ROBINSON(withsomeemphasis,asaBritannicgentleman)。"’RussiaisnottheonlyPowerthathasengagementswithAustria,andthatmustkeepthemtoo!Sothat,howeveraversetoabreach——’
KING("layinghisfingeronhisnose,"markhim;——aloud,andwithsucheyes)。"’Nothreats,Sir,ifyouplease!Nothreats’["inaloudvoice,"fingertonose,andwithsucheyeslookinginuponme]。
HYNDFORD(heavilycomingtotherescue)。"’AmsurehisExcellencyisfarfromsuchmeaning,Sire。HisExcellencywilladvancenothingsoverycontrarytohisInstructions。’——Podewilstooputinsomethingproper"intheappeasingway。
ROBINSON。"’Sire,IamnottalkingofwhatthisPowerorthatmeanstodo;butofwhatwillcomeofitself。Toprophesyisnottothreaten,Sire!ItismyzealforthePublicthatbroughtmehither;and——’
KING。"’ThePublicwillbemuchobligedtoyou,Monsieur!Buthearme。WithrespecttoRussia,youknowhowmattersstand。FromtheKingofPolandIhavenothingtofear。AsfortheKingofEngland,——heismyrelation[dearUncle,inthePawnbrokersense],heismyall:ifhedon’tattackme,Iwon’thim。Andifhedo,thePrinceofAnhalt[OldDessaueroutatGottinyonder]willtakecareofhim。’
ROBINSON。"’Thecommonnewsnowis[rumorinDiplomaticcircles,ratherbelowthetruththistime],yourMajesty,afterthe12thofAugust,willjointheFrench。[Kinglooksfixedlyathiminsilence。]Sire,Iventuretohopenot!Austriaprefersyourfriendship;butifyourMajestydisdainAustria’sadvances,whatisittodo?AustriamustthrowitselfentirelyintothehandsofFrance,——andendeavortooutbidyourMajesty。’[Kingquitesilent。]
"Kingwasquitesilentuponthishead,"saysRobinson,reporting:
silence,guessesRobinson,foundedmostprobablyuponhis"consciousnessofguilt"——whatI,floridYorkshireGentleman,callGUILT,asbeingagainsttheCauseofLibertyandus!"Fromtimetotimehethrewoutremarksontheadvantageousnessofhissituation:——
KING……"’AttheheadofsuchanArmy,whichtheEnemyhasalreadymadeexperienceof;andwhichisreadyfortheEnemyagain,ifhehaveappetite!WiththeCountrywhichaloneIamconcernedwith,conqueredandsecuredbehindme;aCountrythataloneliesconvenienttome;whichisallIwant,whichInowhave;whichI
willandmustkeep!ShallIbeboughtoutofthiscountry?Never!
Iwillsoonerperishinit,withallmytroops。WithwhatfaceshallImeetmyAncestors,ifIabandonmyright,whichtheyhavetransmittedtome?Myfirstenterprise;andtobegivenuplightly?’"——Withmoreofthelikesort;whichFriedrich,inwritingofitlongafter,seemsratherashamedof;andwouldfainconsidertohavebeenmockfustian,provokedbytherealfustianofSirThomasRobinson,"whonegotiatedinawordyhigh—droningway,asifhewerespeakinginParliament,"saysFriedrich(aFriedrichnottakenwiththatstyleofeloquence,andhopingheratherquizzeditthanwasseriouswithit,[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。84。]——thoughRobinsonandHyndfordfoundinhimnowantofvehementseriousness,butratherthereverse!)——Heconcludes:
"HaveIneedofPeace?LetthosewhoneeditgivemewhatIwant;
orletthemfightmeagain,andbebeatenagain。HavenottheygivenwholeKingdomstoSpain?[Naples,atoneswoop,totheTermagant;asbrokenglass,inthatPolish—Electionfreak!]AndtometheycannotspareafewtriflingPrincipalities?IftheQueendoesnotnowgrantmeallIrequire,IshallinfourweeksdemandFourPrincipalitiesmore![Nay,Inowdoit,beinginsibyllinetune。]InowdemandthewholeofLowerSilesia,Breslauincluded;——
andwiththatAnsweryoucanreturntoVienna。’
ROBINSON。"’WiththatAnswer:isyourMajestyserious?’
KING。"’Withthat。’"AmostvehementyoungKing;nonegotiatingwithhim,SirThomas!ItislikenegotiatingfortheSibyl’sBooks:
thelongeryoubargain,thehigherhewillrise。Infourweeks,timehewilldemandFourPrincipalitiesmore;nay,alreadydemandsthem,thewholeofLowerSilesiaandBreslau。ApreciousnegotiationIhavemadeofit!SirThomas,wide—eyed,asksasecondtime:——
ROBINSON。"’IsthatyourMajesty’sdeliberateanswer?’
KING。"’Yes,Isay!ThatismyAnswer;andIwillnevergiveanother。’
HYNDFORDandROBINSON(muchflurried,toPodewils)。"’YourExcellency,pleasetocomprehend,theProposalsfromViennawere——’
KING。"’Messieurs,Messieurs,itisofnouseeventothinkofit。’
Andtakingoffhishat,"slightlyraisinghishat,assalutationandfinale,"heretiredprecipitatelybehindthecurtainoftheinteriorcornerofthetent,"saysthereporter:EXITKing!
ROBINSON(totallyflurried,toPodewils)。"’YourExcellency,FrancewillabandonPrussia,willsacrificePrussiatoself—interest。’
PODEWILS。"’No,no!Francewillnotdeceiveus;wehavenotdeceivedFrance。’"(SCENECLOSES;CURTAINFALLS。)[State—PaperOffice(RobinsontoHarrington,Breslau,9thAugust,1741);Raumer,pp。106—110。CompareOEuvresdeFrederic,
ii。84;andValori,i。119,122。]
Theunsuccessfulestnegotiationwellimaginablebyapublicman。
Strehlen,Monday,7thAugust,1741:——Friedrichhasvanishedintotheinteriorofhistent;andthetwoDiplomaticgentlemen,thewindstruckoutoftheminthismanner,remaingazingatoneanother。HeretrulyisayoungRoyalgentlemanthatknowshisownmind,whilesomanydonot。Unspeakableimbroglioofnegotiations,mostlyinsane,weltersoveralltheEarth;theBelleisles,theAulicCouncils,theBritishGeorges,heapingcoiluponcoil:
andhere,notably,inthatnowsoextremelysordidmurkofwiggeries,inanediplomaciesandsolemndeliriums,darknowandobsoletetoallcreatures,stepsforthonelittleHumanFigure,withsomethingofsanityinit:likeastar,likeagleamofsteel,——shearingasunderyourbigballoons,andlettingouttheirdiplomatichydrogen;——saluteswithhishat,"Gentlemen,Gentlemen,itisofnouse!"andvanishesintotheinteriorofhistent。ItistoExcellencyRobinson,amongallthesonsofAdamthenextant,thatweowethisinterestingPassageofHistory,——authenticglimpse,facetoface,oftheyoungFriedrichinthoseextraordinarycircumstances:everyfeaturesubstantiallyasabove,andrecognizablefortrue。ManyDespatcheshisExcellencywroteinthisworld,——sixtyoreightyvolumesofthemstillleft,——butamongthemisthisOne:theangriestofmankindcannotsaythathisExcellencylivedandembassiedquiteinvain!
