"GRUMKOW。"
[Forster,iii。135,136。]
ThisHansardReportwentoffdirecttoPrinceEugene;andoughttohavebeenawarningtothehighViennaheadsandhim。ButtheypersistednotthelesstopleaseRobinsonorthemselves;
consideringhisPrussianMajestytobe,infact,amererotatoryClothes—horsefordryingtheImperiallinenon;andtohavenointellectatall,becausehewaswithoutguile,andhadnovulpinismatall。Inwhichtheywereverymuchmistakenindeed。
HistoryisproudtoreportthattheguilelessPrussianMajesty,steadilyattendingtohisownaffairsinawisemanner,thoughhoodwinkedandledaboutbyBlack—Artistsashehadbeen,turnedoutwhenFactandNaturesubsequentlypronounceduponit,tohavehadmoreintellectthanthewholeofthemtogether,——tohavebeen,inamanner,theonlyoneofthemthathadanyreal"intellect,"
orinsightintoFactandNature,atall。ConsummateBlack—artDiplomaciesovernettingtheUniverse,wententirelytowater,runningdownthegutterstothelastdrop;andaprosperousDrilledPrussia,compact,organicineverypart,fromdiligentplough—socktoshiningbayonetandironramrod,remainedstanding。
"AfullTreasuryand200,000well—drilledmenwouldbetheoneguaranteetoyourPragmaticSanction,"PrinceEugenehadsaid。
ButthatbitofinsightwasnotacceptedatVienna;Black—art,andDiplomaticspider—websfrompoletopole,beingthoughtthepreferablemethod。
Enough,SeckendorfwasorderedtomanipulateandsoothedownthePrussianMajesty,assurelywouldbeeasy;tocontinuehisgalvanicoperationsontheDouble—Match,orproducearotationinthepurposesoftheroyalbreast。Whichhediligentlystrovetodo,whenonceadmittedtospeechagain;——Grumkowsteadilydecliningtomeddle,andonlyQueenSophie,aswecanfancy,auguringjoyfullyofit。Seckendorf,admittedtospeechthethirddayafterthatexplosiveSession,snuffleshissoftest,hiscunningest;——continuestoridediligently,theconcludingportion(suchitproved)ofhis25,000mileswiththePrussianMajestyupanddownthroughwinterandspring;butmakesnottheleastprogress,thereverserather。
Theirdialoguesandarguingsonthematter,hereandelsewhere,arelostinair;orgonewhollytoasinglepointunexpectedlypreservedforus。Oneday,ridingthroughsomevillage,PriortsomesayhisMajestycallsit,somegiveanothername,——advocateSeckendorf,inthefervorofpleadingandarguing,saidsomeword,whichwentlikeasuddenflashoflightningthroughthedarkplacesofhisMajesty’smind,andneverwouldgooutofitagainwhilehelivedafter。Inpassionatemoments,hisMajestyspokeofitsometimes,aclangorouspathosinhistones,asofathinghideous,horrible,nevertobeforgotten,whichhadkilledhim,——
deathfromafriend’shand。"Itwasthe17thofApril,1733,[AlltheBooks(Forster,ii。142,forone)mentionthisutteranceofhisMajesty,onwhatoccasionweshallseefartheron;andgivethedate"1732,"not1733:butexceptasamendedabove,itrefusestohaveanysensevisibleatthisdistance。TheVillageofPriortisinthePotsdamregion。]ridingthroughPriort,amansaidsomethingtome:itwasasifyouhadturnedadaggeraboutinmyheart。Thatmanwashethatkilledme;thereandthenIgotmydeath!"
Astrangepassioninthatutterance:thedeepdumbsoulofhisMajesty,ofdumb—poeticnature,suddenlybroughttoafatalclearnessaboutcertainthings。"OKaiser,KaiseroftheHolyRomanEmpire;andthisisyourreturnformyloyalfaithinyou?
IhadnearlykilledmyFritz,myWilhelmina,brokenmyFeekin’sheartandmyown,andreducedtheworldtoruinsforyoursake。
AndbecauseIwasoffaithmorethanhuman,youtookmeforadog?
OKaiser,Kaiser!"——PoorFriedrichWilhelm,hespokeofthisoften,inexcitedmoments,inhislateryears;thetearsrunningdownhischeeks,andthewholemanmeltedintotragicemotion:
butifFritzwerethere,thepreciousFritzwhomhehadalmostkilledfortheirsake,hewouldsay,flashingoutintoproudrage,"Thereisonethatwillavengeme,though;thatone!DASTEHT
EINER,DERMICHRACHENWIRD!"[Forster,ii。153。]Yes,yourMajesty;perhapsthatone。AnditwillbeseenwhetherYOUwerearotatoryClothes—horsetodrytheirPragmaticlinenupon,orsomethingdifferentagooddeal。
ChapterVI。
KINGAUGUSTMEDITATINGGREATTHINGSFORPOLAND。
IntheNew—year’sdaysof1733,thetopicamongdiplomaticgentlemen,whichsetmanybigwigswagging,andeventremulouslycameoutinthegrayleavesofgazetteersandgarreteersoftheperiod,wasaroyaldrama,dimlysupposedtobegettingitselfupinPolandatthistime。Nothingknownaboutitforcertain;
muchguessed。"Somethingintherumor!"nodsthiswig;"Nothing!"
wagsthat,slightlyoscillating;andgazetteers,whowouldearntheirwages,andhaveapeckofcoalsapiecetogladtheminthecoldweather,hadtowatchwithalleagernessthemovementsofKingAugust,ourpooroldfriend,theDilapidated—Strong,whoisinSaxonyatpresent;butboundforWarsawshortly,——justaboutliftingthecurtainonimportantevents,itisthoughtandnotthought。Herearethecertaintiesofit,nowclearenough,sofarastheydeserveaglancefromus。
Januaryl0th,1733,AugusttheDilapidated—StrongofPolandhasbeeninSaxony,lookingafterhispoorElectoratealittle;andisontheroadfromDresdenhomewardsagain;——willcrossacornerofthePrussianDominions,ashiswontisonsuchoccasions。
PrussianMajesty,ifnotappearinginperson,willasusual,bysomeOfficialofrank,sendapoliteWell—speed—youasthebrotherMajestypasses。Thistime,however,itwasmorethanpoliteness;
thePolishMajestyhaving,aswasthought,suchintricateaffairsinthewind。LetGrumkow,thefittestmaninallways,go,anddothegreetingtohisoldPatroon:greeting,orwhateverelsemaybeneeded。
PatroonleftDresden,——"havingjustopenedtheCarnival"orfashionableSeasonthere,openedandnothingmore,——Januaryl0th,1733;[Fassmann,LebenFriedrichAugustidesGrossen,p。994。]beinginhastehomeforaPolishDietcloseathand。OnwhichsamedayGrumkow,wesuppose,drivesforthfromBerlin,tointersecthim,intheNeumark,aboutCrossen;andhaveafriendlywordagain,inthoselocalities,overjollywine。
Intersectiontookplaceduly;——therewasexuberantjoyonthepartofthePatroon;andsuchadinnerandnightofdrinking,ashasseldombeen。AbstrusethingsliecloseaheadofAugusttheDilapidated—Strong,importanttoPrussia,andforwhichPrussiaisimportant;letGrumkowtryifhecanfishthematterintoclearnessoutofthesewine—cups。AndthenAugust,onhisside,wishestoknowwhattheKaisersaidatKladruplately;thereismuchtobefishedintoclearness。
ManyarethetimeaAugusttheStronghasmadethisjourney;
manyarethecarousals,onsuchandotheroccasions,Grumkowandhehavehad。Buttherecomesanendtoallthings。Thiswastheirlastmeeting,overflowingliquororotherwise,intheworld。
SatiricalHistorysays,theydrankallnight,endeavoringtopumponeanother,andwithsuchenthusiasmthattheyneverrecoveredit;drankthemselvestodeathatCrossenonthatoccasion。
[OEuvresdeFrederic(MemoiresdeBrandenbourg),i。163。]ItiscertainAugustdiedwithinthreeweeks;
andpeoplesaidofGrumkow,wholivedsixyearslonger,hewasneverwellafterthisbout。IsitworthanyhumanCreature’swhiletolookintotheplansofthispreciouspairofindividuals?
