andwhenatlengththecampaignof1759closed，inthemidstofarigorouswinter，thesituationofPrussiaappeareddesperate。Theonlyconsolingcircumstancewas，that，intheWest，FerdinandofBrunswickhadbeenmorefortunatethanhismaster;andbyaseriesofexploits，ofwhichthebattleofMindenwasthemostglorious，hadremovedallapprehensionofdangeronthesideofFrance。
Thefifthyearwasnowabouttocommence。ItseemedimpossiblethatthePrussianterritories，repeatedlydevastatedbyhundredsofthousandsofinvaders，couldlongersupportthecontest。ButtheKingcarriedonwarasnoEuropeanpowerhasevercarriedonwar，excepttheCommitteeofPublicSafetyduringthegreatagonyoftheFrenchRevolution。Hegovernedhiskingdomashewouldhavegovernedabesiegedtown，notcaringtowhatextentpropertywasdestroyed，orthepursuitsofcivillifesuspended，sothathedidbutmakeheadagainsttheenemy。AslongastherewasamanleftinPrussia，thatmanmightcarryamusket;aslongastherewasahorseleft，thathorsemightdrawartillery。Thecoinwasdebased，thecivilfunctionarieswereleftunpaid;insomeprovincescivilgovernmentaltogetherceasedtoexist。Buttherewasstillrye—breadandpotatoes;therewasstillleadandgunpowder;and，whilethemeansofsustaininganddestroyingliferemained，Fredericwasdeterminedtofightitouttotheverylast。
Theearlierpartofthecampaignof1760wasunfavourabletohim。
Berlinwasagainoccupiedbytheenemy。Greatcontributionswereleviedontheinhabitants，andtheroyalpalacewasplundered。
Butatlength，aftertwoyearsofcalamity，victorycamebacktohisarms。AtLignitzhegainedagreatbattleoverLaudohn;atTorgau，afteradayofhorriblecarnage，hetriumphedoverDaun。
Thefifthyearclosed，andstilltheeventwasinsuspense。Inthecountrieswherethewarhadraged，themiseryandexhaustionweremoreappallingthanever;butstilltherewereleftmenandbeasts，armsandfood，andstillFredericfoughton。Intruthhehadnowbeenbaitedintosavageness。Hisheartwasulceratedwithhatred。Theimplacableresentmentwithwhichhisenemiespersecutedhim，thoughoriginallyprovokedbyhisownunprincipledambition，excitedinhimathirstforvengeancewhichhedidnotevenattempttoconceal。"Itishard，"hesaysinoneofhisletters，"foramantobearwhatIbear。Ibegintofeelthat，astheItalianssay，revengeisapleasureforthegods。Myphilosophyiswornoutbysuffering。Iamnosaint，likethoseofwhomwereadinthelegends;andIwillownthatI
shoulddiecontentifonlyIcouldfirstinflictaportionofthemiserywhichIendure。"
Borneupbysuchfeelings，hestruggledwithvarioussuccess，butconstantglory，throughthecampaignof1761。OnthewholetheresultofthiscampaignwasdisastroustoPrussia。Nogreatbattlewasgainedbytheenemy;but，inspiteofthedesperateboundsofthehuntedtiger，thecircleofpursuerswasfastclosingroundhim。LaudohnhadsurprisedtheimportantfortressofSchweidnitz。WiththatfortresshalfofSilesia，andthecommandofthemostimportantdefilesthroughthemountainshadbeentransferredtotheAustrians。TheRussianshadoverpoweredtheKing’sgeneralsinPomerania。Thecountrywassocompletelydesolatedthathebegan，byhisownconfession，tolookroundhimwithblankdespair，unabletoimaginewhererecruits，horses，orprovisionsweretobefound。
Justatthistime，twogreateventsbroughtonacompletechangeintherelationsofalmostallthepowersofEurope。OneofthoseeventswastheretirementofMr。Pittfromoffice;theotherwasthedeathoftheEmpressElizabethofRussia。
