foundtheycouldnot;whirledbackupontheirinfantry;setitalsowhirling:andinaword,thewhole200,000whirled,withoutblowstruck;anditwasauniversalpanicrout,anddeliriousstampedeofflight,whichneverpaused(theverygarrisonsemptyingthemselves,andjoininginit)tillitgotacrosstheDonauagain,anddrewbreaththere,nottorallyorstand,buttorunratherslower。AndhadleftWallachia,Bessarabia,Dniesterriver,Donauriver,sweptclearofTurks;allRomanzow’shenceforth。TosuchastonishmentofaninvincibleGrandTurk,andofhisMoslemPopulations,fallenonsuchasetofGiaours["ALLAHKERIM,Andcannotweabolishthem,then?"NotweTHEM,itwouldappear!],——aseveryreadercanimagine。"WhichshallsufficeeveryreaderhereinregardtotheTurkWar,andwhatconcernhehasintheextremelybrutishphenomenon。
TchesmefelloutJuly7th;ElphinstonehashardlydonehisteaintheDardanelles,when(August1st)thisofKaghulfollows:
bothwouldbefreshnewsblazingineveryheadwhiletheDialoguesbetweenFriedrichandKaunitzweregoingon。Forthey"hadmanydialogues,"Friedrichsays;"andoneofthedays"(probablySeptember6th)wasmainlydevotedtoPolitics,todeepprivateColloquywithKaunitz。Ofwhich,andofthegreatthingsthatfollowedoutofit,Iwillnowgive,fromFriedrich’sownhand,theoneentirelycredibleaccountIhaveanywheremetwithinwriting。
Friedrich’saccountofKaunitzhimselfisaltogetherlife—like:
asolemn,arrogant,mouthing,browbeatingkindofman,——embarrassedatpresentbythenecessitynottobrowbeat,andbytheconsciousnessthat"KingFriedrichistheonlymanwhorefusestoacknowledgemyclaimstodistinction:"[Rulhiere(somewhere)hasheardthis,asanutteranceofKaunitz’sinsomeplaintivemoment。]
——aKaunitzwhosearrogances,qualitiesandclaimsthisKingisnotheretonotice,exceptastheyconcernbusinessonhand。Hesays,"Kaunitzhadaclearintellect,greatlytwistedbyperversitiesoftemper(UNSENSDROIT,L’ESPRITREMPLIDETRAVERS),especiallybyaself—conceitandarrogancewhichwereboundless。Hedidnottalk,butpreach。Atthesmallestinterruption,hewouldstopshortinindignantsurprise:ithashappenedthat,attheCouncil—BoardinSchonbrunn,whenImperialMajestyherselfaskedsomeexplanationofawordorthingnotunderstoodbyher,Kaunitzmadehisbow(LUI
TIRASAREVERENCE),andquittedtheroom。"Goodtoknowthenatureofthebeast。Listentohim,then,onthoseterms,sinceitisnecessary。TheKaunitzSermonwasofgreatlength,imbeddedincircumlocutions,innuendoesanddiplomaticcautions;butthegistofitwegathertohavebeen(abridgedintodialogueform)
essentiallyasfollows:——
KAUNITZ。"DangeroustothereposeofEurope,thoseRussianencroachmentsontheTurk。NeverwillImperialMajestyconsentthatRussiapossessMoldaviaorWallachia;Warsooner,——allthingssooner!TheseviewsofRussiaareinfinitelydangeroustoeverybody。ToyourMajestyaswell,ifImaysayso;andnoremedyconceivableagainstthem,——tomenoneconceivable,——butthisonly,ThatPrussiaandAustriajoinfranklyinprotestandabsoluteprohibitionofthem。"
FRIEDRICH。"IhavenothingmoreatheartthantostandwellwithAustria;andalwaystobeherally,neverherenemy。ButyourHighnessseeshowIamsituated:boundbyexpressTreatywithCzarishMajesty;mustgowithRussiainanyWar!WhatcanIdo?
Ican,andwillwithallindustry,labortoconciliateCzarishMajestyandImperial;toproduceatPetersburgsuchaPeacewiththeTurksasmaymeetthewishesofVienna。Letushopeitcanbedone。Byfaithfulendeavoring,onmypartandonyours,Ipersuademyselfitcan。Meanwhile,steadfastlytogether,wetwo!Allourlittlerubs,custom—housesquabblesontheFrontier,andsuchlike,whynotsettlethemhere,andnow?[anddoessowithhisHighness。]
Thattherebenothingbutamity,helpfulnessandmutualefforttowardsanobjectsomomentoustousboth,andtoallmankind!"
KAUNITZ。"Goodsofar。AndmayanotintolerableTurk—RussianPeaceprovepossible,withoutourfightingforit!Meanwhile,ImperialMajesty[asshehasbeenvisiblydoingforsometime]mustcontinuemassingtroopsandrequisitesontheHungarianFrontier,lestthecontraryhappen!"
Thiswastheresultarrivedat。OfwhichFriedrich"judgeditbutpolitetoinformtheyoungKaiser;whoappearedtobegratefulforthismarkofattention,beingmuchhelddownbyKaunitzinhispresentstateoftutelage。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。30。]
Andbyasingularchance,ontheverymorrowtherearrivedfromtheDivan(datedAugust12th)anExpresstoFriedrich:"MediateaPeaceforuswithRussia;notyoualone,aswehaveoftenasked,butAustriaANDyou!"FortheKaghulSlaughteryhascomeonus;
GiaourElphinstonehastakenteaintheDardanelles;andweknownottowhathandtoturn!——"TheyoungKaiserdidnothidehisjoyatthisOverture,asKaunitzdidhis,whichwasperhapsstillgreater:"theKaiserwarmlyexpressedhisthankstoFriedrichastheAuthorofit;Kaunitz,withaloftyindifference(MORGUE),andnoseinairasoverasmallmatter,"merelysignifiedhisapprovalofthisstepwhichtheTurkshadtaken。"
"Neverwasmediationundertakenwithgreaterpleasure,"addstheKing。Andbothdidproceeduponitwithallzeal;butonlytheKingasreal"mediator,"orMIDDLEman;KaunitzfromthefirstplantinghimselfimmovablyupontheTurksideofthings,whichislikewisetheAustrian;andplayinginsecret(asFriedrichprobablyexpectedhewould)thestrangesttrickswithhisassumedfunction。
SothatFriedrichhadtotaketheburdenofmediatingaltogetheronhimself;andmonthaftermonth,yearafteryear,itisevidentheprosecutesthesamewithalltheindustryandfacultythatareinhim,——inintensedesire,andinhopeoftennearlydesperate,tokeephistwoneighbors’houses,andhisownandthewholeworldalongwiththem,fromtakingfire。Apartfromtheirconflictinginterests,thetwoEmpresseshaveprivatelyarootedaversiontooneanother。WhatwithRussianexorbitancy(aCzarinanaturallyupliftedwithherTchesmesandKaghuls);whatwithAustriancupidity,pride,mulishness,andprivatetrickeryofKaunitz;
theadroitandheartilyzealousFriedrichneverhadsuchabitofdiplomacytodo。Formanymonthshence,inspiteofhisintensesteffortsandcunningestappliances,nowayofegressvisible:
"TheimbroglioMUSTcatchfire!"Atlastawayopens,"Ha,atlastaway!"——then,foraboveatwelvemonthlonger,suchaguidingofthepurblindquadrupedsandobstinateAustrianmulesintosaidway:
andforyearsmoresuchanurgingofthem,inpig—driverfashion,alongthesame,tillPeacedidcome!——
Andhere,withoutknowingit,wehaveinsensiblygottothetopmostsummitofourPolishBusiness;onesmallstepmore,andweshallbeonthebrowoftheprecipitousinclined—plane,downwhichPolandanditsbusinessgocareeringthenceforth,down,down,——andwillneedbutfewwordsmorefromus。Actualdiscoveryof"awayout"
standsfornextSection。
First,however,wewillnotice,asprefatory,acuriousoccurrenceintheCountryofZips,contiguoustotheHungarianFrontier。
Zips,aprettyenoughDistrict,ofnogreatextent,hadfromtimeimmemorialbelongedtoHungary;till,above300yearsago,itwas——
bySigismundSUPERGRAMMATICAM,amanalwaysinwantofmoney(whomwelastsaw,inflamingcolor,investingFriedrich’sAncestorwithBrandenburginsteadofpaymentforadebtofmoney)——pledgedtotheCrownofPolandforaroundsumtohelpinSigismund’spressingoccasions。Redemptionbypaymentneverfollowed;attemptatredemptiontherehadneverbeen,bySigismundoranyofhissuccessors。Nay,onesuccessor,inaTreatystillextant,[Preuss,iv。32(date1589;pawninghadbeep1412)。]expresslygaveuptherightofredeeming:Pledgeforfeited:aZipsbelongingtoPolishCrownandRepublicbyeverylaw。
Well;ImperialMajesty,aswehavetransientlyseen,isassemblingtroopsontheHungarianFrontier,foraspecialpurpose。
PoorPolandis,bythistime(1770),aswealsosaw,sunkinPestilence,——pigsanddogsdevouringthedeadbodies:notaloaftobehadforahundredducats,andtherageofPestilenceitselfamildthingtothatofHunger,nottomentionotherrages。SothatbothAustriaandPrussia,inordertokeepoutPestilenceatleast,iftheycannottheotherrages,havehadtodrawCORDONS,orlinesoftroopsalongtheFrontiers。"ThePrussiancordon,"Iaminformed,"goesfromCrossen,byFrankfurtnorthward,totheWeichselRiverandborderofWarsawCountry:"and"isunderthecommandofGeneralBelling,"ourfamousAnti—SwedeHussarofformeryears。TheAustriancordonlooksoveruponZipsandotherStarosties,ontheHungarianBorder:where,independentlyofPestilence,analarmedandindignantEmpress—Queenhasbeenandisassemblingmassesoftroops,withwhatobjectweknow。LookingoverintoZipsinthesecircumstances,indignantKaunitzandImperialMajesty,especiallyHISImperialMajesty,ayouthalwayspassionateforterritory,saytothemselves,"Zipswasours,andinasenseis!"——and(precisedaterefusedus,butafterNeustadt,andbeforeWinterhasquitecome)pushtroopsacrossintoZipsStarosty:
seizethewholeThirteenTownshipsofZips,andnotonlythese,butbydegreestractaftertractoftheadjacencies:"MusthaveaFrontiertoourmindinthoseparts:indefensibleotherwise!"