TheTwoBritannicGentlemen,bothonthatdistressingMondayandthedayfollowing,hadthehonortodinewiththeKing:whoseemedinexuberantspirits;cuttingandbanteringtorightandleft;
upontheCourtofVienna,amongothertopics,inawaywhichI
Robinson"willnotrepeattoyourLordship。"Bademe,forexample,"AsyoupassthroughNeisse,makemycomplimentstoMarshalNeipperg;andyoucansay,ExcellencyRobinson,thatIhopetohavethepleasureofcalling,oneofthesedays!"——Podewils,whowascivil,pressedusmuchtostayoverWednesday,the9th。
"OnThursdayistobeaGrandReview,oneofthefinestmilitarysights;towhichtheExcellenciesfromBreslau,oneandall,arecomingout。"Butwe,havingourDespatchesandExpressesonhand,pleadedbusiness,anddeclined,inspiteofPodewils’surgencies。
AndsetoffforBreslau,Wednesday,morning,——meetingvariousExcellencies,bydegreesalltheExcellencies,ontheroadforthatReviewwehadheardof。
ReadersmustacceptthisRobinsoniadasthelastofFriedrich’sDiplomaticperformancesatStrehlen,whichineffectitnearlywas;
andfromtheseinstancesimaginehiswayinsuchthings。VariousLettersthereare,toJordanprincipally,sometoAlgarotti;
bothofwhomhestillkeepsatBreslau,andsendsfor,ifthereisliketobeanhourofleisure。TheLettersindicatecheerfulnessofhumor,evenlevity,intheWriter;whichisworthnoting,inthiswildclashofthingsnowtumblingroundhim,andlookingtohimasitscentre:buttheyotherwise,thoughheartilyaudfranklywritten,are,toJordanandus,asifwrittenfromtheteethoutward;andthrownolightwhatevereitheronthingsbefalling,oronFriedrich’shumorunderthem。Readingdiligently,wedonoticeonething,Thatthetalkabout"fame(GLOIRE)"hasdiedout。
NottheleastmentionnowofGLOIRE;——perceptionnow,mostprobably,thatthereareotherthingsthan"GLOIRE"tobehadbytakingarms;andthatWarisaterriblygravething,lightlyasonemaygointoitatfirst!Thissmallinferencewedonegativelydraw,fromtheFriedrichCorrespondenceofthosemonths:andexceptthis,andthelevityofhumornoticeable,wepracticallygetnolightwhateverfromit;thepracticalsoulandsoul’sbusinessofFriedrichbeingentirelykeptveiledthere,asusual。
Andveiled,too,insuchawaythatyoudonotnoticeanyveil,——
theyoungKingbeing,asweoftenintimate,amasterinthisart。
Whichusefulcircumstancehasdonehimmuchillwithreadersandmankind。Forifyouintendtointerestreaders,——thatistosay,idleneighbors,andfellow—creaturesinneedofgossip,——thereisnothinglikeunveilingyourself:witnessJean—JacquesRousseau,andmanyotherpoorwastecreatures,goingoffinself—conflagration,foramusementoftheparish,inthatmanner。ButmaynotamanhavesomethingotheronhandwithhisExistencethanthatof"settingfiretoit[suchtheprocessterriblyIS],toshowthepeopleafineplayofcolors,andgethimselfapplauded,andpatheticallyblubberedover?"Alas,myfriends!——
Itiscertaintherewasseldomsuchalife—elementasthisofFriedrich’sinSummer,1741。HereistheenormousjumblingofaWorldbrokenloose;boilingasinverychaos;askingofhim,himmorethananyother,"How?What?"EnoughtoputGLOIREoutofhishead;andawakenthoughts,——terrors,ifyouwereofapprehensiveturn!Surelynoyoungmanoftwenty—ninemoreneededallthehumanqualitiesthanFriedrichnow。Thethreatenings,theseductions,bigBelleislehallucinations,——theperilstoyouinfinite,ifyouMISS
theroad。Friedrichdidnotmissit,asiswellknown;hemanagedtopickitoutfromthatenormousjumbleoftheelements,andvictoriouslyarrivedbyit,healoneofthemall。Whichisevidenceofsilentorlatentfacultyinhim,stillmorewonderfulthantheloud—resoundingonesofwhichtheworldhasheard。Probablytherewasnot,inhishistory,anychaptermoresignificantofhumanfacultythanthis,whichisnotonrecordatall。
ChapterIII。
GRANDREVIEWATSTREHLEN:NEIPPERGTAKESAIMATBRESLAU,BUTANOTHERHITSIT。
AdayortwobeforethatfamousAudienceofHyndfordandRobinson’s,NeipperghadquittedhisimpregnableCampatNeisse,andtakenthefieldagain;inthehopeofperhapshelpingRobinson’sNegotiationbyaninversemethod。ShouldRobinson’soffersnotproveattractiveenough,asistobefeared,apushfrombehindmayhavegoodeffects。NeippergintendstohaveastrokeonBreslau;totwitchBreslauoutofFriedrich’shands,byaprivatemanoeuvreonnewresourcesthathaveofferedthemselves。[
Helden—Geschichte,i。982,andii。227。]
InBreslau,whichisbygreatmajorityProtestantincreedandwarmlyPrussianintemper,therehasbeennooppressionorunfairusageheardoftoanyclassofpersons;andcertainlyinthematterofProtestantandCatholic,therehasbeenperfectequalityobserved。True,thechangefromfavorandascendencytomereequality,isnotinitselfwelcometohumancreatures:——oneconceives,forvariousreasonsoflowerandhighernature,aminorityofdiscontentedindividualsinBreslau,zealousfortheircreedandoldperquisitessacredandprofane;wholonginsecret,sometimesvocallytooneanother,forthegoodoldtimes,——whensoulswerenotliabletoperishwholesale,andpeopleguiltyonlyofloyaltyandorthodoxytobeturnedoutoftheirofficesonsuspicion。Friedrichsays,itwasmainlycertainzealousOldLadiesofQualitywhowentintothisadventure;andfromwhisperingtooneanother,gotintospeaking,intomeetinginoneanother’shousesforthepurposeofconcertingandcontriving。[OEuvres,ii。82,83。]ZealousOldLadiesofQuality,——theseweconsiderweretheTalking—ApparatusorSecret—Parliamentofthething:butitiscertainoneortwoOfficialGentlemen(SyndicGuzmarforinstance,andothersNOTyetbecomeEx—Official)hadactivehandinit,andfurnishedthepracticalideas。
ContinualCorrespondencetherewaswithVienna,bythoseOldLadies;Guzmarandtheothersshyofputtingpentopaper,andonlydoingitwhereindispensable。ZealousAddressesgotoherHungarianMajesty,"Oh,maytheBlessedVirginassistyourMajesty!"——
accompanied,itissaid,withSubscriptionsofmoney(pooroldsouls);andwhatismuchmoredangerousandfeasible,theregoespromptnoticetoNeippergofeverythingthePrussianArmyundertakes,andthePostscriptalways,"Comeanddeliverus,yourExcellency。"OftheselatterDocuments,IhaveheardofsomewithSyndicGuzmar’sandotherOfficialhandstothem。Generallysuchthingscan,throughaccidentalPandourchannels,weretherenoother,easilyreachNeipperg;thoughtheydonotalways。
Enough,couldNeippergappearattheGatesofBreslau,insomeconcertednight—hour,orpushoutsuitableDetachmentonforced—
marchthatway,——itisevidenttohimhewouldbeletin;
mightsmotherthefewPrussiansthatareintheDomIsland,andgetpossessionoftheEnemy’sprincipalMagazineandtheMetropolisoftheProvince。MightnottheEnemygrowmoretractabletoRobinson’sseductionsinsuchcase?
NeippergmarchesfromNeisse(1st—6thAugust)withhiswholeArmy;
firstsomethirtymileswestwarduptherightorsouthernbankoftheNeisse;thencrossestheNeisse,andcirclesroundtonorthward,givingFriedrichwideroom:[Orlich,i。130,133。]thatnightofRobinson’sAudience,whenFriedrichwassomerryatdinner,NeippergwasengagedincrossingtheRiver;thesecondnightafter,NeipperglayencampedandintrenchedatBaumgarten(oldsceneofFriedrich’sPandourAdventure),whileHyndfordandRobinsonhadgotbacktoBreslau。Inanotherdayorso,hemayhopetobewithinforced—marchofBreslau,todetachFeldmarschallBrowneorsomesharphead;andtodoahighlyconsiderablething?
UnluckilyforNeipperg’sAdventure,thePrussianshadwindofit,sometimeago。Theyhavegot"afalseSistersmuggledintothatOld—Ladies’Committee,"whohasdulyreportedprogress;naytheyhaveinterceptedsomethinginSyndicGuzmar’sownhand:andeverythingisknowntoFriedrich。TheProtestantpopulation,andgenerallythepracticalquietpartoftheBreslauers,areharassedwithsuspicionofsomesuchthing,butcangainnocertainty,norunderstandwhattodo。Protestantsespecially,whohavebeensozealous,"whowereseendroppingdownonthestreetstopray,whilethemuffledthundercamefromMollwitzthatday,"[Ranke,ii。
289。]——fancyhowitwouldnowbe,werethetablessuddenlyturned,andindignantOrthodoxymadesupremeagain,withmemoryfresh!
But,infact,thereisnodangerwhatevertothem。SchwerinhasordersaboutBreslau;SchwerinandtheYoungDessauerarematurelyconsideringhowtomanage。
ReadersrecollecthowPodewilspressedtheTwoBritannicExcellenciestostayinStrehlenadayortwolonger:"GrandReview,withfestivities,justonhand;wholeoftheForeignMinistersinBreslauinvitedouttoseeit,"——thoughHyndfordandRobinsonwouldnotconsent;butleftonthe9th,meetingtheothersatdifferentpointsoftheroad。Nextday,Thursday,10thAugust,wasinfactagreatdayatStrehlen;grandmuster,manoeuvringofcavalryaboveall,whomFriedrichisdelightedtofindsoperfectintheirnewmethods;ridingasiftheywerecentaurs,horseandmanoneentity;capableofplunginghome,atfullgallop,incoherentmassesuponanenemy,anddoingsomegoodwithhim。
"Neipperg’sCroat—people,andout—picketsonthedistantHill—
sides,witnessedthesemanoeuvres,"[Ranke,ii。288。]Iknownotwithwhatcriticism。Furthermore,aboutnoon—time,therewasheard(markit,reader)adistantcannon—shot,oneandnomore,fromtheNorthernside;whichgavehisMajestyalivelypleasure,thoughhetreateditasnothing。AlltheForeignMinisterswereontheground;doubtlesswithpraises,sofarasreceivable;andintheafternooncamefestivitiesnotafew。AgreatdayinStrehlen:——
butinBreslauamuchgreater;whichexplained,toourTwoExcellencies,whyPodewilshadbeensopressing!
