Frederic，surnamedtheGreat，sonofFredericWilliam，wasborninJanuary1712。Itmaysafelybepronouncedthathehadreceivedfromnatureastrongandsharpunderstanding，andararefirmnessoftemperandintensityofwill。Astotheotherpartsofhischaracter，itisdifficulttosaywhethertheyaretobeascribedtonature，ortothestrangetrainingwhichheunderwent。Thehistoryofhisboyhoodispainfullyinteresting。OliverTwistintheparishworkhouse，SmikeatDotheboysHall，werepettedchildrenwhencomparedwiththisheirapparentofacrown。ThenatureofFredericWilliamwashardandbad，andthehabitofexercisingarbitrarypowerhadmadehimfrightfullysavage。Hisrageconstantlyventeditselftorightandleftincursesandblows。WhenhisMajestytookawalk，everyhumanbeingfledbeforehim，asifatigerhadbrokenloosefromamenagerie。Ifhemetaladyinthestreet，hegaveherakick，andtoldhertogohomeandmindherbrats。Ifhesawaclergymanstaringatthesoldiers，headmonishedthereverendgentlemantobetakehimselftostudyandprayer，andenforcedthispiousadvicebyasoundcaning，administeredonthespot。Butitwasinhisownhousethathewasmostunreasonableandferocious。Hispalacewashell，andhethemostexecrableoffiends，acrossbetweenMolochandPuck。HissonFredericandhisdaughterWilhelmina，afterwardsMargravineofBareuth，wereinanespecialmannerobjectsofhisaversion。Hisownmindwasuncultivated。Hedespisedliterature。
Hehatedinfidels，papists，andmetaphysicians，anddidnotverywellunderstandinwhattheydifferedfromeachother。Thebusinessoflife，accordingtohim，wastodrillandtobedrilled。Therecreationssuitedtoaprince，weretositinacloudoftobaccosmoke，tosipSwedishbeerbetweenthepuffsofthepipe，toplaybackgammonforthreehalfpencearubber，tokillwildhogs，andtoshootpartridgesbythethousand。ThePrinceRoyalshowedlittleinclinationeitherfortheseriousemploymentsorfortheamusementsofhisfather。Heshirkedthedutiesoftheparade;hedetestedthefumeoftobacco;hehadnotasteeitherforbackgammonorforfieldsports。Hehadanexquisiteear，andperformedskilfullyontheflute。HisearliestinstructorshadbeenFrenchrefugees，andtheyhadawakenedinhimastrongpassionforFrenchliteratureandFrenchsociety。
FredericWilliamregardedthesetastesaseffeminateandcontemptible，and，byabuseandpersecution，madethemstillstronger。ThingsbecameworsewhenthePrinceRoyalattainedthattimeoflifeatwhichthegreatrevolutioninthehumanmindandbodytakesplace。Hewasguiltyofsomeyouthfulindiscretions，whichnogoodandwiseparentwouldregardwithseverity。Atalaterperiodhewasaccused，trulyorfalsely，ofvicesfromwhichHistoryavertshereyes，andwhichevenSatireblushestoname，vicessuchthat，toborrowtheenergeticlanguageofLordKeeperCoventry，\"thedepravednatureofman，whichofitselfcarriethmantoallothersin，abhorreththem。\"Buttheoffencesofhisyouthwerenotcharacterisedbyanypeculiarturpitude。
Theyexcited，however，transportsofrageintheKing，whohatedallfaultsexceptthosetowhichhewashimselfinclined，andwhoconceivedthathemadeampleatonementtoHeavenforhisbrutality，byholdingthesofterpassionsindetestation。ThePrinceRoyal，too，wasnotoneofthosewhoarecontenttotaketheirreligionontrust。Heaskedpuzzlingquestions，andbroughtforwardargumentswhichseemedtosavourofsomethingdifferentfrompureLutheranism。TheKingsuspectedthathissonwasinclinedtobeahereticofsomesortorother，whetherCalvinistorAtheisthisMajestydidnotverywellknow。TheordinarymalignityofFredericWilliamwasbadenough。HenowthoughtmalignityapartofhisdutyasaChristianman，andalltheconsciencethathehadstimulatedhishatred。Theflutewasbroken:theFrenchbooksweresentoutofthepalace:thePrincewaskickedandcudgelled，andpulledbythehair。Atdinnertheplateswerehurledathishead:sometimeshewasrestrictedtobreadandwater:sometimeshewasforcedtoswallowfoodsonauseousthathecouldnotkeepitonhisstomach。Oncehisfatherknockedhimdown，draggedhimalongthefloortoawindow，andwaswithdifficultypreventedfromstranglinghimwiththecordofthecurtain。TheQueen，forthecrimeofnotwishingtoseehersonmurdered，wassubjectedtothegrossestindignities。
ThePrincessWilhelmina，whotookherbrother’spart，wastreatedalmostasillasMrs。Brownrigg’sapprentices。Driventodespair，theunhappyyouthtriedtorunaway。Thenthefuryoftheoldtyrantrosetomadness。ThePrincewasanofficerinthearmy: