BROGLIOHASABIVOUACOFPISEK;KHEVENHULLERLOOKSIN
UPONTHEDONAUCONQUESTS。
Grand—DukeFranzedgedhimselfatlastalittleoutofthatTabor—
Budweisregion,andbeganlookingPrag—wardagain;——hungabout,forsometime,withhisHungarianlight—troopsscouringthecountry;
butstillkeepingPragrespectfullytoright,atseventymilesdistance。December28th,toBroglio’salarm,hetriedanight—
attackonPisek,thechiefFrenchoutpost,whichliesFrance—wardtoo,andmightbevital。ButhefoundtheFrench(Brogliohavinggotwarning)unexpectedlyreadyforhimatPisek,——drawnupinthedarkstreetsthere,withtorrentsofmusketryreadyforhisPandoursandhim;——andentirelyfailedofPisek。UponwhichheturnedeastwardtotheBudweis—Taborfastnessesagain;leftBrotherKarlasCommanderinthoseparts(whosoonleavesLobkowitzasSubstitute,Viennaintheidlewinter—timebeingpreferable);——
leftBrotherKarl,andproceededinperson,south,towardstheDonauCountries,toseehowKhevenhullermightbeprospering,whoisinthefieldthere,asweshallhear。
OfPisekandthenight—skirmishatPisek,glorioustoFrance,thinkalltheGazettes,Ishouldhavesaidnothing,wereitnotthatMarechalBroglio,findingwhatanarrowmisshehadmade,establishedanight—watchthere,orbivouac,forsixweekstocome;
suchasneverwasbeforeorsince:CavalryandInfantry,inquantity,bivouackingthere,intheenvironsofPisek,onthegrimBohemiansnoworsnow—slush,inthedepthofwinter,nightlyforsixweeks,withoutwhisperofanenemyatanytime;wherebytheMarechaldidsavePisek(ifPisekwaseveragainindanger),butfrozehorseandmantotheedgeofdestructionorintoit;sothatthe"BivouacofPisek"becameproverbialinFrenchMessrooms,foragenerationcoming。[GuerredeBoheme,ii。23,&c。]Andonehearsinthemindaclangorousnasaleloquencefromantiquegesticulativemustachio—figures,wittyandindignant,——whoarenowgonetosilenceagain,andtheirfruitlessbivouacs,andfrostyandfierytoils,tumblingpell—mellafterthem。ThisofPisekwasbutoneofthemanyunwisehystericalthingspoorBrogliodid,inthatdifficultposition;which,indeed,wastoodifficultforanymortal,andforBrogliobeyondtheaverage。
Oneotherthingwenote:GrafvonKhevenhuller,solidAustrianman,issuedfromVienna,December31st,lastdayoftheYear,withanArmyofonlysome15,000,butwithanexcellentmilitaryheadofhisown,tolookintothoseConquestsontheDonau。Whichhefinds,asheexpected,tobemereconquestsofstubble,capableofbeingswepthomeagainataveryrapidrate。"Khevenhuller,hereasalways,wasconsummateinhischoiceofposts,"saysLloyd;
[GeneralLloyd,HistoryofSeven—YearsWar,
&c。(incidentally,somewhere)。]——discoveredwheretheARTERIESofthebusinesslay,andhowtohandlethesame。Bychoiceofposts,bysilentenergyandmilitaryskill,KhevenhullerveryrapidlysweepsSegurback;andshutshimupinLinz。ThereSegur,sincethefirstdaysofJanuary,isstrenuouslybarricadinghimself;
"wedgingbeamsfromhousetohouse,acrossthestreets;"——andhopestogetprovision,theDonauandtheBavarianstreamsbeingstillopenbehindhim;andtoholdoutalittle。Itwillbebetterifhedo,——especiallyforpoorKarlAlbertandhispoorBavaria!
KhevenhullerhasalsodetachedthroughtheTyrolaGeneralvonBarenklau(BEAR’S—CLAW,muchheardofhenceforthintheseWars),whohas12,000regulars;andmuchHussar—folkunderbloodyMentzel:—acrosstheTyrol,wesay;tofallinuponBavariaandMunchenitself;whichtheyaretoolikedoingwitheffect。
OughtnotKarlAlberttobeupontheroadagain?Whatathing,weretheKaiserElecttakenprisonerbyPandours!
Infine,withinashorttwoweeksorso,KarlAlbertquitsMunchen,asnosafeplaceforhim;comesacrosstoMannheimtohisCousinPhilip,oldKur—Pfalz,whomweusedtoknow,nowextremelyold,butwhohasmarriagesofGrand—daughters,andothergayeties,onhand;
whichaCousinandprospectiveKaiser——especiallyifinperilofhislife——mightaswellcomeandwitness。ThisistheexcuseKarlAlbertmakestoanindulgentPublic;andwouldfainmaketohimself,butcannot。BarenklauandKhevenhulleraretooindisputable。NaythisrumorofFriedrich’s"PeacewithAustria,"
divulgedBargainofKlein—Schnellendorf,ifthisalso(horribletothink)weretrue——!WhichFriedrichassureshimitisnot。
KarlAlbertwritestoFriedrich,andagainwrites;conjuringhim,fortheloveofGod,Tomakesomethrust,then,someinroadorother,onthoseman—devouringKhevenhullers;andtakethemfromhis,KarlAlbert’s,throatandhispoorCountry’s。WhichFriedrich,onhisownscore,isalreadypurposingtodo。
ChapterVIII。
FRIEDRICHSTARTSFORMORAVIA,ONANEWSCHEMEHEHAS。
TheAustrianCourthadnotkeptFriedrich’ssecretofKlein—
Schnellendorf,hardlyevenforaday。ItwaswhisperedtotheDowagerEmpress,orEmpresses;whowhisperedit,orwroteit,tosomeotherhighparty;bywhomagainasusual:——infact,theAustrianCourt,havingoncegottheirNeippergsafetohand,tooknopainstokeepthesecret;buthadprobablyaninterestratherinlettingitfilterout,tosetFriedrichandhisAlliesatvariance。
Atallevents,inthespaceofafewweeks,aswehaveseen,therumorofaTreatybetweenAustriaandFriedrichwaseverywhererife;Friedrich,ashehadengaged,everywheredenyingit,andindeedclearlyperceivingthattherewasliketobenogroundforacknowledgingit。TheAustrianCourt,insteadof"completingtheTreatybeforeNewyear’s—day,"hadbrokenthepreviousbargain;
evidentlynotmeaningtocomplete;intentrathertowaitupontheirHungarianInsurrection,andtheluckofWar。
Thereisnow,therefore,anewturninthegame。AndforthisalsoFriedrichhasbeengettingthefitcardready;andisnotslowtoplayit。Sometimeago,November4th,——properlyNovember1st,hardlythreeweekssincethatofKlein—Schnellendorf,——findingthesecretalreadyout("whisperedofatBreslau,28thOctober,"
casuallytestifiesHyndford),hehadtightenedhisbandswithFrance;had,onNovember4th,formallyaccededtoKarlAlbert’sTreatywithFrance。[Accessionagreedto,"Frankfurt,Nov。1st,"
1741;ratified"Nov。4th。"]Glatztobehis:hewillnothearofwantingGlatz;norofwantingelsewheretheproperBoundaryforSchlesien,"NeisseRiverbothbanks"(whichNeipperghadagreedto,inhislateSham—Bargain);——quitestrictonthesepreliminaries。
Andfurthermore,Kur—SachsenbeingnowaPartnerinthatFrench—
BavarianTreaty,——andahighlyactiveone(with21,000inthefieldforhim),whois"KingofMoravia"withal,andhassomeconsiderablenorthernParingofBohemiathrownin,bywayof"RoadtoMoravia,"——Friedrichmade,atthesametime,specialTreatywithKur—Sachsen,onthepointsspeciallymutualtothem;ontheBoundarypoint,firstofall。WhichlattertreatyisdatedalsoNovember1st,andwas"ratifiedNovember8th。"
Treatyotherwisenotworthreading;exceptperhapsasitshowsusFriedrichputting,inhisbriefdirectway,Kur—SachsenatonceintoAustria’splace,inregardtoOber—Schlesien。"BoundarybetweenyourPolishMajestyandmetobetheRiverNeissePLUSafullGermanmile;"——which(toBelleisle’ssurprise)thePolishMajestyiswillingtoaccept;andconsents,farther,Friedrichbeingofsuccinctturn,ThatCommissionersgodirectlyandputdowntheboundary—stones,andsoanend。"LettheSilesianmatterstandwhereitstood,"thinksFriedrich:"sinceAustriawillnot,willyou?Putdowntheboundary—pillars,then!"——aninterestinglittleglanceintoFriedrich’sinnerman。AndaPrussianBoundaryCommissioner,ourfriendNusslertheman,diddulyappear;——whomperhapsweshallmeet,——thoughnoSaxononequitedid。[Busching,Beitrage,i。339(?NUSSLER)。]Itisthisboundaryclause,itisFriedrich’slittledecision,"Putdownthepillars,then,"thatalonecannowinterestanymortalinthisSaxonBargain;theclauseitself,andthebargainitself,havingquitebrokendownontheSaxonside,andprovedimaginaryasacovenantmadeindreams。Couldnotbehelped,inthesequel!——
