首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第41章
  ForDutchWilliamwasofkin,wesay;FriedrichI。ofPrussia,byhisMotherthenobleWifeoftheGreatElector,wasfullcousintoDutchWilliam:andtheMarriageContractswereexpress,——thoughtheHighMightinessesmadedifficulties,andthecollateralOrangebrancheswereabundantlyreluctant,whenitcametothefulfillingpoint。Forindeedthematterwasintricate。Orangeitself,forexample,whatwastobedonewiththePrincipalityofOrange?
  ClearlyPrussia’s;butitliesimbeddeddeepinthebellyofFrance,thatwillbeaCaesarean—Operationforyou!HadnotNeuchatelhappenedjustthentofallhometoFrance(orinsomemeasuretoFrance)andbeheirless,Prussia’sHeritageofOrangewouldhavedonelittleforPrussia!PrincipalityofOrangewas,bythischance,longsince,mainlyintheFirstKing’stime,gotsettled:[Neuchatel,3dNovember,1707,toFriedrichI。,nativespreferringhimto"FifteenotherClaimants;"LouisXIV。loudlyprotesting:nottillTreatyofUtrecht(14thMarch1713,firstmonthofFriedrichWilhelm’sreign)wouldLouisXIV。,oncessionofOrange,consentandsanction。]butthereneededmanyyearsmoreofgoodwaiting,andofgoodpushing,onFriedrichWilhelm’spart;
  anditwasnottill1732thatFriedrichWilhelmgottheDutchHeritagesfinallybroughttothesquare:NeuchatelandValengin,asaforesaid,inlieuofOrange;andnowfurthermore,theOldPalaceatLoo(thatVIEILLECOURandbiggestcobwebs),withpertinents,withGardenofHonslardik;andastringofitems,biggerandless,notworthenumerating。Oftheitems,thisHerstalwasone;——andtruly,sofarasthiswent,FriedrichWilhelmoftenthoughthehadbetterneverhaveseenit,somuchtroublediditbringhim。
  HOWTHEHERSTALLERSHADBEHAVEDTOFRIEDRICHWILHELM。
  TheHerstalpeople,knowingthePrussianrecruitingsystemandotherrigors,wereextremelyunwillingtocomeunderFriedrichWilhelm’ssway,couldtheyhavehelpedit。Theyrefusedfealty,sworetheyneverwouldswear:nordidthey,tilltheappearance,orindubitableforeshine,ofFriedrichWilhelm’sbayonetsadvancingonthemfromtheEast,broughtcompliance。Andalwaysafter,spiteofsuchquasi—fealty,theyshowedapig—likeobstinacyofhumor;acertaininsignificant,andasitwereimpertinent,deep—rooteddesiretothwart,irritateandcontradictthesaidFriedrichWilhelm。Especiallyinanyrecruitingmatterthatmightarise,knowingthattobetheweaksideofhisPrussianMajesty。Allthiswouldhaveamountedtonothing,haditnotbeenthattheirneighbor,thePrinceBishopofLiege,whoimaginedhimselftohavesomeobscureclaimsofsovereigntyoverHerstal,andthoughtthepresentagoodopportunityforassertingthese,wasdiligenttoaidandabettheHerstalpeopleinsuchtheirmutinousacts。Obscureclaims;ofwhichthisisthesummary,shouldthereadernotprefertoskipit:——
  "TheBishopofLiege’sclaimsonHerstal(whichliewraptfrommankindintheextensivejungleofhislaw—pleadings,likeaBedlamhappilyfallenextinct)seemtometohavegrownmainlyfromtwofactsmoreorlessradical。
  "FACTFIRST。InKaiserBarbarossa’stime,year1171,HerstalhadbeengiveninpawntotheChurchofLiege,foraloan,bythethenproprietor,DukeofLorraineandBrabant。Loanwasrepaid,Idonotlearnwhen,andthePawngivenback;tothesatisfactionofsaidDuke,orDuke’sHeirs;neverquitetothesatisfactionoftheChurch,whichhadbeeninpossession,andwasloathtoquit,afterhopingtocontinue。’GiveusbackHerstal;itoughttobeours!’
  Unappeasablesighorgrumbletothiseffectisheardthenceforth,atintervals,intheChapterofLiege,andhasnotceasedinFriedrich’stime。Butastheworld,initsloudthoroughfares,seldomorneverheard,orcouldhear,suchsighingintheChapter,nothinghadcomeofit,——till——
  "FACTSECOND。InKaiserKarlV。’stime,thePrinceBishopofLiegehappenedtobeaNaturalSonofoldKaiserMax’s;——andhadfriendsatheadquarters,ofaverychoicenature。Had,namely,inthissort,KaiserKarlforNepheworHalf—Nephew;andwhatperhapswasstillbetter,asnearerhand,hadKarl’sAunt,MariaQueenofHungary,thenGovernessoftheNetherlands,forHalf—Sister。
  Liege,inthesechoicecircumstances,andbyothergoodchancesthatturnedup,againgottemporaryclutchorhalf—clutchofHerstal,foracoupleofyears(date1546—1548,thePrinceofOrange,realproprietor,whoseAncestorhadboughtitformoneydown,beingthenaminor);once,andperhapsasecondtimeinlikecircumstance;buthadalwaystorenounceitagain,whenthePrinceofOrangecametomaturity。Andeversince,theChapterofLiegesighsasbefore,’Herstalisperhapsinasenseours。Wehadoncesomekindofrighttoit!’——sighinaudibleintheloudpublicthoroughfares。ThatistheBishop’sclaim。Thenameofhim,ifanybodycareforit,is’GeorgLudwig,titularCOUNTOFBERG,’nowaveryoldman:BishopofLiege,he,andhasbeensnatchingatHerstalagain,veryeagerlybyanyskirtortagragthatmighthappentoflyloose,theseeightyearspast,inarashandprovokingmanner;[DelicesduPaisdeLiege
  (Liege,1738);Helden—Geschichte,
  ii。57—62。]——ageeighty—twoatpresent;pooroldfool,hehadbetterhavesatquiet。Thereliesarodinpickleforhim,duringtheselatemonths;andwillbesurprisinglylaidon,werethetimecome!"
  "IhaveLawAuthorityoverHerstal,andpowerofjudgingthereinthelastappeal,"saidthisBishop:——"You!"thoughtFriedrichWilhelm,whowasfaroff,andhadlittletimetowaste。——
  "AnyPrussianrecruiterthatbehavesill,bringhimtome!"saidtheBishop,whowasonthespot。Andaccordinglyithadbeendone;
  onenotableinstancetwoyearsago:aPrussianLieutenantlockedintheLiegejail,oncomplaintofriotousHerstal;thereuponaPrussianOfficerofrank(ColonelKreutzen,worthyoldMalplaquetgentleman)comingasRoyalMessenger,notadmittedtoaudience,naylaidholdofbytheLiegebailiffinstead;andotherunheard—
  ofprocedures。[Helden—Geschichte,ii。
  63—73。]SothatFriedrichWilhelmhadnothingbuttroublewiththispettyHerstal,andmusthavethoughthisneighborBishopaverycontentioushigh—flyinggentleman,whotookgreatlibertieswiththeLion’swhiskers,whenhehadthebiganimalatanadvantage。
  Theepiscopalprocedures,eightyearsago,abouttheFirstHomagingofHerstal,hadbeenofsimilarcomplexion;norhadothersuchfailedintheinterim,thoughthislastoutrageexceededthemall。Thislastbeganintheendof1738;andspanitselfoutthrough1739,whenFriedrichWilhelmlayinhisfinalsickness,lessabletodealwithitthanformerly。Beingapeaceableman,unwillingtoawakenconflagrationsforasmallmatter,FriedrichWilhelmhadoffered,throughKreutzenonthisoccasion,topartwithHerstalaltogether;tosellit,for100,000thalers,say16,000pounds,tothehigh—flyingBishop,andhonestlywashhishandsofit。Butthehigh—flyingBishopdidnotconsent,gavenodefiniteanswer;andsothematterlay,——likeanunsettledextremelyirritatingpaltrylittlematter,——atthetimeFriedrichWilhelmdied。
  TheGazetteersandpublicknewlittleabouttheseparticulars,orhadforgottenthemagain;butatthePrussianCourttheywereinlivelyremembrance。WhattheyoungFriedrich’sopinionaboutthemhadbeenwegatherfromthissuccinctnoticeofthething,writtensevenoreightyearsafterwards,exactinallpoints,andstillcarryingabreathoftheoldhumorinit。"AmiserableBishopofLiegethoughtitaproudthingtoinsultthelateKing。
  SomesubjectsofHerstal,whichbelongstoPrussia,hadrevolted;
  theBishopgavethemhisprotection。ColonelKreutzenwassenttoLiege,tocomposethethingbytreaty;credentialswithhim,fullpower,andallinorder。Imagineit,theBishopwouldnotreceivehim!Threedays,dayafterday,hesawthisEnvoyapplyathisPalace,andalwaysdeniedhimentrance。Thesethingshadgrownpastendurance。"[Preuss,OEuvres(MemoiresdeBrandebourg),enditalic>ii。53。]AndFriedrichhadtakennoteofHerstalalongwithhim,onthisCleveJourney;privatelyintendingtoputHerstalandthehigh—flyingBishoponasuitablerfooting,beforehisreturnfromthosecountries。