August10th,atsixinthemorning,Schwerin,andunderhimtheYoungDessauer,——whohadarrivedintheSouthwesternsuburbsofBreslauovernight,with8,000footandhorse,andhadpostedthemselvesinavigilantAnti—Neippergmannerthere,andlaidalltheirplans,——appearattheNicolaiGate;anddemand,inthecommonway,transitfortheirregimentsandbaggages:"boundNorthward,"
asappears;"toLeubus,"wheresomethingofPandoursorthasfallenout。Somanytroopsorcompaniesatatime,thatistherule;
onequotityofcompaniesyouadmit;thencloseandbolt,tillithavemarchedacrossandoutattheoppositeGate;afterwhich,openagainforasecondlot。Butinthiscase,——owingtoaccident(veryunusual)ofabaggage—wagonbreakingdown,andpeoplehurryingtohelpitforward,——thewholeregimentgetsin,escortedasusualbytheTown—guard。Wholeregiment;andmarches,notstraightthrough;
butatacertaincornerstrikesoffleftwardtotheMarket—place;
where,singulartosay,itseemsinclinedtopauseandrearrangeitselfalittle。Nay,moresingularstill,otherregiments(owingtolikeaccidents),fromotherGates,joinit;——and——infact——
"HerrMajoroftheTown—guard,intheKing’sname,youarerequiredtogroundarms!"WhatcantheTownMajordo;Prussiangrenadiers,cannoneers,gravelyenvironinghim?Hestickshisswordintothescabbard,anEx—TownMajor;andBreslauCityisbecomeFriedrich’s,softlylikeamovementduringdrill。[Helden—Geschichte,i。982,n。227,268;Adelung,ii。439;Stenzel,iv。152。]
Nottheleastmistakeoccurred。Cannonwithcase—shotplantedthemselvesinallthethoroughfares,Horse—patrolswentcirculatingeverywhere;Town—arsenal,gates,walls,arelaidholdof;Town—
guardsalldisarmed,rather"withlaughterontheirpart"thanotherwise:"Majestyperhapswillgiveusmusketsofhisown;——
well!"Theoperationaltogetherdidnotlastaboveanhour—and—
half,andnobody’sskingotscratched。Towards9A。M。SchwerinsummonedtheTownDignitariestotheirRathhaustoswearfealty;
whoatoncecomplied;andonhissteppingoutwithproposal,tothegeneralpopulation,of"acheerforKingFriedrich,DukeofLowerSilesia,"thepoorpeoplerenttheskieswiththeir"FriedrichandSilesiaforever!"whichtheyrepeated,Ithink,seventimes。
UponwhichSchwerinfiredoffhissignal—cannon,pointingtotheSouth;whereotherpostsandcannonstookupthesound,andpusheditforward,till,aswenoticed,itgottoFriedrichinfewminutes,onthereview—groundatStrehlen;rightwelcometohim,amongthemanoeuvringsthere。ProtestantBreslauorcordwainerDoblincannotlamentsucharesult;stilllessdarethedevoutOldLadiesofQualityopenlylament,whoaretremblingtotheheart,pooroldcreatures,thoughnoevilcameofittothem;penitent,letoffforthefright;checkingeventheiraspirationshenceforth。
SyndicGuzmarandthepeccantOfficialsbeingsummonedouttoStrehlen,ithadbeenaskedofthem,"DoyouknowthisLetter?"
Uponwhichtheyfellontheirknees,"ACHIHROMAJESTAT!"unabletodenytheirhandwriting;yetanxioustoavoiddeathonthescaffold,asFriedrichsaidwasusualundersuchbehavior;andweresenthome,afterafewhoursofarrest。[Orlich,i。134;
Helden—Geschichte,ii。228。]Schwerin(asKing’ssubstitutetilltheKinghimselfonedayarrive)continuedtotaketheHomaging,andtomakethemanynewarrangementsneedful。
Allwhichwentoffinasoftandpleasantlyharmoniousmanner;——
onlytheJesuitsscruplingalittletoswearasyet;andgettinggentlysenttheirways,withrevenuesstoptinconsequence。
Otherwisetheswearing,whichlastedforseveraldays,wastoappearanceajoyfulprocess,andonthepartofthegeneralpopulationanenthusiasticone,"ESLEBEKONIGFRIEDRICH!"risingtothewelkinwithinsatiableemphasis,seventimesover,ontheleastsignalgiven。Neipperg’sAdventure,andOrthodoxFemaleParliament,haveissuedinthissadlyreversemanner。
RobinsonandHyndfordhavetowitnessthesephenomena;RobinsontoshootoffforPresburgagain,withtheworstnewsintheworld。
QueenandHofrathshavebeenwaitinginagonyofsuspense,"WillFriedrichbargainonthosegentleterms,andhelpuswith100,000
men?"Farfromit,myfriends;howfar!"Mymostimportantintelligence,"writestheRussianEnvoythere,somedaysago,["5August,1741,"notsaidtowhom(inRanke,ii。324n。)。]is,thataBavarianWarhasbrokenout,thatKur—BaiernisinPassau。
GodgrantthatMonsieurRobinsonmaysucceedinhisnegotiation!
Allhereareinthecompletestirresolution,andtotalinactivity,tillMonsieurRobinsonreturn,oratleastsendnewsofhimself。"
ChapterIV。
FRIEDRICHTAKESTHEFIELDAGAIN,INTENTONHAVINGNEISSE。
ThisBreslauAdventure,whichhadyieldedFriedrichsoimportantanacquisition,wasfurthermorethecauseofendingtheseStrehleninactivities,andofrecommencingfieldoperations。August11th,Neipperg,provokedbythegrievousnewsjustcomefromBreslau,pushessuddenlyforwardonSchweidnitz,bywayofconsolation;
Schweidnitz,notsostrongasitmightbemade,wherethePrussianshaveaprincipalMagazine:"Onemightatleastseizethat?"thinksNeipperg,inhisvexedhumor。ButheretooFriedrichwasbeforehandwithhim;brokeout,rapidlyenough,toReichenbach,westward,whichbarstheNeippergroadtoSchweidnitz:uponwhich,——orevenbeforewhich(onrumorofitcoming,whichwasnotYETtrue),——
Neipperg,halfdonewithhisfirstday’smarch,calledhalt;
prudentlyturnedback,andhastened,Baumgartenway,tohisstrongCampatFrankensteinagain。HishopeintheSchweidnitzdirectionhadlastedonlyafewhours;ahopespringingonthemerespurofpique,soonrecognizablebyhimasfutile;andnowanxietiesforself—preservationhadsucceededitonNeipperg’spart。FornowFriedrichactuallyadvancesonhim,inamenacingmanner,hardlyhopingNeippergwillfight;butdeterminedtohavedonewiththeNeissebusiness,inspiteofstrongcampsandcunctations,ifitbepossible。[Orlich,i。137,138。]
ItwasAugust16th,whenFriedrichstirredoutofStrehlen;
August21st,whenheencampedatReichenbach。TillSeptember7th,hekeptmanoeuvringuponNeipperg,whocounter—manoeuvredwithvigilance,goodjudgment,andwouldnotcometoaction:September7th,Friedrich,wearyofthesehagglings,dashedoffforNeisseitself,hopedtobeacrossNeisseRiver,andbebetweenNeisseTownandNeipperg,beforeNeippergcouldgetup。TherewouldthenbenomethodofpreventingtheSiegeofNeisse,exceptbyaBattle:
soFriedrichhadhoped;butNeippergagainprovedvigilant。
Accordingly,September11th,Friedrich’sVanguardwasactuallyacrosstheNeisse;hadcrossedataplacecalledWoitz,andhadtheregotTwoPontoonBridgesready,whenFriedrich,intheevening,cameupwiththemainArmy,intendingtocross;——andwasastonishedtofindNeippergtakingupposition,inintricateground,nearby,ontheoppositeside!Groundsointricate,hills,bogs,bushesofwood,andsocloseupontheRiver,therewasnocrossingpossible;andFriedrich’sVanguardhadtoberecalled。
Twodaysofwaiting,ofearnestocularstudy;nopossibilityvisible。Onthethirdday,Friedrich,gatheringinhispontoonsovernight,marchedoff,downstream:Neisse—wards,butontheleftornorthbankoftheRiver;passedNeisseTown(theRiverbetweenhimandit);andencampedatGrossNeundorf,severalmilesfromNeippergandtheRiver。Neipperg,atanequalstep,hasbeenwendingtowardshisoldCamp,whichliesbehindNeisse,betweenNeisseandtheHills:there,ariverinfront,damsandmuddyinundationsallroundhim,begirtwithplentifulPandours,NeippergwaitswhatFriedrichwillattemptfromGrossNeundorf。
