’What,CuratusSchmidt!’interruptsMyLady,whowassittingthere:
’HerrGood—man,whatisthat?’’ThatisaLettertome,’answerstheGood—man:’Whathaveyoutodowithit?’UponwhichMyLadyflouncesoutinahuff,andtheHerrBaronsetsaboutwritinghisAnswer,whateveritmaybe。
"KappelandFrauaregonetobed,FraustilleloquentuponthemysteryofCuratusSchmidt,whenhisLordshiptapsattheirdoor;
entersinthedark:’ThisisfortheCuratus,at7o’clockto—morrow;Ileaveitonthetablehere:beintime,likeagoodKappel!’KappelpromiseshisUnappeasablethathewillactuallyopenthisPiecebeforedeliveryofit;uponwhichsheappeasesherself,andtheybothfallasleep。Kappelisonfootbetimesnextmorning。KappelquietlypocketshisLetter;stillmorequietly,fromaneighboringroom,pocketshisMaster’sbigSeal(PETSCHAFT),withaviewtoresealing:hethenstepsout;givinghisBURSCH
[ApprenticeorUnder—Groom]ordertobereadyinsomanyminutes,’Youandthesetwohorses’(specificforspeed);and,intheinterim,walksover,withLetterandPETSCHAFT,totheReverendHerrGerlach’s,forsomepreliminarybusiness。KappelisCatholic;
Warkotsch,Protestant;HerrGerlachisProtestantpreacherintheVillageofSchonbrunn,——muchhatedbyWarkotsch,whosestandingorderis:’Don’tgonearthatinsolentfellow;’butknownbyKappeltobeajustman,faithfulindifficultiesoftheweakagainstthestrong。Gerlach,notyetoutofbed,listenstotheawfulstory:
readsthehorridmissive;WarkotschtoColonelWallis:’YoucanseizetheKing,livingordead,thisnight!’——hesitatesaboutcopyingit(asKappelwishes,foragoodpurpose];butisencouragedbyhisWife,andsoonwritesaCopy。ThisCopyKappelsticksintotheoldcover,sealsasusual;and,withtheOriginalsafeinhisownpocket,returnstothestablesnow。HisBurschandhemount;afteralittle,heordershisBursch:’Bursch,rideyoutoSiebenhubenandCuratusSchmidt,withthissealedLetter;
YOU,andsaynothing。Iwastohavegonemyself,butcannot;
bespeedy,bediscreet!’AndtheBurschdashesoffforSiebenhubenwiththesealedCopy,forSchmidt,Warkotsch,WallisandCompany’sbehoof;Kappelriding,atastillbetterpace,toStrehlenwiththeOriginal,forbehoofoftheKing’sMajesty。
"AtStrehlen,King’sMajestynotyetvisible,Kappelhasgreatdifficultiesintheanteroomamongthesentrypeople。Buthepersists,insists:’ReadmyLetter,then!’whichtheydarenotdo;
whichonlyColonelKrusemark,theAdjutant,perhapsdare。TheytakehimtoKrusemark。Krusemarkreads,allaghast;locksupKappel;
runstotheKing;returns,mufflesKappelinsoldier’scloakandcap,andleadshimin。TheKing,lookingintoKappel’sface,intoKappel’sclearstoryandtheWarkotschhandwriting,neededonlyafewquestions;andthefitorders,astoWarkotschandCompany,weresoongiven:dangerousengineersnowfallenharmless,blownupbytheirownpetard。OneoftheKing’sfirstquestionswas:
’ButhowhaveIoffendedWarkotsch?’Kappeldoesnotknow;
Masterisofstrictwilfulturn;——Masterwouldgrumbleandgrowlsometimesaboutthepeasantpeople,andhowanoblemanhasnownopoweroverthem,incomparison。’AreyouaProtestant?’’No,yourMajesty,Catholic。’’See,IHRHERREN,’saidtheKingtothoseabouthim;’WarkotschisaProtestant;hisCuratusSchmidtisaCatholic;
andthismanisaCatholic:therearevillainsandhonestpeopleineverycreed!’
"Atnoon,thatday,Warkotschhadsatdowntodinner,comfortablyinhisdressing—gown,nobodybutthegoodBaronessthere;
whenRittmeisterRabenausuddenlydescendedontheSchlossanddining—roomwithdragoons:’Inarrest,HerrBaron;IamsorryyoumustgowithmetoBrieg!’Warkotsch,astrategicfellow,keptcountenancetoWifeandRittmeister,inthissuddenfallofthethunder—bolt:’Yes,HerrRittmeister;itisthatmassofCornIwastofurnish[showinghimanactualorderofthatkind],andIambehindmytimewithit!Nobodycanhelphisluck。Takeabitofdinnerwithus,anyway!’Rittmeisterrefused;buttheBaronesstoopressedhim;heatlengthsatdown。Warkotschwent’todress;’
firstofall,togiveordersabouthisbesthorse;butwasshockedtofindthatthedragoonswereahundred,andthateveryoutgatewasbeset。Returninghalf—dressed,withanairofbaffledhospitality:’HerrRittmeister,ourSchlossmustnotbedisgraced;
hereareyourbravefellowswaiting,andnothingofrefreshmentreadyforthem。IhavegivenorderattheTavernintheVillage;
sendthemdown;theretheyshalldrinkbetterlucktome,andhaveabitofbreadandcheese。’StupidRabenauagainconsents:——andinfewminutesmore,WarkotschisintheWoods,gallopinglikeEpsom,towardsWallis;andRabenaucanonlyarrestMadam(whoknowsnothing),andreturninabaffledstate。
"Schmidttoogotaway。ThepartysentafterSchmidtfoundhiminthelittleTownofNimptsch,half—wayhomeagainfromhisWalliserrand;comfortablydiningwithsomeinnocenthospitablepeoplethere。Schmidtcouldnotconcealhisconfusion;butpleadingpiteouslyanecessityofnature,waswithdifficultyadmittedtothe——totheABTRITTsocalled;andthere,bysomelongpoleorrake—handle,vanishedwhollythroughanever—imaginedaperture,andwasnomoreheardofintheupperworld。ThePrussiansoldierydoesnotseemexpertinthief—taking。
"WarkotschcamebackaboutmidnightthatsameTuesday,500WallisHussarsescortinghim;andtookawayhisreadymoneys,near5,000
poundsingold,reportsFrauKappel,whowitnessedtheghastlyoperation(Hussarsingreatterror,inhaste,andunconscionablygreedyastosharing);——afterwhichournextnewsofhim,thelastofanyclearauthenticity,isthisNotetohispoorWife,whichwasreadintheLawProceduresonhimsixmonthshence:’MyChild(MEIN
KIND),——TheaccursedthoughtItookupagainstmyKinghasoverwhelmedmeinboundlessmisery。FromthetopofthehighesthillIcannotseethelimitsofit。Farewell;IaminthefarthestborderofTurkey。——WARKOTSCH。’"[Kuster,Lebens—Rettungen,p。88:Kuster,pp。65—188(forthegeneralNarrative);
Tempelhof,v。346,&c。&c。]
Schmidtandhe,afterpatienttrial,werebothofthembeheadedandquartered,——inpasteboardeffigy,——intheSaltRing(GreatSquare)
ofBreslau,May,1762:——inpasteboard,Friedrichlikeditbetterthantheotherway。"MEINETWEGEN,"wrotehe,sanctioningtheexecution,"ForaughtIcare;thePortraitswilllikelybeasworthlessastheOriginals。"RittmeisterRabenauhadgotoffwithafewdays’arrest,andtheremark,"ERISTEINDUMMERTEUFEL(Youareastupiddevil)!"Warkotsch’sEstates,allandsundry,deductingtheBaroness’sjointure,whichwaspunctuallypaidher,wereconfiscatedtotheKing,——andbyhimweremadeovertotheSchoolsofBreslauandGlogau,which,Idoubtnot,enjoythemtothisday。ReverendGerlachinSchonbrunn,KappelandKappel’sBursch,wereallattendedto,andproperlyrewarded,thoughtherearerumorstothecontrary。Hussar—ColonelWallisgotnopublicpromotion,thoughitisnotdoubtedtheHeadPeoplehadbeenwellcognizantofhisingeniousintentions。OfficialVienna,likemankindingeneral,shudderedtoownhim;thegreatCountsWallisatViennapublishedintheNewspapers,"OurHousehasnoconnectionwiththatgentleman;"——and,infact,hewasofIrishbreed,itseems,thenameofhimWallISCH(orWalsh),ifonecared。
WarkotschdiedatRaab(THISsidethefarthestcornerofTurkey),in1769:hispoorBaronesshadvanishedfromSilesiafiveyearsbefore,probablytojoinhim。HehadsomepensionoralimentfromtheAustrianCourt;smallornotsosmallisadisputedpoint。
Andthisis,moreminutelythanneedhavebeen,inauthenticformonlytoodiffuse,theonceworld—famousWarkotschTragedyorWellnigh—TragicMelodrama;whichisstillinterestingandamatterofstudy,ofpathosandminutecontroversy,tothepatriotandantiquaryinPrussianCountries,thoughherewemighthavebeenbrieferaboutit。Itwould,indeed,have"finishedtheWaratonce;"andontermsdelightfultoAustriaanditsGeneralsnearby。
ButsowouldanyunitofthemillionballsandbulletswhichhavewhistledroundthatsameRoyalHead,andhave,everyunitofthem,missedlikeWarkotsch!ParticularHeads,royalandother,meantforuseintheschemeofthings,arenottobehitonanytermstilltheuseishad。
FriedrichsettledinBreslaufortheWinter,December9th。
FromColbergbadnewsmeethiminBreslau;badandeverworse:
Colberg,notWarkotsch,istheinterestingmatterthere,forafortnightcoming,——tillColbergend,italsoirremediable。
TheRussianhopeonColbergis,longsince,limitedtothatoffamine。WesaidtheconveyanceofSupplies,acrosssuchaHundredMilesofwilderness,fromStettinthither,withRussiansandtheWintergainsaying,wasthedifficulty。OurshortNotecontinues:——
"Infact,itistheimpossibility:trialaftertrialgoeson,inastrenuousmanner,butwithoutsuccess。October13th,GreenKleisttries;October22d,KnoblochandevenPlatentry。Forthenexttwomonthsthereistrialontrialmade(HussarKleist,Knobloch,Thadden,Platen),notwithoutfuriousfencing,struggling;butwithnosuccess。Thereare,inwaitattheproperplaces,15,000
Russianswaylaying。Wintercomesearly,andunusuallysevere:
suchmarchings,suchendeavoringsandendurances,——withoutsuccess!
