首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第49章
  (Berlin,7thJanuary,1741)。]——andatBerlinitwasgenerallythoughttobeconclusive。IhavelookedintoLudwig’sDeduction,sterndutyurging,inthisinstanceforone:suchportionsasI
  readarenothinglikesostupidaswasexpected;and,infact,arenottobecalledstupidatall,butfitfortheirpurpose,andmoderatelyintelligibletothosewhoneedthem,"——whichhappilywedonotinthisplace。
  JudiciousMr。VineravailednothingagainsttheProposedAddress;
  anymorethanhewouldagainsttheAtlanticTide,cominginunanimous,underinfluenceoftheMoonitself,——asindeedthisAddress,andthetriumphantSubsidywhichwasvotedintherearofit,maybesaidtohavedone。[Coxe,iii。265。]Subsidyof300,000
  poundstoherHungarianMajesty;which,withthe200,000poundsalreadygonethatroad,makesahandsomeHalf—millionforthepresentYear。ThefirstgushoftheBritanniaFountain,——whichflowedlikeanAmalthea’sHornforsevenyearstocome;
  refreshingAustria,andallthirstyPragmaticNations,todefendtheKeystoneofthisUniverse。Unluckilyeveryguineaofitwent,atthesametime,toencourageAustriainscorningKingFriedrich’sofferstoit;whichperhapsarejustoffers,thinksMr。Viner;
  whichoncelistenedto,PragmaticSanctionwouldbesafe。
  [Mr。VinerwasofPupham,orPupholm,inLincolnshire,forwhichCountyhesatthen,andformanyyearsbeforeandafter,——fromabout1713till1761,whenhedied。Asolid,instructedman,sayhiscontemporaries。"HewasafriendofBolingbroke’s,andhadahousenearBolingbroke’sBatterseaone。"HeisGreatgreat—
  grandfathertothepresentMr。Viner,andtotheCountessdeGreyandRipon;whichisaninterestinglittlefact。]
  ThisParliamentisstrongforPragmaticSanction,andhashighresentmentsagainstWalpole;inbothwhichpointstheNewParliament,justgettingelected,willrivalandsurpassit,——
  especiallyinthelatterpoint,thatofuprootingWalpole,whichtheNationisbenton,withasingularfury。PragmaticSanctionliketoberuined;andWalpolefuriouslythrownout:whatapairofsorrowsforpoorGeorge!DuringhislateCaroline’stime,allwentpeaceably,andthatof"governing"wasamerepleasure;WalpoleandCarolinecunninglydoingthatforhim,andmakinghimbelievehewasdoingit。Butnowhascomethecrisis,thecollapse;andhispoorMajestyleftalonetodealwithit!——
  No。2。CONSTITUTIONALHISTORIANONTHEPHENOMENONOFWALPOLEINENGLAND。
  "ForaboveTenYears,Walpolehimself",saysmyConstitutionalHistorian(unpublished),"foralmostTwentyYears,Walpolevirtuallyandthroughothers,haswhattheycall’governed’
  England;thatistosay,hasadjustedtheconflictingParliamentaryChaosintocounterpoise,bywhatmethodshehad;andallowedEngland,withWalpoleatop,tojumblewhitheritwouldandcould。
  OfcrookedthingsmadestraightbyWalpole,ofheroicperformanceorintention,legislativeoradministrative,byWalpole,nobodyeverheard;neveroftheleasthand—breadthgainedfromtheNight—
  realminEngland,onWalpole’spart:enoughifhecouldmanagetokeeptheParishConstablewalking,andhimselffloatatop。
  Whichtask(thoughintrinsicallyzerofortheCommunity,butall—
  importanttotheWalpole,ofConstitutionalCountries)isataskalmostbeyondthefacultyofman,ifthecarelessreaderknewit!
  "ThistaskWalpoledid,——inasturdy,deep—bellied,long—headed,John—Bullfashion,notunworthyofrecognition。Amanofveryforciblenaturaleyesight,strongnaturalheart,——courageinhimtoalllengths;averyblockofoak,orofoakroot,fornaturalstrength。Hewasalwaysveryquietwithit,too;giventodigesthisvictuals,andbepeaceablewitheverybody。Hehadonerule,thatstoodinplaceofmany:Tokeepoutofeverybusinesswhichitwaspossibleforhumanwisdomtostaveaside。’Whatgoodwillyougetofgoingintothat?Parliamentarycriticism,argumentandbotheration?Leavewellalone。Andevenleaveillalone:——areyouthetradesmantotinkerleakyvesselsinEngland?Youwillnotwantforwork。Mindyourpudding,andsaylittle!’Athomeandabroad,thatwasthesafesecret。For,inForeignPolitics,hisrulewasanalogous:’Mindyourownaffairs。YouareanIsland,youcandowithoutForeignPolitics;Peace,keepPeacewitheverybody:
  what,intheDevil’sname,haveyoutodowiththosedog—worryingsoverSeas?Oncemore,mindyourpudding!’Notsobadarule;
  indeeditisthebetterpartofanextremelygoodone;——andyoumightreckonittherealruleforapiousRritannicIsland(reverentofGod,andcontemptuousoftheDevil)intimesofgeneralDown—breakandSpiritualBankruptcy,whenquarrellingsofSovereignsareapttobemeredog—worryingsandDevil’swork,notgoodtointerferein。
  "Inthismanner,Walpole,bysolidJohn—Bullfaculty(andmethodsofhisown),hadbalancedtheParliamentaryswaggingsandclashings,foragreatwhile;andEnglandhadjumbledwhitheritcould,alwaysinastupid,butalsoinapeaceableway。Astothosesame’methodsofhisown’theywere——infacttheywereBribery。
  Actualpurchaseofvotesbymoneysliptintothehand。Gostraighttothepoint。’Thedirectrealmethodthis,’thinksWalpole:
  ’isthereinrealityanyother?’AterriblequestiontoConstitutionalCountries;which,Ihear,hasneverbeenresolvedinthenegative,bythemodernimprovementsofscience。Changesofformhaveintroducedthemselves;theoutwardprocess,Ihear,isnowquitedifferent。Accordingasthefashionsandconditionsalter,——accordingasyouhaveaFourthEstatedeveloped,oraFourthEstatestillinthegrubstageandonlydeveloping,——muchvariationofoutwardprocessisconceivable。
  "ButVotes,underpainofDeathOfficial,arenecessarytoyourpoorWalpole:andvotes,Ihear,arestillbiddenfor,andbought。
  Youmaybuythembymoneydown(whichisfelony,andtheftsimple,againstthepoorNation);orbyprefermentsandappointmentsoftheunmeritoriousman,——whichisfelonydouble—distilled(fardeadlier,thoughmorerefined),andtheftmostcompound;theft,notofthepoorNation’smoney,butofitssoulandbodysofar,andofALL
  itsmoneysandtemporalandspiritualinterestswhatsoever;
  theft,youmaysay,ofcollopscutfromitsside,andpoisonputintoitsheart,poorNation!Oragain,youmaybuy,notoftheThirdEstateinsuchways,butoftheFourth,oroftheFourthandThirdtogether,inotherstillmorefeloniousanddeadly,thoughrefinedways。Bydoingclap—traps,namely;lettingoffParliamentaryblue—lights,toawakentheSleepingSwineries,andcharmthemintodiapasonforyou,——whatamusic!Or,withoutclap—
  traporpreviousfelonyofyourown,youmayfeloniously,inthepinchofthings,maketrucewiththeevidentDemagogos,andSonofNoxandofPerdition,whohasgot’withinthosewalls’ofyours,andisgrownimportanttoyoubytheAwakenedSwineries,risenintoalt,thatfollowhim。Himyoumay,inyourdirehungerofvotes,consenttocomplywith;hisAnarchiesyouwillpassforhiminto’Laws,’asyouarepleasedtotermthem;——insteadofpointingtothewhipping—post,andtohiswickedlongears,whicharesofittobenailedthere,andofsternlyrecommendingsilence,whichwerethesalutarything。——Buyingmaybedoneinagreatvarietyofways。
  Thequestion,Howyoubuy?isnot,onthemoralside,animportantone。Nay,asthereisabeautyingoingstraighttothepoint,andbythatcoursethereislikelytobetheminimumofmendacityforyou,perhapsthedirectmoney—methodisashadelessdamnablethananyoftheotherssincediscovered;——while,inregardtopracticaldamageresulting,itisofchildlikeharmlessnessincomparison!