TheretirementofPittseemedtobeanomenofutterruintotheHouseofBrandenburg。Hisproudandvehementnaturewasincapableofanythingthatlookedlikeeitherfearortreachery。Hehadoftendeclaredthat，whilehewasinpower，EnglandshouldnevermakeapeaceofUtrecht，shouldnever，foranyselfishobject，abandonanallyeveninthelastextremityofdistress。TheContinentalwarwashisownwar。Hehadbeenboldenough，hewhoinformertimeshadattacked，withirresistiblepowersoforatory，theHanoverianpolicyofCarteret，andtheGermansubsidiesofNewcastle，todeclarethatHanoveroughttobeasdeartousasHampshire，andthathewouldconquerAmericainGermany。Hehadfallen;andthepowerwhichhehadexercised，notalwayswithdiscretion，butalwayswithvigourandgenius，haddevolvedonafavouritewhowastherepresentativeoftheToryparty，ofthepartywhichhadthwartedWilliam，whichhadpersecutedMarlborough，whichhadgiventiptheCatalanstothevengeanceofPhilipofAnjou。TomakepeacewithFrance，toshakeoff，withall，ormorethanall，thespeedcompatiblewithdecency，everyContinentalconnection，thesewereamongthechiefobjectsofthenewMinister。ThepolicythenfollowedinspiredFredericwithanunjust，butdeepandbitteraversiontotheEnglishname，andproducedeffectswhicharestillfeltthroughoutthecivilisedworld。Tothatpolicyitwasowingthat，someyearslater，EnglandcouldnotfindonthewholeContinentasingleallytostandbyher，inherextremeneedagainsttheHouseofBourbon。TothatpolicyitwasowingthatFrederic，alienatedfromEngland，wascompelledtoconnecthimselfclosely，duringhislateryears，withRussia，andwasinducedtoassistinthatgreatcrime，thefruitfulparentofothergreatcrimes，thefirstpartitionofPoland。
ScarcelyhadtheretreatofMr。PittdeprivedPrussiaofheronlyfriend，whenthedeathofElizabethproducedanentirerevolutioninthepoliticsoftheNorth。TheGrandDukePeter，hernephew，whonowascendedtheRussianthrone，wasnotmerelyfreefromtheprejudiceswhichhisaunthadentertainedagainstFrederic，butwasaworshipper，aservileimitatorofthegreatKing。ThedaysofthenewCzar’sgovernmentwerefewandevil，butsufficienttoproduceachangeinthewholestateofChristendom。HesetthePrussianprisonersatliberty，fittedthemoutdecently，andsentthembacktotheirmaster;hewithdrewhistroopsfromtheprovinceswhichElizabethhaddecidedonincorporatingwithherdominions;andheabsolvedallthosePrussiansubjects，whohadbeencompelledtoswearfealtytoRussia，fromtheirengagements。
NotcontentwithconcludingpeaceontermsfavourabletoPrussia，hesolicitedrankinthePrussianservice，dressedhimselfinaPrussianuniform，woretheBlackEagleofPrussiaonhisbreast，madepreparationsforvisitingPrussia，inordertohaveaninterviewwiththeobjectofhisidolatry，andactuallysentfifteenthousandexcellenttroopstoreinforcetheshatteredarmyofFrederic。Thusstrengthened，theKingspeedilyrepairedthelossesoftheprecedingyear，reconqueredSilesia，defeatedDaunatBuckersdorf，investedandretookSchweidnitz，and，atthecloseoftheyear，presentedtotheforcesofMariaTheresaafrontasformidableasbeforethegreatreversesof1759。Beforetheendofthecampaign，hisfriend，theEmperorPeter，having，byaseriesofabsurdinsultstotheinstitutions，manners，andfeelingsofhispeople，unitedtheminhostilitytohispersonandgovernment，wasdeposedandmurdered。TheEmpress，who，underthetitleofCatherinetheSecond，nowassumedthesupremepower，was，atthecommencementofheradministration，bynomeanspartialtoFrederic，andrefusedtopermithertroopstoremainunderhiscommand。Butsheobservedthepeacemadebyherhusband;andPrussiawasnolongerthreatenedbydangerfromtheEast。
EnglandandFranceatthesametimepairedofftogether。Theyconcludedatreaty，bywhichtheyboundthemselvestoobserveneutralitywithrespecttotheGermanwar。Thusthecoalitionsonbothsidesweredissolved;andtheoriginalenemies，AustriaandPrussia，remainedaloneconfrontingeachother。
