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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2113-h.zip b/2113-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc68a61 --- /dev/null +++ b/2113-h.zip diff --git a/2113-h/2113-h.htm b/2113-h/2113-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a7f18cc --- /dev/null +++ b/2113-h/2113-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6882 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + History of Friedrich II. Of Prussia, Volume XIII. by Thomas Carlyle + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. +XIII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIII. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--First Silesian War, Leaving the General + European One Ablaze All Round, Gets Ended--May, 1741-July, + 1742. + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2113] +Last Updated: November 30, 2012 + + + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA + </h1> + <h2> + FREDERICK THE GREAT <br /> <br /> by Thomas Carlyle + </h2> + <h3> + Volume XIII. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK XIII. — FIRST SILESIAN WAR, + LEAVING THE GENERAL EUROPEAN ONE ABLAZE ALL ROUND, GETS ENDED. — + May, 1741-July, 1742. </b></big> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0001"> + <b>Chapter I. — BRITANNIC MAJESTY AS PALADIN OF THE PRAGMATIC.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> CUNCTATIONS, YET INCESSANT AND UBIQUITOUS + ENDEAVORINGS, OF HIS BRITANNIC </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> <b>Chapter II. — CAMP OF STREHLEN.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD HAS HIS FIRST AUDIENCE + (Camp of Mollwitz, May 7th); </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> + EXCELLENCY ROBINSON BUSY IN THE VIENNA HOFRATH CIRCLES, TO PRODUCE A + </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> EXCELLENCY ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF + FRIEDRICH (Camp of Strehlen, 7th </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> <b>Chapter III. — GRAND REVIEW AT + STREHLEN: NEIPPERG TAKES AIM AT BRESLAU.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0004"> <b>Chapter IV. — FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD + AGAIN, INTENT ON HAVING NEISSE.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> + <b>Chapter V. — KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF: FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A + FASHION.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD BRINGS ABOUT A MEETING AT + KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF (9th </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> FRIEDRICH + TAKES NEISSE BY SHAM SIEGE (CAPTURE NOT SHAM); GETS HOMAGED IN </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> <b>Chapter VI. — NEW MAYOR OF + LANDSHUT MAKES AN INSTALLATION SPEECH.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0007"> <b>Chapter VII. — FRIEDRICH PURPOSES TO MEND + THE KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF FAILURE: FORTUNES OF THE BELLEISLE ARMAMENT.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> THE FRENCH SAFE IN PRAG; KAISERWAHL JUST + COMING ON. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> BROGLIO HAS A BIVOUAC OF + PISEK; KHEVENHULLER LOOKS IN UPON THE DONAU </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> <b>Chapter VIII. — FRIEDRICH STARTS + FOR MORAVIA, ON A NEW SCHEME HE HAS.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0009"> <b>Chapter IX. — WILHELMINA GOES TO SEE THE + GAYETIES AT FRANKFURT.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> WILHELMINA AT THE CORONATION. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0021"> THE DUCHESS DOWAGER OF WURTEMBERG, RETURNING FROM + BERLIN FAVORS US WITH </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> <b>Chapter X. — FRIEDRICH DOES HIS + MORAVIAN EXPEDITION WHICH PROVES A MERE</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> IGLAU IS GOT, BUT NOT THE MAGAZINE AT IGLAU. + </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> THE SAXONS THINK IGLAU ENOUGH; THE + FRENCH GO HOME. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> FRIEDRICH SUBMERGES + THE MORAVIAN COUNTRIES; BUT CANNOT BRUNN, WHICH IS </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0026"> THE SAXONS HAVE NO CANNON FOR BRUNN, CANNOT + AFFORD ANY; THERE IS A HIGH </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0011"> <b>Chapter XI. —NUSSLER IN NEISSE, + WITH THE OLD DESSAUER AND WALRAVE.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> HOW NUSSLER HAPPENED TO BE IN NEISSE, MAY, + 1742. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0012"> <b>Chapter XII. — PRINCE KARL DOES + COME ON.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> <b>Chapter XIII. + —BATTLE OF CHOTUSITZ.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0014"> <b>Chapter + XIV. — PEACE OF BRESLAU.</b> </a><br /> + </div> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + BOOK XIII. — FIRST SILESIAN WAR, LEAVING THE GENERAL EUROPEAN ONE + ABLAZE ALL ROUND, GETS ENDED. — May, 1741-July, 1742. + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I. — BRITANNIC MAJESTY AS PALADIN OF THE PRAGMATIC. + </h2> + <p> + Part, is now perhaps conceivable to readers. But as to the Second, the + Germanic or Pragmatic Part,—articulate History, after much + consideration, is content to renounce attempting these; feels that these + will remain forever inconceivable to mankind in the now altered times. So + small a gentleman; and he feels, dismally though with heroism, that he has + got the axis of the world on his shoulder. Poor Majesty! His eyes, proud + as Jove's, are nothing like so perspicacious; a pair of the poorest eyes: + and he has to scan with them, and unriddle under pain of death, such a + waste of insoluble intricacies, troubles and world-perils as seldom was,—even + in Dreams. In fact, it is of the nature of a long Nightmare Dream, all + this of the Pragmatic, to his poor Majesty and Nation; and wakeful History + must not spend herself upon it, beyond the essential. + </p> + <p> + May 12th, betimes this Year, his Majesty got across to Hanover, Harrington + with him; anxious to contemplate near at hand that Camp of the Old + Dessauer's at Gottin, and the other fearful phenomena, French, Prussian + and other, in that Country. His Majesty, as natural, was much in Germany + in those Years; scanning the phenomena; a long while not knowing what in + the world to make of them. Bully Belleisle having stept into the ring, it + is evident, clear as the sun, that one must act, and act at once; but it + is a perfect sphinx-enigma to say How. Seldom was Sovereign or man so + spurred, and goaded on, by the highest considerations; and then so held + down, and chained to his place, by an imbroglio of counter-considerations + and sphinx-riddles! Thrice over, at different dates (which shall be + given), the first of them this Year, he starts up as in spasm, determined + to draw sword, and plunge in; twice he is crushed down again, with sword + half drawn; and only the third time (in 1743) does he get sword out, and + brandish it in a surprising though useless manner. After which he feels + better. But up to that crisis, his case is really tragical,—had idle + readers any bowels for him; which they have not! One or two Fractions, + snatched from the circumambient Paper Vortex, must suffice us for the + indispensable in this place:— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CUNCTATIONS, YET INCESSANT AND UBIQUITOUS ENDEAVORINGS, OF HIS BRITANNIC + </h2> + <p> + MAJESTY (1741-1743). + </p> + <p> + ... After the wonderful Russian Partition-Treaty, which his English + Walpoles would not hear of,—and which has produced the Camp of + Gottin, see, your Majesty!—George does nothing rashly. Far from it: + indeed, except it be paying money, he becomes again a miracle of + cunctations; and staggers about for years to come, like the—Shall we + say, like the White Hanover Horse amid half a dozen sieves of beans? Alas, + no, like the Hanover Horse with the shadows of half a dozen + Damocles'-swords dangling into the eyes of it;—enough to drive any + Horse to its wit's end!— + </p> + <p> + "To do, to dare," thinks the Britannic Majesty;—yes, and of daring + there is a plenty: but, "In which direction? What, How?" these are + questions for a fussy little gentleman called to take the world on his + shoulders. We suppose it was by Walpole's advice that he gave her + Hungarian Majesty that 200,000 pounds of Secret-Service Money;—advice + sufficiently Walpolean: "Russian Partition-Treaties; horrible to think of;—beware + of these again! Give her Majesty that cash; can be done; it will keep + matters afloat, and spoil nothing!" That, till the late Subsidy payable + within year and day hence, was all of tangible his Majesty had yet done;—truly + that is all her Hungarian Majesty has yet got by hawking the world, + Pragmatic Sanction in hand. And if that were the bit of generosity which + enabled Neipperg to climb the Mountains and be beaten at Mollwitz, that + has helped little! Very big generosities, to a frightful cipher of + Millions Sterling through the coming years, will go the same road; and + amount also to zero, even for the receiving party, not to speak of the + giving! For men and kings are wise creatures. + </p> + <p> + But wise or unwise, how great are his Britannic Majesty's activities in + this Pragmatic Business! We may say, they are prodigious, incessant, + ubiquitous. They are forgotten now, fallen wholly to the spiders and the + dust-bins;—though Friedrich himself was not a busier King in those + days, if perhaps a better directed. It is a thing wonderful to us, but + sorrowful and undeniable. We perceive the Britannic Majesty's own little + mind pulsing with this Pragmatic Matter, as the biggest volcano would do;—shooting + forth dust and smoke (subsidies, diplomatic emissaries, treaties, offers + of treaty, plans, foolish futile exertions), at an immense rate. When the + Celestial Balances are canting, a man ought to exert himself. But as to + this of saving the House of Austria from France,—surely, your + Britannic Majesty, the shortest way to that, if that is so indispensable, + were: That the House of Austria should consent to give up its stolen + goods, better late than never; and to make this King of Prussia its + friend, as he offers to be! Joined with this King, it would manage to give + account of France and its balloon projects, by and by. Could your + Britannic Majesty but take Mr. Viner's hint; and, in the interim, mind + your OWN business!—His Britannic Majesty intends immediate fighting; + and, both in England and Hanover, is making preparation loud and great. + Nay, he will in his own person fight, if necessary, and rather likes the + thought of it: he saw Oudenarde in his young days; and, I am told, traces + in himself a talent for Generalship. Were the Britannic Majesty to draw + his own puissant sword!-His own puissant purse he has already drawn; and + is subsidizing to right and left; knocking at all doors with money in + hand, and the question, "Any fighting done here?" In England itself there + goes on much drilling, enlisting; camping, proposing to camp; which is + noisy enough in the British Newspapers, much more in the Foreign. One + actual Camp there was "on Lexden Heath near Colchester," from May till + October of this 1741, [Manifold but insignificant details about it, in the + old Newspapers of those Months.]—Camp waiting always to be shipped + across to the scene of action, but never was:—this actual Camp, and + several imaginary ones here, which were alarming to the Continental + Gazetteer. In England his Majesty is busy that way; still more among his + Hanoverians, now under his own royal eye; and among his Danes and + Hessians, whom he has now brought over into Hanover, to combine with the + others. Danes and Hessians, 6,000 of each kind, he for some time keeps + back in stall, upon subsidy, ready for such an occasion. Their "Camp at + Hameln," "Camp at Nienburg" (will, with the Hanoverians, be 30,000 odd); + their swashing and blaring about, intending to encamp at Hameln, at + Nienburg, and other places, but never doing it, or doing it with any + result: this, with the alarming English Camps at Lexden and in Dreamland, + which also were void of practical issue, filled Europe with rumor this + Summer.—Eager enough to fight; a noble martial ardor in our little + Hercules-Atlas! But there lie such enormous difficulties on the threshold; + especially these Two, which are insuperable or nearly so. + </p> + <p> + Difficulty FIRST, is that of the laggard Dutch; a People apt to be heavy + in the stern-works. They are quite languid about Pragmatic Sanction, these + Dutch; they answer his Britannic Majesty's enthusiasm with an obese + torpidity; and hope always they will drift through, in some way; buoyant + in their own fat, well ballasted astern; and not need such swimming for + life. "What a laggard notion," thinks his Majesty; "notion in ten pair of + breeches, so to speak!" This stirring up of the Dutch, which lasts year on + year, and almost beats Lord Stair, Lord Carteret, and our chief Artists, + is itself a thing like few! One of his Britannic Majesty's great + difficulties;—insuperable he never could admit it to be. "Surely you + are a Sea-Power, ye valiant Dutch; the OTHER Sea-Power? Bound by Barrier + Treaty, Treaty of Vienna, and Law of Nature itself, to rise with us + against the fatal designs of France; fatal to your Dutch Barrier, first of + all; if the Liberties of Mankind were indifferent to you! How is it that + you will not?" The Dutch cannot say how. France rocks them in security, by + oily-mouthed Diplomatists, Fenelon and others: "Would not touch a stone of + your Barrier, for the world, ye admirable Dutch neighbors: on our honor, + thrice and four times, No!" They have an eloquent Van Hoey of their own at + Paris; renowned in Newspapers: "Nothing but friendship here!" reports Van + Hoey always; and the Dutch answer his Britannic Majesty: "Hm, rise? Well + then, if we must!"—but sit always still. + </p> + <p> + Nowhere in Political Mechanics have I seen such a Problem as this of + hoisting to their feet the heavy-bottomed Dutch. The cunningest leverage, + every sort of Diplomatic block-and-tackle, Carteret and Stair themselves + running over to help in critical seasons, is applied; to almost no + purpose. Pull long, pull strong, pull all together,—see, the heavy + Dutch do stir; some four inches of daylight fairly visible below them: + bear a hand, oh, bear a hand!—Pooh, the Dutch flap down again, as + low as ever. As low,—unless (by Diplomatic art) you have WEDGED them + at the four inches higher; which, after the first time or two, is + generally done. At the long last, partially in 1743 (upon which his + Britannic Majesty drew sword), completely in 1747, the Dutch were got to + their feet;—unfortunately good for nothing when they were! Without + them his Britannic Majesty durst not venture. Hidden in those dust-bins, + there is nothing so absurd, or which would be so wearisome, did it not at + last become slightly ludicrous, as this of hoisting the Dutch. + </p> + <p> + Difficulty SECOND, which in enormity of magnitude might be reckoned first, + as in order of time it ranks both first and last, is: The case of dear + Hanover; case involved in mere insolubilities. Our own dear Hanover, which + (were there nothing more in it) is liable, from that Camp at Gottin, to be + slit in pieces at a moment's warning! No drawing sword against a nefarious + Prussia, on those terms. The Camp at Gottin holds George in checkmate. And + then finally, in this same Autumn, 1741, when a Maillebois with his 40 or + 50,000 French (the Leftward or western of those Two Belleisle Armies), + threatening our Hanover from another side, crossed the Lower Rhine—But + let us not anticipate. The case of Hanover, which everybody saw to be his + Majesty's vulnerable point, was the constant open door of France and her + machinations, and a never-ending theme of angry eloquences in the English + Parliament as well. + </p> + <p> + So that the case of Hanover proved insoluble throughout, and was like a + perpetual running sore. Oh the pamphleteerings, the denouncings, the + complainings, satirical and elegiac, which grounded themselves on Hanover, + the CASE OF THE HANOVER FORCES, and innumerable other Hanoverian cases, + griefs and difficulties! So pungently vital to somnambulant mankind at + that epoch; to us fallen dead as carrion, and unendurable to think of. My + friends, if you send for Gentlemen from Hanover, you must take them with + Hanover adhering more or less; and ought not to quarrel with your bargain, + which you reckoned so divine! No doubt, it is singular to see a Britannic + Majesty neglecting his own Spanish War, the one real business he has at + present; and running about over all the world; busy, soul, body and + breeches-pocket, in other people's wars; egging on other fighting, + whispering every likely fellow he can meet, "Won't you perhaps fight? Here + is for you, if so!"—hand to breeches-pocket accompanying the word. + But it must be said, and ought to be better known than in our day it is, + His Majesty's Ministers, and the English State-Doctors generally, were + precisely of the same mind. TO them too the Austrian Quarrel was + everything, their own poor Spanish Quarrel nothing; and the complaint they + make of his Majesty is rather that he does not rush rapidly enough, with + brandished sword, as well as with guineas raining from him, into this one + indispensable business. "Owing to his fears for Hanover!" say they, with + indignation, with no end of suspicion, angry pamphleteering and covert + eloquence, "within those walls" and without. + </p> + <p> + The suspicion of Hanover's checking his Majesty's Pragmatic velocity is + altogether well founded; and there need no more be said on that Hanover + score. Be it well understood and admitted, Hanover was the Britannic + Majesty's beloved son; and the British Empire his opulent milk-cow. + Richest of milk-cows; staff of one's life, for grand purposes and small; + beautiful big animal, not to be provoked; but to be stroked and milked:—Friends, + if you will do a Glorious Revolution of that kind, and burn such an amount + of tar upon it, why eat sour herbs for an inevitable corollary therefrom! + And let my present readers understand, at any rate, that,—except in + Wapping, Bristol and among the simple instinctive classes (with whom, it + is true, go Pitt and some illustrious figures),—political England + generally, whatever of England had Parliamentary discourse of reason, and + did Pamphlets, Despatches, Harangues, went greatly along with his Majesty + in that Pragmatic Business. And be the blame of delirium laid on the right + back, where it ought to lie, not on the wrong, which has enough to bear of + its own. And go not into that dust-whirlwind of extinct stupidities, O + reader:—what reader would, except for didactic objects? Know only + that it does of a truth whirl there; and fancy always, if you can, that + certain things and Human Figures, a Friedrich, a Chatham and some others, + have it for their Life-Element. Which, I often think, is their principal + misfortune with Posterity; said Life-Element having gone to such an + unutterable condition for gods and men. + </p> + <p> + "One other thing surprises us in those Old Pamphlets," says my + Constitutional Friend: "How the phrase, 'Cause of Liberty' ever and anon + turns up, with great though extinct emphasis, evidently sincere. After + groping, one is astonished to find it means Support of the House of + Austria; keeping of the Hapsburgs entire in their old Possessions among + mankind! That, to our great-grandfathers, was the 'Cause of Liberty;'—said + 'Cause' being, with us again, Electoral Suffrage and other things; a + notably different definition, perhaps still wider of the mark. + </p> + <p> + "Our great-grandfathers lived in perpetual terror that they would be + devoured by France; that French ambition would overset the Celestial + Balance, and proceed next to eat the British Nation. Stand upon your guard + then, one would have said: Look to your ships, to your defences, to your + industries; to your virtues first of all,—your VIRTUTES, manhoods, + conformities to the Divine Law appointed you; which are the great and + indeed sole strength to any Man or Nation! Discipline yourselves, wisely, + in all kinds; more and more, till there be no anarchic fibre left in you. + Unanarchic, disciplined at all points, you might then, I should say, with + supreme composure, let France, and the whole World at its back, try what + they could do upon you and the unique little Island you are so lucky as to + live in?—Foolish mortals: what Potentiality of Battle, think you + (not against France only, but against Satanas and the Ministers of Chaos + generally), would a poor Friedrich Wilhelm, not to speak of better, have + got out of such a Possession, had it been his to put in drill! And drill + is not of soldiers only; though perhaps of soldiers first and most + indispensably of all; since 'without Being,' as my Friend Oliver was wont + to say, 'Well-being is not possible.' There is military drill; there is + industrial, economic, spiritual; gradually there are all kinds of drill, + of wise discipline, of peremptory mandate become effective everywhere, + 'OBEY the Laws of Heaven, or else disappear from these latitudes!' Ah me, + if one dealt in day-dreams, and prophecies of an England grown celestial,—celestial + she should be, not in gold nuggets, continents all of beef, and seas all + of beer, Abolition of Pain, and Paradise to All and Sundry, but in that + quite different fashion; and there, I should say, THERE were the + magnificent Hope to indulge in! That were to me the 'Cause of Liberty;' + and any the smallest contribution towards that kind of 'Liberty' were a + sacred thing!— + </p> + <p> + "Belleisle again may, if he pleases, call his the Cause of Sovereignty. A + Sovereign Louis, it would appear, has not governing enough to do within + his own French borders, but feels called to undertake Germany as well;—a + gentleman with an immense governing faculty, it would appear? Truly, good + reader, I am sick of heart, contemplating those empty sovereign + mountebanks, and empty antagonist ditto, with their Causes of Liberty and + Causes of Anti-Liberty; and cannot but wish that we had got the ashes of + that World-Explosion, of 1789, well riddled and smelted, and the poor + World were quit of a great many things!"— + </p> + <p> + My Constitutional Historian of England, musing on Belleisle and his + Anti-Pragmatic industries and grandiosities,—"how Chief-Bully + Belleisle stept down into the ring as a gay Volunteer, and foolish + Chief-Defender George had to follow dismally heroic, as a Conscript of + Fate,"—drops these words: in regard to the Wages they respectively + had:— + </p> + <p> + "Nations that go into War without business there, are sure of getting + business as they proceed; and if the beginning were phantasms,—especially + phantasms of the hoping, self-conceited kind,—the results for them + are apt to be extremely real! As was the case with the French in this War, + and those following, in which his Britannic Majesty played chief + counter-tenor. From 1741, in King Friedrich's First War, onwards to + Friedrich's Third War, 1756-1763, the volunteer French found a great deal + of work lying ready for them,—gratuitous on their part, from the + beginning. And the results to them came out, first completely visible, in + the World-Miracles of 1789, and the years following! + </p> + <p> + "Nations, again, may be driven upon War by phantasm TERRORS, and go into + it, in sorrow of heart, not gayety of heart; and that is a shade better. + And one always pities a poor Nation, in such case;—as the very + Destinies rather do, and judge it more mercifully. Nay, the poor + bewildered Nation may, among its brain-phantasms, have something of + reality and sanity inarticulately stirring it withal. It may have a real + ordinance of Heaven to accomplish on those terms:—and IF so, it will + sometimes, in the most chaotic circuitous ways, through endless hazards, + at a hundred or a hundred thousand times the natural expense, ultimately + get it done! This was the case of the poor English in those Wars. + </p> + <p> + "They were Wars extraneous to England little less than to France; neither + Nation had real business in them; and they seem to us now a very mad + object on the part of both. But they were not gratuitously gone into, on + the part of England; far from that. England undertook them, with its big + heart very sorrowful, strange spectralities bewildering it; and managed + them (as men do sleep-walking) with a gloomy solidity of purpose, with a + heavy-laden energy, and, on the whole, with a depth of stupidity, which + were very great. Yet look at the respective net results. France lies down + to rot into grand Spontaneous-Combustion, Apotheosis of Sansculottism, and + much else; which still lasts, to her own great peril, and the great + affliction of neighbors. Poor England, after such enormous stumbling among + the chimney-pots, and somnambulism over all the world for twenty years, + finds on awakening, that she is arrived, after all, where she wished to + be, and a good deal farther! Finds that her own important little errand is + somehow or other, done;—and, in short, that 'Jenkins's Ear [as she + named the thing] HAS been avenged,' and the Ocean Highways 'opened' and a + good deal more, in a most signal way! For the Eternal Providences—little + as poor Dryasdust now knows of it, mumbling and maundering that sad stuff + of his—do rule; and the great soul of the world, I assure you once + more, is JUST. And always for a Nation, as for a man, it is very + behooveful to be honest, to be modest, however stupid!"— + </p> + <p> + By this time, however,—Mollwitz having fallen out, and Belleisle + being evidently on the steps,—his Britannic Majesty recognizes + clearly, and insists upon it, strengthened by his Harringtons and + everybody of discernment, That, nefarious or not, this Friedrich will + require to be bargained with. That, far from breaking in upon him, and + partitioning him (how far from it!), there is no conceivable method of + saving the Celestial Balances till HE be satisfied, in some way. This is + the one step his Britannic Majesty has yet made, out of these his choking + imbroglios; and truly this is one. Hyndford, his best negotiator, is on + the road for Friedrich's Camp; Robinson at Vienna, has been directed to + say and insist, "Bargain with that man; he must be bargained with, if our + Cause of Liberty is to be saved at all?"— + </p> + <p> + And now, having opened the dust-bin so far, that the reader's fancy might + be stirred without affliction to his lungs and eyes, let us shut it down + again,—might we but hope forever! That is too fond a hope. But the + background or sustaining element made imaginable, the few events deserving + memory may surely go on at a much swifter pace. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II. — CAMP OF STREHLEN. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich's Silesian Camps this Summer, Camp of Strehlen chiefly, were + among the strangest places in the world. Friedrich, as we have often + noticed, did not much pursue the defeated Austrians, at or near Mollwitz, + or press them towards flat ruin in their Silesian business: it is clear he + anxiously wished a bargain without farther exasperation; and hoped he + might get it by judicious patience. Brieg he took, with that fine outburst + of bombardment, which did not last a week: but Brieg once his, he fell + quiet again; kept encamping, here there, in that Mollwitz-Neisse region, + for above three months to come; not doing much, beyond the indispensable; + negotiating much, or rather negotiated with, and waiting on events. [In + Camp of Mollwitz (nearer Brieg than the Battle-field was) till 28th May + (after the Battle seven weeks); then to Camp at Grotkau (28th May-9th + June, twelve days); thence (9th June) to Friedewalde, Herrnsdorf; to + Strehlen (21st June-20th August, nine or ten weeks in all). See <i>Helden-Geschichte</i>, + i. 924, ii. 931; Rodenbeck, Orlich, &c.] + </p> + <p> + Both Armies were reinforcing themselves; and Friedrich's, for obvious + reasons, in the first weeks especially, became much the stronger. Once in + May, and again afterwards, weary of the pace things went at, he had + resolved on having Neisse at once; on attacking Neipperg in his strong + camp there, and cutting short the tedious janglings and uncertainties. He + advanced to Grotkau accordingly, some twelve or fifteen miles nearer + Neisse (28th May,—stayed till 9th June), quite within wind of + Neipperg and his outposts; but found still, on closer inspection, that he + had better wait;—and do so withal at a greater distance from + Neipperg and his Pandour Swarms. He drew back therefore to Strehlen, + northwestward, rather farther from Neisse than before; and lay encamped + there for nine or ten weeks to come. Not till the beginning of August did + there fall out any military event (Pandour skirmishing in plenty, but + nothing to call an event); and not till the end of August any that pointed + to conclusive results. As it was at Strehlen where mostly these + Diplomacies went on, and the Camp of Strehlen was the final and every way + the main one, it may stand as the representative of these Diplomatizing + Camps to us, and figure as the sole one which in fact it nearly was. + </p> + <p> + Strehlen is a pleasant little Town, nestled prettily among its granite + Hills, the steeple of it visible from Mollwitz; some twenty-five miles + west of Brieg, some thirty south of Breslau, and about as far northwest of + Neisse: there Friedrich and his Prussians lie, under canvas mainly, with + outposts and detachments sprinkled about under roofs:—a Camp of + Strehlen, more or less imaginable by the reader. And worth his imagining; + such a Camp, if not for soldiering, yet for negotiating and wagging of + diplomatic wigs, as there never was before. Here, strangely shifted + hither, is the centre of European Politics all Summer. From the utmost + ends of Europe come Ambassadors to Strehlen: from Spain, France, England, + Denmark, Holland,—there are sometimes nine at once, how many + successively and in total I never knew. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. + 932.] They lodge generally in Breslau; but are always running over to + Strehlen. There sits, properly speaking, the general Secret Parliament of + Europe; and from most Countries, except Austria, representatives attend at + Strehlen, or go and come between Breslau and Strehlen, submissive to the + evils of field-life, when need is. A surprising thing enough to mankind, + and big as the world in its own day; though gone now to small bulk,—one + Human Figure pretty much all that is left of memorable in it to mankind + and us. + </p> + <p> + French Belleisle we have seen; who is gone again, long since, on his wide + errands; fat Valori too we have seen, who is assiduously here. The other + figures, except the English, can remain dark to us. Of Montijos, the + eminent Spaniard, a brown little man, magnificent as the Kingdom of the + Incas, with half a page of titles (half a peck, five-and-twenty or more, + of handles to his little name, if you should ever require it); who, + finding matters so backward at Frankfurt, and nothing to do there, has + been out, in the interim, touring to while away the tedium; and is here + only as sequel and corroboration of Belleisle,—say as bottle-holder, + or as high-wrought peacock's-tail, to Belleisle:—of the eminent + Montijos I have to record next to nothing in the shape of negotiation + ("Treaty" with the Termagant was once proposed by him here, which + Friedrich in his politest way declined); and shall mention only, That his + domestic arrangements were sumptuous and commodious in the extreme. Let + him arrive in the meanest village, destitute of human appliances, and be + directed to the hut where he is to lodge,—straightway from the + fourgons and baggage-chests of Montijos is produced, first of all, a round + of arras hangings, portable tables, portable stove, gold plate and silver; + thus, with wax-lights, wines of richest vintage, exquisite cookeries, + Montijos lodges, a king everywhere, creating an Aladdin's palace + everywhere; able to say, like the Sage Bias, OMNIA MEA NAECUM PORTO. These + things are recorded of Montijos. What he did in the way of negotiation has + escaped men's memory, as it could well afford to do. + </p> + <p> + Of Hyndford's appurtenances for lodging we already had a glimpse, through + Busching once;—pointing towards solid dinner-comforts rather than + arras hangings; and justifying the English genius in that respect. The + weight of the negotiations fell on Hyndford; it is between him and French + Valori that the matter lies, Montijos and the others being mere satellites + on their respective sides. Much battered upon, this Hyndford, by + refractory Hanoverians pitting George as Elector against the same George + as King, and egging these two identities to woful battle with each other,—"Lay + me at his Majesty's feet" full length, and let his Majesty say which is + which, then! A heavy, eating, haggling, unpleasant kind of mortal, this + Hyndford; bites and grunts privately, in a stupid ferocious manner, + against this young King: "One of the worst of men; who will not take up + the Cause of Liberty at all, and is not made in the image of Hyndford at + all." They are dreadfully stiff reading, those Despatches of Hyndford: but + they have particles of current news in them; interesting glimpses of that + same young King;—likewise of Hyndford, laid at his Majesty's feet, + and begging for self and brothers any good benefice that may fall vacant. + We can discern, too, a certain rough tenacity and horse-dealer finesse in + the man; a broad-based, shrewdly practical Scotch Gentleman, wide awake; + and can conjecture that the diplomatic function, in that element, might + have been in worse hands. He is often laid metaphorically at the King's + feet, King of England's; and haunts personally the King of Prussia's elbow + at all times, watching every glance of him, like a British house-dog, that + will not be taken in with suspicious travellers, if he can help it; and + casting perpetual horoscopes in his dull mind. + </p> + <p> + Of Friedrich and his demeanor in this strange scene, centre of a World all + drawing sword, and jumbling in huge Diplomatic and other delirium about + his ears, the reader will desire to see a direct glimpse or two. As to the + sad general Imbroglio of Diplomacies which then weltered everywhere, + readers can understand that, it has, at this day, fallen considerably + obscure (as it deserved to do); and that even Friedrich's share of it is + indistinct in parts. The game, wide as Europe, and one of the most + intricate ever played by Diplomatic human creatures, was kept studiously + dark while it went on; and it has not since been a pleasant object of + study. Many of the Documents are still unpublished, inaccessible; so that + the various moves in the game, especially what the exact dates and + sequence of them were (upon which all would turn), are not completely + ascertainable,—nor in truth are they much worth hunting after, + through such an element. One thing we could wish to have out of it, the + one thing of sane that was in it: the demeanor and physiognomy of + Friedrich as there manifested; Friedrich alone, or pretty much alone of + all these Diplomatic Conjurers, having a solid veritable object in hand. + The rest—the spiders are very welcome to it: who of mortals would + read it, were it made never so lucid to him? Such traits of Friedrich as + can be sifted out into the conceivable and indubitable state, the reader + shall have; the extinct Bedlam, that begirdled Friedrich far and wide, + need not be resuscitated except for that object. Of Friedrich's fairness, + or of Friedrich's "trickiness, machiavelism and attorneyism," readers will + form their own notion, as they proceed. On one point they will not be + doubtful, That here is such a sharpness of steady eyesight (like the + lynx's, like the eagle's), and, privately such a courage and fixity of + resolution, as are highly uncommon. + </p> + <p> + April 26th, 1741, in the same days while Belleisle arrived in the Camp at + Mollwitz, and witnessed that fine opening of the cannonade upon Brieg, + Excellency Hyndford got to Berlin; and on notifying the event, was invited + by the King to come along to Breslau, and begin business. England has been + profuse enough in offering her "good offices with Austria" towards making + a bargain for his Prussian Majesty; but is busy also, at the Hague, + concerting with the Dutch "some strong joint resolution,"—resolution, + Openly to advise Friedrich to withdraw his troops from Silesia, by way of + starting fair towards a bargain. A very strong resolution, they and the + Gazetteers think it; and ask themselves, Is it not likely to have some + effect? Their High Mightinesses have been screwing their courage, and + under English urgency, have decided (April 24th), [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + i. 964; the ADVICE itself, a very mild-spoken Piece, but of riskish nature + think the Dutch, is given, ib. 965, 966.] "Yes, we will jointly so + advise!" and Friedrich has got inkling of it from Rasfeld, his Minister + there. Hyndford's first business (were the Dutch Excellency once come up, + but those Dutch are always hanging astern!) is to present said "Advice," + and try what will come of that, An "Advice" now fallen totally + insignificant to the Universe and to us,—only that readers will wish + to see how Friedrich takes it, and if any feature of Friedrich discloses + itself in the affair. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD HAS HIS FIRST AUDIENCE (Camp of Mollwitz, May 7th); + </h2> + <p> + AND FRIEDRICH MAKES A MOST IMPORTANT TREATY,—NOT WITH HYNDFORD. + </p> + <p> + May 2d, Hyndford arrived in Breslau; and after some preliminary + flourishings, and difficulties about post-horses and furnitures in a seat + of War, got to Brieg; and thence, May 7th, "to the Camp [Camp of Mollwitz + still], which is about an English mile off,"—Podewils escorting him + from Brieg, and what we note farther, Pollnitz too; our poor old Pollnitz, + some kind of Chief Goldstick, whom we did not otherwise know to be on + active duty in those rude scenes. Belleisle had passed through Breslau + while Hyndford was there:—"am unable to inform your Lordship what + success he has had." Brieg Siege is done only three days ago; Castle all + lying black; and the new trenching and fortifying hardly begun. In a word, + May 7th, 1741, "about 11 A.M.," Excellency Hyndford is introduced to the + King's Tent, and has his First Audience. Goldstick having done his + motions, none but Podewils is left present; who sits at a table, taking + notes of what is said. Podewils's Notes are invisible to me; but here, in + authentic though carefully compressed state, is Hyndford's minute + Narrative:— + </p> + <p> + Excellency Hyndford mentioned the Instructions he had, as to "good + offices," friendship and so forth. "But his Prussian Majesty had hardly + patience to hear me out; and said in a passion [we rise, where possible, + Hyndford's own wording; readers will allow for the leaden quality in some + parts]:—KING (in a passion). 'How is it possible, my Lord, to + believe things so contradictory? It is mighty fine all this that you now + tell me, on the part of the King of England; but how does it correspond to + his last Speech to his Parliament [19th April last, when Mr. Viner was in + such minority of one] and to the doings of his Ministers at Petersburg [a + pretty Partition-Treaty that; and the Excellency Finch still busy, as I + know!] and at the Hague [Excellency Trevor there, and this beautiful + Joint-Resolution and Advice which is coming!] to stir up allies against + me? I have reason rather to doubt the sincerity of the King of England. + They perhaps mean to amuse me. [That is Friedrich's real opinion. [His + Letter to Podewils (Ranke, ii. 268).]] But, by God, they are mistaken! I + will risk everything rather than abate the least of my pretensions.'" + </p> + <p> + Poor Hyndford said and mumbled what he could; knew nothing what + instructions Finch had, Trevor had, and—KING. "'My Lord, there seems + to be a contradiction in all this. The King of England, in his Letter, + tells me you are instructed as to everything; and yet you pretend + ignorance! But I am perfectly informed of all. And I should not be + surprised if, after all these fine words, you should receive some strong + letter or resolution for me,'"—Joint-Resolution to Advise, for + example? + </p> + <p> + Hyndford, not in the strength of conscious innocence, stands silent; the + King, "in his heat of passion," said to Podewils:—KING TO PODEWILS + (on the sudden). "'Write down, that my Lord would be surprised [as he + should be] to receive such Instructions!'" (A mischievous sparkle, half + quizzical, half practical, considerably in the Friedrich style.)—Hyndford, + "quite struck, my Lord, with this strange way of acting," and of poking + into one, protests with angry grunt, and "was put extremely upon my + guard." Of course Podewils did net write.... + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD. "'Europe is under the necessity of taking some speedy + resolution, things are in such a state of crisis. Like a fever in a human + body, got to such a height that quinquina becomes necessary.' ... That + expression made him smile, and he began to look a little cooler.... 'Shall + we apply to Vienna, your Majesty?' + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH. "'Follow your own will in that.' + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD. "'Would your Majesty consent now to stand by his Excellency + Gotter's original Offer at Vienna on your part? Agree, namely, in + consideration of Lower Silesia and Breslau, to assist the Queen with all + your troops for maintenance of Pragmatic Sanction, and to vote for the + Grand-Duke as Kaiser?' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Yes' [what the reader may take notice of, and date for himself]. + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD. "'What was the sum of money then offered her Hungarian Majesty?' + </p> + <p> + "King hesitated, as if he had forgotten; Podewils answered, 'Three million + florins (300,000 pounds).' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I should not value the money; if money would content her Majesty, + I would give more.'... Here was a long pause, which I did not break;"—nor + would the King. Podewils reminded me of an idea we had been discoursing of + together ("on his suggestion, my Lord, which I really think is of + importance, and worth your Lordship's consideration"); whereupon, on such + hint, + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD. "'Would your Majesty consent to an Armistice?' + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH. "'Yes; but [counts on his fingers, May, June, till he comes to + December] not for less than six months,—till December 1st. By that + time they could do nothing,'" the season out by that time. + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD. "'His Excellency Podewils has been taking notes; if I am to be + bound by them, might I first see that he has mistaken nothing?' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Certainly!'"—Podewils's Note-protocol is found to be correct + in every point; Hyndford, with some slight flourish of compliments on both + sides, bows himself away (invited to dinner, which he accepts, "will + surely have that honor before returning to Breslau");—and so the + First Audience has ended. [Hyndford's Despatches, Breslau, 5th and 13th + May, 1741. Are in State-Paper Office, like the rest of Hyndford's; also in + British Museum (Additional MSS. 11,365 &c.), the rough draughts of + them.] Baronay and Pandours are about,—this is ten days before the + Ziethen feat on Baronay;—but no Pandour, now or afterwards, will + harm a British Excellency. + </p> + <p> + These utterances of Friedrich's, the more we examine them by other lights + that there are, become the more correctly expressive of what Friedrich's + real feelings were on the occasion. Much contrary, perhaps, to expectation + of some readers. And indeed we will here advise our readers to prepare for + dismissing altogether that notion of Friedrich's duplicity, mendacity, + finesse and the like, which was once widely current in the world; and to + attend always strictly to what Friedrich says, if they wish to guess what + he is thinking;—there being no such thing as "mendacity" + discoverable in Friedrich, when you take the trouble to inform yourself. + "Mendacity," my friends? How busy have the Owls been with Friedrich's + memory, in different countries of the world;—perhaps even more than + their sad wont is in such cases! For indeed he was apt to be of swift + abrupt procedure, disregardful of Owleries; and gave scope for + misunderstanding in the course of his life. But a veracious man he was, at + all points; not even conscious of his veracity; but had it in the blood of + him; and never looked upon "mendacity" but from a very great height + indeed. He does not, except where suitable, at least he never should, + express his whole meaning; but you will never find him expressing what is + not his meaning. Reticence, not dissimulation. And as to "finesse,"—do + not believe in that either, in the vulgar or bad sense. Truly you will + find his finesse is a very fine thing; and that it consists, not in + deceiving other people, but in being right himself; in well discerning, + for his own behoof, what the facts before him are; and in steering, which + he does steadily, in a most vigilant, nimble, decisive and intrepid + manner, by monition of the same. No salvation but in the facts. Facts are + a kind of divine thing to Friedrich; much more so than to common men: this + is essentially what Religion I have found in Friedrich. And, let me assure + you, it is an invaluable element in any man's Religion, and highly + indispensable, though so often dispensed with! Readers, especially in our + time English readers, who would gain the least knowledge about Friedrich, + in the extinct Bedlam where his work now lay, have a great many things to + forget, and sad strata of Owl-droppings, ancient and recent, to sweep + away!— + </p> + <p> + To Friedrich a bargain with Austria, which would be a getting into port, + in comparison to going with the French in that distracted voyage of + theirs, is highly desirable. "Shall I join with the English, in hope of + some tolerable bargain from Austria? Shall I have to join with the French, + in despair of any?" Readers may consider how stringent upon Friedrich that + question now was, and how ticklish to solve. And it must be solved soon,—under + penalty of "being left with no ally at all" (as Friedrich expresses + himself), while the whole world is grouping itself into armed heaps for + and against! If the English would but get me a bargain—? Friedrich + dare not think they will. Nay, scanning these English incoherences, these + contradictions between what they say here and what they do and say + elsewhere, he begins to doubt if they zealously wish it,—and at last + to believe that they sincerely do not wish it; that "they mean to amuse + me" (as he said to Hyndford)—till my French chance too is over. "To + amuse me: but, PAR DIEU—!" His Notes to Podewils, of which Ranke, + who has seen them, gives us snatches, are vivid in that sense: "I should + be ashamed if the cunningest Italian could dupe me; but that a lout of a + Hanoverian should do it!"—and Podewils has great difficulty to keep + him patient yet a little; Valori being so busy on the other side, and the + time so pressing. Here are some dates and some comments, which the reader + should take with him;—here is a very strange issue to the + Joint-Resolution of a strong nature now on hand! + </p> + <p> + A few days after that First Audience, Ginkel the Dutch Excellency, with + the due Papers in his pocket, did arrive. Excellency Hyndford, who is not + without rough insight into what lies under his nose, discovers clearly + that the grand Dutch-English Resolution, or Joint-Exhortation to evacuate + Silesia, will do nothing but mischief; and (at his own risk, persuading + Ginkel also to delay) sends a Courier to England before presenting it. And + from England, in about a fortnight, gets for answer, "Do harm, think you? + Hm, ha!—Present it, all the same; and modify by assurances + afterwards,"—as if these would much avail! This is not the only + instance in which St. James's rejects good advice from its Hyndford; the + pity would be greater, were not the Business what it is! Podewils has the + greatest difficulty to keep Friedrich quiet till Hyndford's courier get + back. And on his getting back with such answer, "Present it all the same," + Friedrich will not wait for that ceremony, or delay a moment longer. + Friedrich has had his Valori at work, all this while; Valori and Podewils, + and endless correspondence and consultation going on; and things + hypothetically almost quite ready; so that— + </p> + <p> + June 5th, 1741, Friedrich, spurring Podewils to the utmost speed, and + "ordering secrecy on pain of death," signs his Treaty with France! A kind + of provisional off-and-on Treaty, I take it to be; which was never + published, and is thought to have had many IFS in it: signs this Treaty;—and + next day (June 6th, such is the impetuosity of haste) instructs his + Rasfeld at the Hague, "You will beforehand inform the High Mightinesses, + in regard to that Advice of April 24th, which they determined on giving + me, through the Excellency Herr von Ginkel along with Excellency Hyndford, + That such Advice can, by me, only be considered as a blind complaisance to + the Court of Vienna's improper urgencies, improper in such a matter. That + for certain I will not quit Silesia till my claims be satisfied. And the + longer I am forced to continue warring for them here," wasting more + resource and risk upon them, "the higher they will rise!" [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + i. 963.] And this is what comes of that terribly courageous Dutch-English + "Joint-Resolution of a strong nature;" it has literally cut before the + point: the Exhortation is not yet presented, but the Treaty with France is + signed in virtue of it!— + </p> + <p> + Undoubtedly this of June 5th is the most important Treaty in the + Austrian-Succession War, and the cardinal element of Friedrich's procedure + in that Adventure. And it has never been published; nor, till Herr + Professor Ranke got access to the Prussian Archives, has even the date of + signing it been rightly known; but is given two or three ways in different + express Collections of Treaties. [Scholl, ii. 297 (copying "Flassan, <i>Hist. + de la Diplom. Franc.</i> v. 142"), gives "5th July" as the date; Adelung + (ii. 357, 390, 441) guesses that it was "in August;" Valori (i. 108), who + was himself in it, gives the correct date,—but then his Editor + (thought inquiring readers) was such a sloven and ignoramus. See Stenzel, + iv. 143; Ranke, ii. 274.] Herr Ranke knows this Treaty, and the + correspondences, especially Friedrich's correspondence with Podewils + preparatory to it; and speaks, as his wont is, several exact things about + it; thanks to him, in the circumstances. I wish it could be made, even + with his help, fully intelligible to the reader! For, were the Treaty + never so express, surely the mode of keeping it, on both parts, was very + strange; and that latter concerns us somewhat. + </p> + <p> + A very fast-and-loose Treaty, to all appearance! Outwardly it is a mere + Treaty of Alliance, each party guaranteeing the other for Fifteen Years; + without mention made of the joint Belleisle Adventure now in the wind. But + then, like the postscript to a lady's letter, there come "secret articles" + bearing upon that essential item: How France, in the course of this + current season 1741, is to bring an Army across the Rhine in support of + its friend Kur-Baiern VERSUS Austria; is, in the same term of time, to + make Sweden declare war on Russia (important for Friedrich, who is never + sure a moment that those Russians will not break in upon him); and + finally, most important of all, That France "guarantees Lower Silesia with + Breslau to his Prussian Majesty." In return for which his Prussian Majesty—will + do what? It is really difficult to say what: Be a true ally and second to + France in its grand German Adventure? Not at all. Friedrich does not yet + know, nor does Belleisle himself quite precisely, what the grand German + Adventure is; and Friedrich's wishes never were, nor will be, for the + prosperity of that. Support France, at least in its small Bavarian + Anti-Austrian Adventure? By no means definitely even that. "Maintain + myself in Lower Silesia with Breslau, and fight my best to such end:" + really that, you might say, is in substance the most of what Friedrich + undertakes; though inarticulately he finds himself bound to much more,—and + will frankly go into it, IF you do as you have said; and unless you do, + will not. Never was a more contingent Treaty: "unless you stir up Sweden, + Messieurs; unless you produce that Rhine Army; unless—" such is + steadily Friedrich's attitude; long after this, he refuses to say whom he + will vote for as Kaiser: "Fortune of War will decide it," answers he, in + regard to that and to many other things; and keeps himself to an + incomprehensible extent loose; ready, for weeks and months after, to make + bargain on his own Silesian Affair with anybody that can. [Ranke, ii. 271, + 275, 280.] + </p> + <p> + For indeed the French also are very contingent; Fleury hanging one way, + Belleisle pushing another; and know not how far they will go on the grand + German Adventure, nor conclusively whether at all. Here is an Anecdote by + Friedrich himself. Valori was, one night, with him; and, on rising to take + leave, the fat hand, sticking probably in the big waistcoat-pocket, + twitched out a little diplomatic-looking Note; which Friedrich, with + gentle adroitness (permissible in such circumstances), set his foot upon, + till Valori had bowed himself out. The Note was from Amelot, French + Minister of the Foreign Department: "Don't give his Prussian Majesty + Glatz, if it can possibly be helped." Very well, thought Friedrich; and + did not forget the fine little Note on burning it. [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> ii. 90.] There went, in French couriers' bags, a great many + such, to Austria some of them, of far more questionable tenor, within the + next twelve months. + </p> + <p> + Two things we have to remark: FIRST, That Friedrich, with an eye to real + business on his part in the Bavarian Adventure, in which Kur-Pfalz is sure + to accompany, volunteered (like a real man of business, and much to + Belleisle's surprise) to renounce the Berg-Julich controversy, and let + Kur-Pfalz have his way, that there might be no quarrelling among allies. + This too is contingent; but was gladly accepted by Belleisle. SECOND, That + Belleisle had instructed Valori, Not to insist on active help from + Friedrich in the German Adventure, but merely to stipulate for his + Neutrality throughout, in case they could get no more. How joyfully would + Friedrich have accepted this,—had Valori volunteered with it, which + he did not! [Ranke, ii. 280.] But, after all, in result it was the same; + and had to be,—PLUS only a great deal of clamor by and by, from the + French and the Gazetteers, about the Article in question. + </p> + <p> + Was there ever so contingent a Treaty before? It is signed, Breslau, 5th + June, 1741, and both parties have their hands loose, and make use of their + liberty for months to come; nay, in some sort, all along; feeling how + contingent it was! Friedrich did not definitely tie himself till 4th + November next, five months after: when he signed the French-Bavarian + Treaty, renounced Berg-Julich controversies, and fairly went into the + French-Bavarian, smaller French Adventure; into the greater, or + wide-winged Belleisle one, he never went nor intended to go,—perhaps + even the contrary, if needful. Readers may try to remember these + elucidative items, riddled from the immensities of Dryasdust: I have no + more to give, nor can afford to return upon it. May not we well say, as + above, "A Treaty thought to have many IFS in it!"—And now, 8th June, + comes solemnly the Joint-Resolution itself; like mustard (under a flourish + of trumpets) three days after dinner:— + </p> + <p> + "CAMP OF GROTKAU, 8th JUNE. Hyndford and Ginkel [the same respectable old + Ginkel whom we used to know in Friedrich Wilhelm's time], having, + according to renewed order, got out from Breslau with that formidable + Dutch-English 'Advice' or Joint-Exhortation in their pocket, did this day + in the Camp at Grotkau present the same. A very mild-spoken Piece, though + it had required such courage; and which is not now worth speaking of, + things having gone as we see. Friedrich received it with a gracious mien: + 'Infinitely sensible to the trouble his Britannic Majesty and their High + Mightinesses took with his affairs; Document should receive his best + consideration,'—which indeed it has already done, and its Answer + withal: A FRENCH Treaty signed three days ago, in virtue of it! 'Might I + request a short Private Audience of your Majesty?' solicits Hyndford, + intending to modify by new assurances, as bidden.—'Surely,' answers + Friedrich. + </p> + <p> + "The two Excellencies dine with the King, who is in high spirits. After + dinner, Hyndford gets his Private Audience; does his best in the way of + 'new assurances;' which produce what effect we can fancy. Among other + things, he appeals to the King's 'magnanimity, how grand and generous it + will be to accept moderate terms from Austria, to—' KING + (interrupting): 'My Lord, don't talk to me of magnanimity, a Prince + [acting not for himself but for his Nation] ought to consult his interest + in the first place. I am not against Peace: but I expect to have Four + Duchies given me.'" [State-Paper Office (Hyndford, Breslau, 12th June, + 1741).] + </p> + <p> + Hyndford and Ginkel slept that night in Grotkau Town: "at 4 next morning + the King sent us word, That if we had a mind to see the Army on march," + just moving off, Strehlen way, "we might come out by the North Gate." We + accordingly saw the whole Army leave Camp; and march in four columns + towards Friedewald, where Marshal Neipperg is encamped. "Not a bit of it, + your Excellency! Neipperg is safe at Neisse; amid inaccessible embankments + and artificial mud: and these are mere Hussar-Pandour rabble out here; + whom a push or two sends home again,—would it could keep them there! + But they are of sylvan (or SALVAGE) nature, affecting the shade; and burst + out, for theft and arson, sometimes at great distances, no calculating + where. The King's Army lay all that night upon their arms, and encamped + next morning, the 10th. I believe nothing happened that day, for we were + obliged to stay at Grotkau, for want of post-horses, a good part of it." + </p> + <p> + Hyndford hears (in secret Opposition Circles, and lays the flattering + unction to his soul and your Lordship's): "The King of Prussia's Army, as + I am informed, unless he will take counsel, another campaign will go near + to ruin. Everything is in the greatest disorder; utmost dejection amongst + the Officers from highest to lowest;"—fact being that the King has + important improvements and new drillings in view (to go on at Strehlen), + Cavalry improvements, Artillery improvements, unknown to Hyndford and the + Opposition; and will not be ruined next campaign. "I hope the news we have + here, of the taking of Carthagena, is true," concludes he. Alas, your + Excellency! + </p> + <p> + By a different hand, from the southward Hungarian regions, far over the + Hills, take this other entry; almost of enthusiastic style:— + </p> + <p> + "PRESBURG, 25th JUNE. Maria Theresa, in high spirits about her English + Subsidy and the bright aspects, left Vienna about a week ago for Presburg + [a drive of fifty miles down the fine Donau country]; and is celebrating + her Coronation there, as Queen of Hungary, in a very sublime manner. + Sunday, 25th June, 1741, that is the day of putting on your Crown,—Iron + Crown of St. Stephen, as readers know. The Chivalry of Hungary, from Palfy + and Esterhazy downward, and all the world are there; shining in loyalty + and barbaric gold and pearl. A truly beautiful Young Woman, beautiful to + soul and eye, devout too and noble, though ill-informed in Political or + other Science, is in the middle of it, and makes the scene still more + noticeable to us. See, as the finish of the ceremonies, she has mounted a + high swift horse, sword girt to her side,—a great rider always, this + young Queen;—and gallops, Hungary following like a comet-tail, to + the Konigsberg [KING'S-HILL so called; no great things of a Hill, O + reader; made by barrow, you can see], to the top of the Konigsberg; there + draws sword; and cuts, grandly flourishing, to the Four Quarters of the + Heavens: 'Let any mortal, from whatever quarter coming, meddle with + Hungary if he dare!' [Adelung, ii. 293, 294.] Chivalrous Hungary bursts + into passionate acclaim; old Palfy, I could fancy, into tears; and all the + world murmurs to itself, with moist-gleaming eyes, 'REX NOSTER!' This is, + in fact, the beautifulest King or Queen that now is, this radiant young + woman; beautiful things have been, and are to be, reported of her; and she + has a terrible voyage just ahead,—little dreaming of it at this + grand moment. I wish his Britannic Majesty, or Robinson who has followed + out hither, could persuade her to some compliance on the Silesian matter: + what a thing were that, for herself, and for all mankind, just now! But + she will not hear of that; and is very obstinate, and her stupid Hofraths + equally and much more blamably so. Deaf to hard Facts knocking at their + door; ignorant what Noah's-Deluges have broken out upon them, and are + rushing on inevitable." + </p> + <p> + By a notable coincidence, precisely while those sword-flourishings go on + at Presburg, Marechal Excellency Belleisle is making his Public Entry into + Frankfurt-on-Mayn: [25th June, 1741 (Adelung, ii. 399).] Frankfurt too is + in cheery emotion; streets populous with Sunday gazers, and critics of the + sublime in spectacle! This is not Belleisle's first entrance; he himself + has been here some time, settling his Household, and a good many things: + but today he solemnly leads in his Countess and Appendages (over from + Metz, where Madame and he officially reside in common times, "Governor of + Metz," one of his many offices);—leads in Madame, in suitably + resplendent manner; to kindle household fire, as it were; and indicate + that here is his place, till he have got a Kaiser to his mind. Twin + Phenomena, these two; going on 500 miles apart; unconscious of one + another, or of what kinship they happen to have!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + EXCELLENCY ROBINSON BUSY IN THE VIENNA HOFRATH CIRCLES, TO PRODUCE A + </h2> + <p> + COMPLIANCE. + </p> + <p> + Britannic George, both for Pragmatic's sake and for dear Hanover's, + desires much there were a bargain made with Friedrich: How is the + Pragmatic to be saved at all, if Friedrich join France in its Belleisle + machinations, thinks George? And already here is that Camp of Gottin, + glittering in view like a drawn sword pointed at one's throat or at one's + Hanover. Nay, in a month or two hence, as the Belleisle schemes got above + ground in the shape of facts, this desire became passionate, and a bargain + with Prussia seemed the one thing needful. For, alas, the reader will see + there comes, about that time, a second sword (the Maillebois Army, + namely), pointed at one's throat from the French side of things: so that a + Paladin of the Pragmatic, and Hanoverian King of England, knows not which + way to turn! George's sincerity of wish is perhaps underrated by + Friedrich; who indeed knows well enough on which side George's wishes + would fall, if they had liberty (which they have not), but much overrates + "the astucity" of poor George and his English; ascribing, as is often + done, to fine-spun attorneyism what is mere cunctation, ignorance, + negligence, and other forms of a stupidity perhaps the most honest in the + world! By degrees Friedrich understood better; but he never much liked the + English ways of doing business. George's desire is abundantly sincere, not + wholly resting on sublime grounds; and grows more and more intense every + day; but could not be gratified for a good while yet. + </p> + <p> + Co-operating with Hyndford, from the Vienna side, is Excellency Robinson; + who has a still harder job of it there. Pity poor Robinson, O English + reader, if you can for indignation at the business he is in. Saving the + Liberties of Europe! thinks Robinson confidently: Founding the English + National Debt, answers Fact; and doing Bottom the Weaver, with long ears, + in the miserablest Pickleherring Tragedy that ever was!—This is the + same Robinson who immortalized himself, nine or ten years ago, by the + First Treaty of Vienna; thrice-salutary Treaty, which DISJOINED Austria + from Bourbon-Spanish Alliances, and brought her into the arms of the + grateful Sea-Powers again. Imminent Downfall of the Universe was thus, + glory to Robinson, arrested for that time. And now we have the same + Robinson instructed to sharpen all his faculties to the cutting pitch, and + do the impossible for this new and reverse face of matters. What a change + from 1731 to 1741! Bugbear of dreadful Austrian-Spanish Alliance dissolves + now into sunlit clouds, encircling a beautiful Austrian Andromeda, about + to be devoured for us; and the Downfall of the Universe is again imminent, + from Spain and others joining AGAINST Austria. Oh, ye wigs, and eximious + wig-blocks, called right-honorable! If a man, sovereign or other, were to + stay well at home, and mind his own visible affairs, trusting a good deal + that the Universe would shift for itself, might it not be better for him? + Robinson, who writes rather a heavy style, but is full of inextinguishable + heavy zeal withal, will have a great deal to do in these coming years. + Ancestor of certain valuable Earls that now are; author of immeasurable + quantities of the Diplomatic cobwebs that then were. + </p> + <p> + To a modern English reader it is very strange, that Austrian scene of + things in which poor Robinson is puffing and laboring. The ineffable + pride, the obstinacy, impotency, ponderous pedantry and helplessness of + that dull old Court and its Hofraths, is nearly inconceivable to modern + readers. Stupid dilapidation is in all departments, and has long been; all + things lazily crumbling downwards, sometimes stumbling down with great + plunges. Cash is done; the world rising, all round, with plunderous + intentions; and hungry Ruin, you would say, coming visibly on with + seven-league boots: here is little room for carrying your head high among + mankind. High nevertheless they do carry it, with a grandly mournful + though stolid insolent air, as if born superior to this Earth and its + wisdoms and successes and multiplication-tables and iron ramrods,—really + with "a certain greatness," says somebody, "greatness as of great + blockheadism" in themselves and their neighbors;—and, like some + absurd old Hindoo Idol (crockery Idol of Somnauth, for instance, with the + belly of him smashed by battle-axes, and the cart-load of gold coin all + run out), persuade mankind that they are a god, though in dilapidated + condition. That is our first impression of the thing. + </p> + <p> + But again, better seen into, there is not wanting a certain worthily + steadfast, conservative and broad-based high air (reminding you of "Kill + our own mutton, Sir!" and the ancient English Tory species), solid and + loyal, though stolid Ancient Austrian Tories, that definition will suffice + for us;—and Toryism too, the reader may rely on it, is much + patronized by the Upper Powers, and goes a long way in this world. Nay, + without a good solid substratum of that, what thing, with never so many + ballot-boxes, stump-orators, and liberties of the subject, is capable of + going at all, except swiftly to perdition? These Austrians have taken a + great deal of ruining, first and last! Their relation to the then + Sea-Powers, especially to England embarked on the Cause of Liberty, fills + one with amazement, by no means of an idolatrous nature; and is difficult + to understand at all, or to be patient with at all. + </p> + <p> + Of disposition to comply with Prussia, Robinson finds, in spite of + Mollwitz and the sad experiences, no trace at Vienna. The humor at Vienna + is obstinately defiant; simply to regard Friedrich as a housebreaker or + thief in the night; whom they will soon deal with, were they once on foot + and implements in their hand: "Swift, ye Sea-Powers; where are the + implements, the cash, that means implements?" The Young Hungarian Majesty + herself is magnificently of that opinion, which is sanctioned by her + Bartensteins and wisest Hofraths, with hardly a dissentient (old + Sinzendorf almost alone in his contrary notion, and he soon dies). + Robinson urges the dangers from France. No Hofrath here will allow himself + to believe them; to believe them would be too horrible. "Depend upon it, + France's intentions are not that way. And at the worst, if France do rise + against us, it is but bargaining with France; better so than bargaining + with Prussia, surely. France will be contentable with something in the + Netherlands; what else can she want of us? Parings from that outskirt, + what are these compared with Silesia, a horrid gash into the vital parts? + And what is yielding to the King of France, compared with yielding to your + Prussian King!"— + </p> + <p> + It is true they have no money, these blind dull people; but are not the + Sea-Powers, England especially, there, created by Nature to supply money? + What else is their purpose in Creation? By Nature's law, as the Sun mounts + in the Ecliptic and then falls, these Sea-Powers, in the Cause of Liberty, + will furnish us money. No surrender; talk not to me of Silesia or + surrender; I will die defending my inheritances: what are the Sea-Powers + about, that they do not furnish more money in a prompt manner? These are + the things poor Robinson has to listen to: Robinson and England, it is + self-evident at Vienna, have one duty, that of furnishing money. And in a + prompt manner, if you please, Sir; why not prompt and abundant? + </p> + <p> + An English soul has small exhilaration, looking into those old + expenditures, and bullyings for want of promptitude! But if English souls + will solemnly, under high Heaven, constitute a Duke of Newcastle and a + George II. their Captains of the march Heavenward, and say, without + blushing for it, nay rejoicing at it, in the face of the sun, "You are the + most godlike Two we could lay hold of for that object,"—what have + English souls to expect? My consolation is, and, alas, it is a poor one, + the money would have been mostly wasted any way. Buy men and gunpowder + with your money, to be shot away in foreign parts, without renown or use: + is that so much worse than buying ridiculous upholsteries, idle luxuries, + frivolities, and in the end unbeautiful pot-bellies corporeal and + spiritual with it, here at home? I am struck silent, looking at much that + goes on under these stars;—and find that misappointment of your + Captains, of your Exemplars and Guiding and Governing individuals, higher + and lower, is a fatal business always; and that especially, as highest + instance of it, which includes all the lower ones, this of solemnly + calling Chief Captain, and King by the Grace of God, a gentleman who is + NOT so (and SEEMS to be so mainly by Malice of the Devil, and by the very + great and nearly unforgivable indifference of Mankind to resist the Devil + in that particular province, for the present), is the deepest fountain of + human wretchedness, and the head mendacity capable of being done!— + </p> + <p> + As for the brave young Queen of Hungary, my admiration goes with that of + all the world. Not in the language of flattery, but of evident fact, the + royal qualities abound in that high young Lady; had they left the world, + and grown to mere costume elsewhere, you might find certain of them again + here. Most brave, high and pious-minded; beautiful too, and radiant with + good-nature, though of temper that will easily catch fire: there is + perhaps no nobler woman then living. And she fronts the roaring elements + in a truly grand feminine manner; as if Heaven itself and the voice of + Duty called her: "The Inheritances which my Fathers left me, we will not + part with these. Death, if it so must be; but not dishonor:—Listen + not to that thief in the night!" Maria Theresa has not studied, at all, + the History of the Silesian Duchies; she knows only that her Father and + Grandfather peaceably held them; it was not she that sent out Seckendorf + to ride 25,000 miles, or broke the heart of Friedrich Wilhelm and his + Household. Pity she had not complied with Friedrich, and saved such rivers + of bitterness to herself and mankind! But how could she see to do it,—especially + with little George at her back, and abundance of money? This, for the + present, is her method of looking at the matter; this magnanimous, heroic, + and occasionally somewhat female one. + </p> + <p> + Her Husband, the Grand Duke, an inert, but good-tempered, well-conditioned + Duke after his sort, goes with her. Him we shall see try various things; + and at length take to banking and merchandise, and even meal-dealing on + the great scale. "Our Armies had most part of their meal circuitously from + him," says Friedrich, of times long subsequent. Now as always he follows + loyally his Wife's lead, never she his: Wife being, intrinsically as well + as extrinsically, the better man, what other can he do?—Of + compliance with Friedrich in this Court, there is practically no hope till + after a great deal of beating have enlightened it. Out of deference to + George and his ardors, they pretend some intention that way; and are + "willing to bargain, your Excellency;"—no doubt of it, provided only + the price were next to nothing! + </p> + <p> + And so, while the watchful edacious Hyndford is doing his best at + Strehlen, poor Robinson, blown into triple activity, corresponds in a + boundless zealous manner from Vienna; and at last takes to flying + personally between Strehlen and Vienna; praying the inexorable young Queen + to comply a little, and then the inexorable young King to be satisfied + with imaginary compliance; and has a breathless time of it indeed. His + Despatches, passionately long-winded, are exceedingly stiff reading to the + like of us. O reader, what things have to be read and carefully forgotten; + what mountains of dust and ashes are to be dug through, and tumbled down + to Orcus, to disengage the smallest fraction of truly memorable! Well if, + in ten cubic miles of dust and ashes, you discover the tongue of a + shoe-buckle that has once belonged to a man in the least heroic; and wipe + your brow, invoking the supernal and the infernal gods. My heart's desire + is to compress these Strehlen Diplomatic horse-dealings into the smallest + conceivable bulk. And yet how much that is not metal, that is merely + cinders, has got through: impossible to prevent,—may the infernal + gods deal with it, and reduce Dryasdust to limits, one day! Here, however, + are important Public News transpiring through the old Gazetteers:— + </p> + <p> + "MUNCHEN, JULY 1st [or in effect a few days later, when the Letters DATED + July 1st had gone through their circuitous formalities], [Adelung, ii. + 421.] Karl Albert Kur-Baiern publicly declares himself Candidate for the + Kaisership; as, privately, he had long been rumored and believed to be. + Kur-Baiern, they say, has of militias and regulars together about 30,000 + men on foot, all posted in good places along the Austrian Frontier; and it + is commonly thought, though little credible at Vienna, that he intends + invading Austria as well as contesting the Election. To which the Vienna + Hofrath answers in the style of 'Pshaw!' + </p> + <p> + "VERSAILLES, 11th JULY. Extraordinary Council of State; Belleisle being + there, home from Frankfurt, to take final orders, and get official fiat + put upon his schemes. 'All the Princes of the Blood and all the Marechals + of France attend;' question is, How the War is to be, nay, Whether War is + to be at all,—so contingent is the French-Prussian Bargain, signed + five weeks ago. Old Fleury, to give freedom of consultation and vote, + quits the room. Some are of opinion, one Prince of the Blood emphatically + so, That Pragmatic Sanction should be kept, at least War AGAINST it be + avoided. But the contrary opinion triumphs, King himself being strongly + with it; Belleisle to be supreme in field and cabinet; shall execute, like + a kind of Dictator or Vice-Majesty, by his own magnificent talent, those + magnificent devisings of his, glorious to France and to the King. [Ib. + 417, 418; see also Baumer, p. 104 (if you can for his date, which is given + in OLD STYLE as if it were in New; a very eclipsing method!).] These many + months, the French have been arming with their whole might. The Vienna + people hear now, That an 'Army of 40,000 is rumored to be coming,' or even + two Armies, 40,000 each; but will not imagine that this is certain, or + that it can be seriously meant against their high House, precious to gods + and men. Belleisle having perfected the multiplex Army details, rushes + back to Frankfurt and his endless Diplomatic businesses (July 25th): + Armies to be on actual march by the 10th of August coming. 'During this + Versailles visit, he had such a crowd of Officers and great people paying + court to him as was like the King's Levee itself.' [Barbier, ii. 305.] + </p> + <p> + "PASSAU, 31st JULY. Passau is the Frontier Austrian City on the Donau + (meeting of the Inn and Donau Valleys); a place of considerable strength, + and a key or great position for military purposes. Austrian, or + Quasi-Austrian; for, like Salzburg, it has a Bishop claiming some + imaginary sovereignties, but always holds with Austria. July 31st, early + in the morning, a Bavarian Exciseman ('Salt-Inspector') applied at the + gate of Passau for admission; gate was opened;—along with the + Exciseman 'certain peasants' (disguised Bavarian soldiers) pushed in; held + the gate choked, till General Minuzzi, Karl Albert's General, with horse, + foot, cannon, who had been lurking close by, likewise pushed in; and at + once seized the Town. Town speedily secured, Minuzzi informs the Bishop, + who lives in his Schloss of Oberhaus (strongish place on a Hill-top, other + side the Donau), That he likewise, under pain of bombardment, must admit + garrison. The poor Bishop hesitates; but, finding bombardment actually + ready for him, yields in about two hours. Karl Albert publishes his + Manifesto, 'in forty-five pages folio' [Adelung, ii. 426.] (to the effect, + 'All Austria mine; or as good as all,—if I liked!'); and fortifies + himself in Passau. 'Insidious, nefarious!' shrieks Austria, in + Counter-Manifesto; calculates privately it will soon settle Karl Albert,—'Unless, + O Heavens, France with Prussia did mean to back him!'—and begins to + have misgivings, in spite of itself." + </p> + <p> + Misgivings, which soon became fatal certainties. Robinson records, + doubtless on sure basis, though not dating it, a curious piece of + stage-effect in the form of reality; "On hearing, beyond possibility of + doubt, that Prussia, France, and Bavaria had combined, the whole Aulic + Council," Vienna Hofrath in a body, "fell back into their chairs [and + metaphorically into Robinson's arms] like dead men!" [Raumer, p. 104.] Sat + staring there;—the wind struck out of them, but not all the folly by + a great deal. Now, however, is Robinson's time to ply them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + EXCELLENCY ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF FRIEDRICH (Camp of Strehlen, 7th + </h2> + <p> + August, 1741). + </p> + <p> + By unheard-of entreaties and conjurations, aided by these strokes of fate, + Robinson has at length extorted from his Queen of Hungary, and her wise + Hofraths, something resembling a phantasm of compliance; with which he + hurries to Breslau and Hyndford; hoping against hope that Friedrich will + accept it as a reality. Gets to Breslau on the 3d of August; thence to + Strehlen, consulting much with Hyndford upon this phantasm of a + compliance. Hyndford looks but heavily upon it;—from us, in this + place, far be it to look at all:—alas, this is the famed Scene they + Two had at Strehlen with Friedrich, on Monday, August 7th; reported by the + faithful pen of Robinson, and vividly significant of Friedrich, were it + but compressed to the due pitch. We will give it in the form of Dialogue: + the thing of itself falls naturally into the Dramatic, when the flabby + parts are cut away;—and was perhaps worthier of a Shakspeare than of + a Robinson, all facts of it considered, in the light they have since got. + </p> + <p> + Scene is Friedrich's Tent, Prussian Camp in the neighborhood of the little + Town of Strehlen: time 11 o'clock A.M. Personages of it, Two British + subjects in the high Diplomatic line: ponderous Scotch Lord of an edacious + gloomy countenance; florid Yorkshire Gentleman with important Proposals in + his pocket. Costume, frizzled peruke powdered; frills, wrist-frills and + other; shoe-buckles, flapped waistcoat, court-coat of antique cut and much + trimming: all this shall be conceived by the reader. Tight young Gentleman + in Prussian military uniform, blue coat, buff breeches, boots; with alert + flashing eyes, and careless elegant bearing, salutes courteously, raising + his plumed hat. Podewils in common dress, who has entered escorting the + other Two, sits rather to rearward, taking refuge beside the writing + apparatus.—First passages of the Dialogue I omit: mere pickeerings + and beatings about the bush, before we come to close quarters. For + Robinson, the florid Yorkshire Gentleman, is charged to offer,—what + thinks the reader?—two million guilders, about 200,000 pounds, if + that will satisfy this young military King with the alert Eyes! + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON.... "'Two hundred thousand pounds sterling, if your Majesty will + be pleased to retire out of Silesia, and renounce this enterprise!' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Retire out of Silesia? And for money? Do you take me for a beggar! + Retire out of Silesia, which has cost me so much treasure and blood in the + conquest of it? No, Monsieur, no; that is not to be thought of! If you + have no better proposals to make, it is not worth while talking.' These + words were accompanied with threatening gestures and marks of great + anger;" considerably staggering to the Two Diplomatic British gentlemen, + and of evil omen to Robinson's phantasm of a compliance. Robinson + apologetically hums and hahs, flounders through the bad bit of road as he + can; flounderingly indicates that he has more to offer. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Let us see then (VOYONS), what is there more?' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON (with preliminary flourishings and flounderings, yet confidently, + as now tabling his best card).... "'Permitted to offer your Majesty the + whole of Austrian Guelderland; lies contiguous to your Majesty's + Possessions in the Rhine Country; important completion of these: I am + permitted to say, the whole of Austrian Guelderland!' Important indeed: a + dirty stripe of moorland (if you look in Busching), about equivalent to + half a dozen parishes in Connemara. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'What do you mean? [turning to Podewils]—QU'EST-CE QUE NOUS + MANQUE DE TOUTE LA GUELDRE (How much of Guelderland is theirs, and not + ours already)?' + </p> + <p> + PODEWILS. "'Almost nothing (PRESQUE RIEN). + </p> + <p> + KING (to Robinson). "'VOICI ENCORE DE GUEUSERIES (more rags and rubbish + yet)! QUOI, such a paltry scraping (BICOQUE) as that, for all my just + claims in Silesia? Monsieur—!' His Majesty's indignation increased + here, all the more as I kept a profound silence during his hot + expressions, and did not speak at all except to beg his Majesty's + reflection upon what I had said.—'Reflection?'" asks the King, with + eyes dangerous to behold;—"My Lord," continues Robinson, heavily + narrative, "his contempt of what I had said was so great," kicking his + boot through Guelderland and the guilders as the most contemptible of + objects, "and was expressed in such violent terms, that now, if ever (as + your Lordship perceives), it was time to make the last effort;" play our + trump-card down at once; "a moment longer was not to be lost, to hinder + the King from dismissing us;" which sad destiny is still too probable, + after the trump-card. Trump-card is this: + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON.... "'The whole Duchy of Limburg, your Majesty! It is a Duchy + which—' I extolled the Duchy to the utmost, described it in the most + favorable terms; and added, that 'the Elector Palatine [old Kur-Pfalz, on + one occasion] had been willing to give the whole Duchy of Berg for it.' + </p> + <p> + PODEWILS. "'Pardon, Monsieur: that is not so; the contrary of so; + Kur-Pfalz was not ready to give Berg for it!'—[We are not deep in + German History, we British Diplomatic gentlemen, who are squandering, now + and of old, so much money on it! The Aulic Council, "falls into our arms + like dead men;" but it is certain the Elector Palatine was not ready to + give Berg in that kind of exchange.] + </p> + <p> + KING. "'It is inconceivable to me how Austria should dare to think of such + a thing. Limburg? Are there not solemn Engagements upon Austria, + sanctioned and again sanctioned by all the world, which render every inch + of ground in the Netherlands inalienable?' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'Engagements good as against the French, your Majesty. + Otherwise the Barrier Treaty, confirmed at Utrecht, was for our behoof and + Holland's.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'That is your present interpretation, But the French pretend it was + an arrangement more in their favor than against them.' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'Your Majesty, by a little Engineer Art, could render Limburg + impregnable to the French or others.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Have not the least desire to aggrandize myself in those parts, or + spend money fortifying there. Useless to me. Am not I fortifying Brieg and + Glogau? These are enough: for one who intends to live well with his + neighbors. Neither the Dutch nor the French have offended me; nor will I + them by acquisitions in the Netherlands. Besides, who would guarantee + them?' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'The Proposal is to give guarantees at once.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Guarantees! Who minds or keeps guarantees in this age? Has not + France guaranteed the Pragmatic Sanction; has not England? Why don't you + all fly to the Queen's succor?'"—Robinson, inclined to pout, if he + durst, intimates that perhaps there will be succorers one day yet. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'And pray, Monsieur, who are they?' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'Hm, hm, your Majesty.... Russia, for example, which Power with + reference to Turkey—' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Good, Sir, good (BEAU, MONSIEUR, BEAU), the Russians! It is not + proper to explain myself; but I have means for the Russians' [a Swedish + War just coming upon Russia, to keep its hand in use; so diligent have the + French been in that quarter!]. + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON (with some emphasis, as a Britannic gentleman). "'Russia is not + the only Power that has engagements with Austria, and that must keep them + too! So that, however averse to a breach—' + </p> + <p> + KING ("laying his finger on his nose," mark him;—aloud, and with + such eyes). "'No threats, Sir, if you please! No threats' ["in a loud + voice," finger to nose, and with such eyes looking in upon me]. + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD (heavily coming to the rescue). "'Am sure his Excellency is far + from such meaning, Sire. His Excellency will advance nothing so very + contrary to his Instructions.'—Podewils too put in something proper" + in the appeasing way. + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'Sire, I am not talking of what this Power or that means to do; + but of what will come of itself. To prophesy is not to threaten, Sire! It + is my zeal for the Public that brought me hither; and—' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'The Public will be much obliged to you, Monsieur! But hear me. + With respect to Russia, you know how matters stand. From the King of + Poland I have nothing to fear. As for the King of England,—he is my + relation [dear Uncle, in the Pawnbroker sense], he is my all: if he don't + attack me, I won't him. And if he do, the Prince of Anhalt [Old Dessauer + out at Gottin yonder] will take care of him.' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'The common news now is [rumor in Diplomatic circles, rather + below the truth this time], your Majesty, after the 12th of August, will + join the French. [King looks fixedly at him in silence.] Sire, I venture + to hope not! Austria prefers your friendship; but if your Majesty disdain + Austria's advances, what is it to do? Austria must throw itself entirely + into the hands of France,—and endeavor to outbid your Majesty.' + [King quite silent.] + </p> + <p> + "King was quite silent upon this head," says Robinson, reporting: silence, + guesses Robinson, founded most probably upon his "consciousness of guilt"—what + I, florid Yorkshire Gentleman, call GUILT, as being against the Cause of + Liberty and us!"From time to time he threw out remarks on the + advantageousness of his situation:—" + </p> + <p> + KING.... "'At the head of such an Army, which the Enemy has already made + experience of; and which is ready for the Enemy again, if he have + appetite! With the Country which alone I am concerned with, conquered and + secured behind me; a Country that alone lies convenient to me; which is + all I want, which I now have; which I will and must keep! Shall I be + bought out of this country? Never! I will sooner perish in it, with all my + troops. With what face shall I meet my Ancestors, if I abandon my right, + which they have transmitted to me? My first enterprise; and to be given up + lightly?'"—With more of the like sort; which Friedrich, in writing + of it long after, seems rather ashamed of; and would fain consider to have + been mock fustian, provoked by the real fustian of Sir Thomas Robinson, + "who negotiated in a wordy high-droning way, as if he were speaking in + Parliament," says Friedrich (a Friedrich not taken with that style of + eloquence, and hoping he rather quizzed it than was serious with it, [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> ii. 84.]—though Robinson and Hyndford found in him + no want of vehement seriousness, but rather the reverse!)—He + concludes: "Have I need of Peace? Let those who need it give me what I + want; or let them fight me again, and be beaten again. Have not they given + whole Kingdoms to Spain? [Naples, at one swoop, to the Termagant; as + broken glass, in that Polish-Election freak!] And to me they cannot spare + a few trifling Principalities? If the Queen does not now grant me all I + require, I shall in four weeks demand Four Principalities more! [Nay, I + now do it, being in sibylline tune.] I now demand the whole of Lower + Silesia, Breslau included;—and with that Answer you can return to + Vienna.' + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'With that Answer: is your Majesty serious?' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'With that.'" A most vehement young King; no negotiating with him, + Sir Thomas! It is like negotiating for the Sibyl's Books: the longer you + bargain, the higher he will rise. In four weeks, time he will demand Four + Principalities more; nay, already demands them, the whole of Lower Silesia + and Breslau. A precious negotiation I have made of it! Sir Thomas, + wide-eyed, asks a second time:— + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON. "'Is that your Majesty's deliberate answer?' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Yes, I say! That is my Answer; and I will never give another.' + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD and ROBINSON (much flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency, + please to comprehend, the Proposals from Vienna were—' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Messieurs, Messieurs, it is of no use even to think of it.' And + taking off his hat," slightly raising his hat, as salutation and finale, + "he retired precipitately behind the curtain of the interior corner of the + tent," says the reporter: EXIT King! + </p> + <p> + ROBINSON (totally flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency, France will + abandon Prussia, will sacrifice Prussia to self-interest.' + </p> + <p> + PODEWILS. "'No, no! France will not deceive us; we have not deceived + France.'" (SCENE CLOSES; CURTAIN FALLS.) [State-Paper Office (Robinson to + Harrington, Breslau, 9th August, 1741); Raumer, pp. 106-110. Compare <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> ii. 84; and Valori, i. 119, 122.] + </p> + <p> + The unsuccessfulest negotiation well imaginable by a public man. Strehlen, + Monday, 7th August, 1741:—Friedrich has vanished into the interior + of his tent; and the two Diplomatic gentlemen, the wind struck out of them + in this manner, remain gazing at one another. Here truly is a young Royal + gentleman that knows his own mind, while so many do not. Unspeakable + imbroglio of negotiations, mostly insane, welters over all the Earth; the + Belleisles, the Aulic Councils, the British Georges, heaping coil upon + coil: and here, notably, in that now so extremely sordid murk of + wiggeries, inane diplomacies and solemn deliriums, dark now and obsolete + to all creatures, steps forth one little Human Figure, with something of + sanity in it: like a star, like a gleam of steel,—shearing asunder + your big balloons, and letting out their diplomatic hydrogen;—salutes + with his hat, "Gentlemen, Gentlemen, it is of no use!" and vanishes into + the interior of his tent. It is to Excellency Robinson, among all the sons + of Adam then extant, that we owe this interesting Passage of History,—authentic + glimpse, face to face, of the young Friedrich in those extraordinary + circumstances: every feature substantially as above, and recognizable for + true. Many Despatches his Excellency wrote in this world,—sixty or + eighty volumes of them still left,—but among them is this One: the + angriest of mankind cannot say that his Excellency lived and embassied + quite in vain! + </p> + <p> + The Two Britannic Gentlemen, both on that distressing Monday and the day + following, had the honor to dine with the King: who seemed in exuberant + spirits; cutting and bantering to right and left; upon the Court of + Vienna, among other topics, in a way which I Robinson "will not repeat to + your Lordship." Bade me, for example, "As you pass through Neisse, make my + compliments to Marshal Neipperg; and you can say, Excellency Robinson, + that I hope to have the pleasure of calling, one of these days!"—Podewils, + who was civil, pressed us much to stay over Wednesday, the 9th. "On + Thursday is to be a Grand Review, one of the finest military sights; to + which the Excellencies from Breslau, one and all, are coming out." But we, + having our Despatches and Expresses on hand, pleaded business, and + declined, in spite of Podewils's urgencies. And set off for Breslau, + Wednesday, morning,—meeting various Excellencies, by degrees all the + Excellencies, on the road for that Review we had heard of. + </p> + <p> + Readers must accept this Robinsoniad as the last of Friedrich's Diplomatic + performances at Strehlen, which in effect it nearly was; and from these + instances imagine his way in such things. Various Letters there are, to + Jordan principally, some to Algarotti; both of whom he still keeps at + Breslau, and sends for, if there is like to be an hour of leisure. The + Letters indicate cheerfulness of humor, even levity, in the Writer; which + is worth noting, in this wild clash of things now tumbling round him, and + looking to him as its centre: but they otherwise, though heartily and + frankly written, are, to Jordan and us, as if written from the teeth + outward; and throw no light whatever either on things befalling, or on + Friedrich's humor under them. Reading diligently, we do notice one thing, + That the talk about "fame (GLOIRE)" has died out. Not the least mention + now of GLOIRE;—perception now, most probably, that there are other + things than "GLOIRE" to be had by taking arms; and that War is a terribly + grave thing, lightly as one may go into it at first! This small inference + we do negatively draw, from the Friedrich Correspondence of those months: + and except this, and the levity of humor noticeable, we practically get no + light whatever from it; the practical soul and soul's business of + Friedrich being entirely kept veiled there, as usual. + </p> + <p> + And veiled, too, in such a way that you do not notice any veil,—the + young King being, as we often intimate, a master in this art. Which useful + circumstance has done him much ill with readers and mankind. For if you + intend to interest readers,—that is to say, idle neighbors, and + fellow-creatures in need of gossip,—there is nothing like unveiling + yourself: witness Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and many other poor waste + creatures, going off in self-conflagration, for amusement of the parish, + in that manner. But may not a man have something other on hand with his + Existence than that of "setting fire to it [such the process terribly IS], + to show the people a fine play of colors, and get himself applauded, and + pathetically blubbered over?" Alas, my friends!— + </p> + <p> + It is certain there was seldom such a life-element as this of Friedrich's + in Summer, 1741. Here is the enormous jumbling of a World broken loose; + boiling as in very chaos; asking of him, him more than any other, "How? + What?" Enough to put GLOIRE out of his head; and awaken thoughts,—terrors, + if you were of apprehensive turn! Surely no young man of twenty-nine more + needed all the human qualities than Friedrich now. The threatenings, the + seductions, big Belleisle hallucinations,—the perils to you + infinite, if you MISS the road. Friedrich did not miss it, as is well + known; he managed to pick it out from that enormous jumble of the + elements, and victoriously arrived by it, he alone of them all. Which is + evidence of silent or latent faculty in him, still more wonderful than the + loud-resounding ones of which the world has heard. Probably there was not, + in his history, any chapter more significant of human faculty than this, + which is not on record at all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III. — GRAND REVIEW AT STREHLEN: NEIPPERG TAKES AIM AT + BRESLAU, + </h2> + <p> + BUT ANOTHER HITS IT. + </p> + <p> + A day or two before that famous Audience of Hyndford and Robinson's, + Neipperg had quitted his impregnable Camp at Neisse, and taken the field + again; in the hope of perhaps helping Robinson's Negotiation by an inverse + method. Should Robinson's offers not prove attractive enough, as is to be + feared, a push from behind may have good effects. Neipperg intends to have + a stroke on Breslau; to twitch Breslau out of Friedrich's hands, by a + private manoeuvre on new resources that have offered themselves. [<i> + Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 982, and ii. 227.] + </p> + <p> + In Breslau, which is by great majority Protestant in creed and warmly + Prussian in temper, there has been no oppression or unfair usage heard of + to any class of persons; and certainly in the matter of Protestant and + Catholic, there has been perfect equality observed. True, the change from + favor and ascendency to mere equality, is not in itself welcome to human + creatures:—one conceives, for various reasons of lower and higher + nature, a minority of discontented individuals in Breslau, zealous for + their creed and old perquisites sacred and profane; who long in secret, + sometimes vocally to one another, for the good old times,—when souls + were not liable to perish wholesale, and people guilty only of loyalty and + orthodoxy to be turned out of their offices on suspicion. Friedrich says, + it was mainly certain zealous Old Ladies of Quality who went into this + adventure; and from whispering to one another, got into speaking, into + meeting in one another's houses for the purpose of concerting and + contriving. [<i>OEuvres,</i> ii. 82, 83.] Zealous Old Ladies of Quality,—these + we consider were the Talking-Apparatus or Secret-Parliament of the thing: + but it is certain one or two Official Gentlemen (Syndic Guzmar for + instance, and others NOT yet become Ex-Official) had active hand in it, + and furnished the practical ideas. + </p> + <p> + Continual Correspondence there was with Vienna, by those Old Ladies; + Guzmar and the others shy of putting pen to paper, and only doing it where + indispensable. Zealous Addresses go to her Hungarian Majesty, "Oh, may the + Blessed Virgin assist your Majesty!"—accompanied, it is said, with + Subscriptions of money (poor old souls); and what is much more dangerous + and feasible, there goes prompt notice to Neipperg of everything the + Prussian Army undertakes, and the Postscript always, "Come and deliver us, + your Excellency." Of these latter Documents, I have heard of some with + Syndic Guzmar's and other Official hands to them. Generally such things + can, through accidental Pandour channels, were there no other, easily + reach Neipperg; though they do not always. Enough, could Neipperg appear + at the Gates of Breslau, in some concerted night-hour, or push out + suitable Detachment on forced-march that way,—it is evident to him + he would be let in; might smother the few Prussians that are in the Dom + Island, and get possession of the Enemy's principal Magazine and the + Metropolis of the Province. Might not the Enemy grow more tractable to + Robinson's seductions in such case? + </p> + <p> + Neipperg marches from Neisse (1st-6th August) with his whole Army; first + some thirty miles westward up the right or southern bank of the Neisse; + then crosses the Neisse, and circles round to northward, giving Friedrich + wide room: [Orlich, i. 130, 133.] that night of Robinson's Audience, when + Friedrich was so merry at dinner, Neipperg was engaged in crossing the + River; the second night after, Neipperg lay encamped and intrenched at + Baumgarten (old scene of Friedrich's Pandour Adventure), while Hyndford + and Robinson had got back to Breslau. In another day or so, he may hope to + be within forced-march of Breslau, to detach Feldmarschall Browne or some + sharp head; and to do a highly considerable thing? + </p> + <p> + Unluckily for Neipperg's Adventure, the Prussians had wind of it, some + time ago. They have got "a false Sister smuggled into that Old-Ladies' + Committee," who has duly reported progress; nay they have intercepted + something in Syndic Guzmar's own hand: and everything is known to + Friedrich. The Protestant population, and generally the practical quiet + part of the Breslauers, are harassed with suspicion of some such thing, + but can gain no certainty, nor understand what to do. Protestants + especially, who have been so zealous, "who were seen dropping down on the + streets to pray, while the muffled thunder came from Mollwitz that day," + [Ranke, ii. 289.]—fancy how it would now be, were the tables + suddenly turned, and indignant Orthodoxy made supreme again, with memory + fresh! But, in fact, there is no danger whatever to them. Schwerin has + orders about Breslau; Schwerin and the Young Dessauer are maturely + considering how to manage. + </p> + <p> + Readers recollect how Podewils pressed the Two Britannic Excellencies to + stay in Strehlen a day or two longer: "Grand Review, with festivities, + just on hand; whole of the Foreign Ministers in Breslau invited out to see + it,"—though Hyndford and Robinson would not consent; but left on the + 9th, meeting the others at different points of the road. Next day, + Thursday, 10th August, was in fact a great day at Strehlen; grand muster, + manoeuvring of cavalry above all, whom Friedrich is delighted to find so + perfect in their new methods; riding as if they were centaurs, horse and + man one entity; capable of plunging home, at full gallop, in coherent + masses upon an enemy, and doing some good with him. "Neipperg's + Croat-people, and out-pickets on the distant Hill-sides, witnessed these + manoeuvres," [Ranke, ii. 288.] I know not with what criticism. + Furthermore, about noon-time, there was heard (mark it, reader) a distant + cannon-shot, one and no more, from the Northern side; which gave his + Majesty a lively pleasure, though he treated it as nothing. All the + Foreign Ministers were on the ground; doubtless with praises, so far as + receivable; and in the afternoon came festivities not a few. A great day + in Strehlen:—but in Breslau a much greater; which explained, to our + Two Excellencies, why Podewils had been so pressing! + </p> + <p> + August 10th, at six in the morning, Schwerin, and under him the Young + Dessauer,—who had arrived in the Southwestern suburbs of Breslau + overnight, with 8,000 foot and horse, and had posted themselves in a + vigilant Anti-Neipperg manner there, and laid all their plans,—appear + at the Nicolai Gate; and demand, in the common way, transit for their + regiments and baggages: "bound Northward," as appears; "to Leubus," where + something of Pandour sort has fallen out. So many troops or companies at a + time, that is the rule; one quantity of companies you admit; then close + and bolt, till it have marched across and out at the opposite Gate; after + which, open again for a second lot. But in this case,—owing to + accident (very unusual) of a baggage-wagon breaking down, and people + hurrying to help it forward,—the whole regiment gets in, escorted as + usual by the Town-guard. Whole regiment; and marches, not straight + through; but at a certain corner strikes off leftward to the Market-place; + where, singular to say, it seems inclined to pause and rearrange itself a + little. Nay, more singular still, other regiments (owing to like + accidents), from other Gates, join it;—and—in fact—"Herr + Major of the Town-guard, in the King's name, you are required to ground + arms!" What can the Town Major do; Prussian grenadiers, cannoneers, + gravely environing him? He sticks his sword into the scabbard, an Ex-Town + Major; and Breslau City is become Friedrich's, softly like a movement + during drill. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 982, n. 227, 268; Adelung, ii. + 439; Stenzel, iv. 152.] + </p> + <p> + Not the least mistake occurred. Cannon with case-shot planted themselves + in all the thoroughfares, Horse-patrols went circulating everywhere; + Town-arsenal, gates, walls, are laid hold of; Town-guards all disarmed, + rather "with laughter on their part" than otherwise: "Majesty perhaps will + give us muskets of his own;—well!" The operation altogether did not + last above an hour-and-half, and nobody's skin got scratched. Towards 9 + A.M. Schwerin summoned the Town Dignitaries to their Rathhaus to swear + fealty; who at once complied; and on his stepping out with proposal, to + the general population, of "a cheer for King Friedrich, Duke of Lower + Silesia," the poor people rent the skies with their "Friedrich and Silesia + forever!" which they repeated, I think, seven times. Upon which Schwerin + fired off his signal-cannon, pointing to the South; where other posts and + cannons took up the sound, and pushed it forward, till, as we noticed, it + got to Friedrich in few minutes, on the review-ground at Strehlen; right + welcome to him, among the manoeuvrings there. Protestant Breslau or + cordwainer Doblin cannot lament such a result; still less dare the devout + Old Ladies of Quality openly lament, who are trembling to the heart, poor + old creatures, though no evil came of it to them; penitent, let off for + the fright; checking even their aspirations henceforth. + </p> + <p> + Syndic Guzmar and the peccant Officials being summoned out to Strehlen, it + had been asked of them, "Do you know this Letter?" Upon which they fell on + their knees, "ACH IHRO MAJESTAT!" unable to deny their handwriting; yet + anxious to avoid death on the scaffold, as Friedrich said was usual under + such behavior; and were sent home, after a few hours of arrest. [Orlich, + i. 134; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 228.] Schwerin (as King's substitute + till the King himself one day arrive) continued to take the Homaging, and + to make the many new arrangements needful. All which went off in a soft + and pleasantly harmonious manner;—only the Jesuits scrupling a + little to swear as yet; and getting gently sent their ways, with revenues + stopt in consequence. Otherwise the swearing, which lasted for several + days, was to appearance a joyful process, and on the part of the general + population an enthusiastic one, "ES LEBE KONIG FRIEDRICH!" rising to the + welkin with insatiable emphasis, seven times over, on the least signal + given. Neipperg's Adventure, and Orthodox Female Parliament, have issued + in this sadly reverse manner. + </p> + <p> + Robinson and Hyndford have to witness these phenomena; Robinson to shoot + off for Presburg again, with the worst news in the world. Queen and + Hofraths have been waiting in agony of suspense, "Will Friedrich bargain + on those gentle terms, and help us with 100,000 men?" Far from it, my + friends; how far! "My most important intelligence," writes the Russian + Envoy there, some days ago, ["5 August, 1741," not said to whom (in Ranke, + ii. 324 n.).] "is, that a Bavarian War has broken out, that Kur-Baiern is + in Passau. God grant that Monsieur Robinson may succeed in his + negotiation! All here are in the completest irresolution, and total + inactivity, till Monsieur Robinson return, or at least send news of + himself." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV. — FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD AGAIN, INTENT ON HAVING + NEISSE. + </h2> + <p> + This Breslau Adventure, which had yielded Friedrich so important an + acquisition, was furthermore the cause of ending these Strehlen + inactivities, and of recommencing field operations. August 11th, Neipperg, + provoked by the grievous news just come from Breslau, pushes suddenly + forward on Schweidnitz, by way of consolation; Schweidnitz, not so strong + as it might be made, where the Prussians have a principal Magazine: "One + might at least seize that?" thinks Neipperg, in his vexed humor. But here + too Friedrich was beforehand with him; broke out, rapidly enough, to + Reichenbach, westward, which bars the Neipperg road to Schweidnitz: upon + which,—or even before which (on rumor of it coming, which was not + YET true),—Neipperg, half done with his first day's march, called + halt; prudently turned back, and hastened, Baumgarten way, to his strong + Camp at Frankenstein again. His hope in the Schweidnitz direction had + lasted only a few hours; a hope springing on the mere spur of pique, soon + recognizable by him as futile; and now anxieties for self-preservation had + succeeded it on Neipperg's part. For now Friedrich actually advances on + him, in a menacing manner, hardly hoping Neipperg will fight; but + determined to have done with the Neisse business, in spite of strong camps + and cunctations, if it be possible. [Orlich, i. 137, 138.] + </p> + <p> + It was August 16th, when Friedrich stirred out of Strehlen; August 21st, + when he encamped at Reichenbach. Till September 7th, he kept manoeuvring + upon Neipperg, who counter-manoeuvred with vigilance, good judgment, and + would not come to action: September 7th, Friedrich, weary of these + hagglings, dashed off for Neisse itself, hoped to be across Neisse River, + and be between Neisse Town and Neipperg, before Neipperg could get up. + There would then be no method of preventing the Siege of Neisse, except by + a Battle: so Friedrich had hoped; but Neipperg again proved vigilant. + </p> + <p> + Accordingly, September 11th, Friedrich's Vanguard was actually across the + Neisse; had crossed at a place called Woitz, and had there got Two Pontoon + Bridges ready, when Friedrich, in the evening, came up with the main Army, + intending to cross;—and was astonished to find Neipperg taking up + position, in intricate ground, near by, on the opposite side! Ground so + intricate, hills, bogs, bushes of wood, and so close upon the River, there + was no crossing possible; and Friedrich's Vanguard had to be recalled. Two + days of waiting, of earnest ocular study; no possibility visible. On the + third day, Friedrich, gathering in his pontoons overnight, marched off, + down stream: Neisse-wards, but on the left or north bank of the River; + passed Neisse Town (the River between him and it); and encamped at Gross + Neundorf, several miles from Neipperg and the River. Neipperg, at an equal + step, has been wending towards his old Camp, which lies behind Neisse, + between Neisse and the Hills: there, a river in front, dams and muddy + inundations all round him, begirt with plentiful Pandours, Neipperg waits + what Friedrich will attempt from Gross Neundorf. + </p> + <p> + From Gross Neundorf, Friedrich persists twelve days (13th-25th September), + studying, endeavoring; mere impossibility ahead. And by this time (what is + much worth noting), Hyndford, silently quitting Breslau, has got back to + these scenes of war, occasionally visible in Friedrich's Camp again;—on + important mysterious business; which will have results. Valori also is + here in Camp; these two Excellencies jealously eying one another; both of + them with teeth rather on edge,—Europe having suddenly got into such + a plunge (as if the highest mountains were falling into the deepest seas) + since Friedrich began this Neipperg problem of his;—in which, after + twelve days, he sees mere impossibility ahead. + </p> + <p> + On the twelfth day, Friedrich privately collects himself for a new method: + marches, soon after midnight, [26th September, 2 A.M.: Orlich, i. 144.] + fifteen miles down the River (which goes northward in this part, as the + reader may remember); crosses, with all his appurtenances, unmolested; and + takes camp a few miles inland, or on the right bank, and facing towards + Neisse again. He intends to be in upon Neipperg front the rear quarter; + and cut him off from Mahren and his daily convoys of food. "Daily food cut + off,—the thickest-skinned rhinoceros, the wildest lion, cannot stand + that: here, for Neipperg, is one point on which all his embankments and + mud-dams will not suffice him!" thinks Friedrich. Certain preliminary + operations, and military indispensabilities, there first are for + Friedrich,—Town of Oppeln to be got, which commands the Oder, our + rearward highway; Castle of Friedland, and the country between Oder and + Neisse Rivers:—while these preliminary things are being done + (September 28th-October 3d), Friedrich in person gradually pushes forward + towards Neipperg, reconnoitring, bickering with Croats: October 3d, + preliminaries done, Neipperg's rear had better look to itself. + </p> + <p> + Neipperg, well enough seeing what was meant, has by this time come out of + his mud-dams and impregnabilities; and advanced a few miles towards + Friedrich. Neipperg lies now encamped in the Hamlet of Griesau, a little + way behind Steinau,—poor Steinau, which the reader saw on fire one + night, when Friedrich and we were in those parts, in Spring last. + Friedrich's Camp is about five miles from Neipperg's on the other side of + Steinau. A tolerable champaign country; I should think, mostly in stubble + at this season. Nearly midway between these two Camps is a pretty Schloss + called Klein-Schnellendorf, occupied by Neipperg's Croats just now, of + which Prince Lobkowitz (he, if I remember, but it matters nothing), an + Austrian General of mark, far away at present, is proprietor. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's Oppeln preparations are about complete; and he intends to + advance straightway. "Hold, for Heaven's sake, your Majesty!" exclaims + Hyndford; getting hold of him one day (waylaying him, in fact; for it is + difficult, owing to Valori); "Wait, wait; I have just been to the—to + the Camp of Neipperg," silently gesticulates Hyndford: "Within a week all + shall be right, and not a drop of blood shed!" Friedrich answers, by + silence chiefly, to the effect, "Tush, tush;" but not quite negatively, + and does in effect wait. We had better give the snatch of Dialogue in + primitive authentic form; date is, Camp of Neundorf, September 22d:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH (pausing impatiently, on the way towards his tent). "'MILORD, DE + QUOI S'AGIT-IL A PRESENT (What is it now, then)?' + </p> + <p> + HYNDFORD. "'Should much desire to have some assurance from your Majesty + with regard to that neutrality of Hanover you were pleased to promise.' + All else is coming right; hastening towards beautiful settlement, were + that settled. + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH. "'Have not I great reason to be dissatisfied with your Court? + Britannic Majesty, as King of England and as Elector of Hanover, is + wonderful! Milord, when you say a thing is white, Schweichelt, the + Hanoverian Excellency, calls it black, and VICE VERSA. But I will do your + King no harm; none, I say! Follow me to dinner; dinner is cold by this + time; and we have made more than one person think of us. Swift! [and + EXIT].'" [Hyndford's Despatch, Neisse, 4th October, 1741.] + </p> + <p> + This is a strange motion on the part of Hyndford; but Friedrich, severely + silent to it, understands it very well; as readers soon will, when they + hear farther. But marvellous things have happened on the sudden! In these + three weeks, since the Camp of Strehlen broke up, there have been such + Events; strategic, diplomatic: a very avalanche of ruin, hurling Austria + down to the Nadir; of which it is now fit that the reader have some faint + conception, an adequate not being possible for him or me:— + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST l5th, 1741. Robinson reappears in Presburg; and precious surely + are the news he brings to an Aulic Council fallen back in its chairs, and + staring with the wind struck out of it. Their expected Seizure of Breslau + gone heels over head, in that way; Friedrich imperiously resolute, + gleaming like the flash of steel amid these murky imbecilities, and + without the Cession of Silesia no Peace to be made with him! And all this + is as nothing, to news which arrives just on the back of Robinson, from + another quarter. + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 15th-21st. French Army of 40,000 men, special Army of Belleisle, + sedulously equipt and completed, visibly crosses the Rhine at Fort Louis + (an Island Fortress in the Rhine, thirty miles below Strasburg; STONES of + it are from the old Schloss of Hagenau);—steps over deliberately + there; and on the sixth day is all on German ground. These troops, to be + commanded by Belleisle, so soon as he can join them, are to be the Elector + of Bavaria's troops, Kur-Baiern Generalissimo over Belleisle and them; [<i>Fastes + de Louis XV.,</i> ii. 264.] and they are on rapid march to join that + ambitious Kurfurst, in his Passau Expedition; and probably submerge Vienna + itself. + </p> + <p> + "And what is this we hear farther, O Robinson, O Excellencies Hyndford, + Schweichelt and Company: That another French Army, of the same strength, + under Maillebois, has in the self-same days gone across the Lower Rhine + (at Kaisersworth, an hour's ride below Dusseldorf)! At Kaisersworth; + ostensibly for comforting and strengthening Kur-Koln (the lanky + Ecclesiastical Gentleman, Kur-Baiern's Brother), their excellent ally, + should anybody meddle with him. Ostensibly for this; but in reality to + keep the Sea-Powers, and especially George of England quiet. It marches + towards Osnabruck, this Maillebois Army; quarters itself up and down, + looking over into Hanover,—able to eat Hanover, especially if joined + by the Prussians and Old Leopold, at any moment. + </p> + <p> + "These things happen in this month of August, close upon the rear of that + steel-shiny scene in the Tent at Strehlen, where Friedrich lifted his hat, + saying, ''T is of no use, Messieurs!'—which was followed by the + seizure of Breslau the wrong way. Never came such a cataract of evil news + on an Aulic Council before. The poor proud people, all these months they + have been sitting torpid, helpless, loftily stupid, like dumb idols; 'in + flat despair,' as Robinson says once, 'only without the strength to be + desperate.' + </p> + <p> + "Sure enough the Sea-Powers are checkmated now. Let them make the least + attempt in favor of the Queen, if they dare. Holland can be overrun, from + Osnabruck quarter, at a day's warning. Little George has his Hanoverians, + his subsidized Hessians, Danes, in Hanover, his English on Lexden Heath: + let him come one step over the marches, Maillebois and the Old Dessauer + swallow him. It is a surprising stroke of theatrical-practical Art; + brought about, to old Fleury's sorrow, by the genius of Belleisle, aud + they say of Madame Chateauroux; enough to strike certain Governing Persons + breathless, for some time; and denotes that the Universal Hurricane, or + World-Tornado, has broken out. It is not recorded of little George that he + fell back in his chair, or stared wider than usual with those fish-eyes: + but he discerned well, glorious little man, that here is left no shadow of + a chance by fighting; that he will have to sit stock-still, under awful + penalties; and that if Maria Theresa will escape destruction, she must + make her peace with Friedrich at any price." + </p> + <p> + This fine event, 80,000 French actually across the Rhine, happened in the + very days while Friedrich and Neipperg had got into wrestle again,—Neipperg + just off from that rash march for Schweidnitz, and whirling back on rumor + (15th August), while the first instalment of the French were getting over. + Friedrich must admit that the French fulfil their promises so far. A week + ago or more, they made the Swedes declare War against Russia, as + covenanted. War is actually declared, at Stockholm, August 4th, the + Faction of Hats prevailing over that of Nightcaps, after terrible debates + and efforts about the mere declaring of it, as if that alone were the + thing needed. We mentioned this War already, and would not willingly + again. One of the most contemptible Wars ever declared or carried on; but + useful to Friedrich, as keeping Russia off his hands, at a critical time, + and conclusively forbidding help to Austria from that quarter. + </p> + <p> + Marechal de Belleisle, wrapt in Diplomatic and Electioneering business, + cannot personally take command for the present; but has excellent + lieutenants,—one of whom is Comte de Saxe, Moritz our old friend, + afterwards Marechal de Saxe. Among the finest French Armies, this of + Belleisle's is thought to be, that ever took the field: so many of our + Nobility in it, and what best Officers, Segurs, Saxes, future Marechal's, + we have. Army full of spirit and splendor; come to cut Germany in four, + and put France at last in its place in the Universe. Here is courage, here + is patriotism, of a sort. And if this is not the good sort, the divinely + pious, the humanly noble,—Fashionable Society feels it to be so, and + can hit no nearer. New-fashioned "Army of the Oriflamme," one might call + this of Belleisle's; kind of Sham-Sacred French Army (quite in earnest, as + it thinks);—led on, not by St. Denis and the Virgin, but by Sun-god + Belleisle and the Chateauroux, under these sad new conditions! Which did + not prosper as expected. + </p> + <p> + "Let the Holy German Reich take no offence," said this Army, eager to + conciliate: "we come as friends merely; our intentions charitable, and + that only. Bavarian Treaty of Nymphenburg (18th May last) binds us + especially, this time; Treaty of Westphalia binds us sacredly at all + times. Peaceable to you, nay brotherly, if only you will be peaceable!" + Which the poor Reich, all but Austria and the Sea-Powers, strove what it + could to believe. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the German shore out of Elsass, "every Officer put, the + Bavarian Colors, cockade of blue-and-white, on his hat;" [Adelung, ii. + 431.] a mere "Bavarian Army," don't you see? And the 40,000 wend steadily + forward through Schwaben eastward, till they can join Karl Albert + Kur-Baiern, who is Generalissimo, or has the name of such. They march in + Seven Divisions. Donauworth (a Town we used to know, in Marlborough's time + and earlier) is to be their first resting-point; Ingolstadt their + place-of-arms: will readers recollect those two essential circumstances? + To Donauworth is 250 miles; to Passau will be 180 more: five or six long + weeks of marching. But after Donauworth they are to go, the Infantry of + them are, in boats; Horse, under Saxe, marching parallel. Forward, ever + forward, to Passau (properly to Scharding, twelve miles up the Inn Valley, + where his Bavarian Highness is in Camp); and thence, under his Bavarian + Highness, and in concert with him, to pour forth, deluge-like, upon Linz, + probably upon Vienna itself, down the Donau Valley,—why not to + Vienna itself, and ruin Austria at one swoop? [Espagnac, <i>Histoire de + Maurice Comte de Saxe</i> (German Translation, Leipzig, 1774), i. 83:—an + excellent military compend. <i>Campagnes des Trois Marechaux</i> + (Maillebois, Broglio, Belleisle: Armsterdam. 1773), ii. 53-56:—in + nine handy little volumes (or if we include the NOAILLES and the COIGNY + set, making "CING MARECHAUX," nineteen volumes in all, and a twentieth for + INDEX); consisting altogether of Official Letters (brief, rapid, meant for + business, NOT for printing in the Newspapers); which are elucidative + BEYOND bargain, and would even be amusing to read,—were the topic + itself worth one's time.] + </p> + <p> + The second or Maillebois French Army spreads itself, by degrees, + considerably over Westphalia;—straitened for forage, and otherwise + not the best of neighbors. But, in theory, in speech, this too was + abundantly conciliatory,—to the Dutch at least. "Nothing earthly in + view, nothing, ye magnanimous Dutch, except to lodge here in the most + peaceable manner, paying our way, and keep down disturbances that might + arise in these parts. That might arise; not from you, ye magnanimous High + Mightinesses, how far from it! Nor will we meddle with one broken brick of + your respectable Barrier, or Barrier Treaty, which is sacred to us, or do + you the shadow of an injury. No; a thousand times, upon our honor, No!" + For brevity's sake, I lend them that locution, "No, a thousand times,"—and + in actual arithmetic, I should think there are at least four or five + hundred times of it,—in those extinct Diplomatic Eloquences of + Excellency Fenelon and the other French;—vaguely counting, in one's + oppressed imagination, during the Two Years that ensue. For the Dutch + lazily believed, or strove to believe, this No of Fenelon's; and took an + obstinate laggard sitting posture, in regard to Pragmatic Sanction; + whereby the task of "hoisting" them (as above hinted), which fell upon a + certain King, became so famous in Diplomatic History. + </p> + <p> + Imagination may faintly picture what a blow this advent of Maillebois was + to his Britannic Majesty, over in Herrenhausen yonder! He has had of Danes + six thousand, of Hessians six, of Hanoverians sixteen,—in all some + 30,000 men, on foot here since Spring last, camping about (in two + formidable Camps at this moment); not to mention the 6,000 of English on + Lexden Heath, eager to be shipped across, would Parliament permit; and now—let + him stir in any direction if he dare. Camp of Gottin like a drawn sword at + one's throat (at one's Hanover) from the east; and lo, here a twin fellow + to it gleaming from the south side! Maillebois can walk into the throat of + Hanover at a day's warning. And such was actually the course proposed by + Maillebois's Government, more than once, in these weeks, had not Friedrich + dissuaded and forbidden. It is a strangling crisis. What is his Britannic + Majesty to do? Send orders, "Double YOUR diligence, Excellency Robinson!" + that is one clear point; the others are fearfully insoluble, yet pressing + for solution: in a six weeks hence (September 27th), we shall see what + they issue in!— + </p> + <p> + As for Robinson, he is duly with the Queen at Presburg; duly conjuring + incessantly, "Make your peace with Friedrich!" And her Majesty will not, + on the terms. Poor Robinson, urged two ways at once, is flurried doubly + and trebly; tossed about as Diplomatist never was. King of Prussia flashes + lightning-looks upon him, clapping finger to nose; Maria Theresa, knowing + he will demand cession of Silesia, shudders at sight of him; and the Aulic + Council fall into his arms like dead men, murmuring, "Money; where is your + money?" + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 29th. While Friedrich was pushing into Neipperg, in the Baumgarten + Country, and could get no battle out of him, Excellency Robinson reappears + at Breslau; Maria Theresa, after deadly efforts on his part, has mended + her offers, in these terrible circumstances; and Robinson is here again. + 'Half of Silesia, or almost half, provided his Majesty will turn round, + and help against the French:' these, secretly, are Robinson's rich offers. + The Queen, on consenting to these new offers, had 'wrung her hands,' like + one in despair, and said passionately, 'Unless accepted within a + fortnight, I will not be bound by them!' 'Admit his Excellency to the + honor of an interview,' solicits Hyndford; 'his offers are much mended.' + Notable to witness, Friedrich will not see Robinson at all this time, nor + even permit Podewils to see him; signifies plainly that he wants to hear + no more of his offers, and that, in fact, the sooner he can take himself + away from Breslau, it will be the better. To that effect, Robinson, + rushing back in mortified astonished manner, reports progress at Presburg; + to that and no better. 'High Madam,' urges Robinson, still indefatigable, + 'the King of Prussia's help would be life, his hostility is death at this + crisis. Peace must be with him, at any price!' 'Price?' answers her + Majesty once: 'If Austria must fall, it is indifferent to me whether it be + by Kur-Baiern or Kur-Brandenburg!' [Stenzel, iv. 156.] Nevertheless, in + about a week she again yields to intense conjuring, and the + ever-tightening pressure of events;—King George, except it be for + counselling, is become stock-still, with Maillebois's sword at his throat; + and is, without metaphor, sinking towards absolute neutrality: 'Cannot + help you, Madam, any farther; must not try it, or I perish, my Hanover and + I!'—So that Maria Theresa again mends her offers: 'Give him all + Lower Silesia, and he to join with me!' and Robinson post-haste despatches + a courier to Breslau with them. Notable again: King Friedrich will not + hear of them; answers by a 'No, I tell you! Time was, time is not. I have + now joined with France; and to join against it in this manner? Talk to me + no more!'" [Friedrich to Hyndford: <i>"Au Camp [de Neuendorf] 14me + septembre," 1741. "Milord j'ai recu les nouvelles propositions d'alliance + que l'infatigable Robinson vous envoie. Je les trouve aussi chimeriques + que les precedentes."—"Ces gens sont-ils fols, Milord, de s'imaginer + que je commisse la trahison de tourner en leur faveur mes armes, et de"—"Je + vous prie de ne me plus fatiguer avec de pareilles propositions, et de me + croire assez honnete homme pour ne point violer mes engagements.—</i> + FREDERIC." (British Museum: Hyndford Papers, fol. 133.)]... + </p> + <p> + Here is a catastrophe for the Two Britannic Excellencies, and the Cause of + Freedom! Robinson, in dudgeon and amazement, has hurried back to Presburg, + has ceased sending even couriers; and, in a three weeks hence (9th + October, a day otherwise notable), wishes "to come home," the game being + up. [His Letter, "9th October, 1741" (in Lord Mahon's <i>History of + England,</i> iii. Appendix, p. iii: edit. London, 1839)]. Such is + Robinson's gloomy view: finished, he, and the game lost,—unless + perhaps Hyndford could still do something? Of which what hope is there! + Hyndford, who has a rough sagacity in him, and manifests often a strong + sense of the practical and the practicable, strikes into—Readers, + from the following Fragments of Correspondence, now first made public, + will gather for themselves what new course, veiled in triple mystery, + Hyndford had struck into. Four bits of Notes, well worth reading, under + their respective dates:— + </p> + <p> + 1. EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD TO SECRETARY HARRINGTON (Two Notes). "BRESLAU, 2d + SEPTEMBER, 1711 [on the heel of Robinson's second miscarriage].... My + Lord, all these contretemps are very unlucky at present, when time is so + precious; for France is pressing the King of Prussia in the strongest + manner to declare himself; but whatever eventual preliminaries may be + probably agreed between them, I still doubt if they have any Treaty + signed"—have had one, any time these three months (since 5th June + last); signed sufficiently; but of a most fast-and-loose nature; neither + party intending to be rigorous in keeping it. "I wish to God the Court of + Vienna may be brought to think before it is too late." [HYNDFORD PAPERS + (Brit. Mus. Additional MSS. 11,366), ii. fol. 91.] + </p> + <p> + 2. "BRESLAU, 6th SEPTEMBER.... I am not without hopes of succeeding in a + project which has occurred to me on this occasion, and which seems to be + pretty well relished by some people [properly by one individual, Goltz, + the King's Adjutant and factotum], who are in great confidence about the + King of Prussia's person; and I think it is the only thing that now + remains to be tried; and as it is the least of two evils, I hope I shall + have the King my Master's approbation in attempting it; and if the Court + of Vienna will open their eyes, they must see it is the only thing left to + save them from utter destruction;"—and, finally, here it is:— + </p> + <p> + "Since Mr. Robinson left this place,—["Sooner YOU go, the better, + Sir!"],—"I have been sounding the people afore mentioned, the + individual afore hinted at, 'Whether the King of Prussia would hearken to + a Neutrality with respect to the Queen of Hungary, and at the same time + fulfil his engagements to his Majesty with respect to the defence of his + Majesty's German Dominions, IF she would give him the Lower Silesia with + Breslau?' At first they rejected it; saying it was a thing they dared not + propose. However, I have reason to believe, by a Letter I saw this day, + that it has been proposed to the King, and that he is not absolutely + averse to it. I shall know more in a few days; but if it can be done at + all, it must be done in the very greatest secrecy, for neither the King + nor his Ministers wish to appear in it; and I question if his Minister + Podewils will be informed of it." [<i>Hyndford Papers,</i> fol. 97, 98.] + </p> + <p> + 3. EXCELLENCY ROBINSON (in a flutter of excitement, temporary hope and + excitement, about Goltz) TO HYNDFORD, AT BRESLAU. + </p> + <p> + "PRESBURG, 8th SEPTEMBER (N.S.), 1741. My Lord, I could desire your + Lordship to summon up, if it were necessary, the spirit of all your + Lordship's Instructions, and the sense of the King, of the Parliament, and + of the whole British Nation. It is upon this great moment that depends the + fate, not of the House of Austria, not of the Empire, but of the House of + Brunswick, of Great Britain, and of all Europe. I verily believe the King + of Prussia does not himself know the extent of the present danger. With + whatever motive he may act, there is not one, not that of the mildest + resentment, that can blind him to this degree, of himself perishing in the + ruin he is bringing upon others. With his concurrence, the French will, in + less than six weeks, be masters of the German Empire. The weak Elector of + Bavaria is but their instrument: Prague and Vienna may, and probably will, + be taken in that short time. Will even the King of Prussia himself be + reserved to the last? + </p> + <p> + "Upon this single transaction [of your Lordship's affair with the + mysterious individual] depend the CITA MORS, or the VICTORIA LAETA of all + Europe. Nothing will equal the glory of your Lordship, in the latter case, + but that to be acquired by the King of Prussia in his immediate imitation + of the great Sobieski"—reputed "savior of Vienna," O your + Excellency!... "Prince Lichtenstein will, if found in time upon his + estates in Bohemia, be, I believe, the person to repair to the King of + Prussia, the moment your Lordship shall have signed the Preliminaries. + Once again, give me leave, my Lord, to express my most ardent wishes, my"—T. + ROBINSON. [<i>Hyndford Papers,</i> fol. 102.] + </p> + <p> + 4. EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD TO SECRETARY HARRINGTON. + </p> + <p> + "BRESLAU, 9th SEPTEMBER,... Received a message to meet him,"—HIM, + for we now speak in the singular number, though still without naming + Goltz,—"one of the persons I mentioned in my former Despatch: in a + very unsuspected place; for we have agreed to avoid all appearance of + familiarity. He told me he had received a Letter this morning from the + Camp,"—Prussian Majesty's Camp, or Bivouac (in the Munsterberg + Hill-Country), on that march towards Woitz, for crossing the Neisse upon + Neipperg, which proved impracticable,—"and that he could with + pleasure tell me that the King agreed to this last trial, although he + would not, nor could appear in it.... Then this person read to me a Paper, + but I could not see whether it was the King's hand or not; for when I + desired to take a copy, he said he could not show me the original; but + dictated as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "'Toute la Basse Silesie, la riviere de Neisse pour limite, la ville de + Neisse a nous, aussi bien que Glatz; de l'autre cote de l'Oder l'ancien + limite entre les Duches de Brieg et d'Oppeln. Namslau a nous. Les affaires + de religion IN STATU QUO. Point de dependance de la Boheme; cession + eternelle. En echange nous n'irons pas plus loin. Nous assiegerons Neisse + PRO FORMA: le commandant se rendra et sortira. Nous prendrons les + quartiers tranquillement, et ils pourront mener leur Armee oh ils + voudront. Que tout cela soit fini en douze jours.'" That is to say:— + </p> + <p> + "'The whole of Lower Silesia, Neisse Town included; Neisse River for + boundary:—Glatz withal. Beyond the Oder, for the Duchies of Brieg + and Oppeln the ancient limits. Namslau ours. Affairs of Religion to + continue IN STATU QUO. No dependence [feudal tie or other, as there used + to be] on Bohemia; cession of Silesia to be absolute and forever.