  "ThatwasWalpole’smethod;withthistoaidhisgreatnaturalfaculty,long—headed,deep—bellied,suitabletotheEnglishParliamentandNation,hewentalongwithperfectsuccessfortenortwentyyears。Anditmighthavebeenforlonger,——hadnottheEnglishNationaccidentallycometowish,thatitshouldCEASE
  jumblingNO—whither;andtrytojumbleSOME—whither,atleastforalittlewhile,onimportantbusinessthathadrisenforEnglandinacertainquarter。HaditnotbeenforJenkins’sEarblazingoutinthedarkEnglishbrain,Walpolemighthavelastedstillalongwhile。Buthisfatelaythere:——thefirstBusinessvitaltoEnglandwhichmightturnup;andthischancedtobetheSpanishWar。
  Howvital,readersshallseeanon。Walpole,knowingwellenoughinwhatstatehisWar—apparatuswas,andthatofallhisApparatusestherewasnoneinaworkingstate,buttheParliamentaryone,——
  resistedtheSpanishWar;stoodinthedooragainstit,witharhinocerosdetermination,nayalmostsomethingofamastiff’s;
  resolutenottoadmitit,toadmitdeathassoon。Doubtlesshehadafeelingitwouldbedeath,thesagaciousman;——andsuchitisnowproving;theWalpoleMinistrydyingbyinchesfromit;dyinghard,butirremediably。
  "TheEnglishNationwasimmenselyastonished,whichWalpolewasnot,anymorethanattheotherLawsofNature,tofindWalpole’sWar—apparatusinsuchacondition。AllhisApparatuses,Walpoleguesses,areinnobetter,ifitbenottheParliamentaryone。
  TheEnglishNationisimmenselyastonished,whichWalpoleagainisnot,tofindthathisParliamentaryApparatushasbeenkeptingearandsmooth—goingbytheuseofOIL:’MiraculousScandalofScandals!’thinkstheEnglishNation。’Miracle?LawofNature,youfools!’thinksWalpole。AndinfactthereissuchastormroaringinEngland,inthoseandinthelateandthecomingmonths,asthreatenstobedangeroustohighroofs,——dangeroustoWalpole’sheadatonetime。Stormsuchashadnotbeenwitnessedinmen’smemory;allmannerofCountiesandConstituencies,withsolemnindignation,chargingtheirrepresentativestosearchintothatmiraculousScandalofScandals,LawofNature,orwhateveritmaybe;andabatethesame,attheirperil。
  "Tothenowreaderthereissomethingalmostpatheticinthesesolemnindignations,andhighresolvestohavePurityofParliamentandthoroughAdministrativeReform,inspiteofNatureandtheConstitutionalStars;——andnothingIhavemetwith,noteventhePrussianDryasdust,issounsufferablywearisome,orcanpretendtoequalindepthofdullinanity,toingenuouslivingreaders,ourpoorEnglishDryasdust’sinterminable,often—repeatedNarratives,volumeaftervolume,ofthedebatingsandcolleaguings,thetossingsandtumults,fruitlessandendless,inNationandNationalPalaver,whichensuedthereupon。Walpole(inaboutayearhence),[February13th(2d),1742,quittingtheHouseafterbadusagethere,saidhewouldneverenteritagain;nordid:February22d,resignedinfavorofPulteneyandCompany(Tindal,xx。530;
  Thackeray,i。45)。]thoughhestrucktothegroundlikearhinoceros,wasgotrolledout。AndaSuccessor,andseriesofSuccessors,inthebrightbrand—newstate,wasgotrolledin;
  withimmenseshoutingfrommankind:——butuptothisdatewehavenoreasontobelievethattheLawsofNatureweregotabrogatedonthatoccasion,orthattheconstitutionalstarshavemuchalteredtheircoursessince。"
  ThatWalpolewillprobablybelost,goesmuchhometotheRoyalbosom,inthesetroublousSpringmonthsof1741,asithasdoneandwilldo。Andhere,emergingfromtheSpanishMainjustnow,isasecondsorrow,whichmightquitetransfixtheRoyalbosom,anddriveMajestyitselftodespair;awakeningsuchinsolublequestions,——furnishingsuchproof,thatWalpoleandagoodfewotherpersons(persons,andalsothings,andideasandpractices,deep—rootedintheCountry)standmuchinneedofbeinglost,ifEnglandistogoagoodroad!
  TheSpanishWarbeingofmomenttoushere,wewillletourConstitutionalHistorianexplain,inhisowndialect,HowitwassovitaltoEngland;andshallevensubjoinwhathegivesasHistoryofit,suchbeingsoadmirablysuccinct,foronequality。
  No。3。OFTHESPANISHWAR,ORTHEJENKINS’S—EARQUESTION。
  "TherewasrealcauseforaWarwithSpain。Itisoneofthefewcases,this,ofawarfromnecessity。Spain,byDecreeofthePope,——somePopelongago,whosenamewewillnotremember,insolemnConclave,drawingaccurately’hisMeridianLine,’onIknownotwhatTelluricorUranicprinciples,nodoubtwithgreataccuracy’betweenPortugalandSpain,’——wasproprietorofallthoseSeasandContinents。AndnowEngland,intheinterim,byDecreeoftheEternalDestinies,hadclearlycometohavepropertythere,too;andtobepracticallymuchconcernedinthattheoreticquestionofthePope’sMeridian。Therewasnoreconcilingoftheorywithfact。’Oursindisputably,’saidSpain,withloudarticulatevoice;’HolinessthePopemadeitours!’——whilefactandtheEnglish,byDecreeoftheEternalDestinies,hadbeengrumblinginarticulatelytheotherway,foralmosttwohundredyearspast,andnoresulthad。
  "InOliverCromwell’stime,itusedtobesaid,’WithSpain,inEurope,theremaybepeaceorwar;butbetweentheTropicsitisalwayswar。’AstateofthingswellrecognizedbyOliver,andactedon,accordingtohisopportunities。NosettlementwashadinOliver’sbrieftime;norcouldanybegotsince,whenitwasbecomingyearlymorepressing。Bucaniers,desperatenavalgentlemenlivingonBOUCAN,orhungbeef;whoarealsocalledFlibustiers(FLIBUTIERS,’Freebooters,’inFrenchpronunciation,whichissincegrownstrangelyintoFILIBUSTERS,Fillibustiers,andothermadforms,intheYankeeNewspapersnowcurrent):readershaveheardofthosedumbmethodsofprotest。Dumbandfurious;whichcouldbringnosettlement;butwhichdidastonishthePope’sDecree,slashingitwithcutlassesandsea—cannon,inthatmanner,andcircuitouslyforwardedasettlement。Settlementwasbecomingyearlymoreneedful:and,eversincetheTreatyofUtrechtespecially,therehadbeenanincessanthagglegoingon,toproduceone;withouttheleasteffecthitherto。Whatembassyings,bargainings,bargain—
  breakings;whatgallopingofestafettes;acresofdiplomaticpaper,nowfallentothespiders,whoalwaysprivatelyweretherealowners!NotintheTreatyofUtrecht,notintheCongressesofCambray,ofSoissons,ConventionofPardo,byRipperda,HoraceWalpole,orthewaggingofwigs,couldthismatterbesettledatall。Neartwohundredyearsofchronicmisery;——andhadtherebeen,underanyofthosewigs,aHeadcapableofreadingtheHeavenlyMandates,withheartcapableoffollowingthem,themiserymighthavebeenbrieflyended,byadirectmethod。Withwhatimmensesavinginallkinds,comparedwiththeobliquemethodgoneupon!
  Inquantityofbloodshedneeded,ofmoney,ofidletalkandestafettes,nottospeakofhigherconsiderations,thesavinghadbeenincalculable。ForitwasEngland’soneCauseofWarduringtheCenturywearenowupon;andpoorEngland’scourse,whenatlastdrivenintoit,wentambiguouslycirclingroundthewholeUniverse,insteadofstraighttothemark。HadOliverCromwelllivedtenyearslonger;——butOliverCromwelldidnotlive;and,insteadofHeroicHeads,therecameinConstitutionalWigs,whichmakesagreatdifference。
  "ThepretensionsofSpaintokeepHalftheWorldlockedupinembargowereentirelychimerical;plainlycontradictorytotheLawsofNature;andnoamountofPope’sDonationActs,orCeremonialinRotaorPropaganda,couldredeemthemfromuntenability,inthemoderndays。TolielikeadoginthemangeroverSouthAmerica,andsaysnarling,’Noneofyoushalltradehere,thoughIcannot!’
  ——whatPopeorbodyofPopescansanctionsuchaprocedure?
  HadEnglandhadaHead,insteadofWigs,amiditsdiplomatists,England,asthechiefpartyinterested,wouldhavelongsinceintimatedgentlytosuchdoginthemanger:’Dog,willyoubesoobligingasrise!Iamgrievedtosay,weshallhavetodounpleasantthingsotherwise。Dogshavedoorsfortheirhutches:
  buttopretendbarringtheTropicofCancer,——thatistoobigadoorforanydog。Cannobodybutyouhavebusinesshere,then,whichisnotdispleasingtothegods?Webidyourise!’Andinthismodethereisnodoubtthedog,barkandbiteashemight,wouldhaveendedbyrising;notonlyEngland,butalltheUniversebeingagainsthim。Andfurthermore,Icomputewithcertainty,thequantityoffightingneededtoobtainsuchresultwould,bythismode,havebeenaminimum。Theclearrightbeingthere,andnowalsotheclearmight,whytakerefugeindiplomaticwiggeries,inAssientoTreaties,andArrangementswhichareNOTanalogoustothefacts;whicharebutwiggedmendacities,therefore;andwillbutaggravateinquantityandinqualitythefightingyetneeded?