AustriahadundoubtedlyfargreatermeansthanPrussia，andwaslessexhaustedbyhostilities;yetitseemedhardlypossiblethatAustriacouldeffectalonewhatshehadinvainattemptedtoeffectwhensupportedbyFranceontheoneside，andbyRussiaontheother。DangeralsobegantomenacetheImperialhousefromanotherquarter。TheOttomanPorteheldthreateninglanguage，andahundredthousandTurksweremusteredonthefrontiersofHungary。TheproudandrevengefulspiritoftheEmpressQueenatlengthgaveway;and，inFebruary1763，thepeaceofHubertsburgputanendtotheconflictwhichhad，duringsevenyears，devastatedGermany。TheKingcedednothing。ThewholeContinentinarmshadprovedunabletotearSilesiafromthatirongrasp。
Thewarwasover。Fredericwassafe。Hisglorywasbeyondthereachofenvy。IfhehadnotmadeconquestsasvastasthoseofAlexander，ofCaesar，andofNapoleon，ifhehadnot，onfieldsofbattle，enjoyedtheconstantsuccessofMarlboroughandWellington，hehadyetgivenanexampleunrivalledinhistoryofwhatcapacityandresolutioncaneffectagainstthegreatestsuperiorityofpower，andtheutmostspiteoffortune。HeenteredBerlinintriumph，afteranabsenceofmorethansixyears。Thestreetswerebrilliantlylightedup;and，ashepassedalonginanopencarriage，withFerdinandofBrunswickathisside，themultitudesalutedhimwithloudpraisesandblessings。Hewasmovedbythosemarksofattachment，andrepeatedlyexclaimed"Longlivemydearpeople！Longlivemychildren！"Yet，eveninthemidstofthatgayspectacle，hecouldnotbutperceiveeverywherethetracesofdestructionanddecay。Thecityhadbeenmorethanonceplundered。Thepopulationhadconsiderablydiminished。Berlin，however，hadsufferedlittlewhencomparedwithmostpartsofthekingdom。Theruinofprivatefortunes，thedistressofallranks，wassuchasmightappalthefirmestmind。
Almosteveryprovincehadbeentheseatofwar，andofwarconductedwithmercilessferocity。CloudsofCroatianshaddescendedonSilesia。TensofthousandsofCossackshadbeenletlooseonPomeraniaandBrandenburg。Themerecontributionsleviedbytheinvadersamounted，itwassaid，tomorethanahundredmillionsofdollars;andthevalueofwhattheyextortedwasprobablymuchlessthanthevalueofwhattheydestroyed。Thefieldslayuncultivated。Theveryseed—cornhadbeendevouredinthemadnessofhunger。Famine，andcontagiousmaladiesproducedbyfamine，hadsweptawaytheherdsandflocks;andtherewasreasontofearthatagreatpestilenceamongthehumanracewaslikelytofollowinthetrainofthattremendouswar。Nearfifteenthousandhouseshadbeenburnedtotheground。Thepopulationofthekingdomhadinsevenyearsdecreasedtothefrightfulextentoftenpercent。Asixthofthemalescapableofbearingarmshadactuallyperishedonthefieldofbattle。Insomedistricts，nolabourers，exceptwomen，wereseeninthefieldsatharvest—time。Inothers，thetravellerpassedshudderingthroughasuccessionofsilentvillages，inwhichnotasingleinhabitantremained。Thecurrencyhadbeendebased;theauthorityoflawsandmagistrateshadbeensuspended;thewholesocialsystemwasderanged。For，duringthatconvulsivestruggle，everythingthatwasnotmilitaryviolencewasanarchy。Eventhearmywasdisorganised。Somegreatgenerals，andacrowdofexcellentofficers，hadfallen，andithadbeenimpossibletosupplytheirplace。Thedifficultyoffindingrecruitshad，towardsthecloseofthewar，beensogreat，thatselectionandrejectionwereimpossible。Wholebattalionswerecomposedofdesertersorofprisoners。Itwashardlytobehopedthatthirtyyearsofreposeandindustrywouldrepairtheruinproducedbysevenyearsofhavoc。Oneconsolatorycircumstance，indeed，therewas。Nodebthadbeenincurred。Theburdensofthewarhadbeenterrible，almostinsupportable;butnoarrearwaslefttoembarrassthefinancesintimeofpeace。
Here，forthepresent，wemustpause。WehaveaccompaniedFrederictothecloseofhiscareerasawarrior。Possibly，whentheseMemoirsarecompleted，wemayresumetheconsiderationofhischaracter，andgivesomeaccountofhisdomesticandforeignpolicy，andofhisprivatehabits，duringthemanyyearsoftranquillitywhichfollowedtheSevenYears’War。
SOUTHEY’SCOLLOQUIES
