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(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. XXI. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--Afternoon and Evening of Friedrich's + Life--1763-1786 + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2121] +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, Volume 21 + </h1> + <h2> + FREDERICK THE GREAT + </h2> + <h2> + by Thomas Carlyle + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK XXI.—AFTERNOON AND EVENING OF + FRIEDRICH'S LIFE—1763-1786.</b></big> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0001"> <b>Chapter I.—PREFATORY.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0002"> <b>Chapter II.—REPAIRING OF A RUINED PRUSSIA.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> LANDRATH NUSSLER AND THE KING (30th March-3d + April, 1763). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> III. SATURDAY, APRIL + 3d, IN THE SCHLOSS AGAIN: NUSSLER AND LANDRATHS. To them, the KING. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> KRIEGSRATH RODEN AND THE KING (6th-13th June, + 1763). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> OF FRIEDRICH'S NEW EXCISE + SYSTEM. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> THE NEUE PALAIS, IN + SANS-SOUCI NEIGHBORHOOD, IS FOUNDED AND FINISHED (1763-1770). </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> "OBITUARY IN FRIEDRICH'S CIRCLE TILL 1771." + </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> <b>Chapter III.—TROUBLES IN POLAND.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> KING OF POLAND DIES; AND THERE ENSUE HUGE + ANARCHIES IN THAT COUNTRY. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> EX-LOVER + PONIATOWSKI BECOMES KING OF POLAND (7th Sept. 1764), AND IS CROWNED + WITHOUT LOSS OF HIS HAIR. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> FOR + SEVERAL YEARS THE DISSIDENT QUESTION CANNOT BE GOT SETTLED; + CONFEDERATION OF RADOM (23d June, 1767-5th March, 1768) PUSHES IT INTO + SETTLEMENT. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> CONFEDERATION OF BAR + ENSUES, ON THE PER-CONTRA SIDE (March 28th, 1768); AND, AS FIRST RESULT + OF ITS ACHIEVEMENTS (October 6th, 1768), A TURK-RUSSIAN WAR. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> <b>Chapter IV.—PARTITION OF POLAND.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> FIRST INTERVIEW BETWEEN FRIEDRICH AND KAISER + JOSEPH (Neisse, 25th-28th August, 1769). </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0017"> NEXT YEAR THERE IS A SECOND INTERVIEW; FRIEDRICH + MAKING A RETURN-VISIT DURING THE KAISER'S MORAVIAN REVIEWS (Camp of + Mahrisch-Neustadt, 3d-7th September, 1770). </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0018"> RUSSIAN-TURK WAR, FIRST TWO CAMPAIGNS. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> PRINCE HENRI HAS BEEN TO SWEDEN; IS SEEN AT + PETERSBURG IN MASQUERADE (on or about New-year's Day, 1771); AND DOES + GET HOME, WITH RESULTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0020"> THE EMPRESS-QUEEN TO PRINCE KAUNITZ (Undated: + date must be Vienna, February, 1772). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> + WHAT FRIEDRICH DID WITH HIS NEW ACQUISITION. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> <b>Chapter V.—A CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> HERR DOCTOR ZIMMERMANN, THE FAMOUS AUTHOR OF + THE BOOK "ON SOLITUDE," WALKS REVERENTIALLY BEFORE FRIEDRICH'S DOOR IN + THE DUSK OF AN OCTOBER EVENING: AND HAS A ROYAL INTERVIEW NEXT DAY. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> SISTER ULRIQUE, QUEEN-DOWAGER OF SWEDEN, + REVISITS HER NATIVE PLACE (December, 1771-August, 1772). </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0025"> WILHELMINA'S DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH FREDERIKE + SOPHIE, DUCHESS OF WURTEMBERG, APPEARS AT FERNEY (September, 1773). </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> No. 1. DR BURNEY HAS SIGHT OF VOLTAIRE (July, + 1770). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> NO. 2. A REVEREND MR. + SHERLOCK SEES VOLTAIRE, AND EVEN DINES WITH HIM (April, 1776). </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> GENERAL OR FIELDMARSHAL CONWAY, DIRECT FROM + THE LONDON CIRCLES, ATTENDS ONE OF FRIEDRICH'S REVIEWS + (August-September, 1774). </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> EXUBERANT + SHERLOCK AND ELEVEN OTHER ENGLISH ARE PRESENTED TO FRIEDRICH ON A COURT + OCCASION (8th October, 1777); AND TWO OF THEM GET SPOKEN TO, AND SPEAK + EACH A WORD. EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT IS THEIR INTRODUCER. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> <b>Chapter VI.—THE BAVARIAN WAR.</b> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> <b>Chapter VII.—MILLER ARNOLD'S LAWSUIT.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0032"> "PROTOCOL [of December 11th, Title already + given; [Supra, p. 439 n.] Docketing adds], WHICH IS TO BE PRINTED." </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> <b>Chapter VIII.—THE FURSTENBUND: + FRIEDRICH'S LAST YEARS.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0034"> PRINCE DE LIGNE, AFTER TEN YEARS, SEES + FRIEDRICH A SECOND TIME; TIME; AND REPORTS WHAT WAS SAID. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0035"> HOW GENERAL VON DER MARWITZ, IN EARLY BOYHOOD, + SAW FRIEDRICH THE GREAT THREE TIMES (1782-1785). </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0036"> GENERAL BOUILLE, HOME FROM HIS WEST-INDIAN + EXPLOITS, VISITS FRIEDRICH (August 5th-11th, 1784). </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> <b>Chapter IX.—FRIEDRICH'S LAST ILLNESS AND + DEATH.</b> </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK XXI.—AFTERNOON AND EVENING OF FRIEDRICH'S LIFE—1763-1786. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I.—PREFATORY. + </h2> + <p> + The Twelve Hercules-labors of this King have ended here; what was required + of him in World-History is accomplished. There remain to Friedrich + Twenty-three Years more of Life, which to Prussian History are as full of + importance as ever; but do not essentially concern European History, + Europe having gone the road we now see it in. On the grand World-Theatre + the curtain has fallen for a New Act; Friedrich's part, like everybody's + for the present, is played out. In fact, there is, during the rest of his + Reign, nothing of World-History to be dwelt on anywhere. America, it has + been decided, shall be English; Prussia be a Nation. The French, as finis + of their attempt to cut Germany in Four, find themselves sunk into torpor, + abeyance and dry-rot; fermenting towards they know not what. Towards + Spontaneous Combustion in the year 1789, and for long years onwards! + </p> + <p> + There, readers, there is the next milestone for you, in the History of + Mankind! That universal Burning-up, as in hell-fire, of Human Shams. The + oath of Twenty-five Million men, which has since become that of all men + whatsoever, "Rather than live longer under lies, we will die!"—that + is the New Act in World-History. New Act,—or, we may call it New + PART; Drama of World-History, Part Third. If Part SECOND was 1,800 years + ago, this I reckon will be Part THIRD. This is the truly + celestial-infernal Event: the strangest we have seen for a thousand years. + Celestial in one part; in the other, infernal. For it is withal the + breaking out of universal mankind into Anarchy, into the faith and + practice of NO-Government,—that is to say (if you will be candid), + into unappeasable Revolt against Sham-Governors and Sham-Teachers,—which + I do charitably define to be a Search, most unconscious, yet in deadly + earnest, for true Governors and Teachers. That is the one fact of + World-History worth dwelling on at this day; and Friedrich cannot be said + to have had much hand farther in that. + </p> + <p> + Nor is the progress of a French or European world, all silently ripening + and rotting towards such issue, a thing one wishes to dwell on. Only when + the Spontaneous Combustion breaks out; and, many-colored, with loud + noises, envelops the whole world in anarchic flame for long hundreds of + years: then has the Event come; there is the thing for all men to mark, + and to study and scrutinize as the strangest thing they ever saw. + Centuries of it yet lying ahead of us; several sad Centuries, sordidly + tumultuous, and good for little! Say Two Centuries yet,—say even Ten + of such a process: before the Old is completely burnt out, and the New in + any state of sightliness? Millennium of Anarchies;—abridge it, spend + your heart's-blood upon abridging it, ye Heroic Wise that are to come! For + it is the consummation of All the Anarchies that are and were;—which + I do trust always means the death (temporary death) of them! Death of the + Anarchies: or a world once more built wholly on Fact better or worse; and + the lying jargoning professor of Sham-Fact, whose name is Legion, who as + yet (oftenest little conscious of himself) goes tumulting and swarming + from shore to shore, become a species extinct, and well known to be gone + down to Tophet!— + </p> + <p> + There were bits of Anarchies before, little and greater: but till that of + France in 1789, there was none long memorable; all were pygmies in + comparison, and not worth mentioning separately. In 1772 the Anarchy of + Poland, which had been a considerable Anarchy for about three hundred + years, got itself extinguished,—what we may call extinguished;—decisive + surgery being then first exercised upon it: an Anarchy put in the sure way + of extinction. In 1775, again, there began, over seas, another Anarchy + much more considerable,—little dreaming that IT could be called an + Anarchy; on the contrary, calling itself Liberty, Rights of Man; and + singing boundless Io-Paeans to itself, as is common in such cases; an + Anarchy which has been challenging the Universe to show the like ever + since. And which has, at last, flamed up as an independent Phenomenon, + unexampled in the hideously SUICIDAL way;—and does need much to get + burnt out, that matters may begin anew on truer conditions. But neither + the PARTITION OF POLAND nor the AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE have much + general importance, or, except as precursors of 1789, are worth dwelling + on in History. From us here, so far as Friedrich is concerned with them, + they may deserve some transient mention, more or less: but World-History, + eager to be at the general Funeral-pile and ultimate Burning-up of Shams + in this poor World, will have less and less to say of small tragedies and + premonitory symptoms. + </p> + <p> + Curious how the busy and continually watchful and speculating Friedrich, + busied about his dangers from Austrian encroachments, from Russian-Turk + Wars, Bavarian Successions, and other troubles and anarchies close by, saw + nothing to dread in France; nothing to remark there, except carelessly, + from time to time, its beggarly decaying condition, so strangely sunk in + arts, in arms, in finance; oftenest an object of pity to him, for he still + has a love for France;—and reads not the least sign of that + immeasurable, all-engulfing FRENCH REVOLUTION which was in the wind! + Neither Voltaire nor he have the least anticipation of such a thing. + Voltaire and he see, to their contentment, Superstition visibly declining: + Friedrich rather disapproves the heat of Voltaire's procedures on the + INFAME. "Why be in such heat? Other nonsense, quite equal to it, will be + almost sure to follow. Take care of your own skin!" Voltaire and he are + deeply alive, especially Voltaire is, to the horrors and miseries which + have issued on mankind from a Fanatic Popish Superstition, or Creed of + Incredibilities,—which (except from the throat outwards, from the + bewildered tongue outwards) the orthodox themselves cannot believe, but + only pretend and struggle to believe. This Voltaire calls "THE INFAMOUS;" + and this—what name can any of us give it? The man who believes in + falsities is very miserable. The man who cannot believe them, but only + struggles and pretends to believe; and yet, being armed with the power of + the sword, industriously keeps menacing and slashing all round, to compel + every neighbor to do like him: what is to be done with such a man? Human + Nature calls him a Social Nuisance; needing to be handcuffed, gagged and + abated. Human Nature, if it be in a terrified and imperilled state, with + the sword of this fellow swashing round it, calls him "Infamous," and a + Monster of Chaos. He is indeed the select Monster of that region; the + Patriarch of all the Monsters, little as he dreams of being such. An Angel + of Heaven the poor caitiff dreams himself rather, and in cheery moments is + conscious of being:—Bedlam holds in it no madder article. And I + often think he will again need to be tied up (feeble as he now is in + comparison, disinclined though men are to manacling and tying); so many + helpless infirm souls are wandering about, not knowing their right hand + from their left, who fall a prey to him. "L'INFAME" I also name him,—knowing + well enough how little he, in his poor muddled, drugged and stupefied + mind, is conscious of deserving that name. More signal enemy to God, and + friend of the Other Party, walks not the Earth in our day. + </p> + <p> + Anarchy in the shape of religious slavery was what Voltaire and Friedrich + saw all round them. Anarchy in the shape of Revolt against Authorities was + what Friedrich and Voltaire had never dreamed of as possible, and had not + in their minds the least idea of. In one, or perhaps two places you may + find in Voltaire a grim and rather glad forethought, not given out as + prophecy, but felt as interior assurance in a moment of hope, How these + Priestly Sham Hierarchies will be pulled to pieces, probably on the + sudden, once people are awake to them. Yes, my much-suffering M. de + Voltaire, be pulled to pieces; or go aloft, like the awakening of + Vesuvius, one day,—Vesuvius awakening after ten centuries of + slumber, when his crater is all grown grassy, bushy, copiously "tenanted + by wolves" I am told; which, after premonitory grumblings, heeded by no + wolf or bush, he will hurl bodily aloft, ten acres at a time, in a very + tremendous manner! [First modern Eruption of Vesuvius, A.D. 1631, after + long interval of rest.] A thought like this, about the Priestly + Sham-Hierarchies, I have found somewhere in Voltaire: but of the Social + and Civic Sham-Hierarchies (which are likewise accursed, if they knew it, + and indeed are junior co-partners of the Priestly; and, in a sense, sons + and products of them, and cannot escape being partakers of their plagues), + there is no hint, in Voltaire, though Voltaire stood at last only fifteen + years from the Fact (1778-1793); nor in Friedrich, though he lived almost + to see the Fact beginning. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's History being henceforth that of a Prussian King, is + interesting to Prussia chiefly, and to us little otherwise than as the + Biography of a distinguished fellow-man, Friedrich's Biography, his + Physiognomy as he grows old, quietly on his own harvest-field, among his + own People: this has still an interest, and for any feature of this we + shall be eager enough; but this withal is the most of what we now want. + And not very much even of this; Friedrich the unique King not having as a + man any such depth and singularity, tragic, humorous, devotionally pious, + or other, as to authorize much painting in that aspect. Extreme brevity + beseems us in these circumstances: and indeed there are,—as has + already happened in different parts of this Enterprise (Nature herself, in + her silent way, being always something of an Artist in such things),—other + circumstances, which leave us no choice as to that of detail. Available + details, if we wished to give them, of Friedrich's later Life, are not + forthcoming: masses of incondite marine-stores, tumbled out on you, dry + rubbish shot with uncommon diligence for a hundred years, till, for + Rubbish-Pelion piled on Rubbish-Ossa, you lose sight of the stars and + azimuths; whole mountain continents, seemingly all of cinders and + sweepings (though fragments and remnants do lie hidden, could you find + them again):—-these are not details that will be available! + Anecdotes there are in quantity; but of uncertain quality; of doubtful + authenticity, above all. One recollects hardly any Anecdote whatever that + seems completely credible, or renders to us the Physiognomy of Friedrich + in a convincing manner. So remiss a creature has the Prussian Clio been,—employed + on all kinds of loose errands over the Earth and the Air; and as good as + altogether negligent of this most pressing errand in her own House. Peace + be with her, poor slut; why should we say one other hard word on taking + leave of her to all eternity!— + </p> + <p> + The Practical fact is, what we have henceforth to produce is more of the + nature of a loose Appendix of Papers, than of a finished Narrative. Loose + Papers,—which, we will hope, the reader can, by industry, be made to + understand and tolerate: more we cannot do for him. No continuous + Narrative is henceforth possible to us. For the sake of Friedrich's + closing Epoch, we will visit, for the last time, that dreary imbroglio + under which the memory of Friedrich, which ought to have been, in all the + epochs of it, bright and legible, lies buried; and will try to gather, as + heretofore, and put under labels. What dwells with oneself as human may + have some chance to be humanly interesting. In the wildest chaos of + marine-stores and editorial shortcomings (provided only the editors speak + truth, as these poor fellows do) THIS can be done. Part the living from + the dead; pick out what has some meaning, leave carefully what has none; + you will in some small measure pluck up the memory of a hero, like drowned + honor by the locks, and rescue it, into visibility. + </p> + <p> + That Friedrich, on reaching home, made haste to get out, of the bustle of + joyances and exclamations on the streets; proceeded straight to his + music-chapel in Charlottenburg, summoning the Artists, or having them + already summoned; and had there, all alone, sitting invisible wrapt in his + cloak, Graun's or somebody's grand TE-DEUM pealed out to him, in seas of + melody,—soothing and salutary to the altered soul, revolving many + things,—is a popular myth, of pretty and appropriate character; but + a myth only, with no real foundation, though it has some loose and + apparent. [In PREUSS, ii. 46, all the details of it.] No doubt, Friedrich + had his own thoughts on entering Berlin again, after such a voyage through + the deeps; himself, his Country still here, though solitary and in a world + of wild shipwrecks. He was not without piety; but it did not take the + devotional form, and his habits had nothing of the clerical. + </p> + <p> + What is perfectly known, and much better worth knowing, is the + instantaneous practical alacrity with which he set about repairing that + immense miscellany of ruin; and the surprising success he had in dealing + with it. His methods, his rapid inventions and procedures, in this matter, + are still memorable to Prussia; and perhaps might with advantage be better + known than they are in some other Countries. To us, what is all we can do + with them here, they will indicate that this is still the old Friedrich, + with his old activities and promptitudes; which indeed continue unabated, + lively in Peace as in War, to the end of his life and reign. + </p> + <p> + The speed with which Prussia recovered was extraordinary. Within little + more than a year (June 1st, 1764), the Coin was all in order again; in + 1765, the King had rebuilt, not to mention other things, "in Silesia 8,000 + Houses, in Pommern 6,500." [Rodenbeck, ii. 234, 261.] Prussia has been a + meritorious Nation; and, however cut and ruined, is and was in a healthy + state, capable of recovering soon. Prussia has defended itself against + overwhelming odds,—brave Prussia; but the real soul of its merit was + that of having merited such a King to command it. Without this King, all + its valors, disciplines, resources of war, would have availed Prussia + little. No wonder Prussia has still a loyalty to its great Friedrich, to + its Hohenzollern Sovereigns generally. Without these Hohenzollerns, + Prussia had been, what we long ago saw it, the unluckiest of German + Provinces; and could never have had the pretension to exist as a Nation at + all. Without this particular Hohenzollern, it had been trampled out again, + after apparently succeeding. To have achieved a Friedrich the Second for + King over it, was Prussia's grand merit. + </p> + <p> + An accidental merit, thinks the reader? No, reader, you may believe me, it + is by no means altogether such. Nay, I rather think, could we look into + the Account-Books of the Recording Angel for a course of centuries, no + part of it is such! There are Nations in which a Friedrich is, or can be, + possible; and again there are Nations in which he is not and cannot. To be + practically reverent of Human Worth to the due extent, and abhorrent of + Human Want of Worth in the like proportion, do you understand that art at + all? I fear, not,—or that you are much forgetting it again! Human + Merit, do you really love it enough, think you;—human Scoundrelism + (brought to the dock for you, and branded as scoundrel), do you even abhor + it enough? Without that reverence and its corresponding opposite-pole of + abhorrence, there is simply no possibility left. That, my friend, is the + outcome and summary of all virtues in this world, for a man or for a + Nation of men. It is the supreme strength and glory of a Nation;—without + which, indeed, all other strengths, and enormities of bullion and arsenals + and warehouses, are no strength. None, I should say;—and are + oftenest even the REVERSE. + </p> + <p> + Nations who have lost this quality, or who never had it, what Friedrich + can they hope to be possible among them? Age after age they grind down + their Friedrichs contentedly under the hoofs of cattle on their highways; + and even find it an excellent practice, and pride themselves on Liberty + and Equality. Most certain it is, there will no Friedrich come to rule + there; by and by, there will none be born there. Such Nations cannot have + a King to command them; can only have this or the other scandalous + swindling Copper Captain, constitutional Gilt Mountebank, or other the + like unsalutary entity by way of King; and the sins of the fathers are + visited upon the children in a frightful and tragical manner, little + noticed in the Penny Newspapers and Periodical Literatures of this + generation. Oh, my friends—! But there is plain Business waiting us + at hand. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II.—REPAIRING OF A RUINED PRUSSIA. + </h2> + <p> + That of Friedrich's sitting wrapt in a cloud of reflections + Olympian-Abysmal, in the music-chapel at Charlottenburg, while he had the + Ambrosian Song executed for him there, as the preliminary step, was a + loose myth; but the fact lying under it is abundantly certain. Few Sons of + Adam had more reason for a piously thankful feeling towards the Past, a + piously valiant towards the Future. What king or man had seen himself + delivered from such strangling imbroglios of destruction, such devouring + rages of a hostile world? And the ruin worked by them lay monstrous and + appalling all round. Friedrich is now Fifty-one gone; unusually old for + his age; feels himself an old man, broken with years and toils; and here + lies his Kingdom in haggard slashed condition, worn to skin and bone: How + is the King, resourceless, to remedy it? That is now the seemingly + impossible problem. "Begin it,—thereby alone will it ever cease to + be impossible!" Friedrich begins, we may say, on the first morrow morning. + Labors at his problem, as he did in the march to Leuthen; finds it to + become more possible, day after day, month after month, the farther he + strives with it. + </p> + <p> + "Why not leave it to Nature?" think many, with the Dismal Science at their + elbow. Well; that was the easiest plan, but it was not Friedrich's. His + remaining moneys, 25 million thalers ready for a Campaign which has not + come, he distributes to the most necessitous: "all his artillery-horses" + are parted into plough-teams, and given to those who can otherwise get + none: think what a fine figure of rye and barley, instead of mere + windlestraws, beggary and desolation, was realized by that act alone. + Nature is ready to do much; will of herself cover, with some veil of grass + and lichen, the nakedness of ruin: but her victorious act, when she can + accomplish it, is that of getting YOU to go with her handsomely, and + change disaster itself into new wealth. Into new wisdom and valor, which + are wealth in all kinds; California mere zero to them, zero, or even a + frightful MINUS quantity! Friedrich's procedures in this matter I believe + to be little less didactic than those other, which are so celebrated in + War: but no Dryasdust, not even a Dryasdust of the Dismal Science, has + gone into them, rendered men familiar with them in their details and + results. His Silesian Land-Bank (joint-stock Moneys, lent on security of + Land) was of itself, had I room to explain it, an immense furtherance. + [Preuss, iii. 75; <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 84.] Friedrich, many + tell us, was as great in Peace as in War: and truly, in the economic and + material provinces, my own impression, gathered painfully in darkness, and + contradiction of the Dismal-Science Doctors, is much to that effect. A + first-rate Husbandman (as his Father had been); who not only defended his + Nation, but made it rich beyond what seemed possible; and diligently sowed + annuals into it, and perennials which flourish aloft at this day. + </p> + <p> + Mirabeau's <i>Monarchie Prussienne,</i> in 8 thick Volumes 8vo,—composed, + or hastily cobbled together, some Twenty years after this period,—contains + the best tabular view one anywhere gets of Friedrich's economics, military + and other practical methods and resources:—solid exact Tables these + are, and intelligent intelligible descriptions, done by Mauvillon FILS, + the same punctual Major Mauvillon who used to attend us in Duke + Ferdinand's War;—and so far as Mirabeau is concerned, the Work + consists farther of a certain small Essay done in big type, shoved into + the belly of each Volume, and eloquently recommending, with respectful + censures and regrets over Friedrich, the Gospel of Free Trade, dear to + Papa Mirabeau. The Son is himself a convert; far above lying, even to + please Papa: but one can see, the thought of Papa gives him new fire of + expression. They are eloquent, ruggedly strong Essays, those of Mirabeau + Junior upon Free Trade:—they contain, in condensed shape, everything + we were privileged to hear, seventy years later, from all organs, + coach-horns, jews-harps and scrannel-pipes, PRO and CONTRA, on the same + sublime subject: "God is great, and Plugson of Undershot is his Prophet. + Thus saith the Lord, Buy in the cheapest market, sell in the dearest!" To + which the afflicted human mind listens what it can;—and after + seventy years, mournfully asks itself and Mirabeau, "M. le Comte, would + there have been in Prussia, for example, any Trade at all, any Nation at + all, had it always been left 'Free'? There would have been mere sand and + quagmire, and a community of wolves and bisons, M. le Comte. Have the + goodness to terminate that Litany, and take up another!" + </p> + <p> + We said, Friedrich began his problem on the first morrow morning; and that + is literally true, that or even MORE. Here is how Friedrich takes his + stand amid the wreck, speedy enough to begin: this view of our old friend + Nussler and him is one of the Pieces we can give,—thanks to Herr + Busching and his <i>Beitrage</i> for the last time! Nussler is now + something of a Country Gentleman, so to speak; has a pleasant place out to + east of Berlin; is LANDRATH (County Chairman) there, "Landrath of + Nether-Barnim Circle;" where we heard of the Cossacks spoiling him: he, as + who not, has suffered dreadfully in these tumults. Here is Busching's + welcome Account. + </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> + LANDRATH NUSSLER AND THE KING (30th March-3d April, 1763). + </h2> + <p> + "MARCH 30th, 1763, Friedrich, on his return to Berlin, came by the route + of Tassdorf,"—Tassdorf, in Nether-Barnim Circle (40 odd miles from + Frankfurt, and above 15 from Berlin);—"and changed horses there. + During this little pause, among a crowd assembled to see him, he was + addressed by Nussler, Landrath of the Circle, who had a very piteous story + to tell. Nussler wished the King joy of his noble victories, and of the + glorious Peace at last achieved: 'May your Majesty reign in health and + happiness over us many years, to the blessing of us all!'—and + recommended to his gracious care the extremely ruined, and, especially by + the Russians, uncommonly devastated Circle, for which," continues Busching + "this industrious Landrath had not hitherto been able to extract any + effective help." Generally for the Provinces wasted by the Russians there + had already some poor 300,000 thalers (45,000 pounds) been allowed by a + helpful Majesty, not over-rich himself at the moment; and of this, + Nether-Barnim no doubt gets its share: but what is this to such ruin as + there is? A mere preliminary drop, instead of the bucket and buckets we + need!—Busching, a dull, though solid accurate kind of man, + heavy-footed, and yet always in a hurry, always slipshod, has nothing of + dramatic here; far from it; but the facts themselves fall naturally into + that form,—in Three Scenes:— + </p> + <p> + I. TASSDORF (still two hours from Berlin), KING, NUSSLER AND A CROWD OF + PEOPLE, Nussler ALONE DARING TO SPEAK. + </p> + <p> + KING (from his Carriage, ostlers making despatch). "What is your Circle + most short of?" + </p> + <p> + LANDRATH NUSSLER. "Of horses for ploughing the seedfields of rye to sow + them, and of bread till the crops come." + </p> + <p> + KING. "Rye for bread, and to sow with, I will give; with horses I cannot + assist." + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER. "On representation of Privy-Councillor van Brenkenhof [the + Minister concerned with such things], your Majesty has been pleased to + give the Neumark and Pommern an allowance of Artillery and Commissariat + Horses: but poor Nether-Barnim, nobody will speak for it; and unless your + Majesty's gracious self please to take pity on it, Nether-Barnim is lost!" + (A great many things more he said, in presence of a large crowd of men who + had gathered round the King's Carriage as the horses were being changed; + and spoke with such force and frankness that the King was surprised, and + asked:)— + </p> + <p> + KING. "Who are you?" (has forgotten the long-serviceable man!) + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER. "I am the Nussler who was lucky enough to manage the Fixing of + the Silesian Boundaries for your Majesty!" + </p> + <p> + KING. "JA, JA, now I know you again! Bring me all the Landraths of the + Kurmark [Mark of Brandenburg Proper, ELECTORAL Mark] in a body; I will + speak with them." + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER. "All of them but two are in Berlin already." + </p> + <p> + KING. "Send off estafettes for those two to come at once to Berlin; and on + Thursday," day after to-morrow, "come yourself, with all the others, to + the Schloss to me: I will then have some closer conversation, and say what + I can and will do for helping of the country," (King's Carriage rolls + away, with low bows and blessings from Nussler and everybody). + </p> + <p> + II. THURSDAY, APRIL 1st, NUSSLER AND ASSEMBLED LANDRATHS AT THE SCHLOSS OF + BERLIN. To them, enter KING.... + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER (whom they have appointed spokesman).... "Your Majesty has given + us Peace; you will also give us Well-being in the Land again: we leave it + to Highest-the-Same's gracious judgment [no limit to Highest-the-Same's + POWER, it would seem] what you will vouchsafe to us as indemnification for + the Russian plunderings." + </p> + <p> + KING. "Be you quiet; let me speak. Have you got a pencil (HAT ER CRAYON)? + Yes! Well then, write, and these Gentlemen shall dictate to you:— + </p> + <p> + "'How much rye for bread; How much for seed; How many Horses, Oxen, Cows, + their Circles do in an entirely pressing way require?' + </p> + <p> + "Consider all that to the bottom; and come to me again the day after + to-morrow. But see that you fix everything with the utmost exactitude, for + I cannot give much." (EXIT King.) + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER (to the Landraths). "MEINE HERREN, have the goodness to accompany + me to our Landschaft House [we have a kind of County Hall, it seems]; + there we will consider everything." + </p> + <p> + And Nussler, guiding the deliberations, which are glad to follow him on + every point, and writing as PRO-TEMPORE Secretary, has all things brought + to luminous Protocol in the course of this day and next. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. SATURDAY, APRIL 3d, IN THE SCHLOSS AGAIN: NUSSLER AND LANDRATHS. To + them, the KING. + </h2> + <p> + Nussler. "We deliver to your Majesty the written Specification you were + graciously pleased to command of us. It contains only the indispensablest + things that the Circles are in need of. Moreover, it regards only the + STANDE [richer Nobility], who pay contribution; the Gentry [ADEL], and + other poor people, who have been utterly plundered out by the Russians, + are not included in it:—the Gentry too have suffered very much by + the War and the Plundering." + </p> + <p> + KING. "What EDELLEUTE that are members of STANDE have you [ER] got in your + Circle?" + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER (names them; and, as finis of the list, adds):... "I myself, too, + your Majesty, I have suffered more than anybody: I absolutely could not + furnish those 4,000 bushels of meal ordered of me by the Russians; upon + which they—" + </p> + <p> + KING. "I cannot give to all: but if you have poor Nobles in your Circle, + who can in no way help themselves, I will give them something." + </p> + <p> + NUSSLER (has not any in Nether-Barnim who are altogether in that extreme + predicament; but knows several in Lebus Circle, names them to the King;—and + turning to the Landrath of Lebus, and to another who is mute): "Herr, you + can name some more in Lebus; and you, in Teltow Circle, Herr Landrath, + since his Majesty permits."... In a word, the King having informed himself + and declared his intention, Nussler leads the Landraths to their old + County Hall, and brings to Protocol what had taken place. + </p> + <p> + Next day, the Kammer President (Exchequer President), Van der Groben, had + Nussler, with other Landraths, to dinner. During dinner, there came from + Head Secretary Eichel (Majesty's unwearied Clerk of the PELLS, Sheepskins, + or PAPERS) an earnest request to Von der Groben for help,—Eichel not + being able to remember, with the requisite precision, everything his + Majesty had bid him put down on this matter. "You will go, Herr von + Nussler; be so kind, won't you?" And Nussler went, and fully illuminated + Eichel.... + </p> + <p> + To the poorest of the Nobility, Busching tells us, what is otherwise well + known, the King gave considerable sums: to one Circle 12,000 pounds, to + another 9,000 pounds, 6,000 pounds, and so on. By help of which bounties, + and of Nussler laboring incessantly with all his strength, Nieder-Barnim + Circle got on its feet again, no subject having been entirely ruined, but + all proving able to recover. [Busching, <i>Beitrage</i> (Nussler), i. + 401-405.] + </p> + <p> + This Busching Fragment is not in the style of the Elder Dramatists, or for + the Bankside Theatre; but this represents a Fact which befell in God's + Creation, and may have an interest of its own to the Practical Soul, + especially in anarchic Countries, far advanced in the "Gold-nugget and + Nothing to Buy with it" Career of unexampled Prosperities. + </p> + <p> + On these same errands the King is soon going on an Inspection Journey, + where we mean to accompany. But first, one word, and one will suffice, on + the debased Coin. The Peace was no sooner signed, than Friedrich proceeded + on the Coin. The third week after his arrival home, there came out a + salutary Edict on it, April 21st; King eager to do it without loss of + time, yet with the deliberation requisite. Not at one big leap, which + might shake, to danger of oversetting, much commercial arrangement; but at + two leaps, with a halfway station intervening. Halfway station, with a new + coinage ready, much purer of alloy (and marked HOW much, for the benefit + of parties with accounts to settle), is to commence on TRINITATIS + (Whitsunday) instant; from and after Whitsunday the improved new coin to + be sole legal tender, till farther notice. Farther notice comes + accordingly, within a year, March 29th, 1764: "Pure money of the standard + of 1750 [honest silver coinage: readers may remember Linsenbarth, the + CANDIDATUS THEOLOGIAE, and his sack of Batzen, confiscated at the Paekhof] + shall be ready on the 1st of June instant;" [Rodenbeck, ii. 214, 234.]—from + and after which day we hear no more of that sad matter. Finished off in + about fourteen months. Here, meanwhile, is the Inspection Journey. + </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> + KRIEGSRATH RODEN AND THE KING (6th-13th June, 1763). + </h2> + <p> + JUNE 2d, 1763, Friedrich left Potsdam for Westphalia; got as far as + Magdeburg that day. Intends seeing into matters with his own eyes in that + region, as in others, after so long and sad an absence. There are with him + Friedrich Wilhelm Prince of Prussia, a tall young fellow of nineteen; + General-Adjutant von Anhalt; and one or two Prussian military people. From + Magdeburg and onwards the great Duke Ferdinand accompanies,—who is + now again Governor of Magdeburg, and a quiet Prussian Officer as + heretofore, though with excellent Pensions from England, and glory from + all the world. + </p> + <p> + The Royal Party goes by Halberstadt, which suffered greatly in the War; + thence by MINDEN (June 4th); and the first thing next day, Friedrich takes + view of the BATTLE-FIELD there,—under Ferdinand's own guidance, + doubtless; and an interesting thing to both Friedrich and him, though left + silent to us. This done, they start for Lippstadt, are received there + under joyous clangorous outburst of all the bells and all the honors, that + same afternoon; and towards sunset, Hamm being the Night-quarter ahead, + are crossing VELLINGHAUSEN BATTLE-GROUND,—where doubtless Ferdinand + again, like a dutiful apprentice, will explain matters to his old master, + so far as needful or permissible. The conversation, I suppose, may have + been lively and miscellaneous: Ferdinand mentions a clever business-person + of the name of Roden, whom he has known in these parts; "Roden?" the King + carefully makes note;—and, in fact, we shall see Roden presently; + and his bit of DIALOGUE with the King (recorded by his own hand) is our + chief errand on this Journey. From Hamm, next morning (June 6th), they get + to Wesel by 11 A.M. (only sixty miles); Wesel all in gala, as Lippstadt + was, or still more than Lippstadt; and for four days farther, they + continue there very busy. As Roden is our chief errand, let us attend to + Roden. + </p> + <p> + WESEL, MONDAY, JUNE 6th, "Dinner being done," says an authentic + Third-Party, [Rodenbeck, ii. 217.] "the King had Kammer-Director Meyen + summoned to him with his Register-Books, Schedules and Reports [what they + call ETATS]; and was but indifferently contented with Meyen and them." And + in short, "ordering Meyen to remodel these into a more distinct + condition,"—we may now introduce the Herr Kriegsrath Roden, a + subaltern, in rank, but who has perhaps a better head than Meyen, to judge + of these ETATS. Roden himself shall now report. This is the Royal Dialogue + with Roden; accurately preserved for us by him;—I wish it had been + better worth the reader's trouble; but its perfect credibility in every + point will be some recommendation to it. + </p> + <p> + "MONDAY, 6th JUNE, 1763, about 11 A.M., his Majesty arrived in Wesel," + says Roden (confirming to us the authentic Third-Party); "I waited on + Adjutant-General Colonel von Anhalt to announce myself; who referred me to + Kriegsrath Coper ["MEIN SEGRETER KOPER" is a name we have heard before], + who told me to be ready so soon as Dinner should be over. Dinner was no + sooner over [2 P.M. or so], than the Herr Kammer-Director Meyen with his + ETATS was called in. His Majesty was not content with these, Herr Meyen + was told; and they were to be remodelled into a more distinct condition. + The instant Herr Meyen stept out, I was called in. His Majesty was + standing with his back to the fire; and said:— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Come nearer [Roden comes nearer]. Prince Ferdinand [of Brunswick, + whom we generally call DUKE and great, to distinguish him from a little + Prussian Prince Ferdinand] has told me much good of you: where do you come + from?' + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'From Soest' [venerable "stone-old" little Town, in Vellinghausen + region]. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Did you get my Letter?' + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'Yea, IHRO MAJESTAT.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I will give you some employment. Have you got a pencil?' + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'Yea' [and took out his Note-book and tools, which he had "bought + in a shop a quarter of an hour before"]. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Listen. By the War many Houses have got ruined: I mean that they + shall be put in order again; for which end,—to those that cannot + themselves help, particularly to Soest, Hamm, Lunen and in part Wesel, as + places that have suffered most,—I intend to give the moneys. Now you + must make me an exact List of what is to be done in those places. Thus + [King, lifting his finger, let us fancy, dictates; Roden, with brand-new + pencil and tablets, writes:] + </p> + <p> + "'1. In each of those Towns, how many ruined Houses there are which the + proprietors themselves can manage to rebuild. 2. How many which the + proprietors cannot. 3. The vacant grounds or steadings of such proprietors + as are perhaps dead, or gone else-whither, must be given to others that + are willing to build: but in regard to this, Law also must do its part, + and the absent and the heirs must be cited to say, Whether they will + themselves build? and in case they won't, the steadings can then be given + to others.'" Roden having written,— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'In the course of six days you must be ready [what an expeditious + King! Is to be at Cleve the sixth day hence: Meet me there, then],—longer + I cannot give you.' + </p> + <p> + RODEN (considering a moment). "'If your Majesty will permit me to use + ESTAFETTES [express messengers] for the Towns farthest off,—as I + cannot myself, within the time, travel over all the Towns,—I hope to + be ready.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'That I permit; and will repay you the ESTAFETTE moneys.—Tell + me, How comes the decrease of population in these parts? Recruits I got + none.' + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'Under favor of your Majesty, Regiment Schenkendorf got, every + year, for recompletion, what recruits were wanted, from its Canton in the + Grafschaft Mark here.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'There you may be right: but from Cleve Country we had no recruits; + not we, though the Austrians had, [with a slight sarcasm of tone]. + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'Out of Cleve, so far as I know, there were no recruits delivered + to the Austrians.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'You could not know; you were with the Allied Army' [Duke + Ferdinand's, commissariating and the like, where Duke Ferdinand recognized + you to have a head]. + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'There have been many epidemic diseases too; especially in Soest;—after + the Battle of Vellinghausen all the wounded were brought thither, and the + hospitals were established there.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Epidemic diseases they might have got without a Battle [dislikes + hearing ill of the soldier trade]. I will have Order sent to the Cleve + Kammer, Not to lay hindrance in your way, but the contrary. Now God keep + you (GOTT BEWAHRE IHN).'"—EXIT Roden;—"DARAUF RETIRIRTE MICH," + says he;—but will reappear shortly. + </p> + <p> + Sunday, 12th June, is the sixth day hence; later than the end of Sunday is + not permissible to swift Roden; nor does he need it. + </p> + <p> + Friday, 10th, Friedrich left Wesel; crossed the Rhine, intending for + Cleve; went by CREFELD,—at Crefeld had view of another BATTLE-FIELD, + under good ciceroneship; remarks or circumstances otherwise not given:—and, + next day, Saturday, 11th, picked up D'Alembert, who, by appointment, is + proceeding towards Potsdam, at a more leisurely rate. That same Saturday, + after much business done, the King was at Kempen, thence at Geldern; + speeding for Cleve itself, due there that night. At Geldern, we say, he + picked up D'Alembert;—concerning whom, more by and by. And finally, + "on Saturday night, about half-past 8, the King entered Cleve," amid + joyances extraordinary, hut did not alight; drove direct through by the + Nassau Gate, and took quarter "in the neighboring Country-house of + Bellevue, with the Dutch General von Spaen there,"—an obliging + acquaintance once, while LIEUTENANT Spaen, in our old Crown-Prince times + of trouble! Had his year in Spandau for us there, while poor Katte lost + his head! To whom, I have heard, the King talked charmingly on this + occasion, but was silent as to old Potsdam matters. [Supra, vii. 165.]— + </p> + <p> + By his set day, Roden is also in Cleve, punctual man, finished or just + finishing; and ready for summons by his Majesty. And accordingly:— + </p> + <p> + "CLEVE, MONDAY, JUNE 13th, At 9 in the morning," records he, "I had + audience of the King's Majesty. [In Spaen's Villa of Bellevue, shall we + still suppose? Duke Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia and the rest, have + bestowed themselves in other fit houses; D'Alembert too,—who is to + make direct for Potsdam henceforth, by his own route; and will meet us on + arriving.]—I handed him my Report, with the Tabular Schedule. His + Majesty read it carefully through, in my presence; and examined all of it + with strictness. Was pleased to signify his satisfaction with my work. + Resolved to allow 250,000 thalers (37,500 pounds) for this business of + Rebuilding; gave out the due Orders to his Kammer, in consequence, and + commanded me to arrange with the Kammer what was necessary. This done, his + Majesty said:— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'What you were described to me, I find you to be. You are a + diligent laborious man; I must have you nearer to me;—in the Berlin + Hammer you ought to be. You shall have a good, a right good Salary; your + Patent I will give you gratis; also a VORSPANN-PASS [Standing Order + available at all Prussian Post-Stations] for two carriages [rapid Program + of the thing, though yet distant, rising in the Royal fancy!]. Now serve + on as faithfully as you have hitherto done.' + </p> + <p> + RODEN. "'That is the object of all my endeavors.'" (EXIT:—I did not + hear specially whitherward just now; but he comes to be supreme + Kammer-President in those parts by and by.) + </p> + <p> + "The Herr Kriegsrath Coper was present, and noted all the Orders to he + expedited." [Preuss, ii. 442; Rodenbeck, ii. 217, 218: in regard to + D'Alembert, see <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiv. 190.] + </p> + <p> + These snatches of notice at first-hand, and what the reader's fancy may + make of these, are all we can bestow on this Section of Friedrich's + Labors; which is naturally more interesting to Prussian readers than to + English. He has himself given lucid and eloquent account of it,—Two + ample Chapters, "DES FINANCES;" "DU MILITAIRE," [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + vii. 73-90, 91-109.]—altogether pleasant reading, should there still + be curiosity upon it. There is something of flowingly eloquent in + Friedrich's account of this Battle waged against the inanimate Chaos; + something of exultant and triumphant, not noticeable of him in regard to + his other Victories. On the Leuthens, Rossbachs, he is always cold as + water, and nobody could gather that he had the least pleasure in recording + them. Not so here. And indeed here he is as beautiful as anywhere; and the + reader, as a general son of Adam,—proud to see human intellect and + heroism slaying that kind of lions, and doing what in certain sad epochs + is unanimously voted to be impossible and unattemptable,—exults + along with him; and perhaps whispers to his own poor heart, nearly choked + by the immeasurable imbroglio of Blue-books and Parliamentary Eloquences + which for the present encumber Heaven and Earth, "MELIORA SPERO." To + Mirabeau, the following details, from first-hand, but already of + twenty-three years distance, were not known, [Appeared first in Tome v. of + <i>"OEuvres Posthumes de Frederic II."</i> (are in Tome vi. of Preuss's + Edition of OEUVRES), "Berlin, 1788;"—above a year after Mirabeau had + left.] while he sat penning those robust Essays on the Duty of + LEAVE-ALONE. + </p> + <p> + "To form an idea of the general subversion," says the King, in regard to + 1763, "and how great were the desolation and discouragement, you must + represent to yourself Countries entirely ravaged, the very traces of the + old habitations hardly discoverable; Towns, some ruined from top to + bottom, others half destroyed by fire;—13,000 Houses, of which the + very vestiges were gone. No field in seed; no grain for the food of the + inhabitants; 60,000 horses needed, if there was to be ploughing carried + on: in the Provinces generally Half a Million Population (500,000) less + than in 1756,—that is to say, upon only Four Millions and a Half, + the ninth man was wanting. Noble and Peasant had been pillaged, ransomed, + foraged, eaten out by so many different Armies; nothing now left them but + life and miserable rags. + </p> + <p> + "There was no credit, by trading people, even for the daily necessaries of + life." And furthermore, what we were not prepared for, "No police in the + Towns: to habits of equity and order had succeeded a vile greed of gain + and an anarchic disorder. The Colleges of Justice and of Finance had, by + these frequent invasions of so many enemies, been reduced to inaction:" no + Judge, in many places not even a Tax-gatherer: the silence of the Laws had + produced in the people a taste for license; boundless appetite for gain + was their main rule of action: the noble, the merchant, the farmer, the + laborer, raising emulously each the price of his commodity, seemed to + endeavor only for their mutual ruin. Such, when the War ended, was the + fatal spectacle over these Provinces, which had once been so flourishing: + however pathetic the description may be, it will never approach the + touching and sorrowful impression which the sight of it produced." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich found that it would never do to trust to the mere aid of Time in + such circumstances: at the end of the Thirty-Years War, "Time" had, owing + to absolute want of money, been the one recipe of the Great Elector in a + similar case; and Time was then found to mean "about a hundred Years." + Friedrich found that he must at once step in with active remedies, and on + all hands strive to make the impossible possible. Luckily he had in + readiness, as usual, the funds for an Eighth Campaign, had such been + needed. Out of these moneys he proceeded to rebuild the Towns and + Villages; "from the Corn-Stores (GRANARIES D'ABONDANCE," Government + establishments gathered from plentiful harvests against scarce, according + to old rule) "were taken the supplies for food of the people and sowing of + the ground: the horses intended for the artillery, baggage and + commissariat," 60,000 horses we have heard, "were distributed among those + who had none, to be employed in tillage of the land. Silesia was + discharged from all taxes for six months; Pommern and the Neumark for two + years. A sum of about Three Million sterling [in THALERS 20,389,000] was + given for relief of the Provinces, and as acquittance of the impositions + the Enemy had wrung from them. + </p> + <p> + "Great as was this expense, it was necessary and indispensable. The + condition of these Provinces after the Peace of Hubertsburg recalled what + we know of them when the Peace of Munster closed the famous Thirty-Years + War. On that occasion the State failed of help from want of means; which + put it, out, of the Great Elector's power to assist his people: and what + happened? That a whole century elapsed before his Successors could restore + the Towns and Champaigns to what they were. This impressive example was + admonitory to the King: that to repair the Public Calamities, assistance + must be prompt and effective. Repeated gifts (LARGESSES) restored courage + to the poor Husbandmen, who began to despair of their lot; by the helps + given, hope in all classes sprang up anew: encouragement of labor produced + activity; love of Country rose again with fresh life: in a word [within + the second year in a markedly hopeful manner, and within seven years + altogether], the fields were cultivated again, manufacturers had resumed + their work; and the Police, once more in vigor, corrected by degrees the + vices that had taken root during the time of anarchy." [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> vi. 74, 75.] + </p> + <p> + To Friedrich's difficulties, which were not inconsiderable, mark only this + last additament: "During this War, the elder of the Councillors, and all + the Ministers of the Grand Directorium [centre of Prussian + Administration], had successively died: and in such time of trouble it had + been impossible to replace them. The embarrassment was, To find persons + capable of filling these different employments [some would have very soon + done it, your Majesty; but their haste would not have tended to speed!]—We + searched the Provinces (ON FOUILLA, sifted), where good heads were found + as rare as in the Capital: at length five Chief Ministers were pitched + upon,"—who prove to be tolerable, and even good. Three of them were, + the VONS Blumenthal, Massow, Hagen, unknown to readers here: fourth and + fifth were, the Von Wedell as War-Minister, once Dictator at Zullichan; + and a Von der Horst, who had what we might partially call the Home + Department, and who may by accident once or so be namable again. + </p> + <p> + Nor was War all, says the King: "accidental Fires in different places," + while we struggled to repair the ravagings of War, "were of unexampled + frequency, and did immense farther damage. From 1765 to 1769, here is the + list of places burnt: In East Preussen, the City of Konigsberg twice over; + in Silesia, the Towns of Freystadt, Ober-Glogau [do readers recollect + Manteuffel of Foot and "WIR WOLLEN IHM WAS"!], Parchwitz, + Naumburg-on-Queiss, and Goldberg; in the Mark, Nauen; in the Neumark, + Calies and a part of Lansberg; in Pommern, Belgard and Tempelburg. These + accidents required incessantly new expenditures to repair them." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was not the least of a Free Trader, except where it suited him: + and his continual subventions and donations, guidances, encouragements, + commandings and prohibitions, wise supervision and impulsion,—are a + thing I should like to hear an intelligent Mirabeau (Junior or Senior) + discourse upon, after he had well studied them! For example: "ON RENDIT + LES PRETRES UTILES, The Priests, Catholic Priests, were turned to use by + obliging all the rich Abbeys to establish manufactures: here it was + weavers making damasks and table-cloths; there oil-mills [oil from + linseed]; or workers in copper, wire-drawers; as suited the localities and + the natural products,—the flaxes and the metals, with water-power, + markets, and so on." What a charming resuscitation of the rich Abbeys from + their dormant condition! + </p> + <p> + I should like still better to explain how, in Lower Silesia, "we (ON) + managed to increase the number of Husbandmen by 4,000 families. You will + be surprised how it was possible to multiply to this extent the people + living by Agriculture in a Country where already not a field was waste. + The reason was this. Many Lords of Land, to increase their Domain, had + imperceptibly appropriated to themselves the holdings (TERRES) of their + vassals. Had this abuse been suffered to go on, in time a great"—But + the commentary needed would be too lengthy; we will give only the result: + "In the long-run, every Village would have had its Lord, but there would + have been no tax-paying Farmers left." The Landlord, ruler of these + Landless, might himself (as Majesty well knows) have been made to PAY, had + that been all; but it was not. "To possess something; that is what makes + the citizen attached to his Country; those who have no property, and have + nothing to lose, what tie have they?" A weak one, in comparison!"All these + things being represented to the Landlord Class, their own advantage made + them consent to replace their Peasants on the old footing."... + </p> + <p> + "To make head against so many extraordinary demands," adds the King + (looking over to a new Chapter, that of the MILITARY, which Department, to + his eyes, was not less shockingly dilapidated than the CIVIL, and equally + or more needed instant repair), "new resources had to be devised. For, + besides what was needed for re-establishment of the Provinces, new + Fortifications were necessary; and all our Cannon, E'VASES (worn too wide + in the bore), needed to be refounded; which occasioned considerable new + expense. This led us to improvement of the Excises,"—concerning + which there will have to be a Section by itself. + </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> + OF FRIEDRICH'S NEW EXCISE SYSTEM. + </h2> + <p> + In his late Inspection-Journey to Cleve Country, D'Alembert, from Paris, + by appointment waited for the King; [In (<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiv. + 377-380 (D'Alembert's fine bits of Letters in prospect of Potsdam, "Paris, + 7th March-29th April, 1763;" and two small Notes while there, "Sans-Souci, + 6th July-15th August, 1763").]—picked up at Geldern (June 11th), as + we saw above. D'Alembert got to Potsdam June 22d; stayed till middle of + August. He had met the King once before, in 1755; who found him "a BON + GARCON," as we then saw. D'Alembert was always, since that time, an + agreeable, estimable little man to Friedrich. Age now about forty-six; has + lately refused the fine Russian post of "Tutor to the Czarowitsh" + (Czarowitsh Paul, poor little Boy of eight or nine, whom we, or Herr + Busching for us, saw galloping about, not long since, "in his + dressing-gown," under Panin's Tutorage); refuses now, in a delicate + gradual manner, the fine Prussian post of Perpetual President, or + Successor to Maupertuis;—definitely preferring his frugal pensions + at Paris, and garret all his own there. Continues, especially after this + two months' visit of 1763, one of the King's chief correspondents for the + next twenty years. ["29th October, 1783," D'Alembert died: "born 16th + November, 1717;"—a Foundling, as is well known; "Mother a Sister of + Cardinal Tencin's; Father," accidental, "an Officer in the Artillery."] A + man of much clear intellect; a thought SHRIEKY in his ways sometimes; but + always prudent, rational, polite, and loyally recognizing Friedrich as a + precious article in this world. Here is a word of D'Alembert's to Madame + du Deffand, at Paris, some ten or twelve days after the Cleve meeting, and + the third day after his arrival here:— + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 25th JUNE, 1763. MADAME,—... I will not go into the + praises of this Prince," King Friedrich, my now Host; "in my mouth it + might be suspicious: I will merely send you two traits of him, which will + indicate his way of thinking and feeling. When I spoke to him [at Geldern, + probably, on our first meeting] of the glory he had acquired, he answered, + with the greatest simplicity, That there was a furious discount to be + deducted from said glory; that chance came in for almost the whole of it; + and that he would far rather have done Ratine's ATHALIE than all this War:—ATHALIE + is the work he likes, and rereads oftenest; I believe you won't disapprove + his taste there. The other trait I have to give you is, That on the day + [15th February last] of concluding this Peace, which is so glorious to + him, some one saying, 'It is the finest day of your Majesty's life:' 'The + finest day of life,' answered he, 'is the day on which one quits it.'...—Adieu, + Madame." [<i>"OEuvres Posthumes de D'Alembert</i> (Paris, 1799). i. 197:" + cited in PREUSS, ii. 348.] + </p> + <p> + The meeting in Cleve Country was, no doubt, a very pretty passage, with + Two pretty Months following;—and if it be true that HELVETIUS was a + consequence, the 11th of June, 1763, may almost claim to be a kind of + epoch in Friedrich's later history. The opulent and ingenious M. + Helvetius, who wrote DE L'ESPRIT, and has got banished for that feat (lost + in the gloom of London in those months), had been a mighty Tax-gatherer as + well; D'Alembert, as brother Philosophe, was familiar with Helvetius. It + is certain, also, King Friedrich, at this time, found he would require + annually two million thalers more;—where to get them, seemed the + impossibility. A General Krockow, who had long been in French Service, and + is much about the King, was often recommending the French Excise system;—he + is the Krockow of DOMSTADTL, and that SIEGE OF OLMUTZ, memorable to some + of us:—"A wonderful Excise system," Krockow is often saying, in this + time of straits. "Who completely understands it?" the King might ask. + "Helvetius, against the world!" D'Alembert could justly answer. "Invite + Helvetius to leave his London exile, and accept an asylum here, where he + may be of vital use to me!" concludes Friedrich. + </p> + <p> + Helvetius came in March, 1765; stayed till June, 1766: [Rodenbeck, ii. + 254; Preuss, iii. 11.]—within which time a French Excise system, + which he had been devising and putting together, had just got in gear, and + been in action for a month, to Helvetius's satisfaction. Who thereupon + went his way, and never returned;—taking with him, as man and + tax-gatherer, the King's lasting gratitude; but by no means that of the + Prussian Nation, in his tax-gathering capacity! All Prussia, or all of it + that fell under this Helvetius Excise system, united to condemn it, in all + manner of dialects, louder and louder: here, for instance, is the + utterance of Herr Hamann, himself a kind of Custom-house Clerk (at + Konigsberg, in East Preussen), and on modest terms a Literary man of real + merit and originality, who may be supposed to understand this subject: + "And so," says Hamann, "the State has declared its own subjects incapable + of managing its Finance system; and in this way has intrusted its heart, + that is the purse of its subjects, to a company of Foreign Scoundrels, + ignorant of everything relating to it!" ["Hamann to Jacobi" (see Preuss, + iii. 1-35), "Konigsberg, 18th January, 1786."] + </p> + <p> + This lasted all Friedrich's lifetime; and gave rise to not a little + buzzing, especially in its primary or incipient stages. It seems to have + been one of the unsuccessfulest Finance adventures Friedrich ever engaged + in. It cost his subjects infinite small trouble; awakened very great + complaining; and, for the first time, real discontent,—skin-deep but + sincere and universal,—against the misguided Vater Fritz. Much noisy + absurdity there was upon it, at home, and especially abroad: "Griping + miser," "greedy tyrant," and so forth! Deducting all which, everybody now + admits that Friedrich's aim was excellent and proper; but nobody denies + withal that the means were inconsiderate, of no profit in proportion to + the trouble they gave, and improper to adopt unless the necessity + compelled. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich is forbidden, or forbids himself, as we have often mentioned, to + impose new taxes: and nevertheless now, on calculations deep, minute and + no doubt exact, he judges That for meeting new attacks of War (or being + ready to meet, which will oftenest mean averting them),—a thing + which, as he has just seen, may concern the very existence of the State,—it + is necessary that there should be on foot such and such quantities and + kinds of Soldiery and War-furniture, visible to all neighbors; and + privately in the Treasury never less than such and such a sum. To which + end Arithmetic declares that there is required about Two Million thalers + more of yearly revenue than we now have. And where, in these + circumstances, are the means of raising such a sum? + </p> + <p> + Friedrich imposes no new taxes; but there may be stricter methods of + levying the old;—there may, and in fact there must, be means found! + Friedrich has consulted his Finance Ministers; put the question SERIATIM + to these wise heads: they answer with one voice, "There are no means." + [Rodenbeck, ii. 256.] Friedrich, therefore, has recourse to Helvetius; + who, on due consideration, and after survey of much documentary and + tabulary raw-material, is of opinion, That the Prussian Excises would, if + levied with the punctuality, precision and vigilant exactitude of French + methods, actually yield the required overplus. "Organize me the methods, + then; get them put in action here; under French hands, if that be + indispensable." Helvetius bethought him of what fittest French hands there + were to his knowledge,—in France there are a great many hands flung + idle in the present downbreak of finance there:—Helvetius appears to + have selected, arranged and contrived in this matter with his best + diligence. De Launay, the Head-engineer of the thing, was admitted by all + Prussia, after Twenty-two years unfriendly experience of him, to have been + a suitable and estimable person; a man of judicious ways, of no small + intelligence, prudence, and of very great skill in administering business. + </p> + <p> + Head-engineer De Launay, one may guess, would be consulted by Helvetius in + choice of the subaltern Officials, the stokers and steerers in this new + Steam-Machinery, which had all to be manned from France. There were Four + heads of departments immediately under De Launay, or scarcely under him, + junior brothers rather:—who chose these I did not hear; but these + latter, it is evident, were not a superior quality of people. Of these + Four,—all at very high salaries, from De Launay downwards; "higher + than a Prussian Minister of State!" murmured the public,—two, within + the first year, got into quarrel; fought a duel, fatal to one of them; so + that there were now only Three left. "Three, with De Launay, will do," + opined Friedrich; and divided the vacant salary among the survivors: in + which form they had at least no more duelling. + </p> + <p> + As to the subaltern working-parties, the VISITATEURS, CONTROLLEURS, + JAUGEURS (Gaugers), PLOMBEURS (Lead-stampers), or the strangest kind of + all, called "Cellar-Rats (COMMIS RATS-DE-CAVE), "they were so detested and + exclaimed against, by a Public impatient of the work itself, there is no + knowing what their degree of scoundrelism was, nor even, within amazingly + wide limits, what the arithmetical number of them was. About 500 in the + whole of Prussia, says a quiet Prussian, who has made some inquiry; + ["Beguelin, ACCISE-UND ZOLL-VERFASSUNG, s. 138" (Preuss, iii, 18).] 1,500 + says Mirabeau; 3,000 say other exaggerative persons, or even 5,000; De + Launay's account is, Not at any time above 200. But we can all imagine how + vexatious they and their business were. Nobody now is privileged with + exemption: from one and all of you, Nobles, Clergy, People, strict account + is required, about your beers and liquors; your coffee, salt; your + consumptions and your purchases of all excisable articles:—nay, I + think in coffee and salt, in salt for certain, what you will require, + according to your station and domestic numbers, is computed for you, to + save trouble; such and such quantities you will please to buy in our + presence, or to pay duty for, whether you buy them or not. Into all + houses, at any hour of the day or of the night, these cellar-rats had + liberty,—(on warrant from some higher rat of their own type, I know + not how much higher; and no sure appeal for you, except to the King; + tolerably sure there, if you be INNOCENT, but evidently perilous if you be + only NOT-CONVICTED!)—had liberty, I say, to search for contraband; + all your presses, drawers, repositories, you must open to these beautiful + creatures; watch in nightcap, and candle in hand, while your things get + all tumbled hither and thither, in the search for what perhaps is not + there; nay, it was said and suspected, but I never knew it for certain, + that these poisonous French are capable of slipping in something + contraband, on purpose to have you fined whether or not. + </p> + <p> + Readers can conceive, though apparently Friedrich did not, what a world of + vexation all this occasioned; and how, in the continual annoyance to all + mankind, the irritation, provocation and querulous eloquence spread among + high and low. Of which the King knew something; but far from the whole. + His object was one of vital importance; and his plan once fixed, he went + on with it, according to his custom, regardless of little rubs. The + Anecdote Books are full of details, comic mostly, on this subject: How the + French rats pounced down upon good harmless people, innocent frugal + parsonages, farm-houses; and were comically flung prostrate by native + ready wit, or by direct appeal to the King. Details, never so authentic, + could not be advisable in this place. Perhaps there are not more than Two + authentic Passages, known to me, which can now have the least interest, + even of a momentary sort, to English readers. The first is, Of King + Friedrich caricatured as a Miser grinding Coffee. I give it, without + essential alteration of any kind, in Herr Preuss's words, copied from + those of one who saw it:—the second, which relates to a Princess or + Ex-Princess of the Royal House, I must reserve for a little while. Herr + Preuss says:— + </p> + <p> + "Once during the time of the 'Regie' [which lasted from 1766 to 1786 and + the King's death: no other date assignable, though 1768, or so, may be + imaginable for our purpose], as the King came riding along the Jager + Strasse, there was visible near what is called the Furstenhaus," kind of + Berlin Somerset House, [Nicolai, i. 155.] "a great crowd of people. 'See + what it is!' the King sent his one attendant, a heiduc or groom, into it, + to learn what it was. 'They have something posted up about your Majesty,' + reported the groom; and Friedrich, who by this time had ridden forward, + took a look at the thing; which was a Caricature figure of himself: King + in very melancholy guise, seated on a Stool, a Coffee-mill between his + knees; diligently grinding with the one hand, and with the other picking + up any bean that might have fallen. 'Hang it lower,' said the King, + beckoning his groom with a wave of the finger: 'Lower, that they may not + have to hurt their necks about it!' No sooner were the words spoken, which + spread instantly, than there rose from the whole crowd one universal huzza + of joy. They tore the Caricature into a thousand pieces, and rolled after + the King with loud (LEBE HOCH, Our Friedrich forever!' as he rode slowly + away." [Preuss, iii. 275 ("from BERLIN CONVERSUTIONSBLATT &c. of 1827, + No. 253").) That is their Friedrich's method with the Caricature + Department. Heffner, Kapellmeister in Upsala, reports this bit of + memorability; he was then of the King's Music-Chapel in Berlin, and saw + this with his eyes. + </p> + <p> + The King's tendency at all times, and his practice generally, when we hear + of it, was to take the people's side; so that gradually these French + procedures were a great deal mitigated; and DIE REGIE—so they called + this hateful new-fangled system of Excise machinery—became much more + supportable, "the sorrows of it nothing but a tradition to the younger + sort," reports Dohm, who is extremely ample on this subject. [Christian + Wilhelm von Dohm, <i>Denkwurdigkeiten meiner Zeit</i> (Lemgo und Hanover, + 1819), iv. 500 et seq.] De Launay was honorably dismissed, and the whole + Regie abolished, a month or two after Friedrich's death. + </p> + <p> + With a splenetic satisfaction authentic Dohm, who sufficiently condemns + the REGIE, adds that it was not even successful; and shows by evidence, + and computation to the uttermost farthing, that instead of two million + thalers annually, it yielded on the average rather less than one. The + desired overplus of two millions, and a good deal more did indeed come in, + says he: but it was owing to the great prosperity of Prussia at large, + after the Seven-Years War; to the manifold industries awakening, which + have gone on progressive ever since. Dohm declares farther, that the very + object was in a sort fanciful, nugatory; arguing that nobody did attack + Friedrich;—but omitting to prove that nobody would have done so, had + Friedrich NOT stood ready to receive him. We will remark only, what is + very indisputable, that Friedrich, owing to the Regie, or to other causes, + did get the humble overplus necessary for him; and did stand ready for any + war which might have come (and which did in a sort come); that he more and + more relaxed the Regie, as it became less indispensable to him; and was + willing, if he found the Caricatures and Opposition Placards too high + posted, to save the poor reading people any trouble that was possible. + </p> + <p> + A French eye-witness testifies: "They had no talent, these Regie fellows, + but that of writing and ciphering; extremely conceited too, and were + capable of the most ridiculous follies. Once, for instance, they condemned + a common soldier, who had hidden some pounds of tobacco, to a fine of 200 + thalers. The King, on reviewing it for confirmation, wrote on the margin: + 'Before confirming this sentence, I should wish to know where the Soldier, + who gets 8 groschen [ninepence halfpenny] in the 5 days, will find the 200 + crowns for paying this Fine!'" [Laveaux (2d edition), iii. 228.] + Innumerable instances of a constant disposition that way, on the King's + part, stand on record. "A crown a head on the import of fat cattle, Tax on + butcher's-meat?" writes he once to De Launay: "No, that would fall on the + poorer classes: to that I must say No. I am, by office, Procurator of the + Poor (L'AVOCAT DU PAUVRE)." Elsewhere it is "AVOCAT DEC PAUVRE ET DU + SOLDAT (of the working-man and of the soldier); and have to plead their + cause." [Preuss, iii. 20.] + </p> + <p> + We will now give our Second Anecdote; which has less of memorability to us + strangers at present, though doubtless it was then, in Berlin society, the + more celebrated of the two; relating, as it did, to a high Court-Lady, + almost the highest, and who was herself only too celebrated in those + years. The heroine is Princess Elizabeth of Brunswick, King's own Niece + and a pretty woman; who for four years (14th July, 1765-18th April, 1769) + of her long life was Princess Royal of Prussia,—Wife of that tall + young Gentleman whom we used to see dancing about, whom we last saw at + Schweidnitz getting flung from his horse, on the day of Pirch's saddle + there:—his Wife for four years, but in the fourth year ceased to be + so [Rodenbeck, ii. 241, 257.] (for excellent reasons, on both sides), and + lived thenceforth in a divorced eclipsed state at Stettin, where is laid + the scene of our Anecdote. I understand it to be perfectly true; but + cannot ascertain from any of the witnesses in what year the thing + happened; or whether it was at Stettin or Berlin,—though my author + has guessed, "Stettin, in the Lady's divorced state," as appears. + </p> + <p> + "This Princess had commissioned, direct from Lyon, a very beautiful dress; + which arrived duly, addressed to her at Stettin. As this kind of stuffs is + charged with very heavy dues, the DOUANIER, head Custom-house Personage of + the Town, had the impertinence to detain the dress till payment were made. + The Princess, in a lofty indignation, sent word to this person, To bring + the dress instantly, and she would pay the dues on it. He obeyed: but,"—mark + the result,—"scarcely had the Princess got eye on him, when she + seized her Lyon Dress; and, giving the Douanier a couple of good slaps on + the face, ordered him out of her apartment and house. + </p> + <p> + "The Douanier, thinking himself one and somewhat, withdrew in high choler; + had a long PROCES-VERBAL of the thing drawn out; and sent it to the King + with eloquent complaint, 'That he had been dishonored in doing the + function appointed him.' Friedrich replied as follows: TO THE DOUANIER AT + STETTIN: 'The loss of the Excise-dues shall fall to my score; the Dress + shall remain with the Princess; the slaps to him who has received them. As + to the pretended Dishonor, I entirely relieve the complainant from that: + never can the appliance of a beautiful hand dishonor the face of an + Officer of Customs.—F.'" [Laveaux (abridged), iii. 229.] + </p> + <p> + Northern Tourists, Wraxall and others, passing that way, speak of this + Princess, down to recent times, as a phenomenon of the place. Apparently a + high and peremptory kind of Lady, disdaining to be bowed too low by her + disgraces. She survived all her generation, and the next and the next, and + indeed into our own. Died 18th February, 1840: at the age of ninety-six. + Threescore and eleven years of that eclipsed Stettin Existence; this of + the Lyon gown, and caitiff of a Custom-houser slapped on the face, her one + adventure put on record for us!— + </p> + <p> + She was signally blamable in that of the Divorce; but not she alone, nor + first of the Two. Her Crown-Prince, Friedrich Wilhelm, called afterwards, + as King, "DER DICKE (the Fat, or the Big)," and held in little esteem by + Posterity,—a headlong, rather dark and physical kind of creature, + though not ill-meaning or dishonest,—was himself a dreadful sinner + in that department of things; and had BEGUN the bad game against his poor + Cousin and Spouse! Readers of discursive turn are perhaps acquainted with + a certain "Grafin von Lichtenau," and her MEMOIRS so called:—not + willingly, but driven, I fish up one specimen, and one only, from that + record of human puddles and perversities:— + </p> + <p> + "From the first year of our attachment," says this precious Grafin, "I was + already the confidant of his," the Prince of Prussia's, "most secret + thoughts. One day [in 1767, second year of his married life, I then + fifteen, slim Daughter of a Player on the French Horn, in his Majesty's + pay], the Prince happened to be very serious; and was owning to me with + frankness that he had some wrongs towards my sex to reproach himself + with,"—alas, yes, some few:—"and he swore that he would never + forsake ME; and that if Heaven disposed of my life before his, none but he + should close my eyes. He was fingering with a penknife at the time; he + struck the point of it into the palm of his left hand, and wrote with his + blood [the unclean creature], on a little bit of paper, the Oath which his + lips had just pronounced in so solemn a tone. Vainly should I undertake to + paint my emotion on this action of his! The Prince saw what I felt; and + took advantage of it to beg that I would follow his example. I hastened to + satisfy him; and traced, as he had done, with my blood, the promise to + remain his friend to the tomb, and never to forsake him. This Promise must + have been found among his Papers after his death [still in the Archives? + we will hope not!]—Both of us stood faithful to this Oath. The tie + of love, it is true, we broke: but that was by mutual consent, and the + better to fix ourselves in the bonds of an inviolable friendship. Other + mistresses reigned over his senses; but I"—ACH GOTT, no more of + that. [<i>Memoires de la Comtesse de Lichtenau</i> (a Londres, chez + Colburn Libraire, Conduit-street, Bond-street, 2 tomes, small 8vo, 1809), + i. 129.] + </p> + <p> + The King's own account of the affair is sufficiently explicit. His words + are: "Not long ago [about two years before this of the penknife] we + mentioned the Prince of Prussia's marriage with Elizabeth of Brunswick + [his Cousin twice over, her Mother, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, being + his Father's Sister and mine, and her Father HIS Mother's Brother,—if + you like to count it]. This engagement, from which everybody had expected + happy consequences, did not correspond to the wishes of the Royal House." + Only one Princess could be realized (subsequently Wife to the late Duke of + York),—she came this same year of the penknife,—and bad + outlooks for more. "The Husband, young and dissolute (SANS MOEURS), given + up to a crapulous life, from which his relatives could not correct him, + was continually committing infidelities to his Wife. The Princess, who was + in the flower of her beauty, felt outraged by such neglect of her charms; + her vivacity, and the good opinion she had of herself, brought her upon + the thought of avenging her wrongs by retaliation. Speedily she gave in to + excesses, scarcely inferior to those of her Husband. Family quarrels broke + out, and were soon publicly known. The antipathy that ensued took away all + hope of succession [had it been desirable in these sad circumstances!]. + Prince Henri [JUNIOR, this hopeful Prince of Prussia's Brother], who was + gifted with all the qualities to be wished in a young man [witness my + tears for him], had been carried off by small-pox. ["26th May, 1767," age + 19 gone; ELOGE of him by Friedrich ("MS. still stained with tears"), in <i>OEuvres + de Frederic</i>, vii. 37 et seq.] The King's Brothers, Princes Henri and + Ferdinand, avowed frankly that they would never consent to have, by some + accidental bastard, their rights of succession to the crown carried off. + In the end, there was nothing for it but proceeding to a divorce." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> vi. 23.] + </p> + <p> + Divorce was done in a beautiful private manner; case tried with strictly + shut doors; all the five judges under oath to carry into the grave + whatever they came to know of it: [Preuss, iv. 180-186.] divorce completed + 18th April, 1769; and, within three months, a new marriage was + accomplished, Princess Frederika Luisa of Hessen-Darmstadt the happy + woman. By means of whom there was duly realized a Friedrich Wilhelm, who + became "King Friedrich Wilhelm III." (a much-enduring, excellent, though + inarticulate man), as well as various other Princes and Princesses, in + spite of interruptions from the Lichtenau Sisterhood. High-souled + Elizabeth was relegated to Stettin; her amount of Pension is not + mentioned; her Family, after the unhappy proofs communicated to them, had + given their consent and sanction;—and she stayed there, idle, or her + own mistress of work, for the next seventy-one years.—Enough of HER + Lyon Dress, surely, and of the Excise system altogether!— + </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> + THE NEUE PALAIS, IN SANS-SOUCI NEIGHBORHOOD, IS FOUNDED AND FINISHED + (1763-1770). + </h2> + <p> + If D'Alembert's Visit was the germ of the Excise system, it will be + curious to note,—and indeed whether or not, it will be + chronologically serviceable to us here, and worth noting,—that there + went on a small synchronous affair, still visible to everybody: namely, + That in the very hours while Friedrich and D'Alembert were saluting + mutually at Geldern (11th June, 1763), there was laid the foundation of + what they call the NEUE PALAIS; New Palace of Sans-Souci: [Rodenbeck, ii. + 219.] a sumptuous Edifice, in the curious LOUIS-QUINZE or what is called + "Rococo" style of the time; Palace never much inhabited by Friedrich or + his successors, which still stands in those ornamental Potsdam regions. + Why built, especially in the then down-pressed financial circumstances, + some have had their difficulties to imagine. It appears, this New Palace + had been determined on before the War broke out; and Friedrich said to + himself: "We will build it now, to help the mechanical classes in Berlin,—perhaps + also, in part [think some, and why should not they, a little?] to show + mankind that we have still ready money; and are nothing like so ruined as + they fancy." + </p> + <p> + "This NEUE PALAIS," says one recent Tourist, "is a pleasant quaint object, + nowadays, to the stranger. It has the air DEGAGE POCOCURANTE; pleasantly + fine in aspect and in posture;—spacious expanses round it, not in a + waste, but still less in a strict condition; and (in its deserted state) + has a silence, especially a total absence of needless flunkies and of + gaping fellow-loungers, which is charming. Stands mute there, in its + solitude, in its stately silence and negligence, like some Tadmor of the + Wilderness in small. The big square of Stables, Coach-houses, near by, was + locked up,—probably one sleeping groom in it. The very CUSTOS of the + grand Edifice (such the rarity of fees to him) I could not awaken without + difficulty. In the gray autumn zephyrs, no sound whatever about this New + Palace of King Friedrich's, except the rustle of the crisp brown leaves, + and of any faded or fading memories you may have. + </p> + <p> + "I should say," continues he, "it somehow reminds you of the City of Bath. + It has the cut of a battered Beau of old date; Beau still extant, though + in strangely other circumstances; something in him of pathetic dignity in + that kind. It shows excellent sound masonries; which have an over-tendency + to jerk themselves into pinnacles, curvatures and graciosities; many + statues atop,—three there are, in a kind of grouped or partnership + attitude; 'These,' said diligent scandal, 'note them; these mean Maria + Theresa, Pompadour and CATIN DU NORD' (mere Muses, I believe, or of the + Nymph or Hamadryad kind, nothing of harm in them). In short, you may call + it the stone Apotheosis of an old French Beau. Considerably weather-beaten + (the brown of lichens spreading visibly here and there, the firm-set + ashlar telling you, 'I have stood a hundred years');—Beau old and + weather-beaten, with his cocked-hat not in the fresh condition, all his + gold-laces tarnished; and generally looking strange, and in a sort + tragical, to find himself, fleeting creature, become a denizen of the + Architectural Fixities and earnest Eternities!"— + </p> + <p> + From Potsdam Palace to the New Palace of Sans-Souci may be a mile + distance; flat ground, parallel to the foot of Hills; all through arbors, + parterres, water-works, and ornamental gardenings and cottagings or + villa-ings,—Cottage-Villa for Lord Marischal is one of them. This + mile of distance, taking the COTTAGE Royal of Sans-Souci on its hill-top + as vertex, will be the base of an isosceles or nearly isosceles triangle, + flatter than equilateral. To the Cottage Royal of Sans-Souci may be about + three-quarters of a mile northeast from this New Palace, and from Potsdam + Palace to it rather less. And the whole square-mile or so of space is + continuously a Garden, not in the English sense, though it has its own + beauties of the more artificial kind; and, at any rate, has memories for + you, and footsteps of persons still unforgotten by mankind.—Here is + a Notice of Lord Marischal; which readers will not grudge; the chronology + of the worthy man, in these his later epochs, being in so hazy a state:— + </p> + <p> + Lord Marischal, we know well and Pitt knows, was in England in 1761,—ostensibly + on the Kintore Heritage; and in part, perhaps, really on that errand. But + he went and came, at dates now uncertain; was back in Spain after that, + had difficult voyagings about; [King's Letters to him, in <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xx. 282-285.]—and did not get to rest again, in his + Government of Neufchatel, till April, 1762. There is a Letter of the + King's, which at least fixes that point:— + </p> + <p> + "BRESLAU, 10th APRIL, 1762. My nose is the most impertinent nose in the + universe, MON CHER MYLORD [Queen-Dowager snuff, SPANIOL from the + fountain-head, of Marischal's providing; quality exquisite, but difficult + to get transmitted in the Storms of War]; I am ashamed of the trouble it + costs you! I beg many pardons;—and should be quite abashed, did I + not know how you compassionate the weak points of your friends, and that, + for a long time past, you have a singular indulgence for my nose. I am + very glad to know you happily returned to your Government, safe at + Colombier (DOVE-COTE) in Neufchatel again." This is 10th April, 1762. + There, as I gather, quiet in his Dove-cote, Marischal continued, though + rather weary of the business, for about a year more; or till the King got + home,—who delights in companionship, and is willing to let an old + man demit for good. + </p> + <p> + It was in Summer, 1762 (about three months after the above Letter from the + King), that Rousseau made his celebrated exodus into Neufchatel Country, + and found the old Governor so good to him,—glad to be allowed to + shelter the poor skinless creature. And, mark as curious, it must have + been on two of those mornings, towards the end of the Siege of + Schweidnitz, when things were getting so intolerable, and at times + breaking out into electricity, into "rebuke all round," that Friedrich + received that singular pair of Laconic Notes from Rousseau in Neufchatel: + forwarded, successively, by Lord Marischal; NOTE FIRST, of date, + "Motier-Travers, Neufchatel, September," nobody can guess what day, + "1762:" "I have said much ill of you, and don't repent it. Now everybody + has banished me; and it is on your threshold that I sit down. Kill me, if + you have a mind!" And then (after, not death, but the gift of 100 crowns), + NOTE SECOND, "October, 1762:"... "Take out of my sight that sword, which + dazzles and pains me; IT has only too well done its duty, while the + sceptre is abandoned:" Make Peace, can't you! [<i>OEuvres completes de + Rousseau</i> (a Geneve, 1782-1789), xxxiii. 64, 65.]—What curious + reading for a King in such posture, among the miscellaneous arrivals + overnight! Above six weeks before either of these NOTES, Friedrich, + hearing of him from Lord Marischal, had answered: "An asylum? Yes, by all + means: the unlucky cynic!" It is on September 1st, that he sends, by the + same channel, 100 crowns for his use, with advice to "give them in NATURA, + lest he refuse otherwise;" as Friedrich knows to be possible. In words, + the Rousseau Notes got nothing of Answer. "A GARCON SINGULIER," says + Friedrich: odd fellow, yes indeed, your Majesty;—and has such a + pungency of flattery in him too, presented in the way of snarl! His + Majesty might take him, I suppose, with a kind of relish, like + Queen-Dowager snuff. + </p> + <p> + There was still another shift of place, shift which proved temporary, in + old Marischal's life: Home to native Aberdeenshire. The two childless + Brothers, Earls of Kintore, had died successively, the last of them + November 22d, 1761: title and heritage, not considerable the latter, fell + duly, by what preparatives we know, to old Marischal; but his Keith + kinsfolk, furthermore, would have him personally among them,—nay, + after that, would have him to wed and produce new Keiths. At the age of + 78; decidedly an inconvenient thing! Old Marischal left Potsdam "August, + 1763," [Letter of his to the King ("LONDRES, 14 AOUT, 1763"), in <i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xx. 293.