"TheseLands—Eldestundertake,inamildlyresignedorevenhopefulhumor。Theywillmanageasrequired,intheirownCircles;willcommunicatewiththeCirclesfartheron;andeverywherethedueproviants,prestations,furtherances,shallbegottogetherbyfairapportionmentontheSilesianCommunity,andbepunctuallyreadya,stheArmyadvances。Book—keepingthereistobe,legiblerecordofeverything;onallhands’quittance’foreverythingfurnished;
andatimeiscoming,whensuchquittance,presentedbyanySilesianman,willbecountedmoneypaidbyhim,andremittedatthenexttax—day,orotherwisemadegood。Whichpromisealsowasaccuratelykept,thehoped—fortimehavingcome。ItmustbeownedthePrussianArmyunderstandsbusiness;and,withbrevity,reducestoaminimumitsowntrouble,andthatofotherpeople,non—
fighters,whohavetodowithit。Non—fighters,Isay;tofighterswehopeitwillgivearespectablemaximumoftroublewhenappliedto!"[Helden—Geschichte,i。492—499。]
TheGotterNegotiationatVienna,whichwesawbegintherethatwetSunday,isnowfastending,asgoodasended;withoutresultexceptofanegativekind。Gotter’sProposals,——wouldthereaderwishtoheartheseProposals,whichweresointenselyinterestingatonetime?Theyarefivefold;givenwithgreatbrevitybyFriedrich,byuswithstillgreater:——
1。"WillflingmyselfheartilyintotheAustrianscale,andendeavorfortheinterestofAustriainthisPragmaticmatter,withmywholestrengthagainsteverycomer。
2。"WillmaketreatywithVienna,withRussiaandtheSea—Powers,tothateffect。
3。"Willhelpbyvote,andwithwholeamountofinterestwillendeavor,tohaveGrand—DukeFranz,theQueen’sHusband,chosenKaiser;andtomaintainsuchchoiceagainstallandsundry。
Feelmyselfstrongenoughtoaccomplishthisresult;andmay,withoutexaggeration,venturetosayitshallbedone。
4。"TohelptheCourtofViennaingettingitsaffairsintogoodorderandfenciblecondition,——willpresenttoit,ontheshortestnotice,TwoMillionGulden(200,000pounds)readymoney。"——
InfinitelywelcomethisFourthProposition;andindeedalltheotherThreearewelcome:buttheyaresaddledwithafinalcondition,whichpullsdownallagain。This,whichisstudiouslyworded,politelyevasiveinphrase,andwouldfainkeepoldcontroversiesasleep,thoughinsubstanceitissofatallydistinct,——wegiveintheKing’sownwords:
5。"ForsuchessentialservicesasthosetowhichIbindmyselfbytheaboveveryonerousconditions,Inaturallyrequireaproportionaterecompense;somesuitableassurance,asindemnityforallthedangersIrisk,andforthepart(ROLE)Iamreadytoplay:
inshort,IrequireherebytheentireandcompletecessionofallSilesia,asrewardformylaborsanddangerswhichItakeuponmyselfinthiscoursenowtobeentereduponforthepreservationandrenownoftheHouseofAustria;"——Silesiaallandwhole;andwesaynothingofour"rights"toit;politelyevasivetoherHungarianMajesty,thoughinsubstancewearesofatallydistinct。
[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。451;
"fromOlenschlager,GeschichtedesInteregni
[Frankfurt,1746],i。134。"]
ThesewereFriedrich’sProposals;writtendownwithhisownhandatReinsberg,fiveorsixweeksago(November17thisthedateofit);
inwhatmood,andhowwroughtuponbySchwerinandPodewils,wesawabove。GotterhasfulfilledhisinstructionsinregardtothisimportantlittleDocument;andnowtheeffectofitis——?
Gottercanreportnogoodeffectwhatever。"Becautious,"Friedrichinstructshimfarther;"modifythatFifthProposal;Iwilltakelessthanthewhole,’ifattentionispaidtomyjustclaimsonSchlesien。’"TothateffectwritesFriedrichonceortwice。Butitistonopurpose;norcanGotter,withallhisindustry,reportotherthanworseandworse。Nay,hereportsbeforelong,notrefusalonly,butrefusalwithmockery:"HowstrangethathisPrussianMajesty,whoseofficialpostinGermany,asKur—
BrandenburgandKaiser’sChamberlain,hasbeentopresentewerandtoweltotheHouseofAustria,shouldnowsetupforprescribingrulestoit!"Apieceofwit,whichcouldnotbutprovokeFriedrich;andwarnhimthatnegotiationonthismattermightaswellterminate。Suchhadbeenhisownthought,fromthefirst;butincompliancewithSchwerinandPodewilshewaswillingtotry。
BetterforMariaTheresa,andforalltheworldhowmuchbetter,couldshehaveacceptedthisFifthProposition!Buthowcouldshe,——thehighImperialLady,keystoneofEurope,thoughbyaccidentwithonlyafewpoundsofreadymoneyatpresent?Twentyyearsofbitterfighting,andagonytoherselfandalltheworld,werenecessaryfirst;anewFactofNaturehavingturnedup,anewEuropeanKingdomwithrealKingtoit;NOTrecognizableassuch,bytheyoungQueenofHungaryorbyanyotherperson,tillitdoitsproofs。
WHATBERLINISSAYING;WHATFRIEDRICHISTHINKING。
WhatFriedrich’sownhumoris,whatFriedrich’sowninnermanissayingtohim,whilealltheworldsobabblesabouthisSilesianAdventure?Ofthistoothereare,thoughindilutedstate,someglimmeringstobehad,——chieflyintheCorrespondencewithJordan。
IngeniousJordan,InspectorofthePooratBerlin,——histhousandoldwomenattheirwheelshummingpleasantlyinthebackgroundofourimaginations,thoughhesaysnothingofthat,——writestwiceaweektohisMajesty:pleasantgossipyLetters,withaneasyrespectfulnessnotgoingintosycophancyanywhere;whichkeepthecampaigningKingwellabreastoftheBerlinnewsandrumors:
somethingliketheessenceofanOldNewspaper;notwithoutworthinourpresentEnterprise。Onespecimen,ifwehadroom!
JORDANTOTHEKING(successivelyfromBerlin,——somewhatabridged。)
No。1。"BERLIN,14thDECEMBER,1740[dayafterhisMajestyleft]。
EverybodyhereisontiptoefortheEvent;ofwhichbothoriginandendareariddletothemost。IamcharmedtoseeapartofyourMajesty’sDominionsinastateofPyrrhonism;thediseaseisepidemicalhereatpresent。Thosewho,inthestyleoftheologians,considerthemselvesentitledtobecertain,maintainThatyourMajestyisexpectedwithreligiousimpatiencebytheProtestants,andthattheCatholicshopetoseethemselvesdeliveredfromamultitudeofimpostswhichcruellytearupthebeautifulbosomoftheirChurch。YoucannotbutsucceedinyourvaliantandstoicalEnterprise,sincebothreligionandworldlyinterestrankthemselvesunderyourflag。
"Wallis,"AustrianCommandantinGlogau,"theysay,haspunishedaSilesianHereticofenthusiasticturn,asblasphemer,forannouncingthatanewMessiahisjustcoming。Ihaveatasteforthatkindofmartyrdom。CriticalpersonsconsiderthepresentstepasdirectlyopposedtocertainmaximsintheANTI—MACHIAVEL。
"ThewordMANIFESTO——[yourMajesty’slittlePATENTonenteringSilesia,whichnoreadershallbetroubledwithatpresent]——istheburdenofeveryconversation。thereisashortPieceofthekindtocomeoutto—day,bywayofprefacetoalargecompleteexposition,whichacertainJurisconsultisnowbusywith。PeoplecrowdtotheBookshopsforit,asiflookingoutforacelestialphenomenonthathadbeenpredicted。——ThisisthebeginningofmyGazette;canonlycomeouttwiceaweek,owingtothearrangementofthePosts。
Friday,thedayyourMajestycrossesintoSilesia,Ishallspendinprayeranddevotionalexercises:AstronomerspretendthatMarswillthatdayenter"——nomatterwhat。
NOTE,TheaboveManifestorumoriscorrect;JurisconsultisponderousHerrLudwig,Kanzler(Chancellor)ofHalleUniversity,monsteroflaw—learning,——whohasmoneyalso,andhadtohelponcewithaHouseinBerlinforoneNussler,ason—in—lawofhis,transientlyknowntous;——ponderousLudwig,matchlessordifficulttomatchinlearningofthiskind,willwriteampleenoughDeductions(whichlieinprintstill,totheextentoftons’
weight),andexplaintheERBVERBRUDERUNGandviolencedoneuponit,sothathewhorunsmayread。Postponehimtoacalmertime。
No。2。"BERLIN,SATURDAY,17thDECEMBER。Manifestohasappeared,"
——canbeseen,underthickstrataofcobwebs,inmanyBooks;
[InHelden—Geschichte,i。448,453(whatJordannowalludesto);IB。559—592("Deduction"itself,Ludwiginallhisstrength,somethreeweekshence;inOLENSCHLAGER
(doubtless);in&c。&c。]isnotworthreadingnow:IncontestablerightswhichourHousehasforageshadonSchlesien,andwhichdoubtlesstheHungarianMajestywillrecognize;nottheslightestinjuryintended,farindeedfromthat;andsoon!——"peoplearesurprisedatitsbrevity;and,studyingitastheologiansdoapassageofScripture,canmakealmostnothingofit。Clearascrystal,saysone;dexterouslyobscurebydesign,saysanother。
"RumorthattheGrand—DukeofLorraine,"MariaTheresa’sHusband,"wasatReinsbergincognitolately,"Grand—Dukeaconcertingparty,thinkpeoplelookingintothethingwithstrongspectaclesontheirnose!"M。deBeauvau[FrenchAmbassadorExtraordinary,towhomtheaceswerepromisediftheycame]saidonethingthatsurprisedme:
’WhatputtheKingontakingthisstep,Idonotknow;butperhapsitisnotsuchabadone。’SurprisingnewsthattheElectorofSaxony,KingofPoland,isfallenintoinconsolableremorseforchanginghisreligion[toPapistry,onPapa’shest,manylongyearsago]andthatitisnottothePope,buttotheKingofPrussia,thatheopenshishearttosteadyhisstaggeringorthodoxy。"
VeryastonishingtoJordan。"Onethingiscertain,allParisringswithyourMajesty’schangeofreligion"(overtoCatholicism,saythoseastonishingpeople,firstconjurersoftheuniverse)!