Withouttheleastexpenseofdrinking,thesecretstheywerepumpingoutofeachotherarenowaccessibleenough,——ifitwereofimportancenow。OneglanceImayperhapscommendtothereader,outofthesemultifariousNote—booksinmypossession:——
"August,bychangeofhisreligion,andothersadoperations,gottobewhattheycalledtheKingofPoland,thirtyfiveyearsago;
but,thoughlookingglorioustotheidlepublic,ithasbeenacrownofstinging—nettlestothepoorman,——asedan—chairrunningonrapidly,withthebottombrokenout!Tosaynothingofthescourgingshegot,andpoorSaxonyalongwithhim,fromCharlesXII。,onaccountofthisSovereigntysocalled,whathasthethingitselfbeentohim?InPoland,forthesethirty—fiveyears,theindividualwhohadleastofhisrealwilldoneinpublicmattershasbeen,withinfinitemanagement,anddisplayofsuchgood—humorasatleastdeservescredit,thenominalSovereignMajestyofPoland。AnarchicGrandeeshavebeenkingsoverhim;ambitious,contentious,unmanageable;——veryfanaticaltoo,andneverpersuadedthatAugust’sApostasywasmorethanashamone,notevenwhenhemadehisPrinceapostatizetoo。TheirSovereigntyhasbeenamerepeckoftroubles,disgracesandvexations:forthosethirty—fiveyears,anever—boilingpotofmutiny,contradiction,insolence,hardlytolerableeventosuchnervesasAugust’s。
"August,foralongtimeback,hasbeenthinkingofschemestoclapsomeliduponallthat。TomaketheSovereigntyhereditaryinhisHouse:that,withthegoodSaxontroopswehave,wouldbearemedy;——andinfactitistheonlyremedy。JohnCasimir(whoabdicatedlongago,intheGreatElector’stime,andwenttoParis,——muchcharmedwithNinondel’Enclosthere)toldthePolishDiets,WiththeirLIBERUMVETO,and’rightofconfederation’andrebellion,theywouldbringthecountrydownunderthefeetofmankind,andreducetheirRepublictozerooneday,iftheypersisted。Theyhavenotfailedtopersist。WithsomehereditaryKingoverit,andaregulatedSaxonytoleanupon:trulymightitnotbeachangetothebetter?Totheworse,itcouldhardlybe,thinksAugusttheStrong;andgoesintentuponthatmethod,thislongwhileback;——andatlengthhopesnow,infewdayslonger,attheDietjustassembling,toseefruitsappear,andthethingactuallybegin。
"Thedifficultiestrulyaremany;internalandexternal:——buttherearecalculatedmethods,too。Fortheinternal:Getup,bybribery,persuasion,somevisibleminoritytocountenanceyou;
withthesemanoeuvreintheDiets;onthebackofthese,the30,000Saxontroops。ButthenwhatwilltheneighboringKingssay?
TheneighboringKings,withtheirbig—mouthedmanifestoes,pitiesforanoppressedRepublic,overwhelmingforces,andinvitationsto’confederate’andrevolt:withouttheirtolerancefirsthad,nothingcanbedone。Thatistheexternaldifficulty。Forwhichtoothereisaremedy。CutoffsufficientoutlyingslicesofPoland;flingthesetotheneighboringKingstoproduceconsent:
PartitionofPoland,infact;largesectionsofitsTerritoryslicedaway:thatwillbethemethod,thinksKingAugust。
"NeighboringKings,Kaiser,Prussia,Russia,tothemitisnotgrievousthatPolandshouldremaininperennialanarchy,inperennialimpotence;thereverserather:adeadhorse,oradying,inthenextstall,——heatleastwillnotkickuponus,thinktheneighboringKings。Andyet,——underanothersimilitude,——youdonotlikeyournext—doorneighbortobealwaysonthepointofcatchingfire;smokeissuing,thickerorthinner,throughtheslatesofhisroof,asaperennialphenomenon?AugustwillconciliatetheneighboringKings。Russia,big—cheekedAnneCzarinathere,shallhavenotonlyCourlandpeaceablyhenceforth,buttheUkraine,Lithuania,andotherlargeoutlyingslices;thatsurelywillconciliateRussia。ToAustria,onitsHungarianborder,letusgivetheCountryofZips;——naythereareothersopswehaveforAustria。PragmaticSanction,hithertorefusedascontrarytoplainrightsofours,——that,ifconcededtoaspectre—huntingKaiser?
ToFriedrichWilhelmwecouldgiveWest—Preussen;West—Preussentornawaythreehundredyearsago,andleavingahiatusintheverycontinuityofFriedrichWilhelm:wouldnotthatconciliatehim?Ofallenemiesorfriends,FriedrichWilhelm,closeathandwith80,000mencapableoffightingataweek’s,notice,isbyfarthemostimportant。
"TheseareAugust’splans:West—PreussenforthenearestNeighbor;
ZipsforAustria;Ukraine,Lithuania,andappendagesfortheRussianCzarina:handsomeSectionstobeslicedoff,andflungtogoodneighbors;asitwere,alltheoutlyinglimbsandwingsofthePolishTerritoryslicedoff;compactbodytoremain,andbecome,bymeansofAugustandSaxontroops,aKingdomwithgovernment,notanimaginaryRepublicwithoutgovernmentanylonger。Infact,itwasthe’PartitionofPoland,’suchastookeffectfortyyearsafter,andhaskepttheNewspapersweepingeversince。PartitionofPoland,——MINUSthecompactinteriorheldundergovernment,byaKingwithSaxontroopsorotherwise。
Compactinterior,inthateffectivepartition,fortyyearsafter,wasleftasanarchicasever;andhadtobeagainpartitioned,andcutawayaltogether,——withnewtorrentsofloudtearsfromtheNewspapers,refusingtobecomfortedtothisday。
"ItisnotsaidthatFriedrichWilhelmhadtheleastintentionofcountenancingAugustinthesedangerousoperations,stilllessofgoingshareswithAugust;buthewishedmuch,throughGrumkow,tohavesomeglimpseintothedimprogramofthem;andAugustwishedmuchtoknowFriedrichWilhelm’sandGrumkow’shumortowardsthem。
GrumkowandAugustdrankoopiously,orcopiouslypresseddrinkononeanother,allnight(llth—12thJanuary,1733,asIcompute;
somesayatCrossen,somesayatFrauendorfaroyaldomainnearby),withtheviewofmutuallyfishingoutthosesecrets;——andkilledoneanotherinthebusiness,asisrumored。"
WhatwereGrumkow’snewsathome—coming,Ididnothear;buthecontinuesverylowandshaky;——refuses,almostwithhorror,tohavetheleasthandinSeckendorf’smadproject,ofresuscitatingtheEnglishDouble—Marriage,andbreakingofftheBrunswickone,attheeleventhhourandafterwordpledged。Seckendorfhimselfcontinuestodislikeanddissuade:buttheHighHeadsatViennaarebentonit;andcommandnewstrenuousattempts;——literallyatthelastmoment;whichisnowcome。
ChapterVII。
CROWN—PRINCE’SMARRIAGE。
SinceNovemberlast,WilhelminaisonvisitatBerlin,——firstvisitsincehermarriage;——shestaysthereforalmosttenmonths;
notunderthehappiestauspices,poorchild。Mamma’sreceptionofher,justoffthelongwinterjourney,andextenuatedwithfatiguesandsicklychagrins,wasofthemostcuttingcruelty:
"Whatdoyouwanthere?Whatisamendicantlikeyoucomehitherfor?"Andnextnight,whenPapahimselfcamehome,itwaslittlebetter。"Ha,ha,"saidhe,"hereyouare;Iamgladtoseeyou。"
Thenholdingupalight,totakeviewofme:"Howchangedyouare!"saidhe:"WhatislittleFrederika[mylittleBabyatBaireuth]doing?"Andonmyanswering,continued:"Iamsorryforyou,onmyword。Youhavenotbreadtoeat;andbutformeyoumightgobegging。Iamapoormanmyself,notabletogiveyoumuch;butIwilldowhatIcan。Iwillgiveyounowandthenatwentyorathirtyshillings(PARDIXOUDOUZEFLORINS),asmyaffairspermit:itwillalwaysbesomethingtoassuageyourwant。
Andyou,Madam,"saidhe,turningtotheQueen,"youwillsometimesgiveheranolddress;forthepoorchildhasn’tashifttoherback。"[Wilhelmina,ii。85。]ThisruggedpaternalbanterwastakentooliterallybyWilhelmina,inherweakstate;
andshewaslike"toburstinherskin,"poorPrincess。
Sothat,——exceptherowngoodHereditaryPrince,whowashere"overfromPasewalk"andhisregimentalduties,waitingtowelcomeher;inwhosetrueheart,fullofhonesthumansunshinetowardsher,shecouldalwaysfindshelteranddefence,——nativeCountryandCourtofferlittletothebraveWilhelmina。Chagrinsenougharehere:chagrinsalsowerethere。AtBaireuthouroldFatherMargrafhashiscrotchets,hisinfirmitiesandoutbreaks;