Fordarkness,cold,grimdifficulty,fierceresistancetoit,onereadsfewthingslikethisofColberg。’Thesnowliesell—deep,’
saysArchenholtz;’snow—tempests,sleet,frost:acountrywastedandhungeredout;wantsfuel—wood;hasnotevensalt。Thesoldier’sbreadisablockofice;impracticabletohumanteethtillyouthawit,——whichisonlypossiblebynight。’TheRussianshipsdisappear(17thOctober);November2d,Butturlin,leavingreinforcementswithoutstint,vanishestowardsPoland。ThedaybeforeButturlinwent,therehadbeensolemnsummonsuponEugen,’Surrenderhonorably,weoncemorebidyou;neverwillweleavethisground,tillColbergisours!’’Vaintoproposeit!’answersEugen,asbefore。TheRussianstooareclearlyingreatmiseryofwant;
thoughwithbetterroadsopenforthem;andRomanzow’sobstinacyisextreme。
"NightofNovember14th—15th,Eugen,hishorse—fodderbeingentirelydone,andHeyde’smagazineswornalmostout,isobligedtoglidemysteriously,circuitouslyfromhisCamp,andgototrythetaskhimself。Themostdifficultofmarches,gloriouslyexecuted;
whichavailstodeliverEugen,andlightensthepressureonHeyde’ssmallstore。Eugen,inawayTempelhofcannotenoughadmire,getsclearaway。JoinswithPlaten,collectsProvision;triestosendProvisionin,butwithouteffect。BytheKing’sorder,istotryithimselfinacollectiveform。HadHeydefood,hewouldcarelittle。
"Romanzow,whoisnowinEugen’soldCamp,summonstheVeteran;
theysay,itis’forthetwenty—fifthtime,’——notyetquitethelast。Heydeconsultshispeople:’KAMERADEN,whatthinkyoushouldIdo?’’THUNSIE’SDURCHAUSNICHT,HERROBRIST,Donotawhitofit,HerrColonel:wewilldefendourselvesaslongaswehavebreadandpowder。’[Seyfarth,iii。28;Archenholtz,ii。304。]Itisgrimfrost;Heydepourswateronhiswalls。Romanzowtriesstorm;
thewallsareglass;thegarrisonhaspowder,thoughonhalfrationsastobread:stormisofnoeffect。BytheKing’sorder,Eugentriesagain。December6th,starts;hasagainamarchofthemostconsummatekind;December12th,getstotheRussianintrenchment;stormsaRussianredoubt,andfightsinexpressibly;
hutitwillnotdo。Withdraws;leavesColbergtoitsfate。
Nextmorning,Heydegetshistwenty—sixthsummons;reflectsonittwodays;andthen(December16th),hisbiscuitdone,decidesto’marchout,withmusicplaying,armsshoulderedandthehonorsofwar。"’[Tempelhof,v。351—377;Archenholtz,ii。294—307;especiallytheSeyfarthBeylagenabovecited。]AdieutotheoldHero;who,wehope,willnotstaylonginRussianprison。
"WhataPlaceofArmsforus!"thinksRomanzow;——"though,indeed,forCampaign1762,atthislatetimeofyear,itwillnotsomuchavailus。"No;——andfor1763,whoknowsifyouwillneeditthen!
Sixweeksago,PrinceHenriandDaunhadfinishedtheirSaxonCampaigninamuchmoreharmlessmanner。NOVEMBER5th,Daun,afterinfiniterallying,marshalling,rearranging,andcounsellingwithLoudon,whohassatsolongquiescentontheHeightsatKunzendorf,readytoaidandreinforce,didatlength(nothingof"rashness"
chargeableonDaun)make"ageneralattackonPrinceHenri’soutposts",intheMeissenorMulda—ElbeCountry,"fromRossweinallacrosstoSiebeneichen;"simultaneousattack,15mileswide,orI
knownothowwide,butdonewithvigor;and,afterastiffstruggleinthesmallway,drovethemallin;——in,allofthem,moreorless;——andthendidnothingfartherwhatever。Henrihadtocontracthisquarters,andstandalertlyonhisguard:butnothingcame。
"Shallhavetowinterinstraiterquarters,behindtheMulda,notastrideofitasformerly;thatisall。"AndsotheCampaigninSaxonyhadended,"without,inthewholecourseofit",saytheBooks,"eitherpartygaininganyessentialadvantageovertheother。"[Seyfarth,iii。54;Tempelhof,v。275etseq。(ibid。pp。
263—280fortheCampaignatlarge,inallbreadthofdetail)。]
ChapterX。
FRIEDRICHINBRESLAU;HASNEWSFROMPETERSBURG。
SinceDecember9th,FriedrichisinBreslau,insomeremainderofhisruinedPalacethere;andisrepresentedtous,inBooks,assittingamidruins;noprospectaheadofhimbutruin。
WithdrawnfromSociety;lookingfixedlyonthegloomiestfuture。
Seeshardlyanybody;speaks,exceptitbeonbusiness,nothing。
"Oneday,"Ihavereadsomewhere,"GeneralLentulusdinedwithhim;
andtherewasnotawordutteredatall。"TheAnecdote—BookshaveDialogueswithZiethen;ZiethenstilltrustinginDivineProvidence;KingtrustingonlyintheironDestinies,andthesternrefugeofDeathwithhonor:Dialoguesevidentlysymbolicalonly。
Infact,thisisnot,orisnotaltogether,theKing’scommonhumor。HehashistwoNephewswithhim(theelder,oldenoughtolearnsoldiering,istobeofnextCampaignunderhim);heisnotwithoutsocietywhenhelikes,——neverwithoutemploymentwhetherhelikeornot;and,intheblackestmurkofdespondencies,hashisTurkandotherIllusions,whichseemtobebrighterthisYearthanever。[LETTERStoHenri:inSCHONING,iii。(SOEPIUS)。]
Forcertain,theKingismakingallpreparation,asifvictorymightstillcrownhim:thoughofpracticalhopehe,doubtlessoftenenough,haslittleornone。Englandseemsaboutdesertinghim;
amostsadandunexpectedchangehasbefallenthere:greatPittthrownout;perversesmallButescomein,whosenotionsandproceduresdifferfarfromPitt’s!Athomehere,theRussiansareinPommernandtheNeumark;AustrianshaveSaxony,allbutapoorstripbeyondtheMulda;Silesia,allbutafractionontheOder:
Friedrichhaswithhimself30,000;withPrinceHenri,25,000;
underEugenofWurtemberg,againsttheSwedes,5,000;inallhisDominions,60,000fightingmen。Tomakeheadagainstsomanyenemies,hecalculatesthat60,000moremustberaisedthisWinter。
Andwherearethesetocomefrom;Englandanditshelphavingalsofallenintosuchdubiety?NextYear,itiscalculatedbyeverybody,Friedrichhimselfhardlyexcepted(inbadmoments),mustbethefinisofthislongagonistictragedy。Ontheotherhand,Austriaherselfisinsoredifficultiesastocash;discharges20,000men,——trustingshemayhaveenoughbesidestofinishFriedrich。
Franceisbankrupt,starving,passionateforPeace;EnglishButenothinglikesoilltotreatwithasPitt:toAustrianomoresubsidiesfromFrance。TheWariswaxingfeeble,notonFriedrich’ssideonly,likeaflameshortoffuel。ThisYearitmustgoout;
AustriawillhavetokillFriedrichthisYear,ifatall。
WhetherAustria’sandtheworld’sprophecywouldhavebeenfulfilled?Nobodycansaywhatmiraculoussuddenshifts,andoutburstsoffieryenterprise,maystilllieinthisman。
Friedrichisdifficulttokill,growsterriblyelasticwhenyoucompresshimintoacorner。OrDestiny,perhaps,mayhavetriedhimsufficiently;andbesatisfied?Destinydoessendhimawonderfulstar—of—day,burstingoutonthesudden,aswillbeseen!——
MeanwhilehereistheEnglishcalamity;worsethananySchweidnitz,Colbergorotherthathasbefalleninthisblackest,ofthenight。
THEPITTCATASTROPHE:HOWTHEPEACE—NEGOTIATIONWENTOFFBYEXPLOSION;
HOWPITTWITHDREW(3dOctober,1761),ANDTHERECAMEASPANISHWARNEVERTHELESS。
InSt。James’sStreet,"intheDukeofCumberland’slatelodgings,"
onthe2dofOctober,1761,therewasheldoneofthemostremarkableCabinet—CouncilsknowninEnglishHistory:itisthelastofPitt’sCabinet—Councilsforalongtime,——mightaswellhavebeenhislastofall;——andisofthehighestimportancetoFriedrichthroughPitt。WespokeoftheChoiseulPeace—Negotiation;
ofanofferindirectlyfromKingCarlos,"CouldnotImediatealittle?"——offerwhichexplodedsaidNegotiation,andproducedtheBourbonFamilyCompactandanadditionalWarinstead。Letusnowlook,slightlyforafewmoments,intothatmatteranditssequences。
ItwasJULY15th,whenBussy,alongwithsomethinginhisownFrenchsphere,presentedthisbeautifulSpanishAppendix,——
"apprehensivethatWarmaybreakoutagainwithSpain,whenweTwohavegotsettled。"BythesameopportunitycameaNotefromhim,whichwasreckonedimportanttoo:"ThattheEmpressQueenwouldanddid,whatevermightbecomeoftheCongressofAugsburg,approveofthisSeparatePeacebetweenFranceandEngland,——EnglandmerelyundertakingtoleavetheKingofPrussiaaltogethertohimselfinfuturewithherImperialMajestyandherAllies。""Never,Sir!"
