diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2117-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 107140 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2117-h/2117-h.htm | 4419 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2117.txt | 4059 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 2117.zip | bin | 0 -> 102944 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/17frd10.txt | 4218 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/17frd10.zip | bin | 0 -> 101543 bytes |
9 files changed, 12712 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2117-h.zip b/2117-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b28736b --- /dev/null +++ b/2117-h.zip diff --git a/2117-h/2117-h.htm b/2117-h/2117-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a1368b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/2117-h/2117-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4419 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="us-ascii"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + History of Friedrich II Of Prussia, Volume 17, by Thomas Carlyle + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. +XVII. (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. XVII. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--The Seven-Years War: First Campaign--1756-1757. + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2117] +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 17 + </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 XVII—THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR: + FIRST CAMPAIGN.—1756-1757.</b></big> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0001"> <b>Chapter I.—WHAT FRIEDRICH HAD READ IN THE + MENZEL DOCUMENTS.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> HOW FRIEDRICH DISCOVERED THE MYSTERY. + CONCERNING MENZEL AND WEINGARTEN. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> <b>Chapter II.—ENGLISH DIPLOMACIES ABROAD, + IN PROSPECT OF A FRENCH WAR.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> THE TRIUMPHANT HANBURY TREATY BECOMES, ITSELF, + NOTHING OR LESS;—BUT PRODUCES A FRIEDRICH TREATY, FOLLOWED BY + RESULTS WHICH SURPRISE EVERYBODY. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> + THERE HAS BEEN A COUNTER-TREATY GOING ON AT VERSAILLES IN THE INTERIM; + WHICH HEREUPON STARTS OUT, AND TUMBLES THE WHOLLY ASTONISHED EUROPEAN + DIPLOMACIES HEELS-OVER-HEAD. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> <b>Chapter III.—FRENCH-ENGLISH WAR BREAKS + OUT.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> KING FRIEDRICH'S ENIGMA GETS MORE AND MORE + STRINGENT. </a><br /><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> <b>Chapter IV.—FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT + VIENNA, TWICE OVER.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> <b>Chapter + V.—FRIEDRICH BLOCKADES THE SAXONS IN PIRNA COUNTRY.</b> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> <b>Chapter VI.—BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ.</b> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> <b>Chapter VII.—THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA + ON DISMAL TERMS.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> <b>Chapter + VIII.—WINTER IN DRESDEN.</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 XVII—THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR: FIRST CAMPAIGN.—1756-1757. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I.—WHAT FRIEDRICH HAD READ IN THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. + </h2> + <p> + The ill-informed world, entirely unaware of what Friedrich had been + studying and ascertaining, to his bitter sorrow, for four years past, was + extremely astonished at the part he took in those French-English troubles; + extremely provoked at his breaking out again into a Third Silesian War, + greater than all the others, and kindling all Europe in such a way. The + ill-informed world rang violently, then and long after, with a + Controversy, "Was it of his beginning, or Not of his beginning?" + Controversy, which may in our day be considered as settled by unanimous + mankind; finished forever; and can now have no interest for any creature. + </p> + <p> + Omitting that, our problem is (were it possible in brief compass), To set + forth, by what authentic traits there are,—not the "ambitious," + "audacious," voracious and highly condemnable Friedrich of the Gazetteers,—but + the thrice-intricately situated Friedrich of Fact. What the Facts + privately known to Friedrich were, in what manner known; and how, in a + more complex crisis than had yet been, Friedrich demeaned himself: upon + which latter point, and those cognate to it, readers ought not to be + ignorant, if now fallen indifferent on so many other points of the Affair. + What a loud-roaring, loose and empty matter is this tornado of + vociferation which men call "Public Opinion"! Tragically howling round a + man; who has to stand silent the while; and scan, wisely under pain of + death, the altogether inarticulate, dumb and inexorable matter which the + gods call Fact! Friedrich did read his terrible Sphinx-riddle; the + Gazetteer tornado did pipe and blow. King Friedrich, in contrast with his + Environment at that time, will most likely never be portrayed to modern + men in his real proportions, real aspect and attitude then and there,—which + are silently not a little heroic and even pathetic, when well seen into;—and, + for certain, he is not portrayable at present, on our side of the Sea. But + what hints and fractions of feature we authentically have, ought to be + given with exactitude, especially with brevity, and left to the ingenuous + imagination of readers. + </p> + <p> + The secret sources of the Third Silesian War, since called "Seven-Years + War," go back to 1745; nay, we may say, to the First Invasion of Silesia + in 1740. For it was in Maria Theresa's incurable sorrow at loss of + Silesia, and her inextinguishable hope to reconquer it, that this and all + Friedrich's other Wars had their origin. Twice she had signed Peace with + Friedrich, and solemnly ceded Silesia to him: but that too, with the + Imperial Lady, was by no means a finis to the business. Not that she meant + to break her Treaties; far from her such a thought,—in the conscious + form. Though, alas, in the unconscious, again, it was always rather near! + practically, she reckoned to herself, these Treaties would come to be + broken, as Treaties do not endure forever; and then, at the good moment, + she did purpose to be ready. "Silesia back to us; Pragmatic Sanction + complete in every point! Was not that our dear Father's will, monition of + all our Fathers and their Patriotisms and Traditionary Heroisms; and in + fact, the behest of gods and men?" Ten years ago, this notion had been cut + down to apparent death, in a disastrous manner, for the second time. But + it did not die in the least: it never thinks of dying; starts always anew, + passionate to produce itself again as action valid at last; and lives in + the Imperial Heart with a tenacity that is strange to observe. Still + stranger, in the envious Valet-Heart,—in that of Bruhl, who had far + less cause! + </p> + <p> + The Peace of Dresden, Christmas, 1745, seemed to be an act of considerable + magnanimity on Friedrich's part. It was, at the first blush of it, + "incredible" to Harrach, the Austrian Plenipotentiary; whose embarrassed, + astonished bow we remember on that occasion, with English Villiers + shedding pious tears. But what is very remarkable withal is a thing since + discovered: [INFRA, next Note (p. 276).] That Harrach, magnanimous + signature hardly yet dry, did then straightway, by order of his Court, + very privately inquire of Bruhl, "There is Peace, you see; what they call + Peace:—but our TREATY OF WARSAW, for Partition of this magnanimous + man, stands all the same; does n't it?" To which, according to the + Documents, Bruhl, hardly escaped from the pangs of death, and still in a + very pale-yellow condition, had answered in effect, "Hah, say you so? + One's hatred is eternal;—but that man's iron heel! Wait a little; + get Russia to join in the scheme!"—and hung back; the willing mind, + but the too terrified! And in this way, like a famishing dog in sight of a + too dangerous leg of mutton, Bruhl has ever since rather held back; would + not re-engage at all, for almost two years, even on the Czarina's + engaging; and then only in a cautious, conditional and hypothetic manner,—though + with famine increasing day by day in sight of the desired viands. His + hatred is fell; but he would fain escape with back unbroken. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW FRIEDRICH DISCOVERED THE MYSTERY. CONCERNING MENZEL AND WEINGARTEN. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich has been aware of this mystery, at least wide awake to it and + becoming ever more instructed, for almost four years. Traitor Menzel the + Saxon Kanzellist—we, who have prophetically read what he had to + confess when laid hold of, are aware, though as yet, and on to 1757, it is + a dead secret to all mortals but himself and "three others"—has been + busy for Prussia ever since "the end of 1752." Got admittance to the + Presses; sent his first Excerpt "about the time of Easter-Fair, 1753,"—time + of Voltaire's taking wing. And has been at work ever since. Copying + Despatches from the most secret Saxon Repositories; ready always on + Excellency Mahlzahn's indicating the Piece wanted; and of late, I should + think, is busier than ever, as the Saxon Mystery, which is also an + Austrian and Russian one, gets more light thrown into it, and seems to be + fast ripening towards action of a perilous nature. The first Excerpts + furnished by Menzel, readers can judge how enigmatic they were. These + Menzel Papers, copies mainly of Petersburg or Vienna DESPATCHES to Bruhl, + with Bruhl's ANSWERS,—the principal of which were subsequently + printed in their best arrangement and liveliest point of vision [In + Friedrich's Manifestoes, chiefly in MEMOIRE RAISONNE SUR LA CONDUITE DES + COURS DE VIENNE ET DE SAXE (compiled from the MENZEL ORIGINALS, so soon as + these were got hold of: Berlin, Autumn, 1756). A solid and able Paper; + rapidly done, by one Count Herzberg, who rose high in after times. + Reprinted, with many other "Pieces" and "Passages," in <i>Gesammelte + Nachrichten und Urkunden,</i>—which is a "Collection" of such (2 + vols., 113 Nos. small 8vo, no Place, 1757, my Copy of it).]—are by + no means a luminous set of Documents to readers at this day. Think what a + study they were at Potsdam in 1753, while still in the chaotic state; + fished out, more or less at random, as Menzel could lay hold of them, or + be directed to them; the enigma clearing itself only by intense + inspection, and capability of seeing in the dark! + </p> + <p> + It appears,—if you are curious on the anecdotic part,— + </p> + <p> + "Winterfeld was the first that got eye on this dangerous Saxon Mystery; + some Ex-Saxon, about to settle in Berlin, giving hint of it to Winterfeld; + who needed only a hint. So soon as Winterfeld convinced himself that there + was weight in the affair, he imparted it to Friedrich: 'Scheme of + partitioning, your Majesty, of picking quarrel, then overwhelming and + partitioning; most serious scheme, Austrian-Russian as well as Saxon; + going on steadily for years past, and very lively at this time!' If true, + Friedrich cannot but admit that this is serious enough: important, thrice + over, to discover whether it is true;—and gives Winterfeld authority + to prosecute it to the bottom, in Dresden or wherever the secret may lie. + Who thereupon charged Mahlzahn, the Prussian Minister at Dresden, to find + some proper Menzel, and bestir himself. How Mahlzahn has found his Menzel, + and has bestirred himself, we saw. Thief-keys were made to pattern in + Berlin; first set did not fit, second did; and stealthy Menzel gains + admittance to that Chamber of the Archives, can steal thither on shoes of + felt when occasion serves, and copy what you wish,—for a + consideration. Intermittently, since about Easter-Fair, 1753. Three + persons are cognizant of it, Winterfeld, Mahlzahn, Friedrich; three, and + no more. Probably the abstrusest study; and the most intense, going on in + the world at that epoch. [Rotzow, <i>Charakteristik des Siebenjahrigen + Krieges </i>(Berlin, 1802), i. 23.] + </p> + <p> + "At a very early stage of the Menzel Excerpts it became manifest that + certain synchronous Austrian Ditto would prove highly elucidative; that, + in fact, it would be indispensable to get hold of these as well. Which + also Winterfeld has managed to do. A deep-headed man, who has his eyes + about him; and is very apt to manage what he undertakes. One Weingarten + Junior, a Secretary in the Austrian Embassy at Berlin (Excellency Peubla's + second Secretary), has his acquaintanceships in Berlin Society; and for + one thing, as Winterfeld discovers, is 'madly in love' with some + Chambermaid or quasi-chambermaid (let us call her Chambermaid), 'Daughter + of the Castellan at Charlottenburg.' Winterfeld, through the due channels, + applied to this Chambermaid, 'Get me a small secret Copy of such and such + Despatches, out of your Weingarten; it will be well for you and him; + otherwise perhaps not well!' Chambermaid, hope urging, or perhaps hope and + fear, did her best; Weingarten had to yield the required product and + products, as required. By this Weingarten, from some date not long after + Menzel's first mysterious Dresden Excerpts, the necessary Austrian + glosses, so far as possible to Weingarten on the indications given him, + have been regularly had, for the two or three years past. + </p> + <p> + "Weingarten first came to be seriously suspected June, 1756 (Weingarten + Junior, let us still say, for there was a Senior of unstained fidelity); + 'June 15th,' Excellency Peubla pointedly demands him from Friedrich and + the Berlin Police: 'Weingarten Junior, my SECOND Secretar, fugitive and + traitor; hidden somewhere!' ["BERLIN, 22d JUNE: Every research making for + Mr. Weingatten,—in vain hitherto" (<i>Gentleman's Magazine, </i>xxvi., + i. e. for 1756, p. 363).] Excellency Peubla is answered, 24th June: 'We + would so fain catch him, if we could! We have tried at Stendal,—not + there: tried his Mother-in-law; knows nothing: have forborne laying up his + poor Wife and Children; and hope her Imperial Majesty will have pity on + that poor creature, who is fallen so miserable.' [<i>Helden-Geschichte,</i> + iii. 713.] So that Excellency Peubla had nothing for it but to compose + himself; to honor the unstainable fidelity of Weingarten Senior by a + public piece of promotion, which soon ensued; and let the Junior run. + Weingarten Junior, on the first suspicion, had vanished with due + promptitude,—was not to be unearthed again. We perceive he has + married his Charlottenburg Beauty, and there are helpless babies. It + seems, he lived long years after, in the Altmark, as a Herr von Weiss,'—his + reflections manifold, but unknown. [Retzow, i. 37.] What is much notabler, + Cogniazzo, the Austrian Veteran, heard Weingarten's MASTER, Graf von + Peubla, talk of the 'GRAND MYSTERE,' soon after, and how Friedrich had + heard of it, not from Weingarten alone, but from Gross-Furst PETER, + Russian Heir-Apparent! [Cogniazzo, i. 225.] + </p> + <p> + "As to Menzel, he did not get away. Menzel, as we saw, lasted in free + activity till 1757; and was then put under lock and key. Was not hanged; + sat prisoner for twenty-seven years after; overgrown with hair, legs and + arms chained together, heavy iron bar uniting both ankles; diet + bread-and-water;—for the rest, healthy; and died, not very miserable + it is said, in 1784. Shocking traitors, Weingarten and he." + </p> + <p> + Yes, a diabolical pair, they, sure enough:—and the thing they + betrayed against their Masters, was that a celestial thing? Servants of + the Devil do fall out; and Servants not of the Devil are fain, sometimes, + to raise a quarrel of that kind!— + </p> + <p> + The then world, as we said, was one loud uproar of logic on the right + reading and the wrong of those Sibylline Documents: "Did your King of + Prussia interpret them aright, or even try it? Did not he use them as a + cloak for highway robbery, and swallowing of a peaceable Saxony, bad man + that he surely is?" For Friedrich's demeanor, this time again, when it + came to the acting point, was of eminent rapidity; almost a swifter + lion-spring than ever; and it brought on him, in the aerial or vocal way, + its usual result: huge clamor of rage and logic from uninformed mankind. + Clamorous rage and logic, which has now sunk irresuscitably dead;—nothing + of it much worth mentioning to modern readers, scarcely even its HIC JACET + (in Footnotes, for the benefit of the curious!),—and it is, at last, + a thing not doubtful to anybody that Friedrich, in that matter did read + aright. So that now the loud uproar is reduced to one small question with + us, What did he read in those Menzel Documents? What Fact lying in them + was it that Friedrich had to read? Here, smelted down by repeated + roastings, is succinct answer;—for the ultimate fragment of + incombustible here as elsewhere, will go into a nutshell, once the + continents of Diplomatist-Gazetteer logic and disorderly stable-litter, + threatening to heap themselves over the very stars, have been faithfully + burnt away. + </p> + <p> + Readers heard of a "Union of Warsaw," early in 1745, concluded by the + Sea-Powers and the Saxon-Polish and Hungarian Majesties: very harmless + UNION of Warsaw, public to all the world,—but with a certain + thrice-secret "TREATY of Warsaw" (between Polish and Hungarian Majesty + themselves two, the Sea-Powers being horror-struck by mention of it) which + had followed thereupon, in an eager and wonderful manner. Thrice-secret + Treaty, for Partitioning Friedrich, and settling the respective shares of + his skin. Treaty which, to denote its origin, we called of Warsaw; though + it was not finished there (shares of skin so difficult to settle), and + "Treaty of LEIPZIG, 18th May, 1745," is its ALIAS in Books:—of which + Treaty, as the Sea-Powers had recoiled horror-struck, there was no whisper + farther, to them or to the rest of exoteric mankind;—though it has + been one of the busiest Entities ever since. From the Menzel Documents, I + know not after what circuitous gropings and searchings, Friedrich first + got notice of that Treaty: [Now printed in <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. + 40-42.] figure his look on discovering it! + </p> + <p> + We said it was the remarkablest bit of sheepskin in its Century. Readers + have heard too, That it was proposed to Bruhl, by a grateful Austria, + directly on signing the Peace of Dresden: "Our Partition-Treaty stands all + the same, does it not?"—and in what humor Bruhl answered: "Hah? Get + Russia to join!" Both these facts, That there is a Treaty of Warsaw and + that this is the Austrian-Saxon temper and intention towards him and it, + Friedrich learned from the Menzel Documents. And if the reader will + possess himself of these two facts, and understand that they are of a + germinative, most vital quality, indestructible by the times and the + chances; and have been growing and developing themselves, day and night + ever since, in a truly wonderful manner,—the reader knows in + substance what Menzel had to reveal. + </p> + <p> + Russia was got to join;—there are methods of operating on Russia, + and kindling a poor fat Czarina into strange suspicions and indignations. + In May, 1746, within six months of the Peace of Dresden, a Treaty of + Petersburg, new version of the Warsaw one, was brought to parchment; + Czarina and Empress-Queen signing,—Bruhl dying to sign, but not + daring. How Russia has been got to join, and more and more vigorously bear + a hand; how Bruhl's rabidities of appetite, and terrors of heart, have + continued ever since; how Austria and Russia,—Bruhl aiding with + hysterical alacrity, haunted by terror (and at last mercifully EXCUSED + from signing),—have, year after year, especially in this last year, + 1755, brought the matter nearer and nearer perfection; and the Two + Imperial Majesties, with Bruhl to rear, wait only till they are fully + ready, and the world gives opportunity, to pick a quarrel with Friedrich, + and overwhelm and partition him, according to covenant: This, wandering + through endless mazes of detail, is in sum what the Menzel Documents + disclose to Friedrich and us. How, in a space of ten years, the small + seed-grain of a Treaty of Warsaw, or Treaty of Petersburg, planted and + nourished in that manner, in the Satan's Invisible World, has grown into a + mighty Tree there,—prophetic of Facts near at hand; which were + extremely sanguinary to the Human Race for the next Seven Years. + </p> + <p> + This is the sum-total: but for Friedrich's sake, and to illustrate the + situation, let us take a few glances more, into the then Satan's Invisible + World, which had become so ominously busy round Friedrich and others. The + Czarina, we say, was got to engage; 22d May, 1746, there came a Treaty of + Petersburg duly valid, which is that of Warsaw under a new name: and still + Bruhl durst not, for above a year coming,—not till August 15th, + 1747; [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten </i>), i. 459.] and + then, only in a hypothetic half-and-half way, with fear and trembling, + though with hunger unspeakable, in sight of the viands. A very wretched + Bruhl, as seen in these Menzel Documents. On poor Polish Majesty Bruhl has + played the sorcerer, this long while, and ridden him as he would an + enchanted quadruped, in a shameful manner: but how, in turn (as we study + Menzel), is Bruhl himself hagridden, hunted by his own devils, and leads + such a ghastly phantasmal existence yonder, in the Valley of the Shadow of + CLOTHES,—mere Clothes, metaphorical and literal! ["MONTREZ-MOI DES + VERTUS, PAS DES CULOTTES (Have you no virtues then to show me; nothing but + pain of breeches)!" exclaimed an impatient French Traveller, led about in + Bruhl's Palace one day: Archenholtz, <i>Geschichte des Siebenjahrigen + Krieges,</i> i. 63.] Wretched Bruhl, agitated with hatreds of a rather + infernal nature, and with terrors of a not celestial, comes out on our + sympathies, as a dog almost pitiable,—were that possible, with + twelve tailors sewing for him, and a Saxony getting shoved over the + precipices by him. + </p> + <p> + A famishing dog in the most singular situation. What he dare do, he does, + and with such a will. But there is almost only one thing safe to him: that + of egging on the Czarina against Friedrich; of coining lies to kindle + Czarish Majesty; of wafting on every wind rumors to that end, and + continually besieging with them the empty Czarish mind. Bruhl has many + Conduits, "the Sieur de Funck," "the Sieur Gross" plenty of Legationary + Sieurs and Conduits;—which issue from all quarters on Petersburg, + and which find there a Reservoir, and due Russian SERVICE-PIPES, prepared + for them;—and Bruhl is busy. "Commerce of Dantzig to be ruined," + suggests he, "that is plain: look at his Asiatic Companies, his Port of + Embden. Poland is to be stirred up;—has not your Czarish Majesty + heard of his intrigues there? Courland, which is almost become your + Majesty's—cunningly snatched by your Majesty's address, like a + valuable moribund whale adrift among the shallows,—this bad man will + have it out to sea again, with the harpoons in it; fairly afloat amid the + Polish Anarchies again!" These are but specimens of Bruhl. Or we can give + such in Bruhl's own words, if the reader had rather. Here are Two, which + have the advantage of brevity:— + </p> + <p> + 1.... The Sieur de Funck, Saxon Minister at Petersburg, wrote to Count + Bruhl, 9th July, 1755 (says an inexorable Record), "That the Sieur Gross + [now Minister of Russia at Dresden, who vanished out of Berlin like an + angry sky-rocket some years ago] would do a good service to the Common + Cause, if he wrote to his Court, 'That the King of Prussia had found a + channel in Courland, by which he learned all the secrets of the Russian + Court;'" and Sieur Funck added, "that it was expected good use could be + made of such a story with her Czarish Majesty."—To which Count Bruhl + replies, 23d July, "That he has instructed the Sieur Gross, who will not + fail to act in consequence." + </p> + <p> + 2. Sieur Prasse, same Funck's Secretary of Legation, at Petersburg, writes + to Count Bruhl, 12th April, 1756:— + </p> + <p> + "I am bidden signify to your Excellency that it is greatly wished, in + order to favor certain views, you would have the goodness to cause arrive + in Petersburg, by different channels, the following intelligence: 'That + the King of Prussia, on pretext of Commerce, is sending officers and + engineers into the Ukraine, to reconnoitre the Country and excite a + rebellion there.' And this advice, be pleased to observe, is not to come + direct from the Saxon Court, nor by the Envoy Gross, but by some third + party,—to the end there may be no concert noticed;—as they + [L'ON, the "service-pipes," and managing Excellencies, Russian and + Austrian] have given the same commission to other Ministers, so that the + news shall come from more places than one. + </p> + <p> + "They [the said managing Excellencies] have also required me to write to + the Baron de Sack," our Saxon Minister in Sweden, "upon it, which I will + not fail to do; and they assured me that our Court's advantage was not + less concerned in it than that of their own; adding these words + [comfortable to one's soul], 'The King of Prussia [in 1745] gave Saxony a + blow which it will feel for fifty years; but we will give him one which he + will feel for a hundred.'" + </p> + <p> + To which beautiful suggestion Excellency Bruhl answers, 2d June, 1756: "As + to the Secret Commission of conveying to Petersburg, by concealed + channels, Intelligence of Prussian machinations in the Ukraine, we are + still busy finding out a right channel; and they [L'ON, the managing + Excellencies] shall very soon, one way or the other, see the effect of my + personal inclination to second what is so good an intention, though a + little artful (UN PEU ARTIFICIEUSE,"—UN PEU, nothing to speak of)! + [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <i> Gesammelte Nachrichten </i>), i. 424-425; and + ib. 472.] + </p> + <p> + Fancy a poor fat Czarina, of many appetites, of little judgment, + continually beaten upon in this manner by these Saxon-Austrian artists and + their Russian service-pipes. Bombarded with cunningly devised + fabrications, every wind freighted for her with phantasmal rumors, no ray + of direct daylight visiting the poor Sovereign Woman; who is lazy, not + malignant if she could avoid it: mainly a mass of esurient oil, with + alkali on the back of alkali poured in, at this rate, for ten years past; + till, by pouring and by stirring, they get her to the state of SOAP and + froth! Is it so wonderful that she does, by degrees, rise into eminent + suspicion, anger, fear, violence and vehemence against her bad neighbor? + One at last begins to conceive those insane whirls, continual mad + suspicions, mad procedures, which have given Friedrich such vexation, + surprise and provocation in the years past. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich is always specially eager to avoid ill-will from Russia; but it + has come, in spite of all he could do and try. And these procedures of the + Czarish Majesty have been so capricious, unintelligible, perverse, and his + feeling is often enough irritation, temporary indignation,—which we + know makes Verses withal! I can nowhere learn from those Prussian + imbroglios of Books, what the Friedrich Sayings or Satirical Verses + properly were: Retzow speaks of a PRODUKT, one at least, known in interior + Circles. [Retzow, i. 34.] PRODUKT which decidedly requires publication, + beyond anything Friedrich ever wrote;—though one can do without it + too, and invoke Fancy in defect of Print. The sharpness of Friedrich's + tongue we know; and the diligence of birds of the air. To all her other + griefs against the bad man, this has given the finish in the tender + Czarish bosom;—and like an envenomed drop has set the saponaceous + oils (already dosed with alkali, and well in solution) foaming deliriously + over the brim, in never-imagined deluges of a hatred that is unappeasable;—very + costly to Friedrich and mankind. Rising ever higher, year by year; and now + risen, to what height judge by the following:— + </p> + <p> + AT PETERSBURG, 14th-15th MAY, 1753, "There was Meeting of the Russian + Senate, with deliberation held for these two days; and for issue this + conclusion come to:— + </p> + <p> + "That it should be, and hereby is, settled as a fundamental maxim of the + Russia Empire, Not only to oppose any farther aggrandizement of the King + of Prussia, but to seize the first convenient opportunity for overwhelming + (ECRASER), by superior force, the House of Brandenburg [Hear, hear!], and + reducing it to its former state of mediocrity." [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <i>Gesammelte + Nachrichten </i>), i. 421.] Leg of mutton to be actually gone into. With + what an enthusiasm of "Hear, hear!" from Bruhl and kindred parties; + especially from Bruhl,—who, however, dare not yet bite, except + hypothetically, such his terrors and tremors. Or, look again (same + Senate), + </p> + <p> + AT PETERSBURG, (OCTOBER, 1755): "To which Fundamental Maxim, articulately + fixed ever since those Maydays of 1753, the august Russian Sanhedrim, + deliberating farther in October, 1755, adds this remarkable extension, + </p> + <p> + "That it is our resolution to attack the King of Prussia without farther + discussion, whensoever the said King shall attack any Ally of Russia's, or + shall himself be attacked by any of them." Hailed by Bruhl, as natural, + with his liveliest approval. "A glorious Deliberation, that, indeed!" + writes he: "It clears the way of action for Russia's Allies in this + matter; and for us too; though nobody can blame us, if we proceed with the + extremest caution,"—and rather wait till the Bear is nearly killed. + [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten</i> ), i. 422.] + </p> + <p> + Many marvels Friedrich had deciphered out of this Weingarten-Menzel + Apocalypse of Satan's Invisible World; and one often fancies Friedrich's + tone of mind, in his intense inspecting of that fateful continent of + darkness, and his labyrinthic stepping by degrees to the oracular points, + which have a light in them when flung open. But in respect of practical + interest, this of October, 1755 (which would get to Potsdam probably in + few weeks after) must have surpassed all the others. Marvels many, one + after the other: [For example, or in recapitulation: a Treaty of Warsaw or + Leipzig, to partition him (18th May, 1745); Treaty of Petersburg (22d May, + 1746, new form of Warsaw Treaty, with Czarina superadded); tremulous + Quasi-Accession thereto of his Polish Majesty (most tremulous, hypothetic + Quasi-Accession, "Yes-AND-No," 15th August, 1747, and often afterwards); + first Deliberation of the Russian Senate, 15th May, 1753; &c. &c. + For example, or in recapitulation: a Treaty of Warsaw or Leipzig, to + partition him (18th May, 1745); Treaty of Petersburg (22d May, 1746, new + form of Warsaw Treaty, with Czarina superadded); tremulous Quasi-Accession + thereto of his Polish Majesty (most tremulous, hypothetic Quasi-Accession, + "Yes-AND-No," 15th August, 1747, and often afterwards); first Deliberation + of the Russian Senate, 15th May, 1753; &c. &c.] no doubt left, + long since, of the constant disposition, preparation and fixed intention + to partition him. But here, in this last indication by the Russian Senate,—which + kindles into dismal evidence so many other enigmatic tokens,—there + has an ulterior oracular point disclosed itself to Friedrich; in vaguer + condition, but not less indubitable, and much more perilous: namely, That + now, at last (end of 1755), the Two Imperial Majesties, very eager both, + consider that the time is come. And are—as Friedrich looks abroad on + the Austrian-Russian marchings of troops, campings, and unusual military + symptoms and combinations—visibly preparing to that end. + </p> + <p> + "They have agreed to attack me next Year (1756), if they can; and next + again (1757), without IF:" so Friedrich, putting written word and public + occurrence together, gradually reads; and so, all readers will see, the + fact was,—though Imperial Majesty at Schonbrunn, as we shall find, + strove to deny it when applied to; and scouted, as mere fiction and + imagination, the notion of such an "Agreement." Which I infer, therefore, + NOT to have existed in parchment; not in parchment, but only in reality, + and as a mutual Bond registered in—shall we say "in Heaven", as some + are wont?—registered, perhaps, in TWO Places, very separate indeed! + No truer "Agreement" ever did exist;—though a devout Imperial + Majesty denies it, who would shudder at the lie direct. + </p> + <p> + Poor Imperial Majesty: who can tell her troubles and straits in this + abstruse time! Heaven itself ordering her to get back the Silesia of her + Fathers, if she could;—yet Heaven always looking dubious, surely, + upon this method of doing it. By solemn Public Treaties signed in sight of + all mankind; and contrariwise, in the very same moments, by Secret + Treaties, of a fell nature, concocted underground, to destroy the life of + these! Imperial Majesty flatters herself it may be fair: "Treaty of + Dresden, Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle; Treaties wrung from me by force, the + tyrannic Sea-Powers screwing us; Kaunitz can tell! A consummate Kaunitz; + who has provided remedies. Treaties do get broken. Besides, I will not go + to War, unless HE the Bad One of Prussia do!"—Alas, your noble + Majesty, plain it at least is, your love of Silesia is very strong. And + consummate Kaunitz and it have led you into strange predicaments. The + Pompadour, for instance: who was it that answered, "JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS; + I don't know her!"? How gladly would the Imperial Maria Theresa, soul of + Propriety, have made that answer! But she did not; she had to answer + differently. For Kaunitz was imperative: "A kind little Note to the + Pompadour; one, and then another and another; it is indispensable, your + Imperial Majesty!" And Imperial Majesty always had to do it. And there + exist in writing, at this hour, various flattering little Notes from + Imperial Majesty to that Address; which begin, "MA COUSINE," "PRINCESSE ET + COUSINE," say many witnesses; nay "MADAME MA TRES CHERE SOEUR," says one + good witness: [Hormayr (cited in Preuss, i. 433 n.),—as are Duclos; + Montgaillard; MEMOIRES DE RICHELIEU; &c.]—Notes which ought to + have been printed, before this, or given at least to the Museums. "My + Cousin," "Princess and Cousin," "Madame my dearest Sister:" Oh, high + Imperial Soul, with what strange bed-fellows does Misery of various kinds + bring us acquainted! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was blamably imprudent in regard to Pompadour, thinks Valori: "A + little complaisance might have—what might it not have done!—" + But his Prussian Majesty would not. And while the Ministers of all the + other Powers allied with France "went assiduously to pay their court to + Madame, the Baron von Knyphausen alone, by his Master's order, never once + went." ["Don't! JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS"],—while the Empress-Queen was + writing her the most flattering letters. The Prince of Prussia, King's + eldest Brother, wished ardently to obtain her Portrait, and had applied to + me for it; as had Prince Henri to my Predecessor. The King, who has such + gallant and seductive ways when he likes, could certainly have reconciled + this "celebrated Lady",—a highly important Improper Female to him + and others. [Valori, i. 320.] + </p> + <p> + Yes; but he quite declined, not counting the costs. Costs may be + immediate; profits are remote,—remote, but sure. Costs did indeed + prove considerable, perhaps far beyond his expectation; though, I flatter + myself, they never awoke much remorse in him, on that score!— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's Enigma, towards the end of 1755 and onwards, is becoming + frightfully stringent; and the solution, "What practically will be the + wise course for me?" does not lessen in abstruse intricacy, but the + reverse, as it grows more pressing. A very stormy and dubious Future, + truly! Two circumstances in it will be highly determinative: one of them + evident to Friedrich; the other unknown to him, and to all mortals, except + two or three. FIRST, + </p> + <p> + That there will be an English-French War straightway; and that, as usual, + the French, weaker at sea, will probably attack Hanover;— that is to + say, bring the War home to one's own door, and ripen into fulfilment those + Austrian-Russian Plots. This is the evident circumstance, fast coming on; + visible to Friedrich and to everybody. But that, in such event, Austria + will join, not with England, but with France: this is a SECOND + circumstance, guessable by nobody; known only to Kaunitz and a select one + or two; but which also will greatly complicate Friedrich's position, and + render his Enigma indeed astonishingly intricate, as well as stringent for + solution! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II.—ENGLISH DIPLOMACIES ABROAD, IN PROSPECT OF A FRENCH WAR. + </h2> + <p> + Britannic Majesty, I know not at what date, but before the launching of + that poor Braddock thunder-bolt, much more after the tragic explosion it + made, had felt that French War was nearly inevitable, and also that the + French method would be, as heretofore, to attack Hanover, and wound him in + that tender part. There goes on, accordingly, a lively Foreign + Diplomatizing, on his Majesty's part, at present,—in defect, almost + total, of Domestic Preparation, military and other;—Majesty and + Ministers expecting salvation from abroad, as usual. Military preparation + does lag at a shameful rate: but, on the other hand, there is a great deal + of pondering, really industrious considering and contriving, about Foreign + Allies, and their subsidies and engagements. That step, for example, the + questionable Seizure of the French Ships WITHOUT Declaration of War, was a + contrivance by diplomatic Heads (of bad quality): "Seize their ships," + said some bad Head, after meditating; "put their ships in SEQUESTRATION, + till they do us justice. If they won't, and go to War,—then THEY are + the Aggressors, not we; and our Allies have to send their auxiliary + quotas, as per contract!" So the Ships were seized; held in sequestration, + "till many of the cargoes (being perishable goods, some even fish) + rotted." [Smollett's <i>History of England; </i>&c. &c.] And in + return, as will be seen, not one auxiliary came to hand: so that the + diplomatic Head had his rotted cargoes, and much public obloquy, for his + pains. Not a fortunate stroke of business, that!— + </p> + <p> + Britannic Majesty, on applying at Vienna (through Keith, Sir or Mr. Robert + Keith, the FIRST Excellency of that name, for there are two, a father and + a son, both Vienna Excellencies), was astonished to learn That, in such + event of an Aggression, even on Hanover, there was no co-operation to be + looked for here. Altogether cold on that subject, her Imperial Majesty + seems; regardless of Excellency Keith's remonstrances and urgencies; and, + in the end, is flatly negatory: "Cannot do it, your Excellency; times so + perilous, bad King of Prussia so minatory,"—not to mention, SOTTO + VOCE that we have turned on our axis, and the wind (thanks to Kaunitz) no + longer hits us on the same cheek as formerly! + </p> + <p> + "Cannot? Will not?" Britannic Majesty may well stare, wide-eyed; + remembering such gigantic Subsidizings and Alcides Labors, Dettingens, + Fontenoys, on the per-contra side. But so stands the fact: "No help from + an ungrateful Vienna;—quick, then, seek elsewhere!" And Hanbury and + the Continental British Excellencies have to bestir themselves as they + never did. Especially Hanbury; who is directed upon Russia,—whom + alone of these Excellencies it is worth while to follow for a moment. + Russia, on fair subsidy, yielded us a 35,000 last War (willingly granted, + most useful, though we had no fighting out of them, mere terror of them + being enough): beyond all things, let Hanbury do his best in Russia! + </p> + <p> + Hanbury, cheerfully confident, provides himself with the requisites, store + of bribe-money as the chief;—at Warsaw withal, he picks up one + Poniatowski (airy sentimental coxcomb, rather of dissolute habits, + handsomest and windiest of young Polacks): "Good for a Lover to the + Grand-Duchess, this one!" thinks Hanbury. Which proved true, and had its + uses for Hanbury;—Grand-Duchess and Grand-Duke (Catherine and Peter, + whom we saw wedded twelve years ago, Heirs-Apparent of this Russian Chaos) + being an abstrusely situated pair of Spouses; well capable of something + political, in private ways, in such a scene of affairs; and Catherine, who + is an extremely clever creature, being out of a lover just now. A fine + scene for the Diplomatist, this Russia at present. Nowhere in the world + can you do so much with bribery; quite a standing item, and financial + necessary-of-life to Officials of the highest rank there, as Hanbury well + knows. [His Letters (in Raumer), PASSIM.] That of Poniatowski proved, + otherwise too, a notable stroke of Hanbury's; and shot the poor Polish + Coxcomb aloft into tragic altitudes, on the sudden, as we all know! + </p> + <p> + Hanbury's immense dexterities, and incessant labors at Petersburg, shall + lie hidden in the slop-pails: it is enough to say, his guineas, his + dexterities and auxiliary Poniatowskis did prevail; and he triumphantly + signed his Treaty (Petersburg, 30th September) "Subsidy-Treaty for 55,000 + men, 15,000 of them cavalry," not to speak of "40 to 50 galleys" and the + like; "to attack whomsoever Britannic Majesty bids: annual cost a mere + 500,000 pounds while on service; 100,000 pounds while waiting." [In <i>Adelung,</i> + vii. 609.] And, what is more, and what our readers are to mark, the 55,000 + begin on the instant to assemble,—along the Livonian Frontier or + Lithuanian, looking direct into Preussen. Diligently rendezvousing there; + 55,000 of them, nay gradually 70,000; no stinginess in the Czarina to her + Ally of England. A most triumphant thing, thinks Hanbury: Could another of + you have done it? Signed, ready for ratifying, 30th September, 1755 (bad + Braddock news not hindering);—and before it is ratified (this also + let readers mark), the actual Troops getting on march. + </p> + <p> + Hanbury's masterpiece, surely; a glorious triumph in the circumstances, + and a difficult, thinks Hanbury. Had Hanbury seen the inside of the cards, + as readers have, he would not have thought it so triumphant. For years + past,—especially since that "Fundamental maxim, May 14th-15th, + 1753," which we heard of,—the Czarina's longings had been fixed. And + here now—scattering money from both hands of it, and wooing us with + diplomatic finessings—is the Fulfilment come! "Opportunity" upon + Preussen; behold it here. + </p> + <p> + The Russian Senate again holds deliberation; declares (on the heel of this + Hanbury Treaty), "in October, 1755," what we read above, That its + Anti-Prussian intentions are—truculent indeed. And it is the common + talk in Petersburg society, through Winter, what a dose the ambitious King + of Prussia has got brewed for him, [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <i>Gesammelte + Nachrichten </i>), i. 429, &c.] out of Russian indignation and + resources, miraculously set afloat by English guineas. A triumphant + Hanbury, for the time being,—though a tragical enough by and by! + </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> + THE TRIUMPHANT HANBURY TREATY BECOMES, ITSELF, NOTHING OR LESS;—BUT + PRODUCES A FRIEDRICH TREATY, FOLLOWED BY RESULTS WHICH SURPRISE EVERYBODY. + </h2> + <p> + King Friedrich's outlooks, on this consummation, may well seem to him + critical. The sore longing of an infuriated Czarina is now let loose, and + in a condition to fulfil itself! To Friedrich these Petersburg news are no + secret; nor to him are the Petersburg private intentions a thing that can + be doubted. Apart from the Menzel-Weingarten revelations, as we noticed + once, it appears the Grand-Duke Peter (a great admirer of Friedrich, poor + confused soul) had himself thrice-secretly warned Friedrich, That the + mysterious Combination, Russia in the van, would attack him next Spring;—"not + Weingarten that betrayed our GRAND MYSTERE; from first hand, that was + done!" said Excellency Peubla, on quitting Berlin not long after. + [Cogniazzo, <i>Gestandnisse eines OEsterreichischen Veterans </i>(as cited + above), i. 225. "September 16th, 1756," Peubla left Berlin (Rodenbeck, i. + 298),—three months after Weingarten's disappearance.] The Grand + Mystery is not uncertain to Friedrich; and it may well be very formidable,—coupled + with those Braddock explosions, Seizures of French ships, and + English-French War imminent, and likely to become a general European one; + which are the closing prospects of 1755. The French King he reckons not to + be well disposed to him; their old Treaty of "twelve years" (since 1744) + is just about running out. Not friendly, the French King, owing to little + rubs that have been; still less the Pompadour;—though who could + guess how implacable she was at "not being known (NE LA CONNAIS PAS)"! At + Vienna, he is well aware, the humor towards him is mere cannibalism in + refined forms. But most perilous of all, most immediately perilous, is the + implacable Czarina, set afloat upon English guineas! + </p> + <p> + With a hope, as is credibly surmised, that the English might soothe or + muzzle this implacable Czarina, Friedrich, directly after Hanbury's feat + in Petersburg, applied at London, with an Offer which was very tempting + there: "Suppose your Britannic Majesty would make, with me, an express + 'NEUTRALITY CONVENTION;' mutual Covenant to keep the German Reich entirely + free of this War now threatening to break out? To attack jointly, and + sweep home again with vigor, any and every Armed Non-German setting foot + on the German soil!" An offer most welcome to the Heads of Opposition, the + Pitts and others of that Country; who wish dear Hanover safe enough (safe + in Davy-Jones's locker, if that would do); but are tired of subsidizing, + and fighting and tumulting, all the world over, for that high end. So that + Friedrich's Proposal is grasped at; and after a little manipulation, the + thing is actually concluded. + </p> + <p> + By no means much manipulation, both parties being willing. There was + uncommonly rapid surgery of any little difficulties and discrepancies; + rapid closure, instant salutary stitching together of that long unhealable + Privateer Controversy, as the main item: "20,000 pounds allowed to Prussia + for Prussian damages; and to England, from the other side, the remainder + of Silesiau Debt, painfully outstanding for two or three years back, is to + be paid off at once;"—and in this way such "NEUTRALITY CONVENTION OF + PRUSSIA WITH ENGLAND" comes forth as a Practical Fact upon mankind. Done + at Westminster, 16th January, 1756. The stepping-stone, as it proved, to a + closer Treaty of the same date next Year; of which we shall hear a great + deal. The stepping-stone, in fact, to many large things;—and to the + ruin of our late "Russian-Subsidy Treaty" (Hanbury's masterpiece), for one + small thing. "That is a Treaty signed, sure enough," answer they of St. + James's; "and we will be handsome about it to her Czarish Majesty; but as + to RATIFYING it, in its present form,—of course, never!" + </p> + <p> + What a clap of thunder to Excellency Hanbury; his masterpiece found + suddenly a superfluity, an incommodity! The Orthodox English course now + is, "No foreign soldiers at all to be allowed in Germany;" and there are + the 55,000 tramping on with such alacrity. "We cannot ratify that Treaty, + Excellency Hanbury," writes the Majesty's Ministry, in a tone not of + gratitude: "you must turn it some other way!" A terrible blow to Hanbury, + who had been expecting gratitude without end. And now, try how he might, + there was no turning it another way; this, privately, and this only, being + the Czarina's own way. A Czarina obstinate to a degree; would not consent, + even when they made her the liberal offer, "Keep your 55,000 at home; + don't attack the King of Prussia with them; you shall have your Subsidy + all the same!" "No, I won't!" answered she,—to Hanbury's amazement. + Hanbury had not read the Weingarten-Menzel Documents;—what double + double of toil and trouble might Hanbury have saved himself and others, + could he have read them! + </p> + <p> + Hanbury could not, still less could the Majesty's Ministry, surmise the + Czarina's secret at all, now or for a good while coming. And in fact, poor + Hanbury, busy as a Diplomatic bee, never did more good in Russia, or out + of it. By direction of the Majesty's Ministry, Hanbury still tried + industriously, cash in both hands; tried various things: "Assuage the + Czarina's mind; reconcile her to King Friedrich;"—all in vain. + "Unite Austria, Russia and England, can't you, then?—in a Treaty + against the Designs of France:" how very vain! Then, at a later stage, + "Get us the Czarina to mediate between Prussia and Austria" (so very + possible to sleek them down into peace, thought Majesty's Ministry):—and + unwearied Hanbury, cunning eloquence on his lips, and money in both hands, + tries again, and ever again, for many months. And in the way of making + ropes from sand, it must be owned there never was such twisting and + untwisting, as that appointed Hanbury. Who in fact broke his heart by it;—and + died mad, by his own hand, before long. [Hanbury's "Life" (in <i>Works, + </i>vol. iii.) gives sad account.] Poor soul, after all!—Here are + some Russian Notices from him (and he has many curious, not pertinent + here), which are still worth gleaning. + </p> + <p> + PETERSBURG, 2d OCTOBER, 1755.... "The health of the Empress [Czarina + Elizabeth, CATIN DU NORD, age now forty-five] is bad. She is affected with + spitting of blood, shortness of breath, constant coughing, swelled legs + and water on the chest; yet she danced a minuet with me," lucky Hanbury. + "There is great fermentation at Court. Peter [Grand-Duke Peter] does not + conceal his enmity to the Schuwalofs [paramours of CATIN, old and new]; + Catherine [Grand-Duchess, who at length has an Heir, unbeautiful Czar Paul + that will be, and "miscarriages" not a few] is on good terms with + Bestuchef" (corruptiblest brute of a Chancellor ever known, friend to + England by England's giving him 10,000 pounds, and the like trifles, + pretty frequently; Friedrich's enemy, chiefly from defect of that + operation)—she is "on good terms with Bestuchef. I think it my duty + to inform the King [great George, who will draw his prognostics from it] + of my observations upon her; which I can the better do, as I often have + conversations with her for hours together, as at supper my rank places me + always next to her," twice-lucky Hanbury. + </p> + <p> + "Since her coming to this Country, she has, by every method in her power, + endeavored to gain the affections of the Nation: she applied herself with + diligence to study their language; and speaks it at present, as the + Russians tell me, in the greatest perfection. She has also succeeded in + her other aim; for she is esteemed and beloved here in a high degree. Her + person is very advantageous, and her manners very captivating. She has + great knowledge of this Empire; and makes it her only study. She has + parts; and Great-Chancellor [brute Bestuchef] tells me that nobody has + more steadiness and resolution. She has, of late, openly declared herself + to me in respect of the King of Prussia;"—hates him a good deal, + "natural and formidable enemy of Russia;" "heart certainly the worst in + the world [and so on; but will see better by and by, having eyes of her + own]:—she never mentions the King of England but with the utmost + respect and highest regard; is thoroughly sensible of the utility of the + union between England and Russia; always calls his Majesty the Empress's + best and greatest Ally [so much of nourishment in him withal, as in a + certain web-footed Chief of Birds, reckoned chief by some]; and hopes he + will also give his friendship and protection to the Grand-Duke and + herself.—As for the Grand-Duke, he is weak and violent; but his + confidence in the Grand-Duchess is so great, that sometimes he tells + people, that though he does not understand things himself, his Wife + understands everything. Should the Empress, as I fear, soon die, the + Government will quietly devolve on them." [Hanbury's Despatch, "October + 2d, 1755" (Raumer, pp. 223-225); Subsidy Treaty still at its floweriest.] + </p> + <p> + Catherine's age is twenty-six gone; her Peter's twenty-seven: one of the + cleverest young Ladies in the world, and of the stoutest-hearted, + clearest-eyed;—yoked to a young Gentleman much the reverse. Thank + Hanbury for this glimpse of them, most intricately situated Pair; who may + concern us a little in the sequel.—And, in justice to poor Hanover, + the sad subject-matter of Excellency Hanbury's Problems and Futilities in + Russia and elsewhere, let us save this other Fraction by a very different + hand; and close that Hanbury scene:— + </p> + <p> + "Friedrich himself was so dangerous," says the Constitutional Historian + once: "Friedrich, in alliance with France, how easy for him to catch + Hanover by the throat at a week's notice, throw a death-noose round the + throat of poor Hanover, and hand the same to France for tightening at + discretion! Poor Hanover indeed; she reaps little profit from her English + honors: what has she had to do with these Transatlantic Colonies of + England? An unfortunate Country, if the English would but think; liable to + be strangled at any time, for England's quarrels: the Achilles'-heel to + invulnerable England; a sad function for Hanover, if it be a proud one, + and amazingly lucrative to some Hanoverians. The Country is very dear to + his Britannic Majesty in one sense, very dear to Britain in another! Nay + Germany itself, through Hanover, is to be torn up by War for Transatlantic + interests,—out of which she does not even get good Virginia tobacco, + but grows bad of her own. No more concern than the Ring of Saturn with + these over-sea quarrels; and can, through Hanover, be torn to pieces by + War about them. Such honor to give a King to the British Nation, in a + strait for one; and such profit coming of it:—we hope all sides are + grateful for the blessings received!" + </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> + THERE HAS BEEN A COUNTER-TREATY GOING ON AT VERSAILLES IN THE INTERIM; + WHICH HEREUPON STARTS OUT, AND TUMBLES THE WHOLLY ASTONISHED EUROPEAN + DIPLOMACIES HEELS-OVER-HEAD. + </h2> + <p> + To expectant mankind, especially to Vienna and Versailles, this + Britannic-Prussian Treaty was a great surprise. And indeed it proved the + signal of a general System of New Treaties all round. The first signal, in + fact,—though by no means the first cause,—of a total + circumgyration, summerset, or tumble heels-over-head in the Political + relations of Europe altogether, which ensued thereupon; miraculous, almost + as the Earthquake at Lisbon, to the Gazetteer, and Diplomatic mind, and + incomprehensible for long years after. First signal we say, by no means + that it was the first cause, or indeed that it was a cause at all,—the + thing being determined elsewhere long before; ever since 1753, when + Kaunitz left it ready, waiting only its time. + </p> + <p> + Kaiser Franz, they say, when (probably during those Keith urgencies) the + joining with France and turning against poor Britannic Majesty was + proposed in Council at Vienna, opened his usually silent lips; and opined + with emphasis against such a course, no Kaunitz or creature able to + persuade Kaiser Franz that good would come of it;—though, finding + Sovereign Lady and everybody against him, he held his peace again. And + returned to his private banking operations, which were more extensive than + ever, from the new troubles rising. "Lent the Empress-Queen, always on + solid securities," says Friedrich, "large sums, from time to time, in + those Wars; dealt in Commissariat stores to right and left; we ourselves + had most of our meal from him this year." [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. + 8.] Kaiser Franz was, and continued, of the old way of thinking; but + consummate Kaunitz, and the High Lady's fixed passion for her Schlesien, + had changed everybody else. The ulterior facts are as follows, abbreviated + to the utmost. + </p> + <p> + September 22d, 1755, a few days before Hanbury's Subsidy-feat at + Petersburg, which took such a whirl for Hanbury, there had met for the + first time at Versailles, more especially at Babiole, Pleasure-House of + the Pompadour, a most Select Committee of Three Persons: Graf von + Stahremberg, Austrian Ambassador; Pompadour herself; and a certain + infinitely elegant Count and Reverence de Bernis (beautiful + Clerico-Mundane Gentleman, without right Benefice hitherto, but much in + esteem with the Pompadour);—for deepest practical consideration in + regard to closure of a French-Austrian Alliance. Reverend Count + (subsequently Cardinal) de Bernis has sense in Diplomacy; has his + experiences in Secular Diplomatic matters; a soft-going cautious man, not + yet official, but tending that way: whom the Pompadour has brought with + her as henchman, or unghostly counsellor, in this intricate Adventure. + </p> + <p> + Stahremberg, instructed from home, has no hesitation; nor has Pompadour + herself, remembering that insolent "JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS," and the + per-contra "MA COUSINE," "PRINCESSE ET SOEUR:"—but Bernis, I + suppose, looks into the practical difficulties; which are probably very + considerable, to the Official French eye, in the present state of Europe + and of the public mind. From September 22d, or autumnal equinox, 1755, + onward to this Britannic-Prussian phenomenon of January, 1756, the + Pompadour Conclave has been sitting,—difficulties, no doubt, + considerable. I will give only the dates, having myself no interest in + such a Committee at Babiole; but the dates sufficiently betoken that there + were intricacies, conflicts between the new and the old. Hitherto the + axiom always was, "Prussia the Adjunct and Satellite of France:" now to be + entirely reversed, you say? + </p> + <p> + JULY, 1755, that is two months before this Babiole Committee met, a Duc de + Nivernois, respectable intelligent dilettante French Nobleman, had been + named as Ambassador to Friedrich, "Go, you respectable wise Nivernois, + Nobleman of Letters so called; try and retain Friedrich for us, as usual!" + And now, on meeting of the Babiole Committee, Nivernois does not go; + lingers, saddled and bridled, till the very end of the Year; arrives in + Berlin January 12th, 1756. Has his First Audience January 14th; a man + highly amiable to Friedrich; but with proposals,—wonderful indeed. + </p> + <p> + The French, this good while back, are in no doubt about War with England, + a right hearty War; and have always expected to retain Prussia as + formerly,—though rather on singular terms. Some time ago, for + instance, M. de Rouille, War-Minister, requested Knyphausen, Prussian + Envoy at Paris: "Suggest to your King's Majesty what plunder there is at + Hanover. Perfectly at liberty to keep it all, if he will plunder Hanover + for us!" [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. 29.] Pleasant message to the + proud King; who answered with the due brevity, to the purport, "Silence, + Sir!"—with didactic effects on the surprised Rouille. Who now mends + his proposal; though again in a remarkable way. Instructs Nivernois, + namely, "To offer King Friedrich the Island of Tobago, if he will renew + Treaty, and take arms for us. Island of Tobago (a deserted, litigated, but + pretty Island, were it ever ours), will not that entice this King, intent + on Commerce?" Friedrich, who likes Nivernois and his polite ways, answers + quizzingly: "Island of Tobago? Island of Barataria your Lordship must be + meaning; Island of which I cannot be the Sancho Panza!" [Ib. 31.] And + Nivernois found he must not mention Tobago again. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, Friedrich made no secret of his English Treaty; showed it + with all frankness to Nivernois, in all points: "Is there, can the most + captious allege that there is, anything against France in it. My one wish + and aim, that of Peace for myself: judge!" Nivernois stayed till March; + but seems to have had, of definite, only Tobago and good words; so that + nothing farther came of him, and there was no Renewal of Treaty then or + after. Thus, in his third month (March, 1756), practical Nivernois was + recalled, without result;—instead of whom fat Valori was sent; + privately intending "to do nothing but observe, in Berlin." From all + which, we infer that the Babiole Committee now saw land; and that Bernis + himself had decided in the affirmative: "Austria, not Prussia; yes, + Madame!" To the joy of Madame and everybody. For, it is incredible, say + all witnesses, what indignation broke out in Paris when Friedrich made + this new "defection," so they termed it; revolt from his Liege Lord (who + had been so exemplary to him on former occasions!), and would not bite at + Tobago when offered. So that the Babiole Committee went on, henceforth, + with flowing sea; and by Mayday (1st MAY, 1756) brought out its + French-Austrian Treaty in a completed state. "To stand by one another," + like Castor and Pollux, in a manner; "24,000, reciprocally, to be ready on + demand;" nay I think something of "subsidies" withal,—TO Austria, of + course. But the particulars are not worth giving; the Performance, thanks + to a zealous Pompadour, having quite outrun the Stipulation, and left it + practically out of sight, when the push came. Our Constitutional Historian + may shadow the rest:— + </p> + <p> + "France and England going to War in these sad circumstances, and France + and Austria being privately prepared [by Kaunitz and others] to swear + everlasting friendship on the occasion, instead of everlasting enmity as + heretofore; unexpected changes, miraculous to the Gazetteers, became + inevitable;—nothing less, in short, than explosion or topsy-turvying + of the old Diplomatic-Political Scheme of Europe. Old dance of the + Constellations flung heels-over-head on the sudden; and much pirouetting, + jigging, setting, before they could change partners, and continue their + august dance again, whether in War or Peace. No end to the industrious + wonder of the Gazetteer mind, to the dark difficulties of the Diplomatic. + What bafflings, agonistic shufflings, impotent gazings into the dark; what + seductive fiddling, and being fiddled to! A most sad function of Humanity, + if sometimes an inevitable one; which ought surely at all times to be got + over as briefly as possible. To be written of, especially, with a maximum + of brevity; human nature being justly impatient of talk about it, beyond + the strictly needful." + </p> + <p> + Most true it is, and was most miraculous, though now quite forgotten + again, Political Europe had to make a complete whirl-round on that + occasion. And not in a day, and merely saying to itself, "Let me do + summerset!" as idle readers suppose,—but with long months of + agonistic shuffle and struggle in all places, and such Diplomatic fiddling + and being fiddled to, as seldom was before. Of which, these two instances, + the Bernis and the Hanbury, are to serve as specimen; two and no more: a + universe of extinct fiddling compressed into two nutshells, if readers + have an ear. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III.—FRENCH-ENGLISH WAR BREAKS OUT. + </h2> + <p> + The French, in reality a good deal astonished at the Prussian-Britannic + Treaty, affected to take it easy: "Treaty for Neutrality of Germany?" said + they: "Very good indeed. Perhaps there are places nearer us, where our + troops can be employed to more advantage!" [Their "Declaration" on it + (Adelung, vii. 613.)]—hinting vocally, as henceforth their silent + procedures, their diligence in the dockyards, moving of troops coastward + and the like, still more clearly did, That an Invasion of England itself + was the thing next to be expected. + </p> + <p> + England and France are, by this time, alike fiercely determined on War; + but their states of preparation are very different. The French have + War-ships again, not to mention Armies which they always have; some + skilful Admirals withal,—La Gallisonniere, our old Canada friend, is + one, very busy at present;—and mean to try seriously the Question of + Sea-Supremacy once more. If an Invasion did chance to land, the state of + England would be found handy beyond hope! How many fighting regiments + England has, I need not inquire, nor with what strategic virtue they would + go to work;—enough to mention the singular fact (recently true, and + still, I perceive, too like the truth), That of all their regiments, "only + Three are in this Country", or have Colonels even nominated. Incredible; + but certain. And the interesting point is, his Grace of Newcastle dare not + have Colonels, still less higher Officers nominated; because Royal + Highness of Cumberland would have the naming of them, and they would be + enemies to his Grace. [Walpole, <i>George the Second, </i>ii. 19 (date, + "March 25th, 1755;" and how long after, is not said: but see Pitt's + Speeches, ib., all through 1756, and farther).] In such posture stands the + Envy of surrounding Nations at this moment. + </p> + <p> + "Hire Hessians," cry they; "hire Hanoverians; if France land on us, we are + undone!"—and continue their Parliamentary Eloquences in a most + distressful manner. "Apply to the Dutch, at any rate, for their 6,000 as + per Treaty", cries everybody. Which is done. But the Dutch piteously wring + their hands: "Dare not, your Majesty; how dare we, for France and our + neglected Barrier! Oh, generous Majesty, excuse us!"—and the + generous Majesty has to do it; and leave the Dutch in peace, this time. + Hessians, Hanoverians, after eloquence enough, are at last got sent for, + to guard us against this terrible Invasion: about 10,000 of each kind; and + do land,—the native populations very sulky on them ("We won't billet + you, not we; build huts, and be—!"), with much Parliamentary and + Newspaper Commentary going on, of a distressful nature. "Saturday, 15th + May, 1756, Hessians disembark at Southampton; obliged to pitch Camp in the + neighborhood: Friday, 21st May, the Hanoverians, at Chatham, who hut + themselves Canterbury way;"—and have (what is the sum-total of their + achievements in this Country) a case of shoplifting, "pocket-handkerchief, + across the counter, in open day;" one case (or what seemed to be one, but + was not); ["At Maidstone, 13th Septemher, 1756;" Hanoverian soldier, + purchasing a handkerchief, imagines he has purchased two (not yet clipt + asunder), haberdasher and he having no language in common: <i>Gentleman's + Magazine, </i>for 1756, pp. 259, 448, &c.; Walpole, SAEPIUS.] "and the + fellow not to be tried by us for it!" which enrages the constitutional + heart. Alas, my heavy-laden constitutional heart; but what can we do? + These drilled louts will guard us, should this terrible Invasion land. And + indeed, about three weeks BEFORE these louts arrived, the terrible + Invasion had declared itself to have been altogether a feint; and had + lifted anchor, quite in the opposite direction, on an errand we shall hear + of soon! + </p> + <p> + About the same date, I observe, "the first regiment of Footguards + practising the Prussian drill-exercise in Hyde Park;" and hope his Grace + of Newcastle and the Hero of Culloden (immortal Hero, and aiming high in + Politics at this time) will, at least, have fallen upon some method of + getting Colonels nominated. But the wide-weltering chaos of platitudes, + agitated by hysterical imbecilities, regulating England in this great + crisis, fills the constitutional mind with sorrow; and indeed is + definable, once more, as amazing! England is a stubborn Country; but it + was not by procedures of the Cumberland-Newcastle kind that England, and + her Colonies, and Sea-and-Land Kingdoms, was built together; nor by these, + except miracle intervene, that she can stand long against stress! Looking + at the dismal matter from this distance, there is visible to me in the + foggy heart of it one lucent element, and pretty much one only; the + individual named William Pitt, as I have read him: if by miracle that + royal soul could, even for a time, get to something of Kingship there? + Courage; miracles do happen, let us hope!—This is whitherward the + grand Invasion had gone:— + </p> + <p> + TOULON, 10th APRIL, 1756. La Gallisonniere, our old Canadian friend, a + crooked little man of great faculty, who has been busy in the dockyards + lately, weighs anchor from Toulon; "12 sail of the line, 5 frigates and + above 100 transport-ships;" with the grand Invasion-of-England Armament on + board: 16,000 picked troops, complete in all points, Marechal Duc de + Richelieu commanding. [Adelung, viii. 70.] Weighs anchor; and, singular to + see, steers, not for England, and the Hessian-Hanover Defenders (who would + have been in such excellent time); but direct for Minorca, as the surer + thing! Will seize Minorca; a so-called inexpugnable Possession of the + English,—Key of their Mediterranean Supremacies;—really + inexpugnable enough; but which lies in the usual dilapidated state, though + by chance with a courageous old Governor in it, who will not surrender + quite at once. + </p> + <p> + APRIL 18th, La Gallisonniere disembarks his Richelieu with a Sixteen + Thousand, unopposed at Port-Mahon, or Fort St. Philip, in Minorca; who + instantly commences Siege there. To the astonishment of England and his + Grace of Newcastle who, except old Governor Blakeney, much in dilapidation + ("wooden platforms rotten," "batteries out of repair," and so on), have + nothing ready for Richelieu in that quarter. The story of Minorca; and the + furious humors and tragic consummations that arose on it, being still well + known, we will give the dates only. + </p> + <p> + FORT ST. PHILIP, APRIL 18th-MAY 20th. For a month, Richelieu, skilful in + tickling the French troops, has been besieging, in a high and grandiose + way; La Gallisonniere vigilantly cruising; old Blakeney, in spite of the + rotten platforms, vigorously holding out; when—May 19th, La + Gallisonniere descries an English fleet in the distance; indisputably an + English fleet; and clears his decks for a serious Affair just coming. + THURSDAY, 20th MAY, Admiral Byng accordingly (for it is he, son of that + old seaworthy Byng, who once "blew out" a minatory Spanish Fleet and "an + absurd Flame of War" in the Straits of Messina, and was made Lord + Torrington in consequence,—happily now dead)—Admiral Byng does + come on; and gains himself a name badly memorable ever since. Attacks La + Gallisonniere, in a wide-lying, languid, hovering, uncertain manner:—"Far + too weak" he says; "much disprovided, destitute, by blame of Ministry and + of everybody" (though about the strength of La Gallisonniere, after all);—is + almost rather beaten by La Gallisonniere; does not in the least, beat him + to the right degree:—and sheers off: in the night-time, straight for + Gibraltar again. To La Gallisonniere's surprise, it is said; no doubt to + old Blakeney and his poor Garrison's, left so, to their rotten platforms + and their own shifts. + </p> + <p> + Blakeney and Garrison stood to their guns in a manful manner, for above a + month longer; day after day, week after week, looking over the horizon for + some Byng or some relief appearing, to no purpose! JUNE 14th, there are + three available breaches; the walls, however, are very sheer (a Fortress + hewn in the rock): Richelieu scanning them dubiously, and battering his + best, for about a fortnight more, is ineffectual on Blakeney. + </p> + <p> + JUNE 27th, Richelieu, taking his measures well, tickling French honor + well, has determined on storm. Richelieu, giving order of the day, + "Whosoever of you is found drunk shall NOT be of the storm-party" (which + produced such a teetotalism as nothing else had done),—storms, that + night, with extreme audacity. The Place has to capitulate: glorious + victory; honorable defence: and Minorca gone. + </p> + <p> + And England is risen to a mere smoky whirlwind, of rage, sorrow and + darkness, against Byng and others. Smoky darkness, getting streaked with + dangerous fire. "Tried?" said his Grace of Newcastle to the City + Deputation: "Oh indeed he shall be tried immediately; he shall be hanged + directly!"—assure yourselves of that. [Walpole, ii. 231: Details of + the Siege, ib. 218-225; in <i>Gentleman's Magazine</i>, xxvi. 256, + 312-313, 358; in Adelung, vii.; &c. &c.] And Byng's effigy was + burnt all over England. And mobs attempt to burn his Seat and Park; and + satires and caricatures and firebrands are coming out: and the poor + Constitutional Country is bent on applying surgery, if it but know how. + Surgery to such indisputable abominations was certainly desirable. The new + Relief Squadron, which had been despatched by Majesty's Ministry, was too + late for Blakeney, but did bring home a superseded Byng. + </p> + <p> + SPITHEAD, TUESDAY, 27th JULY, The superseded Byng arrives; is punctually + arrested, on arriving: "Him we will hang directly:—is there anything + else we can try [except, perhaps, it were hanging of ourselves, and our + fine methods of procedure], by way of remedying you?"—War against + France, now a pretty plain thing, had been "declared," 17th May (French + counter-declaring, 9th June): and, under a Duke of Newcastle and a Hero of + Culloden, not even pulling one way, but two ways; and a Talking-Apparatus + full of discords at this time, and pulling who shall say how many ways,—the + prospects of carrying on said War are none of the best. Lord Loudon, a + General without skill, and commanding, as Pitt declares, "a scroll of + Paper hitherto" (a good few thousands marked on it, and perhaps their + Colonels even named), is about going for America; by no means yet gone, a + long way from gone: and, if the Laws of Nature be suspended—Enough + of all that! + </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> + KING FRIEDRICH'S ENIGMA GETS MORE AND MORE STRINGENT. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich's situation, in those fatefully questionable months and for many + past (especially from January 16th to July),—readers must imagine + it, for there is no description possible. In many intricacies Friedrich + has been; but never, I reckon, in any equal to this. Himself certain what + the Two Imperial Women have vowed against him; self and Winterfeld certain + of that sad truth; and all other mortals ready to deny it, and fly + delirious on hint of it, should he venture to act in consequence! + Friedrich's situation is not unimaginable, when (as can now be done by + candid inquirers who will take trouble enough) the one or two internal + facts of it are disengaged from the roaring ocean of clamorous delusions + which then enveloped them to everybody, and are held steadily in view, + said ocean being well run off to the home of it very deep underground. + Lies do fall silent; truth waits to be recognized, not always in vain. No + reader ever will conceive the strangling perplexity of that situation, now + so remote and extinct to us. All I can do is, to set down what features of + it have become indisputable; and leave them as detached traceries, as + fractions of an outline, to coalesce into something of image where they + can. + </p> + <p> + Winterfeld's opinion was, for some time past, distinct: "Attack them; + since it is certain they only wait to attack us!" But Friedrich would by + no means listen to that. "We must not be the aggressor, my friend; that + would spoil all. Perhaps the English will pacify the Russian CATIN for me; + tie her, with packthreads, bribes and intrigues, from stirring? Wait, + watch!" Fiery Winterfeld, who hates the French, who despises the + Austrians, and thinks the Prussian Army a considerable Fact in Politics, + has great schemes: far too great for a practical Friedrich. "Plunge into + the Austrians with a will: Prussian Soldiery,—can Austrians resist + it? Ruin them, since they are bent on ruining us. Stir up the Hungarian + Protestants; try all things. Home upon our implacable enemies, sword + drawn, scabbard flung away! And the French,—what are the French? Our + King should be Kaiser of Teutschland; and he can, and he may:—the + French would then be quieter!" These things Winterfeld carried in his + head; and comrades have heard them from him over wine. [Retzow, i. 43, + &c.] To all which Friedrich, if any whisper of them ever got to + Friedrich, would answer one can guess how. + </p> + <p> + It is evident, Friedrich had not given up his hope (indeed, for above a + year more, he never did) that England might, by profuse bribery,—"such + the power of bribery in that mad court!"—assuage, overnet with + backstairs packthreads, or in some way compesce the Russian delirium for + him. And England, his sole Ally in the world, still tender of Austria, and + unable to believe what the full intentions of Austria are; England demands + much wariness in his procedures towards Austria; reiterating always, + "Wait, your Majesty! Oh, beware!"— + </p> + <p> + His own Army, we need not say, is in perfect preparation. The Army—let + us guess, 150,000 regular, or near 200,000 of all arms and kinds + [Archenholtz (i, 8) counts vaguely "160,000" at this date.]— + </p> + <p> + never was so perfect before or since. Old Captains in it, whom we used to + know, are grayer and wiser; young, whom we heard less of, are grown + veterans of trust. Schwerin, much a Cincinnatus since we last saw him, has + laid down his plough again, a fervid "little Marlborough" of seventy-two;—and + will never see that beautiful Schwerinsburg, and its thriving woods and + farm-fields, any more. Ugly Walrave is not now chief Engineer; one Balbi, + a much prettier man, is. Ugly Walrave (Winterfeld suspecting and watching + him) was found out; convicted of "falsified accounts," of "sending plans + to the Enemy," of who knows all what;—and sits in Magdeburg (in a + thrice-safe prison-cell of his own contriving), prisoner for life. + ["Arrested at Potsdam 12th February, 1748, and after trial put into the + STERN at Magdeburg; sat there till he died, 16th January, 1773" (<i>Militalr-Lexikon, + </i>iv. 150-151).] The Old Dessauer is away, long since; and not the Old + alone. Dietrich of Dessau is now "Guardian to his Nephew," who is a Child + left Heir there. Death has been busy with the Dessauers:—but here is + Prince Moritz, "the youngest, more like his Father than any of them." Duke + Ferdinand of Brunswick, Moritz of Dessau, Keith, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern: + no one of these people has been idle, in the ten years past. Least of all, + has the Chief Captain of them,—whose diligence and vigilance in that + sphere, latterly, were not likely to decline! + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's Army is in the perfection of order. Ready at the hour, for + many months back; but the least motion he makes with it is a subject of + jealousy. Last year, on those Russian advancings and alacrities, he had + marched some Regiments into Pommern, within reach of Preussen, should the + Russians actually try a stroke there: "See!" cried all the world: "See!" + cried the enlightened Russian Public. This year 1756, from June onwards + and earlier, there are still more fatal symptoms, on the Austrian side: + great and evident War-preparations; Magazines forming; Camps in Bohemia, + Moravia; Camp at Konigsgratz, Camp at Prag,—handy for the Silesian + Border. Friedrich knows they have deliberated on their Pretext for a War, + and have fixed on what will do,—some new small Prussian-Mecklenburg + brabble, which there has lately been; paltry enough recruiting-quarrel, + such as often are (and has been settled mutually some time ago, this one, + but is capable of being ripped up again);—and that, on this cobweb + of a pretext, they mean to draw sword when they like. Russia too has its + Pretext ready. And if Friedrich hint of stirring, England whispers hoarse, + England and other friends, "Wait, your Majesty! Oh, beware!" To keep one's + sword at its sharpest, and, with an easy patient air, one's eyes + vigilantly open: this is nearly all that Friedrich can do, in neighborhood + of such portentous imminencies. He has many critics, near and far;—for + instance:— + </p> + <p> + BERLIN, 31st JULY, 1756, Excellency Valori writes to Versailles: ... "to + give you account of a Conversation I have had, a day or two ago, with the + Prince of Prussia [August Wilhelm, Heir-Apparent], who honors me with a + particular confidence,"—and who appears to be, privately, like some + others, very strong in the Opposition view. "He talked to me of the + present condition of the King his Brother, of his Brother's apprehensions, + of his military arrangements, of the little trust placed in him by + neighbors, of their hostile humor towards him, and of many other things + which this good Prince [little understanding them, as would appear, or the + dangerous secret that lay under them] did not approve of. The Prince then + said,"—listen to what the Prince of Prussia said to Valori, one of + the last days of July, 1756,— + </p> + <p> + "'There is an Anecdote which continually recurs to me, in the passes we + are got to at present. Putting the case we might be attacked by Russia, + and perhaps by Austria, the late Rothenburg was sent [as readers know], on + the King's part, to Milord Tyrconnel, to know of him what, in such case, + were the helps he might reckon on from France. Milord enumerated the + various helps; and then added [being a blusterous Irishman, sent hither + for his ill tongue]: "Helps enough, you observe, Monsieur; but, MORBLEU, + if you deceive us, you will be squelched (VOUS SEREZ ECRASES)!" The King + my 'Brother was angry enough at hearing such a speech: but, my dear + Marquis,' and the Prince turned full upon me with a face of inquiry, 'Can + the thing actually come true? And do you think it can be the interest of + your Master [and his Scarlet Woman] to abandon us to the fury of our + enemies? Ah, that cursed Convention [Neutrality-Convention with England]! + I would give a finger from my hand that it had never been concluded. I + never approved of it; ask the Duc de Nivernois, he knows what we said of + it together. But how return on our steps? Who would now trust us?'" This + Prince appeared "to be much affected by the King his Brother's situation + [of which he understood as good as nothing], and agreed that he," the King + his Brother, "had well deserved it." [Valori, ii, 129-131.] + </p> + <p> + This is not the first example, nor the last, of August Wilhelm's owning a + heedless, good-natured tongue; considerably prone to take the Opposition + side, on light grounds. For which if he found a kind of solacement and + fame in some circles, it was surely at a dear rate! To his Brother, that + bad habit would, most likely, be known; and his Brother, I suppose, did + not speak of it at all; such his Brother's custom in cases of the kind.—Judicious + Valori, by way of answer, dilated on the peculiar esteem of his Majesty + Louis XV. for the Prussian Majesty,—"so as my Instructions direct me + to do;" and we hear no more of the Prince of Prussia's talk, at this time; + but shall in future; and may conjecture a great deal about the atmosphere + Friedrich had now to live in. A Friedrich undergoing, privately, a great + deal of criticism: "Mad tendency to war; lust of conquest; contempt for + his neighbors, for the opinion of the world;—no end of irrational + tendencies:" [Ib. ii. 124-151 ("July 27th-August 21st").] from persons to + whom the secret of his Problem is deeply unknown. + </p> + <p> + One wise thing the English have done: sent an Excellency Mitchell, a man + of loyalty, of sense and honesty, to be their Resident at Berlin. This is + the noteworthy, not yet much noted, Sir Andrew Mitchell; by far the best + Excellency England ever had in that Court. An Aberdeen Scotchman, + creditable to his Country: hard-headed, sagacious; sceptical of shows; but + capable of recognizing substances withal, and of standing loyal to them, + stubbornly if needful; who grew to a great mutual regard with Friedrich, + and well deserved to do so; constantly about him, during the next seven + years; and whose Letters are among the perennially valuable Documents on + Friedrich's History. [Happily secured in the British Museum; and now in + the most perfect order for consulting (thanks to Sir F. Madden "and three + years' labor" well invested);—should certainly, and will one day, be + read to the bottom, and cleared of their darknesses, extrinsic and + intrinsic (which are considerable) by somebody competent.] + </p> + <p> + Mitchell is in Berlin since June 10th. Mitchell, who is on the scene + itself, and looking into Friedrich with his own eyes, finds the + reiterating of that "Beware, your Majesty!" which had been his chief task + hitherto, a more and more questionable thing; and suggests to him at last: + "Plainly ask her Hungarian Majesty, What is your meaning by those Bohemian + Campings?" "Pshaw," answers Friedrich: "Nothing but some ambiguous answer, + perhaps with insult in it!"—nevertheless thinks better; and + determines to do so. [Mitchell Papers.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV.—FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT VIENNA, TWICE OVER. + </h2> + <p> + July 18th, 1756, Friedrich despatches an Express to Graf von Klinggraf, + his Resident at Vienna (an experienced man, whom we have seen before in + old Carteret, "Conference-of-Hanau" times), To demand audience of the + Empress; and, in the fittest terms, friendly and courteous, brief and + clear, to put that question of Mitchell's suggesting. "Those unwonted + Armaments, Camps in Bohmen, Camps in Mahren, and military movements and + preparations," Klinggraf is to say, "have caused anxiety in her Majesty's + peaceable Neighbor of Prussia; who desires always to continue in peace; + and who requests hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty, that these + his anxieties are groundless." Friedrich himself hopes little or nothing + from this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him, and put an end + to all scruples in himself and others. The Answer may be expected in ten + or twelve days. + </p> + <p> + And, about the same time,—likely enough, directly after, though + there is no date given, to a fact which is curious and authentic,— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals, to Potsdam, for a secret + Conference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are, old Schwerin and + General Retzow Senior,—Major-General Retzow, whom we used to hear of + in the Silesian Wars,—and whose Son reports on this occasion. + Conference is on this Imminency of War, and as to what shall be done in + it. Friedrich explains in general terms his dangers from Austria and + Russia, his certainty that Austria will attack him; and asks, Were it, or + were it not, better to attack Austria, as is our Prussian principle in + such case? Schwerin and Retzow—Schwerin first, as the eldest; and + after him Retzow, "who privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to + do it"—opine strongly: That indications are uncertain, that much + seems inevitable which does not come; that in a time of such tumultuous + whirlings and unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well, and wait. + </p> + <p> + After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dissent but saying almost + nothing, Friedrich gives sign to Winterfeld;—who spreads out, in + their lucidest prearranged order, the principal Menzel-Weingarten + Documents; and bids the two Military Gentlemen read. They read; with + astonishment, are forced to believe; stand gazing at one another;—and + do now take a changed tone. Schwerin, "after a silence of everybody for + some minutes,"—"bursts out like one inspired; 'If War is to be and + must be, let us start to-morrow; seize Saxony at once; and in that rich + corny Country form Magazines for our Operations on Bohemia!'" [Retzow, i. + 39.] + </p> + <p> + That is privately Friedrich's own full intention. Saxony, with its Elbe + River as Highway, is his indispensable preliminary for Bohemia: and he + will not, a second time, as he did in 1744 with such results, leave it in + an unsecured condition. Adieu then, Messieurs; silent: AU REVOIR, which + may be soon! Retzow Junior, a rational, sincere, but rather pipe-clayed + man, who is wholly to be trusted on this Conference, with his Father for + authority, has some touches of commentary on it, which indicate (date + being 1802) that till the end of his life, or of Prince Henri his + Patron's, there remained always in some heads a doubt as to Friedrich's + wisdom in regard to starting the Seven-Years War, and to Schwerin's entire + sincerity in that inspired speech. And still more curious, that there was + always, at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's Opposition Party; privately + intent to look at the wrong side; and doing it diligently,—though + with lips strictly closed for most part; without words, except + well-weighed and to the wise: which is an excellent arrangement, for a + Majesty and Majesty's Opposition, where feasible in the world!— + </p> + <p> + From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back of this + Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To Karlsbad, or Toplitz, + for one's health;" and wandered about a good deal in those Frontier + Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking sketches (not with a + picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon Pirna Country, a strange + stony labyrinth, which he guessed might possibly be interesting soon. The + Saxon Commandant of the Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts, + strongest in Saxony, was of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called + on this Commandant; found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those + neighborhoods, but that there was at the base of it a new Work going on; + and that the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir + themselves in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under + 20,000; but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have it 40,000. + Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt Winterfeld's + gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam, on his getting + home from this Tour to Toplitz. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped as ill + as could have been expected. The Answer given was of supercilious brevity; + evasive, in effect null, and as good as answering, That there is no + answer. Two Accounts we have, as Friedrich successively had them, of this + famed passage: FIRST, Klinggraf's own, which is clear, rapid, and stands + by the essential; SECOND, an account from the other side of the scenes, + furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for Friedrich's behoof and ours; which + curiously illustrates the foregoing, and confirms the interpretation + Friedrich at once made of it. This is Menzel's account; in other words, + the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's, stolen by Menzel. + </p> + <p> + July 26th, it appears, Klinggraf—having applied to Kaunitz the day + before, who noticed a certain flurry in him, and had answered carelessly, + "Audience? Yes, of course; nay I am this moment going to the Empress: only + you must tell me about what?"—was admitted to the Imperial Presence, + he first of many that were waiting. Imperial Presence held in its hand a + snip of Paper, carefully composed by Kaunitz from the data, and read these + words: "DIE BEDENKLICHEN UMSTANDE, The questionable circumstances of the + Time have moved me to consider as indispensably necessary those measures + which, for my own security and for defence of my Allies, I am taking, and + which otherwise do not tend the least towards injury of anybody + whatsoever;"—and adding no syllable more, gave a sign with her hand, + intimating to Klinggraf that the Interview was done. Klinggraf strode + through the Antechamber, "visibly astonished," say on-lookers, at such an + Answer had. Answer, in fact, "That there is no answer," and the door flung + in your face! [<i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 772. In Valori, ii. 128, + Friedrich's little Paper of INSTRUCTIONS to Klinggraf; this Vienna ANSWER + to it, ib. 138:—see ib. 138, 162; and <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten, + </i>ii. 214-221.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, on arrival of report from Klinggraf, and without waiting for + the Menzel side of the scenes, sees that the thing is settled. Writes + again, however (August 2d, probably the day after, or the same day, + Klinggraf's Despatch reached him); instructing Klinggraf To request "a + less oracular response;" and specially, "If her Imperial Majesty (Austria + and Russia being, as is understood, in active League against, him) will + say, That Austria will not attack him this year or the next?" Draw up + memorial of that, Monsieur Klinggraf; and send us the supercilious + No-Answer: till which arrive we do not cross the Frontier,—but are + already everywhere on march to it, in an industrious, cunningly devised, + evident and yet impenetrably mysterious manner. + </p> + <p> + Excellency Valori never saw such activity of military preparation: such + Artillery, "2,000 big pieces in the Park here;" Regiments, Wagon-trains, + getting under way everywhere, no man can guess whitherward; "drawn up in + the Square here, they know not by what Gate they are to march." By three + different Gates, I should think;—mysteriously, in Three Directions, + known only to King Friedrich and his Adjutant-General, all these Regiments + in Berlin and elsewhere are on march. Towards Halle (Leipzig way); towards + Brietzen (Wittenberg and Torgau way); towards Bautzen neighborhood,—towards + Three settled Points of the Saxon Frontier; will step across the instant + the supercilious No-Answer comes to hand. Are to converge about Dresden + and the Saxon Switzerland;—about 65,000 strong, equipped as no Army + before or since has been;—and take what luck there may be. + </p> + <p> + Bruhl and Polish Majesty's Army, still only about 18,000, have their + apprehensions of such visit: but what can they do? The Saxon Army draws + out into Camp, at sight of this mysterious marching; strong Camp "in the + angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;"—then draws in again; being too weak + for use. And is thinking, Menzel informs us, to take post in the stony + labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the advice an Excellency Broglio has + given;—French Excellency, now in Dresden; Marechal de Broglio's Son, + and of little less explosive nature than his Father was. Bruhl and Polish + Majesty, guessing that the hour is come, are infinitely interested. + Interested, not flurried. "Austrian-Russian Anti-Prussian Covenant!" say + Bruhl and Majesty, rather comfortably to themselves: "We never signed it. + WE never would sign anything; what have we to do with it? Courage; steady; + To Pirna, if they come! Are not Excellency Broglio, and France, and + Austria, and the whole world at our back?" + </p> + <p> + It was full three weeks before Klinggraf's Message of Answer could arrive + at Berlin. Of Friedrich in the interim, launching such a world-adventure, + himself silent, in the midst of a buzzing Berlin, take these indications, + which are luminous enough. Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick is to head one of + the Three "Columns." Duke Ferdinand, Governor of Magdeburg, is now + collecting his Column in that neighborhood, chiefly at Halle; whitherward, + or on what errand, is profoundly unknown. Unknown even to Ferdinand, + except that it is for actual Service in the Field. Here are two Friedrich + Letters (ruggedly Official, the first of them, and not quite peculiar to + Ferdinand), which are worth reading:— + </p> + <p> + THE KING TO DUKE FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK. + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 15th August, 1756. + </p> + <p> + "For time of Field-Service I have made the arrangement, That for the + Subaltern Officers of your regiment, over and above their ordinary + Equipage-moneys, there shall, to each Subaltern Officer, and once for all, + be Eight Thalers [twenty-four shillings sterling] advanced. That sum + [eight thalers per subaltern] shall be paid to the Captain of every + Company; and besides this there shall, monthly, Two Thalers be deducted + from the Subaltern's Pay, and be likewise paid over to the Captain:—in + return for which, He is to furnish Free Table for the Subalterns + throughout the Campaign, and so long as the regiment is in the field. + </p> + <p> + "Of the Two Baggage-carts per Company, the regiment shall take only One, + and leave the other at home. No Officer, let him be who or of what title + he will, Generals not excepted, shall take with him the least of Silver + Plate, not even a silver spoon. Whoever wants, therefore, to keep table, + great or small (TAFEL ODER TISCH), must manage the same with tin utensils;—without + exception, be he who he will. + </p> + <p> + "Each Captain shall take with him a little Cask of Vinegar; of which, as + soon as the regiments get to Camp, he must give me reckoning, and I will + then have him repaid. This Vinegar shall solely and exclusively be + employed for this purpose, That in places where the water is bad, there be + poured into it, for the soldiers, a few drops of the vinegar, to correct + the water, and thereby preserve them from illnesses. + </p> + <p> + "So soon as the regiment gets on march, the Women who have permission to + follow are put under command of the Profoss; that thereby all plunderings + and disorders may the more be guarded against. If the Captains and + Officers take Grooms (JAGER) or the like Domestics, there can muskets be + given to these, that use may be had of them, in case of an attack in + quarters, or on march, when a WAGENBURG (wagon-fortress) is to be + formed.... FRIEDRICH." [Preuss, ii. 6, 7.] + </p> + <p> + SAME TO SAME (Confidential, this one). + </p> + <p> + "POTSDAM, 24th August. + </p> + <p> + ... "Make as if you were meaning to go into Camp at Halle. The reason why + I stop you is, that the Courier from Vienna has not yet come. We must + therefore reassure the Saxon neighborhood. ... I have been expecting + answer from hour to hour; cannot suitably begin a War-Expedition till it + come; do therefore apprise Your Dilection, though under the deepest + secrecy. + </p> + <p> + "And it is necessary, and my Will is, That, till farther order, you keep + all the regiments and corps belonging to your Column in the places where + they are when this arrives. And shall, meanwhile, with your best skill + mask all this, both from the Town of Halle, and from the regiments + themselves; making, in conformity with what I said yesterday, as if you + were a Corps of Observation come to encamp here, and were waiting the last + orders to go into camp." + </p> + <p> + "FRIEDRICH." [Ib. ii. 7, 8.] + </p> + <p> + And in regard to the Vienna Courier, and Friedrich's attitude towards that + Phenomenon, read only these Two Notes:— + </p> + <p> + 1. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA AND THE PRINCESS AMELIA (at Berlin) + </p> + <p> + POTSDAM, "25th August," 1756. + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR BROTHER, MY DEAR SISTER,—I write to you both at once, for + want of time. I will follow the advice you are so good as give me; and + will take leave of the Queen [our dear Mamma] by Letter. And that the + reading of my Letter may not frighten her, I will send it by my Sister, to + be presented in a favorable moment. + </p> + <p> + "I have yet got no Answer from Vienna; by Klinggraf's account, I shall not + receive it till to-morrow [came this night], But I count myself surer of + War than ever; as the Austrians have named Generals, and their Army is + ordered to march, from Kolin to Konigsgratz"—Schlesien way. "So + that, expecting nothing but a haughty Answer, or a very uncertain one, on + which there will be no reliance possible, I have arranged everything for + setting out on Saturday next. To-morrow, so soon as the news comes, I will + not fail to let you know. Assuring you that I am, with a perfect + affection, my dear Brother and my dear Sister,—Yours,—F." [<i>OEuvres + de Frederic,</i> xxvi. 155.] + </p> + <p> + Answer comes from Klinggraf that same night. Once more, an Answer almost + worse than could have been expected. "The 'League with Russia against you' + is nonextant, a thing of your imagination: Have not we already answered?" + [In <i>Gesammelte Urkunden, </i>i. 217: Klinggraf's second question (done + by Letter this time), "18th August;" Maria Theresa's Answer, "21st + August,"] Whereupon, + </p> + <p> + 2. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA. + </p> + <p> + POTSDAM, "26th August," 1756. + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR BROTHER,—I have already written to the Queen; softening + things as much as I could [Letter lost]. My Sister, to whom I address the + Letter, will deliver it. + </p> + <p> + "You have seen the Paper I sent to Klinggraf. Their Answer is 'That they + have not made an Offensive Alliance with Russia against me.' The Answer is + impertinent, high and contemptuous; and of the Assurance that I required + [as to This Year and next], not one word. So that the sword alone can cut + this Gordian Knot. I am innocent of this War; I have done what I could to + avoid it; but whatever be one's love of peace, one cannot and must not + sacrifice to that, one's safety and one's honor. Such, I believe, will be + your opinion too, from the sentiments I know in you. At present, our one + thought must be, To do War in such a way as may cure our Enemies of their + wish to break Peace again too soon. I embrace you with all my heart. I + have had no end of business (TERRIBLEMENT A FAIRE)."—F. [<i>OEuvres,</i> + xxvi. 116.] + </p> + <p> + THE MARCH INTO SAXONY, IN THREE COLUMNS. + </p> + <p> + Ahead of that last Note, from an earlier hour of the same day, Thursday, + 26th August, there is speeding forth, to all Three Generals of Division, + this Order (take Duke Ferdinand's copy):—[not in original]— + </p> + <p> + "I hereby order that Your Dilection (EW. LIEBDEN), with all the regiments + and corps in the Column standing under your command, Shall now, without + more delay, get on march, on the 29th inst.; and proceed, according to the + March-Tables and Instructions already given, to execute what Your + Dilection has got in charge."—F. + </p> + <p> + The same Thursday, 26th, Excellency Mitchell, informed by Podewils of the + King's wish to see him at Potsdam, gets under way from Berlin; arrives + "just time enough to speak with the King before he sat down to supper." + Very many things to be consulted of, and deliberatively touched upon, with + Mitchell and England; no end of things and considerations, for England and + King Friedrich, in this that is now about to burst forth on an astonished + world!—Over in London, we observe, just in the hours when Mitchell + was harnessing for Potsdam, and so many Orders and Letters were speeding + their swiftest in that quarter, there is going forward, on Tower-Hill + yonder, the following Operation:— + </p> + <p> + "LONDON, THURSDAY, 26th AUGUST, 1756. About five in the afternoon, a noted + Admiral [only in Effigy as yet; but who has been held in miserable + durance, and too actual question of death or life, ever since his return: + "Oh, yes indeed! Hang HIM at once",—if that can be a remedy!] was, + after having been privately shown to many ladies and gentlemen, brought—in + an open sedan, guarded by a number of young gentlemen under arms, with + drums beating, colors flying—to Tower-Hill, where a Gallows had been + erected for him at six the same morning. He was richly dressed, in a blue + and gold coat, buff waistcoat, trimmed, &c. in full uniform. When + brought under the Gallows, he stayed a small space, till his clergyman (a + chimney-sweeper) had given him some admonitions: that done, he was drawn, + by pulleys, to the top of the Gallows, which was twenty feet high; every + person expressing as much satisfaction as if it had been the real man. + </p> + <p> + "He remained there, guarded by the above volunteers, without any + molestation, two hours; when, upon a supposition of being obstructed by + the Governor of the Tower, some sailors appeared, who wanted to pull him + down, in order to drag him along the streets. But a fire being kindled, + which consisted of tar-barrels, fagots, tables, tubs, &c., he was + consumed in about half an hour." [Old Newspapers (<i>Gentleman's Magazine, + </i> xxvi. 409).] + </p> + <p> + That is their employment on Tower-Hill, over yonder, while Mitchell is + getting under way to see Friedrich. + </p> + <p> + Mitchell continued at Potsdam over Friday; and was still in eager + consultation that night, when the King said to him, with a certain + expressiveness of glance: "BON SOIR, then;—To-morrow morning about + four!" And on the morrow, Saturday, 28th, Mitchell reports hurriedly:— + </p> + <p> + "... Am just returned to Berlin, in time to write to your Lordship. This + morning, between four and five, I took leave of the King of Prussia. He + went immediately upon the Parade; mounted on horseback; and, after a very + short exercise of his Troops, put himself at their head; and marched + directly for Belitz [half-way to Brietzen, TREUENbrietzen as they call + it]; where, To-morrow, he will enter the Saxon Territory,"—as, at + their respective points, his two other Columns will;—and begin, who + shall say what terrible game; incalculable to your Lordship and me, with + such Operations afoot on Tower-Hill! [Mitchell Papers, vi. 804 ("To Lord + Holderness, 28th August, 1756").]— + </p> + <p> + Seven Hussar Regiments of Duke Ferdinand's Column got the length of + Leipzig that Sunday Evening, 29th; and took possession of the place. [In + <i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 731, his "Proclamation" there, 29th August, + 1756.] Duke Ferdinand to right of the King, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern to + left,—the Three Columns cross the Border, at points, say 80 miles + from one another; occasionally, on the march, bending to rightwards and + leftwards, to take in the principal Towns, and make settlements there, the + two might be above a hundred miles from Friedrich on each hand. The length + of march for each Column,—Ferdinand "from Leipzig, by Chemnitz, + Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, to the Village of Cotta" (Pirna neighborhood, + south of Elbe); Bevern, "through the Lausitz, by Bautzen, to Lohmen" (same + neighborhood, north of Elbe); King Friedrich, to Dresden, by the course of + the Elbe itself, was not far from equal, and may be called about 150 + miles. They marched with diligence, not with hurry; had their pauses, + rest-days, when business required. They got to their ground, with the + simultaneousness appointed, on the eleventh or twelfth day. + </p> + <p> + The middle Column, under the King, where Marshal Keith is second in + command, goes by Torgau (detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up Wittenberg, + and ruin the slight works there); crosses the Elbe at Torgau, September + 2d; marches, cantoning itself day after day, along the southern bank of + the River; leaves Meissen to the left, I perceive, does not pass through + Meissen; comes first at Wilsdruf on ground where we have been,—and + portions of it, I doubt not, were billeted in Kesselsdorf; and would take + a glance at the old Field, if they had time. There is strict discipline in + all the Columns; the authorities complying on summons, and arranging what + is needful. Nobody resists; town-guards at once ground arms, and there is + no soldier visible; soldiers all ebbing away, whitherward we guess. [<i>Helden-Geschichte, + </i>iii. 732, 733; <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. 81.] + </p> + <p> + At Wilsdruf, Friedrich first learns for certain, that the Saxon Army, with + King, with Bruhl and other chief personages, are withdrawn to Pirna, to + the inexpugnable Konigstein and Rock-Country. The Saxon Army had begun + assembling there, September 1st, directly on the news that Friedrich was + across the Border; September 9th, on Friedrich's approach, the King and + Dignitaries move off thither, from Dresden, out of his way. Excellency + Broglio has put them on that plan. Which may have its complexities for + Friedrich, hopes Broglio,—though perhaps its still greater for some + other parties concerned! For Bruhl and Polish Majesty, as will appear by + and by, nothing could have turned out worse. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on: "Forward, all the same." Polish Majesty, + dating from Struppen, in the Pirna Country, has begun a Correspondence + with Friedrich, very polite on both hands; and his Adjutant-General, the + Chevalier Meagher ("Chevalier de MARRE," as Valori calls him,—MA'AR, + as he calls himself in Irish), has just had, at Wilsdruf, an interview + with Friedrich; but is far from having got settlement on the terms he + wished. Polish Majesty magnanimously assenting to "a Road through his + Country for military purposes;" offers "the strictest Neutrality, + strictest friendship even; has done, and will do, no injury whatever to + his Prussian Majesty—["Did we ever SIGN anything?" whisper + comfortably Bruhl and he to one another];—expects, therefore, that + his Prussian Majesty will march on, whither he is bound; and leave him + unmolested here." [<i>Helden-Geschichte, </i> iii. 774.] + </p> + <p> + That was Meagher's message; that is the purport of all his Polish + Majesty's Eleven Letters to Friedrich, which precede or follow,— + reiterating with a certain bovine obstinacy, insensible to time or change, + That such is Polish Majesty's fixed notion: "Strict neutrality, friendship + even; and leave me unmolested here." [In <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. + 235-260 ("29th August-10th September-18th September," 1756), are collected + now, the Eleven Letters, with their Answers.] "Strict neutrality, yes: but + disperse your Army, then," answers Friedrich; send your Army back to its + cantonments: I must myself have the keeping of my Highway, lest I lose it, + as in 1744." This is Friedrich's answer; this at first, and for some time + coming; though, as the aspects change, and the dangerous elements heap + themselves higher, Friedrich's answer will rise with them, and his terms, + like the Sibyl's, become worse and worse. This is the utmost that Meagher, + at Wilsdruf, can make of it; and this, in conceivable circumstances, will + grow less and less. + </p> + <p> + Next day, September 9th, Friedrich, with some Battalions, entered Dresden, + most of his Column taking Camp near by; General Wylich had entered + yesterday, and is already Commandant there. Friedrich sends, by + Feldmarschall Keith, highest Officer of his Column, his homages to her + Polish Majesty:—nothing given us of Keith's Interview; except by a + side-wind, "That Majesty complained of those Prussian Sentries walking + about in certain of her corridors" (with an eye to Something, it may be + feared!)—of which, doubtless, Keith undertook to make report. + Friedrich himself waits upon the Junior Princes, who are left here: is + polite and gracious as ever, though strict, and with business enough; + lodges, for his own part, "in the Garden-House of Princess Moczinska;"—and + next morning leads off his Column, a short march eastward, to the Pirna + Country; where, on the right and on the left, Ferdinand at Cotta, Bevern + at Lohmen (if readers will look on their Map), he finds the other Two in + their due positions. Head-quarter is Gross-Sedlitz (westernmost skirt of + the Rock-region); and will have to continue so, much longer than had been + expected. + </p> + <p> + The Diplomatic world in Dresden is in great emotion; more especially just + at present. This morning, before leaving, Friedrich had to do an + exceedingly strict thing: secure the Originals of those Menzel Documents. + Originals indispensable to him, for justifying his new procedures upon + Saxony. So that there has been, at the Palace, a Scene this morning of a + very high and dissonant nature,—"Marshal Keith" in it, "Marshal + Keith making a second visit" (say some loose and false Accounts);—the + facts being strictly as follows. + </p> + <p> + Far from removing those Prussian sentries complained of last night, here + seems to be a double strength of them this morning. And her Polish + Majesty, a severe, hard-featured old Lady, has been filled with indignant + amazement by a Prussian Officer—Major von Wangenheim, I believe it + is—requiring, in the King of Prussia's name, the Keys of that + Archive-room; Prussian Majesty absolutely needing sight, for a little + while, of certain Papers there. "Enter that room? Archives of a crowned + Head? Let me see the living mortal that will dare to do it!"—one + fancies the indignant Polish Majesty's answer; and how, calling for + materials, she "openly sealed the door in question," in Wangenheim's + presence. As this is a celebrated Passage, which has been reported in + several loose ways, let us take it from the primary source, Chancery style + and all. Graf von Sternberg, Austrian Excellency, writing from the spot + and at the hour, informs his own Court, and through that all Courts, in + these solemnly Official terms:— + </p> + <p> + "DRESDEN, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1756. The Queen's Majesty, this forenoon, has + called to her all the Foreign Ministers now at Dresden; and in Highest Own + Person has signified to us, How, the Prussian intrusions and hostilities + being already known, Highest said Queen's Majesty would now simply state + what had farther taken place this morning:— + </p> + <p> + "Highest said Queen's Majesty, to wit, had, in her own name, requested the + King of Prussia, in conformity with his assurances [by Keith, yesternight] + of paying every regard for Her and the Royal Family; To remove the + Prussian Sentries pacing about in those Corridors,"—Corridors which + lead to the Secret Archives, important to some of us!—"Instead of + which, the said King had not only doubled his Sentries there; but also, by + an Officer, demanded the Keys of the Archive-apartment [just alluded to]! + And as the Queen's Majesty, for security of all writings there, offered to + seal the Door of it herself, and did so, there and then,—the said + Officer had so little respect, that he clapped his own seal thereon too. + </p> + <p> + "Nor was he content therewith,"—not by any means!—"but the + same Officer [having been with Wylich, Commandant here] came back, a short + time after, and made for opening of the Door himself. Which being + announced to the Queen's Majesty, she in her own person (HOCHSTDIESELBE, + Highest-the-Same) went out again; and standing before the Door, informed + him, 'How Highest-the-Same had too much regard to his Prussian Majesty's + given assurance, to believe that such order could proceed from the King.' + As the Officer, however, replied, 'That he was sorry to have such an order + to execute; but that the order was serious and precise; and that he, by + not executing it, would expose himself to the greatest responsibility," + Her Majesty continued standing before the Door; and said to the Officer, + 'If he meant to use force, he might upon Her make his beginning.'" There + is for you, Herr Wangenheim!— + </p> + <p> + "Upon which said Officer had gone away, to report anew to the King [I + think, only to Wylich the Commandant; King now a dozen miles off, not so + easily reported to, and his mind known]; and in the mean while Her Majesty + had called to her the Prussian and English Ambassadors [Mahlzahn and + Stormont; sorry both of them, but how entirely resourceless,—especially + Mahlzahn!], and had represented and repeated to them the above; beseeching + that by their remonstrances and persuasions they would induce the King of + Prussia, conformably with his given assurance, to forbear. Instead, + however, of any fruit from such remonstrances and urgencies, final Order + came, 'That, Queen's Majesty's own Highest Person notwithstanding, force + must be used.' + </p> + <p> + "Whereupon her Majesty, to avoid actual mistreatment, had been obliged to"—to + become passive, and, no Keys being procurable from her, see a smith with + his picklocks give these Prussians admission. Legation-Secretary Plessmann + was there (Menzel one fancies sitting, rather pale, in an adjacent room + [Supra, p. 266.]); and they knew what to do. Their smith opens the + required Box for them (one of several "all lying packed for Warsaw," says + Friedrich); from which soon taking what they needed, Wangenheim and Wylich + withdrew with their booty, and readers have the fruit of it to this day. + "Which unheard-of procedure, be pleased, your Excellencies, to report to + your respective Courts." [<i>Gesammelte Nachrichten, </i>i. 222 (or "No. + 26" of that Collection); <i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. 83.] + </p> + <p> + Poor old Lady, what a situation! And I believe she never saw her poor old + Husband again. The day he went to Pirna (morning of yesterday, September + 9th, Friedrich entering in the evening), these poor Spouses had, little + dreaming of it, taken leave of one another forevermore. Such profit lies + in your Bruhl. Kings and Queens that will be governed by a Jesuit Guarini, + and a Bruhl of the Twelve Tailors, sometimes pay dear for it. They, or + their representatives, are sure to do so. Kings and Queens,—yes, and + if that were all: but their poor Countries too? Their Countries;—well, + their Countries did not hate Beelzebub, in his various shapes, ENOUGH. + Their Countries should have been in watch against Beelzebub in the shape + of Bruhls;—watching, and also "praying" in a heroic manner, now + fallen obsolete in these impious times! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V.—FRIEDRICH BLOCKADES THE SAXONS IN PIRNA COUNTRY. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich reckons himself to have 65,000 men in Saxony. Schwerin is + issuing from Silesia, through the Glatz Mountains, for Bohemia, at the + head of 40,000. The Austrian force is inferior in quantity, and far from + ready:—Two "Camps" in Bohemia they have; the chief one under Browne + (looking, or intending, this Saxon way), and a smaller under Piccolomini, + in the Konigshof-Kolin region:—if well run into from front and rear, + both Browne and Piccolomini might be beautifully handled; and a gash be + cut in Austria, which might incline her to be at peace again! Nothing + hinders but this paltry Camp of the Saxons; itself only 18,000 strong, but + in a Country of such strength. And this does hinder, effectually while it + continues: "How march to Bohemia, and leave the road blocked in our rear?" + </p> + <p> + The Saxon Camp did continue,—unmanageable by any method, for five + weeks to come; the season of war-operations gone, by that time:—and + Friedrich's First Campaign, rendered mostly fruitless in this manner, will + by no means check the Austrian truculencies, as by his velocity he hoped + to do. No; but, on the contrary, will rouse the Austrians, French and all + Enemies, to a tenfold pitch of temper. And bring upon himself, from an + astonished and misunderstanding Public, such tempests and world- tornadoes + of loud-roaring obloquy, as even he, Friedrich, had never endured before. + </p> + <p> + To readers of a touring habit this Saxon Country is perhaps well known. + For the last half-century it has been growing more and more famous, under + the name of "Saxon Switzerland (SACHSISCHE SCHWEITZ)," instead of "Misnian + Highlands (MEISSNISCHE HOCHLAND)," which it used to be called. A beautiful + enough and extremely rugged Country; interesting to the picturesque mind. + Begins rising, in soft Hills, on both sides of the Elbe, a few miles east + of Dresden, as you ascend the River; till it rises into Hills of wild + character, getting ever wilder, and riven into wondrous chasms and + precipices. Extends, say almost twenty miles up the River, to Tetschen and + beyond, in this eastern direction; and with perhaps ten miles of breadth + on each side of the River: area of the Rock-region, therefore, is perhaps + some four hundred square miles. The Falkenberg (what we should call + HAWKSCRAG) northeastward in the Lausitz, the Schneeberg (SNOW MOUNTAIN), + southeastward on the Bohemian border, are about thirty-five miles apart: + these two are both reckoned to be in it,—its last outposts on that + eastern side. But the limits of it are fixed by custom only, and depend on + no natural condition. + </p> + <p> + We might define it as the Sandstone NECK of the Metal Mountains: a rather + lower block, of Sandstone, intercalated into the Metal-Mountain range, + which otherwise, on both hands, is higher, and of harder rocks. Southward + (as SHOULDER to this sandstone NECK) lies, continuous, broad and high, the + "Metal-Mountain range" specially so called: northward and northeastward + there rise, beyond that Falkenberg, many mountains, solitary or in groups,—"the + Metal Mountains" fading out here into "the Lausitz Hills," still in fine + picturesque fashion, which are Northern Border to the great Bohemian + "Basin of the Elba," after you emerge from this Sandstone Country. + </p> + <p> + Saxon Switzerland is not very high anywhere; 2,000 feet is a notable + degree of height: but it is torn and tumbled into stone labyrinths, chasms + and winding rock-walls, as few regions are. Grows pinewood, to the topmost + height; pine-trees far aloft look quietly down upon you, over sheer + precipices, on your intricate path. On the slopes of the Hills is grass + enough; in the intervals are Villages and husbandries, are corn and milk + for the laborious natives,—who depend mainly on quarrying, and + pine-forest work: pines and free-stone, rafts of long slim pines, and big + stone barges, are what one sees upon the River there. A Note, not very + geological, says of it:— + </p> + <p> + "Elbe sweeps freely through this Country, for ages and aeons past; curling + himself a little into snake-figure, and with increased velocity, but + silent mostly, and trim to the edge, a fine flint-colored river;—though + in aeons long anterior, it must have been a very different matter for + torrents and water-power. The Country is one huge Block of Sandstone, so + many square miles of that material; ribbed, channelled, torn and quarried, + in this manner, by the ever-busy elements, for a million of Ages past! + Chiefly by the Elbe himself, since he got to be a River, and became cosmic + and personal; ceasing to be a mere watery chaos of Lakes and Deluges + hereabouts. For the Sandstone was of various degrees of hardness; + tenacious as marble some parts of it, soft almost as sand other parts. And + the primordial diluviums and world-old torrents, great and small, rushing + down from the Bohemian Highlands, from the Saxon Metal Mountains, with + such storming, gurgling and swashing, have swept away the soft parts, and + left the hard standing in this chaotic manner, and bequeathed it all to + the Elbe, and the common frosts and rains of these human ages. + </p> + <p> + "Elbe has now a trim course; but Elbe too is busy quarrying and mining, + where not artificially held in;—and you notice at every outlet of a + Brook from the interior, north side and south side, how busy the Brook has + been. Boring, grinding, undermining; much helped by the frosts, by the + rains. AEons ago, the Brook was a lake, in the interior; but was every + moment laboring to get out; till it has cut for itself that mountain + gullet, or sheer-down chasm, and brought out with it an Alluvium or Delta,—on + which, since Adam's time, human creatures have built a Hamlet. That is the + origin, or unwritten history, of most hamlets and cultivated spots you + fall in with here: they are the waste shavings of the Brook, working + millions of years, for its own object of getting into the Elbe in level + circumstances. Ploughed fields, not without fertility, are in the + interior, if you ascend that Brook; the Hamlet, at the delta or mouth of + it, is as if built upon its TONGUE and into its GULLET: think how + picturesque, in the November rains, for example! + </p> + <p> + "The road" one road, "from Dresden to Aussig, to Lobositz, Budin, Prag, + runs up the river-brink (south brink); or, in our day, as Prag-Dresden + Railway, thunders through those solitudes; strangely awakening their + echoes; and inviting even the bewildered Tourist to reflect, if he could. + The bewildered Tourist sees rock-walls heaven-high on both hands of him; + River and he rushing on between, by law of gravitation, law of ennui + (which are laws of Nature both), with a narrow strip of sky in full gallop + overhead; and has little encouragement to reflect, except upon his own + sorrows, and delirious circumstances, physical and moral. 'How much + happier, were I lying in my bed!' thinks the bewildered Tourist;—does + strive withal to admire the Picturesque, but with little success; notices + the 'BASTEI (Bastion),' and other rigorously prescribed points of the + Sublime and Beautiful, which are to be 'done.' That you will have to DO, + my friend: step out, you will have to go on that Pinnacle, with + indifferent Hotel attached; on that iron balcony, aloft among the clouds + yonder; and shudder to project over Elbe-flood from such altitudes, + admiring the Picturesque in prescribed manner. + </p> + <p> + "This Country has for its permanent uses, timber, free-stone, modicum of + milk and haver, serviceable to the generality;—and to his Polish + Majesty, at present, it is as the very Ark of Noah: priceless at this + juncture; being the strongest military country in the world. Excellent + strength in it; express Fortresses; especially one Fortress called the + Konigstein, not far from Schandau, of a towering precipitous nature, with + 'a well 900 feet deep' in it, and pleasant Village outside at the base;—Fortress + which is still, in our day, reckoned a safe place for the Saxon Archives + and preciosities. Impregnable to gunpowder artillery; not to be had except + by hunger. And then, farther down the River, close by Pirna, presiding + over Pirna, as that Konigstein in some sort does over Schandau, is the + Sonnenstein: Sonnenstein too was a Fortress in those days of Friedrich, + but not impregnable, if judged worth taking. The Austrians took it, a year + or two hence; Friedrich retook it, dismantled it: 'the Sonnenstein is now + a Madhouse,' say the Guide-books. + </p> + <p> + "Sonnenstein stands close east or up-stream of Pirna, which is a town of + 5,000 souls, by much the largest in those parts; Konigstein a little + down-stream of Schandau, which latter is on the opposite or north side of + the River. These are the two chief Towns, which do all the trade of this + region; picturesque places both:—the Tourist remembers Pirna? + Standing on its sleek table or stair-step, by the River's edge; well above + floodmark; green, shaggy or fringy mountains looking down on it to + rearward; in front, beyond the River, nothing visible but mile-long + cream-colored rock-wall, with bushes at bottom and top, wall quarried by + Elbe, as you can see. Pirna is near the beginning [properly END, but we + start from Dresden] or western extremity of Saxon Schweitz. Schandau, + almost at the opposite or eastern extremity, is still more picturesque; + standing on the delta of a little Brook, with high rock-cliffs, with + garden-shrubberies, sanded walks, tufts of forest-umbrage; a bright- + painted, almost OPERATIC-looking place,—with spa-waters, if I + recollect: "yes truly, and the "Bath Season" making its packages in great + haste, breaking up prematurely, this Year (1756)!— + </p> + <p> + Directly on arriving at Gross-Sedlitz, Friedrich takes ocular survey of + this Country, which is already not unknown to him. He finds that the + Saxons have secured themselves within the Mountains; a rocky streamlet, + Brook of Gottleube, which issues into Elbe just between Gross-Sedlitz and + them, "through a dell of eighty or a hundred feet deep," serving as their + first defence; well in front of the mere rocky Heights and precipices + behind it, which stretch continuously along to southward, six miles or + more, from Pirna and the south brink of Elbe. At Langen-Hennersdorf, which + is the southernmost part, these Heights make an elbow inwards, by + Leopoldshayn, towards the Konigstein, which is but four miles off; here + too the Saxons are defended by a Brook (running straight towards + Konigstein, this one) in front of their Heights; and stand defensive, in + this way, along a rock-bulwark of ten miles long: the passes all secured + by batteries, by abatis, palisades, mile after mile, as Friedrich rides + observant leftward: behind them, Elbe rushing swifter through his + rock-walls yonder, with chasms and intricate gorges; defending them + inexpugnably to rear. Six miles long of natural bulwark (six to + Hennersdorf), where the gross of the Saxons lie; then to Konigstein four + other miles, sufficiently, if more sparsely, beset by them. "No stronger + position in the world," Friedrich thinks; [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. + 83, 84 (not a very distinct Account; and far from accurate in the details,—which + are left without effectual correction even in the best Editions).]—and + that it is impossible to force this place, without a loss of life + disproportionate even to its importance at present. Not to say that the + Saxons will make terms all the easier, BEFORE bloodshed rise between us;—and + furthermore that Hunger (for we hear they have provision only for two + weeks) may itself soon do it. "Wedge them in, therefore; block every + outgate, every entrance; nothing to get in, except gradually Hunger. + Hunger, and on our part rational Offers, will suffice." That is + Friedrich's plan; good in itself,—though the ovine obstinacy, and + other circumstances, retarded the execution of it to an unexpected extent, + lamentable to Friedrich and to some others. + </p> + <p> + The Prussian-Saxon military operations for the next five weeks need not + detain us. Their respective positions on the Heights behind that Brook + Gottleube, and on the plainer Country in front of it,— + </p> + <p> + How the Prussians lie, first Division of them, from Gross-Sedlitz to + Zehist, under the King; then second Division from Zehist to Cotta, and + onward by "the Rothschenke" (RED-HOUSE Tavern), by Markersbach, and + sparsely as far as Hellendorf on the Prag Highway; in brief, where all the + Divisions of them lie, and under whom; and where the Prussians, watching + Elbe itself, have Batteries and Posts on the north side of it: all this is + marked on the Map;—to satisfy ingenuous curiosity, should it make + tour in those parts. To which add only these straggles of Note, as farther + elucidative:— + </p> + <p> + "The Saxons, between Elbe and their Lines, possess about thirty square + miles of country. From Pirna or Sonnenstein to Konigstein, as the crow + flies, may be five miles east to west; but by Langen-Hennersdorf, and the + elbow there, it will be ten: at Konigstein, moreover, Elbe makes an abrupt + turn northward for a couple of miles, instead of westward as heretofore, + turning abruptly westward again after that: so that the Saxon 'Camp' or + Occupancy here, is an irregular Trapezium, with Pirna and Konigstein for + vertices, and with area estimable as above,—ploughable, a fair + portion of it, and not without corn of its own. So that the 'two weeks' + provision' spun themselves out (short allowance aiding) to two months, + before actual famine came. + </p> + <p> + ... "The High-road from the Lausitz parts crosses Elbe at Pirna; falls + into the Dresden-Prag High-road there; and from Pirna towards Toplitz, for + the first few miles, this latter runs through the Prussian Posts; but we + may guess it is not much travelled at present. North of Elbe, too, the + Prussians have batteries on the fit points; detachments of due force, from + Gross-Sedlitz Bridge-of-Pontoons all round to Schandau, or beyond; could + fire upon the Konigstein, across the River: they have plugged up the Saxon + position everywhere. They have a Battery especially, and strong post, to + cannonade the Bridge at Pirna, should the Saxons think of trying there. It + is now the one Saxon or even Half-Saxon Bridge; Sonnenstein and Pirna + command the Saxon end of it, a strong battery the Prussian end: a Bridge + lying mainly idle, like the general Highway to Toplitz at this time. + Beyond the Konigstein, again, at a place called Wendisch-Fahre + (WENDS'-FERRY), the Prussians have, by means of boats swinging wide at + anchor on the swift current, what is called a Flying-bridge, with which + the north side can communicate with the south. They have a post at + Nieder-Raden (OBER Raden, railway station in our time, is on the south + side): Nether Raden is an interesting little Hamlet, mostly invisible to + mankind (built in the THROAT of the stone chasms there), from which you + begin mounting to the BASTEI far aloft. A Raden to be noted, by the + Tourist and us." + </p> + <p> + Little, or even nothing, of fighting there is: why should there be? The + military operations are a dead-lock, and require no word. Thirty thousand, + half of the Prussian Force, lie, vigilant as lynxes, blockading here; + other half, 32,000, under Marshal Keith, have marched forward to Aussig, + to Nollendorf on the Bohemian frontier, to clear the ways, and look into + any Austrian motion thereabouts,—with whom, with some Pandour + detachment of whom, Duke Ferdinand, leading the vanguard, has had a little + brush among the Hills; smiting them home again, in his usual creditable + way (September 13th); and taking Camp at Peterswalde, he and others of the + Force, that night. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> iv. 85; ANONYMOUS OF + HAMBURG, i. 19.] It is with this Keith Army, with this if with any, that + adventures are to be looked for at present. + </p> + <p> + Polish Majesty's Head-quarters are at Struppen, well in the centre of the + Saxon lines; "goes always to the Konigstein to sleep." Polish Majesty's + own table is, by Friedrich's permission for that special object, supplied + AD LIBITUM: but the common men were at once put on short allowance, which + grows always the shorter. Polish Majesty corresponds with Friedrich, as we + saw; and above all, sends burning Messages to Austria, to France, to every + European Court, charged with mere shrieks: "Help me; a robber has me!" In + which sense, Excellencies of all kinds, especially one Lord Stormont, the + English Excellency, daily running out from Dresden to Gross-Sedlitz, are + passionately industrious with Friedrich; who is eager enough to comply, + were there any safe means possible. But there are none. Unfortunately, + too, it appears the Austrians are astir; Feldmarschall Browne actually + furbishing himself at Prag yonder with an eye hitherward, and + extraordinary haste and spirit shown: which obliges Friedrich to rise in + his demands; ovine obstinacy, on the other side, naturally increasing from + the same cause. + </p> + <p> + "Polish Majesty, we say, has liberty to bring in proviant for self and + suite, rigorously for no mortal more; and he lives well, in the culinary + sense,—surely for most part 'in his dressing-gown,' too, poor loose + collapsed soul! Bruhl and he have plenty of formal business: but their one + real business is that of crying, by estafettes and every conceivable + method, to Austria, 'Get us out of this!' To which Austria has answered, + 'Yes; only patience, and be steady!'—Friedrich's head-quarters are + at Sedlitz; and the negotiating and responding which he has, transcends + imagination. His first hope was, Polish Majesty might be persuaded to join + with him;—on the back of that, certainty, gradually coming, that + Polish Majesty never would; and that the Austrians would endeavor a + rescue, were they once ready. Starvation, or the Austrians, which will be + first here? is the question; and Friedrich studies to think it will be the + former. At all events, having settled on the starvation method, and seen + that all his posts are right, we perceive he does not stick close by + Sedlitz; but runs now hither now thither; is at Torgau, where an important + establishment, kind of New Government for Saxony, on the Finance side, is + organizing itself. What his work with Ambassadors was, and how delicate + the handling needed, think!"—Here is another Clipping:— + </p> + <p> + ... "Polish Majesty passes the day at Struppen, amid many vain noises of + Soldiering, of Diplomatizing; the night always at Konigstein, and finally + both day and night,—quite luxuriously accommodated, Bruhl and he, to + the very end of this Affair. Towards Struppen [this is weeks farther on, + but we give it here],—Comte de Broglio [Old Broglio's elder Son, + younger is in the Military line], who is Ambassador to his Saxon-Polish + Majesty, sets out from Dresden for an interview with said Majesty. At the + Prussian lines, he is informed, 'Yes, you can go; but, without our King's + Order, you cannot return.' 'What? The Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador, + and treated in this way? I will go to where the Polish King is, and I will + return to my own King, so often as I find business: stop me at your + peril!' and threatened and argued, and made a deal of blusterous noise;—far + too much, thinks Valori; think the Prussian Officers, who are sorry, but + inflexible. Margraf Karl, Commandant of the place, in absence of King + Friedrich (who is gone lately, on a Business we shall hear of), earnestly + dissuaded Excellency Broglio; but it was to no purpose. Next day Broglio + appeared in his state-carriage, formally demanding entrance, free + thoroughfare: 'Do you dare refuse me?' 'Yes,' answered Margraf Karl; 'we + do and must.' Indignant Broglio reappeared, next day, on foot; + Lieutenant-General Prince Friedrich Eugen of Wurtemberg the chief man in + charge: 'Do you dare?' 'Indubitably, Yes;'—and Broglio still pushing + on incredulous, Eugen actually raised his arm,—elbow and fore-arm + across the breast of Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador,—who + recoiled, to Dresden, in mere whirlwinds of fire; and made the most of it + [unwisely, thinks Valori] in writing to Court. [Valori, ii. 349, 209, 353 + ("Wednesday, 6th October," the day of it, seemingly); ib. i. 312, &c.] + Court, in high dudgeon, commanded Valori to quit Berlin without taking + leave. Valori, in his private capacity, wrote an Adieu; [Friedrich's kind + Letter in answer to it, "2d November, 1756," in Valori, i. 313.] and in + his public, as the fact stood, That he was gone without Adieu." + </p> + <p> + And the Dauphiness, daughter of those injured Polish Majesties, fell on + her knees (Pompadour permitting and encouraging) at the feet of Most + Christian Majesty; on her knees, all in passion of tears; craved help and + protection to her loved old Mother, in the name of Nature and of all + Kings: could any King resist? And his Pompadour was busy: "Think of that + noble Empress, who calls me COUSIN AND DEAR PRINCESS; think of that + insolent Prussian Robber: Ah, your Majesty:"-and King Louis, though not a + hating man, did privately dislike Friedrich; and evil speeches of + Friedrich's had been reported to him. And, in short, the upshot was: King + Louis, bound only to 24,000 for help of Austria, determined to send, and + did send, above 100,000 across the Rhine, next Year, for that object; as + will be seen. And all Frenchmen—all except Belleisle, who is old—are + charmed with these new energetic measures, and beautiful new Austrian + connections. + </p> + <p> + Certain it is, the Austrians are coming, her Imperial Majesty bent with + all her might on relief of those Saxon martyrs; which indeed is relief of + herself, as she well perceives: "Courage, my friends; endure yet a + little!" Messengers smuggle themselves through the Mountain paths, and go + and return, though with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + Since September 19th, the Correspondence with Polish Majesty has ceased: + no persuading of the Polish Majesty. Winterfeld went twice to him; + conferred at large, Bruhl forbidden to be there, on the actual + stringencies and urgencies of Fact between the Two Countries; but it was + with no result at all. Polish Majesty has not the least intention that + Saxony shall be even a Highway for Friedrich, if at any time Polish + Majesty can hinder it: "Neutrality," therefore, will not do for Friedrich; + he demands Alliance, practical Partnership; and to that his Polish Majesty + is completely abhorrent. Diplomatizing may cease; nothing but wrestle of + fight will settle this matter. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, able to get nothing from the Sovereign of Saxony, is reduced to + grasp Saxony itself: and we can observe him doing it; always the closer, + always the more carefully, as the complicacy deepens, and the obstinacy + becomes more dangerous and provoking. What alternative is there? On first + entering Saxony, Friedrich had made no secret that he was not a mere bird + of passage there. At Torgau, there was at once a "Field-Commissariat" + established, with Prussian Officials of eminence to administer, the + Military Chest to be deposited there, and Torgau to be put in a state of + defence. Torgau, our Saxon Metropolis of War-Finance, is becoming more and + more the Metropolis of Saxon Finance in general. Saxon Officials were + liable, from the first, to be suspended, on Friedrich's order. Saxon + Finance-Officials, of all kinds, were from the first instructed, that till + farther notice there must be no disbursements without King Friedrich's + sanction. And, in fact, King Friedrich fully intends that Saxony is to + help him all it can; and that it either will or else shall, in this dire + pressure of perplexity, which is due in such a degree to the conduct of + the Saxon Government for twelve years past. Would Saxony go with him in + any form of consent, how much more convenient to Friedrich! But Saxony + will not; Polish Majesty, not himself suffering hunger, is obstinate as + the decrees of Fate (or as sheep, when too much put upon), regardless of + considerations;—and, in fine, here is Browne actually afoot; coming + to relieve Polish Majesty!—The Austrians had uncommonly bestirred + themselves:— + </p> + <p> + The activity, the zeal of all ranks, ever since this expedition into + Saxony, and clutching of Saxony by the throat, contemporary witnesses + declare to have been extraordinary. "Horses for Piccolomini's Cavalry,—they + had scarcely got their horses, not to speak of training them, not to speak + of cannon and the heavier requisites, when Schwerin began marching out of + Glatz on Piccolomini. As to the cannon for Browne and him, draught-cattle + seem absolutely unprocurable. Whereupon Maria Theresa flings open her own + Imperial Studs: 'There, yoke these to our cannon; let them go their + swiftest;'—which awoke such an enthusiasm, that noblemen and + peasants crowded forward with their coach-horses and their cart-horses, to + relay Browne, all through Bohemia, at different stages; and the cannon and + equipments move to their places at the gallop, in a manner," [Archenholtz, + i. 24.]—and even Browne, at the base of the Metal Mountains, has got + most of his equipments. And is astir towards Pirna (Army of 60,000, rumor + says), for relief of the Saxon martyrs. Friedrich's complexities are + getting day by day more stringent. + </p> + <p> + From the middle of September, Marshal Keith, as was observed, with Half of + the Prussians, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him, has been on the + Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the roads, towns and + passes thereabouts, and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne from + the interior parts. Town of Aussig, and the River-road (castle of + Tetschen, on its high rock known to Tourists, which always needs to be + taken on such occasions), these Keith has secured. Lies encamped from + Peterswalde to Aussig, the middle or main strength of him being in the + Hamlet of Johnsdorf (discoverable, if readers like): there lies Keith, + fifteen miles in length; like a strap, or bar, thrown across the back of + that Metal-Mountain Range,—or part of its back; for the range is + very broad, and there is much inequality, and many troughs, big and + little, partial and general, in the crossing of it. A tract which my + readers and I have crossed before now, by the "Pascopol" or Post-road and + otherwise; and shall often have to cross! + </p> + <p> + Browne, vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments coming by + relays at such a pace), is daily advancing, with his best speed: in the + last days of September, Browne is encamped at Budin; may cross the Eger + River any day, and will then be within two marches of Keith. His + intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed and sure; but the plan or route + he will take is unknown to everybody, and indeed to Browne himself, till + he see near at hand and consider. Browne's problem, he himself knows, is + abundantly abstruse,—bordering on the impossible; but he will try + his best. To get within reach of the Saxons is almost impossible to + Browne, even were there no Keith there. As good as impossible altogether, + by any line of march, while Keith is afoot in those parts. By Aussig, down + the River, straight for the interior of their Camp, it is flatly + impossible: by the south or southeast corner of their Camp (Gottleube + way), or by the northeast (by Schandau way, right bank of Elbe), it is + virtually so,—at least without beating Keith. Could one beat Keith + indeed;—but that will not be easy! And that, unluckily, is the + preliminary to everything. + </p> + <p> + "By the Hellendorf-Hennersdorf side, in the wastes where Gottleube Brook + gathers itself, Browne might have a chance. There, on that southeast + corner of their Camp, were he once there to attack the Prussians from + without, while the Saxons burst up from within,—there," thinks a + good judge, "is much the favorablest place. But unless Browne's Army had + wings, how is it ever to get there? Across those Metal-Mountain ranges, + barred by Keith:—by Aussig, with the rocks overhanging Elbe River + and him, he cannot go in any case. Were there no Keith, indeed (but there + always is, standing ready on the spring), one might hold to leftward, and + by stolen marches, swift, far round about—! + </p> + <p> + "By Schandau region, north side of the Elbe, is Browne's easiest, and + indeed one feasible, point of approach,—no Prussians at present + between him and that; the road open, though a far circuit northward for + Browne,—were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle, and march + with velocity? That too will be difficult,—nearly impossible in + sight of Keith. And were that even done, the egress for the Saxons, by + Schandau side, is through strait mountain gorges, intricate steep passes, + crossings of the Elbe: what force of Saxons or of Austrians will drive the + Prussians from their redoubts and batteries there?" [<i>OEuvres de + Frederic,</i> iv. 86, 93, 96.] + </p> + <p> + Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest: but his orders are strict, + "Relieve the Saxons, at all risks." And Browne, one of the ablest soldiers + living ("Your Imperial Majesty's best general," said the dying + Khevenhuller long since), will do his utmost upon it. Friedrich does not + think the enterprise very dangerous,—beating of Keith the + indispensable preliminary to it; but will naturally himself go and look + into it. + </p> + <p> + Tuesday, September 28th, Friedrich quits Pirna Country by the Prag + Highway; making due inspection of his Posts as he goes along; and, the + outmost of these once past, drives rapidly up the Mountains; gets, with + small escort, through Peterswalde on to Johnsdorf that night. Does not + think this Keith position good; breaks up this "Camp of Johnsdorf" bodily + next morning; and marches down the Mountains, direct towards Browne; who, + we hear, is about crossing the Eger (his Pontoons now come at last), and + will himself be on the advance. From Turmitz, a poor mountain hamlet in + the hollow of the Hills, which is head-quarters that night, the march + proceeds again; Friedrich with the vanguard; Army, I think, on various + country-roads, on both hands; till all get upon the Great Road again,—Prag-Toplitz-Dresden + Post-road; which is called, specially in this part of it, and loosely in + whole, "The Pascopol," and leads down direct to Budin and Browne. + </p> + <p> + "A 'Pascopol' famed in military annals," says our Tourist. "It is a road + with many windings, many precipitous sweeps of up and down; road + precipitous in structure;—offers views to the lover of wild Nature: + huge lonesome Hills scattered in the distance; waste expanses nearer hand, + and futile attempts at moorish agriculture; but little else that is + comfortable. In times of Peace, you will meet, at long intervals, some + post-vehicle struggling forward under melancholy circumstances; some cart, + or dilapidated mongrel between cart and basket, with a lean ox harnessed + to it, and scarecrow driver, laden with pit-coal,—which you wish + safe home, and that the scarecrow were getting warmed by it. But in + War-time the steep road is livelier; the common Invasion road between + Saxony and Bohemia; whole Armies sweeping over it, and their thousand-fold + wagons and noises making clangor enough. ... One of those Hollows, on the + Pascopol, is Joachimsthal, with its old Silver Mines; yielding coins which + were in request with traders, the silver being fine. 'Let my ducat be a + Joachimsthal one, then!' the old trader would say: 'a JOACHIMSTHAL-ER;' + or, for brevity, a 'THAL-ER;' whence THALER, and at last DOLLAR (almighty + and otherwise),—now going round the world! [Busching, <i>Erdbeschreibung,</i>v. + 178.] Pascopol finishes in Welmina Township. From the last hamlet in + Welmina, at the neck of the last Hill, step downward one mile, holding + rather to the left, you will come on the innocent Village of Lobositz, its + poor corn-mills and huckster-shops all peaceably unknown as yet, which is + soon to become very famous." + </p> + <p> + The Country-roads where Friedrich's Army is on march, I should think, are + mostly on the mounting hand. For here, from Turmitz, is a trough again; + though the last considerable one; and on the crest of that, we shall look + down upon the Bohemian Plains and the grand Basin of the Elbe,—through + various scrubby villages which are not nameworthy; through one called + Kletschen, which for a certain reason is. Crossing the shoulder of + Kletschenberg (HILL of this Kletschen), which abuts upon the Pascopol,—yonder + in bright sunshine is your beautiful expansive Basin of the Elbe, and the + green Bohemian Plains, revealed for a moment. Friedrich snatches his + glass, not with picturesque object: "See, yonder is Feldmarschall Browne, + then! In camp yonder, down by Lobositz, not ten miles from us,—[it + is most true; Browne marched this morning, long before the Sun; crossed + Eger, and pitched camp at noon]—Good!" thinks Friedrich. And pushes + down into the Pascopol, into the hollows and minor troughs, which hide + Browne henceforth, till we are quite near. + </p> + <p> + Quite near, through Welmina and a certain final gap of the Hills, + Friedrich with the vanguard does emerge, "an hour before sunset;" + overhanging Browne; not above a mile from the Camp of Browne. A very large + Camp, that of Browne's, flanked to right by the Elbe; goes from Sulowitz, + through Lobositz, to Welhoten close on Elbe;—and has properties + extremely well worth studying just now! "Friedrich" the Books say, + "bivouacs by a fire of sticks," short way down on the southern slope of + the Hill; and till sunset and after, has eye-glass, brain, and faculties + and activities sufficiently occupied for the rest of the night;—his + Divisions gradually taking post behind him, under arms; "not till + midnight, the very rearmost of them." ["Tuesday, 28th September, left the + Camp at Sedlitz, with 8 battalions 20 squadrons, to Johnsdorf: 29th, to + Turmitz,—Browne is to pass the Eger tomorrow. From the tops of the + Pascopol (30th), SEE an Austrian Camp in the Plain of Lobositz. Vanguard + bivouacs in the 'neck' of the two Hills or a little beyond." PRUSSIAN + ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN 1756 (in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten</i>, i. 844-845, + 840-858); Anonymous of Hamburg; &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI.—BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. + </h2> + <p> + Welmina,—or Reschni-Aujest, last pertinent of Welmina (but we will + take Friedrich's name for it), offers to the scrutinizing eye nothing, in + our day, but some bewildered memory of "Alte Fritz" clinging obstinately + even to the Peasant mind thereabouts. A sleepy littery place; some biggish + haggard untrimmed trees, some broken-backed sleepy-looking thatched + houses, not in contact, and each as far as might be with its back turned + on the other, and cloaked in its own litter and privacy. Probably no human + creature will be visible, as you pass through. Much straw lying about, + chiefly where the few gaunt trees look down on it (cattle glad of any + shelter): in fact, it is mainly an extinct tumult of straw; nothing alive, + as you pass, but a few poor oxen languidly sauntering up and down, finding + much to trample, little to eat. The Czech Populations (were it not for + that "Question of the Nationalities") are not very beautiful! + </p> + <p> + Close south of this poor Hamlet is a big Hill, conspicuous with three + peaks; quite at the other base of which, a good way down, lies Lobositz, + the main Village in those parts; a place now of assiduous corn-mill and + fruit trade; and one of the stations on the Dresden-Prag Railway. This + Hill is what Lloyd calls the Lobosch; [Major-General Lloyd, <i>History of + the late War in Germany, </i>1756-1759 (3 vols. 4to, London, 1781), i. + 2-11.] twin to which, only flatter, is Lloyd's "Homolka Hill" (Hill of + RADOSTITZ in more modern Plans and Books). Conspicuous Heights, and + important to us here,—though I did not find the Peasants much know + them under those names. By the southern shoulder of this Lobosch Hill runs + the road from Welmina to Lobositz, with branches towards many other + villages. To your right or southern hand, short way southward, rises the + other Hill, which Lloyd calls Homolka Hill; the gap or interval between + Homolka and Lobosch, perhaps a furlong in extent, is essentially the PASS + through those uplands. This pass, Friedrich, at the first moment, made + sure of; filling the same with battalions, there to bivouac. He likewise + promptly laid hold of the two Hills, high Lobosch to his left, and lower + Homolka to right; which precautionary measure it is reckoned a fault in + Browne to have neglected, that night; fault for which he smarted on the + morrow. + </p> + <p> + From this upland pass, or neck between the two Mountains, Friedrich's + battalions would have had a fine view, had the morning shone for them: + Lobositz, Leitmeritz, Melnick; a great fertile Valley, or expanse of + fruitful country, many miles in breadth and length; Elbe, like a silver + stripe, winding grandly through the finest of all his countries, before + ducking himself into the rock-tumults of that Pirna district. The mountain + gorges of Prag and Moldau River, south of Melnick, lie hidden under the + horizon, or visible only as peaks, thirty miles and more to southeastward; + a bright country intervening, sprinkled with steepled towns. To + northwestward, far away, are the Lausitz Mountains, ranked in loose order, + but massive, making a kind of range: and as outposts to them in their + scattered state, Hills of good height and aspect are scattered all about, + and break the uniformity of the Plain. Nowhere in North Germany could the + Prussian battalions have a finer view,—if the morning were fine, and + if views were their object. + </p> + <p> + The morning, first in October, was not fine; and it was far other than + scenery that the Prussian battalions had in hand!—Friday, 1st + October, 1756, Day should have broken: but where is day? At seven in the + morning (and on till eleven), thick mist lay over the plain; thin fog to + the very hill-tops; so that you cannot see a hundred yards ahead. Lobositz + is visible only as through a crape; farther on, nothing but gray sea; + under which, what the Austrians are doing, or whether there are any + Austrians, who can say? Leftward on the Lobosch-Hill side, as we + reconnoitre, some Pandours are noticeable, nestled in the vineyards there:—that + sunward side of the Lobosch is all vineyards, belonging to the different + Lobositzers: scrubby vineyards, all in a brown plucked state at this + season. Vineyards parted by low stone walls, say three or four feet high + (parted by hurdles, or by tiny trenches, in our day, and the stone walls + mere stone facings): there are the Pandours crouched, and give fire in a + kneeling posture when you approach. Lower down, near Lobositz itself, + flickerings as of Horse squadrons, probably Hussar parties, twinkle + dubious in the wavering mist. Problem wrapt in mist; nothing to be seen; + and all depends on judging it with accuracy! Seven by the clock: Deploy, + at any rate; let us cover our post; and be in readiness for events. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's vanguard of itself nearly fills that neck, or space between + the Lobosch and Homolka Hills. He spreads his Infantry and "hundred + field-pieces," in part, rightwards along the Homolka Hill; but chiefly + leftwards along the Lobosch, where their nearest duty is to drive off + those Pandours. Always as a new battalion, pushing farther leftward, comes + upon its ground, the Pandours give fire on it;—and it on the + Pandours; till the Left Wing is complete, and all the Lobosch is, in this + manner, a crackling of Pandour musketry, and anti-musketry. Right Wing, + steady to its guns on the Homolka, has as yet nothing to do. Those wings + of Infantry are two lines deep; the Cavalry, in three lines, is between + them in the centre; no room for Cavalry elsewhere, except on the outskirts + some fringing of light horse, to be ready for emergencies. + </p> + <p> + The Pandour firing, except for the noise of it, does not amount to much; + they can take no aim, says Lloyd, crouching behind their stone fences; and + the Prussian Battalions, steadily pushing downwards, trample out their + sputtering, and clear the Lobosch of them to a safe distance. But the + ground is intricate, so wrapt in mist for the present. That crackling + lasts for hours; decisive of nothing; and the mist also, and one's anxious + guessings and scrutinizings, lasts in a wavering fitful manner. + </p> + <p> + Once, for some time, in the wavering of the mist, there was seen, down in + the plain opposite our centre, a body of Cavalry. Horse for certain: say + ten squadrons of them, or 1,500 Horse; continually manoeuvring, changing + shape; now in more ranks, now in fewer; sometimes "checkerwise," formed + like a draught-board; shooting out wings: they career about, one sees not + whither, or vanish again into the mist behind. "Browne's rear-guard this, + that we are come upon," thinks Friedrich; "these squatted Pandours, backed + by Horse, must be his rear-guard, that are amusing us: Browne and the Army + are off; crossing the Elbe, hastening towards the Schandau, the Pirna + quarter, while we stand bickering and idly sputtering here!"—Weary + of such idle business, Friedrich orders forward Twenty of his Squadrons + from the centre station: "Charge me those Austrian Horse, and let us + finish this." The Twenty Squadrons, preceded by a pair of field-pieces, + move down hill; storm in upon the Austrian party, storm it furiously into + the mist; are furiously chasing it,—when unexpected + cannon-batteries, destructive case-shot, awaken on their left flank + (batteries from Lobositz, one may guess); and force them to draw back. To + draw back, with some loss; and rank again, in an indignantly blown + condition, at the foot of their Hill. Indignant; after brief breathing, + they try it once more. + </p> + <p> + "Don't try it!" Friedrich had sent out to tell them: for the mist was + clearing; and Friedrich, on the higher ground, saw new important + phenomena: but it was too late. For the Twenty Squadrons are again dashing + forward; sweeping down whatever is before them: in spite of + cannon-volleys, they plunge deeper and deeper into the mist; come upon "a + ditch twelve feet broad" (big swampy drain, such as are still found there, + grass-green in summer-time); clear said ditch; forward still deeper into + the mist: and after three hundred yards, come upon a second far worse + "ditch;" plainly impassable this one,—"ditch" they call it, though + it is in fact a vile sedgy Brook, oozing along there (the MORELL BACH, + considerable Brook, lazily wandering towards Lobositz, where it + disembogues in rather swifter fashion);—and are saluted with cannon, + from the farther side; and see serried ranks under the gauze of mist: + Browne's Army, in fact! The Twenty Squadrons have to recoil out of + shot-range, the faster, the better; with a loss of a good many men, in + those two charges. Friedrich orders them up Hill again; much regretful of + this second charge, which he wished to hinder; and posts them to rearward,—where + they stand silent, the unconscious stoic-philosophers in buff, and have + little farther service through the rest of the day. + </p> + <p> + It is now 11 o'clock; the mist all clearing off; and Friedrich, before + that second charge, had a growing view of the Plain and its condition. + Beyond question, there is Browne; not in retreat, by any means; but in + full array; numerous, and his position very strong. Ranked, unattackable + mostly, behind that oozy Brook, or BACH of Morell; which has only two + narrow Bridges, cannon plenty on both: one Bridge from the south parts to + Sulowitz (OUR road to Sulowitz and it would be by Radostitz and the + Homolka); and then one other Bridge, connecting Sulowitz with Lobositz,—which + latter is Browne's own Bridge, uniting right wing and left of Browne, so + to speak; and is still more unattackable, in the circumstances. What will + Friedrich decide on attempting? + </p> + <p> + That oozy Morell Brook issues on Browne's side of Lobositz, cutting Browne + in two; but is otherwise all in Browne's favor. Browne extends through + Lobositz; and beyond it, curves up to Welhoten on the River-brink; at + Lobositz are visible considerable redoubts, cannon-batteries and much + regular infantry. Browne will be difficult to force yonder, in the + Lobositz part; but yonder alone can he be tried. He is pushing up more + Infantry that way; conscious probably of that fact,—and that the + Lobosch Hill is not his, but another's. What would not Browne now give for + the Lobosch Hill! Yesternight he might have had it gratis, in a manner; + and indeed did try slightly, with his Pandour people (durst not at greater + expense),—who have now ceased sputtering, and cower extinct in the + lower vineyards there. Browne, at any rate, is rapidly strengthening his + right wing, which has hold of Lobositz; pushing forward in that quarter,—where + the Brook withal is of firmer bottom and more wadable. Thither too is + Friedrich bent. So that Lobositz is now the key of the Battle; there will + the tug of war now be. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's cavalry is gone all to rearward. His right wing holds the + Homolka Hill,—that too would now be valuable to Browne; and cannot + be had gratis, as yesternight! Friedrich's left wing is on the Lobosch; + Pandours pretty well extinct before it, but now from Welhoten quarter new + Regulars coming on thither,—as if Browne would still take the + Lobosch? Which would be victory to him; but is not now possible to Browne. + Nor will long seem so;—Friedrich having other work in view for him;—meaning + now to take Lobositz, instead of losing the Lobosch to him! Friedrich + pushes out his Left Wing still farther leftward, leftward and downward + withal, to clear those vineyard-fences completely of their occupants, + Pandour or Regular, old or new. This is done; the vineyard-fences swept;—and + the sweepings driven, in a more and more stormy fashion, towards Welhoten + and Lobositz; the Lobosch falling quite desperate for Browne. + </p> + <p> + Henceforth Friedrich directs all his industry to taking Lobositz; Browne, + to the defending of it, which he does with great vigor and fire; his + batteries, redoubts, doing their uttermost, and his battalions rushing on, + mass of them after mass, at quick march, obstinate, fierce to a degree, in + the height of temper; and showing such fight as we never had of them + before. Friedrich's Left Wing and Browne's Right now have it to decide + between them;—any attempt Browne makes with his Left through + Sulowitz (as he once did, and once only) is instantly repressed by cannon + from the Homolka Hill. And the rest of the Battle, or rather the Battle + itself,—for all hitherto has been pickeering and groping in the + mist,—may be made conceivable in few words. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich orders the second line of his Left Wing to march up and join + with the first; Right Wing, shoving ITS two lines into one, is now to + cover the Lobosch as well. Left Wing, in condensed condition, shall fall + down on Lobositz, and do its best. They are now clear of the + vineyard-works; the ground is leveller, though still sloping,—a + three furlongs from the Village, and somewhat towards the Elbe, when + Browne's battalions first came extensively to close grips; fierce enough + (as was said); the toughest wrestle yet had with those Austrians,—coming + on with steady fury, under such force of cannon; with iron ramrods too, + and improved ways, like our own. But nothing could avail them; the + counter-fury being so great. They had to go at the Welhoten part, and even + to run,—plunging into Elbe, a good few of them, and drowning there, + in the vain hope to swim. "Never have my troops," says Friedrich, "done + such miracles of valor, cavalry as well as infantry, since I had the honor + to command them. By this dead-lift achievement (TOUR DE FORCE) I have seen + what they can do." [Letter to Schwerin, "Lobositz, 2d August, 1756" + (Retzow, i. 64); RELATION DE LA CAMPAGNE, 1756, that is, PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT + (in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten), </i>i. 848. Lloyd, UT SUPRA, i. 2-11 (who + has solid information at first hand, having been an actor in these Wars. A + man of great natural sagacity and insight; decidedly luminous and + original, though of somewhat crabbed temper now and then; a man well worth + hearing on this and on whatever else he handles). Tempelhof, GESCHICHTE + DES SIEBENJAHRIGEN KRIEGES (which is at first a mere Translation of Lloyd, + nothing new in it but certain notes and criticisms on Lloyd; when Lloyd + ends, Tempelhof, Prussian Major and Professor, a learned, intelligent, but + diffuse man, of far inferior talent to Lloyd, continues and completes on + his own footing: six very thin 4tos, Berlin, 1794), i. 38 (Battle, with + FOOTNOTES), and ib. 51 (CRITICISM of Lloyd). Prussian and Austrian + Accounts in <i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 800 et seq. Many Narratives in + FELDZUGE, and the BEYLAGE to Seyfarth; &c. &c.] + </p> + <p> + In fine, after some three hours more of desperate tugging and struggling, + cannon on both sides going at a great rate, and infinite musketry ("ninety + cartridges a man on our Prussian side, and ammunition falling done"), not + without bayonet-pushings, and smitings with the butt of your musket, the + Austrians are driven into Lobositz; are furiously pushed there, and, in + spite of new battalions coming to the rescue, are fairly pushed through. + These Village-streets are too narrow for new battalions from Browne; "much + of the Village should have been burnt beforehand," say cool judges. And + now, sure enough, it does get burnt; Lobositz is now all on fire, by + Prussian industry. So that the Austrians have to quit it instantly; and + rush off in great disorder; key of the Battle, or Battle itself, quite + lost to them. + </p> + <p> + The Prussian infantry, led by the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern ("Governor of + Stettin," one of the Duke-Ferdinand cousinry, frugal and valiant), gave + the highest satisfaction; seldom was such firing, such furious pushing; + they had spent ninety cartridges a man; were at last quite out of + cartridges; so that Bevern had to say, "Strike in with bayonets, MEINE + KINDER; butt-ends, or what we have; HERAN!" Our Grenadiers were mainly + they that burnt Lobositz. "How salutary now would it have been," says + Epimetheus Lloyd, "had Browne had a small battery on the other side of the + Elbe;" whereby he might have taken them in flank, and shorn them into the + wind! Epimetheus marks this battery on his Plan; and is wise behindhand, + at a cheap rate. + </p> + <p> + Browne's Right Wing, and probably his Army with it, would have gone much + to perdition, now that Lobositz was become Prussian,—had not Browne, + in the nick of the moment, made a masterly movement: pushed forward his + Centre and Left Wing, numerous battalions still fresh, to interpose + between the chasing Prussians and those fugitives. The Prussians, infantry + only, cannot chase on such terms; the Prussian cavalry, we know, is far + rearward on the high ground. Browne retires a mile or two,—southward, + Budin-ward,—not chased; and there halts, and rearranges himself; + thinking what farther he will do. His aim in fighting had only been to + defend himself; and in that humble aim he has failed. Chase of the + Prussians over that Homolka-Lobosch country, with the high grounds + rearward and the Metal Mountains in their hands, he could in no event have + attempted. + </p> + <p> + The question now is: Will he go back to Budin; or will he try farther + towards Schandau? Nature points to the former course, in such + circumstances; Friedrich, by way of assisting, does a thing much admired + by Lloyd;—detaches Bevern with a strong party southward, out of + Lobositz, which is now his, to lay hold of Tschirskowitz, lying + Budin-ward, but beyond the Budin Road. Which feat, when Browne hears of + it, means to him, "Going to cut me off from Budin, then? From my + ammunition-stores, from my very bread-cupboard!" And he marches that same + midnight, silently, in good order, back to Budin. He is not much ruined; + nay the Prussian loss is numerically greater: "3,308 killed and wounded, + on the Prussian side; on the Austrian, 2,984, with three cannon taken and + two standards." Not ruined at all; but foiled, frustrated; and has to + devise earnestly, "What next?" Once rearranged, he may still try. + </p> + <p> + The Battle lasted seven hours; the last four of it very hot, till Lobositz + was won and lost. It was about 5 P.M. when Browne fired his + retreat-cannon:—cannon happened to be loaded (say the + Anecdote-Books, mythically given now and then); Friedrich, wearied enough, + had flung himself into his carriage for a moment's rest, or thankful + reflection; and of all places, the ball of the retreat-cannon lighted + THERE. Between Friedrich's feet, as he lay reclining,—say the + Anecdote-Books, whom nobody is bound to believe. + </p> + <p> + On the strength of those two Prussian charges, which had retired from + case-shot on their flank, and had not wings, for getting over sedge and + ooze, Austria pretended to claim the victory. "Two charges repelled by our + gallant horse; Lobositz, indeed, was got on fire, and we had nothing for + it but to withdraw; but we took a new position, and only left that for + want of water;"—with the like excuses. "Essentially a clear + victory," said the Austrians; and sang TE-DEUM about it;—but + profited nothing by that piece of melody. The fact, considerable or not, + was, from the first, too undeniable: Browne beaten from the field. And + beaten from his attempt too (the Saxons not relievable by this method); + and lies quiet in Budin again,—with his water sure to him; but what + other advantages gained? + </p> + <p> + Here are two Letters, brief both, which we may as well read:— + </p> + <p> + 1. FRIEDRICH TO WILHELMINA (at Baireuth). + </p> + <p> + "LOBOSITZ, 4th October, 1756. + </p> + <p> + "MY DEAR SISTER,—Your will is accomplished. Tired out by these Saxon + delays, I put myself at the head of my Army of Bohemia [Keith's hitherto]; + and marched from Aussig to—a Name which seemed to me of good augury, + being yours,—to the Village of Welmina [Battle was called OF + WELMINA, by the Prussians at first]. I found the Austrians here, near + Lobositz; and, after a Fight of seven hours, forced them to run. Nobody of + your acquaintance is killed, except Generals Luderitz and OErzen [who are + not of ours]. + </p> + <p> + "I return you a thousand thanks for the tender part you take in my lot. + Would to Heaven the valor of my Army might procure us a stable Peace! That + ought to be the aim of War. Adieu, my dear Sister; I embrace you tenderly, + assuring you of the lively affection with which I am—F." [<i>OEuvres,</i> + xxvii. i. 291.] + </p> + <p> + 2. PRINCE OF PRUSSIA TO VALORI (who is still at Berlin, but soon going as + it proves,—Broglio's explosion at the Lines of Gross-Sedlitz being + on hand, during the King's absence, in these very hours) ["5th-6th + October" (Valori, ii. 353).] + </p> + <p> + "CAMP OF LOBOSITZ, 5th October, 1756. + </p> + <p> + "You will know the news of the day; and I am persuaded you take part in + it. All you say to me betokens the conspiracy there is for the destruction + of our Country. If that is determined in the Book of Fate, we cannot + escape it. + </p> + <p> + "Had my advice been asked, a year ago, I should have voted to preserve the + Alliance [with YOU] which we had been used to for sixteen years [strictly + for twelve, though in substance ever since 1740], and which was by nature + advantageous to us. But if my advice were asked just now, I should answer, + That the said method being now impossible, we are in the case of a ship's + captain who defends himself the best he can, and when all resources are + exhausted, has, rather than surrender on shameful conditions, to fire the + powder-magazine, and blow up his ship. You remember that of your Francois + I."