  Fightingisbut(ashasbeenwellsaid)abatteringoutofthemendacities,pretences,andimaginaryelements:wellbattered—out,these,likedustandchaff,flytorrent—wisealongthewinds,anddarkenallthesky;buttheseoncegone,thereremainthefactsandtheirvisiblerelationtooneanother,andpeaceissure。
  "TheAssientoTreatybeingfixedupon,theEnglishoughttohavekeptit。ButtheEnglishdidnot,inanymeasure;norcouldpretendtohavedone。TheywereentitledtosupplyNegroes,insuchandsuchnumber,annuallytotheSpanishPlantations;andbesidesthisdelightfulbranchoftrade,tohavetheprivilegeofsellingcertainquantitiesoftheirmanufacturedarticlesonthosecoasts;
  quantitiesregulatedbrieflybythisstipulation,ThattheirAssientoShipwastobeof600tonsburden,somanyandnomore。
  TheAssientoShipwasdulyof600tonsaccordingly,promisekeptfaithfullytotheeye;buttheAssientoShipwasattendedandescortedbyprovision—sloops,smallcraftsaidtobeofthemostindispensablenaturetoit。Whichprovision—sloops,andindispensablesmallcraft,notonlycarriedmerchandiseaswell,butwentandcametoJamaicaandback,undervariouspretexts,withevernewsuppliesofmerchandise;convertingtheAssientoShipintoaFloatingShop,theTonsburdenandTonssaleofwhichsetarithmeticatdefiance。Thiswasthefact,perfectlywellknowninEngland,veiledoverbymeresmugglerpretences,andobstinatelypersistedin,soprofitablewasit。PerfectlywellknowninSpainalso,andtotheSpanishGuarda—CostasandSea—Captainsinthoseparts;whowerenaturallykeptinaperennialstateofragebyit,——anddisposedtoflyoutintoflameuponit,whenabadcaseturnedup!SuchacasethatofJenkinshadseemedtothem;
  andtheirmodeoftreatingit,bytearingoffMr。Jenkins’sEar,provedtobe——badshallwesay,orgood?——intolerabletoEngland’sthickskin;andbroughtmatterstoacrisis,inthewayswesaw。"……
  TheJenkins’s—EarQuestion,whichthenlookedsomadtoeverybody,howsanehasitnowgrowntomyConstitutionalFriend!Inabstruseludicrousformtherelayimmensequestionsinvolvedinit;
  whichwereseriousenough,certainenough,thoughinvisibletoeverybody。HalftheWorldlayhiddeninembryounderit。
  Colonial—Empire,whoseisittobe?ShallHalftheWorldbeEngland’s,forindustrialpurposes;whichisinnocent,laudable,conformabletotheMultiplication—tableatleast,andotherplainLaws?OrshallitbeSpain’sforarrogant—torpidsham—devotionalpurposes,contradictorytoeveryLaw?TheincalculableYankeeNationitself,biggestPhenomenon(oncethoughtbeautifulest)oftheseAges,——thistoo,littleascarelessreadersoneithersideoftheseanowknowit,layinvolved。ShalltherebeaYankeeNation,shalltherenotbe;shalltheNewWorldbeofSpanishtype,shallitbeofEnglish?Issueswhichwemaycallimmense。AmongthethenextantSonsofAdam,wherewashewhocouldinthefaintestdegreesurmisewhatissueslayintheJenkins’s—EarQuestion?Anditiscurioustoconsidernow,withwhatfiercedeep—breatheddoggednessthepoorEnglishNation,drawnbytheirinstincts,heldfastuponit,andwouldtakenodenial,asifTHEYhadsurmisedandseen。
  Fortheinstinctsofsimpleguilelesspersons(liabletobecountedSTUPID,bytheunwary)aresometimesofpropheticnature,andspringfromthedeepplacesofthisUniverse!——MyConstitutionalFriendentitleshisnextSectionCARTHAGENA;butmightmorefitlyhaveheadedit(forsuchinrealityitis,Carthagenaprovingtheevanescentpointofthatsadbusiness),SUCCINCTHISTORYOFTHESPANISHWAR,WHICHBEGANIN1739;
  ANDENDED——WHENDIDITEND?
  1。WAR,ANDPORTO—BELLO(NOVEMBER,1739—MARCH,1740)。——"November4th,1739,Warwasatlength(afterabovefourmonths’obscurequasi—declaringofit,intheshapeofOrdersinCouncil,LettersofMarque,andsoon)gotopenlydeclared;’HeraldsatArmsattheusualplaces’blowingtrumpetsuponit,andreadingtheroyalManifesto,dateofwhichisfivedaysearlier,’Kensington,October30th(19th)。’TheprincipalEventsthatensue,arrangethemselvesunderThreeHeads,thisofPorto—BellobeingtheFIRST;and(byintensesmelting)aredatableasfollows:——[Gentleman’sMagazine,ix。551,x。124,142,144,350;Tindal,xx。430—433,442;&c。]
  "TuesdayEvening,1stDecember,1739,AdmiralVernon,ourchosenAnti—Spaniard,finding,awhileago,thathehadmissedtheAzogueShipsontheCoastofSpain,andmusttryAmericaandtheSpanishMain,inthatviewarrivesatPorto—Bello。Nextday,December2d,VernonattacksPorto—Bello;attackscertainCastlessocalled,withfuriousbroadsiding,followedbyscalading;getssurrender(onthe3d);——seamenhaveallowanceinsteadofplunder;——blowsupwhatCastlesthereare;andreturnstoPortRoyalinJamaica。
  "Never—imaginedjoyinEngland,andfametoVernon,whenthenewscame:’TookitwithSixShips,’crythey;’thescurvyMinistry,whohadheardhim,inthefireofParliamentarydebate,saySix,wouldgranthimnomore:invincibleVernon!’Nay,nextYear,Isee,’LondonwasilluminatedontheAnniversaryofPorto—Bello:’——
  daysettledinpermanenceasoneoftheHigh—tidesoftheCalendar,itwouldappear。And’Vernon’sBirthday’withal——howtouchingisstupiditywhenloyal!——wascelebratedamazinglyinallthechiefTowns,likeakindofChristmas,whenitcameround;Naturehavingdeignedtoproducesuchaman,forapoorNationindifficulties。
  InvincibleVernon,itisthoughtbyGazetteers,’willlookinatCarthagenashortly;’muchmoreimportantPlace,whereacertainGovernorDonBlashasbeeninsolentwithal,andwrittenVernonletters。
  "2。PRELIMINARIESTOCARTHAGENA(MARCH—NOVEMBER,1740)。——Monday,14thMarch,1740,Vernondid,accordingly,lookinonCarthagena;
  [Gentleman’sMagazine,x。350。]castanchorintheshallowwasteofsurfsthere,thatMonday;andtriedsomebombarding,withbomb—ketchesandthelike,fromThursdaytillSaturdayfollowing。VernonhopeshedidhittheJesuits’College,SouthBastion,Custom—houseandotherprincipaledifices;butfoundthattherewasnogettingnearenoughonthatseawardside。
  FoundthatyoumustforcetheInteriorHarbor,——abigInlandGulforLake,whichgushesinbywhattheycallLITTLE—MOUTH(Boca—
  Chica),andhasitsBooms,CastlesandDefences,whicharenumerousandstrongish;——andthat,forthisend,youmusthavesevenoreightthousandLandForces,aswellasanadditionofShips。
  OnSaturdayEvening,therefore,Vernoncallsinhisbomb—ketches;
  sailspast,examiningthesethings;andgoesforthonothersmalladventures。Forexample,——
  "Sunday,3dApril,1740,’about10atnight’openscannonadeonChagres(placeoftenenoughtaken,bycutlassandpistol,intheBucaniertimes);and,onTuesday,5th,getssurrenderofChagres:
  ’Custom—housecrammedwithgoods,whichwesetfireto。’Onnewsofwhich,thereisagain,inEngland,joyoverthedayofsmallthings。ThepoorEnglishPeoplearesetonthisbusinessofavengingJenkins’sEar,andofhavingtheOceanHighwayunbarred;
  andhopealwaysitcanbedonebytheWalpoleApparatuses,whichoughttobeinworkingorder,andarenot。’Supportthishero,youWalpoleandCompany,inhisCarthagenaviews:itwillbebetterforyou!"
  "WalpoleandCompany,awareofthatfact,dotakesometroubleaboutit;andnow,maynotwesay,PAULLOMAJORACANAMUS?
