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Frederick had not waited for the evil to attain its height, in

order to exercise his benevolence, and to devote all the powers

of his mind towards its amelioration. By uniting all his means,

by practising strict economy, by drawing upon the sums destined

to other liberalities, and which had now become of secondary

importance, he endeavoured to amass money, in order to employ it

entirely for those who were suffering from hunger and its

consequences. He bought a quantity of grain, and sent it to the

most destitute parts of his diocese; but as the succour was far

from adequate to the necessity, he sent with it a great quantity

of salt, "with which," says Ripamonti[34], relating the fact,

"the herbs of the field and the leaves of trees were made food

for men." He distributed grain and money to the curates of the

city; and he himself travelled over it, administering alms, and

secretly aiding many indigent families.