  Forindeed,onFriedrich’sAccession,mattershadgrownworse,notbetter。OfcoursetherewasFealtytobesworn;buttheHerstalpeople,abettedbythehigh—flyingBishop,havedeclinedswearingit。Apologyforthepast,prospectofamendmentforthefuture,thereislessthanever。WhatistheyoungKingtodowiththispaltrylittleHamletofHerstal?Hecould,intheory,gointosomeReichs—Hofrath,someReichs—Kammergericht(kindoftrebleandtenfoldEnglishCourt—of—Chancery,whichhaslawsuits250yearsold),——ifhewereatheoreticGermanKing。HecanpleadintheDiets,andtheWetzlarReichs—Kammergerichtwithoutend:
  "AllGermanSovereignshavepowertosendtheirAmbassadorthither,whoislikeamastiffchainedintheback—yard[observesFriedrichelsewhere]withprivilegeofbarkingattheMoon,"——
  unrestrictedprivilegeofbarkingattheMoon,ifthatwillavailapracticalman,orKing’sAmbassador。OrperhapstheBishopofLiegewillbethinkhim,atlast,whatconsiderablelibertyheistakingwithsomepeople’swhiskers?Fourmonthsaregone;
  BishopofLiegehasnotintheleastbethoughthim:weareintheneighborhoodinperson,withnoteofthethinginourmemory。
  FRIEDRICHTAKESTHERODOUTOFPICKLE。
  AccordinglytheRathRambonet,whomVoltairefoundatMoylandthatSundaynight,hadbeenoveratLiege;wentexactlyaweekbefore;
  withthismessageofveryperemptorytenorfromhisMajesty:——
  TOTHEPRINCEBISHOPOFLIEGE。
  "WESEL,4thSeptember,1740。
  "MYCOUSIN,——Knowingalltheassaults(ATTEINTES)madebyyouuponmyindisputablerightsovermyfreeBaronyofHerstal;andhowtheseditiousringleadersthere,forseveralyearspast,havebeencountenanced(BESTARKET)byyouintheirdetestableactsofdisobedienceagainstme,——IhavecommandedmyPrivyCouncillorRambonettorepairtoyourpresence,andinmynametorequirefromyou,withintwodays,adistinctandcategoricalanswertothisquestion:WhetheryouarestillmindedtoassertyourpretendedsovereigntyoverHerstal;andwhetheryouwillprotecttherebelsatHerstal,intheirdisordersandabominabledisobedience?
  "Incaseyourefuse,ordelaybeyondtheterm,theAnswerwhichI
  herebyofrightdemand,youwillrenderyourselfaloneresponsible,beforetheworld,fortheconsequenceswhichinfalliblywillfollow。Iam,withmuchconsideration,——
  MyCousin,——
  "YourveryaffectionateCousin,"FRIEDRICH。"
  [Helden—Geschichte,ii。75,111。]
  RambonethadstartedstraightwayforLiege,withthismissive;
  andhaddulypresenteditthere,Iguessonthe7th,——withnoticethathewouldwaitforty—eighthours,andthenreturnwithwhatanswerorno—answertheremightbe。Gettingnowrittenanswer,ordistinctverbalone;gettingonlysomevaguemumblementasgoodasnone,RambonethaddisappearedfromLiegeonthe9th;andwashomeatMoylandwhenVoltairearrivedthatSundayevening,——justwalkingabouttocometoheatagain,afterreportiagprogresstotheaboveeffect。
  Rambonet,Ijudge,enjoyedonlyoneofthosedivineSuppersatMoyland;anddashedoffagain,"onhiredhack"orotherwise,theverynextmorning;thatcontingencyofNo—answerhavingbeentheanticipatedone,andallthingsputinperfectreadinessforit。
  Rambonet’snewerrandwasto"takeact,"asVoltairecallsit,"attheGatesofLiege,"——todeliveratLiegeasuccinctManifesto,PairofManifestoes,bothinPrint(readybeforehand),andbearingdatethatsameSunday,"Wesel,11thSeptember;"muchcalculatedtoamazehisReverenceatLiege。SuccinctgoodManifestoes,saidtobeofFriedrich’sownwriting;theessentialofthetwoisthis:——
  ExpositionoftheReasonswhichhaveinducedhisMajestytheKingofPrussiatomakejustReprisalsonthePrinceBishopofLiege。
  "HisMajestytheKingofPrussia,beingdrivenbeyondboundsbytherudeproceedingsofthePrinceBishopofLiege,haswithregretseenhimselfforcedtorecurtotheMethodofArms,inordertorepresstheviolenceandaffrontwhichtheBishophasattemptedtoputuponhim。ThisresolutionhascosthisMajestymuchpain;theratherasheis,byprincipleanddisposition,farremotefromwhatevercouldhavetheleastrelationtorigorandseverity。
  "ButseeinghimselfcompelledbytheBishopofLiegetotakenewmethods,hehadnoothercoursebuttomaintainthejusticeofhisrights(LAJUSTICEDESESDROITS),anddemandreparationfortheindignitydoneuponhisMinisterVonKreuzen,aswellasforthecontemptwithwhichtheBishopofLiegehasneglectedeventoanswertheLetteroftheKing。
  "Astoomuchrigorbordersuponcruelty,sotoomuchpatienceresemblesweakness。Thus,althoughtheKingwouldwillinglyhavesacrificedhisintereststothepublicpeaceandtranquillity,itwasnotpossibletodosoinreferencetohishonor;andthatisthechiefmotivewhichhasdeterminedhimtothisresolution,socontrarytohisintentions。
  "Invainhasitbeenattempted,bymethodsofmildness,tocometoafriendlyagreement:ithasbeenfound,onthecontrary,thattheKing’smoderationonlyincreasedthePrince’sarrogance;
  thatmildnessofconductononesideonlyfurnishedresourcestoprideontheother;andthat,infine,insteadofgainingbysoftprocedure,onewasinsensiblybecominganobjectofvexationanddisdain。
  "Therebeingnomeanstohavejusticebutindoingitforoneself,andtheKingbeingSovereignenoughforsuchaduty,——heintendstomakethePrinceofLiegefeelhowfarhewasinthewrongtoabusesuchmoderationsounworthily。ButinspiteofsomuchunhandsomebehavioronthepartofthisPrince,theKingwillnotbeinflexible;satisfiedwithhavingshownthesaidPrincethathecanpunishhim,andtoojusttooverwhelmhim。FREDERIC。
  "WESEL,September11th,174O。"
  [Helden—Geschichte,ii。77。SaidtobebyFriedrichhimself(Stenzel,iv。59)。]
  WhetherRambonetinsinuatedhisPaper—PacketintothePalaceofSeraing,leftitattheGateofLiege(fixedbynail,ifhesawgood),orinwhatmannerhe"tookact,"Ineverknew;andindeedRambonetvanishesfromhumanHistoryatthispoint:itiscertainonlythathedidhisFormality,saytwodayshence;——andthattheFactforeshadowedbyitislikewiseinthesamehours,hourafterhour,gettingsteadilydone。
  FortheManifestoesprintedbeforehand,datedWesel,11thSeptember,werenottheonlythingreadyatWesel;waiting,asontheslip,forthecontingencyofNo—answer。Major—GeneralBorck,withthedueBattalions,squadronsandequipments,wasalsoready。
  Major—GeneralBorck,thesamewhowaswithusatBaireuthlately,hadjustreturnedfromthatjourney,whenhegotorderstocollect2,000men,horseandfoot,withthedueproportionofartillery,fromthePrussianGarrisonsintheseparts;andtobereadyformarchingwiththem,theinstantthecontingencyofNo—answerarrives,——Sunday,11th,ascanbeforeseen。Borckknowshisroute:
  ToMaaseyk,arespectableTownoftheBishop’s,thehandiestforWesel;tooccupyMaaseykandtheadjoining"CountiesofLotzandHorn;"andliethereattheBishop’schargetillhisReverence’smindalter。
  Borckisready,tothelastpontoon,thelastmunition—loaf;
  andnosoonerissignalgivenoftheNo—answercome,thanBorck,thatsame"Sunday,11th,"getsunderway;marches,steadyasclock—work,towardsMaaseyk(fiftymilessouthwestofhim,distancenowlesseningeveryhour);crossestheMaas,byhelpofhispontoons;isnowintheBishop’sTerritory,andentersMaaseyk,eveningof"Wednesday,14th,"——thatverydayVoltaireandhisMajestyhadparted,goingdifferentwaysfromMoyland;andprobablyaboutthesamehourwhileRambonetwas"takingactattheGateofLiege,"bynail—hammerorotherwise。Allgoespunctual,swift,coghittingpinionfarandnear,inthissmallHerstalBusiness;andthereisnomistakemade,andaminimumoftimespent。