—In <i>Letters of Eminent Persons to David + Hume</i> (Edinburgh, 1849), pp. 57-71, are some Nine from the Old + Marischal; in curiously mixed dialect, cheerful, but indistinct; the two + chief dates of which are: "Touch" (guttural TuCH, in Aberdeenshire), "28 + October, 1763," and "Potsdam, 20 February, 1765."]—NEW-PALACE + scaffoldings and big stone blocks conspicuous in those localities; + pleasant D'Alembert now just about leaving, in the other direction;—much + to Friedrich's regret, the old Marischal especially, as is still finely + evident. + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO LORD MARISCHAL (in Scotland for the last six months). + </p> + <p> + "SANS-SOUCI, 16th February, 1764. + </p> + <p> + "I am not surprised that the Scotch fight to have you among them; and wish + to have progeny of yours, and to preserve your bones. You have in your + lifetime the lot of Homer after death: Cities arguing which is your + birthplace;—I myself would dispute it with Edinburgh to possess you. + If I had ships, I would make a descent on Scotland, to steal off my CHER + MYLORD, and bring him hither. Alas, our Elbe Boats can't do it. But you + give me hopes;—which I seize with avidity! I was your late Brother's + friend, and had obligations to him; I am yours with heart and soul. These + are my titles, these are my rights:—you sha'n't be forced in the + matter of progeny here (FAIRE L'ETALON ICI), neither priests nor attorneys + shall meddle with you; you shall live here in the bosom of friendship, + liberty and philosophy." Come to me!...—F. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xx. 295.] + </p> + <p> + Old Marischal did come; and before long. I know not the precise month: but + "his Villa-Cottage was built for him," the Books say, "in 1764." He had + left D'Alembert just going; next year he will find Helvetius coming. He + lived here, a great treasure to Friedrich, till his death, 25th May, 1778, + age 92. + </p> + <p> + The New Palace was not finished till 1770;—in which year, also, + Friedrich reckons that the general Problem of Repairing Prussia was + victoriously over. New Palace, growing or complete, looks down on all + these operations and occurrences. In its cradle, it sees D'Alembert go, + Lord Marischal go; Helvetius come, Lord Marischal come; in its boyhood or + maturity, the Excise, and French RATS-DE-CAVE, spring up; Crown-Prince + Friedrich Wilhelm prick his hand for a fit kind of ink; Friedrich + Wilhelm's Divorced Wife give her Douanier two slaps in the face, by way of + payment. Nay, the same Friedrich Wilhelm, become "Friedrich Wilhelm II., + or DER DICKE," died in it,—his Lichtenau AND his second Wife, jewel + of women, nursing him in his last sickness there. ["Died 16th November, + 1797."] + </p> + <p> + The violent stress of effort for repairing Prussia, Friedrich intimates, + was mostly over in 1766: till which date specifically, and in a looser + sense till 1770, that may be considered as his main business. But it was + not at any time his sole business; nor latterly at all equal in interest + to some others that had risen on him, as the next Chapter will now show. + Here, first, is a little Fraction of NECROLOGY, which may be worth taking + with us. Readers can spread these fateful specialties over the Period in + question; and know that each of them came with a kind of knell upon + Friedrich's heart, whatever he might be employed about. Hour striking + after hour on the Horologe of Time; intimating how the Afternoon wore, and + that Night was coming. Various meanings there would be to Friedrich in + these footfalls of departing guests, the dear, the less dear, and the + indifferent or hostile; but each of them would mean: "Gone, then, gone; + thus we all go!" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + "OBITUARY IN FRIEDRICH'S CIRCLE TILL 1771." + </h2> + <p> + Of Polish Majesty's death (5th October, 1763), and then (2d December + following) of his Kurprinz or Successor's, with whom we dined at + Moritzburg so recently, there will be mention by and by. November 28th, + 1763, in the interval between these two, the wretched Bruhl had died. + April 14th, 1764, died the wretched Pompadour;—"To us not known, JE + NE LA CONNAIS PAS:"—hapless Butterfly, she had been twenty years in + the winged condition; age now forty-four: dull Louis, they say, looked out + of window as her hearse departed, "FROIDEMENT," without emotion of any + visible kind. These little concern Friedrich or us; we will restrict + ourselves to Friends. + </p> + <p> + "DIED IN 1764. At Pisa, Algarotti (23d May, 1764, age fifty-two); with + whom Friedrich has always had some correspondence hitherto (to himself + interesting, though not to us), and will never henceforth have more. + Friedrich raised a Monument to him; Monument still to be seen in the + Campo-Santo of Pisa: 'HIC JACET OVIDII AEMULUS ET NEUTONI DISCIPULUS;' + friends have added 'FREDERICUS MAGNUS PONI FECIT;' and on another part of + the Monument, 'ALGAROTTUS NON OMNIS.' [Preuss, iv. 188.] + </p> + <p> + "—IN 1765. At the age of eighty, November 18th, Grafin Camas, 'MA + BONNE MAMAN' (widow since 1741); excellent old Lady,—once + brilliantly young, German by birth, her name Brandt;—to whom the + King's LETTERS used to be so pretty." This same year, too, Kaiser Franz + died; but him we will reserve, as not belonging to this Select List. + </p> + <p> + "—IN 1766. At Nanci, 23d February, age eighty-six, King Stanislaus + Leczinsky: 'his clothes caught fire' (accidental spark or sputter on some + damask dressing-gown or the like); and the much-enduring innocent old soul + ended painfully his Titular career. + </p> + <p> + "DIED IN 1767. October 22d, the Grand-Duchess of Sachsen-Gotha, age + fifty-seven; a sad stroke this also, among one's narrowing List of + Friends.—I doubt if Friedrich ever saw this high Lady after the + Visit we lately witnessed. His LETTERS to her are still in the Archives of + Gotha: not hers to him; all lost, these latter, but an accidental Two, + which are still beautiful in their kind. [Given in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xviii. 165, 256.] + </p> + <p> + "—IN 1770. Bielfeld, the fantastic individual of old days. Had long + been out of Friedrich's circle,—in Altenburg Country, I think;—without + importance to Friedrich or us: the year of him will do, without search for + day or month. + </p> + <p> + "—-IN 1771. Two heavy deaths come this year. January 28th, 1771, at + Berlin, dies our valuable old friend Excellency Mitchell,—still here + on the part of England, in cordial esteem as a man and companion; though + as Minister, I suppose, with function more and more imaginary. This + painfully ushers in the year. To usher it out, there is still worse: + faithful D'Argens dies, 26th December, 1771, on a visit in his native + Provence,—leaving, as is still visible, [Friedrich's two Letters to + the Widow (Ib. xix. 427-429).] a big and sad blank behind him at Potsdam." + But we need not continue; at least not at present. + </p> + <p> + Long before all these, Friedrich had lost friends; with a sad but quiet + emotion he often alludes to this tragic fact, that all the souls he loved + most are gone. His Winterfelds, his Keiths, many loved faces, the War has + snatched: at Monbijou, at Baireuth, it was not War; but they too are gone. + Is the world becoming all a Mausoleum, then; nothing of divine in it but + the Tombs of vanished loved ones? Friedrich makes no noise on such + subjects: loved and unloved alike must go. + </p> + <p> + We have still to mark Kaiser Franz's sudden death; a thing politically + interesting, if not otherwise. August, 1765, at Innspruck, during the + Marriage-festivities of his Second Son, Leopold (Duke of Florence, who + afterwards, on Joseph's death, was Kaiser),—Kaiser Franz, sauntering + about in the evening gala, "18th August, about 9 P.M.," suddenly tottered, + staggered as falling; fell into Son Joseph's arms; and was dead. Above a + year before, this same Joseph, his Eldest Son, had been made King of the + Romans: "elected 26th March; crowned 3d April, 1764;"—Friedrich + furthering it, wishful to be friendly with his late enemies. [Rodenbeck, + ii. 234.] + </p> + <p> + On this Innspruck Tragedy, Joseph naturally became Kaiser,—Part-Kaiser; + his Dowager-Mother, on whom alone it depends, having decided that way. The + poor Lady was at first quite overwhelmed with her grief. She had the + death-room of her Husband made into a Chapel; she founded furthermore a + Monastery in Innspruck, "Twelve Canonesses to pray there for the repose of + Franz;" was herself about to become Abbess there, and quit the secular + world; but in the end was got persuaded to continue, and take Son Joseph + as Coadjutor. [Hormayr, OESTERREICHISCHER PLUTARCH ( Maria Theresa), iv. + (2tes Bandchen) 6-124; MARIA THERESIENS LEBEN, p. 30.] In which capacity + we shall meet the young man again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III.—TROUBLES IN POLAND. + </h2> + <p> + April 11th, 1764, one year after his Seven-Years labor of Hercules, + Friedrich made Treaty of Alliance with the new Czarina Catharine. England + had deserted him; France was his enemy, especially Pompadour and Choiseul, + and refused reconcilement, though privately solicited: he was without an + Ally anywhere. The Russians had done him frightful damage in the last War, + and were most of all to be dreaded in the case of any new one. The Treaty + was a matter of necessity as well as choice. Agreement for mutual good + neighborhood and friendly offices; guarantee of each other against + intrusive third parties: should either get engaged in war with any + neighbor, practical aid to the length of 12,000 men, or else money in + lieu. Treaty was for eight years from day of date. + </p> + <p> + As Friedrich did not get into war, and Catharine did, with the Turks and + certain loose Polacks, the burden of fulfilment happened to fall wholly on + Friedrich; and he was extremely punctual in performance,—eager now, + and all his life after, to keep well with such a Country under such a + Czarina. Which proved to be the whole rule of his policy on that Russian + side. "Good that Country cannot bring me by any quarrel with it; evil it + can, to a frightful extent, in case of my quarrelling with others! Be + wary, be punctual, magnanimously polite, with that grandiose Czarina and + her huge territories and notions:" this was Friedrich's constant rule in + public and in private. Nor is it thought his CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE + EMPRESS CATHARINE, when future generations see it in print, will disclose + the least ground of offence to that high-flying Female Potentate of the + North. Nor will it ever be known what the silently observant Friedrich + thought of her, except indeed what we already know, or as good as know, + That he, if anybody did, saw her clearly enough for what she was; and + found good to repress into absolute zero whatever had no bearing upon + business, and might by possibility give offence in that quarter. For we + are an old King, and have learned by bitter experiences! No more + nicknames, biting verses, or words which a bird of the air could carry; + though this poor Lady too has her liabilities, were not we old and + prudent;—and is entirely as weak on certain points (deducting the + devotions and the brandy-and-water) as some others were! The Treaty was + renewed when necessary; and continued valid and vital in every particular, + so long as Friedrich ruled. + </p> + <p> + By the end of the first eight years, by strictly following this passive + rule, Friedrich, in counterbalance of his losses, unexpectedly found + himself invested with a very singular bit of gain,—"unjust gain!" + cried all men, making it of the nature of gain and loss to him,—which + is still practically his, and which has made, and makes to this day, an + immense noise in the world. Everybody knows we mean West-Preussen; + Partition of Poland; bloodiest picture in the Book of Time, Sarmatia's + fall unwept without a crime;—and that we have come upon a very + intricate part of our poor History. + </p> + <p> + No prudent man—especially if to himself, as is my own poor case in + regard to it, the subject have long been altogether dead and indifferent—would + wish to write of the Polish Question. For almost a hundred years the + Polish Question has been very loud in the world; and ever and anon rises + again into vocality among Able Editors, as a thing pretending not to be + dead and buried, but capable of rising again, and setting itself right, by + good effort at home and abroad. Not advisable, beyond the strict limits of + compulsion, to write of it at present! The rather as the History of it, + any History we have, is not an intelligible series of events, but a series + of vociferous execrations, filling all Nature, with nothing left to the + reader but darkness, and such remedies against despair as he himself can + summon or contrive. + </p> + <p> + "Rulhiere's on that subject," says a Note which I may cite, "is the only + articulate-speaking Book to which mankind as yet can apply; [Cl. Rulhiere, + <i>Histoire de l'Anarchie de Pologne</i> (Paris, 1807), 4 vols. 12mo.] and + they will by no means find that a sufficient one. Rulhiere's Book has its + considerable merits; but it absolutely wants those of a History; and can + be recognized by no mind as an intelligible cosmic Portraiture of that + chaotic Mass of Occurrences: chronology, topography, precision of detail + by time and place; scene, and actors on scene, remain unintelligible. + Rulhiere himself knew Poland, at least had looked on it from Warsaw + outwards, year after year, and knew of it what an inquiring Secretary of + Legation could pick up on those terms, which perhaps, after all, is not + very much. His Narrative is drowned in beautiful seas of description and + reflection; has neither dates nor references; and advances at an + intolerable rate of slowness; in fact, rather turns on its axis than + advances; produces on you the effect of a melodious Sonata, not of a lucid + and comfortably instructive History. + </p> + <p> + "I forget for how long Rulhiere had been in Poland, as Ambassador's + Assistant: but the Country, the King and leading Personages were + personally known to him, more or less; Events with all details of them + were known: 'Why not write a History of the Anarchy and Wreck they fell + into?' said the Official people to him, on his return home: 'For behoof of + the Dauphin [who is to be Louis XVI. shortly]; may not he perhaps draw + profit from it? At the top of the Universe, experience is sometimes + wanted. Here are the Archives, here is Salary, here are what appliances + you like to name: Write!' It is well known he was appointed, on a Pension + of 250 pounds a year, with access to all archives, documents and + appliances in possession of the French Government, and express charge to + delineate this subject for benefit of the Dauphin's young mind. Nor can I + wonder, considering everything, that the process on Rulhiere's part, being + so full of difficulties, was extremely deliberate; that this Book did not + grow so steadily or fast as the Dauphin did; and that in fact the poor + Dauphin never got the least benefit from it,—being guillotined, he, + in 1793, and the Book intended for him never coming to light for fourteen + years afterwards, it too in a posthumous and still unfinished condition. + </p> + <p> + "Rulhiere has heard the voices of rumor, knows an infinitude of events + that were talked of; but has not discriminated which were the vital, which + were the insignificant; treats the vital and the insignificant alike; + seldom with satisfactory precision; mournfully seldom giving any date, and + by no chance any voucher or authority;—and instead of practical + terrestrial scene of action, with distances, milestones, definite sequence + of occurrences, and of causes and effects, paints us a rosy cloudland, + which if true at all, as he well intends it to be, is little more than + symbolically or allegorically so; and can satisfy no clear-headed Dauphin + or man. Rulhiere strives to be authentic, too; gives you no suspicion of + his fairness. There is really fine high-colored painting in Rulhiere! and + you hope always he will let you into the secret of the matter: but the sad + fact is, he never does. He merely loses himself in picturesque details, + philosophic eloquences, elegancies; takes you to a Castle of Choczim, a + Monastery of Czenstochow, a Bay of Tschesme, and lets off extensive + fire-works that contain little or no shot; leads you on trackless marches, + inroads or outroads, through the Lithuanian Peat-bogs, on daring + adventures and hair-breadth escapes of mere Pulawski, Potocki and the + like;—had not got to understand the matter himself, you perceive: + how hopeless to make you understand it!" + </p> + <p> + English readers, however, have no other shift; the rest of the Books I + have seen,—<i>Histoire des Revolutions de Pologne;</i> [1778 (A + WARSOVIE, ET SE TROUVE A PARIS), 2 vols. 8vo.] <i>Histoire des Trois + Demembremens de la Pologne;</i> [Anonymous (by one FERRAND, otherwise + unknown to me), Paris, 1820, 3 vols. 8vo.] <i>Letters on Poland;</i> + [Anonymous (by a "Reverend Mr. Lindsey," it would seem), LETTERS + CONCERNING THE PRESENT STATE OF POLAND, TOGETHER WITH &c. (London, + 1773; 1 vol. 8vo): of these LETTERS, or at least of Reverend Lindsey, + Author of them, "Tutor to King Stanislaus's Nephew," and a man of + painfully loud loose tongue, there may perhaps be mention afterwards.] and + many more,—are not worth mentioning at all. Comfortable in the mad + dance of these is Hermann's recent dull volume; [Hermann, <i>Geschichte + des Russischen Staats,</i> vol. v. (already cited in regard to the + Peter-Catharine tragedy); seems to be compiled mainly from the Saxon + Archives, from DESPATCHES written on the spot and at the time.]—commonplace, + dull, but steady and faithful; yielding us at least dates, and an immunity + from noise. By help of Hermann and the others, distilled to CAPUT MORTUUM, + a few dated facts (cardinal we dare not call them) may be extracted;—dimly + out of these, to the meditating mind, some outline of the phenomenon may + begin to become conceivable. King of Poland dies; and there ensue huge + Anarchies in that Country. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + KING OF POLAND DIES; AND THERE ENSUE HUGE ANARCHIES IN THAT COUNTRY. + </h2> + <p> + The poor old King of Poland—whom we saw, on that fall of the curtain + at Pirna seven years ago, rush off for Warsaw with his Bruhl, with + expressive speed and expressive silence, and who has been waiting there + ever since, sublimely confident that his powerful terrestrial friends, + Austria, Russia, France, not to speak of Heaven's justice at all, would + exact due penalty, of signal and tremendous nature, on the Prussian + Aggressor—has again been disappointed. The poor old Gentleman got no + compensation for his manifold losses and woes at Pirna or elsewhere; not + the least mention of such a thing, on the final winding-up of that War of + Seven Years, in which his share had been so tragical; no alleviation was + provided for him in this world. His sorrows in Poland have been manifold; + nothing but anarchies, confusions and contradictions had been his Royal + portion there: in about Forty different Diets he had tried to get some + business done,—no use asking what; for the Diets, one and all, + exploded in NIE POZWALAM; and could do no business, good, bad or + indifferent, for him or anybody. An unwise, most idle Country; following + as chief employment perpetual discrepancy with its idle unwise King and + self; Russia the virtual head of it this long while, so far as it has any + head. + </p> + <p> + FEBRUARY-AUGUST, 1763, just while the Treaty of Hubertsburg was blessing + everybody with the return of Peace, and for long months after Peace had + returned to everybody, Polish Majesty was in sore trouble. Trouble in + regard to Courland, to his poor Son Karl, who fancied himself elected, + under favor and permission of the late Czarina our gracious Protectress + and Ally, to the difficult post of Duke in Courland; and had proceeded, + three or four years ago, to take possession,—but was now interrupted + by Russian encroachments and violences. Not at all well disposed to him, + these new Peters, new Catharines. They have recalled their Bieren from + Siberia; declare that old Bieren is again Duke, or at least that young + Bieren is, and not Saxon Karl at all; and have proceeded, Czarina + Catharine has, to install him forcibly with Russian soldiers. Karl + declares, "You shall kill ME before you or he get into this Palace of + Mietau!"—and by Domestics merely, and armed private Gentlemen, he + does maintain himself in said Palatial Mansion; valiantly indignant, for + about six months; the Russian Battalions girdling him on all sides, + minatory more and more, but loath to begin actual bloodshed. [Rulhiere, + ii. (livre v.) 81 et antea; Hermann, v. 348 et seq.] A transaction very + famed in those parts, and still giving loud voice in the Polish Books, + which indeed get ever noisier from this point onward, till they end in + inarticulate shrieks, as we shall too well hear. + </p> + <p> + Empress Catharine, after the lapse of six months, sends an Ambassador to + Warsaw (Kayserling by name), who declares, in tone altogether imperative, + that Czarish Majesty feels herself weary of such contumacy, weary + generally of Polish Majesty's and Polish Republic's multifarious + contumacies; and, in fine, cruelest of all, that she has troops on the + frontier; that Courland is not the only place where she has troops. What a + stab to the poor old man! "Contumacies?" Has not he been Russia's patient + stepping-stone, all along; his anarchic Poland and he accordant in that, + if in nothing else? "Let us to Saxony," decides he passionately, "and + leave all this." In Saxony his poor old Queen is dead long since; much is + dead: Saxony and Life generally, what a Golgotha! He immediately sends + word to Karl, "Give up Courland; I am going home!"—and did hastily + make his packages, and bid adieu to Warsaw, and, in a few weeks after to + this anarchic world altogether. Died at Dresden, 5th October, 1763. + </p> + <p> + Polish Majesty had been elected 5th October, 1733; died, you observe, 5th + October, 1763;—was King of Poland ("King," save the mark!) for 30 + years to a day. Was elected—do readers still remember how? Leaves a + ruined Saxony lying round him; a ruined life mutely asking him, "Couldst + thou have done no better, then?" Wretched Bruhl followed him in four or + five weeks. Nay, in about two months, his Son and Successor, "Friedrich + Christian" (with whom we dined at Moritzburg), had followed him; [Prince + died 17th December (Bruhl, 18th November), 1763.] leaving a small Boy, age + 13, as new Kurfurst, "Friedrich August" the name of him, with guardians to + manage the Minority; especially with his Mother as chief guardian,—of + whom, for two reasons, we are now to say something. Reason FIRST is, That + she is really a rather brilliant, distinguished creature, distinguished + more especially in Friedrich's world; whose LETTERS to her are numerous, + and, in their kind, among the notablest he wrote;—of which we would + gladly give some specimen, better or worse; and reason SECOND, That in so + doing, we may contrive to look, for a moment or two, into the preliminary + Polish Anarchies at first-hand; and, transiently and far off, see + something of them as if with our own eyes. + </p> + <p> + Marie-Antoine, or Marie-Antoinette, Electress of Saxony, is still a bright + Lady, and among the busiest living; now in her 40th year: "born 17th July, + 1724; second child of Kaiser Karl VII.;"—a living memento to us of + those old times of trouble. Papa, when she came to him, was in his 27th + year; this was his second daughter; three years afterwards he had a son + (born 1727; died 1777), who made the "Peace of Fussen," to Friedrich's + disgust, in 1745, if readers recollect;—and who, dying childless, + will give rise to another War (the "Potato War" so called), for + Friedrich's behoof and ours. This little creature would be in her teens + during that fatal Kaisership (1742-1745, her age then 18-21),—during + those triumphs, flights and furnished-lodging intricacies. Her Mamma, whom + we have seen, a little fat bullet given to devotion, was four years + younger than Papa. Mamma died "11th December, 1756," Germany all blazing + out in War again; she had been a Widow eleven years. + </p> + <p> + Marie-Antoine was wedded to Friedrich Christian, Saxon Kurprinz, "20th + June, 1747;" her age 23, his 25:—Chronology itself is something, if + one will attend to it, in the absence of all else! The young pair were + Cousins, their Mothers being Sisters; Polish Majesty one's Uncle, age now + 51,—who was very fond of us, poor indolent soul, and glad of our + company on an afternoon, "being always in his dressing-gown by 2 o'clock." + Concerning which the tongue of Court scandal was not entirely idle,—Hanbury + chronicling, as we once noticed. All which I believe to be mere lying + wind. The young Princess was beautiful; extremely clever, graceful and + lively, we can still see for ourselves: no wonder poor Polish Majesty, + always in his dressing-gown by 2, was charmed to have her company,—the + rather as I hope she permitted him a little smoking withal. + </p> + <p> + Her husband was crook-backed; and, except those slight, always perfectly + polite little passages, in Schmettau's Siege (1759), in the Hubertsburg + Treaty affair, in the dinner at Moritzburg, I never heard much history of + him. He became Elector 5th October, 1763; but enjoyed the dignity little + more than two months. Our Princess had borne him seven children,—three + boys, four girls,—the eldest about 13, a Boy, who succeeded; the + youngest a girl, hardly 3. The Boy is he who sent Gellert the caparisoned + Horse, and had estafettes on the road while Gellert lay dying. This Boy + lived to be 77, and saw strange things in the world; had seen Napoleon and + the French Revolution; was the first "King of Saxony" so called; saw Jena, + retreat of Moscow; saw the "Battle of the Nations" (Leipzig, 15th-18th + October, 1813), and his great Napoleon terminate in bankruptcy. He left no + Son. A Brother, age 72, succeeded him as King for a few years; whom again + a Brother would have succeeded, had not he (this third Brother, age now + 66) renounced, in favor of HIS Son, the present King of Saxony. Enough, + enough!— + </p> + <p> + August 28th, 1763, while afflicted Polish Majesty is making his packages + at Warsaw, far away,—Marie-Antoinette, in Dresden, had sent + Friedrich an Opera of her composing, just brought out by her on her + Court-theatre there. Here is Friedrich's Answer,—to what kind of + OPERA I know not, but to a Letter accompanying it which is extremely + pretty. + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO THE ELECTORAL PRINCESS (at Dresden). + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 5th September, 1763. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM MY SISTER,—The remembrance your Royal Highness sends is the + more flattering to me, as I regret infinitely not to have been spectator + and hearer of the fine things [Opera THALESTRIS, words and music entirely + lost to us] which I have admired for myself in the silent state. + </p> + <p> + "I wish I could send you things as pleasant out of these parts: but, + Madam, I am obliged to give you a hint, which may be useful if you can + have it followed. In Saxony, however, my Letters get opened;—which + obliges me to send this by a special Messenger; and him, that he may cause + no suspicion, I have charged with fruits from my garden. You will have the + goodness to say [if anybody is eavesdropping] that you asked them of me at + Moritzburg, when I was happy enough to see you there [six months ago, + coming home from the Seven-Years War]. The hint I had to give was this:— + </p> + <p> + "In Petersburg people's minds are getting angry at the stubbornness your + friends show in refusing to recognize Duke Bieren [home from Siberia, + again Duke of Courland, by Russian appointment, as if Russia had that + right; Polish Majesty and his Prince Karl resisting to the uttermost]. I + counsel you to induce the powerful in your circle to have this + condescension [they have had it, been obliged to have it, though Friedrich + does not yet know]; for it will turn out ill to them, if they persist in + being obstinately stiff. It begins already to be said That there are more + than a million Russian subjects at this time refugees in Poland; whom, by + I forget what cartel, the Republic was bound to deliver up. Orders have + been given to Detachments of Military to enter certain places, and bring + away these Russians by force. In a word, you will ruin your affairs + forever, unless you find means to produce a change of conduct on the part + of him they complain of. Take, Madam, what I now say as a mark of the + esteem and profound regard with which—"—F. [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxiv. 46.] + </p> + <p> + This hint, if the King knew, had been given, in a less kind shape, by + Necessity itself; and had sent Polish Majesty, and his Bruhls and + "powerful people," bodily home, and out of that Polish Russian welter, in + a headlong and tragically passionate condition. Electoral Princess, next + time she writes, is become Electress all at once. + </p> + <p> + ELECTRESS MARIE-ANTOINE TO FRIEDRICH. + </p> + <p> + "DRESDEN, 5th October, 1763. + </p> + <p> + "SIRE,—Your Majesty has given me such assurance of your goodness and + your friendship, that I will now appeal to that promise. You have assured + us, too, that you would with pleasure contribute to secure Poland for us. + The moment is come for accomplishing that promise. The King is dead [died + this very day; see if <i>I</i> lose time in sentimental lamentations!]—with + him these grievances of Russia [our stiffness on Courland and the like] + must be extinct; the rather as we [the now reigning] will lend ourselves + willingly to everything that can be required of us for perfect + reconcilement with that Power. + </p> + <p> + "You can do all, if you will it; you can contribute to this reconcilement. + You can render it favorable to us. You will, give me that proof of the + flattering sentiments I have been so proud of hitherto,"—won't you, + now? "Russia cannot disapprove the mediation you might deign to offer on + that behalf;—our intentions being so honestly amicable, and all + ground of controversy having died with the late King. Russia reconciled, + our views on the Polish Crown might at once be declared (ECLATER)." Oh, do + it, your Majesty;—"my gratitude shall only end with life!—M. + A." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiv. 47.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, who is busy negotiating his Treaty with Russia (perfected 11th + April next), and understands that they will mean not to have a Saxon, but + to have a Piast, and perhaps dimly even what Piast (Stanislaus + Poniatowski, the EMERITUS Lover), who will be their own, and not Saxony's + at all,—must have been a little embarrassed by such an appeal from + his fair friend at this moment. "Wait a little; don't answer yet," would + have occurred to the common mind. But that was not Friedrich's resource: + he answers by return of post, as always in such cases;—and in the + following adroit manner brushes off, without hurt to it, with kisses to it + rather, the beautiful hand that has him by the button:— + </p> + <p> + TO THE ELECTRESS MARIE-ANTOINE (at Dresden). + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, 8th October, 1763. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM MY SISTER,—I begin by making my condolences and my + congratulations to your Electoral Highness on the death of the King your + Father-in-law, and on your Accession to the Electorate. + </p> + <p> + "Your Electoral Highness will remember what I wrote, not long since, on + the affairs of Poland. I am afraid, Madam, that Russia will be more + contrary to you than you think. M. de Woronzow [famous Grand-Chancellor of + Russia; saved himself dexterously in the late Peter-Catharine overturn; + has since fallen into disfavor for his notions about our Gregory Orlof, + and is now on his way to Italy, "for health's sake," in consequence], who + is just arrived here, ["Had his audience 7th October" (yesterday): + Rodenbeck, ii. 224.] told me, too, of some things which raise an ill + augury of this affair. If you do not disapprove of my speaking frankly to + you, it seems to me that it would be suitable in you to send some discreet + Diplomatist to that Court to notify the King's death; and you would learn + by him what you have to expect from her Czarish Majesty [the Empress, he + always calls her, knowing she prefers that title]. It seems to me, Madam, + that it would be precipitate procedure should I wish to engage you in an + Enterprise, which appears to myself absolutely dubious (HASARDEE), unless + approved by that Princess. As to me, Madam, I have not the ascendant there + which you suppose: I act under rule of all the delicacies and discretions + with a Court which separated itself from my Enemies when all Europe wished + to crush me: but I am far from being able to regulate the Empress's way of + thinking. + </p> + <p> + "It is the same with the quarrels about the Duke of Courland; one cannot + attempt mediation except by consent of both parties. I believe I am not + mistaken in supposing that the Court of Russia does not mean to terminate + that business by foreign mediation. What I have heard about it (what, + however, is founded only on vague news) is, That the Empress might prevail + upon herself (POURRAIT SE RESOUDRE) to purchase from Bruhl the + Principality of Zips [Zips, on the edge of Hungary; let readers take note + of that Principality, at present in the hand of Bruhl,—who has much + disgusted Poland by his voracity for Lands; and is disgorging them all + again, poor soul!], to give it to Prince Karl in compensation: but that + would lead to a negotiation with the Court of Vienna, which might involve + the affair in other contentions. + </p> + <p> + "I conjure you, Madam, I repeat it, Be not precipitate in anything; lest, + as my fear is, you replunge Europe into the troubles it has only just + escaped from! As to me, I have found, since the Peace, so much to do + within my own borders, that I have not, I assure you, had time, Madam, to + think of going abroad. I confine myself to forming a thousand wishes for + the prosperity of your Electoral Highness, assuring you of the high esteem + with which I am,—F." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiv. 48.] + </p> + <p> + After some farther Letters, of eloquently pressing solicitation on the + part of the Lady, and earnest advising, as well as polite fencing, on the + part of Friedrich, the latter writes:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO ELECTRESS. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM MY SISTER,—At this moment I receive a Letter from the + </p> + <p> + Empress of Russia, the contents of which do not appear to me favorable, + Madam, to your hopes. She requires (EXIGE) that I should instruct my + Minister in Poland to act entirely in concert with the Count Kayserling; + and she adds these very words: 'I expect, from the friendship of your + Majesty, that you will not allow a passage through your territory, nor the + entry into Poland, to Saxon troops, who are to be regarded there + absolutely as strangers.' + </p> + <p> + "Unless your Letters, Madam [Madam had said that she had written to the + Empress, assuring her &c.] change the sentiments of the Empress, I do + not see in what way the Elector could arrive at the throne of Poland; and + consequently, whether I deferred to the wishes of the Empress in this + point, or refused to do so, you would not the more become Queen; and I + might commit myself against a Power which I ought to keep well with + (MENAGER). I am persuaded, Madam, that your Electoral Highness enters into + my embarrassment; and that, unless you find yourself successful in + changing the Empress's own ideas on this matter, you will not require of + me that I should embroil myself fruitlessly with a neighbor who deserves + the greatest consideration from me. + </p> + <p> + "All this is one consequence of the course which Count Bruhl induced his + late Polish Majesty to take with regard to the interests of Prince Karl in + Courland; and your Electoral Highness will remember, that I often + represented to you the injury which would arise to him from it. + </p> + <p> + "I will wish, Madam, that other opportunities may occur, where it may be + in my power to prove to your Electoral Highness the profound esteem and + consideration with which I am—"—F. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxiv. 52.] + </p> + <p> + ELECTRESS TO FRIEDRICH. + </p> + <p> + "DRESDEN, 11th November, 1763. + </p> + <p> + "SIRE,—I am not yet disheartened. I love to flatter myself with your + friendship, Sire, and I will not easily renounce the hope that you will + give me a real mark of it in an affair which interests me so strongly. + Nobody has greater ascendency over the mind of the Empress of Russia than + your Majesty; use it, Sire, to incline it to our favor. Our obligation + will be infinite.... Why should she be absolutely against us? What has she + to fear from us? The Courland business, if that sticks with her, could be + terminated in a suitable manner."—Troops into Poland, Sire?"My + Husband so little thinks of sending troops thither, that he has given + orders for the return of those already there. He does not wish the Crown + except from the free suffrages of the Nation: if the Empress absolutely + refuse to help him with her good offices, let her, at least, not be + against him. Do try, Sire." [Ib. xxiv. 53.]—Friedrich answers, after + four days, or by return of post—But we will give the rest in the + form of Dialogue. + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH (after four days).... "If, Madam, I had Crowns to give away, I + would place the first on your head, as most worthy to bear it. But I am + far from such a position. I have just got out of a horrible War, which my + enemies made upon me with a rage almost beyond example; I endeavor to + cultivate friendship with all my neighbors, and to get embroiled with + nobody. With regard to the affairs of Poland, an Empress whom I ought to + be well with, and to whom I owe great obligations, requires me to enter + into her measures; you, Madam, whom I would fain please if I could, you + want me to change the sentiments of this Empress. Do but enter into my + embarrassment!... According to all I hear from Russia, it appears to me + that every resolution is taken there; and that the Empress is resolved + even to sustain the party of her partisans in Poland with the forces she + has all in readiness at the borders. As for me, Madam, I wish, if + possible, not to meddle at all with this business, which hitherto is not + complicated, but which may, any day, become so by the neighbors of Poland + taking a too lively part in it. Ready, otherwise, on all occasions, to + give to your Electoral Highness proofs of my—" [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxiv, 54: "Potsdam, 16th November, 1763."] + </p> + <p> + Electress (after ten days).... "Why should the Empress be so much against + us? We have not deserved her hatred. On the contrary, we seek her + friendship. She declares, however, that she will uphold the freedom of the + Poles in the election of their King. You, Sire"—[Ib. xxiv. 55: + "Dresden, 26th November, 1763."] But we must cut short, though it lasts + long months after this. Great is the Electress's persistence,—"My + poor Husband being dead, cannot our poor Boy, cannot his uncle Prince + Xavier try? O Sire!" Our last word shall be this of Friedrich's; actual + Election-time now drawing nigh:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH. "I am doing like the dogs who have fought bitterly till they + are worn down: I sit licking my wounds. I notice most European Powers + doing the same; too happy if, whilst Kings are being manufactured to right + and left, public tranquillity is not disturbed thereby, and if every one + may continue to dwell in peace beside his hearth and his household gods." + ["Sans-Souci, 26th June, 1764" (Ib. p. 69).] Adieu, bright Madam. + </p> + <p> + No reader who has made acquaintance with Polish History can well doubt but + Poland was now dead or moribund, and had well deserved to die. Anarchies + are not permitted in this world. Under fine names, they are grateful to + the Populaces, and to the Editors of Newspapers; but to the Maker of this + Universe they are eternally abhorrent; and from the beginning have been + forbidden to be. They go their course, applauded or not applauded by self + and neighbors,—for what lengths of time none of us can know; for a + long term sometimes, but always for a fixed term; and at last their day + comes. Poland had got to great lengths, two centuries ago, when poor John + Casimir abdicated his Crown of Poland, after a trial of twenty years, and + took leave of the Republic in that remarkable SPEECH to the Diet of 1667. + </p> + <p> + This John is "Casimir V.," last Scion of the Swedish House of Vasa,—with + whom, in the Great Elector's time, we had some slight acquaintance; and + saw at least the three days' beating he got (Warsaw, 28th-30th July, 1656) + from Karl Gustav of Sweden and the Great Elector, [Supra, v. 284-286.] + ancestors respectively of Karl XII. and of our present Friedrich. He is + not "Casimir the Great" of Polish Kings; but he is, in our day, Casimir + the alone Remarkable. It seems to me I once had IN EXTENSO this + Valedictory Speech of his; but it has lapsed again into the general Mother + of Dead Dogs, and I will not spend a week in fishing for it. The gist of + the Speech, innumerable Books and Dead Dogs tell you, [HISTOIRE DES TROIS + DEMEMBREMENS does, and many others do;—copied in <i>Biographie + Universelle,</i> vii. 278 (? Casimir).] is "lamentation over the Polish + Anarchies" and "a Prophecy," which is very easily remembered. The poor old + Gentleman had no doubt eaten his peck of dirt among those Polacks, and + swallowed chagrins till he felt his stomach could no more, and determined + to have done with it. To one's fancy, in abridged form, the Valediction + must have run essentially as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "Magnanimous Polack Gentlemen, you are a glorious Republic, and have NIE + POZWALAM, and strange methods of business, and of behavior to your Kings + and others. We have often fought together, been beaten together, by our + enemies and by ourselves; and at last I, for my share, have enough of it. + I intend for Paris; religious-literary pursuits, and the society of Ninon + de l'Enclos. I wished to say before going, That according to all record, + ancient and modern, of the ways of God Almighty in this world, there was + not heretofore, nor do I expect there can henceforth be, a Human Society + that would stick together on those terms. Believe me, ye Polish + Chivalries, without superior except in Heaven, if your glorious Republic + continue to be managed in such manner, not good will come of it, but evil. + The day will arrive [this is the Prophecy, almost IN IPSISSIMIS VERBIS], + the day perhaps is not so far off, when this glorious Republic will get + torn into shreds, hither, thither; be stuffed into the pockets of covetous + neighbors, Brandenburg; Muscovy, Austria; and find itself reduced to zero, + and abolished from the face of the world. + </p> + <p> + "I speak these words in sorrow of soul; words which probably you will not + believe. Which only Fate can compel you to believe, one day, if they are + true words:—you think, probably, they are not? Me at least, or + interest of mine, they do not regard. I speak them from the fulness of my + heart, and on behest of friendship and conviction alone; having the honor + at this moment to bid you and your Republic a very long farewell. + Good-morning, for the last time!" and so EXIT: to Rome (had been Cardinal + once); to Paris and the society of Ninon's Circle for the few years left + him of life. ["Died 16th December, 1672, age 63."] + </p> + <p> + This poor John had had his bitter experiences: think only of one instance. + In 1662, the incredible Law of LIBERUM VETO had been introduced, in spite + of John and his endeavors. LIBERUM VETO; the power of one man to stop the + proceedings of Polish Parliament by pronouncing audibly "NIE POZWALAM, I + don't permit!"—never before or since among mortals was so incredible + a Law. Law standing indisputable, nevertheless, on the Polish Statute-Book + for above two hundred years: like an ever-flowing fountain of Anarchy, + joyful to the Polish Nation. How they got any business done at all, under + such a Law? Truly they did but little; and for the last thirty years as + good as none. But if Polish Parliament was universally in earnest to do + some business, and Veto came upon it, Honorable Members, I observe, + gathered passionately round the vetoing Brother; conjured, obtested, + menaced, wept, prayed; and, if the case was too urgent and insoluble + otherwise, the NIE POZWALAM Gentleman still obstinate, they plunged their + swords through him, and in that way brought consent. The commoner course + was to dissolve and go home again, in a tempest of shrieks and curses. + </p> + <p> + The Right of Confederation, too, is very curious: do readers know it? A + free Polack gentleman, aggrieved by anything that has occurred or been + enacted in his Nation, has the right of swearing, whether absolutely by + himself I know not, but certainly with two or three others of like mind, + that he will not accept said occurrence or enactment, and is hereby got + into arms against its abettors and it. The brightest jewel in the cestus + of Polish Liberty is this right of confederating; and it has been, till of + late, and will be now again practised to all lengths: right of every + Polish, gentleman to confederate with every other against, or for, + whatsoever to them two may seem good; and to assert their particular view + of the case by fighting for it against all comers, King and Diet included. + It must be owned, there never was in Nature such a Form of Government + before; such a mode of social existence, rendering "government" impossible + for some generations past. + </p> + <p> + On the strength of Saxony and its resources and connections, the two + Augusts had contrived to exist with the name of Kings; with the name, but + with little or nothing more. Under this last August, as we heard, there + have been about forty Diets, and in not one of them the least thing of + business done; all the forty, after trying their best, have stumbled on + NIE POZWALAM, and been obliged to vanish in shrieks and curses. [Buchholz + (<i>Preussisch-Brandenburgische Geschichte,</i> ii. 133, 134, &c. + &c.) gives various samples, and this enumeration.] As to August the + Physically Strong, such treatment had he met with,—poor August, if + readers remember, had made up his mind to partition Poland; to give away + large sections of it in purchase of the consent of neighbors, and plant + himself hereditarily in the central part;—and would have done so, + had not Grumkow and he drunk so deep, and death by inflammation of the + foot suddenly come upon the poor man. Some Partition of Poland has been + more than once thought of by practical people concerned. Poland, as "a + house chronically smoking through the slates," which usually brings a new + European War every time it changes King, does require to be taken charge + of by its neighbors. + </p> + <p> + Latterly, as we observed, there has been little of confederating; indeed, + for the last thirty years, as Rulhiere copiously informs us, there has + been no Government, consequently no mutiny needed; little or no National + business of any kind,—the Forty Diets having all gone the road we + saw. Electing of the Judges,—that, says Rulhiere, and wearisomely + teaches by example again and ever again, has always been an interesting + act, in the various Provinces of Poland; not with the hope of getting fair + or upright Judges, but Judges that will lean in the desirable direction. + In a country overrun with endless lawsuits, debts, credits, feudal + intricacies, claims, liabilities, how important to get Judges with the + proper bias! And these once got, or lost till next term,—what is + there to hope or to fear? Russia does our Politics, fights her Seven-Years + War across us; and we, happy we, have no fighting;—never till this + of Courland was there the least ill-nature from Russia! We are become + latterly the peaceable stepping-stone of Russia into Europe and out of it;—what + may be called the door-mat of Russia, useful to her feet, when she is + about paying visits or receiving them! That is not a glorious fact, if it + be a safe and "lucky" one; nor do the Polish Notabilities at all phrase it + in that manner. But a fact it is; which has shown itself complete in the + late Czarina's and late August's time, and which had been on the growing + hand ever since Peter the Great gained his Battle of Pultawa, and rose to + the ascendency, instead of Karl and Sweden. + </p> + <p> + The Poles put fine colors on all this; and are much contented with + themselves. The Russians they regard as intrinsically an inferior + barbarous people; and to this day you will hear indignant Polack Gentlemen + bursting out in the same strain: "Still barbarian, sir; no culture, no + literature,"—inferior because they do not make verses equal to ours! + How it may be with the verses, I will not decide: but the Russians are + inconceivably superior in respect that they have, to a singular degree + among Nations, the gift of obeying, of being commanded. Polack Chivalry + sniffs at the mention of such a gift. Polack Chivalry got sore stripes for + wanting this gift. And in the end, got striped to death, and flung out of + the world, for continuing blind to the want of it, and never acquiring it. + </p> + <p> + Beyond all the verses in Nature, it is essential to every Chivalry and + Nation and Man. "Polite Polish Society for the last thirty years has felt + itself to be in a most halcyon condition," says Rulhiere: [Rulhiere, i. + 216 (a noteworthy passage).] "given up to the agreeable, and to that + only;" charming evening-parties, and a great deal of flirting; full of the + benevolences, the philanthropies, the new ideas,—given up especially + to the pleasing idea of "LAISSEZ-FAIRE, and everything will come right of + itself." "What a discovery!" said every liberal Polish mind: "for + thousands of years, how people did torment themselves trying to steer the + ship; never knowing that the plan was, To let go the helm, and honestly + sit down to your mutual amusements and powers of pleasing!" + </p> + <p> + To this condition of beautifully phosphorescent rot-heap has Poland + ripened, in the helpless reigns of those poor Augusts;—the fulness + of time not now far off, one would say? It would complete the picture, + could I go into the state of what is called "Religion" in Poland. + Dissenterism, of various poor types, is extensive; and, over against it, + is such a type of Jesuit Fanaticism as has no fellow in that day. Of which + there have been truly savage and sanguinary outbreaks, from time to time; + especially one at Thorn, forty years ago, which shocked Friedrich Wilhelm + and the whole Protestant world. [See supra, vi. 64 (and many old Pamphlets + on it).] Polish Orthodoxy, in that time, and perhaps still in ours, is a + thing worth noting. A late Tourist informs me, he saw on the streets of + Stettin, not long since, a drunk human creature staggering about, who + seemed to be a Baltic Sailor, just arrived; the dirtiest, or among the + dirtiest, of mankind; who, as he reeled along, kept slapping his hands + upon his breast, and shouting, in exultant soliloquy, "Polack, Catholik!" + <i>I</i> am a Pole and Orthodox, ye inferior two-legged entities!.—In + regard to the Jesuit Fanaticisms, at Thorn and elsewhere, no blame can + attach to the poor Augusts, who always leant the other way, what they + durst or could. Nor is specialty of blame due to them on any score; it was + "like People, like King," all along;—and they, such their luck, have + lived to bring in the fulness of time. + </p> + <p> + The Saxon Electors are again aspirants for this enviable Throne. We have + seen the beautiful Electress zealously soliciting Friedrich for help in + that project; Friedrich, in a dexterously graceful manner, altogether + declining. Hereditary Saxons are not to be the expedient this time, it + would seem; a grandiose Czarina has decided otherwise. Why should not she? + She and all the world are well aware, Russia has been virtual lord of + Poland this long time. Credible enough that Russia intends to continue so; + and also that it will be able, without very much expenditure of new + contrivance for that object. + </p> + <p> + So far as can be guessed and assiduously deduced from RULHIERE, with your + best attention, Russian Catharine's interference seems first of all to + have been grounded on the grandiose philanthropic principle. Astonishing + to the liberal mind; yet to appearance true. Rulhiere nowhere says so; but + that is gradually one's own perception of the matter; no other refuge for + you out of flat inconceivability. Philanthropic principle, we say, which + the Voltaires and Sages of that Epoch are prescribing as one's duty and + one's glory: "O ye Kings, why won't you do good to mankind, then?" + Catharine, a kind of She-Louis Quatorze, was equal to such a thing. To put + one's cast Lover into a throne,—poor soul, console him in that + manner;—and reduce the long-dissentient Country to blessed composure + under him: what a thing! Foolish Poniatowski, an empty, windy creature, + redolent of macassar and the finer sensibilities of the heart: him she did + make King of Poland; but to reduce the long-dissentient Country to + composure,—that was what she could not do. Countries in that + predicament are sometimes very difficult to compose. The Czarina took, for + above five years, a great deal of trouble, without losing patience. The + Czarina, after every new effort, perceived with astonishment that she was + farther from success than ever. With astonishment; and gradually with + irritation, thickening and mounting towards indignation. + </p> + <p> + There is no reason to believe that the grandiose Woman handled, or + designed to handle, a doomed Poland in the merciless feline-diabolic way + set forth with wearisome loud reiteration in those distracted Books; + playing with the poor Country as cat does with mouse; now lifting her fell + paw, letting the poor mouse go loose in floods of celestial joy and hope + without limit; and always clutching the hapless creature back into the + blackness of death, before eating and ending it. Reason first is, that the + Czarina, as we see her elsewhere, never was in the least a Cat or a Devil, + but a mere Woman; already virtual proprietress of Poland, and needing + little contrivance to keep it virtually hers. Reason second is, that she + had not the gift of prophecy, and could not foreknow the Polish events of + the next ten years, much less shape them out beforehand, and preside over + them, like a Devil or otherwise, in the way supposed. + </p> + <p> + My own private conjecture, I confess, has rather grown to be, on much + reading of those RULHIERES and distracted Books, that the Czarina,—who + was a grandiose creature, with considerable magnanimities, natural and + acquired; with many ostentations, some really great qualities and talents; + in effect, a kind of She-Louis Quatorze (if the reader will reflect on + that Royal Gentleman, and put him into petticoats in Russia, and change + his improper females for improper males),—that the Czarina, very + clearly resolute to keep Poland hers, had determined with herself to do + something very handsome in regard to Poland; and to gain glory, both with + the enlightened Philosophe classes and with her own proud heart, by her + treatment of that intricate matter. "On the one hand," thinks she, or let + us fancy she thinks, "here is Poland; a Country fallen bedrid amid + Anarchies, curable or incurable; much tormented with religious intolerance + at this time, hateful to the philosophic mind; a hateful fanaticism + growing upon it for forty years past [though it is quite against Polish + Law]; and the cries of oppressed Dissidents [Dissenters, chiefly of the + Protestant and of the Greek persuasion] becoming more and more distressing + to hear. And, on the other hand, here is Poniatowski who, who—!" + </p> + <p> + Readers have not forgotten the handsome, otherwise extremely paltry, young + Polack, Stanislaus Poniatowski, whom Excellency Williams took with him 8 + or 9 years ago, ostensibly as "Secretary of Legation," unostensibly as + something very different? Handsome Stanislaus did duly become Lover of the + Grand-Duchess; and has duly, in the course of Nature, some time ago (date + uncertain to me), become discarded Lover; the question rising, What is to + be done with that elegant inane creature, and his vaporous sentimentalisms + and sublime sorrows and disappointments? "Let us make him King of Poland!" + said the Czarina, who was always much the gentleman with her discarded + Lovers (more so, I should say, than Louis Quatorze with his;—and + indeed it is computed they cost her in direct moneys about twenty millions + sterling,—being numerous and greedy; but never the least tiff of + scolding or ill language): [Castera (<i>Vie de Catharine II.</i>) has an + elaborate Appendix on this part of his subject.]—"King of Poland, + with furnishings, and set him handsomely up in the world! We will close + the Dissident Business for him, cure many a curable Anarchy of Poland, to + the satisfaction of Voltaire and all leading spirits of mankind. He shall + have outfit of Russian troops, poor creature; and be able to put down + Anarchies, and show himself a useful and grateful Viceroy for us there. + Outfit of 10,000 troops, a wise Russian Manager: and the Question of the + Dissidents to be settled as the first glory of his reign!" + </p> + <p> + Ingenuous readers are invited to try, in their diffuse vague RULHIERES, + and unintelligible shrieky Polish Histories, whether this notion does not + rise on them as a possible human explanation, more credible than the + feline-diabolic one, which needs withal such a foreknowledge, UNattainable + by cat or devil? Poland must not rise to be too strong a Country, and turn + its back on Russia. No, truly; nor, except by miraculous suspension of the + Laws of Nature, is there danger of that. But neither need Poland lie + utterly lame and prostrate, useless to Russia; and be tortured on its + sick-bed with Dissident Questions and Anarchies, curable by a strong + Sovereign, of whom much is expected by Voltaire and the leading spirits of + mankind. + </p> + <p> + What we shall have to say with perfect certainty, and what alone concerns + us in our own affair, is, FIRST, that Catharine did proceed by this + method, of crowning, fitting out and otherwise setting up Stanislaus; did + attempt settlement (and at one time thought she had settled) the Dissident + Question and some curable Anarchies,—but stirred up such legions of + incurable, waxing on her hands, day after day, year after year, as were + abundantly provoking and astonishing:—and that within the next eight + years she had arrived, with Poland and her cargo of anarchies, at results + which struck the whole world dumb. Dumb with astonishment, for some time; + and then into tempests of vociferation more or less delirious, which have + never yet quite ended, though sinking gradually to lower and lower stages + of human vocality. Fact FIRST is abundantly manifest. Nor is fact SECOND + any longer doubtful, That King Friedrich, in regard to all this, till a + real crisis elsewhere had risen, took little or no visible interest + whatever; had one unvarying course of conduct, that of punctually + following Czarish Majesty in every respect; instructing his Minister at + Warsaw always to second and reinforce the Russian one, as his one rule of + policy in that Country,—whose distracted procedures, imbecilities + and anarchies, are, beyond this point of keeping well with a grandiose + Czarina concerned in it, of no apparent practical interest to Prussia or + its King. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, for a long time, passed with the Public for contriver of the + Catastrophe of Poland,—"felonious mortal," "monster of maleficence," + and what not, in consequence. Rulhiere, whose notion of him is none of the + friendliest nor correctest, acquits him of this atrocity; declares him, + till the very end, mainly or altogether passive in it. Which I think is a + little more than the truth,—and only a little, as perhaps may appear + by and by. Beyond dispute, these Polish events did at last grow + interesting enough to Prussia and its King;—and it will be our task, + sufficient in this place, to extricate and riddle out what few of these + had any cardinal or notable quality, and put them down (dated, if + possible, and in intelligible form), as pertinent to throwing light on + this distressing matter, with careful exclusion of the immense mass which + can throw only darkness. + </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> + EX-LOVER PONIATOWSKI BECOMES KING OF POLAND (7th Sept. 1764), AND IS + CROWNED WITHOUT LOSS OF HIS HAIR. + </h2> + <p> + WARSAW, 7th SEPTEMBER 1764, Stanislaus Poniatowski, by what management of + an Imperial Catharine upon an anarchic Nation readers shall imagine AD + LIBITUM, was elected, what they call elected, King of Poland. Of course + there had been preliminary Diets of Convocation, much dieting, + demonstrating and electing of imaginary members of Diet,—only "ten + persons massacred" in the business. There was a Saxon Party; but no + counter-candidate of that or any other nation. King Friedrich, solicited + by a charming Electress-Dowager, decides to remain accurately passive. + Polish emissaries came entreating him. A certain Mockranowski, who had + been a soldier under him (never of much mark in that capacity, though now + a flamingly conspicuous "General" and Politician, in the new scene he has + got into), came passionately entreating (Potsdam, Summer of 1764, is all + the date), "DONNEZ NOUS LE PRINCE HENRI, Give us Prince Henri for a King!" + the sound of which almost made Friedrich turn pale: "Have you spoken or + hinted of this to the Prince?" "No, your Majesty." "Home, then, instantly; + and not a whisper of it again to any mortal!" [Rulhiere, ii. 268; Hermann, + vi. 355-364.] which, they say, greatly irritated Prince Henri, and left a + permanent sore-place in his mind, when he came to hear of it long after. + </p> + <p> + "A question rises here," says one of my Notes, which perhaps I had better + have burnt: "At or about what dates did this glorious Poniatowski become + Lover of the Grand-Duchess, and then become Ex-Lover? Nobody will say; or + perhaps can? [Preuss (iv. 12) seems to try, but does not succeed.] Would + have been a small satisfaction to us, and it is denied! 'Ritter Williams' + (that is, Hanbury) must have produced him at Petersburg some time in 1756; + '11th January, 1757,' finding it would suit, Poniatowski appeared there on + his own footing as 'Ambassador from Warsaw,'"—(easy to get that kind + of credential from a devoted Warsaw, if you are succeeding at the Court of + Petersburg; "Warsaw watchfully makes that the rule of distributing its + honors; and, from freezing-point upwards, is the most delicate + thermometer," says Hermann somewhere). And this, is our one date, + "Poniatowski in business, SPRING, 1757;" of "Poniatowski fallen bankrupt," + date is totally wanting. + </p> + <p> + "Poniatowski's age is 32 gone;—how long out of Russia, readers have + to guess. Made his first public appearance on the streets of Warsaw, in + the late Election time, as a Captain of Patriot Volunteers,—'Independence + of Poland! Shall Poland be dictated to!" cried Stanislaus and an indignant + Public at one stage of the affair. His Uncles Czartoryski were piloting + him in; and in that mad element, the cries, and shiftings of tack, had to + be many. [In HERMANN, v. 362-380 (still more in RULHIERE, ii. 119-289), + wearisome account of every particular.] He is Nephew, by his mother, of + these Czartoryskis; but is not by the father of very high family. 'Ought + he to be King of Poland?' argued some Polish Emissary at Petersburg: 'His + Grandfather was Land-steward to the Sapiehas.' 'And if he himself had been + it!' said the Empress, inflexible, though with a blush.—It seems the + family was really good, though fallen poor; and, since that Land-steward + phasis, had bloomed well out again. His Father was conspicuous as a busy, + shifting kind of man, in the Charles-Twelfth and other troubles; had died + two years ago, as 'Castellan of Cracow;' always a dear friend of + Stanislaus Leczinski, who gets his death two years hence [in 1766, as we + have seen]. + </p> + <p> + "King Stanislaus Poniatowski had five Brothers: two of them dead long + before this time; a third, still alive, was Bishop of Something, Abbot of + Something; ate his revenues in peace, and demands silence from us. The + other two, Casimir and Andreas, are better worth naming,—especially + the Son of one of them is. Casimir, the eldest, is 'Grand + Crown-Chamberlain' in the days now coming, is also 'Starost of Zips [a + Country you may note the name of!]—and has a Son,' who is NOT the + remarkable one. Andreas, the second Brother (died 1773), was in the + Austrian Service, 'Ordnance-Master,' and a man of parts and weight;—who + has been here at Warsaw, ardently helping, in the late Election time. He + too had a Son (at this time a child in arms),—who is really the + remarkable 'Nephew of King Stanislaus,' and still deserves a word from us. + </p> + <p> + "This Nephew, bred as an Austrian soldier, like his Father, is the JOSEPH + PONIATOWSKI, who was very famous in the Newspapers fifty years ago. By all + appearance, a man of some real patriotism, energy and worth. He had tried + to believe (though, I think, never rightly able) what his omnipotent + Napoleon had promised him, that extinct Poland should be resuscitated; and + he fought and strove very fiercely, his Poles and he, in that faith or + half-faith. And perished, fiercely fighting for Napoleon, fiercely + covering Napoleon's retreat when his game was lost: horse and man plunged + into the Elster River (Leipzig Country, October 19th, 1813, evening of the + 'Battle of the Nations' there), and sank forever;—and the last gleam + of Poland along with him. [<i>Biographie Universelle</i> (Poniatowski, + Joseph), xxxv. 349-359.] Not even a momentary gleam of hope for her, in + the sane or half-sane kind, since that,—though she now and then + still tries it in the insane: the more to my regret, for her and others! + </p> + <p> + "Besides these three Brothers, King Stanislaus had two Sisters still + living: one of them Wife of a very high Zamoiski; the other of a ditto + Branicki (pronounce BraniTZki)—him whom our German Books call + KRON-GROSSFELDHERR; (Grand Crown-General,' if the Crown have any soldiers + at all; the sublime, debauched old Branicki, of whom Rulhiere is + continually talking, and never reports anything but futilities in a futile + manner. So much is futile, and not worth reporting, in this Polish + element!—King Stanislaus himself was born 17th January, 1732; played + King of shreds and patches till 1790,—or even farther (not till 1795 + did Catharine pluck the paper tabard quite off him); he died in + Petersburg, February 11th or 12th) 1798." After such a life!— + </p> + <p> + Stanislaus was crowned 25th November, 1764. He needs, as preliminary, to + be anointed, on the bare scalp of him, with holy oil before crowning; + ought to have his head close-shaved with that view. Stanislaus, having an + uncommonly fine head of hair, shuddered at the barbarous idea; absolutely + would not: whereupon delay, consultation; and at length some artificial + scalp, or second skull, of pasteboard or dyed leather, was contrived for + the poor man, which comfortably took the oiling in a vicarious way, with + the ambrosial locks well packed out of sight under it, and capable of + flowing out again next day, as if nothing had happened. [Rulhiere.] Not a + sublime specimen of Ornamental Human Nature, this poor Stanislaus! + Ornamental wholly: the body of him, and the mind of him, got up for + representation; and terribly plucked to pieces on the stage of the world. + You may try to drop a tear over him, but will find mostly that you cannot. + </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> + FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE DISSIDENT QUESTION CANNOT BE GOT SETTLED; + CONFEDERATION OF RADOM (23d June, 1767-5th March, 1768) PUSHES IT INTO + SETTLEMENT. + </h2> + <p> + For several years after this feat of the false scalp, through long + volumes, wearisome even in RULHIERE, there turns up nothing which can now + be called memorable. The settling of the Dissident Question proves + extremely tedious to an impatient Czarina; as to curing of the other + curable Anarchies, there is absolutely nothing but a knitting up by A, + with a ravelling-out again by B, and no progress discernible whatever. + Impatient Czarina ardently pushes on some Dissident settlement,—seconded + by King Friedrich and the chief Protestant Courts, London included, and by + the European leading spirits everywhere,—through endless + difficulties: finds native Orthodoxy an unexpectedly stiff matter; Bishops + generally having a fanaticism which is wonderful to think of, and which + keeps mounting higher and higher. Till at length there will Images of the + Virgin take to weeping,—as they generally do in such cases, when in + the vicinity of brew-houses and conveniences; [Nicolai, in his TRAVELS + OVER GERMANY, doggedly undertook to overhaul one of those weeping Virgins + (somewhere in Austria, I think); and found her, he says, to depend on + subterranean percolation of steam from a Brewery not far off.]—a + Carmelite Monk go about the country working miracles; and, in short, an + extremely ugly phasis of religious human nature disclose itself to the + afflicted reader. King Friedrich thinks, had it not been for this + Dissident Question, things would have taken their old Saxon complexion, + and Poland might have rotted on as heretofore, perhaps a good while + longer. + </p> + <p> + As to the knitting-up and ravelling-out again, which is called curing of + the other anarchies, no reader can or need say anything: it seems to be a + most painful knitting-up, by the Czartoryskis chiefly, then an instant + ravelling out by malign Opposition parties of various indistinct + complexion; the knitting, the ravelling, and the malign Opposition + parties, alike indistinct and without interest to mankind. A certain + drunken, rather brutal Phantasm of a Prince Radzivil, who hates the + Czartoryskis, and is dreadfully given to drink, to wasteful ambitions and + debaucheries, figures much in these businesses; is got banished and + confiscated, by some Confederation formed; then, by new Confederations, is + recalled and reinstated,—worse if possible than ever. The thing is + reality; but it reads like a Phantasmagory produced by Lapland Witches, + under presidency of Diabolus (very certainly the Devil presiding, as you + see at all turns),—and is not worth understanding, were it even + easy. + </p> + <p> + Much semi-intelligible, wholly forgettable stuff about King Stanislaus and + his difficulties, and his duplicities and treacherous imbecilities, + [Hermann, v. 400, &c.; Rulhiere PASSIM.] now of interest to no mortal. + Stanislaus is at one time out with the uncles Czartoryski, at another in + with these worthy gentlemen: a man not likely to cure Anarchies, unless + wishing would do it. On the Dissident Question itself he needs spurring: a + King of liberal ideas, yes; but with such flames of fanaticism under the + nose of him. In regard to the Dissident and all other curative processes + he is languid, evasive, for moments recalcitrant to Russian suggestions; a + lost imbecile,—forget him, with or without a tear. He has still a + good deal of so-called gallantry on his hands; flies to his harem when + outside things go contradictory. [Hermann, v. 402, &c.] Think of + malign Journalists printing this bit of Letter at one time, to do him ill + in a certain quarter: "Oh, come to me, my Princess! Dearer than all + Empresses:—imperial charms, what were they to thine for a heart that + has—" with more of the like stuff, for a Czarina's behoof. + </p> + <p> + WINTER OF 1766, Imperial Majesty, whether after or before that miraculous + Carmelite Monk, I do not remember, became impatient of these tedious + languors and tortuosities about the Dissident Question, and gave express + order, "Settle it straightway!" To which end, Confederations and the other + machinery were set agoing: Confederations among the Protestants and + Dissidents themselves, about Thorn and such places (got up by Russian + engineering), and much more extensively in the Lithuanian parts; + Confederations of great extent, imperative, minatory; ostensibly for + reinstating these poor people in their rights (which, by old Polish Law, + they quite expressly were, if that were any matter), but in reality for + bringing back drunken Radzivil, who has covenanted to carry that measure. + And so, + </p> + <p> + JUNE 23d, 1767, These multiplex Polish-Lithuanian Confederations, + twenty-four of them in all, with their sublime marshals and officials, and + above 80,000 noblemen in them, meet by deputies at Radom, a convenient + little Town within wind of Warsaw (lies 60 miles to south of Warsaw); and + there coalesce into one general "Confederation of Radom," [Hermann, v. + 420.] with drunken Radzivil atop, who, glad to be reinstated in his ample + Domains and Wine-cellars, and willing at any rate to spite the + Czartoryskis and others, has pledged himself to carry that great measure + in Diet, and quash any NIE POZWALAMS and difficulties there may be. This + is the once world-famous, now dimly discoverable, CONFEDERATION OF RADOM, + which—by preparatory declaring, under its hand and seal, That the + Law of the Land must again become valid, and "Free Polacks of Dissident + opinions concerning Religion (NOS DISSIDENTES DE RELIGIONE)," as the old + Law phrases it, "shall have equal rights of citizenship"—was + beautifully instrumental in achieving that bit of Human Progress, and + pushing it through the Diet, and its difficulties shortly ensuing. + </p> + <p> + Not that the Diet did not need other vigorous treatment as well, the flame + of fanaticism being frightfully ardent; many of the poor Bishops having + run nearly frantic at this open spoliation of Mother Church, and snatching + of the sword from Peter. So that Imperial Majesty had to decide on picking + out a dozen, or baker's dozen, of the hottest Bishops; and carrying them + quietly into Russia under lock and key, till the thing were done. Done it + was, surely to the infinite relief of mankind;—I cannot say + precisely on what day: October 13th-14th (locking up of the dozen + Bishops), was one vital epoch of it; November 19th, 1767 (report of + Committee on it, under Radzivil's and Russia's coercion), was another: + first and last it took about five months baking in Diet. Diet met Oct. + 4th, 1767, Radzivil controlling as Grand-Marshal, and Russia as minatory + Phantom controlling Radzivil; Diet, after adjournments, after one long + adjournment, disappeared 5th March, 1768; and of work mentionable it had + done this of the Dissidents only. That of contributing to "the sovereign + contempt with which King Stanislaus is regarded by all ranks of men," is + hardly to be called peculiar work or peculiarly mentionable. + </p> + <p> + At this point, to relieve the reader's mind, and, at any rate, as the date + is fully come, we will introduce a small NEWSPAPER ARTICLE from a very + high hand, little guessed till long afterwards as the writer,—namely, + from King Friedrich's own. It does not touch on the Dissident Question, or + the Polish troubles; but does, in a back-handed way, on Prussian Rumors + rising about them; and may obliquely show more of the King's feeling on + that subject than we quite suppose. It seems the King had heard that the + Berlin people were talking and rumoring of "a War being just at hand;" + whereupon—"MARCH 5th, 1767, IN THE VOSSISCHE ZEITUNG (Voss's + Chronicle), No. 28," an inquisitive Berlin public read as follows:— + </p> + <p> + "We are advised from Potsdam, that, on the 27th of February, towards + evening, the sky began to get overcast; black clouds, presaging a tempest + of unexampled fury, covered all the horizon: the thunder, with its + lightnings, forked bolts of amazing brilliancy, burst out; and, under its + redoubled peals, there descended such a torrent of hail as within man's + memory had not been seen. Of two bullocks yoked in their plough, with + which a peasant was hastening home, one was struck on the head by a piece + of it, and killed outright. Many of the common people were wounded in the + streets; a brewer had his arm broken. Roofs are destroyed by the weight of + this hail; all the windows that looked windward while it fell were broken. + In the streets, hailstones were found of the size of pumpkins + (CITROUILLES), which had not quite melted two hours after the storm + ceased. This singular phenomenon has made a very great impression. + Scientific people say, the air had not buoyancy enough to support these + solid masses when congealed to ice; that the small hailstones in these + clouds getting so lashed about in the impetuosity of the winds, had united + the more the farther they fell, and had not acquired that enormous + magnitude till comparatively near the earth. Whatever way it may have + happened, it is certain that occurrences of that kind are rare, and almost + without example." [VOSSISCHE ZEITUNG, ubi supra: <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xv. 204.] + </p> + <p> + Another singularity is, "Professor Johann Daniel Titius of Wittenberg," + who teaches NATURAL PHILOSOPHY in that famous University, one may judge + with what effect, wrote a Monograph on this unusual Phenomenon! [Rodenbeck + (ii. 285) gives the Title of it, "CONSIDERATIONS ON THE POTSDAM HAIL OF + LAST YEAR (Wittenberg, 1768)."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CONFEDERATION OF BAR ENSUES, ON THE PER-CONTRA SIDE (March 28th, 1768); + AND, AS FIRST RESULT OF ITS ACHIEVEMENTS (October 6th, 1768), A + TURK-RUSSIAN WAR. + </h2> + <p> + The Confederation of Radom, and its victorious Diet, had hardly begun + their Song of Triumph, when there ensued on the per-contra side a flaming + CONFEDERATION OF BAR;—which, by successive stages, does at last burn + out the Anarchies of Poland, and reduce them to ashes. Confederation of + Bar; and then, as progeny of that, for and against, such a brood of + Confederations, orthodox, heterodox, big, little, short-lived, long-lived, + of all complexions and degrees of noisy fury, potent, at any rate, each of + them for murder and arson, within a certain radius, as the Earth never saw + before. Now was the time of those inextricable marchings (as inroads and + outroads) through the Lithuanian Bogs, of those death-defiant, + unparalleled exploits, skirmishings, scaladings, riding by the edge of + precipices, of Pulawski, Potocki and others,—in which Rulhiere loses + himself and turns on his axis, amid impatient readers. + </p> + <p> + For the Russian troops (summoned by a trembling Stanislaus and his Senate, + in terms of Treaty 1764), and in more languid manner, the Stanislaus + soldiery, as per law of the case, proceeded to strike in,—generally, + my impression was, with an eye to maintain the King's Peace and keep down + murder and arson:—and sure enough, the small bodies of drilled + Russians blew an infuriated orthodox Polack chivalry to right and left at + a short notice; but as to the Constable's Peace or King's, made no + improvement upon that, far the reverse. It is certain the Confederate + chivalry were driven about, at a terrible rate,—over the Turk + frontier for shelter; began to appeal to the Grand Turk, in desperate + terms: "Brother of the Sun and Moon, saw you ever such a chance for + finishing Russia? Polack chivalry is Orthodox Catholic, but also it is + Anti-Russian!" The Turk beginning to give ear to it, made the matter + pressing and serious. Here, more specifically, are some features and + successive phases,—unless the reader prefer to skip. + </p> + <p> + "BAR, MARCH, 1768. The Confederation of Radom, as efficient preliminary, + and chief agent in that Diet of emancipation to the Dissident human mind, + might long have been famous over Poland and the world; but there instantly + followed as corollary to it a CONFEDERATION OF BAR, which quite dimmed the + fame of Radom, and indeed of all Confederations prior or posterior! As the + Confederation of Bar and its Doings, or rather sufferings and tragical + misdoings and undoings, still hang like fitful spectralities, or + historical shadows, of a vague ghastly complexion, in the human memory, + one asks at least: Since they were on this Planet, tell us where? Bar is + in the Waiwodship Podol (what we call Podolia), some 400 miles southeast + of Warsaw; not far from the Dniester River:—not far very from that + mystery of the Dniester, the Zaporavian Cossacks,—from those rapids + or cataracts (quasi-cataracts of the Dniester, with Islands in them, where + those Cossack robbers live unassailable):—across the Dniester lies + Turkey, and its famed Fortress of Choczim. This is a commodious station + for Polish Gentlemen intending mutiny by law. + </p> + <p> + "MARCH 8th, 1768, Three short days after the Diet of Radom had done its + fine feat, and retired to privacy, news came to Warsaw, That Podolia and + the Southern parts are all up, confederating with the highest animation; + in hot rage against such decision of a Diet, contrary to Holy Religion and + to much else; and that the said decision will have to fight for itself, + now that it has done voting. This interesting news is true; and goes on + intensifying and enlarging itself, one dreadful Confederation springing + up, and then another and ever another, day after day; till at last we hear + that on the 27th of the month, MARCH 27th, 1768, at Bar, a little Town on + the Southern or Turkish Frontier, all these more or less dreadful + Confederations have met by delegates, and coalesced into one + 'Confederatiou of Bar,'—which did surely prove dreadful enough, to + itself especially, in the months now ensuing!" + </p> + <p> + No history of Bar Confederation shall we dream of; far be such an attempt + from us. It consists of many Confederations, and out of each, PRO and + CONTRA, spring many. Like the Lernean Hydra, or even Hydras in a plural + condition. A many-headed dog: and how many whelps it had,—I cannot + give even the cipher of them, or I would! One whelp Confederation, that of + Cracow, is distinguished by having frequently or generally been "drunk;" + and of course its procedures had often a vinous character. [In HERMANN (v. + 431-448); and especially in RULHIERE (ii. livre 8 et seq.), details in + superabundance.] I fancy to have read somewhere that the number of them + was one hundred and twenty-five. The rumor and the furious barking of Bar + and its whelps goes into all lands: such rabid loud baying at mankind and + the moon; and then, under Russia's treatment, such shrill yelping and + shrieking, was not heard in the world before, though perhaps it has since. + </p> + <p> + Poor BAR'S exploits in the fighting way were highly inconsiderable; all on + the same scale; and spread over such a surface of country, mostly unknown, + as renders it impossible to give them head-room, were you never so + unfurnished. They can be read in eloquent Rulhiere; but by no mortal held + in memory. Anarchy is not a thing to be written of; a Lernean Hydra, + several Lernean Hydras, in chaotic genesis, getting their heads lopped + off, and at the same time sprouting new ones in such ratio, where is the + Zoologist that will give account of it? There was not anything + considerable of fighting; but of bullying, plundering, murdering and being + murdered, a frightful amount. There are seizures of castles, convents, + defensible houses; marches at a rate like that of antelopes, through the + Lithuanian parts, boggy, hungry, boundless, opening to the fancy the + Infinitude of Peat, in the solid and the fluid state. This, perhaps, is + the finest species of feats, though they never lead to anything. There are + heroes famed for these marches. + </p> + <p> + The Pulawskis, for example,—four of them, Lawyer people,—showed + much activity, and a talent for impromptu soldiering, in that kind. The + Magnates of the Confederation, I was surprised to learn, had all quitted + it, the instant it came to strokes: "You Lawyer people, with your priests + and orthodox peasantries, you do the fighting part; ours is the + consulting!" And except Potocki (and he worse than none), there is + presently not a Magnate of them left in Poland,—the rest all gone + across the Austrian Border, to Teschen, to Bilitz, a handy little town and + domain in that Duchy of Teschen;—and sit there as "Committee of + Government:" much at their ease in comparison, could they but agree among + themselves, which they cannot. Bilitz is one of the many domains of + Magnate Sulkowski:—do readers recollect the Sulkowski who at one + time "declared War" on King Friedrich; and was picked up, both War and he, + so compendiously by General Goltz, and locked in Glogau to cool? This is + the same Sulkowski; much concerned now in these matters; a rich Magnate, + glad to see his friends about him as Governing Committee; but gets, and + gives, a great deal of vexation in it, the element proving again too hot!— + </p> + <p> + I said there were four famed Pulawskis; [Hermann, v. 465.] a father, once + Advocate in Warsaw, with three sons and a nephew; who, though extremely + active people, could do no good whatever. The father Pulawski had the fine + idea of introducing the British Constitution; clothing Poland wholly in + British tailorage, and so making it a new Poland: but he never could get + it done. This poor gentleman died in Turkish prison, flung into jail at + Constantinople, on calumnious accusation and contrivance by a rival + countryman; his sons and nephew, poor fellows, all had their fame, more or + less, in the Cause of Freedom so called; but no other profit in this + world, that I could hear of. Casimir, the eldest son, went to America; + died there, still in the Cause of Freedom so called; Fort Pulawski, in the + harbor of Charleston (which is at present, on very singular terms, + RE-engaged in the same so-called Cause!), was named in memory of this + Casimir. He had defended Czenstochow (if anybody knew what Czenstochow + was, or could find it in the Polish map); and it was also he that + contrived that wonderful plan of suddenly snapping up King Stanislaus from + the streets of Warsaw one night, ["3d November, 1771."] and of locking him + away (by no means killing him), as the source of all our woes. O my + Pulawskis, men not without manhood, what a bedlam of a Time have you and I + fallen into, and what Causes of Freedom it has got in hand! + </p> + <p> + Bar, a poor place, with no defences but a dry ditch and some miserable + earthworks, the Confederates had not the least chance to maintain; + Kaminiec, the only fortress of the Province, they never even got into, + finding some fraction of royal soldiery who stood for King Stanislaus + there, and who fired on the Confederates when applied to. Bar a small + Russian division, with certain Stanislaus soldieries conjoined, took by + capitulation; and (date not given) entered in a victorious manner. The + War-Epic of the Confederates, which Rulhiere sings at such length, is + blank of meaning. + </p> + <p> + Of "Cloister Czenstochow," a famed feat of Pulawski's, also without + result, I could not from my Rulhiere discover (what was altogether an + illuminative fact to me!) that the date of Czenstochow was not till 1771. + A feat of "Cloister BERDICZOW," almost an exact facsimile by the same + Pulawski, also resultless, I did, under Hermann's guidance, at once find;—and + hope the reader will be satisfied to accept it instead: Cloister + Berdiczow, which lies in the Palatinate of Kiow; and which has a + miraculous Holy Virgin, not less venerated far and wide in those eastern + parts, than she of Cloister Czenstochow in the western: THIS Cloister + Berdiczow and its salutary Virgin, Pulawski (the Casimir, now of + Charleston Harbor) did defend, with about 1,000 men, in a really obstinate + way, The Monastery itself had in it gifts of the faithful, accumulated for + ages; and all the richest people in those Provinces, Confederate or not, + had lodged their preciosities there, as in an impregnable and sure place, + in those times of trouble. Intensely desirous, accordingly, the Russians + were to take it, but had no cannon; desperately resolute Pulawski and his + 1,000 to defend. Pulawski and his 1,000 fired intensely, till their + cannon-balls were quite done; then took to firing with iron-work, and hard + miscellanies of every sort, especially glad when they could get a haul of + glass to load with;—and absolutely would not yield till famine came; + though the terms offered were good,—had they been kept. + </p> + <p> + So that Pulawski, it would appear, did Two Cloister Defences? Two, each + with a miraculous Holy Virgin; an eastern, and then a westerly. This of + Berdiczow, not dated to me farther, is for certain of the year 1768; and + Pulawski, owing to famine, did yield here. In 1771, at miraculous Cloister + Czenstochow, in the western parts, Pulawski did an external feat, or + consented to see it done,—that of trying to snuff out poor King + Stanislaus on the streets (3d November, 10 P.M., "miraculously" in vain, + as most readers know),—which brought its obloquies and troubles on + the Defender of Czenstochow. Obloquies and troubles: but as to + surrendering Czenstochow on call of obloquy, or of famine itself, Pulawski + would not, not he for his own part; but solemnly left his men to do it, + and walked away by circuitous uncertain paths, which end in Charleston + Harbor, as we have seen. [At Savannah, in a stricter sense. "Perished at + the Siege [futile attempt to storm, by the French, which they called a + Siege] of Savannah, 9th October, 1779."] Defence of Czenstochow in 1771 + shall not concern us farther. Truly these two small defences of + monasteries by Pulawski are almost all, I do not say of glorious, but even + of creditable or human, that reward the poor wanderer in that Polish + Valley of Jehoshaphat, much of it peat-country; wherefore I have, as + before, marked the approximate localities, approximate dates, for behoof + of ingenuous readers. + </p> + <p> + The Russians, ever since 1764, from the beginnings of those Stanislaus + times, are pledged to maintain peace in Poland; and it is they that have + to deal with this affair,—they especially, or almost wholly, poor + Stanislaus having scarcely any power, military or other, and perhaps being + loath withal. There was more of investigating and parleying, bargaining + and intriguing, than of fighting, on Stanislaus's part. "June 11th, 1768," + says a Saxon Note from Warsaw, "Mokranowski, Stanislaus's General [the + same that was with Friedrich], has been sent down to Bar to look into + those Confederates. Mokranowski does not think there are above 8,000 of + them; about 3,000 have got their death from Russian castigation. The 8,000 + might be treated with, only Russians are so dreadfully severe, especially + so intent on wringing money from them. Confederates have been complaining + to the Turk; Turk ambiguous; gives them no definite ground of hope. 