（Jan，1830）
SirThomasMore;or，colloquiesontheProgressandProspectsofSociety。ByROBERTSOUTHEYEsq。，LL。D。，PoetLaureate。2vols。
8vo。
London:1829。
ITwouldbescarcelypossibleforamanofMr。Southey’stalentsandacquirementstowritetwovolumessolargeasthosebeforeus，whichshouldbewhollydestituteofinformationandamusement。Yetwedonotremembertohavereadwithsolittlesatisfactionanyequalquantityofmatter，writtenbyanymanofrealabilities。Wehave，forsometimepast，observedwithgreatregretthestrangeinfatuationwhichleadsthePoetLaureatetoabandonthosedepartmentsofliteratureinwhichhemightexcel，andtolecturethepubliconsciencesofwhichhehasstilltheveryalphabettolearn。Hehasnow，wethink，donehisworst。Thesubjectwhichhehasatlastundertakentotreat，isonewhichdemandsallthehighestintellectualandmoralqualitiesofaphilosophicalstatesman，anunderstandingatoncecomprehensiveandacute，aheartatonceuprightandcharitable。Mr。Southeybringstothetasktwofacultieswhichwerenever，webelieve，vouchsafedinmeasuresocopioustoanyhumanbeing，thefacultyofbelievingwithoutareason，andthefacultyofhatingwithoutaprovocation。
Itis，indeed，mostextraordinary，thatamindlikeMr。
Southey’s，amindrichlyendowedinmanyrespectsbynature，andhighlycultivatedbystudy，amindwhichhasexercisedconsiderableinfluenceonthemostenlightenedgenerationofthemostenlightenedpeoplethateverexisted，shouldbeutterlydestituteofthepowerofdiscerningtruthfromfalsehood。Yetsuchisthefact。GovernmentistoMr。Southeyoneofthefinearts。Hejudgesofatheory，ofapublicmeasure，ofareligionorapoliticalparty，ofapeaceorawar，asmenjudgeofapictureorastatue，bytheeffectproducedonhisimagination。A
chainofassociationsistohimwhatachainofreasoningistoothermen;andwhathecallshisopinionsareinfactmerelyhistastes。
Partofthisdescriptionmightperhapsapplytoamuchgreaterman，Mr。Burke。ButMr。Burkeassuredlypossessedanunderstandingadmirablyfittedfortheinvestigationoftruth，anunderstandingstrongerthanthatofanystatesman，activeorspeculative，oftheeighteenthcentury，strongerthaneverything，excepthisownfierceandungovernablesensibility。Hencehegenerallychosehissidelikeafanatic，anddefendeditlikeaphilosopher。Hisconductonthemostimportantoccasionsofhislife，atthetimeoftheimpeachmentofHastingsforexample，andatthetimeoftheFrenchRevolution，seemstohavebeenpromptedbythosefeelingsandmotiveswhichMr。Coleridgehassohappilydescribed，"Stormypity，andthecherish’dlureOfpomp，andproudprecipitanceofsoul。"
Hindostan，withitsvastcities，itsgorgeouspagodas，itsinfiniteswarmsofduskypopulation，itslong—descendeddynasties，itsstatelyetiquette，excitedinamindsocapacious，soimaginative，andsosusceptible，themostintenseinterest。
Thepeculiaritiesofthecostume，ofthemanners，andofthelaws，theverymysterywhichhungoverthelanguageandoriginofthepeople，seizedhisimagination。TopleadundertheancientarchesofWestminsterHall，inthenameoftheEnglishpeople，atthebaroftheEnglishnoblesforgreatnationsandkingsseparatedfromhimbyhalftheworld，seemedtohimtheheightofhumanglory。Again，itisnotdifficulttoperceivethathishostilitytotheFrenchRevolutionprincipallyarosefromthevexationwhichhefeltathavingallhisoldpoliticalassociationsdisturbed，atseeingthewell—knownlandmarksofstatesobliterated，andthenamesanddistinctionswithwhichthehistoryofEuropehadbeenfilledforagesatoncesweptaway。Hefeltlikeanantiquarywhoseshieldhadbeenscoured，oraconnoisseurwhofoundhisTitianretouched。But，howeverhecamebyanopinion，hehadnosoonergotitthanhedidhisbesttomakeoutalegitimatetitletoit。Hisreason，likeaspiritintheserviceofanenchanter，thoughspell—b...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：