takesmoreandmoretoliquor;anddoesalwayskeepusfrightfullybareinmoney。NohelpfromPapahere,either,onthefinanceside;norealhopeanywhere(thinksSeckendorf,whenweconsulthim),exceptonlyintheMargraf’sdeath:"oldMargrafwillsoondrinkhimselfdead,"thinksSeckendorf;"andinthemeanwhilethereisVienna,andanobleKaiserinnwhoknowsherfriendsincaseofextremity!"thinkshe。[Wilhelmina,ii。81—111。]
PoorPrincess,inherweakshatteredstate,shehasaheavytimeofit;butthereisatoughspiritinher;bright,sharp,likeaswiftsabre,nottobequenchedinanycoil;butalwayscuttingitsway,andemergingunsubdued。
Oneoftheblessingsreservedforherhere,whichmostofallconcernsus,wastheoccasionalsightofherBrother。Brotherinadayortwo["18thNovember,"shesays;whichdateiswrong,ifitwereofmoment(seeOEuvresdeFrederic,
xxvii。part1st,wheretheirCORRESPONDENCEis)。]ranoverfromRuppin,onshortleave,andhadhisfirstinterview。Verykindandaffectionate;quitetheoldBrotheragain;and"blushed"when,atsupper,MammaandthePrincesses,especiallythatwickedCharlotte(Papanotpresent),toreuphispoorBrideatsucharate。
"Hasnotawordtoansweryou,butYESorNO,"saidthey;
"stupidasablock。""Butwereyoueverathertoilette?"saidthewickedCharlotte:"Outofshape,completely:considerablewaddings,Ipromiseyou:andthen"——stillworsefeatures,fromthatwickedCharlotte,inpresenceofthedomesticshere。
WickedCharlotte;whoistobeherSister—in—lawsoon;——andwhoisalwaysflirtingwithmyHusband,asifshelikedthatbetter!——
Crown—Princeretired,directlyaftersupper:asdidI,tomyapartment,whereinaminuteortwohejoinedme。
"Tothequestion,HowwiththeKingandyou?heanswered,’Thathissituationwaschangingeverymoment;thatsometimeshewasinfavor,sometimesindisgrace;——thathischiefhappinessconsistedinabsence。ThatheledasoftandtranquillifewithhisRegimentatRuppin;studyandmusichisprincipaloccupations;hehadbuilthimselfaHousethere,andlaidoutaGarden,wherehecouldread,andwalkabout。’ThenastohisBride,IbeggedhimtotellmecandidlyiftheportraittheQueenandmySisterhadbeenmakingofherwasthetrueone。’Wearealone,’repliedhe,’andIwillconcealnothingfromyou。TheQueen,byhermiserableintrigues,hasbeenthesourceofourmisfortunes。ScarcelywereyougonewhenshebeganagainwithEngland;wishedtosubstituteourSisterCharlotteforyou;wouldhavehadmeundertaketocontradicttheKing’swillagain,andflatlyrefusetheBrunswickMatch;——whichI
declined。ThatisthesourceofhervenomagainstthispoorPrincess。AstotheyoungLadyherself,IdonothatehersomuchasIpretend;Iaffectcompletedislike,thattheKingmayvaluemyobediencemore。Sheispretty,acomplexionlily—and—rose;
herfeaturesdelicate;facealtogetherofabeautifulperson。
True,shehasnobreeding,anddressesveryill:butIflattermyself,whenshecomeshither,youwillhavethegoodnesstotakeherinhand。Irecommendhertoyou,mydearSister;andbegyourprotectionforher。’Itiseasytojudge,myanswerwouldbesuchashedesired。"[Wilhelmina,ii。89。]
Forwhichsmallglimpseofthefactitself,atfirst—hand,acrossawhirlwindofdistractedrumorsnewandoldaboutthefact,letusbethankfultoWilhelmina。Seckendorf’shopelessattemptstoresuscitateextinctEnglishthings,andmakethePrussianMajestybreakhisword,continuetotheverylast;butareworthnonoticefromus。Grumkow’sDrinking—boutwiththeDilapidated—StrongatCrossen,whichfollowsnowinJanuary,hasbeenalreadynoticedbyus。AndtheDilapidated—Strong’sfarewellnextmorning,——"Adieu,dearGrumkow;IthinkIshallnotseeyouagain!"asherolledofftowardsWarsawandtheDiet,——willrequirefarthernotice;
butmuststandovertillthisMarriagebegotdone。OfwhichlatterEvent,——WilhelminaoncemorekindlingtheolddarkBooksintosomelightforus,——theessentialparticularsarebrieflyasfollows。
Monday,8thJune,1733,theCrown—PrinceisagainoverfromRuppin:King,QueenandCrown—PrincearerendezvousedatPotsdam;
andtheysetoffwithdueretinuestowardsWolfenbuttel,towardsSalzdahlumtheDucalSchlossthere;SisterWilhelminasendingblessings,ifshehadthem,onapoorBrotherinsuchinterestingcircumstances。Mammawas"plungedinblackmelancholy;"Kingnottheleast;intheCrown—Princenothingparticulartoberemarked。
TheyreachedSalzdahlum,DukeLudwigRudolftheGrandfather’sPalace,oneofthefinestPalaces,withGardens,withantiques,withPicture—Galleriesnoend;amileortwofromWolfenbuttel;
builtbyoldAntonUlrich,andstilltheornamentofthoseparts;
——reachedSalzdahlum,Wednesdaythe10th;whereBride,withFather,Mother,muchmoreGrandfather,Grandmother,andallthesublimitiesinterested,arewaitinginthehighestgala;
WeddingtobeonFridaynext。
Fridaymorning,thisincidentfellout,notableandsomewhatcontemptible:Seckendorf,whoisoftheretinue,followinghisbadtrade,visitshisMajestywhoisstillinbed:——"Pardon,yourMajesty:whatshallIsayforexcuse?HereisaLetterjustcomefromVienna;inPrinceEugene’shand;——PrinceEugene,oraHigher,willsaysomething,whileitisstilltime!"Majesty,notinimpatience,readsthelittlePrince’sandtheKaiser’sLetter。
"Giveupthis,weentreatyouforthelasttime;marrywithEnglandafterall!"Majestyreads,quietasalamb;laystheLetterunderhispillow;willhimselfanswerit;anddoesstraightway,withmuchsimpledignity,totheeffect,"Forcertain,Never,myalwaysrespectedPrince!"[AccountoftheInterviewbySeckendorf,inForster,iii,148—155;CopyoftheansweritselfisintheState—PaperOfficehere。]Seckendorf,havingthusshothislastbolt,doesnotstaymanyhourslongeratSalzdahlum;——mayaswellquitFriedrichWilhelmaltogether,foranygoodhewillhenceforthdouponhim。ThisistheoneincidentbetweentheArrivalatSalzdahlumandtheWeddingthere。
SameFriday,12thJune,1733,atamoreadvancedhour,theWeddingitselftookeffect;Weddingwhich,inspiteofthemadrumorsandwhispers,intheNewspapers,DiplomaticDespatchesandelsewhere,wentoff,inallrespects,preciselyasotherweddingsdo;aquitehumanWeddingnowandafterwards。OfficiatingClergymanwastheReverendHerrMosheim:readersknowwithapprovalthe
EcclesiasticalHistoryofMosheim:he,inthebeautifulChapeloftheSchloss,withMajestiesandBrunswickSublimitieslookingon,performedtheceremony:andCrown—PrinceFriedrichofPrussiahasfairlyweddedtheSerenePrincessElizabethChristinaofBrunswick—Bevern,ageeighteencoming,mannersratherawkward,complexionlily—and—rose;——andHistoryisrightgladtohavedonewiththewearisomeaffair,andknowitsettledonanytolerabletermswhatever。HereisaNoteofFriedrich’stohisdearSister,whichhasbeenpreserved:——
TOPRINCESSWILHELMINAOFBAIREUTH,ATBERLIN。
"SALZDAHLUM,Noon,19thJune,1733。
"MYDEARSISTER,——Aminutesince,thewholeCeremonywasgotfinished;andGodbepraiseditisover!IhopeyouwilltakeitasamarkofmyfriendshipthatIgiveyouthefirstnewsofit。
"IhopeIshallhavethehonortoseeyouagainsoon;andtoassureyou,mydearSister,thatIamwhollyyours(TOUTAVOUS)。
Iwriteingreathaste;andaddnothingthatismerelyformal。
Adieu。[OEuvres,xxvii。part1st,p。9。]
FREDERIC。"
OneKeyserling,thePrince’sfavoritegentleman,cameoverexpress,withthisLetterandthemoreprivatenews;Wilhelminabeingfullofanxieties。Keyserlingsaid,ThePrincewasinwardly"wellcontentwithhislot;thoughhehadkeptuptheoldfarcetothelast;andpretendedtobeinfrightfulhumor,ontheverymorning;burstingoutuponhisvaletsintheKing’spresence,whoreprovedhim,andlookedratherpensive,"——recognizing,onehopes,whatasacrificeitwas。TheQueen’sMajesty,Keyserlingreported,"wascharmedwiththestyleandwaysoftheBrunswickCourt;