answeredPitt,withemphasis,tothislatterProposition;andtotheformeraboutSpain’sinterfering,orwhisperingofinterference,heanswered——byatoncereturningthePaper,asathingnon—extant,orwhichitwascharitabletoconsiderso。
"Totallyinadmissible,Sir;mentionitnomore!"——andatoncecalledupontheSpanishAmbassadortodisavowsuchimpertineuceimputedtohisMaster。Fancythecolloquies,theagitatedconsultationsthereupon,betweenBussyandthisDon,inviewsuddenlyofbreakersahead!
Inaboutaweek(July23d),BussyhadanInterviewwithPitthimselfonthishighSpanishmatter;andgotsomeutterancesoutofhimwhicharememorabletoBussyandus。"Itismydutytodeclaretoyou,Sir,inthenameofhisMajesty,"saidPitt,"thathisMajestywillnotsufferthedisputeswithSpaintobeblended,inanymannerwhatever,intheNegotiationofPeacebetweentheTwoCrowns。TowhichImustadd,thatitwillbeconsideredasanaffronttohisMajesty’sdignity,andasathingincompatiblewiththesincerityoftheNegotiation,tomakefarthermentionofsuchacircumstance。"[InTHACKERAY,ii。554;——Pittnextdayputtingitinwriting,"wordforword,"atBussy’srequest。]Bussydidnotgoatonce,afterthisdeliverance;butwasunable,byhisargumentsandpleadings,byallhisoilandfirejoinedtogether,toproducetheleastimprovementonit:"Timeenoughtotreatofallthat,Sir,whentheTowerofLondonistakenswordinhand!"[Beatson,ii。
434。Archenholtz(ii。245)hasheardofthisexpression,inaslightlyincorrectway。]wasPitt’slastword。Anexpressionwhichwentovertheworld;andwentespeciallytoKingCarlos,asfastasitcouldfly,orashisChoiseulcouldspeedit:and,inaboutthreeweeks:produced——itandwhathadgonebeforeit,bytheunitedindustryofChoiseulandCarlos,finallyproduced——thefamedBOURBONFAMILYCOMPACT(August15th,1761),andavarietyofotherweightyresults,whichlayinembryotherein。
Pitt,intheinterim,hadbeenintenselyprosecuting,inSpainandeverywhere,hisinquiryintotheBussyphenomenonofJuly15th;
whichhe,fromthefirstglimpseofit,tooktomeanamysteryoftreacheryinthepretendedPeace—Negotiation,onthepartofChoiseulandCatholicMajesty;——thoughotherlongheads,andPitt’sAmbassadoratMadridinvestigatingonthespot,considereditaninadvertencemainly,andofnopracticalmeaning。OngettingknowledgeoftheBourbonFamilyCompact,Pittperceivedthathissuspicionwasacertainty;——andlikewisethattheoneclearcoursewas,TodeclareWarontheSpanishBourbontoo,andgointohimatonce:"Weareready;fleets,soldiers,intheEast,intheWest;
henotreadyanywhere。SincehewantsWar,lethimhaveit,withoutlossofamoment!"ThatisPitt’sclearviewofthecase;butitisbynomeansButeandCompany’s,——whodiscerninit,rather,ameansoffinishinganotheroperationtheyhavelongbeensecretlybusyupon,bytheirMauduitsandotherwise;andareclearagainstgettingintoanewWarwithSpainoranybody:"HavenotweenoughofWars?"saythey。
SinceSeptember18th,therehadbeenthreeCabinet—CouncilsheldonthisgreatSpanishquestion:"Mysteryoftreachery,meaningWarfromSpain?OrawkwardInadvertenceonly,practicallymeaninglittleornothing?"Pitt,surerofhiscourseeverytime,everytimemeetsthesamecontradiction。CouncilofOctober2dwasthethirdoftheseries,andprovedtobethelast。
"TwelveSeventy—fourssentinstantlytoCadiz",hadbeenPitt’sproposal,onthefirstemergenceoftheBussyphenomenon。Herearehiswords,October2d,whenitisabouttogetconsummated:
"ThisisnowthetimeforhumblingthewholeHouseofBourbon:
andifthisopportunityisletslip,weshallneverfindanother!
Theirunitedpower,ifsufferedtogatherstrength,willbaffleourmostvigorousefforts,andpossiblyplungeusinthegulfofruin。
Wemustnotallowthemamomenttobreathe。Self—preservationbidsuscrushthembeforetheycancombineorrecollectthemselves。"——
"NoevidencethatSpainmeanswar;toomanywarsonourhands;
letusatleastwait!"urgealltheothers,——allbutone,oroneandAHALF,ofwhompresently。WhereuponPitt:"Iftheseviewsaretobefollowed,thisisthelasttimeIcansitatthisBoard。
IwascalledtotheAdministrationofAffairsbythevoiceofthePeople:tothemIhavealwaysconsideredmyselfasaccountableformyconduct;andthereforecannotremaininasituationwhichmakesmeresponsibleformeasuresIamnolongerallowedtoguide。"
[Beatson,ii。438。]
CarteretGranville,PresidentofsaidCouncilfortenyearspast,[Camein"17thJune,1751",——died"2dJanuary,1763。"]nowanoldred—nosedmanofseventy—two,snappishlytookhimup,——itisthelastpublicthingpoorCarteretdidinthisworld,——inthefollowingterms:"IfindtheGentlemanisdeterminedtoleaveus;
norcanIsayIamsorryforit,sinceotherwisehewouldhavecertainlycompelledustoleavehim[Hasruledus,maynotIsay,witharodofiron!]ButifheberesolvedtoassumetheofficeofexclusivelyadvisinghisMajestyanddirectingtheoperationsoftheWar,towhatpurposearewecalledtothisCouncil?WhenhetalksofbeingresponsibletothePeople,hetalksthelanguageoftheHouseofCommons;forgetsthat,atthisBoard,heisonlyresponsibletotheKing。However,thoughhemaypossiblyhaveconvincedhimselfofhisinfallibility,stillitremainsthatweshouldbeequallyconvinced,beforewecanresignourunderstandingstohisdirection,orjoinwithhiminthemeasureheproposes。"[BIOG。BRITANNICA(Kippis’s;London,1784),iii。278。
SeeThackeray,i。589—592。]
Who,besidesTemple(Pitt’sBrother—in—law)confirmatoryofPitt,Butenegatory,andNewcastleSILENT,theotherbeautifulgentlemenwere,Iwillnotask;butpooroldCarteret,——thewineperhapssouronhisstomach(oldagetoo,withGermanmemoriesofhisown,"AbiggishLifeoncemine,allfutileforwantofthissameKingshiplikePitt’s!")——IamsorryoldCarteretshouldhaveendedso!HemadetheaboveAnswer;andPittresignednextday。
[Thackeray,i。592n。"October5th"(ACCEPTANCEoftheresignation,Isuppose?)isthedatecommonlygiven。]"TheNationwasthunderstruck,alarmedandindignant,"saysWalpole:[
MemoirsoftheReignofGeorgetheThird,i。82etseq。]yes,nowonder;——but,exceptagreatdealofnoisyjargoninginParliamentandoutofit,theNationgainednothingforitselfbyitsindignant,thunderstrickenandotherfeelings。ItsPittisirrecoverable;anditmaylonglookforanothersuch。
ThesebeautifulrecalcitrantsoftheCabinet—Councilhad,themselves,withinthreemonths(thinkunderwhatnoisesandhootingsfromanon—admiringNation),todeclareWaronSpain,["2dJanuary,1762,"theEnglish;"18thJanuary,"theSpaniard(ANNUALREGISTERfor1762,p。50;orbetter,Beatson,ii。443)。]
NOTonbettertermsthanwhenPittadvised;and,exceptforthe"readiness"inwhichPitthadleftallthings,mighthavefaredindifferentlyinit。
ToSpainandFrancetheresultsoftheFamilyCompact(wemayaswellgivethematonce,thoughtheyextendoverthewholenextyearandfarther,andconcernFriedrichverylittle)were:aWaronEngland(chieflyonpoorPortugalforEngland’ssake);withaWarBYEnglandinreturn,whichcostSpainitsHavanaanditsPhilippineIslands。
"From1760andbefore,theSpanishCarlos,hisorthodoxmindperhapsshockedatPombalandtheAnti—Jesuitprocedures,hadforbiddentradewithPortugal;hadbeendrawingoutdangerous’militiaforcesontheFrontier;’andafflictingandfrighteningthepoorCountry。ButontheactualarrivalofWarwithEngland,Choiseulandhe,asthefirstfeasibilitydiscernible,makeDemand(threetimesover,16thMarch—18thApril,1762,eachtimemorestringently)onpoorPortugueseMajesty:’GiveupyourobjectionableHereticAlly,andjoinwithusagainsthim;willyou,orwillyounot?’TowhichthePortugueseMajesty,whoseverytitleisMostFaithful,answeredalways:’Yousurpriseme!Icannot;
howcanI?HeismyAlly,andhasalwayskeptfaithwithme!