Meanwhile,thepreliminarydiplomaciesbeingdoneinthismanner,FriedrichhadorderedcertainofhisownForcestogetinmotionalittle;orderedLeopold,whohashadendlessnicetyofmanagement,sincetheFrenchandSaxonscameintothoseBohemianCirclesofhis,togouponGlatz;tolayfastholdofGlatz,foronething。
Andfarthereastward,Schwerin,byorder,haslatelygoneacrosstheMountains;seizedTroppau,Friedenthal;nayOlmutzitself,theCapitalofMahren,——inoneday(December27th),garrisonofOlmutzbeingtooweaktoresist,andtheworksindisrepair。"InHeaven’sname,whatareyourintentions,then?"askedtheAustriansthere。
"Peaceableintheextreme,"answeredSchwerin,"ifonlyyoursare。
AndiftheyareNOT——!"TheresitsSchwerineversince,busystrengtheninghimself,andmaintainsthebestdiscipline;
waitingfartherorders。
"TheAustrianswillnotcompletetheirbargainofKlein—
Schnellendorf?"thinksthisyoungKing;"Verywell;wewillnotpressthemtocompletion。Wewillnotourselvescomplete,shouldtheynowpress。Wewilltryanothermethod,andthatwithoutlossoftime。"——ItwasapungentreflectionwithFriedrichthatKarlAlberthadnotpushedforwardonVienna,fromLinzthattime,buthadblindlyturnedofftotheleft,andthrownawayhisonechance。
"Cannotonestillmendit;cannotonestilldosomethingofthelike?"thinksFriedrichnow:"SchwerininOlmutz;PrussianTroopscantonedintheHighlandsofSilesia,oroverinBohemiaitself,nearthesceneofaction;theSaxonseastwardasfarasTeutschbrod,stillnearer;theFrenchtriumphantatPrag,andreinforcementontheroadforthem:acombinedmovementonVienna,doneinstantlyandwithanimpetus!"ThatisthethingFriedrichisnowbentupon;norwillhe,likeKarlAlbert,beapttoneglectthehouroftide,whichissoinexorableinsuchoperations。
AtBerlin,accordingly,hehasbeenhurryingonhiswork,inspection,preparationofmanykinds,——MarriageofhisBrotherAugustWilhelm,foronebusiness;[6thJanuary,1742(inBielfeld,ii。55—69,exuberantaccountoftheCeremony,andofB。’spartinit)。]——and(Jannary18th),afterastayoftwomonths,isofffieldwardagain,onthisnewproject。ToDresden,firstofall;
Saxonybeinganessentialelement;andValoribeingappointedtomeethimthereontheFrenchside。ItisJanuary20th,1742,whenFriedricharrives;dueOperafestivities,"triplesaluteofalltheguns,"failnotatDresden;buthisobjectwasnottheseatall。
PolishMajestyishere,andcertainofthewarlikeBastardBrothershomefromWinter—quarters,ComtedeSaxeforone;Valorialso,punctuallyasdue;andlittleGrafvonBruhl,highest—dressedofhumancreatures,whoisfactotuminthisCourt。
"YourPolishMajesty,bytreatyandtitleyouareKingofMoraviawithal:nowisthetime,nowornever,tobecomesoinfact!
ForwardwithyourSaxons:"urgesFriedrich:"TheAustriansandtheirLobkowitzareweakinthatCountry:atIglau,justovertheMoravianborder,theyhaveformedaMagazine;seizethat,snatchitfromLobkowitz:thatgivesusfootingandbasisthere。ForwardwithyourSaxons;Valorigivesusso—manyFrench;Imyselfwilljoinwith20,000:swift,steady,allatonce;wecanseizeMoravia,whoknowsifnotViennaitself,andforcertaindriveastrokerighthomeintotheverybowelsoftheEnemy!"ThatisFriedrich’sthemefromthefirsthourofhisarrival,andduringallthefour—and—
twentythathestayed。
Inonehour,PolishMajesty,whoisfonderoftobaccoandpastimesthanofbusiness,declaredhimselfconvinced;——anddeclaredalsothatthetimeofOperawascome;whitherthetwoMajestieshadtoproceedtogether,andsuspendbusinessforawhile。PolishMajestyhimselfwasveryeasilysatisfied;butwiththeothers,asValorireportsit,theargumentwasvarious,longanddifficult。
"Wintertime;sodangerous,soprecarious,"answerBruhlandComtedeSaxe:Thereisthisdanger,thisuncertainty,andthenthatother;——whichtheKingandValori,withalltheireloquence,confute。"Impossible,forwantofvictual,"answersMauriceatlast,drivenintoacorner:"Iglau,supposewegetit,willsoonbeeaten;thenwhereisourprovision?"——"Provision?"answersValori:
"ThereisM。deSechelles,HeadofourCommissariatinPrag;suchaCommissaryneverwasbefore。""Andyouconsent,ifItakethatinhand?"urgesFriedrichuponthem。Theyareobligedtoconsent,onthatproviso。FriedrichundertakesSechelles:theEnterprisecannotnowberefused。[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。170;Valori,i。
139;&c。&c。]"Alert,then;notamomenttobelost!Good—night;
AUREVOIR,mynoblefriends!"——andto—morrowmanyhoursbeforedaybreak,FriedrichisoffforPrag,leavingDresdentoawakenwhenitcan。
AtPragherenewsacquaintancewithhisoldmaladroitStrasburgfriend,MarechaldeBroglio,notwithincreaseofadmiration,aswouldseem;declinesthedemonstrationsandcivilitiesofBroglio,businessbeingurgent:findsM。deSechellestobeintruththesupremeoflivingCommissaries(ready,inwordswhichFriedrichcallsgolden,"tomaketheimpossiblepossible"):"Onlymarch,then,nobleSaxons:swift!"——anddashesoffagain,nextmorning,tonortheastward,throughLeopold’sBohemiancantonments,Glatz—wardbydegrees,tobereadywithhisownshareoftheaffair;nodelayinhim,forone。January24th,afterKonigsgratzandotherPrussianposts,——January24th,whichiselsewheresonotableaday,——hisroutegoesnortheast,toGlatz,ahundredmilesaway,amongtheintricaciesoftheGiantMountains,hithersideoftheSilesianHighlands;wildrouteforwinterseason,iftheyoungKingfearedanyroute。FromBerlin,hitherandfarther,hemayhavegonewell—
nighhissevenhundredmileswithintheweek;rushingoncontinually(starts,atsayfourinthewintermorning);
doingendlessbusiness,oftheorderingsort,ashespeedsalong。
Glatz,asouthwesternmountainousAppendagetoSilesia,abuttingonMoraviaandBohemia,isasmallstrongCountry;uponwhich,eversincethefirstFriedrichtimes,wehaveseenhimfixed;claimingittoo,asexpensesfromtheAustrians,sincetheywillnotbargain。ForherisesSibyl—like:ayearago,youmighthavehadhimwithhis100,000toboot,fortheoneDuchyofGlogau;
andnow——!AtGlatzorintheseadjacentBohemianparts,theYoungDessauerhasbeenonduty,busyenough,eversincethelateSiegeofNeisse:GlatzTowntheYoungDessauersoongot,whenordered;
Town,Population,Territory,allishis,——allbutthehighmountainFortress(centreoftheTownofGlatzj,withitsstiff—neckedAustrianGarrisonshutupthere,whichheiswearingoutbyhunger。
WerememberthelittleNotefromValori’swaistcoat—pocket,"Don’tgivehimGlatz,ifyoucanpossiblyhelpit!"InhislatesttreatieswiththeFrenchandtheirAllies,FriedrichhasveryexpresslybargainedfortheCountry(willevenpaymoneyforit);
[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。85。]andisdeterminedtohaveit,whentheAustriansnexttaketobargaining。