  AllthroughthatSummer,1740,"——whileKingFriedrichwentrushingabout,toStrasburg,toWesel;doinghisHerstalsandPracticalities,withalighthighhand,inalmostanentertainingmanner;andintent,stillmore,onhisVoltairesandaLifetotheMuses,——"therewas,inEngland,seriousheavytumultofactivity,secretandpublic。IntheDockyards,ontheDrill—grounds,whatastir:CampintheIsleofWight,nottomentionPortsmouthandtheSea—Industries;6,000Marinesaretobeembarked,aswellasLandRegiments,——cananybodyguesswhither?Americaitselfistofurnish’oneRegiment,withScotchOfficerstodisciplineit,’iftheycan。
  "Hereisrealhasteandeffort;butbynomeanssuchspeedascouldbewished;multiplexconfusionsandcontradictionsoccurring,asisusual,whenyourmachineryrunsfoul。NoraretheGazetteerswithouttheirguesses,thoughtheystudytobediscreet。’Hereissomethingconsiderableinthewind;agrandidea,forcertain;’——
  andtomenofdiscernmentitpointssurelytowardsCarthagenaandheroicVernonoutyonder?Governmentisdumbaltogether;andlaysoccasionalembargo;tryinghard(withoutsuccess),inthedelaysthatoccurred,tokeepitsecretfromDonBlasandothers。
  Theoutcomeofallwhichwas,"3。CARTHAGENAITSELF(NOVEMBER,1740——APRIL,1741)。——OnNovember6th,——bynomeans’July3d,’asyourfirstfondprogrambore;
  whichdelaywasitselflikelytobefatal,unlesstheAlmanac,andcourseoftheTropicalSeasonswoulddelayalongwithyou!——wesay,OnSunday,6thNovember,1740[KaiserKarl’sFuneraljustover,andgreatthoughtsgoingonatReinsberg],Rear—AdmiralSirChalonerOgle,——somanyweeksandmonthsafterthesettime,——doessailfromSt。Helen’s(guessed,forCarthagena);allpeoplesendingblessingswithhim。Twenty—fivebigShipsoftheLine,withthreeHalf—
  Regimentsonboard;fireships,bomb—ketches,inabundance;andeightyTransports,with6,000drilledMarines:aSea—and—LandForcefittostrengthenHeroVernonwithawitness,andrealizehisCarthagenaviews。AverygreatdayatPortsmouthandSt。Helen’sfortheseSundayfolk。[Tindal,xx。463(LISTS,&c。there;datewrong,"31stOctober,"insteadof26th(o。s。),——manythingswrong,andallthingsleftlooseandflabby,andnotright!AsispoorTindal’sway)。]
  "MostobscureamongtheotheritemsinthatArmadaofSirChaloner’s,justtakingleaveofEngland;mostobscureoftheitemsthen,butnowmostnoticeable,oralmostalonenoticeable,isayoungSurgeon’s—Mate,——oneTobiasSmollett;lookingoverthewatersthereandthefadingcoasts,notwithoutthoughts。Aproud,soft—
  hearted,thoughsomewhatstern—visaged,causticandindignantyounggentleman。Apttobecausticinspeech,havingsorrowsofhisownunderlockandkey,onthisandsubsequentoccasions。
  ExcellentTobias;hehas,littleashehopesit,somethingconsiderablebywayofmissioninthisExpedition,andinthisUniversegenerally。MissiontotakePortraitureofEnglishSeamanhood,withtheduegrimness,duefidelity;andconveythesametoremotegenerations,beforeitvanish。Courage,mybraveyoungTobias;throughendlesssorrows,contradictions,toilsandconfusions,youwilldoyourerrandinsomemeasure;andthatwillbesomething!——
  "Fiveweeksbefore(29thSeptember,1740,whichwasalsoseveralmonthsbeyondtimeset),therehadsailed,strictlyhiddenbyembargoeswhichwerelittleeffectual,anotherExpedition,allNaval;intendedtobesubsidiarytothisone:CommodoreAnson’s,ofthreeinconsiderableShips;whoistogoroundCapeHorn,ifhecan;tobombardSpanishAmericafromtheotherside;andstretchoutahandtoVernoninhisgrandCarthagenaorulteriorviews。
  Togethertheymaydosomeexecution,ifwejudgebytheoldBucanierandQueen—Elizabethexperiences?Anson’sExpeditionhasbecomefamousintheworld,thoughVernongotnogoodofit。"
  Well!Heretrulywasabusiness;notsoill—contrived。Somebodyofheadmusthavebeenatthecentreofthis:anditmight,inresult,haveastonishedtheSpaniard,andtumbledhimmuchtopsy—turvyinthoselatitudes,——hadthemachineryforexecutingitbeenwellingear。UnderFriedrichWilhelm’scaptaincyandmanagement,everyperson,everyitem,correcttoitstime,toitsplace,toitsfunction,whatathing!ButwithmereWalpoleMachinery:alas,itwasfartoowideaPlanforMachineryofthatkind,habituallyoutoforder,andonlyusedtobeascorrectas——asitcould。
  ThoseDELAYSthemselves,firsttoAnson,thentoOgle,sincetheTropicalAlmanacwouldnotdelayalongwiththem,hadthrownbothEnterprisesintoweathersuchasallbutmeantimpossibilityinthoselatitudes!Thiswasirremediable;——hadnotbeenremediable,byeffortsandpushingshereandthere。Thebestofmanagement,asunderAnson,couldnotgetthebetterofthis;worstofmanagement,asintheothercase,waslikelytomakeafinethingofit!Letushastenon:——
  "January20th,1741,Wearrive,throughmuchroughweatherandotherconfusedhardships,atPortRoyalinJamaica;findVernonwaitingontheslip;theAmericanRegiment,tolerablydrilledbytheScotchLieutenants,infullreadinessandequipment;abodyofNegroessuperadded,bywayofpioneerlaborersfitforthosehotclimates。Onesadlosstherehadbeenonthevoyagehither:
  LandforceshadlosttheirCommander,anddidnotfindanother。
  GeneralCathcarthaddiedofsicknessonthevoyage;aCharlesLordCathcart,whowasunderstoodtopossesssomeknowledgeofhisbusiness;andhisSuccessor,oneWentworth,didnothappentohaveany。Whichwasreckonedunlucky,bythemoreobservant。
  Vernon,thoughinhasteforCarthagena,isinsomeanxietyaboutapowerfulFrenchFleetwhichhasbeenmanoeuvringinthosewatersforsometime;intentonnogoodthatVernoncanimagine。Thefirstthingnowis,SeeintothatFrenchFleet。FrenchFleet,onourgoingtolookintheproperIsland,isfoundtobealloffforhome;men’mostlystarvedorotherwisedead,’wehear;sothatnow,afterthislastshortdelay,——ToCarthagenawithallsail。
  "WednesdayEvening,15thMarch,1741,WeanchorinthePlayaGrande,thewastesurfyShallowwhichwashesCarthagenaseaward:
  124sailofus,bigandlittle。WefindDonBlasinaverypreparedposture。DonBlashasbeendoinghisbest,thistwelvemonthpast;
  pluggingupthatBoca—Chica(LITTLEMOUTH)Ingate,withbatteries,booms,greatships;andhascastlesnotafewthereaboutsandintheInteriorLakeorHarbor;allwhichhehasputintolerabledefence,sofarascanbejudged:notaninactive,ifaninsolentDon。WespendthenextfivedaysinconsideringandsurveyingthesePerformancesofhis:Whatistobedonewiththem;how,inthefirstplace,wemayforceBoca—Chica;andgetinuponhisInteriorCastlesandhim。Afterconsideration,andplanfixed:
  "Monday,20thMarch,SirChaloner,withbroadsides,sweepsawaysomesmalldefenceswhichlietoleftofBoca—Chica[toourLEFT,toBoca—Chica’sRIGHT,ifanybodycarestobeparticular]。
  WhereupontheTroopsland,someofthemthatsameevening;and,withinthenexttwodays,areallashore,implements,Negroesandtherest;buildingbatteries,fellingwood;intenttocaptureBoca—ChicaCastle,anddemolishtheWar—Ships,Booms,andfryofFascineandotherBatteries;andtherebytogetinuponDonBlas,andhaveastrokeathisInteriorCastlesandCarthagenaitself。
  TillApril5th,herearesixteendaysoffuriousintricatework;
  notilldone:——thephysicallaboritself,thebuildingofbatteries,withBoca—Chicafiringonyouoverthewoods,isscarcelydo—ablebyEuropeansinthatseason;andtheNegroeswhoareableforit,’flingdowntheirburdens,andscamper,wheneveragungoesoff。’Furiousfighting,too,therewas,byseamenandlandsmen;notilldone,consideringcircumstances。
  "Onthesixteenthday,April5th[KingFriedrichhurryingfromtheMountainsthatsameday,towardsSteinau,whichtookfirewithhimatnight],Boca—ChicaCastleandtheintricateWar—Ships,Booms,andCastlesthereabouts(DonBlasrunningoffwhenthepushbecameintense),areatlastgot。Sothatnow,throughBoca—Chica,weentertheInteriorHarbororHarbors。’Harbors’whichareofwideextent,anddeepenough:beinginfactaLake,orratherPairofLakes,withCastles(CASTILLOGRANDE,’CastleGrand,’thechiefofthem),withWar—Shipssunkorafloat,andmiscellaneousobstructions:beyondallwhich,atthefarthershore,somefivemilesoff,Carthagenaitselfdoesatlastliepotentiallyaccessible;andwehopetogetinuponDonBlasandit。Thereensuefivedaysofintricatesea—work;notmuchofbroadsiding,mainlytuggingoutofsunkWar—Ships,andthelike,togetalongsideofCastleGrand,whichisthechiefobstruction。
  "April10,CastleGranditselfisgot;nobodyfoundinitwhenwestorm。DonBlasandtheSpaniardsseemmuchinterror;burninganyShipstheystillhave,nearCarthagena;asiftherewerenochancenowleft。"ThisistheverydayofMollwitzBattle;nearaboutthehourwhenSchwerinbrokeintofield—music,andadvancedwiththunderousglitteragainsttheeveningsun!"CarthagenaExpeditionis,atlength,fairlyincontactwithitsProblem,——thequestionrising,’Doyouunderstandit,then?’