No。3。"BERLIN,20thDECEMBER。M。deBeauvau,"FrenchAmbassador,"isgone。Ended,yesterday,hissurveyoftheCabinetofMedals;
charmedwiththesame:charmedtoo,asthepublicis,withtherichpresenthehasgotfromsaidCabinet[coronationmedalormedalsingold,Icouldguess]:peoplesaytheKingofFrance’sMedalgiventoourM。deCamasisnothingtoit。
"RumorofalliancebetweenyourMajestyandFrancewithSweden,"
——prematurerumor。Item,"QueenofHungarydeadinchild—birth;"
——dittowithstillmoreemphasis!"Thedaybeforeyesterday,inallchurches,wasprayertoHeavenforsuccesstoyourMajesty’sarms;
interestoftheProtestantreligionbeingtheonecauseoftheWar,ortheonlyoneassignedbythereverendgentlemen。Atsoundofthesewords,thezealofthepeoplekindles:’BlessGodforraisingsuchaDefender!WhodaredsuspectourKing’sindifferencetoProtestantism?’"
Arightcleverthingthislast(OLEBEAUCOUPD’ETAT)!exclaimsJordan,——thoughitisnotcleverorthecontrary,notbeingdramaticallyprearranged,asJordanexultstothink。Jordan,thoughtherearedregsofolddevotionlyingasleepinhim,whichwillstartintonewactivitywhenstirredagain,isforthepresentaveryunbelievinglittlegentleman,Icanperceive。——ThisisthesubstanceofpublicrumoratBerlinforoneweek。
Friedrichanswers:——
TOM。JORDAN,ATBERLIN。
"QUARTERATMILKAU,TOWARDSGLOGAU,19thDECEMBER,1740
[comfortableJesuit—EstablishmentatMilkau,Friedrichjustgotin,outoftherain]。——SeigneurJordan,thyLetterhasgivenmeadealofpleasureinregardtoallthesetalkingsthoureportest。
To—morrow[notto—morrow,nornextday;wettroopsneedarest]I
arriveatourlaststationthissideGlogau,whichplaceIhopetogetinafewdays。Allfavorsmydesigns:andIhopetoreturntoBerlin,afterexecutingthemgloriouslyandinawaytobecontentwith。Lettheignorantandtheenvioustalk;itisnottheythatshalleverserveasloadstartomydesigns;notthey,butGlory[LAGLOIRE;Fame,dependingnotonthem]:withtheloveofthatI
ampenetratedmorethanever;mytroopshavetheirheartsbigwithit,andIanswertotheeforsuccess。Adieu,dearJordan。WritemealltheillthatthepublicsaysofthyFriend,andbepersuadedthatIloveandwillesteemtheealways。"——F。
JORDANTOTHEKING。
No。4;"BERLIN,24thDECEMBER。YourMajesty’sLetterfillsmewithjoyandcontentment。TheTowndeclaredyourMajestytobealreadyinBreslau;foundingonsomeLettertoaMerchanthere。EversincetheythinkofyourMajestyactingforProtestantism,theymakeyoustepalongwithstridesofAchillestotheendsofSilesia。——
ForeignCourtsareallratingtheirAmbassadorsherefornotfindingyouout。
"Wolf,"hisnegotiationsconcludedatlast,"hasenteredHallealmostlikethetriumphantEntrytoJerusalem。Aconcourseofpedantsescortedhimtohishouse。Lange[hisoldenemy,whoaccusedhimofAtheismandotherthings]hascalledtoseehim,andloadedhimwithcivilities,totheastonishmentoftheoldOrthodox。"Therelethimrest,wellbuttonedingaiters,andavoidingtomountstairs……"MadamedeRoucoulleshassentmethethreeobjectsadjoined,foryourMajesty’sbehoof,"——woollenachievements,donebytheneedle,goodagainstthewinterweatherforoneshenursed。Thegoodoldsoul。Enoughnow,ofJordan。
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvii。75—78。]
Voltaire,wholeftBerlin2dor3dDecember,seemstohavebeenstoptbyoverflowofriversaboutCleve,thentohavetakenboat;
andis,aboutthisverytime,writingtoFriedrich"fromavesselontheCoastsofZealand,whereIamdrivenmad。"(Intends,privately,forParisbeforelong,togethisMAHOMETacted,ifpossible。)ToVoltaire,hereisaNotecoming:
KINGTOH。DEVOLTAIRE(atBrussels,ifoncegotthither)。
"QUARTEROFHERRENDORFINSILESIA,23dDecember,1740。
"MYDEARVOLTAIRE,——IhavereceivedtwoofyourLetters;butcouldnotanswersooner;IamlikeCharlesTwelfth’sChess—King,whowasalwayskeptonthemove。Forafortnightpast,wehavebeencontinuallyafootandunderway,insuchweatherasyouneversaw。
"IamtootiredtoreplytoyourcharmingVerses;andshiveringtoomuchwithcoldtotasteallthecharmofthem:butthatwillcomeroundagain。Donotaskpoetryfromamanwhoisactuallydoingtheworkofawagoner,andsometimesevenofawagonerstuckinthemud。Wouldyouliketoknowmywayoflife?Wemarchfromseveninthemorningtillfourintheafternoon。Idinethen;afterwardsI
work,Ireceivetiresomevisits;withthesecomesadetailofinsipidmattersofbusiness。’Tiswrong—headedmen,punctiliouslydifficult,whoaretobesetright;headstoohotwhichmustberestrained,idlefellowsthatmustbeurged,impatientmenthatmustberendereddocile,plundererstorestrainwithintheboundsofequity,babblerstohearbabbling,dumbpeopletokeepintalk:
infine,onehastodrinkwiththosethatlikeit,toeatwiththosethatarehungry;onehastobecomeaJewwithJews,aPaganwithPagans。
"Sucharemyoccupations;——whichIwouldwillinglymakeovertoanother,ifthePhantomtheycallFame(GLOIRE)didnotriseonmetoooften。Intruth,itisagreatfolly,butafollydifficulttocastawaywhenonceyouaresmittenbyit。[PhantomofGLOIRE
somewhatrampantinthosefirstweeks;letusseewhetheritwillnotlayitselfagain,forevermore,beforelong!]