Forcertain,No!’[LondonGazette,5thMay,1762,&c。(inGentleman’sMagazinefor1762,xxxii。205,321,411)。]SothatthereisEnglishreinforcementgotready,men,money;anEnglishGeneral,LordTyrawley,GeneralandAmbassador;witha5or6,000horseandfoot,andmanyvolunteerofficersbesides,forthePortuguesebehoof。[ListofallthisinBeatson,ii。491,iii。323;——"didnotgettoseatill12thMay,1762"(Gentleman’sMagazinefor1762,p。239)。]Inshort,everyencouragementtopoorPortugal:
’Pull,andwewillhelpyoubytracing。’
"ThepoorPortuguesepulledverybadly:weredisgustingtoTyrawley,hetothem;andcriedpassionately,’GetusanotherGeneral;’——uponwhich,bysomewiseperson’scounsel,thatsingularArtilleryGentleman,theGrafvonderLippeBuckeburg,whogavethedinnerinhisTentwithcannonfiringatthepoleofit,wasappointed;andTyrawleycamehomeinahuff。[VarnhagenvanEnse,GRAFWILHELMZURLIPPE(Berlin,1845),inVermischteSchriften,i。1—118:pp。33—54,hisPortugueseoperations。]Whichwasprobablyafavorablecircumstance。
BuckeburgunderstandsWar,whetherTyrawleydoornot。
DukeFerdinandhasagreedtodispensewithhisOrdnance—Master;
nayIhaveheardtheOrdnance—Master,amanofsharpspeeohonoccasion,wasasgoodasidle;andhadgonehometoBuckeburg,thisWinter:indignantatthemanyimperfectionshesaw,andperhapstoofranklyexpressingthatfeelingnowandthen。WhathethoughtofthePortugueseArmyincomparisonisnotonrecord;but,maybejudgedofbythiscircumstance,ThatondiningwiththechiefPortuguesemilitaryman,hefoundhisPortuguesecaptainsandlieutenantswaitingasvaletsbehindthechairs。[VARNHAGEN(givesnodateanywhere)。]
"Theimprovementshemadearesaidtohavebeenmany;——andPortugueseMajesty,inbiddingfarewell,gavehimaparkofMiniatureGoldCannonbywayofgracioussymbol。But,sofarasthefactsshow,heseemstohavegotfromhisPortugueseArmynexttonoservicewhatever:and,butfortheEnglishandtheillweather,wouldhavefaredbadlyagainsthisFrenchandSpaniards,——42,000ofthem,advancinginThreeDivisions,bytheDouroandtheTagus,againstOportoandLisbon。
"HisWarhasonlythesethreedatesofevent。1。May9th,ThenorthmostoftheThreeDivisions[ANNUALREGISTERfor1762,p。30。]
crossesthePortugueseFrontierontheDouro;summonsMiranda,achiefTownoftheirs;takesit,beforetheirfirstbatteryisbuilt;takesBraganza,takesMonteCorvo;andwithinaweekismasteroftheDouro,inthatpart,’WillbeatOportodirectly!’
shriekalltheWinepeople(noresistanceanywhere,exceptbypeasantsorganizedbyEnglishOfficersinsomeparts);uponwhichSeventy—foursweresent。
"2。DivisionSecondofthe42,000camebyBeiraCountry,betweenTagusandDouro,byTras—os—Montes;andlaidsiegetoaplacecalledAlmeida[northwestsome20oddmilesfromCUIDADRODRIGO,anameonceknowntoveteransofusstillliving],whichBuckeburghadtriedtorepairintostrength,andfurnishwithagarrison。
Garrisondefendeditselfwell;butcouldnotberelieved;——hadtosurrender,August25th:wherebyitseemstheTagusisnowtheirs!
Allthemore,asDivisionThreeislikewisegotacrossfromEstremadura,invadingAlemtejo:whatistokeeptheseTwofromfallingonLisbontogether?
"3。Againstthis,Buckeburgdoesfindarecipe。DespatchesBrigadierBurgoynewithanEnglishpartyuponaTowncalledValenciad’Alcantara[notAlcantaraProper,butValenciaofditto,notveryfarfromBadajoz],wherethevanguardofthisThirdDivisionis,andtheirprincipalMagazine。BurgoyneandhisEnglishdidperfectly:brokeintotheplace,stormeditswordinhand(August27th);kepttheMagazineandit,though’thesixteenPortugueseBattalions’couldnotpossiblygetupintime。Inmannerfollowing(saytheOldNewspapers):——
"’ThegarrisonofAlmeida,beforewhichplacethewholeSpanishArmyhadbeenassembled,surrenderedtotheSpaniardsonthe25th[August25th,aswehavejustheard],havingcapitulatedonconditionofnotservingagainstSpainforsixmonths。
"’Asacounterbalancetothisadvantage,theCountdeLippecausedValenciad’Alcantaratobeattacked,swordinhand,bytheBritishtroops;whocarriedit,afteranobstinateresistance。ThelossoftheBritishtroops,whohadtheprincipalshareinthisaffair,isluckilybutinconsiderable:andconsistsinLieutenantBurkofColonelFrederick’s,onesergeantandthreeprivateskilled;
twosergeants,onedrummer,18privateswounded;10horseskilledand2wounded[lossnotatallconsiderable,inaWarofsuchdimensions!]。TheBritishtroopsbehaveduponthisoccasionwithasmuchgenerosityascourage;anditdeservesadmiration,that,inanaffairofthiskind,thetownandtheinhabitantssufferedverylittle;whichisowingtothegoodorderBrigadierBurgoynekeptupevenintheheatoftheaction。Thissuccesswouldprobablyhavebeenattendedwithmore,ifcircumstances,thatcouldnotwellbeexpected,hadnotretardedthemarchofsixteenPortuguesebattalions,andthreeregimentsofcavalry。’[OldNewspapers(inGentleman’sMagazinefor1762,p,443)。]
"Uponwhich——uponwhich,infact,theWarhadtoend。Rainyweathercame,delugesofrain;Burgoyne,withorwithoutthesixteenbattalionsofPortuguese,keptthegriphehad。Valenciad’AlcantaraanditsMagazineasettledbusiness,roadsroundgonealltomire,——thisThirdDivision,andwithitthe42,000ingeneral,findingtheyhadnothingtoliveupon,wenttheirwaysagain。"NOTE,TheBurgoyne,whobeginsinthisprettywayatValenciad’Alcantara,isthesamewhoendedsodismallyatSaratoga,withintwentyyears:——perhaps,withotherWar—Offices,andtraininghimselfinsomethingsuitablerthanParliamentaryEloquence,hemighthavebecomeakindofGeneral,andhaveendedfarotherwisethanthere?——
"SuchwasthecreditaccountonCarlos’sside:BygratuitousassaultonPortugal,whichhaddonehimnooffence;resultzero,andpayyourexpenses。OntheEnglish,orPERCONTRAside,again,therewerethesethreeitems,twoofthemspecificallyonCarlos:
FIRST,MartiniquecapturedfromtheFrenchthisSpring(finished4thFebruary,1762):[Gentleman’sMagazine
for1762,p。127。]——wastohavebeendoneinanycase,GuadaloupeanditbeingbothonPitt’sbooksforsometime,andonlyGuadaloupeyetgot。SECONDLY,KingCarlos,forFamilyCompactandfruitlessattemptatburglaryonanunoffendingneighbor,Debtor:
