Wewillwishhimgoodsuccessinthevictuallingdepartment,hopetohearnomoreofhiminthisHistory;——andshallsayonlythatComtedeSaxe,beforelong,relieveshimofthisBavarianArmy;——
andwillbeseenattheheadofit,onamostimportantbusinessthatrises。
KaiserKarlbeginstohaverealthoughtsofrecallingthisThorring,whoisgrownsoveryAUDIBLE,altogetherhome;andofappointingSeckendorfinstead。AcoursewhichBelleislehasbeenstronglyrecommendingforsometime。Seckendorfisatpresent"gatheringmealintheOber—Pfalz"(UpperPalatinate,roadfromIngolstadttoEger,toBohmengenerally),thatis,formingMagazines,ontheKaiser’sbehalfthere:"SurelyalikeliermanthanyourThorring!"urgesBelleislealways。WithwhomtheKaiserdoesfinallycomply;nominatesSeckendorfcommander,——recallstheinvaluableThorring!"tohisservicesinourCabinetCouncil,whichmorebefithisgreatage。"InwhichsafepostpoorThorring,likeaDrumNOTbeatenupon,hasthenceforthasilentlifeofit;
Seckendorffightinginhisstead,——asweshallhavetowitness,moreorless。
Khevenhuller’sisachangedposture,sincehestoodinVienna,eightorninemonthsago;grimlyresolute,drillinghis"6,000ofgarrison,"withthewheelbarrowsallbusy!——ButherHungarianMajesty’schiefsuccess,whichisnowopeningintooutlooksofaquitetriumphantnature,hasbeenthatovertheNewOriflammeitself,theBelleisle—BroglioArmy,——mostsweettoherMajestytotriumphover!ShortlyafterChotusitz,shortlyafterthatPharsaliaofaSahay,readersrememberBelleisle’sfineProject,"ConjoinedattackonBudweis,andsweepingofBohemiaclear;"——readerssawBelleisle,intheSchlossofMaleschau,5thJunelast,rushingout(withviolencetohisownwig,saysrumor);hurryingofftoDresdenforco—operation;equallyinvain。"Co—operation,M。leMarechal;
attackonBudweis?"——HereisanotherFragment:——
HOWBELLEISLE,RETURNINGFROMDRESDENWITHOUTCO—OPERATION,FOUNDTHEATTACKHADBEENDONE,——INAFATALLYREVERSEWAY。
PRAGEXPECTINGSIEGE。COLLOQUYWITHBROGLIOONTHAT
INTERESTINGPOINT。PRAGBESIEGED。
BUDWEIS,JUNE4th,—PRAG,JUNE13th。"Broglio,eversincethatSahay[whichhadbeenfoughtsogloriouslyonFrauenberg’saccount],layintheCastleofFrauenberg,inandaround,——hithersideoftheMoldauriver,withhisPisekthirtymilestorear,andjudiciousoutpostsallabout。TherelayBroglio,meditatingtheattackonBudweis[wereco—operationoncehere],——when,contrariwise,altogetheronthesudden,BudweismadeattackonBroglio;
tumbledhimquitetopsy—turvy,andsenthimhometoPrag,uncertainwhichenduppermost;rollinglikeaheapofmownstubbleinthewind,ratherthanmarchinglikeanarmy!"……Takeoneglanceathim:——
"JUNE4th,1742[dayBEFOREthatofBelleisle’s"Wig"atMaleschau,hadBelleisleknownit!]——PrinceKarl,beingnowfreeofthePrussians,andreadyfornewwork,issuedsuddenlyfromBudweis;
suddenlysteptacrosstheMoldau,——bytheBridgeofMoldau—Tein,sweepingawaytheFrenchthatlaythere。PrinceKarlsweptawaythisfirstFrenchPost,bythemeresightandsoundofhim;
sweptaway,inlikefashion,thesecondandallfollowingposts;
sweptBrogliohimself,almostwithoutshotfired,andinhugeflurry,hometoPrag,double—quick,nightandday,——withmuchlossofbaggage,artillery,prisoners,andtotallossofone’spresenceofmind。’Poorman,hewasbornforsurprises’[saidFriedrich’sDoggerellongago]!Manoeuvredconsummately[heasserts]atdifferentpoints,behindriversandthelike;butnowherecouldhecallhalt,andresolutelystandstill。Whichundoubtedlyhecouldandshouldhavedone,sayValoriandalljudges;——nothingquiteimmediatebeinguponhim,exceptthewaste—howlingtagraggeryofCroats,whomithadbeengoodtoquenchalittle,beforegoingfarther。Onthethirdnight,June7th,hearrivedatPisek;
marchedagainbeforedaybreak,leavingagarrisonof1,200,——whosurrenderedtoPrinceKarlnextday,withoutshotfired。
Brogliotumblingonabead,double—quick,withthetagraggeryofCroatscontinuallyworryingathisheels,baggage—wagonsstickingfast,countrypeoplemassacringallstragglers,pantedhometoPragonthe13th;with’theGrossoftheArmysaved,don’tyouobserve!’
Andthinksitanexcellentretreat,heifnoone—else。
[GuerredeBoheme,ii。122,&c。;
Campagnes,v。167(hisownDespatch)。]
"AtPisek,PrinceKarlhasceasedchasingwithhisregulars,thepacebeingsouncommonlyswift。FromPisek,PrinceKarlstruckofftowardsPilsen,theretointerceptaresidueofHarcourtreinforcementswhowerecomingthatway:fromBroglio,whoknewofit,butinsuchflurrycouldnotmindit,hehadnohindrance;anditwasbygoodluck,notmanagementofBroglio’s,thatthesepoorreinforcementsdidinpartgetthroughtohim,andinpartseekrefugeinEgeragain。BrogliohasencampedunderthewallsofPrag;
inaruinousthoughstillblusterouscondition;hispositionsallgone;exceptPragandEger,nothinginBohemianowhis。"
PRAG,17thJUNE—17thAUGUST。"ItisinthisconditionthatBelleisle,returningfromtheKuttenberg—Dresdenmission(June15th),findshisBroglio。Mostdisastrous,Belleislethinksit;
andnothingbutaSiegeinPraglyingahead;thoughBroglioisofdifferentopinion,or,blusteringabouthislatemiraculousretreat,andotherhighmeritstoolittlerecognized,formsnoopinionatallonsuchextraneouspoints……FromVersailles,theyhadausweredBelleisle:’NothingtobemadeofDresdeneither,sayyou?ThengoyouandtakethecommandatPrag;sendBrogliotocommandtheBavarianArmy。See,you,whatcanbedonebyfighting。’
OnthiserrandBelleisleiscome,theheavy—ladenman,andValoriwithhim,——if,inthisblackcrisis,Valoricoulddoanything。
ValoriatleastreportsthecolloquytheTwoMarshalshad[onebitofcolloquy,fortheyhadmorethanone,thoughasfewaspossible;
Brogliobeingaltogetherblusterous,sulphurous,difficulttospeakwithonpoliteterms]。[Valori,i。162—166;Campagnes,v。170,124,&c。&c。]’ArmyofBavaria?’answersBroglio;’IwillhavethoseTenBattalionsoftheD’Harcourtreinforcement,then。Itellyou,Yes!Prag?Pragmaygotothe——
WhathaveItodowithPrag?TheoldestMarechalofFrance,superseded,aftersuchmerits,andontheveryheelofsucharetreat!Nay,butwhereisYOURcommissiontocommandinPrag,M。leMarechal?’Belleisle,inthehastetherewas,hasnoCommissionrightlydrawnoutbytheWar—office;onlyanOrderfromCourt。’_I_havearegularcommission,Monseigneur:IwantaSign—
manualbeforelayingitdown!’TheunreasonableBroglio。
"Belleisle,tormentedwithrheumaticnerves,andofviolenttemperatanyrate,compressestheimmensewasteragethatisinhim。
HisanswerstoBroglioarecalmandlow—voiced;admirabletoValori。Onethinghewishedtoascertaindefinitely:WhatM。deBroglio’sintentionswere;andwhetherhewould,orwouldnot,gotoBavariaandtakechargethere?Ifso,heshallhavealltheCavalryforescort;Cavalry,unlessitbedragoons,willonlyeatvictualincaseofsiege。——No,BrogliowillnotgowithCavalry;
musthavethoseTenBattalions,musthaveSign—manual;won’t,inshort!"——Willstay,then,thinksBelleisle;andonemusttrytodrivehim,asmendopigs,covertlyandbytheruleofcontraries,whilePragfallsunderSiege。
WhatanoutlookforhisMostChristianMajesty’sservice,——fatalaltogether,hadnotBelleislebeenahighman,andwillingtoundertakepig—driving!……"DiscouragementintheArmyistotal,wereitnotforBelleisle;angeragainstBroglioverygreat。
TheOfficersdeclareopenly,’Wewillquit,ifBrogliocontinueGeneral!OurcommissionsweremadeoutinthenameofMarechaldeBelleisle[inthespringoflastYear,whenhehadsuchlevees,morecrowdedthantheKing’s!]——wearenotboundtoserveanotherGeneral!’——’YourecognizeMEforyourGeneral?’asksBelleisle。
’Yes!’——’Then,IbidyouobeyM。deBroglio,solongasheishere。’[Valori,i。166。]……
"JUNE27th。TheGrand—Duke,MariaTheresa’sHusband,comefromViennatotakecommand—in—chief,joinstheAustrianmainArmyandhisBrotherKarl,thisday:atKonigsaal,onemarchtothesouthofPrag。Friedrichbeingnowofftheirhands,whyshouldnottheybesiegePrag,capturePrag!UnderKhevenhullcr,withBarenklau,andtheMentzels,Trencks,——poorD’Harcourtmerelystoringvictual,——
Bavarialiessafeenough。AndtheOriflammecagedinPrag:——HaveattheOriflamme!