FromGrossNeundorf,Friedrichpersiststwelvedays(13th—25thSeptember),studying,endeavoring;mereimpossibilityahead。Andbythistime(whatismuchworthnoting),Hyndford,silentlyquittingBreslau,hasgotbacktothesescenesofwar,occasionallyvisibleinFriedrich’sCampagain;——onimportantmysteriousbusiness;
whichwillhaveresults。ValorialsoishereinCamp;thesetwoExcellenciesjealouslyeyingoneanother;bothofthemwithteethratheronedge,——Europehavingsuddenlygotintosuchaplunge(asifthehighestmountainswerefallingintothedeepestseas)sinceFriedrichbeganthisNeippergproblemofhis;——inwhich,aftertwelvedays,heseesmereimpossibilityahead。
Onthetwelfthday,Friedrichprivatelycollectshimselfforanewmethod:marches,soonaftermidnight,[26thSeptember,2A。M。:
Orlich,i。144。]fifteenmilesdowntheRiver(whichgoesnorthwardinthispart,asthereadermayremember);crosses,withallhisappurtenances,unmolested;andtakescampafewmilesinland,orontherightbank,andfacingtowardsNeisseagain。HeintendstobeinuponNeippergfronttherearquarter;andcuthimofffromMahrenandhisdailyconvoysoffood。"Dailyfoodcutoff,——thethickest—skinnedrhinoceros,thewildestlion,cannotstandthat:
here,forNeipperg,isonepointonwhichallhisembankmentsandmud—damswillnotsufficehim!"thinksFriedrich。Certainpreliminaryoperations,andmilitaryindispensabilities,therefirstareforFriedrich,——TownofOppelntobegot,whichcommandstheOder,ourrearwardhighway;CastleofFriedland,andthecountrybetweenOderandNeisseRivers:——whilethesepreliminarythingsarebeingdone(September28th—October3d),FriedrichinpersongraduallypushesforwardtowardsNeipperg,reconnoitring,bickeringwithCroats:October3d,preliminariesdone,Neipperg’srearhadbetterlooktoitself。
Neipperg,wellenoughseeingwhatwasmeant,hasbythistimecomeoutofhismud—damsandimpregnabilities;andadvancedafewmilestowardsFriedrich。NeippergliesnowencampedintheHamletofGriesau,alittlewaybehindSteinau,——poorSteinau,whichthereadersawonfireonenight,whenFriedrichandwewereinthoseparts,inSpringlast。Friedrich’sCampisaboutfivemilesfromNeipperg’sontheothersideofSteinau。Atolerablechampaigncountry;Ishouldthink,mostlyinstubbleatthisseason。NearlymidwaybetweenthesetwoCampsisaprettySchlosscalledKlein—
Schnellendorf,occupiedbyNeipperg’sCroatsjustnow,ofwhichPrinceLobkowitz(he,ifIremember,butitmattersnothing),anAustrianGeneralofmark,farawayatpresent,isproprietor。
Friedrich’sOppelnpreparationsareaboutcomplete;andheintendstoadvancestraightway。"Hold,forHeaven’ssake,yourMajesty!"
exclaimsHyndford;gettingholdofhimoneday(waylayinghim,infact;foritisdifficult,owingtoValori);"Wait,wait;Ihavejustbeentothe——totheCampofNeipperg,"silentlygesticulatesHyndford:"Withinaweekallshallberight,andnotadropofbloodshed!"Friedrichanswers,bysilencechiefly,totheeffect,"Tush,tush;"butnotquitenegatively,anddoesineffectwait。
WehadbettergivethesnatchofDialogueinprimitiveauthenticform;dateis,CampofNeundorf,September22d:——
FRIEDRICH(pausingimpatiently,onthewaytowardshistent)。
"’MILORD,DEQUOIS’AGIT—ILAPRESENT(Whatisitnow,then)?’
HYNDFORD。"’ShouldmuchdesiretohavesomeassurancefromyourMajestywithregardtothatneutralityofHanoveryouwerepleasedtopromise。’Allelseiscomingright;hasteningtowardsbeautifulsettlement,werethatsettled。
FRIEDRICH。"’HavenotIgreatreasontobedissatisfiedwithyourCourt?BritannicMajesty,asKingofEnglandandasElectorofHanover,iswonderful!Milord,whenyousayathingiswhite,Schweichelt,theHanoverianExcellency,callsitblack,andVICE
VERSA。ButIwilldoyourKingnoharm;none,Isay!Followmetodinner;dinneriscoldbythistime;andwehavemademorethanonepersonthinkofus。Swift![andEXIT]。’"[Hyndford’sDespatch,Neisse,4thOctober,1741。]
ThisisastrangemotiononthepartofHyndford;butFriedrich,severelysilenttoit,understandsitverywell;asreaderssoonwill,whentheyhearfarther。Butmarvellousthingshavehappenedonthesudden!Inthesethreeweeks,sincetheCampofStrehlenbrokeup,therehavebeensuchEvents;strategic,diplomatic:
averyavalancheofruin,hurlingAustriadowntotheNadir;
ofwhichitisnowfitthatthereaderhavesomefaintconception,anadequatenotbeingpossibleforhimorme:——
"AUGUSTl5th,1741。RobinsonreappearsinPresburg;andprecioussurelyarethenewshebringstoanAulicCouncilfallenbackinitschairs,andstaringwiththewindstruckoutofit。
TheirexpectedSeizureofBreslaugoneheelsoverhead,inthatway;Friedrichimperiouslyresolute,gleamingliketheflashofsteelamidthesemurkyimbecilities,andwithouttheCessionofSilesianoPeacetobemadewithhim!Andallthisisasnothing,tonewswhicharrivesjustonthebackofRobinson,fromanotherquarter。
"AUGUST15th—21st。FrenchArmyof40,000men,specialArmyofBelleisle,sedulouslyequiptandcompleted,visiblycrossestheRhineatFortLouis(anIslandFortressintheRhine,thirtymilesbelowStrasburg;STONESofitarefromtheoldSchlossofHagenau);——stepsoverdeliberatelythere;andonthesixthdayisallonGermanground。Thesetroops,tobecommandedbyBelleisle,sosoonashecanjointhem,aretobetheElectorofBavaria’stroops,Kur—BaiernGeneralissimooverBelleisleandthem;
[FastesdeLouisXV。,ii。264。]andtheyareonrapidmarchtojointhatambitiousKurfurst,inhisPassauExpedition;andprobablysubmergeViennaitself。
"Andwhatisthiswehearfarther,ORobinson,OExcellenciesHyndford,SchweicheltandCompany:ThatanotherFrenchArmy,ofthesamestrength,underMaillebois,hasintheself—samedaysgoneacrosstheLowerRhine(atKaisersworth,anhour’sridebelowDusseldorf)!AtKaisersworth;ostensiblyforcomfortingandstrengtheningKur—Koln(thelankyEcclesiasticalGentleman,Kur—Baiern’sBrother),theirexcellentally,shouldanybodymeddlewithhim。Ostensiblyforthis;butinrealitytokeeptheSea—
Powers,andespeciallyGeorgeofEnglandquiet。ItmarchestowardsOsnabruck,thisMailleboisArmy;quartersitselfupanddown,lookingoverintoHanover,——abletoeatHanover,especiallyifjoinedbythePrussiansandOldLeopold,atanymoment。
"ThesethingshappeninthismonthofAugust,closeupontherearofthatsteel—shinysceneintheTentatStrehlen,whereFriedrichliftedhishat,saying,’’Tisofnouse,Messieurs!’——whichwasfollowedbytheseizureofBreslauthewrongway。NevercamesuchacataractofevilnewsonanAulicCouncilbefore。Thepoorproudpeople,allthesemonthstheyhavebeensittingtorpid,helpless,loftilystupid,likedumbidols;’inflatdespair,’asRobinsonsaysonce,’onlywithoutthestrengthtobedesperate。’
"SureenoughtheSea—Powersarecheckmatednow。LetthemmaketheleastattemptinfavoroftheQueen,iftheydare。Hollandcanbeoverrun,fromOsnabruckquarter,ataday’swarning。LittleGeorgehashisHanoverians,hissubsidizedHessians,Danes,inHanover,hisEnglishonLexdenHeath:lethimcomeonestepoverthemarches,MailleboisandtheOldDessauerswallowhim。Itisasurprisingstrokeoftheatrical—practicalArt;broughtabout,tooldFleury’ssorrow,bythegeniusofBelleisle,audtheysayofMadameChateauroux;enoughtostrikecertainGoverningPersonsbreathless,forsometime;anddenotesthattheUniversalHurricane,orWorld—Tornado,hasbrokenout。ItisnotrecordedoflittleGeorgethathefellbackinhischair,orstaredwiderthanusualwiththosefish—eyes:buthediscernedwell,gloriouslittleman,thathereisleftnoshadowofachancebyfighting;thathewillhavetositstock—still,underawfulpenalties;andthatifMariaTheresawillescapedestruction,shemustmakeherpeacewithFriedrichatanyprice。"