  "Uptothispoint,mistakesofmanagementhadbeenmadegoodbyobstinateenergyofexecution;clearvictoryhadgoneonsofar,theCaptureofCarthagenanowseeminglyathand。Onethingwasunfortunate:’theableMr。Moor[meritoriousCaptainofFoot,who,byaccident,hadspentsomestudyonhisbusiness],theonerealEngineerwehad,’gotkilledinthatBoca—Chicastruggle:anendtopoorMoor!SothattheSiegeofCarthagenawillhavetogoonWITHOUTEngineersciencehenceforth。Maybeimportant,that,——whoknows?Anotherthingwasstillmorepalpablyimportant:Sea—GeneralVernonhadanundisguisedcontemptforLand—GeneralWentworth。
  ’Amereblockhead,whoseBrotherhasaBorough,’thinksVernon(himselfanOppositionMember,ofhigh—sniffing,angry,nottoomagnanimousturn);——andwithdrawsnowtohisShips;intimating:
  ’DoyourProblem,then;Ihavesetyoudownbesideit,whichwasmypartoftheaffair!’——LetusgivetheattackofFortLazar,andendthissadbusiness。
  "Sunday,16thApril,Wentworth,oncemasteroftheUppermostLakeorHarbor(whattheNativescalltheSURGIDERO,orAnchorageProper),haddisembarked,highuptotheright,agoodwaysouthofCarthagena;meaningtoattackthere—fromacertainFortLazar,whichstandsonaHillbetweenCarthagenaandhim:thisHillandFortoncehis,hehasCarthagenaunderhiscannon;Carthagenainhispocket,asitwere。’Fortnottobehadwithoutbatteries,’
  thinksWentworth;thoughthesicklyrainyseasonhassetin。
  ’Batteries?Scaling—ladders,youmean!’answersVernon,withundisguisedcontempt。Forthetwoare,bythistime,almostinopenquarrel。Wentworthstartsbuildingbatteries,inspiteoftherain—
  deluges;thenstopsbuilding;——decidestodoitbyscalade,afterall。And,attwointhemorningofthisSunday,April16th,setsforth,incertaincolumns,——byroadsill—known,witharrangementsthatdoNOTfitlikeclock—work,——tostormsaidHillandFort。
  TheEnglishareanobstinatepeople;andstrenuousexecutionwillsometimesamenddefectsofplan,——sometimesnot。
  "TheobstinateEnglish,nothinginthembutsullenfireofvalor,whichhastoburnUNluminous,did,aftermistakeonmistake,climbtherocksorheightsofLazarHill,inspiteoftheworldandDonBlas’scannonading;butfound,whenatop,ThatFortLazar,rainingcannon—shot,wasstilldividedfromthembychasms;thatthescaling—laddershadnotcome(neverdidcome,owingtoindisciplinesomewhere),——andthat,withoutwingsasofeagles,theycouldnotreachFortLazaratall!Foraboutfourhours,theystruggledwithadesperatedoggedness,toovercomethechasms,towrenchasidetheLawsofNature,anddosomethingusefulforthemselves;patiently,thoughsulkily;regardlessofthestormofshotwhichkilled600ofthem,thewhile。Atlength,findingtheLawsofNaturetoostrongforthem,theydescendedgloomily:’ingloomysilence’marchedhometotheirtentsagain,——inahumortoodeepforwords。
  "Yes;andwefindtheyfellsickinmultitudes,thatnight;
  and,’intwodaysmore,werereducedfrom6,645to3,200
  effective;’Vernon,fromthesea,lookingdisdainfullyon:——anditbecameevidentthatthebigProjecthadgonetowater;andthatnothingwouldremainbuttoreturnstraightwaytoJamaica,inbankruptcondition。Whichaccordinglywassetabout。Andtendayshence(April26th))thefinalpartyofthemdidgetonboard,——
  punctualtotake’threetents,’theirlastragofSiege—furniture,alongwiththem;’lestDonBlashavetrophies,’thinkspoorWentworth。Andsailedaway,withtheirsadSiegefinishedinsuchfashion。StrenuousSiege;which,hadtheWar—Sciencesbeenfoolishness,andtheLawsofNatureandtherigorsofArithmeticandGeometrybeenstretchableentities,mighthavesucceededbetter!"[Smollett’sAccount,MiscellaneousWorks(Edinburgh,1806),iv。445—469,isthatofahighlyintelligentEye—witness,credibleandintelligibleineveryparticular。]
  "EveningofApril26th:"——IperceiveitwasintheveryhourswhileBelleislearrivedinFriedrich’sCampatMollwitz;eveofthatSiegeofBrieg,whichwesawperformingitselfwithpunctualregardtosaidLawsandrigors,andissuinginsodifferentamanner!
  NothingthatmyConstitutionalHistorianhassaidequalsinpungentenormitythematter—of—factPicture,leftbyTobiasSmollett,ofthesickandwounded,intheinterimwhichfollow&dthatattemptonFortLazarandtheLawsofNature:——
  "Asforthesickandwounded",saysTobias,"theywere,nextday,sentonboardofthetransportsandvesselscalledhospital—ships;
  wheretheylanguishedinwantofeverynecessarycomfortandaccommodation。Theyweredestituteofsurgeons,nurses,cooksandproperprovision;theywerepentupbetweendecksinsmallvessels,wheretheyhadnotroomtositupright;theywallowedinfilth;
  myriadsofmaggotswerehatchedintheputrefactionoftheirsores,whichhadnootherdressingthanthatofbeingwashedbythemselveswiththeirownallowanceofbrandy;andnothingwasheardbutgroans,lamentationsandthelanguageofdespair,invokingdeathtodeliverthemfromtheirmiseries。Whatservedtoencouragethisdespondence,wastheprospectofthosepoorwretcheswhohadstrengthandopportunitytolookaroundthem;fortheretheybeheldthenakedbodiesoftheirfellow—soldiersandcomradesfloatingupanddowntheharbor,affordingpreytothecarrion—crowsandsharks,whichtoretheminpieceswithoutinterruption,andcontributingbytheirstenchtothemortalitythatprevailed。
  "Thispicturecannotfailtobeshockingtothehumanereader,especiallywhenheisinformed,thatwhilethosemiserableobjectscriedinvainforassistance,andactuallyperishedforwantofproperattendance,everyshipofwarinthefleetcouldhavesparedacoupleofsurgeonsfortheirrelief;andmanyyounggentlemenofthatprofessionsolicitedtheircaptainsinpainforleavetogoandadministerhelptothesickandwounded。Thenecessitiesofthepoorpeoplewerewellknown;theremedywaseasyandapparent;
  butthediscordbetweenthechiefswasinflamedtosuchadegreeofdiabolicalrancor,thattheonechoserathertoseehismenperishthanaskhelpoftheother,whodisdainedtoofferhisassistanceunasked,thoughitmighthavesavedthelivesofhisfellow—
  subjects。"[Smollett,IBID。(Anderson’sEdition),iv。466。]
  InsuchanamazingconditionistheEnglishFightingApparatusunderWalpole,beingimportantforEngland’sselfonly;whiletheTalkingApparatus,importantforWalpole,isinsuchexcellentgearing,sowellkeptinrepairandoil!ByWentworth’sblame,whohadnoknowledgeofwar;byVernon’s,whosatfamousontheOppositionside,yetwantedloyaltyofmind;byone’sblameandanother’s,WHOSEitisidlearguing,hereishowyourFightingApparatusperformsinthehourwhenneeded。UnfortunateGeneral,orGeneral’sCocked—Hat(abravehearttoo,theysay,thoughofbraintoovacant,tooopaque);unfortunateAdmiral(muchblownawaybyvanity,in—natureandParliamentarywind);——doublyunfortunateNation,thatemployssuchtoleaditsarmaments!HowtheEnglishNationtookit?TheEnglishNationhashadmuchofthiskindtotake,firstandlast;andapparentlywillyethave。"Gloomysilence,"likethatofthepoormengoinghometotheirtents,isouronlydialecttowardsit。
  Thisisadreadfulbusiness,thisofthewreckedCarthagenaExpedition;suchaforceofwar—munitionsineverykind,——
  includingtherarekind,humanCourageandforceofheart,onlynothumanCaptaincy,therarestkind,——ascouldhaveswallowedSouthAmericaatdiscretion,hadtherebeenCaptainsoverit。HasgoneblunderingdownintoOrcusandtheshark’sbelly,inthatunutterablemanner。MighthavebeendidactictoEugland,morethanitwas;England’sskinbeingverythickagainstlessonsofthatnature。MighthavebrokentheheartofalittleSovereignGentlemanCuratorofEngland,hadhegonehypochondriacallyintoit;whichhewasfarfromdoing,brisklittleGentleman;lookingoutelse—
  whither,withthoseeyesAFLEURDETETE,andnothingofinsolubleadmittedintothebrainthatdweltinside。
  WhatbecamesubsequentlyoftheSpanishWar,weinvaininquireofHistory—Books。TheWardidnotdieformanyyearstocome,butneitherdiditpubliclylive;itdisappearsatthispoint:aRiverNiger,seenonceflowingbroadenough;butissuing——Doesitissuenowhere,then?Wheredoesitissue?ExceptformyConstitutionalHistorian,stillunpublished,Ishouldneverhaveknownwhere。——
  BythetimethesedisastrousCarthagenatidingsreachedEngland,hisBritannicMajestywasinHanover;involved,he,andallhisStatedoctors,EnglishandHanoverian,inawfulcontemplationonPragmaticSanction,Kaiserwahl,CelestialBalance,andthesavingofNature’sKeystone,shouldthisstillprovepossibletohumaneffortandcontrivance。InwhichImminencyofDoomsdayitself,thesmallEnglish—Spanishmatter,whichtheOfficialpeople,andhisMajestyasmuchasany,hadbitterlydisliked,wasquiteletgo,anddroppedoutofview。ForgottenbyOfficialpeople;lefttothedumbEnglishNation,whoseconcernitwas,toadministerasITcould。