butcouldnotendurethePrincess—Royal[newWife],andtreatedthetwoDuchesseslikedogs(COMMEDESCHIENS)。"[Wilhelmina,ii。114。]ReverendAbbotMosheim(suchhistitle;HeadChurchman,theologicalchiefofHelmstadtUniversityinthoseparts,withacoupleofextinctlittleABBACIESnearby,tohelphisstipend)
preachednextSunday,"OntheMarriageoftheRighteous,"——
felicitousappropriateSermon,saidagratefulpublic;
[Text,Psalm,xcli。12;"SermonprintedinMosheim’s
Works。"]——andinshort,atSalzdahlumallgoes,ifnotasmerryassomemarriage—bells,yetwithoutjarringtotheear。
OnTuesday,boththeMajestiessetouttowardsPotsdamagain;
"wherehisMajesty,"havingbusinesswaiting,"arrivedsometimebeforetheQueen。"Thitheralso,beforetheweekends,Crown—
PrinceFriedrichwithhisBride,andalltheSerenitiesofBrunswickescorting,areupontheroad,——dulydetainedbycomplimentaryharangues,tediousscenicevolutionsatMagdeburgandtheinterveningTowns;——grandentranceofthePrincess—RoyalintoBerlinisnottillthe27th,lastdayoftheweekfollowing。
ThatwassuchadayasWilhelminaneversaw;nosleepthenightbefore;nobreakfastcanonetaste:betweenCharlottenburgandBerlin,thereisareviewofunexampledsplendor;"aboveeightyoarriagesofus,"andonlyatentortwoagainsttheflamingJunesun:thinkofit!Reviewbeginsatfoura。m。;——poorWilhelminathoughtshewouldverilyhavedied,ofheatandthirstandhunger,inthecrowdedtent,undertheflamingJunesun;beforetheReviewcouldenditself,andmarchintoBerlin,trumpetingandsalvoing,withthePrincess—Royalattheheadofit。[Wilhelmina,ii。127—129。]
Ofwhichgrandflamingday,andoftheunexampledballsandeffulgentfestivitiesthatfollowed,"allBerlinruiningitselfindressesandequipages,"wewillsaynothingfarther;butgiveonly,whatmaystillhavesomesignificanceforreaders,Wilhelmina’sPortraitofthePrincess—Royalontheirfirstmeeting,whichhadtakenplaceatPotsdamtwodaysbefore。
ThePrincess—RoyalhadarrivedatPotsdamtoo,onthatoccasion,acrossagrandReview;Majestyhimselfridingout,MajestyandCrown—Prince,whohadprecededheralittle,tousherinthepooryoungcreature;——Thursday,June25th,1733:——
"TheKingledherintotheQueen’sApartment;thenseeing,aftershehadsalutedusall,thatshewasmuchheatedanddispowdered(DEPOUDREE),hebademyBrothertakehertoherownroom。
Ifollowedthemthither。MyBrothersaidtoher,introducingme:
’ThisisaSisterIadore,andamobligedtobeyondmeasure。
Shehashadthegoodnesstopromisemethatshewilltakecareofyou,andhelpyouwithhergoodcounsel;IwishyoutorespectherbeyondeventheKingandQueen,andnottotaketheleaststepwithoutheradvice:doyouunderstand?’IembracedthePrincess—
Royal,andgavehereveryassuranceofmyattachment;butsheremainedlikeastatue,notansweringaword。Herpeoplenotbeingcome,Irepowderedhermyself,andreadjustedherdressalittle,withouttheleastsignofthanksfromher,oranyanswertoallmycaressings。MyBrothergotimpatientatlast;andsaidaloud:
’Devil’sintheblockhead(PESTESOITDELABETE):thankmySister,then!’Shemademeacourtesy,onthemodelofthatofAgnesintheECOLEDESFEMMES。ItookherbacktotheQueen’sApartment;littleedifiedbysuchadisplayoftalent。
"ThePrincess—Royalistall;herfigureisnotfine:stoopingslightly,orhangingforward,asshewalksorstands,whichgivesheranawkwardair。Hercomplexionisofdazzlingwhiteness,heightenedbytheliveliestcolors:hereyesarepaleblue,andnotofmuchpromiseforspiritualgifts。Mouthsmall;featuresgenerallysmall,——dainty(MIGNONS)ratherthanbeautiful:——andthecountenancealtogetherissoinnocentandinfantine,youwouldthinkthisheadbelongedtoachildoftwelve。Herhairisblond,plentiful,curlinginnaturallocks。Teethareunhappilyverybad,blackandillset;whichareadisfigurementinthisfineface。
Shehasnomanners,northeleastvestigeoftact;hasmuchdifficultyinspeakingandmakingherselfunderstood:formostpartyouareobligedtoguesswhatshemeans;whichisveryembarrassing。"[Wilhelmina,ii。119—121。]
TheBerlingayeties——forKarl,Heir—ApparentofBrunswick,brothertothisPrincess—Royal,weddedhisCharlotte,too,aboutaweekhence[2dJuly,1733。]——didnotend,andthesereneGuestsdisappear,tillfaroninJuly。AfterwhichanInspectionwithPapa;andthenFriedrichgotbacktoRuppinandhisoldwayoflifethere。Intrinsicallytheoldstudious,quietlydiligentwayoflife;variedbymorefrequentexcursionstoBerlin;——whereasyetthePrincess—Royalusuallyresides,tillsomefitresidencebegotreadyintheRuppinCountryforaweddedCrown—Princeandher。
TheyoungWifehadanhonestguilelessheart;iflittlearticulateintellect,considerableinarticulatesense;didnotfailtolearntact,perpendicularattitude,speechenough;——andIhopekeptwellclearofpouting(FAIRELAFACHEE),amuchmoredangerousrockforher。Withthegaytemperofeighteen,andhernativeloyaltyofmind,sheseemstohaveshapedherselfsuccessfullytothePrince’staste;andgrowingyearlygracefulerandbetter—lookingwasanornamentandpleasantadditiontohisRuppinexistence。
Thesefirstsevenyears,spentatBerlinorintheRuppinquarter,shealwaysregardedastheflowerofherlife。[Busching(Autobiography,Beitrage,vi。)heardhersayso,inadvancedyears。]
Papa,accordingtopromise,hasfaithfullyprovidedaCrown—
PrincePalaceatBerlin;alltrimmedandfurnished,foroccasionalresidencesthere;thelate"GovernmentHouse"(originallySCHOMBERGHouse),new—built,——whichis,tothisday,oneofthedistinguishedPalacesofBerlin。Princess—RoyalhadSchonhausengivenher;apleasantRoyalMansionsomemilesoutofBerlin,ontheRuppinside。Furthermore,thePrince—Royal,beingnowaweddedman,has,asiscustomaryinsuchcase,aspecialAMT(GovernmentDistrict)setapartforhissupport;the"AmtofRuppin,"wherehisbusinesslies。WhattheexactrevenuesofRuppinare,isnotcommunicated;butwecanjustlyfeartheywerefartoofrugal,——
andexcusedtheunderhandborrowing,whichisevidentenoughasapainfulshadowinthePrince’slifehenceforth。Hedoesnotseemtohavebeenwasteful;butheborrowsallround,undersevenfoldsecrecy,frombenevolentCourts,fromAustria,Russia,England:
andtheonlypleasantcertaintywenoticeinsuchpainfulbusinessis,that,onhisAccession,hepayswithexactitude,——sendshisUncleGeorgeofEngland,forexample,thecompleteamountinrouleausofnewcoin,bythefirstcourierthatgoes。[Despatch(ofadjacentdate)intheState—PaperOfficehere。]
Athoughttoofrugal,hisPrussianMajesty;buthemeanstobekind,bountiful;andoccasionallylaunchesoutintohandsomemunificence。ThisveryAutumn,hearingthattheCrown—PrinceandhisPrincessfanciedReinsberg;anoldCastleintheirAmtRuppin,somemilesnorthofthem,——hisMajesty,withoutwordspoken,straightwaypurchasedReinsberg,SchlossandTerritory,fromtheowner;gaveittohisCrown—Prince,andgavehimmoneytonew—
builditaccordingtohismind。[23dOct。1733—16thMarch,1734
(Preuss,i。75)。]WhichtheCrown—Princedidwithmuchinterest,underverywisearchitecturaladvice,forthenextthreeyears;
thenwentintoit,toreside;——yetdidnotceasenew—building,improving,artisticallyadorning,tillitbecameinallpointstheimageofhistaste。
Areallyhandsomeprincelykindofresidence,thatofReinsberg:——
gotupwithathriftthatmostofallastonishesus。Inwhichimprovedlocalityweshallbyandbylookinuponhimagain。
ForthepresentwemusttoWarsaw,wheretragediesandtroublesareinthewind,whichturnouttobenotquitewithoutimportancetotheCrown—Princeandus。
ChapterVIII。
KINGAUGUSTDIES;ANDPOLANDTAKESFIRE。
Meanwhile,overatWarsaw,therehasanEventfallenout。
Friedrich,writingrapidlyfromvaguereminiscence,asheoftendoes,recordsitas"duringthemarriagefestivities;"
[OEuvres(MemoiresdeBrandenbourg),
