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der title； POESIES DIVERSES； 1 vol。 big 8vo （Preuss； in OEuvres de Frederic； x。 Preface； p。 x。 See Formey； ii。 255； under date misprinted 〃1763〃）。＇ 〃We will have those articles back；〃 thinks Friedrich； 〃that OEUVRE most especially！ No difficulty： wait for him at Frankfurt； as he passes home； demand them of him there。〃 And has （directly on those new 〃firings through port…holes〃 at Leipzig） bidden Fredersdorf take measures accordingly。 ＇〃Friedrich to Wilhelmina； 12th April； 1753〃 （ OEuvres； xxvii。 iii。 227）。＇
Fredersdorf did so； early in April and onward had his Official Person waiting at Frankfurt （one Freytag； our Prussian Resident there； very celebrated ever since）； vigilant in the extreme for Voltaire's arrival；and who did not miss that event。 Voltaire； arriving at last （May 31st）； did； with Freytag's hand laid gently on his sleeve； at once give up what of the articles he had about him；the OEUVRE； unluckily； not one of them； and agreed to be under mild arrest （〃PAROLE D'HONNEUR； in the LION…D'OR Hotel here！〃） till said OEUVRE should come up。 Under Fredersdorf's guidance； all this； and what follows； King Friedrich； after the general Order given； had nothing more to do with it； and was gone upon his Reviews。
In the course of two weeks or more the OEUVRE DE POESIE did come。 Voltaire was impatient to go。 And he might perhaps have at once gone； had Freytag been clearly instructed； so as to know the essential from the unessential here。 But he was not；poor subaltern Freytag had to say； on Voltaire's urgencies： 〃I will at once report to Berlin； if the answer be （as we hope）； 'All right；' you are that moment at liberty！〃 This was a thing unexpected； astonishing to Voltaire； a thing demanding patience； silence： in three days more； with silence； as turns out； it would have been all beautifully over；but he was not strong in those qualities！
Voltaire's arrest hitherto had been merely on his word of honor； 〃I promise； on my honor； not to go beyond the Garden of this Inn。〃 But he now； without warning anybody； privately revoked said word of honor； and Collini and he； next morning； whisked shiftily into a hackney…coach； and were on the edge of being clear off。 To Freytag's terror and horror； who； however； caught them in time： and was rigorous enough now； and loud enough；street…mob gathering round the transaction； Voltaire very loud； and Freytag too；the matter taking fire here； and scenes occurring； which Voltaire has painted in a highly flagrant manner！
On the third day； Answer from Berlin had come； as expected； answer （as to the old score）： 〃All right； let him go！〃 But to punctual Freytag's mind； here is now a new considerable item of sundries： insult to his Majesty； to wit； breaking his Majesty's arrest； in such insolent loud manner：and Freytag finds that he must write anew。 Post is very slow； and； though Fredersdorf answers constantly； from Berlin； 〃Let him go； let him go；〃 there have to be writings and re…writings； and it is not till July 7th （after a detention； not of nearly three weeks； as it might and would have been； but of five and a day） that Voltaire gets off； and then too at full gallop； and in a very unseemly way。
This is authentically the world…famous Frankfurt Affair；done by Fredersdorf； as we say； Friedrich； absent in Silesia； or in Preussen even； having no hand in it； except the original Order left with Fredersdorf。 Voltaire has used his flamingest colors on this occasion； being indeed dreadfully provoked and chagrined； painting the thing in a very flagrant manner；known to all readers。 Voltaire's flagrant Narrative had the round of the world to itself； for a hundred years； and did its share of execution against Friedrich。 Till at length； recently； a precise impartial hand； the Herr Varnhagen； thought of looking into the Archives； and has； in a distinct； minute and entertaining way； explained the truth of it to everybody；leaving the Voltaire Narrative in rather sad condition。 ＇Varnhagen von Ense； Voltaire in Frankfurt am Mayn； 1753 （separate； as here； 12mo； pp。 92； or in Berliner Kalender for 1846）。＇ We have little room； but must give； compressed； from Varnhagen and the other evidences； a few of the characteristic points。 The story falls into two Parts。
PART I。 FREDERSDORF SENDS INSTRUCTIONS； THE 〃OEUVRE DE POESIE〃 IS GOT； BUT
APRIL 11th； 1753 （few days after that of Maupertuis's Cartel； Voltaire having set to firing through port…holes again； and the King being swift in his resolution on it）； Factotum Fredersdorf； who has a free…flowing yet a steady and compact pen； directs Herr Freytag； our Resident at Frankfurt…on…Mayn； To procure from the Authorities there； on Majesty's request； the necessary powers； then vigilantly to look out for Voltaire's arrival； to detain the said Voltaire； and； if necessary； arrest him； till he deliver certain articles belonging to his Majesty： Cross of Merit； Gold Key； printed OEUVRE DE POESIES and Writings （SKRIPTUREN） of his Majesty's； in short； various articles；the specification of which is somewhat indistinct。 In Fredersdorf's writing； all this； not so mathematically luminous and indisputable as in Eichel's it would have been。 Freytag put questions； and there passed several Letters between Fredersdorf and him； but it was always uncomfortably hazy to Freytag； and he never understood or guessed that the OEUVRE DE POESIES was the vital item； and the rest formal in comparison。 Which is justly considered to have been an unlucky circumstance； as matters turned。 For help to himself； Freytag is to take counsel with one Hofrath Schmidt； a substantial experienced Burgher of Frankfurt； whose rathship is Prussian。
APRIL 21st； Freytag answers； That Schmidt and he received his Majesty's All…gracious Orders the day before yesterday （Post takes eight days； it would seem）； that they have procured the necessary powers； and are now； and will be； diligently watchful to execute the same。 Which； one must say； they in right earnest are； patrolling about； with lips strictly closed； eyes vividly open； and have a man or two privately on watch at the likely stations； on the possible highways；and so continue； Voltaire doing his ANNALS OF THE EMPIRE； and enjoying himself at Gotha； for weeks after； ＇〃Left Gotha 25th May 〃 （Clog。 in OEuvres de Voltaire； xxv。 192 n。）。＇much unconscious of their patrolling。
Freytag is in no respect a shining Diplomatist；probably some EMERITUS Lieutenant； doing his function for 30 pounds a year： but does it in a practical solid manner。 Writes with stiff brevity； stiff but distinct； with perfect observance of grammar both in French and German； with good practical sense； and faithful effort to do aright what his order is： no trace of 〃MonSIR；〃 of 〃OEuvre de PoesHie；〃 to be found in Freytag； and most； or all； of the ridiculous burs stuck on him by Voltaire； are to be pulled off again asas fibs； or fictions； solacing to the afflicted Wit。 Freytag is not of quick or bright intellect： and unluckily； just at the crisis of Voltaire's actual arrival； both Schmidt and Fredersdorf are off to Embden； where there is 〃Grand Meeting of the Embde