DEDICATION

...allow for the important occupations of his Ministry, and divides his life between the service of the King and useful readings. In truth, Your Excellence cannot give to these readings all the time that You would wish. But, if this is a loss for You, what an advantage is it not for the State, which You serve with as much zeal as capability? Trained from your youth in the management of Foreign Affairs by † one of the most skillful politicians in Europe, to whom Your Excellence was closely related, and assiduously cultivating the fortunate talents that Nature has given you, You have reached that high degree of Prudence In the 18th century, "Prudence" referred to the classical virtue of practical wisdom and political sagacity required of a statesman. which has earned you the King's confidence and the esteem and gratitude of his subjects.

Of all the Ministries, that which Your Excellence exercises is the most difficult. There, one does not deal with subjects whom one can command. It is with...

† The late Mr. Baron d’Iligen Heinrich Rüdiger von Ilgen (1654–1728), a primary architect of Prussian foreign policy under three kings., Minister of State to His Majesty, Uncle of His Excellence and father-in-law of the late Mr. Baron de Cniphausen Friedrich Ernst zu Innhausen und Knyphausen (1678–1731), another high-ranking Prussian diplomat., a Minister of very great merit.

This column is blank in the original layout to allow space for the lengthy marginal footnote regarding the Baron’s lineage and political mentors.