—We, + in return, will proceed no farther. We will besiege Neisse for form; the + Commandant shall surrender and depart. We will pass quietly into + winter-quarters; and the Austrian Army may go whither it will. Bargain to + be concluded within twelve days.'" [Coxe (iii. 272) gives this + Translation, not saying whence he had it.]—Can his Excellency + Hyndford get Vienna, get Feldmarschall Reipperg with power from Vienna, to + accept: Yes or No? Excellency Hyndford thinks, Yes; will try his very + utmost!— + </p> + <p> + "He (Goltz) then tore the Paper in very small pieces; and he repeated + again, that if the affair should be discovered, both the King and he were + determined to deny it.... 'But how about engagements with regard to my + Master's German Dominions; not a word about that?' He answered, 'You have + not the least to fear from France;' protested the King of Prussia's great + regard for his Majesty of England, &c. I told him these fine words did + not satisfy me; and that if this affair should succeed, I expected there + should be some stipulation." [<i>Hyndford Papers,</i> fol. 115.] Yes; and + came, about a fortnight hence, "waylaying his Majesty" to get one,—as + readers saw above. + </p> + <p> + Prussian Dryasdust (poor soul, to whom one is often cruel!) shall glad + himself with the following Two bits of Autography from Goltz, who had + instantly quitted Breslau again;—and, to us, they will serve as date + for the actual arrival of Excellency Hyndford in those fighting regions, + and commencement of his mysterious glidings about between Camp and Camp. + </p> + <p> + GOLTZ TO THE EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD, AT BRESLAU (most Private). + </p> + <p> + "AU CAMP DE NEUENDORF, 16me septembre, a 9 heures du seir. (1.) "MILORD,—Vons + savez que je suis porte pour la bonne cause. Sur ce pied je prends la + liberte de vous conseiller en ami et serviteur, de venir ici incessamment, + et de presser votre voyage de sorte que vous puissiez paraitre + publiquement lundi [18th] vers midi. Vous trouverez 6 (SIC) chevaux de + postes a Olau et a Grottkau tout prets. Hatez-vous, Milord, tout ce que + vous pourrez au monde. J'ai l'honneur de" Meaning, in brief English:— + </p> + <p> + "Be at Neundorf here, publicly, on Monday next, 18th, towards noon." + Things being ripe. "Haste, Milord, haste!" + </p> + <p> + "Ce 18me a 3 heures apres-midi. (2). "Je suis an desespoir, Milord, de + votre maladie. Voici le courrier que vous attendiez. Venez le plutot que + vous pourrez au monde; si non, dites au General Marwitz de quoi il s'agit, + afin qu'il puisse me le faire savoir.... Le courrier serait arrive quatre + heures plutot, si nous ne l'avions renvoye au Comte Neuberg (SIC) a cause + de votre maladie.—GOLTZ." [<i>Hyndford Papers,</i> fol. 150-152.]—That + is to say:— + </p> + <p> + "Distressed inexpressibly by your Lordship's biliary condition. One cannot + travel under colic;—and things were so ripe! Courier would have + reached you four hours sooner, but we had to send him over to Neipperg + first. Come, oh come!"—Which Hyndford, now himself again, at once + does. + </p> + <p> + This is the Mystery, which, on September 22d, had arrived at that stage, + indicated above: "Tush! Follow me: Dinner is already falling cold, and + there are eyes upon us!" And in about another fortnight—But we shall + have to take the luggage with us, too, what minimum of it is + indispensable! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V. — KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF: FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A + FASHION. + </h2> + <p> + While these combined Mysteries and War-movements go on, in Neisse and its + Environs, the World-Phenomena continue,—in Upper Austria and + elsewhere. Of which take these select summits, or points chiefly luminous + in the dusk of the forgotten Past:— + </p> + <p> + LINZ, SEPTEMBER 14th. Karl Albert, being joined some days ago at Scharding + by the first three French Divisions, 15,000 men in all (the other four + Divisions of them are still in the Donauworth-Ingolstadt quarter, making + their manifold arrangements), has pushed forward, sixty miles + (land-marches, south side of the Donau, which makes a bend here), and this + day, September 14th, appears at Linz. Pleasant City of Linz; where, as + readers may remember, Mr. John Kepler, long ago, busy discovering the + System of the World (grandest Conquest ever made, or to be made, by the + Sons of Adam), had his poor CAMERA OBSCURA set out, to get himself a + livelihood in the interim: here now is Karl Albert's flag on the winds, + and, as it were, the Oriflamme with it, on a singularly different + Adventure. "Open Gates!" demands Karl Albert with authority: "Admit me to + my Capital of Upper Austria!" Which cannot be denied him, there being + nothing but Town-guards in the place. + </p> + <p> + Karl Albert continued there some weeks, in a serenely victorious posture; + doing acts of authority; getting homaged by the STANDE; pushing out his + forces farther and farther down the Donau, post after post,—victorious + Oriflamme-Bavarian Army may be 40,000 strong or so, in those parts. + Friedrich urged him much to push on without pause, and take opportunity by + the forelock; sent Schmettau (elder of the two Schmettaus, who is much + employed on such business) to urge him; wrote an express Paper of + Considerations pressingly urgent: but he would not, and continued pausing. + </p> + <p> + Vienna, all in terror, is fortifying itself; citizens toiling at the + earthworks, resolute for making some defence; Constituted Authorities, + National Archives even, Court in a body, and all manner of Noble and + Official people, flying else-whither to covert: chiefly to Presburg, where + her Majesty already is. The Archives were carried to Gratz; the two + Dowager Empresses (for there are two, Maria Theresa's Mother, and Maria + Theresa's Aunt, Kaiser Joseph's Widow) fled different ways,—I forget + which. An agitated, paralyzed population. Except the diligent wheelbarrows + on the ramparts, no vehicle is rolling in Vienna but furniture-wagons + loading for flight. General Khevenhuller with 6,000, who pesides with fine + scientific skill, and an iron calmness and clearness, over these + fortifyings, is the only force left. [Anonymous, <i>Histoire de la + Derniere Guerre de Boheme</i> (a Francfort, 1745-1747, 4 tomes), i. 190. A + lively succinct little Book, vague not false; still readable, though not + now, as then, with complete intelligence, to the unprepared reader. Said, + in Dictionaries, to be by Mauvillon PERE, though it resembles nothing else + of his that is known to me.]' Neipperg's, our only Army in the world, is + hundreds of miles away, countermarching and manoeuvring about Woitz, and + Neisse Town and River,—pretty sure to be beaten in the end,—and + it is high time there were a Silesian bargain had, if Hyndford can get us + any. + </p> + <p> + DRESDEN, SEPTEMBER 19th (Excellency Hyndford just recovering from his + colic, in Breslau), Kur-Sachsen, after many waverings, signs Treaty of + Copartnery with France and Bavaria, seduced by "that Moravia," and the + ticklings of Belleisle acting on a weak mind. [Adelung, ii. 469, 304, + 503.] His troops are 20,000, or rather more; said to be of good quality, + and well equipped. In February last we saw him engaged in Russian, + Anti-Prussian Partition schemes. In April, as these suddenly (on sight of + the Camp of Gottin) extinguished themselves, he agreed to go, in the + pacific way, with her Hungarian Majesty for friend (Treaty with her, + signed 11th April); but never went (Treaty never ratified); kept his + 20,000 lying about in Camp, in an enigmatic manner,—first about + Torgau, latterly in the Lausitz, much nearer to the ERZGEBIRGE + (Metal-Mountains), Frontier of Bohemia;—and now signs as above; + intent to march as soon as possible. Is to have Four Circles of Bohemia, + imaginary Kingships of Moravia, and other prizes. Belleisle has tickled + that big trout: Belleisle could now have the Election as he wishes it, + would the Electors but be speedy; but they will not, and he is obliged to + push continually. + </p> + <p> + "Moriamur pro Rege nostro Maria Theresia," IN THE POETIC, AND THEN ALSO IN + THE PROSE FORM. + </p> + <p> + PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. This is the date (or chief date, for, alas, + there turn out to be two!) of the world-famous "MORIAMUR PRO REGE NOSTRO + MARIA THERESIA;" of which there are now needed Two Narratives; the + generally received (in part mythical) going first, in the following + strain:— + </p> + <p> + "The Queen has been in Presburg mainly, where the Hungarian Diet is + sitting, ever since her Coronation-ceremony. On the 11th September [or + 11th and 21st together], the afflicted Lady makes an appearance there, + which, for theatrical reality, has become very celebrated. Alas, it is but + three months since she galloped to the top of the Konigsberg, and cut + defiantly with bright sabre towards the Four Points of the Universe; and + already it has come to this. Hungarian Magnates in high session, the high + Queen enters, beautiful and sad,—and among her Ministers is + noticeable a Nurse with the young Archduke, some six months old, a fine + thriving child, perhaps too wise for his age, who became Kaiser Joseph II. + in after time. + </p> + <p> + "The Hungarian Session is not on record for me, Hall of meeting, Magyar + Parliamentary eloquence unknown; nor is any point conspicuously visible, + exact and certain, except these [alas, not even these]: That it was the + 11th of September; that her Majesty coming forward to speak, took the + child in her arms, and there, in a clear and melodiously piercing voice, + sorrow and courage on her noble face, beautiful as the Moon riding among + wet stormy clouds, spake, as the Hungarian Archives still have it, a short + Latin Harangue; in substance as follows:... 'Hostile invasion of Austria; + imminent peril, to this Kingdom of Hungary, to our person, to our + children, to our crown. Forsaken by all,—AB OMNIBUS DERELICTI + [Britannic Majesty himself standing stock-still,—blamably, one + thinks, the two swords being only at HIS throat, and a good way off!]—I + have no resource but to throw myself on the loyalty and help of Your + renowned Body, and invoke the ancient Hungarian virtue to rise swiftly and + save me!' Whereat the assembled Hungarian Synod, their wild Magyar hearts + touched to the core, start up in impetuous acclaim, flourish aloft their + drawn swords, and shout unanimously in passionate tenor-voice, 'MORIAMUR + (Let us die) for our Rex Maria Theresa!' [<i>Maria Theresiens Leben</i> + (which speaks hypothetically), iv, 44; Coxe, iii. 270 (who is positive, + "after examining the Documents").] Which were not vain words. For a + general 'Insurrection' was thereupon decreed; what the Magyars call their + 'Insurrection,' which is by no means of rebellious nature; and many + noblemen, old Count Palfy himself a chief among them, though past + threescore and ten, took the field at their own cost; and the noise of the + Hungarian Insurrection spread like a voice of hope over all Pragmatic + countries."— + </p> + <p> + A very beautiful heroic scene; which has gone about the world, circulating + triumphantly through all hearts for above a Century past; and has only of + late acknowledged itself mythical,—not true, except as toned down to + the following stingy prose pitch:— + </p> + <p> + PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. Maria Theresa, since that fine Coronation-scene, + June 28th, has had a mixed time of it with her Hungarian Diet; soft + passages alternating with hard: a chivalrous people, most consciously + chivalrous; but a constitutional withal, very stiff upon their Charter + (PACTA CONVENTA, or whatever the name is); who wrangle much upon + privileges, upon taxes, and are difficult to keep long in tune. Ten days + ago (September 11th), her Majesty tried them on a new tack; summoned them + to her Palace; threw herself upon their nobleness, "No allies but you in + the world" (and other fine things, authentically, as above, legible in the + Archives to this day):—so spake the beautiful young Queen, her eyes + filling with tears as she went on, and yet a noble fire gleaming through + them. Which melted the Hungarian heart a good deal; and produced fine + cheering, some persons even shedding tears, and voices of "Life and + Fortune to your Majesty!" being heard in it. In which humor the Diet + returned to its Session-House, and voted the "Insurrection,"—or + general Arming of Hungary, County by County, each according to its own + contingent;—with all speed, in pursuance of her Majesty's implied + desire. This was voted in rapid manner; but again, in the detail of + executing, it was liable to haggles. From this day, however, matters did + decidedly improve; PACTA CONVENTA, or any remainder of them, are got + adjusted,—the good Queen yielding on many points. So that, September + 20th, Grand-Duke Franz is elected Co-regent,—let him start from + Vienna instantly, for Instalment;—and it is hoped the Insurrection + will go well, and not prove haggly, or hang fire in the details. + </p> + <p> + At any rate, next day, September 21st, Duke Franz, who arrived last night,—and + Baby with him, or in the train of him (to the joy of Mamma!)—is in + the Palace Audience-Hall, "at 8 A.M.;" ready for the Diet, and what + Homagings aud mutual Oath, as new Co-regent, are necessary. Grand-Duke + Franz, Mamma by his side, with the suitable functionaries; and to rearward + Nurse and Baby, not so conspicuous till needed. Diet enters with the + stroke of 8; solemnity proceeds. At the height of the solemnity, when Duke + Franz, who is really risen now to something of a heroic mood, in these + emergencies and perils, has just taken his Oath, and will have to speak a + fit word or two,—the Nurse, doubtless on hint given, steps forward; + holds up Baby (a fine noticing fellow, I have no doubt,—"weighed + sixteen pounds avoirdupois when born"); as if Baby too, fine mutual + product of the Two Co-regents, were mutually swearing and appealing. + Enough to touch any heart. "Life and blood (VITAM ET SANGUINEM) for our + Queen and Kingdom!" exclaims the Grand-Duke, among other things. "Yes, + VITAM ET SANGUINEM!" re-echoes the Diet, "our life and our blood!" + many-voiced, again and again;—and returns to its own Place of + Session, once more in a fine strain of loyal emotion. + </p> + <p> + And there, O reader, is the naked truth, neither more nor less. It was + some Vienna Pamphleteer of theatrical imaginative turn, finding the thing + apt, a year or two afterwards—who by kneading different dates and + objects into one, boldly annihilating time and space, and adding a little + paint,—gave it that seductive mythical form. From whom Voltaire + adopted it, with improvements, especially in the little Harangue; and from + Voltaire gratefully the rest of mankind. [Voltaire, <i>Siecle de Louis + XV.,</i> c. 6 (<i>OEuvres,</i> xxviii. 78); Coxe, <i>House of Austria,</i> + iii. 270; and innumerable others (who give this Myth)]; <i>Maria + Theresiens Leben,</i> p. 44 n. (who cites the Vienna Pamphleteers, without + much believing them); Mailath (a Hungarian), <i>Geschichte des + OEsterrichischen Kaiser-Staats</i> (Hamburg, 1850), v. 11-13 (who explodes + the fable). Cut down to the practical, it stands as above:—by no + means a bad thing still. That of "bringing in Baby" was a pretty touch in + the domestic-royal way;—and surely very natural; and has no "art" in + it, or none to blame and not love rather, on the part of the bright young + Mother, now girdled in such tragic outlooks, and so glad to have Baby back + at least, and Papa with him! It is certain the "Insurrection" was voted + with enthusiasm; and even became rapidly a fact. And there was, in few + months hence, an immense mounted force of Hungarians raised, which + galloped and plundered (having almost no pay), and occasionally fenced and + fought, very diligently during all these Wars. Hussars, Croats, Pandours, + Tolpatches, Warasdins, Uscocks, never heard of in war before: who were + found very terrible to look upon once, in the imagination or with the + naked eye; but whose fighting talent, against regular troops, was next to + worthless; and who gradually became hateful rather than terrible in the + military world. + </p> + <p> + HANOVER, SEPTEMBER 27th. Britannic Majesty, reduced to that frightful + pinch, has at last given way. Treaty of Neutrality for Hanover; engagement + again to stick one's puissant Pragmatic sword into its scabbard, to be + perfectly quiescent and contemplative in these French-Bavarian + Anti-Austrian undertakings, and digest one's indignation as one can. For + our Paladin of the Pragmatic what a posture! This is the first of Three + Attempts by our puissant little Paladin to draw sword;—not till the + third could he get his sword out, or do the least fighting (even foolish + fighting) with all the 40,000 he had kept on pay and subsidy for years + back. The Neutrality was for Hanover only, and had no specific limit as to + time. Opportunities did rise; but something always rose along with them,—mainly + the impossibility of hoisting those lazy Dutch,—and checked one's + noble rage. His Majesty has covenanted to vote for Karl Albert as Kaiser; + even he, and will make the thing unanimous! A thoroughly check-mated + Majesty. Passing home to England, this time in a gloomy condition of mind, + shortly after these humiliations, he was just issuing from Osnabruck by + the Eastern Gate, when Maillebois's people entered by the Western,—the + ugly shoes of them insulting his kibes in this manner. And a furious + Anti-Walpole Parliament, most perturbed of National Palavers, is waiting + him at St. James's. Heavy-laden little Hercules that he is! + </p> + <p> + Karl Albert lay at Linz for a month longer (till October 24th, six weeks + in all); pausing in uncertainties, in a pleasant dream of victory and + sovereignty; not pouncing on Vienna, as Friedrich urged on the French and + him, to cut the matter by the root. He does push forward certain troops, + Comte de Saxe with Three Horse Regiments as vanguard, ever nearer to + Vienna; at last to within forty miles of it; nay, light-horse parties came + within twenty-five miles. And there was skirmishing with Mentzel, a + sanguinary fellow, of whom we shall hear more; who had got "1,000 + Tolpatches" under him, and stood ruggedly at bay. + </p> + <p> + Karl Albert has been sending out sovereign messages from Linz: Letters to + Vienna;—one letter addressed "To the Arch-duchess Maria Theresa;" + which came back unopened, "No such person known here." October 2d, he is + getting homaged at Linz, by the STANDE of the Province,—on summons + sent some time before,—many of whom attend, with a willing enough + appearance; Kur-Baiern rather a favorite in Upper Austria, say some. Much + fine processioning, melodious haranguing, there now is for Karl Albert, + and a pleasant dream of Sovereignty at Linz: but if he do not pounce upon + Vienna till Khevenhuller get it fortified? Khevenhuller is drawing home + Italian Garrisons, gradually gathering something like an Army round him. + In Khevenhuller's imperturbable military head, one of the clearest and + hardest, there is some hope. Above all, if Neipperg's Army were to + disengage itself, and be let loose into those parts? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD BRINGS ABOUT A MEETING AT KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF (9th + </h2> + <p> + October, 1741). + </p> + <p> + It was the second day after that Homaging at Linz, when Hyndford (Sept. + 22d) with mysterious negotiations, now nearly ripe, for disengaging + Neipperg, waylaid his Prussian Majesty; and was answered, as we saw, with + "Tush, tush! Dinner is already cold!" + </p> + <p> + It must be owned, these Friedrich-Hyndford Negotiations, following on an + express French-Prussian Treaty of June 5th, which have to proceed in such + threefold mystery now and afterwards, are of questionable distressing + nature: nor can the fact that they are escorted copiously enough by a + correspondent sort on the French side, and indeed on the Austrian and on + all sides, be a complete consolation,—far otherwise, to the + ingenuous reader. Smelfungus indignantly calls it an immorality and a + dishonor, "a playing with loaded dice;" which in good part it surely was. + Nor can even Friedrich, who has many pleas for himself, obtain spoken + acquittal; unspoken, accompanied with regrets and pity, is all even + Friedrich can aspire to. My own impression is, Smelfungus, if candid, + would on clearer information and consideration have revoked much of what + he says here in censure of Friedrich. At all events, if asked: Where then + is the specifical not "superstitious" WANT of "veracity" you ever found in + Friedrich? and How, OTHERWISE than even as Friedrich did, would you, most + veracious Smelfungus, have plucked out your Silesia from such an Element + and such a Time?—he would be puzzled to answer. I give his Fragment + as I find it, with these deductions:— + </p> + <p> + "What negotiating we have had, and shall have," exclaims Smelfungus, my + sad foregoer,—"fit rather to be omitted from a serious History, + which intends to be read by human creatures! Bargaining, Promising, + Non-performing. False in general as dicers' oaths; false on this side and + on that, from beginning to end. Intercepted Letters from Fleury; Letter + dropping from Valori's waistcoat-pocket, upon which Friedrich claps his + foot: alas, alas, we are in the middle of a whole world of that. Friedrich + knows that the French are false to him; he by no means intends to be + romantically true to them, and that also they know. What is the use to + human creatures of recording all that melancholy stuff? If sovereign + persons want their diplomacies NOT to be swept into the ash-pit, there are + two conditions, especially one which is peremptory: FIRST, that they + should not be lies;—SECOND, that they should be of some importance, + some wisdom; which with known lies is not a possible condition. To unravel + cobwebs, and register laboriously and date and sort in the sorrow of your + soul the oaths of crowned dicers,—what use is it to gods or men? + Having well dressed and sliced your cucumber, the next clear human duty + is: Throw it out of window. In that foul Lapland-witch world, of seething + Diplomacies and monstrous wigged mendacities, horribly wicked and + despicably unwise, I find nothing notable, memorable even in a small + degree, except this aspect of a young King who does know what he means in + it. Clear as a star, sharp as cutting steel (very dangerous to hydrogen + balloons), he stands in the middle of it, and means to extort his own from + it by such methods as there are. + </p> + <p> + "Magnanimous I can by no means call Friedrich to his allies and neighbors, + nor even superstitiously veracious, in this business: but he thoroughly + understands, he alone, what just thing he wants out of it, and what an + enormous wigged mendacity it is he has got to deal with. For the rest, he + is at the gaming-table with these sharpers; their dice all cogged;—and + he knows it, and ought to profit by his knowledge of it. And in short, to + win his stake out of that foul weltering mellay, and go home safe with it + if he can." + </p> + <p> + Very well, my friend! Let us keep to windward of the Diplomatic + wizard's-caldron; let Hyndford, Valori and Company preside over it, + throwing in their eye of newt and limb of toad, as occasion may be. + Enough, if the reader can be brought to conceive it; and how the young + King,—who perhaps alone had real business in this foul element, and + did not volunteer into it like the others, though it now unexpectedly + envelops him like a world-whirlwind (frightful enough, if one spoke of + that to anybody), is struggling with his whole soul to get well out of it. + As supremely adroit, all readers already know him; his appearance what we + called starlike,—always something definite, fixed and lucid in it. + </p> + <p> + He is dexterously holding aloof from Hyndford at present, clinging to + French Valori as his chosen companion: we may fancy what a time he has of + it, like a polygamist amid jealous wives. It will quicken Hyndford, he + perceives, in these ulterior stages, to leave him well alone. Hyndford + accordingly, as we have noticed, could not see the King at all; had to try + every plan, to watch, waylay the King for a bit of interview, when + indispensable. However, Hyndford, with his Neipperg in sight of the peril, + manages better than Robinson with his Aulic Council at a distance: besides + he is a long-headed dogged kind of man, with a surly edacious strength, + not inexpert in negotiation, nor easily turned aside from any purpose he + may have. + </p> + <p> + Between the two Camps, nearly midway, lies a Hamlet called + Klein-Schnellendorf, LITTLE Schnellendorf, to distinguish it from another + Schnellendorf called GREAT, which is a mile or two northwestward, out of + the straight line. Not far from the first of these poor Hamlets lies a + Schloss or noble Mansion, likewise called Klein-Schnellendorf, belonging + to a certain Count von Sternberg, who is not there at present, but whose + servants are, and a party of Croats over them for some days back: a + pleasant airy Mansion among pleasant gardens, well shut out from the + intrusion of the world. Upon this Castle of Klein-Schnellendorf judicious + Hyndford has cast his eye:—and Neipperg, now come to a state of + readiness, approves the suggestion of Hyndford, and promptly at the due + moment converts it into a fact. Arrests namely, on a given morning (the + last act of his Croats there, who withdrew directly with their batch of + prisoners), every living soul within or about the Mansion;—"suspected + of treason;" only for one day;—and in this way, has it reduced to + the comfortable furnished solitude of Sleeping Beauty's Castle; a place + fit for high persons to hold a Meeting in, which shall remain secret as + the grave. Such a thing was indispensable. For Friedrich, keeping shy of + Hyndford, as he well may with a Valori watching every step, has, by words, + by silences, when Hyndford could waylay him for a moment, sufficiently + indicated what he will and what he will not; and, for one indispensable + condition, in the present thrice-delicate Adventure, he will not sign + anything; will give and take word of honor, and fully bind himself, but + absolutely not put pen to paper at all. Neipperg being willing too, + judicious Hyndford finds a medium. Let the parties meet at + Klein-Schnellendorf, and judicious Hyndford be there with pen and paper. + [Orlich, i. 146; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1009.] + </p> + <p> + Monday, 9th October, 1741, accordingly, there is meeting to be held. + Hyndford, Neipperg with his General Lentulus (a Swiss-Austrian General, + whose Son served under Friedrich afterwards), these wait for Friedrich, on + the one hand:—"to fix some cartel for exchange of prisoners," it is + said;—in these precincts of Klein-Schnellendorf; which are silent, + vacant, yet comfortably furnished, like Sleeping Beauty's Castle. And + Friedrich, on the other hand, is actually riding that way, with Goltz;—visiting + outposts, reconnoitring, so to speak. "Dine you with Prince Leopold (the + Young Dessauer), my fine Valori; I fear I shan't be home to dinner!" he + had said when going off; hoodwinking his fine Valori, who suspects + nothing. At a due distance from Klein-Schnellendorf, the very groom is + left behind; and Friedrich, with Goltz only, pushes on to the Schloss. All + ready there; salutations soon done; business set about, perfected:—and + Hyndford with pen and ink in his hand, he, by way of Protocol, or summary + of what had been agreed on, on mutual word of honor, most brief but most + clear on this occasion, writes a State Paper, which became rather famous + afterwards. This is the Paper in condensed state; though clear, it is very + dull! + </p> + <p> + KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF, 9th OCTOBER, 1741. Britannic Excellency Hyndford + testifies, That, here and now, his Majesty of Prussia, and Neipperg on + behalf of her Hungarian Majesty do, solemnly though only verbally, agree + to the following Four Things:— + </p> + <p> + "FIRST, That General Neipperg, on the 16th of the month [this day week] + shall have liberty to retire through the Mountains, towards Moravia; + unmolested, or with nothing but sham-attacks in the rear of him. SECOND, + That, in consequence, his Prussian Majesty, on making sham-siege of + Neisse, shall have the place surrendered to him on the fifteenth day. + THIRD, That there shall be, nay in a sense, there hereby is, a Peace made; + his Majesty retaining Neisse and Silesia [according to the limits known to + us:—nothing said of Glatz]; and that a complete Treaty to that + effect shall be perfected, signed and ratified, before the Year is out. + FOURTH, That these sham-hostilities, but only sham, shall continue; and + that his Majesty, wintering in Bohemia, and carrying on sham-hostilities + [to the satisfaction of the French], shall pay his own expenses, and do no + mischief." [Given in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1009; in &c.] + </p> + <p> + To these Four Things they pledge their word of honor; and Hyndford signs + and delivers each a Copy. Unwritten a Fifth Thing is settled, That the + present transaction in all parts of it shall be secret as death,—his + Majesty expressly insisting that, if the least inkling of it ooze out, he + shall have right to deny it, and refuse in any way to be bound by it. + Which likewise is assented to. + </p> + <p> + Here is a pretty piece of work done for ourself and our allies, while + Valori is quietly dining with the Prince of Dessau! The King stayed about + two hours; was extremely polite, and even frank and communicative. "A very + high-spirited young King," thinks Neipperg, reporting of it; "will not + stand contradiction; but a great deal can be made of him, if you go into + his ideas, and humor him in a delicate dexterous way. He did not the least + hide his engagements with France, Bavaria, Saxony; but would really, so + far as I Neipperg could judge, prefer friendship with Austria, on the + given terms; and seems to have secretly a kind of pique at Saxony, and no + favor for the French and their plans." [Orlich, i. 149 (in condensed + state).] + </p> + <p> + "Business being done [this is Hyndford's report], the King, who had been + politeness itself, took Neipperg aside, beckoning Hyndford to be of the + party, 'I wish you too, my Lord, to hear every word:—his Britannic + Majesty knows or should know my intentions never were to do him hurt, but + only to take care of myself; and pray inform him [what is the fact] that I + have ordered my Army in Brandenburg to go into winter-quarters, and break + up that Camp at Gottin.' Friedrich's talk to Neipperg is, How he may + assault the French with advantage: 'Join Lobkowitz and what force he has + in Bohmen; go right into your enemies, before they can unite there. If the + Queen prosper, I shall—perhaps I shall have no objection to join her + by and by? If her Majesty fail; well, every one must look to himself.'" + These words Hyndford listened to with an edacious solid countenance, and + greedily took them down. [Hyndford's Despatch, Breslau, 14th October, + 1741.] + </p> + <p> + Once more, a curious glimpse (perhaps imprudently allowed us, in the + circumstances) into the real inner man of Friedrich. He had, at this time, + now that the Belleisle Adventure is left in such a state, no essential + reason to wish the French ruined,—nor probably did he; but only + stated both chances, as in the way of unguarded soliloquy; and was willing + to leave Neipperg a sweet morsel to chew. Secret mode of corresponding + with the Court of Austria is agreed upon; not direct, but through certain + Commandants, till the Peace-Treaty be perfected,—at latest "by + December 24th," we hope. And so, "BON VOYAGE, and well across the + Mountains, M. LE MARECHAL; till we meet again! And you, Excellency + Hyndford, be so good you as write to me,—for Valori's behoof,—complaining + that I am deaf to all proposals, that nothing can be had of me. And other + Letters, pray, of the like tenor, all round; to Presburg, to England, to + Dresden:—if the Couriers are seized, it shall be well. 'Your Letter + to myself, let a trumpet come with it while I am at dinner,' and Valori + beside me!"—"Certainly, your Majesty," answers Hyndford; and does + it, does all this; which produces a soothing effect on Valori, poor soul! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH TAKES NEISSE BY SHAM SIEGE (CAPTURE NOT SHAM); GETS HOMAGED IN + </h2> + <p> + BRESLAU; AND RETURNS TO BERLIN. + </p> + <p> + Thus, if the Austrians hold to their bargain, has Friedrich, in a most + compendious manner, got done with a Business which threatened to be + infinite: by this short cut he, for his part, is quite out of the + waste-howling jungle of Enchanted Forest, and his foot again on the firm + free Earth. If only the Austrians hold to their bargain! But probably he + doubts if they will. Well, even in that case, he has got Neisse; stands + prepared for meeting them again; and, in the mean while, has freedom to + deny that there ever was such a bargain. + </p> + <p> + Of the Political morality of this game of fast-and-loose, what have we to + say,—except, that the dice on both sides seem to be loaded; that + logic might be chopped upon it forever; that a candid mind will settle + what degree of wisdom (which is always essentially veracity), and what of + folly (which is always falsity), there was in Friedrich and the others; + whether, or to what degree, there was a better course open to Friedrich in + the circumstances:—and, in fine, it will have to be granted that you + cannot work in pitch and keep hands evidently clean. Friedrich has got + into the Enchanted Wilderness, populous with devils and their works;—and, + alas, it will be long before he get out of it again, HIS life waning + towards night before he get victoriously out, and bequeath his conquest to + luckier successors! It is one of the tragic elements of this King's life; + little contemplated by him, when he went lightly into the Silesian + Adventure, looking for honor bright, what he called "GLOIRE," as one + principal consideration, hardly a year ago!— + </p> + <p> + Neipperg, according to covenant, broke up punctually that day week, + October 16th; and went over the Mountains, through Jagerndorf, Troppau, + towards Mahren; Prussians hanging on his rear, and skirmishing about, but + only for imaginary or ostensible purposes. After a three-weeks march, he + gets to a place called Frating, [Espagnac, i. 104.] easternmost border of + Mahren, on the slopes of the Mannhartsberg Hill-Country, which is within + wind of Vienna itself; where, as we can fancy, his presence is welcome as + morning-light in the present dark circumstances. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, on the morrow after Neipperg went, invested Neisse (October + 17th); set about the Siege of Neisse with all gravity, as if it had been + the most earnest operation; which nobody of mankind, except three or four, + doubted but it was. Before opening of the trenches, Leopold young Dessauer + took the road for Glatz Country, and the adjoining Circles of Bohemia; + there to canton himself, peaceably according to contract; and especially + to have an eye upon Glatz, should the Klein-Schnellendorf engagement go + awry in any point. The King in his Dialogue with Neipperg had said several + things about Glatz, and what a sacrifice he made there for the sake of + speedy pace, the French having guaranteed him Glatz, though he now forbore + it. Leopold, who has with him some 15,000 horse and foot, cantons himself + judiciously in those ultramontane parts,—"all the artillery in the + Glatz Country;" [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 431; Orlich, i. 174.]—and + we shall hear of him again, by and by, in regard to other business that + rises there. + </p> + <p> + Neisse is a formidable Fortress, much strengthened since last year; but + here is a Besieger with much better chance! He marked out parallels, sent + summonses, reconnoitred, manoeuvred,—in a way more or less + surprising to the eye of Valori, who is military, and knows about sieges. + Rather singular, remarks Valori; good engineers much wanted here! But the + bombardment did finally begin: night of October 26th-27th, the Prussiaus + opened fire; and, at a terrible rate, cannonaded and bombarded without + intermission. In point of fire and noise it is tremendous; Valori trusts + it may be effective, in spite of faults; goes to Breslau in hope: "Yes, go + to Breslau, MON CHER VALORI; wait for me there. Neipperg be chased, say + you? Shall not he,—if we had got this place!" And so the fire + continues night and day. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1006.] + </p> + <p> + Fantastic Bielfeld, in his semi-fabulous style, has a LETTER on this + bombardment, attractive to Lovers of the Picturesque,—(written long + afterwards, and dated &c. WRONG). As Bielfeld is a rapid clever + creature of the coxcomb sort, and doubtless did see Neisse Siege, and + entertained seemingly a blazing incorrect recollection of it, his + Pseudo-Neisse Letter may be worth giving, to represent approximately what + kind of scene it was there at Neisse in the October nights:— + </p> + <p> + "Marechal Schwerin was lodged in a Village about three-quarters of a mile + from Head-Quarters. One day he did me the honor to invite me to dinner; + and even offered me a horse to ride thither with him. I found excellent + company; a superb repast, and wine of the gods. Host and guests were in + high spirits; and the pleasures of the table were kept up so late, that it + was midnight when we rose. I was obliged to return to Head-Quarters, + having still to wait upon the King, as usual. The Marechal was kind enough + to lend me another horse; but the groom mischievously gave me the charger + which the Marechal rode at the Battle of Mollwitz; a very powerful animal, + and which, from that day, had grown very skittish. + </p> + <p> + "I was made aware of this circumstance, before we were fairly out of the + Village; and the night being of the darkest, I twenty times ran the risk + of breaking my neck. We had to pass over a hill, to get to Head-Quarters. + When I reached the top, a shudder came over me, and my hair stood on end. + I had nobody with me but a strange groom. The country all around was + infested with troops and marauders; I was mounted on an unmanageable + horse. Under my feet, so to say, I saw the bombardment of the Town of + Neisse. I heard the roar of cannon and doleful shrieks. Above our + batteries the whole atmosphere was inflamed; and to complete the calamity, + I missed the way, and got lost in the darkness. Finally, in descending the + hill, my horse, frightened, made a terrible swerve or side-jump. I did not + know the cause; but after having, with difficulty, got him into the road + again, I found myself opposite to a deserter who had been hanged that day! + I was horribly disgusted by the sight; the gallows being very low, and the + head of the malefactor almost parallel with mine. I spurred on, and + galloped away from such unpleasant night-company. At last I arrived at + Head-Quarters, all in a perspiration. I sent my horse back; and went in to + the King, who asked me at once, why I was so heated. I made his Majesty a + faithful report of all my disasters. He laughed much; and advised me + seriously not again to go out by night, and alone, beyond the circuit of + Head-Quarters." [Bielfeld, ii. 31, 32.] + </p> + <p> + After four days and nights of this sublime Playhouse thunder (with real + bullets in it, which killed some men, and burnt considerable property), + the Neisse Commandant (not Roth this time, Roth is now in Brunn),—his + "fortnight of siege," October 17th to October 31st, being accomplished or + nearly so,—beat chamade; and was, after grave enough treatying, + allowed to march away. Marched, accordingly, on the correct + Klein-Schnellendorf terms; most of his poor garrison deserting, and taking + Prussian service. Ever since which moment, Neisse, captured in this + curious manner, has been Friedrich's and his Prussia's. + </p> + <p> + November 1st, the Prussian soldiers entered the place; and Friedrich, + after diligent inspection and what orders were necessary, left for Brieg + on the following day;—where general illuminating and demonstrating + awaited him, amid more serious business. After strict examinations, and + approval of Walrave and his works at Brieg, he again takes the road; + enters Breslau, in considerable state (November 4th); where many Persons + of Quality are waiting, and the general Homaging is straightway to be,—or + indeed should have been some days ago, but has fallen behind by delays in + the Neisse affair. + </p> + <p> + The Breslau HULDIGUNG,—Friedrich sworn to and homaged with the due + solemnities as "Sovereign Duke of Lower Silesia,"—was an event to + throw into fine temporary frenzy the descriptive Gazetteers, and Breslau + City, overflowing with Quality people come to act and to see on the + occasion. Event which can be left to the reader's fancy, at this date. + There were Corporations out in quantity, "all in cloaks" and with sublime + Addresses, partly in poetry, happily rather brief. There were beautiful + Prussian Life-guards "First Battalion," admirable to the softer sex, not + to speak of the harder); much military resonance and splendor. Friedrich + drove about in carriages-and-six, "nay carriage-and-eight, horses + cream-color:" a very high King indeed; and a very busy one, for those four + days (November 4th-8th) 1741), but full of grace and condescension. The + HULDIGUNG itself took effect on the 7th; in the fine old Rathhaus, which + Tourists still know,—the surrounding Apple-women sweeping themselves + clear away for one day. Ancient Ducal throne and proper apparatus there + was; state-sword unluckily wanting: Schwerin, who was to act + Grand-Marshal, could find no state-sword, till Friedrich drew his own and + gave it him. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1022, 1025; ii. 349.] + </p> + <p> + Podewils the Minister said something, not too much; to which one + Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of which we shall know individuals, + made pithy and pretty response, before swearing. "There were above Four + Hundred of Quality present, all in gala." The customary Free-Gift of the + STANDE Friedrich magnanimously refused: "Impossible to be a burden to our + Silesia in such harassed war-circumstances, instead of benefactor and + protector, as we intended and intend!" The Ceremony, swearing and all, was + over in two hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of the gold + ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up joyfully to dinner and + festivities. And, after dinner, that evening, to Illumination; followed by + balls and jubilations for days after, in a highly harmonious key. Of the + lamps-festoons, astonishing transparencies, and glad symbolic devices, I + could say a great deal; but will mention only two, both of comfortably + edible or quasi-edible tendency:—1. That of David Schulze, Flesher + by profession; who had a Transparency large as life, representing his own + fat Person in the act of felling a fat Ox; to which was appended this + epigraph:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Wer mir wird den Konig in Preussen verachten, + Den will ich wie diesen Ochsen schlacten." + + "Who dares me the King of Prussia insult, + Him I will serve like this fat head of nolt." + + Signed "DAVID SCHULER, A BRANDENBURGER."— +</pre> + <p> + And then, + </p> + <p> + 2. How, in another quarter, there was set aloft IN RE, by some Pastry-cook + of patriotic turn: "An actual Ox roasted whole; filled with pheasants, + partridges, grouse, hares and geese; Prussian Eagle atop, made of roasted + fowls, larks and the like,"—unattainable, I doubt, except for money + down. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 359.] + </p> + <p> + On the fifth morning, 9th November,—after much work done during this + short visit, much ceremonial audiencing, latterly, and raising to the + peerage,—Friedrich rolled on to Glogau. Took accurate survey of the + engineering and other interests there, for a couple of days; thence to + Berlin (noon of the 11th), joyfully received by Royal Family and all the + world;—and, as we might fancy, asking himself: "Am I actually home, + then; out of the enchanted jungles and their devilries; safe here, and + listening, I alone in Peace, to the universal din of War?" Alas, no; that + was a beautiful hypothesis; too beautiful to be long credible! Before + reaching Berlin,—or even Breslau, as appears,—Friedrich, + vigilantly scanning and discerning, had seen that fine hope as good as + vanish; and was silently busy upon the opposite one. + </p> + <p> + In a fortnight hence, Hyndford, who had followed to Berlin, got transient + sight of the King one morning, hastening through some apartment or other: + "'My Lord,' said the King, 'the Court of Vienna has entirely divulged our + secret. Dowager Empress Amelia [Kaiser Joseph's widow, mother of Karl + Albert's wife] has acquainted the Court of Bavaria with it; Wasner + [Austrian Minister at Paris] has told Fleury; Sinzendorf [ditto at + Petersburg] has told the Court of Russia; Robinson, through Mr. Villiers + [your Saxon Minister], has told the Court of Dresden; and several members + of your Government in England have talked publicly about it!' And, with a + shrug of the shoulders, he left me,"—standing somewhat agape there. + [Hyndford's Despatch, Berlin, 28th November, 1741; Ib. Breslau, 28th + October (secret already known).] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI. — NEW MAYOR OF LANDSHUT MAKES AN INSTALLATION SPEECH. + </h2> + <p> + The late general Homaging at Breslau, and solemn Taking Possession of the + Country by King Friedrich, under such peaceable omens, had straightway, as + we gather, brought about, over Silesia at large, or at least where + pressingly needful, various little alterations,—rectifications, by + the Prussian model and new rule now introduced. Of which, as it is better + that the reader have some dim notion, if easily procurable, than none at + all, I will offer him one example;—itself dim enough, but coming at + first-hand, in the actual or concrete form, and beyond disputing in + whatever light or twilight it may yield us. + </p> + <p> + At Landshut, a pleasant little Mountain Town, in the Principality of + Schweidnitz, high up, on the infant River Bober, near the Bohemian + Frontier—(English readers may see QUINCY ADAMS'S description of it, + and of the long wooden spouts which throw cataracts on you, if walking the + streets in rain [John Quincy Adams (afterwards President of the United + States), <i>Letters on Silesia</i> (London, 1804). "The wooden spouts are + now gone" (<i>Tourist's Note, of</i> 1858).]): at Landshut, as in some + other Towns, it had been found good to remodel the Town Magistracy a + little; to make it partly Protestant, for one thing, instead of Catholic + (and Austrian), which it had formerly been. Details about the "high + controversies and discrepancies" which had risen there, we have absolutely + none; nor have the special functions of the Magistracy, what powers they + had, what work they did, in the least become distinct to us: we gather + only that a certain nameless Burgermeister (probably Austrian and + Catholic) had, by "Most gracious Royal Special-Order," been at length + relieved from his labors, and therewith "the much by him persecuted and + afflicted Herr Theodorus Spener" been named Burgermeister instead. Which + respectable Herr Theodorus Spener, and along with him Herr Johann David + Fischer as RATHS-SENIOR, and Herr Johann Caspar Ruffer, and also Herr + Johann Jacob Umminger, as new Raths (how many of the old being left I + cannot say), were accordingly, on the 4th of December, 1741, publicly + installed, and with proper solemnity took their places; all Landshut + looking on, with the conceivable interest and astonishment, almost as at a + change in the obliquity of the ecliptic,—change probably for the + better. + </p> + <p> + Respectable Herr Theodorus Spener (we hope it is SpeNer, for they print + him SPEER in one of the two places, and we have to go by guess) is ready + with an Installation Speech on the occasion; and his Speech was judged so + excellent, that they have preserved it in print. Us it by no means strikes + by its Demosthenic or other qualities: meanwhile we listen to it with the + closest attention; hoping, in our great ignorance, to gather from it some + glimmerings of instruction as to the affairs, humors, disposition and + general outlook and condition of Landshut, and Silesia in that juncture;—and + though a good deal disappointed, have made an Abstract of it in the + English language, which perhaps the reader too, in his great ignorance, + will accept, in defect of better. Scene is Landshut among the Giant + Mountains on the Bohemian Border of Silesia: an old stone Town, where + there is from of old a busy trade in thread and linen; Town consisting, as + is common there, of various narrow winding streets comparable to + spider-legs, and of a roomy central Market-place comparable to the body of + the spider; wide irregular Market-place with the wooden spouts (dry for + the moment) all projecting round it. Time, 4th December, 1741 (doubtless + in the forenoon); unusual crowd of population simmering about the + Market-place, and full audience of the better sort gravely attentive in + the interior of the Rathhaus; Burgermeister Spener LOQUITUR [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 416.] (liable to abridgment here and there, on warning given):— + </p> + <p> + "I enter, then, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, upon an Office, to + which Divine Providence has appointed, and the gracious and potent hand of + a great King has raised me. Great as is the dignity [giddy height of + Mayoralty in Landshut], though undeserved, which the Ever-Merciful has + thus conferred upon me, equally great and much greater is the burden + connected therewith. I confess"—He confesses, in high-stalking + earnest wooden language very foreign to us in every way: (1.) That his + shoulders are too weak; but that he trusts in God. For (2.) it is God's + doing; and He that has called Spener, will give Spener strength, the + essential work being to do God's will, to promote His honor, and the + common weal. (3.) That he comes out of a smaller Office (Office not + farther specified, probably exterior to the RATHS-COLLEGE, and subaltern + to the late tyrannous Mayor and it), and has taken upon him the Mayoralty + of this Town (an evident fact!); but that the labor and responsibility are + dreadfully increased; and that the point is not increase of honor, of + respectability or income, but of heavy duties. (A sonorous, pious-minded + Spener; much more in earnest than readers now think!) + </p> + <p> + It is easy, intimates he, to govern a Town, if, as some have perhaps done, + you follow simply your own will, regardless of the sighs and complaints + your subjects utter for injustice undergone,—indifferent to the + thought that the caprice of one Town Sovereign is to be glorified by so + many thousand tears (dim glance into the past history of Landshut!). Such + Town Sovereign persecutes innocence, stops his ears to its cry; flourishes + his sharp scourge;—no one shall complain: for is it not justice? + thinks such a Town Sovereign. The reason is, He does not know himself, + poor man; has had his eye always on the duties of his subjects towards + him, and rarely or never on his towards them. A Sovereign Mayor that + governs by fear,—he must live in continual fear of every one, and of + himself withal. A weak basis: and capable of total overturn in one day. On + the contrary, the love of your burgher subjects: that, if you can kindle + it, will go on like a house on fire (AUSBRUCH EINES FEURES), and streams + of water won't put it out.... "And [let us now take Spener's very words] + if a man keep the fear of God before his eyes, there will be no need for + any other kind of fear. + </p> + <p> + "I will therefore, you especially High-honored Gentlemen, study to direct + all my judicial endeavors to the honor of the great God, and to inviolable + fidelity towards my most gracious King and Lord [Friedrich, by Decision of + Providence—at Mollwitz and elsewhere]. + </p> + <p> + "To the Citizens of this Town, from of old so dear to me, and now by Royal + grace committed to my charge, and therefore doubly and trebly to be held + dear, I mean to devote myself altogether. I will, on every occasion and + occurrence, still more expressly than aforetime, stand by them; and when + need is, not fail to bring their case before the just Throne of our + Anointed [Friedrich, by Decision of Providence]. Justice and fairness I + will endeavor, under whatever complexities, to make my loadstar. Yes, I + shall and will, by means of this my Office, equip myself with weapons + whereby I may be capable to damp such humors (INTELLIGENTIEN), should such + still be (but I believe there are now none such), as may repugn against + the Royal interest, with possibility of being dangerous; and to put a + bridle on mouths that are unruly. And, to say much in little compass, I + will be faithful to God, to my King and to this Town. + </p> + <p> + "Having now the honor and happiness to be put into Official friendship + with those Gentlemen who, as Burgermeisters, and as old and as new Members + of Council, have for long years made themselves renowned among us, I will + entertain, in respect of the former [the old] a firm confidence That the + zeal they have so strongly manifested for behoof of the most serene + Archducal House of Austria will henceforth burn in them for our most + Beloved Land's Prince whom God has now given us; that the fire of their + lately plighted truth and devotion, towards his Royal Majesty, shall shine + not in words only, but in works, and be extinguished only with their + lives. [Can that be, O Spener or Speer? Are we alarm-clocks, that need + only to be wound up, and told at what hour, and for whom?] God, who puts + Kings in and casts them out, has given to us a no less potent Sovereign + than supremely loving Land's-Father, who, by the renown of his more than + royal virtues, had taken captive the hearts of his future subjects and + children still sooner than even by his arms, familiar otherwise to + victory, he did the Land. And who shall be puissant and mighty enough, now + to lead men's minds in a contrary direction; to control the Most High + Power, ruler over hearts and Lands, who had decreed it should be so; and + again to change this change? [Hear Spener: he has taken great pains with + his Discourse, and understands composition!] + </p> + <p> + "This change, High-honored Gentlemen [of the Catholic persuasion], is also + for you a not unhappy one. For our now as pious as wise King will, + especially in one most vital point, take pattern by the King of all Kings; + and means to be lord of his subjects only, not of the consciences of his + subjects. He requires nothing from you but what you are already bound by + God, by conscience, and duty, to render: to wit, obedience and inviolable + unbroken fidelity. And by that, and without more asked than that, you will + render yourselves worthy of his protection, and become partakers of the + Royal favor. Nay you will render yourselves all the worthier in that high + quarter, and the more meritorious towards our civic commonweal, the more + you, High-honored Gentlemen [of the Catholic persuasion], accept, with all + frankness of colleague-love and amity, me and the Evangelical brother + Raths now introduced by Royal grace and power; and make the new position + generously tenable and available to us;—and thereby bind with us the + more firmly the band of peace and colleague-unity, for helping up this + dear, and for some years greatly fallen, Town along with us. + </p> + <p> + "We, for our poor part, will, one and all, strive only to surpass each + other in obedience and faith to our Most Gracious King. We will, as + Regents of the Citizenry committed to us, go before them with a good + example; and prove to all and every one, That, little and in war untenable + as our Landshut is, it shall, in extent and impregnability of faith + towards its Most Dearest Land's-Prince, approve itself unconquerable. As + well I as"—Professes now, in the most intricate phraseology, that + he, and Fischer and Umminger (giving not only the titles, but a succinct + history of all three, in a single sentence, before he comes to the verb!), + bring a true heart, &c. &c.—Or would the reader perhaps like + to see it IN NATURA, as a specimen of German human-nature, and the art + these Silesian spinners have in drawing out their yarns? + </p> + <p> + "As well I as [1.] The Titular Herr Johann David Fischer, distinguished + trader and merchant of this Town, who, by his tradings in and beyond our + Silesian Countries, has made himself renowned, and by his merit and + address in particular instances [delicate instances known to Landshut, not + to us] has made himself beloved, who has now been installed as + Raths-Senior; and also as [2.] The Titular Herr Johann Caspar Ruffer, + well-respected Citizen, and Revenue-office Manager here, who for many + years has with much fidelity and vigilance managed the Revenue-office, and + who for his experience in the economic constitution of this Town has been + all-graciously nominated Raths-Herr;—and not less [3.] The Titular + Johann Jacob Umminger, whilom Advocate at Law in Breslau, who, for his + good studies in Law, and manifested skill in the practice of Law, has been + an all-graciously nominated Supernumerary Councillor and Notary's-Adjunct + among us:—As well I as these Three not only assure you, High-honored + Gentlemen, of all imaginable estimation and return of love on our part; + but do likewise assure all and sundry these respectable Herren Town-Jurats + [specially present], representing here the universal well-beloved + Citizenry of our Town,—that we bring a heart sincere, and intent + only on aiming at the welfare of a Citizenry so loveworthy. We have the + firm purpose by God's grace, so to order our walk, and so to conduct our + government that we may, one day, when summoned from our judgment-seats to + answer before the Universal Judgment-seat of Christ, be able to say, with + that pious King and Judge of Israel: 'Lord, thou knowest if we have walked + uprightly before thee.' And we hope to understand that the rewards of + justice, in that Life, will be much more than those of injustice in this. + </p> + <p> + "We believe that the Most High will, in so far, bless these our honest + purposes and wholesome endeavors, as that the actual fruits thereof will + in time coming, and when Peace now soon expected (which God grant) has + returned to us, be manifest; and that if, in our Office, as is common, we + should rather have thorns of persecution than roses of recompense to + expect, yet to each of us there will at last accrue praise in the Earth + and reward in Heaven. [Hear Spener!] + </p> + <p> + "Meanwhile we will unite all our wishes, That the Almighty may vouchsafe + to his Royal Majesty, our now All-dearest Duke and Land's-Father, many + long years of life and of happy reign; and maintain this All-highest + Royal-Prussian and Elector-Brandenburgic House in supremest splendor and + prosperity, undisturbed to the end of all Days; and along with it, our + Town-Council, and whole Merchantry and Citizenry, safe under this Prussian + Sceptre, in perpetual blessing, peace and unity [what a modest prayer!]: + to all which may Heaven speak its powerful Amen!" [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 416-422.]— + </p> + <p> + Whereupon solemn waving of hats; indistinct sough of loyal murmur from the + universal Landshut Population; after which, continued to the due extent, + they return to their spindles and shuttles again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII. -- FRIEDRICH PURPOSES TO MEND THE KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF + FAILURE: FORTUNES OF THE BELLEISLE ARMAMENT. + </h2> + <p> + We shall not dwell upon the movements of the French into Germany for the + purpose of overwhelming Austria, and setting up four subordinate little + Sovereignties to take their orders from Louis XV. The plan was of the mad + sort, not recognized by Nature at all; the diplomacy was wide, expensive, + grandiose, but vain and baseless; nor did the soldiering that followed + take permanent hold of men's memory. Human nature cannot afford to follow + out these loud inanities; and, at a certain distance of time, is bound to + forget them, as ephemera of no account in the general sum. Difficult to + say what profit human nature could get out of such transaction. There was + no good soldiering on the part of the French except by gleams here and + there; bad soldiering for the most part, and the cause was radically bad. + Let us be brief with it; try to snatch from it, huge rotten heap of old + exuviae and forgotten noises and deliriums, what fractions of perennial + may turn up for us, carefully forgetting the rest. + </p> + <p> + Maillebois with his 40,000, we have seen how they got to Osnabruck, and + effectually stilled the war-fervor of little George II.; sent him home, in + fact, to England a checkmated man, he riding out of Osnabruck by one gate, + the French at the same moment marching in by the other. There lies + Maillebois ever since; and will lie, cantoned over Westphalia, "not nearer + than three leagues to the boundary of Hanover," for a year and more. There + let Maillebois lie, till we see him called away else-wither, upon which + the gallant little George, check-mate being lifted, will get into notable + military activity, and attempt to draw his sword again,—though + without success, owing to the laggard Dutch. Which also, as British + subjects, if not otherwise, the readers of this Book will wish to see + something of. Maillebois did not quite keep his stipulated distance of + "three leagues from the boundary" (being often short of victual), and was + otherwise no good neighbor. Among his Field-Officers, there is visible + (sometimes in trouble about quarters and the like) a Marquis du Chatelet,—who, + I find, is Husband or Ex-Husband to the divine Emilie, if readers care to + think of that! [<i>Campagnes</i> (i. 45, 193); and French Peerage-Books,? + DU CHATELAT.] Other known face, or point of interest for or against, does + not turn up in the Maillebois Operation in those parts. + </p> + <p> + As for the other still grander Army, Army of the Oriflamme as we have + called it,—which would be Belleisle's, were not he so overwhelmed + with embassying, and persuading the Powers of Germany,—this, since + we last saw it, has struck into a new course, which it is essential to + indicate. The major part of it (Four rear Divisions! if readers recollect) + lay at Ingolstadt, its place of arms; while the Vanward Three Divisions, + under Maurice Comte de Saxe, flowed onward, joining with Bavaria at + Passau; down the Donau Country, to Linz and farther, terrifying Vienna + itself; and driving all the Court to Presburg, with (fabulous) "MORIAMUR + PRO REGE NOSTRO MARIA THERESIA," but with actual armament of Tolpatches, + Pandours, Warasdins, Uscocks and the like unsightly beings of a predatory + centaur nature. Which fine Hungarian Armament, and others still more + ominous, have been diligently going on, while Karl Albert sat enjoying his + Homagings at Linz, his Pisgah-views Vienna-ward; and asking himself, + "Shall we venture forward, and capture Vienna, then?" + </p> + <p> + The question is intricate, and there are many secret biasings concerned in + the solution of it. Friedrich, before Klein-Schnellendorf time, had + written eagerly, had sent Schmettau with eager message, "Push forward; it + is feasible, even easy: cut the matter by the root!" This, they say, was + Karl Albert's own notion, had not the French overruled him;—not + willing, some guess, he should get Austria, and become too independent of + them all at once. Nay, it appears Karl Albert had inducements of his own + towards Bohemia rather. The French have had Kur-Sachsen to manage withal; + and there are interests in Bohemia of his and theirs,—clippings of + Bohemia promised him as bribes, besides that "Kingdom of Moravia," to get + his 21,000 set on march. "Clippings of Bohemia? Interests of Kur-Sachsen's + in that Country?" asks Karl Albert with alarm: and thinks it will be + safer, were he himself present there, while Saxony and France do the + clippings in question! Sure enough, he did not push on. Belleisle, from + the distance, strongly opined otherwise; Karl Albert himself had jealous + fears about Bohmen. Friedrich's importunities and urgencies were useless: + and the one chance there ever was for Karl Albert, for Belleisle and the + Ruin of Austria, vanished without return. + </p> + <p> + Karl Albert has turned off, leftwards, towards his Bohemian Enterprises: + French, Bavarians, Saxons, by their several routes, since the last days of + October, are all on march that way. We will mark an exact date here and + there, as fixed point for the reader's fancy. Poor Karl Albert, he had sat + some six weeks at Linz,—about three weeks since that Homaging there + (October 2d);—imaginary Sovereign of Upper Austria; looking over to + Vienna and the Promised Land in general. And that fine Pisgah-view was all + he ever had of it. Of Austrian or other Conquests earthly or heavenly, + there came none to him in this Adventure;—mere MINUS quantities they + all proved. For a few weeks more, there are, blended with awful portents, + an imaginary gleam or two in other quarters; after which, nothing but + black horror and disgrace, deepening downwards into utter darkness, for + the poor man. Belleisle is an imaginary Sun-god; but the poor Icarus, + tempted aloft in that manner into the earnest elements, and melting at + once into quills and rags, is a tragic reality!—Let us to our dates:— + </p> + <p> + "OCTOBER 24th, The Bavarian Troops, who had lain at Mautern on the Donau + some time, forty miles from Vienna and the Promised Land, got under way + again;—not FORWARD, but sharp to left, or northward, towards the + Bohemian parts. Thither all the Belleisle Armaments are now bound; and a + general rallying of them is to be at Prag; for conquest of that Country, + as more inviting than Austria at present. Comte de Saxe, who had lain at + St. Polten, a march to southward of Mautern, he with the Vanward of the + great Belleisle Army, bestirred himself at the same time; and followed + steadily (Karl Albert in person was with Saxe), at a handy distance by + parallel roads. To Prag may be about 200 miles. Across the Mannhartsberg + Country, clear out of Austria, into Bohmen, towards Prag. At Budweis, or + between that and Tabor, Towns of our old friend Zisca's, of which we shall + hear farther in these Wars; Towns important by their intricate environment + of rock and bog, far up among the springs of the Moldau,—there can + these Bavarians, and this French Vanward of Belleisle, halt a little, till + the other parties, who are likewise on march, get within distance." + </p> + <p> + For in these same days, as hinted above, the Rearward of the Belleisle + Army (Four Divisions, strength not accurately given) pushes forward from + Donauworth, well rested, through the Bavarian Passes, towards Bohemia and + Prag: these have a longer march (say 250 miles)? to northeast; and the + leader of them is one Polastron, destined unhappily to meet us on a future + occasion. With them go certain other Bavarians; accompanying or preceding, + as in the Vanward case. And then the Saxons (21,000 strong, a fine little + Army, all that Saxony has) are, at the same time, come across the Metal + Mountains (ERZGEBIRGE), in quest of those Bohemian clippings, of that + Kingdom of Moravia: and march from the westward upon Prag,—Rutowsky + leading them. Comte de Rutowsky, Comte de Saxe's Half-Brother, one of the + Three Hundred and Fifty-four:—with whom is CHEVALIER de Saxe, a + second younger ditto; and I think there is still a third, who shall go + unnamed. In this grand Oriflamme Expedition, Four of the Royal-Saxon + Bastards altogether." Who cost us more distinguishing than they are worth! + </p> + <p> + Chief General of these Saxons, says an Authentic Author, is Rutowsky; got + from a Polish mother, I should guess: he commands in chief here;—once + had a regiment under Friedrich Wilhelm, for a while; but has not much head + for strategy, it may be feared. But mark that Fourth individual of the + Three Hundred and Fifty-four, who has a great deal. Fourth individual, + called Comte de Saxe, who is now in that French Vanward a good way to + east, was (must I again remind you!) the produce of the fair Aurora von + Konigsmark, Sister of the Konigsmark who vanished instantaneously from the + light of day at Hanover long since, and has never reappeared more. It was + in search of him that Aurora, who was indeed a shining creature (terribly + insolvent all her life, whose charms even Charles XII. durst not front), + came to Dresden; and,—in this Comte de Saxe, men see the result. + Tall enough, restless enough; most eupeptic, brisk, with a great deal of + wild faculty,—running to waste, nearly all. There, with his black + arched eyebrows, black swift physically smiling eyes, stands Monseigneur + le Comte, one of the strongest-bodied and most dissolute-minded men now + living on our Planet. He is now turned of forty: no man has been in such + adventures, has swum through such seas of transcendent eupepticity + determined to have its fill. In this new Quasi-sacred French Enterprise, + under the Banner of Belleisle and the Chateauroux, he has at last, after + many trials, unconsciously found his culmination: and will do exploits of + a wonderful nature,—very worthy of said Banner and its patrons. + </p> + <p> + "Here, then, are Three streams or Armaments pouring forward upon Prag; + perhaps some 60,000 men in all:—a good deal uncertain what they are + to do at Prag, except arrive simultaneously so far as possible. Belleisle, + far off, has fallen sick in these critical days. Comte de Saxe cannot see + his way in the matter at all: 'What are we to live upon,' asks Comte de + Saxe, 'were there nothing more!'—For, simultaneously with these + Three Armaments on march, there is an important Austrian one, likewise on + the road for Prag: that of Grand-Duke Franz, who has left Presburg, with + say 30,000 (including the Pandour element); and duly meets the Neipperg, + or late Silesian Army;—well capable, now, to do a stroke upon the + Three Armaments, if he be speedy? 'November 7th' it was when Grand-Duke + Franz picked up Neipperg, 'at Frating' deep in Moravia (November 7th, the + very day while Friedrich was getting homaged in Breslau), and turned him + northwestward again. The Grand-Duke, in such strength, marches Rag-ward + what he can; might be there before the French, were he swift; and is at + any rate in disagreeable proximity to that Budmeis-Tabor Country, + appointed as one's halting-place." + </p> + <p> + And Belleisle, in these critical days, is—consider it!—"Poor + Belleisle, he has all the Election Votes ready; he has done unspeakable + labors in the diplomatic way; and leaves Europe in ebullition and + conflagration behind him. He has all these Armies in motion, and has got + rid of 'that Moravia,'—given it to Saxony, who adds the title 'King + of Moravia' to his other dignities, and has set on march those 21,000 men. + 'Would he were ready with them!' Belleisle had been saying, ever since the + Treaty for them,—Treaty was, September 19th. Belleisle, to expedite + him, came to Dresden [what day is not said, but deep in October]; + intending next for the Prag Country, there to commence General, the + diplomacies being satisfactorily done. Valori ran over from Berlin to wait + upon him there. Alas, the Saxons are on march, or nearly so; but the great + man himself, worn down with these Herculean labors, has fallen into + rheumatic fever; is in bed, out at Hubertsburg (serene Country Palace of + his Moravian Polish Majesty); and cannot get the least well, to march in + person with the Three Armaments, with the flood of things he has set + reeling and whirling at such rate. + </p> + <p> + "The sympathies of Valori go deep at this spectacle. The Alcides, who was + carrying the axis of the world, fallen down in physical rheumatism! But + what can sympathies avail? The great man sees the Saxons march without + him. The great man, getting no alleviation from physicians, determines, in + his patriotic heroism, to surrender glory itself; writes home to Court, + 'That he is lamed, disabled utterly; that they must nominate another + General.' And they nominate another; nominate Broglio, the fat choleric + Marshal, of Italian breed and physiognomy, whom we saw at Strasburg last + year, when Friedrich was there. Broglio will quit Strasburg too soon, and + come. A man fierce in fighting, skilled too in tactics; totally + incompetent in strategy, or the art of LEADING armies, and managing + campaigns;—defective in intelligence indeed, not wise to discern; + dim of vision, violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks, a headlong, + very positive, loud, dull and angry kind of man; with whose tumultuous + imbecilities the great Belleisle will be sore tried by and by. 'I reckon + this,' Valori says, 'the root of all our woes;' this Letter which the + great Belleisle wrote home to Court. Let men mark it, therefore, as a + cardinal point,—and snatch out the date, when they have opportunity + upon the Archives of France. [See Valori, i. 131.] + </p> + <p> + "Monseigneur the Comte de Saxe, before quitting the Vienna Countries, had + left some 10,000 French and Bavarians, posted chiefly in Linz, under a + Comte de Segur, to maintain those Donau Conquests, which have cost only + the trouble of marching into them. Count Khevenhuller has ceased working + at the ramparts of Vienna, nothing of siege to be apprehended now, civic + terror joyfully vanishing again; and busies himself collecting an Army at + Vienna, with intent of looking into those same French Segurs, before long. + It is probable the so-called Conquests on the Donau will not be very + permanent. + </p> + <p> + "NOVEMBER 19th-21st, The Three Belleisle Armaments, Karl Albert's first, + have, simultaneously enough for the case, arrived on three sides of Prag; + and lie looking into it,—extremely uncertain what to do when there. + To Comte de Saxe, to Schmettau, who is still here, the outlook of this + grand Belleisle Army, standing shelterless, provisionless, grim winter at + hand, long hundreds of miles from home or help, is in the highest degree + questionable, though the others seem to make little of it: 'Fight the + Grand-Duke when he comes,' say they; 'beat him, and—' 'Or suppose, + he won't fight? Or suppose, we are beaten by him?' answer Saxe and + Schmettau, like men of knowledge, in the same boat with men of none. (We + have no strong place, or footing in this Country: what are we to do? Take + Prag!' advises Comte de Saxe, with earnestness, day after day. [His + Letters on it to Karl Albert and others (in Espagnac, i. 94-99).)] 'Take + Prag: but how?' answer they. 'By escalade, by surprise, and sword in hand, + answers he: 'Ogilvy their General has but 3,000, and is perhaps no wizard + at his trade: we can do it, thus and thus, and then farther thus; and I + perceive we are a lost Army if we don't!' So counsels Maurice Comte de + Saxe, brilliant, fervent in his military views;—and, before it is + quite too late, Schmettau and he persuade Karl Albert, persuade Rutowsky + chief of the Saxons; and Count Polastron, Gaisson or whatever subaltern + Counts there are, of French type, have to accede, and be saved in spite of + themselves. And so, + </p> + <p> + "SATURDAY NIGHT, 25th NOVEMBER, 1741, brightest of moonshiny nights, our + dispositions are all made: Several attacks, three if I remember; one of + them false, under some Polastron, Gaisson, from the south side; a couple + of them true, from the northwest and the southeast sides, under Maurice + with his French, and Rutowsky with his Saxons, these two. And there is + great marching 'on the side of the Karl-Thor (Charles-Gate),' where + Rutowsky is; and by Count Maurice 'behind the Wischerad;'—and + shortly after midnight the grand game begins. That French-Polastron + attack, false, though with dreadful cannonade from the south, attracts + poor Ogilvy with almost all his forces to that quarter; while the couple + of Saxon Captains (Rutowsky not at once successful, Maurice with his + French completely so) break in upon Ogilvy from rearward, on the right + flank and on the left; and ruin the poor man. Military readers will find + the whole detail of it well given in Espagnac. Looser account is to be had + in the Book they call Mauvillon's." [<i>Derniere Guerre de Boheme,</i> i. + 252-264. Saxe's own Account (Letter to Chevalier de Folard) is in + Espagnac, i. 89 et seqq.] + </p> + <p> + One thing I remember always: the bright moonlight; steeples of Prag + towering serene in silvery silence, and on a sudden the wreaths of + volcanic fire breaking out all round them. The opposition was but + trifling, null in some places, poor Ogilvy being nothing of a wizard, and + his garrison very small. It fell chiefly on Rutowsky; who met it with + creditable vigor, till relieved by the others. Comte Maurice, too, did a + shifty thing. Circling round by the outside of the Wischerad, by rural + roads in the bright moonshine, he had got to the Wall at last, hollow + slope and sheer wall; and was putting-to his scaling-ladders,—when, + by ill luck, they proved too short! Ten feet or so; hopelessly too short. + Casting his head round, Maurice notices the Gallows hard by: "There, see + you, are a few short ladders: MES ENFANS, bring me these, and we will + splice with rope!" Supplemented by the gallows, Maurice soon gets in, cuts + down the one poor sentry; rushes to the Market-place, finds all his + Brothers rushing, embraces them with "VICTOIRE!" and "You see I am eldest; + bound to be foremost of you!" + </p> + <p> + "No point in all the War made a finer blaze in the French imagination, or + figured better in the French gazettes, than this of the Scalade of Prag, + 25th November, 1741. And surely it was important to get hold of Prag; + nevertheless, intrinsically it is no great thing, but an opportune small + thing, done by the Comte de Saxe, in spite of such contradiction as we + saw." + </p> + <p> + It was while news of this exploit was posting towards Berlin, but not yet + arrived there, that Friedrich, passing through the apartment, intimated to + Hyndford, "Milord, all is divulged, our Klein-Schnellendorf mystery public + as the house-tops;" and vanished with a shrug of the shoulders,—thinking + doubtless to himself, "What is OUR next move to be, in consequence?" + Treaty with Kur-Baiern (November 4th) he had already signed in + consequence, expressly declaring for Kur-Baiern, and the French intentions + towards him. This news from Prag—Prag handsomely captured, if Vienna + had been foolishly neglected—put him upon a new Adventure, of which + in following Chapters we shall hear more. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE FRENCH SAFE IN PRAG; KAISERWAHL JUST COMING ON. + </h2> + <p> + Grand-Duke Franz, with that respectable amount of Army under him, ought + surely to have advanced on Prag, and done some stroke of war for relief of + it, while time yet was. Grand-Duke Franz, his Brother Karl with him and + his old Tutor Neipperg, both of whom are thought to have some skill in + war, did advance accordingly. But then withal there was risk at Prag; and + he always paused again, and waited to consider. From Frating, on the 16th, + [Espagnac, i. 87.] he had got to Neuhaus, quite across Mahren into + Bohemian ground, and there joined with Lobkowitz and what Bohemian force + there was; by this time an Army which you would have called much stronger + than the French. Forward, therefore! Yes; but with pauses, with + considerations. Pause of two days at Neuhaus; thence to Tabor (famed + Zisca's Tabor), a safe post, where again pause three days. From Tabor is + broad highway to Prag, only sixty miles off now:—screwing their + resolution to the sticking-point, Grand-Duke and Consorts advance at + length with fixed determination, all Friday, all Saturday (November 24th, + 25th), part of Sunday too, not thinking it shall be only PART; and their + light troops are almost within sight of Prag, when—they learn that + Prag is scaladed the night before, and quite settled; that there is + nothing except destruction to be looked for in Prag! Back again, + therefore, to the Tabor-and-Budweis land. They strike into that boggy + broken country about Budweis, some 120 miles south of Prag; and will there + wait the signs of the times. + </p> + <p> + Grand-Duke Franz had seen war, under Seckendorf, under Wallis and + otherwise, in the disastrous Turk Countries; but, though willing enough, + was never much of a soldier: as to Neipperg, among his own men especially, + the one cry is, He ought to go about his business out of Austrian Armies, + as an imbecile and even a traitor. "Is it conceivable that Friedrich could + have beaten us, in that manner, except by buying Neipperg in the first + place? Neipperg and the generality of them, in that luckless Silesian + Business? Glogau scaladed with the loss of half a dozen men; Brieg gone + within a week; Neisse ditto: and Mollwitz, above all, where, in spite of + Romer and such Horse-charging as was never seen, we had to melt, dissolve, + and roll away in the glitter of the evening sun!" The common notion is, + they are traitors, partial-traitors, one and all. [<i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> + saepius.] Poor Neipperg he has seen hard service, had ugly work to do: it + was he that gave away Belgrade to the Turks (so interpreting his orders), + and the Grand Vizier, calling him Dog of a Giaour: spat in his face, not + far from hanging him; and the Kaiser and Vienna people, on his coming + home, threw him into prison, and were near cutting off his head. And + again, after such sleety marchings through the Mountains, he has had to + dissolve at Mollwitz; float away in military deluge in the manner we saw. + And now, next winter, here is he lodged among the upland bogs at Budweis, + escorted by mere curses. What a life is the soldier's, like other men's; + what a master is the world! Aulic Cabinet is not all-wise; but may readily + be wiser than the vulgar, and, with a Maria Theresa at his head, it is + incapable of truculent impiety like that. Neipperg, guilty of not being a + Eugene, is not hanged as a traitor; but placed quietly as Commandant in + Luxemburg, spends there the afternoon of his life, in a more commodious + manner. Friedrich had, of late, rather admired his movements on the Neisse + River; and found him a stiff article to deal with. + </p> + <p> + The French, now with Prag for their place of arms, stretched themselves as + far as Pisek, some seventy miles southwestward; occupied Pisek, Pilsen and + other Towns and posts, on the southwest side, some seventy miles from + Prag; looking towards the Bavarian Passes and homeward succors that might + come: the Saxons, a while after, got as far as Teutschbrod, eighty miles + on the southeastward or Moravian hand. Behind these outposts, Prag may be + considered to hang on Silesia, and have Friedrich for security. This, in + front or as forecourt of Friedrich's Silesia, this inconsiderable section, + was all of Bohemian Country the French and Confederates ever held, and + they did not hold this long. As for Karl Albert, he had his new pleasant + Dream of Sovereignty at Prag; Titular of Upper Austria, and now of Bohmen + as well; and enjoyed his Feast of the Barmecide, and glorious repose in + the captured Metropolis, after difficulty overcome. December 7th, he was + homaged (a good few of the Nobility attending, for which they smarted + afterwards), with much processioning, blaring and TE-DEUM-ing: on the 19th + he rolled off, home to Munchen; there to await still higher + Romish-Imperial glories, which it is hoped are now at hand. + </p> + <p> + A day or two after the Capture of Prag, Marechal de Belleisle, partially + cured of his rheumatisms, had hastened to appear in that City; and for + above four weeks he continued there, settling, arranging, ordering all + things, in the most consummate manner, with that fine military head of + his. About Christmas time, arrived Marechal de Broglio, his unfortunate + successor or substitute; to whom he made everything over; and hastened off + for Frankfurt, where the final crisis of KAISERWAHL is now at hand, and + the topstone of his work is to be brought out with shouting. Marechal de + Broglio had an unquiet Winter of it in his new command; and did not extend + his quarters, but the contrary. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BROGLIO HAS A BIVOUAC OF PISEK; KHEVENHULLER LOOKS IN UPON THE DONAU + </h2> + <p> + CONQUESTS. + </p> + <p> + Grand-Duke Franz edged himself at last a little out of that Tabor-Budweis + region, and began looking Prag-ward again;—hung about, for some + time, with his Hungarian light-troops scouring the country; but still + keeping Prag respectfully to right, at seventy miles distance. December + 28th, to Broglio's alarm, he tried a night-attack on Pisek, the chief + French outpost, which lies France-ward too, and might be vital. But he + found the French (Broglio having got warning) unexpectedly ready for him + at Pisek,—drawn up in the dark streets there, with torrents of + musketry ready for his Pandours and him;—and entirely failed of + Pisek. Upon which he turned eastward to the Budweis-Tabor fastnesses + again; left Brother Karl as Commander in those parts (who soon leaves + Lobkowitz as Substitute, Vienna in the idle winter-time being preferable);—left + Brother Karl, and proceeded in person, south, towards the Donau Countries, + to see how Khevenhuller might be prospering, who is in the field there, as + we shall hear. + </p> + <p> + Of Pisek and the night-skirmish at Pisek, glorious to France, think all + the Gazettes, I should have said nothing, were it not that Marechal + Broglio, finding what a narrow miss he had made, established a night-watch + there, or bivouac, for six weeks to come; such as never was before or + since: Cavalry and Infantry, in quantity, bivouacking there, in the + environs of Pisek, on the grim Bohemian snow or snow-slush, in the depth + of winter, nightly for six weeks, without whisper of an enemy at any time; + whereby the Marechal did save Pisek (if Pisek was ever again in danger), + but froze horse and man to the edge of destruction or into it; so that the + "Bivouac of Pisek" became proverbial in French Messrooms, for a generation + coming. [<i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> ii. 23, &c.] And one hears in the + mind a clangorous nasal eloquence from antique gesticulative + mustachio-figures, witty and indignant,—who are now gone to silence + again, and their fruitless bivouacs, and frosty and fiery toils, tumbling + pell-mell after them. This of Pisek was but one of the many unwise + hysterical things poor Broglio did, in that difficult position; which, + indeed, was too difficult for any mortal, and for Broglio beyond the + average. + </p> + <p> + One other thing we note: Graf von Khevenhuller, solid Austrian man, issued + from Vienna, December 31st, last day of the Year, with an Army of only + some 15,000, but with an excellent military head of his own, to look into + those Conquests on the Donau. Which he finds, as he expected, to be mere + conquests of stubble, capable of being swept home again at a very rapid + rate. "Khevenhuller, here as always, was consummate in his choice of + posts," says Lloyd; [General Lloyd, <i>History of Seven-Years War,</i> + &c. (incidentally, somewhere).]—discovered where the ARTERIES of + the business lay, and how to handle the same. By choice of posts, by + silent energy and military skill, Khevenhuller very rapidly sweeps Segur + back; and shuts him up in Linz. There Segur, since the first days of + January, is strenuously barricading himself; "wedging beams from house to + house, across the streets;"—and hopes to get provision, the Donau + and the Bavarian streams being still open behind him; and to hold out a + little. It will be better if he do,—especially for poor Karl Albert + and his poor Bavaria! Khevenhuller has also detached through the Tyrol a + General von Barenklau (BEAR'S-CLAW, much heard of henceforth in these + Wars), who has 12,000 regulars; and much Hussar-folk under bloody + Mentzel:-across the Tyrol, we say; to fall in upon Bavaria and Munchen + itself; which they are too like doing with effect. Ought not Karl Albert + to be upon the road again? What a thing, were the Kaiser Elect taken + prisoner by Pandours! + </p> + <p> + In fine, within a short two weeks or so, Karl Albert quits Munchen, as no + safe place for him; comes across to Mannheim to his Cousin Philip, old + Kur-Pfalz, whom we used to know, now extremely old, but who has marriages + of Grand-daughters, and other gayeties, on hand; which a Cousin and + prospective Kaiser—especially if in peril of his life—might as + well come and witness. This is the excuse Karl Albert makes to an + indulgent Public; and would fain make to himself, but cannot. Barenklau + and Khevenhuller are too indisputable. Nay this rumor of Friedrich's + "Peace with Austria," divulged Bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf, if this + also (horrible to think) were true—! Which Friedrich assures him it + is not. Karl Albert writes to Friedrich, and again writes; conjuring him, + for the love of God, To make some thrust, then, some inroad or other, on + those man-devouring Khevenhullers; and take them from his, Karl Albert's, + throat and his poor Country's. Which Friedrich, on his own score, is + already purposing to do. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII. — FRIEDRICH STARTS FOR MORAVIA, ON A NEW SCHEME HE + HAS. + </h2> + <p> + The Austrian Court had not kept Friedrich's secret of Klein-Schnellendorf, + hardly even for a day. It was whispered to the Dowager Empress, or + Empresses; who whispered it, or wrote it, to some other high party; by + whom again as usual:—in fact, the Austrian Court, having once got + their Neipperg safe to hand, took no pains to keep the secret; but had + probably an interest rather in letting it filter out, to set Friedrich and + his Allies at variance. At all events, in the space of a few weeks, as we + have seen, the rumor of a Treaty between Austria and Friedrich was + everywhere rife; Friedrich, as he had engaged, everywhere denying it, and + indeed clearly perceiving that there was like to be no ground for + acknowledging it. The Austrian Court, instead of "completing the Treaty + before Newyear's-day," had broken the previous bargain; evidently not + meaning to complete; intent rather to wait upon their Hungarian + Insurrection, and the luck of War. + </p> + <p> + There is now, therefore, a new turn in the game. And for this also + Friedrich has been getting the fit card ready; and is not slow to play it. + Some time ago, November 4th,—properly November 1st, hardly three + weeks since that of Klein-Schnellendorf,—finding the secret already + out ("whispered of at Breslau, 28th October," casually testifies + Hyndford), he had tightened his bands with France; had, on November 4th, + formally acceded to Karl Albert's Treaty with France. [Accession agreed + to, "Frankfurt, Nov. 1st," 1741; ratified "Nov. 4th."] Glatz to be his: he + will not hear of wanting Glatz; nor of wanting elsewhere the proper + Boundary for Schlesien, "Neisse River both banks" (which Neipperg had + agreed to, in his late Sham-Bargain);—quite strict on these + preliminaries. + </p> + <p> + And furthermore, Kur-Sachsen being now a Partner in that French-Bavarian + Treaty,—and a highly active one (with 21,000 in the field for him), + who is "King of Moravia" withal, and has some considerable northern Paring + of Bohemia thrown in, by way of "Road to Moravia,"—Friedrich made, + at the same time, special Treaty with Kur-Sachsen, on the points specially + mutual to them; on the Boundary point, first of all. Which latter treaty + is dated also November 1st, and was "ratified November 8th." + </p> + <p> + Treaty otherwise not worth reading; except perhaps as it shows us + Friedrich putting, in his brief direct way, Kur-Sachsen at once into + Austria's place, in regard to Ober-Schlesien. "Boundary between your + Polish Majesty and me to be the River Neisse PLUS a full German mile;"—which + (to Belleisle's surprise) the Polish Majesty is willing to accept; and + consents, farther, Friedrich being of succinct turn, That Commissioners go + directly and put down the boundary-stones, and so an end. "Let the + Silesian matter stand where it stood," thinks Friedrich: "since Austria + will not, will you? Put down the boundary-pillars, then!"—an + interesting little glance into Friedrich's inner man. And a Prussian + Boundary Commissioner, our friend Nussler the man, did duly appear;—whom + perhaps we shall meet,—though no Saxon one quite did. [Busching, <i>Beitrage,</i> + i. 339 (? NUSSLER).] It is this boundary clause, it is Friedrich's little + decision, "Put down the pillars, then," that alone can now interest any + mortal in this Saxon Bargain; the clause itself, and the bargain itself, + having quite broken down on the Saxon side, and proved imaginary as a + covenant made in dreams. Could not be helped, in the sequel!— + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, the preliminary diplomacies being done in this manner, + Friedrich had ordered certain of his own Forces to get in motion a little; + ordered Leopold, who has had endless nicety of management, since the + French and Saxons came into those Bohemian Circles of his, to go upon + Glatz; to lay fast hold of Glatz, for one thing. And farther eastward, + Schwerin, by order, has lately gone across the Mountains; seized Troppau, + Friedenthal; nay Olmutz itself, the Capital of Mahren,—in one day + (December 27th), garrison of Olmutz being too weak to resist, and the + works in disrepair. "In Heaven's name, what are your intentions, then?" + asked the Austrians there. "Peaceable in the extreme," answered Schwerin, + "if only yours are. And if they are NOT—!" There sits Schwerin ever + since, busy strengthening himself, and maintains the best discipline; + waiting farther orders. + </p> + <p> + "The Austrians will not complete their bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf?" + thinks this young King; "Very well; we will not press them to completion. + We will not ourselves complete, should they now press. We will try another + method, and that without loss of time."—It was a pungent reflection + with Friedrich that Karl Albert had not pushed forward on Vienna, from + Linz that time, but had blindly turned off to the left, and thrown away + his one chance. "Cannot one still mend it; cannot one still do something + of the like?" thinks Friedrich now: "Schwerin in Olmutz; Prussian Troops + cantoned in the Highlands of Silesia, or over in Bohemia itself, near the + scene of action; the Saxons eastward as far as Teutschbrod, still nearer; + the French triumphant at Prag, and reinforcement on the road for them: a + combined movement on Vienna, done instantly and with an impetus!" That is + the thing Friedrich is now bent upon; nor will he, like Karl Albert, be + apt to neglect the hour of tide, which is so inexorable in such + operations. + </p> + <p> + At Berlin, accordingly, he has been hurrying on his work, inspection, + preparation of many kinds,—Marriage of his Brother August Wilhelm, + for one business; [6th January, 1742 (in Bielfeld, ii. 55-69, exuberant + account of the Ceremony, and of B.'s part in it).]—and (January + 18th), after a stay of two months, is off fieldward again, on this new + project. To Dresden, first of all; Saxony being an essential element; and + Valori being appointed to meet him there on the French side. It is January + 20th, 1742, when Friedrich arrives; due Opera festivities, "triple salute + of all the guns," fail not at Dresden; but his object was not these at + all. Polish Majesty is here, and certain of the warlike Bastard Brothers + home from Winter-quarters, Comte de Saxe for one; Valori also, punctually + as due; and little Graf von Bruhl, highest-dressed of human creatures, who + is factotum in this Court. + </p> + <p> + "Your Polish Majesty, by treaty and title you are King of Moravia withal: + now is the time, now or never, to become so in fact! Forward with your + Saxons:" urges Friedrich: "The Austrians and their Lobkowitz are weak in + that Country: at Iglau, just over the Moravian border, they have formed a + Magazine; seize that, snatch it from Lobkowitz: that gives us footing and + basis there. Forward with your Saxons; Valori gives us so-many French; I + myself will join with 20,000: swift, steady, all at once; we can seize + Moravia, who knows if not Vienna itself, and for certain drive a stroke + right home into the very bowels of the Enemy!" That is Friedrich's theme + from the first hour of his arrival, and during all the four-and-twenty + that he stayed. + </p> + <p> + In one hour, Polish Majesty, who is fonder of tobacco and pastimes than of + business, declared himself convinced;—and declared also that the + time of Opera was come; whither the two Majesties had to proceed together, + and suspend business for a while. Polish Majesty himself was very easily + satisfied; but with the others, as Valori reports it, the argument was + various, long and difficult. "Winter time; so dangerous, so precarious," + answer Bruhl and Comte de Saxe: There is this danger, this uncertainty, + and then that other;—which the King and Valori, with all their + eloquence, confute. "Impossible, for want of victual," answers Maurice at + last, driven into a corner: "Iglau, suppose we get it, will soon be eaten; + then where is our provision?"—"Provision?" answers Valori: "There is + M. de Sechelles, Head of our Commissariat in Prag; such a Commissary never + was before." "And you consent, if I take that in hand?" urges Friedrich + upon them. They are obliged to consent, on that proviso. Friedrich + undertakes Sechelles: the Enterprise cannot now be refused. [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic</i>, ii. 170; Valori, i. 139; &c. &c.] "Alert, then; not + a moment to be lost! Good-night; AU REVOIR, my noble friends!"—and + to-morrow many hours before daybreak, Friedrich is off for Prag, leaving + Dresden to awaken when it can. + </p> + <p> + At Prag he renews acquaintance with his old maladroit Strasburg friend, + Marechal de Broglio, not with increase of admiration, as would seem; + declines the demonstrations and civilities of Broglio, business being + urgent: finds M. de Sechelles to be in truth the supreme of living + Commissaries (ready, in words which Friedrich calls golden, "to make the + impossible possible"): "Only march, then, noble Saxons: swift!"—and + dashes off again, next morning, to northeastward, through Leopold's + Bohemian cantonments, Glatz-ward by degrees, to be ready with his own + share of the affair; no delay in him, for one. January 24th, after + Konigsgratz and other Prussian posts,—January 24th, which is + elsewhere so notable a day,—his route goes northeast, to Glatz, a + hundred miles away, among the intricacies of the Giant Mountains, hither + side of the Silesian Highlands; wild route for winter season, if the young + King feared any route. From Berlin, hither and farther, he may have gone + well-nigh his seven hundred miles within the week; rushing on continually + (starts, at say four in the winter morning); doing endless business, of + the ordering sort, as he speeds along. + </p> + <p> + Glatz, a southwestern mountainous Appendage to Silesia, abutting on + Moravia and Bohemia, is a small strong Country; upon which, ever since the + first Friedrich times, we have seen him fixed; claiming it too, as + expenses from the Austrians, since they will not bargain. For he rises + Sibyl-like: a year ago, you might have had him with his 100,000 to boot, + for the one Duchy of Glogau; and now—! At Glatz or in these adjacent + Bohemian parts, the Young Dessauer has been on duty, busy enough, ever + since the late Siege of Neisse: Glatz Town the Young Dessauer soon got, + when ordered; Town, Population, Territory, all is his,—all but the + high mountain Fortress (centre of the Town of Glatzj), with its + stiff-necked Austrian Garrison shut up there, which he is wearing out by + hunger. We remember the little Note from Valori's waistcoat-pocket, "Don't + give him Glatz, if you can possibly help it!" In his latest treaties with + the French and their Allies, Friedrich has very expressly bargained for + the Country (will even pay money for it); [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> ii. + 85.] and is determined to have it, when the Austrians next take to + bargaining. Of Glatz Fortress, now getting hungered out by Leopold's + Prussian Detachment, I will say farther, though Friedrich heeds these + circumstances little at present, that it stands on a scarped rock, girt by + the grim intricate Hills; and that in the Arsenal, in dusty fabulous + condition, lies a certain Drum, which readers may have heard of. Drum is + not a fable, but an antique reality fallen flaccid; made, by express + bequest, as is mythically said, from the skin of Zisca, above 300 years + ago: altogether mythic that latter clause. Drum, Fortress, Town, Villages + and Territory, all shall be Friedrich's, had hunger done its work. [Town + already, after short scuffle, 14th January, 1742; Fortress, by hunger (no + firing nor being fired on, in the interim), 25th April following,—when + the once 2,000 of garrison, worn to about 200, pale as shadows, marched + away to Brunn; "only ten of them able for duty on arriving." (Orlich, i. + 174.)] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, while at Glatz this time, gave a new Dress to the Virgin, say + all the Biographers; of which the story is this. Holy Virgin stood in the + main Convent of Glatz, in rather a threadbare condition, when the + Prussians first approached; the Jesuits, and ardently Orthodox of both + sexes, flagitating Heaven and her with their prayers, that she would + vouchsafe to keep the Prussians out. In which case pious Madame Something, + wife of the Austrian Commandant, vowed her a new suit of clothes. Holy + Virgin did not vouchsafe; on the Contrary, here the Prussians are, and + Starvation with them. "Courage, nevertheless, my new friends!" intimates + Friedrich: "The Prussians are not bugaboos, as you imagined: Holy Virgin + shall have a new coat, all the same!" and was at the expense of the bit of + broadcloth with trimmings. He was in the way of making such investments, + in his light sceptical humor; and found them answer to him. At Glatz, and + through those Bohemian and Silesian Cantonments, he sets his people in + motion for the Moravian Expedition; rapidly stirs up the due Prussian + detachments from their Christmas rest among the Mountains; and has work + enough in these regions, now here now there. Schwerin is already in + Olmutz, for a month past; and towards him, or his neighborhood, the march + is to be. + </p> + <p> + January 26th, Friedrich, now with considerable retinue about him, gets + from Glatz to Landskron, some fifty miles Olmutz-ward; such a march as + General Stille never saw,—"through the ice and through the snow, + which covered that dreadful Chain of Mountains between Bohmen and Mahren: + we did not arrive till very late; many of our carriages broken down, and + others overturned more than once." [Stille (Anonymous, Friedrich's + Old-Tutor Stille), <i>Campagnes du Roi de Prusse</i> (English Translation, + 12mo, London, 1763), p. 5. An intelligent, desirable little Volume,—many + misprints in the English form of it.] At Landskron next day, Friedrich, as + appointed, met the Chevalier de Saxe (CHEVALIER, by no means Comte, but a + younger Bastard, General of the Saxon Horse); and endeavored to concert + everything: Prussian rendezvous to be at Wischau, on the 5th next; thence + straightway to meet the Saxons at Trebitsch (convenient for that Iglau),—if + only the Saxons will keep bargain. + </p> + <p> + January 28th, past midnight, after another sore march, Friedrich arrived + at Olmutz; a pretty Town,—with an excellent old Bishop, "a Graf von + Lichtenstein, a little gouty man about fifty-two years of age, with a + countenance open and full of candor; [Stille, p. 8.] in whose fine Palace, + most courteously welcomed, the King lodged till near the day of + rendezvousing. We will leave him there, and look westward a little; before + going farther into the Moravian Expedition. Friedrich himself is evidently + much bent on this Expedition; has set his heart on paying the Austrians + for their trickery at Klein-Schnellendorf, in this handsome way, and still + picking up the chance against them which Karl Albert squandered. If only + the French and Saxons would go well abreast with Friedrich, and thrust + home! But will they? Here is a surprising bit of news; not of good omen, + when it reaches one at Olmutz! + </p> + <p> + "LINZ, 24th JANUARY, 1742 [day otherwise remarkable]. After the much + barricading, and considerable defiance and bravadoing, by Comte de Segur + and his 10,000, he has lost this City in a scandalous manner [not quite + scandalous, but reckoned so by outside observers]; and Linz City is not + now Segur's, but Khevenhuller's. To Khevenhuller's first summons M. de + Segur had answered, 'I will hang on the highest gallows the next man that + comes to propose such a thing!'—and within a week [Khevenhuller + having seized the Donau River to rear of Linz, and blasted off the + Bavarian party there], M. de Segur did himself propose it ('Free + withdrawal: Not serve against you for a year'); and is this day beginning + to march out of Linz." [<i>Campagnes des Trois Marechaux,</i> iii. 280, + &c.; Adelung, iii. A, p. 12, and p. 15 (a Paris street-song on it).] + Here is an example of defending Key-Positions! If Segur's be the pattern + followed, those Conquests on the Donau are like to go a fine road!—There + came to Friedrich, in all privacy, during his stay in Olmutz at this + Bishop's, a Diplomatic emissary from Vienna, one Pfitzner; charged with + apologies, with important offers probably;—important; but not + important enough. Friedrich blames himself for being too abrupt on the + man; might perhaps have learned something from him by softer treatment. [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> ii. 109.] After three days, Pfitzner had to go his ways + again, having accomplished nothing of change upon Friedrich. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX. — WILHELMINA GOES TO SEE THE GAYETIES AT FRANKFURT. + </h2> + <p> + On the day when Friedrich, overhung by the grim winter Mountains, was + approaching Glatz, same day when Segur was evacuating Linz on those sad + terms, that is, on the 24th day of January, 1742,—two Gentlemen were + galloping their best in the Frankfurt-Mannheim regions; bearing what they + reckoned glad tidings towards Mannheim and Karl Albert; who is there "on a + visit" (for good reasons), after his triumphs at Prag and elsewhere. The + hindmost of the two Gentlemen is an Official of rank (little conscious + that he is preceded by a rival in message-bearing); Official Gentleman, + despatched by the Diet of Frankfurt to inform Karl Albert, That he now is + actually Kaiser of the Holy Romish Empire; votes, by aid of Heaven and + Belleisle, having all fallen in his favor. Gallop, therefore, my Official + Gentleman:—alas, another Gentleman, Non-official, knowing how it + would turn, already sat booted and saddled, a good space beyond the walls + of Frankfurt, waiting till the cannon should fire; at the first burst of + cannon, he (cunning dog) gives his horse the spur; and is miles ahead of + the toiling Official Gentleman, all the way. [Adelung, iii. A, 52.] + </p> + <p> + In the dreary mass of long-winded ceremonial nothingnesses, and intricate + Belleisle cobwebberies, we seize this one poor speck of human foolery in + the native state, as almost the memorablest in that stupendous business. + Stupendous indeed; with which all Germany has been in travail these + sixteen months, on such terms! And in verity has got the thing called + "German Kaiser" constituted, better or worse. Heavens, was a Nation ever + so bespun by gossamer; enchanted into paralysis, by mountains of extinct + tradition, and the want of power to annihilate rubbish! There are + glittering threads of the finest Belleisle diplomacy, which seem to go + beyond the Dog-star, and to be radiant, and irradiative, like paths of the + gods: and they are, seem what they might, poor threads of idle gossamer, + sunk already to dusty cobweb, unpleasant to poor human nature; poor human + nature concerned only to get them well swept into the fire. The quantities + of which sad litter, in this Universe, are very great!— + </p> + <p> + Karl Albert, now at the top-gallant of his hopes: homaged Archduke of + Upper Austria, homaged King of Bohemia, declared Kaiser of the German + Nation,—is the highest-titled mortal going: and, poor soul, it is + tragical, once more, to think what the reality of it was for him. Ejection + from house and home; into difficulty, poverty, despair; life in furnished + lodgings, which he could not pay;—and at last heart-break, no refuge + for him but in the grave. All which is mercifully hidden at present; so + that he seems to himself a man at the top-gallant of his wishes; and lives + pleasantly, among his friends, with a halo round his head to his own + foolish sense and theirs. + </p> + <p> + "Karl Albert, Kurfurst of Baiern [lazy readers ought to be reminded], + whose achievements will concern us to an unpleasant extent, for some + years, is now a lean man of forty-five; lean, erect, and of middle + stature; a Prince of distinguished look, they say; of elegant manners, and + of fair extent of accomplishment, as Princes go. His experiences in this + world, and sudden ups and downs, have been and will be many. Note a few + particulars of them; the minimum of what are indispensable here. + </p> + <p> + "English readers know a Maximilian Kurfurst of Baiern, who took into + French courses in the great Spanish-Succession War; the Anti-Marlborough + Maximilian, who was quite ruined out by the Battle of Blenheim; put under + Ban of the Empire, and reduced to depend on Louis XIV. for a living,—till + times mended with him again; till, after the Peace of Utrecht, he got + reinstated in his Territories; and lived a dozen years more, in some + comparative comfort, though much sunk in debt. Well, our Karl Albert is + the son of that Anti-Marlborough Kurfurst Maximilian; eldest surviving + son; a daughter of the great Sobieski of Poland was his mother. Nay, he is + great-grandson of another still more distinguished Maximilian, him of the + Thirty-Years War,—(who took the Jesuits to his very heart, and let + loose Ate on his poor Country for the sake of them, in a determined + manner; and was the First of all the Bavarian KURFURSTS, mere Dukes till + then; having got for himself the poor Winter-King's Electorship, or split + it into two as ultimately settled, out of that bad Business),—great-grandson, + we say, of that forcible questionable First Kurfurst Max; and descends + from Kaiser Ludwig, 'Ludwig the BAIER,' if that is much advantage to him. + </p> + <p> + "In his young time he had a hard upcoming; seven years old at the Battle + of Blenheim, and Papa living abroad under Louis XIV.'s shelter, the poor + Boy was taken charge of by the victorious Austrian Kaisers, and brought up + in remote Austrian Towns, as a young 'Graf von Wittelsbach' (nothing but + his family name left him), mere Graf and private nobleman henceforth. + However, fortune took the turn we know, and he became Prince again; + nothing the worse for this Spartan part of his breeding. He made the Grand + Tour, Italy, France, perhaps more than once; saw, felt, and tasted; served + slightly, at a Siege of Belgrade (one of the many Sieges of Belgrade);—wedded, + in 1722, a Daughter of the late Kaiser Joseph's, niece of the late Kaiser + Karl's, cousin of Maria Theresa's; making the due 'renunciations,' as was + thought; and has been Kurfurst himself for the last fourteen Years, ever + since 1726, when his Father died. A thrifty Kurfurst, they say, or at + least has occasionally tried to be so, conscious of the load of debts left + on him; fond of pomps withal, extremely polite, given to Devotion and to + BILLETS-DOUX; of gracious address, generous temper (if he had the means), + and great skill in speaking languages. Likes hunting a little,—likes + several things, we see!—has lived tolerably with his Wife and + children; tolerably with his Neighbors (though sour upon the late Kaiser + now and then); and is an ornament to Munchen, and well liked by the + population there. A lean, elegaut, middle-sized gentleman; descended + direct from Ludwig the ancient Kaiser; from Maximilian the First Kurfurst, + who walked by the light of Father Lammerlein (LAMBKIN) and Company, + thinking IT light from Heaven; and lastly is son of Maximilian the Third + Kurfurst, whom learned English readers know as the Anti-Marlborough one, + ruined out by the Battle of Blenheim. + </p> + <p> + "His most important transaction hitherto has been the marriage with Kaiser + Joseph's Daughter;—of which, in Pollnitz somewhere, there is sublime + account; forgettable, all except the date (Vienna, 5th October, 1722), if + by chance that should concern anybody. Karl Albert (KURPRINZ, Electoral + Prince or Heir-Apparent, at that time) made free renunciation of all right + to Austrian Inheritances, in such terms as pleased Karl VI., the then + Kaiser; the due complete 'renunciations' of inheriting in Austria; and it + was hoped he would at once sign the Pragmatic Sanction, when published; + but he has steadily refused to do so; 'I renounced for my Wife,' says + Kurfurst Karl, 'and will never claim an inch of Austrian land on her + account; but my own right, derived from Kaiser Ferdinand of blessed + memory, who was Father of my Great-grandmother, I did not, do not, never + will renounce; and I appeal to HIS Pragmatic Sanction, the much older and + alone valid one, according to which, it is not you, it is I that am the + real and sole Heir of Austria.' + </p> + <p> + "This he says, and has steadily said or meant: 'It is I that am to be King + of Bohemia; I that shall and will inherit all your Austrias, Upper, Under, + your Swabian Brisgau or Hither Austria, and what of the Tyrol remained + wanting to me. Your Archduchess will have Hungary, the Styrian-Carinthian + Territories; Florence, I suppose, and the Italian ones. What is hers by + right I will be one of those that defend for her; what is not hers, but + mine, I will defend against her, to the best of my ability!' This was + privately, what it is now publicly, his argument; from which he never + would depart; refusing always to accept Kaiser Karl's new Pragmatic + Sanction; getting Saxony (who likewise had a Ferdinand great-grandmother) + to refuse,—till Polish Election compelled poor Saxony, for a time. + Karl Albert had likewise secretly, in past years, got his abstruse old + Cousin of the Pfalz (who mended the Heidelberg Tun) to back him in a + Treaty; nay, still better, still more secretly, had got France itself to + promise eventual hacking:—and, on the whole, lived generally on + rather bad terms with the late Kaiser Karl, his Wife's Uncle; any + reconciliation they had proving always of temporary nature. In the Rhenish + War (1734), Karl Albert, far from assisting the Kaiser, raised large + forces of his own; kept drilling them, in four or three camps, in an + alarming manner; and would not even send his Reich's Contingent (small + body of 3,000 he is by law bound to send), till he perceived the War was + just expiring. He was in angry controversy with the Kaiser, claiming + debts,—debts contracted in the last generation, and debts going back + to the Thirty-Years War, amounting to hundreds of millions,—when the + poor Kaiser died; refusing payment to the last, nay claiming lands left + HIM, he says, by Margaret Mouthpoke: [Michaelis, ii. 260; Buchholz, ii. 9; + Hormayr, <i>Anemonen,</i> ii. 182; &c.] 'Cannot pay your Serene + Highness (having no money); and would not, if I could!' Leaving Karl + Albert to protest to the uttermost;"—which, as we ourselves saw in + Vienna, he at once honorably did. + </p> + <p> + Karl Albert's subsequent history is known to readers; except the following + small circumstance, which occurred in his late transit, flight, or + whatever we may call it, to Mannheim, and is pleasantly made notable to us + by Wilhelmina. "His Highness on the way from Munchen," intimates our + Princess, "passed through Baireuth in a very bad post-chaise." This, as we + elsewhere pick out, was on January 16th; Karl Albert in post-haste for the + marriage-ceremony, which takes place at Mannheim to-morrow. [Adelung, iii. + A, 51.] "My Margraf, accidentally hearing, galloped after him, came up + with him about fifteen miles away: they embraced, talked half an hour; + very content, both." [Wilhelmina, ii. 334.] + </p> + <p> + And eight days afterwards, 24th January, 1742, busy Belleisle (how busy + for this year past, since we saw him in the OEil-de-Boeuf!) gets him + elected Kaiser;—and Segur, in the self-same hours, is packing out of + Linz; and one's Donau "Conquests," not to say one's Munchen, one's Baiern + itself, are in a fine way! The marriage-ceremony, witnessed on the 17th, + was one of the sublimest for Kur-Pfalz and kindred; and it too had + secretly a touch of tragedy in it for the Poor Karl Albert. A double + marriage: Two young Princesses, Grand-daughters, priceless Heiresses, to + old Kur-Pfalz; married, one of them to Duke Clement of Baiern, Karl + Albert's nephew, which is well enough: but married, the other and elder of + them, to Theodor of Deux-Ponts, who will one day—could we pierce the + merciful veil—be Kurfurst of Baiern, and succeed our own childless + Son! [Michaelis, ii. 265.] + </p> + <p> + "Kaiser Karl VII.," such the style he took, is to be crowned February + 12th; makes sublime Public Entry into Frankfurt, with that view, January + 31st;—both ceremonies splendid to a wonder, in spite of finance + considerations. Which circumstance should little concern us, were it not + that Wilhelmina, hearing the great news (though in a dim ill-dated state), + decided to be there and see; did go;—and has recorded her + experiences there, in a shrill human manner. Wishful to see our + fellow-creatures (especially if bound to look at them), even when they are + fallen phantasmal, and to make persons of them again, we will give this + Piece; sorry that it is the last we have of that fine hand. How welcome, + in the murky puddle of Dryasdust, is any glimpse by a lively glib + Wilhelmina, which we can discern to be human! Hear what Wilhelmina says + (in a very condensed form):— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + WILHELMINA AT THE CORONATION. + </h2> + <p> + Wilhelmina, in the end of January, 1742,—Karl Albert having shot + past, one day lately, in a bad post-chaise, and kindled the thought in + her,—resolved to go and see him crowned at Frankfurt, by way of + pleasure-excursion. We will, struggling to be briefer, speak in her + person; and indicate withal where the very words are hers, and where ours. + </p> + <p> + The Marwitz, elder Marwitz, her poor father being wounded at Mollwitz, [<i>Militair-Lexikon,</i> + iii. 23; and <i>Preussische Adels-Lexikon,</i> iii. 365.] had gone to + Berlin to nurse him; but she returned just now,—not much to my joy; + I being, with some cause, jealous of that foolish minx. The Duchess + Dowager of Wurtemberg also came, sorrow on her; a foolish talking woman, + always cutting jokes, making eyes, giggling and coquetting; "HAS some wit + and manner, but wearies you at last: her charms, now on the decline, were + never so considerable as rumor said; in the long-run she bores you with + her French gayeties and sprightliness: her character for gallantry is too + notorious. She quite corrupted Marwitz, in this and a subsequent visit; + turned the poor girl's head into a French whirligig, and undermined any + little moral principle she had. She was on the road to Berlin,"—of + which anon, for it is not quite nothing to us;—"but she was in no + hurry, and would right willingly have gone with us." And it required all + our female diplomacy to get her under way again, and fairly out of our + course. January 28th, SHE off to Berlin; WE, same day, to + Frankfurt-on-Mayn. [Wilhelmina, ii. 334; see pp. 335, 338, 347, &c. + for the other salient points that follow.] + </p> + <p> + Coronation was to have been (or we Country-folk thought it was), January + 31st: Let us be there INCOGNITO, the night before; see it, and return the + day after. That was our plan. Bad roads, waters all out; we had to go + night and day;—reached the gates of Frankfurt, 30th January late. + Berghover, our Legationsrath there, says we are known everywhere; + Coronation is not to be till February 12th! I was fatigued to death, a bad + cold on me, too: we turned back to the last Village; stayed there + overnight. Back again to Berghover, in secret (A LA SOURDINE), next night; + will see the Public Entry of Karl Albert, which is to be to-morrow (not + quite, my Princess; January 31st for certain, [Adelung, iii. A, 63; &c. + &c.] did one the least care). "It was a very grand thing indeed (DES + PLUS SUPERBES); but I will not stop describing it. Masked ball that night; + where I had much amusement, tormenting the masks; not being known to + anybody. We next day retired to a small private House, which Berghover had + got for us, out of Town, for fear of being discovered; and lodged there, + waiting February 12th, under difficulties." + </p> + <p> + The weather was bitterly cold; we had brought no clothes; my dames and I + nothing earthly but a black ANDRIENNE each (whatever that may be), to + spare bulk of luggage: strictest incognito was indispensable. The + Marwitzes, for giggling, raillery, French airs, and absolute impertinence, + were intolerable, in that solitary place. We return to Frankfurt again; + have balls and theatres, at least: "of these latter I missed none. One + evening, my head-dress got accidentally shoved awry, and exposed my face + for a moment; Prince George of Hessen-Cassel, who was looking that way, + recognized me; told the Prince of Orange of it;—they are in our box, + next minute!" + </p> + <p> + Prince George of Hessen-Cassel, did readers ever hear of him before? + Transiently perhaps, in Friedrich's LETTERS TO HIS FATHER; but have + forgotten him again; can know him only as the outline of a shadow. A fat + solid military man of fifty; junior Brother of that solid WILHELM, + Vice-regent and virtual "Landgraf of Hessen"—(VICE an elder and + eldest Brother, FRIEDRICH, the now Majesty of Sweden, who is actual + Hereditary Landgraf, but being old, childless, idle, takes no hold of it, + and quite leaves it to Wilhelm),—of whom English readers may have + heard, and will hear. For it is Wilhelm that hires us those "subsidized + 6,000," who go blaring about on English pay (Prince George merely + Commandant of them); and Wilhelm, furthermore, has wedded his + Heir-Apparent to an English Princess lately; [Princess Mary (age only + about seventeen), 28th June, 1740; Prince's name was Friedrich (became + Catholic, 1749; WIFE made family-manager in Consequence, &c. &c.).] + which also (as the poor young fellow became Papist by and by) costs + certain English people, among others, a good deal of trouble. Uncle + George, we say, is merely Commandant of those blaring 6,000; has had his + own real soldierings before this; his own labors, contradictions, in his + time; but has borne all patiently, and grown fat upon it, not quarrelling + with his burdens or his nourishments. Perhaps we may transiently meet him + again. + </p> + <p> + As to the Prince of Orange, him we have seen more than once in times past: + a young fellow in comparison, sprightly, reckoned clever, but somewhat + humpbacked; married an English Princess, years ago ("Papa, if he were as + ugly as a baboon!")—which fine Princess, we find, has stopt short at + Cassel, too fatigued on the present occasion. "His ESPRIT," continues + Wilhelmina, "and his conversation, delighted me. His Wife, he said, was at + Cassel; he would persuade her to come and make my acquaintance;"—could + not; too far, in this cold season. "These two Serene Highnesses would + needs take me home in their carriage; they asked the Margraf to let them + stay supper: from that hour they were never out of our house. Next + morning, by means of them, the secret had got abroad. Kur-Koln [lanky + hook-nosed gentleman, richest Pluralist in the Church] had set spies on + us; next evening he came up to me, and said, 'Madam, I know your Highness; + you must dance a measure with me!' That comes of one's head-gear getting + awry! We had nothing for it but to give up the incognito, and take our + fate!" + </p> + <p> + This dancing Elector of Koln, a man still only entering his forties, is + the new Emperor's Brother: [Clement August (Hubner, t. 134).] do readers + wonder to see him dance, being an Archbishop? The fact is certain,—let + the Three Kings and the Eleven Thousand Virgins say to it what they will. + "He talked a long time with me; presented to me the Princess Clemence his + Niece [that is to say, Wife of his Nephew ClemENT; one of the Two whom his + now Imperial Majesty saw married the other day], [Michaelis, ii. 256, 123; + Hubner, tt. 141, 134.] and then the Princess"—in fact, presented all + the three Sulzbach Princesses (for there is a youngest, still to wed),—"and + then Prince Theodor [happy Husband of the eldest], and Prince Clement + [ditto of the younger];" and was very polite indeed. How keep our + incognito, with all these people heaping civilities upon us? Let us send + to Baireuth for clothes, equipages; and retire to our country concealment + till they arrive. + </p> + <p> + "Just as we were about setting off thither, I waiting till the Margraf + were ready, the Xargraf entered, and a Lady with him; who, he informed me, + was Madame de Belleisle, the French Ambassador's Wife:"—Wife of the + great Belleisle, the soul of all these high congregatings, consultations, + coronations, who is not Kaiser but maker of Kaisers: what is to be done!—"I + had carefully avoided her; reckoning she would have pretensions I should + not be in the humor to grant. I took my resolution at the moment [being a + swift decisive creature]; and received her like any other Lady that might + have come to me. Her visit was not long. The conversation turned + altogether upon praises of the King [my Brother]. I found Madame de + Belleisle very different from the notion I had formed of her. You could + see she had moved in high company (SENTAIT SON MONDE); but her air + appeared to me that of a waiting-maid (SOUBRETTE), and her manners + insignificant." Let Madame take that. + </p> + <p> + "Monseigneur himself," when our equipages had come, "waited on me several + times,"—Monseigueur the grand Marechal de Belleisle, among the other + Principalities and Lordships: but of this lean man in black (who has done + such famous things, and will have to do the Retreat of Prag within year + and day), there is not a word farther said. Old Seckendorf too is here; + "Reich's-Governor of Philipsburg;" very ill with Austria, no wonder; and + striving to be well with the new Kaiser. Doubtless old Seckendorf made his + visit too (being of Baireuth kin withal), and snuffled his respects: much + unworthy of mention; not lovely to Wilhelmina. Prince of Orange, + hunchbacked, but sprightly and much the Prince, bore me faithful company + all the Coronation time; nor was George of Hessen-Cassel wanting, good fat + man. + </p> + <p> + Of the Coronation itself, though it was truly grand, and even of an + Oriental splendor,[<i>Anemonen,</i> ubi supra.] I will say nothing. The + poor Kaiser could not enjoy it much. He was dying of gout and gravel, and + could scarcely stand on his feet. Poor gentleman; and the French are + driven dismally out of Linz; and the Austrians are spreading like a + lava-flood or general conflagration over Baiern—Demon Mentzel, whom + they call Colonel Mentzel, he (if we knew it) is in Munchen itself, just + as we are getting crowned here! And unless King Friedrich, who is falling + into Mahren, in the flank of them, call back this Infernal Chase a little, + what hope is there in those parts!—The poor Kaiser, oftenest in his + bed, is courting all manner of German Princes,—consulting with + Seckendorfs, with cunning old stagers. He has managed to lead my Margraf + into a foolish bargain, about raising men for him. Which bargain I, on + fairly getting sight of it, persuade my Margraf to back out of; and, in + the end, he does so. Meanwhile, it detains us some time longer in + Frankfurt, which is still full of Principalities, busy with visitings and + ceremonials. + </p> + <p> + Among other things, by way of forwarding that Bargain I was so averse to, + our Official People had settled that I could not well go without having + seen the Empress, after her crowning. Foolish people; entangling me in new + intricacies! For if she is a Kaiser's Daughter and Kaiser's Spouse, am not + I somewhat too? "How a King's Daughter and an Empress are to meet, was + probably never settled by example: what number of steps down stairs does + she come? The arm-chair (FAUTEUIL), is that to be denied me?" And numerous + other questions. The official people, Baireuthers especially, are in + despair; and, in fact, there were scenes. But I held firm; and the Berlin + ambassadors tempering, a medium was struck: steps of stairs, to the due + number, are conceded me; arm-chair no, but the Empress to "take a very + small arm-chair," and I to have a big common chair (GRAND DOSSIER). So we + meet, and I have sight of this Princess, next day. + </p> + <p> + In her place, I confess I would have invented all manner of etiquettes, or + any sort of contrivance, to save myself from showing face. "Heavens! The + Empress is below middle size, and so corpulent (PUISSANTE), she looks like + a ball; she is ugly to the utmost (LAIDE AU POSSIBLE), and without air or + grace." Kaiser Joseph's youngest Daughter,—the gods, it seems, have + not been kind to her in figure or feature! And her mind corresponds to her + appearance: she is bigoted to excess; passes her nights and days in her + oratory, with mere rosaries and gaunt superstitious platitudes of that + nature; a dark fat dreary little Empress. "She was all in a tremble in + receiving me; and had so discountenanced an air, she could n't speak a + word. We took seats. After a little silence, I began the conversation, in + French. She answered me in her Austrian jargon, That she did not well + understand that language, and begged I would speak to her in German. Our + conversation was not long. Her Austrian dialect and my Lower-Saxon are so + different that, till you have practised, you are not mutually intelligible + in them. Accordingly we were not. A by-stander would have split with + laughing at the Babel we made of it; each catching only a word here and + there, and guessing the rest. This Princess was so tied to her etiquette, + she would have reckoned it a crime against the Reich to speak to me in a + foreign language; for she knew French well enough. + </p> + <p> + "The Kaiser was to have been of this visit; but he had fallen so ill, he + was considered even in danger of his life. Poor Prince, what a lot had he + achieved for himself!" reflects Wilhelmina, as we often do. He was soft, + humane, affable; had the gift of captivating hearts. Not without talent + either; but then of an ambition far disproportionate to it. "Would have + shone in the second rank, but in the first went sorrowfully eclipsed," as + they say! He could not be a great man, nor had about him any one that + could; and he needed now to be so. This is the service a Belleisle can do; + inflating a poor man to Kaisership, beyond his natural size! Crowned + Kaiser, and Mentzel just entering his Munchen the while; a Kaiser bedrid, + stranded; lying ill there of gout and gravel, with the Demon Mentzels + eating him:—well may his poor little bullet of a Kaiserinn pray for + him night and day, if that will avail!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE DUCHESS DOWAGER OF WURTEMBERG, RETURNING FROM BERLIN FAVORS US WITH + </h2> + <p> + ANOTHER VISIT. + </p> + <p> + I am sorry to say this is almost the last scene we shall get out of + Wilhelmina. She returns to Baireuth; breaks there conclusively that unwise + Frankfurt bargain; receives by and by (after several months, when much has + come and gone in the world) the returning Duchess of Wurtemberg, effulgent + Dowager "spoken of only as a Lais:" and has other adventures, alluded to + up and down, but not put in record by herself any farther.—Sorrowfully + let us hear Wilhelmina yet a little, on this Lais Duchess, who will + concern us somewhat. Dowager, much too effulgent, of the late Karl + Alexander, a Reichs-Feldmarschall (or FOURTH-PART of one, if readers could + remember) and Duke of Wurtemberg,—whom we once dined with at Prag, + in old Friedrich-Wilhelm and Prince-Eugene times:— + </p> + <p> + "This Princess, very famous on the bad side, had been at Berlin to see her + three Boys settled there, whose education she [and the STANDE of + Wurtemberg, she being Regent] had committed to the King. These Princes had + been with us on their road thither, just before their Mamma last time. The + Eldest, age fourteen, had gone quite agog (S'ETOIT AMOURACHE) about my + little Girl, age only nine; and had greatly diverted us by his little + gallantries [mark that, with an Alas!]. The Duchess, following somewhat at + leisure, had missed the King that time; who was gone for Mahren, January + 18th. ... I found this Princess wearing pretty well. Her features are + beautiful, but her complexion is faded and very yellow. Her voice is so + high and screechy, it cuts your ears; she does not want for wit, and + expresses herself well. Her manners are engaging for those whom she wishes + to gain; and with men are very free. Her way of thinking and acting offers + a strange contrast of pride and meanness. Her gallantries had brought her + into such repute that I had no pleasure in her visits." [Wilhelmina, ii. + 335.] No pleasure; though she often came; and her Eldest Prince, and my + little Girl—Well, who knows! + </p> + <p> + Besides her three Boys (one of whom, as Reigning Duke, will become + notorious enough to Wilhelmina and mankind), the Lais Duchess has left at + Berlin—at least, I guess she has now left him, in exchange perhaps + for some other—a certain very gallant, vagabond young Marquis + d'Argens, "from Constantinople" last; originally from the Provence + countries; extremely dissolute creature, still young (whom Papa has had to + disinherit), but full of good-humor, of gesticulative loyal talk, and + frothy speculation of an Anti-Jesuit turn (has written many frothy Books, + too, in that strain, which are now forgotten): who became a very great + favorite with Friedrich, and will be much mentioned in subsequent times. + </p> + <p> + "In the end of July," continues Wilhelmina, "we went to Stouccard + [Stuttgard, capital of Wurtemberg, O beautiful glib tongue!], whither the + Duchess had invited us: but—" And there we are on blank paper; our + dear Wilhelmina has ceased speaking to us: her MEMOIRS end; and oblivious + silence wraps the remainder!