1。ToLossoftheHavana(6thJune—13thAugust,1762),[Ib。pp。
408—459,&c。]whichmighteasilyhaveissuedinlossofallhisWestIndiestogether,andtotalabolitionofthePope’smeridianinthatWesternHemisphere;and2。ToLossofManilla,withhisPhilippineIslands(23dSeptember—6thOctober,1762),[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1762,xxxiii。
171—177。]whichwasabolitionofitintheEastern。Afterwhich,happilyforCarlos,Peacecame,——Peace,andnoPitttobesevereuponhisIndiesandhim。Carlos’sWaroftenmonthshadstoodhimuncommonlyhigh。"
AllthesethingstheEnglishPublic,considerablysullenabouttheCabinet—CouncileventofOctober3d,ascribedtotherealownerofthem。ThePublicsaid:"Theseare,allofthem,Pitt’sbolts,notyours,——launched,orlyingreadyforlaunching,fromthatOlympianbatterywhich,intheEastandintheWest,hadalreadysmittendownallLallysandMontcalms;andhadforcealreadymassedthere,renderingyourHavanasandManillaseasyforyou。Forwhich,indeed,youdonotseemtocaremuch;ratherseemtobeembarrassedwiththem,inyoureagernessforPeaceandalazylife!"——Manillawasabeautifulwork;[AJOURNALOFTHEPROCEEDINGSQFHIS
MAJESTY’SFORCESINTHEEXPEDITIONTOMANILLA(LondonGazette,April19th,1763;Gentleman’sMagazine,xxxiii。171etseq。)。WrittenbyColonelorBrigadiecGeneralDraper(suggester,contriverandperformeroftheEnterprise;anexcellentIndianOfficer,ofgreatmeritwithhispenaswell,——BullyJUNIUS’SCorrespondentafterwards)。]buttheManillaRansom;amillionsterling,halfofitinbills,——whichtheSpaniards,onnopretextatallbutthedisagreeableness,refusedtopay!Havana,thoughvictorious,costagoodmanymen:
wasthoughttobebutbadlymanaged。"Whattodowithit?"saidBute,atthePeace:"GiveusFloridainlieuofit",——whichprovedoflittlebenefittoBute。Enough,enoughofButeandhisperformances。
Pittbeinggone,Friedrich’sEnglishSubsidylags:thistimeFriedrichconcludesitiscutoff;——silentonthesubject;nowordswillexpressone’sthoughtsonit。NottillApril9thhaspoorMitchellthesaderrandofannouncingformallyThatsuchareourpressures,PortugueseWarandother,wecannotafforditfarther。
AnsweredbyIknownotwhatkindofglancefromFriedrich;
answered,Ifind,bywordsfewornonefromtheforsakenKing:
"Good;thattoowaswanting,"thoughttheproudsoul:"Keepyourcoin,sinceyousoneedit;Ihavestillcopper,andmysword!"
ThealloythisYearbecameas3to1:——whatotherremedy?
Fromthesamecause,Idoubtnot,thisYear,forthefirsttimeinhumanmemory,camethatcompleteabeyanceoftheGift—moneys(DOUCEUR—GELDER),whicharebecomeastandingexpectation,quasi—
right,andnecessaryitemofsupporttoeveryPrussianOfficer,fromaLieutenantupwards:notaword,intheleastofficial,saidofthemthisYear;stilllessapennyofthemactuallyforthcomingtoawornoutexpectantArmy。OneofthegreatestsinschargeduponFriedrichbyPrussianorPrussian—Militarypublicopinion:nottobeexcusedatall;——Prussian—MilitaryandevenPrussian—CivilopinionhavingastrangepersuasionthatthisKinghasboundlesssupplyofmoney,andonlyoutofperversityrefusesitforobjectsofmoment。IntheArmyaselsewheremuchha8goneawry;
[SeeMollendorf’stwoorthreeLETTERS(Preuss,iv。407—411)。]manyrivetslooseaftersuchaclimbingoftheAlpsastherehasbeen,throughdenseandrare。
ItwillsurpriseeverybodythatFriedrich,withhiscopperandotherresources,actuallyraisedhisadditional60,000;andhasforhimself70,000torecoverSchweidnitz,andbringSilesiatoitsoldstate;40,000forPrinceHenriandSaxony,witha10,000ofmarginforSwedenandaccidentalsundries。Thisisstrange,butitistrue。[Stenzel,v。297,286;Tempelhof,vi。2,10,63。]Andhasnotbeendonewithoutstrivingsandcontrivings,hardrequisitionsontheplacesliable;andhasinvolvednotalittleofseverityanddifficulty,——especiallyagreatdealofhagglingwiththecollectingparties,oratleastwithPrinceHenri,whopresidesinSaxony,andisapttocomplainandmournovertheundoable,ratherthanproceedtodoit。TheKing’sCorrespondencewithHenri,thisWinter,iscuriousenough;likeaDialoguebetweenHopeonitsfeet,andDespairtakingtoitsbed。"YouknowthereareTwoDoctorsinMOLIERE,"saysFriedrichtohimonce;"aDoctorTANT—MIEUX(SomuchtheBetter)andaDoctorTANT—PIS(SomuchtheWorse):thesetwocannotbeexpectedtoagree!"——Insteadofinfinitearithmeticaldetails,hereispartofaLetterofFriedrich’stoD’Argens;andaPassage,oneofmany,withPrinceHenri;——whichcommandaviewintotheinteriorthatconcernsus。
THEKINGTOD’ARGENS(atBerlin)。
"BRESLAU,18thJanuary,1762……"Youhaveliftedthepoliticalveilwhichcoveredhorrorsandperfidiesmeditatedandreadytoburstout[Bute’sdismalprocedures,Ibelieve;whoisravenousforPeace,andwouldfainforceFriedrichalongwithhimontermsaltogetherdisgracefulandinadmissible[SeeD’Argens’sLetter(towhichthisisAnswer),OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。281,282。]]:youjudgecorrectlyofthewholesituationIamin,oftheabysseswhichsurroundme;and,asIseebywhatyousay,ofthekindofhopethatstillremainstome。ItwillnotbetillthemonthofFebruary[Turks,probably,andTartarKhan;greatthingscomingthen!]thatwecanspeakofthat;andthatisthetermI
contemplatefordecidingwhetherIshallholdtoCATO[Cato,——andthelittleGlassTubeIhave!]ortoCAESAR’SCOMMENTARIES,"andthebestfightonecanmake。
"TheSchoolofpatienceIamatishard,long—continued,cruel,naybarbarous。Ihavenotbeenabletoescapemylot:allthathumanforesightcouldsuggesthasbeenemployed,andnothinghassucceeded。IfFortunecontinuestopursueme,doubtlessIshallsink;itisonlyshethatcanextricatemefromthesituationIamin。IescapeoutofitbylookingattheUniverseonthegreatscale,likeanobserverfromsomedistantPlanet;allthenseemstomesoinfinitelysmall,andIcouldalmostpitymyenemiesforgivingthemselvessuchtroubleaboutsoverylittle。Whatwouldbecomeofuswithoutphilosophy,withoutthisreasonablecontemptofthingsfrivolous,transientandfugitive,aboutwhichthegreedyandambitiousmakesuchapother,fancyingthemtobesolid!
