. I have been engaged in so much 

 that is in direct opposition to both my nature and habit of 

 thought, that it is quite as much a necessity as a pleasure to 

 write to you, dear Karl. I have been for twelve days marching 

 about with a detachment of hussars, transacting some negotia- 

 tions in Suabia. The successful conclusion of this business, and 

 its importance for the welfare of so many who will not have any 

 occasion now to leave their homes, has often excited within me 

 a feeling of self-gratulation. On the other hand it is a melan- 

 choly sight to watch the Germans creeping away from the 

 French into the interior of the country, and to hear all Ger- 

 many discussing what they call a treaty of peace ; it is enough to 

 make one's heart ache. 



6 1 hope in a few weeks to be set at. liberty, so that I may 

 return to Berlin. The troops of Saxony are greatly respected 

 by the French. General Moreau frequently said to me at his 

 head-quarters at Schorndorf : " The Saxons are very brave 

 soldiers ; they are no enemies of ours, their only crime is that 

 of adopting the Imperial policy. Had I ever taken any of them 

 prisoners, we should certainly have set them at liberty. I hope 

 the Elector will soon make peace." The Saxons are much 

 pleased with Hardenberg f s behaviour, since he has provided 

 them with bread, forage, and money. The march through, and 

 the little that we were able to do, gratified me exceedingly. 