OfGlatzFortress,nowgettinghungeredoutbyLeopold’sPrussianDetachment,Iwillsayfarther,thoughFriedrichheedsthesecircumstanceslittleatpresent,thatitstandsonascarpedrock,girtbythegrimintricateHills;andthatintheArsenal,industyfabulouscondition,liesacertainDrum,whichreadersmayhaveheardof。Drumisnotafable,butanantiquerealityfallenflaccid;made,byexpressbequest,asismythicallysaid,fromtheskinofZisca,above300yearsago:altogethermythicthatlatterclause。Drum,Fortress,Town,VillagesandTerritory,allshallbeFriedrich’s,hadhungerdoneitswork。[Townalready,aftershortscuffle,14thJanuary,1742;Fortress,byhunger(nofiringnorbeingfiredon,intheinterim),25thAprilfollowing,——whentheonce2,000ofgarrison,worntoabout200,paleasshadows,marchedawaytoBrunn;"onlytenofthemablefordutyonarriving。"
(Orlich,i。174。)]
Friedrich,whileatGlatzthistime,gaveanewDresstotheVirgin,sayalltheBiographers;ofwhichthestoryisthis。
HolyVirginstoodinthemainConventofGlatz,inratherathreadbarecondition,whenthePrussiansfirstapproached;
theJesuits,andardentlyOrthodoxofbothsexes,flagitatingHeavenandherwiththeirprayers,thatshewouldvouchsafetokeepthePrussiansout。InwhichcasepiousMadameSomething,wifeoftheAustrianCommandant,vowedheranewsuitofclothes。
HolyVirgindidnotvouchsafe;ontheContrary,herethePrussiansare,andStarvationwiththem。"Courage,nevertheless,mynewfriends!"intimatesFriedrich:"ThePrussiansarenotbugaboos,asyouimagined:HolyVirginshallhaveanewcoat,allthesame!"andwasattheexpenseofthebitofbroadclothwithtrimmings。Hewasinthewayofmakingsuchinvestments,inhislightscepticalhumor;andfoundthemanswertohim。AtGlatz,andthroughthoseBohemianandSilesianCantonments,hesetshispeopleinmotionfortheMoravianExpedition;rapidlystirsuptheduePrussiandetachmentsfromtheirChristmasrestamongtheMountains;andhasworkenoughintheseregions,nowherenowthere。SchwerinisalreadyinOlmutz,foramonthpast;andtowardshim,orhisneighborhood,themarchistobe。
January26th,Friedrich,nowwithconsiderableretinueabouthim,getsfromGlatztoLandskron,somefiftymilesOlmutz—ward;suchamarchasGeneralStilleneversaw,——"throughtheiceandthroughthesnow,whichcoveredthatdreadfulChainofMountainsbetweenBohmenandMahren:wedidnotarrivetillverylate;manyofourcarriagesbrokendown,andothersoverturnedmorethanonce。"
[Stille(Anonymous,Friedrich’sOld—TutorStille),
CampagnesduRoidePrusse(EnglishTranslation,12mo,London,1763),p。5。Anintelligent,desirablelittleVolume,——manymisprintsintheEnglishformofit。]AtLandskronnextday,Friedrich,asappointed,mettheChevalierdeSaxe(CHEVALIER,bynomeansComte,butayoungerBastard,GeneraloftheSaxonHorse);andendeavoredtoconcerteverything:PrussianrendezvoustobeatWischau,onthe5thnext;thencestraightwaytomeettheSaxonsatTrebitsch(convenientforthatIglau),——ifonlytheSaxonswillkeepbargain。
January28th,pastmidnight,afteranothersoremarch,FriedricharrivedatOlmutz;aprettyTown,——withanexcellentoldBishop,"aGrafvonLichtenstein,alittlegoutymanaboutfifty—twoyearsofage,withacountenanceopenandfullofcandor;[Stille,p。8。]
inwhosefinePalace,mostcourteouslywelcomed,theKinglodgedtillnearthedayofrendezvousing。Wewillleavehimthere,andlookwestwardalittle;beforegoingfartherintotheMoravianExpedition。FriedrichhimselfisevidentlymuchbentonthisExpedition;hassethisheartonpayingtheAustriansfortheirtrickeryatKlein—Schnellendorf,inthishandsomeway,andstillpickingupthechanceagainstthemwhichKarlAlbertsquandered。
IfonlytheFrenchandSaxonswouldgowellabreastwithFriedrich,andthrusthome!Butwillthey?Hereisasurprisingbitofnews;
notofgoodomen,whenitreachesoneatOlmutz!
"LINZ,24thJANUARY,1742[dayotherwiseremarkable]。Afterthemuchbarricading,andconsiderabledefianceandbravadoing,byComtedeSegurandhis10,000,hehaslostthisCityinascandalousmanner[notquitescandalous,butreckonedsobyoutsideobservers];andLinzCityisnotnowSegur’s,butKhevenhuller’s。
ToKhevenhuller’sfirstsummonsM。deSegurhadanswered,’Iwillhangonthehighestgallowsthenextmanthatcomestoproposesuchathing!’——andwithinaweek[KhevenhullerhavingseizedtheDonauRivertorearofLinz,andblastedofftheBavarianpartythere],M。deSegurdidhimselfproposeit(’Freewithdrawal:Notserveagainstyouforayear’);andisthisdaybeginningtomarchoutofLinz。"[CampagnesdesTroisMarechaux,iii。
280,&c。;Adelung,iii。A,p。12,andp。15(aParisstreet—songonit)。]HereisanexampleofdefendingKey—Positions!IfSegur’sbethepatternfollowed,thoseConquestsontheDonauareliketogoafineroad!——
TherecametoFriedrich,inallprivacy,duringhisstayinOlmutzatthisBishop’s,aDiplomaticemissaryfromVienna,onePfitzner;
chargedwithapologies,withimportantoffersprobably;——important;
butnotimportantenough。Friedrichblameshimselfforbeingtooabruptontheman;mightperhapshavelearnedsomethingfromhimbysoftertreatment。[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。
109。]Afterthreedays,Pfitznerhadtogohiswaysagain,havingaccomplishednothingofchangeuponFriedrich。
ChapterIX。
WILHELMINAGOESTOSEETHEGAYETIESATFRANKFURT。
OnthedaywhenFriedrich,overhungbythegrimwinterMountains,wasapproachingGlatz,samedaywhenSegurwasevacuatingLinzonthosesadterms,thatis,onthe24thdayofJanuary,1742,——twoGentlemenweregallopingtheirbestintheFrankfurt—Mannheimregions;bearingwhattheyreckonedgladtidingstowardsMannheimandKarlAlbert;whoisthere"onavisit"(forgoodreasons),afterhistriumphsatPragandelsewhere。ThehindmostofthetwoGentlemenisanOfficialofrank(littleconsciousthatheisprecededbyarivalinmessage—bearing);OfficialGentleman,despatchedbytheDietofFrankfurttoinformKarlAlbert,ThathenowisactuallyKaiseroftheHolyRomishEmpire;votes,byaidofHeavenandBelleisle,havingallfalleninhisfavor。Gallop,therefore,myOfficialGentleman:——alas,anotherGentleman,Non—official,knowinghowitwouldturn,alreadysatbootedandsaddled,agoodspacebeyondthewallsofFrankfurt,waitingtillthecannonshouldfire;atthefirstburstofcannon,he(cunningdog)giveshishorsethespur;andismilesaheadofthetoilingOfficialGentleman,alltheway。[Adelung,iii。A,52。]
Inthedrearymassoflong—windedceremonialnothingnesses,andintricateBelleislecobwebberies,weseizethisonepoorspeckofhumanfooleryinthenativestate,asalmostthememorablestinthatstupendousbusiness。Stupendousindeed;withwhichallGermanyhasbeenintravailthesesixteenmonths,onsuchterms!Andinverityhasgotthethingcalled"GermanKaiser"constituted,betterorworse。Heavens,wasaNationeversobespunbygossamer;
enchantedintoparalysis,bymountainsofextincttradition,andthewantofpowertoannihilaterubbish!ThereareglitteringthreadsofthefinestBelleislediplomacy,whichseemtogobeyondtheDog—star,andtoberadiant,andirradiative,likepathsofthegods:andtheyare,seemwhattheymight,poorthreadsofidlegossamer,sunkalreadytodustycobweb,unpleasanttopoorhumannature;poorhumannatureconcernedonlytogetthemwellsweptintothefire。Thequantitiesofwhichsadlitter,inthisUniverse,areverygreat!——