Thisfineevent,80,000FrenchactuallyacrosstheRhine,happenedintheverydayswhileFriedrichandNeipperghadgotintowrestleagain,——NeippergjustofffromthatrashmarchforSchweidnitz,andwhirlingbackonrumor(15thAugust),whilethefirstinstalmentoftheFrenchweregettingover。FriedrichmustadmitthattheFrenchfulfiltheirpromisessofar。Aweekagoormore,theymadetheSwedesdeclareWaragainstRussia,ascovenanted。Warisactuallydeclared,atStockholm,August4th,theFactionofHatsprevailingoverthatofNightcaps,afterterribledebatesandeffortsaboutthemeredeclaringofit,asifthatalonewerethethingneeded。
WementionedthisWaralready,andwouldnotwillinglyagain。
OneofthemostcontemptibleWarseverdeclaredorcarriedon;
butusefultoFriedrich,askeepingRussiaoffhishands,atacriticaltime,andconclusivelyforbiddinghelptoAustriafromthatquarter。
MarechaldeBelleisle,wraptinDiplomaticandElectioneeringbusiness,cannotpersonallytakecommandforthepresent;buthasexcellentlieutenants,——oneofwhomisComtedeSaxe,Moritzouroldfriend,afterwardsMarechaldeSaxe。AmongthefinestFrenchArmies,thisofBelleisle’sisthoughttobe,thatevertookthefield:somanyofourNobilityinit,andwhatbestOfficers,Segurs,Saxes,futureMarechal’s,wehave。Armyfullofspiritandsplendor;cometocutGermanyinfour,andputFranceatlastinitsplaceintheUniverse。Hereiscourage,hereispatriotism,ofasort。Andifthisisnotthegoodsort,thedivinelypious,thehumanlynoble,——FashionableSocietyfeelsittobeso,andcanhitnonearer。New—fashioned"ArmyoftheOriflamme,"onemightcallthisofBelleisle’s;kindofSham—SacredFrenchArmy(quiteinearnest,asitthinks);——ledon,notbySt。DenisandtheVirgin,butbySun—godBelleisleandtheChateauroux,underthesesadnewconditions!Whichdidnotprosperasexpected。
"LettheHolyGermanReichtakenooffence,"saidthisArmy,eagertoconciliate:"wecomeasfriendsmerely;ourintentionscharitable,andthatonly。BavarianTreatyofNymphenburg(18thMaylast)bindsusespecially,thistime;TreatyofWestphaliabindsussacredlyatalltimes。Peaceabletoyou,naybrotherly,ifonlyyouwillbepeaceable!"WhichthepoorReich,allbutAustriaandtheSea—Powers,strovewhatitcouldtobelieve。
OnreachingtheGermanshoreoutofElsass,"everyOfficerput,theBavarianColors,cockadeofblue—and—white,onhishat;"[Adelung,ii。431。]amere"BavarianArmy,"don’tyousee?Andthe40,000
wendsteadilyforwardthronghSchwabeneastward,tilltheycanjoinKarlAlbertKur—Baiern,whoisGeneralissimo,orhasthenameofsuch。TheymarchinSevenDivisions。Donauworth(aTownweusedtoknow,inMarlborough’stimeandearlier)istobetheirfirstresting—point;Ingolstadttheirplace—of—arms:willreadersrecollectthosetwoessentialcircumstances?ToDonauworthis250
miles;toPassauwillbe180more:fiveorsixlongweeksofmarching。ButafterDonauworththeyaretogo,theInfantryofthemare,inboats;Horse,underSaxe,marchingparallel。Forward,everforward,toPassau(properlytoScharding,twelvemilesuptheInnValley,wherehisBavarianHighnessisinCamp);andthence,underhisBavarianHighness,andinconcertwithhim,topourforth,deluge—like,uponLinz,probablyuponViennaitself,downtheDonauValley,——whynottoViennaitself,andruinAustriaatoneswoop?
[Espagnac,HistoiredeMauriceComtedeSaxe
(GermanTranslation,Leipzig,1774),i。83:——anexcellentmilitarycompend。CampagnesdesTroisMarechaux
(Maillebois,Broglio,Belleisle:Armsterdam。1773),ii。53—56:——inninehandylittlevolumes(orifweincludetheNOAILLESandtheCOIGNYset,making"CINGMARECHAUX,"nineteenvolumesinall,andatwentiethforINDEX);consistingaltogetherofOfficialLetters(brief,rapid,meantforbusiness,NOTforprintingintheNewspapers);whichareelucidativeBEYONDbargain,andwouldevenbeamusingtoread,——werethetopicitselfworthone’stime。]
ThesecondorMailleboisFrenchArmyspreadsitself,bydegrees,considerablyoverWestphalia;——straitenedforforage,andotherwisenotthebestofneighbors。But,intheory,inspeech,thistoowasabundantlyconciliatory,——totheDutchatleast。"Nothingearthlyinview,nothing,yemagnanimousDutch,excepttolodgehereinthemostpeaceablemanner,payingourway,andkeepdowndisturbancesthatmightariseintheseparts。Thatmightarise;notfromyou,yemagnanimousHighMightinesses,howfarfromit!NorwillwemeddlewithonebrokenbrickofyourrespectableBarrier,orBarrierTreaty,whichissacredtous,ordoyoutheshadowofaninjury。
No;athousandtimes,uponourhonor,No!"Forbrevity’ssake,I
lendthemthatlocution,"No,athousandtimes,"——andinactualarithmetic,Ishouldthinkthereareatleastfourorfivehundredtimesofit,——inthoseextinctDiplomaticEloquencesofExcellencyFenelonandtheotherFrench;——vaguelycounting,inone’soppressedimagination,duringtheTwoYearsthatensue。FortheDutchlazilybelieved,orstrovetobelieve,thisNoofFenelon’s;andtookanobstinatelaggardsittingposture,inregardtoPragmaticSanction;
wherebythetaskof"hoisting"them(asabovehinted),whichfelluponacertainKing,becamesofamousinDiplomaticHistory。
ImaginationmayfaintlypicturewhatablowthisadventofMailleboiswastohisBritannicMajesty,overinHerrenhausenyonder!HehashadofDanessixthousand,ofHessianssix,ofHanoverianssixteen,——inallsome30,000men,onfootheresinceSpringlast,campingabout(intwoformidableCampsatthismoment);nottomentionthe6,000ofEnglishonLexdenHeath,eagertobeshippedacross,wouldParliamentpermit;andnow——lethimstirinanydirectionifhedare。CampofGottinlikeadrawnswordatone’sthroat(atone’sHanover)fromtheeast;andlo,hereatwinfellowtoitgleamingfromthesouthside!MailleboiscanwalkintothethroatofHanoverataday’swarning。AndsuchwasactuallythecourseproposedbyMaillebois’sGovernment,morethanonce,intheseweeks,hadnotFriedrichdissuadedandforbidden。
Itisastranglingcrisis。WhatishisBritannicMajestytodo?
Sendorders,"DoubleYOURdiligence,ExcellencyRobinson!"thatisoneclearpoint;theothersarefearfullyinsoluble,yetpressiugforsolution:inasixweekshence(September27th),weshallseewhattheyissuein!——
AsforRobinson,heisdulywiththeQueenatPresburg;dulyconjuringincessantly,"MakeyourpeacewithFriedrich!"AndherMajestywillnot,ontheterms。PoorRobinson,urgedtwowaysatonce,isflurrieddoublyandtrebly;tossedaboutasDiplomatistneverwas。KingofPrussiaflasheslightning—looksuponhim,clappingfingertonose;MariaTheresa,knowinghewilldemandcessionofSilesia,shuddersatsightofhim;andtheAulicCouncilfallintohisarmslikedeadmen,murmuring,"Money;whereisyourmoney?"
"AUGUST29th。WhileFriedrichwaspushingintoNeipperg,intheBaumgartenCountry,andcouldgetnobattleoutofhim,ExcellencyRobinsonreappearsatBreslau;MariaTheresa,afterdeadlyeffortsonhispart,hasmendedheroffers,intheseterriblecircumstances;andRobinsonishereagain。’HalfofSilesia,oralmosthalf,providedhisMajestywillturnround,andhelpagainsttheFrench:’these,secretly,areRobinson’srichoffers。
TheQueen,onconsentingtothesenewoffers,had’wrungherhands,’likeoneindespair,andsaidpassionately,’Unlessacceptedwithinafortnight,Iwillnotbeboundbythem!’