— + </p> + <p> + Concerning this effulgent Dowager of Wurtemberg, and her late ways at + Berlin, here, from Bielfeld, is another snatch, which we will excerpt, + under the usual conditions: + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, FEBRUARY, 1742 [real date of all that is not fabulous in + Bielfeld, who chaotically dates it "6th December" of that Year]. ... A day + or two after this [no matter WHAT] I went to the German Play, the only + spectacle which is yet fairly afoot in Berlin. In passing in, I noticed + the Duchess Dowager of Wurtemberg, who had arrived, during my absence, + with a numerous and brilliant suite, as well to salute the King and the + Queens [King off, on his Moravian Business, before she came], and to unite + herself more intimately with our Court, as to see the Three Princes her + Children settled in their new place, where, by consent of the States of + Wurtemberg, they are to be educated henceforth. + </p> + <p> + "As I had not yet had myself presented to the Duchess, I did not presume + to approach too near, and passed up into the Theatre. But she noticed me + in the side-scenes; asked who I was [such a handsome fashionable fellow], + and sent me order to come immediately and pay my respects. To be sure, I + did so; was most graciously received; and, of course, called early next + day at her Palace. Her Grand-Chamberlain had appointed me the hour of + noon. He now introduced me accordingly: but what was my surprise to find + the Princess in bed; in a negligee all new from the laundress, and the + gallantest that art could imagine! On a table, ready to her hand, at the + DOSSIER or bed-bead, stood a little Basin silver-gilt, filled with Holy + Water: the rest was decorated with extremely precious Relics, with a + Crucifix, and a Rosary of rock-crystal. Her dress, the cushions, quilt, + all was of Marseilles stuff, in the finest series of colors, garnished + with superb lace. Her cap was of Alencon lace, knotted with a ribbon of + green and gold. Figure to yourself, in this gallant deshabille, a charming + Princess, who has all the wit, perfection of manner—and is still + only thirty-seven, with a beauty that was once so brilliant! Round the + celestial bed were courtiers, doctors, almoners, mostly in devotional + postures; the three young Princes; and a Dame d'Atours, who seemed to look + slightly ENNUYEE or bored." I had the honor to kiss her Serene Highness's + hand, and to talk a great many peppered insipidities suitable to the + occasion. + </p> + <p> + Dinner followed, more properly supper, with lights kindled: "Only I cannot + dress, you know," her Highness had said; "I never do, except for the + Queen-Mother's parties;"—and rang for her maids. So that you are led + out to the Anteroom, and go grinning about, till a new and still more + charming deshabille be completed, and her Most Serene Highness can receive + you again: "Now Messieurs! Pshaw, one is always stupid, no ESPRIT at all + except by candlelight!"—After which, such a dinner, unmatchable for + elegance, for exquisite gastronomy, for Attic-Paphian brilliancy and + charm! And indeed there followed hereupon, for weeks on weeks, a series of + such unmatchable little dinners; chief parts, under that charming + Presidency, being done by "Grand-Chamberlain Baron de" Something-or-other, + "by your humble servant Bielfeld, M. Jordan, and a Marquis d'Argens, + famous Provencal gentleman now in the suite of her Highness:" [Bielfeld, + ii. 74-78.]—feasts of the Barmecide I much doubt, poor Bielfeld + being in this Chapter very fantastic, MISDATEful to a mad extent; and + otherwise, except as to general effect, worth little serious belief. + </p> + <p> + We shall meet this Paphian Dowager again (Crucifix and Myrtle joined): + meet especially her D'Argens, and her Three little Princes more or less;—wherefore, + mark slightly (besides the D'Argens as above):— + </p> + <p> + "1. The Eldest little Prince, Karl Eugen; made 'Reigning Duke' within + three years hence [Mamma falling into trouble with the STANDE]: a man + still gloomily famous in Germany [Poet Schiller's Duke of Wurtemberg], of + inarticulate, extremely arbitrary turn,—married Wilhelmina's + Daughter by and by [with horrible usage of her]; and otherwise gave + Friedrich and the world cause to think of him. + </p> + <p> + "2. The Second little Prince, Friedrich Eugen, Prussian General of some + mark, who will incidentally turn up again, He was afterwards Successor to + the Dukedom [Karl Eugen dying childless]; and married his Daughter to Paul + of Russia, from whom descend the Autocrats there to this day. + </p> + <p> + "3. Youngest little Prince, Ludwig Eugen, a respectable Prussian Officer, + and later a French one: he is that 'Duc de Wirtemberg' who corresponds + with Voltaire [inscrutable to readers, in most of the Editions]; and need + not be mentioned farther." [See Michaelis, iii. 449; Preuss, i. 476; &c. + &c.] + </p> + <p> + But enough of all this. It is time we were in Mahren, where the Expedition + must be blazing well ahead, if things have gone as expected. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter X. — FRIEDRICH DOES HIS MORAVIAN EXPEDITION WHICH PROVES A + MERE + </h2> + <p> + MORAVIAN FORAY. + </p> + <p> + While these Coronation splendors had been going on, Friedrich, in the + Moravian regions, was making experiences of a rather painful kind; his + Expedition prospering there far otherwise than he had expected. This + winter Expedition to Mahren was one of the first Friedrich had ever + undertaken on the Joint-stock Principle; and it proved of a kind rather to + disgust him with that method in affairs of war. + </p> + <p> + A deeply disappointing Expedition. The country hereabouts was in bad + posture of defence; nothing between us and Vienna itself, in a manner. + Rushing briskly forward, living on the country where needful, on that + Iglau Magazine, on one's own Sechelles resources; rushing on, with the + Saxons, with the French, emulous on the right hand and the left, a Captain + like Friedrich might have gone far; Vienna itself—who knows!—not + yet quite beyond the reach of him. Here was a way to check Khevenhuller in + his Bavarian Operations, and whirl him back, double-quick, for another + object nearer home!—But, alas, neither the Saxons nor the French + would rush on, in the least emulous. The Saxons dragged heavily arear; the + French Detachment (a poor 5,000 under Polastron, all that a captious + Broglio could be persuaded to grant) would not rush at all, but paused on + the very frontier of Moravia, Broglio so ordering, and there hung supine, + or indeed went home. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich remonstrated, argued, turned back to encourage; but it was in + vain. The Saxon Bastard Princes "lived for days in any Schloss they found + comfortable;" complaining always that there was no victual for their + Troops; that the Prussians, always ahead, had eaten the country. No end to + haggling; and, except on Friedrich's part, no hearty beginning to real + business. "If you wish at all to be 'King of Moravia,' what is this!" + thinks Friedrich justly. Broglio, too, was unmanageable,—piqued that + Valori, not Broglio, had started the thing;—showed himself captious, + dark, hysterically effervescent, now over-cautious, and again capable of + rushing blindly headlong. + </p> + <p> + To Broglio the fact at Linz, which everybody saw to be momentous, was + overwhelming. Magnanimous Segur, and his Linz "all wedged with beams," + what a road have they gone! Said so valiantly they would make defence; and + did it, scarcely for four days: January 24th; before this Expedition could + begin! True, M. le Marechal, too true:—and is that a reason for + hanging back in this Mahren business; or for pushing on in it, + double-quick, with all one's strength? "But our Conquests on the Donau," + thinks Broglio, "what will become of them,—and of us!" To Broglio, + justly apprehensive about his own posture at Prag and on the Donau, there + never was such a chance of at once raking back all Austrians homewards, + post-haste out of those countries. But Broglio could by no means see it + so,—headstrong, blusterous, over-cautious and hysterically headlong + old gentleman; whose conduct at Prag here brought Strasburg vividly to + Friedrich's memory. Upon which, as upon the ghost of Broglio's Breeches, + Valori had to hear "incessant sarcasms" at this time. + </p> + <p> + In a word, from February 5th, when Friedrich, according to bargain, + rendezvoused his Prussians at Wischau to begin this Expedition, till April + 5th, when he re-rendezvoused them (at the same Wischau, as chanced) for + the purpose of ending it and going home,—Friedrich, wrestling his + utmost with Human Stupidity, "MIT DER DUMMHEIT [as Schiller sonorously + says], against which the very gods are unvictorious," had probably two of + the most provoking months of his Life, or of this First Silesian War, + which was fruitful in such to him. For the common cause he accomplished + nearly nothing by this Moravian Expedition. But, to his own mind, it was + rich in experiences, as to the Joint-Stock Principle, as to the Partners + he now had. And it doubtless quickened his steps towards getting + personally out of this imbroglio of big French-German Wars,—home to + Berlin, with Peace and Silesia in his pocket,—which had all along + been the goal of his endeavors. As a feat of war it is by no means worth + detailing, in this place,—though succinct Stille, and bulkier German + Books give lucid account, should anybody chance to be curious. [Stille, <i>Campaigns + of the King of Prussia,</i> i. 1-55; <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. + 548-611; <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> ii. 110-114; Orlich, ii.; &c. + &c.] Only under the other aspect, as Friedrich's experience of + Partnership, and especially of his now Partners, are present readers + concerned to have, in brief form, some intelligible notion of it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IGLAU IS GOT, BUT NOT THE MAGAZINE AT IGLAU. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich was punctual at Wischau; Head-quarters there (midway between + Olmutz and Brunn), Prussians all assembled, 5th February, 1742. Wischau is + some eighty miles EAST or inward of Iglau; the French and Saxons are to + meet us about Trebitsch, a couple of marches from that Teutschbrod of + theirs, and well within one march of Iglau, on our route thither. The + French and Saxons are at Trebitsch, accordingly; but their minds and wills + seem to be far elsewhere. Rutowsky and the Chevalier de Saxe command the + Saxons (20,000 strong on paper, 16,000 in reality); Comte de Polastron the + French, who are 5,000, all Horse. Along with whom, professedly as French + Volunteer, has come the Comte de Saxe, capricious Maurice (Marechal de + Saxe that will be), who has always viewed this Expedition with disfavor. + Excellency Valori is with the French Detachment, or rather poor Valori is + everywhere; running about, from quarter to quarter, sometimes to Prag + itself; assiduous to heal rents everywhere; clapping cement into manifold + cracks, from day to day. Through Valori we get some interesting glimpses + into the secret humors and manoeuvres of Comte Maurice. It is known + otherwise Comte Maurice was no friend to Belleisle, but looked for his + promotion from the opposite or Noailles party, in the French Court: at + present, as Valori perceives, he has got the ear of Broglio, and put much + sad stuff into the loud foolish mind of him. + </p> + <p> + To these Saxon gentlemen, being Bastard-Royal and important to conciliate, + Friedrich has in a high-flown way assigned the Schloss of Budischau for + quarters, an excellent superbly magnificent mansion in the neighborhood of + Trebitsch, "nothing like it to be seen except in theatres, on the + Drop-scene of <i>The Enchanted Island;"</i> [Stille, <i>Campaigns,</i> p. + 14.] where they make themselves so comfortable, says Friedrich, there is + no getting them roused to do anything for three days to come. And yet the + work is urgent, and plenty of it. "Iglau, first of all," urges Friedrich, + "where the Austrians, 10,000 or so, under Prince Lobkowitz, have posted + themselves [right flank of that long straggle of Winter Cantonments, which + goes leftwards to Budweis and farther], and made Magazines: possession of + Iglau is the foundation-stone of our affairs. And if we would have Iglau + WITH the Magazines and not without, surely there is not a moment to be + wasted!" In vain; the Saxon Bastard Princes feel themselves very + comfortable. It was Sunday the 11th of February, when our junction with + them was completed: and, instead of next morning early, it is Wednesday + afternoon before Prince Dietrich of Anhalt-Dessau, with the Saxon and + French party roused to join his Prussians and him, can at last take the + road for Iglau. Prince Dietrich makes now the reverse of delay; marches + all night, "bivouacs in woods near Iglau," warming himself at stick-fires + till the day break; takes Iglau by merely marching into it and scattering + 2,000 Pandours, so soon as day has broken; but finds the Magazines not + there. Lobkowitz carted off what he could, then burnt "Seventeen Barns + yesterday;" and is himself off towards Budweis Head-quarters and the + Bohemian bogs again. This comes of lodging Saxon royal gentlemen too well. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SAXONS THINK IGLAU ENOUGH; THE FRENCH GO HOME. + </h2> + <p> + Nay, Iglau taken, the affair grows worse than ever. Our Saxons now declare + that they understand their orders to be completed; that their Court did + not mean them to march farther, but only to hold by Iglau, a solid footing + in Moravia, which will suffice for the present. Fancy Friedrich; fancy + Valori, and the cracks he will have to fill! Friedrich, in astonishment + and indignation, sends a messenger to Dresden: "Would the Polish Majesty + BE 'King of Moravia,' then, or not be?" Remonstrances at Budischau rise + higher and higher; Valori, to prevent total explosion, flies over once, in + the dead of the night, to deal with Rutowsky and Brothers. Rutowsky + himself seems partly persuadable, though dreadfully ill of rheumatism. + They rouse Comte Maurice; and Valori, by this Comte's caprices, is driven + out of patience. "He talked with a flippant sophistry, almost with an + insolence" says Valori; "nay, at last, he made me a gesture in speaking,"—what + gesture, thumb to nose, or what, the shuddering imagination dare not + guess! But Valori, nettled to the quick, "repeated it," and otherwise gave + him as good as he brought. "He ended by a gesture which displeased me"—"and + went to bed." [Valori, i. 148, 149.] This is the night of February 18th; + third night after Iglau was had, and the Magazines in it gone to ashes. + Which the Saxons think is conquest enough. + </p> + <p> + Poor Polish Majesty, poor Karl Albert, above all, now "Kaiser Karl VII.," + with nothing but those French for breath to his nostrils! With his fine + French Army of the Oriflamme, Karl Albert should have pushed along last + Autumn; and not merely "read the Paper" which Friedrich sent him to that + effect, "and then laid it aside." They will never have another chance, his + French and he,—unless we call this again a chance; which they are + again squandering! Linz went by capitulation; January 24th, the very day + of one's "Election" as they called it: and ever since that day of Linz, + the series of disasters has continued rapid and uniform in those parts. + Linz gone, the rest of the French posts did not even wait to capitulate; + but crackled all off, they and our Conquests on the Donau, like a train of + gunpowder, and left the ground bare. And General von Barenklau + (BEAR'S-CLAW), with the hideous fellow called Mentzel, Colonel of + Pandours, they have broken through into Bavaria itself, from the Tyrol; + climbing by Berchtesgaden and the wild Salzburg Mountains, regardless of + Winter, and of poor Bavarian militia-folk;—and have taken Munchen, + one's very Capital, one's very House and Home!—Poor Karl Albert,—and, + what is again remarkable, it was the very day while he was getting + "crowned" at Frankfurt, "with Oriental pomp," that Mentzel was about + entering Munchen with his Pandours. [Coronation was February 12th; + Capitulation to Mentzel, "Munchen, February 13th," is in <i> Guerre de + Boheme,</i> ii. 56-59.] And this poor Archduke of the Austrian, King of + Bohemia, Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich Teutsch by Nation, is becoming + Titular merely, and owns next to nothing in these extensive Sovereignties. + Judge if there is not call for despatch on all sides!—The Polish + Majesty sent instant rather angry order to his Saxons, "Forward, with you; + what else! We would be King in Mahren!" + </p> + <p> + The Saxons then have to march forward; but we can fancy with what a will. + Rutowsky flings up his command on this Order (let us hope, from rheumatism + partly), and goes home; leaving the Chevalier de Saxe to preside in room + of him. As for Polastron, he produces Order from Broglio, "Iglau got, + return straightway;" must and will cross over into Bohemia again; and + does. Nay, the Comte de Saxe had, privately in his pocket, a Commission to + supersede Polastron, and take command himself, should Polastron make + difficulties about turning back. Poor Polastron made no difficulties: + Maurice and he vanish accordingly from this Adventure, and only the + unwilling Saxons remain with Friedrich. Poor Polastron ("a poor weak + creature," says Friedrich, "fitter for his breviary than anything else") + fell sick, from the hardships of campaigning; and soon died, in those + Bohemian parts. Maurice is heard of, some weeks hence, besieging Eger;—very + handsomely capturing Eger: [19th April, 1742 (<i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> ii. + 78-65).]—on which service Broglio had ordered him after his return. + The former Commandant of the Siege, not very progressive, had just died; + and Broglio, with reason (all the more for his late Moravian procedures) + was passionate to have done there. One of the first auspicious exploits of + Maurice, that of Eger; which paved the way to his French fortunes, and + more or less sublime glories, in this War. Friedrich recognizes his + ingenuities, impetuosities, and superior talent in war; wrote high-flown + Letters of praises, now and then, in years coming; but, we may guess, + would hardly wish to meet Maurice in the way of joint-stock business + again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH SUBMERGES THE MORAVIAN COUNTRIES; BUT CANNOT BRUNN, WHICH IS + </h2> + <p> + THE INDISPENSABLE POINT. + </p> + <p> + February 19th, these sad Iglau matters once settled, Friedrich, followed + by the Saxons, plunges forward into Moravia; spreads himself over the + country, levying heavy contributions, with strict discipline nevertheless; + intent to get hold of Brunn and its Spielberg, if he could. Brunn is the + strong place of Moravia; has a garrison of 6 or 7,000; still better, has + the valiant Roth, whom we knew in Neisse once, for Commandant: Brunn will + not be had gratis. + </p> + <p> + Schwerin, with a Detachment of 6,000 horse and foot, Posadowsky, Ziethen, + Schmettau Junior commanding under him, has dashed along far in the van; + towards Upper Austria, through the Town of Horn, towards Vienna itself; + levying, he also, heavy contributions,—with a hand of iron, and not + much of a glove on it, as we judge. There is a grim enough Proclamation + (in the name of a "frightfully injured Kaiser," as well as Kaiser's Ally), + still extant, bearing Schwerin's signature, and the date "STEIN, 26th Feb. + 1742." [In <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 556.] Stein is on the Donau, a + mile or two from Krems, and twice as far from Mautern, where the now + Kaiser was in Autumn last. Forty and odd miles short of Vienna: this + proved the Pisgah of Schwerin in that direction, as it had done of Karl + Albert. Ziethen, with his Hussars coursed some 20 miles farther, on the + Vienna Highway; and got the length of Stockerau; a small Town, notable + slightly, ever since, as the Prussian NON-PLUS-ULTRA in that line. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Prince Lobkowitz is rallying; has quitted Budweis and the + Bohemian Bogs, for some check of these insolences. Lobkowitz, rallying to + himself what Vienna force there is, comes, now in good strength, to + Waidhofen (rearward of Horn, far rearward of Stein and Stockerau), so that + Ziethen and Schwerin have to draw homeward again. Lobkowitz fortifies + himself in Waidhofen; gathers Magazines there, as if towards weightier + enterprises. For indeed much is rallying, in a dangerous manner; and + Moravia is now far other than when Friedrich planned this Expedition. And + at Vienna, 25th February last, there was held Secret Council, and (much to + Robinson's regret) a quite high Resolution come to,—which Friedrich + gets to know of, and does not forget again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE SAXONS HAVE NO CANNON FOR BRUNN, CANNOT AFFORD ANY; THERE IS A HIGH + </h2> + <p> + RESOLUTION TAKEN AT VIENNA (February 25th): FRIEDRICH QUITS THE MORAVIAN + ENTERPRISE. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich keeps his Head-quarter, all this while, closer and closer upon + Brunn. First, chiefly at a Town called Znaim, on the River Taya; + many-branched river, draining all those Northwestern parts; which sends + its widening waters down to Presburg,—latterly in junction with + those of the Morawa from North, which washes Olmutz, drains the Northern + and Eastern parts, and gives the Country its name of "Moravia." Brunn lies + northeast of Friedrich, while in Znaim, some fifty miles; the Saxon + head-quarter is at Kromau, midway towards that City. After Znaim, he + shifts inward, to Selowitz, still in the same Taya Valley, but much nearer + Brunn; and there continues. [At Znaim, 19th February-9th March; at + Selowitz, 13th March-5th April (Rodenbeck, i. 65).] + </p> + <p> + Striving hard for Brunn; striving hard, under difficulties, for so many + things distant and near; we may fancy him busy enough;—and are + surprised at the fractions of light Jordan Correspondence which he still + finds time for. Pretty bits of Letters, in prose and doggerel, from and to + those Moravian Villages; Jordan, "twice a week," bearing the main weight; + Friedrich, oftener than one could hope, flinging some word of answer,—very + intent on Berlin gossip, we can notice. "Vattel is still here, your + Majesty," [<i>OEuvres,</i> xvii. 163, &c.] insinuates Jordan:—young + Vattel, afterwards of the DROIT DES GENS, whom his Majesty might have + kept, but did not.—What more of your D'Argens, then; anything in + your D'Argens? Friedrich will ask. "For certain, D'Argens is full of + ESPRIT," answers Jordan, in a dexterous way; and How the Effulgent of + Wurtemberg" has quarrelled outright with her D'Argens, and will not eat + off silver (D'ARGENT), lest she have to name him by accident!"—with + other gossip, in a fine brief airy form, at which Jordan excels. Cheering + the rare leisure hour, in one's Tent at Selowitz, Pohrlitz, Irrlitz, far + away!—There are also orders about CICERO and Books. Of Business for + most part, or of private feelings, nothing: Berlin gossip, and Books for + one's reading, are the staple. But to return. + </p> + <p> + Out from Head-quarters, diligent operations shoot forth, far enough, along + those Taya-Morawa Valleys, where Hungarian "Insurgents" are beginning to + be dangerous. South of Brunn, all round Brunn, are diligent operations, + frequent skirmishings, constant strict levyings of contributions. The + saving operation, Friedrich well sees, would be to get hold of Brunn: but, + unluckily, How? Vigilant Roth scorns all summoning; sallies continually in + a dangerous manner; and at length, when closer pressed, burns all the + Villages round him: "we counted as many as sixteen villages laid in + ashes," says Friedrich. Here is small comfort of outlook. + </p> + <p> + And then the Saxons, at Kromau or wherever they may be: no end of trouble + and vexation with these Saxons. Their quarters are not fairly allotted, + they say; we make exchange of quarters, without improvement noticeable. + "One fine day, on some slight alarm, they came rushing over to us, all in + panic; ruined, merely by Pandour noises, had not we marched them back, and + reinstated them." Friedrich sends to Silesia for reinforcements of his + own, which he can depend upon. Sends to Silesia, to Glatz and the Young + Dessauer;—nay to Brandenburg and the Old Dessauer? ultimately. + Finding Roth would not yield, he has sent to Dresden for Siege-Artillery: + Polish Majesty there, titular "King of Moravia," answers that he cannot + meet the expense of carriage. "He had just purchased a green diamond which + would have carried them thither and back again:" What can be done with + such a man?—And by this time, early in March, Hungarian "MORIAMUR + PRO REGE" begins to show itself. Clouds of Hungarian Insurgents, of the + Tolpatch, Pandour sort, mount over the Carpathians on us, all round the + east, from south to north; and threaten to penetrate Silesia itself. So + that we have to sweep laboriously the Morawa-Taya Valleys; and undertake + first one and then another outroad, or sharp swift sally, against those + troublesome barbarians. + </p> + <p> + And more serious still, Prince Karl and the regular Army, quickened by + such Khevenhuller-Barenklau successes in the Donau Countries, are + beginning to stir. Prince Karl, returning from Vienna and its + consultations, took command, 4th March; [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. + 557.] with whom has come old Graf von Konigseck, an experienced head to + advise with; Prince Karl is in motion, skirting us southward, about + Waidhofen, where Lobkowitz lay waiting him with Magazines ready. Rumor + says, the force in those parts is already 40,000, with more daily coming + in. Friedrich has of his own, apart from the Saxons, some 24,000. Prince + Karl, with so many heavy troops, and with unlimited supply of light, is + very capable of doing mischief: he has orders (and Friedrich now knows of + it) To go in upon us;—such their decision in Secret Council at + Vienna, on the 25th of February last, That he must go and fight us:—"Better + we met him with fewer thrums on our hands!" thinks Friedrich; and beckons + the Old Dessauer out of Brandenburg withal. "Swift, your Serenity; + hitherward with 20,000!" Which the Old Dessauer (having 30,000 to pick + from, late Camp-of-Gottin people) at once sets about. Will be a security, + in any event! [Orlich, i. 221: Date of the Order, "13th March, 1742."] To + finish with Brunn, Friedrich has sent for Siege-Artillery of his own; he + urges Chevalier de Saxe to close with him round Brunn, and batter it + energetically into swift surrender. Is it not the one thing needful? + Chevalier de Saxe admits, half promises; does not perform. Being again + urged, Why have not you performed? he answers, "Alas, your Majesty, here + are Orders for me to join Marshal Broglio at Prag, and retire altogether + out of this!" + </p> + <p> + "Altogether out of it," thinks Friedrich to himself: "may all the Powers + be thanked! Then I too, without disgrace, can go altogether out of it;—and + it shall be a sharp eye that sees me in joint-stock with you again, M. le + Chevalier." Friedrich has written in his HISTORY, and Valori used to hear + him often say in words, Never were tidings welcomer than these, that the + Saxons were about to desert him in this manner. Go: and may all the Devils—But + we will not fall into profane swearing. It is proper to get out of this + Enterprise at one's best speed, and never get into the like of it again! + Friedrich (on this strange Saxon revelation, 30th March) takes instant + order for assembling at Wischau again, for departing towards Olmutz; + thence homewards, with deliberate celerity, by the Landskron + mountain-country, Tribau, Zwittau, Leutomischl, and the way he came. He + has countermanded his Silesian reinforcements; these and the rest shall + rendezvous at Chrudim in Bohemia; whitherwards the two Dessauers are + bound:—in Brunn, with its wrecked environs, famed Spielberg looking + down from its conical height, and sixteen villages in ashes, Roth shall do + his own way henceforth. + </p> + <p> + The Saxons pushed straight homewards; did not "rejoin Broglio," rejoin + anybody,—had, in fact, done with this First Silesian War, as it + proved; and were ready for the OPPOSITE side, on a Second falling out! + Their march, this time, was long and harassing,—sad bloody passage + in it, from Pandours and hostile Village-people, almost at starting, "four + Companies of our Rear-guard cut down to nine men; Village burnt, and + Villagers exterminated (SIC), by the rescuing party." [Details in <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 606; in &c. &c.] They arrived at Leitmeritz and their own + Border, "hardly above 8,000 effective." Naturally, in a highly indignant + humor; and much disposed to blame somebody. To the poor Polish + NON-Moravian Majesty, enlightened by his Bruhls and Staff-Officers, it + became a fixed truth that the blame was all Friedrich's,—"starving + us, marching us about!"—that Friedrich's conduct to us was + abominable, and deserved fixed resentment. Which accordingly it got, from + the simple Polish Majesty, otherwise a good-natured creature;—got, + and kept. To Friedrich's very great astonishment, and to his considerable + disadvantage, long after! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's look, when Valori met him again coming home from this Moravian + Futility, was "FAROUCHE," fierce and dark; his laugh bitter, sardonic; + harsh mockery, contempt and suppressed rage, looking through all he said. + A proud young King, getting instructed in several things, by the stripes + of experience. Look in that young Portrait by Pesne, the full cheeks, and + fine mouth capable of truculence withal, the brow not unused to knit + itself, and the eyes flashing out in sharp diligent inspection, of a + somewhat commanding nature. We can fancy the face very impressive upon + Valori in these circumstances. Poor Valori has had dreadful work; running + to and fro, with his equipages breaking, his servants falling all sick, + his invaluable D'Arget (Valori's chief Secretary, whom mark) quite + disabled; and Valori's troubles are not done. He has been to Prag lately; + is returning futile, as usual. Driving through the Mountains to rejoin + Friedrich, he meets the Prussians in retreat; learns that the Pandours, + extremely voracious, are ahead; that he had better turn, and wait for his + Majesty about Chrudim in the Elbe region, upon highways, and within reach + of Prag. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, on the 5th of April, is in full march out of the Moravian + Countries,—which are now getting submerged in deluges of Pandours; + towards the above-said Chrudim, whereabouts his Magazines lie, where + privately he intends to wait for Prince Karl, and that Vienna Order of the + 25th February, with hands clearer of thrums. The march goes in proper + columns, dislocations; Prince Dietrich, on the right, with a separate + Corps, bent else-whither than to Chrudim, keeps off the Pandours. A march + laborious, mountainous, on roads of such quality; but, except + baggage-difficulties and the like, nothing material going wrong. "On the + 13th [April], we marched to Zwittau, over the Mountain of Schonhengst. The + passage over this Mountain is very steep; but not so impracticable as it + had been represented; because the cannon and wagons can be drawn round the + sides of it." [Stille, p. 86.] Yes;—and readers may (in fancy) look + about them from the top; for we shall go this road again, sixteen years + hence; hardly in happier circumstances! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich gets to Chrudim, April 17th; there meets the Young Dessauer with + his forces: by and by the Old Dessauer, too, comes to an Interview there + (of which shortly). The Old Dessauer—his 20,000 not with him, at the + moment, but resting some way behind, till he return—is to go + eastward with part of them; eastward, Troppau-Jablunka way, and drive + those Pandour Insurgencies to their own side of the Mountains: a job Old + Leopold likes better than that of the Gottin Camp of last year. Other part + of the 20,000 is to reinforce Young Leopold and the King, and go into + cantonments and "refreshment-quarters" here at Chrudim. Here, living on + Bohemia, with Silesia at their back, shall the Troops repose a little; and + be ready for Prince Karl, if he will come on. That is what Friedrich looks + to, as the main Consolation left. + </p> + <p> + In Moravia, now overrun with Pandours, precursors of Prince Karl, he has + left Prince Dietrich of Anhalt, able still to maintain himself, with + Olmutz as Head-quarters, for a calculated term of days: Dietrich is, with + all diligence, to collect Magazines for that Jablunka-Troppau Service, and + march thither to his Father with the same (cutting his way through those + Pandour swarms); and leaving Mahren as bare as possible, for Prince Karl's + behoof. All which Prince Dietrich does, in a gallant, soldier-like, + prudent and valiant manner,—with details of danger well fronted, of + prompt dexterity, of difficulty overcome; which might be interesting to + soldier students, if there were among us any such species; but cannot be + dwelt upon here. It is a march of 60 or 70 miles (northeast, not northwest + as Friedrich's had been), through continual Pandours, perils and + difficulties:—met in the due way by Prince Dietrich, whose toils and + valors had been of distinguished quality in this Moravian Business. Take + one example, not of very serious nature (in the present March to Troppau):— + </p> + <p> + "OLISCHAU, EVENING OF APRIL 21st. Just as we were getting into Olischau + [still only in the environs of Olmutz], the Vanguard of Prince Karl's Army + appeared on the Heights. It did not attack; but retired, Olmutz way, for + the night. Prince Dietrich, not doubting but it would return next day, + made the necessary preparations overnight. Nothing of it returned next + day; Prince Dietrich, therefore, in the night of April 22d, pushed forward + his sick-wagons, meal-wagons, heavy baggage, peaceably to Sternberg; and, + at dawn on the morrow, followed with his army, Cavalry ahead, Infantry to + rear;" nothing whatever happening,—unless this be a kind of thing:—"Our + Infantry had scarcely got the last bridge broken down after passing it, + when the roofs of Olischau seemed as it were to blow up; the Inhabitants + simultaneously seizing that moment, and firing, with violent diligence, a + prodigious number of shot at us,—no one of which, owing to their + hurry and the distance, took any effect;" [Stille, p. 50.] but only + testified what their valedictory humor was. + </p> + <p> + Or again—(Place, this time, is UNGARISCH-BROD, near Goding on the + Moravian-Hungarian Frontier, date MARCH 13th; one of those swift Outroads, + against Insurgents or "Hungarian Militias" threatening to gather):—... + "Godinq on our Moravian side of the Border, and then Skalitz on their + Hungarian, being thus finished, we make for Ungarisch-Brod," the next + nucleus of Insurgency. And there is the following minute phenomenon,—fit + for a picturesque human memory: "As this, from Skalitz to Ungarisch-Brod, + is a long march, and the roads were almost impassable, Prince Dietrich + with his Corps did not arrive till after dark. So that, having + sufficiently blocked the place with parties of horse and foot, he had, in + spite of thick-falling snow, to wait under the open sky for daylight. In + which circumstances, all that were not on sentry lay down on their arms;" + slept heartily, we hope; "and there was half an ell of snow on them, when + day broke." [BERICHT VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES &c. (in Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> + i. p. 508).] When day broke, and they shook themselves to their feet + again,—to the astonishment of Ungarisch-Brod!... + </p> + <p> + There had been fine passages of arms, throughout, in this Business, round + Brunn, in the March home, and elsewhere; and Friedrich is well contented + with the conduct of his men and generals,—and dwells afterwards with + evident satisfaction on some of the feats they did. [For instance, + TRUCHSESS VON WALDBURG'S fine bit of Spartanism (14th March, at Lesch, + near Brunn, near AUSTERLITZ withal), which was much celebrated; King + himself, from Selowitz, heard the cannonading (Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> + i. 518-520). Selchow's feat (ib. 521). Fouquet's (this is the CAPTAIN + Fonquet, with "MY two candles, Sir," of the old Custrin-Prison time; who + is dear to Friedrich ever since, and to the end): "Account of Fouquet's + Grenadier Battalion, to and at Fulnek, January-April, 1742 (is in <i>Feldzuge + der Preussen,</i> i. 176-184); especially his March, from Fulnek, + homewards, part of Prince Dietrich's that way (in Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> + i. 510-515). With various others (in SEYFARTH and FELDZUGE): well worth + reading till you understand them.] I am sorry to say, General Schwerin has + taken pique at this preference of the Old Dessauer for the Troppau + Anti-Pandour Operation; and is home in a huff: not to reappear in active + life for some years to come. "The Little Marlborough,"—so they call + him (for he was at Blenheim, and has abrupt hot ways),—will not + participate in Prince Karl's consolatory Visit, then! Better so, thinks + Friedrich perhaps (remembering Mollwitz): "This is the freak of an + imitation ANGLAIS!" sneers he, in mentioning it to Jordan.—Friedrich's + Synopsis of this Moravian Failure of an Expedition, in answer to Jordan's + curiosity about it,—curiosity implied, not expressed by the modest + Jordan, is characteristic:— + </p> + <p> + "Moravia, which is a very bad Country, could not be held, owing to want of + victual; and the Town of Brunn could not be taken, because the Saxons had + no cannon; and when you wish to enter a Town, you must first make a hole + to get in by. Besides, the Country has been reduced to such a state: that + the Enemy cannot subsist in it, and you will soon see him leave it. There + is your little military lesson; I would not have you at a loss what to + think of our Operations; or what to say, should other people talk of them + in your presence!" [Friedrich to Jordan (<i>OEuvres,</i> xvii. 196), + Chrudim, 5th May, 1742.] + </p> + <p> + "Winter Campaigns," says Friedrich elsewhere, much in earnest, and looking + back on this thing long afterwards, "Winter Campaigns are bad, and should + always be avoided, except in cases of necessity. The best Army in the + world is liable to be ruined by them. I myself have made more Winter + Campaigns than any General of this Age; but there were reasons. Thus:— + </p> + <p> + "In 1740," Winter Campaign which we saw, "there were hardly above two + Austrian regiments in Silesia, at Karl VI.'s death. Being determined to + assert my right to that Duchy, I had to try it at once, in winter, and + carry the war, if possible, to the Banks of the Neisse. Had I waited till + spring, we must have begun the war between Crossen and Glogau; what was + now to be gained by one march would then have cost us three or four + campaigns. A sufficient reason, this, for campaigning in winter. + </p> + <p> + "If I did not succeed in the Winter Campaign of 1742," Campaign which we + have just got out of, "which I made with a design to deliver the Elector + of Bavaria's Country, then overrun by Austria, it was because the French + acted like fools, and the Saxons like traitors." Mark that deliberate + opinion. + </p> + <p> + "In 1745-46," Winter Campaign which we expect to see, "the Austrians + having got Silesia, it was necessary to drive them out. The Saxons and + they had formed a design to enter my Hereditary Dominions, to destroy them + with fire and sword. I was beforehand with them. I carried the War into + the heart of Saxony." [MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN BY &c. + "translated by an Officer" (London, 1762), pp. 171, 172. One of the best, + or altogether the best, of Friedrich's excellent little Books written + successively (thrice-PRIVATE, could they have been kept so) for the + instruction of his Officers. Is to be found now in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxviii. (that is vol. i. of the <i>"OEuvres Militaires,"</i> which occupy + 3 vols.) pp. 4 et seqq.] + </p> + <p> + Digesting many bitter-enough thoughts, Friedrich has cantoned about + Chrudim; expecting, in grim composed humor, the one Consolation there can + now be. February 25th, as readers well know, the Majesty of Hungary and + her Aulic Council had decided, "One stroke more, O Excellency Robinson; + one Battle more for our Silesian jewel of the crown! If beaten, we will + then give it up; oh, not till then!" Robinson and Hyndford,—imagination + may faintly represent their feelings, on the wilful downbreak of + Klein-Schnellendorf; or what clamor and urgency the Majesty of Britain and + they have been making ever since. But they could carry it no further: "One + stroke more!" + </p> + <p> + At Chrudim, and to the right and the left of it, sprinkled about in long, + very thin, elliptic shape (thirty or forty miles long, but capable of + coalescing "within eight-and-forty hours"), there lies Friedrich: the Elbe + River is behind him; beyond Elbe are his Magazines, at Konigsgratz, + Nimburg, Podiebrad, Pardubitz; the Giant Mountains, and world of Bohemian + Hills, closing-in the background, far off: that is his position, if + readers will consult their Map. The consolatory Visit, he privately + thinks, cannot be till the grass come; that is, not till June, two months + hence; but there also he was a little mistaken. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XI. —NUSSLER IN NEISSE, WITH THE OLD DESSAUER AND WALRAVE. + </h2> + <p> + The Old Dessauer with part of his 20,000,—aided by Boy Dietrich + (KNABE, "Knave Dietrich," as one might fondly call him) and the Moravian + Meal-wagons,—accomplished his Troppau-Jablunka Problem perfectly + well; cleaning the Mountains, and keeping them clean, of that Pandour + rabble, as he was the man to do. Nor would his Expedition require + mentioning farther,—were it not for some slight passages of a purely + Biographical character; first of all, for certain rubs which befell + between his Majesty and him. For example, once, before that Interview at + Chrudim, just on entering Bohemia thitherward, Old Leopold had seen good + to alter his march-route; and—on better information, as he thought + it, which proved to be worse—had taken a road not prescribed to him. + Hearing of which, Friedrich reins him up into the right course, in this + sharp manner:— + </p> + <p> + "CHRUDIM, 21st APRIL. I am greatly surprised that your Serenity, as an old + Officer, does not more accurately follow my orders which I give you. If + you were skilfuler than Caesar, and did not with strict accuracy observe + my orders, all else were of no help to me. I hope this notice, once for + all, will be enough; and that in time coming you will give no farther + causes to complain." [King to Furst Leopold (Orlich, i. 219-221).] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, on their meeting at Chrudim, was the same man as ever. But the + old Son of Gunpowder stood taciturn, rigorous, in military business + attitude, in the King's presence; had not forgotten the passage; and + indeed he kept it in mind for long months after. And during all this + Ober-Schlesien time, had the hidden grudge in his heart;—doing his + day's work with scrupulous punctuality; all the more scrupulous, they say. + Friedrich tried, privately through Leopold Junior, some slight touches of + assuagement; but without effect; and left the Senior to Time, and to his + own methods of cooling again. + </p> + <p> + Besides that of keeping down Hungarian Enterprises in the Mountains, Old + Leopold had, as would appear, to take some general superintendence in + Ober-Schlesien; and especially looks after the new Fortification-work + going on in those parts. Which latter function brought him often to + Neisse, and into contact with the ugly Walrave, Engineer-in-Chief there. A + much older and much worthier acquaintance of ours, Herr + Boundary-Commissioner Nussler, happens also to be in Neisse;—waiting + for those Saxon Gentlemen; who are unpunctual to a degree, and never come + (nor in fact ever will, if Nussler knew it). Luckily Nussler kept a + Notebook; and Busching ultimately got it, condensed it, printed it;—whereby + (what is rare, in these Dryasdust labyrinths, inane spectralities and + cinder-mountains) there is sudden eyesight vouchsafed; and we discern + veritably, far off, brought face to face for an instant, this and that! I + must translate some passages,—still farther condensed:— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW NUSSLER HAPPENED TO BE IN NEISSE, MAY, 1742. + </h2> + <p> + Nussler had been in this Country, off and on, almost since Christmas last; + ready here, if the Saxons had been ready. As the Saxons were not ready, + and always broke their appointment, Nussler had gone into the Mountains, + to pass time usefully, and take preliminary view of the ground. + </p> + <p> + ... "From Berlin, 20th December, 1741; by Breslau,"—where some pause + and correspondence;—"thence on, Neisse way, as far as Lowen [so well + known to Friedrich, that Mollwitz night!]. From Berlin to Lowen, Nussler + had come in a carriage: but as there was much snow falling, he here took a + couple of sledges; in which, along with his attendants, he proceeded some + fifty miles, to Jauernik, a stage beyond Neisse, to the southwest. + Jauernik is a little Town lying at the foot of a Hill, on the top of which + is the Schloss of Johannisberg. Here it began to rain; and the getting up + the Hill, on sledges, was a difficult matter. The DROST [Steward] of this + Castle was a Nobleman from Brunswick-Luneburg; who, for the sake of a + marriage and this Drostship for dowry, had changed from Protestant to + Roman Catholic,"—poor soul! "His wife and he were very polite, and + showed Nussler a great deal of kindness. Nussler remarked on the left side + of this Johannisberg," western side a good few miles off, "the pass which + leads from Glatz to Upper and Lower Schlesien,"—where the reader too + has been, in that BAUMGARTEN SKIRMISH, if he could remember it,—"with + a little Block-house in the bottom," and no doubt Prussian soldiers in it + at the moment. "Nussler, intent always on the useful, did not institute + picturesque reflections; but considered that his King would wish to have + this Pass and Block-house; and determined privately, though it perhaps lay + rather beyond the boundary-mark, that his Master must have it when the + bargaining should come.... + </p> + <p> + "On the homeward survey of these Borders, Nussler arrived at Steinau + [little Village with Schloss, which we saw once, on the march to Mollwitz, + and how accident of fire devoured it that night], and at sight of the + burnt Schloss standing black there, he remembered with great emotion the + Story of Grafin von Callenberg [dead since, with her pistols and + brandy-bottle] and of the Grafin's Daughter, in which he had been + concerned as a much-interested witness, in old times.... For the rest, the + journey, amid ice and snow, was not only troublesome in the extreme, but + he got a life-long gout by it [and no profit to speak of]; having sunk, + once, on thin ice, sledge and he, into a half-frozen stream, and got + wetted to the loins, splashing about in such cold manner,—happily + not quite drowned." The indefatigable Nussler; working still, like a very + artist, wherever bidden, on wages miraculously low. + </p> + <p> + The Saxon Gentlemen never came;—privately the Saxons were quite off + from the Silesian bargain, and from Friedrich altogether;—so that + this border survey of Nussler's came to nothing, on the present occasion. + But it served him and Friedrich well, on a new boundary-settling, which + did take effect, and which holds to this day. Nussler, during these + operations, and vain waitings for the Saxons, had Neisse for + head-quarters; and, going and returning, was much about Neisse; Walrave, + Marwitz (Father of Wilhelmina's baggage Marwitz), Feldmarschall Schwerin + (in earlier stages), and other high figures, being prominent in his circle + there. + </p> + <p> + "The old Prince of Dessau came thither: for some days. [Busching, <i>Beitrage,</i> + i. 347 (beginning of May as we guess, but there is no date given).] He was + very gracious to Nussler, who had been at his Court, and known him before + this. The Old Dessauer made use of Walrave's Plate; usually had Walrave, + Nussler, and other principal figures to dinner. Walrave's Plate, every + piece of it, was carefully marked with a RAVEN on the rim,—that + being his crest ["Wall-raven" his name]: Old Dessauer, at sight of so many + images of that bird, threw out the observation, loud enough, from the top + of the table, 'Hah, Walrave, I see you are making yourself acquainted with + the RAVENS in time, that they may not be strange to you at last,'"—when + they come to eat you on the gibbet! (not a soft tongue, the Old + Dessauer's). "Another day, seeing Walrave seated between two Jesuit + Guests, the Prince said: 'Ah, there you are right, Walrave; there you sit + safe; the Devil can't get you there!' As the Prince kept continually + bantering him in this strain, Walrave determined not to come; sulkily + absented himself one day: but the Prince sent the ORDINANZ (Soldier in + waiting) to fetch him; no refuge in sulks. + </p> + <p> + "They had Roman-Catholic victual for Walrave and others of that faith, on + the meagre-days; but Walrave eat right before him,—evidently nothing + but the name of Catholic. Indeed, he was a man hated by the Catholics, for + his special rapacity on them. 'He is of no religion at all,' said the + Catholic Prelate of Neisse, one day, to Nussler; (greedy to plunder the + Monasteries here; has wrung gold, silver aud jewels from them,—nay + from the Pope himself,—by threatening to turn Protestant, and use + the Monasteries still worse. And the Pope, hearing of this, had to send + him a valuable Gift, which you may see some day.' Nussler did, one day, + see this preciosity: a Crucifix, ebony bordered with gold, and the Body + all of that metal, on the smallest of altars,—in Walrave's bedroom. + But it was the bedroom itself which Nussler looked at with a shudder," + Nussler and we: "in the middle of it stood Walrave's own bed, on his right + hand that of his Wife, and on his left that of his Mistress:"—a + brutish polygamous Walrave! "This Mistress was a certain Quarter-Master's + Wife,"—Quarter-Master willing, it is probable, to get rid of such an + article gratis, much more on terms of profit. "Walrave had begged for him + the Title of Hofrath from King Friedrich,"—which, though it was but + a clipping of ribbon contemptible to Friedrich, and the brute of an + Engineer had excellent talents in his business, I rather wish Friedrich + had refused in this instance. But he did not; "he answered in gibing tone, + 'I grant you the Hofrath Title for your Quarter-Master; thinking it but + fit that a General's'—What shall we call her? (Friedrich uses the + direct word)—'should have some handle to her name.'" [Busching, <i>Beitrage,</i> + i. 343-348.] + </p> + <p> + It was this Mistress, one is happy to know, that ultimately betrayed the + unbeautiful Walrave, and brought him to Magdeburg for the rest of his + life.—And now let us over the Mountains, to Chrudim again; a hundred + and fifty miles at one step. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XII. — PRINCE KARL DOES COME ON. + </h2> + <p> + It was before the middle of May, not of June as Friedrich had expected, + that serious news reached Chrudim. May 11th, from that place, there is a + Letter to Jordan, which for once has no verse, no bantering in it: Prince + Karl actually coming on; Hussar precursors, in quantity, stealing across + to attack our Magazines beyond Elbe;—and in consequence, Orders are + out this very day: "Cantonments, cease; immediate rendezvous, and + Encampment at Chrudim here!" Which takes effect two days hence, Monday, + 13th May: one of the finest sights Stille ever saw. "His Majesty rode to a + height; you never beheld such a scene: bright columns, foot and horse, + streaming in from every point of the compass, their clear arms glittering + in the sun; lost now in some hollow, then emerging, winding out with + long-drawn glitter again; till at length their blue uniforms and actual + faces come home to you. Near upon 30,000 of all arms; trim exact, of stout + and silently good-humored aspect; well rested, by this time;—likely + fellows for their work, who will do it with a will. The King seemed to be + affected by so glorious a spectacle; and, what I admired, his Majesty, + though fatigued, would not rest satisfied with reports or distant view, + but personally made the tour of the whole Camp, to see that everything was + right, and posted the pickets himself before retiring." [Stille, p. 57 (or + Letter X.).] + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl, since we last heard of him, had hung about in the Brunn and + other Moravian regions, rallying his forces, pushing out Croat parties + upon Prince Dietrich's home-march, and the like; very ill off for food, + for draught-cattle, in a wasted Country. So that he had soon quitted + Mahren; made for Budweis and neighborhood:—dangerous to Broglio's + outposts there? To a "Castle of Frauenberg," across the Moldau from + Budweis; which is Broglio's bulwark there, and has cost Broglio much + revictualling, reinforcing, and flurry for the last two months. Prince + Karl did not meddle with Brauenberg, or Broglio, on this occasion; leaves + Lobkowitz, with some Reserve-party, hovering about in those parts;—and + himself advances, by Teutschbrod (well known to the poor retreating Saxons + latcey!) towards Chrudim, on his grand Problem, that of 25th February + last. Cautiously, not too willingly, old Konigseck and he. But they were + inflexibly urged to it by the Heads at Vienna; who, what with their + Bavarian successes, what with their Moravian and other, had got into a + high key;—and scorned the notion of "Peace," when Hyndford (getting + Friedrich's permission, in the late Chrudim interval) had urged it again. + [Orlich, i. 226.] + </p> + <p> + Broglio is in boundless flurry; nothing but spectres of attack looming in + from Karl, from Khevenhuller, from everybody; and Eger hardly yet got. + [19th April (<i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> ii. 77-81.) Fine reinforcement, + 25,000 under a Due d'Harcourt; this and other good outlooks there are; but + it is the terrible alone that occupy Broglio. And indeed the poor man—especially + ever since that Moravian Business would not thrive in spite of him—is + not to be called well off! Friedrich and he are in correspondence, by no + means mutually pleasant, on the Prince-Karl phenomenon. "Evidently + intending towards Prag, your Majesty perceives!" thinks Broglio. "If not + towards Chrudim, first of all, which is 80 miles nearer him, on his rode + to Prag!" urges Friedrich, at this stage: "Help me with a few regiments in + this Chrudim Circle, lest I prove too weak here. Is not this the bulwark + of your Prag just now?" In vain; Broglio (who indeed has orders that way) + cannot spare a man. "Very well," thinks Friedrich; and has girded up his + own strength for the Chrudim phenomenon; but does not forget this new + illustration of the Joint-Stock Principle, and the advantages of Broglio + Partnership. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's beautiful Encampment at Chrudim lasted only two days. + Precursor Tolpatcheries (and, in fact, Prince Karl's Vanguard, if we knew + it) come storming about, rifer and rifer; attempting the Bridge of Kolin + (road to our Magazines); attempting this and that; meaning to get between + us and Prag; and, what is worse, to seize the Magazines, Podiebrad, + Nimburg, which we have in that quarter! Tuesday, May 15th, accordingly, + Friedrich himself gets on march, with a strong swift Vanguard, horse and + foot (grenadiers, hussars, dragoons), Prag-ward,—probably as far as + Kuttenberg, a fine high-lying post, which commands those Kodin parts;—will + march with despatch, and see how that matter is. The main Army is to + follow under Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau to-morrow, Wednesday," so soon as + their loaves have come from Konigsgratz,"—for "an Army goes on its + belly," says Friedrich often. Loaves do not come, owing to evil chance, on + this occasion: Leopold's people "take meal instead;" but will follow, next + morning, all the same, according to bidding. Readers may as well take + their Map, and accompany in these movements; which issue in a notable + conclusive thing. + </p> + <p> + Tuesday morning, 15th May, Friedrich marches from Chrudim; on which same + morning of the 15th, Prince Karl, steadily on the advance he too, is + starting,—and towards the same point,—from a place called + Chotieborz, only fifteen miles to southward of Chrudim. In this way, + mutually unaware, but Prince Karl getting soonest aware, the Vanguards of + the Two Armies (Prince Karl's Vanguard being in many branches, of Tolpatch + nature) are cast athwart each other; and make, both to Friedrich and + Prince Karl, an enigmatic business of it for the next two days. Tuesday, + 15th, Friedrich marching along, vigilantly observant on both hands, some + fifteen miles space, came that evening to a Village called Podhorzan, with + Height near by; [Stille, pp. 60, 61.] Height which he judged unattackable, + and on the side of which he pitches his camp accordingly,—himself + mounting the Height to look for news. News sure enough: there, south of us + on the heights of Ronnow, three or four miles off, are the Enemy, camped + or pickeering about, 7 or 8,000 as we judge. Lobkowitz, surely not + Lobkowitz? He has been gliding about, on the French outskirts, far in the + southwest lately: can this be Lobkowitz, about to join Prince Karl in + these parts?—Truly, your Majesty, this is not Lobkowitz at all; this + is Prince Karl's Vanguard, and Prince Karl himself actually in it for the + moment,—anxiously taking view of your Vanguard; recognizing, and + admitting to himself, "Pooh, they will be at Kuttenberg before us; no use + in hastening. Head-quarters at Willimow to-night; here at Ronnow + to-morrow: that is all we can do!" [Orlich, i. 233.] + </p> + <p> + To-morrow, 16th May, before sunrise at Podhorzan, the supposed Lobkowitz + is clean vanished: there is no Enemy visible to Friedrich, at Ronnow or + elsewhere. Leaving Friedrich in considerable uncertainty: clear only that + there are Enemies copiously about; that he himself will hold on for + Kuttenberg; that young Leopold must get hitherward, with steady celerity + at the top of his effort,—parts of the ground being difficult; + especially a muddy Stream, called Dobrowa, which has only one Bridge on it + fit for artillery, the Bridge of Sbislau, a mile or two ahead of this. + Instructions are sent Leopold to that effect; and farther that Leopold + must quarter in Czaslau (a substantial little Town, with bogs about it, + and military virtues); and, on the whole, keep close to heel of us, the + Enemy in force being near, Upon which, his Majesty pushes on for + Kuttenberg; Prince Leopold following with best diligence, according to + Program. His Majesty passed a little place called Neuhof that afternoon + (Wednesday, 16th May); and encamped a short way from Kuttenberg, behind or + north of that Town,—out of which, on his approach, there fled a + considerable cloud of Austrian Irregulars, and "left a large baking of + bread." Bread just about ready to their order, and coming hot out of the + ovens; which was very welcome to his Majesty that night; and will yield + refreshment, partial refreshment, next morning, to Prince Leopold, not too + comfortable on his meal-diet just now. + </p> + <p> + Poor Prince Leopold had his own difficulties this day; rough ground, very + difficult to pass; and coming on the Height of Podhorzan where his Majesty + was yesterday, Leopold sees crowds of Hussars, needing a cannon-shot or + two; sees evident symptoms, to southward, that the whole Force of the + Enemy is advancing upon him! "Speed, then, for Sbislau Bridge yonder; + across the Dobrowa, with our Artillery-wagons, or we are lost!" Prince + Karl, with Hussar-parties all about, is fully aware of Prince Leopold and + his movements, and is rolling on, Ronnow-ward all day, to cut him off, in + his detached state, if possible. Prince Karl might, with ease, have broken + this Dobrowa Bridge; and Leopold and military men recognize it as a + capital neglect that he did not. + </p> + <p> + Leopold, overloaded with such intricacies and anxieties, sends off three + messengers, Officers of mark (Schmettau Junior one of them), to apprise + the King: the Officers return, unable to get across to his Majesty; + Leopold sends proper detachment of horse with them,—uncertain still + whether they will get through. And night is falling; we shall evidently be + too late for getting Czaslau: well if we can occupy Chotusitz and the + environs; a small clay Hamlet, three miles nearer us. It was 11 at night + before the rear-guard got into Chotusitz: Czaslau, three miles south of + us, we cannot attend to till to-morrow morning. [Orlich, pp. 236-239.] And + the three messengers, despatched with escort, send back no word. Have they + ever got to his Majesty? Leopold sends off a fourth. This fourth one does + get through; reports to his Majesty, That, by all appearance, there will + be Battle on the morrow early; that not Czaslau, but only Chotusitz is + ours; and that Instructions are wanted. Deep in the night, this fourth + messenger returns; a welcome awakening for Prince Leopold; who studies his + Majesty's Instructions, and will make his dispositions accordingly. + </p> + <p> + It is 2 or 3 in the morning, [Ib. p. 238.] in Leopold's Camp,—Bivouac + rather, with its face to the south, and Chotusitz ahead. Thursday, 17th + May, 1742; a furiously important Day about to dawn. High Problem of the + 23th February last; Britannic Majesty and his Hyndfords and Robinsons + vainly protesting:—it had to be tried; Hungarian Majesty having got, + from Britannic, the sinews for trying it: and this is to be the Day. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIII. —BATTLE OF CHOTUSITZ. + </h2> + <p> + Kuttenberg, Czaslau, Chotusitz and all these other places lie in what is + called the Valley of the Elbe, but what to the eye has not the least + appearance of a hollow, but of an extensive plain rather, dimpled here and + there; and, if anything, rather sloping FROM the Elbe,—were it not + that dull bushless brooks, one or two, sauntering to NORTHward, not + southward, warn you of the contrary. Conceive a flat tract of this kind, + some three or four miles square, with Czaslau on its southern border, + Chotusitz on its northern; flanked, on the west, by a straggle of + Lakelets, ponds and quagmires (which in our time are drained away, all but + a tenth part or so of remainder); flanked, on the east, by a considerable + puddle of a Stream called the Dobrowa; and cut in the middle by a nameless + poor Brook ("BRTLINKA" some write it, if anybody could pronounce), running + parallel and independent,—which latter, of more concernment to us + here, springs beyond Czaslau, and is got to be of some size, and more + intricate than usual, with "islands" and the like, as it passes Chotusitz + (a little to east of Chotusitz);—this is our Field of Battle. Sixty + or more miles to eastward of Prag, eight miles or more to southward of + Elbe River and the Ford of Elbe-Teinitz (which we shall hear of, in years + coming). A scene worth visiting by the curious, though it is by no means + of picturesque character. + </p> + <p> + Uncomfortably bare, like most German plains; mean little hamlets, which + are full of litter when you enter them, lie sprinkled about; little + church-spires (like suffragans to Chotusitz spire, which is near you); a + ragged untrimmed country: beyond the Brook, towards the Dobrowa, two or + more miles from Chotusitz, is still noticeable: something like a + Deer-park, with umbrageous features, bushy clumps, and shadowy vestiges of + a Mansion, the one regular edifice within your horizon. Schuschitz is the + name of this Mansion and Deer-park; farther on lies Sbislau, where Leopold + happily found his Bridge unbroken yesterday. + </p> + <p> + The general landscape is scrubby, littery; ill-tilled, scratched rather + than ploughed; physiognomic of Czech Populations, who are seldom trim at + elbows: any beauty it has is on the farther side of the Dobrowa, which + does not concern Prince Leopold, Prince Karl, or us at present. Prince + Leopold's camp lies east and west, short way to north of Chotusitz. + Schuschitz Hamlet (a good mile northward of Sbislau) covers his left, the + chain of Lakelets covers his right: and Chotusitz, one of his outposts, + lies centrally in front. Prince Karl is coming on, in four columns, from + the Hills and intricacies south of Czaslau,—has been on march all + night, intending a night-attack or camisado if he could; but could not in + the least, owing to the intricate roadways, and the discrepancies of pace + between his four columns. The sun was up before anything of him appeared:—drawing + out, visibly yonder, by the east side of Czaslau; 30,000 strong, they say. + Friedrich's united force, were Friedrich himself on the ground, will be + about 28,000. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's Orders, which Leopold is studying, were: "Hold by Chotusitz + for Centre; your left wing, see you lean it on something, towards Dobrowa + side,—on that intricate Brook (Brtlinka) or Park-wall of Schuschitz, + [SBISLAU, Friedrich hastily calls it (<i>OEuvres,</i> ii. 121-126); Stille + (p. 63) is more exact.] which I think is there; then your right wing + westwards, till you lean again on something: two lines, leave room for me + and my force, on the corner nearest here. I will start at four; be with + you between seven and eight,—and even bring a proportion of Austrian + bread (hot from these ovens of Kuttenberg) to refresh part of you." + Leopold of Anhalt, a much-comforted man, waits only for the earliest gray + of the morning, to be up and doing. From Chotusitz he spreads out + leftwards towards the Brtlinka Brook,—difficult ground that, unfit + for cavalry, with its bog-holes, islands, gullies and broken surface; + better have gone across the Brtlinka with mere infantry, and leant on the + wall of that Deer-park of Schuschitz with perhaps only 1,000 horse to + support, well rearward of the infantry and this difficult ground? So men + think,—after the action is over. [Stille, pp. 63, 67.] And indeed + there was certainly some misarrangement there (done by Leopold's + subordinates), which had its effects shortly. + </p> + <p> + Leopold was not there in person, arranging that left wing; Leopold is + looking after centre and right. He perceives, the right wing will be his + best chance; knows that, in general, cavalry must be on both wings. On a + little eminence in front of his right, he sees how the Enemy comes on; + Czaslau, lately on their left, is now getting to rear of them:—"And + you, stout old General Buddenbrock, spread yourself out to right a little, + hidden behind this rising ground; I think we may outflank their left wing + by a few squadrons, which will be an advantage." + </p> + <p> + Buddenbrock spreads himself out, as bidden: had Buddenbrock been + reinforced by most of the horse that could do no good on our LEFT wing, it + is thought the Battle had gone better. Buddenbrock in this way, secretly, + outflanks the Austrians; to HIS right all forward, he has that string of + marshy pools (Lakes of Czirkwitz so called, outflowings from the Brook of + Neuhof), and cannot be taken in flank by any means. Brook of Neuhof, which + his Majesty crossed yesterday, farther north;—and ought to have + recrossed by this time?—said Brook, hereabouts a mere fringe of + quagmires and marshy pools, is our extreme boundary on the west or right; + Brook of Brtlinka (unluckily NOT wall of the Deer-park) bounds us + eastward, or on our left, Prince Karl, drawn up by this time, is in two + lines, cavalry on right and left, but rather in bent order; bent towards + us at both ends (being dainty of his ground, I suppose); and comes on in + hollow-crescent form;—which is not reckoned orthodox by military + men. What all these Villages, human individuals and terrified deer, are + thinking, I never can conjecture! Thick-soled peasants, terrified + nursing-mothers: Better to run and hide, I should say; mount your garron + plough-horses, hide your butter-pots, meal-barrels; run at least ten miles + or so!— + </p> + <p> + It is now past seven, a hot May morning, the Austrians very near;—and + yonder, of a surety, is his Majesty coming. Majesty has marched since + four; and is here at his time, loaves and all. His men rank at once in the + corner left for them; one of his horse-generals, Lehwald, is sent to the + left, to put straight what my be awry there (cannot quite do it, he + either);—and the attack by Buddenhrock, who secretly outflanks here + on the right, this shall at once take effect. No sooner has his Majesty + got upon the little eminence or rising ground, and scanned the Austrian + lines for an instant or two, than his cannon-batteries awaken here; give + the Austrian horse a good blast, by way of morning salutation and overture + to the concert of the day. And Buddenbrock, deploying under cover of that, + charges, "first at a trot, then at a gallop," to see what can be done upon + them with the white weapon. Old Uuddenbrock, surely, did not himself RIDE + in the charge? He is an old man of seventy; has fought at Oudenarde, + Malplaquet, nay at Steenkirk, and been run through the body, under Dutch + William; is an old acquaintance of Charles XII.s even; and sat solemnly by + Friedrich Wilhelm's coffin, after so much attendance during life. The + special leader of the charge was Bredow; also a veteran gentleman, but + still only in the fifties; he, I conclude, made the charge; first at a + trot, then at a gallop,—with swords flashing hideous, and eyebrows + knit. + </p> + <p> + "The dust was prodigious," says Friedrich, weather being dry and ground + sandy; for a space of time you could see nothing but one huge whirlpool of + dust, with the gleam of steel flickering madly in it: however, + Buddenbrock, outflanking the Austrian first line of horse, did hurl them + from their place; by and by you see the dust-tempest running south, faster + and faster south,—that is to say, the Austrian horse in flight; for + Buddenbrock, outflanking them by three squadrons, has tumbled their first + line topsy-turvy, and they rush to rearward, he following away and away. [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> ii. 123.] Now were the time for a fresh force of Prussian + cavalry,—for example, those you have standing useless behind the + gullies and quagmires on your left wing (says Stille, after the event);—due + support to Buddenbrock, and all that Austrian cavalry were gone, and their + infantry left bare. + </p> + <p> + But now again, see, do not the dust-clouds pause? They pause, mounting + higher and higher; they dance wildly, then roll back towards us; too + evidently back. Buddenbrock has come upon the secoud line of Austrian + horse; in too loose order Buddenbrock, by this time, and they have broken + him:—and it is a mutual defeat of horse on this wing, the Prussian + rather the worse of the two. And might have been serious,—had not + Rothenburg plunged furiously in, at this crisis, quite through to the + Austrian infantry, and restored matters, or more. Making a confused result + of it in this quarter. Austrian horse-regiments there now were that fled + quite away; as did even one or two foot-regiments, while the Prussian + infantry dashed forward on them, escorted by Rothenburg in this manner,—who + got badly wounded in the business; and was long an object of solicitude to + Friedrich. And contrariwise certain Prussian horse also, it was too + visible, did not compose themselves till fairly arear of our foot. This is + Shock First in the Battle; there are Three Shocks in all. + </p> + <p> + Partial charging, fencing and flourishing went on; but nothing very + effectual was done by the horse in this quarter farther. Nor did the fire + or effort of the Prussian Infantry in this their right wing continue; + Austrian fury and chief effort having, by this time, broken out in an + opposite quarter. So that the strain of the Fight lies now in the other + wing over about Chotusitz and the Brtlinka Brook; and thither I perceive + his Majesty has galloped, being "always in the thickest of the danger" + this day. Shock Second is now on. The Austrians have attacked at + Chotusitz; and are threatening to do wonders there. + </p> + <p> + Prince Leopold's Left Wing, as we said, was entirely defective in the eye + of tacticians (after the event). Far from leaning on the wall of the + Deer-park, he did not even reach the Brook,—or had to weaken his + force in Chotusitz Village for that object. So that when the Austrian foot + comes storming upon Chotusitz, there is but "half a regiment" to defend + it. And as for cavalry, what is to become of cavalry, slowly threading, + under cannon-shot and musketry, these intricate quagmires and gullies, and + dangerously breaking into files and strings, before ever it can find + ground to charge? Accordingly, the Austrian foot took Chotusitz, after + obstinate resistance; and old Konigseck, very ill of gout, got seated in + one of the huts there; and the Prussian cavalry, embarrassed to get + through the gullies, could not charge except piecemeal, and then though in + some cases with desperate valor, yet in all without effectual result. + Konigseck sits in Chotusitz;—and yet withal the Russians are not out + of it, will not be driven out of it, but cling obstinately; whereupon the + Austrians set fire to the place; its dry thatch goes up in flame, and poor + old Konigseck, quite lame of gout, narrowly escaped burning, they say. + </p> + <p> + And, see, the Austrian horse have got across the Brtlinka, are spread + almost to the Deer-park, and strive hard to take us in flank,—did + not the Brook, the bad ground and the platoon-firing (fearfully swift, + from discipline and the iron ramrods) hold them back in some measure. They + make a violent attempt or two; but the problem is very rugged. Nor can the + Austrian infantry, behind or to the west of burning Chotusitz, make an + impression, though they try it, with levelled bayonets and deadly energy, + again and again: the Prussian ranks are as if built of rock, and their + fire is so sure and swift. Here is one Austrian regiment, came rushing on + like lions; would not let go, death or no-death:—and here it lies, + shot down in ranks; whole swaths of dead men, and their muskets by them,—as + if they had got the word to take that posture, and had done it hurriedly! + A small transitory gleam of proud rage is visible, deep down, in the soul + of Friedrich as he records this fact. Shock Second was very violent. + </p> + <p> + The Austrian horse, after such experimenting in the Brtlinka quarter, + gallop off to try to charge the Prussians in the rear;—"pleasanter + by far," judge many of them, "to plunder the Prussian Camp," which they + descry in those regions; whither accordingly they rush. Too many of them; + and the Hussars as one man. To the sorrowful indignation of Prince Karl, + whose right arm (or wing) is fallen paralytic in this manner. After the + Fight, they repented in dust and ashes; and went to say so, as if with the + rope about their neck; upon which he pardoned them. + </p> + <p> + Nor is Prince Karl's left wing gaining garlands just at this moment. Shock + Third is awakening;—and will be decisive on Prince Karl. Chotusitz, + set on fire an hour since (about 9 A.M.), still burns; cutting him in two, + as it were, or disjoining his left wing from his right: and it is on his + right wing that Prince Karl is depending for victory, at present; his left + wing, ruffled by those first Prussian charges of horse, with occasional + Prussian swift musketry ever since, being left to its own inferior luck, + which is beginning to produce impression on it. And, lo, on the sudden + (what brought finis to the business), Friedrich, seizing the moment, + commands a united charge on this left wing: Friedrich's right wing dashes + forward on it, double-quick, takes it furiously, on front and flank; + fifteen field-pieces preceding, and intolerable musketry behind them. So + that the Austrian left wing cannot stand it at all. + </p> + <p> + The Austrian left wing, stormed in upon in this manner, swags and sways, + threatening to tumble pell-mell upon the right wing; which latter has its + own hands full. No Chotusitz or point of defence to hold by, Prince Karl + is eminently ill off, and will be hurled wholly into the Brtlinka, and the + islands and gullies, unless he mind! Prince Karl,—what a moment for + him!—noticing this undeniable phenomenon, rapidly gives the word for + retreat, to avoid worse. It is near upon Noon; four hours of battle; very + fierce on both the wings, together or alternately; in the centre (westward + of Chotusitz) mostly insignificant: "more than half the Prussians" + standing with arms shouldered. Prince Karl rolls rapidly away, through + Czaslau towards southwest again; loses guns in Czaslau; goes, not quite + broken, but at double-quick time for five miles; cavalry, Prussian and + Austrian, bickering in the rear of him; and vanishes over the horizon + towards Willimow and Haber that night, the way he had come. + </p> + <p> + This is the battle of Chotusitz, called also of Czaslau: Thursday, 17th + May, 1742. Vehemently fought on both sides;—calculated, one may + hope, to end this Silesian matter? The results, in killed and wounded, + were not very far from equal. Nay, in killed the Prussians suffered + considerably the worse; the exact Austrian cipher of killed being 1,052, + while that of the Prussians was 1,905,—owing chiefly to those fierce + ineffectual horse-charges and bickerings, on the right wing and left; + "above 1,200 Prussian cavalry were destroyed in these." But, in fine, the + general loss, including wounded and missing, amounted on the Austrian side + (prisoners being many, and deserters very many) to near seven thousand, + and on the Prussian to between four and five. [Orlich, i. 255; <i>Feldzuge + der Preussen,</i> p. 113; Stille, pp. 62-71; Friedrich himself, <i>OEuvres,</i> + ii. 121-126; and (ib. pp. 145-150) the Newspaper "RELATION," written also + by him.] Two Generals Friedrich had lost, who are not specially of our + acquaintance; and several younger friends whom he loved. Rothenburg, who + was in that first charge of horse with Buddenbrock, or in rescue of + Buddenbrock, and did exploits, got badly hurt, as we saw,—badly, not + fatally, as Friedrich's first terror was,—and wore his arm in a + sling for a long while afterwards. + </p> + <p> + Buddenbrock's charge, I since hear, was ruined by the DUST; [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> ii. 121.] the King's vanguard, under Rothenburg, a + "new-raised regiment of Hussars in green," coming to the rescue, were + mistaken for Austrians, and the cry rose, "Enemy to rear!" which brought + Rothenburg his disaster. Friedrich much loved and valued the man; employed + him afterwards as Ambassador to France and in places of trust. Friedrich's + Ambassadors are oftenest soldiers as well: bred soldiers, he finds, if + they chance to have natural intelligence, are fittest for all kinds of + work.—Some eighteen Austrian cannon were got; no standards, because, + said the Prussians, they took the precaution of bringing none to the + field, but had beforehand rolled them all up, out of harm's way.—Let + us close with this Fraction of topography old aud new:— + </p> + <p> + "King Friedrich purchased Nine Acres of Ground, near Chotusitz, to bury + the slain; rented it from the proprietor for twenty-five years. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + ii. 634.] I asked, Where are those nine acres; what crop is now upon them? + but could learn nothing. A dim people, those poor Czech natives; stupid, + dirty-skinned, ill-given; not one in twenty of them speaking any German;—and + our dragoman a fortuitous Jew Pedler; with the mournfulest of human faces, + though a head worth twenty of those Czech ones, poor oppressed soul! The + Battle-plain bears rye, barley, miscellaneous pulse, potatoes, mostly + insignificant crops;—the nine hero-acres in question, perhaps still + of slightly richer quality, lie indiscriminate among the others; their + very fence, if they ever had one, now torn away. + </p> + <p> + "The Country, as you descend by dusty intricate lanes from Kuttenberg, + with your left hand to the Elbe, and at length with your back to it, would + be rather pretty, were it well cultivated, the scraggy litter swept off, + and replaced by verdure and reasonable umbrage here and there. The Field + of Chotusitz, where you emerge on it, is a wide wavy plain; the steeple of + Chotusitz, and, three or four miles farther, that of Czaslau (pronounce + 'KOTusitz,' 'CHASlau'), are the conspicuous objects in it. The Lakes + Friedrich speaks of, which covered his right, and should cover ours, are + not now there,—'all, or mostly all, drained away, eighty years ago,' + answered the Czechs; answered one wiser Czech, when pressed upon, and + guessed upon; thereby solving the enigma which was distressful to us. + Between those Lakes and the Brtlinka Brook may be some two miles; + Chotusitz is on the crown of the space, if it have a crown. But there is + no 'height' on it, worth calling a height except by the military man; no + tree or bush; no fence among the scrubby ryes and pulses: no obstacle but + that Brook, which, or the hollow of which, you see sauntering steadily + northward or Elbe-ward, a good distance on your left, as you drive for + Chotusitz and steeple. Schuschitz, a peaked brown edifice, is visible + everywhere, well ahead and leftwards, well beyond said hollow; something + of wood and 'deer-park' still noticeable or imaginable yonder. + </p> + <p> + "Chotusitz itself is a poor littery place; standing white-washed, but much + unswept: in two straggling rows, now wide enough apart (no Konigseck need + now get burnt there): utterly silent under the hot sun; not a child looked + out on us, and I think the very dogs lay wisely asleep. Church and steeple + are at the farther or south end of the Village, and have an older date + than 1742. High up on the steeple, mending the clock-hands or I know not + what, hung in mid-air one Czech; the only living thing we saw. Population + may be three or four hundred,—all busy with their teams or + otherwise, we will hope. Czaslau, which you approach by something of + avenues, of human roads (dust and litter still abounding), is a much + grander place; say of 2,000 or more: shiny, white, but also somnolent; + vast market-place, or central square, sloping against you: two shiny + Hotels on it, with Austrian uniforms loitering about;—and otherwise + great emptiness and silence. The shiny Hotels (shine due to paint mainly) + offer little of humanly edible; and, in the interior, smells strike you as—as + the OLDEST you have ever met before. A people not given to washing, to + ventilating! Many gospels have been preached in those parts, aud abstruse + Orthodoxies, sometimes with fire and sword, and no end of emphasis; but + that of Soap-and-Water (which surely is as Catholic as any, and the + plainest of all) has not yet got introduced there!" [Tourist's Note (13th + September, 1858).] + </p> + <p> + Czaslau hangs upon the English mind (were not the ignorance so total) by + another tie: it is the resting-place of Zisca, whose drum, or the fable of + whose drum, we saw in the citadel of Glatz. Zisca was buried IN his skin, + at Czaslau finally: in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul there; with + due epitaph; and his big mace or battle-club, mostly iron, hung honorable + on the wall close by. Kaiser Ferdinand, Karl V.'s brother, on a Progress + to Prag, came to lodge at Czaslau, one afternoon: "What is that?" said the + Kaiser, strolling over this Peter-and-Paul's Church, and noticing the + mace. "Ugh! Faugh!" growled he angrily, on hearing what; and would not + lodge in the Town, but harnessed again, and drove farther that same night. + The club is now gone; but Zisca's dust lies there irremovable till + Doomsday, in the land where his limbs were made. A great behemoth of a + war-captain; one of the fiercest, inflexiblest, ruggedest creatures ever + made in the form of man. Devoured Priests, with appetite, wherever + discoverable: Dishonorers of his Sister; murderers of the God's-witness + John Huss; them may all the Devils help! Beat Kaiser Sigismund + SUPRA-GRAMMATICAM again and ever again, scattering the Kitter hosts in an + extraordinary manner;—a Zisca conquerable only by Death, and the + Pest-Fever passing that way. + </p> + <p> + His birthplace, Troznow, is a village in the Budweis neighborhood, 100 + miles to south. There, for three centuries after him, stood "Zisca's Oak" + (under shade of which, his mother, taken suddenly on the harvest-field, + had borne Zisca): a weird object, gate of Heaven and of Orcus to the + superstitious populations about. At midnight on the Hallow-Eve, dark + smiths would repair thither, to cut a twig of the Zisca Oak: twig of it + put, at the right moment, under your stithy, insures good luck, lends pith + to arm and heart, which is already good luck. So that a Bishop of those + parts, being of some culture, had to cut it down, above a hundred years + ago,—and build some Chapel in its stead; no Oak there now, but an + orthodox Inscription, not dated that I could see. [Hormayr, <i>OEsterreichischer + Plutarch,</i> iii. (3tes), 110-145.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich did not much pursue the Austrians after this Victory; having + cleared the Czaslau region of them, he continued there (at Kuttenberg + mainly); and directed all his industry to getting Peace made. His + experiences of Broglio, and of what help was likely to be had from + Broglio,—whom his Court, as Friedrich chanced to know, had ordered + "to keep well clear of the King of Prussia,"—had not been + flattering. Beaten in this Battle, Broglio's charity would have been a + weak reed to lean upon: he is happy to inform Broglio, that though kept + well clear of, he is not beaten. + </p> + <p> + [MAP GOES HERE—-Book xiii, page 164——missing] + </p> + <p> + Blustering Broglio might have guessed that HE now would have to look to + himself. But he did not; his eyes naturally dim and bad, being dazzled at + this time, by "an ever-glorious victory" (so Broglio thinks it) of his own + achieving. Broglio, some couple of days after Czaslau, had marched hastily + out of Prag for Budweis quarter, where Lobkowitz and the Austrians were + unexpectedly bestirring themselves, and threatening to capture that + "Castle of Frauenberg" (mythic old Hill-castle among woods), Broglio's + chief post in those regions. Broglio, May 24th, has fought a handsome + skirmish (thanks partly to Belleisle, who chanced to arrive from Frankfurt + just in the nick of time, and joined Broglio): Skirmish of Sahay; + magnified in all the French gazettes into a Victory of Sahay, victory + little short of Pharsalia, says Friedrich;—the complete account of + which, forgotten now by all creatures, is to be read in him they call + Mauvillon; [<i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> ii. 204.] and makes a pretty enough + piece of fence, on the small scale. Lobkowitz had to give up the + Frauenberg enterprise; and cross to Budweis again, till new force should + come. + </p> + <p> + "Why not drive him out of Budweis," think the Two French Marshals, "him + and whatever force can come? If those lucky Prussians would co-operate, + and those unlucky Saxons, how easy were it!"—Belleisle sets off to + persuade Friedrich, to persuade Saxony (and we shall see him on the + route); Broglio waiting sublime, on the hither side of the Moldau, well + within wind of Budweis, till Belleisle prevail, and return with said + co-operation, What became of Broglio, waiting in this sublime manner, we + shall also have to see; but perhaps not for a great while yet (cannot + pause on such absurd phenomena yet),—though Broglio's catastrophe is + itself a thing imminent; and, within some ten days of that astonishing + Victory of Sahay, astonishes poor Broglio the reverse way. A man born for + surprises! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIV. — PEACE OF BRESLAU. + </h2> + <p> + In actual loss of men or of ground, the results of that Chotusitz Affair + were not of decisive nature. But it had been fought with obstinacy; with + great fury on the Austrian side (who, as it were, had a bet upon it ever + since February 25th), Britannic George, and all the world, looking on: + and, in dispiritment and discredit to the beaten party, its results were + considerable. The voice of all the world, declaring through its Gazetteer + Editors, "You cannot beat those Prussians!" voice confirmed by one's own + sad thoughts:—in such sounding of the rams horns round one's + Jericho, there is always a strange influence (what is called panic, as if + Pan or some god were in it), and one's Jericho is the apter to fall! + </p> + <p> + Among the Austrian Prisoners, there was a General Pallandt, mortally + wounded too; whom Friedrich, according to custom, treated with his best + humanity, though all help was hopeless to poor Pallandt. Calling one day + at Pallandt's sick-couch, Friedrich was so sympathetic, humane and noble, + that Pallandt was touched by it; and said, "What a pity your noble Majesty + and my noble Queen should ruin one another, for a set of French intruders, + who play false even to your Majesty!" "False?" Friedrich inquires farther: + Pallandt, a man familiar at Court, has seen a Letter from Fleury to the + Queen of Hungary, conclusive as to Fleury's good faith; will undertake, if + permitted, to get his Majesty a sight of it. Friedrich permits; the Fleury + letter comes; to the effect: "Make peace with us, O Queen; with your + Prussian neighbor you shall make—what suits you!" Friedrich read; + learned conclusively, what perhaps he had already as good as known + otherwise; and drew the inference. [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 633; + Hormayr, <i>Anemonen,</i> ii. 186; Adelung, iii. A, 149 n.] Actual copy of + this letter the most ardent Gazetteer curiosity could not attain to, at + that epoch; but the Pallandt story seems to have been true;—and as + to the Fleury letter in such circumstances, copies of various Fleury + letters to the like purport are still public enough; and Fleury's private + intentions, already guessed at by Friedrich, are in our time a secret to + nobody that inquires about them. + </p> + <p> + Certain enough, Peace with Friedrich is now on the way; and cannot well + linger:—what prospect has Austria otherwise? Its very supplies from + England will be stopped. Hyndford redoubles his diligence; Britannic + Majesty reiterates at Vienna: "Did not I tell you, Madam; there is no hope + or possibility till these Prussians are off our hands!" To which her + Hungarian Majesty, as the bargain was, now sorrowfully assents; + sorrowfully, unwillingly,—and always lays the blame on his Britannic + Majesty afterwards, and brings it up again as a great favor she had done + HIM. "Did not I give up my invaluable Silesia, the jewel of my crown, for + you, cruel Britannic Majesty with the big purse, and no heart to speak + of?" This she urges always, on subsequent occasions; the high-souled Lady; + reproachful of the patient, big-pursed little Gentleman, who never answers + as he might, "For ME, Madam? Well—!" In short, Hyndford, Podewils + and the Vienna Excellencies are busy. + </p> + <p> + Of these negotiations which go on at Breslau, and of the acres of + despatchcs, English, Austrian, and other, let us not say one word. Enough + that the Treaty is getting made, and rapidly,—though military + offences do not quite cease; clouds of Austrian Pandours hovering about + everywhere in Prince Karl's rear; pouncing down upon Prussian outposts, + convoys, mostly to little purpose; hoping (what proves quite futile) they + may even burn a Prussian magazine here or there. Contemptible to the + Prussian soldier, though very troublesome to him. Friedrich regards the + Pandour sort, with their jingling savagery, as a kind of military vermin; + not conceivable a Prussian formed corps should yield to any odds of + Pandour Tolpatch tagraggery. Nor does the Prussian soldier yield; though + sometimes, like the mastiff galled by inroad of distracted weasels in too + great quantity, he may have his own difficulties. Witness Colonel Retzow + and the Magazine at Pardubitz ("daybreak, May 24th") VERSUS the infinitude + of sudden Tolpatchery, bursting from the woods; rabid enough for many + hours, but ineffectual, upon Pardubitz and Retzow. A distinguished Colonel + this; of whom we shall hear again. Whose style of Narrative (modest, + clear, grave, brief), much more, whose vigilant inexpugnable procedure on + the occasion, is much to be commended to the military man. [Given in + Seyfarth, <i>Beylage,</i> i. 548 et seqq.] Friedrich, the better to cover + his Magazines, and be out of such annoyances, fell back a little; + gradually to Kuttenberg again (Tolpatchery vanishing, of its own accord); + and lay encamped there, head-quarters in the Schloss of Maleschau near by,—till + the Breslau Negotiations completed themselves. + </p> + <p> + Prince Karl, fringed with Tolpatchery in this manner, but with much + desertion, much dispiritment, in his main body,—the HOOPS upon him + all loose, so to speak,—staggers zigzag back towards Budweis, and + the Lobkowitz Party there; intending nothing more upon the Prussians;—capable + now, think some NON-Prussians, of being well swept out of Budweis, and + over the horizon altogether. If only his Prussian Majesty will co-operate! + thinks Belleisle. "Your King of Prussia will not, M. le Marechal!" answers + Broglio:—No, indeed; he has tried that trade already, M. le + Marechal! think Broglio and we. The suspicions that Friedrich, so + quiescent after his Chotusitz, is making Peace, are rife everywhere; + especially in Broglio's head and old Fleury's; though Belleisle persists + with emphasis, officially and privately, in the opposite opinion, "Husht, + Messieurs!" Better go and see, however. + </p> + <p> + Belleisle does go; starts for Kuttenberg, for Dresden; his beautiful + Budweis project now ready, French reinforcements streaming towards us, + heart high again,—if only Friedrich and the Saxons will co-operate. + Belleisle, the Two Belleisles, with Valori and Company, arrived June 2d at + Kuttenberg, at the Schloss of Maleschau;—"spoke little of + Chotusitz," says Stille; "and were none of them at the pains to ride to + the ground." Marechal Belleisle, for the next three days, had otherwise + speech of Friedrich; especially, on June 5th, a remarkable Dialogue. + "Won't your Majesty co-operate?" "Alas, Monseigneur de Belleisle—" + How gladly would we give this last Dialogue of Friedrich's and + Belleisle's, one of the most ticklish conceivable: but there is not + anywhere the least record of it that can be called authentic;—and we + learn only that Friedrich, with considerable distinctness, gave him to + know, "clearly" (say all the Books, except Friedrich's own), that + co-operation was henceforth a thing of the preter-pluperfect tense. "All + that I ever wanted, more than I ever demanded, Austria now offers; can any + one blame me that I close such a business as ours has all along been, on + such terms as these now offered me are?" + </p> + <p> + It is said, and is likely enough, the Pallandt-Fleury Letter came up; as + probably the MORAVIAN FORAY, and various Broglio passages, would, in the + train of said Letter. To all which, and to the inexorable painful + corollary, Belleisle, in his high lean way, would listen with a stern + grandiose composure. But the rumors add, On coming out into the Anteroom, + dialogue and sentence now done, Monseigneur de Belleisle tore the peruke + from his head; and stamping on it, was heard to say volcanically, "That + cursed parson,—CE MAUDIT CALOTTE [old Fleury],—has ruined + everything!" Perhaps it is not true? If true,—the prompt valets + would quickly replace Monseigneur's wig; chasing his long strides; and + silence, in so dignified a man, would cloak whatever emotions there were. + [Adelung, iii. A, 154; &c. &c. <i>Guerre de Boheme,</i> (silent + about the wig) admits, as all Books do, the perfect clearness;—compare, + however, <i>OEuvres de Frederic;</i> and also Broglio's strange darkness, + twelve days later, and Belleisle now beside him again (<i>Campagnes des + Trois Marechaux,</i> v. 190, 191, of date 17th June);—darkness due + perhaps to the strange humor Broglio was then in?] He rolled off, he and + his, straightway to Dresden, there to invite co-operation in the Budweis + Project; there also in vain.—"CO-operation," M. le Marechal? Alas, + it has already come to operation, if you knew it! Aud your Broglio is—Better + hurry back to Prag, where you will find phenomena! + </p> + <p> + June 15th, Friedrich has a grand dinner of Generals at Maleschau; and + says, in proposing the first bumper, "Gentlemen, I announce to you, that, + as I never wished to oppress the Queen of Hungary, I have formed the + resolution of agreeing with that Princess, and accepting the Proposals she + has made me in satisfaction of my rights,"—telling them withal what + the chief terms were, and praising my Lord Hyndford for his great + services. Upon which was congratulation, cordial, universal; and, with + full rummers, "Health to the Queen of Hungary!" followed by others of the + like type, "Grand-Duke of Lorraine!" and "The brave Prince Karl!" + especially. + </p> + <p> + Brevity being incumbent on us, we shall say only that the + Hyndford-Podewils operations had been speeded, day and night; brought to + finis, in the form of Signed Preliminaries, as "Treaty of Breslau, 11th + June, 1742;" and had gone to Friedrich's satisfaction in every particular. + Thanks to the useful Hyndford,—to the willing mind of his Britannic + Majesty, once so indignant, but made willing, nay passionately eager, by + his love of Human Liberty and the pressure of events! To Hyndford, some + weeks hence, [2d August (<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> ii. 729).]—I + conclude, on Friedrich's request,—there was Order of the Thistle + sent; and grandest investiture ever seen almost, done by Friedrich upon + Hyndford (Jordan, Keyserling, Schwerin, and the Sword of State busy in it; + Two Queens and all the Berlin firmament looking on); and, perhaps better + still, on Friedrich's part there was gift of a Silver Dinner-Service; gift + of the Royal Prussian Arms (which do enrich ever since the Shield of those + Scottish Carmichaels, as doubtless the Dinner-Service does their + Plate-chest); and abundant praise and honor to the useful Hyndford, heavy + of foot, but sure, who had reached the goal. + </p> + <p> + This welcome Treaty, signed at Breslau, June 11th, and confirmed by + "Treaty of Berlin, July 28th," in more explicit solemn manner, to the + self-same effect, can be read by him that runs (if compelled to read + Treaties); [In <i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> i. 1061-1064 (Treaty of Breslau), + ib. 1065-1070 (that of Berlin); to be found also in Wenck, Rousset, + Scholl, Adeluug, &c.] the terms, in compressed form, are:— + </p> + <p> + 1. "Silesia, Lower and Upper, to beyond the watershed and the Oppa-stream,—reserving + only the Principality of Teschen, with pertinents, which used to be + reckoned Silesian, and the ulterior Mountain-tops [Mountain-tops good for + what? thought Friedrich, a year or two afterwards!]—Silesia wholly, + within those limits, and furthermore the County Glatz and its + dependencies, are and remain the property of Friedrich and of his Heirs + male or female; given up, and made his, to all intents and purposes, + forevermore. With which Friedrich, to the like long date, engages to rest + satisfied, and claim nothing farther anywhere. + </p> + <p> + 2. "Silesian Dutch-English Debt [Loan of about Two Millions, better half + of it English, contracted by the late Kaiser, on Silesian security, in + that dreadful Polish-Election crisis, when the Sea-Powers would not help, + but left it to their Stockbrokers] is undertaken by Friedrich, who will + pay interest on the same till liquidated. + </p> + <p> + 3. "Religion to stand where it is. Prussian Majesty not to meddle in this + present or in other Wars of her Hungarian Majesty, except with his ardent + wishes that General Peace would ensue, and that all his friends, Hungarian + Majesty among others, were living in good agreement around him." + </p> + <p> + This is the Treaty of Breslau (June 11th, 1742), or, in second more solemn + edition, Treaty of Berlin (July 28th following); signed, ratified, + guaranteed by his Britannic Majesty for one, [Treaty of Westminster, + between Friedrich aud George, 29th (18th) November, 1842 (Scholl, ii. + 313).] and firmly planted on the Diplomatic adamant (at least on the + Diplomatic parchment) of this world. And now: Homewards, then; march!— + </p> + <p> + Huge huzzaing, herald-trumpeting, bob-majoring, bursts forth from all + Prussian Towns, especially from all Silesian ones, in those June days, as + the drums beat homewards; elaborate Illuminations, in the short nights; + with bonfires, with transparencies,—Transparency inscribed + "FREDERICO MAGNO (To Friedrich THE GREAT)," in one small instance, still + of premature nature. [<i>Helden-Geschichte</i> (ii. 702-729) is endless on + these Illuminations; the Jauer case, of FREDERICO MAGNO (Jauer in + Silesia), is of June 15th (ib. 712).] + </p> + <p> + Omitting very many things, about Silesian Fortresses, Army-Cantons, + Silesian settlements, military and civil, which would but weary the + reader, we add only this from Bielfeld: dusty Transit of a victorious + Majesty, now on the threshold of home. Precise date (which Bielfeld + prudently avoids guessing at) is July 11th, 1742; "M. de Pollnitz and I + are in the suite of the King:— + </p> + <p> + "We never stopped on the road, except some hours at Frankfurt-on-Oder, + where the Fair was just going on. On approaching the Town, we found the + highway lined on both sides with crowds of traders, and other strangers of + all nations; who had come out, attracted by curiosity to see the conqueror + of Silesia, and had ranged themselves in two rows there. His Majesty's + entry into Frankfurt, although a very triumphant one, was far from being + ostentatious. We passed like lightning before the eyes of the spectators, + and we were so covered with dust, that it was difficult to distinguish the + color of our coats and the features of our faces. We made some purchases + at Frankfurt; and arrived safely in the Capital [next day], where the King + was received amidst the acclamations of his People." [Bielfeld, ii. 51.] + </p> + <p> + Here is a successful young King; is not he? Has plunged into the Mahlstrom + for his jewelled gold Cup, and comes up with it, alive, unlamed. Will he, + like that DIVER of Schiller's, have to try the feat a second time? Perhaps + a second time, and even a third!— + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XIII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2113-h.htm or 2113-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2113/ + +Produced by D.R. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XIII. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--First Silesian War, Leaving the General + European One Ablaze All Round, Gets Ended--May, 1741-July, + 1742. + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Posting Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2113] +Release Date: March 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + + + + + +HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA + +FREDERICK THE GREAT + +by Thomas Carlyle + +Volume XIII. + + + + +BOOK XIII. -- FIRST SILESIAN WAR, LEAVING THE GENERAL EUROPEAN ONE +ABLAZE ALL ROUND, GETS ENDED. -- May, 1741-July, 1742. + + + + +Chapter I. -- BRITANNIC MAJESTY AS PALADIN OF THE PRAGMATIC. + +Part First of his Britannic Majesty's Sorrows, the Britannic or Domestic +Part, is now perhaps conceivable to readers. But as to the Second, +the Germanic or Pragmatic Part,--articulate History, after much +consideration, is content to renounce attempting these; feels that these +will remain forever inconceivable to mankind in the now altered times. +So small a gentleman; and he feels, dismally though with heroism, that +he has got the axis of the world on his shoulder. Poor Majesty! His +eyes, proud as Jove's, are nothing like so perspicacious; a pair of the +poorest eyes: and he has to scan with them, and unriddle under pain of +death, such a waste of insoluble intricacies, troubles and world-perils +as seldom was,--even in Dreams. In fact, it is of the nature of a long +Nightmare Dream, all this of the Pragmatic, to his poor Majesty and +Nation; and wakeful History must not spend herself upon it, beyond the +essential. + +May 12th, betimes this Year, his Majesty got across to Hanover, +Harrington with him; anxious to contemplate near at hand that Camp of +the Old Dessauer's at Gottin, and the other fearful phenomena, French, +Prussian and other, in that Country. His Majesty, as natural, was much +in Germany in those Years; scanning the phenomena; a long while not +knowing what in the world to make of them. Bully Belleisle having stept +into the ring, it is evident, clear as the sun, that one must act, and +act at once; but it is a perfect sphinx-enigma to say How. Seldom +was Sovereign or man so spurred, and goaded on, by the highest +considerations; and then so held down, and chained to his place, by an +imbroglio of counter-considerations and sphinx-riddles! Thrice over, at +different dates (which shall be given), the first of them this Year, he +starts up as in spasm, determined to draw sword, and plunge in; twice +he is crushed down again, with sword half drawn; and only the third time +(in 1743) does he get sword out, and brandish it in a surprising though +useless manner. After which he feels better. But up to that crisis, his +case is really tragical,--had idle readers any bowels for him; which +they have not! One or two Fractions, snatched from the circumambient +Paper Vortex, must suffice us for the indispensable in this place:-- + + + + +CUNCTATIONS, YET INCESSANT AND UBIQUITOUS ENDEAVORINGS, OF HIS BRITANNIC +MAJESTY (1741-1743). + +... After the wonderful Russian Partition-Treaty, which his English +Walpoles would not hear of,--and which has produced the Camp of Gottin, +see, your Majesty!--George does nothing rashly. Far from it: indeed, +except it be paying money, he becomes again a miracle of cunctations; +and staggers about for years to come, like the--Shall we say, like the +White Hanover Horse amid half a dozen sieves of beans? Alas, no, like +the Hanover Horse with the shadows of half a dozen Damocles'-swords +dangling into the eyes of it;--enough to drive any Horse to its wit's +end!-- + +"To do, to dare," thinks the Britannic Majesty;--yes, and of daring +there is a plenty: but, "In which direction? What, How?" these are +questions for a fussy little gentleman called to take the world on +his shoulders. We suppose it was by Walpole's advice that he gave her +Hungarian Majesty that 200,000 pounds of Secret-Service Money;--advice +sufficiently Walpolean: "Russian Partition-Treaties; horrible to think +of;--beware of these again! Give her Majesty that cash; can be done; +it will keep matters afloat, and spoil nothing!" That, till the late +Subsidy payable within year and day hence, was all of tangible his +Majesty had yet done;--truly that is all her Hungarian Majesty has yet +got by hawking the world, Pragmatic Sanction in hand. And if that were +the bit of generosity which enabled Neipperg to climb the Mountains and +be beaten at Mollwitz, that has helped little! Very big generosities, to +a frightful cipher of Millions Sterling through the coming years, will +go the same road; and amount also to zero, even for the receiving party, +not to speak of the giving! For men and kings are wise creatures. + +But wise or unwise, how great are his Britannic Majesty's activities +in this Pragmatic Business! We may say, they are prodigious, incessant, +ubiquitous. They are forgotten now, fallen wholly to the spiders and +the dust-bins;--though Friedrich himself was not a busier King in those +days, if perhaps a better directed. It is a thing wonderful to us, but +sorrowful and undeniable. We perceive the Britannic Majesty's own little +mind pulsing with this Pragmatic Matter, as the biggest volcano would +do;--shooting forth dust and smoke (subsidies, diplomatic emissaries, +treaties, offers of treaty, plans, foolish futile exertions), at an +immense rate. When the Celestial Balances are canting, a man ought +to exert himself. But as to this of saving the House of Austria from +France,--surely, your Britannic Majesty, the shortest way to that, if +that is so indispensable, were: That the House of Austria should consent +to give up its stolen goods, better late than never; and to make this +King of Prussia its friend, as he offers to be! Joined with this King, +it would manage to give account of France and its balloon projects, by +and by. Could your Britannic Majesty but take Mr. Viner's hint; and, +in the interim, mind your OWN business!--His Britannic Majesty intends +immediate fighting; and, both in England and Hanover, is making +preparation loud and great. Nay, he will in his own person fight, if +necessary, and rather likes the thought of it: he saw Oudenarde in his +young days; and, I am told, traces in himself a talent for Generalship. +Were the Britannic Majesty to draw his own puissant sword!-His own +puissant purse he has already drawn; and is subsidizing to right and +left; knocking at all doors with money in hand, and the question, "Any +fighting done here?" In England itself there goes on much drilling, +enlisting; camping, proposing to camp; which is noisy enough in the +British Newspapers, much more in the Foreign. One actual Camp there was +"on Lexden Heath near Colchester," from May till October of this 1741, +[Manifold but insignificant details about it, in the old Newspapers of +those Months.]--Camp waiting always to be shipped across to the scene +of action, but never was:--this actual Camp, and several imaginary ones +here, which were alarming to the Continental Gazetteer. In England his +Majesty is busy that way; still more among his Hanoverians, now under +his own royal eye; and among his Danes and Hessians, whom he has +now brought over into Hanover, to combine with the others. Danes and +Hessians, 6,000 of each kind, he for some time keeps back in stall, upon +subsidy, ready for such an occasion. Their "Camp at Hameln," "Camp at +Nienburg" (will, with the Hanoverians, be 30,000 odd); their swashing +and blaring about, intending to encamp at Hameln, at Nienburg, and other +places, but never doing it, or doing it with any result: this, with the +alarming English Camps at Lexden and in Dreamland, which also were void +of practical issue, filled Europe with rumor this Summer.--Eager enough +to fight; a noble martial ardor in our little Hercules-Atlas! But there +lie such enormous difficulties on the threshold; especially these Two, +which are insuperable or nearly so. + +Difficulty FIRST, is that of the laggard Dutch; a People apt to be heavy +in the stern-works. They are quite languid about Pragmatic Sanction, +these Dutch; they answer his Britannic Majesty's enthusiasm with an +obese torpidity; and hope always they will drift through, in some way; +buoyant in their own fat, well ballasted astern; and not need such +swimming for life. "What a laggard notion," thinks his Majesty; "notion +in ten pair of breeches, so to speak!" This stirring up of the Dutch, +which lasts year on year, and almost beats Lord Stair, Lord Carteret, +and our chief Artists, is itself a thing like few! One of his Britannic +Majesty's great difficulties;--insuperable he never could admit it to +be. "Surely you are a Sea-Power, ye valiant Dutch; the OTHER Sea-Power? +Bound by Barrier Treaty, Treaty of Vienna, and Law of Nature itself, to +rise with us against the fatal designs of France; fatal to your Dutch +Barrier, first of all; if the Liberties of Mankind were indifferent +to you! How is it that you will not?" The Dutch cannot say how. France +rocks them in security, by oily-mouthed Diplomatists, Fenelon and +others: "Would not touch a stone of your Barrier, for the world, ye +admirable Dutch neighbors: on our honor, thrice and four times, No!" +They have an eloquent Van Hoey of their own at Paris; renowned in +Newspapers: "Nothing but friendship here!" reports Van Hoey always; +and the Dutch answer his Britannic Majesty: "Hm, rise? Well then, if we +must!"--but sit always still. + +Nowhere in Political Mechanics have I seen such a Problem as this +of hoisting to their feet the heavy-bottomed Dutch. The cunningest +leverage, every sort of Diplomatic block-and-tackle, Carteret and Stair +themselves running over to help in critical seasons, is applied; to +almost no purpose. Pull long, pull strong, pull all together,--see, the +heavy Dutch do stir; some four inches of daylight fairly visible below +them: bear a hand, oh, bear a hand!--Pooh, the Dutch flap down again, as +low as ever. As low,--unless (by Diplomatic art) you have WEDGED them at +the four inches higher; which, after the first time or two, is generally +done. At the long last, partially in 1743 (upon which his Britannic +Majesty drew sword), completely in 1747, the Dutch were got to their +feet;--unfortunately good for nothing when they were! Without them his +Britannic Majesty durst not venture. Hidden in those dust-bins, there +is nothing so absurd, or which would be so wearisome, did it not at last +become slightly ludicrous, as this of hoisting the Dutch. + +Difficulty SECOND, which in enormity of magnitude might be reckoned +first, as in order of time it ranks both first and last, is: The case +of dear Hanover; case involved in mere insolubilities. Our own dear +Hanover, which (were there nothing more in it) is liable, from that Camp +at Gottin, to be slit in pieces at a moment's warning! No drawing sword +against a nefarious Prussia, on those terms. The Camp at Gottin holds +George in checkmate. And then finally, in this same Autumn, 1741, when +a Maillebois with his 40 or 50,000 French (the Leftward or western of +those Two Belleisle Armies), threatening our Hanover from another side, +crossed the Lower Rhine--But let us not anticipate. The case of Hanover, +which everybody saw to be his Majesty's vulnerable point, was the +constant open door of France and her machinations, and a never-ending +theme of angry eloquences in the English Parliament as well. + +So that the case of Hanover proved insoluble throughout, and was like +a perpetual running sore. Oh the pamphleteerings, the denouncings, +the complainings, satirical and elegiac, which grounded themselves +on Hanover, the CASE OF THE HANOVER FORCES, and innumerable other +Hanoverian cases, griefs and difficulties! So pungently vital to +somnambulant mankind at that epoch; to us fallen dead as carrion, and +unendurable to think of. My friends, if you send for Gentlemen from +Hanover, you must take them with Hanover adhering more or less; and +ought not to quarrel with your bargain, which you reckoned so divine! +No doubt, it is singular to see a Britannic Majesty neglecting his own +Spanish War, the one real business he has at present; and running about +over all the world; busy, soul, body and breeches-pocket, in other +people's wars; egging on other fighting, whispering every likely fellow +he can meet, "Won't you perhaps fight? Here is for you, if so!"--hand to +breeches-pocket accompanying the word. But it must be said, and ought to +be better known than in our day it is, His Majesty's Ministers, and the +English State-Doctors generally, were precisely of the same mind. TO +them too the Austrian Quarrel was everything, their own poor Spanish +Quarrel nothing; and the complaint they make of his Majesty is rather +that he does not rush rapidly enough, with brandished sword, as well +as with guineas raining from him, into this one indispensable business. +"Owing to his fears for Hanover!" say they, with indignation, with no +end of suspicion, angry pamphleteering and covert eloquence, "within +those walls" and without. + +The suspicion of Hanover's checking his Majesty's Pragmatic velocity is +altogether well founded; and there need no more be said on that Hanover +score. Be it well understood and admitted, Hanover was the Britannic +Majesty's beloved son; and the British Empire his opulent milk-cow. +Richest of milk-cows; staff of one's life, for grand purposes and +small; beautiful big animal, not to be provoked; but to be stroked and +milked:--Friends, if you will do a Glorious Revolution of that kind, and +burn such an amount of tar upon it, why eat sour herbs for an inevitable +corollary therefrom! And let my present readers understand, at any +rate, that,--except in Wapping, Bristol and among the simple +instinctive classes (with whom, it is true, go Pitt and some illustrious +figures),--political England generally, whatever of England had +Parliamentary discourse of reason, and did Pamphlets, Despatches, +Harangues, went greatly along with his Majesty in that Pragmatic +Business. And be the blame of delirium laid on the right back, where it +ought to lie, not on the wrong, which has enough to bear of its own. And +go not into that dust-whirlwind of extinct stupidities, O reader:--what +reader would, except for didactic objects? Know only that it does of a +truth whirl there; and fancy always, if you can, that certain things and +Human Figures, a Friedrich, a Chatham and some others, have it for their +Life-Element. Which, I often think, is their principal misfortune +with Posterity; said Life-Element having gone to such an unutterable +condition for gods and men. + +"One other thing surprises us in those Old Pamphlets," says my +Constitutional Friend: "How the phrase, 'Cause of Liberty' ever and anon +turns up, with great though extinct emphasis, evidently sincere. After +groping, one is astonished to find it means Support of the House of +Austria; keeping of the Hapsburgs entire in their old Possessions +among mankind! That, to our great-grandfathers, was the 'Cause of +Liberty;'--said 'Cause' being, with us again, Electoral Suffrage and +other things; a notably different definition, perhaps still wider of the +mark. + +"Our great-grandfathers lived in perpetual terror that they would be +devoured by France; that French ambition would overset the Celestial +Balance, and proceed next to eat the British Nation. Stand upon your +guard then, one would have said: Look to your ships, to your defences, +to your industries; to your virtues first of all,--your VIRTUTES, +manhoods, conformities to the Divine Law appointed you; which are +the great and indeed sole strength to any Man or Nation! Discipline +yourselves, wisely, in all kinds; more and more, till there be no +anarchic fibre left in you. Unanarchic, disciplined at all points, you +might then, I should say, with supreme composure, let France, and the +whole World at its back, try what they could do upon you and the unique +little Island you are so lucky as to live in?--Foolish mortals: what +Potentiality of Battle, think you (not against France only, but against +Satanas and the Ministers of Chaos generally), would a poor Friedrich +Wilhelm, not to speak of better, have got out of such a Possession, had +it been his to put in drill! And drill is not of soldiers only; though +perhaps of soldiers first and most indispensably of all; since 'without +Being,' as my Friend Oliver was wont to say, 'Well-being is not +possible.' There is military drill; there is industrial, economic, +spiritual; gradually there are all kinds of drill, of wise discipline, +of peremptory mandate become effective everywhere, 'OBEY the Laws of +Heaven, or else disappear from these latitudes!' Ah me, if one dealt in +day-dreams, and prophecies of an England grown celestial,--celestial she +should be, not in gold nuggets, continents all of beef, and seas all +of beer, Abolition of Pain, and Paradise to All and Sundry, but in +that quite different fashion; and there, I should say, THERE were the +magnificent Hope to indulge in! That were to me the 'Cause of Liberty;' +and any the smallest contribution towards that kind of 'Liberty' were a +sacred thing!-- + +"Belleisle again may, if he pleases, call his the Cause of Sovereignty. +A Sovereign Louis, it would appear, has not governing enough to do +within his own French borders, but feels called to undertake Germany as +well;--a gentleman with an immense governing faculty, it would appear? +Truly, good reader, I am sick of heart, contemplating those empty +sovereign mountebanks, and empty antagonist ditto, with their Causes of +Liberty and Causes of Anti-Liberty; and cannot but wish that we had got +the ashes of that World-Explosion, of 1789, well riddled and smelted, +and the poor World were quit of a great many things!"-- + +My Constitutional Historian of England, musing on Belleisle and his +Anti-Pragmatic industries and grandiosities,--"how Chief-Bully Belleisle +stept down into the ring as a gay Volunteer, and foolish Chief-Defender +George had to follow dismally heroic, as a Conscript of Fate,"--drops +these words: in regard to the Wages they respectively had:-- + +"Nations that go into War without business there, are sure of +getting business as they proceed; and if the beginning were +phantasms,--especially phantasms of the hoping, self-conceited +kind,--the results for them are apt to be extremely real! As was the +case with the French in this War, and those following, in which his +Britannic Majesty played chief counter-tenor. From 1741, in King +Friedrich's First War, onwards to Friedrich's Third War, 1756-1763, +the volunteer French found a great deal of work lying ready for +them,--gratuitous on their part, from the beginning. And the results to +them came out, first completely visible, in the World-Miracles of 1789, +and the years following! + +"Nations, again, may be driven upon War by phantasm TERRORS, and go into +it, in sorrow of heart, not gayety of heart; and that is a shade +better. And one always pities a poor Nation, in such case;--as the +very Destinies rather do, and judge it more mercifully. Nay, the poor +bewildered Nation may, among its brain-phantasms, have something of +reality and sanity inarticulately stirring it withal. It may have a real +ordinance of Heaven to accomplish on those terms:--and IF so, it will +sometimes, in the most chaotic circuitous ways, through endless hazards, +at a hundred or a hundred thousand times the natural expense, ultimately +get it done! This was the case of the poor English in those Wars. + +"They were Wars extraneous to England little less than to France; +neither Nation had real business in them; and they seem to us now a +very mad object on the part of both. But they were not gratuitously gone +into, on the part of England; far from that. England undertook them, +with its big heart very sorrowful, strange spectralities bewildering +it; and managed them (as men do sleep-walking) with a gloomy solidity of +purpose, with a heavy-laden energy, and, on the whole, with a depth +of stupidity, which were very great. Yet look at the respective net +results. France lies down to rot into grand Spontaneous-Combustion, +Apotheosis of Sansculottism, and much else; which still lasts, to her +own great peril, and the great affliction of neighbors. Poor England, +after such enormous stumbling among the chimney-pots, and somnambulism +over all the world for twenty years, finds on awakening, that she is +arrived, after all, where she wished to be, and a good deal farther! +Finds that her own important little errand is somehow or other, +done;--and, in short, that 'Jenkins's Ear [as she named the thing] HAS +been avenged,' and the Ocean Highways 'opened' and a good deal more, in +a most signal way! For the Eternal Providences--little as poor Dryasdust +now knows of it, mumbling and maundering that sad stuff of his--do rule; +and the great soul of the world, I assure you once more, is JUST. And +always for a Nation, as for a man, it is very behooveful to be honest, +to be modest, however stupid!"-- + +By this time, however,--Mollwitz having fallen out, and Belleisle being +evidently on the steps,--his Britannic Majesty recognizes clearly, +and insists upon it, strengthened by his Harringtons and everybody of +discernment, That, nefarious or not, this Friedrich will require to be +bargained with. That, far from breaking in upon him, and partitioning +him (how far from it!), there is no conceivable method of saving the +Celestial Balances till HE be satisfied, in some way. This is the +one step his Britannic Majesty has yet made, out of these his choking +imbroglios; and truly this is one. Hyndford, his best negotiator, is on +the road for Friedrich's Camp; Robinson at Vienna, has been directed to +say and insist, "Bargain with that man; he must be bargained with, if +our Cause of Liberty is to be saved at all?"-- + +And now, having opened the dust-bin so far, that the reader's fancy +might be stirred without affliction to his lungs and eyes, let us shut +it down again,--might we but hope forever! That is too fond a hope. But +the background or sustaining element made imaginable, the few events +deserving memory may surely go on at a much swifter pace. + + + + +Chapter II. -- CAMP OF STREHLEN. + +Friedrich's Silesian Camps this Summer, Camp of Strehlen chiefly, were +among the strangest places in the world. Friedrich, as we have often +noticed, did not much pursue the defeated Austrians, at or near +Mollwitz, or press them towards flat ruin in their Silesian business: it +is clear he anxiously wished a bargain without farther exasperation; and +hoped he might get it by judicious patience. Brieg he took, with that +fine outburst of bombardment, which did not last a week: but Brieg +once his, he fell quiet again; kept encamping, here there, in that +Mollwitz-Neisse region, for above three months to come; not doing much, +beyond the indispensable; negotiating much, or rather negotiated with, +and waiting on events. [In Camp of Mollwitz (nearer Brieg than the +Battle-field was) till 28th May (after the Battle seven weeks); then to +Camp at Grotkau (28th May-9th June, twelve days); thence (9th June) to +Friedewalde, Herrnsdorf; to Strehlen (21st June-20th August, nine or +ten weeks in all). See _Helden-Geschichte_, i. 924, ii. 931; Rodenbeck, +Orlich, &c.] + +Both Armies were reinforcing themselves; and Friedrich's, for obvious +reasons, in the first weeks especially, became much the stronger. Once +in May, and again afterwards, weary of the pace things went at, he had +resolved on having Neisse at once; on attacking Neipperg in his strong +camp there, and cutting short the tedious janglings and uncertainties. +He advanced to Grotkau accordingly, some twelve or fifteen miles nearer +Neisse (28th May,--stayed till 9th June), quite within wind of Neipperg +and his outposts; but found still, on closer inspection, that he had +better wait;--and do so withal at a greater distance from Neipperg and +his Pandour Swarms. He drew back therefore to Strehlen, northwestward, +rather farther from Neisse than before; and lay encamped there for nine +or ten weeks to come. Not till the beginning of August did there fall +out any military event (Pandour skirmishing in plenty, but nothing +to call an event); and not till the end of August any that pointed to +conclusive results. As it was at Strehlen where mostly these Diplomacies +went on, and the Camp of Strehlen was the final and every way the main +one, it may stand as the representative of these Diplomatizing Camps to +us, and figure as the sole one which in fact it nearly was. + +Strehlen is a pleasant little Town, nestled prettily among its granite +Hills, the steeple of it visible from Mollwitz; some twenty-five miles +west of Brieg, some thirty south of Breslau, and about as far northwest +of Neisse: there Friedrich and his Prussians lie, under canvas mainly, +with outposts and detachments sprinkled about under roofs:--a Camp +of Strehlen, more or less imaginable by the reader. And worth his +imagining; such a Camp, if not for soldiering, yet for negotiating and +wagging of diplomatic wigs, as there never was before. Here, strangely +shifted hither, is the centre of European Politics all Summer. From the +utmost ends of Europe come Ambassadors to Strehlen: from Spain, France, +England, Denmark, Holland,--there are sometimes nine at once, how many +successively and in total I never knew. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. +932.] They lodge generally in Breslau; but are always running over to +Strehlen. There sits, properly speaking, the general Secret Parliament +of Europe; and from most Countries, except Austria, representatives +attend at Strehlen, or go and come between Breslau and Strehlen, +submissive to the evils of field-life, when need is. A surprising thing +enough to mankind, and big as the world in its own day; though gone +now to small bulk,--one Human Figure pretty much all that is left of +memorable in it to mankind and us. + +French Belleisle we have seen; who is gone again, long since, on his +wide errands; fat Valori too we have seen, who is assiduously here. The +other figures, except the English, can remain dark to us. Of Montijos, +the eminent Spaniard, a brown little man, magnificent as the Kingdom of +the Incas, with half a page of titles (half a peck, five-and-twenty or +more, of handles to his little name, if you should ever require it); +who, finding matters so backward at Frankfurt, and nothing to do there, +has been out, in the interim, touring to while away the tedium; and +is here only as sequel and corroboration of Belleisle,--say as +bottle-holder, or as high-wrought peacock's-tail, to Belleisle:--of +the eminent Montijos I have to record next to nothing in the shape of +negotiation ("Treaty" with the Termagant was once proposed by him here, +which Friedrich in his politest way declined); and shall mention only, +That his domestic arrangements were sumptuous and commodious in the +extreme. Let him arrive in the meanest village, destitute of +human appliances, and be directed to the hut where he is to +lodge,--straightway from the fourgons and baggage-chests of Montijos +is produced, first of all, a round of arras hangings, portable tables, +portable stove, gold plate and silver; thus, with wax-lights, wines +of richest vintage, exquisite cookeries, Montijos lodges, a king +everywhere, creating an Aladdin's palace everywhere; able to say, like +the Sage Bias, OMNIA MEA NAECUM PORTO. These things are recorded of +Montijos. What he did in the way of negotiation has escaped men's +memory, as it could well afford to do. + +Of Hyndford's appurtenances for lodging we already had a glimpse, +through Busching once;--pointing towards solid dinner-comforts rather +than arras hangings; and justifying the English genius in that respect. +The weight of the negotiations fell on Hyndford; it is between him and +French Valori that the matter lies, Montijos and the others being mere +satellites on their respective sides. Much battered upon, this Hyndford, +by refractory Hanoverians pitting George as Elector against the same +George as King, and egging these two identities to woful battle with +each other,--"Lay me at his Majesty's feet" full length, and let his +Majesty say which is which, then! A heavy, eating, haggling, unpleasant +kind of mortal, this Hyndford; bites and grunts privately, in a stupid +ferocious manner, against this young King: "One of the worst of men; +who will not take up the Cause of Liberty at all, and is not made in +the image of Hyndford at all." They are dreadfully stiff reading, those +Despatches of Hyndford: but they have particles of current news in them; +interesting glimpses of that same young King;--likewise of Hyndford, +laid at his Majesty's feet, and begging for self and brothers any good +benefice that may fall vacant. We can discern, too, a certain rough +tenacity and horse-dealer finesse in the man; a broad-based, shrewdly +practical Scotch Gentleman, wide awake; and can conjecture that the +diplomatic function, in that element, might have been in worse hands. He +is often laid metaphorically at the King's feet, King of England's; and +haunts personally the King of Prussia's elbow at all times, watching +every glance of him, like a British house-dog, that will not be taken +in with suspicious travellers, if he can help it; and casting perpetual +horoscopes in his dull mind. + +Of Friedrich and his demeanor in this strange scene, centre of a World +all drawing sword, and jumbling in huge Diplomatic and other delirium +about his ears, the reader will desire to see a direct glimpse or two. +As to the sad general Imbroglio of Diplomacies which then weltered +everywhere, readers can understand that, it has, at this day, fallen +considerably obscure (as it deserved to do); and that even Friedrich's +share of it is indistinct in parts. The game, wide as Europe, and one of +the most intricate ever played by Diplomatic human creatures, was kept +studiously dark while it went on; and it has not since been a +pleasant object of study. Many of the Documents are still unpublished, +inaccessible; so that the various moves in the game, especially what the +exact dates and sequence of them were (upon which all would turn), are +not completely ascertainable,--nor in truth are they much worth hunting +after, through such an element. One thing we could wish to have out of +it, the one thing of sane that was in it: the demeanor and physiognomy +of Friedrich as there manifested; Friedrich alone, or pretty much alone +of all these Diplomatic Conjurers, having a solid veritable object in +hand. The rest--the spiders are very welcome to it: who of mortals would +read it, were it made never so lucid to him? Such traits of Friedrich as +can be sifted out into the conceivable and indubitable state, the reader +shall have; the extinct Bedlam, that begirdled Friedrich far and +wide, need not be resuscitated except for that object. Of Friedrich's +fairness, or of Friedrich's "trickiness, machiavelism and attorneyism," +readers will form their own notion, as they proceed. On one point they +will not be doubtful, That here is such a sharpness of steady eyesight +(like the lynx's, like the eagle's), and, privately such a courage and +fixity of resolution, as are highly uncommon. + +April 26th, 1741, in the same days while Belleisle arrived in the Camp +at Mollwitz, and witnessed that fine opening of the cannonade upon +Brieg, Excellency Hyndford got to Berlin; and on notifying the event, +was invited by the King to come along to Breslau, and begin business. +England has been profuse enough in offering her "good offices with +Austria" towards making a bargain for his Prussian Majesty; but is +busy also, at the Hague, concerting with the Dutch "some strong joint +resolution,"--resolution, Openly to advise Friedrich to withdraw his +troops from Silesia, by way of starting fair towards a bargain. A very +strong resolution, they and the Gazetteers think it; and ask themselves, +Is it not likely to have some effect? Their High Mightinesses have been +screwing their courage, and under English urgency, have decided +(April 24th), [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 964; the ADVICE itself, a very +mild-spoken Piece, but of riskish nature think the Dutch, is given, +ib. 965, 966.] "Yes, we will jointly so advise!" and Friedrich has +got inkling of it from Rasfeld, his Minister there. Hyndford's first +business (were the Dutch Excellency once come up, but those Dutch are +always hanging astern!) is to present said "Advice," and try what +will come of that, An "Advice" now fallen totally insignificant to the +Universe and to us,--only that readers will wish to see how Friedrich +takes it, and if any feature of Friedrich discloses itself in the +affair. + + + + +EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD HAS HIS FIRST AUDIENCE (Camp of Mollwitz, May 7th); +AND FRIEDRICH MAKES A MOST IMPORTANT TREATY,--NOT WITH HYNDFORD. + +May 2d, Hyndford arrived in Breslau; and after some preliminary +flourishings, and difficulties about post-horses and furnitures in a +seat of War, got to Brieg; and thence, May 7th, "to the Camp [Camp +of Mollwitz still], which is about an English mile off,"--Podewils +escorting him from Brieg, and what we note farther, Pollnitz too; +our poor old Pollnitz, some kind of Chief Goldstick, whom we did not +otherwise know to be on active duty in those rude scenes. Belleisle had +passed through Breslau while Hyndford was there:--"am unable to inform +your Lordship what success he has had." Brieg Siege is done only three +days ago; Castle all lying black; and the new trenching and fortifying +hardly begun. In a word, May 7th, 1741, "about 11 A.M.," Excellency +Hyndford is introduced to the King's Tent, and has his First Audience. +Goldstick having done his motions, none but Podewils is left present; +who sits at a table, taking notes of what is said. Podewils's Notes +are invisible to me; but here, in authentic though carefully compressed +state, is Hyndford's minute Narrative:-- + +Excellency Hyndford mentioned the Instructions he had, as to "good +offices," friendship and so forth. "But his Prussian Majesty had hardly +patience to hear me out; and said in a passion [we rise, where possible, +Hyndford's own wording; readers will allow for the leaden quality in +some parts]:--KING (in a passion). 'How is it possible, my Lord, to +believe things so contradictory? It is mighty fine all this that you now +tell me, on the part of the King of England; but how does it correspond +to his last Speech to his Parliament [19th April last, when Mr. Viner +was in such minority of one] and to the doings of his Ministers at +Petersburg [a pretty Partition-Treaty that; and the Excellency Finch +still busy, as I know!] and at the Hague [Excellency Trevor there, and +this beautiful Joint-Resolution and Advice which is coming!] to stir up +allies against me? I have reason rather to doubt the sincerity of the +King of England. They perhaps mean to amuse me. [That is Friedrich's +real opinion. [His Letter to Podewils (Ranke, ii. 268).]] But, by God, +they are mistaken! I will risk everything rather than abate the least of +my pretensions.'" + +Poor Hyndford said and mumbled what he could; knew nothing what +instructions Finch had, Trevor had, and--KING. "'My Lord, there seems +to be a contradiction in all this. The King of England, in his Letter, +tells me you are instructed as to everything; and yet you pretend +ignorance! But I am perfectly informed of all. And I should not be +surprised if, after all these fine words, you should receive some strong +letter or resolution for me,'"--Joint-Resolution to Advise, for example? + +Hyndford, not in the strength of conscious innocence, stands silent; the +King, "in his heat of passion," said to Podewils:--KING TO PODEWILS (on +the sudden). "'Write down, that my Lord would be surprised [as he +should be] to receive such Instructions!'" (A mischievous sparkle, +half quizzical, half practical, considerably in the Friedrich +style.)