KarlAlbert,nowatthetop—gallantofhishopes:homagedArchdukeofUpperAustria,homagedKingofBohemia,declaredKaiseroftheGermanNation,——isthehighest—titledmortalgoing:and,poorsoul,itistragical,oncemore,tothinkwhattherealityofitwasforhim。Ejectionfromhouseandhome;intodifficulty,poverty,despair;lifeinfurnishedlodgings,whichhecouldnotpay;——andatlastheart—break,norefugeforhimbutinthegrave。Allwhichismercifullyhiddenatpresent;sothatheseemstohimselfamanatthetop—gallantofhiswishes;andlivespleasantly,amonghisfriends,withahaloroundhisheadtohisownfoolishsenseandtheirs。
"KarlAlbert,KurfurstofBaiern[lazyreadersoughttobereminded],whoseachievementswillconcernustoanunpleasantextent,forsomeyears,isnowaleanmanofforty—five;lean,erect,andofmiddlestature;aPrinceofdistinguishedlook,theysay;ofelegantmanners,andoffairextentofaccomplishment,asPrincesgo。Hisexperiencesinthisworld,andsuddenupsanddowns,havebeenandwillbemany。Noteafewparticularsofthem;
theminimumofwhatareindispensablehere。
"EnglishreadersknowaMaximilianKurfurstofBaiern,whotookintoFrenchcoursesinthegreatSpanish—SuccessionWar;theAnti—
MarlboroughMaximilian,whowasquiteruinedoutbytheBattleofBlenheim;putunderBanoftheEmpire,andreducedtodependonLouisXIV。foraliving,——tilltimesmendedwithhimagain;
till,afterthePeaceofUtrecht,hegotreinstatedinhisTerritories;andlivedadozenyearsmore,insomecomparativecomfort,thoughmuchsunkindebt。Well,ourKarlAlbertisthesonofthatAnti—MarlboroughKurfurstMaximilian;eldestsurvivingson;
adaughterofthegreatSobieskiofPolandwashismother。Nay,heisgreat—grandsonofanotherstillmoredistinguishedMaximilian,himoftheThirty—YearsWar,——(whotooktheJesuitstohisveryheart,andletlooseAteonhispoorCountryforthesakeofthem,inadeterminedmanner;andwastheFirstofalltheBavarianKURFURSTS,mereDukestillthen;havinggotforhimselfthepoorWinter—King’sElectorship,orsplititintotwoasultimatelysettled,outofthatbadBusiness),——great—grandson,wesay,ofthatforciblequestionableFirstKurfurstMax;anddescendsfromKaiserLudwig,’LudwigtheBAIER,’ifthatismuchadvantagetohim。
"Inhisyoungtimehehadahardupcoming;sevenyearsoldattheBattleofBlenheim,andPapalivingabroadunderLouisXIV。’sshelter,thepoorBoywastakenchargeofbythevictoriousAustrianKaisers,andbroughtupinremoteAustrianTowns,asayoung’GrafvonWittelsbach’(nothingbuthisfamilynamelefthim),mereGrafandprivatenoblemanhenceforth。However,fortunetooktheturnweknow,andhebecamePrinceagain;nothingtheworseforthisSpartanpartofhisbreeding。HemadetheGrandTour,Italy,France,perhapsmorethanonce;saw,felt,andtasted;
servedslightly,ataSiegeofBelgrade(oneofthemanySiegesofBelgrade);——wedded,in1722,aDaughterofthelateKaiserJoseph’s,nieceofthelateKaiserKarl’s,cousinofMariaTheresa’s;makingthedue’renunciations,’aswasthought;andhasbeenKurfursthimselfforthelastfourteenYears,eversince1726,whenhisFatherdied。AthriftyKurfurst,theysay,oratleasthasoccasionallytriedtobeso,consciousoftheloadofdebtsleftonhim;fondofpompswithal,extremelypolite,giventoDevotionandtoBILLETS—DOUX;ofgraciousaddress,generoustemper(ifhehadthemeans),andgreatskillinspeakinglanguages。Likeshuntingalittle,——likesseveralthings,wesee!——haslivedtolerablywithhisWifeandchildren;tolerablywithhisNeighbors(thoughsouruponthelateKaisernowandthen);andisanornamenttoMunchen,andwelllikedbythepopulationthere。Alean,elegaut,middle—
sizedgentleman;descendeddirectfromLudwigtheancientKaiser;
fromMaximiliantheFirstKurfurst,whowalkedbythelightofFatherLammerlein(LAMBKIN)andCompauy,thinkingITlightfromHeaven;andlastlyissonofMaximiliantheThirdKurfurst,whomlearnedEnglishreadersknowastheAnti—Marlboroughone,ruinedoutbytheBattleofBlenheim。
"HismostimportanttransactionhithertohasbeenthemarriagewithKaiserJoseph’sDaughter;——ofwhich,inPollnitzsomewhere,thereissublimeaccount;forgettable,allexceptthedate(Vienna,5thOctober,1722),ifbychancethatshouldconcernanybody。
KarlAlbert(KURPRINZ,ElectoralPrinceorHeir—Apparent,atthattime)madefreerenunciationofallrighttoAustrianInheritances,insuchtermsaspleasedKarlVI。,thethenKaiser;theduecomplete’renunciations’ofinheritinginAustria;anditwashopedhewouldatoncesignthePragmaticSanction,whenpublished;
buthehassteadilyrefusedtodoso;’IrenouncedformyWife,’
saysKurfurstKarl,’andwillneverclaimaninchofAustrianlandonheraccount;butmyownright,derivedfromKaiserFerdinandofblessedmemory,whowasFatherofmyGreat—grandmother,Ididnot,donot,neverwillrenounce;andIappealtoHISPragmaticSanction,themucholderandalonevalidone,accordingtowhich,itisnotyou,itisIthatamtherealandsoleHeirofAustria。’
"Thisbesays,andhassteadilysaidormeant:’ItisIthatamtobeKingofBohemia;IthatshallandwillinheritallyourAustrias,Upper,Under,yourSwabianBrisgauorHitherAustria,andwhatoftheTyrolremainedwantingtome。YourArchduchesswillhaveHungary,theStyrian—CarinthianTerritories;Florence,I
suppose,andtheItalianones。WhatishersbyrightIwillbeoneofthosethatdefendforher;whatisnothers,butmine,Iwilldefendagainsther,tothebestofmyability!’Thiswasprivately,whatitisnowpublicly,hisargument;fromwhichheneverwoulddepart;refusingalwaystoacceptKaiserKarl’snewPragmaticSanction;gettingSaxony(wholikewisehadaFerdinandgreat—
grandmother)torefuse,——tillPolishElectioncompelledpoorSaxony,foratime。KarlAlberthadlikewisesecretly,inpastyears,gothisabstruseoldCousinofthePfalz(whomendedtheHeidelbergTun)tobackhiminaTreaty;nay,stillbetter,stillmoresecretly,hadgotFranceitselftopromiseeventualhacking:——
and,onthewhole,livedgenerallyonratherbadtermswiththelateKaiserKarl,hisWife’sUncle;anyreconciliationtheyhadprovingalwaysoftemporarynature。IntheRhenishWar(1734),KarlAlbert,farfromassistingtheKaiser,raisedlargeforcesofhisown;keptdrillingthem,infourorthreecamps,inanalarmingmanner;andwouldnotevensendhisReich’sContingent(smallbodyof3,000heisbylawboundtosend),tillheperceivedtheWarwasjustexpiring。HewasinangrycontroversywiththeKaiser,claimingdebts,——debtscontractedinthelastgeneration,anddebtsgoingbacktotheThirty—YearsWar,amountingtohundredsofmillions,——whenthepoorKaiserdied;refusingpaymenttothelast,nayclaiminglandsleftHIM,hesays,byMargaretMouthpoke:
[Michaelis,ii。260;Buchholz,ii。9;Hormayr,Anemonen,ii。182;&c。]’CannotpayyourSereneHighness(havingnomoney);andwouldnot,ifIcould!’LeavingKarlAlberttoprotesttotheuttermost;"——which,asweourselvessawinVienna,heatoncehonorablydid。
KarlAlbert’ssubsequenthistoryisknowntoreaders;exceptthefollowingsmallcircumstance,whichoccurredinhislatetransit,flight,orwhateverwemaycallit,toMannheim,andispleasantlymadenotabletousbyWilhelmina。"HisHighnessonthewayfromMunchen,"intimatesourPrincess,"passedthroughBaireuthinaverybadpost—chaise。"This,asweelsewherepickout,wasonJanuary16th;KarlAlbertinpost—hasteforthemarriage—ceremony,whichtakesplaceatMannheimto—morrow。[Adelung,iii。A,51。]
"MyMargraf,accidentallyhearing,gallopedafterhim,cameupwithhimaboutfifteenmilesaway:theyembraced,talkedhalfanhour;
verycontent,both。"[Wilhelmina,ii。334。]
Andeightdaysafterwards,24thJanuary,1742,busyBelleisle(howbusyforthisyearpast,sincewesawhimintheOEil—de—Boeuf!)