  Borck’smanagementwasthroughoutgood:punctual,quietlyexact,polite,mildlyinflexible。FainwouldtheMaaseykTown—Bathshaveshuttheirgatesonhim;desperatelyconjuringhim,"Respiteforafewhours,tillwesendtoLiegeforinstructions!"Butitwastonopurpose。"Unbolt,IHRHERREN;swift,orthepetardwillhavetodoit!"BorckpublisheshisProclamation,amild—spokenrigorousPiece;signifiestotheMaaseykAuthorities,ThathehastoexactaContributionof20,000thalers(3,000pounds)here,Contributionpayableinthreedays;thathefurthermore,whilehecontinuesintheseparts,willneedsuchandsuchrations,accommodations,allowances,——"fiftyLOUIS(sayguineas)dailyforhisownprivateexpenses,"oneitem;——and,inmildrhadamanthinelanguage,wavesasideallremonstrance,refusalordelay,assuperfluousconsiderations:UnlesssaidContributionandrequiredsuppliescomein,itwillbehispainfuldutytobringthemin。
  [Helden—Geschichte,i。427;ii。113。]
  Thehigh—flyingBishop,muchastonished,doesnoweagerlyanswerhisPrussianMajesty,"Wasfromhome,wasill,thoughthehadanswered;isthemostill—usedofBishops;"andotherthingsofahystericcharacter。[Ib。ii。85,86(date,16thSeptember)。]
  Andtherecameforth,asnaturaltothesituation,multitudinouscomplainings,manifestoings,applicationstotheKaiser,totheFrench,totheDutch,ofaveryshriekycharacterontheBishopofLiege’spart;sparingly,ifatallnoticedonFriedrich’s:
  thewholeofwhichweshallconsiderourselvesfreetoleaveundisturbedintherubbish—abysses,ashenceforthconceivabletothereader。"SEDSPEMSTUPENDEFEFELLITEVENTUS,"shrieksthepooroldBishop,makingmoantotheKaiser:"ECCEENIM,PRAEMISSA
  DUNTAXATUNALITERA,oneLetter,"andlittlemore,"thesaidKingofBorussiahas,withabout2,000horseandfoot,andwarlikeengines,inthismonthofSeptember,enteredtheTerritoryofLiege;"[Helden—Geschichte,ii。88。]whichisanundeniabletruth,butanunavailing。Borckisthere,and"2,000goodargumentswithhim,"asVoltairedefinesthephenomenon。Friedrich,excepttoexplainpertinentlywhatmyreadersalreadyknow,doesnotwriteorspeakfartheronthesubject;andreadersandhemayconsidertheHerstalAffair,thussetagoingunderBorck’sauspices,asineffectfinished;andthathisMajestyhasleftitonasatisfactoryfooting,andmaysafelyturnhisbackonit,towaitthesureissueatBerlinbeforelong。
  WHATVOLTAIRETHOUGHTOFHERSTAL。
  Voltairetoldushehimself"didoneManifesto,goodorbad,"onthisHerstalbusiness:——whereisthatPiece,then,whathasbecomeofit?DigwellintherealmsofChaos,rectifyingstupiditiesmoreorlessenormous,thePieceitselfisstilldiscoverable;
  and,werepiecesbyVoltairemuchararityinsteadofthereverse,mightberesuscitatedbyagoodEditor,andprintedinhisWORKS。
  Liesburiedinthelonesomerubbish—mountainsofthat
  Helden—Geschichte,——letaSISTEVIATOR,scratchedonthesurface,markwhere。[Ib。ii。98—98。]ApparentlythatisthePiecebyVoltaire?Yes,onreadingthat,ithaseveryinternalevidence;distinguishesitselffromthesurroundingpieces,likeaslabofcompactpolishedstone,inafloorrammedtogetheroutofruinousoldbricks,brokenbottlesandmortar—dust;——agrees,too,ifyouexaminebythemicroscope,withtheexternalindications,whicharesureandatlastclear,thoughinfinitesimallysmall;
  andisbeyonddoubtVoltaire’s,ifitwerenowgoodformuch。
  ItisnotproperlyaManifesto,butananonymousmemoirpublishedintheNewspapers,explainingtoimpartialmankind,inalegiblebriefmanner,whattheoldandrecentHistoryofHerstal,andtheTroublesofHerstal,havebeen,andhowchimericaland"nulltotheextremeofnullity(NULLESDETOUTNULLITE)"thispoorBishop’spretensionsuponitare。VoltaireexpresslypiqueshimselfonthisPiece;[LettertoPriedrich:dateless,datable"soonafter17thSeptember;"whichtherashdarkEditorshavebyguessmisdated"August;"or,whatwassaferforthem,omitteditaltogether。OEuvresdeVoltaire(Paris,1818,40vols。)givestheLetter,xxxix。442(seealsoibid。453,463);laterEditors,andevenPreuss,takethesafercourse。]
  bragsalsohowhesettled"M。deFenelon[FrenchAmbassadorattheHague],whocametomethedaybeforeyesterday,"muchoutofsquareupontheHerstalBusiness,tillIpulledhimstraight。
  Anditisevident(beautifullyso,yourMajesty)howVoltairebusiedhimselfintheGazettesandDiplomaticcircles,settingFriedrich’scaseright;VoltaireveryloyaltoFriedrichandhisLiegeCauseatthattime;——andthecontrastbetweenwhathiscontemporaryLetterssayonthesubject,andwhathisulteriorPasquilcalledVIEPRIVEEsays,isagaingreat。
  Thedullstagnantworld,shakenawakebythisLiegeadventure,givesvoicevariously;andintheGazetteerandDiplomaticcirclesitismuchcriticised,bynomeanseverywhereinthefavorabletoneatthisfirstblushofthebusiness。"HehadwrittenanANTI—
  Machiavel,"saystheAbbeSt。Pierre,andevensaysVoltaire(inthePASQUIL,notthecontemporaryLETTERS),"andheactsthus!"
  Trulyhedoes,MonsieurdeVoltaire;andallmen,withlightuponthesubject,orevenwiththereverseuponit,mustmaketheircriticisms。Fortherest,Borck’s"2,000arguments"arethere;
  whichBorckhandleswell,withpolitecalmrigor:bydegreesthedustwillfall,andfactseverywherebeseenforwhattheyare。
  Astothehigh—flyingBishop,findingthathystericsarebutwastedonFriedrichandBorck,andproducenoeffectwiththeir2,000validities,hefliesnexttotheKaiser,totheImperialDiet,inshrill—soundingLatinobtestations,ofwhichwealreadygaveaflyingsnatch:"YourHUMILISSIMUSandFIDELISSIMUS
  VASSALLUS,andmostobsequientServant,GeorgiusLudovicus;
  meek,modest,andunspeakablyintheright:WaseverMemberoftheHolyRomanEmpiresosnubbed,andgraspedbythewindpipe,before?
  Oh,helphim,greatKaiser,bidtheirongripeloosenitself!"
  [Helden—Geschichte,ii,86—116。]TheKaiserdoesso,inheavyLatinrescripts,inGermanDEHORTATORIUMSmorethanone,ofasulky,imperative,andindeedveryloftytenor;
  "LetGeorgiusLudovicusgo,foolishrashyoungDilection(LIEBDEN,notMAJESTY,weourselvesbeingtheonlyMajesty),andIwilljudgebetweenyou;otherwise——!"saidtheKaiser,ponderouslyshakinghisOlympianwig,andliftinghisgiltcane,orsceptreofmankind,inanOlympianmanner。HerearesometouchesofhissecondsublimestDEHORTATORIUMaddressedtoFriedrich,inaverycompressedstate:[Helden—Geschichte,
  ii。127;aFIRSTandmilder(ibid。73)。]——
  WeKarltheSixth,Kaiserof(TITLESENOUGH),……"Consideringthese,intheHolyRomanReich,almostunheard—ofviolentDoings(THATLICHKEITEN),whichWe,inOurSupreme—JudgeOffice,cannotaltogetherjustify,norwillendure……WehavethetrustthatyouyourselfwillmagnanimouslyseeHowevilcounsellorshavemisledyourDilectiontocommenceyourReign,notbyshowingexampleofObediencetotheLawsappointedforallmembersoftheReich,fortheweakandforthestrongalike,butbysuchDoings(THATHANDLUNGEN)asinallquartersmustcauseagreatsurprise。
  "WegiveyourDilectiontoknow,therefore,ThatyoumuststraightwaywithdrawthosetroopswhichhavebrokenintotheLiegeTerritory;makespeedyrestitutionofallthathasbeenextorted;
  ——especiallyGeneralvonBorcktogivebackatoncethose50louisd’ordailydrawnbyhim,torenouncehisdemandofthe20,000
  thalers,tomakegoodalldamagedone,andretirewithhiswholemilitaryforce(MILITZ)overtheLiegeboundaries;——andinbrief,thatyouwill,bylaworarbitration,managetoagreewiththePrinceBishopofLiege,whowishesitverymuch。ThesethingsWeexpectfromyourDilection,asKurfurstofBrandenburg,withinthespaceofTwoMonthsfromtheIssuingofthis;andremain,"——
  Yoursasyoushalldemeanyourself,——KARL。
  "GivenatWien,4thofOctober,1740。"——ThelastDehortatoriumeversignedbyKarlVI。Intwoweeksafterheatetoomanymushrooms,——andimmenseresultsfollowed!