'What + then, is your hope?' I inquired. 'Little or none, except in Heaven,' + several answered: 'it is for our religion and our liberty:' religion cut + to pieces by this Dissident Toleration-blasphemy; liberty ditto by the + Russian guarantee of peace among us: 'what can we do but trust in God and + our own despair?'" ["Essen's Report, 11th June, 1768" (in HERMANN, v. + 441).] "Prave worts, Ancient Pistol,"—but much destitute of sense, + and not to be realized in present circumstances. Here is something much + more critical:— + </p> + <p> + JUNE-JULY, 1768. "The peasants in the Southern regions, Palatinates Podol, + Kiow, Braclaw, called UKRAINE or Border-Country by the Poles, are mostly + of Greek and other schismatic creeds. Their Lords are of an orthodox + religion, and not distinguished by mild treatment of such Peasantry, upon + whom civil war and plunder have been latterly a sore visitation. To + complete the matter, the Confederates in certain quarters, blown upon by + fanatical priests, set about converting these poor peasants, or forcing + them, at the point of the bayonet, to swear that they adopt the 'Greek + united rite,' which I suppose to be a kind of half-way house towards + perfect orthodoxy. In one Village, which was getting converted in this + manner, the military party seemed to be small; the Village boiled over + upon it; trampled orthodoxy and military both under foot, in a violent and + sanguinary manner; and was extremely frightened when it had done. + Extremely frightened, not the Village only, but the schismatic mind + generally in those parts, dreading vengeance for such a paroxysm. But the + atrocious Russians whispered them, 'We are here to protect you in your + religions and rights, in your poor consciences and skins.' Upon which hint + of the atrocious Russians, the schismatic mind and population one and all + rose; and, 'with the cannibal's ferocity, gave way to their appetite for + plunder!'... + </p> + <p> + "Nay, the Russian Government [certain Russian Officials hard pressed] had + invited the Zaporavian Cossacks to step over from their Islands in the + Dniester, and assist in defending their Religion [true Greek, of course]; + who at once did so; and not only extinguished the last glimmer of + Confederation there, but overwhelmed the Country, thousands on thousands + of them, attended by revolted peasants,—say a 20,000 of peasants + under command of these Zaporavians,—who went about plundering and + burning. That they plundered the Jew pot-houses of their brandy, and drank + it, was a small matter. Very furious upon Jews, upon Noblemen, Landlords, + upon Catholic Priests. 'On one tree [tree should have been noted] was + found hanged a specimen of each of those classes, with a Dog adjoined, as + fit company.' In one little Town, Town of HUMAN [so called in that foreign + dialect], getting some provocation or other, they set to massacring; and + if brandy were plentiful, we can suppose they made short work. By the + lowest computation the number of slain Jews and Catholics amounted to + 10,000 odd [Hermann, v. 444; Rulhiere, iii. 93.]—Rulhiere says + '50,000, by some accounts 200,000.'" This I guess to have been at its + height about the end of June; this leads direct to the Catastrophe, as + will presently be seen. + </p> + <p> + Foreign States don't seem to pay much attention,—indeed, what sane + person would like to interfere, or hope to do it with profit? France, + Austria, both wish well to Poland, at least ill to Russia; Choiseul has no + finance, can do nothing but intrigue, and stir up trouble everywhere: a + devout Kaiserinn goes with Holy Church, and disapproves of these Dissident + Tolerations: it is remarked that all through 1768 the Confederates of Bar + are permitted to retire over the Austrian Frontier into Austrian Silesia, + and find themselves there in safety. Permitted to buy arms, to make + preparations, issue orders: at Sulkowski's Bilitz, in the Duchy of + Teschen, supreme Managing Committee sits there; no Kaunitz or Official + person meddling with it. About the beginning of next year (1769), it is, + ostensibly, a little discountenanced; and obliged to go to Eperjes, on the + Hungarian Frontier [See Busching: for Eperjes, ii. 1427; for Bilitz, viii. + 885.] (as a more decent or less conspicuous place),—such trouble now + rising; a Turk War having broken out, momentous not to the Confederation + alone. March, 1769, the ever-intriguing Choiseul—fancy with what + rapturous effect—had sent some kind of Agent or Visitor to Teschen; + Vergennes in Turkey, from the beginning of these things, has been plying + night and day his diplomatic bellows upon every live-coal ("I who myself + kindled this Turk-War!" brags he afterwards);—not till next year + (1770) did Choiseul send his Dumouriez to the Bilitz neighborhoods; not + till next again, when Choiseul was himself out, [Thrown out "2d December, + 1770,"—by Louis's NEW Pompadour.] did his Viomenil come: [Hermann, + v. 469-471; in RULHIERE (iv. 241-289) account of Dumouries and his + fencings and spyings, still more of Viomenil, who had "French Volunteers," + and did some bits of real fighting on the small scale.] neither of whom, + by their own head alone, without funds, without troops, could do other + than with fine effort make bad worse. + </p> + <p> + It is needless continuing such a subject. Here is one glimpse two years + later, and it shall be our last: "NEAR LUBLIN, 25th SEPTEMBER, 1770. It is + frightful, all this that is passing in these parts,—about the Town + of Labun, for example. The dead bodies remain without burial; they are + devoured by the dogs and the pigs. ... Everywhere reigns Pestilence; nor + do we fear contagion so much as famine. Offer 100 ducats for a fowl or for + a bit of bread, I swear you won't get it. General von Essen [Russian, we + will hope] has had to escape from Laticzew, then from" some other place, + "Pestilence chasing him everywhere." + </p> + <p> + To apply to the Turks,—afflicted Polish Patriots prostrating + themselves with the hope of despair, "Save us, your sublime Clemency; + throw a ray of pity on us, Brother of the Sun and Moon: oh, chastise our + diabolic oppressors!"—this was one of the first resources of the Bar + Confederates. The Turks did give ear; not inattentive, though pretending + to be rather deaf. M. de Vergennes,—of whose "diplomatic bellows" we + just heard (in fact, for diligence in this Turk element, in this young + time, the like of him was seldom seen; we knew him long afterwards as a + diligent old gentleman, in French-Revolution days),—M. de Vergennes + zealously supports; zealous to let loose the Turk upon Anti-French + parties. The Turks seem to wag their heads, for some time; and their + responses are ambiguous. For some time, not for long. Here, fast enough, + comes, in disguised shape, the Catastrophe itself, ye poor plaintive + Poles! + </p> + <p> + JULY-OCTOBER, 1768. Those Zaporavian and other Cossacks, with 20,000 + peasants plundering about on both sides of the Dniester, had set fire to + the little Town of Balta, which is on the south side, and belongs to the + Turks: a very grave accident, think all political people, think especially + the Foreign Excellencies at Warsaw, when news of it arrives. Burning of + Balta, not to be quenched by the amplest Russian apologies, proved a + live-coal at Constantinople; and Vergennes says, he set population and + Divan on fire by it: a proof that the population and Divan had already + been in a very inflammable state. Not a wise Divan, though a zealous. + Plenty of fury in these people; but a sad deficiency of every other + faculty. They made haste, in their hot humor, to declare War (6th October, + 1768); [Hermann, v. 608-611.] not considering much how they would carry it + on. Declared themselves in late Autumn,—as if to give the Russians + ample time for preparing; those poor Turks themselves being as yet ready + with nothing, and even the season for field-operations being over. + </p> + <p> + King Friedrich, who has still a Minister at the Porte, endeavored to + dissuade his old Turk friends, in this rash crisis; but to no purpose; + they would listen to nothing but Vergennes and their own fury. Friedrich + finds this War a very mad one on the part of his old Turk friends; their + promptitude to go into it (he has known them backward enough when their + chances were better!), and their way of carrying it on, are alike + surprising to him. He says: "Catharine's Generals were unacquainted with + the first elements of Castrametation and Tactic; but the Generals of the + Sultan had a still more prodigious depth of ignorance; so that to form a + correct idea of this War, you must figure a set of purblind people, who, + by constantly beating a set of altogether blind, end by gaining over them + a complete mastery." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 23, 24.] This, as + Friedrich knows, is what Austria cannot suffer; this is what will involve + Austria and Russia, and Friedrich along with them, in—Friedrich, as + the matter gradually unfolds itself, shudders to think what. The + beginnings of this War were perhaps almost comical to the old + Soldier-King; but as it gradually developed itself into complete + shattering to pieces of the stupid Blind by the ambitious Purblind, he + grew abundantly serious upon it. + </p> + <p> + It is but six months since Polish Patriotism, so effulgent to its own eyes + in Orthodoxy, in Love of glorious Liberty, confederated at Bar, and got + into that extraordinary whirlpool, or cesspool, of miseries and deliriums + we have been looking at; and now it has issued on a broad highway of + progress,—broad and precipitous,—and will rapidly arrive at + the goal set before it. All was so rapid, on the Polish and on the Turkish + part. The blind Turks, out of mere fanaticism and heat of humor, have + rushed into this adventure;—and go rushing forward into a series of + chaotic platitudes on the huge scale, and mere tragical disasters, year + after year, which would have been comical, had they not been so hideous + and sanguinary: constant and enormous blunders on the Turk part, issuing + in disasters of like magnitude; which in the course of Two Campaigns had + quite finished off their Polish friends, in a very unexpected way; and had + like to have finished themselves off, had not drowned Poland served as a + stepping-stone. + </p> + <p> + Not till March 26th, 1769, six months after declaring in such haste, did + the blind Turks "display their Banner of Mahomet," that is, begin in + earnest to assemble and make ready. Nor were the Russians shiningly + strategic, though sooner in the field,—a Prince Galitzin commanding + them (an extremely purblind person); till replaced by Romanzow, our old + Colberg acquaintance, who saw considerably better. Galitzin, early in the + season, made a rush on Choczim (ChoTzim), the first Turk Fort beyond the + Dniester; and altogether failed,—not by Turk prowess, but by his own + purblind mal-arrangements (want of ammunition, want of bread, or I will + forget what);—which occasioned mighty grumblings in Russia: till in + a month or two, by favor of Fortune and blindness of the Turk, matters had + come well round again; and Galitzin, walking up to Choczim the second + time, found there was not a Turk in the place, and that Choczim was now + his on those uncommonly easy terms! + </p> + <p> + Instead of farther details on such a War,—the shadow or reflex of + which, as mirrored in the Austrian mind, has an importance to Friedrich + and us; but the self or substance of which has otherwise little or none,—we + will close here with a bit of Russian satire on it, which is still worth + reading. The date is evidently Spring, 1769; the scene what we are now + treating of: Galitzin obliged to fall back from Choczim; great rumor—"What + a Galitzin; what a Turk War his, in contrast to the last we had!" [Turk + War of 1736-1739, under Munnich (supra, vii. 81-126).]—no Romanzow + yet appointed in his room. And here is a small Manuscript, which was then + circulating fresh and new in Russian Society; and has since gone over all + the world (though mostly in an uncertain condition, in old Jest-Books and + the like), as a genuine bit of CAVIARE from those Northern parts:— + </p> + <p> + MANUSCRIPT CIRCULATING IN RUSSIAN SOCIETY. Galitzin, much grieved about + Choczim, could not sleep; and, wandering about in his tent, overheard, one + night, a common soldier recounting his dream to the sentry outside the + door. + </p> + <p> + "A curious dream," said the soldier: "I dreamt I was in a battle; that I + got my head cut off; that I died; and, of course, went to Heaven. I + knocked at the door: Peter came with a bunch of Keys; and made such + rattling that he awoke God; who started up in haste, asking, 'What is the + matter?' 'Why,' says Peter, 'there is a great War on earth between the + Russians and the Turks.' 'And who commands my Russians?' said the Supreme + Being. 'Count Munnich,' answered Peter. 'Very well; I may go to sleep + again!'—But this was not the end of my dream," continued the + soldier; "I fell asleep and dreamt again, the very same as before, except + that the War was not Count Munnich's, but the one we are now in. + Accordingly, when God asked, 'Who commands my Russians?' Peter answered, + 'Prince Galitzin.' 'Galitzin? Then get me my boots!' said the [Russian] + Supreme Being." [W. Richardson (then at Petersburg, Tutor to Excellency + Cathcart's Children; afterwards Professor at Glasgow, and a man of Some + reputation in his old age), <i>Anecdotes of the Russian Empire, in a + Series of Letters written a few years ago from St. Petersburg</i> (London, + 1784), p. 110: date of this Letter is "17th October, 1769."] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV.—PARTITION OF POLAND. + </h2> + <p> + These Polish phenomena were beginning to awaken a good deal of attention, + not all of it pleasant, on the part of Friedrich. From the first he had, + as usual, been a most clear-eyed observer of everything; and found the + business, as appears, not of tragical nature, but of expensive-farcical, + capable to shake the diaphragm rather than touch the heart of a reflective + on-looker. He has a considerable Poem on it,—WAR OF THE CONFEDERATES + by title (in the old style of the PALLADION, imitating an unattainable + JEANNE D'ARC),—considerable Poem, now forming itself at leisure in + his thoughts, ["LA GUERRE DES CONFEDERES [<i>OEuvres,</i> xiv. 183 et + seq.], finished in November, 1771."] which decidedly takes that turn; and + laughs quite loud at the rabid fanaticisms, blusterous inanities and + imbecilities of these noisy unfortunate neighbors:—old unpleasant + style of the PALLADION and PUCELLE; but much better worth reading; having + a great deal of sharp sense in its laughing guise, and more of real + Historical Discernment than you will find in any other Book on that + delirious subject. + </p> + <p> + Much a laughing-stock to this King hitherto, such a "War of the + Confederates,"—consisting of the noisiest, emptiest bedlam tumults, + seasoned by a proportion of homicide, and a great deal of battery and + arson. But now, with a Russian-Turk War springing from it, or already + sprung, there are quite serious aspects rising amid the laughable. By + Treaty, this War is to cost the King either a 12,000 of Auxiliaries to the + Czarina, or a 72,000 pounds (480,000 thalers) annually; [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> vi. 13.]—which latter he prefers to pay her, as the + alternative: not an agreeable feature at all; but by no means the worst + feature. Suppose it lead to Russian conquests on the Turk, to Austrian + complicacies, to one knows not what, and kindle the world round one again! + In short, we can believe Friedrich was very willing to stand well with + next-door neighbors at present, and be civil to Austria and its young + Kaiser's civilities. + </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> + FIRST INTERVIEW BETWEEN FRIEDRICH AND KAISER JOSEPH (Neisse, 25th-28th + August, 1769). + </h2> + <p> + In 1766, the young Kaiser, who has charge of the Military Department, and + of little else in the Government, and is already a great traveller, and + enthusiastic soldier, made a pilgrimage over the Bohemian and Saxon + Battle-fields of the Seven-Years War. On some of them, whether on all I do + not know, he set up memorial-stones; one of which you still see on the + field of Lobositz;—of another on Prag field, and of reverent + salutation by Artillery to the memory of Schwerin there, we heard long + ago. Coming to Torgau on this errand, the Kaiser, through his Berlin + Minister, had signified his "particular desire to make acquaintance with + the King in returning;" to which the King was ready with the readiest;—only + that Kaunitz and the Kaiserinn, in the interim, judged it improper, and + stopped it. "The reported Interview is not to take place," Friedrich warns + the Newspapers; "having been given up, though only from courtesy, on some + points of ceremonial." ["FRIEDRICH TO ONE OF HIS FOREIGN AMBASSADORS" (the + common way of announcing in Newspapers): Preuss, iv. 22 n.] + </p> + <p> + The young Kaiser felt a little huffed; and signified to Friedrich that he + would find a time to make good this bit of uncivility, which his + pedagogues had forced upon him. And now, after three years, August, 1769, + on occasion of the Silesian Reviews, the Kaiser is to come across from his + Bohemian businesses, and actually visit him: Interview to be at Neisse, + 25th August, 1769, for three days. Of course the King was punctual, + everybody was punctual, glad and cordial after a sort,—no ceremony, + the Kaiser, officially incognito, is a mere Graf von Falkenstein, come to + see his Majesty's Reviews. There came with him four or five Generals, + Loudon one of them; Lacy had preceded: Friedrich is in the palace of the + place, ready and expectant. With Friedrich are: Prince Henri; Prince of + Prussia; Margraf of Anspach: Friedrich's Nephew (Lady Craven's Margraf, + the one remnant now left there); and some Generals and Military + functionaries, Seidlitz the notablest figure of these. And so, FRIDAY, + AUGUST 25th, shortly after noon—But the following Two Letters, by an + Eye-witness, will be preferable; and indeed are the only real Narrative + that can be given:— + </p> + <p> + No. 1. ENGINEER LEFEBVRE TO PERPETUAL SECRETARY FORMEY (at Berlin). + </p> + <p> + "NEISSE, 26th [partly 25th] August, 1769. + </p> + <p> + "MY MOST WORTHY FRIEND,-I make haste to inform you of the Kaiser's arrival + here at Neisse, this day, 25th August, 1769, at one in the afternoon. The + King had spent the morning in a proof Manoeuvre, making rehearsal of the + Manoeuvre that was to be. When the Kaiser was reported just coming, the + King went to the window of the grand Episcopal Saloon, and seeing him + alight from his carriage, turned round and said, 'JE L'AI VU (I have seen + him).' His Majesty then went to receive him on the grand staircase [had + hardly descended three or four steps], where they embraced; and then his + Majesty led by the hand his august Guest into the Apartments designed for + him, which were all standing open and ready,"—which, however, the + august Guest will not occupy except with a grateful imagination, being for + the present incognito, mere Graf von Falkenstein, and judging that THE + THREE-KINGS Inn will be suitabler. + </p> + <p> + "Arrived in the Apartments, they embraced anew; and sat talking together + for an hour and half.—[The talk, unknown to Lefebvre, began in this + strain. KAISER: "Now are my wishes fulfilled, since I have the honor to + embrace the greatest of Kings and Soldiers." KING: "I look upon this day + as the fairest of my life; for it will become the epoch of uniting Two + Houses which have been enemies too long, and whose mutual interests + require that they should strengthen, not weaken one another." KAISER: "For + Austria there is no Silesia farther." [Preuss, v. 23; <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> vi. 25, 26.] Talk, it appears, lasted an hour and half.] + </p> + <p> + —"The Kaiser [continues our Engineer] had brought with him the + Prince of Sachsen-Teschen [his august Brother-in-law, Duke of Teschen, son + of the late Polish Majesty of famous memory]: afterwards there came + Feldmarschall Lacy, Graf von Dietrichstein, General von Loudon," and three + others of no account to us. "At the King's table were the Kaiser, the + Prince of Prussia [dissolute young Heir-Apparent, of the polygamous + tendency], Prince Henri, the Margraf of Anspach [King's Nephew, + unfortunate Lady-Craven Margraf, ultimately of Hammersmith vicinity]; the + above Generals of the Austrian suite, and Generals Seidlitz and + Tauentzien. The rest of the Court was at two other tables." Of the dinner + itself an Outside Individual will say nothing. + </p> + <p> + "The Kaiser, having expressly requested the King to let him lodge in an + Inn (THREE KINGS), under the name of Graf von Falkenstein, would not go + into the carriage which had stood expressly ready to conduct him thither. + He preferred walking on foot [the loftily scornful Incognito] in spite of + the rain; it was like a lieutenant of infantry stepping out of his + quarters. Some moments after, the King went to visit him; and they + remained together from 5 in the evening till 8. It was thought they would + be present (ASSISTER) at a Comic Opera which was to be played: but after + waiting till 7 o'clock, the people received orders to go on with the + Piece;"—both Majesties did afterwards look in; but finding it bad, + soon went their way again. (MAJOR LEFEBVRE STOPS WRITING FOR THE NIGHT.) + </p> + <p> + "This morning, 26th, the Manoeuvre [rehearsed yesterday] has been + performed before both their Majesties; the troops, by way of finish, + filing past them in the highest order. The Kaiser accompanied the King to + his abode; after which he returned to his own. This is all the news I have + to-day: the sequel by next Post (apparently a week hence). I am, and shall + ever be,—your true Friend, LEFEBVRE." + </p> + <p> + No. 2. SAME TO SAME. + </p> + <p> + "NEISSE, 2d September, 1769. + </p> + <p> + "MONSIEUR AND DEAREST FRIEND,—We had, as you heard, our first + Manoeuvre on Saturday, 26th, in presence of the Kaiser and the King, and + of the whole Court of each. That evening there was Opera; which their + Majesties honored by attending. Sunday was our Second Manoeuvre; OPERETTE + in the evening. Monday, 28th, was our last Manoeuvre; at the end of which + the two Majesties, without alighting from horseback, embraced each other; + and parted, protesting mutually the most constant and inviolable + friendship. One took the road for Breslau; the other that of Konigsgratz. + All the time the Kaiser was here, they have been continually talking + together, and exhibiting the tenderest friendship,—from which I + cannot but think there will benefit result. + </p> + <p> + "I am almost in the mind of coming to pass this Winter at Berlin; that I + may have the pleasure of embracing you,—perhaps as cordially as King + and Kaiser here. I am, and shall always be, with all my heart,—your + very good Friend, "LEFEBVRE." [Formey, <i>Souvenirs d'un Citoyen,</i> ii. + 145-148.] + </p> + <p> + The Lefebvre that writes here is the same who was set to manage the last + Siege of Schweidnitz, by Globes of Compression and other fine inventions; + and almost went out of his wits because he could not do it. An expert + ingenious creature; skilful as an engineer; had been brought into + Friedrich's service by the late Balbi, during Balbi's ascendency (which + ended at Olmutz long ago). At Schweidnitz, and often elsewhere, Friedrich, + who had an esteem for poor Lefebvre, was good to him; and treated his + excitabilities with a soft hand, not a rough. Once at Neisse (1771, second + year after these Letters), on looking round at the works done since last + review, in sight of all the Garrison he embraced Lefebvre, while + commending his excellent performance; which filled the poor soul with a + now unimaginable joy. + </p> + <p> + "HELAS," says Formey, "the poor Gentleman wrote to me of his endless + satisfaction; and how he hoped to get through his building, and retire on + half-pay this very season, thenceforth to belong to the Academy and me; he + had been Member for twenty years past." With this view, thinks Formey, he + most likely hastened on his buildings too fast: certain it is, a barrack + he was building tumbled suddenly, and some workmen perished in the ruins. + "Enemies at Court suggested," or the accident itself suggested without any + enemy, "Has not he been playing false, using cheap bad materials?"—and + Friedrich ordered him arrest in his own Apartments, till the question were + investigated. Excitable Lefebvre was like to lose his wits, almost to leap + out of his skin. "One evening at supper, he managed to smuggle away a + knife; and, in the course of the night, gave himself sixteen stabs with + it; which at length sufficed. The King said, 'He has used himself worse + than I should have done;' and was very sorry." Of Lefebvre's scientific + structures, globes of compression and the rest, I know not whether + anything is left; the above Two Notes, thrown off to Formey, were + accidentally a hit, and, in the great blank, may last a long while. + </p> + <p> + The King found this young Kaiser a very pretty man; and could have liked + him considerably, had their mutual positions permitted. "He had a + frankness of manner which seemed natural to him," says the King; "in his + amiable character, gayety and great vivacity were prominent features." By + accidental chinks, however, one saw "an ambition beyond measure" burning + in the interior of this young man, [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> (in <i>Memoires + de 1763 jusqu'a</i> 1775, a Chapter which yields the briefest, and the one + completely intelligible account we yet have of those affairs), vi. 25.]—let + an old King be wary. A three days, clearly, to be marked in chalk; radiant + outwardly to both; to a certain depth, sincere; and uncommonly pleasant + for the time. King and Kaiser were seen walking about arm in arm. At one + of the Reviews a Note was brought to Friedrich: he read it, a Note from + her Imperial Majesty; and handing it to Kaiser Joseph, kissed it first. At + parting, he had given Joseph, by way of keepsake, a copy of Marechal de + Saxe's REVERIES (a strange Military Farrago, dictated, I should think, + under opium ["MES REVERIES; OUVRAGE POSTHUME, par" &c. (2 vols. 4to: + Amsterdam et Leipzig, 1757).]): this Book lay continually thereafter on + the Kaiser's night-table; and was found there at his death, Twenty-one + years hence,—not a page of it read, the leaves all sticking together + under their bright gilding. [Preuss, iv. 24 n.] + </p> + <p> + It was long believed, by persons capable of seeing into millstones, that, + under cover of this Neisse Interview, there were important Political + negotiations and consultings carried on;—that here, and in a Second + Interview or Return-Visit, of which presently, lay the real foundation of + the Polish Catastrophe. What of Political passed at the Second Interview + readers shall see for themselves, from an excellent Authority. As to what + passed at the present ("mutual word-of-honor: should England and France + quarrel, we will stand neutral" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> ubi supra.]), + it is too insignificant for being shown to readers. Dialogues there were, + delicately holding wide of the mark, and at length coming close enough; + but, at neither the one Interview nor the other, was Poland at all a party + concerned,—though, beyond doubt, the Turk War was; silently this + first time, and with clear vocality on the second occasion. + </p> + <p> + In spite of Galitzin's blunders, the Turk War is going on at a fine rate + in these months; Turks, by the hundred thousand, getting scattered in + panic rout:—but we will say nothing of it just yet. Polish + Confederation—horror-struck, as may be imagined, at its auxiliary + Brother of the Sun and Moon and his performances—is weltering in + violently impotent spasms into deeper and ever deeper wretchedness, + Friedrich sometimes thinking of a Burlesque Poem on the subject;—though + the Russian successes, and the Austrian grudgings and gloomings, are + rising on him as a very serious consideration. "Is there no method, then, + of allowing Russia to prosecute its Turk War in spite of Austria and its + umbrages?" thinks Friedrich sometimes, in his anxieties about Peace in + Europe:—"If the Ukraine, and its meal for the Armies, were but + Russia's! At present, Austria can strike in there, cut off the provisions, + and at once put a spoke in Russia's wheel." Friedrich tells us, "he (ON," + the King himself, what I do not find in any other Book) "sent to + Petersburg, under the name of Count Lynar, the seraphic Danish Gentleman, + who, in 1757, had brought about the Convention of Kloster-Zeven, a + Project, or Sketch of Plan, for Partitioning certain Provinces of Poland, + in that view;"—the Lynar opining, so far as I can see, somewhat as + follows: "Russia to lay hold of the essential bit of Polish Territory for + provisioning itself against the Turk, and allow to Austria and Prussia + certain other bits; which would content everybody, and enable Russia and + Christendom to extrude and suppress AD LIBITUM that abominable mass of + Mahometan Sensualism, Darkness and Fanaticism from the fairest part of + God's Creation." An excellent Project, though not successful! "To which + Petersburg, intoxicated with its own outlooks on Turkey, paid not the + least attention," says the King. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 26.] He + gives no date to this curious statement; nor does anybody else mention it + at all; but we may fancy it to have been of Winter, 1769-1770,—and + leave it with the curious, or the idly curious, since nothing came of it + now or afterwards. + </p> + <p> + POTSDAM, 20th-29th OCTOBER, 1769. Only two months after Neisse, what + kindles Potsdam into sudden splendor, Electress Marie-Antoine makes a + Visit of nine days to the King. "In July last," says a certain Note of + ours, "the Electress was invited to Berlin, to a Wedding; 'would have been + delighted to come, but letter of invitation arrived too late. Will, + however, not give up the plan of seeing the great Friedrich.' Comes to + Potsdam 20th-29th October. Stays nine days; much delighted, both, with the + visit. 'Magnificent palaces, pleasant gardens, ravishing concerts, + charming Princes and Princesses: the pleasantest nine days I ever had in + my life,' says the Electress. Friedrich grants, to her intercession, + pardon for some culprit. 'DIVA ANTONIA' he calls her henceforth for some + time; she him, 'PLUS GRAND DES MORTELS,' 'SALOMON DU NORD,' and the like + names." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> (CORRESPONDANCE AVEC L'ELECTRICE + MARIE-ANTOINE), xxiv. 179-186.] Next year too (September 26th-October 5th, + 1770), the bright Lady made a second visit; [Rodenbeck, iii. 24.] no + third,—the times growing too political, perhaps; the times not + suiting. The Correspondence continues to the end; and is really pretty. + And would be instructive withal, were it well edited. For example,—if + we might look backwards, and shoot a momentary spark into the vacant + darkness of the Past,—Friedrich wrote (the year before this):— + </p> + <p> + POTSDAM, 3d MAY, 1768.... "Jesuits have got all cut adrift: A dim rumor + spreads that his Holiness will not rest with that first anathema, but that + a fulminating Bull is coming out against the Most Christian, the Most + Catholic and the Most Faithful. If that be so, my notion is, Madam, that + the Holy Father, to fill his table, will admit the Defender of the Faith + [poor George III.] and your Servant; for it does not suit a Pope to sit + solitary.... + </p> + <p> + "A pity for the human race, Madam, that men cannot be tranquil,—but + they never and nowhere can! Not even the little Town of Neufchatel but has + had its troubles; your Royal Highness will be astonished to learn how. A + Parson there [this was above seven years ago, in old Marischal's reign + [See Letters to Marischal, "Leipzig, 9th March, 1761," "Breslau, 14th May, + 1762:" in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xx. 282, 287.]] had set forth in a + sermon, That considering the immense mercy of God, the pains of Hell could + not last forever. The Synod shouted murder at such scandal; and has been + struggling, ever since, to get the Parson exterminated. The affair was of + my jurisdiction; for your Royal Highness must know that I am Pope in that + Country;—here is my decision: Let the parsons, who make for + themselves a cruel and barbarous God, be eternally damned, as they desire, + and deserve; and let those parsons, who conceive God gentle and merciful, + enjoy the plenitude of his mercy! However, Madam, my sentence has failed + to calm men's minds; the schism continues; and the number of the damnatory + theologians prevails over the others." ["April 2d, 1768" (a month before + this Letter to Madam), there is "riot at Neufchatel; and Avocat Gardot + [heterodox Parson's ADVOCATE] killed in it" (Rodenbeck, ii. 303).]—Or + again:— + </p> + <p> + POTSDAM, 1st DECEMBER, 1766. "At present I have with me my Niece [Sister's + Daughter, of Schwedt], the Duchess of Wurtemberg; who remembers with + pleasure to have had the happiness of seeing your Royal Highness in former + times. She is very unhappy and much to be pitied; her Husband [Eugen of + Wurtemberg, whom we heard much of, and last at Colberg] gives her a deal + of trouble: he is a violent man, from whom she has everything to fear; who + gives her chagrins, and makes her no allowances. I try my best to bring + him to reason;"—but am little successful. Three years after this, + "May 3d, 1769," we find Eugen, who once talked of running his august + Reigning Brother through the body, has ended by returning to Stuttgard and + him; where, or at Mumpelgard, his Apanage, he continued thenceforth. And + was Reigning Duke himself, long afterwards, for two years, at the very end + of his life. ["Succeeded," on his Brother Karl's death, "20th May, 1795; + died 23d December, 1797, age 75."] At this date of 1766, "my poor Niece + and he" have been married thirteen years, and have half a score of + children;—the eldest of them Czar Paul's Second Wife that is to be, + and Mother of the now Czars. + </p> + <p> + DECEMBER 17th, 1765.... "I have had 12,360 houses and barns to rebuild, + and am nearly through with that. But how many other wounds remain yet to + be healed!" + </p> + <p> + JULY 22d, 1766.... "Wedding festivities of Prince of Prussia. Duchess of + Kingston tipsy on the occasion!"—But we must not be tempted farther. + [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiv. 90-155.] + </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> + NEXT YEAR THERE IS A SECOND INTERVIEW; FRIEDRICH MAKING A RETURN-VISIT + DURING THE KAISER'S MORAVIAN REVIEWS (Camp of Mahrisch-Neustadt, 3d-7th + September, 1770). + </h2> + <p> + The Russian-Turk especially in Second Campaign of it, "Liberation of + Greece," or, failing that, total destruction of the Turk Fleet in Greek + waters; conquest of Wallachia, as of Moldavia; in a word, imminency of + total ruin to the Turk by land and sea,—all this is blazing aloft at + such a pitch, in Summer, 1770, that a new Interview upon it may well, to + neighbors so much interested, seem more desirable than ever. Interview + accordingly there is to be: 3d September, and for four days following. + </p> + <p> + Kaunitz himself attends, this time; something of real business privately + probable to Kaunitz. Prince Henri is not there; Prince Henri is gone to + Sweden; on visit to his Sister, whom he has not seen since boyhood: of + which Visit there will be farther mention. Present with the King were: + [Rodenbeck, iii. 21.] the Prince of Prussia (luckier somewhat in his + second wedlock, little red-colored Son and Heir born to him just a month + ago); [Friedrich Wilhelm III., "born 3d August, 1770."] Prince Ferdinand; + two Brunswick Nephews, ERBPRINZ whom we used to hear of, and Leopold a + junior, of whom we shall once or so. No Seidlitz this time. Except + Lentulus, no General to name. But better for us than all Generals, in the + Kaiser's suite, besides Kaunitz, was Prince de Ligne,—who holds a + PEN, as will appear. + </p> + <p> + "Liberation of the Greeks" had kindled many people, Voltaire among the + number, who is still intermittently in correspondence with Friedrich: "A + magnificent Czarina about to revivify that true Temple of Mankind, or at + least to sweep the blockhead Turks out of it; what a prospect!" Friedrich + is quite cool on Greece; not too hot on any part of this subject, though + intensely concerned about it. Besides his ingenious Count-Lynar Project, + and many other businesses, Friedrich has just been confuting Baron + d'Holbach's <i>Systeme de la Nature;</i> ["EXAMEN CRITIQUE DU SYSTEME DE + LA NATURE [in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> ix. 153 et seq.], finished July, + 1770."]—writing to Voltaire, POTSDAM, 18th AUGUST, 1770, on this + subject among others, he adds: "I am going for Silesia, on the Reviews. I + am to see the Kaiser, who has invited me to his Camp in Mahren. That is an + amiable and meritorious Prince; he values your Works, reads them as + diligently as he can; is anything but superstitious: in brief, a Kaiser + such as Germany has not for a great while had. Neither he nor I have any + love for the blockhead and barbaric sort;—but that is no reason for + extirpating them: if it were, your Turks [oppressors of Greece] would not + be the only victims!" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxiii. 165, 166.] + </p> + <p> + In a lengthy Letter, written by request, TO STANISLAUS, KING OF POLAND, + 1735, or at a distance of fifteen years from this Interview at Neustadt, + Prince de Ligne, who was present there, has left us some record or loose + lively reminiscence of it; [Prince de Ligne, <i>Memoires et Melanges + Historiques</i> (Par. 1827), i. 3-21.]—sputtering, effervescing, + epigrammatic creature, had he confined himself to a faithful description, + and burnt off for us, not like a pretty fire-work, but like an innocent + candle, or thing for seeing by! But we must take what we have, and + endeavor to be thankful. By great luck, the one topic he insists on is + Friedrich and his aspect and behavior on the occasion: which is what, of + all else in it, we are most concerned with. + </p> + <p> + "You have ordered me, Sire [this was written for him in 1785], to speak to + you of one of the greatest men of this Age. You admire him, though his + neighborhood has done you mischief enough; and, placing yourself at the + impartial distance of History, feel a noble curiosity on all that belongs + to this extraordinary genius. I will, therefore, give you an exact account + of the smallest words that I myself heard the great Friedrich speak.... + The I (LE JE) is odious to me; but nothing is indifferent when"—Well, + your account, then, your account, without farther preambling, and in a + more exact way than you are wont!— + </p> + <p> + "By a singular chance, in 1770 [3d-7th September, if you would but date], + the Kaiser was [for the second time] enabled to deliver himself to the + personal admiration which he had conceived for the King of Prussia; and + these Two great Sovereigns were so well together, that they could pay + visits. The Kaiser permitted me to accompany; and introduced me to the + King: it was at Neustadt in Moravia [MAHRISCH-NEUSTADT, short way from + AUSTERLITZ, which is since become a celebrated place]. I can't recollect + if I had, or had assumed, an air of embarrassment; but what I do well + remember is, that the Kaiser, who noticed my look, said to the King, 'He + has a timid expression, which I never observed in him before; he will + recover presently.' This he said in a graceful merry way; and the two went + out, to go, I believe, to the Play. On the way thither, the King for an + instant quitting his Imperial Friend, asked me if my LETTER TO JEAN + JACQUES [now an entirely forgotten Piece], which had been printed in the + Papers, was really by me? I answered, 'Sire, I am not famous enough to + have my name forged' [as a certain Other name has been, on this same + unproductive topic]. He felt what I meant. It is known that Horace Walpole + took the King's name to write his famous LETTRE A JEAN JACQUES [impossible + to attend to the like of it at present], which contributed the most to + drive mad that eloquent and unreasonable man of genius. + </p> + <p> + "Coming out of the Play, the Kaiser said to the King of Prussia: 'There is + Noverre, the famous Composer of Ballets; he has been in Berlin, I + believe.' Noverre made thereupon a beautiful dancing-master bow. 'Ah, I + know him,' said the King: 'we saw him at Berlin; he was very droll; + mimicked all the world, especially our chief Dancing Women, to make you + split with laughing.' Noverre, ill content with this way of remembering + him, made another beautiful third-position bow; and hoped possibly the + King would say something farther, and offer him the opportunity of a small + revenge. 'Your Ballets are beautiful,' said the King to him; 'your Dancing + Girls have grace; but it is grace in a squattish form (DE LA GRACE + ENGONCEE). I think you make them raise their shoulders and their arms too + much. For, Monsieur Noverre, if you remember, our principal Dancing Girl + at Berlin wasn't so.' 'That is why she was at Berlin, Sire,' replied + Noverre [satirically, all he could]. + </p> + <p> + "I was every day asked to sup with the King; too often the conversation + addressed itself to me. In spite of my attachment to the Kaiser, whose + General I like to be, but not whose D'Argens or Algarotti, I had not + beyond reason abandoned myself to that feeling. When urged by the King's + often speaking to me, I had to answer, and go on talking. Besides, the + Kaiser took a main share in the conversation; and was perhaps more at his + ease with the King than the King with him. One day, they got talking of + what one would wish to be in this world; and they asked my opinion. I + said, I should like to be 'a Pretty Woman till thirty; then, till sixty, a + fortunate and skilful General;'—and not knowing what more to say, + but for the sake of adding something, whatever it might be, 'a Cardinal + till eighty.' The King, who likes to banter the Sacred College, made + himself merry on this; and the Kaiser gave him a cheap bargain of Rome and + its upholders (SUPPOTS). That supper was one of the gayest and pleasantest + I have ever seen. The Two Sovereigns were without pretension and without + reserve; what did not always happen on other days; and the amiability of + two men so superior, and often so astonished to see themselves together, + was the agreeablest thing you can imagine. The King bade me come and see + him the first time he and I should have three or four hours to ourselves. + </p> + <p> + "A storm such as there never was, a deluge compared with which that of + Deucalion was a summer shower, covered our Hills with water [cannot say + WHICH day of the four], and almost drowned our Army while attempting to + manoeuvre. The morrow was a rest-day for that reason. At nine in the + morning, I went to the King, and stayed till one. He spoke to me of our + Generals; I let him say, of his own accord, the things I think of Marshals + Lacy and Loudon; and I hinted that, as to the others, it was better to + speak of the dead than of the living; and that one never can well judge of + a General who has not in his lifetime actually played high parts in War. + He spoke to me of Feldmarschall Daun: I said, 'that against the French I + believed he might have proved a great man; but that against him [you], he + had never quite been all he was; seeing always his opponent as a Jupiter, + thunder-bolt in hand, ready to pulverize his Army.' That appeared to give + the King pleasure: he signified to me a feeling of esteem for Daun; he + spoke favorably of General Brentano [one of the Maxen gentlemen]. I asked + his reason for the praises I knew he had given to General Beck. 'Why + (MAIS), I thought him a man of merit,' said the King. 'I do not think so, + Sire; he didn't do you much mischief.' 'He sometimes took Magazines from + me.' 'And sometimes let your Generals escape.' (Bevern at REICHENBACH, for + instance, do you reckon that his blame?)—'I have never beaten him,' + said the King. 'He never came near enough for that: and I always thought + your Majesty was only appearing to respect him, in order that we might + have more confidence in him, and that you might give him the better slap + some day, with interest for all arrears.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Do you know who taught me the little I know? It was your old + Marshal Traun: that was a man, that one.—You spoke of the French: do + they make progress?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'They are capable of everything in time of war, Sire: but in Peace,—their + chiefs want them to be what they are not, what they are not capable of + being.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'How, then; disciplined? They were so in the time of M. de + Turenne.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Oh, it isn't that. They were not so in the time of M. de Vendome, + and they went on gaining battles. But it is now wished that they become + your Apes and ours; and that does n't suit them.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Perhaps so: I have said of their busy people (FAISEURS,' St. + Germains and Army-Reformers), 'that they would fain sing without knowing + music.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Oh, that is true! But leave them their natural notes; profit by + their bravery, their alertness (LEGERETE), by their very faults,—I + believe their confusion might confuse their enemies sometimes.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Well, yes, doubtless, if you have something to support them with.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Just so, Sire,—some Swiss and Germans.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "''T is a brave and amiable nation, the French; one can't help + loving them:—but, MON DIEU, what have they made of their Men of + Letters; and what a tone has now come up among them! Voltaire, for + example, had an excellent tone. D'Alembert, whom I esteem in many + respects, is too noisy, and insists too much on producing effect in + society:—was it the Men of Letters that gave the Court of Louis XIV. + its grace, or did they themselves acquire it from the many amiable persons + they found there? He was the Patriarch of Kings, that one [in a certain + sense, your Majesty!]. In his lifetime a little too much good was said of + him; but a great deal too much ill after his death.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'A King of France, Sire, is always the Patriarch of Clever People + (PATRIARCHE DES GENS D'ESPRIT:' You do not much mean this, Monsieur? You + merely grin it from the teeth outward?) + </p> + <p> + KING. "'That is the bad Number to draw: they are n't worth a doit (NE + VALENT PAS LE DIABLE, these GENS D'ESPRIT) at Governing. Better be + Patriarch of the Greek Church, like my sister the Empress of Russia! That + brings her, and will bring, advantages. There's a religion for you; + comprehending many Countries and different Nations! As to our poor + Lutherans, they are so few, it is not worth while being their Patriarch.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Nevertheless, Sire, if one join to them the Calvinists, and all the + little bastard Sects, it would not be so bad a post. [The King appeared to + kindle at this; his eyes were full of animation. But it did not last when + I said:] If the Kaiser were Patriarch of the Catholics, that too wouldn't + be a bad place.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'There, there: Europe divided into Three Patriarchates. I was wrong + to begin; you see where that leads us: Messieurs, our dreams are not those + of the just, as M. le Regent used to say. If Louis XIV. were alive, he + would thank us.' + </p> + <p> + "All these patriarchal ideas, possible and impossible to realize, made + him, for an instant, look thoughtful, almost moody. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Louis XIV., possessing more judgment than cleverness (ESPRIT), + looked out more for the former quality than for the latter. It was men of + genius that he wanted, and found. It could not be said that Corneille, + Bossuet, Racine and Conde were people of the clever sort (DES HOMMES + D'ESPRIT).' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'On the whole, there is that in the Country which really deserves to + be happy, It is asserted that your Majesty has said, If one would have a + fine dream, one must—' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Yes, it is true,—be King of France.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'If Francis I. and Henri IV. had come into the world after your + Majesty, they would have said, "be King of Prussia."' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Tell me, pray, is there no citable Writer left in France?' + </p> + <p> + "This made me laugh; the King asked the reason. I told him, He reminded me + of the RUSSE A PARIS, that charming little piece of verse of M. de + Voltaire's; and we remembered charming things out of it, which made us + both laugh. He said, + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I have sometimes heard the Prince de Conti spoken of: what sort of + man is he?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'He is a man composed of twenty or thirty men. He is proud, he is + affable,'"—he is fiddle, he is diddle (in the seesaw epigrammatic + way, for a page or more); and is not worth pen and ink from us, since the + time old Marshal Traun got us rid of him,—home across the Rhine, + full speed, with Croats sticking on his skirts. [Supra, viii. 475.] + </p> + <p> + "This portrait seemed to amuse the King. One had to captivate him by some + piquant detail; without that, he would escape you, give you no time to + speak. The success generally began by the first words, no matter how + vague, of any conversation; these he found means to make interesting; and + what, generally, is mere talk about the weather became at once sublime; + and one never heard anything vulgar from him. He ennobled everything; and + the examples of Greeks and Romans, or of modern Generals, soon dissipated + everything of what, with others, would have remained trivial and + commonplace. + </p> + <p> + "'Have you ever,' said he, 'seen such a rain as yesterday's? Your orthodox + Catholics will say, "That comes of having a man without religion among us: + what are we to do with this cursed (MAUDIT) King; a Protestant at lowest?" + for I really think I brought you bad luck. Your soldiers would be saying, + "Peace we have; and still is this devil of a man to trouble us!"' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Certainly, if your Majesty was the cause, it is very bad. Such a + thing is only permitted to Jupiter, who has always good reasons for + everything; and it would have been in his fashion, after destroying the + one set by fire, to set about destroying the others by water. However, the + fire is at an end; and I did not expect to revert to it.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I ask your pardon for having plagued you so often with that; I + regret it for the sake of all mankind. But what a fine Apprenticeship of + War! I have committed errors enough to teach you young people, all of you, + to do better. MON DIEU, how I love your grenadiers! How well they defiled + in my presence! If the god Mars were raising a body-guard for himself, I + should advise him to take them hand over head. Do you know I was well + pleased (BIEN CONTENT) with the Kaiser last night at supper? Did you hear + what he said to me about Liberty of the Press, and the Troubling of + Consciences (LA GENE DES CONSCIENCES)? There will be bits of difference + between his worthy Ancestors and him, on some points!' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I am persuaded, he will entertain no prejudices on anything; and + that your Majesty will be a great Book of Instruction to him.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'How adroitly he disapproved, without appearing to mean anything, + the ridiculous Vienna Censorship; and the too great fondness of his Mother + (without naming her) for certain things which only make hypocrites. By the + by, she must detest you, that High Lady?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Well, then, not at all. She has sometimes lectured me about my + strayings, but very maternally: she is sorry for me, and quite sure that I + shall return to the right path. She said to me, some time ago, "I don't + know how you do, you are the intimate friend of Father Griffet; the Bishop + of Neustadt has always spoken well of you; likewise the Archbishop of + Malines; and the Cardinal [name Sinzendorf, or else not known to me, + dignity and red hat sufficiently visible] loves you much."' + </p> + <p> + "Why cannot I remember the hundred luminous things which escaped the King + in this conversation! It lasted till the trumpet at Head-quarters + announced dinner. The King went to take his place; and I think it was on + this occasion that, some one having asked why M. de Loudon had not come + yet, he said, 'That is not his custom: formerly he often arrived before + me. Please let him take this place next me; I would rather have him at my + side than opposite.'" + </p> + <p> + That is very pretty. And a better authority gives it, The King said to + Loudon himself, on Loudon's entering, <i>"Mettez-vous aupres de moi, M. de + Loudon; j'aime mieux vous avoir a cote de moi que vis-a-vis."</i> He was + very kind to Loudon; "constantly called him M. LE FELDMARECHAL [delicate + hint of what should have been, but WAS not for seven years yet]; and, at + parting, gave him [as he did to Lacy also] two superb horses, + magnificently equipped." [Pezzl, <i>Vie de Loudon,</i> ii. 29.] + </p> + <p> + "Another day," continues Prince de Ligne, "the Manoeuvres being over in + good time, there was a Concert at the Kaiser's. Notwithstanding the King's + taste for music, he was pleased to give me the preference; and came where + I was, to enchant me with the magic of his conversation, and the brilliant + traits, gay and bold, which characterize him. He asked me to name the + general and particular Officers who were present, and to tell him those + who had served under Marshal Traun: 'For, ENFIN,' he said, 'as I think I + have told you already, he is my Master; he corrected me in the Schooling I + was at.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Your Majesty was very ungrateful, then; you never paid him his + lessons. If it was as your Majesty says, you should at least have allowed + him to beat you; and I do not remember that you ever did.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I did not get beaten, because I did not fight.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'It is in this manner that the greatest Generals have often + conducted their wars against each other. One has only to look at the two + Campaigns of M. de Montecuculi and M. de Turenne, in the Valley of the + Rench [Strasburg Country, 1674 and 1675, two celebrated Campaigns, Turenne + killed by a cannon-shot in the last]. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Between Traun and the former there is not much difference; but + what a difference, BON DIEU, between the latter and me!' + </p> + <p> + "I named to him the Count d'Althan, who had been Adjutant-General, and the + Count de Pellegrini. He asked me twice which was which, from the distance + we were at; and said, He was so short-sighted, I must excuse him. + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Nevertheless, Sire, in the war your sight was good enough; and, if + I remember right, it reached very far!' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'It was not I; it was my glass.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Ha, I should have liked to find that glass;—but, I fear it + would have suited my eyes as little as Scanderbeg's sword my arm.' + </p> + <p> + "I forget how the conversation changed; but I know it grew so free that, + seeing somebody coming to join in it, the King warned him to take care; + that it was n't safe to converse with a man doomed by the theologians to + Everlasting Fire. I felt as if he somewhat overdid this of his 'being + doomed,' and that he boasted too much of it. Not to hint at the dishonesty + of these free-thinking gentlemen (MESSIEURS LES ESPRITS FORTS), who very + often are thoroughly afraid of the Devil, it is, at least, bad taste to + make display of such things: and it was with the people of bad taste whom + he has had about him, such as a Jordan, a D'Argens, Maupertuis, La + Beaumelle, La Mettrie, Abbe de Prades, and some dull sceptics of his own + Academy, that he had acquired the habit of mocking at Religion; and of + talking (DE PARLER) Dogma, Spinoism, Court of Rome and the like. In the + end, I did n't always answer when he touched upon it. I now seized a + moment's interval, while he was using his handkerchief, to speak to him + about some business, in connection with the Circle of Westphalia, and a + little COMTE IMMEDIAT [County holding direct, of the Reich] which I have + there. The King answered me: 'I, for my part, will do anything you wish; + but what thinks the other Director, my comrade, the Elector of Cologne, + about it?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I was not aware, Sire, that you were an Ecclesiastical Elector.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I am so; at least on my Protestant account.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'That is not to OUR account's advantage! Those good people of mine + believe your Majesty to be their protector.' + </p> + <p> + "He continued asking me the names of persons he saw. I was telling him + those of a number of young Princes who had lately entered the Service, and + some of whom gave hopes. 'That may be,' said he; 'but I think the breed of + the governing races ought to be crossed. I like the children of love: look + at the Marechal de Saxe, and my own Anhalt [severe Adjutant von Anhalt, a + bastard of Prinz Gustav, the Old Dessauer's Heir-Apparent, who begot a + good many bastards, but died before inheriting: bastards were brought up, + all of them to soldiering, by their Uncles,—-this one by Uncle + Moritz; was thrown from his horse eight years HENCE, to the great joy of + many]; though I am afraid that SINCE [mark this SINCE, alas!] his fall on + his head, that latter is not so good as formerly. I should be grieved at + it, [Not for eight years yet, MON PRINCE, I am sorry to say! Adjutant von + Anhalt did, in reality, get this fall, and damaging hurt on the head, in + the "Bavarian War" (nicknamed KARTOFFEL-KRIEG, "Potato-War"), 1778-1779. + <i>Militair-Lexikon,</i> i. 69: see Preuss, ii. 356, iv. 578; &c.] + both for his sake and for mine; he is a man full of talents.' + </p> + <p> + "I am glad to remember this; for I have heard it said by silly slanderous + people (SOTS DENIGRANTS), who accuse the King of Prussia of insensibility, + that he was not touched by the accident which happened to the man he + seemed to love most. Too happy if one had only said that of him! He was + supposed to be jealous of the merit of Schwerin and of Keith, and + delighted to have got them killed. It is thus that mediocre people seek to + lower great men, to diminish the immense space that lies between + themselves and such. + </p> + <p> + "Out of politeness, the King, and his Suite as well, had put on white + [Austrian] Uniforms, not to bring back on us that blue which we had so + often seen in war. He looked as though he belonged to our Army and to the + Kaiser's suite. There was, in this Visit, I believe, on both sides, a + little personality, some distrust, and perhaps a beginning of bitterness;—as + always happens, says Philippe de Comines, when Sovereigns meet. The King + took Spanish snuff, and brushing it off with his hand from his coat as + well as he could, he said, 'I am not clean enough for you, Messieurs; I am + not worthy to wear your colors.' The air with which he said this, made me + think he would yet soil them with powder, if the opportunity arose. + </p> + <p> + "I forgot a little Incident which gave me an opportunity of setting off + (FAIRE VALOIR) the two Monarchs to each other [Incident about the King's + high opinion of the Kaiser's drill-sergeantry in this day's manoeuvres, + and how I was the happy cause of the Kaiser's hearing it himself: Incident + omissible; as the whole Sequel is, except a sentence or two].— + </p> + <p> + ... "On this Neustadt occasion, the King was sometimes too ceremonious; + which annoyed the Kaiser. For instance,—I know not whether meaning + to show himself a disciplined Elector of the Reich, but so it was,—whenever + the Kaiser put his foot in stirrup, the King was sure to take his + Majesty's horse by the bridle, stand respectfully waiting the Kaiser's + right foot, and fit it into ITS stirrup: and so with everything else. The + Kaiser had the more sincere appearance, in testifying his great respect; + like that of a young Prince to an aged King, and of a young Soldier to the + greatest of Captains.... + </p> + <p> + "Sometimes there were appearances of cordiality between the two + Sovereigns. One saw that Friedrich II. loved Joseph II., but that the + preponderance of the Empire, and the contact of Bohemia and Silesia, a + good deal barred the sentiments of King and Kaiser. You remember, Sire + [Ex-Sire of Poland], their LETTERS [readers shall see them, in 1778,—or + rather REFUSE to see them!'] on the subject of Bavaria; their compliments, + the explanations they had with regard to their intentions; all carried on + with such politeness; and that from politeness to politeness, the King + ended by invading Bohemia." + </p> + <p> + Well, here is legible record, with something really of portraiture in it, + valuable so far as it goes; record unique on this subject;—and + substantially true, though inexact enough in details. Thus, even in regard + to that of Anhalt's HEAD, which is so impossible in this First Dialogue, + Friedrich did most probably say something of the kind, in a Second which + there is, of date 1780; of which latter De Ligne is here giving account as + well,—though we have to postpone it till its time come. + </p> + <p> + At this Neustadt Interview there did something of Political occur; and + readers ought to be shown exactly what. Kaunitz had come with the Kaiser; + and this something was intended as the real business among the gayeties + and galas at Neustadt. Poland, or its Farce-Tragedy now playing, was not + once mentioned that I hear of; though perhaps, as FLEBILE LUDIBRIUM, it + might turn up for moments in dinner-conversation or the like: but the + astonishing Russian-Turk War, which has sprung out of Poland, and has + already filled Stamboul and its Divans and Muftis with mere horror and + amazement; and, in fact, has brought the Grand Turk to the giddy rim of + the Abyss; nothing but ruin and destruction visible to him: this, beyond + all other things whatever, is occupying these high heads at present;—and + indeed the two latest bits of Russian-Turk news have been of such a + blazing character as to occupy all the world more or less. Readers, some + glances into the Turk War, I grieve to say, are become inevitable to us! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + RUSSIAN-TURK WAR, FIRST TWO CAMPAIGNS. + </h2> + <p> + "OCTOBER 6th, 1768, Turks declare War; Russian Ambassador thrown into the + Seven Towers as a preliminary, where he sat till Peace came to be needed. + MARCH 23d, 1769, Display their Banner of Mahomet, all in paroxysm of + Fanaticism risen to the burning point: 'Under pain of death, No Giaour of + you appear on the streets, nor even look out, of window, this day!' + Austrian Ambassador's Wife, a beautiful gossamer creature, venturing to + transgress on that point, was torn from her carriage by the Populace, and + with difficulty saved from destruction: Brother of the Sun and Moon, + apologizing afterwards down to the very shoe-tie, is forgiven." + </p> + <p> + FIRST CAMPAIGN; 1769. "APRIL 26th-30th, Galitzin VERSUS Choczim; can't, + having no provender or powder. Falls back over Dniester again,—overhears + that extraordinary DREAM, as above recited, betokening great rumor in + Russian Society against such Purblind Commanders-in-Chief. Purblind VERSUS + Blind is fine play, nevertheless; wait, only wait:— + </p> + <p> + "JULY 2d, Galitzin slowly gets on the advance again: 150,000 Turks, still + slower, are at last across the Donau (sharp enough French Officers among + them, agents of Choiseul; but a mass incurably chaotic);—furiously + intending towards Poland and extermination of the Giaour. Do not reach + Dniester River till September, and look across on Poland,—for the + first time, and also for the last, in this War. SEPTEMBER 17th: Weather + has been rainy; Dniester, were Galitzin nothing, is very difficult for + Turks; who try in two places, but cannot. [Hermann, v. 611-613.] In a + third place (name not given, perhaps has no name), about 12,000 of them + are across; when Dniester, raging into flood, carries away their one + Bridge, and leaves the 12,000 isolated there. Purblind Galitzin, on + express order, does attack these 12,000 (night of September 17th-18th):—'Hurrah' + of the devouring Russians about midnight, hoarse shriek of the doomed + 12,000, wail of their brethren on the southern shore, who cannot, help:—night + of horrors 'from midnight till 2 A.M.;' and the 12,000 massacred or + captive, every man of them; Russian loss 600 killed and wounded. Whereupon + the Turk Army bursts into unanimous insanity; and flows home in deliquium + of ruin. Choczim is got on the terms already mentioned (15 sick men and + women lying in it, and 184 bronze cannon, when we boat across); Turk Army + can by no effort be brought to halt anywhere; flows across the Donau, + disappears into Chaos:—and the whole of Moldavia is conquered in + this cheap manner. What, perhaps is still better, Galitzin (28th + September) is thrown out; Romanzow, hitherto Commander of a second smaller + Army, kind of covering wing to Galitzin, is Chief for Second Campaign. + </p> + <p> + "In the Humber, this Winter, to the surprise of incredulous mankind, a + Russian Fleet drops anchor for a few days: actual Russian Fleet intending + for the Greek waters, for Montenegro and intermediate errands, to conclude + with 'Liberation of Greece next Spring,'—so grandiose is this + Czarina." [Hermann, v. 617.] + </p> + <p> + SECOND CAMPAIGN; 1770. "This is the flower of Anti-Turk Campaigns,—victorious, + to a blazing pitch, both by land and sea. Romanzow, master of Moldavia, + goes upon Wallachia, and the new or rehabilitated Turk Army; and has an + almost gratis bargain of both. Romanzow has some good Officers under him + ('Brigadier Stoffeln,' much more 'General Tottlenen,' 'General Bauer,' + once Colonel Bauer of the Wesel Free-Corps,—many of the Superior + Officers seem to be German, others have Swedish or Danish names);—better + Officers; and knows better how to use them than Galitzin did. August 1st, + Romanzow has a Battle, called of Kaghul, in Pruth Country. That is his one + 'Battle' this Summer; and brings him Ismail, Akkerman, all Wallachey, and + no Turks left in those parts. But first let us attend to sea-matters, and + the Liberation of Greece, which precede in time and importance. + </p> + <p> + "'Liberation of Greece:' an actual Fleet, steering from Cronstadt to the + Dardanelles to liberate Greece! The sound of it kindles all the warm heads + in Europe; especially Voltaire's, which, though covered with the snow of + age, is still warm internally on such points. As to liberating Greece, + Voltaire's hopes were utterly balked; but the Fleet from Cronstadt did + amazing service otherwise in those waters. FEBRUARY 28th, 1770, first + squadron of the Russian Fleet anchors at Passawa,—not far from + Calamata, in the Gulf of Coron, on the antique Peloponnesian coast; Sparta + on your right hand, Arcadia on your left, and so many excellent Ghosts + (GREEK TEXT) of Heroes looking on:—Russian squadron has four big + ships, three frigates, more soon to follow: on board there are arms and + munitions of war; but unhappily only 500 soldiers. Admiral-in-Chief (not + yet come up) is Alexei Orlof, a brother of Lover Gregory's, an extremely + worthless seaman and man. Has under him 'many Danes, a good few English + too,'—especially Three English Officers, whom we shall hear of, when + Alexei and they come up. Meanwhile, on the Peloponnesian coast are modern + Spartans, to the number of 15,000, all sitting ready, expecting the + Russian advent: these rose duly; got Russian muskets, cartridges,—only + two Russian Officers:—and attacked the Turks with considerable fury + or voracity, but with no success of the least solidity. Were foiled here, + driven out there; in fine, were utterly beaten, Russians and they: lost + Tripolizza, by surprise; whereupon (April 19th) the Russians withdrew to + their Fleet; and the Affair of Greece was at an end. [Hermann, v. 621.] It + had lasted (28th February-19th April) seven weeks and a day. The Russians + retired to their Fleet, with little loss; and rode at their ease again, in + Navarino Bay. But the 15,000 modern Spartans had nothing to retire to,—these + had to retire into extinction, expulsion and the throat of Moslem + vengeance, which was frightfully bloody and inexorable on them. + </p> + <p> + "Greece having failed, the Russian Fleet, now in complete tale, made for + Turkey, for Constantinople itself. 'Into the very Dardanelles' they say + they will go; an Englishman among them—Captain Elphinstone, a + dashing seaman, if perhaps rather noisy, whom Rulhiere is not blind to—has + been heard to declare, at least in his cups: 'Dardanelles impossible? + Pshaw, I will do it, as easily as drink this glass of wine!' Alexei Orlof + is a Sham-Admiral; but under him are real Sea-Officers, one or two. + </p> + <p> + "In the Turkish Fleet, it seems, there is an Ex-Algerine, Hassan Bey, of + some capacity in sea-matters; but he is not in chief command, only in + second; and can accomplish nothing. The Turkish Fleet, numerous but + rotten, retires daily,—through the famed Cyclades, and Isles of + Greece, Paros, Naxos, apocalyptic Patmos, on to Scio (old Chios of the + wines); and on July 5th takes refuge behind Scio, between Scio and the + Coast of Smyrna, in Tchesme Bay. 'Safe here!' thinks the chief Turk + Admiral. 'Very far from safe!' remonstrates Hassan; though to no purpose. + And privately puts the question to himself, 'Have these Giaours a real + Admiral among them, or, like us, only a sham one?'" + </p> + <p> + TCHESME BAY, 7th JULY, 1770. "Nothing can be more imaginary than Alexei + Orlof as an Admiral: but he has a Captain Elphinstone, a Captain Gregg, a + Lieutenant Dugdale; and these determine to burn poor Hassan and his whole + Fleet in Tchesme here:—and do it totally, night of July 7th; with + one single fireship; Dugdale steering it; Gregg behind him, to support + with broadsides; Elphinstone ruling and contriving, still farther to rear; + helpless Turk Fleet able to make no debate whatever. Such a blaze of + conflagration on the helpless Turks as shone over all the world—one + of Rulhiere's finest fire-works, with little shot;—the light of + which was still dazzling mankind while the Interview at Neustadt took + place. Turk Fleet, fifteen ships, nine frigates and above 8,000 men, gone + to gases and to black cinders,—Hassan hardly escaping with I forget + how many score of wounds and bruises. [Hermann, v. 623.] + </p> + <p> + "'Now for the Dardanelles,' said Elphinstone: (bombard Constantinople, + starve it,—to death, or to what terms you will!' 'Cannot be done; + too dangerous; impossible!' answered the sham Admiral, quite in a tremor, + they say;—which at length filled the measure of Elphinstone's + disgusts with such a Fleet and Admiral. Indignant Elphinstone withdrew to + his own ship, 'Adieu, Sham-Admiral!'—sailed with his own ship, + through the impossible Dardanelles (Turk batteries firing one huge block + of granite at him, which missed; then needing about forty minutes to load + again); feat as easy to Elphinstone as this glass of wine. In sight of + Constantinople, Elphinstone, furthermore, called for his tea; took his tea + on deck, under flourishing of all his drums and all his trumpets: tea + done, sailed out again scathless; instantly threw up his command,—and + at Petersburg, soon after, in taking leave of the Czarina, signified to + her, in language perhaps too plain, or perhaps only too painfully true, + some Naval facts which were not welcome in that high quarter." [Rulhiere, + iii. 476-509.] This remarkable Elphinstone I take to be some junior or + irregular Balmerino scion; but could never much hear of him except in + RULHIERE, where, on vague, somewhat theatrical terms, he figures as above. + </p> + <p> + "AUGUST 1st, Romanzow has a 'Battle of Kaghul,' so they call it; though it + is a 'Slaughtery' or SCHLACHTEREI, rather than a 'Slaught' or SCHLACHT, + say my German friends. Kaghul is not a specific place, but a longish + river, a branch of the Pruth; under screen of which the Grand Turk Army, + 100,000 strong, with 100,000 Tartars as second line, has finally taken + position, and fortified itself with earthworks and abundant cannon. AUGUST + 1st, 1770, Romanzow, after study and advising, feels prepared for this + Grand Army and its earthworks: with a select 20,000, under select + captains, Romanzow, after nightfall, bursts in upon it, simultaneously on + three different points; and gains, gratis or nearly so, such a victory as + was never heard of before. The Turks, on their earthworks, had 140 + cannons; these the Turk gunners fired off two times, and fled, leaving + them for Romanzow's uses. The Turk cavalry then tried if they could not + make some attempt at charging; found they could not; whirled back upon + their infantry; set it also whirling: and in a word, the whole 200,000 + whirled, without blow struck; and it was a universal panic rout, and + delirious stampede of flight, which never paused (the very garrisons + emptying themselves, and joining in it) till it got across the Donau + again, and drew breath there, not to rally or stand, but to run rather + slower. And had left Wallachia, Bessarabia, Dniester river, Donau river, + swept clear of Turks; all Romanzow's henceforth. To such astonishment of + an invincible Grand Turk, and of his Moslem Populations, fallen on such a + set of Giaours ["ALLAH KERIM, And cannot we abolish them, then?" Not we + THEM, it would appear!],—as every reader can imagine." Which shall + suffice every reader here in regard to the Turk War, and what concern he + has in the extremely brutish phenomenon. + </p> + <p> + Tchesme fell out July 7th; Elphinstone has hardly done his tea in the + Dardanelles, when (August 1st) this of Kaghul follows: both would be fresh + news blazing in every head while the Dialogues between Friedrich and + Kaunitz were going on. For they "had many dialogues," Friedrich says; "and + one of the days" (probably September 6th) was mainly devoted to Politics, + to deep private Colloquy with Kaunitz. Of which, and of the great things + that followed out of it, I will now give, from Friedrich's own hand, the + one entirely credible account I have anywhere met with in writing. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's account of Kaunitz himself is altogether life-like: a solemn, + arrogant, mouthing, browbeating kind of man,—embarrassed at present + by the necessity not to browbeat, and by the consciousness that "King + Friedrich is the only man who refuses to acknowledge my claims to + distinction:" [Rulhiere (somewhere) has heard this, as an utterance of + Kaunitz's in some plaintive moment.]—a Kaunitz whose arrogances, + qualities and claims this King is not here to notice, except as they + concern business on hand. He says, "Kaunitz had a clear intellect, greatly + twisted by perversities of temper (UN SENS DROIT, L'ESPRIT REMPLI DE + TRAVERS), especially by a self-conceit and arrogance which were boundless. + He did not talk, but preach. At the smallest interruption, he would stop + short in indignant surprise: it has happened that, at the Council-Board in + Schonbrunn, when Imperial Majesty herself asked some explanation of a word + or thing not understood by her, Kaunitz made his bow (LUI TIRA SA + REVERENCE), and quitted the room." Good to know the nature of the beast. + Listen to him, then, on those terms, since it is necessary. The Kaunitz + Sermon was of great length, imbedded in circumlocutions, innuendoes and + diplomatic cautions; but the gist of it we gather to have been (abridged + into dialogue form) essentially as follows:— + </p> + <p> + KAUNITZ. "Dangerous to the repose of Europe, those Russian encroachments + on the Turk. Never will Imperial Majesty consent that Russia possess + Moldavia or Wallachia; War sooner,—all things sooner! These views of + Russia are infinitely dangerous to everybody. To your Majesty as well, if + I may say so; and no remedy conceivable against them,—to me none + conceivable,—but this only, That Prussia and Austria join frankly in + protest and absolute prohibition of them." + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH. "I have nothing more at heart than to stand well with Austria; + and always to be her ally, never her enemy. But your Highness sees how I + am situated: bound by express Treaty with Czarish Majesty; must go with + Russia in any War! What can I do? I can, and will with all industry, labor + to conciliate Czarish Majesty and Imperial; to produce at Petersburg such + a Peace with the Turks as may meet the wishes of Vienna. Let us hope it + can be done. By faithful endeavoring, on my part and on yours, I persuade + myself it can. Meanwhile, steadfastly together, we two! All our little + rubs, custom-house squabbles on the Frontier, and such like, why not + settle them here, and now? [and does so with his Highness.] That there be + nothing but amity, helpfulness and mutual effort towards an object so + momentous to us both, and to all mankind!" + </p> + <p> + KAUNITZ. "Good so far. And may a not intolerable Turk-Russian Peace prove + possible, without our fighting for it! Meanwhile, Imperial Majesty [as she + has been visibly doing for some time] must continue massing troops and + requisites on the Hungarian Frontier, lest the contrary happen!" + </p> + <p> + This was the result arrived at. Of which Friedrich "judged it but polite + to inform the young Kaiser; who appeared to be grateful for this mark of + attention, being much held down by Kaunitz in his present state of + tutelage." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvi. 30.] + </p> + <p> + And by a singular chance, on the very morrow there arrived from the Divan + (dated August 12th) an Express to Friedrich: "Mediate a Peace for us with + Russia; not you alone, as we have often asked, but Austria AND you!" For + the Kaghul Slaughtery has come on us; Giaour Elphinstone has taken tea in + the Dardanelles; and we know not to what hand to turn!—"The young + Kaiser did not hide his joy at this Overture, as Kaunitz did his, which + was perhaps still greater:" the Kaiser warmly expressed his thanks to + Friedrich as the Author of it; Kaunitz, with a lofty indifference + (MORGUE), and nose in air as over a small matter, "merely signified his + approval of this step which the Turks had taken." + </p> + <p> + "Never was mediation undertaken with greater pleasure," adds the King. And + both did proceed upon it with all zeal; but only the King as real + "mediator," or MIDDLEman; Kaunitz from the first planting himself + immovably upon the Turk side of things, which is likewise the Austrian; + and playing in secret (as Friedrich probably expected he would) the + strangest tricks with his assumed function. + </p> + <p> + So that Friedrich had to take the burden of mediating altogether on + himself; and month after month, year after year, it is evident he + prosecutes the same with all the industry and faculty that are in him,—in + intense desire, and in hope often nearly desperate, to keep his two + neighbors' houses, and his own and the whole world along with them, from + taking fire. Apart from their conflicting interests, the two Empresses + have privately a rooted aversion to one another. What with Russian + exorbitancy (a Czarina naturally uplifted with her Tchesmes and Kaghuls); + what with Austrian cupidity, pride, mulishness, and private trickery of + Kaunitz; the adroit and heartily zealous Friedrich never had such a bit of + diplomacy to do. For many months hence, in spite of his intensest efforts + and cunningest appliances, no way of egress visible: "The imbroglio MUST + catch fire!" At last a way opens, "Ha, at last a way!"—then, for + above a twelvemonth longer, such a guiding of the purblind quadrupeds and + obstinate Austrian mules into said way: and for years more such an urging + of them, in pig-driver fashion, along the same, till Peace did come!— + </p> + <p> + And here, without knowing it, we have insensibly got to the topmost summit + of our Polish Business; one small step more, and we shall be on the brow + of the precipitous inclined-plane, down which Poland and its business go + careering thenceforth, down, down,—and will need but few words more + from us. Actual discovery of "a way out" stands for next Section. + </p> + <p> + First, however, we will notice, as prefatory, a curious occurrence in the + Country of Zips, contiguous to the Hungarian Frontier. Zips, a pretty + enough District, of no great extent, had from time immemorial belonged to + Hungary; till, above 300 years ago, it was—by Sigismund SUPER + GRAMMATICAM, a man always in want of money (whom we last saw, in flaming + color, investing Friedrich's Ancestor with Brandenburg instead of payment + for a debt of money)—pledged to the Crown of Poland for a round sum + to help in Sigismund's pressing occasions. Redemption by payment never + followed; attempt at redemption there had never been, by Sigismund or any + of his successors. Nay, one successor, in a Treaty still extant, [Preuss, + iv. 32 (date 1589; pawning had beep 1412).] expressly gave up the right of + redeeming: Pledge forfeited: a Zips belonging to Polish Crown and Republic + by every law. + </p> + <p> + Well; Imperial Majesty, as we have transiently seen, is assembling troops + on the Hungarian Frontier, for a special purpose. Poor Poland is, by this + time (1770), as we also saw, sunk in Pestilence,—pigs and dogs + devouring the dead bodies: not a loaf to be had for a hundred ducats, and + the rage of Pestilence itself a mild thing to that of Hunger, not to + mention other rages. So that both Austria and Prussia, in order to keep + out Pestilence at least, if they cannot the other rages, have had to draw + CORDONS, or lines of troops along the Frontiers. "The Prussian cordon," I + am informed, "goes from Crossen, by Frankfurt northward, to the Weichsel + River and border of Warsaw Country:" and "is under the command of General + Belling," our famous Anti-Swede Hussar of former years. The Austrian + cordon looks over upon Zips and other Starosties, on the Hungarian Border: + where, independently of Pestilence, an alarmed and indignant Empress-Queen + has been and is assembling masses of troops, with what object we know. + Looking over into Zips in these circumstances, indignant Kaunitz and + Imperial Majesty, especially HIS Imperial Majesty, a youth always + passionate for territory, say to themselves, "Zips was ours, and in a + sense is!"—and (precise date refused us, but after Neustadt, and + before Winter has quite come) push troops across into Zips Starosty: seize + the whole Thirteen Townships of Zips, and not only these, but by degrees + tract after tract of the adjacencies: "Must have a Frontier to our mind in + those parts: indefensible otherwise!" And quietly set up boundary-pillars, + with the Austrian double-eagle stamped on them, and intimation to Zips and + neighborhood, That it is now become Austrian, and shall have no part + farther in these Polish Confederatings, Pestilences, rages of men, and + pigs devouring dead bodies, but shall live quiet under the double-eagle as + others do. Which to Zips, for the moment, might be a blessed change, + welcome or otherwise; but which awoke considerable amazement in the outer + world,—very considerable in King Stanislaus (to whom, on applying, + Kaunitz would give no explanation the least articulate);—and awoke, + in the Russian Court especially, a rather intense surprise and + provocation. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE HENRI HAS BEEN TO SWEDEN; IS SEEN AT PETERSBURG IN MASQUERADE (on + or about New-year's Day, 1771); AND DOES GET HOME, WITH RESULTS THAT ARE + IMPORTANT. + </h2> + <p> + Prince Henri, as we noticed, was not of this Second King-and-Kaiser + Interview; Henri had gone in the opposite direction,—to Sweden, on a + visit to his Sister Ulrique,—off for West and North, just in the + same days while the King was leaving Potsdam for Silesia and his other + errand in the Southeast parts. Henri got to Drottingholm, his Sister's + country Palace near Stockholm, by the "end of August;" and was there with + Queen Ulrique and Husband during these Neustadt manoeuvres. A changed + Queen Ulrique, since he last saw her "beautiful as Love," whirling off in + the dead of night for those remote Countries and destinies. [Supra, viii. + 309.] She is now fifty, or on the edge of it, her old man sixty,—old + man dies within few months. They have had many chagrins, especially she, + as the prouder, has had, from their contumacious People,—contumacious + Senators at least (strong always both in POCKET-MONEY French or Russian, + and in tendency to insolence and folly),—who once, I remember, + demanded sight and count of the Crown-Jewels from Queen Ulrique: "There, + VOILA, there are they!" said the proud Queen; "view them, count them,—lock + them up: never more will I wear one of them!" But she has pretty Sons + grown to manhood, one pretty Daughter, a patient good old Husband; and + Time, in Sweden too, brings its roses; and life is life, in spite of + contumacious bribed Senators and doggeries that do rather abound. Henri + stayed with her six or seven weeks; leaves Sweden, middle of October, + 1770,—not by the straight course homewards: "No, verily, and well + knew why!" shrieks the indignant Polish world on us ever since. + </p> + <p> + It is not true that Friedrich had schemed to send Henri round by + Petersburg. On the contrary, it was the Czarina, on ground of old + acquaintanceship, who invited him, and asked his Brother's leave to do it. + And if Poland got its fate from the circumstance, it was by accident, and + by the fact that Poland's fate was drop-ripe, ready to fall by a touch.—Before + going farther, here is ocular view of the shrill-minded, serious and + ingenious Henri, little conscious of being so fateful a man:—PRINCE + HENRI IN WHITE DOMINO. "Prince Henri of Prussia," says Richardson, the + useful Eye-witness cited already, "is one of the most celebrated Generals + of the present age. So great are his military talents, that his Brother, + who is not apt to pay compliments, says of him,—That, in commanding + an army, he was never known to commit a fault. This, however, is but a + negative kind of praise. He [the King] reserves to himself the glory of + superior genius, which, though capable of brilliant achievements, is yet + liable to unwary mistakes: and allows him no other than the praise of + correctness. + </p> + <p> + "To judge of Prince Henri by his appearance, I should form no high + estimate of his abilities. But the Scythian Ambassadors judged in the same + manner of Alexander the Great. He is under the middle size; very thin; he + walks firmly enough, or rather struts, as if he wanted to walk firmly; and + has little dignity in his air or gesture. He is dark-complexioned; and he + wears his hair, which is remarkably thick, clubbed, and dressed with a + high toupee. His forehead is high; his eyes large and blue, with a little + squint; and when he smiles, his upper lip is drawn up a little in the + middle. His look expresses sagacity and observation, but nothing very + amiable; and his manner is grave and stiff rather than affable. He was + dressed, when I first saw him, in a light-blue frock with silver frogs; + and wore a red waistcoat and blue breeches. He is not very popular among + the Russians; and accordingly their wits are disposed to amuse themselves + with his appearance, and particularly with his toupee. They say he + resembles Samson; that all his strength lies in his hair; and that, + conscious of this, and recollecting the fate of the son of Manoah, he + suffers not the nigh approaches of any deceitful Delilah. They say he is + like the Comet, which, about fifteen months ago, appeared so formidable in + the Russian hemisphere; and which, exhibiting a small watery body, but a + most enormous train, dismayed the Northern and Eastern Potentates with + 'fear of change.' + </p> + <p> + "I saw him a few nights ago [on or about New-year's Day, 1771; come back + to us, from his Tour to Moscow, three weeks before; and nothing but galas + ever since] at a Masquerade in the Palace, said to be the most magnificent + thing of the kind ever seen at the Russian Court. Fourteen large rooms and + galleries were opened for the accommodation of the masks; and I was + informed that there were present several thousand people. A great part of + the company wore dominos, or capuchin dresses; though, besides these, some + fanciful appearances afforded a good deal of amusement. A very tall + Cossack appeared completely arrayed in the 'hauberk's twisted mail.' He + was indeed very grim and martial. Persons in emblematical dresses, + representing Apollo and the Seasons, addressed the Empress in speeches + suited to their characters. The Empress herself, at the time I saw her + Majesty, wore a Grecian habit; though I was afterwards told that she + varied her dress two or three times during the masquerade. Prince Henri of + Prussia wore a white domino. Several persons appeared in the dresses of + different nations,—Chinese, Turks, Persians and Armenians. The most + humorous and fantastical figure was a Frenchman, who, with wonderful + nimbleness and dexterity, represented an overgrown but very beautiful + Parrot. He chattered with a great deal of spirit; and his shoulders, + covered with green feathers, performed admirably the part of wings. He + drew the attention of the Empress; a ring was formed; he was quite happy; + fluttered his plumage; made fine speeches in Russ, French and tolerable + English; the ladies were exceedingly diverted; everybody laughed except + Prince Henri, who stood beside the Empress, and was so grave and so + solemn, that he would have performed his part most admirably in the shape + of an owl. The Parrot observed him; was determined to have revenge; and + having said as many good things as he could to her Majesty, he was hopping + away; but just as he was going out of the circle, seeming to recollect + himself, he stopped, looked over his shoulder at the formal Prince, and + quite in the parrot tone and French accent, he addressed him most + emphatically with 'HENRI! HENRI! HENRI!' and then, diving into the crowd, + disappeared. His Royal Highness was disconcerted; he was forced to smile + in his own defence, and the company were not a little amused. + </p> + <p> + "At midnight, a spacious hall, of a circular form, capable of containing a + vast number of people, and illuminated in the most magnificent manner, was + suddenly opened. Twelve tables were placed in alcoves around the sides of + the room, where the Empress, Prince Henri, and a hundred and fifty of the + chief nobility and foreign ministers sat down to supper. The rest of the + company went up, by stairs on the outside of the room, into the lofty + galleries placed all around on the inside. Such a row of masked visages, + many of them with grotesque features and bushy beards, nodding from the + side of the wall, appeared very ludicrous to those below. The + entertainment was enlivened with a concert of music: and at different + intervals persons in various habits entered the hall, and exhibited + Cossack, Chinese, Polish, Swedish and Tartar dances. The whole was so + gorgeous, and at the same time so fantastic, that I could not help + thinking myself present at some of the magnificent festivals described in + the old-fashioned romantes:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'The marshal'd feast + Served up in hall with sewers and seneschals.' +</pre> + <p> + The rest of the company, on returning to the rooms adjoining, found + prepared for them also a sumptuous banquet. The masquerade began at 6 in + the evening, and continued till 5 next morning. + </p> + <p> + "Besides the masquerade, and other festivities, in honor of, and to divert + Prince Henri, we had lately a most magnificent show of fire-works. They + were exhibited in a wide apace before the Winter Palace; and, in truth, + 'beggared description.' They displayed, by a variety of emblematical + figures, the reduction of Moldavia, Wallachia, Bessarabia, and the various + conquests and victories achieved since the commencement of the present + War. The various colors, the bright green and the snowy white, exhibited + in these fire-works, were truly astonishing. For the space of twenty + minutes, a tree, adorned with the loveliest and most verdant foliage, + seemed to be waving as with a gentle breeze. It was entirely of fire; and + during the whole of this stupendous scene, an arch of fire, by the + continued throwing of rockets and fire-balls in one direction, formed as + it were a suitable canopy. + </p> + <p> + "On this occasion a prodigious multitude of people were assembled; and the + Empress, it was surmised, seemed uneasy. She was afraid, it was + apprehended, lest any accident, like what happened at Paris at the + marriage of the Dauphin, should befall her beloved people. I hope I have + amused you; and ever am"—[W. Richardson, <i>Anecdotes of the Russian + Empire,</i> pp. 325-331: "Petersburg, 4th January, 1771."] + </p> + <p> + The masquerades and galas in honor of Prince Henri, from a grandiose + Hostess, who had played with him in childhood, were many; but it is not + with these that we have to do. One day, the Czarina, talking to him of the + Austrian procedures at Zips, said with pique, "It seems, in Poland you + have only to stoop, and pick up what you like of it. If the Court of + Vienna have the notion to dismember that Kingdom, its neighbors will have + right to do as much." [Rulhiere, iv. 210; <i>Trois Demembremens,</i> i. + 142; above all, Henri himself, in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvi. 345, + "Petersburg, 8th January, 1771."] This is supposed, in all Books, to be + the PUNCTUM SALIENS, or first mention, of the astonishing Partition, which + was settled, agreed upon, within about a year hence, and has made so much + noise ever since. And in effect it was so; the idea rising practically in + that high head was the real beginning. But this was not the first head it + had been in; far from that. Above a year ago, as Friedrich himself + informed us, it had been in Friedrich's own head,—though at the time + it went for absolutely nothing, nobody even bestowing a sneer on it (as + Friedrich intimates), and disappeared through the Horn-Gate of Dreams. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich himself appears to have quite forgotten the Count-Lynar idea; + and, on Henri's report from Russia, was totally incredulous; and even + suspected that there might be trickery and danger in this Russian + proposal. Not till Henri's return (FEBRUARY 18th, 1771) could he entirely + believe that the Czarina was serious;—and then, sure enough, he did, + with his whole heart, go into it: the EUREKA out of all these + difficulties, which had so long seemed insuperable. Prince Henri "had an + Interview with the Austrian Minister next day" (February 19th), who + immediately communicated with his Kaunitz,—and got discouraging + response from Kaunitz; discouraging, or almost negatory; which did not + discourage Friedrich. "A way out," thinks Friedrich: "the one way to save + my Prussia and the world from incalculable conflagration." And entered on + it without loss of a moment. And labored at it with such continual + industry, rapidity and faculty for guiding and pushing, as all readers + have known in him, on dangerous emergencies: at no moment lifting his hand + from it till it was complete. + </p> + <p> + His difficulties were enormous: what a team to drive; and on such a road, + untrodden before by hoof or wheel! Two Empresses that cordially hate one + another, and that disagree on this very subject. Kaunitz and his Empress + are extremely skittish in the matter, and as if quite refuse it at first: + "Zips will be better," thinks Kaunitz to himself; "Cannot we have, all to + ourselves, a beautiful little cutting out of Poland in that part; and then + perhaps, in league with the Turk, who has money, beat the Russians home + altogether, and rule Poland in their stead, or 'share it with the Sultan,' + as Reis-Effendi suggests?" And the dismal truth is, though it was not + known for years afterward, Kaunitz does about this time, in profoundest + secret, actually make Treaty of Alliance with the Turk ("so many million + Piastres to us, ready money, year by year, and you shall, if not by our + mediating, then by our fighting, be a contented Turk"); and all along at + the different Russian-Turk "Peace-Congresses," Kaunitz, while pretending + to sit and mediate along with Prussia, sat on that far other basis, + privately thwarting everything; and span out the Turk pacification in a + wretched manner for years coming. ["Peace of Kainardschi," not till "21st + July, 1774,"—after four or five abortive attempts, two of them + "Congresses," Kaunitz so industrious (Hermann, v. 664 et antea).] A + dangerous, hard-mouthed, high-stalking, ill-given old coach-horse of a + Kaunitz: fancy what the driving of him might be, on a road he did not + like! But he had a driver too, who, in delicate adroitness, in patience + and in sharpness of whip, was consummate: "You shall know it is your one + road, my ill-given friend!" (I ostentatiously increase my Cavalry by + 8,000; meaning, "A new Seven-Years War, if you force me, and Russia by my + side this time!") So that Kaunitz had to quit his Turk courses (never paid + the Piastres back), and go into what really was the one way out. + </p> + <p> + But Friedrich's difficulties on this course are not the thing that can + interest readers; and all readers know his faculty for overcoming + difficulties. Readers ask rather: "And had Friedrich no feeling about + Poland itself, then, and this atrocious Partitioning of the poor Country?" + Apparently none whatever;—unless it might be, that Deliverance from + Anarchy, Pestilence, Famine, and Pigs eating your dead bodies, would be a + manifest advantage for Poland, while it was the one way of saving Europe + from War. Nobody seems more contented in conscience, or radiant with + heartfelt satisfaction, and certainty of thanks from all wise and + impartial men, than the King of Prussia, now and afterwards, in regard to + this Polish atrocity! A psychological fact, which readers can notice. + Scrupulous regard to Polish considerations, magnanimity to Poland, or the + least respect or pity for her as a dying Anarchy, is what nobody will + claim for him; consummate talent in executing the Partition of Poland + (inevitable some day, as he may have thought, but is nowhere at the pains + to say),—great talent, great patience too, and meritorious + self-denial and endurance, in executing that Partition, and in saving IT + from catching fire instead of being the means to quench fire, no + well-informed person will deny him. Of his difficulties in the operation + (which truly are unspeakable) I will say nothing more; readers are + prepared to believe that he, beyond others, should conquer difficulties + when the object is vital to him. I will mark only the successive dates of + his progress, and have done with this wearisome subject:— + </p> + <p> + June 14th, 1771. Within four months of the arrival of Prince Henri and + that first certainty from Russia, diligent Friedrich, upon whom the whole + burden had been laid of drawing up a Plan, and bringing Austria to + consent, is able to report to Petersburg, That Austria has dubieties, + reluctances, which it is to be foreseen she will gradually get over; and + that here meanwhile (June 14th, 1771) is my Plan of Partition,—the + simplest conceivable: "That each choose (subject to future adjustments) + what will best suit him; I, for my own part, will say, West-Preussen;—what + Province will Czarish Majesty please to say?" Czarish Majesty, in answer, + is exorbitantly liberal to herself; claims, not a Province, but four or + five; will have Friedrich, if the Austrians attack her in consequence, to + assist by declaring War on Austria; Czarish Majesty, in the reciprocal + case, not to assist Friedrich at all, till her Turk War is done! + "Impossible," thinks Friedrich; "surprisingly so, high Madam! But, to the + delicate bridle-hand, you are a manageable entity." + </p> + <p> + It was with Kaunitz that Friedrich's real difficulties lay. Privately, in + the course of this Summer, Kaunitz, by way of preparation for "mediating a + Turk-Russian Peace," had concluded his "subsidy Treaty" with the Turk, + ["6th July, 1771" (Preuss, iv. 31; Hermann; &c. &c.).]—Treaty + never ratified, but the Piastres duly paid;—Treaty rendering Peace + impossible, so long as Kaunitz had to do with mediating it. And indeed + Kaunitz's tricks in that function of mediator, and also after it, were of + the kind which Friedrich has some reason to call "infamous." "Your + Majesty, as co-mediator, will join us, should the Russians make War?" said + Kaunitz's Ambassador, one day, to Friedrich. "For certain, no!" answered + Friedrich; and, on the contrary, remounted his Cavalry, to signify, "I + will fight the other way, if needed!" which did at once bring Kaunitz to + give up his mysterious Turk projects, and come into the Polish. After + which, his exorbitant greed of territory there; his attempts to get Russia + into a partitioning of Turkey as well,—("A slice of Turkey too, your + Czarish Majesty and we?" hints he more than once),—gave Friedrich no + end of trouble; and are singular to look at by the light there now is. Not + for about a twelvemonth did Friedrich get his hard-mouthed Kaunitz brought + into step at all; and to the last, perpetual vigilance and, by whip and + bit, the adroitest charioteering was needed on him. + </p> + <p> + FEBRUARY 17th, 1772, Russia and Prussia, for their own part,—Friedrich, + in the circumstances, submitting to many things from his Czarina,—get + their particular "Convention" (Bargain in regard to Poland) completed in + all parts, "will take possession 4th June instant:" sign said Convention + (February 17th);—and invite Austria to join, and state her claims. + Which, in three weeks after, MARCH 4th, Austria does;—exorbitant + abundantly; and NOT to be got very much reduced, though we try, for a + series of months. Till at last:— + </p> + <p> + AUGUST 5th, 1772, Final Agreement between the Three Partitioning Powers: + "These are our respective shares; we take possession on the 1st OF + SEPTEMBER instant:"—and actual possession for Friedrich's share did, + on the 13th of that month, ensue. A right glad Friedrich, as everybody, + friend or enemy, may imagine him! Glad to have done with such a business,—had + there been no other profit in it; which was far from being the case. One's + clear belief, on studying these Books, is of two things: FIRST, that, as + everybody admits, Friedrich had no real hand in starting the notion of + Partitioning Poland;—but that he grasped at it with eagerness, as + the one way of saving Europe from War: SECOND, what has been much less + noticed, that, under any other hand, it would have led Europe to War;—and + that to Friedrich is due the fact, that it got effected without such + accompaniment. Friedrich's share of Territory is counted to be in all + 9,465 English square miles; Austria's, 62,500; Russia's, 87,500, [Preuss, + iv. 45.] between nine and ten times the amount of Friedrich's,—which + latter, however, as an anciently Teutonic Country, and as filling up the + always dangerous gap between his Ost-Preussen and him, has, under Prussian + administration, proved much the most valuable of the Three; and, next to + Silesia, is Friedrich's most important acquisition. SEPTEMBER 13th, 1772, + it was at last entered upon,—through such waste-weltering + confusions, and on terms never yet unquestionable. + </p> + <p> + Consent of Polish Diet was not had for a year more; but that is worth + little record. Diet, for that object, got together 19th APRIL, 1773; + recalcitrant enough, had not Russia understood the methods: "a common fund + was raised [ON SE COTISA, says Friedrich] for bribing;" the Three Powers + had each a representative General in Warsaw (Lentulus the Prussian + personage), all three with forces to rear: Diet came down by degrees, and, + in the course of five months (SEPTEMBER 18th, 1773), acquiesced in + everything. + </p> + <p> + And so the matter is ended; and various men will long have various + opinions upon it. I add only this one small Document from Maria Theresa's + hand, which all hearts, and I suppose even Friedrich's had he ever read + it, will pronounce to be very beautiful; homely, faithful, wholesome, + well-becoming in a high and true Sovereign Woman. + </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> + THE EMPRESS-QUEEN TO PRINCE KAUNITZ (Undated: date must be Vienna, + February, 1772). + </h2> + <p> + "When all my lands were invaded, and I knew not where in the world I + should find a place to be brought to bed in, I relied on my good right and + the help of God. But in this thing, where not only public law cries to + Heaven against us, but also all natural justice and sound reason, I must + confess never in my life to have been in such trouble, and am ashamed to + show my face. Let the Prince [Kaunitz] consider what an example we are + giving to all the world, if, for a miserable piece of Poland, or of + Moldavia or Wallachia, we throw our honor and reputation to the winds. I + see well that I am alone, and no more in vigor; therefore I must, though + to my very great sorrow, let things take their course." [<i>"Als alle + meine lander angefochten wurden und gar nit mehr wusste wo ruhig + niederkommen sollte, steiffete ich mich auf mein gutes Recht und den + Beystand Gottes. Aber in dieser Sach, wo nit allein das offenbare Recht + himmelschreyent wider Uns, sondern auch alle Billigkeit und die gesunde + Vernunft wider Uns ist, muess bekhennen dass zeitlebens nit so beangstigt + mich befunten und mich sehen zu lassen schame. Bedenkh der Furst, was wir + aller Welt fur ein Exempel geben, wenn wir um ein ellendes stuk von Pohlen + oder von der Moldau und Wallachey unser ehr und REPUTATION in die schanz + schlagen. Ich merkh wohl dass ich allein bin und nit mehr EN VIGEUR, darum + lasse ich die sachen, jedoch nit ohne meinen grossten Gram, ihren Weg + gehen."</i> (From "Hormayr, <i>Taschenbuch,</i> 1831, s. 66:" cited in + PREUSS, iv. 38.)] + </p> + <p> + And, some days afterwards, here is her Majesty's Official Assent: "PLACET, + since so many great and learned men will have it so: but long after I am + dead, it will be known what this violating of all that was hitherto held + sacred and just will give rise to." [From <i>"Zietgenossen</i> [a + Biographical Periodical], lxxi. 29:" cited in PREUSS, iv. 39.] (Hear her + Majesty!) + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has none of these compunctious visitings; but his account too, + when he does happen to speak on the subject, is worth hearing, and + credible every word. Writing to Voltaire, a good while after (POTSDAM, 9th + OCTOBER, 1773)) this, in the swift-flowing, miscellaneous Letter, is one + passage:... "To return to your King of Poland. I am aware that Europe + pretty generally believes the late Partition made (QU'ON A FAIT) of Poland + to be a result of the Political trickeries (MANIGANCES) which are + attributed to me; nevertheless, nothing is more untrue. After in vain + proposing different arrangements and expedients, there was no alternative + left but either that same Partition, or else Europe kindled into a general + War. Appearances are deceitful; and the Public judges only by these. What + I tell you is as true as the Forty-seventh of Euclid." [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic</i>, xxiii. 257.] + </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> + WHAT FRIEDRICH DID WITH HIS NEW ACQUISITION. + </h2> + <p> + Considerable obloquy still rests on Friedrich, in many liberal circles, + for the Partition of Poland. Two things, however, seem by this time + tolerably clear, though not yet known in liberal circles: first, that the + Partition of Poland was an event inevitable in Polish History; an + operation of Almighty Providence and of the Eternal Laws of Nature, as + well as of the poor earthly Sovereigns concerned there; and secondly, that + Friedrich had nothing special to do with it, and, in the way of + originating or causing it, nothing whatever. + </p> + <p> + It is certain the demands of Eternal Justice must be fulfilled: in earthly + instruments, concerned with fulfilling them, there may be all degrees of + demerit and also of merit,—from that of a world-ruffian Attila the + Scourge of God, conscious of his own ferocities and cupidities alone, to + that of a heroic Cromwell, sacredly aware that he is, at his soul's peril, + doing God's Judgments on the enemies of God, in Tredah and other severe + scenes. If the Laws and Judgments are verily those of God, there can be no + clearer merit than that of pushing them forward, regardless of the + barkings of Gazetteers and wayside dogs, and getting them, at the earliest + term possible, made valid among recalcitrant mortals! Friedrich, in regard + to Poland, I cannot find to have had anything considerable either of merit + or of demerit, in the moral point of view; but simply to have accepted, + and put in his pocket without criticism, what Providence sent. He himself + evidently views it in that light; and is at no pains to conceal his great + sense of the value of West-Preussen to him. We praised his Narrative as + eminently true, and the only one completely intelligible in every point: + in his Preface to it, written some years later, he is still more candid. + Speaking there in the first person, this once and never before or after,—he + says:— + </p> + <p> + "These new pretensions [of the Czarina, to assuage the religious + putrid-fever of the Poles by word of command] raised all Poland [into + Confederation of Bar, and WAR OF THE CONFEDERATES, sung by Friedrich]; the + Grandees of the Kingdom implored the assistance of the Turks: straightway + War flamed out; in which the Russian Armies had only to show themselves to + beat the Turks in every rencounter." His Majesty continues: "This War + changed the whole Political System of Europe [general Diplomatic Dance of + Europe, suddenly brought to a whirl by such changes of the music]; a new + arena (CARRIERE) came to open itself,—and one must have been either + without address, or else buried in stupid somnolence (ENGOURDISSEMENT), + not to profit by an opportunity so advantageous. I had read Bojardo's fine + Allegory: [Signifies only, "seize opportunity;" but here is the passage + itself:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Quante volte le disse: 'O bella dama, + Conosci l'ora de la tua ventura, + Dapoi che un tal Baron piu the che se t'ama, + Che non ha il Ciel piu vaga creatura. + Forse anco avrai di questo tempo brama, + Che'l felice destin sempre non dura; + Prendi diletto, mentre sei su 'l verde, + Che l'avuto piacer mai non si perde. + Questa eta giovenil, ch' e si gioiosa, + Tutta in diletto consumar si deve, + Perche quasi in un punto ci e nas cosa: + Como dissolve 'l sol la bianca neve, + Como in un giorno la vermiglia rosa + Perde il vago color in tempo breve, + Cosi fugge l' eta com' un baleno, + E non si puo tener, che non ha freno.'" +</pre> + <p> + (Bojardo, <i>Orlando Innamorato,</i> lib. i. cant. 2.)] I seized by the + forelock this unexpected opportunity; and, by dint of negotiating and + intriguing [candid King] I succeeded in indemnifying our Monarchy for its + past losses, by incorporating Polish Prussia with my Old Provinces." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> (Preface to MEMOIRS DEPUIS 1763 JUSQU'A 1774), vi. 6, 7: + "MEMOIRES [Chapter FIRST, including all the Polish part] were finished in + 1775; Preface is of 1779."] + </p> + <p> + Here is a Historian King who uses no rouge-pot in his Narratives,—whose + word, which is all we shall say of it at present, you find to be perfectly + trustworthy, and a representation of the fact as it stood before himself! + What follows needs no vouching for: "This acquisition was one of the most + important we could make, because it joined Pommern to East Prussia [ours + for ages past], and because, rendering us masters of the Weichsel River, + we gained the double advantage of being able to defend that Kingdom + [Ost-Preussen], and to draw considerable tolls from the Weichsel, as all + the trade of Poland goes by that River." + </p> + <p> + Yes truly! Our interests are very visible: and the interests and wishes + and claims of Poland,—are they nowhere worthy of one word from you, + O King? Nowhere that I have noticed: not any mention of them, or allusion + to them; though the world is still so convinced that perhaps they were + something, and not nothing! Which is very curious. In the whole course of + my reading I have met with no Autobiographer more careless to defend + himself upon points in dispute among his Audience, and marked as criminal + against him by many of them. Shadow of Apology on such points you search + for in vain. In rapid bare summary he sets down the sequel of facts, as if + assured beforehand of your favorable judgment, or with the profoundest + indifference to how you shall judge them; drops his actions, as an Ostrich + does its young, to shift for themselves in the wilderness, and hurries on + his way. This style of his, noticeable of old in regard to Silesia too, + has considerably hurt him with the common kind of readers; who, in their + preconceived suspicions of the man, are all the more disgusted at tracing + in him, not the least anxiety to stand well with any reader, more than to + stand ill, AS ill as any reader likes! + </p> + <p> + Third parties, it would seem, have small temptation to become his + advocates; he himself being so totally unprovided with thanks for you! + But, on another score, and for the sake of a better kind of readers, there + is one third party bound to remark: 1. That hardly any Sovereign known to + us did, in his general practice, if you will examine it, more perfectly + respect the boundaries of his neighbors; and go on the road that was his + own, anxious to tread on no man's toes if he could avoid it: a Sovereign + who, at all times, strictly and beneficently confined himself to what + belonged to his real business and him. 2. That apparently, therefore, he + must have considered Poland to be an exceptional case, unique in his + experience: case of a moribund Anarchy, fallen down as carrion on the + common highways of the world; belonging to nobody in particular; liable to + be cut into (nay, for sanitary reasons requiring it, if one were a + Rhadamanthus Errant, which one is not!)—liable to be cut into, on a + great and critically stringent occasion; no question to be asked of IT; + your only question the consent of by-standers, and the moderate certainty + that nobody got a glaringly disproportionate share! That must have been, + on the part of an equitable Friedrich, or even of a Friedrich accurate in + Book-keeping by Double Entry, the notion silently formed about Poland. + </p> + <p> + Whether his notion was scientifically right, and conformable to actual + fact, is a question I have no thought of entering on; still less, whether + Friedrich was morally right, or whether there was not a higher rectitude, + granting even the fact, in putting it in practice. These are questions on + which an Editor may have his opinion, partly complete for a long time + past, partly not complete, or, in human language, completable or + pronounceable at all; and may carefully forbear to obtrude it on his + readers; and only advise them to look with their own best eyesight, to be + deaf to the multiplex noises which are evidently blind, and to think what + they find thinkablest on such a subject. For, were it never so just, + proper and needful, this is by nature a case of LYNCH LAW; upon which, in + the way of approval or apology, no spoken word is permissible. Lynch being + so dangerous a Lawgiver, even when an indispensable one!— + </p> + <p> + For, granting that the Nation of Poland was for centuries past an Anarchy + doomed by the Eternal Laws of Heaven to die, and then of course to get + gradually buried, or eaten by neighbors, were it only for sanitary + reasons,—it will by no means suit, to declare openly on behalf of + terrestrial neighbors who have taken up such an idea (granting it were + even a just one, and a true reading of the silent but inexorably certain + purposes of Heaven), That they, those volunteer terrestrial neighbors, are + justified in breaking in upon the poor dying or dead carcass, and flaying + and burying it, with amicable sharing of skin and shoes! If it even were + certain that the wretched Polish Nation, for the last forty years + hastening with especial speed towards death, did in present circumstances, + with such a howling canaille of Turk Janissaries and vultures of creation + busy round it, actually require prompt surgery, in the usual method, by + neighbors,—the neighbors shall and must do that function at their + own risk. If Heaven did appoint them to it, Heaven, for certain, will at + last justify them; and in the mean while, for a generation or two, the + same Heaven (I can believe) has appointed that Earth shall pretty + unanimously condemn them. The shrieks, the foam-lipped curses of mistaken + mankind, in such case, are mankind's one security against over-promptitude + (which is so dreadfully possible) on the part of surgical neighbors. + </p> + <p> + Alas, yes, my articulate-speaking friends; here, as so often elsewhere, + the solution of the riddle is not Logic, but Silence. When a dark human + Individual has filled the measure of his wicked blockheadisms, sins and + brutal nuisancings, there are Gibbets provided, there are Laws provided; + and you can, in an articulate regular manner, hang him and finish him, to + general satisfaction. Nations too, you may depend on it as certain, do + require the same process, and do infallibly get it withal; Heaven's + Justice, with written Laws or without, being the most indispensable and + the inevitablest thing I know of in this Universe. No doing without it; + and it is sure to come:—and the Judges and Executioners, we observe, + are NOT, in that latter case, escorted in and out by the Sheriffs of + Counties and general ringing of bells; not so, in that latter case, but + far otherwise!— + </p> + <p> + And now, leaving that vexed question, we will throw one glance—only + one is permitted—into the far more profitable question, which + probably will one day be the sole one on this matter, What became of poor + West-Preussen under Friedrich? Had it to sit, weeping unconsolably, or + not? Herr Dr. Freytag, a man of good repute in Literature, has, in one of + his late Books of Popular History, [G. Freytag, <i>Neue Bilder aus dem + Leben des deutschen Volkes</i> (Leipzig, 1862).] gone into this subject, + in a serious way, and certainly with opportunities far beyond mine for + informing himself upon it:—from him these Passages have been + excerpted, labelled and translated by a good hand:— + </p> + <p> + ACQUISITION OF POLISH PRUSSIA. "During several Centuries, the much-divided + Germans had habitually been pressed upon, and straitened and injured, by + greedy conquering neighbors; Friedrich was the first Conqueror who once + more pushed forward the German Frontier towards the East; reminding the + Germans again, that it was their task to carry Law, Culture, Liberty and + Industry into the East of Europe. All Friedrich's Lands, with the + exception only of some Old-Saxon territory, had, by force and + colonization, been painfully gained from the Sclave. At no time since the + migrations of the Middle Ages, had this struggle for possession of the + wide Plains to the east of Oder ceased. When arms were at rest, + politicians carried on the struggle." + </p> + <p> + PERSECUTION OF GERMAN PROTESTANTS IN POLAND. "In the very 'Century of + Enlightenment' the persecution of the Germans became fanatical in those + Countries: one Protestant Church after the other got confiscated; pulled + down; if built of wood, set on fire: its Church once burnt, the Village + had lost the privilege of having one. Ministers and schoolmasters were + driven away, cruelly maltreated. 'VEXA LUTHERANURN, DABIT THALERUM (Wring + the Lutheran, you will find money in him),' became the current Proverb of + the Poles in regard to Germans. A Protestant Starost of Gnesen, a Herr von + UNRUH of the House of Birnbaum, one of the largest proprietors of the + country, was condemned to die, and first to have his tongue pulled out and + his hands cut off,—for the crime of having copied into his Note-book + some strong passages against the Jesuits, extracted from German Books. + Patriotic 'Confederates of Bar,' joined by all the plunderous vagabonds + around, went roaming and ravaging through the country, falling upon small + towns and German villages. The Polish Nobleman, Roskowski [a celebrated + "symbolical" Nobleman, this], put on one red boot and one black, + symbolizing FIRE and DEATH; and in this guise rode about, murdering and + burning, from places to place; finally, at Jastrow, he cut off the hands, + feet, and lastly the head of the Protestant Pastor, Willich by name, and + threw the limbs into a swamp. This happened in 1768." + </p> + <p> + IN WHAT STATE FRIEDRICH FOUND THE POLISH PROVINCES. "Some few only of the + larger German Towns, which were secured by walls, and some protected + Districts inhabited exclusively by Germans,—as the NIEDERUNG near + Dantzig, the Villages under the mild rule of the Cistercians of Oliva, and + the opulent German towns of the Catholic Ermeland,—were in tolerable + circumstances. The other Towns lay in ruins; so also most of the Hamlets + (HOFE) of the open Country. Bromberg, the city of German Colonists, the + Prussians found in heaps and ruins: to this hour it has not been possible + to ascertain clearly how the Town came into this condition. [<i>"Neue + Preussische Provinzialblotter,</i> Year 1854, No. 4, p. 259."] No + historian, no document, tells of the destruction and slaughter that had + been going on, in the whole District of the NETZE there, during the last + ten years before the arrival of the Prussians, The Town of Culm had + preserved its strong old walls and stately churches; but in the streets, + the necks of the cellars stood out above the rotten timber and brick heaps + of the tumbled houses: whole streets consisted merely of such cellars, in + which wretched people were still trying to live. Of the forty houses in + the large Market-place of Culm, twenty-eight had no doors, no roofs, no + windows, and no owners. Other Towns were in similar condition." + </p> + <p> + "The Country people hardly knew such a thing as bread; many had never in + their life tasted such a delicacy; few Villages possessed an oven. A + weaving-loom was rare, the spinning-wheel unknown. The main article of + furniture, in this bare scene of squalor, was the Crucifix and vessel of + Holy-Water under it [and "POLACK! CATHOLIK!" if a drop of gin be added].—The + Peasant-Noble [unvoting, inferior kind] was hardly different from the + common Peasant: he himself guided his Hook Plough (HACKEN-PFLUG), and + clattered with his wooden slippers upon the plankless floor of his hut.... + It was a desolate land, without discipline, without law, without a master. + On 9,000 English square miles lived 500,000 souls: not 55 to the square + mile." + </p> + <p> + SETS TO WORK. "The very rottenness of the Country became an attraction for + Friedrich; and henceforth West-Preussen was, what hitherto Silesia had + been, his favorite child; which, with infinite care, like that of an + anxious loving mother, he washed, brushed, new-dressed, and forced to go + to school and into orderly habits, and kept ever in his eye. The + diplomatic squabbles about this 'acquisition' were still going on, when he + had already sent [so early as June 4th, 1772, and still more on September + 13th of that Year [See his new DIALOGUE with Roden, our Wesel + acquaintance, who was a principal Captain in this business (in PREUSS, iv. + 57, 58: date of the Dialogue is "11th May, 1772;"—Roden was on the + ground 4th June next; but, owing to Austrian delays, did not begin till + September 13th).]] a body of his best Official People into this + waste-howling scene, to set about organizing it. The Landschaften + (COUNTIES) were divided into small Circles; in a minimum of time, the land + was valued, and an equal tax put upon it; every Circle received its + LANDRATH, Law-Court, Post-office and Sanitary Police. New Parishes, each + with its Church and Parson, were called into existence as by miracle; a + company of 187 Schoolmasters—partly selected and trained by the + excellent Semler [famous over Germany, in Halle University and SEMINARIUM, + not yet in England]—were sent into the Country: multitudes of German + Mechanics too, from brick-makers up to machine-builders. Everywhere there + began a digging, a hammering, a building; Cities were peopled anew; street + after street rose out of the heaps of ruins; new Villages of Colonists + were laid out, new modes of agriculture ordered. In the first Year after + taking possession, the great Canal [of Bromberg] was dug; which, in a + length of fifteen miles, connects, by the Netze River, the Weichsel with + the Oder and the Elbe: within one year after giving the order, the King + saw loaded vessels from the Oder, 120 feet in length of keel," and of + forty tons burden, "enter the Weichsel. The vast breadths of land, gained + from the state of swamp by drainage into this Canal, were immediately + peopled by German Colonists. + </p> + <p> + "As his Seven-Years Struggle of War may be called super-human, so was + there also in his present Labor of Peace something enormous; which + appeared to his contemporaries [unless my fancy mislead me] almost + preternatural, at times inhuman. It was grand, but also terrible, that the + success of the whole was to him, at all moments, the one thing to be + striven after; the comfort of the individual of no concern at all. When, + in the Marshland of the Wetze, he counted more the strokes of the 10,000 + spades, than the sufferings of the workers, sick with the marsh-fever in + the hospitals which he had built for them; [Compare PREUSS, iv. 60-71.] + when, restless, his demands outran the quickest performance,—there + united itself to the deepest reverence and devotedness, in his People, a + feeling of awe, as for one whose limbs are not moved by earthly life + [fanciful, considerably!]. And when Goethe, himself become an old man, + finished his last Drama [Second Part of FAUST], the figure of the old King + again rose on him, and stept into his Poem; and his Faust got transformed + into an unresting, creating, pitilessly exacting Master, forcing on his + salutiferous drains and fruitful canals through the morasses of the + Weichsel." [G. Freytag, <i>Neue Bilder aus dem Leben des deutschen Volkes</i> + (Leipzig, 1862), pp. 397-408.] + </p> + <p> + These statements and pencillings of Freytag, apart from here and there a + flourish of poetic sentiment, I believe my readers can accept as + essentially true, and a correct portrait of the fact. And therewith, CON + LA BOCCA DOLCE, we will rise from this Supper of Horrors. That Friedrich + fortified the Country, that he built an impregnable Graudentz, and two + other Fortresses, rendering the Country, and himself on that Eastern side, + impregnable henceforth, all readers can believe. Friedrich has been + building various Fortresses in this interim, though we have taken no + notice of them; building and repairing many things;—trimming up his + Military quite to the old pitch, as the most particular thing of all. He + has his new Silesian Fortress of Silberberg,—big Fortress, looking + into certain dangerous Bohemian Doors (in Tobias Stusche's Country, if + readers recollect an old adventure now mythical);—his new Silesian + Silberberg, his newer Polish Graudentz, and many others, and flatters + himself he is not now pregnable on any side. + </p> + <p> + A Friedrich working, all along, in Poland especially, amid what + circumambient deluges of maledictory outcries, and mendacious shriekeries + from an ill-informed Public, is not now worth mentioning. Mere distracted + rumors of the Pamphleteer and Newspaper kind: which, after hunting them a + long time, through dense and rare, end mostly in zero, and angry darkness + of some poor human brain,—or even testify in favor of this + Head-Worker, and of the sense he shows, especially of the patience. For + example: that of the "Polish Towns and Villages, ordered" by this Tyrant + "to deliver, each of them, so many marriageable girls; each girl to bring + with her as dowry, furnished by her parents, 1 feather-bed, 4 pillows, 1 + cow, 3 swine and 3 ducats,"—in which desirable condition this + tyrannous King "sent her into the Brandenburg States to be wedded and + promote population." [Lindsey, LETTERS ON POLAND (Letter 2d). p. 61: + Peyssonnel (in some. French Book of his, "solemnly presented to Louis XVI. + and the Constituent Assembly;" cited in PREUSS, iv. 85); &c. &c.] + Feather-beds, swine and ducats had their value in Brandenburg; but were + marriageable girls such a scarcity there? Most extraordinary new RAPE OF + THE SABINES; for which Herr Preuss can find no basis or source,—nor + can I; except in the brain of Reverend Lindsey and his loud LETTERS ON + POLAND above mentioned. + </p> + <p> + Dantzig too, and the Harbor-dues, what a case! Dantzig Harbor, that is to + say, Netze River, belongs mainly to Friedrich, Dantzig City not,—such + the Czarina's lofty whim, in the late Partition Treatyings; not good to + contradict, in the then circumstances; still less afterwards, though it + brought chicanings more than enough. "And she was not ill-pleased to keep + this thorn in the King's foot for her own conveniences," thinks the King; + though, mainly, he perceives that it is the English acting on her + grandiose mind: English, who were apprehensive for their Baltic trade + under this new Proprietor, and who egged on an ambitious Czarina to + protect Human Liberty, and an inflated Dantzig Burgermeister to stand up + for ditto; and made a dismal shriekery in the Newspapers, and got into + dreadful ill-humor with said Proprietor of Dantzig Harbor, and have never + quite recovered from it to this day. Lindsey's POLISH LETTERS are very + loud again on this occasion, aided by his SEVEN DIALOGUES ON POLAND; + concerning which, partly for extinct Lindsey's sake, let us cite one small + passage, and so wind up. + </p> + <p> + MARCH 2d, 1775, in answer to Voltaire, Friedrich writes:... "The POLISH + DIALOGUES you speak of are not known to me. I think of such Satires, with + Epictetus: 'If they tell any truth of thee, correct thyself; if they are + lies, laugh at them.' I have learned, with years, to become a steady + coach-horse; I do my stage, like a diligent roadster, and pay no heed to + the little dogs that will bark by the way." And then, three weeks after:— + </p> + <p> + "I have at length got the SEVEN DIALOGUES ON POLAND; and the whole history + of them as well. The Author is an Englishman named Lindsey, Parson by + profession, and Tutor to the young Prince Poniatowski, the King of + Poland's Nephew,"—Nephew Joseph, Andreas's Son, NOT the + undistinguished Nephew: so we will believe for poor loud Lindsey's sake! + "It was at the instigation of the Czartoryskis, Uncles of the King, that + Lindsey composed this Satire,—in English first of all. Satire ready, + they perceived that nobody in Poland would understand it, unless it were + translated into French; which accordingly was done. But as their + translator was unskilful, they sent the DIALOGUES to a certain Gerard at + Dantzig, who at that time was French Consul there, and who is at present a + Clerk in your Foreign Office under M. de Vergennes. This Gerard, who does + not want for wit, but who does me the honor to hate me cordially, + retouched these DIALOGUES, and put them into the condition they were + published in. I have laughed a good deal at them: here and there occur + coarse things (GROSSIERETES), and platitudes of the insipid kind: but + there are traits of good pleasantry. I shall not go fencing with + goose-quills against this sycophant. As Mazarin said, 'Let the French keep + singing, provided they let us keep doing.'" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxiii. 319-321: "Potsdam, 2d March, 1775," and "25th March" following. See + PREUSS, iii. 275, iv. 85.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V.—A CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. + </h2> + <p> + After Neustadt, Kaiser Joseph and the King had no more Interviews. + Kaunitz's procedures in the subsequent Pacification and Partition business + had completely estranged the two Sovereigns: to friendly visiting, a very + different state of mutual feeling had succeeded; which went on, such "the + immeasurable ambition" visible in some of us, deepening and worsening + itself, instead of improving or abating. Friedrich had Joseph's Portrait + hung in conspicuous position in the rooms where he lived; somebody + noticing the fact, Friedrich answered: "Ah, yes, I am obliged to keep that + young Gentleman in my eye." And, in effect, the rest of Friedrich's + Political Activity, from this time onwards, may be defined as an ever-vigilant + defence of himself, and of the German Reich, against Austrian + Encroachment: which, to him, in the years then running, was the grand + impending peril; and which to us in the new times has become so + inexpressibly uninteresting, and will bear no narrative, Austrian + Encroachment did not prove to be the death-peril that had overhung the + world in Friedrich's last years!— + </p> + <p> + These, accordingly, are years in which the Historical interest goes on + diminishing; and only the Biographical, were anything of Biography + attainable, is left. Friedrich's industrial, economic and other Royal + activities are as beautiful as ever; but cannot to our readers, in our + limits, be described with advantage. Events of world-interest, after the + Partition of Poland, do not fall out, or Friedrich is not concerned in + them. It is a dim element; its significance chiefly German or Prussian, + not European. What of humanly interesting is discoverable in it,—at + least, while the Austrian Grudge continues in a chronic state, and has no + acute fit,—I will here present in the shape of detached Fragments, + suitably arranged and rendered legible, in hopes these may still have some + lucency for readers, and render more conceivable the surrounding masses + that have to be left dark. Our first Piece is of Winter, or late Autumn, + 1771,—while the solution of the Polish Business is still in its + inchoative stages; perfectly complete in the Artist's own mind; Russia too + adhering; but Kaunitz so refractory and contradictory. + </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> + HERR DOCTOR ZIMMERMANN, THE FAMOUS AUTHOR OF THE BOOK "ON SOLITUDE," WALKS + REVERENTIALLY BEFORE FRIEDRICH'S DOOR IN THE DUSK OF AN OCTOBER EVENING: + AND HAS A ROYAL INTERVIEW NEXT DAY. + </h2> + <p> + Friday Evening, 25th October, 1771, is the date of Zimmermann's walk of + contemplation,—among the pale Statues and deciduous Gardenings of + Sans-Souci Cottage (better than any Rialto, at its best),—the + eternal stars coming out overhead, and the transitory candle-light of a + King Friedrich close by. + </p> + <p> + "At Sans-Souci," says he, in his famed Book, "where that old God of War + (KRIEGSGOTT) forges his thunder-bolts, and writes Works of Intellect for + Posterity; where he governs his People as the best father would his house; + where, during one half of the day, he accepts and reads the petitions and + complaints of the meanest citizen or peasant; comes to help of his + Countries on all sides with astonishing sums of money, expecting no + payment, nor seeking anything but the Common Weal; and where, during the + other half, he is a Poet and Philosopher:—at Sans-Souci, I say, + there reigns all round a silence, in which you can hear the faintest + breath of every soft wind. I mounted this Hill for the first time in + Winter [late Autumn, 25th October, 1771, edge of Winter], in the dusk. + When I beheld the small Dwelling-House of this Convulser of the World + close by me, and was near his very chamber, I saw indeed a light inside, + but no sentry or watchman at the Hero's door; no soul to ask me, Who I + was, or What I wanted. I saw nothing; and walked about as I pleased before + this small and silent House." [Preuss, i. 387 ("from EINSAMKEIT," + Zimmermann's SOLITUDE, "i. 110; Edition of Leipzig, 1784").] + </p> + <p> + Yes, Doctor, this is your Kriegsgott; throned in a free-and-easy fashion. + In regard to that of Sentries, I believe there do come up from Potsdam + nightly a corporal and six rank-and-file; but perhaps it is at a later + hour; perhaps they sit within doors, silent, not to make noises. Another + gentleman, of sauntering nocturnal habits, testifies to having, one night, + seen the King actually asleep in bed, the doors being left ajar. [Ib. i. + 388.]—As Zimmermann had a DIALOGUE next day with his Majesty, which + we propose to give; still more, as he made such noise in the world by + other Dialogues with Friedrich, and by a strange Book about them, which + are still ahead,—readers may desire to know a little who or what the + Zimmermann is, and be willing for a rough brief Note upon him, which + certainly is not readier than it is rough:— + </p> + <p> + Johann Georg Zimmermann: born 1728, at Brugg in the Canton of Bern, where + his Father seems to have had some little property and no employment, "a + RATHSHERR (Town-Councillor), who was much respected." Of brothers or + sisters, no mention. The Mother being from the French part of the Canton, + he learned to speak both languages. Went to Bern for his Latin and + high-schooling; then to Gottingen, where he studied Medicine, under the + once great Haller and other now dimmed celebrities. Haller, himself from + Bern, had taken Zimmermann to board, and became much attached to him: + Haller, in 1752, came on a summer visit to native Bern: Zimmermann, who + had in the mean time been "for a few months" in France, in Italy and + England, now returned and joined him there; but the great man, feeling + very poorly and very old, decided that he would like to stay in Bern, and + not move any more;—Zimmermann, accordingly, was sent to Gottingen to + bring Mrs. Haller, with her Daughters, bandboxes and effects, home to + Bern. Which he did;—and not only them, but a soft, ingenious, + ingenuous and rather pretty young Gottingen Lady along with them, as his + own Wife withal. With her he settled as STADTPHYSICUS (Town-Doctor) in + native Brugg; where his beloved Hallers were within reach; and practice in + abundance, and honors, all that the place yielded, were in readiness for + him. + </p> + <p> + Here he continued some sixteen years; very busy, very successful in + medicine and literature; but "tormented with hypochondria;"—having + indeed an immense conceit of himself, and generally too thin a skin for + this world. Here he first wrote his Book on SOLITUDE, a Book famed over + all the world in my young days (and perhaps still famed); he wrote it a + second time, MUCH ENLARGED, about thirty years after: [<i>Betrachtungen + uber die Einsamkeit, von Doctor J. G. Zimmermann, Stadtphysicus in Brugg</i> + (Zurich, 1756),—as yet only "1 vol. 8vo, price 6d." (5 groschen); + but it grew with years; and (Leipzig, 1784) came out remodelled into 4 + vols.;—was translated into French, "with many omissions," by Mercier + (Paris, 1790); into English from Mercier (London, 1791). "Zurich, + 1763-1764:" by and by, one "Dobson did it into English."] I read it (in + the curtailed English-Mercier form, no Scene in it like the above), in + early boyhood,—and thank it for nothing, or nearly so. Zimmermann + lived much alone, at Brugg and elsewhere; all his days "Hypochondria" was + the main company he had:—and it was natural, but UNprofitable, that + he should say, to himself and others, the best he could for that bad + arrangement: poor soul! He wrote also on MEDICAL EXPERIENCE, a famed Book + in its day;" also on NATIONAL PRIDE; and became famed through the + Universe, and was Member of infinite Learned Societies. + </p> + <p> + All which rendered dull dead Brugg still duller and more dead; unfit + utterly for a man of such sublime accomplishments. Plenty of Counts + Stadion, Kings of Poland even, offered him engagements; eager to possess + such a man, and deliver him from dull dead Brugg; but he had hypochondria, + and always feared their deliverance might be into something duller. At + length,—in his fortieth year, 1768,—the place of + Court-Physician (HOFMEDICUS) at Hanover was offered him by George the + Third of pious memory, and this he resolved to accept; and did lift + anchor, and accept and occupy accordingly. + </p> + <p> + Alas, at the Gate of Hanover, "his carriage overset;" broke his poor old + Mother-in-law's leg (who had been rejoicing doubtless to get home into her + own Country), and was the end of her—poor old soul;—and the + beginning of misfortunes continual and too tedious to mention. Spleen, + envy, malice and calumny, from the Hanover Medical world; treatment, "by + the old buckram Hofdames who had drunk coffee with George II.," "which was + fitter for a laquais-de-place" than for a medical gentleman of eminence: + unworthy treatment, in fact, in many or most quarters;—followed by + hypochondria, by dreadful bodily disorder (kind not given or + discoverable), "so that I suffered the pains of Hell," sat weeping, sat + gnashing my teeth, and could n't write a Note after dinner; followed + finally by the sickness, and then by the death, of my poor Wife, "after + five months of torment." Upon which, in 1771, Zimmermann's friends—for + he had many friends, being, in fact, a person of fine graceful intellect, + high proud feelings and tender sensibilities, gone all to this sad state—rallied + themselves; set his Hanover house in order for him (governess for his + children, what not); and sent him off to Berlin, there to be dealt with by + one Meckel, an incomparable Surgeon, and be healed of his dreadful + disorder ("LEIBESSCHADE, of which the first traces had appeared in + Brugg"),—though to most people it seemed rather he would die; "and + one Medical Eminency in Hanover said to myself [Zimmermann] one day: 'Dr. + So-and-so is to have your Pension, I am told; now, by all right, it should + belong to me, don't you think so?'" What, "I" thought of the matter, + seeing the greedy gentleman thus "parting my skin," may be conjectured!— + </p> + <p> + The famed Meckel received his famed patient with a nobleness worthy of the + heroic ages. Dodged him in his own house, in softest beds and appliances; + spoke comfort to him, hope to him,—the gallant Meckel;—rallied, + in fact, the due medical staff one morning; came up to Zimmermann, who + "stripped," with the heart of a lamb and lion conjoined, and trusting in + God, "flung himself on his bed" (on his face, or on his back, we never + know), and there, by the hands of Meckel and staff, "received above 2,000 + (TWO THOUSAND) cuts in the space of an hour and half, without uttering one + word or sound." A frightful operation, gallantly endured, and skilfully + done; whereby the "bodily disorder" (LEIBESSCHADE), whatever it might be, + was effectually and forever sent about its business by the noble Meckel. + </p> + <p> + Hospitalities and soft, hushed kindnesses and soothing ministrations, by + Meckel and by everybody, were now doubled and trebled: wise kind Madam + Meckel, young kind Mamsell Meckel and the Son (who "now, in 1788, lectures + in Gottingen"); not these only, nor Schmucker Head Army-Surgeon, and the + ever-memorable HERR GENERALCHIRURGUS Madan, who had both been in the + operation; not these only, but by degrees all that was distinguished in + the Berlin world, Ramler, Busching, Sulzer, Prime Minister Herzberg, + Queen's and King's Equerries, and honorable men and women,—bore him + "on angel-wings" towards complete recovery. Talked to him, sang and danced + to him (at least, the "Muses" and the female Meckels danced and sang), and + all lapped him against eating cares, till, after twelve weeks, he was + fairly on his feet again, and able to make jaunts in the neighborhood with + his "life's savior," and enjoy the pleasant Autumn weather to his farther + profit.—All this, though described in ridiculous superlative by + Zimmermann, is really touching, beautiful and human: perhaps never in his + life was he so happy, or a thousandth part so helped by man, as while + under the roof of this thrice-useful Meckel,—more power to Meckel! + </p> + <p> + Head Army-Surgeon Schmucker had gone through all the Seven-Years War; + Zimmermann, an ardent Hero-worshipper, was never weary questioning him, + listening to him in full career of narrative, on this great subject,—only + eight years old at that time. Among their country drives, Meckel took him + to Potsdam, twenty English miles off; in the end of October, there to stay + a night. This was the ever-memorable Friday, when we first ascended the + Hill of Sans-Souci, and had our evening walk of contemplation:—to be + followed by a morrow which was ten times more memorable: as readers shall + now see. [Jordens, <i>Lexikon</i> (Zimmermann), v. 632-658 (exact and even + eloquent account, as these of Jordens, unexpectedly, often are); + Zimmermann himself, UNTERREDUNGEN MIT FRIEDRICH DEM GROSSEN (ubi infra); + Tissot, <i>Vie de M. Zimmermann</i> (Lausanne, 1797): &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + NEXT DAY, ZIMMERMANN HAS A DIALOGUE. Schmucker had his apartments in + "LITTLE SANS-SOUCI," where the King now lived (Big Sans-Souci, or + "Sans-Souci" by itself, means in those days, not in ours at all, "New + Palace, NEUE PALAIS," now in all its splendor of fresh finish). De Catt, + Friedrich's Reader, whom we know well, was a Genevese, and knew Zimmermann + from of old. Schmucker and De Catt were privately twitching up Friedrich's + curiosity,—to whom also Zimmermann's name, and perhaps his late + surgical operation, might be known: "Can he speak French?"—"Native + to him, your Majesty." Friedrich had some notion to see Zimmermann; and + judicious De Catt, on this fortunate Saturday, "26th October, 1771," + morrow after Zimmermann's arrival at Potsdam, "came to our inn about, 1 + P.M. [King's dinner just done]; and asked me to come and look at the + beauties of Sans-Souci [Big Sans-Souci] for a little." Zimmermann + willingly went: Catt, left him in good hands to see the beauties; slipt + off, for his own part, to "LITTLE Sans-Souci;" came back, took Zimmermann + thither; left, him with Schmucker, all trembling, thinking perhaps the + King might call him. "I trembled sometimes, then again I felt exceeding + happiness:" I was in Schmucker's room, sitting by the fire, mostly alone + for a good while, "the room that had once been Marquis d'Argens's" (who is + now dead, and buried far away, good old soul);—when, at last, about + half-past 4, Catt came jumping in, breathless with joy; snatched me up: + "His Majesty wants to speak with you this very moment!" Zimmermann's self + shall say the rest. + </p> + <p> + "I hurried, hand-in-hand with Catt, along a row of Chambers. 'Here,' said + Catt, 'we are now at the King's room!'—My heart thumped, like to + spring out of my body. Catt went in; but next moment the door again + opened, and Catt bade me enter. + </p> + <p> + "In the middle of the room stood an iron camp-bed without curtains. There, + on a worn mattress, lay King Friedrich, the terror of Europe, without + coverlet, in an old blue roquelaure. He had a big cocked-hat, with a white + feather [hat aged, worn soft as duffel, equal to most caps; "feather" is + not perpendicular, but horizontal, round the inside of the brim], on his + head. + </p> + <p> + "The King took off his hat very graciously, when I was perhaps ten steps + from him; and said in French (our whole Dialogue proceeded in French): + 'Come nearer, M. Zimmermann.' + </p> + <p> + "I advanced to within two steps of the King; he said in the mean while to + Catt: 'Call Schmucker in, too.' Herr Schmucker came; placed himself behind + the King, his back to the wall; and Catt stood behind me. Now the Colloquy + began. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I hear you have found your health again in Berlin; I wish you joy + of that.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I have found my life again in Berlin; but at this moment, Sire, I + find here a still greater happiness!' [ACH!] + </p> + <p> + KING. "'You have stood a cruel operation: you must have suffered + horribly?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Sire, it was well worth while.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Did, you let them bind you before the operation?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'No: I resolved to keep my freedom.' + </p> + <p> + KING (laughing in a very kind manner). "'Oh, you behaved like a brave + Switzer! But are you quite recovered, though?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Sire, I have seen all the wonders of your creation in Sans-Souci, + and feel well in looking at them.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I am glad of that. But you must have a care, and especially not + get on horseback.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'It will be pleasant and easy for me to follow the counsels of your + Majesty.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'From what Town in the Canton of Bern are you originally?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'From Brugg.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I don't know that Town.' [No wonder, thought I!] + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Where did you study?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'At Gottingen: Haller was my teacher.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'What is M. Haller doing now?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'He is concluding his literary career with a romance.' [USONG had + just come out;—no mortal now reads a word of it; and the great + Haller is dreadfully forgotten already!] + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Ah, that is pretty!—On what system do you treat your + patients?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Not on any system.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'But there are some Physicians whose methods you prefer to those of + others?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I especially like Tissot's methods, who is a familiar friend of + mine.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I know M. Tissot. I have read his writings, and value them very + much. On the whole, I love the Art of Medicine. My Father wished me to get + some knowledge in it. He often sent me into the Hospitals; and even into + those for venereal patients, with a view of warning by example.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'And by terrible example!—Sire, Medicine is a very difficult + Art. But your Majesty is used to bring all Arts under subjection to the + force of your genius, and to conquer all that is difficult.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Alas, no: I cannot conquer all that is difficult!' [Hard-mouthed + Kaunitz, for example; stock-still, with his right ear turned on Turkey: + how get Kaunitz into step!]—Here the King became reflective; was + silent for a little moment, and then asked me, with a most bright smile: + 'How many churchyards have you filled?' [A common question of his to + Members of the Faculty.] + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Perhaps, in my youth, I have done a little that way! But now it + goes better; for I am timid rather than bold.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Very good, very good.' + </p> + <p> + "Our Dialogue now became extremely brisk. The King quickened into + extraordinary vivacity; and examined me now in the character of Doctor, + with such a stringency as, in the year 1751, at Gottingen, when I stood + for my Degree, the learned Professors Haller, Richter, Segner and Brendel + (for which Heaven recompense them!) never dreamed of! All inflammatory + fevers, and the most important of the slow diseases, the King mustered + with me, in their order. He asked me, How and whereby I recognized each of + these diseases; how and whereby distinguished them from the approximate + maladies; what my procedure was in simple and in complicated cases; and + how I cured all those disorders? On the varieties, the accidents, the mode + of treatment, of small-pox especially, the King inquired with peculiar + strictness;—and spoke, with much emotion, of that young Prince of + his House who was carried off, some years ago, by that disorder—[suddenly + arrested by it, while on march with his regiment, "near Ruppin, 26th May, + 1767." This is the Prince Henri, junior Brother of the subsequent King, + Friedrich Wilhelm II., who, among other fooleries, invaded France, in + 1792, with such success. Both Henri and he, as boys, used to be familiar + to us in the final winters of the late War. Poor Henri had died at the age + of nineteen,—as yet all brightness, amiability and nothing else: + Friedrich sent an ELOGE of him to his ACADEMIE, [In <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> vii. 37 et seq.] which is touchingly and strangely filled + with authentic sorrow for this young Nephew of his, but otherwise empty,—a + mere bottle of sighs and tears]. Then he came upon Inoculation; went along + over an incredible multitude of other medical subjects. Into all he threw + masterly glances; spoke of all with the soundest [all in superlative] + knowledge of the matter, and with no less penetration than liveliness and + sense. + </p> + <p> + "With heartfelt satisfaction, and with the freest soul, I made my answers + to his Majesty. It is true, he potently supported and encouraged me. Ever + and anon his Majesty was saying to me: 'That is very good;—that is + excellently thought and expressed;—your mode of proceeding, + altogether, pleases me very well;—I rejoice to see how much our ways + of thinking correspond.' Often, too, he had the graciousness to add: 'But, + I weary you with my many questions!' His scientific questions I answered + with simplicity, clearness and brevity; and could not forbear sometimes + expressing my astonishment at the deep and conclusive (TIEFEN UND + FRAPPANTEN) medical insights and judgments of the King. + </p> + <p> + "His Majesty came now upon the history of his own maladies. He told me + them over, in their series; and asked my opinion and advice about each. On + the HAEMORRHOIDS, which he greatly complained of, I said something that + struck him. Instantly he started up in his bed; turned his head round + towards the wall, and said: 'Schmucker, write me that down!' I started in + fright at this word; and not without reason! Then our Colloquy proceeded:— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'The Gout likes to take up his quarters with me; he knows I am a + Prince, and thinks I shall feed him well. But I feed him ill; I live very + meagrely.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'May Gout, thereby get disgusted, and forbear ever calling on your + Majesty!' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I am grown old. Diseases will no longer have pity on me.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Europe feels that your Majesty is not old; and your Majesty's look + (PHYSIOGNOMIE) shows that you have still the same force as in your + thirtieth year.' + </p> + <p> + KING (laughing and shaking his head). "'Well, well, well!' + </p> + <p> + "In this way, for an hour and quarter, with uninterrupted vivacity, the + Dialogue went on. At last the King gave me the sign to go; lifting his hat + very kindly, and saying: 'Adieu, my dear M. Zimmermann; I am very glad to + have seen you.'" + </p> + <p> + Towards 6 P.M. now, and Friedrich must sign his Despatches; have his + Concert, have his reading; then to supper (as spectator only),—with + Quintus Icilius and old Lord Marischal, to-night, or whom? [Of Icilius, + and a quarrel and estrangement there had lately been, now happily + reconciled, see Nicolai, <i>Anekdoten,</i> vi. 140-142.] + </p> + <p> + "Herr von Catt accompanied me into the anteroom, and Schmucker followed. I + could not stir from the spot; could not speak, was so charmed and so + touched, that I broke into a stream of tears [being very weak of nerves at + the time!]. Herr von Catt said: 'I am now going back to the King; go you + into the room where I took you up; about eight I will conduct you home.' I + pressed my excellent countryman's hand, I"—"Schmucker said, I had + stood too near his Majesty; I had spoken too frankly, with too much + vivacity; nay, what was unheard of in the world, I had 'gesticulated' + before his Majesty! 'In presence of a King,' said Herr Schmucker, 'one + must stand stiff and not stir.' De Catt came back to us at eight; and, in + Schmucker's presence [let him chew the cud of that!], reported the + following little Dialogue with the King:— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'What says Zimmermann?' + </p> + <p> + DE CATT. "'Zimmermann, at the door of your Majesty's room, burst into a + stream of tears.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'I love those tender affectionate hearts; I love right well those + brave Swiss people!' + </p> + <p> + "Next morning the King was heard to say: 'I have found Zimmermann quite + what you described him.'—Catt assured me furthermore, 'Since the + Seven-Years War there had thousands of strangers, persons of rank, come to + Potsdam, wishing to speak with the King, and had not attained that favor; + and of those who had, there could not one individual boast that his + Majesty had talked with him an hour and quarter at once.' [Fourteen years + hence, he dismissed Mirabeau in half an hour; which was itself a good + allowance.] + </p> + <p> + "Sunday 27th, I left Potsdam, with my kind Meckels, in an enthusiasm of + admiration, astonishment, love and gratitude; wrote to the King from + Berlin, sent him a Tissot's Book (marked on the margins for Majesty's + use), which he acknowledged by some word to Catt: whereupon I"—In + short, I got home to Hanover, in a more or less seraphic condition,—"with + indescribable, unspeakable," what not,—early in November; and, as a + healed man, never more troubled with that disorder, though still troubled + with many and many, endeavored to get a little work out of myself again. + [Zimmermann, <i>Meine Unterredungen</i> (Dialogues) <i>with Friedrich the + Great</i> (8vo, Leipzig, 1788), pp. 305-326.] + </p> + <p> + "Zimmermann was tall, handsome of shape; his exterior was distinguished + and imposing," says Jordens. [Ubi supra, p. 643.] "He had a firm and light + step; stood gracefully; presented himself well. He had a fine head; his + voice was agreeable; and intellect sparkled in his eyes:"—had it not + been for those dreadful hypochondrias, and confused disasters, a very + pretty man. At the time of this first visit to Friedrich he is 43 years of + age, and Friedrich is on the borders of 60. Zimmermann, with still more + famous DIALOGUES, will reappear on us from Hanover, on a sad occasion! + Meanwhile, few weeks after him, here is a Visit of far more joyful kind. + </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> + SISTER ULRIQUE, QUEEN-DOWAGER OF SWEDEN, REVISITS HER NATIVE PLACE + (December, 1771-August, 1772). + </h2> + <p> + Prince Henri was hardly home from Petersburg and the Swedish Visit, when + poor Adolf Friedrich, King of Sweden, died. [12th February, 1771.] A very + great and sad event to his Queen, who had loved her old man; and is now + left solitary, eclipsed, in circumstances greatly altered on the sudden. + In regard to settlements, Accession of the new Prince, dowager revenues + and the like, all went right enough; which was some alleviation, though an + inconsiderable, to the sorrowing Widow. Her two Princes were absent, + touring over Europe, when their Father died, and the elder of them, Karl + Gustav, suddenly saw himself King. They were in no breathless haste to + return; visited their Uncle, their Prussian kindred, on the way, and had + an interesting week at Potsdam and Berlin; [April 22d-29th: Rodenbeck, + iii. 45.] Karl Gustav flying diligently about, still incognito, as "Graf + von Gothland,"—a spirited young fellow, perhaps too spirited;—and + did not reach home till May-day was come, and the outburst of the Swedish + Summer at hand. + </p> + <p> + Some think the young King had already something dangerous and serious in + view, and wished his Mother out of the way for a time. Certain it is she + decided on a visit to her native Country in December following: arrived + accordingly, December 2d, 1771; and till the middle of August next was a + shining phenomenon in the Royal House and upper ranks of Berlin Society, + and a touching and interesting one to the busy Friedrich himself, as may + be supposed. She had her own Apartments and Household at Berlin, in the + Palace there, I think; but went much visiting about, and receiving many + visits,—fond especially of literary people. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's notices of her are frequent in his Letters of the time, all + affectionate, natural and reasonable. Here are the first two I meet with: + TO THE ELECTRESS OF SAXONY (three weeks after Ulrique's arrival); "A + thousand excuses, Madam, for not answering sooner! What will plead for me + with a Princess who so well knows the duties of friendship, is, that I + have been occupied with the reception of a Sister, who has come to seek + consolation in the bosom of her kindred for the loss of a loved Husband, + the remembrance of whom saddens and afflicts her." And again, two months + later: "... Your Royal Highness deigns to take so obliging an interest in + the visit I have had [and still have] from the Queen of Sweden. I beheld + her as if raised from the dead to me; for an absence of eight-and-twenty + years, in the short space of our duration, is almost equivalent to death. + She arrived among us, still in great affliction for the loss she had had + of the King; and I tried to distract her sad thoughts by all the + dissipations possible. It is only by dint of such that one compels the + mind to shift away from the fatal idea where grief has fixed it: this is + not the work of a day, but of time, which in the end succeeds in + everything. I congratulate your Royal Highness on your Journey to Bavaria + [on a somewhat similar errand, we may politely say]; where you will find + yourself in the bosom of a Family that adores you:" after which, and the + sight of old scenes, how pleasant to go on to Italy, as you propose! [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xxiv. 230, 235. "24th December 1771," "February, 1772." + See also, <i>"Eptire a la Reine Douairiere de Suede"</i> (Poem on the + Troubles she has had: <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xiii. 74, "written in + December, 1770"), and <i>"Vers a la Reine de Suede,"</i> "January, 1771" + (ib. 79).] + </p> + <p> + Queen Ulrique—a solid and ingenuous character (in childhood a + favorite of her Father's, so rational, truthful and of silent staid ways)—appears + to have been popular in the Berlin circles; pleasant and pleased, during + these eight months. Formey, especially Thiebault, are copious on this + Visit of hers; and give a number of insipid Anecdotes; How there was + solemn Session of the Academy made for her, a Paper of the King's to be + read there, ["DISCOURS DE L'UTILITE DES SCIENCES ET DES ARTS DAM UN ETAT" + (in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> ix. 169 et seq.): read "27th January, + 1772." Formey, ii. 16, &c. &c.]—reading beautifully done by + me, Thiebault (one of my main functions, this of reading the King's + Academy Papers, and my dates of THEM always correct); how Thiebault was + invited to dinner in consequence, and again invited; how Formey dined with + her Majesty "twenty-five times;" and "preached to her in the Palace, + August 19th" (should be August 9th): insipid wholly, vapid and stupid; + descriptive of nothing, except of the vapidities and vanities of certain + persons. Leaving these, we will take an Excerpt, probably our last, from + authentic Busching, which is at least to be depended on for perfect + accuracy, and has a feature or two of portraiture. + </p> + <p> + Busching, for the last five or six years, is home from Russia; comfortably + established here as Consistorialrath, much concerned with + School-Superintendence; still more with GEOGRAPHY, with copious rugged + Literature of the undigested kind: a man well seen in society; has "six + families of rank which invite him to dinner;" all the dining he is equal + to, with so much undigested writing on his hands. Busching, in his final + Section, headed BERLIN LIFE, Section more incondite even than its + foregoers, has this passage:— + </p> + <p> + "On the Queen-Dowager of Sweden, Louise Ulrique's, coming to Berlin, I + felt not a little embarrassed. The case was this: Most part of the SIXTH + VOLUME of my MAGAZINE [meritorious curious Book, sometimes quoted by us + here, not yet known in English Libraries] was printed; and in it, in the + printed part, were various things that concerned the deceased Sovereign, + King Adolf Friedrich, and his Spouse [now come to visit us],—and + among these were Articles which the then ruling party in Sweden could + certainly not like. And now I was afraid these people would come upon the + false notion, that it was from the Queen-Dowager I had got the Articles in + question;—notion altogether false, as they had been furnished me by + Baron Korf [well known to Hordt and others of us, at Petersburg, in the + Czar-Peter time], now Russian Minister at Copenhagen. However, when Duke + Friedrich of Brunswick [one of the juniors, soldiering here with his + Uncle, as they almost all are] wrote to me, one day, That his Lady Aunt + the Queen of Sweden invited me to dine with her to-morrow, and that he, + the Duke, would introduce me,—I at once decided to lay my + embarrassment before the Queen herself. + </p> + <p> + "Next day, when I was presented to her Majesty, she took me by the hand, + and led me to a window [as was her custom with guests whom she judged to + be worth questioning and talking to], and so placed herself in a corner + there that I came to stand close before her; when she did me the honor to + ask a great many questions about Russia, the Imperial Court especially, + and most of all the Grand-Duke [Czar Paul that is to be,—a kind of + kinsman he, his poor Father was my late Husband's Cousin-german, as + perhaps you know]. A great deal of time was spent in this way; so that the + Princes and Princesses, punctual to invitation, had to wait above half an + hour long; and the Queen was more than once informed that dinner was on + the table and getting cold. I could get nothing of my own mentioned here; + all I could do was to draw back, in a polite way, so soon as the Queen + would permit: and afterwards, at table, to explain with brevity my concern + about what was printed in the MAGAZINE; and request the Queen to permit me + to send it her to read for herself. She had it, accordingly, that same + afternoon. + </p> + <p> + "A few days after, she invited me again; again spoke with me a long while + in the window embrasure, in a low tone of voice: confirmed to me all that + she had read,—and in particular, minutely explained that LETTER OF + THE KING [one of my Pieces] in which he relates what passed between him + and Count Tessin [Son's Tutor] in the Queen's Apartment. At table, she + very soon took occasion to say: 'I cannot imagine to myself how the Herr + Consistorialrath [Busching, to wit] has come upon that Letter of my + deceased Lord the King of Sweden's; which his Majesty did write, and which + is now printed in your MAGAZINE. For certain, the King showed it to + nobody.' Whereupon BUSCHING: 'Certainly; nor is that to be imagined, your + Majesty. But the person it was addressed to must have shown it; and so a + copy of it has come to my hands.' Queen still expresses her wonder; + whereupon again, Busching, with a courageous candor: 'Your Majesty, most + graciously permit me to say, that hitherto all Swedish secrets of Court or + State have been procurable for money and good words!' The Queen, to whom I + sat directly opposite, cast down her eyes at these words and smiled;—and + the Reichsrath Graf von Schwerin [a Swedish Gentleman of hers], who sat at + my left, seized me by the hand, and said: 'Alas, that is true!'"—Here + is a difficulty got over; Magazine Number can come out when it will. As it + did, "next Easter-Fair," with proper indications and tacit proofs that the + Swedish part of it lay printed several months before the Queen's arrival + in our neighborhood. + </p> + <p> + Busching dined with her Majesty several times,—"eating nothing," he + is careful to mention and was careful to show her Majesty, "except, very + gradually, a small bit of bread soaked in a glass of wine!"—meaning + thereby, "Note, ye great ones, it is not for your dainties; in fact, it is + out of loyal politeness mainly!" the gloomily humble man. + </p> + <p> + "One time, the Queen asked me, in presence of various Princes and + Princesses of the Royal House: 'Do you think it advisable to enlighten the + Lower Classes by education?' To which I answered: 'Considering only under + what heavy loads a man of the Lower Classes, especially of the Peasant + sort, has to struggle through his life, one would think it was better + neither to increase his knowledge nor refine his sensibility. But when one + reflects that he, as well as those of the Higher Classes, is to last + through Eternity; and withal that good instruction may [or might, IF it be + not BAD] increase his practical intelligence, and help him to methods of + alleviating himself in this world, it must be thought advisable to give + him useful enlightenment.' The Queen accorded with this view of the + matter. + </p> + <p> + "Twice I dined with her Majesty at her Sister, Princess Amelia, the Abbess + of Quedlinburg's:—and the second time [must have been Summer, 1772], + Professor Sulzer, who was also a guest, caught his death there. When I + entered the reception-room, Sulzer was standing in the middle of a + thorough-draught, which they had managed to have there, on account of the + great heat; and he had just arrived, all in a perspiration, from the + Thiergarten: I called him out of the draught, but it was too late." + [Busching: <i>Beitrage,</i> vi. 578-582.] ACH, MEIN LIEBER SULZER,—Alas, + dear Sulzer: seriously this time! + </p> + <p> + Busching has a great deal to say about Schools, about the "School + Commission 1765," the subjects taught, the methods of teaching devised by + Busching and others, and the King's continual exertions, under deficient + funds, in this province of his affairs. Busching had unheard-of difficulty + to rebuild the old Gymnasium at Berlin into a new. Tried everybody; tried + the King thrice over, but nobody would. "One of the persons I applied to + was Lieutenant-General von Ramin, Governor of Berlin [surliest of mankind, + of whose truculent incivility there go many anecdotes]; to Ramin I wrote, + entreating that he would take a good opportunity and suggest a new Town + Schoolhouse to his Majesty: 'Excellenz, it will render you immortal in the + annals of Berlin!' To which Ramin made answer: 'That is an immortality I + must renounce the hope of, and leave to the Town-Syndics and yourself. I, + for my own part, will by no means risk such a proposal to his Majesty; + which he would, in all likelihood, answer in the negative, and receive ill + at anybody's hands.'" [Ib. vi. 568.] By subscriptions, by bequests, + donations and the private piety of individuals, Busching aiding and + stirring, the thing was at last got done. Here is another glance into + School-life: not from Busching:— + </p> + <p> + JUNE 9th, 1771. "This Year the Stande of the Kurmark find they have an + overplus of 100,000 thalers (15,000 pounds); which sum they do themselves + the pleasure of presenting to the King for his Majesty's uses." King + cannot accept it for his own uses. "This money," answers he (9th June), + "comes from the Province, wherefore I feel bound to lay it out again for + advantage of the Province. Could not it become a means of getting English + husbandry [TURNIPS in particular, whether short-horns or not, I do not + know] introduced among us? In the Towns that follow Farming chiefly, or in + Villages belonging to unmoneyed Nobles, we will lend out this 15,000 + pounds, at 4 per cent, in convenient sums for that object: hereby will + turnip-culture and rotation be vouchsafed us; interest at 4 per cent + brings us in 600 pounds annually; and this we will lay out in establishing + new Schoolmasters in the Kurmark, and having the youth better educated." + What a pretty idea; neat and beautiful, killing two important birds with + one most small stone! I have known enormous cannon-balls and granite + blocks, torrent after torrent, shot out under other kinds of + Finance-gunnery, that were not only less respectable, but that were + abominable to me in comparison. + </p> + <p> + Unluckily, no Nobles were found inclined; English Husbandry ["TURNIPSE" + and the rest of it] had to wait their time. The King again writes: "No + Nobles to be found, say you? Well; put the 15,000 pounds to interest in + the common way,—that the Schoolmasters at least may have solacement: + I will add 120 thalers (18 pounds) apiece, that we may have a chance of + getting better Schoolmasters;—send me List of the Places where the + worst are." List was sent; is still extant; and on the margin of it, in + Royal Autograph, this remark:— + </p> + <p> + "The Places are well selected. The bad Schoolmasters are mostly Tailors; + and you must see whether they cannot be got removed to little Towns, and + set to tailoring again, or otherwise disposed of, that our Schools might + the sooner rise into good condition, which is an interesting thing." + "Eager always our Master is to have the Schooling of his People improved + and everywhere diffused," writes, some years afterwards, the excellent + Zedlitz, officially "Minister of Public Justice," but much and + meritoriously concerned with School matters as well. The King's ideas were + of the best, and Zedlitz sometimes had fine hopes; but the want of funds + was always great. + </p> + <p> + "In 1779," says Preuss, "there came a sad blow to Zedlitz's hopes: + Minister von Brenkenhof [deep in West-Preussen canal-diggings and + expenditures] having suggested, That instead of getting Pensions, the Old + Soldiers should be put to keeping School." Do but fancy it; poor old + fellows, little versed in scholastics hitherto! "Friedrich, in his pinch, + grasped at the small help; wrote to the War-Department: 'Send me a List of + Invalids who are fit [or at least fittest] to be Schoolmasters.' And got + thereupon a list of 74, and afterwards 5 more [79 Invalids in all]; + War-Department adding, That besides these scholastic sort, there were 741 + serving as BUDNER [Turnpike-keepers, in a sort], as Forest-watchers and + the like; and 3,443 UNVERSORGT" (shifting for themselves, no provision + made for them at all),—such the check, by cold arithmetic and + inexorable finance, upon the genial current of the soul!— + </p> + <p> + The TURNIPS, I believe, got gradually in; and Brandenburg, in our day, is + a more and more beautifully farmed Country. Nor were the Schoolmasters + unsuccessful at all points; though I cannot report a complete educational + triumph on those extremely limited terms. [Preuss, iii. 115, 113, &c.] + </p> + <p> + Queen Ulrique left, I think, on the 9th of August, 1772; there is sad + farewell in Friedrich's Letter next day to Princess Sophie Albertine, the + Queen's Daughter, subsequently Abbess of Quedlinburg: he is just setting + out on his Silesian Reviews; "shall, too likely, never see your good Mamma + again." ["Potsdam, 10th August, 1772:" <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvii. + ii. 93.] Poor King; Berlin City is sound asleep, while he rushes through + it on this errand,—"past the Princess Amelia's window," in the dead + of night; and takes to humming tender strophes to her too; which gain a + new meaning by their date. ["A MA SOEUR AMELIE, EN PASSANT, LA NUIT, SOUS + SA FENETRE, POUR ALLER EN SILESIE (AOUT 1772):" <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xiii. 77.] + </p> + <p> + Ten days afterwards (19th August, 1772),—Queen Ulrique not yet home,—her + Son, the spirited King Gustav III., at Stockholm had made what in our day + is called a "stroke of state,"—put a thorn in the snout of his + monster of a Senate, namely: "Less of palaver, venality and insolence, + from you, Sirs; we 'restore the Constitution of 1680,' and are something + of a King again!" Done with considerable dexterity and spirit; not one + person killed or hurt. And surely it was the muzzling-up of a great deal + of folly on their side,—provided only there came wisdom enough from + Gustav himself instead. But, alas, there did not, there hardly could. His + Uncle was alarmed, and not a little angry for the moment: "You had two + Parties to reconcile; a work of time, of patient endeavor, continual and + quiet; no good possible till then. And instead of that—!" Gustav, a + shining kind of man, showed no want of spirit, now or afterwards: but he + leant too much on France and broken reeds;—and, in the end, got shot + in the back by one of those beautiful "Nobles" of his, and came to a bad + conclusion, they and he. ["16th-29th March, 1792," death of Gustav III. by + that assassination: "13th March, 1809," his Son Gustav IV, has to go on + his travels; "Karl XIII.," a childless Uncle, succeeds for a few years: + after whom &c.] Scandinavian Politics, thank Heaven, are none of our + business. + </p> + <p> + Queen Ulrique was spared all these catastrophes. She had alarmed her + Brother by a dangerous illness, sudden and dangerous, in 1775; who writes + with great anxiety about it, to Another still more anxious: [See + "Correspondence with Gustav III." (in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvii. + ii. 84, &c.).] of this she got well again; but it did not last very + long. July 16th, 1782, she died;—and the sad Friedrich had to say, + Adieu. Alas, "must the eldest of us mourn, then, by the grave of those + younger!" + </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> + WILHELMINA'S DAUGHTER, ELIZABETH FREDERIKE SOPHIE, DUCHESS OF WURTEMBERG, + APPEARS AT FERNEY (September, 1773). + </h2> + <p> + Of our dear Wilhelmina's high and unfortunate Daughter there should be + some Biography; and there will surely, if a man of sympathy and faculty + pass that way; but there is not hitherto. Nothing hitherto but a few bare + dates; bare and sternly significant, as on a Tombstone; indicating that + she had a History, and that it was a tragic one. Welcome to all of us, in + this state of matters, is the following one clear emergence of her into + the light of day, and in company so interesting too! Seven years before + her death she had gone to Lausanne (July, 1773) to consult Tissot, a + renowned Physician of those days. From Lausanne, after two months, she + visited Voltaire at Ferney. Read this Letter of Voltaire's:— + </p> + <p> + TO ELIZABETH FREDERIKE SOPHIE, DUCHESS OF WURTEMBERG (at Lausanne). + </p> + <p> + "FEENEY, 10th July, 1773. + </p> + <p> + "MADAM,—I am informed that your most Serene Highness has deigned to + remember that I was in the world. It is very sad to be there, without + paying you my court. I never felt so cruelly the sad state to which old + age and maladies have reduced me. + </p> + <p> + "I never saw you except as a child [1743, her age then 10]: but you were + certainly the beautifulest child in Europe. May you be the happiest + Princess [alas!], as you deserve to be! I was attached to Madam the + Margravine [your dear Mother] with equal devotedness and respect; and I + had the honor to be pretty deep in her confidence, for some time before + this world, which was not worthy of her, had lost that adorable Princess. + You resemble her;—but don't resemble her in—feebleness of + health! You are in the flower of your age [coming forty, I should fear]: + let such bright flower lose nothing of its splendor; may your happiness be + able to equal [PUISSO EGALER] your beauty; may all your days be serene, + and the sweets of friendship add a new charm to them! These are my wishes; + they are as lively as my regrets at not being at your feet. What a + consolation it would be for me to speak of your loving Mother, and of all + your august relatives! Why must Destiny send you to Lausanne [consulting + Dr. Tissot there], and hinder me from flying thither!—Let your most + Serene Highness deign to accept the profound respect of the old moribund + Philosopher of Ferney.—V." [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> xcii. 331.] + </p> + <p> + The Answer of the Princess, or farther Correspondence on the matter, is + not given; evident only that by and by, as Voltaire himself will inform + us, she did appear at Ferney;—and a certain Swedish tourist, one + Bjornstahl, who met her there, enables us even to give the date. He + reports this anecdote:— + </p> + <p> + "At supper, on the evening of 7th September, 1773, the Princess sat next + to Voltaire, who always addressed her 'VOTRE ALTESSE.' At last the Duchess + said to him, 'TU ES ANON PAPA, JE SUIS TA FILLE, ET JE VOUZ ETRE APPELEE + TA FILLE.' Voltaire took a pencil from his pocket, asked for a card, and + wrote upon it:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Ah, le beau titre que voila! + Vous me donnez la premiere des places; + Quelle famille j'aurais la! + Je serais le pere des Graces' + [<i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> xviii. 342.] +</pre> + <p> + He gave the card to the Princess, who embraced and kissed him for it." + [Vehse, <i>Geschichte der Deutschen Hofe</i> (Hamburg, 1853), xxv. 252, + 253.] + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE TO FRIEDRICH (a fortnight after). + </p> + <p> + "FERNEY, 22d September, 1773. + </p> + <p> + "I must tell you that I have felt, in these late days, in spite of all my + past caprices, how much I am attached to your Majesty and to your House. + Madam the Duchess of Wurtemberg having had, like so many others, the + weakness to believe that health is to be found at Lausanne, and that Dr. + Tissot gives it if one pay him, has, as you know, made the journey to + Lausanne; and I, who am more veritably ill than she, and than all the + Princesses who have taken Tissot for an AEsculapius, had not the strength + to leave my home. Madam of Wurtemberg, apprised of all the feelings that + still live in me for the memory of Madam the Margravine of Baireuth her + Mother, has deigned to visit my hermitage, and pass two days with us. I + should have recognized her, even without warning; she has the turn of her + Mother's face with your eyes. + </p> + <p> + "You Hero-people who govern the world don't allow yourselves to be subdued + by feelings; you have them all the same as we, but you maintain your + decorum. We other petty mortals yield to all our impressions: I set myself + to cry, in speaking to her of you and of Madam the Princess her Mother; + and she too, though she is Niece of the first Captain in Europe, could not + restrain her tears. It appears to me, that she has the talent (ESPRIT) and + the graces of your House; and that especially she is more attached to you + than to her Husband [I should think so!]