Thisistobecomewisebystripes,youwilltellme;well,ifonedobecomewise,whatmattersithow?——Ireadagreatdeal;IdevourmyBooks,andthatbringsmeusefulalleviation。ButformyBooks,Ithinkhypochondriawouldhavehadmeinbedlambeforenow。
Infine,dearMarquis,weliveintroubloustimesandindesperatesituations:——IhaveallthepropertiesofaStage—Hero;alwaysindanger,alwaysonthepointofperishing。Onemusthopetheconclusionwillcome;andiftheendofthepiecebelucky,wewillforgettherest。Patiencethen,MONCHER,tillFebruary20th[Bywhichtime,whatfarotherveritablestar—of—daywillhaverisenonme!]。ADIEU,MONCHER。——F。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。282,283。]
TIFFOFQUARRELBETWEENKINGANDHENRI(March—April,1762)。
IntheSpringmonthsPrinceHenriisatHofinVoigtland,ontheextremerightofhislonglineof"QuartersbehindtheMulda;"
busyenough,watchingtheAustriansandReich;levyingtheseverecontributions;speedingallhecanthemanifoldpreparatives;——
conscioustohimselfofthegreatestvigilanceanddiligence,butwraptindespondencyandblackacidulenthumors;a"DoctorSOMUCH
THEWORSE,"whoisnotacomfortingCorrespondent。FromHof,towardsthemiddleofMarch,hebecomesspeciallygloomyandacidulous;sendsaseriesofComplaints;alsoofNews,notimportant,butallratherinYOURfavor,mydearestBrother,thaninmine,ifyouwillpleasetoobserve!Asthus:——
HENRI(atHof,10th—13thMarch)……"Sadlyoffhere,mydearestBrother。!Ofour’1,284headofcommissariathorses,’only180arecomein;ofour’287drivers,’notone。WillbeimpossibletoopenCampaignatthatrate。"——"GrenadierBattalionsROTHENBURGandGRANT
demandtohavepickedmentocompletethem[ofCANTONIST,orsurePrussiansort]……Ifind[NOTABENE,Reader!]thereareeightAustrianregimentsgoingtoSilesia[offmyhands,anduponYOURS,inasense],eightinsteadoffourthatIspokeof:intending,probably,forGlatz,toreplaceCzernichef[aCzernichefoffforhomelately,inamostmiraculousway;asreadersshallhear!]——toreplaceCzernichef,andtheblankhehasleftthere?Eightofthem:
YourMajestycanhavenodifficulty;butIwilldetachPlatenorsomebody,ifyouorderit;thoughIammyselfperilouslyilloffhere,soscatteredintoparts,notcapableofspeedyjunctionlikeyourMajesty。"
FRIEDRICH(14th—16thMarch)。"Commissariathorses,drivers?
Iarrangedandprovidedwhereeverythingwastobegot。Butifmyordersarenotexecuted,northerequisitionsbroughtin,ofcoursethereisfailure。IamdespatchingAdjutantvonAnhalttoSaxonyasecondtime,toenforcematters。IfIcouldbeforthreeweeksinSaxony,myself,IbelieveIcouldputallonitsrightfooting;
but,asImustnotstirtwostepsfromhere,IwillsendyouAnhalt,withorderstotheGenerals,tocompelthemtotheirduty。"
[Schoning,iii。301,302。]"AstoGrenadierBattalionsGRANTandROTHENBURG,itisabsurd。"(Henrifallssilentforaboutaweek,broodinghisgloom;——notawarethatstillworseiscoming。)
Kingcontinues:——
KING(22dMarch)。"Eightregiments,yousaid?Here,byenclosedList,areseventeenofthem,namesandparticularsallgiven",whichisratheradifferentviewoftheaccountagainstSilesia!
Seventeenofthem,going,notforGlatz,Ishouldsay,buttostrengthenourEnemieshereabouts。
HENRI。"Hm,hah[answersonlyinGerman;drymilitaryreports,officialmerely;——thinksofwritingtoChief—ClerkEichel,whoisfactotuminthesespheres]……Artilleryrecruitsarescarceintheextreme;demandbounty:fivethalers,shallwesay?"
KING。"Seventeenregimentsofthem,beyondquestion,insteadofeight,comingonus:strangethatyoudidn’twarnmebetter。
IhavethereforeorderedyourMajor—GeneralSchmettauhitherwardatonce。AshehasnotdoneraisingthecontributionsintheLausitz,youmustsendanothertodoit,andhavethemreadywhenGeneralPlatenpassesthatwayhither。"——"’Fivethalersbountyforartillerymen"sayyou?Itisnottobethoughtof。Artillerymencanbehadbyconscriptionwhereyouare。"Henri(insilence,stillmoreindignant)sendsmilitaryreportsexclusively。March26th,Henri’sgloomreachestheignitingpoint;hewritestoChief—
ClerkEichel:——
"Monsieur,youareawarethatAdjutantvonAnhaltisonthewayhither。Tojudgebyhisorders,iftheycorrespondtotheLettersI
havehadfromtheKing,AdjutantvonAnhalt’sappearanceherewillproduceanembarrassment,fromwhichIamresolvedtoextricatemyselfbyavoluntaryretirementfromoffice。Mytotallyruined(ABIMEE)health,thevexationsIhavehad,thefatiguesandtroublesofwar,leaveinmelittleregrettoquittheemployment。
Isolicitonly,fromyourattentionsandskillofmanagement,thatmyretreatbepermittedtotakeplacewiththedecencyobservedtowardsthosewhohaveservedtheState。Ihavenotahighopinionofmyservices;butperhapsIamnotmistakeninsupposingthatitwouldbemoreashametotheKingthantomeifheshouldmakemeendureallmannerofchagrinsduringmyretirement。"[Schoning,iii。307。]
Eichelsinksintoprofoundreflection;saysnothing。Howisthisfiretobegotunder?Whereistheplacetotrampleonit,beforeopeningdoororwindow,orsayingawordtotheKingoranybody?
HENRI(sameday,26thMarch)。"MydearestBrother,——IntheListyousendmeofthoseseventeenAustrianregiments,several,Iaminformed,arestillinSaxony;andbyallthenewsthatIget,thereareonlyeightgonetowardsSilesia。"——"FromLeipzigmyaccountsare,theReichsArmyistomakeamovementinadvance,andPrinceXavierwiththeSaxonswasexpectedatNaumburgthe20thult。IknownotifyouhavearrangedwithDukeFerdinandforaproportionatesuccor,incasehisFrenchalsoshouldtrytopenetrateintoSaxonyuponme?Iam,withtheprofoundestattachment,yourfaithfulanddevotedservantandBrother。"
KING(30thMarch)。"Seventeenofthem,youmaydepend;Iamtoowellinformedtobeallowedtodoubtinanyway。WhatyoureportoftheReichsfolkandSaxonsmovinghither,thither;thatseemstomeabitofgameontheirpart。Theywilltrytocutonepostfromyou,thenanother,unlessyouassembleacorpsandgoinuponthem。
Tillyoudecideforthisresolution,youhavenothingbutchicanesandprovocationstoexpectthere。AstoDukeFerdinandofBrunswick,Idon’timaginethathisOrders[fromEngland]wouldpermithimwhatyoupropose[forreliefofyourself]:atanyrate,youwillhavetowriteatleastthricetohim,——thatistosay,wastethreeweeks,beforehewillanswerNoorYes。Youyourselfareinforceenoughforthosefellows:butsolongasyoukeeponthedefensivealone,theenemygainstime,andthingswillalwaysgoabadroad。"Henri’spatienceisalreadyout;thissamedayheiswritingtotheKing。
HENRI(30thMarch)……"YouhavehithertoreceivedproofsenoughofmywaysofthinkingandactingtoknowthatifinrealityIwasmistakenaboutthoseeightregiments,itcanonlyhavebeenapieceofignoranceonthepartofmyspy:meanwhileyouarepleasedtomakemeresponsibleforwhatmisfortunemaycomeofit。IthinkI
havemyhandsfullwiththetasklaidonmeofguarding4,000
squaremilesofcountrywithfewertroopsthanyouhave,andofbeingoppositeanenemywhosepoststouchuponours,andwhoissuperiorinforce。YourprecedingLetters[fromMarch16thhitherto],onwhichIhavewishedtobesilent,andthislastproofofwantofaffection,showmetooclearlytowhatfortuneIhavesacrificedtheseSixYearsofCampaigning。"
KING(3dApril:OfficialOrdersgiveninTeutsch;atthetailofwhich)。"Spareyourwrathandindignationatyourservant,Monseigneur!You,whopreachindulgence,havealittleofitforpersonswhohavenointentionofoffendingyou,oroffailinginrespectforyou;anddeigntoreceivewithmorebenignitythehumblerepresentationswhichtheconjuncturessometimesforcefromme。F。"——WhichrelievesEichelofhisdifficulties,andquenchesthissputter。[PluckedupfromthewasteimbrogliosofSCHONING
(iii。296—311),byarrangingandomitting。]
PrinceHenri,forallhiscomplaining,didbeautifullythisSeasonagain(thoughtousitmustbesilent,beingsmall—warmerely);——
andinparticular,MAY12th)earlyinthemorning,simultaneouslyinmanydifferentparts,burstacrosstheMulda,tenortwentymileslong(orBROADrather,fromhisrighthandtohisleft),suddenaslightning,uponthesupineSerbelloniandhisAustriansandReichsfolk。Andhurledthemback,oneandall,almosttothePlauenChasmandtheiroldhaunts;wideninghisquartersnotably。
[BerichtvondemUeberganguberdieMulde,denderPrinzHeinrichden12tenMay1762glucklichausgefuhrt(inSeyfarth,Beylagen,iii,280—291)。]Areallybrilliantthing,testifieseverybody,thoughnottobedweltonhere。Seidlitzwasofit(muchfinecuttingandcareering,fromtheSeidlitzandothers,wehavetoomitinthesetwoSaxonCampaigns!)