  Anson——withhisthreeshipsgonetotwo,goneultimatelytoone——ishenceforthwhatSpanishWarthereofficiallyis。AnsoncouldnotmeetthoseVernon—Wentworthgentlemen"fromtheothersideoftheIsthmusofDarien,"thegentlemen,withtheirEnterprise,beingalreadybankruptandaway。Anson,withthreeinconsiderableships,whichrottedgraduallyintoone,couldnothimselfsettletheSpanishWar:buthedid,onhisownscore,aseriesofthings,endinginbeautifulfinisoftheAcapulcoShip,whichwereofconsiderabledetriment,andofhighlyconsiderabledisgrace,toSpain;——andwere,andarelonglikelytobe,memorableamongtheSea—heroismsoftheworld。GivingproofthatrealCaptains,taciturnSonsofAnak,arestillborninEngland;andSea—kings,equaltoanythatwere。Luckily,too,hehadsomechaplainorship’s—surgeononboard,whosawgoodtowriteaccountofthatmemorableVOYAGEofhis;anddidit,inbrief,perspicuousterms,wiseandcredible:arealPoeminitskind,orRomanceallFact;
  oneofthepleasantestlittleBooksintheWorld’sLibraryatthisdate。Ansonshedssometinctureofheroicbeautyoverthatotherwisealtogetherhideouspuddleofmismanagement,platitude,disaster;andvindicates,inapatheticallypotentialway,thehonorofhispoorNationalittle。
  ApartfromOfficialAnson,theSpanishWarfellmainly,wemaysay,intothehandsof——ofMr。Jenkinshimself,andsuchFriendsofhis,atWapping,BristolandtheSeaports,asmightbedisposedtogoprivateering。Inwhichcourse,aftersomecrossesatfirst,andgreatcomplaintsoflossestoSpanishPrivateers,WappingandBristoldidatlengtheminentlygettheupperhand;andthuscarriedonthisSpanishWar(orSpanish—French,SpainandFrancehavinggotintooneboat),forlongyearscoming;inanentirelyinarticulate,butbynomeansquiteineffectualmanner,——indeed,totheultimateclearanceoftheSeasfrombothFrenchandSpaniard,withinthenexttwentyyears。ReadersshalltakethislittleExcerpt,datedThreeYearshence,andsetittwinklinginthenightoftheirimaginations:——
  BRISTOL,MONDAY,21st(10th)SEPTEMBER,1744……"NothingistobeseenherebutrejoicingsforthenumberofFrenchprizesbroughtintothisport。OurSailorsareinhighspirits,andfullofmoney;
  andwhileonshore,spendtheirwholetimeincarousing,visitingtheirmistresses,goingtoplays,serenading,&c。,dressedoutwithlacedhats,tossels(SIC),swordswithsword—knots,andeveryotherwayofspendingtheirmoney。"[ExtractofaLetterfromBristol,inGentleman’sMagazine,xiv。504。]
  Carthagena,Walpole,Viners:hereareSorrowsforaBritannicMajesty;——andthesearenothinglikeall。Butpoorreadersshouldhavesomerespite;briefbreathing—time,wereitonlytousetheirpocket—handkerchiefs,andsummonnewcourage!
  ChapterXIII。
  SMALL—WAR:FIRSTEMERGENCEOFZIETHENTHEHUSSARGENERALINTONOTICE。
  AfterBrieg,Friedrichundertooknothingmilitary,exceptstrictvigilanceofNeipperg,foracoupleofmonthsormore。Military,especiallyoffensiveoperations,arenotthemethodsjustnow。
  Restonyouroars;seehowthisseethingOceanofEuropeanPolitics,andPeaceorWar,willsettleitselfintocurrents,intosetwinds;bywhichofthemamanmaysteer,whohappenstohaveafixedportinview。Neipperg,too,isgladtobequiescent;
  "myInfantryhopelesslyinferior,"hewritestohead—quarters:
  "Couldnotonehire10,000Saxons,thinkyou,"——ordoseveralotherchimericalthings,forhelp?ExceptwithhisPandourpeople,workingwhatmischieftheycan,Neippergdoesnothing。ButthisHungarianrabbleisextensivelyindustrious,scouringthecountryfarandwide;andgivesagreatdealoftroublebothtoFriedrichandthepeaceableinhabitants。SothatthereisplentyofSmallWaralwaysgoingon:——notmentionablehere,anypassageofit,exceptperhapsone,ataplacecalledRothschloss;whichconcernsaremarkablePrussianHussarMajor,theirfamedZiethen,andisstillrememberedbythePrussianpublic。
  WehaveheardofCaptain,nowMajorZiethen,howFriedrichWilhelmsenthimtotheRhineCampaign,sixyearsago,tolearntheHussarArtfromtheAustriansthere。OneBaronay(BARONIAY,orevenBARANYAI,asotherswritehim),anexcellenthand,taughthimtheArt;——andhowwellhehaslearned,Baronaynowsadlyexperiences。
  TheaffairofRothschloss(inabridgedform)befellasfollows:——
  "IntheseSmall—Warbusinesses,Baronay,AustrianMajor—GeneralofHussars,hadbeenexceedinglymischievoushitherto。Itwasbuttheotherday,aPrussianregularpartyhadtogooutuponhim,justintime;andtoRE—wrench’sixtycart—loadsofmeal,’wrenchedbyhimfromsufferingindividuals;withwhichhewasmakingofftoNeisse,whenthePrussians[fromtheirCampofMollwitz,wheretheystillare]cameinsight。
  "Andnowagain(May16th)newsis,ThatBaronay,and1,400Hussarswithhim,hasanotherconsiderablesetofmeal—carts,——intheVillageofRothschloss,abouttwentymilessouthward,Frankensteinway;andmeanstomarchwiththemNeisse—wardto—morrow。
  Twomarchesorsowillbringhimhome;ifPrussiandiligencepreventnot。’Goinstantly,’ordersFriedrich,——appointingWinterfeldtodoit:Winterfeldwith300dragoons,withZiethenandHussarstotheamountof600;whichismorethanonetotwoofAustrians。
  "WinterfeldandZiethenmarchthatsameday;areintheneighborhoodofRothschlossbynightfall;andtaketheirmeasures,——blocktheroadtoNeisse,anddoothernecessarythings。AndgoinuponBaronaynextmorning,attheduerate,fierymenbothofthem;sweeppoorBaronayaway,MINUSthemeal;whofindsevenhisroadblocked(bridgeburstingintocannon—shotuponhim,atonepoint),insteadofbridge,astream,orslowcurrentofquagmireforhim,——andisinimminenthazard。Ziethen’sbehaviorwassuperlative(detailsofitunintelligibleofftheground);
  andBaronayfledtotallyinwreck;——hisownhorseshot,andatthemomentnoothertobehad;swamthequagmire,orswashedthroughit,’byhelpofatree;"andhadanearmissofcapture。
  Recoveringhimselfontheotherside,Baronay,wecanfancy,gaveagrinofvariousexpression,ashegotintosaddleagain:’Thearrowsonearkillingwasfeatheredfromone’sownwing,too!’——Andindeed,adayortwoafter,hewroteZiethenahandsomeLettertothateffect。"[Helden—Geschichte,i。927;
  Orlich,i。120。TheLifeofGeneraldeZieten
  (EnglishTranslation,veryillprinted,Berlin,1803),BYFRAUVON
  BLUMENTHAL(avaguisheloquentLady,butwithaccesstoinformation,beingaconnectionofZ。’s),p。84。]
  Ziethen,forminorgoodfeats,hadbeenmadeLieutenant—Colonel,theverydayhemarched;hisCommissiondatesMay16th,1741;
  andonthemorrowhehandselsitinthisprettymanner。Heisnowforty—two;muchhelddownhitherto;beingamanofinarticulateturn,hotandabruptinhisways,——liablealwaystomultifariousobstruction,andunjustcontradictionfromhisfellow—creatures。
  ButWinterfeld’sreportonthisoccasionwasemphatic;andZiethenshootsrapidlyuphenceforth;Colonelwithintheyear,Generalin1744;andmoreandmoreesteemedbyFriedrichduringtheirsubsequentlonglifetogether。
  ThoughperhapsthetwomostoppositemeninNature,andstandingsofarapart,theyfullyrecognizedoneanotherintheirseveralspheres。ForZiethentoohadgoodeyesight,thoughinabstrusesort:——ruggedsimplesonofthemoorlands;nourished,bodyandsoul,onorthodoxfrugaloatmeal(sotospeak),withalargesprinklingoffireandironthrownin!Amanbornpoor:sonofsomepoorSquireletintheRuppinCountry;——"usedtowalkfivemilesintoRuppinonSaturdaynights,"inearlylife,"andhavehishairdoneintoclub,whichhadtolasthimtilltheweekfollowing。"
  [Militair—Lexikon,iv。310。]Abig—headed,thick—lipped,decidedlyuglylittleman。Andyetsobeautifulinhisugliness:wise,resolute,true,withadashofhighuncomplainingsorrowinhim;——notthe"bleachednigger"atall,asPrint—Collectorssometimescallhim!No;but(onthoseoatmealterms)theSocrates—Odysseus,thevaliantpiousStoic,andmuch—
  enduringman。OneofthebestHussarCaptainseverbuilt。
  BydegreesKingFriedrichandhegrewtobe,——withconsiderabletiffsnowandthen,andintervalsofgloomandeclipse,——whatwemightcallswornfriends。Onwhichandongeneralgrounds,Ziethenhasbecome,likeFriedrichhimself,akindofmythicalpersonwiththesoldieryandcommonpeople;moreofademi—godthananyotherofFriedrich’sCaptains。