. She returns, I believe, to + Baireuth,—[No Mother, no Father there now: foolish Uncle of Anspath + died long ago, "3d August, 1757:" Aunt Dowager of Anspach gone to + Erlangen, I hope, to Feuchtwang, Schwabach or Schwaningen, or some + Widow's-Mansion "WITTWENSITZ" of her own; [Lived, finally at Schwaningen, + in sight of such vicissitudes and follies round her, till "4th February, + 1784" (Rodenbeck, iii. 304).] reigning Son, with his French-Actress + equipments, being of questionable figure],— + </p> + <p> + —"returns, I believe, to Baireuth; where she will find another + Princess of a different sort; I mean Mademoiselle Clairon, who cultivates + Natural History, and is Lady Philosopher to Monseigneur the Margraf,"—high-rouged + Tragedy-Queen, rather tyrannous upon him, they say: a young man destined + to adorn Hammersmith by and by, and not go a good road. + </p> + <p> + ... "I renounce my beautiful hopes of seeing the Mahometans driven out of + Europe, and Athens become again the Seat of the Muses. Neither you nor the + Kaiser are"—are inclined in the Crusading way at all.... "The old + sick man of Ferney is always at the feet of your Majesty; he feels very + sorry that he cannot talk of you farther with Madam the Duchess of + Wurtemberg, who adores you.—LE VIEUX MALADE." [<i>OEuvres de + Voltaire,</i> xcii. 390.] + </p> + <p> + To which Friedrich makes answer: "If it is forevermore forbidden me to see + you again, I am not the less glad that the Duchess of Wurtemberg has seen + you. I should certainly have mixed my tears with yours, had I been present + at that touching scene! Be it weakness, be it excess of regard, I have + built for her lost Mother, what Cicero projected for his Tullia, a TEMPLE + OF FRIENDSHIP: her Statue occupies the background, and on each pillar + stands a mask (MASCARON) containing the Bust of some Hero in Friendship: I + send you the drawing of it." ["Potsdam, 24th October, 1773:" <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxiii. 259:—"Temple" was built in 1768 (Ib. p. 259 + n.).] Which again sets Voltaire weeping, and will the Duchess when she + sees it. [Voltaire's next Letter: <i>OEuvres de Voltaire,</i> xcii. 434.] + </p> + <p> + We said there hitherto was nearly nothing anywhere discoverable as History + of this high Lady but the dates only; these we now give. She was "born + 30th August, 1732,"—her Mother's and Father's one Child;—four + years older than her Anspach Cousin, who inherited Baireuth too, and + finished off that genealogy. She was "wedded 26th September, 1748;" her + age then about 16; her gloomy Duke of Wurtemberg, age 20, all sunshine and + goodness to her then: she was "divorced in 1757:" "died 6th April, 1780,"—Tradition + says, "in great poverty [great for her rank, I suppose, proud as she might + be, and above complaining],—at Neustadt-on-the-Aisch" (in the + Nurnberg region), whither she had retired, I know not how long after her + Papa's death and Cousin's accession. She is bound for her Cousin's Court, + we observe, just now; and, considering her Cousin's ways and her own turn + of mind, it is easy to fancy she had not a pleasant time there. + </p> + <p> + Tradition tells us, credibly enough, "She was very like her Mother: + beautiful, much the lady (VON FEINEM TON), and of energetic character;" + and adds, probably on slight foundation, "but very cold and proud towards + the people." [Vehse, xxv. 251.] Many Books will inform you how, "On first + entering Stuttgard, when the reigning Duke and she were met by a party of + congratulatory peasant women dressed in their national costume, she said + to her Duke," being then only sixteen, poor young soul, and on her + marriage-journey, "'WAS WILL DAS GESCHMEISS (Why does that rabble bore + us)!'" This is probably the main foundation. That "her Ladies, on + approaching her, had always to kiss the hem of her gown," lay in the + nature of the case, being then the rule to people of her rank. Beautiful + Unfortunate, adieu:—and be Voltaire thanked, too!— + </p> + <p> + It is long since we have seen Voltaire before:—a prosperous Lord at + Ferney these dozen years ("the only man in France that lives like a GRAND + SEIGNEUR," says Cardinal Bernis to him once [Their CORRESPONDENCE, really + pretty of its kind, used to circulate as a separate Volume in the years + then subsequent.]); doing great things for the Pays de Gex and for France, + and for Europe; delivering the Calases, the Sirvens and the Oppressed of + various kinds; especially ardent upon the INFAME, as the real business + Heaven has assigned him in his Day, the sunset of which, and Night wherein + no man can work, he feels to be hastening on. "Couldn't we, the few + Faithful, go to Cleve in a body?" thinks he at one time: "To Cleve; and + there, as from a safe place, under the Philosopher King, shoot out our + fiery artilleries with effect?" The Philosopher King is perfectly willing, + "provided you don't involve me in Wars with my neighbors." Willing enough + he; but they the Faithful—alas, the Patriarch finds that they have + none of his own heroic ardor, and that the thing cannot be done. Upon + which, "struck with sorrow," say his Biographers, "he writes nothing to + Friedrich for two years." ["Nov. 1769," recommences (<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxiii. 140. 139).] + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> +The truth is, he is growing very old; and though a piercing radiance, as +of stars, bursts occasionally from the central part of him, the outworks +are getting decayed and dim; obstruction more and more accumulating, and +the immeasurable Night drawing nigh. Well does Voltaire himself, at all +moments, know this; and his bearing under it, one must say, is rather +beautiful. There is a tenderness, a sadness, in these his later Letters +to Friedrich; instead of emphasis or strength, a beautiful shrill +melody, as of a woman, as of a child; he grieves unappeasably to have +lost Friedrich; never will forgive Maupertuis:—poor old man! Friedrich +answers in a much livelier, more robust tone: friendly, encouraging, +communicative on small matters;—full of praises,—in fact, sincerely +glad to have such a transcendent genius still alive with him in +this world. Praises to the most liberal pitch everything of +Voltaire's,—except only the Article on WAR, which occasionally (as +below) he quizzes a little, to the Patriarch or his Disciple. + + As we have room for nothing of all this, and perhaps shall not see +Voltaire again,—there are Two actual Interviews with him, which, being +withal by Englishmen, though otherwise not good for much, we intend for +readers here. In these last twenty years D'Alembert is Friedrich's chief +Correspondent. Of D'Alembert to the King, it may be or may not, some +opportunity will rise for a specimen; meanwhile here is a short Letter +of the King's to D'Alembert, through which there pass so many threads of +contemporaneous flying events (swift shuttles on the loud-sounding Loom +of Time), that we are tempted to give this, before the two Interviews in +question. +</pre> + <p> + Date of the Letter is two months after that apparition of the Duchess of + Wurtemberg at Ferney. Of "Crillon," an ingenious enough young Soldier, + rushing ardently about the world in his holiday time, we have nothing to + say, except that he is Son of that Rossbach Crillon, who always fancies to + himself that once he perhaps spared Friedrich's life (by a glass of wine + judiciously given) long since, while the Bridge of Weissenfels was on + fire, and Rossbach close ahead. [Supra, x. 6.] Colonel "Guibert" is + another Soldier, still young, but of much superior type; greatly an + admirer of Friedrich, and subsequently a Writer upon him. [Of Guibert's + visit to Friedrich (June, 1773), see Preuss, iv. 214; Rodenbeck, iii. 80.] + </p> + <p> + In regard to the "Landgravine of Darmstadt," notice these points. First, + that her eldest Daughter is Wife, second Wife, to the dissolute + Crown-Prince of Prussia; and then, that she has Three other Daughters,—one + of whom has just been disposed of in an important way; wedded to the + Czarowitsh Paul of Russia, namely. By Friedrich's means and management, as + Friedrich informs us. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> (MEMOIRES DE 1763 + JUSQU'A 1775), vi. 57.] The Czarina, he says, had sent out a confidential + Gentleman, one Asseburg, who was Prussian by birth, to seek a fit Wife for + her Son: Friedrich, hearing of this, suggested to Asseburg, "The + Landgravine of Darmstadt, the most distinguished and accomplished of + German Princesses, has three marriageable Daughters; her eldest, married + to our Crown-Prince, will be Queen of Prussia in time coming;—suppose + now, one of the others were to be Czarina of Russia withal? Think, might + it not be useful both to your native Country and to your adopted?" + Asseburg took the hint; reported at Petersburg, That of all marriageable + Princesses in Germany, the Three of Darmstadt, one or the other of them, + would, in his humble opinion, be the eligiblest. "Could not we persuade + you to come to Petersburg, Madam Landgravine?" wrote the Czarina + thereupon: "Do us the honor of a visit, your three Princesses and you!" + The Landgravine and Daughters, with decent celerity, got under way; + [Passed through Berlin 16th-19th May, 1773: Rodenbeck, iii. 78.] + Czarowitsh Paul took interesting survey, on their arrival; and about two + months ago wedded the middle one of the three:—and here is the + victorious Landgravine bringing home the other two. Czarowitsh's fair one + did not live long, nor behave well: died of her first child; and + Czarowitsh, in 1776, had to apply to us again for a Wife, whom this time + we fitted better. Happily, the poor victorious Landgravine was gone before + anything of this; she died suddenly five months hence; [30th March, 1774.] + nothing doubting of her Russian Adventure. She was an admired Princess of + her time, DIE GROSSE LANDGRAFIN, as Goethe somewhere calls her; much in + Friedrich's esteem,—FEMINA SEXU, INGENIO VIR, as the Monument he + raised to her at Darmstadt still bears. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xx. + 183 n. His CORRESPONDENCE with her is Ib. xxvii ii. 135-153; and goes from + 1757 to 1774.] + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO D'ALEMBERT. + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 16th December, 1773. + </p> + <p> + "M. de Crillon delivered me your CRILLONADE [lengthy Letter of + introduction]; which has completed me in the History of all the Crillons + of the County of Avignon. He does n't stop here; he is soon to be off for + Russia; so that I will take him on your word, and believe him the wisest + of all the Crillons: assuring myself that you have measured and computed + all his curves, and angles of incidence. He will find Diderot and Grimm in + Russia [famous visit of Diderot], all occupied with the Czarina's + beautiful reception of them, and with the many things worthy of admiration + which they have seen there. Some say Grimm will possibly fix himself in + that Country [chose better],—which will be the asylum at once of + your fanatic CHAUMEIXES and of the ENCYCLOPEDISTES, whom he used to + denounce. [This poor Chaumeix did, after such feats, "die peaceably at + Moscow, as a Schoolmaster."] + </p> + <p> + "M. de Guibert has gone by Ferney; where it is said Voltaire has converted + him, that is, has made him renounce the errors of ambition, abjure the + frightful trade of hired manslayer, with intent to become either Capuchin + or Philosophe; so that I suppose by this time he will have published a + 'Declaration' like Gresset, informing the public That, having had the + misfortune to write a Work on Tactics, he repented it from the bottom of + his soul, and hereby assured mankind that never more in his life would he + give rules for butcheries, assassinations, feints, stratagems or the like + abominations. As to me, my conversion not being yet in an advanced stage, + I pray you to give me details about Guibert's, to soften my heart and + penetrate my bowels. + </p> + <p> + "We have the Landgravine of Darmstadt here: [Rodenbeck, iii. 89, 90.] no + end to the Landgravine's praises of a magnificent Czarina, and of all the + beautiful and grand things she has founded in that Country. As to us, who + live like mice in their holes, news come to us only from mouth to mouth, + and the sense of hearing is nothing like that of sight. I cherish my + wishes, in the mean while, for the sage Anaxagoras [my D'Alembert + himself]; and I say to Urania, 'It is for thee to sustain thy foremost + Apostle, to maintain one light, without which a great Kingdom [France] + would sink into darkness;' and I say to the Supreme Demiurgus: 'Have + always the good D'Alembert in thy holy and worthy keeping.'—F." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xxiv. 614.] + </p> + <p> + THE BOSTON TEA (same day). Curious to remark, while Friedrich is writing + this Letter, "THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16th, 1773," what a commotion is going + on, far over seas, at Boston, New England,—in the "Old South + Meeting-house" there; in regard to three English Tea Ships that are lying + embargoed in Griffin's Wharf for above a fortnight past. The case is well + known, and still memorable to mankind. British Parliament, after nine + years of the saddest haggling and baffling to and fro, under + Constitutional stress of weather, and such east-winds and west-winds of + Parliamentary eloquence as seldom were, has made up its mind, That America + shall pay duty on these Teas before infusing them: and America, Boston + more especially, is tacitly determined that it will not; and that, to + avoid mistakes, these Teas shall never be landed at all. Such is Boston's + private intention, more or less fixed;—to say nothing of the + Philadelphias, Charlestons, New Yorks, who are watching Boston, and will + follow suit of it. + </p> + <p> + "Sunday, November 26th,—that is, nineteen days ago,—the first + of these Tea Ships, the DARTMOUTH, Captain Hall, moored itself in + Griffin's Wharf: Owner and Consignee is a broad-brimmed Boston gentleman + called Rotch, more attentive to profits of trade than to the groans of + Boston:—but already on that Sunday, much more on the Monday + following, there had a meeting of Citizens run together,—(on Monday, + Faneuil Hall won't hold them, and they adjourn to the Old South + Meeting-house),—who make it apparent to Rotch that it will much + behoove him, for the sake both of tea and skin, not to 'enter' (or + officially announce) this Ship DARTMOUTH at the Custom-house in any wise; + but to pledge his broad-brimmed word, equivalent to his oath, that she + shall lie dormant there in Griffin's Wharf, till we see. Which, + accordingly, she has been doing ever since; she and two others that + arrived some days later; dormant all three of them, side by side, three + crews totally idle; a 'Committee of Ten' supervising Rotch's procedures; + and the Boston world much expectant. Thursday, December 16th: this is the + 20th day since Rotch's DARTMOUTH arrived here; if not 'entered' at + Custom-house in the course of this day, Custom-house cannot give her a + 'clearance' either (a leave to depart),—she becomes a smuggler, an + outlaw, and her fate is mysterious to Rotch and us. + </p> + <p> + "This Thursday accordingly, by 10 in the morning, in the Old South + Meeting-house, Boston is assembled, and country-people to the number of + 2,000;—and Rotch never was in such a company of human Friends + before. They are not uncivil to him (cautious people, heedful of the verge + of the Law); but they are peremptory, to the extent of—Rotch may + shudder to think what. "I went to the Custom-house yesterday,' said Rotch, + 'your Committee of Ten can bear me witness; and demanded clearance and + leave to depart; but they would not; were forbidden, they said!' 'Go, + then, sir; get you to the Governor himself; a clearance, and out of harbor + this day: had n't you better?' Rotch is well aware that he had; hastens + off to the Governor (who has vanished to his Country-house, on purpose); + Old South Meeting-house adjourning till 3 P.M., for Rotch's return with + clearance. + </p> + <p> + "At 3 no Rotch, nor at 4, nor at 5; miscellaneous plangent intermittent + speech instead, mostly plangent, in tone sorrowful rather than indignant:—at + a quarter to 6, here at length is Rotch; sun is long since set,—has + Rotch a clearance or not? Rotch reports at large, willing to be questioned + and cross-questioned: 'Governor absolutely would not! My Christian + friends, what could I or can I do?' There are by this time about 7,000 + people in Old South Meeting-house, very few tallow-lights in comparison,—almost + no lights for the mind either,—and it is difficult to answer. + Rotch's report done, the Chairman [one Adams, "American Cato," + subsequently so called] dissolves the sorrowful 7,000, with these words: + 'This Meeting declares that it can do nothing more to save the Country.' + Will merely go home, then, and weep. Hark, however: almost on the instant, + in front of Old South Meeting-house, (a terrific War-whoop; and about + fifty Mohawk Indians,)—with whom Adams seems to be acquainted; and + speaks without Interpreter: Aha?— + </p> + <p> + "And, sure enough, before the stroke of 7, these fifty painted Mohawks are + forward, without noise, to Griffin's Wharf; have put sentries all round + there; and, in a great silence of the neighborhood, are busy, in three + gangs, upon the dormant Tea Ships; opening their chests, and punctually + shaking them out into the sea. 'Listening from the distance, you could + hear distinctly the ripping open of the chests, and no other sound.' About + 10 P.M. all was finished: 342 chests of tea flung out to infuse in the + Atlantic; the fifty Mohawks gone like a dream; and Boston sleeping more + silently even than usual." ["Summary of the Advices from America" (in <i>Gentleman's + Magazine</i> for 1774, pp. 26, 27); Bancroft, iii. 536 et seq.] + </p> + <p> + "Seven in the evening:" this, I calculate, allowing for the Earth's + rotation, will be about the time when Friedrich, well tired with the day's + business, is getting to bed; by 10 on the Boston clocks, when the process + finishes there, Friedrich will have had the best of his sleep over. Here + is Montcalm's Prophecy coming to fulfilment;—and a curious + intersection of a flying Event through one's poor LETTER TO D'ALEMBERT. We + will now give the two English Interviews with Voltaire; one of which is of + three years past, another of three years ahead. + </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> + No. 1. DR BURNEY HAS SIGHT OF VOLTAIRE (July, 1770). + </h2> + <p> + In the years 1770-1771, Burney, then a famous DOCTOR OF MUSIC, made his + TOUR through France and Italy, on Musical errands and researches: [Charles + Burney's <i>Present State of Music in France and Italy, being the Journal + of a Tour through those Countries to collect Materials for a General + History of Music</i> (London, 1773). The <i>History of Music</i> followed + duly, in Four 4tos (London, 1776-1789).] with these we have no concern, + but only with one most small exceptional offshoot or episode which grew + out of these. Enough for us to know that Burney, a comfortable, + well-disposed, rather dull though vivacious Doctor, age near 45, had left + London for Paris "in June, 1770;" that he was on to Geneva, intending for + Turin, "early in July;" and that his "M. Fritz," mentioned below, is a + veteran Brother in Music, settled at Geneva for the last thirty years, who + has been helpful and agreeable to Burney while here. Our Excerpt therefore + dates itself, "one of the early days of July, 1770,"—Burney hovering + between two plans (as we shall dimly perceive), and not exactly executing + either:— + </p> + <p> + .... "My going to M. Fritz broke [was about breaking, but did not quite] + into a plan which I had formed of visiting M. de Voltaire, at the same + hour, along with some other strangers, who were then going to Ferney. But, + to say the truth, besides the visit to M. Fritz being more MY BUSINESS, I + did not much like going with these people, who had only a Geneva + Bookseller to introduce them; and I had heard that some English had lately + met with a rebuff from M. de Voltaire, by going without any letter of + recommendation, or anything to recommend themselves. He asked them What + they wanted? Upon their replying That they wished only to see so + extraordinary a man, he said: 'Well, gentlemen, you now see me: did you + take me for a wild beast or monster, that was fit only to be stared at as + a show?' This story very much frightened me; for, not having, when I left + London, or even Paris, any intention of going to Geneva, I was quite + unprovided with a recommendation. However, I was determined to see the + place of his residence, which I took to be [still LES DELICES], + </p> + <p> + CETTE MAISON D'ARISTIPPE, CES JARDINS D'PICURE, + </p> + <p> + to which he retired in 1755; but was mistaken [not The DELICES now at all, + but Ferney, for nine or ten years back]. + </p> + <p> + "I drove to Ferney alone, after I had left M. Fritz. This House is three + or four miles from Geneva, but near the Lake. I approached it with + reverence, and a curiosity of the most minute kind. I inquired WHEN I + first trod on his domain; I had an intelligent and talkative postilion, + who answered all my questions very satisfactorily. M. de Voltaire's estate + is very large here, and he is building pretty farm-houses upon it. He has + erected on the Geneva side a quadrangular JUSTICE, or Gallows, to show + that he is the SEIGNEUR. One of his farms, or rather manufacturing houses,—for + he is establishing a manufacture upon his estate,—was so handsome + that I thought it was his chateau. + </p> + <p> + "We drove to Ferney, through a charming country, covered with corn and + vines, in view of the Lake, and Mountains of Gex, Switzerland and Savoy. + On the left hand, approaching the House, is a neat Chapel with this + inscription:— + </p> + <p> + 'DEO EREXIT VOLTAIRE MDCCLXI.' + </p> + <p> + I sent to inquire, Whether a stranger might be allowed to see the House + and Gardens; and was answered in the affirmative. A servant soon came, and + conducted me into the cabinet or closet where his Master had just been + writing: this is never shown when he is at home; but having walked out, I + was allowed that privilege. From thence I passed to the Library, which is + not a very large one, but well filled. Here I found a whole-length Figure + in marble of himself, recumbent, in one of the windows; and many + curiosities in another room; a Bust of himself, made not two years since; + his Mother's picture; that of his Niece, Madam Denis; his Brother, M. + Dupuis; the Calas Family; and others. It is a very neat and elegant House; + not large, nor affectedly decorated. + </p> + <p> + "I should first have remarked, that close to the Chapel, between that and + the house, is the Theatre, which he built some years ago; where he treated + his friends with some of his own Tragedies: it is now only used as a + receptacle for wood and lumber, there having been no play acted in it + these four years. The servant told me his Master was 78 [76 gone], but + very well. 'IL TRAVAILLE,' said he, 'PENDANT DIX HEURES CHAQUE JOUR, He + studies ten hours every day; writes constantly without spectacles, and + walks out with only a domestic, often a mile or two—ET LE VOILA, LA + BAS, And see, yonder he is!' + </p> + <p> + "He was going to his workmen. My heart leaped at the sight of so + extraordinary a man. He had just then quitted his Garden, and was crossing + the court before his House. Seeing my chaise, and me on the point of + mounting it, he made a sign to his servant who had been my CICERONE, to go + to him; in order, I suppose, to inquire who I was. After they had + exchanged a few words together, he," M. de Voltaire, "approached the place + where I was standing motionless, in order to contemplate his person as + much as I could while his eyes were turned from me; but on seeiug him move + towards me, I found myself drawn by some irresistible power towards him; + and, without knowing what I did, I insensibly met him half-way. + </p> + <p> + "It is not easy to conceive it possible for life to subsist in a form so + nearly composed of mere skin and bone as that of M. de Voltaire." + Extremely lean old Gentleman! "He complained of decrepitude, and said, He + supposed I was anxious to form an idea of the figure of one walking after + death. However, his eyes and whole countenance are still full of fire; and + though so emaciated, a more lively expression cannot be imagined. + </p> + <p> + "He inquired after English news; and observed that Poetical squabbles had + given way to Political ones; but seemed to think the spirit of opposition + as necessary in poetry as in politics. <i>'Les querelles d'auteurs sont + pour le bien de la litterature, comme dans un gouvernement libre les + querelles des grands, et les clameurs des petits, sont necessaires a la + liberte.</i>' And added, 'When critics are silent, it does not so much + prove the Age to be correct, as dull.' He inquired what Poets we had now; + I told him we had Mason and Gray. 'They write but little,' said he: 'and + you seem to have no one who lords it over the rest, like Dryden, Pope and + Swift.' I told him that it was one of the inconveniences of Periodical + Journals, however well executed, that they often silenced modest men of + genius, while impudent blockheads were impenetrable, and unable to feel + the critic's scourge: that Mr. Gray and Mr. Mason had both been + illiberally treated by mechanical critics, even in newspapers; and added, + that modesty and love of quiet seemed in these gentlemen to have got the + better even of their love of fame. + </p> + <p> + "During this conversation, we approached the buildings that he was + constructing near the road to his Chateau. 'These,' said he, pointing to + them, 'are the most innocent, and perhaps the most useful, of all my + works.' I observed that he had other works, which were of far more + extensive use, and would be much more durable, than those. He was so + obliging as to show me several farm-houses that he had built, and the + plans of others: after which I took my leave." [Burney's <i>Present State + of Music</i> (London, 1773), pp. 55-62. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + NO. 2. A REVEREND MR. SHERLOCK SEES VOLTAIRE, AND EVEN DINES WITH HIM + (April, 1776). + </h2> + <p> + Sherlock's Book of TRAVELS, though he wrote it in two languages, and it + once had its vogue, is now little other than a Dance of Will-o'-wisps to + us. A Book tawdry, incoherent, indistinct, at once flashy and opaque, full + of idle excrescences and exuberances;—as is the poor man himself. He + was "Chaplain to the Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry;" gyrating about as + ecclesiastical Moon to that famed Solar Luminary, what could you expect! + [Title of his Book is, <i>Letters from an English Traveller; translated + from the French Original</i> (London, 1780). Ditto, <i>Letters from an + English Trader; written originally in French;</i> by the Rev. Martin + Sherlock, A.M., Chaplain to the Earl of Bristol, &c. (a new Edition, 2 + vols., London, 1802).] Poor Sherlock is nowhere intentionally fabulous; + nor intrinsically altogether so foolish as he seems: let that suffice us. + In his Dance of Will-o'-wisps, which in this point happily is dated,—26th-27th + April, 1776,—he had come to Ferney, with proper introduction to + Voltaire; and here (after severe excision of the flabby parts, but without + other change) is credible account of what he saw and heard. In Three + Scenes; with this Prologue,—as to Costume, which is worth reading + twice:— + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE'S DRESS. "On the two days I saw him, he wore white cloth shoes, + white woollen stockings, red breeches, with a nightgown and waistcoat of + blue linen, flowered, and lined with yellow. He had on a grizzle wig with + three ties, and over it a silk nightcap embroidered with gold and silver." + </p> + <p> + SCENE I. THE ENTRANCE-HALL OF FERNEY (Friday, 26th April, 1776): EXUBERANT + SHERLOCK ENTERING, LETTER OF INTRODUCTION HAVING PRECEDED. + </p> + <p> + "He met in the hall; his Nephew M. d'Hornoi" (Grand-nephew; Abbe Mignot, + famous for BURYING Voltaire, and Madame Denis, whom we know, were + D'Hornoi's Uncle and Aunt)—Grand-nephew, "Counsellor in the + Parlement of Paris, held him by the arm. He said to me, with a very weak + voice: 'You see a very old man, who makes a great effort to have the honor + of seeing you. Will you take a walk in my Garden? It will please you, for + it is in the English taste:—it was I who introduced that taste into + France, and it is become universal. But the French parody your Gardens: + they put your thirty acres into three.' + </p> + <p> + "From his Gardens you see the Alps, the Lake, the City of Geneva and its + environs, which are very pleasant. He said:— + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'It is a beautiful prospect.' He pronounced these words + tolerably well. + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'How long is it since you were in England?' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'Fifty years, at least.' [Not quite; in 1728 left; in 1726 had + come.] [Supra, vii. 47.] + </p> + <p> + D'HORNOI. "'It was at the time when you printed the First Edition of your + HENRIADE.' + </p> + <p> + "We then talked of Literature; and from that moment he forgot his age and + infirmities, and spoke with the warmth of a man of thirty. He said some + shocking things against Moses and against Shakspeare. [Like enough!]... We + then talked of Spain. + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'It is a Country of which we know no more than of the most + savage parts of Africa; and it is not worth the trouble of being known. If + a man would travel there, he must carry his bed, &c. On arriving in a + Town, he must go into one street to buy a bottle of wine; a piece of a + mule [by way of beef] in another; he finds a table in a third,—and + he sups. A French Nobleman was passing through Pampeluna: he sent out for + a spit; there was only one in the Town, and that was lent away for a + wedding.' + </p> + <p> + D'HORNOI. "'There, Monsieur, is a Village which M. de Voltaire has built!' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'Yes, we have our freedoms here. Cut off a little corner, and + we are out of France. I asked some privileges for my Children here, and + the King has granted me all that I asked, and has declared this Pays de + Gex exempt from all Taxes of the Farmers-General; so that salt, which + formerly sold for ten sous a pound, now sells for four. I have nothing + more to ask, except to live.'—We went into the Library" (had made + the round of the Gardens, I suppose). + </p> + <p> + SCENE II. IN THE LIBRARY. + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'There you find several of your countrymen [he had Shakspeare, + Milton, Congreve, Rochester, Shaftesbury, Bolingbroke, Robertson, Hume and + others]. Robertson is your Livy; his CHARLES FIFTH is written with truth. + Hume wrote his History to be applauded, Rapin to instruct; and both + obtained their ends.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'Lord Bolingbroke and you agreed that we have not one good + Tragedy.' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'We did think so. CATO is incomparably well written: Addison + had a great deal of taste;—but the abyss between taste and genius is + immense! Shakspeare had an amazing genius, but no taste: he has spoiled + the taste of the Nation. He has been their taste for two hundred years; + and what is the taste of a Nation for two hundred years will be so for two + thousand. This kind of taste becomes a religion; there are, in your + Country, a great many Fanatics for Shakspeare.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'Were you personally acquainted with Lord Bolingbroke?' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'Yes. His face was imposing, and so was his voice; in his WORKS + there are many leaves and little fruit; distorted expressions, and periods + intolerably long. [TAKING DOWN A BOOK.] There, you see the KORAN, which is + well read, at least. [It was marked throughout with bits of paper.] There + are HISTORIC DOUBTS, by Horace Walpole [which had also several marks]; + here is the portrait of Richard III.; you see he was a handsome youth.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK (making an abrupt transition). "'You have built a Church?' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'True; and it is the only one in the Universe in honor of God + [DEO EREXIT VOLTAIRE, as we read above]: you have plenty of Churches built + to St. Paul, to St. Genevieve, but not one to God.'" EXIT Sherlock (to his + Inn; makes jotting as above;—is to dine at Ferney to-morrow). + </p> + <p> + SCENE III. DINNER-TABLE OF VOLTAIRE. + </p> + <p> + "The next day, as we sat down to Dinner," our Host in the above shining + costume, "he said, in English tolerably pronounced:— + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'We are here for liberty and property! [parody of some old + Speech in Parliament, let us guess,—liberty and property, my Lords!] + This Gentleman—whom let me present to Monsieur Sherlock—is a + Jesuit [old Pere Adam, whom I keep for playing Chess, in his old, + unsheltered days]; he wears his hat: I am a poor invalid,—I wear my + nightcap.'... + </p> + <p> + "I do not now recollect why he quoted these verses, also in English, by + Rochester, on CHARLES SECOND:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Here lies the mutton-eating King, + + Who never said a foolish thing, + Nor ever did a wise one.' +</pre> + <p> + But speaking of Racine, he quoted this Couplet (of Roscomman's ESSAY ON + TRANSLATED VERSE):— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'The weighty bullion of one sterling line + Drawn to French wire would through whole pages shine. +</pre> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'The English prefer Corneille to Racine.' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'That is because the English are not sufficiently acquainted + with the French tongue to feel the beauties of Racine's style, or the + harmony of his versification. Corneille ought to please them more because + he is more striking; but Racine pleases the French because he has more + softness and tenderness.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'How did you find [LIKE] the English fare (LA CHERE ANGLAISE?'—which + Voltaire mischievously takes for 'the dear Englishwoman'). + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'I found her very fresh and white,'—truly! [It should be + remembered, that when he made this pun upon Women he was in his + eighty-third year.] + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'Their language?' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'Energetic, precise and barbarous; they are the only Nation + that pronounce their A as E.... [And some time afterwards] Though I cannot + perfectly pronounce English, my ear is sensible of the harmony of your + language and of your versification. Pope and Dryden have the most harmony + in Poetry; Addison in Prose.' [Takes now the interrogating side.] + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'How have you liked (AVEX-VOUS TROUVE) the French?' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'Amiable and witty. I only find one fault with them: they + imitate the English too much.' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'How! Do you think us worthy to be originals ourselves?' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'Yes, Sir.' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'So do I too:—but it is of your Government that we are + envious.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'I have found the French freer than I expected.' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'Yes, as to walking, or eating whatever he pleases, or lolling + in his elbow-chair, a Frenchman is free enough; but as to taxes—Ah, + Monsieur, you are a lucky Nation; you can do what you like; poor we are + born in slavery: we cannot even die as we will; we must have a Priest + [can't get buried otherwise; am often thinking of that!]... Well, if the + English do sell themselves, it is a proof that they are worth something: + we French don't sell ourselves, probably because we are worth nothing.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'What is your opinion of the ELOISE' [Rousseau's immortal + Work]? + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'That it will not be read twenty years hence.' + </p> + <p> + SHERLOCK. "'Mademoiselle de l'Enclos wrote some good LETTERS?' + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'She never wrote one; they were by the wretched Crebillon' [my + beggarly old "Rival" in the Pompadour epoch]!... + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'The Italians are a Nation of brokers. Italy is an Old-Clothes + shop; in which there are many Old Dresses of exquisite taste.... But we + are still to know, Whether the subjects of the Pope or of the Grand Turk + are the more abject.' [We have now gone to the Drawing-room, I think, + though it is not jotted.] + </p> + <p> + "He talked of England and of Shakspeare; and explained to Madame Denis + part of a Scene in Henry Fifth, where the King makes love to Queen + Catherine in bad French; and of another in which that Queen takes a lesson + in English from her Waiting-woman, and where there are several very gross + double-entendres"—but, I hope, did not long dwell on these.... + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE. "'When I see an Englishman subtle and fond of lawsuits, I say, + "There is a Norman, who came in with William the Conqueror." When I see a + man good-natured and polite, "That is one who came with the Plantagenets;" + a brutal character, "That is a Dane:"—for your Nation, Monsieur, as + well as your Language, is a medley of many others.' + </p> + <p> + "After dinner, passing through a little Parlor where there was a head of + Locke, another of the Countess of Coventry, and several more, he took me + by the arm and stopped me: 'Do you know this Bust [bust of Sir Isaac + Newton]? It is the greatest genius that ever existed: if all the geniuses + of the Universe were assembled, he should lead the band.' + </p> + <p> + "It was of Newton, and of his own Works, that M. de Voltaire always spoke + with the greatest warmth." [Sherlock, LETTERS (London, 1802), i. 98-106.] + (EXIT Sherlock, to jot down the above, and thence into Infinite Space.) + </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> + GENERAL OR FIELDMARSHAL CONWAY, DIRECT FROM THE LONDON CIRCLES, ATTENDS + ONE OF FRIEDRICH'S REVIEWS (August-September, 1774). + </h2> + <p> + Now that Friedrich's Military Department is got completely into trim + again, which he reckons to have been about 1770, his annual Reviews are + becoming very famous over Europe; and intelligent Officers of all + Countries are eager to be present, and instruct themselves there. The + Review is beautiful as a Spectacle; but that is in no sort the intention + of it. Rigorous business, as in the strictest of Universities examining + for Degrees, would be nearer the definition. Sometimes, when a new + manoeuvre or tactical invention of importance is to be tried by + experiment, you will find for many miles the environs of Potsdam, which is + usually the scene of such experiments, carefully shut in; sentries on + every road, no unfriendly eye admitted; the thing done as with closed + doors. Nor at any time can you attend without leave asked; though to + Foreign Officers, and persons that have really business there, there + appears to be liberality enough in granting it. The concourse of military + strangers seems to keep increasing every year, till Friedrich's death. + [Rodenbeck, iii. IN LOCIS.] French, more and more in quantity, present + themselves; multifarious German names; generally a few English too,—Burgoyne + (of Saratoga finally), Cornwallis, Duke of York, Marshal Conway,—of + which last we have something farther to say at present. + </p> + <p> + In Summer, 1774, Conway—the Marshal Conway, of whom Walpole is + continually talking as of a considerable Soldier and Politician, though he + was not in either character considerable, but was Walpole's friend, and an + honest modest man—had made up his mind, perhaps partly on domestic + grounds (for I have noticed glimpses of a "Lady C." much out of humor), to + make a Tour in Germany, and see the Reviews, both Austrian and Prussian, + Prussian especially. Two immense LETTERS of his on that subject have come + into my hands, [Kindly presented me by Charles Knight, Esq., the + well-known Author and Publisher (who possesses a Collection by the same + hand): these Two run to fourteen large pages in my Copy!] and elsewhere + incidentally there is printed record of the Tour; [In Keith (Sir Robert + Murray), <i>Memoirs and Correspondence,</i> ii. 21 et, seq.] unimportant + as possible, both Tour and Letters, but capable, if squeezed into compass, + of still being read without disadvantage here. + </p> + <p> + Sir Robert Murray Keith—that is, the younger Excellency Keith, now + Minister at Dresden, whom we have sometimes heard of—accompanies + Conway on this Tour, or flies alongside of him, with frequent + intersections at the principal points; and there is printed record by Sir + Robert, but still less interesting than this of Conway, and perfectly + conformable to it:—so that, except for some words about the Lord + Marischal, which shall be given, Keith must remain silent, while the + diffuse Conway strives to become intelligible. Indeed, neither Conway nor + Keith tell us the least thing that is not abundantly, and even wearisomely + known from German sources; but to readers here, a pair of English eyes + looking on the matter (put straight in places by the help there is), may + give it a certain freshness of meaning. Here are Conway's Two Letters, + with the nine parts of water charitably squeezed out of them, by a skilful + friend of mine and his. + </p> + <p> + CONWAY TO HIS BROTHER, MARQUIS OF HERTFORD (in London). + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, July 17th, 1774. + </p> + <p> + "DEAR BROTHER,—In the hurry I live in—... Leaving Brunswick, + where, in absence of most of the Court, who are visiting at Potsdam, my + old Commander," Duke Ferdinand, now estranged from Potsdam, [Had a kind of + quarrel with Friedrich in 1766 (rough treatment by Adjutant von Anhalt, + not tolerable to a Captain now become so eminent), and quietly withdrew,—still + on speaking terms with the King, but never his Officer more.] and living + here among works of Art, and speculations on Free Masonry, "was very kind + to me, I went to Celle, in Hanover, to pay my respects to the Queen of + Denmark [unfortunate divorced Matilda, saved by my friend Keith,—innocent, + I will hope!]... She is grown extremely fat.... At Magdeburg, the Prussian + Frontier on this side, one is not allowed, without a permit, even to walk + on the ramparts,—such the strictness of Prussian rule.... Driving + through Potsdam, on my way to Berlin, I was stopped by a servant of the + good old Lord Marischal, who had spied me as I passed under his window. He + came out in his nightgown, and insisted upon our staying to dine with him—[worthy + old man; a word of him, were this Letter done]. We ended, on consultation + about times and movements of the King, by staying three days at Potsdam, + mostly with this excellent old Lord. + </p> + <p> + "On the third day [yesterday evening, in fact], I went, by appointment, to + the New Palace, to wait upon the King of Prussia. There was some delay: + his Majesty had gone, in the interim, to a private Concert, which he was + giving to the Princesses [Duchess of Brunswick and other high guests + [Rodenbeck (IN DIE) iii. 98.]]; but the moment he was told I was there, he + came out from his company, and gave me a most flattering gracious audience + of more than half an hour; talking on a great variety of things, with an + ease and freedom the very reverse of what I had been made to expect.... I + asked, and received permission, to visit the Silesian Camps next month, + his Majesty most graciously telling me the particular days they would + begin and end [27th August-3d September, Schmelwitz near Breslau, are time + and place [Ib. iii. 101.]]. This considerably deranges my Austrian + movements, and will hurry my return out of those parts: but who could + resist such a temptation!—I saw the Foot-Guards exercise, especially + the splendid 'First Battalion;' I could have conceived nothing so perfect + and so exact as all I saw:—so well dressed, such men, and so + punctual in all they did. + </p> + <p> + "The New Palace at Potsdam is extremely noble. Not so perfect, perhaps, in + point of taste, but better than I had been led to expect. The King + dislikes living there; never does, except when there is high Company about + him; for seven or eight months in the year, he prefers Little Sans-Souci, + and freedom among his intimates and some of his Generals.... His Music + still takes up a great share of the King's time. On a table in his Cabinet + there, I saw, I believe, twenty boxes with a German flute in each; in his + Bed-chamber, twice as many boxes of Spanish snuff; and, alike in Cabinet + and in Bed-chamber, three arm-chairs in a row for three favorite dogs, + each with a little stool by way of step, that the getting up might be + easy.... + </p> + <p> + "The Town of Potsdam is a most extraordinary and, in its appearance, + beautiful Town; all the streets perfectly straight, all at right angles to + each other; and all the houses built with handsome, generally elegant + fronts.... He builds for everybody who has a bad or a small house, even + the lowest mechanic. He has done the same at Berlin." Altogether, his + Majesty's building operations are astonishing. And "from whence does this + money come, after a long expensive War? It is all fairyland and + enchantment,"—MAGNUM VECTIGAL PARSIMONIA, in fact!... "At Berlin + here, I saw the Porcelain Manufacture to-day, which is greatly improved. I + leave presently. Adieu, dear Brother; excuse my endless Letter [since you + cannot squeeze the water out of it, as some will!]—Yours most + sincerely, + </p> + <p> + "HENRY SEYMOUR CONWAY." + </p> + <p> + Keith is now Minister at Dresden for some years back; and has, among other + topics, much to say of our brilliant friend the Electress there: but his + grand Diplomatic feat was at Copenhagen, on a sudden sally out thither (in + 1771): [In KEITH, i. 152 &c., nothing of intelligible Narrative given, + hardly the date discoverable.] the saving of Queen Matilda, youngest + Sister of George Third, from a hard doom. Unfortunate Queen Matilda; one + never knows how guilty, or whether guilty at all, but she was very + unfortunate, poor young Lady! What with a mad Husband collapsed by + debaucheries into stupor of insanity; what with a Doctor, gradually a + Prime Minister, Struensee, wretched scarecrow to look upon, but wiser than + most Danes about; and finally, with a lynx-eyed Step-sister, whose Son, + should Matilda mistake, will inherit,—unfortunate Matilda had fallen + into the awfulest troubles; got divorced, imprisoned, would have lost her + head along with scarecrow Struensee had not her Brother George III. + emphatically intervened,—Excellency Keith, with Seventy-fours in the + distance, coming out very strong on the occasion,—and got her loose. + Loose from Danish axe and jail, at any rate; delivered into safety and + solitude at Celle in Hanover, where she now is,—and soon after + suddenly dies of fever, so closing a very sad short history. + </p> + <p> + Excellency Keith, famed in the Diplomatic circles ever since, is at + present ahead of Conway on their joint road to the Austrian Reviews. + Before giving Conway's Second Letter, let us hear Keith a little on his + kinsman the Old Marischal, whom he saw at Berlin years ago, and still + occasionally corresponds with, and mentions in his Correspondence. Keith + LOQUITUR; date is Dresden, February, 1770:— + </p> + <p> + HAS VISITED THE OLD MARISCHAL AT POTSDAM LATELY.... "My stay of three days + with Lord Marischal.... He is the most innocent of God's creatures; and + his heart is much warmer than his head. The place of his abode," I must + say, "is the very Temple of Dulness; and his Female Companion [a poor Turk + foundling, a perishing infant flung into his late Brother's hands at the + Fall of Oczakow, [Supra, vii. 82.]—whom the Marischal has carefully + brought up, and who refuses to marry away from him,—rather stupid, + not very pretty by the Portraits; must now be two-and-thirty gone] is + perfectly calculated to be the Priestess of it! Yet he dawdles away his + day in a manner not unpleasant to him; and I really am persuaded he has a + conscience that would gild the inside of a dungeon. The feats of our + bare-legged warriors in the late War [BERG-SCHOTTEN, among whom I was a + Colonel], accompanied by a PIBRACH [elegiac bagpipe droning MORE SUO] in + his outer room, have an effect on the old Don, which would delight you." + [Keith, i. 129; "Dresden, 25th February, 1770:" to his Sister in + Scotland.] + </p> + <p> + AND THEN SEEN HIM IN BERLIN, ON THE SAME OCCASION.... "Lord Marischal came + to meet me at Sir Andrew's [Mitchell's, in Berlin, the last year of the + brave Mitchell's life], where we passed five days together. My visit to + his country residence," as you already know, "was of three days; and I had + reason to be convinced that it gave the old Don great pleasure. He talked + to me with the greatest openness and confidence of all the material + incidents of his life; and hinted often that the honor of the Clan was now + to be supported by our family, for all of whom he had the greatest esteem. + His taste, his ideas, and his manner of living, are a mixture of + Aberdeenshire and the Kingdom of Valencia; and as he seeks to make no new + friends, he seems to retain a strong, though silent, attachment for his + old ones. As to his political principles, I believe him the most sincere + of converts" to Whiggery and Orthodoxy.... "Since I began this, I have had + a most inimitable Letter from Lord Marischal. I had mentioned Dr. Bailies + to him [noted English Doctor at Dresden, bent on inoculating and the + like], and begged he would send me a state of his case and infirmities, + that the Doctor might prescribe for him. This is a part of his answer:— + </p> + <p> + "'I thank you for your advice of consulting the English Doctor to repair + my old carcass. I have lately done so by my old coach, and it is now + almost as good as new. Please, therefore, to tell the Doctor, that from + him I expect a good repair, and shall state the case. First, he must know + that the machine is the worse for wear, being nearly eighty years old. The + reparation I propose he shall begin with is: One pair of new eyes, one + pair of new ears, some improvement on the memory. When this is done, we + shall ask new legs, and some change in the stomach. For the present, this + first reparation will be sufficient; and we must not trouble the Doctor + too much at once.'—You see by this how easy his Lordship's + infirmities sit upon him; and it is really so as he says. Your friend Sir + Andrew is, I am afraid, less gay; but I have not heard from him these + three months." [Keith, i. 132, 133; "Dresden, 13th March, 1770:" to his + Father.] + </p> + <p> + CONWAY TO KEITH, ON THE LATE THREE DAYS AT POTSDAM. [Date, "Dresden, 21st + July, 1774:" in KEITH, ii. 15.] "I stayed three days at Potsdam, with much + entertainment, for good part of which I am obliged to your Excellency's + old friend Lord Marischal, who showed me all the kindness and civility + possible. He stopped me as I passed, and not only made me dine with him + that day, but in a manner live with him. He is not at all blind, as you + imagined; so much otherwise, that I saw him read, without spectacles, a + difficult hand I could not easily decipher.... Stayed but a day at + Berlin;" am rushing after you:—Here is my Second Letter:— + </p> + <p> + CONWAY'S SECOND LETTER (to his Brother, as before). + </p> + <p> + "SCHMELWITZ [near Breslau] HEAD-QUARTERS, + </p> + <p> + August 31st, 1774. + </p> + <p> + "DEAR BROTHER... I left that Camp [Austrian Camp, and Reviews in Hungary, + where the Kaiser and everybody had been very gracious to me] with much + regret." Parted regretfully with Keith;—had played, at Presburg, in + sight of him and fourteen other Englishmen, a game with the Chess + Automaton [brand-new miracle, just out]; [Account of it, and of this game, + in KEITH too (ii. 18; "View, 3d September, 1774:" Keith to his Father).]—came + on through Vienna hitherward, as fast as post-horses could carry us; + travelling night and day, without stopping, being rather behind time. + "Arrived at Breslau near dark, last night; where I learnt that the Camp + was twenty miles off; that the King was gone there, and that the + Manoeuvres would begin at four or five this morning. I therefore ordered + my chaise at twelve at night, and set out, in darkness and rain, to be + presented to the King of Prussia next morning at five, at the head of his + troops.... When I arrived, before five, at the place called + 'Head-quarters,' I found myself in the middle of a miserable Village [this + Schmelwitz here]; no creature alive or stirring, nor a sentinel, or any + Military object to be seen.... As soon as anything alive was to be found, + we asked, If the King was lodged in that Village? 'Yes,' they said, 'in + that House' (pointing to a clay Hovel). But General Lentulus soon + appeared; and— + </p> + <p> + "His Majesty has been very gracious; asked me many questions about my tour + to Hungary. I saw all the Troops pass him as they arrived in Camp. They + made a very fine appearance really, though it rained hard the whole time + we were out; and as his Majesty [age 62] did not cloak, we were all + heartily wet. And, what was worse, went from the field to Orders [giving + out of Parole, and the like] at his Quarters, there to make our bow;—where + we stayed in our wet clothes an hour and half [towards 10 A.M. by this + time].... How different at the Emperor's, when his Imperial Majesty and + everybody was cloaked! [Got no hurt by the wet, strange to say.] ... These + are our news to this day. And now, having sat up five nights out of the + last six, and been in rain and dirt almost all day, I wish you sincerely + good-night.—H. S. C. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. Breslau, 4th September.—... My Prussian Campaign is finished, + and as much to my satisfaction as possible. The beauty and order of the + Troops, their great discipline, their" &c. &c., "almost pass all + belief.... Yesterday we were on horseback early, at four o'clock. The + movement was conducted with a spirit and order, on both sides, that was + astonishing, and struck the more delightful (SIC) by the variety, as in + the course of the Action the Enemy, conducted by General Anhalt [head all + right as yet], took three different positions before his final retreat. + </p> + <p> + "The moment it was over [nine o'clock or so], his Majesty got a fresh + horse, and set out for Potsdam, after receiving the compliments of those + present, or rather holding a kind of short Levee in the field. I can't say + how much, in my particular, I am obliged to his Majesty for his + extraordinary reception, and distinction shown me throughout. Each day + after the Manoeuvre, and giving the Orders of the day, he held a little + Levee at the door, or in the court; at which, I can assure you, it is not + an exaggeration of vanity to say, that he not only talked to me, but + literally to nobody else at all. It was a good deal each time, and as soon + as finished he made his bow, and retired, though all, or most, of the + other Foreigners were standing by, as well as his own Generals. He also + called me up, and spoke to me several times on horseback, when we were + out, which he seldom did to anybody. + </p> + <p> + "The Prince Royal also showed me much civility. The second day, he asked + me to come and drink a dish of tea with him after dinner, and kept me an + hour and half. He told me, among other things, that the King of Prussia + had a high opinion of me, and that it came chiefly from the favorable + manner in which Duke Ferdinand and the Hereditary Prince [of Brunswick] + had spoken of me.... Pray let Horace Walpole know my address, that I may + have all the chance I can of hearing from him. But if he comes to Paris, I + forgive him.—H. S. C." + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's Reviews, though fine to look upon, or indeed the finest in the + world, were by no means of spectacular nature; but of altogether serious + and practical, almost of solemn and terrible, to the parties interested. + Like the strictest College Examination for Degrees, as we said; like a + Royal Assize or Doomsday of the Year; to Military people, and over the + upper classes of Berlin Society, nothing could be more serious, Major + Kaltenborn, an Ex-Prussian Officer, presumably of over-talkative habits, + who sounds on us like a very mess-room of the time all gathered under one + hat,—describes in an almost awful manner the kind of terror with + which all people awaited these Annual Assizes for trial of military merit. + </p> + <p> + "What a sight," says he, "and awakening what thoughts, that of a body of + from 18,000 to 20,000 soldiers, in solemn silence and in deepest + reverence, awaiting their fate from one man! A Review, in Friedrich's + time, was an important moment for almost the whole Country. The fortune of + whole families often depended on it: from wives, mothers, children and + friends, during those terrible three days, there arose fervent wishes to + Heaven, that misfortune might not, as was too frequently the case, befall + their husbands, fathers, sons and friends, in the course of them. Here the + King, as it were, weighed the merits of his Officers, and distributed, + according as he found them light or heavy, praise or blame, rebukes or + favors; and often, too often, punishments, to be felt through life. One + single unhappy moment [especially if it were the last of a long series of + such!] often deprived the bravest Officer of his bread, painfully earned + in peace and war, and of his reputation and honor, at least in the eyes of + most men, who judge of everything only by its issue. The higher you had + risen, the easier and deeper your fall might be at an unlucky Review. The + Heads and Commanders of regiments were always in danger of being sent + about their business (WEGGEJAGT)." + </p> + <p> + The fact is, I Kaltenborn quitted the Prussian Service, and took Hessian,—being + (presumably) of exaggerative, over-talkative nature, and strongly + gravitating Opposition way!—Kaltenborn admits that the King + delighted in nothing so much as to see people's faces cheerful about him; + provided the price for it were not too high. Here is another passage from + him:— + </p> + <p> + "At latest by 9 in the morning the day's Manoeuvre had finished, and + everything was already in its place again. Straight from the ground all + Heads of regiments, the Majors-DE-JOUR, all Aides-de-Camp, and from every + battalion one Officer, proceed to Head-quarters. It was impossible to + speak more beautifully, or instructively, than the King did on such + occasions, if he were not in bad humor. It was then a very delight to hear + him deliver a Military Lecture, as it were. He knew exactly who had + failed, what caused the fault, and how it might and should have been + retrieved. His voice was soft and persuasive (HINREISSEND); he looked + kindly, and appeared rather bent upon giving good advice than commands. + </p> + <p> + "Thus, for instance, he once said to General van Lossow, Head of the Black + Hussars: 'Your (SEINE) Attack would have gone very well, had not your own + squadron pressed forward too much (VORGEPRELLT). The brave fellows wanted + to show me how they can ride. But don't I know that well enough;—and + also that you [covetous Lossow] always choose the best horses from the + whole remount for your own squadron! There was, therefore, no need at all + for that. Tell your people not to do so to-morrow, and you will see it + will go much better; all will remain closer in their places, and the left + wing be able to keep better in line, in coming on.'—Another time, + having observed, in a certain Foot-regiment, that the soldiers were too + long in getting out their cartridges, he said to the Commandant: 'Do you + know the cause of this, my dear Colonel? Look, the cartouche, in the + cartridge-box, has 32 holes; into these the fellow sticks his eight + cartridges, without caring how: and so the poor devil fumbles and gropes + about, and cannot get hold of any. But now, if the Officers would look to + it that he place them all well together in the middle of the cartouche, he + would never make a false grasp, and the loading would go as quick again. + Only tell your Officers that I had made this observation, and I am sure + they will gladly attend to it.'" [Anonymous (Kaltenborn), <i>Briefe eines + alten Preussischen Officiers</i> (Hohenzollern, 1790), ii. 24-26.] + </p> + <p> + Of humane consolatory Anecdotes, in this kind, our Opposition Kaltenborn + gives several; of the rhadamanthine desolating or destructive kind, though + such also could not be wanting, if your Assize is to be good for anything, + he gives us none. And so far as I can learn, the effective punishments, + dismissals and the like, were of the due rarity and propriety; though the + flashes of unjust rebuke, fulminant severity, lightnings from the gloom of + one's own sorrows and ill-humor, were much more frequent, but were seldom—I + do not know if ever—persisted in to the length of practical result. + This is a Rhadamanthus much interested not to be unjust, and to + discriminate good from bad! Of Ziethen there are two famous Review + Anecdotes, omitted and omissible by Kaltenborn, so well known are they: + one of each kind. At a certain Review, year not ascertainable,—long + since, prior to the Seven-Years War,—the King's humor was of the + grimmest, nothing but faults all round; to Ziethen himself, and the + Ziethen Hussars, he said various hard things, and at length this hardest: + "Out of my sight with you!" [Madame de Blumenthal, <i>Life of Ziethen,</i> + i. 265.] Upon which Ziethen—a stratum of red-hot kindling in Ziethen + too, as was easily possible—turns to his Hussars, "Right about, + RECHTS UM: march!" and on the instant did as bidden. Disappeared, + double-quick; and at the same high pace, in a high frame of mind, rattled + on to Berlin, home to his quarters, and there first drew bridle. "Turn; + for Heaven's sake, bethink you!" said more than one friend whom he met on + the road: but it was of no use. Everybody said, "Ziethen is ruined;" but + Ziethen never heard of the thing more. + </p> + <p> + Anecdote Second is not properly of a Review, but of an incidental Parade + of the Guard, at Berlin (25th December, 1784), by the King in person: + Parade, or rather giving out of the Parole after it, in the King's + Apartments; which is always a kind of Military Levee as well;—and + which, in this instance, was long famous among the Berlin people. King is + just arrived for Carnival season; old Ziethen will not fail to pay his + duty, though climbing of the stairs is heavy to a man of 85 gone. This is + Madam Blumenthal's Narrative (corrected, as it needs, in certain points):— + </p> + <p> + "SATURDAY, 25th DECEMBER, 1784, Ziethen, in spite of the burden of + eighty-six years, went to the Palace, at the end of the Parade, to pay his + Sovereign this last tribute of respect, and to have the pleasure of seeing + him after six months' absence. The Parole was given out, the orders + imparted to the Generals, and the King had turned towards the Princes of + the Blood,—when he perceived Ziethen on the other side of the Hall, + between his Son and his two Aides-de-Camp. Surprised in a very agreeable + manner at this unexpected sight, he broke out into an exclamation of joy; + and directly making up to him,—'What, my good old Ziethen, are you + there!' said his Majesty: 'How sorry am I that you have had the trouble of + walking up the staircase! I should have called upon you myself. How have + you been of late?' 'Sire,' answered Ziethen, (my health is not amiss, my + appetite is good; but my strength! my strength!) 'This account,' replied + the King, 'makes me happy by halves only: but you must be tired;—I + shall have a chair for you.' [Thing unexampled in the annals of Royalty!] + A chair," on order to Ziethen's Aides-de-Camp, "was quickly brought. + Ziethen, however, declared that he was not at all fatigued: the King + maintained that he was. 'Sit down, good Father (MEIN LIEBER ALTER PAPA + ZIETHEN, SETZE ER SICH DOCH)!' continued his Majesty: 'I will have it so; + otherwise I must instantly leave the room; for I cannot allow you to be + incommoded under my own roof.' The old General obeyed, and Friedrich the + Great remained standing before him, in the midst of a brilliant circle + that had thronged round them. After asking him many questions respecting + his hearing, his memory and the general state of his health, he at length + took leave of him in these words: 'Adieu, my dear Ziethen [it was his last + adieu!]—take care not to catch cold; nurse yourself well, and live + as long as you can, that I may often have the pleasure of seeing you.' + After having said this, the King, instead of speaking to the other + Generals, and walking through the saloons, as usual, retired abruptly, and + shut himself up in his closet." [Blumenthal, ii. 341; <i>Militair-Lexikon,</i> + iv. 318. Chodowiecki has made an Engraving of this Scene; useful to look + at for its military Portraits, if of little esteem otherwise. Strangely + enough, both in BLUMENTHAL and in Chodowiecki's ENGRAVING the year is + given as 1785 (plainly impossible); <i>Militair-Lexikon</i> misprints the + month; and, one way or other, only Rodenbeck (iii. 316) is right in both + day and year.] + </p> + <p> + Following in date these small Conway Phenomena, if these, so extraneous + and insignificant, can have any glimmer of memorability to readers, are + two other occurrences, especially one other, which come in at this part of + the series, and greatly more require to be disengaged from the dust-heaps, + and presented for remembrance. + </p> + <p> + In 1775, the King had a fit of illness; which long occupied certain + Gazetteers and others. That is the first occurrence of the two, and far + the more important. He himself says of it, in his HISTORY, all that is + essential to us here:— + </p> + <p> + "Towards the end of 1775, the King was attacked by several strong + consecutive fits of gout. Van Swieten, a famous Doctor's Son, and Minister + of the Imperial Court at Berlin, took it into his head that this gout was + a declared dropsy; and, glad to announce to his Court the approaching + death of an enemy that had been dangerous to it, boldly informed his + Kaiser that the King was drawing to his end, and would not last out the + year. At this news the soul of Joseph flames into enthusiasm; all the + Austrian troops are got on march, their Rendezvous marked in Bohemia; and + the Kaiser waits, full of impatience, at Vienna, till the expected event + arrives; ready then to penetrate at once into Saxony, and thence to the + Frontiers of Brandenburg, and there propose to the King's Successor the + alternative of either surrendering Silesia straightway to the House of + Austria, or seeing himself overwhelmed by Austrian troops before he could + get his own assembled. All these things, which were openly done, got + noised abroad everywhere; and did not, as is easy to believe, cement the + friendship of the Two Courts. To the Public this scene appeared the more + ridiculous, as the King of Prussia, having only had a common gout in + larger dose than common, was already well of it again, before the Austrian + Army had got to their Rendezvous. The Kaiser made all these troops return + to their old quarters; and the Court of Vienna had nothing but mockery for + its imprudent conduct." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 124.] + </p> + <p> + The first of these gout-attacks seems to have come in the end of + September, and to have lasted about a month; after which the illness + abated, and everybody thought it was gone. The Kaiser-Joseph evolution + must have been in October, and have got its mockery in the next months. + Friedrich, writing to VOLTAIRE, October 22d, has these words:... "A pair + of charming Letters from Ferney; to which, had they been from the great + Demiurgus himself, I could not have dictated Answer. Gout held me tied and + garroted for four weeks;—gout in both feet and in both hands; and, + such its extreme liberality, in both elbows too: at present the pains and + the fever have abated, and I feel only a very great exhaustion." [Ib. xxv. + 44.] "Four consecutive attacks; hope they are now all over;" but we read, + within the Spring following, that there have been in all twelve of them; + and in May, 1776, the Newspapers count eighteen quasi-consecutive. So that + in reality the King's strength was sadly reduced; and his health, which + did not recover its old average till about 1780, continued, for several + years after this bad fit, to be a constant theme of curiosity to the + Gazetteer species, and a matter of solicitude to his friends and to his + enemies. + </p> + <p> + Of the Kaiser's immense ambition there can be no question. He is + stretching himself out on every side; "seriously wishing," thinks + Friedrich, "that he could 'revivify the German Reich,'"—new + Barbarossa in improved FIXED form; how noble! Certainly, to King + Friedrich's sad conviction, "the Austrian Court is aiming to swallow all + manner of dominions that may fall within its grasp." Wants Bosnia and + Servia in the East; longs to seize certain Venetian Territories, which + would unite Trieste and the Milanese to the Tyrol. Is throwing out hooks + on Modena, on the Ferrarese, on this and on that. Looking with eager eyes + on Bavaria,—the situation of which is peculiar; the present + Kur-Baiern being elderly, childless; and his Heir the like, who withal is + already Kur-Pfalz, and will unite the Two Electorates under one head; a + thing which Austria regards with marked dislike. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + vi. 123.] These are anxious considerations to a King in Friedrich's sick + state. In his private circle, too, there are sorrows: death of Fouquet, + death of Quintus Icilius, of Seidlitz, Quantz (good old Quantz, with his + fine Flutings these fifty years, and the still finer memories he awoke! + [Friedrich's Teacher of the Flute; procured for him by his Mother (supra + vi. 144).]),—latterly an unusual number of deaths. The ruggedly + intelligent Quintus, a daily companion, and guest at the supper-table, + died few months before this fit of gout; and must have been greatly missed + by Friedrich. Fouquet, at Brandenburg, died last year: his benefactor in + the early Custrin distresses, his "Bayard," and chosen friend ever since; + how conspicuously dear to Friedrich to the last is still evident. A + Friedrich getting lonely enough, and the lights of his life going out + around him;—has but one sure consolation, which comes to him as + compulsion withal, and is not neglected, that of standing steadfast to his + work, whatever the mood and posture be. + </p> + <p> + The Event of 1776 is Czarowitsh Paul's arrival in Berlin, and Betrothal to + a second Wife there; his first having died in childbirth lately. The first + had been of Friedrich's choosing, but had behaved ill,—seduced by + Spanish-French Diplomacies, by this and that, poor young creature:—the + second also was of Friedrich's choosing, and a still nearer connection: + figure what a triumphant event! Event now fallen dead to every one of us; + and hardly admitting the smallest Note,—except for chronology's + sake, which it is always satisfactory to keep clear:— + </p> + <p> + "Czarowitsh Paul's first Wife, the Hessen-Darmstadt Princess of Three, + died of her first child April 26th, 1776: everybody whispered, 'It is none + of Paul's!' who, nevertheless, was inconsolable, the wild heart of him + like to break on the occurrence. By good luck, Prince Henri had set out, + by invitation, on a second visit to Petersburg; and arrived there also on + April 26th, [Rodenbeck, iii. 139-146.] the very day of the fatality. + Prince Henri soothed, consoled the poor Czarowitsh; gradually brought him + round; agreed with his Czarina Mother, that he must have a new Wife; and + dexterously fixed her choice on a 'Niece of the King's and Henri's.' + Eldest Daughter of Eugen of Wurtemberg, of whom, as an excellent General, + though also as a surly Husband, readers have some memory; now living + withdrawn at Mumpelgard, the Wurtemberg Apanage [Montbeillard, as the + French call it], in these piping times of Peace:—she is the + Princess. To King Friedrich's great surprise and joy. The Mumpelgard + Principalities, and fortunate Princess, are summoned to Berlin. Czarowitsh + Paul, under Henri's escort, and under gala and festivities from the + Frontier onward, arrived in Berlin 21st July, 1776; was betrothed to his + Wurtemberg Princess straightway; and after about a fortnight of + festivities still more transcendent, went home with her to Petersburg; and + was there wedded, 18th October following;—Czar and Czarina, she and + he, twenty years after, and their posterity reigning ever since. [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> vi. 120-122.] + </p> + <p> + "At Vienna," says the King, "everybody was persuaded the Czarowitsh would + never come to Berlin. Prince Kaunitz had been,"—been at his old + tricks again, playing his sharpest, in the Court of Petersburg again: what + tricks (about Poland and otherwise) let us not report, for it is now + interesting to nobody. Of the Czarowitsh Visit itself I will remark only,—what + seems to be its one chance of dating itself in any of our memories,—that + it fell out shortly after the Sherlock dinner with Voltaire (in 1776, + April 27th the one event, July 21st the other);—and that here is, by + pure accident, the exuberant erratic Sherlock, once more, and once only, + emerging on us for a few moments!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + EXUBERANT SHERLOCK AND ELEVEN OTHER ENGLISH ARE PRESENTED TO FRIEDRICH ON + A COURT OCCASION (8th October, 1777); AND TWO OF THEM GET SPOKEN TO, AND + SPEAK EACH A WORD. EXCELLENCY HUGH ELLIOT IS THEIR INTRODUCER. + </h2> + <p> + Harris, afterwards Earl of Malmesbury, succeeded Mitchell at Berlin; + "Polish troubles" (heartily indifferent to England), "Dantzig squabbles" + (miraculously important there),—nothing worth the least mention now. + Excellency Harris quitted Berlin in Autumn, 1776; gave place to an + Excellency Hugh Elliot (one of the Minto Elliots, Brother of the first + Earl of Minto, and himself considerably noted in the world), of whom we + have a few words to say. + </p> + <p> + Elliot has been here since April, 1777; stays some five years in this + post;—with not much Diplomatic employment, I should think, but with + a style of general bearing and social physiognomy, which, with some + procedures partly incidental as well, are still remembered in Berlin. + Something of spying, too, doubtless there was; bribing of menials, opening + of Letters: I believe a great deal of that went on; impossible to prevent + under the carefulest of Kings. [An ingenious young Friend of mine, + connected with Legationary Business, found lately, at the Hague, a + consecutive Series, complete for four or five years (I think, from 1780 + onwards), of Friedrich's LETTERS to his MINISTER IN LONDON,—Copies + punctually filched as they went through the Post-office there:—specimens + of which I saw; and the whole of which I might have seen, had it been + worth the effort necessary. But Friedrich's London Minister, in this case, + was a person of no significance or intimacy; and the King's Letters, + though strangely exact, clear and even elucidative on English + Court-Politics and vicissitudes, seemed to be nearly barren as to + Prussian.] Hitherto, with one exception to be mentioned presently, his + main business seems to have been that of introducing, on different + Court-Days, a great number of Travelling English, who want to see the + King, and whom the King little wants, but quietly submits to. Incoherent + Sherlock, whom we discover to have been of the number, has, in his tawdry + disjointed Book, this Passage:— + </p> + <p> + "The last time of my seeing him [this Hero-King of my heart] was at Berlin + [not a hint of the time when]. He came thither to receive the adieus of + the Baron de Swieten, Minister from their Imperial Majesties [thank you; + that means 8th October, 1777 [Rodenbeck, iii. 172.]], and to give audience + to the new Minister, the Count Cobenzl. The Foreign Ministers, the persons + who were to be presented [we, for instance], and the Military, were all + that were at Court. We were ten English [thirteen by tale]: the King spoke + to the first and the last; not on account of their situation, but because + their names struck him. The first was Major Dalrymple. To him the King + said: 'You have been presented to me before?' 'I ask your Majesty's + pardon; it was my Uncle' (Lord Dalrymple, of whom presently). Mr. Pitt + [unknown to me which Pitt, subsequent Lord Camelford or another] was the + last. THE KING: 'Are you a relation of Lord Chatham's?' 'Yes, Sire.'—'He + is a man whom I highly esteem' [read "esteemed"]. + </p> + <p> + "He then went to the Foreign Ministers; and talked more to Prince + Dolgorucki, the Russian Ambassador, than to any other. In the midst of his + conversation with this Prince, he turned abruptly to Mr. Elliot, the + English Minister, and asked: 'What is the Duchess of Kingston's family + name?' This transition was less Pindaric than it appears; he had just been + speaking of the Court of Petersburg, and that Lady was then there." + [Sherlock, ii. 27.] Whereupon Sherlock hops his ways again; leaving us + considerably uncertain. But, by a curious accident, here, at first-hand, + is confirmation of the flighty creature;—a Letter from Excellency + Elliot himself having come our way:— + </p> + <p> + TO WILLIAM EDEN, ESQUIRE (of the Foreign Office, London; Elliot's + Brother-in-law; afterwards LORD AUCKLAND). + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, 12th October, 1777. + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR EDEN,—If you are waiting upon the pinnacle of all + impatience to give me news from the Howes [out on their then famous + "Seizure of Philadelphia," which came to what we know!], I am waiting with + no less impatience to receive it, and think every other subject too little + interesting to be mentioned. I must, however, tell you, the King has been + here; ["Came to Berlin 8th October," on the Van-Swieten errand; "saw + Princess Amelia twice; and on the 9th returned to Potsdam" (Rodenbeck, + iii. 172).] to the astonishment of all croakers, hearty and in high + spirits. He was very civil to all of us. I was attended by one dozen + English, which nearly completes my half-hundred this season. Pitt made one + of the twelve, and was particularly distinguished. KING: <i>"Monsieur + est-il parent de Mylord Chatham?'</i> PITT: <i>'Oui, Sire.'</i> KING: <i>'C'est + un homme que j'ai beaucoup estime.'</i> + </p> + <p> + "You have no idea of the joy the people expressed to see the King on + Horseback,—all the Grub-street nonsense of 'a Country groaning under + the weight of its burdens,' of 'a Nation governed with a rod of iron,' + vanished before the sincere acclamations of all ranks, who joined in + testifying their enthusiasm for their great Monarch. I long for Harris and + Company [Excellency Harris; making for Russia, I believe]; they are to pig + together in my house; so that I flatter myself with having a near view, if + not a taste, of connubial joys. My love to E and <i>e</i> [your big <i>E</i>leanor + and your LITTLE, a baby in arms, who are my Sister and Niece;—pretty, + this!]. Your most affectionate, H. E. + </p> + <p> + "P.S. I quite forgot to tell you, I sent out a servant some time ago to + England to bring a couple of Horses. He will deliver some Packets to you; + which I beg you will send, with Lord Marischal's compliments, to their + respective Addresses. There is also a china cup for Mr. Macnamara, Lawyer, + in the Temple or Lincoln's Inn, from the same person [lively old + gentleman, age 91 gone; did die next year]. What does Eleanor mean about + my Congratulatory Letter to Lord Suffolk [our Foreign Secretary, on his + marriage lately]? I wished his Lordship, most sincerely, every happiness + in his new state, as soon as I knew of it. I beg, however, Eleanor will do + the like;—and although it is not my system to 'congratulate' anybody + upon marriage, yet I never fail to wish them what, I think, it is always + two to one they do not obtain." [EDEN-HOUSE CORRESPONDENCE (part of which, + not this, has been published in late years).] + </p> + <p> + As to the Dalrymple of SHERLOCK, read this (FRIEDRICH TO D'ALEMBERT, two + years before [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxv. 21: 5th August, 1775.]):... + "A Mylord of wonderful name [Lord Dalrymple, if I could remember it], of + amiable genius (AU NOM BAROQUE, A L'ESPRIT AIMABLE), gave me a Letter on + your part. 'Ah, how goes the Prince of Philosophers, then? Is he gay; is + he busy; did you see him often?' To which the Mylord: 'I? No; I am + straight from London!'"—"QUOI DONC—?" In short, knowing my + Anaxagoras, this Mylord preferred to be introduced by him; and was right: + "One of the amiablest Englishmen I have seen; I except only the name, + which I shall never remember [but do, on this new occasion]: Why doesn't + he get himself unchristened of it, and take that of Stair, which equally + belongs to him?" (Earl of Stair by and by; Nephew, or Grand-Nephew, of the + great Earl of Stair, once so well known to some of us. Becomes English + Minister here in 1785, if we much cared.) + </p> + <p> + That word of reminiscence about Pitt is worth more attention. Not spoken + lightly, but with meaning and sincerity; something almost pathetic in it, + after the sixteen years separation: "A man whom I much esteemed,"—and + had good reason to do so! Pitt's subsequent sad and bright fortunes, from + the end of the Seven-Years War and triumphant summing up of the + JENKINS'S-EAR QUESTION, are known to readers. His Burton-Pynsent meed of + honor (Estate of 3,000 pounds a year bequeathed him by an aged Patriot, + "Let THIS bit of England go a noble road!"); his lofty silences, in the + World Political; his vehement attempts in it, when again asked to attempt, + all futile,—with great pain to him, and great disdain from him:—his + passionate impatiences on minor matters, "laborers [ornamenting + Burton-Pynsent Park, in Somersetshire] planting trees by torchlight;" + "kitchen people [at Hayes in North Kent, House still to be seen] roasting + a series of chickens, chicken after chicken all day, that at any hour, + within ten minutes, my Lord may dine!"—these things dwell in the + memory of every worthy reader. Here, saved from my poor friend Smelfungus + (nobody knows how much of him I suppress), is a brief jotting, in the form + of rough MEMORANDA, if it be permissible:— + </p> + <p> + "Pitt four years King; lost in quicksands after that; off to Bath, from + gout, from semi-insanity; 'India should pay, but how?' Lost in + General-Warrants, in Wilkes Controversies, American Revolts,—generally, + in shallow quicksands;—dies at his post, but his post had become a + delirious one. + </p> + <p> + "A delicate, proud, noble man; pure as refined gold. Something sensitive, + almost feminine in him; yet with an edge, a fire, a steadiness; liker + Friedrich, in some fine principal points, than any of his Contemporaries. + The one King England has had, this King of Four Years, since the + Constitutional system set in. Oliver Cromwell, yes indeed,—but he + died, and there was nothing for it but to hang his body on the gallows. + Dutch William, too, might have been considerable,—but he was Dutch, + and to us proved to be nothing. Then again, so long as Sarah Jennings held + the Queen's Majesty in bondage, some gleams of Kinghood for us under + Marlborough:—after whom Noodleism and Somnambulism, zero on the back + of zero, and all our Affairs, temporal, spiritual and eternal, jumbling at + random, which we call the Career of Freedom, till Pitt stretched out his + hand upon them. For four years; never again, he; never again one + resembling him,—nor indeed can ever be. + </p> + <p> + "Never, I should think. Pitts are not born often; this Pitt's ideas could + occur in the History of Mankind once only. Stranger theory of society, + completely believed in by a clear, sharp and altogether human head, + incapable of falsity, was seldom heard of in the world. For King: open + your mouth, let the first gentleman that falls into it (a mass of Hanover + stolidity, stupidity, foreign to you, heedless of you) be King: Supreme + Majesty he, with hypothetical decorations, dignities, solemn appliances, + high as the stars (the whole, except the money, a mendacity, and sin + against Heaven): him you declare Sent-of-God, supreme Captain of your + England; and having done so,—tie him up (according to Pitt) with + Constitutional straps, so that he cannot stir hand or foot, for fear of + accidents: in which state he is fully cooked; throw me at his Majesty's + feet, and let me bless Heaven for such a Pillar of Cloud by day. + </p> + <p> + "Pitt, closely as I could scrutinize, seems never to have doubted in his + noble heart but he had some reverence for George II. 'Reverenced his + Office,' says a simple reader? Alas, no, my friend, man does not + 'reverence Office,' but only sham-reverences it. I defy him to reverence + anything but a Man filling an Office (with or without salary) nobly. + Filling a noble office ignobly; doing a celestial task in a quietly + infernal manner? It were kinder perhaps to run your sword through him (or + through yourself) than to take to revering him! If inconvenient to slay + him or to slay yourself (as is oftenest likely),—keep well to + windward of him; be not, without necessity, partaker of his adventures in + this extremely earnest Universe!... + </p> + <p> + "No; Nature does not produce many Pitts:—nor will any Pitt ever + again apply in Parliament for a career. 'Your voices, your most sweet + voices; ye melodious torrents of Gadarenes Swine, galloping rapidly down + steep places, I, for one; know whither I'"...—Enough. + </p> + <p> + About four months before this time, Elliot had done a feat, not in the + Diplomatic line at all, or by his own choice at all, which had + considerably astonished the Diplomatic world at Berlin, and was doubtless + well in the King's thoughts during this introduction of the Dozen. The + American War is raging and blundering along,—a delectable Lord + George Germaine (ALIAS Sackville, no other than our old Minden friend) + managing as War-Minister, others equally skilful presiding at the + Parliamentary helm; all becoming worse and worse off, as the matter + proceeds. The revolted Colonies have their Franklins, Lees, busy in + European Courts: "Help us in our noble struggle, ye European Courts;, now + is your chance on tyrannous England!" To which France at least does appear + to be lending ear. Lee, turned out from Vienna, is at work in Berlin, this + while past; making what progress is uncertain to some people. + </p> + <p> + I know not whether it was by my Lord Suffolk's instigation, or what had + put the Britannic Cabinet on such an idea,—perhaps the stolen + Letters of Friedrich, which show so exact a knowledge of the current of + events in America as well as England ("knows every step of it, as if he + were there himself, the Arch-Enemy of honest neighbors in a time of + stress!")—but it does appear they had got it into their sagacious + heads that the bad neighbor at Berlin was, in effect, the Arch-Enemy, + probably mainspring of the whole matter; and that it would be in the + highest degree interesting to see clearly what Lee and he had on hand. + Order thereupon to Elliot: "Do it, at any price;" and finally, as mere + price will not answer, "Do it by any method,—STEAL Lee's + Despatch-Box for us!" + </p> + <p> + Perhaps few Excellencies living had less appetite for such a job than + Elliot; but his Orders were peremptory, "Lee is a rebel, quasi-outlaw; and + you must!" Elliot thereupon took accurate survey of the matter; and + rapidly enough, and with perfect skill, though still a novice in Berlin + affairs, managed to do it. Privily hired, or made his servant hire, the + chief Housebreaker or Pickpocket in the City: "Lee lodges in such and such + a Hostelry; bring us his Red-Box for a thirty hours; it shall be well + worth your while!" And in brief space the Red-Box arrives, accordingly; a + score or two of ready-writers waiting for it, who copy all day, all night, + at the top of their speed, till they have enough: which done, the Lee + Red-Box is left on the stairs of the Lee Tavern; Box locked again, and + complete; only the Friedrich-Lee Secrets completely pumped out of it, and + now rushing day and night towards England, to illuminate the Supreme + Council-Board there. + </p> + <p> + This astonishing mass of papers is still extant in England; [In the + EDEN-HOUSE ARCHIVES; where a natural delicacy (unaware that the + questionable Legationary FACT stands in print for so many years past) is + properly averse to any promulgation of them.]—the outside of them I + have seen, by no means the inside, had I wished it;—but am able to + say from other sources, which are open to all the world, that seldom had a + Supreme Council-Board procured for itself, by improper or proper ways, a + Discovery of less value! Discovery that Lee has indeed been urgent at + Berlin; and has raised in Friedrich the question, "Have you got to such a + condition that I can, with safety and advantage, make a Treaty of Commerce + with you?"—That his Minister Schulenburg has, by Order, been + investigating Lee on that head; and has reported, "No, your Majesty, Lee + and People are not in such a condition;" that his Majesty has replied, + "Well, let him wait till they are;" and that Lee is waiting accordingly. + In general, That his Majesty is not less concerned in guidance or + encouragement of the American War than he is in ditto of the Atlantic + Tides or of the East-Wind (though he does keep barometers and + meteorological apparatus by him); and that we of the Council-Board are a—what + shall I say! Not since the case of poor Dr. Cameron, in 1753, when + Friedrich was to have joined the Highlanders with 15,000 chosen Prussians + for Jacobite purposes,—and the Cham of Tartary to have taken part in + the Bangorian Controversy,—was there a more perfect platitude, or a + deeper depth of ignorance as to adjacent objects on the part of Governing + Men. For shame, my friends!