The ever-jolting carriage gave some bigger jolt, the child fell backwards in her arms; [Johann Wegfuhrer, _ Leben der Kurfurstin Luise, gebornen Prinzessin von Nassau-Oranien, Gemahlin Friedrich Wilhelm des Grossen_ (Leipzig, 1838), p.

107.] did not quite break his back, but injured it for life:--and with his back, one may perceive, injured his soul and history to an almost corresponding degree.

For the weak crooked boy, with keen and fine perceptions, and an inadequate case to put them in, grew up with too thin a skin:--that may be considered as the summary of his misfortunes; and, on the whole, there is no other heavy sin to be charged against him.
He had other loads laid upon him, poor youth: his kind pious Mother died, his elder Brother died, he at the age of seventeen saw himself Heir-Apparent;--and had got a Stepmother with new heirs, if he should disappear.

Sorrows enough in that one fact, with the venomous whisperings, commentaries and suspicions, which a Court population, female and male, in little Berlin Town, can contrive to tack to it.

Does not the new Sovereign Lady, in her heart, wish YOU were dead, my Prince?
Hope it perhaps?
Health, at any rate, weak; and, by the aid of a little pharmacy--ye Heavens! Such suspicions are now understood to have had no basis except in the waste brains of courtier men and women; but their existence there can become tragical enough.