  FriedrichisalwayseagerlyinquestofmenlikeZiethen;
  speciallysoatthistime。HehasmeditatedmuchonthebadfigurehisCavalrymadeatMollwitz;andisalreadydrillingthemanewinmultiplexways,duringthoseleisuredayshenowhas,——withevidentsuccessonthenexttrial,thisverySummer。And,ashiswontis,willnotrestsatisfiedthere。Butstrivesincessantly,foraseriesofsummersandyearstocome,tillhebringthemtoperfection;ortothelikenessofhisownthought,whichprobablywasnotfarfromthat。Tillatlengthitcanbesaidhissuccessbecameworld—famous;andhehadsuchSeidlitzesandZiethensaswerenotseenbeforeorsince。
  MAPFORTHEFIRSTANDSECONDSILESIANWARHERE
  ENDOFBOOK12
  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV13
  byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia"
  BookXIII
  FIRSTSILESIANWAR,LEAVINGTHEGENERALEUROPEAN
  ONEABLAZEALLROUND,GETSENDED。
  May,1741—July,1742。
  ChapterI。
  BRITANNICMAJESTYASPALADINOFTHEPRAGMATIC。
  PartFirstofhisBritannicMajesty’sSorrows,theBritannicorDomesticPart,isnowperhapsconceivabletoreaders。ButastotheSecond,theGermanicorPragmaticPart,——articulateHistory,aftermuchconsideration,iscontenttorenounceattemptingthese;
  feelsthatthesewillremainforeverinconceivabletomankindinthenowalteredtimes。Sosmallagentleman;andhefeels,dismallythoughwithheroism,thathehasgottheaxisoftheworldonhisshoulder。PoorMajesty!Hiseyes,proudasJove’s,arenothinglikesoperspicacious;apairofthepooresteyes:andhehastoscanwiththem,andunriddleunderpainofdeath,suchawasteofinsolubleintricacies,troublesandworld—perilsasseldomwas,——
  eveninDreams。Infact,itisofthenatureofalongNightmareDream,allthisofthePragmatic,tohispoorMajestyandNation;
  andwakefulHistorymustnotspendherselfuponit,beyondtheessential。
  May12th,betimesthisYear,hisMajestygotacrosstoHanover,Harringtonwithhim;anxioustocontemplatenearathandthatCampoftheOldDessauer’satGottin,andtheotherfearfulphenomena,French,Prussianandother,inthatCountry。HisMajesty,asnatural,wasmuchinGermanyinthoseYears;scanningthephenomena;alongwhilenotknowingwhatintheworldtomakeofthem。BullyBelleislehavingsteptintothering,itisevident,clearasthesun,thatonemustact,andactatonce;butitisaperfectsphinx—enigmatosayHow。SeldomwasSovereignormansospurred,andgoadedon,bythehighestconsiderations;andthensohelddown,andchainedtohisplace,byanimbroglioofcounter—
  considerationsandsphinx—riddles!Thriceover,atdifferentdates(whichshallbegiven),thefirstofthemthisYear,hestartsupasinspasm,determinedtodrawsword,andplungein;twiceheiscrusheddownagain,withswordhalfdrawn;andonlythethirdtime(in1743)doeshegetswordout,andbrandishitinasurprisingthoughuselessmanner。Afterwhichhefeelsbetter。Butuptothatcrisis,hiscaseisreallytragical,——hadidlereadersanybowelsforhim;whichtheyhavenot!OneortwoFractions,snatchedfromthecircumambientPaperVortex,mustsufficeusfortheindispensableinthisplace:——
  CUNCTATIONS,YETINCESSANTANDUBIQUITOUSENDEAVORINGS,OFHIS
  BRITANNICMAJESTY(1741—1743)……AfterthewonderfulRussianPartition—Treaty,whichhisEnglishWalpoleswouldnothearof,——andwhichhasproducedtheCampofGottin,see,yourMajesty!——Georgedoesnothingrashly。Farfromit:indeed,exceptitbepayingmoney,hebecomesagainamiracleofcunctations;andstaggersaboutforyearstocome,likethe——
  Shallwesay,liketheWhiteHanoverHorseamidhalfadozensievesofbeans?Alas,no,liketheHanoverHorsewiththeshadowsofhalfadozenDamocles’—swordsdanglingintotheeyesofit;——enoughtodriveanyHorsetoitswit’send!——
  "Todo,todare,"thinkstheBritannicMajesty;——yes,andofdaringthereisaplenty:but,"Inwhichdirection?What,How?"thesearequestionsforafussylittlegentlemancalledtotaketheworldonhisshoulders。WesupposeitwasbyWalpole’sadvicethathegaveherHungarianMajestythat200,000poundsofSecret—ServiceMoney;
  ——advicesufficientlyWalpolean:"RussianPartition—Treaties;
  horribletothinkof;——bewareoftheseagain!GiveherMajestythatcash;canbedone;itwillkeepmattersafloat,andspoilnothing!"
  That,tillthelateSubsidypayablewithinyearanddayhence,wasalloftangiblehisMajestyhadyetdone;——trulythatisallherHungarianMajestyhasyetgotbyhawkingtheworld,PragmaticSanctioninhand。AndifthatwerethebitofgenerositywhichenabledNeippergtoclimbtheMountainsandbebeatenatMollwitz,thathashelpedlittle!Verybiggenerosities,toafrightfulcipherofMillionsSterlingthroughthecomingyears,willgothesameroad;andamountalsotozero,evenforthereceivingparty,nottospeakofthegiving!Formenandkingsarewisecreatures。
  Butwiseorunwise,howgreatarehisBritannicMajesty’sactivitiesinthisPragmaticBusiness!Wemaysay,theyareprodigious,incessant,ubiquitous。Theyareforgottennow,fallenwhollytothespidersandthedust—bins;——thoughFriedrichhimselfwasnotabusierKinginthosedays,ifperhapsabetterdirected。
  Itisathingwonderfultous,butsorrowfulandundeniable。
  WeperceivetheBritannicMajesty’sownlittlemindpulsingwiththisPragmaticMatter,asthebiggestvolcanowoulddo;——shootingforthdustandsmoke(subsidies,diplomaticemissaries,treaties,offersoftreaty,plans,foolishfutileexertions),atanimmenserate。WhentheCelestialBalancesarecanting,amanoughttoexerthimself。ButastothisofsavingtheHouseofAustriafromFrance,——surely,yourBritannicMajesty,theshortestwaytothat,ifthatissoindispensable,were:ThattheHouseofAustriashouldconsenttogiveupitsstolengoods,betterlatethannever;andtomakethisKingofPrussiaitsfriend,asheofferstobe!JoinedwiththisKing,itwouldmanagetogiveaccountofFranceanditsballoonprojects,byandby。CouldyourBritannicMajestybuttakeMr。Viner’shint;and,intheinterim,mindyourOWNbusiness!——
  HisBritannicMajestyintendsimmediatefighting;and,bothinEnglandandHanover,ismakingpreparationloudandgreat。Nay,hewillinhisownpersonfight,ifnecessary,andratherlikesthethoughtofit:hesawOudenardeinhisyoungdays;and,Iamtold,tracesinhimselfatalentforGeneralship。WeretheBritannicMajestytodrawhisownpuissantsword!—Hisownpuissantpursehehasalreadydrawn;andissubsidizingtorightandleft;knockingatalldoorswithmoneyinhand,andthequestion,"Anyfightingdonehere?"InEnglanditselftheregoesonmuchdrilling,enlisting;camping,proposingtocamp;whichisnoisyenoughintheBritishNewspapers,muchmoreintheForeign。OneactualCamptherewas"onLexdenHeathnearColchester,"fromMaytillOctoberofthis1741,[Manifoldbutinsignificantdetailsaboutit,intheoldNewspapersofthoseMonths。]——Campwaitingalwaystobeshippedacrosstothesceneofaction,butneverwas:——thisactualCamp,andseveralimaginaryoneshere,whichwerealarmingtotheContinentalGazetteer。InEnglandhisMajestyisbusythatway;
  stillmoreamonghisHanoverians,nowunderhisownroyaleye;
  andamonghisDanesandHessians,whomhehasnowbroughtoverintoHanover,tocombinewiththeothers。DanesandHessians,6,000ofeachkind,heforsometimekeepsbackinstall,uponsubsidy,readyforsuchanoccasion。Their"CampatHameln,""CampatNienburg"(will,withtheHanoverians,be30,000odd);theirswashingandblaringabout,intendingtoencampatHameln,atNienburg,andotherplaces,butneverdoingit,ordoingitwithanyresult:this,withthealarmingEnglishCampsatLexdenandinDreamland,whichalsowerevoidofpracticalissue,filledEuropewithrumorthisSummer。——Eagerenoughtofight;anoblemartialardorinourlittleHercules—Atlas!Butthereliesuchenormousdifficultiesonthethreshold;especiallytheseTwo,whichareinsuperableornearlyso。
  DifficultyFIRST,isthatofthelaggardDutch;aPeopleapttobeheavyinthestern—works。TheyarequitelanguidaboutPragmaticSanction,theseDutch;theyanswerhisBritannicMajesty’senthusiasmwithanobesetorpidity;andhopealwaystheywilldriftthrough,insomeway;buoyantintheirownfat,wellballastedastern;andnotneedsuchswimmingforlife。"Whatalaggardnotion,"thinkshisMajesty;"notionintenpairofbreeches,sotospeak!"ThisstirringupoftheDutch,whichlastsyearonyear,andalmostbeatsLordStair,LordCarteret,andourchiefArtists,isitselfathinglikefew!OneofhisBritannicMajesty’sgreatdifficulties;——insuperablehenevercouldadmitittobe。
  "SurelyyouareaSea—Power,yevaliantDutch;theOTHERSea—Power?