— + </p> + <p> + This surprising bit of Burglary, so far as I can gather from the Prussian + Books, must have been done on WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25th, 1777; Box (with + essence pumped out) restored to staircase night of Thursday,—Police + already busy, Governor Ramin and Justice-President Philippi already + apprised, and suspicion falling on the English Minister,—whose + Servant ("Arrest him we cannot without a King's Warrant, only procurable + at Potsdam!") vanishes bodily. Friday, 27th, Ramin and Philippi make + report; King answers, "greatly astonished:" a "GARSTIGE SACHE (ugly + Business), which will do the English no honor:" "Servant fled, say you? + Trace it to the bottom; swift!" Excellency Elliot, seeing how matters lay, + owned honestly to the Official People, That it was his Servant (Servant + safe gone, Chief Pickpocket not mentioned at all); SUNDAY EVENING, 29th, + King orders thereupon, "Let the matter drop." These Official Pieces, + signed by the King, by Hertzberg, Ramin and others, we do not give: here + is Friedrich's own notice of it to his Brother Henri:— + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 29th JUNE, 1777.... There has just occurred a strange thing at + Berlin. Three days ago, in absence of the Sieur Lee, Envoy of the American + Colonies, the Envoy of England went [sent!] to the Inn where Lee lodged, + and carried off his Portfolio; it seems he was in fear, however, and threw + it down, without opening it, on the stairs [alas, no, your Majesty, not + till after pumping the essence out]. All Berlin is talking of it. If one + were to act with rigor, it would be necessary to forbid this man the + Court, since he has committed a public theft: but, not to make a noise, I + suppress the thing. Sha'n't fail, however, to write to England about it, + and indicate that there was another way of dealing with such a matter, for + they are impertinent" (say, ignorant, blind as moles, your Majesty; that + is the charitable reading!). [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvi. 394. In + PREUSS, v. (he calls it "iv." or "URKUNDENBUCH to vol. iv.," but it is + really and practically vol. v.) 278, 279, are the various Official + Reports.] + </p> + <p> + This was not Excellency Elliot's Burglary, as readers see,—among all + the Excellencies going, I know not that there is one with less natural + appetite for such a job; but sometimes what can a necessitous Excellency + do? Elliot is still remembered in Berlin society, not for this only, but + for emphatic things of a better complexion which he did; a man more justly + estimated there, than generally here in our time. Here his chief fame + rests on a witty Anecdote, evidently apocryphal, and manufactured in the + London Clubs: "Who is this Hyder-Ali," said the old King to him, one day + (according to the London Clubs). "Hm," answered Elliot, with exquisite + promptitude, politeness and solidity of information, "C'EST UN VIEUX + VOLEUR QUI COMMENCE A RADOTER (An old robber, now falling into his + dotage),"—let his dotard Majesty take that. + </p> + <p> + Alas, my friends!—Ignorance by herself is an awkward lumpish wench; + not yet fallen into vicious courses, nor to be uncharitably treated: but + Ignorance and Insolence,—these are, for certain, an unlovely Mother + and Bastard! Yes;—and they may depend upon it, the grim + Parish-beadles of this Universe are out on the track of them, and oakum + and the correction-house are infallible sooner or later! The clever + Elliot, who knew a hawk from a hernshaw, never floundered into that + platitude. This, however, is a joke of his, better or worse (I think, on + his quitting Berlin in 1782, without visible resource or outlook): "I am + far from having a Sans-Souci," writes he to the Edens; "and I think I am + coming to be SANS SIX-SOUS."—Here still are two small Fractions, + which I must insert; and then rigorously close. Kaiser Joseph, in these + months, is travelling through France to instruct his Imperial mind. The + following is five weeks anterior to that of Lee's Red-Box:— + </p> + <p> + 1. A BIT OF DIALOGUE AT PARIS (Saturday, 17th May, 1777). After solemn + Session of the ACADEMIE FRANCAISE, held in honor of an illustrious COMTE + DE FALKENSTEIN (privately, Kaiser Joseph II.), who has come to look at + France, [Minute and rather entertaining Account of his procedures there, + and especially of his two Visits to the Academy (first was May 10th), in + Mayer, <i>Reisen Josephs II.</i> (Leipzig, 1778), pp. 112-132, 147 et seq.]—Comte + de Falkenstein was graciously pleased to step up to D'Alembert, who is + Perpetual Secretary here; and this little Dialogue ensued:— + </p> + <p> + FALKENSTEIN. "I have heard you are for Germany this season; some say you + intend to become German altogether?" + </p> + <p> + D'ALEMBERT. "I did promise myself the high honor of a visit to his + Prussian Majesty, who has deigned to invite me, with all the kindness + possible: but, alas, for such hopes! The bad state of my health—" + </p> + <p> + FALKENSTEIN. "It seems to me you have already been to see the King of + Prussia?" + </p> + <p> + D'ALEMBERT. "Two times; once in 1756 [1755, 17th-19th June,—if you + will be exact], at Wesel, when I remained only a few days; and again in + 1763, when I had the honor to pass three or four months with him. Since + that time I have always longed to have the honor of seeing his Majesty + again; but circumstances hindered me. I, above all, regretted not to have + been able to pay my court to him that year he saw the Emperor at Neisse,—but + at this moment there is nothing more to be wished on that head" (Don't + bow: the Gentleman is INCOGNITO). + </p> + <p> + FALKENSTEIN. "It was very natural that the Emperor, young, and desiring to + instruct himself, should wish to see such a Prince as the King of Prussia; + so great a Captain, a Monarch of such reputation, and who has played so + great a part. It was a Scholar going to see his Master" (these are his + very words, your Majesty). + </p> + <p> + D'ALEMBERT. "I wish M. le Comte de Falkenstein could see the Letters which + the King of Prussia did me the honor to write after that Interview: it + would then appear how this Prince judged of the Emperor, as all the world + has since done." ["D'Alembert to Friedrich [in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxv. 75], 23d May, 1777." Ib. xxv. 82; "13th August, 1777."] + </p> + <p> + KING TO D'ALEMBERT (three months after. Kaiser is home; passed Ferney, + early in August; and did not call on Voltaire, as is well known).... "I + hear the Comte de Falkenstein has been seeing harbors, arsenals, ships, + manufactures, and has n't seen Voltaire. Had I been in the Emperor's + place, I would not have passed Ferney without a glance at the old + Patriarch, were it only to say that I had seen and heard him. Arsenals, + ships, manufactures, these you can see anywhere; but it requires ages to + produce a Voltaire. By the rumors I hear, it will have been a certain + great Lady Theresa, very Orthodox and little Philosophical, who forbade + her Son to visit the Apostle of Tolerance." + </p> + <p> + D'ALEMBERT (in answer): "No doubt your Majesty's guess is right. It must + have been the Lady Mother. Nobody here believes that the advice came from + his Sister [Queen Marie Antoinette], who, they say, is full of esteem for + the Patriarch, and has more than once let him know it by third parties." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xxv. 84.] + </p> + <p> + According to Friedrich, Joseph's reflections in France were very gloomy: + "This is all one Country; strenuously kneaded into perfect union and + incorporation by the Old Kings: my discordant Romish Reich is of many + Countries,—and should be of one, if Sovereigns were wise and + strenuous!" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 125.] + </p> + <p> + 2. A CABINET-ORDER AND ACTUAL (fac-simile) SIGNATURE OF FRIEDRICH'S.—After + unknown travels over the world, this poor brown Bit of Paper, with a + Signature of Friedrich's to it, has wandered hither; and I have had it + copied, worthy or not. A Royal Cabinet-Order on the smallest of subjects; + but perhaps all the more significant on that account; and a Signature + which readers may like to see. + </p> + <p> + Fordan, or Fordon, is in the Bromberg Department in West Preussen,—Bromberg + no longer a heap of ruins; but a lively, new-built, paved, CANALLED and + industrious trading Town. At Fordan is a Grain-Magazine: Bein ("Leg," DER + BEIN, as they slightingly call him) is Proviant-Master there; and must + consider his ways,—the King's eye being on him. Readers can now look + and understand:— + </p> + <p> + AN DEN OBER-PROVIANTMEISTER BEIN, zu Fordan. + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, den 9ten April, 1777. + </p> + <p> + <i>"Seiner Koniglicher Majestat von Preussen, Unser allergnadigster Herr, + lassen dem Ober-Proviantmeister Bein hiebey die Getraide-Preistabelle des + Brombergschen Departments zufertigen; Woraus derselbe ersiehet wie niedrig + solche an einigen Orthen sind, und dass zu Inovraclaw und Strezeltnow der + Scheffel Roggen um 12 Groschen kostet: da solches nun hier so wohlfeil + ist, somuss ja der Preis in Pohlen noch wohl geringer, und ist daher nicht + abzusehen warum die Pohlen auf so hohe Preise bestehen; der Bein muss sich + daher nun rechte Muhe gebem, und den Einkauf so wohlfeil als nur immer mog</i> + lich zu machen suchen." + </p> + <p> + "His Royal Majesty of Preussen, Our most all-gracious Lord, lets herewith, + to the Head Proviant-Master Bein, the Grain-Prices Table of the Bromberg + Department be despatched; Wherefrom Bein perceives how low in some places + these are, and that, at Inovraclaw and Strezeltnow the Bushel of Rye costs + about 14 Pence: now, as it is so cheap there, the price in Poland must be + still smaller; and therefore it is not to be conceived why the Poles + demand such high prices," as the said Bein reports: "Bein therefore is + charged to take especial pains, and try not to make the purchase dearer + than is indispensable." + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH'S SIGNATURE HERE—PAGE 390, BOOK XXI—— + </p> + <p> + [Reference re signature] Original kindly furnished me by Mr. W. H. Doeg, + Barlow Moor, Manchester: whose it now is,—purchased in London, A.D. + 1863. The FRH of German CURSIV-SCHRIFT (current hand), which the + woodcutter has appended, shut off by a square, will show English readers + what the King means: an <i>"Frh"</i> done as by a flourish of one's stick, + in the most compendious and really ingenious manner,—suitable for an + economic King, who has to repeat it scores of times every day of his life! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI.—THE BAVARIAN WAR. + </h2> + <p> + At the very beginning of 1778, the chronic quarrel with Austria passed, by + an accident just fallen out, into the acute state; rose gradually, and, in + spite of negotiating, issued in a thing called Bavarian-Succession War, + which did not end till Spring of the following year. The accident was + this. At Munchen, December 30th, 1777, Max Joseph Kurfurst of Baiern, only + Brother of our lively friend the Electress-Dowager of Saxony, died; + suddenly, of small-pox unskilfully treated. He was in his fifty-second + year; childless, the last of that Bavarian branch. His Heir is Karl + Theodor, Kur-Pfalz (Elector Palatine), who is now to unite the Two + Electorates,—unless Austria can bargain with him otherwise. + Austria's desire to get hold of Baiern is of very old standing; and we + have heard lately how much it was an object with Kaunitz and his young + Kaiser. With Karl Theodor they did bargain,—in fact, had beforehand + as good as bargained,—and were greatly astonished, when King + Friedrich, alone of all Teutschland or the world, mildly, but + peremptorily, interfered, and said No,—with effect, as is well + known. + </p> + <p> + Something, not much, must be said of this Bavarian-Succession War; which + occupied, at a pitch of tension and anxiety foreign to him for a long + time, fifteen months of Friedrich's old age (January, 1778-March, 1779); + and filled all Europe round him and it, in an extraordinary manner. + Something; by no means much, now that we have seen the issue of such + mountains all in travail. Nobody could then say but it bade fair to become + a Fourth Austrian-Prussian War, as sanguinary as the Seven-Years had been; + for in effect there stood once more the Two Nations ranked against each + other, as if for mortal duel, near half a million men in whole; parleying + indeed, but brandishing their swords, and ever and anon giving mutual + clash of fence, as if the work had begun, though there always intervened + new parleying first. + </p> + <p> + And now everybody sees that the work never did begin; that parleying, + enforced by brandishing, turned out to be all the work there was: and + everybody has forgotten it, and, except for specific purposes, demands not + to be put in mind of it. Mountains in labor were not so frequent then as + now, when the Penny Newspaper has got charge of them; though then as now + to practical people they were a nuisance. Mountains all in terrific + travail-throes, threatening to overset the solar system, have always a + charm, especially for the more foolish classes: but when once the birth + has taken place, and the wretched mouse ducks past you, or even nothing at + all can be seen to duck past, who is there but impatiently turns on his + heel? + </p> + <p> + Those Territories, which adjoin on its own dominions, would have been + extremely commodious to Austria;—as Austria itself has long known; + and by repeatedly attempting them on any chance given (as in 1741-1745, to + go no farther back), has shown how well it knows. Indeed, the whole of + Bavaria fairly incorporated and made Austrian, what an infinite + convenience would it be! + </p> + <p> + "Do but look on the Map [this Note is not by Busching, but by somebody of + Austrian tendencies]: you would say, Austria without Bavaria is like a + Human Figure with its belly belonging to somebody else. Bavaria is the + trunk or belly of the Austrian Dominions, shutting off all the limbs of + them each from the other; making for central part a huge chasm. + </p> + <p> + "Ober-Pfalz,—which used to be Kur-Pfalz's, which is Bavaria's since + we took it from the Winter-King and bestowed it in that way,—Ober-Pfalz, + the country of Amberg, where Maillebois once pleased to make invasion of + us;—does not it adjoin on the Bohemian Forest? The RIBS there, + Bohemian all, up to the shoulder, are ours: but the shoulder-blade and + left arm, whose are they! Austria Proper and Hungary, these may be taken + as sitting-part and lower limbs, ample and fleshy; but see, just above the + pelvis, on the south side, how Bavaria and its Tyrol sticks itself in upon + Austria, who fancied she also had a Tyrol, and far the more important one. + Our Tyrol, our Styria, Carniola, Carinthia,—Bavaria blocks these in. + Then the Swabian Austria,—Breisach, and those Upper-Rhine Countries, + from which we invade France,—we cannot reach them except through + Bavarian ground. Swabian Austria should be our right arm, fingers of it + reaching into Switzerland; Ober-Pfalz our left:—and as to the broad + breast between these two; left arm and broad breast are Bavaria's, not + ours. Of the Netherlands, which might be called geographically the head of + Austria, alas, the long neck, Lorraine, was once ours; but whose is it? + Irrecoverable for the present,—perhaps may not always be so!" + </p> + <p> + These are Kaunitz's ideas; and the young Kaiser has eagerly adopted them + as the loadstar of his life. "Make the Reich a reality again," thinks the + Kaiser (good, if only possible, think we too); "make Austria great; + Austria is the Reich, how else can the Reich be real?" + </p> + <p> + In practical politics these are rather wild ideas; but they are really + Kaunitz's and his Kaiser's; and were persisted in long after this Bavarian + matter got its check: and as a whole, they got repeated checks; being + impossible all, and far from the meaning of a Time big with French + Revolution, and with quite other things than world-greatness to Austria, + and rejuvenescence on such or on any terms to the poor old Holy Roman + Reich, which had been a wiggery so long. Nobody could guess of what it was + that France or the world might be with child: nobody, till the birth in + 1789, and even for a generation afterwards. France is weakly and unwieldy, + has strange enough longings for chalky, inky, visionary, foolish + substances, and may be in the family-way for aught we know. + </p> + <p> + To Kaunitz it is pretty clear that France will not stand in his path in + this fine little Bavarian business; which is all he cares for at present. + England in war with its Colonies; Russia attentive to its Turk; foreign + Nations, what can they do but talk; remonstrate more or less, as they did + in the case of Poland; and permit the thing with protest? Only from one + Sovereign Person, and from him I should guess not much, does Kaunitz + expect serious opposition: from Friedrich of Prussia; to whom no + enlargement of Austria can be matter of indifference. "But cannot we + perhaps make it worth his while?" thinks Kaunitz: "Tush, he is old and + broken; thought to be dying; has an absolute horror of war. He too will + sit quiet; or we must make it worth his while." In this calculation + Kaunitz deceived himself; we are now shortly to see how. + </p> + <p> + Kaunitz's Case, when he brings it before the Reich, and general Public of + mankind and its Gazetteers, will by no means prove to be a strong one. His + Law "TITLE" is this:— + </p> + <p> + "Archduke Albert V., of Austria, subsequently Kaiser Albert II., had + married Elizabeth, only Daughter of Kaiser Sigismund SUPER-GRAMMATICAM: + Albert is he who got three crowns in one year, Hungary, Bohemia, Romish + Reich; and 'we hope a fourth,' say the Old Historians, 'which was a + heavenly and eternal one,'—died, in short (1439, age forty). From + him come the now Kaisers. + </p> + <p> + "In 1426, thirteen years before this event of the Crowns, Sigismund + GRAMMATICAM had infeoffed him in a thing still of shadowy nature,—the + Expectancy of a Straubingen Princedom; pleasant extensive District, only + not yet fallen, or like falling vacant: 'You shall inherit, you and yours + (who are also my own), so soon as this present line of Wittelsbachers + die!' said Kaiser Sigismund, solemnly, in two solemn sheepskins. 'Not a + whit of it,' would the Wittelsbachers have answered, had they known of the + affair. 'When we die out, there is another Line of Wittelsbachers, plenty + of other lines; and House-treaties many and old, settling all that, + without help of you and Albert of the Three Crowns!' And accordingly there + had never come the least fruit, or attempt at fruit, from these two + Sigismund Sheepskins; which were still lying in the Vienna Archives, where + they had lain since the creation of them, known to an Antiquary or two, + but not even by them thought worthy of mention in this busy world. This + was literally all the claim that Austria had; and every by-stander + admitted it to be, in itself, not worth a rush." + </p> + <p> + "In itself perhaps not," thought Kaunitz; "but the free consent of Karl + Theodor the Heir, will not that be a Title in full? One would hope so; in + the present state of Europe: France, England, Russia, every Nation + weltering overhead in its own troubles and affairs, little at leisure for + ours!" And it is with Karl Theodor, to make out a full Title for himself + there, that Kaunitz has been secretly busy this long time back, especially + in the late critical days of poor Kurfurst Max. + </p> + <p> + Karl Theodor of the Pfalz, now fallen Heir to Baiern, is a poor idle + creature, of purely egoistic, ornamental, dilettante nature; sunk in + theatricals, bastard children and the like; much praised by Voltaire, who + sometimes used to visit him; and by Collini, to whom he is a kind master. + Karl Theodor cares little for the integrity of Baiern, much for that of + his own skin. Very long ago, in 1742, in poor Kaiser Karl's Coronation + time, we saw him wedded, him and another, to two fair Sister Sulzbach + Princesses, [Supra, viii. 119.] Grand-daughters of old Karl Philip, the + then Kur-Pfalz, whom he has inherited. It was the last act of that + never-resting old Karl Philip, of whom we used to hear so much: "Karl + Theodor to have one of my inestimable Grand-daughters; Duke Clement, + younger Brother of our blessed new Kaiser, to have another; thereby we + unite the kindred branches of the Pfalz-Baiern Families, and make the + assurance of the Heritages doubly sure!" said old Karl Philip; and died + happy, or the happiest he could. + </p> + <p> + Readers no doubt have forgotten this circumstance; and, in their total + lack of interest in Karl Theodor and his paltry affairs, may as well be + reminded of it;—and furthermore, that these brilliant young Wives, + "Duchess Clement" especially, called on Wilhelmina during the Frankfurt + Gayeties, and were a charm to Kaiser Karl Albert, striving to look forward + across clouds into a glittering future for his House. Theodor's Princess + brought him no children; she and her Sister are both still living; a lone + woman the latter (Duke Clement dead these seven years),—a still more + lone the former, with such a Husband yet living! Lone women both, well + forward in the fifties; active souls, I should guess, at least to judge by + Duchess Clement, who being a Dowager, and mistress of her movements, is + emphatic in denouncing such disaster and disgrace; and plays a great part, + at Munchen, in the agitating scenes now on hand. Comes out "like a noble + Amazon," say the admiring by-standers, on this occasion; stirs whatever + faculty she has, especially her tongue; and goes on urging, pushing and + contriving all she can, regardless of risks in such an imminency. + </p> + <p> + Karl Theodor finds his Heritages indisputable; but he has no Legitimate + Son to leave them to; and has many Illegitimate, whom Austria can provide + for,—and richly will. His Heir is a Nephew, Karl August Christian, + of Zweibruck; whom perhaps it would not be painful to him to disappoint a + little of his high expectations. On the whole, Peace; plentiful provision, + titular and other, for his Illegitimates; and a comfortable sum of ready + money over, to enliven the Theatricals, Dusseldorf Picture-Galleries and + Dilettante operations and Collections,—how much welcomer to Theodor + than a Baiern never so religiously saved entire at the expense of quarrel, + which cannot but be tedious, troublesome and dangerous! Honor, indeed—but + what, to an old stager in the dilettante line, is honor? Old stagers there + are who will own to you, like Balzac's Englishman in a case of + conflagration, when honor called on all men to take their buckets, "MAIS + JE N'AI POINT D'HONNEUR!" To whom, unluckily, you cannot answer as in that + case, "C'EST EGAL, 'T is all one; do as if you had some!" Karl Theodor + scandalously left Baiern to its fate. + </p> + <p> + Karl Theodor's Heir, poor August Christian of Zweibruck, had of course his + own gloomy thoughts on this parcelling of his Bavarian reversion: but what + power has he? None, he thinks, but to take the inevitable patiently. Nor + generally in the Princes of the Reich, though one would have thought them + personally concerned, were it only for danger of a like mistreatment, was + there any emotion publicly expressed, or the least hope of help. "Perhaps + Prussia will quarrel about it?" think they: "Austria, Prussia, in any of + their quarrels we get only crushed; better to keep out of it. We well out + of it, the more they quarrel and fight, the better for us!" England, in + the shape of Hanover, would perhaps have made some effort to interfere, + provided France did: on either side, I incline to think,—that is to + say, on the side opposite to France. But poor England is engaged with its + melancholy American War; France on the point of breaking out into Alliance + with the Insurrection there. Neither France nor England did interfere. + France is sinking into bankruptcy; intent to have a Navy before most + things; to assist the Cause of Human Liberty over seas withal, and become + a sublime spectacle, and a ruin to England,—not as in the + Pitt-Choiseul time, but by that improved method. Russia, again involved in + Turk business, looks on, with now and then a big word thrown out on the + one side and the other.—Munchen, in the interval, we can fancy what + an agitated City! One Note says:— + </p> + <p> + "Kurfurst Max Joseph being dead (30th December, 1777), Privy Councillor + Johann Euchar von Obermayr, favorite and factotum Minister of the + Deceased, opened the Chatoulle [Princely Safe, or Case of Preciosities]; + took from it the Act, which already lay prepared, for Homaging and solemn + Instalment of Karl Theodor Kur-Pfalz, as heir of Baiern; with immediate + intent to execute the same. Euchar orders strict closure of the + Town-gates; the Soldiery to draw out, and beset all streets,—especially + that street where Imperial Majesty's Ambassador lives: 'Rank close with + your backs to that House,' orders Euchar; 'and the instant anybody stirs + to come out, sound your drums, and, at the same instant, let the rearmost + rank of you, without looking round [for one would not give offence, unless + imperative] smite the butts of their muskets to the ground' (ready for + firing, IF imperative). Nobody, I think, stirred out from that Austrian + Excellency's House; in any case, Obermayr completed his Act without the + least protest or trouble from anybody; and Karl Theodor, almost to his + terror [for he meant to sell, and satisfy Austria, by no means to resist + or fight, the paltry old creature, careful of self and skin only], saw + himself solemnly secured by all forms of law in all the Lands of the + Deceased. [Fischer, <i>Geschichte Friedrichs des Zweiten</i> (Halle, + 1787), ii. 358.] + </p> + <p> + "Kaiser Joseph, in a fume at this, shot off an express to Bohemia: 'Such + and such regiments, ten or twelve of you, with your artillery and tools, + march instantly into Straubingen, and occupy that Town and District.' At + Vienna, to the Karl-Theodor Ambassador, the Kaunitz Officials were + altogether loud-voiced, minatory: 'What is this, Herr Excellenz? Bargain + already made; lying ready for mere signature; and at Munchen such doings. + Sign this Bargain, or there cross your frontier 60,000 Austrian men, and + seize both Baiern and the Ober-Pfalz; bethink you, Herr!' The poor Herr + bethought him, what could he do? signed the Bargain, Karl Theodor + sanctioning, 3d January, 1778,—the fourth day after Obermayr's + Homaging feat;—and completes the first act of this bad business. The + Bargain, on Theodor's side, was of the most liberal kind: All and sundry + the Lands and Circles of Duke Johann of Straubingen, Lordship of + Mindelheim [Marlborough's old Place] superadded, and I know not what else; + Sovereignty of the Fiefs in Ober-Pfalz to lapse to the Crown of Bohmen on + my decease." Half Bavaria, or better; some reckon it as good as + two-thirds. + </p> + <p> + The figure of Duchess Clement, Amazon in hair-powder, driviug incessantly + about among the officialities and aristocratic circles; this and the order + of "Rattle your muskets on the ground;" let these two features represent + to us the Munchen of those months. Munchen, Regensburg, Vienna are loud + with pleading, protocolling; but it is not there that the crisis of the + game will be found to lie. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has, for some time back, especially since the late Kur-Baiern's + illness, understood that Austria, always eager for a clutch at Baiern, had + something of that kind in view; but his first positive news of it was a + Letter from Duchess Clement (date, JANUARY 3d), which, by the detail of + facts, unveiled to his quick eye the true outline, extent and nature of + this Enterprise of Austria's; Enterprise which, he could not but agree + with Duchess Clement, was one of great concernment not to Baiern alone. + "Must be withstood; prevented, at whatever risk," thought Friedrich on the + instant: "The new Elector, Karl Theodor, he probably is dead to the + matter; but one ought to ask him. If he answer, Dead; then ask his Heir, + Have you no life to it?" Heir is a gallant enough young gentleman, of + endless pedigree, but small possessions, "Karl August Christian [Karl II. + in Official style], Duke of Zweibruck-Birkenfeld," Karl Theodor's eldest + Nephew; Friedrich judges that he probably will have haggled to sign any + Austrian convention for dismembering Baiern, and that he will start into + life upon it so soon as he sees hope. + </p> + <p> + "A messenger to him, to Karl Theodor and him," thinks Friedrich: "a + messenger instantly; and who?" For that clearly is the first thing. And a + delicate thing it is; requiring to be done in profoundest secrecy, by hint + and innuendo rather than speech; by somebody in a cloak of darkness, who + is of adroit quality, and was never heard of in diplomatic circles before, + not to be suspected of having business of mine on hand. Friedrich bethinks + him that in a late visit to Weimar, he had noticed, for his fine + qualities, a young gentleman named Gortz; Eustace von Gortz, [Preuss, iv. + 92 n. &c.] late Tutor to the young Duke (Karl August, whom readers + know as Goethe's friend): a wise, firm, adroit-looking young gentleman; + who was farther interesting as Brother to Lieutenant-General von Gortz, a + respectable soldier of Friedrich's. Ex-Tutor at Weimar, we say, and idle + for the moment; hanging about Court there, till he should find a new + function. + </p> + <p> + Of this Ex-Tutor Friedrich bethinks him; and in the course of that same + day,—for there is no delay,—Friedrich, who is at Berlin, + beckons General Gortz to come over to him from Potsdam instantly. "Hither + this evening; and in all privacy meet me in the Palace at such an hour" + (hour of midnight or thereby); which of course Gortz, duly invisible to + mankind, does. Friedrich explains: An errand to Munchen; perfectly secret, + for the moment, and requiring great delicacy and address; perhaps not + without risk, a timorous man might say: will your Brother go for me, think + you? Gortz thinks he will. "Here is his Instruction, if so," adds the + King, handing him an Autograph of the necessary outline of procedure,—not + signed, nor with any credential, or even specific address, lest accident + happen. "Adieu then, Herr General-Lieutenant; rule is, shoes of swiftness, + cloak of darkness: adieu!" And Gortz Senior is off on the instant, + careering towards Weimar, where he finds Gortz Junior, and makes known his + errand. Gortz Junior stares in the natural astonishment; but, after some + intense brief deliberation, becomes affirmative, and in a minimum of time + is ready and on the road. + </p> + <p> + Gortz Junior proved to have been an excellent choice on the King's part; + and came to good promotion afterwards by his conduct in this affair. Gortz + Junior started for Munchen on the instant, masked utterly, or his business + masked, from profane eyes; saw this person, saw that, and glided swiftly + about, swiftly and with sure aim; and speedily kindled the matter, and had + smoke rising in various points. And before January was out, saw the + Reichs-Diet at Regensburg, much more the general Gazetteerage everywhere, + seized of this affair, and thrown into paroxysms at the size and + complexion of it: saw, in fact, a world getting into flame,—kindled + by whom or what nobody could guess, for a long time to come. Gortz had + great running about in his cloak of darkness, and showed abundant talent + of the kind needed. A pushing, clear-eyed, stout-hearted man; much + cleverness and sureness in what he did and forbore to do. His adventures + were manifold; he had much travelling about: was at Regensburg, at + Mannheim; saw many persons whom he had to judge of on the instant, and + speak frankly to, or speak darkly, or speak nothing; and he made no + mistake. One of his best counsellors, I gather, was Duchess Clement: of + course it was not long till Duchess Clement heard some inkling of him; + till, in some of his goings and comings, he saw Duchess Clement, who + hailed him as an angel of light. In one journey more mysterious than ever, + "he was three days invisible in Duchess Clement's Garden-house." "AH, + MADAME, QUE N'ETIEZ-VOUS ELECTEUR, Why were not you Elector!" writes + Friedrich to her once: "We should not have seen those shameful events, + which every good German must blush for, to the bottom of his heart (DONT + TOUT BON ALLEMAND DOIT ROUGIR JUSQU'AU FOND DU COEUR)!" [Preuss, iv. 94.] + </p> + <p> + We cannot afford the least narrative of Gortz and his courses: + imagination, from a few traits, will sufficiently conceive them. He had + gone first to Karl Theodor's Minister: "Dead to it, I fear; has already + signed?" Alas, yes. Upon which to Zweibruck the Heir's Minister; whom his + Master had distinctly ordered to sign, but who, at his own peril, gallant + man, delayed, remonstrated, had not yet done it; and was able to answer: + "Alive to it, he? Yes, with a witness, were there hope in the world!"—which + threw Gortz upon instant gallop towards Zweibruck Schloss, in search of + said Heir, the young Duke August Christian; who, however, had left in the + interim (summoned by his Uncle, on Austrian urgency, to consent along with + him); but whom Gortz, by dexterity and intuition of symptoms, caught up by + the road, with what a mutual joy! As had been expected, August Christian, + on sight of Gortz, with an armed Friedrich looming in the distance, took + at once into new courses and activities. From him, no consent now; far + other: Treaty with Friedrich; flat refusal ever to consent: application to + the Reich, application even to France, and whatever a gallant young fellow + could do. + </p> + <p> + It was by Friedrich's order that he applied to France; his younger + Brother, Max Joseph, was a soldier there, and strove to back him in + Official and other circles,—who were all friendly, even zealous for + him; and gave good words, but had nothing more. This French department of + the business was long a delay to Friedrich's operations: and in result, + poor Max's industry there, do what he could, proved rather a minus + quantity than otherwise. A good young man, they say; but not the man to + kindle into action horses that are dead,—of which he had experience + more than once in time coming. He is the same that, 30 years after, having + survived his childless elder Brother, became King Max, first King of + Baiern; begot Ludwig, second King,—who, for his part, has begotten + Otho King of Greece, and done other feats still less worth mentioning. + August Christian's behavior is praised as excellent,—passively firm + and polite; the grand requisite, persistence on your ground of "No:"—but + his luck, to find such a Friedrich, and also to find such a Gortz, was the + saving clause for him. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was in very weak health in these months; still considered by the + Gazetteers to be dying. But it appears he is not yet too weak for taking, + on the instant necessary, a world-important resolution; and of being on + the road with it, to this issue or to that, at full speed before the day + closed. "Desist, good neighbor, I beseech you. You must desist, and even + you shall:" this resolution was entirely his own; as were the equally + prompt arrangements he contrived for executing it, should hard come to + hard, and Austria prefer war to doing justice. "Excellent methods," say + the most unfriendly judges, "which must at once have throttled Austria + into compliance, had he been as prompt in executing them;—which he + by no means was. And there lies his error and failure; very lamentable, + excusable only by decrepitude of body producing weakness and decay of + mind." This is emphatically and wearisomely Schmettau's opinion, [F. W. C. + Graf van Schmettau (this is the ELDER Schmettau's Son, not the DRESDENER'S + whom we used to quote), FELDZUG DER PREUSSISCHEN ARMEE IN BOHMEN IM JAHRE + 1778 (Berlin, 1789,—simultaneously in French too, with Plans): with + which—as the completest Account by an eager Witness and Participator—compare + always Friedrich's own (MEMOIRES DE LA GUERRE DE 1778), in <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> vi. 135-208. Schoning (vol. iv.), besides his own loose + Narrative, or Summary, has given all the CORRESPONDENCE between Henri and + the King:—sufficient to quench the sharpest appetite on this + subject.] who looks at it only as a military Adjutant, intent on honor and + rapid feats of war,—with how much reason, readers not Prussian or + military shall judge as we go on. + </p> + <p> + Saxony, we ought to mention, was also aggrieved. The Dowager-Electress + Maria Antoinette, our sprightly friend, had, as sole surviving Sister of + the late Kurfurst Max, the undoubted heirship of Kurfurst Max's "allodial + properties and territories:" territories, I think, mainly in the + Ober-Pfalz (which are NOT Bavaria Proper, but were acquired in the + Thirty-Years War), which are important in value, and which Austria, + regardless of our lively friend, has laid hold of as lapsed fiefs of + Bohemia. Clearly Bohemian, says Austria; and keeps hold. Our lively friend + hereupon makes over all her rights in that matter to her Son, the reigning + Elector; with the counsel, if counsel were needed, "Ask protection of King + Friedrich; go wholly with King Friedrich." Mecklenburg too has an + interest. Among the lapsed fiefs is one to a Duchy called of Leuchtenberg;—in + regard to which, says Mecklenburg, as loud as it can, "That Duchy is not + lapsed at all; that is now mine, witness this Document" (of a valid + testamentary nature)! Other claims were put in; but these three: Zweibruck + endlessly important; Saxony important too, though not in such degree; + Mecklenburg unimportant, but just,—were alone recognized in + impartial quarters as authentic and worthy of notice. + </p> + <p> + Of the pleadings and procedures in the Reichs Diet no reader would permit + me to speak, were I inclined. Enough to understand that they went on in + the usual voluminous dull-droning way, crescendo always; and deserve, what + at present they are sure of, oblivion from all creatures. The important + thing was, not those pleadings in the Reichs Diet, nor the Austrian + proposals there or elsewhere; but the brandishing of arms in emitting and + also in successively answering the same. Answer always No by Friedrich, + and some new flash of handled arms,—the physiognomy of which was the + one significant point, Austria, which is far from ready with arms, though + at each fresh pleading or proposal it tries to give a kind of brandish, + says mainly three things, in essence somewhat thus. AUSTRIA: "Cannot two + States of the Reich come to a mutual understanding, as Austria and Bavaria + have done? And what have third parties to say to it?" FRIEDRICH: "Much! + Parties of the Reich have much to say to it!" (This several times with + variations.) AUSTRIA: "Our rights seem to us valid: Zweibruck, Saxony, + Mecklenburg, if aggrieved, can try in the Reichs Law-Courts." FRIEDRICH: + "Law-Courts!" with a new brandish; that is, sets more regiments on march, + from Pommern to Wesel all on march, to Berlin, to Silesia, towards the + Bohemian Frontier. AUSTRIA, by the voice of Kaunitz: "We will not give up + our rights without sentence of Law. We cannot recognize the King of + Prussia as Law-Judge in this matter." FRIEDRICH: "The King of Prussia is + of the Jury!" + </p> + <p> + Pulse after pulse, this is something like the course things had, crescendo + till, in about three months, they got to a height which was evidently + serious. Nay, in the course of the pleadings it became manifest that on + the Austrian grounds of claim, not Maria Theresa could be heir to + Straubingen, but Friedrich himself: "I descend from Three-Crown Albert's + Daughter," said Maria Theresa. "And I from an elder Daughter of his, and + do not claim!" Friedrich could have answered, but did not; treating such + claim all along as merely colorable and chimerical, not worth attention in + serious affairs of fact. Till, at length, after about three months, there + comes a really serious brandish. + </p> + <p> + SUNDAY, APRIL 5th, 1778, at Berlin, Friedrich holds review of his Army, + all assembled, equipped and in readiness; and (in that upper Parole-Room + of the Schloss) makes this Speech, which, not without extraneous + intention, was printed in the Newspapers:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH'S SPEECH TO HIS GENERALS. "Gentlemen, I have assembled you here + for a public object. Most of you, like myself, have often been in arms + along with one another, and are grown gray in the service of our Country: + to all of us is well known in what dangers, toils and renown we have been + fellow-sharers. I doubt not in the least that all of you, as myself, have + a horror of bloodshed: but the danger which now threatens our Countries, + not only renders it a duty, but puts us in the absolute necessity, to + adopt the quickest and most effectual means for dissipating at the right + time the storm which threatens to break out on us. + </p> + <p> + "I depend with complete confidence on your soldierly and patriotic zeal, + which is already well and gloriously known to me, and which, while I live, + I will acknowledge with the heartiest satisfaction. Before all things, I + recommend to you, and prescribe as your most sacred duty, That, in every + situation, you exercise humanity on unarmed enemies; and be continually + attentive that, in this respect too, there be the strictest discipline + (MANNSZUCHT) kept among those under you. + </p> + <p> + "To travel with the pomp of a King is not among my wishes: and all of you + are aware that I have no pleasure in rich field-furniture: but my + increasing age, and the weakness it brings, render me incapable of riding + as I did in my youth. I shall, therefore, be obliged to make use of a + post-chaise in times of marching; and all of you have liberty to do the + same. But on the day of battle you shall see me on horseback; and there, + also, I hope my Generals will follow that example." + </p> + <p> + VOLTAIRE SMOTHERED UNDER ROSES. King's Speech was on Sunday, April 5th, + Evening of last Monday (March 30th), at the Theatre Francais in Paris, + poor Voltaire had that world-famous apotheosis of his; and got "smothered + under roses," as he termed it. He had left Ferney (such the urgency of + Niece Denis and her unappeasable desire for a sight of Paris again) + February 5th; arrived in Paris February 10th; ventured out to see his poor + last Tragedy, not till the sixth night of it, March 30th; was beshouted, + crowned, raised to the immortal gods by a repentant Paris world: "Greatest + of men,—You were not a miscreant and malefactor, then: on the + contrary, you were a spiritual Hercules, a heroic Son of Light; Slayer of + the Nightmare Monsters, and foul Dragons and Devils that were preying on + us: to you shall not we now say, Long life, with all our throats and all + our hearts,"—and so quench you at last! Which they managed to do, + poor repentant souls. The tottering wayworn Voltaire, over-agitated in + this way, took to bed; never rose again; and on that day two months was + dead. [In DUVERNET, and still better in LONGCHAMP ET WAGNIERE, ample + account of these interesting occurrences.] His light all done; to King + Friedrich, or to any of us, no flash of radiancy from him any more + forever. + </p> + <p> + APRIL 6th, Friedrich gets on march—perhaps about 100,000 strong—for + Schonwalde, in the Neisse-Schweidnitz neighborhood; and there, in the + course of the week, has cantoned himself, and sits completing his + magazines and appliances for actual work of war. This is a considerable + brandish; and a good deal astonishes Kaunitz and the Vienna people, who + have not 10,000 at present on those Frontiers, and nothing whatever in a + state of readiness. "Dangerous really!" Kaunitz admits; and sets new + regiments on march from Hungary, from the Netherlands, from all ends of + the Earth where they are. Tempers his own insolent talk, too; but strives + to persuade himself that it is "Menace merely. He won't; he abhors war." + Kaunitz had hardly exaggerated Friedrich's abhorrence of war; though it + turned out there were things which Friedrich abhorred still more. + </p> + <p> + Schonwalde, head-quarter of this alarming Prussian cantonment, is close on + the new Fortress of Silberberg, a beautiful new impregnability, looking + into those valleys of the Warta, of the young Neisse, which are the road + to Bohemia or from it,—where the Pandour torrents used to issue into + the first Silesian Wars; where Friedrich himself was once to have been + snapped up, but was not quite,—and only sang Mass as Extempore + Abbot, with Tobias Stusche, in the Monastery of Camenz, according to the + myth which readers may remember. No more can Pandours issue that way; only + Prussians can enter in. Friedrich's windows in the Schloss of Schonwalde,—which + are on the left hand, if you be touring in those parts,—look out, + direct upon Silberberg, and have its battlements between them and the + 3-o'clock Sun. [Schoning, iv. (Introductory Part).] In the Town of + Silberberg, Friedrich has withal a modest little lodging,—lodging + still known,—where he can alight for an hour or a night, in the + multifarious businesses that lead him to and fro. "A beautiful place," + says Schoning; "where the King stayed twelve weeks" or more; waiting till + the Bavarian-Austrian case should ripen better. At Schonwalde, what was + important in his private circle, he heard of Lord Marischal's death, then + of Voltaire's; not to mention that of English Pitt, and perhaps others + interesting to him. [Voltaire died May 30th; Marischal, May 25th; Pitt, + May 11th;—and May 4th, in the Cantonment here, died General von + Rentzel, the same who, as Lieutenant Rentzel, sixty years ago, had taught + the little Crown-Prince his drill (Rodenbeck, iii. 187).] + </p> + <p> + "Now was the time," cry Schmettau and the unfavorable, "when he might have + walked across into Eastern Bohemia, into Mahren, whither you like; to + Vienna itself, and taken Austria by the throat at discretion: 'Do justice, + then, will you! Let go Bavaria, or—!' In his young years, would not + he have done so? His Plan, long since laid down, was grand: To march into + Mahren, leaving Silesia guarded; nay leaving Bohemia to be invaded,—for + Prince Henri, and the Saxons, who are a willing handful, and will complete + Henri likewise to 100,000, were to do that, feat the while;—March + into Mahren, on to Vienna if he chose; laying all flat. Infallible," say + the Schmettau people. "He had the fire of head to contrive it all; but + worn down and grown old, he could not execute his great thoughts." Which + is obviously absurd, Friedrich's object not being to lay Austria flat, or + drive animosities to the sanguinary point, and kindle all Europe into war; + but merely to extract, with the minimum of violence, something like + justice from Austria on this Bavarian matter. For which end, he may justly + consider slow pressure preferable to the cutting method. His problem is + most ticklish, not allowed for by Schmettau. + </p> + <p> + The encampment round Schonwalde, especially as there was nothing ready + thereabouts on the Austrian side, produced a visible and great effect on + the negotiations; and notably altered the high Kaunitz tone towards + Friedrich. "Must two great Courts quarrel, then, for the sake of a small + one?" murmured Kaunitz, plaintively now, to himself and to the King,—to + the King not in a very distinct manner, though to himself the principle is + long since clear as an axiom in Politics: "Great Courts should understand + one another; then the small would be less troublesome." For a quarter of a + century this has been the Kaunitz faith. In 1753, when he miraculously + screwed round the French into union with the Austrians to put down an + upstart Prussia, this was his grand fulcrum, the immovable rock in which + the great Engineer fixed down his political capstans, and levered and + screwed. He did triumphantly wind matters round,—though whether they + much profited him when round, may be a question. + </p> + <p> + But the same grand principle, in the later instance of partitioning + Poland, has it not proved eminently triumphant, successful in all points? + And, doubtless, this King of Prussia recognizes it, if made worth his + while, thinks Kaunitz. In a word, Kaunitz's next utterance is wonderfully + changed. The great Engineer speaks almost like a Bishop on this new text. + "Let the Two Courts," says he, "put themselves each in the other's place; + each think what it would want;" and in fact each, in a Christian manner, + try to do as it would be done by! How touching in the mouth of a Kaunitz, + with something of pathos, of plaintiveness, almost of unction in it! + "There is no other method of agreeing," urges he: "War is a terrible + method, disliked by both of us. Austria wishes this of Bavaria; but his + Prussian Majesty's turn will come, perhaps now is (let him say and + determine); we will make it worth his while." This is of APRIL 24th; + notable change since the cantoning round Schonwalde. + </p> + <p> + Germany at large, though it lay so silent, in its bedrid condition, was in + great anxiety. Never had the Holy Romish Reich such a shock before: + "Meaning to partition us like Poland?" thought the Reich, with a shudder. + "They can, by degrees, if they think good; these Two Great Sovereigns!" + Courage, your Durchlauchts: one of the Two great ones has not that in his + thoughts; has, and will have, the reverse of that; which will be your + anchorages in the storms of fate for a long time to come! Nor was it—as + will shortly appear to readers—Kaunitz's immediate intention at all: + enough if poor we can begin it, set it fairly under way; let some unborn + happier Kaunitz, the last of a series, complete such blessed consummation; + in a happier time, far over the practical horizon at present. This we do + gather to have been Kaunitz's real view; and it throws a light on the + vexed Partition-of-Poland question, and gives weight to Dohm's assertion, + That Kaunitz was the actual beginner there. + </p> + <p> + Weeks before Friedrich heard of this remarkable Memorial, and ten days + before it was brought to paper, there came to Friedrich another unexpected + remarkable Document: a LETTER from Kaiser Joseph himself, who is + personally running about in these parts, over in Bohemia, endeavoring to + bring Army matters to a footing; and is no doubt shocked to find them + still in such backwardness, with a Friedrich at hand. The Kaiser's Letter, + we perceive, is pilot-balloon to the Kaunitz episcopal Document, and to an + actual meeting of Prussian and Austrian Ministers on the Bavarian point; + and had been seen to be a salutary measure by an Austria in alarm. It + asks, as the Kaunitz Memorial will, though in another style, "Must there + be war, then? Is there no possibility left in negotiation and mutual + concession? I am your Majesty's friend and admirer; let us try." This was + an unexpected and doubtless a welcome thing to Friedrich; who answers + eagerly, and in a noble style both of courtesy and of business sense: upon + which there followed two other Imperial Letters with their two Royal + answers; [In <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> (vi. 183-193), Three successive + Letters from the Kaiser (of dates, "Olmutz," "Litau," "Konigsgratz," + 13th-19th April, 1778), with King's Answers ("Schonwalde," all of them, + and 14th-20th April),—totally without interest to the general + reader.] and directly afterwards the small Austrian-Prussian Congress we + spoke of, Finkenstein and Hertzberg on the Prussian part, Cobenzl on the + Austrian (Congress sitting at Berlin), which tried to agree, but could + not; and to which Kaunitz's Memorial of April 24th was meant as some + helpful sprinkling of presidential quasi-episcopal oil. + </p> + <p> + Oil merely: for it turned out, Kaunitz had no thought at present of + partitioning the German Reich with Friedrich; but intended merely to keep + his own seized portion of Baiern, and in return for Friedrich's assent + intended to recompense Friedrich with—in fact, with Austria's + consent, That if Anspach and Baireuth lapsed home to Prussia (as it was + possible they might, the present Margraf, Friedrich's Nephew, the + Lady-Craven Margraf, having a childless Wife), Prussia should freely open + the door to them! A thing which Friedrich naturally maintained to be in + need of nobody's consent, and to lie totally apart from this question; but + which Austria always considered a very generous thing, and always returned + to, with new touches of improvement, as their grand recipe in this matter. + So that, unhappily, the Hertzberg-Cobenzl treatyings, Kaiser's Letters and + Kaunitz's episcopal oil, were without effect,—except to gain for the + Austrians, who infinitely needed it, delay of above two months. The + Letters are without general interest: but, for Friedrich's sake, perhaps + readers will consent to a specimen? Here are parts of his First Letter: + people meaning to be Kings (which I doubt none of my readers are) could + not do better than read it, and again read it, and acquire that style, + first of knowing thoroughly the object in hand, and then of speaking on it + and of being silent on it, in a true and noble manner:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY (at Olmutz). + </p> + <p> + "SCHONWALDE, 14th April, 1778. + </p> + <p> + "SIRE MY BROTHER,—I have received, with all the satisfaction + possible, the Letter which your Imperial Majesty has had the goodness to + write to me. I have neither Minister nor Clerk (SCRIBE) about me; + therefore your Imperial Majesty will be pleased to put up with such Answer + as an Old Soldier can give, who writes to you with probity and frankness, + on one of the most important subjects which have risen in Politics for a + long time. + </p> + <p> + "Nobody wishes more than I to maintain peace and harmony between the + Powers of Europe: but there are limits to everything; and cases so + intricate (EPINEUX) arise that goodwill alone will not suffice to maintain + things in repose and tranquillity. Permit me, Sire, to state distinctly + what the question seems to me to be. It is to determine if an Emperor can + dispose at his will of the Fiefs of the Empire. Answer in the affirmative, + and, all these Fiefs become TIMARS [in the Turk way], which are for life + only; and which the Sultan disposes of again, on the possessor's death. + Now, this is contrary to the Laws, to the Customs and Constitutions of the + German Empire."—"I, as member of the Empire, and as having, by the + Treaty of Hubertsburg, re-sanctioned the Peace of Westphalia, find myself + formally engaged to support the immunities, the liberties and rights of + the Germanic Body. + </p> + <p> + "This, Sire, is the veritable state of things. Personal interest I have + none: but I am persuaded your Majesty's self would regard me as a paltry + man, unworthy of your esteem, should I basely sacrifice the rights, + immunities and privileges, which the Electors and I have received from our + Ancestors. + </p> + <p> + "I continue to speak to your Majesty with the same frankness. I love and + honor your person. It will certainly be hard for me to fight against a + Prince gifted with excellent qualities, and whom I personally esteem. But"—And + is there no remedy? Anspach and Baireuth stand in no need of sanction. I + consent to the Congress proposed:—being with the &c. &c.—F. + [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 187.] + </p> + <p> + The sittings of this little Congress at Berlin lasted all through May and + June; to the disgust of Schmettau and the ardent Prussian mess-rooms, + "lying ready here, and forbidden to act." For the Austrians all the while + were at their busiest, improving the moments, marching continually + hitherward from Hungary, from Limburg, from all ends of the earth. Both + negotiating parties had shown a manifest wish to terminate without war; + and both made various attempts or proposals that way; Friedrich offering, + in the name of European peace, to yield the Austrians some small rim or + paring of Bavaria from the edge adjoining them; the Austrians offering + Anspach-Baireuth with some improvements;—always offering Friedrich + his own Baireuth-Anspach with some new sauce (as that he might exchange + those Territories with Saxony for a fine equivalent in the Lausitz, + contiguous to him, which was a real improvement and increase):—but + as neither party would in the least give up in essentials, or quit the + ground it had taken, the result was nothing. Week after week; so many + weeks are being lost to Friedrich; gained to Austria: Schmettau getting + more and more disgusted. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich still waited; not in all points quite ready yet, he said, nor + the futile diplomacies quite complete;—evidently in the highest + degree unwilling to come to the cutting point, and begin a War which + nobody could see the end of. Many things he tried; Peace so precious to + him, try and again try. All through June too, this went on; the result + always zero,—obviously certain to be so. As even Friedrich had at + last to own to himself; and likewise that the Campaign season was ebbing + away; and that if his grand Moravian scheme was to be tried on Austria, + there was not now a moment to lose. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's ultimate proposal, new modification of what all his proposals + had been, "To you some thin rim of Baiern; to Saxony and Mecklenburg some + ETCETERA of indemnity, money chiefly (money always to be paid by Karl + Theodor, who has left Baiern open to the spoiler in this scandalous + manner)," was of June 13th; Austrians for ten days meditating on it, and + especially getting forward their Army matters, answer, June 24th "No we + won't." Upon which Friedrich—to the joy of Schmettau and every + Prussian—actually rises. Emits his War-Manifesto (JULY 3d): + "Declaration to our Brethren (MITSTANDE) of the Reich," that Austria will + listen to nothing but War; [Fischer, ii 388; Dohm, <i>Denkwurdigkeiten,</i> + i. 110; <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 145.] and, on and from that day, + goes flowing forward in perfect columns and arrangements, 100,000 strong; + through the picturesque Glatz Country, straight towards the Bohemian + Border, hour by hour. Flows over the Bohemian Border by Nachod Town; his + vanguard bursting into field-music and flourishes of trumpeting at that + grand moment (July 5th); flowed bodily over; and encamped that night on + Bohemian ground, with Nachod to rear; thence towards Kwalkowitz, and on + the second day to Jaromirtz ("Camp of Jaromirtz"), a little Town which we + have heard of before, but which became more famous than ever during the + next ten weeks. + </p> + <p> + Jaromirtz, Kwalkowitz, Konigsgratz: this is the old hill-and-dale + labyrinth of an Upper-Elbe Country; only too well known to his Majesty and + us, for almost forty years past: here again are the Austrians waiting the + King; watching diligently this new Invasion of his out of Glatz and the + East! In the same days, Prince Henri, who is also near 100,000, starts + from Dresden to invade them from the West. Loudon, facing westward, is in + watch of Henri; Lacy, or indeed the Kaiser himself, back-to-back of + Loudon, stands in this Konigsgratz-Jaromirtz part; said to be embattled in + a very elaborate manner, to a length of fifty miles on this fine ground, + and in number somewhat superior to the King;—the Austrians in all + counting about 250,000; of whom Lacy has considerably the larger share. + The terror at Vienna, nevertheless, is very great: "A day of terror," says + one who was there; "I will not trust myself to describe the sensation + which this news, 'Friedrich in Bohemia again!' produced among all ranks of + people." [Cogniazzo, iv. 316, 320, 321; Preuss, iv. 101, &c.] Maria + Theresa, with her fine motherly heart, in alarm for her Country, and + trembling "for my two Sons [Joseph and Leopold] and dear Son-in-Law [of + Sachsen-Teschen], who are in the Army," overcomes all scruples of pride; + instantly despatches an Autograph to the King ("Bearer of this, Baron von + Thugut, with Full Powers"); and on her own strength starts a new + Negotiation,—which, as will be seen, ended no better than the + others. [Her Letters, four in all, with their Appendixes, and the King's + Answers, in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. 196-200.] + </p> + <p> + Schmettau says, "Friedrich, cheated of his Mahren schemes, was still in + time; the Austrian position being indeed strong, but not being even yet + quite ready." Friedrich himself, however, on reconnoitring, thought + differently. A position such as one never saw before, thinks he; contrived + by Lacy; masterly use of the ground, of the rivers, of the rocks, woods, + swamps; Elbe and his branches, and the intricate shoulders of the Giant + Mountains: no man could have done it better than Lacy here, who, they say, + is the contriver and practical hand. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vi. + 147.] From Konigsgratz, northward, by Konigshof, by Arnau, up to + Hohenelbe, all heights are crowned, all passes bristling with cannon. + Rivers Aupa, Elbe beset with redoubts, with dams in favorable places, and + are become inundations, difficult to tap. There are "ditches 8 feet deep + by 16 broad." Behind or on the right bank of Elbe, it is mere intrenchment + for five-and-twenty miles. With bogs, with thickets full of Croats; and + such an amount of artillery,—I believe they have in battery no fewer + than 1,500 cannon. A position very considerable indeed:—must have + taken time to deliberate, delve and invest; but it is done. Near fifty + miles of it: here, clear to your glass, has the head of Lacy visibly + emerged on us, as if for survey of phenomena:—head of Lacy sure + enough (body of him lying invisible in the heights, passes and points of + vantage); and its NECK of fifty miles, like the neck of a war-horse + clothed with thunder. On which (thinks Schmettau privately) you may, too + late, make your reflections! + </p> + <p> + Schmettau asserts that the position, though strong, was nothing like so + infinitely strong; and that Friedrich in his younger days would very soon + have assaulted it, and turned Lacy inside out: but Friedrich, we know, had + his reasons against hurry. He reconnoitred diligently; rode out + reconnoitring "fifteen miles the first day" (July 6th), ditto the second + and following; and was nearly shot by Croats,—by one specific Croat, + says Prussian Mythology, supported by Engraving. An old Engraving, which I + have never seen; represents Friedrich reconnoitring those five-and-twenty + miles of Elbe, which have so many redoubts on their side of it, and swarm + with Croat parties on both sides: this is all the truth that is in the + Engraving. [Rodenbeck, p. 188.] Fact says: Friedrich ("on the 8th," if + that were all the variation) "was a mark for the Austrian sharpshooters + for half an hour." Myth says, and engraves it, with the date of "July + 7th:" Friedrich, skirting some thicket, suddenly came upon a single Croat + with musket levelled at him, wild creature's finger just on the trigger;—and + quietly admonishing, Friedrich lifts his finger with a "DU, DU (Ah you!);" + upon which, such the divinity that hedges one, the wild creature instantly + flings down his murder-weapon, and, kneeling, embraces the King's boot,—with + kisses, for anything I know. It is certain, Friedrich, about six times + over in this paltry War or Quasi No-War, set his attendants on the + tremble; was namely, from Croateries and Artilleries, in imminent peril of + life; so careless was he, and dangerous to speak to in his sour humor. + Humor very sour, they say, for most part; being in reality altogether + backward and loath for grand enterprise; and yet striving to think he was + not; ashamed that any War of his should be a No-War. Schmettau says:— + </p> + <p> + "On the day of getting into Jaromirtz [July 8th], the King, tired of + riding about while the Columns were slowly getting in, lay down on the + ground with his Adjutants about him. A young Officer came riding past; + whom the King beckoned to him;—wrote something with pencil (an + Order, not of the least importance), and said: 'Here; that Order to + General Lossow, and tell him he is not to take it ill that I trouble him, + as I have none in my Suite that can do anything.'" Let the Suite take it + as they can! A most pungent, severe old King; quite perverse at times, + thinks Schmettau. Thus again, more than once.:— + </p> + <p> + "On arriving with his Column where the Officer, a perfectly skilful man, + had marked out the Camp, the King would lift his spy-glass; gaze to right + and left, riding round the place at perhaps a hundred yards' distance; and + begin: 'SIEHT ER, HERR, But look, Herr, what a botching you have made of + it again (WAS ER DA WIEDER FUR DUMM ZEUG GEMACHT HAT)!' and grumbling and + blaming, would alter the Camp, till it was all out of rule; and then say, + 'See there, that is the way to mark out Camps.'" [Schmettau, xxv. 30, 24.] + </p> + <p> + In a week's time, July 13th, came another fine excuse for inaction; + Plenipotentiary Thugut, namely, and the Kaiserinn's Letter, which we spoke + of. Autograph from Maria Theresa herself, inspired by the terror of Vienna + and of her beautiful motherly heart. Negotiation to be private utterly: + "My Son, the Kaiser, knows nothing of it; I beg the most absolute + secrecy;" which was accordingly kept, while Thugut, with Finkenstein and + Hertzberg again, held "Congress of Braunau" in those neighborhoods,—with + as little effect as ever. Thugut's Name, it seems, was originally + TUNICOTTO (Tyrolese-Italian); which the ignorant Vienna people changed + into "THU-NICHT-GUT (Do-no-good)," till Maria Theresa, in very charity, + struck out the negative, and made him "Do-good." Do-good and his Congress + held Friedrich till August 10th: five more weeks gone; and nothing but + reconnoitring,—with of course foraging, and diligently eating the + Country, which is a daily employment, and produces fencing and skirmishing + enough. + </p> + <p> + Henri, in the interim, has invaded from the West; seen Leitmeritz, + Lobositz;—Prag Nobility all running, and I suppose Prayers to St. + Titus going again,—and Loudon in alarm. Loudon, however, saved Prag + "by two masterly positions" (not mentionable here); upon which Henri took + camp at Niemes; Loudon, the weaker in this part, seizing the Iser as a + bulwark, and ranking himself behind it, back-to-back of Lacy. Here for + about five weeks sat Henri, nothing on hand but to eat the Country. Over + the heads of Loudon and Lacy, as the crow flies, Henri's Camp may be about + 70 miles from Jaromirtz, where the King is. Hussar Belling, our old + Anti-Swede friend, a brilliant cutting man, broke over the Iser once, + perhaps twice; and there was pretty fencing by him and the like of him: + "but Prince Henri did nothing," says the King, [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + vi. 154]—was, in fact, helping the King to do nothing. By the 10th + of September, as Henri has computed, this Country will be eaten; "Forage, + I find, will be quite done here on September 10th," writes Henri, after a + week or two's experience. + </p> + <p> + There was always talk of Henri and the King, who are 100,000 each, joining + hands by the post of Arnau, or some weak point of Lacy's well north of + Konigsgratz; thus of cutting off the meal-carts of that back-to-back + copartnery, and so of tumbling it off the ground (which was perfectly + possible, says Schmettau); and small detachments and expeditious were + pushed out, General Dahlwig, General Anhalt, partly for that object: but + not the least of it ever took effect. "Futile, lost by loitering, as all + else was," groans Schmettau. Prince Henri was averse to attempt, intimates + the King,—as indeed (though refusing to own it) was I. "September + 10th, my forage will be out, your Majesty," says Henri, always a punctual + calculating man. + </p> + <p> + The Austrians, on their side, were equally stagnant; and, except the + continual skirmishing with the Prussian foragers, undertook nothing. + "Shamefully ill-clone our foraging, too," exclaims Schmettau again and + again: "Had we done it with neatness, with regularity, the Country would + have lasted us twice as long. Doing it headlong, wastefully and by the + rule-of-thumb, the Country was a desert, all its inhabitants fled, all its + edibles consumed, before six weeks were over. Friedrich is not now himself + at all; in great things or in little; what a changed Friedrich!" exclaims + Schmettau, with wearisome iteration. + </p> + <p> + From about August 6th, or especially August 10th, when the Maria-Theresa + Correspondence, or "Congress of Braunau," ended likewise in zero, + Friedrich became impatient for actual junction with Prince Henri, actual + push of business; and began to hint of an excellent plan he had: "Burst + through on their left flank; blow up their post of Hohenelbe yonder: + thence is but one march to Iser river; junction with Prince Henri there; + and a Lacy and a Loudon tumbled to the winds." "A plan perfectly + feasible," says Schmettau; "which solaced the King's humor, but which he + never really intended to execute." Possibly not; otherwise, according to + old wont, he would have forborne to speak of it beforehand. At all events, + August 15th, in the feeling that one ought really to do something, the + rather as forage hereabouts was almost or altogether running out, he + actually set about this grand scheme. + </p> + <p> + Got on march to rightward, namely, up the Aupa river, through the gloomy + chasms of Kingdom-Wood, memorable in old days: had his bakery shifted to + Trautenau; his heavy cannon getting tugged through the mire and the rains, + which by this time were abundant, towards Hohenelbe, for the great + enterprise: and sat encamped on and about the Battle-ground of Sohr for a + week or so, waiting till all were forward; eating Sohr Country, which was + painfully easy to do. The Austrians did next to nothing on him; but the + rains, the mud and scarcity were doing much. Getting on to Hohenelbe + region, after a week's wet waiting, he, on ocular survey of the ground + about, was heard to say, "This cannot be done, then!" "Had never meant to + do it," sneers Schmettau, "and only wanted some excuse." Which is very + likely. Schmettau gives an Anecdote of him here: In regard to a certain + Hill, the Key of the Austrian position, which the King was continually + reconnoitring, and lamenting the enormous height of, "Impossible, so + high!" One of the Adjutants took his theodolite, ascertained the height, + and, by way of comforting his Majesty, reported the exact number of feet + above their present level. "How do YOU know, Herr?" said the King angrily. + "Measured it by Trigonometry, your Majesty."—"Trigonometry! SCHER' + ER SICH ZUM TEUFEL (Off with you, Sir, to the Devil, your Trigonometry and + you!)"—no believer in mathematics, this King. + </p> + <p> + He was loath to go; and laid the blame on many things. "Were Prince Henri + now but across the Iser. Had that stupid Anhalt, when he was upon it + [galloping about, to the ruin of his head], only seized Arnau, Arnau and + its Elbe-Bridge; and had it in hand for junction with Prince Henri!" In + fine, just as the last batch of heavy cannon—twenty or thirty + hungered horses to a gun, at the rate of five miles a day in roads + unspeakable—were getting in, he ordered them all to be dragged back, + back to the Trautenau road; whither we must now all go. And, SEPTEMBER + 8th, in perfect order, for the Austrians little molested him, and got a + bad bargain when they did, the great Friedrich with his whole Army got on + march homeward, after such a Campaign as we see. Climbed the + Trautenau-Landshut Pass, with nothing of effective loss except from the + rainy elements, the steep miry ways and the starved horses; draught-horses + especially starved,—whom, poor creatures, "you would see spring at + the ropes [draught-harness], thirty of them to a gun, when started and + gee-ho'd to; tug violently with no effect, and fall down in whole rows." + </p> + <p> + Prince Henri, forage done, started punctually September 10th, two days + after his Brother; and with little or no pursuit, from the Austrians, and + with horses unstarved, got home in comparatively tolerable circumstances. + Cantoned himself in Dresden neighborhood, and sat waiting: he had never + approved this War; and now, I suppose, would not want for reflections. + Friedrich's cantonments were round Landshut, and spread out to right and + to left, from Glatz Country and the Upper-Silesian Hills, to Silberberg + and Schweidnitz;—his own quarter is the same region, where he lay so + long in Summer, 1759, talking on learned subjects with the late Quintus + Icilius, if readers remember, and wearily waiting till Cunctator Daun + (likewise now deceased) took his stand, or his seat, at Mark Lissa, and + the King could follow him to Schmottseifen. Friedrich himself on this + present occasion stayed at Schatzlar as rear-guard, to see whether the + Austrians would not perhaps try to make some Winter Campaign of it, and if + so, whether they would attempt on Prince Henri or on him. The Austrians + did not attempt on either; showed no such intention,—though + mischievous enough in other small ways. Friedrich wrote the ELOGE of + Voltaire [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vii. 50 et seq. ("finished Nov. + 26th, 1778").] while he waited here at Schatzlar, among the rainy + Mountains. Later on, as prospects altered, he was much at Breslau, or + running about on civic errands with Breslau as centre: at Breslau he had + many Dialogues with Professor Garve,—in whose good, but oppressively + solemn, little Book, more a dull-droning Preachment than a Narrative, no + reader need look for them or for him. + </p> + <p> + As to the EULOGY OF VOLTAIRE, we may say that it is generous, ingenious, + succinct; and of dialect now obsolete to us. There was (and is, though + suppressed) another EULOGY, brand-new, by a Contemporary of our own,—from + which I know not if readers will permit me a sentence or two, in this + pause among the rainy Mountains? + </p> + <p> + ... "A wonderful talent lay in this man—[in Voltaire, to wit; "such + an intellect, the sharpest, swiftest of the world," thinks our + Contemporary; "fathoming you the deepest subject, to a depth far beyond + most men's soundings, and coming up with victory and something wise and + logically speakable to say on it, sooner than any other man,—never + doubting but he has been at the bottom, which is from three to ten miles + lower!"] wonderful talent; but observe always, if you look closely, it was + in essence a mere talent for Speech; which talent Bavius and Maevius and + the Jew Apella may admire without looking behind it, but this Eulogist by + no means will. Speech, my friend? If your sublime talent of speech + consists only in making ignorance appear to be knowledge, and little + wisdom appear to be much, I will thank you to walk on with it, and apply + at some other shop. The QUANTITY of shops where you can apply with + thrice-golden advantage, from the Morning Newspapers to the National + Senate, is tremendous at this epoch of the poor world's history;—go, + I request you! And while his foot is on the stairs, descending from my + garret, I think: O unfortunate fellow-creature in an unfortunate world, + why is not there a Friedrich Wilhelm to 'elect' you, as he did Gundling, + to his TOBACCO Parliament, and there set Fassmann upon you with the pans + of burning peat? It were better even for yourself; wholesomely didactic to + your poor self, I cannot doubt; and for the poor multitudes to whom you + are now to be sacred VATES, speaking and singing YOUR dismal GUNDLINGIANA + as if inspired by Heaven, how infinitely better!—Courage, courage! I + discern, across these hideous jargons, the reign of greater silence + approaching upon repentant men; reign of greater silence, I say; or else + that of annihilation, which will be the most silent of all.... + </p> + <p> + "Voltaire, if not a great man, is a remarkably peculiar one; and did such + a work in these Ages as will render him long memorable, more or less. He + kindled the infinite dry dung-heap of things; set it blazing heaven-high;—and + we all thought, in the French Revolution time, it would burn out rapidly + into ashes, and then there would a clear Upper Firmament, if over a + blackened Earth, be once more vouchsafed us. The flame is now done, as I + once said; and only the dull dung-heap, smokily burning, but not now + blazing, remains,—for it was very damp, EXCEPT on the surface, and + is by nature slow of combustion:—who knows but it may have to burn + for centuries yet, poisoning by its villanous mal-odors the + life-atmosphere of all men? Eternal Author of this Universe, whose throne + is Truth, to whom all the True are Sons, wilt thou not look down upon us, + then!—Till this sad process is complete? Voltaire is like to be very + memorable."... + </p> + <p> + To Friedrich the Winter was in general tranquil; a Friedrich busy + preparing all things for his grand Mahren Enterprise, and for "real work + next year." By and by there came to be real Peace-prospects instead. + Meanwhile, the Austrians do try a little, in the small Pandour way, to + dislodge him from the Upper-Silesian or Teschen regions, where the + Erbprinz of Brunswick is in command; a man not to be pricked into gratis + by Pandours. Erbprinz, accordingly, provoked by their Pandourings, broke + out at last; and about Zuckmantel instantly scourged them home, and had + peace after. Foiled here, they next tried upon Glatz; "Get into his Glatz + Country, then;—a snatch of that will balance the account" (which was + one of Newspaper glory only): and a certain Wurmser of theirs, expert in + such things, did burn the Town of Habelschwert one morning; ["18th + January, 1779" (Rodenbeck, iii. 195; Schmettau, &c.).] and tried + farther, not wisely this time, a surprisal of Glatz Fortress itself; but + got smitten home by our old friend General Wunsch, without profit there. + This was the same Wurmser who came to bad issues in the Napoleon time + afterwards; a rising man then; not a dim Old-Newspaper ghost as now. + </p> + <p> + Most shameful this burning of Habelschwert by way of mere bravura, thinks + Friedrich, in a time of actual Treaty for Peace, when our Congress of + Teschen was just struggling to get together! It was the chief stroke done + by the Austrians in this War; glorious or shameful, we will not think of + inquiring. Nor in fact of adding one word more on such a War,—except, + what everybody longs for, That, NOVEMBER 27th, 1778, Czarina Catharine, by + her Prince Galitzin at Vienna, intervened in the matter, in a lofty way; + and ended it. Czarina Catharine,—small thanks to her, it seems, for + it was Friedrich that by his industries and world-diplomacies, French and + other, had got her Turks, who had been giving trouble again, compesced + into peace for her; and indeed, to Friedrich or his interests, though + bound by Treaty, she had small regard in taking this step, but wished + merely to appear in German Politics as a She-Jove,—Czarina Catharine + signified, in high and peremptory though polite Diplomatic terms, at + Vienna, "Imperial Madam, how long is such a War to last? Be at Peace, both + of you; or—! I shall, however, mediate, if you like, being the + hearty friend of both." [Copy of Galitzin's "Declaration," in FISCHER, ii. + 406-411.] + </p> + <p> + "Do," answers Maria Theresa, whose finance is quite out, whose motherly + heart is almost broken, though a young Kaiser still prances violently, and + kicks against the pricks: "Do, your noble Czarish Majesty; France too is + interfering: France and you will decide what is just, and we will end." + "Congress of Teschen" met accordingly, MARCH 10th, 1779: Teschen, in + Austrian Silesia, where we have been;—Repnin as Russian, Breteuil + the Frenchman, Cobentzl and Hertzberg as Austrian and Prussian;—and, + MAY 13th (in two months' time, not in two weeks', as had been expected, + for there rose unexpected haggles), did close everything, firm as + Diplomacy could do it, into equitable, or approximately equitable finis: + "Go home, you Austria; quit your stolen Bavaria (all but a rim or paring, + Circle of Burghausen, since you must have something!): Saxony, + Mecklenburg, these must be satisfied to moderate length; and therewith + general AS-YOU-WERE." + </p> + <p> + Russia and France were agreed on the case; and Friedrich, bitterly longing + to have done with it, had said to himself, "In two weeks or so:" but it + proved far otherwise. Never were such hagglings, provocations and + unreasonable confusions as now rose. The burning of Habelschwert was but a + type of them. Haggles on the part of worthless Karl Theodor, kindled by + Joseph and his Kaunitz, kicking against the pricks. Haggles on Saxony's + part: "I claimed 7,000,000 pounds sterling, and you allow me 600,000 + pounds." "Better that than nothing," answered Friedrich. Haggles with + Mecklenburg: "Instead of my Leuchtenberg, I get an improvement in my + Law-Courts, right of Judging without Appeal; what is that!" Haggles with + the once grateful Duke of Zweibruck: "Can't part with my Burghausen." + "Suppose you had had to part with your Bavaria altogether?" In short, + Friedrich, who had gained nothing for himself, but such infinity of outlay + in all kinds, never saw such a coil of human follies and cupidities + before; and had to exhaust his utmost patience, submit to new losses of + his own, and try all his dexterities in pig-driving: overjoyed, at last, + to get out of it on any terms. Outlay of Friedrich is about Two Millions + sterling, and above 10,000 men's lives (his own narrowly not included), + with censures, criticisms, provocations and botherations without end. In + return for which, he has, truly, put a spoke in Austria's proud wheel for + this time, and managed to see fair play in the Reich; which had seemed to + him, and seems, a considerable thing. By way of codicil, Austria agrees + not to chicane him in regard to Anspach-Baireuth,—how generous of + Austria, after this experience!— + </p> + <p> + In reality, the War was an Imaginary War; deserving on its own score + little record anywhere; to readers here requiring almost less than it has + got. Schmettau, Schoning and others have been abundantly minute upon it; + but even to soldiers there is little either of interest or instruction; to + us, all it yields is certain Anecdotes of Friedrich's temper and ways in + that difficult predicament; which, as coming at first-hand, gathered for + us by punctual authentic Schmettau, who was constantly about him, with + eyes open and note-book ready, have a kind of worth in the Biographic + point of view. + </p> + <p> + The Prussian Soldiery, of whom we see a type in Schmettau, were disgusted + with this War, and called it, in allusion to the foraging, A scramble for + potatoes, "DER KARTOFFEL-KRIEG, The Potato War;" which is its common + designation to this day. The Austrians, in a like humor, called it + "ZWETSCHKEN-RUMMEL" (say "THREE-BUTTON Loo"); a game not worth playing; + especially not at such cost. Combined cost counted to have been in + sum-total 4,350,000 pounds and 20,000 men. [Preuss, iv. 115.] "The + Prussian Army was full of ardor, never abler for fight" (insists + Schmettau), which indeed seems to have been the fact on every small + occasion;—"but fatally forbidden to try." Not so fatally perhaps, + had Schmettau looked beyond his epaulettes: was not the thing, by that + slow method, got done? By the swifter method, awakening a new Seven-Years + business, how infinitely costlier might it have been! + </p> + <p> + Schmettau's NARRATIVE, deducting the endless lamentings, especially the + extensive didactic digressions, is very clear, ocular, exact; and, in + contrast with Friedrich's own, is really amusing to read. A Schmettau + giving us, in his haggard light and oblique point of vision, the naked + truth, NAKED and all in a shiver; a Friedrich striving to drape it a + little, and make it comfortable to himself. Those bits of Anecdotes in + SCHMETTAU, clear, credible, as if we had seen them, are so many crevices + through which it is curiously worth while to look. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII.—MILLER ARNOLD'S LAWSUIT. + </h2> + <p> + About the Second Law-Reform, after reading and again reading much dreary + detail, I can say next to nothing, except that it is dated as beginning in + 1776, near thirty years after Cocceji's; ["In 1748" Cocceji's was + completed; "in 1774-1775," on occasion of the Silesian Reviews, Von + Carmer, Chancellor of Silesia, knowing of the King's impatience at the + state of Law, presented successively Two MEMORIALS on the subject; the + Second of which began "4th January, 1776" to have visible fruit.] that + evidently, by what causes is not stated, but may be readily enough + conjectured (in the absence of Cocceji by death, and of a Friedrich by + affairs of War), the abuses of Law had again become more or less + unendurable to this King; that said abuses did again get some reform + (again temporary, such the Law of Nature, which bids you sweep vigorously + your kitchen, though it will next moment recommence the gathering of dirt + upon it); and that, in fine, after some reluctance in the Law circles, and + debating PRO and CONTRA, oral some of it, and done in the King's presence, + who is so intent to be convinced and see his practical way in it, [At + Potsdam, "4th January, 1776," Debate, by solemn appointment, in the King's + presence (King very unwell), between Silesian-Chancellor von Carmer and + Grand-Chancellor von Furst, as to the feasibility of Carmer's ideas; old + Furst strong in the negative;—King, after reflection, determining to + go on nevertheless. (Rodenbeck, iii. 131, 133.)]—there was, as + supplement to the mere Project or Theory of a CODEX FREDERICIANUS in + Cocceji's time, an actual PRUSSIAN CODE set about; Von Carmer, the + Silesian Chancellor, the chief agent: and a First Folio, or a First and + partly a Second of it, were brought out in Friedrich's lifetime, the + remainder following in that of his Successor; which Code is ever since the + Law of the Prussian Nation to this day. [Not finished and promulgated till + "5th February, 1794;" First Volume (containing PROZESS-ORDNUNG, Form of + Procedure, in all its important details) had come out "26th April, 1784" + (Preuss, iii. 418-422).] Of its worth as a Code I have heard favorable + opinions, comparatively favorable; but can myself say nothing: famed + Savigny finds it superior in intelligence and law-knowledge to the CODE + NAPOLEON,—upon which indeed, and upon all Codes possible to poor + hag-ridden and wig-ridden generations like ours, Savigny feels rather + desperate. Unfortunate mortals do want to have their bits of lawsuits + settled, nevertheless; and have, on trial, found even the ignorant CODE + NAPOLEON a mighty benefit in comparison to none!— + </p> + <p> + Readers all see how this Second Prussian Law-Reform was a thing important + to Prussia, of liveliest interest to the then King of Prussia; and were my + knowledge of it greater than it is, this is all I could hope to say of it + that would be suitable or profitable at present. Let well-disposed readers + take it up in their imaginations, as a fact and mass of facts, very + serious there and then; and color with it in some degree those five or six + last years of this King's life. + </p> + <p> + Connected with this Second Law Reform, and indeed partially a source of + it, or provocation to go on with it, mending your speed, there is one + little Lawsuit, called the MILLER ARNOLD CASE, which made an immense noise + in the world, and is still known by rumor to many persons, who would + probably be thankful, as certainly I myself should, for some intelligible + word on it. In regard to which, and to which alone, in this place, we will + permit ourselves a little more detail. + </p> + <p> + In the sandy moors towards the Silesian border of the Neumark, southwest + of Zullichau,—where we once were, with Dictator Wedell, fighting the + Russians in a tragic way,—there is, as was casually then indicated, + on one of the poor Brooks trickling into Oder, a Mill called KREBSMUHLE + (Crabmill); Millers of which are a line of dusty Arnolds, laboriously for + long generations grinding into meal the ryes, pulses, barleys of that dim + region; who, and whose Crabmill, in the year 1779-1780, burst into a + notoriety they little dreamt of, and became famous in the fashionable + circles of this Universe, where an indistinct rumor of them lives to this + day. We indicated Arnold and his Mill in Wedell's time; Wedell's scene + being so remote and empty to readers: in fact, nobody knows on what + paltriest of moors a memorable thing will not happen;—here, for + instance, is withal the Birthplace of that Rhyming miracle, Frau Karsch + (Karschin, KarchESS as they call her), the Berlin literary Prodigy, to + whom Friedrich was not so flush of help as had been expected. The child of + utterly poor Peasants there; whose poverty, shining out as thrift, + unweariable industry and stoical valor, is beautiful to me, still more + their poor little girl's bits of fortunes, "tending three cows" in the + solitudes there, and gazing wistfully into Earth and Heaven with her + ingenuous little soul,—desiring mainly one thing, that she could get + Books, any Book whatever; having half-accidentally picked up the art of + reading, and finding hereabouts absolutely nothing to read. Frau Karsch, I + have no doubt, knows the Crabmill right well; and can, to all permissible + lengths, inform the Berlin Circles on this point. [See JORDENS (Karschin), + ii. 607-640.] An excellent Silesian Nobleman lifted her miraculously from + the sloughs of misery, landed her from his travelling-carriage in the + upper world of Berlin, "January, 1761" (age then thirty-nine, husband + Karsch a wretched drunken Tailor at Glogau, who thereupon enlisted, and + happily got shot or finished): Berlin's enthusiasm was, and continued to + be, considerable;—Karschin's head, I fear, proved weakish, though + her rhyming faculty was great. Friedrich saw her once, October, 1763, + spoke kindly to her (DIALOGUE reported by herself, with a Chodowiecki + ENGRAVING to help, in the MUSEN-ALMANACHS ensuing); and gave her a 10 + pounds, but never much more:—"somebody had done me ill with him," + thinks the Karschin (not thinking, "Or perhaps nobody but my poor self, + and my weakness of head"). She continued rhyming and living—certain + Principalities and High People still standing true—till "12th + October, 1791." + </p> + <p> + Crabmill is in Pommerzig Township, not far from Kay:—Zullichau, Kay, + Palzig, Crossen, all come to speech again, in this Narrative; fancy how + they turned up in Berlin dinner-circles, to Dictator Wedell, gray old + gentleman, who is now these many years War-Minister, peaceable, and well + accepted, but remembers the flamy youth he had. Landlord of these Arnolds + and their Mill is Major Graf von Schmettau (no connection of our + Schmettaus),—to what insignificantly small amount of rent, I could + not learn on searching; 10 pounds annually is a too liberal guess. + Innumerable things, of no pertinency to us, are wearisomely told, and ever + again told, while the pertinent are often missed out, in that dreary + cart-load of Arnold Law-Papers, barely readable, barely intelligible, to + the most patient intellect: with despatch let us fish up the small + cardinal particles of it, and arrange in some chronological or human + order, that readers may form to themselves an outline of the thing. In + 1759, we mentioned that this Mill was going; Miller of it an old Arnold, + Miller's Lad a young. Here is the subsequent succession of occurrences + that concern us. + </p> + <p> + In 1762, Young Arnold, as I dimly gather, had got married, apparently a + Wife with portion; bought the Mill from his Father, he and Wife + co-possessors thenceforth;—"Rosine his Spouse" figuring jointly in + all these Law-Papers; and the Spouse especially as a most shifty litigant. + There they continue totally silent to mankind for about eight years. Happy + the Nation, much more may we say the Household, "whose Public History is + blank." But in the eighth year, + </p> + <p> + In 1770, Freyherr Baron von Gersdorf in Kay, who lies farther up the + stream, bethinks him of Fish-husbandry; makes a Fish-pond to himself, and + for part supply thereof, lays some beam or weir across the poor Brook, and + deducts a part of Arnold's water. + </p> + <p> + In 1773, the Arnolds fall into arrear of rent: "Want of water; Fish-pond + spoils our water," plead they to Major Graf von Schmettau. "Prosecute Von + Gersdorf, then," says Schmettau: "I must have my rent! You shall have + time, lengthened terms; but pay THEN, or else-!" For four years the + Arnolds tried more or less to pay, but never could, or never did + completely: during which period Major von Schmettau had them up in his + Court of Pommerzig,—manorial or feudal kind of Court; I think it is + more or less his, though he does not sit there; and an Advocate, not of + his appointing, though probably of his accepting, dispenses justice there. + Schlecker is the Advocate's name; acquitted by all Official people of + doing anything wrong. No appearance that the Herr Graf von Schmettau put + hand to the balances of justice in this Court; with his eye, however, who + knows but he might act on them more or less! And, at any rate, be + suspected by distressed Arnolds, especially by a distressed Frau Arnold, + of doing so. The Frau Arnold had a strong suspicion that way; and seems to + have risen occasionally upon Schlecker, who did once order the poor woman + to be locked up for contempt of Court: "Only two hours!" asseverates + Schlecker afterwards; after which she came out cool and respectful to + Court. + </p> + <p> + Not the least account survives of those procedures in Schlecker's Court; + but by accident, after many readings, you light upon a little fact which + does shed a transient ray over them. Namely, that already in 1775, four + years before the Case became audible in Official circles, much more in + general society, Frau Arnold had seized an opportunity, Majesty being at + Crossen in those neighborhoods, and presented a Petition: "Oh, just King, + appoint a MILITARY COMMISSION to investigate our business; impartial + Officers will speedily find out the facts, and decide what is just!" + [Preuss, iii. 382.] Which denotes an irritating experience in Schlecker's + Court. Certain it is, Schlecker's Court did, in this tedious harassing + way, decide against Frau Arnold in every point. "Pay Herr Graf von + Schmettau, or else disappear; prosecute Von Gersdorf, if you like!" And, + in fine, as the Arnolds could not pay up, nor see any daylight through + prosecuting Baron von Gersdorf, the big gentleman in Kay,—Schlecker, + after some five years of this, decreed Sale of the Mill:—and sold it + was. In Zullichau, September 7th, 1778, there is Auction of the Mill; Herr + Landeinnehmer (CESS-COLLECTOR) Kuppisch bought it; knocked down to him for + the moderate sum of 600 thalers, or 90 pounds sterling, and the Arnolds + are an ousted family. "September 7th,"—Potato-War just closing its + sad Campaign; to-morrow, march for Trautenau, thirty horses to a gun.