Andquietlysetupboundary—pillars,withtheAustriandouble—eaglestampedonthem,andintimationtoZipsandneighborhood,ThatitisnowbecomeAustrian,andshallhavenopartfartherinthesePolishConfederatings,Pestilences,ragesofmen,andpigsdevouringdeadbodies,butshalllivequietunderthedouble—eagleasothersdo。WhichtoZips,forthemoment,mightbeablessedchange,welcomeorotherwise;butwhichawokeconsiderableamazementintheouterworld,——veryconsiderableinKingStanislaus(towhom,onapplying,Kaunitzwouldgivenoexplanationtheleastarticulate);——andawoke,intheRussianCourtespecially,aratherintensesurpriseandprovocation。
PRINCEHENRIHASBEENTOSWEDEN;ISSEENATPETERSBURG
INMASQUERADE(onoraboutNew—year’sDay,1771);
ANDDOESGETHOME,WITHRESULTSTHATAREIMPORTANT。
PrinceHenri,aswenoticed,wasnotofthisSecondKing—and—KaiserInterview;Henrihadgoneintheoppositedirection,——toSweden,onavisittohisSisterUlrique,——offforWestandNorth,justinthesamedayswhiletheKingwasleavingPotsdamforSilesiaandhisothererrandintheSoutheastparts。HenrigottoDrottingholm,hisSister’scountryPalacenearStockholm,bythe"endofAugust;"andwastherewithQueenUlriqueandHusbandduringtheseNeustadtmanoeuvres。AchangedQueenUlrique,sincehelastsawher"beautifulasLove,"whirlingoffinthedeadofnightforthoseremoteCountriesanddestinies。[Supra,viii。309。]Sheisnowfifty,orontheedgeofit,heroldmansixty,——oldmandieswithinfewmonths。Theyhavehadmanychagrins,especiallyshe,astheprouder,hashad,fromtheircontumaciousPeople,——contumaciousSenatorsatleast(strongalwaysbothinPOCKET—MONEYFrenchorRussian,andintendencytoinsolenceandfolly),——whoonce,I
remember,demandedsightandcountoftheCrown—JewelsfromQueenUlrique:"There,VOILA,therearethey!"saidtheproudQueen;
"viewthem,countthem,——lockthemup:nevermorewillIwearoneofthem!"ButshehasprettySonsgrowntomanhood,oneprettyDaughter,apatientgoodoldHusband;andTime,inSwedentoo,bringsitsroses;andlifeislife,inspiteofcontumaciousbribedSenatorsanddoggeriesthatdoratherabound。Henristayedwithhersixorsevenweeks;leavesSweden,middleofOctober,1770,——notbythestraightcoursehomewards:"No,verily,andwellknewwhy!"
shriekstheindignantPolishworldonuseversince。
ItisnottruethatFriedrichhadschemedtosendHenriroundbyPetersburg。Onthecontrary,itwastheCzarina,ongroundofoldacquaintanceship,whoinvitedhim,andaskedhisBrother’sleavetodoit。AndifPolandgotitsfatefromthecircumstance,itwasbyaccident,andbythefactthatPoland’sfatewasdrop—ripe,readytofallbyatouch。——Beforegoingfarther,hereisocularviewoftheshrill—minded,seriousandingeniousHenri,littleconsciousofbeingsofatefulaman:—
PRINCEHENRIINWHITEDOMINO。"PrinceHenriofPrussia,"saysRichardson,theusefulEye—witnesscitedalready,"isoneofthemostcelebratedGeneralsofthepresentage。Sogreatarehismilitarytalents,thathisBrother,whoisnotapttopaycompliments,saysofhim,——That,incommandinganarmy,hewasneverknowntocommitafault。This,however,isbutanegativekindofpraise。He[theKing]reservestohimselfthegloryofsuperiorgenius,which,thoughcapableofbrilliantachievements,isyetliabletounwarymistakes:andallowshimnootherthanthepraiseofcorrectness。
"TojudgeofPrinceHenribyhisappearance,Ishouldformnohighestimateofhisabilities。ButtheScythianAmbassadorsjudgedinthesamemannerofAlexandertheGreat。Heisunderthemiddlesize;verythin;hewalksfirmlyenough,orratherstruts,asifhewantedtowalkfirmly;andhaslittledignityinhisairorgesture。Heisdark—complexioned;andhewearshishair,whichisremarkablythick,clubbed,anddressedwithahightoupee。
Hisforeheadishigh;hiseyeslargeandblue,withalittlesquint;andwhenhesmiles,hisupperlipisdrawnupalittleinthemiddle。Hislookexpressessagacityandobservation,butnothingveryamiable;andhismannerisgraveandstiffratherthanaffable。Hewasdressed,whenIfirstsawhim,inalight—bluefrockwithsilverfrogs;andworearedwaistcoatandbluebreeches。HeisnotverypopularamongtheRussians;
andaccordinglytheirwitsaredisposedtoamusethemselveswithhisappearance,andparticularlywithhistoupee。TheysayheresemblesSamson;thatallhisstrengthliesinhishair;andthat,consciousofthis,andrecollectingthefateofthesonofManoah,hesuffersnotthenighapproachesofanydeceitfulDelilah。
TheysayheisliketheComet,which,aboutfifteenmonthsago,appearedsoformidableintheRussianhemisphere;andwhich,exhibitingasmallwaterybody,butamostenormoustrain,dismayedtheNorthernandEasternPotentateswith’fearofchange。’
"Isawhimafewnightsago[onoraboutNew—year’sDay,1771;
comebacktous,fromhisTourtoMoscow,threeweeksbefore;
andnothingbutgalaseversince]ataMasqueradeinthePalace,saidtobethemostmagnificentthingofthekindeverseenattheRussianCourt。Fourteenlargeroomsandgallerieswereopenedfortheaccommodationofthemasks;andIwasinformedthattherewerepresentseveralthousandpeople。Agreatpartofthecompanyworedominos,orcapuchindresses;though,besidesthese,somefancifulappearancesaffordedagooddealofamusement。AverytallCossackappearedcompletelyarrayedinthe’hauberk’stwistedmail。’Hewasindeedverygrimandmartial。Personsinemblematicaldresses,representingApolloandtheSeasons,addressedtheEmpressinspeechessuitedtotheircharacters。TheEmpressherself,atthetimeIsawherMajesty,woreaGrecianhabit;thoughIwasafterwardstoldthatshevariedherdresstwoorthreetimesduringthemasquerade。PrinceHenriofPrussiaworeawhitedomino。
Severalpersonsappearedinthedressesofdifferentnations,——
Chinese,Turks,PersiansandArmenians。ThemosthumorousandfantasticalfigurewasaFrenchman,who,withwonderfulnimblenessanddexterity,representedanovergrownbutverybeautifulParrot。
Hechatteredwithagreatdealofspirit;andhisshoulders,coveredwithgreenfeathers,performedadmirablythepartofwings。
HedrewtheattentionoftheEmpress;aringwasformed;hewasquitehappy;flutteredhisplumage;madefinespeechesinRuss,FrenchandtolerableEnglish;theladieswereexceedinglydiverted;
everybodylaughedexceptPrinceHenri,whostoodbesidetheEmpress,andwassograveandsosolemn,thathewouldhaveperformedhispartmostadmirablyintheshapeofanowl。
TheParrotobservedhim;wasdeterminedtohaverevenge;andhavingsaidasmanygoodthingsashecouldtoherMajesty,hewashoppingaway;butjustashewasgoingoutofthecircle,seemingtorecollecthimself,hestopped,lookedoverhisshoulderattheformalPrince,andquiteintheparrottoneandFrenchaccent,headdressedhimmostemphaticallywith’HENRI!HENRI!HENRI!’andthen,divingintothecrowd,disappeared。HisRoyalHighnesswasdisconcerted;hewasforcedtosmileinhisowndefence,andthecompanywerenotalittleamused。
"Atmidnight,aspacioushall,ofacircularform,capableofcontainingavastnumberofpeople,andilluminatedinthemostmagnificentmanner,wassuddenlyopened。Twelvetableswereplacedinalcovesaroundthesidesoftheroom,wheretheEmpress,PrinceHenri,andahundredandfiftyofthechiefnobilityandforeignministerssatdowntosupper。Therestofthecompanywentup,bystairsontheoutsideoftheroom,intotheloftygalleriesplacedallaroundontheinside。Sucharowofmaskedvisages,manyofthemwithgrotesquefeaturesandbushybeards,noddingfromthesideofthewall,appearedveryludicroustothosebelow。