’AdmithisExcellencytothehonorofaninterview,’solicitsHyndford;’hisoffersaremuchmended。’Notabletowitness,FriedrichwillnotseeRobinsonatallthistime,norevenpermitPodewilstoseehim;signifiesplainlythathewantstohearnomoreofhisoffers,andthat,infact,thesoonerhecantakehimselfawayfromBreslau,itwillbethebetter。Tothateffect,Robinson,rushingbackinmortifiedastonishedmanner,reportsprogressatPresburg;tothatandnobetter。’HighMadam,’urgesRobinson,stillindefatigable,’theKingofPrussia’shelpwouldbelife,hishostilityisdeathatthiscrisis。Peacemustbewithhim,atanyprice!’’Price?’answersherMajestyonce:’IfAustriamustfall,itisindifferenttomewhetheritbebyKur—BaiernorKur—Brandenburg!’[Stenzel,iv。156。]Nevertheless,inaboutaweeksheagainyieldstointenseconjuring,andtheever—tighteningpressureofevents;——KingGeorge,exceptitbeforcounselling,isbecomestock—still,withMaillebois’sswordathisthroat;andis,withoutmetaphor,sinkingtowardsabsoluteneutrality:’Cannothelpyou,Madam,anyfarther;mustnottryit,orIperish,myHanoverandI!’——SothatMariaTheresaagainmendsheroffers:’GivehimallLowerSilesia,andhetojoinwithme!’andRobinsonpost—hastedespatchesacouriertoBreslauwiththem。Notableagain:
KingFriedrichwillnothearofthem;answersbya’No,Itellyou!
Timewas,timeisnot。IhavenowjoinedwithFrance;andtojoinagainstitinthismanner?Talktomenomore!’"[FriedrichtoHyndford:"AuCamp[deNeuendorf]14meseptembre,"1741。
"Milordj’aireculesnouvellespropositionsd’alliancequel’infatigableRobinsonvousenvoie。Jelestrouveaussichimeriquesquelesprecedentes。"——"Cesgenssont—ilsfols,Milord,des’imaginerquejecommisselatrahisondetournerenleurfaveurmesarmes,etde"——?"Jevouspriedenemeplusfatigueravecdepareillespropositions,etdemecroireassezhonnetehommepournepointviolermesengagements。——FREDERIC。"(BritishMuseum:HyndfordPapers,fol。133。)]……
HereisacatastrophefortheTwoBritannicExcellencies,andtheCauseofFreedom!Robinson,indudgeonandamazement,hashurriedbacktoPresburg,hasceasedsendingevencouriers;and,inathreeweekshence(9thOctober,adayotherwisenotable),wishes"tocomehome,"thegamebeingup。[HisLetter,"9thOctober,1741"(inLordMahon’sHistoryofEngland,iii。Appendix,p。iii:edit。London,1839)。SuchisRobinson’sgloomyview:
finished,he,andthegamelost,——unlessperhapsHyndfordcouldstilldosomething?Ofwhichwhathopeisthere!Hyndford,whohasaroughsagacityinhim,andmanifestsoftenastrongsenseofthepracticalandthepracticable,strikesinto——Readers,fromthefollowingFragmentsofCorrespondence,nowfirstmadepublic,willgatherforthemselveswhatnewcourse,veiledintriplemystery,Hyndfordhadstruckinto。FourbitsofNotes,wellworthreading,undertheirrespectivedates:——
1。EXCELLENCYHYNDFORDTOSECRETARYHARRINGTON(TwoNotes)。
"BRESLAU,2dSEPTEMBER,1711[ontheheelofRobinson’ssecondmiscarriage]……MyLord,allthesecontretempsareveryunluckyatpresent,whentimeissoprecious;forFranceispressingtheKingofPrussiainthestrongestmannertodeclarehimself;
butwhatevereventualpreliminariesmaybeprobablyagreedbetweenthem,IstilldoubtiftheyhaveanyTreatysigned"——havehadone,anytimethesethreemonths(since5thJunelast);signedsufficiently;butofamostfast—and—loosenature;neitherpartyintendingtoberigorousinkeepingit。"IwishtoGodtheCourtofViennamaybebroughttothinkbeforeitistoolate。"[HYNDFORD
PAPERS(Brit。Mus。AdditionalMSS。11,366),ii。fol。91。]
2。"BRESLAU,6thSEPTEMBER……Iamnotwithouthopesofsucceedinginaprojectwhichhasoccurredtomeonthisoccasion,andwhichseemstobeprettywellrelishedbysomepeople[properlybyoneindividual,Goltz,theKing’sAdjutantandfactotum],whoareingreatconfidenceabouttheKingofPrussia’sperson;andI
thinkitistheonlythingthatnowremainstobetried;andasitistheleastoftwoevils,IhopeIshallhavetheKingmyMaster’sapprobationinattemptingit;andiftheCourtofViennawillopentheireyes,theymustseeitistheonlythinglefttosavethemfromutterdestruction;"——and,finally,hereitis:——
"SinceMr。Robinsonleftthisplace,——["SoonerYOUgo,thebetter,Sir!"],——Ihavebeensoundingthepeopleaforementioned,"theindividualaforehintedat,"WhethertheKingofPrussiawouldhearkentoaNeutralitywithrespecttotheQueenofHungary,andatthesametimefulfilhisengagementstohisMajestywithrespecttothedefenceofhisMajesty’sGermanDominions,IFshewouldgivehimtheLowerSilesiawithBreslau?Atfirsttheyrejectedit;
sayingitwasathingtheydarednotpropose。However,Ihavereasontobelieve,byaLetterIsawthisday,thatithasbeenproposedtotheKing,andthatheisnotabsolutelyaversetoit。
Ishallknowmoreinafewdays;butifitcanbedoneatall,itmustbedoneintheverygreatestsecrecy,forneithertheKingnorhisMinisterswishtoappearinit;andIquestionifhisMinisterPodewilswillbeinformedofit。"[HyndfordPapers,fol。97,98。]
3。EXCELLENCYROBINSON(inaflutterofexcitement,temporaryhopeandexcitement,aboutGoltz)TOHYNDFORD,ATBRESLAU。
"PRESBURG,8thSEPTEMBER(N。S。),1741。MyLord,IcoulddesireyourLordshiptosummonup,ifitwerenecessary,thespiritofallyourLordship’sInstructions,andthesenseoftheKing,oftheParliament,andofthewholeBritishNation。Itisuponthisgreatmomentthatdependsthefate,notoftheHouseofAustria,notoftheEmpire,butoftheHouseofBrunswick,ofGreatBritain,andofallEurope。IverilybelievetheKingofPrussiadoesnothimselfknowtheextentofthepresentdanger。Withwhatevermotivehemayact,thereisnotone,notthatofthemildestresentment,thatcanblindhimtothisdegree,ofhimselfperishingintheruinheisbringinguponothers。Withhisconcurrence,theFrenchwill,inlessthansixweeks,bemastersoftheGermanEmpire。TheweakElectorofBavariaisbuttheirinstrument:PragueandViennamay,andprobablywill,betakeninthatshorttime。WilleventheKingofPrussiahimselfbereservedtothelast?