--Hyndford, "quite struck, my Lord, with this strange way of +acting," and of poking into one, protests with angry grunt, and "was put +extremely upon my guard." Of course Podewils did net write.... + +HYNDFORD. "'Europe is under the necessity of taking some speedy +resolution, things are in such a state of crisis. Like a fever in a +human body, got to such a height that quinquina becomes necessary.' ... +That expression made him smile, and he began to look a little cooler.... +'Shall we apply to Vienna, your Majesty?' + +FRIEDRICH. "'Follow your own will in that.' + +HYNDFORD. "'Would your Majesty consent now to stand by his Excellency +Gotter's original Offer at Vienna on your part? Agree, namely, in +consideration of Lower Silesia and Breslau, to assist the Queen with all +your troops for maintenance of Pragmatic Sanction, and to vote for the +Grand-Duke as Kaiser?' + +KING. "'Yes' [what the reader may take notice of, and date for himself]. + +HYNDFORD. "'What was the sum of money then offered her Hungarian +Majesty?' + +"King hesitated, as if he had forgotten; Podewils answered, 'Three +million florins (300,000 pounds).' + +KING. "'I should not value the money; if money would content her +Majesty, I would give more.'... Here was a long pause, which I did not +break;"--nor would the King. Podewils reminded me of an idea we had been +discoursing of together ("on his suggestion, my Lord, which I really +think is of importance, and worth your Lordship's consideration"); +whereupon, on such hint, + +HYNDFORD. "'Would your Majesty consent to an Armistice?' + +FRIEDRICH. "'Yes; but [counts on his fingers, May, June, till he comes +to December] not for less than six months,--till December 1st. By that +time they could do nothing,'" the season out by that time. + +HYNDFORD. "'His Excellency Podewils has been taking notes; if I am to be +bound by them, might I first see that he has mistaken nothing?' + +KING. "'Certainly!'"--Podewils's Note-protocol is found to be correct in +every point; Hyndford, with some slight flourish of compliments on both +sides, bows himself away (invited to dinner, which he accepts, "will +surely have that honor before returning to Breslau");--and so the First +Audience has ended. [Hyndford's Despatches, Breslau, 5th and 13th May, +1741. Are in State-Paper Office, like the rest of Hyndford's; also +in British Museum (Additional MSS. 11,365 &c.), the rough draughts of +them.] Baronay and Pandours are about,--this is ten days before the +Ziethen feat on Baronay;--but no Pandour, now or afterwards, will harm a +British Excellency. + +These utterances of Friedrich's, the more we examine them by other +lights that there are, become the more correctly expressive of what +Friedrich's real feelings were on the occasion. Much contrary, perhaps, +to expectation of some readers. And indeed we will here advise our +readers to prepare for dismissing altogether that notion of Friedrich's +duplicity, mendacity, finesse and the like, which was once widely +current in the world; and to attend always strictly to what Friedrich +says, if they wish to guess what he is thinking;--there being no such +thing as "mendacity" discoverable in Friedrich, when you take the +trouble to inform yourself. "Mendacity," my friends? How busy have +the Owls been with Friedrich's memory, in different countries of the +world;--perhaps even more than their sad wont is in such cases! For +indeed he was apt to be of swift abrupt procedure, disregardful of +Owleries; and gave scope for misunderstanding in the course of his life. +But a veracious man he was, at all points; not even conscious of +his veracity; but had it in the blood of him; and never looked upon +"mendacity" but from a very great height indeed. He does not, except +where suitable, at least he never should, express his whole meaning; but +you will never find him expressing what is not his meaning. Reticence, +not dissimulation. And as to "finesse,"--do not believe in that either, +in the vulgar or bad sense. Truly you will find his finesse is a very +fine thing; and that it consists, not in deceiving other people, but in +being right himself; in well discerning, for his own behoof, what the +facts before him are; and in steering, which he does steadily, in a most +vigilant, nimble, decisive and intrepid manner, by monition of the +same. No salvation but in the facts. Facts are a kind of divine thing +to Friedrich; much more so than to common men: this is essentially what +Religion I have found in Friedrich. And, let me assure you, it is an +invaluable element in any man's Religion, and highly indispensable, +though so often dispensed with! Readers, especially in our time English +readers, who would gain the least knowledge about Friedrich, in the +extinct Bedlam where his work now lay, have a great many things to +forget, and sad strata of Owl-droppings, ancient and recent, to sweep +away!-- + +To Friedrich a bargain with Austria, which would be a getting into port, +in comparison to going with the French in that distracted voyage of +theirs, is highly desirable. "Shall I join with the English, in hope +of some tolerable bargain from Austria? Shall I have to join with the +French, in despair of any?" Readers may consider how stringent upon +Friedrich that question now was, and how ticklish to solve. And it must +be solved soon,--under penalty of "being left with no ally at all" (as +Friedrich expresses himself), while the whole world is grouping itself +into armed heaps for and against! If the English would but get me a +bargain--? Friedrich dare not think they will. Nay, scanning these +English incoherences, these contradictions between what they say here +and what they do and say elsewhere, he begins to doubt if they zealously +wish it,--and at last to believe that they sincerely do not wish it; +that "they mean to amuse me" (as he said to Hyndford)--till my French +chance too is over. "To amuse me: but, PAR DIEU--!" His Notes to +Podewils, of which Ranke, who has seen them, gives us snatches, are +vivid in that sense: "I should be ashamed if the cunningest Italian +could dupe me; but that a lout of a Hanoverian should do it!"--and +Podewils has great difficulty to keep him patient yet a little; Valori +being so busy on the other side, and the time so pressing. Here are some +dates and some comments, which the reader should take with him;--here is +a very strange issue to the Joint-Resolution of a strong nature now on +hand! + +A few days after that First Audience, Ginkel the Dutch Excellency, with +the due Papers in his pocket, did arrive. Excellency Hyndford, who +is not without rough insight into what lies under his nose, discovers +clearly that the grand Dutch-English Resolution, or Joint-Exhortation +to evacuate Silesia, will do nothing but mischief; and (at his own +risk, persuading Ginkel also to delay) sends a Courier to England before +presenting it. And from England, in about a fortnight, gets for answer, +"Do harm, think you? Hm, ha!--Present it, all the same; and modify by +assurances afterwards,"--as if these would much avail! This is not +the only instance in which St. James's rejects good advice from its +Hyndford; the pity would be greater, were not the Business what it +is! Podewils has the greatest difficulty to keep Friedrich quiet till +Hyndford's courier get back. And on his getting back with such answer, +"Present it all the same," Friedrich will not wait for that ceremony, +or delay a moment longer. Friedrich has had his Valori at work, all this +while; Valori and Podewils, and endless correspondence and consultation +going on; and things hypothetically almost quite ready; so that-- + +June 5th, 1741, Friedrich, spurring Podewils to the utmost speed, and +"ordering secrecy on pain of death," signs his Treaty with France! A +kind of provisional off-and-on Treaty, I take it to be; which was +never published, and is thought to have had many IFS in it: signs this +Treaty;--and next day (June 6th, such is the impetuosity of haste) +instructs his Rasfeld at the Hague, "You will beforehand inform the +High Mightinesses, in regard to that Advice of April 24th, which they +determined on giving me, through the Excellency Herr von Ginkel +along with Excellency Hyndford, That such Advice can, by me, only be +considered as a blind complaisance to the Court of Vienna's improper +urgencies, improper in such a matter. That for certain I will not quit +Silesia till my claims be satisfied. And the longer I am forced to +continue warring for them here," wasting more resource and risk upon +them, "the higher they will rise!" [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 963.] +And this is what comes of that terribly courageous Dutch-English +"Joint-Resolution of a strong nature;" it has literally cut before the +point: the Exhortation is not yet presented, but the Treaty with France +is signed in virtue of it!-- + +Undoubtedly this of June 5th is the most important Treaty in the +Austrian-Succession War, and the cardinal element of Friedrich's +procedure in that Adventure. And it has never been published; nor, till +Herr Professor Ranke got access to the Prussian Archives, has even the +date of signing it been rightly known; but is given two or three ways +in different express Collections of Treaties. [Scholl, ii. 297 (copying +"Flassan, _Hist. de la Diplom. Franc._ v. 142"), gives "5th July" as +the date; Adelung (ii. 357, 390, 441) guesses that it was "in August;" +Valori (i. 108), who was himself in it, gives the correct date,--but +then his Editor (thought inquiring readers) was such a sloven and +ignoramus. See Stenzel, iv. 143; Ranke, ii. 274.] Herr Ranke knows this +Treaty, and the correspondences, especially Friedrich's correspondence +with Podewils preparatory to it; and speaks, as his wont is, several +exact things about it; thanks to him, in the circumstances. I wish it +could be made, even with his help, fully intelligible to the reader! +For, were the Treaty never so express, surely the mode of keeping it, on +both parts, was very strange; and that latter concerns us somewhat. + +A very fast-and-loose Treaty, to all appearance! Outwardly it is a mere +Treaty of Alliance, each party guaranteeing the other for Fifteen Years; +without mention made of the joint Belleisle Adventure now in the wind. +But then, like the postscript to a lady's letter, there come "secret +articles" bearing upon that essential item: How France, in the course +of this current season 1741, is to bring an Army across the Rhine in +support of its friend Kur-Baiern VERSUS Austria; is, in the same term of +time, to make Sweden declare war on Russia (important for Friedrich, who +is never sure a moment that those Russians will not break in upon +him); and finally, most important of all, That France "guarantees Lower +Silesia with Breslau to his Prussian Majesty." In return for which his +Prussian Majesty--will do what? It is really difficult to say what: Be +a true ally and second to France in its grand German Adventure? Not +at all. Friedrich does not yet know, nor does Belleisle himself quite +precisely, what the grand German Adventure is; and Friedrich's wishes +never were, nor will be, for the prosperity of that. Support France, +at least in its small Bavarian Anti-Austrian Adventure? By no means +definitely even that. "Maintain myself in Lower Silesia with Breslau, +and fight my best to such end:" really that, you might say, is in +substance the most of what Friedrich undertakes; though inarticulately +he finds himself bound to much more,--and will frankly go into it, IF +you do as you have said; and unless you do, will not. Never was a more +contingent Treaty: "unless you stir up Sweden, Messieurs; unless +you produce that Rhine Army; unless--" such is steadily Friedrich's +attitude; long after this, he refuses to say whom he will vote for as +Kaiser: "Fortune of War will decide it," answers he, in regard to that +and to many other things; and keeps himself to an incomprehensible +extent loose; ready, for weeks and months after, to make bargain on his +own Silesian Affair with anybody that can. [Ranke, ii. 271, 275, 280.] + +For indeed the French also are very contingent; Fleury hanging one way, +Belleisle pushing another; and know not how far they will go on the +grand German Adventure, nor conclusively whether at all. Here is an +Anecdote by Friedrich himself. Valori was, one night, with him; and, +on rising to take leave, the fat hand, sticking probably in the big +waistcoat-pocket, twitched out a little diplomatic-looking Note; which +Friedrich, with gentle adroitness (permissible in such circumstances), +set his foot upon, till Valori had bowed himself out. The Note was +from Amelot, French Minister of the Foreign Department: "Don't give +his Prussian Majesty Glatz, if it can possibly be helped." Very well, +thought Friedrich; and did not forget the fine little Note on burning +it. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 90.] There went, in French couriers' +bags, a great many such, to Austria some of them, of far more +questionable tenor, within the next twelve months. + +Two things we have to remark: FIRST, That Friedrich, with an eye to real +business on his part in the Bavarian Adventure, in which Kur-Pfalz is +sure to accompany, volunteered (like a real man of business, and much to +Belleisle's surprise) to renounce the Berg-Julich controversy, and let +Kur-Pfalz have his way, that there might be no quarrelling among allies. +This too is contingent; but was gladly accepted by Belleisle. SECOND, +That Belleisle had instructed Valori, Not to insist on active help +from Friedrich in the German Adventure, but merely to stipulate for +his Neutrality throughout, in case they could get no more. How joyfully +would Friedrich have accepted this,--had Valori volunteered with it, +which he did not! [Ranke, ii. 280.] But, after all, in result it was the +same; and had to be,--PLUS only a great deal of clamor by and by, from +the French and the Gazetteers, about the Article in question. + +Was there ever so contingent a Treaty before? It is signed, Breslau, +5th June, 1741, and both parties have their hands loose, and make use of +their liberty for months to come; nay, in some sort, all along; feeling +how contingent it was! Friedrich did not definitely tie himself till +4th November next, five months after: when he signed the French-Bavarian +Treaty, renounced Berg-Julich controversies, and fairly went into +the French-Bavarian, smaller French Adventure; into the greater, or +wide-winged Belleisle one, he never went nor intended to go,--perhaps +even the contrary, if needful. Readers may try to remember these +elucidative items, riddled from the immensities of Dryasdust: I have no +more to give, nor can afford to return upon it. May not we well say, as +above, "A Treaty thought to have many IFS in it!"--And now, 8th June, +comes solemnly the Joint-Resolution itself; like mustard (under a +flourish of trumpets) three days after dinner:-- + +"CAMP OF GROTKAU, 8th JUNE. Hyndford and Ginkel [the same respectable +old Ginkel whom we used to know in Friedrich Wilhelm's time], having, +according to renewed order, got out from Breslau with that formidable +Dutch-English 'Advice' or Joint-Exhortation in their pocket, did this +day in the Camp at Grotkau present the same. A very mild-spoken Piece, +though it had required such courage; and which is not now worth speaking +of, things having gone as we see. Friedrich received it with a gracious +mien: 'Infinitely sensible to the trouble his Britannic Majesty and +their High Mightinesses took with his affairs; Document should receive +his best consideration,'--which indeed it has already done, and its +Answer withal: A FRENCH Treaty signed three days ago, in virtue of it! +'Might I request a short Private Audience of your Majesty?' solicits +Hyndford, intending to modify by new assurances, as bidden.--'Surely,' +answers Friedrich. + +"The two Excellencies dine with the King, who is in high spirits. After +dinner, Hyndford gets his Private Audience; does his best in the way of +'new assurances;' which produce what effect we can fancy. Among other +things, he appeals to the King's 'magnanimity, how grand and generous +it will be to accept moderate terms from Austria, to--' KING +(interrupting): 'My Lord, don't talk to me of magnanimity, a Prince +[acting not for himself but for his Nation] ought to consult his +interest in the first place. I am not against Peace: but I expect to +have Four Duchies given me.'" [State-Paper Office (Hyndford, Breslau, +12th June, 1741).] + +Hyndford and Ginkel slept that night in Grotkau Town: "at 4 next morning +the King sent us word, That if we had a mind to see the Army on march," +just moving off, Strehlen way, "we might come out by the North Gate." +We accordingly saw the whole Army leave Camp; and march in four columns +towards Friedewald, where Marshal Neipperg is encamped. "Not a bit +of it, your Excellency! Neipperg is safe at Neisse; amid inaccessible +embankments and artificial mud: and these are mere Hussar-Pandour rabble +out here; whom a push or two sends home again,--would it could keep them +there! But they are of sylvan (or SALVAGE) nature, affecting the shade; +and burst out, for theft and arson, sometimes at great distances, no +calculating where. The King's Army lay all that night upon their arms, +and encamped next morning, the 10th. I believe nothing happened that +day, for we were obliged to stay at Grotkau, for want of post-horses, a +good part of it." + +Hyndford hears (in secret Opposition Circles, and lays the flattering +unction to his soul and your Lordship's): "The King of Prussia's Army, +as I am informed, unless he will take counsel, another campaign will go +near to ruin. Everything is in the greatest disorder; utmost dejection +amongst the Officers from highest to lowest;"--fact being that the +King has important improvements and new drillings in view (to go on +at Strehlen), Cavalry improvements, Artillery improvements, unknown to +Hyndford and the Opposition; and will not be ruined next campaign. +"I hope the news we have here, of the taking of Carthagena, is true," +concludes he. Alas, your Excellency! + +By a different hand, from the southward Hungarian regions, far over the +Hills, take this other entry; almost of enthusiastic style:-- + +"PRESBURG, 25th JUNE. Maria Theresa, in high spirits about her English +Subsidy and the bright aspects, left Vienna about a week ago for +Presburg [a drive of fifty miles down the fine Donau country]; and is +celebrating her Coronation there, as Queen of Hungary, in a very sublime +manner. Sunday, 25th June, 1741, that is the day of putting on your +Crown,--Iron Crown of St. Stephen, as readers know. The Chivalry of +Hungary, from Palfy and Esterhazy downward, and all the world are there; +shining in loyalty and barbaric gold and pearl. A truly beautiful +Young Woman, beautiful to soul and eye, devout too and noble, though +ill-informed in Political or other Science, is in the middle of it, and +makes the scene still more noticeable to us. See, as the finish of +the ceremonies, she has mounted a high swift horse, sword girt to her +side,--a great rider always, this young Queen;--and gallops, Hungary +following like a comet-tail, to the Konigsberg [KING'S-HILL so called; +no great things of a Hill, O reader; made by barrow, you can see], +to the top of the Konigsberg; there draws sword; and cuts, grandly +flourishing, to the Four Quarters of the Heavens: 'Let any mortal, from +whatever quarter coming, meddle with Hungary if he dare!' [Adelung, ii. +293, 294.] Chivalrous Hungary bursts into passionate acclaim; old Palfy, +I could fancy, into tears; and all the world murmurs to itself, with +moist-gleaming eyes, 'REX NOSTER!' This is, in fact, the beautifulest +King or Queen that now is, this radiant young woman; beautiful things +have been, and are to be, reported of her; and she has a terrible voyage +just ahead,--little dreaming of it at this grand moment. I wish his +Britannic Majesty, or Robinson who has followed out hither, could +persuade her to some compliance on the Silesian matter: what a thing +were that, for herself, and for all mankind, just now! But she will not +hear of that; and is very obstinate, and her stupid Hofraths equally +and much more blamably so. Deaf to hard Facts knocking at their door; +ignorant what Noah's-Deluges have broken out upon them, and are rushing +on inevitable." + +By a notable coincidence, precisely while those sword-flourishings go +on at Presburg, Marechal Excellency Belleisle is making his Public Entry +into Frankfurt-on-Mayn: [25th June, 1741 (Adelung, ii. 399).] Frankfurt +too is in cheery emotion; streets populous with Sunday gazers, and +critics of the sublime in spectacle! This is not Belleisle's first +entrance; he himself has been here some time, settling his Household, +and a good many things: but today he solemnly leads in his Countess and +Appendages (over from Metz, where Madame and he officially reside in +common times, "Governor of Metz," one of his many offices);--leads in +Madame, in suitably resplendent manner; to kindle household fire, as it +were; and indicate that here is his place, till he have got a Kaiser +to his mind. Twin Phenomena, these two; going on 500 miles apart; +unconscious of one another, or of what kinship they happen to have!-- + + + + +EXCELLENCY ROBINSON BUSY IN THE VIENNA HOFRATH CIRCLES, TO PRODUCE A +COMPLIANCE. + +Britannic George, both for Pragmatic's sake and for dear Hanover's, +desires much there were a bargain made with Friedrich: How is the +Pragmatic to be saved at all, if Friedrich join France in its Belleisle +machinations, thinks George? And already here is that Camp of Gottin, +glittering in view like a drawn sword pointed at one's throat or at +one's Hanover. Nay, in a month or two hence, as the Belleisle schemes +got above ground in the shape of facts, this desire became passionate, +and a bargain with Prussia seemed the one thing needful. For, alas, +the reader will see there comes, about that time, a second sword (the +Maillebois Army, namely), pointed at one's throat from the French side +of things: so that a Paladin of the Pragmatic, and Hanoverian King of +England, knows not which way to turn! George's sincerity of wish is +perhaps underrated by Friedrich; who indeed knows well enough on which +side George's wishes would fall, if they had liberty (which they have +not), but much overrates "the astucity" of poor George and his English; +ascribing, as is often done, to fine-spun attorneyism what is mere +cunctation, ignorance, negligence, and other forms of a stupidity +perhaps the most honest in the world! By degrees Friedrich understood +better; but he never much liked the English ways of doing business. +George's desire is abundantly sincere, not wholly resting on sublime +grounds; and grows more and more intense every day; but could not be +gratified for a good while yet. + +Co-operating with Hyndford, from the Vienna side, is Excellency +Robinson; who has a still harder job of it there. Pity poor Robinson, +O English reader, if you can for indignation at the business he is in. +Saving the Liberties of Europe! thinks Robinson confidently: Founding +the English National Debt, answers Fact; and doing Bottom the Weaver, +with long ears, in the miserablest Pickleherring Tragedy that ever +was!--This is the same Robinson who immortalized himself, nine or ten +years ago, by the First Treaty of Vienna; thrice-salutary Treaty, which +DISJOINED Austria from Bourbon-Spanish Alliances, and brought her into +the arms of the grateful Sea-Powers again. Imminent Downfall of the +Universe was thus, glory to Robinson, arrested for that time. And now +we have the same Robinson instructed to sharpen all his faculties to the +cutting pitch, and do the impossible for this new and reverse face +of matters. What a change from 1731 to 1741! Bugbear of dreadful +Austrian-Spanish Alliance dissolves now into sunlit clouds, encircling +a beautiful Austrian Andromeda, about to be devoured for us; and the +Downfall of the Universe is again imminent, from Spain and others +joining AGAINST Austria. Oh, ye wigs, and eximious wig-blocks, called +right-honorable! If a man, sovereign or other, were to stay well at +home, and mind his own visible affairs, trusting a good deal that +the Universe would shift for itself, might it not be better for +him? Robinson, who writes rather a heavy style, but is full of +inextinguishable heavy zeal withal, will have a great deal to do in +these coming years. Ancestor of certain valuable Earls that now are; +author of immeasurable quantities of the Diplomatic cobwebs that then +were. + +To a modern English reader it is very strange, that Austrian scene of +things in which poor Robinson is puffing and laboring. The ineffable +pride, the obstinacy, impotency, ponderous pedantry and helplessness of +that dull old Court and its Hofraths, is nearly inconceivable to modern +readers. Stupid dilapidation is in all departments, and has long been; +all things lazily crumbling downwards, sometimes stumbling down +with great plunges. Cash is done; the world rising, all round, with +plunderous intentions; and hungry Ruin, you would say, coming visibly on +with seven-league boots: here is little room for carrying your head +high among mankind. High nevertheless they do carry it, with a grandly +mournful though stolid insolent air, as if born superior to this +Earth and its wisdoms and successes and multiplication-tables and iron +ramrods,--really with "a certain greatness," says somebody, "greatness +as of great blockheadism" in themselves and their neighbors;--and, like +some absurd old Hindoo Idol (crockery Idol of Somnauth, for instance, +with the belly of him smashed by battle-axes, and the cart-load of +gold coin all run out), persuade mankind that they are a god, though in +dilapidated condition. That is our first impression of the thing. + +But again, better seen into, there is not wanting a certain worthily +steadfast, conservative and broad-based high air (reminding you of "Kill +our own mutton, Sir!" and the ancient English Tory species), solid +and loyal, though stolid Ancient Austrian Tories, that definition will +suffice for us;--and Toryism too, the reader may rely on it, is much +patronized by the Upper Powers, and goes a long way in this world. Nay, +without a good solid substratum of that, what thing, with never so many +ballot-boxes, stump-orators, and liberties of the subject, is capable of +going at all, except swiftly to perdition? These Austrians have taken +a great deal of ruining, first and last! Their relation to the then +Sea-Powers, especially to England embarked on the Cause of Liberty, +fills one with amazement, by no means of an idolatrous nature; and is +difficult to understand at all, or to be patient with at all. + +Of disposition to comply with Prussia, Robinson finds, in spite of +Mollwitz and the sad experiences, no trace at Vienna. The humor +at Vienna is obstinately defiant; simply to regard Friedrich as a +housebreaker or thief in the night; whom they will soon deal with, were +they once on foot and implements in their hand: "Swift, ye Sea-Powers; +where are the implements, the cash, that means implements?" The Young +Hungarian Majesty herself is magnificently of that opinion, which +is sanctioned by her Bartensteins and wisest Hofraths, with hardly a +dissentient (old Sinzendorf almost alone in his contrary notion, and he +soon dies). Robinson urges the dangers from France. No Hofrath here will +allow himself to believe them; to believe them would be too horrible. +"Depend upon it, France's intentions are not that way. And at the worst, +if France do rise against us, it is but bargaining with France; better +so than bargaining with Prussia, surely. France will be contentable with +something in the Netherlands; what else can she want of us? Parings from +that outskirt, what are these compared with Silesia, a horrid gash into +the vital parts? And what is yielding to the King of France, compared +with yielding to your Prussian King!"-- + +It is true they have no money, these blind dull people; but are not +the Sea-Powers, England especially, there, created by Nature to supply +money? What else is their purpose in Creation? By Nature's law, as the +Sun mounts in the Ecliptic and then falls, these Sea-Powers, in the +Cause of Liberty, will furnish us money. No surrender; talk not to me of +Silesia or surrender; I will die defending my inheritances: what are +the Sea-Powers about, that they do not furnish more money in a prompt +manner? These are the things poor Robinson has to listen to: Robinson +and England, it is self-evident at Vienna, have one duty, that of +furnishing money. And in a prompt manner, if you please, Sir; why not +prompt and abundant? + +An English soul has small exhilaration, looking into those old +expenditures, and bullyings for want of promptitude! But if English +souls will solemnly, under high Heaven, constitute a Duke of Newcastle +and a George II. their Captains of the march Heavenward, and say, +without blushing for it, nay rejoicing at it, in the face of the +sun, "You are the most godlike Two we could lay hold of for that +object,"--what have English souls to expect? My consolation is, and, +alas, it is a poor one, the money would have been mostly wasted any way. +Buy men and gunpowder with your money, to be shot away in foreign parts, +without renown or use: is that so much worse than buying ridiculous +upholsteries, idle luxuries, frivolities, and in the end unbeautiful +pot-bellies corporeal and spiritual with it, here at home? I am struck +silent, looking at much that goes on under these stars;--and find that +misappointment of your Captains, of your Exemplars and Guiding and +Governing individuals, higher and lower, is a fatal business always; and +that especially, as highest instance of it, which includes all the lower +ones, this of solemnly calling Chief Captain, and King by the Grace of +God, a gentleman who is NOT so (and SEEMS to be so mainly by Malice of +the Devil, and by the very great and nearly unforgivable indifference +of Mankind to resist the Devil in that particular province, for the +present), is the deepest fountain of human wretchedness, and the head +mendacity capable of being done!-- + +As for the brave young Queen of Hungary, my admiration goes with that of +all the world. Not in the language of flattery, but of evident fact, the +royal qualities abound in that high young Lady; had they left the world, +and grown to mere costume elsewhere, you might find certain of them +again here. Most brave, high and pious-minded; beautiful too, and +radiant with good-nature, though of temper that will easily catch fire: +there is perhaps no nobler woman then living. And she fronts the roaring +elements in a truly grand feminine manner; as if Heaven itself and the +voice of Duty called her: "The Inheritances which my Fathers left me, +we will not part with these. Death, if it so must be; but not +dishonor:--Listen not to that thief in the night!" Maria Theresa has +not studied, at all, the History of the Silesian Duchies; she knows only +that her Father and Grandfather peaceably held them; it was not she +that sent out Seckendorf to ride 25,000 miles, or broke the heart of +Friedrich Wilhelm and his Household. Pity she had not complied with +Friedrich, and saved such rivers of bitterness to herself and mankind! +But how could she see to do it,--especially with little George at her +back, and abundance of money? This, for the present, is her method +of looking at the matter; this magnanimous, heroic, and occasionally +somewhat female one. + +Her Husband, the Grand Duke, an inert, but good-tempered, +well-conditioned Duke after his sort, goes with her. Him we shall see +try various things; and at length take to banking and merchandise, and +even meal-dealing on the great scale. "Our Armies had most part of their +meal circuitously from him," says Friedrich, of times long subsequent. +Now as always he follows loyally his Wife's lead, never she his: Wife +being, intrinsically as well as extrinsically, the better man, what +other can he do?--Of compliance with Friedrich in this Court, there is +practically no hope till after a great deal of beating have enlightened +it. Out of deference to George and his ardors, they pretend some +intention that way; and are "willing to bargain, your Excellency;"--no +doubt of it, provided only the price were next to nothing! + +And so, while the watchful edacious Hyndford is doing his best at +Strehlen, poor Robinson, blown into triple activity, corresponds in +a boundless zealous manner from Vienna; and at last takes to flying +personally between Strehlen and Vienna; praying the inexorable young +Queen to comply a little, and then the inexorable young King to be +satisfied with imaginary compliance; and has a breathless time of it +indeed. His Despatches, passionately long-winded, are exceedingly stiff +reading to the like of us. O reader, what things have to be read and +carefully forgotten; what mountains of dust and ashes are to be dug +through, and tumbled down to Orcus, to disengage the smallest fraction +of truly memorable! Well if, in ten cubic miles of dust and ashes, you +discover the tongue of a shoe-buckle that has once belonged to a man +in the least heroic; and wipe your brow, invoking the supernal and +the infernal gods. My heart's desire is to compress these Strehlen +Diplomatic horse-dealings into the smallest conceivable bulk. And yet +how much that is not metal, that is merely cinders, has got through: +impossible to prevent,--may the infernal gods deal with it, and reduce +Dryasdust to limits, one day! Here, however, are important Public News +transpiring through the old Gazetteers:-- + +"MUNCHEN, JULY 1st [or in effect a few days later, when the Letters +DATED July 1st had gone through their circuitous formalities], [Adelung, +ii. 421.] Karl Albert Kur-Baiern publicly declares himself Candidate for +the Kaisership; as, privately, he had long been rumored and believed to +be. Kur-Baiern, they say, has of militias and regulars together about +30,000 men on foot, all posted in good places along the Austrian +Frontier; and it is commonly thought, though little credible at Vienna, +that he intends invading Austria as well as contesting the Election. To +which the Vienna Hofrath answers in the style of 'Pshaw!' + +"VERSAILLES, 11th JULY. Extraordinary Council of State; Belleisle being +there, home from Frankfurt, to take final orders, and get official +fiat put upon his schemes. 'All the Princes of the Blood and all the +Marechals of France attend;' question is, How the War is to be, nay, +Whether War is to be at all,--so contingent is the French-Prussian +Bargain, signed five weeks ago. Old Fleury, to give freedom of +consultation and vote, quits the room. Some are of opinion, one Prince +of the Blood emphatically so, That Pragmatic Sanction should be kept, at +least War AGAINST it be avoided. But the contrary opinion triumphs, King +himself being strongly with it; Belleisle to be supreme in field and +cabinet; shall execute, like a kind of Dictator or Vice-Majesty, by his +own magnificent talent, those magnificent devisings of his, glorious to +France and to the King. [Ib. 417, 418; see also Baumer, p. 104 (if you +can for his date, which is given in OLD STYLE as if it were in New; a +very eclipsing method!).] These many months, the French have been arming +with their whole might. The Vienna people hear now, That an 'Army of +40,000 is rumored to be coming,' or even two Armies, 40,000 each; but +will not imagine that this is certain, or that it can be seriously meant +against their high House, precious to gods and men. Belleisle having +perfected the multiplex Army details, rushes back to Frankfurt and his +endless Diplomatic businesses (July 25th): Armies to be on actual march +by the 10th of August coming. 'During this Versailles visit, he had such +a crowd of Officers and great people paying court to him as was like the +King's Levee itself.' [Barbier, ii. 305.] + +"PASSAU, 31st JULY. Passau is the Frontier Austrian City on the +Donau (meeting of the Inn and Donau Valleys); a place of considerable +strength, and a key or great position for military purposes. Austrian, +or Quasi-Austrian; for, like Salzburg, it has a Bishop claiming some +imaginary sovereignties, but always holds with Austria. July 31st, early +in the morning, a Bavarian Exciseman ('Salt-Inspector') applied at the +gate of Passau for admission; gate was opened;--along with the Exciseman +'certain peasants' (disguised Bavarian soldiers) pushed in; held the +gate choked, till General Minuzzi, Karl Albert's General, with horse, +foot, cannon, who had been lurking close by, likewise pushed in; and at +once seized the Town. Town speedily secured, Minuzzi informs the Bishop, +who lives in his Schloss of Oberhaus (strongish place on a Hill-top, +other side the Donau), That he likewise, under pain of bombardment, +must admit garrison. The poor Bishop hesitates; but, finding bombardment +actually ready for him, yields in about two hours. Karl Albert publishes +his Manifesto, 'in forty-five pages folio' [Adelung, ii. 426.] (to +the effect, 'All Austria mine; or as good as all,--if I liked!'); and +fortifies himself in Passau. 'Insidious, nefarious!' shrieks Austria, +in Counter-Manifesto; calculates privately it will soon settle Karl +Albert,--'Unless, O Heavens, France with Prussia did mean to back +him!'--and begins to have misgivings, in spite of itself." + +Misgivings, which soon became fatal certainties. Robinson records, +doubtless on sure basis, though not dating it, a curious piece of +stage-effect in the form of reality; "On hearing, beyond possibility of +doubt, that Prussia, France, and Bavaria had combined, the whole Aulic +Council," Vienna Hofrath in a body, "fell back into their chairs [and +metaphorically into Robinson's arms] like dead men!" [Raumer, p. 104.] +Sat staring there;--the wind struck out of them, but not all the folly +by a great deal. Now, however, is Robinson's time to ply them. + + + + +EXCELLENCY ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF FRIEDRICH (Camp of Strehlen, 7th +August, 1741). + +By unheard-of entreaties and conjurations, aided by these strokes of +fate, Robinson has at length extorted from his Queen of Hungary, and her +wise Hofraths, something resembling a phantasm of compliance; with which +he hurries to Breslau and Hyndford; hoping against hope that Friedrich +will accept it as a reality. Gets to Breslau on the 3d of August; thence +to Strehlen, consulting much with Hyndford upon this phantasm of a +compliance. Hyndford looks but heavily upon it;--from us, in this place, +far be it to look at all:--alas, this is the famed Scene they Two had at +Strehlen with Friedrich, on Monday, August 7th; reported by the faithful +pen of Robinson, and vividly significant of Friedrich, were it but +compressed to the due pitch. We will give it in the form of Dialogue: +the thing of itself falls naturally into the Dramatic, when the flabby +parts are cut away;--and was perhaps worthier of a Shakspeare than of a +Robinson, all facts of it considered, in the light they have since got. + +Scene is Friedrich's Tent, Prussian Camp in the neighborhood of the +little Town of Strehlen: time 11 o'clock A.M. Personages of it, Two +British subjects in the high Diplomatic line: ponderous Scotch Lord +of an edacious gloomy countenance; florid Yorkshire Gentleman with +important Proposals in his pocket. Costume, frizzled peruke powdered; +frills, wrist-frills and other; shoe-buckles, flapped waistcoat, +court-coat of antique cut and much trimming: all this shall be conceived +by the reader. Tight young Gentleman in Prussian military uniform, +blue coat, buff breeches, boots; with alert flashing eyes, and careless +elegant bearing, salutes courteously, raising his plumed hat. Podewils +in common dress, who has entered escorting the other Two, sits rather to +rearward, taking refuge beside the writing apparatus.--First passages +of the Dialogue I omit: mere pickeerings and beatings about the bush, +before we come to close quarters. For Robinson, the florid Yorkshire +Gentleman, is charged to offer,--what thinks the reader?--two million +guilders, about 200,000 pounds, if that will satisfy this young military +King with the alert Eyes! + +ROBINSON.... "'Two hundred thousand pounds sterling, if your Majesty +will be pleased to retire out of Silesia, and renounce this enterprise!' + +KING. "'Retire out of Silesia? And for money? Do you take me for a +beggar! Retire out of Silesia, which has cost me so much treasure and +blood in the conquest of it? No, Monsieur, no; that is not to be thought +of! If you have no better proposals to make, it is not worth while +talking.' These words were accompanied with threatening gestures and +marks of great anger;" considerably staggering to the Two Diplomatic +British gentlemen, and of evil omen to Robinson's phantasm of a +compliance. Robinson apologetically hums and hahs, flounders through the +bad bit of road as he can; flounderingly indicates that he has more to +offer. + +KING. "'Let us see then (VOYONS), what is there more?' + +ROBINSON (with preliminary flourishings and flounderings, yet +confidently, as now tabling his best card).... "'Permitted to offer +your Majesty the whole of Austrian Guelderland; lies contiguous to your +Majesty's Possessions in the Rhine Country; important completion of +these: I am permitted to say, the whole of Austrian Guelderland!' +Important indeed: a dirty stripe of moorland (if you look in Busching), +about equivalent to half a dozen parishes in Connemara. + +KING. "'What do you mean? [turning to Podewils]--QU'EST-CE QUE NOUS +MANQUE DE TOUTE LA GUELDRE (How much of Guelderland is theirs, and not +ours already)?' + +PODEWILS. "'Almost nothing (PRESQUE RIEN). + +KING (to Robinson). "'VOICI ENCORE DE GUEUSERIES (more rags and rubbish +yet)! QUOI, such a paltry scraping (BICOQUE) as that, for all my just +claims in Silesia? Monsieur--!' His Majesty's indignation increased +here, all the more as I kept a profound silence during his hot +expressions, and did not speak at all except to beg his Majesty's +reflection upon what I had said.--'Reflection?'" asks the King, with +eyes dangerous to behold;--"My Lord," continues Robinson, heavily +narrative, "his contempt of what I had said was so great," kicking his +boot through Guelderland and the guilders as the most contemptible of +objects, "and was expressed in such violent terms, that now, if ever (as +your Lordship perceives), it was time to make the last effort;" play our +trump-card down at once; "a moment longer was not to be lost, to hinder +the King from dismissing us;" which sad destiny is still too probable, +after the trump-card. Trump-card is this: + +ROBINSON.... "'The whole Duchy of Limburg, your Majesty! It is a Duchy +which--' I extolled the Duchy to the utmost, described it in the most +favorable terms; and added, that 'the Elector Palatine [old Kur-Pfalz, +on one occasion] had been willing to give the whole Duchy of Berg for +it.' + +PODEWILS. "'Pardon, Monsieur: that is not so; the contrary of so; +Kur-Pfalz was not ready to give Berg for it!'--[We are not deep in +German History, we British Diplomatic gentlemen, who are squandering, +now and of old, so much money on it! The Aulic Council, "falls into +our arms like dead men;" but it is certain the Elector Palatine was not +ready to give Berg in that kind of exchange.] + +KING. "'It is inconceivable to me how Austria should dare to think of +such a thing. Limburg? Are there not solemn Engagements upon Austria, +sanctioned and again sanctioned by all the world, which render every +inch of ground in the Netherlands inalienable?' + +ROBINSON. "'Engagements good as against the French, your Majesty. +Otherwise the Barrier Treaty, confirmed at Utrecht, was for our behoof +and Holland's.' + +KING. "'That is your present interpretation, But the French pretend it +was an arrangement more in their favor than against them.' + +ROBINSON. "'Your Majesty, by a little Engineer Art, could render Limburg +impregnable to the French or others.' + +KING. "'Have not the least desire to aggrandize myself in those parts, +or spend money fortifying there. Useless to me. Am not I fortifying +Brieg and Glogau? These are enough: for one who intends to live well +with his neighbors. Neither the Dutch nor the French have offended me; +nor will I them by acquisitions in the Netherlands. Besides, who would +guarantee them?' + +ROBINSON. "'The Proposal is to give guarantees at once.' + +KING. "'Guarantees! Who minds or keeps guarantees in this age? Has not +France guaranteed the Pragmatic Sanction; has not England? Why don't +you all fly to the Queen's succor?'"--Robinson, inclined to pout, if he +durst, intimates that perhaps there will be succorers one day yet. + +KING. "'And pray, Monsieur, who are they?' + +ROBINSON. "'Hm, hm, your Majesty.... Russia, for example, which Power +with reference to Turkey--' + +KING. "'Good, Sir, good (BEAU, MONSIEUR, BEAU), the Russians! It is not +proper to explain myself; but I have means for the Russians' [a Swedish +War just coming upon Russia, to keep its hand in use; so diligent have +the French been in that quarter!]. + +ROBINSON (with some emphasis, as a Britannic gentleman). "'Russia is +not the only Power that has engagements with Austria, and that must keep +them too! So that, however averse to a breach--' + +KING ("laying his finger on his nose," mark him;--aloud, and with such +eyes). "'No threats, Sir, if you please! No threats' ["in a loud voice," +finger to nose, and with such eyes looking in upon me]. + +HYNDFORD (heavily coming to the rescue). "'Am sure his Excellency is +far from such meaning, Sire. His Excellency will advance nothing so very +contrary to his Instructions.'--Podewils too put in something proper" in +the appeasing way. + +ROBINSON. "'Sire, I am not talking of what this Power or that means to +do; but of what will come of itself. To prophesy is not to threaten, +Sire! It is my zeal for the Public that brought me hither; and--' + +KING. "'The Public will be much obliged to you, Monsieur! But hear me. +With respect to Russia, you know how matters stand. From the King of +Poland I have nothing to fear. As for the King of England,--he is my +relation [dear Uncle, in the Pawnbroker sense], he is my all: if he +don't attack me, I won't him. And if he do, the Prince of Anhalt [Old +Dessauer out at Gottin yonder] will take care of him.' + +ROBINSON. "'The common news now is [rumor in Diplomatic circles, rather +below the truth this time], your Majesty, after the 12th of August, will +join the French. [King looks fixedly at him in silence.] Sire, I venture +to hope not! Austria prefers your friendship; but if your Majesty +disdain Austria's advances, what is it to do? Austria must throw +itself entirely into the hands of France,--and endeavor to outbid your +Majesty.' [King quite silent.] + +"King was quite silent upon this head," says Robinson, reporting: +silence, guesses Robinson, founded most probably upon his "consciousness +of guilt"--what I, florid Yorkshire Gentleman, call GUILT, as being +against the Cause of Liberty and us!"From time to time he threw out +remarks on the advantageousness of his situation:--" + +KING.... "'At the head of such an Army, which the Enemy has already +made experience of; and which is ready for the Enemy again, if he have +appetite! With the Country which alone I am concerned with, conquered +and secured behind me; a Country that alone lies convenient to me; which +is all I want, which I now have; which I will and must keep! Shall I be +bought out of this country? Never! I will sooner perish in it, with all +my troops. With what face shall I meet my Ancestors, if I abandon my +right, which they have transmitted to me? My first enterprise; and to +be given up lightly?'"--With more of the like sort; which Friedrich, +in writing of it long after, seems rather ashamed of; and would fain +consider to have been mock fustian, provoked by the real fustian of Sir +Thomas Robinson, "who negotiated in a wordy high-droning way, as if he +were speaking in Parliament," says Friedrich (a Friedrich not taken +with that style of eloquence, and hoping he rather quizzed it than was +serious with it, [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 84.]--though Robinson and +Hyndford found in him no want of vehement seriousness, but rather the +reverse!)--He concludes: "Have I need of Peace? Let those who need it +give me what I want; or let them fight me again, and be beaten again. +Have not they given whole Kingdoms to Spain? [Naples, at one swoop, to +the Termagant; as broken glass, in that Polish-Election freak!] And to +me they cannot spare a few trifling Principalities? If the Queen does +not now grant me all I require, I shall in four weeks demand Four +Principalities more! [Nay, I now do it, being in sibylline tune.] I +now demand the whole of Lower Silesia, Breslau included;--and with that +Answer you can return to Vienna.' + +ROBINSON. "'With that Answer: is your Majesty serious?' + +KING. "'With that.'" A most vehement young King; no negotiating with +him, Sir Thomas! It is like negotiating for the Sibyl's Books: the +longer you bargain, the higher he will rise. In four weeks, time he will +demand Four Principalities more; nay, already demands them, the whole of +Lower Silesia and Breslau. A precious negotiation I have made of it! Sir +Thomas, wide-eyed, asks a second time:-- + +ROBINSON. "'Is that your Majesty's deliberate answer?' + +KING. "'Yes, I say! That is my Answer; and I will never give another.' + +HYNDFORD and ROBINSON (much flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency, +please to comprehend, the Proposals from Vienna were--' + +KING. "'Messieurs, Messieurs, it is of no use even to think of it.' And +taking off his hat," slightly raising his hat, as salutation and finale, +"he retired precipitately behind the curtain of the interior corner of +the tent," says the reporter: EXIT King! + +ROBINSON (totally flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency, France will +abandon Prussia, will sacrifice Prussia to self-interest.' + +PODEWILS. "'No, no! France will not deceive us; we have not deceived +France.'" (SCENE CLOSES; CURTAIN FALLS.) [State-Paper Office (Robinson +to Harrington, Breslau, 9th August, 1741); Raumer, pp. 106-110. Compare +_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 84; and Valori, i. 119, 122.] + +The unsuccessfulest negotiation well imaginable by a public man. +Strehlen, Monday, 7th August, 1741:--Friedrich has vanished into the +interior of his tent; and the two Diplomatic gentlemen, the wind struck +out of them in this manner, remain gazing at one another. Here truly is +a young Royal gentleman that knows his own mind, while so many do not. +Unspeakable imbroglio of negotiations, mostly insane, welters over all +the Earth; the Belleisles, the Aulic Councils, the British Georges, +heaping coil upon coil: and here, notably, in that now so extremely +sordid murk of wiggeries, inane diplomacies and solemn deliriums, dark +now and obsolete to all creatures, steps forth one little Human +Figure, with something of sanity in it: like a star, like a gleam +of steel,--shearing asunder your big balloons, and letting out their +diplomatic hydrogen;--salutes with his hat, "Gentlemen, Gentlemen, it +is of no use!" and vanishes into the interior of his tent. It is to +Excellency Robinson, among all the sons of Adam then extant, that we owe +this interesting Passage of History,--authentic glimpse, face to face, +of the young Friedrich in those extraordinary circumstances: every +feature substantially as above, and recognizable for true. Many +Despatches his Excellency wrote in this world,--sixty or eighty volumes +of them still left,--but among them is this One: the angriest of mankind +cannot say that his Excellency lived and embassied quite in vain! + +The Two Britannic Gentlemen, both on that distressing Monday and the day +following, had the honor to dine with the King: who seemed in exuberant +spirits; cutting and bantering to right and left; upon the Court of +Vienna, among other topics, in a way which I Robinson "will not repeat +to your Lordship." Bade me, for example, "As you pass through Neisse, +make my compliments to Marshal Neipperg; and you can say, Excellency +Robinson, that I hope to have the pleasure of calling, one of these +days!"--Podewils, who was civil, pressed us much to stay over Wednesday, +the 9th. "On Thursday is to be a Grand Review, one of the finest +military sights; to which the Excellencies from Breslau, one and all, +are coming out." But we, having our Despatches and Expresses on hand, +pleaded business, and declined, in spite of Podewils's urgencies. And +set off for Breslau, Wednesday, morning,--meeting various Excellencies, +by degrees all the Excellencies, on the road for that Review we had +heard of. + +Readers must accept this Robinsoniad as the last of Friedrich's +Diplomatic performances at Strehlen, which in effect it nearly was; and +from these instances imagine his way in such things. Various Letters +there are, to Jordan principally, some to Algarotti; both of whom he +still keeps at Breslau, and sends for, if there is like to be an hour of +leisure. The Letters indicate cheerfulness of humor, even levity, in the +Writer; which is worth noting, in this wild clash of things now tumbling +round him, and looking to him as its centre: but they otherwise, though +heartily and frankly written, are, to Jordan and us, as if written +from the teeth outward; and throw no light whatever either on things +befalling, or on Friedrich's humor under them. Reading diligently, we do +notice one thing, That the talk about "fame (GLOIRE)" has died out. Not +the least mention now of GLOIRE;--perception now, most probably, that +there are other things than "GLOIRE" to be had by taking arms; and that +War is a terribly grave thing, lightly as one may go into it at +first! This small inference we do negatively draw, from the Friedrich +Correspondence of those months: and except this, and the levity of humor +noticeable, we practically get no light whatever from it; the practical +soul and soul's business of Friedrich being entirely kept veiled there, +as usual. + +And veiled, too, in such a way that you do not notice any veil,--the +young King being, as we often intimate, a master in this art. Which +useful circumstance has done him much ill with readers and mankind. For +if you intend to interest readers,--that is to say, idle neighbors, and +fellow-creatures in need of gossip,--there is nothing like unveiling +yourself: witness Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and many other poor waste +creatures, going off in self-conflagration, for amusement of the parish, +in that manner. But may not a man have something other on hand with his +Existence than that of "setting fire to it [such the process terribly +IS], to show the people a fine play of colors, and get himself +applauded, and pathetically blubbered over?" Alas, my friends!-- + +It is certain there was seldom such a life-element as this of +Friedrich's in Summer, 1741. Here is the enormous jumbling of a World +broken loose; boiling as in very chaos; asking of him, him more than +any other, "How? What?" Enough to put GLOIRE out of his head; and awaken +thoughts,--terrors, if you were of apprehensive turn! Surely no young +man of twenty-nine more needed all the human qualities than +Friedrich now. The threatenings, the seductions, big Belleisle +hallucinations,--the perils to you infinite, if you MISS the road. +Friedrich did not miss it, as is well known; he managed to pick it out +from that enormous jumble of the elements, and victoriously arrived by +it, he alone of them all. Which is evidence of silent or latent faculty +in him, still more wonderful than the loud-resounding ones of which the +world has heard. Probably there was not, in his history, any chapter +more significant of human faculty than this, which is not on record at +all. + + + + +Chapter III. -- GRAND REVIEW AT STREHLEN: NEIPPERG TAKES AIM AT BRESLAU, +BUT ANOTHER HITS IT. + +A day or two before that famous Audience of Hyndford and Robinson's, +Neipperg had quitted his impregnable Camp at Neisse, and taken the +field again; in the hope of perhaps helping Robinson's Negotiation by an +inverse method. Should Robinson's offers not prove attractive enough, +as is to be feared, a push from behind may have good effects. +Neipperg intends to have a stroke on Breslau; to twitch Breslau out of +Friedrich's hands, by a private manoeuvre on new resources that have +offered themselves. [_ Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 982, and ii. 227.] + +In Breslau, which is by great majority Protestant in creed and warmly +Prussian in temper, there has been no oppression or unfair usage heard +of to any class of persons; and certainly in the matter of Protestant +and Catholic, there has been perfect equality observed. True, the change +from favor and ascendency to mere equality, is not in itself welcome to +human creatures:--one conceives, for various reasons of lower and higher +nature, a minority of discontented individuals in Breslau, zealous for +their creed and old perquisites sacred and profane; who long in secret, +sometimes vocally to one another, for the good old times,--when souls +were not liable to perish wholesale, and people guilty only of loyalty +and orthodoxy to be turned out of their offices on suspicion. Friedrich +says, it was mainly certain zealous Old Ladies of Quality who went into +this adventure; and from whispering to one another, got into speaking, +into meeting in one another's houses for the purpose of concerting +and contriving. [_OEuvres,_ ii. 82, 83.] Zealous Old Ladies +of Quality,--these we consider were the Talking-Apparatus or +Secret-Parliament of the thing: but it is certain one or two Official +Gentlemen (Syndic Guzmar for instance, and others NOT yet become +Ex-Official) had active hand in it, and furnished the practical ideas. + +Continual Correspondence there was with Vienna, by those Old Ladies; +Guzmar and the others shy of putting pen to paper, and only doing it +where indispensable. Zealous Addresses go to her Hungarian Majesty, "Oh, +may the Blessed Virgin assist your Majesty!"--accompanied, it is said, +with Subscriptions of money (poor old souls); and what is much more +dangerous and feasible, there goes prompt notice to Neipperg of +everything the Prussian Army undertakes, and the Postscript always, +"Come and deliver us, your Excellency." Of these latter Documents, I +have heard of some with Syndic Guzmar's and other Official hands to +them. Generally such things can, through accidental Pandour channels, +were there no other, easily reach Neipperg; though they do not always. +Enough, could Neipperg appear at the Gates of Breslau, in some concerted +night-hour, or push out suitable Detachment on forced-march that +way,--it is evident to him he would be let in; might smother the few +Prussians that are in the Dom Island, and get possession of the Enemy's +principal Magazine and the Metropolis of the Province. Might not the +Enemy grow more tractable to Robinson's seductions in such case? + +Neipperg marches from Neisse (1st-6th August) with his whole Army; first +some thirty miles westward up the right or southern bank of the +Neisse; then crosses the Neisse, and circles round to northward, giving +Friedrich wide room: [Orlich, i. 130, 133.] that night of Robinson's +Audience, when Friedrich was so merry at dinner, Neipperg was engaged +in crossing the River; the second night after, Neipperg lay encamped and +intrenched at Baumgarten (old scene of Friedrich's Pandour Adventure), +while Hyndford and Robinson had got back to Breslau. In another day +or so, he may hope to be within forced-march of Breslau, to detach +Feldmarschall Browne or some sharp head; and to do a highly considerable +thing? + +Unluckily for Neipperg's Adventure, the Prussians had wind of it, some +time ago. They have got "a false Sister smuggled into that Old-Ladies' +Committee," who has duly reported progress; nay they have intercepted +something in Syndic Guzmar's own hand: and everything is known to +Friedrich. The Protestant population, and generally the practical quiet +part of the Breslauers, are harassed with suspicion of some such thing, +but can gain no certainty, nor understand what to do. Protestants +especially, who have been so zealous, "who were seen dropping down on +the streets to pray, while the muffled thunder came from Mollwitz that +day," [Ranke, ii. 289.]--fancy how it would now be, were the tables +suddenly turned, and indignant Orthodoxy made supreme again, with memory +fresh! But, in fact, there is no danger whatever to them. Schwerin +has orders about Breslau; Schwerin and the Young Dessauer are maturely +considering how to manage. + +Readers recollect how Podewils pressed the Two Britannic Excellencies to +stay in Strehlen a day or two longer: "Grand Review, with festivities, +just on hand; whole of the Foreign Ministers in Breslau invited out to +see it,"--though Hyndford and Robinson would not consent; but left on +the 9th, meeting the others at different points of the road. Next +day, Thursday, 10th August, was in fact a great day at Strehlen; grand +muster, manoeuvring of cavalry above all, whom Friedrich is delighted to +find so perfect in their new methods; riding as if they were centaurs, +horse and man one entity; capable of plunging home, at full gallop, in +coherent masses upon an enemy, and doing some good with him. "Neipperg's +Croat-people, and out-pickets on the distant Hill-sides, witnessed +these manoeuvres," [Ranke, ii. 288.] I know not with what criticism. +Furthermore, about noon-time, there was heard (mark it, reader) a +distant cannon-shot, one and no more, from the Northern side; which gave +his Majesty a lively pleasure, though he treated it as nothing. All the +Foreign Ministers were on the ground; doubtless with praises, so far as +receivable; and in the afternoon came festivities not a few. A great day +in Strehlen:--but in Breslau a much greater; which explained, to our Two +Excellencies, why Podewils had been so pressing! + +August 10th, at six in the morning, Schwerin, and under him the Young +Dessauer,--who had arrived in the Southwestern suburbs of Breslau +overnight, with 8,000 foot and horse, and had posted themselves in a +vigilant Anti-Neipperg manner there, and laid all their plans,--appear +at the Nicolai Gate; and demand, in the common way, transit for their +regiments and baggages: "bound Northward," as appears; "to Leubus," +where something of Pandour sort has fallen out. So many troops or +companies at a time, that is the rule; one quantity of companies you +admit; then close and bolt, till it have marched across and out at the +opposite Gate; after which, open again for a second lot. But in this +case,--owing to accident (very unusual) of a baggage-wagon breaking +down, and people hurrying to help it forward,--the whole regiment gets +in, escorted as usual by the Town-guard. Whole regiment; and marches, +not straight through; but at a certain corner strikes off leftward to +the Market-place; where, singular to say, it seems inclined to pause +and rearrange itself a little. Nay, more singular still, other +regiments (owing to like accidents), from other Gates, join it;--and--in +fact--"Herr Major of the Town-guard, in the King's name, you are +required to ground arms!" What can the Town Major do; Prussian +grenadiers, cannoneers, gravely environing him? He sticks his sword into +the scabbard, an Ex-Town Major; and Breslau City is become Friedrich's, +softly like a movement during drill. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 982, n. +227, 268; Adelung, ii. 439; Stenzel, iv. 152.] + +Not the least mistake occurred. Cannon with case-shot planted themselves +in all the thoroughfares, Horse-patrols went circulating everywhere; +Town-arsenal, gates, walls, are laid hold of; Town-guards all disarmed, +rather "with laughter on their part" than otherwise: "Majesty perhaps +will give us muskets of his own;--well!" The operation altogether +did not last above an hour-and-half, and nobody's skin got scratched. +Towards 9 A.M. Schwerin summoned the Town Dignitaries to their Rathhaus +to swear fealty; who at once complied; and on his stepping out with +proposal, to the general population, of "a cheer for King Friedrich, +Duke of Lower Silesia," the poor people rent the skies with their +"Friedrich and Silesia forever!" which they repeated, I think, seven +times. Upon which Schwerin fired off his signal-cannon, pointing to the +South; where other posts and cannons took up the sound, and pushed it +forward, till, as we noticed, it got to Friedrich in few minutes, on the +review-ground at Strehlen; right welcome to him, among the manoeuvrings +there. Protestant Breslau or cordwainer Doblin cannot lament such a +result; still less dare the devout Old Ladies of Quality openly lament, +who are trembling to the heart, poor old creatures, though no evil came +of it to them; penitent, let off for the fright; checking even their +aspirations henceforth. + +Syndic Guzmar and the peccant Officials being summoned out to Strehlen, +it had been asked of them, "Do you know this Letter?" Upon which +they fell on their knees, "ACH IHRO MAJESTAT!" unable to deny their +handwriting; yet anxious to avoid death on the scaffold, as Friedrich +said was usual under such behavior; and were sent home, after a few +hours of arrest. [Orlich, i. 134; _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 228.] +Schwerin (as King's substitute till the King himself one day arrive) +continued to take the Homaging, and to make the many new arrangements +needful. All which went off in a soft and pleasantly harmonious +manner;--only the Jesuits scrupling a little to swear as yet; and +getting gently sent their ways, with revenues stopt in consequence. +Otherwise the swearing, which lasted for several days, was to appearance +a joyful process, and on the part of the general population an +enthusiastic one, "ES LEBE KONIG FRIEDRICH!" rising to the welkin +with insatiable emphasis, seven times over, on the least signal given. +Neipperg's Adventure, and Orthodox Female Parliament, have issued in +this sadly reverse manner. + +Robinson and Hyndford have to witness these phenomena; Robinson to shoot +off for Presburg again, with the worst news in the world. Queen and +Hofraths have been waiting in agony of suspense, "Will Friedrich bargain +on those gentle terms, and help us with 100,000 men?" Far from it, my +friends; how far! "My most important intelligence," writes the Russian +Envoy there, some days ago, ["5 August, 1741," not said to whom (in +Ranke, ii. 324 n.).] "is, that a Bavarian War has broken out, that +Kur-Baiern is in Passau. God grant that Monsieur Robinson may succeed in +his negotiation! All here are in the completest irresolution, and total +inactivity, till Monsieur Robinson return, or at least send news of +himself." + + + + +Chapter IV. -- FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD AGAIN, INTENT ON HAVING NEISSE. + +This Breslau Adventure, which had yielded Friedrich so important +an acquisition, was furthermore the cause of ending these Strehlen +inactivities, and of recommencing field operations. August 11th, +Neipperg, provoked by the grievous news just come from Breslau, pushes +suddenly forward on Schweidnitz, by way of consolation; Schweidnitz, +not so strong as it might be made, where the Prussians have a principal +Magazine: "One might at least seize that?" thinks Neipperg, in his +vexed humor. But here too Friedrich was beforehand with him; broke out, +rapidly enough, to Reichenbach, westward, which bars the Neipperg +road to Schweidnitz: upon which,--or even before which (on rumor of it +coming, which was not YET true),--Neipperg, half done with his +first day's march, called halt; prudently turned back, and hastened, +Baumgarten way, to his strong Camp at Frankenstein again. His hope in +the Schweidnitz direction had lasted only a few hours; a hope springing +on the mere spur of pique, soon recognizable by him as futile; and now +anxieties for self-preservation had succeeded it on Neipperg's part. +For now Friedrich actually advances on him, in a menacing manner, hardly +hoping Neipperg will fight; but determined to have done with the Neisse +business, in spite of strong camps and cunctations, if it be possible. +[Orlich, i. 137, 138.] + +It was August 16th, when Friedrich stirred out of Strehlen; August 21st, +when he encamped at Reichenbach. Till September 7th, he kept manoeuvring +upon Neipperg, who counter-manoeuvred with vigilance, good judgment, +and would not come to action: September 7th, Friedrich, weary of these +hagglings, dashed off for Neisse itself, hoped to be across Neisse +River, and be between Neisse Town and Neipperg, before Neipperg could +get up. There would then be no method of preventing the Siege of Neisse, +except by a Battle: so Friedrich had hoped; but Neipperg again proved +vigilant. + +Accordingly, September 11th, Friedrich's Vanguard was actually across +the Neisse; had crossed at a place called Woitz, and had there got Two +Pontoon Bridges ready, when Friedrich, in the evening, came up with +the main Army, intending to cross;--and was astonished to find Neipperg +taking up position, in intricate ground, near by, on the opposite side! +Ground so intricate, hills, bogs, bushes of wood, and so close upon the +River, there was no crossing possible; and Friedrich's Vanguard had +to be recalled. Two days of waiting, of earnest ocular study; no +possibility visible. On the third day, Friedrich, gathering in his +pontoons overnight, marched off, down stream: Neisse-wards, but on the +left or north bank of the River; passed Neisse Town (the River between +him and it); and encamped at Gross Neundorf, several miles from Neipperg +and the River. Neipperg, at an equal step, has been wending towards his +old Camp, which lies behind Neisse, between Neisse and the Hills: there, +a river in front, dams and muddy inundations all round him, begirt with +plentiful Pandours, Neipperg waits what Friedrich will attempt from +Gross Neundorf. + +From Gross Neundorf, Friedrich persists twelve days (13th-25th +September), studying, endeavoring; mere impossibility ahead. And by this +time (what is much worth noting), Hyndford, silently quitting Breslau, +has got back to these scenes of war, occasionally visible in Friedrich's +Camp again;--on important mysterious business; which will have results. +Valori also is here in Camp; these two Excellencies jealously eying one +another; both of them with teeth rather on edge,--Europe having suddenly +got into such a plunge (as if the highest mountains were falling +into the deepest seas) since Friedrich began this Neipperg problem of +his;--in which, after twelve days, he sees mere impossibility ahead. + +On the twelfth day, Friedrich privately collects himself for a new +method: marches, soon after midnight, [26th September, 2 A.M.: Orlich, +i. 144.] fifteen miles down the River (which goes northward in this +part, as the reader may remember); crosses, with all his appurtenances, +unmolested; and takes camp a few miles inland, or on the right bank, and +facing towards Neisse again. He intends to be in upon Neipperg front the +rear quarter; and cut him off from Mahren and his daily convoys of food. +"Daily food cut off,--the thickest-skinned rhinoceros, the wildest lion, +cannot stand that: here, for Neipperg, is one point on which all his +embankments and mud-dams will not suffice him!" thinks Friedrich. +Certain preliminary operations, and military indispensabilities, there +first are for Friedrich,--Town of Oppeln to be got, which commands the +Oder, our rearward highway; Castle of Friedland, and the country between +Oder and Neisse Rivers:--while these preliminary things are being +done (September 28th-October 3d), Friedrich in person gradually pushes +forward towards Neipperg, reconnoitring, bickering with Croats: October +3d, preliminaries done, Neipperg's rear had better look to itself. + +Neipperg, well enough seeing what was meant, has by this time come out +of his mud-dams and impregnabilities; and advanced a few miles towards +Friedrich. Neipperg lies now encamped in the Hamlet of Griesau, a little +way behind Steinau,--poor Steinau, which the reader saw on fire one +night, when Friedrich and we were in those parts, in Spring last. +Friedrich's Camp is about five miles from Neipperg's on the other side +of Steinau. A tolerable champaign country; I should think, mostly in +stubble at this season. Nearly midway between these two Camps is a +pretty Schloss called Klein-Schnellendorf, occupied by Neipperg's Croats +just now, of which Prince Lobkowitz (he, if I remember, but it +matters nothing), an Austrian General of mark, far away at present, is +proprietor. + +Friedrich's Oppeln preparations are about complete; and he intends to +advance straightway. "Hold, for Heaven's sake, your Majesty!" exclaims +Hyndford; getting hold of him one day (waylaying him, in fact; for it +is difficult, owing to Valori); "Wait, wait; I have just been to the--to +the Camp of Neipperg," silently gesticulates Hyndford: "Within a week +all shall be right, and not a drop of blood shed!" Friedrich answers, by +silence chiefly, to the effect, "Tush, tush;" but not quite negatively, +and does in effect wait. We had better give the snatch of Dialogue in +primitive authentic form; date is, Camp of Neundorf, September 22d:-- + +FRIEDRICH (pausing impatiently, on the way towards his tent). "'MILORD, +DE QUOI S'AGIT-IL A PRESENT (What is it now, then)?' + +HYNDFORD. "'Should much desire to have some assurance from your Majesty +with regard to that neutrality of Hanover you were pleased to promise.' +All else is coming right; hastening towards beautiful settlement, were +that settled. + +FRIEDRICH. "'Have not I great reason to be dissatisfied with your Court? +Britannic Majesty, as King of England and as Elector of Hanover, is +wonderful! Milord, when you say a thing is white, Schweichelt, the +Hanoverian Excellency, calls it black, and VICE VERSA. But I will do +your King no harm; none, I say! Follow me to dinner; dinner is cold by +this time; and we have made more than one person think of us. Swift! +[and EXIT].'" [Hyndford's Despatch, Neisse, 4th October, 1741.] + +This is a strange motion on the part of Hyndford; but Friedrich, +severely silent to it, understands it very well; as readers soon will, +when they hear farther. But marvellous things have happened on the +sudden! In these three weeks, since the Camp of Strehlen broke up, there +have been such Events; strategic, diplomatic: a very avalanche of ruin, +hurling Austria down to the Nadir; of which it is now fit that the +reader have some faint conception, an adequate not being possible for +him or me:-- + +"AUGUST l5th, 1741. Robinson reappears in Presburg; and precious surely +are the news he brings to an Aulic Council fallen back in its chairs, +and staring with the wind struck out of it. Their expected Seizure +of Breslau gone heels over head, in that way; Friedrich imperiously +resolute, gleaming like the flash of steel amid these murky +imbecilities, and without the Cession of Silesia no Peace to be made +with him! And all this is as nothing, to news which arrives just on the +back of Robinson, from another quarter. + +"AUGUST 15th-21st. French Army of 40,000 men, special Army of Belleisle, +sedulously equipt and completed, visibly crosses the Rhine at Fort Louis +(an Island Fortress in the Rhine, thirty miles below Strasburg; STONES +of it are from the old Schloss of Hagenau);--steps over deliberately +there; and on the sixth day is all on German ground. These troops, to +be commanded by Belleisle, so soon as he can join them, are to be the +Elector of Bavaria's troops, Kur-Baiern Generalissimo over Belleisle and +them; [_Fastes de Louis XV.,_ ii. 264.] and they are on rapid march to +join that ambitious Kurfurst, in his Passau Expedition; and probably +submerge Vienna itself. + +"And what is this we hear farther, O Robinson, O Excellencies Hyndford, +Schweichelt and Company: That another French Army, of the same strength, +under Maillebois, has in the self-same days gone across the Lower Rhine +(at Kaisersworth, an hour's ride below Dusseldorf)! At Kaisersworth; +ostensibly for comforting and strengthening Kur-Koln (the lanky +Ecclesiastical Gentleman, Kur-Baiern's Brother), their excellent ally, +should anybody meddle with him. Ostensibly for this; but in reality to +keep the Sea-Powers, and especially George of England quiet. It marches +towards Osnabruck, this Maillebois Army; quarters itself up and down, +looking over into Hanover,--able to eat Hanover, especially if joined by +the Prussians and Old Leopold, at any moment. + +"These things happen in this month of August, close upon the rear of +that steel-shiny scene in the Tent at Strehlen, where Friedrich lifted +his hat, saying, ''T is of no use, Messieurs!'--which was followed by +the seizure of Breslau the wrong way. Never came such a cataract of evil +news on an Aulic Council before. The poor proud people, all these months +they have been sitting torpid, helpless, loftily stupid, like dumb +idols; 'in flat despair,' as Robinson says once, 'only without the +strength to be desperate.' + +"Sure enough the Sea-Powers are checkmated now. Let them make the least +attempt in favor of the Queen, if they dare. Holland can be overrun, +from Osnabruck quarter, at a day's warning. Little George has his +Hanoverians, his subsidized Hessians, Danes, in Hanover, his English on +Lexden Heath: let him come one step over the marches, Maillebois and +the Old Dessauer swallow him. It is a surprising stroke of +theatrical-practical Art; brought about, to old Fleury's sorrow, by +the genius of Belleisle, aud they say of Madame Chateauroux; enough to +strike certain Governing Persons breathless, for some time; and denotes +that the Universal Hurricane, or World-Tornado, has broken out. It is +not recorded of little George that he fell back in his chair, or stared +wider than usual with those fish-eyes: but he discerned well, glorious +little man, that here is left no shadow of a chance by fighting; that he +will have to sit stock-still, under awful penalties; and that if Maria +Theresa will escape destruction, she must make her peace with Friedrich +at any price." + +This fine event, 80,000 French actually across the Rhine, happened +in the very days while Friedrich and Neipperg had got into wrestle +again,--Neipperg just off from that rash march for Schweidnitz, and +whirling back on rumor (15th August), while the first instalment of the +French were getting over. Friedrich must admit that the French fulfil +their promises so far. A week ago or more, they made the Swedes +declare War against Russia, as covenanted. War is actually declared, +at Stockholm, August 4th, the Faction of Hats prevailing over that of +Nightcaps, after terrible debates and efforts about the mere declaring +of it, as if that alone were the thing needed. We mentioned this War +already, and would not willingly again. One of the most contemptible +Wars ever declared or carried on; but useful to Friedrich, as keeping +Russia off his hands, at a critical time, and conclusively forbidding +help to Austria from that quarter. + +Marechal de Belleisle, wrapt in Diplomatic and Electioneering business, +cannot personally take command for the present; but has excellent +lieutenants,--one of whom is Comte de Saxe, Moritz our old friend, +afterwards Marechal de Saxe. Among the finest French Armies, this of +Belleisle's is thought to be, that ever took the field: so many of +our Nobility in it, and what best Officers, Segurs, Saxes, future +Marechal's, we have. Army full of spirit and splendor; come to cut +Germany in four, and put France at last in its place in the Universe. +Here is courage, here is patriotism, of a sort. And if this is not the +good sort, the divinely pious, the humanly noble,--Fashionable Society +feels it to be so, and can hit no nearer. New-fashioned "Army of the +Oriflamme," one might call this of Belleisle's; kind of Sham-Sacred +French Army (quite in earnest, as it thinks);--led on, not by St. Denis +and the Virgin, but by Sun-god Belleisle and the Chateauroux, under +these sad new conditions! Which did not prosper as expected. + +"Let the Holy German Reich take no offence," said this Army, eager to +conciliate: "we come as friends merely; our intentions charitable, +and that only. Bavarian Treaty of Nymphenburg (18th May last) binds us +especially, this time; Treaty of Westphalia binds us sacredly at all +times. Peaceable to you, nay brotherly, if only you will be peaceable!" +Which the poor Reich, all but Austria and the Sea-Powers, strove what it +could to believe. + +On reaching the German shore out of Elsass, "every Officer put, the +Bavarian Colors, cockade of blue-and-white, on his hat;" [Adelung, +ii. 431.] a mere "Bavarian Army," don't you see? And the 40,000 wend +steadily forward through Schwaben eastward, till they can join Karl +Albert Kur-Baiern, who is Generalissimo, or has the name of such. +They march in Seven Divisions. Donauworth (a Town we used to know, in +Marlborough's time and earlier) is to be their first resting-point; +Ingolstadt their place-of-arms: will readers recollect those two +essential circumstances? To Donauworth is 250 miles; to Passau will be +180 more: five or six long weeks of marching. But after Donauworth +they are to go, the Infantry of them are, in boats; Horse, under +Saxe, marching parallel. Forward, ever forward, to Passau (properly to +Scharding, twelve miles up the Inn Valley, where his Bavarian Highness +is in Camp); and thence, under his Bavarian Highness, and in concert +with him, to pour forth, deluge-like, upon Linz, probably upon Vienna +itself, down the Donau Valley,--why not to Vienna itself, and ruin +Austria at one swoop? [Espagnac, _Histoire de Maurice Comte de Saxe_ +(German Translation, Leipzig, 1774), i. 83:--an excellent military +compend. _Campagnes des Trois Marechaux_ (Maillebois, Broglio, +Belleisle: Armsterdam. 1773), ii. 53-56:--in nine handy little volumes +(or if we include the NOAILLES and the COIGNY set, making "CING +MARECHAUX," nineteen volumes in all, and a twentieth for INDEX); +consisting altogether of Official Letters (brief, rapid, meant for +business, NOT for printing in the Newspapers); which are elucidative +BEYOND bargain, and would even be amusing to read,--were the topic +itself worth one's time.] + +The second or Maillebois French Army spreads itself, by degrees, +considerably over Westphalia;--straitened for forage, and otherwise +not the best of neighbors. But, in theory, in speech, this too was +abundantly conciliatory,--to the Dutch at least. "Nothing earthly in +view, nothing, ye magnanimous Dutch, except to lodge here in the most +peaceable manner, paying our way, and keep down disturbances that might +arise in these parts. That might arise; not from you, ye magnanimous +High Mightinesses, how far from it! Nor will we meddle with one broken +brick of your respectable Barrier, or Barrier Treaty, which is sacred +to us, or do you the shadow of an injury. No; a thousand times, upon +our honor, No!" For brevity's sake, I lend them that locution, "No, a +thousand times,"--and in actual arithmetic, I should think there are +at least four or five hundred times of it,--in those extinct Diplomatic +Eloquences of Excellency Fenelon and the other French;--vaguely +counting, in one's oppressed imagination, during the Two Years that +ensue. For the Dutch lazily believed, or strove to believe, this No of +Fenelon's; and took an obstinate laggard sitting posture, in regard +to Pragmatic Sanction; whereby the task of "hoisting" them (as above +hinted), which fell upon a certain King, became so famous in Diplomatic +History. + +Imagination may faintly picture what a blow this advent of Maillebois +was to his Britannic Majesty, over in Herrenhausen yonder! He has had +of Danes six thousand, of Hessians six, of Hanoverians sixteen,--in all +some 30,000 men, on foot here since Spring last, camping about (in two +formidable Camps at this moment); not to mention the 6,000 of English on +Lexden Heath, eager to be shipped across, would Parliament permit; and +now--let him stir in any direction if he dare. Camp of Gottin like a +drawn sword at one's throat (at one's Hanover) from the east; and lo, +here a twin fellow to it gleaming from the south side! Maillebois +can walk into the throat of Hanover at a day's warning. And such was +actually the course proposed by Maillebois's Government, more than +once, in these weeks, had not Friedrich dissuaded and forbidden. It is +a strangling crisis. What is his Britannic Majesty to do? Send orders, +"Double YOUR diligence, Excellency Robinson!" that is one clear point; +the others are fearfully insoluble, yet pressing for solution: in a six +weeks hence (September 27th), we shall see what they issue in!-- + +As for Robinson, he is duly with the Queen at Presburg; duly conjuring +incessantly, "Make your peace with Friedrich!" And her Majesty will not, +on the terms. Poor Robinson, urged two ways at once, is flurried doubly +and trebly; tossed about as Diplomatist never was. King of Prussia +flashes lightning-looks upon him, clapping finger to nose; Maria +Theresa, knowing he will demand cession of Silesia, shudders at sight of +him; and the Aulic Council fall into his arms like dead men, murmuring, +"Money; where is your money?" + +"AUGUST 29th. While Friedrich was pushing into Neipperg, in the +Baumgarten Country, and could get no battle out of him, Excellency +Robinson reappears at Breslau; Maria Theresa, after deadly efforts on +his part, has mended her offers, in these terrible circumstances; and +Robinson is here again. 'Half of Silesia, or almost half, provided his +Majesty will turn round, and help against the French:' these, secretly, +are Robinson's rich offers. The Queen, on consenting to these +new offers, had 'wrung her hands,' like one in despair, and said +passionately, 'Unless accepted within a fortnight, I will not be bound +by them!' 'Admit his Excellency to the honor of an interview,' solicits +Hyndford; 'his offers are much mended.' Notable to witness, Friedrich +will not see Robinson at all this time, nor even permit Podewils to see +him; signifies plainly that he wants to hear no more of his offers, and +that, in fact, the sooner he can take himself away from Breslau, it +will be the better. To that effect, Robinson, rushing back in mortified +astonished manner, reports progress at Presburg; to that and no +better. 'High Madam,' urges Robinson, still indefatigable, 'the King +of Prussia's help would be life, his hostility is death at this crisis. +Peace must be with him, at any price!' 'Price?' answers her Majesty +once: 'If Austria must fall, it is indifferent to me whether it be by +Kur-Baiern or Kur-Brandenburg!' [Stenzel, iv. 156.] Nevertheless, +in about a week she again yields to intense conjuring, and the +ever-tightening pressure of events;--King George, except it be for +counselling, is become stock-still, with Maillebois's sword at his +throat; and is, without metaphor, sinking towards absolute neutrality: +'Cannot help you, Madam, any farther; must not try it, or I perish, my +Hanover and I!'--So that Maria Theresa again mends her offers: 'Give +him all Lower Silesia, and he to join with me!' and Robinson post-haste +despatches a courier to Breslau with them. Notable again: King Friedrich +will not hear of them; answers by a 'No, I tell you! Time was, time +is not. I have now joined with France; and to join against it in this +manner? Talk to me no more!'" [Friedrich to Hyndford: _"Au Camp [de +Neuendorf] 14me septembre," 1741. "Milord j'ai recu les nouvelles +propositions d'alliance que l'infatigable Robinson vous envoie. Je les +trouve aussi chimeriques que les precedentes."--"Ces gens sont-ils fols, +Milord, de s'imaginer que je commisse la trahison de tourner en leur +faveur mes armes, et de"--"Je vous prie de ne me plus fatiguer avec +de pareilles propositions, et de me croire assez honnete homme pour ne +point violer mes engagements.--_ FREDERIC." (British Museum: Hyndford +Papers, fol. 133.)]... + +Here is a catastrophe for the Two Britannic Excellencies, and the Cause +of Freedom! Robinson, in dudgeon and amazement, has hurried back to +Presburg, has ceased sending even couriers; and, in a three weeks hence +(9th October, a day otherwise notable), wishes "to come home," the game +being up. [His Letter, "9th October, 1741" (in Lord Mahon's _History of +England,_ iii. Appendix, p. iii: edit. London, 1839)]. Such is Robinson's +gloomy view: finished, he, and the game lost,--unless perhaps Hyndford +could still do something? Of which what hope is there! Hyndford, who +has a rough sagacity in him, and manifests often a strong sense of the +practical and the practicable, strikes into--Readers, from the following +Fragments of Correspondence, now first made public, will gather for +themselves what new course, veiled in triple mystery, Hyndford had +struck into. Four bits of Notes, well worth reading, under their +respective dates:-- + +1. EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD TO SECRETARY HARRINGTON (Two Notes). "BRESLAU, +2d SEPTEMBER, 1711 [on the heel of Robinson's second miscarriage].... My +Lord, all these contretemps are very unlucky at present, when time is +so precious; for France is pressing the King of Prussia in the strongest +manner to declare himself; but whatever eventual preliminaries may be +probably agreed between them, I still doubt if they have any Treaty +signed"--have had one, any time these three months (since 5th June +last); signed sufficiently; but of a most fast-and-loose nature; neither +party intending to be rigorous in keeping it. "I wish to God the Court +of Vienna may be brought to think before it is too late." [HYNDFORD +PAPERS (Brit. Mus. Additional MSS. 11,366), ii. fol. 91.] + +2. "BRESLAU, 6th SEPTEMBER.... I am not without hopes of succeeding in a +project which has occurred to me on this occasion, and which seems to be +pretty well relished by some people [properly by one individual, Goltz, +the King's Adjutant and factotum], who are in great confidence about +the King of Prussia's person; and I think it is the only thing that now +remains to be tried; and as it is the least of two evils, I hope I shall +have the King my Master's approbation in attempting it; and if the Court +of Vienna will open their eyes, they must see it is the only thing left +to save them from utter destruction;"--and, finally, here it is:-- + +"Since Mr. Robinson left this place,--["Sooner YOU go, the better, +Sir!"],--"I have been sounding the people afore mentioned, the +individual afore hinted at, 'Whether the King of Prussia would hearken +to a Neutrality with respect to the Queen of Hungary, and at the same +time fulfil his engagements to his Majesty with respect to the defence +of his Majesty's German Dominions, IF she would give him the Lower +Silesia with Breslau?' At first they rejected it; saying it was a thing +they dared not propose. However, I have reason to believe, by a Letter I +saw this day, that it has been proposed to the King, and that he is not +absolutely averse to it. I shall know more in a few days; but if it +can be done at all, it must be done in the very greatest secrecy, for +neither the King nor his Ministers wish to appear in it; and I question +if his Minister Podewils will be informed of it." [_Hyndford Papers,_ +fol. 97, 98.] + +3. EXCELLENCY ROBINSON (in a flutter of excitement, temporary hope and +excitement, about Goltz) TO HYNDFORD, AT BRESLAU. + +"PRESBURG, 8th SEPTEMBER (N.S.), 1741. My Lord, I could desire your +Lordship to summon up, if it were necessary, the spirit of all your +Lordship's Instructions, and the sense of the King, of the Parliament, +and of the whole British Nation. It is upon this great moment that +depends the fate, not of the House of Austria, not of the Empire, but +of the House of Brunswick, of Great Britain, and of all Europe. I verily +believe the King of Prussia does not himself know the extent of the +present danger. With whatever motive he may act, there is not one, not +that of the mildest resentment, that can blind him to this degree, +of himself perishing in the ruin he is bringing upon others. With his +concurrence, the French will, in less than six weeks, be masters of +the German Empire. The weak Elector of Bavaria is but their instrument: +Prague and Vienna may, and probably will, be taken in that short time. +Will even the King of Prussia himself be reserved to the last? + +"Upon this single transaction [of your Lordship's affair with the +mysterious individual] depend the CITA MORS, or the VICTORIA LAETA of +all Europe. Nothing will equal the glory of your Lordship, in the latter +case, but that to be acquired by the King of Prussia in his immediate +imitation of the great Sobieski"--reputed "savior of Vienna," O your +Excellency!... "Prince Lichtenstein will, if found in time upon his +estates in Bohemia, be, I believe, the person to repair to the King of +Prussia, the moment your Lordship shall have signed the Preliminaries. +Once again, give me leave, my Lord, to express my most ardent wishes, +my"--T. ROBINSON. [_Hyndford Papers,_ fol. 102.] + +4. EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD TO SECRETARY HARRINGTON. + +"BRESLAU, 9th SEPTEMBER,... Received a message to meet him,"--HIM, +for we now speak in the singular number, though still without naming +Goltz,--"one of the persons I mentioned in my former Despatch: in a +very unsuspected place; for we have agreed to avoid all appearance of +familiarity. He told me he had received a Letter this morning from +the Camp,"--Prussian Majesty's Camp, or Bivouac (in the Munsterberg +Hill-Country), on that march towards Woitz, for crossing the Neisse upon +Neipperg, which proved impracticable,--"and that he could with pleasure +tell me that the King agreed to this last trial, although he would not, +nor could appear in it.... Then this person read to me a Paper, but I +could not see whether it was the King's hand or not; for when I desired +to take a copy, he said he could not show me the original; but dictated +as follows:-- + +"'Toute la Basse Silesie, la riviere de Neisse pour limite, la ville de +Neisse a nous, aussi bien que Glatz; de l'autre cote de l'Oder l'ancien +limite entre les Duches de Brieg et d'Oppeln. Namslau a nous. Les +affaires de religion IN STATU QUO. Point de dependance de la Boheme; +cession eternelle. En echange nous n'irons pas plus loin. Nous +assiegerons Neisse PRO FORMA: le commandant se rendra et sortira. Nous +prendrons les quartiers tranquillement, et ils pourront mener leur Armee +oh ils voudront. Que tout cela soit fini en douze jours.'" That is to +say:-- + +"'The whole of Lower Silesia, Neisse Town included; Neisse River for +boundary:--Glatz withal. Beyond the Oder, for the Duchies of Brieg and +Oppeln the ancient limits. Namslau ours. Affairs of Religion to continue +IN STATU QUO. No dependence [feudal tie or other, as there used to +be] on Bohemia; cession of Silesia to be absolute and forever.--We, in +return, will proceed no farther. We will besiege Neisse for form; +the Commandant shall surrender and depart. We will pass quietly into +winter-quarters; and the Austrian Army may go whither it will. Bargain +to be concluded within twelve days.'" [Coxe (iii. 272) gives this +Translation, not saying whence he had it.]--Can his Excellency Hyndford +get Vienna, get Feldmarschall Reipperg with power from Vienna, to +accept: Yes or No? Excellency Hyndford thinks, Yes; will try his very +utmost!-- + +"He (Goltz) then tore the Paper in very small pieces; and he repeated +again, that if the affair should be discovered, both the King and he +were determined to deny it.... 'But how about engagements with regard to +my Master's German Dominions; not a word about that?' He answered, 'You +have not the least to fear from France;' protested the King of Prussia's +great regard for his Majesty of England, &c. I told him these fine words +did not satisfy me; and that if this affair should succeed, I expected +there should be some stipulation." [_Hyndford Papers,_ fol. 115.] +Yes; and came, about a fortnight hence, "waylaying his Majesty" to get +one,--as readers saw above. + +Prussian Dryasdust (poor soul, to whom one is often cruel!) shall glad +himself with the following Two bits of Autography from Goltz, who had +instantly quitted Breslau again;--and, to us, they will serve as date +for the actual arrival of Excellency Hyndford in those fighting regions, +and commencement of his mysterious glidings about between Camp and Camp. + +GOLTZ TO THE EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD, AT BRESLAU (most Private). + +"AU CAMP DE NEUENDORF, 16me septembre, a 9 heures du seir. (1.) +"MILORD,--Vons savez que je suis porte pour la bonne cause. Sur ce pied +je prends la liberte de vous conseiller en ami et serviteur, de venir +ici incessamment, et de presser votre voyage de sorte que vous puissiez +paraitre publiquement lundi [18th] vers midi. Vous trouverez 6 (SIC) +chevaux de postes a Olau et a Grottkau tout prets. Hatez-vous, Milord, +tout ce que vous pourrez au monde. J'ai l'honneur de" Meaning, in brief +English:-- + +"Be at Neundorf here, publicly, on Monday next, 18th, towards noon." +Things being ripe. "Haste, Milord, haste!" + +"Ce 18me a 3 heures apres-midi. (2). "Je suis an desespoir, Milord, de +votre maladie. Voici le courrier que vous attendiez. Venez le plutot +que vous pourrez au monde; si non, dites au General Marwitz de quoi +il s'agit, afin qu'il puisse me le faire savoir.... Le courrier serait +arrive quatre heures plutot, si nous ne l'avions renvoye au Comte +Neuberg (SIC) a cause de votre maladie.--GOLTZ." [_Hyndford Papers,_ +fol. 150-152.]--That is to say:-- + +"Distressed inexpressibly by your Lordship's biliary condition. One +cannot travel under colic;--and things were so ripe! Courier would have +reached you four hours sooner, but we had to send him over to Neipperg +first. Come, oh come!"--Which Hyndford, now himself again, at once does. + +This is the Mystery, which, on September 22d, had arrived at that stage, +indicated above: "Tush! Follow me: Dinner is already falling cold, and +there are eyes upon us!" And in about another fortnight--But we +shall have to take the luggage with us, too, what minimum of it is +indispensable! + + + + +Chapter V. -- KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF: FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. + +While these combined Mysteries and War-movements go on, in Neisse +and its Environs, the World-Phenomena continue,--in Upper Austria +and elsewhere. Of which take these select summits, or points chiefly +luminous in the dusk of the forgotten Past:-- + +LINZ, SEPTEMBER 14th. Karl Albert, being joined some days ago at +Scharding by the first three French Divisions, 15,000 men in all (the +other four Divisions of them are still in the Donauworth-Ingolstadt +quarter, making their manifold arrangements), has pushed forward, sixty +miles (land-marches, south side of the Donau, which makes a bend here), +and this day, September 14th, appears at Linz. Pleasant City of +Linz; where, as readers may remember, Mr. John Kepler, long ago, busy +discovering the System of the World (grandest Conquest ever made, or to +be made, by the Sons of Adam), had his poor CAMERA OBSCURA set out, to +get himself a livelihood in the interim: here now is Karl Albert's flag +on the winds, and, as it were, the Oriflamme with it, on a singularly +different Adventure. "Open Gates!" demands Karl Albert with authority: +"Admit me to my Capital of Upper Austria!" Which cannot be denied him, +there being nothing but Town-guards in the place. + +Karl Albert continued there some weeks, in a serenely victorious +posture; doing acts of authority; getting homaged by the STANDE; +pushing out his forces farther and farther down the Donau, post after +post,--victorious Oriflamme-Bavarian Army may be 40,000 strong or so, in +those parts. Friedrich urged him much to push on without pause, and +take opportunity by the forelock; sent Schmettau (elder of the two +Schmettaus, who is much employed on such business) to urge him; wrote an +express Paper of Considerations pressingly urgent: but he would not, and +continued pausing. + +Vienna, all in terror, is fortifying itself; citizens toiling at the +earthworks, resolute for making some defence; Constituted Authorities, +National Archives even, Court in a body, and all manner of Noble and +Official people, flying else-whither to covert: chiefly to Presburg, +where her Majesty already is. The Archives were carried to Gratz; the +two Dowager Empresses (for there are two, Maria Theresa's Mother, and +Maria Theresa's Aunt, Kaiser Joseph's Widow) fled different ways,--I +forget which. An agitated, paralyzed population. Except the diligent +wheelbarrows on the ramparts, no vehicle is rolling in Vienna but +furniture-wagons loading for flight. General Khevenhuller with 6,000, +who pesides with fine scientific skill, and an iron calmness and +clearness, over these fortifyings, is the only force left. [Anonymous, +_Histoire de la Derniere Guerre de Boheme_ (a Francfort, 1745-1747, 4 +tomes), i. 190. A lively succinct little Book, vague not false; still +readable, though not now, as then, with complete intelligence, to the +unprepared reader. Said, in Dictionaries, to be by Mauvillon PERE, +though it resembles nothing else of his that is known to me.]' +Neipperg's, our only Army in the world, is hundreds of miles away, +countermarching and manoeuvring about Woitz, and Neisse Town and +River,--pretty sure to be beaten in the end,--and it is high time there +were a Silesian bargain had, if Hyndford can get us any. + +DRESDEN, SEPTEMBER 19th (Excellency Hyndford just recovering from his +colic, in Breslau), Kur-Sachsen, after many waverings, signs Treaty of +Copartnery with France and Bavaria, seduced by "that Moravia," and the +ticklings of Belleisle acting on a weak mind. [Adelung, ii. 469, 304, +503.] His troops are 20,000, or rather more; said to be of good quality, +and well equipped. In February last we saw him engaged in Russian, +Anti-Prussian Partition schemes. In April, as these suddenly (on sight +of the Camp of Gottin) extinguished themselves, he agreed to go, in the +pacific way, with her Hungarian Majesty for friend (Treaty with her, +signed 11th April); but never went (Treaty never ratified); kept his +20,000 lying about in Camp, in an enigmatic manner,--first about +Torgau, latterly in the Lausitz, much nearer to the ERZGEBIRGE +(Metal-Mountains), Frontier of Bohemia;--and now signs as above; intent +to march as soon as possible. Is to have Four Circles of Bohemia, +imaginary Kingships of Moravia, and other prizes. Belleisle has tickled +that big trout: Belleisle could now have the Election as he wishes it, +would the Electors but be speedy; but they will not, and he is obliged +to push continually. + + +"Moriamur pro Rege nostro Maria Theresia," IN THE POETIC, AND THEN ALSO +IN THE PROSE FORM. + +PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. This is the date (or chief date, for, alas, +there turn out to be two!) of the world-famous "MORIAMUR PRO REGE NOSTRO +MARIA THERESIA;" of which there are now needed Two Narratives; the +generally received (in part mythical) going first, in the following +strain:-- + +"The Queen has been in Presburg mainly, where the Hungarian Diet is +sitting, ever since her Coronation-ceremony. On the 11th September [or +11th and 21st together], the afflicted Lady makes an appearance there, +which, for theatrical reality, has become very celebrated. Alas, it is +but three months since she galloped to the top of the Konigsberg, and +cut defiantly with bright sabre towards the Four Points of the Universe; +and already it has come to this. Hungarian Magnates in high session, +the high Queen enters, beautiful and sad,--and among her Ministers is +noticeable a Nurse with the young Archduke, some six months old, a fine +thriving child, perhaps too wise for his age, who became Kaiser Joseph +II. in after time. + +"The Hungarian Session is not on record for me, Hall of meeting, Magyar +Parliamentary eloquence unknown; nor is any point conspicuously visible, +exact and certain, except these [alas, not even these]: That it was the +11th of September; that her Majesty coming forward to speak, took the +child in her arms, and there, in a clear and melodiously piercing voice, +sorrow and courage on her noble face, beautiful as the Moon riding among +wet stormy clouds, spake, as the Hungarian Archives still have it, a +short Latin Harangue; in substance as follows:... 'Hostile invasion of +Austria; imminent peril, to this Kingdom of Hungary, to our person, +to our children, to our crown. Forsaken by all,--AB OMNIBUS DERELICTI +[Britannic Majesty himself standing stock-still,--blamably, one thinks, +the two swords being only at HIS throat, and a good way off!]--I have +no resource but to throw myself on the loyalty and help of Your renowned +Body, and invoke the ancient Hungarian virtue to rise swiftly and save +me!' Whereat the assembled Hungarian Synod, their wild Magyar hearts +touched to the core, start up in impetuous acclaim, flourish aloft their +drawn swords, and shout unanimously in passionate tenor-voice, 'MORIAMUR +(Let us die) for our Rex Maria Theresa!' [_Maria Theresiens Leben_ (which +speaks hypothetically), iv, 44; Coxe, iii. 270 (who is positive, "after +examining the Documents").] Which were not vain words. For a general +'Insurrection' was thereupon decreed; what the Magyars call their +'Insurrection,' which is by no means of rebellious nature; and many +noblemen, old Count Palfy himself a chief among them, though past +threescore and ten, took the field at their own cost; and the noise +of the Hungarian Insurrection spread like a voice of hope over all +Pragmatic countries."-- + +A very beautiful heroic scene; which has gone about the world, +circulating triumphantly through all hearts for above a Century past; +and has only of late acknowledged itself mythical,--not true, except as +toned down to the following stingy prose pitch:-- + +PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. Maria Theresa, since that fine +Coronation-scene, June 28th, has had a mixed time of it with her +Hungarian Diet; soft passages alternating with hard: a chivalrous +people, most consciously chivalrous; but a constitutional withal, very +stiff upon their Charter (PACTA CONVENTA, or whatever the name is); who +wrangle much upon privileges, upon taxes, and are difficult to keep long +in tune. Ten days ago (September 11th), her Majesty tried them on a new +tack; summoned them to her Palace; threw herself upon their nobleness, +"No allies but you in the world" (and other fine things, authentically, +as above, legible in the Archives to this day):--so spake the beautiful +young Queen, her eyes filling with tears as she went on, and yet a noble +fire gleaming through them. Which melted the Hungarian heart a good +deal; and produced fine cheering, some persons even shedding tears, +and voices of "Life and Fortune to your Majesty!" being heard in it. +In which humor the Diet returned to its Session-House, and voted the +"Insurrection,"--or general Arming of Hungary, County by County, each +according to its own contingent;--with all speed, in pursuance of her +Majesty's implied desire. This was voted in rapid manner; but again, +in the detail of executing, it was liable to haggles. From this day, +however, matters did decidedly improve; PACTA CONVENTA, or any remainder +of them, are got adjusted,--the good Queen yielding on many points. So +that, September 20th, Grand-Duke Franz is elected Co-regent,--let +him start from Vienna instantly, for Instalment;--and it is hoped the +Insurrection will go well, and not prove haggly, or hang fire in the +details. + +At any rate, next day, September 21st, Duke Franz, who arrived last +night,--and Baby with him, or in the train of him (to the joy of +Mamma!)--is in the Palace Audience-Hall, "at 8 A.M.;" ready for +the Diet, and what Homagings aud mutual Oath, as new Co-regent, are +necessary. Grand-Duke Franz, Mamma by his side, with the suitable +functionaries; and to rearward Nurse and Baby, not so conspicuous till +needed. Diet enters with the stroke of 8; solemnity proceeds. At the +height of the solemnity, when Duke Franz, who is really risen now to +something of a heroic mood, in these emergencies and perils, has just +taken his Oath, and will have to speak a fit word or two,--the Nurse, +doubtless on hint given, steps forward; holds up Baby (a fine noticing +fellow, I have no doubt,--"weighed sixteen pounds avoirdupois when +born"); as if Baby too, fine mutual product of the Two Co-regents, were +mutually swearing and appealing. Enough to touch any heart. "Life and +blood (VITAM ET SANGUINEM) for our Queen and Kingdom!" exclaims the +Grand-Duke, among other things. "Yes, VITAM ET SANGUINEM!" re-echoes +the Diet, "our life and our blood!" many-voiced, again and again;--and +returns to its own Place of Session, once more in a fine strain of loyal +emotion. + +And there, O reader, is the naked truth, neither more nor less. It was +some Vienna Pamphleteer of theatrical imaginative turn, finding the +thing apt, a year or two afterwards--who by kneading different dates +and objects into one, boldly annihilating time and space, and adding a +little paint,--gave it that seductive mythical form. From whom Voltaire +adopted it, with improvements, especially in the little Harangue; and +from Voltaire gratefully the rest of mankind. [Voltaire, _Siecle de +Louis XV.,_ c. 6 (_OEuvres,_ xxviii. 78); Coxe, _House of Austria,_ +iii. 270; and innumerable others (who give this Myth)]; _Maria Theresiens +Leben,_ p. 44 n. (who cites the Vienna Pamphleteers, without much +believing them); Mailath (a Hungarian), _Geschichte des OEsterrichischen +Kaiser-Staats_ (Hamburg, 1850), v. 11-13 (who explodes the fable). Cut +down to the practical, it stands as above:--by no means a bad +thing still. That of "bringing in Baby" was a pretty touch in the +domestic-royal way;--and surely very natural; and has no "art" in it, +or none to blame and not love rather, on the part of the bright young +Mother, now girdled in such tragic outlooks, and so glad to have Baby +back at least, and Papa with him! It is certain the "Insurrection" was +voted with enthusiasm; and even became rapidly a fact. And there was, in +few months hence, an immense mounted force of Hungarians raised, which +galloped and plundered (having almost no pay), and occasionally fenced +and fought, very diligently during all these Wars. Hussars, Croats, +Pandours, Tolpatches, Warasdins, Uscocks, never heard of in war before: +who were found very terrible to look upon once, in the imagination or +with the naked eye; but whose fighting talent, against regular troops, +was next to worthless; and who gradually became hateful rather than +terrible in the military world. + +HANOVER, SEPTEMBER 27th. Britannic Majesty, reduced to that frightful +pinch, has at last given way. Treaty of Neutrality for Hanover; +engagement again to stick one's puissant Pragmatic sword into its +scabbard, to be perfectly quiescent and contemplative in these +French-Bavarian Anti-Austrian undertakings, and digest one's indignation +as one can. For our Paladin of the Pragmatic what a posture! This is +the first of Three Attempts by our puissant little Paladin to draw +sword;--not till the third could he get his sword out, or do the least +fighting (even foolish fighting) with all the 40,000 he had kept on pay +and subsidy for years back. The Neutrality was for Hanover only, and +had no specific limit as to time. Opportunities did rise; but something +always rose along with them,--mainly the impossibility of hoisting those +lazy Dutch,--and checked one's noble rage. His Majesty has covenanted +to vote for Karl Albert as Kaiser; even he, and will make the thing +unanimous! A thoroughly check-mated Majesty. Passing home to +England, this time in a gloomy condition of mind, shortly after these +humiliations, he was just issuing from Osnabruck by the Eastern Gate, +when Maillebois's people entered by the Western,--the ugly shoes of +them insulting his kibes in this manner. And a furious Anti-Walpole +Parliament, most perturbed of National Palavers, is waiting him at St. +James's. Heavy-laden little Hercules that he is! + +Karl Albert lay at Linz for a month longer (till October 24th, six weeks +in all); pausing in uncertainties, in a pleasant dream of victory and +sovereignty; not pouncing on Vienna, as Friedrich urged on the French +and him, to cut the matter by the root. He does push forward certain +troops, Comte de Saxe with Three Horse Regiments as vanguard, ever +nearer to Vienna; at last to within forty miles of it; nay, light-horse +parties came within twenty-five miles. And there was skirmishing with +Mentzel, a sanguinary fellow, of whom we shall hear more; who had got +"1,000 Tolpatches" under him, and stood ruggedly at bay. + +Karl Albert has been sending out sovereign messages from Linz: Letters +to Vienna;--one letter addressed "To the Arch-duchess Maria Theresa;" +which came back unopened, "No such person known here." October 2d, he is +getting homaged at Linz, by the STANDE of the Province,--on summons +sent some time before,--many of whom attend, with a willing enough +appearance; Kur-Baiern rather a favorite in Upper Austria, say some. +Much fine processioning, melodious haranguing, there now is for Karl +Albert, and a pleasant dream of Sovereignty at Linz: but if he do not +pounce upon Vienna till Khevenhuller get it fortified? Khevenhuller is +drawing home Italian Garrisons, gradually gathering something like an +Army round him. In Khevenhuller's imperturbable military head, one of +the clearest and hardest, there is some hope. Above all, if Neipperg's +Army were to disengage itself, and be let loose into those parts? + + + + +EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD BRINGS ABOUT A MEETING AT KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF (9th +October, 1741). + +It was the second day after that Homaging at Linz, when Hyndford (Sept. +22d) with mysterious negotiations, now nearly ripe, for disengaging +Neipperg, waylaid his Prussian Majesty; and was answered, as we saw, +with "Tush, tush! Dinner is already cold!" + +It must be owned, these Friedrich-Hyndford Negotiations, following on +an express French-Prussian Treaty of June 5th, which have to proceed +in such threefold mystery now and afterwards, are of questionable +distressing nature: nor can the fact that they are escorted copiously +enough by a correspondent sort on the French side, and indeed on the +Austrian and on all sides, be a complete consolation,--far otherwise, to +the ingenuous reader. Smelfungus indignantly calls it an immorality and +a dishonor, "a playing with loaded dice;" which in good part it surely +was. Nor can even Friedrich, who has many pleas for himself, obtain +spoken acquittal; unspoken, accompanied with regrets and pity, is all +even Friedrich can aspire to. My own impression is, Smelfungus, if +candid, would on clearer information and consideration have revoked much +of what he says here in censure of Friedrich. At all events, if asked: +Where then is the specifical not "superstitious" WANT of "veracity" you +ever found in Friedrich? and How, OTHERWISE than even as Friedrich did, +would you, most veracious Smelfungus, have plucked out your Silesia from +such an Element and such a Time?--he would be puzzled to answer. I give +his Fragment as I find it, with these deductions:-- + +"What negotiating we have had, and shall have," exclaims Smelfungus, my +sad foregoer,--"fit rather to be omitted from a serious History, +which intends to be read by human creatures! Bargaining, Promising, +Non-performing. False in general as dicers' oaths; false on this side +and on that, from beginning to end. Intercepted Letters from Fleury; +Letter dropping from Valori's waistcoat-pocket, upon which Friedrich +claps his foot: alas, alas, we are in the middle of a whole world of +that. Friedrich knows that the French are false to him; he by no means +intends to be romantically true to them, and that also they know. What +is the use to human creatures of recording all that melancholy stuff? +If sovereign persons want their diplomacies NOT to be swept into the +ash-pit, there are two conditions, especially one which is peremptory: +FIRST, that they should not be lies;--SECOND, that they should be of +some importance, some wisdom; which with known lies is not a possible +condition. To unravel cobwebs, and register laboriously and date and +sort in the sorrow of your soul the oaths of crowned dicers,--what use +is it to gods or men? Having well dressed and sliced your cucumber, +the next clear human duty is: Throw it out of window. In that foul +Lapland-witch world, of seething Diplomacies and monstrous wigged +mendacities, horribly wicked and despicably unwise, I find nothing +notable, memorable even in a small degree, except this aspect of a +young King who does know what he means in it. Clear as a star, sharp as +cutting steel (very dangerous to hydrogen balloons), he stands in the +middle of it, and means to extort his own from it by such methods as +there are. + +"Magnanimous I can by no means call Friedrich to his allies and +neighbors, nor even superstitiously veracious, in this business: but he +thoroughly understands, he alone, what just thing he wants out of it, +and what an enormous wigged mendacity it is he has got to deal with. For +the rest, he is at the gaming-table with these sharpers; their dice all +cogged;--and he knows it, and ought to profit by his knowledge of it. +And in short, to win his stake out of that foul weltering mellay, and go +home safe with it if he can." + +Very well, my friend! Let us keep to windward of the Diplomatic +wizard's-caldron; let Hyndford, Valori and Company preside over it, +throwing in their eye of newt and limb of toad, as occasion may be. +Enough, if the reader can be brought to conceive it; and how the young +King,--who perhaps alone had real business in this foul element, and +did not volunteer into it like the others, though it now unexpectedly +envelops him like a world-whirlwind (frightful enough, if one spoke of +that to anybody), is struggling with his whole soul to get well out of +it. As supremely adroit, all readers already know him; his appearance +what we called starlike,--always something definite, fixed and lucid in +it. + +He is dexterously holding aloof from Hyndford at present, clinging to +French Valori as his chosen companion: we may fancy what a time he has +of it, like a polygamist amid jealous wives. It will quicken Hyndford, +he perceives, in these ulterior stages, to leave him well alone. +Hyndford accordingly, as we have noticed, could not see the King at all; +had to try every plan, to watch, waylay the King for a bit of interview, +when indispensable. However, Hyndford, with his Neipperg in sight of +the peril, manages better than Robinson with his Aulic Council at a +distance: besides he is a long-headed dogged kind of man, with a surly +edacious strength, not inexpert in negotiation, nor easily turned aside +from any purpose he may have. + +Between the two Camps, nearly midway, lies a Hamlet called +Klein-Schnellendorf, LITTLE Schnellendorf, to distinguish it +from another Schnellendorf called GREAT, which is a mile or two +northwestward, out of the straight line. Not far from the first of +these poor Hamlets lies a Schloss or noble Mansion, likewise called +Klein-Schnellendorf, belonging to a certain Count von Sternberg, who is +not there at present, but whose servants are, and a party of Croats over +them for some days back: a pleasant airy Mansion among pleasant gardens, +well shut out from the intrusion of the world. Upon this Castle of +Klein-Schnellendorf judicious Hyndford has cast his eye:--and Neipperg, +now come to a state of readiness, approves the suggestion of Hyndford, +and promptly at the due moment converts it into a fact. Arrests namely, +on a given morning (the last act of his Croats there, who withdrew +directly with their batch of prisoners), every living soul within or +about the Mansion;--"suspected of treason;" only for one day;--and +in this way, has it reduced to the comfortable furnished solitude of +Sleeping Beauty's Castle; a place fit for high persons to hold a +Meeting in, which shall remain secret as the grave. Such a thing was +indispensable. For Friedrich, keeping shy of Hyndford, as he well may +with a Valori watching every step, has, by words, by silences, when +Hyndford could waylay him for a moment, sufficiently indicated what he +will and what he will not; and, for one indispensable condition, in the +present thrice-delicate Adventure, he will not sign anything; will give +and take word of honor, and fully bind himself, but absolutely not put +pen to paper at all. Neipperg being willing too, judicious Hyndford +finds a medium. Let the parties meet at Klein-Schnellendorf, and +judicious Hyndford be there with pen and paper. [Orlich, i. 146; +_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1009.] + +Monday, 9th October, 1741, accordingly, there is meeting to be held. +Hyndford, Neipperg with his General Lentulus (a Swiss-Austrian General, +whose Son served under Friedrich afterwards), these wait for Friedrich, +on the one hand:--"to fix some cartel for exchange of prisoners," it +is said;--in these precincts of Klein-Schnellendorf; which are silent, +vacant, yet comfortably furnished, like Sleeping Beauty's Castle. +And Friedrich, on the other hand, is actually riding that way, with +Goltz;--visiting outposts, reconnoitring, so to speak. "Dine you with +Prince Leopold (the Young Dessauer), my fine Valori; I fear I shan't +be home to dinner!" he had said when going off; hoodwinking his +fine Valori, who suspects nothing. At a due distance from +Klein-Schnellendorf, the very groom is left behind; and Friedrich, with +Goltz only, pushes on to the Schloss. All ready there; salutations soon +done; business set about, perfected:--and Hyndford with pen and ink in +his hand, he, by way of Protocol, or summary of what had been agreed +on, on mutual word of honor, most brief but most clear on this occasion, +writes a State Paper, which became rather famous afterwards. This is the +Paper in condensed state; though clear, it is very dull! + +KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF, 9th OCTOBER, 1741. Britannic Excellency Hyndford +testifies, That, here and now, his Majesty of Prussia, and Neipperg on +behalf of her Hungarian Majesty do, solemnly though only verbally, agree +to the following Four Things:-- + +"FIRST, That General Neipperg, on the 16th of the month [this day week] +shall have liberty to retire through the Mountains, towards Moravia; +unmolested, or with nothing but sham-attacks in the rear of him. SECOND, +That, in consequence, his Prussian Majesty, on making sham-siege of +Neisse, shall have the place surrendered to him on the fifteenth day. +THIRD, That there shall be, nay in a sense, there hereby is, a Peace +made; his Majesty retaining Neisse and Silesia [according to the limits +known to us:--nothing said of Glatz]; and that a complete Treaty to that +effect shall be perfected, signed and ratified, before the Year is out. +FOURTH, That these sham-hostilities, but only sham, shall continue; and +that his Majesty, wintering in Bohemia, and carrying on sham-hostilities +[to the satisfaction of the French], shall pay his own expenses, and do +no mischief." [Given in _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1009; in &c.] + +To these Four Things they pledge their word of honor; and Hyndford signs +and delivers each a Copy. Unwritten a Fifth Thing is settled, That the +present transaction in all parts of it shall be secret as death,--his +Majesty expressly insisting that, if the least inkling of it ooze out, +he shall have right to deny it, and refuse in any way to be bound by it. +Which likewise is assented to. + +Here is a pretty piece of work done for ourself and our allies, while +Valori is quietly dining with the Prince of Dessau! The King stayed +about two hours; was extremely polite, and even frank and communicative. +"A very high-spirited young King," thinks Neipperg, reporting of it; +"will not stand contradiction; but a great deal can be made of him, if +you go into his ideas, and humor him in a delicate dexterous way. He +did not the least hide his engagements with France, Bavaria, Saxony; but +would really, so far as I Neipperg could judge, prefer friendship with +Austria, on the given terms; and seems to have secretly a kind of pique +at Saxony, and no favor for the French and their plans." [Orlich, i. 149 +(in condensed state).] + +"Business being done [this is Hyndford's report], the King, who had been +politeness itself, took Neipperg aside, beckoning Hyndford to be of +the party, 'I wish you too, my Lord, to hear every word:--his Britannic +Majesty knows or should know my intentions never were to do him hurt, +but only to take care of myself; and pray inform him [what is the fact] +that I have ordered my Army in Brandenburg to go into winter-quarters, +and break up that Camp at Gottin.' Friedrich's talk to Neipperg is, How +he may assault the French with advantage: 'Join Lobkowitz and what force +he has in Bohmen; go right into your enemies, before they can unite +there. If the Queen prosper, I shall--perhaps I shall have no objection +to join her by and by? If her Majesty fail; well, every one must look +to himself.'" These words Hyndford listened to with an edacious solid +countenance, and greedily took them down. [Hyndford's Despatch, Breslau, +14th October, 1741.] + +Once more, a curious glimpse (perhaps imprudently allowed us, in the +circumstances) into the real inner man of Friedrich. He had, at this +time, now that the Belleisle Adventure is left in such a state, no +essential reason to wish the French ruined,--nor probably did he; but +only stated both chances, as in the way of unguarded soliloquy; and +was willing to leave Neipperg a sweet morsel to chew. Secret mode of +corresponding with the Court of Austria is agreed upon; not direct, but +through certain Commandants, till the Peace-Treaty be perfected,--at +latest "by December 24th," we hope. And so, "BON VOYAGE, and well across +the Mountains, M. LE MARECHAL; till we meet again! And you, +Excellency Hyndford, be so good you as write to me,--for Valori's +behoof,--complaining that I am deaf to all proposals, that nothing can +be had of me. And other Letters, pray, of the like tenor, all round; to +Presburg, to England, to Dresden:--if the Couriers are seized, it shall +be well. 'Your Letter to myself, let a trumpet come with it while I am +at dinner,' and Valori beside me!"--"Certainly, your Majesty," answers +Hyndford; and does it, does all this; which produces a soothing effect +on Valori, poor soul! + + + + +FRIEDRICH TAKES NEISSE BY SHAM SIEGE (CAPTURE NOT SHAM); GETS HOMAGED IN +BRESLAU; AND RETURNS TO BERLIN. + +Thus, if the Austrians hold to their bargain, has Friedrich, in a most +compendious manner, got done with a Business which threatened to be +infinite: by this short cut he, for his part, is quite out of the +waste-howling jungle of Enchanted Forest, and his foot again on the firm +free Earth. If only the Austrians hold to their bargain! But probably he +doubts if they will. Well, even in that case, he has got Neisse; stands +prepared for meeting them again; and, in the mean while, has freedom to +deny that there ever was such a bargain. + +Of the Political morality of this game of fast-and-loose, what have we +to say,--except, that the dice on both sides seem to be loaded; that +logic might be chopped upon it forever; that a candid mind will settle +what degree of wisdom (which is always essentially veracity), and what +of folly (which is always falsity), there was in Friedrich and the +others; whether, or to what degree, there was a better course open +to Friedrich in the circumstances:--and, in fine, it will have to be +granted that you cannot work in pitch and keep hands evidently clean. +Friedrich has got into the Enchanted Wilderness, populous with devils +and their works;--and, alas, it will be long before he get out of it +again, HIS life waning towards night before he get victoriously out, +and bequeath his conquest to luckier successors! It is one of the tragic +elements of this King's life; little contemplated by him, when he went +lightly into the Silesian Adventure, looking for honor bright, what he +called "GLOIRE," as one principal consideration, hardly a year ago!-- + +Neipperg, according to covenant, broke up punctually that day week, +October 16th; and went over the Mountains, through Jagerndorf, Troppau, +towards Mahren; Prussians hanging on his rear, and skirmishing about, +but only for imaginary or ostensible purposes. After a three-weeks +march, he gets to a place called Frating, [Espagnac, i. 104.] +easternmost border of Mahren, on the slopes of the Mannhartsberg +Hill-Country, which is within wind of Vienna itself; where, as we can +fancy, his presence is welcome as morning-light in the present dark +circumstances. + +Friedrich, on the morrow after Neipperg went, invested Neisse (October +17th); set about the Siege of Neisse with all gravity, as if it had been +the most earnest operation; which nobody of mankind, except three or +four, doubted but it was. Before opening of the trenches, Leopold young +Dessauer took the road for Glatz Country, and the adjoining Circles of +Bohemia; there to canton himself, peaceably according to contract; and +especially to have an eye upon Glatz, should the Klein-Schnellendorf +engagement go awry in any point. The King in his Dialogue with Neipperg +had said several things about Glatz, and what a sacrifice he made there +for the sake of speedy pace, the French having guaranteed him Glatz, +though he now forbore it. Leopold, who has with him some 15,000 horse +and foot, cantons himself judiciously in those ultramontane parts,--"all +the artillery in the Glatz Country;" [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 431; +Orlich, i. 174.]--and we shall hear of him again, by and by, in regard +to other business that rises there. + +Neisse is a formidable Fortress, much strengthened since last year; but +here is a Besieger with much better chance! He marked out parallels, +sent summonses, reconnoitred, manoeuvred,--in a way more or less +surprising to the eye of Valori, who is military, and knows about +sieges. Rather singular, remarks Valori; good engineers much wanted +here! But the bombardment did finally begin: night of October 26th-27th, +the Prussiaus opened fire; and, at a terrible rate, cannonaded and +bombarded without intermission. In point of fire and noise it is +tremendous; Valori trusts it may be effective, in spite of faults; goes +to Breslau in hope: "Yes, go to Breslau, MON CHER VALORI; wait for me +there. Neipperg be chased, say you? Shall not he,--if we had got this +place!" And so the fire continues night and day. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ +i. 1006.] + +Fantastic Bielfeld, in his semi-fabulous style, has a LETTER on this +bombardment, attractive to Lovers of the Picturesque,--(written long +afterwards, and dated &c. WRONG). As Bielfeld is a rapid clever creature +of the coxcomb sort, and doubtless did see Neisse Siege, and entertained +seemingly a blazing incorrect recollection of it, his Pseudo-Neisse +Letter may be worth giving, to represent approximately what kind of +scene it was there at Neisse in the October nights:-- + +"Marechal Schwerin was lodged in a Village about three-quarters of a +mile from Head-Quarters. One day he did me the honor to invite me to +dinner; and even offered me a horse to ride thither with him. I found +excellent company; a superb repast, and wine of the gods. Host and +guests were in high spirits; and the pleasures of the table were kept up +so late, that it was midnight when we rose. I was obliged to return +to Head-Quarters, having still to wait upon the King, as usual. The +Marechal was kind enough to lend me another horse; but the groom +mischievously gave me the charger which the Marechal rode at the Battle +of Mollwitz; a very powerful animal, and which, from that day, had grown +very skittish. + +"I was made aware of this circumstance, before we were fairly out of the +Village; and the night being of the darkest, I twenty times ran the +risk of breaking my neck. We had to pass over a hill, to get to +Head-Quarters. When I reached the top, a shudder came over me, and my +hair stood on end. I had nobody with me but a strange groom. The country +all around was infested with troops and marauders; I was mounted on an +unmanageable horse. Under my feet, so to say, I saw the bombardment +of the Town of Neisse. I heard the roar of cannon and doleful shrieks. +Above our batteries the whole atmosphere was inflamed; and to complete +the calamity, I missed the way, and got lost in the darkness. Finally, +in descending the hill, my horse, frightened, made a terrible swerve or +side-jump. I did not know the cause; but after having, with difficulty, +got him into the road again, I found myself opposite to a deserter who +had been hanged that day! I was horribly disgusted by the sight; the +gallows being very low, and the head of the malefactor almost parallel +with mine. I spurred on, and galloped away from such unpleasant +night-company. At last I arrived at Head-Quarters, all in a +perspiration. I sent my horse back; and went in to the King, who asked +me at once, why I was so heated. I made his Majesty a faithful report of +all my disasters. He laughed much; and advised me seriously not again +to go out by night, and alone, beyond the circuit of Head-Quarters." +[Bielfeld, ii. 31, 32.] + +After four days and nights of this sublime Playhouse thunder (with real +bullets in it, which killed some men, and burnt considerable property), +the Neisse Commandant (not Roth this time, Roth is now in Brunn),--his +"fortnight of siege," October 17th to October 31st, being accomplished +or nearly so,--beat chamade; and was, after grave enough treatying, +allowed to march away. Marched, accordingly, on the correct +Klein-Schnellendorf terms; most of his poor garrison deserting, and +taking Prussian service. Ever since which moment, Neisse, captured in +this curious manner, has been Friedrich's and his Prussia's. + +November 1st, the Prussian soldiers entered the place; and Friedrich, +after diligent inspection and what orders were necessary, left for Brieg +on the following day;--where general illuminating and demonstrating +awaited him, amid more serious business. After strict examinations, and +approval of Walrave and his works at Brieg, he again takes the road; +enters Breslau, in considerable state (November 4th); where many Persons +of Quality are waiting, and the general Homaging is straightway to +be,--or indeed should have been some days ago, but has fallen behind by +delays in the Neisse affair. + +The Breslau HULDIGUNG,--Friedrich sworn to and homaged with the due +solemnities as "Sovereign Duke of Lower Silesia,"--was an event to throw +into fine temporary frenzy the descriptive Gazetteers, and Breslau City, +overflowing with Quality people come to act and to see on the occasion. +Event which can be left to the reader's fancy, at this date. There +were Corporations out in quantity, "all in cloaks" and with sublime +Addresses, partly in poetry, happily rather brief. There were beautiful +Prussian Life-guards "First Battalion," admirable to the softer sex, +not to speak of the harder); much military resonance and splendor. +Friedrich drove about in carriages-and-six, "nay carriage-and-eight, +horses cream-color:" a very high King indeed; and a very busy one, +for those four days (November 4th-8th) 1741), but full of grace and +condescension. The HULDIGUNG itself took effect on the 7th; in the fine +old Rathhaus, which Tourists still know,--the surrounding Apple-women +sweeping themselves clear away for one day. Ancient Ducal throne and +proper apparatus there was; state-sword unluckily wanting: Schwerin, who +was to act Grand-Marshal, could find no state-sword, till Friedrich drew +his own and gave it him. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1022, 1025; ii. 349.] + +Podewils the Minister said something, not too much; to which one +Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of which we shall know individuals, +made pithy and pretty response, before swearing. "There were above Four +Hundred of Quality present, all in gala." The customary Free-Gift of the +STANDE Friedrich magnanimously refused: "Impossible to be a burden to +our Silesia in such harassed war-circumstances, instead of benefactor +and protector, as we intended and intend!" The Ceremony, swearing and +all, was over in two hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of +the gold ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up joyfully +to dinner and festivities. And, after dinner, that evening, to +Illumination; followed by balls and jubilations for days after, in +a highly harmonious key. Of the lamps-festoons, astonishing +transparencies, and glad symbolic devices, I could say a great deal; +but will mention only two, both of comfortably edible or quasi-edible +tendency:--1. That of David Schulze, Flesher by profession; who had a +Transparency large as life, representing his own fat Person in the act +of felling a fat Ox; to which was appended this epigraph:-- + + + "Wer mir wird den Konig in Preussen verachten, + Den will ich wie diesen Ochsen schlacten." + + "Who dares me the King of Prussia insult, + Him I will serve like this fat head of nolt." + + Signed "DAVID SCHULER, A BRANDENBURGER."