Meanwhile he returns to France, "first days of October, 1784," where he finds Prince Henri; who is on Visit there for three months past.

["2d July, 1784," Prince Henri had gone (Rodenbeck, iii.

309).] A shining event in Prince Henri's Life; and a profitable; poor King Louis--what was very welcome in Henri's state of finance--having, in a delicate kingly way, insinuated into him a "Gift of 400,000 francs" (16,000 pounds): [Anonymous (De la Roche-Aymon), _Vie privee, politique et militaire du Prince Henri, Frere de Frederic II._ (a poor, vague and uninstructive, though authentic little Book: Paris, 1809), pp.

219-239.]--partly by way of retaining-fee for France; "may turn to excellent account," think some, "when a certain Nephew comes to reign yonder, as he soon must." What Bouille heard about the Silesian Reviews is perfectly true; and only a part of the truth.

Here, to the person chiefly responsible, is an indignant Letter of the King's: to a notable degree, full of settled wrath against one who is otherwise a dear old Friend:-- FRIEDRICH TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL TAUENTZIEN INFANTRY INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF SILESIA.
"POTSDAM, 7th September, 1784.
"MY DEAR GENERAL VON TAUENTZIEN,--While in Silesia I mentioned to you, and will now repeat in writing, That my Army in Silesia was at no time so bad as at present.