Theentertainmentwasenlivenedwithaconcertofmusic:andatdifferentintervalspersonsinvarioushabitsenteredthehall,andexhibitedCossack,Chinese,Polish,SwedishandTartardances。
Thewholewassogorgeous,andatthesametimesofantastic,thatIcouldnothelpthinkingmyselfpresentatsomeofthemagnificentfestivalsdescribedintheold—fashionedromantes:——
’Themarshal’dfeastServedupinhallwithsewersandseneschals。’
Therestofthecompany,onreturningtotheroomsadjoining,foundpreparedforthemalsoasumptuousbanquet。Themasqueradebeganat6intheevening,andcontinuedtill5nextmorning。
"Besidesthemasquerade,andotherfestivities,inhonorof,andtodivertPrinceHenri,wehadlatelyamostmagnificentshowoffire—
works。TheywereexhibitedinawideapacebeforetheWinterPalace;and,intruth,’beggareddescription。’Theydisplayed,byavarietyofemblematicalfigures,thereductionofMoldavia,Wallachia,Bessarabia,andthevariousconquestsandvictoriesachievedsincethecommencementofthepresentWar。Thevariouscolors,thebrightgreenandthesnowywhite,exhibitedinthesefire—works,weretrulyastonishing。Forthespaceoftwentyminutes,atree,adornedwiththeloveliestandmostverdantfoliage,seemedtobewavingaswithagentlebreeze。Itwasentirelyoffire;andduringthewholeofthisstupendousscene,anarchoffire,bythecontinuedthrowingofrocketsandfire—ballsinonedirection,formedasitwereasuitablecanopy。
"Onthisoccasionaprodigiousmultitudeofpeoplewereassembled;
andtheEmpress,itwassurmised,seemeduneasy。Shewasafraid,itwasapprehended,lestanyaccident,likewhathappenedatParisatthemarriageoftheDauphin,shouldbefallherbelovedpeople。
IhopeIhaveamusedyou;andeveram"——[W。Richardson,
AnecdotesoftheRussianEmpire,pp。325—331:
"Petersburg,4thJanuary,1771。"]
ThemasqueradesandgalasinhonorofPrinceHenri,fromagrandioseHostess,whohadplayedwithhiminchildhood,weremany;
butitisnotwiththesethatwehavetodo。Oneday,theCzarina,talkingtohimoftheAustrianproceduresatZips,saidwithpique,"Itseems,inPolandyouhaveonlytostoop,andpickupwhatyoulikeofit。IftheCourtofViennahavethenotiontodismemberthatKingdom,itsneighborswillhaverighttodoasmuch。"
[Rulhiere,iv。210;TroisDemembremens,i。
142;aboveall,Henrihimself,inOEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。345,"Petersburg,8thJanuary,1771。"]Thisissupposed,inallBooks,tobethePUNCTUMSALIENS,orfirstmention,oftheastonishingPartition,whichwassettled,agreedupon,withinaboutayearhence,andhasmadesomuchnoiseeversince。Andineffectitwasso;theidearisingpracticallyinthathighheadwastherealbeginning。Butthiswasnotthefirstheadithadbeenin;farfromthat。Aboveayearago,asFriedrichhimselfinformedus,ithadbeeninFriedrich’sownhead,——thoughatthetimeitwentforabsolutelynothing,nobodyevenbestowingasneeronit(asFriedrichintimates),anddisappearedthroughtheHorn—GateofDreams。
FriedrichhimselfappearstohavequiteforgottentheCount—Lynaridea;and,onHenri’sreportfromRussia,wastotallyincredulous;
andevensuspectedthattheremightbetrickeryanddangerinthisRussianproposal。NottillHenri’sreturn(FEBRUARY18th,1771)
couldheentirelybelievethattheCzarinawasserious;——andthen,sureenough,hedid,withhiswholeheart,gointoit:theEUREKA
outofallthesedifficulties,whichhadsolongseemedinsuperable。PrinceHenri"hadanInterviewwiththeAustrianMinisternextday"(February19th),whoimmediatelycommunicatedwithhisKaunitz,——andgotdiscouragingresponsefromKaunitz;
discouraging,oralmostnegatory;whichdidnotdiscourageFriedrich。"Awayout,"thinksFriedrich:"theonewaytosavemyPrussiaandtheworldfromincalculableconflagration。"Andenteredonitwithoutlossofamoment。Andlaboredatitwithsuchcontinualindustry,rapidityandfacultyforguidingandpushing,asallreadershaveknowninhim,ondangerousemergencies:atnomomentliftinghishandfromittillitwascomplete。
Hisdifficultieswereenormous:whatateamtodrive;andonsucharoad,untroddenbeforebyhooforwheel!TwoEmpressesthatcordiallyhateoneanother,andthatdisagreeonthisverysubject。
KaunitzandhisEmpressareextremelyskittishinthematter,andasifquiterefuseitatfirst:"Zipswillbebetter,"thinksKaunitztohimself;"Cannotwehave,alltoourselves,abeautifullittlecuttingoutofPolandinthatpart;andthenperhaps,inleaguewiththeTurk,whohasmoney,beattheRussianshomealtogether,andrulePolandintheirstead,or’shareitwiththeSultan,’asReis—Effendisuggests?"Andthedismaltruthis,thoughitwasnotknownforyearsafterward,Kaunitzdoesaboutthistime,inprofoundestsecret,actuallymakeTreatyofAlliancewiththeTurk("somanymillionPiastrestous,readymoney,yearbyyear,andyoushall,ifnotbyourmediating,thenbyourfighting,beacontentedTurk");andallalongatthedifferentRussian—Turk"Peace—Congresses,"Kaunitz,whilepretendingtositandmediatealongwithPrussia,satonthatfarotherbasis,privatelythwartingeverything;andspanouttheTurkpacificationinawretchedmannerforyearscoming。["PeaceofKainardschi,"nottill"21stJuly,1774,"——afterfourorfiveabortiveattempts,twoofthem"Congresses,"Kaunitzsoindustrious(Hermann,v。664etantea)。]Adangerous,hard—mouthed,high—stalking,ill—givenoldcoach—horseofaKaunitz:fancywhatthedrivingofhimmightbe,onaroadhedidnotlike!Buthehadadrivertoo,who,indelicateadroitness,inpatienceandinsharpnessofwhip,wasconsummate:"Youshallknowitisyouroneroad,myill—givenfriend!"(IostentatiouslyincreasemyCavalryby8,000;meaning,"AnewSeven—YearsWar,ifyouforceme,andRussiabymysidethistime!")SothatKaunitzhadtoquithisTurkcourses(neverpaidthePiastresback),andgointowhatreallywastheonewayout。
ButFriedrich’sdifficultiesonthiscoursearenotthethingthatcaninterestreaders;andallreadersknowhisfacultyforovercomingdifficulties。Readersaskrather:"AndhadFriedrichnofeelingaboutPolanditself,then,andthisatrociousPartitioningofthepoorCountry?"Apparentlynonewhatever;——unlessitmightbe,thatDeliverancefromAnarchy,Pestilence,Famine,andPigseatingyourdeadbodies,wouldbeamanifestadvantageforPoland,whileitwastheonewayofsavingEuropefromWar。Nobodyseemsmorecontentedinconscience,orradiantwithheartfeltsatisfaction,andcertaintyofthanksfromallwiseandimpartialmen,thantheKingofPrussia,nowandafterwards,inregardtothisPolishatrocity!Apsychologicalfact,whichreaderscannotice。ScrupulousregardtoPolishconsiderations,magnanimitytoPoland,ortheleastrespectorpityforherasadyingAnarchy,iswhatnobodywillclaimforhim;consummatetalentinexecutingthePartitionofPoland(inevitablesomeday,ashemayhavethought,butisnowhereatthepainstosay),——greattalent,greatpatiencetoo,andmeritoriousself—denialandendurance,inexecutingthatPartition,andinsavingITfromcatchingfireinsteadofbeingthemeanstoquenchfire,nowell—informedpersonwilldenyhim。Ofhisdifficultiesintheoperation(whichtrulyareunspeakable)Iwillsaynothingmore;readersarepreparedtobelievethathe,beyondothers,shouldconquerdifficultieswhentheobjectisvitaltohim。Iwillmarkonlythesuccessivedatesofhisprogress,andhavedonewiththiswearisomesubject:——
