The Prince replied, that Clarke's God made him
laugh : that such a God as that might be imagined
discussing the events of the day with wretched news-
paper scribblers in a coflFeehouse, or waiting for the
news from Hungary, to judge whether he were right
or no in his conjectures. But that he, for his part,
knew but one God, who cared for the universe at
large, and likewise governed the actions of mankind ;
and that as there was one God who was the beginning
of all things, so was there also an absolute necessity,,
to which all men were subject. But while he ex-
pressed himself so positively almost in the tone of a
fatalist, he nevertheless remarked that much might
be objected to his system, and that it was a dispute
that might last for centuries : that it was not given
to man to come to a final conclusion with respect to
abstract ideas ; that it was enough for him to know
how he ought to live, for that he was bom for action
and not for contemplation.*

There can be no doubt that Frederick was far
superior to his correspondent in depth of thought and
in scientific attainments ; nevertheless it made a great
impression upon him when he found that the friend
he so much admired stuck to opinions opposed to his

* In Beuchot, LII., especially the letters of 16th Aug., No.
