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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. 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