June14th,1771。WithinfourmonthsofthearrivalofPrinceHenriandthatfirstcertaintyfromRussia,diligentFriedrich,uponwhomthewholeburdenhadbeenlaidofdrawingupaPlan,andbringingAustriatoconsent,isabletoreporttoPetersburg,ThatAustriahasdubieties,reluctances,whichitistobeforeseenshewillgraduallygetover;andthatheremeanwhile(June14th,1771)ismyPlanofPartition,——thesimplestconceivable:"Thateachchoose(subjecttofutureadjustments)whatwillbestsuithim;I,formyownpart,willsay,West—Preussen;——whatProvincewillCzarishMajestypleasetosay?"CzarishMajesty,inanswer,isexorbitantlyliberaltoherself;claims,notaProvince,butfourorfive;
willhaveFriedrich,iftheAustriansattackherinconsequence,toassistbydeclaringWaronAustria;CzarishMajesty,inthereciprocalcase,nottoassistFriedrichatall,tillherTurkWarisdone!"Impossible,"thinksFriedrich;"surprisinglyso,highMadam!But,tothedelicatebridle—hand,youareamanageableentity。"
ItwaswithKaunitzthatFriedrich’srealdifficultieslay。
Privately,inthecourseofthisSummer,Kaunitz,bywayofpreparationfor"mediatingaTurk—RussianPeace,"hadconcludedhis"subsidyTreaty"withtheTurk,["6thJuly,1771"(Preuss,iv。31;
Hermann;&c。&c。)。]——Treatyneverratified,butthePiastresdulypaid;——TreatyrenderingPeaceimpossible,solongasKaunitzhadtodowithmediatingit。AndindeedKaunitz’stricksinthatfunctionofmediator,andalsoafterit,wereofthekindwhichFriedrichhassomereasontocall"infamous。""YourMajesty,asco—mediator,willjoinus,shouldtheRussiansmakeWar?"saidKaunitz’sAmbassador,oneday,toFriedrich。"Forcertain,no!"answeredFriedrich;and,onthecontrary,remountedhisCavalry,tosignify,"Iwillfighttheotherway,ifneeded!"whichdidatoncebringKaunitztogiveuphismysteriousTurkprojects,andcomeintothePolish。Afterwhich,hisexorbitantgreedofterritorythere;
hisattemptstogetRussiaintoapartitioningofTurkeyaswell,——
("AsliceofTurkeytoo,yourCzarishMajestyandwe?"hintshemorethanonce),——gaveFriedrichnoendoftrouble;andaresingulartolookatbythelighttherenowis。NotforaboutatwelvemonthdidFriedrichgethishard—mouthedKaunitzbroughtintostepatall;andtothelast,perpetualvigilanceand,bywhipandbit,theadroitestcharioteeringwasneededonhim。
FEBRUARY17th,1772,RussiaandPrussia,fortheirownpart,——
Friedrich,inthecircumstances,submittingtomanythingsfromhisCzarina,——gettheirparticular"Convention"(BargaininregardtoPoland)completedinallparts,"willtakepossession4thJuneinstant:"signsaidConvention(February17th);——andinviteAustriatojoin,andstateherclaims。Which,inthreeweeksafter,MARCH
4th,Austriadoes;——exorbitantabundantly;andNOTtobegotverymuchreduced,thoughwetry,foraseriesofmonths。
Tillatlast:——
AUGUST5th,1772,FinalAgreementbetweentheThreePartitioningPowers:"Theseareourrespectiveshares;wetakepossessiononthe1stOFSEPTEMBERinstant:"——andactualpossessionforFriedrich’ssharedid,onthe13thofthatmonth,ensue。ArightgladFriedrich,aseverybody,friendorenemy,mayimaginehim!Gladtohavedonewithsuchabusiness,——hadtherebeennootherprofitinit;whichwasfarfrombeingthecase。One’sclearbelief,onstudyingtheseBooks,isoftwothings:FIRST,that,aseverybodyadmits,FriedrichhadnorealhandinstartingthenotionofPartitioningPoland;——butthathegraspedatitwitheagerness,astheonewayofsavingEuropefromWar:SECOND,whathasbeenmuchlessnoticed,that,underanyotherhand,itwouldhaveledEuropetoWar;——andthattoFriedrichisduethefact,thatitgoteffectedwithoutsuchaccompaniment。Friedrich’sshareofTerritoryiscountedtobeinall9,465Englishsquaremiles;
Austria’s,62,500;Russia’s,87,500,[Preuss,iv。45。]betweennineandtentimestheamountofFriedrich’s,——whichlatter,however,asanancientlyTeutonicCountry,andasfillingupthealwaysdangerousgapbetweenhisOst—Preussenandhim,has,underPrussianadministration,provedmuchthemostvaluableoftheThree;
and,nexttoSilesia,isFriedrich’smostimportantacquisition。
SEPTEMBER13th,1772,itwasatlastenteredupon,——throughsuchwaste—welteringconfusions,andontermsneveryetunquestionable。
ConsentofPolishDietwasnothadforayearmore;butthatisworthlittlerecord。Diet,forthatobject,gottogether19thAPRIL,1773;recalcitrantenough,hadnotRussiaunderstoodthemethods:"acommonfundwasraised[ONSECOTISA,saysFriedrich]
forbribing;"theThreePowershadeacharepresentativeGeneralinWarsaw(LentulusthePrussianpersonage),allthreewithforcestorear:Dietcamedownbydegrees,and,inthecourseoffivemonths(SEPTEMBER18th,1773),acquiescedineverything。
Andsothematterisended;andvariousmenwilllonghavevariousopinionsuponit。IaddonlythisonesmallDocumentfromMariaTheresa’shand,whichallhearts,andIsupposeevenFriedrich’shadheeverreadit,willpronouncetobeverybeautiful;
homely,faithful,wholesome,well—becominginahighandtrueSovereignWoman。
THEEMPRESS—QUEENTOPRINCEKAUNITZ(Undated:datemustbeVienna,February,1772)。
"Whenallmylandswereinvaded,andIknewnotwhereintheworldIshouldfindaplacetobebroughttobedin,IreliedonmygoodrightandthehelpofGod。Butinthisthing,wherenotonlypubliclawcriestoHeavenagainstus,butalsoallnaturaljusticeandsoundreason,Imustconfessneverinmylifetohavebeeninsuchtrouble,andamashamedtoshowmyface。LetthePrince[Kaunitz]
considerwhatanexamplewearegivingtoalltheworld,if,foramiserablepieceofPoland,orofMoldaviaorWallachia,wethrowourhonorandreputationtothewinds。IseewellthatIamalone,andnomoreinvigor;thereforeImust,thoughtomyverygreatsorrow,letthingstaketheircourse。"["Alsallemeinelanderangefochtenwurdenundgarnitmehrwussteworuhigniederkommensollte,steiffeteichmichaufmeingutesRechtunddenBeystandGottes。AberindieserSach,wonitalleindasoffenbareRechthimmelschreyentwiderUns,sondernauchalleBilligkeitunddiegesundeVernunftwiderUnsist,muessbekhennendasszeitlebensnitsobeangstigtmichbefuntenundmichsehenzulassenschame。BedenkhderFurst,waswirallerWeltfureinExempelgeben,wennwirumeinellendesstukvonPohlenodervonderMoldauundWallacheyunserehrundREPUTATIONindieschanzschlagen。IchmerkhwohldassichalleinbinundnitmehrEN
VIGEUR,darumlasseichdiesachen,jedochnitohnemeinengrosstenGram,ihrenWeggehen。"(From"Hormayr,
Taschenbuch,1831,s。66:"citedinPREUSS,iv。38。)]
And,somedaysafterwards,hereisherMajesty’sOfficialAssent:
"PLACET,sincesomanygreatandlearnedmenwillhaveitso:
butlongafterIamdead,itwillbeknownwhatthisviolatingofallthatwashithertoheldsacredandjustwillgiveriseto。"
[From"Zietgenossen[aBiographicalPeriodical],lxxi。29:"citedinPREUSS,iv。39。]
(HearherMajesty!)