i。163。]butitwasfourgoodmonthsearlier。Eventwemustnowlookatforamoment。
IntheendofJanuarylast,weleftGrumkowinalowandhypochondriacalstate,muchshakenbythatdrinking—boutatCrossen,whenthePolisbMajestyandheweresoanxioustopumponeanother,bycopiousprimingwithHungarywine。Aboutafortnightafter,inthefirstdaysofFebruaryfollowing(dayisnotgiven),Grumkowreportedsomethingcurious。"Inmypresence,"
saysWilhelmina,"andthatoffortypersons,"forthethingwasmuchtalkedabout,"GrumkowsaidtotheKingonemorning:
’AhSire,Iamindespair;thepoorPatroonisdead!Iwaslyingbroadawake,lastnight:allonasudden,thecurtainsofmybedflewasunder:Isawhim;hewasinashroud:hegazedfixedlyatme:Itriedtostartup,beingdreadfullytaken;butthephantomdisappeared!’"Herewasanillustriousghost—storyforBerlin,inadayortwowhentheCouriercame。"Diedattheverytimeofthephantom;Deathandphantomwerethesamenight,"sayWilhelminaandthemiraculousBerlinpublic,——butdonotsayWHATnightforeitherofthemitwas。[Wilhelmina,ii。98。Eventhappened,1stFebruary;newsofitcametoBerlin,4thFebruary:Fassmann(p。485);Buchholz;&c。]Byhelpofwhichlattercircumstancethephantombecomesreasonablyunmiraculousagain,inanervoussystemtremulousfromdrink。"Theyhadbeensadatparting,"Wilhelminasays,"havingdrunkimmensitiesofHungarywine;thePatroonalmostweepingoverhisGrumkow:’Adieu,mydearGrumkow,’saidhe;"Ishallneverseeyoumore!’"
Miraculousornot,thecatastropheistrue:August,theoncePhysicallyStrong,liesdead;——andtherewillbenoPartitionofPolandforthepresent。HehadtheDietreadytoassemble;
waitingforhim,atWarsaw;andgoodtrainslaidintheDiet,capableoffortunateexplosionunderagoodengineer。
Engineer,alas!TheGrumkowdrinking—bouthadawakenedthatoldsoreinhisfoot:hecametoWarsaw,eagerenoughforbusiness;
butwithhisstockofstrengthallout,andDeathnowcloseuponhim。TheDietmet,26th—27thJanuary;engineerallalertaboutthegoodtrainslaid,andthefortunateexplodingofthem;when,almostonthemorrow——"Inflammationhascomeon!"saidtheDoctors,andwerefutiletohelpfarther。Thestrongbody,anditslife,wasdone;andnothingremainedbuttocallintheArchbishop,withhisextremeunctionsandsoul—apparatus。
Augustmadenomoaningorrecalcitrating;took,ontheprescribedterms,theinevitablethathadcome。Hasbeenaverygreatsinner,heconfessestotheArchbishop:"IhavenotatpresentstrengthtonamemymanyandgreatsinstoyourReverence,"saidhe;"Ihopeformercyonthe"——ontheusualrashterms。TermsperhapsknowntoAugusttoberash;tohavebeenfrightfullyrash;butwhatcanhenowdo?Archbishopthereupongivesabsolutionofhissins;
Archbishopdoes,——abaddish,unlikelykindofman,asAugustwellknows。August"laidhishandonhiseyes,"duringsuchsadabsolution—mummery;andinthatposturehadbreathedhislast,beforeitwaswellover。["Sunday,1stFebruary,1733,quarterpast4A。M。"(Fassmann,LebenFredericiAugustiKonigsinPohlen,pp。994—997)。]Unhappysoul;whoshalljudgehim?——transcendentKingofedaciousFlunkies;notwithoutfinequalities,whichheturnedtosuchauseamidthetemptationsofthisworld!
POLANDHASTOFINDANEWKING。
HisdeathbroughtvastmiseriesonPoland;kindledfoolishEuropegenerallyintofighting,andgaveourCrown—PrincehisfirstactualsightandexperienceofthefactsofWar。Forwhichreason,hardlyforanother,thethinghavingotherwiselittlememorabilityatpresent,letusgivesomebriefsynopsisofit,thebrieferthebetter。Here,excerptedfrommultifariousoldNote—books,aresomemainheadsoftheaffair:——
"OnthedisappearanceofAugusttheStrong,hisplansofPartitioningPolanddisappearedtoo,andhisfinetrainsintheDietabolishedthemselves。TheDiethadnownothingtodo,butproclaimthecomingElection,givingadatetoit;andgohometoconsideralittlewhomtheywouldelect。["Interregnumproclaimed,"11thFebruary;PreliminaryDiettomeet21stApril;——
meets;settles,beforeMayisdone,thattheElectionshallBEGIN
25thAugust:itmustENDinsixweeksthereafter,bylawoftheland。]AquestionweightytoPoland。AndnotlikelytobesettledbyPolandaloneorchiefly;thesublimeRepublic,withLIBERUM
VETO,andDietscapableonlyofanarchicnoise,havingnowreachedsuchastagethatitsNeighborseverywherestooduponitsskirts;
asking,’Whitherward,then,withyouranarchy?Notthisway;——wesay,thatway!’—andwereapttogettobattleaboutit,beforesuchathingcouldbesettled。Ahouse,inyourstreet,withperpetualsmokecomingthroughtheslatesofit,isnotapleasanthousetobeneighborto!Onehonestinteresttheneighborshave,inanElectionCrisisthere,Thatthehousedonotgetonfire,andkindlethem。Dishonestinterests,inthewayoftheftandotherwise,theymayhavewithoutlimit。
"Thepoorhouse,duringlastElectionCrisis,——whenAugusttheStrongwasflungout,andStanislausbroughtin;CrisispresidedoverbyCharlesXII。,withCzarPeterandothershangingontheoutskirts,asOppositionparty,——fairlygotintoflame;
[DescriptionofitinKohler,Munzbelustigungen,vi。228—230。]butwasquencheddownagainbythatstoutSwede;andhisStanislaus,anativePole,wasleftpeaceablyasKingfortheyearsthenrunning。Yearsran;andStanislauswasthrownout,Charleshimselfbeingthrownout;andhadtomakewayforAugusttheStrongagain:——anejectedStanislaus:Kingonlyintitle;knowntomostreadersofthistime。[StanislausLesczinsky,"WoywodeofPosen,"born1677:KingofPoland,CharlesXII。
superintending,1704(agethen27);drivenout1709,wenttoCharlesXII。atBender;toZweibruck,1714;thence,onCharles’sdeath,toWeissenburg(Alsace,orStrasburgCountry):DaughtermarriedtoLouisXV。,1725。Agenow56。——Hubner,t。97;
HistoiredeStanislasI。,RoidePologlne(EnglishTranslation,London,1741),pp。96—126;&c。]
"Poorman,hehasbeenlivinginZweibruck,inWeissenburgandsuchplaces,inthatDebatableFrench—Germanregion,——whichtheFrencharemoreandmoregettingstolentothemselves,inlatecenturies:——generallyontheoutskirtsofFrancehelives;
havingnowconnectionsofthehighestqualitywithFrance。HehashadfineCountry—housesinthatZweibruck(TWO—BRIDGE,Deux—Ponts)
region;hadalwaystheghostofaCourtthere;plentyofmoney,——
asinecureCountry—gentlemanlife;——andnocomplaintshavebeenheardfromhim。CharlesXII。,asproprietorofDeux—Ponts,hadfirstofallsenthimintothosepartsforrefuge;andingeneral,easydayshavebeenthelotofStanislausthere。
"NorhasHistoryspokenofhimsince,exceptononesmalloccasion:whentheFrenchPoliticianGentlemen,atacertaincrisisoftheirgame,choseaDaughterofhistobeWifeforyoungLouisXV。,andbringroyalprogeny,ofwhichtheywerescarce。
Thiswasin1724—1725;DucdeBourbon,andotherPoliticiansmaleandfemale,findingthatthebestmove。AthingwonderfultothethenGazetteers,forninedays;butnotnowworthmuchtalk。
ThegoodyoungLady,itiswellknown,averypiouscreature,andsoretriedinhernewstation,didbringroyalprogenyenough,——
andmightaswellhaveheldherhand,hadsheforeseenwhatwouldbecomeofthem,poorsouls!ThiswasagreateventforStanislaus,thesinecureCountry—gentleman,inhisFrench—Germanrustication。
OneotherthingIhavereadofhim,infinitelysmaller,outofthosetenyears:inZweibruckCountry,orsomewhereinthatFrench—Germanregion,he’builtapleasure—cottage,’conceivabletothemind,’andcalleditSCHUHFLICK(Shoe—Patch),’[Busching,Erdbeschreibung,v。1194。]——anamethattouchesone’sfancyonbehalfoftheinnocentsoul。OtherfactI
willnotrememberofhim。HeisnowtoquitShoe—PatchandhispleasantWeissenburgCastle;tocomeonthepublicstageagain,poorman;andsufferasecondseasonofmischancesanddisgracesstillworsethanthefirst。Asweshallseepresently;——anewPolishElectionCrisishavingcome!
