%images;]> lchtml-000703 Unmistakable Voice in Europe, An.. ...: a machine readable transcription. Lewis Carroll Scrapbook, Library of Congress Selected and converted. American Memory, Library of Congress.

Washington, DC, 2003.

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 2004/03/23
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AN UNMISTAKABLE VOICE IN EUROPE.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.—PRUSSIA.

[Illustration]

Thus writes our own Correspondent:— Berlin, March 2nd, 1855.

I dined with the King yesterday. His Majesty has been much irritated by the following statement, which has appeared in one of your contemporaries:—

“Lord John Russell goes to Berlin to ascertain, if possible, the real meaning of the King of Prussia”

After dinner, Frederick-William complained to me on the subject of this paragraph. He dwelt with much emphasis on the words, “if possible,” as being peculiarly offensive. In directing his remarks on those objectionable expressions to myself, the monarch did me the honour to use the English language, as when talking to our country-men, it is his custom to use it always in the afternoon. His Majesty was pleased to say:-

“If poshble! Whyifposhble? Whoss Lorjohnrus'l come Berlinfor tashtain mymeanigifposhble? Youunstan mymeanig wellenough ! You fi no difficuly in unstan mymean-ic! Now do y'olefella? Veywell-zhen! Whatshay ifposhble for? Shif I coo'n shpeakplain? Doni-shpeakplain? No instinkness in my prunciation-izher? You 'stinguish ev word I shay. Donu? Wellzhen, ifposhble 's 'bsurd. 'Fposhble'sh erroneous. 'Fposhble's a gratuishous assumsh'n—'fpossble is. I won't have ifpossble. Share's no 'sh thing's ifposhibility. Nev' lem me hear that obs'vation anymore!—and pashdecanter: and aff zhat, ifposhble, we'll smocigar."

At a later period of the evening his Majesty reverted to the topic of these unpleasant words, which evidently, to use a phrase current among your lower orders, stick in the royal gizzard. On this last occasion the King was so overcome that he cried, and his utterance was choked to such a degree as to deprive me of the ability to present you with a report of his observations.