Friedrichhasnoneofthesecompunctiousvisitings;buthisaccounttoo,whenhedoeshappentospeakonthesubject,isworthhearing,andcredibleeveryword。WritingtoVoltaire,agoodwhileafter(POTSDAM,9thOCTOBER,1773))this,intheswift—flowing,miscellaneousLetter,isonepassage:……"ToreturntoyourKingofPoland。IamawarethatEuropeprettygenerallybelievesthelatePartitionmade(QU’ONAFAIT)ofPolandtobearesultofthePoliticaltrickeries(MANIGANCES)whichareattributedtome;
nevertheless,nothingismoreuntrue。Afterinvainproposingdifferentarrangementsandexpedients,therewasnoalternativeleftbuteitherthatsamePartition,orelseEuropekindledintoageneralWar。Appearancesaredeceitful;andthePublicjudgesonlybythese。WhatItellyouisastrueastheForty—seventhofEuclid。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。257。]
WHATFRIEDRICHDIDWITHHISNEWACQUISITION。
ConsiderableobloquystillrestsonFriedrich,inmanyliberalcircles,forthePartitionofPoland。Twothings,however,seembythistimetolerablyclear,thoughnotyetknowninliberalcircles:
first,thatthePartitionofPolandwasaneventinevitableinPolishHistory;anoperationofAlmightyProvidenceandoftheEternalLawsofNature,aswellasofthepoorearthlySovereignsconcernedthere;andsecondly,thatFriedrichhadnothingspecialtodowithit,and,inthewayoforiginatingorcausingit,nothingwhatever。
ItiscertainthedemandsofEternalJusticemustbefulfilled:
inearthlyinstruments,concernedwithfulfillingthem,theremaybealldegreesofdemeritandalsoofmerit,——fromthatofaworld—
ruffianAttilatheScourgeofGod,consciousofhisownferocitiesandcupiditiesalone,tothatofaheroicCromwell,sacredlyawarethatheis,athissoul’speril,doingGod’sJudgmentsontheenemiesofGod,inTredahandotherseverescenes。IftheLawsandJudgmentsareverilythoseofGod,therecanbenoclearermeritthanthatofpushingthemforward,regardlessofthebarkingsofGazetteersandwaysidedogs,andgettingthem,attheearliesttermpossible,madevalidamongrecalcitrantmortals!Friedrich,inregardtoPoland,Icannotfindtohavehadanythingconsiderableeitherofmeritorofdemerit,inthemoralpointofview;butsimplytohaveaccepted,andputinhispocketwithoutcriticism,whatProvidencesent。Hehimselfevidentlyviewsitinthatlight;
andisatnopainstoconcealhisgreatsenseofthevalueofWest—
Preussentohim。WepraisedhisNarrativeaseminentlytrue,andtheonlyonecompletelyintelligibleineverypoint:inhisPrefacetoit,writtensomeyearslater,heisstillmorecandid。
Speakingthereinthefirstperson,thisonceandneverbeforeorafter,——hesays:——
"Thesenewpretensions[oftheCzarina,toassuagethereligiousputrid—feverofthePolesbywordofcommand]raisedallPoland[intoConfederationofBar,andWAROFTHECONFEDERATES,sungbyFriedrich];theGrandeesoftheKingdomimploredtheassistanceoftheTurks:straightwayWarflamedout;inwhichtheRussianArmieshadonlytoshowthemselvestobeattheTurksineveryrencounter。"
HisMajestycontinues:"ThisWarchangedthewholePoliticalSystemofEurope[generalDiplomaticDanceofEurope,suddenlybroughttoawhirlbysuchchangesofthemusic];anewarena(CARRIERE)cametoopenitself,——andonemusthavebeeneitherwithoutaddress,orelseburiedinstupidsomnolence(ENGOURDISSEMENT),nottoprofitbyanopportunitysoadvantageous。IhadreadBojardo’sfineAllegory:[Signifiesonly,"seizeopportunity;"buthereisthepassageitself:——
"Quantevolteledisse:’Obelladama,Conoscil’oradelatuaventura,DapoicheuntalBaronpiuthecheset’ama,ChenonhailCielpiuvagacreatura。
Forseancoavraidiquestotempobrama,Che’lfelicedestinsemprenondura;
Prendidiletto,mentreseisu’lverde,Chel’avutopiacermainonsiperde。
Questaetagiovenil,ch’esigioiosa,Tuttaindilettoconsumarsideve,Perchequasiinunpuntocienascosa:
Comodissolve’lsollabiancaneve,ComoinungiornolavermigliarosaPerdeilvagocolorintempobreve,Cosifuggel’etacom’unbaleno,Enonsipuotener,chenonhafreno。’"
(Bojardo,OrlandoInnamorato,lib。i。
cant。2。)]Iseizedbytheforelockthisunexpectedopportunity;
and,bydintofnegotiatingandintriguing[candidKing]I
succeededinindemnifyingourMonarchyforitspastlosses,byincorporatingPolishPrussiawithmyOldProvinces。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,(PrefacetoMEMOIRS
DEPUIS1763JUSQU’A1774),vi。6,7:"MEMOIRES[ChapterFIRST,includingallthePolishpart]werefinishedin1775;Prefaceisof1779。"]
HereisaHistorianKingwhousesnorouge—potinhisNarratives,——
whoseword,whichisallweshallsayofitatpresent,youfindtobeperfectlytrustworthy,andarepresentationofthefactasitstoodbeforehimself!Whatfollowsneedsnovouchingfor:
"Thisacquisitionwasoneofthemostimportantwecouldmake,becauseitjoinedPommerntoEastPrussia[oursforagespast],andbecause,renderingusmastersoftheWeichselRiver,wegainedthedoubleadvantageofbeingabletodefendthatKingdom[Ost—
Preussen],andtodrawconsiderabletollsfromtheWeichsel,asallthetradeofPolandgoesbythatRiver。"
Yestruly!Ourinterestsareveryvisible:andtheinterestsandwishesandclaimsofPoland,——aretheynowhereworthyofonewordfromyou,OKing?NowherethatIhavenoticed:notanymentionofthem,orallusiontothem;thoughtheworldisstillsoconvincedthatperhapstheyweresomething,andnotnothing!Whichisverycurious。InthewholecourseofmyreadingIhavemetwithnoAutobiographermorecarelesstodefendhimselfuponpointsindisputeamonghisAudience,andmarkedascriminalagainsthimbymanyofthem。ShadowofApologyonsuchpointsyousearchforinvain。Inrapidbaresummaryhesetsdownthesequeloffacts,asifassuredbeforehandofyourfavorablejudgment,orwiththeprofoundestindifferencetohowyoushalljudgethem;dropshisactions,asanOstrichdoesitsyoung,toshiftforthemselvesinthewilderness,andhurriesonhisway。Thisstyleofhis,noticeableofoldinregardtoSilesiatoo,hasconsiderablyhurthimwiththecommonkindofreaders;who,intheirpreconceivedsuspicionsoftheman,areallthemoredisgustedattracinginhim,nottheleastanxietytostandwellwithanyreader,morethantostandill,ASillasanyreaderlikes!