—FORS L'HONNEUR; ah yes, very well!—"Perhaps it will be my + poor Children who will be the victims of these past errors,"—for + such I still think them, I for my part. + </p> + <p> + "The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to besiege Wesel, + Geldern [Wesel they will get gratis, poor Geldern will almost break their + heart first], and take possession of Ost-Friesland; the Russian + Declaration [Manifesto not worth reading] tells us Russia's intentions for + the next year [most truculent intentions]: we will defend ourselves to the + last drop of our blood, and perish with honor. If you have any counsel + farther, I pray you give it me. + </p> + <p> + MAP GOES HERE—BETWEEN P. 350 AND 351 Chap VII book 17 + </p> + <p> + "Remain always my friend; and believe that in all situations I will remain + yours; and trying to do what my duty is, will not forfeit the sentiments + on your part which have been so precious to me. Your servant, GUILLAUME." + [Valori, ii. 204-206.] + </p> + <p> + "Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfall of his House," suggests + Valori: "He deserved a better fate! He would be in despair to think I had + sent this Letter to your Excellency; but I thought perhaps you would show + it to the King,"—and that it might do good one day. [Valori (to the + French Minister, "12th October, 1756"), ii. 204.] The Prussians lay in + their "Camp of Lobositz," posted up and down in that neighborhood, for a + couple of weeks more; waiting whether Browne would attempt anything + farther in the fighting way; and, in fine, whether the solution of the + crisis would fall out hereabouts, or on the other side of the Hills. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII.—THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA ON DISMAL TERMS. + </h2> + <p> + The disaster of October 1st—for which they were trying to sing + TE-DEUMS at Vienna—fell heavier on the poor Saxons, in their cage at + Pirna: "Alas, where is our deliverance now?" Friedrich's people, in their + lines here, gave them such a "joy-firing" for Lobositz as Retzow has + seldom heard; huge volleyings, salvoings, running-fires, starting out, + artistically timed and stationed, thunderous, high; and borne by the + echoes, gloomily reverberative, into every dell and labyrinth of the Pirna + Country;—intended to strike a deeper damp into them, thinks he. + [Retzow, i. 67.] But Imperial Majesty was mindful, too; and straightway + sent Browne positive order, "Deliver me these poor Saxons at any price!" + And in the course of not quite a week from Lobositz, there arrives a + confidential Messenger from Browne: "Courage still, ye caged Saxons; I + will try it another way! Only you must hold out till the 11th; on the 11th + stand to your tools, and it shall be done." + </p> + <p> + Browne is to take a succinct Detachment, 8,000 picked men, horse and foot; + to make a wider sweep with these, well eastward by the foot of Lausitz + Hills, and far enough from all Prussian parties and scouts; to march, with + all speed and silence, "through Bohm-Leipa, Kamnitz, Rumburg, Schluckenau; + and come in upon the Schandau region, quite from the northeast side; say, + at Lichtenhayn; an eligible Village, which is but seven miles or so from + the Konigstein, with the chasmy country and the river intervening. Monday, + October 11th, Browne will arrive at Lichtenhayn (sixty miles of circling + march from Budin); privately post himself near Lichtenhayn; Prussian + posts, of no great strength, lying ahead of him there. You, indignant + extenuated Saxons, are to get yourselves across,—near the Konigstein + it will have to be, under cover of the Konigstein's cannon,—on the + front or riverward side of those same Prussian posts: crossing-place + (Browne's Messenger settles) can be Thurmsdorf Hamlet, opposite the + Lilienstein, opposite the Hamlets of Ebenheit and Halbstadt there. + Konigstein fire will cover your bridge and your building of it. + </p> + <p> + "Monday night next, I say, post yourselves there, with hearts resolute, + with powder dry; there, about the eastern roots of the Lilienstein + [beautiful Show Mountain, with stair-steps cut on it for Tourist people, + by August the Strong], and avoid the Prussian battery and abatis which is + on it just now! You at Ebenheit, I at Lichtenhayn, trimmed and braced for + action, through that Monday night. Tuesday morning, the Konigstein, at + your beckoning, shall fire two cannon-shots; which shall mean, 'All ready + here!' Then forward, you, on those Prussian posts by the front; I will + attack them by the rear. With right fury, both of us! I am told, they are + but weak in those posts; surely, by double impetus, and dead-lift effort + from us both, they CAN be forced? Only force them,—you are in the + open field again; and you march away with me, colors flying; your + hunger-cage and all your tribulations left behind you!"— + </p> + <p> + This is Browne's plan. The poor Saxons accept,—what choice have + they?—though the question of crossing and bridge-building has its + intricacies; and that inevitable item of "postponement till the 11th" is a + sore clause to them; for not only are there short and ever shorter + rations, but grim famine itself is advancing with large strides. The + "daily twenty ounces of meal" has sunk to half that quantity; the "ounce + or so of butcher's-meat once a week" has vanished, or become HORSE of + extreme leanness. The cavalry horses have not tasted oats, nothing but hay + or straw (not even water always); the artillery horses had to live by + grazing, brown leaves their main diet latterly. Not horses any longer; but + walking trestles, poor animals! And the men,—well, they are fallen + pale; but they are resolute as ever. The nine corn-mills, which they have + in this circuit of theirs, grind now night and day; and all the cavalry + are set to thresh whatever grain can be found about; no hind or husbandman + shall retain one sheaf: in this way, they hope, utter hunger may be staved + off, and the great attempt made. [PRECIS DE LA RETRAITE DE L'ARMEE SAXONNE + DE SON CAMP DE PIRNA (in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten, </i>i. 482-494).] + </p> + <p> + Browne skilfully and perfectly did his part of the Adventure. Browne + arrives punctually at Lichtenhayn, evening of the 11th; bivouacs, hidden + in the Woods thereabouts, in cold damp weather; stealthily reconnoitres + the Prussian Villages ahead, and trims himself for assault, at sound of + the two cannons to-morrow. But there came no cannon-signal on the morrow; + far other signallings and messagings to-morrow, and next day, and next, + from the Konigstein and neighborhood! "Wait, Excellency Feldmarschall + [writes Bruhl to him, Note after Note, instead of signalling from the + Konigstein]: do wait a very little! You run no risk in waiting; we, even + if we MUST yield, will make that our first stipulation!" "YOU will?" + grumbles Browne; and waits, naturally, with extreme impatience. But the + truth is, the Adventure, on the Saxon side of it, has already altogether + misgone; and becomes, from this point onwards, a mere series of failures, + futilities and disastrous miseries, tragical to think of. Worth some + record here, since there are Documents abundant;—especially as + Feldmarschall Rutowski (who is General-in-Chief, an old, not esteemed, + friend of ours) has produced, or caused to be produced, a Narrative, which + illuminates the Business from within as well. [PRECIS, &c. (just + cited); compare TAGEBUCH DER EINSCHLIESSUNG DES SACHSISCHEN LAGERS BEY + PIRNA ("Diary," &c., which is the Prussian Account: in Seyfarth, + BEYLAGEN), ii. 22-48.] The latter is our main Document here:— + </p> + <p> + I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's: one could surmise + some laxity of effort, and a rather slovenly-survey of facts, in that + quarter. The Enterprise, from the first, was flatly impossible, say + judges; and it is certain, poor Rutowski's execution was not first-rate. + "How get across the Elbe?" Rutowski had said to himself, perhaps not quite + with the due rigor of candor proportionate to the rigorous fact: "How get + across the Elbe? We have copper pontoons at Pirna; but they will be + difficult to cart. Or we might have a boat-bridge; boats planked together + two and two. At Pirna are plenty of boats; and by oar and track-rope, the + River itself might be a road for them? Boats or pontoons to Konigstein, by + water or land, they must be got. Eight miles of abysmal roads, our horses + all extenuated? Impossible to cart these pontoons!" said Rutowski to + himself.—Pity he had not tried it. He had a week to do those eight + bad miles in; and 2,000 lean horses, picking grass or brown leaves, while + their riders threshed. "We will drag our pontoons by water, by the Elbe + tow-path," thought Rutowski, "that will be easier;"—and forthwith + sets about preparing for it, secretly collecting boats at Pirna, + steersmen, towing-men, bridge-tackle and what else will be necessary. + </p> + <p> + Rutowski made, at least, no delay. Browne's messenger, we find, had come + to him, "Thursday, 7th:" and on Friday night Rutowski has a squad of + boatmen, steersmen and twoscore of towing peasants ready; and actually + gets under way. They are escorted by the due battalions with field-pieces;—who + are to fire upon the Prussian batteries, and keep up such a blaze of + musketry and heavier shot, as will screen the boats in passing. Surely a + ticklish operation, this;—arguing a sanguine temper in General + Rutowski! The south bank of the River is ours; but there are various + Prussian batteries, three of them very strong, along the north bank, which + will not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass. No help for it;—we + must trust in luck! Here is the sequel, with dates adjusted. + </p> + <p> + ELBE RIVER, NIGHT OF OCTOBER 8th-9th. Friday night, accordingly, so soon + as Darkness (unusually dark this night) has dropt her veil on the + business, Rutowski sets forth. The Prussian battery, or bridge-head + (TETE-DE-PONT), at Pirna, has not noticed him, so silent was he. But, + alas, the other batteries do not fail to notice; to give fire; and, in + fact, on being answered, and finding it a serious thing, to burst out into + horrible explosion; unanswerable by the Saxon field-pieces; and surely + perilous to human nature steering and towing those big River-Boats. "Loyal + to our King, and full of pity for him; that are we;"—but towing at a + rate, say of two shillings per head! Before long, the forty towing + peasants fling down their ropes, first one, then more, then all, in spite + of efforts, promises, menaces; and vanish among the thickets,—forfeiting + the two shillings, on view of imminent death. Soldiers take the + towing-ropes; try to continue it a little; but now the steersmen also + manage to call halt: "We won't! Let us out, let us out! We will steer you + aground on the Prussian shore if you don't!" making night hideous. And the + towing enterprise breaks down for that bout; double barges mooring on the + Saxon shore, I know not precisely at what point, nor is it material. + </p> + <p> + SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 9th-10th) New boatmen, forty new towmen have been + hired at immense increase of wages; say four shillings for the night: but + have you much good probability, my General, that even for that high + guerdon imminence of death can be made indifferent to towmen? No, you have + n't. The matter goes this night precisely as it did last: towmen vanishing + in the horrible cannon tumult; steersmen shrieking, "We will ground you on + the Prussian shore;" very soldiers obliged to give it up; and General + Rutowski himself obliged to wash his hands of it, as a thing that cannot + be done. In fact, a thing which need not have been tried, had Rutowski + been rigorously candid with himself and his hopes, as the facts now prove + to be. "Twenty-four hours lost by this bad business" (says he; + "thirty-six," as I count, or, to take it rigorously, "forty-eight" even): + and now, Sunday morning instead of Friday, at what, in sad truth, is + metaphorically "the eleventh hour," Rutowski has to bethink him of his + copper pontoons; and make the impossible carting method possible in a + day's time, or do worse. + </p> + <p> + SUNDAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 10th-11th, By unheard-of exertions, all hands and + all spent-horses now at a dead-lift effort night and day, Rutowski does + get his pontoons carted out of the Pirna storehouse; lands them at + Thurmsdorf,—opposite the Lilienstein,—a mile or so short of + Konigstein, where his Bridge shall be. It is now the 11th, at night. And + our pontoons are got to the ground, nothing more. Every man of us, at this + hour, should have been across, and trimming himself to climb, with bayonet + fixed! Browne is ready, expecting our signal-shot to storm in on his side. + And our bridge is not built, only the pontoons here. "All things went + perverse," adds Rutowski, for farther comfort: "we [Saxon Home-Army] had + with us, except Officers, only Four Pontoniers, or trained + Bridge-builders; all the rest are at Warsaw:" sad thought, but too late to + think it! + </p> + <p> + TUESDAY, TILL WEDNESDAY EARLY (12th-13th), Bridge, the Four Pontoniers, + with Officers and numb soldiers doing their best, is got built;—Browne + waiting for us, on thorns, all day; Prussians extensively beginning to + strengthen their posts, about the Lilienstein, about Lichtenhayn, or where + risk is; and in fact pouring across to that northern side, quite aware of + Rutowski and Browne. + </p> + <p> + That same night, 12th-13th, while the Bridge was struggling to complete + itself,—rain now falling, and tempests broken out,—the Saxon + Army, from Pirna down to Hennersdorf, had lifted itself from its Lines, + and got under way towards Thurmsdorf, and the crossing-place. Dark night, + plunging rain; all the elements in uproar. The worst roads in Nature; now + champed doubly; "such roads as never any Army marched on before." Most of + their cannon are left standing; a few they had tried to yoke, broke down, + "and choked up the narrow road altogether; so that the cavalry had to + dismount, and lead their horses by side-paths,"—figure what + side-paths! Distance to Thurmsdorf, from any point of the Saxon Lines, + cannot be above six miles: but it takes them all that night and all next + day. Such a march as might fill the heart with pity. Oh, ye Rutowskis, + Bruhls, though never so decorated by twelve tailors, what a sight ye are + at the head of men! Dark night, wild raging weather, labyrinthic roads + worn knee-deep. It is broad daylight, Wednesday, 13th, and only the + vanguard is yet got across, trailing a couple of cannons; and splashes + about, endeavoring to take rank there, in spite of wet and hunger; rain + still pouring, wind very high. + </p> + <p> + Nothing of Browne comes, this Wednesday; but from the opposite + Gross-Sedlitz and Gottleube side, the Prussians are coming. This morning, + at daylight, struck by symptoms, "the Prussians mounted our empty + redoubts:" they are now in full chase of us, Ziethen with Hussars as + vanguard. A difficult bit of marching, even Ziethen and his light people + find it; sprawling forward, at their cheeriest, with daylight to help, and + in chase, not chased, through such intricacies of rock and mud. Ziethen's + company did not assist the Saxons! They wheel round, show fight, and there + is volleying and bickering all day; the Saxon march getting ever more + perturbed. Nearly all the baggage has to be left. Ziethen takes into the + woods near Thurmsdorf; giving fire as the poor wet Saxons, now much in a + pell-mell condition, pass to their Bridge. [PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT (in <i>Gesammelte + Nachrichten), </i>i. 852.] Heavier Prussians are striding on to rear; + these, from some final hill-top, do at last belch out two cannon-shots: + figure the confusion at that Bridge, the speed now becoming delirious + there! Towards evening, rain still violent, the Saxons, baggageless, and + rushing quite pell-mell the latter part of them, are mostly across, still + countable to 14,000 or so;—upon which they cut their Bridge adrift, + and let the river take it. At Raden, a few miles lower, the Prussians + fished it out; rebuilt it more deliberately,—and we shall find it + there anon. This day Friedrich, hearing what is afoot, has returned in + person from the Lobositz Country; takes Struppen as his head-quarter, + which was lately the Polish Majesty's. + </p> + <p> + From Browne there has nothing come this Wednesday; but to-morrow morning + at seven there comes a Letter from him, written this night at ten; to the + effect:— + </p> + <p> + "HEAD-QUARTER, LICHTENHAYN, Wednesday, October 13th, 10 P.M. + </p> + <p> + "EXCELLENZ,—Have [omitting the I] waited here at Lichtenhayn since + Tuesday, expecting your signal-cannon; hearing nothing of it, conclude you + have by misfortune not been able to get across; and that the Enterprise is + up. My own position being dangerous [Prussians of double my strength + intrenched within few miles of me], I turn homewards to-morrow at nine + A.M.: ready for whatever occurs TILL then; and sorrowfully say adieu," + [PRECIS (ut supra), p. 493; <i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 940; &c.] + </p> + <p> + Dreadful weather for Browne in his bivouac, and wearisome waiting, with + Prussians and perils accumulating on him! Browne was ill of lungs; + coughing much; lodging, in these violent tempests, on the cold ground. A + right valiant soldier and man, as does appear; the flower of all the Irish + Brownes (though they have quite forgotten him in our time), and of all + those Irish Exiles then tragically spending themselves in Austrian + quarrels! "You saw the great man," says one who seems to have been + present, "how he sacrificed himself to this Enterprise. What Austrian + Field-marshal but himself would ever have lowered his loftiness to lead, + in person, so insignificant a Detachment, merely for the public good! I + have seen staff-officers, distinguished only by their sasheries and + insignia, who would not have stirred to inspect a vedette without 250 men. + Our Field-marshal was of another turn. Sharing with his troops all the + hardships, none excepted, of these critical days; and in spite of a + violent cough, which often brought the visible blood from his lungs, and + had quite worn him down; exposing himself, like the meanest of the Army, + to the tempests of rainy weather. Think what a sight it was, going to your + very heart, and summoning you to endurance of every hardship,—that + evening [not said which], when the Field-marshal, worn out with his + fatigues and his disorder, sank out of fainting-fits into a sleep! The + ground was his bed, and the storm of clouds his coverlid. In crowds his + brave war-comrades gathered round; stripped their cloaks, their coats, and + strove in noble rivalry which of them should have the happiness to screen + the Father of the Army at their own cost of exposure, and by any device + keep the pelting of the weather from that loved head!" [Cogniazzo, <i>Gestandnisse + eines OEsterreichischen Veterans, </i>ii. 251.] There is a picture for + you, in the heights of Lichtenhayn, as you steam past Schandau, in + contemplative mood; and perhaps think of "Justice to Ireland!" among other + sad thoughts that rise. + </p> + <p> + From Thurmsdorf to the Pontoon-Bridge there was a kind of road; down which + the Saxons scrambled yesterday; and, by painful degrees, got wriggled + across. But, on the other shore, forward to the Hamlets of Halbstadt and + Ebenheit, there is nothing but a steep slippery footpath: figure what a + problem for the 14,000 in such weather! Then at Ebenheit, close behind, + Browne-wards, were Browne now there, rises the Lilienstein, abrupt rocky + mountain, its slopes on both hands washed by the River (River making its + first elbow here, closely girdling this Lilienstein): on both these slopes + are Prussian batteries, each with its abatis; needing to be stormed:—that + will be your first operation. Abatis and slopes of the Lilienstein once + stormed, you fall into a valley or hollow, raked again by Prussian + batteries; and will have to mount, still storming, out of the valley, + sky-high across the Ziegenruck (GOAT'S-BACK) ridge: that is your second + preliminary operation. After which you come upon the work itself; namely, + the Prussian redoubts at Lichtenhayn, and 12,000 men on them by this time! + A modern Tourist says, reminding or informing: + </p> + <p> + "From the Konigstein to Pirna, Elbe, if serpentine, is like a serpent + rushing at full speed. Just past the Konigstein, the Elbe, from westward, + as its general course is, turns suddenly to northward; runs so for a mile + and a half; then, just before getting to the BASTEI at Raden, turns + suddenly to westward again, and so continues. Tourists know Raden,"—where + the Prussians have just fished out a Bridge for themselves,—"with + the BASTEI high aloft to west of it. The Old Inn, hospitable though + sleepless, stands pleasantly upon the River-brink, overhung by high + cliffs: close on its left side, or in the intricacies to rear of it, are + huts and houses, sprinkled about, as if burrowed in the sandstone; more + comfortably than you could expect. The site is a narrow dell, narrow + chasm, with labyrinthic chasms branching off from it; narrow and gloomy as + seen from the River, but opening out even into cornfields as you advance + inwards: work of a small Brook, which is still industriously tinkling and + gushing there, and has in Pre-Adamite times been a lake, and we know not + what. Nieder-Raden, this, on the north side of the River; of Ober-Raden, + on the south side, there is nothing visible from your Inn windows,"—nor + have we anything to do with it farther. An older Guide of Tourists yields + us this second Fraction (capable of condensation):— + </p> + <p> + ... "To Halbstadt, thence to Ebenheit, your path is steeper and steeper; + from Ebenheit to the Lilienstein you take a guide. The Mountain is + conical; coarse RED sandstone; steps cut for you where needed: August the + Strong's Hunting-Lodge (JAGDHUTTE) is here (August went thither in a grand + way, 1708, with his Wife); Lodge still extant, by the side of a wood;—Lilienstein + towering huge and sheer, solitary, grand, like some colossal Pillar of the + Cyclops, from this round Pediment of Country which you have been climbing; + tops of Lilienstein plumed everywhere with fir and birch, Pediment also + very green and woody. August the Strong, grandly visiting here, 1708, on + finish of those stair-steps cut for you, set up an Ebenezer, or Column of + Memorial at this Hunting-Hut, with Inscription which can still be read, + though now with difficulty in its time-worn state:— + </p> + <p> + "FRIEDERICUS AUGUSTUS, REX [of what? Dare not say of POLAND just now, for + fear of Charles XII.], ET ELECTOR SAX., UT FORTUNAEM VIRTUTE, ITA ASPERAM + HANC RUPEM PRIMUS [PRIMUS not of men, but of Saxon Electors] SUPERAVIT, + ADITUMQUE FACILIOREM REDDI CURAVIT. ANNO 1708."—"UT FORTUNAM + VIRTUTE, As his fortune by valor, SO he conquered this rugged rock by"—Poor + devil, only hear him:—and think how good Nature is (for the time + being) to poor devils and their 354 bastards! [M.(agister) Wilhelm + Lebrecht Gotzinger, <i>Schandau und seine Umgebungen, oder Beschreibung + der Sachsischen Schweitz </i>(Dresden, 1812), pp. 145-148. Gotzinger, who + designates himself as "Pastor at Neustadt near Stolpen" (northwest border + of the Pirna Country), has made of this (which would now be called a + TOURIST'S GUIDE, and has something geological in it) a modest, good little + Book, put together with industry, clearness, brevity. Gives interesting + Narrative of our present Business too, as gathered from his "Father" and + other good sources and testimonies.] + </p> + <p> + Bruhl and the Polish Majesty, safe enough they, and snug in the + Konigstein, are clear for advancing: "Die like soldiers, for your King and + Country!" writes Polish Majesty, "Thursday, two in the morning:" that also + Rutowski reads; and I think still other Royal Autographs, sent as + Postscripts to that. From the Konigstein they duly fire off the two + Cannon-shot, as signal that we are coming; signal which Browne, just in + the act of departing, never heard, owing to the piping of the winds and + rattling of the rain. "Advance, my heroes!" counsel they: "You cannot drag + your ammunitions, say you; your poor couple of big guns? Here are his + Majesty's own royal horses for that service!"—and, in effect, the + royal stud is heroically flung open in this pressure; and a splashing + column of sleek quadrupeds, "150 royal draught-horses, early in the + forenoon," [Gotzinger, p. 156.] swim across to Ebenheit accordingly, if + that could encourage. And, "about noon, there is strong cannonading from + the Konigstein, as signal to Browne," who is off. Polish Majesty looking + with his spy-glass in an astonished manner. In Vain! Rutowski and his + Council of War—sitting wet in a hut of Ebenheit, with 14,000 starved + men outside, who have stood seventy-two hours of rain, for one item—see + nothing for it but "surrender on such terms as we can get." + </p> + <p> + "In fact," independently of weather and circumstances, "the Enterprise," + says Friedrich, "was radically impossible; nobody that had known the + ground could have judged it other." Rutowski had not known it, then? + Browne never pretended to know it. Rutowski was not candid with the + conditions; the conditions never known nor candidly looked at; and THEY + are now replying to him with candor enough. From the first his Enterprise + was a final flicker of false hope; going out, as here, by spasm, in the + rigors of impossibility and flat despair. + </p> + <p> + That column of royal horses sent splashing across the River,—that + was the utmost of self-sacrifice which I find recorded of his Polish + Majesty in this matter. He was very obstinate; his Bruhl and he were. But + his conduct was not very heroic. That royal Autograph, "General Rutowski, + and ye true Saxons, attack these Prussian lines, then; sell your lives + like men" (not like Bruhl and me), must have fallen cold on the heart, + after seventy-two hours of rain! Rutowski's wet Council of War, in the hut + at Ebenheit, rain still pouring, answers unanimously, "That it were a + leading of men to the butchery;" that there is nothing for it but + surrender. Bruhl and Majesty can only answer: "Well-a-day; it must be so, + then!"— + </p> + <p> + Winterfeld, Prussian Commander hereabouts, grants Armistice, grants + liberal "wagon-loads of bread" first of all; terms of Capitulation to be + settled at Struppen to-morrow. + </p> + <p> + FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15th, Rutowski goes across to Struppen, the late Saxon + head-quarter, now Friedrich's;—Friday gone a fortnight was the day + of Lobositz. Winterfeld and he are the negotiators there; Friedrich + ratifying or refusing by marginal remarks. The terms granted are hard + enough: but they must be accepted. First preliminary of all terms has + already been accepted: a gift of bread to these poor Saxons; their + haversacks are empty, their cartridge-boxes drowned; it has rained on them + three days and nights. Last upshot of all terms is still well known to + everybody: That the 14,000 Saxons are compelled to become Prussian, and + "forced to volunteer"! + </p> + <p> + That had been Friedrich's determination, and reading of his rights in the + matter, now that hard had come to hard. "You refused all terms; you have + resisted to death (or death's-DOOR); and are now at discretion!" Of the + question, What is to be done with those Saxons? Friedrich had thought a + great deal, first and last; and had found it very intricate,—as + readers too will, if they think of it. "Prisoners of War,—to keep + them locked up, with trouble and expense, in that fashion? They can never + be exchanged: Saxony has now nothing to exchange them with; and Austria + will not. Their obstinacy has had costs to me; who of us can count what + costs! In short, they shall volunteer!" + </p> + <p> + "Never did I, for my poor part, authorize such a thing," loudly + asseverated Rutowski afterwards. And indeed the Capitulation is not + precise on that interesting point. A lengthy Document, and not worth the + least perusal otherwise; we condense it into three Articles, all grounding + on this general Basis, not deniable by Rutowski: "The Saxon Army, being at + such a pass, ready to die of hunger, if we did NOT lift our finger, has, + so to speak, become our property; and we grant it the following terms:"— + </p> + <p> + "1. Kettle-drums, standards and the like insignia and matters of honor,—carry + these to the Konigstein, with my regretful respects to his Polish Majesty. + Konigstein to be a neutral Fortress during this War. Polish Majesty at + perfect liberty to go to Warsaw [as he on the instant now did, and never + returned]. + </p> + <p> + "2. Officers to depart on giving their parole, Not to serve against us + during this War [Parole given, nothing like too well kept]. + </p> + <p> + "3. Rest of the Army, with all its equipments, munitions, soul and body + (so to speak), is to surrender utterly, and be ours, as all Saxony shall + for the present be." [In <i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 920-928, at full + length—with Briedrich's MARGINALIA noticeably brief.] + </p> + <p> + That is, in sum, the Capitulation of Struppen. Nothing articulate in it + about the one now interesting point,—and in regard to that, I can + only fancy Rutowski might interject, interrogatively, perhaps at some + length: "Our soldiers to be Prisoners of War, then?" "Prisoners; yes, + clearly,—unless they choose to volunteer, and have a better fate! + Prisoners can volunteer. They are at discretion; they would die, if we did + NOT lift our finger!" thus I suppose Winterfeld would rejoin, if + necessary;—and that, in the Winterfeld-Rutowski Conferences, the + thing had probably been kept in a kind of CHIAROSCURO by both parties. + </p> + <p> + Very certain it is, Sunday, 17th October, 1756, Capitulation being signed + the night before, Friedrich goes across at Nieder-Raden (where the Pilgrim + of the Picturesque now climbs to see the BASTEI; where the Prussians have, + by this time, a Bridge thrown together out of those Pontoons),—goes + across at Nieder-Raden, up that chasmy Pass; rides to the Heights of + Waltersdorf, in the opener country behind; and pauses there, while the + captive Saxon Army defiles past him, laying down its arms at his feet. + Unarmed, and now under Prussian word of command, these Ex-Saxon soldiers + go on defiling; march through by that Chasm of Nieder-Raden; cross to + Ober-Raden; and, in the plainer country thereabouts, are—in I know + not what length of hours, but in an incredibly short length, so swift is + the management—changed wholly into Prussian soldiers: "obliged to + volunteer," every one of them! + </p> + <p> + That is the fact; fact loudly censured; fact surely questionable,—to + what intrinsic degree I at this moment do not know. Fact much blamable + before the loose public of mankind; upon which I leave men to their + verdict. It is not a fact which invites imitation, as we shall see! Fact + how accomplished; by what methods? that would be the question with me; but + even that is left dark. "The horse regiments, three of heavy horse, he + broke; and distributed about, a good few in his own Garde-du-Corps." Three + other horse regiments were in Poland, the sole Saxon Army now left,—of + whom, at least of one man among whom, we may happen to hear. "Ten foot + regiments [what was reckoned a fault] he left together; in Prussian + uniform, with Prussian Officers. They were scattered up and down; put in + garrisons; not easy handling them: they deserted by whole companies at a + time in the course of this War." [Preuss, ii. 22, 135; in Stenzel (v. + 16-20) more precise details.] Not a measure for imitation, as we said!—How + Friedrich defended such hard conduct to the Saxons? Reader, I know only + that Destiny and Necessity, urged on by Saxons and others, was hard as + adamant upon Friedrich at this time; and that Friedrich did not the least + dream of making any defence;—and will have to take your verdict, + such as it may be. + </p> + <p> + Moritz of Dessau had a terrible Winter of it, organizing and breaking in + these Saxon people,—got by press-gang in this way. Polish Majesty, + "with 500 of suite," had driven instantly for Warsaw; post-horses most + politely furnished him, and all the Prussian posts and soldiers well kept + out of his road,—road chosen for him to that end. Poor soul, he + never came back. For six years coming, he saw, from Warsaw in the distance + (amid anarchy and NIE-POZWALAM, which he never lacked there), the wide War + raging, in Saxony especially; and died soon after it was done. Nor did + Bruhl return, except broken by that event, and to die in few months after. + Let us pity the poor fat-goose of a Majesty (not ill-natured at all, only + stupid and idle): some pity even to the doomed-phantasm Bruhl, if you can;—and + thank Heaven to have got done with such a pair!— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's treatment of the Saxon Troops, Saxon Majesty and Country: who + shall say that it was wise in all points? It would be singular treatment, + if it were! In all things, AFTER is so different from BEFORE and DURING. + The truth is, Friedrich hoped long to have made some agreement with the + Saxons. And readers now, in the universal silence, have no notion of + Friedrich's complexities from fact, and of the loud howl of hostile rumor, + which was piping through all journals, diplomacies and foreign human + throats, against him at that time. + </p> + <p> + "The essential passages of War and Peace," says a certain Commentator, + "during those Five weeks of Pirna, can be made intelligible in small + compass. But how the world argued of them then and afterwards, and rang + with hot Gazetteer and Diplomatic logic from side to side, no reader will + now ever know. A world-tornado extinct, gone:—think of the sounds + uttered from human windpipes, shrill with rage some of them, hoarse others + with ditto; of the vituperations, execrations, printed and vocal,—grating + harsh thunder upon Friedrich and this new course of his. Huge melody of + Discords, shrieking, droning, grinding on that topic, through the + afflicted Universe in general, for certain years. The very Pamphlets + printed on it,—cannot Dryasdust give me the number of tons weight, + then? Dead now every Pamphlet of them; a thing fallen horrible to human + nature; extinct forever, as is the wont in such cases." + </p> + <p> + I will give only this of Voltaire; a mild Epigram, done at The DELICES, in + pleasant view of Ferney and good things coming. A bolt shot into the + storm-tost Sea and its wreckages, by a Mariner now cheerily drying his + clothes on the shore there;—in fact, an indifferent Epigram, on + Kings Friedrich and George, which is now flying about in select circles:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Rivaux du Vainqueur de l'Euphrate, + L'Oncle et le Neveu, + L'un fait la guerre en pirate, + L'autre en parti bleu." +</pre> + <p> + "Rivals of Alexander the Great, this Uncle and Nephew make war, the one as + a Pirate [seizure of those French ships], the other [Saxony stolen] as + Captain of an Accidental Thieving-squad,"—PARTI BLEU, as the French + soldiers call it. [Walpole's LETTERS, "To Sir Horace Mann, 8th December; + 1756."] + </p> + <p> + MAP facing page 365, Chap VII, Book 17—— + </p> + <p> + Pirna was no sooner done than Friedrich returned to the "Camp at + Lobositz," where his victorious Keith-Army has been lying all this while. + The Camp of Lobositz, and all Camps Prussian and Austrian, are about to + strike their tents, and proceed to Winter-quarters, to prepare against + next Spring. Friedrich set off thither October 18th (the very day after + that of Waltersdorf); with intent to bring home Keith's Army, and see if + Browne meant anything farther (which Browne did not, or does only in the + small Tolpatch way); also to meet, Schwerin, whom he had summoned over + from Silesia for a little conference there. Schwerin, after eating + Konigsgratz Country well,—which was all he could do, as Piccolomini + would not come out, and we know how strong the ground is,—had + retired to Silesia again, in due season (snapping up, in a sharply + conclusive manner, any Tolpatcheries that attempted chase of him); taken + Winter cantonments in Silesia, headquarter Schweidnitz; and is now getting + his Instructions, here personally, in the Metal Mountains, for a day or + two. [<i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 946, 948.] + </p> + <p> + Friedrich brought his Keith-Army home to Gross-Sedlitz, to join the other + Force there; and distributed the whole into their Winter-quarters. + Cantoned far and wide, spreading out from Pirna on both hands: on the left + or western hand, by Zwickau, Freyberg, Chemnitz, up to Leipzig, Torgau; + and on the right or northeast hand, by Zittau, Gorlitz, Bautzen, to + protect the Lausitz against Austrian inroads,—while a remote + Detachment, under Winterfeld, watches the Bober River with similar views. + [In <i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iii. 948 et seq., a minute List by Place and + Regiment.] All which done, or settled to be done, Friedrich quits + Gross-Sedlitz, November 14th; and takes up his abode at Dresden for this + Winter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII.—WINTER IN DRESDEN. + </h2> + <p> + The Saxon Army is incorporated, then; its King gone under the horizon; the + Saxon Country has a Prussian Board set over it, to administer all things + of Government, especially to draw taxes and recruits from Saxony. Torgau, + seat of this new Board, has got fortified; "1,500 inhabitants were + requisitioned as spademen for that end, at first with wages,"—latterly, + I almost fear, without! + </p> + <p> + The Saxon Ministers are getting drilled, cashiered if necessary; and on + all hands, rigorous methods going forward;—till Saxony is completely + under grasp; in which state it was held very tight indeed, for the six + years coming. There is no detailing of all that; details, were they even + known to an Editor at such distance, would weary every reader. Enough to + understand that Friedrich has not on this occasion, as he did in 1744, + omitted to disarm Saxony, to hobble it in every limb, and have it, at + discretion, tied as with ropes to his interests and him. [<i>Helden-Geschichte, + </i>iii. 945-956.] His management was never accounted cruel; and it was + studiously the reverse of violent or irregular: but it had to be rigorous + as the facts were;—nor was it the worst, or reckoned the worst, of + Saxony's miseries in this time. + </p> + <p> + Poor Country, suffering for its Bruhl! In the Country, except for its + Bruhl, there was no sin against Prussia; the reverse rather. The Saxon + population, as Protestants, have no good-will to Austria and its aims of + aggrandizement. In Austrian spy-letters, now and afterwards, they are + described to us as "GUT PREUSSISCH;" "strong for Prussia, the most of + them, even in Dresden itself." + </p> + <p> + Whether Friedrich could have had much real hope to end the War this Year, + or scare it off from beginning, may be a question. If he had, it is + totally disappointed. The Saxon Government has brought ruin on itself and + Country, but it has been of great damage to Friedrich. Would Polish + Majesty have consented to disband his soldiers, and receive Friedrich with + a BONA-FIDE "Neutrality," Friedrich could have passed the Mountains still + in time for a heavy stroke on Bohemia, which was totally unprepared for + such a visit, And he might—from the Towers of Prag, for instance—have, + far more persuasively, held out the olive-branch to an astonished + Empress-Queen: "Leave me alone, Madam; will you, then! Security for that; + I wanted and want nothing more!" But Polish Majesty, taking on him the + character of Austrian martyr, and flinging himself into the gulf, has + prevented all that; has turned all that the other way. + </p> + <p> + Austria, it appears, is quite ungrateful: "Was n't he bound?" thinks + Austria,—as its wont rather is. Forgetful of the great deliverance + wrought for it by poor Polish Majesty; whom it could not deliver-except + into bottomless wreck! Austria, grateful or not, stands unscathed; has + time to prepare its Armaments, its vocal Arguments: Austria is in higher + provocation than ever; and its very Arguments, highly vocal to the Reich + and the world, "Is not this man a robber, and enemy of mankind?" do + Friedrich a great deal of ill. Friedrich's sudden Campaign, instead of + landing him in the heart of the Austrian States, there to propose Peace, + has kindled nearly all Europe into flames of rage against him,—which + will not consist in words merely! Never was misunderstanding of a man at a + higher pitch: "Such treatment of a peaceable Neighbor and Crowned Head,—witness + it, ye Heavens and thou Earth!" Dauphiness falling on her knees to Most + Christian Majesty; "Princess and dearest Sister" to Most Christian + Majesty's Pompadour; especially no end of Pleading to the German Reich, in + a furious, Delphic-Pythoness or quasi-inspired tone: all this goes on. + </p> + <p> + From the time when Pirna was blockaded, Kaiser Franz, his high Consort and + sense of duty urging him, has been busy in the Reich's-Hofrath (kind of + Privy-Council or Supreme Court of the Reich, which sits at Vienna); busy + there, and in the Reich's Diet at Regensburg; busy everywhere, with utmost + diligence over Teutschland,—forging Reich thunder. Manifestoes, + HOF-DECRETS, DEHORTATORIUMS, EXCITATORIUMS; so goes it, exploding like + Vesuvius, shock on the back of shock:—20th September it began; and + lasts, CRESCENDO, through Winter and onwards, at an extraordinary rate. + [In <i>Helden-Geschichte</i>(iv. 163-174; iii. 956; and indeed PASSIM + through those Volumes), the Originals in frightful superabundance.] Of all + which, leaving readers to imagine it, we will say nothing,—except + that it points towards "Armed Interference by the Reich," "Reich's + Execution Army;" nay towards "Ban of the Reich" (total excommunication of + this Enemy of Mankind, and giving of him up to Satan, by bell, book and + candle), which is a kind of thunder-bolt not heard of for a good few ages + past! Thunder-bolt thought to be gone mainly to rust by the judicious;— + </p> + <p> + which, however, the poor old Reich did grasp again, and attempt to launch. + As perhaps we shall have to notice by and by, among the miracles going. + </p> + <p> + France too, urged by the noblest concern, feels itself called upon. France + magnanimously intimates to the Reich's Diet, once and again, "That Most + Christian Majesty is guarantee of the Treaty of Westphalia; Most Christian + Majesty cannot stand such procedures;" and then the second time, "That + Most Christian Majesty will interfere practically,"—by 100,000 men + and odd. [<i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iv. 340 ("26th March, 1757").] In + short, the sleeping world-whirlwinds are awakened against this man. + General Dance of the Furies; there go they, in the dusky element, those + Eumenides, "giant-limbed, serpent-haired, slow-pacing, circling, torch in + hand" (according to Schiller),— scattering terror and madness. At + least, in the Diplomatic Circles of mankind;—if haply the + Populations will follow suit!— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, abundantly contemptuous of Reich's-thunder in the rusted kind, + and well able to distinguish sound from substance in the Reich or + elsewhere, recognizes in all this sufficiently portentous prophecies of + fact withal; and understands, none better, what a perilous position he has + got into. But he cannot mend it;—can only, as usual, do his own + utmost in it. As readers will believe he does; and that his vigilance and + diligence are very great. Continual, ubiquitous and at the top of his + bent, one fancies his effort must have been,—though he makes no + noise on the subject. Considerable work he has with Hanover, this Winter; + with the poor English Government, and their "Army of Observation," which + is to appear in the Hanover parts, VERSUS those 100,000 French, next + Spring. To Hanover he has sent Schmettau (the Younger Schmettau, Elder is + now dead) in regard to said Army; has made a new and closer Treaty with + England (impossible to be fulfilled on poor England's part);—and + laments, as Mitchell often does, the tragically embroiled condition of + that Country, struggling so vehemently, to no purpose, to get out of bed, + and not unlike strangling or smothering itself in its own blankets, at + present! With and in regard to Saxony, his work is of course extremely + considerable; and in regard to his own Army, and its coming Business, + considerablest of all. Counter-Manifesto work, to state his case in a + distinct manner, and leave it with the Populations if the Diplomacies are + deaf: this too, is copiously proceeding; under Artists who probably do not + require much supervision. In fact, no King living has such servants, in + the Civil or the Military part, to execute his will. And no King so little + wastes himself in noises; a King who has good command of himself, first of + all; not to be thrown off his balance by any terror, any provocation even, + though his temper is very sharp. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich in person is mainly at Dresden, lodged in the Bruhl Palace;—endless + wardrobes and magnificences there; three hundred and sixty-FOUR Pairs of + Breeches hanging melancholy, in a widowed manner: C'EST ASSEZ DE CULOTTES; + MONTREZ-MOI DES VERTUS! Bruhl is far away, in Poland; Madam Bruhl has + still her Apartments in this Palace,—a frugal King needs only the + necessary spaces. Madam Bruhl is very busy here; and not to good purpose, + being well seen into. "She had a cask of wine sent her from Warsaw," says + Friedrich; "orders were given to decant for her every drop of the wine, + but to be sure and bring us the cask." Cask was found to have two bottoms, + intermediate space filled with spy-correspondence. Madam Bruhl protests + and pleads, Friedrich not unpolite in reply; his last Letter to her says, + "Madam, it is better that you go and join your Husband." + </p> + <p> + Another high Dame gets sausages from Bohemia;—some of Friedrich's + light troops have an appetite, beyond strict law for sausages; break in, + find Letters along with the other stuffing. [<i>OEuvres de Frederic,</i> + iv. 108; Mitchell, "27th March, 1757" (Raumer p. 321).] Friedrich has a + good deal of watching and coercing to do in that kind,—some + arresting, conveyance even to Custrin for a time, though nothing crueler + proved needful. To the poor Queen he keeps up civilities, but is obliged + to be strict as Argus;—she made him a Gift too, the NIGHT of + Correggio, admired NOTTE of Correggio; having heard that he sat before it + silent for half an hour, on entering that fine Gallery,—which is due + to our Sovereign Lord and his Bruhl, alas! On the other hand, Friedrich + had to take from her Majesty's Royal Abode those Hundred Swiss of + Body-guard; to discharge the same, and put Prussians in their stead. Nay, + at one time, on loud outcry from her Majesty, and great private cause of + complaint against her, there was talk of sending the poor Royal lady to + Warsaw, after her Husband; but her objection being violent, nothing came + of that: Winter following, her poor Majesty died, [27th November, 1757.] + and gave nobody any farther trouble. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich's outposts, especially in the Lausitz, are a good deal disturbed + by Austrian Tolpatcheries; and do feats, heroic in the small way, in + smiting down that rabble. A valuable Officer or two is lost in such poor + service, poor but indispensable; [Funeral Discourses (of a very curious, + ponderous and serious tone), in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten, </i>ii. 458, + 464, &c.] and the troops have not always the repose which is intended + them. Lieutenant-Colonel Loudon (Scotch by kindred, and famous enough + before long) is the soul of these Croat enterprises,—and gets his + Colonelcy by them, in a month or two; Browne recommending. Loudon had + arrived too late for Lobositz, but had been with Browne to Schandau; and, + on the march homewards, did a bright feat of the Croat kind:—surprisal, + very complete, of that Hill-Castle of Tetschen and considerable Hussar + Party there; done in a style which caught the eye of Browne; and was the + beginning of great things to poor Loudon, after his twenty years of + painful eclipse under the Indigo Trencks, and miscellaneous Doggeries, + Austrian and Russian. [LA VIE DU FELDMARECHAL BARON DE LOUDON (Translation + of one Pezzl's German: a Vienne et a Paris, 1792), i. 1-32.] + </p> + <p> + Tetschen, therefore, will again need capture by the Prussians, if they + again intend that way. And in the mean while, Friedrich, to counterpoise + those mischievous Croat people, has bethought him of organizing a similar + Force of his own;—Foot chiefly, for, on hint of former experience, + he already has Hussars in quantity. And, this Winter, there are + accordingly, in different Saxon Towns, three Irregular Regiments getting + ready for him; three "Volunteer Colonels" busily enlisting each his "Free + Corps," such the title chosen;—chief Colonel of them one Mayer, now + in Zwickau neighborhood with 6 or 700 loose handy fellows round him, + getting formed into strict battalion there: [Pauli (our old diffuse + friend), <i>Leben grosser Helden des gegenwartigen Krieges </i>(9 vols., + Halle, 1759-1764), iii. 159,? Mayr.] of whom, and of whose soldiering, we + shall hear farther. For the plan was found to answer; and extended itself + year after year; and the "Prussian Free Corps," one way and another, made + considerable noise in the world. + </p> + <p> + Outwardly Friedrich's Life is quiet; busy, none can be more so; but to the + on-looker, placid, polite especially. He hears sermon once or twice in the + Kreuz-Kirche (Protestant High Church); then next day will hear good music, + devotional if you call it so, in the Catholic Church, where her Polish + Majesty is. Daily at the old hour he has his own Concert, now and then + assisting with his own flute. Makes donations to the Poor, and such like, + due from Saxon Sovereignty while held by him; on the other hand, reduces + salaries at a sad rate Guarini, Queen's Confessor, from near 2,000 pounds + to little more than 300 pounds, for one instance;—cuts off about + 25,000 pounds in all under this head. [<i>Helden-Geschichte, </i>iv. 306 + ("December, 1756").] And is heavy with billeting, as new Prussians arrive. + Billets at length in the very Ambassadors' Hotels,—and by way of + apology to the Excellencies, signifies to them in a body: "Sorry for the + necessity, your Excellencies: but ought not you to go to Warsaw rather? + Your credentials are to his Polish Majesty. He is not here; nor coming + hither, for some time!" Which hint, I suppose, the Excellencies mostly + took. From his own Forests there came by the Elbe great rafts of firewood, + to warm his soldiers in their quarters. Once or twice he makes excursions, + of a day of two days; to the Lausitz, to Leipzig (through Freyberg, where + he has a post of importance);—very gracious to the University + people: "Students be troubled with soldiering? Far from it ye learned + Gentlemen, servants of the Muses! Recruitment, a lamentable necessity, is + to go on under your own Official people, and wholly by the old methods." [<i>Helden-Geschichte, + </i>iv. 303-313; UNIVERSITATSANSCHLAG ZU LEIPZIG, WEGEN DER WERBUNG + ("University-Placard about Enlisting:" in <i>Gesammelte Nachrichten, </i>i. + 811).] + </p> + <p> + Once, and once only, he made a run to Berlin, January 4th-18th, 1757: the + last for six years and more. Came with great despatch, Brother Henri with + him, whole journey in one day; got, "to his Mother's about 11 at night." + [Ib. iv. 308.] A joyful meeting, for the kindred: cheerful light-gleam in + the dark time, so suddenly eclipsed to them and others by those hurricanes + that have risen. His Majesty seems to be in perfect health; and wears no + look of gloom. At Berlin is no Carnival this year; all are grave, sunk in + sad contemplations of the future. Of his businesses in this interval, + which were many, I will say nothing; only of one little Act he did, the + day before his departure: the writing of this SECRET LETTER OF + INSTRUCTIONS to Graf Finck von Finkenstein, his chief Home Minister, one + of his old boy-comrades, as readers may recollect. The Letter was read by + Count Finck with profound attention, 11th January, 1757, and conned over + till he knew every point of it; after which he sealed it up, inscribing on + the Cover: "HOCHSTEIGENHANDIGE UND GANX GEHEIME"—that is, + "Highest-Autographic and altogether Secret Instructions, by the King, + which, with the Appendixes, were delivered to me, Graf von Finkenstein, + the 12th of January, 1757." In this docketing it lay, sealed for many + years (none knows how many), then unsealed, still in strict keeping, in + the Private Royal Archives" [Preuss, i. 449.]—till on Friedrich's + Birthday, 24th January, 1854, it was, with some solemnity, lithographed at + Berlin, and distributed to a select public,—as readers shall see. + </p> + <p> + "SECRET INSTRUCTION FOR THE GRAF VON FINCK. + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, 10th January, 1757. + </p> + <p> + "In the critical situation our affairs are in, I ought to give you my + orders, so that in all the disastrous cases which are in the possibility + of events, you be authorized for taking the necessary steps. + </p> + <p> + "1. If it chanced (which Heaven forbid) that one of my Armies in Saxony + were totally beaten; or that the French should drive the Hanoverians from + their Country [which they failed not to do], and establish themselves + there, and threaten us with an invasion into the Altmark; or that the + Russians should get through by the Neumark,—you are to save the + Royal Family, the principal DICASTERIA [Land-Schedules, Lists of + Tax-dues], the Ministries and the Directorium [which is the central + Ministry of all]. If it is in Saxony on the Leipzig side that we are + beaten, the fittest place for the removal of the Royal Family, and of the + Treasure, is to Custrin: in such case the Royal Family and all above named + must go, escorted by the whole Garrison" of Berlin, "to Custrin. If the + Russians entered by the Neumark, or if a misfortune befell us in the + Lausitz, it would be to Magdeburg that all would have to go: in fine, the + last refuge is Stettin,—but you must not go till the last extremity. + The Garrison, the Royal Family and the Treasure are inseparable, and go + always together: to this must be added the Crown Diamonds, the Silver + Plate in the Grand Apartments,—which, in such case, as well as the + Gold Plate, must be at once coined into money. + </p> + <p> + "If it happened that I were killed, the Public Affairs must go on without + the smallest alteration, or its being noticeable that they are in other + hands: and, in this case, you must hasten forward the Oaths and Homagings, + as well here as in Preussen; and, above all, in Silesia. If I should have + the fatality to be taken prisoner by the Enemy, I prohibit all of you from + paying the least regard to my person, or taking the least heed of what I + might write from my place of detention. Should such misfortune happen me, + I wish to sacrifice myself for the State; and you must obey my Brother,—who, + as well as all my Ministers and Generals, shall answer to me with their + heads, Not to offer any Province or any Ransom for me, but to continue the + War, pushing their advantages, as if I never had existed in the world. + </p> + <p> + "I hope, and have ground to believe, that you, Count Finck, will not need + to make use of this Instruction: but in case of misfortune, I authorize + you to employ it; and, as mark that it is, after a mature and sound + deliberation, my firm and constant will, I sign it with my Hand and + confirm it with my Seal." + </p> + <p> + Or, in Friedrich's own spelling &c., so far as our possibilities + permit:— + </p> + <p> + "INSTRUCTION SECRETE POUR LE CONTE DE FINE. + </p> + <p> + "BERLIN, ce 10 de Janv. 1757. + </p> + <p> + "Dans La Situation Critique ou se trouvent nos affaires je dois Vous + donner mes Ordres pour que dans tout Les Cas Malheureux qui sont dans la + possibilite des Evenemens vous Soyez autorisse aux partis quil faut + prendre. 1)[Yes; but there follows no "2)" anywhere, such the haste!] Sil + arivoit (de quoi le Ciel preserve) qu'une de mes Armees en Saxse fut + totallement battue, oubien que Les francais chassassent Les Hanovryeins de + Leur pais et si etablissent et nous menassassent d'un Invassion dans la + Vieille Marche, ou que les Russes penetrassent par La Nouvelle Marche, il + faut Sauver la famille Royale, les principeaux Dicasteres les Ministres et + le Directoire. Si nous somes battus en Saxse du Cote de leipssic Le Lieu + Le plus propre pour Le transport de La famille et du Tressor est a + Custrin, il faut en ce Cas que la famille Royalle et touts cidesus nomez + aillent esCortez de toute La Guarnisson a Custrin. Si les Russes entroient + par la Nouvele Marche ou quil nous arivat un Malheur en Lusace, il + faudroit que tout Se transportat a Magdebourg, enfin Le Derni& refuge + est a Stetein, mais il ne hut y all&r qu'a La Derniere exstremite La + Guarnisson la famille Royalle et le Tressort sent Inseparables et vont + toujours ensemble il faut y ajouter les Diamans de la Couronne, et + L'argenterie des Grands Apartements qui en pareil cas ainsi que la Veselle + d'or doit etre incontinant Monoyee. Sil arivoit que je fus tue, il faut + que Les affaires Continuent Leur train sans la Moindre allteration et Sans + qu'on s'apersoive qu'elles sont en d'autre Mains, et en ce Cas il faut + hater Sermens et homages tant ici qu'en prusse et surtout en Silesie. Si + j'avois la fatalite d'etre pris prissonier par L'Enemy, je Defend qu'on + Aye le Moindre egard pour ma perssonne ni qu'on fasse La Moindre + reflextion sur ce que je pourois ecrire de Ma Detention, Si pareil Malheur + m'arivoit je Veux me Sacriffier pour L'Etat et il faut qu'on obeisse a Mon + frere le quel ainsi que tout Mes Ministres et Generaux me reponderont de + leur Tette qu'on offrira ni province ni ransson pour moy et que lon + Continuera la Guerre en poussant Ses avantages tout Come si je n'avais + jamais exsiste dans le Monde. J'espere et je dois Croire que Vous Conte + finc n'aurez pas bessoin de faire usage de Cette Instruction mais en cas + de Malheur je Vous autorisse a L'Employer, et Marque que C'est apres Une + Mure et saine Deliberation Ma ferme et Constante Volonte je le Signe de Ma + Main et la Muni de mon Cachet, + </p> + <p> + "FREDERIC R." + </p> + <p> + [Fac simile of Autograph (Berlin, 24th January, 1854), where is some + indistinct History of the Document. Printed also in <i>OEuvres,</i> xxv. + 319-323.] + </p> + <p> + These, privately made law in this manner, are Friedrich's fixed feelings + and resolutions;—how fixed is now farther apparent by a fact which + was then still more private, guessable long afterwards only by one or two, + and never clearly known so long as Friedrich lived: the fact that he had + (now most probably, though the date is not known) provided poison for + himself, and constantly wore it about his person through this War. "Five + or six small pills, in a small glass tube, with a bit of ribbon to it:" + that stern relic lay, in a worn condition, in some drawer of Friedrich's, + after Friedrich was gone. [Preuss, ii. 175, 315 n.] For the Facts are + peremptory; and a man that will deal with them must be equally so. + </p> + <p> + Two days after this Finck missive, Friday, 12th, Friedrich took farewell + at Berlin, drove to Potsdam that night with his Brother, to Dresden next + day. Adieu, Madam; Adieu, O Mother! said the King, in royal terms, but + with a heart altogether human. "May God above bless you, my Son!" the old + Lady would reply:—and the Two had seen one another for the last + time; Mother and Son were to meet no more in this world. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XVII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2117-h.htm or 2117-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2117/ + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + </body> +</html> diff --git a/2117.txt b/2117.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9fffda6 --- /dev/null +++ b/2117.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4059 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. +XVII. (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. XVII. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--The Seven-Years War: First Campaign--1756-1757. + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Posting Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2117] +Release Date: March 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + + + + + +HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA + +FREDERICK THE GREAT + +By Thomas Carlyle + + + + +Book XVII--THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR: FIRST CAMPAIGN.--1756-1757. + + + + +Chapter I.--WHAT FRIEDRICH HAD READ IN THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. + +The ill-informed world, entirely unaware of what Friedrich had been +studying and ascertaining, to his bitter sorrow, for four years past, +was extremely astonished at the part he took in those French-English +troubles; extremely provoked at his breaking out again into a Third +Silesian War, greater than all the others, and kindling all Europe in +such a way. The ill-informed world rang violently, then and long after, +with a Controversy, "Was it of his beginning, or Not of his beginning?" +Controversy, which may in our day be considered as settled by unanimous +mankind; finished forever; and can now have no interest for any +creature. + +Omitting that, our problem is (were it possible in brief compass), To +set forth, by what authentic traits there are,--not the "ambitious," +"audacious," voracious and highly condemnable Friedrich of the +Gazetteers,--but the thrice-intricately situated Friedrich of Fact. What +the Facts privately known to Friedrich were, in what manner known; and +how, in a more complex crisis than had yet been, Friedrich demeaned +himself: upon which latter point, and those cognate to it, readers ought +not to be ignorant, if now fallen indifferent on so many other points of +the Affair. What a loud-roaring, loose and empty matter is this tornado +of vociferation which men call "Public Opinion"! Tragically howling +round a man; who has to stand silent the while; and scan, wisely under +pain of death, the altogether inarticulate, dumb and inexorable matter +which the gods call Fact! Friedrich did read his terrible Sphinx-riddle; +the Gazetteer tornado did pipe and blow. King Friedrich, in contrast +with his Environment at that time, will most likely never be portrayed +to modern men in his real proportions, real aspect and attitude then and +there,--which are silently not a little heroic and even pathetic, when +well seen into;--and, for certain, he is not portrayable at present, +on our side of the Sea. But what hints and fractions of feature we +authentically have, ought to be given with exactitude, especially with +brevity, and left to the ingenuous imagination of readers. + +The secret sources of the Third Silesian War, since called "Seven-Years +War," go back to 1745; nay, we may say, to the First Invasion of Silesia +in 1740. For it was in Maria Theresa's incurable sorrow at loss of +Silesia, and her inextinguishable hope to reconquer it, that this and +all Friedrich's other Wars had their origin. Twice she had signed Peace +with Friedrich, and solemnly ceded Silesia to him: but that too, with +the Imperial Lady, was by no means a finis to the business. Not that +she meant to break her Treaties; far from her such a thought,--in the +conscious form. Though, alas, in the unconscious, again, it was always +rather near! practically, she reckoned to herself, these Treaties would +come to be broken, as Treaties do not endure forever; and then, at the +good moment, she did purpose to be ready. "Silesia back to us; Pragmatic +Sanction complete in every point! Was not that our dear Father's will, +monition of all our Fathers and their Patriotisms and Traditionary +Heroisms; and in fact, the behest of gods and men?" Ten years ago, this +notion had been cut down to apparent death, in a disastrous manner, for +the second time. But it did not die in the least: it never thinks of +dying; starts always anew, passionate to produce itself again as action +valid at last; and lives in the Imperial Heart with a tenacity that is +strange to observe. Still stranger, in the envious Valet-Heart,--in that +of Bruhl, who had far less cause! + +The Peace of Dresden, Christmas, 1745, seemed to be an act of +considerable magnanimity on Friedrich's part. It was, at the first blush +of it, "incredible" to Harrach, the Austrian Plenipotentiary; whose +embarrassed, astonished bow we remember on that occasion, with English +Villiers shedding pious tears. But what is very remarkable withal is +a thing since discovered: [INFRA, next Note (p. 276).] That Harrach, +magnanimous signature hardly yet dry, did then straightway, by order of +his Court, very privately inquire of Bruhl, "There is Peace, you see; +what they call Peace:--but our TREATY OF WARSAW, for Partition of this +magnanimous man, stands all the same; does n't it?" To which, according +to the Documents, Bruhl, hardly escaped from the pangs of death, and +still in a very pale-yellow condition, had answered in effect, "Hah, +say you so? One's hatred is eternal;--but that man's iron heel! Wait a +little; get Russia to join in the scheme!"--and hung back; the willing +mind, but the too terrified! And in this way, like a famishing dog in +sight of a too dangerous leg of mutton, Bruhl has ever since rather +held back; would not re-engage at all, for almost two years, even on +the Czarina's engaging; and then only in a cautious, conditional and +hypothetic manner,--though with famine increasing day by day in sight +of the desired viands. His hatred is fell; but he would fain escape with +back unbroken. + + + + +HOW FRIEDRICH DISCOVERED THE MYSTERY. CONCERNING MENZEL AND WEINGARTEN. + +Friedrich has been aware of this mystery, at least wide awake to it and +becoming ever more instructed, for almost four years. Traitor Menzel the +Saxon Kanzellist--we, who have prophetically read what he had to confess +when laid hold of, are aware, though as yet, and on to 1757, it is a +dead secret to all mortals but himself and "three others"--has been busy +for Prussia ever since "the end of 1752." Got admittance to the Presses; +sent his first Excerpt "about the time of Easter-Fair, 1753,"--time +of Voltaire's taking wing. And has been at work ever since. Copying +Despatches from the most secret Saxon Repositories; ready always on +Excellency Mahlzahn's indicating the Piece wanted; and of late, I should +think, is busier than ever, as the Saxon Mystery, which is also an +Austrian and Russian one, gets more light thrown into it, and seems to +be fast ripening towards action of a perilous nature. The first Excerpts +furnished by Menzel, readers can judge how enigmatic they were. These +Menzel Papers, copies mainly of Petersburg or Vienna DESPATCHES to +Bruhl, with Bruhl's ANSWERS,--the principal of which were subsequently +printed in their best arrangement and liveliest point of vision [In +Friedrich's Manifestoes, chiefly in MEMOIRE RAISONNE SUR LA CONDUITE DES +COURS DE VIENNE ET DE SAXE (compiled from the MENZEL ORIGINALS, so +soon as these were got hold of: Berlin, Autumn, 1756). A solid and +able Paper; rapidly done, by one Count Herzberg, who rose high in +after times. Reprinted, with many other "Pieces" and "Passages," in +_Gesammelte Nachrichten und Urkunden,_--which is a "Collection" of such +(2 vols., 113 Nos. small 8vo, no Place, 1757, my Copy of it).]--are by +no means a luminous set of Documents to readers at this day. Think what +a study they were at Potsdam in 1753, while still in the chaotic state; +fished out, more or less at random, as Menzel could lay hold of them, +or be directed to them; the enigma clearing itself only by intense +inspection, and capability of seeing in the dark! + +It appears,--if you are curious on the anecdotic part,-- + +"Winterfeld was the first that got eye on this dangerous Saxon +Mystery; some Ex-Saxon, about to settle in Berlin, giving hint of it +to Winterfeld; who needed only a hint. So soon as Winterfeld convinced +himself that there was weight in the affair, he imparted it to +Friedrich: 'Scheme of partitioning, your Majesty, of picking +quarrel, then overwhelming and partitioning; most serious scheme, +Austrian-Russian as well as Saxon; going on steadily for years past, and +very lively at this time!' If true, Friedrich cannot but admit that this +is serious enough: important, thrice over, to discover whether it is +true;--and gives Winterfeld authority to prosecute it to the bottom, in +Dresden or wherever the secret may lie. Who thereupon charged Mahlzahn, +the Prussian Minister at Dresden, to find some proper Menzel, and bestir +himself. How Mahlzahn has found his Menzel, and has bestirred himself, +we saw. Thief-keys were made to pattern in Berlin; first set did not +fit, second did; and stealthy Menzel gains admittance to that Chamber of +the Archives, can steal thither on shoes of felt when occasion serves, +and copy what you wish,--for a consideration. Intermittently, since +about Easter-Fair, 1753. Three persons are cognizant of it, Winterfeld, +Mahlzahn, Friedrich; three, and no more. Probably the abstrusest study; +and the most intense, going on in the world at that epoch. [Rotzow, +_Charakteristik des Siebenjahrigen Krieges _(Berlin, 1802), i. 23.] + +"At a very early stage of the Menzel Excerpts it became manifest that +certain synchronous Austrian Ditto would prove highly elucidative; that, +in fact, it would be indispensable to get hold of these as well. Which +also Winterfeld has managed to do. A deep-headed man, who has his eyes +about him; and is very apt to manage what he undertakes. One Weingarten +Junior, a Secretary in the Austrian Embassy at Berlin (Excellency +Peubla's second Secretary), has his acquaintanceships in Berlin Society; +and for one thing, as Winterfeld discovers, is 'madly in love' with +some Chambermaid or quasi-chambermaid (let us call her Chambermaid), +'Daughter of the Castellan at Charlottenburg.' Winterfeld, through the +due channels, applied to this Chambermaid, 'Get me a small secret Copy +of such and such Despatches, out of your Weingarten; it will be well for +you and him; otherwise perhaps not well!' Chambermaid, hope urging, +or perhaps hope and fear, did her best; Weingarten had to yield the +required product and products, as required. By this Weingarten, from +some date not long after Menzel's first mysterious Dresden Excerpts, +the necessary Austrian glosses, so far as possible to Weingarten on the +indications given him, have been regularly had, for the two or three +years past. + +"Weingarten first came to be seriously suspected June, 1756 (Weingarten +Junior, let us still say, for there was a Senior of unstained fidelity); +'June 15th,' Excellency Peubla pointedly demands him from Friedrich and +the Berlin Police: 'Weingarten Junior, my SECOND Secretar, fugitive and +traitor; hidden somewhere!' ["BERLIN, 22d JUNE: Every research making +for Mr. Weingatten,--in vain hitherto" (_Gentleman's Magazine, _xxvi., +i. e. for 1756, p. 363).] Excellency Peubla is answered, 24th June: 'We +would so fain catch him, if we could! We have tried at Stendal,--not +there: tried his Mother-in-law; knows nothing: have forborne laying up +his poor Wife and Children; and hope her Imperial Majesty will +have pity on that poor creature, who is fallen so miserable.' +[_Helden-Geschichte,_ iii. 713.] So that Excellency Peubla had nothing +for it but to compose himself; to honor the unstainable fidelity of +Weingarten Senior by a public piece of promotion, which soon ensued; and +let the Junior run. Weingarten Junior, on the first suspicion, had +vanished with due promptitude,--was not to be unearthed again. We +perceive he has married his Charlottenburg Beauty, and there are +helpless babies. It seems, he lived long years after, in the Altmark, as +a Herr von Weiss,'--his reflections manifold, but unknown. [Retzow, i. +37.] What is much notabler, Cogniazzo, the Austrian Veteran, heard +Weingarten's MASTER, Graf von Peubla, talk of the 'GRAND MYSTERE,' soon +after, and how Friedrich had heard of it, not from Weingarten alone, but +from Gross-Furst PETER, Russian Heir-Apparent! [Cogniazzo, i. 225.] + +"As to Menzel, he did not get away. Menzel, as we saw, lasted in free +activity till 1757; and was then put under lock and key. Was not hanged; +sat prisoner for twenty-seven years after; overgrown with hair, legs +and arms chained together, heavy iron bar uniting both ankles; diet +bread-and-water;--for the rest, healthy; and died, not very miserable it +is said, in 1784. Shocking traitors, Weingarten and he." + +Yes, a diabolical pair, they, sure enough:--and the thing they betrayed +against their Masters, was that a celestial thing? Servants of the Devil +do fall out; and Servants not of the Devil are fain, sometimes, to raise +a quarrel of that kind!-- + +The then world, as we said, was one loud uproar of logic on the right +reading and the wrong of those Sibylline Documents: "Did your King of +Prussia interpret them aright, or even try it? Did not he use them as a +cloak for highway robbery, and swallowing of a peaceable Saxony, bad man +that he surely is?" For Friedrich's demeanor, this time again, when +it came to the acting point, was of eminent rapidity; almost a swifter +lion-spring than ever; and it brought on him, in the aerial or vocal +way, its usual result: huge clamor of rage and logic from uninformed +mankind. Clamorous rage and logic, which has now sunk irresuscitably +dead;--nothing of it much worth mentioning to modern readers, scarcely +even its HIC JACET (in Footnotes, for the benefit of the curious!),--and +it is, at last, a thing not doubtful to anybody that Friedrich, in that +matter did read aright. So that now the loud uproar is reduced to one +small question with us, What did he read in those Menzel Documents? What +Fact lying in them was it that Friedrich had to read? Here, smelted down +by repeated roastings, is succinct answer;--for the ultimate fragment of +incombustible here as elsewhere, will go into a nutshell, once the +continents of Diplomatist-Gazetteer logic and disorderly stable-litter, +threatening to heap themselves over the very stars, have been faithfully +burnt away. + +Readers heard of a "Union of Warsaw," early in 1745, concluded by the +Sea-Powers and the Saxon-Polish and Hungarian Majesties: very +harmless UNION of Warsaw, public to all the world,--but with a certain +thrice-secret "TREATY of Warsaw" (between Polish and Hungarian Majesty +themselves two, the Sea-Powers being horror-struck by mention of +it) which had followed thereupon, in an eager and wonderful manner. +Thrice-secret Treaty, for Partitioning Friedrich, and settling the +respective shares of his skin. Treaty which, to denote its origin, we +called of Warsaw; though it was not finished there (shares of skin so +difficult to settle), and "Treaty of LEIPZIG, 18th May, 1745," is +its ALIAS in Books:--of which Treaty, as the Sea-Powers had recoiled +horror-struck, there was no whisper farther, to them or to the rest of +exoteric mankind;--though it has been one of the busiest Entities ever +since. From the Menzel Documents, I know not after what circuitous +gropings and searchings, Friedrich first got notice of that Treaty: +[Now printed in _OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 40-42.] figure his look on +discovering it! + +We said it was the remarkablest bit of sheepskin in its Century. Readers +have heard too, That it was proposed to Bruhl, by a grateful Austria, +directly on signing the Peace of Dresden: "Our Partition-Treaty stands +all the same, does it not?"--and in what humor Bruhl answered: "Hah? Get +Russia to join!" Both these facts, That there is a Treaty of Warsaw and +that this is the Austrian-Saxon temper and intention towards him and +it, Friedrich learned from the Menzel Documents. And if the reader will +possess himself of these two facts, and understand that they are of a +germinative, most vital quality, indestructible by the times and the +chances; and have been growing and developing themselves, day and night +ever since, in a truly wonderful manner,--the reader knows in substance +what Menzel had to reveal. + +Russia was got to join;--there are methods of operating on Russia, and +kindling a poor fat Czarina into strange suspicions and indignations. +In May, 1746, within six months of the Peace of Dresden, a Treaty of +Petersburg, new version of the Warsaw one, was brought to parchment; +Czarina and Empress-Queen signing,--Bruhl dying to sign, but not daring. +How Russia has been got to join, and more and more vigorously bear a +hand; how Bruhl's rabidities of appetite, and terrors of heart, have +continued ever since; how Austria and Russia,--Bruhl aiding with +hysterical alacrity, haunted by terror (and at last mercifully EXCUSED +from signing),--have, year after year, especially in this last year, +1755, brought the matter nearer and nearer perfection; and the Two +Imperial Majesties, with Bruhl to rear, wait only till they are fully +ready, and the world gives opportunity, to pick a quarrel with +Friedrich, and overwhelm and partition him, according to covenant: This, +wandering through endless mazes of detail, is in sum what the Menzel +Documents disclose to Friedrich and us. How, in a space of ten years, +the small seed-grain of a Treaty of Warsaw, or Treaty of Petersburg, +planted and nourished in that manner, in the Satan's Invisible World, +has grown into a mighty Tree there,--prophetic of Facts near at hand; +which were extremely sanguinary to the Human Race for the next Seven +Years. + +This is the sum-total: but for Friedrich's sake, and to illustrate +the situation, let us take a few glances more, into the then Satan's +Invisible World, which had become so ominously busy round Friedrich and +others. The Czarina, we say, was got to engage; 22d May, 1746, there +came a Treaty of Petersburg duly valid, which is that of Warsaw under a +new name: and still Bruhl durst not, for above a year coming,--not till +August 15th, 1747; [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten _), i. +459.] and then, only in a hypothetic half-and-half way, with fear and +trembling, though with hunger unspeakable, in sight of the viands. A +very wretched Bruhl, as seen in these Menzel Documents. On poor Polish +Majesty Bruhl has played the sorcerer, this long while, and ridden him +as he would an enchanted quadruped, in a shameful manner: but how, in +turn (as we study Menzel), is Bruhl himself hagridden, hunted by his +own devils, and leads such a ghastly phantasmal existence yonder, in +the Valley of the Shadow of CLOTHES,--mere Clothes, metaphorical and +literal! ["MONTREZ-MOI DES VERTUS, PAS DES CULOTTES (Have you no virtues +then to show me; nothing but pain of breeches)!" exclaimed an impatient +French Traveller, led about in Bruhl's Palace one day: Archenholtz, +_Geschichte des Siebenjahrigen Krieges,_ i. 63.] Wretched Bruhl, +agitated with hatreds of a rather infernal nature, and with terrors of +a not celestial, comes out on our sympathies, as a dog almost +pitiable,--were that possible, with twelve tailors sewing for him, and a +Saxony getting shoved over the precipices by him. + +A famishing dog in the most singular situation. What he dare do, he +does, and with such a will. But there is almost only one thing safe to +him: that of egging on the Czarina against Friedrich; of coining lies to +kindle Czarish Majesty; of wafting on every wind rumors to that end, and +continually besieging with them the empty Czarish mind. Bruhl has many +Conduits, "the Sieur de Funck," "the Sieur Gross" plenty of Legationary +Sieurs and Conduits;--which issue from all quarters on Petersburg, and +which find there a Reservoir, and due Russian SERVICE-PIPES, prepared +for them;--and Bruhl is busy. "Commerce of Dantzig to be ruined," +suggests he, "that is plain: look at his Asiatic Companies, his Port of +Embden. Poland is to be stirred up;--has not your Czarish Majesty +heard of his intrigues there? Courland, which is almost become your +Majesty's--cunningly snatched by your Majesty's address, like a valuable +moribund whale adrift among the shallows,--this bad man will have it +out to sea again, with the harpoons in it; fairly afloat amid the Polish +Anarchies again!" These are but specimens of Bruhl. Or we can give such +in Bruhl's own words, if the reader had rather. Here are Two, which have +the advantage of brevity:-- + +1.... The Sieur de Funck, Saxon Minister at Petersburg, wrote to Count +Bruhl, 9th July, 1755 (says an inexorable Record), "That the Sieur Gross +[now Minister of Russia at Dresden, who vanished out of Berlin like an +angry sky-rocket some years ago] would do a good service to the Common +Cause, if he wrote to his Court, 'That the King of Prussia had found a +channel in Courland, by which he learned all the secrets of the Russian +Court;'" and Sieur Funck added, "that it was expected good use could be +made of such a story with her Czarish Majesty."