— + </p> + <p> + The Arnolds did make various attempts and appeals to the Neumark REGIERUNG + (College of Judges); but it was without the least result. "Schlecker right + in every point; Gersdorf right," answered the College: "go, will you!" A + Mill forfeited by every Law, and fallen to the highest bidder. + Cess-Collector Kuppisch, it was soon known, had sold his purchase to Von + Gersdorf: "Hah!" said the rural public, smelling something bad. Certain it + is, Von Gersdorf is become proprietor both of Pond and Mill; and it is not + to the ruined Arnolds that Schlecker law can seem an admirable sample. And + truly, reading over those barrow-loads of pleadings and RELATIONES, one + has to admit that, taken as a reason for seeing oneself ruined, and one's + Mill become the big gentleman's who fancies carp, they do seem + considerably insufficient. The Law-Pleadings are duly voluminous. + Barrow-loads of them, dreariest reading in Creation, remain; going into + all manner of questions, proving, from Grotius and others, that landlords + have rights upon private rivers, and another sort upon public ditto; that + Von Gersdorf, by Law of 1566, had verily the right to put down his + Fish-pond,—whether Schmettau the duty to indemnify Arnold for the + same? that is not touched upon: nor, singular to say, is it anywhere made + out, or attempted to be made out, How much of water Arnold lost by the + Pond, much less what degree of real impediment, by loss of his own time, + by loss of his customers (tired of such waiting on a mill), Arnold + suffered by the Pond. This, which you would have thought the soul of the + matter, is absolutely left out; altogether unsettled,—after, I + think, four, or at least three, express Commissions had sat on it, at + successive times, with the most esteemed hydraulic sages opining and + examining;—and remains, like the part of Hamlet, omitted by + particular desire. No wonder Frau Arnold begged for a Military Commission; + that is to say, a decision from rational human creatures, instead of + juridical wigs proceeding at this rate. + </p> + <p> + It was some time in 1775 that Rosine (what we reckoned a very elucidative + point!) had given in her Petition to the King at Crossen, showing how ill + Schlecker was using them. She now, "about Mayday, 1779," in a new + Petition, referred to that, and again begged a Commission of + Soldier-people to settle it. May 4th, 1779,—King not yet home, but + coming, ["Arrived at Berlin May 27th" (Rodenbeck, iii. 201).]—King's + Cabinet, on Order, "SENDS this to Justice-Department;" nothing SAID on it, + the existence of the Petition sufficiently SAYING. Justice-Department + thereupon demands the Law-Records, documentary Narrative of RES Arnold, + from Custrin; finds all right: "Peace, ye Arnolds; what would you have?" + [Preuss, iii. 382.] + </p> + <p> + Same year, 1779 (no express date), Grand-Chancellor von Furst, being at + Custrin, officially examining the condition of Law-matters, Frau Arnold + failed not to try there also with a Petition: "See, great Law-gentleman + come to reform abuses, can that possibly be Law; or if so, is it not + Injustice as well?" "Tush!" answered Furst;—for I believe + Law-people, ever since this new stringency of Royal vigilance upon them, + are plagued with such complaints from Dorfships and dark greedy Peasant + people; "Tush!" and flung it promptly into his waste-basket. + </p> + <p> + Is there no hope at all, then? Arnold remembers that a Brother of his is a + Prussian soldier; and that he has for Colonel, Prince Leopold of + Brunswick, a Prince always kind to the poor. The Leopold Regiment lies at + Frankfurt: try Prince Leopold by that channel. Prince Leopold listened;—the + Soldier Arnold probably known to him as rational and respectable. Prince + Leopold now likewise applies to Furst: "A defect, not of Law, Herr + Kanzler, but of Equity, there does seem. Schmettau had a right to his + rent; Von Gersdorf, by Deed of 1566, to his Pond: but the Arnolds had not + water and have lost their Mill. Could not there," suggests Leopold, "be + appointed, without noise of any kind, a Commission of neutral people, + strangers to the Neumark, to search this matter to the actual root of it, + and let Equity ensue?" To whom also Furst answers, though in a politer + shape, "Tush, Durchlaucht! Every man to his trade!" + </p> + <p> + So that Prince Leopold himself, the King's own Nephew, proves futile? Some + think Leopold did, this very Autumn, casually, or as if casually, mention + the matter to the King,—whose mind is uneasily awake to all such + cases, knowing what a buckram set his Lawyers are. "At the Reviews," as + these people say, Leopold could not have done it; there being, this Year, + no Reviews, merely return of King and Army from the Bavarian War. But + during August, and on into September this Year, it is very evident, there + was a Visit of the Brunswick Family at Potsdam, [Rodenbeck, iii. 206 et + seq.] Leopold's Mamma and certain of his Brothers,—of which, Colonel + Prince Leopold, though not expressly mentioned in the Books, may very + possibly have been permitted, for a day or two, to form part, for Mamma's + behoof and his own; and may have made his casual observation, at some + well-chosen moment, with the effect intended. In which case, Leopold was + by no means futile, but proved, after all, to be the saving clause for the + Arnolds. + </p> + <p> + Gallant young fellow, one loves to believe it of him; and to add it to the + one other fact now known of him, which was also beautiful, though tragic. + Six years after, Spring, 1785, Oder River, swollen by rains, was in wild + deluge; houses in the suburbs like to be washed away. Leopold, looking on + it from the Bridge or shore, perhaps partly with an Official eye, saw the + inhabitants of some houses like to be drowned; looked wildly for + assistance, but found none; and did, himself, in uncontrollable pity, dash + off in a little boat, through the wild-eddying surges; and got his own + death there, himself drowned in struggling to save others. Which + occasioned loud lamentation in the world; in his poor Mother's heart what + unnamable voiceless lamentation! [Friedrich's Letter to her: <i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> xxvii. i. 351 ("12th May, 1785").] He had founded a Garrison + School at Frankfurt; spared no expenditure of pains or of money. A man + adored in Frankfurt. "His Brother Friedrich, in memory of him, presented, + next year, the Uniform in which Leopold was drowned, to the Freemason + Lodge of Berlin, of which he had been member." [<i>Militair-Lexikon,</i> + i. 24.] SUNT LACRYMAE RERUM. + </p> + <p> + But to return to the Arnolds, and have done with them: for we are now, by + Leopold's help or otherwise, got to the last act of that tedious business. + </p> + <p> + August 21st, 1779 (these high Brunswickers still at Potsdam, if that had + any influence), the Arnolds again make Petition to the King: "Alas, no + justice yet, your Majesty!" "Shall we never see the end of this, then?" + thinks the King: "some Soldier, with human eyes, let him, attended by one + of their Law-wigs, go upon the ground; and search it!" And, next day, + having taken Protocol of the Arnold Complaint, issues Cabinet-Order, or + King's Message to the Custrin Law-wigs: "Colonel Heucking [whose regiment + lies in Zullichau district, a punctual enough man], he shall be the + Soldier; to whom do YOU adjoin what member of your Court you think the + fittest: and let, at last, justice be done. And swift, if you please!" + </p> + <p> + The Custrin Regierung, without delay, name REGIERUNGS-RATH Neumann; who is + swiftly ready, as is Colonel Heucking swiftly,—and they two set out + together up the Pommerzig Brook, over that moor Country; investigating, + pondering, hearing witnesses, and no doubt consulting, and diligently + endeavoring to get to the bottom of this poor Arnold question. For how + many September days, I know not: everybody knows, however, that they could + not agree; in other words, that they saw TWO bottoms to it,—the Law + gentleman one bottom, the Soldier another. "True bottom is already there," + argued the Law gentleman: "confirm Decision of Court in every point." "No; + Arnold has lost water, has suffered wrong," thinks Heucking; "that is the + true bottom." And so they part, each with his own opinion. Neumann + affirmed afterwards, that the Colonel came with a predetermination that + way, and even that he said, once or oftener, in his eagerness to persuade: + "His Majesty has got it into his thought; there will be nothing but + trouble if you persist in that notion." To which virtuous Neumann was + deaf. Neumann also says, The Colonel, acquainted with Austrian enemies, + but not with Law, had brought with him his Regiment's-Auditor, one Bech, + formerly a Law-practitioner in Crossen (readers know Crossen, and + Ex-Dictator Wedell does),—Law-practitioner in Crossen; who had been + in strife with the Custrin Regierung, under rebuke from them (too + importunate for some of his pauper clients, belike); was a cunning fellow + too, and had the said Regierung in ill-will. An adroit fellow Bech might + be, or must have been; but his now office of Regiment's-Auditor is + certificate of honesty,—good, at least, against Neumann. + </p> + <p> + Neumann's Court was silent about these Neumann surmises; but said + afterwards, "Heucking had not gone to the bottom of the thing." This was + in a subsequent report, some five or six weeks subsequent. Their present + report they redacted to the effect, "All correct as it stood," without + once mentioning Heucking. Gave it in, 27th September; by which time + Heucking's also was in, and had made a strong impression on his Majesty. + Presumably an honest, intelligible report; though, by ill-luck for the + curious, it is now lost; among the barrow-loads of vague wigged stuff, + this one Piece, probably human, is not to be discovered. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's indignation at the Custrin report, "Perfectly correct as it + stood," and no mention of Heucking or his dissent, was considerable: + already, 27th September,—that is, on the very day while those + Custrin people were signing their provoking report,—Friedrich, + confident in Heucking, had transmitted to his Supreme Board of Justice + (KAMMERGERICHT) the impartial Heucking's account of the affair, with + order, "See there, an impartial human account, clear and circumstantial + (DEUTLICHES UND GANZ UMSTANDLICHES), going down to the true roots of the + business: swift, get me justice for these Arnolds!" [Preuss, iii. 480.] + Scarcely was this gone, when, September 29th, the Custrin impertinence, + "Perfectly right as it stood," came to hand; kindling the King into hot + provocation; "extreme displeasure, AUSSERSTES MISFALLEN," as his Answer + bore: "Rectify me all that straightway, and relieve these Arnolds of their + injuries!" You Pettifogging Pedant Knaves, bring that Arnold matter to + order, will you; you had better!— + </p> + <p> + The Custrin Knaves, with what feelings I know not, proceed accordingly; + appoint a new Commission, one or more Lawyers in it, and at least one + Hydraulic Gentleman in it, Schade the name of him; who are to go upon the + ground, hear witnesses and the like. Who went accordingly; and managed, + not too fast, Hydraulic Schade rather disagreeing from the Legal + Gentlemen, to produce a Report, reported UPON by the Custrin Court, 28th + October: "That there is one error found: 6 pounds 12s. as value of corn + LEFT, clearly Arnold's that, when his Mill was sold; that, with this + improvement, all is NOW correct to the uttermost; and that Heucking had + not investigated things to the bottom." By some accident, this Report did + not come at once to Friedrich, or had escaped his attention; so that— + </p> + <p> + November 21st, matters hanging fire in this way, Frau Arnold applies + again, by Petition to his Majesty; upon which is new Royal Order, [Ib. + iii. 490.] far more patient than might have been expected: "In God's name, + rectify me that Arnold matter, and let us at last see the end of it!" To + which the Custriners answer: "All is rectified, your Majesty. Frau Arnold, + in her Petition, has not mentioned that she gained 6 pounds 12s.;"—important + item that; 6 pounds 12s. for CORN left (clearly Arnold's that, when his + Mill was sold)! "Our sentence we cannot alter; a Court's sentence is + alterable only by appeal; your Majesty decides where the appeal is to + lie!" Friedrich's patience is now wearing out; but he does not yet give + way: "Berlin Kammergericht be your Appeal Court," decides he, 28th + November: and will admit of no delay on the Kammergericht's part either. + "Papers all at Custrin, say you? Send for them by express; they will come + in one day: be swift, I say!" + </p> + <p> + Chancellor Furst is not a willing horse in this case; but he is obliged to + go. December 7th, Kammergericht sits on the Arnold Appeal; Kammergericht's + view is: "Custrin papers all here, not the least delay permitted; you, + Judge Rannsleben, take these Papers to you; down upon them: let us, if + humanly possible, have a Report by to-morrow." Rannsleben takes the Papers + in hand December 7th; works upon them all day, and all night following, at + a rate of energy memorable among Legal gentlemen; and December 8th attends + with lucid Report upon them, or couple of Reports; one on Arnold VERSUS + Schmettau, in six folios; one on Arnold VERSUS Gersdorf, in two ditto; + draws these two Documents from his pocket December 8th; reads them in + assembled Court (six of the Judges present) [Preuss, iii. 496.],—which, + with marked thankfulness to the swift Rannsleben, at once adopts his + Report, and pronounces upon the Custrin Raths, "Right in every + particular." Witness our hands: every one affixing his signature, as to a + matter happily got done with. + </p> + <p> + It was Friday, 10th December, 1779, before Friedrich got this fine bit of + news; Saturday 11th, before he authentically saw their Sentence. He is + lying miserably ill of gout in the Schloss of Berlin; and I suppose, since + his Father, of blessed memory, took cudgel to certain Judges and knocked + out teeth from them, and broke the judicial crowns, nobody in that Schloss + has been in such humor against men of Law. "Attend me here at 2 P.M. with + the Three Raths who signed in Arnold's Case:" Saturday, about 11 A.M., + Chancellor Furst receives this command; gets Rannsleben, and two others, + Friedel, Graun,—and there occurred such a scene—But it will be + better to let Rannsleben himself tell the story; who has left an + AUTOBIOGRAPHY, punctually correct, to all appearance, but except this + alone notable passage of it, still unpublished, and like to continue so:— + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, TUESDAY, 7th DECEMBER, 1779," says Rannsleben (let him tell it + again in his own words), "the ACTA, which had arrived from Custrin IN RE + Miller Arnold and his Wife VERSUS Landrath von Gersdorf, as also those, in + the same matter, VERSUS Count von Schmettau, were assigned to me, to be + reported on QUAM PRIMUM;—our President von Rebeur," President of the + Supreme KAMMERGERICHT (King's-Chamber Tribunal, say Exchequer High Court, + or COLLEGIUM), whereof I have the honor to be one of the Seven Judges, or + RATHS,—"our President von Rebeur enjoining me to make such utmost + despatch that my Report on both these sets of Papers might be read to the + assembled Court next day; whereby said Court might then and there be + enabled to pronounce judgment on the same, I at once set to work; went on + with it all night; and on the morrow I brought both my Reports + (RELATIONES),"—one referring to the Gersdorf, the other to the + Schmettau part of the suit,—"one of six sheets, the other of two + sheets, to the Kammergericht; where both RELATIONES were read. There were + present, besides me, the following six members of the COLLEGIUM: President + von Rebeur, Raths Uhl, Friedel, Kircheisen, Graun, Gassler. + </p> + <p> + "Appellant," as we all know, "was Miller Arnold; and along with the ACTA + were various severe Cabinet-Orders, in which the King, who had taken quite + particular notice of the Case, positively enjoined, That Miller Arnold + should have justice done him. The King had not, however, given formally + any authoritative Decision of his own (KEINEN EIGENTLICHEN MACHTSPRUCH + GETHAN)," which might have given us pause, though not full-stop by any + means: "but, in his Order to the Kammergericht, had merely said, we were + to decide with the utmost despatch, and then at once inform his Majesty + how." With the speed of light or of thought, Rannsleben hardly done + reading, this Kammergericht decided,—it is well known how: "In the + King's name; right in every particular, you Custrin Gentlemen;—which + be so good as publish to parties concerned!" + </p> + <p> + Report of Kammergericht's Judgment to this effect, for behoof of Custrin, + was at once got under way; and Kammergericht, in regard to his Majesty, + agreed merely to announce the fact in that quarter: "Judgment arrived at, + please your Majesty;—Judgment already under way for Custrin:"—you, + Rannsleben, without saying what the Judgment is, you again write for us. + And Rannsleben does so; writes the above little Message to his Majesty, + "which got to the King's hand, Friday, December 10th. And the same day," + continues Rannsleben, "the King despatched a very severe Cabinet-Order to + Minister von Dornberg,"—head of the Department to which the + Kammergericht belongs,—"demanding a Copy of the Judgment. Which + order was at once obeyed. + </p> + <p> + "Hereupon, on Saturday, about 11 A.M., there came to Grand-Chancellor von + Furst," sublime head of us and of all Lawyers, "a Cabinet-Order, 'Appear + before me here, this day, at 2 o'clock; and bring with you your Three + Kammergericht Raths who drew up (MINUTIRT) the Judgment in the Arnold + Case.'" Message bodeful to Furst and the three Raths. + </p> + <p> + "NOTA," says Rannsleben here, "the King is under the impression that, in + judging a Case, Three Raths are always employed, and therefore demands + Three of us. But, properly, all the above-named Six MEMBRA COLLEGII, + besides myself, ought to have gone to the Palace, or else I alone." On + some points an ill-informed King. Rannsleben continues:— + </p> + <p> + "President von Rebeur came to me in his carriage, at a quarter to 12; told + me of the King's Order; and said, as the King demanded only Three Raths, + there was nothing for it but to name me and Raths Friedel and Kircheisen, + my usual partners in Judgment business. Finding, however, on looking into + the Sentence itself, that Kircheisen was not amongst the signers of it, he + [Rebeur] named, instead of him, Rath Graun, who was. For the Herr + President apprehended the King might demand to see our Sentence IN + ORIGINALI, and would then be angry that a person had been sent to him who + had not signed the same. President von Rebeur instructed me farther, That + I, as Reporter in the Case, was to be spokesman at the Palace; and should + explain to his Majesty the reasons which had weighed with the + Kammergericht in coming to such decision. + </p> + <p> + "To my dear Wife I," as beseemed a good husband, "said nothing of all + this; confiding it only to my Father-in-law, who tried to cheer me. Nor, + indeed, did I feel any fear within me, being persuaded in my conscience + that, in this decision of the Arnold Case, I had proceeded according to + the best of my knowledge and conviction. + </p> + <p> + "At 1 o'clock I drove to the Grand-Chancellor's, where I found the Raths + Friedel and Graun already arrived. The Chancellor," old Furst, "instructed + us as to what we had to do when we came before the King. And then, towards + 2 o'clock, he took us in his carriage to the Palace. We entered the room + immediately at the end of the Great Hall. Here we found a heyduc [tall + porter], by whom the Chancellor announced to the King that we were here. + Heyduc soon came back to inquire, Whether the CABINETS-RATH Stellter," a + Secretary or Short-hand writer of his Majesty's, "had arrived yet; and + whether we [WE, what a doubt!] were Privy Councillors. We were then + shortly after shown in to the King. We passed through three rooms, the + second of which was that in which stands the CONFIDENZ TAFEL [Table that + goes by pulleys through the floor, and comes up refurnished, when you wish + to be specially private with your friends]. In the fourth, a small room + with one window, was the King. The Chancellor walked first; I followed him + close; behind me came the Rath Friedel, and then Graun. Some way within, + opposite the door, stood a screen; with our backs to this," the Kingward + side of this, "we ranged ourselves,"—in respectful row of Four, + Furst at the inward end of us (right or left is no matter). "The King sat + in the middle of the room, so that he could look point-blank at us; he sat + with his back to the chimney, in which there was a fire burning. He had on + a worn hat, of the clerical shape [old-military in fact, not a shovel at + all]; CASSAQUIN," short dressing-gown, "of red-brown (MORDORE) velvet; + black breeches, and boots which came quite up over the knee. His hair was + not dressed. Three little benchlets or stools, covered with green cloth, + stood before him, on which he had his feet lying [terribly ill of gout]. + In his lap he had a sort of muff, with one of his hands in it, which + seemed to be giving him great pain. In the other hand he held our Sentence + on the Arnold Case. He lay reclining (LAG) in an easy-chair; at his left + stood a table, with various papers on it,—and two gold snuffboxes, + richly set with brilliants, from which he kept taking snuff now and then. + </p> + <p> + "Besides us, there was present in the room the Cabinets-Rath Stellter [of + the short-hand], who stood at a desk, and was getting ready for writing. + The King looked at us, saying, 'Come nearer!' Whereupon we advanced + another step, and were now within less than two steps of him. He addressed + himself to us three Raths, taking no notice at all of the + Grand-Chancellor:— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Is it you who drew up the judgment in the Arnold case?' + </p> + <p> + WE (especially I, with a bow). "'Yea.' + </p> + <p> + "The King then turned to the Rath Friedel [to Friedel, as the central + figure of the Three, perhaps as the portliest, though poor Friedel, except + signing, had little cognizance of the thing, in which not he but + Rannsleben was to have been spokesman], and addressed to Friedel those + questions, of which, with their answers, there is Protocol published, + under Royal authority, in the Berlin newspapers of December 14th, 1779;" + [VON SEINER KONIGLICHEN MAJESTAT HOCHSTSELBAT ANGEHALTENES PROTOCOLL: + "Protocol [Minute of Proceedings] held by Royal Majesty's Highest-self, on + the 11th December, 1779, concerning the three Kammergerichts-Raths, + Friedel, Graun and Rannsleben:" in PREUSS, iii. 495.] Shorthand Stellter + taking down what was said,—quite accurately, testifies Rannsleben. + From Stellter (that is to say from the "Protocol" just mentioned), or from + Stellter and Rannsleben together, we continue the Dialogue:— + </p> + <p> + KING to Friedel [in the tone of a Rhadamanthus suffering from gout]. "'To + give sentence against a Peasant from whom you have taken wagon, plough and + everything that enables him to get his living, and to pay his rent and + taxes: is that a thing that can be done?' + </p> + <p> + FRIEDEL (and the two Mutes, bowing). "'No.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'May a Miller who has no water, and consequently cannot grind, and, + therefore, not earn anything, have his mill taken from him, on account of + his not having paid his rent: is that just?' + </p> + <p> + FRIEDEL (and Mutes as aforesaid). "'No.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'But here now is a Nobleman, wishing to make a Fish-pond: to get + more water for his Pond, he has a ditch dug, to draw into it the water + from a small stream which drives a water-mill. Thereby the Miller loses + his water, and cannot grind; or, at most, can only grind in the spring for + the space of a fortnight, and late in the autumn, perhaps another + fortnight. Yet, in spite of all this, it is pretended that the Miller + shall pay his rent quite the same as at the time when he had full water + for his mill. Of course, he cannot pay his rent; his incomings are gone! + And what does the Custrin Court of Justice do? It orders the mill to be + sold, that the Nobleman may have his rent. And the Berlin Tribunal'"—Chancellor + Furst, standing painfully mute, unspoken to, unnoticed hitherto, more like + a broomstick than a Chancellor, ventures to strike in with a syllable of + emendation, a small correction, of these words "Berlin Tribunal"— + </p> + <p> + FURST (suggestively). "'Kammergericht [mildly suggestive, and perhaps with + something in his tone which means, "I am not a broomstick!"]: + Kammergericht!' + </p> + <p> + KING (to short-hand Stellter). "'Kammergerichts-Tribunal:—[then to + Furst] Go you, Sir, about your business, on the instant! Your Successor is + appointed; with you I have nothing more to do. Disappear!'"—"Ordered," + says Official Rannsleben, "ordered the Grand-Chancellor, in very severe + terms, To be gone! telling him that his Successor was already appointed. + Which order Herr von Furst, without saying a word, hastily obeyed, passing + in front of us three, with the utmost speed." In front,—screen, I + suppose, not having room behind it,—and altogether vanishes from + Friedrich's History; all but some GHOST of him (so we may term it), which + reappears for an instant once, as will be noticed. + </p> + <p> + KING (continues to Friedel, not in a lower tone probably):—"'the + Kammergerichts-Tribunal confirms the same. That is highly unjust; and such + Sentence is altogether contrary to his Majesty's landsfatherly intentions:—my + name [you give it, "In the King's Name," forsooth] cruelly abused!'" + </p> + <p> + So far is set forth in the "Royal Protocol printed next Tuesday," as well + as in Rannsleben. But from this point, the Dialogue—if it can be + called Dialogue, being merely a rebuke and expectoration of Royal wrath + against Friedel and his Two, who are all mute, so far as I can learn, and + stand like criminals in the dock, feeling themselves unjustly condemned—gets + more and more into conflagration, and cannot be distinctly reported. "MY + name to such a thing! When was I found to oppress a poor man for love of a + rich? To follow wiggeries and forms with solemn attention, careless what + became of the internal fact? Act of 1566, allowing Gersdorf to make his + Pond? Like enough;—and Arnold's loss of water, that is not worth the + ascertaining; you know not yet what it was, some of you even say it was + nothing; care not whether it was anything. Could Arnold grind, or not, as + formerly? What is Act of 1566, or any or all Acts, in comparison? Wretched + mortals, had you wigs a fathom long, and Law-books on your back, and Acts + of 1566 by the hundredweight, what could it help, if the right of a poor + man were left by you trampled under foot? What is the meaning of your + sitting there as Judges? Dispensers of Right in God's Name and mine? I + will make an example of you which shall be remembered!—Out of my + sight!" Whereupon EXEUNT in haste, all Three,—though not far, not + home, as will be seen. + </p> + <p> + Only the essential sense of all this, not the exact terms, could (or + should) any Stellter take in short-hand; and in the Protocol it is + decorously omitted altogether. Rannsleben merely says: "The King farther + made use of very strong expressions against us,"—too strong to be + repeated,—"and, at last, dismissed us without saying what he + intended to do with us. We had hardly left the room, when he followed us, + ordering us to wait. The King, during the interview with us, held the + Sentence, of my composition, in his hand; and seemed particularly + irritated about the circumstance of the judgment being pronounced in his + name, as is the usual form. He struck the paper again and again with his + other hand,"—heat of indignation quite extinguishing gout, for the + moment,—"exclaiming at the same time repeatedly, 'Cruelly abused my + name (MEINEN NAMEN CRUEL MISSBRAUCHT)!'" [Preuss, iii. 495-498.]—We + will now give the remaining part of the Protocol (what directly follows + the above CATECHETICAL or DIALOGUE part before that caught fire),—as + taken down by Stellter, and read in all the Newspapers next Tuesday:— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + "PROTOCOL [of December 11th, Title already given; [Supra, p. 439 n.] + Docketing adds], WHICH IS TO BE PRINTED." + </h2> + <p> + ... (CATECHETICS AS ABOVE,—AND THEN): "The King's desire always is + and was, That everybody, be he high or low, rich or poor, get prompt + justice; and that, without regard of person or rank, no subject of his + fail at any time of impartial right and protection from his Courts of Law. + </p> + <p> + "Wherefore, with respect to this most unjust Sentence against the Miller + Arnold of the Pommerzig Crabmill, pronounced in the Neumark, and confirmed + here in Berlin, his Majesty will establish an emphatic example (EIN + NACHDRUCKLICHES EXEMPEL STATUIREN); to the end that all Courts of Justice, + in all the King's Provinces, may take warning thereby, and not commit the + like glaring unjust acts. For, let them bear in mind, That the least + peasant, yea, what is still more, that even a beggar, is, no less than his + Majesty, a human being, and one to whom due justice must be meted out. All + men being equal before the Law, if it is a prince complaining against a + peasant, or VICE VERSA, the prince is the same as the peasant before the + Law; and, on such occasions, pure justice must have its course, without + regard of person: Let the Law-Courts, in all the Provinces, take this for + their rule. And whenever they do not carry out justice in a + straightforward manner, without any regard of person and rank, but put + aside natural fairness,—then they shall have to answer his Majesty + for it (SOLLEN SIC ES MIT SEINER KONIGLICHEN MAJESTAT ZU THUN KRIEGEN). + For a Court of Law doing injustice is more dangerous and pernicious than a + band of thieves: against these one can protect oneself; but against rogues + who make use of the cloak of justice to accomplish their evil passions, + against such no man can guard himself. These are worse than the greatest + knaves the world contains, and deserve double punishment. + </p> + <p> + "For the rest, be it also known to the various Courts of Justice, That his + Majesty has appointed a new Grand-Chancellor." Furst dismissed. "Yet his + Majesty will not the less look sharply with his own eyes after the + Law-proceedings in all the Provinces; and he commands you"—that is, + all the Law-courts—"urgently herewith: FIRSTLY,"—which is also + lastly,—"To proceed to deal equally with all people seeking justice, + be it prince or peasant; for, there, all must be alike. However, if his + Majesty, at any time hereafter, come upon a fault committed in this + regard, the guilty Courts can now imagine beforehand how they will be + punished with rigor, President as well as Raths, who shall have delivered + a judgment so wicked and openly opposed to justice. Which all Colleges of + Justice in all his Majesty's Provinces are particularly to take notice + of." + </p> + <p> + "MEM. By his Majesty's special command, measures are taken that this + Protocol be inserted in all the Berlin Journals." [In <i>Berlin'sche + Nachrichten von Staats und Gelehrten Sachen,</i> No. 149, "Tuesday, 14th + December, 1779." Preuss, iii. 494.] + </p> + <p> + The remainder of Rannsleben's Narrative is beautifully brief and + significant.—"We had hardly left the room," said he SUPRA, "when the + King followed us," lame as he was, with a fulminant "Wait there!" + Rannsleben continues: "Shortly after came an Aide-de-Camp, who took us in + a carriage to the common Town-prison, the Kalandshof; here two Corporals + and two Privates were set to guard us. On the 13th December, 1779," third + day of our arrest, "a Cabinet-Order was published to us, by which the King + had appointed a Commission of Inquiry; but had, at the same time, + commanded beforehand that the Sentence should not be less than a year's + confinement in a fortress, dismissal from office, and payment of + compensation to the Arnold people for the losses they had sustained." + Which certainly was a bad outlook for us. + </p> + <p> + Precisely the same has befallen our Brethren of Custrin; all suddenly + packed into Prison, just while reading our Approval of them;—there + they sit, their Sentence to be like ours. "Our arrest in the Kalandshof + lasted from 11th December, 1779, till 5th January, 1780," three weeks and + three days,—when (with Two Exceptions, to be noted presently) we + were all, Kammergerichters and Custriners alike, transferred to Spandau. + </p> + <p> + I spoke of what might be called a ghost of Kanzler Furst once revisiting + the glimpses of the Moon, or Sun if there were any in the dismal December + days. This is it, witness one who saw it: "On the morning of December + 12th, the day after the Grand-Chancellor's dismissal, the Street in which + he lived was thronged with the carriages of callers, who came to testify + their sympathy, and to offer their condolence to the fallen Chancellor. + The crowd of carriages could be seen from the windows of the King's + Palace." The same young Legal Gentleman, by and by a very old one, who, + himself one of the callers at the Ex-Chancellor's house that day, saw + this, and related it in his old age to Herr Preuss, [Preuss, iii. 499, + 500.] remembers and relates also this other significant fact:— + </p> + <p> + "During the days that followed" the above event and Publication of the + Royal Protocol, "I often crossed, in the forenoon, the Esplanade in front + of the Palace (SCHLOSSPLATZ), at that side where the King's apartments + were; the same which his Royal Highness the Crown-Prince now [1833] + occupies. I remember that here, on that part of the Esplanade which was + directly under Friedrich's windows, there stood constantly numbers of + Peasants, not ten or twelve, but as many as a hundred at a time; all with + Petitions in their hands, which they were holding up towards the window; + shouting, 'Please his Majesty to look at these; we have been still worse + treated than the Arnolds!' And indeed, I have understood the Law-Courts, + for some time after, found great difficulty to assert their authority: the + parties against whom judgment went, taking refuge in the Arnold precedent, + and appealing direct to the King." + </p> + <p> + Far graver than this Spectre of Furst, Minister Zedlitz hesitates, finally + refuses, to pronounce such a Sentence as the King orders on these men of + Law! Estimable, able, conscientious Zedlitz; zealous on Education matters, + too;—whom I always like for contriving to attend a Course of Kant's + Lectures, while 500 miles away from him (actual Course in Konigsberg + University, by the illustrious Kant; every Lecture punctually taken in + short-hand, and transmitted to Berlin, post after post, for the busy man). + [Kuno Fischer, <i>Kant's Leben</i> (Mannheim, 1860), pp. 34, 35.] Here is + now some painful Correspondence between the King and him,—painful, + yet pleasant:— + </p> + <p> + KING TO MINISTER VON ZEDLITZ, WHO HAS ALARMING DOUBTS (Berlin, 28th + December, 1779).—"Your Report of the 20th instant in regard to + Judgment on the arrested Raths has been received. But do you think I don't + understand your Advocate fellows and their quirks; or how they can polish + up a bad cause, and by their hyperboles exaggerate or extenuate as they + find fit? The Goose-quill class (FEDERZEUG) can't look at facts. When + Soldiers set to investigate anything, on an order given, they go the + straight way to the kernel of the matter; upon which, plenty of objections + from the Goose-quill people!—But you may assure yourself I give more + belief to an honest Officer, who has honor in the heart of him, than to + all your Advocates and sentences. I perceive well they are themselves + afraid, and don't want to see any of their fellows punished. "If, + therefore, you will not obey my Order, I shall take another in your place + who will; for depart from it I will not. You may tell them that. And know, + for your part, that such miserable jargon (MISERABEL STYL) makes not the + smallest impression on me. Hereby, then, you are to guide yourself; and + merely say whether you will follow my Order or not; for I will in no wise + fall away from it. I am your well-affectioned King,—FRIEDRICH." + </p> + <p> + MARGINALE (in Autograph).—"My Gentleman [you, Herr von Zedlitz, with + your dubitatings] won't make me believe black is white. I know the + Advocate sleight-of-hand, and won't be taken in. An example has become + necessary here,—those Scoundrels (CANAILLEN) having so enormously + misused my name, to practise arbitrary and unheard-of injustices. A Judge + that goes upon chicaning is to be punished more severely than a highway + Robber. For you have trusted to the one; you are on your guard against the + other." + </p> + <p> + ZEDLITZ TO THE KING (Berlin, 31st December, 1779).—"I have at all + times had your Royal Majesty's favor before my eyes as the supreme + happiness of my life, and have most zealously endeavored to merit the + same: but I should recognize myself unworthy of it, were I capable of an + undertaking contrary to my conviction. From the reasons indicated by + myself, as well as by the Criminal-Senate [Paper of reasons fortunately + lost], your Majesty will deign to consider that I am unable to draw up a + condemnatory Sentence against your Majesty's Servants-of-Justice now under + arrest on account of the Arnold Affair. Your Majesty's till death,—VON + ZEDLITZ." + </p> + <p> + KING TO ZEDLITZ (Berlin, 1st January, 1780).—"My dear + State's-Minister Freiherr von Zedlitz,—It much surprises me to see, + from your Note of yesterday, that you refuse to pronounce a judgment on + those Servants-of-Justice arrested for their conduct in the Arnold Case, + according to my Order. If you, therefore, will not, I will; and do it as + follows:— + </p> + <p> + "1. The Custrin Regierungs-Rath Scheibler, who, it appears in evidence, + was of an opposite opinion to his Colleagues, and voted That the man + up-stream had not a right to cut off the water from the man down-stream; + and that the point, as to Arnold's wanting water, should be more closely + and strictly inquired into,—he, Scheibler, shall be set free from + his arrest, and go back to his post at Custrin. And in like manner, + Kammergerichts-Rath Rannsleben—who has evidently given himself + faithful trouble about the cause, and has brought forward with a quite + visible impartiality all the considerations and dubieties, especially + about the condition of the water and the alleged hurtfulness of the Pond—is + absolved from arrest. + </p> + <p> + "2. As for the other arrested Servants-of-Justice, they are one and all + dismissed from office (CASSIRT), and condemned to one year's + Fortress-Arrest. Furthermore, they shall pay to Arnold the value of his + Mill, and make good to him, out of their own pocket, all the loss and + damage he has suffered in this business; the Neumark KAMMER + (Revenue-Board) to tax and estimate the same. [Damage came to 1,358 + thalers, 11 groschen, 1 pfennig,—that is, 203 pounds 14s. and some + pence and farthings; the last farthing of which was punctually paid to + Arnold, within the next eight months;] [Preuss, iii. 409.]—so that + </p> + <p> + "3. The Miller Arnold shall be completely put as he was (IN INTEGRUM + RESTITUIRT). + </p> + <p> + "And in such way must the matter, in all branches of it, be immediately + proceeded with, got ready, and handed in for my Completion (VOLLZIEHUNG) + by Signature. Which you, therefore, will take charge of, without delay. + For the rest, I will tell you farther, that I am not ill pleased to know + you on the side you show on this occasion [as a man that will not go + against his conscience], and shall see, by and by, what I can farther do + with you. [Left him where he was, as the best thing.] Whereafter you are + accordingly to guide yourself. And I remain otherwise your + well-affectioned King, FRIEDRICH." [Ib. iii. 519, 520; see ib. 405 n.] + </p> + <p> + This, then, is an impartial account of the celebrated passage between + Friedrich and the Lawyers known by the name of "the MILLER-ARNOLD CASE;" + which attracted the notice of all Europe,—just while the decennium + of the French Revolution was beginning. In Russia, the Czarina Catharine, + the friend of Philosophers, sent to her Senate a copy of Friedrich's + PROTOCOL OF DECEMBER 11th, as a noteworthy instance of Royal supreme + judicature. In France, Prints in celebration of it,—"one Print by + Vangelisti, entitled BALANCE DE FREDERIC,"—were exhibited in + shop-windows, expounded in newspapers, and discoursed of in drawing-rooms. + The Case brought into talk again an old Miller Case of Friedrich's, which + had been famous above thirty years ago, when Sans-Souci was getting built. + Readers know it: Potsdam Miller, and his obstinate Windmill, which still + grinds on its knoll in those localities, and would not, at any price, + become part of the King's Gardens. "Not at any price?" said the King's + agent: "Cannot the King take it from you for nothing, if he chose?" "Have + n't we the Kammergericht at Berlin!" answered the Miller. To Friedrich's + great delight, as appears;—which might render the Windmill itself a + kind of ornament to his Gardens thenceforth. The French admiration over + these two Miller Cases continued to be very great. [Dieulafoi, LE MEUNIER + DE SANS-SOUCI (Comedy or farce, of I know not what year); Andrieux, LE + MOULIN DE SANS-SOUCI ("Poem," at INSTITUT NATIONAL 15 GERMINAL, AN 5), + &c. &c.: Preuss, iii. 412, 413.] + </p> + <p> + As to Miller Arnold and his Cause, the united voice of Prussian Society + condemned Friedrich's procedure: Such harshness to Grand-Chancellor Furst + and respectable old Official Gentlemen, amounting to the barbarous and + tyrannous, according to Prussian Society. To support which feeling, and + testify it openly, they drove in crowds to Furst's (some have told me to + the Prison-doors too, but that seems hypothetic); and left cards for old + Furst and Company. In sight of Friedrich, who inquired, "What is this stir + on the streets, then?"—and, on learning, made not the least audible + remark; but continued his salutary cashierment of the wigged Gentlemen, + and imprisonment till their full term ran. + </p> + <p> + My impression has been that, in Berlin Society, there was more sympathy + for mere respectability of wig than in Friedrich. To Friedrich + respectability of wig that issues in solemnly failing to do justice, is a + mere enormity, greater than the most wigless condition could be. Wigless, + the thing were to be endured, a thing one is born to, more or less: but in + wig,—out upon it! And the wig which screens, and would strive to + disguise and even to embellish such a thing: To the gutters with such wig! + </p> + <p> + In support of their feeling for Furst and Company, Berlin Society was + farther obliged to pronounce the claim of Miller Arnold a nullity, and + that no injustice whatever had been done him. Mere pretences on his part, + subterfuges for his idle conduct, for his inability to pay due rent, said + Berlin Society. And that impartial Soldier-person, whom Friedrich sent to + examine by the light of nature, and report? "Corrupted he!" answer they: + "had intrigues with—" I forget whom; somebody of the womankind + (perhaps Arnold's old hard-featured Wife, if you are driven into a + corner!)—"and was not to be depended on at all!" In which condemned + state, Berlin Society almost wholly disapproving it, the Arnold Process + was found at Friedrich's death (restoration of honors to old Furst and + Company, one of the first acts of the New Reign, sure of immediate + popularity); and, I think, pretty much continues so still, few or none in + Berlin Society admitting Miller Arnold's claim to redress, much less + defending that onslaught on Furst and the wigs. [Herr Preuss himself + inclines that way, rather condemnatory of Friedrich; but his Account, as + usual, is exact and authentic,—though distressingly confused, and + scattered about into different corners (Preuss, iii. 381-413; then again, + ibid. 520 &c.). On the other hand, there is one Segebusch, too, a + learned Doctor, of Altona, who takes the King's side,—and really is + rather stupid, argumentative merely, and unilluminative, if you read him: + Segebusch, <i>Historischrechtliche Wurdigung der Einmischung Friedrich's + des Grossen in die bekannte Rechtssache des Mullers Arnold, auch fur + Nicht-Juristen</i> (Altona, 1829).] + </p> + <p> + Who, from the remote distance, would venture to contradict? Once more, my + own poor impression was, which I keep silent except to friends, that + Berlin Society was wrong; that Miller Arnold had of a truth lost portions + of his dam-water, and was entitled to abatement; and that in such case, + Friedrich's horror at the Furst-and-Company Phenomenon (horror aggravated + by gout) had its highly respectable side withal. + </p> + <p> + When, after Friedrich's death, on Von Gersdorf's urgent reclamations, the + case was reopened, and allowed to be carried "into the Secret Tribunal, as + the competent Court of Appeal in third instance," the said Tribunal found, + That the law-maxim depended upon by the Lower Courts, as to "the absolute + right of owners of private streams," did NOT apply in the present case; + but that the Deed of 1566 did; and also that "the facts as to pretended + damage [PRETENCE merely] from loss of water, were satisfactorily proved + against Arnold:" Gersdorf, therefore, may have his Pond; and Arnold must + refund the money paid to him for "damages" by the condemned Judges; and + also the purchase-money of his Mill, if he means to keep the latter. All + which moneys, however, his Majesty Friedrich Wilhelm II., Friedrich's + Successor, to have done with the matter, handsomely paid out of his own + pocket: the handsome way of ending it. + </p> + <p> + In his last journey to West-Preussen, June, 1784, Friedrich said to the + new Regierungs-President (Chief Judge) there: "I am Head Commissary of + Justice; and have a heavy responsibility lying on me,"—as will you + in this new Office. Friedrich at no moment neglected this part of his + functions; and his procedure in it throughout, one cannot but admit to + have been faithful, beautiful, human. Very impatient indeed when he comes + upon Imbecility and Pedantry threatening to extinguish Essence and Fact, + among his Law People! This is one MARGINALE of his, among many such, some + of them still more stinging, which are comfortable to every reader. The + Case is that of a murderer,—murder indisputable; "but may not + insanity be suspected, your Majesty, such the absence of motive, such the—?" + Majesty answers: "That is nothing but inanity and stupid pleading against + right. The fellow put a child to death; if he were a soldier, you would + execute him without priest; and because this CANAILLE is a citizen, you + make him 'melancholic' to get him off. Beautiful justice!" [Preuss, iii. + 375.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich has to sign all Death-Sentences; and he does it, wherever I have + noticed, rigorously well. For the rest, his Criminal Calendar seems to be + lighter than any other of his time; "in a population of 5,200,000," says + he once, "14 to 15 are annually condemned to death." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII.—THE FURSTENBUND: FRIEDRICH'S LAST YEARS. + </h2> + <p> + At Vienna, on November 29th, 1780, the noble Kaiserinn Maria Theresa, + after a short illness, died. Her end was beautiful and exemplary, as her + course had been. The disease, which seemed at first only a bad cold, + proved to have been induration of the lungs; the chief symptom throughout, + a more and more suffocating difficulty to breathe. On the edge of death, + the Kaiserinn, sitting in a chair (bed impossible in such struggle for + breath), leant her head back as if inclined to sleep. One of her women + arranged the cushions, asked in a whisper, "Will your Majesty sleep, + then?" "No," answered the dying Kaiserinn; "I could sleep, but I must not; + Death is too near. He must not steal upon me. These fifteen years I have + been making ready for him; I will meet him awake." Fifteen years ago her + beloved Franz was snatched from her, in such sudden manner: and ever + since, she has gone in Widow's dress; and has looked upon herself as one + who had done with the world. The 18th of every month has been for her a + day of solitary prayer; 18th of every August (Franz's death-day) she has + gone down punctually to the vaults in the Stephans-Kirche, and sat by his + coffin there;—last August, something broke in the apparatus as she + descended; and it has ever since been an omen to her. [Hormayr, <i>OEsterreichischer + Plutarch,</i> iv. (2tes) 94; Keith, ii. 114.] Omen now fulfilled. + </p> + <p> + On her death, Joseph and Kaunitz, now become supreme, launched abroad in + their ambitious adventures with loose rein. Schemes of all kinds; + including Bavaria still, in spite of the late check; for which latter, and + for vast prospects in Turkey as well, the young Kaiser is now upon a + cunning method, full of promise to him,—that of ingratiating himself + with the Czarina, and cutting out Friedrich in that quarter. Summer, 1780, + while the Kaiserinn still lived, Joseph made his famous First Visit to the + Czarina (May-August, 1780), [Hermann, vi. 132-135.]—not yet for some + years his thrice-famous Second Visit (thrice-famous Cleopatra-voyage with + her down the Dnieper; dramaturgic cities and populations keeping pace with + them on the banks, such the scenic faculty of Russian Officials, with + Potemkin as stage-manager):—in the course of which First Visit, + still more in the Second, it is well known the Czarina and Joseph came to + an understanding. Little articulated of it as yet; but the meaning already + clear to both. "A frank partnership, high Madam: to you, full scope in + your glorious notion of a Greek Capital and Empire, Turk quite trampled + away, Constantinople a Christian metropolis once more [and your next + Grandson a CONSTANTINE,—to be in readiness]: why not, if I may share + too, in the Donau Countries, that lie handy? To you, I say, an Eastern + Empire; to me, a Western: Revival of the poor old Romish Reich, so far as + may be; and no hindrance upon Bavaria, next time. Have not we had enough + of that old Friedrich, who stands perpetually upon STATUS QUO, and to both + of us is a mere stoppage of the way?" + </p> + <p> + Czarina Catharine took the hint; christened her next Grandson + "Constantine" (to be in readiness); [This is the Constantine who + renounced, in favor of the late Czar Nicholas; and proved a failure in + regard to "New Greek Empire," and otherwise.] and from that time stiffly + refused renewing her Treaty with Friedrich;—to Friedrich's great + grief, seeing her, on the contrary, industrious to forward every German + scheme of Joseph's, Bavarian or other, and foreshadowing to himself dismal + issues for Prussia when this present term of Treaty should expire. As to + Joseph, he was busy night and day,—really perilous to Friedrich and + the independence of the German Reich. His young Brother, Maximilian, he + contrives, Czarina helping, to get elected Co-adjutor of Koln; Successor + of our Lanky Friend there, to be Kur-Koln in due season, and make the + Electorate of Koln a bit of Austria henceforth. [Lengthy and minute + account of that Transaction, in all the steps of it, in DOHM, i. 295-39.] + Then there came "PANIS-BRIEFE," [PANIS (Bread) BRIEF is a Letter with + which, in ancient centuries, the Kaiser used to furnish an old worn-out + Servant, addressed to some Monastery, some Abbot or Prior in easy + circumstances: "Be so good as provide this old Gentleman with Panis + (Bread, or Board and Lodging) while he lives." Very pretty in Barbarossa's + time;—but now—!]—who knows what?—usurpations, + graspings and pretensions without end:—finally, an open pretension + to incorporate Bavaria, after all. Bavaria, not in part now, but in whole: + "You, Karl Theodor, injured man, cannot we give you Territory in the + Netherlands; a King there you shall be, and have your vote as Kur-Pfalz + still; only think! In return for which, Bavaria ours in fee-simple, and so + finish that?" Karl Theodor is perfectly willing,—only perhaps some + others are not. Then and there, these threatening complexities, now gone + like a dream of the night, were really life-perils for the Kingdom of + Prussia; never to be lost sight of by a veteran Shepherd of the People. + They kept a vigilant King Friedrich continually on the stretch, and were a + standing life-problem to him in those final Years. Problem nearly + insoluble to human contrivance; the Russian card having palpably gone into + the other hand. Problem solved, nevertheless; it is still remembered how. + </p> + <p> + On the development of that pretty Bavarian Project, the thing became + pressing; and it is well known by what a stroke of genius Friedrich + checkmated it; and produced instead a "FURSTENBUND," or general + "Confederation of German Princes," Prussia atop, to forbid peremptorily + that the Laws of the Reich be infringed. FURSTENBUND: this is the + victorious summit of Friedrich's Public History, towards which all his + efforts tended, during these five years: Friedrich's last feat in the + world. Feat, how obsolete now,—fallen silent everywhere, except in + German Parish-History, and to the students of Friedrich's character in old + age! Had no result whatever in European History; so unexpected was the + turn things took. A FURSTENBUND which was swallowed bodily within few + years, in that World-Explosion of Democracy, and War of the Giants; and—unless + Napoleon's "Confederation of the Rhine" were perhaps some transitory ghost + of it?—left not even a ghost behind. A FURSTENBUND of which we must + say something, when its Year comes; but obviously not much. + </p> + <p> + Nor are the Domesticities, as set forth by our Prussian authorities, an + opulent topic for us. Friedrich's Old Age is not unamiable; on the + contrary, I think it would have made a pretty Picture, had there been a + Limner to take it, with the least felicity or physiognomic coherency;—as + there was not. His Letters, and all the symptoms we have, denote a + sound-hearted brave old man; continually subduing to himself many ugly + troubles; and, like the stars, always steady at his work. To sit grieving + or desponding is, at all times, far from him: "Why despond? Won't it be + all done presently; is it of much moment while it lasts?" A fine, + unaffectedly vigorous, simple and manful old age;—rather serene than + otherwise; in spite of electric outbursts and cloudy weather that could + not be wanting. + </p> + <p> + Of all which there is not, in this place, much more to be said. + Friedrich's element is itself wearing dim, sombre of hue; and the records + of it, too, seem to grow dimmer, more and more intermittent. Old friends, + of the intellectual kind, are almost all dead; the new are of little + moment to us,—not worth naming in comparison, The chief, perhaps, is + a certain young Marchese Lucchesini, who comes about this time, + ["Chamberlain [titular, with Pension, &c.], 9th May, 1780, age then + 28" (Preuss, iv. 211);-arrived when or how is not said.] and continues in + more and more favor both with Friedrich and his Successor,—employed + even in Diplomatics by the latter. An accomplished young Gentleman, from + Lucca; of fine intelligence, and, what was no less essential to him here, + a perfect propriety in breeding and carriage. One makes no acquaintance + with him in these straggling records, nor desires to make any. It was he + that brought the inane, ever scribbling Denina hither, if that can be + reckoned a merit. Inane Denina came as Academician, October, 1782; saw + Friedrich, [Rodenbeck, iii. 285, 286.] at least once ("Academician, + Pension; yes, yes!")—and I know not whether any second time. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, on loss of friends, does not take refuge in solitude; he tries + always for something of substitute; sees his man once or twice,—in + several instances once only, and leaves him to his pension in sinecure + thenceforth. Cornelius de Pauw, the rich Canon of Xanten (Uncle of + Anacharsis Klootz, the afterwards renowned), came on those principles; + hung on for six months, not liked, not liking; and was then permitted to + go home for good, his pension with him. Another, a Frenchman, whose name I + forget, sat gloomily in Potsdam, after his rejection; silent (not knowing + German), unclipt, unkempt, rough as Nebuchadnezzar, till he died. De Catt + is still a resource; steady till almost the end, when somebody's tongue, + it is thought, did him ill with the King. + </p> + <p> + Alone, or almost alone, of the ancient set is Bastiani; a tall, + black-browed man, with uncommonly bright eyes, now himself old, and a + comfortable Abbot in Silesia; who comes from time to time, awakening the + King into his pristine topics and altitudes. Bastiani's history is + something curious: as a tall Venetian Monk (son of a tailor in Venice), he + had been crimped by Friedrich Wilhelm's people; Friedrich found him + serving as a Potsdam Giant, but discerned far other faculties in the + bright-looking man, far other knowledges; and gradually made him what we + see. Banters him sometimes that he will rise to be Pope one day, so + cunning and clever is he: "What will you say to me, a Heretic, when you + get to be Pope; tell me now; out with it, I insist!" Bastiani parried, + pleaded, but unable to get off, made what some call his one piece of wit: + "I will say: O Royal Eagle, screen me with thy wings, but spare me with + thy sharp beak!" This is Bastiani's one recorded piece of wit; for he was + tacit rather, and practically watchful, and did not waste his fine + intellect in that way. + </p> + <p> + Foreign Visitors there are in plenty; now and then something brilliant + going. But the old Generals seem to be mainly what the King has for + company. Dinner always his bright hour; from ten to seven guests daily. + Seidlitz, never of intelligence on any point but Soldiering, is long since + dead; Ziethen comes rarely, and falls asleep when he does; General Gortz + (brother of the Weimar-Munchen Gortz); Buddenbrock (the King's comrade in + youth, in the Reinsberg times), who has good faculty; Prittwitz (who saved + him at Kunersdorf, and is lively, though stupid); General and Head-Equerry + Schwerin, of headlong tongue, not witty, but the cause of wit; Major Graf + von Pinto, a magniloquent Ex-Austrian ditto ditto: these are among his + chief dinner-guests. If fine speculation do not suit, old pranks of youth, + old tales of war, become the staple conversation; always plenty of banter + on the old King's part;—who sits very snuffy (says the privately + ill-humored Busching) and does not sufficiently abhor grease on his + fingers, or keep his nails quite clean. Occasionally laughs at the Clergy, + too; and has little of the reverence seemly in an old King. The truth is, + Doctor, he has had his sufferings from Human Stupidity; and was always + fond of hitting objects on the raw. For the rest, as you may see, heartily + an old Stoic, and takes matters in the rough; avoiding useless despondency + above all; and intent to have a cheerful hour at dinner if he can. + </p> + <p> + Visits from his Kindred are still pretty frequent; never except on + invitation. For the rest, completely an old Bachelor, an old Military + Abbot; with business for every hour. Princess Amelia takes care of his + linen, not very well, the dear old Lady, who is herself a cripple, + suffering, and voiceless, speaking only in hoarse whisper. I think I have + heard there were but twelve shirts, not in first-rate order, when the King + died. A King supremely indifferent to small concerns; especially to that + of shirts and tailorages not essential. Holds to Literature, almost more + than ever; occasionally still writes; [For one instance: The famous + Pamphlet, DE LA LITTERATURE ALLEMANDE (containing his onslaught on + Shakspeare, and his first salutation, with the reverse of welcome, to + Goethe's GOTZ VON BERLICHINGEN);—printed, under stupid Thiebault's + care, Berlin, 1780. Stands now in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> vii. 89-122. + The last Pieces of all are chiefly MILITARY INSTRUCTIONS of a practical or + official nature.] has his daily Readings, Concerts, Correspondences as + usual:—readers can conceive the dim Household Picture, dimly + reported withal. The following Anecdotes may be added as completion of it, + or at least of all I have to say on it:— + </p> + <p> + YOU GO ON WEDNESDAY, THEN?—"Loss of time was one of the losses + Friedrich could least stand. In visits even from his Brothers and Sisters, + which were always by his own express invitation, he would say some morning + (call it Tuesday morning): 'You are going on Wednesday, I am sorry to + hear' (what YOU never heard before)!—'Alas, your Majesty, we must!' + 'Well, I am sorry: but I will lay no constraint on you. Pleasant moments + cannot last forever!' And sometimes, after this had been agreed to; he + would say: 'But cannot you stay till Thursday, then? Come, one other day + of it!'—'Well, since your Majesty does graciously press!' And on + Thursday, not Wednesday, on those curious terms, the visit would + terminate. This trait is in the Anecdote-Books: but its authenticity does + not rest on that uncertain basis; singularly enough, it comes to me, + individually, by two clear stages, from Friedrich's Sister the Duchess of + Brunswick, who, if anybody, would know it well!" [My informant is Sir + George Sinclair, Baronet, of Thurso; his was the distinguished Countess of + Finlater, still remembered for her graces of mind and person, who had been + Maid-of-Honor to the Duchess.] + </p> + <p> + DINNER WITH THE QUEEN.—The Queen, a prudent, simple-minded, worthy + person, of perfect behavior in a difficult position, seems to have been + much respected in Berlin Society and the Court Circles. Nor was the King + wanting in the same feeling towards her; of which there are still many + proofs: but as to personal intercourse,—what a figure has that + gradually taken! Preuss says, citing those who saw: "When the King, after + the Seven-Years War, now and then, in Carnival season, dined with the + Queen in her Apartments, he usually said not a word to her. He merely, on + entering, on sitting down at table and on leaving it, made the customary + bow; and sat opposite to her. Once, in the Seventies [years 1770, years + now past], the Queen was ill of gout; table was in her Apartments; but she + herself was not there, she sat in an easy-chair in the drawing-room. On + this occasion the King stepped up to the Queen, and inquired about her + health. The circumstance occasioned, among the company present, and all + over Town as the news spread, great wonder and sympathy (VERWUNDERUNG UND + THEILNAHME). This is probably the last time he ever spoke to her." + [Preuss, iv. 187.] + </p> + <p> + THE TWO GRAND-NEPHEWS.—"The King was fond of children; liked to have + his Grand-Nephews about him. One day, while the King sat at work in his + Cabinet, the younger of the two, a boy of eight or nine [who died soon + after twenty], was playing ball about the room; and knocked it once and + again into the King's writing operation; who twice or oftener flung it + back to him, but next time put it in his pocket, and went on. 'Please your + Majesty, give it me back!' begged the Boy; and again begged: Majesty took + no notice; continued writing. Till at length came, in the tone of + indignation, 'Will your Majesty give me my ball, then?' The King looked + up; found the little Hohenzollern planted firm, hands on haunches, and + wearing quite a peremptory air. 'Thou art a brave little fellow; they + won't get Silesia out of thee!' cried he laughing, and flinging him his + ball." [Fischer, ii. 445 ("year 1780").] + </p> + <p> + Of the elder Prince, afterwards Friedrich Wilhelm III. (Father of the now + King), there is a much more interesting Anecdote, and of his own reporting + too, though the precise terms are irrecoverable: "How the King, + questioning him about his bits of French studies, brought down a LA + FONTAINE from the shelves, and said, 'Translate me this Fable;' which the + Boy did, with such readiness and correctness as obtained the King's + praises: praises to an extent that was embarrassing, and made the honest + little creature confess, 'I did it with my Tutor, a few days since!' To + the King's much greater delight; who led him out to walk in the Gardens, + and, in a mood of deeper and deeper seriousness, discoursed and exhorted + him on the supreme law of truth and probity that lies on all men, and on + all Kings still more; one of his expressions being, 'Look at this high + thing [the Obelisk they were passing in the Gardens], its UPRIGHTness is + its strength (SA DROITURE FAIT SA FORCE);' and his final words, 'Remember + this evening, my good Fritz; perhaps thou wilt think of it, long after, + when I am gone.' As the good Friedrich Wilhelm III. declares piously he + often did, in the storms of fate that overtook him." [R. F. Eylert, <i>Charakterzuge + und historische Fragmente aus dem Leben des Konigs von Preussen Friedrich + Wilhelm III.</i> (Magdeburg, 1843), i. 450-456. This is a "King's Chaplain + and Bishop Eylert:" undoubtedly he heard this Anecdote from his Master, + and was heard repeating it; but the dialect his Editors have put it into + is altogether tawdry, modern, and impossible to take for that of + Friedrich, or even, I suppose, of Friedrich Wilhelm III.] + </p> + <p> + Industrial matters, that of Colonies especially, of drainages, + embankments, and reclaiming of waste lands, are a large item in the King's + business,—readers would not guess how large, or how incessant. Under + this head there is on record, and even lies at my hand translated into + English, what might be called a Colonial DAY WITH FRIEDRICH (Day of July + 23d, 1779; which Friedrich, just come home from the Bavarian War, spent + wholly, from 5 in the morning onward, in driving about, in earnest survey + of his Colonies and Land-Improvements in the Potsdam-Ruppin Country); + curious enough Record, by a certain Bailiff or Overseer, who rode at his + chariotside, of all the questions, criticisms and remarks of Friedrich on + persons and objects, till he landed at Ruppin for the night. Taken down, + with forensic, almost with religious exactitude, by the Bailiff in + question; a Nephew of the Poet Gleim,—by whom it was published, the + year after Friedrich's death; [Is in <i>Anekdoten und Karakterzuge,</i> + No. 8 (Berlin, 1787), pp. 15-79.] and by many others since. It is + curiously authentic, characteristic in parts, though in its bald forensic + style rather heavy reading. Luckier, for most readers, that inexorable + want of room has excluded it, on the present occasion! [Printed now (in + Edition 1868, for the first time), as APPENDIX to this Volume.] + </p> + <p> + No reader adequately fancies, or could by any single Document be made to + do so, the continual assiduity of Friedrich in regard to these interests + of his. The strictest Husbandman is not busier with his Farm, than + Friedrich with his Kingdom throughout;—which is indeed a FARM leased + him by the Heavens; in which not a gate-bar can be broken, nor a stone or + sod roll into the smallest ditch, but it is to his the Husbandman's + damage, and must be instantly looked after. There are Meetings with the + Silesian manufacturers (in Review time), Dialogues ensuing, several of + which have been preserved; strange to read, however dull. There are many + scattered evidences;—and only slowly does, not the thing indeed, but + the degree of the thing, become fully credible. Not communicable, on the + terms prescribed us at present; and must be left to the languid fancy, + like so much else. + </p> + <p> + Here is an Ocular View, here are several such, which we yet happily have, + of the actual Friedrich as he looked and lived. These, at a cheap rate, + throw transiently some flare of illumination over his Affairs and him: + these let me now give; and these shall be all. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0034" id="link2H_4_0034"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + PRINCE DE LIGNE, AFTER TEN YEARS, SEES FRIEDRICH A SECOND TIME; TIME; AND + REPORTS WHAT WAS SAID. + </h2> + <p> + In Summer, 1780, as we mentioned, Kaiser Joseph was on his first Visit to + the Czarina. They met at Mohilow on the Dnieper, towards the end of May; + have been roving about, as if in mere galas and amusements (though with a + great deal of business incidentally thrown in), for above a month since, + when Prince de Ligne is summoned to join them at Petersburg. He goes by + Berlin, stays at Potsdam with Friedrich for about a week; and reports to + Polish Majesty these new Dialogues of 1780, the year after sending him + those of Mahrisch-Neustadt of 1770, which we read above. Those were + written down from memory, in 1785; these in 1786,—and "towards the + end of it," as is internally evident. Let these also be welcome to us on + such terms as there are. + </p> + <p> + "Since your Majesty [Quasi-Majesty, of Poland] is willing to lose another + quarter of an hour of that time, which you employ so well in gaining the + love of all to whom you deign to make yourself known, here is my Second + Interview. It can be of interest only to you, Sire, who have known the + King, and who discover traits of character in what to another are but + simple words. One finds in few others that confidence, or at least that + kindliness (BONHOMIE), which characterizes your Majesty. With you, one can + indulge in rest; but with the King of Prussia, one had always to be under + arms, prepared to parry and to thrust, and to keep the due middle between + a small attack and a grand defence. I proceed to the matter in hand, and + shall speak to you of him for the last time. + </p> + <p> + "He had made me promise to come to Berlin. I hastened thither directly + after that little War [Potato-War], which he called 'an action where he + had come as bailiff to perform an execution.' The result for him, as is + known, was a great expense of men, of horses and money; some appearance of + good faith and disinterestedness; little honor in the War; a little + honesty in Policy, and much bitterness against us Austrians. The King + began, without knowing why, to prohibit Austrian Officers from entering + his Territories without an express order, signed by his own hand. Similar + prohibition, on the part of our Court, against Prussian Officers and + mutual constraint, without profit or reason. I, for my own part, am of + confident humor; I thought I should need no permission, and I think still + I could have done without one. But the desire of having a Letter from the + great Friedrich, rather than the fear of being ill-received, made me write + to him. My Letter was all on fire with my enthusiasm, my admiration, and + the fervor of my sentiment for that sublime and extraordinary being; and + it brought me three charming Answers from him. He gave me, in detail, + almost what I had given him in the gross; and what he could not return me + in admiration,—for I do not remember to have gained a battle,—he + accorded me in friendship. For fear of missing, he had written to me from + Potsdam, to Vienna, to Dresden, and to Berlin. [In fine, at Potsdam I was, + SATURDAY, 9th JULY, 1780, waiting ready;—stayed there about a week.] + ["9th (or 10th) July, 1780" (Rodenbeck, iii. 233): "Stayed till 16th."] + </p> + <p> + "While waiting for the hour of 12, with my Son Charles and M. de Lille + [Abbe de Lille, prose-writer of something now forgotten; by no means + lyrical DE LISLE, of LES JARDINS], to be presented to the King, I went to + look at the Parade;—and, on its breaking up, was surrounded, and + escorted to the Palace, by Austrian deserters, and particularly from my + own regiment, who almost caressed me, and asked my pardon for having left + me. + </p> + <p> + "The hour of presentation struck. The King received me with an unspeakable + charm. The military coldness of a General's Head-quarters changed into a + soft and kindly welcome. He said to me, 'He did not think I had so big a + Son.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'He is even married, Sire; has been so these twelve months.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'May I (OSERAIS-JE) ask you to whom?' He often used this + expression, 'OSERAIS-JE;' and also this: 'If you permit me to have the + honor to tell you, SI VOUS ME PERMETTES D'AVOIR L'HONNEUR DE VOUS DIRE.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'To a Polish-Lady, a Massalska.' + </p> + <p> + KING (to my Son). "'What, a Massalska? Do you know what her Grandmother + did?' + </p> + <p> + "'No, Sire,' said Charles. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'She put the match to the cannon at the Siege of Dantzig with her + own hand; [February, 1734, in poor Stanislaus Leczinski's SECOND fit of + Royalty: supra vi. 465.] she fired, and made others fire, and defended + herself, when her party, who had lost head, thought only of surrendering.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Women are indeed undefinable; strong and weak by turns, indiscreet, + dissembling, they are capable of anything.' 'Without doubt,' said M. de + Lille, distressed that nothing had yet been said to him, and with a + familiarity which was not likely to succeed; 'Without doubt. Look—' + said he. The King interrupted him. I cited some traits in support of my + opinion,—as that of the woman Hachette at the Siege of Beauvais. + [A.D. 1472; Burgundians storming the wall had their flag planted; flag and + flag-bearer are hurled into the ditch by Hachette and other inspired + women,—with the finest results.] The King made a little excursion to + Rome and to Sparta: he liked to promenade there. After half a second of + silence, to please De Lille, I told the King that M. de Voltaire died in + De Lille's arms. That caused the King to address some questions to him; he + answered in rather too long-drawn a manner, and went away. Charles and I + stayed dinner." This is day first in Potsdam. + </p> + <p> + "Here, for five hours daily, the King's encyclopedical conversation + enchanted me completely. Fine arts, war, medicine, literature and + religion, philosophy, ethics, history and legislation, in turns passed in + review. The fine centuries of Augustus and of Louis XIV.; good society + among the Romans, among the Greeks, among the French; the chivalry of + Francois I.; the frankness and valor of Henri IV.; the new-birth + (RENAISSANCE) of Letters and their revolution since Leo X.; anecdotes + about the clever men of other times, and the trouble they give; M. de + Voltaire's slips; susceptibilities of M. de Maupertuis; Algarotti's + agreeable ways; fine wit of Jordan; D'Argens's hypochondria, whom the King + would send to bed for four-and-twenty hours by simply telling him that he + looked ill;—and, in fine, what not? Everything, the most varied and + piquant that could be said, came from him,—in a most soft tone of + voice; rather low than otherwise, and no less agreeable than were the + movements of his lips, which had an inexpressible grace. + </p> + <p> + "It was this, I believe, which prevented one's observing that he was, in + fact, like Homer's heroes, somewhat of a talker (UN PEU BABILLARD), though + a sublime one. It is to their voices, their noise and gestures, that + talkers often owe their reputation as such; for certainly one could not + find a greater talker than the King; but one was delighted at his being + so. Accustomed to talk to Marquis Lucchesini, in the presence of only four + or five Generals who did not understand French, he compensated in this way + for his hours of labor, of study, of meditation and solitude. At least, + said I to myself, I must get in a word. He had just mentioned Virgil. I + said:— + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'What a great Poet, Sire; but what a bad gardener!' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Ah, to whom do you tell that! Have not I tried to plant, sow, + till, dig, with the GEORGICS in my hand? "But, Monsieur," said my man, + "you are a fool (BETE), and your Book no less; it is not in that way one + goes to work." Ah, MON DIEU, what a climate! Would you believe it, Heaven, + or the Sun, refuse me everything? Look at my poor orange-trees, my + olive-trees, lemon-trees: they are all starving.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'It would appear, then, nothing but laurels flourish with you, + Sire.' (The King gave me a charming look; and to cover an inane + observation by an absurd one, I added quickly:) 'Besides, Sire, there are + too many GRENADIERS [means, in French, POMEGRANATES as well as GRENADIERS,—peg + of one's little joke!] in this Country; they eat up everything!' The King + burst out laughing; for it is only absurdities that cause laughter. + </p> + <p> + "One day I had turned a plate to see of what, porcelain it was. 'Where do + you think it comes from?' asked the King. + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I thought it was Saxon; but, instead of two swords [the Saxon + mark], I see only one, which is well worth both of them.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'It is a sceptre.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I beg your Majesty's pardon; but it is so much like a sword, that + one could easily mistake it for one.' And such was really the case. This, + it, is known, is the mark of the Berlin china. As the King sometimes + PLAYED KING, and thought himself, sometimes, extremely magnificent while + taking up a walking-stick or snuffbox with a few wretched little diamonds + running after one another on it, I don't quite know whether he was + infinitely pleased with my little allegory. + </p> + <p> + "One day, as I entered his room, he came towards me, saying, 'I tremble to + announce bad news to you. I have just heard that Prince Karl of Lorraine + is dying.' [Is already dead, "at Brussels, July 4th;" Duke of + Sachsen-Teschen and Wife Christine succeeded him as Joint-Governors in + those parts.] He looked at me to see the effect this would have; and + observing some tears escaping from my eyes, he, by gentlest transitions, + changed the conversation; talked of war, and of the Marechal de Lacy. He + asked me news about Lacy; and said, 'That is a man of the greatest merit. + In former time, Count Mercy among yourselves [killed, while commanding in + chief, at the Battle of Parma in 1733], Puysegur among the French, had + some notions of marches and encampments; one sees from Hyginus's Book + [ancient Book] ON CASTRAMETATION, that the Greeks also were much occupied + with the subject: but your Marechal surpasses the Ancients, the Moderns + and all the most famous men who have meddled with it. Thus, whenever he + was your Quartermaster-General, if you will permit me to make the remark + to you, I did not gain the least advantage. Recollect the two Campaigns of + 1758 and 1759; you succeeded in everything. I often said to myself, 'Shall + I never get rid of that man, then?' You yourselves got me rid of him; and—[some + liberal or even profuse eulogy of Lacy, who is De Ligne's friend; which we + can omit]. + </p> + <p> + "Next day the King, as soon as he saw me, came up; saying with the most + penetrated air: 'If you are to learn the loss of a man who loved you, and + who did honor to mankind, it will be better that it be from some one who + feels it as deeply as I do. Poor Prince Karl is no more. Others, perhaps, + are made to replace him in your heart; but few Princes will replace him + with regard to the beauty of his soul and to all his virtues.' In saying + this, his emotion became extreme. I said: 'Your Majesty's regrets are a + consolation; and you did not wait for his death to speak well of him. + There are fine verses with reference to him in the Poem, SUR L'ART DE LA + GUERRE.' My emotion troubled me against my will; however, I repeated them + to him. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ["Soutien de mes rivaux, digne appui de ta reine, + Charles, d'un ennemi sourd aux cris de la haine + Recois l'eloge"... +</pre> + <p> + (for crossing the Rhine in 1744): ten rather noble lines, still worth + reading; as indeed the whole Poem well is, especially to soldier students + (L'ART DE LA GUERRE, Chant vi.: <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> x. 273).] The + Man of Letters seemed to appreciate my knowing them by heart. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'His passage of the Rhine was a very fine thing;—but the poor + Prince depended upon so many people! I never depended upon anybody but + myself; sometimes too much so for my luck. He was badly served, not too + well obeyed: neither the one nor the other ever was the case with me.—Your + General Nadasti appeared to me a great General of Cavalry?' Not sharing + the King's opinion on this point, I contented myself with saying, that + Nadasti was very brilliant, very fine at musketry, and that he could have + led his hussars to the world's end and farther (DANS L'ENFER), so well did + he know how to animate them. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'What has become of a brave Colonel who played the devil at + Rossbach? Ah, it was the Marquis de Voghera, I think?—Yes, that's + it; for I asked his name after the Battle.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'He is General of Cavalry.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'PERDI! It needed a considerable stomach for fight, to charge like + your Two Regiments of Cuirassiers there, and, I believe, your Hussars + also: for the Battle was lost before it began.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Apropos of M. de Voghera, is your Majesty aware of a little thing + he did before charging? He is a boiling, restless, ever-eager kind of man; + and has something of the good old Chivalry style. Seeing that his Regiment + would not arrive quick enough, he galloped ahead of it; and coming up to + the Commander of the Prussian Regiment of Cavalry which he meant to + attack, he saluted him as on parade; the other returned the salute; and + then, Have at each other like madmen.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'A very good style it is! I should like to know that man; I would + thank him for it.—Your General von Ried, then, had got the devil in + him, that time at Eilenburg [spurt of fight there, in the Meissen regions, + I think in Year 1758, when the D'Ahremberg Dragoons got so cut up], to let + those brave Dragoons, who so long bore your Name with glory, advance + between Three of my Columns?'—He had asked me the same question at + the Camp of Neustadt ten years since; and in vain had I told him that it + was not M. de Ried; that Ried did not command them at all; and that the + fault was Marechal Daun's, who ought not to have sent them into that Wood + of Eilenburg, still less ordered them to halt there without even sending a + patrol forward. The King could not bear our General von Ried, who had much + displeased him as Minister at Berlin; and it was his way to put down + everything to the account of people he disliked. + </p> + <p> + KING. "'When I think of those devils of Saxon Camps [Summer, 1760],—they + were unattackable citadels! If, at Torgau, M. de Lacy had still been + Quartermaster-General, I should not have attempted to attack him. But + there I saw at once the Camp was ill chosen.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'The superior reputation of Camps sometimes causes a desire to + attempt them. For instance, I ask your Majesty's pardon, but I have always + thought you would at last have attempted that of Plauen, had the War + continued.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Oh, no, indeed! There was no way of taking that one.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Does n't your Majesty think: With a good battery on the heights of + Dolschen, which commanded us; with some battalions, ranked behind each + other in the Ravine, attacking a quarter of an hour before daybreak [and + so forth, at some length,—excellent for soldier readers who know the + Plauen Chasm], you could have flung us out of that almost impregnable + Place of Refuge?' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'And your battery on the Windberg, which would have scourged my + poor battalions, all the while, in your Ravine?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'But, Sire, the night?' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Oh, you could not miss us even by grope. That big hollow that goes + from Burg, and even from Potschappel,—it would have poured like a + water-spout [or fire-spout] over us. You see, I am not so brave as you + think.' + </p> + <p> + "The Kaiser had set out for his Interview [First Interview, and indeed it + is now more than half done, a good six weeks of it gone] with the Czarina + of Russia. That Interview the King did not like [no wonder]:—and, to + undo the good it had done us, he directly, and very unskilfully, sent the + Prince Royal to Petersburg [who had not the least success there, loutish + fellow, and was openly snubbed by a Czarina gone into new courses]. His + Majesty already doubted that the Court of Russia was about to escape him:—and + I was dying of fear lest, in the middle of all his kindnesses, he should + remember that I was an Austrian. 'What,' said I to myself, 'not a single + epigram on us, or on our Master? What a change!' + </p> + <p> + "One day, at dinner, babbling Pinto said to the person sitting next him, + 'This Kaiser is a great traveller; there never was one who went so far.' + 'I ask your pardon, Monsieur,' said the King; 'Charles Fifth went to + Africa; he gained the Battle of Oran.' And, turning towards me,—who + couldn't guess whether it was banter or only history,—'This time,' + said he, 'the Kaiser is more fortunate than Charles Twelfth; like Charles, + he entered Russia by Mohilow; but it appears to me he will arrive at + Moscow.' + </p> + <p> + "The same Pinto, one day, understanding the King was at a loss whom to + send as Foreign Minister some-whither, said to him: 'Why does not your + Majesty think of sending Lucchesini, who is a man of much brilliancy + (HOMME D'ESPRIT)?' 'It is for that very reason,' answered the King, 'that + I want to keep him. I had rather send you than him, or a dull fellow like + Monsieur—' I forget whom, but believe it is one whom he did appoint + Minister somewhere. + </p> + <p> + "M. de Lucchesini, by the charm of his conversation, brought out that of + the King's. He knew what topics were agreeable to the King; and then, he + knew how to listen; which is not so easy as one thinks, and which no + stupid man was ever capable of. He was as agreeable to everybody as to his + Majesty, by his seductive manners and by the graces of his mind. Pinto, + who had nothing to risk, permitted himself everything. Says he: 'Ask the + Austrian General, Sire, all he saw me do when in the service of the + Kaiser.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'A fire-work at my Wedding, was n't that it, my dear Pinto?' + </p> + <p> + KING (interrupting). "'Do me the honor to say whether it was successful?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'No, Sire; it even alarmed all my relations, who thought it a bad + omen. Monsieur the Major here had struck out the idea of joining Two + flaming Hearts, a very novel image of a married couple. But the groove + they were to slide on, and meet, gave way: my Wife's heart went, and mine + remained.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'You see, Pinto, you were not good for much to those people, any + more than to me.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Oh, Sire, your Majesty, since then, owes him some compensation for + the sabre-cuts he had on his head.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'He gets but too much compensation. Pinto, did n't I send you + yesterday some of my good Preussen honey?' + </p> + <p> + PINTO. "'Oh, surely;—it was to make the thing known. If your Majesty + could bring that into vogue, and sell it all, you would be the greatest + King in the world. For your Kingdom produces only that; but of that there + is plenty.' + </p> + <p> + "'Do you know,' said the King, one day, to me,—'Do you know that the + first soldiering I did was for the House of Austria? MON DIEU, how the + time passes!'—He had a way of slowly bringing his hands together, in + ejaculating these MON-DIEUS, which gave him quite a good-natured and + extremely mild air.—(Do you know that I saw the glittering of the + last rays of Prince Eugen's genius?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Perhaps it was at these rays that your Majesty's genius lit + itself.