Thirdparties,itwouldseem,havesmalltemptationtobecomehisadvocates;hehimselfbeingsototallyunprovidedwiththanksforyou!But,onanotherscore,andforthesakeofabetterkindofreaders,thereisonethirdpartyboundtoremark:1。ThathardlyanySovereignknowntousdid,inhisgeneralpractice,ifyouwillexamineit,moreperfectlyrespecttheboundariesofhisneighbors;
andgoontheroadthatwashisown,anxioustotreadonnoman’stoesifhecouldavoidit:aSovereignwho,atalltimes,strictlyandbeneficentlyconfinedhimselftowhatbelongedtohisrealbusinessandhim。2。Thatapparently,therefore,hemusthaveconsideredPolandtobeanexceptionalcase,uniqueinhisexperience:caseofamoribundAnarchy,fallendownascarriononthecommonhighwaysoftheworld;belongingtonobodyinparticular;liabletobecutinto(nay,forsanitaryreasonsrequiringit,ifonewereaRhadamanthusErrant,whichoneisnot!)——liabletobecutinto,onagreatandcriticallystringentoccasion;noquestiontobeaskedofIT;youronlyquestiontheconsentofby—standers,andthemoderatecertaintythatnobodygotaglaringlydisproportionateshare!Thatmusthavebeen,onthepartofanequitableFriedrich,orevenofaFriedrichaccurateinBook—keepingbyDoubleEntry,thenotionsilentlyformedaboutPoland。
Whetherhisnotionwasscientificallyright,andconformabletoactualfact,isaquestionIhavenothoughtofenteringon;
stillless,whetherFriedrichwasmorallyright,orwhethertherewasnotahigherrectitude,grantingeventhefact,inputtingitinpractice。ThesearequestionsonwhichanEditormayhavehisopinion,partlycompleteforalongtimepast,partlynotcomplete,or,inhumanlanguage,completableorpronounceableatall;andmaycarefullyforbeartoobtrudeitonhisreaders;andonlyadvisethemtolookwiththeirownbesteyesight,tobedeaftothemultiplexnoiseswhichareevidentlyblind,andtothinkwhattheyfindthinkablestonsuchasubject。For,wereitneversojust,properandneedful,thisisbynatureacaseofLYNCHLAW;
uponwhich,inthewayofapprovalorapology,nospokenwordispermissible。LynchbeingsodangerousaLawgiver,evenwhenanindispensableone!——
For,grantingthattheNationofPolandwasforcenturiespastanAnarchydoomedbytheEternalLawsofHeaventodie,andthenofcoursetogetgraduallyburied,oreatenbyneighbors,wereitonlyforsanitaryreasons,——itwillbynomeanssuit,todeclareopenlyonbehalfofterrestrialneighborswhohavetakenupsuchanidea(grantingitwereevenajustone,andatruereadingofthesilentbutinexorablycertainpurposesofHeaven),Thatthey,thosevolunteerterrestrialneighbors,arejustifiedinbreakinginuponthepoordyingordeadcarcass,andflayingandburyingit,withamicablesharingofskinandshoes!IfitevenwerecertainthatthewretchedPolishNation,forthelastfortyyearshasteningwithespecialspeedtowardsdeath,didinpresentcircumstances,withsuchahowlingcanailleofTurkJanissariesandvulturesofcreationbusyroundit,actuallyrequirepromptsurgery,intheusualmethod,byneighbors,——theneighborsshallandmustdothatfunctionattheirownrisk。IfHeavendidappointthemtoit,Heaven,forcertain,willatlastjustifythem;andinthemeanwhile,foragenerationortwo,thesameHeaven(Icanbelieve)hasappointedthatEarthshallprettyunanimouslycondemnthem。
Theshrieks,thefoam—lippedcursesofmistakenmankind,insuchcase,aremankind’sonesecurityagainstover—promptitude(whichissodreadfullypossible)onthepartofsurgicalneighbors。
Alas,yes,myarticulate—speakingfriends;here,assooftenelsewhere,thesolutionoftheriddleisnotLogic,butSilence。
WhenadarkhumanIndividualhasfilledthemeasureofhiswickedblockheadisms,sinsandbrutalnuisancings,thereareGibbetsprovided,thereareLawsprovided;andyoucan,inanarticulateregularmanner,hanghimandfinishhim,togeneralsatisfaction。
Nationstoo,youmaydependonitascertain,dorequirethesameprocess,anddoinfalliblygetitwithal;Heaven’sJustice,withwrittenLawsorwithout,beingthemostindispensableandtheinevitablestthingIknowofinthisUniverse。Nodoingwithoutit;
anditissuretocome:——andtheJudgesandExecutioners,weobserve,areNOT,inthatlattercase,escortedinandoutbytheSheriffsofCountiesandgeneralringingofbells;notso,inthatlattercase,butfarotherwise!——
Andnow,leavingthatvexedquestion,wewillthrowoneglance——
onlyoneispermitted——intothefarmoreprofitablequestion,whichprobablywillonedaybethesoleoneonthismatter,WhatbecameofpoorWest—PreussenunderFriedrich?Hadittosit,weepingunconsolably,ornot?HerrDr。Freytag,amanofgoodreputeinLiterature,has,inoneofhislateBooksofPopularHistory,[G。Freytag,NeueBilderausdemLebendesdeutschenVolkes(Leipzig,1862)。]goneintothissubject,inaseriousway,andcertainlywithopportunitiesfarbeyondmineforinforminghimselfuponit:——fromhimthesePassageshavebeenexcerpted,labelledandtranslatedbyagoodhand:——
ACQUISITIONOFPOLISHPRUSSIA。"DuringseveralCenturies,themuch—
dividedGermanshadhabituallybeenpressedupon,andstraitenedandinjured,bygreedyconqueringneighbors;FriedrichwasthefirstConquerorwhooncemorepushedforwardtheGermanFrontiertowardstheEast;remindingtheGermansagain,thatitwastheirtasktocarryLaw,Culture,LibertyandIndustryintotheEastofEurope。AllFriedrich’sLands,withtheexceptiononlyofsomeOld—
Saxonterritory,had,byforceandcolonization,beenpainfullygainedfromtheSclave。AtnotimesincethemigrationsoftheMiddleAges,hadthisstruggleforpossessionofthewidePlainstotheeastofOderceased。Whenarmswereatrest,politicianscarriedonthestruggle。"
PERSECUTIONOFGERMANPROTESTANTSINPOLAND。"Inthevery’CenturyofEnlightenment’thepersecutionoftheGermansbecamefanaticalinthoseCountries:oneProtestantChurchaftertheothergotconfiscated;pulleddown;ifbuiltofwood,setonfire:itsChurchonceburnt,theVillagehadlosttheprivilegeofhavingone。
Ministersandschoolmastersweredrivenaway,cruellymaltreated。
’VEXALUTHERANURN,DABITTHALERUM(WringtheLutheran,youwillfindmoneyinhim),’becamethecurrentProverbofthePolesinregardtoGermans。AProtestantStarostofGnesen,aHerrvonUNRUH
oftheHouseofBirnbaum,oneofthelargestproprietorsofthecountry,wascondemnedtodie,andfirsttohavehistonguepulledoutandhishandscutoff,——forthecrimeofhavingcopiedintohisNote—booksomestrongpassagesagainsttheJesuits,extractedfromGermanBooks。Patriotic’ConfederatesofBar,’joinedbyalltheplunderousvagabondsaround,wentroamingandravagingthroughthecountry,fallinguponsmalltownsandGermanvillages。ThePolishNobleman,Roskowski[acelebrated"symbolical"Nobleman,this],putononeredbootandoneblack,symbolizingFIREandDEATH;andinthisguiserodeabout,murderingandburning,fromplacestoplace;
finally,atJastrow,hecutoffthehands,feet,andlastlytheheadoftheProtestantPastor,Willichbyname,andthrewthelimbsintoaswamp。Thishappenedin1768。"
INWHATSTATEFRIEDRICHFOUNDTHEPOLISHPROVINCES。"SomefewonlyofthelargerGermanTowns,whichweresecuredbywalls,andsomeprotectedDistrictsinhabitedexclusivelybyGermans,——astheNIEDERUNGnearDantzig,theVillagesunderthemildruleoftheCisterciansofOliva,andtheopulentGermantownsoftheCatholicErmeland,——wereintolerablecircumstances。TheotherTownslayinruins;soalsomostoftheHamlets(HOFE)oftheopenCountry。
Bromberg,thecityofGermanColonists,thePrussiansfoundinheapsandruins:tothishourithasnotbeenpossibletoascertainclearlyhowtheTowncameintothiscondition。["NeuePreussischeProvinzialblotter,Year1854,No。4,p。259。"]Nohistorian,nodocument,tellsofthedestructionandslaughterthathadbeengoingon,inthewholeDistrictoftheNETZEthere,duringthelasttenyearsbeforethearrivalofthePrussians,TheTownofCulmhadpreserveditsstrongoldwallsandstatelychurches;butinthestreets,thenecksofthecellarsstoodoutabovetherottentimberandbrickheapsofthetumbledhouses:wholestreetsconsistedmerelyofsuchcellars,inwhichwretchedpeoplewerestilltryingtolive。OfthefortyhousesinthelargeMarket—placeofCulm,twenty—eighthadnodoors,noroofs,nowindows,andnoowners。OtherTownswereinsimilarcondition,"
"TheCountrypeoplehardlyknewsuchathingasbread;manyhadneverintheirlifetastedsuchadelicacy;fewVillagespossessedanoven。Aweaving—loomwasrare,thespinning—wheelunknown。
Themainarticleoffurniture,inthisbaresceneofsqualor,wastheCrucifixandvesselofHoly—Waterunderit[and"POLACK!