  Dehortatoriumshadtheirinterest,atBerlinandelsewhere,fortheDiplomaticcircles;butdidnotproducetheleasteffectonBorckorFriedrich;thoughFriedrichnotedtheKaiser’smannerinthesethings,andthoughtprivatelytohimself,aswasevidenttothediscerning,"Whatanamountofwigonthatoldgentleman!"
  AnotableKaiser’sAmbassador,HerrBotta,whohadcomewithsomeAccessioncompliments,intheseweeks,wastreatedslightinglybyFriedrich;hardlyadmittedtoAudience;andFriedrich’spublicreplytothelastDehortatoriumhadalmostsomethingofsarcasminit:Evilcounsellorsyourself,MostDreadKaiser!Itisyouthatare"misledbycounsellors,whomightchancetosetGermanyonfire,wereothersasunwiseasthey!"Whichlatterphrasewasremarkabletomankind。——Thereisalongaccountalreadyrunupbetweenthatoldgentleman,withhisSeckendorfs,Grumkows,withhisdullinsolencies,wiggeries,andthisyounggentleman,whohasnearlyhadhisheartbrokenandhisFather’shousedrivenmadbythem!Borckremainsathispost;rationsdulydelivered,andfiftylouisadayforhisownprivateexpenses;andthereisnoanswertotheKaiser,orinsharpbriefterms(about"chancesofsettingGermanyonfire"),ratherworsethannone。
  Readerssee,aswellasFriedrichdid,whattheupshotofthisaffairmustbe;——wewillnowfinishitoff,andwashourhandsofit,beforefollowinghisMajestytoBerlin。ThepoorBishophadapplied,shrieking,totheFrenchforhelp;——andtherecamesomecolloquialpassagesbetweenVoltaireandFenelon,ifthatwerearesult。HehadshriekedinlikemannertotheDutch,butwithoutresultofanykindtraceableinthatquarter:nowhere,exceptfromtheKaiser,issomuchasaDEHORTATORIUMtobegot。Whereupontheoncehigh—flying,nowvainlyshriekingBishopdiscernsclearlythatthereisbutonecourseleft,——thecoursewhichhaslainwideopenforsomeyearspast,hadnothisflightgonetoohighforseeingit。Beforethreeweeksareover,seeinghowDehortatoriumsgo,hesendshisAmbassadorstoBerlin,hisapologies,proposals:
  [Ambassadorsarrived28thSeptember;lastDehortatoriumnotyetout。Businesswascompleted20thOctober(Rodenbeck,INDIEBUS)。]
  "WouldnotyourMajestyperhapsconsenttosellthisHerstal,asyourFatherofgloriousmemorywaspleasedtobewillingonce?"——
  Friedrichanswersstraightwaytotheeffect:"Certainly!Paymethepriceitwasoncealreadyofferedfor:100,000thalers,PLUS
  theexpensessinceincurred。Thatwillbe180,000thalers,besideswhatyouhavespentalreadyonGeneralBorck’sdays’wages。
  TowhichwewilladdthatwretchedlittlefractionofOldDebt,clearasnoon,butneverpaidnoranypartofit;60,000thalers,duebytheSeeofLiegeeversincetheTreatyofUtrecht;60,000,forwhichwewillchargenointerest:thatwillmake240,000
  thalers,——36,000pounds,insteadoftheoldsumyoumighthavehaditat。Producethatcash;andtakeHerstal,andallthedustthathasrisenoutofit,wellhomewithyou。"[Stenzel,iv。60,whocountsingulden,andisnotdistinct。]TheBishopthankfullycompliesinallpoints;negotiationspeedilydone("20thOct。"thefinaldate):Bishophasnot,Ithink,quitesomuchcashonhand;
  butwillpayallhehas,and4percentuminteresttillthewholebeliquidated。HisAmbassadors"getgoldsnuffboxes;"andreturnmildlyglad!
  Andthus,insomesixweeksafterBorck’sarrivalinthoseparts,Borck’sfunctioniswelldone。ThenoiseofGazettesandDiplomaticcircleslaysitselfagain;andHerstal,famousonceforKingPipin,andfamousagainforKingFriedrich,lapsesatlengthintoobscurity,whichwehopewillneverend。Hope;——thoughwhocansay?ROUCOUX,quitecloseuponit,becomesaBattle—groundinsomefewyears;andmemorabilitiesgomuchatrandominthisworld!
  ChapterVI。
  RETURNSBYHANOVER;DOESNOTCALLONHISROYALUNCLETHERE。
  Friedrichspenttendaysonhiscircuitousjourneyhome;
  considerableinspectiontobedone,inMinden,Magdeburg,nottospeakofotherbusinesseshehad。TheoldNewspapersarestillmoreintentuponhim,nowthattheHerstalAffairhasbrokenintoflame:especiallytheEnglishNewspapers;whoguessthattherearepassagesofcourtshipgoingonbetweengreatGeorgetheirKingandhim。Hereisonefact,correctineverypoint,fortheoldLondonPublic:"LettersfromHanoversay,thattheKingofPrussiapassedwithinasmalldistanceofthatCitythe16thinst。N。S。,onhisreturntoBerlin,butdidnotstopatHerrenhausen;"——aboutwhichtherehasbeensuchhopingandspeculatingamonguslately。
  [DailyPost,22dSeptember,1740;
  otherLondonNewspapersfromJuly31stdownwards。]AfactwhichtheextinctEditorseemstomeditateforadayortwo;afterwhichhesays(partlyinITALICS),openinghislipsthesecondtime,likeaFriarBacon’sHeadsignificanttothePublic:"LettersfromHanovertellusthattheInterview,whichitwassaidhisMajestywastohavewiththeKingofPrussia,didnottakeplace,forcertainPRIVATEREASONS,whichourCorrespondentleavesustoguessat!"
  ItiswellknownFriedrichdidnotlovehislittleUncle,thenorthenceforth;stilllesshislittleUnclehim:"WhatisthisPrussia,risingalongsideofus,higherandhigher,asifitwouldreachourownsublimelevel!"thinksthelittleUncletohimself。
  Atpresentthereisnoquarrelbetweenthem;onthecontrary,aswehaveseen,thereisamutualcapabilityofhelpingoneanother,whichbothrecognize;butwillaninterviewtendtoforwardthatusefulresult?Friedrich,intheintervalsofanague,withHerstaljustbrokenout,mayhavewiselydecided,No。"OursublimelittleUncle,ofthewaxycomplexion,withtheproudlystaringfish—eyes,——nowitinhim,notmuchsense,andagreatdealofpride,——standsdreadfullyerect,’plumbandmore,’withtheGarter—legadvanced,whenonegoestoseehim;andhisremarksarenotofanentertainingnature。Leavehimstandingthere:tohimletTruchsessandBielfeldsuffice,inthesehurries,inthisaguethatisstilluponus。"UponwhichthedulloldNewspapers,OwlsofMinervathatthenwere,endeavortodrawinferences。
  Thenoticeablefactis,Friedrichdid,onthisoccasion,passwithinamileortwoofhisroyalUncle,withoutseeinghim;
  andhadnot,throughlife,anotheropportunity;neversawthesublimelittlemanatall,norwasagainsonearhim。
  IbelieveFriedrichlittleknowsthethick—comingdifficultiesofhisBritannicMajestyatthisjuncture;andistooimpatientoftheselaggardproceduresonthepartofamanwitheyesAFLEUR—
  DE—TETE。ModernreaderstoohaveforgottenJenkins’sEar;itisnottillafterlongstudyandsurveythatonebeginstoperceivetheanomalousprofunditiesofthatphenomenontothepoorEnglishNationanditspoorGeorgeII。
  TheEnglishsentoff,lastyear,ascantyExpedition,"sixshipsoftheline,"onlysix,underVernon,afieryAdmiral,alittlegiventobefieryinParliamentarytalkwithal;andthesedidproceedtoPorto—BelloontheSpanishMainofSouthAmerica;didhurloutonPorto—Bellosuchafierydestructivedeluge,ofgunneryandbayonet—work,asquicklyreducedthepoorplacetothevergeofruin,andforcedittosurrenderwithwhatevernavy,garrison,goodsandresourceswereinit,tothediscretionoffieryVernon,——whodoesnotproveimplacable,heorhis,toapetitioningenemy。Yes,humbletheinsolent,butthenbemercifultothem,saytheadmiringGazetteers。"Theactualmonster,"howcheeringtothink,"whotoreoffMr。Jenkins’sEar,wasgotholdof[actualmonster,oreventhreeorfourdifferentmonsterswhoeachdidit,the"holdgot"beingmythical,asreaderssee],andnaturallythoughthewouldbeslittoribbons;butourpeoplemagnanimouslypardonedhim,magnanimouslyflunghimasideoutofsight;"[Gentleman’sMagazine,x。124,145
  (dateoftheEventis3dDecemberN。S。,1739)。]impossibletoshootadogincoldblood。
  WhereuponVernonreturnedhometriumphant;andthereburstforthsuchajubilation,overthedayofsmallthings,asisnowastonishingtothinkof。HadtheTermagant’sownThalamusandTreasurybeenbombardedsuddenlyonenightbyred—hotballs,MadridCitylaidinashes,orBabyCarlos’sApanageextinguishedfromCreation,therecouldhardlyhavebeengreaterEnglishjoy(witnessthe"Porto—Bellos"theystillhave,newTownssonamed);
  soflamyisthemurkyelementgrowingonthathead。Andindeedhadthecipheroftar—barrelsburnt,andofale—barrelsdrunk,andthegeneralaccountofwickandtallowspentinilluminationsandinaldermanicexertionsonthematter,beenaccuratelytaken,onedoubtsifPorto—Bellosold,withoutshotfired,tothehighestbidder,atitsfloweriest,wouldhavecoveredsuchasum。FortheyareasingularNation,ifstirredupfromtheirstagnancy;andaremuchinearnestaboutthisSpanishWar。
  ItissaidthereisnowanotherfargranderExpeditiononthestocks:militarythistimeaswellasnaval,intendedfortheSpanishMain;——butofthat,forthepresent,wewilldeferspeaking。Enough,theSpanishWarisamostseriousandmostfuriousbusinesstothoseoldEnglish;and,tous,afterforcedstudyofit,shinesoutlikefar—offconflagration,withacertainluridsignificanceinthethennightofthings。Nightotherwisefallendarkandsomniferoustomodernmankind。AsBritannicMajestyandhisWalpoleshave,fromthefirst,beendeadagainstthisSpanishWar,theproblemisallthemoreominous,andthedreadfulcorollariesthatmayhangbyitthemoredistressingtotheroyalmind。
  Forexample,thereisknown,orasgoodasknown,tobevirtuallysomeFamilyCompact,orcovenantedBrotherhoodofBourbonism,FrenchandSpanish:politicalpeoplequaketoaskthemselves,"HowwilltheFrenchkeepoutofthisWar,ifitcontinueanylengthoftime?Andinthatcase,howwillAustria,Europeatlarge?