"Pragisbegirdled,straitenedmoreandmore,fromthisday。
FormalSiegetobegin,sosoon’astheartillerycancomeup’whichisnotforsevenweeksyet]。Andso,infine,’AUGUST17th,allatonce,’furiousbombardmentburstsout,from36mortarsandabove100bigguns,disposedinbatteriesaround。[GuerredeBoheme,ii。149,170。]TowhichtheFrench,Belleisle’shighsoulanimatingeverything,asfuriouslyresponded;
makingcontinualsalliesofahotdesperatenature;especially,onthefifthdayofthesiege,onesally[tobementionedbyandby]
whichwasveryfamousatPragandatParis。"……
CONCERNINGTHEITALIANWARWHICHSIMULTANEOUSLYWENTON,ALLALONG。
WarinItaly——theSpanishTermagantveryhighinherAnti—Pragmaticnotions——therehadbeen,foreightmonthspast;anditwenton,fiercelyenough,doggedlyenough,onbothsidesforSixYearsmore,till1748,whenthegeneralFiniscame。Warofwhichweproposetosayalmostnothing;butmustrequestthereadertoimagineit,allalong,asinfluentialonourspecificaffairs。
TheSpanishTermagantwishedardentlytohavetheMilaneseandpertinents,asanApanageforhersecondInfant,DonPhilip;ayounggentlemanwhonowneedstobeprovidedfor,asDonCarloshadoncedone。"CannotgettobePopethisone,itappears,"saidthefondMother(whoatonetimelookedthatwayforherInfant,):
"Well,hereistheMilanesefallenloose!"Readersknowherforaladyofmanyclaims,ofillimitableaspirations;andshewentveryhighonthePragmaticQuestion。"HeadshipoftheGoldenFleece,Madam;YOUheadofit?IsayallAustria,GermanandItalian,ismine!"——thoughshehasnowmagnanimouslygivenuptheGermanparttoKaiserKarlVII。;andwillbecontentwiththeItalian,asanApanageforDonPhilip。AndsothereisWarinItaly,andwillbe。
Tobeimaginedbyushenceforth。
AWarinwhichtheseThreeElementsarenoticeableasthechief。
FIRST,theSardinianMajesty,[CharlesEmanuel,VictorAmadeus’sSon(Hubner,t。293):born27thApril,1701;livedandreignedtill19thFebruary,1773(OErtel,t。77)。]whoisveryanxioushimselfforMilaneseparingsandadditaments;but,exceptbyskilfullyplayingoff—and—onbetweentheFrenchsideandtheAustrian,hasnochanceofgettingany。ForSpainheisabletofight;andalso(ongoodBritishSubsidies)againstSpain。ElementSECONDistheBritishNavy,cruisingalwaysbetweenSpainandtheSeatofWar;
renderingsuppliesbyseaimpossible,——almostimpossible。
THIRD,thePassesofSavoy;wildAlpinechasms,stone—labyrinths;
inexpugnable,withaSardinianMajestydefending;whicharetheoneremainingroad,forArmiesandSupplies,outofSpainorFrance。
TheSavoyPassesare,infact,thegistoftheWar;theinsolubleproblemforDonPhilipandtheFrench。Bydetours,bycircuitouseffortandhappyaccident,yourtroopsmayoccasionallysqueezethrough:butwithoutonesecureroadopenbehindthemforsuppliesandrecruitments,whatgoodisit?Battlesthereare,behindtheAlps,onwhatwemaycalltheSTAGEitselfofthisItalianWar—
theatre;butthegrandsteadybattleisthatofFranceandDonPhilip,strugglingspasmodically,yearafteryear,togetaroadthroughtheCOULISSESorside—scenes,——namely,thoseSavoyPasses。
TheytryitbythisPassandbythat;PassofDemont,PassofVilla—FrancaorMontalban(gloriousforFrance,butfutile),PassofExillesorCold’Assiette(againglorious,againfutileandfatal);sometimesbythewayofNiceitself,androckymule—tracksoverhangingthesea—edge(BritishNaval—cannonplayingonthem);——
andcanbynowaydoit。
Therewerefinefightings,intheinteriortoo,underGeneralsofmark;GeneralBrownedoingfeats,excellentoldGeneralFeldmarschallTraun,ofwhomweshallhear;Maillebois,BelleisletheYounger,ofwhomwehaveheard。TherewasBattleofCampo—
Santo,newbattlethere(Traun’s);therewasBattleofRottofreddo;
ofPiacenza(dolefultoMaillebois),——followedbyInvasionofProvence,byRevoltofGenoaandotherthings:whichallreadershavenowforgotten。[Twoelaborateworksonthesubjectaresaidtobeinstructivetomilitaryreaders:Buonamici(whowasinit,forawhile)。DeBelloItalicoCommentarii(inWorksofBuonamici,Lyon,1750);andPezay,CampagnesdeMaillebois(ourWestphalianfriendagain)enItalie,1745—1746(Paris,1775)。]ReadersaretoimaginethisItalianWar,allalong,asafactveryloudandrealatthattime,andcontinuallypulsingoverintoourGermanEvents(likehalf—audiblethunderbelowthehorizon,intoragingthunderabove),littleaswecanaffordtosayofithere。OnesmallScenefromthisItalianWar;——one,orwithdifficultytwo;——andifpossiblebesilentaboutalltherest:
SCENE,ROADSOFCADIZ,October,1741:BYWHATASTONISHING
ARTIFICETHISITALIANWARDID,ATLENGTH,GETBEGUN……"TheSpanishCourt,thatis,TermagantElizabeth,whoruleseverybodythere,beinginthishumor,waspassionatetobegin;
andstoodreadyagoodwhile,indignantlychampingthebit,beforethesadpreliminaryobstaclescouldbegotover。AtBarcelonashehad,inthecourseoflastsummer,doublybusyeversinceMollwitztime,gotintoequipmentsome15,000men;butcouldnotbyanymethodgetthemacross,——owingtotheBritishFleets,whichhungblockadingthisplaceandthat;blockadingCadizespecially,wherelayherTransport—shipsandWar—ships,atthisinterestingjuncture。Fleury’scunctationsweredisgustingtotheardentmind;
andherenow,stillmoreinsuperable,aretheBritishFleets;
here——andapesttohim!——isyourAdmiralHaddock,blockadingCadiz,withhisSeventy—fours!
"Butagain,ontheotherorPragmaticside,therewerecunctations。
TheSardinianMajesty,CharlesEmanuelofSavoy,holdingthedooroftheAlps,wasdifficulttobargainwith,inspiteofBritishSubsidies;——stoodoutforhigherdoor—fees,alargersliceoftheMilanesethancouldbegrantedhim;hadalwaysoneearopenforFrance,too;inshort,wastediousandcapricious,andthereseemednobringinghimtothepointofdrawingswordforherHungarianMajesty。Intheend,hewasbroughttoit,byastrokeofBritishArt,——suchtotheadmiringGazetteerandDiplomaticminditseemed;——equaltoanythingwehavesinceheardof,onthepartofperfidiousAlbion。
"Oneday,’middleofOctoberlast,’theSeventy—foursofHaddockandperfidiousAlbion,——Spanishofficialpersons,lookingoutfromCadizLight—house,askthemselves,’Wherearethey?Vanishedfromthesewaters;notaSeventy—fourofthemtobeseen!’——Havegotfoulintheunderworks,orotherwisesomeblunderhashappened;
andtheblockadingFleetofperfidiousAlbionhashadtoquititspost,andruntoGibraltartorefit。That,Iguess,wastheMachiavellianstrokeofArttheyhaddone;withoutinvestigatingHaddockandCompany[asindignantHonorableMembersdid],Iwillwager,Thatandnothingmore!