"Adieu,mydearVoltaire;mayHeavenpreservefrommisfortunethemanIshouldsoliketosupwithatnight,afterfightinginthemorning!TheSwanofPadua[Algarotti,withhisbighook—noseandduskysolemnlygreedycountenance]isgoing,Ithink,toParis,toprofitbymyabsence;thePhilosopherGeometer[bigMaupertuis,inredwigandyellowfrizzles,vainestofhumankind]issquaringcurves;poorlittleJordan[withthekindlyhazeleyes,andpenthatpleasantlygossipstous]isdoingnothing,orprobablysomethingnearit。Adieuoncemore,dearVoltaire;donotforgettheabsentwholoveyou。FREDERIC。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。57。]
SCHWERINATLIEGNITZ;FRIEDRICHHUSHESUPTHEGLOGAUPROBLEM,ANDSTARTSWITHHISBESTSPEEDFORBRESLAU。
Meanwhile,ontheWesternroad,andalongthefootofthesnowypeaksoveryonder,SchwerinwiththesmallRightcolumnisgoingprosperouslyforwards。Twocolumnsalways,asthereaderrecollects,——twoparallelmilitarycurrents,flowingsteadilyon,shootingoutestafettes,orhorse—parties,ontherightandleft;
steadilysubmergingallSilesiaastheyflowforward。LeftcolumnorcurrentisinslightpauseatGlogauhere;butwilldirectlybeabreastagain。OnTuesday,27th,SchweriniswithinwindofLiegnitz;onWednesdaymorning,whilethefiresarehardlylighted,orthesmokeofLiegnitzrisenamongtheHills,Schwerinhasdonehisfeatwiththeusualdeftness:Prussiangrenadierscamesoftlyonthesentry,softlyasadream;butwithsuddenlevellingofbayonets,suddenbeckoning,"ToyourGuard—house!"——andthere,turnthekeyuponhispoorcompanyandhim。WhereuponthewholePrussiancolumnmarchesin;tramptramp,withoutmusic,throughthestreets:
intheMarket—placetheyfoldthemselvesintoarankedmass,andexplodeintowind—harmonyandrollingofdrums。Liegnitz,mostlyinnightcap,lookscautiouslyoutofwindow:itisadeeddone,IHR
HERREN;Liegnitzours,betterlatethannever;andaftersomanyyears,theKinghashisownagain。SchwerinissumptuouslylodgedintheJesuits,Palace:Liegnitz,essentiallyaProtestantTown,hasmanythoughtsuponthisevent,butasyetwillbestingyofspeakingthem。
ThusisLiegnitzmanaged。ApleasantTown,amidpleasanthillsontherockyKatzbach;ofwhichswiftstream,andothertownsandpassesonit,weshallyethearmore。Population,silentlyindustriousinweavingandotherwise,isnowabove14,000;wasthenperhapsabouthalfthatnumber。Patientlyinarticulate,bynomeansbrightinspeechorsentiment;amuch—enduring,steady—going,frugal,piousandverydesirablepeople。
ThesituationofBreslau,allthiswhile,isverycritical。
Muchbottledemotionintheplace;noAustrianGarrisonadmissible;
Authoritiesdarenotagainproposesuchathing,thoughBrowneisturningeverystoneforit,——lesttheemotionburstbottle,andtakefire。IhavedimaccountthatBrownehasbeenthere,hasgot300AustriandragoonsintotheDomInsel(CATHEDRALISLAND;"NotintheCity,youperceive!"saysGeneralBrowne:"no,separatedbytheOder,onbothsides,fromtherestoftheCity;thatstatelymassofedifices,andgoodmilitarypost");——andhadhopedtogetthesuburbsburnt,afterall。Butthebottledemotionwastoodangerous。For,underground,thereareANTI—Brownes:oneespecially;acertainbusyDeblin,Shoemakerbycraft,whomFriedrichspeaksof,butgivesnonameto;thiszealousCordwainer,Deblin,andheisnottheonlyindividualoflikehumor,operatesontheguild—brothersandlowerpopulations:[Preuss,
Thronbesteigung,p。469;OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。61。]thingsseemtobelookingworseandworsefortheAuthorities,inspiteofGeneralBrowneandhisactivitiesanddragoons。
Whattheissuewillbe?JudgeifFriedrichwishedtheYoungDessauercome!Friedrich’sHussarparties(orSchwerin’s,instructedbyFriedrich)gotolookiftheBreslausuburbsareburnt。Farfromit,ifFriedrichknew;——thesuburbsmerelysitquakingatsuchaproposal,andwishthePrussianswerehere。
"Butthereistimeaheadofus,"saideverybodyatBreslau;
"Glogauwilltakesomesieging!"Browne,inthecourseofadayortwo,——guessing,Ialmostthink,thatGlogauwasnottobebesieged,——rankedhis300Austriandragoons,androdeaway;
sendingtheAustrianState—Papers,inhalfascoreofwagons,aheadofhim。"ArchivesofBreslau!"criedthegeneralpopulation,atsightofthesewagons;andlargelyturnedout,withemotionagainliketounbottleitself。"MereTax—Ledgers,andrecordsoftheGovernmentOffices;comeandconvinceyourselves!"answeredtheAuthorities。Andthetenwagonswenton;callingatOhlauandBrieg,forfartherladingofthelikekind。WhichwagonsthePrussianlight—horsechased,butcouldnotcatch。OntoMahrenwenttheseArchive—wagons;toBrunn,farovertheGiantMountains;——didnotcomebackforalongwhile,nortotheirformerProprietoratall。Tuesday,27th,LeopoldtheYoungDessauerdoesfinallyarrive,withhisReserve,atGlogau:nevermanmorewelcome;suchafermentationgoingonatBreslau,——knowntoFriedrich,andwhatitwillissuein,ifhedelay,notknown。Withdespatch,Leopoldisputintohischarge;postsallyieldedtohim;ordersgiven,——
blockadetobestrictnessitself,butnofightingifavoidable;
"starvationwillsoondoit,twomonthsatmost,"hopesFriedrich,toosanguineasitproved:——andwithearliestdaylightonthe28th,Friedrich’sArmy,Friedrichhimselfinthevanasusual,isonmarchagain;atitsbestspeedforBreslau。ReadthisNoteforJordan:——
FRIEDRICHTOM。JORDAN,ATBERLIN。
"HERRENDORF,27thDec。1740。
"SIEURJORDAN,——Imarchto—morrowforBreslau;andshallbethereinfourdays[three,ithappened;thererising,aswouldseem,newreasonforhaste]。YouBerliners[ofthe24thlast]haveaspiritofprophecy,whichgoesbeyondme。Infine,Igomyroad;andthouwiltshortlyseeSilesiarankedinthelistofourProvinces。
Adieu;thisisallIhavetimetotellthee。Religion[SilesianProtestantism,andBreslau’sCordwainer],religionandourbravesoldierswilldotherest。
"TellMaupertuisIgrantthosePensionsheproposesforhisAcademicians;andthatIhopetofindgoodsubjectsforthatdignityintheCountrywhereIam,withal。Givehimmycompliments。
FREDERIC。"
Themarchwasoftheswiftest,——swiftereventhanhadbeenexpected;——which,asSilesiaisallringingglass,becomesmoreachievablethanlately。Butcertainregimentsoutdidthemselvesinmarching;"inthreemarches,nearuponseventymiles,"——withtheirbaggagejinglingindueproximity。ThroughGlasersdorf,thencethroughParchwitz,Neumarkt,Lissa,placesthatwillbebetterknowntous;——onSaturday,lastnightoftheYear,hisMajestylodgedataSchlosscalledPilsnitz,fivemilestowestofBreslau;