  Jenkins’sEarwillhavekindledtheUniverse,nottheSpanishMainonly,andweshallbeatafinepass!"TheBritannicMajestyreflectsthatifFrancetaketofightinghim,thefirststabgivenwillprobablybeintheaccessiblestquarterandtheintenselymostsensitive,——ourownElectoralDominionswherenoParliamentplaguesus,ourdearnativecountry,Hanover。ExtremelyinterestingtoknowwhatFriedrichofPrussiawilldoinsuchcontingency?
  Well,trulyitmighthavebeenKingGeorge’sbestbargaintoclosewithFriedrich;toguaranteeJulichandBerg,andgetFredrichtostandbetweentheFrenchandHanover;whileGeorge,withanEnglandbehindhim,insuchhumor,wentwhollyintothatSpanishBusiness,theonethingneedfultothematpresent。Truly;
  butthenagain,thereareconsiderations:"WhatisthisFriedrich,justcomeoutupontheworld?Whatrealfightingpowerhashe,afterallthatridiculousdrillingandrecruitingFriedrichWilhelmmade?Willhebefaithfulinbargain;isnot,perhaps,fromofold,hisbiasalwaystowardFrancerather?AndtheKaiser,whatwilltheKaisersaytoit?"ThesearequestionsforaBritannicMajesty!Seldomwasseensuchaninsolubleimbroglioofpotentialities;dangeroustotouch,dangeroustoleavelying;——andhisBritannicMajesty’sproceduresuponitareofaveryslowintricatesort;andwillgrowstillmoreso,yearafteryear,inthenewintricaciesthatarecoming,andbeawearinesstomyreadersandme。Forobservethesimultaneousfact。Allthiswhile,RobinsonatViennaisdunningtheImperialMajestytorememberoldMarlboroughdaysandtheLawsofNature;anddeclareforusagainstFrance,incaseoftheworst。Whatanattempt!
  ImperialMajestyhasnomoney;ImperialMajestyremembersrecentdaysrather,andhisownlastquarrelwithFrance(onthePolish—
  Electionscore),inwhichyouSea—Powerscruellystoodneuter!
  Onecomfort,andprettymuchoneonly,islefttoanearlybankruptImperialheart;thatFrancedoesatanyrateratifyPragmaticSanction,andinsteadofenemytothatinestimableDocumenthasbecomefriend,——ifonlyshebewellletalone。
  "Letwellalone,"saysthesadKaiser,bankruptofheartaswellaspurse:"IhavesavedthePragmatic,gotFleurytoguaranteeit;
  Iwillhuntwildswineandnotshadowsanymore:askmenot!"
  AndnowthisHerstalbusiness;theImperialDehortatoriums,perhapsofahighnature,thatareliketocome?MorehopelesspropositiontheBritannicMajestynevermadethanthistotheKaiser。Buthepersistsinit,ordersRobinsontopersist;
  knocksattheAustriandoorwithonehand,atthePrussianorAnti—Austrianwiththeother;andgazes,withthoseproudfish—
  eyes,intoperilsandpotentialitiesandaseaoftroubles。
  Wearisometothinkof,werenotoneboundtoit!Here,fromasingularCONSTITUTIONALHISTORYOFENGLAND,notyetgotintoprint,aretwoExcerpts;whichIwillrequestthereadertotryifhecantakealongwithhim,inviewofmuchthatisComing:——
  1。AJUSTWAR。——"ThisWar,whichposterityscoffsatastheWAROF
  JENKINS’SEAR,was,ifweexamineit,aquiteindispensableone;
  thedimmuch—bewilderedEnglish,drivenintoitbytheirdeepestinstincts,were,inachaoticinarticulateway,rightandnotwrongintakingitastheCommandmentofHeaven。Forsuch,inasense,itwas;asshallbyandbyappear。NotperhapssincethegrandReformationControversy,underOliverCromwellandElizabeth,hadthere,tothispoorEnglishPeople(whoareessentiallydumb,inarticulate,fromtheweightofmeaningtheyhave,notwithstandingthepalaveronehearsfromthemincertainepochs),beenamoreauthenticcauseofWar。And,whatwasthefatalandyetfoolishcircumstance,theirConstitutionalCaptains,especiallytheirKing,wouldneverandcouldneverregarditassuch;buthadtobeforcedintoitbythepublicrage,therebeingnoothermethodleftinthecase。
  "Isay,amostnecessaryWar,thoughofamoststupidappearance;
  suchthefatalityofit:——begun,carriedon,ended,asifbyaPeopleinastateofsomnambulism!Moreconfusedoperationneverwas。AsolidplacidPeople,heavilyasleep(andsnoringmuch,shallwesay,andinarticulatelygruntingandstrugglingunderindigestions,Constitutionalandother?DobutlistentothehumofthoseextinctPamphletsandParliamentaryOratoriesoftheirs!),——yetanhonestlyintendingPeople;andkeenlyalivetoanycommandmentfromHeaven,thatcouldpiercethroughthethickskinofthemintotheirbigobstinateheart。Suchacommandment,thenandthere,wasthatmonitionaboutJenkins’sEar。Uponwhich,sopungentwasittothem,theystartedviolentlyoutofbed,intopainfulsleep—walking;andwent,fortwentyyearsandmore,clamberingandsprawlingabout,farandwide,onthegiddyedgeofprecipices,overhouse—topsandfrightfulcornicesandparapets;
  inadimfulfilmentofthesaidHeaven’scommand。IreckonthatthisWar,thoughtherewereintervals,TreatiesofPeacemorethanone,andtheWarhadvariousnames,——didnotendtill1763。
  Andthen,bydegrees,thepoorEnglishNationfoundthat(at,say,athousandtimesthenecessaryexpense,andwithimminentperiltoitspoorhead,andallthebonesofitsbody)ithadactuallysucceeded,——bydreadfulexertionsinitssleep!Thiswillbemoreapparentbyandby;andmaybeakindofcomforttothesadEnglishreader,drearilysurveyingsuchsomnambulismsonthepartofhispoorancestors。"
  2。TWODIFFICULTIES。——"ThereareTwograndDifficultiesinthisFarce—Tragedyofawar;ofwhichonlyone,andthatnottheworstofthePair,isintheleastsurmisedbytheEnglishhitherto。
  DifficultyFirst,whichisevenworsethantheother,andwillsurprisinglyattendtheEnglishinalltheirWarsnowcoming,is:
  Thattheirfighting—apparatus,thoughmadeofexcellentmaterial,cannotfight,——beingindisorganiccondition;onebranchofit,especiallythe’Military’oneastheyarepleasedtocallit,beingasgoodastotallychaotic,andthisinaquiethabitualmanner,thislongwhileback。WiththeNavalbranchitisotherwise;whichalsoishabitualthere。TheEnglishalmostasifbynaturecansail,andfight,inships;cannotwellhelpdoingit。Sailorsinnumerablearebredtothem;theyareplantedintheOcean,opulentstormyNeptuneclippingtheminallhismoodsforever:andthenbynature,beingadumb,much—enduring,much—
  reflecting,stout,veraciousandvaliantkindofPeople,theyshineinthatwayoflife,whichspeciallyrequiressuch。
  Withoutmuchforethought,theyhavesailorsinnumerable,andofthebestquality。TheEnglishhaveamongthemalso,strangeasitmayseemtothecursoryobserver,agreatgiftoforganizing;
  witnesstheirArkwrightsandothers:andthisgifttheymayoften,inmattersNavalmorethanelsewhere,getthechanceofexercising。ForaShip’sCrew,orevenaFleet,unlikealandArmy,isofitselfaunity,itsfortunesdisjoined,dependentonitsownmanagement;anditfalls,moreover,asnolandarmycan,totheundividedguidanceofoneman,——who(byhypothesis,beingEnglish)hasnowandthen,fromofold,chancedtobeanorganizingman;andwhoisalwaysmuchinterestedtoknowandpractisewhathasbeenwellorganized。Foryouareincontactwithverities,toanunexampleddegree,whenyougetupontheOcean,withintenttosailonit,muchmoretofightonit;——bottomlessdestructionragingbeneathyouandonallhandsofyou,ifyouneglect,foranyreason,themethodsofkeepingitdown,andmakingitfloatyoutoyouraim!