"Inanycase,theTermagant,findingnoSeventy—foursthere,andthewindgood,despatchesswiftlyherTransportsandWar—shipstoBarcelona;swiftlyembarksthereher15,000,Francecautiouslyassisting;andlandsthemcomplete,’bythemiddleofDecember,’
Haddockfeeblyopposing,ontheGenoacoast:’HaveattheMilanese,mymen!’WhichobligesCharlesEmanueltoendhiscunctations,andrankatonceindefenceofthatCountry,[Adelung,ii。535,538
(whobelievesinthe"strokeofart"):whatkindof"art"itwas,learnsufficientlyinGentleman’sMagazine,
&c。ofthosemonths。]lesthegetnoshareofitwhatever。Andsothegamebegan。Europeadmired,withashudder,therefinedstrokeofart;forincunningtheyequalBeelzebub,thoseperfidiousIslanders;——andarealwaysatit;hencetheirgreatnessintheworld。Imitatethem,yePeoples,ifyoualsowouldgrowgreat。
ThatisourGazetteerEvangel,inthislateepochofMan’sHistory。"……
OTHERSCENE,BAYOFNAPLES,19th~20thAugust,1742:KINGOFTWO
SICILIES(BABYCARLOSTHATWAS),HAVINGBEENASSISTINGMAMMA,ISOBLIGEDTOBECOMENEUTRALINTHEITALIANWAR。
ReaderswilltransportthemselvestotheBayofNaples,andbeautifulVesuviansceneryseenfromsea。TheEnglish—SpanishWar,itwouldappear,isnotquitedead,norcarriedonbyJenkinsandtheWappingpeoplealone。HereinthisBayitblazesoutintosomethingofmemorability;andgiveslivelysignofitsexistence,amongtheothertroublesoftheworld。
"SUNDAY,AUGUST19th,CommodoreMartin,whohadarrivedovernight,appearsintheBay,withduemodicumofseventy—fours,’dursleygalleys,’bomb—vessels,onanerrandfromhisAdmiral[oneMatthews]andtheBritannicMajesty,muchtotheastonishmentofNaples。CommodoreMartinhoversabout,allmorning,andat4P。M。
dropsanchor,——withinshotoftheplace,fearfullynear;——andtherefromsendsashoreaMessage:’ThathisSicilianMajesty[BabyCarlos,ournotableoldfriend,whoissaidtobeasovereignofmeritotherwise],hasnotbeenneutral,inthisItalianWar,ashisengagementsbore;buthasjoinedhisforcetothatoftheSpaniards,declaredenemiesofhisBritannicMajesty;whichrashstephisBritannicMajestyherebyrequireshimtoretract,ifpainfulconsequencesarenotatoncetoensue!’ThatisMartin’smessage;towhichhestandsdoggedly,withoutvariation,intheextremeflutterandmultifariousreasoningofthepoorCourtofNaples:’Recallyour20,000men,andkeepthemrecalled,’persistsMartin;andfurthermoreatlast,asthereasoningthreatenstogetlengthy:’Youranswerisrequiredwithinonehour,’——andlayshiswatchontheCabin—table。
"TheCourt,thrownintotranscendenttremor,withnoresourcebuteithertobeburntorcomply,answerswithinthehour:’Yes:inallpoints。’Someeighthoursorsoofreasoning:deepinthenightofSunday,itisallover;everythingpreparingtogetsignedandsealed;shipsmakingreadytosailagain;——andonTuesdayatsunrise,thereisnoMartinthere。Martin,tothelasttop—gallant,hasvanishedcleanoverthehorizon;nevertobeseenagain,thoughlongremembered。[Tindal’sRapin,xx。572
(MISdates,andisaltogetherindistinct);Gentleman’sMagazine,xii。494:——CAME,"Sundaymorning,19thAugust,n。s。;""anchoredabont4p。m。;""2a。m。of20th"allagreed;KingCarlos’sLETTERisGOT,shipspreparedforsailing;——
sailthatnight,andto—morrow,21st,areoutofsight。]
Onewonders,WerePipesandHatchwayperhapsthere,inMartin’ssquadron?InwhatstationCommodoreTrunniondidthenserveintheBritishNavy?Vanishedghostsofgrimmutesea—kings,thereisnorecordofthembutwhatisitselfakindofghost!Ghost,orsymbolicalphantasm,fromthebrainofthatTobiasSmollett;
anassistantSurgeon,whoservedinthebodyalongwiththem,hissingularvaluealtogetherunknown。"——KingCarlos’sNeutrality,obtainedinthismanner,lastedforayear—and—half;asensiblealleviationtoherHungarianMajestyforthetime。WeherequittheItalianWar;leavingittothereader’sfancy,ontheaboveterms……
THESIEGEOFPRAGCONTIMES。AGRANDSALLYTHERE。
"PRAG,22dAUGUST。Inthesamehours,whileMartinlaycoercingNaples,theArmyoftheOriflammeinPragCitywasengagedin’furioussallies;’"——readersmaydivinewhatthatmeansforPragandtheOriflamme!
"Pragisbegirdled,bombardedfromalltheWischerads,ZiscabergsandHillenvironments;everyavenueblocked,’above60,000
Austriansroundit,near40,000ofthemregulars:’aplacedifficulttodefend;butwithexcellentarrangementsfordefenceonBelleisle’spart,andthegarrisonwithitsbloodup。
Garrisonmakescontinualfurioussallies,——whichareeminentlysuccessful,saytheFrenchNewspapers;butwhichend,asallsalliesdo,inreturninghomeagain,withoutconquest,exceptofhonor;——andonthisWednesday,22dAugust,comesoutwiththegreatestsallyofall。[Campagnes,vi。5;
GuerredeBoheme,ii。173。]WhileCommodoreMartin,manyaPipesandHatchwaystandinggrimlyonthewatchunknowntous,issteeringtowardsMatthewsandtheToulonwatersagain。Theequalsunlookingdownonall。
"Itwasabouttwelveo’clock,whenthisPragsally,nowallinorder,brokeout,severalthousandstrong,andallatthewhiteheat,nowaconstanttemperature。SallyalmostequaltothatPharsaliaofaSahay,itwouldseem;——concerningwhichwecanspendnowordinthisbriefsummary。Fiercefighting,fieryirresistibleonslaught;butitwenttoofar,lostallitscapturedcannonagain;
andreturnedonlywithlaurelsandaheavyaccountofkilledandwounded,——theleaderofitbeinghimselfcarriedhomeinaverybleedingstate。’Oh,theincomparabletroops!’criedParis;——criedVoltairewithal(asIgather),andinveryhighcompany,inthatVisitatAachen。Asallyglorious,butuseless。
"TheImperialGeneralswerejustsittingdowntodinner,whenitbrokeout;hadintendedaCouncilofWar,overtheirwine,intheGrand—Duke’stent:’What,won’ttheyletushaveourdinner!’criedPrinceKarl,inpetulanthumor,strugglingtobemirthful。
Heratherlikeshisdinner,thisPrinceKarl,Iamtold,anddoesnotobjecttohiswine:otherwiseahearty,talky,free—and—easyPrince,——’blackshallow—seteyes,facered,andmuchmarkedwithsmall—pox。’Clappingonhishat,facultiessharpenedbyhungerandimpatience,lethimdohisbest,forseveralhourstocome,tillthesallyabateandgoitswaysagain。Leavingitscannon,andtrophies。Nosallycouldhopetorout60,000men;thisfurioussally,almostequaltoSahay,hadtoreturnhomeagain,ontheaboveterms。UponwhichPrinceKarlandtheothersgotsomesnatchofdinner;andtheinexorablepressureofSiege,tighteningitselfcloserandcloser,wentonasbefore。
"TheeyesofallEuropeareturnedtowardsPrag;abigcrisisclearlypreparingitselfthere……France,oraidinFrance,issome500milesaway。InD’Harcourt,merelygatheringmagazines,withhisKhevenhullernear,isnohelp;help,notthequestionthere!ThegarrisonofEger,100milestowestofus,acrosstheMountains,barelymansitsownworks。Otherstrongpost,orsupportofanykindinthesecountries,wehavenownone。Weare24,000;
andofavailableresourcehavetheMagazinesinPrag,andourownrighthands。
"ThefloweroftheyoungNobilityhadmarchedinthatOriflamme;——
nowstandingatbay,theyandit,inPragyonder:Frenchhonoritselfseemsshutupthere!ThethoughtofitagitatesbitterlythedaysandnightsofoldFleury,whoistowardsninetynow,andalwaysdislikedwar。TheFrenchpublictoo,——wecanfancywhatapublic!TheyoungNobilityinPraghasitsspokes—men,andspokes—
women,atVersailles,whosecomplaintwaxeslouder,shriller;
thewholeworld,excitedbyrumorofthosefurioussallies,isgettingshrillandloud。WhatcanoldFleurydobutorderMaillebois:’LeaveDunkirktoitsownluck;marchimmediatelyforreliefofPrag!’AndMailleboisisalreadyonmarch;hisvariousdivisions(August9th—20th)crossingtheRhine,inDusseldorfCountry;"——ofwhomweshallhear……"SometimebeforetheactualBombardment,Fleury,seeingitinevitable,hadorderedBelleisletotreat。Belleisleaccordinglyhadaninterview,almosttwointerviews,withKonigseck。
[GuerredeBoheme,ii。156("2dJuly"theactualinterview);ib。161(thecorollarytoit,confirmatoryofit,whichpassedbyletters)。]’Libertytomarchhome,andequitablePeace—
Negotiationsintherear?’proposedBelleisle。’Absolutesurrender;
PrisonersofWar!’answeredKonigseck;’suchisherHungarianMajesty’spositiveorderandultimatum。’ThehighBelleislerespondednothingunpolite;merelysome,’ALORS,MONSIEUR——!’