andvan—wardregiments,agoodfew,quarteredintheWesternandSouthernsuburbsofBreslauitself;suburbsdecidedlygladtoseethem,andescapeconflagration。TheTown—gatesarehermeticallyshut;——plentyofemotionbottledinthe100,000heartswithin。
Thesentriesonthewallspresentedarms;nay,itisaffirmed,somecouldnothelpexclaiming,"WILKOMMEN,IHRLIEBENHERREN(Welcome,dearSirs)!"[Helden—Geschichte,i。534。]
ColonelPosadowsky(activeHorseColonelwhomwehaveseenbefore,whoperhapshasbeeninBreslaubefore)leftorders"attheScultetGarden—House,"thatallmustbereadyandtheroomswarmed,hisMajestyintendingtoarrivehereearlyonthemorrow。Whichhappenedaccordingly;MajestyalightingdulyatsaidGarden—House,nearbytheSchweidnitzGate,——Ifancyalmostbeforebreakofday。
ChapterIV。
BRESLAUUNDERSOFTPRESSURE。
TheissueofthisBreslautransactionisknown,orcouldbestatedinfewwords;noristhemannerofitsuchaswould,forBreslau’ssake,deservemany。ButwearelookingintoFriedrich,wishtoknowhismannersandaspects:andhere,readytoourhand,aPaperturnsup,compiledbyanexactpersonwithbetterleisurethanours,minutelydetailingeverypartoftheaffair。ThisPaper,afterthequestion,Burnorinsert?istohavethelotofappearinghere,withwhatabridgmentsarepossible:——
"SUNDAY,1stJANUARY,1741。TheKinghavingestablishedhimselfinHerrnScultet’sGarden—House,notfarfromtheSchweidnitzGate,therebeganadelicateandgreatoperation。ThePrussians,inasoftcautiousmanner,inthegrayofthemorning,pushouttheirsentriestowardsthethreeGatesonthissideoftheOder;seizeany’ExciseHouse,’orthelike,thatmaybefitforapost;andsoftlyput’twentygrenadiers’init。Allthisbeforesunrise。
Breslauisrigidlyshut;Breslauthoughtalwaysitcouldstanduponitsguard,ifattacked;——isnow,inOfficialquarters,dismallyuncertainifitcan;generalpopulationbecomingcertainthatitcannot,andwaitinganxiousonthedevelopmentofthisgranddrama。
"About7A。M。aPrussiansubalternadvancingwithincryoftheSchweidnitzGate,requestsoftheTown—guardthere,TosendhimoutaTown—Officer。Town—Officerappears;isinformed,’ThatColonelsPosadowskyandBorck,CommissionersorplenipotentiaryMessengersfromhisPrussianMajesty,desireadmittancetotheChiefMagistrateofBreslau,forthepurposeofsignifyingwhathisPrussianMajesty’sinstructionsare。’Town—Officerbows,andgoesuponhiserrand。Town—Officerissomeconsiderabletimebeforehecanreturn;CityAuthoritiesbeing,asweknow,various,partlyImperial,partlyCivic;elderly;andsomeofthemgonetochurch,——
formatins,ortobeoutoftheway。However,hedoesatlastreturn;admitsthetwoColonels,andescortsthemhonorably,totheChiefRATHS—SYNDIC(Lord—Mayor)oldHerrvonGutzmar’s;wherethepoorold"PresidentoftheOBERAMT"(VonSchaffgotschthenameofthislatter)islikewiseinattendance。
"PrussianMajesty’sproposalsareofthemildestsort:’NothingdemandedofBreslaubuttheplainlyindispensableandindisputable,ThatPrussiabeinitwhatAustriahasbeen。Inallelse,STATUS
QUO。StrictneutralitytoBreslau,respectforitsprivilegesasaFreeCityoftheReich;protectiontoallitsrightsandprivilegeswhatsoever。ShallbeguardedbyitsownGarrison;noPrussiansoldiertoenterexceptwithsidearms;only30guardsfortheKing’sperson,whowillvisittheCityforafewdays;——intendstoformaMagazine,withguardof1,000men,butonlyoutsidetheCity:norequisitions;readymoneyforeverything。ChiefSyndicGutzmarandPresidentSchaffgotschshallconsiderthesepoints。’
[Helden—Geschichte,i。537。]SyndicandPresidentanswer,Surely!Cannot,however,decidetilltheyhaveassembledtheTown—Rath;thetwoHerrenColonelswillpleasetobeguestsofBreslau,andlodgeintheCitytillthen。
"Andtheylodged,accordingly,inthe’GROSSERING’(calledalsoSALZ—RING,bigCentralSquare,wheretheRathhausis);andtheymadeandreceivedvisits,——visitedespeciallytheChiefPresident’sOffice,theOber—Amt,andsignifiedthere,thathisPrussianMajesty’sexpectationwas,TheywouldgivesomeaccountofthatratherhighProclamationor’Patent’theyhadpublishedagainsthimtheotherday,amidthunderandlightninghere,andwhattheynowthoughtwouldbeexpedientuponit?Allingraveofficialterms,butofsuchapurportaswasnotexhilaratingtoeverybodyinthoseOber—Amtlocalities。
"MONDAYMORNING,2dJANUARY。TheRathisassembled;andconsults,——
consultsatgreatlength。RATH—HouseandSyndicGutzmar,insuchcrisis,wouldfainhaveadvicefromAMT—HouseorPresidentSchaffgotsch;butcangetnone:considerablecomingandgoingbetweenthem:atlength,about3intheafternoon,theTreatyisgotdrawnup;issignedbythedueBreslauhands,andbythetwoPrussianColonels,——whichlatterrideoutwithit,about4oftheclock;victoriousafterthirtyhours。StraighttowardstheScultetGardenridethey;Town—guardpresentingArms,attheSchweidnitzGate;nayTown—bandbreakingoutintomusic,whichisneverdonebuttoAmbassadorsandhighpeople。Bythirtyhoursofsteadysoftpressure,theyhavebroughtitthusfar。
"FriedrichhadwaitedpatientlyallSunday,keepingsteadyguardattheGates;butonMonday,naturally,thethirtyhoursbegantohangheavy:atallevents,heperceivedthatitwouldbewelltofacilitateconclusionsalittlefromwithout。BreslaustandsontheWest,morestrictlyspeaking,ontheSouthsideoftheOder,whichmakesanelbowhere,andthusboundsit,ormostlyboundsit,ontwosides。Thebigdrab—coloredRiverspreadsoutintoIslands,ofaconfusedsort,asitpasses;whicharepartlybuiltupon,andconstitutesuburbsoftheTown,——stretchingover,hereandthere,intostragglesoffarthersuburbbeyondtheRiver,wherearoadwithitsbridgehappenstocrossfortheEasternparts。
TheprincipaloftheseIslandsistheDOMINSEL,"——knowntoGeneralBrowneandus,——"onwhichistheCathedral,andtheCLOSEwithrichCanonsandtheiredifices;Islandfilledwithstronghigharchitecture;andasuperiormilitarypost。
"FriedrichhasalreadyasgoodaspossessedhimselfofthethreelandwardGates,whichlooktothesouthandtothewest;theriverwardgates,orthoseonthenorthandtheeast,heperceivesthatitweregoodnowalsotohave;these,andevenperhapssomethingmore?’Gatheralltheriver—boats,makeabridgeofthemacrosstheOder;pushacross400men:’thisisdoneonMondaymorning,undertheKing’sowneye。Thisdone,’MarchuptothatriverwardGate,andalsotothatother,inamildbutdangerous—
lookingmanner;hewthebeamsofsaidGateintwo;startthebiglocks;flingwideopensaidGateandGates:’thistooisdone;
Town—guardlookingmournfullyon。Thisdone,’Marchforwardswiftly,intwohalves,withoutbeatofdrum,——whitherwardyouknow!’