-- + +And then, + +2. How, in another quarter, there was set aloft IN RE, by some +Pastry-cook of patriotic turn: "An actual Ox roasted whole; filled with +pheasants, partridges, grouse, hares and geese; Prussian Eagle atop, +made of roasted fowls, larks and the like,"--unattainable, I doubt, +except for money down. [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 359.] + +On the fifth morning, 9th November,--after much work done during this +short visit, much ceremonial audiencing, latterly, and raising to the +peerage,--Friedrich rolled on to Glogau. Took accurate survey of the +engineering and other interests there, for a couple of days; thence to +Berlin (noon of the 11th), joyfully received by Royal Family and all +the world;--and, as we might fancy, asking himself: "Am I actually home, +then; out of the enchanted jungles and their devilries; safe here, and +listening, I alone in Peace, to the universal din of War?" Alas, no; +that was a beautiful hypothesis; too beautiful to be long credible! +Before reaching Berlin,--or even Breslau, as appears,--Friedrich, +vigilantly scanning and discerning, had seen that fine hope as good as +vanish; and was silently busy upon the opposite one. + +In a fortnight hence, Hyndford, who had followed to Berlin, got +transient sight of the King one morning, hastening through some +apartment or other: "'My Lord,' said the King, 'the Court of Vienna has +entirely divulged our secret. Dowager Empress Amelia [Kaiser Joseph's +widow, mother of Karl Albert's wife] has acquainted the Court of Bavaria +with it; Wasner [Austrian Minister at Paris] has told Fleury; Sinzendorf +[ditto at Petersburg] has told the Court of Russia; Robinson, through +Mr. Villiers [your Saxon Minister], has told the Court of Dresden; and +several members of your Government in England have talked publicly about +it!' And, with a shrug of the shoulders, he left me,"--standing somewhat +agape there. [Hyndford's Despatch, Berlin, 28th November, 1741; Ib. +Breslau, 28th October (secret already known).] + + + + +Chapter VI. -- NEW MAYOR OF LANDSHUT MAKES AN INSTALLATION SPEECH. + +The late general Homaging at Breslau, and solemn Taking Possession +of the Country by King Friedrich, under such peaceable omens, had +straightway, as we gather, brought about, over Silesia at +large, or at least where pressingly needful, various little +alterations,--rectifications, by the Prussian model and new rule now +introduced. Of which, as it is better that the reader have some dim +notion, if easily procurable, than none at all, I will offer him one +example;--itself dim enough, but coming at first-hand, in the actual or +concrete form, and beyond disputing in whatever light or twilight it may +yield us. + +At Landshut, a pleasant little Mountain Town, in the Principality of +Schweidnitz, high up, on the infant River Bober, near the Bohemian +Frontier--(English readers may see QUINCY ADAMS'S description of it, and +of the long wooden spouts which throw cataracts on you, if walking the +streets in rain [John Quincy Adams (afterwards President of the United +States), _Letters on Silesia_ (London, 1804). "The wooden spouts are +now gone" (_Tourist's Note, of_ 1858).]): at Landshut, as in some other +Towns, it had been found good to remodel the Town Magistracy a little; +to make it partly Protestant, for one thing, instead of Catholic +(and Austrian), which it had formerly been. Details about the "high +controversies and discrepancies" which had risen there, we have +absolutely none; nor have the special functions of the Magistracy, what +powers they had, what work they did, in the least become distinct to us: +we gather only that a certain nameless Burgermeister (probably Austrian +and Catholic) had, by "Most gracious Royal Special-Order," been +at length relieved from his labors, and therewith "the much by him +persecuted and afflicted Herr Theodorus Spener" been named Burgermeister +instead. Which respectable Herr Theodorus Spener, and along with him +Herr Johann David Fischer as RATHS-SENIOR, and Herr Johann Caspar +Ruffer, and also Herr Johann Jacob Umminger, as new Raths (how many +of the old being left I cannot say), were accordingly, on the 4th of +December, 1741, publicly installed, and with proper solemnity took +their places; all Landshut looking on, with the conceivable interest +and astonishment, almost as at a change in the obliquity of the +ecliptic,--change probably for the better. + +Respectable Herr Theodorus Spener (we hope it is SpeNer, for they print +him SPEER in one of the two places, and we have to go by guess) is ready +with an Installation Speech on the occasion; and his Speech was judged +so excellent, that they have preserved it in print. Us it by no means +strikes by its Demosthenic or other qualities: meanwhile we listen to +it with the closest attention; hoping, in our great ignorance, to gather +from it some glimmerings of instruction as to the affairs, humors, +disposition and general outlook and condition of Landshut, and Silesia +in that juncture;--and though a good deal disappointed, have made an +Abstract of it in the English language, which perhaps the reader too, in +his great ignorance, will accept, in defect of better. Scene is Landshut +among the Giant Mountains on the Bohemian Border of Silesia: an old +stone Town, where there is from of old a busy trade in thread and linen; +Town consisting, as is common there, of various narrow winding +streets comparable to spider-legs, and of a roomy central Market-place +comparable to the body of the spider; wide irregular Market-place with +the wooden spouts (dry for the moment) all projecting round it. Time, +4th December, 1741 (doubtless in the forenoon); unusual crowd of +population simmering about the Market-place, and full audience of +the better sort gravely attentive in the interior of the Rathhaus; +Burgermeister Spener LOQUITUR [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 416.] (liable to +abridgment here and there, on warning given):-- + +"I enter, then, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, upon an Office, to +which Divine Providence has appointed, and the gracious and potent hand +of a great King has raised me. Great as is the dignity [giddy height of +Mayoralty in Landshut], though undeserved, which the Ever-Merciful has +thus conferred upon me, equally great and much greater is the burden +connected therewith. I confess"--He confesses, in high-stalking earnest +wooden language very foreign to us in every way: (1.) That his shoulders +are too weak; but that he trusts in God. For (2.) it is God's doing; and +He that has called Spener, will give Spener strength, the essential work +being to do God's will, to promote His honor, and the common weal. (3.) +That he comes out of a smaller Office (Office not farther specified, +probably exterior to the RATHS-COLLEGE, and subaltern to the late +tyrannous Mayor and it), and has taken upon him the Mayoralty of this +Town (an evident fact!); but that the labor and responsibility are +dreadfully increased; and that the point is not increase of honor, of +respectability or income, but of heavy duties. (A sonorous, pious-minded +Spener; much more in earnest than readers now think!) + +It is easy, intimates he, to govern a Town, if, as some have perhaps +done, you follow simply your own will, regardless of the sighs and +complaints your subjects utter for injustice undergone,--indifferent to +the thought that the caprice of one Town Sovereign is to be glorified by +so many thousand tears (dim glance into the past history of Landshut!). +Such Town Sovereign persecutes innocence, stops his ears to its cry; +flourishes his sharp scourge;--no one shall complain: for is it not +justice? thinks such a Town Sovereign. The reason is, He does not know +himself, poor man; has had his eye always on the duties of his subjects +towards him, and rarely or never on his towards them. A Sovereign Mayor +that governs by fear,--he must live in continual fear of every one, and +of himself withal. A weak basis: and capable of total overturn in one +day. On the contrary, the love of your burgher subjects: that, if you +can kindle it, will go on like a house on fire (AUSBRUCH EINES FEURES), +and streams of water won't put it out.... "And [let us now take Spener's +very words] if a man keep the fear of God before his eyes, there will be +no need for any other kind of fear. + +"I will therefore, you especially High-honored Gentlemen, study to +direct all my judicial endeavors to the honor of the great God, and to +inviolable fidelity towards my most gracious King and Lord [Friedrich, +by Decision of Providence--at Mollwitz and elsewhere]. + +"To the Citizens of this Town, from of old so dear to me, and now by +Royal grace committed to my charge, and therefore doubly and trebly +to be held dear, I mean to devote myself altogether. I will, on every +occasion and occurrence, still more expressly than aforetime, stand by +them; and when need is, not fail to bring their case before the just +Throne of our Anointed [Friedrich, by Decision of Providence]. Justice +and fairness I will endeavor, under whatever complexities, to make +my loadstar. Yes, I shall and will, by means of this my Office, equip +myself with weapons whereby I may be capable to damp such humors +(INTELLIGENTIEN), should such still be (but I believe there are now none +such), as may repugn against the Royal interest, with possibility of +being dangerous; and to put a bridle on mouths that are unruly. And, to +say much in little compass, I will be faithful to God, to my King and to +this Town. + +"Having now the honor and happiness to be put into Official friendship +with those Gentlemen who, as Burgermeisters, and as old and as new +Members of Council, have for long years made themselves renowned +among us, I will entertain, in respect of the former [the old] a firm +confidence That the zeal they have so strongly manifested for behoof of +the most serene Archducal House of Austria will henceforth burn in them +for our most Beloved Land's Prince whom God has now given us; that the +fire of their lately plighted truth and devotion, towards his +Royal Majesty, shall shine not in words only, but in works, and be +extinguished only with their lives. [Can that be, O Spener or Speer? Are +we alarm-clocks, that need only to be wound up, and told at what hour, +and for whom?] God, who puts Kings in and casts them out, has given to +us a no less potent Sovereign than supremely loving Land's-Father, who, +by the renown of his more than royal virtues, had taken captive the +hearts of his future subjects and children still sooner than even by his +arms, familiar otherwise to victory, he did the Land. And who shall +be puissant and mighty enough, now to lead men's minds in a contrary +direction; to control the Most High Power, ruler over hearts and Lands, +who had decreed it should be so; and again to change this change? [Hear +Spener: he has taken great pains with his Discourse, and understands +composition!] + +"This change, High-honored Gentlemen [of the Catholic persuasion], is +also for you a not unhappy one. For our now as pious as wise King will, +especially in one most vital point, take pattern by the King of all +Kings; and means to be lord of his subjects only, not of the consciences +of his subjects. He requires nothing from you but what you are already +bound by God, by conscience, and duty, to render: to wit, obedience and +inviolable unbroken fidelity. And by that, and without more asked than +that, you will render yourselves worthy of his protection, and become +partakers of the Royal favor. Nay you will render yourselves all the +worthier in that high quarter, and the more meritorious towards our +civic commonweal, the more you, High-honored Gentlemen [of the Catholic +persuasion], accept, with all frankness of colleague-love and amity, +me and the Evangelical brother Raths now introduced by Royal grace and +power; and make the new position generously tenable and available to +us;--and thereby bind with us the more firmly the band of peace and +colleague-unity, for helping up this dear, and for some years greatly +fallen, Town along with us. + +"We, for our poor part, will, one and all, strive only to surpass each +other in obedience and faith to our Most Gracious King. We will, as +Regents of the Citizenry committed to us, go before them with a good +example; and prove to all and every one, That, little and in war +untenable as our Landshut is, it shall, in extent and impregnability +of faith towards its Most Dearest Land's-Prince, approve itself +unconquerable. As well I as"--Professes now, in the most intricate +phraseology, that he, and Fischer and Umminger (giving not only the +titles, but a succinct history of all three, in a single sentence, +before he comes to the verb!), bring a true heart, &c. &c.--Or would +the reader perhaps like to see it IN NATURA, as a specimen of German +human-nature, and the art these Silesian spinners have in drawing out +their yarns? + +"As well I as [1.] The Titular Herr Johann David Fischer, distinguished +trader and merchant of this Town, who, by his tradings in and beyond +our Silesian Countries, has made himself renowned, and by his merit and +address in particular instances [delicate instances known to Landshut, +not to us] has made himself beloved, who has now been installed as +Raths-Senior; and also as [2.] The Titular Herr Johann Caspar Ruffer, +well-respected Citizen, and Revenue-office Manager here, who for many +years has with much fidelity and vigilance managed the Revenue-office, +and who for his experience in the economic constitution of this Town has +been all-graciously nominated Raths-Herr;--and not less [3.] The Titular +Johann Jacob Umminger, whilom Advocate at Law in Breslau, who, for his +good studies in Law, and manifested skill in the practice of Law, +has been an all-graciously nominated Supernumerary Councillor and +Notary's-Adjunct among us:--As well I as these Three not only assure +you, High-honored Gentlemen, of all imaginable estimation and return +of love on our part; but do likewise assure all and sundry these +respectable Herren Town-Jurats [specially present], representing here +the universal well-beloved Citizenry of our Town,--that we bring a heart +sincere, and intent only on aiming at the welfare of a Citizenry so +loveworthy. We have the firm purpose by God's grace, so to order our +walk, and so to conduct our government that we may, one day, when +summoned from our judgment-seats to answer before the Universal +Judgment-seat of Christ, be able to say, with that pious King and Judge +of Israel: 'Lord, thou knowest if we have walked uprightly before thee.' +And we hope to understand that the rewards of justice, in that Life, +will be much more than those of injustice in this. + +"We believe that the Most High will, in so far, bless these our honest +purposes and wholesome endeavors, as that the actual fruits thereof will +in time coming, and when Peace now soon expected (which God grant) has +returned to us, be manifest; and that if, in our Office, as is common, +we should rather have thorns of persecution than roses of recompense to +expect, yet to each of us there will at last accrue praise in the Earth +and reward in Heaven. [Hear Spener!] + +"Meanwhile we will unite all our wishes, That the Almighty may vouchsafe +to his Royal Majesty, our now All-dearest Duke and Land's-Father, many +long years of life and of happy reign; and maintain this All-highest +Royal-Prussian and Elector-Brandenburgic House in supremest splendor and +prosperity, undisturbed to the end of all Days; and along with it, +our Town-Council, and whole Merchantry and Citizenry, safe under this +Prussian Sceptre, in perpetual blessing, peace and unity [what a +modest prayer!]: to all which may Heaven speak its powerful Amen!" +[_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 416-422.]-- + +Whereupon solemn waving of hats; indistinct sough of loyal murmur from +the universal Landshut Population; after which, continued to the due +extent, they return to their spindles and shuttles again. + + + + +Chapter VII. + +FRIEDRICH PURPOSES TO MEND THE KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF FAILURE: FORTUNES OF +THE BELLEISLE ARMAMENT. + +We shall not dwell upon the movements of the French into Germany for the +purpose of overwhelming Austria, and setting up four subordinate little +Sovereignties to take their orders from Louis XV. The plan was of the +mad sort, not recognized by Nature at all; the diplomacy was wide, +expensive, grandiose, but vain and baseless; nor did the soldiering that +followed take permanent hold of men's memory. Human nature cannot afford +to follow out these loud inanities; and, at a certain distance of time, +is bound to forget them, as ephemera of no account in the general +sum. Difficult to say what profit human nature could get out of such +transaction. There was no good soldiering on the part of the French +except by gleams here and there; bad soldiering for the most part, and +the cause was radically bad. Let us be brief with it; try to snatch from +it, huge rotten heap of old exuviae and forgotten noises and deliriums, +what fractions of perennial may turn up for us, carefully forgetting the +rest. + +Maillebois with his 40,000, we have seen how they got to Osnabruck, and +effectually stilled the war-fervor of little George II.; sent him home, +in fact, to England a checkmated man, he riding out of Osnabruck by one +gate, the French at the same moment marching in by the other. There +lies Maillebois ever since; and will lie, cantoned over Westphalia, "not +nearer than three leagues to the boundary of Hanover," for a year and +more. There let Maillebois lie, till we see him called away else-wither, +upon which the gallant little George, check-mate being lifted, will +get into notable military activity, and attempt to draw his sword +again,--though without success, owing to the laggard Dutch. Which also, +as British subjects, if not otherwise, the readers of this Book will +wish to see something of. Maillebois did not quite keep his stipulated +distance of "three leagues from the boundary" (being often short of +victual), and was otherwise no good neighbor. Among his Field-Officers, +there is visible (sometimes in trouble about quarters and the like) +a Marquis du Chatelet,--who, I find, is Husband or Ex-Husband to the +divine Emilie, if readers care to think of that! [_Campagnes_ (i. 45, +193); and French Peerage-Books,? DU CHATELAT.] Other known face, or +point of interest for or against, does not turn up in the Maillebois +Operation in those parts. + +As for the other still grander Army, Army of the Oriflamme as we have +called it,--which would be Belleisle's, were not he so overwhelmed with +embassying, and persuading the Powers of Germany,--this, since we last +saw it, has struck into a new course, which it is essential to indicate. +The major part of it (Four rear Divisions! if readers recollect) lay at +Ingolstadt, its place of arms; while the Vanward Three Divisions, under +Maurice Comte de Saxe, flowed onward, joining with Bavaria at Passau; +down the Donau Country, to Linz and farther, terrifying Vienna itself; +and driving all the Court to Presburg, with (fabulous) "MORIAMUR PRO +REGE NOSTRO MARIA THERESIA," but with actual armament of Tolpatches, +Pandours, Warasdins, Uscocks and the like unsightly beings of a +predatory centaur nature. Which fine Hungarian Armament, and others +still more ominous, have been diligently going on, while Karl Albert sat +enjoying his Homagings at Linz, his Pisgah-views Vienna-ward; and asking +himself, "Shall we venture forward, and capture Vienna, then?" + +The question is intricate, and there are many secret biasings concerned +in the solution of it. Friedrich, before Klein-Schnellendorf time, had +written eagerly, had sent Schmettau with eager message, "Push forward; +it is feasible, even easy: cut the matter by the root!" This, they say, +was Karl Albert's own notion, had not the French overruled him;--not +willing, some guess, he should get Austria, and become too independent +of them all at once. Nay, it appears Karl Albert had inducements of his +own towards Bohemia rather. The French have had Kur-Sachsen to manage +withal; and there are interests in Bohemia of his and theirs,--clippings +of Bohemia promised him as bribes, besides that "Kingdom of Moravia," +to get his 21,000 set on march. "Clippings of Bohemia? Interests of +Kur-Sachsen's in that Country?" asks Karl Albert with alarm: and thinks +it will be safer, were he himself present there, while Saxony and +France do the clippings in question! Sure enough, he did not push on. +Belleisle, from the distance, strongly opined otherwise; Karl Albert +himself had jealous fears about Bohmen. Friedrich's importunities and +urgencies were useless: and the one chance there ever was for Karl +Albert, for Belleisle and the Ruin of Austria, vanished without return. + +Karl Albert has turned off, leftwards, towards his Bohemian Enterprises: +French, Bavarians, Saxons, by their several routes, since the last days +of October, are all on march that way. We will mark an exact date here +and there, as fixed point for the reader's fancy. Poor Karl Albert, he +had sat some six weeks at Linz,--about three weeks since that Homaging +there (October 2d);--imaginary Sovereign of Upper Austria; looking over +to Vienna and the Promised Land in general. And that fine Pisgah-view +was all he ever had of it. Of Austrian or other Conquests earthly +or heavenly, there came none to him in this Adventure;--mere MINUS +quantities they all proved. For a few weeks more, there are, blended +with awful portents, an imaginary gleam or two in other quarters; after +which, nothing but black horror and disgrace, deepening downwards into +utter darkness, for the poor man. Belleisle is an imaginary Sun-god; but +the poor Icarus, tempted aloft in that manner into the earnest elements, +and melting at once into quills and rags, is a tragic reality!--Let us +to our dates:-- + +"OCTOBER 24th, The Bavarian Troops, who had lain at Mautern on the Donau +some time, forty miles from Vienna and the Promised Land, got under +way again;--not FORWARD, but sharp to left, or northward, towards the +Bohemian parts. Thither all the Belleisle Armaments are now bound; and a +general rallying of them is to be at Prag; for conquest of that Country, +as more inviting than Austria at present. Comte de Saxe, who had lain at +St. Polten, a march to southward of Mautern, he with the Vanward of the +great Belleisle Army, bestirred himself at the same time; and followed +steadily (Karl Albert in person was with Saxe), at a handy distance by +parallel roads. To Prag may be about 200 miles. Across the Mannhartsberg +Country, clear out of Austria, into Bohmen, towards Prag. At Budweis, +or between that and Tabor, Towns of our old friend Zisca's, of which +we shall hear farther in these Wars; Towns important by their +intricate environment of rock and bog, far up among the springs of +the Moldau,--there can these Bavarians, and this French Vanward of +Belleisle, halt a little, till the other parties, who are likewise on +march, get within distance." + +For in these same days, as hinted above, the Rearward of the Belleisle +Army (Four Divisions, strength not accurately given) pushes forward from +Donauworth, well rested, through the Bavarian Passes, towards Bohemia +and Prag: these have a longer march (say 250 miles)? to northeast; and +the leader of them is one Polastron, destined unhappily to meet us on a +future occasion. With them go certain other Bavarians; accompanying or +preceding, as in the Vanward case. And then the Saxons (21,000 strong, +a fine little Army, all that Saxony has) are, at the same time, come +across the Metal Mountains (ERZGEBIRGE), in quest of those Bohemian +clippings, of that Kingdom of Moravia: and march from the westward +upon Prag,--Rutowsky leading them. Comte de Rutowsky, Comte de Saxe's +Half-Brother, one of the Three Hundred and Fifty-four:--with whom is +CHEVALIER de Saxe, a second younger ditto; and I think there is still a +third, who shall go unnamed. In this grand Oriflamme Expedition, Four +of the Royal-Saxon Bastards altogether." Who cost us more distinguishing +than they are worth! + +Chief General of these Saxons, says an Authentic Author, is Rutowsky; +got from a Polish mother, I should guess: he commands in chief +here;--once had a regiment under Friedrich Wilhelm, for a while; but +has not much head for strategy, it may be feared. But mark that Fourth +individual of the Three Hundred and Fifty-four, who has a great deal. +Fourth individual, called Comte de Saxe, who is now in that French +Vanward a good way to east, was (must I again remind you!) the produce +of the fair Aurora von Konigsmark, Sister of the Konigsmark who vanished +instantaneously from the light of day at Hanover long since, and has +never reappeared more. It was in search of him that Aurora, who was +indeed a shining creature (terribly insolvent all her life, whose charms +even Charles XII. durst not front), came to Dresden; and,--in this +Comte de Saxe, men see the result. Tall enough, restless enough; most +eupeptic, brisk, with a great deal of wild faculty,--running to +waste, nearly all. There, with his black arched eyebrows, black swift +physically smiling eyes, stands Monseigneur le Comte, one of the +strongest-bodied and most dissolute-minded men now living on our Planet. +He is now turned of forty: no man has been in such adventures, has swum +through such seas of transcendent eupepticity determined to have its +fill. In this new Quasi-sacred French Enterprise, under the Banner +of Belleisle and the Chateauroux, he has at last, after many trials, +unconsciously found his culmination: and will do exploits of a wonderful +nature,--very worthy of said Banner and its patrons. + +"Here, then, are Three streams or Armaments pouring forward upon Prag; +perhaps some 60,000 men in all:--a good deal uncertain what they are to +do at Prag, except arrive simultaneously so far as possible. Belleisle, +far off, has fallen sick in these critical days. Comte de Saxe cannot +see his way in the matter at all: 'What are we to live upon,' asks Comte +de Saxe, 'were there nothing more!'--For, simultaneously with these +Three Armaments on march, there is an important Austrian one, likewise +on the road for Prag: that of Grand-Duke Franz, who has left Presburg, +with say 30,000 (including the Pandour element); and duly meets the +Neipperg, or late Silesian Army;--well capable, now, to do a stroke +upon the Three Armaments, if he be speedy? 'November 7th' it was when +Grand-Duke Franz picked up Neipperg, 'at Frating' deep in Moravia +(November 7th, the very day while Friedrich was getting homaged in +Breslau), and turned him northwestward again. The Grand-Duke, in such +strength, marches Rag-ward what he can; might be there before the +French, were he swift; and is at any rate in disagreeable proximity to +that Budmeis-Tabor Country, appointed as one's halting-place." + +And Belleisle, in these critical days, is--consider it!--"Poor +Belleisle, he has all the Election Votes ready; he has done unspeakable +labors in the diplomatic way; and leaves Europe in ebullition and +conflagration behind him. He has all these Armies in motion, and has got +rid of 'that Moravia,'--given it to Saxony, who adds the title 'King of +Moravia' to his other dignities, and has set on march those 21,000 men. +'Would he were ready with them!' Belleisle had been saying, ever since +the Treaty for them,--Treaty was, September 19th. Belleisle, to expedite +him, came to Dresden [what day is not said, but deep in October]; +intending next for the Prag Country, there to commence General, the +diplomacies being satisfactorily done. Valori ran over from Berlin to +wait upon him there. Alas, the Saxons are on march, or nearly so; but +the great man himself, worn down with these Herculean labors, has fallen +into rheumatic fever; is in bed, out at Hubertsburg (serene Country +Palace of his Moravian Polish Majesty); and cannot get the least well, +to march in person with the Three Armaments, with the flood of things he +has set reeling and whirling at such rate. + +"The sympathies of Valori go deep at this spectacle. The Alcides, who +was carrying the axis of the world, fallen down in physical rheumatism! +But what can sympathies avail? The great man sees the Saxons march +without him. The great man, getting no alleviation from physicians, +determines, in his patriotic heroism, to surrender glory itself; writes +home to Court, 'That he is lamed, disabled utterly; that they must +nominate another General.' And they nominate another; nominate Broglio, +the fat choleric Marshal, of Italian breed and physiognomy, whom we +saw at Strasburg last year, when Friedrich was there. Broglio will quit +Strasburg too soon, and come. A man fierce in fighting, skilled too in +tactics; totally incompetent in strategy, or the art of LEADING armies, +and managing campaigns;--defective in intelligence indeed, not wise to +discern; dim of vision, violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks, a +headlong, very positive, loud, dull and angry kind of man; with whose +tumultuous imbecilities the great Belleisle will be sore tried by and +by. 'I reckon this,' Valori says, 'the root of all our woes;' this +Letter which the great Belleisle wrote home to Court. Let men mark it, +therefore, as a cardinal point,--and snatch out the date, when they have +opportunity upon the Archives of France. [See Valori, i. 131.] + +"Monseigneur the Comte de Saxe, before quitting the Vienna Countries, +had left some 10,000 French and Bavarians, posted chiefly in Linz, under +a Comte de Segur, to maintain those Donau Conquests, which have cost +only the trouble of marching into them. Count Khevenhuller has ceased +working at the ramparts of Vienna, nothing of siege to be apprehended +now, civic terror joyfully vanishing again; and busies himself +collecting an Army at Vienna, with intent of looking into those same +French Segurs, before long. It is probable the so-called Conquests on +the Donau will not be very permanent. + +"NOVEMBER 19th-21st, The Three Belleisle Armaments, Karl Albert's first, +have, simultaneously enough for the case, arrived on three sides of +Prag; and lie looking into it,--extremely uncertain what to do when +there. To Comte de Saxe, to Schmettau, who is still here, the outlook +of this grand Belleisle Army, standing shelterless, provisionless, grim +winter at hand, long hundreds of miles from home or help, is in the +highest degree questionable, though the others seem to make little of +it: 'Fight the Grand-Duke when he comes,' say they; 'beat him, and--' +'Or suppose, he won't fight? Or suppose, we are beaten by him?' answer +Saxe and Schmettau, like men of knowledge, in the same boat with men of +none. (We have no strong place, or footing in this Country: what are we +to do? Take Prag!' advises Comte de Saxe, with earnestness, day after +day. [His Letters on it to Karl Albert and others (in Espagnac, i. +94-99).)] 'Take Prag: but how?' answer they. 'By escalade, by surprise, +and sword in hand, answers he: 'Ogilvy their General has but 3,000, and +is perhaps no wizard at his trade: we can do it, thus and thus, and +then farther thus; and I perceive we are a lost Army if we don't!' +So counsels Maurice Comte de Saxe, brilliant, fervent in his military +views;--and, before it is quite too late, Schmettau and he persuade +Karl Albert, persuade Rutowsky chief of the Saxons; and Count Polastron, +Gaisson or whatever subaltern Counts there are, of French type, have to +accede, and be saved in spite of themselves. And so, + +"SATURDAY NIGHT, 25th NOVEMBER, 1741, brightest of moonshiny nights, our +dispositions are all made: Several attacks, three if I remember; one of +them false, under some Polastron, Gaisson, from the south side; a couple +of them true, from the northwest and the southeast sides, under Maurice +with his French, and Rutowsky with his Saxons, these two. And there +is great marching 'on the side of the Karl-Thor (Charles-Gate),' where +Rutowsky is; and by Count Maurice 'behind the Wischerad;'--and shortly +after midnight the grand game begins. That French-Polastron attack, +false, though with dreadful cannonade from the south, attracts poor +Ogilvy with almost all his forces to that quarter; while the couple of +Saxon Captains (Rutowsky not at once successful, Maurice with his French +completely so) break in upon Ogilvy from rearward, on the right flank +and on the left; and ruin the poor man. Military readers will find the +whole detail of it well given in Espagnac. Looser account is to be had +in the Book they call Mauvillon's." [_Derniere Guerre de Boheme,_ +i. 252-264. Saxe's own Account (Letter to Chevalier de Folard) is in +Espagnac, i. 89 et seqq.] + +One thing I remember always: the bright moonlight; steeples of Prag +towering serene in silvery silence, and on a sudden the wreaths of +volcanic fire breaking out all round them. The opposition was but +trifling, null in some places, poor Ogilvy being nothing of a wizard, +and his garrison very small. It fell chiefly on Rutowsky; who met it +with creditable vigor, till relieved by the others. Comte Maurice, too, +did a shifty thing. Circling round by the outside of the Wischerad, by +rural roads in the bright moonshine, he had got to the Wall at +last, hollow slope and sheer wall; and was putting-to his +scaling-ladders,--when, by ill luck, they proved too short! Ten feet or +so; hopelessly too short. Casting his head round, Maurice notices the +Gallows hard by: "There, see you, are a few short ladders: MES ENFANS, +bring me these, and we will splice with rope!" Supplemented by the +gallows, Maurice soon gets in, cuts down the one poor sentry; rushes +to the Market-place, finds all his Brothers rushing, embraces them with +"VICTOIRE!" and "You see I am eldest; bound to be foremost of you!" + +"No point in all the War made a finer blaze in the French imagination, +or figured better in the French gazettes, than this of the Scalade of +Prag, 25th November, 1741. And surely it was important to get hold of +Prag; nevertheless, intrinsically it is no great thing, but an opportune +small thing, done by the Comte de Saxe, in spite of such contradiction +as we saw." + +It was while news of this exploit was posting towards Berlin, but +not yet arrived there, that Friedrich, passing through the apartment, +intimated to Hyndford, "Milord, all is divulged, our Klein-Schnellendorf +mystery public as the house-tops;" and vanished with a shrug of the +shoulders,--thinking doubtless to himself, "What is OUR next move to be, +in consequence?" Treaty with Kur-Baiern (November 4th) he had already +signed in consequence, expressly declaring for Kur-Baiern, and the +French intentions towards him. This news from Prag--Prag handsomely +captured, if Vienna had been foolishly neglected--put him upon a new +Adventure, of which in following Chapters we shall hear more. + + + + +THE FRENCH SAFE IN PRAG; KAISERWAHL JUST COMING ON. + +Grand-Duke Franz, with that respectable amount of Army under him, ought +surely to have advanced on Prag, and done some stroke of war for relief +of it, while time yet was. Grand-Duke Franz, his Brother Karl with him +and his old Tutor Neipperg, both of whom are thought to have some skill +in war, did advance accordingly. But then withal there was risk at Prag; +and he always paused again, and waited to consider. From Frating, on the +16th, [Espagnac, i. 87.] he had got to Neuhaus, quite across Mahren into +Bohemian ground, and there joined with Lobkowitz and what Bohemian +force there was; by this time an Army which you would have called much +stronger than the French. Forward, therefore! Yes; but with pauses, with +considerations. Pause of two days at Neuhaus; thence to Tabor (famed +Zisca's Tabor), a safe post, where again pause three days. From Tabor +is broad highway to Prag, only sixty miles off now:--screwing their +resolution to the sticking-point, Grand-Duke and Consorts advance at +length with fixed determination, all Friday, all Saturday (November +24th, 25th), part of Sunday too, not thinking it shall be only PART; +and their light troops are almost within sight of Prag, when--they learn +that Prag is scaladed the night before, and quite settled; that there +is nothing except destruction to be looked for in Prag! Back again, +therefore, to the Tabor-and-Budweis land. They strike into that boggy +broken country about Budweis, some 120 miles south of Prag; and will +there wait the signs of the times. + +Grand-Duke Franz had seen war, under Seckendorf, under Wallis and +otherwise, in the disastrous Turk Countries; but, though willing +enough, was never much of a soldier: as to Neipperg, among his own men +especially, the one cry is, He ought to go about his business out of +Austrian Armies, as an imbecile and even a traitor. "Is it conceivable +that Friedrich could have beaten us, in that manner, except by buying +Neipperg in the first place? Neipperg and the generality of them, in +that luckless Silesian Business? Glogau scaladed with the loss of half +a dozen men; Brieg gone within a week; Neisse ditto: and Mollwitz, above +all, where, in spite of Romer and such Horse-charging as was never seen, +we had to melt, dissolve, and roll away in the glitter of the evening +sun!" The common notion is, they are traitors, partial-traitors, one +and all. [_Guerre de Boheme,_ saepius.] Poor Neipperg he has seen hard +service, had ugly work to do: it was he that gave away Belgrade to the +Turks (so interpreting his orders), and the Grand Vizier, calling him +Dog of a Giaour: spat in his face, not far from hanging him; and the +Kaiser and Vienna people, on his coming home, threw him into prison, and +were near cutting off his head. And again, after such sleety marchings +through the Mountains, he has had to dissolve at Mollwitz; float away in +military deluge in the manner we saw. And now, next winter, here is he +lodged among the upland bogs at Budweis, escorted by mere curses. What +a life is the soldier's, like other men's; what a master is the world! +Aulic Cabinet is not all-wise; but may readily be wiser than the vulgar, +and, with a Maria Theresa at his head, it is incapable of truculent +impiety like that. Neipperg, guilty of not being a Eugene, is not hanged +as a traitor; but placed quietly as Commandant in Luxemburg, spends +there the afternoon of his life, in a more commodious manner. Friedrich +had, of late, rather admired his movements on the Neisse River; and +found him a stiff article to deal with. + +The French, now with Prag for their place of arms, stretched themselves +as far as Pisek, some seventy miles southwestward; occupied Pisek, +Pilsen and other Towns and posts, on the southwest side, some seventy +miles from Prag; looking towards the Bavarian Passes and homeward +succors that might come: the Saxons, a while after, got as far as +Teutschbrod, eighty miles on the southeastward or Moravian hand. Behind +these outposts, Prag may be considered to hang on Silesia, and have +Friedrich for security. This, in front or as forecourt of Friedrich's +Silesia, this inconsiderable section, was all of Bohemian Country the +French and Confederates ever held, and they did not hold this long. As +for Karl Albert, he had his new pleasant Dream of Sovereignty at Prag; +Titular of Upper Austria, and now of Bohmen as well; and enjoyed his +Feast of the Barmecide, and glorious repose in the captured Metropolis, +after difficulty overcome. December 7th, he was homaged (a good few of +the Nobility attending, for which they smarted afterwards), with much +processioning, blaring and TE-DEUM-ing: on the 19th he rolled off, home +to Munchen; there to await still higher Romish-Imperial glories, which +it is hoped are now at hand. + +A day or two after the Capture of Prag, Marechal de Belleisle, partially +cured of his rheumatisms, had hastened to appear in that City; and for +above four weeks he continued there, settling, arranging, ordering all +things, in the most consummate manner, with that fine military head of +his. About Christmas time, arrived Marechal de Broglio, his unfortunate +successor or substitute; to whom he made everything over; and hastened +off for Frankfurt, where the final crisis of KAISERWAHL is now at +hand, and the topstone of his work is to be brought out with shouting. +Marechal de Broglio had an unquiet Winter of it in his new command; and +did not extend his quarters, but the contrary. + + + + +BROGLIO HAS A BIVOUAC OF PISEK; KHEVENHULLER LOOKS IN UPON THE DONAU +CONQUESTS. + +Grand-Duke Franz edged himself at last a little out of that +Tabor-Budweis region, and began looking Prag-ward again;--hung about, +for some time, with his Hungarian light-troops scouring the country; +but still keeping Prag respectfully to right, at seventy miles distance. +December 28th, to Broglio's alarm, he tried a night-attack on Pisek, the +chief French outpost, which lies France-ward too, and might be vital. +But he found the French (Broglio having got warning) unexpectedly ready +for him at Pisek,--drawn up in the dark streets there, with torrents of +musketry ready for his Pandours and him;--and entirely failed of Pisek. +Upon which he turned eastward to the Budweis-Tabor fastnesses again; +left Brother Karl as Commander in those parts (who soon leaves Lobkowitz +as Substitute, Vienna in the idle winter-time being preferable);--left +Brother Karl, and proceeded in person, south, towards the Donau +Countries, to see how Khevenhuller might be prospering, who is in the +field there, as we shall hear. + +Of Pisek and the night-skirmish at Pisek, glorious to France, think +all the Gazettes, I should have said nothing, were it not that +Marechal Broglio, finding what a narrow miss he had made, established a +night-watch there, or bivouac, for six weeks to come; such as never was +before or since: Cavalry and Infantry, in quantity, bivouacking there, +in the environs of Pisek, on the grim Bohemian snow or snow-slush, in +the depth of winter, nightly for six weeks, without whisper of an enemy +at any time; whereby the Marechal did save Pisek (if Pisek was ever +again in danger), but froze horse and man to the edge of destruction +or into it; so that the "Bivouac of Pisek" became proverbial in French +Messrooms, for a generation coming. [_Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 23, &c.] +And one hears in the mind a clangorous nasal eloquence from antique +gesticulative mustachio-figures, witty and indignant,--who are now gone +to silence again, and their fruitless bivouacs, and frosty and fiery +toils, tumbling pell-mell after them. This of Pisek was but one of +the many unwise hysterical things poor Broglio did, in that difficult +position; which, indeed, was too difficult for any mortal, and for +Broglio beyond the average. + +One other thing we note: Graf von Khevenhuller, solid Austrian man, +issued from Vienna, December 31st, last day of the Year, with an Army +of only some 15,000, but with an excellent military head of his own, to +look into those Conquests on the Donau. Which he finds, as he expected, +to be mere conquests of stubble, capable of being swept home again at +a very rapid rate. "Khevenhuller, here as always, was consummate in his +choice of posts," says Lloyd; [General Lloyd, _History of Seven-Years +War,_ &c. (incidentally, somewhere).]--discovered where the ARTERIES +of the business lay, and how to handle the same. By choice of posts, by +silent energy and military skill, Khevenhuller very rapidly sweeps Segur +back; and shuts him up in Linz. There Segur, since the first days of +January, is strenuously barricading himself; "wedging beams from house +to house, across the streets;"--and hopes to get provision, the Donau +and the Bavarian streams being still open behind him; and to hold out a +little. It will be better if he do,--especially for poor Karl Albert +and his poor Bavaria! Khevenhuller has also detached through the Tyrol +a General von Barenklau (BEAR'S-CLAW, much heard of henceforth in +these Wars), who has 12,000 regulars; and much Hussar-folk under bloody +Mentzel:-across the Tyrol, we say; to fall in upon Bavaria and Munchen +itself; which they are too like doing with effect. Ought not Karl Albert +to be upon the road again? What a thing, were the Kaiser Elect taken +prisoner by Pandours! + +In fine, within a short two weeks or so, Karl Albert quits Munchen, as +no safe place for him; comes across to Mannheim to his Cousin Philip, +old Kur-Pfalz, whom we used to know, now extremely old, but who has +marriages of Grand-daughters, and other gayeties, on hand; which a +Cousin and prospective Kaiser--especially if in peril of his life--might +as well come and witness. This is the excuse Karl Albert makes to an +indulgent Public; and would fain make to himself, but cannot. Barenklau +and Khevenhuller are too indisputable. Nay this rumor of Friedrich's +"Peace with Austria," divulged Bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf, if this +also (horrible to think) were true--! Which Friedrich assures him it is +not. Karl Albert writes to Friedrich, and again writes; conjuring him, +for the love of God, To make some thrust, then, some inroad or other, +on those man-devouring Khevenhullers; and take them from his, Karl +Albert's, throat and his poor Country's. Which Friedrich, on his own +score, is already purposing to do. + + + + +Chapter VIII. -- FRIEDRICH STARTS FOR MORAVIA, ON A NEW SCHEME HE HAS. + +The Austrian Court had not kept Friedrich's secret of +Klein-Schnellendorf, hardly even for a day. It was whispered to the +Dowager Empress, or Empresses; who whispered it, or wrote it, to some +other high party; by whom again as usual:--in fact, the Austrian Court, +having once got their Neipperg safe to hand, took no pains to keep the +secret; but had probably an interest rather in letting it filter out, to +set Friedrich and his Allies at variance. At all events, in the space of +a few weeks, as we have seen, the rumor of a Treaty between Austria and +Friedrich was everywhere rife; Friedrich, as he had engaged, everywhere +denying it, and indeed clearly perceiving that there was like to be no +ground for acknowledging it. The Austrian Court, instead of "completing +the Treaty before Newyear's-day," had broken the previous bargain; +evidently not meaning to complete; intent rather to wait upon their +Hungarian Insurrection, and the luck of War. + +There is now, therefore, a new turn in the game. And for this also +Friedrich has been getting the fit card ready; and is not slow to play +it. Some time ago, November 4th,--properly November 1st, hardly three +weeks since that of Klein-Schnellendorf,--finding the secret already out +("whispered of at Breslau, 28th October," casually testifies Hyndford), +he had tightened his bands with France; had, on November 4th, formally +acceded to Karl Albert's Treaty with France. [Accession agreed to, +"Frankfurt, Nov. 1st," 1741; ratified "Nov. 4th."] Glatz to be his: +he will not hear of wanting Glatz; nor of wanting elsewhere the proper +Boundary for Schlesien, "Neisse River both banks" (which Neipperg +had agreed to, in his late Sham-Bargain);--quite strict on these +preliminaries. + +And furthermore, Kur-Sachsen being now a Partner in that French-Bavarian +Treaty,--and a highly active one (with 21,000 in the field for him), who +is "King of Moravia" withal, and has some considerable northern Paring +of Bohemia thrown in, by way of "Road to Moravia,"--Friedrich made, at +the same time, special Treaty with Kur-Sachsen, on the points specially +mutual to them; on the Boundary point, first of all. Which latter treaty +is dated also November 1st, and was "ratified November 8th." + +Treaty otherwise not worth reading; except perhaps as it shows us +Friedrich putting, in his brief direct way, Kur-Sachsen at once into +Austria's place, in regard to Ober-Schlesien. "Boundary between +your Polish Majesty and me to be the River Neisse PLUS a full German +mile;"--which (to Belleisle's surprise) the Polish Majesty is willing +to accept; and consents, farther, Friedrich being of succinct turn, That +Commissioners go directly and put down the boundary-stones, and so an +end. "Let the Silesian matter stand where it stood," thinks Friedrich: +"since Austria will not, will you? Put down the boundary-pillars, +then!"--an interesting little glance into Friedrich's inner man. And +a Prussian Boundary Commissioner, our friend Nussler the man, did duly +appear;--whom perhaps we shall meet,--though no Saxon one quite did. +[Busching, _Beitrage,_ i. 339 (? NUSSLER).] It is this boundary clause, +it is Friedrich's little decision, "Put down the pillars, then," that +alone can now interest any mortal in this Saxon Bargain; the clause +itself, and the bargain itself, having quite broken down on the Saxon +side, and proved imaginary as a covenant made in dreams. Could not be +helped, in the sequel!-- + +Meanwhile, the preliminary diplomacies being done in this manner, +Friedrich had ordered certain of his own Forces to get in motion a +little; ordered Leopold, who has had endless nicety of management, since +the French and Saxons came into those Bohemian Circles of his, to +go upon Glatz; to lay fast hold of Glatz, for one thing. And farther +eastward, Schwerin, by order, has lately gone across the Mountains; +seized Troppau, Friedenthal; nay Olmutz itself, the Capital of +Mahren,--in one day (December 27th), garrison of Olmutz being too weak +to resist, and the works in disrepair. "In Heaven's name, what are +your intentions, then?" asked the Austrians there. "Peaceable in the +extreme," answered Schwerin, "if only yours are. And if they are +NOT--!" There sits Schwerin ever since, busy strengthening himself, and +maintains the best discipline; waiting farther orders. + +"The Austrians will not complete their bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf?" +thinks this young King; "Very well; we will not press them to +completion. We will not ourselves complete, should they now press. +We will try another method, and that without loss of time."--It was +a pungent reflection with Friedrich that Karl Albert had not pushed +forward on Vienna, from Linz that time, but had blindly turned off to +the left, and thrown away his one chance. "Cannot one still mend it; +cannot one still do something of the like?" thinks Friedrich now: +"Schwerin in Olmutz; Prussian Troops cantoned in the Highlands of +Silesia, or over in Bohemia itself, near the scene of action; the Saxons +eastward as far as Teutschbrod, still nearer; the French triumphant at +Prag, and reinforcement on the road for them: a combined movement on +Vienna, done instantly and with an impetus!" That is the thing Friedrich +is now bent upon; nor will he, like Karl Albert, be apt to neglect the +hour of tide, which is so inexorable in such operations. + +At Berlin, accordingly, he has been hurrying on his work, inspection, +preparation of many kinds,--Marriage of his Brother August Wilhelm, +for one business; [6th January, 1742 (in Bielfeld, ii. 55-69, exuberant +account of the Ceremony, and of B.'s part in it).]--and (January 18th), +after a stay of two months, is off fieldward again, on this new project. +To Dresden, first of all; Saxony being an essential element; and Valori +being appointed to meet him there on the French side. It is January +20th, 1742, when Friedrich arrives; due Opera festivities, "triple +salute of all the guns," fail not at Dresden; but his object was not +these at all. Polish Majesty is here, and certain of the warlike Bastard +Brothers home from Winter-quarters, Comte de Saxe for one; Valori also, +punctually as due; and little Graf von Bruhl, highest-dressed of human +creatures, who is factotum in this Court. + +"Your Polish Majesty, by treaty and title you are King of Moravia +withal: now is the time, now or never, to become so in fact! Forward +with your Saxons:" urges Friedrich: "The Austrians and their Lobkowitz +are weak in that Country: at Iglau, just over the Moravian border, they +have formed a Magazine; seize that, snatch it from Lobkowitz: that gives +us footing and basis there. Forward with your Saxons; Valori gives us +so-many French; I myself will join with 20,000: swift, steady, all at +once; we can seize Moravia, who knows if not Vienna itself, and for +certain drive a stroke right home into the very bowels of the Enemy!" +That is Friedrich's theme from the first hour of his arrival, and during +all the four-and-twenty that he stayed. + +In one hour, Polish Majesty, who is fonder of tobacco and pastimes than +of business, declared himself convinced;--and declared also that +the time of Opera was come; whither the two Majesties had to proceed +together, and suspend business for a while. Polish Majesty himself was +very easily satisfied; but with the others, as Valori reports it, the +argument was various, long and difficult. "Winter time; so dangerous, so +precarious," answer Bruhl and Comte de Saxe: There is this danger, this +uncertainty, and then that other;--which the King and Valori, with all +their eloquence, confute. "Impossible, for want of victual," answers +Maurice at last, driven into a corner: "Iglau, suppose we get it, will +soon be eaten; then where is our provision?"--"Provision?" answers +Valori: "There is M. de Sechelles, Head of our Commissariat in Prag; +such a Commissary never was before." "And you consent, if I take that in +hand?" urges Friedrich upon them. They are obliged to consent, on that +proviso. Friedrich undertakes Sechelles: the Enterprise cannot now +be refused. [_OEuvres de Frederic_, ii. 170; Valori, i. 139; &c. &c.] +"Alert, then; not a moment to be lost! Good-night; AU REVOIR, my noble +friends!"--and to-morrow many hours before daybreak, Friedrich is off +for Prag, leaving Dresden to awaken when it can. + +At Prag he renews acquaintance with his old maladroit Strasburg friend, +Marechal de Broglio, not with increase of admiration, as would seem; +declines the demonstrations and civilities of Broglio, business being +urgent: finds M. de Sechelles to be in truth the supreme of living +Commissaries (ready, in words which Friedrich calls golden, "to make +the impossible possible"): "Only march, then, noble Saxons: swift!"--and +dashes off again, next morning, to northeastward, through Leopold's +Bohemian cantonments, Glatz-ward by degrees, to be ready with his own +share of the affair; no delay in him, for one. January 24th, after +Konigsgratz and other Prussian posts,--January 24th, which is elsewhere +so notable a day,--his route goes northeast, to Glatz, a hundred miles +away, among the intricacies of the Giant Mountains, hither side of the +Silesian Highlands; wild route for winter season, if the young King +feared any route. From Berlin, hither and farther, he may have +gone well-nigh his seven hundred miles within the week; rushing on +continually (starts, at say four in the winter morning); doing endless +business, of the ordering sort, as he speeds along. + +Glatz, a southwestern mountainous Appendage to Silesia, abutting on +Moravia and Bohemia, is a small strong Country; upon which, ever since +the first Friedrich times, we have seen him fixed; claiming it too, as +expenses from the Austrians, since they will not bargain. For he rises +Sibyl-like: a year ago, you might have had him with his 100,000 to boot, +for the one Duchy of Glogau; and now--! At Glatz or in these adjacent +Bohemian parts, the Young Dessauer has been on duty, busy enough, ever +since the late Siege of Neisse: Glatz Town the Young Dessauer soon got, +when ordered; Town, Population, Territory, all is his,--all but the high +mountain Fortress (centre of the Town of Glatzj), with its stiff-necked +Austrian Garrison shut up there, which he is wearing out by hunger. We +remember the little Note from Valori's waistcoat-pocket, "Don't give +him Glatz, if you can possibly help it!" In his latest treaties with the +French and their Allies, Friedrich has very expressly bargained for the +Country (will even pay money for it); [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. +85.] and is determined to have it, when the Austrians next take to +bargaining. Of Glatz Fortress, now getting hungered out by Leopold's +Prussian Detachment, I will say farther, though Friedrich heeds these +circumstances little at present, that it stands on a scarped rock, girt +by the grim intricate Hills; and that in the Arsenal, in dusty fabulous +condition, lies a certain Drum, which readers may have heard of. Drum +is not a fable, but an antique reality fallen flaccid; made, by express +bequest, as is mythically said, from the skin of Zisca, above 300 +years ago: altogether mythic that latter clause. Drum, Fortress, Town, +Villages and Territory, all shall be Friedrich's, had hunger done its +work. [Town already, after short scuffle, 14th January, 1742; Fortress, +by hunger (no firing nor being fired on, in the interim), 25th April +following,--when the once 2,000 of garrison, worn to about 200, pale +as shadows, marched away to Brunn; "only ten of them able for duty on +arriving." (Orlich, i. 174.)] + +Friedrich, while at Glatz this time, gave a new Dress to the Virgin, say +all the Biographers; of which the story is this. Holy Virgin stood in +the main Convent of Glatz, in rather a threadbare condition, when the +Prussians first approached; the Jesuits, and ardently Orthodox of both +sexes, flagitating Heaven and her with their prayers, that she would +vouchsafe to keep the Prussians out. In which case pious Madame +Something, wife of the Austrian Commandant, vowed her a new suit of +clothes. Holy Virgin did not vouchsafe; on the Contrary, here the +Prussians are, and Starvation with them. "Courage, nevertheless, my new +friends!" intimates Friedrich: "The Prussians are not bugaboos, as you +imagined: Holy Virgin shall have a new coat, all the same!" and was at +the expense of the bit of broadcloth with trimmings. He was in the way +of making such investments, in his light sceptical humor; and found +them answer to him. At Glatz, and through those Bohemian and Silesian +Cantonments, he sets his people in motion for the Moravian Expedition; +rapidly stirs up the due Prussian detachments from their Christmas rest +among the Mountains; and has work enough in these regions, now here now +there. Schwerin is already in Olmutz, for a month past; and towards him, +or his neighborhood, the march is to be. + +January 26th, Friedrich, now with considerable retinue about him, gets +from Glatz to Landskron, some fifty miles Olmutz-ward; such a march as +General Stille never saw,--"through the ice and through the snow, which +covered that dreadful Chain of Mountains between Bohmen and Mahren: we +did not arrive till very late; many of our carriages broken down, and +others overturned more than once." [Stille (Anonymous, Friedrich's +Old-Tutor Stille), _Campagnes du Roi de Prusse_ (English Translation, +12mo, London, 1763), p. 5. An intelligent, desirable little +Volume,--many misprints in the English form of it.] At Landskron next +day, Friedrich, as appointed, met the Chevalier de Saxe (CHEVALIER, by +no means Comte, but a younger Bastard, General of the Saxon Horse); and +endeavored to concert everything: Prussian rendezvous to be at Wischau, +on the 5th next; thence straightway to meet the Saxons at Trebitsch +(convenient for that Iglau),--if only the Saxons will keep bargain. + +January 28th, past midnight, after another sore march, Friedrich arrived +at Olmutz; a pretty Town,--with an excellent old Bishop, "a Graf von +Lichtenstein, a little gouty man about fifty-two years of age, with +a countenance open and full of candor; [Stille, p. 8.] in whose fine +Palace, most courteously welcomed, the King lodged till near the day +of rendezvousing. We will leave him there, and look westward a little; +before going farther into the Moravian Expedition. Friedrich himself is +evidently much bent on this Expedition; has set his heart on paying the +Austrians for their trickery at Klein-Schnellendorf, in this handsome +way, and still picking up the chance against them which Karl Albert +squandered. If only the French and Saxons would go well abreast with +Friedrich, and thrust home! But will they? Here is a surprising bit of +news; not of good omen, when it reaches one at Olmutz! + +"LINZ, 24th JANUARY, 1742 [day otherwise remarkable]. After the much +barricading, and considerable defiance and bravadoing, by Comte de Segur +and his 10,000, he has lost this City in a scandalous manner [not quite +scandalous, but reckoned so by outside observers]; and Linz City is not +now Segur's, but Khevenhuller's. To Khevenhuller's first summons M. de +Segur had answered, 'I will hang on the highest gallows the next man +that comes to propose such a thing!'--and within a week [Khevenhuller +having seized the Donau River to rear of Linz, and blasted off the +Bavarian party there], M. de Segur did himself propose it ('Free +withdrawal: Not serve against you for a year'); and is this day +beginning to march out of Linz." [_Campagnes des Trois Marechaux,_ iii. +280, &c.; Adelung, iii. A, p. 12, and p. 15 (a Paris street-song on +it).] Here is an example of defending Key-Positions! If Segur's be the +pattern followed, those Conquests on the Donau are like to go a fine +road!--There came to Friedrich, in all privacy, during his stay +in Olmutz at this Bishop's, a Diplomatic emissary from Vienna, +one Pfitzner; charged with apologies, with important offers +probably;--important; but not important enough. Friedrich blames himself +for being too abrupt on the man; might perhaps have learned something +from him by softer treatment. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 109.] After +three days, Pfitzner had to go his ways again, having accomplished +nothing of change upon Friedrich. + + + + +Chapter IX. -- WILHELMINA GOES TO SEE THE GAYETIES AT FRANKFURT. + +On the day when Friedrich, overhung by the grim winter Mountains, was +approaching Glatz, same day when Segur was evacuating Linz on those sad +terms, that is, on the 24th day of January, 1742,--two Gentlemen were +galloping their best in the Frankfurt-Mannheim regions; bearing what +they reckoned glad tidings towards Mannheim and Karl Albert; who is +there "on a visit" (for good reasons), after his triumphs at Prag and +elsewhere. The hindmost of the two Gentlemen is an Official of rank +(little conscious that he is preceded by a rival in message-bearing); +Official Gentleman, despatched by the Diet of Frankfurt to inform Karl +Albert, That he now is actually Kaiser of the Holy Romish Empire; votes, +by aid of Heaven and Belleisle, having all fallen in his favor. +Gallop, therefore, my Official Gentleman:--alas, another Gentleman, +Non-official, knowing how it would turn, already sat booted and saddled, +a good space beyond the walls of Frankfurt, waiting till the cannon +should fire; at the first burst of cannon, he (cunning dog) gives his +horse the spur; and is miles ahead of the toiling Official Gentleman, +all the way. [Adelung, iii. A, 52.] + +In the dreary mass of long-winded ceremonial nothingnesses, and +intricate Belleisle cobwebberies, we seize this one poor speck of +human foolery in the native state, as almost the memorablest in that +stupendous business. Stupendous indeed; with which all Germany has been +in travail these sixteen months, on such terms! And in verity has got +the thing called "German Kaiser" constituted, better or worse. Heavens, +was a Nation ever so bespun by gossamer; enchanted into paralysis, by +mountains of extinct tradition, and the want of power to annihilate +rubbish! There are glittering threads of the finest Belleisle +diplomacy, which seem to go beyond the Dog-star, and to be radiant, and +irradiative, like paths of the gods: and they are, seem what they might, +poor threads of idle gossamer, sunk already to dusty cobweb, unpleasant +to poor human nature; poor human nature concerned only to get them +well swept into the fire. The quantities of which sad litter, in this +Universe, are very great!-- + +Karl Albert, now at the top-gallant of his hopes: homaged Archduke of +Upper Austria, homaged King of Bohemia, declared Kaiser of the German +Nation,--is the highest-titled mortal going: and, poor soul, it is +tragical, once more, to think what the reality of it was for him. +Ejection from house and home; into difficulty, poverty, despair; life in +furnished lodgings, which he could not pay;--and at last heart-break, +no refuge for him but in the grave. All which is mercifully hidden at +present; so that he seems to himself a man at the top-gallant of his +wishes; and lives pleasantly, among his friends, with a halo round his +head to his own foolish sense and theirs. + +"Karl Albert, Kurfurst of Baiern [lazy readers ought to be reminded], +whose achievements will concern us to an unpleasant extent, for some +years, is now a lean man of forty-five; lean, erect, and of middle +stature; a Prince of distinguished look, they say; of elegant manners, +and of fair extent of accomplishment, as Princes go. His experiences in +this world, and sudden ups and downs, have been and will be many. Note a +few particulars of them; the minimum of what are indispensable here. + +"English readers know a Maximilian Kurfurst of Baiern, who took into +French courses in the great Spanish-Succession War; the Anti-Marlborough +Maximilian, who was quite ruined out by the Battle of Blenheim; put +under Ban of the Empire, and reduced to depend on Louis XIV. for a +living,--till times mended with him again; till, after the Peace of +Utrecht, he got reinstated in his Territories; and lived a dozen years +more, in some comparative comfort, though much sunk in debt. Well, our +Karl Albert is the son of that Anti-Marlborough Kurfurst Maximilian; +eldest surviving son; a daughter of the great Sobieski of Poland was his +mother. Nay, he is great-grandson of another still more distinguished +Maximilian, him of the Thirty-Years War,--(who took the Jesuits to his +very heart, and let loose Ate on his poor Country for the sake of them, +in a determined manner; and was the First of all the Bavarian KURFURSTS, +mere Dukes till then; having got for himself the poor Winter-King's +Electorship, or split it into two as ultimately settled, out of that bad +Business),--great-grandson, we say, of that forcible questionable First +Kurfurst Max; and descends from Kaiser Ludwig, 'Ludwig the BAIER,' if +that is much advantage to him. + +"In his young time he had a hard upcoming; seven years old at the Battle +of Blenheim, and Papa living abroad under Louis XIV.'s shelter, the poor +Boy was taken charge of by the victorious Austrian Kaisers, and brought +up in remote Austrian Towns, as a young 'Graf von Wittelsbach' +(nothing but his family name left him), mere Graf and private nobleman +henceforth. However, fortune took the turn we know, and he became Prince +again; nothing the worse for this Spartan part of his breeding. He made +the Grand Tour, Italy, France, perhaps more than once; saw, felt, and +tasted; served slightly, at a Siege of Belgrade (one of the many Sieges +of Belgrade);--wedded, in 1722, a Daughter of the late Kaiser Joseph's, +niece of the late Kaiser Karl's, cousin of Maria Theresa's; making the +due 'renunciations,' as was thought; and has been Kurfurst himself +for the last fourteen Years, ever since 1726, when his Father died. A +thrifty Kurfurst, they say, or at least has occasionally tried to be +so, conscious of the load of debts left on him; fond of pomps withal, +extremely polite, given to Devotion and to BILLETS-DOUX; of gracious +address, generous temper (if he had the means), and great skill in +speaking languages. Likes hunting a little,--likes several things, we +see!--has lived tolerably with his Wife and children; tolerably with +his Neighbors (though sour upon the late Kaiser now and then); and is +an ornament to Munchen, and well liked by the population there. A +lean, elegaut, middle-sized gentleman; descended direct from Ludwig the +ancient Kaiser; from Maximilian the First Kurfurst, who walked by the +light of Father Lammerlein (LAMBKIN) and Company, thinking IT light from +Heaven; and lastly is son of Maximilian the Third Kurfurst, whom learned +English readers know as the Anti-Marlborough one, ruined out by the +Battle of Blenheim. + +"His most important transaction hitherto has been the marriage with +Kaiser Joseph's Daughter;--of which, in Pollnitz somewhere, there is +sublime account; forgettable, all except the date (Vienna, 5th October, +1722), if by chance that should concern anybody. Karl Albert (KURPRINZ, +Electoral Prince or Heir-Apparent, at that time) made free renunciation +of all right to Austrian Inheritances, in such terms as pleased Karl +VI., the then Kaiser; the due complete 'renunciations' of inheriting in +Austria; and it was hoped he would at once sign the Pragmatic Sanction, +when published; but he has steadily refused to do so; 'I renounced for +my Wife,' says Kurfurst Karl, 'and will never claim an inch of Austrian +land on her account; but my own right, derived from Kaiser Ferdinand of +blessed memory, who was Father of my Great-grandmother, I did not, do +not, never will renounce; and I appeal to HIS Pragmatic Sanction, the +much older and alone valid one, according to which, it is not you, it is +I that am the real and sole Heir of Austria.' + +"This he says, and has steadily said or meant: 'It is I that am to be +King of Bohemia; I that shall and will inherit all your Austrias, Upper, +Under, your Swabian Brisgau or Hither Austria, and what of the Tyrol +remained wanting to me. Your Archduchess will have Hungary, the +Styrian-Carinthian Territories; Florence, I suppose, and the Italian +ones. What is hers by right I will be one of those that defend for her; +what is not hers, but mine, I will defend against her, to the best of +my ability!' This was privately, what it is now publicly, his argument; +from which he never would depart; refusing always to accept Kaiser +Karl's new Pragmatic Sanction; getting Saxony (who likewise had a +Ferdinand great-grandmother) to refuse,--till Polish Election compelled +poor Saxony, for a time. Karl Albert had likewise secretly, in past +years, got his abstruse old Cousin of the Pfalz (who mended the +Heidelberg Tun) to back him in a Treaty; nay, still better, still more +secretly, had got France itself to promise eventual hacking:--and, on +the whole, lived generally on rather bad terms with the late Kaiser +Karl, his Wife's Uncle; any reconciliation they had proving always +of temporary nature. In the Rhenish War (1734), Karl Albert, far from +assisting the Kaiser, raised large forces of his own; kept drilling +them, in four or three camps, in an alarming manner; and would not even +send his Reich's Contingent (small body of 3,000 he is by law bound +to send), till he perceived the War was just expiring. He was in angry +controversy with the Kaiser, claiming debts,--debts contracted in the +last generation, and debts going back to the Thirty-Years War, amounting +to hundreds of millions,--when the poor Kaiser died; refusing payment to +the last, nay claiming lands left HIM, he says, by Margaret Mouthpoke: +[Michaelis, ii. 260; Buchholz, ii. 9; Hormayr, _Anemonen,_ ii. 182; +&c.] 'Cannot pay your Serene Highness (having no money); and would not, +if I could!' Leaving Karl Albert to protest to the uttermost;"--which, +as we ourselves saw in Vienna, he at once honorably did. + +Karl Albert's subsequent history is known to readers; except the +following small circumstance, which occurred in his late transit, +flight, or whatever we may call it, to Mannheim, and is pleasantly made +notable to us by Wilhelmina. "His Highness on the way from Munchen," +intimates our Princess, "passed through Baireuth in a very bad +post-chaise." This, as we elsewhere pick out, was on January 16th; Karl +Albert in post-haste for the marriage-ceremony, which takes place at +Mannheim to-morrow. [Adelung, iii. A, 51.] "My Margraf, accidentally +hearing, galloped after him, came up with him about fifteen miles away: +they embraced, talked half an hour; very content, both." [Wilhelmina, +ii. 334.] + +And eight days afterwards, 24th January, 1742, busy Belleisle (how busy +for this year past, since we saw him in the OEil-de-Boeuf!) gets him +elected Kaiser;--and Segur, in the self-same hours, is packing out +of Linz; and one's Donau "Conquests," not to say one's Munchen, one's +Baiern itself, are in a fine way! The marriage-ceremony, witnessed on +the 17th, was one of the sublimest for Kur-Pfalz and kindred; and it too +had secretly a touch of tragedy in it for the Poor Karl Albert. A double +marriage: Two young Princesses, Grand-daughters, priceless Heiresses, +to old Kur-Pfalz; married, one of them to Duke Clement of Baiern, Karl +Albert's nephew, which is well enough: but married, the other and elder +of them, to Theodor of Deux-Ponts, who will one day--could we pierce the +merciful veil--be Kurfurst of Baiern, and succeed our own childless Son! +[Michaelis, ii. 265.] + +"Kaiser Karl VII.," such the style he took, is to be crowned February +12th; makes sublime Public Entry into Frankfurt, with that view, +January 31st;--both ceremonies splendid to a wonder, in spite of finance +considerations. Which circumstance should little concern us, were it +not that Wilhelmina, hearing the great news (though in a dim ill-dated +state), decided to be there and see; did go;--and has recorded her +experiences there, in a shrill human manner. Wishful to see our +fellow-creatures (especially if bound to look at them), even when they +are fallen phantasmal, and to make persons of them again, we will give +this Piece; sorry that it is the last we have of that fine hand. How +welcome, in the murky puddle of Dryasdust, is any glimpse by a lively +glib Wilhelmina, which we can discern to be human! Hear what Wilhelmina +says (in a very condensed form):-- + + + + +WILHELMINA AT THE CORONATION. + +Wilhelmina, in the end of January, 1742,--Karl Albert having shot +past, one day lately, in a bad post-chaise, and kindled the thought +in her,--resolved to go and see him crowned at Frankfurt, by way of +pleasure-excursion. We will, struggling to be briefer, speak in her +person; and indicate withal where the very words are hers, and where +ours. + +The Marwitz, elder Marwitz, her poor father being wounded at Mollwitz, +[_Militair-Lexikon,_ iii. 23; and _Preussische Adels-Lexikon,_ iii. +365.] had gone to Berlin to nurse him; but she returned just now,--not +much to my joy; I being, with some cause, jealous of that foolish minx. +The Duchess Dowager of Wurtemberg also came, sorrow on her; a foolish +talking woman, always cutting jokes, making eyes, giggling and +coquetting; "HAS some wit and manner, but wearies you at last: her +charms, now on the decline, were never so considerable as rumor said; in +the long-run she bores you with her French gayeties and sprightliness: +her character for gallantry is too notorious. She quite corrupted +Marwitz, in this and a subsequent visit; turned the poor girl's head +into a French whirligig, and undermined any little moral principle she +had. She was on the road to Berlin,"--of which anon, for it is not quite +nothing to us;--"but she was in no hurry, and would right willingly have +gone with us." And it required all our female diplomacy to get her +under way again, and fairly out of our course. January 28th, SHE off to +Berlin; WE, same day, to Frankfurt-on-Mayn. [Wilhelmina, ii. 334; see +pp. 335, 338, 347, &c. for the other salient points that follow.] + +Coronation was to have been (or we Country-folk thought it was), January +31st: Let us be there INCOGNITO, the night before; see it, and return +the day after. That was our plan. Bad roads, waters all out; we had to +go night and day;--reached the gates of Frankfurt, 30th January late. +Berghover, our Legationsrath there, says we are known everywhere; +Coronation is not to be till February 12th! I was fatigued to death, a +bad cold on me, too: we turned back to the last Village; stayed there +overnight. Back again to Berghover, in secret (A LA SOURDINE), next +night; will see the Public Entry of Karl Albert, which is to be +to-morrow (not quite, my Princess; January 31st for certain, [Adelung, +iii. A, 63; &c. &c.] did one the least care). "It was a very grand thing +indeed (DES PLUS SUPERBES); but I will not stop describing it. Masked +ball that night; where I had much amusement, tormenting the masks; not +being known to anybody. We next day retired to a small private +House, which Berghover had got for us, out of Town, for fear of +being discovered; and lodged there, waiting February 12th, under +difficulties." + +The weather was bitterly cold; we had brought no clothes; my dames and +I nothing earthly but a black ANDRIENNE each (whatever that may be), +to spare bulk of luggage: strictest incognito was indispensable. +The Marwitzes, for giggling, raillery, French airs, and absolute +impertinence, were intolerable, in that solitary place. We return to +Frankfurt again; have balls and theatres, at least: "of these latter I +missed none. One evening, my head-dress got accidentally shoved awry, +and exposed my face for a moment; Prince George of Hessen-Cassel, +who was looking that way, recognized me; told the Prince of Orange of +it;--they are in our box, next minute!" + +Prince George of Hessen-Cassel, did readers ever hear of him before? +Transiently perhaps, in Friedrich's LETTERS TO HIS FATHER; but have +forgotten him again; can know him only as the outline of a shadow. A +fat solid military man of fifty; junior Brother of that solid WILHELM, +Vice-regent and virtual "Landgraf of Hessen"--(VICE an elder and eldest +Brother, FRIEDRICH, the now Majesty of Sweden, who is actual Hereditary +Landgraf, but being old, childless, idle, takes no hold of it, and quite +leaves it to Wilhelm),--of whom English readers may have heard, and will +hear. For it is Wilhelm that hires us those "subsidized 6,000," who go +blaring about on English pay (Prince George merely Commandant of them); +and Wilhelm, furthermore, has wedded his Heir-Apparent to an English +Princess lately; [Princess Mary (age only about seventeen), 28th June, +1740; Prince's name was Friedrich (became Catholic, 1749; WIFE made +family-manager in Consequence, &c. &c.).] which also (as the poor young +fellow became Papist by and by) costs certain English people, among +others, a good deal of trouble. Uncle George, we say, is merely +Commandant of those blaring 6,000; has had his own real soldierings +before this; his own labors, contradictions, in his time; but has borne +all patiently, and grown fat upon it, not quarrelling with his burdens +or his nourishments. Perhaps we may transiently meet him again. + +As to the Prince of Orange, him we have seen more than once in times +past: a young fellow in comparison, sprightly, reckoned clever, but +somewhat humpbacked; married an English Princess, years ago ("Papa, if +he were as ugly as a baboon!")--which fine Princess, we find, has stopt +short at Cassel, too fatigued on the present occasion. "His ESPRIT," +continues Wilhelmina, "and his conversation, delighted me. His Wife, +he said, was at Cassel; he would persuade her to come and make my +acquaintance;"--could not; too far, in this cold season. "These two +Serene Highnesses would needs take me home in their carriage; they asked +the Margraf to let them stay supper: from that hour they were never out +of our house. Next morning, by means of them, the secret had got abroad. +Kur-Koln [lanky hook-nosed gentleman, richest Pluralist in the Church] +had set spies on us; next evening he came up to me, and said, 'Madam, +I know your Highness; you must dance a measure with me!' That comes of +one's head-gear getting awry! We had nothing for it but to give up the +incognito, and take our fate!" + +This dancing Elector of Koln, a man still only entering his forties, is +the new Emperor's Brother: [Clement August (Hubner, t. 134).] do readers +wonder to see him dance, being an Archbishop? The fact is certain,--let +the Three Kings and the Eleven Thousand Virgins say to it what they +will. "He talked a long time with me; presented to me the Princess +Clemence his Niece [that is to say, Wife of his Nephew ClemENT; one +of the Two whom his now Imperial Majesty saw married the other +day], [Michaelis, ii. 256, 123; Hubner, tt. 141, 134.] and then the +Princess"--in fact, presented all the three Sulzbach Princesses (for +there is a youngest, still to wed),--"and then Prince Theodor [happy +Husband of the eldest], and Prince Clement [ditto of the younger];" and +was very polite indeed. How keep our incognito, with all these people +heaping civilities upon us? Let us send to Baireuth for clothes, +equipages; and retire to our country concealment till they arrive. + +"Just as we were about setting off thither, I waiting till the Margraf +were ready, the Xargraf entered, and a Lady with him; who, he informed +me, was Madame de Belleisle, the French Ambassador's Wife:"--Wife of +the great Belleisle, the soul of all these high congregatings, +consultations, coronations, who is not Kaiser but maker of Kaisers: what +is to be done!--"I had carefully avoided her; reckoning she would have +pretensions I should not be in the humor to grant. I took my resolution +at the moment [being a swift decisive creature]; and received her like +any other Lady that might have come to me. Her visit was not long. The +conversation turned altogether upon praises of the King [my Brother]. I +found Madame de Belleisle very different from the notion I had formed +of her. You could see she had moved in high company (SENTAIT SON MONDE); +but her air appeared to me that of a waiting-maid (SOUBRETTE), and her +manners insignificant." Let Madame take that. + +"Monseigneur himself," when our equipages had come, "waited on me +several times,"--Monseigueur the grand Marechal de Belleisle, among the +other Principalities and Lordships: but of this lean man in black (who +has done such famous things, and will have to do the Retreat of Prag +within year and day), there is not a word farther said. Old Seckendorf +too is here; "Reich's-Governor of Philipsburg;" very ill with Austria, +no wonder; and striving to be well with the new Kaiser. Doubtless +old Seckendorf made his visit too (being of Baireuth kin withal), +and snuffled his respects: much unworthy of mention; not lovely to +Wilhelmina. Prince of Orange, hunchbacked, but sprightly and much the +Prince, bore me faithful company all the Coronation time; nor was George +of Hessen-Cassel wanting, good fat man. + +Of the Coronation itself, though it was truly grand, and even of an +Oriental splendor,[_Anemonen,_ ubi supra.] I will say nothing. The poor +Kaiser could not enjoy it much. He was dying of gout and gravel, and +could scarcely stand on his feet. Poor gentleman; and the French are +driven dismally out of Linz; and the Austrians are spreading like a +lava-flood or general conflagration over Baiern--Demon Mentzel, whom +they call Colonel Mentzel, he (if we knew it) is in Munchen itself, +just as we are getting crowned here! And unless King Friedrich, who is +falling into Mahren, in the flank of them, call back this Infernal Chase +a little, what hope is there in those parts!--The poor Kaiser, oftenest +in his bed, is courting all manner of German Princes,--consulting with +Seckendorfs, with cunning old stagers. He has managed to lead my Margraf +into a foolish bargain, about raising men for him. Which bargain I, on +fairly getting sight of it, persuade my Margraf to back out of; and, +in the end, he does so. Meanwhile, it detains us some time longer in +Frankfurt, which is still full of Principalities, busy with visitings +and ceremonials. + +Among other things, by way of forwarding that Bargain I was so averse +to, our Official People had settled that I could not well go without +having seen the Empress, after her crowning. Foolish people; entangling +me in new intricacies! For if she is a Kaiser's Daughter and Kaiser's +Spouse, am not I somewhat too? "How a King's Daughter and an Empress are +to meet, was probably never settled by example: what number of steps +down stairs does she come? The arm-chair (FAUTEUIL), is that to +be denied me?" And numerous other questions. The official people, +Baireuthers especially, are in despair; and, in fact, there were scenes. +But I held firm; and the Berlin ambassadors tempering, a medium was +struck: steps of stairs, to the due number, are conceded me; arm-chair +no, but the Empress to "take a very small arm-chair," and I to have a +big common chair (GRAND DOSSIER). So we meet, and I have sight of this +Princess, next day. + +In her place, I confess I would have invented all manner of etiquettes, +or any sort of contrivance, to save myself from showing face. "Heavens! +The Empress is below middle size, and so corpulent (PUISSANTE), she +looks like a ball; she is ugly to the utmost (LAIDE AU POSSIBLE), and +without air or grace." Kaiser Joseph's youngest Daughter,--the gods, +it seems, have not been kind to her in figure or feature! And her mind +corresponds to her appearance: she is bigoted to excess; passes +her nights and days in her oratory, with mere rosaries and gaunt +superstitious platitudes of that nature; a dark fat dreary little +Empress. "She was all in a tremble in receiving me; and had so +discountenanced an air, she could n't speak a word. We took seats. After +a little silence, I began the conversation, in French. She answered me +in her Austrian jargon, That she did not well understand that language, +and begged I would speak to her in German. Our conversation was not +long. Her Austrian dialect and my Lower-Saxon are so different that, +till you have practised, you are not mutually intelligible in them. +Accordingly we were not. A by-stander would have split with laughing at +the Babel we made of it; each catching only a word here and there, and +guessing the rest. This Princess was so tied to her etiquette, she would +have reckoned it a crime against the Reich to speak to me in a foreign +language; for she knew French well enough. + +"The Kaiser was to have been of this visit; but he had fallen so ill, he +was considered even in danger of his life. Poor Prince, what a lot had +he achieved for himself!" reflects Wilhelmina, as we often do. He was +soft, humane, affable; had the gift of captivating hearts. Not without +talent either; but then of an ambition far disproportionate to it. +"Would have shone in the second rank, but in the first went sorrowfully +eclipsed," as they say! He could not be a great man, nor had about him +any one that could; and he needed now to be so. This is the service a +Belleisle can do; inflating a poor man to Kaisership, beyond his natural +size! Crowned Kaiser, and Mentzel just entering his Munchen the while; +a Kaiser bedrid, stranded; lying ill there of gout and gravel, with +the Demon Mentzels eating him:--well may his poor little bullet of a +Kaiserinn pray for him night and day, if that will avail!-- + + + + +THE DUCHESS DOWAGER OF WURTEMBERG, RETURNING FROM BERLIN FAVORS US WITH +ANOTHER VISIT. + +I am sorry to say this is almost the last scene we shall get out of +Wilhelmina. She returns to Baireuth; breaks there conclusively that +unwise Frankfurt bargain; receives by and by (after several months, +when much has come and gone in the world) the returning Duchess of +Wurtemberg, effulgent Dowager "spoken of only as a Lais:" and has other +adventures, alluded to up and down, but not put in record by herself any +farther.--Sorrowfully let us hear Wilhelmina yet a little, on this Lais +Duchess, who will concern us somewhat. Dowager, much too effulgent, of +the late Karl Alexander, a Reichs-Feldmarschall (or FOURTH-PART of one, +if readers could remember) and Duke of Wurtemberg,--whom we once dined +with at Prag, in old Friedrich-Wilhelm and Prince-Eugene times:-- + +"This Princess, very famous on the bad side, had been at Berlin to see +her three Boys settled there, whose education she [and the STANDE of +Wurtemberg, she being Regent] had committed to the King. These Princes +had been with us on their road thither, just before their Mamma last +time. The Eldest, age fourteen, had gone quite agog (S'ETOIT AMOURACHE) +about my little Girl, age only nine; and had greatly diverted us by his +little gallantries [mark that, with an Alas!]. The Duchess, following +somewhat at leisure, had missed the King that time; who was gone for +Mahren, January 18th. ... I found this Princess wearing pretty well. Her +features are beautiful, but her complexion is faded and very yellow. Her +voice is so high and screechy, it cuts your ears; she does not want for +wit, and expresses herself well. Her manners are engaging for those whom +she wishes to gain; and with men are very free. Her way of thinking and +acting offers a strange contrast of pride and meanness. Her gallantries +had brought her into such repute that I had no pleasure in her visits." +[Wilhelmina, ii. 335.] No pleasure; though she often came; and her +Eldest Prince, and my little Girl--Well, who knows! + +Besides her three Boys (one of whom, as Reigning Duke, will become +notorious enough to Wilhelmina and mankind), the Lais Duchess has left +at Berlin--at least, I guess she has now left him, in exchange perhaps +for some other--a certain very gallant, vagabond young Marquis d'Argens, +"from Constantinople" last; originally from the Provence countries; +extremely dissolute creature, still young (whom Papa has had to +disinherit), but full of good-humor, of gesticulative loyal talk, and +frothy speculation of an Anti-Jesuit turn (has written many frothy +Books, too, in that strain, which are now forgotten): who became a very +great favorite with Friedrich, and will be much mentioned in subsequent +times. + +"In the end of July," continues Wilhelmina, "we went to Stouccard +[Stuttgard, capital of Wurtemberg, O beautiful glib tongue!], whither +the Duchess had invited us: but--" And there we are on blank paper; +our dear Wilhelmina has ceased speaking to us: her MEMOIRS end; and +oblivious silence wraps the remainder!-- + +Concerning this effulgent Dowager of Wurtemberg, and her late ways at +Berlin, here, from Bielfeld, is another snatch, which we will excerpt, +under the usual conditions: + +"BERLIN, FEBRUARY, 1742 [real date of all that is not fabulous in +Bielfeld, who chaotically dates it "6th December" of that Year]. ... A +day or two after this [no matter WHAT] I went to the German Play, the +only spectacle which is yet fairly afoot in Berlin. In passing in, I +noticed the Duchess Dowager of Wurtemberg, who had arrived, during my +absence, with a numerous and brilliant suite, as well to salute the King +and the Queens [King off, on his Moravian Business, before she came], +and to unite herself more intimately with our Court, as to see the Three +Princes her Children settled in their new place, where, by consent of +the States of Wurtemberg, they are to be educated henceforth. + +"As I had not yet had myself presented to the Duchess, I did not presume +to approach too near, and passed up into the Theatre. But she noticed +me in the side-scenes; asked who I was [such a handsome fashionable +fellow], and sent me order to come immediately and pay my respects. To +be sure, I did so; was most graciously received; and, of course, called +early next day at her Palace. Her Grand-Chamberlain had appointed me the +hour of noon. He now introduced me accordingly: but what was my surprise +to find the Princess in bed; in a negligee all new from the laundress, +and the gallantest that art could imagine! On a table, ready to her +hand, at the DOSSIER or bed-bead, stood a little Basin silver-gilt, +filled with Holy Water: the rest was decorated with extremely precious +Relics, with a Crucifix, and a Rosary of rock-crystal. Her dress, the +cushions, quilt, all was of Marseilles stuff, in the finest series of +colors, garnished with superb lace. Her cap was of Alencon lace, knotted +with a ribbon of green and gold. Figure to yourself, in this gallant +deshabille, a charming Princess, who has all the wit, perfection of +manner--and is still only thirty-seven, with a beauty that was once so +brilliant! Round the celestial bed were courtiers, doctors, almoners, +mostly in devotional postures; the three young Princes; and a Dame +d'Atours, who seemed to look slightly ENNUYEE or bored." I had the honor +to kiss her Serene Highness's hand, and to talk a great many peppered +insipidities suitable to the occasion. + +Dinner followed, more properly supper, with lights kindled: "Only I +cannot dress, you know," her Highness had said; "I never do, except for +the Queen-Mother's parties;"--and rang for her maids. So that you are +led out to the Anteroom, and go grinning about, till a new and still +more charming deshabille be completed, and her Most Serene Highness +can receive you again: "Now Messieurs! Pshaw, one is always stupid, +no ESPRIT at all except by candlelight!"--After which, such a dinner, +unmatchable for elegance, for exquisite gastronomy, for Attic-Paphian +brilliancy and charm! And indeed there followed hereupon, for weeks on +weeks, a series of such unmatchable little dinners; chief parts, under +that charming Presidency, being done by "Grand-Chamberlain Baron de" +Something-or-other, "by your humble servant Bielfeld, M. Jordan, and +a Marquis d'Argens, famous Provencal gentleman now in the suite of her +Highness:" [Bielfeld, ii. 74-78.]--feasts of the Barmecide I much doubt, +poor Bielfeld being in this Chapter very fantastic, MISDATEful to a mad +extent; and otherwise, except as to general effect, worth little serious +belief. + +We shall meet this Paphian Dowager again (Crucifix and Myrtle joined): +meet especially her D'Argens, and her Three little Princes more or +less;--wherefore, mark slightly (besides the D'Argens as above):-- + +"1. The Eldest little Prince, Karl Eugen; made 'Reigning Duke' within +three years hence [Mamma falling into trouble with the STANDE]: a man +still gloomily famous in Germany [Poet Schiller's Duke of Wurtemberg], +of inarticulate, extremely arbitrary turn,--married Wilhelmina's +Daughter by and by [with horrible usage of her]; and otherwise gave +Friedrich and the world cause to think of him. + +"2. The Second little Prince, Friedrich Eugen, Prussian General of some +mark, who will incidentally turn up again, He was afterwards Successor +to the Dukedom [Karl Eugen dying childless]; and married his Daughter to +Paul of Russia, from whom descend the Autocrats there to this day. + +"3. Youngest little Prince, Ludwig Eugen, a respectable Prussian +Officer, and later a French one: he is that 'Duc de Wirtemberg' who +corresponds with Voltaire [inscrutable to readers, in most of the +Editions]; and need not be mentioned farther." [See Michaelis, iii. 449; +Preuss, i. 476; &c. &c.] + +But enough of all this. It is time we were in Mahren, where the +Expedition must be blazing well ahead, if things have gone as expected. + + + + +Chapter X. -- FRIEDRICH DOES HIS MORAVIAN EXPEDITION WHICH PROVES A MERE +MORAVIAN FORAY. + + +While these Coronation splendors had been going on, Friedrich, in the +Moravian regions, was making experiences of a rather painful kind; his +Expedition prospering there far otherwise than he had expected. This +winter Expedition to Mahren was one of the first Friedrich had ever +undertaken on the Joint-stock Principle; and it proved of a kind rather +to disgust him with that method in affairs of war. + +A deeply disappointing Expedition. The country hereabouts was in bad +posture of defence; nothing between us and Vienna itself, in a manner. +Rushing briskly forward, living on the country where needful, on that +Iglau Magazine, on one's own Sechelles resources; rushing on, with +the Saxons, with the French, emulous on the right hand and the left, +a Captain like Friedrich might have gone far; Vienna itself--who +knows!--not yet quite beyond the reach of him. Here was a way to +check Khevenhuller in his Bavarian Operations, and whirl him back, +double-quick, for another object nearer home!--But, alas, neither the +Saxons nor the French would rush on, in the least emulous. The Saxons +dragged heavily arear; the French Detachment (a poor 5,000 under +Polastron, all that a captious Broglio could be persuaded to grant) +would not rush at all, but paused on the very frontier of Moravia, +Broglio so ordering, and there hung supine, or indeed went home. + +Friedrich remonstrated, argued, turned back to encourage; but it was +in vain. The Saxon Bastard Princes "lived for days in any Schloss they +found comfortable;" complaining always that there was no victual for +their Troops; that the Prussians, always ahead, had eaten the country. +No end to haggling; and, except on Friedrich's part, no hearty beginning +to real business. "If you wish at all to be 'King of Moravia,' what is +this!" thinks Friedrich justly. Broglio, too, was unmanageable,--piqued +that Valori, not Broglio, had started the thing;--showed himself +captious, dark, hysterically effervescent, now over-cautious, and again +capable of rushing blindly headlong. + +To Broglio the fact at Linz, which everybody saw to be momentous, was +overwhelming. Magnanimous Segur, and his Linz "all wedged with beams," +what a road have they gone! Said so valiantly they would make defence; +and did it, scarcely for four days: January 24th; before this Expedition +could begin! True, M. le Marechal, too true:--and is that a reason +for hanging back in this Mahren business; or for pushing on in it, +double-quick, with all one's strength? "But our Conquests on the Donau," +thinks Broglio, "what will become of them,--and of us!" To Broglio, +justly apprehensive about his own posture at Prag and on the Donau, +there never was such a chance of at once raking back all Austrians +homewards, post-haste out of those countries. But Broglio could by no +means see it so,--headstrong, blusterous, over-cautious and hysterically +headlong old gentleman; whose conduct at Prag here brought Strasburg +vividly to Friedrich's memory. Upon which, as upon the ghost of +Broglio's Breeches, Valori had to hear "incessant sarcasms" at this +time. + +In a word, from February 5th, when Friedrich, according to bargain, +rendezvoused his Prussians at Wischau to begin this Expedition, till +April 5th, when he re-rendezvoused them (at the same Wischau, as +chanced) for the purpose of ending it and going home,--Friedrich, +wrestling his utmost with Human Stupidity, "MIT DER DUMMHEIT +[as Schiller sonorously says], against which the very gods are +unvictorious," had probably two of the most provoking months of his +Life, or of this First Silesian War, which was fruitful in such to him. +For the common cause he accomplished nearly nothing by this Moravian +Expedition. But, to his own mind, it was rich in experiences, as to the +Joint-Stock Principle, as to the Partners he now had. And it doubtless +quickened his steps towards getting personally out of this imbroglio of +big French-German Wars,--home to Berlin, with Peace and Silesia in his +pocket,--which had all along been the goal of his endeavors. As a +feat of war it is by no means worth detailing, in this place,--though +succinct Stille, and bulkier German Books give lucid account, should +anybody chance to be curious. [Stille, _Campaigns of the King of +Prussia,_ i. 1-55; _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 548-611; _OEuvres de +Frederic,_ ii. 110-114; Orlich, ii.; &c. &c.] Only under the other +aspect, as Friedrich's experience of Partnership, and especially of his +now Partners, are present readers concerned to have, in brief form, some +intelligible notion of it. + + + + +IGLAU IS GOT, BUT NOT THE MAGAZINE AT IGLAU. + +Friedrich was punctual at Wischau; Head-quarters there (midway between +Olmutz and Brunn), Prussians all assembled, 5th February, 1742. Wischau +is some eighty miles EAST or inward of Iglau; the French and Saxons are +to meet us about Trebitsch, a couple of marches from that Teutschbrod +of theirs, and well within one march of Iglau, on our route thither. +The French and Saxons are at Trebitsch, accordingly; but their minds +and wills seem to be far elsewhere. Rutowsky and the Chevalier de Saxe +command the Saxons (20,000 strong on paper, 16,000 in reality); Comte +de Polastron the French, who are 5,000, all Horse. Along with whom, +professedly as French Volunteer, has come the Comte de Saxe, capricious +Maurice (Marechal de Saxe that will be), who has always viewed +this Expedition with disfavor. Excellency Valori is with the French +Detachment, or rather poor Valori is everywhere; running about, from +quarter to quarter, sometimes to Prag itself; assiduous to heal rents +everywhere; clapping cement into manifold cracks, from day to day. +Through Valori we get some interesting glimpses into the secret humors +and manoeuvres of Comte Maurice. It is known otherwise Comte Maurice was +no friend to Belleisle, but looked for his promotion from the opposite +or Noailles party, in the French Court: at present, as Valori perceives, +he has got the ear of Broglio, and put much sad stuff into the loud +foolish mind of him. + +To these Saxon gentlemen, being Bastard-Royal and important to +conciliate, Friedrich has in a high-flown way assigned the Schloss of +Budischau for quarters, an excellent superbly magnificent mansion in +the neighborhood of Trebitsch, "nothing like it to be seen except +in theatres, on the Drop-scene of _The Enchanted Island;"_ [Stille, +_Campaigns,_ p. 14.] where they make themselves so comfortable, says +Friedrich, there is no getting them roused to do anything for three days +to come. And yet the work is urgent, and plenty of it. "Iglau, first of +all," urges Friedrich, "where the Austrians, 10,000 or so, under Prince +Lobkowitz, have posted themselves [right flank of that long straggle of +Winter Cantonments, which goes leftwards to Budweis and farther], and +made Magazines: possession of Iglau is the foundation-stone of our +affairs. And if we would have Iglau WITH the Magazines and not without, +surely there is not a moment to be wasted!" In vain; the Saxon Bastard +Princes feel themselves very comfortable. It was Sunday the 11th of +February, when our junction with them was completed: and, instead of +next morning early, it is Wednesday afternoon before Prince Dietrich +of Anhalt-Dessau, with the Saxon and French party roused to join his +Prussians and him, can at last take the road for Iglau. Prince Dietrich +makes now the reverse of delay; marches all night, "bivouacs in woods +near Iglau," warming himself at stick-fires till the day break; takes +Iglau by merely marching into it and scattering 2,000 Pandours, so soon +as day has broken; but finds the Magazines not there. Lobkowitz carted +off what he could, then burnt "Seventeen Barns yesterday;" and is +himself off towards Budweis Head-quarters and the Bohemian bogs again. +This comes of lodging Saxon royal gentlemen too well. + + + + +THE SAXONS THINK IGLAU ENOUGH; THE FRENCH GO HOME. + +Nay, Iglau taken, the affair grows worse than ever. Our Saxons now +declare that they understand their orders to be completed; that their +Court did not mean them to march farther, but only to hold by Iglau, +a solid footing in Moravia, which will suffice for the present. Fancy +Friedrich; fancy Valori, and the cracks he will have to fill! Friedrich, +in astonishment and indignation, sends a messenger to Dresden: "Would +the Polish Majesty BE 'King of Moravia,' then, or not be?" Remonstrances +at Budischau rise higher and higher; Valori, to prevent total explosion, +flies over once, in the dead of the night, to deal with Rutowsky and +Brothers. Rutowsky himself seems partly persuadable, though dreadfully +ill of rheumatism. They rouse Comte Maurice; and Valori, by this +Comte's caprices, is driven out of patience. "He talked with a flippant +sophistry, almost with an insolence" says Valori; "nay, at last, he made +me a gesture in speaking,"--what gesture, thumb to nose, or what, the +shuddering imagination dare not guess! But Valori, nettled to the quick, +"repeated it," and otherwise gave him as good as he brought. "He ended +by a gesture which displeased me"--"and went to bed." [Valori, i. 148, +149.] This is the night of February 18th; third night after Iglau was +had, and the Magazines in it gone to ashes. Which the Saxons think is +conquest enough. + +Poor Polish Majesty, poor Karl Albert, above all, now "Kaiser Karl +VII.," with nothing but those French for breath to his nostrils! With +his fine French Army of the Oriflamme, Karl Albert should have pushed +along last Autumn; and not merely "read the Paper" which Friedrich +sent him to that effect, "and then laid it aside." They will never have +another chance, his French and he,--unless we call this again a chance; +which they are again squandering! Linz went by capitulation; January +24th, the very day of one's "Election" as they called it: and ever +since that day of Linz, the series of disasters has continued rapid and +uniform in those parts. Linz gone, the rest of the French posts did not +even wait to capitulate; but crackled all off, they and our Conquests +on the Donau, like a train of gunpowder, and left the ground bare. And +General von Barenklau (BEAR'S-CLAW), with the hideous fellow called +Mentzel, Colonel of Pandours, they have broken through into Bavaria +itself, from the Tyrol; climbing by Berchtesgaden and the wild Salzburg +Mountains, regardless of Winter, and of poor Bavarian militia-folk;--and +have taken Munchen, one's very Capital, one's very House and Home!--Poor +Karl Albert,--and, what is again remarkable, it was the very day while +he was getting "crowned" at Frankfurt, "with Oriental pomp," that +Mentzel was about entering Munchen with his Pandours. [Coronation was +February 12th; Capitulation to Mentzel, "Munchen, February 13th," is in +_ Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 56-59.] And this poor Archduke of the Austrian, +King of Bohemia, Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich Teutsch by Nation, is +becoming Titular merely, and owns next to nothing in these extensive +Sovereignties. Judge if there is not call for despatch on all +sides!--The Polish Majesty sent instant rather angry order to his +Saxons, "Forward, with you; what else! We would be King in Mahren!" + +The Saxons then have to march forward; but we can fancy with what a +will. Rutowsky flings up his command on this Order (let us hope, from +rheumatism partly), and goes home; leaving the Chevalier de Saxe +to preside in room of him. As for Polastron, he produces Order from +Broglio, "Iglau got, return straightway;" must and will cross over into +Bohemia again; and does. Nay, the Comte de Saxe had, privately in his +pocket, a Commission to supersede Polastron, and take command himself, +should Polastron make difficulties about turning back. Poor Polastron +made no difficulties: Maurice and he vanish accordingly from this +Adventure, and only the unwilling Saxons remain with Friedrich. Poor +Polastron ("a poor weak creature," says Friedrich, "fitter for +his breviary than anything else") fell sick, from the hardships of +campaigning; and soon died, in those Bohemian parts. Maurice is heard +of, some weeks hence, besieging Eger;--very handsomely capturing Eger: +[19th April, 1742 (_Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 78-65).]--on which service +Broglio had ordered him after his return. The former Commandant of the +Siege, not very progressive, had just died; and Broglio, with reason +(all the more for his late Moravian procedures) was passionate to have +done there. One of the first auspicious exploits of Maurice, that of +Eger; which paved the way to his French fortunes, and more or less +sublime glories, in this War. Friedrich recognizes his ingenuities, +impetuosities, and superior talent in war; wrote high-flown Letters of +praises, now and then, in years coming; but, we may guess, would hardly +wish to meet Maurice in the way of joint-stock business again. + + + + +FRIEDRICH SUBMERGES THE MORAVIAN COUNTRIES; BUT CANNOT BRUNN, WHICH IS +THE INDISPENSABLE POINT. + +February 19th, these sad Iglau matters once settled, Friedrich, followed +by the Saxons, plunges forward into Moravia; spreads himself over +the country, levying heavy contributions, with strict discipline +nevertheless; intent to get hold of Brunn and its Spielberg, if he +could. Brunn is the strong place of Moravia; has a garrison of 6 or +7,000; still better, has the valiant Roth, whom we knew in Neisse once, +for Commandant: Brunn will not be had gratis. + +Schwerin, with a Detachment of 6,000 horse and foot, Posadowsky, +Ziethen, Schmettau Junior commanding under him, has dashed along far in +the van; towards Upper Austria, through the Town of Horn, towards Vienna +itself; levying, he also, heavy contributions,--with a hand of iron, +and not much of a glove on it, as we judge. There is a grim enough +Proclamation (in the name of a "frightfully injured Kaiser," as well as +Kaiser's Ally), still extant, bearing Schwerin's signature, and the date +"STEIN, 26th Feb. 1742." [In _Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 556.] Stein is +on the Donau, a mile or two from Krems, and twice as far from Mautern, +where the now Kaiser was in Autumn last. Forty and odd miles short of +Vienna: this proved the Pisgah of Schwerin in that direction, as it had +done of Karl Albert. Ziethen, with his Hussars coursed some 20 miles +farther, on the Vienna Highway; and got the length of Stockerau; a small +Town, notable slightly, ever since, as the Prussian NON-PLUS-ULTRA in +that line. + +Meanwhile, Prince Lobkowitz is rallying; has quitted Budweis and the +Bohemian Bogs, for some check of these insolences. Lobkowitz, rallying +to himself what Vienna force there is, comes, now in good strength, to +Waidhofen (rearward of Horn, far rearward of Stein and Stockerau), +so that Ziethen and Schwerin have to draw homeward again. Lobkowitz +fortifies himself in Waidhofen; gathers Magazines there, as if towards +weightier enterprises. For indeed much is rallying, in a dangerous +manner; and Moravia is now far other than when Friedrich planned this +Expedition. And at Vienna, 25th February last, there was held Secret +Council, and (much to Robinson's regret) a quite high Resolution come +to,--which Friedrich gets to know of, and does not forget again. + + + + +THE SAXONS HAVE NO CANNON FOR BRUNN, CANNOT AFFORD ANY; THERE IS A HIGH +RESOLUTION TAKEN AT VIENNA (February 25th): FRIEDRICH QUITS THE MORAVIAN +ENTERPRISE. + +Friedrich keeps his Head-quarter, all this while, closer and closer +upon Brunn. First, chiefly at a Town called Znaim, on the River Taya; +many-branched river, draining all those Northwestern parts; which sends +its widening waters down to Presburg,--latterly in junction with those +of the Morawa from North, which washes Olmutz, drains the Northern and +Eastern parts, and gives the Country its name of "Moravia." Brunn lies +northeast of Friedrich, while in Znaim, some fifty miles; the Saxon +head-quarter is at Kromau, midway towards that City. After Znaim, he +shifts inward, to Selowitz, still in the same Taya Valley, but much +nearer Brunn; and there continues. [At Znaim, 19th February-9th March; +at Selowitz, 13th March-5th April (Rodenbeck, i. 65).] + +Striving hard for Brunn; striving hard, under difficulties, for so +many things distant and near; we may fancy him busy enough;--and are +surprised at the fractions of light Jordan Correspondence which he still +finds time for. Pretty bits of Letters, in prose and doggerel, from and +to those Moravian Villages; Jordan, "twice a week," bearing the main +weight; Friedrich, oftener than one could hope, flinging some word of +answer,--very intent on Berlin gossip, we can notice. "Vattel is +still here, your Majesty," [_OEuvres,_ xvii. 163, &c.] insinuates +Jordan:--young Vattel, afterwards of the DROIT DES GENS, whom his +Majesty might have kept, but did not.--What more of your D'Argens, then; +anything in your D'Argens? Friedrich will ask. "For certain, D'Argens +is full of ESPRIT," answers Jordan, in a dexterous way; and How the +Effulgent of Wurtemberg" has quarrelled outright with her D'Argens, +and will not eat off silver (D'ARGENT), lest she have to name him by +accident!"--with other gossip, in a fine brief airy form, at which +Jordan excels. Cheering the rare leisure hour, in one's Tent at +Selowitz, Pohrlitz, Irrlitz, far away!--There are also orders about +CICERO and Books. Of Business for most part, or of private feelings, +nothing: Berlin gossip, and Books for one's reading, are the staple. But +to return. + +Out from Head-quarters, diligent operations shoot forth, far enough, +along those Taya-Morawa Valleys, where Hungarian "Insurgents" are +beginning to be dangerous. South of Brunn, all round Brunn, are +diligent operations, frequent skirmishings, constant strict levyings of +contributions. The saving operation, Friedrich well sees, would be +to get hold of Brunn: but, unluckily, How? Vigilant Roth scorns all +summoning; sallies continually in a dangerous manner; and at length, +when closer pressed, burns all the Villages round him: "we counted as +many as sixteen villages laid in ashes," says Friedrich. Here is small +comfort of outlook. + +And then the Saxons, at Kromau or wherever they may be: no end of +trouble and vexation with these Saxons. Their quarters are not fairly +allotted, they say; we make exchange of quarters, without improvement +noticeable. "One fine day, on some slight alarm, they came rushing +over to us, all in panic; ruined, merely by Pandour noises, had not we +marched them back, and reinstated them." Friedrich sends to Silesia for +reinforcements of his own, which he can depend upon. Sends to Silesia, to +Glatz and the Young Dessauer;--nay to Brandenburg and the Old Dessauer? +ultimately. Finding Roth would not yield, he has sent to Dresden for +Siege-Artillery: Polish Majesty there, titular "King of Moravia," +answers that he cannot meet the expense of carriage. "He had just +purchased a green diamond which would have carried them thither and back +again:" What can be done with such a man?--And by this time, early in +March, Hungarian "MORIAMUR PRO REGE" begins to show itself. Clouds of +Hungarian Insurgents, of the Tolpatch, Pandour sort, mount over the +Carpathians on us, all round the east, from south to north; and threaten +to penetrate Silesia itself. So that we have to sweep laboriously the +Morawa-Taya Valleys; and undertake first one and then another outroad, +or sharp swift sally, against those troublesome barbarians. + +And more serious still, Prince Karl and the regular Army, quickened +by such Khevenhuller-Barenklau successes in the Donau Countries, +are beginning to stir. Prince Karl, returning from Vienna and its +consultations, took command, 4th March; [_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 557.] +with whom has come old Graf von Konigseck, an experienced head to advise +with; Prince Karl is in motion, skirting us southward, about Waidhofen, +where Lobkowitz lay waiting him with Magazines ready. Rumor says, the +force in those parts is already 40,000, with more daily coming in. +Friedrich has of his own, apart from the Saxons, some 24,000. Prince +Karl, with so many heavy troops, and with unlimited supply of light, is +very capable of doing mischief: he has orders (and Friedrich now knows +of it) To go in upon us;--such their decision in Secret Council +at Vienna, on the 25th of February last, That he must go and fight +us:--"Better we met him with fewer thrums on our hands!" thinks +Friedrich; and beckons the Old Dessauer out of Brandenburg withal. +"Swift, your Serenity; hitherward with 20,000!" Which the Old Dessauer +(having 30,000 to pick from, late Camp-of-Gottin people) at once sets +about. Will be a security, in any event! [Orlich, i. 221: Date of the +Order, "13th March, 1742."] To finish with Brunn, Friedrich has sent for +Siege-Artillery of his own; he urges Chevalier de Saxe to close with him +round Brunn, and batter it energetically into swift surrender. Is it not +the one thing needful? Chevalier de Saxe admits, half promises; does +not perform. Being again urged, Why have not you performed? he answers, +"Alas, your Majesty, here are Orders for me to join Marshal Broglio at +Prag, and retire altogether out of this!" + +"Altogether out of it," thinks Friedrich to himself: "may all the Powers +be thanked! Then I too, without disgrace, can go altogether out of +it;--and it shall be a sharp eye that sees me in joint-stock with you +again, M. le Chevalier." Friedrich has written in his HISTORY, and +Valori used to hear him often say in words, Never were tidings welcomer +than these, that the Saxons were about to desert him in this manner. Go: +and may all the Devils--But we will not fall into profane swearing. It +is proper to get out of this Enterprise at one's best speed, and +never get into the like of it again! Friedrich (on this strange Saxon +revelation, 30th March) takes instant order for assembling at Wischau +again, for departing towards Olmutz; thence homewards, with deliberate +celerity, by the Landskron mountain-country, Tribau, Zwittau, +Leutomischl, and the way he came. He has countermanded his Silesian +reinforcements; these and the rest shall rendezvous at Chrudim in +Bohemia; whitherwards the two Dessauers are bound:--in Brunn, with its +wrecked environs, famed Spielberg looking down from its conical height, +and sixteen villages in ashes, Roth shall do his own way henceforth. + +The Saxons pushed straight homewards; did not "rejoin Broglio," rejoin +anybody,--had, in fact, done with this First Silesian War, as it proved; +and were ready for the OPPOSITE side, on a Second falling out! Their +march, this time, was long and harassing,--sad bloody passage in it, +from Pandours and hostile Village-people, almost at starting, "four +Companies of our Rear-guard cut down to nine men; Village burnt, and +Villagers exterminated (SIC), by the rescuing party." [Details in +_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 606; in &c. &c.] They arrived at Leitmeritz +and their own Border, "hardly above 8,000 effective." Naturally, in a +highly indignant humor; and much disposed to blame somebody. To the +poor Polish NON-Moravian Majesty, enlightened by his Bruhls and +Staff-Officers, it became a fixed truth that the blame was all +Friedrich's,--"starving us, marching us about!"--that Friedrich's +conduct to us was abominable, and deserved fixed resentment. Which +accordingly it got, from the simple Polish Majesty, otherwise a +good-natured creature;--got, and kept. To Friedrich's very great +astonishment, and to his considerable disadvantage, long after! + +Friedrich's look, when Valori met him again coming home from this +Moravian Futility, was "FAROUCHE," fierce and dark; his laugh bitter, +sardonic; harsh mockery, contempt and suppressed rage, looking through +all he said. A proud young King, getting instructed in several things, +by the stripes of experience. Look in that young Portrait by Pesne, the +full cheeks, and fine mouth capable of truculence withal, the brow +not unused to knit itself, and the eyes flashing out in sharp diligent +inspection, of a somewhat commanding nature. We can fancy the face +very impressive upon Valori in these circumstances. Poor Valori has +had dreadful work; running to and fro, with his equipages breaking, +his servants falling all sick, his invaluable D'Arget (Valori's chief +Secretary, whom mark) quite disabled; and Valori's troubles are not +done. He has been to Prag lately; is returning futile, as usual. Driving +through the Mountains to rejoin Friedrich, he meets the Prussians in +retreat; learns that the Pandours, extremely voracious, are ahead; that +he had better turn, and wait for his Majesty about Chrudim in the Elbe +region, upon highways, and within reach of Prag. + +Friedrich, on the 5th of April, is in full march out of the Moravian +Countries,--which are now getting submerged in deluges of Pandours; +towards the above-said Chrudim, whereabouts his Magazines lie, where +privately he intends to wait for Prince Karl, and that Vienna Order +of the 25th February, with hands clearer of thrums. The march goes in +proper columns, dislocations; Prince Dietrich, on the right, with +a separate Corps, bent else-whither than to Chrudim, keeps off the +Pandours. A march laborious, mountainous, on roads of such quality; but, +except baggage-difficulties and the like, nothing material going wrong. +"On the 13th [April], we marched to Zwittau, over the Mountain of +Schonhengst. The passage over this Mountain is very steep; but not so +impracticable as it had been represented; because the cannon and wagons +can be drawn round the sides of it." [Stille, p. 86.] Yes;--and readers +may (in fancy) look about them from the top; for we shall go this road +again, sixteen years hence; hardly in happier circumstances! + +Friedrich gets to Chrudim, April 17th; there meets the Young Dessauer +with his forces: by and by the Old Dessauer, too, comes to an Interview +there (of which shortly). The Old Dessauer--his 20,000 not with him, +at the moment, but resting some way behind, till he return--is to go +eastward with part of them; eastward, Troppau-Jablunka way, and drive +those Pandour Insurgencies to their own side of the Mountains: a job Old +Leopold likes better than that of the Gottin Camp of last year. Other +part of the 20,000 is to reinforce Young Leopold and the King, and +go into cantonments and "refreshment-quarters" here at Chrudim. Here, +living on Bohemia, with Silesia at their back, shall the Troops repose +a little; and be ready for Prince Karl, if he will come on. That is what +Friedrich looks to, as the main Consolation left. + +In Moravia, now overrun with Pandours, precursors of Prince Karl, he +has left Prince Dietrich of Anhalt, able still to maintain himself, with +Olmutz as Head-quarters, for a calculated term of days: Dietrich is, +with all diligence, to collect Magazines for that Jablunka-Troppau +Service, and march thither to his Father with the same (cutting his way +through those Pandour swarms); and leaving Mahren as bare as possible, +for Prince Karl's behoof. All which Prince Dietrich does, in a gallant, +soldier-like, prudent and valiant manner,--with details of danger well +fronted, of prompt dexterity, of difficulty overcome; which might +be interesting to soldier students, if there were among us any such +species; but cannot be dwelt upon here. It is a march of 60 or 70 miles +(northeast, not northwest as Friedrich's had been), through continual +Pandours, perils and difficulties:--met in the due way by Prince +Dietrich, whose toils and valors had been of distinguished quality in +this Moravian Business. Take one example, not of very serious nature (in +the present March to Troppau):-- + +"OLISCHAU, EVENING OF APRIL 21st. Just as we were getting into Olischau +[still only in the environs of Olmutz], the Vanguard of Prince Karl's +Army appeared on the Heights. It did not attack; but retired, Olmutz +way, for the night. Prince Dietrich, not doubting but it would return +next day, made the necessary preparations overnight. Nothing of it +returned next day; Prince Dietrich, therefore, in the night of April +22d, pushed forward his sick-wagons, meal-wagons, heavy baggage, +peaceably to Sternberg; and, at dawn on the morrow, followed with +his army, Cavalry ahead, Infantry to rear;" nothing whatever +happening,--unless this be a kind of thing:--"Our Infantry had scarcely +got the last bridge broken down after passing it, when the roofs of +Olischau seemed as it were to blow up; the Inhabitants simultaneously +seizing that moment, and firing, with violent diligence, a prodigious +number of shot at us,--no one of which, owing to their hurry and the +distance, took any effect;" [Stille, p. 50.] but only testified what +their valedictory humor was. + +Or again--(Place, this time, is UNGARISCH-BROD, near Goding on the +Moravian-Hungarian Frontier, date MARCH 13th; one of those swift +Outroads, against Insurgents or "Hungarian Militias" threatening to +gather):--... "Godinq on our Moravian side of the Border, and +then Skalitz on their Hungarian, being thus finished, we make for +Ungarisch-Brod," the next nucleus of Insurgency. And there is the +following minute phenomenon,--fit for a picturesque human memory: "As +this, from Skalitz to Ungarisch-Brod, is a long march, and the roads +were almost impassable, Prince Dietrich with his Corps did not arrive +till after dark. So that, having sufficiently blocked the place with +parties of horse and foot, he had, in spite of thick-falling snow, to +wait under the open sky for daylight. In which circumstances, all that +were not on sentry lay down on their arms;" slept heartily, we hope; +"and there was half an ell of snow on them, when day broke." [BERICHT +VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES &c. (in Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. p. 508).] +When day broke, and they shook themselves to their feet again,--to the +astonishment of Ungarisch-Brod!... + +There had been fine passages of arms, throughout, in this Business, +round Brunn, in the March home, and elsewhere; and Friedrich is +well contented with the conduct of his men and generals,--and dwells +afterwards with evident satisfaction on some of the feats they did. [For +instance, TRUCHSESS VON WALDBURG'S fine bit of Spartanism (14th +March, at Lesch, near Brunn, near AUSTERLITZ withal), which was +much celebrated; King himself, from Selowitz, heard the cannonading +(Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 518-520). Selchow's feat (ib. 521). Fouquet's +(this is the CAPTAIN Fonquet, with "MY two candles, Sir," of the old +Custrin-Prison time; who is dear to Friedrich ever since, and to the +end): "Account of Fouquet's Grenadier Battalion, to and at Fulnek, +January-April, 1742 (is in _Feldzuge der Preussen,_ i. 176-184); +especially his March, from Fulnek, homewards, part of Prince Dietrich's +that way (in Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 510-515). With various others (in +SEYFARTH and FELDZUGE): well worth reading till you understand them.] I +am sorry to say, General Schwerin has taken pique at this preference of +the Old Dessauer for the Troppau Anti-Pandour Operation; and is home +in a huff: not to reappear in active life for some years to come. "The +Little Marlborough,"--so they call him (for he was at Blenheim, and has +abrupt hot ways),--will not participate in Prince Karl's consolatory +Visit, then! Better so, thinks Friedrich perhaps (remembering Mollwitz): +"This is the freak of an imitation ANGLAIS!" sneers he, in mentioning +it to Jordan.--Friedrich's Synopsis of this Moravian Failure of an +Expedition, in answer to Jordan's curiosity about it,--curiosity +implied, not expressed by the modest Jordan, is characteristic:-- + +"Moravia, which is a very bad Country, could not be held, owing to want +of victual; and the Town of Brunn could not be taken, because the Saxons +had no cannon; and when you wish to enter a Town, you must first make +a hole to get in by. Besides, the Country has been reduced to such a +state: that the Enemy cannot subsist in it, and you will soon see him +leave it. There is your little military lesson; I would not have you +at a loss what to think of our Operations; or what to say, should other +people talk of them in your presence!" [Friedrich to Jordan (_OEuvres,_ +xvii. 196), Chrudim, 5th May, 1742.] + +"Winter Campaigns," says Friedrich elsewhere, much in earnest, and +looking back on this thing long afterwards, "Winter Campaigns are bad, +and should always be avoided, except in cases of necessity. The best +Army in the world is liable to be ruined by them. I myself have made +more Winter Campaigns than any General of this Age; but there were +reasons. Thus:-- + +"In 1740," Winter Campaign which we saw, "there were hardly above two +Austrian regiments in Silesia, at Karl VI.'s death. Being determined to +assert my right to that Duchy, I had to try it at once, in winter, and +carry the war, if possible, to the Banks of the Neisse. Had I waited +till spring, we must have begun the war between Crossen and Glogau; what +was now to be gained by one march would then have cost us three or four +campaigns. A sufficient reason, this, for campaigning in winter. + +"If I did not succeed in the Winter Campaign of 1742," Campaign which we +have just got out of, "which I made with a design to deliver the Elector +of Bavaria's Country, then overrun by Austria, it was because the French +acted like fools, and the Saxons like traitors." Mark that deliberate +opinion. + +"In 1745-46," Winter Campaign which we expect to see, "the Austrians +having got Silesia, it was necessary to drive them out. The Saxons and +they had formed a design to enter my Hereditary Dominions, to destroy +them with fire and sword. I was beforehand with them. I carried the +War into the heart of Saxony." [MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN BY &c. +"translated by an Officer" (London, 1762), pp. 171, 172. One of the +best, or altogether the best, of Friedrich's excellent little Books +written successively (thrice-PRIVATE, could they have been kept so) +for the instruction of his Officers. Is to be found now in _OEuvres +de Frederic,_ xxviii. (that is vol. i. of the _"OEuvres Militaires,"_ +which occupy 3 vols.) pp. 4 et seqq.] + +Digesting many bitter-enough thoughts, Friedrich has cantoned about +Chrudim; expecting, in grim composed humor, the one Consolation there +can now be. February 25th, as readers well know, the Majesty of Hungary +and her Aulic Council had decided, "One stroke more, O Excellency +Robinson; one Battle more for our Silesian jewel of the crown! If +beaten, we will then give it up; oh, not till then!" Robinson and +Hyndford,--imagination may faintly represent their feelings, on the +wilful downbreak of Klein-Schnellendorf; or what clamor and urgency the +Majesty of Britain and they have been making ever since. But they could +carry it no further: "One stroke more!" + +At Chrudim, and to the right and the left of it, sprinkled about in +long, very thin, elliptic shape (thirty or forty miles long, but capable +of coalescing "within eight-and-forty hours"), there lies Friedrich: the +Elbe River is behind him; beyond Elbe are his Magazines, at Konigsgratz, +Nimburg, Podiebrad, Pardubitz; the Giant Mountains, and world of +Bohemian Hills, closing-in the background, far off: that is his +position, if readers will consult their Map. The consolatory Visit, he +privately thinks, cannot be till the grass come; that is, not till June, +two months hence; but there also he was a little mistaken. + + + + +Chapter XI. --NUSSLER IN NEISSE, WITH THE OLD DESSAUER AND WALRAVE. + +The Old Dessauer with part of his 20,000,--aided by Boy Dietrich +(KNABE, "Knave Dietrich," as one might fondly call him) and the Moravian +Meal-wagons,--accomplished his Troppau-Jablunka Problem perfectly well; +cleaning the Mountains, and keeping them clean, of that Pandour rabble, +as he was the man to do. Nor would his Expedition require mentioning +farther,--were it not for some slight passages of a purely Biographical +character; first of all, for certain rubs which befell between his +Majesty and him. For example, once, before that Interview at Chrudim, +just on entering Bohemia thitherward, Old Leopold had seen good to alter +his march-route; and--on better information, as he thought it, which +proved to be worse--had taken a road not prescribed to him. Hearing +of which, Friedrich reins him up into the right course, in this sharp +manner:-- + +"CHRUDIM, 21st APRIL. I am greatly surprised that your Serenity, as an +old Officer, does not more accurately follow my orders which I give +you. If you were skilfuler than Caesar, and did not with strict accuracy +observe my orders, all else were of no help to me. I hope this notice, +once for all, will be enough; and that in time coming you will give +no farther causes to complain." [King to Furst Leopold (Orlich, i. +219-221).] + +Friedrich, on their meeting at Chrudim, was the same man as ever. But +the old Son of Gunpowder stood taciturn, rigorous, in military business +attitude, in the King's presence; had not forgotten the passage; and +indeed he kept it in mind for long months after. And during all this +Ober-Schlesien time, had the hidden grudge in his heart;--doing his +day's work with scrupulous punctuality; all the more scrupulous, they +say. Friedrich tried, privately through Leopold Junior, some slight +touches of assuagement; but without effect; and left the Senior to Time, +and to his own methods of cooling again. + +Besides that of keeping down Hungarian Enterprises in the Mountains, Old +Leopold had, as would appear, to take some general superintendence in +Ober-Schlesien; and especially looks after the new Fortification-work +going on in those parts. Which latter function brought him often to +Neisse, and into contact with the ugly Walrave, Engineer-in-Chief +there. A much older and much worthier acquaintance of ours, Herr +Boundary-Commissioner Nussler, happens also to be in Neisse;--waiting +for those Saxon Gentlemen; who are unpunctual to a degree, and never +come (nor in fact ever will, if Nussler knew it). Luckily Nussler kept +a Notebook; and Busching ultimately got it, condensed it, printed +it;--whereby (what is rare, in these Dryasdust labyrinths, inane +spectralities and cinder-mountains) there is sudden eyesight vouchsafed; +and we discern veritably, far off, brought face to face for an +instant, this and that! I must translate some passages,--still farther +condensed:-- + + + + +HOW NUSSLER HAPPENED TO BE IN NEISSE, MAY, 1742. + +Nussler had been in this Country, off and on, almost since Christmas +last; ready here, if the Saxons had been ready. As the Saxons were not +ready, and always broke their appointment, Nussler had gone into the +Mountains, to pass time usefully, and take preliminary view of the +ground. + +... "From Berlin, 20th December, 1741; by Breslau,"--where some pause +and correspondence;--"thence on, Neisse way, as far as Lowen [so well +known to Friedrich, that Mollwitz night!]. From Berlin to Lowen, Nussler +had come in a carriage: but as there was much snow falling, he here took +a couple of sledges; in which, along with his attendants, he proceeded +some fifty miles, to Jauernik, a stage beyond Neisse, to the southwest. +Jauernik is a little Town lying at the foot of a Hill, on the top of +which is the Schloss of Johannisberg. Here it began to rain; and the +getting up the Hill, on sledges, was a difficult matter. The DROST +[Steward] of this Castle was a Nobleman from Brunswick-Luneburg; who, +for the sake of a marriage and this Drostship for dowry, had changed +from Protestant to Roman Catholic,"--poor soul! "His wife and he were +very polite, and showed Nussler a great deal of kindness. Nussler +remarked on the left side of this Johannisberg," western side a good +few miles off, "the pass which leads from Glatz to Upper and Lower +Schlesien,"--where the reader too has been, in that BAUMGARTEN SKIRMISH, +if he could remember it,--"with a little Block-house in the bottom," and +no doubt Prussian soldiers in it at the moment. "Nussler, intent always +on the useful, did not institute picturesque reflections; but considered +that his King would wish to have this Pass and Block-house; and +determined privately, though it perhaps lay rather beyond the +boundary-mark, that his Master must have it when the bargaining should +come.... + +"On the homeward survey of these Borders, Nussler arrived at Steinau +[little Village with Schloss, which we saw once, on the march to +Mollwitz, and how accident of fire devoured it that night], and at sight +of the burnt Schloss standing black there, he remembered with great +emotion the Story of Grafin von Callenberg [dead since, with her pistols +and brandy-bottle] and of the Grafin's Daughter, in which he had been +concerned as a much-interested witness, in old times.... For the rest, +the journey, amid ice and snow, was not only troublesome in the extreme, +but he got a life-long gout by it [and no profit to speak of]; having +sunk, once, on thin ice, sledge and he, into a half-frozen stream, and +got wetted to the loins, splashing about in such cold manner,--happily +not quite drowned." The indefatigable Nussler; working still, like a +very artist, wherever bidden, on wages miraculously low. + +The Saxon Gentlemen never came;--privately the Saxons were quite off +from the Silesian bargain, and from Friedrich altogether;--so that this +border survey of Nussler's came to nothing, on the present occasion. But +it served him and Friedrich well, on a new boundary-settling, which +did take effect, and which holds to this day. Nussler, during +these operations, and vain waitings for the Saxons, had Neisse for +head-quarters; and, going and returning, was much about Neisse; Walrave, +Marwitz (Father of Wilhelmina's baggage Marwitz), Feldmarschall Schwerin +(in earlier stages), and other high figures, being prominent in his +circle there. + +"The old Prince of Dessau came thither: for some days. [Busching, +_Beitrage,_ i. 347 (beginning of May as we guess, but there is no date +given).] He was very gracious to Nussler, who had been at his Court, +and known him before this. The Old Dessauer made use of Walrave's Plate; +usually had Walrave, Nussler, and other principal figures to dinner. +Walrave's Plate, every piece of it, was carefully marked with a RAVEN on +the rim,--that being his crest ["Wall-raven" his name]: Old Dessauer, +at sight of so many images of that bird, threw out the observation, loud +enough, from the top of the table, 'Hah, Walrave, I see you are making +yourself acquainted with the RAVENS in time, that they may not be +strange to you at last,'"--when they come to eat you on the gibbet! (not +a soft tongue, the Old Dessauer's). "Another day, seeing Walrave seated +between two Jesuit Guests, the Prince said: 'Ah, there you are right, +Walrave; there you sit safe; the Devil can't get you there!' As the +Prince kept continually bantering him in this strain, Walrave determined +not to come; sulkily absented himself one day: but the Prince sent the +ORDINANZ (Soldier in waiting) to fetch him; no refuge in sulks. + +"They had Roman-Catholic victual for Walrave and others of that faith, +on the meagre-days; but Walrave eat right before him,--evidently nothing +but the name of Catholic. Indeed, he was a man hated by the Catholics, +for his special rapacity on them. 'He is of no religion at all,' said +the Catholic Prelate of Neisse, one day, to Nussler; (greedy to plunder +the Monasteries here; has wrung gold, silver aud jewels from them,--nay +from the Pope himself,--by threatening to turn Protestant, and use the +Monasteries still worse. And the Pope, hearing of this, had to send him +a valuable Gift, which you may see some day.' Nussler did, one day, see +this preciosity: a Crucifix, ebony bordered with gold, and the Body all +of that metal, on the smallest of altars,--in Walrave's bedroom. But it +was the bedroom itself which Nussler looked at with a shudder," Nussler +and we: "in the middle of it stood Walrave's own bed, on his right hand +that of his Wife, and on his left that of his Mistress:"--a brutish +polygamous Walrave! "This Mistress was a certain Quarter-Master's +Wife,"--Quarter-Master willing, it is probable, to get rid of such an +article gratis, much more on terms of profit. "Walrave had begged for +him the Title of Hofrath from King Friedrich,"--which, though it was +but a clipping of ribbon contemptible to Friedrich, and the brute of an +Engineer had excellent talents in his business, I rather wish Friedrich +had refused in this instance. But he did not; "he answered in gibing +tone, 'I grant you the Hofrath Title for your Quarter-Master; thinking +it but fit that a General's'--What shall we call her? (Friedrich uses +the direct word)--'should have some handle to her name.'" [Busching, +_Beitrage,_ i. 343-348.] + +It was this Mistress, one is happy to know, that ultimately betrayed the +unbeautiful Walrave, and brought him to Magdeburg for the rest of his +life.