CATHOLIK!"ifadropofginbeadded]。——ThePeasant—Noble[unvoting,inferiorkind]washardlydifferentfromthecommonPeasant:hehimselfguidedhisHookPlough(HACKEN—PFLUG),andclatteredwithhiswoodenslippersupontheplanklessfloorofhishut……Itwasadesolateland,withoutdiscipline,withoutlaw,withoutamaster。On9,000Englishsquaremileslived500,000
souls:not55tothesquaremile。"
SETSTOWORK。"TheveryrottennessoftheCountrybecameanattractionforFriedrich;andhenceforthWest—Preussenwas,whathithertoSilesiahadbeen,hisfavoritechild;which,withinfinitecare,likethatofananxiouslovingmother,hewashed,brushed,new—dressed,andforcedtogotoschoolandintoorderlyhabits,andkepteverinhiseye。Thediplomaticsquabblesaboutthis’acquisition’werestillgoingon,whenhehadalreadysent[soearlyasJune4th,1772,andstillmoreonSeptember13thofthatYear[SeehisnewDIALOGUEwithRoden,ourWeselacquaintance,whowasaprincipalCaptaininthisbusiness(inPREUSS,iv。57,58:
dateoftheDialogueis"11thMay,1772;"——Rodenwasontheground4thJunenext;but,owingtoAustriandelays,didnotbegintillSeptember13th)。]]abodyofhisbestOfficialPeopleintothiswaste—howlingscene,tosetaboutorganizingit。TheLandschaften(COUNTIES)weredividedintosmallCircles;inaminimumoftime,thelandwasvalued,andanequaltaxputuponit;everyCirclereceiveditsLANDRATH,Law—Court,Post—officeandSanitaryPolice。
NewParishes,eachwithitsChurchandParson,werecalledintoexistenceasbymiracle;acompanyof187Schoolmasters——partlyselectedandtrainedbytheexcellentSemler[famousoverGermany,inHalleUniversityandSEMINARIUM,notyetinEngland]——weresentintotheCountry:multitudesofGermanMechanicstoo,frombrick—
makersuptomachine—builders。Everywheretherebeganadigging,ahammering,abuilding;Citieswerepeopledanew;streetafterstreetroseoutoftheheapsofruins;newVillagesofColonistswerelaidout,newmodesofagricultureordered。InthefirstYearaftertakingpossession,thegreatCanal[ofBromberg]wasdug;
which,inalengthoffifteenmiles,connects,bytheNetzeRiver,theWeichselwiththeOderandtheElbe:withinoneyearaftergivingtheorder,theKingsawloadedvesselsfromtheOder,120
feetinlengthofkeel,"andoffortytonsburden,"entertheWeichsel。Thevastbreadthsofland,gainedfromthestateofswampbydrainageintothisCanal,wereimmediatelypeopledbyGermanColonists。
"AshisSeven—YearsStruggleofWarmaybecalledsuper—human,sowastherealsoinhispresentLaborofPeacesomethingenormous;
whichappearedtohiscontemporaries[unlessmyfancymisleadme]
almostpreternatural,attimesinhuman。Itwasgrand,butalsoterrible,thatthesuccessofthewholewastohim,atallmoments,theonethingtobestrivenafter;thecomfortoftheindividualofnoconcernatall。When,intheMarshlandoftheWetze,hecountedmorethestrokesofthe10,000spades,thanthesufferingsoftheworkers,sickwiththemarsh—feverinthehospitalswhichhehadbuiltforthem;[ComparePREUSS,iv。60—71。]when,restless,hisdemandsoutranthequickestperformance,——thereuniteditselftothedeepestreverenceanddevotedness,inhisPeople,afeelingofawe,asforonewhoselimbsarenotmovedbyearthlylife[fanciful,considerably!]。AndwhenGoethe,himselfbecomeanoldman,finishedhislastDrama[SecondPartofFAUST],thefigureoftheoldKingagainroseonhim,andsteptintohisPoem;andhisFaustgottransformedintoanunresting,creating,pitilesslyexactingMaster,forcingonhissalutiferousdrainsandfruitfulcanalsthroughthemorassesoftheWeichsel。"[G。Freytag,
NeueBilderausdemLebendesdeutschenVolkes
(Leipzig,1862),pp。397—408。]
ThesestatementsandpencillingsofFreytag,apartfromhereandthereaflourishofpoeticsentiment,Ibelievemyreaderscanacceptasessentiallytrue,andacorrectportraitofthefact。
Andtherewith,CONLABOCCADOLCE,wewillrisefromthisSupperofHorrors。ThatFriedrichfortifiedtheCountry,thathebuiltanimpregnableGraudentz,andtwootherFortresses,renderingtheCountry,andhimselfonthatEasternside,impregnablehenceforth,allreaderscanbelieve。FriedrichhasbeenbuildingvariousFortressesinthisinterim,thoughwehavetakennonoticeofthem;
buildingandrepairingmanythings;——trimminguphisMilitaryquitetotheoldpitch,asthemostparticularthingofall。HehashisnewSilesianFortressofSilberberg,——bigFortress,lookingintocertaindangerousBohemianDoors(inTobiasStusche’sCountry,ifreadersrecollectanoldadventurenowmythical);——hisnewSilesianSilberberg,hisnewerPolishGraudentz,andmanyothers,andflattershimselfheisnotnowpregnableonanyside。
AFriedrichworking,allalong,inPolandespecially,amidwhatcircumambientdelugesofmaledictoryoutcries,andmendaciousshriekeriesfromanill—informedPublic,isnotnowworthmentioning。MeredistractedrumorsofthePamphleteerandNewspaperkind:which,afterhuntingthemalongtime,throughdenseandrare,endmostlyinzero,andangrydarknessofsomepoorhumanbrain,——oreventestifyinfavorofthisHead—Worker,andofthesenseheshows,especiallyofthepatience。Forexample:thatofthe"PolishTownsandVillages,ordered"bythisTyrant"todeliver,eachofthem,somanymarriageablegirls;eachgirltobringwithherasdowry,furnishedbyherparents,1feather—bed,4pillows,1cow,3swineand3ducats,"——inwhichdesirableconditionthistyrannousKing"sentherintotheBrandenburgStatestobeweddedandpromotepopulation。"[Lindsey,LETTERSONPOLAND
(Letter2d)。p。61:Peyssonnel(insome。FrenchBookofhis,"solemnlypresentedtoLouisXVI。andtheConstituentAssembly;"
citedinPREUSS,iv。85);&c。&c。]Feather—beds,swineandducatshadtheirvalueinBrandenburg;butweremarriageablegirlssuchascarcitythere?MostextraordinarynewRAPEOFTHESABINES;
forwhichHerrPreusscanfindnobasisorsource,——norcanI;
exceptinthebrainofReverendLindseyandhisloudLETTERSON
POLANDabovementioned。
Dantzigtoo,andtheHarbor—dues,whatacase!DantzigHarbor,thatistosay,NetzeRiver,belongsmainlytoFriedrich,DantzigCitynot,——suchtheCzarina’sloftywhim,inthelatePartitionTreatyings;notgoodtocontradict,inthethencircumstances;
stilllessafterwards,thoughitbroughtchicaningsmorethanenough。"Andshewasnotill—pleasedtokeepthisthornintheKing’sfootforherownconveniences,"thinkstheKing;
though,mainly,heperceivesthatitistheEnglishactingonhergrandiosemind:English,whowereapprehensivefortheirBaltictradeunderthisnewProprietor,andwhoeggedonanambitiousCzarinatoprotectHumanLiberty,andaninflatedDantzigBurgermeistertostandupforditto;andmadeadismalshriekeryintheNewspapers,andgotintodreadfulill—humorwithsaidProprietorofDantzigHarbor,andhaveneverquiterecoveredfromittothisday。Lindsey’sPOLISHLETTERSareveryloudagainonthisoccasion,aidedbyhisSEVENDIALOGUESONPOLAND;concerningwhich,partlyforextinctLindsey’ssake,letusciteonesmallpassage,andsowindup。
MARCH2d,1775,inanswertoVoltaire,Friedrichwrites:……
"ThePOLISHDIALOGUESyouspeakofarenotknowntome。IthinkofsuchSatires,withEpictetus:’Iftheytellanytruthofthee,correctthyself;iftheyarelies,laughatthem。’Ihavelearned,withyears,tobecomeasteadycoach—horse;Idomystage,likeadiligentroadster,andpaynoheedtothelittledogsthatwillbarkbytheway。"Andthen,threeweeksafter:——
"IhaveatlengthgottheSEVENDIALOGUESONPOLAND;andthewholehistoryofthemaswell。TheAuthorisanEnglishmannamedLindsey,Parsonbyprofession,andTutortotheyoungPrincePoniatowski,theKingofPoland’sNephew,"——NephewJoseph,Andreas’sSon,NOT
theundistinguishedNephew:sowewillbelieveforpoorloudLindsey’ssake!"ItwasattheinstigationoftheCzartoryskis,UnclesoftheKing,thatLindseycomposedthisSatire,——inEnglishfirstofall。Satireready,theyperceivedthatnobodyinPolandwouldunderstandit,unlessitweretranslatedintoFrench;
whichaccordinglywasdone。Butastheirtranslatorwasunskilful,theysenttheDIALOGUEStoacertainGerardatDantzig,whoatthattimewasFrenchConsulthere,andwhoisatpresentaClerkinyourForeignOfficeunderM。deVergennes。ThisGerard,whodoesnotwantforwit,butwhodoesmethehonortohatemecordially,retouchedtheseDIALOGUES,andputthemintotheconditiontheywerepublishedin。Ihavelaughedagooddealatthem:hereandthereoccurcoarsethings(GROSSIERETES),andplatitudesoftheinsipidkind:buttherearetraitsofgoodpleasantry。Ishallnotgofencingwithgoose—quillsagainstthissycophant。AsMazarinsaid,’LettheFrenchkeepsinging,providedtheyletuskeepdoing。’"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。
