IN SEARCH OF OLD FRITZ 255mental, and were closed to all but a very few invited strangers.
Foreign governments were disturbed by the gathering of such a force
at the traditional season for opening a war, after the harvest was
gathered in, and military men could only speculate as to what tactics
were being explored inside the sealed perimeter of the Potsdam
peninsula.
Frederick's daily routine followed an equally predictable train.
He was up in his little chamber at four in the morning in summer, and
five in winter, and if he slept any longer his servants were under
orders to awaken him, if necessary by force. A cup of coffee, laced
with a little mustard, helped to dispel any lingering drowsiness.
While still in bed he drew on his stockings, breeches and boots (if
indeed he had ever bothered to take them off), and had himself
shaved by the first attendant who came to hand. He powdered his hair
himself, and protected his clothing with a dirty old dressing gown.
The working day began immediately. Frederick received reports
from the First Battalion of the Garde concerning the states of Potsdam
town and garrison and the royal Leibkompagnie. Over breakfast he
sorted through the packet of correspondence which had been as-
sembled for him on the previous evening. Many of the letters ended up
on the fire. Some were handed to the secretaries with pithy marginal
notes, or other terse indications as to the reply. The rest occasioned a
full dictated or written letter from Frederick in person.
After breakfast the cabinet officers and the heads of the various
departments of state were called to render accounts and receive
instructions. Much of the detail of government was determined on
these occasions through the famous Frederician 'cabinet orders',
which were autocratic decrees written on small pieces of paper. Once
the bureaucrats had been sent on their way, Frederick devoted about
sixty minutes to interviewing such officers and petitioners as had
been invited into his presence.
One of the secrets of the great length of Frederick's active life
undoubtedly lay in the five or more hours he set aside for recreation in
the middle of the normal day. Late in the morning he liked to ride into
Potsdam or Berlin town, and he returned to the palace for lunch with
a selected company. 'This monarch eats well and in a leisurely
fashion' (Guibert, 1778, 9).
The courses were modest in appearance, but carefully prepared.
There were dishes in the French and Italian styles, bowls of excellent
home-grown fruit, and plates of the hotly flavoured food beloved of
the king. 'He scorched his innards daily with dishes laced with
condiments of quite incredible fieriness' (Zimmermann, 1788, 29).
Frederick downed champagne and burgundy in great quantities,
though he had a pronounced aversion to the German product. 'If you