Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/249

 

E have et apart this article, for ome remarkable characters of thoe, whether in the political or literary world, whether living or dead, who have been ditinguihed by uch talents as merit the public attention. The three firt are drawn by hands altogether worthy their ubjeƈts; neither are the others contemptibly executed. If the firt of thee piƈtures inclines omewhat towards panegyric, and if the econd hould be thought to partake of atire, the reader will not therefore think either of them les jut.

 An eay towards the charaƈter of the King of Pruia, translated from the French of M. Maupertuis.

HE mot faithful and crupulous hitorian would be the bet panegyrit of Frederick king of Pruia. I pretend to be neither; I only attempt the out-lines of his charaƈter, which even cotemporary [sic] jealouy, envy and malignity, are forced to admire, and which more impartial poterity, if it can believe, will almot adore.

By the mere natural trength and uperiority of his genius, without experience, he broke out at once, a general and a hero. He ditinguihed with preciion, what inferior minds never dicover at all, the difference between great difficulties and impoibilities, and being never dicouraged by the former, has often eemed to execute the latter.

Indefatigably laborious and active, coolly intrepid in aƈtion, he dicerns, as by intuition, eizes with rapidity, and improves with kill, the hort, favourable, and often deciive moments of battle. Modet and magnanimous after viƈtory, he becomes the generous proteƈtor of his ubdued, and captive enemies. Reolute and undejeƈted in misfortunes, he has arien uperior to ditrees, and truggled with difficulties, which no courage, no contancy but his own would have reited, nor could have urmounted.

But as he cannot always command the ucces which he always deerves, he may perhaps be obliged to yield at lat to the uperior numbers of almot all Europe combined againt him; their legions may perhaps conquer, but his virtues mut triumph.

As a king, he is a man, a citizen, a legilator, and a patriot. His own extenive mind forms all his plans of government, undebaed by elfih miniterial interests and mirepreentations. Jutice and humanity are his only miniters.  made