--To which Count Bruhl +replies, 23d July, "That he has instructed the Sieur Gross, who will not +fail to act in consequence." + +2. Sieur Prasse, same Funck's Secretary of Legation, at Petersburg, +writes to Count Bruhl, 12th April, 1756:-- + +"I am bidden signify to your Excellency that it is greatly wished, +in order to favor certain views, you would have the goodness to cause +arrive in Petersburg, by different channels, the following intelligence: +'That the King of Prussia, on pretext of Commerce, is sending officers +and engineers into the Ukraine, to reconnoitre the Country and excite a +rebellion there.' And this advice, be pleased to observe, is not to come +direct from the Saxon Court, nor by the Envoy Gross, but by some third +party,--to the end there may be no concert noticed;--as they [L'ON, the +"service-pipes," and managing Excellencies, Russian and Austrian] have +given the same commission to other Ministers, so that the news shall +come from more places than one. + +"They [the said managing Excellencies] have also required me to write to +the Baron de Sack," our Saxon Minister in Sweden, "upon it, which I will +not fail to do; and they assured me that our Court's advantage was +not less concerned in it than that of their own; adding these words +[comfortable to one's soul], 'The King of Prussia [in 1745] gave Saxony +a blow which it will feel for fifty years; but we will give him one +which he will feel for a hundred.'" + +To which beautiful suggestion Excellency Bruhl answers, 2d June, 1756: +"As to the Secret Commission of conveying to Petersburg, by concealed +channels, Intelligence of Prussian machinations in the Ukraine, we are +still busy finding out a right channel; and they [L'ON, the managing +Excellencies] shall very soon, one way or the other, see the effect of +my personal inclination to second what is so good an intention, though +a little artful (UN PEU ARTIFICIEUSE,"--UN PEU, nothing to speak of)! +[MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in _ Gesammelte Nachrichten _), i. 424-425; and ib. +472.] + +Fancy a poor fat Czarina, of many appetites, of little judgment, +continually beaten upon in this manner by these Saxon-Austrian artists +and their Russian service-pipes. Bombarded with cunningly devised +fabrications, every wind freighted for her with phantasmal rumors, no +ray of direct daylight visiting the poor Sovereign Woman; who is lazy, +not malignant if she could avoid it: mainly a mass of esurient oil, +with alkali on the back of alkali poured in, at this rate, for ten years +past; till, by pouring and by stirring, they get her to the state of +SOAP and froth! Is it so wonderful that she does, by degrees, rise into +eminent suspicion, anger, fear, violence and vehemence against her bad +neighbor? One at last begins to conceive those insane whirls, continual +mad suspicions, mad procedures, which have given Friedrich such +vexation, surprise and provocation in the years past. + +Friedrich is always specially eager to avoid ill-will from Russia; but +it has come, in spite of all he could do and try. And these procedures +of the Czarish Majesty have been so capricious, unintelligible, +perverse, and his feeling is often enough irritation, temporary +indignation,--which we know makes Verses withal! I can nowhere learn +from those Prussian imbroglios of Books, what the Friedrich Sayings +or Satirical Verses properly were: Retzow speaks of a PRODUKT, one +at least, known in interior Circles. [Retzow, i. 34.] PRODUKT which +decidedly requires publication, beyond anything Friedrich ever +wrote;--though one can do without it too, and invoke Fancy in defect of +Print. The sharpness of Friedrich's tongue we know; and the diligence of +birds of the air. To all her other griefs against the bad man, this has +given the finish in the tender Czarish bosom;--and like an envenomed +drop has set the saponaceous oils (already dosed with alkali, and +well in solution) foaming deliriously over the brim, in never-imagined +deluges of a hatred that is unappeasable;--very costly to Friedrich and +mankind. Rising ever higher, year by year; and now risen, to what height +judge by the following:-- + +AT PETERSBURG, 14th-15th MAY, 1753, "There was Meeting of the Russian +Senate, with deliberation held for these two days; and for issue this +conclusion come to:-- + +"That it should be, and hereby is, settled as a fundamental maxim of the +Russia Empire, Not only to oppose any farther aggrandizement of the +King of Prussia, but to seize the first convenient opportunity for +overwhelming (ECRASER), by superior force, the House of Brandenburg +[Hear, hear!], and reducing it to its former state of mediocrity." +[MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten _), i. 421.] Leg of mutton +to be actually gone into. With what an enthusiasm of "Hear, hear!" from +Bruhl and kindred parties; especially from Bruhl,--who, however, dare +not yet bite, except hypothetically, such his terrors and tremors. Or, +look again (same Senate), + +AT PETERSBURG, (OCTOBER, 1755): "To which Fundamental Maxim, articulately +fixed ever since those Maydays of 1753, the august Russian Sanhedrim, +deliberating farther in October, 1755, adds this remarkable extension, + +"That it is our resolution to attack the King of Prussia without farther +discussion, whensoever the said King shall attack any Ally of Russia's, +or shall himself be attacked by any of them." Hailed by Bruhl, as +natural, with his liveliest approval. "A glorious Deliberation, that, +indeed!" writes he: "It clears the way of action for Russia's Allies in +this matter; and for us too; though nobody can blame us, if we proceed +with the extremest caution,"--and rather wait till the Bear is nearly +killed. [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten_ ), i. 422.] + +Many marvels Friedrich had deciphered out of this Weingarten-Menzel +Apocalypse of Satan's Invisible World; and one often fancies Friedrich's +tone of mind, in his intense inspecting of that fateful continent +of darkness, and his labyrinthic stepping by degrees to the oracular +points, which have a light in them when flung open. But in respect of +practical interest, this of October, 1755 (which would get to Potsdam +probably in few weeks after) must have surpassed all the others. Marvels +many, one after the other: [For example, or in recapitulation: a Treaty +of Warsaw or Leipzig, to partition him (18th May, 1745); Treaty of +Petersburg (22d May, 1746, new form of Warsaw Treaty, with Czarina +superadded); tremulous Quasi-Accession thereto of his Polish Majesty +(most tremulous, hypothetic Quasi-Accession, "Yes-AND-No," 15th August, +1747, and often afterwards); first Deliberation of the Russian Senate, +15th May, 1753; &c. &c. For example, or in recapitulation: a Treaty +of Warsaw or Leipzig, to partition him (18th May, 1745); Treaty of +Petersburg (22d May, 1746, new form of Warsaw Treaty, with Czarina +superadded); tremulous Quasi-Accession thereto of his Polish Majesty +(most tremulous, hypothetic Quasi-Accession, "Yes-AND-No," 15th August, +1747, and often afterwards); first Deliberation of the Russian Senate, +15th May, 1753; &c. &c.] no doubt left, long since, of the constant +disposition, preparation and fixed intention to partition him. But +here, in this last indication by the Russian Senate,--which kindles into +dismal evidence so many other enigmatic tokens,--there has an ulterior +oracular point disclosed itself to Friedrich; in vaguer condition, but +not less indubitable, and much more perilous: namely, That now, at last +(end of 1755), the Two Imperial Majesties, very eager both, consider +that the time is come. And are--as Friedrich looks abroad on the +Austrian-Russian marchings of troops, campings, and unusual military +symptoms and combinations--visibly preparing to that end. + +"They have agreed to attack me next Year (1756), if they can; and next +again (1757), without IF:" so Friedrich, putting written word and public +occurrence together, gradually reads; and so, all readers will see, +the fact was,--though Imperial Majesty at Schonbrunn, as we shall find, +strove to deny it when applied to; and scouted, as mere fiction +and imagination, the notion of such an "Agreement." Which I infer, +therefore, NOT to have existed in parchment; not in parchment, but +only in reality, and as a mutual Bond registered in--shall we say "in +Heaven", as some are wont?--registered, perhaps, in TWO Places, very +separate indeed! No truer "Agreement" ever did exist;--though a devout +Imperial Majesty denies it, who would shudder at the lie direct. + +Poor Imperial Majesty: who can tell her troubles and straits in this +abstruse time! Heaven itself ordering her to get back the Silesia of her +Fathers, if she could;--yet Heaven always looking dubious, surely, upon +this method of doing it. By solemn Public Treaties signed in sight +of all mankind; and contrariwise, in the very same moments, by Secret +Treaties, of a fell nature, concocted underground, to destroy the life +of these! Imperial Majesty flatters herself it may be fair: "Treaty of +Dresden, Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle; Treaties wrung from me by force, the +tyrannic Sea-Powers screwing us; Kaunitz can tell! A consummate Kaunitz; +who has provided remedies. Treaties do get broken. Besides, I will +not go to War, unless HE the Bad One of Prussia do!"--Alas, your noble +Majesty, plain it at least is, your love of Silesia is very strong. And +consummate Kaunitz and it have led you into strange predicaments. The +Pompadour, for instance: who was it that answered, "JE NE LA CONNAIS +PAS; I don't know her!"? How gladly would the Imperial Maria Theresa, +soul of Propriety, have made that answer! But she did not; she had to +answer differently. For Kaunitz was imperative: "A kind little Note to +the Pompadour; one, and then another and another; it is indispensable, +your Imperial Majesty!" And Imperial Majesty always had to do it. And +there exist in writing, at this hour, various flattering little Notes +from Imperial Majesty to that Address; which begin, "MA COUSINE," +"PRINCESSE ET COUSINE," say many witnesses; nay "MADAME MA TRES CHERE +SOEUR," says one good witness: [Hormayr (cited in Preuss, i. 433 n.),--as +are Duclos; Montgaillard; MEMOIRES DE RICHELIEU; &c.]--Notes which ought +to have been printed, before this, or given at least to the Museums. +"My Cousin," "Princess and Cousin," "Madame my dearest Sister:" Oh, +high Imperial Soul, with what strange bed-fellows does Misery of various +kinds bring us acquainted! + +Friedrich was blamably imprudent in regard to Pompadour, thinks Valori: +"A little complaisance might have--what might it not have done!--" But +his Prussian Majesty would not. And while the Ministers of all the +other Powers allied with France "went assiduously to pay their court +to Madame, the Baron von Knyphausen alone, by his Master's order, never +once went." ["Don't! JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS"],--while the Empress-Queen +was writing her the most flattering letters. The Prince of Prussia, +King's eldest Brother, wished ardently to obtain her Portrait, and had +applied to me for it; as had Prince Henri to my Predecessor. The King, +who has such gallant and seductive ways when he likes, could certainly +have reconciled this "celebrated Lady",--a highly important Improper +Female to him and others. [Valori, i. 320.] + +Yes; but he quite declined, not counting the costs. Costs may be +immediate; profits are remote,--remote, but sure. Costs did indeed prove +considerable, perhaps far beyond his expectation; though, I flatter +myself, they never awoke much remorse in him, on that score!-- + +Friedrich's Enigma, towards the end of 1755 and onwards, is becoming +frightfully stringent; and the solution, "What practically will be the +wise course for me?" does not lessen in abstruse intricacy, but the +reverse, as it grows more pressing. A very stormy and dubious Future, +truly! Two circumstances in it will be highly determinative: one of +them evident to Friedrich; the other unknown to him, and to all mortals, +except two or three. FIRST, + +That there will be an English-French War straightway; and that, as +usual, the French, weaker at sea, will probably attack Hanover;-- +that is to say, bring the War home to one's own door, and ripen +into fulfilment those Austrian-Russian Plots. This is the evident +circumstance, fast coming on; visible to Friedrich and to everybody. +But that, in such event, Austria will join, not with England, but with +France: this is a SECOND circumstance, guessable by nobody; known +only to Kaunitz and a select one or two; but which also will greatly +complicate Friedrich's position, and render his Enigma indeed +astonishingly intricate, as well as stringent for solution! + + + + +Chapter II.--ENGLISH DIPLOMACIES ABROAD, IN PROSPECT OF A FRENCH WAR. + +Britannic Majesty, I know not at what date, but before the launching of +that poor Braddock thunder-bolt, much more after the tragic explosion it +made, had felt that French War was nearly inevitable, and also that the +French method would be, as heretofore, to attack Hanover, and wound +him in that tender part. There goes on, accordingly, a lively Foreign +Diplomatizing, on his Majesty's part, at present,--in defect, almost +total, of Domestic Preparation, military and other;--Majesty and +Ministers expecting salvation from abroad, as usual. Military +preparation does lag at a shameful rate: but, on the other hand, +there is a great deal of pondering, really industrious considering and +contriving, about Foreign Allies, and their subsidies and engagements. +That step, for example, the questionable Seizure of the French Ships +WITHOUT Declaration of War, was a contrivance by diplomatic Heads (of +bad quality): "Seize their ships," said some bad Head, after meditating; +"put their ships in SEQUESTRATION, till they do us justice. If they +won't, and go to War,--then THEY are the Aggressors, not we; and our +Allies have to send their auxiliary quotas, as per contract!" So the +Ships were seized; held in sequestration, "till many of the cargoes +(being perishable goods, some even fish) rotted." [Smollett's _History +of England; _&c. &c.] And in return, as will be seen, not one auxiliary +came to hand: so that the diplomatic Head had his rotted cargoes, and +much public obloquy, for his pains. Not a fortunate stroke of business, +that!-- + +Britannic Majesty, on applying at Vienna (through Keith, Sir or Mr. +Robert Keith, the FIRST Excellency of that name, for there are two, a +father and a son, both Vienna Excellencies), was astonished to learn +That, in such event of an Aggression, even on Hanover, there was no +co-operation to be looked for here. Altogether cold on that subject, her +Imperial Majesty seems; regardless of Excellency Keith's remonstrances +and urgencies; and, in the end, is flatly negatory: "Cannot do it, your +Excellency; times so perilous, bad King of Prussia so minatory,"--not +to mention, SOTTO VOCE that we have turned on our axis, and the wind +(thanks to Kaunitz) no longer hits us on the same cheek as formerly! + +"Cannot? Will not?" Britannic Majesty may well stare, wide-eyed; +remembering such gigantic Subsidizings and Alcides Labors, Dettingens, +Fontenoys, on the per-contra side. But so stands the fact: "No help from +an ungrateful Vienna;--quick, then, seek elsewhere!" And Hanbury and the +Continental British Excellencies have to bestir themselves as they never +did. Especially Hanbury; who is directed upon Russia,--whom alone of +these Excellencies it is worth while to follow for a moment. Russia, +on fair subsidy, yielded us a 35,000 last War (willingly granted, most +useful, though we had no fighting out of them, mere terror of them being +enough): beyond all things, let Hanbury do his best in Russia! + +Hanbury, cheerfully confident, provides himself with the requisites, +store of bribe-money as the chief;--at Warsaw withal, he picks up one +Poniatowski (airy sentimental coxcomb, rather of dissolute habits, +handsomest and windiest of young Polacks): "Good for a Lover to the +Grand-Duchess, this one!" thinks Hanbury. Which proved true, and had its +uses for Hanbury;--Grand-Duchess and Grand-Duke (Catherine and Peter, +whom we saw wedded twelve years ago, Heirs-Apparent of this Russian +Chaos) being an abstrusely situated pair of Spouses; well capable of +something political, in private ways, in such a scene of affairs; and +Catherine, who is an extremely clever creature, being out of a lover +just now. A fine scene for the Diplomatist, this Russia at present. +Nowhere in the world can you do so much with bribery; quite a standing +item, and financial necessary-of-life to Officials of the highest rank +there, as Hanbury well knows. [His Letters (in Raumer), PASSIM.] That +of Poniatowski proved, otherwise too, a notable stroke of Hanbury's; and +shot the poor Polish Coxcomb aloft into tragic altitudes, on the sudden, +as we all know! + +Hanbury's immense dexterities, and incessant labors at Petersburg, shall +lie hidden in the slop-pails: it is enough to say, his guineas, his +dexterities and auxiliary Poniatowskis did prevail; and he triumphantly +signed his Treaty (Petersburg, 30th September) "Subsidy-Treaty for +55,000 men, 15,000 of them cavalry," not to speak of "40 to 50 galleys" +and the like; "to attack whomsoever Britannic Majesty bids: annual cost +a mere 500,000 pounds while on service; 100,000 pounds while waiting." +[In _Adelung,_ vii. 609.] And, what is more, and what our readers are to +mark, the 55,000 begin on the instant to assemble,--along the Livonian +Frontier or Lithuanian, looking direct into Preussen. Diligently +rendezvousing there; 55,000 of them, nay gradually 70,000; no stinginess +in the Czarina to her Ally of England. A most triumphant thing, thinks +Hanbury: Could another of you have done it? Signed, ready for ratifying, +30th September, 1755 (bad Braddock news not hindering);--and before it +is ratified (this also let readers mark), the actual Troops getting on +march. + +Hanbury's masterpiece, surely; a glorious triumph in the circumstances, +and a difficult, thinks Hanbury. Had Hanbury seen the inside of the +cards, as readers have, he would not have thought it so triumphant. For +years past,--especially since that "Fundamental maxim, May 14th-15th, +1753," which we heard of,--the Czarina's longings had been fixed. And +here now--scattering money from both hands of it, and wooing us with +diplomatic finessings--is the Fulfilment come! "Opportunity" upon +Preussen; behold it here. + +The Russian Senate again holds deliberation; declares (on the heel of +this Hanbury Treaty), "in October, 1755," what we read above, That its +Anti-Prussian intentions are--truculent indeed. And it is the common +talk in Petersburg society, through Winter, what a dose the ambitious +King of Prussia has got brewed for him, [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in +_Gesammelte Nachrichten _), i. 429, &c.] out of Russian indignation +and resources, miraculously set afloat by English guineas. A triumphant +Hanbury, for the time being,--though a tragical enough by and by! + + + + +THE TRIUMPHANT HANBURY TREATY BECOMES, ITSELF, NOTHING OR LESS;--BUT +PRODUCES A FRIEDRICH TREATY, FOLLOWED BY RESULTS WHICH SURPRISE +EVERYBODY. + +King Friedrich's outlooks, on this consummation, may well seem to him +critical. The sore longing of an infuriated Czarina is now let loose, +and in a condition to fulfil itself! To Friedrich these Petersburg news +are no secret; nor to him are the Petersburg private intentions a thing +that can be doubted. Apart from the Menzel-Weingarten revelations, as +we noticed once, it appears the Grand-Duke Peter (a great admirer +of Friedrich, poor confused soul) had himself thrice-secretly warned +Friedrich, That the mysterious Combination, Russia in the van, would +attack him next Spring;--"not Weingarten that betrayed our GRAND +MYSTERE; from first hand, that was done!" said Excellency Peubla, +on quitting Berlin not long after. [Cogniazzo, _Gestandnisse eines +OEsterreichischen Veterans _(as cited above), i. 225. "September 16th, +1756," Peubla left Berlin (Rodenbeck, i. 298),--three months after +Weingarten's disappearance.] The Grand Mystery is not uncertain to +Friedrich; and it may well be very formidable,--coupled with those +Braddock explosions, Seizures of French ships, and English-French War +imminent, and likely to become a general European one; which are the +closing prospects of 1755. The French King he reckons not to be well +disposed to him; their old Treaty of "twelve years" (since 1744) is just +about running out. Not friendly, the French King, owing to little rubs +that have been; still less the Pompadour;--though who could guess how +implacable she was at "not being known (NE LA CONNAIS PAS)"! At Vienna, +he is well aware, the humor towards him is mere cannibalism in refined +forms. But most perilous of all, most immediately perilous, is the +implacable Czarina, set afloat upon English guineas! + +With a hope, as is credibly surmised, that the English might soothe or +muzzle this implacable Czarina, Friedrich, directly after Hanbury's feat +in Petersburg, applied at London, with an Offer which was very tempting +there: "Suppose your Britannic Majesty would make, with me, an express +'NEUTRALITY CONVENTION;' mutual Covenant to keep the German Reich +entirely free of this War now threatening to break out? To attack +jointly, and sweep home again with vigor, any and every Armed Non-German +setting foot on the German soil!" An offer most welcome to the Heads of +Opposition, the Pitts and others of that Country; who wish dear Hanover +safe enough (safe in Davy-Jones's locker, if that would do); but are +tired of subsidizing, and fighting and tumulting, all the world over, +for that high end. So that Friedrich's Proposal is grasped at; and after +a little manipulation, the thing is actually concluded. + +By no means much manipulation, both parties being willing. There was +uncommonly rapid surgery of any little difficulties and discrepancies; +rapid closure, instant salutary stitching together of that long +unhealable Privateer Controversy, as the main item: "20,000 pounds +allowed to Prussia for Prussian damages; and to England, from the other +side, the remainder of Silesiau Debt, painfully outstanding for two +or three years back, is to be paid off at once;"--and in this way +such "NEUTRALITY CONVENTION OF PRUSSIA WITH ENGLAND" comes forth as a +Practical Fact upon mankind. Done at Westminster, 16th January, 1756. +The stepping-stone, as it proved, to a closer Treaty of the same date +next Year; of which we shall hear a great deal. The stepping-stone, +in fact, to many large things;--and to the ruin of our late +"Russian-Subsidy Treaty" (Hanbury's masterpiece), for one small thing. +"That is a Treaty signed, sure enough," answer they of St. James's; "and +we will be handsome about it to her Czarish Majesty; but as to RATIFYING +it, in its present form,--of course, never!" + +What a clap of thunder to Excellency Hanbury; his masterpiece found +suddenly a superfluity, an incommodity! The Orthodox English course now +is, "No foreign soldiers at all to be allowed in Germany;" and there +are the 55,000 tramping on with such alacrity. "We cannot ratify that +Treaty, Excellency Hanbury," writes the Majesty's Ministry, in a tone +not of gratitude: "you must turn it some other way!" A terrible blow to +Hanbury, who had been expecting gratitude without end. And now, try how +he might, there was no turning it another way; this, privately, and +this only, being the Czarina's own way. A Czarina obstinate to a degree; +would not consent, even when they made her the liberal offer, "Keep your +55,000 at home; don't attack the King of Prussia with them; you shall +have your Subsidy all the same!" "No, I won't!" answered she,--to +Hanbury's amazement. Hanbury had not read the Weingarten-Menzel +Documents;--what double double of toil and trouble might Hanbury have +saved himself and others, could he have read them! + +Hanbury could not, still less could the Majesty's Ministry, surmise the +Czarina's secret at all, now or for a good while coming. And in fact, +poor Hanbury, busy as a Diplomatic bee, never did more good in Russia, +or out of it. By direction of the Majesty's Ministry, Hanbury still +tried industriously, cash in both hands; tried various things: "Assuage +the Czarina's mind; reconcile her to King Friedrich;"--all in vain. +"Unite Austria, Russia and England, can't you, then?--in a Treaty +against the Designs of France:" how very vain! Then, at a later stage, +"Get us the Czarina to mediate between Prussia and Austria" (so +very possible to sleek them down into peace, thought Majesty's +Ministry):--and unwearied Hanbury, cunning eloquence on his lips, and +money in both hands, tries again, and ever again, for many months. And +in the way of making ropes from sand, it must be owned there never was +such twisting and untwisting, as that appointed Hanbury. Who in fact +broke his heart by it;--and died mad, by his own hand, before long. +[Hanbury's "Life" (in _Works, _vol. iii.) gives sad account.] Poor soul, +after all!--Here are some Russian Notices from him (and he has many +curious, not pertinent here), which are still worth gleaning. + +PETERSBURG, 2d OCTOBER, 1755.... "The health of the Empress [Czarina +Elizabeth, CATIN DU NORD, age now forty-five] is bad. She is affected +with spitting of blood, shortness of breath, constant coughing, swelled +legs and water on the chest; yet she danced a minuet with me," lucky +Hanbury. "There is great fermentation at Court. Peter [Grand-Duke Peter] +does not conceal his enmity to the Schuwalofs [paramours of CATIN, +old and new]; Catherine [Grand-Duchess, who at length has an Heir, +unbeautiful Czar Paul that will be, and "miscarriages" not a few] is +on good terms with Bestuchef" (corruptiblest brute of a Chancellor ever +known, friend to England by England's giving him 10,000 pounds, and the +like trifles, pretty frequently; Friedrich's enemy, chiefly from defect +of that operation)--she is "on good terms with Bestuchef. I think it +my duty to inform the King [great George, who will draw his prognostics +from it] of my observations upon her; which I can the better do, as I +often have conversations with her for hours together, as at supper my +rank places me always next to her," twice-lucky Hanbury. + +"Since her coming to this Country, she has, by every method in her +power, endeavored to gain the affections of the Nation: she applied +herself with diligence to study their language; and speaks it at +present, as the Russians tell me, in the greatest perfection. She has +also succeeded in her other aim; for she is esteemed and beloved here +in a high degree. Her person is very advantageous, and her manners very +captivating. She has great knowledge of this Empire; and makes it her +only study. She has parts; and Great-Chancellor [brute Bestuchef] tells +me that nobody has more steadiness and resolution. She has, of late, +openly declared herself to me in respect of the King of Prussia;"--hates +him a good deal, "natural and formidable enemy of Russia;" "heart +certainly the worst in the world [and so on; but will see better by and +by, having eyes of her own]:--she never mentions the King of England but +with the utmost respect and highest regard; is thoroughly sensible of +the utility of the union between England and Russia; always calls his +Majesty the Empress's best and greatest Ally [so much of nourishment in +him withal, as in a certain web-footed Chief of Birds, reckoned chief by +some]; and hopes he will also give his friendship and protection to the +Grand-Duke and herself.--As for the Grand-Duke, he is weak and violent; +but his confidence in the Grand-Duchess is so great, that sometimes he +tells people, that though he does not understand things himself, his +Wife understands everything. Should the Empress, as I fear, soon die, +the Government will quietly devolve on them." [Hanbury's Despatch, +"October 2d, 1755" (Raumer, pp. 223-225); Subsidy Treaty still at its +floweriest.] + +Catherine's age is twenty-six gone; her Peter's twenty-seven: one of +the cleverest young Ladies in the world, and of the stoutest-hearted, +clearest-eyed;--yoked to a young Gentleman much the reverse. Thank +Hanbury for this glimpse of them, most intricately situated Pair; who +may concern us a little in the sequel.--And, in justice to poor Hanover, +the sad subject-matter of Excellency Hanbury's Problems and Futilities +in Russia and elsewhere, let us save this other Fraction by a very +different hand; and close that Hanbury scene:-- + +"Friedrich himself was so dangerous," says the Constitutional Historian +once: "Friedrich, in alliance with France, how easy for him to catch +Hanover by the throat at a week's notice, throw a death-noose round the +throat of poor Hanover, and hand the same to France for tightening +at discretion! Poor Hanover indeed; she reaps little profit from her +English honors: what has she had to do with these Transatlantic Colonies +of England? An unfortunate Country, if the English would but think; +liable to be strangled at any time, for England's quarrels: the +Achilles'-heel to invulnerable England; a sad function for Hanover, +if it be a proud one, and amazingly lucrative to some Hanoverians. The +Country is very dear to his Britannic Majesty in one sense, very dear to +Britain in another! Nay Germany itself, through Hanover, is to be torn +up by War for Transatlantic interests,--out of which she does not even +get good Virginia tobacco, but grows bad of her own. No more concern +than the Ring of Saturn with these over-sea quarrels; and can, through +Hanover, be torn to pieces by War about them. Such honor to give a King +to the British Nation, in a strait for one; and such profit coming of +it:--we hope all sides are grateful for the blessings received!" + + + + +THERE HAS BEEN A COUNTER-TREATY GOING ON AT VERSAILLES IN THE INTERIM; +WHICH HEREUPON STARTS OUT, AND TUMBLES THE WHOLLY ASTONISHED EUROPEAN +DIPLOMACIES HEELS-OVER-HEAD. + +To expectant mankind, especially to Vienna and Versailles, this +Britannic-Prussian Treaty was a great surprise. And indeed it proved the +signal of a general System of New Treaties all round. The first +signal, in fact,--though by no means the first cause,--of a total +circumgyration, summerset, or tumble heels-over-head in the Political +relations of Europe altogether, which ensued thereupon; miraculous, +almost as the Earthquake at Lisbon, to the Gazetteer, and Diplomatic +mind, and incomprehensible for long years after. First signal we say, by +no means that it was the first cause, or indeed that it was a cause at +all,--the thing being determined elsewhere long before; ever since 1753, +when Kaunitz left it ready, waiting only its time. + +Kaiser Franz, they say, when (probably during those Keith urgencies) +the joining with France and turning against poor Britannic Majesty +was proposed in Council at Vienna, opened his usually silent lips; and +opined with emphasis against such a course, no Kaunitz or creature able +to persuade Kaiser Franz that good would come of it;--though, finding +Sovereign Lady and everybody against him, he held his peace again. And +returned to his private banking operations, which were more extensive +than ever, from the new troubles rising. "Lent the Empress-Queen, always +on solid securities," says Friedrich, "large sums, from time to time, in +those Wars; dealt in Commissariat stores to right and left; we ourselves +had most of our meal from him this year." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. +8.] Kaiser Franz was, and continued, of the old way of thinking; but +consummate Kaunitz, and the High Lady's fixed passion for her Schlesien, +had changed everybody else. The ulterior facts are as follows, +abbreviated to the utmost. + +September 22d, 1755, a few days before Hanbury's Subsidy-feat at +Petersburg, which took such a whirl for Hanbury, there had met for the +first time at Versailles, more especially at Babiole, Pleasure-House +of the Pompadour, a most Select Committee of Three Persons: Graf von +Stahremberg, Austrian Ambassador; Pompadour herself; and a certain +infinitely elegant Count and Reverence de Bernis (beautiful +Clerico-Mundane Gentleman, without right Benefice hitherto, but much +in esteem with the Pompadour);--for deepest practical consideration +in regard to closure of a French-Austrian Alliance. Reverend Count +(subsequently Cardinal) de Bernis has sense in Diplomacy; has his +experiences in Secular Diplomatic matters; a soft-going cautious man, +not yet official, but tending that way: whom the Pompadour has brought +with her as henchman, or unghostly counsellor, in this intricate +Adventure. + +Stahremberg, instructed from home, has no hesitation; nor has Pompadour +herself, remembering that insolent "JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS," and the +per-contra "MA COUSINE," "PRINCESSE ET SOEUR:"--but Bernis, I suppose, +looks into the practical difficulties; which are probably very +considerable, to the Official French eye, in the present state of Europe +and of the public mind. From September 22d, or autumnal equinox, 1755, +onward to this Britannic-Prussian phenomenon of January, 1756, +the Pompadour Conclave has been sitting,--difficulties, no doubt, +considerable. I will give only the dates, having myself no interest in +such a Committee at Babiole; but the dates sufficiently betoken that +there were intricacies, conflicts between the new and the old. Hitherto +the axiom always was, "Prussia the Adjunct and Satellite of France:" now +to be entirely reversed, you say? + +JULY, 1755, that is two months before this Babiole Committee met, a Duc +de Nivernois, respectable intelligent dilettante French Nobleman, +had been named as Ambassador to Friedrich, "Go, you respectable wise +Nivernois, Nobleman of Letters so called; try and retain Friedrich for +us, as usual!" And now, on meeting of the Babiole Committee, Nivernois +does not go; lingers, saddled and bridled, till the very end of the +Year; arrives in Berlin January 12th, 1756. Has his First +Audience January 14th; a man highly amiable to Friedrich; but with +proposals,--wonderful indeed. + +The French, this good while back, are in no doubt about War with +England, a right hearty War; and have always expected to retain Prussia +as formerly,--though rather on singular terms. Some time ago, for +instance, M. de Rouille, War-Minister, requested Knyphausen, Prussian +Envoy at Paris: "Suggest to your King's Majesty what plunder there is at +Hanover. Perfectly at liberty to keep it all, if he will plunder Hanover +for us!" [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 29.] Pleasant message to the proud +King; who answered with the due brevity, to the purport, "Silence, +Sir!"--with didactic effects on the surprised Rouille. Who now mends his +proposal; though again in a remarkable way. Instructs Nivernois, namely, +"To offer King Friedrich the Island of Tobago, if he will renew Treaty, +and take arms for us. Island of Tobago (a deserted, litigated, but +pretty Island, were it ever ours), will not that entice this King, +intent on Commerce?" Friedrich, who likes Nivernois and his polite ways, +answers quizzingly: "Island of Tobago? Island of Barataria your Lordship +must be meaning; Island of which I cannot be the Sancho Panza!" [Ib. +31.] And Nivernois found he must not mention Tobago again. + +For the rest, Friedrich made no secret of his English Treaty; showed it +with all frankness to Nivernois, in all points: "Is there, can the most +captious allege that there is, anything against France in it. My one +wish and aim, that of Peace for myself: judge!" Nivernois stayed till +March; but seems to have had, of definite, only Tobago and good words; +so that nothing farther came of him, and there was no Renewal of +Treaty then or after. Thus, in his third month (March, 1756), practical +Nivernois was recalled, without result;--instead of whom fat Valori was +sent; privately intending "to do nothing but observe, in Berlin." From +all which, we infer that the Babiole Committee now saw land; and that +Bernis himself had decided in the affirmative: "Austria, not Prussia; +yes, Madame!" To the joy of Madame and everybody. For, it is incredible, +say all witnesses, what indignation broke out in Paris when Friedrich +made this new "defection," so they termed it; revolt from his Liege Lord +(who had been so exemplary to him on former occasions!), and would not +bite at Tobago when offered. So that the Babiole Committee went on, +henceforth, with flowing sea; and by Mayday (1st MAY, 1756) brought +out its French-Austrian Treaty in a completed state. "To stand by one +another," like Castor and Pollux, in a manner; "24,000, reciprocally, +to be ready on demand;" nay I think something of "subsidies" withal,--TO +Austria, of course. But the particulars are not worth giving; the +Performance, thanks to a zealous Pompadour, having quite outrun the +Stipulation, and left it practically out of sight, when the push came. +Our Constitutional Historian may shadow the rest:-- + +"France and England going to War in these sad circumstances, and France +and Austria being privately prepared [by Kaunitz and others] to swear +everlasting friendship on the occasion, instead of everlasting enmity +as heretofore; unexpected changes, miraculous to the Gazetteers, became +inevitable;--nothing less, in short, than explosion or topsy-turvying +of the old Diplomatic-Political Scheme of Europe. Old dance of +the Constellations flung heels-over-head on the sudden; and much +pirouetting, jigging, setting, before they could change partners, and +continue their august dance again, whether in War or Peace. No end to +the industrious wonder of the Gazetteer mind, to the dark difficulties +of the Diplomatic. What bafflings, agonistic shufflings, impotent +gazings into the dark; what seductive fiddling, and being fiddled to! +A most sad function of Humanity, if sometimes an inevitable one; which +ought surely at all times to be got over as briefly as possible. To be +written of, especially, with a maximum of brevity; human nature being +justly impatient of talk about it, beyond the strictly needful." + +Most true it is, and was most miraculous, though now quite forgotten +again, Political Europe had to make a complete whirl-round on that +occasion. And not in a day, and merely saying to itself, "Let me do +summerset!" as idle readers suppose,--but with long months of agonistic +shuffle and struggle in all places, and such Diplomatic fiddling and +being fiddled to, as seldom was before. Of which, these two instances, +the Bernis and the Hanbury, are to serve as specimen; two and no more: +a universe of extinct fiddling compressed into two nutshells, if readers +have an ear. + + + + +Chapter III.--FRENCH-ENGLISH WAR BREAKS OUT. + +The French, in reality a good deal astonished at the Prussian-Britannic +Treaty, affected to take it easy: "Treaty for Neutrality of Germany?" +said they: "Very good indeed. Perhaps there are places nearer us, where +our troops can be employed to more advantage!" [Their "Declaration" on +it (Adelung, vii. 613.)]--hinting vocally, as henceforth their silent +procedures, their diligence in the dockyards, moving of troops coastward +and the like, still more clearly did, That an Invasion of England itself +was the thing next to be expected. + +England and France are, by this time, alike fiercely determined on War; +but their states of preparation are very different. The French have +War-ships again, not to mention Armies which they always have; some +skilful Admirals withal,--La Gallisonniere, our old Canada friend, is +one, very busy at present;--and mean to try seriously the Question of +Sea-Supremacy once more. If an Invasion did chance to land, the state +of England would be found handy beyond hope! How many fighting regiments +England has, I need not inquire, nor with what strategic virtue they +would go to work;--enough to mention the singular fact (recently true, +and still, I perceive, too like the truth), That of all their regiments, +"only Three are in this Country", or have Colonels even nominated. +Incredible; but certain. And the interesting point is, his Grace of +Newcastle dare not have Colonels, still less higher Officers nominated; +because Royal Highness of Cumberland would have the naming of them, and +they would be enemies to his Grace. [Walpole, _George the Second, _ii. +19 (date, "March 25th, 1755;" and how long after, is not said: but see +Pitt's Speeches, ib., all through 1756, and farther).] In such posture +stands the Envy of surrounding Nations at this moment. + +"Hire Hessians," cry they; "hire Hanoverians; if France land on us, +we are undone!"--and continue their Parliamentary Eloquences in a most +distressful manner. "Apply to the Dutch, at any rate, for their 6,000 +as per Treaty", cries everybody. Which is done. But the Dutch piteously +wring their hands: "Dare not, your Majesty; how dare we, for France +and our neglected Barrier! Oh, generous Majesty, excuse us!"--and the +generous Majesty has to do it; and leave the Dutch in peace, this time. +Hessians, Hanoverians, after eloquence enough, are at last got sent for, +to guard us against this terrible Invasion: about 10,000 of each kind; +and do land,--the native populations very sulky on them ("We won't +billet you, not we; build huts, and be--!"), with much Parliamentary and +Newspaper Commentary going on, of a distressful nature. "Saturday, 15th +May, 1756, Hessians disembark at Southampton; obliged to pitch Camp in +the neighborhood: Friday, 21st May, the Hanoverians, at Chatham, who hut +themselves Canterbury way;"--and have (what is the sum-total of +their achievements in this Country) a case of shoplifting, +"pocket-handkerchief, across the counter, in open day;" one case (or +what seemed to be one, but was not); ["At Maidstone, 13th Septemher, +1756;" Hanoverian soldier, purchasing a handkerchief, imagines he has +purchased two (not yet clipt asunder), haberdasher and he having no +language in common: _Gentleman's Magazine, _for 1756, pp. 259, 448, &c.; +Walpole, SAEPIUS.] "and the fellow not to be tried by us for it!" which +enrages the constitutional heart. Alas, my heavy-laden constitutional +heart; but what can we do? These drilled louts will guard us, should +this terrible Invasion land. And indeed, about three weeks BEFORE these +louts arrived, the terrible Invasion had declared itself to have +been altogether a feint; and had lifted anchor, quite in the opposite +direction, on an errand we shall hear of soon! + +About the same date, I observe, "the first regiment of Footguards +practising the Prussian drill-exercise in Hyde Park;" and hope his Grace +of Newcastle and the Hero of Culloden (immortal Hero, and aiming high in +Politics at this time) will, at least, have fallen upon some method of +getting Colonels nominated. But the wide-weltering chaos of platitudes, +agitated by hysterical imbecilities, regulating England in this great +crisis, fills the constitutional mind with sorrow; and indeed is +definable, once more, as amazing! England is a stubborn Country; but it +was not by procedures of the Cumberland-Newcastle kind that England, +and her Colonies, and Sea-and-Land Kingdoms, was built together; nor by +these, except miracle intervene, that she can stand long against stress! +Looking at the dismal matter from this distance, there is visible to me +in the foggy heart of it one lucent element, and pretty much one only; +the individual named William Pitt, as I have read him: if by miracle +that royal soul could, even for a time, get to something of Kingship +there? Courage; miracles do happen, let us hope!--This is whitherward +the grand Invasion had gone:-- + +TOULON, 10th APRIL, 1756. La Gallisonniere, our old Canadian friend, a +crooked little man of great faculty, who has been busy in the dockyards +lately, weighs anchor from Toulon; "12 sail of the line, 5 frigates and +above 100 transport-ships;" with the grand Invasion-of-England Armament +on board: 16,000 picked troops, complete in all points, Marechal Duc de +Richelieu commanding. [Adelung, viii. 70.] Weighs anchor; and, singular +to see, steers, not for England, and the Hessian-Hanover Defenders (who +would have been in such excellent time); but direct for Minorca, as the +surer thing! Will seize Minorca; a so-called inexpugnable Possession +of the English,--Key of their Mediterranean Supremacies;--really +inexpugnable enough; but which lies in the usual dilapidated state, +though by chance with a courageous old Governor in it, who will not +surrender quite at once. + +APRIL 18th, La Gallisonniere disembarks his Richelieu with a Sixteen +Thousand, unopposed at Port-Mahon, or Fort St. Philip, in Minorca; who +instantly commences Siege there. To the astonishment of England and +his Grace of Newcastle who, except old Governor Blakeney, much in +dilapidation ("wooden platforms rotten," "batteries out of repair," and +so on), have nothing ready for Richelieu in that quarter. The story of +Minorca; and the furious humors and tragic consummations that arose on +it, being still well known, we will give the dates only. + +FORT ST. PHILIP, APRIL 18th-MAY 20th. For a month, Richelieu, skilful in +tickling the French troops, has been besieging, in a high and grandiose +way; La Gallisonniere vigilantly cruising; old Blakeney, in spite of +the rotten platforms, vigorously holding out; when--May 19th, La +Gallisonniere descries an English fleet in the distance; indisputably +an English fleet; and clears his decks for a serious Affair just coming. +THURSDAY, 20th MAY, Admiral Byng accordingly (for it is he, son of that +old seaworthy Byng, who once "blew out" a minatory Spanish Fleet and +"an absurd Flame of War" in the Straits of Messina, and was made Lord +Torrington in consequence,--happily now dead)--Admiral Byng does come +on; and gains himself a name badly memorable ever since. Attacks +La Gallisonniere, in a wide-lying, languid, hovering, uncertain +manner:--"Far too weak" he says; "much disprovided, destitute, by +blame of Ministry and of everybody" (though about the strength of La +Gallisonniere, after all);--is almost rather beaten by La Gallisonniere; +does not in the least, beat him to the right degree:--and sheers off: +in the night-time, straight for Gibraltar again. To La Gallisonniere's +surprise, it is said; no doubt to old Blakeney and his poor Garrison's, +left so, to their rotten platforms and their own shifts. + +Blakeney and Garrison stood to their guns in a manful manner, for above +a month longer; day after day, week after week, looking over the horizon +for some Byng or some relief appearing, to no purpose! JUNE 14th, there +are three available breaches; the walls, however, are very sheer (a +Fortress hewn in the rock): Richelieu scanning them dubiously, and +battering his best, for about a fortnight more, is ineffectual on +Blakeney. + +JUNE 27th, Richelieu, taking his measures well, tickling French honor +well, has determined on storm. Richelieu, giving order of the day, +"Whosoever of you is found drunk shall NOT be of the storm-party" (which +produced such a teetotalism as nothing else had done),--storms, that +night, with extreme audacity. The Place has to capitulate: glorious +victory; honorable defence: and Minorca gone. + +And England is risen to a mere smoky whirlwind, of rage, sorrow and +darkness, against Byng and others. Smoky darkness, getting streaked +with dangerous fire. "Tried?" said his Grace of Newcastle to the City +Deputation: "Oh indeed he shall be tried immediately; he shall be hanged +directly!"--assure yourselves of that. [Walpole, ii. 231: Details of the +Siege, ib. 218-225; in _Gentleman's Magazine_, xxvi. 256, 312-313, 358; +in Adelung, vii.; &c. &c.] And Byng's effigy was burnt all over England. +And mobs attempt to burn his Seat and Park; and satires and caricatures +and firebrands are coming out: and the poor Constitutional Country +is bent on applying surgery, if it but know how. Surgery to such +indisputable abominations was certainly desirable. The new Relief +Squadron, which had been despatched by Majesty's Ministry, was too late +for Blakeney, but did bring home a superseded Byng. + +SPITHEAD, TUESDAY, 27th JULY, The superseded Byng arrives; is punctually +arrested, on arriving: "Him we will hang directly:--is there anything +else we can try [except, perhaps, it were hanging of ourselves, and our +fine methods of procedure], by way of remedying you?"--War against +France, now a pretty plain thing, had been "declared," 17th May (French +counter-declaring, 9th June): and, under a Duke of Newcastle and a Hero +of Culloden, not even pulling one way, but two ways; and a +Talking-Apparatus full of discords at this time, and pulling who shall +say how many ways,--the prospects of carrying on said War are none of +the best. Lord Loudon, a General without skill, and commanding, as Pitt +declares, "a scroll of Paper hitherto" (a good few thousands marked on +it, and perhaps their Colonels even named), is about going for America; +by no means yet gone, a long way from gone: and, if the Laws of Nature +be suspended--Enough of all that! + + + + +KING FRIEDRICH'S ENIGMA GETS MORE AND MORE STRINGENT. + +Friedrich's situation, in those fatefully questionable months and for +many past (especially from January 16th to July),--readers must imagine +it, for there is no description possible. In many intricacies Friedrich +has been; but never, I reckon, in any equal to this. Himself certain +what the Two Imperial Women have vowed against him; self and Winterfeld +certain of that sad truth; and all other mortals ready to deny it, and +fly delirious on hint of it, should he venture to act in consequence! +Friedrich's situation is not unimaginable, when (as can now be done by +candid inquirers who will take trouble enough) the one or two internal +facts of it are disengaged from the roaring ocean of clamorous delusions +which then enveloped them to everybody, and are held steadily in view, +said ocean being well run off to the home of it very deep underground. +Lies do fall silent; truth waits to be recognized, not always in +vain. No reader ever will conceive the strangling perplexity of that +situation, now so remote and extinct to us. All I can do is, to set down +what features of it have become indisputable; and leave them as detached +traceries, as fractions of an outline, to coalesce into something of +image where they can. + +Winterfeld's opinion was, for some time past, distinct: "Attack them; +since it is certain they only wait to attack us!" But Friedrich would by +no means listen to that. "We must not be the aggressor, my friend; that +would spoil all. Perhaps the English will pacify the Russian CATIN for +me; tie her, with packthreads, bribes and intrigues, from stirring? +Wait, watch!" Fiery Winterfeld, who hates the French, who despises the +Austrians, and thinks the Prussian Army a considerable Fact in Politics, +has great schemes: far too great for a practical Friedrich. "Plunge into +the Austrians with a will: Prussian Soldiery,--can Austrians resist +it? Ruin them, since they are bent on ruining us. Stir up the Hungarian +Protestants; try all things. Home upon our implacable enemies, sword +drawn, scabbard flung away! And the French,--what are the French? Our +King should be Kaiser of Teutschland; and he can, and he may:--the +French would then be quieter!" These things Winterfeld carried in his +head; and comrades have heard them from him over wine. [Retzow, i. +43, &c.] To all which Friedrich, if any whisper of them ever got to +Friedrich, would answer one can guess how. + +It is evident, Friedrich had not given up his hope (indeed, for above a +year more, he never did) that England might, by profuse bribery,--"such +the power of bribery in that mad court!"--assuage, overnet with +backstairs packthreads, or in some way compesce the Russian delirium for +him. And England, his sole Ally in the world, still tender of Austria, +and unable to believe what the full intentions of Austria are; England +demands much wariness in his procedures towards Austria; reiterating +always, "Wait, your Majesty! Oh, beware!"-- + +His own Army, we need not say, is in perfect preparation. The Army--let +us guess, 150,000 regular, or near 200,000 of all arms and kinds +[Archenholtz (i, 8) counts vaguely "160,000" at this date.]-- + +never was so perfect before or since. Old Captains in it, whom we used +to know, are grayer and wiser; young, whom we heard less of, are grown +veterans of trust. Schwerin, much a Cincinnatus since we last saw +him, has laid down his plough again, a fervid "little Marlborough" of +seventy-two;--and will never see that beautiful Schwerinsburg, and its +thriving woods and farm-fields, any more. Ugly Walrave is not now chief +Engineer; one Balbi, a much prettier man, is. Ugly Walrave (Winterfeld +suspecting and watching him) was found out; convicted of "falsified +accounts," of "sending plans to the Enemy," of who knows all what;--and +sits in Magdeburg (in a thrice-safe prison-cell of his own contriving), +prisoner for life. ["Arrested at Potsdam 12th February, 1748, and after +trial put into the STERN at Magdeburg; sat there till he died, 16th +January, 1773" (_Militalr-Lexikon, _iv. 150-151).] The Old Dessauer +is away, long since; and not the Old alone. Dietrich of Dessau is now +"Guardian to his Nephew," who is a Child left Heir there. Death has been +busy with the Dessauers:--but here is Prince Moritz, "the youngest, more +like his Father than any of them." Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, Moritz +of Dessau, Keith, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern: no one of these people has +been idle, in the ten years past. Least of all, has the Chief Captain of +them,--whose diligence and vigilance in that sphere, latterly, were not +likely to decline! + +Friedrich's Army is in the perfection of order. Ready at the hour, for +many months back; but the least motion he makes with it is a subject of +jealousy. Last year, on those Russian advancings and alacrities, he had +marched some Regiments into Pommern, within reach of Preussen, should +the Russians actually try a stroke there: "See!" cried all the world: +"See!" cried the enlightened Russian Public. This year 1756, from +June onwards and earlier, there are still more fatal symptoms, on the +Austrian side: great and evident War-preparations; Magazines forming; +Camps in Bohemia, Moravia; Camp at Konigsgratz, Camp at Prag,--handy +for the Silesian Border. Friedrich knows they have deliberated on their +Pretext for a War, and have fixed on what will do,--some new small +Prussian-Mecklenburg brabble, which there has lately been; paltry enough +recruiting-quarrel, such as often are (and has been settled mutually +some time ago, this one, but is capable of being ripped up again);--and +that, on this cobweb of a pretext, they mean to draw sword when they +like. Russia too has its Pretext ready. And if Friedrich hint of +stirring, England whispers hoarse, England and other friends, "Wait, +your Majesty! Oh, beware!" To keep one's sword at its sharpest, and, +with an easy patient air, one's eyes vigilantly open: this is nearly all +that Friedrich can do, in neighborhood of such portentous imminencies. +He has many critics, near and far;--for instance:-- + +BERLIN, 31st JULY, 1756, Excellency Valori writes to Versailles: ... "to +give you account of a Conversation I have had, a day or two ago, with +the Prince of Prussia [August Wilhelm, Heir-Apparent], who honors me +with a particular confidence,"--and who appears to be, privately, like +some others, very strong in the Opposition view. "He talked to me of +the present condition of the King his Brother, of his Brother's +apprehensions, of his military arrangements, of the little trust placed +in him by neighbors, of their hostile humor towards him, and of many +other things which this good Prince [little understanding them, as would +appear, or the dangerous secret that lay under them] did not approve +of. The Prince then said,"--listen to what the Prince of Prussia said to +Valori, one of the last days of July, 1756,-- + +"'There is an Anecdote which continually recurs to me, in the passes we +are got to at present. Putting the case we might be attacked by Russia, +and perhaps by Austria, the late Rothenburg was sent [as readers know], +on the King's part, to Milord Tyrconnel, to know of him what, in such +case, were the helps he might reckon on from France. Milord enumerated +the various helps; and then added [being a blusterous Irishman, sent +hither for his ill tongue]: "Helps enough, you observe, Monsieur; but, +MORBLEU, if you deceive us, you will be squelched (VOUS SEREZ ECRASES)!" +The King my 'Brother was angry enough at hearing such a speech: but, +my dear Marquis,' and the Prince turned full upon me with a face of +inquiry, 'Can the thing actually come true? And do you think it can be +the interest of your Master [and his Scarlet Woman] to abandon us to the +fury of our enemies? Ah, that cursed Convention [Neutrality-Convention +with England]! I would give a finger from my hand that it had never been +concluded. I never approved of it; ask the Duc de Nivernois, he knows +what we said of it together. But how return on our steps? Who would now +trust us?'" This Prince appeared "to be much affected by the King his +Brother's situation [of which he understood as good as nothing], and +agreed that he," the King his Brother, "had well deserved it." [Valori, +ii, 129-131.] + +This is not the first example, nor the last, of August Wilhelm's +owning a heedless, good-natured tongue; considerably prone to take +the Opposition side, on light grounds. For which if he found a kind of +solacement and fame in some circles, it was surely at a dear rate! +To his Brother, that bad habit would, most likely, be known; and his +Brother, I suppose, did not speak of it at all; such his Brother's +custom in cases of the kind.--Judicious Valori, by way of answer, +dilated on the peculiar esteem of his Majesty Louis XV. for the Prussian +Majesty,--"so as my Instructions direct me to do;" and we hear no more +of the Prince of Prussia's talk, at this time; but shall in future; and +may conjecture a great deal about the atmosphere Friedrich had now to +live in. A Friedrich undergoing, privately, a great deal of criticism: +"Mad tendency to war; lust of conquest; contempt for his neighbors, for +the opinion of the world;--no end of irrational tendencies:" [Ib. ii. +124-151 ("July 27th-August 21st").] from persons to whom the secret of +his Problem is deeply unknown. + +One wise thing the English have done: sent an Excellency Mitchell, a man +of loyalty, of sense and honesty, to be their Resident at Berlin. This +is the noteworthy, not yet much noted, Sir Andrew Mitchell; by far the +best Excellency England ever had in that Court. An Aberdeen Scotchman, +creditable to his Country: hard-headed, sagacious; sceptical of shows; +but capable of recognizing substances withal, and of standing loyal +to them, stubbornly if needful; who grew to a great mutual regard with +Friedrich, and well deserved to do so; constantly about him, during the +next seven years; and whose Letters are among the perennially valuable +Documents on Friedrich's History. [Happily secured in the British +Museum; and now in the most perfect order for consulting (thanks to Sir +F. Madden "and three years' labor" well invested);--should certainly, +and will one day, be read to the bottom, and cleared of their +darknesses, extrinsic and intrinsic (which are considerable) by somebody +competent.] + +Mitchell is in Berlin since June 10th. Mitchell, who is on the scene +itself, and looking into Friedrich with his own eyes, finds the +reiterating of that "Beware, your Majesty!" which had been his chief +task hitherto, a more and more questionable thing; and suggests to him +at last: "Plainly ask her Hungarian Majesty, What is your meaning by +those Bohemian Campings?" "Pshaw," answers Friedrich: "Nothing but +some ambiguous answer, perhaps with insult in it!"--nevertheless thinks +better; and determines to do so. [Mitchell Papers.] + + + + +Chapter IV.--FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT VIENNA, TWICE OVER. + +July 18th, 1756, Friedrich despatches an Express to Graf von Klinggraf, +his Resident at Vienna (an experienced man, whom we have seen before in +old Carteret, "Conference-of-Hanau" times), To demand audience of the +Empress; and, in the fittest terms, friendly and courteous, brief and +clear, to put that question of Mitchell's suggesting. "Those unwonted +Armaments, Camps in Bohmen, Camps in Mahren, and military movements +and preparations," Klinggraf is to say, "have caused anxiety in her +Majesty's peaceable Neighbor of Prussia; who desires always to continue +in peace; and who requests hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty, +that these his anxieties are groundless." Friedrich himself hopes little +or nothing from this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him, +and put an end to all scruples in himself and others. The Answer may be +expected in ten or twelve days. + +And, about the same time,--likely enough, directly after, though there +is no date given, to a fact which is curious and authentic,-- + +Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals, to Potsdam, for a secret +Conference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are, old Schwerin and +General Retzow Senior,--Major-General Retzow, whom we used to hear of in +the Silesian Wars,--and whose Son reports on this occasion. Conference +is on this Imminency of War, and as to what shall be done in it. +Friedrich explains in general terms his dangers from Austria and Russia, +his certainty that Austria will attack him; and asks, Were it, or were +it not, better to attack Austria, as is our Prussian principle in such +case? Schwerin and Retzow--Schwerin first, as the eldest; and after +him Retzow, "who privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to do +it"--opine strongly: That indications are uncertain, that much seems +inevitable which does not come; that in a time of such tumultuous +whirlings and unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well, and +wait. + +After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dissent but saying almost +nothing, Friedrich gives sign to Winterfeld;--who spreads out, in their +lucidest prearranged order, the principal Menzel-Weingarten Documents; +and bids the two Military Gentlemen read. They read; with astonishment, +are forced to believe; stand gazing at one another;--and do now take +a changed tone. Schwerin, "after a silence of everybody for some +minutes,"--"bursts out like one inspired; 'If War is to be and must be, +let us start to-morrow; seize Saxony at once; and in that rich corny +Country form Magazines for our Operations on Bohemia!'" [Retzow, i. 39.] + +That is privately Friedrich's own full intention. Saxony, with its Elbe +River as Highway, is his indispensable preliminary for Bohemia: and he +will not, a second time, as he did in 1744 with such results, leave it +in an unsecured condition. Adieu then, Messieurs; silent: AU REVOIR, +which may be soon! Retzow Junior, a rational, sincere, but rather +pipe-clayed man, who is wholly to be trusted on this Conference, with +his Father for authority, has some touches of commentary on it, which +indicate (date being 1802) that till the end of his life, or of Prince +Henri his Patron's, there remained always in some heads a doubt as to +Friedrich's wisdom in regard to starting the Seven-Years War, and to +Schwerin's entire sincerity in that inspired speech. And still more +curious, that there was always, at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's +Opposition Party; privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing +it diligently,--though with lips strictly closed for most part; without +words, except well-weighed and to the wise: which is an excellent +arrangement, for a Majesty and Majesty's Opposition, where feasible in +the world!-- + +From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back of +this Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To Karlsbad, or +Toplitz, for one's health;" and wandered about a good deal in those +Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking sketches (not with +a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon Pirna Country, a strange +stony labyrinth, which he guessed might possibly be interesting soon. +The Saxon Commandant of the Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts, +strongest in Saxony, was of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called +on this Commandant; found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those +neighborhoods, but that there was at the base of it a new Work going +on; and that the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir +themselves in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under +20,000; but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have +it 40,000. Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt +Winterfeld's gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam, on +his getting home from this Tour to Toplitz. + +Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped as +ill as could have been expected. The Answer given was of supercilious +brevity; evasive, in effect null, and as good as answering, That there +is no answer. Two Accounts we have, as Friedrich successively had them, +of this famed passage: FIRST, Klinggraf's own, which is clear, rapid, +and stands by the essential; SECOND, an account from the other side of +the scenes, furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for Friedrich's behoof +and ours; which curiously illustrates the foregoing, and confirms the +interpretation Friedrich at once made of it. This is Menzel's account; +in other words, the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's, stolen by Menzel. + +July 26th, it appears, Klinggraf--having applied to Kaunitz the +day before, who noticed a certain flurry in him, and had answered +carelessly, "Audience? Yes, of course; nay I am this moment going to +the Empress: only you must tell me about what?"--was admitted to the +Imperial Presence, he first of many that were waiting. Imperial Presence +held in its hand a snip of Paper, carefully composed by Kaunitz from the +data, and read these words: "DIE BEDENKLICHEN UMSTANDE, The questionable +circumstances of the Time have moved me to consider as indispensably +necessary those measures which, for my own security and for defence +of my Allies, I am taking, and which otherwise do not tend the least +towards injury of anybody whatsoever;"--and adding no syllable more, +gave a sign with her hand, intimating to Klinggraf that the Interview +was done. Klinggraf strode through the Antechamber, "visibly +astonished," say on-lookers, at such an Answer had. Answer, in +fact, "That there is no answer," and the door flung in your face! +[_Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 772. In Valori, ii. 128, Friedrich's little +Paper of INSTRUCTIONS to Klinggraf; this Vienna ANSWER to it, ib. +138:--see ib. 138, 162; and _Gesammelte Nachrichten, _ii. 214-221.] + +Friedrich, on arrival of report from Klinggraf, and without waiting for +the Menzel side of the scenes, sees that the thing is settled. Writes +again, however (August 2d, probably the day after, or the same day, +Klinggraf's Despatch reached him); instructing Klinggraf To request +"a less oracular response;" and specially, "If her Imperial Majesty +(Austria and Russia being, as is understood, in active League against, +him) will say, That Austria will not attack him this year or the +next?" Draw up memorial of that, Monsieur Klinggraf; and send us +the supercilious No-Answer: till which arrive we do not cross the +Frontier,--but are already everywhere on march to it, in an industrious, +cunningly devised, evident and yet impenetrably mysterious manner. + +Excellency Valori never saw such activity of military preparation: such +Artillery, "2,000 big pieces in the Park here;" Regiments, Wagon-trains, +getting under way everywhere, no man can guess whitherward; "drawn up in +the Square here, they know not by what Gate they are to march." By three +different Gates, I should think;--mysteriously, in Three Directions, +known only to King Friedrich and his Adjutant-General, all these +Regiments in Berlin and elsewhere are on march. Towards Halle (Leipzig +way); towards Brietzen (Wittenberg and Torgau way); towards Bautzen +neighborhood,--towards Three settled Points of the Saxon Frontier; will +step across the instant the supercilious No-Answer comes to hand. Are to +converge about Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland;--about 65,000 strong, +equipped as no Army before or since has been;--and take what luck there +may be. + +Bruhl and Polish Majesty's Army, still only about 18,000, have their +apprehensions of such visit: but what can they do? The Saxon Army draws +out into Camp, at sight of this mysterious marching; strong Camp "in the +angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;"--then draws in again; being too weak +for use. And is thinking, Menzel informs us, to take post in the stony +labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the advice an Excellency Broglio has +given;--French Excellency, now in Dresden; Marechal de Broglio's Son, +and of little less explosive nature than his Father was. Bruhl +and Polish Majesty, guessing that the hour is come, are infinitely +interested. Interested, not flurried. "Austrian-Russian Anti-Prussian +Covenant!" say Bruhl and Majesty, rather comfortably to themselves: "We +never signed it. WE never would sign anything; what have we to do with +it? Courage; steady; To Pirna, if they come! Are not Excellency Broglio, +and France, and Austria, and the whole world at our back?" + +It was full three weeks before Klinggraf's Message of Answer could +arrive at Berlin. Of Friedrich in the interim, launching such a +world-adventure, himself silent, in the midst of a buzzing Berlin, +take these indications, which are luminous enough. Duke Ferdinand +of Brunswick is to head one of the Three "Columns." Duke Ferdinand, +Governor of Magdeburg, is now collecting his Column in that +neighborhood, chiefly at Halle; whitherward, or on what errand, is +profoundly unknown. Unknown even to Ferdinand, except that it is for +actual Service in the Field. Here are two Friedrich Letters (ruggedly +Official, the first of them, and not quite peculiar to Ferdinand), which +are worth reading:-- + + +THE KING TO DUKE FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK. + +"POTSDAM, 15th August, 1756. + +"For time of Field-Service I have made the arrangement, That for the +Subaltern Officers of your regiment, over and above their ordinary +Equipage-moneys, there shall, to each Subaltern Officer, and once for +all, be Eight Thalers [twenty-four shillings sterling] advanced. That +sum [eight thalers per subaltern] shall be paid to the Captain of every +Company; and besides this there shall, monthly, Two Thalers be deducted +from the Subaltern's Pay, and be likewise paid over to the Captain:--in +return for which, He is to furnish Free Table for the Subalterns +throughout the Campaign, and so long as the regiment is in the field. + +"Of the Two Baggage-carts per Company, the regiment shall take only One, +and leave the other at home. No Officer, let him be who or of what title +he will, Generals not excepted, shall take with him the least of Silver +Plate, not even a silver spoon. Whoever wants, therefore, to keep +table, great or small (TAFEL ODER TISCH), must manage the same with tin +utensils;--without exception, be he who he will. + +"Each Captain shall take with him a little Cask of Vinegar; of which, as +soon as the regiments get to Camp, he must give me reckoning, and I +will then have him repaid. This Vinegar shall solely and exclusively be +employed for this purpose, That in places where the water is bad, there +be poured into it, for the soldiers, a few drops of the vinegar, to +correct the water, and thereby preserve them from illnesses. + +"So soon as the regiment gets on march, the Women who have permission +to follow are put under command of the Profoss; that thereby all +plunderings and disorders may the more be guarded against. If the +Captains and Officers take Grooms (JAGER) or the like Domestics, there +can muskets be given to these, that use may be had of them, in case of +an attack in quarters, or on march, when a WAGENBURG (wagon-fortress) is +to be formed.... FRIEDRICH." [Preuss, ii. 6, 7.] + +SAME TO SAME (Confidential, this one). + +"POTSDAM, 24th August. + +... "Make as if you were meaning to go into Camp at Halle. The reason +why I stop you is, that the Courier from Vienna has not yet come. +We must therefore reassure the Saxon neighborhood. ... I have +been expecting answer from hour to hour; cannot suitably begin a +War-Expedition till it come; do therefore apprise Your Dilection, though +under the deepest secrecy. + +"And it is necessary, and my Will is, That, till farther order, you keep +all the regiments and corps belonging to your Column in the places where +they are when this arrives. And shall, meanwhile, with your best skill +mask all this, both from the Town of Halle, and from the regiments +themselves; making, in conformity with what I said yesterday, as if you +were a Corps of Observation come to encamp here, and were waiting the +last orders to go into camp." + +"FRIEDRICH." [Ib. ii. 7, 8.] + + +And in regard to the Vienna Courier, and Friedrich's attitude towards +that Phenomenon, read only these Two Notes:-- + + +1. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA AND THE PRINCESS AMELIA (at +Berlin) + +POTSDAM, "25th August," 1756. + +"MY DEAR BROTHER, MY DEAR SISTER,--I write to you both at once, for want +of time. I will follow the advice you are so good as give me; and will +take leave of the Queen [our dear Mamma] by Letter. And that the reading +of my Letter may not frighten her, I will send it by my Sister, to be +presented in a favorable moment. + +"I have yet got no Answer from Vienna; by Klinggraf's account, I shall +not receive it till to-morrow [came this night], But I count myself +surer of War than ever; as the Austrians have named Generals, and their +Army is ordered to march, from Kolin to Konigsgratz"--Schlesien way. "So +that, expecting nothing but a haughty Answer, or a very uncertain one, +on which there will be no reliance possible, I have arranged everything +for setting out on Saturday next. To-morrow, so soon as the news comes, +I will not fail to let you know. Assuring you that I am, with a perfect +affection, my dear Brother and my dear Sister,--Yours,--F." [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ xxvi. 155.] + +Answer comes from Klinggraf that same night. Once more, an Answer almost +worse than could have been expected. "The 'League with Russia against +you' is nonextant, a thing of your imagination: Have not we already +answered?" [In _Gesammelte Urkunden, _i. 217: Klinggraf's second +question (done by Letter this time), "18th August;" Maria Theresa's +Answer, "21st August,"] Whereupon, + +2. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA. + +POTSDAM, "26th August," 1756. + +"MY DEAR BROTHER,--I have already written to the Queen; softening things +as much as I could [Letter lost]. My Sister, to whom I address the +Letter, will deliver it. + +"You have seen the Paper I sent to Klinggraf. Their Answer is 'That they +have not made an Offensive Alliance with Russia against me.' The Answer +is impertinent, high and contemptuous; and of the Assurance that I +required [as to This Year and next], not one word. So that the sword +alone can cut this Gordian Knot. I am innocent of this War; I have +done what I could to avoid it; but whatever be one's love of peace, one +cannot and must not sacrifice to that, one's safety and one's honor. +Such, I believe, will be your opinion too, from the sentiments I know in +you. At present, our one thought must be, To do War in such a way as may +cure our Enemies of their wish to break Peace again too soon. I embrace +you with all my heart. I have had no end of business (TERRIBLEMENT A +FAIRE)."--F. [_OEuvres,_ xxvi. 116.] + +THE MARCH INTO SAXONY, IN THREE COLUMNS. + +Ahead of that last Note, from an earlier hour of the same day, Thursday, +26th August, there is speeding forth, to all Three Generals of Division, +this Order (take Duke Ferdinand's copy):--[not in original]-- + +"I hereby order that Your Dilection (EW. LIEBDEN), with all the +regiments and corps in the Column standing under your command, Shall +now, without more delay, get on march, on the 29th inst.; and proceed, +according to the March-Tables and Instructions already given, to execute +what Your Dilection has got in charge."--F. + +The same Thursday, 26th, Excellency Mitchell, informed by Podewils +of the King's wish to see him at Potsdam, gets under way from Berlin; +arrives "just time enough to speak with the King before he sat down to +supper." Very many things to be consulted of, and deliberatively touched +upon, with Mitchell and England; no end of things and considerations, +for England and King Friedrich, in this that is now about to burst forth +on an astonished world!--Over in London, we observe, just in the hours +when Mitchell was harnessing for Potsdam, and so many Orders and Letters +were speeding their swiftest in that quarter, there is going forward, on +Tower-Hill yonder, the following Operation:-- + +"LONDON, THURSDAY, 26th AUGUST, 1756. About five in the afternoon, a +noted Admiral [only in Effigy as yet; but who has been held in miserable +durance, and too actual question of death or life, ever since his +return: "Oh, yes indeed! Hang HIM at once",--if that can be a remedy!] +was, after having been privately shown to many ladies and gentlemen, +brought--in an open sedan, guarded by a number of young gentlemen under +arms, with drums beating, colors flying--to Tower-Hill, where a Gallows +had been erected for him at six the same morning. He was richly dressed, +in a blue and gold coat, buff waistcoat, trimmed, &c. in full uniform. +When brought under the Gallows, he stayed a small space, till his +clergyman (a chimney-sweeper) had given him some admonitions: that done, +he was drawn, by pulleys, to the top of the Gallows, which was twenty +feet high; every person expressing as much satisfaction as if it had +been the real man. + +"He remained there, guarded by the above volunteers, without any +molestation, two hours; when, upon a supposition of being obstructed by +the Governor of the Tower, some sailors appeared, who wanted to pull him +down, in order to drag him along the streets. But a fire being kindled, +which consisted of tar-barrels, fagots, tables, tubs, &c., he was +consumed in about half an hour." [Old Newspapers (_Gentleman's Magazine, +_ xxvi. 409).] + +That is their employment on Tower-Hill, over yonder, while Mitchell is +getting under way to see Friedrich. + +Mitchell continued at Potsdam over Friday; and was still in eager +consultation that night, when the King said to him, with a certain +expressiveness of glance: "BON SOIR, then;--To-morrow morning about +four!" And on the morrow, Saturday, 28th, Mitchell reports hurriedly:-- + +"... Am just returned to Berlin, in time to write to your Lordship. This +morning, between four and five, I took leave of the King of Prussia. +He went immediately upon the Parade; mounted on horseback; and, after +a very short exercise of his Troops, put himself at their head; and +marched directly for Belitz [half-way to Brietzen, TREUENbrietzen +as they call it]; where, To-morrow, he will enter the Saxon +Territory,"--as, at their respective points, his two other Columns +will;--and begin, who shall say what terrible game; incalculable to your +Lordship and me, with such Operations afoot on Tower-Hill! [Mitchell +Papers, vi. 804 ("To Lord Holderness, 28th August, 1756").]-- + +Seven Hussar Regiments of Duke Ferdinand's Column got the length of +Leipzig that Sunday Evening, 29th; and took possession of the place. [In +_Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 731, his "Proclamation" there, 29th August, +1756.] Duke Ferdinand to right of the King, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern to +left,--the Three Columns cross the Border, at points, say 80 miles +from one another; occasionally, on the march, bending to rightwards and +leftwards, to take in the principal Towns, and make settlements there, +the two might be above a hundred miles from Friedrich on each hand. The +length of march for each Column,--Ferdinand "from Leipzig, by Chemnitz, +Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, to the Village of Cotta" (Pirna neighborhood, +south of Elbe); Bevern, "through the Lausitz, by Bautzen, to Lohmen" +(same neighborhood, north of Elbe); King Friedrich, to Dresden, by the +course of the Elbe itself, was not far from equal, and may be called +about 150 miles. They marched with diligence, not with hurry; had their +pauses, rest-days, when business required. They got to their ground, +with the simultaneousness appointed, on the eleventh or twelfth day. + +The middle Column, under the King, where Marshal Keith is second +in command, goes by Torgau (detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up +Wittenberg, and ruin the slight works there); crosses the Elbe at +Torgau, September 2d; marches, cantoning itself day after day, along the +southern bank of the River; leaves Meissen to the left, I perceive, does +not pass through Meissen; comes first at Wilsdruf on ground where +we have been,--and portions of it, I doubt not, were billeted in +Kesselsdorf; and would take a glance at the old Field, if they had time. +There is strict discipline in all the Columns; the authorities complying +on summons, and arranging what is needful. Nobody resists; town-guards +at once ground arms, and there is no soldier visible; soldiers all +ebbing away, whitherward we guess. [_Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 732, 733; +_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 81.] + +At Wilsdruf, Friedrich first learns for certain, that the Saxon Army, +with King, with Bruhl and other chief personages, are withdrawn to +Pirna, to the inexpugnable Konigstein and Rock-Country. The Saxon Army +had begun assembling there, September 1st, directly on the news that +Friedrich was across the Border; September 9th, on Friedrich's approach, +the King and Dignitaries move off thither, from Dresden, out of his +way. Excellency Broglio has put them on that plan. Which may have its +complexities for Friedrich, hopes Broglio,--though perhaps its still +greater for some other parties concerned! For Bruhl and Polish Majesty, +as will appear by and by, nothing could have turned out worse. + +Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on: "Forward, all the same." Polish Majesty, +dating from Struppen, in the Pirna Country, has begun a Correspondence +with Friedrich, very polite on both hands; and his Adjutant-General, the +Chevalier Meagher ("Chevalier de MARRE," as Valori calls him,--MA'AR, as +he calls himself in Irish), has just had, at Wilsdruf, an interview with +Friedrich; but is far from having got settlement on the terms he wished. +Polish Majesty magnanimously assenting to "a Road through his Country +for military purposes;" offers "the strictest Neutrality, strictest +friendship even; has done, and will do, no injury whatever to his +Prussian Majesty--["Did we ever SIGN anything?" whisper comfortably +Bruhl and he to one another];--expects, therefore, that his Prussian +Majesty will march on, whither he is bound; and leave him unmolested +here." [_Helden-Geschichte, _ iii. 774.] + +That was Meagher's message; that is the purport of all his Polish +Majesty's Eleven Letters to Friedrich, which precede or follow,-- +reiterating with a certain bovine obstinacy, insensible to time or +change, That such is Polish Majesty's fixed notion: "Strict neutrality, +friendship even; and leave me unmolested here." [In _OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iv. 235-260 ("29th August-10th September-18th September," +1756), are collected now, the Eleven Letters, with their Answers.] +"Strict neutrality, yes: but disperse your Army, then," answers +Friedrich; send your Army back to its cantonments: I must myself +have the keeping of my Highway, lest I lose it, as in 1744." This is +Friedrich's answer; this at first, and for some time coming; though, as +the aspects change, and the dangerous elements heap themselves higher, +Friedrich's answer will rise with them, and his terms, like the Sibyl's, +become worse and worse. This is the utmost that Meagher, at Wilsdruf, +can make of it; and this, in conceivable circumstances, will grow less +and less. + +Next day, September 9th, Friedrich, with some Battalions, entered +Dresden, most of his Column taking Camp near by; General Wylich had +entered yesterday, and is already Commandant there. Friedrich sends, by +Feldmarschall Keith, highest Officer of his Column, his homages to her +Polish Majesty:--nothing given us of Keith's Interview; except by a +side-wind, "That Majesty complained of those Prussian Sentries walking +about in certain of her corridors" (with an eye to Something, it may be +feared!)--of which, doubtless, Keith undertook to make report. Friedrich +himself waits upon the Junior Princes, who are left here: is polite and +gracious as ever, though strict, and with business enough; lodges, for +his own part, "in the Garden-House of Princess Moczinska;"--and next +morning leads off his Column, a short march eastward, to the Pirna +Country; where, on the right and on the left, Ferdinand at Cotta, Bevern +at Lohmen (if readers will look on their Map), he finds the other Two in +their due positions. Head-quarter is Gross-Sedlitz (westernmost skirt +of the Rock-region); and will have to continue so, much longer than had +been expected. + +The Diplomatic world in Dresden is in great emotion; more especially +just at present. This morning, before leaving, Friedrich had to do +an exceedingly strict thing: secure the Originals of those Menzel +Documents. Originals indispensable to him, for justifying his new +procedures upon Saxony. So that there has been, at the Palace, a Scene +this morning of a very high and dissonant nature,--"Marshal Keith" in +it, "Marshal Keith making a second visit" (say some loose and false +Accounts);--the facts being strictly as follows. + +Far from removing those Prussian sentries complained of last night, +here seems to be a double strength of them this morning. And her +Polish Majesty, a severe, hard-featured old Lady, has been filled with +indignant amazement by a Prussian Officer--Major von Wangenheim, I +believe it is--requiring, in the King of Prussia's name, the Keys of +that Archive-room; Prussian Majesty absolutely needing sight, for a +little while, of certain Papers there. "Enter that room? Archives of +a crowned Head? Let me see the living mortal that will dare to do +it!"--one fancies the indignant Polish Majesty's answer; and how, +calling for materials, she "openly sealed the door in question," in +Wangenheim's presence. As this is a celebrated Passage, which has been +reported in several loose ways, let us take it from the primary source, +Chancery style and all. Graf von Sternberg, Austrian Excellency, writing +from the spot and at the hour, informs his own Court, and through that +all Courts, in these solemnly Official terms:-- + +"DRESDEN, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1756. The Queen's Majesty, this forenoon, has +called to her all the Foreign Ministers now at Dresden; and in Highest +Own Person has signified to us, How, the Prussian intrusions and +hostilities being already known, Highest said Queen's Majesty would now +simply state what had farther taken place this morning:-- + +"Highest said Queen's Majesty, to wit, had, in her own name, requested +the King of Prussia, in conformity with his assurances [by Keith, +yesternight] of paying every regard for Her and the Royal +Family; To remove the Prussian Sentries pacing about in those +Corridors,"--Corridors which lead to the Secret Archives, important to +some of us!--"Instead of which, the said King had not only doubled +his Sentries there; but also, by an Officer, demanded the Keys of the +Archive-apartment [just alluded to]! And as the Queen's Majesty, for +security of all writings there, offered to seal the Door of it herself, +and did so, there and then,--the said Officer had so little respect, +that he clapped his own seal thereon too. + +"Nor was he content therewith,"--not by any means!--"but the same +Officer [having been with Wylich, Commandant here] came back, a short +time after, and made for opening of the Door himself. Which being +announced to the Queen's Majesty, she in her own person (HOCHSTDIESELBE, +Highest-the-Same) went out again; and standing before the Door, informed +him, 'How Highest-the-Same had too much regard to his Prussian Majesty's +given assurance, to believe that such order could proceed from the +King.' As the Officer, however, replied, 'That he was sorry to have such +an order to execute; but that the order was serious and precise; and +that he, by not executing it, would expose himself to the greatest +responsibility," Her Majesty continued standing before the Door; and +said to the Officer, 'If he meant to use force, he might upon Her make +his beginning.'" There is for you, Herr Wangenheim!