ABSTRACT
Frederick William launched his thunders from Berlin, commanding his son to leave Hanover at once and return home under pain of his paternal and Electoral displeasure. After the fall of Danckelmann, whom Frederick came actually to hate as the last persistent obstacle in his way, he pushed forward business negotiations in Vienna, employing the most experienced agents, and not stinting funds up to the limit of his capacity. It was the misfortune of Frederick’s life to have come into the world and into his inheritance as a second son. His father, the Great Elector, never really forgave Fate for condemning his tall, straight, splendidly handsome, intelligent, and attractive eldest son while sparing the second, who was dwarfish, sickly, and ugly. The imperious Great Elector could not set eyes on his second son without bewailing the first, and he never was on really good terms with his heir by default.