"ThosethreehundredAustrianDragoons,wesawthemleavetheDomIsland,threedaysago;thereareatpresentonlySixMen,oftheBISHOP’SGuard,walkingunderarmsthere,——attheendofthechiefbridge,ontheTownwardsideoftheirDomIsland。See,Prussiancapsandmuskets,yesixmenunderarms!Thesixmenclutchattheirdrawbridge,andhastilysetabouthoisting:——alas,anotherPrussiancorps,whichhascomeprivatelybytheeastern(orCountry—ward)Bridge,Kinghimselfwithit,tapsthemontheshoulderatthisinstant;mildlyconstrainsthesixintotheirguard—house:thedrawbridgefalls;400PrussiangrenadierstakequietpossessionoftheDomIsland:KingmayreturntotheScultetGarden,havingquickenedthelazyhoursinthismanner。TosuchoftheCanonsashecameupon,hisMajestywasmostpolite;theymostsubmiss。Thesixsoldiersofthedrawbridge,havingspokenalittleloud,——stillmoreatoozealousbeef—eaterofoldSchaffgotsch’sfoundhere,whohadbeenveryloud,——wereputunderarrest;butmoreforform’ssake;andwereletgo,inadayortwo。"
NothingcouldbegentleronFriedrich’spart,andonthatofhistwoColonels,thanthisdelicateoperationthroughout:——andat4P。M。,afterthirtyhoursofwaiting,itisdone,andnobody’sskinscratched。OldSyndicGutzmar,andtheTown—Rath,urgedbyperilsandaTownPopulationwhoareProtestant,havesignedtheSurrenderwithgood—will,atleastwithresignation,andafeelingofrelief。TheOber—AmtOfficialshavelikewisehadtosign;
fullofallthesilentspleenanddespondencywhichisnaturaltothesituation:spleenwhich,inthecaseofoldSchaffgotsch,weakwithage,becomespassionatelyaudiblehereandthere。HewillhavetogiveaccountofthatinjuriousProclamation,orQueen’s"Patent,"tothisKingthathasnowcome。
KINGENTERSBRESLAW;STAYSTHERE,GRACIOUSANDVIGILANT,FOURDAYS(Jan。2d—6th,1741)。
IntheRoyalEntrancewhichtookplacenextday,notethesepoints。
SyndicGutzmarandtheAuthoritiescameout,ingrandcoaches,at8
inthemorning;hadtowaitawhile;theKing,havingriddenawaytolookafterhismanifoldaffairs,didnotgetbacktill10。TownGuardandGarrisonarealldrawnout;Gatesallflungopen,Prussiansentrieswithdrawnfromthem,andfromtheExcise—housestheyhadseized:King’sKitchen—and—ProviantCarriages(fourmulestoeach,withbells,withuncommonlyrichhousings):King’sBody—
Coachverygrandindeed,andgrandlyescorted,theThirtyBody—
guardsridingahead;butnothinginit,onlyamostsuperfinecloak"linedwhollywithermine"flungupontheseat。OtherCoaches,moreorlessgrandlyescorted;HeadCup—bearers,Seneschals,Princes,Margraves:——butwhereistheKing?Kinghadriddenaway,asecondtime,withchiefGenerals,takingsurveyoftheTownWalls,roundasfarastheZIEGEL—THOR(Tile—Gate,extremesoutheast,bytheriver—edge):hehasthusmadethewholecircuitofBreslau;——
unweariedinpickingupusefulknowledge,"thoughitwasverycold,"whilethatProcessionofCoacheswenton。
Atnoon,hisMajesty,thriftyoftime,didenter:onhorseback,Schwerinridingwithhim;behindhimmiscellaneouschiefOfficers;
BorckandPosadowskyamongothers;somemiscellanyofPage—peoplefollowing。Withthisnaturalescort,herodein;Town—Major(CommandantofTown—guard),withdrawnswordgoingahead;——KingworehisusualCockedHat,andpracticalBlueCloak,bothalittledimmedbyservice:buthisgrayhorsewasadmirable;andfourscarletFootmen,grandasgalloonandsilverfringecouldmakethem,didtheduemagnificenceindress。Hewasverygracious;
salutingtothissideandtothat,wherehenoticedpeopleofconditioninthewindows。"AlongSchweidnitzStreet,acrosstheGreatRing,downAlbrechtStreet。"Healighted,tolodge,attheCount—SchlegenbergHouse;whichusedtobetheAustrianCardinalvonSinzendorfPrimateofSilesia’shiredlodging,——Sinzendorf’sfurnitureisputgentlyaside,onthisnewoccasion。Kingcameonthebalcony;andstoodthereforsomeminutes,thateverybodymightseehim。The"immenseshoutings,"Dryasdustassuresme,havebeenexaggerated;andIamwarnednottobelievetheKRIEGS—FAMAsuchandsuchaNumber,exceptaftercomparingitwithhim。——Thatdaytherewasdinnerofmorethanthirtycovers,ChiefSyndicGutzmarandothersuchguests;butastotheviands,saysmyfriend,these,owingtothehaste,werenothingtospeakof。[Helden—
Geschichte,i。545—548。]
Dinner,betterandbetterordered,Kingmoreandmoregracious,soitcontinuedallthefourdaysofhisMajesty’sstay:——ontheseconddaybehadtorisesuddenlyfromtable,andleavehisguestswithanapology;somethinghavinggoneawry,atoneoftheGates。
Awrythere,betweentheTownAuthoritiesandaGeneralJeetzofhis,——whoisonmarchacrosstheRiveratthismoment(onwhaterrandweshallhear),andalittlemistakestheterms。HisMajestyputsJeetzright;andevenwaits,tillheseeshisBrigadeandhimclearacross。AjuniorSchaffgotsch,[Helden—Geschichte,ii。159。]nottheinconsolableSchaffgotschsenior,buthisNephew,wasoneofthegueststhissecondday;anecclesiastic,butofwittyfashionabletype,andIthinkaveryworthlessfellow,thoughofafamilyimportantintheProvince。
Dinnerfallsaboutnoon;doesnotlastabovetwohoursorthree,sothatthereisspaceforaride("totheDom,"thefirstafternoon,"fourrunners"always),andformuchindoorwork,beforethesupper—hour。
AstheAustrianAuthoritiessatsilentintheirplace,andgavenoexplanationofthat"Patent,"affixedamidthunderandlightning,——theygotordersfromhisMajestytogotheirwaysnextday;
andwent。InbehalfofoldPresidentvonSchaffgotsch,achiefoftheSilesianNobility,andmanmuchloved,theBreslaupeople,andmenfromeveryguildandrankofsociety,madepetitionThat,heshouldbeallowedtocontinueinhisTownHousehere。Which"firstrequestofyours"hisMajesty,withmuchgrace,issorrytobeobligedtorefuse。Thesuppressed,andinsuppressible,weakindignationofoldSchaffgotschisvisibleontheoccasion;nor,I
think,doesFriedrichtakeitill;onlysendshimoutofthewaywithit,forthetime。TheAustrianOber—AmtvanishedbodilyfromBreslauinthismanner;andneverreturned。Proper"War—Commission(FELD—KRIEGS—COMMISSARIAT),"withMunchow,oneofthoseskilfulCustrinMunchows,atthetopofit,organizeditselfinstead;
which,almostofnecessity,becameSupremeGovernmentinaCityungovernedotherwise:——andtrulytherewaslittleregretoftheOber—Amt,inBreslau;andeverless,toamarkedextent,astheyearswenton。
Onthe5thofJanuary(fourthandlastnighthere),hisMajestygaveagrandBall。Hadhired,orColonelPosadowskyinsteadofhimhadhired,theAssemblyRooms(REDOUTEN—SAAL),forthepurpose:
"InvitealltheNobilityhighandlow;"——expensebyestimateisaducat(half—guinea)each;doitwell,andhisMajestywillpay。
About6intheevening,hisMajestyinpersondidusthehonortodriveover;openedtheBallwithMadamtheCountessvonSchlegenberg(Ishouldguess,aDowagerLady),inwhosehousehelodges。IamnotawarethathisMajestydancedmuchfarther;buthewasverycondescending,andspokeandsmiledupanddown;——till,aboutl0P。M。,anOfficercameinwithaLetter。WhichLetterhisMajestyhavingread,andseeminglyaskedaquestionortwoinregardto,putsilentlyinhispocket,asifitwereafinishedthing。Nevertheless,afterafewminutes,hisMajestywasfoundtohavesilentlywithdrawn;anddidnotreturn,noteventosupper。
Perceivingwhich,allthePrussianofficialpeoplegraduallywithdrew;thoughthedancingandsuppingcontinuednottheless,toalatehour。[Helden—Geschichte,i。557。]
"OpentheAustrianMail—bag(FELLEISEN);seealittlewhattheyaresayingoverthere!"Suchorderhadevidentlybeengiven,thisnight。Inconsequenceofwhich,peoplewrotebyDresden,andnotthedirectway,infuture;wishingtoavoidthatopenableFELLEISEN。Nextmorning,January6th,hisMajestyhadleftforOhlau,——early,Isuppose;thoughthereprovedtobenothingdangerousaheadthere,afterall。
ChapterV。
FRIEDRICHPUSHESFORWARDTOWARDSBRIEGANDNEISSE。
OhlauisapleasantlittleTown,twomarchessoutheastofBreslau;
withtheOhlauRiverononeside,andtheOderontheother;