AndrodebacktoPrag,withaspiritallinwhiteheat;——graduallyheatingallthe24,000white,andkeepingthemso。
"Infact,Belleisle,ahigh—flownlionreducedtosilenceandnowstandingatbay,muchdistinguisheshimselfinthisSiege;
which,forhissake,isstillworthamoment’smemoryfrommankind。
Hegathershimselfintoironstoicism,intoconcentrationofendeavor;suffersallthings,Broglio’sdomineeringinthefirstplace;asifhisownthinskinwerethatofarhinoceros;andispreparedtodareallthings。Likeanexcellentsoldier,likeanexcellentcitizen。Hecontrives,arranges;leads,covertlydrivesthedomineeringBroglio,byruleofcontrariesorotherwise,accordingtothenatureofthebeast;animatesallmenbyhislaconicwords;byhissilences,whicharestillmoreemphatic……
Sechelles,providentofthefuture,haslaidinimmensesuppliesofindifferentbiscuit;beefwasnotattainable:Belleisledismountshis4,000cavalry,allbut400dragoons;slaughters160horsesperday,andboilsthesamebywayofbutcher’s—meat,tokeepthesoldierinheart。Itishisownfare,andBroglio’s,toserveasexample。AtBroglio’squarter,thereisakindofordinaryofhorse—flesh:Officerscomein,silentspeedlookingthroughtheireyes;cutamorseloftheboiledprovender,breakabadbiscuit,pouroneglassofindifferentwine;andeat,hardlysittingthewhile,insuchhastetobeattherampartsagain。The80,000
Townsfolk,exceptsomeJews,areagainstthemtoaman。
Belleislecaresforeverything:thereisstrictchargeonhissoldierstoobservediscipline,observecivilitytotheTownsfolk;
thereisoccasional’hangingofaPragButcher’orso,convictedofspyship,buttheminimumofthat,wewillhope。"
MAILLEBOISMARCHES,WITHAN"ARMYOFREDEMPTION"OR"OFMATHURINS"
(WITTILYSOCALLED),TORELIEVEPRAG;REACHESTHEBOHEMIAN
FRONTIER,JOINEDBYTHECOMTEDESAXE;ABOVE50,000STRONG
(August9th—September19th)。
Mailleboishassome40,000men:aheadofhim600milesofdifficultway;rainyseasoncome,daysshortening;uncertainstaffofbread("Seckendorf’smeal,"andwhatothercommissariattheremaybe):
adifficultmarch,toAmbergCountryandthetopoftheOber—Pfalz。
AfterwhichareMountain—passes;BohemianForest:andtheEvent——?
"Cannotbedubious!"thinksFrance,whateverMailleboisthink。
WittyParis,lovingitstimelyjoke,callshimArmyofRedemption,"L’ARMEEDESMATHURINS,"——akindofPriests,whosebusinessiscommonlyinBarbary,aboutChristianbondage:——howsprightly!
Andyettheenthusiasmwasgreat:youngPrincesoftheBloodlongingtobeoffasvolunteers,needingstrictprohibitionbytheKing;——uponwhich,PrincedeConti,gallantyoungfellow,leavinghiswife,hismistress,andmiraculouslyborrowing2,500poundsforequipments,rushedofffurtivelybypost;anddidjoin,anddohisbest。Wasreprimanded,claptinarrestforthreedays;
butafterwardspromoted;andcametosomedistinctionintheseWars。[Barbier,ii。326(thatofConti,ib。331);Adelung,&c。]
TheMarchgoescontinuallysoutheast;byFrankfurt,thencetowardsNurnbergCountry("beatFurth,September6th"),andtheskirtsofthePine—Mountains(FICHTEL—GEBIRGE),——AnspachandBaireuthwelltoyourleft;——end,lastly,intheOBER—PFALZ(UpperPalatinate),TownofAmbergthere。BeforetryingtheBohemianPasses,youshallhavereinforcement。Bestpartofthe"BavarianArmy,"nowunderComtedeSaxe,notunderD’Harcourtfarther,istoceasecollectingvictualintheDonau—IserCountries(Deggendorf,northbankofDonau,itshead—quarter);andtogetonmarch,——circlingverywide,notnorthward,butbytheDonan,andevenbytheSOUTH,bankofitmainly(toavoidthehungryMountainsandtheirTolpatcheries),——and,atAmberg,istojoinMaillebois。Thisisawide—lyinggame。
ThegreatMarlboroughusedtoplaysuch,andwin;makingthewideelements,thetimesandthespaces,hitwithexactitude:butaMaillebois?"HeiscalledbytheParisians,’VIEUXPETIT—MAITRE
(dandyofsixty,’sotospeak);hasapoorupturnednose,withbaboon—facetomatch,whichheevenhelpsbypaint。"……HereisoneScene;atFrankfurt—on—Mayn;factcertain,daynotgiven。
FRANKFURT,"LATTERENDOFAUGUST,"1742。"AtFrankfurt,hisArmyhavinggotintotheneighborhood,"——notintoFrankfurtitself,which,asaREICHS—STADT,issacredfromArmiesandtheirmarchings,——"MarechaldeMaillebois,asindutybound,waitedontheKaisertopayhiscomplimentsthere:onwhichoccasion,weregrettosay,MarechaldeMailleboiswasnotsoreverenttotheImperialMajestyasheshouldhavebeen。AngrybelikeattheAdventurenowforcedonhim,andharassedwithmanythings;
seeingintheImperialMajestylittlebutanunfortunatePlay—actorMajesty,wholivesinfurnishedlodgingspaidforbyFrance,andgivesFranceandMailleboisaninfinitedealoftroubletolittlepurpose。Certainitis,headdressedtheImperialMajestyinthemostfree—and—easymanner;verymuchthereverseofbeingdashedbythesacredPresence:andhisOfficersintheante—chamber,crowdingabout,allday,forpresentationtotheImperialMajesty,madeanoise,andkeptupababbleoftalkandlaughter,asifithadbeenamess—room,insteadoftheForecourtofImperialMajesty。SothatImperialMajesty,barelymasterofitstemperandabletofinishwithoutexplosion,signifiedtoMailleboisonthemorrow,Thathenceforthitwoulddispensewithsuchvisits,PoorImperialMajesty;ahumancreaturedoingPlay—actorismsoftoohighaflight。HehadthefinestPalaceinGermany;awondertotheGreatGustavuslongago:andnowhehasitnot;mereMeutzelsandhorrentshaggycreaturesruleinMunchenandit:andtheImperialquasi—
furnishedlodgingsarerespectedinthismanner!"[VanLoon,KleineSchriften,ii。271(citedinBuchholz,ii。71)。CAMPAGNESissilent;usuallysuppressingscenesofthatkind。]——Thewitssayofhim,"HewouldbeKaiserorNothing:seeyou,heisKaiserandNothing!"["AutnihilautCaesar,BavarusDuxessevolebat;EtnihiletCaesarfactusutrumquesimul。"(Barbier,ii。322。)]……
AUGUST19th—SEPTEMBER14th。"ComtedeSaxeisonmarch,fromDeggendorf;northbankoftheDonau,bynarrowmountainroads;
thencrossestheDonautosouthbank,andaplaincountry;——makinglargecircuit,keepingtheRiveronhisright,——tomeetMailleboisatAmberg;hisforce,some10or12,000men。Seckendorf,nowBavarianCommander—in—chief,accompaniesSaxe;withconsiderableBavarianforce,guess20,000,’marchingalwaysontheleft。’
Accompanies;butonlytoRegensburg,toStadt—am—Hof,aSuburbofRegensburg,wheretheycrosstheDonauagain。"——SUBURBofRegensburg,markthat;RegensburgitselfbeingaReichs—Stadt,veryparticularlysacredfromWar;——theveryReichs—DIETcommonlysittinghere;thoughithasgonetoFrankfurtlately,tobewithitsKaiser,andoutofthesecontinualtrumpetingsandtumultscloseby。[Went10thMay,1742,——afterthreemonths’arguingandprotestingontheAustrianpart(Adelung,iii。A,102,138)。]——