-- + +"Upon which said Officer had gone away, to report anew to the King [I +think, only to Wylich the Commandant; King now a dozen miles off, not +so easily reported to, and his mind known]; and in the mean while Her +Majesty had called to her the Prussian and English Ambassadors +[Mahlzahn and Stormont; sorry both of them, but how entirely +resourceless,--especially Mahlzahn!], and had represented and +repeated to them the above; beseeching that by their remonstrances and +persuasions they would induce the King of Prussia, conformably with his +given assurance, to forbear. Instead, however, of any fruit from such +remonstrances and urgencies, final Order came, 'That, Queen's Majesty's +own Highest Person notwithstanding, force must be used.' + +"Whereupon her Majesty, to avoid actual mistreatment, had been obliged +to"--to become passive, and, no Keys being procurable from her, see +a smith with his picklocks give these Prussians admission. +Legation-Secretary Plessmann was there (Menzel one fancies sitting, +rather pale, in an adjacent room [Supra, p. 266.]); and they knew what +to do. Their smith opens the required Box for them (one of several "all +lying packed for Warsaw," says Friedrich); from which soon taking +what they needed, Wangenheim and Wylich withdrew with their booty, and +readers have the fruit of it to this day. "Which unheard-of procedure, +be pleased, your Excellencies, to report to your respective Courts." +[_Gesammelte Nachrichten, _i. 222 (or "No. 26" of that Collection); +_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 83.] + +Poor old Lady, what a situation! And I believe she never saw her poor +old Husband again. The day he went to Pirna (morning of yesterday, +September 9th, Friedrich entering in the evening), these poor Spouses +had, little dreaming of it, taken leave of one another forevermore. Such +profit lies in your Bruhl. Kings and Queens that will be governed by a +Jesuit Guarini, and a Bruhl of the Twelve Tailors, sometimes pay dear +for it. They, or their representatives, are sure to do so. Kings and +Queens,--yes, and if that were all: but their poor Countries too? Their +Countries;--well, their Countries did not hate Beelzebub, in his various +shapes, ENOUGH. Their Countries should have been in watch against +Beelzebub in the shape of Bruhls;--watching, and also "praying" in a +heroic manner, now fallen obsolete in these impious times! + + + + +Chapter V.--FRIEDRICH BLOCKADES THE SAXONS IN PIRNA COUNTRY. + +Friedrich reckons himself to have 65,000 men in Saxony. Schwerin is +issuing from Silesia, through the Glatz Mountains, for Bohemia, at the +head of 40,000. The Austrian force is inferior in quantity, and far from +ready:--Two "Camps" in Bohemia they have; the chief one under +Browne (looking, or intending, this Saxon way), and a smaller under +Piccolomini, in the Konigshof-Kolin region:--if well run into from front +and rear, both Browne and Piccolomini might be beautifully handled; and +a gash be cut in Austria, which might incline her to be at peace again! +Nothing hinders but this paltry Camp of the Saxons; itself only 18,000 +strong, but in a Country of such strength. And this does hinder, +effectually while it continues: "How march to Bohemia, and leave the +road blocked in our rear?" + +The Saxon Camp did continue,--unmanageable by any method, for five weeks +to come; the season of war-operations gone, by that time:--and +Friedrich's First Campaign, rendered mostly fruitless in this manner, +will by no means check the Austrian truculencies, as by his velocity he +hoped to do. No; but, on the contrary, will rouse the Austrians, French +and all Enemies, to a tenfold pitch of temper. And bring upon himself, +from an astonished and misunderstanding Public, such tempests and world- +tornadoes of loud-roaring obloquy, as even he, Friedrich, had never +endured before. + +To readers of a touring habit this Saxon Country is perhaps well known. +For the last half-century it has been growing more and more famous, +under the name of "Saxon Switzerland (SACHSISCHE SCHWEITZ)," instead of +"Misnian Highlands (MEISSNISCHE HOCHLAND)," which it used to be called. +A beautiful enough and extremely rugged Country; interesting to the +picturesque mind. Begins rising, in soft Hills, on both sides of the +Elbe, a few miles east of Dresden, as you ascend the River; till it +rises into Hills of wild character, getting ever wilder, and riven into +wondrous chasms and precipices. Extends, say almost twenty miles up +the River, to Tetschen and beyond, in this eastern direction; and with +perhaps ten miles of breadth on each side of the River: area of the +Rock-region, therefore, is perhaps some four hundred square miles. The +Falkenberg (what we should call HAWKSCRAG) northeastward in the Lausitz, +the Schneeberg (SNOW MOUNTAIN), southeastward on the Bohemian border, +are about thirty-five miles apart: these two are both reckoned to be in +it,--its last outposts on that eastern side. But the limits of it are +fixed by custom only, and depend on no natural condition. + +We might define it as the Sandstone NECK of the Metal Mountains: a +rather lower block, of Sandstone, intercalated into the Metal-Mountain +range, which otherwise, on both hands, is higher, and of harder rocks. +Southward (as SHOULDER to this sandstone NECK) lies, continuous, broad +and high, the "Metal-Mountain range" specially so called: northward +and northeastward there rise, beyond that Falkenberg, many mountains, +solitary or in groups,--"the Metal Mountains" fading out here into "the +Lausitz Hills," still in fine picturesque fashion, which are Northern +Border to the great Bohemian "Basin of the Elba," after you emerge from +this Sandstone Country. + +Saxon Switzerland is not very high anywhere; 2,000 feet is a notable +degree of height: but it is torn and tumbled into stone labyrinths, +chasms and winding rock-walls, as few regions are. Grows pinewood, to +the topmost height; pine-trees far aloft look quietly down upon you, +over sheer precipices, on your intricate path. On the slopes of the +Hills is grass enough; in the intervals are Villages and husbandries, +are corn and milk for the laborious natives,--who depend mainly on +quarrying, and pine-forest work: pines and free-stone, rafts of long +slim pines, and big stone barges, are what one sees upon the River +there. A Note, not very geological, says of it:-- + +"Elbe sweeps freely through this Country, for ages and aeons past; +curling himself a little into snake-figure, and with increased +velocity, but silent mostly, and trim to the edge, a fine flint-colored +river;--though in aeons long anterior, it must have been a very +different matter for torrents and water-power. The Country is one huge +Block of Sandstone, so many square miles of that material; ribbed, +channelled, torn and quarried, in this manner, by the ever-busy +elements, for a million of Ages past! Chiefly by the Elbe himself, since +he got to be a River, and became cosmic and personal; ceasing to be a +mere watery chaos of Lakes and Deluges hereabouts. For the Sandstone was +of various degrees of hardness; tenacious as marble some parts of +it, soft almost as sand other parts. And the primordial diluviums and +world-old torrents, great and small, rushing down from the Bohemian +Highlands, from the Saxon Metal Mountains, with such storming, gurgling +and swashing, have swept away the soft parts, and left the hard standing +in this chaotic manner, and bequeathed it all to the Elbe, and the +common frosts and rains of these human ages. + +"Elbe has now a trim course; but Elbe too is busy quarrying and mining, +where not artificially held in;--and you notice at every outlet of a +Brook from the interior, north side and south side, how busy the Brook +has been. Boring, grinding, undermining; much helped by the frosts, by +the rains. AEons ago, the Brook was a lake, in the interior; but was +every moment laboring to get out; till it has cut for itself that +mountain gullet, or sheer-down chasm, and brought out with it an +Alluvium or Delta,--on which, since Adam's time, human creatures have +built a Hamlet. That is the origin, or unwritten history, of most +hamlets and cultivated spots you fall in with here: they are the waste +shavings of the Brook, working millions of years, for its own object +of getting into the Elbe in level circumstances. Ploughed fields, not +without fertility, are in the interior, if you ascend that Brook; the +Hamlet, at the delta or mouth of it, is as if built upon its TONGUE +and into its GULLET: think how picturesque, in the November rains, for +example! + +"The road" one road, "from Dresden to Aussig, to Lobositz, Budin, Prag, +runs up the river-brink (south brink); or, in our day, as Prag-Dresden +Railway, thunders through those solitudes; strangely awakening their +echoes; and inviting even the bewildered Tourist to reflect, if he +could. The bewildered Tourist sees rock-walls heaven-high on both hands +of him; River and he rushing on between, by law of gravitation, law of +ennui (which are laws of Nature both), with a narrow strip of sky in +full gallop overhead; and has little encouragement to reflect, except +upon his own sorrows, and delirious circumstances, physical and moral. +'How much happier, were I lying in my bed!' thinks the bewildered +Tourist;--does strive withal to admire the Picturesque, but with little +success; notices the 'BASTEI (Bastion),' and other rigorously prescribed +points of the Sublime and Beautiful, which are to be 'done.' That +you will have to DO, my friend: step out, you will have to go on that +Pinnacle, with indifferent Hotel attached; on that iron balcony, aloft +among the clouds yonder; and shudder to project over Elbe-flood from +such altitudes, admiring the Picturesque in prescribed manner. + +"This Country has for its permanent uses, timber, free-stone, modicum +of milk and haver, serviceable to the generality;--and to his Polish +Majesty, at present, it is as the very Ark of Noah: priceless at this +juncture; being the strongest military country in the world. Excellent +strength in it; express Fortresses; especially one Fortress called the +Konigstein, not far from Schandau, of a towering precipitous nature, +with 'a well 900 feet deep' in it, and pleasant Village outside at the +base;--Fortress which is still, in our day, reckoned a safe place for +the Saxon Archives and preciosities. Impregnable to gunpowder artillery; +not to be had except by hunger. And then, farther down the River, close +by Pirna, presiding over Pirna, as that Konigstein in some sort does +over Schandau, is the Sonnenstein: Sonnenstein too was a Fortress in +those days of Friedrich, but not impregnable, if judged worth taking. +The Austrians took it, a year or two hence; Friedrich retook it, +dismantled it: 'the Sonnenstein is now a Madhouse,' say the Guide-books. + +"Sonnenstein stands close east or up-stream of Pirna, which is a town of +5,000 souls, by much the largest in those parts; Konigstein a little +down-stream of Schandau, which latter is on the opposite or north side +of the River. These are the two chief Towns, which do all the trade of +this region; picturesque places both:--the Tourist remembers Pirna? +Standing on its sleek table or stair-step, by the River's edge; well +above floodmark; green, shaggy or fringy mountains looking down on it to +rearward; in front, beyond the River, nothing visible but mile-long +cream-colored rock-wall, with bushes at bottom and top, wall quarried by +Elbe, as you can see. Pirna is near the beginning [properly END, but we +start from Dresden] or western extremity of Saxon Schweitz. Schandau, +almost at the opposite or eastern extremity, is still more picturesque; +standing on the delta of a little Brook, with high rock-cliffs, with +garden-shrubberies, sanded walks, tufts of forest-umbrage; a bright- +painted, almost OPERATIC-looking place,--with spa-waters, if I +recollect: "yes truly, and the "Bath Season" making its packages in +great haste, breaking up prematurely, this Year (1756)!-- + +Directly on arriving at Gross-Sedlitz, Friedrich takes ocular survey +of this Country, which is already not unknown to him. He finds that the +Saxons have secured themselves within the Mountains; a rocky streamlet, +Brook of Gottleube, which issues into Elbe just between Gross-Sedlitz +and them, "through a dell of eighty or a hundred feet deep," serving +as their first defence; well in front of the mere rocky Heights and +precipices behind it, which stretch continuously along to southward, +six miles or more, from Pirna and the south brink of Elbe. At +Langen-Hennersdorf, which is the southernmost part, these Heights make +an elbow inwards, by Leopoldshayn, towards the Konigstein, which is but +four miles off; here too the Saxons are defended by a Brook (running +straight towards Konigstein, this one) in front of their Heights; and +stand defensive, in this way, along a rock-bulwark of ten miles long: +the passes all secured by batteries, by abatis, palisades, mile after +mile, as Friedrich rides observant leftward: behind them, Elbe rushing +swifter through his rock-walls yonder, with chasms and intricate gorges; +defending them inexpugnably to rear. Six miles long of natural bulwark +(six to Hennersdorf), where the gross of the Saxons lie; then to +Konigstein four other miles, sufficiently, if more sparsely, beset by +them. "No stronger position in the world," Friedrich thinks; [_OEuvres +de Frederic,_ iv. 83, 84 (not a very distinct Account; and far from +accurate in the details,--which are left without effectual correction +even in the best Editions).]--and that it is impossible to force this +place, without a loss of life disproportionate even to its importance +at present. Not to say that the Saxons will make terms all the easier, +BEFORE bloodshed rise between us;--and furthermore that Hunger (for +we hear they have provision only for two weeks) may itself soon do it. +"Wedge them in, therefore; block every outgate, every entrance; nothing +to get in, except gradually Hunger. Hunger, and on our part rational +Offers, will suffice." That is Friedrich's plan; good in itself,--though +the ovine obstinacy, and other circumstances, retarded the execution of +it to an unexpected extent, lamentable to Friedrich and to some others. + +The Prussian-Saxon military operations for the next five weeks need not +detain us. Their respective positions on the Heights behind that Brook +Gottleube, and on the plainer Country in front of it,-- + +How the Prussians lie, first Division of them, from Gross-Sedlitz to +Zehist, under the King; then second Division from Zehist to Cotta, and +onward by "the Rothschenke" (RED-HOUSE Tavern), by Markersbach, and +sparsely as far as Hellendorf on the Prag Highway; in brief, where all +the Divisions of them lie, and under whom; and where the Prussians, +watching Elbe itself, have Batteries and Posts on the north side of it: +all this is marked on the Map;--to satisfy ingenuous curiosity, should +it make tour in those parts. To which add only these straggles of Note, +as farther elucidative:-- + +"The Saxons, between Elbe and their Lines, possess about thirty square +miles of country. From Pirna or Sonnenstein to Konigstein, as the crow +flies, may be five miles east to west; but by Langen-Hennersdorf, and +the elbow there, it will be ten: at Konigstein, moreover, Elbe makes +an abrupt turn northward for a couple of miles, instead of westward +as heretofore, turning abruptly westward again after that: so that the +Saxon 'Camp' or Occupancy here, is an irregular Trapezium, with +Pirna and Konigstein for vertices, and with area estimable as +above,--ploughable, a fair portion of it, and not without corn of its +own. So that the 'two weeks' provision' spun themselves out (short +allowance aiding) to two months, before actual famine came. + +... "The High-road from the Lausitz parts crosses Elbe at Pirna; falls +into the Dresden-Prag High-road there; and from Pirna towards Toplitz, +for the first few miles, this latter runs through the Prussian Posts; +but we may guess it is not much travelled at present. North of Elbe, +too, the Prussians have batteries on the fit points; detachments of due +force, from Gross-Sedlitz Bridge-of-Pontoons all round to Schandau, +or beyond; could fire upon the Konigstein, across the River: they +have plugged up the Saxon position everywhere. They have a Battery +especially, and strong post, to cannonade the Bridge at Pirna, should +the Saxons think of trying there. It is now the one Saxon or even +Half-Saxon Bridge; Sonnenstein and Pirna command the Saxon end of it, +a strong battery the Prussian end: a Bridge lying mainly idle, like the +general Highway to Toplitz at this time. Beyond the Konigstein, again, +at a place called Wendisch-Fahre (WENDS'-FERRY), the Prussians have, +by means of boats swinging wide at anchor on the swift current, what is +called a Flying-bridge, with which the north side can communicate with +the south. They have a post at Nieder-Raden (OBER Raden, railway station +in our time, is on the south side): Nether Raden is an interesting +little Hamlet, mostly invisible to mankind (built in the THROAT of the +stone chasms there), from which you begin mounting to the BASTEI far +aloft. A Raden to be noted, by the Tourist and us." + +Little, or even nothing, of fighting there is: why should there be? +The military operations are a dead-lock, and require no word. Thirty +thousand, half of the Prussian Force, lie, vigilant as lynxes, +blockading here; other half, 32,000, under Marshal Keith, have marched +forward to Aussig, to Nollendorf on the Bohemian frontier, to clear the +ways, and look into any Austrian motion thereabouts,--with whom, with +some Pandour detachment of whom, Duke Ferdinand, leading the vanguard, +has had a little brush among the Hills; smiting them home again, in his +usual creditable way (September 13th); and taking Camp at Peterswalde, +he and others of the Force, that night. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 85; +ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, i. 19.] It is with this Keith Army, with this if +with any, that adventures are to be looked for at present. + +Polish Majesty's Head-quarters are at Struppen, well in the centre +of the Saxon lines; "goes always to the Konigstein to sleep." Polish +Majesty's own table is, by Friedrich's permission for that special +object, supplied AD LIBITUM: but the common men were at once put +on short allowance, which grows always the shorter. Polish Majesty +corresponds with Friedrich, as we saw; and above all, sends burning +Messages to Austria, to France, to every European Court, charged with +mere shrieks: "Help me; a robber has me!" In which sense, Excellencies +of all kinds, especially one Lord Stormont, the English Excellency, +daily running out from Dresden to Gross-Sedlitz, are passionately +industrious with Friedrich; who is eager enough to comply, were there +any safe means possible. But there are none. Unfortunately, too, +it appears the Austrians are astir; Feldmarschall Browne actually +furbishing himself at Prag yonder with an eye hitherward, and +extraordinary haste and spirit shown: which obliges Friedrich to rise +in his demands; ovine obstinacy, on the other side, naturally increasing +from the same cause. + +"Polish Majesty, we say, has liberty to bring in proviant for self and +suite, rigorously for no mortal more; and he lives well, in the culinary +sense,--surely for most part 'in his dressing-gown,' too, poor loose +collapsed soul! Bruhl and he have plenty of formal business: but their +one real business is that of crying, by estafettes and every conceivable +method, to Austria, 'Get us out of this!' To which Austria has answered, +'Yes; only patience, and be steady!'--Friedrich's head-quarters are at +Sedlitz; and the negotiating and responding which he has, transcends +imagination. His first hope was, Polish Majesty might be persuaded to +join with him;--on the back of that, certainty, gradually coming, that +Polish Majesty never would; and that the Austrians would endeavor a +rescue, were they once ready. Starvation, or the Austrians, which will +be first here? is the question; and Friedrich studies to think it will +be the former. At all events, having settled on the starvation method, +and seen that all his posts are right, we perceive he does not stick +close by Sedlitz; but runs now hither now thither; is at Torgau, where +an important establishment, kind of New Government for Saxony, on the +Finance side, is organizing itself. What his work with Ambassadors +was, and how delicate the handling needed, think!"--Here is another +Clipping:-- + +... "Polish Majesty passes the day at Struppen, amid many vain noises +of Soldiering, of Diplomatizing; the night always at Konigstein, and +finally both day and night,--quite luxuriously accommodated, Bruhl and +he, to the very end of this Affair. Towards Struppen [this is weeks +farther on, but we give it here],--Comte de Broglio [Old Broglio's elder +Son, younger is in the Military line], who is Ambassador to his +Saxon-Polish Majesty, sets out from Dresden for an interview with said +Majesty. At the Prussian lines, he is informed, 'Yes, you can go; but, +without our King's Order, you cannot return.' 'What? The Most Christian +Majesty's Ambassador, and treated in this way? I will go to where the +Polish King is, and I will return to my own King, so often as I find +business: stop me at your peril!' and threatened and argued, and made a +deal of blusterous noise;--far too much, thinks Valori; think the +Prussian Officers, who are sorry, but inflexible. Margraf Karl, +Commandant of the place, in absence of King Friedrich (who is gone +lately, on a Business we shall hear of), earnestly dissuaded Excellency +Broglio; but it was to no purpose. Next day Broglio appeared in his +state-carriage, formally demanding entrance, free thoroughfare: 'Do you +dare refuse me?' 'Yes,' answered Margraf Karl; 'we do and must.' +Indignant Broglio reappeared, next day, on foot; Lieutenant-General +Prince Friedrich Eugen of Wurtemberg the chief man in charge: 'Do you +dare?' 'Indubitably, Yes;'--and Broglio still pushing on incredulous, +Eugen actually raised his arm,--elbow and fore-arm across the breast of +Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador,--who recoiled, to Dresden, in mere +whirlwinds of fire; and made the most of it [unwisely, thinks Valori] in +writing to Court. [Valori, ii. 349, 209, 353 ("Wednesday, 6th October," +the day of it, seemingly); ib. i. 312, &c.] Court, in high dudgeon, +commanded Valori to quit Berlin without taking leave. Valori, in his +private capacity, wrote an Adieu; [Friedrich's kind Letter in answer to +it, "2d November, 1756," in Valori, i. 313.] and in his public, as the +fact stood, That he was gone without Adieu." + +And the Dauphiness, daughter of those injured Polish Majesties, fell +on her knees (Pompadour permitting and encouraging) at the feet of Most +Christian Majesty; on her knees, all in passion of tears; craved help +and protection to her loved old Mother, in the name of Nature and of all +Kings: could any King resist? And his Pompadour was busy: "Think of +that noble Empress, who calls me COUSIN AND DEAR PRINCESS; think of that +insolent Prussian Robber: Ah, your Majesty:"-and King Louis, though +not a hating man, did privately dislike Friedrich; and evil speeches +of Friedrich's had been reported to him. And, in short, the upshot was: +King Louis, bound only to 24,000 for help of Austria, determined to +send, and did send, above 100,000 across the Rhine, next Year, for that +object; as will be seen. And all Frenchmen--all except Belleisle, who +is old--are charmed with these new energetic measures, and beautiful new +Austrian connections. + +Certain it is, the Austrians are coming, her Imperial Majesty bent with +all her might on relief of those Saxon martyrs; which indeed is relief +of herself, as she well perceives: "Courage, my friends; endure yet a +little!" Messengers smuggle themselves through the Mountain paths, and +go and return, though with difficulty. + +Since September 19th, the Correspondence with Polish Majesty has ceased: +no persuading of the Polish Majesty. Winterfeld went twice to him; +conferred at large, Bruhl forbidden to be there, on the actual +stringencies and urgencies of Fact between the Two Countries; but it was +with no result at all. Polish Majesty has not the least intention that +Saxony shall be even a Highway for Friedrich, if at any time Polish +Majesty can hinder it: "Neutrality," therefore, will not do for +Friedrich; he demands Alliance, practical Partnership; and to that his +Polish Majesty is completely abhorrent. Diplomatizing may cease; nothing +but wrestle of fight will settle this matter. + +Friedrich, able to get nothing from the Sovereign of Saxony, is reduced +to grasp Saxony itself: and we can observe him doing it; always the +closer, always the more carefully, as the complicacy deepens, and the +obstinacy becomes more dangerous and provoking. What alternative is +there? On first entering Saxony, Friedrich had made no secret that he +was not a mere bird of passage there. At Torgau, there was at once a +"Field-Commissariat" established, with Prussian Officials of eminence to +administer, the Military Chest to be deposited there, and Torgau to be +put in a state of defence. Torgau, our Saxon Metropolis of War-Finance, +is becoming more and more the Metropolis of Saxon Finance in general. +Saxon Officials were liable, from the first, to be suspended, on +Friedrich's order. Saxon Finance-Officials, of all kinds, were from +the first instructed, that till farther notice there must be no +disbursements without King Friedrich's sanction. And, in fact, King +Friedrich fully intends that Saxony is to help him all it can; and that +it either will or else shall, in this dire pressure of perplexity, +which is due in such a degree to the conduct of the Saxon Government for +twelve years past. Would Saxony go with him in any form of consent, how +much more convenient to Friedrich! But Saxony will not; Polish Majesty, +not himself suffering hunger, is obstinate as the decrees of Fate (or as +sheep, when too much put upon), regardless of considerations;--and, +in fine, here is Browne actually afoot; coming to relieve Polish +Majesty!--The Austrians had uncommonly bestirred themselves:-- + +The activity, the zeal of all ranks, ever since this expedition into +Saxony, and clutching of Saxony by the throat, contemporary witnesses +declare to have been extraordinary. "Horses for Piccolomini's +Cavalry,--they had scarcely got their horses, not to speak of training +them, not to speak of cannon and the heavier requisites, when Schwerin +began marching out of Glatz on Piccolomini. As to the cannon for Browne +and him, draught-cattle seem absolutely unprocurable. Whereupon Maria +Theresa flings open her own Imperial Studs: 'There, yoke these to our +cannon; let them go their swiftest;'--which awoke such an enthusiasm, +that noblemen and peasants crowded forward with their coach-horses and +their cart-horses, to relay Browne, all through Bohemia, at different +stages; and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the +gallop, in a manner," [Archenholtz, i. 24.]--and even Browne, at the +base of the Metal Mountains, has got most of his equipments. And is +astir towards Pirna (Army of 60,000, rumor says), for relief of the +Saxon martyrs. Friedrich's complexities are getting day by day more +stringent. + +From the middle of September, Marshal Keith, as was observed, with Half +of the Prussians, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him, has been on +the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the roads, towns and +passes thereabouts, and looking out for the advance of Marshal Browne +from the interior parts. Town of Aussig, and the River-road (castle of +Tetschen, on its high rock known to Tourists, which always needs to be +taken on such occasions), these Keith has secured. Lies encamped from +Peterswalde to Aussig, the middle or main strength of him being in the +Hamlet of Johnsdorf (discoverable, if readers like): there lies Keith, +fifteen miles in length; like a strap, or bar, thrown across the back of +that Metal-Mountain Range,--or part of its back; for the range is very +broad, and there is much inequality, and many troughs, big and little, +partial and general, in the crossing of it. A tract which my readers and +I have crossed before now, by the "Pascopol" or Post-road and otherwise; +and shall often have to cross! + +Browne, vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments coming +by relays at such a pace), is daily advancing, with his best speed: in +the last days of September, Browne is encamped at Budin; may cross the +Eger River any day, and will then be within two marches of Keith. His +intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed and sure; but the plan +or route he will take is unknown to everybody, and indeed to Browne +himself, till he see near at hand and consider. Browne's problem, he +himself knows, is abundantly abstruse,--bordering on the impossible; +but he will try his best. To get within reach of the Saxons is almost +impossible to Browne, even were there no Keith there. As good as +impossible altogether, by any line of march, while Keith is afoot in +those parts. By Aussig, down the River, straight for the interior of +their Camp, it is flatly impossible: by the south or southeast corner of +their Camp (Gottleube way), or by the northeast (by Schandau way, right +bank of Elbe), it is virtually so,--at least without beating Keith. +Could one beat Keith indeed;--but that will not be easy! And that, +unluckily, is the preliminary to everything. + +"By the Hellendorf-Hennersdorf side, in the wastes where Gottleube Brook +gathers itself, Browne might have a chance. There, on that southeast +corner of their Camp, were he once there to attack the Prussians from +without, while the Saxons burst up from within,--there," thinks a good +judge, "is much the favorablest place. But unless Browne's Army had +wings, how is it ever to get there? Across those Metal-Mountain ranges, +barred by Keith:--by Aussig, with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and +him, he cannot go in any case. Were there no Keith, indeed (but there +always is, standing ready on the spring), one might hold to leftward, +and by stolen marches, swift, far round about--! + +"By Schandau region, north side of the Elbe, is Browne's easiest, and +indeed one feasible, point of approach,--no Prussians at present +between him and that; the road open, though a far circuit northward for +Browne,--were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz circle, and march with +velocity? That too will be difficult,--nearly impossible in sight of +Keith. And were that even done, the egress for the Saxons, by Schandau +side, is through strait mountain gorges, intricate steep passes, +crossings of the Elbe: what force of Saxons or of Austrians will drive +the Prussians from their redoubts and batteries there?" [_OEuvres de +Frederic,_ iv. 86, 93, 96.] + +Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest: but his orders are strict, +"Relieve the Saxons, at all risks." And Browne, one of the ablest +soldiers living ("Your Imperial Majesty's best general," said the dying +Khevenhuller long since), will do his utmost upon it. Friedrich does +not think the enterprise very dangerous,--beating of Keith the +indispensable preliminary to it; but will naturally himself go and look +into it. + +Tuesday, September 28th, Friedrich quits Pirna Country by the Prag +Highway; making due inspection of his Posts as he goes along; and, the +outmost of these once past, drives rapidly up the Mountains; gets, with +small escort, through Peterswalde on to Johnsdorf that night. Does +not think this Keith position good; breaks up this "Camp of Johnsdorf" +bodily next morning; and marches down the Mountains, direct towards +Browne; who, we hear, is about crossing the Eger (his Pontoons now +come at last), and will himself be on the advance. From Turmitz, a poor +mountain hamlet in the hollow of the Hills, which is head-quarters that +night, the march proceeds again; Friedrich with the vanguard; Army, I +think, on various country-roads, on both hands; till all get upon the +Great Road again,--Prag-Toplitz-Dresden Post-road; which is called, +specially in this part of it, and loosely in whole, "The Pascopol," and +leads down direct to Budin and Browne. + +"A 'Pascopol' famed in military annals," says our Tourist. "It is a +road with many windings, many precipitous sweeps of up and down; road +precipitous in structure;--offers views to the lover of wild Nature: +huge lonesome Hills scattered in the distance; waste expanses nearer +hand, and futile attempts at moorish agriculture; but little else that +is comfortable. In times of Peace, you will meet, at long intervals, +some post-vehicle struggling forward under melancholy circumstances; +some cart, or dilapidated mongrel between cart and basket, with a lean +ox harnessed to it, and scarecrow driver, laden with pit-coal,--which +you wish safe home, and that the scarecrow were getting warmed by it. +But in War-time the steep road is livelier; the common Invasion road +between Saxony and Bohemia; whole Armies sweeping over it, and their +thousand-fold wagons and noises making clangor enough. ... One of those +Hollows, on the Pascopol, is Joachimsthal, with its old Silver Mines; +yielding coins which were in request with traders, the silver being +fine. 'Let my ducat be a Joachimsthal one, then!' the old trader would +say: 'a JOACHIMSTHAL-ER;' or, for brevity, a 'THAL-ER;' whence THALER, +and at last DOLLAR (almighty and otherwise),--now going round the world! +[Busching, _Erdbeschreibung,_v. 178.] Pascopol finishes in Welmina +Township. From the last hamlet in Welmina, at the neck of the last Hill, +step downward one mile, holding rather to the left, you will come on the +innocent Village of Lobositz, its poor corn-mills and huckster-shops all +peaceably unknown as yet, which is soon to become very famous." + +The Country-roads where Friedrich's Army is on march, I should think, +are mostly on the mounting hand. For here, from Turmitz, is a trough +again; though the last considerable one; and on the crest of that, we +shall look down upon the Bohemian Plains and the grand Basin of the +Elbe,--through various scrubby villages which are not nameworthy; +through one called Kletschen, which for a certain reason is. Crossing +the shoulder of Kletschenberg (HILL of this Kletschen), which abuts upon +the Pascopol,--yonder in bright sunshine is your beautiful expansive +Basin of the Elbe, and the green Bohemian Plains, revealed for a moment. +Friedrich snatches his glass, not with picturesque object: "See, yonder +is Feldmarschall Browne, then! In camp yonder, down by Lobositz, not +ten miles from us,--[it is most true; Browne marched this morning, long +before the Sun; crossed Eger, and pitched camp at noon]--Good!" thinks +Friedrich. And pushes down into the Pascopol, into the hollows and minor +troughs, which hide Browne henceforth, till we are quite near. + +Quite near, through Welmina and a certain final gap of the Hills, +Friedrich with the vanguard does emerge, "an hour before sunset;" +overhanging Browne; not above a mile from the Camp of Browne. A very +large Camp, that of Browne's, flanked to right by the Elbe; goes from +Sulowitz, through Lobositz, to Welhoten close on Elbe;--and has +properties extremely well worth studying just now! "Friedrich" the Books +say, "bivouacs by a fire of sticks," short way down on the southern +slope of the Hill; and till sunset and after, has eye-glass, brain, and +faculties and activities sufficiently occupied for the rest of the +night;--his Divisions gradually taking post behind him, under arms; "not +till midnight, the very rearmost of them." ["Tuesday, 28th September, +left the Camp at Sedlitz, with 8 battalions 20 squadrons, to Johnsdorf: +29th, to Turmitz,--Browne is to pass the Eger tomorrow. From the tops of +the Pascopol (30th), SEE an Austrian Camp in the Plain of Lobositz. +Vanguard bivouacs in the 'neck' of the two Hills or a little beyond." +PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN 1756 (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten_, +i. 844-845, 840-858); Anonymous of Hamburg; &c. &c.] + + + + +Chapter VI.--BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. + +Welmina,--or Reschni-Aujest, last pertinent of Welmina (but we will take +Friedrich's name for it), offers to the scrutinizing eye nothing, in +our day, but some bewildered memory of "Alte Fritz" clinging obstinately +even to the Peasant mind thereabouts. A sleepy littery place; some +biggish haggard untrimmed trees, some broken-backed sleepy-looking +thatched houses, not in contact, and each as far as might be with its +back turned on the other, and cloaked in its own litter and privacy. +Probably no human creature will be visible, as you pass through. Much +straw lying about, chiefly where the few gaunt trees look down on it +(cattle glad of any shelter): in fact, it is mainly an extinct tumult +of straw; nothing alive, as you pass, but a few poor oxen languidly +sauntering up and down, finding much to trample, little to eat. The +Czech Populations (were it not for that "Question of the Nationalities") +are not very beautiful! + +Close south of this poor Hamlet is a big Hill, conspicuous with three +peaks; quite at the other base of which, a good way down, lies Lobositz, +the main Village in those parts; a place now of assiduous corn-mill and +fruit trade; and one of the stations on the Dresden-Prag Railway. This +Hill is what Lloyd calls the Lobosch; [Major-General Lloyd, _History +of the late War in Germany, _1756-1759 (3 vols. 4to, London, 1781), i. +2-11.] twin to which, only flatter, is Lloyd's "Homolka Hill" (Hill +of RADOSTITZ in more modern Plans and Books). Conspicuous Heights, and +important to us here,--though I did not find the Peasants much know them +under those names. By the southern shoulder of this Lobosch Hill runs +the road from Welmina to Lobositz, with branches towards many other +villages. To your right or southern hand, short way southward, rises the +other Hill, which Lloyd calls Homolka Hill; the gap or interval between +Homolka and Lobosch, perhaps a furlong in extent, is essentially the +PASS through those uplands. This pass, Friedrich, at the first moment, +made sure of; filling the same with battalions, there to bivouac. He +likewise promptly laid hold of the two Hills, high Lobosch to his left, +and lower Homolka to right; which precautionary measure it is reckoned +a fault in Browne to have neglected, that night; fault for which he +smarted on the morrow. + +From this upland pass, or neck between the two Mountains, Friedrich's +battalions would have had a fine view, had the morning shone for them: +Lobositz, Leitmeritz, Melnick; a great fertile Valley, or expanse of +fruitful country, many miles in breadth and length; Elbe, like a silver +stripe, winding grandly through the finest of all his countries, before +ducking himself into the rock-tumults of that Pirna district. The +mountain gorges of Prag and Moldau River, south of Melnick, lie hidden +under the horizon, or visible only as peaks, thirty miles and more to +southeastward; a bright country intervening, sprinkled with steepled +towns. To northwestward, far away, are the Lausitz Mountains, ranked +in loose order, but massive, making a kind of range: and as outposts +to them in their scattered state, Hills of good height and aspect are +scattered all about, and break the uniformity of the Plain. Nowhere in +North Germany could the Prussian battalions have a finer view,--if the +morning were fine, and if views were their object. + +The morning, first in October, was not fine; and it was far other than +scenery that the Prussian battalions had in hand!--Friday, 1st October, +1756, Day should have broken: but where is day? At seven in the morning +(and on till eleven), thick mist lay over the plain; thin fog to the +very hill-tops; so that you cannot see a hundred yards ahead. Lobositz +is visible only as through a crape; farther on, nothing but gray sea; +under which, what the Austrians are doing, or whether there are any +Austrians, who can say? Leftward on the Lobosch-Hill side, as we +reconnoitre, some Pandours are noticeable, nestled in the vineyards +there:--that sunward side of the Lobosch is all vineyards, belonging +to the different Lobositzers: scrubby vineyards, all in a brown plucked +state at this season. Vineyards parted by low stone walls, say three or +four feet high (parted by hurdles, or by tiny trenches, in our day, and +the stone walls mere stone facings): there are the Pandours crouched, +and give fire in a kneeling posture when you approach. Lower down, near +Lobositz itself, flickerings as of Horse squadrons, probably Hussar +parties, twinkle dubious in the wavering mist. Problem wrapt in mist; +nothing to be seen; and all depends on judging it with accuracy! Seven +by the clock: Deploy, at any rate; let us cover our post; and be in +readiness for events. + +Friedrich's vanguard of itself nearly fills that neck, or space between +the Lobosch and Homolka Hills. He spreads his Infantry and "hundred +field-pieces," in part, rightwards along the Homolka Hill; but chiefly +leftwards along the Lobosch, where their nearest duty is to drive off +those Pandours. Always as a new battalion, pushing farther leftward, +comes upon its ground, the Pandours give fire on it;--and it on the +Pandours; till the Left Wing is complete, and all the Lobosch is, in +this manner, a crackling of Pandour musketry, and anti-musketry. Right +Wing, steady to its guns on the Homolka, has as yet nothing to do. Those +wings of Infantry are two lines deep; the Cavalry, in three lines, is +between them in the centre; no room for Cavalry elsewhere, except on the +outskirts some fringing of light horse, to be ready for emergencies. + +The Pandour firing, except for the noise of it, does not amount to much; +they can take no aim, says Lloyd, crouching behind their stone fences; +and the Prussian Battalions, steadily pushing downwards, trample out +their sputtering, and clear the Lobosch of them to a safe distance. +But the ground is intricate, so wrapt in mist for the present. That +crackling lasts for hours; decisive of nothing; and the mist also, and +one's anxious guessings and scrutinizings, lasts in a wavering fitful +manner. + +Once, for some time, in the wavering of the mist, there was seen, down +in the plain opposite our centre, a body of Cavalry. Horse for certain: +say ten squadrons of them, or 1,500 Horse; continually manoeuvring, +changing shape; now in more ranks, now in fewer; sometimes +"checkerwise," formed like a draught-board; shooting out wings: they +career about, one sees not whither, or vanish again into the mist +behind. "Browne's rear-guard this, that we are come upon," thinks +Friedrich; "these squatted Pandours, backed by Horse, must be his +rear-guard, that are amusing us: Browne and the Army are off; crossing +the Elbe, hastening towards the Schandau, the Pirna quarter, while we +stand bickering and idly sputtering here!"--Weary of such idle business, +Friedrich orders forward Twenty of his Squadrons from the centre +station: "Charge me those Austrian Horse, and let us finish this." The +Twenty Squadrons, preceded by a pair of field-pieces, move down hill; +storm in upon the Austrian party, storm it furiously into the mist; are +furiously chasing it,--when unexpected cannon-batteries, destructive +case-shot, awaken on their left flank (batteries from Lobositz, one may +guess); and force them to draw back. To draw back, with some loss; and +rank again, in an indignantly blown condition, at the foot of their +Hill. Indignant; after brief breathing, they try it once more. + +"Don't try it!" Friedrich had sent out to tell them: for the mist +was clearing; and Friedrich, on the higher ground, saw new important +phenomena: but it was too late. For the Twenty Squadrons are again +dashing forward; sweeping down whatever is before them: in spite of +cannon-volleys, they plunge deeper and deeper into the mist; come upon +"a ditch twelve feet broad" (big swampy drain, such as are still found +there, grass-green in summer-time); clear said ditch; forward still +deeper into the mist: and after three hundred yards, come upon a second +far worse "ditch;" plainly impassable this one,--"ditch" they call it, +though it is in fact a vile sedgy Brook, oozing along there (the MORELL +BACH, considerable Brook, lazily wandering towards Lobositz, where it +disembogues in rather swifter fashion);--and are saluted with cannon, +from the farther side; and see serried ranks under the gauze of mist: +Browne's Army, in fact! The Twenty Squadrons have to recoil out of +shot-range, the faster, the better; with a loss of a good many men, in +those two charges. Friedrich orders them up Hill again; much regretful +of this second charge, which he wished to hinder; and posts them to +rearward,--where they stand silent, the unconscious stoic-philosophers +in buff, and have little farther service through the rest of the day. + +It is now 11 o'clock; the mist all clearing off; and Friedrich, before +that second charge, had a growing view of the Plain and its condition. +Beyond question, there is Browne; not in retreat, by any means; but in +full array; numerous, and his position very strong. Ranked, unattackable +mostly, behind that oozy Brook, or BACH of Morell; which has only two +narrow Bridges, cannon plenty on both: one Bridge from the south parts +to Sulowitz (OUR road to Sulowitz and it would be by Radostitz and +the Homolka); and then one other Bridge, connecting Sulowitz with +Lobositz,--which latter is Browne's own Bridge, uniting right wing and +left of Browne, so to speak; and is still more unattackable, in the +circumstances. What will Friedrich decide on attempting? + +That oozy Morell Brook issues on Browne's side of Lobositz, cutting +Browne in two; but is otherwise all in Browne's favor. Browne +extends through Lobositz; and beyond it, curves up to Welhoten on +the River-brink; at Lobositz are visible considerable redoubts, +cannon-batteries and much regular infantry. Browne will be difficult to +force yonder, in the Lobositz part; but yonder alone can he be tried. +He is pushing up more Infantry that way; conscious probably of that +fact,--and that the Lobosch Hill is not his, but another's. What would +not Browne now give for the Lobosch Hill! Yesternight he might have had +it gratis, in a manner; and indeed did try slightly, with his Pandour +people (durst not at greater expense),--who have now ceased sputtering, +and cower extinct in the lower vineyards there. Browne, at any rate, +is rapidly strengthening his right wing, which has hold of Lobositz; +pushing forward in that quarter,--where the Brook withal is of firmer +bottom and more wadable. Thither too is Friedrich bent. So that Lobositz +is now the key of the Battle; there will the tug of war now be. + +Friedrich's cavalry is gone all to rearward. His right wing holds the +Homolka Hill,--that too would now be valuable to Browne; and cannot be +had gratis, as yesternight! Friedrich's left wing is on the Lobosch; +Pandours pretty well extinct before it, but now from Welhoten quarter +new Regulars coming on thither,--as if Browne would still take the +Lobosch? Which would be victory to him; but is not now possible to +Browne. Nor will long seem so;--Friedrich having other work in view for +him;--meaning now to take Lobositz, instead of losing the Lobosch to +him! Friedrich pushes out his Left Wing still farther leftward, leftward +and downward withal, to clear those vineyard-fences completely of +their occupants, Pandour or Regular, old or new. This is done; the +vineyard-fences swept;--and the sweepings driven, in a more and more +stormy fashion, towards Welhoten and Lobositz; the Lobosch falling quite +desperate for Browne. + +Henceforth Friedrich directs all his industry to taking Lobositz; +Browne, to the defending of it, which he does with great vigor and +fire; his batteries, redoubts, doing their uttermost, and his battalions +rushing on, mass of them after mass, at quick march, obstinate, fierce +to a degree, in the height of temper; and showing such fight as we never +had of them before. Friedrich's Left Wing and Browne's Right now have it +to decide between them;--any attempt Browne makes with his Left through +Sulowitz (as he once did, and once only) is instantly repressed by +cannon from the Homolka Hill. And the rest of the Battle, or rather the +Battle itself,--for all hitherto has been pickeering and groping in the +mist,--may be made conceivable in few words. + +Friedrich orders the second line of his Left Wing to march up and join +with the first; Right Wing, shoving ITS two lines into one, is now to +cover the Lobosch as well. Left Wing, in condensed condition, shall +fall down on Lobositz, and do its best. They are now clear of the +vineyard-works; the ground is leveller, though still sloping,--a three +furlongs from the Village, and somewhat towards the Elbe, when Browne's +battalions first came extensively to close grips; fierce enough (as was +said); the toughest wrestle yet had with those Austrians,--coming on +with steady fury, under such force of cannon; with iron ramrods too, +and improved ways, like our own. But nothing could avail them; the +counter-fury being so great. They had to go at the Welhoten part, and +even to run,--plunging into Elbe, a good few of them, and drowning there, in the +vain hope to swim. "Never have my troops," says Friedrich, "done such +miracles of valor, cavalry as well as infantry, since I had the honor to +command them. By this dead-lift achievement (TOUR DE FORCE) I have seen +what they can do." [Letter to Schwerin, "Lobositz, 2d August, 1756" +(Retzow, i. 64); RELATION DE LA CAMPAGNE, 1756, that is, PRUSSIAN +ACCOUNT (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten), _i. 848. Lloyd, UT SUPRA, i. 2-11 +(who has solid information at first hand, having been an actor in these +Wars. A man of great natural sagacity and insight; decidedly luminous +and original, though of somewhat crabbed temper now and then; a man +well worth hearing on this and on whatever else he handles). Tempelhof, +GESCHICHTE DES SIEBENJAHRIGEN KRIEGES (which is at first a mere +Translation of Lloyd, nothing new in it but certain notes and criticisms +on Lloyd; when Lloyd ends, Tempelhof, Prussian Major and Professor, a +learned, intelligent, but diffuse man, of far inferior talent to Lloyd, +continues and completes on his own footing: six very thin 4tos, Berlin, +1794), i. 38 (Battle, with FOOTNOTES), and ib. 51 (CRITICISM of Lloyd). +Prussian and Austrian Accounts in _Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 800 et seq. +Many Narratives in FELDZUGE, and the BEYLAGE to Seyfarth; &c. &c.] + +In fine, after some three hours more of desperate tugging and +struggling, cannon on both sides going at a great rate, and infinite +musketry ("ninety cartridges a man on our Prussian side, and ammunition +falling done"), not without bayonet-pushings, and smitings with the butt +of your musket, the Austrians are driven into Lobositz; are furiously +pushed there, and, in spite of new battalions coming to the rescue, +are fairly pushed through. These Village-streets are too narrow for +new battalions from Browne; "much of the Village should have been burnt +beforehand," say cool judges. And now, sure enough, it does get burnt; +Lobositz is now all on fire, by Prussian industry. So that the Austrians +have to quit it instantly; and rush off in great disorder; key of the +Battle, or Battle itself, quite lost to them. + +The Prussian infantry, led by the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern ("Governor of +Stettin," one of the Duke-Ferdinand cousinry, frugal and valiant), gave +the highest satisfaction; seldom was such firing, such furious pushing; +they had spent ninety cartridges a man; were at last quite out of +cartridges; so that Bevern had to say, "Strike in with bayonets, MEINE +KINDER; butt-ends, or what we have; HERAN!" Our Grenadiers were mainly +they that burnt Lobositz. "How salutary now would it have been," says +Epimetheus Lloyd, "had Browne had a small battery on the other side of +the Elbe;" whereby he might have taken them in flank, and shorn them +into the wind! Epimetheus marks this battery on his Plan; and is wise +behindhand, at a cheap rate. + +Browne's Right Wing, and probably his Army with it, would have gone much +to perdition, now that Lobositz was become Prussian,--had not Browne, +in the nick of the moment, made a masterly movement: pushed forward +his Centre and Left Wing, numerous battalions still fresh, to interpose +between the chasing Prussians and those fugitives. The Prussians, +infantry only, cannot chase on such terms; the Prussian cavalry, we +know, is far rearward on the high ground. Browne retires a mile +or two,--southward, Budin-ward,--not chased; and there halts, and +rearranges himself; thinking what farther he will do. His aim in +fighting had only been to defend himself; and in that humble aim he has +failed. Chase of the Prussians over that Homolka-Lobosch country, with +the high grounds rearward and the Metal Mountains in their hands, he +could in no event have attempted. + +The question now is: Will he go back to Budin; or will he try +farther towards Schandau? Nature points to the former course, in such +circumstances; Friedrich, by way of assisting, does a thing much +admired by Lloyd;--detaches Bevern with a strong party southward, out +of Lobositz, which is now his, to lay hold of Tschirskowitz, lying +Budin-ward, but beyond the Budin Road. Which feat, when Browne hears +of it, means to him, "Going to cut me off from Budin, then? From my +ammunition-stores, from my very bread-cupboard!" And he marches that +same midnight, silently, in good order, back to Budin. He is not much +ruined; nay the Prussian loss is numerically greater: "3,308 killed and +wounded, on the Prussian side; on the Austrian, 2,984, with three cannon +taken and two standards." Not ruined at all; but foiled, frustrated; and +has to devise earnestly, "What next?" Once rearranged, he may still try. + +The Battle lasted seven hours; the last four of it very hot, till +Lobositz was won and lost. It was about 5 P.M. when Browne fired his +retreat-cannon:--cannon happened to be loaded (say the Anecdote-Books, +mythically given now and then); Friedrich, wearied enough, had flung +himself into his carriage for a moment's rest, or thankful reflection; +and of all places, the ball of the retreat-cannon lighted THERE. Between +Friedrich's feet, as he lay reclining,--say the Anecdote-Books, whom +nobody is bound to believe. + +On the strength of those two Prussian charges, which had retired from +case-shot on their flank, and had not wings, for getting over sedge and +ooze, Austria pretended to claim the victory. "Two charges repelled by +our gallant horse; Lobositz, indeed, was got on fire, and we had nothing +for it but to withdraw; but we took a new position, and only left +that for want of water;"--with the like excuses. "Essentially a clear +victory," said the Austrians; and sang TE-DEUM about it;--but profited +nothing by that piece of melody. The fact, considerable or not, was, +from the first, too undeniable: Browne beaten from the field. And beaten +from his attempt too (the Saxons not relievable by this method); and +lies quiet in Budin again,--with his water sure to him; but what other +advantages gained? + +Here are two Letters, brief both, which we may as well read:-- + +1. FRIEDRICH TO WILHELMINA (at Baireuth). + +"LOBOSITZ, 4th October, 1756. + +"MY DEAR SISTER,--Your will is accomplished. Tired out by these +Saxon delays, I put myself at the head of my Army of Bohemia [Keith's +hitherto]; and marched from Aussig to--a Name which seemed to me of good +augury, being yours,--to the Village of Welmina [Battle was called OF +WELMINA, by the Prussians at first]. I found the Austrians here, near +Lobositz; and, after a Fight of seven hours, forced them to run. Nobody +of your acquaintance is killed, except Generals Luderitz and OErzen [who +are not of ours]. + +"I return you a thousand thanks for the tender part you take in my lot. +Would to Heaven the valor of my Army might procure us a stable Peace! +That ought to be the aim of War. Adieu, my dear Sister; I embrace you +tenderly, assuring you of the lively affection with which I am--F." +[_OEuvres,_ xxvii. i. 291.] + +2. PRINCE OF PRUSSIA TO VALORI (who is still at Berlin, but soon going +as it proves,--Broglio's explosion at the Lines of Gross-Sedlitz being +on hand, during the King's absence, in these very hours) ["5th-6th +October" (Valori, ii. 353).] + +"CAMP OF LOBOSITZ, 5th October, 1756. + +"You will know the news of the day; and I am persuaded you take part +in it. All you say to me betokens the conspiracy there is for the +destruction of our Country. If that is determined in the Book of Fate, +we cannot escape it. + +"Had my advice been asked, a year ago, I should have voted to preserve +the Alliance [with YOU] which we had been used to for sixteen years +[strictly for twelve, though in substance ever since 1740], and which +was by nature advantageous to us. But if my advice were asked just now, +I should answer, That the said method being now impossible, we are in +the case of a ship's captain who defends himself the best he can, and +when all resources are exhausted, has, rather than surrender on shameful +conditions, to fire the powder-magazine, and blow up his ship. You +remember that of your Francois I."--FORS L'HONNEUR; ah yes, very +well!--"Perhaps it will be my poor Children who will be the victims of +these past errors,"--for such I still think them, I for my part. + +"The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to besiege Wesel, +Geldern [Wesel they will get gratis, poor Geldern will almost break +their heart first], and take possession of Ost-Friesland; the Russian +Declaration [Manifesto not worth reading] tells us Russia's intentions +for the next year [most truculent intentions]: we will defend ourselves +to the last drop of our blood, and perish with honor. If you have any +counsel farther, I pray you give it me. + +MAP GOES HERE--BETWEEN P. 350 AND 351 Chap VII book 17 + +"Remain always my friend; and believe that in all situations I will +remain yours; and trying to do what my duty is, will not forfeit the +sentiments on your part which have been so precious to me. Your servant, +GUILLAUME." [Valori, ii. 204-206.] + +"Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfall of his House," +suggests Valori: "He deserved a better fate! He would be in despair to +think I had sent this Letter to your Excellency; but I thought perhaps +you would show it to the King,"--and that it might do good one day. +[Valori (to the French Minister, "12th October, 1756"), ii. 204.] The +Prussians lay in their "Camp of Lobositz," posted up and down in that +neighborhood, for a couple of weeks more; waiting whether Browne would +attempt anything farther in the fighting way; and, in fine, whether the +solution of the crisis would fall out hereabouts, or on the other side +of the Hills. + + + + +Chapter VII.--THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA ON DISMAL TERMS. + +The disaster of October 1st--for which they were trying to sing TE-DEUMS +at Vienna--fell heavier on the poor Saxons, in their cage at Pirna: +"Alas, where is our deliverance now?" Friedrich's people, in their lines +here, gave them such a "joy-firing" for Lobositz as Retzow has seldom +heard; huge volleyings, salvoings, running-fires, starting out, +artistically timed and stationed, thunderous, high; and borne by the +echoes, gloomily reverberative, into every dell and labyrinth of the +Pirna Country;--intended to strike a deeper damp into them, thinks he. +[Retzow, i. 67.] But Imperial Majesty was mindful, too; and straightway +sent Browne positive order, "Deliver me these poor Saxons at any price!" +And in the course of not quite a week from Lobositz, there arrives a +confidential Messenger from Browne: "Courage still, ye caged Saxons; I +will try it another way! Only you must hold out till the 11th; on the +11th stand to your tools, and it shall be done." + +Browne is to take a succinct Detachment, 8,000 picked men, horse and +foot; to make a wider sweep with these, well eastward by the foot of +Lausitz Hills, and far enough from all Prussian parties and scouts; +to march, with all speed and silence, "through Bohm-Leipa, Kamnitz, +Rumburg, Schluckenau; and come in upon the Schandau region, quite from +the northeast side; say, at Lichtenhayn; an eligible Village, which is +but seven miles or so from the Konigstein, with the chasmy country +and the river intervening. Monday, October 11th, Browne will arrive at +Lichtenhayn (sixty miles of circling march from Budin); privately post +himself near Lichtenhayn; Prussian posts, of no great strength, lying +ahead of him there. You, indignant extenuated Saxons, are to get +yourselves across,--near the Konigstein it will have to be, under cover +of the Konigstein's cannon,--on the front or riverward side of those +same Prussian posts: crossing-place (Browne's Messenger settles) can +be Thurmsdorf Hamlet, opposite the Lilienstein, opposite the Hamlets of +Ebenheit and Halbstadt there. Konigstein fire will cover your bridge and +your building of it. + +"Monday night next, I say, post yourselves there, with hearts resolute, +with powder dry; there, about the eastern roots of the Lilienstein +[beautiful Show Mountain, with stair-steps cut on it for Tourist people, +by August the Strong], and avoid the Prussian battery and abatis which +is on it just now! You at Ebenheit, I at Lichtenhayn, trimmed and braced +for action, through that Monday night. Tuesday morning, the Konigstein, +at your beckoning, shall fire two cannon-shots; which shall mean, 'All +ready here!' Then forward, you, on those Prussian posts by the front; +I will attack them by the rear. With right fury, both of us! I am +told, they are but weak in those posts; surely, by double impetus, and +dead-lift effort from us both, they CAN be forced? Only force them,--you +are in the open field again; and you march away with me, colors flying; +your hunger-cage and all your tribulations left behind you!"-- + + +This is Browne's plan. The poor Saxons accept,--what choice have +they?--though the question of crossing and bridge-building has its +intricacies; and that inevitable item of "postponement till the 11th" +is a sore clause to them; for not only are there short and ever shorter +rations, but grim famine itself is advancing with large strides. The +"daily twenty ounces of meal" has sunk to half that quantity; the "ounce +or so of butcher's-meat once a week" has vanished, or become HORSE of +extreme leanness. The cavalry horses have not tasted oats, nothing but +hay or straw (not even water always); the artillery horses had to +live by grazing, brown leaves their main diet latterly. Not horses any +longer; but walking trestles, poor animals! And the men,--well, they are +fallen pale; but they are resolute as ever. The nine corn-mills, which +they have in this circuit of theirs, grind now night and day; and all +the cavalry are set to thresh whatever grain can be found about; no +hind or husbandman shall retain one sheaf: in this way, they hope, utter +hunger may be staved off, and the great attempt made. [PRECIS DE +LA RETRAITE DE L'ARMEE SAXONNE DE SON CAMP DE PIRNA (in _Gesammelte +Nachrichten, _i. 482-494).] + +Browne skilfully and perfectly did his part of the Adventure. Browne +arrives punctually at Lichtenhayn, evening of the 11th; bivouacs, hidden +in the Woods thereabouts, in cold damp weather; stealthily reconnoitres +the Prussian Villages ahead, and trims himself for assault, at sound +of the two cannons to-morrow. But there came no cannon-signal on the +morrow; far other signallings and messagings to-morrow, and next +day, and next, from the Konigstein and neighborhood! "Wait, Excellency +Feldmarschall [writes Bruhl to him, Note after Note, instead of +signalling from the Konigstein]: do wait a very little! You run no +risk in waiting; we, even if we MUST yield, will make that our first +stipulation!" "YOU will?" grumbles Browne; and waits, naturally, with +extreme impatience. But the truth is, the Adventure, on the Saxon side +of it, has already altogether misgone; and becomes, from this point +onwards, a mere series of failures, futilities and disastrous miseries, +tragical to think of. Worth some record here, since there are +Documents abundant;--especially as Feldmarschall Rutowski (who is +General-in-Chief, an old, not esteemed, friend of ours) has produced, or +caused to be produced, a Narrative, which illuminates the Business +from within as well. [PRECIS, &c. (just cited); compare TAGEBUCH DER +EINSCHLIESSUNG DES SACHSISCHEN LAGERS BEY PIRNA ("Diary," &c., which is +the Prussian Account: in Seyfarth, BEYLAGEN), ii. 22-48.] The latter is +our main Document here:-- + +I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's: one could +surmise some laxity of effort, and a rather slovenly-survey of facts, in +that quarter. The Enterprise, from the first, was flatly impossible, say +judges; and it is certain, poor Rutowski's execution was not first-rate. +"How get across the Elbe?" Rutowski had said to himself, perhaps not +quite with the due rigor of candor proportionate to the rigorous fact: +"How get across the Elbe? We have copper pontoons at Pirna; but they +will be difficult to cart. Or we might have a boat-bridge; boats planked +together two and two. At Pirna are plenty of boats; and by oar and +track-rope, the River itself might be a road for them? Boats or pontoons +to Konigstein, by water or land, they must be got. Eight miles of +abysmal roads, our horses all extenuated? Impossible to cart these +pontoons!" said Rutowski to himself.--Pity he had not tried it. He had +a week to do those eight bad miles in; and 2,000 lean horses, picking +grass or brown leaves, while their riders threshed. "We will drag our +pontoons by water, by the Elbe tow-path," thought Rutowski, "that +will be easier;"--and forthwith sets about preparing for it, secretly +collecting boats at Pirna, steersmen, towing-men, bridge-tackle and what +else will be necessary. + +Rutowski made, at least, no delay. Browne's messenger, we find, had come +to him, "Thursday, 7th:" and on Friday night Rutowski has a squad of +boatmen, steersmen and twoscore of towing peasants ready; and +actually gets under way. They are escorted by the due battalions with +field-pieces;--who are to fire upon the Prussian batteries, and keep up +such a blaze of musketry and heavier shot, as will screen the boats in +passing. Surely a ticklish operation, this;--arguing a sanguine temper +in General Rutowski! The south bank of the River is ours; but there are +various Prussian batteries, three of them very strong, along the north +bank, which will not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass. No help for +it;--we must trust in luck! Here is the sequel, with dates adjusted. + +ELBE RIVER, NIGHT OF OCTOBER 8th-9th. Friday night, accordingly, so +soon as Darkness (unusually dark this night) has dropt her veil on the +business, Rutowski sets forth. The Prussian battery, or bridge-head +(TETE-DE-PONT), at Pirna, has not noticed him, so silent was he. But, +alas, the other batteries do not fail to notice; to give fire; and, in +fact, on being answered, and finding it a serious thing, to burst out +into horrible explosion; unanswerable by the Saxon field-pieces; +and surely perilous to human nature steering and towing those big +River-Boats. "Loyal to our King, and full of pity for him; that are +we;"--but towing at a rate, say of two shillings per head! Before long, +the forty towing peasants fling down their ropes, first one, then more, +then all, in spite of efforts, promises, menaces; and vanish among the +thickets,--forfeiting the two shillings, on view of imminent death. +Soldiers take the towing-ropes; try to continue it a little; but now the +steersmen also manage to call halt: "We won't! Let us out, let us out! +We will steer you aground on the Prussian shore if you don't!" making +night hideous. And the towing enterprise breaks down for that bout; +double barges mooring on the Saxon shore, I know not precisely at what +point, nor is it material. + +SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 9th-10th) New boatmen, forty new towmen have +been hired at immense increase of wages; say four shillings for the +night: but have you much good probability, my General, that even for +that high guerdon imminence of death can be made indifferent to towmen? +No, you have n't. The matter goes this night precisely as it did last: +towmen vanishing in the horrible cannon tumult; steersmen shrieking, "We +will ground you on the Prussian shore;" very soldiers obliged to give it +up; and General Rutowski himself obliged to wash his hands of it, as +a thing that cannot be done. In fact, a thing which need not have been +tried, had Rutowski been rigorously candid with himself and his hopes, +as the facts now prove to be. "Twenty-four hours lost by this bad +business" (says he; "thirty-six," as I count, or, to take it rigorously, +"forty-eight" even): and now, Sunday morning instead of Friday, at what, +in sad truth, is metaphorically "the eleventh hour," Rutowski has to +bethink him of his copper pontoons; and make the impossible carting +method possible in a day's time, or do worse. + +SUNDAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 10th-11th, By unheard-of exertions, all hands +and all spent-horses now at a dead-lift effort night and day, Rutowski +does get his pontoons carted out of the Pirna storehouse; lands them +at Thurmsdorf,--opposite the Lilienstein,--a mile or so short of +Konigstein, where his Bridge shall be. It is now the 11th, at night. And +our pontoons are got to the ground, nothing more. Every man of us, at +this hour, should have been across, and trimming himself to climb, with +bayonet fixed! Browne is ready, expecting our signal-shot to storm in +on his side. And our bridge is not built, only the pontoons here. "All +things went perverse," adds Rutowski, for farther comfort: "we [Saxon +Home-Army] had with us, except Officers, only Four Pontoniers, or +trained Bridge-builders; all the rest are at Warsaw:" sad thought, but +too late to think it! + +TUESDAY, TILL WEDNESDAY EARLY (12th-13th), Bridge, the Four Pontoniers, +with Officers and numb soldiers doing their best, is got built;--Browne +waiting for us, on thorns, all day; Prussians extensively beginning to +strengthen their posts, about the Lilienstein, about Lichtenhayn, or +where risk is; and in fact pouring across to that northern side, quite +aware of Rutowski and Browne. + +That same night, 12th-13th, while the Bridge was struggling to complete +itself,--rain now falling, and tempests broken out,--the Saxon Army, +from Pirna down to Hennersdorf, had lifted itself from its Lines, and +got under way towards Thurmsdorf, and the crossing-place. Dark night, +plunging rain; all the elements in uproar. The worst roads in Nature; +now champed doubly; "such roads as never any Army marched on before." +Most of their cannon are left standing; a few they had tried to yoke, +broke down, "and choked up the narrow road altogether; so that the +cavalry had to dismount, and lead their horses by side-paths,"--figure +what side-paths! Distance to Thurmsdorf, from any point of the Saxon +Lines, cannot be above six miles: but it takes them all that night and +all next day. Such a march as might fill the heart with pity. Oh, ye +Rutowskis, Bruhls, though never so decorated by twelve tailors, what +a sight ye are at the head of men! Dark night, wild raging weather, +labyrinthic roads worn knee-deep. It is broad daylight, Wednesday, 13th, +and only the vanguard is yet got across, trailing a couple of cannons; +and splashes about, endeavoring to take rank there, in spite of wet and +hunger; rain still pouring, wind very high. + +Nothing of Browne comes, this Wednesday; but from the opposite +Gross-Sedlitz and Gottleube side, the Prussians are coming. This +morning, at daylight, struck by symptoms, "the Prussians mounted our +empty redoubts:" they are now in full chase of us, Ziethen with Hussars +as vanguard. A difficult bit of marching, even Ziethen and his light +people find it; sprawling forward, at their cheeriest, with daylight +to help, and in chase, not chased, through such intricacies of rock and +mud. Ziethen's company did not assist the Saxons! They wheel round, show +fight, and there is volleying and bickering all day; the Saxon march +getting ever more perturbed. Nearly all the baggage has to be left. +Ziethen takes into the woods near Thurmsdorf; giving fire as the poor +wet Saxons, now much in a pell-mell condition, pass to their Bridge. +[PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT (in _Gesammelte Nachrichten), _i. 852.] Heavier +Prussians are striding on to rear; these, from some final hill-top, do +at last belch out two cannon-shots: figure the confusion at that Bridge, +the speed now becoming delirious there! Towards evening, rain still +violent, the Saxons, baggageless, and rushing quite pell-mell the latter +part of them, are mostly across, still countable to 14,000 or so;--upon +which they cut their Bridge adrift, and let the river take it. At +Raden, a few miles lower, the Prussians fished it out; rebuilt it more +deliberately,--and we shall find it there anon. This day Friedrich, +hearing what is afoot, has returned in person from the Lobositz +Country; takes Struppen as his head-quarter, which was lately the Polish +Majesty's. + +From Browne there has nothing come this Wednesday; but to-morrow morning +at seven there comes a Letter from him, written this night at ten; to +the effect:-- + +"HEAD-QUARTER, LICHTENHAYN, Wednesday, October 13th, 10 P.M. + +"EXCELLENZ,--Have [omitting the I] waited here at Lichtenhayn since +Tuesday, expecting your signal-cannon; hearing nothing of it, conclude +you have by misfortune not been able to get across; and that the +Enterprise is up. My own position being dangerous [Prussians of double +my strength intrenched within few miles of me], I turn homewards +to-morrow at nine A.M.: ready for whatever occurs TILL then; and +sorrowfully say adieu," [PRECIS (ut supra), p. 493; _Helden-Geschichte, +_iii. 940; &c.] + +Dreadful weather for Browne in his bivouac, and wearisome waiting, +with Prussians and perils accumulating on him! Browne was ill of lungs; +coughing much; lodging, in these violent tempests, on the cold ground. +A right valiant soldier and man, as does appear; the flower of all the +Irish Brownes (though they have quite forgotten him in our time), and of +all those Irish Exiles then tragically spending themselves in Austrian +quarrels! "You saw the great man," says one who seems to have been +present, "how he sacrificed himself to this Enterprise. What Austrian +Field-marshal but himself would ever have lowered his loftiness to lead, +in person, so insignificant a Detachment, merely for the public good! +I have seen staff-officers, distinguished only by their sasheries and +insignia, who would not have stirred to inspect a vedette without 250 +men. Our Field-marshal was of another turn. Sharing with his troops all +the hardships, none excepted, of these critical days; and in spite of a +violent cough, which often brought the visible blood from his lungs, and +had quite worn him down; exposing himself, like the meanest of the Army, +to the tempests of rainy weather. Think what a sight it was, going to +your very heart, and summoning you to endurance of every hardship,--that +evening [not said which], when the Field-marshal, worn out with his +fatigues and his disorder, sank out of fainting-fits into a sleep! The +ground was his bed, and the storm of clouds his coverlid. In crowds his +brave war-comrades gathered round; stripped their cloaks, their coats, +and strove in noble rivalry which of them should have the happiness to +screen the Father of the Army at their own cost of exposure, and by +any device keep the pelting of the weather from that loved head!" +[Cogniazzo, _Gestandnisse eines OEsterreichischen Veterans, _ii. 251.] +There is a picture for you, in the heights of Lichtenhayn, as you steam +past Schandau, in contemplative mood; and perhaps think of "Justice to +Ireland!" among other sad thoughts that rise. + +From Thurmsdorf to the Pontoon-Bridge there was a kind of road; down +which the Saxons scrambled yesterday; and, by painful degrees, got +wriggled across. But, on the other shore, forward to the Hamlets of +Halbstadt and Ebenheit, there is nothing but a steep slippery footpath: +figure what a problem for the 14,000 in such weather! Then at +Ebenheit, close behind, Browne-wards, were Browne now there, rises the +Lilienstein, abrupt rocky mountain, its slopes on both hands washed +by the River (River making its first elbow here, closely girdling this +Lilienstein): on both these slopes are Prussian batteries, each with its +abatis; needing to be stormed:--that will be your first operation. +Abatis and slopes of the Lilienstein once stormed, you fall into a +valley or hollow, raked again by Prussian batteries; and will have to +mount, still storming, out of the valley, sky-high across the Ziegenruck +(GOAT'S-BACK) ridge: that is your second preliminary operation. After +which you come upon the work itself; namely, the Prussian redoubts at +Lichtenhayn, and 12,000 men on them by this time! A modern Tourist says, +reminding or informing: + +"From the Konigstein to Pirna, Elbe, if serpentine, is like a serpent +rushing at full speed. Just past the Konigstein, the Elbe, from +westward, as its general course is, turns suddenly to northward; runs so +for a mile and a half; then, just before getting to the BASTEI at +Raden, turns suddenly to westward again, and so continues. Tourists +know Raden,"--where the Prussians have just fished out a Bridge for +themselves,--"with the BASTEI high aloft to west of it. The Old Inn, +hospitable though sleepless, stands pleasantly upon the River-brink, +overhung by high cliffs: close on its left side, or in the intricacies +to rear of it, are huts and houses, sprinkled about, as if burrowed in +the sandstone; more comfortably than you could expect. The site is a +narrow dell, narrow chasm, with labyrinthic chasms branching off from +it; narrow and gloomy as seen from the River, but opening out even into +cornfields as you advance inwards: work of a small Brook, which is still +industriously tinkling and gushing there, and has in Pre-Adamite times +been a lake, and we know not what. Nieder-Raden, this, on the north side +of the River; of Ober-Raden, on the south side, there is nothing visible +from your Inn windows,"--nor have we anything to do with it farther. +An older Guide of Tourists yields us this second Fraction (capable of +condensation):-- + +... "To Halbstadt, thence to Ebenheit, your path is steeper and steeper; +from Ebenheit to the Lilienstein you take a guide. The Mountain is +conical; coarse RED sandstone; steps cut for you where needed: August +the Strong's Hunting-Lodge (JAGDHUTTE) is here (August went thither in +a grand way, 1708, with his Wife); Lodge still extant, by the side of a +wood;--Lilienstein towering huge and sheer, solitary, grand, like some +colossal Pillar of the Cyclops, from this round Pediment of Country +which you have been climbing; tops of Lilienstein plumed everywhere with +fir and birch, Pediment also very green and woody. August the Strong, +grandly visiting here, 1708, on finish of those stair-steps cut for +you, set up an Ebenezer, or Column of Memorial at this Hunting-Hut, with +Inscription which can still be read, though now with difficulty in its +time-worn state:-- + +"FRIEDERICUS AUGUSTUS, REX [of what? Dare not say of POLAND just now, +for fear of Charles XII.], ET ELECTOR SAX., UT FORTUNAEM VIRTUTE, ITA +ASPERAM HANC RUPEM PRIMUS [PRIMUS not of men, but of Saxon Electors] +SUPERAVIT, ADITUMQUE FACILIOREM REDDI CURAVIT. ANNO 1708."--"UT FORTUNAM +VIRTUTE, As his fortune by valor, SO he conquered this rugged rock +by"--Poor devil, only hear him:--and think how good Nature is (for the +time being) to poor devils and their 354 bastards! [M.(agister) Wilhelm +Lebrecht Gotzinger, _Schandau und seine Umgebungen, oder Beschreibung +der Sachsischen Schweitz _(Dresden, 1812), pp. 145-148. Gotzinger, +who designates himself as "Pastor at Neustadt near Stolpen" (northwest +border of the Pirna Country), has made of this (which would now be +called a TOURIST'S GUIDE, and has something geological in it) a modest, +good little Book, put together with industry, clearness, brevity. Gives +interesting Narrative of our present Business too, as gathered from his +"Father" and other good sources and testimonies.] + +Bruhl and the Polish Majesty, safe enough they, and snug in the +Konigstein, are clear for advancing: "Die like soldiers, for your King +and Country!" writes Polish Majesty, "Thursday, two in the morning:" +that also Rutowski reads; and I think still other Royal Autographs, sent +as Postscripts to that. From the Konigstein they duly fire off the two +Cannon-shot, as signal that we are coming; signal which Browne, just in +the act of departing, never heard, owing to the piping of the winds and +rattling of the rain. "Advance, my heroes!" counsel they: "You cannot +drag your ammunitions, say you; your poor couple of big guns? Here are +his Majesty's own royal horses for that service!"--and, in effect, the +royal stud is heroically flung open in this pressure; and a splashing +column of sleek quadrupeds, "150 royal draught-horses, early in the +forenoon," [Gotzinger, p. 156.] swim across to Ebenheit accordingly, if +that could encourage. And, "about noon, there is strong cannonading from +the Konigstein, as signal to Browne," who is off. Polish Majesty looking +with his spy-glass in an astonished manner. In Vain! Rutowski and his +Council of War--sitting wet in a hut of Ebenheit, with 14,000 starved +men outside, who have stood seventy-two hours of rain, for one item--see +nothing for it but "surrender on such terms as we can get." + +"In fact," independently of weather and circumstances, "the Enterprise," +says Friedrich, "was radically impossible; nobody that had known the +ground could have judged it other." Rutowski had not known it, then? +Browne never pretended to know it. Rutowski was not candid with the +conditions; the conditions never known nor candidly looked at; and +THEY are now replying to him with candor enough. From the first his +Enterprise was a final flicker of false hope; going out, as here, by +spasm, in the rigors of impossibility and flat despair. + +That column of royal horses sent splashing across the River,--that was +the utmost of self-sacrifice which I find recorded of his Polish Majesty +in this matter. He was very obstinate; his Bruhl and he were. But his +conduct was not very heroic. That royal Autograph, "General Rutowski, +and ye true Saxons, attack these Prussian lines, then; sell your lives +like men" (not like Bruhl and me), must have fallen cold on the heart, +after seventy-two hours of rain! Rutowski's wet Council of War, in the +hut at Ebenheit, rain still pouring, answers unanimously, "That it were +a leading of men to the butchery;" that there is nothing for it but +surrender. Bruhl and Majesty can only answer: "Well-a-day; it must be +so, then!"-- + +Winterfeld, Prussian Commander hereabouts, grants Armistice, grants +liberal "wagon-loads of bread" first of all; terms of Capitulation to be +settled at Struppen to-morrow. + +FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15th, Rutowski goes across to Struppen, the late Saxon +head-quarter, now Friedrich's;--Friday gone a fortnight was the day +of Lobositz. Winterfeld and he are the negotiators there; Friedrich +ratifying or refusing by marginal remarks. The terms granted are hard +enough: but they must be accepted. First preliminary of all terms has +already been accepted: a gift of bread to these poor Saxons; their +haversacks are empty, their cartridge-boxes drowned; it has rained on +them three days and nights. Last upshot of all terms is still well known +to everybody: That the 14,000 Saxons are compelled to become Prussian, +and "forced to volunteer"! + +That had been Friedrich's determination, and reading of his rights in +the matter, now that hard had come to hard. "You refused all terms; you +have resisted to death (or death's-DOOR); and are now at discretion!" +Of the question, What is to be done with those Saxons? Friedrich +had thought a great deal, first and last; and had found it very +intricate,--as readers too will, if they think of it. "Prisoners of +War,--to keep them locked up, with trouble and expense, in that fashion? +They can never be exchanged: Saxony has now nothing to exchange them +with; and Austria will not. Their obstinacy has had costs to me; who of +us can count what costs! In short, they shall volunteer!" + +"Never did I, for my poor part, authorize such a thing," loudly +asseverated Rutowski afterwards. And indeed the Capitulation is not +precise on that interesting point. A lengthy Document, and not worth +the least perusal otherwise; we condense it into three Articles, all +grounding on this general Basis, not deniable by Rutowski: "The Saxon +Army, being at such a pass, ready to die of hunger, if we did NOT lift +our finger, has, so to speak, become our property; and we grant it the +following terms:"-- + +"1. Kettle-drums, standards and the like insignia and matters of +honor,--carry these to the Konigstein, with my regretful respects to +his Polish Majesty. Konigstein to be a neutral Fortress during this War. +Polish Majesty at perfect liberty to go to Warsaw [as he on the instant +now did, and never returned]. + +"2. Officers to depart on giving their parole, Not to serve against us +during this War [Parole given, nothing like too well kept]. + +"3. Rest of the Army, with all its equipments, munitions, soul and body +(so to speak), is to surrender utterly, and be ours, as all Saxony shall +for the present be." [In _Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 920-928, at full +length--with Briedrich's MARGINALIA noticeably brief.] + +That is, in sum, the Capitulation of Struppen. Nothing articulate in it +about the one now interesting point,--and in regard to that, I can only +fancy Rutowski might interject, interrogatively, perhaps at some +length: "Our soldiers to be Prisoners of War, then?" "Prisoners; yes, +clearly,--unless they choose to volunteer, and have a better fate! +Prisoners can volunteer. They are at discretion; they would die, if we +did NOT lift our finger!" thus I suppose Winterfeld would rejoin, if +necessary;--and that, in the Winterfeld-Rutowski Conferences, the thing +had probably been kept in a kind of CHIAROSCURO by both parties. + +Very certain it is, Sunday, 17th October, 1756, Capitulation being +signed the night before, Friedrich goes across at Nieder-Raden (where +the Pilgrim of the Picturesque now climbs to see the BASTEI; where the +Prussians have, by this time, a Bridge thrown together out of those +Pontoons),--goes across at Nieder-Raden, up that chasmy Pass; rides to +the Heights of Waltersdorf, in the opener country behind; and pauses +there, while the captive Saxon Army defiles past him, laying down its +arms at his feet. Unarmed, and now under Prussian word of command, +these Ex-Saxon soldiers go on defiling; march through by that Chasm +of Nieder-Raden; cross to Ober-Raden; and, in the plainer country +thereabouts, are--in I know not what length of hours, but in an +incredibly short length, so swift is the management--changed wholly into +Prussian soldiers: "obliged to volunteer," every one of them! + +That is the fact; fact loudly censured; fact surely questionable,--to +what intrinsic degree I at this moment do not know. Fact much +blamable before the loose public of mankind; upon which I leave men to +their verdict. It is not a fact which invites imitation, as we shall +see! Fact how accomplished; by what methods? that would be the question +with me; but even that is left dark. "The horse regiments, three of +heavy horse, he broke; and distributed about, a good few in his own +Garde-du-Corps." Three other horse regiments were in Poland, the sole +Saxon Army now left,--of whom, at least of one man among whom, we may +happen to hear. "Ten foot regiments [what was reckoned a fault] he +left together; in Prussian uniform, with Prussian Officers. They were +scattered up and down; put in garrisons; not easy handling them: they +deserted by whole companies at a time in the course of this War." +[Preuss, ii. 22, 135; in Stenzel (v. 16-20) more precise details.] Not +a measure for imitation, as we said!