  TheEnglishNavyisintolerableorderatthatperiod。ButastotheEnglishArmy,——wemaysayitis,inawrongsense,thewonderoftheworld,andcontinuessothroughoutthewholeofthisHistoryandfarther!Neverbefore,amongtherationalsonsofAdam,wereArmiessentoutonsuchterms,——namelywithoutaGeneral,orwithnoGeneralunderstandingtheleastofhisbusiness。TheEnglishhaveanotionthatGeneralshipisnotwanted;thatWarisnotanArt,asplayingChessis,asfindingtheLongitude,anddoingtheDifferentialCalculusare(andamuchdeeperArtthananyofthese);thatWaristaughtbyNature,aseatingis;thatcourageoussoldiers,ledonbyacourageousWoodenPolewithCocked—hatonit,willdoverywell。IntheworldIhavenotfoundopacityofplatitudegodeeperamonganyPeople。ThisisDifficultyFirst,notyetsuspectedbyanEnglishPeople,capableofgreatopacityonsomesubjects。
  "DifficultySecondis,ThattheirMinistry,whomtheyhadtoforceintothisWar,perhapsdonotgozealouslyuponit。Andperhapseven,intheabovecircumstances,theytotallywantknowledgehowtogouponit,weretheyneversozealous;DifficultySecondmightbemuchhelped,wereitnotforDifficultyFirst。ButtheadministeringofWarisathingalsothatdoesnotcometoamanlikeeating。——ThisSecondDifficulty,suspicionthatWalpoleandperhapsstillhigherheadswantzeal,giveshisBritannicMajestyinfinitetrouble;and"——
  ——Andso,inshort,hestandsthere,withtheGarter—legadvanced,lookingloftilyintoaconsiderableseaoftroubles,——thatdaywhenFriedrichdrovepasthim,Friday,16thSeptember,1740,andnevercamesonearhimagain。
  ThenextbusinessforFriedrichwasaVisitatBrunswick,totheAffinitiesandKindred,inpassing;wherealsowasanimportantlittleacttobedone:BetrothaloftheyoungPrince,AugustWilhelm,Heir—PresumptivewhomwesawinStrasburg,toaPrincessofthatHouse,LouisaAmelia,youngerSisterofFriedrich’sownQueen。Amodestpromisingarrangement;whichturnedoutwellenough,——thoughtheyoungPrince,FathertotheKingsthatsinceare,wasnotsupremelyfortunateotherwise。[Betrothalwas20thSeptember,1740;Marriage,5thJanuary,1742(Buchholz,i。207)。]
  Afterwhich,thereviewatMagdeburg;andhomeonthe24th,thereto"bebusyasaTurkorasaM。Jordan,"——accordingtowhatwereadlongsince。
  ChapterVII。
  WITHDRAWSTOREINSBERG,HOPINGAPEACEABLEWINTER。
  BythisHerstaltoken,whichisnowblazingabroad,nowandforamonthtocome,itcanbejudgedthattheyoungKingofPrussiaintendstostandonhisownfooting,quiteperemptorilyifneedbe;andwillbynomeanshavehimselfledaboutinImperialharness,ashislateFatherwas。SothatadullPublic(Herrenhausenveryspecially),andGazetteerOwlsofMinervaeverywhere,mayexpectevents。Allthemoreindubitably,whenthatspade—workcomestolightintheWeselCountry。Itisprivatelycertain(theGazetteersnotyetsureaboutit,tilltheyseetheactualspadesgoing),thisnewKingdoesfullyintendtoasserthisrightsonBerg—Julich;andwillappeartherewithhisironramrods,theinstantoldKur—Pfalzshalldecease,letFranceandtheKaisersayNotoitorsayYes。Thereare,infact,atafitplace,"BuderichintheneighborhoodofWesel,"certainrampart—
  works,beginningsasofanEntrenchedCamp,goingon;——"forReviewpurposesmerely,"saytheGazetteers,INITALICS。Here,itprivatelyisFriedrich’sresolution,shallaPrussianArmy,oftheduestrength(couldbewell—nigh100,000strongifneedful),makeitsappearance,directlyonoldKur—Pfalz’sdecease,ifonelivetoseesuchevent。[Stenzel,iv。61。]FranceandtheKaiserwillprobablytakegoodsurveyofthatBuderichphenomenonbeforemeddling。
  TodohisworklikeaKing,andshunnoperilandnotoilinthecourseofwhathisworkmaybe,isFriedrich’sruleandintention。
  NeverthelessitisclearheexpectstoapprovehimselfmagnanimousratherinthePeaceableoperationsthanintheWarlike;andhisoutlooksare,ofallplacesandpursuits,towardsReinsbergandtheFineArts,forthetimebeing。HisPublicactivitymeanwhiletheydescribeas"prodigious,"thoughtheaguestillclingstohim;suchbuilding,instituting,managing:Opera—House,FrenchTheatre,PalaceforhisMother;——daybyday,manythingstoberecordedbyEditorFormey,thoughtheruleaboutthemhereissilenceexceptoncause。
  Nodoubttheagueisitselfprivatelyapointofmoment。Suchavexatiouspaltrylittlething,inthisbrightwhirlofActivities,Publicandother,whichhecontinuesmanaginginspiteofit;
  impatienttoberidofit。Butitwillnotgo:thereITreappearsalways,punctualtoits"fourthday,"——likeasnarlingstreet—dog,inthehighBall—roomandWork—room。"HeisdrinkingPyrmontwater;"hashimselfproposedQuinquina,aremedyjustcomeup,buttheDoctorsshooktheirheads;hastriedsnatchesofReinsberg,tooshort;heintendssoontobeoutthereforarightspellofcountry,theretobe"happy,"andgetquitofhisague。Theaguewent,——andbyaremedywhichsurprisedthewholeworld,aswillbeseen!