"AtRegensburg,onceacross,SeckendorfwithhisBavarianscallshalt;plantshimselfdowninKelheim,Ingolstadt,andthesafeGarrisonsthereabouts,——calculatesthat,ifKhevenhullershouldbecalledawayPrag—ward,theremaybeastrokedo—ableintheseparts。Saxemarcheson;straightnorthwardnow,uptheValleyoftheNaab;obligedtobeagooddealonhisguard。MischievousTolpatcheriesandTrencks,eversincehecrossedtheDonauagain,haveescortedhim,toright,ascloseastheydurst;dashingoutsometimesonthemagazines。"Oneoftheexploitstheyhaddone,takeonlyone:——intheirroadTOWARDSSaxe,afewdaysago:——……"SEPTEMBER7th,TrenckwithhisTolpatcherieshadappearedatCham,——afinetradingTownonthehitherorneutralsideofthemountains[notinBohmen,butinOber—Pfalz,oldKur—Pfalz’scountry,whomtheAustrianshate];——andsummoningandassaultingCham,overthethroatofalllaw,hadbyfireandbymassacreannihilatedthesame。[Adelung,iiiA,258;GuerredeBoheme;&c。]Facthorrible,nearlyincredible;
buttrue。Thenoiseofwhichisnowloudeverywhere。LesslovelyindividualthanthisTrenck[PandourTrenck,CousinofthePrussianone,]therewasnot,sincethedaysofAttilaandGenghis,inanyWar。Blustersabominably,too;haswritten[savethemark!]an’AUTOBIOGRAPHY,’——havinghappilyafterwards,inPrisonandeveninBedlam,timeforsuchaWork;——whichisstuffedwithsanguinaryliesandexaggerations:unbeautifulestofhumansouls。Hasafacethecolorofindigo,too;——gotit,plunderinginanApothecary’s[inthissamecountry,ifIrecollect]:’ACHGOTT,yourGrace,nothingofmoneyhere!’saidthepoorApothecary,accompanyingColonelTrenckwithalightedcandleoverhouseandshop。
Trenck,noticingonelikelything,snatchedthecandle,helditnearer:——likelythingprovedgunpowder;andTrenck,tillDoomsday,continuesdeepblue。[GuerredeBoheme。]
SoulmoreworthyofdamnationIhaveseldomknown。"
"SEPTEMBER19th(fivedaysafterdroppingSeckendorf),SaxeactuallygetsjoinedwithMaillebois;——notquiteatAmberg,butatVohenstrauss,inthatsameSulzbachCountry,afortymilestoeastward,orPrag—ward,ofAmberg。Mailleboisandheconjoinedarebetween50and60,000。TheyaregotnowtotheBohemianBoundary,edgeoftheBohemianForest(bigBOHMISCHEWALD,MountainouswoodyCountry,70mileslong);theyarewithin60milesofPilsen,within100ofPragitself,——iftheycancrosstheForest。Whichmaybediflicult。"
PRINCEKARLANDTHEGRAND—DUKE,HEARINGOFMAILLEBOIS,GOTO
MEETHIM(September14th);ANDTHESIEGEOFPRAGISRAISED。
"SEPTEMBERllth,theBesiegedatPragnoticethattheAustrianfireslackens;thattheEnemyseemstobetakingawayhisguns。
VillagesandFarmsteads,farandwideallround,aregoingupinfire。Ajoyfulsymptom:——sinceAugust13th,BelleislehasknownofMaillebois’sadvent;guessesthattheAustriansnowknowit。——
SEPTEMBER14th,theirFiringhasquiteceased。Grand—DukeandPrinceKarlareofftomeetthisMaillebois,amidtheintricatedefiles,’Bettermeethimtherethanhere:’——andonthisfourthmorning,Belleisle,lookingout,perceivesthattheSiegeisraised。[Espagnac,i。145;Campagnes,
v。348。]
"Ablessedchangeindeed。Noenemyhere,——perhapssomeFestititz,withhiscanailleofTolpatches,stilllingeringabout,——noenemyworthmention。Partiesgooutfreelytoinvestigate:——butastoforage?Alas,aCountryburnt,Villagesblackandsilentfortenmilesround;——youpickuphereandtherealeansteer,welcomeamidboiledhorse—flesh;youbundlealoadortwoofneglectedgrasstogether,forwhatcavalryremains。ThegeniusofSechelles,andhelpfromtheSaxonside,willbemuchuseful!
"Perhapstheundeniablestadvantageofanyisthis,ThatBroglio,notnowsoproudofthesituationPragisin,orledbytheruleofcontraries,willinglyquitsPrag:Belleislewillnothavetodohisfunctionbythemediumofpig—driving,butinthedirectmannerhenceforth。’Giveme6or8,000foot,andwhatofthecavalryhavehorsesstilluneaten,’proposesBroglio;’IwillpushobliquelytowardsEger,——whichistowardsSaxonywithal,andopensourfood—
communicationsthere:——IwillstretchoutahandtoMaillebois,acrosstheMountainPasses;andthusbringavictoriousissue!’
[Espagnac,i。170。]Belleisleconsents:’Well,sincemyBrogliowillhaveitso!’——gladtopartwithmyBroglioatanyrate,——
’Adieu,then,M。leMarechal(and,’SOTTOVOCE,’mayitbelongbeforewemeetagaininpartnership)!’Brogliomarchesaccordingly(’hand’beautifullyheldouttoMaillebois,butNOTwithingraspingdistance);getsnorthwestwardsome60miles,asfarasToplitz[sadlyobliqueforEger],——neverfartheronthaterrand。"
THEMAILLEBOISARMYOFREDEMPTIONCANNOTREDEEMATALL;——
HASTOSTAGGERSOUTHWARDAGAIN;ANDBECOMESAN"ARMY
OFBAVARIA,"UNDERBROGLIO。
"SEPTEMBER19th—OCTOBER10th,,’——Sceneis,theEger—VohenStraussCountry,inandaboutthatBohemianForestofseventymiles。——
"Forthreeweeks,MailleboisandtheComtedeSaxe,tryingtheirutmost,cannot,orcannottopurpose,getthroughthatBohemianWood。OnlyThreepracticablePassesinit;difficulteach,andeachconductingyoutowardsmorenewdifficulties,onthefartherside;
——notsurmountableexceptbythedeterminedmind。Agloomybusiness:agloomydifficultregion,solitary,hungry;nothinginitbutshaggychasms(andperhapsTolpatcherylurking),wastes,mountainwoodlands,dumbtrees,dampbrownleaves。MailleboisandSaxe,aftersurvey,shootleftwardstoEger;drawfoodandreinforcementfromtheGarrisonthere。TheydogetthroughtheForest,atonePass,thePassnearestEger;——butfindPrinceKarlandtheGrand—Dukerankedtoreceivethemontheotherside。
’PlungehomeuponPrinceKarlandtheGrand—Duke;beatthem,withyourBrogliotohelpintherear?’ThatpossiblywasFriedrich’sthoughtashewatched[nowhomeatBerlinagain]thecontemporaneousTheatreofWar。
"ButthatwasnottheMaillebois—Brogliomethod;——nay,itissaidMailleboiswasprivatelyforbidden’torunrisks。’Broglio,withhisstretched—outhand(12,000somecounthim,andindeeditisnomatter),sitsquietatToplitz,fartoooblique:’Comethen,come,OMaillebois!’Maillebois,——manoeuvringPrinceKarlaside,orHungerdoingitforhim,——didoncepushforwardPrag—ward,bythePassofCaaden;whichisveryobliquetoToplitz。BythePassofCaaden,——downtheEgerRiver,throughthoseMountainsoftheCircleofSaatz,pastaCastleofEllenbogen,keyofthesame;——and’Couldhavedoneit[hesaidalwaysafter],haditnotbeenforComtedeSaxe!’Undeniableitis,Saxe,asvanguard,tookthatCastleofEllenbogen;and,timebeingsoprecious,gavetheTolpatcherydismissalonparole。Undeniable,too,theTolpatchery,carelessofparole,besetCaadenVillagethereupon,4,000strong;cutoffourforeposts,atCaadenVillage;and——Inshort,wehadtoretirefromthoseparts;andproveanArmyofRedemptionthatcouldnotredeematall!