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'EH, MON DIEU! who could equal the Prince Eugen?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'He who excels him;—for instance, he who could win Twelve + Battles!'—He put on his modest air. I have always said, it is easy + to be modest, if you are in funds. He seemed as though he had not + understood me, and said:— + </p> + <p> + KING. "'When the cabal which, during forty years, the Prince had always + had to struggle with in his Army, were plotting mischief on him, they used + to take advantage of the evening time, when his spirits, brisk enough in + the morning, were jaded by the fatigues of the day. It was thus they + persuaded him to undertake his bad March on Mainz' [March not known to + me]. + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'Regarding yourself, Sire, and the Rhine Campaign, you teach me + nothing. I know everything your Majesty did, and even what you said. I + could relate to you your Journeys to Strasburg, to Holland, and what + passed in a certain Boat. Apropos of this Rhine Campaign, one of our old + Generals, whom I often set talking, as one reads an old Manuscript, has + told me how astonished he was to see a young Prussian Officer, whom he did + not know, answering a General of the late King, who had given out the + order, Not to go a-foraging: "And I, Sir, I order you to go; our Army + needs it; in short, I will have it so (JE LE VEUX)!—"' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'You look at me too much from the favorable side! Ask these + Gentlemen about my humors and my caprices; they will tell you fine things + of me.' + </p> + <p> + "We got talking of some Anecdotes which are consigned to, or concealed in, + certain obscure Books. 'I have been much amused, said I to the King, (with + the big cargo of Books, true or false, written by French Refugees, which + perhaps are unknown in France itself.' [Discourses a little on this + subject.] + </p> + <p> + KING. "'Where did you pick up all these fine old Pieces? These would amuse + me on an evening; better than the conversation of my Doctor of the + Sorbonne [one Peyrau, a wandering creature, not otherwise of the least + interest to us], [Nicolai, <i>Anekdoten,</i> ii. 133 n.] whom I have here, + and whom I am trying to convert.' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'I found them all in a Bohemian Library, where I sat diverting + myself for two Winters.' + </p> + <p> + KING. "'How, then? Two Winters in Bohemia? What the devil were you doing + there! Is it long since?' + </p> + <p> + EGO. "'No, Sire; only a year or two [Potato-War time]! I had retired + thither to read at my ease.'—He smiled, and seemed to appreciate my + not mentioning the little War of 1778, and saving him any speech about it. + He saw well enough that my Winter-quarters had been in Bohemia on that + occasion; and was satisfied with my reticence. Being an old sorcerer, who + guessed everything, and whose tact was the finest ever known, he + discovered that I did not wish to tell him I found Berlin changed since I + had last been there. I took care not to remind him that I was at the + capturing of it in 1760, under M. de Lacy's orders [M. de Lacy's indeed!].—It + was for having spoken of the first capture of Berlin, by Marshal Haddick + [highly temporary as it was, and followed by Rossbach], that the King had + taken a dislike to M. de Ried. + </p> + <p> + "Apropos of the Doctor of the Sorbonne [uninteresting Peyrau] with whom he + daily disputed, the King said to me once, 'Get me a Bishopric for him.' 'I + don't think,' answered I, (that my recommendation, or that of your + Majesty, could be useful to him with us.' 'Ah, truly no!' said the King: + 'Well, I will write to the Czarina of Russia for this poor devil; he does + begin to bore me. He holds out as Jansenist, forsooth. MON DIEU, what + blockheads the present Jansenists are! But France should not have + extinguished that nursery (FOYER) of their genius, that Port Royal, + extravagant as it was. Indeed, one ought to destroy nothing! Why have they + destroyed, too, the Depositaries of the graces of Rome and of Athens, + those excellent Professors of the Humanities, and perhaps of Humanity, the + Ex-Jesuit Fathers? Education will be the loser by it. But as my Brothers + the Kings, most Catholic, most Christian, most Faithful and Apostolic, + have tumbled them out, I, most Heretical, pick up as many as I can; and + perhaps, one day, I shall be courted for the sake of them by those who + want some. I preserve the breed: I said, counting my stock the other day, + "A Rector like you, my Father, I could easily sell for 300 thalers; you, + Reverend Father Provincial, for 600; and so the rest, in proportion." When + one is not rich, one makes speculations.' + </p> + <p> + "From want of memory, and of opportunities to see oftener and longer the + Greatest Man that ever existed [Oh, MON PRINCE!], I am obliged to stop. + There is not a word in all this but was his own; and those who have seen + him will recognize his manner. All I want is, to make him known to those + who have not had the happiness to see him. His eyes are too hard in the + Portraits: by work in the Cabinet, and the hardships of War, they had + become intense, and of piercing quality; but they softened finely in + hearing, or telling, some trait of nobleness or sensibility. Till his + death, and but quite shortly before it,—notwithstanding many + levities which he knew I had allowed myself, both in speaking and writing, + and which he surely attributed only to my duty as opposed to my interest,—he + deigned to honor me with marks of his remembrance; and has often + commissioned his Ministers, at Paris and at Vienna, to assure me of his + good-will. + </p> + <p> + "I no longer believe in earthquakes and eclipses at Caesar's death, since + there has been nothing of such at that of Friedrich the Great. I know not, + Sire, whether great phenomena of Nature will announce the day when you + shall cease to reign [great phenomena must be very idle if they do, your + Highness!]—but it is a phenomenon in the world, that of a King who + rules a Republic by making himself obeyed and respected for his own sake, + as much as by his rights" (Hear, hear). [Prince de Ligne, <i>Memoires et + Melanges,</i> i. 22-40.] + </p> + <p> + Prince de Ligne thereupon hurries off for Petersburg, and the final + Section of his Kaiser's Visit. An errand of his own, too, the Prince had,—about + his new Daughter-in-law Massalska, and claims of extensive Polish + Properties belonging to her. He was the charm of Petersburg and the + Czarina; but of the Massalska Properties could retrieve nothing whatever. + The munificent Czarina gave him "a beautiful Territory in the Crim," + instead; and invited him to come and see it with her, on his Kaiser's next + Visit (1787, the aquatic Visit and the highly scenic). Which it is well + known the Prince did; and has put on record, in his pleasant, not untrue, + though vague, high-colored and fantastic way,—if it or he at all + concerned us farther. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW GENERAL VON DER MARWITZ, IN EARLY BOYHOOD, SAW FRIEDRICH THE GREAT + THREE TIMES (1782-1785). + </h2> + <p> + General von der Marwitz, who died not many years ago, is of the old + Marwitz kindred, several of whom we have known for their rugged honesties, + genialities and peculiar ways. This General, it appears, had left a kind + of Autobiography; which friends of his thought might be useful to the + Prussian Public, after those Radical distractions which burst out in 1848 + and onwards; and a first Volume of the MARWITZ POSTHUMOUS PAPERS was + printed accordingly, [NACHLASS DES GENERAL VON DER MARWITZ (Berlin, 1852), + 1 vol. 8vo.]—whether any more I have not heard; though I found this + first Volume an excellent substantial bit of reading; and the Author a + fine old Prussian Gentleman, very analogous in his structure to the fine + old English ditto; who showed me the PER-CONTRA side of this and the other + much-celebrated modern Prussian person and thing, Prince Hardenberg, + Johannes von Muller and the like;—and yielded more especially the + following Three Reminiscences of Friedrich, beautiful little Pictures, + bathed in morning light, and evidently true to the life:— + </p> + <p> + 1. JUNE, 1782 OR 1783. "The first time I saw him was in 1782 (or it might + be 1783, in my sixth year)," middle of June, whichever year, "as he was + returning from his Annual Review in Preussen [WEST-Preussen, never + revisits the Konigsberg region], and stopped to change horses at + Dolgelin." Dolgelin is in Mullrose Country, westward of Frankfurt-on-Oder; + our Marwitz Schloss not far from it. "I had been sent with Mamsell + Benezet," my French Governess; "and, along with the Clergyman of Dolgelin, + we waited for the King. + </p> + <p> + "The King, on his journeys, generally preferred, whether at midday or for + the night, to halt in some Country place, and at the Parsonages most of + all; probably because he was quieter there than in the Towns. To the + Clergyman this was always a piece of luck; not only because, if he pleased + the King, he might chance to get promoted; but because he was sure of + profitable payment, at any rate; the King always ordering 50 thalers [say + 10 guineas] for his noon halt, and for his night's lodging 100. The little + that the King ate was paid for over and above. It is true, his Suite + expected to be well treated; but this consisted only of one or two + individuals. Now, the King had been wont almost always, on these journeys + homewards, to pass the last night of his expedition with the Clergyman of + Dolgelin; and had done so last year, with this present one who was then + just installed; with him, as with his predecessor, the King had talked + kindly, and the 100 thalers were duly remembered. Our good Parson + flattered himself, therefore, that this time too the same would happen; + and he had made all preparations accordingly. + </p> + <p> + "So we waited there, and a crowd of people with us. The team of horses + stood all ready (peasants' horses, poor little cats of things, but the + best that could be picked, for there were then no post-horses THAT COULD + RUN FAST);—the country-fellows that were to ride postilion all + decked, and ten head of horses for the King's coach: wheelers, four, which + the coachman drove from his box; then two successive pairs before, on each + pair a postilion-peasant; and upon the third pair, foremost of all, the + King's outriders were to go. + </p> + <p> + "And now, at last, came the FELDJAGER [Chacer, Hunting-groom], with his + big whip, on a peasant's, horse, a peasant with him as attendant. All + blazing with heat, he dismounted; said, The King would be here in five + minutes; looked at the relays, and the fellows with the water-buckets, who + were to splash the wheels; gulped down a quart of beer; and so, his saddle + in the interim having been fixed on another horse, sprang up again, and + off at a gallop. The King, then, was NOT to stay in Dolgelin! Soon came + the Page, mounted in like style; a youth of 17 or 18; utterly exhausted; + had to be lifted down from his horse, and again helped upon the fresh one, + being scarcely able to stand;—and close on the rear of him arrived + the King. He was sitting alone in an old-fashioned glass-coach, what they + call a VIS-A-VIS (a narrow carriage, two seats fore and aft, and on each + of them room for only one person). The coach was very long, like all the + old carriages of that time; between the driver's box and the body of the + coach was a space of at least four feet; the body itself was of + pear-shape, peaked below and bellied out above; hung on straps, with + rolled knuckles [WINDEN], did not rest on springs; two beams, connecting + fore wheels and hind, ran not UNDER the body of the coach, but along the + sides of it, the hind-wheels following with a goodly interval. + </p> + <p> + "The carriage drew up; and the King said to his coachman [the far-famed + Pfund]: 'Is this Dolgelin?' 'Yes, your Majesty!'—'I stay here.' + 'No,' said Pfund; 'The sun is not down yet. We can get on very well to + Muncheberg to-night [ten miles ahead, and a Town too, perfidious Pfund!]—and + then to-morrow we are much earlier in Potsdam.' 'NA, HM,—well, if it + must be so!'— + </p> + <p> + "And therewith they set to changing horses. The peasants who were standing + far off, quite silent, with reverently bared heads, came softly nearer, + and looked eagerly at the King. An old Gingerbread-woman (SOMMELFRAU) of + Lebbenichen [always knew her afterwards] took me in her arm, and held me + aloft close to the coach-window. I was now at farthest an ell from the + King; and I felt as if I were looking in the face of God Almighty (ES WAR + MIR ALS OB ICH DEN LIEBEN GOTT ANSAHE). He was gazing steadily out before + him," into the glowing West, "through the front window. He had on an old + three-cornered regimental hat, and had put the hindward straight flap of + it foremost, undoing the loop, so that this flap hung down in front, and + screened him from the sun. The hat-strings (HUT-CORDONS," trimmings of + silver or gold cord) "had got torn loose, and were fluttering about on + this down-hanging front flap; the white feather in the hat was tattered + and dirty; the plain blue uniform, with red cuffs, red collar and gold + shoulder-bands [epaulettes WITHOUT bush at the end], was old and dusty, + the yellow waistcoat covered with snuff;—for the rest, he had + black-velvet breeches [and, of course, the perpetual BOOTS, of which he + would allow no polishing or blacking, still less any change for new ones + while they would hang together]. I thought always he would speak to me. + The old woman could not long hold me up; and so she set me down again. + Then the King looked at the Clergyman, beckoned him near, and asked, Whose + child it was? (Herr von Marwitz of Friedersdorf's.)—'Is that the + General?' 'No, the Chamberlain.' The King made no answer: he could not + bear Chamberlains, whom he considered as idle fellows. The new horses were + yoked; away they went. All day the peasants had been talking of the King, + how he would bring this and that into order, and pull everybody over the + coals who was not agreeable to them. + </p> + <p> + "Afterwards it turned out that all Clergymen were in the habit of giving + 10 thalers to the coachman Pfund, when the King lodged with them: the + former Clergyman of Dolgelin had regularly done it; but the new one, + knowing nothing of the custom, had omitted it last year;—and that + was the reason why the fellow had so pushed along all day that he could + pass Dolgelin before sunset, and get his 10 thalers in Muncheberg from the + Burgermeister there." + </p> + <p> + 2. JANUARY, 1785. "The second time I saw the King was at the Carnival of + Berlin in 1785. I had gone with my Tutor to a Cousin of mine who was a + Hofdame (DAME DE COUR) to the Princess Henri, and lived accordingly in the + Prince-Henri Palace,—which is now, in our days, become the + University;—her Apartments were in the third story, and looked out + into the garden. As we were ascending the great stairs, there came dashing + past us a little old man with staring eyes, jumping down three steps at a + time. My Tutor said, in astonishment, 'That is Prince Henri!' We now stept + into a window of the first story, and looked out to see what the little + man had meant by those swift boundings of his. And lo, there came the King + in his carriage to visit him. + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich the Second NEVER drove in Potsdam, except when on journeys, but + constantly rode. He seemed to think it a disgrace, and unworthy of a + Soldier, to go in a carriage: thus, when in the last Autumn of his life + (this very 1785) he was so unwell in the windy Sans-Souci (where there + were no stoves, but only hearth-fires), that it became necessary to remove + to the Schloss in Potsdam, he could not determine to DRIVE thither, but + kept hoping from day to day for so much improvement as might allow him to + ride. As no improvement came, and the weather grew ever colder, he at + length decided to go over under cloud of darkness, in a sedan-chair, that + nobody might notice him.—So likewise during the Reviews at Berlin or + Charlottenburg he appeared always on horseback: but during the Carnival in + Berlin, where he usually stayed four weeks, he DROVE, and this always in + Royal pomp,—thus:— + </p> + <p> + "Ahead went eight runners with their staves, plumed caps and runner-aprons + [LAUFER-SCHURZE, whatever these are], in two rows. As these runners were + never used for anything except this show, the office was a kind of post + for Invalids of the Life-guard. A consequence of which was, that the King + always had to go at a slow pace. His courses, however, were no other than + from the Schloss to the Opera twice a week; and during his whole + residence, one or two times to Prince Henri and the Princess Amelia [once + always, too, to dine with his Wife, to whom he did not speak one word, but + merely bowed at beginning and ending!]. After this the runners rested + again for a year. Behind them came the Royal Carriage, with a team of + eight; eight windows round it; the horses with old-fashioned harness, and + plumes on their heads. Coachman and outriders all in the then Royal + livery,—blue; the collar, cuffs, pockets, and all seams, trimmed + with a stripe of red cloth, and this bound on both sides with small + gold-cord; the general effect of which was very good. In the four boots + (NEBENTRITTEN) of the coach stood four Pages, red with gold, in silk + stockings, feather-hats (crown all covered with feathers), but not having + plumes;—the valet's boot behind, empty; and to the rear of it, down + below, where one mounts to the valet's boot [BEDIENTEN-TRITT, what is now + become FOOT-BOARD], stood a groom (STALLKNECHT). Thus came the King, + moving slowly along; and entered through the portal of the Palace. We + looked down from the window in the stairs. Prince Henri stood at the + carriage-door; the pages opened it, the King stepped out, saluted his + Brother, took him by the hand, walked upstairs with him, and thus the two + passed near us (we retiring upstairs to the second story), and went into + the Apartment, where now Students run leaping about." + </p> + <p> + 3. MAY 23d, 1785. "The third time I saw him was that same year, at Berlin + still, as he returned home from the Review. ["May 21st-23d" (Rodenbeck, + iii. 327).] My Tutor had gone with me for that end to the Halle Gate, for + we already knew that on that day he always visited his Sister, Princess + Amelia. He came riding on a big white horse,—no doubt old CONDE, + who, twenty years after this, still got his FREE-BOARD in the ECOLE + VETERINAIRE; for since the Bavarian War (1778), Friedrich hardly ever rode + any other horse. His dress was the same as formerly at Dolgelin, on the + journey; only that the hat was in a little better condition, properly + looped up, and with the peak (but not with the LONG peak, as is now the + fashion) set in front, in due military style. Behind him were a guard of + Generals, then the Adjutants, and finally the grooms of the party. The + whole 'Rondeel' (now Belle-Alliance Platz) and the Wilhelms-Strasse were + crammed full of people; all windows crowded, all heads bare, everywhere + the deepest silence; and on all countenances an expression of reverence + and confidence, as towards the just steersman of all our destinies. The + King rode quite alone in front, and saluted people, CONTINUALLY taking off + his hat. In doing which he observed a very marked gradation, according as + the on-lookers bowing to him from the windows seemed to deserve. At one + time he lifted the hat a very little; at another he took it from his head, + and held it an instant beside the same; at another he sunk it as far as + the elbow. But these motions lasted continually; and no sooner had he put + on his hat, than he saw other people, and again took it off. From the + Halle Gate to the Koch-Strasse he certainly took off his hat 200 times. + </p> + <p> + "Through this reverent silence there sounded only the trampling of the + horses, and the shouting of the Berlin street-boys, who went jumping + before him, capering with joy, and flung up their hats into the air, or + skipped along close by him, wiping the dust from his boots. I and my Tutor + had gained so much room that we could run alongside of him, hat in hand, + among the boys.—You see the difference between then and now. Who was + it that then made the noise? Who maintained a dignified demeanor?—Who + is it that bawls and bellows now? [Nobilities ought to be noble, thinks + this old Marwitz, in their reverence to Nobleness. If Nobilities + themselves become Washed Populaces in a manner, what are we to say?] And + what value can you put on such bellowing? + </p> + <p> + "Arrived at the Princess Amelia's Palace (which, lying in the + Wilhelms-Strasse, fronts also into the Koch-Strasse), the crowd grew still + denser, for they expected him there: the forecourt was jammed full; yet in + the middle, without the presence of any police, there was open space left + for him and his attendants. He turned into the Court; the gate-leaves went + back; and the aged lame Princess, leaning on two Ladies, the + OBERHOFMEISTERINN (Chief Lady) behind her, came hitching down the flat + steps to meet him. So soon as he perceived her, he put his horse to the + gallop, pulled up, sprang rapidly down, took off his hat (which he now, + however, held quite low at the full length of his arm), embraced her, gave + her his arm, and again led her up the steps. The gate-leaves went to; all + had vanished, and the multitude still stood, with bared head, in silence, + all eyes turned to the spot where he had disappeared; and so it lasted a + while, till each gathered himself and peacefully went his way. + </p> + <p> + "And yet there had nothing happened! No pomp, no fireworks, no + cannon-shot, no drumming and fifing, no music, no event that had occurred! + No, nothing but an old man of 73, ill-dressed, all dusty, was returning + from his day's work. But everybody knew that this old man was toiling also + for him; that he had set his whole life on that labor, and for + five-and-forty years had not given it the slip one day! Every one saw, + moreover, the fruits of this old man's labor, near and far, and everywhere + around; and to look on the old man himself awakened reverence, admiration, + pride, confidence,—in short all the nobler feelings of man." [<i>Nachlass + des General von der Marwitz,</i> i. 15-20.] + </p> + <p> + This was May 21st, 1785; I think, the last time Berlin saw its King in + that public manner, riding through the streets. The FURSTENBUND Affair is + now, secretly, in a very lively state, at Berlin and over Germany at + large; and comes to completion in a couple of months hence,—as shall + be noticed farther on. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0036" id="link2H_4_0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GENERAL BOUILLE, HOME FROM HIS WEST-INDIAN EXPLOITS, VISITS FRIEDRICH + (August 5th-11th, 1784). + </h2> + <p> + In these last years of his life Friedrich had many French of distinction + visiting him. In 1782, the Abbe Raynal (whom, except for his power of + face, he admired little); [Rodenbeck, iii. 277 n.] in 1786, Mirabeau + (whose personal qualities seem to have pleased him);—but chiefly, in + the interval between these two, various Military Frenchmen, now home with + their laurels from the American War, coming about his Reviews: eager to + see the Great Man, and be seen by him. Lafayette, Segur and many others + came; of whom the one interesting to us is Marquis de Bouille: already + known for his swift sharp operation on the English Leeward Islands; and + memorable afterwards to all the world for his presidency in the FLIGHT TO + VARENNES of poor Louis XVI. and his Queen, in 1791; which was by no means + so successful. "The brave Bouille," as we called him long since, when + writing of that latter operation, elsewhere. Bouille left MEMOIRES of his + own: which speak of Friedrich: in the <i>Vie de Bouille,</i> published + recently by friendly hands: [Rene de Bouille, ESSAI SUR LA VIE DU MARQUIS + DE BOUILLE (Paris, 1853)] there is Summary given of all that his Papers + say on Friedrich; this, in still briefer shape, but unchanged otherwise, + readers shall now see. + </p> + <p> + "In July, 1784, Marquis de Bouille (lately returned from a visit to + England), desirous to see the Prussian Army, and to approach the great + Friedrich while it was yet time, travelled by way of Holland to Berlin, + through Potsdam [no date; got to Berlin "August 6th;" [Rodenbeck, iii. + 309.] so that we can guess "August 5th" for his Potsdam day]. Saw, at + Sans-Souci, in the vestibule, a bronze Bust of Charles XII.; in the + dining-room, among other pictures, a portrait of the Chateauroux, Louis + XV.'s first Mistress. In the King's bedroom, simple camp-bed, coverlet of + crimson taffetas,—rather dirty, as well as the other furniture, on + account of the dogs. Many books lying about: Cicero, Tacitus, Titus Livius + [in French Translations]. On a chair, Portrait of Kaiser Joseph II.; same + in King's Apartments in Berlin Schloss, also in the Potsdam New Palace: + 'C'EST UN JEUNE HOMME QUE JE NE DOIS PAS PERDRE DE VUE.' + </p> + <p> + "King entering, took off his hat, saluting the Marquis, whom a Chamberlain + called Gortz presented [no Chamberlain; a Lieutenant-General, and much + about the King; his Brother, the Weimar Gortz, is gone as Prussian + Minister to Petersburg some time ago]. King talked about the War DES ISLES + [my West-India War], and about England. 'They [the English] are like sick + people who have had a fever; and don't know how ill they have been, till + the fit is over.' Fox he treated as a noisy fellow (DE BROUILLON); but + expressed admiration of young Pitt. 'The coolness with which he can stand + being not only contradicted, but ridiculed and insulted, CELA PARAIT + AU-DESSUS DE LA PATIENCE HUMAINE.' King closed the conversation by saying + he would be glad to see me in Silesia, whither he was just about to go for + Reviews [will go in ten days, August 15th]. + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich was 72," last January 24th. "His physiognomy, dress, + appearance, are much what the numerous well-known Portraits represent him. + At Court, and on great Ceremonies, he appears sometimes in black-colored + stockings rolled over the knee, and rose-colored or sky-blue coat (BLEU + CELESTE). He is fond of these colors, as his furniture too shows. The + Marquis dined with the Prince of Prussia, without previous presentation; + so simple are the manners of this Soldier Court. The Heir Presumptive + lodges at a brewer's house, and in a very mean way; is not allowed to + sleep from home without permission from the King." + </p> + <p> + Bouille set out for Silesia 11th August; was at Neisse in good time. + "Went, at 5 A.M. [date is August 19th, Review lasts till 24th], + [Rodenbeck, iii. 310.] to see the King mount. All the Generals, Prince of + Prussia among them, waited in the street; outside of a very simple House, + where the King lodged. After waiting half an hour, his Majesty appeared; + saluted very graciously, without uttering a word. This was one of his + special Reviews [that was it!]. He rode (MARCHAIT) generally alone, in + utter silence; it was then that he had his REGARD TERRIBLE, and his + features took the impress of severity, to say no more. [Is displeased with + the Review, I doubt, though Bouille saw nothing amiss;—and merely + tells us farther:] At the Reviews the King inspects strictly one regiment + after another: it is he that selects the very Corporals and Sergeants, + much more the Upper Officers; nominating for vacancies what Cadets are to + fill them,—all of whom are Nobles." Yes, with rare exceptions, all. + Friedrich, democratic as his temper was, is very strict on this point; + "because," says he repeatedly, "Nobles have honor; a Noble that + misbehaves, or flinches in the moment of crisis, can find no refuge in his + own class; whereas a man of lower birth always can in his." [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> (more than once).] Bouille continues:— + </p> + <p> + "After Review, dined with his Majesty. Just before dinner he gave to the + assembled Generals the 'Order' for to-morrow's Manoeuvres [as we saw in + Conway's case, ten years ago]. This lasted about a quarter of an hour; + King then saluted everybody, taking off TRES-AFFECTUEUSEMENT his hat, + which he immediately put on again. Had now his affable mien, and was most + polite to the strangers present. At dinner, conversation turned on the + Wars of Louis XIV.; then on English-American War,—King always + blaming the English, whom he does not like. Dinner lasted three hours. His + Majesty said more than once to me [in ill humor, I should almost guess, + and wishful to hide it]: 'Complete freedom here, as if we were in our + Tavern, Sir (ICI, TOUTE LIBERTE, MONSIEUR, COMME SI NOUS ETIONS AU + CABARET)!' On the morrow," August 20th, "dined again. King talked of + France; of Cardinal Richelieu, whose principles of administration he + praised. Repeated several times, that 'he did not think the French Nation + fit for Free Government.' At the Reviews, Friedrich did not himself + command; but prescribed, and followed the movements; criticised, + reprimanded and so forth. On horseback six hours together, without seeming + fatigued. + </p> + <p> + "King left for Breslau 25th August [24th, if it were of moment]. Bouille + followed thither; dined again. Besides Officers, there were present + several Polish Princes, the Bishop of the Diocese, and the Abbot Bastiani. + King made pleasantries about religion [pity, that]; Bastiani not slow with + repartees", of a defensive kind. "King told me, on one occasion, 'Would + you believe it? I have just been putting my poor Jesuits' finances into + order. They understand nothing of such things, CES BONS HOMMES. They are + useful to me in forming my Catholic Clergy. I have arranged it with his + Holiness the Pope, who is a friend of mine, and behaves very well to me.' + Pointing from the window to the Convent of Capuchins, 'Those fellows + trouble me a little with their bell-ringings. They offered to stop it at + night, for my sake: but I declined. One must leave everybody to his trade; + theirs is to pray, and I should have been sorry to deprive them of their + chimes (CARILLON).' + </p> + <p> + "The 20,000 troops, assembled at Breslau, did not gain the King's + approval,"—far from it, alas, as we shall all see!" To some Chiefs + of Corps he said, 'VOUS RESSEMBLEZ PLUS A DES TAILLEURS QU'A DES + MILITAIRES (You are more like tailors than soldiers)!' He cashiered + several, and even sent one Major-General to prison for six weeks." That of + the tailors, and Major-General Erlach clapt in prison, is too true;—nor + is that the saddest part of the Affair to us. "Bouille was bound now on an + excursion to Prag, to a Camp of the Kaiser's there. 'Mind,' said the King, + alluding to Bouille's BLUE uniform,—'mind, in the Country you are + going to, they don't like the blue coats; and your Queen has even + preserved the family repugnance, for she does not like them either.' + [ESSAI SUR LA VIE DU MARQUIS DE BOUILLE, pp. l34-149.] + </p> + <p> + "September 5th, 1784, Bouille arrived at Prag. Austrian Manoeuvres are + very different; troops, though more splendidly dressed, contrast + unfavorably with Prussians;"—unfavorably, though the strict King was + so dissatisfied. "Kaiser Joseph, speaking of Friedrich, always admiringly + calls him 'LE ROI.' Joseph a great questioner, and answers his own + questions. His tone BRUSQUE ET DECIDE. Dinner lasted one hour. + </p> + <p> + "Returned to Potsdam to assist at the Autumn Reviews", 21st-23d September, + 1784. [Rodenbeck, iii. 313.] "Dinner very splendid, magnificently served; + twelve handsome Pages, in blue or rose-colored velvet, waited on the + Guests,—these being forty old rude Warriors booted and spurred. King + spoke of the French, approvingly: 'But,' added he, 'the Court spoils + everything. Those Court-fellows, with their red heels and delicate nerves, + make very bad soldiers. Saxe often told me, In his Flanders Campaigns the + Courtiers gave him more trouble than did Cumberland.' Talked of Marechal + Richelieu; of Louis XIV., whose apology he skilfully made. Blamed, + however, the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Great attachment of the + 'Protestant Refugees' to France and its King. 'Would you believe it?' said + he: 'Under Louis XIV. they and their families used to assemble on the day + of St. Louis, to celebrate the FETE of the King who persecuted them!' + Expressed pity for Louis XV., and praised his good-nature. + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich, in his conversation, showed a modesty which seemed a little + affected. 'S'IL M'EST PERMIS D'AVOIR UNE OPINION,' a common expression of + his;—said 'opinion' on most things, on Medicine among others, being + always excellent. Thinks French Literature surpasses that of the Ancients. + Small opinion of English Literature: turned Shakspeare into ridicule; and + made also bitter fun of German Letters,—their Language barbarous, + their Authors without genius.... + </p> + <p> + "I asked, and received permission from the King, to bring my Son to be + admitted in his ACADEMIE DES GENTILSHOMMES; an exceptional favor. On + parting, the King said to me: 'I hope you will return to me Marechal de + France; it is what I should like; and your Nation could n't do better, + nobody being in a state to render it greater services.'" + </p> + <p> + Bouille will reappear for an instant next year. Meanwhile he returns to + France, "first days of October, 1784," where he finds Prince Henri; who is + on Visit there for three months past. ["2d July, 1784," Prince Henri had + gone (Rodenbeck, iii. 309).] A shining event in Prince Henri's Life; and a + profitable; poor King Louis—what was very welcome in Henri's state + of finance—having, in a delicate kingly way, insinuated into him a + "Gift of 400,000 francs" (16,000 pounds): [Anonymous (De la Roche-Aymon), + <i>Vie privee, politique et militaire du Prince Henri, Frere de Frederic + II.</i> (a poor, vague and uninstructive, though authentic little Book: + Paris, 1809), pp. 219-239.]—partly by way of retaining-fee for + France; "may turn to excellent account," think some, "when a certain + Nephew comes to reign yonder, as he soon must." + </p> + <p> + What Bouille heard about the Silesian Reviews is perfectly true; and only + a part of the truth. Here, to the person chiefly responsible, is an + indignant Letter of the King's: to a notable degree, full of settled wrath + against one who is otherwise a dear old Friend:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO LIEUTENANT-GENERAL TAUENTZIEN INFANTRY INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF + SILESIA. + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 7th September, 1784. + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR GENERAL VON TAUENTZIEN,—While in Silesia I mentioned to + you, and will now repeat in writing, That my Army in Silesia was at no + time so bad as at present. Were I to make Shoemakers or Tailors into + Generals, the Regiments could not be worse. Regiment THADDEN is not fit to + be the most insignificant militia battalion of a Prussian Army; ROTHKIRCH + and SCHWARTZ"—bad as possible all of them—"of ERLACH, the men + are so spoiled by smuggling [sad industry, instead of drilling], they have + no resemblance to Soldiers; KELLER is like a heap of undrilled boors; + HAGER has a miserable Commander; and your own Regiment is very mediocre. + Only with Graf von Anhalt [in spite of his head], with WENDESSEN and + MARGRAF HEINRICH, could I be content. See you, that is the state I found + the Regiments in, one after one. I will now speak of their Manoeuvring [in + our Mimic Battles on the late occasion]:— + </p> + <p> + "Schwartz; at Neisse, made the unpardonable mistake of not sufficiently + besetting the Height on the Left Wing; had it been serious, the Battle had + been lost. At Breslau, Erlach [who is a Major-General, forsooth!], instead + of covering the Army by seizing the Heights, marched off with his Division + straight as a row of cabbages into that Defile; whereby, had it been + earnest, the enemy's Cavalry would have cut down our Infantry, and the + Fight was gone. + </p> + <p> + "It is not my purpose to lose Battles by the base conduct (LACHETE) of my + Generals: wherefore I hereby appoint, That you, next year, if I be alive, + assemble the Army between Breslau and Ohlau; and for four days before I + arrive in your Camp, carefully manoeuvre with the ignorant Generals, and + teach them what their duty is. Regiment VON ARNIM and Garrison-Regiment + VON KANITZ are to act the Enemy: and whoever does not then fulfil his duty + shall go to Court-Martial,—for I should think it shame of any + Country (JEDEN PUISSANCE) to keep such people, who trouble themselves so + little about their business. Erlach sits four weeks longer in arrest [to + have six weeks of it in full]. And you have to make known this my present + Declared Will to your whole Inspection.—F." [Rodenbeck, iii. 311.] + </p> + <p> + What a peppering is the excellent old Tauentzien getting! Here is a case + for Kaltenborn, and the sympathies of Opposition people. But, alas, this + King knows that Armies are not to be kept at the working point on cheaper + terms,—though some have tried it, by grog, by sweetmeats, + sweet-speeches, and found it in the end come horribly dearer! One thing is + certain: the Silesian Reviews, next Year, if this King be alive, will be a + terrible matter; and Military Gentlemen had better look to themselves in + time! Kaltenborn's sympathy will help little; nothing but knowing one's + duty, and visibly and indisputably doing it, will the least avail. + </p> + <p> + Just in the days when Bouille left him for France, Friedrich ("October, + 1784") had conceived the notion of some general Confederation, or + Combination in the Reich, to resist, the continual Encroachments of + Austria; which of late are becoming more rampant than ever. Thus, in the + last year, especially within the last six months, a poor Bishop of Passau, + quasi-Bavarian, or in theory Sovereign Bishop of the Reich, is getting + himself pulled to pieces (Diocese torn asunder, and masses of it forcibly + sewed on to their new "Bishopric of Vienna"), in the most tragic manner, + in spite of express Treaties, and of all the outcries the poor man and the + Holy Father himself can make against it. [Dohm (DENKWURDIGKEITEN, iii. 46,—GESCHICHTE + DER LETZTEN PERIODE FRIEDRICHS DES ZWEITEN) gives ample particulars. + Dohm's first 3 volumes call themselves "History of Friedrich's last + Period, 1778-1786;" and are full of Bavarian War, 3d vol. mostly of + FURSTENBUND;—all in a candid, authentic, but watery and rather + wearisome way.] To this of Passau, and to the much of PANIS-BRIEFE and the + like which had preceded, Friedrich, though studiously saying almost + nothing, had been paying the utmost of attention:—part of Prince + Henri's errand to France is thought to have been, to take soundings on + those matters (on which France proves altogether willing, if able); and + now, in the general emotion about Passau, Friedrich jots down in a Note to + Hertzberg the above idea; with order to put it into form a little, and + consult about it in the Reich with parties interested. Hertzberg took the + thing up with zeal; instructed the Prussian Envoys to inquire, cautiously, + everywhere; fancied he did find willingness in the Courts of the Reich, in + Hanover especially: in a word, got his various irons into the fire;—and + had not proceeded far, when there rose another case of Austrian + Encroachment, which eclipsed all the preceding; and speedily brought + Hertzberg's irons to the welding-point. Too brief we cannot be in this + matter; here are the dates, mostly from Dohm:— + </p> + <p> + NEW-YEAR'S DAY, 1785, on or about that day, Romanzow, Son of our old + Colberg and Anti-Turk friend, who is Russian "Minister in the + Ober-Rheinish Circle," appears at the little Court of Zweibruck, with a + most sudden and astounding message to the Duke there:— + </p> + <p> + "Important bargain agreed upon between your Kaiser and his Highness of the + Pfalz and Baiern; am commanded by my Sovereign Lady, on behalf of her + friend the Kaiser, to make it known to you. Baiern all and whole made over + to Austria; in return for which the now Kur-Baiern gets the Austrian + Netherlands (Citadels of Limburg and Luxemburg alone excepted); and is a + King henceforth, 'King of Burgundy' to be the Title, he and his fortunate + Successors for all time coming. To your fortunate self, in acknowledgment + of your immediate consent, Austria offers the free-gift of 100,000 pounds, + and to your Brother Max of 50,000 pounds; Kur-Baiern, for his loyal + conduct, is to have 150,000 pounds; and to all of you, if handsome, + Austria will be handsome generally. For the rest, the thing is already + settled; and your refusal will not hinder it from going forward. I request + to know, within eight days, what your Highness's determination is!" + </p> + <p> + His poor Highness, thunderstruck as may be imagined, asks: "But—but—What + would your Excellency advise me?" "Have n't the least advice," answers his + Excellency: "will wait at Frankfurt-on-Mayn, for eight days, what your + Highness's resolution is; hoping it may be a wise one;—and have the + honor at present to say Good-morning." Sudden, like a thunder-bolt in + winter, the whole phenomenon. This, or JANUARY 3d, when Friedrich, by + Express from Zweibruck, first heard of this, may be considered as birthday + of a Furstenbund now no longer hypothetic, but certain to become actual. + </p> + <p> + Zweibruck naturally shot off expresses: to Petersburg (no answer ever); to + Berlin (with answer on the instant);—and in less than eight days, + poor Zweibruck, such the intelligence from Berlin, was in a condition to + write to Frankfurt: "Excellency; No; I do not consent, nor ever will." For + King Friedrich is broad-awake again;—and Hertzberg's smithy-fires, + we may conceive how the winds rose upon these, and brought matters to a + welding heat!— + </p> + <p> + The Czarina,—on Friedrich's urgent remonstrance, "What is this, + great Madam? To your old Ally, and from the Guaranty and Author of the + Peace of Teschen!"—had speedily answered: "Far from my thoughts to + violate the Peace of Teschen; very far: I fancied this was an advantageous + exchange, advantageous to Zweibruck especially; but since Zweibruck thinks + otherwise, of course there is an end." "Of course;"—though my + Romanzow did talk differently; and the forge-fires of a certain person are + getting blown at a mighty rate! Hertzberg's operation was conducted at + first with the greatest secrecy; but his Envoys were busy in all likely + places, his Proposal finding singular consideration; acceptance, here, + there,—"A very mild and safe-looking Project, most mild in tone + surely!"—and it soon came to Kaunitz's ear; most unwelcome to the + new Kingdom of Burgundy and him! + </p> + <p> + Thrice over, in the months ensuing (April 13th, May 11th, June 23d), in + the shape of a "Circular to all Austrian Ambassadors", [Dohm, iii. 64, + 68.] Kaunitz lifted up his voice in severe dehortation, the tone of him + waxing more and more indignant, and at last snuffling almost tremulous + quite into alt, "against the calumnies and malices of some persons, + misinterpreters of a most just Kaiser and his actions." But as the + Czarina, meanwhile, declared to the Reich at large, that she held, and + would ever hold, the Peace of Teschen a thing sacred, and this or any + Kingdom of Burgundy, or change of the Reichs Laws, impossible,—the + Kaunitz clangors availed nothing; and Furstenbund privately, but at a + mighty pace, went forward. And, JUNE 29th, 1785, after much labor, secret + but effective, on the part of Dohm and others, Three Plenipotentiaries, + the Prussian, the Saxon, the Hanoverian ("excellent method to have only + the principal Three!" ) met, still very privately, at Berlin; and laboring + their best, had, in about four weeks, a Furstenbund Covenant complete; + signed, JULY 23d, by these Three,—to whom all others that approved + append themselves. As an effective respectable number, Brunswick, Hessen, + Mainz and others, did, [List of them in Dohm.]—had not, indeed, the + first Three themselves, especially as Hanover meant England withal, been + themselves moderately sufficient.—Here, before the date quite pass, + are two Clippings which may be worth their room:— + </p> + <p> + 1. BOUILLE'S SECOND VISIT (Spring, 1785). May 10th, 1785,—just while + FURSTENBUND, so privately, was in the birth-throes,—"Marquis de + Bouille had again come to Berlin, to place his eldest Son in the ACADEMIE + DES GENTILSHOMMES; where the young man stayed two years. Was at Potsdam" + May 13th-16th; [Rodenbeck, iii. 325.] "well received; dined at Sans-Souci. + Informed the King of the Duc de Choiseul's death [Paris, May 8th). King, + shaking his head, 'IL N'Y A PAS GRAND MAL.' Seems piqued at the Queen of + France, who had not shown much attention to Prince Henri. Spoke of Peter + the Great, 'whose many high qualities were darkened by singular cruelty.' + When at Berlin, going on foot, as his custom was, unattended, to call on + King Friedrich Wilhelm, the people in the streets crowded much about him. + 'Brother,' said he to the King, 'your subjects are deficient in respect; + order one or two of them to be hanged; it will restrain the others!' + During the same visit, one day, at Charlottenburg; the Czar, after dinner, + stepped out on a balcony which looked into the Gardens. Seeing many people + assembled below, he gnashed his teeth (GRINCA DES DENTS), and began giving + signs of frenzy. Shifty little Catharine, who was with him, requested that + a certain person down among the crowd, who had a yellow wig, should be at + once put away, or something bad would happen. This done, the Czar became + quiet again. The Czarina added, he was subject to such attacks of frenzy; + and that, when she saw it, she would scratch his head, which moderated + him. 'VOILA MONSIEUR,' concluded the King, addressing me: 'VOILA LES + GRANDS HOMMES!' + </p> + <p> + "Bouille spent a fortnight at Reinsberg, with Prince Henri; who represents + his Brother as impatient, restless, envious, suspicious, even timid; of an + ill-regulated imagination",—nothing like so wise as some of us! "Is + too apprehensive of war; which may very likely bring it on. On the least + alarm, he assembles troops at the frontier; Joseph does the like; and so"—A + notably splenetic little Henri; head of an Opposition Party which has had + to hold its tongue. Cherishes in the silent depths of him an almost + ghastly indignation against his Brother on some points. "Bouille returned + to Paris June, 1785." [ESSAI SUR LA VIE DE BOUILLE (ubi supra).] + </p> + <p> + 2. COMTE DE SEGUR (on the road to Petersburg as French Minister) HAS SEEN + FRIEDRICH: January 29th, 1785. Segur says: "With lively curiosity I gazed + at this man; there as he stood, great in genius, small in stature; + stooping, and as it were bent down under the weight of his laurels and of + his long toils. His blue coat, old and worn like his body; his long boots + coming up above the knee; his waistcoat covered with snuff, formed an odd + but imposing whole. By the fire of his eyes, you recognized that in + essentials he had not grown old. Though bearing himself like an invalid, + you felt that he could strike like a young soldier; in his small figure, + you discerned a spirit greater than any other man's.... + </p> + <p> + "If used at all to intercourse with the great world, and possessed of any + elevation of mind, you have no embarrassment in speaking to a King; but to + a Great Man you present yourself not without fear. Friedrich, in his + private sphere, was of sufficiently unequal humor; wayward, wilful; open + to prejudices; indulged in mockery, often enough epigrammatic upon the + French;—agreeable in a high degree to strangers whom he pleased to + favor; but bitterly piquant for those he was prepossessed against, or who, + without knowing it, had ill-chosen the hour of approaching him. To me, + luck was kind in all these points;" my Interview delightful, but not to be + reported farther. [<i>"Memoires par M. le Comte de Segur</i> (Paris, + 1826), ii. 133, 120:" cited in PREUSS, iv. 218. For date, see Rodenbeck, + iii. 322, 323.] + </p> + <p> + Except Mirabeau, about a year after this, Segur is the last distinguished + French visitor. French Correspondence the King has now little or none. + October gone a year, his D'Alembert, the last intellectual Frenchman he + had a real esteem for, died. Paris and France seem to be sinking into + strange depths; less and less worth hearing of. Now and then a straggling + Note from Condorcet, Grimm or the like, are all he gets there. + </p> + <p> + That of the Furstenbund put a final check on Joseph's notions of making + the Reich a reality; his reforms and ambitions had thenceforth to take + other directions, and leave the poor old Reich at peace. A mighty reformer + he had been, the greatest of his day. Broke violently in upon quiescent + Austrian routine, on every side: monkeries, school-pedantries, + trade-monopolies, serfages,—all things, military and civil, + spiritual and temporal, he had resolved to make perfect in a minimum of + time. Austria gazed on him, its admiration not unmixed with terror. He + rushed incessantly about; hardy as a Charles Twelfth; slept on his + bearskin on the floor of any inn or hut;—flew at the throat of every + Absurdity, however broad-based or dangerously armed, "Disappear, I say!" + Will hurl you an Official of Rank, where need is, into the Pillory; sets + him, in one actual instance, to permanent sweeping of the streets in + Vienna. A most prompt, severe, and yet beneficent and charitable kind of + man. Immensely ambitious, that must be said withal. A great admirer of + Friedrich; bent to imitate him with profit. "Very clever indeed," says + Friedrich; "but has the fault [a terribly grave one!] of generally taking + the second step without having taken the first." + </p> + <p> + A troublesome neighbor he proved to everybody, not by his reforms alone;—and + ended, pretty much as here in the FURSTENBUND, by having, in all matters, + to give in and desist. In none of his foreign Ambitions could he succeed; + in none of his domestic Reforms. In regard to these latter, somebody + remarks: "No Austrian man or thing articulately contradicted his fine + efforts that way; but, inarticulately, the whole weight of Austrian VIS + INERTIAE bore day and night against him;—whereby, as we now see, he + bearing the other way with the force of a steam-ram, a hundred tons to the + square inch, the one result was, To dislocate every joint in the Austrian + Edifice, and have it ready for the Napoleonic Earthquakes that ensued." In + regard to ambitions abroad it was no better. The Dutch fired upon his + Scheld Frigate: "War, if you will, you most aggressive Kaiser; but this + Toll is ours!" His Netherlands revolted against him, "Can holy religion, + and old use-and-wont be tumbled about at this rate?" His Grand Russian + Copartneries and Turk War went to water and disaster. His reforms, one and + all, had to be revoked for the present. Poor Joseph, broken-hearted (for + his private griefs were many, too), lay down to die. "You may put for + epitaph," said he with a tone which is tragical and pathetic to us, "Here + lies Joseph," the grandly attempting Joseph, "who could succeed in + nothing." [Died, at Vienna, 20th February, 1790, still under fifty;—born + there 13th March, 1741. Hormayr, <i>OEsterreichischer Plutarch,</i> iv. + (2tes) 125-223 (and five or six recent LIVES of Joseph, none of which, + that I have seen, was worth reading, in comparison).] A man of very high + qualities, and much too conscious of them. A man of an ambition without + bounds. One of those fatal men, fatal to themselves first of all, who + mistake half-genius for whole; and rush on the second step without having + made the first. Cannot trouble the old King or us any more. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX.—FRIEDRICH'S LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. + </h2> + <p> + To the present class of readers, Furstenbund is become a Nothing; to all + of us the grand Something now is, strangely enough, that incidental item + which directly followed, of Reviewing the Silesian soldieries, who had so + angered his Majesty last year. "If I be alive next year!" said the King to + Tauentzien. The King kept his promise; and the Fates had appointed that, + in doing so, he was to find his—But let us not yet pronounce the + word. + </p> + <p> + AUGUST 16th, 1785, some three weeks after finishing the Furstenbund, + Friedrich set out for Silesia: towards Strehlen long known to him and us + all;—at Gross-Tinz, a Village in that neighborhood, the Camp and + Review are to be. He goes by Crossen, Glogau; in a circling direction: + Glogau, Schweidnitz, Silberberg, Glatz, all his Fortresses are to be + inspected as well, and there is much miscellaneous business by the road. + At Hirschberg, not on the military side, we have sight of him; the account + of which is strange to read:— + </p> + <p> + "THURSDAY, AUGUST 18th," says a private Letter from that little Town, + [Given IN EXTENSO, Rodenbeck, iii. 331-333.] "he passed through here: + concourse of many thousands, from all the Country about, had been waiting + for him several hours. Outriders came at last; then he himself, the + Unique; and, with the liveliest expression of reverence and love, all eyes + were directed on one point. I cannot describe to you my feelings, which of + course were those of everybody, to see him, the aged King; in his weak + hand the hat; in those grand eyes such a fatherly benignity of look over + the vast crowd that encircled his Carriage, and rolled tide-like, + accompanying it. Looking round when he was past, I saw in various eyes a + tear trembling. ["Alas, we sha'n't have him long!"] + </p> + <p> + "His affability, his kindliness, to whoever had the honor of speech with + this great King, who shall describe it! After talking a good while with + the Merchants-Deputation from the Hill Country, he said, 'Is there + anything more, then, from anybody?' Upon which, the President + (KAUFMANNSALTESTE," Merchants'-Eldest) "Lachmann, from Greiffenberg," + which had been burnt lately, and helped by the King to rebuild itself, + "stepped forward, and said, 'The burnt-out Inhabitants of Greiffenberg had + charged him to express once more their most submissive gratitude for the + gracious help in rebuilding; their word of thanks, truly, was of no + importance, but they daily prayed God to reward such Royal beneficence.' + The King was visibly affected, and said, 'You don't need to thank me; when + my subjects fall into misfortune, it is my duty to help them up again; for + that reason am I here.'"... + </p> + <p> + Saturday 20th, he arrived at Tinz; had a small Cavalry Manoeuvre, next + day; and on Monday the Review Proper began. Lasted four days,—22d-25th + August, Monday to Thursday, both inclusive. "Head-quarter was in the + DORF-SCHULZE'S (Village Mayor's) house; and there were many Strangers of + distinction quartered in the Country Mansions round." Gross-Tinz is about + 12 miles straight north from Strehlen, and as far straight east from the + Zobtenberg: Gross-Tinz, and its Review of August, 1785, ought to be long + memorable. + </p> + <p> + How the Review turned out as to proficiency recovered, I have not heard; + and only infer, by symptoms, that it was not unsatisfactory. The sure + fact, and the forever memorable, is, That on Wednesday, the third day of + it, from 4 in the morning, when the Manoeuvres began, till well after 10, + when they ended, there was a rain like Noah's; rain falling as from + buckets and water-spouts; and that Friedrich (and perhaps most others + too), so intent upon his business, paid not the least regard to it; but + rode about, intensely inspecting, in lynx-eyed watchfulness of everything, + as if no rain had been there. Was not at the pains even to put on his + cloak. Six hours of such down-pour; and a weakly old man of 73 past. Of + course he was wetted to the bone. On returning to head-quarters, his boots + were found full of water; "when pulled off, it came pouring from them like + a pair of pails." + </p> + <p> + He got into dry clothes; presided in his usual way at dinner, which soon + followed; had many Generals and guests,—Lafayette, Lord Cornwallis, + Duke of York;—and, as might be expected, felt unusually feverish + afterwards. Hot, chill, quite poorly all afternoon; glad to get to bed:—where + he fell into deep sleep, into profuse perspiration, as his wont was; and + awoke, next morning, greatly recovered; altogether well again, as he + supposed. Well enough to finish his Review comfortably; and start for + home. Went—round by Neisse, inspection not to be omitted there, + though it doubles the distance—to Brieg that day; a drive of 80 + miles, inspection-work included. Thence, at Breslan for three days more: + with dinners of state, balls, illuminations, in honor of the Duke of York,—our + as yet last Duke of York, then a brisk young fellow of twenty-two; to + whom, by accident, among his other distinctions, may belong this of having + (most involuntarily) helped to kill Friedrich the Great! + </p> + <p> + Back to Potsdam, Friedrich pushed on with business; and complained of + nothing. Was at Berlin in about ten days (September 9th), for an Artillery + Review; saw his Sister Amelia; saw various public works in a state of + progress,—but what perhaps is medically significant, went in the + afternoon to a kind of Spa Well they have at Berlin; and slept, not at the + Palace, but at this Spa, in the hostelry or lodging-house attached. + [Rodenbeck, IN DIE.] Next day (September 10th), the Artillery Manoeuvre + was done; and the King left Berlin,—little guessing he had seen + Berlin for the last time. + </p> + <p> + The truth is, his health, unknown to him (though that of taking a Night at + the Spa Well probably denotes some guess or feeling of the kind on his + part), must have been in a dangerous or almost ruinous state. Accordingly, + soon afterwards, September 18th-19th, in the night-time, he was suddenly + aroused by a Fit of Suffocation (what they call STICKFLUSS); and, for some + hours, till relief was got, everybody feared he would perish. Next day, + there came gout; which perhaps he regarded almost as a friend: but it did + not prove such; it proved the captain of a chaotic company of enemies; and + Friedrich's end, I suppose, was already inexorably near. At the Grand + Potsdam Review (22d-23d September), chief Review of all, and with such an + affluence of Strangers to it this Autumn, he was quite unable to appear; + prescribed the Manoeuvres and Procedures, and sorrowfully kept his room. + [This of 23d September, 1785, is what Print-Collectors know loosely as + "FRIEDRICH'S LAST REVIEW;"—one Cunningham, an English Painter (son + of a Jacobite ditto, and himself of wandering habitat), and Clemens, a + Prussian Engraver, having done a very large and highly superior Print of + it, by way of speculation in Military Portraits (Berlin, 1787); in which, + among many others, there figures the crediblest Likeness known to me of + FRIEDRICH IN OLD AGE, though Friedrich himself was not there. (See PREUSS, + iv. 242; especially see RODENBECK, iii. 337 n.)—As Crown-Prince, + Friedrich had SAT to Pesne: never afterwards to any Artist.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was always something of a Doctor himself: he had little faith in + professional Doctors, though he liked to speak with the intelligent sort, + and was curious about their science, And it is agreed he really had good + notions in regard to it; in particular, that he very well understood his + own constitution of body; knew the effects of causes there, at any rate, + and the fit regimens and methods:—as an old man of sense will + usually do. The complaint is, that he was not always faithful to regimen; + that, in his old days at least, he loved strong soups, hot spicy meats;—finding, + I suppose, a kind of stimulant in them, as others do in wine; a sudden + renewal of strength, which might be very tempting to him. There has been a + great deal of unwise babble on this subject, which I find no reason to + believe, except as just said: In the fall of this year, as usual, perhaps + rather later than usual,—not till November 8th (for what reason so + delaying, Marwitz told us already),—he withdrew from Sans-Souci, his + Summer-Cottage; shut himself up in Potsdam Palace (Old Palace) for the + winter. It was known he was very ailing; and that he never stirred out,—but + this was not quite unusual in late winters; and the rumors about his + health were vague and various. Now, as always, he himself, except to his + Doctors, was silent on that subject. Various military Doctors, Theden, + Frese and others of eminence, were within reach; but it is not known to me + that he consulted any of them. + </p> + <p> + Not till January, 1786, when symptoms worse than ever, of asthma, of + dropsy, began to manifest themselves, did he call in Selle, the chief + Berlin Doctor, and a man of real sagacity, as is still evident; who from + the first concluded the disease to be desperate; but of course began some + alleviatory treatment, the skilfulest possible to him. [Christian Gottlieb + Selle, KRANKHEITSGESCHICHTE DES HOCHSTSEELIGEN KONIGS VAN PREUSSEN + FRIEDRICHS DES ZWEYTEN MAJESTAT (Berlin, 1786); a very small Pamphlet, now + very rare;—giving in the most distinct, intelligent, modest and + conclusive way, an account of everything pertinent, and rigorously of + nothing else.] Selle, when questioned, kept his worst fears carefully to + himself: but the King noticed Selle's real opinion,—which, probably, + was the King's own too;—and finding little actual alleviation, a + good deal of trouble, and no possibility of a victorious result by this + warfare on the outworks, began to be weary of Selle; and to turn his hopes—what + hopes he yet had—on the fine weather soon due. He had a continual + short small cough, which much troubled him; there was fear of new + Suffocation-Fit; the breathing always difficult. + </p> + <p> + But Spring came, unusually mild; the King sat on the southern balconies in + the genial sun and air, looking over the bright sky and earth, and new + birth of things: "Were I at Sans-Souci, amid the Gardens!" thought he. + APRIL 17th, he shifted thither: not in a sedan, as Marwitz told us of the + former journey; but "in his carriage, very early in the morning, making a + long roundabout through various Villages, with new relays,"—probably + with the motive Marwitz assigns. Here are two contemporaneous Excerpts:— + </p> + <p> + 1. MIRABEAU AT SANS-SOUCI. "This same day," April 17th, it appears, + [Preuss: in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxv. 328 n.] "the King saw + Mirabeau, for the second and last time. Mirabeau had come to Berlin 19th + January last; his errand not very precise,—except that he infinitely + wanted employment, and that at Paris the Controller-General Calonne, since + so famous among mankind, had evidently none to offer him there. He seems + to have intended Russia, and employment with the Czarina,—after + viewing Berlin a little, with the great flashy eyesight he had. He first + saw Friedrich January 25th. There pass in all, between Friedrich and him, + seven Letters or Notes, two of them by the King; and on poor Mirabeau's + side, it must be owned, there is a massively respectful, truthful and + manly physiognomy, which probably has mended Friedrich's first opinion of + him. [... "Is coming to me to-day; one of those loose-tongued fellows, I + suppose, who write for and against all the world." (Friedrich to Prince + Henri, "25 January, 1786:" <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> xxvi. 522.)] This + day, April 17th, 1786, he is at Potsdam; so far on the road to France + again,—Mirabeau Senior being reported dangerously ill. 'My Dialogue + with the King,' say the Mirabeau Papers, 'was very lively; but the King + was in such suffering, and so straitened for breath, I was myself anxious + to shorten it: that same evening I travelled on.' + </p> + <p> + "Mirabeau Senior did not die at this time: and Controller-General Calonne, + now again eager to shake off an importunate and far too clear-sighted + Mirabeau Junior, said to the latter: 'Back to Berlin, could n't you? Their + King is dying, a new King coming; highly important to us!'—and poor + Mirabeau went. Left Paris again, in May; with money furnished, but, no + other outfit, and more in the character of Newspaper Vulture than of + Diplomatic Envoy," [Rodenbeck, iii. 343. Fils Adoptif, <i>Memoires de + Mirabeau</i> (Paris, 1834), iv. 288-292, 296.] as perhaps we may + transiently see. + </p> + <p> + 2. MARIE ANTOINETTE AT VERSAILLES; TO HER SISTER CHRISTINE AT BRUSSELS + (Husband and she, Duke and Duchess of Sachsen-Teschen, are Governors of + the Netherlands):— + </p> + <p> + MARCH 20th, 1786.... "There has been arrested at Geneva one Villette, who + played a great part in that abominable Affair [of the Diamond Necklace, + now emerging on an astonished Queen and world]. [Carlyle's <i>Miscellanies</i> + (Library Edition), v. 3-96,? DIAMOND NECKLACE. The wretched Cardinal de + Rohan was arrested at Versailles, and put in the Bastille, "August 15th, + 1785," the day before Friedrich set out for his Silesian Review; ever + since which, the arrestments and judicial investigations have continued,—continue + till "May 10th, 1786," when Sentence was given.] M. Target", Advocate of + the enchanted Cardinal, "is coming out with his MEMOIR: he does his + function; and God knows what are the lies he will produce upon us. There + is a MEMOIR by that Quack of a Cagliostro, too: these are at this moment + the theme of all talk." + </p> + <p> + APRIL 6th. "The MEMOIRS, the lies, succeed each other; and the Business + grows darker, not clearer. Such a Cardinal of the Church! He brazenly + maintains his distracted story about the Bosquet [Interview with me in + person, in that Hornbeam Arbor at Versailles; to me inconceivable, not yet + knowing of a Demoiselle d'Oliva from the streets, who had acted my part + there], and my Assent [to purchase the Necklace for me]. His impudence and + his audacity surpass belief. O Sister, I need all my strength to support + such cruel assaults.... The King of Prussia's condition much engages + attention (PREOCCUPE) here, and must do at Vienna too: his death is + considered imminent. I am sure you have your eyes open on that side."... + </p> + <p> + APRIL 17th (just while the Mirabeau Interview at Potsdam is going on).... + "King of Prussia thought to be dying: I am weary of the political + discussions on this subject, as to what effects his death must produce. He + is better at this moment; but so weak he cannot resist long. Physique is + gone; but his force and energy of soul, they say, have often supported + him, and in desperate crises have even seemed to increase. Liking to him I + never had: his ostentatious immorality (IMMORALITE AFFICHEE," ah, Madame!) + "has much hurt public virtue [public orthodoxy, I mean], and there have + been related to me [by mendacious or ill-informed persons] barbarities + which excite horror. He has done us all a great deal of ill. He has been a + King for his own Country; but a Trouble-feast for those about him;—setting + up to be the arbiter of Europe; always undertaking on his neighbors, and + making them pay the expense. As Daughters of Maria Theresa, it is + impossible we can regret him, nor is it the Court of France that will make + his funeral oration." [Comte de Hunolstein, <i>Correspondance inedite de + Marie Antoinette</i> (Paris, 1864), pp. 136, 137, 149.—Hunolstein's + Book, I since find, is mainly or wholly a Forgery! (NOTE of 1868.)] + </p> + <p> + From Sans-Souci the King did appear again on horseback; rode out several + times ("Conde," a fine English horse, one of his favorites, carrying him,—the + Conde who had many years of sinecure afterwards, and was well known to + Touring people): the rides were short; once to the New Palace to look at + some new Vinery there, thence to the Gate of Potsdam, which he was for + entering; but finding masons at work, and the street encumbered, did not, + and rode home instead: this, of not above two miles, was his longest ride + of all. Selle's attendance, less and less in esteem with the King, and + less and less followed by him, did not quite cease till June 4th; that day + the King had said to Selle, or to himself, "It is enough." That longest of + his rides was in the third week after; June 22d, Midsummer-Day. July 4th, + he rode again; and it was for the last time. About two weeks after, Conde + was again brought out; but it would not do: Adieu, my Conde; not possible, + as things are!— + </p> + <p> + During all this while, and to the very end, Friedrich's Affairs, great and + small, were, in every branch and item, guided on by him, with a perfection + not surpassed in his palmiest days: he saw his Ministers, saw all who had + business with him, many who had little; and in the sore coil of bodily + miseries, as Hertzberg observed with wonder, never was the King's + intellect clearer, or his judgment more just and decisive. Of his disease, + except to the Doctors, he spoke no word to anybody. The body of Friedrich + is a ruin, but his soul is still here; and receives his friends and his + tasks as formerly. Asthma, dropsy, erysipelas, continual want of sleep; + for many months past he has not been in bed, but sits day and night in an + easy-chair, unable to get breath except in that posture. He said one + morning, to somebody entering, "If you happened to want a night-watcher, I + could suit you well." + </p> + <p> + His multifarious Military businesses come first; then his three Clerks, + with the Civil and Political. These three he latterly, instead of calling + about 6 or 7 o'clock, has had to appoint for 4 each morning: "My situation + forces me," his message said, "to give them this trouble, which they will + not have to suffer long. My life is on the decline; the time which I still + have I must employ. It belongs not to me, but to the State." [Preuss, iv. + 257 n.] About 11, business, followed by short surgical details or + dressings (sadly insisted on in those Books, and in themselves + sufficiently sad), being all done,—his friends or daily company are + admitted: five chiefly, or (NOT counting Minister Hertzberg) four, + Lucchesini, Schwerin, Pinto, Gortz; who sit with him about one hour now, + and two hours in the evening again:—dreary company to our minds, + perhaps not quite so dreary to the King's; but they are all he has left. + And he talks cheerfully with them "on Literature, History, on the topics + of the day, or whatever topic rises, as if there were no sickness here." A + man adjusted to his hard circumstances; and bearing himself manlike and + kinglike among them. + </p> + <p> + He well knew himself to be dying; but some think, expected that the end + might be a little farther off. There is a grand simplicity of stoicism in + him; coming as if by nature, or by long SECOND-nature; finely unconscious + of itself, and finding nothing of peculiar in this new trial laid on it. + From of old, Life has been infinitely contemptible to him. In death, I + think, he has neither fear nor hope. Atheism, truly, he never could abide: + to him, as to all of us, it was flatly inconceivable that intellect, moral + emotion, could have been put into HIM by an Entity that had none of its + own. But there, pretty much, his Theism seems to have stopped. + Instinctively, too, he believed, no man more firmly, that Right alone has + ultimately any strength in this world: ultimately, yes;—but for him + and his poor brief interests, what good was it? Hope for himself in Divine + Justice, in Divine Providence, I think he had not practically any; that + the unfathomable Demiurgus should concern himself with such a set of + paltry ill-given animalcules as oneself and mankind are, this also, as we + have often noticed, is in the main incredible to him. + </p> + <p> + A sad Creed, this of the King's;—he had to do his duty without fee + or reward. Yes, reader;—and what is well worth your attention, you + will have difficulty to find, in the annals of any Creed, a King or man + who stood more faithfully to his duty; and, till the last hour, alone + concerned himself with doing that. To poor Friedrich that was all the Law + and all the Prophets: and I much recommend you to surpass him, if you, by + good luck, have a better Copy of those inestimable Documents!—Inarticulate + notions, fancies, transient aspirations, he might have, in the background + of his mind. One day, sitting for a while out of doors, gazing into the + Sun, he was heard to murmur, "Perhaps I shall be nearer thee soon:"—and + indeed nobody knows what his thoughts were in these final months. There is + traceable only a complete superiority to Fear and Hope; in parts, too, are + half-glimpses of a great motionless interior lake of Sorrow, sadder than + any tears or complainings, which are altogether wanting to it. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's dismissal of Selle, June 4th, by no means meant that he had + given up hope from medicine; on the contrary, two days after, he had a + Letter on the road for Zimmermann at Hanover; whom he always remembers + favorably since that DIALOGUE we read fifteen years ago. His first Note to + Zimmermann is of June 6th, "Would you consent to come for a fortnight, and + try upon me?" Zimmermann's overjoyed Answer, "Yes, thrice surely yes," is + of June 10th; Friedrich's second is of June 16th, "Come, then!" And + Zimmermann came accordingly,—as is still too well known. Arrived 23d + June; stayed till 10th July; had Thirty-three Interviews or DIALOGUES with + him; one visit the last day; two, morning and evening, every preceding + day;—and published a Book about them, which made immense noise in + the world, and is still read, with little profit or none, by inquirers + into Friedrich. [Ritter von Zimmermann, <i>Uber Friedrich den Grossen und + meine Unterredungen mit Ihm kurz von seinem Tode</i> (1 vol. 8vo: Leipzig, + 1788);—followed by <i>Fragmente uber Friedrich den Grossen</i> (3 + vols. 12mo: Leipzig, 1790); and by &c. &c.] Thirty-three + Dialogues, throwing no new light on Friedrich, none of them equal in + interest to the old specimen known to us. + </p> + <p> + In fact, the Book turns rather on Zimmermann himself than on his Royal + Patient; and might be entitled, as it was by a Satirist, DIALOGUES OF + ZIMMERMANN I. AND FRIEDRICH II. An unwise Book; abounding in exaggeration; + breaking out continually into extraneous sallies and extravagancies,—the + source of which is too plainly an immense conceit of oneself. Zimmermann + is fifteen years older since we last saw him; a man now verging towards + sixty; but has not grown wiser in proportion. In Hanover, though + miraculously healed of that LEIBESSCHADE, and full of high hopes, he has + had his new tribulations, new compensations,—both of an agitating + character. "There arose," he says, in reference to some medical + Review-article he wrote, "a WEIBER-EPIDEMIK, a universal shrieking + combination of all the Women against me:"—a frightful accident while + it lasted! Then his little Daughter died on his hands; his Son had + disorders, nervous imbecilities,—did not die, but did worse; went + into hopeless idiotcy, and so lived for many years. Zimmermann, being + dreadfully miserable, hypochondriac, what not, "his friends," he himself + passive, it would seem, "managed to get a young Wife for him;" thirty + years younger than he,—whose performances, however, in this + difficult post, are praised. + </p> + <p> + Lastly, not many months ago (Leipzig, 1785), the big FINAL edition of + "SOLITUDE" (four volumes) has come out; to the joy and enthusiasm of all + philanthropic-philosophic and other circulating-library creatures:—a + Copy of which came, by course of nature, not by Zimmermann's help, into + the hands of Catharine of Russia. Sublime imperial Letter thereupon, with + 'valuable diamond ring;' invitation to come to Petersburg, with charges + borne (declined, on account of health); to be imperial Physician (likewise + declined);—in fine, continued Correspondence with Catharine (trying + enough for a vain head), and Knighthood of the Order of St. Wladimir,—so + that, at least, Doctor Zimmermann is RITTER Zimmermann henceforth. And + now, here has come his new Visit to Friedrich the Great;—which, with + the issues it had, and the tempestuous cloud of tumid speculations and + chaotic writings it involved him in, quite upset the poor Ritter Doctor; + so that, hypochondrias deepening to the abysmal, his fine intellect sank + altogether,—and only Death, which happily followed soon, could + disimprison him. At this moment, there is in Zimmermann a worse "Dropsy" + of the spiritual kind, than this of the physical, which he has come in + relief of! + </p> + <p> + Excerpts of those Zimmermann DIALOGUES lie copiously round me, ready long + ago,—nay, I understand there is, or was, an English TRANSLATION of + the whole of them, better or worse, for behoof of the curious:—but + on serious consideration now, I have to decide, That they are but as a + Scene of clowns in the Elder Dramatists; which, even were it NOT overdone + as it is, cannot be admitted in this place, and is plainly impertinent in + the Tragedy that is being acted here. Something of Farce will often + enough, in this irreverent world, intrude itself on the most solemn + Tragedy; but, in pity even to the Farce, there ought at least to be closed + doors kept between them. + </p> + <p> + Enough for us to say, That Ritter Zimmermann—who is a Physician and + a Man of Literary Genius, and should not have become a Tragic Zany—did, + with unspeakable emotions, terrors, prayers to Heaven, and paroxysms of + his own ridiculous kind, prescribe "Syrup of Dandelion" to the King; + talked to him soothingly, musically, successfully; found the King a most + pleasant Talker, but a very wilful perverse kind of Patient; whose errors + in point of diet especially were enormous to a degree. Truth is, the + King's appetite for food did still survive:—and this might have + been, you would think, the one hopeful basis of Zimmermann's whole + treatment, if there were still any hope: but no; Zimmermann merely, with + uncommon emphasis, lyrically recognizes such amazing appetite in an old + man overwhelmed by diseases,—trumpets it abroad, for ignorant + persons to regard as a crime, or perhaps as a type generally of the man's + past life, and makes no other attempt upon it;—stands by his + "Extract of Dandelion boiled to the consistency of honey;" and on the + seventeenth day, July 10th, voiceless from emotion, heart just breaking, + takes himself away, and ceases. One of our Notes says:— + </p> + <p> + "Zimmermann went by Dessau and Brunswick; at Brunswick, if he made speed + thither, Zimmermann might perhaps find Mirabeau, who is still there, and + just leaving for Berlin to be in at the death:—but if the Doctor and + he missed each other, it was luckier, as they had their controversies + afterwards. Mirabeau arrived at Berlin, July 21st: [Mirabeau, HISTOIRE + SECRETE DE LA COUR DE BERLIN, tome iii. of <i>OEuvres de Mirabeau:</i> + Paris, 1821, LETTRE v. p. 37.] vastly diligent in picking up news, + opinions, judgments of men and events, for his Calonne;—and + amazingly accurate, one finds; such a flash of insight has he, in whatever + element, foul or fair. + </p> + <p> + "JULY 9th, the day before Zimmerman's departure, Hertzberg had come out to + Potsdam in permanence. Hertzberg is privately thenceforth in communication + with the Successor; altogether privately, though no doubt Friedrich knew + it well enough, and saw it to be right. Of course, all manner of poor + creatures are diligent about their own bits of interests; and saying to + themselves, 'A New Reign is evidently nigh!' Yes, my friends;—and a + precious Reign it will prove in comparison: sensualities, unctuous + religiosities, ostentations, imbecilities; culminating in Jena twenty + years hence." + </p> + <p> + Zimmermann haggles to tell us what his report was at Brunswick; says, he + "set the Duke [ERBPRINZ, who is now Duke these six years past] sobbing and + weeping;" though towards the Widow Duchess there must have been some hope + held out, as we shall now see. The Duchess's Letter or Letters to her + Brother are lost; but this is his Answer:— + </p> + <p> + FRIEDRICH TO THE DUCHESS-DOWAGER OF BRUNSWICK. + </p> + <p> + "SANS-SOUCI, 10th August, 1786. + </p> + <p> + "MY ADORABLE SISTER,—The Hanover Doctor has wished to make himself + important with you, my good Sister; but the truth is, he has been of no + use to me (M'A ETE INUTILE). The old must give place to the young, that + each generation may find room clear for it: and Life, if we examine + strictly what its course is, consists in seeing one's fellow-creatures die + and be born. In the mean while, I have felt myself a little easier for the + last day or two. My heart remains inviolably attached to you, my good + Sister. With the highest consideration,—My adorable Sister,—Your + faithful Brother and Servant, "FRIEDRICH." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + xxvii. i. 352.] + </p> + <p> + This is Friedrich's last Letter;—his last to a friend. There is one + to his Queen, which Preuss's Index seems to regard as later, though + without apparent likelihood; there being no date whatever, and only these + words: "Madam,—I am much obliged by the wishes you deign to form: + but a heavy fever I have taken (GROSSE FIEVRE QUE J'AI PRISE) hinders me + from answering you." [Ib. xxvi. 62.] + </p> + <p> + On common current matters of business, and even on uncommon, there + continue yet for four days to be Letters expressly dictated by Friedrich; + some about military matters (vacancies to be filled, new Free-Corps to be + levied). Two or three of them are on so small a subject as the purchase of + new Books by his Librarians at Berlin. One, and it has been preceded by + examining, is, Order to the Potsdam Magistrates to grant "the Baker + Schroder, in terms of his petition, a Free-Pass out of Preussen hither, + for 100 bushels of rye and 50 of wheat, though Schroder will not find the + prices much cheaper there than here." His last, of August 14th, is to De + Launay, Head of the Excise: "Your Account of Receipts and Expenditures + came to hand yesterday, 13th; but is too much in small: I require one more + detailed,"—and explains, with brief clearness, on what points and + how. Neglects nothing, great or small, while life yet is. + </p> + <p> + TUESDAY, AUGUST 15th, 1786, Contrary to all wont, the King did not awaken + till 11 o'clock. On first looking up, he seemed in a confused state, but + soon recovered himself; called in his Generals and Secretaries, who had + been in waiting so long, and gave, with his old precision, the Orders + wanted,—one to Rohdich, Commandant of Potsdam, about a Review of the + troops there next day; Order minutely perfect, in knowledge of the ground, + in foresight of what and how the evolutions were to be; which was + accordingly performed on the morrow. The Cabinet work he went through with + the like possession of himself, giving, on every point, his Three Clerks + their directions, in a weak voice, yet with the old power of spirit,—dictated + to one of them, among other things, an "Instruction" for some Ambassador + just leaving; "four quarto pages, which," says Hertzberg, "would have done + honor to the most experienced Minister;" and, in the evening, he signed + his Missives as usual. This evening still,—but—no evening + more. We are now at the last scene of all, which ends this strange + eventful History. + </p> + <p> + Wednesday morning, General-Adjutants, Secretaries, Commandant, were there + at their old hours; but word came out, "Secretaries are to wait:" King is + in a kind of sleep, of stertorous ominous character, as if it were the + death-sleep; seems not to recollect himself, when he does at intervals + open his eyes. After hours of this, [Selle (ut sup.); Anonymous + (Kletschke), LETZTE STUNDEN UND LEICHENBEGANGNISS FRIEDRICHS DES ZWEYTEN, + (Potsdam, 1786); Preuss, iv. 264 et seq.; Rodenbeck, iii. 363-366.] on a + ray of consciousness, the King bethought him of Rohdich, the Commandant; + tried to give Rohdich the Parole as usual; tried twice, perhaps three + times; but found he could not speak;—and with a glance of sorrow, + which seemed to say, "It is impossible, then!" turned his head, and sank + back into the corner of his chair. Rohdich burst into tears: the King + again lay slumberous;—the rattle of death beginning soon after, + which lasted at intervals all day. Selle, in Berlin, was sent for by + express; he arrived about three of the afternoon: King seemed a little + more conscious, knew those about him, "his face red rather than pale, in + his eyes still something of their old fire." Towards evening the + feverishness abated (to Selle, I suppose, a fatal symptom); the King fell + into a soft sleep, with warm perspiration; but, on awakening, complained + of cold, repeatedly of cold, demanding wrappage after wrappage ("KISSEN," + soft QUILT of the old fashion);—and on examining feet and legs, one + of the Doctors made signs that they were in fact cold, up nearly to the + knee. "What said he of the feet?" murmured the King some time afterwards, + the Doctor having now stepped out of sight. "Much the same as before," + answered some attendant. The King shook his head, incredulous. + </p> + <p> + He drank once, grasping the goblet with both hands, a draught of + fennel-water, his customary drink; and seemed relieved by it;—his + last refection in this world. Towards nine in the evening, there had come + on a continual short cough, and a rattling in the breast, breath more and + more difficult. Why continue? Friedrich is making exit, on the common + terms; you may HEAR the curtain rustling down. For most part he was + unconscious, never more than half conscious. As the wall-clock above his + head struck 11, he asked: "What o'clock?" "Eleven," answered they. "At 4" + murmured he, "I will rise." One of his dogs sat on its Stool near him; + about midnight he noticed it shivering for cold: "Throw a quilt over it," + said or beckoned he; that, I think, was his last completely conscious + utterance. Afterwards, in a severe choking fit, getting at last rid of the + phlegm, he said, "LA MONTAGNE EST PASSEE, NOUS IRONS MIEUX, We are over + the hill, we shall go better now." + </p> + <p> + Attendants, Hertzberg, Selle and one or two others, were in the outer + room; none in Friedrich's but Strutzki, his Kammerhussar, one of Three who + are his sole valets and nurses; a faithful ingenious man, as they all seem + to be, and excellently chosen for the object. Strutzki, to save the King + from hustling down, as he always did, into the corner of his chair, where, + with neck and chest bent forward, breathing was impossible,—at last + took the King on his knee; kneeling on the ground with his other knee for + the purpose,—King's right arm round Strutzki's neck, Strutzki's left + arm round the King's back, and supporting his other shoulder; in which + posture the faithful creature, for above two hours, sat motionless, till + the end came. Within doors, all is silence, except this breathing; around + it the dark earth silent, above it the silent stars. At 20 minutes past 2, + the breathing paused,—wavered; ceased. Friedrich's Life-battle is + fought out; instead of suffering and sore labor, here is now rest. + Thursday morning, 17th August, 1786, at the dark hour just named. On the + 31st of May last, this King had reigned 46 years. "He has lived," counts + Rodenbeck, "74 years, 6 months and 24 days." + </p> + <p> + His death seems very stern and lonely;—a man of such affectionate + feelings, too; "a man with more sensibility than other men!" But so had + his whole life been, stern and lonely; such the severe law laid on him. + Nor was it inappropriate that he found his death in that poor Silesian + Review; punctually doing, as usual, the work that had come in hand. Nor + that he died now, rather than a few years later. In these final days of + his, we have transiently noticed Arch-Cardinal de Rohan, Arch-Quack + Cagliostro, and a most select Company of Persons and of Actions, like an + Elixir of the Nether World, miraculously emerging into daylight; and all + Paris, and by degrees all Europe, getting loud with the DIAMOND-NECKLACE + History. And to eyes of deeper speculation,—World-Poet Goethe's, for + instance,—it is becoming evident that Chaos is again big. As has not + she proved to be, and is still proving, in the most teeming way! Better + for a Royal Hero, fallen old and feeble, to be hidden from such things. + </p> + <p> + "Yesterday, Wednesday, August 16th," says a Note which now strikes us as + curious, "Mirabeau, smelling eagerly for news, had ridden out towards + Potsdam; met the Page riding furiously for Selle ('one horse already + broken down,' say the Peasants about); and with beak, powerful beyond any + other vulture's, Mirabeau perceived that here the end now was. And + thereupon rushed off, to make arrangements for a courier, for flying + pigeons, and the other requisites. And appeared that night at the Queen's + Soiree in Schonhausen [Queen has Apartment that evening, dreaming of + nothing], 'where,' says he, 'I eagerly whispered the French Minister,' and + less eagerly 'MON AMI Mylord Dalrymple,' the English one;—neither of + whom would believe me. Nor, in short, what Calonne will regret, but nobody + else, could the pigeons be let loose, owing to want of funds.'" [Mirabeau, + HISTOIRE SECRETE, &c. (LETTRE xiv.), pp. 58-63.]—Enough, enough. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was not buried at Sans-Souci, in the Tomb which he had built for + himself; why not, nobody clearly says. By his own express will, there was + no embalming. Two Regiment-surgeons washed the Corpse, decently prepared + it for interment: "At 8 that same evening, Friedrich's Body, dressed in + the uniform of the First Battalion of Guards, and laid in its coffin, was + borne to Potsdam, in a hearse of eight horses, twelve Non-commissioned + Officers of the Guard escorting. All Potsdam was in the streets; the + Soldiers, of their own accord, formed rank, and followed the hearse; many + a rugged face unable to restrain tears: for the rest, universal silence as + of midnight, nothing audible among the people but here and there a sob, + and the murmur, 'ACH, DER GUTE KONIG!' + </p> + <p> + "All next day, the Body lay in state in the Palace; thousands crowding, + from Berlin and the other environs, to see that face for the last time. + Wasted, worn; but beautiful in death, with the thin gray hair parted into + locks, and slightly powdered. And at 8 in the evening [Friday, 18th], he + was borne to the Garnison-Kirche of Potsdam; and laid beside his Father, + in the vault behind the Pulpit there," [Rodenbeck, iii. 365 (Public + Funeral was not till September 9th).] where the two Coffins are still to + be seen. + </p> + <p> + I define him to myself as hitherto the Last of the Kings;—when the + Next will be, is a very long question! But it seems to me as if Nations, + probably all Nations, by and by, in their despair,—blinded, + swallowed like Jonah, in such a whale's-belly of things brutish, waste, + abominable (for is not Anarchy, or the Rule of what is Baser over what is + Nobler, the one life's misery worth complaining of, and, in fact, the + abomination of abominations, springing from and producing all others + whatsoever?)—as if the Nations universally, and England too if it + hold on, may more and more bethink themselves of such a Man and his + Function and Performance, with feelings far other than are possible at + present. Meanwhile, all I had to say of him is finished: that too, it + seems, was a bit of work appointed to be done. Adieu, good readers; bad + also, adieu. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XXI. 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