"Uponthissingletransaction[ofyourLordship’saffairwiththemysteriousindividual]dependtheCITAMORS,ortheVICTORIALAETA
ofallEurope。NothingwillequalthegloryofyourLordship,inthelattercase,butthattobeacquiredbytheKingofPrussiainhisimmediateimitationofthegreatSobieski"——reputed"saviorofVienna,"OyourExcellency!……"PrinceLichtensteinwill,iffoundintimeuponhisestatesinBohemia,be,Ibelieve,thepersontorepairtotheKingofPrussia,themomentyourLordshipshallhavesignedthePreliminaries。Onceagain,givemeleave,myLord,toexpressmymostardentwishes,my"——T。ROBINSON。[HyndfordPapers,fol。102。]
4。EXCELLENCYHYNDFORDTOSECRETARYHARRINGTON。
"BRESLAU,9thSEPTEMBER,……Receivedamessagetomeethim,"——HIM,forwenowspeakinthesingularnumber,thoughstillwithoutnamingGoltz,——"oneofthepersonsImentionedinmyformerDespatch:inaveryunsuspectedplace;forwehaveagreedtoavoidallappearanceoffamiliarity。HetoldmehehadreceivedaLetterthismorningfromtheCamp,"——PrussianMajesty’sCamp,orBivouac(intheMunsterbergHill—Country),onthatmarchtowardsWoitz,forcrossingtheNeisseuponNeipperg,whichprovedimpracticable,——
"andthathecouldwithpleasuretellmethattheKingagreedtothislasttrial,althoughhewouldnot,norcouldappearinit……
ThenthispersonreadtomeaPaper,butIcouldnotseewhetheritwastheKing’shandornot;forwhenIdesiredtotakeacopy,hesaidhecouldnotshowmetheoriginal;butdictatedasfollows:——
"’ToutelaBasseSilesie,larivieredeNeissepourlimite,lavilledeNeisseanous,aussibienqueGlatz;del’autrecotedel’Oderl’ancienlimiteentrelesDuchesdeBriegetd’Oppeln。
Namslauanous。LesaffairesdereligionINSTATUQUO。PointdedependancedelaBoheme;cessioneternelle。Enechangenousn’ironspasplusloin。NousassiegeronsNeissePROFORMA:lecommandantserendraetsortira。Nousprendronslesquartierstranquillement,etilspourrontmenerleurArmeeohilsvoudront。Quetoutcelasoitfiniendouzejours。’"Thatistosay:——
"’ThewholeofLowerSilesia,NeisseTownincluded;NeisseRiverforboundary:——Glatzwithal。BeyondtheOder,fortheDuchiesofBriegandOppelntheancientlimits。Namslauours。AffairsofReligiontocontinueINSTATUQUO。Nodependence[feudaltieorother,asthereusedtobe]onBohemia;cessionofSilesiatobeabsoluteandforever。——We,inreturn,willproceednofarther。
WewillbesiegeNeisseforform;theCommandantshallsurrenderanddepart。Wewillpassquietlyintowinter—quarters;andtheAustrianArmymaygowhitheritwill。Bargaintobeconcludedwithintwelvedays。’"[Coxe(iii。272)givesthisTranslation,notsayingwhencehehadit。]——CanhisExcellencyHyndfordgetVienna,getFeldmarschallReippergwithpowerfromVienna,toaccept:YesorNo?ExcellencyHyndfordthinks,Yes;willtryhisveryutmost!——
"He(Goltz)thentorethePaperinverysmallpieces;andherepeatedagain,thatiftheaffairshouldbediscovered,boththeKingandheweredeterminedtodenyit……’ButhowaboutengagementswithregardtomyMaster’sGermanDominions;notawordaboutthat?’Heanswered,’YouhavenottheleasttofearfromFrance;’protestedtheKingofPrussia’sgreatregardforhisMajestyofEngland,&c。Itoldhimthesefinewordsdidnotsatisfyme;andthatifthisaffairshouldsucceed,Iexpectedthereshouldbesomestipulation。"[HyndfordPapers,
fol。115。]Yes;andcame,aboutafortnighthence,"waylayinghisMajesty"togetone,——asreaderssawabove。
PrussianDryasdust(poorsoul,towhomoneisoftencruel!)shallgladhimselfwiththefollowingTwobitsofAutographyfromGoltz,whohadinstantlyquittedBreslauagain;——and,tous,theywillserveasdatefortheactualarrivalofExcellencyHyndfordinthosefightingregions,andcommencementofhismysteriousglidingsaboutbetweenCampandCamp。
GOLTZTOTHEEXCELLENCYHYNDFORD,ATBRESLAU(mostPrivate)。
"AUCAMPDENEUENDORF,16meseptembre,a9heuresduseir。
(1。)"MILORD,——Vonssavezquejesuisportepourlabonnecause。
Surcepiedjeprendslalibertedevousconseillerenamietserviteur,deveniriciincessamment,etdepresservotrevoyagedesortequevouspuissiezparaitrepubliquementlundi[18th]versmidi。Voustrouverez6(SIC)chevauxdepostesaOlauetaGrottkautoutprets。Hatez—vous,Milord,toutcequevouspourrezaumonde。
J’ail’honneurde"Meaning,inbriefEnglish:——
"BeatNeundorfhere,publicly,onMondaynext,18th,towardsnoon。"Thingsbeingripe。"Haste,Milord,haste!"
"Ce18mea3heuresapres—midi。
(2)。"Jesuisandesespoir,Milord,devotremaladie。Voicilecourrierquevousattendiez。Venezleplutotquevouspourrezaumonde;sinon,ditesauGeneralMarwitzdequoiils’agit,afinqu’ilpuissemelefairesavoir……Lecourrierseraitarrivequatreheuresplutot,sinousnel’avionsrenvoyeauComteNeuberg(SIC)acausedevotremaladie。——GOLTZ。"[HyndfordPapers,fol。150—152。]——Thatistosay:——
"DistressedinexpressiblybyyourLordship’sbiliarycondition。
Onecannottravelundercolic;——andthingsweresoripe!
Courierwouldhavereachedyoufourhourssooner,butwehadtosendhimovertoNeippergfirst。Come,ohcome!"——WhichHyndford,nowhimselfagain,atoncedoes。
ThisistheMystery,which,onSeptember22d,hadarrivedatthatstage,indicatedabove:"Tush!Followme:Dinnerisalreadyfallingcold,andthereareeyesuponus!"Andinaboutanotherfortnight——
Butweshallhavetotaketheluggagewithus,too,whatminimumofitisindispensable!
ChapterV。
KLEIN—SCHNELLENDORF:FRIEDRICHGETSNEISSE,INAFASHION。
WhilethesecombinedMysteriesandWar—movementsgoon,inNeisseanditsEnvirons,theWorld—Phenomenacontinue,——inUpperAustriaandelsewhere。Ofwhichtaketheseselectsummits,orpointschieflyluminousintheduskoftheforgottenPast:——
LINZ,SEPTEMBER14th。KarlAlbert,beingjoinedsomedaysagoatSchardingbythefirstthreeFrenchDivisions,15,000meninall(theotherfourDivisionsofthemarestillintheDonauworth—
Ingolstadtquarter,makingtheirmanifoldarrangements),haspushedforward,sixtymiles(land—marches,southsideoftheDonau,whichmakesabendhere),andthisday,September14th,appearsatLinz。
PleasantCityofLinz;where,asreadersmayremember,Mr。JohnKepler,longago,busydiscoveringtheSystemoftheWorld(grandestConquestevermade,ortobemade,bytheSonsofAdam),hadhispoorCAMERAOBSCURAsetout,togethimselfalivelihoodintheinterim:herenowisKarlAlbert’sflagonthewinds,and,asitwere,theOriflammewithit,onasingularlydifferentAdventure。"OpenGates!"demandsKarlAlbertwithauthority:
"AdmitmetomyCapitalofUpperAustria!"Whichcannotbedeniedhim,therebeingnothingbutTown—guardsintheplace。
KarlAlbertcontinuedtheresomeweeks,inaserenelyvictoriousposture;doingactsofauthority;gettinghomagedbytheSTANDE;
pushingouthisforcesfartherandfartherdowntheDonau,postafterpost,——victoriousOriflamme—BavarianArmymaybe40,000
strongorso,inthoseparts。Friedrichurgedhimmuchtopushonwithoutpause,andtakeopportunitybytheforelock;sentSchmettau(elderofthetwoSchmettaus,whoismuchemployedonsuchbusiness)tourgehim;wroteanexpressPaperofConsiderationspressinglyurgent:buthewouldnot,andcontinuedpausing。
Vienna,allinterror,isfortifyingitself;citizenstoilingattheearthworks,resoluteformakingsomedefence;ConstitutedAuthorities,NationalArchiveseven,Courtinabody,andallmannerofNobleandOfficialpeople,flyingelse—whithertocovert:
chieflytoPresburg,whereherMajestyalreadyis。TheArchiveswerecarriedtoGratz;thetwoDowagerEmpresses(fortherearetwo,MariaTheresa’sMother,andMariaTheresa’sAunt,KaiserJoseph’sWidow)fleddifferentways,——Iforgetwhich。Anagitated,paralyzedpopulation。Exceptthediligentwheelbarrowsontheramparts,novehicleisrollinginViennabutfurniture—wagonsloadingforflight。GeneralKhevenhullerwith6,000,whopesideswithfinescientificskill,andanironcalmnessandclearness,overthesefortifyings,istheonlyforceleft。[Anonymous,HistoiredelaDerniereGuerredeBoheme
(aFrancfort,1745—1747,4tomes),i。190。AlivelysuccinctlittleBook,vaguenotfalse;stillreadable,thoughnotnow,asthen,withcompleteintelligence,totheunpreparedreader。Said,inDictionaries,tobebyMauvillonPERE,thoughitresemblesnothingelseofhisthatisknowntome。]’Neipperg’s,ouronlyArmyintheworld,ishundredsofmilesaway,countermarchingandmanoeuvringaboutWoitz,andNeisseTownandRiver,——prettysuretobebeatenintheend,——anditishightimetherewereaSilesianbargainhad,ifHyndfordcangetusany。