"MailleboisandSaxewendsulkilydowntheNaabValley(havinglost,say15,000,notbyfighting,butbymudandhardship);
andtheraptEuropeanPublic(shilling—galleryespecially)says,withasneeronitsface,’Pooh;ended,then!’Sulkilywending,MailleboisandSaxe(October30th—November7th)getacrosstheDonau,safeonthesouthernbankagain;marchfortheIserCountryandtheD’HarcourtMagazines,——andbecome’GrandBavarianArmy,’
usualrefugeoftheunlucky。"……
OFSECKENDORFINTHEINTERIM。"ForBelleisleandreliefofPrag,Mailleboisinpersonhadprovedfutile;buttoSeckendorf,waitingwithhisBavarians,theshadowandrumorofMailleboishadbroughtfamousresults,——famousforafewweeks。KhevenhullerbeingcallednorthtohelpinthoseAnti—Mailleboisoperations,andonlyBarenklauwithabout10,000AustriansnowremaininginBaiern,Seckendorf,clearlysuperior(nottospeakofthatremnantofD’Harcourtpeople,withtheirmagazines),promptlybestirredhimself,intheKelheim—IngolstadtCountry;gotonmarch;anddrovetheAustriansmostlyoutofBaiern。Outmostly,andwithoutstrokeofsword,merelybymarching;outforthetime。Munchenwasevacuated,onrumorofSeckendorf(October4th):agladCitytoseeBarenklaumarchoff。Muchwasevacuated,——theIserValley,downpartlytotheInnValley,——muchwascleared,bySeckendorfinthesehappycircumstances。Whoseeshimselfvictorious,foronce;andhashisfameintheGazettes,ifitwouldlast。Prettymuchwithoutstrokeofsword,wesay,andmerelybymarching:inoneplace,havingmarchedtooclose,theretreatingBarenklaupeopleturnedonhim,’took100prisoners’beforegoing;[Espagnac,i。166。]——otherfighting,inthisline’ReconquestofBavaria,’Idonotrecollect。
Wintercome,hemakesforMailleboisandtheIserCountries;
cantonshimselfontheUpperInnitself,wellinadvanceoftheFrench[Braunauhischiefstrong—place,ifreaderscaretolookontheMap];andstrivestoexpectacombinedseizureofPassau,andconsiderablethings,wereSpringcome。"……
ANDOFBROGLIOINTHEINTERIM。"AsforBroglio,leftaloneatToplitz,gazingafterafutileMaillebois,hesendsthebetterhalfofhisForcebacktoPrag;otherhalfheestablishesatLeitmeritz:
goodhalfway—housetoDresden。’WillforwardSaxonprovendertoyou,M。deBelleisle!’(neverdid,andwerealltakenprisonerssomeweekshence)。Whichsettled,BroglioproceededtotheSaxonCourt;whoansweredhim:’Provender?Alas,Monseigneur!Weare(toconfessittoyou!)atPeacewithAustria:[Treatyingeversince"July17th;"Treatyactuallydone,"11thSeptember"(Adelung,iii。
A,201,268)。]notanounceofprovenderpossible;howdarewe?’——
butwereotherwisepolitenessitselftothegreatBroglio。
GreatBroglio,aftersumptuousentertainmentsthere,takestheroadforBaiern;circlinggrandly"throughNurnbergwithescortof500
Horse’)toMaillebois’snewquarters;——takescommandofthe’BavarianArmy’(mayitbeluckyforhim!);andsendsMailleboishome,indeepdudgeon,tothemercilesscriticismsofmen。
’Couldhavedoneit,’persiststheVIEUXPETIT—MAITREalways,’hadnot’——oneknowswhat,butcaresnot,atthisdate!——
"Broglio’squartersintheIserCountry,Iamtold,arefatallytoocrowded,menperishingatafrightfulrateperday。[Espagnac,i。182。]’Thingsallawryhere,——thankstothatMailleboisandothers!’AndBroglio’stroublesandprocedures,asiseverywhereusualtoBroglio,runtoagreatheightinthisBavarianCommand。
AndpoorSeckendorf,inneighborhoodofsuchaBroglio,hashisadoes;eyessparkling;faceblushingslate—color;attimesnearlydrivenoutofhiswits;——butstrivestoconsumehisownsmoke,andtohavehopesonPassaunotwithstanding。"——AndofBelleisleinPrag,andhismeditationsontheOriflamme?——Patience,reader。
Meantime,whatarelieftoKaiserKarl,insuchwreckofBohemianKingdomsandCastlesinSpain,tohavegothisownMunchenandCountryinhandagain;withtheprospectofquittingfurnished—
lodgings,andseeingthecolorofrealmoney!Aprilnext,heactuallygoestoMunchen,wherewecatchaglimpseofhim。
["17thApril,1743,"Montijos&c。accompanying(Adelung,iii。B,119,120)。]ThissameOctober,theReich,afterendlessdebatingsonthequestion,"HelpourKaiser,ornothelp?"[Ib。iiiA,289。]
hasvotedhimfiftyROMER—MONATE("Romish—months,"stillsotermed,thoughthereisNOTnowanymarchingoftheKaisertoRomeonbusiness);meaningfiftyoftheknownQUOTAS,duefromallandsundryinsuchcase,——whichwouldamounttoabout300,000pounds(couldit,orthehalfofit,becollectedfromsowideaParish),andwouldproveasensiblerelieftothepoorman。
VOLTAIREHASBEENONVISITATAACHEN,INTHEINTERIM,——
HISTHIRDVISITTOKINGFRIEDRICH。
KingPriedrichhadcometotheBathsofAachen,August25th;
theMailleboisArmyofRedemptionbeingthen,tothelastmanofit,fivedaysacrosstheRhineonitshigherrand,whichhassinceprovedfutile。FriedrichleftAachen,takingleaveofhisVoltaire,whohadbeenlodgingwithhimforaweekbyspecialinvitation,September9th;andwitnessedthelaterstrugglesandfinalinabilityofMailleboistoredeem,notatAix,butatBerlin,amidtheordinarycourseofhisemploymentsthere。WepromisedsomethingofVoltaire’snewvisit,hisThirdtoFriedrich。Hereiswhatlittlewehave,——ifthelivelyreaderwillexerthisfancyonit。
VoltaireandhisDuChatelethadbeentoCirey,andthencebeenatParisthroughthisSpringandSummer,1742;——engagedinwhattoVoltaireandPariswasagreatthing,thoughapacificone:
ThegettingofMAHOMETbroughtupontheboards。August9th,preciselywhilethefirstvanguardoftheArmyofRedemptiongotacrosstheRhineatDusseldorf,Voltaire’sTragedyofMAHOMETcameonthestage。
August9th,llth,13th,ParisCitywasintransportsofvariouskinds;neverweresuchcrowdsofAudience,liftingamantotheimmortalgods,——thoughaparttoo,majoritybycountofheads,weredragginghimtoTartarusagain。"Exquisite,unparalleled!"
exclaimedgoodjudges(asFleuryhimselfhadanticipated,onexaminingthePiece):——"Infamous,irreligious,accursed!"
vociferouslyexclaimedthebadjudges;ReverendDesfontaines(ofSodom,soVoltairepersiststodefinehim),ReverendDesfontainesandothersgivingcue;hugelyvociferous,theselatter,hugelyinmajoritybycountofheads。Andtherewassuchabellowingandsuchashrieking,judiciousFleury,orMaurepasunderhim,hadtosuggest,"Letanactorfallsick;letM。deVoltairevolunteertowithdrawhisPiece;otherwise——!"Andsoithadtobe:Actorfellsickonthe14th(PlaybillssorrytoretracttheirMAHOMETonthe14th);and——infact,itwasnotfornineyearscoming,andafterDedicationtothePope,andotherexquisitemanoeuvresandunexpectedturnsoffate,thatMAHOMETcouldbeactedafourthtimeinParis,andthereafterADLIBITUMdowntothisday。
[OEuvresdeVoltaire,ii。137n。;&c。&c。]
Suchtempestinateapotisnotunexampled,nayratherisveryfrequent,inthatAnarchicRepubliccalledofLetters。
Confess,reader,thatyoutoowouldhaveneededsomepatienceinM。deVoltaire’splace;withsuchaHeaven’sownInspirationofaMAHOMETinyourhands,andsuchaterrestrialDoggeryatyourheels。SupposethebitterestofyourbarkingcurswereaReverendDesfontainesofSodom,whomyouyourselfhadsavedfromthegibbetonce,andagainandagainfromstarving?ItispositivelyagreatAnarchy,andFountainofAnarchies,allthat,ifyouwillconsider;
anditwillhaveresultsunderthesun。Youcannothelpit,sayyou;thereisnoshuttingupofaReverendDesfontaines,whichwouldbesosalutarytohimselfandtousall?No:——andwhenhumanreverence(dailygoing,insuchways)isquitegonefromtheworld;
andyourlowestblockheadandscoundrel(usuallyoneentity)shallhaveperfectfreedomtospitinthefaceofyourhighestsageandhero,——whataremarkablyFreeWorldshallwebe!