--And now let us over the Mountains, to Chrudim again; a hundred +and fifty miles at one step. + + + + +Chapter XII. -- PRINCE KARL DOES COME ON. + +It was before the middle of May, not of June as Friedrich had expected, +that serious news reached Chrudim. May 11th, from that place, there is +a Letter to Jordan, which for once has no verse, no bantering in it: +Prince Karl actually coming on; Hussar precursors, in quantity, stealing +across to attack our Magazines beyond Elbe;--and in consequence, Orders +are out this very day: "Cantonments, cease; immediate rendezvous, and +Encampment at Chrudim here!" Which takes effect two days hence, Monday, +13th May: one of the finest sights Stille ever saw. "His Majesty rode to +a height; you never beheld such a scene: bright columns, foot and +horse, streaming in from every point of the compass, their clear arms +glittering in the sun; lost now in some hollow, then emerging, winding +out with long-drawn glitter again; till at length their blue uniforms +and actual faces come home to you. Near upon 30,000 of all arms; trim +exact, of stout and silently good-humored aspect; well rested, by this +time;--likely fellows for their work, who will do it with a will. The +King seemed to be affected by so glorious a spectacle; and, what I +admired, his Majesty, though fatigued, would not rest satisfied with +reports or distant view, but personally made the tour of the whole Camp, +to see that everything was right, and posted the pickets himself before +retiring." [Stille, p. 57 (or Letter X.).] + +Prince Karl, since we last heard of him, had hung about in the Brunn and +other Moravian regions, rallying his forces, pushing out Croat parties +upon Prince Dietrich's home-march, and the like; very ill off for food, +for draught-cattle, in a wasted Country. So that he had soon quitted +Mahren; made for Budweis and neighborhood:--dangerous to Broglio's +outposts there? To a "Castle of Frauenberg," across the Moldau from +Budweis; which is Broglio's bulwark there, and has cost Broglio much +revictualling, reinforcing, and flurry for the last two months. Prince +Karl did not meddle with Brauenberg, or Broglio, on this occasion; +leaves Lobkowitz, with some Reserve-party, hovering about in those +parts;--and himself advances, by Teutschbrod (well known to the poor +retreating Saxons latcey!) towards Chrudim, on his grand Problem, that +of 25th February last. Cautiously, not too willingly, old Konigseck and +he. But they were inflexibly urged to it by the Heads at Vienna; who, +what with their Bavarian successes, what with their Moravian and other, +had got into a high key;--and scorned the notion of "Peace," when +Hyndford (getting Friedrich's permission, in the late Chrudim interval) +had urged it again. [Orlich, i. 226.] + +Broglio is in boundless flurry; nothing but spectres of attack looming +in from Karl, from Khevenhuller, from everybody; and Eger hardly yet +got. [19th April (_Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 77-81.) Fine reinforcement, +25,000 under a Due d'Harcourt; this and other good outlooks there are; +but it is the terrible alone that occupy Broglio. And indeed the poor +man--especially ever since that Moravian Business would not thrive in +spite of him--is not to be called well off! Friedrich and he are in +correspondence, by no means mutually pleasant, on the Prince-Karl +phenomenon. "Evidently intending towards Prag, your Majesty perceives!" +thinks Broglio. "If not towards Chrudim, first of all, which is 80 miles +nearer him, on his rode to Prag!" urges Friedrich, at this stage: "Help +me with a few regiments in this Chrudim Circle, lest I prove too weak +here. Is not this the bulwark of your Prag just now?" In vain; Broglio +(who indeed has orders that way) cannot spare a man. "Very well," +thinks Friedrich; and has girded up his own strength for the Chrudim +phenomenon; but does not forget this new illustration of the Joint-Stock +Principle, and the advantages of Broglio Partnership. + +Friedrich's beautiful Encampment at Chrudim lasted only two days. +Precursor Tolpatcheries (and, in fact, Prince Karl's Vanguard, if we +knew it) come storming about, rifer and rifer; attempting the Bridge of +Kolin (road to our Magazines); attempting this and that; meaning to +get between us and Prag; and, what is worse, to seize the Magazines, +Podiebrad, Nimburg, which we have in that quarter! Tuesday, May 15th, +accordingly, Friedrich himself gets on march, with a strong +swift Vanguard, horse and foot (grenadiers, hussars, dragoons), +Prag-ward,--probably as far as Kuttenberg, a fine high-lying post, which +commands those Kodin parts;--will march with despatch, and see how that +matter is. The main Army is to follow under Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau +to-morrow, Wednesday," so soon as their loaves have come from +Konigsgratz,"--for "an Army goes on its belly," says Friedrich often. +Loaves do not come, owing to evil chance, on this occasion: Leopold's +people "take meal instead;" but will follow, next morning, all the same, +according to bidding. Readers may as well take their Map, and accompany +in these movements; which issue in a notable conclusive thing. + +Tuesday morning, 15th May, Friedrich marches from Chrudim; on which same +morning of the 15th, Prince Karl, steadily on the advance he too, is +starting,--and towards the same point,--from a place called Chotieborz, +only fifteen miles to southward of Chrudim. In this way, mutually +unaware, but Prince Karl getting soonest aware, the Vanguards of the +Two Armies (Prince Karl's Vanguard being in many branches, of Tolpatch +nature) are cast athwart each other; and make, both to Friedrich and +Prince Karl, an enigmatic business of it for the next two days. Tuesday, +15th, Friedrich marching along, vigilantly observant on both hands, some +fifteen miles space, came that evening to a Village called Podhorzan, +with Height near by; [Stille, pp. 60, 61.] Height which he +judged unattackable, and on the side of which he pitches his camp +accordingly,--himself mounting the Height to look for news. News sure +enough: there, south of us on the heights of Ronnow, three or four miles +off, are the Enemy, camped or pickeering about, 7 or 8,000 as we judge. +Lobkowitz, surely not Lobkowitz? He has been gliding about, on the +French outskirts, far in the southwest lately: can this be Lobkowitz, +about to join Prince Karl in these parts?--Truly, your Majesty, this is +not Lobkowitz at all; this is Prince Karl's Vanguard, and Prince Karl +himself actually in it for the moment,--anxiously taking view of your +Vanguard; recognizing, and admitting to himself, "Pooh, they will be +at Kuttenberg before us; no use in hastening. Head-quarters at Willimow +to-night; here at Ronnow to-morrow: that is all we can do!" [Orlich, i. +233.] + +To-morrow, 16th May, before sunrise at Podhorzan, the supposed Lobkowitz +is clean vanished: there is no Enemy visible to Friedrich, at Ronnow +or elsewhere. Leaving Friedrich in considerable uncertainty: clear only +that there are Enemies copiously about; that he himself will hold on for +Kuttenberg; that young Leopold must get hitherward, with steady +celerity at the top of his effort,--parts of the ground being difficult; +especially a muddy Stream, called Dobrowa, which has only one Bridge +on it fit for artillery, the Bridge of Sbislau, a mile or two ahead of +this. Instructions are sent Leopold to that effect; and farther that +Leopold must quarter in Czaslau (a substantial little Town, with bogs +about it, and military virtues); and, on the whole, keep close to heel +of us, the Enemy in force being near, Upon which, his Majesty pushes on +for Kuttenberg; Prince Leopold following with best diligence, according +to Program. His Majesty passed a little place called Neuhof that +afternoon (Wednesday, 16th May); and encamped a short way from +Kuttenberg, behind or north of that Town,--out of which, on his +approach, there fled a considerable cloud of Austrian Irregulars, and +"left a large baking of bread." Bread just about ready to their order, +and coming hot out of the ovens; which was very welcome to his Majesty +that night; and will yield refreshment, partial refreshment, next +morning, to Prince Leopold, not too comfortable on his meal-diet just +now. + +Poor Prince Leopold had his own difficulties this day; rough ground, +very difficult to pass; and coming on the Height of Podhorzan where +his Majesty was yesterday, Leopold sees crowds of Hussars, needing a +cannon-shot or two; sees evident symptoms, to southward, that the whole +Force of the Enemy is advancing upon him! "Speed, then, for Sbislau +Bridge yonder; across the Dobrowa, with our Artillery-wagons, or we are +lost!" Prince Karl, with Hussar-parties all about, is fully aware of +Prince Leopold and his movements, and is rolling on, Ronnow-ward all +day, to cut him off, in his detached state, if possible. Prince Karl +might, with ease, have broken this Dobrowa Bridge; and Leopold and +military men recognize it as a capital neglect that he did not. + +Leopold, overloaded with such intricacies and anxieties, sends off three +messengers, Officers of mark (Schmettau Junior one of them), to apprise +the King: the Officers return, unable to get across to his Majesty; +Leopold sends proper detachment of horse with them,--uncertain still +whether they will get through. And night is falling; we shall evidently +be too late for getting Czaslau: well if we can occupy Chotusitz and the +environs; a small clay Hamlet, three miles nearer us. It was 11 at night +before the rear-guard got into Chotusitz: Czaslau, three miles south of +us, we cannot attend to till to-morrow morning. [Orlich, pp. 236-239.] +And the three messengers, despatched with escort, send back no word. +Have they ever got to his Majesty? Leopold sends off a fourth. This +fourth one does get through; reports to his Majesty, That, by all +appearance, there will be Battle on the morrow early; that not Czaslau, +but only Chotusitz is ours; and that Instructions are wanted. Deep in +the night, this fourth messenger returns; a welcome awakening for Prince +Leopold; who studies his Majesty's Instructions, and will make his +dispositions accordingly. + +It is 2 or 3 in the morning, [Ib. p. 238.] in Leopold's Camp,--Bivouac +rather, with its face to the south, and Chotusitz ahead. Thursday, 17th +May, 1742; a furiously important Day about to dawn. High Problem of the +23th February last; Britannic Majesty and his Hyndfords and Robinsons +vainly protesting:--it had to be tried; Hungarian Majesty having got, +from Britannic, the sinews for trying it: and this is to be the Day. + + + + +Chapter XIII. --BATTLE OF CHOTUSITZ. + +Kuttenberg, Czaslau, Chotusitz and all these other places lie in what +is called the Valley of the Elbe, but what to the eye has not the least +appearance of a hollow, but of an extensive plain rather, dimpled here +and there; and, if anything, rather sloping FROM the Elbe,--were it +not that dull bushless brooks, one or two, sauntering to NORTHward, not +southward, warn you of the contrary. Conceive a flat tract of this kind, +some three or four miles square, with Czaslau on its southern border, +Chotusitz on its northern; flanked, on the west, by a straggle of +Lakelets, ponds and quagmires (which in our time are drained away, +all but a tenth part or so of remainder); flanked, on the east, by +a considerable puddle of a Stream called the Dobrowa; and cut in the +middle by a nameless poor Brook ("BRTLINKA" some write it, if anybody +could pronounce), running parallel and independent,--which latter, of +more concernment to us here, springs beyond Czaslau, and is got to be of +some size, and more intricate than usual, with "islands" and the like, +as it passes Chotusitz (a little to east of Chotusitz);--this is our +Field of Battle. Sixty or more miles to eastward of Prag, eight miles or +more to southward of Elbe River and the Ford of Elbe-Teinitz (which we +shall hear of, in years coming). A scene worth visiting by the curious, +though it is by no means of picturesque character. + +Uncomfortably bare, like most German plains; mean little hamlets, which +are full of litter when you enter them, lie sprinkled about; little +church-spires (like suffragans to Chotusitz spire, which is near you); a +ragged untrimmed country: beyond the Brook, towards the Dobrowa, two +or more miles from Chotusitz, is still noticeable: something like a +Deer-park, with umbrageous features, bushy clumps, and shadowy vestiges +of a Mansion, the one regular edifice within your horizon. Schuschitz is +the name of this Mansion and Deer-park; farther on lies Sbislau, where +Leopold happily found his Bridge unbroken yesterday. + +The general landscape is scrubby, littery; ill-tilled, scratched rather +than ploughed; physiognomic of Czech Populations, who are seldom trim at +elbows: any beauty it has is on the farther side of the Dobrowa, which +does not concern Prince Leopold, Prince Karl, or us at present. Prince +Leopold's camp lies east and west, short way to north of Chotusitz. +Schuschitz Hamlet (a good mile northward of Sbislau) covers his left, +the chain of Lakelets covers his right: and Chotusitz, one of his +outposts, lies centrally in front. Prince Karl is coming on, in four +columns, from the Hills and intricacies south of Czaslau,--has been on +march all night, intending a night-attack or camisado if he could; +but could not in the least, owing to the intricate roadways, and the +discrepancies of pace between his four columns. The sun was up before +anything of him appeared:--drawing out, visibly yonder, by the east +side of Czaslau; 30,000 strong, they say. Friedrich's united force, were +Friedrich himself on the ground, will be about 28,000. + +Friedrich's Orders, which Leopold is studying, were: "Hold by Chotusitz +for Centre; your left wing, see you lean it on something, towards +Dobrowa side,--on that intricate Brook (Brtlinka) or Park-wall of +Schuschitz, [SBISLAU, Friedrich hastily calls it (_OEuvres,_ ii. +121-126); Stille (p. 63) is more exact.] which I think is there; then +your right wing westwards, till you lean again on something: two lines, +leave room for me and my force, on the corner nearest here. I will +start at four; be with you between seven and eight,--and even bring a +proportion of Austrian bread (hot from these ovens of Kuttenberg) to +refresh part of you." Leopold of Anhalt, a much-comforted man, waits +only for the earliest gray of the morning, to be up and doing. +From Chotusitz he spreads out leftwards towards the Brtlinka +Brook,--difficult ground that, unfit for cavalry, with its bog-holes, +islands, gullies and broken surface; better have gone across the +Brtlinka with mere infantry, and leant on the wall of that Deer-park of +Schuschitz with perhaps only 1,000 horse to support, well rearward of +the infantry and this difficult ground? So men think,--after the action +is over. [Stille, pp. 63, 67.] And indeed there was certainly some +misarrangement there (done by Leopold's subordinates), which had its +effects shortly. + +Leopold was not there in person, arranging that left wing; Leopold is +looking after centre and right. He perceives, the right wing will be his +best chance; knows that, in general, cavalry must be on both wings. On +a little eminence in front of his right, he sees how the Enemy comes +on; Czaslau, lately on their left, is now getting to rear of them:--"And +you, stout old General Buddenbrock, spread yourself out to right a +little, hidden behind this rising ground; I think we may outflank their +left wing by a few squadrons, which will be an advantage." + +Buddenbrock spreads himself out, as bidden: had Buddenbrock been +reinforced by most of the horse that could do no good on our LEFT wing, +it is thought the Battle had gone better. Buddenbrock in this way, +secretly, outflanks the Austrians; to HIS right all forward, he has that +string of marshy pools (Lakes of Czirkwitz so called, outflowings from +the Brook of Neuhof), and cannot be taken in flank by any means. Brook +of Neuhof, which his Majesty crossed yesterday, farther north;--and +ought to have recrossed by this time?--said Brook, hereabouts a mere +fringe of quagmires and marshy pools, is our extreme boundary on the +west or right; Brook of Brtlinka (unluckily NOT wall of the Deer-park) +bounds us eastward, or on our left, Prince Karl, drawn up by this time, +is in two lines, cavalry on right and left, but rather in bent order; +bent towards us at both ends (being dainty of his ground, I suppose); +and comes on in hollow-crescent form;--which is not reckoned orthodox by +military men. What all these Villages, human individuals and terrified +deer, are thinking, I never can conjecture! Thick-soled peasants, +terrified nursing-mothers: Better to run and hide, I should say; mount +your garron plough-horses, hide your butter-pots, meal-barrels; run at +least ten miles or so!-- + +It is now past seven, a hot May morning, the Austrians very near;--and +yonder, of a surety, is his Majesty coming. Majesty has marched since +four; and is here at his time, loaves and all. His men rank at once in +the corner left for them; one of his horse-generals, Lehwald, is sent to +the left, to put straight what my be awry there (cannot quite do it, he +either);--and the attack by Buddenhrock, who secretly outflanks here on +the right, this shall at once take effect. No sooner has his Majesty +got upon the little eminence or rising ground, and scanned the Austrian +lines for an instant or two, than his cannon-batteries awaken here; +give the Austrian horse a good blast, by way of morning salutation and +overture to the concert of the day. And Buddenbrock, deploying under +cover of that, charges, "first at a trot, then at a gallop," to see what +can be done upon them with the white weapon. Old Uuddenbrock, surely, +did not himself RIDE in the charge? He is an old man of seventy; has +fought at Oudenarde, Malplaquet, nay at Steenkirk, and been run through +the body, under Dutch William; is an old acquaintance of Charles XII.s +even; and sat solemnly by Friedrich Wilhelm's coffin, after so much +attendance during life. The special leader of the charge was Bredow; +also a veteran gentleman, but still only in the fifties; he, I conclude, +made the charge; first at a trot, then at a gallop,--with swords +flashing hideous, and eyebrows knit. + +"The dust was prodigious," says Friedrich, weather being dry and ground +sandy; for a space of time you could see nothing but one huge whirlpool +of dust, with the gleam of steel flickering madly in it: however, +Buddenbrock, outflanking the Austrian first line of horse, did hurl +them from their place; by and by you see the dust-tempest running south, +faster and faster south,--that is to say, the Austrian horse in flight; +for Buddenbrock, outflanking them by three squadrons, has tumbled their +first line topsy-turvy, and they rush to rearward, he following away and +away. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ ii. 123.] Now were the time for a fresh +force of Prussian cavalry,--for example, those you have standing useless +behind the gullies and quagmires on your left wing (says Stille, after +the event);--due support to Buddenbrock, and all that Austrian cavalry +were gone, and their infantry left bare. + +But now again, see, do not the dust-clouds pause? They pause, mounting +higher and higher; they dance wildly, then roll back towards us; too +evidently back. Buddenbrock has come upon the secoud line of Austrian +horse; in too loose order Buddenbrock, by this time, and they have +broken him:--and it is a mutual defeat of horse on this wing, the +Prussian rather the worse of the two. And might have been serious,--had +not Rothenburg plunged furiously in, at this crisis, quite through to +the Austrian infantry, and restored matters, or more. Making a confused +result of it in this quarter. Austrian horse-regiments there now were +that fled quite away; as did even one or two foot-regiments, while the +Prussian infantry dashed forward on them, escorted by Rothenburg in this +manner,--who got badly wounded in the business; and was long an object +of solicitude to Friedrich. And contrariwise certain Prussian horse +also, it was too visible, did not compose themselves till fairly arear +of our foot. This is Shock First in the Battle; there are Three Shocks +in all. + +Partial charging, fencing and flourishing went on; but nothing very +effectual was done by the horse in this quarter farther. Nor did +the fire or effort of the Prussian Infantry in this their right wing +continue; Austrian fury and chief effort having, by this time, broken +out in an opposite quarter. So that the strain of the Fight lies now in +the other wing over about Chotusitz and the Brtlinka Brook; and thither +I perceive his Majesty has galloped, being "always in the thickest +of the danger" this day. Shock Second is now on. The Austrians have +attacked at Chotusitz; and are threatening to do wonders there. + +Prince Leopold's Left Wing, as we said, was entirely defective in the +eye of tacticians (after the event). Far from leaning on the wall of the +Deer-park, he did not even reach the Brook,--or had to weaken his force +in Chotusitz Village for that object. So that when the Austrian foot +comes storming upon Chotusitz, there is but "half a regiment" to defend +it. And as for cavalry, what is to become of cavalry, slowly threading, +under cannon-shot and musketry, these intricate quagmires and gullies, +and dangerously breaking into files and strings, before ever it can find +ground to charge? Accordingly, the Austrian foot took Chotusitz, after +obstinate resistance; and old Konigseck, very ill of gout, got seated +in one of the huts there; and the Prussian cavalry, embarrassed to get +through the gullies, could not charge except piecemeal, and then though +in some cases with desperate valor, yet in all without effectual result. +Konigseck sits in Chotusitz;--and yet withal the Russians are not out of +it, will not be driven out of it, but cling obstinately; whereupon the +Austrians set fire to the place; its dry thatch goes up in flame, and +poor old Konigseck, quite lame of gout, narrowly escaped burning, they +say. + +And, see, the Austrian horse have got across the Brtlinka, are spread +almost to the Deer-park, and strive hard to take us in flank,--did not +the Brook, the bad ground and the platoon-firing (fearfully swift, from +discipline and the iron ramrods) hold them back in some measure. They +make a violent attempt or two; but the problem is very rugged. Nor can +the Austrian infantry, behind or to the west of burning Chotusitz, make +an impression, though they try it, with levelled bayonets and deadly +energy, again and again: the Prussian ranks are as if built of rock, +and their fire is so sure and swift. Here is one Austrian regiment, came +rushing on like lions; would not let go, death or no-death:--and here it +lies, shot down in ranks; whole swaths of dead men, and their muskets by +them,--as if they had got the word to take that posture, and had done it +hurriedly! A small transitory gleam of proud rage is visible, deep down, +in the soul of Friedrich as he records this fact. Shock Second was very +violent. + +The Austrian horse, after such experimenting in the Brtlinka quarter, +gallop off to try to charge the Prussians in the rear;--"pleasanter by +far," judge many of them, "to plunder the Prussian Camp," which they +descry in those regions; whither accordingly they rush. Too many of +them; and the Hussars as one man. To the sorrowful indignation of Prince +Karl, whose right arm (or wing) is fallen paralytic in this manner. +After the Fight, they repented in dust and ashes; and went to say so, as +if with the rope about their neck; upon which he pardoned them. + +Nor is Prince Karl's left wing gaining garlands just at this moment. +Shock Third is awakening;--and will be decisive on Prince Karl. +Chotusitz, set on fire an hour since (about 9 A.M.), still burns; +cutting him in two, as it were, or disjoining his left wing from his +right: and it is on his right wing that Prince Karl is depending for +victory, at present; his left wing, ruffled by those first Prussian +charges of horse, with occasional Prussian swift musketry ever since, +being left to its own inferior luck, which is beginning to produce +impression on it. And, lo, on the sudden (what brought finis to the +business), Friedrich, seizing the moment, commands a united charge +on this left wing: Friedrich's right wing dashes forward on it, +double-quick, takes it furiously, on front and flank; fifteen +field-pieces preceding, and intolerable musketry behind them. So that +the Austrian left wing cannot stand it at all. + +The Austrian left wing, stormed in upon in this manner, swags and sways, +threatening to tumble pell-mell upon the right wing; which latter has +its own hands full. No Chotusitz or point of defence to hold by, Prince +Karl is eminently ill off, and will be hurled wholly into the Brtlinka, +and the islands and gullies, unless he mind! Prince Karl,--what a moment +for him!--noticing this undeniable phenomenon, rapidly gives the word +for retreat, to avoid worse. It is near upon Noon; four hours of battle; +very fierce on both the wings, together or alternately; in the centre +(westward of Chotusitz) mostly insignificant: "more than half the +Prussians" standing with arms shouldered. Prince Karl rolls rapidly +away, through Czaslau towards southwest again; loses guns in Czaslau; +goes, not quite broken, but at double-quick time for five miles; +cavalry, Prussian and Austrian, bickering in the rear of him; and +vanishes over the horizon towards Willimow and Haber that night, the way +he had come. + +This is the battle of Chotusitz, called also of Czaslau: Thursday, 17th +May, 1742. Vehemently fought on both sides;--calculated, one may hope, +to end this Silesian matter? The results, in killed and wounded, +were not very far from equal. Nay, in killed the Prussians suffered +considerably the worse; the exact Austrian cipher of killed being 1,052, +while that of the Prussians was 1,905,--owing chiefly to those fierce +ineffectual horse-charges and bickerings, on the right wing and left; +"above 1,200 Prussian cavalry were destroyed in these." But, in fine, +the general loss, including wounded and missing, amounted on the +Austrian side (prisoners being many, and deserters very many) to near +seven thousand, and on the Prussian to between four and five. [Orlich, +i. 255; _Feldzuge der Preussen,_ p. 113; Stille, pp. 62-71; Friedrich +himself, _OEuvres,_ ii. 121-126; and (ib. pp. 145-150) the Newspaper +"RELATION," written also by him.] Two Generals Friedrich had lost, who +are not specially of our acquaintance; and several younger friends +whom he loved. Rothenburg, who was in that first charge of horse with +Buddenbrock, or in rescue of Buddenbrock, and did exploits, got badly +hurt, as we saw,--badly, not fatally, as Friedrich's first terror +was,--and wore his arm in a sling for a long while afterwards. + +Buddenbrock's charge, I since hear, was ruined by the DUST; [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ ii. 121.] the King's vanguard, under Rothenburg, a +"new-raised regiment of Hussars in green," coming to the rescue, were +mistaken for Austrians, and the cry rose, "Enemy to rear!" which brought +Rothenburg his disaster. Friedrich much loved and valued the man; +employed him afterwards as Ambassador to France and in places of trust. +Friedrich's Ambassadors are oftenest soldiers as well: bred soldiers, he +finds, if they chance to have natural intelligence, are fittest for all +kinds of work.--Some eighteen Austrian cannon were got; no standards, +because, said the Prussians, they took the precaution of bringing none +to the field, but had beforehand rolled them all up, out of harm's +way.--Let us close with this Fraction of topography old aud new:-- + +"King Friedrich purchased Nine Acres of Ground, near Chotusitz, to +bury the slain; rented it from the proprietor for twenty-five years. +[_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 634.] I asked, Where are those nine acres; +what crop is now upon them? but could learn nothing. A dim people, those +poor Czech natives; stupid, dirty-skinned, ill-given; not one in twenty +of them speaking any German;--and our dragoman a fortuitous Jew Pedler; +with the mournfulest of human faces, though a head worth twenty of those +Czech ones, poor oppressed soul! The Battle-plain bears rye, barley, +miscellaneous pulse, potatoes, mostly insignificant crops;--the nine +hero-acres in question, perhaps still of slightly richer quality, lie +indiscriminate among the others; their very fence, if they ever had one, +now torn away. + +"The Country, as you descend by dusty intricate lanes from Kuttenberg, +with your left hand to the Elbe, and at length with your back to it, +would be rather pretty, were it well cultivated, the scraggy litter +swept off, and replaced by verdure and reasonable umbrage here and +there. The Field of Chotusitz, where you emerge on it, is a wide wavy +plain; the steeple of Chotusitz, and, three or four miles farther, +that of Czaslau (pronounce 'KOTusitz,' 'CHASlau'), are the conspicuous +objects in it. The Lakes Friedrich speaks of, which covered his right, +and should cover ours, are not now there,--'all, or mostly all, drained +away, eighty years ago,' answered the Czechs; answered one wiser Czech, +when pressed upon, and guessed upon; thereby solving the enigma which +was distressful to us. Between those Lakes and the Brtlinka Brook may +be some two miles; Chotusitz is on the crown of the space, if it have a +crown. But there is no 'height' on it, worth calling a height except by +the military man; no tree or bush; no fence among the scrubby ryes and +pulses: no obstacle but that Brook, which, or the hollow of which, you +see sauntering steadily northward or Elbe-ward, a good distance on your +left, as you drive for Chotusitz and steeple. Schuschitz, a peaked brown +edifice, is visible everywhere, well ahead and leftwards, well beyond +said hollow; something of wood and 'deer-park' still noticeable or +imaginable yonder. + +"Chotusitz itself is a poor littery place; standing white-washed, +but much unswept: in two straggling rows, now wide enough apart (no +Konigseck need now get burnt there): utterly silent under the hot sun; +not a child looked out on us, and I think the very dogs lay wisely +asleep. Church and steeple are at the farther or south end of the +Village, and have an older date than 1742. High up on the steeple, +mending the clock-hands or I know not what, hung in mid-air one +Czech; the only living thing we saw. Population may be three or four +hundred,--all busy with their teams or otherwise, we will hope. Czaslau, +which you approach by something of avenues, of human roads (dust and +litter still abounding), is a much grander place; say of 2,000 or more: +shiny, white, but also somnolent; vast market-place, or central square, +sloping against you: two shiny Hotels on it, with Austrian uniforms +loitering about;--and otherwise great emptiness and silence. The shiny +Hotels (shine due to paint mainly) offer little of humanly edible; and, +in the interior, smells strike you as--as the OLDEST you have ever met +before. A people not given to washing, to ventilating! Many gospels have +been preached in those parts, aud abstruse Orthodoxies, sometimes with +fire and sword, and no end of emphasis; but that of Soap-and-Water +(which surely is as Catholic as any, and the plainest of all) has not +yet got introduced there!" [Tourist's Note (13th September, 1858).] + +Czaslau hangs upon the English mind (were not the ignorance so total) by +another tie: it is the resting-place of Zisca, whose drum, or the fable +of whose drum, we saw in the citadel of Glatz. Zisca was buried IN his +skin, at Czaslau finally: in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul there; +with due epitaph; and his big mace or battle-club, mostly iron, hung +honorable on the wall close by. Kaiser Ferdinand, Karl V.'s brother, on +a Progress to Prag, came to lodge at Czaslau, one afternoon: "What is +that?" said the Kaiser, strolling over this Peter-and-Paul's Church, and +noticing the mace. "Ugh! Faugh!" growled he angrily, on hearing what; +and would not lodge in the Town, but harnessed again, and drove farther +that same night. The club is now gone; but Zisca's dust lies there +irremovable till Doomsday, in the land where his limbs were made. A +great behemoth of a war-captain; one of the fiercest, inflexiblest, +ruggedest creatures ever made in the form of man. Devoured Priests, with +appetite, wherever discoverable: Dishonorers of his Sister; murderers of +the God's-witness John Huss; them may all the Devils help! Beat Kaiser +Sigismund SUPRA-GRAMMATICAM again and ever again, scattering the Kitter +hosts in an extraordinary manner;--a Zisca conquerable only by Death, +and the Pest-Fever passing that way. + +His birthplace, Troznow, is a village in the Budweis neighborhood, 100 +miles to south. There, for three centuries after him, stood "Zisca's +Oak" (under shade of which, his mother, taken suddenly on the +harvest-field, had borne Zisca): a weird object, gate of Heaven and +of Orcus to the superstitious populations about. At midnight on the +Hallow-Eve, dark smiths would repair thither, to cut a twig of the Zisca +Oak: twig of it put, at the right moment, under your stithy, insures +good luck, lends pith to arm and heart, which is already good luck. So +that a Bishop of those parts, being of some culture, had to cut it down, +above a hundred years ago,--and build some Chapel in its stead; no Oak +there now, but an orthodox Inscription, not dated that I could see. +[Hormayr, _OEsterreichischer Plutarch,_ iii. (3tes), 110-145.] + +Friedrich did not much pursue the Austrians after this Victory; having +cleared the Czaslau region of them, he continued there (at Kuttenberg +mainly); and directed all his industry to getting Peace made. His +experiences of Broglio, and of what help was likely to be had from +Broglio,--whom his Court, as Friedrich chanced to know, had ordered +"to keep well clear of the King of Prussia,"--had not been flattering. +Beaten in this Battle, Broglio's charity would have been a weak reed to +lean upon: he is happy to inform Broglio, that though kept well clear +of, he is not beaten. + +[MAP GOES HERE---Book xiii, page 164----missing] + +Blustering Broglio might have guessed that HE now would have to look to +himself. But he did not; his eyes naturally dim and bad, being dazzled +at this time, by "an ever-glorious victory" (so Broglio thinks it) +of his own achieving. Broglio, some couple of days after Czaslau, had +marched hastily out of Prag for Budweis quarter, where Lobkowitz and the +Austrians were unexpectedly bestirring themselves, and threatening +to capture that "Castle of Frauenberg" (mythic old Hill-castle among +woods), Broglio's chief post in those regions. Broglio, May 24th, has +fought a handsome skirmish (thanks partly to Belleisle, who chanced to +arrive from Frankfurt just in the nick of time, and joined Broglio): +Skirmish of Sahay; magnified in all the French gazettes into a Victory +of Sahay, victory little short of Pharsalia, says Friedrich;--the +complete account of which, forgotten now by all creatures, is to be read +in him they call Mauvillon; [_Guerre de Boheme,_ ii. 204.] and makes a +pretty enough piece of fence, on the small scale. Lobkowitz had to give +up the Frauenberg enterprise; and cross to Budweis again, till new force +should come. + +"Why not drive him out of Budweis," think the Two French Marshals, "him +and whatever force can come? If those lucky Prussians would co-operate, +and those unlucky Saxons, how easy were it!"--Belleisle sets off to +persuade Friedrich, to persuade Saxony (and we shall see him on the +route); Broglio waiting sublime, on the hither side of the Moldau, well +within wind of Budweis, till Belleisle prevail, and return with said +co-operation, What became of Broglio, waiting in this sublime manner, +we shall also have to see; but perhaps not for a great while yet (cannot +pause on such absurd phenomena yet),--though Broglio's catastrophe is +itself a thing imminent; and, within some ten days of that astonishing +Victory of Sahay, astonishes poor Broglio the reverse way. A man born +for surprises! + + + + +Chapter XIV. -- PEACE OF BRESLAU. + +In actual loss of men or of ground, the results of that Chotusitz Affair +were not of decisive nature. But it had been fought with obstinacy; with +great fury on the Austrian side (who, as it were, had a bet upon it ever +since February 25th), Britannic George, and all the world, looking on: +and, in dispiritment and discredit to the beaten party, its results +were considerable. The voice of all the world, declaring through its +Gazetteer Editors, "You cannot beat those Prussians!" voice confirmed by +one's own sad thoughts:--in such sounding of the rams horns round one's +Jericho, there is always a strange influence (what is called panic, as +if Pan or some god were in it), and one's Jericho is the apter to fall! + +Among the Austrian Prisoners, there was a General Pallandt, mortally +wounded too; whom Friedrich, according to custom, treated with his best +humanity, though all help was hopeless to poor Pallandt. Calling one +day at Pallandt's sick-couch, Friedrich was so sympathetic, humane and +noble, that Pallandt was touched by it; and said, "What a pity your +noble Majesty and my noble Queen should ruin one another, for a set +of French intruders, who play false even to your Majesty!" "False?" +Friedrich inquires farther: Pallandt, a man familiar at Court, has seen +a Letter from Fleury to the Queen of Hungary, conclusive as to Fleury's +good faith; will undertake, if permitted, to get his Majesty a sight +of it. Friedrich permits; the Fleury letter comes; to the effect: "Make +peace with us, O Queen; with your Prussian neighbor you shall make--what +suits you!" Friedrich read; learned conclusively, what perhaps he +had already as good as known otherwise; and drew the inference. +[_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 633; Hormayr, _Anemonen,_ ii. 186; Adelung, +iii. A, 149 n.] Actual copy of this letter the most ardent Gazetteer +curiosity could not attain to, at that epoch; but the Pallandt +story seems to have been true;--and as to the Fleury letter in such +circumstances, copies of various Fleury letters to the like purport are +still public enough; and Fleury's private intentions, already guessed +at by Friedrich, are in our time a secret to nobody that inquires about +them. + +Certain enough, Peace with Friedrich is now on the way; and cannot well +linger:--what prospect has Austria otherwise? Its very supplies from +England will be stopped. Hyndford redoubles his diligence; Britannic +Majesty reiterates at Vienna: "Did not I tell you, Madam; there is no +hope or possibility till these Prussians are off our hands!" To which +her Hungarian Majesty, as the bargain was, now sorrowfully assents; +sorrowfully, unwillingly,--and always lays the blame on his Britannic +Majesty afterwards, and brings it up again as a great favor she had done +HIM. "Did not I give up my invaluable Silesia, the jewel of my crown, +for you, cruel Britannic Majesty with the big purse, and no heart +to speak of?" This she urges always, on subsequent occasions; the +high-souled Lady; reproachful of the patient, big-pursed little +Gentleman, who never answers as he might, "For ME, Madam? Well--!" In +short, Hyndford, Podewils and the Vienna Excellencies are busy. + +Of these negotiations which go on at Breslau, and of the acres of +despatchcs, English, Austrian, and other, let us not say one word. +Enough that the Treaty is getting made, and rapidly,--though military +offences do not quite cease; clouds of Austrian Pandours hovering about +everywhere in Prince Karl's rear; pouncing down upon Prussian outposts, +convoys, mostly to little purpose; hoping (what proves quite futile) +they may even burn a Prussian magazine here or there. Contemptible to +the Prussian soldier, though very troublesome to him. Friedrich regards +the Pandour sort, with their jingling savagery, as a kind of military +vermin; not conceivable a Prussian formed corps should yield to any odds +of Pandour Tolpatch tagraggery. Nor does the Prussian soldier yield; +though sometimes, like the mastiff galled by inroad of distracted +weasels in too great quantity, he may have his own difficulties. Witness +Colonel Retzow and the Magazine at Pardubitz ("daybreak, May 24th") +VERSUS the infinitude of sudden Tolpatchery, bursting from the woods; +rabid enough for many hours, but ineffectual, upon Pardubitz and Retzow. +A distinguished Colonel this; of whom we shall hear again. Whose style +of Narrative (modest, clear, grave, brief), much more, whose vigilant +inexpugnable procedure on the occasion, is much to be commended to +the military man. [Given in Seyfarth, _Beylage,_ i. 548 et seqq.] +Friedrich, the better to cover his Magazines, and be out of such +annoyances, fell back a little; gradually to Kuttenberg again +(Tolpatchery vanishing, of its own accord); and lay encamped there, +head-quarters in the Schloss of Maleschau near by,--till the Breslau +Negotiations completed themselves. + +Prince Karl, fringed with Tolpatchery in this manner, but with much +desertion, much dispiritment, in his main body,--the HOOPS upon him +all loose, so to speak,--staggers zigzag back towards Budweis, and +the Lobkowitz Party there; intending nothing more upon the +Prussians;--capable now, think some NON-Prussians, of being well swept +out of Budweis, and over the horizon altogether. If only his Prussian +Majesty will co-operate! thinks Belleisle. "Your King of Prussia will +not, M. le Marechal!" answers Broglio:--No, indeed; he has tried that +trade already, M. le Marechal! think Broglio and we. The suspicions that +Friedrich, so quiescent after his Chotusitz, is making Peace, are +rife everywhere; especially in Broglio's head and old Fleury's; though +Belleisle persists with emphasis, officially and privately, in the +opposite opinion, "Husht, Messieurs!" Better go and see, however. + +Belleisle does go; starts for Kuttenberg, for Dresden; his beautiful +Budweis project now ready, French reinforcements streaming towards us, +heart high again,--if only Friedrich and the Saxons will co-operate. +Belleisle, the Two Belleisles, with Valori and Company, arrived June +2d at Kuttenberg, at the Schloss of Maleschau;--"spoke little of +Chotusitz," says Stille; "and were none of them at the pains to ride to +the ground." Marechal Belleisle, for the next three days, had otherwise +speech of Friedrich; especially, on June 5th, a remarkable Dialogue. +"Won't your Majesty co-operate?" "Alas, Monseigneur de Belleisle--" How +gladly would we give this last Dialogue of Friedrich's and Belleisle's, +one of the most ticklish conceivable: but there is not anywhere the +least record of it that can be called authentic;--and we learn only that +Friedrich, with considerable distinctness, gave him to know, "clearly" +(say all the Books, except Friedrich's own), that co-operation was +henceforth a thing of the preter-pluperfect tense. "All that I ever +wanted, more than I ever demanded, Austria now offers; can any one blame +me that I close such a business as ours has all along been, on such +terms as these now offered me are?" + +It is said, and is likely enough, the Pallandt-Fleury Letter came up; as +probably the MORAVIAN FORAY, and various Broglio passages, would, in +the train of said Letter. To all which, and to the inexorable painful +corollary, Belleisle, in his high lean way, would listen with a +stern grandiose composure. But the rumors add, On coming out into the +Anteroom, dialogue and sentence now done, Monseigneur de Belleisle +tore the peruke from his head; and stamping on it, was heard to say +volcanically, "That cursed parson,--CE MAUDIT CALOTTE [old Fleury],--has +ruined everything!" Perhaps it is not true? If true,--the prompt valets +would quickly replace Monseigneur's wig; chasing his long strides; and +silence, in so dignified a man, would cloak whatever emotions there +were. [Adelung, iii. A, 154; &c. &c. _Guerre de Boheme,_ (silent about +the wig) admits, as all Books do, the perfect clearness;--compare, +however, _OEuvres de Frederic;_ and also Broglio's strange darkness, +twelve days later, and Belleisle now beside him again (_Campagnes des +Trois Marechaux,_ v. 190, 191, of date 17th June);--darkness due perhaps +to the strange humor Broglio was then in?] He rolled off, he and his, +straightway to Dresden, there to invite co-operation in the Budweis +Project; there also in vain.--"CO-operation," M. le Marechal? Alas, +it has already come to operation, if you knew it! Aud your Broglio +is--Better hurry back to Prag, where you will find phenomena! + +June 15th, Friedrich has a grand dinner of Generals at Maleschau; and +says, in proposing the first bumper, "Gentlemen, I announce to you, +that, as I never wished to oppress the Queen of Hungary, I have formed +the resolution of agreeing with that Princess, and accepting the +Proposals she has made me in satisfaction of my rights,"--telling them +withal what the chief terms were, and praising my Lord Hyndford for his +great services. Upon which was congratulation, cordial, universal; and, +with full rummers, "Health to the Queen of Hungary!" followed by others +of the like type, "Grand-Duke of Lorraine!" and "The brave Prince Karl!" +especially. + +Brevity being incumbent on us, we shall say only that the +Hyndford-Podewils operations had been speeded, day and night; brought to +finis, in the form of Signed Preliminaries, as "Treaty of Breslau, +11th June, 1742;" and had gone to Friedrich's satisfaction in every +particular. Thanks to the useful Hyndford,--to the willing mind of his +Britannic Majesty, once so indignant, but made willing, nay passionately +eager, by his love of Human Liberty and the pressure of events! To +Hyndford, some weeks hence, [2d August (_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. +729).]--I conclude, on Friedrich's request,--there was Order of the +Thistle sent; and grandest investiture ever seen almost, done by +Friedrich upon Hyndford (Jordan, Keyserling, Schwerin, and the Sword of +State busy in it; Two Queens and all the Berlin firmament looking on); +and, perhaps better still, on Friedrich's part there was gift of a +Silver Dinner-Service; gift of the Royal Prussian Arms (which do enrich +ever since the Shield of those Scottish Carmichaels, as doubtless the +Dinner-Service does their Plate-chest); and abundant praise and honor to +the useful Hyndford, heavy of foot, but sure, who had reached the goal. + +This welcome Treaty, signed at Breslau, June 11th, and confirmed by +"Treaty of Berlin, July 28th," in more explicit solemn manner, to the +self-same effect, can be read by him that runs (if compelled to read +Treaties); [In _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1061-1064 (Treaty of Breslau), +ib. 1065-1070 (that of Berlin); to be found also in Wenck, Rousset, +Scholl, Adeluug, &c.] the terms, in compressed form, are:-- + +1. "Silesia, Lower and Upper, to beyond the watershed and the +Oppa-stream,--reserving only the Principality of Teschen, with +pertinents, which used to be reckoned Silesian, and the ulterior +Mountain-tops [Mountain-tops good for what? thought Friedrich, a year or +two afterwards!]--Silesia wholly, within those limits, and furthermore +the County Glatz and its dependencies, are and remain the property of +Friedrich and of his Heirs male or female; given up, and made his, to +all intents and purposes, forevermore. With which Friedrich, to the +like long date, engages to rest satisfied, and claim nothing farther +anywhere. + +2. "Silesian Dutch-English Debt [Loan of about Two Millions, better half +of it English, contracted by the late Kaiser, on Silesian security, +in that dreadful Polish-Election crisis, when the Sea-Powers would not +help, but left it to their Stockbrokers] is undertaken by Friedrich, who +will pay interest on the same till liquidated. + +3. "Religion to stand where it is. Prussian Majesty not to meddle in +this present or in other Wars of her Hungarian Majesty, except with his +ardent wishes that General Peace would ensue, and that all his friends, +Hungarian Majesty among others, were living in good agreement around +him." + +This is the Treaty of Breslau (June 11th, 1742), or, in second more +solemn edition, Treaty of Berlin (July 28th following); signed, +ratified, guaranteed by his Britannic Majesty for one, [Treaty of +Westminster, between Friedrich aud George, 29th (18th) November, 1842 +(Scholl, ii. 313).] and firmly planted on the Diplomatic adamant (at +least on the Diplomatic parchment) of this world. And now: Homewards, +then; march!-- + +Huge huzzaing, herald-trumpeting, bob-majoring, bursts forth from all +Prussian Towns, especially from all Silesian ones, in those June days, +as the drums beat homewards; elaborate Illuminations, in the short +nights; with bonfires, with transparencies,--Transparency inscribed +"FREDERICO MAGNO (To Friedrich THE GREAT)," in one small instance, still +of premature nature. [_Helden-Geschichte_ (ii. 702-729) is endless +on these Illuminations; the Jauer case, of FREDERICO MAGNO (Jauer in +Silesia), is of June 15th (ib. 712).] + +Omitting very many things, about Silesian Fortresses, Army-Cantons, +Silesian settlements, military and civil, which would but weary the +reader, we add only this from Bielfeld: dusty Transit of a victorious +Majesty, now on the threshold of home. Precise date (which Bielfeld +prudently avoids guessing at) is July 11th, 1742; "M. de Pollnitz and I +are in the suite of the King:-- + +"We never stopped on the road, except some hours at Frankfurt-on-Oder, +where the Fair was just going on. On approaching the Town, we found the +highway lined on both sides with crowds of traders, and other strangers +of all nations; who had come out, attracted by curiosity to see the +conqueror of Silesia, and had ranged themselves in two rows there. His +Majesty's entry into Frankfurt, although a very triumphant one, was far +from being ostentatious. We passed like lightning before the eyes of the +spectators, and we were so covered with dust, that it was difficult to +distinguish the color of our coats and the features of our faces. We +made some purchases at Frankfurt; and arrived safely in the Capital +[next day], where the King was received amidst the acclamations of his +People." [Bielfeld, ii. 51.] + +Here is a successful young King; is not he? Has plunged into the +Mahlstrom for his jewelled gold Cup, and comes up with it, alive, +unlamed. Will he, like that DIVER of Schiller's, have to try the feat a +second time? Perhaps a second time, and even a third!-- + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XIII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2113.txt or 2113.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2113/ + +Produced by D.R. 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Thompson <drthom@ihug.co.nz> + + + + + +Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" +Book XIII + + + + +FIRST SILESIAN WAR, LEAVING THE GENERAL EUROPEAN +ONE ABLAZE ALL ROUND, GETS ENDED. + +May, 1741-July, 1742. + + +Chapter I. + +BRITANNIC MAJESTY AS PALADIN OF THE PRAGMATIC. + +Part First of his Britannic Majesty's Sorrows, the Britannic or +Domestic Part, is now perhaps conceivable to readers. But as to the +Second, the Germanic or Pragmatic Part,--articulate History, after +much consideration, is content to renounce attempting these; +feels that these will remain forever inconceivable to mankind in +the now altered times. So small a gentleman; and he feels, dismally +though with heroism, that he has got the axis of the world on his +shoulder. Poor Majesty! His eyes, proud as Jove's, are nothing like +so perspicacious; a pair of the poorest eyes: and he has to scan +with them, and unriddle under pain of death, such a waste of +insoluble intricacies, troubles and world-perils as seldom was,-- +even in Dreams. In fact, it is of the nature of a long Nightmare +Dream, all this of the Pragmatic, to his poor Majesty and Nation; +and wakeful History must not spend herself upon it, beyond +the essential. + +May 12th, betimes this Year, his Majesty got across to Hanover, +Harrington with him; anxious to contemplate near at hand that Camp +of the Old Dessauer's at Gottin, and the other fearful phenomena, +French, Prussian and other, in that Country. His Majesty, as +natural, was much in Germany in those Years; scanning the +phenomena; a long while not knowing what in the world to make of +them. Bully Belleisle having stept into the ring, it is evident, +clear as the sun, that one must act, and act at once; but it is a +perfect sphinx-enigma to say How. Seldom was Sovereign or man so +spurred, and goaded on, by the highest considerations; and then so +held down, and chained to his place, by an imbroglio of counter- +considerations and sphinx-riddles! Thrice over, at different dates +(which shall be given), the first of them this Year, he starts up +as in spasm, determined to draw sword, and plunge in; twice he is +crushed down again, with sword half drawn; and only the third time +(in 1743) does he get sword out, and brandish it in a surprising +though useless manner. After which he feels better. But up to that +crisis, his case is really tragical,--had idle readers any bowels +for him; which they have not! One or two Fractions, snatched from +the circumambient Paper Vortex, must suffice us for the +indispensable in this place:-- + + +CUNCTATIONS, YET INCESSANT AND UBIQUITOUS ENDEAVORINGS, OF HIS +BRITANNIC MAJESTY (1741-1743). + +... After the wonderful Russian Partition-Treaty, which his English +Walpoles would not hear of,--and which has produced the Camp of +Gottin, see, your Majesty!--George does nothing rashly. Far from +it: indeed, except it be paying money, he becomes again a miracle +of cunctations; and staggers about for years to come, like the-- +Shall we say, like the White Hanover Horse amid half a dozen sieves +of beans? Alas, no, like the Hanover Horse with the shadows of half +a dozen Damocles'-swords dangling into the eyes of it;--enough to +drive any Horse to its wit's end!-- + +"To do, to dare," thinks the Britannic Majesty;--yes, and of daring +there is a plenty: but, "In which direction? What, How?" these are +questions for a fussy little gentleman called to take the world on +his shoulders. We suppose it was by Walpole's advice that he gave +her Hungarian Majesty that 200,000 pounds of Secret-Service Money; +--advice sufficiently Walpolean: "Russian Partition-Treaties; +horrible to think of;--beware of these again! Give her Majesty that +cash; can be done; it will keep matters afloat, and spoil nothing!" +That, till the late Subsidy payable within year and day hence, was +all of tangible his Majesty had yet done;--truly that is all her +Hungarian Majesty has yet got by hawking the world, Pragmatic +Sanction in hand. And if that were the bit of generosity which +enabled Neipperg to climb the Mountains and be beaten at Mollwitz, +that has helped little! Very big generosities, to a frightful +cipher of Millions Sterling through the coming years, will go the +same road; and amount also to zero, even for the receiving party, +not to speak of the giving! For men and kings are wise creatures. + +But wise or unwise, how great are his Britannic Majesty's +activities in this Pragmatic Business! We may say, they are +prodigious, incessant, ubiquitous. They are forgotten now, fallen +wholly to the spiders and the dust-bins;--though Friedrich himself +was not a busier King in those days, if perhaps a better directed. +It is a thing wonderful to us, but sorrowful and undeniable. +We perceive the Britannic Majesty's own little mind pulsing with +this Pragmatic Matter, as the biggest volcano would do;--shooting +forth dust and smoke (subsidies, diplomatic emissaries, treaties, +offers of treaty, plans, foolish futile exertions), at an immense +rate. When the Celestial Balances are canting, a man ought to exert +himself. But as to this of saving the House of Austria from +France,--surely, your Britannic Majesty, the shortest way to that, +if that is so indispensable, were: That the House of Austria should +consent to give up its stolen goods, better late than never; and to +make this King of Prussia its friend, as he offers to be! Joined +with this King, it would manage to give account of France and its +balloon projects, by and by. Could your Britannic Majesty but take +Mr. Viner's hint; and, in the interim, mind your OWN business!-- +His Britannic Majesty intends immediate fighting; and, both in +England and Hanover, is making preparation loud and great. Nay, he +will in his own person fight, if necessary, and rather likes the +thought of it: he saw Oudenarde in his young days; and, I am told, +traces in himself a talent for Generalship. Were the Britannic +Majesty to draw his own puissant sword!-His own puissant purse he +has already drawn; and is subsidizing to right and left; knocking +at all doors with money in hand, and the question, "Any fighting +done here?" In England itself there goes on much drilling, +enlisting; camping, proposing to camp; which is noisy enough in the +British Newspapers, much more in the Foreign. One actual Camp there +was "on Lexden Heath near Colchester," from May till October of +this 1741, [Manifold but insignificant details about it, in the old +Newspapers of those Months.]--Camp waiting always to be shipped +across to the scene of action, but never was:--this actual Camp, +and several imaginary ones here, which were alarming to the +Continental Gazetteer. In England his Majesty is busy that way; +still more among his Hanoverians, now under his own royal eye; +and among his Danes and Hessians, whom he has now brought over into +Hanover, to combine with the others. Danes and Hessians, 6,000 of +each kind, he for some time keeps back in stall, upon subsidy, +ready for such an occasion. Their "Camp at Hameln," "Camp at +Nienburg" (will, with the Hanoverians, be 30,000 odd); their +swashing and blaring about, intending to encamp at Hameln, at +Nienburg, and other places, but never doing it, or doing it with +any result: this, with the alarming English Camps at Lexden and in +Dreamland, which also were void of practical issue, filled Europe +with rumor this Summer.--Eager enough to fight; a noble martial +ardor in our little Hercules-Atlas! But there lie such enormous +difficulties on the threshold; especially these Two, which are +insuperable or nearly so. + +Difficulty FIRST, is that of the laggard Dutch; a People apt to be +heavy in the stern-works. They are quite languid about Pragmatic +Sanction, these Dutch; they answer his Britannic Majesty's +enthusiasm with an obese torpidity; and hope always they will drift +through, in some way; buoyant in their own fat, well ballasted +astern; and not need such swimming for life. "What a laggard +notion," thinks his Majesty; "notion in ten pair of breeches, so to +speak!" This stirring up of the Dutch, which lasts year on year, +and almost beats Lord Stair, Lord Carteret, and our chief Artists, +is itself a thing like few! One of his Britannic Majesty's great +difficulties;--insuperable he never could admit it to be. +"Surely you are a Sea-Power, ye valiant Dutch; the OTHER Sea-Power? +Bound by Barrier Treaty, Treaty of Vienna, and Law of Nature +itself, to rise with us against the fatal designs of France; +fatal to your Dutch Barrier, first of all; if the Liberties of +Mankind were indifferent to you! How is it that you will not?" +The Dutch cannot say how. France rocks them in security, by oily- +mouthed Diplomatists, Fenelon and others: "Would not touch a stone +of your Barrier, for the world, ye admirable Dutch neighbors: +on our honor, thrice and four times, No!" They have an eloquent Van +Hoey of their own at Paris; renowned in Newspapers: "Nothing but +friendship here!" reports Van Hoey always; and the Dutch answer his +Britannic Majesty: "Hm, rise? Well then, if we must!"--but sit +always still. + +Nowhere in Political Mechanics have I seen such a Problem as this +of hoisting to their feet the heavy-bottomed Dutch. The cunningest +leverage, every sort of Diplomatic block-and-tackle, Carteret and +Stair themselves running over to help in critical seasons, is +applied; to almost no purpose. Pull long, pull strong, pull all +together,--see, the heavy Dutch do stir; some four inches of +daylight fairly visible below them: bear a hand, oh, bear a hand!-- +Pooh, the Dutch flap down again, as low as ever. As low,--unless +(by Diplomatic art) you have WEDGED them at the four inches higher; +which, after the first time or two, is generally done. At the long +last, partially in 1743 (upon which his Britannic Majesty drew +sword), completely in 1747, the Dutch were got to their feet;-- +unfortunately good for nothing when they were! Without them his +Britannic Majesty durst not venture. Hidden in those dust-bins, +there is nothing so absurd, or which would be so wearisome, did it +not at last become slightly ludicrous, as this of hoisting +the Dutch. + +Difficulty SECOND, which in enormity of magnitude might be reckoned +first, as in order of time it ranks both first and last, is: +The case of dear Hanover; case involved in mere insolubilities. +Our own dear Hanover, which (were there nothing more in it) is +liable, from that Camp at Gottin, to be slit in pieces at a +moment's warning! No drawing sword against a nefarious Prussia, on +those terms. The Camp at Gottin holds George in checkmate. And then +finally, in this same Autumn, 1741, when a Maillebois with his 40 +or 50,000 French (the Leftward or western of those Two Belleisle +Armies), threatening our Hanover from another side, crossed the +Lower Rhine--But let us not anticipate. The case of Hanover, which +everybody saw to be his Majesty's vulnerable point, was the +constant open door of France and her machinations, and a never- +ending theme of angry eloquences in the English Parliament as well. + +So that the case of Hanover proved insoluble throughout, and was +like a perpetual running sore. Oh the pamphleteerings, the +denouncings, the complainings, satirical and elegiac, which +grounded themselves on Hanover, the CASE OF THE HANOVER FORCES, and +innumerable other Hanoverian cases, griefs and difficulties! +So pungently vital to somnambulant mankind at that epoch; to us +fallen dead as carrion, and unendurable to think of. My friends, if +you send for Gentlemen from Hanover, you must take them with +Hanover adhering more or less; and ought not to quarrel with your +bargain, which you reckoned so divine! No doubt, it is singular to +see a Britannic Majesty neglecting his own Spanish War, the one +real business he has at present; and running about over all the +world; busy, soul, body and breeches-pocket, in other people's +wars; egging on other fighting, whispering every likely fellow he +can meet, "Won't you perhaps fight? Here is for you, if so!"--hand +to breeches-pocket accompanying the word. But it must be said, and +ought to be better known than in our day it is, His Majesty's +Ministers, and the English State-Doctors generally, were precisely +of the same mind. TO them too the Austrian Quarrel was everything, +their own poor Spanish Quarrel nothing; and the complaint they make +of his Majesty is rather that he does not rush rapidly enough, with +brandished sword, as well as with guineas raining from him, into +this one indispensable business. "Owing to his fears for Hanover!" +say they, with indignation, with no end of suspicion, angry +pamphleteering and covert eloquence, "within those walls" +and without. + +The suspicion of Hanover's checking his Majesty's Pragmatic +velocity is altogether well founded; and there need no more be said +on that Hanover score. Be it well understood and admitted, Hanover +was the Britannic Majesty's beloved son; and the British Empire his +opulent milk-cow. Richest of milk-cows; staff of one's life, for +grand purposes and small; beautiful big animal, not to be provoked; +but to be stroked and milked:--Friends, if you will do a Glorious +Revolution of that kind, and burn such an amount of tar upon it, +why eat sour herbs for an inevitable corollary therefrom! And let +my present readers understand, at any rate, that,--except in +Wapping, Bristol and among the simple instinctive classes (with +whom, it is true, go Pitt and some illustrious figures),--political +England generally, whatever of England had Parliamentary discourse +of reason, and did Pamphlets, Despatches, Harangues, went greatly +along with his Majesty in that Pragmatic Business. And be the blame +of delirium laid on the right back, where it ought to lie, not on +the wrong, which has enough to bear of its own. And go not into +that dust-whirlwind of extinct stupidities, O reader:--what reader +would, except for didactic objects? Know only that it does of a +truth whirl there; and fancy always, if you can, that certain +things and Human Figures, a Friedrich, a Chatham and some others, +have it for their Life-Element. Which, I often think, is their +principal misfortune with Posterity; said Life-Element having gone +to such an unutterable condition for gods and men. + +"One other thing surprises us in those Old Pamphlets," says my +Constitutional Friend: "How the phrase, 'Cause of Liberty' ever and +anon turns up, with great though extinct emphasis, evidently +sincere. After groping, one is astonished to find it means Support +of the House of Austria; keeping of the Hapsburgs entire in their +old Possessions among mankind! That, to our great-grandfathers, was +the 'Cause of Liberty;'--said 'Cause' being, with us again, +Electoral Suffrage and other things; a notably different +definition, perhaps still wider of the mark. + +"Our great-grandfathers lived in perpetual terror that they would +be devoured by France; that French ambition would overset the +Celestial Balance, and proceed next to eat the British Nation. +Stand upon your guard then, one would have said: Look to your +ships, to your defences, to your industries; to your virtues first +of all,--your VIRTUTES, manhoods, conformities to the Divine Law +appointed you; which are the great and indeed sole strength to any +Man or Nation! Discipline yourselves, wisely, in all kinds; +more and more, till there be no anarchic fibre left in you. +Unanarchic, disciplined at all points, you might then, I should +say, with supreme composure, let France, and the whole World at its +back, try what they could do upon you and the unique little Island +you are so lucky as to live in?--Foolish mortals: what Potentiality +of Battle, think you (not against France only, but against Satanas +and the Ministers of Chaos generally), would a poor Friedrich +Wilhelm, not to speak of better, have got out of such a Possession, +had it been his to put in drill! And drill is not of soldiers only; +though perhaps of soldiers first and most indispensably of all; +since 'without Being,' as my Friend Oliver was wont to say, 'Well- +being is not possible.' There is military drill; there is +industrial, economic, spiritual; gradually there are all kinds of +drill, of wise discipline, of peremptory mandate become effective +everywhere, 'OBEY the Laws of Heaven, or else disappear from these +latitudes!' Ah me, if one dealt in day-dreams, and prophecies of an +England grown celestial,--celestial she should be, not in gold +nuggets, continents all of beef, and seas all of beer, Abolition of +Pain, and Paradise to All and Sundry, but in that quite different +fashion; and there, I should say, THERE were the magnificent Hope +to indulge in! That were to me the 'Cause of Liberty;' and any the +smallest contribution towards that kind of 'Liberty ' were a +sacred thing!-- + +"Belleisle again may, if he pleases, call his the Cause of +Sovereignty. A Sovereign Louis, it would appear, has not governing +enough to do within his own French borders, but feels called to +undertake Germany as well;--a gentleman with an immense governing +faculty, it would appear? Truly, good reader, I am sick of heart, +contemplating those empty sovereign mountebanks, and empty +antagonist ditto, with their Causes of Liberty and Causes of Anti- +Liberty; and cannot but wish that we had got the ashes of that +World-Explosion, of 1789, well riddled and smelted, and the poor +World were quit of a great many things!"-- + +My Constitutional Historian of England, musing on Belleisle and his +Anti-Pragmatic industries and grandiosities,--"how Chief-Bully +Belleisle stept down into the ring as a gay Volunteer, and foolish +Chief-Defender George had to follow dismally heroic, as a Conscript +of Fate,"--drops these words: in regard to the Wages they +respectively had:-- + +"Nations that go into War without business there, are sure of +getting business as they proceed; and if the beginning were +phantasms,--especially phantasms of the hoping, self-conceited +kind,--the results for them are apt to be extremely real! As was +the case with the French in this War, and those following, in which +his Britannic Majesty played chief counter-tenor. From 1741, in +King Friedrich's First War, onwards to Friedrich's Third War, +1756-1763, the volunteer French found a great deal of work lying +ready for them,--gratuitous on their part, from the beginning. +And the results to them came out, first completely visible, in the +World-Miracles of 1789, and the years following! + +"Nations, again, may be driven upon War by phantasm TERRORS, and go +into it, in sorrow of heart, not gayety of heart; and that is a +shade better. And one always pities a poor Nation, in such case;-- +as the very Destinies rather do, and judge it more mercifully. +Nay, the poor bewildered Nation may, among its brain-phantasms, +have something of reality and sanity inarticulately stirring it +withal. It may have a real ordinance of Heaven to accomplish on +those terms:--and IF so, it will sometimes, in the most chaotic +circuitous ways, through endless hazards, at a hundred or a hundred +thousand times the natural expense, ultimately get it done! +This was the case of the poor English in those Wars. + +"They were Wars extraneous to England little less than to France; +neither Nation had real business in them; and they seem to us now a +very mad object on the part of both. But they were not gratuitously +gone into, on the part of England; far from that. England undertook +them, with its big heart very sorrowful, strange spectralities +bewildering it; and managed them (as men do sleep-walking) with a +gloomy solidity of purpose, with a heavy-laden energy, and, on the +whole, with a depth of stupidity, which were very great. Yet look +at the respective net results. France lies down to rot into grand +Spontaneous-Combustion, Apotheosis of Sansculottism, and much else; +which still lasts, to her own great peril, and the great affliction +of neighbors. Poor England, after such enormous stumbling among the +chimney-pots, and somnambulism over all the world for twenty years, +finds on awakening, that she is arrived, after all, where she +wished to be, and a good deal farther! Finds that her own important +little errand is somehow or other, done;--and, in short, that +'Jenkins's Ear [as she named the thing] HAS been avenged,' and the +Ocean Highways 'opened' and a good deal more, in a most signal way! +For the Eternal Providences--little as poor Dryasdust now knows of +it, mumbling and maundering that sad stuff of his--do rule; and the +great soul of the world, I assure you once more, is JUST. +And always for a Nation, as for a man, it is very behooveful to be +honest, to be modest, however stupid!"-- + +By this time, however,--Mollwitz having fallen out, and Belleisle +being evidently on the steps,--his Britannic Majesty recognizes +clearly, and insists upon it, strengthened by his Harringtons and +everybody of discernment, That, nefarious or not, this Friedrich +will require to be bargained with. That, far from breaking in upon +him, and partitioning him (how far from it!), there is no +conceivable method of saving the Celestial Balances till HE be +satisfied, in some way. This is the one step his Britannic Majesty +has yet made, out of these his choking imbroglios; and truly this +is one. Hyndford, his best negotiator, is on the road for +Friedrich's Camp; Robinson at Vienna, has been directed to say and +insist, "Bargain with that man; he must be bargained with, if our +Cause of Liberty is to be saved at all?"-- + +And now, having opened the dust-bin so far, that the reader's fancy +might be stirred without affliction to his lungs and eyes, let us +shut it down again,--might we but hope forever! That is too fond a +hope. But the background or sustaining element made imaginable, +the few events deserving memory may surely go on at a much +swifter pace. + + + +Chapter II. + +CAMP OF STREHLEN. + +Friedrich's Silesian Camps this Summer, Camp of Strehlen chiefly, +were among the strangest places in the world. Friedrich, as we have +often noticed, did not much pursue the defeated Austrians, at or +near Mollwitz, or press them towards flat ruin in their Silesian +business: it is clear he anxiously wished a bargain without farther +exasperation; and hoped he might get it by judicious patience. +Brieg he took, with that fine outburst of bombardment, which did +not last a week: but Brieg once his, he fell quiet again; kept +encamping, here there, in that Mollwitz-Neisse region, for above +three months to come; not doing much, beyond the indispensable; +negotiating much, or rather negotiated with, and waiting on events. +[In Camp of Mollwitz (nearer Brieg than the Battle-field was) till +28th May (after the Battle seven weeks); then to Camp at Grotkau +(28th May-9th June, twelve days); thence (9th June) to Friedewalde, +Herrnsdorf; to Strehlen (21st June-20th August, nine or ten weeks +in all). See <italic> Helden-Geschichte, i. 924, ii. 931; +Rodenbeck, Orlich, &c.] + +Both Armies were reinforcing themselves; and Friedrich's, for +obvious reasons, in the first weeks especially, became much the +stronger. Once in May, and again afterwards, weary of the pace +things went at, he had resolved on having Neisse at once; +on attacking Neipperg in his strong camp there, and cutting short +the tedious janglings and uncertainties. He advanced to Grotkau +accordingly, some twelve or fifteen miles nearer Neisse (28th May, +--stayed till 9th June), quite within wind of Neipperg and his +outposts; but found still, on closer inspection, that he had better +wait;--and do so withal at a greater distance from Neipperg and his +Pandour Swarms. He drew back therefore to Strehlen, northwestward, +rather farther from Neisse than before; and lay encamped there for +nine or ten weeks to come. Not till the beginning of August did +there fall out any military event (Pandour skirmishing in plenty, +hut nothing to call an event); and not till the end of August any +that pointed to conclusive results. As it was at Strehlen where +mostly these Diplomacies went on, and the Camp of Strehlen was the +final and every way the main one, it may stand as the +representative of these Diplomatizing Camps to us, and figure as +the sole one which in fact it nearly was. + +Strehlen is a pleasant little Town, nestled prettily among its +granite Hills, the steeple of it visible from Mollwitz; some +twenty-five miles west of Brieg, some thirty south of Breslau, and +about as far northwest of Neisse: there Friedrich and his Prussians +lie, under canvas mainly, with outposts and detachments sprinkled +about under roofs:--a Camp of Strehlen, more or less imaginable by +the reader. And worth his imagining; such a Camp, if not for +soldiering, yet for negotiating and wagging of diplomatic wigs, as +there never was before. Here, strangely shifted hither, is the +centre of European Politics all Summer. From the utmost ends of +Europe come Ambassadors to Strehlen: from Spain, France, England, +Denmark, Holland,--there are sometimes nine at once, how many +successively and in total I never knew. [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> i. 932.] They lodge generally in Breslau; +but are always running over to Strehlen. There sits, properly +speaking, the general Secret Parliament of Europe; and from most +Countries, except Austria, representatives attend at Strehlen, or +go and come between Breslau and Strehlen, submissive to the evils +of field-life, when need is. A surprising thing enough to mankind, +and big as the world in its own day; though gone now to small +bulk,--one Human Figure pretty much all that is left of memorable +in it to mankind and us. + +French Belleisle we have seen; who is gone again, long since, on +his wide errands; fat Valori too we have seen, who is assiduously +here. The other figures, except the English, can remain dark to us. +Of Montijos, the eminent Spaniard, a brown little man, magnificent +as the Kingdom of the Incas, with half a page of titles (half a +peck, five-and-twenty or more, of handles to his little name, if +you should ever require it); who, finding matters so backward at +Frankfurt, and nothing to do there, has been out, in the interim, +touring to while away the tedium; and is here only as sequel and +corroboration of Belleisle,--say as bottle-holder, or as high- +wrought peacock's-tail, to Belleisle:--of the eminent Montijos I +have to record next to nothing in the shape of negotiation +("Treaty" with the Termagant was once proposed by him here, which +Friedrich in his politest way declined); and shall mention only, +That his domestic arrangements were sumptuous and commodious in the +extreme. Let him arrive in the meanest village, destitute of human +appliances, and be directed to the hut where he is to lodge,-- +straightway from the fourgons and baggage-chests of Montijos is +produced, first of all, a round of arras hangings, portable tables, +portable stove, gold plate and silver; thus, with wax-lights, wines +of richest vintage, exquisite cookeries, Montijos lodges, a king +everywhere, creating an Aladdin's palace everywhere; able to say, +like the Sage Bias, OMNIA MEA NAECUM PORTO. These things are +recorded of Montijos. What he did in the way of negotiation has +escaped men's memory, as it could well afford to do. + +Of Hyndford's appurtenances for lodging we already had a glimpse, +through Busching once;--pointing towards solid dinner-comforts +rather than arras hangings; and justifying the English genius in +that respect. The weight of the negotiations fell on Hyndford; +it is between him and French Valori that the matter lies, Montijos +and the others being mere satellites on their respective sides. +Much battered upon, this Hyndford, by refractory Hanoverians +pitting George as Elector against the same George as King, and +egging these two identities to woful battle with each other,-- +"Lay me at his Majesty's feet" full length, and let his Majesty say +which is which, then! A heavy, eating, haggling, unpleasant kind of +mortal, this Hyndford; bites and grunts privately, in a stupid +ferocious manner, against this young King: "One of the worst of +men; who will not take up the Cause of Liberty at all, and is not +made in the image of Hyndford at all." They are dreadfully stiff +reading, those Despatches of Hyndford: but they have particles of +current news in them; interesting glimpses of that same young +King;--likewise of Hyndford, laid at his Majesty's feet, and +begging for self and brothers any good benefice that may fall +vacant. We can discern, too, a certain rough tenacity and horse- +dealer finesse in the man; a broad-based, shrewdly practical Scotch +Gentleman, wide awake; and can conjecture that the diplomatic +function, in that element, might have been in worse hands. He is +often laid metaphorically at the King's feet, King of England's; +and haunts personally the King of Prussia's elbow at all times, +watching every glance of him, like a British house-dog, that will +not be taken in with suspicious travellers, if he can help it; +and casting perpetual horoscopes in his dull mind. + +Of Friedrich and his demeanor in this strange scene, centre of a +World all drawing sword, and jumbling in huge Diplomatic and other +delirium about his ears, the reader will desire to see a direct +glimpse or two. As to the sad general Imbroglio of Diplomacies +which then weltered everywhere, readers can understand that, it +has, at this day, fallen considerably obscure (as it deserved to +do); and that even Friedrich's share of it is indistinct in parts. +The game, wide as Europe, and one of the most intricate ever played +by Diplomatic human creatures, was kept studiously dark while it +went on; and it has not since been a pleasant object of study. +Many of the Documents are still unpublished, inaccessible; so that +the various moves in the game, especially what the exact dates and +sequence of them were (upon which all would turn), are not +completely ascertainable,--nor in truth are they much worth hunting +after, through such an element. One thing we could wish to have out +of it, the one thing of sane that was in it: the demeanor and +physiognomy of Friedrich as there manifested; Friedrich alone, or +pretty much alone of all these Diplomatic Conjurers, having a solid +veritable object in hand. The rest--the spiders are very welcome to +it: who of mortals would read it, were it made never so lucid to +him? Such traits of Friedrich as can be sifted out into the +conceivable and indubitable state, the reader shall have; the +extinct Bedlam, that begirdled Friedrich far and wide, need not be +resuscitated except for that object. Of Friedrich's fairness, or of +Friedrich's "trickiness, machiavelism and attorneyism," readers +will form their own notion, as they proceed. On one point they will +not be doubtful, That here is such a sharpness of steady eyesight +(like the lynx's, like the eagle's), and, privately such a courage +and fixity of resolution, as are highly uncommon. + +April 26th, 1741, in the same days while Belleisle arrived in the +Camp at Mollwitz, and witnessed that fine opening of the cannonade +upon Brieg, Excellency Hyndford got to Berlin; and on notifying the +event, was invited by the King to come along to Breslau, and begin +business. England has been profuse enough in offering her "good +offices with Austria" towards making a bargain for his Prussian +Majesty; but is busy also, at the Hague, concerting with the Dutch +"some strong joint resolution,"--resolution, Openly to advise +Friedrich to withdraw his troops from Silesia, by way of starting +fair towards a bargain. A very strong resolution, they and the +Gazetteers think it; and ask themselves, Is it not likely to have +some effect? Their High Mightinesses have been screwing their +courage, and under English urgency, have decided (April 24th), +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 964; the ADVICE +itself, a very mild-spoken Piece, but of riskish nature think the +Dutch, is given, ib. 965, 966.] "Yes, we will jointly so advise!" +and Friedrich has got inkling of it from Rasfeld, his Minister +there. Hyndford's first business (were the Dutch Excellency once +come up, but those Dutch are always hanging astern!) is to present +said "Advice," and try what will come of that, An "Advice" now +fallen totally insignificant to the Universe and to us,--only that +readers will wish to see how Friedrich takes it, and if any feature +of Friedrich discloses itself in the affair. + + +EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD HAS HIS FIRST AUDIENCE (Camp of +Mollwitz, May 7th); AND FRIEDRICH MAKES A MOST +IMPORTANT TREATY,--NOT WITH HYNDFORD. + +May 2d, Hyndford arrived in Breslau; and after some preliminary +flourishings, and difficulties about post-horses and furnitures in +a seat of War, got to Brieg; and thence, May 7th, "to the Camp +[Camp of Mollwitz still], which is about an English mile off,"-- +Podewils escorting him from Brieg, and what we note farther, +Pollnitz too; our poor old Pollnitz, some kind of Chief Goldstick, +whom we did not otherwise know to be on active duty in those rude +scenes. Belleisle had passed through Breslau while Hyndford was +there:--"am unable to inform your Lordship what success he has +had." Brieg Siege is done only three days ago; Castle all lying +black; and the new trenching and fortifying hardly begun. In a +word, May 7th, 1741, "about 11 A.M.," Excellency Hyndford is +introduced to the King's Tent, and has his First Audience. +Goldstick having done his motions, none but Podewils is left +present; who sits at a table, taking notes of what is said. +Podewils's Notes are invisible to me; but here, in authentic though +carefully compressed state, is Hyndford's minute Narrative:-- + +Excellency Hyndford mentioned the Instructions he had, as to "good +offices," friendship and so forth. "But his Prussian Majesty had +hardly patience to hear me out; and said in a passion [we rise, +where possible, Hyndford's own wording; readers will allow for the +leaden quality in some parts]:-- + KING (in a passion). "'How is it possible, my Lord, to believe +things so contradictory? It is mighty fine all this that you now +tell me, on the part of the King of England; but how does it +correspond to his last Speech to his Parliament [19th April last, +when Mr. Viner was in such minority of one] and to the doings of +his Ministers at Petersburg [a pretty Partition-Treaty that; +and the Excellency Finch still busy, as I know!] and at the Hague +[Excellency Trevor there, and this beautiful Joint-Resolution and +Advice which is coming!] to stir up allies against me? I have +reason rather to doubt the sincerity of the King of England. +They perhaps mean to amuse me. [That is Friedrich's real opinion. +[His Letter to Podewils (Ranke, ii. 268).]] But, by God, they are +mistaken! I will risk everything rather than abate the least of +my pretensions.'" + +Poor Hyndford said and mumbled what he could; knew nothing what +instructions Finch had, Trevor had, and-- + KING. "'My Lord, there seems to be a contradiction in all this. +The King of England, in his Letter, tells me you are instructed as +to everything; and yet you pretend ignorance! But I am perfectly +informed of all. And I should not be surprised if, after all these +fine words, you should receive some strong letter or resolution for +me,'"--Joint-Resolution to Advise, for example? + +Hyndford, not in the strength of conscious innocence, stands +silent; the King, "in his heat of passion," said to Podewils:-- + KING TO PODEWILS (on the sudden). "'Write down, that my Lord +would be surprised [as he should be] to receive such +Instructions!'" (A mischievous sparkle, half quizzical, half +practical, considerably in the Friedrich style.)--Hyndford, "quite +struck, my Lord, with this strange way of acting," and of poking +into one, protests with angry grunt, and "was put extremely upon my +guard." Of course Podewils did net write. ... + HYNDFORD. "'Europe is under the necessity of taking some speedy +resolution, things are in such a state of crisis. Like a fever in a +human body, got to such a height that quinquina becomes necessary.' +... That expression made him smile, and he began to look a little +cooler. ... 'Shall we apply to Vienna, your Majesty?' + FRIEDRICH. "'Follow your own will in that.' + HYNDFORD. "'Would your Majesty consent now to stand by his +Excellency Gotter's original Offer at Vienna on your part? +Agree, namely, in consideration of Lower Silesia and Breslau, to +assist the Queen with all your troops for maintenance of Pragmatic +Sanction, and to vote for the Grand-Duke as Kaiser?' + KING. "'Yes' [what the reader may take notice of, and date for +himself]. + HYNDFORD. "'What was the sum of money then offered her Hungarian +Majesty?' + +"King hesitated, as if he had forgotten; Podewils answered, 'Three +million florins (300,000 pounds).' + + KING. "'I should not value the money; if money would content her +Majesty, I would give more.' ... Here was a long pause, which I did +not break;"--nor would the King. Podewils reminded me of an idea we +had been discoursing of together ("on his suggestion, my Lord, +which I really think is of importance, and worth your Lordship's +consideration"); whereupon, on such hint, + HYNDFORD. "'Would your Majesty consent to an Armistice?' + FRIEDRICH. "'Yes; but [counts on his fingers, May, June, till he +comes to December] not for less than six months,--till December +1st. By that time they could do nothing,'" the season out by +that time. + HYNDFORD. "'His Excellency Podewils has been taking notes; +if I am to be bound by them, might I first see that he has +mistaken nothing?' + KING. "'Certainly!'"--Podewils's Note-protocol is found to be +correct in every point; Hyndford, with some slight flourish of +compliments on both sides, bows himself away (invited to dinner, +which he accepts, "will surely have that honor before returning to +Breslau");--and so the First Audience has ended. [Hyndford's +Despatches, Breslau, 5th and 13th May, 1741. Are in State-Paper +Office, like the rest of Hyndford's; also in British Museum +(Additional MSS. 11,365 &c.), the rough draughts of them.] +Baronay and Pandours are about,--this is ten days before the +Ziethen feat on Baronay;--but no Pandour, now or afterwards, will +harm a British Excellency. + +These utterances of Friedrich's, the more we examine them by other +lights that there are, become the more correctly expressive of what +Friedrich's real feelings were on the occasion. Much contrary, +perhaps, to expectation of some readers. And indeed we will here +advise our readers to prepare for dismissing altogether that notion +of Friedrich's duplicity, mendacity, finesse and the like, which +was once widely current in the world; and to attend always strictly +to what Friedrich says, if they wish to guess what he is thinking; +--there being no such thing as "mendacity" discoverable in +Friedrich, when you take the trouble to inform yourself. +"Mendacity," my friends? How busy have the Owls been with +Friedrich's memory, in different countries of the world;--perhaps +even more than their sad wont is in such cases! For indeed he was +apt to be of swift abrupt procedure, disregardful of Owleries; +and gave scope for misunderstanding in the course of his life. +But a veracious man he was, at all points; not even conscious of +his veracity; but had it in the blood of him; and never looked upon +"mendacity" but from a very great height indeed. He does not, +except where suitable, at least he never should, express his whole +meaning; but you will never find him expressing what is not his +meaning. Reticence, not dissimulation. And as to "finesse,"--do not +believe in that either, in the vulgar or bad sense. Truly you will +find his finesse is a very fine thing; and that it consists, not in +deceiving other people, but in being right himself; in well +discerning, for his own behoof, what the facts before him are; and +in steering, which he does steadily, in a most vigilant, nimble, +decisive and intrepid manner, by monition of the same. No salvation +but in the facts. Facts are a kind of divine thing to Friedrich; +much more so than to common men: this is essentially what Religion +I have found in Friedrich. And, let me assure you, it is an +invaluable element in any man's Religion, and highly indispensable, +though so often dispensed with! Readers, especially in our time +English readers, who would gain the least knowledge about +Friedrich, in the extinct Bedlam where his work now lay, have a +great many things to forget, and sad strata of Owl-droppings, +ancient and recent, to sweep away!-- + +To Friedrich a bargain with Austria, which would be a getting into +port, in comparisori to going with the French in that distracted +voyage of theirs, is highly desirable. "Shall I join with the +English, in hope of some tolerable bargain from Austria? Shall I +have to join with the French, in despair of any?" Readers may +consider how stringent upon Friedrich that question now was, and +how ticklish to solve. And it must be solved soon,--under penalty +of "being left with no ally at all" (as Friedrich expresses +himself), while the whole world is grouping itself into armed heaps +for and against! If the English would but get me a bargain--? +Friedrich dare not think they will. Nay, scanning these English +incoherences, these contradictions between what they say here and +what they do and say elsewhere, he begins to doubt if they +zealously wish it,--and at last to believe that they sincerely do +not wish it; that "they mean to amuse me" (as he said to Hyndford) +--till my French chance too is over. "To amuse me: but, PAR +DIEU--!" His Notes to Podewils, of which Ranke, who has seen them, +gives us snatches, are vivid in that sense: "I should be ashamed if +the cunningest Italian could dupe me; but that a lout of a +Hanoverian should do it!"--and Podewils has great difficulty to +keep him patient yet a little; Valori being so busy on the other +side, and the time so pressing. Here are some dates and some +comments, which the reader should take with him;-- here is a very +strange issue to the Joint-Resolution of a strong nature now +on hand! + +A few days after that First Audience, Ginkel the Dutch Excellency, +with the due Papers in his pocket, did arrive. Excellency Hyndford, +who is not without rough insight into what lies under his nose, +discovers clearly that the grand Dutch-English Resolution, or +Joint-Exhortation to evacuate Silesia, will do nothing but +mischief; and (at his own risk, persuading Ginkel also to delay) +sends a Courier to England before presenting it. And from England, +in about a fortnight, gets for answer, "Do harm, think you? +Hm, ha!--Present it, all the same; and modify by assurances +afterwards,"--as if these would much avail! This is not the only +instance in which St. James's rejects good advice from its +Hyndford; the pity would be greater, were not the Business what it +is! Podewils has the greatest difficulty to keep Friedrich quiet +till Hyndford's courier get back. And on his getting back with such +answer, "Present it all the same," Friedrich will not wait for that +ceremony, or delay a moment longer. Friedrich has had his Valori at +work, all this while; Valori and Podewils, and endless +correspondence and consultation going on; and things hypothetically +almost quite ready; so that-- + +June 5th, 1741, Friedrich, spurring Podewils to the utmost speed, +and "ordering secrecy on pain of death," signs his Treaty with +France! A kind of provisional off-and-on Treaty, I take it to be; +which was never published, and is thought to have had many IFS in +it: sigus this Treaty;--and next day (June 6th, such is the +impetuosity of haste) instructs his Rasfeld at the Hague, "You will +beforehand inform the High Mightinesses, in regard to that Advice +of April 24th, which they determined on giving me, through the +Excellency Herr von Ginkel along with Excellency Hyndford, That +such Advice can, by me, only be considered as a blind complaisance +to the Court of Vienna's improper urgencies, improper in such a +matter. That for certain I will not quit Silesia till my claims be +satisfied. And the longer I am forced to continue warring for them +here," wasting more resource and risk upon them, "the higher they +will rise!" [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 963.] +And this is what comes of that terribly courageous Dutch-English +"Joint-Resolution of a strong nature;" it has literally cut before +the point: the Exhortation is not yet presented, but the Treaty +with France is signed in virtue of it!-- + +Undoubtedly this of June 5th is the most important Treaty in the +Austrian-Succession War, and the cardinal element of Friedrich's +procedure in that Adventure. And it has never been published; +nor, till Herr Professor Ranke got access to the Prussian Archives, +has even the date of signing it been rightly known; but is given +two or three ways in different express Collections of Treaties. +[Scholl, ii. 297 (copying "Flassan, <italic> Hist. de la Diplom. +Franc. <end italic> v. 142"), gives "5th July" as the date; +Adelung (ii. 357, 390, 441) guesses that it was "in August;" Valori +(i. 108), who was himself in it, gives the correct date,--but then +his Editor (thought inquiring readers) was such a sloven and +ignoramus. See Stenzel, iv. 143; Ranke, ii. 274.] Herr Ranke knows +this Treaty, and the correspondences, especially Friedrich's +correspondence with Podewils preparatory to it; and speaks, as his +wont is, several exact things about it; thanks to him, in the +circumstances. I wish it could be made, even with his help, fully +intelligible to the reader! For, were the Treaty never so express, +surely the mode of keeping it, on both parts, was very strange; +and that latter concerns us somewhat. + +A very fast-and-loose Treaty, to all appearance! Outwardly it is a +mere Treaty of Alliance, each party guaranteeing the other for +Fifteen Years; without mention made of the joint Belleisle +Adventure now in the wind. But then, like the postscript to a +lady's letter, there come "secret articles" bearing upon that +essential item: How France, in the course of this current season +1741, is to bring an Army across the Rhine in support of its friend +Kur-Baiern VERSUS Austria; is, in the same term of time, to make +Sweden declare war on Russia (important for Friedrich, who is never +sure a moment that those Russians will not break in upon him); +and finally, most important of all, That France "guarantees Lower +Silesia with Breslau to his Prussian Majesty." In return for which +his Prussian Majesty--will do what? It is really difficult to say +what: Be a true ally and second to France in its grand German +Adventure? Not at all. Friedrich does not yet know, nor does +Belleisle himself quite precisely, what the grand German Adventure +is; and Friedrich's wishes never were, nor will be, for the +prosperity of that. Support France, at least in its small Bavarian +Anti-Austrian Adventure? By no means definitely even that. +"Maintain myself in Lower Silesia with Breslau, and fight my best +to such end:" really that, you might say, is in substance the most +of what Friedrich undertakes; though inarticulately he finds +himself bound to much more,--and will frankly go into it, IF you do +as you have said; and unless you do, will not. Never was a more +contingent Treaty: "unless you stir up Sweden, Messieurs; unless +you produce that Rhine Army; unless--" such is steadily Friedrich's +attitude; long after this, he refuses to say whom he will vote for +as Kaiser: "Fortune of War will decide it," answers he, in regard +to that and to many other things; and keeps himself to an +incomprehensible extent loose; ready, for weeks and months after, +to make bargain on his own Silesian Affair with anybody that can. +[Ranke, ii. 271, 275, 280.] + +For indeed the French also are very contingent; Fleury hanging one +way, Belleisle pushing another; and know not how far they will go +on the grand German Adventure, nor conclusively whether at all. +Here is an Anecdote by Friedrich himself. Valori was, one night, +with him; and, on rising to take leave, the fat hand, sticking +probably in the big waistcoat-pocket, twitched out a little +diplomatic-looking Note; which Friedrich, with gentle adroitness +(permissible in such circumstances), set his foot upon, till Valori +had bowed himself out. The Note was from Amelot, French Minister of +the Foreign Department: "Don't give his Prussian Majesty Glatz, if +it can possibly be helped." Very well, thought Friedrich; and did +not forget the fine little Note on burning it. [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> ii. 90.] There went, in French couriers' +bags, a great many such, to Austria some of them, of far more +questionable tenor, within the next twelve months. + +Two things we have to remark: FIRST, That Friedrich, with an eye to +real business on his part in the Bavarian Adventure, in which +Kur-Pfalz is sure to accompany, volunteered (like a real man of +business, and much to Belleisle's surprise) to renounce the Berg- +Julich controversy, and let Kur-Pfalz have his way, that there +might be no quarrelling among allies. This too is contingent; +but was gladly accepted by Belleisle. SECOND, That Belleisle had +instructed Valori, Not to insist on active help from Friedrich in +the German Adventure, but merely to stipulate for his Neutrality +throughout, in case they could get no more. How joyfully would +Friedrich have accepted this,--had Valori volunteered with it, +which he did not! [Ranke, ii. 280.] But, after all, in result it +was the same; and had to be,--PLUS only a great deal of clamor by +and by, from the French and the Gazetteers, about the Article +in question. + +Was there ever so contingent a Treaty before? It is signed, +Breslau, 5th June, 1741, and both parties have their hands loose, +and make use of their liberty for months to come; nay, in some +sort, all along; feeling how contingent it was! Friedrich did not +definitely tie himself till 4th November next, five months after: +when he signed the French-Bavarian Treaty, renounced Berg-Julich +controversies, and fairly went into the French-Bavarian, smaller +French Adventure; into the greater, or wide-winged Belleisle one, +he never went nor intended to go,--perhaps even the contrary, if +needful. Readers may try to remember these elucidative items, +riddled from the immensities of Dryasdust: I have no more to give, +nor can afford to return upon it. May not we well say, as above, +"A Treaty thought to have many IFS in it!"--And now, 8th June, +comes solemnly the Joint-Resolution itself; like mustard (under a +flourish of trumpets) three days after dinner:-- + +"CAMP OF GROTKAU, 8th JUNE. Hyndford and Ginkel [the same +respectable old Ginkel whom we used to know in Friedrich Wilhelm's +time], having, according to renewed order, got out from Breslau +with that formidable Dutch-English 'Advice' or Joint-Exhortation in +their pocket, did this day in the Camp at Grotkau present the same. +A very mild-spoken Piece, though it had required such courage; +and which is not now worth speaking of, things having gone as we +see. Friedrich received it with a gracious mien: 'Infinitely +sensible to the trouble his Britannic Majesty and their High +Mightinesses took with his affairs; Document should receive his +best consideration,'--which indeed it has already done, and its +Answer withal: A FRENCH Treaty signed three days ago, in virtue of +it! 'Might I request a short Private Audience of your Majesty?' +solicits Hyndford, intending to modify by new assurances, as +bidden.--'Surely,' answers Friedrich. + +"The two Excellencies dine with the King, who is in high spirits. +After dinner, Hyndford gets his Private Audience; does his best in +the way of 'new assurances;' which produce what effect we can +fancy. Among other things, he appeals to the King's 'magnanimity, +how grand and generous it will be to accept moderate terms from +Austria, to--' KING (interrupting): 'My Lord, don't talk to me of +magnanimity, a Prince [acting not for himself but for his Nation] +ought to consult his interest in the first place. I am not against +Peace: but I expect to have Four Duchies given me.'" [State-Paper +Office (Hyndford, Breslau, 12th June, 1741).] + +Hyndford and Ginkel slept that night in Grotkau Town: "at 4 next +morning the King sent us word, That if we had a mind to see the +Army on march," just moving off, Strehlen way, "we might come out +by the North Gate." We accordingly saw the whole Army leave Camp; +and march in four columns towards Friedewald, where Marshal +Neipperg is encamped." Not a bit of it, your Excellency! Neipperg +is safe at Neisse; amid inaccessible embankments and artificial +mud: and these are mere Hussar-Pandour rabble out here; whom a push +or two sends home again,--would it could keep them there! But they +are of sylvan (or SALVAGE) nature, affecting the shade; and burst +out, for theft and arson, sometimes at great distances, no +calculating where. "The King's Army lay all that night upon their +arms, and encamped next morning, the 10th. I believe nothing +happened that day, for we were obliged to stay at Grotkau, for want +of post-horses, a good part of it." + +Hyndford hears (in secret Opposition Circles, and lays the +flattering unction to his soul and your Lordship's): "The King of +Prussia's Army, as I am informed, unless he will take counsel, +another campaign will go near to ruin. Everything is in the +greatest disorder; utmost dejection amongst the Officers from +highest to lowest;"--fact being that the King has important +improvements and new drillings in view (to go on at Strehlen), +Cavalry improvements, Artillery improvements, unknown to Hyndford +and the Opposition; and will not be ruined next campaign. "I hope +the news we have here, of the taking of Carthagena, is true," +concludes he. Alas, your Excellency! + +By a different hand, from the southward Hungarian regions, far over +the Hills, take this other entry; almost of enthusiastic style:-- + +"PRESBURG, 25th JUNE. Maria Theresa, in high spirits about her +English Subsidy and the bright aspects, left Vienna about a week +ago for Presburg [a drive of fifty miles down the fine Donau +country]; and is celebrating her Coronation there, as Queen of +Hungary, in a very sublime manner. Sunday, 25th June, 1741, that is +the day of putting on your Crown,--Iron Crown of St. Stephen, as +readers know. The Chivalry of Hungary, from Palfy and Esterhazy +downward, and all the world are there; shining in loyalty and +barbaric gold and pearl. A truly beautiful Young Woman, beautiful +to soul and eye, devout too and noble, though ill-informed in +Political or other Science, is in the middle of it, and makes the +scene still more noticeable to us. See, as the finish of the +ceremonies, she has mounted a high swift horse, sword girt to her +side,--a great rider always, this young Queen;--and gallops, +Hungary following like a comet-tail, to the Konigsberg [KING'S-HILL +so called; no great things of a Hill, O reader; made by barrow, you +can see], to the top of the Konigsberg; there draws sword; +and cuts, grandly flourishing, to the Four Quarters of the Heavens: +'Let any mortal, from whatever quarter coming, meddle with Hungary +if he dare!' [Adelung, ii. 293, 294.] Chivalrous Hungary bursts +into passionate acclaim; old Palfy, I could fancy, into tears; and +all the world murmurs to itself, with moist-gleaming eyes, 'REX +NOSTER!' This is, in fact, the beautifulest King or Queen that now +is, this radiant young woman; beautiful things have been, and are +to be, reported of her; and she has a terrible voyage just ahead,-- +little dreaming of it at this grand moment. I wish his Britannic +Majesty, or Robinson who has followed out hither, could persuade +her to some compliance on the Silesian matter: what a thing were +that, for herself, and for all mankind, just now! But she will not +hear of that; and is very obstinate, and her stupid Hofraths +equally and much more blamably so. Deaf to hard Facts knocking at +their door; ignorant what Noah's-Deluges have broken out upon them, +and are rushing on inevitable." + +By a notable coincidence, precisely while those sword-flourishings +go on at Presburg, Marechal Excellency Belleisle is making his +Public Entry into Frankfurt-on-Mayn: [25th June, 1741 (Adelung, ii. +399).] Frankfurt too is in cheery emotion; streets populous with +Sunday gazers, and critics of the sublime in spectacle! This is not +Belleisle's first entrance; he himself has been here some time, +settling his Household, and a good many things: but today he +solemnly leads in his Countess and Appendages (over from Metz, +where Madame and he officially reside in common times, "Governor of +Metz," one of his many offices);--leads in Madame, in suitably +resplendent manner; to kindle household fire, as it were; +and indicate that here is his place, till he have got a Kaiser to +his mind. Twin Phenomena, these two; going on 500 miles apart; +unconscious of one another, or of what kinship they happen +to have!-- + + +EXCELLENCY ROBINSON BUSY IN THE VIENNA HOFRATH CIRCLES, +TO PRODUCE A COMPLIANCE. + +Britannic George, both for Pragmatic's sake and for dear Hanover's, +desires much there were a bargain made with Friedrich: How is the +Pragmatic to be saved at all, if Friedrich join France in its +Belleisle machinations, thinks George? And already here is that +Camp of Gottin, glittering in view like a drawn sword pointed at +one's throat or at one's Hanover. Nay, in a month or two hence, as +the Belleisle schemes got above ground in the shape of facts, this +desire became passionate, and a bargain with Prussia seemed the one +thing needful. For, alas, the reader will see there comes, about +that time, a second sword (the Maillebois Army, namely), pointed +at one's throat from the French side of things: so that a Paladin +of the Pragmatic, and Hanoverian King of England, knows not which +way to turn! George's sincerity of wish is perhaps underrated by +Friedrich; who indeed knows well enough on which side George's +wishes would fall, if they had liberty (which they have not), but +much overrates "the astucity" of poor George and his English; +ascribing, as is often done, to fine-spun attorneyism what is mere +cunctation, ignorance, negligence, and other forms of a stupidity +perhaps the most honest in the world! By degrees Friedrich +understood better; but he never much liked the English ways of +doing business. George's desire is abundantly sincere, not wholly +resting on sublime grounds; and grows more and more intense every +day; but could not be gratified for a good while yet. + +Co-operating with Hyndford, from the Vienna side, is Excellency +Robinson; who has a still harder job of it there. Pity poor +Robinson, O English reader, if you can for indignation at the +business he is in. Saving the Liberties of Europe! thinks Robinson +confidently: Founding the English National Debt, answers Fact; +and doing Bottom the Weaver, with long ears, in the miserablest +Pickleherring Tragedy that ever was!--This is the same Robinson who +immortalized himself, nine or ten years ago, by the First Treaty of +Vienna; thrice-salutary Treaty, which DISJOINED Austria from +Bourbon-Spanish Alliances, and brought her into the arms of the +grateful Sea-Powers again. Imminent Downfall of the Universe was +thus, glory to Robinson, arrested for that time. And now we have +the same Robinson instructed to sharpen all his faculties to the +cutting pitch, and do the impossible for this new and reverse face +of matters. What a change from 1731 to 1741! Bugbear of dreadful +Austrian-Spanish Alliance dissolves now into sunlit clouds, +encircling a beautiful Austrian Andromeda, about to be devoured for +us; and the Downfall of the Universe is again imminent, from Spain +and others joining AGAINST Austria. Oh, ye wigs, and eximious wig- +blocks, called right-honorable! If a man, sovereign or other, were +to stay well at home, and mind his own visible affairs, trusting a +good deal that the Universe would shift for itself, might it not be +better for him? Robinson, who writes rather a heavy style, but is +full of inextinguishable heavy zeal withal, will have a great deal +to do in these coming years. Ancestor of certain valuable Earls +that now are; author of immeasurable quantities of the Diplomatic +cobwebs that then were. + +To a modern English reader it is very strange, that Austrian scene +of things in which poor Robinson is puffing and laboring. +The ineffable pride, the obstinacy, impotency, ponderous pedantry +and helplessness of that dull old Court and its Hofraths, is nearly +inconceivable to modern readers. Stupid dilapidation is in all +departments, and has long been; all things lazily crumbling +downwards, sometimes stumbling down with great plunges. Cash is +done; the world rising, all round, with plunderous intentions; +and hungry Ruin, you would say, coming visibly on with seven-league +boots: here is little room for carrying your head high among +mankind. High nevertheless they do carry it, with a grandly +mournful though stolid insolent air, as if born superior to this +Earth and its wisdoms and successes and multiplication-tables and +iron ramrods,--really with "a certain greatness," says somebody, +"greatness as of great blockheadism" in themselves and their +neighbors;--and, like some absurd old Hindoo Idol (crockery Idol of +Somnauth, for instance, with the belly of him smashed by battle- +axes, and the cart-load of gold coin all run out), persuade mankind +that they are a god, though in dilapidated condition. That is our +first impression of the thing. + +But again, better seen into, there is not wantiug a certain +worthily steadfast, conservative and broad-based high air +(reminding you of "Kill our own mutton, Sir!" and the ancient +English Tory species), solid and loyal, though stolid Ancient +Austrian Tories, that definition will suffice for us;--and Toryism +too, the reader may rely on it, is much patronized by the Upper +Powers, and goes a long way in this world. Nay, without a good +solid substratum of that, what thing, with never so many ballot- +boxes, stump-orators, and liberties of the subject, is capable of +going at all, except swiftly to perdition? These Austrians have +taken a great deal of ruining, first and last! Their relation to +the then Sea-Powers, especially to England embarked on the Cause of +Liberty, fills one with amazement, by no means of an idolatrous +nature; and is difficult to understand at all, or to be patient +with at all. + +Of disposition to comply with Prussia, Robinson finds, in spite of +Mollwitz and the sad experiences, no trace at Vienna. The humor at +Vienna is obstinately defiant; simply to regard Friedrich as a +housebreaker or thief in the night; whom they will soon deal with, +were they once on foot and implements in their hand: "Swift, ye +Sea-Powers; where are the implements, the cash, that means +implements?" The Young Hungarian Majesty herself is magnificently +of that opinion, which is sanctioned by her Bartensteins and wisest +Hofraths, with hardly a dissentient (old Sinzendorf almost alone in +his contrary notion, and he soon dies). Robinson urges the dangers +from France. No Hofrath here will allow himself to believe them; +to believe them would be too horrible. "Depend upon it, France's +intentions are not that way. And at the worst, if France do rise +against us, it is but bargaining with France; better so than +bargaining with Prussia, surely. France will be contentable with +something in the Netherlands; what else can she want of us? +Parings from that outskirt, what are these compared with Silesia, a +horrid gash into the vital parts? And what is yielding to the King +of France, compared with yielding to your Prussian King!"-- + +It is true they have no money, these blind dull people; but are not +the Sea-Powers, England especially, there, created by Nature to +supply money? What else is their purpose in Creation? By Nature's +law, as the Sun mounts in the Ecliptic and then falls, these Sea- +Powers, in the Cause of Liberty, will furnish us money. +No surrender; talk not to me of Silesia or surrender; I will die +defending my inheritances: what are the Sea-Powers about, that they +do not furnish more money in a prompt manner? These are the things +poor Robinson has to listen to: Robinson and England, it is self- +evident at Vienna, have one duty, that of furnishing money. And in +a prompt manner, if you please, Sir; why not prompt and abundant? + +An English soul has small exhilaration, looking into those old +expenditures, and bullyings for want of promptitude! But if English +souls will solemnly, under high Heaven, constitute a Duke of +Newcastle and a George II. their Captains of the march Heavenward, +and say, without blushing for it, nay rejoicing at it, in the face +of the sun, "You are the most godlike Two we could lay hold of for +that object,"--what have English souls to expect? My consolation +is, and, alas, it is a poor one, the money would have been mostly +wasted any way. Buy men and gunpowder with your money, to be shot +away in foreign parts, without renown or use: is that so mnch worse +than buying ridiculous upholsteries, idle luxuries, frivolities, +and in the end unbeautiful pot-bellies corporeal and spiritual with +it, here at home? I am struck silent, looking at much that goes on +under these stars;--and find that misappointment of your Captains, +of your Exemplars and Guiding and Governing individuals, higher and +lower, is a fatal business always; and that especially, as highest +instance of it, which includes all the lower ones, this of solemnly +calling Chief Captain, and King by the Grace of God, a gentleman +who is NOT so (and SEEMS to be so mainly by Malice of the Devil, +and by the very great and nearly unforgivable indifference of +Mankind to resist the Devil in that particular province, for the +present), is the deepest fountain of human wretchedness, and the +head mendacity capable of being done!-- + +As for the brave young Queen of Hungary, my admiration goes with +that of all the world. Not in the language of flattery, but of +evident fact, the royal qualities abound in that high young Lady; +had they left the world, and grown to mere costume elsewhere, you +might find certain of them again here. Most brave, high and pious- +minded; beautiful too, and radiant with good-nature, though of +temper that will easily catch fire: there is perhaps no nobler +woman then living. And she fronts the roaring elements in a truly +grand feminine manner; as if Heaven itself and the voice of Duty +called her: "The Inheritances which my Fathers left me, we will not +part with these. Death, if it so must be; but not dishonor:--Listen +not to that thief in the night!" Maria Theresa has not studied, at +all, the History of the Silesian Duchies; she knows only that her +Father and Grandfather peaceably held them; it was not she that +sent out Seckendorf to ride 25,000 miles, or broke the heart of +Friedrich Wilhelm and his Household. Pity she had not complied with +Friedrich, and saved such rivers of bitterness to herself and +mankind! But how could she see to do it,--especially with little +George at her back, and abundance of money? This, for the present, +is her method of looking at the matter; this magnanimous, heroic, +and occasionally somewhat female one. + +Her Husband, the Grand Duke, an inert, but good-tempered, well- +conditioned Duke after his sort, goes with her. Him we shall see +try various things; and at length take to banking and merchandise, +and even meal-dealing on the great scale. "Our Armies had most part +of their meal circuitously from him," says Friedrich, of times long +subsequent. Now as always he follows loyally his Wife's lead, never +she his: Wife being, intrinsically as well as extrinsically, the +better man, what other can he do?--Of compliance with Friedrich in +this Court, there is practically no hope till after a great deal of +beating have enlightened it. Out of deference to George and his +ardors, they pretend some intention that way; and are "willing to +bargain, your Excellency;"--no doubt of it, provided only the price +were next to nothing! + +And so, while the watchful edacious Hyndford is doing his best at +Strehlen, poor Robinson, blown into triple activity, corresponds in +a boundless zealous manner from Vienna; and at last takes to flying +personally between Strehlen and Vienna; praying the inexorable +young Queen to comply a little, and then the inexorable young King +to be satisfied with imaginary compliance; and has a breathless +time of it indeed. His Despatches, passionately long-winded, are +exceedingly stiff reading to the like of us. O reader, what things +have to be read and carefully forgotten; what mountains of dust and +ashes are to be dug through, and tumbled down to Orcus, to +disengage the smallest fraction of truly memorable! Well if, in ten +cubic miles of dust and ashes, you discover the tongue of a shoe- +buckle that has once belonged to a man in the least heroic; +and wipe your brow, invoking the supernal and the infernal gods. +My heart's desire is to compress these Strehlen Diplomatic horse- +dealings into the smallest conceivable bulk. And yet how much that +is not metal, that is merely cinders, has got through: impossible +to prevent,--may the infernal gods deal with it, and reduce +Dryasdust to limits, one day! Here, however, are important Public +News transpiring through the old Gazetteers:-- + +"MUNCHEN, JULY 1st [or in effect a few days later, when the Letters +DATED July 1st had gone through their circuitous formalities], +[Adelung, ii. 421.] Karl Albert Kur-Baiern publicly declares +himself Candidate for the Kaisership; as, privately, he had long +been rumored and believed to be. Kur-Baiern, they say, has of +militias and regulars together about 30,000 men on foot, all posted +in good places along the Austrian Frontier; and it is commonly +thought, though little credible at Vienna, that he intends invading +Austria as well as contesting the Election. To which the Vienna +Hofrath answers in the style of 'Pshaw!' + +"VERSAILLES, 11th JULY. Extraordinary Council of State; Belleisle +being there, home from Frankfurt, to take final orders, and get +official fiat put upon his schemes. 'All the Princes of the Blood +and all the Marechals of France attend;' question is, How the War +is to be, nay, Whether War is to be at all,--so contingent is the +French-Prussian Bargain, signed five weeks ago. Old Fleury, to give +freedom of consultation and vote, quits the room. Some are of +opinion, one Prince of the Blood emphatically so, That Pragmatic +Sanction should be kept, at least War AGAINST it be avoided. +But the contrary opinion triumphs, King himself being strongly with +it; Belleisle to be supreme in field and cabinet; shall execute, +like a kind of Dictator or Vice-Majesty, by his own magnificent +talent, those magnificent devisings of his, glorious to France and +to the King. [Ib. 417, 418; see also Baumer, p. 104 (if you can for +his date, which is given in OLD STYLE as if it were in New; a very +eclipsing method!).] These many months, the French have been arming +with their whole might. The Vienna people hear now, That an 'Army +of 40,000 is rumored to be coming,' or even two Armies, 40,000 +each; but will not imagine that this is certain, or that it can be +seriously meant against their high House, precious to gods and men. +Belleisle having perfected the multiplex Army details, rushes back +to Frankfurt and his endless Diplomatic businesses (July 25th): +Armies to be on actual march by the 10th of August coming. +'During this Versailles visit, he had such a crowd of Officers and +great people paying court to him as was like the King's Levee +itself.' [Barbier, ii. 305.] + +"PASSAU, 31st JULY. Passau is the Frontier Austrian City on the +Donau (meeting of the Inn and Donau Valleys); a place of +considerable strength, and a key or great position for military +purposes. Austrian, or Quasi-Austrian; for, like Salzburg, it has a +Bishop claiming some imaginary sovereignties, but always holds with +Austria. July 31st, early in the morning, a Bavarian Exciseman +('Salt-Inspector') applied at the gate of Passau for admission; +gate was opened;--along with the Exciseman 'certain peasants' +(disguised Bavarian soldiers) pushed in; held the gate choked, till +General Minuzzi, Karl Albert's General, with horse, foot, cannon, +who had been lurking close by, likewise pushed in; and at once +seized the Town. Town speedily secured, Minuzzi informs the Bishop, +who lives in his Schloss of Oberhaus (strongish place on a Hill- +top, other side the Donau), That he likewise, under pain of +bombardment, must admit garrison. The poor Bishop hesitates; +but, finding bombardment actually ready for him, yields in about +two hours. Karl Albert publishes his Manifesto, 'in forty-five +pages folio' [Adelung, ii. 426.] (to the effect, 'All Austria mine; +or as good as all,--if I liked!'); and fortifies himself in Passau. +'Insidious, nefarious!' shrieks Austria, in Counter-Manifesto; +calculates privately it will soon settle Karl Albert,--'Unless, +O Heavens, France with Prussia did mean to back him!'-- and begins +to have misgivings, in spite of itself." + +Misgivings, which soon became fatal certainties. Robinson records, +doubtless on sure basis, though not dating it, a curious piece of +stage-effect in the form of reality; "On hearing, beyond +possibility of doubt, that Prussia, France, and Bavaria had +combined, the whole Aulic Council," Vienna Hofrath in a body, "fell +back into their chairs [and metaphorically into Robinson's arms] +like dead men!" [Raumer, p. 104.] Sat staring there;--the wind +struck out of them, but not all the folly by a great deal. +Now, however, is Robinson's time to ply them. + + +EXCELLENCY ROBINSON HAS AUDIENCE OF FRIEDRICH +(Camp of Strehlen, 7th August, 1741). + +By unheard-of entreaties nud conjurations, aided by these strokes +of fate, Robinson has at length extorted from his Queen of Hungary, +and her wise Hofraths, something resembling a phantasm of +compliance; with which he hurries to Breslau and Hyndford; +hoping against hope that Friedrich will accept it as a reality. +Gets to Breslau on the 3d of August; thence to Strehlen, consulting +much with Hyndford upon this phantasm of a compliance. Hyndford +looks but heavily upon it;--from us, in this place, far be it to +look at all:--alas, this is the famed Scene they Two had at +Strehlen with Friedrich, on Monday, August 7th; reported by the +faithful pen of Robinson, and vividly significant of Friedrich, +were it but compressed to the due pitch. We will give it in the +form of Dialogue: the thing of itself falls naturally into the +Dramatic, when the flabby parts are cut away;--and was perhaps +worthier of a Shakspeare than of a Robinson, all facts of it +considered, in the light they have since got. + +Scene is Friedrich's Tent, Prussian Camp in the neighborhood of the +little Town of Strehlen: time 11 o'clock A.M. Personages of it, Two +British subjects in the high Diplomatic line: ponderous Scotch Lord +of an edacious gloomy countenance; florid Yorkshire Gentleman with +important Proposals in his pocket. Costume, frizzled peruke +powdered; frills, wrist-frills and other; shoe-buckles, flapped +waistcoat, court-coat of antique cut and much trimming: all this +shall be conceived by the reader. Tight young Gentleman in Prussian +military uniform, blue coat, buff breeches, boots; with alert +flashing eyes, and careless elegant bearing, salutes courteously, +raising his plumed hat. Podewils in common dress, who has entered +escorting the other Two, sits rather to rearward, taking refuge +beside the writing apparatus.--First passages of the Dialogue I +omit: mere pickeerings and beatings about the bush, before we come +to close quarters. For Robinson, the florid Yorkshire Gentleman, is +charged to offer,--what thinks the reader?--two million guilders, +about 200,000 pounds, if that will satisfy this young military King +with the alert Eyes! + +ROBINSON. ... "'Two hundred thousand pounds sterling, if your +Majesty will be pleased to retire out of Silesia, and renounce +this enterprise!' + +KING. "'Retire out of Silesia? And for money? Do you take me for a +beggar! Retire out of Silesia, which has cost me so much treasure +and blood in the conquest of it? No, Monsieur, no; that is not to +be thought of! If you have no better proposals to make, it is not +worth while talking.' These words were accompnnied with threatening +gestures and marks of great anger;" considerably staggering to the +Two Diplomatic British gentlemen, and of evil omen to Robinson's +phantasm of a compliance. Robinson apologetically hums and hahs, +flounders through the bad bit of road as he can; flounderingly +indicates that he has more to offer. + +KING. "'Let us see then (VOYONS), what is there more?' + +ROBINSON (with preliminary flourishings and flounderings, yet +confidently, as now tabling his best card). ... "'Permitted to +offer your Majesty the whole of Austrian Guelderland; lies +contiguous to your Majesty's Possessions in the Rhine Country; +important completion of these: I am permitted to say, the whole of +Austrian Guelderland!' Important indeed: a dirty stripe of moorland +(if you look in Busching), about equivalent to half a dozen +parishes in Connemara. + +KING. "'What do you mean? [turning to Podewils]--QU'EST-CE QUE NOUS +MANQUE DE TOUTE LA GUELDRE (How much of Guelderland is theirs, and +not ours already)?' + +PODEWILS. "'Almost nothing (PRESQUE RIEN). + +KING (to Robinson). "'VOICI ENCORE DE GUEUSERIES (more rags and +rubbish yet)! QUOI, such a paltry scraping (BICOQUE) as that, for +all my just claims in Silesia? Monsieur--!' His Majesty's +indignation increased here, all the more as I kept a profound +silence during his hot expressions, and did not speak at all except +to beg his Majesty's reflection upon what I had said.-- +'Reflection?'" asks the King, with eyes dangerous to behold;-- +"My Lord," continues Robinson, heavily narrative, "his contempt of +what I had said was so great," kicking his boot through Guelderland +and the guilders as the most contemptible of objects, "and was +expressed in such violent terms, that now, if ever (as your +Lordship perceives), it was time to make the last effort;" play our +trump-card down at once; "a moment longer was not to be lost, to +hinder the King from dismissing us;" which sad destiny is still too +probable, after the trump-card. Trump-card is this: + +ROBINSON. ... "'The whole Duchy of Limburg, your Majesty! It is a +Duchy which--' I extolled the Duchy to the utmost, described it in +the most favorable terms; and added, that 'the Elector Palatine +[old Kur-Pfalz, on one occasion] had been willing to give the whole +Duchy of Berg for it.' + +PODEWILS. "'Pardon, Monsieur: that is not so; the contrary of so; +Kur-Pfalz was not ready to give Berg for it!'--[We are not deep in +German History, we British Diplomatic gentlemen, who are +squandering, now and of old, so much money on it! The Aulic +Council, "falls into our arms like dead men;" but it is certain +the Elector Palatine was not ready to give Berg in that kind +of exchange.] + +KING. "'It is inconceivable to me how Austria should dare to think +of such a thing. Limburg? Are there not solemn Engagements upon +Austria, sanctioned and again sanctioned by all the world, which +render every inch of ground in the Netherlands inalienable?' + +ROBINSON. "'Engagements good as against the French, your Majesty. +Otherwise the Barrier Treaty, confirmed at Utrecht, was for our +behoof and Holland's.' + +KING. "'That is your present interpretation, But the French pretend +it was an arrangement more in their favor than against them.' + +ROBINSON. "'Your Majesty, by a little Engineer Art, could render +Limburg impregnable to the French or others.' + +KING. "'Have not the least desire to aggrandize myself in those +parts, or spend money fortifying there. Useless to me. Am not I +fortifying Brieg and Glogau? These are enough: for one who intends +to live well with his neighbors. Neither the Dutch nor the French +have offended me; nor will I them by acquisitions in the +Netherlands. Besides, who would guarantee them?' + +ROBINSON. "'The Proposal is to give guarantees at once.' + +KING. "'Guarantees! Who minds or keeps guarantees in this age? +Has not France guaranteed the Pragmatic Sanction; has not England? +Why don't you all fly to the Queen's succor?'"--Robinson, inclined +to pout, if he durst, intimates that perhaps there will be +succorers one day yet. + +KING. "'And pray, Monsieur, who are they?' + +ROBINSON. "'Hm, hm, your Majesty. ... Russia, for example, which +Power with reference to Turkey--' + +KING. "'Good, Sir, good (BEAU, MONSIEUR, BEAU), the Russians! It is +not proper to explain myself; but I have means for the Russians' +[a Swedish War just coming upon Russia, to keep its hand in use; +so diligent have the French been in that quarter!]. + +ROBINSON (with some emphasis, as a Britannic gentleman). "'Russia +is not the only Power that has engagements with Austria, and that +must keep them too! So that, however averse to a breach--' + +KING ("laying his finger on his nose," mark him;--aloud, and with +such eyes). "'No threats, Sir, if you please! No threats' ["in a +loud voice," finger to nose, and with such eyes looking in +upon me]. + +HYNDFORD (heavily coming to the rescue). "'Am sure his Excellency +is far from such meaning, Sire. His Excellency will advance nothing +so very contrary to his Instructions.'--Podewils too put in +something proper" in the appeasing way. + +ROBINSON. "'Sire, I am not talking of what this Power or that means +to do; but of what will come of itself. To prophesy is not to +threaten, Sire! It is my zeal for the Public that brought me +hither; and--' + +KING. "'The Public will be much obliged to you, Monsieur! But hear +me. With respect to Russia, you know how matters stand. From the +King of Poland I have nothing to fear. As for the King of England, +--he is my relation [dear Uncle, in the Pawnbroker sense], he is my +all: if he don't attack me, I won't him. And if he do, the Prince +of Anhalt [Old Dessauer out at Gottin yonder] will take care +of him.' + +ROBINSON. "'The common news now is [rumor in Diplomatic circles, +rather below the truth this time], your Majesty, after the 12th of +August, will join the French. [King looks fixedly at him in +silence.] Sire, I venture to hope not! Austria prefers your +friendship; but if your Majesty disdain Austria's advances, what is +it to do? Austria must throw itself entirely into the hands of +France,--and endeavor to outbid your Majesty.' [King quite silent.] + +"King was quite silent upon this head," says Robinson, reporting: +silence, guesses Robinson, founded most probably upon his +"consciousness of guilt"--what I, florid Yorkshire Gentleman, call +GUILT, as being against the Cause of Liberty and us! "From time to +time he threw out remarks on the advantageousness of +his situation:-- + +KING. ... "'At the head of such an Army, which the Enemy has +already made experience of; and which is ready for the Enemy again, +if he have appetite! With the Country which alone I am concerned +with, conquered and secured behind me; a Country that alone lies +convenient to me; which is all I want, which I now have; which I +will and must keep! Shall I be bought out of this country? Never! +I will sooner perish in it, with all my troops. With what face +shall I meet my Ancestors, if I abandon my right, which they have +transmitted to me? My first enterprise; and to be given up +lightly?'"--With more of the like sort; which Friedrich, in writing +of it long after, seems rather ashamed of; and would fain consider +to have been mock fustian, provoked by the real fustian of Sir +Thomas Robinson, "who negotiated in a wordy high-droning way, as if +he were speaking in Parliament," says Friedrich (a Friedrich not +taken with that style of eloquence, and hoping he rather quizzed it +than was serious with it, [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> ii. 84.]--though Robinson and Hyndford found in him no want +of vehement seriousness, but rather the reverse!)--He concludes: +"Have I need of Peace? Let those who need it give me what I want; +or let them fight me again, and be beaten again. Have not they +given whole Kingdoms to Spain? [Naples, at one swoop, to the +Termagant; as broken glass, in that Polish-Election freak!] And to +me they cannot spare a few trifling Principalities? If the Queen +does not now grant me all I require, I shall in four weeks demand +Four Principalities more! [Nay, I now do it, being in sibylline +tune.] I now demand the whole of Lower Silesia, Breslau included;-- +and with that Answer you can return to Vienna.' + +ROBINSON. "'With that Answer: is your Majesty serious?' + +KING. "'With that.'" A most vehement young King; no negotiating +with him, Sir Thomas! It is like negotiating for the Sibyl's Books: +the longer you bargain, the higher he will rise. In four weeks, +time he will demand Four Principalities more; nay, already demands +them, the whole of Lower Silesia and Breslau. A precious +negotiation I have made of it! Sir Thomas, wide-eyed, asks a +second time:-- + +ROBINSON. "'Is that your Majesty's deliberate answer?' + +KING. "'Yes, I say! That is my Answer; and I will never give +another.' + +HYNDFORD and ROBINSON (much flurried, to Podewils). "'Your +Excellency, please to comprehend, the Proposals from Vienna were--' + +KING. "'Messieurs, Messieurs, it is of no use even to think of it.' +And taking off his hat," slightly raising his hat, as salutation +and finale, "he retired precipitately behind the curtain of the +interior corner of the tent," says the reporter: EXIT King! + +ROBINSON (totally flurried, to Podewils). "'Your Excellency, France +will abandon Prussia, will sacrifice Prussia to self-interest.' + +PODEWILS. "'No, no! France will not deceive us; we have not +deceived France.'" (SCENE CLOSES; CURTAIN FALLS.) [State-Paper +Office (Robinson to Harrington, Breslau, 9th August, 1741); Raumer, +pp. 106-110. Compare <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +ii. 84; and Valori, i. 119, 122.] + +The unsuccessfulest negotiation well imaginable by a public man. +Strehlen, Monday, 7th August, 1741:--Friedrich has vanished into +the interior of his tent; and the two Diplomatic gentlemen, the +wind struck out of them in this manner, remain gazing at one +another. Here truly is a young Royal gentleman that knows his own +mind, while so many do not. Unspeakable imbroglio of negotiations, +mostly insane, welters over all the Earth; the Belleisles, the +Aulic Councils, the British Georges, heaping coil upon coil: +and here, notably, in that now so extremely sordid murk of +wiggeries, inane diplomacies and solemn deliriums, dark now and +obsolete to all creatures, steps forth one little Human Figure, +with something of sanity in it: like a star, like a gleam of +steel,--shearing asunder your big balloons, and letting out their +diplomatic hydrogen;--salutes with his hat, "Gentlemen, Gentlemen, +it is of no use!" and vanishes into the interior of his tent. It is +to Excellency Robinson, among all the sons of Adam then extant, +that we owe this interesting Passage of History,--authentic +glimpse, face to face, of the young Friedrich in those +extraordinary circumstances: every feature substantially as above, +and recognizable for true. Many Despatches his Excellency wrote in +this world,--sixty or eighty volumes of them still left,--but among +them is this One: the angriest of mankind cannot say that his +Excellency lived and embassied quite in vain! + +The Two Britannic Gentlemen, both on that distressing Monday and +the day following, had the honor to dine with the King: who seemed +in exuberant spirits; cutting and bantering to right and left; +upon the Court of Vienna, among other topics, in a way which I +Robinson "will not repeat to your Lordship." Bade me, for example, +"As you pass through Neisse, make my compliments to Marshal +Neipperg; and you can say, Excellency Robinson, that I hope to have +the pleasure of calling, one of these days!"