getshimelectedKaiser;——andSegur,intheself—samehours,ispackingoutofLinz;andone’sDonau"Conquests,"nottosayone’sMunchen,one’sBaiernitself,areinafineway!Themarriage—
ceremony,witnessedonthe17th,wasoneofthesublimestforKur—Pfalzandkindred;andittoohadsecretlyatouchoftragedyinitforthePoorKarlAlbert。Adoublemarriage:TwoyoungPrincesses,Grand—daughters,pricelessHeiresses,tooldKur—Pfalz;
married,oneofthemtoDukeClementofBaiern,KarlAlbert’snephew,whichiswellenough:butmarried,theotherandelderofthem,toTheodorofDeux—Ponts,whowilloneday——couldwepiercethemercifulveil——beKurfurstofBaiern,andsucceedourownchildlessSon![Michaelis,ii。265。]
"KaiserKarlVII。,"suchthestylehetook,istobecrownedFebruary12th;makessublimePublicEntryintoFrankfurt,withthatview,January31st;——bothceremoniessplendidtoawonder,inspiteoffinanceconsiderations。Whichcircumstanceshouldlittleconcernus,wereitnotthatWilhelmina,hearingthegreatnews(thoughinadimill—datedstate),decidedtobethereandsee;didgo;——andhasrecordedherexperiencesthere,inashrillhumanmanner。
Wishfultoseeourfellow—creatures(especiallyifboundtolookatthem),evenwhentheyarefallenphantasmal,andtomakepersonsofthemagain,wewillgivethisPiece;sorrythatitisthelastwehaveofthatfinehand。Howwelcome,inthemurkypuddleofDryasdust,isanyglimpsebyalivelyglibWilhelmina,whichwecandiscerntobehuman!HearwhatWilhelminasays(inaverycondensedform):——
WILHELMINAATTHECORONATION。
Wilhelmina,intheendofJanuary,1742,——KarlAlberthavingshotpast,onedaylately,inabadpost—chaise,andkindledthethoughtinher,——resolvedtogoandseehimcrownedatFrankfurt,bywayofpleasure—excursion。Wewill,strugglingtobebriefer,speakinherperson;andindicatewithalwheretheverywordsarehers,andwhereours。
TheMarwitz,elderMarwitz,herpoorfatherbeingwoundedatMollwitz,[Militair—Lexikon,iii。23;andPreussischeAdels—Lexikon,iii。365。]hadgonetoBerlintonursehim;butshereturnedjustnow,——notmuchtomyjoy;Ibeing,withsomecause,jealousofthatfoolishminx。
TheDuchessDowagerofWurtembergalsocame,sorrowonher;
afoolishtalkingwoman,alwayscuttingjokes,makingeyes,gigglingandcoquetting;"HASsomewitandmanner,butweariesyouatlast:hercharms,nowonthedecline,wereneversoconsiderableasrumorsaid;inthelong—runsheboresyouwithherFrenchgayetiesandsprightliness:hercharacterforgallantryistoonotorious。ShequitecorruptedMarwitz,inthisandasubsequentvisit;turnedthepoorgirl’sheadintoaFrenchwhirligig,andunderminedanylittlemoralprincipleshehad。ShewasontheroadtoBerlin,"——ofwhichanon,foritisnotquitenothingtous;——
"butshewasinnohurry,andwouldrightwillinglyhavegonewithus。"Anditrequiredallourfemalediplomacytogetherunderwayagain,andfairlyoutofourcourse。January28th,SHEofftoBerlin;WE,sameday,toFrankfurt—on—Mayn。[Wilhelmina,ii。334;
seepp。335,338,347,&c。fortheothersalientpointsthatfollow。]
Coronationwastohavebeen(orweCountry—folkthoughtitwas),January31st:LetusbethereINCOGNITO,thenightbefore;seeit,andreturnthedayafter。Thatwasourplan。Badroads,watersallout;wehadtogonightandday;——reachedthegatesofFrankfurt,30thJanuarylate。Berghover,ourLegationsraththere,saysweareknowneverywhere;CoronationisnottobetillFebruary12th!Iwasfatiguedtodeath,abadcoldonme,too:weturnedbacktothelastVillage;stayedthereovernight。BackagaintoBerghover,insecret(ALASOURDINE),nextnight;willseethePublicEntryofKarlAlbert,whichistobeto—morrow(notquite,myPrincess;
January31stforcertain,[Adelung,iii。A,63;&c。&c。]didonetheleastcare)。"Itwasaverygrandthingindeed(DESPLUS
SUPERBES);butIwillnotstopdescribingit。Maskedballthatnight;whereIhadmuchamusement,tormentingthemasks;notbeingknowntoanybody。WenextdayretiredtoasmallprivateHouse,whichBerghoverhadgotforus,outofTown,forfearofbeingdiscovered;andlodgedthere,waitingFebruary12th,underdifficulties。"
Theweatherwasbitterlycold;wehadbroughtnoclothes;mydamesandInothingearthlybutablackANDRIENNEeach(whateverthatmaybe),tosparebulkofluggage:strictestincognitowasindispensable。TheMarwitzes,forgiggling,raillery,Frenchairs,andabsoluteimpertinence,wereintolerable,inthatsolitaryplace。WereturntoFrankfurtagain;haveballsandtheatres,atleast:"oftheselatterImissednone。Oneevening,myhead—dressgotaccidentallyshovedawry,andexposedmyfaceforamoment;
PrinceGeorgeofHessen—Cassel,whowaslookingthatway,recognizedme;toldthePrinceofOrangeofit;——theyareinourbox,nextminute!"
PrinceGeorgeofHessen—Cassel,didreaderseverhearofhimbefore?Transientlyperhaps,inFriedrich’sLETTERSTOHISFATHER;
buthaveforgottenhimagain;canknowhimonlyastheoutlineofashadow。Afatsolidmilitarymanoffifty;juniorBrotherofthatsolidWILHELM,Vice—regentandvirtual"LandgrafofHessen"——(VICE
anelderandeldestBrother,FRIEDRICH,thenowMajestyofSweden,whoisactualHereditaryLandgraf,butbeingold,childless,idle,takesnoholdofit,andquiteleavesittoWilhelm),——ofwhomEnglishreadersmayhaveheard,andwillhear。ForitisWilhelmthathiresusthose"subsidized6,000,"whogoblaringaboutonEnglishpay(PrinceGeorgemerelyCommandantofthem);andWilhelm,furthermore,hasweddedhisHeir—ApparenttoanEnglishPrincesslately;[PrincessMary(ageonlyaboutseventeen),28thJune,1740;
Prince’snamewasFriedrich(becameCatholic,1749;WIFEmadefamily—managerinConsequence,&c。&c。)。]whichalso(asthepooryoungfellowbecamePapistbyandby)costscertainEnglishpeople,amongothers,agooddealoftrouble。UncleGeorge,wesay,ismerelyCommandantofthoseblaring6,000;hashadhisownrealsoldieringsbeforethis;hisownlabors,contradictions,inhistime;buthasborneallpatiently,andgrownfatuponit,notquarrellingwithhisburdensorhisnourishments。Perhapswemaytransientlymeethimagain。
AstothePrinceofOrange,himwehaveseenmorethanonceintimespast:ayoungfellowincomparison,sprightly,reckonedclever,butsomewhathumpbacked;marriedanEnglishPrincess,yearsago("Papa,ifhewereasuglyasababoon!")——whichfinePrincess,wefind,hasstoptshortatCassel,toofatiguedonthepresentoccasion。"HisESPRIT,"continuesWilhelmina,"andhisconversation,delightedme。HisWife,hesaid,wasatCassel;
hewouldpersuadehertocomeandmakemyacquaintance;"——couldnot;toofar,inthiscoldseason。"ThesetwoSereneHighnesseswouldneedstakemehomeintheircarriage;theyaskedtheMargraftoletthemstaysupper:fromthathourtheywereneveroutofourhouse。Nextmorning,bymeansofthem,thesecrethadgotabroad。
Kur—Koln[lankyhook—nosedgentleman,richestPluralistintheChurch]hadsetspiesonus;nexteveninghecameuptome,andsaid,’Madam,IknowyourHighness;youmustdanceameasurewithme!’Thatcomesofone’shead—geargettingawry!Wehadnothingforitbuttogiveuptheincognito,andtakeourfate!"
ThisdancingElectorofKoln,amanstillonlyenteringhisforties,isthenewEmperor’sBrother:[ClementAugust(Hubner,t。134)。]doreaderswondertoseehimdance,beinganArchbishop?