--How Friedrich defended such hard +conduct to the Saxons? Reader, I know only that Destiny and Necessity, +urged on by Saxons and others, was hard as adamant upon Friedrich at +this time; and that Friedrich did not the least dream of making any +defence;--and will have to take your verdict, such as it may be. + +Moritz of Dessau had a terrible Winter of it, organizing and breaking +in these Saxon people,--got by press-gang in this way. Polish Majesty, +"with 500 of suite," had driven instantly for Warsaw; post-horses most +politely furnished him, and all the Prussian posts and soldiers well +kept out of his road,--road chosen for him to that end. Poor soul, +he never came back. For six years coming, he saw, from Warsaw in the +distance (amid anarchy and NIE-POZWALAM, which he never lacked there), +the wide War raging, in Saxony especially; and died soon after it was +done. Nor did Bruhl return, except broken by that event, and to die +in few months after. Let us pity the poor fat-goose of a Majesty +(not ill-natured at all, only stupid and idle): some pity even to the +doomed-phantasm Bruhl, if you can;--and thank Heaven to have got done +with such a pair!-- + +Friedrich's treatment of the Saxon Troops, Saxon Majesty and Country: +who shall say that it was wise in all points? It would be singular +treatment, if it were! In all things, AFTER is so different from +BEFORE and DURING. The truth is, Friedrich hoped long to have made some +agreement with the Saxons. And readers now, in the universal silence, +have no notion of Friedrich's complexities from fact, and of the +loud howl of hostile rumor, which was piping through all journals, +diplomacies and foreign human throats, against him at that time. + +"The essential passages of War and Peace," says a certain Commentator, +"during those Five weeks of Pirna, can be made intelligible in small +compass. But how the world argued of them then and afterwards, and rang +with hot Gazetteer and Diplomatic logic from side to side, no reader +will now ever know. A world-tornado extinct, gone:--think of the sounds +uttered from human windpipes, shrill with rage some of them, hoarse +others with ditto; of the vituperations, execrations, printed and +vocal,--grating harsh thunder upon Friedrich and this new course of his. +Huge melody of Discords, shrieking, droning, grinding on that topic, +through the afflicted Universe in general, for certain years. The very +Pamphlets printed on it,--cannot Dryasdust give me the number of tons +weight, then? Dead now every Pamphlet of them; a thing fallen horrible +to human nature; extinct forever, as is the wont in such cases." + +I will give only this of Voltaire; a mild Epigram, done at The DELICES, +in pleasant view of Ferney and good things coming. A bolt shot into the +storm-tost Sea and its wreckages, by a Mariner now cheerily drying his +clothes on the shore there;--in fact, an indifferent Epigram, on Kings +Friedrich and George, which is now flying about in select circles:-- + + "Rivaux du Vainqueur de l'Euphrate, + L'Oncle et le Neveu, + L'un fait la guerre en pirate, + L'autre en parti bleu." + +"Rivals of Alexander the Great, this Uncle and Nephew make war, the one +as a Pirate [seizure of those French ships], the other [Saxony stolen] +as Captain of an Accidental Thieving-squad,"--PARTI BLEU, as the French +soldiers call it. [Walpole's LETTERS, "To Sir Horace Mann, 8th December; +1756."] + +MAP facing page 365, Chap VII, Book 17---- + +Pirna was no sooner done than Friedrich returned to the "Camp at +Lobositz," where his victorious Keith-Army has been lying all this +while. The Camp of Lobositz, and all Camps Prussian and Austrian, are +about to strike their tents, and proceed to Winter-quarters, to prepare +against next Spring. Friedrich set off thither October 18th (the very +day after that of Waltersdorf); with intent to bring home Keith's Army, +and see if Browne meant anything farther (which Browne did not, or does +only in the small Tolpatch way); also to meet, Schwerin, whom he had +summoned over from Silesia for a little conference there. Schwerin, +after eating Konigsgratz Country well,--which was all he could do, +as Piccolomini would not come out, and we know how strong the ground +is,--had retired to Silesia again, in due season (snapping up, in a +sharply conclusive manner, any Tolpatcheries that attempted chase of +him); taken Winter cantonments in Silesia, headquarter Schweidnitz; +and is now getting his Instructions, here personally, in the Metal +Mountains, for a day or two. [_Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 946, 948.] + +Friedrich brought his Keith-Army home to Gross-Sedlitz, to join the +other Force there; and distributed the whole into their Winter-quarters. +Cantoned far and wide, spreading out from Pirna on both hands: on the +left or western hand, by Zwickau, Freyberg, Chemnitz, up to Leipzig, +Torgau; and on the right or northeast hand, by Zittau, Gorlitz, Bautzen, +to protect the Lausitz against Austrian inroads,--while a remote +Detachment, under Winterfeld, watches the Bober River with similar +views. [In _Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 948 et seq., a minute List by Place +and Regiment.] All which done, or settled to be done, Friedrich quits +Gross-Sedlitz, November 14th; and takes up his abode at Dresden for this +Winter. + + + + +Chapter VIII.--WINTER IN DRESDEN. + +The Saxon Army is incorporated, then; its King gone under the horizon; +the Saxon Country has a Prussian Board set over it, to administer all +things of Government, especially to draw taxes and recruits from Saxony. +Torgau, seat of this new Board, has got fortified; "1,500 inhabitants +were requisitioned as spademen for that end, at first with +wages,"--latterly, I almost fear, without! + +The Saxon Ministers are getting drilled, cashiered if necessary; and on +all hands, rigorous methods going forward;--till Saxony is completely +under grasp; in which state it was held very tight indeed, for the six +years coming. There is no detailing of all that; details, were they even +known to an Editor at such distance, would weary every reader. Enough to +understand that Friedrich has not on this occasion, as he did in 1744, +omitted to disarm Saxony, to hobble it in every limb, and have it, +at discretion, tied as with ropes to his interests and him. +[_Helden-Geschichte, _iii. 945-956.] His management was never accounted +cruel; and it was studiously the reverse of violent or irregular: but it +had to be rigorous as the facts were;--nor was it the worst, or reckoned +the worst, of Saxony's miseries in this time. + +Poor Country, suffering for its Bruhl! In the Country, except for its +Bruhl, there was no sin against Prussia; the reverse rather. The Saxon +population, as Protestants, have no good-will to Austria and its aims +of aggrandizement. In Austrian spy-letters, now and afterwards, they are +described to us as "GUT PREUSSISCH;" "strong for Prussia, the most of +them, even in Dresden itself." + +Whether Friedrich could have had much real hope to end the War this +Year, or scare it off from beginning, may be a question. If he had, it +is totally disappointed. The Saxon Government has brought ruin on itself +and Country, but it has been of great damage to Friedrich. Would Polish +Majesty have consented to disband his soldiers, and receive Friedrich +with a BONA-FIDE "Neutrality," Friedrich could have passed the +Mountains still in time for a heavy stroke on Bohemia, which was totally +unprepared for such a visit, And he might--from the Towers of Prag, for +instance--have, far more persuasively, held out the olive-branch to +an astonished Empress-Queen: "Leave me alone, Madam; will you, then! +Security for that; I wanted and want nothing more!" But Polish Majesty, +taking on him the character of Austrian martyr, and flinging himself +into the gulf, has prevented all that; has turned all that the other +way. + +Austria, it appears, is quite ungrateful: "Was n't he bound?" thinks +Austria,--as its wont rather is. Forgetful of the great deliverance +wrought for it by poor Polish Majesty; whom it could not deliver-except +into bottomless wreck! Austria, grateful or not, stands unscathed; has +time to prepare its Armaments, its vocal Arguments: Austria is in higher +provocation than ever; and its very Arguments, highly vocal to the Reich +and the world, "Is not this man a robber, and enemy of mankind?" do +Friedrich a great deal of ill. Friedrich's sudden Campaign, instead of +landing him in the heart of the Austrian States, there to propose Peace, +has kindled nearly all Europe into flames of rage against him,--which +will not consist in words merely! Never was misunderstanding of a man +at a higher pitch: "Such treatment of a peaceable Neighbor and Crowned +Head,--witness it, ye Heavens and thou Earth!" Dauphiness falling on her +knees to Most Christian Majesty; "Princess and dearest Sister" to Most +Christian Majesty's Pompadour; especially no end of Pleading to the +German Reich, in a furious, Delphic-Pythoness or quasi-inspired tone: +all this goes on. + +From the time when Pirna was blockaded, Kaiser Franz, his high Consort +and sense of duty urging him, has been busy in the Reich's-Hofrath (kind +of Privy-Council or Supreme Court of the Reich, which sits at Vienna); +busy there, and in the Reich's Diet at Regensburg; busy everywhere, with +utmost diligence over Teutschland,--forging Reich thunder. Manifestoes, +HOF-DECRETS, DEHORTATORIUMS, EXCITATORIUMS; so goes it, exploding like +Vesuvius, shock on the back of shock:--20th September it began; and +lasts, CRESCENDO, through Winter and onwards, at an extraordinary rate. +[In _Helden-Geschichte_(iv. 163-174; iii. 956; and indeed PASSIM +through those Volumes), the Originals in frightful superabundance.] Of +all which, leaving readers to imagine it, we will say nothing,--except +that it points towards "Armed Interference by the Reich," "Reich's +Execution Army;" nay towards "Ban of the Reich" (total excommunication +of this Enemy of Mankind, and giving of him up to Satan, by bell, book +and candle), which is a kind of thunder-bolt not heard of for a good +few ages past! Thunder-bolt thought to be gone mainly to rust by the +judicious;-- + +which, however, the poor old Reich did grasp again, and attempt to +launch. As perhaps we shall have to notice by and by, among the miracles +going. + +France too, urged by the noblest concern, feels itself called upon. +France magnanimously intimates to the Reich's Diet, once and again, +"That Most Christian Majesty is guarantee of the Treaty of Westphalia; +Most Christian Majesty cannot stand such procedures;" and then +the second time, "That Most Christian Majesty will interfere +practically,"--by 100,000 men and odd. [_Helden-Geschichte, _iv. 340 +("26th March, 1757").] In short, the sleeping world-whirlwinds are +awakened against this man. General Dance of the Furies; there go they, +in the dusky element, those Eumenides, "giant-limbed, serpent-haired, +slow-pacing, circling, torch in hand" (according to Schiller),-- +scattering terror and madness. At least, in the Diplomatic Circles of +mankind;--if haply the Populations will follow suit!-- + + +Friedrich, abundantly contemptuous of Reich's-thunder in the rusted +kind, and well able to distinguish sound from substance in the Reich or +elsewhere, recognizes in all this sufficiently portentous prophecies of +fact withal; and understands, none better, what a perilous position he +has got into. But he cannot mend it;--can only, as usual, do his own +utmost in it. As readers will believe he does; and that his vigilance +and diligence are very great. Continual, ubiquitous and at the top of +his bent, one fancies his effort must have been,--though he makes +no noise on the subject. Considerable work he has with Hanover, +this Winter; with the poor English Government, and their "Army of +Observation," which is to appear in the Hanover parts, VERSUS those +100,000 French, next Spring. To Hanover he has sent Schmettau (the +Younger Schmettau, Elder is now dead) in regard to said Army; has made +a new and closer Treaty with England (impossible to be fulfilled on poor +England's part);--and laments, as Mitchell often does, the tragically +embroiled condition of that Country, struggling so vehemently, to no +purpose, to get out of bed, and not unlike strangling or smothering +itself in its own blankets, at present! With and in regard to Saxony, +his work is of course extremely considerable; and in regard to his own +Army, and its coming Business, considerablest of all. Counter-Manifesto +work, to state his case in a distinct manner, and leave it with +the Populations if the Diplomacies are deaf: this too, is copiously +proceeding; under Artists who probably do not require much supervision. +In fact, no King living has such servants, in the Civil or the Military +part, to execute his will. And no King so little wastes himself in +noises; a King who has good command of himself, first of all; not to be +thrown off his balance by any terror, any provocation even, though his +temper is very sharp. + +Friedrich in person is mainly at Dresden, lodged in the Bruhl +Palace;--endless wardrobes and magnificences there; three hundred and +sixty-FOUR Pairs of Breeches hanging melancholy, in a widowed manner: +C'EST ASSEZ DE CULOTTES; MONTREZ-MOI DES VERTUS! Bruhl is far away, in +Poland; Madam Bruhl has still her Apartments in this Palace,--a frugal +King needs only the necessary spaces. Madam Bruhl is very busy here; and +not to good purpose, being well seen into. "She had a cask of wine sent +her from Warsaw," says Friedrich; "orders were given to decant for her +every drop of the wine, but to be sure and bring us the cask." Cask +was found to have two bottoms, intermediate space filled with +spy-correspondence. Madam Bruhl protests and pleads, Friedrich not +unpolite in reply; his last Letter to her says, "Madam, it is better +that you go and join your Husband." + +Another high Dame gets sausages from Bohemia;--some of Friedrich's light +troops have an appetite, beyond strict law for sausages; break in, find +Letters along with the other stuffing. [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 108; +Mitchell, "27th March, 1757" (Raumer p. 321).] Friedrich has a good deal +of watching and coercing to do in that kind,--some arresting, conveyance +even to Custrin for a time, though nothing crueler proved needful. To +the poor Queen he keeps up civilities, but is obliged to be strict as +Argus;--she made him a Gift too, the NIGHT of Correggio, admired NOTTE +of Correggio; having heard that he sat before it silent for half an +hour, on entering that fine Gallery,--which is due to our Sovereign Lord +and his Bruhl, alas! On the other hand, Friedrich had to take from her +Majesty's Royal Abode those Hundred Swiss of Body-guard; to discharge +the same, and put Prussians in their stead. Nay, at one time, on loud +outcry from her Majesty, and great private cause of complaint against +her, there was talk of sending the poor Royal lady to Warsaw, after her +Husband; but her objection being violent, nothing came of that: Winter +following, her poor Majesty died, [27th November, 1757.] and gave nobody +any farther trouble. + +Friedrich's outposts, especially in the Lausitz, are a good deal +disturbed by Austrian Tolpatcheries; and do feats, heroic in the small +way, in smiting down that rabble. A valuable Officer or two is lost in +such poor service, poor but indispensable; [Funeral Discourses (of a +very curious, ponderous and serious tone), in _Gesammelte Nachrichten, +_ii. 458, 464, &c.] and the troops have not always the repose which is +intended them. Lieutenant-Colonel Loudon (Scotch by kindred, and famous +enough before long) is the soul of these Croat enterprises,--and gets +his Colonelcy by them, in a month or two; Browne recommending. Loudon +had arrived too late for Lobositz, but had been with Browne to +Schandau; and, on the march homewards, did a bright feat of the Croat +kind:--surprisal, very complete, of that Hill-Castle of Tetschen and +considerable Hussar Party there; done in a style which caught the eye of +Browne; and was the beginning of great things to poor Loudon, after +his twenty years of painful eclipse under the Indigo Trencks, and +miscellaneous Doggeries, Austrian and Russian. [LA VIE DU FELDMARECHAL +BARON DE LOUDON (Translation of one Pezzl's German: a Vienne et a Paris, +1792), i. 1-32.] + +Tetschen, therefore, will again need capture by the Prussians, if they +again intend that way. And in the mean while, Friedrich, to counterpoise +those mischievous Croat people, has bethought him of organizing +a similar Force of his own;--Foot chiefly, for, on hint of former +experience, he already has Hussars in quantity. And, this Winter, there +are accordingly, in different Saxon Towns, three Irregular Regiments +getting ready for him; three "Volunteer Colonels" busily enlisting each +his "Free Corps," such the title chosen;--chief Colonel of them one +Mayer, now in Zwickau neighborhood with 6 or 700 loose handy fellows +round him, getting formed into strict battalion there: [Pauli (our old +diffuse friend), _Leben grosser Helden des gegenwartigen Krieges _(9 +vols., Halle, 1759-1764), iii. 159,? Mayr.] of whom, and of whose +soldiering, we shall hear farther. For the plan was found to answer; and +extended itself year after year; and the "Prussian Free Corps," one way +and another, made considerable noise in the world. + +Outwardly Friedrich's Life is quiet; busy, none can be more so; but to +the on-looker, placid, polite especially. He hears sermon once or twice +in the Kreuz-Kirche (Protestant High Church); then next day will hear +good music, devotional if you call it so, in the Catholic Church, where +her Polish Majesty is. Daily at the old hour he has his own Concert, now +and then assisting with his own flute. Makes donations to the Poor, and +such like, due from Saxon Sovereignty while held by him; on the other +hand, reduces salaries at a sad rate Guarini, Queen's Confessor, +from near 2,000 pounds to little more than 300 pounds, for one +instance;--cuts off about 25,000 pounds in all under this head. +[_Helden-Geschichte, _iv. 306 ("December, 1756").] And is heavy with +billeting, as new Prussians arrive. Billets at length in the very +Ambassadors' Hotels,--and by way of apology to the Excellencies, +signifies to them in a body: "Sorry for the necessity, your +Excellencies: but ought not you to go to Warsaw rather? Your credentials +are to his Polish Majesty. He is not here; nor coming hither, for some +time!" Which hint, I suppose, the Excellencies mostly took. From his +own Forests there came by the Elbe great rafts of firewood, to warm his +soldiers in their quarters. Once or twice he makes excursions, of a day +of two days; to the Lausitz, to Leipzig (through Freyberg, where he +has a post of importance);--very gracious to the University people: +"Students be troubled with soldiering? Far from it ye learned Gentlemen, +servants of the Muses! Recruitment, a lamentable necessity, is to go +on under your own Official people, and wholly by the old methods." +[_Helden-Geschichte, _iv. 303-313; UNIVERSITATSANSCHLAG ZU LEIPZIG, +WEGEN DER WERBUNG ("University-Placard about Enlisting:" in _Gesammelte +Nachrichten, _i. 811).] + +Once, and once only, he made a run to Berlin, January 4th-18th, 1757: +the last for six years and more. Came with great despatch, Brother Henri +with him, whole journey in one day; got, "to his Mother's about 11 +at night." [Ib. iv. 308.] A joyful meeting, for the kindred: cheerful +light-gleam in the dark time, so suddenly eclipsed to them and others +by those hurricanes that have risen. His Majesty seems to be in perfect +health; and wears no look of gloom. At Berlin is no Carnival this +year; all are grave, sunk in sad contemplations of the future. Of his +businesses in this interval, which were many, I will say nothing; only +of one little Act he did, the day before his departure: the writing of +this SECRET LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS to Graf Finck von Finkenstein, +his chief Home Minister, one of his old boy-comrades, as readers may +recollect. The Letter was read by Count Finck with profound attention, +11th January, 1757, and conned over till he knew every point of +it; after which he sealed it up, inscribing on the Cover: +"HOCHSTEIGENHANDIGE UND GANX GEHEIME"--that is, "Highest-Autographic and +altogether Secret Instructions, by the King, which, with the Appendixes, +were delivered to me, Graf von Finkenstein, the 12th of January, 1757." +In this docketing it lay, sealed for many years (none knows how many), +then unsealed, still in strict keeping, in the Private Royal Archives" +[Preuss, i. 449.]--till on Friedrich's Birthday, 24th January, 1854, it +was, with some solemnity, lithographed at Berlin, and distributed to a +select public,--as readers shall see. + + +"SECRET INSTRUCTION FOR THE GRAF VON FINCK. + +"BERLIN, 10th January, 1757. + +"In the critical situation our affairs are in, I ought to give you my +orders, so that in all the disastrous cases which are in the possibility +of events, you be authorized for taking the necessary steps. + +"1. If it chanced (which Heaven forbid) that one of my Armies in Saxony +were totally beaten; or that the French should drive the Hanoverians +from their Country [which they failed not to do], and establish +themselves there, and threaten us with an invasion into the Altmark; or +that the Russians should get through by the Neumark,--you are to save +the Royal Family, the principal DICASTERIA [Land-Schedules, Lists of +Tax-dues], the Ministries and the Directorium [which is the central +Ministry of all]. If it is in Saxony on the Leipzig side that we are +beaten, the fittest place for the removal of the Royal Family, and of +the Treasure, is to Custrin: in such case the Royal Family and all above +named must go, escorted by the whole Garrison" of Berlin, "to Custrin. +If the Russians entered by the Neumark, or if a misfortune befell us +in the Lausitz, it would be to Magdeburg that all would have to go: in +fine, the last refuge is Stettin,--but you must not go till the +last extremity. The Garrison, the Royal Family and the Treasure are +inseparable, and go always together: to this must be added the Crown +Diamonds, the Silver Plate in the Grand Apartments,--which, in such +case, as well as the Gold Plate, must be at once coined into money. + +"If it happened that I were killed, the Public Affairs must go on +without the smallest alteration, or its being noticeable that they are +in other hands: and, in this case, you must hasten forward the Oaths and +Homagings, as well here as in Preussen; and, above all, in Silesia. If +I should have the fatality to be taken prisoner by the Enemy, I prohibit +all of you from paying the least regard to my person, or taking the +least heed of what I might write from my place of detention. Should such +misfortune happen me, I wish to sacrifice myself for the State; and you +must obey my Brother,--who, as well as all my Ministers and Generals, +shall answer to me with their heads, Not to offer any Province or any +Ransom for me, but to continue the War, pushing their advantages, as if +I never had existed in the world. + +"I hope, and have ground to believe, that you, Count Finck, will not +need to make use of this Instruction: but in case of misfortune, I +authorize you to employ it; and, as mark that it is, after a mature and +sound deliberation, my firm and constant will, I sign it with my Hand +and confirm it with my Seal." + +Or, in Friedrich's own spelling &c., so far as our possibilities +permit:-- + + +"INSTRUCTION SECRETE POUR LE CONTE DE FINE. + +"BERLIN, ce 10 de Janv. 1757. + +"Dans La Situation Critique ou se trouvent nos affaires je dois Vous +donner mes Ordres pour que dans tout Les Cas Malheureux qui sont dans +la possibilite des Evenemens vous Soyez autorisse aux partis quil faut +prendre. 1)[Yes; but there follows no "2)" anywhere, such the haste!] +Sil arivoit (de quoi le Ciel preserve) qu'une de mes Armees en Saxse fut +totallement battue, oubien que Les francais chassassent Les Hanovryeins +de Leur pais et si etablissent et nous menassassent d'un Invassion +dans la Vieille Marche, ou que les Russes penetrassent par La Nouvelle +Marche, il faut Sauver la famille Royale, les principeaux Dicasteres +les Ministres et le Directoire. Si nous somes battus en Saxse du Cote +de leipssic Le Lieu Le plus propre pour Le transport de La famille et du +Tressor est a Custrin, il faut en ce Cas que la famille Royalle et touts +cidesus nomez aillent esCortez de toute La Guarnisson a Custrin. Si les +Russes entroient par la Nouvele Marche ou quil nous arivat un Malheur +en Lusace, il faudroit que tout Se transportat a Magdebourg, enfin Le +Derni& refuge est a Stetein, mais il ne hut y all&r qu'a La Derniere +exstremite La Guarnisson la famille Royalle et le Tressort sent +Inseparables et vont toujours ensemble il faut y ajouter les Diamans de +la Couronne, et L'argenterie des Grands Apartements qui en pareil cas +ainsi que la Veselle d'or doit etre incontinant Monoyee. Sil arivoit +que je fus tue, il faut que Les affaires Continuent Leur train sans la +Moindre allteration et Sans qu'on s'apersoive qu'elles sont en d'autre +Mains, et en ce Cas il faut hater Sermens et homages tant ici qu'en +prusse et surtout en Silesie. Si j'avois la fatalite d'etre pris +prissonier par L'Enemy, je Defend qu'on Aye le Moindre egard pour ma +perssonne ni qu'on fasse La Moindre reflextion sur ce que je pourois +ecrire de Ma Detention, Si pareil Malheur m'arivoit je Veux me +Sacriffier pour L'Etat et il faut qu'on obeisse a Mon frere le quel +ainsi que tout Mes Ministres et Generaux me reponderont de leur Tette +qu'on offrira ni province ni ransson pour moy et que lon Continuera la +Guerre en poussant Ses avantages tout Come si je n'avais jamais exsiste +dans le Monde. J'espere et je dois Croire que Vous Conte finc n'aurez +pas bessoin de faire usage de Cette Instruction mais en cas de Malheur +je Vous autorisse a L'Employer, et Marque que C'est apres Une Mure et +saine Deliberation Ma ferme et Constante Volonte je le Signe de Ma Main +et la Muni de mon Cachet, + +"FREDERIC R." + +[Fac simile of Autograph (Berlin, 24th January, 1854), where is some +indistinct History of the Document. Printed also in _OEuvres,_ xxv. +319-323.] + +These, privately made law in this manner, are Friedrich's fixed feelings +and resolutions;--how fixed is now farther apparent by a fact which was +then still more private, guessable long afterwards only by one or two, +and never clearly known so long as Friedrich lived: the fact that he had +(now most probably, though the date is not known) provided poison for +himself, and constantly wore it about his person through this War. "Five +or six small pills, in a small glass tube, with a bit of ribbon to +it:" that stern relic lay, in a worn condition, in some drawer of +Friedrich's, after Friedrich was gone. [Preuss, ii. 175, 315 n.] For the +Facts are peremptory; and a man that will deal with them must be equally +so. + +Two days after this Finck missive, Friday, 12th, Friedrich took farewell +at Berlin, drove to Potsdam that night with his Brother, to Dresden next +day. Adieu, Madam; Adieu, O Mother! said the King, in royal terms, but +with a heart altogether human. "May God above bless you, my Son!" the +old Lady would reply:--and the Two had seen one another for the last +time; Mother and Son were to meet no more in this world. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. XVII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2117.txt or 2117.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/1/2117/ + +Produced by D.R. Thompson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/2117.zip b/2117.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e23ff47 --- /dev/null +++ b/2117.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..999248f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #2117 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2117) diff --git a/old/17frd10.txt b/old/17frd10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e0185b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/17frd10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4218 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Etext History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 17 +#23 in our series by Thomas Carlyle +V17 of 21 + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 1x + +by Thomas Carlyle + +March, 2000 [Etext #2117] + + +Project Gutenberg's Etext History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 17 +*******This file should be named 17frd10.txt or 17frd10.zip******** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, 17frd11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 17frd10a.txt + + +Prepared by D.R. Thompson <drthom@ihug.co.nz> + + +Project Gutenberg Etexts are usually created from multiple editions, +all of which are in the Public Domain in the United States, unless a +copyright notice is included. Therefore, we usually do NOT keep any +of these books in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. + +Please note: neither this list nor its contents are final till +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour this year as we release thirty-six text +files per month, or 432 more Etexts in 1999 for a total of 2000+ +If these reach just 10% of the computerized population, then the +total should reach over 200 billion Etexts given away this year. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000 = 1 Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only ~5% of the present number of computer users. + +At our revised rates of production, we will reach only one-third +of that goal by the end of 2001, or about 3,333 Etexts unless we +manage to get some real funding; currently our funding is mostly +from Michael Hart's salary at Carnegie-Mellon University, and an +assortment of sporadic gifts; this salary is only good for a few +more years, so we are looking for something to replace it, as we +don't want Project Gutenberg to be so dependent on one person. + +We need your donations more than ever! + + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/CMU": and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. (CMU = Carnegie- +Mellon University). + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails. . .try our Executive Director: +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> +hart@pobox.com forwards to hart@prairienet.org and archive.org +if your mail bounces from archive.org, I will still see it, if +it bounces from prairienet.org, better resend later on. . . . + +We would prefer to send you this information by email. + +****** + +To access Project Gutenberg etexts, use any Web browser +to view http://promo.net/pg. This site lists Etexts by +author and by title, and includes information about how +to get involved with Project Gutenberg. You could also +download our past Newsletters, or subscribe here. This +is one of our major sites, please email hart@pobox.com, +for a more complete list of our various sites. + +To go directly to the etext collections, use FTP or any +Web browser to visit a Project Gutenberg mirror (mirror +sites are available on 7 continents; mirrors are listed +at http://promo.net/pg). + +Mac users, do NOT point and click, typing works better. + +Example FTP session: + +ftp sunsite.unc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd pub/docs/books/gutenberg +cd etext90 through etext99 +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +GET GUTINDEX.?? [to get a year's listing of books, e.g., GUTINDEX.99] +GET GUTINDEX.ALL [to get a listing of ALL books] + +*** + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** + +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG- +tm etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Carnegie-Mellon University (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +Prepared by D.R. Thompson <drthom@ihug.co.nz> + + + + + +Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia" + +Book XVII + + + +THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR: FIRST CAMPAIGN. + +1756-1757. + +Chapter I. + +WHAT FRIEDRICH HAD READ IN THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. + +The ill-informed world, entirely unaware of what Friedrich had been +studying and ascertaining, to his bitter sorrow, for four years +past, was extremely astonished at the part he took in those French- +English troubles; extremely provoked at his breaking out again into +a Third Silesian War, greater than all the others, and kindling all +Europe in such a way. The ill-informed world rang violently, then +and long after, with a Controversy, "Was it of his beginning, or +Not of his beginning?" Controversy, which may in our day be +considered as settled by unanimous mankind; finished forever; +and can now have no interest for any creature. + +Omitting that, our problem is (were it possible in brief compass), +To set forth, by what authentic traits there are,--not the +"ambitious," "audacious," voracious and highly condemnable +Friedrich of the Gazetteers,--but the thrice-intricately situated +Friedrich of Fact. What the Facts privately known to Friedrich +were, in what manner known; and how, in a more complex crisis than +had yet been, Friedrich demeaned himself: upon which latter point, +and those cognate to it, readers ought not to be ignorant, if now +fallen indifferent on so many other points of the Affair. What a +loud-roaring, loose and empty matter is this tornado of +vociferation which men call "Public Opinion"! Tragically howling +round a man; who has to stand silent the while; and scan, wisely +under pain of death, the altogether inarticulate, dumb and +inexorable matter which the gods call Fact! Friedrich did read his +terrible Sphinx-riddle; the Gazetteer tornado did pipe and blow. +King Friedrich, in contrast with his Environment at that time, will +most likely never be portrayed to modern men in his real +proportions, real aspect and attitude then and there,--which are +silently not a little heroic and even pathetic, when well seen +into;--and, for certain, he is not portrayable at present, on our +side of the Sea. But what hints and fractions of feature we +authentically have, ought to be given with exactitude, especially +with brevity, and left to the ingenuous imagination of readers. + +The secret sources of the Third Silesian War, since called "Seven- +Years War," go back to 1745; nay, we may say, to the First Invasion +of Silesia in 1740. For it was in Maria Theresa's incurable sorrow +at loss of Silesia, and her inextinguishable hope to reconquer it, +that this and all Friedrich's other Wars had their origin. +Twice she had signed Peace with Friedrich, and solemnly ceded +Silesia to him: but that too, with the Imperial Lady, was by no +means a finis to the business. Not that she meant to break her +Treaties; far from her such a thought,--in the conscious form. +Though, alas, in the unconscious, again, it was always rather near! +practically, she reckoned to herself, these Treaties would come to +be broken, as Treaties do not endure forever; and then, at the good +moment, she did purpose to be ready. "Silesia back to us; Pragmatic +Sanction complete in every point! Was not that our dear Father's +will, monition of all our Fathers and their Patriotisms and +Traditionary Heroisms; and in fact, the behest of gods and men?" +Ten years ago, this notion had been cut down to apparent death, in +a disastrous manner, for the second time. But it did not die in the +least: it never thinks of dying; starts always anew, passionate to +produce itself again as action valid at last; and lives in the +Imperial Heart with a tenacity that is strange to observe. +Still stranger, in the envious Valet-Heart,--in that of Bruhl, who +had far less cause! + + +The Peace of Dresden, Christmas, 1745, seemed to be an act of +considerable magnanimity on Friedrich's part. It was, at the first +blush of it, "incredible" to Harrach, the Austrian Plenipotentiary; +whose embarrassed, astonished bow we remember on that occasion, +with English Villiers shedding pious tears. But what is very +remarkable withal is a thing since discovered: [INFRA, next Note +(p. 276).] That Harrach, magnanimous signature hardly yet dry, did +then straightway, by order of his Court, very privately inquire of +Bruhl, "There is Peace, you see; what they call Peace:--but our +TREATY OF WARSAW, for Partition of this magnanimous man, stands all +the same; does n't it?" To which, according to the Documents, +Bruhl, hardly escaped from the pangs of death, and still in a very +pale-yellow condition, had answered in effect, "Hah, say you so? +One's hatred is eternal;--but that man's iron heel! Wait a little; +get Russia to join in the scheme!"--and hung back; the willing +mind, but the too terrified! And in this way, like a famishing dog +in sight of a too dangerous leg of mutton, Bruhl has ever since +rather held back; would not re-engage at all, for almost two years, +even on the Czarina's engaging; and then only in a cautious, +conditional and hypothetic manner,--though with famine increasing +day by day in sight of the desired viands. His hatred is fell; +but he would fain escape with back unbroken. + + +HOW FRIEDRICH DISCOVERED THE MYSTERY. CONCERNING MENZEL +AND WEINGARTEN. + +Friedrich has been aware of this mystery, at least wide awake to it +and becoming ever more instructed, for almost four years. +Traitor Menzel the Saxon Kanzellist--we, who have prophetically +read what he had to confess when laid hold of, are aware, though as +yet, and on to 1757, it is a dead secret to all mortals but himself +and "three others"--has been busy for Prussia ever since "the end +of 1752." Got admittance to the Presses; sent his first Excerpt +"about the time of Easter-Fair, 1753,"--time of Voltaire's taking +wing. And has been at work ever since. Copying Despatches from the +most secret Saxon Repositories; ready always on Excellency +Mahlzahn's indicating the Piece wanted; and of late, I should +think, is busier than ever, as the Saxon Mystery, which is also an +Austrian and Russian one, gets more light thrown into it, and seems +to be fast ripening towards action of a perilous nature. The first +Excerpts furnished by Menzel, readers can judge how enigmatic they +were. These Menzel Papers, copies mainly of Petersburg or Vienna +DESPATCHES to Bruhl, with Bruhl's ANSWERS,--the principal of which +were subsequently printed in their best arrangement and liveliest +point of vision [In Friedrich's Manifestoes, chiefly in MEMOIRE +RAISONNE SUR LA CONDUITE DES COURS DE VIENNE ET DE SAXE (compiled +from the MENZEL ORIGINALS, so soon as these were got hold of: +Berlin, Autumn, 1756). A solid and able Paper; rapidly done, by one +Count Herzberg, who rose high in after times. Reprinted, with many +other "Pieces" and "Passages," in <italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten +und Urkunden, <end italic>--which is a "Collection" of such +(2 vols., 113 Nos. small 8vo, no Place, 1757, my Copy of it).]--are +by no means a luminous set of Documents to readers at this day. +Think what a study they were at Potsdam in 1753, while still in the +chaotic state; fished out, more or less at random, as Menzel could +lay hold of them, or be directed to them; the enigma clearing +itself only by intense inspection, and capability of seeing in +the dark! + +It appears,--if you are curious on the anecdotic part,-- + +"Winterfeld was the first that got eye on this dangerous Saxon +Mystery; some Ex-Saxon, about to settle in Berlin, giving hint of +it to Winterfeld; who needed only a hint. So soon as Winterfeld +convinced himself that there was weight in the affair, he imparted +it to Friedrich: 'Scheme of partitioning, your Majesty, of picking +quarrel, then overwhelming and partitioning; most serious scheme, +Austrian-Russian as well as Saxon; going on steadily for years +past, and very lively at this time!' If true, Friedrich cannot but +admit that this is serious enough: important, thrice over, to +discover whether it is true;--and gives Winterfeld authority to +prosecute it to the bottom, in Dresden or wherever the secret may +lie. Who thereupon charged Mahlzahn, the Prussian Minister at +Dresden, to find some proper Menzel, and bestir himself. +How Mahlzahn has found his Menzel, and has bestirred himself, we +saw. Thief-keys were made to pattern in Berlin; first set did not +fit, second did; and stealthy Menzel gains admittance to that +Chamber of the Archives, can steal thither on shoes of felt when +occasion serves, and copy what you wish,--for a consideration. +Intermittently, since about Easter-Fair, 1753. Three persons are +cognizant of it, Winterfeld, Mahlzahn, Friedrich; three, and no +more. Probably the abstrusest study; and the most intense, going on +in the world at that epoch. [Rotzow, <italic> Charakteristik des +Siebenjahrigen Krieges <end italic> (Berlin, 1802), i. 23.] + +"At a very early stage of the Menzel Excerpts it became manifest +that certain synchronous Austrian Ditto would prove highly +elucidative; that, in fact, it would be indispensable to get hold +of these as well. Which also Winterfeld has managed to do. A deep- +headed man, who has his eyes about him; and is very apt to manage +what he undertakes. One Weingarten Junior, a Secretary in the +Austrian Embassy at Berlin (Excellency Peubla's second Secretary), +has his acquaintanceships in Berlin Society; and for one thing, as +Winterfeld discovers, is 'madly in love' with some Chambermaid or +quasi-chambermaid (let us call her Chambermaid), 'Daughter of the +Castellan at Charlottenburg.' Winterfeld, through the due channels, +applied to this Chambermaid, 'Get me a small secret Copy of such +and such Despatches, out of your Weingarten; it will be well for +you and him; otherwise perhaps not well!' Chambermaid, hope urging, +or perhaps hope and fear, did her best; Weingarten had to yield the +required product and products, as required. By this Weingarten, +from some date not long after Menzel's first mysterious Dresden +Excerpts, the necessary Austrian glosses, so far as possible to +Weingarten on the indications given him, have been regularly had, +for the two or three years past. + +"Weingarten first came to be seriously suspected June, 1756 +(Weingarten Junior, let us still say, for there was a Senior of +unstained fidelity); 'June 15th,' Excellency Peubla pointedly +demands him from Friedrich and the Berlin Police: +'Weingarten Junior, my SECOND Secretar, fugitive and traitor; +hidden somewhere!' ["BERLIN, 22d JUNE: Every research making for +Mr. Weingatten,--in vain hitherto" (<italic> Gentleman's Magazine, +<end italic> xxvi., i. e. for 1756, p. 363).] Excellency Peubla is +answered, 24th June: 'We would so fain catch him, if we could! +We have tried at Stendal,--not there: tried his Mother-in-law; +knows nothing: have forborne laying up his poor Wife and Children; +and hope her Imperial Majesty will have pity on that poor creature, +who is fallen so miserable.' [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end +italic> iii. 713.] So that Excellency Peubla had nothing for it but +to compose himself; to honor the unstainable fidelity of Weingarten +Senior by a public piece of promotion, which soon ensued; and let +the Junior run. Weingarten Junior, on the first suspicion, had +vanished with due promptitude,--was not to be unearthed again. +We perceive he has married his Charlottenburg Beauty, and there are +helpless babies. It seems, he lived long years after, in the +Altmark, as a Herr von Weiss,'--his reflections manifold, but +unknown. [Retzow, i. 37.] What is much notabler, Cogniazzo, the +Austrian Veteran, heard Weingarten's MASTER, Graf von Peubla, talk +of the 'GRAND MYSTERE,' soon after, and how Friedrich had heard of +it, not from Weingarten alone, but from Gross-Furst PETER, Russian +Heir-Apparent! [Cogniazzo, i. 225.] + +"As to Menzel, he did not get away. Menzel, as we saw, lasted in +free activity till 1757; and was then put under lock and key. +Was not hanged; sat prisoner for twenty-seven years after; +overgrown with hair, legs and arms chained together, heavy iron bar +uniting both ankles; diet bread-and-water;--for the rest, healthy; +and died, not very miserable it is said, in 1784. Shocking +traitors, Weingarten and he." + +Yes, a diabolical pair, they, sure enough:--and the thing they +betrayed against their Masters, was that a celestial thing? +Servants of the Devil do fall out; and Servants not of the Devil +are fain, sometimes, to raise a quarrel of that kind!-- + +The then world, as we said, was one loud uproar of logic on the +right reading and the wrong of those Sibylline Documents: "Did your +King of Prussia interpret them aright, or even try it? Did not he +use them as a cloak for highway robbery, and swallowing of a +peaceable Saxony, bad man that he surely is?" For Friedrich's +demeanor, this time again, when it came to the acting point, was of +eminent rapidity; almost a swifter lion-spring than ever; and it +brought on him, in the aerial or vocal way, its usual result: +huge clamor of rage and logic from uninformed mankind. +Clamorous rage and logic, which has now sunk irresuscitably dead;-- +nothing of it much worth mentioning to modern readers, scarcely +even its HIC JACET (in Footnotes, for the benefit of the +curious!),--and it is, at last, a thing not doubtful to anybody +that Friedrich, in that matter did read aright. So that now the +loud uproar is reduced to one small question with us, What did he +read in those Menzel Documents? What Fact lying in them was it that +Friedrich had to read? Here, smelted down by repeated roastings, is +succinct answer;--for the ultimate fragment of incombustible here +as elsewhere, will go into a nutshell, once the continents of +Diplomatist-Gazetteer logic and disorderly stable-litter, +threatening to heap themselves over the very stars, have been +faithfully burnt away. + +Readers heard of a "Union of Warsaw," early in 1745, concluded by +the Sea-Powers and the Saxon-Polish and Hungarian Majesties: +very harmless UNION of Warsaw, public to all the world,--but with a +certain thrice-secret "TREATY of Warsaw" (between Polish and +Hungarian Majesty themselves two, the Sea-Powers being horror- +struck by mention of it) which had followed thereupon, in an eager +and wonderful manner. Thrice-secret Treaty, for Partitioning +Friedrich, and settling the respective shares of his skin. +Treaty which, to denote its origin, we called of Warsaw; though it +was not finished there (shares of skin so difficult to settle), and +"Treaty of LEIPZIG, 18th May, 1745," is its ALIAS in Books:--of +which Treaty, as the Sea-Powers had recoiled horror-struck, there +was no whisper farther, to them or to the rest of exoteric +mankind;--though it has been one of the busiest Entities ever +since. From the Menzel Documents, I know not after what circuitous +gropings and searchings, Friedrich first got notice of that Treaty: +[Now printed in <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iv. +40-42.] figure his look on discovering it! + +We said it was the remarkablest bit of sheepskin in its Century. +Readers have heard too, That it was proposed to Bruhl, by a +grateful Austria, directly on signing the Peace of Dresden: +"Our Partition-Treaty stands all the same, does it not?"--and in +what humor Bruhl answered: "Hah? Get Russia to join!" Both these +facts, That there is a Treaty of Warsaw and that this is the +Austrian-Saxon temper and intention towards him and it, Friedrich +learned from the Menzel Documents. And if the reader will possess +himself of these two facts, and understand that they are of a +germinative, most vital quality, indestructible by the times and +the chances; and have been growing and developing themselves, day +and night ever since, in a truly wonderful manner,--the reader +knows in substance what Menzel had to reveal. + +Russia was got to join;--there are methods of operating on Russia, +and kindling a poor fat Czarina into strange suspicions and +indignations. In May, 1746, within six months of the Peace of +Dresden, a Treaty of Petersburg, new version of the Warsaw one, was +brought to parchment; Czarina and Empress-Queen signing,--Bruhl +dying to sign, but not daring. How Russia has been got to join, and +more and more vigorously bear a hand; how Bruhl's rabidities of +appetite, and terrors of heart, have continued ever since; +how Austria and Russia,--Bruhl aiding with hysterical alacrity, +haunted by terror (and at last mercifully EXCUSED from signing),-- +have, year after year, especially in this last year, 1755, brought +the matter nearer and nearer perfection; and the Two Imperial +Majesties, with Bruhl to rear, wait only till they are fully ready, +and the world gives opportunity, to pick a quarrel with Friedrich, +and overwhelm and partition him, according to covenant: +This, wandering through endless mazes of detail, is in sum what the +Menzel Documents disclose to Friedrich and us. How, in a space of +ten years, the small seed-grain of a Treaty of Warsaw, or Treaty of +Petersburg, planted and nourished in that manner, in the Satan's +Invisible World, has grown into a mighty Tree there,--prophetic of +Facts near at hand; which were extremely sanguinary to the Human +Race for the next Seven Years. + +This is the sum-total: but for Friedrich's sake, and to illustrate +the situation, let us take a few glances more, into the then +Satan's Invisible World, which had become so ominously busy round +Friedrich and others. The Czarina, we say, was got to engage; +22d May, 1746, there came a Treaty of Petersburg duly valid, which +is that of Warsaw under a new name: and still Bruhl durst not, for +above a year coming,--not till August 15th, 1747; [MEMOIRE RAISONNE +(in <italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten <end italic>), i. 459.] and +then, only in a hypothetic half-and-half way, with fear and +trembling, though with hunger unspeakable, in sight of the viands. +A very wretched Bruhl, as seen in these Menzel Documents. On poor +Polish Majesty Bruhl has played the sorcerer, this long while, and +ridden him as he would an enchanted quadruped, in a shameful +manner: but how, in turn (as we study Menzel), is Bruhl himself +hagridden, hunted by his own devils, and leads such a ghastly +phantasmal existence yonder, in the Valley of the Shadow of +CLOTHES,--mere Clothes, metaphorical and literal! ["MONTREZ-MOI DES +VERTUS, PAS DES CULOTTES (Have you no virtues then to show me; +nothing but pain of breeches)!" exclaimed an impatient French +Traveller, led about in Bruhl's Palace one day: Archenholtz, +<italic> Geschichte des Siebenjahrigen Krieges, <end italic> +i. 63.] Wretched Bruhl, agitated with hatreds of a rather infernal +nature, and with terrors of a not celestial, comes out on our +sympathies, as a dog almost pitiable,--were that possible, with +twelve tailors sewing for him, and a Saxony getting shoved over the +precipices by him. + +A famishing dog in the most singular situation. What he dare do, he +does, and with such a will. But there is almost only one thing safe +to him: that of egging on the Czarina against Friedrich; of coining +lies to kindle Czarish Majesty; of wafting on every wind rumors to +that end, and continually besieging with them the empty Czarish +mind. Bruhl has many Conduits, "the Sieur de Funck," "the Sieur +Gross" plenty of Legationary Sieurs and Conduits;--which issue from +all quarters on Petersburg, and which find there a Reservoir, and +due Russian SERVICE-PIPES, prepared for them;--and Bruhl is busy. +"Commerce of Dantzig to be ruined," suggests he, "that is plain: +look at his Asiatic Companies, his Port of Embden. Poland is to be +stirred up;--has not your Czarish Majesty heard of his intrigues +there? Courland, which is almost become your Majesty's--cunningly +snatched by your Majesty's address, like a valuable moribund whale +adrift among the shallows,--this bad man will have it out to sea +again, with the harpoons in it; fairly afloat amid the Polish +Anarchies again!" These are but specimens of Bruhl. Or we can give +such in Bruhl's own words, if the reader had rather. Here are Two, +which have the advantage of brevity:-- + +1. ... The Sieur de Funck, Saxon Minister at Petersburg, wrote to +Count Bruhl, 9th July, 1755 (says an inexorable Record), + "That the Sieur Gross [now Minister of Russia at Dresden, who +vanished out of Berlin like an angry sky-rocket some years ago] +would do a good service to the Common Cause, if he wrote to his +Court, 'That the King of Prussia had found a channel in Courland, +by which he learned all the secrets of the Russian Court;'" +and Sieur Funck added, "that it was expected good use could be made +of such a story with her Czarish Majesty."--To which Count Bruhl +replies, 23d July, "That he has instructed the Sieur Gross, who +will not fail to act in consequence." + +2. Sieur Prasse, same Funck's Secretary of Legation, at Petersburg, +writes to Count Bruhl, 12th April, 1756:-- + "I am bidden signify to your Excellency that it is greatly +wished, in order to favor certain views, you would have the +goodness to cause arrive in Petersburg, by different channels, the +following intelligence: 'That the King of Prussia, on pretext of +Commerce, is sending officers and engineers into the Ukraine, to +reconnoitre the Country and excite a rebellion there.' And this +advice, be pleased to observe, is not to come direct from the Saxon +Court, nor by the Envoy Gross, but by some third party,--to the end +there may be no concert noticed;--as they [L'ON, the "service- +pipes," and managing Excellencies, Russian and Austrian] have given +the same commission to other Ministers, so that the news shall come +from more places than one. + +"They [the said managing Excellencies] have also required me to +write to the Baron de Sack," our Saxon Minister in Sweden, "upon +it, which I will not fail to do; and they assured me that our +Court's advantage was not less concerned in it than that of their +own; adding these words [comfortable to one's soul], 'The King of +Prussia [in 1745] gave Saxony a blow which it will feel for fifty +years; but we will give him one which he will feel for a hundred.'" + +To which beautiful suggestion Excellency Bruhl answers, 2d June, +1756: "As to the Secret Commission of conveying to Petersburg, by +concealed channels, Intelligence of Prussian machinations in the +Ukraine, we are still busy finding out a right channel; and they +[L'ON, the managing Excellencies] shall very soon, one way or the +other, see the effect of my personal inclination to second what is +so good an intention, though a little artful (UN PEU ARTIFICIEUSE," +--UN PEU, nothing to speak of)! [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <italic> +Gesammelte Nachrichten <end italic>), i. 424-425; and ib. 472.] + +Fancy a poor fat Czarina, of many appetites, of little judgment, +continually beaten upon in this manner by these Saxon-Austrian +artists and their Russian service-pipes. Bombarded with cunningly +devised fabrications, every wind freighted for her with phantasmal +rumors, no ray of direct daylight visiting the poor Sovereign +Woman; who is lazy, not malignant if she could avoid it: mainly a +mass of esurient oil, with alkali on the back of alkali poured in, +at this rate, for ten years past; till, by pouring and by stirring, +they get her to the state of SOAP and froth! Is it so wonderful +that she does, by degrees, rise into eminent suspicion, anger, +fear, violence and vehemence against her bad neighbor? One at last +begins to conceive those insane whirls, continual mad suspicions, +mad procedures, which have given Friedrich such vexation, surprise +and provocation in the years past. + +Friedrich is always specially eager to avoid ill-will from Russia; +but it has come, in spite of all he could do and try. And these +procedures of the Czarish Majesty have been so capricious, +unintelligible, perverse, and his feeling is often enough +irritation, temporary indignation,--which we know makes Verses +withal! I can nowhere learn from those Prussian imbroglios of +Books, what the Friedrich Sayings or Satirical Verses properly +were: Retzow speaks of a PRODUKT, one at least, known in interior +Circles. [Retzow, i. 34.] PRODUKT which decidedly requires +publication, beyond anything Friedrich ever wrote;--though one can +do without it too, and invoke Fancy in defect of Print. +The sharpness of Friedrich's tongue we know; and the diligence of +birds of the air. To all her other griefs against the bad man, this +has given the finish in the tender Czarish bosom;--and like an +envenomed drop has set the saponaceous oils (already dosed with +alkali, and well in solution) foaming deliriously over the brim, in +never-imagined deluges of a hatred that is unappeasable;--very +costly to Friedrich and mankind. Rising ever higher, year by year; +and now risen, to what height judge by the following:-- + +AT PETERSBURG, 14th-15th MAY, 1753, "There was Meeting of the +Russian Senate, with deliberation held for these two days; and for +issue this conclusion come to:-- + +"That it should be, and hereby is, settled as a fundamental maxim +of the Russia Empire, Not only to oppose any farther aggrandizement +of the King of Prussia, but to seize the first convenient +opportunity for overwhelming (ECRASER), by superior force, the +House of Brandenburg [Hear, hear!], and reducing it to its former +state of mediocrity." [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <italic> Gesammelte +Nachrichten <end italic>), i. 421.] Leg of mutton to be actually +gone into. With what an enthusiasm of "Hear, hear!" from Bruhl and +kindred parties; especially from Bruhl,--who, however, dare not yet +bite, except hypothetically, such his terrors and tremors. Or, look +again (same Senate, + +AT PETERSBURG, OCTOBER, 1755): "To which Fundamental Maxim, +articulately fixed ever since those Maydays of 1753, the august +Russian Sanhedrim, deliberating farther in October, 1755, adds this +remarkable extension, + +"That it is our resolution to attack the King of Prussia without +farther discussion, whensoever the said King shall attack any Ally +of Russia's, or shall himself be attacked by any of them." +Hailed by Bruhl, as natural, with his liveliest approval. +"A glorious Deliberation, that, indeed!" writes he: "It clears the +way of action for Russia's Allies in this matter; and for us too; +though nobody can blame us, if we proceed with the extremest +caution,"--and rather wait till the Bear is nearly killed. +[MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in <italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten <end +italic>), i. 422.] + +Many marvels Friedrich had deciphered out of this Weingarten-Menzel +Apocalypse of Satan's Invisible World; and one often fancies +Friedrich's tone of mind, in his intense inspecting of that fateful +continent of darkness, and his labyrinthic stepping by degrees to +the oracular points, which have a light in them when flung open. +But in respect of practical interest, this of October, 1755 (which +would get to Potsdam probably in few weeks after) must have +surpassed all the others. Marvels many, one after the other: +[For example, or in recapitulation: a Treaty of Warsaw or Leipzig, +to partition him (18th May, 1745); Treaty of Petersburg (22d May, +1746, new form of Warsaw Treaty, with Czarina superadded); +tremulous Quasi-Accession thereto of his Polish Majesty (most +tremulous, hypothetic Quasi-Accession, "Yes-AND-No," 15th August, +1747, and often afterwards); first Deliberation of the Russian +Senate, 15th May, 1753; &c. &c. For example, or in recapitulation: +a Treaty of Warsaw or Leipzig, to partition him (18th May, 1745); +Treaty of Petersburg (22d May, 1746, new form of Warsaw Treaty, +with Czarina superadded); tremulous Quasi-Accession thereto of his +Polish Majesty (most tremulous, hypothetic Quasi-Accession, +"Yes-AND-No," 15th August, 1747, and often afterwards); first +Deliberation of the Russian Senate, 15th May, 1753; &c. &c.] no +doubt left, long since, of the constant disposition, preparation +and fixed intention to partition him. But here, in this last +indication by the Russian Senate,--which kindles into dismal +evidence so many other enigmatic tokens,--there has an ulterior +oracular point disclosed itself to Friedrich; in vaguer condition, +but not less indubitable, and much more perilous: namely, That now, +at last (end of 1755), the Two Imperial Majesties, very eager both, +consider that the time is come. And are--as Friedrich looks abroad +on the Austrian-Russian marchings of troops, campings, and unusual +military symptoms and combinations--visibly preparing to that end. + +"They have agreed to attack me next Year (1756), if they can; and +next again (1757), without IF:" so Friedrich, putting written word +and public occurrence together, gradually reads; and so, all +readers will see, the fact was,--though Imperial Majesty at +Schonbrunn, as we shall find, strove to deny it when applied to; +and scouted, as mere fiction and imagination, the notion of such an +"Agreement." Which I infer, therefore, NOT to have existed in +parchment; not in parchment, but only in reality, and as a mutual +Bond registered in--shall we say "in Heaven", as some are wont?-- +registered, perhaps, in TWO Places, very separate indeed! No truer +"Agreement" ever did exist;--though a devout Imperial Majesty +denies it, who would shudder at the lie direct. + +Poor Imperial Majesty: who can tell her troubles and straits in +this abstruse time! Heaven itself ordering her to get back the +Silesia of her Fathers, if she could;--yet Heaven always looking +dubious, surely, upon this method of doing it. By solemn Public +Treaties signed in sight of all mankind; and contrariwise, in the +very same moments, by Secret Treaties, of a fell nature, concocted +underground, to destroy the life of these! Imperial Majesty +flatters herself it may be fair: "Treaty of Dresden, Treaty of +Aix-la-Chapelle; Treaties wrung from me by force, the tyrannic +Sea-Powers screwing us; Kaunitz can tell! A consummate Kaunitz; +who has provided remedies. Treaties do get broken. Besides, I will +not go to War, unless HE the Bad One of Prussia do!"--Alas, your +noble Majesty, plain it at least is, your love of Silesia is very +strong. And consummate Kaunitz and it have led you into strange +predicaments. The Pompadour, for instance: who was it that +answered, "JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS; I don't know her, I"? How gladly +would the Imperial Maria Theresa, soul of Propriety, have made that +answer! But she did not; she had to answer differently. For Kaunitz +was imperative: "A kind little Note to the Pompadour; one, and then +another and another; it is indispensable, your Imperial Majesty!" +And Imperial Majesty always had to do it. And there exist in +writing, at this hour, various flattering little Notes from +Imperial Majesty to that Address; which begin, "MA COUSINE," +"PRINCESSE ET COUSINE," say many witnesses; nay "MADAME MA TRES +CHERE SOEUR," says one good witness: [Hormayr (cited in Preuss, i. +433 n.,--as are Duclos; Montgaillard; MEMOIRES DE RICHELIEU; +&c.]--Notes which ought to have been printed, before this, or given +at least to the Museums. "My Cousin," "Princess and Cousin," +"Madame my dearest Sister:" Oh, high Imperial Soul, with what +strange bed-fellows does Misery of various kinds bring +us acquainted! + +Friedrich was blamably imprudent in regard to Pompadour, thinks +Valori: "A little complaisance might have"--what might it not have +done!--"But his Prussian Majesty would not. And while the Ministers +of all the other Powers" allied with France "went assiduously to +pay their court to Madame, the Baron von Knyphausen alone, by his +Master's order, never once went ["Don't! JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS"],-- +while the Empress-Queen was writing her the most flattering +letters. The Prince of Prussia, King's eldest Brother, wished +ardently to obtain her Portrait, and had applied to me for it; +as had Prince Henri to my Predecessor. The King, who has such +gallant and seductive ways when he likes, could certainly have +reconciled this celebrated Lady",--a highly important Improper +Female to him and others. [Valori, i. 320.] + +Yes; but he quite declined, not counting the costs. Costs may be +immediate; profits are remote,--remote, but sure. Costs did indeed +prove considerable, perhaps far beyond his expectation; though, I +flatter myself, they never awoke much remorse in him, on +that score!-- + +Friedrich's Enigma, towards the end of 1755 and onwards, is +becoming frightfully stringent; and the solution, "What practically +will be the wise course for me?" does not lessen in abstruse +intricacy, but the reverse, as it grows more pressing. A very +stormy and dubious Future, truly! Two circumstances in it will be +highly determinative: one of them evident to Friedrich; the other +unknown to him, and to all mortals, except two or three. FIRST, + +That there will be an English-French War straightway; and that, as +usual, the French, weaker at sea, will probably attack Hanover;-- +that is to say, bring the War home to one's own door, and ripen +into fulfilment those Austrian-Russian Plots. This is the evident +circumstance, fast coming on; visible to Friedrich and to +everybody. But that, in such event, Austria will join, not with +England, but with France: this is a SECOND circumstance, guessable +by nobody; known only to Kaunitz and a select one or two; but which +also will greatly complicate Friedrich's position, and render his +Enigma indeed astonishingly intricate, as well as stringent for +solution! + + + +Chapter II. + +ENGLISH DIPLOMACIES ABROAD, IN PROSPECT OF A FRENCH WAR. + +Britannic Majesty, I know not at what date, but before the +launching of that poor Braddock thunder-bolt, much more after the +tragic explosion it made, had felt that French War was nearly +inevitable, and also that the French method would be, as +heretofore, to attack Hanover, and wound him in that tender part. +There goes on, accordingly, a lively Foreign Diplomatizing, on his +Majesty's part, at present,--in defect, almost total, of Domestic +Preparation, military and other;--Majesty and Ministers expecting +salvation from abroad, as usual. Military preparation does lag at a +shameful rate: but, on the other hand, there is a great deal of +pondering, really industrious considering and contriving, about +Foreign Allies, and their subsidies and engagements. That step, for +example, the questionable Seizure of the French Ships WITHOUT +Declaration of War, was a contrivance by diplomatic Heads (of bad +quality): "Seize their ships," said some bad Head, after +meditating; "put their ships in SEQUESTRATION, till they do us +justice. If they won't, and go to War,--then THEY are the +Aggressors, not we; and our Allies have to send their auxiliary +quotas, as per contract!" So the Ships were seized; held in +sequestration, "till many of the cargoes (being perishable goods, +some even fish) rotted." [Smollett's <italic> History of England; +<end italic> &c. &c.] And in return, as will be seen, not one +auxiliary came to hand: so that the diplomatic Head had his rotted +cargoes, and much public obloquy, for his pains. Not a fortunate +stroke of business, that!-- + +Britannic Majesty, on applying at Vienna (through Keith, Sir or Mr. +Robert Keith, the FIRST Excellency of that name, for there are two, +a father and a son, both Vienna Excellencies), was astonished to +learn That, in such event of an Aggression, even on Hanover, there +was no co-operation to be looked for here. Altogether cold on that +subject, her Imperial Majesty seems; regardless of Excellency +Keith's remonstrances and urgencies; and, in the end, is flatly +negatory: "Cannot do it, your Excellency; times so perilous, bad +King of Prussia so minatory,"--not to mention, SOTTO VOCE that we +have turned on our axis, and the wind (thanks to Kaunitz) no longer +hits us on the same cheek as formerly! + +"Cannot? Will not?" Britannic Majesty may well stare, wide-eyed; +remembering such gigantic Subsidizings and Alcides Labors, +Dettingens, Fontenoys, on the per-contra side. But so stands the +fact: "No help from an ungrateful Vienna;--quick, then, seek +elsewhere!" And Hanbury and the Continental British Excellencies +have to bestir themselves as they never did. Especially Hanbury; +who is directed upon Russia,--whom alone of these Excellencies it +is worth while to follow for a moment. Russia, on fair subsidy, +yielded us a 35,000 last War (willingly granted, most useful, +though we had no fighting out of them, mere terror of them being +enough): beyond all things, let Hanbury do his best in Russia! + +Hanbury, cheerfully confident, provides himself with the +requisites, store of bribe-money as the chief;--at Warsaw withal, +he picks up one Poniatowski (airy sentimental coxcomb, rather of +dissolute habits, handsomest and windiest of young Polacks): +"Good for a Lover to the Grand-Duchess, this one!" thinks Hanbury. +Which proved true, and had its uses for Hanbury;--Grand-Duchess and +Grand-Duke (Catherine and Peter, whom we saw wedded twelve years +ago, Heirs-Apparent of this Russian Chaos) being an abstrusely +situated pair of Spouses; well capable of something political, in +private ways, in such a scene of affairs; and Catherine, who is an +extremely clever creature, being out of a lover just now. A fine +scene for the Diplomatist, this Russia at present. Nowhere in the +world can you do so much with bribery; quite a standing item, and +financial necessary-of-life to Officials of the highest rank there, +as Hanbury well knows. [His Letters (in Raumer), PASSIM.] That of +Poniatowski proved, otherwise too, a notable stroke of Hanbury's; +and shot the poor Polish Coxcomb aloft into tragic altitudes, on +the sudden, as we all know! + +Hanbury's immense dexterities, and incessant labors at Petersburg, +shall lie hidden in the slop-pails: it is enough to say, his +guineas, his dexterities and auxiliary Poniatowskis did prevail; +and he triumphantly signed his Treaty (Petersburg, 30th September) +"Subsidy-Treaty for 55,000 men, 15,000 of them cavalry," not to +speak of "40 to 50 galleys" and the like; "to attack whomsoever +Britannic Majesty bids: annual cost a mere 500,OOO pounds while on +service; 100,000 pounds while waiting." [In <italic> Adelung, <end +italic> vii. 609.] And, what is more, and what our readers are to +mark, the 55,000 begin on the instant to assemble,--along the +Livonian Frontier or Lithuanian, looking direct into Preussen. +Diligently rendezvousing there; 55,000 of them, nay gradually +70,000; no stinginess in the Czarina to her Ally of England. A most +triumphant thing, thinks Hanbury: Could another of you have done +it? Signed, ready for ratifying, 30th September, 1755 (bad Braddock +news not hindering);--and before it is ratified (this also let +readers mark), the actual Troops getting on march. + +Hanbury's masterpiece, surely; a glorious triumph in the +circumstances, and a difficult, thinks Hanbury. Had Hanbury seen +the inside of the cards, as readers have, he would not have thought +it so triumphant. For years past,--especially since that +"Fundamental maxim, May 14th-15th, 1753," which we heard of,--the +Czarina's longings had been fixed. And here now--scattering money +from both hands of it, and wooing us with diplomatic finessings--is +the Fulfilment come! "Opportunity" upon Preussen; behold it here. + +The Russian Senate again holds deliberation; declares (on the heel +of this Hanbury Treaty), "in October, 1755," what we read above, +That its Anti-Prussian intentions are--truculent indeed. And it is +the common talk in Petersburg society, through Winter, what a dose +the ambitious King of Prussia has got brewed for him, [MEMOIRE +RAISONNE (in <italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten <end italic>), i. 429, +&c.] out of Russian indignation and resources, miraculously set +afloat by English guineas. A triumphant Hanbury, for the time +being,--though a tragical enough by and by! + +THE TRIUMPHANT HANBURY TREATY BECOMES, ITSELF, NOTHING +OR LESS;--BUT PRODUCES A FRIEDRICH TREATY, FOLLOWED BY +RESULTS WHICH SURPRISE EVERYBODY. + +King Friedrich's outlooks, on this consummation, may well seem to +him critical. The sore longing of an infuriated Czarina is now let +loose, and in a condition to fulfil itself! To Friedrich these +Petersburg news are no secret; nor to him are the Petersburg +private intentions a thing that can be doubted. Apart from the +Menzel-Weingarten revelations, as we noticed once, it appears the +Grand-Duke Peter (a great admirer of Friedrich, poor confused soul) +had himself thrice-secretly warned Friedrich, That the mysterious +Combination, Russia in the van, would attack him next Spring;--"not +Weingarten that betrayed our GRAND MYSTERE; from first hand, that +was done!" said Excellency Peubla, on quitting Berlin not long +after. [Cogniazzo, <italic> Gestandnisse eines OEsterreichischen +Veterans <end italic> (as cited above), i. 225. "September 16th, +1756," Peubla left Berlin (Rodenbeck, i. 298),--three months after +Weingarten's disappearance.] The Grand Mystery is not uncertain to +Friedrich; and it may well be very formidable,--coupled with those +Braddock explosions, Seizures of French ships, and English-French +War imminent, and likely to become a general European one; +which are the closing prospects of 1755. The French King he reckons +not to be well disposed to him; their old Treaty of "twelve years" +(since 1744) is just about running out. Not friendly, the French +King, owing to little rubs that have been; still less the +Pompadour;--though who could guess how implacable she was at "not +being known (NE LA CONNAIS PAS)"! At Vienna, he is well aware, the +humor towards him is mere cannibalism in refined forms. But most +perilous of all, most immediately perilous, is the implacable +Czarina, set afloat upon English guineas! + +With a hope, as is credibly surmised, that the English might soothe +or muzzle this implacable Czarina, Friedrich, directly after +Hanbury's feat in Petersburg, applied at London, with an Offer +which was very tempting there: "Suppose your Britannic Majesty +would make, with me, an express 'NEUTRALITY CONVENTION;' mutual +Covenant to keep the German Reich entirely free of this War now +threatening to break out? To attack jointly, and sweep home again +with vigor, any and every Armed Non-German setting foot on the +German soil!" An offer most welcome to the Heads of Opposition, the +Pitts and others of that Country; who wish dear Hanover safe enough +(safe in Davy-Jones's locker, if that would do); but are tired of +subsidizing, and fighting and tumulting, all the world over, for +that high end. So that Friedrich's Proposal is grasped at; +and after a little manipulation, the thing is actually concluded. + +By no means much manipulation, both parties being willing. +There was uncommonly rapid surgery of any little difficulties and +discrepancies; rapid closure, instant salutary stitching together +of that long unhealable Privateer Controversy, as the main item: +"20,000 pounds allowed to Prussia for Prussian damages; and to +England, from the other side, the remainder of Silesiau Debt, +painfully outstanding for two or three years back, is to be paid +off at once;"--and in this way such "NEUTRALITY CONVENTION OF +PRUSSIA WITH ENGLAND" comes forth as a Practical Fact upon mankind. +Done at Westminster, 16th January, 1756. The stepping-stone, as it +proved, to a closer Treaty of the same date next Year; of which we +shall hear a great deal. The stepping-stone, in fact, to many large +things;--and to the ruin of our late "Russian-Subsidy Treaty" +(Hanbury's masterpiece), for one small thing. "That is a Treaty +signed, sure enough," answer they of St. James's; "and we will be +handsome about it to her Czarish Majesty; but as to RATIFYING it, +in its present form,--of course, never!" + +What a clap of thunder to Excellency Hanbury; his masterpiece found +suddenly a superfluity, an incommodity! The Orthodox English course +now is, "No foreign soldiers at all to be allowed in Germany;" +and there are the 55,000 tramping on with such alacrity. "We cannot +ratify that Treaty, Excellency Hanbury," writes the Majesty's +Ministry, in a tone not of gratitude: "you must turn it some other +way!" A terrible blow to Hanbury, who had been expecting gratitude +without end. And now, try how he might, there was no turning it +another way; this, privately, and this only, being the Czarina's +own way. A Czarina obstinate to a degree; would not consent, even +when they made her the liberal offer, "Keep your 55,000 at home; +don't attack the King of Prussia with them; you shall have your +Subsidy all the same!" "No, I won't!" answered she,--to Hanbury's +amazement. Hanbury had not read the Weingarten-Menzel Documents;-- +what double double of toil and trouble might Hanbury have saved +himself and others, could he have read them! + +Hanbury could not, still less could the Majesty's Ministry, surmise +the Czarina's secret at all, now or for a good while coming. And in +fact, poor Hanbury, busy as a Diplomatic bee, never did more good +in Russia, or out of it. By direction of the Majesty's Ministry, +Hanbury still tried industriously, cash in both hands; tried +various things: "Assuage the Czarina's mind; reconcile her to King +Friedrich;"--all in vain. "Unite Austria, Russia and England, can't +you, then?--in a Treaty against the Designs of France:" how very +vain! Then, at a later stage, "Get us the Czarina to mediate +between Prussia and Austria" (so very possible to sleek them down +into peace, thought Majesty's Ministry):--and unwearied Hanbury, +cunning eloquence on his lips, and money in both hands, tries +again, and ever again, for many months. And in the way of making +ropes from sand, it must be owned there never was such twisting and +untwisting, as that appointed Hanbury. Who in fact broke his heart +by it;--and died mad, by his own hand, before long. [Hanbury's +"Life" (in <italic> Works, <end italic> vol. iii.) gives sad +account.] Poor soul, after all!--Here are some Russian Notices from +him (and he has many curious, not pertinent here), which are still +worth gleaning. + +PETERSBURG, 2d OCTOBER, 1755. ... "The health of the Empress +[Czarina Elizabeth, CATIN DU NORD, age now forty-five] is bad. +She is affected with spitting of blood, shortness of breath, +constant coughing, swelled legs and water on the chest; yet she +danced a minuet with me," lucky Hanbury. "There is great +fermentation at Court. Peter [Grand-Duke Peter] does not conceal +his enmity to the Schuwalofs [paramours of CATIN, old and new]; +Catherine [Grand-Duchess, who at length has an Heir, unbeautiful +Czar Paul that will be, and "miscarriages" not a few] is on good +terms with Bestuchef" (corruptiblest brute of a Chancellor ever +known, friend to England by England's giving him 10,000 pounds, and +the like trifles, pretty frequently; Friedrich's enemy, chiefly +from defect of that operation)--she is "on good terms with +Bestuchef. I think it my duty to inform the King [great George, who +will draw his prognostics from it] of my observations upon her; +which I can the better do, as I often have conversations with her +for hours together, as at supper my rank places me always next to +her," twice-lucky Hanbury. + +"Since her coming to this Country, she has, by every method in her +power, endeavored to gain the affections of the Nation: she applied +herself with diligence to study their language; and speaks it at +present, as the Russians tell me, in the greatest perfection. +She has also succeeded in her other aim; for she is esteemed and +beloved here in a high degree. Her person is very advantageous, and +her manners very captivating. She has great knowledge of this +Empire; and makes it her only study. She has parts; and Great- +Chancellor [brute Bestuchef] tells me that nobody has more +steadiness and resolution. She has, of late, openly declared +herself to me in respect of the King of Prussia;"--hates him a good +deal, "natural and formidable enemy of Russia;" "heart certainly +the worst in the world [and so on; but will see better by and by, +having eyes of her own]:--she never mentions the King of England +but with the utmost respect and highest regard; is thoroughly +sensible of the utility of the union between England and Russia; +always calls his Majesty the Empress's best and greatest Ally +[so much of nourishment in him withal, as in a certain web-footed +Chief of Birds, reckoned chief by some]; and hopes he will also +give his friendship and protection to the Grand-Duke and herself.-- +As for the Grand-Duke, he is weak and violent; but his confidence +in the Grand-Duchess is so great, that sometimes he tells people, +that though he does not understand things himself, his Wife +understands everything. Should the Empress, as I fear, soon die, +the Government will quietly devolve on them." [Hanbury's Despatch, +"October 2d, 1755" (Raumer, pp. 223-225); Subsidy Treaty still at +its floweriest.] + +Catherine's age is twenty-six gone; her Peter's twenty-seven: +one of the cleverest young Ladies in the world, and of the +stoutest-hearted, clearest-eyed;--yoked to a young Gentleman much +the reverse. Thank Hanbury for this glimpse of them, most +intricately situated Pair; who may concern us a little in the +sequel.--And, in justice to poor Hanover, the sad subject-matter of +Excellency Hanbury's Problems and Futilities in Russia and +elsewhere, let us save this other Fraction by a very different +hand; and close that Hanbury scene:-- + +"Friedrich himself was so dangerous," says the Constitutional +Historian once: "Friedrich, in alliance with France, how easy for +him to catch Hanover by the throat at a week's notice, throw a +death-noose round the throat of poor Hanover, and hand the same to +France for tightening at discretion! Poor Hanover indeed; she reaps +little profit from her English honors: what has she had to do with +these Transatlantic Colonies of England? An unfortunate Country, if +the English would but think; liable to be strangled at any time, +for England's quarrels: the Achilles'-heel to invulnerable England; +a sad function for Hanover, if it be a proud one, and amazingly +lucrative to some Hanoverians. The Country is very dear to his +Britannic Majesty in one sense, very dear to Britain in another! +Nay Germany itself, through Hanover, is to be torn up by War for +Transatlantic interests,--out of which she does not even get good +Virginia tobacco, but grows bad of her own. No more concern than +the Ring of Saturn with these over-sea quarrels; and can, through +Hanover, be torn to pieces by War about them. Such honor to give a +King to the British Nation, in a strait for one; and such profit +coming of it:--we hope all sides are grateful for the +blessings received!" + +THERE HAS BEEN A COUNTER-TREATY GOING ON AT VERSAILLES IN THE +INTERIM; WHICH HEREUPON STARTS OUT, AND TUMBLES THE WHOLLY +ASTONISHED EUROPEAN DIPLOMACIES HEELS-OVER-HEAD. + +To expectant mankind, especially to Vienna and Versailles, this +Britannic-Prussian Treaty was a great surprise. And indeed it +proved the signal of a general System of New Treaties all round. +The first signal, in fact,--though by no means the first cause,--of +a total circumgyration, summerset, or tumble heels-over-head in the +Political relations of Europe altogether, which ensued thereupon; +miraculous, almost as the Earthquake at Lisbon, to the Gazetteer, +and Diplomatic mind, and incomprehensible for long years after. +First signal we say, by no means that it was the first cause, or +indeed that it was a cause at all,--the thing being determined +elsewhere long before; ever since 1753, when Kaunitz left it ready, +waiting only its time. + +Kaiser Franz, they say, when (probably during those Keith +urgencies) the joining with France and turning against poor +Britannic Majesty was proposed in Council at Vienna, opened his +usually silent lips; and opined with emphasis against such a +course, no Kaunitz or creature able to persuade Kaiser Franz that +good would come of it;--though, finding Sovereign Lady and +everybody against him, he held his peace again. And returned to his +private banking operations, which were more extensive than ever, +from the new troubles rising. "Lent the Empress-Queen, always on +solid securities," says Friedrich, "large sums, from time to time, +in those Wars; dealt in Commissariat stores to right and left; +we ourselves had most of our meal from him this year." +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iv. 8.] Kaiser Franz +was, and continued, of the old way of thinking; but consummate +Kaunitz, and the High Lady's fixed passion for her Schlesien, had +changed everybody else. The ulterior facts are as follows, +abbreviated to the utmost. + +September 22d, 1755, a few days before Hanbury's Subsidy-feat at +Petersburg, which took such a whirl for Hanbury, there had met for +the first time at Versailles, more especially at Babiole, Pleasure- +House of the Pompadour, a most Select Committee of Three Persons: +Graf von Stahremberg, Austrian Ambassador; Pompadour herself; and a +certain infinitely elegant Count and Reverence de Bernis (beautiful +Clerico-Mundane Gentleman, without right Benefice hitherto, but +much in esteem with the Pompadour);--for deepest practical +consideration in regard to closure of a French-Austrian Alliance. +Reverend Count (subsequently Cardinal) de Bernis has sense in +Diplomacy; has his experiences in Secular Diplomatic matters; a +soft-going cautious man, not yet official, but tending that way: +whom the Pompadour has brought with her as henchman, or unghostly +counsellor, in this intricate Adventure. + +Stahremberg, instructed from home, has no hesitation; nor has +Pompadour herself, remembering that insolent "JE NE LA CONNAIS +PAS," and the per-contra "MA COUSINE," "PRINCESSE ET SOEUR:"--but +Bernis, I suppose, looks into the practical difficulties; which are +probably very considerable, to the Official French eye, in the +present state of Europe and of the public mind. From September 22d, +or autumnal equinox, 1755, onward to this Britannic-Prussian +phenomenon of January, 1756, the Pompadour Conclave has been +sitting,--difficulties, no doubt, considerable. I will give only +the dates, having myself no interest in such a Committee at +Babiole; but the dates sufficiently betoken that there were +intricacies, conflicts between the new and the old. Hitherto the +axiom always was, "Prussia the Adjunct and Satellite of France:" +now to be entirely reversed, you say? + +JULY, 1755, that is two months before this Babiole Committee met, a +Duc de Nivernois, respectable intelligent dilettante French +Nobleman, had been named as Ambassador to Friedrich, "Go, you +respectable wise Nivernois, Nobleman of Letters so called; try and +retain Friedrich for us, as usual!" And now, on meeting of the +Babiole Committee, Nivernois does not go; lingers, saddled and +bridled, till the very end of the Year; arrives in Berlin January +12th, 1756. Has his First Audience January 14th; a man highly +amiable to Friedrich; but with proposals,--wonderful indeed. + +The French, this good while back, are in no doubt about War with +England, a right hearty War; and have always expected to retain +Prussia as formerly,--though rather on singular terms. Some time +ago, for instance, M. de Rouille, War-Minister, requested +Knyphausen, Prussian Envoy at Paris: "Suggest to your King's +Majesty what plunder there is at Hanover. Perfectly at liberty to +keep it all, if he will plunder Hanover for us!" [<italic> OEuvres +de Frederic, <end italic> iv. 29.] Pleasant message to the proud +King; who answered with the due brevity, to the purport, "Silence, +Sir!"