——Seidlitzwasofit;heandanotherstillmorespecialacquaintanceofours,thelearnedQuintusIcilius;whoalsodidhisbestinit,butlosthis"AMUSETTE"(smallbitofcannon,"Plaything,"socalledbyMarechaldeSaxe,inventorofthearticle),anddidnotshinelikeSeidlitz。
Henri’squartersbeingnotablywidenedinthisway,andnothingbuttorpidSerbellonisandPrinceStollbergsontheoppositepart,Henri"drewhimselfoutthirty—fivemileslong;"andstoodthere,almostlookingintoPlauenregionasformerly。AndwithhisfierySeidlitzes,Kleists,madeahandsomeSummerofit。AndbeattheAustriansandReichsfolkatFreyberg(OCTOBER29th)afineBattle,andhissoleone),——ontheHorsewhichafterwardscarriedGellert,asispleasantlyknown。
ButweareomittingthenewsfromPetersburg,——whichcametheverydayafterthatgloomyLETTERTOD’ARGENS;monthsbeforetheTIFFOF
QUARRELwithHenri,andthebrilliantbetterdestiniesofthatGentlemaninhisCampaign。
BRIGHTNEWSFROMPETERSBURG(certain,Jan。19th);WHICHGROW
EVERBRIGHTER;ANDBECOMEASTAR—OF—DAYFORFRIEDRICH。
ToFriedrich,longbeforeallthisofHenri,indeedalmostontheverydaywhilehewaswritingsodespondentlytoD’Argens,anewphasishadarisen。HardlyhadhebeenfiveweeksatBreslau,inthosegloomycircumstances,when,——aboutthemiddleofJanuary,1762(daynotgiven,thoughitisforevernotable),——therearriverumors,arrivenews,——newsfromPetersburg;suchasthisKingneverhadbefore!"AmongthethousandillstrokesofFortune,doesthereatlengthcomeonepre—eminentlygood?TheunspeakableSovereignWoman,issheverilydead,then,andbecomepeaceabletomeforevermore?"WepromisedFriedrichawonderfulstar—of—day;andthisisit,——thoughitislongbeforehedarequiteregarditassuch。Peter,theSuccessor,heknowstobesecretlyhisfriendandadmirer;ifonly,inthenewCzarishcapacityanditschaoticenvironmentsandconditions,Peterdareandcanassertthesefeelings?WhatahopetoFriedrich,fromthistimeonward!
Russiamaybecountedasthebiggerhalfofallhehadtostrivewith;thebigger,oratleastthefaruglier,moreruinousandincendiary;——andifthiswereatoncetakenaway,thinkwhatadaybreakwhenthenightwasattheblackest!
Piouspeoplesay,Thedarkesthourisoftennearestthedawn。AndadawnthisprovedtobeforFriedrich。Andthefactgrewalwaysthelongerthebrighter;——andbeforeCampaigntime,hadripenedintorealdaylightandsunrise。Thedatesshouldhavebeenprecise;
butarenottobehadso:hereisthenearestwecouldcome。
January14th,writingtoHenri,theKinghasamysteriouswordabout"possibilitiesofanuncommonsort,"——rumorsfromPetersburg,Icouldconjecture;thoughperhapstheyareonlyTurkorTartar—
Khanaffairs,whicharehigherthisyearthanever,andasfutileasever。But,onJANUARY19th,hehasheardplainly,——withwhathopes(ifonedurstindulgethem)!——thattheimplacableImperialWoman,INFAMECATINDUNORD,isverilydead。Dead;anddoesnothatemeanymore。Deliverance,PeaceandVictorylieintheword!——
Catinhadlongbeenfailing,buttheykeptitreligiouslysecretwithintheCourtwalls:evenatPetersburgnobodyknewtillthePrayersoftheChurchwererequired:Prayersaszealousasyoucan,——theDoctorshavingplainlyintimatedthatsheisdesperate,andthatthethingisover。OnCHRISTMAS—DAY,1761,byRussianStyle,5thJANUARY,1762,byEuropean,thepoorImperialCatinlaydead;——adeathstillmoreimportantthanthatofGeorgeII。tothisKing。
PeterIII。,whosucceededhaslangbeenprivatelyaswornfriendandadmireroftheKing;andhastens,nottooSLOWLYastheKinghadfeared,butfarthereverse,tomakethatknowntoallmankind。
That,andmuchelse,——inafartooheadlongmanner,poorsoul!
Likeanardent,violent,totallyinexperiencedperson(enfranchisedSCHOOL—BOY,cometotheageofthirty—four),whohassathithertoindarkness,inintolerablecompression;asifburiedalive!HeisnowCzarPeter,Autocrat,notofHimselfonly,butofAlltheRussias;——andhas,besidesthecompleteregenerationofRussia,twogreatthoughts:FIRST,ThatofavengingnativeHolstein,andhispoormartyrofaFathernowwithGod,againsttheDanes;——and,SECOND,whatisscarcelysecondinimportancetothefirst,andindeedispracticallyakindofpreliminarytoit,ThatofdeliveringthePrussianPatternofHeroesfromsuchapatternoffoulcombinations,andbringingPeacetoEurope,whilehesettlestheHolstein—Danishbusiness。PeterisRussianbytheMother’sside;hisMotherwasSisterofthelateCatin,aDaughter,likeher,ofCzarPetercalledtheGreat,andofthelittlebrownCatharinewhomwesawtransientlylongago。HisHolsteinBusinessshallconcernuslittle;butthatwithFriedrich,duringthebriefSixMonthsallowedhimforit,——forit,andforallhisremainingbusinessesinthisworld,——isofthehighestimportancetoFriedrichandus。
Peterisoneofthewildestmen;hisfate,whichwastragical,isnowtomostreadersratherofaghastlygrotesquethanofalamentableandpitiablecharacter。Fewknow,orhaveeverconsidered,inhowwildanelementpoorPeterwasbornandnursed;
whatatimehehashad,sincehisfifteenthyearespecially,whenCousinofZerbstandheweremarried。Perhapsthewildestandmaddestanyhumansoulhad,duringthatCentury。Ifindinhim,startingoutfromtheLetheanquagmireswherehehadtogrow,acertainrashgreatnessofidea;tracesofveritableconviction,justresolution;veritableandjust,thoughrash。ThatofadmirationforKingFriedrichwasnotintrinsicallyfoolish,inthesolitarythoughtsofthepooryoungfellow;nayitwasthereverse;
thoughitwashighlyinopportuneintheplacewherehestood。
NorwastheHolsteinnotionbad;itwasgenerousrather,nobleandnatural,though,again,somewhatimpracticableinthecircumstances。
ThesummaryoftheFriedrich—Peterbusinessisperhapsalreadyknowntomostreaders,andcanbeverybrieflygiven;norisPeter’stragicalSixMonthsofCzarship(5thJANUARY—9thJULY,1762)athingforustodwellonbeyondneed。Butitiswildlytragical;strokesofdeeppathosinit,blendedwiththeghastlyandgrotesque:itispartofFriedrich’sstrangeelementandenvironment:andthoughtheouterincidentsarepublicenough,itisessentiallylittleknown。HadtherebeenanAEschylus,hadtherebeenaShakspeare!——ButpoorPeter’sshockingSixMonthsofHistoryhasbeentreatedbyafardifferentsetofhands,themselvesalmostshockingtosee:and,totheseriouslyinquiringmind,itlies,andwilllonglie,inaverywaste,chaotic,enigmaticcondition。
Here,outofconsiderablebundlesnowburnt,aresomeroughjottings,ExcerptsofNotesandStudies,——which,Istilldoubtrather,oughttohavegoneinAUTODAFEalongwiththeothers。
AUTODAFEIcalledit;ActofFAITH,notSpanish—Inquisitional,butessentiallyCelestialmanytimes,ifyoureflectwellonthepoisonousconsequences,onthesinfulnessanddeadlycriminality,ofHumanBabble,——asnobodydoesnowadays!IlabelthedifferentPieces,andtrytomakelegible;——hastyreadershavetheprivilegeofskipping,iftheylike。ThefirstTwoareofpreliminaryorprefatorynature,——perhapsstillmoreskippablethanthosethatwillbyandbyfollow。
1。GENEALOGYOFPETER。"HisgrandfatherwasFriedrichIV。,DukeofHolstein—GottorpandSchleswig,KarlXII。’sbrother—in—law;
onwhosescoreitwas(Denmarkfindingthetimeopportuneforastrokeofrobberythere)thatKarlXII。,ayoungladhardlyeighteen,firsttookarms;andbeganthecareeroffightingthatastonishedDenmarkandcertainotherNeighborswhohadbeentoocovetousonayoungKing。ThishisyoungBrother—in—law,FriedrichofHolstein—Gottorp(younghetoo,thoughKarl’sseniorbytenyears),hadbeenreinstatedinhisTerritory,andtheDanessternlyforbiddenfartherburglarythere,bythevictoriousKarl;butwentwithKarlinhisfartherexpeditions。AlwaysKarl’sintimate,andathisrighthandforthenexttwoyears:fellintheBattleofClissow,19thJuly,1702;agenotyetthirty—one。