Thefactiscertain,——lettheThreeKingsandtheElevenThousandVirginssaytoitwhattheywill。"Hetalkedalongtimewithme;
presentedtomethePrincessClemencehisNiece[thatistosay,WifeofhisNephewClemENT;oneoftheTwowhomhisnowImperialMajestysawmarriedtheotherday],[Michaelis,ii。256,123;
Hubner,tt。141,134。]andthenthePrincess"——infact,presentedallthethreeSulzbachPrincesses(forthereisayoungest,stilltowed),——"andthenPrinceTheodor[happyHusbandoftheeldest],andPrinceClement[dittooftheyounger];"andwasverypoliteindeed。Howkeepourincognito,withallthesepeopleheapingcivilitiesuponus?LetussendtoBaireuthforclothes,equipages;
andretiretoourcountryconcealmenttilltheyarrive。
"Justaswewereaboutsettingoffthither,IwaitingtilltheMargrafwereready,theXargrafentered,andaLadywithhim;
who,heinformedme,wasMadamedeBelleisle,theFrenchAmbassador’sWife:"——WifeofthegreatBelleisle,thesoulofallthesehighcongregatings,consultations,coronations,whoisnotKaiserbutmakerofKaisers:whatistobedone!——"Ihadcarefullyavoidedher;reckoningshewouldhavepretensionsIshouldnotbeinthehumortogrant。Itookmyresolutionatthemoment[beingaswiftdecisivecreature];andreceivedherlikeanyotherLadythatmighthavecometome。Hervisitwasnotlong。TheconversationturnedaltogetheruponpraisesoftheKing[myBrother]。IfoundMadamedeBelleisleverydifferentfromthenotionIhadformedofher。Youcouldseeshehadmovedinhighcompany(SENTAITSON
MONDE);butherairappearedtomethatofawaiting—maid(SOUBRETTE),andhermannersinsignificant。"LetMadametakethat。
"Monseigneurhimself,"whenourequipageshadcome,"waitedonmeseveraltimes,"——MonseigueurthegrandMarechaldeBelleisle,amongtheotherPrincipalitiesandLordships:butofthisleanmaninblack(whohasdonesuchfamousthings,andwillhavetodotheRetreatofPragwithinyearandday),thereisnotawordfarthersaid。OldSeckendorftooishere;"Reich’s—GovernorofPhilipsburg;"veryillwithAustria,nowonder;andstrivingtobewellwiththenewKaiser。DoubtlessoldSeckendorfmadehisvisittoo(beingofBaireuthkinwithal),andsnuffledhisrespects:
muchunworthyofmention;notlovelytoWilhelmina。PrinceofOrange,hunchbacked,butsprightlyandmuchthePrince,boremefaithfulcompanyalltheCoronationtime;norwasGeorgeofHessen—
Casselwanting,goodfatman。
OftheCoronationitself,thoughitwastrulygrand,andevenofanOrientalsplendor,[Anemonen,ubisupra。]
Iwillsaynothing。ThepoorKaisercouldnotenjoyitmuch。Hewasdyingofgoutandgravel,andcouldscarcelystandonhisfeet。
Poorgentleman;andtheFrencharedrivendismallyoutofLinz;
andtheAustriansarespreadinglikealava—floodorgeneralconflagrationoverBaiern——DemonMentzel,whomtheycallColonelMentzel,he(ifweknewit)isinMunchenitself,justaswearegettingcrownedhere!AndunlessKingFriedrich,whoisfallingintoMahren,intheflankofthem,callbackthisInfernalChasealittle,whathopeisthereinthoseparts!——ThepoorKaiser,oftenestinhisbed,iscourtingallmannerofGermanPrinces,——
consultingwithSeckendorfs,withcunningoldstagers。HehasmanagedtoleadmyMargrafintoafoolishbargain,aboutraisingmenforhim。WhichbargainI,onfairlygettingsightofit,persuademyMargraftobackoutof;and,intheend,hedoesso。
Meanwhile,itdetainsussometimelongerinFrankfurt,whichisstillfullofPrincipalities,busywithvisitingsandceremonials。
Amongotherthings,bywayofforwardingthatBargainIwassoaverseto,ourOfficialPeoplehadsettledthatIcouldnotwellgowithouthavingseentheEmpress,afterhercrowning。Foolishpeople;entanglingmeinnewintricacies!ForifsheisaKaiser’sDaughterandKaiser’sSpouse,amnotIsomewhattoo?"HowaKing’sDaughterandanEmpressaretomeet,wasprobablyneversettledbyexample:whatnumberofstepsdownstairsdoesshecome?
Thearm—chair(FAUTEUIL),isthattobedeniedme?"Andnumerousotherquestions。Theofficialpeople,Baireuthersespecially,areindespair;and,infact,therewerescenes。ButIheldfirm;
andtheBerlinambassadorstempering,amediumwasstruck:stepsofstairs,totheduenumber,areconcededme;arm—chairno,buttheEmpressto"takeaverysmallarm—chair,"andItohaveabigcommonchair(GRANDDOSSIER)。Sowemeet,andIhavesightofthisPrincess,nextday。
Inherplace,IconfessIwouldhaveinventedallmannerofetiquettes,oranysortofcontrivance,tosavemyselffromshowingface。"Heavens!TheEmpressisbelowmiddlesize,andsocorpulent(PUISSANTE),shelookslikeaball;sheisuglytotheutmost(LAIDEAUPOSSIBLE),andwithoutairorgrace。"KaiserJoseph’syoungestDaughter,——thegods,itseems,havenotbeenkindtoherinfigureorfeature!Andhermindcorrespondstoherappearance:
sheisbigotedtoexcess;passeshernightsanddaysinheroratory,withmererosariesandgauntsuperstitiousplatitudesofthatnature;adarkfatdrearylittleEmpress。"Shewasallinatrembleinreceivingme;andhadsodiscountenancedanair,shecouldn’tspeakaword。Wetookseats。Afteralittlesilence,I
begantheconversation,inFrench。SheansweredmeinherAustrianjargon,Thatshedidnotwellunderstandthatlanguage,andbeggedIwouldspeaktoherinGerman。Ourconversationwasnotlong。
HerAustriandialectandmyLower—Saxonaresodifferentthat,tillyouhavepractised,youarenotmutuallyintelligibleinthem。
Accordinglywewerenot。Aby—standerwouldhavesplitwithlaughingattheBabelwemadeofit;eachcatchingonlyawordhereandthere,andguessingtherest。ThisPrincesswassotiedtoheretiquette,shewouldhavereckoneditacrimeagainsttheReichtospeaktomeinaforeignlanguage;forsheknewFrenchwellenough。
"TheKaiserwastohavebeenofthisvisit;buthehadfallensoill,hewasconsideredevenindangerofhislife。PoorPrince,whatalothadheachievedforhimself!"reflectsWilhelmina,asweoftendo。Hewassoft,humane,affable;hadthegiftofcaptivatinghearts。Notwithouttalenteither;butthenofanambitionfardisproportionatetoit。"Wouldhaveshoneinthesecondrank,butinthefirstwentsorrowfullyeclipsed,"astheysay!Hecouldnotbeagreatman,norhadabouthimanyonethatcould;andheneedednowtobeso。ThisistheserviceaBelleislecando;inflatingapoormantoKaisership,beyondhisnaturalsize!CrownedKaiser,andMentzeljustenteringhisMunchenthewhile;aKaiserbedrid,stranded;lyingillthereofgoutandgravel,withtheDemonMentzelseatinghim:——wellmayhispoorlittlebulletofaKaiserinnprayforhimnightandday,ifthatwillavail!——
THEDUCHESSDOWAGEROFWURTEMBERG,RETURNINGFROMBERLIN
FAVORSUSWITHANOTHERVISIT。
IamsorrytosaythisisalmostthelastsceneweshallgetoutofWilhelmina。ShereturnstoBaireuth;breaksthereconclusivelythatunwiseFrankfurtbargain;receivesbyandby(afterseveralmonths,whenmuchhascomeandgoneintheworld)thereturningDuchessofWurtemberg,effulgentDowager"spokenofonlyasaLais:"andhasotheradventures,alludedtoupanddown,butnotputinrecordbyherselfanyfarther。——SorrowfullyletushearWilhelminayetalittle,onthisLaisDuchess,whowillconcernussomewhat。
Dowager,muchtooeffulgent,ofthelateKarlAlexander,aReichs—
Feldmarschall(orFOURTH—PARTofone,ifreaderscouldremember)
andDukeofWurtemberg,——whomweoncedinedwithatPrag,inoldFriedrich—WilhelmandPrince—Eugenetimes:——
"ThisPrincess,veryfamousonthebadside,hadbeenatBerlintoseeherthreeBoyssettledthere,whoseeducationshe[andtheSTANDEofWurtemberg,shebeingRegent]hadcommittedtotheKing。
ThesePrinceshadbeenwithusontheirroadthither,justbeforetheirMammalasttime。TheEldest,agefourteen,hadgonequiteagog(S’ETOITAMOURACHE)aboutmylittleGirl,ageonlynine;
andhadgreatlydivertedusbyhislittlegallantries[markthat,withanAlas!]。TheDuchess,followingsomewhatatleisure,hadmissedtheKingthattime;whowasgoneforMahren,January18th……IfoundthisPrincesswearingprettywell。Herfeaturesarebeautiful,buthercomplexionisfadedandveryyellow。Hervoiceissohighandscreechy,itcutsyourears;shedoesnotwantforwit,andexpressesherselfwell。Hermannersareengagingforthosewhomshewishestogain;andwithmenareveryfree。Herwayofthinkingandactingoffersastrangecontrastofprideandmeanness。HergallantrieshadbroughtherintosuchreputethatI
hadnopleasureinhervisits。"[Wilhelmina,ii。335。]Nopleasure;
thoughsheoftencame;andherEldestPrince,andmylittleGirl——Well,whoknows!