"WhatindividualthePolishGrandeeswouldhavechosenforKingifentirelyleftalonetodoit?isaquestionnotimportant;
andindeedwasneverasked,inthisorinlateElections。NottheindividualwhocouldhaveBEENaKingamongthemwerethey,foralongtimeback,inthehabitofseekingafter;nothim,butanotherandindeedreversekindofindividual,——theoneinwhomtherelaymostNOURISHMENT,nourishmentofanykind,evenofthecashkind,forapracticalPolishGrandee。Sothatthequestionwasnolongeroftheleastimportance,toPolandortheUniverse;
andinpointoffact,thefrugalDestinieshadceasedtohaveitput,inthatquarter。NotGrandeesofPoland;butIntrusiveNeighbors,carryingGrandeesofPoland’intheirbreeches—pocket’
(asourphraseis),werethevotingparties。Tothatpassitwascome。UndersuchsternpenaltyhadPolandanditsGrandeesfallen,bydintoffalsevoting:thefrugalDestinieshadceasedtoaskabouttheirvote;andtheywerebecomemachinesforvotingwith,orpistolsforfightingwith,bybadNeighborswhocaredtovote!
NordidthefrugalDestiniesconsiderthatthepropermethod,either;buthad,asweshallsee,determinedtoabolishthattoo,inaboutfortyyearsmore。"
OFTHECANDIDATES;OFTHECONDITIONS。HOWTHEELECTIONWENT。
ItwasundersuchomensthatthePolishElectionof1733hadtotransactitself。Austria,Russia,Prussia,asnextNeighbors,werethechiefvotingparties,iftheycaredtointrude;——whichAustriaandRussiawereclearfordoing;Prussianotclear,ornotbeyondtheindispensableorevidentlyprofitable。Seckendorf,andoneLowenwoldetheRussianAmbassadoratBerlin,had,sometimeago,inforesightofthisevent,donetheirutmosttobringFriedrichWilhelmintoco—operation,——offeringfinebaits,"BergandJulich"
again,amongothers;——butnothingdefinitecameofit:peaceable,reasonablysafeElectioninPoland,otherinterestFriedrichWilhelmhasnotinthematter;andcompliance,notco—operation,iswhatcanbeexpectedofhimbytheKaiserandCzarina。
Co—operatingorevencomplying,thesethreecouldhavesettledit;
andwould,——hadnootherNeighborinterfered。Butotherneighborscaninterfere;anyneighborthathasmoneytospend,orlikestobullyinsuchamatter!Andthatprovedtobethecase,inthisunluckyinstance。
AustriaaudRussia,withPrussiacomplying,had,——ayearago,beforethelateAugust’sdecease,hislifeseemingthenanextremelyuncertainone,andforesightbeingalwaysgood,——
privatelycometoanunderstanding,[31stDecember,1731,"TreatyofLowenwolde"(whichnevergotcompletedorbecamevalid):
Scholl,ii。223。]incaseofaPolishElection:——
"1。ThatFrancewastohavenohandinitwhatever,——notoolofFrancetobeKing;or,astheymorepolitelyexpressedit,havingtheireyeuponStanislaus,NoPiastornativePolecouldbeeligible。
"2。ThatneithercouldAugust’sSon,thenewAugust,whowouldthenbeKurfurstofSaxony,beadmittedKingofPoland。——And,onthewhole,"3。ThatanEmanuelPrinceofPortugalwouldbetheeligibleman。"
EmanuelofPortugal,KingofPortugal’sBrother;agentlemanwithoutemployment,ashisveryTitletellsus:gentlemanneverheardofbeforeorsince,inthosepartsorelsewhere,butdoubtlessofthedueharmlessquality,asPortugalitselfwas:
heistobethePolishKing,——votetheseIntrusiveNeighbors。
WhatthevoteofPolanditselfmaybe,theDestiniesdonot,oflate,ask;findingitasuperfluousquestion。
SohadtheThreeNeighborssettledthismatter:——orrather,Ishouldsay,sohadTwoofthem;forFriedrichWilhelmwanted,noworafterwards,nothinginthisElection,butthatitshouldnottakefireandkindlehim。TwooftheNeighbors:andofthesetwo,perhapswemightguesstheKaiserwastheprincipalcontriverandsuggester;FranceandSaxonybeingbothhatefultohim,——
obstinaterefusersofthePragmaticSanction,tosaynothingmore。
WhattheCzarina,Annewiththebigcheek,speciallywanted,Idonotlearn,——unlessitwerepeaceableholdofCourland;orperhapsmerelytoproduceherselfintheseparts,asakindofregulatingPallas,alongwiththeJupiterKaiserofWesternEurope;——whichmighthaveeffectsbyandby。
EmanuelofPortugalwasnotelected,norsomuchasspokenofintheDiet。NordidoneoftheseThreeRegulationstakeeffect;
butmuchthecontrary,——otherNeighborshavingthepowertointerfere。Francesawgoodtointerfere,aratherdistantneighbor;Austria,Russia,couldnotenduretheFrenchvoteatall;andsothewholeworldgotonfirebythebusiness。
FranceisnotanearNeighbor;butithasaStanislausmuchconcerned,whoiseminentlyundertheprotectionofFrance:——
whomaybecalledthe"FATHERofFrance,"inasense,oreventhe"Grandfather;"hisDaughterbeingMotherofayoungcreaturetheycallDauphin,or"ChildofFrance。"FleuryandtheFrenchCourtdecidethatStanislaus,GrandfatherofFrance,wasonceKingofPoland:thatitwillbehoove,forvariousreasons,hebeKingagain。SomesayoldFleurydidnotcareforStanislaus;
merelywantedaquarrelwiththeKaiser,——havinggothimselfinreadiness,"withLorraineinhiseye;"andseeingtheKaisernotready。Itislikelierthehotyoungspirits,Belleisleandothers,controlledoldFleuryintoit。Atallevents,Stanislausissummonedfromhisrustication;theFrenchAmbassadoratWarsawgetshisinstructions。FrenchAmbassadoropenshimselflargely,atWarsaw,byeloquentspeech,bycopiousmoney,onthesubjectofStanislaus;findslargeaudience,enthusiasticreceptivity;——andreaderswillnowunderstandthefollowingchronologicalphenomenaofthePolishElection:——
"AUGUST25th,1733。ThisdaythePolishElectionbegins。SohasthePreliminaryDiet(kindofPolishCAUCUS)orderedit;——
PreliminaryDietitselfaverystormymatter;minorityliketobe’thrownoutofwindow,’tobe’shotthroughthehead,’onsomeoccasions。[HistoryofStanislaus(citedabove),p。136。]ActualElectionbegins;continuesSUBDIO,’intheFieldofWola,’inaverytempestuousfashion;boundtoconcludewithinsixweeks。Kaiserhashistroopsassembledovertheborder,inSilesia,’toprotectthefreedomofelection;’
Czarinahas30,000underMarshalLacy,lyingontheedgeofLithuania,bentonalikeobject;willincreasethemto50,000,astheplotthickens。
"SothatEmanuelofPortugalisnotheardof;andFrenchinterferenceis,withavengeance,——andStanislaus,abornPiast,isoverwhelminglythefavorite。IntolerabletoAustria,toRussia;
thereversetoFriedrichWilhelm,whoprivatelythinkshimtherightman。AndKurfurstAugustofSaxonyistheotherCandidate,——
withtroopsofhisowninthedistance,butwithoutsupportinPoland;anddependingwhollyontheKaiserandCzarinaforhischance。Andour’threesettledpoints’aregonetowaterinthismanner!
