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。