--with didactic effects on the surprised Rouille. Who now +mends his proposal; though again in a remarkable way. +Instructs Nivernois, namely, "To offer King Friedrich the Island of +Tobago, if he will renew Treaty, and take arms for us. Island of +Tobago (a deserted, litigated, but pretty Island, were it ever +ours), will not that entice this King, intent on Commerce?" +Friedrich, who likes Nivernois and his polite ways, answers +quizzingly: "Island of Tobago? Island of Barataria your Lordship +must be meaning; Island of which I cannot be the Sancho Panza!" +[Ib. 31.] And Nivernois found he must not mention Tobago again. + +For the rest, Friedrich made no secret of his English Treaty; +showed it with all frankness to Nivernois, in all points: +"Is there, can the most captious allege that there is, anything +against France in it. My one wish and aim, that of Peace for +myself: judge!" Nivernois stayed till March; but seems to have had, +of definite, only Tobago and good words; so that nothing farther +came of him, and there was no Renewal of Treaty then or after. +Thus, in his third month (March, 1756), practical Nivernois was +recalled, without result;--instead of whom fat Valori was sent; +privately intending "to do nothing but observe, in Berlin." From +all which, we infer that the Babiole Committee now saw land; +and that Bernis himself had decided in the affirmative: "Austria, +not Prussia; yes, Madame!" To the joy of Madame and everybody. +For, it is incredible, say all witnesses, what indignation broke +out in Paris when Friedrich made this new "defection," so they +termed it; revolt from his Liege Lord (who had been so exemplary to +him on former occasions!), and would not bite at Tobago when +offered. So that the Babiole Committee went on, henceforth, with +flowing sea; and by Mayday (1st MAY, 1756) brought out its French- +Austrian Treaty in a completed state. "To stand by one another," +like Castor and Pollux, in a manner; "24,000, reciprocally, to be +ready on demand;" nay I think something of "subsidies" withal,--TO +Austria, of course. But the particulars are not worth giving; +the Performance, thanks to a zealous Pompadour, having quite outrun +the Stipulation, and left it practically out of sight, when the +push came. Our Constitutional Historian may shadow the rest:-- + +"France and England going to War in these sad circumstances, and +France and Austria being privately prepared [by Kaunitz and others] +to swear everlasting friendship on the occasion, instead of +everlasting enmity as heretofore; unexpected changes, miraculous to +the Gazetteers, became inevitable;--nothing less, in short, than +explosion or topsy-turvying of the old Diplomatic-Political Scheme +of Europe. Old dance of the Constellations flung heels-over-head on +the sudden; and much pirouetting, jigging, setting, before they +could change partners, and continue their august dance again, +whether in War or Peace. No end to the industrious wonder of the +Gazetteer mind, to the dark difficulties of the Diplomatic. +What bafflings, agonistic shufflings, impotent gazings into the +dark; what seductive fiddling, and being fiddled to! A most sad +function of Humanity, if sometimes an inevitable one; which ought +surely at all times to be got over as briefly as possible. +To be written of, especially, with a maximum of brevity; +human nature being justly impatient of talk about it, beyond the +strictly needful." + +Most true it is, and was most miraculous, though now quite +forgotten again, Political Europe had to make a complete whirl- +round on that occasion. And not in a day, and merely saying to +itself, "Let me do summerset!" as idle readers suppose,--but with +long months of agonistic shuffle and struggle in all places, and +such Diplomatic fiddling and being fiddled to, as seldom was +before. Of which, these two instances, the Bernis and the Hanbury, +are to serve as specimen; two and no more: a universe of extinct +fiddling compressed into two nutshells, if readers have an ear. + + + +Chapter III. + +FRENCH-ENGLISH WAR BREAKS OUT. + +The French, in reality a good deal astonished at the Prussian- +Britannic Treaty, affected to take it easy: "Treaty for Neutrality +of Germany?" said they: "Very good indeed. Perhaps there are places +nearer us, where our troops can be employed to more advantage!" +[Their "Declaration" on it (Adelung, vii. 613.]--hinting vocally, +as henceforth their silent procedures, their diligence in the +dockyards, moving of troops coastward and the like, still more +clearly did, That an Invasion of England itself was the thing next +to be expected. + +England and France are, by this time, alike fiercely determined on +War; but their states of preparation are very different. The French +have War-ships again, not to mention Armies which they always have; +some skilful Admirals withal,--La Gallisonniere, our old Canada +friend, is one, very busy at present;--and mean to try seriously +the Question of Sea-Supremacy once more. If an Invasion did chance +to land, the state of England would be found handy beyond hope! +How many fighting regiments England has, I need not inquire, nor +with what strategic virtue they would go to work;--enough to +mention the singular fact (recently true, and still, I perceive, +too like the truth), That of all their regiments, "only Three are +in this Country", or have Colonels even nominated. Incredible; +but certain. And the interesting point is, his Grace of Newcastle +dare not have Colonels, still less higher Officers nominated; +because Royal Highness of Cumberland would have the naming of them, +and they would be enemies to his Grace. [Walpole, <italic> George +the Second, <end italic> ii. 19 (date, "March 25th, 1755;" and how +long after, is not said: but see Pitt's Speeches, ib., all through +1756, and farther).] In such posture stands the Envy of surrounding +Nations at this moment. + +"Hire Hessians," cry they; "hire Hanoverians; if France land on us, +we are undone!"--and continue their Parliamentary Eloquences in a +most distressful manner. "Apply to the Dutch, at any rate, for +their 6,000 as per Treaty", cries everybody. Which is done. But the +Dutch piteously wring their hands: "Dare not, your Majesty; +how dare we, for France and our neglected Barrier! Oh, generous +Majesty, excuse us!"--and the generous Majesty has to do it; +and leave the Dutch in peace, this time. Hessians, Hanoverians, +after eloquence enough, are at last got sent for, to guard us +against this terrible Invasion: about 10,000 of each kind; and do +land, --the native populations very sulky on them ("We won't billet +you, not we; build huts, and be--!"), with much Parliamentary and +Newspaper Commentary going on, of a distressful nature. +"Saturday, 15th May, 1756, Hessians disembark at Southampton; +obliged to pitch Camp in the neighborhood: Friday, 21st May, the +Hanoverians, at Chatham, who hut themselves Canterbury way;"--and +have (what is the sum-total of their achievements in this Country) +a case of shoplifting, "pocket-handkerchief, across the counter, in +open day;" one case (or what seemed to be one, but was not); +["At Maidstone, 13th Septemher, 1756;" Hanoverian soldier, +purchasing a handkerchief, imagines he has purchased two (not yet +clipt asunder), haberdasher and he having no language in common: +<italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> for 1756, pp. 259, 448, +&c.; Walpole, SAEPIUS.] "and the fellow not to be tried by us for +it!" which enrages the constitutional heart. Alas, my heavy-laden +constitutional heart; but what can we do? These drilled louts will +guard us, should this terrible Invasion land. And indeed, about +three weeks BEFORE these louts arrived, the terrible Invasion had +declared itself to have been altogether a feint; and had lifted +anchor, quite in the opposite direction, on an errand we shall hear +of soon! + +About the same date, I observe, "the first regiment of Footguards +practising the Prussian drill-exercise in Hyde Park;" and hope his +Grace of Newcastle and the Hero of Culloden (immortal Hero, and +aiming high in Politics at this time) will, at least, have fallen +upon some method of getting Colonels nominated. But the wide- +weltering chaos of platitudes, agitated by hysterical imbecilities, +regulating England in this great crisis, fills the constitutional +mind with sorrow; and indeed is definable, once more, as amazing! +England is a stubborn Country; but it was not by procedures of the +Cumberland-Newcastle kind that England, and her Colonies, and Sea- +and-Land Kingdoms, was built together; nor by these, except miracle +intervene, that she can stand long against stress! Looking at the +dismal matter from this distance, there is visible to me in the +foggy heart of it one lucent element, and pretty much one only; +the individual named William Pitt, as I have read him: if by +miracle that royal soul could, even for a time, get to something of +Kingship there? Courage; miracles do happen, let us hope!--This is +whitherward the grand Invasion had gone:-- + +TOULON, 10th APRIL, 1756. La Gallisonniere, our old Canadian +friend, a crooked little man of great faculty, who has been busy in +the dockyards lately, weighs anchor from Toulon; "12 sail of the +line, 5 frigates and above 100 transport-ships;" with the grand +Invasion-of-England Armament on board: 16,000 picked troops, +complete in all points, Marechal Duc de Richelieu commanding. +[Adelung, viii. 70.] Weighs anchor; and, singular to see, steers, +not for England, and the Hessian-Hanover Defenders (who would have +been in such excellent time); but direct for Minorca, as the surer +thing! Will seize Minorca; a so-called inexpugnable Possession of +the English,--Key of their Mediterranean Supremacies;--really +inexpugnable enough; but which lies in the usual dilapidated state, +though by chance with a courageous old Governor in it, who will not +surrender quite at once. + +APRIL 18th, La Gallisonniere disembarks his Richelieu with a +Sixteen Thousand, unopposed at Port-Mahon, or Fort St. Philip, in +Minorca; who instantly commences Siege there. To the astonishment +of England and his Grace of Newcastle who, except old Governor +Blakeney, much in dilapidation ("wooden platforms rotten," +"batteries out of repair," and so on), have nothing ready for +Richelieu in that quarter. The story of Minorca; and the furious +humors and tragic consummations that arose on it, being still well +known, we will give the dates only. + +FORT ST. PHILIP, APRIL 18th-MAY 20th. For a month, Richelieu, +skilful in tickling the French troops, has been besieging, in a +high and grandiose way; La Gallisonniere vigilantly cruising; +old Blakeney, in spite of the rotten platforms, vigorously holding +out; when--May 19th, La Gallisonniere descries an English fleet in +the distance; indisputably an English fleet; and clears his decks +for a serious Affair just coming. THURSDAY, 20th MAY, Admiral Byng +accordingly (for it is he, son of that old seaworthy Byng, who once +"blew out" a minatory Spanish Fleet and "an absurd Flame of War" in +the Straits of Messina, and was made Lord Torrington in +consequence,--happily now dead)--Admiral Byng does come on; +and gains himself a name badly memorable ever since. Attacks La +Gallisonniere, in a wide-lying, languid, hovering, uncertain +manner:--"Far too weak" he says; "much disprovided, destitute, by +blame of Ministry and of everybody" (though about the strength of +La Gallisonniere, after all);--is almost rather beaten by La +Gallisonniere; does not in the least, beat him to the right +degree:--and sheers off: in the night-time, straight for Gibraltar +again. To La Gallisonniere's surprise, it is said; no doubt to old +Blakeney and his poor Garrison's, left so, to their rotten +platforms and their own shifts. + +Blakeney and Garrison stood to their guns in a manful manner, for +above a month longer; day after day, week after week, looking over +the horizon for some Byng or some relief appearing, to no purpose! +JUNE 14th, there are three available breaches; the walls, however, +are very sheer (a Fortress hewn in the rock): Richelieu scanning +them dubiously, and battering his best, for about a fortnight more, +is ineffectual on Blakeney. + +JUNE 27th, Richelieu, taking his measures well, tickling French +honor well, has determined on storm. Richelieu, giving order of the +day, "Whosoever of you is found drunk shall NOT be of the storm- +party" (which produced such a teetotalism as nothing else had +done),--storms, that night, with extreme audacity. The Place has to +capitulate: glorious victory; honorable defence: and Minorca gone. + +And England is risen to a mere smoky whirlwind, of rage, sorrow and +darkness, against Byng and others. Smoky darkness, getting streaked +with dangerous fire. "Tried?" said his Grace of Newcastle to the +City Deputation: "Oh indeed he shall be tried immediately; he shall +be hanged directly!"--assure yourselves of that. [Walpole, ii. 231: +Details of the Siege, ib. 218-225; in <italic> Gentleman's +Magazine, xxvi. 256, 312-313, 358; in Adelung, vii.; &c. &c.] +And Byng's effigy was burnt all over England. And mobs attempt to +burn his Seat and Park; and satires and caricatures and firebrands +are coming out: and the poor Constitutional Country is bent on +applying surgery, if it but know how. Surgery to such indisputable +abominations was certainly desirable. The new Relief Squadron, +which had been despatched by Majesty's Ministry, was too late for +Blakeney, but did bring home a superseded Byng. + +SPITHEAD, TUESDAY, 27th JULY, The superseded Byng arrives; is +punctually arrested, on arriving: "Him we will hang directly:-- +is there anything else we can try [except, perhaps, it were hanging +of ourselves, and our fine methods of procedure], by way of +remedying you?"--War against France, now a pretty plain thing, had +been "declared," 17th May (French counter-declaring, 9th June): +and, under a Duke of Newcastle and a Hero of Culloden, not even +pulling one way, but two ways; and a Talking-Apparatus full of +discords at this time, and pulling who shall say how many ways,-- +the prospects of carrying on said War are none of the best. +Lord Loudon, a General without skill, and commanding, as Pitt +declares, "a scroll of Paper hitherto" (a good few thousands marked +on it, and perhaps their Colonels even named), is about going for +America; by no means yet gone, a long way from gone: and, if the +Laws of Nature be suspended--Enough of all that! + + +KING PRIEDRICH'S ENIGMA GETS MORE AND MORE STRINGENT. + +Friedrich's situation, in those fatefully questionable months and +for many past (especially from January 16th to July),--readers must +imagine it, for there is no description possible. In many +intricacies Friedrich has been; but never, I reckon, in any equal +to this. Himself certain what the Two Imperial Women have vowed +against him; self and Winterfeld certain of that sad truth; and all +other mortals ready to deny it, and fly delirious on hint of it, +should he venture to act in consequence! Friedrich's situation is +not unimaginable, when (as can now be done by candid inquirers who +will take trouble enough) the one or two internal facts of it are +disengaged from the roaring ocean of clamorous delusions which then +enveloped them to everybody, and are held steadily in view, said +ocean being well run off to the home of it very deep underground. +Lies do fall silent; truth waits to be recognized, not always in +vain. No reader ever will conceive the strangling perplexity of +that situation, now so remote and extinct to us. All I can do is, +to set down what features of it have become indisputable; and leave +them as detached traceries, as fractions of an outline, to coalesce +into something of image where they can. + +Winterfeld's opinion was, for some time past, distinct: +"Attack them; since it is certain they only wait to attack us!" +But Friedrich would by no means listen to that. "We must not be the +aggressor, my friend; that would spoil all. Perhaps the English +will pacify the Russian CATIN for me; tie her, with packthreads, +bribes and intrigues, from stirring? Wait, watch!" Fiery +Winterfeld, who hates the French, who despises the Austrians, and +thinks the Prussian Army a considerable Fact in Politics, has great +schemes: far too great for a practical Friedrich. "Plunge into the +Austrians with a will: Prussian Soldiery,--can Austrians resist it? +Ruin them, since they are bent on ruining us. Stir up the Hungarian +Protestants; try all things. Home upon our implacable enemies, +sword drawn, scabbard flung away! And the French,--what are the +French? Our King should be Kaiser of Teutschland; and he can, and +he may:--the French would then be quieter!" These things Winterfeld +carried in his head; and comrades have heard them from him over +wine. [Retzow, i. 43, &c.] To all which Friedrich, if any whisper +of them ever got to Friedrich, would answer one can guess how. + +It is evident, Friedrich had not given up his hope (indeed, for +above a year more, he never did) that England might, by profuse +bribery,--"such the power of bribery in that mad court!"--assuage, +overnet with backstairs packthreads, or in some way compesce the +Russian delirium for him. And England, his sole Ally in the world, +still tender of Austria, and unable to believe what the full +intentions of Austria are; England demands much wariness in his +procedures towards Austria; reiterating always, "Wait, your +Majesty! Oh, beware!"-- + +His own Army, we need not say, is in perfect preparation. The Army +--let us guess, 150,000 regular, or near 200,000 of all arms and +kinds [Archenholtz (i, 8) counts vaguely "160,000" at this date.]-- +never was so perfect before or since. Old Captains in it, whom we +used to know, are grayer and wiser; young, whom we heard less of, +are grown veterans of trust. Schwerin, much a Cincinnatus since we +last saw him, has laid down his plough again, a fervid "little +Marlborough" of seventy-two;--and will never see that beautiful +Schwerinsburg, and its thriving woods and farm-fields, any more. +Ugly Walrave is not now chief Engineer; one Balbi, a much prettier +man, is. Ugly Walrave (Winterfeld suspecting and watching him) was +found out; convicted of "falsified accounts," of "sending plans to +the Enemy," of who knows all what;--and sits in Magdeburg (in a +thrice-safe prison-cell of his own contriving), prisoner for life. +["Arrested at Potsdam 12th February, 1748, and after trial put into +the STERN at Magdeburg; sat there till he died, 16th January, 1773" +(<italic> Militalr-Lexikon, <end italic> iv. 150-151).] The Old +Dessauer is away, long since; and not the Old alone. Dietrich of +Dessau is now "Guardian to his Nephew," who is a Child left Heir +there. Death has been busy with the Dessauers:--but here is Prince +Moritz, "the youngest, more like his Father than any of them." +Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, Moritz of Dessau, Keith, Duke of +Brunswick-Bevern: no one of these people has been idle, in the ten +years past. Least of all, has the Chief Captain of them,--whose +diligence and vigilance in that sphere, latterly, were not likely +to decline! + +Friedrich's Army is in the perfection of order. Ready at the hour, +for many months back; but the least motion he makes with it is a +subject of jealousy. Last year, on those Russian advancings and +alacrities, he had marched some Regiments into Pommern, within +reach of Preussen, should the Russians actually try a stroke there: +"See!" cried all the world: "See!" cried the enlightened Russian +Public. This year 1756, from June onwards and earlier, there are +still more fatal symptoms, on the Austrian side: great and evident +War-preparations; Magazines forming; Camps in Bohemia, Moravia; +Camp at Konigsgratz, Camp at Prag,--handy for the Silesian Border. +Friedrich knows they have deliberated on their Pretext for a War, +and have fixed on what will do,--some new small Prussian- +Mecklenburg brabble, which there has lately been; paltry enough +recruiting-quarrel, such as often are (and has been settled +mutually some time ago, this one, but is capable of being ripped up +again);--and that, on this cobweb of a pretext, they mean to draw +sword when they like. Russia too has its Pretext ready. And if +Friedrich hint of stirring, England whispers hoarse, England and +other friends, "Wait, your Majesty! Oh, beware!" To keep one's +sword at its sharpest, and, with an easy patient air, one's eyes +vigilantly open: this is nearly all that Friedrich can do, in +neighborhood of such portentous imminencies. He has many critics, +near and far;--for instance:-- + +BERLIN, 31st JULY, 1756, Excellency Valori writes to Versailles: +... "to give you account of a Conversation I have had, a day or two +ago, with the Prince of Prussia [August Wilhelm, Heir-Apparent], +who honors me with a particular confidence,"--and who appears to +be, privately, like some others, very strong in the Opposition +view. "He talked to me of the present condition of the King his +Brother, of his Brother's apprehensions, of his military +arrangements, of the little trust placed in him by neighbors, of +their hostile humor towards him, and of many other things which +this good Prince [little understanding them, as would appear, or +the dangerous secret that lay under them] did not approve of. +The Prince then said,"--listen to what the Prince of Prussia said +to Valori, one of the last days of July, 1756,-- + +"'There is an Anecdote which continually recurs to me, in the +passes we are got to at present. Putting the case we might be +attacked by Russia, and perhaps by Austria, the late Rothenburg was +sent [as readers know], on the King's part, to Milord Tyrconnel, to +know of him what, in such case, were the helps he might reckon on +from France. Milord enumerated the various helps; and then added +[being a blusterous Irishman, sent hither for his ill tongue]: +"Helps enough, you observe, Monsieur; but, MORBLEU, if you deceive +us, you will be squelched (VOUS SEREZ ECRASES)!" The King my +'Brother was angry enough at hearing such a speech: but, my dear +Marquis,' and the Prince turned full upon me with a face of +inquiry, 'Can the thing actually come true? And do you think it can +be the interest of your Master [and his Scarlet Woman] to abandon +us to the fury of our enemies? Ah, that cursed Convention +[Neutrality-Convention with England]! I would give a finger from my +hand that it had never been concluded. I never approved of it; +ask the Duc de Nivernois, he knows what we said of it together. +But how return on our steps? Who would now trust us?'" This Prince +appeared "to be much affected by the King his Brother's situation +[of which he understood as good as nothing], and agreed that he," +the King his Brother, "had well deserved it." [Valori, ii, +129-131.] + +This is not the first example, nor the last, of August Wilhelm's +owning a heedless, good-natured tongue; considerably prone to take +the Opposition side, on light grounds. For which if he found a kind +of solacement and fame in some circles, it was surely at a dear +rate! To his Brother, that bad habit would, most likely, be known; +and his Brother, I suppose, did not speak of it at all; such his +Brother's custom in cases of the kind.--Judicious Valori, by way of +answer, dilated on the peculiar esteem of his Majesty Louis XV. for +the Prussian Majesty,--"so as my Instructions direct me to do;" and +we hear no more of the Prince of Prussia's talk, at this time; +but shall in future; and may conjecture a great deal about the +atmosphere Friedrich had now to live in. A Friedrich undergoing, +privately, a great deal of criticism: "Mad tendency to war; lust of +conquest; contempt for his neighbors, for the opinion of the +world;--no end of irrational tendencies:" [Ib. ii. 124-151 ("July +27th-August 21st").] from persons to whom the secret of his Problem +is deeply unknown. + +One wise thing the English have done: sent an Excellency Mitchell, +a man of loyalty, of sense and honesty, to be their Resident at +Berlin. This is the noteworthy, not yet much noted, Sir Andrew +Mitchell; by far the best Excellency England ever had in that +Court. An Aberdeen Scotchman, creditable to his Country: +hard-headed, sagacious; sceptical of shows; but capable of +recognizing substances withal, and of standing loyal to them, +stubbornly if needful; who grew to a great mutual regard with +Friedrich, and well deserved to do so; constantly about him, during +the next seven years; and whose Letters are among the perennially +valuable Documents on Friedrich's History. [Happily secured in the +British Museum; and now in the most perfect order for consulting +(thanks to Sir F. Madden "and three years' labor" well invested);-- +should certainly, and will one day, be read to the bottom, and +cleared of their darknesses, extrinsic and intrinsic (which are +considerable) by somebody competent.] + +Mitchell is in Berlin since June 10th. Mitchell, who is on the +scene itself, and looking into Friedrich with his own eyes, finds +the reiterating of that "Beware, your Majesty!" which had been his +chief task hitherto, a more and more questionable thing; +and suggests to him at last: "Plainly ask her Hungarian Majesty, +What is your meaning by those Bohemian Campings?" "Pshaw," answers +Friedrich: "Nothing but some ambiguous answer, perhaps with insult +in it!"--nevertheless thinks better; and determines to do so. +[Mitchell Papers.] + + + +Chapter IV. + +FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT VIENNA, TWICE OVER. + +July 18th, 1756, Friedrich despatches an Express to Graf von +Klinggraf, his Resident at Vienna (an experienced man, whom we have +seen before in old Carteret, "Conference-of-Hanau" times), To +demand audience of the Empress; and, in the fittest terms, friendly +and courteous, brief and clear, to put that question of Mitchell's +suggesting. "Those unwonted Armaments, Camps in Bohmen, Camps in +Mahren, and military movements and preparations," Klinggraf is to +say, "have caused anxiety in her Majesty's peaceable Neighbor of +Prussia; who desires always to continue in peace; and who requests +hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty, that these his +anxieties are groundless." Friedrich himself hopes little or +nothing from this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him, +and put an end to all scruples in himself and others. The Answer +may be expected in ten or twelve days. + +And, about the same time,--likely enough, directly after, though +there is no date given, to a fact which is curious and authentic,-- +Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals, to Potsdam, for a +secret Conference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are, old +Schwerin and General Retzow Senior,--Major-General Retzow, whom we +used to hear of in the Silesian Wars,--and whose Son reports on +this occasion. Conference is on this Imminency of War, and as to +what shall be done in it. Friedrich explains in general terms his +dangers from Austria and Russia, his certainty that Austria will +attack him; and asks, Were it, or were it not, better to attack +Austria, as is our Prussian principle in such case? Schwerin and +Retzow--Schwerin first, as the eldest; and after him Retzow, "who +privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to do it"--opine +strongly: That indications are uncertain, that much seems +inevitable which does not come; that in a time of such tumultuous +whirlings and unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well, +and wait. + +After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dissent but saying +almost nothing, Friedrich gives sign to Winterfeld;--who spreads +out, in their lucidest prearranged order, the principal Menzel- +Weingarten Documents; and bids the two Military Gentlemen read. +They read; with astonishment, are forced to believe; stand gazing +at one another;--and do now take a changed tone. Schwerin, "after a +silence of everybody for some minutes,"--"bursts out like one +inspired; 'If War is to be and must be, let us start to-morrow; +seize Saxony at once; and in that rich corny Country form Magazines +for our Operations on Bohemia!'" [Retzow, i. 39.] + +That is privately Friedrich's own full intention. Saxony, with its +Elbe River as Highway, is his indispensable preliminary for +Bohemia: and he will not, a second time, as he did in 1744 with +such results, leave it in an unsecured condition. Adieu then, +Messieurs; silent: AU REVOIR, which may be soon! Retzow Junior, a +rational, sincere, but rather pipe-clayed man, who is wholly to be +trusted on this Conference, with his Father for authority, has some +touches of commentary on it, which indicate (date being 1802) that +till the end of his life, or of Prince Henri his Patron's, there +remained always in some heads a doubt as to Friedrich's wisdom in +regard to starting the Seven-Years War, and to Schwerin's entire +sincerity in that inspired speech. And still more curious, that +there was always, at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's Opposition +Party; privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing it +diligently,--though with lips strictly closed for most part; +without words, except well-weighed and to the wise: which is an +excellent arrangement, for a Majesty and Majesty's Opposition, +where feasible in the world!-- + +From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back +of this Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To +Karlsbad, or Toplitz, for one's health;" and wandered about a good +deal in those Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking +sketches (not with a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon +Pirna Country, a strange stony labyrinth, which he guessed might +possibly be interesting soon. The Saxon Commandant of the +Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts, strongest in Saxony, was +of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called on this Commandant; +found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those neighborhoods, +but that there was at the base of it a new Work going on; and that +the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir themselves +in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under 20,000; +but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have it 40,000. +Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt Winterfeld's +gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam, on his +getting home from this Tour to Toplitz. + +Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped +as ill as could have been expected. The Answer given was of +supercilious brevity; evasive, in effect null, and as good as +answering, That there is no answer. Two Accounts we have, as +Friedrich successively had them, of this famed passage: +FIRST, Klinggraf's own, which is clear, rapid, and stands by the +essential; SECOND, an account from the other side of the scenes, +furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for Friedrich's behoof and ours; +which curiously illustrates the foregoing, and confirms the +interpretation Friedrich at once made of it. This is Menzel's +account; in other words, the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's, stolen +by Menzel. + +July 26th, it appears, Klinggraf--having applied to Kaunitz the day +before, who noticed a certain flurry in him, and had answered +carelessly, "Audience? Yes, of course; nay I am this moment going +to the Empress: only you must tell me about what?"--was admitted to +the Imperial Presence, he first of many that were waiting. Imperial +Presence held in its hand a snip of Paper, carefully composed by +Kaunitz from the data, and read these words: "DIE BEDENKLICHEN +UMSTANDE, The questionable circumstances of the Time have moved me +to consider as indispensably necessary those measures which, for my +own security and for defence of my Allies, I am taking, and which +otherwise do not tend the least towards injury of anybody +whatsoever;"--and adding no syllable more, gave a sign with her +hand, intimating to Klinggraf that the Interview was done. +Klinggraf strode through the Antechamber, "visibly astonished," say +on-lookers, at such an Answer had. Answer, in fact, "That there is +no answer," and the door flung in your face! [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> iii. 772. In Valori, ii. 128, Friedrich's +little Paper of INSTRUCTIONS to Klinggraf; this Vienna ANSWER to +it, ib. 138:--see ib. 138, 162; and <italic> Gesammelte +Nachrichten, <end italic> ii. 214-221.] + +Friedrich, on arrival of report from Klinggraf, and without waiting +for the Menzel side of the scenes, sees that the thing is settled. +Writes again, however (August 2d, probably the day after, or the +same day, Klinggraf's Despatch reached him); instructing Klinggraf +To request "a less oracular response;" and specially, "If her +Imperial Majesty (Austria and Russia being, as is understood, in +active League against, him) will say, That Austria will not attack +him this year or the next?" Draw up memorial of that, Monsieur +Klinggraf; and send us the supercilious No-Answer: till which +arrive we do not cross the Frontier,--but are already everywhere on +march to it, in an industrious, cunningly devised, evident and yet +impenetrably mysterious manner. + +Excellency Valori never saw such activity of military preparation: +such Artillery, "2,000 big pieces in the Park here;" Regiments, +Wagon-trains, getting under way everywhere, no man can guess +whitherward; "drawn up in the Square here, they know not by what +Gate they are to march." By three different Gates, I should think; +--mysteriously, in Three Directions, known only to King Friedrich +and his Adjutant-General, all these Regiments in Berlin and +elsewhere are on march. Towards Halle (Leipzig way); +towards Brietzen (Wittenberg and Torgau way); towards Bautzen +neighborhood,--towards Three settled Points of the Saxon Frontier; +will step across the instant the supercilious No-Answer comes to +hand. Are to converge about Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland;-- +about 65,000 strong, equipped as no Army before or since has been; +--and take what luck there may be. + +Bruhl and Polish Majesty's Army, still only about 18,000, have +their apprehensions of such visit: but what can they do? The Saxon +Army draws out into Camp, at sight of this mysterious marching; +strong Camp "in the angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;"--then draws in +again; being too weak for use. And is thinking, Menzel informs us, +to take post in the stony labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the +advice an Excellency Broglio has given;--French Excellency, now in +Dresden; Marechal de Broglio's Son, and of little less explosive +nature than his Father was. Bruhl and Polish Majesty, guessing that +the hour is come, are infinitely interested. Interested, not +flurried. "Austrian-Russian Anti-Prussian Covenant!" say Bruhl and +Majesty, rather comfortably to themselves: "We never signed it. +WE never would sign anything; what have we to do with it? Courage; +steady; To Pirna, if they come! Are not Excellency Broglio, and +France, and Austria, and the whole world at our back?" + +It was full three weeks before Klinggraf's Message of Answer could +arrive at Berlin. Of Friedrich in the interim, launching such a +world-adventure, himself silent, in the midst of a buzzing Berlin, +take these indications, which are luminous enough. Duke Ferdinand +of Brunswick is to head one of the Three "Columns." Duke Ferdinand, +Governor of Magdeburg, is now collecting his Column in that +neighborhood, chiefly at Halle; whitherward, or on what errand, is +profoundly unknown. Unknown even to Ferdinand, except that it is +for actual Service in the Field. Here are two Friedrich Letters +(ruggedly Official, the first of them, and not quite peculiar to +Ferdinand), which are worth reading:-- + +THE KING TO DUKE FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK. + +"POTSDAM, 15th August, 1756. + +"For time of Field-Service I have made the arrangement, That for +the Subaltern Officers of your regiment, over and above their +ordinary Equipage-moneys, there shall, to each Subaltern Officer, +and once for all, be Eight Thalers [twenty-four shillings sterling] +advanced. That sum [eight thalers per subaltern] shall be paid to +the Captain of every Company; and besides this there shall, +monthly, Two Thalers be deducted from the Subaltern's Pay, and be +likewise paid over to the Captain:--in return for which, He is to +furnish Free Table for the Subalterns throughout the Campaign, and +so long as the regiment is in the field. + +"Of the Two Baggage-carts per Company, the regiment shall take only +One, and leave the other at home. No Officer, let him be who or of +what title he will, Generals not excepted, shall take with him the +least of Silver Plate, not even a silver spoon. Whoever wants, +therefore, to keep table, great or small (TAFEL ODER TISCH), must +manage the same with tin utensils;--without exception, be he who +he will. + +"Each Captain shall take with him a little Cask of Vinegar; +of which, as soon as the regiments get to Camp, he must give me +reckoning, and I will then have him repaid. This Vinegar shall +solely and exclusively be employed for this purpose, That in places +where the water is bad, there be poured into it, for the soldiers, +a few drops of the vinegar, to correct the water, and thereby +preserve them from illnesses. + +"So soon as the regiment gets on march, the Women who have +permission to follow are put under command of the Profoss; +that thereby all plunderings and disorders may the more be guarded +against. If the Captains and Officers take Grooms (JAGER) or the +like Domestics, there can muskets be given to these, that use may +be had of them, in case of an attack in quarters, or on march, when +a WAGENBURG (wagon-fortress) is to be formed. ... FRIEDRICH." +[Preuss, ii. 6, 7.] + +SAME TO SAME (Confidential, this one). + +"POTSDAH, 24th August. + +... "Make as if you were meaning to go into Camp at Halle. +The reason why I stop you is, that the Courier from Vienna has not +yet come. We must therefore reassure the Saxon neighborhood. +... I have been expecting answer from hour to hour; cannot suitably +begin a War-Expedition till it come; do therefore apprise Your +Dilection, though under the deepest secrecy. + +"And it is necessary, and my Will is, That, till farther order, you +keep all the regiments and corps belonging to your Column in the +places where they are when this arrives. And shall, meanwhile, with +your best skill mask all this, both from the Town of Halle, and +from the regiments themselves; making, in conformity with what I +said yesterday, as if you were a Corps of Observation come to +encamp here, and were waiting the last orders to go into camp. + +FRIEDRICH." [Ib. ii. 7, 8.] + + +And in regard to the Vienna Courier, and Friedrich's attitude +towards that Phenomenon, read only these Two Notes:-- + + 1. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA AND THE PRINCESS AMELIA (at Berlin) + +POTSDAM, "25th August," 1756. + +"MY DEAR BROTHER, MY DEAR SISTER,--I write to you both at once, for +want of time. I will follow the advice you are so good as give me; +and will take leave of the Queen [our dear Mamma] by Letter. +And that the reading of my Letter may not frighten her, I will send +it by my Sister, to be presented in a favorable moment. + +"I have yet got no Answer from Vienna; by Klinggraf's account, I +shall not receive it till to-morrow [came this night], But I count +myself surer of War than ever; as the Austrians have named +Generals, and their Army is ordered to march, from Kolin to +Konigsgratz"--Schlesien way. "So that, expecting nothing but a +haughty Answer, or a very uncertain one, on which there will be no +reliance possible, I have arranged everything for setting out on +Saturday next. To-morrow, so soon as the news comes, I will not +fail to let you know. Assuring you that I am, with a perfect +affection, my dear Brother and my dear Sister,--Yours,--F." +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> xxvi. 155.] + +Answer comes from Klinggraf that same night. Once more, an Answer +almost worse than could have been expected. "The 'League with +Russia against you' is nonextant, a thing of your imagination: +Have not we already answered?" [In <italic> Gesammelte Urkunden, +<end italic> i. 217: Klinggraf's second question (done by Letter +this time), "18th August;" Maria Theresa's Answer, "21st August,"] +Whereupon, + +2. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA. + +POTSDAM, "26th August," 1756. + +"MY DEAR BROTHER,--I have already written to the Queen; softening +things as much as I could [Letter lost]. My Sister, to whom I +address the Letter, will deliver it. + +"You have seen the Paper I sent to Klinggraf. Their Answer is 'That +they have not made an Offensive Alliance with Russia against me.' +The Answer is impertinent, high and contemptuous; and of the +Assurance that I required [as to This Year and next], not one word. +So that the sword alone can cut this Gordian Knot. I am innocent of +this War; I have done what I could to avoid it; but whatever be +one's love of peace, one cannot and must not sacrifice to that, +one's safety and one's honor. Such, I believe, will be your opinion +too, from the sentiments I know in you. At present, our one thought +must be, To do War in such a way as may cure our Enemies of their +wish to break Peace again too soon. I embrace you with all my +heart. I have had no end of business (TERRIBLEMENT A FAIRE)."--F. +[<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xxvi. 116.] + +THE MARCH INTO SAXONY, IN THREE COLUMNS. + +Ahead of that last Note, from an earlier hour of the same day, +Thursday, 26th August, there is speeding forth, to all Three +Generals of Division, this Order (take Duke Ferdinand's copy}:-- + {not in original] ^ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +"I hereby order that Your Dilection (EW. LIEBDEN), with all the +regiments and corps in the Column standing under your command, +Shall now, without more delay, get on march, on the 29th inst.; +and proceed, according to the March-Tables and Instructions already +given, to execute what Your Dilection has got in charge."--F. + +The same Thursday, 26th, Excellency Mitchell, informed by Podewils +of the King's wish to see him at Potsdam, gets under way from +Berlin; arrives "just time enough to speak with the King before he +sat down to supper." Very many things to be consulted of, and +deliberatively touched upon, with Mitchell and England; no end of +things and considerations, for England and King Friedrich, in this +that is now about to burst forth on an astonished world!--Over in +London, we observe, just in the hours when Mitchell was harnessing +for Potsdam, and so many Orders and Letters were speeding their +swiftest in that quarter, there is going forward, on Tower-Hill +yonder, the following Operation:-- + +"LONDON, THURSDAY, 26th AUGUST, 1756. About five in the afternoon, +a noted Admiral [only in Effigy as yet; but who has been held in +miserable durance, and too actual question of death or life, ever +since his return: "Oh, yes indeed! Hang HIM at once",--if that can +be a remedy!] was, after having been privately shown to many ladies +and gentlemen, brought--in an open sedan, guarded by a number of +young gentlemen under arms, with drums beating, colors flying--to +Tower-Hill, where a Gallows had been erected for him at six the +same morning. He was richly dressed, in a blue and gold coat, buff +waistcoat, trimmed, &c. in full uniform. When brought under the +Gallows, he stayed a small space, till his clergyman (a chimney- +sweeper) had given him some admonitions: that done, he was drawn, +by pulleys, to the top of the Gallows, which was twenty feet high; +every person expressing as much satisfaction as if it had been the +real man. + +"He remained there, guarded by the above volunteers, without any +molestation, two hours; when, upon a supposition of being +obstructed by the Governor of the Tower, some sailors appeared, who +wanted to pull him down, in order to drag him along the streets. +But a fire being kindled, which consisted of tar-barrels, fagots, +tables, tubs, &c., he was consumed in about half an hour." +[Old Newspapers (<italic> Gentleman's Magazine, <end italic> +xxvi. 409).] + +That is their employment on Tower-Hill, over yonder, while Mitchell +is getting under way to see Friedrich. + +Mitchell continued at Potsdam over Friday; and was still in eager +consultation that night, when the King said to him, with a certain +expressiveness of glance: "BON SOIR, then;--To-morrow morning +about four!" And on the morrow, Saturday, 28th, Mitchell +reports hurriedly:-- + +"... Am just returned to Berlin, in time to write to your Lordship. +This morning, between four and five, I took leave of the King of +Prussia. Hr went immediately upon the Parade; mounted on horseback; +and, after a very short exercise of his Troops, put himself at +their head; and marched directly for Belitz [half-way to Brietzen, +TREUENbrietzen as they call it]; where, To-morrow, he will enter +the Saxon Territory,"--as, at their respective points, his two +other Columns will;--and begin, who shall say what terrible game; +incalculable to your Lordship and me, with such Operations afoot on +Tower-Hill! [Mitchell Papers, vi. 804 ("To Lord Holderness, 28th +August, 1756").]-- + +Seven Hussar Regiments of Duke Ferdinand's Column got the length of +Leipzig that Sunday Evening, 29th; and took possession of the +place. [In <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iii. 731, his +"Proclamation" there, 29th August, 1756.] Duke Ferdinand to right +of the King, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern to left,--the Three Columns +cross the Border, at points, say 80 miles from one another; +occasionally, on the march, bending to rightwards and leftwards, to +take in the principal Towns, and make settlements there, the two +might be above a hundred miles from Friedrich on each hand. The +length of march for each Column,--Ferdinand "from Leipzig, by +Chemnitz, Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, to the Village of Cotta" (Pirna +neighborhood, south of Elbe); Bevern, "through the Lausitz, by +Bautzen, to Lohmen" (same neighborhood, north of Elbe); +King Friedrich, to Dresden, by the course of the Elbe itself, was +not far from equal, and may be called about 150 miles. They marched +with diligence, not with hurry; had their pauses, rest-days, when +business required. They got to their ground, with the +simultaneousness appointed, on the eleventh or twelfth day. + +The middle Column, under the King, where Marshal Keith is second in +command, goes by Torgau (detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up +Wittenberg, and ruin the slight works there); crosses the Elbe at +Torgau, September 2d; marches, cantoning itself day after day, +along the southern bank of the River; leaves Meissen to the left, I +perceive, does not pass through Meissen; comes first at Wilsdruf on +ground where we have been,--and portions of it, I doubt not, were +billeted in Kesselsdorf; and would take a glance at the old Field, +if they had time. There is strict discipline in all the Columns; +the authorities complying on summons, and arranging what is +needful. Nobody resists; town-guards at once ground arms, and there +is no soldier visible; soldiers all ebbing away, whitherward we +guess. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iii. 732, 733; +<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iv. 81.] + +At Wilsdruf, Friedrich first learns for certain, that the Saxon +Army, with King, with Bruhl and other chief personages, are +withdrawn to Pirna, to the inexpugnable Konigstein and Rock- +Country. The Saxon Army had begun assembling there, September 1st, +directly on the news that Friedrich was across the Border; +September 9th, on Friedrich's approach, the King and Dignitaries +move off thither, from Dresden, out of his way. Excellency Broglio +has put them on that plan. Which may have its complexities for +Friedrich, hopes Broglio,--though perhaps its still greater for +some other parties concerned! For Bruhl and Polish Majesty, as will +appear by and by, nothing could have turned out worse. + +Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on: "Forward, all the same." Polish +Majesty, dating from Struppen, in the Pirna Country, has begun a +Correspondence with Friedrich, very polite on both hands; and his +Adjutant-General, the Chevalier Meagher ("Chevalier de MARRE," as +Valori calls him,--MA'AR, as he calls himself in Irish), has just +had, at Wilsdruf, an interview with Friedrich; but is far from +having got settlement on the terms he wished. Polish Majesty +magnanimously assenting to "a Road through his Country for military +purposes;" offers "the strictest Neutrality, strictest friendship +even; has done, and will do, no injury whatever to his Prussian +Majesty--["Did we ever SIGN anything?" whisper comfortably Bruhl +and he to one another];--expects, therefore, that his Prussian +Majesty will march on, whither he is bound; and leave him +unmolested here." [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> +iii. 774.] + +That was Meagher's message; that is the purport of all his Polish +Majesty's Eleven Letters to Friedrich, which precede or follow,-- +reiterating with a certain ovine obstinacy, insensible to time or +change, That such is Polish Majesty's fixed notion: +"Strict neutrality, friendship even; and leave me unmolested here." +[In <italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iv. 235-260 ("29th +August-10th September-18th September," 1756), are collected now, +the Eleven Letters, with their Answers.] "Strict neutrality, yes: +but disperse your Army, then," answers Friedrich; send your Army +back to its cantonments: I must myself have the keeping of my +Highway, lest I lose it, as in 1744." This is Friedrich's answer; +this at first, and for some time coming; though, as the aspects +change, and the dangerous elements heap themselves higher, +Friedrich's answer will rise with them, and his terms, like the +Sibyl's, become worse and worse. This is the utmost that Meagher, +at Wilsdruf, can make of it; and this, in conceivable +circumstances, will grow less and less. + +Next day, September 9th, Friedrich, with some Battalions, entered +Dresden, most of his Column taking Camp near by; General Wylich had +entered yesterday, and is already Commandant there. Friedrich +sends, by Feldmarschall Keith, highest Officer of his Column, his +homages to her Polish Majesty:--nothing given us of Keith's +Interview; except by a side-wind, "That Majesty complained of those +Prussian Sentries walking about in certain of her corridors" (with +an eye to Something, it may be feared!)--of which, doubtless, Keith +undertook to make report. Friedrich himself waits upon the Junior +Princes, who are left here: is polite and gracious as ever, though +strict, and with business enough; lodges, for his own part, "in the +Garden-House of Princess Moczinska;"--and next morning leads off +his Column, a short march eastward, to the Pirna Country; where, on +the right and on the left, Ferdinand at Cotta, Bevern at Lohmen (if +readers will look on their Map), he finds the other Two in their +due positions. Head-quarter is Gross-Sedlitz (westernmost skirt of +the Rock-region); and will have to continue so, much longer than +had been expected. + +The Diplomatic world in Dresden is in great emotion; more +especially just at present. This morning, before leaving, Friedrich +had to do an exceedingly strict thing: secure the Originals of +those Menzel Documents. Originals indispensable to him, for +justifying his new procedures upon Saxony. So that there has been, +at the Palace, a Scene this morning of a very high and dissonant +nature,--"Marshal Keith" in it, "Marshal Keith making a second +visit" (say some loose and false Accounts);--the facts being +strictly as follows. + +Far from removing those Prussian sentries complained of last night, +here seems to be a double strength of them this morning. And her +Polish Majesty, a severe, hard-featured old Lady, has been filled +with indignant amazement by a Prussian Officer--Major von +Wangenheim, I believe it is--requiring, in the King of Prussia's +name, the Keys of that Archive-room; Prussian Majesty absolutely +needing sight, for a little while, of certain Papers there. +"Enter that room? Archives of a crowned Head? Let me see the living +mortal that will dare to do it!"--one fancies the indignant Polish +Majesty's answer; and how, calling for materials, she "openly +sealed the door in question," in Wangenheim's presence. As this is +a celebrated Passage, which has been reported in several loose +ways, let us take it from the primary source, Chancery style and +all. Graf von Sternberg, Austrian Excellency, writing from the spot +and at the hour, informs his own Court, and through that all +Courts, in these solemnly Official terms:-- + +"DRESDEN, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1756. The Queen's Majesty, this forenoon, +has called to her all the Foreign Ministers now at Dresden; and in +Highest Own Person has signified to us, How, the Prussian +intrusions and hostilities being already known, Highest said +Queen's Majesty would now simply state what had farther taken place +this morning:-- + +"Highest said Queen's Majesty, to wit, had, in her own name, +requested the King of Prussia, in conformity with his assurances +[by Keith, yesternight] of paying every regard for Her and the +Royal Family, To remove the Prussian Sentries pacing about in those +Corridors,"--Corridors which lead to the Secret Archives, important +to some of us!--"Instead of which, the said King had not only +doubled his Sentries there; but also, by an Officer, demanded the +Keys of the Archive-apartment [just alluded to]! And as the Queen's +Majesty, for security of all writings there, offered to seal the +Door of it herself, and did so, there and then,--the said Officer +had so little respect, that he clapped his own seal thereon too. + +"Nor was he content therewith,"--not by any means!--"but the same +Officer [having been with Wylich, Commandant here] came back, a +short time after, and made for opening of the Door himself. +Which being announced to the Queen's Majesty, she in her own person +(HOCHSTDIESELBE, Highest-the-Same) went out again; and standing +before the Door, informed him, 'How Highest-the-Same had too much +regard to his Prussian Majesty's given assurance, to believe that +such order could proceed from the King.' As the Officer, however, +replied, 'That he was sorry to have such an order to execute; +but that the order was serious and precise; and that he, by not +executing it, would expose himself to the greatest responsibility," +Her Majesty continued standing before the Door; and said to the +Officer, 'If he meant to use force, he might upon Her make his +beginning.'" There is for you, Herr Wangenheim!-- + +"Upon which said Officer had gone away, to report anew to the King +[I think, only to Wylich the Commandant; King now a dozen miles +off, not so easily reported to, and his mind known]; and in the +mean while Her Majesty had called to her the Prussian and English +Ambassadors [Mahlzahn and Stormont; sorry both of them, but how +entirely resourceless,--especially Mahlzahn!], and had represented +and repeated to them the above; beseeching that by their +remonstrances and persuasions they would induce the King of +Prussia, conformably with his given assurance, to forbear. +Instead, however, of any fruit from such remonstrances and +urgencies, final Order came, 'That, Queen's Majesty's own Highest +Person notwithstanding, force must be used.' + +"Whereupon her Majesty, to avoid actual mistreatment, had been +obliged to"--to become passive, and, no Keys being procurable from +her, see a smith with his picklocks give these Prussians admission. +Legation-Secretary Plessmann was there (Menzel one fancies sitting, +rather pale, in an adjacent room [Supra, p. 266.]); and they knew +what to do. Their smith opens the required Box for them (one of +several "all lying packed for Warsaw," says Friedrich); from which +soon taking what they needed, Wangenheim and Wylich withdrew with +their booty, and readers have the fruit of it to this day. +"Which unheard-of procedure, be pleased, your Excellencies, to +report to your respective Courts." [<italic> Gesammelte +Nachrichten, <end italic> i. 222 (or "No. 26" of that Collection); +<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iv. 83.] + +Poor old Lady, what a situation! And I believe she never saw her +poor old Husband again. The day he went to Pirna (morning of +yesterday, September 9th, Friedrich entering in the evening), these +poor Spouses had, little dreaming of it, taken leave of one another +forevermore. Such profit lies in your Bruhl. Kings and Queens that +will be governed by a Jesuit Guarini, and a Bruhl of the Twelve +Tailors, sometimes pay dear for it. They, or their representatives, +are sure to do so. Kings and Queens,--yes, and if that were all: +but their poor Countries too? Their Countries;--well, their +Countries did not hate Beelzebub, in his various shapes, ENOUGH. +Their Countries should have been in watch against Beelzebub in the +shape of Bruhls;--watching, and also "praying" in a heroic manner, +now fallen obsolete in these impious times! + + + +Chapter V. + +FRIEDRICH BLOCKADES THE SAXONS IN PIRNA COUNTRY. + +Friedrich reckons himself to have 65,000 men in Saxony. Schwerin is +issuing from Silesia, through the Glatz Mountains, for Bohemia, at +the head of 40,000. The Austrian force is inferior in quantity, and +far from ready:--Two "Camps" in Bohemia they have; the chief one +under Browne (looking, or intending, this Saxon way), and a smaller +under Piccolomini, in the Konigshof-Kolin region:--if well run into +from front and rear, both Browne and Piccolomini might be +beautifully handled; and a gash be cut in Austria, which might +incline her to be at peace again! Nothing hinders but this paltry +Camp of the Saxons; itself only 18,000 strong, but in a Country of +such strength. And this does hinder, effectually while it +continues: "How march to Bohemia, and leave the road blocked in +our rear?" + +The Saxon Camp did continue,--unmanageable by any method, for five +weeks to come; the season of war-operations gone, by that time:-- +and Friedrich's First Campaign, rendered mostly fruitless in this +manner, will by no means check the Austrian truculencies, as by his +velocity he hoped to do. No; but, on the contrary, will rouse the +Austrians, French and all Enemies, to a tenfold pitch of temper. +And bring upon himself, from an astonished and misunderstanding +Public, such tempests and world-tornadoes of loud-roaring obloquy, +as even he, Friedrich, had never endured before. + +To readers of a touring habit this Saxon Country is perhaps well +known. For the last half-century it has been growing more and more +famous, under the name of "Saxon Switzerland (SACHSISCHE +SCHWEITZ)," instead of "Misnian Highlands (MEISSNISCHE HOCHLAND)," +which it used to be called. A beautiful enough and extremely rugged +Country; interesting to the picturesque mind. Begins rising, in +soft Hills, on both sides of the Elbe, a few miles east of Dresden, +as you ascend the River; till it rises into Hills of wild +character, getting ever wilder, and riven into wondrous chasms and +precipices. Extends, say almost twenty miles up the River, to +Tetschen and beyond, in this eastern direction; and with perhaps +ten miles of breadth on each side of the River: area of the Rock- +region, therefore, is perhaps some four hundred square miles. +The Falkenberg (what we should call HAWKSCRAG) northeastward in the +Lausitz, the Schneeberg (SNOW MOUNTAIN), southeastward on the +Bohemian border, are about thirty-five miles apart: these two are +both reckoned to be in it,--its last outposts on that eastern side. +But the limits of it are fixed by custom only, and depend on no +natural condition. + +We might define it as the Sandstone NECK of the Metal Mountains: a +rather lower block, of Sandstone, intercalated into the Metal- +Mountain range, which otherwise, on both hands, is higher, and of +harder rocks. Southward (as SHOULDER to this sandstone NECK) lies, +continuous, broad and high, the "Metal-Mountain range" specially so +called: northward and northeastward there rise, beyond that +Falkenberg, many mountains, solitary or in groups,--"the Metal +Mountains" fading out here into "the Lausitz Hills," still in fine +picturesque fashion, which are Northern Border to the great +Bohemian "Basin of the Elba," after you emerge from this Sandstone +Country. + +Saxon Switzerland is not very high anywhere; 2,000 feet is a +notable degree of height: but it is torn and tumbled into stone +labyrinths, chasms and winding rock-walls, as few regions are. +Grows pinewood, to the topmost height; pine-trees far aloft look +quietly down upon you, over sheer precipices, on your intricate +path. On the slopes of the Hills is grass enough; in the intervals +are Villages and husbandries, are corn and milk for the laborious +natives,--who depend mainly on quarrying, and pine-forest work: +pines and free-stone, rafts of long slim pines, and big stone +barges, are what one sees upon the River there. A Note, not very +geological, says of it:-- + +"Elbe sweeps freely through this Country, for ages and aeons past; +curling himself a little into snake-figure, and with increased +velocity, but silent mostly, and trim to the edge, a fine flint- +colored river;--though in aeons long anterior, it must have been a +very different matter for torrents and water-power. The Country is +one huge Block of Sandstone, so many square miles of that material; +ribbed, channelled, torn and quarried, in this manner, by the ever- +busy elements, for a million of Ages past! Chiefly by the Elbe +himself, since he got to be a River, and became cosmic and +personal; ceasing to be a mere watery chaos of Lakes and Deluges +hereabouts. For the Sandstone was of various degrees of hardness; +tenacious as marble some parts of it, soft almost as sand other +parts. And the primordial diluviums and world-old torrents, great +and small, rushing down from the Bohemian Highlands, from the Saxon +Metal Mountains, with such storming, gurgling and swashing, have +swept away the soft parts, and left the hard standing in this +chaotic manner, and bequeathed it all to the Elbe, and the common +frosts and rains of these human ages. + +"Elbe has now a trim course; but Elbe too is busy quarrying and +mining, where not artificially held in;--and you notice at every +outlet of a Brook from the interior, north side and south side, how +busy the Brook has been. Boring, grinding, undermining; much helped +by the frosts, by the rains. AEons ago, the Brook was a lake, in +the interior; but was every moment laboring to get out; till it has +cut for itself that mountain gullet, or sheer-down chasm, and +brought out with it an Alluvium or Delta,--on which, since Adam's +time, human creatures have built a Hamlet. That is the origin, or +unwritten history, of most hamlets and cultivated spots you fall in +with here: they are the waste shavings of the Brook, working +millions of years, for its own object of getting into the Elbe in +level circumstances. Ploughed fields, not without fertility, are in +the interior, if you ascend that Brook; the Hamlet, at the delta or +mouth of it, is as if built upon its TONGUE and into its GULLET: +think how picturesque, in the November rains, for example! + +"The road" one road, "from Dresden to Aussig, to Lobositz, Budin, +Prag, runs up the river-brink (south brink); or, in our day, as +Prag-Dresden Railway, thunders through those solitudes; strangely +awakening their echoes; and inviting even the bewildered Tourist to +reflect, if he could. The bewildered Tourist sees rock-walls +heaven-high on both hands of him; River and he rushing on between, +by law of gravitation, law of ennui (which are laws of Nature +both), with a narrow strip of sky in full gallop overhead; and has +little encouragement to reflect, except upon his own sorrows, and +delirious circumstances, physical and moral. 'How much happier, +were I lying in my bed!' thinks the bewildered Tourist;--does +strive withal to admire the Picturesque, but with little success; +notices the 'BASTEI (Bastion),' and other rigorously prescribed +points of the Sublime and Beautiful, which are to be 'done.' +That you will have to DO, my friend: step out, you will have to go +on that Pinnacle, with indifferent Hotel attached; on that iron +balcony, aloft among the clouds yonder; and shudder to project over +Elbe-flood from such altitudes, admiring the Picturesque in +prescribed manner. + +"This Country has for its permanent uses, timber, free-stone, +modicum of milk and haver, serviceable to the generality;--and to +his Polish Majesty, at present, it is as the very Ark of Noah: +priceless at this juncture; being the strongest military country in +the world. Excellent strength in it; express Fortresses; especially +one Fortress called the Konigstein, not far from Schandau, of a +towering precipitous nature, with 'a well 900 feet deep' in it, and +pleasant Village outside at the base;--Fortress which is still, in +our day, reckoned a safe place for the Saxon Archives and +preciosities. Impregnable to gunpowder artillery; not to be had +except by hunger. And then, farther down the River, close by Pirna, +presiding over Pirna, as that Konigstein in some sort does over +Schandau, is the Sonnenstein: Sonnenstein too was a Fortress in +those days of Friedrich, but not impregnable, if judged worth +taking. The Austrians took it, a year or two hence; Friedrich +retook it, dismantled it: 'the Sonnenstein is now a Madhouse,' say +the Guide-books. + +"Sonnenstein stands close east or up-stream of Pirna, which is a +town of 5,000 souls, by much the largest in those parts; +Konigstein a little down-stream of Schandau, which latter is on the +opposite or north side of the River. These are the two chief Towns, +which do all the trade of this region; picturesque places both:-- +the Tourist remembers Pirna? Standing on its sleek table or stair- +step, by the River's edge; well above floodmark; green, shaggy or +fringy mountains looking down on it to rearward; in front, beyond +the River, nothing visible but mile-long cream-colored rock-wall, +with bushes at bottom and top, wall quarried by Elbe, as you can +see. Pirna is near the beginning [properly END, but we start from +Dresden] or western extremity of Saxon Schweitz. Schandau, almost +at the opposite or eastern extremity, is still more picturesque; +standing on the delta of a little Brook, with high rock-cliffs, +with garden-shrubberies, sanded walks, tufts of forest-umbrage; +a bright-painted, almost OPERATIC-looking place,--with spa-waters, +if I recollect: "yes truly, and the "Bath Season" making its +packages in great haste, breaking up prematurely, this +Year (1756)!-- + +Directly on arriving at Gross-Sedlitz, Friedrich takes ocular +survey of this Country, which is already not unknown to him. +He finds that the Saxons have secured themselves within the +Mountains; a rocky streamlet, Brook of Gottleube, which issues into +Elbe just between Gross-Sedlitz and them, "through a dell of eighty +or a hundred feet deep," serving as their first defence; well in +front of the mere rocky Heights and precipices behind it, which +stretch continuously along to southward, six miles or more, from +Pirna and the south brink of Elbe. At Langen-Hennersdorf, which is +the southernmost part, these Heights make an elbow inwards, by +Leopoldshayn, towards the Konigstein, which is but four miles off; +here too the Saxons are defended by a Brook (running straight +towards Konigstein, this one) in front of their Heights; and stand +defensive, in this way, along a rock-bulwark of ten miles long: +the passes all secured by batteries, by abatis, palisades, mile +after mile, as Friedrich rides observant leftward: behind them, +Elbe rushing swifter through his rock-walls yonder, with chasms and +intricate gorges; defending them inexpugnably to rear. Six miles +long of natural bulwark (six to Hennersdorf), where the gross of +the Saxons lie; then to Konigstein four other miles, sufficiently, +if more sparsely, beset by them. "No stronger position in the +world," Friedrich thinks; [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> iv. 83, 84 (not a very distinct Account; and far from +accurate in the details,--which are left without effectual +correction even in the best Editions).]--and that it is impossible +to force this place, without a loss of life disproportionate even +to its importance at present. Not to say that the Saxons will make +terms all the easier, BEFORE bloodshed rise between us;--and +furthermore that Hunger (for we hear they have provision only for +two weeks) may itself soon do it. "Wedge them in, therefore; block +every outgate, every entrance; nothing to get in, except gradually +Hunger. Hunger, and on our part rational Offers, will suffice." +That is Friedrich's plan; good in itself,--though the ovine +obstinacy, and other circumstances, retarded the execution of it to +an unexpected extent, lamentable to Friedrich and to some others. + +The Prussian-Saxon military operations for the next five weeks need +not detain us. Their respective positions on the Heights behind +that Brook Gottleube, and on the plainer Country in front of it,-- +How the Prussians lie, first Division of them, from Gross-Sedlitz +to Zehist, under the King; then second Division from Zehist to +Cotta, and onward by "the Rothschenke" (RED-HOUSE Tavern), by +Markersbach, and sparsely as far as Hellendorf on the Prag Highway; +in brief, where all the Divisions of them lie, and under whom; +and where the Prussians, watching Elbe itself, have Batteries and +Posts on the north side of it: all this is marked on the Map; +--to satisfy ingenuous curiosity, should it make tour in those +parts. To which add only these straggles of Note, as farther +elucidative:-- + +"The Saxons, between Elbe and their Lines, possess about thirty +square miles of country. From Pirna or Sonnenstein to Konigstein, +as the crow flies, may be five miles east to west; but by Langen- +Hennersdorf, and the elbow there, it will be ten: at Konigstein, +moreover, Elbe makes an abrupt turn northward for a couple of +miles, instead of westward as heretofore, turning abruptly westward +again after that: so that the Saxon 'Camp' or Occupancy here, is an +irregular Trapezium, with Pirna and Konigstein for vertices, and +with area estimable as above,--ploughable, a fair portion of it, +and not without corn of its own. So that the 'two weeks' provision' +spun themselves out (short allowance aiding) to two months, before +actual famine came. + +... "The High-road from the Lausitz parts crosses Elbe at Pirna; +falls into the Dresden-Prag High-road there; and from Pirna towards +Toplitz, for the first few miles, this latter runs through the +Prussian Posts; but we may guess it is not much travelled at +present. North of Elbe, too, the Prussians have batteries on the +fit points; detachments of due force, from Gross-Sedlitz Bridge-of- +Pontoons all round to Schandau, or beyond; could fire upon the +Konigstein, across the River: they have plugged up the Saxon +position everywhere. They have a Battery especially, and strong +post, to cannonade the Bridge at Pirna, should the Saxons think of +trying there. It is now the one Saxon or even Half-Saxon Bridge; +Sonnenstein and Pirna command the Saxon end of it, a strong battery +the Prussian end: a Bridge lying mainly idle, like the general +Highway to Toplitz at this time. Beyond the Konigstein, again, at a +place called Wendisch-Fahre (WENDS'-FERRY), the Prussians have, by +means of boats swinging wide at anchor on the swift current, what +is called a Flying-bridge, with which the north side can +communicate with the south. They have a post at Nieder-Raden (OBER +Raden, railway station in our time, is on the south side): +Nether Raden is an interesting little Hamlet, mostly invisible to +mankind (built in the THROAT of the stone chasms there), from which +you begin mounting to the BASTEI far aloft. A Raden to be noted, by +the Tourist and us." + +Little, or even nothing, of fighting there is: why should there be? +The military operations are a dead-lock, and require no word. +Thirty thousand, half of the Prussian Force, lie, vigilant as +lynxes, blockading here; other half, 32,000, under Marshal Keith, +have marched forward to Aussig, to Nollendorf on the Bohemian +frontier, to clear the ways, and look into any Austrian motion +thereabouts,--with whom, with some Pandour detachment of whom, Duke +Ferdinand, leading the vanguard, has had a little brush among the +Hills; smiting them home again, in his usual creditable way +(September 13th); and taking Camp at Peterswalde, he and others of +the Force, that night. [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> +iv. 85; ANONYMOUS OF HAMBURG, i. 19.] It is with this Keith Army, +with this if with any, that adventures are to be looked for at +present. + +Polish Majesty's Head-quarters are at Struppen, well in the centre +of the Saxon lines; "goes always to the Konigstein to sleep." +Polish Majesty's own table is, by Friedrich's permission for that +special object, supplied AD LIBITUM: but the common men were at +once put on short allowance, which grows always the shorter. +Polish Majesty corresponds with Friedrich, as we saw; and above +all, sends burning Messages to Austria, to France, to every +European Court, charged with mere shrieks: "Help me; a robber has +me!" In which sense, Excellencies of all kinds, especially one Lord +Stormont, the English Excellency, daily running out from Dresden to +Gross-Sedlitz, are passionately industrious with Friedrich; who is +eager enough to comply, were there any safe means possible. +But there are none. Unfortunately, too, it appears the Austrians +are astir; Feldmarschall Browne actually furbishing himself at Prag +yonder with an eye hitherward, and extraordinary haste and spirit +shown: which obliges Friedrich to rise in his demands; +ovine obstinacy, on the other side, naturally increasing from the +same cause. + +"Polish Majesty, we say, has liberty to bring in proviant for self +and suite, rigorously for no mortal more; and he lives well, in the +culinary sense,--surely for most part 'in his dressing-gown,' too, +poor loose collapsed soul! Bruhl and he have plenty of formal +business: but their one real business is that of crying, by +estafettes and every conceivable method, to Austria, 'Get us out of +this!' To which Austria has answered, 'Yes; only patience, and be +steady!'--Friedrich's head-quarters are at Sedlitz; and the +negotiating and responding which he has, transcends imagination. +His first hope was, Polish Majesty might be persuaded to join with +him;--on the back of that, certainty, gradually coming, that Polish +Majesty never would; and that the Austrians would endeavor a +rescue, were they once ready. Starvation, or the Austrians, which +will be first here? is the question; and Friedrich studies to think +it will be the former. At all events, having settled on the +starvation method, and seen that all his posts are right, we +perceive he does not stick close by Sedlitz; but runs now hither +now thither; is at Torgau, where an important establishment, kind +of New Government for Saxony, on the Finance side, is organizing +itself. What his work with Ambassadors was, and how delicate the +handling needed, think!"--Here is another Clipping:-- + +... "Polish Majesty passes the day at Struppen, amid many vain +noises of Soldiering, of Diplomatizing; the night always at +Konigstein, and finally both day and night,--quite luxuriously +accommodated, Bruhl and he, to the very end of this Affair. +Towards Struppen [this is weeks farther on, but we give it here],-- +Comte de Broglio [Old Broglio's elder Son, younger is in the +Military line], who is Ambassador to his Saxon-Polish Majesty, sets +out from Dresden for an interview with said Majesty. At the +Prussian lines, he is informed, 'Yes, you can go; but, without our +King's Order, you cannot return.' 'What? The Most Christian +Majesty's Ambassador, and treated in this way? I will go to where +the Polish King is, and I will return to my own King, so often as I +find business: stop me at your peril!' and threatened and argued, +and made a deal of blusterous noise;--far too much, thinks Valori; +think the Prussian Officers, who are sorry, but inflexible. +Margraf Karl, Commandant of the place, in absence of King Friedrich +(who is gone lately, on a Business we shall hear of), earnestly +dissuaded Excellency Broglio; but it was to no purpose. Next day +Broglio appeared in his state-carriage, formally demanding +entrance, free thoroughfare: 'Do you dare refuse me?' 'Yes,' +answered Margraf Karl; 'we do and must.' Indignant Broglio +reappeared, next day, on foot; Lieutenant-General Prince Friedrich +Eugen of Wurtemberg the chief man in charge: 'Do you dare?' +'Indubitably, Yes;'--and Broglio still pushing on incredulous, +Eugen actually raised his arm,--elbow and fore-arm across the +breast of Most Christian Majesty's Ambassador,--who recoiled, to +Dresden, in mere whirlwinds of fire; and made the most of it +[unwisely, thinks Valori] in writing to Court. [Valori, ii. 349, +209, 353 ("Wednesday, 6th October," the day of it, seemingly); +ib. i. 312, &c.] Court, in high dudgeon, commanded Valori to quit +Berlin without taking leave. Valori, in his private capacity, wrote +an Adieu; [Friedrich's kind Letter in answer to it, "2d November, +1756," in Valori, i. 313.] and in his public, as the fact stood, +That he was gone without Adieu." + +And the Dauphiness, daughter of those injured Polish Majesties, +fell on her knees (Pompadour permitting and encouraging) at the +feet of Most Christian Majesty; on her knees, all in passion of +tears; craved help and protection to her loved old Mother, in the +name of Nature and of all Kings: could any King resist? And his +Pompadour was busy: "Think of that noble Empress, who calls me +COUSIN AND DEAR PRINCESS; think of that insolent Prussian Robber: +Ah, your Majesty:" -and King Louis, though not a hating man, did +privately dislike Friedrich; and evil speeches of Friedrich's had +been reported to him. And, in short, the upshot was: King Louis, +bound only to 24,000 for help of Austria, determined to send, and +did send, above 100,000 across the Rhine, next Year, for that +object; as will be seen. And all Frenchmen--all except Belleisle, +who is old--are charmed with these new energetic measures, and +beautiful new Austrian connections. + +Certain it is, the Austrians are coming, her Imperial Majesty bent +with all her might on relief of those Saxon martyrs; which indeed +is relief of herself, as she well perceives: "Courage, my friends; +endure yet a little!" Messengers smuggle themselves through the +Mountain paths, and go and return, though with difficulty. + +Since September 19th, the Correspondence with Polish Majesty has +ceased: no persuading of the Polish Majesty. Winterfeld went twice +to him; conferred at large, Bruhl forbidden to be there, on the +actual stringencies and urgencies of Fact between the Two +Countries; but it was with no result at all. Polish Majesty has not +the least intention that Saxony shall be even a Highway for +Friedrich, if at any time Polish Majesty can hinder it: +"Neutrality," therefore, will not do for Friedrich; he demands +Alliance, practical Partnership; and to that his Polish Majesty is +completely abhorrent. Diplomatizing may cease; nothing but wrestle +of fight will settle this matter. + +Friedrich, able to get nothing from the Sovereign of Saxony, is +reduced to grasp Saxony itself: and we can observe him doing it; +always the closer, always the more carefully, as the complicacy +deepens, and the obstinacy becomes more dangerous and provoking. +What alternative is there? On first entering Saxony, Friedrich had +made no secret that he was not a mere bird of passage there. +At Torgau, there was at once a "Field-Commissariat" established, +with Prussian Officials of eminence to administer, the Military +Chest to be deposited there, and Torgau to be put in a state of +defence. Torgau, our Saxon Metropolis of War-Finance, is becoming +more and more the Metropolis of Saxon Finance in general. +Saxon Officials were liable, from the first, to be suspended, on +Friedrich's order. Saxon Finance-Officials, of all kinds, were from +the first instructed, that till farther notice there must be no +disbursements without King Friedrich's sanction. And, in fact, King +Friedrich fully intends that Saxony is to help him all it can; +and that it either will or else shall, in this dire pressure of +perplexity, which is due in such a degree to the conduct of the +Saxon Government for twelve years past. Would Saxony go with him in +any form of consent, how much more convenient to Friedrich! +But Saxony will not; Polish Majesty, not himself suffering hunger, +is obstinate as the decrees of Fate (or as sheep, when too much put +upon), regardless of considerations;--and, in fine, here is Browne +actually afoot; coming to relieve Polish Majesty!--The Austrians +had uncommonly bestirred themselves:-- + +The activity, the zeal of all ranks, ever since this expedition +into Saxony, and clutching of Saxony by the throat, contemporary +witnesses declare to have been extraordinary. "Horses for +Piccolomini's Cavalry,--they had scarcely got their horses, not to +speak of training them, not to speak of cannon and the heavier +requisites, when Schwerin began marching out of Glatz on +Piccolomini. As to the cannon for Browne and him, draught-cattle +seem absolutely unprocurable. Whereupon Maria Theresa flings open +her own Imperial Studs: 'There, yoke these to our cannon; let them +go their swiftest;'--which awoke such an enthusiasm, that noblemen +and peasants crowded forward with their coach-horses and their +cart-horses, to relay Browne, all through Bohemia, at different +stages; and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the +gallop, in a manner," [Archenholtz, i. 24.]