  WILHELMINA’SRETURN—VISIT。
  Monday,17thOctober,cametheBaireuthVisitors;Wilhelminaallinaflutter,andtremorofjoyandsorrow,toseeherBrotheragain,heroldkindredandthealteredsceneofthings。PoorLady,sheisperceptiblymoretremulousthanusual;andherNarrative,notindatesonly,butinmorememorablepoints,dancesaboutatasadrate;interioragitationsandtremulousshrillfeelingsshiveringherthiswayandthat,andthrowingthingstopsy—turvyinone’srecollection。Likethemagneticneedle,shakybutsteadfast(AGITEEMAICONSTANTE)。Truernothingcanbe,pointsforevertothePole;butalsowhatobliquitiesitmakes;
  willshiverasideinmadescapades,ifyouholdthepaltriestbitofoldironnearit,——paltriestclackofgossipaboutthislovedBrotherofmine!Brother,wewillhope,silentlycontinuestobePole,sothattheneedlealwayscomesbackagain;otherwiseallwouldgotowreck。Here,inabridgedandpartlyrectifiedform,arethephenomenawitnessed:——
  "WearrivedatBerlintheendofOctober[Monday,17th,asabovesaid]。MyyoungerBrothers,followedbythePrincesoftheBloodandbyalltheCourt,receivedusatthebottomofthestairs。Iwasledtomyapartment,whereIfoundtheReigningQueen,mySisters[Ulrique,Amelia],andthePrincesses[oftheBlood,asabove,Schwedtandtherest]。IlearnedwithmuchchagrinthattheKingwasilloftertianague[quartan;butthatisnomatter]。Hesentmewordthat,beinginhisfit,hecouldnotseeme;butthathedependedonhavingthatpleasureto—morrow。TheQueenMother,towhomIwentwithoutdelay,wasinadarkcondition;roomsallhungwiththeirlugubriousdrapery;
  everythingyetinthedepthofmourningformyFather。Whatasceneforme!Naturehasherrights;Icansaywithtruth,Ihavealmostneverinmylifebeensomovedasonthisoccasion。"
  InterviewwithMamma——wecanfancyit——"wasofthemosttouching。"
  Wilhelminahadbeenabsenteightyears。Shescarcelyknowstheyoungonesagain,allsogrown;——findschangeonchange:andthatTime,ashealwaysis,hasbeenbusy。ThatnighttheSupper—PartywasexclusivelyaFamilyone。
  HerBrother’swelcometoheronthemorrow,thoughardentenough,shefounddeficientinsincerity,deficientinseveralpoints;
  asindeedaBrotheruptotheneckinbusiness,andjustcomeoutofanague—fit,doesnotappeartothebestadvantage。
  Wilhelminanoticedhowillhelooked,soleanandbroken—down(MAIGREETDEFAIT)withinthelasttwomonths;butseemstohavetakennoaccountofitfarther,instrikingherbalanceswithFriedrich。AndindeedinherNarrativeofthisVisit,not,wewillhope,intheVisititself,shemusthavebeeninahighstateofmagneticdeflection,——prettynearlyhermaximumofsuch,discoverableinthosefamousMEMOIRS,——suchatumultisthereinherstatements,allgonetoground—and—loftytumblinginthisplace;sodiscrepantarethestillascertainablefactsfromthistopsy—turvypictureofthem,sketchedbyherfouryearshence(in1744)。Thetruestofmagneticneedles;butsosensitive,ifyoubringforeignironnearit!
  WilhelminawasloadedwithhonorsbyanimpartialBerlinPublicthatisCourtPublic;"but,allbeinginmourning,theCourtwasnotbrilliant。TheQueenMothersawlittlecompany,andwassunkinsorrow;——hadnottheleastinfluenceinaffairs,sojealouswasthenewKingofhisAuthority,——totheQueenMother’ssurprise,"
  saysWilhelmina。Fortherest,hereisaKing"becomingtrulyunpopular[or,wefancyso,inourdeflectedstate,andjudgingbytherumorofcliques];ageneraldiscontentreigningintheCountry,loveofhissubjectsprettymuchgone;peoplespeakingofhiminnomeasuredterms[incertaincliques]。CaresnothingaboutthosewhohelpedhimasPrinceRoyal,saysome;otherscomplainofhisavarice[meaningsteadyvigilanceinoutlay]assurpassingthelateKing’s;thisonecomplainedofhisviolencesoftemper(EMPORTEMENS);thatoneofhissuspicions,ofhisdistrust,hishaughtinesses,hisdissimulation"(meaningpoliteimpenetrabilitywhenhesawgood)。Severalcircumstances,knowntoWilhelmina’sownexperience,compelWilhelmina’sassentonthosepoints。
  "Iwouldhavespokentohimaboutthem,ifmyBrotherofPrussia[youngAugustWilhelm,betrothedtheotherday]andtheQueenRegnanthadnotdissuadedme。FartheronIwillgivetheexplanationofallthis,"——neverdiditanywhere。"IbegthosewhomayonedayreadtheseMEMOIRS,tosuspendtheirjudgmentonthecharacterofthisgreatPrincetillIhavedevelopedit。"
  [Wilhelmina,ii。326。]OmyPrincess,youaretrueandbright,butyouareshrill;andIadmiretheeffectofatmosphericelectricity,nottosay,ofanyneighboringmarine—storeshop,ormiserablebitofbrokenpan,ononeofthefinestmagneticneedlesevermadeandsettrembling!
  Wilhelminaisincapableofdeliberatefalsehood;andthisherimpressionorreminiscence,withallitsexaggeration,isentitledtobeheardinevidencesofar。Fromthis,andfromothersources,readerswillassurethemselvesthatdiscontentswerenotwanting;
  thatKingFriedrichwasnotamiabletoeverybodyatthistime,——
  whichindeedhenevergrewtobeatanyothertime。HehadtobeaKing;thatwasthetradehefollowed,notthequitedifferentoneofbeingamiableallround。Amiabilityisgood,myPrincess;
  butthequestionrises,"Towhom?—forexample,totheyounggentlemanwhoshothimselfinLobegun?"Thereareyounggentlemenandoldsometimesinconsiderablequantities,towhom,ifyouwereinyourduty,asaKingofmen(orevenasa"Kingofonemanandhisaffairs,"ifthatisallyourkingdom),youshouldhavebeenhatefulinsteadofamiable!Thatisasterntruth;toomuchforgottenbyWilhelminaandothers。Again,whatadeadeningandkillingcircumstanceisitinthecareerofamiability,thatyouareboundnottobecommunicativeofyourinnerman,butperpetuallyandstrictlythereverse!ItmaybedoubtedifagoodKingcanbeamiable;certainlyhecannotinanybutthenoblestages,andthenonlytoaselectfew。IshouldguessFriedrichwasatnotimefairlyloved,notbythosenearesttohim。Hewasrapid,decisive;ofwirycompactnature;hadnothingofhisFather’samplitudes,simplicities;nothingtosportwithandfondle,farfromit。Tremuloussensibilities,ardentaffections;
  theseweclearlydiscoverinhim,inextraordinaryvivacity;buthewearsthemunderhispolishedpanoply,andisoutwardlyaradiantbutmetallicobjecttomankind。Letuscarrythisalongwithusinstudyinghim;andthankWilhelminaforgivingushintofitinherobliqueway。——Wilhelmima’sloveforherBrotherrosetoquiteheroicpitchincomingyears,andwasatitshighestwhenshedied。ThatcontinuationofherMEMOIRSinwhichsheistodevelopherBrother’scharacter,wasneverwritten:ithasbeensoughtforinmoderntimes;andafewinsignificantpages,withevidencethatthereisnot,andwasnot,anymore,areallthathasturnedup。[Pertz,UeberdieDenkwurdigkeitenderMarkgrafinvanBayreuth(PaperreadintheAkademiederWissenschaften,Berlin,25thApril,1850)。
  Incapableoffalsityprepense,wesay;buttheknownfacts,whichstandabundantlyonrecordifyoucaretosearchthemout,aremerelyasfollows:Friedrich,withsuchsincerityastheremightbe,didwelcomeWilhelminaonthemorrowofherarrival;spokeofReinsberg,andofairandrest,andhowpleasantitwouldbe;
  rolledoffnextmorning,havingatlastgathereduphisbusinesses,andgotthemwellinhand,toReinsbergaccordingly;
  whitherWilhelmina,withtheQueenRegnantandothersofagreeablequality,followedintwodays;intendingalongandpleasantspellofcountryoutthere。Whichhopewastolerablyfulfilled,evenforWilhelmina,thoughtheredidcomeunexpectedinterruptions,notofFriedrich’sbringing。
  UNEXPECTEDNEWSATREINSBERG。
  Friedrich’spursuitsandintendedconquests,forthepresent,areofpeaceableandevengaynature。FrenchTheatre,ItalianOpera—
  House,theseareamongtheimmediateoutlooks。Voltaire,skilledinFrenchacting,ifanybodyeverwere,ismultifariouslynegotiatingforaCompanyofthatkind,——lethimbeswift,besuccessful。[LettersofVoltaire(PASSIM,inthesemonths)。]
  AnItalianOperathereshallbe;theHouseisstilltobebuilt:
  CaptainKnobelsdorf,whobuiltReinsberg,whomwehaveknown,istodoit。KnobelsdorfhasgonetoItalyonthaterrand;"wentbyDresden,carefullyexaminingtheOpera—Housethere,andallthefamedOpera—Housesonhisroad。"Graun,oneofthebestjudgesliving,islikewiseofftoItaly,gatheringsingers。OurOperatooshallbeasuccessfulthing,andwehope,aspeedy。SuchareFriedrich’soutlooksatthistime。
  Amiscellaneouspleasantcompanyishere;TruchsessandBielfeld,homefromHanover,amongthem;Wilhelminaishere;——Voltairehimselfperhapscomingagain。FriedrichdrinkshisPyrmontwaters;
  worksathispublicbusinessesallday,whicharenowwellinhand,andmanageablebycouriers;ateveningheappearsincompany,andistheastonishmentofeverybody;brilliant,likeanew—risensun,asifheknewofnoillness,knewofnobusiness,butlivedforamusementonly。"HeintendsPrivateTheatricalswithal,andisgettingreadyVoltaire’sMORTDECESAR。"[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。415。]ThesewereprettydaysatReinsberg。Thiskindoflifelastedsevenoreightweeks,——inspiteofinterruptionsofsubterraneanvolcanicnature,someofwhichweresurelyconsiderable。Here,intheveryfirstweek,comingalmostvolcanically,isone,whichindeedisthesumofthemall。
  Tuesdayforenoon,25thOctober,1740,ExpressarrivesatReinsberg;directfromViennafivedaysago;findsFriedrichundereclipse,hiddenintheinterior,laboringunderhisague—fit:
  questionrises,ShalltheExpressbeintroduced,orbeheldback?