--Podewils, who was +civil, pressed us much to stay over Wednesday, the 9th. +"On Thursday is to be a Grand Review, one of the finest military +sights; to which the Excellencies from Breslau, one and all, are +coming out." But we, having our Despatches and Expresses on hand, +pleaded business, and declined, in spite of Podewils's urgencies. +And set off for Breslau, Wednesday, morning,--meeting various +Excellencies, by degrees all the Excellencies, on the road for that +Review we had heard of. + +Readers must accept this Robinsoniad as the last of Friedrich's +Diplomatic performances at Strehlen, which in effect it nearly was; +and from these instances imagine his way in such things. Various +Letters there are, to Jordan principally, some to Algarotti; +both of whom he still keeps at Breslau, and sends for, if there is +like to be an hour of leisure. The Letters indicate cheerfulness of +humor, even levity, in the Writer; which is worth noting, in this +wild clash of things now tumbling round him, and looking to him as +its centre: but they otherwise, though heartily aud frankly +written, are, to Jordan and us, as if written from the teeth +outward; and throw no light whatever either on things befalling, or +on Friedrich's humor under them. Reading diligently, we do notice +one thing, That the talk about "fame (GLOIRE)" has died out. +Not the least mention now of GLOIRE;--perception now, most +probably, that there are other things than "GLOIRE" to be had by +taking arms; and that War is a terribly grave thing, lightly as one +may go into it at first! This small inference we do negatively +draw, from the Friedrich Correspondence of those months: and except +this, and the levity of humor noticeable, we practically get no +light whatever from it; the practical soul and soul's business of +Friedrich being entirely kept veiled there, as usual. + +And veiled, too, in such a way that you do not notice any veil,-- +the young King being, as we often intimate, a master in this art. +Which useful circumstance has done him much ill with readers and +mankind. For if you intend to interest readers,--that is to say, +idle neighbors, and fellow-creatures in need of gossip,--there is +nothing like unveiling yourself: witness Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and +many other poor waste creatures, going off in self-conflagration, +for amusement of the parish, in that manner. But may not a man have +something other on hand with his Existence than that of "setting +fire to it [such the process terribly IS], to show the people a +fine play of colors, and get himself applauded, and pathetically +blubbered over?" Alas, my friends!-- + +It is certain there was seldom such a life-element as this of +Friedrich's in Summer, 1741. Here is the enormous jumbling of a +World broken loose; boiling as in very chaos; asking of him, him +more than any other, "How? What?" Enough to put GLOIRE out of his +head; and awaken thoughts,--terrors, if you were of apprehensive +turn! Surely no young man of twenty-nine more needed all the human +qualities than Friedrich now. The threatenings, the seductions, big +Belleisle hallucinations,--the perils to you infinite, if you MISS +the road. Friedrich did not miss it, as is well known; he managed +to pick it out from that enormous jumble of the elements, and +victoriously arrived by it, he alone of them all. Which is evidence +of silent or latent faculty in him, still more wonderful than the +loud-resounding ones of which the world has heard. Probably there +was not, in his history, any chapter more significant of human +faculty than this, which is not on record at all. + + + +Chapter III. + +GRAND REVIEW AT STREHLEN: NEIPPERG TAKES AIM AT BRESLAU, +BUT ANOTHER HITS IT. + +A day or two before that famous Audience of Hyndford and +Robinson's, Neipperg had quitted his impregnable Camp at Neisse, +and taken the field again; in the hope of perhaps helping +Robinson's Negotiation by an inverse method. Should Robinson's +offers not prove attractive enough, as is to be feared, a push from +behind may have good effects. Neipperg intends to have a stroke on +Breslau; to twitch Breslau out of Friedrich's hands, by a private +manoeuvre on new resources that have offered themselves. [<italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 982, and ii. 227.] + +In Breslau, which is by great majority Protestant in creed and +warmly Prussian in temper, there has been no oppression or unfair +usage heard of to any class of persons; and certainly in the matter +of Protestant and Catholic, there has been perfect equality +observed. True, the change from favor and ascendency to mere +equality, is not in itself welcome to human creatures:--one +conceives, for various reasons of lower and higher nature, a +minority of discontented individuals in Breslau, zealous for their +creed and old perquisites sacred and profane; who long in secret, +sometimes vocally to one another, for the good old times,--when +souls were not liable to perish wholesale, and people guilty only +of loyalty and orthodoxy to be turned out of their offices on +suspicion. Friedrich says, it was mainly certain zealous Old Ladies +of Quality who went into this adventure; and from whispering to one +another, got into speaking, into meeting in one another's houses +for the purpose of concerting and contriving. [<italic> OEuvres, +<end italic> ii. 82, 83.] Zealous Old Ladies of Quality,--these we +consider were the Talking-Apparatus or Secret-Parliament of the +thing: but it is certain one or two Official Gentlemen (Syndic +Guzmar for instance, and others NOT yet become Ex-Official) had +active hand in it, and furnished the practical ideas. + +Continual Correspondence there was with Vienna, by those Old +Ladies; Guzmar and the others shy of putting pen to paper, and only +doing it where indispensable. Zealous Addresses go to her Hungarian +Majesty, "Oh, may the Blessed Virgin assist your Majesty!"-- +accompanied, it is said, with Subscriptions of money (poor old +souls); and what is much more dangerous and feasible, there goes +prompt notice to Neipperg of everything the Prussian Army +undertakes, and the Postscript always, "Come and deliver us, your +Excellency." Of these latter Documents, I have heard of some with +Syndic Guzmar's and other Official hands to them. Generally such +things can, through accidental Pandour channels, were there no +other, easily reach Neipperg; though they do not always. +Enough, could Neipperg appear at the Gates of Breslau, in some +concerted night-hour, or push out suitable Detachment on forced- +march that way,--it is evident to him he would be let in; +might smother the few Prussians that are in the Dom Island, and get +possession of the Enemy's principal Magazine and the Metropolis of +the Province. Might not the Enemy grow more tractable to Robinson's +seductions in such case? + +Neipperg marches from Neisse (1st-6th August) with his whole Army; +first some thirty miles westward up the right or southern bank of +the Neisse; then crosses the Neisse, and circles round to +northward, giving Friedrich wide room: [Orlich, i. 130, 133.] that +night of Robinson's Audience, when Friedrich was so merry at +dinner, Neipperg was engaged in crossing the River; the second +night after, Neipperg lay encamped and intrenched at Baumgarten +(old scene of Friedrich's Pandour Adventure), while Hyndford and +Robinson had got back to Breslau. In another day or so, he may hope +to be within forced-march of Breslau, to detach Feldmarschall +Browne or some sharp head; and to do a highly considerable thing? + +Unluckily for Neipperg's Adventure, the Prussians had wind of it, +some time ago. They have got "a false Sister smuggled into that +Old-Ladies' Committee," who has duly reported progress; nay they +have intercepted something in Syndic Guzmar's own hand: and +everything is known to Friedrich. The Protestant population, and +generally the practical quiet part of the Breslauers, are harassed +with suspicion of some such thing, but can gain no certainty, nor +understand what to do. Protestants especially, who have been so +zealous, "who were seen dropping down on the streets to pray, while +the muffled thunder came from Mollwitz that day," [Ranke, ii. +289.]--fancy how it would now be, were the tables suddenly turned, +and indignant Orthodoxy made supreme again, with memory fresh! +But, in fact, there is no danger whatever to them. Schwerin has +orders about Breslau; Schwerin and the Young Dessauer are maturely +considering how to manage. + +Readers recollect how Podewils pressed the Two Britannic +Excellencies to stay in Strehlen a day or two longer: "Grand +Review, with festivities, just on hand; whole of the Foreign +Ministers in Breslau invited out to see it,"--though Hyndford and +Robinson would not consent; but left on the 9th, meeting the others +at different points of the road. Next day, Thursday, 10th August, +was in fact a great day at Strehlen; grand muster, manoeuvring of +cavalry above all, whom Friedrich is delighted to find so perfect +in their new methods; riding as if they were centaurs, horse and +man one entity; capable of plunging home, at full gallop, in +coherent masses upon an enemy, and doing some good with him. +"Neipperg's Croat-people, and out-pickets on the distant Hill- +sides, witnessed these manoeuvres," [Ranke, ii. 288.] I know not +with what criticism. Furthermore, about noon-time, there was heard +(mark it, reader) a distant cannon-shot, one and no more, from the +Northern side; which gave his Majesty a lively pleasure, though he +treated it as nothing. All the Foreign Ministers were on the +ground; doubtless with praises, so far as receivable; and in the +afternoon came festivities not a few. A great day in Strehlen:-- +but in Breslau a much greater; which explained, to our Two +Excellencies, why Podewils had been so pressing! + +August 10th, at six in the morning, Schwerin, and under him the +Young Dessauer,--who had arrived in the Southwestern suburbs of +Breslau overnight, with 8,000 foot and horse, and had posted +themselves in a vigilant Anti-Neipperg manner there, and laid all +their plans,--appear at the Nicolai Gate; and demand, in the common +way, transit for their regiments and baggages: "bound Northward," +as appears; "to Leubus," where something of Pandour sort has fallen +out. So many troops or companies at a time, that is the rule; +one quotity of companies you admit; then close and bolt, till it +have marched across and out at the opposite Gate; after which, open +again for a second lot. But in this case,--owing to accident (very +unusual) of a baggage-wagon breaking down, and people hurrying to +help it forward,--the whole regiment gets in, escorted as usual by +the Town-guard. Whole regiment; and marches, not straight through; +but at a certain corner strikes off leftward to the Market-place; +where, singular to say, it seems inclined to pause and rearrange +itself a little. Nay, more singular still, other regiments (owing +to like accidents), from other Gates, join it;--and--in fact-- +"Herr Major of the Town-guard, in the King's name, you are required +to ground arms!" What can the Town Major do; Prussian grenadiers, +cannoneers, gravely environing him? He sticks his sword into the +scabbard, an Ex-Town Major; and Breslau City is become Friedrich's, +softly like a movement during drill. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, +<end italic> i. 982, n. 227, 268; Adelung, ii. 439; Stenzel, +iv. 152.] + +Not the least mistake occurred. Cannon with case-shot planted +themselves in all the thoroughfares, Horse-patrols went circulating +everywhere; Town-arsenal, gates, walls, are laid hold of; Town- +guards all disarmed, rather "with laughter on their part" than +otherwise: "Majesty perhaps will give us muskets of his own;-- +well!" The operation altogether did not last above an hour-and- +half, and nobody's skin got scratched. Towards 9 A.M. Schwerin +summoned the Town Dignitaries to their Rathhaus to swear fealty; +who at once complied; and on his stepping out with proposal, to the +general population, of "a cheer for King Friedrich, Duke of Lower +Silesia," the poor people rent the skies with their "Friedrich and +Silesia forever!" which they repeated, I think, seven times. +Upon which Schwerin fired off his signal-cannon, pointing to the +South; where other posts and cannons took up the sound, and pushed +it forward, till, as we noticed, it got to Friedrich in few +minutes, on the review-ground at Strehlen; right welcome to him, +among the manoeuvrings there. Protestant Breslau or cordwainer +Doblin cannot lament such a result; still less dare the devout Old +Ladies of Quality openly lament, who are trembling to the heart, +poor old creatures, though no evil came of it to them; penitent, +let off for the fright; checking even their aspirations henceforth. + +Syndic Guzmar and the peccant Officials being summoned out to +Strehlen, it had been asked of them, "Do you know this Letter?" +Upon which they fell on their knees, "ACH IHRO MAJESTAT!" unable to +deny their handwriting; yet anxious to avoid death on the scaffold, +as Friedrich said was usual under such behavior; and were sent +home, after a few hours of arrest. [Orlich, i. 134; <italic> +Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 228.] Schwerin (as King's +substitute till the King himself one day arrive) continued to take +the Homaging, and to make the many new arrangements needful. +All which went off in a soft and pleasantly harmonious manner;-- +only the Jesuits scrupling a little to swear as yet; and getting +gently sent their ways, with revenues stopt in consequence. +Otherwise the swearing, which lasted for several days, was to +appearance a joyful process, and on the part of the general +population an enthusiastic one, "ES LEBE KONIG FRIEDRICH!" rising +to the welkin with insatiable emphasis, seven times over, on the +least signal given. Neipperg's Adventure, and Orthodox Female +Parliament, have issued in this sadly reverse manner. + +Robinson and Hyndford have to witness these phenomena; Robinson to +shoot off for Presburg again, with the worst news in the world. +Queen and Hofraths have been waiting in agony of suspense, "Will +Friedrich bargain on those gentle terms, and help us with 100,000 +men?" Far from it, my friends; how far! "My most important +intelligence," writes the Russian Envoy there, some days ago, +["5 August, 1741," not said to whom (in Ranke, ii. 324 n.).] is, +that a Bavarian War has broken out, that Kur-Baiern is in Passau. +God grant that Monsieur Robinson may succeed in his negotiation! +All here are in the completest irresolution, and total inactivity, +till Monsieur Robinson return, or at least send news of himself." + + + +Chapter IV. + +FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD AGAIN, INTENT ON HAVING NEISSE. + +This Breslau Adventure, which had yielded Friedrich so important an +acquisition, was furthermore the cause of ending these Strehlen +inactivities, and of recommencing field operations. August 11th, +Neipperg, provoked by the grievous news just come from Breslau, +pushes suddenly forward on Schweidnitz, by way of consolation; +Schweidnitz, not so strong as it might be made, where the Prussians +have a principal Magazine: "One might at least seize that?" thinks +Neipperg, in his vexed humor. But here too Friedrich was beforehand +with him; broke out, rapidly enough, to Reichenbach, westward, +which bars the Neipperg road to Schweidnitz: upon which,--or even +before which (on rumor of it coming, which was not YET true),-- +Neipperg, half done with his first day's march, called halt; +prudently turned back, and hastened, Baumgarten way, to his strong +Camp at Frankenstein again. His hope in the Schweidnitz direction +had lasted only a few hours; a hope springing on the mere spur of +pique, soon recognizable by him as futile; and now anxieties for +self-preservation had succeeded it on Neipperg's part. For now +Friedrich actually advances on him, in a menacing manner, hardly +hoping Neipperg will fight; but determined to have done with the +Neisse business, in spite of strong camps and cunctations, if it be +possible. [Orlich, i. 137, 138.] + +It was August 16th, when Friedrich stirred out of Strehlen; +August 21st, when he encamped at Reichenbach. Till September 7th, +he kept manoeuvring upon Neipperg, who counter-manoeuvred with +vigilance, good judgment, and would not come to action: September +7th, Friedrich, weary of these hagglings, dashed off for Neisse +itself, hoped to be across Neisse River, and be between Neisse Town +and Neipperg, before Neipperg could get up. There would then be no +method of preventing the Siege of Neisse, except by a Battle: +so Friedrich had hoped; but Neipperg again proved vigilant. + +Accordingly, September 11th, Friedrich's Vanguard was actually +across the Neisse; had crossed at a place called Woitz, and had +there got Two Pontoon Bridges ready, when Friedrich, in the +evening, came up with the main Army, intending to cross;--and was +astonished to find Neipperg taking up position, in intricate +ground, near by, on the opposite side! Ground so intricate, hills, +bogs, bushes of wood, and so close upon the River, there was no +crossing possible; and Friedrich's Vanguard had to be recalled. +Two days of waiting, of earnest ocular study; no possibility +visible. On the third day, Friedrich, gathering in his pontoons +overnight, marched off, down stream: Neisse-wards, but on the left +or north bank of the River; passed Neisse Town (the River between +him and it); and encamped at Gross Neundorf, several miles from +Neipperg and the River. Neipperg, at an equal step, has been +wending towards his old Camp, which lies behind Neisse, between +Neisse and the Hills: there, a river in front, dams and muddy +inundations all round him, begirt with plentiful Pandours, Neipperg +waits what Friedrich will attempt from Gross Neundorf. + +From Gross Neundorf, Friedrich persists twelve days (13th-25th +September), studying, endeavoring; mere impossibility ahead. And by +this time (what is much worth noting), Hyndford, silently quitting +Breslau, has got back to these scenes of war, occasionally visible +in Friedrich's Camp again;--on important mysterious business; +which will have results. Valori also is here in Camp; these two +Excellencies jealously eying one another; both of them with teeth +rather on edge,--Europe having suddenly got into such a plunge (as +if the highest mountains were falling into the deepest seas) since +Friedrich began this Neipperg problem of his;--in which, after +twelve days, he sees mere impossibility ahead. + +On the twelfth day, Friedrich privately collects himself for a new +method: marches, soon after midnight, [26th September, 2 A.M.: +Orlich, i. 144.] fifteen miles down the River (which goes northward +in this part, as the reader may remember); crosses, with all his +appurtenances, unmolested; and takes camp a few miles inland, or on +the right bank, and facing towards Neisse again. He intends to be +in upon Neipperg front the rear quarter; and cut him off from +Mahren and his daily convoys of food. "Daily food cut off,--the +thickest-skinned rhinoceros, the wildest lion, cannot stand that: +here, for Neipperg, is one point on which all his embankments and +mud-dams will not suffice him!" thinks Friedrich. Certain +preliminary operations, and military indispensabilities, there +first are for Friedrich,--Town of Oppeln to be got, which commands +the Oder, our rearward highway; Castle of Friedland, and the +country between Oder and Neisse Rivers:--while these preliminary +things are being done (September 28th-October 3d), Friedrich in +person gradually pushes forward towards Neipperg, reconnoitring, +bickering with Croats: October 3d, preliminaries done, Neipperg's +rear had better look to itself. + +Neipperg, well enough seeing what was meant, has by this time come +out of his mud-dams and impregnabilities; and advanced a few miles +towards Friedrich. Neipperg lies now encamped in the Hamlet of +Griesau, a little way behind Steinau,--poor Steinau, which the +reader saw on fire one night, when Friedrich and we were in those +parts, in Spring last. Friedrich's Camp is about five miles from +Neipperg's on the other side of Steinau. A tolerable champaign +country; I should think, mostly in stubble at this season. Nearly +midway between these two Camps is a pretty Schloss called Klein- +Schnellendorf, occupied by Neipperg's Croats just now, of which +Prince Lobkowitz (he, if I remember, but it matters nothing), an +Austrian General of mark, far away at present, is proprietor. + +Friedrich's Oppeln preparations are about complete; and he intends +to advance straightway. "Hold, for Heaven's sake, your Majesty!" +exclaims Hyndford; getting hold of him one day (waylaying him, in +fact; for it is difficult, owing to Valori); "Wait, wait; I have +just been to the--to the Camp of Neipperg," silently gesticulates +Hyndford: "Within a week all shall be right, and not a drop of +blood shed!" Friedrich answers, by silence chiefly, to the effect, +"Tush, tush;" but not quite negatively, and does in effect wait. +We had better give the snatch of Dialogue in primitive authentic +form; date is, Camp of Neundorf, September 22d:-- + +FRIEDRICH (pausing impatiently, on the way towards his tent). +"'MILORD, DE QUOI S'AGIT-IL A PRESENT (What is it now, then)?' + +HYNDFORD. "'Should much desire to have some assurance from your +Majesty with regard to that neutrality of Hanover you were pleased +to promise.' All else is coming right; hastening towards beautiful +settlement, were that settled. + +FRIEDRICH. "'Have not I great reason to be dissatisfied with your +Court? Britannic Majesty, as King of England and as Elector of +Hanover, is wonderful! Milord, when you say a thing is white, +Schweichelt, the Hanoverian Excellency, calls it black, and VICE +VERSA. But I will do your King no harm; none, I say! Follow me to +dinner; dinner is cold by this time; and we have made more than one +person think of us. Swift! [and EXIT].'" [Hyndford's Despatch, +Neisse, 4th October, 1741.] + +This is a strange motion on the part of Hyndford; but Friedrich, +severely silent to it, understands it very well; as readers soon +will, when they hear farther. But marvellous things have happened +on the sudden! In these three weeks, since the Camp of Strehlen +broke up, there have been such Events; strategic, diplomatic: +a very avalanche of ruin, hurling Austria down to the Nadir; +of which it is now fit that the reader have some faint conception, +an adequate not being possible for him or me:-- + +"AUGUST l5th, 1741. Robinson reappears in Presburg; and precious +surely are the news he brings to an Aulic Council fallen back in +its chairs, and staring with the wind struck out of it. +Their expected Seizure of Breslau gone heels over head, in that +way; Friedrich imperiously resolute, gleaming like the flash of +steel amid these murky imbecilities, and without the Cession of +Silesia no Peace to be made with him! And all this is as nothing, +to news which arrives just on the back of Robinson, from +another quarter. + +"AUGUST 15th-21st. French Army of 40,000 men, special Army of +Belleisle, sedulously equipt and completed, visibly crosses the +Rhine at Fort Louis (an Island Fortress in the Rhine, thirty miles +below Strasburg; STONES of it are from the old Schloss of +Hagenau);--steps over deliberately there; and on the sixth day is +all on German ground. These troops, to be commanded by Belleisle, +so soon as he can join them, are to be the Elector of Bavaria's +troops, Kur-Baiern Generalissimo over Belleisle and them; +[<italic> Fastes de Louis XV., <end italic> ii. 264.] and they are +on rapid march to join that ambitious Kurfurst, in his Passau +Expedition; and probably submerge Vienna itself. + +"And what is this we hear farther, O Robinson, O Excellencies +Hyndford, Schweichelt and Company: That another French Army, of the +same strength, under Maillebois, has in the self-same days gone +across the Lower Rhine (at Kaisersworth, an hour's ride below +Dusseldorf)! At Kaisersworth; ostensibly for comforting and +strengthening Kur-Koln (the lanky Ecclesiastical Gentleman, +Kur-Baiern's Brother), their excellent ally, should anybody meddle +with him. Ostensibly for this; but in reality to keep the Sea- +Powers, and especially George of England quiet. It marches towards +Osnabruck, this Maillebois Army; quarters itself up and down, +looking over into Hanover,--able to eat Hanover, especially if +joined by the Prussians and Old Leopold, at any moment. + +"These things happen in this month of August, close upon the rear +of that steel-shiny scene in the Tent at Strehlen, where Friedrich +lifted his hat, saying, ''T is of no use, Messieurs!'--which was +followed by the seizure of Breslau the wrong way. Never came such a +cataract of evil news on an Aulic Council before. The poor proud +people, all these months they have been sitting torpid, helpless, +loftily stupid, like dumb idols; 'in flat despair,' as Robinson +says once, 'only without the strength to be desperate.' + +"Sure enough the Sea-Powers are checkmated now. Let them make the +least attempt in favor of the Queen, if they dare. Holland can be +overrun, from Osnabruck quarter, at a day's warning. Little George +has his Hanoverians, his subsidized Hessians, Danes, in Hanover, +his English on Lexden Heath: let him come one step over the +marches, Maillebois and the Old Dessauer swallow him. It is a +surprising stroke of theatrical-practical Art; brought about, to +old Fleury's sorrow, by the genius of Belleisle, aud they say of +Madame Chateauroux; enough to strike certain Governing Persons +breathless, for some time; and denotes that the Universal +Hurricane, or World-Tornado, has broken out. It is not recorded of +little George that he fell back in his chair, or stared wider than +usual with those fish-eyes: but he discerned well, glorious little +man, that here is left no shadow of a chance by fighting; that he +will have to sit stock-still, under awful penalties; and that if +Maria Theresa will escape destruction, she must make her peace with +Friedrich at any price." + +This fine event, 80,000 French actually across the Rhine, happened +in the very days while Friedrich and Neipperg had got into wrestle +again,--Neipperg just off from that rash march for Schweidnitz, and +whirling back on rumor (15th August), while the first instalment of +the French were getting over. Friedrich must admit that the French +fulfil their promises so far. A week ago or more, they made the +Swedes declare War against Russia, as covenanted. War is actually +declared, at Stockholm, August 4th, the Faction of Hats prevailing +over that of Nightcaps, after terrible debates and efforts about +the mere declaring of it, as if that alone were the thing needed. +We mentioned this War already, and would not willingly again. +One of the most contemptible Wars ever declared or carried on; +but useful to Friedrich, as keeping Russia off his hands, at a +critical time, and conclusively forbidding help to Austria from +that quarter. + +Marechal de Belleisle, wrapt in Diplomatic and Electioneering +business, cannot personally take command for the present; but has +excellent lieutenants,--one of whom is Comte de Saxe, Moritz our +old friend, afterwards Marechal de Saxe. Among the finest French +Armies, this of Belleisle's is thought to be, that ever took the +field: so many of our Nobility in it, and what best Officers, +Segurs, Saxes, future Marechal's, we have. Army full of spirit and +splendor; come to cut Germany in four, and put France at last in +its place in the Universe. Here is courage, here is patriotism, of +a sort. And if this is not the good sort, the divinely pious, the +humanly noble,--Fashionable Society feels it to be so, and can hit +no nearer. New-fashioned "Army of the Oriflamme," one might call +this of Belleisle's; kind of Sham-Sacred French Army (quite in +earnest, as it thinks);--led on, not by St. Denis and the Virgin, +but by Sun-god Belleisle and the Chateauroux, under these sad new +conditions! Which did not prosper as expected. + +"Let the Holy German Reich take no offence," said this Army, eager +to conciliate: "we come as friends merely; our intentions +charitable, and that only. Bavarian Treaty of Nymphenburg (18th May +last) binds us especially, this time; Treaty of Westphalia binds us +sacredly at all times. Peaceable to you, nay brotherly, if only you +will be peaceable!" Which the poor Reich, all but Austria and the +Sea-Powers, strove what it could to believe. + +On reaching the German shore out of Elsass, "every Officer put, the +Bavarian Colors, cockade of blue-and-white, on his hat;" [Adelung, +ii. 431.] a mere "Bavarian Army," don't you see? And the 40,000 +wend steadily forward throngh Schwaben eastward, till they can join +Karl Albert Kur-Baiern, who is Generalissimo, or has the name of +such. They march in Seven Divisions. Donauworth (a Town we used to +know, in Marlborough's time and earlier) is to be their first +resting-point; Ingolstadt their place-of-arms: will readers +recollect those two essential circumstances? To Donauworth is 250 +miles; to Passau will be 180 more: five or six long weeks of +marching. But after Donauworth they are to go, the Infantry of them +are, in boats; Horse, under Saxe, marching parallel. Forward, ever +forward, to Passau (properly to Scharding, twelve miles up the Inn +Valley, where his Bavarian Highness is in Camp); and thence, under +his Bavarian Highness, and in concert with him, to pour forth, +deluge-like, upon Linz, probably upon Vienna itself, down the Donau +Valley,--why not to Vienna itself, and ruin Austria at one swoop? +[Espagnac, <italic> Histoire de Maurice Comte de Saxe <end italic> +(German Translation, Leipzig, 1774), i. 83:--an excellent military +compend. <italic> Campagnes des Trois Marechaux <end italic> +(Maillebois, Broglio, Belleisle: Armsterdam. 1773), ii. 53-56:--in +nine handy little volumes (or if we include the NOAILLES and the +COIGNY set, making "CING MARECHAUX," nineteen volumes in all, and a +twentieth for INDEX); consisting altogether of Official Letters +(brief, rapid, meant for business, NOT for printing in the +Newspapers); which are elucidative BEYOND bargain, and would even +be amusing to read,--were the topic itself worth one's time.] + +The second or Maillebois French Army spreads itself, by degrees, +considerably over Westphalia;--straitened for forage, and otherwise +not the best of neighbors. But, in theory, in speech, this too was +abundantly conciliatory,--to the Dutch at least. "Nothing earthly +in view, nothing, ye magnanimous Dutch, except to lodge here in the +most peaceable manner, paying our way, and keep down disturbances +that might arise in these parts. That might arise; not from you, ye +magnanimous High Mightinesses, how far from it! Nor will we meddle +with one broken brick of your respectable Barrier, or Barrier +Treaty, which is sacred to us, or do you the shadow of an injury. +No; a thousand times, upon our honor, No!" For brevity's sake, I +lend them that locution, "No, a thousand times,"--and in actual +arithmetic, I should think there are at least four or five hundred +times of it,--in those extinct Diplomatic Eloquences of Excellency +Fenelon and the other French;--vaguely counting, in one's oppressed +imagination, during the Two Years that ensue. For the Dutch lazily +believed, or strove to believe, this No of Fenelon's; and took an +obstinate laggard sitting posture, in regard to Pragmatic Sanction; +whereby the task of "hoisting" them (as above hinted), which fell +upon a certain King, became so famous in Diplomatic History. + +Imagination may faintly picture what a blow this advent of +Maillebois was to his Britannic Majesty, over in Herrenhausen +yonder! He has had of Danes six thousand, of Hessians six, of +Hanoverians sixteen,--in all some 30,000 men, on foot here since +Spring last, camping about (in two formidable Camps at this +moment); not to mention the 6,000 of English on Lexden Heath, eager +to be shipped across, would Parliament permit; and now--let him +stir in any direction if he dare. Camp of Gottin like a drawn sword +at one's throat (at one's Hanover) from the east; and lo, here a +twin fellow to it gleaming from the south side! Maillebois can walk +into the throat of Hanover at a day's warning. And such was +actually the course proposed by Maillebois's Government, more than +once, in these weeks, had not Friedrich dissuaded and forbidden. +It is a strangling crisis. What is his Britannic Majesty to do? +Send orders, "Double YOUR diligence, Excellency Robinson!" that is +one clear point; the others are fearfully insoluble, yet pressiug +for solution: in a six weeks hence (September 27th), we shall see +what they issue in!-- + +As for Robinson, he is duly with the Queen at Presburg; duly +conjuring incessantly, "Make your peace with Friedrich!" And her +Majesty will not, on the terms. Poor Robinson, urged two ways at +once, is flurried doubly and trebly; tossed about as Diplomatist +never was. King of Prussia flashes lightning-looks upon him, +clapping finger to nose; Maria Theresa, knowing he will demand +cession of Silesia, shudders at sight of him; and the Aulic Council +fall into his arms like dead men, murmuring, "Money; where is +your money?" + +"AUGUST 29th. While Friedrich was pushing into Neipperg, in the +Baumgarten Country, and could get no battle out of him, Excellency +Robinson reappears at Breslau; Maria Theresa, after deadly efforts +on his part, has mended her offers, in these terrible +circumstances; and Robinson is here again. 'Half of Silesia, or +almost half, provided his Majesty will turn round, and help against +the French:' these, secretly, are Robinson's rich offers. +The Queen, on consenting to these new offers, had 'wrung her +hands,' like one in despair, and said passionately, 'Unless +accepted within a fortnight, I will not be bound by them!' +'Admit his Excellency to the honor of an interview,' solicits +Hyndford; 'his offers are much mended.' Notable to witness, +Friedrich will not see Robinson at all this time, nor even permit +Podewils to see him; signifies plainly that he wants to hear no +more of his offers, and that, in fact, the sooner he can take +himself away from Breslau, it will be the better. To that effect, +Robinson, rushing back in mortified astonished manner, reports +progress at Presburg; to that and no better. 'High Madam,' urges +Robinson, still indefatigable, 'the King of Prussia's help would be +life, his hostility is death at this crisis. Peace must be with +him, at any price!' 'Price?' answers her Majesty once: 'If Austria +must fall, it is indifferent to me whether it be by Kur-Baiern or +Kur-Brandenburg!' [Stenzel, iv. 156.] Nevertheless, in about a week +she again yields to intense conjuring, and the ever-tightening +pressure of events;--King George, except it be for counselling, is +become stock-still, with Maillebois's sword at his throat; and is, +without metaphor, sinking towards absolute neutrality: 'Cannot help +you, Madam, any farther; must not try it, or I perish, my Hanover +and I!'--So that Maria Theresa again mends her offers: 'Give him +all Lower Silesia, and he to join with me!' and Robinson post-haste +despatches a courier to Breslau with them. Notable again: +King Friedrich will not hear of them; answers by a 'No, I tell you! +Time was, time is not. I have now joined with France; and to join +against it in this manner? Talk to me no more!'" [Friedrich to +Hyndford: <italic> "Au Camp [de Neuendorf] 14me septembre," 1741. +"Milord j'ai recu les nouvelles propositions d'alliance que +l'infatigable Robinson vous envoie. Je les trouve aussi chimeriques +que les precedentes."--"Ces gens sont-ils fols, Milord, de +s'imaginer que je commisse la trahison de tourner en leur faveur +mes armes, et de"--? "Je vous prie de ne me plus fatiguer avec de +pareilles propositions, et de me croire assez honnete homme pour ne +point violer mes engagements.--<end italic> FREDERIC." (British +Museum: Hyndford Papers, fol. 133.)] ... + +Here is a catastrophe for the Two Britannic Excellencies, and the +Cause of Freedom! Robinson, in dudgeon and amazement, has hurried +back to Presburg, has ceased sending even couriers; and, in a three +weeks hence (9th October, a day otherwise notable), wishes "to come +home," the game being up. [His Letter, "9th October, 1741" (in Lord +Mahon's <italic> History of England, <end italic> iii. Appendix, +p. iii: edit. London, 1839). Such is Robinson's gloomy view: +finished, he, and the game lost,--unless perhaps Hyndford could +still do something? Of which what hope is there! Hyndford, who has +a rough sagacity in him, and manifests often a strong sense of the +practical and the practicable, strikes into--Readers, from the +following Fragments of Correspondence, now first made public, will +gather for themselves what new course, veiled in triple mystery, +Hyndford had struck into. Four bits of Notes, well worth reading, +under their respective dates:-- + +1. EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD TO SECRETARY HARRINGTON (Two Notes). + "BRESLAU, 2d SEPTEMBER, 1711 [on the heel of Robinson's second +miscarriage]. ... My Lord, all these contretemps are very unlucky +at present, when time is so precious; for France is pressing the +King of Prussia in the strongest manner to declare himself; +but whatever eventual preliminaries may be probably agreed between +them, I still doubt if they have any Treaty signed"--have had one, +any time these three months (since 5th June last); signed +sufficiently; but of a most fast-and-loose nature; neither party +intending to be rigorous in keeping it. "I wish to God the Court of +Vienna may be brought to think before it is too late." [HYNDFORD +PAPERS (Brit. Mus. Additional MSS. 11,366), ii. fol. 91.] + +2. "BRESLAU, 6th SEPTEMBER. ... I am not without hopes of +succeeding in a project which has occurred to me on this occasion, +and which seems to be pretty well relished by some people [properly +by one individual, Goltz, the King's Adjutant and factotum], who +are in great confidence about the King of Prussia's person; and I +think it is the only thing that now remains to be tried; and as it +is the least of two evils, I hope I shall have the King my Master's +approbation in attempting it; and if the Court of Vienna will open +their eyes, they must see it is the only thing left to save them +from utter destruction;"--and, finally, here it is:-- + +"Since Mr. Robinson left this place,--["Sooner YOU go, the better, +Sir!"],--I have been sounding the people afore mentioned," the +individual afore hinted at, "Whether the King of Prussia would +hearken to a Neutrality with respect to the Queen of Hungary, and +at the same time fulfil his engagements to his Majesty with respect +to the defence of his Majesty's German Dominions, IF she would give +him the Lower Silesia with Breslau? At first they rejected it; +saying it was a thing they dared not propose. However, I have +reason to believe, by a Letter I saw this day, that it has been +proposed to the King, and that he is not absolutely averse to it. +I shall know more in a few days; but if it can be done at all, it +must be done in the very greatest secrecy, for neither the King nor +his Ministers wish to appear in it; and I question if his Minister +Podewils will be informed of it." [<italic> Hyndford Papers, <end +italic> fol. 97, 98.] + +3. EXCELLENCY ROBINSON (in a flutter of excitement, temporary +hope and excitement, about Goltz) TO HYNDFORD, AT BRESLAU. + +"PRESBURG, 8th SEPTEMBER (N.S.), 1741. My Lord, I could desire your +Lordship to summon up, if it were necessary, the spirit of all your +Lordship's Instructions, and the sense of the King, of the +Parliament, and of the whole British Nation. It is upon this great +moment that depends the fate, not of the House of Austria, not of +the Empire, but of the House of Brunswick, of Great Britain, and of +all Europe. I verily believe the King of Prussia does not himself +know the extent of the present danger. With whatever motive he may +act, there is not one, not that of the mildest resentment, that can +blind him to this degree, of himself perishing in the ruin he is +bringing upon others. With his concurrence, the French will, in +less than six weeks, be masters of the German Empire. The weak +Elector of Bavaria is but their instrument: Prague and Vienna may, +and probably will, be taken in that short time. Will even the King +of Prussia himself be reserved to the last? + +"Upon this single transaction [of your Lordship's affair with the +mysterious individual] depend the CITA MORS, or the VICTORIA LAETA +of all Europe. Nothing will equal the glory of your Lordship, in +the latter case, but that to be acquired by the King of Prussia in +his immediate imitation of the great Sobieski"--reputed "savior of +Vienna," O your Excellency! ... "Prince Lichtenstein will, if found +in time upon his estates in Bohemia, be, I believe, the person to +repair to the King of Prussia, the moment your Lordship shall have +signed the Preliminaries. Once again, give me leave, my Lord, to +express my most ardent wishes, my"--T. ROBINSON. [<italic> Hyndford +Papers, <end italic> fol. 102.] + +4. EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD TO SECRETARY HARRINGTON. + +"BRESLAU, 9th SEPTEMBER, ... Received a message to meet him,"--HIM, +for we now speak in the singular number, though still without +naming Goltz,--"one of the persons I mentioned in my former +Despatch: in a very unsuspected place; for we have agreed to avoid +all appearance of familiarity. He told me he had received a Letter +this morning from the Camp,"-- Prussian Majesty's Camp, or Bivouac +(in the Munsterberg Hill-Country), on that march towards Woitz, for +crossing the Neisse upon Neipperg, which proved impracticable,-- +"and that he could with pleasure tell me that the King agreed to +this last trial, although he would not, nor could appear in it. ... +Then this person read to me a Paper, but I could not see whether it +was the King's hand or not; for when I desired to take a copy, he +said he could not show me the original; but dictated as follows:-- + +"'Toute la Basse Silesie, la riviere de Neisse pour limite, la +ville de Neisse a nous, aussi bien que Glatz; de l'autre cote de +l'Oder l'ancien limite entre les Duches de Brieg et d'Oppeln. +Namslau a nous. Les affaires de religion IN STATU QUO. Point de +dependance de la Boheme; cession eternelle. En echange nous n'irons +pas plus loin. Nous assiegerons Neisse PRO FORMA: le commandant se +rendra et sortira. Nous prendrons les quartiers tranquillement, et +ils pourront mener leur Armee oh ils voudront. Que tout cela soit +fini en douze jours.'" That is to say:-- + +"'The whole of Lower Silesia, Neisse Town included; Neisse River +for boundary:--Glatz withal. Beyond the Oder, for the Duchies of +Brieg and Oppeln the ancient limits. Namslau ours. Affairs of +Religion to continue IN STATU QUO. No dependence [feudal tie or +other, as there used to be] on Bohemia; cession of Silesia to be +absolute and forever.--We, in return, will proceed no farther. +We will besiege Neisse for form; the Commandant shall surrender and +depart. We will pass quietly into winter-quarters; and the Austrian +Army may go whither it will. Bargain to be concluded within twelve +days.'" [Coxe (iii. 272) gives this Translation, not saying whence +he had it.]--Can his Excellency Hyndford get Vienna, get +Feldmarschall Reipperg with power from Vienna, to accept: Yes or +No? Excellency Hyndford thinks, Yes; will try his very utmost!-- + +"He (Goltz) then tore the Paper in very small pieces; and he +repeated again, that if the affair should be discovered, both the +King and he were determined to deny it. ... 'But how about +engagements with regard to my Master's German Dominions; not a word +about that?' He answered, 'You have not the least to fear from +France;' protested the King of Prussia's great regard for his +Majesty of England, &c. I told him these fine words did not satisfy +me; and that if this affair should succeed, I expected there should +be some stipulation." [<italic> Hyndford Papers, <end italic> +fol. 115.] Yes; and came, about a fortnight hence, "waylaying his +Majesty" to get one,--as readers saw above. + +Prussian Dryasdust (poor soul, to whom one is often cruel!) shall +glad himself with the following Two bits of Autography from Goltz, +who had instantly quitted Breslau again;--and, to us, they will +serve as date for the actual arrival of Excellency Hyndford in +those fighting regions, and commencement of his mysterious glidings +about between Camp and Camp. + +GOLTZ TO THE EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD, AT BRESLAU (most Private). + +"AU CAMP DE NEUENDORF, 16me septembre, a 9 heures du seir. +(1.) "MILORD,--Vons savez que je suis porte pour la bonne cause. +Sur ce pied je prends la liberte de vous conseiller en ami et +serviteur, de venir ici incessamment, et de presser votre voyage de +sorte que vous puissiez paraitre publiquement lundi [18th] vers +midi. Vous trouverez 6 (SIC) chevaux de postes a Olau et a Grottkau +tout prets. Hatez-vous, Milord, tout ce que vous pourrez au monde. +J'ai l'honneur de" Meaning, in brief English:-- + +"Be at Neundorf here, publicly, on Monday next, 18th, towards +noon." Things being ripe. "Haste, Milord, haste!" + +"Ce 18me a 3 heures apres-midi. + (2). "Je suis an desespoir, Milord, de votre maladie. Voici le +courrier que vous attendiez. Venez le plutot que vous pourrez au +monde; si non, dites au General Marwitz de quoi il s'agit, afin +qu'il puisse me le faire savoir. ... Le courrier serait arrive +quatre heures plutot, si nous ne l'avions renvoye au Comte Neuberg +(SIC) a cause de votre maladie.--GOLTZ." [<italic> Hyndford Papers, +<end italic> fol. 150-152.]--That is to say:-- + +"Distressed inexpressibly by your Lordship's biliary condition. +One cannot travel under colic;--and things were so ripe! +Courier would have reached you four hours sooner, but we had to +send him over to Neipperg first. Come, oh come!"--Which Hyndford, +now himself again, at once does. + +This is the Mystery, which, on September 22d, had arrived at that +stage, indicated above: "Tush! Follow me: Dinner is already falling +cold, and there are eyes upon us!" And in about another fortnight-- +But we shall have to take the luggage with us, too, what minimum of +it is indispensable! + + + +Chapter V. + +KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF: FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. + +While these combined Mysteries and War-movements go on, in Neisse +and its Environs, the World-Phenomena continue,--in Upper Austria +and elsewhere. Of which take these select summits, or points +chiefly luminous in the dusk of the forgotten Past:-- + +LINZ, SEPTEMBER 14th. Karl Albert, being joined some days ago at +Scharding by the first three French Divisions, 15,000 men in all +(the other four Divisions of them are still in the Donauworth- +Ingolstadt quarter, making their manifold arrangements), has pushed +forward, sixty miles (land-marches, south side of the Donau, which +makes a bend here), and this day, September 14th, appears at Linz. +Pleasant City of Linz; where, as readers may remember, Mr. John +Kepler, long ago, busy discovering the System of the World +(grandest Conquest ever made, or to be made, by the Sons of Adam), +had his poor CAMERA OBSCURA set out, to get himself a livelihood in +the interim: here now is Karl Albert's flag on the winds, and, as +it were, the Oriflamme with it, on a singularly different +Adventure. "Open Gates!" demands Karl Albert with authority: +"Admit me to my Capital of Upper Austria!" Which cannot be denied +him, there being nothing but Town-guards in the place. + +Karl Albert continued there some weeks, in a serenely victorious +posture; doing acts of authority; getting homaged by the STANDE; +pushing out his forces farther and farther down the Donau, post +after post,--victorious Oriflamme-Bavarian Army may be 40,000 +strong or so, in those parts. Friedrich urged him much to push on +without pause, and take opportunity by the forelock; sent Schmettau +(elder of the two Schmettaus, who is much employed on such +business) to urge him; wrote an express Paper of Considerations +pressingly urgent: but he would not, and continued pausing. + +Vienna, all in terror, is fortifying itself; citizens toiling at +the earthworks, resolute for making some defence; Constituted +Authorities, National Archives even, Court in a body, and all +manner of Noble and Official people, flying else-whither to covert: +chiefly to Presburg, where her Majesty already is. The Archives +were carried to Gratz; the two Dowager Empresses (for there are +two, Maria Theresa's Mother, and Maria Theresa's Aunt, Kaiser +Joseph's Widow) fled different ways,--I forget which. An agitated, +paralyzed population. Except the diligent wheelbarrows on the +ramparts, no vehicle is rolling in Vienna but furniture-wagons +loading for flight. General Khevenhuller with 6,000, who pesides +with fine scientific skill, and an iron calmness and clearness, +over these fortifyings, is the only force left. [Anonymous, +<italic> Histoire de la Derniere Guerre de Boheme <end italic> +(a Francfort, 1745-1747, 4 tomes), i. 190. A lively succinct little +Book, vague not false; still readable, though not now, as then, +with complete intelligence, to the unprepared reader. Said, in +Dictionaries, to be by Mauvillon PERE, though it resembles nothing +else of his that is known to me.]' Neipperg's, our only Army in the +world, is hundreds of miles away, countermarching and manoeuvring +about Woitz, and Neisse Town and River,--pretty sure to be beaten +in the end,--and it is high time there were a Silesian bargain had, +if Hyndford can get us any. + +DRESDEN, SEPTEMBER 19th (Excellency Hyndford just recovering from +his colic, in Breslau), Kur-Sachsen, after many waverings, signs +Treaty of Copartnery with France and Bavaria, seduced by "that +Moravia," and the ticklings of Belleisle acting on a weak mind. +[Adelung, ii. 469, 304, 503.] His troops are 20,000, or rather +more; said to be of good quality, and well equipped. In February +last we saw him engaged in Russian, Anti-Prussian Partition +schemes. In April, as these suddenly (on sight of the Camp of +Gottin) extinguished themselves, he agreed to go, in the pacific +way, with her Hungarian Majesty for friend (Treaty with her, signed +11th April); but never went (Treaty never ratified); kept his +20,000 lying about in Camp, in an enigmatic manner,--first about +Torgau, latterly in the Lausitz, much nearer to the ERZGEBIRGE +(Metal-Mountains), Frontier of Bohemia;--and now signs as above; +intent to march as soon as possible. Is to have Four Circles of +Bohemia, imaginary Kingships of Moravia, and other prizes. +Belleisle has tickled that big trout: Belleisle could now have the +Election as he wishes it, would the Electors but be speedy; +but they will not, and he is obliged to push continually. + + +"Moriamur pro Rege nostro Maria Theresia," IN THE POETIC, +AND THEN ALSO IN THE PROSE FORM. + +PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. This is the date (or chief date, for, +alas, there turn out to be two!) of the world-famous "MORIAMUR PRO +REGE NOSTRO MARIA THERESIA;" of which there are now needed Two +Narratives; the generally received (in part mythical) going first, +in the following strain:-- + +"The Queen has been in Presburg mainly, where the Hungarian Diet is +sitting, ever since her Coronation-ceremony. On the 11th September +[or 11th and 21st together], the afflicted Lady makes an appearance +there, which, for theatrical reality, has become very celebrated. +Alas, it is but three months since she galloped to the top of the +Konigsberg, and cut defiantly with bright sabre towards the Four +Points of the Universe; and already it has come to this. +Hungarian Magnates in high session, the high Queen enters, +beautiful and sad,--and among her Ministers is noticeable a Nurse +with the young Archduke, some six months old, a fine thriving +child, perhaps too wise for his age, who became Kaiser Joseph II. +in after time. + +"The Hungarian Session is not on record for me, Hall of meeting, +Magyar Parliamentary eloquence unknown; nor is any point +conspicuously visible, exact and certain, except these [alas, not +even these]: That it was the 11th of September; that her Majesty +coming forward to speak, took the child in her arms, and there, in +a clear and melodiously piercing voice, sorrow and courage on her +noble face, beautiful as the Moon riding among wet stormy clouds, +spake, as the Hungarian Archives still have it, a short Latin +Harangue; in substance as follows: ... 'Hostile invasion of +Austria; imminent peril, to this Kingdom of Hungary, to our person, +to our children, to our crown. Forsaken by all,--AB OMNIBUS +DERELICTI [Britannic Majesty himself standing stock-still,-- +blamably, one thinks, the two swords being only at HIS throat, and +a good way off!]--I have no resource but to throw myself on the +loyalty and help of Your renowned Body, and invoke the ancient +Hungarian virtue to rise swiftly and save me!' Whereat the +assembled Hungarian Synod, their wild Magyar hearts touched to the +core, start up in impetuous acclaim, flourish aloft their drawn +swords, and shout unanimously in passionate tenor-voice, 'MORIAMUR +(Let us die) for our Rex Maria Theresa!' [<italic> Maria Theresiens +Leben (which speaks hypothetically), iv, 44; Coxe, iii. 270 (who is +positive, "after examining the Documents").] Which were not vain +words. For a general 'Insurrection' was thereupon decreed; what the +Magyars call their 'Insurrection,' which is by no means of +rebellious nature; and many noblemen, old Count Palfy himself a +chief among them, though past threescore and ten, took the field at +their own cost; and the noise of the Hungarian Insurrection spread +like a voice of hope over all Pragmatic countries."-- + +A very beautiful heroic scene; which has gone about the world, +circulating triumphantly through all hearts for above a Century +past; and has only of late acknowledged itself mythical,--not true, +except as toned down to the following stingy prose pitch:-- + +PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. Maria Theresa, since that fine +Coronation-scene, June 2Sth, has had a mixed time of it with her +Hungarian Diet; soft passages alternating with hard: a chivalrous +people, most consciously chivalrous; but a constitutional withal, +very stiff upon their Charter (PACTA CONVENTA, or whatever the name +is); who wrangle much upon privileges, upon taxes, and are +difficult to keep long in tune. Ten days ago (September 11th), her +Majesty tried them on a new tack; summoned them to her Palace; +threw herself upon their nobleness, "No allies but you in the +world" (and other fine things, authentically, as above, legible in +the Archives to this day):--so spake the beautiful young Queen, her +eyes filling with tears as she went on, and yet a noble fire +gleaming through them. Which melted the Hungarian heart a good +deal; and produced fine cheering, some persons even shedding tears, +and voices of "Life and Fortune to your Majesty!" being heard in +it. In which humor the Diet returned to its Session-House, and +voted the "Insurrection,"--or general Arming of Hungary, County by +County, each according to its own contingent;--with all speed, in +pursuance of her Majesty's implied desire. This was voted in rapid +manner; but again, in the detail of executing, it was liable to +haggles. From this day, however, matters did decidedly improve; +PACTA CONVENTA, or any remainder of them, are got adjusted,--the +good Queen yielding on many points. So that, September 20th, +Grand-Duke Franz is elected Co-regent,--let him start from Vienna +instantly, for Instalment;--and it is hoped the Insurrection will +go well, and not prove haggly, or hang fire in the details. + +At any rate, next day, September 21st, Duke Franz, who arrived last +night,--and Baby with him, or in the train of him (to the joy of +Mamma!)--is in the Palace Audience-Hall, "at 8 A.M.;" ready for the +Diet, and what Homagings aud mutual Oath, as new Co-regent, are +necessary. Grand-Duke Franz, Mamma by his side, with the suitable +functionaries; and to rearward Nurse and Baby, not so conspicuous +till needed. Diet enters with the stroke of 8; solemnity proceeds. +At the height of the solemnity, when Duke Franz, who is really +risen now to something of a heroic mood, in these emergencies and +perils, has just taken his Oath, and will have to speak a fit word +or two,--the Nurse, doubtless on hint given, steps forward; holds +up Baby (a fine noticing fellow, I have no doubt,--"weighed sixteen +pounds avoirdupois when born"); as if Baby too, fine mutual product +of the Two Co-regents, were mutually swearing and appealing. +Enough to touch any heart. "Life and blood (VITAM ET SANGUINEM) for +our Queen and Kingdom.!" exclaims the Grand-Duke, among other +things. "Yes, VITAM ET SANGUINEM!" re-echoes the Diet, "our life +and our blood!" many-voiced, again and again;--and returns to its +own Place of Session, once more in a fine strain of loyal emotion. + +And there, O reader, is the naked truth, neither more nor less. It +was some Vienna Pamphleteer of theatrical imaginative turn, finding +the thing apt, a year or two afterwards--who by kneading different +dates and objects into one, boldly annihilating time and space, and +adding a little paint,--gave it that seductive mythical form. +From whom Voltaire adopted it, with improvements, especially in the +little Harangue; and from Voltaire gratefully the rest of mankind. +[Voltaire, <italic> Siecle de Louis XV., <end italic> c. 6 +(<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xxviii. 78); Coxe, <italic> House +of Austria, <end italic> iii. 270; and innumerable others (who give +this Myth); <italic> Maria Theresiens Leben, <end italic> p. 44 n. +(who cites the Vienna Pamphleteers, without much believing them); +Mailath (a Hungarian), <italic> Geschichte des OEsterrichischen +Kaiser-Staats <end italic> (Hamburg, 1850), v. 11-13 (who explodes +the fable). Cut down to the practical, it stands as above:--by no +means a bad thing still. That of "bringing in Baby" was a pretty +touch in the domestic-royal way;--and surely very natural; and has +no "art" in it, or none to blame and not love rather, on the part +of the bright young Mother, now girdled in such tragic outlooks, +and so glad to have Baby back at least, and Papa with him! It is +certain the "Insurrection" was voted with enthusiasm; and even +became rapidly a fact. And there was, in few months hence, an +immense mounted force of Hungarians raised, which galloped and +plundered (having almost no pay), and occasionally fenced and +fought, very diligently during all these Wars. Hussars, Croats, +Pandours, Tolpatches, Warasdins, Uscocks, never heard of in war +before: who were found very terrible to look upon once, in the +imagination or with the naked eye; but whose fighting talent, +against regular troops, was next to worthless; and who gradually +became hateful rather than terrible in the military world. + +HANOVER, SEPTEMBER 27th. Britannic Majesty, reduced to that +frightful pinch, has at last given way. Treaty of Neutrality for +Hanover; engagement again to stick one's puissant Pragmatic sword +into its scabbard, to be perfectly quiescent and contemplative in +these French-Bavarian Anti-Austrian undertakings, and digest one's +indignation as one can. For our Paladin of the Pragmatic what a +posture! This is the first of Three Attempts by our puissant little +Paladin to draw sword;--not till the third could he get his sword +out, or do the least fighting (even foolish fighting) with all the +40,000 he had kept on pay and subsidy for years back. +The Neutrality was for Hanover only, and had no specific limit as +to time. Opportunities did rise; but something always rose along +with them,--mainly the impossibility of hoisting those lazy Dutch, +--and checked one's noble rage. His Majesty has covenantad to vote +for Karl Albert as Kaiser; even he, and will make the thing +unanimous! A thoroughly check-mated Majesty. Passing home to +England, this time in a gloomy condition of mind, shortly after +these humiliations, he was just issuing from Osnabruck by the +Eastern Gate, when Maillebois's people entered by the Western,-- +the ugly shoes of them insulting his kibes in this manner. And a +furious Anti-Walpole Parliament, most perturbed of National +Palavers, is waiting him at St. James's. Heavy-laden little +Hercules that he is! + +Karl Albert lay at Linz for a month longer (till October 24th, six +weeks in all); pausing in uncertainties, in a pleasant dream of +victory and sovereignty; not pouncing on Vienna, as Friedrich urged +on the French and him, to cut the matter by the root. He does push +forward certain troops, Comte de Saxe with Three Horse Regiments as +vanguard, ever nearer to Vienna; at last to within forty miles of +it; nay, light-horse parties came within twenty-five miles. +And there was skirmishing with Mentzel, a sanguinary fellow, of +whom we shall hear more; who had got "1,000 Tolpatches" under him, +and stood ruggedly at bay. + +Karl Albert has been sending out sovereign messages from Linz: +Letters to Vienna;--one letter addressed "To the Arch-duchess Maria +Theresa;" which came back unopened, "No such person known here." +October 2d, he is getting homaged at Linz, by the STANDE of the +Province,--on summons sent some time before,--many of whom attend, +with a willing enough appearance; Kur-Baiern rather a favorite in +Upper Austria, say some. Much fine processioning, melodious +haranguing, there now is for Karl Albert, and a pleasant dream of +Sovereignty at Linz: but if he do not pounce upon Vienna till +Khevenhuller get it fortified? Khevenhuller is drawing home Italian +Garrisons, gradually gathering something like an Army round him. +In Khevenhuller's imperturbable military head, one of the clearest +and hardest, there is some hope. Above all, if Neipperg's Army were +to disengage itself, and be let loose into those parts? + + +EXCELLENCY HYNDFORD BRINGS ABOUT A MEETING AT +KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF (9th October, 1741). + +It was the second day after that Homaging at Linz, when Hyndford +(Sept. 22d) with mysterious negotiations, now nearly ripe, for +disengaging Neipperg, waylaid his Prussian Majesty; and was +answered, as we saw, with "Tush, tush! Dinner is already cold!" + +It must be owned, these Friedrich-Hyndford Negotiations, following +on an express French-Prussian Treaty of June 5th, which have to +proceed in such threefold mystery now and afterwards, are of +questionable distressing nature: nor can the fact that they are +escorted copiously enough by a correspondent sort on the French +side, and indeed on the Austrian and on all sides, be a complete +consolation,--far otherwise, to the ingenuous reader. +Smelfungus indignantly calls it an immorality and a dishonor, +"a playing with loaded dice;" which in good part it surely was. +Nor can even Friedrich, who has many pleas for himself, obtain +spoken acquittal; unspoken, accompanied with regrets and pity, is +all even Friedrich can aspire to. My own impression is, Smelfungus, +if candid, would on clearer information and consideration have +revoked much of what he says here in censure of Friedrich. At all +events, if asked: Where then is the specifical not "superstitious" +WANT of "veracity" you ever found in Friedrich? and How, OTHERWISE +than even as Friedrich did, would you, most veracious Smelfungus, +have plucked out your Silesia from such an Element and such a +Time?--he would be puzzled to answer. I give his Fragment as I find +it, with these deductions:-- + +"What negotiating we have had, and shall have," exclaims +Smelfungus, my sad foregoer,--"fit rather to be omitted from a +serious History, which intends to be read by human creatures! +Bargaining, Promising, Non-performing. False in general as dicers' +oaths; false on this side and on that, from beginning to end. +Intercepted Letters from Fleury; Letter dropping from Valori's +waistcoat-pocket, upon which Friedrich claps his foot: alas, alas, +we are in the middle of a whole world of that. Friedrich knows that +the French are false to him; he by no means intends to be +romantically true to them, and that also they know. What is the use +to human creatures of recording all that melancholy stuff? +If sovereign persons want their diplomacies NOT to be swept into +the ash-pit, there are two conditions, especially one which is +peremptory: FIRST, that they should not be lies;--SECOND, that they +should be of some importance, some wisdom; which with known lies is +not a possible condition. To unravel cobwebs, and register +laboriously and date and sort in the sorrow of your soul the oaths +of crowned dicers,--what use is it to gods or men? Having well +dressed and sliced your cucumber, the next clear human duty is: +Throw it out of window. In that foul Lapland-witch world, of +seething Diplomacies and monstrous wigged mendacities, horribly +wicked and despicably unwise, I find nothing notable, memorable +even in a small degree, except this aspect of a young King who does +know what he means in it. Clear as a star, sharp as cutting steel +(very dangerous to hydrogen balloons), he stands in the middle of +it, and means to extort his own from it by such methods as +there are. + +"Magnanimous I can by no means call Friedrich to his allies and +neighbors, nor even superstitiously veracious, in this business: +but he thoroughly understands, he alone, what just thing he wants +out of it, and what an enormous wigged mendacity it is he has got +to deal with. For the rest, he is at the gaming-table with these +sharpers; their dice all cogged;--and he knows it, and ought to +profit by his knowledge of it. And in short, to win his stake out +of that foul weltering mellay, and go home safe with it if he can." + +Very well, my friend! Let us keep to windward of the Diplomatic +wizard's-caldron; let Hyndford, Valori and Company preside over it, +throwing in their eye of newt and limb of toad, as occasion may be. +Enough, if the reader can be brought to conceive it; and how the +young King,--who perhaps alone had real business in this foul +element, and did not volunteer into it like the others, though it +now unexpectedly envelops him like a world-whirlwind (frightful +enough, if one spoke of that to anybody), is struggling with his +whole soul to get well out of it. As supremely adroit, all readers +already know him; his appearance what we called starlike,--always +something definite, fixed and lucid in it. + +He is dexterously holding aloof from Hyndford at present, clinging +to French Valori as his chosen companion: we may fancy what a time +he has of it, like a polygamist amid jealous wives. It will quicken +Hyndford, he perceives, in these ulterior stages, to leave him well +alone. Hyndford accordingly, as we have noticed, could not see the +King at all; had to try every plan, to watch, waylay the King for a +bit of interview, when indispensable. However, Hyndford, with his +Neipperg in sight of the peril, manages better than Robinson with +his Aulic Council at a distance: besides he is a long-headed dogged +kind of man, with a surly edacious strength, not inexpert in +negotiation, nor easily turned aside from any purpose he may have. + +Between the two Camps, nearly midway, lies a Hamlet called Klein- +Schnellendorf, LITTLE Schnellendorf, to distinguish it from another +Schnellendorf called GREAT, which is a mile or two northwestward, +out of the straight line. Not far from the first of these poor +Hamlets lies a Schloss or noble Mansion, likewise called Klein- +Schnellendorf, belonging to a certain Count von Sternberg, who is +not there at present, but whose servants are, and a party of Croats +over them for some days back: a pleasant airy Mansion among +pleasant gardens, well shut out from the intrusion of the world. +Upon this Castle of Klein-Schnellendorf judicious Hyndford has cast +his eye:--and Neipperg, now come to a state of readiness, approves +the suggestion of Hyndford, and promptly at the due moment converts +it into a fact. Arrests namely, on a given morning (the last act of +his Croats there, who withdrew directly with their batch of +prisoners), every living soul within or about the Mansion;-- +"suspected of treason;" only for one day;--and in this way, has it +reduced to the comfortable furnished solitude of Sleeping Beauty's +Castle; a place fit for high persons to hold a Meeting in, which +shall remain secret as the grave. Such a thing was indispensable. +For Friedrich, keeping shy of Hyndford, as he well may with a +Valori watching every step, has, by words, by silences, when +Hyndford could waylay him for a moment, sufficiently indicated what +he will and what he will not; and, for one indispensable condition, +in the present thrice-delicate Adventure, he will not sign +anything; will give and take word of honor, and fully bind himself, +but absolutely not put pen to paper at all. Neipperg being willing +too, judicious Hyndford finds a medium. Let the parties meet at +Klein-Schnellendorf, and judicious Hyndford be there with pen and +paper. [Orlich, i. 146; <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> +i. 1009.] + +Monday, 9th October, 1741, accordingly, there is meeting to be +held. Hyndford, Neipperg with his General Lentulus (a +Swiss-Austrian General, whose Son served under Friedrich +afterwards), these wait for Friedrich, on the one hand:--"to fix +some cartel for exchange of prisoners," it is said;--in these +precincts of Klein- +Schnellendorf; which are silent, vacant, yet comfortably furnished, +like Sleeping Beauty's Castle. And Friedrich, on the other hand, is +actually riding that way, with Goltz;--visiting outposts, +reconnoitring, so to speak. "Dine you with Prince Leopold (the +Young Dessauer), my fine Valori; I fear I shan't be home to +dinner!" he had said when going off; hoodwinking his fine Valori, +who suspects nothing. At a due distance from Klein-Schnellendorf, +the very groom is left behind; and Friedrich, with Goltz only, +pushes on to the Schloss. All ready there; salutations soon done; +business set about, perfected:--and Hyndford with pen and ink in +his hand, he, by way of Protocol, or summary of what had bsen +agreed on, on mutual word of honor, most brief but most clear on +this occasion, writes a State Paper, which became rather famous +afterwards. This is the Paper in condensed state; though clear, it +is very dull! + +KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF, 9th OCTOBER, 1741. Britannic Excellency +Hyndford testifies, That, here and now, his Majesty of Prussia, and +Neipperg on behalf of her Hungarian Majesty do, solemnly though +only verbally, agree to the following Four Things:-- + +"FIRST, That General Neipperg, on the 16th of the month [this day +week] shall have liberty to retire through the Mountains, towards +Moravia; unmolested, or with nothing but sham-attacks in the rear +of him. SECOND, That, in consequence, his Prussian Majesty, on +making sham-siege of Neisse, shall have the place surrendered to +him on the fifteenth day. THIRD, That there shall be, nay in a +sense, there hereby is, a Peace made; his Majesty retaining Neisse +and Silesia [according to the limits known to us:--nothing said of +Glatz]; and that a complete Treaty to that effect shall be +perfected, signed and ratified, before the Year is out. FOURTH, +That these sham-hostilities, but only sham, shall continue; and +that his Majesty, wintering in Bohewia, and carrying on sham- +hostilities [to the satisfaction of the French], shall pay his own +expenses, and do no mischief." [Given in <italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> i. 1009; in &c.] + +To these Four Things they pledge their word of honor; and Hyndford +signs and delivers each a Copy. Unwritten a Fifth Thing is settled, +That the present transaction in all parts of it shall be secret as +death,--his Majesty expressly insisting that, if the least inkling +of it ooze out, he shall have right to deny it, and refuse in any +way to be bound by it. Which likewise is assented to. + +Here is a pretty piece of work done for ourself and our allies, +while Valori is quietly dining with the Prince of Dessau! The King +stayed about two hours; was extremely polite, and even frank and +communicative. "A very high-spirited young King," thinks Neipperg, +reporting of it; "will not stand contradiction; but a great deal +can be made of him, if you go into his ideas, and humor him in a +delicate dexterous way. He did not the least hide his engagements +with France, Bavaria, Saxony; but would really, so far as I +Neipperg could judge, prefer friendship with Austria, on the given +terms; and seems to have secretly a kind of pique at Saxony, and no +favor for the French and their plans." [Orlich, i. 149 (in +condensed state).] + +"Business being done [this is Hyndford's report], the King, who had +been politeness itself, took Neipperg aside, beckoning Hyndford to +be of the party, 'I wish you too, my Lord, to hear every word:--his +Britannic Majesty knows or should know my intentions never were to +do him hurt, but only to take care of myself; and pray inform him +[what is the fact] that I have ordered my Army in Brandenburg to go +into winter-quarters, and break up that Camp at Gottin.' +Friedrich's talk to Neipperg is, How he may assault the French with +advantage: 'Join Lobkowitz and what force he has in Bohmen; +go right into your enemies, before they can unite there. If the +Queen prosper, I shall--perhaps I shall have no objection to join +her by and by? If her Majesty fail; well, every one must look to +himself.'" These words Hyndford listened to with an edacious solid +countenance, and greedily took them down. [Hyndford's Despatch, +Breslau, 14th October, 1741.] + +Once more, a curious glimpse (perhaps imprudently allowed us, in +the circumstances) into the real inner man of Friedrich. He had, at +this time, now that the Belleisle Adventure is left in such a +state, no essential reason to wish the French ruined,--nor probably +did he; but only stated both chances, as in the way of unguarded +soliloquy; and was willing to leave Neipperg a sweet morsel to +chew. Secret mode of corresponding with the Court of Austria is +agreed upon; not direct, but thraugh certain Commandants, till the +Peace-Treaty be perfected,--at latest "by December 24th," we hope. +And so, "BON VOYAGE, and well across the Mountains, M. LE MARECHAL; +till we meet again! And you, Excellency Hyndford, be so good you as +write to me,--for Valori's behoof,--complaining that I am deaf to +all proposals, that nothing can be had of me. And other Letters, +pray, of the like tenor, all round; to Presburg, to England, to +Dresden:--if the Couriers are seized, it shall be well. 'Your +Letter to myself, let a trumpet come with it while I am at dinner,' +and Valori beside me!"--"Certainly, your Majesty," answers +Hyndford; and does it, does all this; which produces a soothing +effect on Valori, poor soul! + + +FRIEDRICH TAKES NEISSE BY SHAM SIEGE (CAPTURE NOT SHAM); +GETS HOMAGED IN BRESLAU; AND RETURNS TO BERLIN. + +Thus, if the Austrians hold to their bargain, has Friedrich, in a +most compendious manner, got done with a Business which threatened +to be infinite: by this short cut he, for his part, is quite out of +the waste-howling jungle of Enchanted Forest, and his foot again on +the firm free Earth. If only the Austrians hold to their bargain! +But probably he doubts if they will. Well, even in that case, he +has got Neisse; stands prepared for meeting them again; and, in the +mean while, has freedom to deny that there ever was such a bargain. + +Of the Political morality of this game of fast-and-loose, what have +we to say,--except, that the dice on both sides seem to be loaded; +that logic might be chopped upon it forever; that a candid mind +will settle what degree of wisdom (which is always essentially +veracity), and what of folly (which is always falsity), there was +in Friedrich and the others; whether, or to what degree, there was +a better course open to Friedrich in the circumstances:--and, in +fine, it will have to be granted that you cannot work in pitch and +keep hands evidently clean. Friedrich has got into the Enchanted +Wilderness, populous with devils and their works;--and, alas, it +will be long before he get out of it again, HIS life waning towards +night before he get victoriously out, and bequeath his conquest to +luckier successors! It is one of the tragic elements of this King's +life; little contemplated by him, when he went lightly into the +Silesian Adventure, looking for honor bright, what he called +"GLOIRE," as one principal consideration, hardly a year ago!-- + +Neipperg, according to covenant, broke up punctually that day week, +October 16th; and went over the Mountains, through Jagerndorf, +Troppau, towards Mahren; Prussians hanging on his rear, and +skirmishing about, but only for imaginary or ostensible purposes. +After a three-weeks march, he gets to a place called Frating, +[Espagnac, i. 104.] easternmost border of Mahren, on the slopes of +the Mannhartsberg Hill-Country, which is within wind of Vienna +itself; where, as we can fancy, his presence is welcome as morning- +light in the present dark circumstances. + +Friedrich, on the morrow after Neipperg went, invested Neisse +(October 17th); set about the Siege of Neisse with all gravity, as +if it had been the most earnest operation; which nobody of mankind, +except three or four, doubted but it was. Before opening of the +trenches, Leopold young Dessauer took the road for Glatz Country, +and the adjoining Circles of Bohemia; there to canton himself, +peaceably according to contract; and especially to have an eye upon +Glatz, should the Klein-Schnellendorf engagement go awry in any +point. The King in his Dialogue with Neipperg had said several +things about Glatz, and what a sacrifice he made there for the sake +of speedy pace, the French having guaranteed him Glatz, though he +now forbore it. Leopold, who has with him some 15,000 horse and +foot, cantons himself judiciously in those ultramontane parts,-- +"all the artillery in the Glatz Country;" [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 431; Orlich, i. 174.]--and we shall +hear of him again, by and by, in regard to other business that +rises there. + +Neisse is a formidable Fortress, much strengthened since last year; +but here is a Besieger with much better chance! He marked out +parallels, sent summonses, reconnoitred, manoeuvred,--in a way more +or less surprising to the eye of Valori, who is military, and knows +about sieges. Rather singular, remarks Valori; good engineers much +wanted here! But the bombardment did finally begin: night of +October 26th-27th, the Prussiaus opened fire; and, at a terrible +rate, cannonaded and bombarded without intermission. In point of +fire and noise it is tremendous; Valori trusts it may be effective, +in spite of faults; goes to Breslau in hope: "Yes, go to Breslau, +MON CHER VALORI; wait for me there. Neipperg be chased, say you? +Shall not he,--if we had got this place!" And so the fire continues +night and day. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 1006.] + +Fantastic Bielfeld, in his semi-fabulous style, has a LETTER on +this bombardment, attractive to Lovers of the Picturesque,-- +(written long afterwards, and dated &c. WRONG). As Bielfeld is a +rapid clever creature of the coxcomb sort, and doubtless did see +Neisse Siege, and entertained seemingly a blazing incorrect +recollection of it, his Pseudo-Neisse Letter may be worth giving, +to represent approximately what kind of scene it was there at +Neisse in the October nights:-- + +"Marechal Schwerin was lodged in a Village about three-quarters of +a mile from Head-Quarters. One day he did me the honor to invite me +to dinner; and even offered me a horse to ride thither with him. +I found excellent company; a superb repast, and wine of the gods. +Host and guests were in high spirits; and the pleasures of the +table were kept up so late, that it was midnight when we rose. +I was obliged to return to Head-Quarters, having still to wait upon +the King, as usual. The Marechal was kind enough to lend me another +horse; but the groom mischievously gave me the charger which the +Marechal rode at the Battle of Mollwitz; a very powerful animal, +and which, from that day, had grown very skittish. + +"I was made aware of this circumstance, before we were fairly out +of the Village; and the night being of the darkest, I twenty times +ran the risk of breaking my neck. We had to pass over a hill, to +get to Head-Quarters. When I reached the top, a shudder came over +me, and my hair stood on end. I had nobody with me but a strange +groom. The country all around was infested with troops and +marauders; I was mounted on an unmanageable horse. Under my feet, +so to say, I saw the bombardment of the Town of Neisse. I heard the +roar of cannon and doleful shrieks. Above our batteries the whole +atmosphere was inflamed; and to complete the calamity, I missed the +way, and got lost in the darkness. Finally, in descending the hill, +my horse, frightened, made a terrible swerve or side-jump. I did +not know the cause; but after having, with difficulty, got him into +the road again, I found myself opposite to a deserter who had been +hanged that day! I was horribly disgusted by the sight; the gallows +being very low, and the head of the malefactor almost parallel with +mine. I spurred on, and galloped away from such unpleasant night- +company. At last I arrived at Head-Quarters, all in a perspiration. +I sent my horse back; and went in to the King, who asked me at +once, why I was so heated. I made his Majesty a faithful report of +all my disasters. He laughed much; and advised me seriously not +again to go out by night, and alone, beyond the circuit of +Head-Quarters." [Bielfeld, ii. 31, 32.] + +After four days and nights of this sublime Playhouse thunder (with +real bullets in it, which killed some men, and burnt considerable +property), the Neisse Commandant (not Roth this time, Roth is now +in Brunn),--his "fortnight of siege," Ottober 17th to October 3lst, +being accomplished or nearly so,--beat chamade; and was, after +grave enough treatying, allowed to march away. Marched, +accordingly, on the correct Klein-Schnellendorf terms; most of his +poor garrison deserting, and taking Prussian service. Ever since +which moment, Neisse, captured in this curious manner, has been +Friedrich's and his Prussia's. + +November 1st, the Prussian soldiers entered the place; and +Friedrich, after diligent inspection and what orders were +necessary, left for Brieg on the following day;--where general +illuminating and demonstrating awaited him, amid more serious +business. After strict examinations, and approval of Walrave and +his works at Brieg, he again takes the road; enters Breslau, in +considerable state (November 4th); where many Persons of Quality +are waiting, and the general Homaging is straightway to be,--or +indeed should have been some days ago, but has fallen behind by +delays in the Neisse affair. + +The Breslau HULDIGUNG,--Friedrich sworn to and homaged with the due +solemnities as "Sovereign Duke of Lower Silesia,"--was an event to +throw into fine temporary frenzy the descriptive Gazetteers, and +Breslau City, overflowing with Quality people come to act and to +see on the occasion. Event which can be left to the reader's fancy, +at this date. There were Corporations out in quantity, "all in +cloaks" and with sublime Addresses, partly in poetry, happily +rather brief. There were beautiful Prussian Life-guards ("First +Battalion," admirable to the softer sex, not to speak of the +harder); much military resonance and splendor. Friedrich drove +about in carriages-and-six, "nay carriage-and-eight, horses cream- +color:" a very high King indeed; and a very busy one, for those +four days (November 4th-8th) 1741), but full of grace and +condescension. The HULDIGUNG itself took effect on the 7th; in the +fine old Rathhaus, which Tourists still know,--the surrounding +Apple-women sweeping themselves clear away for one day. Ancient +Ducal throne and proper apparatus there was; state-sword unluckily +wanting: Schwerin, who was to act Grand-Marshal, could find no +state-sword, till Friedrich drew his own and gave it him. +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> i. 1022, 1025; ii. 349.] + +Podewils the Minister said something, not too much; to which one +Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of which we shall know +individuals, made pithy and pretty response, before swearing. +"There were above Four Hundred of Quality present, all in gala." +The customary Free-Gift of the STANDE Friedrich magnanimously +refused: "Impossible to be a burden to our Silesia in such harassed +war-circumstances, instead of benefactor and protector, as we +intended and intend!" The Ceremony, swearing and all, was over in +two hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of the gold +ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up joyfully to dinner +and festivities. And, after dinner, that evening, to Illumination; +followed by balls and jubilations for days after, in a highly +harmonious key. Of the lamps-festoons, astonishing transparencies, +and glad symbolic devices, I could say a great deal; but will +mention only two, both of comfortably edible or quasi-edible +tendency:-- + 1. That of David Schulze, Flesher by profession; who had a +Transparency large as life, representing his own fat Person in the +act of felling a fat Ox; to which was appended this epigraph:-- + +<italic> +"Wer mir wird den Konig in Preussen verachten, +Den will ich wie diesen Ochsen schlacten." +<end italic> +"Who dares me the King of Prussia insult, +Him I will serve like this fat head of nolt." +Signed "DAVID SCHULER, A BRANDENBURGER."-- + +And then, + + 2. How, in another quarter, there was set aloft IN RE, by some +Pastry-cook of patriotic turn: "An actual Ox roasted whole; filled +with pheasants, partridges, grouse, hares and geese; Prussian Eagle +atop, made of roasted fowls, larks and the like,"--unattainable, I +doubt, except for money down. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> ii. 359.] + +On the fifth morning, 9th November,--after much work done during +this short visit, much ceremonial audiencing, latterly, and raising +to the peerage,--Friedrich rolled on to Glogau. Took accurate +survey of the engineering and other interests there, for a couple +of days; thence to Berlin (noon of the llth), joyfully received by +Royal Family and all the world;--and, as we might fancy, asking +himself: "Am I actually home, then; out of the enchanted jungles +and their devilries; safe here, and listening, I alone in Peace, to +the universal din of War?" Alas, no; that was a beautiful +hypothesis; too beautiful to be long credible! Before reaching +Berlin,--or even Breslau, as appears,--Friedrich, vigilantly +scanning and discerning, had seen that fine hope as good as vanish; +and was silently busy upon the opposite one. + +In a fortnight hence, Hyndford, who had followed to Berlin, got +transient sight of the King one morning, hastening through some +apartment or other: "'My Lord,' said the King, (the Court of Vienna +has entirely divulged our secret. Dowager Empress Amelia [Kaiser +Joseph's widow, mother of Karl Albert's wife] has acquainted the +Court of Bavaria with it; Wasner [Austrian Minister at Paris] has +told Fleury; Sinzendorf [ditto at Petersburg] has told the Court of +Russia; Robinson, through Mr. Villiers [your Saxon Minister], has +told the Court of Dresden; and several members of your Government +in England have talked publicly about it!' And, with a shrug of the +shoulders, he left me,"--standing somewhat agape there. [Hyndford's +Despatch, Berlin, 28th November, 1741; Ib. Breslau, 28th October +(secret already known).] + + + +Chapter VI. + +NEW MAYOR OF LANDSHUT MAKES AN INSTALLATION SPEECH. + +The late general Homaging at Breslau, and solemn Taking Possession +of the Country by King Friedrich, under such peaceable omens, had +straightway, as we gather, brought about, over Silesia at large, or +at least where pressingly needful, various little alterations,-- +rectifications, by the Prussian model and new rule now introduced. +Of which, as it is better that the reader have some dim notion, if +easily procurable, than none at all, I will offer him one example; +--itself dim enough, but coming at first-hand, in the actual or +ccncrete form, and beyond disputing in whatever light or twilight +it may yield us. + +At Landshut, a pleasant little Mountain Town, in the Principality +of Schweidnitz, high up, on the infant River Bober, near the +Bohemian Frontier--(English readers may see QUINCY ADAMS'S +description of it, and of the long wooden spouts which throw +cataracts on you, if walking the streets in rain [John Quincy Adams +(afterwards President of the United States), <italic> Letters on +Silesia <end italic> (London, 1804). "The wooden spouts are now +gone" (<italic> Tourist's Note, of <end italic> 1858).]): at +Landshut, as in some other Towns, it had been found good to remodel +the Town Magistracy a little; to make it partly Protestant, for one +thing, instead of Catholic (and Austrian), which it had formerly +been. Details about the "high controversies and discrepancies" +which had risen there, we have absolutely none; nor have the +special functions of the Magistracy, what powers they had, what +work they did, in the least become distinct to us: we gather only +that a certain nameless Burgermeister (probably Austrian and +Catholic) had, by "Most gracious Royal Special-Order," been at +length relieved from his labors, and therewith "the much by him +persecuted and afflicted Herr Theodorus Spener" been named +Burgermeister instead. Which respectable Herr Theodorus Spener, and +along with him Herr Johann David Fischer as RATHS-SENIOR, and Herr +Johann Caspar Ruffer, and also Herr Johann Jacob Umminger, as new +Raths (how many of the old being left I cannot say), were +accordingly, on the 4th of December, 1741, publicly installed, and +with proper solemnity took their places; all Landshut looking on, +with the conceivable interest and astonishment, almost as at a +change in the obliquity of the ecliptic,--change probably for +the better. + +Respectable Herr Theodorus Spener (we hope it is SpeNer, for they +print him SPEER in one of the two places, and we have to go by +guess) is ready with an Installation Speech on the occasion; +and his Speech was judged so excellent, that they have preserved it +in print. Us it by no means strikes by its Demosthenic or other +qualities: meanwhile we listen to it with the closest attention; +hoping, in our great ignorance, to gather from it some glimmerings +of instruction as to the affairs, humors, disposition and general +outlook and condition of Landshut, and Silesia in that juncture;-- +and though a good deal disappointed, have made an Abstract of it in +the English language, which perhaps the reader too, in his great +ignorance, will accept, in defect of better. Scene is Landshut +among the Giant Mountains on the Bohemian Border of Silesia: an old +stone Town, where there is from of old a busy trade in thread and +linen; Town consisting, as is common there, of various narrow +winding streets comparable to spider-legs, and of a roomy central +Market-place comparable to the body of the spider; wide irregular +Market-place with the wooden spouts (dry for the moment) all +projecting round it. Time, 4th December, 1741 (doubtless in the +forenoon); unusual crowd of population simmering about the Market- +place, and full audience of the better sort gravely attentive in +the interior of the Rathhaus; Burgermeister Spener LOQUITUR +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 416.] (liable to +abridgment here and there, on warning given):-- + +"I enter, then, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, upon an +Office, to which Divine Providence has appointed, and the gracious +and potent hand of a great King has raised me. Great as is the +dignity [giddy height of Mayoralty in Landshut], though undeserved, +which the Ever-Nerciful has thus conferred upon me, equally great +and much greater is the burden connected therewith. I confess"-- +He confesses, in high-stalking earnest wooden language very foreign +to us in every way: (1.) That his shoulders are too weak; but that +he trusts in God. For (2.) it is God's doing; and He that has +called Spener, will give Spener strength, the essential work being +to do God's will, to promote His honor, and the common weal. +(3.) That he comes out of a smaller Office (Office not farther +specified, probably exterior to the RATHS-COLLEGE, and subaltern to +the late tyrannous Mayor and it), and has taken upon him the +Mayoralty of this Town (an evident fact!); but that the labor and +responsibility are dreadfully increased; and that the point is not +increase of honor, of respectability or income, but of heavy +duties. (A sonorous, pious-minded Spener; much more in earnest than +readers now think!) + +It is easy, intimates he, to govern a Town, if, as some have +perhaps done, you follow simply your own will, regardless of the +sighs and complaints your subjects utter for injustice undergone,-- +indifferent to the thought that the caprice of one Town Sovereign +is to be glorified by so many thousand tears (dim glance into the +past history of Landshut!). Such Town Sovereign persecutes +innocence, stops his ears to its cry; flourishes his sharp scourge; +--no one shall complain: for is it not justice? thinks such a Town +Sovereign. The reason is, He does not know himself, poor man; +has had his eye always on the duties of his subjects towards him, +and rarely or never on his towards them. A Sovereign Mayor that +governs by fear,--he must live in continual fear of every one, and +of himself withal. A weak basis: and capable of total overturn in +one day. On the contrary, the love of your burgher subjects: that, +if you can kindle it, will go on like a house on fire (AUSBRUCH +EINES FEURES), and streams of water won't put it out. ... "And [let +us now take Spener's very words] if a man keep the fear of God +before his eyes, there will be no need for any other kind of fear. + +"I will therefore, you especially High-honored Gentlemen, study to +direct all my judicial endeavors to the honor of the great God, and +to inviolable fidelity towards my most gracious King and Lord +[Friedrich, by Decision of Providence--at Mollwitz and elsewhere]. + +"To the Citizens of this Town, from of old so dear to me, and now +by Royal grace committed to my charge, and therefore doubly and +trebly to be held dear, I mean to devote myself altogether. I will, +on every occasion and occurrence, still more expressly than +aforetime, stand by them; and when need is, not fail to bring their +case before the just Throne of our Anointed [Friedrich, by Decision +of Providence]. Justice and fairness I will endeavor, under +whatever complexities, to make my loadstar. Yes, I shall and will, +by means of this my Office, equip myself with weapons whereby I may +be capable to damp such humors (INTELLIGENTIEN), should such still +be (but I believe there are now none such), as may repugn against +the Royal interest, with possibility of being dangerous; and to put +a bridle on mouths that are unruly. And, to say much in litlle +compass, I will be faithful to God, to my King and to this Town. + +"Having now the honor and happiness to be put into Official +friendship with those Gentlemen who, as Burgermeisters, and as old +and as new Members of Council, have for long years made themselves +renowned among us, I will entertain, in respect of the former [the +old] a firm confidence That the zeal they have so strongly +manifested for behoof of the most serene Archducal House of Austria +will henceforth burn in them for our most Beloved Land's Prince +whom God has now given us; that the fire of their lately plighted +truth and devotion, towards his Royal Majesty, shall shine not in +words only, but in works, and be extinguished only with their +lives. [Can that be, O Spener or Speer? Are we alarm-clocks, that +need only to be wound up, and told at what hour, and for whom?] +God, who puts Kings in and casts them out, has given to us a no +less potent Sovereign than supremely loving Land's-Father, who, by +the renown of his more than royal virtues, had taken captive the +hearts of his future subjects and children still sooner than even +by his arms, familiar otherwise to victory, he did the Land. +And who shall be puissant and mighty enough, now to lead men's +minds in a contrary direction; to control the Most High Power, +ruler over hearts and Lands, who had decreed it should be so; +and again to change this change? [Hear Spener: he has taken great +pains with his Discourse, and understands composition!] + +"This change, High-honored Gentlemen [of the Catholic persuasion], +is also for you a not unhappy one. For our now as pious as wise +King will, especially in one most vital point, take pattern by the +King of all Kings; and means to be lord of his subjects only, not +of the consciences of his subjects. He requires nothing from you +but what you are already bound by God, by conscience, and duty, to +render: to wit, obedience and inviolable unbroken fidelity. And by +that, and without more asked than that, you will render yourselves +worthy of his protection, and become partakers of the Royal favor. +Nay you will render yourselves all the worthier in that high +quarter, and the more meritorious towards our civic commonweal, the +more you, High-honored Gentlemen [of the Catholic persuasion], +accept, with all frankness of colleague-love and amity, me and the +Evangelical brother Raths now introduced by Royal grace and power; +and make the new position generously tenable and available to us; +--and thereby bind with us the more firmly the band of peace and +colleague-unity, for helping up this dear, and for some years +greatly fallen, Town along with us. + +"We, for our poor part, will, one and all, strive only to surpass +each other in obedience and faith to our Most Gracious King. +We will, as Regents of the Citizenry committed to us, go before +them with a good example; and prove to all and every one, That, +little and in war untenable as our Landshut is, it shall, in extent +and impregnability of faith towards its Most Dearest Land's-Prince, +approve itself unconquerable. As well I as"--Professes now, in the +most intricate phraseology, that he, and Fischer and Umminger +(giving not only the titles, but a succinct history of all three, +in a single sentence, before he comes to the verb!), bring a true +heart, &c. &c.--Or would the reader perhaps like to see it IN +NATURA, as a specimen of German human-nature, and the art these +Silesian spinners have in drawing out their yarns? + +"As well I as [1.] The Titular Herr Johann David Fischer, +distinguished trader and merchant of this Town, who, by his +tradings in and beyond our Silesian Countries, has made himself +renowned, and by his merit and address in particular instances +[delicate instances known to Landshut, not to us] has made himself +beloved, who has now been installed as Raths-Senior; and also as +[2.] The Titular Herr Johann Caspar Ruffer, well-respected Citizen, +and Revenue-office Manager here, who for many years has with much +fidelity and vigilance managed the Revenue-office, and who for his +experience in the economic constitution of this Town has been all- +graciously nominated Raths-Herr;--and not less [3.] The Titular +Johann Jacob Umminger, whilom Advocate at Law in Breslau, who, for +his good studies in Law, and manifested skill in the practice of +Law, has been an all-graciously nominated Supernumerary Councillor +and Notary's-Adjunct among us:--As well I as these Three not only +assure you, High-honored Gentlemen, of all imaginable estimation +and return of love on our part; but do likewise assure all and +sundry these respectable Herren Town-Jurats [specially present], +representing here the universal well-beloved Citizenry of our +Town,--that we bring a heart sincere, and intent only on aiming at +the welfare of a Citizenry so loveworthy. We have the firm purpose +by God's grace, so to order our walk, and so to conduct our +government that we may, one day, when summoned from our judgment- +seats to answer before the Universal Judgment-seat of Christ, be +able to say, with that pious King and Judge of Israel: 'Lord, thou +knowest if we have walked uprightly before thee.' And we hope to +understand that the rewards of justice, in that Life, will be much +more than those of injustice in this. + +"We believe that the Most High will, in so far, bless these our +honest purposes and wholesome endeavors, as that the actual fruits +thereof will in time coming, and when Peace now soon expected +(which God grant) has returned to us, be manifest; and that if, in +our Office, as is common, we should rather have thorns of +persecution than roses of recompense to expect, yet to each of us +there will at last accrue praise in the Earth and reward in Heaven. +[Hear Spener!] + +"Meanwhile we will unite all our wishes, That the Almighty may +vouchsafe to his Royal Majesty, our now All-dearest Duke and +Land's-Father, many long years of life and of happy reign; and +maintain this All-highest Royal-Prussian and Elector-Brandenburgic +House in supremest splendor and prosperity, undisturbed to the end +of all Days; and along with it, our Town-Council, and whole +Merchantry and Citizenry, safe under this Prussian Sceptre, in +perpetual blessing, peace and unity [what a modest prayer!]: to all +which may Heaven speak its powerful Amen!" [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 416-422.]-- + +Whereupon solemn waving of hats; indistinct sough of loyal murmur +from the universal Landshut Population; after which, continued to +the due extent, they return to their spindles and shuttles again. + + + +Chapter VII. + +FRIEDRICH PURPOSES TO MEND THE KLEIN-SCHNELLENDORF +FAILURE: FORTUNES OF THE BELLEISLE ARMAMENT. + +We shall not dwell upon the movements of the French into Germany +for the purpose of overwhelming Austria, and setting up four +subordinate little Sovereignties to take their orders from +Louis XV. The plan was of the mad sort, not recognized by Nature at +all; the diplomacy was wide, expensive, grandiose, but vain and +baseless; nor did the soldiering that followed take permanent hold +of men's memory. Human nature cannot afford to follow out these +loud inanities; and, at a certain distance of time, is bound to +forget them, as ephemera of no account in the general sum. +Difficult to say what profit human nature could get out of such +transaction. There was no good soldiering on the part of the French +except by gleams here and there; bad soldiering for the most part, +and the cause was radically bad. Let us be brief with it; try to +snatch from it, huge rotten heap of old exuviae and forgotten +noises and deliriums, what fractions of perennial may turn up for +us, carefully forgetting the rest. + +Maillebois with his 40,000, we have seen how they got to Osnabruck, +and effectually stilled the war-fervor of little George II.; +sent him home, in fact, to England a checkmated man, he riding out +of Osnabruck by one gate, the French at the same moment marching in +by the other. There lies Maillebois ever since; and will lie, +cantoned over Westphalia, "not nearer than three leagues to the +boundary of Hanover," for a year and more. There let Maillebois +lie, till we see him called away else-wither, upon which the +gallant little George, check-mate being lifted, will get into +notable military activity, and attempt to draw his sword again,-- +though without success, owing to the laggard Dutch. Which also, as +British subjects, if not otherwise, the readers of this Book will +wish to see something of. Maillebois did not quite keep his +stipulated distance of "three leagues from the boundary" (being +often short of victual), and was otherwise no good neighbor. +Among his Field-Officers, there is visible (sometimes in trouble +about quarters and the like) a Marquis du Chatelet,--who, I find, +is Husband or Ex-Husband to the divine Emilie, if readers care to +think of that! [<italic> Campagnes <end italic> (i. 45, 193); and +French Peerage-Books, ? DU CHATELAT.] Other known face, or point of +interest for or against, does not turn up in the Maillebois +Operation in those parts. + +As for the other still grander Army, Army of the Oriflamme as we +have called it,--which would be Belleisle's, were not he so +overwhelmed with embassying, and persuading the Powers of Germany, +--this, since we last saw it, has struck into a new course, which +it is essential to indicate. The major part of it (Four rear +Divisions! if readers recollect) lay at Ingolstadt, its place of +arms; while the Vanward Three Divisions, under Maurice Comte de +Saxe, flowed onward, joining with Bavaria at Passau; down the Donau +Country, to Linz and farther, terrifying Vienna itself; and driving +all the Court to Presburg, with (fabulous) "MORIAMUR PRO REGE +NOSTRO MARIA THERESIA," but with actual armament of Tolpatches, +Pandours, Warasdins, Uscocks and the like unsightly beings of a +predatory centaur nature. Which fine Hungarian Armament, and others +still more ominous, have been diligently going on, while Karl +Albert sat enjoying his Homagings at Linz, his Pisgah-views Vienna- +ward; and asking himself, "Shall we venture forward, and capture +Vienna, then?" + +The question is intricate, and there are many secret biasings +concerned in the solution of it. Friedrich, before Klein- +Schnellendorf time, had written eagerly, had sent Schmettau with +eager message, "Push forward; it is feasible, even easy: cut the +matter by the root!" This, they say, was Karl Albert's own notion, +had not the French overruled him;--not willing, some guess, he +should get Austria, and become too independent of them all at once. +Nay, it appears Karl Albert had inducements of his own towards +Bohemia rather. The French have had Kur-Sachsen to manage withal; +and there are interests in Bohemia of his and theirs,--clippings of +Bohemia promised him as bribes, besides that "Kingdom of Moravia," +to get his 21,000 set on march. "Clippings of Bohemia? Interests of +Kur-Sachsen's in that Country?" asks Karl Albert with alarm: +and thinks it will be safer, were he himself present there, while +Saxony and France do the clippings in question! Sure enough, he did +not push on. Belleisle, from the distance, strongly opined +otherwise; Karl Albert himself had jealous fears about Bohmen. +Friedrich's importunities and urgencies were useless: and the one +chance there ever was for Karl Albert, for Belleisle and the Ruin +of Austria, vanished without return. + +Karl Albert has turned off, leftwards, towards his Bohemian +Enterprises: French, Bavarians, Saxons, by their several routes, +since the last days of October, are all on march that way. We will +mark an exact date here and there, as fixed point for the reader's +fancy. Poor Karl Albert, he had sat some six weeks at Linz,--about +three weeks since that Homaging there (October 2d);--imaginary +Sovereign of Upper Austria; looking over to Vienna and the Promised +Land in general. And that fine Pisgah-view was all he ever had of +it. Of Austrian or other Conquests earthly or heavenly, there came +none to him in this Adventure;--mere MINUS quantities they all +proved. For a few weeks more, there are, blended with awful +portents, an imaginary gleam or two in other quarters; after which, +nothing but black horror and disgrace, deepening downwards into +utter darkness, for the poor man. Belleisle is an imaginary +Sun-god; but the poor Icarus, tempted aloft in that manner into the +earnest elements, and melting at once into quills and rags, is a +tragic reality!--Let us to our dates:-- + +"OCTOBER 24th, The Bavarian Troops, who had lain at Mautern on the +Donau some time, forty miles from Vienna and the Promised Land, got +under way again;--not FORWARD, but sharp to left, or northward, +towards the Bohemian parts. Thither all the Belleisle Armaments are +now bound; and a general rallying of them is to be at Prag; for +conquest of that Country, as more inviting than Austria at present. +Comte de Saxe, who had lain at St. Polten, a march to southward of +Mautern, he with the Vanward of the great Belleisle Army, bestirred +himself at the same time; and followed steadily (Karl Albert in +person was with Saxe), at a handy distance by parallel roads. +To Prag may be about 200 miles. Across the Mannhartsberg Country, +clear out of Austria, into Bohmen, towards Prag. At Budweis, or +between that and Tabor, Towns of our old friend Zisca's, of which +we shall hear farther in these Wars; Towns important by their +intricate environment of rock and bog, far up among the springs of +the Moldau,--there can these Bavarians, and this French Vanward of +Belleisle, halt a little, till the other parties, who are likewise +on march, get within distance. + +For in these same days, as hinted above, the Rearward of the +Belleisle Army (Four Divisions, strength not accurately given) +pushes forward from Donauworth, well rested, through the Bavarian +Passes, towards Bohemia and Prag: these have a longer march (say +250 miles)? to northeast; and the leader of them is one Polastron, +destined unhappily to meet us on a future occasion. With them go +certain other Bavarians; accompanying or preceding, as in the +Vanward case. And then the Saxons (21,000 strong, a fine little +Army, all that Saxony has) are, at the same time, come across the +Metal Mountains (ERZGEBIRGE), in quest of those Bohemian clippings, +of that Kingdom of Moravia: and march from the westward upon Prag, +--Rutowsky leading them. Comte de Rutowsky, Comte de Saxe's Half- +Brother, one of the Three Hundred and Fifty-four:--with whom is +CHEVALIER de Saxe, a second younger ditto; and I think there is +still a third, who shall go unnamed. In this grand Oriflamme +Expedition, Four of the Royal-Saxon Bastards altogether." Who cost +us more distinguishing than they are worth! + +Chief General of these Saxons, says an Authentic Author, is +Rutowsky; got from a Polish mother, I should guess: he commands in +chief here;--once had a regiment under Friedrich Wilhelm, for a +while; but has not much head for strategy, it may be feared. +But mark that Fourth individual of the Three Hundred and Fifty- +four, who has a great deal. Fourth individual, called Comte de +Saxe, who is now in that French Vanward a good way to east, was +(must I again remind you!) the produce of the fair Aurora von +Konigsmark, Sister of the Konigsmark who vanished instantaneously +from the light of day at Hanover long since, and has never +reappeared more. It was in search of him that Aurora, who was +indeed a shining creature (terribly insolvent all her life, whose +charms even Charles XII. durst not front), came to Dresden; and,-- +in this Comte de Saxe, men see the result. Tall enough, restless +enough; most eupeptic, brisk, with a great deal of wild faculty,-- +running to waste, nearly all. There, with his black arched +eyebrows, black swift physically smiling eyes, stands Monseigneur +le Comte, one of the strongest-bodied and most dissolute-minded men +now living on our Planet. He is now turned of forty: no man has +been in such adventures, has swum through such seas of transcendent +eupepticity determined to have its fill. In this new Quasi-sacred +French Enterprise, under the Banner of Belleisle and the +Chateauroux, he has at last, after many trials, unconsciously found +his culmination: and will do exploits of a wonderful nature,--very +worthy of said Banner and its patrons. + +"Here, then, are Three streams or Armaments pouring forward upon +Prag; perhaps some 60,000 men in all:--a good deal uncertain what +they are to do at Prag, except arrive simultaneously so far as +possible. Belleisle, far off, has fallen sick in these critical +days. Comte de Saxe cannot see his way in the matter at all: +'What are we to live upon,' asks Comte de Saxe, 'were there nothing +more!'--For, simultaneously with these Three Armaments on march, +there is an important Austrian one, likewise on the road for Prag: +that of Grand-Duke Franz, who has left Presburg, with say 30,000 +(including the Pandour element); and duly meets the Neipperg, or +late Silesian Army;--well capable, now, to do a stroke upon the +Three Armaments, if he be speedy? 'November 7th' it was when Grand- +Duke Franz picked up Neipperg, 'at Frating' deep in Moravia +(November 7th, the very day while Friedrich was getting homaged in +Breslau), and turned him northwestward again. The Grand-Duke, in +such strength, marches Rag-ward what he can; might be there before +the French, were he swift; and is at any rate in disagreeable +proximity to that Budmeis-Tabor Country, appointed as one's +halting-place." + +And Belleisle, in these critical days, is--consider it!--"Poor +Belleisle, he has all the Election Votes ready; he has done +unspeakable labors in the diplomatic way; and leaves Europe in +ebullition and conflagration behind him. He has all these Armies in +motion, and has got rid of 'that Moravia,'--given it to Saxony, who +adds the title 'King of Moravia' to his other dignities, and has +set on march those 21,000 men. 'Would he were ready with them!' +Belleisle had been saying, ever since the Treaty for them,--Treaty +was, September 19th. Belleisle, to expedite him, came to Dresden +[what day is not said, but deep in October]; intending next for the +Prag Country, there to commence General, the diplomacies being +satisfactorily done. Valori ran over from Berlin to wait upon him +there. Alas, the Saxons are on march, or nearly so; but the great +man himself, worn down with these Herculean labors, has fallen into +rheumatic fever; is in bed, out at Hubertsburg (serene Country +Palace of his Moravian Polish Majesty); and cannot get the least +well, to march in person with the Three Armaments, with the flood +of things he has set reeling and whirling at such rate. + +"The sympathies of Valori go deep at this spectacle. The Alcides, +who was carrying the axis of the world, fallen down in physical +rheumatism! But what can sympathies avail? The great man sees the +Saxons march without him. The great man, getting no alleviation +from physicians, determines, in his patriotic heroism, to surrender +glory itself; writes home to Court, 'That he is lamed, disabled +utterly; that they must nominate another General.' And they +nominate another; nominate Broglio, the fat choleric Marshal, of +Italian breed and physiognomy, whom we saw at Strasburg last year, +when Friedrich was there. Broglio will quit Strasburg too soon, and +come. A man fierce in fighting, skilled too in tactics; totally +incompetent in strategy, or the art of LEADING armies, and managing +campaigns;--defective in intelligence indeed, not wise to discern; +dim of vision, violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks, a +headlong, very positive, loud, dull and angry kind of man; with +whose tumultuous imbecilities the great Belleisle will be sore +tried by and by. 'I reckon this,' Valori says, 'the root of all our +woes;' this Letter which the great Belleisle wrote home to Court. +Let men mark it, therefore, as a cardinal point,--and snatch out +the date, when they have opportunity upon the Archives of France. +[See Valori, i. 131.] + +"Monseigneur the Comte de Saxe, before quitting the Vienna +Countries, had left some 10,000 French and Bavarians, posted +chiefly in Linz, under a Comte de Segur, to maintain those Donau +Conquests, which have cost only the trouble of marching into them. +Count Khevenhuller has ceased working at the ramparts of Vienna, +nothing of siege to be apprehended now, civic terror joyfully +vanishing again; and busies himself collecting an Army at Vienna, +with intent of looking into those same French Segurs, before long. +It is probable the so-called Conquests on the Donau will not be +very permanent. + +"NOVEMBER 19th-21st, The Three Belleisle Armaments, Karl Albert's +first, have, simultaneously enough for the case, arrived on three +sides of Prag; and lie looking into it,--extremely uncertain what +to do when there. To Comte de Saxe, to Schmettau, who is still +here, the outlook of this grand Belleisle Army, standing +shelterless, provisionless, grim winter at hand, long hundreds of +miles from home or help, is in the highest degree questionable, +though the others seem to make little of it: 'Fight the Grand-Duke +when he comes,' say they; 'beat him, and--' 'Or suppose, he won't +fight? Or suppose, we are beaten by him?' answer Saxe and +Schmettau, like men of knowledge, in the same boat with men of +none. (We have no strong place, or footing in this Country: +what are we to do? Take Prag!' advises Comte de Saxe, with +earnestness, day after day. [His Letters on it to Karl Albert and +others (in Espagnac, i. 94-99).] 'Take Prag: but how?' answer they. +'By escalade, by surprise, and sword in hand, answers he: 'Ogilvy +their General has but 3,000, and is perhaps no wizard at his trade: +we can do it, thus and thus, and then farther thus; and I perceive +we are a lost Army if we don't!' So counsels Maurice Comte de Saxe, +brilliant, fervent in his military views;--and, before it is quite +too late, Schmettau and he persuade Karl Albert, persuade Rutowsky +chief of the Saxons; and Count Polastron, Gaisson or whatever +subaltern Counts there are, of French type, have to accede, and be +saved in spite of themselves. And so, + +"SATURDAY NIGHT, 25th NOVEMBER, 1741, brightest of moonshiny +nights, our dispositions are all made: Several attacks, three if I +remember; one of them false, under some Polastron, Gaisson, from +the south side; a couple of them true, from the northwest and the +southeast sides, under Maurice with his French, and Rutowsky with +his Saxons, these two. And there is great marching 'on the side of +the Karl-Thor (Charles-Gate),' where Rutowsky is; and by Count +Maurice 'behind the Wischerad;'--and shortly after midnight the +grand game begins. That French-Polastron attack, false, though with +dreadful cannonade from the south, attracts poor Ogilvy with almost +all his forces to that quarter; while the couple of Saxon Captains +(Rutowsky not at once successful, Maurice with his French +completely so) break in upon Ogilvy from rearward, on the right +flank and on the left; and ruin the poor man. Military readers will +find the whole detail of it well given in Espagnac. Looser account +is to be had in the Book they call Mauvillon's." [<italic> Derniere +Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> i. 252-264. Saxe's own Account +(Letter to Chevalier de Folard) is in Espagnac, i. 89 et seqq.] + +One thing I remember always: the bright moonlight; steeples of Prag +towering serene in silvery silence, and on a sudden the wreaths of +volcanic fire breaking out all round them. The opposition was but +trifling, null in some places, poor Ogilvy being nothing of a +wizard, and his garrison very small. It fell chiefly on Rutowsky; +who met it with creditable vigor, till relieved by the others. +Comte Maurice, too, did a shifty thing. Circling round by the +outside of the Wischerad, by rural roads in the bright moonshine, +he had got to the Wall at last, hollow slope and sheer wall; and +was putting-to his scaling-ladders,--when, by ill luck, they proved +too short! Ten feet or so; hopelessly too short. Casting his head +round, Maurice notices the Gallows hard by: "There, see you, are a +few short ladders: MES ENFANS, bring me these, and we will splice +with rope!" Supplemented by the gallows, Maurice soon gets in, cuts +down the one poor sentry; rushes to the Market-place, finds all his +Brothers rushing, embraces them with "VICTOIRE!" and "You see I am +eldest; bound to be foremost of you!" + +"No point in all the War made a finer blaze in the French +imagination, or figured better in the French gazettes, than this of +the Scalade of Prag, 25th November, 1741. And surely it was +important to get hold of Prag; nevertheless, intrinsically it is no +great thing, but an opportune small thing, done by the Comte de +Saxe, in spite of such contradiction as we saw." + +It was while news of this exploit was posting towards Berlin, but +not yet arrived there, that Friedrich, passing through the +apartment, intimated to Hyndford, "Milord, all is divulged, our +Klein-Schnellendorf mystery public as the house-tops;" and vanished +with a shrug of the shoulders,--thinking doubtless to himself, +"What is OUR next move to be, in consequence?" Treaty with Kur- +Baiern (November 4th) he had already signed in consequence, +expressly declaring for Kur-Baiern, and the French intentions +towards him. This news from Prag--Prag handsomely captured, if +Vienna had been foolishly neglected--put him upon a new Adventure, +of which in following Chapters we shall hear more. + + +THE FRENCH SAFE IN PRAG; KAISERWAHL JUST COMING ON. + +Grand-Duke Franz, with that respectable amount of Army under him, +ought surely to have advanced on Prag, and done some stroke of war +for relief of it, while time yet was. Grand-Duke Franz, his Brother +Karl with him and his old Tutor Neipperg, both of whom are thought +to have some skill in war, did advance accordingly. But then withal +there was risk at Prag; and he always paused again, and waited to +consider. From Frating, on the 16th, [Espagnac, i. 87.] he had got +to Neuhaus, quite across Mahren into Bohemian ground, and there +joined with Lobkowitz and what Bohemian force there was; by this +time an Army which you would have called much stronger than the +French. Forward, therefore! Yes; but with pauses, with +considerations. Pause of two days at Neuhaus; thence to Tabor +(famed Zisca's Tabor), a safe post, where again pause three days. +From Tabor is broad highway to Prag, only sixty miles off now:-- +screwing their resolution to the sticking-point, Grand-Duke and +Consorts advance at length with fixed determination, all Friday, +all Saturday (November 24th, 25th), part of Sunday too, not +thinking it shall be only PART; and their light troops are almost +within sight of Prag, when--they learn that Prag is scaladed the +night before, and quite settled; that there is nothing except +destruction to be looked for in Prag! Back again, therefore, to the +Tabor-and-Budweis land. They strike into that boggy broken country +about Budweis, some 120 miles south of Prag; and will there wait +the signs of the times. + +Grand-Duke Franz had seen war, under Seckendorf, under Wallis and +otherwise, in the disastrous Turk Countries; but, though willing +enough, was never much of a soldier: as to Neipperg, among his own +men especially, the one cry is, He ought to go about his business +out of Austrian Armies, as an imbecile and even a traitor. "Is it +conceivable that Friedrich could have beaten us, in that manner, +except by buying Neipperg in the first place? Neipperg and the +generality of them, in that luckless Silesian Business? Glogau +scaladed with the loss of half a dozen men; Brieg gone within a +week; Neisse ditto: and Mollwitz, above all, where, in spite of +Romer and such Horse-charging as was never seen, we had to melt, +dissolve, and roll away in the glitter of the evening sun.!" +The common notion is, they are traitors, partial-traitors, one and +all. [<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> saepius.] Poor +Neipperg he has seen hard service, had ugly work to do: it was he +that gave away Belgrade to the Turks (so interpreting his orders), +and the Grand Vizier, calling him Dog of a Giaour: spat in his +face, not far from hanging him; and the Kaiser and Vienna people, +on his coming home, threw him into prison, and were near cutting +off his head. And again, after such sleety marchings through the +Mountains, he has had to dissolve at Mollwitz; float away in +military deluge in the manner we saw. And now, next winter, here is +he lodged among the upland bogs at Budweis, escorted by mere +curses. What a life is the soldier's, like other men's; what a +master is the world! Aulic Cabinet is not all-wise; but may readily +be wiser than the vulgar, and, with a Maria Theresa at his head, it +is incapable of truculent impiety like that. Neipperg, guilty of +not being a Eugene, is not hanged as a traitor; but placed quietly +as Commandant in Luxemburg, spends there the afternoon of his life, +in a more commodious manner. Friedrich had, of late, rather admired +his movements on the Neisse River; and found him a stiff article to +deal with. + +The French, now with Prag for their place of arms, stretched +themselves as far as Pisek, some seventy miles southwestward; +occupied Pisek, Pilsen and other Towns and posts, on the southwest +side, some seventy miles from Prag; looking towards the Bavarian +Passes and homeward succors that might come: the Saxons, a while +after, got as far as Teutschbrod, eighty miles on the southeastward +or Moravian hand. Behind these outposts, Prag may be considered to +hang on Silesia, and have Friedrich for security. This, in front or +as forecourt of Friedrich's Silesia, this inconsiderable section, +was all of Bohemian Country the French and Confederates ever held, +and they did not hold this long. As for Karl Albert, he had his new +pleasant Dream of Sovereignty at Prag; Titular of Upper Austria, +and now of Bohmen as well; and enjoyed his Feast of the Barmecide, +and glorious repose in the captured Metropolis, after difficulty +overcome. December 7th, he was homaged (a good few of the Nobility attending, for which they smarted afterwards), with much processioning, blaring and TE-DEUM-ing: on the 19th he rolled off, home to Munchen; there to await still higher Romish-Imperial glories, which it is hoped are now at hand. + +A day or two after the Capture of Prag, Marechal de Belleisle, +partially cured of his rheumatisms, had hastened to appear in that +City; and for above four weeks he continued there, settling, +arranging, ordering all things, in the most consummate manner, with +that fine military head of his. About Christmas time, arrived +Marechal de Broglio, his unfortunate successor or substitute; +to whom he made everything over; and hastened off for Frankfurt, +where the final crisis of KAISERWAHL is now at hand, and the +topstone of his work is to be brought out with shouting. +Marechal de Broglio had an unquiet Winter of it in his new command; +and did not extend his quarters, but the contrary. + + +BROGLIO HAS A BIVOUAC OF PISEK; KHEVENHULLER LOOKS IN +UPON THE DONAU CONQUESTS. + +Grand-Duke Franz edged himself at last a little out of that Tabor- +Budweis region, and began looking Prag-ward again;--hung about, for +some time, with his Hungarian light-troops scouring the country; +but still keeping Prag respectfully to right, at seventy miles +distance. December 28th, to Broglio's alarm, he tried a night- +attack on Pisek, the chief French outpost, which lies France-ward +too, and might be vital. But he found the French (Broglio having +got warning) unexpectedly ready for him at Pisek,--drawn up in the +dark streets there, with torrents of musketry ready for his +Pandours and him;--and entirely failed of Pisek. Upon which he +turned eastward to the Budweis-Tabor fastnesses again; left Brother +Karl as Commander in those parts (who soon leaves Lobkowitz as +Substitute, Vienna in the idle winter-time being preferable);-- +left Brother Karl, and proceeded in person, south, towards the +Donau Countries, to see how Khevenhuller might be prospering, who +is in the field there, as we shall hear. + +Of Pisek and the night-skirmish at Pisek, glorious to France, think +all the Gazettes, I should have said nothing, were it not that +Marechal Broglio, finding what a narrow miss he had made, +established a night-watch there, or bivouac, for six weeks to come; +such as never was before or since: Cavalry and Infantry, in +quantity, bivouacking there, in the environs of Pisek, on the grim +Bohemian snow or snow-slush, in the depth of winter, nightly for +six weeks, without whisper of an enemy at any time; whereby the +Marechal did save Pisek (if Pisek was ever again in danger), but +froze horse and man to the edge of destruction or into it; so that +the "Bivouac of Pisek" became proverbial in French Messrooms, for a +generation coming. [<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> ii. 23, +&c.] And one hears in the mind a clangorous nasal eloquence from +antique gesticulative mustachio-figures, witty and indignant,--who +are now gone to silence again, and their fruitless bivouacs, and +frosty and fiery toils, tumbling pell-mell after them. This of +Pisek was but one of the many unwise hysterical things poor Broglio +did, in that difficult position; which, indeed, was too difficult +for any mortal, and for Broglio beyond the average. + +One other thing we note: Graf von Khevenhuller, solid Austrian man, +issued from Vienna, December 31st, last day of the Year, with an +Army of only some 15,000, but with an excellent military head of +his own, to look into those Conquests on the Donau. Which he finds, +as he expected, to be mere conquests of stubble, capable of being +swept home again at a very rapid rate. "Khevenhuller, here as +always, was consummate in his choice of posts," says Lloyd; +[General Lloyd, <italic> History of Seven-Years War, <end italic> +&c. (incidentally, somewhere).]--discovered where the ARTERIES of +the business lay, and how to handle the same. By choice of posts, +by silent energy and military skill, Khevenhuller very rapidly +sweeps Segur back; and shuts him up in Linz. There Segur, since the +first days of January, is strenuously barricading himself; +"wedging beams from house to house, across the streets;"--and hopes +to get provision, the Donau and the Bavarian streams being still +open behind him; and to hold out a little. It will be better if he +do,--especially for poor Karl Albert and his poor Bavaria! +Khevenhuller has also detached through the Tyrol a General von +Barenklau (BEAR'S-CLAW, much heard of henceforth in these Wars), +who has 12,000 regulars; and much Hussar-folk under bloody +Mentzel:-across the Tyrol, we say; to fall in upon Bavaria and +Munchen itself; which they are too like doing with effect. +Ought not Karl Albert to be upon the road again? What a thing, were +the Kaiser Elect taken prisoner by Pandours! + +In fine, within a short two weeks or so, Karl Albert quits Munchen, +as no safe place for him; comes across to Mannheim to his Cousin +Philip, old Kur-Pfalz, whom we used to know, now extremely old, but +who has marriages of Grand-daughters, and other gayeties, on hand; +which a Cousin and prospective Kaiser--especially if in peril of +his life--might as well come and witness. This is the excuse Karl +Albert makes to an indulgent Public; and would fain make to +himself, but cannot. Barenklau and Khevenhuller are too +indisputable. Nay this rumor of Friedrich's "Peace with Austria," +divulged Bargain of Klein-Schnellendorf, if this also (horrible to +think) were true--! Which Friedrich assures him it is not. +Karl Albert writes to Friedrich, and again writes; conjuring him, +for the love of God, To make some thrust, then, some inroad or +other, on those man-devouring Khevenhullers; and take them from +his, Karl Albert's, throat and his poor Country's. Which Friedrich, +on his own score, is already purposing to do. + + + +Chapter VIII. + +FRIEDRICH STARTS FOR MORAVIA, ON A NEW SCHEME HE HAS. + +The Austrian Court had not kept Friedrich's secret of Klein- +Schnellendorf, hardly even for a day. It was whispered to the +Dowager Empress, or Empresses; who whispered it, or wrote it, to +some other high party; by whom again as usual:--in fact, the +Austrian Court, having once got their Neipperg safe to hand, took +no pains to keep the secret; but had probably an interest rather in +letting it filter out, to set Friedrich and his Allies at variance. +At all events, in the space of a few weeks, as we have seen, the +rumor of a Treaty between Austria and Friedrich was everywhere +rife; Friedrich, as he had engaged, everywhere denying it, and +indeed clearly perceiving that there was like to be no ground for +acknowledging it. The Austrian Court, instead of "completing the +Treaty before Newyear's-day," had broken the previous bargain; +evidently not meaning to complete; intent rather to wait upon their +Hungarian Insurrection, and the luck of War. + +There is now, therefore, a new turn in the game. And for this also +Friedrich has been getting the fit card ready; and is not slow to +play it. Some time ago, November 4th,--properly November 1st, +hardly three weeks since that of Klein-Schnellendorf,--finding the +secret already out ("whispered of at Breslau, 28th October," +casually testifies Hyndford), he had tightened his bands with +France; had, on November 4th, formally acceded to Karl Albert's +Treaty with France. [Accession agreed to, "Frankfurt, Nov. 1st," +1741; ratified "Nov. 4th."] Glatz to be his: he will not hear of +wanting Glatz; nor of wanting elsewhere the proper Boundary for +Schlesien, "Neisse River both banks" (which Neipperg had agreed to, +in his late Sham-Bargain);--quite strict on these preliminaries. + +And furthermore, Kur-Sachsen being now a Partner in that French- +Bavarian Treaty,--and a highly active one (with 21,000 in the field +for him), who is "King of Moravia" withal, and has some +considerable northern Paring of Bohemia thrown in, by way of "Road +to Moravia,"--Friedrich made, at the same time, special Treaty with +Kur-Sachsen, on the points specially mutual to them; on the +Boundary point, first of all. Which latter treaty is dated also +November 1st, and was "ratified November 8th." + +Treaty otherwise not worth reading; except perhaps as it shows us +Friedrich putting, in his brief direct way, Kur-Sachsen at once +into Austria's place, in regard to Ober-Schlesien. "Boundary +between your Polish Majesty and me to be the River Neisse PLUS a +full German mile;"--which (to Belleisle's surprise) the Polish +Majesty is willing to accept; and consents, farther, Friedrich +being of succinct turn, That Commissioners go directly and put down +the boundary-stones, and so an end. "Let the Silesian matter stand +where it stood," thinks Friedrich: "since Austria will not, will +you? Put down the boundary-pillars, then!"--an interesting little +glance into Friedrich's inner man. And a Prussian Boundary +Commissioner, our friend Nussler the man, did duly appear;--whom +perhaps we shall meet,--though no Saxon one quite did. [Busching, +<italic> Beitrage, <end italic> i. 339 (? NUSSLER).] It is this +boundary clause, it is Friedrich's little decision, "Put down the +pillars, then," that alone can now interest any mortal in this +Saxon Bargain; the clause itself, and the bargain itself, having +quite broken down on the Saxon side, and proved imaginary as a +covenant made in dreams. Could not be helped, in the sequel!-- + +Meanwhile, the preliminary diplomacies being done in this manner, +Friedrich had ordered certain of his own Forces to get in motion a +little; ordered Leopold, who has had endless nicety of management, +since the French and Saxons came into those Bohemian Circles of +his, to go upon Glatz; to lay fast hold of Glatz, for one thing. +And farther eastward, Schwerin, by order, has lately gone across +the Mountains; seized Troppau, Friedenthal; nay Olmutz itself, the +Capital of Mahren,--in one day (December 27th), garrison of Olmutz +being too weak to resist, and the works in disrepair. "In Heaven's +name, what are your intentions, then?" asked the Austrians there. +"Peaceable in the extreme," answered Schwerin, "if only yours are. +And if they are NOT--!" There sits Schwerin ever since, busy +strengthening himself, and maintains the best discipline; +waiting farther orders. + +"The Austrians will not complete their bargain of Klein- +Schnellendorf?" thinks this young King; "Very well; we will not +press them to completion. We will not ourselves complete, should +they now press. We will try another method, and that without loss +of time."--It was a pungent reflection with Friedrich that Karl +Albert had not pushed forward on Vienna, from Linz that time, but +had blindly turned off to the left, and thrown away his one chance. +"Cannot one still mend it; cannot one still do something of the +like?" thinks Friedrich now: "Schwerin in Olmutz; Prussian Troops +cantoned in the Highlands of Silesia, or over in Bohemia itself, +near the scene of action; the Saxons eastward as far as +Teutschbrod, still nearer; the French triumphant at Prag, and +reinforcement on the road for them: a combined movement on Vienna, +done instantly and with an impetus!" That is the thing Friedrich is +now bent upon; nor will he, like Karl Albert, be apt to neglect the +hour of tide, which is so inexorable in such operations. + +At Berlin, accordingly, he has been hurrying on his work, +inspection, preparation of many kinds,--Marriage of his Brother +August Wilhelm, for one business; [6th January, 1742 (in Bielfeld, +ii. 55-69, exuberant account of the Ceremony, and of B.'s part in +it).]--and (Jannary 18th), after a stay of two months, is off +fieldward again, on this new project. To Dresden, first of all; +Saxony being an essential element; and Valori being appointed to +meet him there on the French side. It is January 20th, 1742, when +Friedrich arrives; due Opera festivities, "triple salute of all the +guns," fail not at Dresden; but his object was not these at all. +Polish Majesty is here, and certain of the warlike Bastard Brothers +home from Winter-quarters, Comte de Saxe for one; Valori also, +punctually as due; and little Graf von Bruhl, highest-dressed of +human creatures, who is factotum in this Court. + +"Your Polish Majesty, by treaty and title you are King of Moravia +withal: now is the time, now or never, to become so in fact! +Forward with your Saxons:" urges Friedrich: "The Austrians and +their Lobkowitz are weak in that Country: at Iglau, just over the +Moravian border, they have formed a Magazine; seize that, snatch it +from Lobkowitz: that gives us footing and basis there. Forward with +your Saxons; Valori gives us so-many French; I myself will join +with 20,000: swift, steady, all at once; we can seize Moravia, who +knows if not Vienna itself, and for certain drive a stroke right +home into the very bowels of the Enemy!" That is Friedrich's theme +from the first hour of his arrival, and during all the four-and- +twenty that he stayed. + +In one hour, Polish Majesty, who is fonder of tobacco and pastimes +than of business, declared himself convinced;--and declared also +that the time of Opera was come; whither the two Majesties had to +proceed together, and suspend business for a while. Polish Majesty +himself was very easily satisfied; but with the others, as Valori +reports it, the argument was various, long and difficult. +"Winter time; so dangerous, so precarious," answer Bruhl and Comte +de Saxe: There is this danger, this uncertainty, and then that +other;--which the King and Valori, with all their eloquence, +confute. "Impossible, for want of victual," answers Maurice at +last, driven into a corner: "Iglau, suppose we get it, will soon be +eaten; then where is our provision?"