BesidesherthreeBoys(oneofwhom,asReigningDuke,willbecomenotoriousenoughtoWilhelminaandmankind),theLaisDuchesshasleftatBerlin——atleast,Iguessshehasnowlefthim,inexchangeperhapsforsomeother——acertainverygallant,vagabondyoungMarquisd’Argens,"fromConstantinople"last;originallyfromtheProvencecountries;extremelydissolutecreature,stillyoung(whomPapahashadtodisinherit),butfullofgood—humor,ofgesticulativeloyaltalk,andfrothyspeculationofanAnti—Jesuitturn(haswrittenmanyfrothyBooks,too,inthatstrain,whicharenowforgotten):whobecameaverygreatfavoritewithFriedrich,andwillbemuchmentionedinsubsequenttimes。
"IntheendofJuly,"continuesWilhelmina,"wewenttoStouccard[Stuttgard,capitalofWurtemberg,Obeautifulglibtongue!],whithertheDuchesshadinvitedus:but——"Andthereweareonblankpaper;ourdearWilhelminahasceasedspeakingtous:
herMEMOIRSend;andoblivioussilencewrapstheremainder!——
ConcerningthiseffulgentDowagerofWurtemberg,andherlatewaysatBerlin,here,fromBielfeld,isanothersnatch,whichwewillexcerpt,undertheusualconditions:
"BERLIN,FEBRUARY,1742[realdateofallthatisnotfabulousinBielfeld,whochaoticallydatesit"6thDecember"ofthatYear]……Adayortwoafterthis[nomatterWHAT]IwenttotheGermanPlay,theonlyspectaclewhichisyetfairlyafootinBerlin。
Inpassingin,InoticedtheDuchessDowagerofWurtemberg,whohadarrived,duringmyabsence,withanumerousandbrilliantsuite,aswelltosalutetheKingandtheQueens[Kingoff,onhisMoravianBusiness,beforeshecame],andtouniteherselfmoreintimatelywithourCourt,astoseetheThreePrincesherChildrensettledintheirnewplace,where,byconsentoftheStatesofWurtemberg,theyaretobeeducatedhenceforth。
"AsIhadnotyethadmyselfpresentedtotheDuchess,Ididnotpresumetoapproachtoonear,andpassedupintotheTheatre。
Butshenoticedmeintheside—scenes;askedwhoIwas[suchahandsomefashionablefellow],andsentmeordertocomeimmediatelyandpaymyrespects。Tobesure,Ididso;wasmostgraciouslyreceived;and,ofcourse,calledearlynextdayatherPalace。
HerGrand—Chamberlainhadappointedmethehourofnoon。Henowintroducedmeaccordingly:butwhatwasmysurprisetofindthePrincessinbed;inanegligeeallnewfromthelaundress,andthegallantestthatartcouldimagine!Onatable,readytoherhand,attheDOSSIERorbed—bead,stoodalittleBasinsilver—gilt,filledwithHolyWater:therestwasdecoratedwithextremelypreciousRelics,withaCrucifix,andaRosaryofrock—crystal。
Herdress,thecushions,quilt,allwasofMarseillesstuff,inthefinestseriesofcolors,garnishedwithsuperblace。HercapwasofAlenconlace,knottedwitbaribbonofgreenandgold。Figuretoyourself,inthisgallantdeshabille,acharmingPrincess,whohasallthewit,perfectionofmanner——andisstillonlythirty—seven,withabeautythatwasoncesobrilliant!Roundthecelestialbedwerecourtiers,doctors,almoners,mostlyindevotionalpostures;
thethreeyoungPrinces;andaDamed’Atours,whoseemedtolookslightlyENNUYEEorbored。"IhadthehonortokissherSereneHighness’shand,andtotalkagreatmanypepperedinsipiditiessuitabletotheoccasion。
Dinnerfollowed,moreproperlysupper,withlightskindled:
"OnlyIcannotdress,youknow,"herHighnesshadsaid;"Ineverdo,exceptfortheQueen—Mother’sparties;"——andrangforhermaids。SothatyouareledouttotheAnteroom,andgogrinningabout,tillanewandstillmorecharmingdeshabillebecompleted,andherMostSereneHighnesscanreceiveyouagain:"NowMessieurs!
Pshaw,oneisalwaysstupid,noESPRITatallexceptbycandlelight!"——Afterwhich,suchadinner,unmatchableforelegance,forexquisitegastronomy,forAttic—Paphianbrilliancyandcharm!Andindeedtherefollowedhereupon,forweeksonweeks,aseriesofsuchunmatchablelittledinners;chiefparts,underthatcharmingPresidency,beingdoneby"Grand—ChamberlainBaronde"Something—or—other,"byyourhumbleservantBielfeld,M。Jordan,andaMarquisd’Argens,famousProvencalgentlemannowinthesuiteofherHighness:"[Bielfeld,ii。74—78。]——feastsoftheBarmecideImuchdoubt,poorBielfeldbeinginthisChapterveryfantastic,MISDATEfultoamadextent;andotherwise,exceptastogeneraleffect,worthlittleseriousbelief。
WeshallmeetthisPaphianDowageragain(CrucifixandMyrtlejoined):meetespeciallyherD’Argens,andherThreelittlePrincesmoreorless;——wherefore,markslightly(besidestheD’Argensasabove):——
"1。TheEldestlittlePrince,KarlEugen;made’ReigningDuke’
withinthreeyearshence[MammafallingintotroublewiththeSTANDE]:amanstillgloomilyfamousinGermany[PoetSchiller’sDukeofWurtemberg],ofinarticulate,extremeIyarbitraryturn,——
marriedWilhelmina’sDaughterbyandby[withhorribleusageofher];andotherwisegaveFriedrichandtheworldcausetothinkofhim。
"2。TheSecondlittlePrince,FriedrichEugen,PrussianGeneralofsomemark,whowillincidentallyturnupagain,HewasafterwardsSuccessortotheDukedom[KarlEugendyingchildless];andmarriedhisDaughtertoPaulofRussia,fromwhomdescendtheAutocratstheretothisday。
"3。YoungestlittlePrince,LudwigEugen,arespectablePrussianOfficer,andlateraFrenchone:heisthat’DucdeWirtemberg’whocorrespondswithVoltaire[inscrutabletoreaders,inmostoftheEditions];andneednotbementionedfarther。"[SeeMichaelis,iii。449;Preuss,i。476;&c。&c。]
Butenoughofallthis。ItistimewewereinMahren,wheretheExpeditionmustbeblazingwellahead,ifthingshavegoneasexpected。
ChapterX。
FRIEDRICHDOESHISMORAVIANEXPEDITION
WHICHPROVESAMEREMORAVIANFORAY。
WhiletheseCoronationsplendorshadbeengoingon,Friedrich,intheMoravianregions,wasmakingexperiencesofaratherpainfulkind;hisExpeditionprosperingtherefarotherwisethanhehadexpected。ThiswinterExpeditiontoMahrenwasoneofthefirstFriedrichhadeverundertakenontheJoint—stockPrinciple;anditprovedofakindrathertodisgusthimwiththatmethodinaffairsofwar。
AdeeplydisappointingExpedition。Thecountryhereaboutswasinbadpostureofdefence;nothingbetweenusandViennaitself,inamanner。Rushingbrisklyforward,livingonthecountrywhereneedful,onthatIglauMagazine,onone’sownSechellesresources;
rushingon,withtheSaxons,withtheFrench,emulousontherighthandandtheleft,aCaptainlikeFriedrichmighthavegonefar;
Viennaitself——whoknows!——notyetquitebeyondthereachofhim。
HerewasawaytocheckKhevenhullerinhisBavarianOperations,andwhirlhimback,double—quick,foranotherobjectnearerhome!——
But,alas,neithertheSaxonsnortheFrenchwouldrushon,intheleastemulous。TheSaxonsdraggedheavilyarear;theFrenchDetachment(apoor5,000underPolastron,allthatacaptiousBrogliocouldbepersuadedtogrant)wouldnotrushatall,butpausedontheveryfrontierofMoravia,Brogliosoordering,andtherehungsupine,orindeedwenthome。
Friedrichremonstrated,argued,turnedbacktoencourage;butitwasinvain。TheSaxonBastardPrinces"livedfordaysinanySchlosstheyfoundcomfortable;"complainingalwaysthattherewasnovictualfortheirTroops;thatthePrussians,alwaysahead,hadeatenthecountry。Noendtohaggling;and,exceptonFriedrich’spart,noheartybeginningtorealbusiness。"Ifyouwishatalltobe’KingofMoravia,’whatisthis!"thinksFriedrichjustly。
Broglio,too,wasunmanageable,——piquedthatValori,notBroglio,hadstartedthething;——showedhimselfcaptious,dark,hystericallyeffervescent,nowover—cautious,andagaincapableofrushingblindlyheadlong。
ToBrogliothefactatLinz,whicheverybodysawtobemomentous,wasoverwhelming。MagnanimousSegur,andhisLinz"allwedgedwithbeams,"whataroadhavetheygone!Saidsovaliantlytheywouldmakedefence;anddidit,scarcelyforfourdays:January24th;
