history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第20章
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r men； in paper only；which （thanks to Bruhl and his unheard…of expenditures and financierings） is now at a discount say of 25； or even 30 per cent。 By Article Eleventh of the Dresden TREATY OF PEACE； King Friedrich； if our readers have not forgotten； got stipulated； That all Prussian holders of these SCHEINE should be paid in gold； interest at the due days； and at the due days principal itself：in gold they； whatever became of others。 No farther specifications； as to proof； method； limits or conditions of any kind； occur in regard to this Eleventh Article； which is a just one； beyond doubt； but most carelessly drawn up。 Apparently it trusts altogether to the personal honesty of all Prussian subjects： 'Prove yourself a Prussian subject； and we pay your Steuer…Schein in real money。' But now if a Saxon or other Non…Prussian； who can get no payment save in paper； were to have his Note smuggled or trafficked over into Prussia； and presented as a Prussian one？ In our time； such traffic would start on the morrow morning； and in a week or two； all Notes whatsoever would be presented as Prussian； payable in gold！ Not so in those days；though a small contraband of that kind does by degrees threaten to establish itself； and Friedrich had to publish severe rescripts （one before this Hirsch…Voltaire business； ＇10th August； 1748 （Seyfarth； i。 62）。＇ one still severer after）； and menace it down again。 The malpractice seems to have proved menaceable in that manner； nor was any new arrangement made upon it；no change； till the Steuer…Scheine； by their gradual terms； were all paid either in real money or imaginary； and thus； in the course of years； the thing burnt to the socket； and went out。〃
Voltaire's rash Adventure； dangerous Navigation and gradual Wreck； in this Forbidden Sea of Steuer…Scheine；will become conceivable to readers； on study diligent enough of the following Documents and select Details：
DOCUMENT FIRST （a small Missive； in Voltaire's hand）。
〃Je prie instamment monsieur hersch de venir demain mardi matin a potsdam pour affaire pressante； et d'aporter （SIC） avec luy les diamants qui doivent servir pour la representation de la tragedie qui se jouera a cinq heures de soir chez S。A。R。 Monseigneur le Prince henri 〃Ce lundy a midy。 VOLTAIRE。〃
Which being interpreted； rightly spelt； and dated （as by chance we can do） with distinctness； will run as follows in English： 〃POTSDAM； Monday； 9th November； 1750。 〃I earnestly request Mr。 Hirsch to come to…morrow Tuesday morning to Potsdam； on business that is urgent； and to bring with him the Diamonds needed for the Tragedy which is to be represented； at five in the evening； in His Royal Highness Prince Henry's Apartment。〃 ＇Klein； v。 260。＇
〃On Tuesday the 10th；〃 say the Old Newspapers； 〃was ROME SAUVEE；〃 with Voltaire； perceptible there as 〃CICERON；〃 ＇Rodenbeck； i。 209。＇ in due splendor of diamonds； Hirsch having no doubt been punctual。 A glorious enough Cicero；and such a piece of 〃urgent business〃 done with your Hirsch； just before emerging on the stage！
〃Hirsch； in that NARRATIVE； describes himself as a young innocent creature。 Not very old； we will believe： but as to innocence！For certain； he is named Abraham Hirsch； or Hirschel： a Berlin Jew of the Period； whom one inclines to figure as a florid oily man； of Semitic features； in the prime of life； who deals much in jewels； moneys； loans； exchanges； all kinds of Jew barter； whether absolutely in old clothes； we do not knowcertainly not unless there is a penny to be turned。 The man is of oily Semitic type； not old in years；there is a fraternal Hirsch； and also a paternal； who is head of the firm；and this young one seems to be already old in Jew art。 Speaks French and other dialects； in a Hebrew； partially intelligible manner； supplies Voltaire with diamonds for his stage…dresses； as we perceive。 To all appearance； nearly destitute of human intellect； but with abundance of vulpine instead。 Very cunning； stupid； seemingly； as a mule otherwise； and； on the whole； resembling in various points of character a mule put into breeches； and made acquainted with the uses of money。 He is come 'on pressing business；'perhaps not of stage…diamonds alone？ Here now is DOCUMENT SECOND； nearly of the same date； may be of the very same；more likely is a few days later； and betokens mysterious dialogue and consultation held on Tuesday 10th。 It is in two hands： written on some scrap or TORN bit of paper； to judge by the length of the lines。
DOCUMENT SECOND。
〃In Voltaire's hand； this part：
'Savoir s'il est encore tems de declarer les billets qu'on a sur la steure。 si on en specifie le numero dans la declaration。'
'If it is still time to declare ＇to announce in Saxony and demand payment for＇ Notes one holds on the Steuer？ If one is to specify the No。 in the declaration？'
〃In Hirsch's hand； this part：
'l'on peut declarer des billets sur la steure； qu'on a en depost en pays etranger； et dont on ne pourra savoir le numero que dans quinze jours ou trois Semaines。' ＇Klein； 259。＇
'One can declare Notes on the Steuer； which one holds in deposit in Foreign Countries； and of which one cannot state the No。 till after a fortnight or three weeks。'