Voltaire,keepinggoodsilenceastoallthis,andmindedforBrusselsagain,receivestheKingofPrussia’sinvitation;laysitathisEminencyFleury’sfeet;willnotaccept,unlesshisEminencyandmyownKingofFrance(possiblytotheiradvantage,ifonemighthintsuchathing!)willpermitit。[Ib。lxxii。555(LettertoFleury,"Paris,Aug。22d")。]"Byallmeans;go,and"——Therestisindumb—show;meaning,"Trytopumphimforus!"Undersuchomens,VoltaireandhisdivineEmiliereturntotheirHonsbruckLawsuit:"SilentBrussels,howpreferabletoParisanditsmadcries!"Voltaire,leavingthedivineEmilieatBrussels,September2d,setsoutforAix,——Aixattainablewithintheday。HeisbackatBrusselslateintheevening,September9th:——howhehadfared,andwhatextentofpumpingtherewas,learnfromthefollowingExcerpts,whicharealldatedthemorrowafterhisreturn:——
THREELETTERSOFVOLTAIRE,DATEDBRUSSELS,10thSEPT。1742。
1。TOCIDEVILLE(theRouenAdvocate,whohassometimestroubledus)……"IhavebeentoseetheKingofPrussiasinceIbeganthisLetter[beginningofitdatesSeptember1st]。Ihavecourageouslyresistedhisfineproposals。HeoffersmeabeautifulHouseinBerlin,aprettyEstate;butIprefermysecond—floorinMadameduChatelet’shere。Heassuresmeofhisfavor,oftheperfectfreedomIshouldhave;——andIamrunningtoParis[didnotjustyetrun]tomyslaveryandpersecution。IcouldfancymyselfasmallAthenian,refusingthebountiesoftheKingofPersia。Withthisdifference,however,onehadliberty[notslavery]atAthens;andIamsurethereweremanyCidevillesthere,insteadofone,"——HELAS,myCideville!
2。TOMARQUISD’ARGENSON(worthyofficialGentleman,notWar—
Ministernoworafterwards;War—Minister’sseniorbrother,——
Voltaire’soldschool—fellows,boththesebrothers,intheCollegeofLouisleGrand)……"IhavejustbeentoseetheKingofPrussiaintheselatedays[infact,quittedhimonlyyesterday;
bothofus,afteraweektogether,leavingAixyesterday]:IhaveseenhimasoneseldomseesKings,——muchatmyease,inmyownroom,inthechimney—nook,whitherthesamemanwhohasgainedtwoBattleswouldcomeandtalkfamiliarly,asScipiodidwithTerence。
Youwilltellme,IamnotTerence;true,butneitherishealtogetherScipio。
"Ilearnedsomeextraordinarythings,"——thingsnotfromFriedrichatall:meredinner—tablerumors;aboutthe16,000Englishlandinghere("18,000"hecallsthem,andfartheron,"20,000")withtheother16,000PLUS6,000ofHanoverian—Hessiansort,expecting20,000Dutchtojointhem,——whoperhapswillnot?"M。deNeipperg[GovernorofLuxemburgnow]iscomehithertoBrussels;butbringsnoDutchtroopswithhim,ashehadhoped,"——Dutchperhapswon’trise,afterallthisfloggingandhoisting?"PerhapswemaysoongetausefulandgloriousPeace,inspiteofmyLordStair,andofM。vanHaren,theTyrtaeusoftheStates—General[famedVanHaren,eyesinafineDutchfrenzyrolling,whoseCause—of—Libertyversesletnomaninquireafter]:StairprintsMemoirs,VanHarenmakesOdes;andwithsomuchproseandsomuchverse,perhapstheirHighandSlowMightinesses[ExcellencyFenelonsleeplesslybusypersuadingthem,andnativeGravitationSLEEPILYditto]willsitquiet。Godgrantit!
"TheEnglishwanttoattackusonourownsoil[actuallyStair’splan];andwecannotpaytheminthatkind。Thematchistoounfair!Ifwekillthewhole20,000ofthem,wemerelysend20,000
Hereticsto——WhatshallIsay?——AL’ENFER,andgainnothing;
iftheykillus,theyevenfeedatourexpenseindoingit。
BetterhavenoquarrelsexceptonLockeandNewton!ThequarrelI
haveonMAHOMETishappilyonlyridiculous。"……Adieu,M。leMarquis。
3。TOTHECARDINALDEFLEURY。"Monseigneur,……togiveyourEminency,asIambound,someaccountofmyjourneytoAix—la—
Chapelle。"Friedrich’sguestthere;letushear,letuslook。
"IcouldnotgetawayfromBrusselstillthe2dofthismonth。
Ontheroad,ImetacourierfromtheKingofPrussia,comingtoreiteratehisMaster’sordersonme。TheKinghadmelodgednearhisownApartment;andhepassed,fortwoconsecutivedays,fourhoursatatimeinmyroom,withallthatgoodnessandfamiliaritywhichforms,asyouknow,partofhischaracter,andwhichdoesnotlowertheKing’sdignity,becauseoneisdulycarefulnottoabuseit[becareful!]。Ihadabundanttimetospeak,withagreatdealoffreedom,onwhatyourEminencyhadprescribedtome;andtheKingspoketomewithanequalfrankness。
"First,heaskedme,IfitwastruethattheFrenchNationwassoangeredagainsthim;iftheKingwas,andifyouwere?Ianswered,"
——mildlyreprobatory,yetconciliative,"Hm,no,nothingpermanent,nothingtospeakof。""Hethendeignedtospeaktome,atlarge,ofthereasonswhichhadinducedhimtobesohastywiththePeace。"
"Extremelyremarkablereasons;""darenottrustthemtothisPaper"
(Broglio—Belleislediscrepancies,weguess,distractedBroglioprocedures);——theyhavenoconcernwiththatPallandt—LetterStory,——"theydonotturnonthepretendedSecretNegotiationsattheCourtofVienna[whicharenotpretendedatall,asIamongotherswellknow],inregardtowhichyourEminencyhascondescendedtoclearyourself[bydenyingthetruth,poorEminency;therewasnohelpotherwise]。AllIdarestateis,thatitseemstomeeasytoleadbackthemindofthisSovereign,whomthesituationofhisTerritories,hisinterest,andhistastewouldappeartomarkasthenaturalallyofFrance。"
"Hesaidfarther[whatmaybereliedonastruebyhisEminencyFleury,andmyreadershere],ThathepassionatelywishedtoseeBohemiaintheEmperor’shands[smallchanceforit,asthingsnowgo!];thatherenounced,withthebestfaithintheworld,allclaimwhateveronBergandJulich;andthat,inspiteoftheadvantageousproposalswhichLordStairwasmakinghim,hethoughtonlyofkeepingSilesia。ThatheknewwellenoughtheHouseofAustriawould,oneday,wishtorecoverthatfineProvince,butthathetrustedhecouldkeephisconquest;thathehadatthistime130,000soldiersalwaysready;thathewouldmakeofNeisse,Glogau,Brieg,fortressesasstrongasWesel[whichheisnowdiligentlydoing,andwillsoonhavedone];thatbesideshewaswellinformedtheQueenofHungaryalreadyowed80,000,000Germancrowns,whichisabout300millionsofourmoney[about12millionssterling];thatherProvinces,exhausted,andlyingwideapart,wouldnotbeabletomakelongefforts;andthattheAustrians,foragoodwhiletocome,couldnotofthemselvesbeformidable。"
Ofthemselves,no:butwithBritannicsoup—royalinquantity?——
"MyLordHyndfordhadspokentohim"asifFrancewereentirelydiscouragedanddonefor:Howfalse,Monseigneur!"AndLordStairinhislettersrepresentedFrance,amonthago,asreadytogivein。LordStairhasnotceasedtopresshisMajestyduringthisAixExcursioneven:"and,inspiteofwhatyourEminencyhearsfromtheHague,"therewas,onthe30thofAugust,anEnglishmanatAixonthepartofMilordStair;andhehadspeechwiththeKingofPrussia[CROYEZMOI!]inalittleVillagecalledBoschet[Burtscheid,wherearehotwells],aquarterofaleaguefromAix。
Ihavebeenassured,moreover,thattheEnglishmanreturnedinmuchdiscontent。Ontheotherhand,GeneralSchmettau,whowaswiththeKing[elderSchmettau,GrafSAMUEL,whodoesagreatdealofenvoyingforhisMajesty],sent,atthatverytime,toBrussels,forMapsoftheMoselleandoftheThreeBishoprics,andpurchasedfivecopies,"——meanstoexamineMilordStair’sproposedSeatofWar,atanyrate。(Hereisapleasantfriendtohaveonvisittoyou,inthenextapartment,withsuchaneyeandsuchanose!)……
"Monseigneur,"finelyinsinuatesVoltaireinconclusion,"isnotthere"acertainFrenchman,truetohisCountry,tohisKing,andtoyourEminency,withperhapspeculiarfacilitiesforbeingofuse,insuchdelicatecase?——"JESUIS,"muchyourEminency’s。
[OEuvres,lxxii。p。568(toCideville),p。579(D’Argenson),p。574(Fleury)。]
Friedrich,onthedaywhileVoltaireatBrusselssatsobusywritingofhim,wasatSalzdahl,visitinghisBrunswickkindredthere,ontheroadhometohisusualaffairs。OldFleury,ageninetygone,died29thJanuary,1743,——fivemonthsandnineteendaysafterthisLetter。War—MinisterBreteuilhaddiedJanuary1st。
HereisroomfornewMinistersandMinistries;forthetwoD’Argensons,——ifitcouldavailtheiroldSchool—fellow,orFrance,orus;whichitcannotmuch。
ChapterIII。
CARNIVALPHENOMENAINWAR—TIME。
Readerswereanticipatingit,readershavenosympathy;butthesadfactis,BritannicMajestyhasNOTgotouthissword;
thissecondparoxysmofhisprovesvainasthefirstdid!