--and even Browne, at +the base of the Metal Mountains, has got most of his equipments. +And is astir towards Pirna (Army of 60,000, rumor says), for relief +of the Saxon martyrs. Friedrich's complexities are getting day by +day more stringent. + +From the middle of September, Marshal Keith, as was observed, with +Half of the Prussians, Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick under him, has +been on the Bohemian slope of the Metal Mountains; securing the +roads, towns and passes thereabouts, and looking out for the +advance of Marshal Browne from the interior parts. Town of Aussig, +and the River-road (castle of Tetschen, on its high rock known to +Tourists, which always needs to be taken on such occasions), these +Keith has secured. Lies encamped from Peterswalde to Aussig, the +middle or main strength of him being in the Hamlet of Johnsdorf +(discoverable, if readers like): there lies Keith, fifteen miles in +length; like a strap, or bar, thrown across the back of that Metal- +Mountain Range,--or part of its back; for the range is very broad, +and there is much inequality, and many troughs, big and little, +partial and general, in the crossing of it. A tract which my +readers and I have crossed before now, by the "Pascopol" or Post- +road and otherwise; and shall often have to cross! + +Browne, vigorously astir in the interior (cannon and equipments +coming by relays at such a pace), is daily advancing, with his best +speed: in the last days of September, Browne is encamped at Budin; +may cross the Eger River any day, and will then be within two +marches of Keith. His intentions towards Pirna Country are fixed +and sure; but the plan or route he will take is unknown to +everybody, and indeed to Browne himself, till he see near at hand +and consider. Browne's problem, he himself knows, is abundantly +abstruse,--bordering on the impossible; but he will try his best. +To get within reach of the Saxons is almost impossible to Browne, +even were there no Keith there. As good as impossible altogether, +by any line of march, while Keith is afoot in those parts. +By Aussig, down the River, straight for the interior of their Camp, +it is flatly impossible: by the south or southeast corner of their +Camp (Gottleube way), or by the northeast (by Schandau way, right +bank of Elbe), it is virtually so,--at least without beating Keith. +Could one beat Keith indeed;--but that will not be easy! And that, +unluckily, is the preliminary to everything. + +"By the Hellendorf-Hennersdorf side, in the wastes where Gottleube +Brook gathers itself, Browne might have a chance. There, on that +southeast corner of their Camp, were he once there to attack the +Prussians from without, while the Saxons burst up from within,-- +there," thinks a good judge, "is much the favorablest place. +But unless Browne's Army had wings, how is it ever to get there? +Across those Metal-Mountain ranges, barred by Keith:--by Aussig, +with the rocks overhanging Elbe River and him, he cannot go in auy +case. Were there no Keith, indeed (but there always is, standing +ready on the spring), one might hold to leftward, and by stolen +marches, swift, far round about--! + +"By Schandau region, north side of the Elbe, is Browne's easiest, +and indeed one feasible, point of approach,--no Prussians at +present between him and that; the road open, though a far circuit +northward for Browne,--were he to cross the Elbe in Leitmeritz +circle, and march with velocity? That too will be difficult,-- +nearly impossible in sight of Keith. And were that even done, the +egress for the Saxons, by Schandau side, is through strait mountain +gorges, intricate steep passes, crossings of the Elbe: what force +of Saxons or of Austrians will drive the Prussians from their +redoubts and batteries there?" [<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end +italic> iv. 86, 93, 96.] + +Browne's problem is none of the feasiblest: but his orders are +strict, "Relieve the Saxons, at all risks." And Browne, one of the +ablest soldiers liviug ("Your Imperial Majesty's best general," +said the dying Khevenhuller long since), will do his utmost upon +it. Friedrich does not think the enterprise very dangerous,-- +beating of Keith the indispensable preliminary to it; but will +naturally himself go and look into it. + +Tuesday, September 28th, Friedrich quits Pirna Country by the Prag +Highway; making due inspection of his Posts as he goes along; +and, the outmost of these once past, drives rapidly up the +Mountains; gets, with small escort, through Peterswalde on to +Johnsdorf that night. Does not think this Keith position good; +breaks up this "Camp of Johnsdorf" bodily next morning; and marches +down the Mountains, direct towards Browne; who, we hear, is about +crossing the Eger (his Pontoons now come at last), and will himself +be on the advance. From Turmitz, a poor mountain hamlet in the +hollow of the Hills, which is head-quarters that night, the march +proceeds again; Friedrich with the vanguard; Army, I think, on +various country-roads, on both hands; till all get upon the Great +Road again,--Prag-Toplitz-Dresden Post-road; which is called, +specially in this part of it, and loosely in whole, "The Pascopol," +and leads down direct to Budin and Browne. + +"A 'Pascopol' famed in military annals," says our Tourist. "It is a +road with many windings, many precipitous sweeps of up and down; +road precipitous in structure;--offers views to the lover of wild +Nature: huge lonesome Hills scattered in the distance; +waste expanses nearer hand, and futile attempts at moorish +agriculture; but little else that is comfortable. In times of +Peace, you will meet, at long intervals, some post-vehicle +struggling forward under melancholy circumstances; some cart, or +dilapidated mongrel between cart and basket, with a lean ox +harnessed to it, and scarecrow driver, laden with pit-coal,--which +you wish safe home, and that the scarecrow were getting warmed by +it. But in War-time the steep road is livelier; the common Invasion +road between Saxony and Bohemia; whole Armies sweeping over it, and +their thousand-fold wagons and noises making clangor enough. +... One of those Hollows, on the Pascopol, is Joachimsthal, with +its old Silver Mines; yielding coins which were in request with +traders, the silver being fine. 'Let my ducat be a Joachimsthal +one, then!' the old trader would say: 'a JOACHIMSTHAL-ER;' or, for +brevity, a 'THAL-ER;' whence THALER, and at last DOLLAR (almighty +and otherwise),--now going round the world! [Busching, <italic> +Erdbeschreibung, <end italic> v. 178.] Pascopol finishes in Welmina +Township. From the last hamlet in Welmina, at the neck of the last +Hill, step downward one mile, holding rather to the left, you will +come on the innocent Village of Lobositz, its poor corn-mills and +huckster-shops all peaceably unknown as yet, which is soon to +become very famous." + +The Country-roads where Friedrich's Army is on march, I should +think, are mostly on the mounting hand. For here, from Turmitz, is +a trough again; though the last considerable one; and on the crest +of that, we shall look down upon the Bohemian Plains and the grand +Basin of the Elbe,--through various scrubby villages which are not +nameworthy; through one called Kletschen, which for a certain +reason is. Crossing the shoulder of Kletschenberg (HILL of this +Kletschen), which abuts upon the Pascopol,--yonder in bright +sunshine is your beautiful expansive Basin of the Elbe, and the +green Bohemian Plains, revealed for a moment. Friedrich snatches +his glass, not with picturesque object: "See, yonder is +Feldmarschall Browne, then! In camp yonder, down by Lobositz, not +ten miles from us,--[it is most true; Browne marched this morning, +long before the Sun; crossed Eger, and pitched camp at noon]-- +Good!" thinks Friedrich. And pushes down into the Pascopol, +into the hollows and minor troughs, which hide Browne henceforth, +till we are quite near. + +Quite near, through Welmina and a certain final gap of the Hills, +Friedrich with the vanguard does emerge, "an hour before sunset;" +overhanging Browne; not above a mile from the Camp of Browne. +A very large Camp, that of Browne's, flanked to right by the Elbe; +goes from Sulowitz, through Lobositz, to Welhoten close on Elbe;-- +and has properties extremely well worth studying just now! +"Friedrich" the Books say, "bivouacs by a fire of sticks," short +way down on the southern slope of the Hill; and till sunset and +after, has eye-glass, brain, and faculties and activities +sufficiently occupied for the rest of the night;--his Divisions +gradually taking post behind him, under arms; "not till midnight, +the very rearmost of them." ["Tuesday, 28th September, left the +Camp at Sedlitz, with 8 battalions 20 squadrons, to Johnsdorf: +29th, to Turmitz,--Browne is to pass the Eger tomorrow. From the +tops of the Pascopol (30th), SEE an Austrian Camp in the Plain of +Lobositz. Vanguard bivouacs in the 'neck' of the two Hills or a +little beyond." PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT OF CAMPAIGN 1756 (in <italic> +Gesammelte Nachrichten, i. 844-845, 840-858); Anonymous of Hamburg; +&c. &c.] + + + +Chapter VI. + +BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ. + +Welmina,--or Reschni-Aujest, last pertinent of Welmina (but we will +take Friedrich's name for it), offers to the scrutinizing eye +nothing, in our day, but some bewildered memory of "Alte Fritz" +clinging obstinately even to the Peasant mind thereabouts. A sleepy +littery place; some biggish haggard untrimmed trees, some broken- +backed sleepy-looking thatched houses, not in contact, and each as +far as might be with its back turned on the other, and cloaked in +its own litter and privacy. Probably no human creature will be +visible, as you pass through. Much straw lying about, chiefly where +the few gaunt trees look down on it (cattle glad of any shelter): +in fact, it is mainly an extinct tumult of straw; nothing alive, as +you pass, but a few poor oxen languidly sauntering up and down, +finding much to trample, little to eat. The Czech Populations +(were it not for that "Question of the Nationalities") are not +very beautiful! + +Close south of this poor Hamlet is a big Hill, conspicuous with +three peaks; quite at the other base of which, a good way down, +lies Lobositz, the main Village in those parts; a place now of +assiduous corn-mill and fruit trade; and one of the stations on the +Dresden-Prag Railway. This Hill is what Lloyd calls the Lobosch; +[Major-General Lloyd, <italic> History of the late War in Germany, +<end italic> 1756-1759 (3 vols. 4to, London, 1781), i. 2-11.] twin +to which, only flatter, is Lloyd's "Homolka Hill" (Hill of +RADOSTITZ in more modern Plans and Books). Conspicuous Heights, and +important to us here,--though I did not find the Peasants much know +them under those names. By the southern shoulder of this Lobosch +Hill runs the road from Welmina to Lobositz, with branches towards +many other villages. To your right or southern hand, short way +southward, rises the other Hill, which Lloyd calls Homolka Hill; +the gap or interval between Homolka and Lobosch, perhaps a furlong +in extent, is essentially the PASS through those uplands. +This pass, Friedrich, at the first moment, made sure of; +filling the same with battalions, there to bivouac. He likewise +promptly laid hold of the two Hills, high Lobosch to his left, and +lower Homolka to right; which precautionary measure it is reckoned +a fault in Browne to have neglected, that night; fault for which he +smarted on the morrow. + +From this upland pass, or neck between the two Mountains, +Friedrich's battalions would have had a fine view, had the morning +shone for them: Lobositz, Leitmeritz, Melnick; a great fertile +Valley, or expanse of fruitful country, many miles in breadth and +length; Elbe, like a silver stripe, winding grandly through the +finest of all his countries, before ducking himself into the rock- +tumults of that Pirna district. The mountain gorges of Prag and +Moldau River, south of Melnick, lie hidden under the horizon, or +visible only as peaks, thirty miles and more to southeastward; +a bright country intervening, sprinkled with steepled towns. +To northwestward, far away, are the Lausitz Mountains, ranked in +loose order, but massive, making a kind of range: and as outposts +to them in their scattered state, Hills of good height and aspect +are scattered all about, and break the uniformity of the Plain. +Nowhere in North Germany could the Prussian battalions have a finer +view,--if the morning were fine, and if views were their object. + +The morning, first in October, was not fine; and it was far other +than scenery that the Prussian battalions had in hand!--Friday, 1st +October, 1756, Day should have broken: but where is day? At seven +in the morning (and on till eleven), thick mist lay over the plain; +thin fog to the very hill-tops; so that you cannot see a hundred +yards ahead. Lobositz is visible only as through a crape; +farther on, nothing but gray sea; under which, what the Austrians +are doing, or whether there are any Austrians, who can say? +Leftward on the Lobosch-Hill side, as we reconnoitre, some Pandours +are noticeable, nestled in the vineyards there:--that sunward side +of the Lobosch is all vineyards, belonging to the different +Lobositzers: scrubby vineyards, all in a brown plucked state at +this season. Vineyards parted by low stone walls, say three or four +feet high (parted by hurdles, or by tiny trenches, in our day, and +the stone walls mere stone facings): there are the Pandours +crouched, and give fire in a kneeling posture when you approach. +Lower down, near Lobositz itself, flickerings as of Horse +squadrons, probably Hussar parties, twinkle dubious in the wavering +mist. Problem wrapt in mist; nothing to be seen; and all depends on +judging it with accuracy! Seven by the clock: Deploy, at any rate; +let us cover our post; and be in readiness for events. + +Friedrich's vanguard of itself nearly fills that neck, or space +between the Lobosch and Homolka Hills. He spreads his Infantry and +"hundred field-pieces," in part, rightwards along the Homolka Hill; +but chiefly leftwards along the Lobosch, where their nearest duty +is to drive off those Pandours. Always as a new battalion, pushing +farther leftward, comes upon its ground, the Pandours give fire on +it;--and it on the Pandours; till the Left Wing is complete, and +all the Lobosch is, in this manner, a crackling of Pandour +musketry. and anti-musketry. Right Wing, steady to its guns on the +Homolka, has as yet nothing to do. Those wings of Infantry are two +lines deep; the Cavalry, in three lines, is between them in the +centre; no room for Cavalry elsewhere, except on the outskirts some +fringing of light horse, to be ready for emergencies. + +The Pandour firing, except for the noise of it, does not amount to +much; they can take no aim, says Lloyd, crouching behind their +stone fences; and the Prussian Battalions, steadily pushing +downwards, trample out their sputtering, and clear the Lobosch of +them to a safe distance. But the ground is intricate, so wrapt in +mist for the present. That crackling lasts for hours; decisive of +nothing; and the mist also, and one's anxious guessings and +scrutinizings, lasts in a wavering fitful manner. + +Once, for some time, in the wavering of the mist, there was seen, +down in the plain opposite our centre, a body of Cavalry. Horse for +certain: say ten squadrons of them, or 1,500 Horse; continually +manoeuvring, changing shape; now in more ranks, now in fewer; +sometimes "checkerwise," formed like a draught-board; shooting out +wings: they career about, one sees not whither, or vanish again +into the mist behind. "Browne's rear-guard this, that we are come +upon," thinks Friedrich; "these squatted Pandours, backed by Horse, +must be his rear-guard, that are amusing us: Browne and the Army +are off; crossing the Elbe, hastening towards the Schandau, the +Pirna quarter, while we stand bickering and idly sputtering here!" +--Weary of such idle business, Friedrich orders forward Twenty of +his Squadrons from the centre station: "Charge me those Austrian +Horse, and let us finish this." The Twenty Squadrons, preceded by a +pair of field-pieces, move down hill; storm in upon the Austrian +party, storm it furiously into the mist; are furiously chasing it, +--when unexpected cannon-batteries, destructive case-shot, awaken +on their left flank (batteries from Lobositz, one may guess); +and force them to draw back. To draw back, with some loss; and rank +again, in an indignantly blown condition, at the foot of their +Hill. Indignant; after brief breathing, they try it once more. + +"Don't try it!" Friedrich had sent out to tell them: for the mist +was clearing; and Friedrich, on the higher ground, saw new +important phenomena: but it was too late. For the Twenty Squadrons +are again dashing forward; sweeping down whatever is before them: +in spite of cannon-volleys, they plunge deeper and deeper into the +mist; come upon "a ditch twelve feet broad" (big swampy drain, such +as are still found there, grass-green in summer-time); clear said +ditch; forward still deeper into the mist: and after three hundred +yards, come upon a second far worse "ditch;" plainly impassable +this one,--"ditch" they call it, though it is in fact a vile sedgy +Brook, oozing along there (the MORELL BACH, considerable Brook, +lazily wandering towards Lobositz, where it disembogues in rather +swifter fashion);--and are saluted with cannon, from the farther +side; and see serried ranks under the gauze of mist: Browne's Army, +in fact! The Twenty Squadrons have to recoil out of shot-range, the +faster, the better; with a loss of a good many men, in those two +charges. Friedrich orders them up Hill again; much regretful of +this second charge, which he wished to hinder; and posts them to +rearward,--where they stand silent, the unconscious stoic- +philosophers in buff, and have little farther service through the +rest of the day. + +It is now 11 o'clock; the mist all clearing off; and Friedrich, +before that second charge, had a growing view of the Plain and its +condition. Beyond question, there is Browne; not in retreat, by any +means; but in full array; numerous, and his position very strong. +Ranked, unattackable mostly, behind that oozy Brook, or BACH of +Morell; which has only two narrow Bridges, cannon plenty on both: +one Bridge from the south parts to Sulowitz (OUR road to Sulowitz +and it would be by Radostitz and the Homolka); and then one other +Bridge, connecting Sulowitz with Lobositz,--which latter is +Browne's own Bridge, uniting right wing and left of Browne, so to +speak; and is still more unattackable, in the circumstances. +What will Friedrich decide on attempting? + +That oozy Morell Brook issues on Browne's side of Lobositz, cutting +Browne in two; but is otherwise all in Browne's favor. +Browne extends through Lobositz; and beyond it, curves up to +Welhoten on the River-brink; at Lobositz are visible considerable +redoubts, cannon-batteries and much regular infantry. Browne will +be difficult to force yonder, in the Lobositz part; but yonder +alone can he be tried. He is pushing up more Infantry that way; +conscious probably of that fact,--and that the Lobosch Hill is not +his, but another's. What would not Browne now give for the Lobosch +Hill! Yesternight he might have had it gratis, in a manner; +and indeed did try slightly, with his Pandour people (durst not at +greater expense),--who have now ceased sputtering, and cower +extinct in the lower vineyards there. Browne, at any rate, is +rapidly strengthening his right wing, which has hold of Lobositz; +pushing forward in that quarter,--where the Brook withal is of +firmer bottom and more wadable. Thither too is Friedrich bent. +So that Lobositz is now the key of the Battle; there will the tug +of war now be. + +Friedrich's cavalry is gone all to rearward. His right wing holds +the Homolka Hill,--that too would now be valuable to Browne; +and cannot be had gratis, as yesternight! Friedrich's left wing is +on the Lobosch; Pandours pretty well extinct before it, but now +from Welhoten quarter new Regulars coming on thither,--as if Browne +would still take the Lobosch? Which would be victory to him; but is +not now possible to Browne. Nor will long seem so;--Friedrich +having other work in view for him;--meaning now to take Lobositz, +instead of losing the Lobosch to him! Friedrich pushes out his Left +Wing still farther leftward, leftward and downward withal, to clear +those vineyard-fences completely of their occupants, Pandour or +Regular, old or new. This is done; the vineyard-fences swept;--and +the sweepings driven, in a more and more stormy fashion, towards +Welhoten and Lobositz; the Lobosch falling quite desperate +for Browne. + +Henceforth Friedrich directs all his industry to taking Lobositz; +Browne, to the defending of it, which he does with great vigor and +fire; his batteries, redoubts, doing their uttermost, and his +battalions rushing on, mass of them after mass, at quick march, +obstinate, fierce to a degree, in the height of temper; and showing +such fight as we never had of them before. Friedrich's Left Wing +and Browne's Right now have it to decide between them;--any attempt +Browne makes with his Left through Sulowitz (as he once did, and +once only) is instantly repressed by cannon from the Homolka Hill. +And the rest of the Battle, or rather the Battle itself,--for all +hitherto has been pickeering and groping in the mist,--may be made +conceivable in few words. + +Friedrich orders the second line of his Left Wing to march up and +join with the first; Right Wing, shoving ITS two lines into one, is +now to cover the Lobosch as well. Left Wing, in condensed +condition, shall fall down on Lobositz, and do its best. They are +now clear of the vineyard-works; the ground is leveller, though +still sloping,--a three furlongs from the Village, and somewhat +towards the Elbe, when Browne's battalions first came extensively +to close grips; fierce enough (as was said); the toughest wrestle +yet had with those Austrians,--coming on with steady fury, under +such force of cannon; with iron ramrods too, and improved ways, +like our own. But nothing could avail them; the counter-fury being +so great. They had to go at the Welhoten part, and even to run,-- +plunging into Elbe, a good few of them, and drowning there, in the +vain hope to swim. "Never have my troops," says Friedrich, "done +such miracles of valor, cavalry as well as infantry, since I had +the honor to command them. By this dead-lift achievement (TOUR DE +FORCE) I have seen what they can do." [Letter to Schwerin, +"Lobositz, 2d August, 1756" (Retzow, i. 64); RELATION DE LA +CAMPAGNE, 1756, that is, PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT (in <italic> Gesammelte +Nachrichten), <end italic> i. 848. Lloyd, UT SUPRA, i. 2-11 (who +has solid information at first hand, having been an actor in these +Wars. A man of great natural sagacity and insight; decidedly +luminous and original, though of somewhat crabbed temper now and +then; a man well worth hearing on this and on whatever else he +handles). Tempelhof, GESCHICHTE DES SIEBENJAHRIGEN KRIEGES (which +is at first a mere Translation of Lloyd, nothing new in it but +certain notes and criticisms on Lloyd; when Lloyd ends, Tempelhof, +Prussian Major and Professor, a learned, intelligent, but diffuse +man, of far inferior talent to Lloyd, continues and completes on +his own footing: six very thin 4tos, Berlin, 1794), i. 38 (Battle, +with FOOTNOTES), and ib. 51 (CRITICISM of Lloyd). Prussian and +Austrian Accounts in <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iii. +800 et seq. Many Narratives in FELDZUGE, and the BEYLAGE to +Seyfarth; &c. &c.] + +In fine, after some three hours more of desperate tugging and +struggling, cannon on both sides going at a great rate, and +infinite musketry ("ninety cartridges a man on our Prussian side, +and ammunition falling done"), not without bayonet-pushings, and +smitings with the butt of your musket, the Austrians are driven +into Lobositz; are furiously pushed there, and, in spite of new +battalions coming to the rescue, are fairly pushed through. +These Village-streets are too narrow for new battalions from +Browne; "much of the Village should have been burnt beforehand," +say cool judges. And now, sure enough, it does get burnt; +Lobositz is now all on fire, by Prussian industry. So that the +Austrians have to quit it instantly; and rush off in great +disorder; key of the Battle, or Battle itself, quite lost to them. + +The Prussian infantry, led by the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern +("Governor of Stettin," one of the Duke-Ferdinand cousinry, frugal +and valiant), gave the highest satisfaction; seldom was such +firing, such furious pushing; they had spent ninety cartridges a +man; were at last quite out of cartridges; so that Bevern had to +say, "Strike in with bayonets, MEINE KINDER; butt-ends, or what we +have; HERAN!" Our Grenadiers were mainly they that burnt Lobositz. +"How salutary now would it have been," says Epimetheus Lloyd, "had +Browne had a small battery on the other side of the Elbe;" +whereby he might have taken them in flank, and shorn them into the +wind! Epimetheus marks this battery on his Plan; and is wise +behindhand, at a cheap rate. + +Browne's Right Wing, and probably his Army with it, would have gone +much to perdition, now that Lobositz was become Prussian,--had not +Browne, in the nick of the moment, made a masterly movement: +pushed forward his Centre and Left Wing, numerous battalions still +fresh, to interpose between the chasing Prussians and those +fugitives. The Prussians, infantry only, cannot chase on such +terms; the Prussian cavalry, we know, is far rearward on the high +ground. Browne retires a mile or two,--southward, Budin-ward,--not +chased; and there halts, and rearranges himself; thinking what +farther he will do. His aim in fighting had only been to defend +himself; and in that humble aim he has failed. Chase of the +Prussians over that Homolka-Lobosch country, with the high grounds +rearward and the Metal Mountains in their hands, he could in no +event have attempted. + +The question now is: Will he go back to Budin; or will he try +farther towards Schandau? Nature points to the former course, in +such circumstances; Friedrich, by way of assisting, does a thing +much admired by Lloyd;--detaches Bevern with a strong party +southward, out of Lobositz, which is now his, to lay hold of +Tschirskowitz, lying Budin-ward, but beyond the Budin Road. +Which feat, when Browne hears of it, means to him, "Going to cut me +off from Budin, then? From my ammunition-stores, from my very +bread-cupboard!" And he marches that same midnight, silently, in +good order, back to Budin. He is not much ruined; nay the Prussian +loss is numerically greater: "3,308 killed and wounded, on the +Prussian side; on the Austrian, 2,984, with three cannon taken and +two standards." Not ruined at all; but foiled, frustrated; and has +to devise earnestly, "What next?" Once rearranged, he may +still try. + +The Battle lasted seven hours; the last four of it very hot, till +Lobositz was won and lost. It was about 5 P.M. when Browne fired +his retreat-cannon:--cannon happened to be loaded (say the +Anecdote-Books, mythically given now and then); Friedrich, wearied +enough, had flung himself into his carriage for a moment's rest, or +thankful reflection; and of all places, the ball of the retreat- +cannon lighted THERE. Between Friedrich's feet, as he lay +reclining,--say the Anecdote-Books, whom nobody is bound +to believe. + +On the strength of those two Prussian charges, which had retired +from case-shot on their flank, and had not wings, for getting over +sedge and ooze, Austria pretended to claim the victory. +"Two charges repelled by our gallant horse; Lobositz, indeed, was +got on fire, and we had nothing for it but to withdraw; but we took +a new position, and only left that for want of water;"--with the +like excuses. "Essentially a clear victory," said the Austrians; +and sang TE-DEUM about it;--but profited nothing by that piece of +melody. The fact, considerable or not, was, from the first, too +undeniable: Browne beaten from the field. And beaten from his +attempt too (the Saxons not relievable by this method); and lies +quiet in Budin again,--with his water sure to him; but what other +advantages gained? + +Here are two Letters, brief both, which we may as well read:-- + +1. FRIEDRICH TO WILHELMINA (at Baireuth). + +"LOBOSITZ, 4th October, 1756. + +"MY DEAR SISTER,--Your will is accomplished. Tired out by these +Saxon delays, I put myself at the head of my Army of Bohemia +[Keith's hitherto]; and marched from Aussig to--a Name which seemed +to me of good augury, being yours,--to the Village of Welmina +[Battle was called OF WELMINA, by the Prussians at first]. I found +the Austrians here, near Lobositz; and, after a Fight of seven +hours, forced them to run. Nobody of your acquaintance is killed, +except Generals Luderitz and OErzen [who are not of ours]. + +"I return you a thousand thanks for the tender part you take in my +lot. Would to Heaven the valor of my Army might procure us a stable +Peace! That ought to be the aim of War. Adieu, my dear Sister; +I embrace you tenderly, assuring you of the lively affection with +which I am-F." [<italic> OEuvres, <end italic> xxvii. i. 291.] + + 2. PRINCE OF PRUSSIA TO VALORI (who is still at Berlin, but + soon going as it proves,--Broglio's explosion at the Lines of + Gross-Sedlitz being on hand, during the King's absence, in + these very hours ["5th-6th October" (Valori, ii. 353).] + +"CAMP OF LOBOSITZ, 5th October, 1756. + +"You will know the news of the day; and I am persuaded you take +part in it. All you say to me betokens the conspiracy there is for +the destruction of our Country. If that is determined in the Book +of Fate, we cannot escape it. + +"Had my advice been asked, a year ago, I should have voted to +preserve the Alliance [with YOU] which we had been used to for +sixteen years [strictly for twelve, though in substance ever since +1740], and which was by nature advantageous to us. But if my advice +were asked just now, I should answer, That the said method being +now impossible, we are in the case of a ship's captain who defends +himself the best he can, and when all resources are exhausted, has, +rather than surrender on shameful conditions, to fire the powder- +magazine, and blow up his ship. You remember that of your +Francois I."--FORS L'HONNEUR; ah yes, very well!--"Perhaps it will +be my poor Children who will be the victims of these past errors," +--for such I still think them, I for my part. + +"The Gazettes enumerate the French troops that are to besiege +Wesel, Geldern [Wesel they will get gratis, poor Geldern will +almost break their heart first], and take possession of Ost- +Friesland; the Russian Declaration [Manifesto not worth reading] +tells us Russia's intentions for the next year [most truculent +intentions]: we will defend ourselves to the last drop of our +blood, and perish with honor. If you have any counsel farther, I +pray you give it me. + + +MAP GOES HERE-- BETWEEN P. 350 AND 351 Chap VII book 17 + + +"Remain always my friend; and believe that in all situations I will +remain yours; and trying to do what my duty is, will not forfeit +the sentiments on your part which have been so precious to me. +Your servant, GUILLAUME." [Valori, ii. 204-206.] + +"Pity this good Prince contemplating the downfall of his House," +suggests Valori: "He deserved a better fate! He would be in despair +to think I had sent this Letter to your Excellency; but I thought +perhaps you would show it to the King,"--and that it might do good +one day. [Valori (to the French Minister, "12th October, 1756"), +ii. 204.] The Prussians lay in their "Camp of Lobositz," posted up +and down in that neighborhood, for a couple of weeks more; +waiting whether Rrowne would attempt anything farther in the +fighting way; and, in fine, whether the solution of the crisis +would fall out hereabouts, or on the other side of the Hills. + + + +Chapter VII. + +THE SAXONS GET OUT OF PIRNA ON DISMAL TERMS. + +The disaster of October 1st--for which they were trying to sing +TE-DEUMS at Vienna--fell heavier on the poor Saxons, in their cage +at Pirna: "Alas, where is our deliverance now?" Friedrich's people, +in their lines here, gave them such a "joy-firing" for Lobositz as +Retzow has seldom heard; huge volleyings, salvoings, running-fires, +starting out, artistically timed and stationed, thunderous, high; +and borne by the echoes, gloomily reverberative, into every dell +and labyrinth of the Pirna Country;--intended to strike a deeper +damp into them, thinks he. [Retzow, i. 67.] But Imperial Majesty +was mindful, too; and straightway sent Browne positive order, +"Deliver me these poor Saxons at any price!" And in the course of +not quite a week from Lobositz, there arrives a confidential +Messenger from Browne: "Courage still, ye caged Saxons; I will try +it another way! Only you must hold out till the 11th; on the 11th +stand to your tools, and it shall be done." + +Browne is to take a succinct Detachment, 8,000 picked men, horse +and foot; to make a wider sweep with these, well eastward by the +foot of Lausitz Hills, and far enough from all Prussian parties and +scouts; to march, with all speed and silence, "through Bohm-Leipa, +Kamnitz, Rumburg, Schluckenau; and come in upon the Schandau +region, quite from the northeast side; say, at Lichtenhayn; +an eligible Village, which is but seven miles or so from the +Konigstein, with the chasmy country and the river intervening. +Monday, October llth, Browne will arrive at Lichtenhayn (sixty +miles of circling march from Budin); privately post himself near +Lichtenhayn; Prussian posts, of no great strength, lying ahead of +him there. You, indignant extenuated Saxons, are to get yourselves +across,--near the Konigstein it will have to be, under cover of the +Konigstein's cannon,--on the front or riverward side of those same +Prussian posts: crossing-place (Browne's Messenger settles) can be +Thurmsdorf Hamlet, opposite the Lilienstein, opposite the Hamlets +of Ebenheit and Halbstadt there. Konigstein fire will cover your +bridge and your building of it. + +"Monday night next, I say, post yourselves there, with hearts +resolute, with powder dry; there, about the eastern roots of the +Lilienstein [beautiful Show Mountain, with stair-steps cut on it +for Tourist people, by August the Strong], and avoid the Prussian +battery and abatis which is on it just now! You at Ebenheit, I at +Lichtenhayn, trimmed and braced for action, through that Monday +night. Tuesday morning, the Konigstein, at your beckoning, shall +fire two cannon-shots; which shall mean, 'All ready here!' +Then forward, you, on those Prussian posts by the front; I will +attack them by the rear. With right fury, both of us! I am told, +they are but weak in those posts; surely, by double impetus, and +dead-lift effort from us both, they CAN be forced? Only force +them,--you are in the open field again; and you march away with me, +colors flying; your hunger-cage and all your tribulations left +behind you!"-- + +This is Browne's plan. The poor Saxons accept,--what choice have +they?--though the question of crossing and bridge-building has its +intricacies; and that inevitable item of "postponement till the +11th" is a sore clause to them; for not only are there short and +ever shorter rations, but grim famine itself is advancing with +large strides. The "daily twenty ounces of meal" has sunk to half +that quantity; the "ounce or so of butcher's-meat once a week" has +vanished, or become HORSE of extreme leanness. The cavalry horses +have not tasted oats, nothing but hay or straw (not even water +always); the artillery horses had to live by grazing, brown leaves +their main diet latterly. Not horses any longer; but walking +trestles, poor animals! And the men,--well, they are fallen pale; +but they are resolute as ever. The nine corn-mills, which they have +in this circuit of theirs, grind now night and day; and all the +cavalry are set to thresh whatever grain can be found about; +no hind or husbandman shall retain one sheaf: in this way, they +hope, utter hunger may be staved off, and the great attempt made. +[PRECIS DE LA RETRAITE DE L'ARMEE SAXONNE DE SON CAMP DE PIRNA (in +<italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten, <end italic> i. 482-494).] + +Browne skilfully and perfectly did his part of the Adventure. +Browne arrives punctually at Lichtenhayn, evening of the 11th; +bivouacs, hidden in the Woods thereabouts, in cold damp weather; +stealthily reconnoitres the Prussian Villages ahead, and trims +himself for assault, at sound of the two cannons to-morrow. +But there came no cannon-signal on the morrow; far other +signallings and messagings to-morrow, and next day, and next, from +the Konigstein and neighborhood! "Wait, Excellency Feldmarschall +[writes Bruhl to him, Note after Note, instead of signalling from +the Konigstein]: do wait a very little! You run no risk in waiting; +we, even if we MUST yield, will make that our first stipulation!" +"YOU will?" grumbles Browne; and waits, naturally, with extreme +impatience. But the truth is, the Adventure, on the Saxon side of +it, has already altogether misgone; and becomes, from this point +onwards, a mere series of failures, futilities and disastrous +miseries, tragical to think of. Worth some record here, since there +are Documents abundant;--especially as Feldmarschall Rutowski (who +is General-in-Chief, an old, not esteemed, friend of ours) has +produced, or caused to be produced, a Narrative, which illuminates +the Business from within as well. [PRECIS, &c. (just cited); +compare TAGEBUCH DER EINSCHLIESSUNG DES SACHSISCHEN LAGERS BEY +PIRNA ("Diary," &c., which is the Prussian Account: in Seyfarth, +BEYLAGEN), ii. 22-48.] The latter is our main Document here:-- + +I know not how much of the blame was General Rutowski's: one could +surmise some laxity of effort, and a rather slovenly-survey of +facts, in that quarter. The Enterprise, from the first, was flatly +impossible, say judges; and it is certain, poor Rutowski's +execution was not first-rate. "How get across the Elbe?" Rutowski +had said to himself, perhaps not quite with the due rigor of candor +proportionate to the rigorous fact: "How get across the Elbe? +We have copper pontoons at Pirna; but they will be difficult to +cart. Or we might have a boat-bridge; boats planked together two +and two. At Pirna are plenty of boats; and by oar and track-rope, +the River itself might be a road for them? Boats or pontoons to +Konigstein, by water or land, they must be got. Eight miles of +abysmal roads, our horses all extenuated? Impossible to cart these +pontoons!" said Rutowski to himself.--Pity he had not tried it. +He had a week to do those eight bad miles in; and 2,000 lean +horses, picking grass or brown leaves, while their riders threshed. +"We will drag our pontoons by water, by the Elbe tow-path," thought +Rutowski, "that will be easier;"--and forthwith sets about +preparing for it, secretly collecting boats at Pirna, steersmen, +towing-men, bridge-tackle and what else will be necessary. + +Rutowski made, at least, no delay. Browne's messenger, we find, had +come to him, "Thursday, 7th:" and on Friday night Rutowski has a +squad of boatmen, steersmen and twoscore of towiug peasants ready; +and actually gets under way. They are escorted by the due +battalions with field-pieces;--who are to fire upon the Prussian +batteries, and keep up such a blaze of musketry and heavier shot, +as will screen the boats in passing. Surely a ticklish operation, +this;--arguing a sanguine temper in General Rutowski! The south +bank of the River is ours; but there are various Prussian +batteries, three of them very strong, along the north bank, which +will not fail to pelt us terribly as we pass. No help for it;--we +must trust in luck! Here is the sequel, with dates adjusted. + +ELBE RIVER, NIGHT OF OCTOBER 8th-9th. Friday night, accordingly, so +soon as Darkness (unusually dark this night) has dropt her veil on +the business, Rutowski sets forth. The Prussian battery, or bridge- +head (TETE-DE-PONT), at Pirna, has not noticed him, so silent was +he. But, alas, the other batteries do not fail to notice; to give +fire; and, in fact, on being answered, and finding it a serious +thing, to burst out into horrible explosion; unanswerable by the +Saxon field-pieces; and surely perilous to human nature steering +and towing those big River-Boats. "Loyal to our King, and full of +pity for him; that are we;"--but towing at a rate, say of two +shillings per head! Before long, the forty towing peasants fling +down their ropes, first one, then more, then all, in spite of +efforts, promises, menaces; and vanish among the thickets,-- +forfeiting the two shillings, on view of imminent death. +Soldiers take the towing-ropes; try to continue it a little; +but now the steersmen also manage to call halt: "We won't! Let us +out, let us out! We will steer you aground on the Prussian shore if +you don't!" making night hideous. And the towing enterprise breaks +down for that bout; double barges mooring on the Saxon shore, I +know not precisely at what point, nor is it material. + +SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 9th-10th) New boatmen, forty new towmen +have been hired at immense increase of wages; say four shillings +for the night: but have you much good probability, my General, that +even for that high guerdon imminence of death can be made +indifferent to towmen? No, you have n't. The matter goes this night +precisely as it did last: towmen vanishing in the horrible cannon +tumult; steersmen shrieking, "We will ground you on the Prussian +shore;" very soldiers obliged to give it up; and General Rutowski +himself obliged to wash his hands of it, as a thing that cannot be +done. In fact, a thing which need not have been tried, had Rutowski +been rigorously candid with himself and his hopes, as the facts now +prove to be. "Twenty-four hours lost by this bad business" (says +he; "thirty-six," as I count, or, to take it rigorously, "forty- +eight" even): and now, Sunday morning instead of Friday, at what, +in sad truth, is metaphorically "the eleventh hour," Rutowski has +to bethink him of his copper pontoons; and make the impossible +carting method possible in a day's time, or do worse. + +SUNDAY, MONDAY, OCTOBER 10th-11th, By unheard-of exertions, all +hands and all spent-horses now at a dead-lift effort night and day, +Rutowski does get his pontoons carted out of the Pirna storehouse; +lands them at Thurmsdorf,--opposite the Lilienstein,--a mile or so +short of Konigstein, where his Bridge shall be. It is now the 11th, +at night. And our pontoons are got to the ground, nothing more. +Every man of us, at this hour, should have been across, and +trimming himself to climb, with bayonet fixed! Browne is ready, +expecting our signal-shot to storm in on his side. And our bridge +is not built, only the pontoons here. "All things went perverse," +adds Rutowski, for farther comfort: "we [Saxon Home-Army] had with +us, except Officers, only Four Pontoniers, or trained Bridge- +builders; all the rest are at Warsaw:" sad thought, but too late to +think it! + +TUESDAY, TILL WEDNESDAY EARLY (12th-13th), Bridge, the Four +Pontoniers, with Officers and numb soldiers doing their best, is +got built;--Browne waiting for us, on thorns, all day; +Prussians extensively beginning to strengthen their posts, about +the Lilienstein, about Lichtenhayn, or where risk is; and in fact +pouring across to that northern side, quite aware of Rutowski +and Browne. + +That same night, 12th-13th, while the Bridge was struggling to +complete itself,--rain now falling, and tempests broken out,--the +Saxon Army, from Pirna down to Hennersdorf, had lifted itself from +its Lines, and got under way towards Thurmsdorf, and the crossing- +place. Dark night, plunging rain; all the elements in uproar. +The worst roads in Nature; now champed doubly; "such roads as never +any Army marched on before." Most of their cannon are left +standing; a few they had tried to yoke, broke down, "and choked up +the narrow road altogether; so that the cavalry had to dismount, +and lead their horses by side-paths,"--figure what side-paths! +Distance to Thurmsdorf, from any point of the Saxon Lines, cannot +be above six miles: but it takes them all that night and all next +day. Such a march as might fill the heart with pity. Oh, ye +Rutowskis, Bruhls, though never so decorated by twelve tailors, +what a sight ye are at the head of men! Dark night, wild raging +weather, labyrinthic roads worn knee-deep. It is broad daylight, +Wednesday, 13th, and only the vanguard is yet got across, trailing +a couple of cannons; and splashes about, endeavoring to take rank +there, in spite of wet and hunger; rain still pouring, wind +very high. + +Nothing of Browne comes, this Wednesday; but from the opposite +Gross-Sedlitz and Gottleube side, the Prussians are coming. +This morning, at daylight, struck by symptoms, "the Prussians +mounted our empty redoubts:" they are now in full chase of us, +Ziethen with Hussars as vanguard. A difficult bit of marching, even +Ziethen and his light people find it; sprawling forward, at their +cheeriest, with daylight to help, and in chase, not chased, through +such intricacies of rock and mud. Ziethen's company did not assist +the Saxons! They wheel round, show fight, and there is volleying +and bickering all day; the Saxon march getting ever more perturbed. +Nearly all the baggage has to be left. Ziethen takes into the woods +near Thurmsdorf; giving fire as the poor wet Saxons, now much in a +pell-mell condition, pass to their Bridge. [PRUSSIAN ACCOUNT (in +<italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten), <end italic> i. 852.] +Heavier Prussians are striding on to rear; these, from some final +hill-top, do at last belch out two cannon-shots: figure the +confusion at that Bridge, the speed now becoming delirious there! +Towards evening, rain still violent, the Saxons, baggageless, and +rushing quite pell-mell the latter part of them, are mostly across, +still countable to 14,000 or so;--upon which they cut their Bridge +adrift, and let the river take it. At Raden, a few miles lower, the +Prussians fished it out; rebuilt it more deliberately,--and we +shall find it there anon. This day Friedrich, hearing what is +afoot, has returned in person from the Lobositz Country; +takes Struppen as his head-quarter, which was lately the +Polish Majesty's. + +From Browne there has nothing come this Wednesday; but to-morrow +morning at seven there comes a Letter from him, written this night +at ten; to the effect:-- + + "HEAD-QUARTER, LICHTENHAYN, Wednesday, October 13th, 10 P.M. +"EXCELLENZ,--Have [omitting the I] waited here at Lichtenhayn since +Tuesday, expecting your signal-cannon; hearing nothing of it, +conclude you have by misfortune not been able to get across; +and that the Enterprise is up. My own position being dangerous +[Prussians of double my strength intrenched within few miles of +me], I turn homewards to-morrow at nine A.M.: ready for whatever +occurs TILL then; and sorrowfully say adieu," [PRECIS (ut supra), +p. 493; <italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iii. 940; &c.] + +Dreadful weather for Browne in his bivouac, and wearisome waiting, +with Prussians and perils accumulating on him! Browne was ill of +lungs; coughing much; lodging, in these violent tempests, on the +cold ground. A right valiant soldier and man, as does appear; +the flower of all the Irish Brownes (though they have quite +forgotten him in our time), and of all those Irish Exiles then +tragically spending themselves in Austrian quarrels! "You saw the +great man," says one who seems to have been present, "how he +sacrificed himself to this Enterprise. What Austrian Field-marshal +but himself would ever have lowered his loftiness to lead, in +person, so insignificant a Detachment, merely for the public good! +I have seen staff-officers, distinguished only by their sasheries +and insignia, who would not have stirred to inspect a vedette +without 250 men. Our Field-marshal was of another turn. +Sharing with his troops all the hardships, none excepted, of these +critical days; and in spite of a violent cough, which often brought +the visible blood from his lungs, and had quite worn him down; +exposing himself, like the meanest of the Army, to the tempests of +rainy weather. Think what a sight it was, going to your very heart, +and summoning you to endurance of every hardship,--that evening +[not said which], when the Field-marshal, worn out with his +fatigues and his disorder, sank out of fainting-fits into a sleep! +The ground was his bed, and the storm of clouds his coverlid. +In crowds his brave war-comrades gathered round; stripped their +cloaks, their coats, and strove in noble rivalry which of them +should have the happiness to screen the Father of the Army at their +own cost of exposure, and by any device keep the pelting of the +weather from that loved head!" [Cogniazzo, <italic> Gestandnisse +eines OEsterreichischen Veterans, <end italic> ii. 251.] There is a +picture for you, in the heights of Lichtenhayn, as you steam past +Schandau, in contemplative mood; and perhaps think of "Justice to +Ireland!" among other sad thoughts that rise. + +From Thurmsdorf to the Pontoon-Bridge there was a kind of road; +down which the Saxons scrambled yesterday; and, by painful degrees, +got wriggled across. But, on the other shore, forward to the +Hamlets of Halbstadt and Ebenheit, there is nothing but a steep +slippery footpath: figure what a problem for the 14,000 in such +weather! Then at Ebenheit, close behind, Browne-wards, were Browne +now there, rises the Lilienstein, abrupt rocky mountain, its slopes +on both hands washed by the River (River making its first elbow +here, closely girdling this Lilienstein): on both these slopes are +Prussian batteries, each with its abatis; needing to be stormed:-- +that will be your first operation. Abatis and slopes of the +Lilienstein once stormed, you fall into a valley or hollow, raked +again by Prussian batteries; and will have to mount, still +storming, out of the valley, sky-high across the Ziegenruck +(GOAT'S-BACK) ridge: that is your second preliminary operation. +After which you come upon the work itself; namely, the Prussian +redoubts at Lichtenhayn, and 12,000 men on them by this time! +A modern Tourist says, reminding or informing: + +"From the Konigstein to Pirna, Elbe, if serpentine, is like a +serpent rushing at full speed. Just past the Konigstein, the Elbe, +from westward, as its general course is, turns suddenly to +northward; runs so for a mile and a half; then, just before getting +to the BASTEI at Raden, turns suddenly to westward again, and so +continues. Tourists know Raden,"--where the Prussians have just +fished out a Bridge for themselves,--"with the BASTEI high aloft to +west of it. The Old Inn, hospitable though sleepless, stands +pleasantly upon the River-brink, overhung by high cliffs: close on +its left side, or in the intricacies to rear of it, are huts and +houses, sprinkled about, as if burrowed in the sandstone; +more comfortably than you could expect. The site is a narrow dell, +narrow chasm, with labyrinthic chasms branching off from it; +narrow and gloomy as seen from the River, but opening out even into +cornfields as you advance inwards: work of a small Brook, which is +still industriously tinkling and gushing there, and has in Pre- +Adamite times been a lake, and we know not what. Nieder-Raden, +this, on the north side of the River; of Ober-Raden, on the south +side, there is nothing visible from your Inn windows,"--nor have we +anything to do with it farther. An older Guide of Tourists yields +us this second Fraction (capable of condensation):-- + +... "To Halbstadt, thence to Ebenheit, your path is steeper and +steeper; from Ebenheit to the Lilienstein you take a guide. +The Mountain is conical; coarse RED sandstone; steps cut for you +where needed: August the Strong's Hunting-Lodge (JAGDHUTTE) is here +(August went thither in a grand way, 1708, with his Wife); +Lodge still extant, by the side of a wood;--Lilienstein towering +huge and sheer, solitary, grand, like some colossal Pillar of the +Cyclops, from this round Pediment of Country which you have been +climbing; tops of Lilienstein plumed everywhere with fir and birch, +Pediment also very green and woody. August the Strong, grandly +visiting here, 1708, on finish of those stair-steps cut for you, +set up an Ebenezer, or Column of Memorial at this Hunting-Hut, with +Inscription which can still be read, though now with difficulty in +its time-worn state:-- + +"FRIEDERICUS AUGUSTUS, REX [of what? Dare not say of POLAND just +now, for fear of Charles XII.], ET ELECTOR SAX., UT FORTUNAEM +VIRTUTE, ITA ASPERAM HANC RUPEM PRIMUS [PRIMUS not of men, but of +Saxon Electors] SUPERAVIT, ADITUMQUE FACILIOREM REDDI CURAVIT. +ANNO 1708."--"UT FORTUNAM VIRTUTE, As his fortune by valor, SO he +conquered this rugged rock by"--Poor devil, only hear him:--and +think how good Nature is (for the time being) to poor devils and +their 354 bastards! [M.(agister) Wilhelm Lebrecht Gotzinger, +<italic> Schandau und seine Umgebungen, oder Beschreibung der +Sachsischen Schweitz <end italic> (Dresden, 1812), pp. 145-148. +Gotzinger, who designates himself as "Pastor at Neustadt near +Stolpen" (northwest border of the Pirna Country), has made of this +(which would now be called a TOURIST'S GUIDE, and has something +geological in it) a modest, good little Book, put together with +industry, clearness, brevity. Gives interesting Narrative of our +present Business too, as gathered from his "Father" and other good +sources and testimonies.] + +Bruhl and the Polish Majesty, safe enough they, and snug in the +Konigstein, are clear for advancing: "Die like soldiers, for your +King and Country!" writes Polish Majesty, "Thursday, two in the +morning:" that also Rutowski reads; and I think still other Royal +Autographs, sent as Postscripts to that. From the Konigstein they +duly fire off the two Cannon-shot, as signal that we are coming; +signal which Browne, just in the act of departing, never heard, +owing to the piping of the winds and rattling of the rain. +"Advance, my heroes!" counsel they: "You cannot drag your +ammunitions, say you; your poor couple of big guns? Here are his +Majesty's own royal horses for that service!"--and, in effect, the +royal stud is heroically flung open in this pressure; and a +splashing column of sleek quadrupeds, "150 royal draught-horses, +early in the forenoon," [Gotzinger, p. 156.] swim across to +Ebenheit accordingly, if that could encourage. And, "about noon, +there is strong cannonading from the Konigstein, as signal to +Browne," who is off. Polish Majesty looking with his spy-glass in +an astonished manner. In Vain! Rutowski and his Council of War-- +sitting wet in a hut of Ebenheit, with 14,000 starved men outside, +who have stood seventy-two hours of rain, for one item--see nothing +for it but "surrender on such terms as we can get." + +"In fact," independently of weather and circumstances, "the +Enterprise," says Friedrich, "was radically impossible; nobody that +had known the ground could have judged it other." Rutowski had not +known it, then? Browne never pretended to know it. Rutowski was not +candid with the conditions; the conditions never known nor candidly +looked at; and THEY are now replying to him with candor enough. +From the first his Enterprise was a final flicker of false hope; +going out, as here, by spasm, in the rigors of impossibility and +flat despair. + +That column of royal horses sent splashing across the River,--that +was the utmost of self-sacrifice which I find recorded of his +Polish Majesty in this matter. He was very obstinate; his Bruhl and +he were. But his conduct was not very heroic. That royal Autograph, +"General Rutowski, and ye true Saxons, attack these Prussian lines, +then; sell your lives like men" (not like Bruhl and me), must have +fallen cold on the heart, after seventy-two hours of rain! +Rutowski's wet Council of War, in the hut at Ebenheit, rain still +pouring, answers unanimously, "That it were a leading of men to the +butchery;" that there is nothing for it but surrender. Bruhl and +Majesty can only answer: "Well-a-day; it must be so, then!"-- +Winterfeld, Prussian Commander hereabouts, grants Armistice, grants +liberal "wagon-loads of bread" first of all; terms of Capitulation +to be settled at Struppen to-morrow. + +FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15th, Rutowski goes across to Struppen, the late +Saxon head-quarter, now Friedrich's;--Friday gone a fortnight was +the day of Lobositz. Winterfeld and he are the negotiators there; +Friedrich ratifying or refusing by marginal remarks. The terms +granted are hard enough: but they must be accepted. +First preliminary of all terms has already been accepted: a gift of +bread to these poor Saxons; their haversacks are empty, their +cartridge-boxes drowned; it has rained on them three days and +nights. Last upshot of all terms is still well known to everybody: +That the 14,000 Saxons are compelled to become Prussian, and +"forced to volunteer"! + +That had been Friedrich's determination, and reading of his rights +in the matter, now that hard had come to hard. "You refused all +terms; you have resisted to death (or death's-DOOR); and are now at +discretion!" Of the question, What is to be done with those Saxons? +Friedricb had thought a great deal, first and last; and had found +it very intricate,--as readers too will, if they think of it. +"Prisoners of War,--to keep them locked up, with trouble and +expense, in that fashion? They can never be exchanged: Saxony has +now nothing to exchange them with; and Austria will not. +Their obstinacy has had costs to me; who of us can count what +costs! In short, they shall volunteer!" + +"Never did I, for my poor part, authorize such a thing," loudly +asseverated Rutowski afterwards. And indeed the Capitulation is not +precise on that interesting point. A lengthy Document, and not +worth the least perusal otherwise; we condense it into three +Articles, all grounding on this general Basis, not deniable by +Rutowski: "The Saxon Army, being at such a pass, ready to die of +hunger, if we did NOT lift our finger, has, so to speak, become our +property; and we grant it the following terms:"-- + "1. Kettle-drums, standards and the like insignia and matters of +honor,--carry these to the Konigstein, with my regretful respects +to his Polish Majesty. Konigstein to be a neutral Fortress during +this War. Polish Majesty at perfect liberty to go to Warsaw [as he +on the instant now did, and never returned]. + "2. Officers to depart on giving their parole, Not to serve +against us during this War [Parole given, nothing like too well +kept]. + "3. Rest of the Army, with all its equipments, munitions, soul +and body (so to speak), is to surrender utterly, and be ours, as +all Saxony shall for the present be." [In <italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> iii. 920-928, at full length--with +Briedrich's MARGINALIA noticeably brief.] + +That is, in sum, the Capitulation of Struppen. Nothing articulate +in it about the one now interesting point,--and in regard to that, +I can only fancy Rutowski might interject, interrogatively, perhaps +at some length: "Our soldiers to be Prisoners of War, then?" +"Prisoners; yes, clearly,--unless they choose to volunteer, and +have a better fate! Prisoners can volunteer. They are at +discretion; they would die, if we did NOT lift our finger!" thus I +suppose Winterfeld would rejoin, if necessary;--and that, in the +Winterfeld-Rutowski Conferences, the thing had probably been kept +in a kind of CHIAROSCURO by both parties. + +Very certain it is, Sunday, 17th October, 1756, Capitulation being +signed the night before, Friedrich goes across at Nieder-Raden +(where the Pilgrim of the Picturesque now climbs to see the BASTEI; +where the Prussians have, by this time, a Bridge thrown together +out of those Pontoons),--goes across at Nieder-Raden, up that +chasmy Pass; rides to the Heights of Waltersdorf, in the opener +country behind; and pauses there, while the captive Saxon Army +defiles past him, laying down its arms at his feet. Unarmed, and +now under Prussian word of command, these Ex-Saxon soldiers go on +defiling; march through by that Chasm of Nieder-Raden; cross to +Ober-Raden; and, in the plainer country thereabouts, are--in I know +not what length of hours, but in an incredibly short length, so +swift is the management--changed wholly into Prussian soldiers: +"obliged to volunteer," every one of them! + +That is the fact; fact loudly censured; fact surely questionable,-- +to what intrinsic degree I at this moment do not know. Fact much +blamable before the loose public of mankind; upon which I leave men +to their verdict. It is not a fact which invites imitation, as we +shall see! Fact how accomplished; by what methods? that would be +the question with me; but even that is left dark. "The horse +regiments, three of heavy horse, he broke; and distributed about, a +good few in his own Garde-du-Corps." Three other horse regiments +were in Poland, the sole Saxon Army now left,--of whom, at least of +one man among whom, we may happen to hear. "Ten foot regiments +[what was reckoned a fault] he left together; in Prussian uniform, +with Prussian Officers. They were scattered up and down; put in +garrisons; not easy handling them: they deserted by whole companies +at a time in the course of this War." [Preuss, ii. 22, 135; +in Stenzel (v. 16-20) more precise details.] Not a measure for +imitation, as we said!--How Friedrich defended such hard conduct to +the Saxons? Reader, I know only that Destiny and Necessity, urged +on by Saxons and others, was hard as adamant upon Friedrich at this +time; and that Friedrich did not the least dream of making any +defence;--and will have to take your verdict, such as it may be. + +Moritz of Dessau had a terrible Winter of it, organizing and +breaking in these Saxon people,--got by press-gang in this way. +Polish Majesty, "with 500 of suite," had driven instantly for +Warsaw; post-horses most politely furnished him, and all the +Prussian posts and soldiers well kept out of his road,--road chosen +for him to that end. Poor soul, he never came back. For six years +coming, he saw, from Warsaw in the distance (amid anarchy and +NIE-POZWALAM, which he never lacked there), the wide War raging, in +Saxony especially; and died soon after it was done. Nor did Bruhl +return, except broken by that event, and to die in few months +after. Let us pity the poor fat-goose of a Majesty (not ill-natured +at all, only stupid and idle): some pity even to the doomed- +phantasm Bruhl, if you can;--and thank Heaven to have got done with +such a pair!-- + +Friedrich's treatment of the Saxon Troops, Saxon Majesty and +Country: who shall say that it was wise in all points? It would be +singular treatment, if it were! In all things, AFTER is so +different from BEFORE and DURING. The truth is, Friedrich hoped +long to have made some agreement with the Saxons. And readers now, +in the universal silence, have no notion of Friedrich's +complexities from fact, and of the loud howl of hostile rumor, +which was piping through all journals, diplomacies and foreign +human throats, against him at that time. + +"The essential passages of War and Peace," says a certain +Commentator, "during those Five weeks of Pirna, can be made +intelligible in small compass. But how the world argued of them +then and afterwards, and rang with hot Gazetteer and Diplomatic +logic from side to side, no reader will now ever know. A world- +tornado extinct, gone:--think of the sounds uttered from human +windpipes, shrill with rage some of them, hoarse others with ditto; +of the vituperations, execrations, printed and vocal,--grating +harsh thunder upon Friedrich and this new course of his. +Huge melody of Discords, shrieking, droning, grinding on that +topic, through the afflicted Universe in general, for certain +years. The very Pamphlets printed on it,--cannot Dryasdust give me +the number of tons weight, then? Dead now every Pamphlet of them; +a thing fallen horrible to human nature; extinct forever, as is the +wont in such cases." + +I will give only this of Voltaire; a mild Epigram, done at The +DELICES, in pleasant view of Ferney and good things coming. A bolt +shot into the storm-tost Sea and its wreckages, by a Mariner now +cheerily drying his clothes on the shore there;--in fact, an +indifferent Epigram, on Kings Friedrich and George, which is now +flying about in select circles:-- + +<italic> +"Rivaux du Vainqueur de l'Euphrate, + L'Oncle et le Neveu, +L'un fait la guerre en pirate, + L'autre en parti bleu. +"<end italic> + +"Rivals of Alexander the Great, this Uncle and Nephew make war, the +one as a Pirate [seizure of those French ships], the other [Saxony +stolen] as Captain of an Accidental Thieving-squad,"--PARTI BLEU, +as the French soldiers call it. [Walpole's LETTERS, "To Sir Horace +Mann, 8th December; 1756."] + + +MAP facing page 365, Chap VII, Book 17--------------------- + ++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Pirna was no sooner done than Friedrich returned to the "Camp at +Lobositz," where his victorious Keith-Army has been lying all this +while. The Camp of Lobositz, and all Camps Prussian and Austrian, +are about to strike their tents, and proceed to Winter-quarters, to +prepare against next Spring. Friedrich set off thither October 18th +(the very day after that of Waltersdorf); with intent to bring home +Keith's Army, and see if Browne meant anything farther (which +Browne did not, or does only in the small Tolpatch way); also to +meet, Schwerin, whom he had summoned over from Silesia for a little +conference there. Schwerin, after eating Konigsgratz Country well, +--which was all he could do, as Piccolomini would not come out, and +we know how strong the ground is,--had retired to Silesia again, in +due season (snapping up, in a sharply conclusive manner, any +Tolpatcheries that attempted chase of him); taken Winter +cantonments in Silesia, headquarter Schweidnitz; and is now getting +his Instructions, here personally, in the Metal Mountains, for a +day or two. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iii. +946, 948.] + +Friedrich brought his Keith-Army home to Gross-Sedlitz, to join the +other Force there; and distributed the whole into their Winter- +quarters. Cantoned far and wide, spreading out from Pirna on both +hands: on the left or western hand, by Zwickau, Freyberg, Chemnitz, +up to Leipzig, Torgau; and on the right or northeast hand, by +Zittau, Gorlitz, Bautzen, to protect the Lausitz against Austrian +inroads,--while a remote Detachment, under Winterfeld, watches the +Bober River with similar views. [In <italic> Helden-Geschichte, +<end italic> iii. 948 et seq., a minute List by Place and +Regiment.] All which done, or settled to be done, Friedrich quits +Gross-Sedlitz, November 14th; and takes up his abode at Dresden for +this Winter. + + + +Chapter VIII. + +WINTER IN DRESDEN. + +The Saxon Army is incorporated, then; its King gone under the +horizon; the Saxon Country has a Prussian Board set over it, to +administer all things of Government, especially to draw taxes and +recruits from Saxony. Torgau, seat of this new Board, has got +fortified; "1,500 inhabitants were requisitioned as spademen for +that end, at first with wages,"--latterly, I almost fear, without! + +The Saxon Ministers are getting drilled, cashiered if necessary; +and on all hands, rigorous methods going forward;--till Saxony is +completely under grasp; in which state it was held very tight +indeed, for the six years coming. There is no detailing of all +that; details, were they even known to an Editor at such distance, +would weary every reader. Enough to understand that Friedrich has +not on this occasion, as he did in 1744, omitted to disarm Saxony, +to hobble it in every limb, and have it, at discretion, tied as +with ropes to his interests and him. [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, +<end italic> iii. 945-956.] His management was never accounted +cruel; and it was studiously the reverse of violent or irregular: +but it had to be rigorous as the facts were;--nor was it the worst, +or reckoned the worst, of Saxony's miseries in this time. + +Poor Country, suffering for its Bruhl! In the Country, except for +its Bruhl, there was no sin against Prussia; the reverse rather. +The Saxon population, as Protestants, have no good-will to Austria +and its aims of aggrandizement. In Austrian spy-letters, now and +afterwards, they are described to us as "GUT PREUSSISCH;" "strong +for Prussia, the most of them, even in Dresden itself." + +Whether Friedrich could have had much real hope to end the War this +Year, or scare it off from beginning, may be a question. If he had, +it is totally disappointed. The Saxon Government has brought ruin +on itself and Country, but it has been of great damage to +Friedrich. Would Polish Majesty have consented to disband his +soldiers, and receive Friedrich with a BONA-FIDE "Neutrality," +Friedrich could have passed the Mountains still in time for a heavy +stroke on Bohemia, which was totally unprepared for such a visit, +And he might--from the Towers of Prag, for instance--have, far more +persuasively, held out the olive-branch to an astonished Empress- +Queen: "Leave me alone, Madam; will you, then! Security for that; +I wanted and want nothing more!" But Polish Majesty, taking on him +the character of Austrian martyr, and flinging himself into the +gulf, has prevented all that; has turned all that the other way. + +Austria, it appears, is quite ungrateful: "Was n't he bound?" +thinks Austria,--as its wont rather is. Forgetful of the great +deliverance wrought for it by poor Polish Majesty; whom it could +not deliver-except into bottomless wreck! Austria, grateful or not, +stands unscathed; has time to prepare its Armaments, its vocal +Arguments: Austria is in higher provocation than ever; and its very +Arguments, highly vocal to the Reich and the world, "Is not this +man a robber, and enemy of mankind?" do Friedrich a great deal of +ill. Friedrich's sudden Campaign, instead of landing him in the +heart of the Austrian States, there to propose Peace, has kindled +nearly all Europe into flames of rage against him,--which will not +consist in words merely! Never was misunderstanding of a man at a +higher pitch: "Such treatment of a peaceable Neighbor and Crowned +Head,--witness it, ye Heavens and thou Earth!" Dauphiness falling +on her knees to Most Christian Majesty; "Princess and dearest +Sister" to Most Christian Majesty's Pompadour; especially no end of +Pleading to the German Reich, in a furious, Delphic-Pythoness or +quasi-inspired tone: all this goes on. + +From the time when Pirna was blockaded, Kaiser Franz, his high +Consort and sense of duty urging him, has been busy in the Reich's- +Hofrath (kind of Privy-Council or Supreme Court of the Reich, which +sits at Vienna); busy there, and in the Reich's Diet at Regensburg; +busy everywhere, with utmost diligence over Teutschland,--forging +Reich thunder. Manifestoes, HOF-DECRETS, DEHORTATORIUMS, +EXCITATORIUMS; so goes it, exploding like Vesuvius, shock on the +back of shock:--20th September it began; and lasts, CRESCENDO, +through Winter and onwards, at an extraordinary rate. [In <italic> +Helden-Geschichte <end italic> (iv. 163-174; iii. 956; and indeed +PASSIM through those Volumes), the Originals in frightful +superabundance.] Of all which, leaving readers to imagine it, we +will say nothing,--except that it points towards "Armed +Interference by the Reich," "Reich's Execution Army;" nay towards +"Ban of the Reich" (total excommunication of this Enemy of Mankind, +and giving of him up to Satan, by bell, book and candle), which is +a kind of thunder-bolt not heard of for a good few ages past! +Thunder-bolt thought to be gone mainly to rust by the judicious;-- +which, however, the poor old Reich did grasp again, and attempt to +launch. As perhaps we shall have to notice by and by, among the +miracles going. + +France too, urged by the noblest concern, feels itself called upon. +France magnanimously intimates to the Reich's Diet, once and again, +"That Most Christian Majesty is guarantee of the Treaty of +Westphalia; Most Christian Majesty cannot stand such procedures;" +and then the second time, "That Most Christian Majesty will +interfere practically,"--by 100,000 men and odd. +[<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iv. 340 ("26th March, +1757").] In short, the sleeping world-whirlwinds are awakened +against this man. General Dance of the Furies; there go they, in +the dusky element, those Eumenides, "giant-limbed, serpent-haired, +slow-pacing, circling, torch in hand" (according to Schiller),-- +scattering terror and madness. At least, in the Diplomatic Circles +of mankind;--if haply the Populations will follow suit!-- + +Friedrich, abundantly contemptuous of Reich's-thunder in the rusted +kind, and well able to distinguish sound from substance in the +Reich or elsewhere, recognizes in all this sufficiently portentous +prophecies of fact withal; and understands, none better, what a +perilous position he has got into. But he cannot mend it;--can +only, as usual, do his own utmost in it. As readers will believe he +does; and that his vigilance and diligence are very great. +Continual, ubiquitous and at the top of his bent, one fancies his +effort must have been,--though he makes no noise on the subject. +Considerable work he has with Hanover, this Winter; with the poor +English Government, and their "Army of Observation," which is to +appear in the Hanover parts, VERSUS those 100,000 French, next +Spring. To Hanover he has sent Schmettau (the Younger Schmettau, +Elder is now dead) in regard to said Army; has made a new and +closer Treaty with England (impossible to be fulfilled on poor +England's part);--and laments, as Mitchell often does, the +tragically embroiled condition of that Country, struggling so +vehemently, to no purpose, to get out of bed, and not unlike +strangling or smothering itself in its own blankets, at present! +With and in regard to Saxony, his work is of course extremely +considerable; and in regard to his own Army, and its coming +Business, considerablest of all. Counter-Manifesto work, to state +his case in a distinct manner, and leave it with the Populations if +the Diplomacies are deaf: this too, is copiously proceeding; +under Artists who probably do not require much supervision. +In fact, no King living has such servants, in the Civil or the +Military part, to execute his will. And no King so little wastes +himself in noises; a King who has good command of himself, first of +all; not to be thrown off his balance by any terror, any +provocation even, though his temper is very sharp. + +Friedrich in person is mainly at Dresden, lodged in the Bruhl +Palace;--endless wardrobes and magnificences there; three hundred +and sixty-FOUR Pairs of Breeches hanging melancholy, in a widowed +manner: C'EST ASSEZ DE CULOTTES; MONTREZ-MOI DES VERTUS! Bruhl is +far away, in Poland; Madam Bruhl has still her Apartments in this +Palace,--a frugal King needs only the necessary spaces. +Madam Bruhl is very busy here; and not to good purpose, being well +seen into. "She had a cask of wine sent her from Warsaw," says +Friedrich; "orders were given to decant for her every drop of the +wine, but to be sure and bring us the cask." Cask was found to have +two bottoms, intermediate space filled with spy-correspondence. +Madam Bruhl protests and pleads, Friedrich not unpolite in reply; +his last Letter to her says, "Madam, it is better that you go and +join your Husband." + +Another high Dame gets sausages from Bohemia;--some of Friedrich's +light troops have an appetite, beyond strict law for sausages; +break in, find Letters along with the other stuffing. +[<italic> OEuvres de Frederic, <end italic> iv. 108; Mitchell, +"27th March, 1757" (Raumer p. 321).] Friedrich has a good deal of +watching and coercing to do in that kind,--some arresting, +conveyance even to Custrin for a time, though nothing crueler +proved needful. To the poor Queen he keeps up civilities, but is +obliged to be strict as Argus;--she made him a Gift too, the NIGHT +of Correggio, admired NOTTE of Correggio; having heard that he sat +before it silent for half an hour, on entering that fine Gallery,-- +which is due to our Sovereign Lord and his Bruhl, alas! On the +other hand, Friedrich had to take from her Majesty's Royal Abode +those Hundred Swiss of Body-guard; to discharge the same, and put +Prussians in their stead. Nay, at one time, on loud outcry from her +Majesty, and great private cause of complaint against her, there +was talk of sending the poor Royal lady to Warsaw, after her +Husband; but her objection being violent, nothing came of that: +Winter following, her poor Majesty died, [27th November, 1757.] and +gave nobody any farther trouble. + +Friedrich's outposts, especially in the Lausitz, are a good deal +disturbed by Austrian Tolpatcheries; and do feats, heroic in the +small way, in smiting down that rabble. A valuable Officer or two +is lost in such poor service, poor but indispensable; [Funeral +Discourses (of a very curious, ponderous and serious tone), in +<italic> Gesammelte Nachrichten, <end italic> ii. 458, 464, &c.] +and the troops have not always the repose which is intended them. +Lieutenant-Colonel Loudon (Scotch by kindred, and famous enough +before long) is the soul of these Croat enterprises,--and gets his +Colonelcy by them, in a month or two; Browne recommending. +Loudon had arrived too late for Lobositz, but had been with Browne +to Schandau; and, on the march homewards, did a bright feat of the +Croat kind:--surprisal, very complete, of that Hill-Castle of +Tetschen and considerable Hussar Party there; done in a style which +caught the eye of Browne; and was the beginning of great things to +poor Loudon, after his twenty years of painful eclipse under the +Indigo Trencks, and miscellaneous Doggeries, Austrian aud Russian. +[LA VIE DU FELDMARECHAL BARON DE LOUDON (Translation of one Pezzl's +German: a Vienne et a Paris, 1792), i. 1-32.] + +Tetschen, therefore, will again need capture by the Prussians, if +they again intend that way. And in the mean while, Friedrich, to +counterpoise those mischievous Croat people, has bethought him of +organizing a similar Force of his own;--Foot chiefly, for, on hint +of former experience, he already has Hussars in quantity. And, this +Winter, there are accordingly, in different Saxon Towns, three +Irregular Regiments getting ready for him; three "Volunteer +Colonels" busily enlisting each his "Free Corps," such the title +chosen;--chief Colonel of them one Mayer, now in Zwickau +neighborhood with 6 or 700 loose handy fellows round him, getting +formed into strict battalion there: [Pauli (our old diffuse +friend), <italic> Leben grosser Helden des gegenwartigen Krieges +<end italic> (9 vols., Halle, 1759-1764), iii. 159, ? Mayr.] of +whom, and of whose soldiering, we shall hear farther. For the plan +was found to answer; and extended itself year after year; and the +"Prussian Free Corps," one way and another, made considerable noise +in the world. + +Outwardly Friedrich's Life is quiet; busy, none can be more so; +but to the on-looker, placid, polite especially. He hears sermon +once or twice in the Kreuz-Kirche (Protestant High Church); +then next day will hear good music, devotional if you call it so, +in the Catholic Church, where her Polish Majesty is. Daily at the +old hour he has his own Concert, now and then assisting with his +own flute. Makes donations to the Poor, and such like, due from +Saxon Sovereignty while held by him; on the other hand, reduces +salaries at a sad rate Guarini, Queen's Confessor, from near 2,000 +pounds to little more than 300 pounds, for one instance;--cuts off +about 25,000 pounds in all under this head. [<italic> Helden- +Geschichte, <end italic> iv. 306 ("December, 1756").] And is heavy +with billeting, as new Prussians arrive. Billets at length in +the very Ambassadors' Hotels,--and by way of apology to the +Excellencies, signifies to them in a body: "Sorry for the +necessity, your Excellencies: but ought not you to go to Warsaw +rather? Your credentials are to his Polish Majesty. He is not here; +nor coming hither, for some time!" Which hint, I suppose, the +Excellencies mostly took. From his own Forests there came by the +Elbe great rafts of firewood, to warm his soldiers in their +quarters. Once or twice he makes excursions, of a day of two days; +to the Lausitz, to Leipzig (through Freyberg, where he has a post +of importance);--very gracious to the University people: "Students +be troubled with soldiering? Far from it ye learned Gentlemen, +servants of the Muses! Recruitment, a lamentable necessity, is to +go on under your own Official people, and wholly by the old +methods." [<italic> Helden-Geschichte, <end italic> iv. 303-313; +UNIVERSITATSANSCHLAG ZU LEIPZIG, WEGEN DER WERBUNG +("University-Placard about Enlisting:" in <italic> Gesammelte +Nachrichten, <end italic> i. 811).] + +Once, and once only, he made a run to Berlin, January 4th-18th, +1757: the last for six years and more. Came with great despatch, +Brother Henri with him, whole journey in one day; got, "to his +Mother's about 11 at night." [Ib. iv. 308.] A joyful meeting, for +the kindred: cheerful light-gleam in the dark time, so suddenly +eclipsed to them and others by those hurricanes that have risen. +His Majesty seems to be in perfect health; and wears no look of +gloom. At Berlin is no Carnival this year; all are grave, sunk in +sad contemplations of the future. Of his businesses in this +interval, which were many, I will say nothing; only of one little +Act he did, the day before his departure: the writing of this +SECRET LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS to Graf Finck von Finkenstein, his +chief Home Minister, one of his old boy-comrades, as readers may +recollect. The Letter was read by Count Finck with profound +attention, 11th January, 1757, and conned over till he knew every +point of it; after which he sealed it up, inscribing on the Cover: +"HOCHSTEIGENHANDIGE UND GANX GEHEIME"--that is, "Highest- +Autographic and altogether Secret Instructions, by the King, which, +with the Appendixes, were delivered to me, Graf von Finkenstein, +the 12th of January, 1757." In this docketing it lay, sealed for +many years (none knows how many), then unsealed, still in strict +keeping, in the Private Royal Archives" [Preuss, i. 449.]--till on +Friedrich's Birthday, 24th January, 1854, it was, with some +solemnity, lithographed at Berlin, and distributed to a select +public,--as readers shall see. + + +"SECRET INSTRUCTION FOR THE GRAF VON FINCK. + +"BERLIN, 10th January, 1757. + +"In the critical situation our affairs are in, I ought to give you +my orders, so that in all the disastrous cases which are in the +possibility of events, you be authorized for taking the +necessary steps. + +"1. If it chanced (which Heaven forbid) that one of my Armies in +Saxony were totally beaten; or that the French should drive the +Hanoverians from their Country [which they failed not to do], and +establish themselves there, and threaten us with an invasion into +the Altmark; or that the Russians should get through by the +Neumark,--you are to save the Royal Family, the principal +DICASTERIA [Land-Schedules, Lists of Tax-dues], the Ministries and +the Directorium [which is the central Ministry of all]. If it is in +Saxony on the Leipzig side that we are beaten, the fittest place +for the removal of the Royal Family, and of the Treasure, is to +Custrin: in such case the Royal Family and all above named must go, +escorted by the whole Garrison" of Berlin, "to Custrin. If the +Russians entered by the Neumark, or if a misfortune befell us in +the Lausitz, it would be to Magdeburg that all would have to go: +in fine, the last refuge is Stettin,--but you must not go till the +last extremity. The Garrison, the Royal Family and the Treasure are +inseparable, and go always together: to this must be added the +Crown Diamonds, the Silver Plate in the Grand Apartments,--which, +in such case, as well as the Gold Plate, must be at once coined +into money. + +"If it happened that I were killed, the Public Affairs must go on +without the smallest alteration, or its being noticeable that they +are in other hands: and, in this case, you must hasten forward the +Oaths and Homagings, as well here as in Preussen; and, above all, +in Silesia. If I should have the fatality to be taken prisoner by +the Enemy, I prohibit all of you from paying the least regard to my +person, or taking the least heed of what I might write from my +place of detention. Should such misfortune happen me, I wish to +sacrifice myself for the State; and you must obey my Brother,--who, +as well as all my Ministers and Generals, shall answer to me with +their heads, Not to offer any Province or any Ransom for me, but to +continue the War, pushing their advantages, as if I never had +existed in the world. + +"I hope, and have ground to believe, that you, Count Finck, will +not need to make use of this Instruction: but in case of +misfortune, I authorize you to employ it; and, as mark that it is, +after a mature and sound deliberation, my firm and constant will, I +sign it with my Hand and confirm it with my Seal." + +Or, in Friedrich's own spelling &c., so far as our possibilities +permit:-- + +"INSTRUCTION SECRETE POUR LE CONTE DE FINE. + +"BERLIN, ce 10 de Janv. 1757. + +"Dans La Situation Critique ou se trouvent nos affaires je dois +Vous donner mes Ordres pour que dans tout Les Cas Malheureux qui +sont dans la possibilite des Evenemens vous Soyez autorisse aux +partis quil faut prendre. 1)[Yes; but there follows no "2)" +anywhere, such the haste!] Sil arivoit (de quoi le Ciel preserve) +qu'une de mes Armees en Saxse fut totallement battue, oubien que +Les francais chassassent Les Hanovryeins de Leur pais et si +etablissent et nous menassassent d'un Invassion dans la Vieille +Marche, ou que les Russes penetrassent par La Nouvelle Marche, il +faut Sauver la famille Royale, les principeaux Dicasteres les +Ministres et le Directoire. Si nous somes battus en Saxse du Cote +de leipssic Le Lieu Le plus propre pour Le transport de La famille +et du Tressor est a Custrin, il faut en ce Cas que la famille +Royalle et touts cidesus nomez aillent esCortez de toute La +Guarnisson a Custrin. Si les Russes entroient par la Nouvele Marche +ou quil nous arivat un Malheur en Lusace, il faudroit que tout Se +transportat a Magdebourg, enfin Le Derni& refuge est a Stetein, +mais il ne hut y all&r qu'a La Derniere exstremite La Guarnisson la +famille Royalle et le Tressort sent Inseparables et vont toujours +ensemble il faut y ajouter les Diamans de la Couronne, et +L'argenterie des Grands Apartements qui en pareil cas ainsi que la +Veselle d'or doit etre incontinant Monoyee. Sil arivoit que je fus +tue, il faut que Les affaires Continuent Leur train sans la Moindre +allteration et Sans qu'on s'apersoive qu'elles sont en d'autre +Mains, et en ce Cas il faut hater Sermens et homages tant ici qu'en +prusse et surtout en Silesie. Si j'avois la fatalite d'etre pris +prissonier par L'Enemy, je Defend qu'on Aye le Moindre egard pour +ma perssonne ni qu'on fasse La Moindre reflextion sur ce que je +pourois ecrire de Ma Detention, Si pareil Malheur m'arivoit je Veux +me Sacriffier pour L'Etat et il faut qu'on obeisse a Mon frere le +quel ainsi que tout Mes Ministres et Generaux me reponderont de +leur Tette qu'on offrira ni province ni ransson pour moy et que lon +Continuera la Guerre en poussant Ses avantages tout Come si je +n'avais jamais exsiste dans le Monde. J'espere et je dois Croire +que Vous Conte finc n'aurez pas bessoin de faire usage de Cette +Instruction mais en cas de Malheur je Vous autorisse a L'Employer, +et Marque que C'est apres Une Mure et saine Deliberation Ma ferme +et Constante Volonte je le Signe de Ma Main et la Muni de +mon Cachet "FEDERIC R." +[Fac simile of Autograph (Berlin, 24th January, 1854), where is +some indistinct History of the Document. Printed also in <italic> +OEuvres, <end italic> xxv. 319-323.] + +These, privately made law in this manner, are Friedrich's fixed +feelings and resolutions;--how fixed is now farther apparent by a +fact which was then still more private, guessable long afterwards +only by one or two, and never clearly known so long as Friedrich +lived: the fact that he had (now most probably, though the date is +not known) provided poison for himself, and constantly wore it +about his person through this War. "Five or six small pills, in a +small glass tube, with a bit of ribbon to it:" that stern relic +lay, in a worn condition, in some drawer of Friedrich's, after +Friedrich was gone. [Preuss, ii. 175, 315 n.] For the Facts are +peremptory; and a man that will deal with them must be equally so. + +Two days after this Finck missive, Friday, 12th, Friedrich took +farewell at Berlin, drove to Potsdam that night with his Brother, +to Dresden next day. Adieu, Madam; Adieu, O Mother! said the King, +in royal terms, but with a heart altogether human. "May God above +bless you, my Son!" the old Lady would reply:--and the Two had seen +one another for the last time; Mother and Son were to meet no more +in this world. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 17 + diff --git a/old/17frd10.zip b/old/17frd10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e28dec4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/17frd10.zip |