capableofsomedefence,werethereagarrison。BriegtheimportantFortress,stillontheOder,issomefifteenmilesbeyondOhlau;
afterwhich,bendingstraightsouthandquittingOder,Neissethestillmoreimportantmaybethirtymiles:——fromBreslautoNeisse,bythisroute(whichisBOW,notSTRING),sixty—fiveorseventymiles。OneofmyTopographersyieldsthisNote,ifreaderscareforit:——
"OhlauRiver,aninsignificantdrab—coloredstream,riseswellsouthofBreslau,aboutStrehlen;makes,atfirst,directeastwardtowardstheOder;andthen,whenalmostcloseuponit,breaksofftonorth,andsauntersalong,irregularlyparalleltoOder,fortwentymilesfarther,beforeitcanfallfairlyin。TothiscircumstancebothBreslauandaTownofOhlauowetheirexistence;
Towns,bothofthem,’betweenthewaters,’andotherwisewellseated;Ohlaushelteringitselfintheattemptedoutfallofitslittleriver;Breslauclusteringitselfabouttheactualoutfall:
bothverydefensibleplacesintheoldrudetime,andgoodfortradeinalltimes。BothOderandOhlauRivershavesplitandspreadthemselvesintoislandsanddeltasagooddeal,attheirplaceofmeeting;andevenhavechangedtheircourses,andcutoutnewchannelsforthemselves,inthesandycountry;makingaveryintricatewaterynetworkofasiteforBreslau:andindeedtheOhlauRiverhere,forcenturiesback,hasbeencompelledintowidemeanderings,merefillingoframpart—ditches,sothatitissuesquiteobscurely,andinanartificialengineeredcondition,atBreslau。"
Ohlauhadbeenexpectedtomakesomedefence;GeneralBrownehavingthrown300menintoit,anddonewhathecouldfortheworks。
AndOhlaudidatfirstthreatentomakesome;butthoughtbetterofitovernight,andineffectmadenone;butwasgot(morningofJanuary9th)onthecommonterms,bymerelymarchinguptoitinminatoryposture。"PrisonersofWar,ifyoumakeresistance;
FreeWithdrawal[Libertytomarchaway,armsshouldered,andnotserveagainstusforayear],ifyouhavemadenone:"thisisthecommoncourse,wherethereareAustrianSoldiersatall;thecoursewherenoneare,andonlyafewSyndicssit,withtheirTown—Keylaidonthetable,apreytothestrongerhand,wehavealreadyseen。
FromOhlau,properDetachment,underGeneralKleist,ispushedforwardtosummonBrieg;Jeetzfromtheothersideoftheriver(whomwesawcrossingatBreslautheotherday,interruptinghisMajesty’sdinner)istoco—operatewithKleistinthatenterprise,——weretheCountryonceclearedonhis,Jeetz’s,eastsideofOder;
especiallywereNamslauoncehad,asmallTownandCastleoverthere,whichcommandsthePolishandHungarianroad。Friedrich’shopesarebuoyant;Schwerinisswiftlyrollingforwardtorightward,nothingresistinghim;DetachmentisgonefromSchwerin,overtheHills,toGlatz(theGRAFSCHAFT,orCountyGlatz,anAppendagetoSchlesien),underexcellentguidance;underguidance,namely,ofColonelCamas,whohasjustcomehomefromhisParisianEmbassy,andgotlaunchedamongthewintrymountains,onanewoperation,——which,however,provesofnon—effectforthepresent。
[Helden—Geschichte,i。678;Orlich,
GeschichtederbeidenSchlesischenKriege,i。49。]
Indeed,itisobservablethatsouthwardofBreslau,thedispute,whatdisputetherecanbe,properlybegins;andthatGeneralBrowneisthere,andshowshimselfashiningmaninthisdifficultposition。Itmustbeowned,noGeneralcouldhavemadehissmallmeansgofarther。Effectivegarrisons,1,600each,putintoBriegandNeisse;worksrepaired,magazinescollected,thereandelsewhere;therestofhispoor7,000thriftilysprinkledabout,inwhatgoodpoststhereare,and"capableofbeinggottogetherinsixhours:"asuperiorsoldier,thisBrowne,thoughwithaverybadtask;andseemstohaveinspiredeverybodywithsomethingofhisowntemper。Sothatthereismarching,detaching,miscellaneousdifficultyforFriedrichinthisquarter,morethanhadbeenexpected。IfthefateofBriegandNeissebeinevitable,Brownedoeswonderstodelayit。
OfthePrussianmarchesintheseparts,recordedbyintricateDryasdust,therewasnopointsonotabletomeasthisunrecordedone:theStonePillarwhich,Isee,theKleistDetachmentwassuretofind,justnow,onthemarchfromOhlautoBrieg;lastportionofthatmarch,betweenthevillageofBriesenandBrieg。TheOder,flowingonyourlefthand,ishereaboutsagreeablyclothedwithwoods:thecountry,originallyaswamp,hasbeendrained,andgiventotheplough,inanagreeablemanner;andthereisanexcellentroadpavedwithsolidwhinstone,——quarriedinStrehlen,twentymilesaway,amongtheHillstotherightyonder,asyoumayguess;
——roadveryvisibletothePrussiansoldier,thoughhedoesnotaskwherequarried。Thesebeautifulimprovements,beautifulhumanities,——weredonebywhom?"Donein1584,"saytherecords,by"GeorgethePious;"DukeofLiegnitz,BriegandWohlau;156yearsago。
"Pious"hiscontemporariescalledthisGeorge;——hewassonoftheERBVERBRUDERUNGDuke,whoissoimportanttous;hewasgrandfather’sgrandfatherofthelastDukeofall;afterwhomitwaswethatshouldhavegotthesefineTerritories;theyshouldallhavefallentotheGreatElector,hadnottheAustrianstronghandprovidedotherwise。Georgedidtheseplantations,recoveriestotheplough;madethisperennialwhinstoneroadacrosstheswamps;uponwhich,notabletotheroughestPrussian(being"twelvefeethighbyeightfeetsquare"),risesaHewnMasswiththisInscriptiononit,——notofthenameordateofGeorge;butofathoughtofhis,whichisnotwithoutapiousbeautytome:——
Straveruntaliinobis,nosPosteritati;
OmnibusatChristusstravitadasraviam。
Othershavemaderoadsforus;wemakethemforstillothers:
Christmadearoadtothestarsforusall。
[Zollner,BriefeuberSchlesien,i。175;
Hubner,i。t。101。]
IknownothowmanyBrandenburgersofGeneralKleist’sDetachment,orwhetherany,readthisStone;buttheydoallrustlepastitthere,claimingtheHeritageofthisPiousGeorge;andtheirmutediminterviewwithhim,inthismanner,isathingslightlymorememorablethanordersoftheday,atthisdate。
Itwasonthe11th,twodaysafterOhlau,thatGeneralKleistsummonedBrieg;andBriegansweredresolutely,No。Thereisagarrisonof1,600here,andapropermagazine:nothingforitbutto"mask"Briegtoo;KleistonthissidetheRiver,Jeetzonthat,——hadJeetzoncedonewithNamslau,whichhehasnotbyanymeans。
Namslau’sanswerwaslikewisestifflyinthenegative;andJeetzcannotdoNamslau,atleastnottheCastle,allatonce;havingnosiege—cannon。Seeingsuchstiffnesseverywhere,FriedrichwritestoGlogau,totheYoungDessauer,"Siege—artilleryhither!Swift,bytheOder;youdon’tneeditwhereyouare!"andwishesitwerearrived,forbehoofofNeisseandthesestiffhumors。
FRIEDRICHCOMESACROSSTOOTTMACHAU;SITSTHERE,INSURVEYOF
NEISSE,TILLHISCANNONCOME。
ThePrussiansmetwithseriousresistance,forthefirsttime(9thJanuary,samedaywhenOhlauyielded),ataplacecalledOttmachau;
aconsiderablelittleTownandCastleontheNeisseRiver,notfarwestofNeisseTown,almostattheverysouthofSilesia。ItlayontherouteofSchwerin’sColumn;longdistancesaheadofLiegnitz,——say,bystraighthighwayahundredmiles;——duringwhich,torightandtoleft,therehadbeennothingbutsubmissionhitherto。
Noresistancewasexpectedhereeither,fortherewasnothopeinany;onlythatBrownehadbeenhere;industrioustocreatedelaytillNeisseweregotfullyready。Heis,byeverymeans,girdinguptheloinsofNeisseforatightdefence;hasput1,600menintoit,withproperstoresforthem,witharesoluteskilfulCaptainatthetopofthem:assiduousBrownehadbeenatOttmachau,astheoutpostofNeisse,adayortwobefore;and,theysay,hadadmonishedthem"Nottoyieldonanyterms,forhewouldcertainlycometotheirrelief。"Whichdoubtlesshewouldhavedone,haditbeeninhispower;buthow,exceptbymiracle,coulditbe?Onthe9thofJanuary,whenSchwerincomesup,Browneisagainwaitinghereabouts。Againindefensiveposture,butwithoutforcetoundertakeanything;standsontheSouthernUplands,withBohmenandMahrenandtheGiantMountainsathisback;——stands,sotospeak,defensiveathisownHouse—door,inthismanner;andwillhave,afterSEEINGOttmachau’sfateandNeisse’s,toduckinwithaslam!