beforethisExpeditioncouldbegin!True,M。leMarechal,tootrue:——andisthatareasonforhangingbackinthisMahrenbusiness;orforpushingoninit,double—quick,withallone’sstrength?"ButourConquestsontheDonau,"thinksBroglio,"whatwillbecomeofthem,——andofus!"ToBroglio,justlyapprehensiveabouthisownpostureatPragandontheDonau,thereneverwassuchachanceofatoncerakingbackallAustrianshomewards,post—hasteoutofthosecountries。ButBrogliocouldbynomeansseeitso,——headstrong,blusterous,over—cautiousandhystericallyheadlongoldgentleman;whoseconductatPragherebroughtStrasburgvividlytoFriedrich’smemory。Uponwhich,asupontheghostofBroglio’sBreeches,Valorihadtohear"incessantsarcasms"atthistime。
Inaword,fromFebruary5th,whenFriedrich,accordingtobargain,rendezvousedhisPrussiansatWischautobeginthisExpedition,tillApril5th,whenhere—rendezvousedthem(atthesameWischau,aschanced)forthepurposeofendingitandgoinghome,——
Friedrich,wrestlinghisutmostwithHumanStupidity,"MITDER
DUMMHEIT[asSchillersonorouslysays],againstwhichtheverygodsareunvictorious,"hadprobablytwoofthemostprovokingmonthsofhisLife,orofthisFirstSilesianWar,whichwasfruitfulinsuchtohim。ForthecommoncauseheaccomplishednearlynothingbythisMoravianExpedition。But,tohisownmind,itwasrichinexperiences,astotheJoint—StockPrinciple,astothePartnershenowhad。AnditdoubtlessquickenedhisstepstowardsgettingpersonallyoutofthisimbroglioofbigFrench—GermanWars,——hometoBerlin,withPeaceandSilesiainhispocket,——whichhadallalongbeenthegoalofhisendeavors。Asafeatofwaritisbynomeansworthdetailing,inthisplace,——thoughsuccinctStille,andbulkierGermanBooksgivelucidaccount,shouldanybodychancetobecurious。[Stille,CampaignsoftheKingofPrussia,i。1—55;Helden—Geschichte,ii。
548—611;OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。110—114;
Orlich,ii。;&c。&c。]Onlyundertheotheraspect,asFriedrich’sexperienceofPartnership,andespeciallyofhisnowPartners,arepresentreadersconcernedtohave,inbriefform,someintelligiblenotionofit。
IGLAUISGOT,BUTNOTTHEMAGAZINEATIGLAU。
FriedrichwaspunctualatWischau;Head—quartersthere(midwaybetweenOlmutzandBrunn),Prussiansallassembled,5thFebruary,1742。WischauissomeeightymilesEASTorinwardofIglau;theFrenchandSaxonsaretomeetusaboutTrebitsch,acoupleofmarchesfromthatTeutschbrodoftheirs,andwellwithinonemarchofIglau,onourroutethither。TheFrenchandSaxonsareatTrebitsch,accordingly;buttheirmindsandwillsseemtobefarelsewhere。RutowskyandtheChevalierdeSaxecommandtheSaxons(20,000strongonpaper,16,000inreality);ComtedePolastrontheFrench,whoare5,000,allHorse。Alongwithwhom,professedlyasFrenchVolunteer,hascometheComtedeSaxe,capriciousMaurice(MarechaldeSaxethatwillbe),whohasalwaysviewedthisExpeditionwithdisfavor。ExcellencyValoriiswiththeFrenchDetachment,orratherpoorValoriiseverywhere;runningabout,fromquartertoquarter,sometimestoPragitself;assiduoustohealrentseverywhere;clappingcementintomanifoldcracks,fromdaytoday。ThroughValoriwegetsomeinterestingglimpsesintothesecrethumorsandmanoeuvresofComteMaurice。ItisknownotherwiseComteMauricewasnofriendtoBelleisle,butlookedforhispromotionfromtheoppositeorNoaillesparty,intheFrenchCourt:atpresent,asValoriperceives,hehasgottheearofBroglio,andputmuchsadstuffintotheloudfoolishmindofhim。
TotheseSaxongentlemen,beingBastard—Royalandimportanttoconciliate,Friedrichhasinahigh—flownwayassignedtheSchlossofBudischauforquarters,anexcellentsuperblymagnificentmansionintheneighborhoodofTrebitsch,"nothinglikeittobeseenexceptintheatres,ontheDrop—sceneofTheEnchantedIsland;"[Stille,Campaigns,p。14。]wheretheymakethemselvessocomfortable,saysFriedrich,thereisnogettingthemrousedtodoanythingforthreedaystocome。Andyettheworkisurgent,andplentyofit。
"Iglau,firstofall,"urgesFriedrich,"wheretheAustrians,10,000orso,underPrinceLobkowitz,havepostedthemselves[rightflankofthatlongstraggleofWinterCantonments,whichgoesleftwardstoBudweisandfarther],andmadeMagazines:possessionofIglauisthefoundation—stoneofouraffairs。AndifwewouldhaveIglauWITHtheMagazinesandnotwithout,surelythereisnotamomenttobewasted!"Invain;theSaxonBastardPrincesfeelthemselvesverycomfortable。ItwasSundaythe11thofFebruary,whenourjunctionwiththemwascompleted:and,insteadofnextmorningearly,itisWednesdayafternoonbeforePrinceDietrichofAnhalt—Dessau,withtheSaxonandFrenchpartyrousedtojoinhisPrussiansandhim,canatlasttaketheroadforIglau。
PrinceDietrichmakesnowthereverseofdelay;marchesallnight,"bivouacsinwoodsnearIglau,"warminghimselfatstick—firestillthedaybreak;takesIglaubymerelymarchingintoitandscattering2,000Pandours,sosoonasdayhasbroken;butfindstheMagazinesnotthere。Lobkowitzcartedoffwhathecould,thenburnt"SeventeenBarnsyesterday;"andishimselfofftowardsBudweisHead—quartersandtheBohemianbogsagain。ThiscomesoflodgingSaxonroyalgentlementoowell。
THESAXONSTHINKIGLAUENOUGH;THEFRENCHGOHOME。
Nay,Iglautaken,theaffairgrowsworsethanever。OurSaxonsnowdeclarethattheyunderstandtheirorderstobecompleted;
thattheirCourtdidnotmeanthemtomarchfarther,butonlytoholdbyIglau,asolidfootinginMoravia,whichwillsufficeforthepresent。FancyFriedrich;fancyValori,andthecrackshewillhavetofill!Friedrich,inastonishmentandindignation,sendsamessengertoDresden:"WouldthePolishMajestyBE’KingofMoravia,’then,ornotbe?"RemonstrancesatBudischaurisehigherandhigher;Valori,topreventtotalexplosion,fliesoveronce,inthedeadofthenight,todealwithRutowskyandBrothers。
Rutowskyhimselfseemspartlypersuadable,thoughdreadfullyillofrheumatism。TheyrouseComteMaurice;andValori,bythisComte’scaprices,isdrivenoutofpatience。"Hetalkedwithaflippantsophistry,almostwithaninsolence"saysValori;"nay,atlast,hemademeagestureinspeaking,"——whatgesture,thumbtonose,orwhat,theshudderingimaginationdarenotguess!ButValori,nettledtothequick,"repeatedit,"andotherwisegavehimasgoodashebrought。"Heendedbyagesturewhichdispleasedme"——"andwenttobed。"[Valori,i。148,149。]ThisisthenightofFebruary18th;thirdnightafterIglauwashad,andtheMagazinesinitgonetoashes。WhichtheSaxonsthinkisconquestenough。
PoorPolishMajesty,poorKarlAlbert,aboveall,now"KaiserKarlVII。,"withnothingbutthoseFrenchforbreathtohisnostrils!
WithhisfineFrenchArmyoftheOriflamme,KarlAlbertshouldhavepushedalonglastAutumn;andnotmerely"readthePaper"whichFriedrichsenthimtothateffect,"andthenlaiditaside。"
Theywillneverhaveanotherchance,hisFrenchandhe,——unlesswecallthisagainachance;whichtheyareagainsquandering!
Linzwentbycapitulation;January24th,theverydayofone’s"Election"astheycalledit:andeversincethatdayofLinz,theseriesofdisastershascontinuedrapidanduniforminthoseparts。
Linzgone,therestoftheFrenchpostsdidnotevenwaittocapitulate;butcrackledalloff,theyandourConquestsontheDonau,likeatrainofgunpowder,andleftthegroundbare。
AndGeneralvonBarenklau(BEAR’S—CLAW),withthehideousfellowcalledMentzel,ColonelofPandours,theyhavebrokenthroughintoBavariaitself,fromtheTyrol;climbingbyBerchtesgadenandthewildSalzburgMountains,regardlessofWinter,andofpoorBavarianmilitia—folk;——andhavetakenMunchen,one’sveryCapital,one’sveryHouseandHome!——PoorKarlAlbert,——and,whatisagainremarkable,itwastheverydaywhilehewasgetting"crowned"atFrankfurt,"withOrientalpomp,"thatMentzelwasaboutenteringMunchenwithhisPandours。[CoronationwasFebruary12th;
CapitulationtoMentzel,"Munchen,February13th,"isin
GuerredeBoheme,ii。56—59。]AndthispoorArchdukeoftheAustrian,KingofBohemia,KaiseroftheHolyRomishReichTeutschbyNation,isbecomingTitularmerely,andownsnexttonothingintheseextensiveSovereignties。Judgeifthereisnotcallfordespatchonallsides!——ThePolishMajestysentinstantratherangryordertohisSaxons,"Forward,withyou;whatelse!