319—321:"Potsdam,2dMarch,1775,"and"25thMarch"following。
SeePREUSS,iii。275,iv。85。]
ChapterV。
ACHAPTEROFMISCELLANIES。
AfterNeustadt,KaiserJosephandtheKinghadnomoreInterviews。
Kaunitz’sproceduresinthesubsequentPacificationandPartitionbusinesshadcompletelyestrangedthetwoSovereigns:tofriendlyvisiting,averydifferentstateofmutualfeelinghadsucceeded;
whichwenton,such"theimmeasurableambition"visibleinsomeofus,deepeningandworseningitself,insteadofimprovingorabating。FriedrichhadJoseph’sPortraithunginconspicuouspositionintheroomswherehelived;somebodynoticingthefact,Friedrichanswered:"Ah,yes,IamobligedtokeepthatyoungGentlemaninmyeye。"And,ineffect,therestofFriedrich’sPoliticalActivity,fromthistimeonwards,maybedefinedasanever—vigilantdefenceofhimself,andoftheGermanReich,againstAustrianEncroachment:which,tohim,intheyearsthenrunning,wasthegrandimpendingperil;andwhichtousinthenewtimeshasbecomesoinexpressiblyuninteresting,andwillbearnonarrative,AustrianEncroachmentdidnotprovetobethedeath—perilthathadoverhungtheworldinFriedrich’slastyears!——
These,accordingly,areyearsinwhichtheHistoricalinterestgoesondiminishing;andonlytheBiographical,wereanythingofBiographyattainable,isleft。Friedrich’sindustrial,economicandotherRoyalactivitiesareasbeautifulasever;butcannottoourreaders,inourlimits,bedescribedwithadvantage。Eventsofworld—interest,afterthePartitionofPoland,donotfallout,orFriedrichisnotconcernedinthem。Itisadimelement;
itssignificancechieflyGermanorPrussian,notEuropean。Whatofhumanlyinterestingisdiscoverableinit,——atleast,whiletheAustrianGrudgecontinuesinachronicstate,andhasnoacutefit,——IwillherepresentintheshapeofdetachedFragments,suitablyarrangedandrenderedlegible,inhopesthesemaystillhavesomelucencyforreaders,andrendermoreconceivablethesurroundingmassesthathavetobeleftdark。OurfirstPieceisofWinter,orlateAutumn,1771,——whilethesolutionofthePolishBusinessisstillinitsinchoativestages;perfectlycompleteintheArtist’sownmind;Russiatooadhering;butKaunitzsorefractoryandcontradictory。
HERRDOCTORZIMMERMANN,THEFAMOUSAUTHOROFTHEBOOK
"ONSOLITUDE,"WALKSREVERENTIALLYBEFOREFRIEDRICH’S
DOORINTHEDUSKOFANOCTOBEREVENING:ANDHASA
ROYALINTERVIEWNEXTDAY。
FridayEvening,25thOctober,1771,isthedateofZimmermann’swalkofcontemplation,——amongthepaleStatuesanddeciduousGardeningsofSans—SouciCottage(betterthananyRialto,atitsbest),——theeternalstarscomingoutoverhead,andthetransitorycandle—lightofaKingFriedrichcloseby。
"AtSans—Souci,"sayshe,inhisfamedBook,"wherethatoldGodofWar(KRIEGSGOTT)forgeshisthunder—bolts,andwritesWorksofIntellectforPosterity;wherehegovernshisPeopleasthebestfatherwouldhishouse;where,duringonehalfoftheday,heacceptsandreadsthepetitionsandcomplaintsofthemeanestcitizenorpeasant;comestohelpofhisCountriesonallsideswithastonishingsumsofmoney,expectingnopayment,norseekinganythingbuttheCommonWeal;andwhere,duringtheotherhalf,heisaPoetandPhilosopher:——atSans—Souci,Isay,therereignsallroundasilence,inwhichyoucanhearthefaintestbreathofeverysoftwind。ImountedthisHillforthefirsttimeinWinter[lateAutumn,25thOctober,1771,edgeofWinter],inthedusk。WhenI
beheldthesmallDwelling—HouseofthisConvulseroftheWorldclosebyme,andwasnearhisverychamber,Isawindeedalightinside,butnosentryorwatchmanattheHero’sdoor;nosoultoaskme,WhoIwas,orWhatIwanted。Isawnothing;andwalkedaboutasIpleasedbeforethissmallandsilentHouse。"[Preuss,i。
387("fromEINSAMKEIT,"Zimmermann’sSOLITUDE,"i。110;EditionofLeipzig,1784")。]
Yes,Doctor,thisisyourKriegsgott;thronedinafree—and—easyfashion。InregardtothatofSentries,IbelievetheredocomeupfromPotsdamnightlyacorporalandsixrank—and—file;butperhapsitisatalaterhour;perhapstheysitwithindoors,silent,nottomakenoises。Anothergentleman,ofsaunteringnocturnalhabits,testifiestohaving,onenight,seentheKingactuallyasleepinbed,thedoorsbeingleftajar。[Ib。i。388。]——AsZimmermannhadaDIALOGUEnextdaywithhisMajesty,whichweproposetogive;
stillmore,ashemadesuchnoiseintheworldbyotherDialogueswithFriedrich,andbyastrangeBookaboutthem,whicharestillahead,——readersmaydesiretoknowalittlewhoorwhattheZimmermannis,andbewillingforaroughbriefNoteuponhim,whichcertainlyisnotreadierthanitisrough:——
JohannGeorgZimmermann:born1728,atBruggintheCantonofBern,wherehisFatherseemstohavehadsomelittlepropertyandnoemployment,"aRATHSHERR(Town—Councillor),whowasmuchrespected。"Ofbrothersorsisters,nomention。TheMotherbeingfromtheFrenchpartoftheCanton,helearnedtospeakbothlanguages。WenttoBernforhisLatinandhigh—schooling;thentoGottingen,wherehestudiedMedicine,undertheoncegreatHallerandothernowdimmedcelebrities。Haller,himselffromBern,hadtakenZimmermanntoboard,andbecamemuchattachedtohim:Haller,in1752,cameonasummervisittonativeBern:Zimmermann,whohadinthemeantimebeen"forafewmonths"inFrance,inItalyandEngland,nowreturnedandjoinedhimthere;butthegreatman,feelingverypoorlyandveryold,decidedthathewouldliketostayinBern,andnotmoveanymore;——Zimmermann,accordingly,wassenttoGottingentobringMrs。Haller,withherDaughters,bandboxesandeffects,hometoBern。Whichhedid;——andnotonlythem,butasoft,ingenious,ingenuousandratherprettyyoungGottingenLadyalongwiththem,ashisownWifewithal。WithherhesettledasSTADTPHYSICUS(Town—Doctor)innativeBrugg;wherehisbelovedHallerswerewithinreach;andpracticeinabundance,andhonors,allthattheplaceyielded,wereinreadinessforhim。
Herehecontinuedsomesixteenyears;verybusy,verysuccessfulinmedicineandliterature;but"tormentedwithhypochondria;"——havingindeedanimmenseconceitofhimself,andgenerallytoothinaskinforthisworld。HerehefirstwrotehisBookonSOLITUDE,aBookfamedoveralltheworldinmyyoungdays(andperhapsstillfamed);hewroteitasecondtime,MUCHENLARGED,aboutthirtyyearsafter:[BetrachtungenuberdieEinsamkeit,vonDoctorJ。G。Zimmermann,StadtphysicusinBrugg
(Zurich,1756),——asyetonly"1vol。8vo,price6d。"(5groschen);
butitgrewwithyears;and(Leipzig,1784)cameoutremodelledinto4vols。;——wastranslatedintoFrench,"withmanyomissions,"
byMercier(Paris,1790);intoEnglishfromMercier(London,1791)。
"Zurich,1763—1764:"byandby,one"DobsondiditintoEnglish。"]
Ireadit(inthecurtailedEnglish—Mercierform,noSceneinitliketheabove),inearlyboyhood,——andthankitfornothing,ornearlyso。Zimmermannlivedmuchalone,atBruggandelsewhere;
allhisdays"Hypochondria"wasthemaincompanyhehad:——anditwasnatural,butUNprofitable,thatheshouldsay,tohimselfandothers,thebesthecouldforthatbadarrangement:poorsoul!
HewrotealsoonMEDICALEXPERIENCE,afamedBookinitsday;"
alsoonNATIONALPRIDE;andbecamefamedthroughtheUniverse,andwasMemberofinfiniteLearnedSocieties。
AllwhichrendereddulldeadBruggstilldullerandmoredead;
unfitutterlyforamanofsuchsublimeaccomplishments。PlentyofCountsStadion,KingsofPolandeven,offeredhimengagements;
eagertopossesssuchaman,anddeliverhimfromdulldeadBrugg;
buthehadhypochondria,andalwaysfearedtheirdeliverancemightbeintosomethingduller。Atlength,——inhisfortiethyear,1768,——theplaceofCourt—Physician(HOFMEDICUS)atHanoverwasofferedhimbyGeorgetheThirdofpiousmemory,andthisheresolvedtoaccept;anddidliftanchor,andacceptandoccupyaccordingly。
Alas,attheGateofHanover,"hiscarriageoverset;"brokehispooroldMother—in—law’sleg(whohadbeenrejoicingdoubtlesstogethomeintoherownCountry),andwastheendofher——pooroldsoul;——andthebeginningofmisfortunescontinualandtootedioustomention。Spleen,envy,maliceandcalumny,fromtheHanoverMedicalworld;treatment,"bytheoldbuckramHofdameswhohaddrunkcoffeewithGeorgeII。,""whichwasfitterforalaquais—de—