Atanyrate,hehadlefttheseTownsintheabovefirmhumor,screwedtothesticking—place;andhadthengallopedelse—whithertoscrewandprepare。
AndsotheOttmachauAustrians,"260pickedgrenadiers"(400
dragoonstherealsoatfirstwere,who,afterflourishingaboutontheoutskirtsasifforfighting,rodeaway),fire"DESPERAT,"saysmyintricatefriend;[Helden—Geschichte,i。672—677;
Orlich,i。50。]entirelyrefusingtermsfromSchwerin;killtwelveofhispeople(MajordeRege,distinguishedEngineerMajor,oneofthem):sothatSchwerinhastobringpetardsuponthem,fourcannonuponthem;andburstintheirTownGate,almosttheirCastleGate,andprettymuchtheirCastleitself;——wastingthreedaysofhistimeuponthispaltrymatter。Uponwhichtheydosignifyawillingnessfor"FreeWithdrawal。""No,IHRHERREN"answers,Schwerin;"notnow;aftersuchmadexplosion。HisMajestywillhavetosettleit。"Majesty,whoisbythistimenotfaroff,comesovertoOttmachau(January12th);giveswordsofrebuke,rebukenotveryinexorable;andadmitsthemPrisonersofWar。"TheofficersweresenttoCustrin,commonmentoBerlin;"theusualarrangementinsuchcase。OttmachauTownbelongstotheRightReverendvonSinzendorf,BishopofBreslau,andPrimate;whoseespecialPalaceisinNeisse;thoughhe"commonlysendshisrefractoryPrieststodotheirpenanceintheSchlossatOttmachauhere,"——and,Ishouldsay,hadbetterhimselfmaketerms,andcomeouthitherward,underpresentaspects。
FriedrichcontinuesatOttmachau;head—quarterstherethenceforth,tillheseeNeissesettled。Onthemorrow,13th)helearnsthattheSiegeArtilleryisatGrotkau;wellforwardtowardsNeisse;
halfwaybetweenBriegandit。Sameday,ColonelCamasreturnstohimoutofGlatz;fiveofhismenlost;andreportsThatBrownehashadtheroadstornup,thatGlatzismereiceandobstruction,andthatnothingcanbemadeofitatthisseason。Goodnewsalternatingwithnotsogood。
Thetruthis,FriedrichhasgotnoStrongPlaceinSchlesien;
allstrengthsmakeunexpecteddefence;paltrylittleNamslanitselfcannotbequitetaken,Castlecannot,tillJeetzgetshissiege—
artillery,——whichdoesnotcomealongsofastasthattoNeissedoes。HereisanExcerptfrommyDryasdust,exactthoughabridged,concerningJeetz:——
"JANUARY24th,1741。Prussians,mastersoftheTownforacoupleofweeksback,havegotintotheChurchatNamslau,intotheCloister;
arepreparingplankfloorsforbatteries,cuttingloop—holes;
diligentaspossible,——siege—gunsnowatlastjustcoming。
TheCastlefiresfiercelyonthem,makesfurioussallies,stealssixofouroxen,——makesinsolentgesturesfromthewalls;atleastonesoldierdoes,thisday。’Sir,mayIgivethatfellowashot?’
asksthePrussiansentry。’Do,then,’answershisMajor:’tooinsolentthatone!’Andthesentryexplodesonhim;bringshimplungingdown,headforemost(HERUNTERPURZELTE);thetooinsolentmortal,silentenoughthenceforth。"[Helden—Geschichte,i。703。]——Jeetzdidgethiscannon,thoughnottillnow,thisverydayIthink;andthen,inacoupleofdaysmore,JeetzfinishedoffNamslau("officerstoCustrin,CommonmentoBerlin");andthereuponblockadestheEasternsideofBrieg,joininghandswithKleistontheWestern:wherebyBrieg,likeGlogau,iscompletelymasked,——tilltheseasonmend。
Friedrich,nowthathisartilleryiscome,expectsnodifficultywithNeisse。A"paltryhamlet(BICOQUE)"heplayfullycallsit;
and,exceptthis,Silesiaisnowhis。Neissegot(whichwouldbethedesirablething),orputunder"mask"asGlogauis,andasBriegisbeing,Austriapossessesnotaninchoflandwithintheseborders。HerearesomeEpistolarysnatches;stillinthelightstyle,nottosaytheflimsyanduplifted;butworthgiving,sotransparentarethey;offhand,likewordswehadheardhisMajestySPEAK,inhishighmood:——
KINGTOM。JORDAN,ATBERLIN(twosuccessiveLetters)。
1。"OTTMACHAU,14thJANUARY,1741[seconddayafterourarrivalthere]。MydearMonsieurJordan,mysweetMonsieurJordan,myquietMonsieurJordan,mygood,mybenign,mypacific,myhumanestMonsieurJordan,——IannouncetoThySerenitytheconquestofSilesia;IwarntheeofthebombardmentofNeisse[justgettingready],andIpreparetheeforstillmoreimportantprojects;
andinstructtheeofthehappiestsuccessesthatthewombofFortuneeverbore。
"Thisoughttosufficethee。BemyCiceroastothejusticeofmycause,andIwillbethyCaesarastotheexecution。Adieu:thouknowestwhetherIamnot,withthemostcordialregard,thyfaithfulfriend。——F。"
2。"OTTMACHAU,17thJANUARY,1741。IhavethehonortoinformyourHumanitythatwearechristianlypreparingtobombardNeisse;
andthatiftheplacewillnotsurrenderofgood—will,needsmustthatitbebeatentopowder(NECESSITESERADEL’ABIMER)。Fortherest,ouraffairsgothebestintheworld;andsoonthouwilthearnothingmoreofus。Forintendaysitwillallbeover;andI
shallhavethepleasureofseeingyouandhearingyou,inaboutafortnight。
"IhaveseenneithermyBrother[AugustWilhelm,notlongagoatStrasburgwithus,andbetrothedsincethen]norKeyserling:
IleftthematBreslau,nottoexposethemtothedangersofwar。
Theyperhapswillbealittleangry;butwhatcanIdo?——Theratheras,onthisoccasion,onecannotshareintheglory,unlessoneisamortar!
"Adieu,M。leConseiller[Poor’s—RATH,sostyled]。GoandamuseyourselfwithHorace,studyPausanias,andbegayoverAnacreon。
Astome,whoforamusementhavenothingbutmerlons,fascinesandgabions,[Merlonsaremoundsofearthplacedbehindthesolidorblindpartsoftheparapet(thatis,betweentheembrasures)ofaFortification;fascinesarebundlesofbrushwoodforfillingupaditch;gabions,basketsfilledwithearthtoberangedindefencetillyougettrenchesdug。]IprayGodtograntmesoonapleasanterandpeacefuleroccupation,andyouhealth,satisfactionandwhateveryourheartdesires。——F。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xvii。84。]
KINGFRIEDRICHTOM。LECOMTEALGAROTTI(goneonajourney)。
"OTTMACHAU,17thJANUARY,1741[samedayastheabovetoJordan]。
IhavebeguntosettletheFigureofPrussia:theoutlinewillnotbealtogetherregular;forthewholeofSilesiaistaken,exceptonemiserablehamlet(BICOQUE),whichperhapsIshallhavetokeepblockadedtillnextspring。
"Uptothistime,thewholeconquesthascostonlyTwentyMen,andTwoOfficers,oneofwhomisthepoorDeRege,whomyouhaveseenatBerlin,"——DeRege,EngineerMajor,killedhereatOttmachau,inSchwerin’slatetussle。
"Youaregreatlywantingtomehere。Sosoonasyouhavetalkedthatbusinessover,writetomeaboutit。[Whatisthebusiness?
