688 
thought it unnecessary to count the hours 
like-a little boy.” 
On this the marquis, no longer able to 
contain himself, jumps out of bed, seizes 
a cane, and thea proceeds to beat poor 
La Pierre, who remaining motionless, 
and with his arms folded, said to him in 
a phlegmatic tone, “ This, I suppose, is - 
what you call a philosopher ! Proceed, 
sir, and to punish me for your own 
faults, and reward my zeal and fidelity, 
kill me outright—it will -confer great 
honour on philosophy !” 
“ Ab, my friend!” exclaims D’Arzens, 
at the same time throwimg away the 
cane, “I ask your pardon; . and 
T earnestly beseech yon to dress me 
quickly, that I may, if possible, be with 
the king before he takes his seat at 
table.” 
We find that his acquaintance, the Ba- 
ron de Pollnitz, was to the full as singular 
a character as bimself: “he was a nan of 
wit, had been formerly a priest, and 
spent the greater part oi lis hfe in tra- 
velling. As he abounded with ancc- 
dotes, and was Pane in conyersa- 
tion, his company was earnestly desired 
by ‘people of es first distinction in 
Germany. He indeed published his 
own life, in a work printed in 1737, at 
Amsterdam, in 5 vol. L2imo. and entitled 
“ Lettres et Memoires du Baron de 
Pollnitz,” which not only contained his 
adventures, but also the characters of 
those persons who then figured at the 
principal courts of Europe. 
He was appointed one of the king’s 
chamberjains, and became a party in ail 
his amusements. This monarch, sur- 
rounded by his courtiers, happening to 
be one day in the chapel of Charlotter- 
bourg,. took a fancy that the Baron 
should preach a sermon. Pollnitz, who 
wished for nothing more ardently, im- 
mediately entered the pulpit, cleared his 
throat, and casting his eyes around, 
sravely gave out the following text: 
“ Render to Cesar, the things ‘that be 
Cesar’s; and to God, the things that 
appertain to God.” He then divided 
and. subdivided his discourse, in con- 
formity to usage, after which he be- 
gan by proving, “ that the zealous ser- 
vants of Casar, had on every occasion 
rendered to Cxsar, what appertained to 
Czsar; for they had followed him in all 
hiis disgraces, and. gladly sacrificed on 
his account the httle fortune that be- 
longed to them, while they had at the 
same time frequently exposed their 
lives in his service. But a Cxsar,” 
Retrospect of French Literature—Biography. 
adds he, “rendered to God, what ap- 
pertains to God? and then striking the 
cushfon with his hand, he added: “ has 
the Casar of Prussia, I say,.rendered to 
God, what appertains to God, by re- 
compensing his fuithful servants? » Not- 
withstanding this hint, the king remained 
at once impenitent and 3 inexor.ble, and 
shut his cars and his heart to the prea acher’s 
exhortations, 
Voltaire charges this singular man, 
with having changed his religion two or 
three times. This may be incorrect, but 
certain it is, that on complaining ore 
day to Frederic of his poverty, this 
prince observed, in reply, “ I am sorry, 
you are not a catholic, as FE mighe 
prove useful, having a_ rich canonry 
vacant, which I could have conterred 
on you.” ‘The Baron thinkiig’ the 
best th ng he could do was to turn 
catholic, made his recantation that very 
day, and on the next, waited on his 
majesty, to in orm hin that he had been 
converted.” “ Diable !” cried the mag 
monarch, “ it is now too late, having just 
presented a person to the benefice in 
question; but if you turn Jew, I will 
give you my sglemn promise that you 
‘shall"become a Rabbi.” 
The king, however, treated the Mar- 
quis D’Argens far better than the Baron 
de Pollnitz, and notwithstanding some 
occasional instances of irritability, had 
conceived if not an esteem, at “least 
something like a friendship for him.” No 
sooner did his majesty learn that he was 
dead, than he ordered a monement to 
be erected to his memory, at Ais, at his 
own expence. It consists of a pyramid 
surrounded by an urn, encircled by a 
wreathe of laurel. with a medallion of 
his favourite, under which is the follow- 
ing motto : 
ERRORIS INIMICUS: 
VERITATIS AMATOR. 
His life has been composed from in- 
formation received of M. d’Arnold Ba- 
cular, who frequented the court of Ber- 
lin while the marquis resided there; 
the “ Lettres sur le Regne de Frederic 
I]. imprimée a Strasbourg en 1789;” the 
Writings of the Abbé Denina; “igi Prusse 
Literaire ;” the “ Souvenirs a Berlin,” 
and the “ Correspondence du Marquis 
D’Argens lui meme avec le Roi, &c.” 
This volume also contains his “ Me- 
tnoires,” written by himself, and his 
i Lettres: ”’ but it does not include his 
“ Lettres J uives,” his “ La Philosophie 
du bon sens, &c.” 
6 
MISCEL=- 