  BoundbyBarrierTreaty,TreatyofVienna,andLawofNatureitself,torisewithusagainstthefataldesignsofFrance;
  fataltoyourDutchBarrier,firstofall;iftheLibertiesofMankindwereindifferenttoyou!Howisitthatyouwillnot?"
  TheDutchcannotsayhow。Francerockstheminsecurity,byoily—
  mouthedDiplomatists,Fenelonandothers:"WouldnottouchastoneofyourBarrier,fortheworld,yeadmirableDutchneighbors:
  onourhonor,thriceandfourtimes,No!"TheyhaveaneloquentVanHoeyoftheirownatParis;renownedinNewspapers:"Nothingbutfriendshiphere!"reportsVanHoeyalways;andtheDutchanswerhisBritannicMajesty:"Hm,rise?Wellthen,ifwemust!"——butsitalwaysstill。
  NowhereinPoliticalMechanicshaveIseensuchaProblemasthisofhoistingtotheirfeettheheavy—bottomedDutch。Thecunningestleverage,everysortofDiplomaticblock—and—tackle,CarteretandStairthemselvesrunningovertohelpincriticalseasons,isapplied;toalmostnopurpose。Pulllong,pullstrong,pullalltogether,——see,theheavyDutchdostir;somefourinchesofdaylightfairlyvisiblebelowthem:bearahand,oh,bearahand!——
  Pooh,theDutchflapdownagain,aslowasever。Aslow,——unless(byDiplomaticart)youhaveWEDGEDthematthefourincheshigher;
  which,afterthefirsttimeortwo,isgenerallydone。Atthelonglast,partiallyin1743(uponwhichhisBritannicMajestydrewsword),completelyin1747,theDutchweregottotheirfeet;——
  unfortunatelygoodfornothingwhentheywere!WithoutthemhisBritannicMajestydurstnotventure。Hiddeninthosedust—bins,thereisnothingsoabsurd,orwhichwouldbesowearisome,diditnotatlastbecomeslightlyludicrous,asthisofhoistingtheDutch。
  DifficultySECOND,whichinenormityofmagnitudemightbereckonedfirst,asinorderoftimeitranksbothfirstandlast,is:
  ThecaseofdearHanover;caseinvolvedinmereinsolubilities。
  OurowndearHanover,which(weretherenothingmoreinit)isliable,fromthatCampatGottin,tobeslitinpiecesatamoment’swarning!NodrawingswordagainstanefariousPrussia,onthoseterms。TheCampatGottinholdsGeorgeincheckmate。Andthenfinally,inthissameAutumn,1741,whenaMailleboiswithhis40
  or50,000French(theLeftwardorwesternofthoseTwoBelleisleArmies),threateningourHanoverfromanotherside,crossedtheLowerRhine——Butletusnotanticipate。ThecaseofHanover,whicheverybodysawtobehisMajesty’svulnerablepoint,wastheconstantopendoorofFranceandhermachinations,andanever—
  endingthemeofangryeloquencesintheEnglishParliamentaswell。
  SothatthecaseofHanoverprovedinsolublethroughout,andwaslikeaperpetualrunningsore。Ohthepamphleteerings,thedenouncings,thecomplainings,satiricalandelegiac,whichgroundedthemselvesonHanover,theCASEOFTHEHANOVERFORCES,andinnumerableotherHanoveriancases,griefsanddifficulties!
  Sopungentlyvitaltosomnambulantmankindatthatepoch;tousfallendeadascarrion,andunendurabletothinkof。Myfriends,ifyousendforGentlemenfromHanover,youmusttakethemwithHanoveradheringmoreorless;andoughtnottoquarrelwithyourbargain,whichyoureckonedsodivine!Nodoubt,itissingulartoseeaBritannicMajestyneglectinghisownSpanishWar,theonerealbusinesshehasatpresent;andrunningaboutoveralltheworld;busy,soul,bodyandbreeches—pocket,inotherpeople’swars;eggingonotherfighting,whisperingeverylikelyfellowhecanmeet,"Won’tyouperhapsfight?Hereisforyou,ifso!"——handtobreeches—pocketaccompanyingtheword。Butitmustbesaid,andoughttobebetterknownthaninourdayitis,HisMajesty’sMinisters,andtheEnglishState—Doctorsgenerally,werepreciselyofthesamemind。TOthemtootheAustrianQuarrelwaseverything,theirownpoorSpanishQuarrelnothing;andthecomplainttheymakeofhisMajestyisratherthathedoesnotrushrapidlyenough,withbrandishedsword,aswellaswithguineasrainingfromhim,intothisoneindispensablebusiness。"OwingtohisfearsforHanover!"
  saythey,withindignation,withnoendofsuspicion,angrypamphleteeringandcoverteloquence,"withinthosewalls"
  andwithout。
  ThesuspicionofHanover’scheckinghisMajesty’sPragmaticvelocityisaltogetherwellfounded;andthereneednomorebesaidonthatHanoverscore。Beitwellunderstoodandadmitted,HanoverwastheBritannicMajesty’sbelovedson;andtheBritishEmpirehisopulentmilk—cow。Richestofmilk—cows;staffofone’slife,forgrandpurposesandsmall;beautifulbiganimal,nottobeprovoked;
  buttobestrokedandmilked:——Friends,ifyouwilldoaGloriousRevolutionofthatkind,andburnsuchanamountoftaruponit,whyeatsourherbsforaninevitablecorollarytherefrom!Andletmypresentreadersunderstand,atanyrate,that,——exceptinWapping,Bristolandamongthesimpleinstinctiveclasses(withwhom,itistrue,goPittandsomeillustriousfigures),——politicalEnglandgenerally,whateverofEnglandhadParliamentarydiscourseofreason,anddidPamphlets,Despatches,Harangues,wentgreatlyalongwithhisMajestyinthatPragmaticBusiness。Andbetheblameofdeliriumlaidontherightback,whereitoughttolie,notonthewrong,whichhasenoughtobearofitsown。Andgonotintothatdust—whirlwindofextinctstupidities,Oreader:——whatreaderwould,exceptfordidacticobjects?Knowonlythatitdoesofatruthwhirlthere;andfancyalways,ifyoucan,thatcertainthingsandHumanFigures,aFriedrich,aChathamandsomeothers,haveitfortheirLife—Element。Which,Ioftenthink,istheirprincipalmisfortunewithPosterity;saidLife—Elementhavinggonetosuchanunutterableconditionforgodsandmen。
  "OneotherthingsurprisesusinthoseOldPamphlets,"saysmyConstitutionalFriend:"Howthephrase,’CauseofLiberty’everandanonturnsup,withgreatthoughextinctemphasis,evidentlysincere。Aftergroping,oneisastonishedtofinditmeansSupportoftheHouseofAustria;keepingoftheHapsburgsentireintheiroldPossessionsamongmankind!That,toourgreat—grandfathers,wasthe’CauseofLiberty;’——said’Cause’being,withusagain,ElectoralSuffrageandotherthings;anotablydifferentdefinition,perhapsstillwiderofthemark。