Page "Ewald Friedrich von Hertzberg" Paragraph 14

Even in his literary interests Hertzberg found an adversary in the ungrateful king, for Frederick William, to give one instances made it so difficult for him to use the archives that in the end Hertzberg entirely gave up the attempt.

He found however, some recompense for all his disillusionment and discouragement in learning, and, Wilhelm von Humboldt excepted ,' he was the most learned of all the Prussian ministers.

As a member of the Berlin Academy especially, and, from 1786 onwards, as its curator, Hertzberg carried on a great and valuable activity in the world of learning.

His yearly reports dealt with history, statistics and political science.

The most interesting is that of 1784: Sur la forme des gouvernements, et quelle est la meilleure.

This is directed exclusively against the absolute system ( following Montesquieu ), upholds a limited monarchy, and is in favour of extending to the peasants the right to be represented in the diet.