ThoselaggardDutch,deadtotheCauseofLiberty,itistheyagain。Justasthehourwasstriking,they——plumpdown,inspiteofmagnanimousStair,intotheirmudagain;cannotbehoistedbyeugineering。And,afterallthatfillingandemptyingofwater—
casks,andpumpingandpuffing,andstrainingofeveryfibreforatwelvemonthpast,BritannicMajestyhadtositdownagain,pantinginanOlympianmanner,withthatexpensivelongswordofhisstillstickinginthescabbard。
TonguecannottellwhathispoorlittleMajestyhassufferedfromthoseDutch,——checkingone’snoblerage,intomerezero,always;
makingofone’sowngloriousArmyamereexpensivePhantasm!
Hanoverian,Hessian,British:40,000fightersstandinginharness,yearafteryear,atsuchcost;andnotthekillingofaFrenchturkeytobehadoftheminreturn。Patience,Olympianpatience,withal!HecantonshistroopsintheNetherlandsTowns;manyoftheBritishaboutGhent(whoconsidertheprovisions,andcustoms,noneofthebest);[LettersofOfficers,fromGhent(WestminsterJournal,Oct。23d,&c。)。]hisHanoverians,Hessians,farthernorthward,Hanoverway;——and,greatlydaring,determinestotryagain,nextSpring。CarterethimselfshallgoandflagitatetheDutch。Patience;whipandhoist!——Whataconclusion,snortstheindignantBritishPublicthroughitsGazetteers。
"Nextyear,yes,exclaimsoneindignantEditor:’iftalkingwilldobusiness,weshallnodoubtperformwonders;forwehavehadasmuchtalkingandpuffingsinceFebruarylast,asduringanytenyearsofthelateAdministration’[TheDailyPost,December31st(o。s。),1742。][underpoorWalpole,whomyoucouldnotenoughcondemn]!TheDutch?exclaimsanother:’IfWEwereaFreePeople[F——P——heputsit,joiningcautionwithhisrage],QUOERE,WhetherHollandwouldnot,atthisjuncture,comecapinhand,tosueforourprotectionandalliance;insteadofmakingusdanceattendanceattheHague?’Yes,indeed;——andthentheCASEOF
THEHANOVERFORCES(fearnot,reader;Iunderstandyourterroroflocked—jaw,andwillnevermentionsaidCASEagain);butitissingulartotheGazetteermind,ThattheseHanoverForcesaretobepaidbyEngland,asappears;Hanover,asifwithoutinterestinthematter,payingnothing!Uponwhich,incovertformofsymbolicadumbration,ofwittyparable,whatstingingcommentaries,notthefirst,norbymanythousandsthelast(verysadreadinginourday)
onthispaltryHanoverConnectionaltogether:WhatimmensitiesithascostpoorEngland,andisliketocost,’theLordoftheManor’
(greatGeorgeourKing)beingthegentlemanheis;andhowEngland,or,asitisadumbrativelycalled,’theManorofSt。James’s,’isbecomeamere’fee—farmtoMumland。’Unendurabletothinkof。
’BobMonopoly,thelateTallyman[adumbrativeforWalpole,latePrimeMinister],wasmuchblamedonthisaccount;andJohntheCarter[JohnLordCarteret],ClerkoftheVestryandpresentfavoriteofhisLordship,isnotbehindRobininhiscarefortheManorofMUMLAND’[InWestminsterJournal
(Feb。12th,n。s。,1743),alongApologueinthisstrain。](thatcontemptibleCountry,wheretheirverybeeriscalledMUM),——andnoremedywithinview?"
RETREATFROMPRAG;ARMYOFTHEORIFLAMME,BOHEMIANSECTION
BOHEMIANSECTIONOFIT,MAKESEXIT。
"AndBelleisleinPrag,leftsolitarythere,withhisheroicremnant,——gonenowto17,000,thefourthmanoftheminhospital,withFestititzTolpatcheryhoveringround,andWinterandHungerdrawingnigh,——whatistobecomeofBelleisle?PrinceKarlandtheGrand—DukehadattendedMailleboistoBavaria;steadilytoleftofMailleboisbetweenAustriaandhim;andarenowbusyinthePassauCountry,bentonexplodingthoseSeckendorf—Brogliooperationsandintentions,asthechiefthingnow。MeanwhiletheyhavedetachedPrinceLobkowitztogirdleinBelleisleagain;forwhichLobkowitz(say,20,000,withtheFestititzTolpatcheryincluded)willbeeasilyable。Onthemarchthitherheeasilypickedup(18th—25thNovember)thatnewFrenchPostofLeitmeritz(Broglio’sfine’Half—
wayHousetoSaxonyandProvender’),withitsgarrisonof2,000:
theotherpostsandoutposts,oneandall,hadtohurryhome,infearofalikefate。BeyondthecircuitofPrag,isolatedintenmilesofburntcountry,Belleislehasnoresourceexceptwhathisownheadmayfurnish。Theblacklandscapeisgettingpowderedwithsnow;oneofthegrimmestWinters,almostlikethatof1740;
Belleislemustseewhathewilldo。
"Belleisleknowssecretlywhathewilldo。BelleislehasorderstocomeawayfromPrag;bringhisArmyoff,andthechivalryofFrancehometotheirafflictedfriends。[Campagnes,
vi。244—251;Espagnac,i。168。]Athingthatwouldhavebeensofeasibletwomonthsago,whileMailleboiswasstillwrigglinginthePassofCaaden;butwhichnowbordersonimpossibility,ifnotreachesintoit。Asaprimarymeasure,Belleislekeepsthoseordersofhisrigorouslysecret。WithintheGarrison,oronthepartofLobkowitz,thereisafarothertheoryofBelleisle’sintentions。
Lobkowitz,unabletoexistintheblackcircuit,hasretiredbeyondit,andtakentheeasternsideoftheMoldau,astheleastruined;
leavingtheTolpatchery,underoneFestititz,tocaracoleroundtheblackhorizononthewest。Farther,astheMoldauisrollingice,andLobkowitzisafraidofhispontoons,hedragsthemouthighanddry:’Canbereplacedinaday,whenwanted。’Inaday;yes,thinksBelleisle,butnotinlessthanaday;——andproceedsnowtotheconsummation。Detailedaccountsexist,Belleisle’sownAccount(rapid,exact,loftilymodest);here,compressingtotheutmost,letussnatchhastilythemainfeatures。
"Onthe15thDecember,1742,PragGatesareallshut:Enterifyoulike;butnooutgate。MonseigneurleMarechalintendstohaveagrandforagingto—morrow,onthesouthwesternsideofPrag。