"HeleftasHeirapooryoungBoy,atthistimeonlytwoyearsold。
HisyoungWidowHedwigsurvivedhimsixyears。[Michaelis,ii。
618—629。]Herpoorchildgrewtomanhood;andhadtragicfortunesinthisworld;Danesagainburglariousinthatpart,againrobbingthispoorBoyatdiscretion,sosoonasKarlXII。becameunfortunate;andrefusingtorestore(havenotrestoredSchleswigatall[A。D。1864,HAVEatlasthadtodoit,underunexpectedcircumstances!]):——agrimlysadstorytothenowPeter,hisonlyChild!ThispoorDukeatlastdied,18thJune,1739,agethirty—
nine;thenowPeterthenabout11,——whowellrememberstragicPapa;
tragicMammanot,whodiedabovetenyearsbefore。[Michaelis,ii。
617;Hubner,tt。227,229。]
"CzarPetercalledtheGreathadevidentlyapityforthisunfortunateDuke,ahopeinhisjusthopes;andpleaded,asdidvariousothers,andendeavoredwiththeunjustDanes,mostlywithouteffect。Did,however,givehimoneofhisDaughterstowife;——theresultofwhomisthisnewCzarPeter,calledtheThird:
aCzarwhoisSovereignofHolstein,andhasclaimsofSovereigntyinSweden,rightofheirshipinSchleswig,andofdamagesagainstDenmark,whichareinlitigationtothisday。TheCzarinaCATIN,tenderlyrememberingherSister,wouldhearofnoHeirtoRussiabutthisPeter。Peter,invirtueofhispaternalaffinities,waselectedKingofSwedenaboutthesametime;butpreferredRussia,——
withaneyetohisDanes,somethink。Forcertain,didadopttheRussianExpectancy,theGreekreligionsocalled;andwas,"inthewaywesawlongyearsago,"married(ortoallappearancemarried)
toCatharinaAlexiewnaofAnhalt—Zerbst,borninStettin;
[HerrPreussknowsthehouse:"NowDr。Lehmann’s[atthattimetheGovernorofStettin’s],inwhichalsoCzarPaul’ssecondSpouse[EugenofWurtembergaNEWGovernor’sDaughter],whoisMotheroftheCzarsthatfollow,wasborn:"Preuss,ii。310,311。
Catharine,duringherreign,waspiousinasmallwaytotheplaceofhercradle;senthersuccessiveMEDALS&c。toStettin,whichstillhasthemtoshow。]aLadywhobecameworld—famousasCzarinaoftheRussias。
"Peterisanabstrusecreature;haslived,allthiswhile,withhisCatharineanabstruselife,whichwouldhavegonealtogethermadexceptforCatharine’ssuperiorsense。Anawkward,ardent,buthelplesskindofPeter,withvehementdesires,withadashofwildmagnanimityeven:butinsuchaninextricableelement,amidsuchdarkness,suchprovocationsofunmanageableopulence,suchimpediments,imaginaryandreal,——dreadfullyrealtopoorPeter,——
asmadehimtheuniqueofmankindinhistime。He’usedtodrillcats,’itissaid,andtodothemaddest—lookingthings(inhislateburied—alivecondition);——andfellpartly,neverquite,whichwaswonderful,intodrinking,asthesolutionofhisinextricabilities。PoorPeter:always,andnowmorethanever,thecynosureofvulturousvulpineneighbors,withal;whichinfinitelyaggravatedhisotherwisebadcase!——
"Forsevenoreightyears,therecamenoprogeny,norcouldcome;
abouttheeighthorninth,therecould,anddid:themarvellousCzarPaulthatwastobe。Concerningwhoseexactpaternitytherearestillcalumniousassertionswidelycurrent;tothisindividualEditormuchamatterofindifference,thoughonexamining,hisverdictis:’Calumnies,toallappearance;mysterieswhichdecentordecoroussocietyrefusestospeakof,andwhichindecentisprettysuretomakecalumniesoutof。’CzarPaulmaybeconsideredgenealogicallygenuine,ifthatismuchanobjecttohim。
PoorPaul,doesnothefatherhimself,weretherenothingmore?
OnlythatPeterandthisCathariuecouldhavebegottensuchaPaul。
Genealogicallygenuineenough,mypoorCzar,——thatneededtobegarrotedsoverysoon!
2。OFCATHARINEANDTHEBOOKSUPONPETERANDHER。"CatharinetoohadanintricatetimeofitundertheCatin;whichwasconsoledtoheronlybyatolerablyrapidsuccessionoflovers,thebestthegroundyielded。InwhichdepartmentitiswellknownwhataThrice—
Greatestshebecame:superiortoanyCharlesII。;equalalmosttoanAugusttheStrong!Ofherlovesnowandhenceforth,whichareheartilyuninterestingtome,Iproposetosaynothingfarther;
merelythis,Thatinextenttheyprobablyrivalledthehighestmalesovereignfigures(andaretobeputinthesamecategorywiththese,anddamnedasdeep,oralittledeeper);——andcosther,ingifts,inmagnificentpensionstotheEMERITI(forshedidthingsalwaysinagrandiosemanner,quietlyandyetinexorablydismissingtheEMERITUSwithstoresofgold),theconsiderablesumof20
millionssterling,inthecourseofherlongreign。One,oratmosttwo,wereoffonpension,whenHanburyWilliamsbroughtPoniatowskiforher,aswetransientlysaw。PoniatowskiwillbeKingofPolandinthecourseofevents……
"Russiaisnotapublishingcountry;theBooksaboutCatharinearefew,andoflittleworth。TOOKE,anEnglishChaplain;CASTERA,anunknownFrenchHanger—on,whocopiesfromTooke,orTookefromhim:
thesearetoberead,asthebad—best,andwillyieldlittlesatisfactoryinsight;Castera,inparticular,agreatdealofdubiousbackstairsgossipandstreetrumor,whicharenotdelightfultoareaderofsense。Infine,therehasbeenpublished,intheseveryyears,aFRAGMENTofearlyAUTOBIOGRAPHYbyCatharineherself,——acredibleandhighlyremarkablelittlePiece:worthalltheothers,ifitisknowledgeofCatharineyouareseeking。
[Memoiresdel’ImperatriceCatharineII。,ecritsparelle—
meme(A。Herzenediting;London,1859);——whichwealreadycited,onoccasionofCatharine’smarriage。
Anonymous(Castera),ViedeCatharineII。,ImperatricedeRussie(aParis,1797;orreprinted,mostofit,enoughofit,AVARSOVIE,1798)2tomes,8vo。Tooke,LifeofCatharineII。(4thedition,London,1800),3vols。
8vo;ViewoftheRussianEmpireduring&c。
(London,1799),3vols。8vo。—Hermann,GeschichtedesRussischenStaats(Hamburg,1853ETANTEA),v。241—308
etseq。;isbymuchthemostsolidBook,thoughadullandheavy。
Stenzelcites,asdoesHermann,aBiographiePetersdesIIIten;whichnodoubtexists,inperhaps3volumes;
butwhere,when,bywhom,orofwhatquality,theydonottellme。]
Amostplacid,solid,substantialyoungLadycomestolightthere;
droppedintosuchanelementasmighthavedrivenmostpeoplemad。
Butitdidnother;itonlymadeherwiserandwiserinhergeneration。Elementblack,hideous,dirty,asLaplandSorcery;——inwhichthefirstcleardutyis,toholdone’stonguewell,andkeepone’seyesopen。Stars,——notveryheavenly,butoffixednature,andheavenlytoCatharine,——astarortwo,shinethroughtheabominablemurk:Steady,patient;steersilently,inallweathers,towardsthese!
"YoungCatharine’simmovableequanimityinthisdistractedenvironmentstrikesusverymuch。Peteriscareering,tumblingabout,onallmannerofabsurdbroomsticks,driventoosurelybytheDevil;terrific—absurdbigLaplandWitch,surroundedbymultitudessmaller,andsomeofthemlessugly。WillbeCzarofRussia,however;——andisone’sso—calledHusband。Theseareprospectsforanobservant,immovablysteady—goingyoungWoman!
ThereigningCzarina,oldCATINherself,issilentlytheOlympianJovetoCatharine,whoreveresherverymuch。Thougharticulatelystupidasever,inthisBookofCatharine’s,shecomesoutwithadumbweight,ofsilence,ofobstinacy,ofintricateabruptrigor,which——whoknowsbutitmaysavorofdumbunconsciouswisdominthefatoldblockhead?TheBooksayslittleofher,andinthewayofcriticism,ofpraiseorofblame,nothingwhatever;butonegainsthenotionofsomedarkhumanfemaleobject,biggerthanonehadfancieditbefore。