In 1672 however, Holland being threatened by Louis XIV., he con cluded a treaty with the republic, engaging to furnish 20,000 men for its defence. Ile also contributed to induce the Emperor, Denmark, Hesse Cassel, and several German princes to join him against France. But though his advance into Weatphnlia induced the French to quit Holland, the campaign was rendered unsuccessful by the slowness of the Austrian general, and ho was forced to abandon Westphalia to the enemy. The Austrians leaving him, and the Dutch neglecting to scud him subsidies, he was obliged to make a convention with France in 1673. The French were to evacuate Westphalia and pay him 900,000 Byres, he promising to withdraw from his alliance with Holland, and not to support the enemies of France ; yet he reserved to himself the right of assisting the German emperor in case of attack. This happened in 1674, when he invaded Alsace with 16,000 man, and joined the Imperial army; but the Austrian general, Bournonville, avoided a battle, contrary to the advice of Frederick, and Tnrenne receiving reinforcements, obliged the Germane to quit Alsace. In order to free themselves from Frederick, tho French instigated the Swedes to invade Pomerania and the March, which they attacked in Decem ber 1674 with 10,000 men. Frederick hastened to his dominions, and proceeding with great rapidity and secrecy at the head of only 5000 men, he totally defeated 11,000 Sweden at Fehrbellin In 1875, and freed his dominions, from the enemy. Following up his theorises, ho took Stettin. In January 1679 be crossed the Frisch° Huff and the Gulf of Courland with his army on sledges over the ice, and surprising the Swedes in their winter quarters, compelled them to quit Prussia. lie did not reap any real advantage from his success, for Louis XIV. Insisted that he should make peace with Sweden and give up all his conquests; and on his refusal sent an army of 30,000 men to lay waste the duchy of Cleves and city of Minden, so that he was forced to con clude the treaty of St. Germain, by which he restored all his conquests to Sweden ; the French withdrew from his Westphalian dominions, and paid him 800,000 crowns. After this we do not find Frederick again in the field. Ha was indeed engaged in various negociations ; was involved in disputes with Franco on account of its seizure of Strasbourg and Luxeinburg ; and in consequence of his reception of 20,000 French Protestants who loft their country on the repeal of the edict of Nantes. Frederick, who had previously obtained from his
ambassador, Von Speulicim, notice of the intended measure, had made prep rations to receive the fugitives, and sent funds to his agents at Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Hamburg, for their assistance. In like manner he protected the proscribed Waldenses. Having in vain in terceded for them in a very affectiog letter to the Duke of Savoy, be offered to receive 2000 of them Into his dominions lie sent 8000 men in 1680 to assist the emperor against the Turks ; having in the year preceding renewed hie alliance with Holland ; and when Prince William of Orange was preparing for his expedition to England, Frederick assisted him with several regiments, and Marshal Vou Sehomberg, who became so great • favonrito of William, and was eventually killed at tho battle of tho Boyne. As another proof of Frederick's enterprising spirit, it deserves to be noticed that Spain neglecting to pay him the arrears of a subsidy promised him for his co-operation against France, he resolved to commence a war by sea against that power : ho fitted out eight frigates which had been employed against Sweden, and sent thorn in 1690 to capture Spanish ships, and they actually took some rich merchantmen.
We have not space, nor is it necessary to detail the proceedings of this great prince in consolidating the prosperity of his dominions and the welfare of his subjeeta. He died in April 1683, leaving to his son a much enlarged and highly cultivated territory, a well-filled treasury, and an army of 30,000 excellent troops. He was twice married ; first in 1647 to Louisa Henrietta, princess of Orange, an amiable and ac complished person, author of the celebrated German Hymn 'Jesus mien Zuversicht.' She died in 1667. In the following year Frederick married Dorothea, duchess dowager of Brunswick Liieleberg; but though an excellent and virtuous princess, she was not liked by the people, chiefly because the was on ill terms with her step-children, especially the crown-prince. The character of Frederick, both in public and private life, has always been highly esteemed. Ho was kind, generous, fond of society, and though rather quick in his temper, extremely placable. As n sovereign he appears to have justly merited the surname of the Great Elector.