DRESDEN,SEPTEMBER19th(ExcellencyHyndfordjustrecoveringfromhiscolic,inBreslau),Kur—Sachsen,aftermanywaverings,signsTreatyofCopartnerywithFranceandBavaria,seducedby"thatMoravia,"andtheticklingsofBelleisleactingonaweakmind。
[Adelung,ii。469,304,503。]Histroopsare20,000,orrathermore;saidtobeofgoodquality,andwellequipped。InFebruarylastwesawhimengagedinRussian,Anti—PrussianPartitionschemes。InApril,asthesesuddenly(onsightoftheCampofGottin)extinguishedthemselves,heagreedtogo,inthepacificway,withherHungarianMajestyforfriend(Treatywithher,signed11thApril);butneverwent(Treatyneverratified);kepthis20,000lyingaboutinCamp,inanenigmaticmanner,——firstaboutTorgau,latterlyintheLausitz,muchnearertotheERZGEBIRGE
(Metal—Mountains),FrontierofBohemia;——andnowsignsasabove;
intenttomarchassoonaspossible。IstohaveFourCirclesofBohemia,imaginaryKingshipsofMoravia,andotherprizes。
Belleislehastickledthatbigtrout:BelleislecouldnowhavetheElectionashewishesit,wouldtheElectorsbutbespeedy;
buttheywillnot,andheisobligedtopushcontinually。
"MoriamurproRegenostroMariaTheresia,"INTHEPOETIC,ANDTHENALSOINTHEPROSEFORM。
PRESBURG,SEPTEMBER21st。Thisisthedate(orchiefdate,for,alas,thereturnouttobetwo!)oftheworld—famous"MORIAMURPRO
REGENOSTROMARIATHERESIA;"ofwhichtherearenowneededTwoNarratives;thegenerallyreceived(inpartmythical)goingfirst,inthefollowingstrain:——
"TheQueenhasbeeninPresburgmainly,wheretheHungarianDietissitting,eversinceherCoronation—ceremony。Onthe11thSeptember[or11thand21sttogether],theafflictedLadymakesanappearancethere,which,fortheatricalreality,hasbecomeverycelebrated。
Alas,itisbutthreemonthssinceshegallopedtothetopoftheKonigsberg,andcutdefiantlywithbrightsabretowardstheFourPointsoftheUniverse;andalreadyithascometothis。
HungarianMagnatesinhighsession,thehighQueenenters,beautifulandsad,——andamongherMinistersisnoticeableaNursewiththeyoungArchduke,somesixmonthsold,afinethrivingchild,perhapstoowiseforhisage,whobecameKaiserJosephII。
inaftertime。
"TheHungarianSessionisnotonrecordforme,Hallofmeeting,MagyarParliamentaryeloquenceunknown;norisanypointconspicuouslyvisible,exactandcertain,exceptthese[alas,noteventhese]:Thatitwasthe11thofSeptember;thatherMajestycomingforwardtospeak,tookthechildinherarms,andthere,inaclearandmelodiouslypiercingvoice,sorrowandcourageonhernobleface,beautifulastheMoonridingamongwetstormyclouds,spake,astheHungarianArchivesstillhaveit,ashortLatinHarangue;insubstanceasfollows:……’HostileinvasionofAustria;imminentperil,tothisKingdomofHungary,toourperson,toourchildren,toourcrown。Forsakenbyall,——ABOMNIBUS
DERELICTI[BritannicMajestyhimselfstandingstock—still,——
blamably,onethinks,thetwoswordsbeingonlyatHISthroat,andagoodwayoff!]——IhavenoresourcebuttothrowmyselfontheloyaltyandhelpofYourrenownedBody,andinvoketheancientHungarianvirtuetoriseswiftlyandsaveme!’WhereattheassembledHungarianSynod,theirwildMagyarheartstouchedtothecore,startupinimpetuousacclaim,flourishalofttheirdrawnswords,andshoutunanimouslyinpassionatetenor—voice,’MORIAMUR
(Letusdie)forourRexMariaTheresa!’[MariaTheresiensLeben(whichspeakshypothetically),iv,44;Coxe,iii。270(whoispositive,"afterexaminingtheDocuments")。]Whichwerenotvainwords。Forageneral’Insurrection’wasthereupondecreed;whattheMagyarscalltheir’Insurrection,’whichisbynomeansofrebelliousnature;andmanynoblemen,oldCountPalfyhimselfachiefamongthem,thoughpastthreescoreandten,tookthefieldattheirowncost;andthenoiseoftheHungarianInsurrectionspreadlikeavoiceofhopeoverallPragmaticcountries。"——
Averybeautifulheroicscene;whichhasgoneabouttheworld,circulatingtriumphantlythroughallheartsforaboveaCenturypast;andhasonlyoflateacknowledgeditselfmythical,——nottrue,exceptastoneddowntothefollowingstingyprosepitch:——
PRESBURG,SEPTEMBER21st。MariaTheresa,sincethatfineCoronation—scene,June2Sth,hashadamixedtimeofitwithherHungarianDiet;softpassagesalternatingwithhard:achivalrouspeople,mostconsciouslychivalrous;butaconstitutionalwithal,verystiffupontheirCharter(PACTACONVENTA,orwhateverthenameis);whowranglemuchuponprivileges,upontaxes,andaredifficulttokeeplongintune。Tendaysago(September11th),herMajestytriedthemonanewtack;summonedthemtoherPalace;
threwherselfupontheirnobleness,"Noalliesbutyouintheworld"(andotherfinethings,authentically,asabove,legibleintheArchivestothisday):——sospakethebeautifulyoungQueen,hereyesfillingwithtearsasshewenton,andyetanoblefiregleamingthroughthem。WhichmeltedtheHungarianheartagooddeal;andproducedfinecheering,somepersonsevensheddingtears,andvoicesof"LifeandFortunetoyourMajesty!"beingheardinit。InwhichhumortheDietreturnedtoitsSession—House,andvotedthe"Insurrection,"——orgeneralArmingofHungary,CountybyCounty,eachaccordingtoitsowncontingent;——withallspeed,inpursuanceofherMajesty’simplieddesire。Thiswasvotedinrapidmanner;butagain,inthedetailofexecuting,itwasliabletohaggles。Fromthisday,however,mattersdiddecidedlyimprove;
PACTACONVENTA,oranyremainderofthem,aregotadjusted,——thegoodQueenyieldingonmanypoints。Sothat,September20th,Grand—DukeFranziselectedCo—regent,——lethimstartfromViennainstantly,forInstalment;——anditishopedtheInsurrectionwillgowell,andnotprovehaggly,orhangfireinthedetails。
Atanyrate,nextday,September21st,DukeFranz,whoarrivedlastnight,——andBabywithhim,orinthetrainofhim(tothejoyofMamma!)——isinthePalaceAudience—Hall,"at8A。M。;"readyfortheDiet,andwhatHomagingsaudmutualOath,asnewCo—regent,arenecessary。Grand—DukeFranz,Mammabyhisside,withthesuitablefunctionaries;andtorearwardNurseandBaby,notsoconspicuoustillneeded。Dietenterswiththestrokeof8;solemnityproceeds。
Attheheightofthesolemnity,whenDukeFranz,whoisreallyrisennowtosomethingofaheroicmood,intheseemergenciesandperils,hasjusttakenhisOath,andwillhavetospeakafitwordortwo,——theNurse,doubtlessonhintgiven,stepsforward;holdsupBaby(afinenoticingfellow,Ihavenodoubt,——"weighedsixteenpoundsavoirdupoiswhenborn");asifBabytoo,finemutualproductoftheTwoCo—regents,weremutuallyswearingandappealing。
Enoughtotouchanyheart。"Lifeandblood(VITAMETSANGUINEM)forourQueenandKingdom。!"exclaimstheGrand—Duke,amongotherthings。"Yes,VITAMETSANGUINEM!"re—echoestheDiet,"ourlifeandourblood!"many—voiced,againandagain;——andreturnstoitsownPlaceofSession,oncemoreinafinestrainofloyalemotion。
Andthere,Oreader,isthenakedtruth,neithermorenorless。ItwassomeViennaPamphleteeroftheatricalimaginativeturn,findingthethingapt,ayearortwoafterwards——whobykneadingdifferentdatesandobjectsintoone,boldlyannihilatingtimeandspace,andaddingalittlepaint,——gaveitthatseductivemythicalform。
FromwhomVoltaireadoptedit,withimprovements,especiallyinthelittleHarangue;andfromVoltairegratefullytherestofmankind。
[Voltaire,SiecledeLouisXV。,c。6
(OEuvres,xxviii。78);Coxe,HouseofAustria,iii。270;andinnumerableothers(whogivethisMyth);MariaTheresiensLeben,p。44n。
(whocitestheViennaPamphleteers,withoutmuchbelievingthem);
Mailath(aHungarian),GeschichtedesOEsterrichischenKaiser—Staats(Hamburg,1850),v。11—13(whoexplodesthefable)。Cutdowntothepractical,itstandsasabove:——bynomeansabadthingstill。Thatof"bringinginBaby"wasaprettytouchinthedomestic—royalway;——andsurelyverynatural;andhasno"art"init,ornonetoblameandnotloverather,onthepartofthebrightyoungMother,nowgirdledinsuchtragicoutlooks,andsogladtohaveBabybackatleast,andPapawithhim!Itiscertainthe"Insurrection"wasvotedwithenthusiasm;andevenbecamerapidlyafact。Andtherewas,infewmonthshence,animmensemountedforceofHungariansraised,whichgallopedandplundered(havingalmostnopay),andoccasionallyfencedandfought,verydiligentlyduringalltheseWars。Hussars,Croats,Pandours,Tolpatches,Warasdins,Uscocks,neverheardofinwarbefore:whowerefoundveryterribletolookupononce,intheimaginationorwiththenakedeye;butwhosefightingtalent,againstregulartroops,wasnexttoworthless;andwhograduallybecamehatefulratherthanterribleinthemilitaryworld。