〃Which of these Two was the Serpent； which the Eve； in this STEUER… SCHEIN Tree of Knowledge； that grew in the middle of Paradise； remains entirely uncertain。 Hirsch； of course； says it was Voltaire； Voltaire （not aware that DOCUMENT SECOND remained in existence） had denied that his Hirsch business was in any way concerned with STEUER；and must have been a good deal struck； when DOCUMENT SECOND came to light； though what could he do but still deny！ Hirsch asserts himself to have objected the 'illegality； the King's anger；' but that Voltaire answered in hints about his favor with the King； 'about his power to make one a Court…Jeweller；' if he liked； and so at last tempted the baby innocence of Hirsch；for the rest； admits that the Steuer…Notes were expected to yield a Profitof 35 per cent：and； in fact； a dramatic reader can imagine to himself dialogue enough； at different times； going on； partly by words； partly by hint； innuendo and dumb…show； between this Pair of Stage…Beauties。 But； for near a fortnight after DOCUMENT FIRST； there is nothing dated； or that can be clearly believed；till；
〃MONDAY； 23d NOVEMBER； 1750。 It is credibly certain the Jew Hirsch came again； this day； to the Royal Schloss of Potsdam； to Voltaire's apartment there ＇right overhead of King Friedrich's； it is！＇where； after such dialogue as can be guessed at； there was handed to Hirsch by Voltaire； in the form of Two negotiable Bills； a sum of about 2；250 pounds； with which the Jew is to make at once for Dresden； and buy Steuer…Scheine。 ＇Hirsch's Narrative； in Preface to Tantale en Proces； p。 340。＇ Steuer…Scheine without fail： 'but in talking or corresponding on the matter； we are always to call them FURS or DIAMONDS；'mystery of mysteries being the rule for us。 This considerable sum of 2；250 pounds may it not otherwise； contrives Voltaire； be called a 'Loan' to Jeweller Hirsch； so obliging a Jeweller； to buy 'Furs' or 'Diamonds' with？ At a gain of 35 per 100 Pieces； there will be above 800 pounds to me； after all expenses cleared： a very pretty stroke of business do…able in few days！〃
〃Monday； 23d November：〃 The beautiful Wilhelmina； one remarks； is just making her packages； right sad to end such a Visit as this had been！ Thursday night； from her first sleeping…place； there is a touching Farewell to her Brother；tender； melodiously sorrowful； as the Song of the Swan。 ＇Wilhelmina to Friedrich； 〃Brietzen； 26th November； JOUR FUNESTE POUR MOI〃 （ OEuvres de Frederic； xxvii。 i。 197）。＇ To Voltaire she was always good； always liked Voltaire。 Voltaire would be saying his Adieus； in state； among the others； to that high Being；just in the hours while such a scandalous Hirsch…Concoction went； on underground！
〃As to the Two Bills and Voltaire's security for them； readers are to note as follows。 Bill FIRST is a Draft； on Voltaire's Paris Banker for 40；000 livres （about 1；600 pounds）； not payable for some weeks： 'This I lend you； Monsieur Hirsch； mind； LEND you；to buy Furs！' 'Yes； truly； what we call Furs；and before the Bill falls payable； there will be effects for it in Monseigneur de Voltaire's hand； which is security enough for Monseigneur。' The SECOND Bill； again〃Truth is； there were in succession two Second Bills； an INTENDED…Second （of this same Monday 23d）； which did not quite suit； and an ACTUAL…Second （two days later）； which did。 INTENDED… Second Bill was one for 4；000 thalers （about 600 pounds）； drawn by Voltaire on the Sieur Ephraim；a very famous Jew of Berlin now and henceforth； with whom as money…changer； if not yet otherwise （which perhaps Ephraim thinks unlucky）； Voltaire； it would seem； is in frequent communication。 This Bill； Ephraim would not accept； told Hirsch he owed M。 de Voltaire nothing； 〃turned me rudely away；〃 says Hirsch （two of a trade； and no friends； he and I！）so that there is nothing to be said of this Ephraim Bill； and except as it elucidates some dark portions of the whirlpools； need not have been noticed at all。 〃Hirsch；〃 continues my Authority； 〃got only Two available Bills； the first on Paris for 1；600 pounds； payable in some weeks； and； after a day or two； this other： The ACTUAL BILL SECOND； which is a Draft for 4；430 thalers （about 650 pounds）； by old Father Hirsch； head of the Firm； on Voltaire himself：'Furs too with that； Monsieur Hirsch； at the rate of 35 per piece； you understand？' 'Yea； truly； Monseigneur！'Draft accepted by Voltaire； and the cash for it now handed to Hirsch Son： the only absolutely ready money he has yet got towards the affair。
〃For these Two Bills； especially for this Second； I perceive； Voltaire holds borrowed jewels （borrowed in theatrical times； or partly bought； from the Hirsch Firm； and not paid for）； which make him sure till he see the STEUER Papers themselves。（And now off； my good Sieur Hirsch； and know that if you please ME； there are things in my power which would suit a man in the Jeweller and Hebrew line！' Hirsch pushes home to Berlin； primed and loaded in this manner； Voltaire naturally auxious enough that the shot may hit。 Alas； the shot will not even go off； for some time： an ill omen！
〃SUNDAY； 29th NOVEMBER； Hirsch； we hear； is still in Berlin。 Fancy the humor of Voltaire； after such a week as last！ TUESDAY； December 1st） Hirsch still is not off： 'Go； you son of Amalek！' urges Voltaire； and sends his Servant Picard； a very sharp fellow； for perhaps the third time；who has orders now； as Hirsch discovers； to stay with him； not quit sight of him till he do go。 ＇Hirsch's Narrative； see Voltaire's Letter to D'Arget （ OEuvres； lxiv。 11）。＇ Hirsch's hour of departure for Dresden is not mentioned in the ACTS； but I guess he could hardly get over Wednesday； with Picard dogging him on these terms； and must have taken the diligence on Wednesday night： to arrive in Dresden about December 4th。 'Well； at least； our shot is off； has not burst out； and lodged in our person here；thanked be all t
