120 



LETTERS FROM 



purfue an unlimited commerce by fea. It has already- 

 been obferved by other writers, how fimple, but at 

 the fame time how ingenious the fyftem of the king of 

 Pruffia is, and how abfolutely neceffary every minuter 

 part of it is to the fupport of the whole. His fucceffor 

 will find the kingdom in a very different condition 

 from that in which the prefent fovereign found it when 

 he received the reins of government ; and probably it 

 may then be prudent here and there to alter an efta- 

 bliihment which the predecefTor muft have made if he 

 would not act. unwifely. Permit me to give you but 

 one infiance from the confiitution of this country, 

 how much circumftances may render a certain regula- 

 tion needful, which would be utterly blameable if it 

 were ordained to continue longer than a It. ate d period. 



In all the accounts of Berlin that are publilhed by 

 travellers, fo much fbrefs is laid upon the dearnefs of 

 fire- wood in this city, and all foreigners that come hi- 

 ther complain fo loudly on this head, that one would 

 'imagine it muft be dearer here than in any other place 

 in the world. In general, this cry principally proceeds 

 from the tavern-keepers, as it is with thefe people the 

 generality of foreigners converfe moft on fuch fubje6ts, 

 and who indeed find their account in thus keeping up 

 the opinion ; as it thereby becomes lefs ftriking if they 

 charge the traveller a high price for firing, which they 

 actually do to an unpardonable degree. But the inha- 

 bitants themfelves complain of it ; they fay, we might 

 certainly expect to have fire-wood at a reafonable rate, 

 as we are furrounded by forefts : and fo far they are in 

 the right. But they ought not on this account to ex- 

 claim againft a regulation which prudence required; as 

 i they 