WhitheristheduskySwanofPaduagone?]InallthesethreehundredmilesIhavefoundnohumancreaturecomparabletotheSwanofPadua。Iwouldwillinglygivetencubicleaguesofgroundforageniussimilartoyours。ButIperceiveIwasaboutentreatingyoutoreturnfast,andjoinmeagain,——whileyouarenotyetarrivedwhereyourerrandwas。Makehastetoarrive,then;toexecuteyourcommission,andflybacktome。IwishyouhadaFortunatusHat;
itistheonlythingdefectiveinyouroutfit。
"Adieu,dearSwanofPadua:think,Iprayyou,sometimesofthosewhoaregettingthemselvescutinslices[ECHINER,chined]forthesakeofgloryhere,andabovealldonotforgetyourfriendswhothinkathousandtimesofyou。"FREDERIC。"
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xviii。28。]
TheobjectofthedearSwan’sjourney,oreventhewhereaboutsofit,cannotbediscoveredwithoutdifficulty;andisnotmuchworthdiscovering。"GonetoTurin,"weatlastmakeout,"withsecretcommissions:"[Denina,LaPrusseLitteraire
(Berlin,1790),i。198。ApoorvagueBook;onlyworthconsultingincaseofextremity。]desirabletosoundtheSardinianMajestyalittle,whoisDoorkeeperoftheAlps,betweenFranceandAustria,andopenstothebestbidder?Nogreatthingsofameaninginthismission,wecanguess,orAlgarottihadnotgoneuponit,——thoughheishandy,atleast,forkeepingitunnoticedbytheGazetteerspecies。NorwastheSwansuccessful,itwouldseem;themorethepityforourSwan!However,hecomesbacksafe;attendsFriedrichinSilesia;andinthecourseofnextmonthreaderswillseehim,ifanyreaderwishedit。
ChapterVI。
NEISSEISBOMBARDED。
Neisse,whichFriedrichcallsapaltryhamlet(BICOQUE)isapleasantstronglyfortifiedTown,thenofperhaps6or8,000
inhabitants,nowofdoublethatnumber;standsontherightorsouthbankoftheNeisse,——atthisday,onbothbanks。Pleasantbroadstreets,highstronghouses,mostlyofstone。PleasantlyencircledbygreenHills,northwardbuttressesoftheGiantMountains;itselfstandinglowandlevel,onrichgroundmuchinclinedtobeswampy。Alesserriver,Biele,orBielau,comingfromtheSouth,flowsleisurelyenoughintotheNeisse,——fillingalltheFortressditches,bytheroad。Orchard—growthandmeadow—
growtharelordly(HERRLICH);alandrichinfruit,andflowingwithmilkandhoney。Muchgiventoweaving,brewing,stocking—
making;and,moreover,tradesgreatlyinthesearticles,andaboveallinWine。YearlyonSt。AgnesDay,"21stJanuary,ifnotaSunday,"thereisaWine—fairhere;Hungarian,ofeveryqualityfromTokaydownward,isgatheredherefordistributionintoGermanyandalltheWesternCountries。WhileyoudrinkyourTokay,knowthatitcomesthroughNeisse。St。AgnesDayfallsbutunhandilythisyear;andIthinktheFairwill,astheysay,AUSBLEIBEN,ornotbeheld。
NeisseisaNestofPriests(PFAFFEN—NEST),saysFriedrichonce;
whichcameinthisway。About600yearsago,anill—conditionedHeir—ApparentoftheLiegnitzSovereigntowhomitthenbelonged,quarrelledwithhisFather,quarrelledslightlywiththeUniverse;
and,aftermopingaboutforsometime,wentintotheChurch。
HavingNeisseforanapanagealreadyhisown,hegaveittotheBishopofBreslau;whose,inspiteoftheoldFather’sprotestings,itcontinued,andcontinues。BishopsofBreslauaremadeverygrandbyit;BishopsofBreslauhavehadtheirowndifficultieshere。Thusonce(inourPerkin—Warbecktime,A。D。1497),aDukeofOppeln,sittinginsomeOfficialConclaveormeetingofmagnateshere,——zealousforcountryprivilege,andfeelinghimselfinsufferablyputupon,——startedup,openlydefiantofOfficialmen;
glaringwrathfullyintoDukeCasimirofTeschen(Bohemian—AustrianCaptainofSilesia),andintotheBishopofBreslauhimself;nayatlast,flashedouthissworduponthosesublimedignitaries。
Forwhich,byandby,hehadtolayhisheadontheblock,inthegreatsquarehere;anddiedpenitent,wehope。
Thisplace,myDryasdustinformsme,hadmanyaccidentsbyfloodageandbyfire;wasseizedandre—seizedintheThirty—YearsWarespecially,atagreatrate:SaxonArnheim,AustrianHolk,SwedishTorstenson;noendtothebatteringandburningpoorNeissehad,tothebigransoms"innewReichs—thalersand300casksofwine。"
Butitalwaysrebuiltitself,andbeganbusinessagain。HowhappywhenitcouldgetundersomeeffectualProtector,oftheLiegnitzline,oftheAustrian—Bohemianline,andthisortheotherbattering,justsuffered,wastobethelastforsometime!——Hereagainisabatteringcomingonit;thefirstofaseriesthatarenowimminent。
ThereaderisrequestedtolookatNeisse;forbesidestheTokaywine,therewillthingsarrivethere。——NeisseRiver,letusagainmention,isoneoffourbearingthatname,andallbelongingtotheOder:——couldnottheybelabelled,then,orNUMBERED,insomeway?
ThisNeisse,whichwecouldcallNeissetheFIRST(andwhichcarefulreadersmayaswellmakeacquaintancewithontheirMap,wheretootheywillfindNeissetheSECOND,"theWUTHENDEorRoaringNeisse,"andtwootherswhichconcernusless),risesinthe"WesternSnow—Mountains(SCHNEEGEBIRGE),"SouthwesternorGlatzdistrictoftheGiantMountains;drainsGlatzCountyandgrowsbigthere;washestheTownofGlatz;theneastwardbyOttmachau,byNeisseTown;whenceturningratherabruptlynorthornortheast,itgetsintotheOdernotfarsouthofBrieg。
NeisseasaPlaceofArms,thechiefFortressofSilesiaandthenearesttoAustria,isextremelydesirableforFriedrich;butthereisnohopeofitwithoutsomekindofSiege;andFriedrichdeterminestotryinthatway。FromOttmachau,accordingly,andfromtheothersides,theSiege—Artillerybeingnowathand,dueforcegathersitselfroundNeisse,Schwerintakingcharge;andforaboveaweekthereisdemonstratingandposting,summoningandparleying;andthen,forthreedays,withpausesintervening,thereisextremelyfuriousbombardment,red—hotattimes:"Willyouyield,then?"——withsteadynegativefromNeisse。Friedrich’squarterisatOttmachau,twelvemilesoff;fromwhichhecanrideover,toseeandsuperintend。Thefuryofhisbombardment,whichnaturallygrievedhim,testifiestheintensityofhiswish。Butitwastonopurpose。TheCommandant,ColonelvonRoth(thesamewhowasproposedforBreslaulately,awiseheadandastout,famedindefences)had"pouredwateronhisramparts,"afterwellrepairingthem,——madehisrampartsalliceandglass;——anddonemuchelse。
Wouldthereadercaretolookforamoment?Here,fromourwastePaper—masses,isabundance,requiringonlytobeabridged:——
"JANUARY,1741:MONDAY,9th—WEDNESDAY,11th。Monday,9th,daywhenthatsputteratOttmachaubegan,——Prussianlight—troopsappearedtransientlyontheheightsaboutNeisse,forthefirsttime。
Directlyonsightofwhom,CommandantRothassembledtheBurghersoftheplace;tookanewOathofFidelityfromoneandall;
admonishedthemtodotheirutmost,astheyshouldseehimdo。
Theable—bodiedandlikeliestofthem(sayabout400)hehashadarrangedintoMilitiaCompanies,withwhatdrilltherecouldbeintheinterim;andsincehiscoming,hasemployedeverymomentinmakingready。Wednesday,llth,helocksalltheGates,andstandsstrictlyonhisguard。TheinhabitantsaremostlyCatholic;withsumptuousBishopsofBreslau,withKREUZHERREN(imaginaryTeutschorotherRitterswithsomerealityofmoney),withJesuitDignitaries,ChurchandQuasi—ChurchOfficialities,residentamongthem:population,highandlow,isinclinedbycreedtotheQueenofHungary。CommandantRothhasonly1,200regularsoldiers;attheoutside1,600menunderarms:buthehasgunpowder,hehasmeal;
experiencealsoandcourage;andhopesthesemaysufficehimforatime。OneofthemostdeterminedCommandants;expertinthedefenceofstrongplaces。AbornSilesian(notSaxon,assomethink),——andisoftheAugsburgConfession;butthatcircumstanceisnotimportanthere,thoughatBreslauBrownethoughtitwas。
"THURSDAY,12th。ThePrussians,inregularforce,appearontheKaninchenBerg(ConyHill,socalledfromitsrabbits),southoftheRiver,evidentlytakingpostthere。Rothfiresasignalshot;
theSouthernSuburbsofNeisse,aspreappointed,goupinflame;
cracklehighandfar;inalamentablemanner(ERBARMLICH),throughthegrimwinterair。"ThisisthedayFriedrichcameovertoOttmachau,andsettledthesputterthere。
"Nextday,andnextagain,thesamephenomenaatNeisse;thePrussiansedgingevernearer,buildingtheirbatteries,preparingtoopentheircannonade。WhereuponRothburnstheremainingSuburbs,withlamentablecrackle;onallsidesnowaremereashes。
Bishop’sMill,FranciscanCloister,Bishop’sPleasure—garden,withitssummer—houses;Bishop’sHospital,andseveralChurches:
Rothcansparenoneofthesethings,withthePrussiansnestlingthere。SurelytheBishophimself,respectableCardinalGrafvonSinzendorf,hadbettergetoutoftheselocalitieswhiletimeyetis?""Saturday,14th,"thatwasthedayFriedrich,atOttmachau,wroteasabovetoJordan(LetterNo。1),whiletheNeisseSuburbscrackledlamentably,twelvemilesoff,"Schweringetsordertobreakup,inperson,fromOttmachanto—morrow,andbeginactualbusinessontheKaninchenHillyonder。
"SUNDAY,15th。Schwerindoes;marchesacrosstheRiver;takespostonthesouthsideofNeisse:notabletotheSundayrustics。