history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第34章
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King； who has great things in view for it； besides what are in actual progress。
That of dikes； sea…embankments； for example； to Ost…Friesland； as to Holland； they are the first condition of existence； and； in the past times； of extreme Parliamentary vitality； have been slipping a good deal out of repair。 Ems River； in those flat rainy countries； has ploughed out for itself a very wide embouchure； as boundary between Groningen and Ost…Friesland。 Muddy Ems； bickering with the German Ocean； does not forget to act； if Parliamentary Commissioners do。 These dikes； 120 miles of dike； mainly along both banks of this muddy Ems River； are now water…tight again； to the comfort of flax and clover： and this is but one item of the diking now on foot。 Readers do not know the Dollart； that uppermost round gulf； not far from Embden itself； in the waste embouchure of Ems with its continents of mud and tide。 Five hundred years ago； that ugly whirl of muddy surf； 100 square miles in area； was a fruitful field； 〃50 Villages upon it； one Town； several Monasteries and 50；000 souls：〃 till on Christmas midnight A。D。 1277； the winds and the storm…rains having got to their height； Ocean and Ems did； 〃about midnight；〃 undermine the place； folded it over like a friable bedquilt or monstrous doomed griddle…cake； and swallowed it all away。 Most of it； they say； that night； the whole of it within ten years coming； ＇Busching； Erdbeschreibung； v。 845； 846； Preuss； i。 308； 309。＇and there it has hung； like an unlovely GOITRE at the throat of Embden； ever since。 One little dot of an Island； with six houses on it； near the Embden shore； is all that is left。 Where probably his Majesty landed （July 15th； being in a Yacht that day）； but did not see； afar off； the 〃sunk steeple… top；〃 which is fabled to be visible at low…water。
Upon this Dollart itself there is now to be diking tried； King's Domain…Kammer showing the example。 Which Official Body did accordingly （without Blue…Books； but in good working case otherwise） break ground； few months hence； and victoriously achieved a POLDER； or Diked Territory； 〃worth about 2；000 pounds annually；〃 〃which； in 1756； was sold to the STANDE；〃 at twenty…five years purchase； let us say； or for 50；000 pounds。 An example of a convincing nature； which many others； and ever others； have followed since； to gradual considerable diminution of the Dollart； and relief of Ost…Friesland on this side。 Furtherance of these things is much a concern of Friedrich's。 The second day after his arrival； those audiences and ceremonials done； Friedrich and suite got on board a Yacht； and sailed about all over this Dollart； twenty miles out to sea； dined on board； and would have； if the weather was bright （which I hope）； a pleasantly edifying day。 The harbor is much in need of dredging； the building docks considerably in disrepair； but shall be refitted if this King live and prosper。 He has declared Embden a 〃Free…Haven；〃 inviting trade to it from all peaceable Nations；and readers do not know （though Sir Jonas Hanway and the jealous mercantile world well did） what magnificent Shipping Companies and Sea…Enterprises； of his devising； are afoot there。 Of which； one word； and no second shall follow：
〃September 1st； 1750； those Carrousel gayeties scarce done； 'The Asiatic Trading Company' stept formally into existence； Embden the Head…quarters of it； ＇Patent； or FREYHEITS…BRIEF in Helden…Geschichte； iii。 457； 458。＇ chief Manager a Ritter De la Touche； one of the Directors our fantastic Bielfeld； thus turned to practical value。 A Company patronized； in all ways； by the King； but； for the rest； founded； not on his money； founded on voluntary shares； which； to the regret of Hanway and others； have had much popularity in commercial circles。 Will trade to China。 A thing looked at with umbrage by the English； by the Dutch。 A shame that English people should encourage such schemes； says Hanway。 Which nevertheless many Dutch and many English private persons do；among the latter； one English Lady （name unknown； but I always suspect 'Miss Barbara Wyndham； of the College； Salisbury'）； concerning whom there will be honorable notice by and by。
〃At the time of Friedrich's visit； the Asiatic Company is in full vogue； making ready its first ship for Canton。 First ship； KONIG VON PREUSSEN （tons burden not given）； actually sailed 17th February next （1752）； and was followed by a second； named TOWN OF EMBDEN； on the 19th of September following； both of which prosperously reached Canton； and prosperously returned with cargoes of satisfactory profit。 The first of them； KONIG VON PREUSSEN； had been boarded in the Downs by an English Captain Thomson and his Frigate； and detained some days；till Thomson 'took Seven English seamen out of her。' 'Act of Parliament； express！' said his Grace of Newcastle。 Which done； Thomson found that the English jealousies would have to hold their hand； no farther； whatever one's wishes may be。
〃Nay within a year hence； January 24th； 1753； Friedrich founded another Company for India： 'BENGALISCHE HANDELS…GESELLSCHAFT；' which also sent out its pair of ships； perhaps oftener than once； and pointed； as the other was doing； to wide fields of enterprise； for some time。 But luck was wanting。 And； 'in part； mismanagement；' and； in whole； the Seven…Years War put an end to both Companies before long。 Friedrich is full of these thoughts； among his other Industrialisms； and never quits them for discouragement； but tries again； when the obstacles cease to be insuperable。 Ever since the acquisition of Ost…Friesland； the furtherance of Sea…Commerce had been one of Friedrich's chosen objects。 'Let us carry our own goods at least； Silesian linens； Memel timbers； stock…fish； what need of the Dutch to do it？' And in many branches his progress had been remarkable；especially in this carrying trade； while the War lasted； and crippled all Anti…English belligerents。 Upon which； indeed； and the conduct of the English Privateers to him； there is a Controversy going on with the English Court in those years （began in 1747）； most distressful to his Grace of Newcastle；which in part explains those stingy procedures of Captain Thomson （'Home； you seven English sailors！'） when the first Canton ship put to sea。 That Controversy is by no means ended after three years； but on the contrary； after two years more； comes to a crisis quite shocking to his Grace of Newcastle； and defying all solution on his Grace's side；the other Party； after such delays； five years waiting； having settled it for himself！〃 Of which； were the crisis come； we will give some account。
On the third day of his Visit； Friedrich drove to Aurich； the seat of Government； and official little capital of Ost…Friesland； where triumphal arches； joyful reverences； concourses； demonstrations； sumptuous Dinner one item； awaited his Majesty： I know not if； in the way thither or back； he passed those 〃Three huge Oaks ＇or the rotted stems or roots of them＇ under which the Ancient Frisians； Lords of all between Weser and Rhine； were wont to assemble in Parliament〃 （WITHOUT Fourth Estate； or any Eloquence except of the purely Business sort）；or what his thoughts on the late Ost…Friesland Bandbox Parliaments may have been！ He returned to Embden that night； and on the morrow started homewards； we may fancy； tolerably pleased with what he had seen。
〃King Friedrich's main Objects of Pursuit in this Period；〃 says a certain Author； whom we often follow； 〃I define as being Three。 1。 Reform of the Law； 2。 Furtherance of Husbandry and Industry in all kinds； especially of Shipping from Embden； 3。 Improvement of his own Domesticities and Household Enjoyments；〃renewal of the Reinsberg Program； in short。
〃In the First of these objects；〃 continues he； 〃King Friedrich's success was very considerable； and got him great fame in the world。 In his Second head of efforts； that of improving the Industries and Husbandries among his People； his success； though less noised of in foreign parts； was to the near observer still more remarkable。 A perennial business with him； this； which； even in the time of War； he never neglects； and which springs out like a stemmed flood； whenever Peace leaves him free