  Thenewshebringsishuge,unexpected,transcendent,andmayagitatethesickKing。Sixorsevenheadsgowaggingonthispoint,——whobyaccidentarenamable,ifreaderscare:"PrinceAugustWilhelm,"latelybetrothed;"GrafTruchsess,"homefromHanover;"ColonelGrafvonFinkenstein,"oldTutor’sSon,afamiliarfromboyhoodupwards;"BaronPollnitz"kindofchiefGoldsticknow,orMasteroftheCeremonies,nottoowitty,butthecauseofwit;"Jordan,Bielfeld,"knowntous;andlastly,"Fredersdorf,"Major—domoandFactotum,whoisgrownfromValettobePurse—Keeper,confidentialManager,andalmostfriend,——
  anotablepersonageinFriedrich’sHistory。Theydecide,"Betterwait!"
  Theywaitaccordingly;andthen,afteraboutanhour,thetrembling—fitbeingover,andFredersdorfhavingcautiouslypreludedalittle,andpreparedtheway,theDespatchisdelivered,andtheKingleftwithhisimmensepieceofnews。
  NewsthathisImperialMajestyKarlVI。died,aftershortillness,onThursday,the20thlast。Kaiserdead:HouseofHapsburg,anditsFiveCenturiesoftoughwrestling,anduneasyDominancyinthisworld,ended,gonetothedistaff:——thecounter—wrestlingAmbitionsandCupiditiesnotdead;andnothingbutPragmaticSanctionleftbetweenthefallenHouseandthem!Friedrichkeptsilence;showednosignhowtransfixedhewastohearsuchtidings;which,heforesaw,wouldhaveimmeasurableconsequencesintheworld。
  Oneofthefirstwas,thatitcuredFriedrichofhisague。
  Itbracedhim(it,andperhaps"alittlequinquinawhichhenowinsistedon")intosuchatensityofspiritasdroveouthisaguelikeamerehiccough;quitegoneinthecourseofnextweek;
  andwehearnomoreofthatimportunateannoyance。HesummonedSecretaryEichel,"Bereadyinsomanyminuteshence;"rosefromhisbed,dressedhimself;[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。416。]——andthen,byEichel’shelp,sentoffexpressesforSchwerinhischiefGeneral,andPodewilshischiefMinister。
  Aresolution,whichisrisingorhasrisenintheRoyalmind,willbereadyforcommunicatingtotheseTwobythetimetheyarrive,ontheseconddayhence。Thisdone,Friedrich,Ibelieve,joinedhiscompanyintheevening;andwasaslightandbrilliantasifnothinghadhappened。
  ChapterVIII。
  THEKAISER’SDEATH。
  TheKaiser’sdeathcameuponthePublicunexpectedly;thoughnotquitesouponobservantpersonscloserathand。Hewasnotyetfifty—sixout;afirm—builtman;hadbeenofsoundconstitution,ofactive,notintemperatehabits:butinthelastsixyears,therehadcomesuchtorrentsofillluckrollingdownonhim,hehadsufferedimmensely,farbeyondwhattheworldknewof;andtothosenearhim,andanxiousforhim,hisstrengthseemedmuchundermined。Fiveyearsago,insummer1735,Robinsonreported,fromasurehand:"NothingcanequaltheEmperor’sagitationunderthesedisasters[broughtuponhimbyFleuryandtheSpaniards,asafter—claptohisPolish—Electionfeat]。HisgoodEmpressisterrified,manytimes,hewilldieinthecourseofthenight,whensinglywithherhegivesaloosetohisaffliction,confusionanddespair。"Sea—Powerswillnothelp;Fleuryandmereruinwillengulf!"WhataugmentsthisagitationishisdistrustineveryoneofhisownMinisters,exceptperhapsBartenstein,"[RobinsontoLordWarrington,5thJuly,1735(inState—PaperOffice)。]——whoisnotmuchofasupporteither,thoughagnarledweightyoldstickinhisway("ProfessoratStrasburgonce"):notinterestingtoushere。TheresthisImperialMajestyconsiderstobeofsublimatedblockheadtype,itappears。PrinceEugenehaddiedlately,andwithEugeneallgoodfortune。
  Andthen,closefollowing,themiseriesofthatTurkWar,crashingdownuponaman!Theysay,DukeFranz,MariaTheresa’sHusband,nominalCommanderinthoseCampaigns,withtheSeckendorfsandWallisesunderhimgoingsucharoad,wasprivatelyeagertohavedonewiththeBusiness,onanyterms,lesttheKaisershoulddiefirst,andleaveitweltering。NowonderthepoorKaiserfeltbroken,disgustedwiththelongShadow—HuntofLife;andtooktopracticalfield—sportsrather。AnArmythatcannotfight,War—
  GeneralsgoodonlytobelockedinFortresses,anExchequerthathasnomoney;aftersuchwaggingofthewigs,andsuchPrivy—
  CouncillingandsuchWar—Councilling:——letushuntwildswine,andnotthinkofit!That,thankHeaven,westillhave;that,andPragmaticSanctionwellengrossed,andgenerallysworntobymankind,aftermucheffort!——
  TheouterPublicofthattime,andVoltaireamongthemmoredeliberatelyafterwards,spokeof"mushrooms,"an"indigestionofmushrooms;"anditisprobabletherewassomethingofmushroomsconcernedintheevent,AnothersubsequentFrenchman,stillmoreirreverent,addstothisofthe"excessofmushrooms,"thattheKaisermadelightofit。"WhentheDoctorstoldhimhehadfewhourstolive,hewouldnotbelieveit;andbanteredhisPhysiciansonthesadnews。’Lookmeintheeyes,’saidhe;
  ’haveItheairofonedying?Whenyouseemysightgrowingdim,thenletthesacramentsbeadministered,whetherIorderornot。’"
  Doctorsinsisting,theKaiserreplied:"’Sinceyouarefoolishfellows,whoknowneitherthecausenorthestateofmydisorder,Icommandthat,onceIamdead,youopenmybody,toknowwhatthematterwas;youcanthencomeandletmeknow!"’
  [AnecdotesGermaniques(Paris,1769),p。692。]——inwhichalsothereisperhapsaglimmeringofdistortedtruth,though,asMonsieurmistakeseventheday("18thOctober,"
  sayshe,not2Oth),onecanonlyacceptitasrumorfromtheoutside。
  Here,byanextremelysombredomesticGentlemanofgreatpunctualityandgreatdulness,aretheauthenticparticulars,suchasitwasgoodtomentioninViennacircles。[(Anonymous)
  Des&c。RomischenKaisersCarlVI。LebenundThaten
  (FrankfurtundLeipzig,1741),pp。220—227。]AnextremelydullGentleman,buttoappearanceanauthentic;andsolittledefectiveinreverencethathedelicatelyexpressessomeastonishmentatDeath’saudacitythisyear,inkillingsomanyCrownedHeads。
  "Thisyear1740,"sayshe,"thoughtheweatherthroughoutEuropehadbeenextraordinarilyfine,"orfineforacoldyear,"hadalreadywitnessedseveralDeathsofSovereigns:PopeClementXII。,FriedrichWilhelmofPrussia,theQueenDowagerofSpain[Termagant’soldstepmother,notTermagant’sselfbyagreatway]。
  Butthatwasnotenough:unfathomableDestinyventurednowonImperialHeads(WAGTESICHAUCHANKAISER—KRONEN):KarlVI。,namely,andRussia’sgreat,Monarchess;"——anaudacitytoberemarked。OfRussia’sgreatMonarchess(CzarinaAnne,withthebigcheek)wewillsaynothingatpresent;butofKarlVI。only,——
  abridgingmuch,andstudyingarrangement。
  "Thursday,October13th,returningfromHalbthurn,aHuntingSeatofhis,"overinHungarysomefiftymiles,"tothePalaceFavoritaatVienna,hisImperialMajestyfeltslightlyindisposed,"——
  indigestionofmushroomsorwhateveritwas:hadbegunAT
  Halbthurnthenightbefore,weratherunderstand,andwastheoccasionofhisleaving。"TheDoctorscalleditcoldonthestomach,andthoughtitofnoconsequence。InthenightofSaturday,itbecamealarming;"inflammation,thoughttheDoctors,inflammationoftheliver,andusedtheirpotentappliances,whichonlymadethedangercomeandgo;"andontheTuesday,allday,theDoctorsdidnotdoubthisImperialMajestywasdying。