"AugustseeingtherewasnottheleasthopeinPoland’sownvote,judiciouslywenttotheKaiserfirstofall:’ImperialMajesty,I
willacceptyourPragmaticSanctionrootandbranch,swallowitwhole;makemeKingofPoland!’——’Done!’answersImperialMajesty;
[16thJuly,1733;TreatyinScholl,ii。224—231。]bringstheCzarinaover,bygoodoffersofAugust’sandhis;——andnowthereisaneffectiveOppositionCandidateinthefield,withstrengthofhisown,andgoodbackingcloseathand。Austrian,RussianAmbassadorsatWarsawliftuptheirvoice,liketheFrenchone;
opentheirpurse,andbestirthemselves;butwithnosuccessintheFieldofWola,excepttothestirringupofnoiseandtumultthere。Theymustlooktootherfieldsforsuccess。ThevoiceofWolaandofPoland,ifithadnowavoice,isenthusiasticforStanislaus。
"SEPTEMBER7th。Acoupleofquiet—lookingMerchantsarriveinWarsaw,——oneofwhomisStanislausinperson。NewspaperssayheisintheFrenchFleetofWar,whichissailingminatorytowardstheseCoasts:andthereisintruthaGentlemaninStanislaus’sclothesonboardthere;——tomaketheNewspapersbelieve。
StanislaushimselfdrovethroughBerlin,adayortwoago;
gavethesentryaducatattheGate,tobespeedywiththePassports,——whomFriedrichWilhelmaffectedtoputunderarrestforsuchnegligentspeed。Andso,onthe10thofthemonth,Stanislausbeingnowrestedandtrimmed;makeshisappearanceontheFieldofWolaitself;andcaptivatesallheartsbythekindlookofhim。Sothat,ontheseconddayafter,12thSeptember,1733,heis,asitwere,unanimouslyelected;withacclamation,withenthusiasm;andseeshimselfactualKingofPoland,——ifFrancesendproperbackingtocontinuehimthere。As,surely,shewillnotfail?——ButtherearealarmingnewsthattheRussiansareadvancing:MarshalLacywith30,000;andreinforcementsintherearofhim。
"SEPTEBER22d。Russiansadvancingmoreandmore,noFrenchhelparrivedyet,andtheenthusiasticPolishChivalrybeinggoodfornothingagainstregularmusketry,——KingStanislausfindsthathewillhavetoquitWarsaw,andseekcovertsomewhere。QuitsWarsawthisday;getscovertinDantzig。And,infact,fromthis22dofSeptember,dayoftheautumnalequinox,1733,isafugitive,blockaded,besiegedStanislaus:anImaginaryKingthenceforth。
HisrealKingshiphadlastedpreciselytendays。
"OCTOBER3d。LacyandhisRussiansarriveinthesuburbsofWarsaw,intentupon’protectingfreedomofelection。’Bridgesbeingbroken,theydonotyetcrosstheRiver,butinvitethefreeelectorstocomeacrossandvote:’ArealKingisverynecessary,——Stanislausbeinganimaginaryone,broughtinbycompulsion,bythreatsofflingingpeopleoutofwindow,andthelike。’Thefreeelectorsdonotcross。Whereuponasmallhandful,nowfreeenough,andNOTtobethrownoutofwindow,whomLacyhadabouthim,proceedtoelectAugustofSaxony;he,onthe5thofOctober,stillonedaywithinthelegalsixweeks,ischosenanddeclaredtherealKing:——’twelvesenatorsandaboutsixhundredgentlemen’
votingforhimthere,freetheyinLacy’squarters,therestofPolandhavinglainundercompulsionwhenvotingforStanislaus。
ThatisthePolishElection,sofarasPolandcansettleit。
WesaidtheDestinieshadceased,sometimesince,toaskPolandforitsvote;itisotherpeoplewhohavenowgottherealpowerofvoting。ButthatisthecorrectstateofthepollatWarsaw,ifimportanttoanybody。"
AugustiscrownedinCracowbeforelong;"AugustIII。,"whomweshallmeetagaininimportantcircumstances。LacyandhisRussianshavevotedforAugust;able,they,todisperseallmannerofenthusiasticPolishChivalry;whichindeed,weobserve,usuallystandsbutonevolleyfromtheRussianmusketry;andflieselsewhither,toburnandplunderitsowndomesticenemies。Farandwide,robberyandarsonareprevalentinPoland;Stanislauslyingundercovert;inDantzig,——animaginaryKingeversincetheequinox,butwelltrustingthattheFrenchwillgivehimaplumpervote。FrenchWar—fleetissurelyunderwayhither。
POLANDONFIRE;DANTZIGSTANDSSIEGE。
ThesearethenewsourCrown—PrincehearsatRuppin,inthefirstmonthsofhisweddedlifethere。Withwhatinterestwemayfancy。
Brandenburgisnextneighbor;andthesePolishtroublesreachfarenough;——theever—smokinghousehavingtakenfire;andallthestreetthreateningtogetonblaze。FriedrichWilhelm,nearestneighbor,standsanxioustoquencth,carefullysweepingthehotcoalsacrossagainfromhisownborders;andwillnotinterfereononeortheotherside,foranypersuasion。
Dantzig,stronginconfidenceofFrenchhelp,refusestogiveupStanislauswhensummoned;willstandsiegerather。Standssiege,furiouslengthysiege,——withenthusiasticdefence;"aLadyofRankfiringoffthefirstgun,"againsttheRussianbatteries。OftheSiegeofDantzig,whichmadethenextSpringandSummerloudformankind(February—June,1734),weshallsaynothing,——ourownpoorfield,whichalsogrowsloudenough,lyingfarawayfromDantzig,———except:
FIRST,ThatnoFrenchhelpcame,orasgoodasnone;theminatoryWar—fleethavinglandedapoor1,500men,headedbytheComtedePlelo,whohadvolunteeredalongwiththem;thattheyattemptedoneonslaughtontheRussianlines,andthatPlelowasshot,andtherestwereblowntomiscellaneousruin,andhadtodisappear,notoncegettingintoDantzig。SECONDLY,ThattheSaxons,underWeissenfels,ourpooroldfriend,withpropersiege—artillery,thoughnotwithenough,did,byeffort(endofMay),getuponthescene;inwhichthisistoberemarked,thatWeissenfels’ssiege—
artillery"camebypost;"twobigmortarsexpresslypassingthroughBerlin,markedaspartoftheDukeofWeissenfels’sLuggage。AndTHIRDLY,ThatMunnich,whohadsucceededLacyasBesiegingGeneral,andwasinhothaste,andhadnotartilleryenough,madeunheard—ofassaults(2,000men,somesay4,000,lostinonenight—attackuponaposttheycalltheHagelberg;
rashattack,muchblamedbymilitarymen);[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。part2d,p。31。]——butnevertheless,havingnow(byRussianFleet,middleofJune)gotsiege—artilleryenough,advancesirrepressiblydaybyday。
Sothatatlength,thingsbeingnowdesperate,Stanislaus,disguisedasacattle—dealer,privatelyquittedDantzig,nightof27thJune,1734;gotacrosstheintricatemud—and—waterdifficultiesoftheWeichselanditsmouths,flyingperilouslytowardsPreussenandFriedrichWilhelm’sprotection。[Narrativebyhimself,inHISTORY,pp。235—248。]WherebytheSiegeofDantzigendedinchamade,andlevyingofpenalties;penaltiesseveretoadegree,thoughFriedrichWilhelmintercededwhathecould。
AndwiththeSiegeofDantzig,theblazingPolishElectionwentoutinlikemanner;[Clearaccount,especiallyofSiege,inMannstein(pp。71—83),whowasthereasMunnich’sAide—de—damp。]——
havingalreadykindled,inquartersfarawayfromit,conflagrationsquiteotherwiseinterestingtous。
Whitherwardwenowhasten。
ChapterIX。
KAISER’SSHADOW—HUNTHASCAUGHTFIRE。
