1-35), "Konigsberg, 18th January, 1786."] This lasted all Friedrich's lifetime; and gave rise to not a little buzzing, especially in its primary or incipient stages.

It seems to have been one of the unsuccessfulest Finance adventures Friedrich ever engaged in.

It cost his subjects infinite small trouble; awakened very great complaining; and, for the first time, real discontent,--skin-deep but sincere and universal,--against the misguided Vater Fritz.

Much noisy absurdity there was upon it, at home, and especially abroad: "Griping miser," "greedy tyrant," and so forth! Deducting all which, everybody now admits that Friedrich's aim was excellent and proper; but nobody denies withal that the means were inconsiderate, of no profit in proportion to the trouble they gave, and improper to adopt unless the necessity compelled.
Friedrich is forbidden, or forbids himself, as we have often mentioned, to impose new taxes: and nevertheless now, on calculations deep, minute and no doubt exact, he judges That for meeting new attacks of War (or being ready to meet, which will oftenest mean averting them),--a thing which, as he has just seen, may concern the very existence of the State,--it is necessary that there should be on foot such and such quantities and kinds of Soldiery and War-furniture, visible to all neighbors; and privately in the Treasury never less than such and such a sum.

To which end Arithmetic declares that there is required about Two Million thalers more of yearly revenue than we now have.