--"Provision?" answers Valori: +"There is M. de Sechelles, Head of our Commissariat in Prag; such a +Commissary never was before." "And you consent, if I take that in +hand?" urges Friedrich upon them. They are obliged to consent, on +that proviso. Friedrich undertakes Sechelles: the Enterprise cannot +now be refused. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, ii. 170; Valori, i. +139; &c. &c.] "Alert, then; not a moment to be lost! Good-night; +AU REVOIR, my noble friends!"--and to-morrow many hours before +daybreak, Friedrich is off for Prag, leaving Dresden to awaken when +it can. + +At Prag he renews acquaintance with his old maladroit Strasburg +friend, Marechal de Broglio, not with increase of admiration, as +would seem; declines the demonstrations and civilities of Broglio, +business being urgent: finds M. de Sechelles to be in truth the +supreme of living Commissaries (ready, in words which Friedrich +calls golden, "to make the impossible possible"): "Only march, +then, noble Saxons: swift!"--and dashes off again, next morning, to +northeastward, through Leopold's Bohemian cantonments, Glatz-ward +by degrees, to be ready with his own share of the affair; no delay +in him, for one. January 24th, after Konigsgratz and other Prussian +posts,--January 24th, which is elsewhere so notable a day,--his +route goes northeast, to Glatz, a hundred miles away, among the +intricacies of the Giant Mountains, hither side of the Silesian +Highlands; wild route for winter season, if the young King feared +any route. From Berlin, hither and farther, he may have gone well- +nigh his seven hundred miles within the week; rushing on +continually (starts, at say four in the winter morning); +doing endless business, of the ordering sort, as he speeds along. + +Glatz, a southwestern mountainous Appendage to Silesia, abutting on +Moravia and Bohemia, is a small strong Country; upon which, ever +since the first Friedrich times, we have seen him fixed; claiming +it too, as expenses from the Austrians, since they will not +bargain. For he rises Sibyl-like: a year ago, you might have had +him with his 100,000 to boot, for the one Duchy of Glogau; +and now--! At Glatz or in these adjacent Bohemian parts, the Young +Dessauer has been on duty, busy enough, ever since the late Siege +of Neisse: Glatz Town the Young Dessauer soon got, when ordered; +Town, Population, Territory, all is his,--all but the high mountain +Fortress (centre of the Town of Glatzj, with its stiff-necked +Austrian Garrison shut up there, which he is wearing out by hunger. +We remember the little Note from Valori's waistcoat-pocket, "Don't +give him Glatz, if you can possibly help it!" In his latest +treaties with the French and their Allies, Friedrich has very +expressly bargained for the Country (will even pay money for it); +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> ii. 85.] and is +determined to have it, when the Austrians next take to bargaining. +Of Glatz Fortress, now getting hungered out by Leopold's Prussian +Detachment, I will say farther, though Friedrich heeds these +circumstances little at present, that it stands on a scarped rock, +girt by the grim intricate Hills; and that in the Arsenal, in dusty +fabulous condition, lies a certain Drum, which readers may have +heard of. Drum is not a fable, but an antique reality fallen +flaccid; made, by express bequest, as is mythically said, from the +skin of Zisca, above 300 years ago: altogether mythic that latter +clause. Drum, Fortress, Town, Villages and Territory, all shall be +Friedrich's, had hunger done its work. [Town already, after short +scuffle, 14th January, 1742; Fortress, by hunger (no firing nor +being fired on, in the interim), 25th April following,--when the +once 2,000 of garrison, worn to about 200, pale as shadows, marched +away to Brunn; "only ten of them able for duty on arriving." +(Orlich, i. 174.)] + +Friedrich, while at Glatz this time, gave a new Dress to the +Virgin, say all the Biographers; of which the story is this. +Holy Virgin stood in the main Convent of Glatz, in rather a +threadbare condition, when the Prussians first approached; +the Jesuits, and ardently Orthodox of both sexes, flagitating +Heaven and her with their prayers, that she would vouchsafe to keep +the Prussians out. In which case pious Madame Something, wife of +the Austrian Commandant, vowed her a new suit of clothes. +Holy Virgin did not vouchsafe; on the Contrary, here the Prussians +are, and Starvation with them. "Courage, nevertheless, my new +friends!" intimates Friedrich: "The Prussians are not bugaboos, as +you imagined: Holy Virgin shall have a new coat, all the same!" and +was at the expense of the bit of broadcloth with trimmings. He was +in the way of making such investments, in his light sceptical +humor; and found them answer to him. At Glatz, and through those +Bohemian and Silesian Cantonments, he sets his people in motion for +the Moravian Expedition; rapidly stirs up the due Prussian +detachments from their Christmas rest among the Mountains; and has +work enough in these regions, now here now there. Schwerin is +already in Olmutz, for a month past; and towards him, or his +neighborhood, the march is to be. + +January 26th, Friedrich, now with considerable retinue about him, +gets from Glatz to Landskron, some fifty miles Olmutz-ward; such a +march as General Stille never saw,--"through the ice and through +the snow, which covered that dreadful Chain of Mountains between +Bohmen and Mahren: we did not arrive till very late; many of our +carriages broken down, and others overturned more than once." +[Stille (Anonymous, Friedrich's Old-Tutor Stille), <italic> +Campagnes du Roi de Prusse <end italic> (English Translation, 12mo, +London, 1763), p. 5. An intelligent, desirable little Volume,--many +misprints in the English form of it.] At Landskron next day, +Friedrich, as appointed, met the Chevalier de Saxe (CHEVALIER, +by no means Comte, but a younger Bastard, General of the Saxon +Horse); and endeavored to concert everything: Prussian rendezvous +to be at Wischau, on the 5th next; thence straightway to meet the +Saxons at Trebitsch (convenient for that Iglau),--if only the +Saxons will keep bargain. + +January 28th, past midnight, after another sore march, Friedrich +arrived at Olmutz; a pretty Town,--with an excellent old Bishop, +"a Graf von Lichtenstein, a little gouty man about fifty-two years +of age, with a countenance open and full of candor; [Stille, p. 8.] +in whose fine Palace, most courteously welcomed, the King lodged +till near the day of rendezvousing. We will leave him there, and +look westward a little; before going farther into the Moravian +Expedition. Friedrich himself is evidently much bent on this +Expedition; has set his heart on paying the Austrians for their +trickery at Klein-Schnellendorf, in this handsome way, and still +picking up the chance against them which Karl Albert squandered. +If only the French and Saxons would go well abreast with Friedrich, +and thrust home! But will they? Here is a surprising bit of news; +not of good omen, when it reaches one at Olmutz! + +"LINZ, 24th JANUARY, 1742 [day otherwise remarkable]. After the +much barricading, and considerable defiance and bravadoing, by +Comte de Segur and his 10,000, he has lost this City in a +scandalous manner [not quite scandalous, but reckoned so by outside +observers]; and Linz City is not now Segur's, but Khevenhuller's. +To Khevenhuller's first summons M. de Segur had answered, 'I will +hang on the highest gallows the next man that comes to propose such +a thing!'--and within a week [Khevenhuller having seized the Donau +River to rear of Linz, and blasted off the Bavarian party there], +M. de Segur did himself propose it ('Free withdrawal: Not serve +against you for a year'); and is this day beginning to march out of +Linz." [<italic> Campagnes des Trois Marechaux, <end italic> iii. +280, &c.; Adelung, iii. A, p. 12, and p. 15 (a Paris street-song on +it).] Here is an example of defending Key-Positions! If Segur's be +the pattern followed, those Conquests on the Donau are like to go a +fine road!-- + +There came to Friedrich, in all privacy, during his stay in Olmutz +at this Bishop's, a Diplomatic emissary from Vienna, one Pfitzner; +charged with apologies, with important offers probably;--important; +but not important enough. Friedrich blames himself for being too +abrupt on the man; might perhaps have learned something from him by +softer treatment. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> ii. +109.] After three days, Pfitzner had to go his ways again, having +accomplished nothing of change upon Friedrich. + + + +Chapter IX. + +WILHELMINA GOES TO SEE THE GAYETIES AT FRANKFURT. + +On the day when Friedrich, overhung by the grim winter Mountains, +was approaching Glatz, same day when Segur was evacuating Linz on +those sad terms, that is, on the 24th day of January, 1742,--two +Gentlemen were galloping their best in the Frankfurt-Mannheim +regions; bearing what they reckoned glad tidings towards Mannheim +and Karl Albert; who is there "on a visit" (for good reasons), +after his triumphs at Prag and elsewhere. The hindmost of the two +Gentlemen is an Official of rank (little conscious that he is +preceded by a rival in message-bearing); Official Gentleman, +despatched by the Diet of Frankfurt to inform Karl Albert, That he +now is actually Kaiser of the Holy Romish Empire; votes, by aid of +Heaven and Belleisle, having all fallen in his favor. Gallop, +therefore, my Official Gentleman:--alas, another Gentleman, +Non-official, knowing how it would turn, already sat booted and +saddled, a good space beyond the walls of Frankfurt, waiting till +the cannon should fire; at the first burst of cannon, he (cunning +dog) gives his horse the spur; and is miles ahead of the toiling +Official Gentleman, all the way. [Adelung, iii. A, 52.] + +In the dreary mass of long-winded ceremonial nothingnesses, and +intricate Belleisle cobwebberies, we seize this one poor speck of +human foolery in the native state, as almost the memorablest in +that stupendous business. Stupendous indeed; with which all Germany +has been in travail these sixteen months, on such terms! And in +verity has got the thing called "German Kaiser" constituted, better +or worse. Heavens, was a Nation ever so bespun by gossamer; +enchanted into paralysis, by mountains of extinct tradition, and +the want of power to annihilate rubbish! There are glittering +threads of the finest Belleisle diplomacy, which seem to go beyond +the Dog-star, and to be radiant, and irradiative, like paths of the +gods: and they are, seem what they might, poor threads of idle +gossamer, sunk already to dusty cobweb, unpleasant to poor human +nature; poor human nature concerned only to get them well swept +into the fire. The quantities of which sad litter, in this +Universe, are very great!-- + +Karl Albert, now at the top-gallant of his hopes: homaged Archduke +of Upper Austria, homaged King of Bohemia, declared Kaiser of the +German Nation,--is the highest-titled mortal going: and, poor soul, +it is tragical, once more, to think what the reality of it was for +him. Ejection from house and home; into difficulty, poverty, +despair; life in furnished lodgings, which he could not pay;--and +at last heart-break, no refuge for him but in the grave. All which +is mercifully hidden at present; so that he seems to himself a man +at the top-gallant of his wishes; and lives pleasantly, among his +friends, with a halo round his head to his own foolish sense +and theirs. + +"Karl Albert, Kurfurst of Baiern [lazy readers ought to be +reminded], whose achievements will concern us to an unpleasant +extent, for some years, is now a lean man of forty-five; lean, +erect, and of middle stature; a Prince of distinguished look, they +say; of elegant manners, and of fair extent of accomplishment, as +Princes go. His experiences in this world, and sudden ups and +downs, have been and will be many. Note a few particulars of them; +the minimum of what are indispensable here. + +"English readers know a Maximilian Kurfurst of Baiern, who took +into French courses in the great Spanish-Succession War; the Anti- +Marlborough Maximilian, who was quite ruined out by the Battle of +Blenheim; put under Ban of the Empire, and reduced to depend on +Louis XIV. for a living,--till times mended with him again; +till, after the Peace of Utrecht, he got reinstated in his +Territories; and lived a dozen years more, in some comparative +comfort, though much sunk in debt. Well, our Karl Albert is the son +of that Anti-Marlborough Kurfurst Maximilian; eldest surviving son; +a daughter of the great Sobieski of Poland was his mother. Nay, he +is great-grandson of another still more distinguished Maximilian, +him of the Thirty-Years War,--(who took the Jesuits to his very +heart, and let loose Ate on his poor Country for the sake of them, +in a determined manner; and was the First of all the Bavarian +KURFURSTS, mere Dukes till then; having got for himself the poor +Winter-King's Electorship, or split it into two as ultimately +settled, out of that bad Business),--great-grandson, we say, of +that forcible questionable First Kurfurst Max; and descends from +Kaiser Ludwig, 'Ludwig the BAIER,' if that is much advantage +to him. + +"In his young time he had a hard upcoming; seven years old at the +Battle of Blenheim, and Papa living abroad under Louis XIV.'s +shelter, the poor Boy was taken charge of by the victorious +Austrian Kaisers, and brought up in remote Austrian Towns, as a +young 'Graf von Wittelsbach' (nothing but his family name left +him), mere Graf and private nobleman henceforth. However, fortune +took the turn we know, and he became Prince again; nothing the +worse for this Spartan part of his breeding. He made the Grand +Tour, Italy, France, perhaps more than once; saw, felt, and tasted; +served slightly, at a Siege of Belgrade (one of the many Sieges of +Belgrade);--wedded, in 1722, a Daughter of the late Kaiser +Joseph's, niece of the late Kaiser Karl's, cousin of Maria +Theresa's; making the due 'renunciations,' as was thought; and has +been Kurfurst himself for the last fourteen Years, ever since 1726, +when his Father died. A thrifty Kurfurst, they say, or at least has +occasionally tried to be so, conscious of the load of debts left on +him; fond of pomps withal, extremely polite, given to Devotion and +to BILLETS-DOUX; of gracious address, generous temper (if he had +the means), and great skill in speaking languages. Likes hunting a +little,--likes several things, we see!--has lived tolerably with +his Wife and children; tolerably with his Neighbors (though sour +upon the late Kaiser now and then); and is an ornament to Munchen, +and well liked by the population there. A lean, elegaut, middle- +sized gentleman; descended direct from Ludwig the ancient Kaiser; +from Maximilian the First Kurfurst, who walked by the light of +Father Lammerlein (LAMBKIN) and Compauy, thinking IT light from +Heaven; and lastly is son of Maximilian the Third Kurfurst, whom +learned English readers know as the Anti-Marlborough one, ruined +out by the Battle of Blenheim. + +"His most important transaction hitherto has been the marriage with +Kaiser Joseph's Daughter;--of which, in Pollnitz somewhere, there +is sublime account; forgettable, all except the date (Vienna, 5th +October, 1722), if by chance that should concern anybody. +Karl Albert (KURPRINZ, Electoral Prince or Heir-Apparent, at that +time) made free renunciation of all right to Austrian Inheritances, +in such terms as pleased Karl VI., the then Kaiser; the due +complete 'renunciations' of inheriting in Austria; and it was hoped +he would at once sign the Pragmatic Sanction, when published; +but he has steadily refused to do so; 'I renounced for my Wife,' +says Kurfurst Karl, 'and will never claim an inch of Austrian land +on her account; but my own right, derived from Kaiser Ferdinand of +blessed memory, who was Father of my Great-grandmother, I did not, +do not, never will renounce; and I appeal to HIS Pragmatic +Sanction, the much older and alone valid one, according to which, +it is not you, it is I that am the real and sole Heir of Austria.' + +"This be says, and has steadily said or meant: 'It is I that am to +be King of Bohemia; I that shall and will inherit all your +Austrias, Upper, Under, your Swabian Brisgau or Hither Austria, and +what of the Tyrol remained wanting to me. Your Archduchess will +have Hungary, the Styrian-Carinthian Territories; Florence, I +suppose, and the Italian ones. What is hers by right I will be one +of those that defend for her; what is not hers, but mine, I will +defend against her, to the best of my ability!' This was privately, +what it is now publicly, his argument; from which he never would +depart; refusing always to accept Kaiser Karl's new Pragmatic +Sanction; getting Saxony (who likewise had a Ferdinand great- +grandmother) to refuse,--till Polish Election compelled poor +Saxony, for a time. Karl Albert had likewise secretly, in past +years, got his abstruse old Cousin of the Pfalz (who mended the +Heidelberg Tun) to back him in a Treaty; nay, still better, still +more secretly, had got France itself to promise eventual hacking:-- +and, on the whole, lived generally on rather bad terms with the +late Kaiser Karl, his Wife's Uncle; any reconciliation they had +proving always of temporary nature. In the Rhenish War (1734), Karl +Albert, far from assisting the Kaiser, raised large forces of his +own; kept drilling them, in four or three camps, in an alarming +manner; and would not even send his Reich's Contingent (small body +of 3,000 he is by law bound to send), till he perceived the War was +just expiring. He was in angry controversy with the Kaiser, +claiming debts,--debts contracted in the last generation, and debts +going back to the Thirty-Years War, amounting to hundreds of +millions,--when the poor Kaiser died; refusing payment to the last, +nay claiming lands left HIM, he says, by Margaret Mouthpoke: +[Michaelis, ii. 260; Buchholz, ii. 9; Hormayr, <italic> Anemonen, +<end italic> ii. 182; &c.] 'Cannot pay your Serene Highness (having +no money); and would not, if I could!' Leaving Karl Albert to +protest to the uttermost;"--which, as we ourselves saw in Vienna, +he at once honorably did. + +Karl Albert's subsequent history is known to readers; except the +following small circumstance, which occurred in his late transit, +flight, or whatever we may call it, to Mannheim, and is pleasantly +made notable to us by Wilhelmina. "His Highness on the way from +Munchen," intimates our Princess, "passed through Baireuth in a +very bad post-chaise." This, as we elsewhere pick out, was on +January 16th; Karl Albert in post-haste for the marriage-ceremony, +which takes place at Mannheim to-morrow. [Adelung, iii. A, 51.] +"My Margraf, accidentally hearing, galloped after him, came up with +him about fifteen miles away: they embraced, talked half an hour; +very content, both." [Wilhelmina, ii. 334.] + +And eight days afterwards, 24th January, 1742, busy Belleisle (how +busy for this year past, since we saw him in the OEil-de-Boeuf!) +gets him elected Kaiser;--and Segur, in the self-same hours, is +packing out of Linz; and one's Donau "Conquests," not to say one's +Munchen, one's Baiern itself, are in a fine way! The marriage- +ceremony, witnessed on the 17th, was one of the sublimest for +Kur-Pfalz and kindred; and it too had secretly a touch of tragedy +in it for the Poor Karl Albert. A double marriage: Two young +Princesses, Grand-daughters, priceless Heiresses, to old Kur-Pfalz; +married, one of them to Duke Clement of Baiern, Karl Albert's +nephew, which is well enough: but married, the other and elder of +them, to Theodor of Deux-Ponts, who will one day--could we pierce +the merciful veil--be Kurfurst of Baiern, and succeed our own +childless Son! [Michaelis, ii. 265.] + +"Kaiser Karl VII.," such the style he took, is to be crowned +February 12th; makes sublime Public Entry into Frankfurt, with that +view, January 31st;--both ceremonies splendid to a wonder, in spite +of finance considerations. Which circumstance should little concern +us, were it not that Wilhelmina, hearing the great news (though in +a dim ill-dated state), decided to be there and see; did go;--and +has recorded her experiences there, in a shrill human manner. +Wishful to see our fellow-creatures (especially if bound to look at +them), even when they are fallen phantasmal, and to make persons of +them again, we will give this Piece; sorry that it is the last we +have of that fine hand. How welcome, in the murky puddle of +Dryasdust, is any glimpse by a lively glib Wilhelmina, which we +can discern to be human! Hear what Wilhelmina says (in a very +condensed form):-- + + +WILHELMINA AT THE CORONATION. + +Wilhelmina, in the end of January, 1742,--Karl Albert having shot +past, one day lately, in a bad post-chaise, and kindled the thought in her,--resolved to go and see him crowned at Frankfurt, by way of pleasure-excursion. We will, struggling to be briefer, speak in her person; and indicate withal where the very words are hers, and where ours. + +The Marwitz, elder Marwitz, her poor father being wounded at +Mollwitz, [<italic> Militair-Lexikon, <end italic> iii. 23; and +<italic> Preussische Adels-Lexikon, <end italic> iii. 365.] had +gone to Berlin to nurse him; but she returned just now,--not much +to my joy; I being, with some cause, jealous of that foolish minx. +The Duchess Dowager of Wurtemberg also came, sorrow on her; +a foolish talking woman, always cutting jokes, making eyes, +giggling and coquetting; "HAS some wit and manner, but wearies you +at last: her charms, now on the decline, were never so considerable +as rumor said; in the long-run she bores you with her French +gayeties and sprightliness: her character for gallantry is too +notorious. She quite corrupted Marwitz, in this and a subsequent +visit; turned the poor girl's head into a French whirligig, and +undermined any little moral principle she had. She was on the road +to Berlin,"--of which anon, for it is not quite nothing to us;-- +"but she was in no hurry, and would right willingly have gone with +us." And it required all our female diplomacy to get her under way +again, and fairly out of our course. January 28th, SHE off to +Berlin; WE, same day, to Frankfurt-on-Mayn. [Wilhelmina, ii. 334; +see pp. 335, 338, 347, &c. for the other salient points +that follow.] + +Coronation was to have been (or we Country-folk thought it was), +January 31st: Let us be there INCOGNITO, the night before; see it, +and return the day after. That was our plan. Bad roads, waters all +out; we had to go night and day;--reached the gates of Frankfurt, +30th January late. Berghover, our Legationsrath there, says we are +known everywhere; Coronation is not to be till February 12th! I was +fatigued to death, a bad cold on me, too: we turned back to the +last Village; stayed there overnight. Back again to Berghover, in +secret (A LA SOURDINE), next night; will see the Public Entry of +Karl Albert, which is to be to-morrow (not quite, my Princess; +January 31st for certain, [Adelung, iii. A, 63; &c. &c.] did one +the least care). "It was a very grand thing indeed (DES PLUS +SUPERBES); but I will not stop describing it. Masked ball that +night; where I had much amusement, tormenting the masks; not being +known to anybody. We next day retired to a small private House, +which Berghover had got for us, out of Town, for fear of being +discovered; and lodged there, waiting February 12th, +under difficulties." + +The weather was bitterly cold; we had brought no clothes; my dames +and I nothing earthly but a black ANDRIENNE each (whatever that may +be), to spare bulk of luggage: strictest incognito was +indispensable. The Marwitzes, for giggling, raillery, French airs, +and absolute impertinence, were intolerable, in that solitary +place. We return to Frankfurt again; have balls and theatres, at +least: "of these latter I missed none. One evening, my head-dress +got accidentally shoved awry, and exposed my face for a moment; +Prince George of Hessen-Cassel, who was looking that way, +recognized me; told the Prince of Orange of it;--they are in our +box, next minute!" + +Prince George of Hessen-Cassel, did readers ever hear of him +before? Transiently perhaps, in Friedrich's LETTERS TO HIS FATHER; +but have forgotten him again; can know him only as the outline of a +shadow. A fat solid military man of fifty; junior Brother of that +solid WILHELM, Vice-regent and virtual "Landgraf of Hessen"--(VICE +an elder and eldest Brother, FRIEDRICH, the now Majesty of Sweden, +who is actual Hereditary Landgraf, but being old, childless, idle, +takes no hold of it, and quite leaves it to Wilhelm),--of whom +English readers may have heard, and will hear. For it is Wilhelm +that hires us those "subsidized 6,000," who go blaring about on +English pay (Prince George merely Commandant of them); and Wilhelm, +furthermore, has wedded his Heir-Apparent to an English Princess +lately; [Princess Mary (age only about seventeen), 28th June, 1740; +Prince's name was Friedrich (became Catholic, 1749; WIFE made +family-manager in Consequence, &c. &c.).] which also (as the poor +young fellow became Papist by and by) costs certain English people, +among others, a good deal of trouble. Uncle George, we say, is +merely Commandant of those blaring 6,000; has had his own real +soldierings before this; his own labors, contradictions, in his +time; but has borne all patiently, and grown fat upon it, not +quarrelling with his burdens or his nourishments. Perhaps we may +transiently meet him again. + +As to the Prince of Orange, him we have seen more than once in +times past: a young fellow in comparison, sprightly, reckoned +clever, but somewhat humpbacked; married an English Princess, years +ago ("Papa, if he were as ugly as a baboon!")--which fine Princess, +we find, has stopt short at Cassel, too fatigued on the present +occasion. "His ESPRIT," continues Wilhelmina, "and his +conversation, delighted me. His Wife, he said, was at Cassel; +he would persuade her to come and make my acquaintance;"--could +not; too far, in this cold season. "These two Serene Highnesses +would needs take me home in their carriage; they asked the Margraf +to let them stay supper: from that hour they were never out of our +house. Next morning, by means of them, the secret had got abroad. +Kur-Koln [lanky hook-nosed gentleman, richest Pluralist in the +Church] had set spies on us; next evening he came up to me, and +said, 'Madam, I know your Highness; you must dance a measure with +me!' That comes of one's head-gear getting awry! We had nothing for +it but to give up the incognito, and take our fate!" + +This dancing Elector of Koln, a man still only entering his +forties, is the new Emperor's Brother: [Clement August (Hubner, +t. 134).] do readers wonder to see him dance, being an Archbishop? +The fact is certain,--let the Three Kings and the Eleven Thousand +Virgins say to it what they will. "He talked a long time with me; +presented to me the Princess Clemence his Niece [that is to say, +Wife of his Nephew ClemENT; one of the Two whom his now Imperial +Majesty saw married the other day], [Michaelis, ii. 256, 123; +Hubner, tt. 141, 134.] and then the Princess"--in fact, presented +all the three Sulzbach Princesses (for there is a youngest, still +to wed),--"and then Prince Theodor [happy Husband of the eldest], +and Prince Clement [ditto of the younger];" and was very polite +indeed. How keep our incognito, with all these people heaping +civilities upon us? Let us send to Baireuth for clothes, equipages; +and retire to our country concealment till they arrive. + +"Just as we were about setting off thither, I waiting till the +Margraf were ready, the Xargraf entered, and a Lady with him; +who, he informed me, was Madame de Belleisle, the French +Ambassador's Wife:"--Wife of the great Belleisle, the soul of all +these high congregatings, consultations, coronations, who is not +Kaiser but maker of Kaisers: what is to be done!--"I had carefully +avoided her; reckoning she would have pretensions I should not be +in the humor to grant. I took my resolution at the moment [being a +swift decisive creature]; and received her like any other Lady that +might have come to me. Her visit was not long. The conversation +turned altogether upon praises of the King [my Brother]. I found +Madame de Belleisle very different from the notion I had formed of +her. You could see she had moved in high company (SENTAIT SON +MONDE); but her air appeared to me that of a waiting-maid +(SOUBRETTE), and her manners insignificant." Let Madame take that. + +"Monseigneur himself," when our equipages had come, "waited on me +several times,"--Monseigueur the grand Marechal de Belleisle, among +the other Principalities and Lordships: but of this lean man in +black (who has done such famous things, and will have to do the +Retreat of Prag within year and day), there is not a word farther +said. Old Seckendorf too is here; "Reich's-Governor of +Philipsburg;" very ill with Austria, no wonder; and striving to be +well with the new Kaiser. Doubtless old Seckendorf made his visit +too (being of Baireuth kin withal), and snuffled his respects: +much unworthy of mention; not lovely to Wilhelmina. Prince of +Orange, hunchbacked, but sprightly and much the Prince, bore me +faithful company all the Coronation time; nor was George of Hessen- +Cassel wanting, good fat man. + +Of the Coronation itself, though it was truly grand, and even of an +Oriental splendor,[<italic> Anemonen, <end italic> ubi supra.] +I will say nothing. The poor Kaiser could not enjoy it much. He was +dying of gout and gravel, and could scarcely stand on his feet. +Poor gentleman; and the French are driven dismally out of Linz; +and the Austrians are spreading like a lava-flood or general +conflagration over Baiern--Demon Mentzel, whom they call Colonel +Mentzel, he (if we knew it) is in Munchen itself, just as we are +getting crowned here! And unless King Friedrich, who is falling +into Mahren, in the flank of them, call back this Infernal Chase a +little, what hope is there in those parts!--The poor Kaiser, +oftenest in his bed, is courting all manner of German Princes,-- +consulting with Seckendorfs, with cunning old stagers. He has +managed to lead my Margraf into a foolish bargain, about raising +men for him. Which bargain I, on fairly getting sight of it, +persuade my Margraf to back out of; and, in the end, he does so. +Meanwhile, it detains us some time longer in Frankfurt, which is +still full of Principalities, busy with visitings and ceremonials. + +Among other things, by way of forwarding that Bargain I was so +averse to, our Official People had settled that I could not well go +without having seen the Empress, after her crowning. Foolish +people; entangling me in new intricacies! For if she is a Kaiser's +Daughter and Kaiser's Spouse, am not I somewhat too? "How a King's +Daughter and an Empress are to meet, was probably never settled by +example: what number of steps down stairs does she come? +The arm-chair (FAUTEUIL), is that to be denied me?" And numerous +other questions. The official people, Baireuthers especially, are +in despair; and, in fact, there were scenes. But I held firm; +and the Berlin ambassadors tempering, a medium was struck: steps of +stairs, to the due number, are conceded me; arm-chair no, but the +Empress to "take a very small arm-chair," and I to have a big +common chair (GRAND DOSSIER). So we meet, and I have sight of this +Princess, next day. + +In her place, I confess I would have invented all manner of +etiquettes, or any sort of contrivance, to save myself from showing +face. "Heavens! The Empress is below middle size, and so corpulent +(PUISSANTE), she looks like a ball; she is ugly to the utmost +(LAIDE AU POSSIBLE), and without air or grace." Kaiser Joseph's +youngest Daughter,--the gods, it seems, have not been kind to her +in figure or feature! And her mind corresponds to her appearance: +she is bigoted to excess; passes her nights and days in her +oratory, with mere rosaries and gaunt superstitious platitudes of +that nature; a dark fat dreary little Empress. "She was all in a +tremble in receiving me; and had so discountenanced an air, she +could n't speak a word. We took seats. After a little silence, I +began the conversation, in French. She answered me in her Austrian +jargon, That she did not well understand that language, and begged +I would speak to her in German. Our conversation was not long. +Her Austrian dialect and my Lower-Saxon are so different that, till +you have practised, you are not mutually intelligible in them. +Accordingly we were not. A by-stander would have split with +laughing at the Babel we made of it; each catching only a word here +and there, and guessing the rest. This Princess was so tied to her +etiquette, she would have reckoned it a crime against the Reich to +speak to me in a foreign language; for she knew French well enough. + +"The Kaiser was to have been of this visit; but he had fallen so +ill, he was considered even in danger of his life. Poor Prince, +what a lot had he achieved for himself!" reflects Wilhelmina, as we +often do. He was soft, humane, affable; had the gift of captivating +hearts. Not without talent either; but then of an ambition far +disproportionate to it. "Would have shone in the second rank, but +in the first went sorrowfully eclipsed," as they say! He could not +be a great man, nor had about him any one that could; and he needed +now to be so. This is the service a Belleisle can do; inflating a +poor man to Kaisership, beyond his natural size! Crowned Kaiser, +and Mentzel just entering his Munchen the while; a Kaiser bedrid, +stranded; lying ill there of gout and gravel, with the Demon +Mentzels eating him:--well may his poor little bullet of a +Kaiserinn pray for him night and day, if that will avail!-- + + +THE DUCHESS DOWAGER OF WURTEMBERG, RETURNING FROM BERLIN +FAVORS US WITH ANOTHER VISIT. + +I am sorry to say this is almost the last scene we shall get out of +Wilhelmina. She returns to Baireuth; breaks there conclusively that +unwise Frankfurt bargain; receives by and by (after several months, +when much has come and gone in the world) the returning Duchess of +Wurtemberg, effulgent Dowager "spoken of only as a Lais:" and has +other adventures, alluded to up and down, but not put in record by +herself any farther.--Sorrowfully let us hear Wilhelmina yet a +little, on this Lais Duchess, who will concern us somewhat. +Dowager, much too effulgent, of the late Karl Alexander, a Reichs- +Feldmarschall (or FOURTH-PART of one, if readers could remember) +and Duke of Wurtemberg,--whom we once dined with at Prag, in old +Friedrich-Wilhelm and Prince-Eugene times:-- + +"This Princess, very famous on the bad side, had been at Berlin to +see her three Boys settled there, whose education she [and the +STANDE of Wurtemberg, she being Regent] had committed to the King. +These Princes had been with us on their road thither, just before +their Mamma last time. The Eldest, age fourteen, had gone quite +agog (S'ETOIT AMOURACHE) about my little Girl, age only nine; +and had greatly diverted us by his little gallantries [mark that, +with an Alas!]. The Duchess, following somewhat at leisure, had +missed the King that time; who was gone for Mahren, January 18th. +... I found this Princess wearing pretty well. Her features are +beautiful, but her complexion is faded and very yellow. Her voice +is so high and screechy, it cuts your ears; she does not want for +wit, and expresses herself well. Her manners are engaging for those +whom she wishes to gain; and with men are very free. Her way of +thinking and acting offers a strange contrast of pride and +meanness. Her gallantries had brought her into such repute that I +had no pleasure in her visits." [Wilhelmina, ii. 335.] No pleasure; +though she often came; and her Eldest Prince, and my little +Girl-- Well, who knows! + +Besides her three Boys (one of whom, as Reigning Duke, will become +notorious enough to Wilhelmina and mankind), the Lais Duchess has +left at Berlin--at least, I guess she has now left him, in exchange +perhaps for some other--a certain very gallant, vagabond young +Marquis d'Argens, "from Constantinople" last; originally from the +Provence countries; extremely dissolute creature, still young (whom +Papa has had to disinherit), but full of good-humor, of +gesticulative loyal talk, and frothy speculation of an Anti-Jesuit +turn (has written many frothy Books, too, in that strain, which are +now forgotten): who became a very great favorite with Friedrich, +and will be much mentioned in subsequent times. + +"In the end of July," continues Wilhelmina, "we went to Stouccard +[Stuttgard, capital of Wurtemberg, O beautiful glib tongue!], +whither the Duchess had invited us: but--" And there we are on +blank paper; our dear Wilhelmina has ceased speaking to us: +her MEMOIRS end; and oblivious silence wraps the remainder!-- + +Concerning this effulgent Dowager of Wurtemberg, and her late ways +at Berlin, here, from Bielfeld, is another snatch, which we will +excerpt, under the usual conditions: + +"BERLIN, FEBRUARY, 1742 [real date of all that is not fabulous in +Bielfeld, who chaotically dates it "6th December" of that Year]. +... A day or two after this [no matter WHAT] I went to the German +Play, the only spectacle which is yet fairly afoot in Berlin. +In passing in, I noticed the Duchess Dowager of Wurtemberg, who had +arrived, during my absence, with a numerous and brilliant suite, as +well to salute the King and the Queens [King off, on his Moravian +Business, before she came], and to unite herself more intimately +with our Court, as to see the Three Princes her Children settled in +their new place, where, by consent of the States of Wurtemberg, +they are to be educated henceforth. + +"As I had not yet had myself presented to the Duchess, I did not +presume to approach too near, and passed up into the Theatre. +But she noticed me in the side-scenes; asked who I was [such a +handsome fashionable fellow], and sent me order to come immediately +and pay my respects. To be sure, I did so; was most graciously +received; and, of course, called early next day at her Palace. +Her Grand-Chamberlain had appointed me the hour of noon. He now +introduced me accordingly: but what was my surprise to find the +Princess in bed; in a negligee all new from the laundress, and the +gallantest that art could imagine! On a table, ready to her hand, +at the DOSSIER or bed-bead, stood a little Basin silver-gilt, +filled with Holy Water: the rest was decorated with extremely +precious Relics, with a Crucifix, and a Rosary of rock-crystal. +Her dress, the cushions, quilt, all was of Marseilles stuff, in the +finest series of colors, garnished with superb lace. Her cap was of +Alencon lace, knotted witb a ribbon of green and gold. Figure to +yourself, in this gallant deshabille, a charming Princess, who has +all the wit, perfection of manner--and is still only thirty-seven, +with a beauty that was once so brilliant! Round the celestial bed +were courtiers, doctors, almoners, mostly in devotional postures; +the three young Princes; and a Dame d'Atours, who seemed to look +slightly ENNUYEE or bored." I had the honor to kiss her Serene +Highness's hand, and to talk a great many peppered insipidities +suitable to the occasion. + +Dinner followed, more properly supper, with lights kindled: +"Only I cannot dress, you know," her Highness had said; "I never +do, except for the Queen-Mother's parties;"--and rang for her +maids. So that you are led out to the Anteroom, and go grinning +about, till a new and still more charming deshabille be completed, +and her Most Serene Highness can receive you again: "Now Messieurs! +Pshaw, one is always stupid, no ESPRIT at all except by +candlelight!"--After which, such a dinner, unmatchable for +elegance, for exquisite gastronomy, for Attic-Paphian brilliancy +and charm! And indeed there followed hereupon, for weeks on weeks, +a series of such unmatchable little dinners; chief parts, under +that charming Presidency, being done by "Grand-Chamberlain Baron +de" Something-or-other, "by your humble servant Bielfeld, +M. Jordan, and a Marquis d'Argens, famous Provencal gentleman now +in the suite of her Highness:" [Bielfeld, ii. 74-78.]--feasts of +the Barmecide I much doubt, poor Bielfeld being in this Chapter +very fantastic, MISDATEful to a mad extent; and otherwise, except +as to general effect, worth little serious belief. + +We shall meet this Paphian Dowager again (Crucifix and Myrtle +joined): meet especially her D'Argens, and her Three little Princes +more or less;--wherefore, mark slightly (besides the D'Argens +as above):-- + +"1. The Eldest little Prince, Karl Eugen; made 'Reigning Duke' +within three years hence [Mamma falling into trouble with the +STANDE]: a man still gloomily famous in Germany [Poet Schiller's +Duke of Wurtemberg], of inarticulate, extremeIy arbitrary turn,-- +married Wilhelmina's Daughter by and by [with horrible usage of +her]; and otherwise gave Friedrich and the world cause to think +of him. + +"2. The Second little Prince, Friedrich Eugen, Prussian General of +some mark, who will incidentally turn up again, He was afterwards +Successor to the Dukedom [Karl Eugen dying childless]; and married +his Daughter to Paul of Russia, from whom descend the Autocrats +there to this day. + +"3. Youngest little Prince, Ludwig Eugen, a respectable Prussian +Officer, and later a French one: he is that 'Duc de Wirtemberg' who +corresponds with Voltaire [inscrutable to readers, in most of the +Editions]; and need not be mentioned farther." [See Michaelis, +iii. 449; Preuss, i. 476; &c. &c.] + +But enough of all this. It is time we were in Mahren, where the +Expedition must be blazing well ahead, if things have gone +as expected. + + + +Chapter X. + +FRIEDRICH DOES HIS MORAVIAN EXPEDITION +WHICH PROVES A MERE MORAVIAN FORAY. + + +While these Coronation splendors had been going on, Friedrich, in +the Moravian regions, was making experiences of a rather painful +kind; his Expedition prospering there far otherwise than he had +expected. This winter Expedition to Mahren was one of the first +Friedrich had ever undertaken on the Joint-stock Principle; and it +proved of a kind rather to disgust him with that method in affairs +of war. + +A deeply disappointing Expedition. The country hereabouts was in +bad posture of defence; nothing between us and Vienna itself, in a +manner. Rushing briskly forward, living on the country where +needful, on that Iglau Magazine, on one's own Sechelles resources; +rushing on, with the Saxons, with the French, emulous on the right +hand and the left, a Captain like Friedrich might have gone far; +Vienna itself--who knows!--not yet quite beyond the reach of him. +Here was a way to check Khevenhuller in his Bavarian Operations, +and whirl him back, double-quick, for another object nearer home!-- +But, alas, neither the Saxons nor the French would rush on, in the +least emulous. The Saxons dragged heavily arear; the French +Detachment (a poor 5,000 under Polastron, all that a captious +Broglio could be persuaded to grant) would not rush at all, but +paused on the very frontier of Moravia, Broglio so ordering, and +there hung supine, or indeed went home. + +Friedrich remonstrated, argued, turned back to encourage; but it +was in vain. The Saxon Bastard Princes "lived for days in any +Schloss they found comfortable;" complaining always that there was +no victual for their Troops; that the Prussians, always ahead, had +eaten the country. No end to haggling; and, except on Friedrich's +part, no hearty beginning to real business. "If you wish at all to +be 'King of Moravia,' what is this!" thinks Friedrich justly. +Broglio, too, was unmanageable,--piqued that Valori, not Broglio, +had started the thing;--showed himself captious, dark, hysterically +effervescent, now over-cautious, and again capable of rushing +blindly headlong. + +To Broglio the fact at Linz, which everybody saw to be momentous, +was overwhelming. Magnanimous Segur, and his Linz "all wedged with +beams," what a road have they gone! Said so valiantly they would +make defence; and did it, scarcely for four days: January 24th; +before this Expedition could begin! True, M. le Marechal, too +true:--and is that a reason for hanging back in this Mahren +business; or for pushing on in it, double-quick, with all one's +strength? "But our Conquests on the Donau," thinks Broglio, "what +will become of them,--and of us!" To Broglio, justly apprehensive +about his own posture at Prag and on the Donau, there never was +such a chance of at once raking back all Austrians homewards, +post-haste out of those countries. But Broglio could by no means +see it so,--headstrong, blusterous, over-cautious and hysterically +headlong old gentleman; whose conduct at Prag here brought +Strasburg vividly to Friedrich's memory. Upon which, as upon the +ghost of Broglio's Breeches, Valori had to hear "incessant +sarcasms" at this time. + +In a word, from February 5th, when Friedrich, according to bargain, +rendezvoused his Prussians at Wischau to begin this Expedition, +till April 5th, when he re-rendezvoused them (at the same Wischau, +as chanced) for the purpose of ending it and going home,-- +Friedrich, wrestling his utmost with Human Stupidity, "MIT DER +DUMMHEIT [as Schiller sonorously says], against which the very gods +are unvictorious," had probably two of the most provoking months of +his Life, or of this First Silesian War, which was fruitful in such +to him. For the common cause he accomplished nearly nothing by this +Moravian Expedition. But, to his own mind, it was rich in +experiences, as to the Joint-Stock Principle, as to the Partners he +now had. And it doubtless quickened his steps towards getting +personally out of this imbroglio of big French-German Wars,--home +to Berlin, with Peace and Silesia in his pocket,--which had all +along been the goal of his endeavors. As a feat of war it is by no +means worth detailing, in this place,--though succinct Stille, and +bulkier German Books give lucid account, should anybody chance to +be curious. [Stille, <italic> Campaigns of the King of Prussia, +<end italic> i. 1-55; <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. +548-611; <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> ii. 110-114; +Orlich, ii.; &c. &c.] Only under the other aspect, as Friedrich's +experience of Partnership, and especially of his now Partners, are +present readers concerned to have, in brief form, some intelligible +notion of it. + + +IGLAU IS GOT, BUT NOT THE MAGAZINE AT IGLAU. + +Friedrich was punctual at Wischau; Head-quarters there (midway +between Olmutz and Brunn), Prussians all assembled, 5th February, +1742. Wischau is some eighty miles EAST or inward of Iglau; the +French and Saxons are to meet us about Trebitsch, a couple of +marches from that Teutschbrod of theirs, and well within one march +of Iglau, on our route thither. The French and Saxons are at +Trebitsch, accordingly; but their minds and wills seem to be far +elsewhere. Rutowsky and the Chevalier de Saxe command the Saxons +(20,000 strong on paper, 16,000 in reality); Comte de Polastron the +French, who are 5,000, all Horse. Along with whom, professedly as +French Volunteer, has come the Comte de Saxe, capricious Maurice +(Marechal de Saxe that will be), who has always viewed this +Expedition with disfavor. Excellency Valori is with the French +Detachment, or rather poor Valori is everywhere; running about, +from quarter to quarter, sometimes to Prag itself; assiduous to +heal rents everywhere; clapping cement into manifold cracks, from +day to day. Through Valori we get some interesting glimpses into +the secret humors and manoeuvres of Comte Maurice. It is known +otherwise Comte Maurice was no friend to Belleisle, but looked for +his promotion from the opposite or Noailles party, in the French +Court: at present, as Valori perceives, he has got the ear of +Broglio, and put much sad stuff into the loud foolish mind of him. + +To these Saxon gentlemen, being Bastard-Royal and important to +conciliate, Friedrich has in a high-flown way assigned the Schloss +of Budischau for quarters, an excellent superbly magnificent +mansion in the neighborhood of Trebitsch, "nothing like it to be +seen except in theatres, on the Drop-scene of <italic> The +Enchanted Island;" <end italic> [Stille, <italic> Campaigns, <end +italic> p. 14.] where they make themselves so comfortable, says +Friedrich, there is no getting them roused to do anything for three +days to come. And yet the work is urgent, and plenty of it. +"Iglau, first of all," urges Friedrich, "where the Austrians, +10,000 or so, under Prince Lobkowitz, have posted themselves [right +flank of that long straggle of Winter Cantonments, which goes +leftwards to Budweis and farther], and made Magazines: possession +of Iglau is the foundation-stone of our affairs. And if we would +have Iglau WITH the Magazines and not without, surely there is not +a moment to be wasted!" In vain; the Saxon Bastard Princes feel +themselves very comfortable. It was Sunday the 11th of February, +when our junction with them was completed: and, instead of next +morning early, it is Wednesday afternoon before Prince Dietrich of +Anhalt-Dessau, with the Saxon and French party roused to join his +Prussians and him, can at last take the road for Iglau. +Prince Dietrich makes now the reverse of delay; marches all night, +"bivouacs in woods near Iglau," warming himself at stick-fires till +the day break; takes Iglau by merely marching into it and +scattering 2,000 Pandours, so soon as day has broken; but finds the +Magazines not there. Lobkowitz carted off what he could, then burnt +"Seventeen Barns yesterday;" and is himself off towards Budweis +Head-quarters and the Bohemian bogs again. This comes of lodging +Saxon royal gentlemen too well. + + +THE SAXONS THINK IGLAU ENOUGH; THE FRENCH GO HOME. + +Nay, Iglau taken, the affair grows worse than ever. Our Saxons now +declare that they understand their orders to be completed; +that their Court did not mean them to march farther, but only to +hold by Iglau, a solid footing in Moravia, which will suffice for +the present. Fancy Friedrich; fancy Valori, and the cracks he will +have to fill! Friedrich, in astonishment and indignation, sends a +messenger to Dresden: "Would the Polish Majesty BE 'King of +Moravia,' then, or not be?" Remonstrances at Budischau rise higher +and higher; Valori, to prevent total explosion, flies over once, in +the dead of the night, to deal with Rutowsky and Brothers. +Rutowsky himself seems partly persuadable, though dreadfully ill of +rheumatism. They rouse Comte Maurice; and Valori, by this Comte's +caprices, is driven out of patience. "He talked with a flippant +sophistry, almost with an insolence" says Valori; "nay, at last, he +made me a gesture in speaking,"--what gesture, thumb to nose, or +what, the shuddering imagination dare not guess! But Valori, +nettled to the quick, "repeated it," and otherwise gave him as good +as he brought. "He ended by a gesture which displeased me"--"and +went to bed." [Valori, i. 148, 149.] This is the night of February +18th; third night after Iglau was had, and the Magazines in it gone +to ashes. Which the Saxons think is conquest enough. + +Poor Polish Majesty, poor Karl Albert, above all, now "Kaiser Karl +VII.," with nothing but those French for breath to his nostrils! +With his fine French Army of the Oriflamme, Karl Albert should have +pushed along last Autumn; and not merely "read the Paper" which +Friedrich sent him to that effect, "and then laid it aside." +They will never have another chance, his French and he,--unless we +call this again a chance; which they are again squandering! +Linz went by capitulation; January 24th, the very day of one's +"Election" as they called it: and ever since that day of Linz, the +series of disasters has continued rapid and uniform in those parts. +Linz gone, the rest of the French posts did not even wait to +capitulate; but crackled all off, they and our Conquests on the +Donau, like a train of gunpowder, and left the ground bare. +And General von Barenklau (BEAR'S-CLAW), with the hideous fellow +called Mentzel, Colonel of Pandours, they have broken through into +Bavaria itself, from the Tyrol; climbing by Berchtesgaden and the +wild Salzburg Mountains, regardless of Winter, and of poor Bavarian +militia-folk;--and have taken Munchen, one's very Capital, one's +very House and Home!--Poor Karl Albert,--and, what is again +remarkable, it was the very day while he was getting "crowned" at +Frankfurt, "with Oriental pomp," that Mentzel was about entering +Munchen with his Pandours. [Coronation was February 12th; +Capitulation to Mentzel, "Munchen, February 13th," is in <italic> +Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> ii. 56-59.] And this poor Archduke +of the Austrian, King of Bohemia, Kaiser of the Holy Romish Reich +Teutsch by Nation, is becoming Titular merely, and owns next to +nothing in these extensive Sovereignties. Judge if there is not +call for despatch on all sides!--The Polish Majesty sent instant +rather angry order to his Saxons, "Forward, with you; what else! +We would be King in Mahren!" + +The Saxons then have to march forward; but we can fancy with what a +will. Rutowsky flings up his command on this Order (let us hope, +from rheumatism partly), and goes home; leaving the Chevalier de +Saxe to preside in room of him. As for Polastron, he produces Order +from Broglio, "Iglau got, return straightway;" must and will cross +over into Bohemia again; and does. Nay, the Comte de Saxe had, +privately in his pocket, a Commission to supersede Polastron, and +take command himself, should Polastron make difficulties about +turning back. Poor Polastron made no difficulties: Maurice and he +vanish accordingly from this Adventure, and only the unwilling +Saxons remain with Friedrich. Poor Polastron ("a poor weak +creature," says Friedrich, "fitter for his breviary than anything +else") fell sick, from the hardships of campaigning; and soon died, +in those Bohemian parts. Maurice is heard of, some weeks hence, +besieging Eger;--very handsomely capturing Eger: [19th April, 1742 +(<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end italic> ii. 78-65).]--on which +service Broglio had ordered him after his return. The former +Commandant of the Siege, not very progressive, had just died; and +Broglio, with reason (all the more for his late Moravian +procedures) was passionate to have done there. One of the first +auspicious exploits of Maurice, that of Eger; which paved the way +to his French fortunes, and more or less sublime glories, in this +War. Friedrich recognizes his ingenuities, impetuosities, and +superior talent in war; wrote high-flown Letters of praises, now +and then, in years coming; but, we may guess, would hardly wish to +meet Maurice in the way of joint-stock business again. + + +FRIEDRICH SUBMERGES THE MORAVIAN COUNTRIES;, +BUT CANNOT BRUNN, WHICH IS THE INDISPENSABLE POINT. + +February 19th, these sad Iglau matters once settled, Friedrich, +followed by the Saxons, plunges forward into Moravia; +spreads himself over the country, levying heavy contributions, with +strict discipline nevertheless; intent to get hold of Brunn and its +Spielberg, if he could. Brunn is the strong place of Moravia; has a +garrison of 6 or 7,000; still better, has the valiant Roth, whom we +knew in Neisse once, for Commandant: Brunn will not be had gratis. + +Schwerin, with a Detachment of 6,000 horse and foot, Posadowsky, +Ziethen, Schmettau Junior commanding under him, has dashed along +far in the van; towards Upper Austria, through the Town of Horn, +towards Vienna itself; levying, he also, heavy contributions,--with +a hand of iron, and not much of a glove on it, as we judge. +There is a grim enough Proclamation (in the name of a "frightfully +injured Kaiser," as well as Kaiser's Ally), still extant, bearing +Schwerin's signature, and the date "STEIN, 26th Feb. 1742." +[In <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 556.] Stein is on +the Donau, a mile or two from Krems, and twice as far from Mautern, +where the now Kaiser was in Autumn last. Forty and odd miles short +of Vienna: this proved the Pisgah of Schwerin in that direction, as +it had done of Karl Albert. Ziethen, with his Hussars coursed some +20 miles farther, on the Vienna Highway; and got the length of +Stockerau; a small Town, notable slightly, ever since, as the +Prussian NON-PLUS-ULTRA in that line. + +Meanwhile, Prince Lobkowitz is rallying; has quitted Budweis and +the Bohemian Bogs, for some check of these insolences. Lobkowitz, +rallying to himself what Vienna force there is, comes, now in good +strength, to Waidhofen (rearward of Horn, far rearward of Stein and +Stockerau), so that Ziethen and Schwerin have to draw homeward +again. Lobkowitz fortifies himself in Waidhofen; gathers Magazines +there, as if towards weightier enterprises. For indeed much is +rallying, in a dangerous manner; and Moravia is now far other than +when Friedrich planned this Expedition. And at Vienna, 25th +February last, there was held Secret Council, and (much to +Robinson's regret) a quite high Resolution come to,--which +Friedrich gets to know of, and does not forget again. + + +THE SAXONS HAVE NO CANNON FOR BRUNN, CANNOT AFFORD ANY; +THERE IS A HIGH RESOLUTION TAKEN AT VIENNA (February 25th): +FRIEDRICH QUITS THE MORAVIAN ENTERPRISE. + +Friedrich keeps his Head-quarter, all this while, closer and closer +upon Brunn. First, chiefly at a Town called Znaim, on the River +Taya; many-branched river, draining all those Northwestern parts; +which sends its widening waters down to Presburg,--latterly in +junction with those of the Morawa from North, which washes Olmutz, +drains the Northern and Eastern parts, and gives the Country its +name of "Moravia." Brunn lies northeast of Friedrich, while in +Znaim, some fifty miles; the Saxon head-quarter is at Kromau, +midway towards that City. After Znaim, he shifts inward, to +Selowitz, still in the same Taya Valley, but much nearer Brunn; +and there continues. [At Znaim, 19th February-9th March; +at Selowitz, 13th March-5th April (Rodenbeck, i. 65).] + +Striving hard for Brunn; striving hard, under difficulties, for so +many things distant and near; we may fancy him busy enough;--and +are surprised at the fractions of light Jordan Correspondence which +he still finds time for. Pretty bits of Letters, in prose and +doggerel, from and to those Moravian Villages; Jordan, "twice a +week," bearing the main weight; Friedrich, oftener than one could +hope, flinging some word of answer,--very intent on Berlin gossip, +we can notice. "Vattel is still here, your Majesty," +[<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xvii. 163, &c.] insinuates Jordan: +--young Vattel, afterwards of the DROIT DES GENS, whom his Majesty +might have kept, but did not.--What more of your D'Argens, then; +anything in your D'Argens? Friedrich will ask. "For certain, +D'Argens is full of ESPRIT," answers Jordan, in a dexterous way; +and How the Effulgent of Wurtemberg" has quarrelled outright with +her D'Argens, and will not eat off silver (D'ARGENT), lest she have +to name him by accident!"--with other gossip, in a fine brief airy +form, at which Jordan excels. Cheering the rare leisure hour, in +one's Tent at Selowitz, Pohrlitz, Irrlitz, far away!--There are +also orders about CICERO and Books. Of Business for most part, or +of private feelings, nothing: Berlin gossip, and Books for one's +reading, are the staple. But to return. + +Out from Head-quarters, diligent operations shoot forth, far +enough, along those Taya-Morawa Valleys, where Hungarian +"Insurgents" are beginning to be dangerous. South of Brunn, all +round Brunn, are diligent operations, frequent skirmishings, +constant strict levyings of contributions. The saving operation, +Friedrich well sees, would be to get hold of Brunn: but, unluckily, +How? Vigilant Roth scorns all summoning; sallies continually in a +dangerous manner; and at length, when closer pressed, burns all the +Villages round him: "we counted as many as sixteen villages laid in +ashes," says Friedrich. Here is small comfort of outlook. + +And then the Saxons, at Kromau or wherever they may be: no end of +trouble and vexation with these Saxons. Their quarters are not +fairly allotted, they say; we make exchange of quarters, without +improvement noticeable. "One fine day, on some slight alarm, they +came rushing over to us, all in panic; ruined, merely by Pandour +noises, had not we marched them back, and reinstated them." +Friedrich sends to Silesia for reinforcemmts of his own, which he +can depend upon. Sends to Silesia, to Glatz and the Young Dessauer; +--nay to Brandenburg and the Old Dessauer? ultimately. Finding Roth +would not yield, he has sent to Dresden for Siege-Artillery: +Polish Majesty there, titular "King of Moravia," answers that he +cannot meet the expense of carriage. "He had just purchased a green +diamond which would have carried them thither and back again:" +What can be done with such a man?--And by this time, early in +March, Hungarian "MORIAMUR PRO REGE" begins to show itself. +Clouds of Hungarian Insurgents, of the Tolpatch, Pandour sort, +mount over the Carpathians on us, all round the east, from south to +north; and threaten to penetrate Silesia itself. So that we have to +sweep laboriously the Morawa-Taya Valleys; and undertake first one +and then another outroad, or sharp swift sally, against those +troublesome barbarians. + +And more serious still, Prince Karl and the regular Army, quickened +by such Khevenhuller-Barenklau successes in the Donau Countries, +are beginning to stir. Prince Karl, returning from Vienna and its +consultations, took command, 4th March; [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 557.] with whom has come old Graf von +Konigseck, an experienced head to advise with; Prince Karl is in +motion, skirting us southward, about Waidhofen, where Lobkowitz lay +waiting him with Magazines ready. Rumor says, the force in those +parts is already 40,000, with more daily coming in. Friedrich has +of his own, apart from the Saxons, some 24,000. Prince Karl, with +so many heavy troops, and with unlimited supply of light, is very +capable of doing mischief: he has orders (and Friedrich now knows +of it) To go in upon us;--such their decision in Secret Council at +Vienna, on the 25th of February last, That he must go and fight +us:--"Better we met him with fewer thrums on our hands!" thinks +Friedrich; and beckons the Old Dessauer out of Brandenburg withal. +"Swift, your Serenity; hitherward with 20,000!" Which the Old +Dessauer (having 30,000 to pick from, late Camp-of-Gottin people) +at once sets about. Will be a security, in any event! [Orlich, +i. 221: Date of the Order, "13th March, 1742."] To finish with +Brunn, Friedrich has sent for Siege-Artillery of his own; he urges +Chevalier de Saxe to close with him round Brunn, and batter it +energetically into swift surrender. Is it not the one thing +needful? Chevalier de Saxe admits, half promises; does not perform. +Being again urged, Why have not you performed? he answers, "Alas, +your Majesty, here are Orders for me to join Marshal Broglio at +Prag, and retire altogether out of this!" + +"Altogether out of it," thinks Friedrich to himself: "may all the +Powers be thanked! Then I too, without disgrace, can go altogether +out of it;--and it shall be a sharp eye that sees me in joint-stock +with you again, M. le Chevalier." Friedrich has written in his +HISTORY, and Valori used to hear him often say in words, Never were +tidings welcomer than these, that the Saxons were about to desert +him in this manner. Go: and may all the Devils-- But we will not +fall into profane swearing. It is proper to get out of this +Enterprise at one's best speed, and never get into the like of it +again! Friedrich (on this strange Saxon revelation, 30th March) +takes instant order for assembling at Wischau again, for departing +towards Olmutz; thence homewards, with deliberate celerity, by the +Landskron mountain-country, Tribau, Zwittau, Leutomischl, and the +way he came. He has countermanded his Silesian reinforcements; +these and the rest shall rendezvous at Chrudim in Bohemia; +whitherwards the two Dessauers are bound:--in Brunn, with its +wrecked environs, famed Spielberg looking down from its conical +height, and sixteen villages in ashes, Roth shall do his own +way henceforth. + +The Saxons pushed straight homewards; did not "rejoin Broglio," +rejoin anybody,--had, in fact, done with this First Silesian War, +as it proved; and were ready for the OPPOSITE side, on a Second +falling out! Their march, this time, was long and harassing,--sad +bloody passage in it, from Pandours and hostile Village-people, +almost at starting, "four Companies of our Rear-guard cut down to +nine men; Village burnt, and Villagers exterminated (SIC), by the +rescuing party." [Details in <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> ii. 606; in &c. &c.] They arrived at Leitmeritz and their +own Border, "hardly above 8,000 effective." Naturally, in a highly +indignant humor; and much disposed to blame somebody. To the poor +Polish NON-Moravian Majesty, enlightened by his Bruhls and Staff- +Officers, it became a fixed truth that the blame was all +Friedrich's,--"starving us, marching us about!"--that Friedrich's +conduct to us was abominable, and deserved fixed resentment. +Which accordingly it got, from the simple Polish Majesty, otherwise +a good-natured creature;--got, and kept. To Friedrich's very great +astonishment, and to his considerable disadvantage, long after! + +Friedrich's look, when Valori met him again coming home from this +Moravian Futility, was "FAROUCHE," fierce and dark; his laugh +bitter, sardonic; harsh mockery, contempt and suppressed rage, +looking through all he said. A proud young King, getting instructed +in several things, by the stripes of experience. Look in that young +Portrait by Pesne, the full cheeks, and fine mouth capable of +truculence withal, the brow not unused to knit itself, and the eyes +flashing out in sharp diligent inspection, of a somewhat commanding +nature. We can fancy the face very impressive upon Valori in these +circumstances. Poor Valori has had dreadful work; running to and +fro, with his equipages breaking, his servants falling all sick, +his invaluable D'Arget (Valori's chief Secretary, whom mark) quite +disabled; and Valori's troubles are not done. He has been to Prag +lately; is returning futile, as usual. Driving through the +Mountains to rejoin Friedrich, he meets the Prussians in retreat; +learns that the Pandours, extremely voracious, are ahead; that he +had better turn, and wait for his Majesty about Chrudim in the Elbe +region, upon highways, and within reach of Prag. + +Friedrich, on the 5th of April, is in full march out of the +Moravian Countries,--which are now getting submerged in deluges of +Pandours; towards the above-said Chrudim, whereabouts his Magazines +lie, where privately he intends to wait for Prince Karl, and that +Vienna Order of the 25th February, with hands clearer of thrums. +The march goes in proper columns, dislocations; Prince Dietrich, on +the right, with a separate Corps, bent else-whither than to +Chrudim, keeps off the Pandours. A march laborious, mountainous, on +roads of such quality; but, except baggage-difficulties and the +like, nothing material going wrong. "On the 13th [April], we +marched to Zwittau, over the Mountain of Schonhengst. The passage +over this Mountain is very steep; but not so impracticable as it +had been represented; because the cannon and wagons can be drawn +round the sides of it." [Stille, p. 86.] Yes;--and readers may (in +fancy) look about them from the top; for we shall go this road +again, sixteen years hence; hardly in happier circumstances! + +Friedrich gets to Chrudim, April 17th; there meets the Young +Dessauer with his forces: by and by the Old Dessauer, too, comes to +an Interview there (of which shortly). The Old Dessauer--his 20,000 +not with him, at the moment, but resting some way behind, till he +return--is to go eastward with part of them; eastward, Troppau- +Jablunka way, and drive those Pandour Insurgencies to their own +side of the Mountains: a job Old Leopold likes better than that of +the Gottin Camp of last year. Other part of the 20,000 is to +reinforce Young Leopold and the King, and go into cantonments and +"refreshment-quarters" here at Chrudim. Here, living on Bohemia, +with Silesia at their back, shall the Troops repose a little; +and be ready for Prince Karl, if he will come on. That is what +Friedrich looks to, as the main Consolation left. + +In Moravia, now overrun with Pandours, precursors of Prince Karl, +he has left Prince Dietrich of Anhalt, able still to maintain +himself, with Olmutz as Head-quarters, for a calculated term of +days: Dietrich is, with all diligence, to collect Magazines for +that Jablunka-Troppau Service, and march thither to his Father with +the same (cutting his way through those Pandour swarms); +and leaving Mahren as bare as possible, for Prince Karl's behoof. +All which Prince Dietrich does, in a gallant, soldier-like, prudent +and valiant manner,--with details of danger well fronted, of prompt +dexterity, of difficulty overcome; which might be interesting to +soldier students, if there were among us any such species; +but cannot be dwelt upon here. It is a march of 60 or 70 miles +(northeast, not northwest as Friedrich's had been), through +continual Pandours, perils and difficulties:--met in the due way by +Prince Dietrich, whose toils and valors had been of distinguished +quality in this Moravian Business. Take one example, not of very +serious nature (in the present March to Troppau):-- + +"OLISCHAU, EVENING OF APRIL 21st. Just as we were getting into +Olischau [still only in the environs of Olmutz], the Vanguard of +Prince Karl's Army appeared on the Heights. It did not attack; +but retired, Olmutz way, for the night. Prince Dietrich, not +doubting but it would return next day, made the necessary +preparations overnight. Nothing of it returned next day; Prince +Dietrich, therefore, in the night of April 22d, pushed forward his +sick-wagons, meal-wagons, heavy baggage, peaceably to Sternberg; +and, at dawn on the morrow, followed with his army, Cavalry ahead, +Infantry to rear;" nothing whatever happening,--unless this be a +kind of thing:--"Our Infantry had scarcely got the last bridge +broken down after passing it, when the roofs of Olischau seemed as +it were to blow up; the Inhabitants simultaneously seizing that +moment, and firing, with violent diligence, a prodigious number of +shot at us,--no one of which, owing to their hurry and the +distance, took any effect;" [Stille, p. 50.] but only testified +what their valedictory humor was. + +Or again--(Place, this time, is UNGARISCH-BROD, near Goding on the +Moravian-Hungarian Frontier, date MARCH 13th; one of those swift +Outroads, against Insurgents or "Hungarian Militias" threatening to +gather):-- ... "Godinq on our Moravian side of the Border, and then +Skalitz on their Hungarian, being thus finished, we make for +Ungarisch-Brod," the next nucleus of Insurgency. And there is the +following minute phenomenon,--fit for a picturesque human memory: +"As this, from Skalitz to Ungarisch-Brod, is a long march, and the +roads were almost impassable, Prince Dietrich with his Corps did +not arrive till after dark. So that, having sufficiently blocked +the place with parties of horse and foot, he had, in spite of +thick-falling snow, to wait under the open sky for daylight. +In which circumstances, all that were not on sentry lay down on +their arms;" slept heartily, we hope; "and there was half an ell of +snow on them, when day broke." [BERICHT VON DER UNTERNEHMUNG DES +&c. (in Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, <end italic> i. p. 508).] +When day broke, and they shook themselves to their feet again,--to +the astonishment of Ungarisch-Brod! ... + +There had been fine passages of arms, throughout, in this Business, +round Brunn, in the March home, and elsewhere; and Friedrich is +well contented with the conduct of his men and generals,--and +dwells afterwards with evident satisfaction on some of the feats +they did. [For instance, TRUCHSESS VON WALDBURG'S fine bit of +Spartanism (14th March, at Lesch, near Brunn, near AUSTERLITZ +withal), which was much celebrated; King himself, from Selowitz, +heard the cannonading (Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, <end italic> +i. 518-520). Selchow's feat (ib. 521). Fouquet's (this is the +CAPTAIN Fonquet, with "MY two candles, Sir," of the old Custrin- +Prison time; who is dear to Friedrich ever since, and to the end): +"Account of Fouquet's Grenadier Battalion, to and at Fulnek, +January-April, 1742 (is in <italic> Feldzuge der Preussen, <end +italic> i. 176-184); especially his March, from Fulnek, homewards, +part of Prince Dietrich's that way (in Seyfarth, <italic> Beylage, +<end italic> i. 510-515). With various others (in SEYFARTH and +FELDZUGE): well worth reading till you understand them.] I am sorry +to say, General Schwerin has taken pique at this preference of the +Old Dessauer for the Troppau Anti-Pandour Operation; and is home in +a huff: not to reappear in active life for some years to come. +"The Little Marlborough,"--so they call him (for he was at +Blenheim, and has abrupt hot ways),--will not participate in Prince +Karl's consolatory Visit, then! Better so, thinks Friedrich perhaps +(remembering Mollwitz): "This is the freak of an imitation +ANGLAIS!" sneers he, in mentioning it to Jordan.--Friedrich's +Synopsis of this Moravian Failure of an Expedition, in answer to +Jordan's curiosity about it,--curiosity implied, not expressed by +the modest Jordan, is characteristic:-- + +"Moravia, which is a very bad Country, could not be held, owing to +want of victual; and the Town of Brunn could not be taken, because +the Saxons had no cannon; and when you wish to enter a Town, you +must first make a hole to get in by. Besides, the Country has been +reduced to such a state: that the Enemy cannot subsist in it, and +you will soon see him leave it. There is your little military +lesson; I would not have you at a loss what to think of our +Operations; or what to say, should other people talk of them in +your presence!" [Friedrich to Jordan (<italic> OEuvres, <end +italic> xvii. 196), Chrudim, 5th May, 1742.] + +"Winter Campaigns," says Friedrich elsewhere, much in earnest, and +looking back on this thing long afterwards, "Winter Campaigns are +bad, and should always be avoided, except in cases of necessity. +The best Army in the world is liable to be ruined by them. I myself +have made more Winter Campaigns than any General of this Age; +but there were reasons. Thus:-- + +"In 1740," Winter Campaign which we saw, "there were hardly above +two Austrian regiments in Silesia, at Karl VI.'s death. +Being determined to assert my right to that Duchy, I had to try it +at once, in winter, and carry the war, if possible, to the Banks of +the Neisse. Had I waited till spring, we must have begun the war +between Crossen and Glogau; what was now to be gained by one march +would then have cost us three or four campaigns. A sufficient +reason, this, for campaigning in winter. + +"If I did not succeed in the Winter Campaign of 1742," Campaign +which we have just got out of, "which I made with a design to +deliver the Elector of Bavaria's Country, then overrun by Austria, +it was because the French acted like fools, and the Saxons like +traitors." Mark that deliberate opinion. + +"In 1745-46," Winter Campaign which we expect to see, "the +Austrians having got Silesia, it was necessary to drive them out. +The Saxons and they had formed a design to enter my Hereditary +Dominions, to destroy them with fire and sword. I was beforehand +with them. I carried the War into the heart of Saxony." +[MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN BY &c. "translated hy an Officer" +(London, 1762), pp. 171, 172. One of the best, or altogether tbe +best, of Friedrich's excellent little Books written successively +(thrice-PRIVATE, could they have been kept so) for the instruction +of his Officers. Is to be found now in <italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> xxviii. (that is vol. i. of the <italic> +"OEuvres Militaires," <end italic> which occupy 3 vols.) pp. 4 +et seqq.] + +Digesting many bitter-enough thoughts, Friedrich has cantoned about +Chrudim; expecting, in grim composed humor, the one Consolation +there can now be. February 25th, as readers well know, the Majesty +of Hungary and her Aulic Council had decided, "One stroke more, +O Excellency Robinson; one Battle more for our Silesian jewel of +the crown! If beaten, we will then give it up; oh, not till then!" +Robinson and Hyndford,--imagination may faintly represent their +feelings, on the wilful downbreak of Klein-Schnellendorf; or what +clamor and urgency the Majesty of Britain and they have been making +ever since. But they could carry it no further: "One stroke more!" + +At Chrudim, and to the right and the left of it, sprinkled about in +long, very thin, elliptic shape (thirty or forty miles long, but +capable of coalescing "within eight-and-forty hours"), there lies +Friedrich: the Elbe River is behind him; beyond Elbe are his +Magazines, at Konigsgratz, Nimburg, Podiebrad, Pardubitz; the Giant +Mountains, and world of Bohemian Hills, closing-in the background, +far off: that is his position, if readers will consult their Map. +The consolatory Visit, he privately thinks, cannot be till the +grass come; that is, not till June, two months hence; but there +also he was a little mistaken. + + + +Chapter XI. + +NUSSLER IN NEISSE, WITH THE OLD DESSAUER AND WALRAVE. + +The Old Dessauer with part of his 20,000,--aided by Boy Dietrich +(KNABE, "Knave Dietrich," as one might fondly call him) and the +Moravian Meal-wagons,--accomplished his Troppau-Jablunka Problem +perfectly well; cleaning the Mountains, and keeping them clean, of +that Pandour rabble, as he was the man to do. Nor would his +Expedition require mentioning farther,--were it not for some slight +passages of a purely Biographical character; first of all, for +certain rubs which befell between his Majesty and him. For example, +once, before that Interview at Chrudim, just on entering Bohemia +thitherward, Old Leopold had seen good to alter his march-route; +and--on better information, as he thought it, which proved to be +worse--had taken a road not prescribed to him. Hearing of which, +Friedrich reins him up into the right course, in this +sharp manner:-- + +"CHRUDIM, 21st APRIL. I am greatly surprised that your Serenity, as +an old Officer, does not more accurately follow my orders which I +give you. If you were skilfuler than Caesar, and did not with +strict accuracy observe my orders, all else were of no help to me. +I hope this notice, once for all, will be enough; and that in time +coming you will give no farther causes to complain." [King to Furst +Leopold (Orlich, i. 219-221).] + +Friedrich, on their meeting at Chrudim, was the same man as ever. +But the old Son of Gunpowder stood taciturn, rigorous, in military +business attitude, in the King's presence; had not forgotten the +passage; and indeed he kept it in mind for long months after. +And during all this Ober-Schlesien time, had the hidden grudge in +his heart;--doing his day's work with scrupulous punctuality; +all the more scrupulous, they say. Friedrich tried, privately +through Leopold Junior, some slight touches of assuagement; +but without effect; and left the Senior to Time, and to his own +methods of cooling again. + +Besides that of keeping down Hungarian Enterprises in the +Mountains, Old Leopold had, as would appear, to take some general +superintendence in Ober-Schlesien; and especially looks after the +new Fortification-work going on in those parts. Which latter +function brought him often to Neisse, and into contact with the +ugly Walrave, Engineer-in-Chief there. A much older and much +worthier acquaintance of ours, Herr Boundary-Commissioner Nussler, +happens also to be in Neisse;--waiting for those Saxon Gentlemen; +who are unpunctual to a degree, and never come (nor in fact ever +will, if Nussler knew it). Luckily Nussler kept a Notebook; and +Busching ultimately got it, condensed it, printed it;--whereby +(what is rare, in these Dryasdust labyrinths, inane spectralities +and cinder-mountains) there is sudden eyesight vouchsafed; +and we discern veritably, far off, brought face to face for an +instant, this and that! I must translate some passages,--still +farther condensed:-- + + +HOW NUSSLER HAPPENED TO BE IN NEISSE, MAY, 1742. + +Nussler had been in this Country, off and on, almost since +Christmas last; ready here, if the Saxons had been ready. As the +Saxons were not ready, and always broke their appointment, Nussler +had gone into the Mountains, to pass time usefully, and take +preliminary view of the ground. + +... "From Berlin, 20th December, 1741; by Breslau,"--where some +pause and correspondence;--"thence on, Neisse way, as far as Lowen +[so well known to Friedrich, that Mollwitz night!]. From Berlin to +Lowen, Nussler had come in a carriage: but as there was much snow +falling, he here took a couple of sledges; in which, along with his +attendants, he proceeded some fifty miles, to Jauernik, a stage +beyond Neisse, to the southwest. Jauernik is a little Town lying at +the foot of a Hill, on the top of which is the Schloss of +Johannisberg. Here it began to rain; and the getting up the Hill, +on sledges, was a difficult matter. The DROST [Steward] of this +Castle was a Nobleman from Brunswick-Luneburg; who, for the sake of +a marriage and this Drostship for dowry, had changed from +Protestant to Roman Catholic,"--poor soul! "His wife and he were +very polite, and showed Nussler a great deal of kindness. +Nussler remarked on the left side of this Johannisberg," western +side a good few miles off, "the pass which leads from Glatz to +Upper and Lower Schlesien,"--where the reader too has been, in that +BAUMGARTEN SKIRMISH, if he could remember it,--"with a little +Block-house in the bottom," and no doubt Prussian soldiers in it at +the moment. "Nussler, intent always on the useful, did not +institute picturesque reflections; but considered that his King +would wish to have this Pass and Block-house; and determined +privately, though it perhaps lay rather beyond the boundary-mark, +that his Master must have it when the bargaining should come. ... + +"On the homeward survey of these Borders, Nussler arrived at +Steinau [little Village with Schloss, which we saw once, on the +march to Mollwitz, and how accident of fire devoured it that +night], and at sight of the burnt Schloss standing black there, he +remembered with great emotion the Story of Grafin von Callenberg +[dead since, with her pistols and brandy-bottle] and of the +Grafin's Daughter, in which he had been concerned as a much- +interested witness, in old times. ... For the rest, the journey, +amid ice and snow, was not only troublesome in the extreme, but he +got a life-long gout by it [and no profit to speak of]; +having sunk, once, on thin ice, sledge and he, into a half-frozen +stream, and got wetted to the loins, splashing about in such cold +manner,--happily not quite drowned." The indefatigable Nussler; +working still, like a very artist, wherever bidden, on wages +miraculously low. + +The Saxon Gentlemen never came;--privately the Saxons were quite +off from the Silesian bargain, and from Friedrich altogether;--so +that this border survey of Nussler's came to nothing, on the +present occasion. But it served him and Friedrich well, on a new +boundary-settling, which did take effect, and which holds to this +day. Nussler, during these operations, and vain waitings for the +Saxons, had Neisse for head-quarters; and, going and returning, was +much about Neisse; Walrave, Marwitz (Father of Wilhelmina's baggage +Marwitz), Feldmarschall Schwerin (in earlier stages), and other +high figures, being prominent in his circle there. + +"The old Prince of Dessau came thither: for some days. [Busching, +<italic> Beitrage, <end italic> i. 347 (beginning of May as we +guess, but there is no date given).] He was very gracious to +Nussler, who had been at his Court, and known him before this. +The Old Dessauer made use of Walrave's Plate; usually had Walrave, +Nussler, and other principal figures to dinner. Walrave's Plate, +every piece of it, was carefully marked with a RAVEN on the rim,-- +that being his crest ["Wall-raven" his name]: Old Dessauer, at +sight of so many images of that bird, threw out the observation, +loud enough, from the top of the table, 'Hah, Walrave, I see you +are making yourself acquainted with the RAVENS in time, that they +may not be strange to you at last,'"--when they come to eat you on +the gibbet! (not a soft tongue, the Old Dessauer's). "Another day, +seeing Walrave seated between two Jesuit Guests, the Prince said: +'Ah, there you are right, Walrave; there you sit safe; the Devil +can't get you there!' As the Prince kept continually bantering him +in this strain, Walrave determined not to come; sulkily absented +himself one day: but the Prince sent the ORDINANZ (Soldier in +waiting) to fetch him; no refuge in sulks. + +"They had Roman-Catholic victual for Walrave and others of that +faith, on the meagre-days; but Walrave eat right before him,-- +evidently nothing but the name of Catholic. Indeed, he was a man +hated by the Catholics, for his special rapacity on them. 'He is of +no religion at all,' said the Catholic Prelate of Neisse, one day, +to Nussler; (greedy to plunder the Monasteries here; has wrung +gold, silver aud jewels from them,--nay from the Pope himself,--by +threatening to turn Protestant, and use the Monasteries still +worse. And the Pope, hearing of this, had to send him a valuable +Gift, which you may see some day.' Nussler did, one day, see this +preciosity: a Crucifix, ebony bordered with gold, and the Body all +of that metal, on the smallest of altars,--in Walrave's bedroom. +But it was the bedroom itself which Nussler looked at with a +shudder," Nussler and we: "in the middle of it stood Walrave's own +bed, on his right hand that of his Wife, and on his left that of +his Mistress:"--a brutish polygamous Walrave! "This Mistress was a +certain Quarter-Master's Wife,"--Quarter-Master willing, it is +probable, to get rid of such an article gratis, much more on terms +of profit. "Walrave had begged for him the Title of Hofrath from +King Friedrich,"--which, though it was but a clipping of ribbon +contemptible to Friedrich, and the brute of an Engineer had +excellent talents in his business, I rather wish Friedrich had +refused in this instance. But he did not; "he answered in gibing +tone, 'I grant you the Hofrath Title for your Quarter-Master; +thinking it but fit that a General's'--What shall we call her? +(Friedrich uses the direct word)--'should have some handle to her +name.'" [Busching, <italic> Beitrage, <end italic> i. 343-348.] + +It was this Mistress, one is happy to know, that ultimately +betrayed the unbeautiful Walrave, and brought him to Magdeburg for +the rest of his life.--And now let us over the Mountains, to +Chrudim again; a hundred and fifty miles at one step. + + + +Chapter XII. + +PRINCE KARL DOES COME ON. + +It was before the middle of May, not of June as Friedrich had +expected, that serious news reached Chrudim. May 11th, from that +place, there is a Letter to Jordan, which for once has no verse, no +bantering in it: Prince Karl actually coming on; Hussar precursors, +in quantity, stealing across to attack our Magazines beyond Elbe;-- +and in consequence, Orders are out this very day: "Cantonments, +cease; immediate rendezvous, and Encampment at Chrudim here!" +Which takes effect two days hence, Monday, 13th May: one of the +finest sights Stille ever saw. "His Majesty rode to a height; +you never beheld such a scene: bright columns, foot and horse, +streaming in from every point of the compass, their clear arms +glittering in the sun; lost now in some hollow, then emerging, +winding out with long-drawn glitter again; till at length their +blue uniforms and actual faces come home to you. Near upon 30,000 +of all arms; trim exact, of stout and silently good-humored aspect; +well rested, by this time;--likely fellows for their work, who will +do it with a will. The King seemed to be affected by so glorious a +spectacle; and, what I admired, his Majesty, though fatigued, would +not rest satisfied with reports or distant view, but personally +made the tour of the whole Camp, to see that everything was right, +and posted the pickets himself before retiring." [Stille, p. 57 +(or Letter X.).] + +Prince Karl, since we last heard of him, had hung about in the +Brunn and other Moravian regions, rallying his forces, pushing out +Croat parties upon Prince Dietrich's home-march, and the like; very +ill off for food, for draught-cattle, in a wasted Country. So that +he had soon quitted Mahren; made for Budweis and neighborhood:-- +dangerous to Broglio's outposts there? To a "Castle of Frauenberg," +across the Moldau from Budweis; which is Broglio's bulwark there, +and has cost Broglio much revictualling, reinforcing, and flurry +for the last two months. Prince Karl did not meddle with +Brauenberg, or Broglio, on this occasion; leaves Lobkowitz, with +some Reserve-party, hovering about in those parts;--and himself +advances, by Teutschbrod (well known to the poor retreating Saxons +latcey!) towards Chrudim, on his grand Problem, that of 25th +February last. Cautiously, not too willingly, old Konigseck and he. +But they were inflexibly urged to it by the Heads at Vienna; +who, what with their Bavarian successes, what with their Moravian +and other, had got into a high key;--and scorned the notion of +"Peace," when Hyndford (getting Friedrich's permission, in the late +Chrudim interval) had urged it again. [Orlich, i. 226.] + +Broglio is in boundless flurry; nothing but spectres of attack +looming in from Karl, from Khevenhuller, from everybody; and Eger +hardly yet got. [19th April (<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end +italic> ii. 77-81.] Fine reinforcement, 25,000 under a Due +d'Harcourt; this and other good outlooks there are; but it is the +terrible alone that occupy Broglio. And indeed the poor man-- +especially ever since that Moravian Business would not thrive in +spite of him--is not to be called well off! Friedrich and he are in +correspondence, by no means mutually pleasant, on the Prince-Karl +phenomenon. "Evidently intending towards Prag, your Majesty +perceives!" thinks Broglio. "If not towards Chrudim, first of all, +which is 80 miles nearer him, on his rode to Prag!" urges +Friedrich, at this stage: "Help me with a few regiments in this +Chrudim Circle, lest I prove too weak here. Is not this the bulwark +of your Prag just now?" In vain; Broglio (who indeed has orders +that way) cannot spare a man. "Very well," thinks Friedrich; +and has girded up his own strength for the Chrudim phenomenon; +but does not forget this new illustration of the Joint-Stock +Principle, and the advantages of Broglio Partnership. + +Friedrich's beautiful Encampment at Chrudim lasted only two days. +Precursor Tolpatcheries (and, in fact, Prince Karl's Vanguard, if +we knew it) come storming about, rifer and rifer; attempting the +Bridge of Kolin (road to our Magazines); attempting this and that; +meaning to get between us and Prag; and, what is worse, to seize +the Magazines, Podiebrad, Nimburg, which we have in that quarter! +Tuesday, May 15th, accordingly, Friedrich himself gets on march, +with a strong swift Vanguard, horse and foot (grenadiers, hussars, +dragoons), Prag-ward,--probably as far as Kuttenberg, a fine high- +lying post, which commands those Kodin parts;--will march with +despatch, and see how that matter is. The main Army is to follow +under Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau to-morrow, Wednesday," so soon as +their loaves have come from Konigsgratz,"--for "an Army goes on its +belly," says Friedrich often. Loaves do not come, owing to evil +chance, on this occasion: Leopold's people "take meal instead;" +but will follow, next morning, all the same, according to bidding. +Readers may as well take their Map, and accompany in these +movements; which issue in a notable conclusive thing. + +Tuesday morning, 15th May, Friedrich marches from Chrudim; on which +same morning of the 15th, Prince Karl, steadily on the advance he +too, is starting,--and towards the same point,--from a place called +Chotieborz, only fifteen miles to southward of Chrudim. In this +way, mutually unaware, but Prince Karl getting soonest aware, the +Vanguards of the Two Armies (Prince Karl's Vanguard being in many +branches, of Tolpatch nature) are cast athwart each other; +and make, both to Friedrich and Prince Karl, an enigmatic business +of it for the next two days. Tuesday, 15th, Friedrich marching +along, vigilantly observant on both hands, some fifteen miles +space, came that evening to a Village called Podhorzan, with Height +near by; [Stille, pp. 60, 61.] Height which he judged unattackable, +and on the side of which he pitches his camp accordingly,--himself +mounting the Height to look for news. News sure enough: +there, south of us on the heights of Ronnow, three or four miles +off, are the Enemy, camped or pickeering about, 7 or 8,000 as we +judge. Lobkowitz, surely not Lobkowitz? He has been gliding about, +on the French outskirts, far in the southwest lately: can this be +Lobkowitz, about to join Prince Karl in these parts?--Truly, your +Majesty, this is not Lobkowitz at all; this is Prince Karl's +Vanguard, and Prince Karl himself actually in it for the moment,-- +anxiously taking view of your Vanguard; recognizing, and admitting +to himself, "Pooh, they will be at Kuttenberg before us; no use in +hastening. Head-quarters at Willimow to-night; here at Ronnow +to-morrow: that is all we can do!" [Orlich, i. 233.] + +To-morrow, 16th May, before sunrise at Podhorzan, the supposed +Lobkowitz is clean vanished: there is no Enemy visible to +Friedrich, at Ronnow or elsewhere. Leaving Friedrich in +considerable uncertainty: clear only that there are Enemies +copiously about; that he himself will hold on for Kuttenberg; +that young Leopold must get hitherward, with steady celerity at the +top of his effort,--parts of the ground being difficult; especially +a muddy Stream, called Dobrowa, which has only one Bridge on it fit +for artillery, the Bridge of Sbislau, a mile or two ahead of this. +Instructions are sent Leopold to that effect; and farther that +Leopold must quarter in Czaslau (a substantial little Town, with +bogs about it, and military virtues); and, on the whole, keep close +to heel of us, the Enemy in force being near, Upon which, his +Majesty pushes on for Kuttenberg; Prince Leopold following with +best diligence, according to Program. His Majesty passed a little +place called Neuhof that afternoon (Wednesday, 16th May); +and encamped a short way from Kuttenberg, behind or north of that +Town,--out of which, on his approach, there fled a considerable +cloud of Austrian Irregulars, and "left a large baking of bread." +Bread just about ready to their order, and coming hot out of the +ovens; which was very welcome to his Majesty that night; and will +yield refreshment, partial refreshment, next morning, to Prince +Leopold, not too comfortable on his meal-diet just now. + +Poor Prince Leopold had his own difficulties this day; rough +ground, very difficult to pass; and coming on the Height of +Podhorzan where his Majesty was yesterday, Leopold sees crowds of +Hussars, needing a cannon-shot or two; sees evident symptoms, to +southward, that the whole Force of the Enemy is advancing upon him! +"Speed, then, for Sbislau Bridge yonder; across the Dobrowa, with +our Artillery-wagons, or we are lost!" Prince Karl, with Hussar- +parties all about, is fully aware of Prince Leopold and his +movements, and is rolling on, Ronnow-ward all day, to cut him off, +in his detached state, if possible. Prince Karl might, with ease, +have broken this Dobrowa Bridge; and Leopold and military men +recognize it as a capital neglect that he did not. + +Leopold, overloaded with such intricacies and anxieties, sends off +three messengers, Officers of mark (Schmettau Junior one of them), +to apprise the King: the Officers return, unable to get across to +his Majesty; Leopold sends proper detachment of horse with them,-- +uncertain still whether they will get through. And night is +falling; we shall evidently be too late for getting Czaslau: +well if we can occupy Chotusitz and the environs; a small clay +Hamlet, three miles nearer us. It was 11 at night before the rear- +guard got into Chotusitz: Czaslau, three miles south of us, we +cannot attend to till to-morrow morning. [Orlich, pp. 236-239.] +And the three messengers, despatched with escort, send back no +word. Have they ever got to his Majesty? Leopold sends off a +fourth. This fourth one does get through; reports to his Majesty, +That, by all appearance, there will be Battle on the morrow early; +that not Czaslau, but only Chotusitz is ours; and that Instructions +are wanted. Deep in the night, this fourth messenger returns; +a welcome awakening for Prince Leopold; who studies his Majesty's +Instructions, and will make his dispositions accordingly. + +It is 2 or 3 in the morning, [Ib. p. 238.] in Leopold's Camp,-- +Bivouac rather, with its face to the south, and Chotusitz ahead. +Thursday, 17th May, 1742; a furiously important Day about to dawn. +High Problem of the 23th February last; Britannic Majesty and his +Hyndfords and Robinsons vainly protesting:--it had to be tried; +Hungarian Majesty having got, from Britannic, the sinews for trying +it: and this is to be the Day. + + + +Chapter XIII. + +BATTLE OF CHOTUSITZ. + +Kuttenberg, Czaslau, Chotusitz and all these other places lie in +what is called the Valley of the Elbe, but what to the eye has not +the least appearance of a hollow, but of an extensive plain rather, +dimpled here and there; and, if anything, rather sloping FROM the +Elbe,--were it not that dull bushless brooks, one or two, +sauntering to NORTHward, not southward, warn you of the contrary. +Conceive a flat tract of this kind, some three or four miles +square, with Czaslau on its southern border, Chotusitz on its +northern; flanked, on the west, by a straggle of Lakelets, ponds +and quagmires (which in our time are drained away, all but a tenth +part or so of remainder); flanked, on the east, by a considerable +puddle of a Stream called the Dobrowa; and cut in the middle by a +nameless poor Brook ("BRTLINKA" some write it, if anybody could +pronounce), running parallel and independent,--which latter, of +more concernment to us here, springs beyond Czaslau, and is got to +be of some size, and more intricate than usual, with "islands" and +the like, as it passes Chotusitz (a little to east of Chotusitz);-- +this is our Field of Battle. Sixty or more miles to eastward of +Prag, eight miles or more to southward of Elbe River and the Ford +of Elbe-Teinitz (which we shall hear of, in years coming). A scene +worth visiting by the curious, though it is by no means of +picturesque character. + +Uncomfortably bare, like most German plains; mean little hamlets, +which are full of litter when you enter them, lie sprinkled about; +little church-spires (like suffragans to Chotusitz spire, which is +near you); a ragged untrimmed country: beyond the Brook, towards +the Dobrowa, two or more miles from Chotusitz, is still noticeable: +something like a Deer-park, with umbrageous features, bushy clumps, +and shadowy vestiges of a Mansion, the one regular edifice within +your horizon. Schuschitz is the name of this Mansion and Deer-park; +farther on lies Sbislau, where Leopold happily found his Bridge +unbroken yesterday. + +The general landscape is scrubby, littery; ill-tilled, scratched +rather than ploughed; physiognomic of Czech Populations, who are +seldom trim at elbows: any beauty it has is on the farther side of +the Dobrowa, which does not concern Prince Leopold, Prince Karl, or +us at present. Prince Leopold's camp lies east and west, short way +to north of Chotusitz. Schuschitz Hamlet (a good mile northward of +Sbislau) covers his left, the chain of Lakelets covers his right: +and Chotusitz, one of his outposts, lies centrally in front. +Prince Karl is coming on, in four columns, from the Hills and +intricacies south of Czaslau,--has been on march all night, +intending a night-attack or camisado if he could; but could not in +the least, owing to the intricate roadways, and the discrepancies +of pace between his four columns. The sun was up before anything of +him appeared:--drawing out, visibly yonder, by the east side of +Czaslau; 30,000 strong, they say. Friedrich's united force, were +Friedrich himself on the ground, will be about 28,000. + +Friedrich's Orders, which Leopold is studying, were: "Hold by +Chotusitz for Centre; your left wing, see you lean it on something, +towards Dobrowa side,--on that intricate Brook (Brtlinka) or Park- +wall of Schuschitz, [SBISLAU, Friedrich hastily calls it +(<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> ii. 121-126); Stille (p. 63) is +more exact.] which I think is there; then your right wing +westwards, till you lean again on something: two lines, leave room +for me and my force, on the corner nearest here. I will start at +four; be with you between seven and eight,--and even bring a +proportion of Austrian bread (hot from these ovens of Kuttenberg) +to refresh part of you." Leopold of Anhalt, a much-comforted man, +waits only for the earliest gray of the morning, to be up and +doing. From Chotusitz he spreads out leftwards towards the Brtlinka +Brook,--difficult ground that, unfit for cavalry, with its bog- +holes, islands, gullies and broken surface; better have gone across +the Brtlinka with mere infantry, and leant on the wall of that +Deer-park of Schuschitz with perhaps only 1,000 horse to support, +well rearward of the infantry and this difficult ground? So men +think,--after the action is over. [Stille, pp. 63, 67.] And indeed +there was certainly some misarrangement there (done by Leopold's +subordinates), which had its effects shortly. + +Leopold was not there in person, arranging that left wing; +Leopold is looking after centre and right. He perceives, the right +wing will be his best chance; knows that, in general, cavalry must +be on both wings. On a little eminence in front of his right, he +sees how the Enemy comes on; Czaslau, lately on their left, is now +getting to rear of them:--"And you, stout old General Buddenbrock, +spread yourself out to right a little, hidden behind this rising +ground; I think we may outflank their left wing by a few squadrons, +which will be an advantage." + +Buddenbrock spreads himself out, as bidden: had Buddenbrock been +reinforced by most of the horse that could do no good on our LEFT +wing, it is thought the Battle had gone better. Buddenbrock in this +way, secretly, outflanks the Austrians; to HIS right all forward, +he has that string of marshy pools (Lakes of Czirkwitz so called, +outflowings from the Brook of Neuhof), and cannot be taken in flank +by any means. Brook of Neuhof, which his Majesty crossed yesterday, +farther north;--and ought to have recrossed by this time?--said +Brook, hereabouts a mere fringe of quagmires and marshy pools, is +our extreme boundary on the west or right; Brook of Brtlinka +(unluckily NOT wall of the Deer-park) bounds us eastward, or on our +left, Prince Karl, drawn up by this time, is in two lines, cavalry +on right and left, but rather in bent order; bent towards us at +both ends (being dainty of his ground, I suppose); and comes on in +hollow-crescent form;--which is not reckoned orthodox by military +men. What all these Villages, human individuals and terrified deer, +are thinking, I never can conjecture! Thick-soled peasants, +terrified nursing-mothers: Better to run and hide, I should say; +mount your garron plough-horses, hide your butter-pots, meal- +barrels; run at least ten miles or so!-- + +It is now past seven, a hot May morning, the Austrians very near;-- +and yonder, of a surety, is his Majesty coming. Majesty has marched +since four; and is here at his time, loaves and all. His men rank +at once in the corner left for them; one of his horse-generals, +Lehwald, is sent to the left, to put straight what my be awry there +(cannot quite do it, he either);--and the attack by Buddenhrock, +who secretly outflanks here on the right, this shall at once take +effect. No sooner has his Majesty got upon the little eminence or +rising ground, and scanned the Austrian lines for an instant or +two, than his cannon-batteries awaken here; give the Austrian horse +a good blast, by way of morning salutation and overture to the +concert of the day. And Buddenbrock, deploying under cover of that, +charges, "first at a trot, then at a gallop," to see what can be +done upon them with the white weapon. Old Uuddenbrock, surely, did +not himself RIDE in the charge? He is an old man of seventy; +has fought at Oudenarde, Malplaquet, nay at Steenkirk, and been run +through the body, under Dutch William; is an old acquaintance of +Charles XII.s even; and sat solemnly by Friedrich Wilhelm's coffin, +after so much attendance during life. The special leader of the +charge was Bredow; also a veteran gentleman, but still only in the +fifties; he, I conclude, made the charge; first at a trot, then at +a gallop,--with swords flashing hideous, and eyebrows knit. + +"The dust was prodigious," says Friedrich, weather being dry and +ground sandy; for a space of time you could see nothing but one +huge whirlpool of dust, with the gleam of steel flickering madly in +it: however, Buddenbrock, outflanking the Austrian first line of +horse, did hurl them from their place; by and by you see the dust- +tempest running south, faster and faster south,--that is to say, +the Austrian horse in flight; for Buddenbrock, outflanking them by +three squadrons, has tumbled their first line topsy-turvy, and they +rush to rearward, he following away and away. [<italic> OEuvres de +Frederic, <end italic> ii. 123.] Now were the time for a fresh +force of Prussian cavalry,--for example, those you have standing +useless behind the gullies and quagmires on your left wing (says +Stille, after the event);--due support to Buddenbrock, and all that +Austrian cavalry were gone, and their infantry left bare. + +But now again, see, do not the dust-clouds pause? They pause, +mounting higher and higher; they dance wildly, then roll back +towards us; too evidently back. Buddenbrock has come upon the +secoud line of Austrian horse; in too loose order Buddenbrock, by +this time, and they have broken him:--and it is a mutual defeat of +horse on this wing, the Prussian rather the worse of the two. +And might have been serious,--had not Rothenburg plunged furiously +in, at this crisis, quite through to the Austrian infantry, and +restored matters, or more. Making a confused result of it in this +quarter. Austrian horse-regiments there now were that fled quite +away; as did even one or two foot-regiments, while the Prussian +infantry dashed forward on them, escorted by Rothenburg in this +manner,--who got badly wounded in the business; and was long an +object of solicitude to Friedrich. And contrariwise certain +Prussian horse also, it was too visible, did not compose themselves +till fairly arear of our foot. This is Shock First in the Battle; +there are Three Shocks in all. + +Partial charging, fencing and flourishing went on; but nothing very +effectual was done by the horse in this quarter farther. Nor did +the fire or effort of the Prussian Infantry in this their right +wing continue; Austrian fury and chief effort having, by this time, +broken out in an opposite quarter. So that the strain of the Fight +lies now in the other wing over about Chotusitz and the Brtlinka +Brook; and thither I perceive his Majesty has galloped, being +"always in the thickest of the danger" this day. Shock Second is +now on. The Austrians have attacked at Chotusitz; and are +threatening to do wonders there. + +Prince Leopold's Left Wing, as we said, was entirely defective in +the eye of tacticians (after the event). Far from leaning on the +wall of the Deer-park, he did not even reach the Brook,--or had to +weaken his force in Chotusitz Village for that object. So that when +the Austrian foot comes storming upon Chotusitz, there is but "half +a regiment" to defend it. And as for cavalry, what is to become of +cavalry, slowly threading, under cannon-shot and musketry, these +intricate quagmires and gullies, and dangerously breaking into +files and strings, before ever it can find ground to charge? +Accordingly, the Austrian foot took Chotusitz, after obstinate +resistance; and old Konigseck, very ill of gout, got seated in one +of the huts there; and the Prussian cavalry, embarrassed to get +through the gullies, could not charge except piecemeal, and then +though in some cases with desperate valor, yet in all without +effectual result. Konigseck sits in Chotusitz;--and yet withal the +Russians are not out of it, will not be driven out of it, but cling +obstinately; whereupon the Austrians set fire to the place; its dry +thatch goes up in flame, and poor old Konigseck, quite lame of +gout, narrowly escaped burning, they say. + +And, see, the Austrian horse have got across the Brtlinka, are +spread almost to the Deer-park, and strive hard to take us in +flank,--did not the Brook, the bad ground and the platoon-firing +(fearfully swift, from discipline and the iron ramrods) hold them +back in some measure. They make a violent attempt or two; but the +problem is very rugged. Nor can the Austrian infantry, behind or to +the west of burning Chotusitz, make an impression, though they try +it, with 1evelled bayonets and deadly energy, again and again: +the Prussian ranks are as if built of rock, and their fire is so +sure and swift. Here is one Austrian regiment, came rushing on like +lions; would not let go, death or no-death:--and here it lies, shot +down in ranks; whole swaths of dead men, and their muskets by them, +--as if they had got the word to take that posture, and had done it +hurriedly! A small transitory gleam of proud rage is visible, deep +down, in the soul of Friedrich as he records this fact. Shock +Second was very violent. + +The Austrian horse, after such experimenting in the Brtlinka +quarter, gallop off to try to charge the Prussians in the rear;-- +"pleasanter by far," judge many of them, "to plunder the Prussian +Camp," which they descry in those regions; whither accordingly they +rush. Too many of them; and the Hussars as one man. To the +sorrowful indignation of Prince Karl, whose right arm (or wing) is +fallen paralytic in this manner. After the Fight, they repented in +dust and ashes; and went to say so, as if with the rope about their +neck; upon which he pardoned them. + +Nor is Prince Karl's left wing gaining garlands just at this +moment. Shock Third is awakening;--and will be decisive on Prince +Karl. Chotusitz, set on fire an hour since (about 9 A.M.), still +burns; cutting him in two, as it were, or disjoining his left wing +from his right: and it is on his right wing that Prince Karl is +depending for victory, at present; his left wing, ruffled by those +first Prussian charges of horse, with occasional Prussian swift +musketry ever since, being left to its own inferior luck, which is +beginning to produce impression on it. And, lo, on the sudden (what +brought finis to the business), Friedrich, seizing the moment, +commands a united charge on this left wing: Friedrich's right wing +dashes forward on it, double-quick, takes it furiously, on front +and flank; fifteen field-pieces preceding, and intolerable musketry +behind them. So that the Austrian left wing cannot stand it at all. + +The Austrian left wing, stormed in upon in this manner, swags and +sways, threatening to tumble pell-mell upon the right wing; which +latter has its own hands full. No Chotusitz or point of defence to +hold by, Prince Karl is eminently ill off, and will be hurled +wholly into the Brtlinka, and the islands and gullies, unless he +mind! Prince Karl,--what a moment for him!--noticing this +undeniable phenomenon, rapidly gives the word for retreat, to avoid +worse. It is near upon Noon; four hours of battle; very fierce on +both the wings, together or alternately; in the centre (westward of +Chotusitz) mostly insignificant: "more than half the Prussians" +standing with arms shouldered. Prince Karl rolls rapidly away, +through Czaslau towards southwest again; loses guns in Czaslau; +goes, not quite broken, but at double-quick time for five miles; +cavalry, Prussian and Austrian, bickering in the rear of him; and +vanishes over the horizon towards Willimow and Haber that night, +the way he had come. + +This is the battle of Chotusitz, called also of Czaslau: Thursday, +17th May, 1742. Vehemently fought on both sides;--calculated, one +may hope, to end this Silesian matter? The results, in killed and +wounded, were not very far from equal. Nay, in killed the Prussians +suffered considerably the worse; the exact Austrian cipher of +killed being 1,052, while that of the Prussians was 1,905,--owing +chiefly to those fierce ineffectual horse-charges and bickerings, +on the right wing and left; "above 1,200 Prussian cavalry were +destroyed in these." But, in fine, the general loss, including +wounded and missing, amounted on the Austrian side (prisoners being +many, and deserters very many) to near seven thousand, and on the +Prussian to between four and five. [Orlich, i. 255; <italic> +Feldzuge der Preussen, <end italic> p. 113; Stille, pp. 62-71; +Friedrich himself, <italic> OEuvres, <end italic> ii. 121-126; +and (ib. pp. 145-150) the Newspaper "RELATION," written also by +him.] Two Generals Friedrich had lost, who are not specially of our +acquaintance; and several younger friends whom he loved. +Rothenburg, who was in that first charge of horse with Buddenbrock, +or in rescue of Buddenbrock, and did exploits, got badly hurt, as +we saw,--badly, not fatally, as Friedrich's first terror was,--and +wore his arm in a sling for a long while afterwards. + +Buddenbrock's charge, I since hear, was ruined by the DUST; +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> ii. 121.] the King's +vanguard, under Rothenburg, a "new-raised regiment of Hussars in +green," coming to the rescue, were mistaken for Austrians, and the +cry rose, "Enemy to rear!" which brought Rothenburg his disaster. +Friedrich much loved and valued the man; employed him afterwards as +Ambassador to France and in places of trust. Friedrich's +Ambassadors are oftenest soldiers as well: bred soldiers, he finds, +if they chance to have natural intelligence, are fittest for all +kinds of work.--Some eighteen Austrian cannon were got; +no standards, because, said the Prussians, they took the precaution +of bringing none to the field, but had beforehand rolled them all +up, out of harm's way.--Let us close with this Fraction of +topography old aud new:-- + +"King Friedrich purchased Nine Acres of Ground, near Chotusitz, to +bury the slain; rented it from the proprietor for twenty-five +years. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 634.] I asked, +Where are those nine acres; what crop is now upon them? but could +learn nothing. A dim people, those poor Czech natives; stupid, +dirty-skinned, ill-given; not one in twenty of them speaking any +German;--and our dragoman a fortuitous Jew Pedler; with the +mournfulest of human faces, though a head worth twenty of those +Czech ones, poor oppressed soul! The Battle-plain bears rye, +barley, miscellaneous pulse, potatoes, mostly insignificant crops; +--the nine hero-acres in question, perhaps still of slightly richer +quality, lie indiscriminate among the others; their very fence, if +they ever had one, now torn away. + +"The Country, as you descend by dusty intricate lanes from +Kuttenberg, with your left hand to the Elbe, and at length with +your back to it, would be rather pretty, were it well cultivated, +the scraggy litter swept off, and replaced by verdure and +reasonable umbrage here and there. The Field of Chotusitz, where +you emerge on it, is a wide wavy plain; the steeple of Chotusitz, +and, three or four miles farther, that of Czaslau (pronounce +'KOTusitz,' 'CHASlau'), are the conspicuous objects in it. +The Lakes Friedrich speaks of, which covered his right, and should +cover ours, are not now there,--'all, or mostly all, drained away, +eighty years ago,' answered the Czechs; answered one wiser Czech, +when pressed upon, and guessed upon; thereby solving the enigma +which was distressful to us. Between those Lakes and the Brtlinka +Brook may be some two miles; Chotusitz is on the crown of the +space, if it have a crown. But there is no 'height' on it, worth +calling a height except by the military man; no tree or bush; +no fence among the scrubby ryes and pulses: no obstacle but that +Brook, which, or the hollow of which, you see sauntering steadily +northward or Elbe-ward, a good distance on your left, as you drive +for Chotusitz and steeple. Schuschitz, a peaked brown edifice, is +visible everywhere, well ahead and leftwards, well beyond said +hollow; something of wood and 'deer-park' still noticeable or +imaginable yonder. + +"Chotusitz itself is a poor littery place; standing white-washed, +but much unswept: in two straggling rows, now wide enough apart (no +Konigseck need now get burnt there): utterly silent under the hot +sun; not a child looked out on us, and I think the very dogs lay +wisely asleep. Church and steeple are at the farther or south end +of the Village, and have an older date than 1742. High up on the +steeple, mending the clock-hands or I know not what, hung in mid- +air one Czech; the only living thing we saw. Population may be +three or four hundred,--all busy with their teams or otherwise, we +will hope. Czaslau, which you approach by something of avenues, of +human roads (dust and litter still abounding), is a much grander +place; say of 2,000 or more: shiny, white, but also somnolent; +vast market-place, or central square, sloping against you: +two shiny Hotels on it, with Austrian uniforms loitering about;-- +and otherwise great emptiness and silence. The shiny Hotels (shine +due to paint mainly) offer little of humanly edible; and, in the +interior, smells strike you as--as the OLDEST you have ever met +before. A people not given to washing, to ventilating! Many gospels +have been preached in those parts, aud abstruse Orthodoxies, +sometimes with fire and sword, and no end of emphasis; but that of +Soap-and-Water (which surely is as Catholic as any, and the +plainest of all) has not yet got introduced there!" [Tourist's Note +(13th September, 1858).] + +Czaslau hangs upon the English mind (were not the ignorance so +total) by another tie: it is the resting-place of Zisca, whose +drum, or the fable of whose drum, we saw in the citadel of Glatz. +Zisca was buried IN his skin, at Czaslau finally: in the Church of +St. Peter and St. Paul there; with due epitaph; and his big mace or +battle-club, mostly iron, hung honorable on the wall close by. +Kaiser Ferdinand, Karl V.'s brother, on a Progress to Prag, came to +lodge at Czaslau, one afternoon: "What is that?" said the Kaiser, +strolling over this Peter-and-Paul's Church, and noticing the mace. +"Ugh! Faugh!" growled he angrily, on hearing what; and would not +lodge in the Town, but harnessed again, and drove farther that same +night. The club is now gone; but Zisca's dust lies there +irremovable till Doomsday, in the land where his limbs were made. +A great behemoth of a war-captain; one of the fiercest, +inflexiblest, ruggedest creatures ever made in the form of man. +Devoured Priests, with appetite, wherever discoverable: +Dishonorers of his Sister; murderers of the God's-witness John +Huss; them may all the Devils help! Beat Kaiser Sigismund SUPRA- +GRAMMATICAM again and ever again, scattering the Kitter hosts in an +extraordinary manner;--a Zisca conquerable only by Death, and the +Pest-Fever passing that way. + +His birthplace, Troznow, is a village in the Budweis neighborhood, +100 miles to south. There, for three centuries after him, stood +"Zisca's Oak" (under shade of which, his mother, taken suddenly on +the harvest-field, had borne Zisca): a weird object, gate of Heaven +and of Orcus to the superstitious populations about. At midnight on +the Hallow-Eve, dark smiths would repair thither, to cut a twig of +the Zisca Oak: twig of it put, at the right moment, under your +stithy, insures good luck, lends pith to arm and heart, which is +already good luck. So that a Bishop of those parts, being of some +culture, had to cut it down, above a hundred years ago,--and build +some Chapel in its stead; no Oak there now, but an orthodox +Inscription, not dated that I could see. [Hormayr, <italic> +OEsterreichischer Plutarch, <end italic> iii. (3tes), 110-145.] + +Friedrich did not much pursue the Austrians after this Victory; +having cleared the Czaslau region of them, he continued there (at +Kuttenberg mainly); and directed all his industry to getting Peace +made. His experiences of Broglio, and of what help was likely to be +had from Broglio,--whom his Court, as Friedrich chanced to know, +had ordered "to keep well clear of the King of Prussia,"--had not +been flattering. Beaten in this Battle, Broglio's charity would +have been a weak reed to lean upon: he is happy to inform Broglio, +that though kept well clear of, he is not beaten. + + +MAP GOES HERE--- Book xiii, page 164---- + +Blustering Broglio might have guessed that HE now would have to +look to himself. But he did not; his eyes naturally dim and bad, +being dazzled at this time, by "an ever-glorious victory" (so +Broglio thinks it) of his own achieving. Broglio, some couple of +days after Czaslau, had marched hastily out of Prag for Budweis +quarter, where Lobkowitz and the Austrians were unexpectedly +bestirring themselves, and threatening to capture that "Castle of +Frauenberg" (mythic old Hill-castle among woods), Broglio's chief +post in those regions. Broglio, May 24th, has fought a handsome +skirmish (thanks partly to Belleisle, who chanced to arrive from +Frankfurt just in the nick of time, and joined Broglio): Skirmish +of Sahay; magnified in all the French gazettes into a Victory of +Sahay, victory little short of Pharsalia, says Friedrich;--the +complete account of which, forgotten now by all creatures, is to be +read in him they call Mauvillon; [<italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end +italic> ii. 204.] and makes a pretty enough piece of fence, on the +small scale. Lobkowitz had to give up the Frauenberg enterprise; +and cross to Budweis again, till new force should come. + +"Why not drive him out of Budweis," think the Two French Marshals, +"him and whatever force can come? If those lucky Prussians would +co-operate, and those unlucky Saxons, how easy were it!"--Belleisle +sets off to persuade Friedrich, to persuade Saxony (and we shall +see him on the route); Broglio waiting sublime, on the hither side +of the Moldau, well within wind of Budweis, till Belleisle prevail, +and return with said co-operation, What became of Broglio, waiting +in this sublime manner, we shall also have to see; but perhaps not +for a great while yet (cannot pause on such absurd phenomena yet), +--though Broglio's catastrophe is itself a thing imminent; and, +within some ten days of that astonishing Victory of Sahay, +astonishes poor Broglio the reverse way. A man born for surprises! + + + +Chapter XIV. + +PEACE OF BRESLAU. + +In actual loss of men or of ground, the results of that Chotusitz +Affair were not of decisive nature. But it had been fought with +obstinacy; with great fury on the Austrian side (who, as it were, +had a bet upon it ever since February 25th), Britannic George, and +all the world, looking on: and, in dispiritment and discredit to +the beaten party, its results were considerable. The voice of all +the world, declaring through its Gazetteer Editors, "You cannot +beat those Prussians!" voice confirmed by one's own sad thoughts:-- +in such sounding of the rams horns round one's Jericho, there is +always a strange influence (what is called panic, as if Pan or some +god were in it), and one's Jericho is the apter to fall! + +Among the Austrian Prisoners, there was a General Pallandt, +mortally wounded too; whom Friedrich, according to custom, treated +with his best humanity, though all help was hopeless to poor +Pallandt. Calling one day at Pallandt's sick-couch, Friedrich was +so sympathetic, humane and noble, that Pallandt was touched by it; +and said, "What a pity your noble Majesty and my noble Queen should +ruin one another, for a set of French intruders, who play false +even to your Majesty!" "False?" Friedrich inquires farther: +Pallandt, a man familiar at Court, has seen a Letter from Fleury to +the Queen of Hungary, conclusive as to Fleury's good faith; will +undertake, if permitted, to get his Majesty a sight of it. +Friedrich permits; the Fleury letter comes; to the effect: "Make +peace with us, O Queen; with your Prussian neighbor you shall make +--what suits you!" Friedrich read; learned conclusively, what +perhaps he had already as good as known otherwise; and drew the +inference. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 633; +Hormayr, <italic> Anemonen, <end italic> ii. 186; Adelung, iii. A, +149 n.] Actual copy of this letter the most ardent Gazetteer +curiosity could not attain to, at that epoch; but the Pallandt +story seems to have been true;--and as to the Fleury letter in such +circumstances, copies of various Fleury letters to the like purport +are still public enough; and Fleury's private intentions, already +guessed at by Friedrich, are in our time a secret to nobody that +inquires about them. + +Certain enough, Peace with Friedrich is now on the way; and cannot +well linger:--what prospect has Austria otherwise? Its very +supplies from England will be stopped. Hyndford redoubles his +diligence; Britannic Majesty reiterates at Vienna: "Did not I tell +you, Madam; there is no hope or possibility till these Prussians +are off our hands!" To which her Hungarian Majesty, as the bargain +was, now sorrowfully assents; sorrowfully, unwillingly,--and always +lays the blame on his Britannic Majesty afterwards, and brings it +up again as a great favor she had done HIM. "Did not I give up my +invaluable Silesia, the jewel of my crown, for you, cruel Britannic +Majesty with the big purse, and no heart to speak of?" This she +urges always, on subsequent occasions; the high-souled Lady; +reproachful of the patient, big-pursed little Gentleman, who never +answers as he might, "For ME, Madam? Well--!" In short, Hyndford, +Podewils and the Vienna Excellencies are busy. + +Of these negotiations which go on at Breslau, and of the acres of +despatchcs, English, Austrian, and other, let us not say one word. +Enough that the Treaty is getting made, and rapidly,--though +military offences do not quite cease; clouds of Austrian Pandours +hovering about everywhere in Prince Karl's rear; pouncing down upon +Prussian outposts, convoys, mostly to little purpose; hoping (what +proves quite futile) they may even burn a Prussian magazine here or +there. Contemptible to the Prussian soldier, though very +troublesome to him. Friedrich regards the Pandour sort, with their +jingling savagery, as a kind of military vermin; not conceivable a +Prussian formed corps should yield to any odds of Pandour Tolpatch +tagraggery. Nor does the Prussian soldier yield; though sometimes, +like the mastiff galled by inroad of distracted weasels in too +great quantity, he may have his own difficulties. Witness Colonel +Retzow and the Magazine at Pardubitz ("daybreak, May 24th") VERSUS +the infinitude of sudden Tolpatchery, bursting from the woods; +rabid enough for many hours, but ineffectual, upon Pardubitz and +Retzow. A distinguished Colonel this; of whom we shall hear again. +Whose style of Narrative (modest, clear, grave, brief), much more, +whose vigilant inexpugnable procedure on the occasion, is much to +be commended to the military man. [Given in Seyfarth, <italic> +Beylage, <end italic> i. 548 et seqq.] Friedrich, the better to +cover his Magazines, and be out of such annoyances, fell back a +little; gradually to Kuttenberg again (Tolpatchery vanishing, of +its owm accord); and lay encamped there, head-quarters in the +Schloss of Maleschau near by,--till the Breslau Negotiations +completed themselves. + +Prince Karl, fringed with Tolpatchery in this manner, but with much +desertion, much dispiritment, in his main body,--the HOOPS upon him +all loose, so to speak,--staggers zigzag back towards Budweis, and +the Lobkowitz Party there; intending nothing more upon the +Prussians;--capable now, think some NON-Prussians, of being well +swept out of Budweis, and over the horizon altogether. If only his +Prussian Majesty will co-operate! thinks Belleisle. "Your King of +Prussia will not, M. le Marechal!" answers Broglio:--No, indeed; he +has tried that trade already, M. le Marechal! think Broglio and we. +The suspicions that Friedrich, so quiescent after his Chotusitz, is +making Peace, are rife everywhere; especially in Broglio's head and +old Fleury's; though Belleisle persists with emphasis, officially +and privately, in the opposite opinion, "Husht, Messieurs!" Better +go and see, however. + +Belleisle does go; starts for Kuttenberg, for Dresden; his +beautiful Budweis project now ready, French reinforcements +streaming towards us, heart high again,--if only Friedrich and the +Saxons will co-operate. Belleisle, the Two Belleisles, with Valori +and Company, arrived June 2d at Kuttenberg, at the Schloss of +Maleschau;--"spoke little of Chotusitz," says Stille; "and were +none of them at the pains to ride to the ground." Marechal +Belleisle, for the next three days, had otherwise speech of +Friedrich; especially, on June 5th, a remarkable Dialogue. +"Won't your Majesty co-operate?" "Alas, Monseigneur de Belleisle--" +How gladly would we give this last Dialogue of Friedrich's and +Belleisle's, one of the most ticklish conceivable: but there is not +anywhere the least record of it that can be called authentic;--and +we learn only that Friedrich, with considerable distinctness, gave +him to know, "clearly" (say all the Books, except Friedrich's own), +that co-operation was henceforth a thing of the preter-pluperfect +tense. "All that I ever wanted, more than I ever demanded, Austria +now offers; can any one blame me that I close such a business as +ours has all along been, on such terms as these now offered +me are?" + +It is said, and is likely enough, the Pallandt-Fleury Letter came +up; as probably the MORAVIAN FORAY, and various Broglio passages, +would, in the train of said Letter. To all which, and to the +inexorable painful corollary, Belleisle, in his high lean way, +would listen with a stern grandiose composure. But the rumors add, +On coming out into the Anteroom, dialogue and sentence now done, +Monseigneur de Belleisle tore the peruke from his head; and +stamping on it, was heard to say volcanically, "That cursed +parson,--CE MAUDIT CALOTTE [old Fleury],--has ruined everything!" +Perhaps it is not true? If true,--the prompt valets would quickly +replace Monseigneur's wig; chasing his long strides; and silence, +in so dignified a man, would cloak whatever emotions there were. +[Adelung, iii. A, 154; &c. &c. <italic> Guerre de Boheme, <end +italic> (silent about the wig) admits, as all Books do, the perfect +clearness;--compare, however, <italic> OEuvres de Frederic; <end +italic> and also Broglio's strange darkness, twelve days later, and +Belleisle now beside him again (<italic> Campagnes des Trois +Marechaux, <end italic> v. 190, 191, of date 17th June);--darkness +due perhaps to the strange humor Broglio was then in?] He rolled +off, he and his, straightway to Dresden, there to invite +co-operation in the Budweis Project; there also in vain.-- +"CO-operation," M. le Marechal? Alas, it has already come to +operation, if you knew it! Aud your Broglio is-- Better hurry back +to Prag, where you will find phenomena! + +June 15th, Friedrich has a grand dinner of Generals at Maleschau; +and says, in proposing the first bumper, "Gentlemen, I announce to +you, that, as I never wished to oppress the Queen of Hungary, I +have formed the resolution of agreeing with that Princess, and +accepting the Proposals she has made me in satisfaction of my +rights,"--telling them withal what the chief terms were, and +praising my Lord Hyndford for his great services. Upon which was +congratulation, cordial, universal; and, with full rummers, "Health +to the Queen of Hungary!" followed by others of the like type, +"Grand-Duke of Lorraine!" and "The brave Prince Karl!" especially. + +Brevity being incumbent on us, we shall say only that the Hyndford- +Podewils operations had been speeded, day and night; brought to +finis, in the form of Signed Preliminaries, as "Treaty of Breslau, +11th June, 1742;" and had gone to Friedrich's satisfaction in every +particular. Thanks to the useful Hyndford,--to the willing mind of +his Britannic Majesty, once so indignant, but made willing, nay +passionately eager, by his love of Human Liberty and the pressure +of events! To Hyndford, some weeks hence, [2d August +(<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> ii. 729).]--I conclude, +on Friedrich's request,--there was Order of the Thistle sent; +and grandest investiture ever seen almost, done by Friedrich upon +Hyndford (Jordan, Keyserling, Schwerin, and the Sword of State busy +in it; Two Queens and all the Berlin firmament looking on); +and, perhaps better still, on Friedrich's part there was gift of a +Silver Dinner-Service; gift of the Royal Prussian Arms (which do +enrich ever since the Shield of those Scottish Carmichaels, as +doubtless the Dinner-Service does their Plate-chest); and abundant +praise and honor to the useful Hyndford, heavy of foot, but sure, +who had reached the goal. + +This welcome Treaty, signed at Breslau, June 11th, and confirmed by +"Treaty of Berlin, July 28th," in more explicit solemn manner, to +the self-same effect, can be read by him that runs (if compelled to +read Treaties); [In <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> +i. 1061-1064 (Treaty of Breslau), ib. 1065-1070 (that of Berlin); +to be found also in Wenck, Rousset, Scholl, Adeluug, &c.] the +terms, in compressed form, are:-- + +1. "Silesia, Lower and Upper, to beyond the watershed and the Oppa- +stream,--reserving only the Principality of Teschen, with +pertinents, which used to be reckoned Silesian, and the ulterior +Mountain-tops [Mountain-tops good for what? thought Friedrich, a +year or two afterwards!]--Silesia wholly, within those limits, and +furthermore the County Glatz and its dependencies, are and remain +the property of Friedrich and of his Heirs male or female; +given up, and made his, to all intents and purposes, forevermore. +With which Friedrich, to the like long date, engages to rest +satisfied, and claim nothing farther anywhere. + +2. "Silesian Dutch-English Debt [Loan of about Two Millions, better +half of it English, contracted by the late Kaiser, on Silesian +security, in that dreadful Polish-Election crisis, when the Sea- +Powers would not help, but left it to their Stockbrokers] is +undertaken by Friedrich, who will pay interest on the same +till liquidated. + +3. "Religion to stand where it is. Prussian Majesty not to meddle +in this present or in other Wars of her Hungarian Majesty, except +with his ardent wishes that General Peace would ensue, and that all +his friends, Hungarian Majesty among others, were living in good +agreement around him." + +This is the Treaty of Breslau (June 11th, 1742), or, in second more +solemn edition, Treaty of Berlin (July 28th following); +signed, ratified, guaranteed by his Britannic Majesty for one, +[Treaty of Westminster, between Friedrich aud George, 29th (18th) +November, 1842 (Scholl, ii. 313).] and firmly planted on the +Diplomatic adamant (at least on the Diplomatic parchment) of this +world. And now: Homewards, then; march!-- + +Huge huzzaing, herald-trumpeting, bob-major-ing, bursts forth from +all Prussian Towns, especially from all Silesian ones, in those +June days, as the drums beat homewards; elaborate Illuminations, in +the short nights; with bonfires, with transparencies,--Transparency +inscribed "FREDERICO MAGNO (To Friedrich THE GREAT)," in one small +instance, still of premature nature. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte +<end italic> (ii. 702-729) is endless on these Illuminations; +the Jauer case, of FREDERICO MAGNO (Jauer in Silesia), is of June +15th (ib. 712).] + +Omitting very many things, about Silesian Fortresses, Army-Cantons, +Silesian settlements, military and civil, which would but weary the +reader, we add only this from Bielfeld: dusty Transit of a +victorious Majesty, now on the threshold of home. Precise date +(which Bielfeld prudently avoids guessing at) is July 11th, 1742; +"M. de Pollnitz and I are in the suite of the King:-- + +"We never stopped on the road, except some hours at Frankfurt-on- +Oder, where the Fair was just going on. On approaching the Town, we +found the highway lined on both sides with crowds of traders, and +other strangers of all nations; who had come out, attracted by +curiosity to see the conqueror of Silesia, and had ranged +themselves in two rows there. His Majesty's entry into Frankfurt, +although a very triumphant one, was far from being ostentatious. +We passed like lightning before the eyes of the spectators, and we +were so covered with dust, that it was difficult to distinguish the +color of our coats and the features of our faces. We made some +purchases at Frankfurt; and arrived safely in the Capital [next +day], where the King was received amidst the acclamations of his +People." [Bielfeld, ii. 51.] + +Here is a successful young King; is not he? Has plunged into the +Mahlstrom for his jewelled gold Cup, and comes up with it, alive, +unlamed. Will he, like that DIVER of Schiller's, have to try the +feat a second time? Perhaps a second time, and even a third!-- + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 13 + diff --git a/old/13frd10.zip b/old/13frd10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0f6ced --- /dev/null +++ b/old/13frd10.zip |