FranzofLorraine,theyoungfavoriteofFortune,whomweoncesawatBerlinonaninterestingoccasion,wasaboutthistimetohavemarriedhisImperialArchduchess;Kaiser’sconsenttobeformallydemandedandgiven;nothingbutjoyandsplendorlookedforintheCourtofViennaatpresent。Nothingtopreventit,——hadtherebeennoPolishElection;hadnottheKaiser,inhisShadow—Hunt(coursingthePragmaticSanctionchiefly,ashehasdonethesetwentyyearspast),gonerashlyintothatcombustibleforeignelement。Butsoitis:thiswasthefatallimit。ThepoorKaiser’sShadow—Hunt,goingScot—freethislongwhile,andmerelytormentingotherpeople,has,atthispoint,bycontactwithinflammablePoland,unexpectedlyitselfcaughtfire;goesnowplunging,allinmadflame,overprecipicesoneknowsnothowdeep:andtherewillbealamentablesingeingandsmashingbeforetheKaisergetoutofthis,ifheeverget!KaiserKarl,fromthispoint,plungesdownanddown,allhisdays;andexceptinthatShadowofaPragmaticSanction,ifhecanstillsavethat,hasnocomfortleft。Marriagesarenotthethingtobethoughtofatpresent!——
ScarcelyhadthenewsofAugust’sElection,andStanislaus’sflighttoDantzig,reachedFrance,whenFrance,allinastateofreadiness,informedtheKaiser,readyfornothing,hisforcelyinginSilesia,doingtheElectionfunctionsonthePolishbordersthere,"ThathetheKaiserhad,bysuchtreatmentoftheGrandfatherofFranceandthePolishKingdomfairlyfallentohim,insultedthemostChristianMajesty;thatinconsequencethemostChristianMajestydidherebydeclareWaragainstthesaidKaiser,"——andinfacthad,thatveryday(14thofOctober,1733),begunit。HadmarchedoverintoLorraine,namely,securedLorraineagainstaccidents;and,morespecially,goneacrossfromStrasburgtotheGermansideoftheRhine,andlaidsiegetoKehl。
KehlFortress;adilapidatedoutpostoftheReichthere,whichcannotresistmanyhours。HereisnewsfortheKaiser,withhisfewtroopsallonthePolishborders;mindinghisneighbors’
business,orchasingPragmaticSanction,inthoseinflammablelocalities。
PacificFleury,itmustbeowned,ifhewantedaquarrelwiththeKaiser,couldnothavemanageditonmoreadvantageousterms。
Generals,aDucdeBerwick,aNoailles,Belleisle;generals,troops,artillery,munitions,nothingiswantingtoFleury;totheKaiserallthings。Itissurmised,theFrenchhadtheireyeonLorraine,notonStanislaus,fromthefirst。Formanycenturies,especiallyfortheselasttwo,——eversincethatSiegeofMetz,whichweoncesaw,underKaiserKarlV。andAlbertAlcibiades,——
FrancehasbeenwrenchingandscrewingatthisLorraine,wrigglingitoffbitbybit;tillnow,asweperceivedonLytteltonjuniorofHagley’svisit,Lorraineseemsalllyingunscrewed;andFrance,byanygoodopportunity,couldstickitinherpocket。SuchopportunityslyFleurycontrived,theysay;——ormorelikelyitmightbeBelleisleandtheotheradventurousspiritsthaturgeditonpacificFleury;——but,atallevents,hehasgotit。DilapidatedKehlyieldsstraightway:[29thOctober,1733。MemoiresduMarechaldeBerwick(inPetitot’eCollection,Paris,1828),ii。303。]Sardinia,Spain,declarealliancewithFleury;
andnotLorraineonly,andtheSwabianProvinces,butItalyitselfliesathisdiscretion,——owingtoyourtreatmentoftheGrandfatherofFrance,andthesePolishElectivemethods。
TheastonishedKaiserrushesforwardtoflinghimselfintothearmsoftheSea—Powers,hisoneresourceleft:"Help!moneys,subsidies,yeSea—Powers!"ButtheSea—Powersstandobtuse,armsnotopenatall,handsbuttoningtheirpockets:"Sorrywecannot,yourImperialMajesty。FleuryengagesnottotouchtheNetherlands,theBarrierTreaty;PolishElectionsarenotourconcern!"andcallouslydecline。TheKaiser’sastonishmentisextreme;hisbigheartswellingevenwithamartyr—feeling;andhepassionatelyappeals:"Ungrateful,blindSea—Powers!NomoneytofightFrance,sayyou?AretheLawsofNaturefallenvoid?"
Imperialastonishment,sublimemartyr—feeling,passionateappealstotheLawsofNature,availnothingwiththeblindSea—Powers:
"Nomoneyinus,"answerthey:"wewillhelpyoutonegotiate。"——
"Negotiate!"answershe:andwillhavetopayhisownElectionbroken—glass,withasublimemartyr—feeling,withoutmoneyfromtheSea—Powers。
FleuryhasgottheSardinianMajesty;"SardiniandoorkeeperoftheAlps,"whoopensthemnowthisway,nowthat,foraconsideration:
"AsliceoftheMilanese,yourMajesty;"bargainsFleury。
FleuryhasgottheSpanishMajesty(ourviolentoldfriendtheTermagantofSpain)persuadedtojoin:"YourinfantCarlosmadeDukeofParmaandPiacenza,withsuchdifficulty:whatisthat?
Naplesitself,crownoftheTwoSicilies,liesinthewindforCarlos;——andyourjuniorinfant,greatMadam,hashenoneedofapanages?"TheTermagantofSpain,"offendedbyPragmaticSanction"(shesays),isreadyonthoseterms;theSardinianMajestyisready:andFleury,thissameOctober,withanoverwhelmingforce,SpaniardsandSardinianstojoin,invadesItaly;greatMarshalVillarshimselftakingthecommand。
MarshalVillars,anextremelyeminentoldmilitarygentleman,——
somewhatofafriend,orhusbandofalady—friend,toM。deVoltaire,foronething;——andcapableofslicingItalytopiecesatafinerate,intheconditionitwasin。
NeverhadKaisersuchabillofbroken—glasstopayformeddlinginneighbors,electionsbefore。Theyearwasnotyetended,whenVillarsandtheSardinianMajestyhaddonetheirstrokeonLombardy;takenMilanCitadel,takenPizzighetone,theMilaneseinwhole,andappropriatedit;sweptthepoorunpreparedKaiserclearoutofthoseparts。BabyCarlosandtheSpaniardsaretodotheTwoSicilies,Naplesorthelandonetobeginwith,weretheWintergone。Forthepresent,LouisXV。"singsTEDEUM,atParis,23dDecember,1733"[FastesduRegnedeLouisXV。(Paris,1766),i。248。]——amerryChristmasthere。
Villars,nowabovefour—score,soondiedofthosefatigues;
variousMarshals,Broglio,Coigny,Noailles,succeedinghim,someofwhomareslightlynotabletous;andtherewasoneMaillebois,stillasubordinateunderthem,whosenamealsomayreappearinthisHistory。
SUBSEQUENTCOURSEOFTHEWAR,INTHEITALIANPARTOFIT。
TheFrench—AustrianWar,whichhadnowbrokenout,lastedacoupleofyears;theKaisersteadilylosing,thoughhedidhisutmost;
notsomuchaWar,onhispart,asaBeingBeatenandBeingStript。TheScenewasItalyandtheUpper—RhineCountryofGermany;Italythedecidingscene;where,exceptasitbearsonGermany,ourinterestisnothing,asindeedinGermanytooitisnotmuch。Theprincipalevents,onbothstages,arechronologicallysomewhatasfollows;——beginningwithItaly:——
MARCH29th,1734。BabyCarloswithaDukeofMontemarforGeneral,adifficultimpetuousgentleman,veryhaughtytotheFrenchalliesandothers,landsinNaplesTerritory;intendingtoseizetheTwoSicilies,accordingtobargain。TheyfindtheKaiserquiteunprepared,andtheirenterpriseextremelyfeasible。
"MAY10th。BabyCarlos——whomweoughttocallDonCarlos,whoisnoweighteengone,andabletoridethegreathorse——makestriumphantentryintoNaples,havingeasilyswepttheroadclear;
styleshimself’KingoftheTwoSicilies’(Papahavingsurrenderedhimhis’right’there);whomNaples,inallranksofit,willinglyhomagesassuch。WrecksofKaiser’sforcesintrenchthemselves,ratherstrongly,ataplacecalledBitonto,inApulia,notfaroff。
"MAY25th。Montemar,inanimpetuousmanner,stormsthemthere:——
whichfeatprocuresforhimthetitle,DukeofBitonto;andfinishesofftheFirstoftheSicilies。Andindeed,wemaysay,finishesBoththeSicilies:ourpoorKaiserhavingnoconsiderableforceineither,normeansofsendingany;theSea—Powershavingbuttonedtheirpockets,andtheCombinedFleetofFranceandSpainbeingonthewatersthere。