Thank you so much for this write up. Colonel Camas definitely sounds like a much liked/loved paternal mentor, and it’s fascinating that he’s entrusted with the ups and downs of the FW/Fritz relationship, given this is a very hot iron indeed and FW is Camas’ commander-in-chief and ultra distrustful against his officers conspiring with the rising sun. Incidentally, I’ve been trying to think for a while what set FW off in January 1739. Sure, it doesn’t have to be an actual reason (abusers don’t need one), but more often than not there’s a triggering event. I mean, in the crisis year 1730, you had the English marriage disaster and the debts coming to light as outward triggers. But in early 1739, Fritz has spent almost a decade being the perfect obedient son, with the non appearance of a grandchild really being the only thing where you can accuse him of not matching FW’s expectations. So why now? FW becomes aware one more illness will do him in and he’s rulnning on borrowed time?

Madame de Wr... writing to Voltaire: Madame de Wreech, whom Fritz wrote poetry to in Küstrin? (Also the mother of two of Heinrich’s courtiers. Also made a pass to Lehndorff in her later years.)

We have two new envoys here, Rudenskjöld and Valori. The first is a witty, clever man who has a lot of knowledge and world. The second is a fool, very coarse, and so deeply absorbed by the salacious, that the man of quality is totally lost in it; [...]

Hang on, what? In that order? That would be a very negative first judgment on Valori, author of some of the best Fritz portraits in writing by a contemporary, and friends with his younger brothers.

I’m charmed by Voltaire deducing Fritz early 1740s chubbiness from Camas. :)