首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第57章
  Lobkowitzheardofit,inspiteoftheshutgates;forallPragisagainstBelleisle,anddoesspy—workforLobkowitz。’Lethimforage,’thoughtLobkowitz;’hewillnotgrowrichbywhathegathers;’andsatstill,leavinghispontoonshighanddry。SothatBelleisle,ontheafternoonofDecember16th,——between12and14,000men,near4,000ofthemcavalry,withcannon,withprovision—wagons,baggage—wagons,goodsandchattelsinmass,——hasissuedthroughthetwoSouthwesternGates;andfindshimselffairlyoutofPrag。OnthePilsenroad;aboutnightfalloftheshortwinterday:earthallsnowand’VERGLAS,’ironglazed;hugeolive—
  coloredcurtainsoftheDuskgoingdownupontheMountainsaheadofhim;shuttinginascenewhollygrimforBelleisle。
  BrigadierChevert,adistinguishedanddeterminedman,withsome4,000sick,convalescentandhalfable,isleftinPragtomantheworks;theMarechalhastakenhostages,twentyNotabilitiesofPrag;andneglectednoprecaution。HemeanstowardsEger;has,atleast,gotonemarchahead;andwilldowhatisinhim,heandeverysoulofthose14,000。Theofficershavegiventheirhorsesforthebaggage—wagons,madeeverysacrifice;thewordHomewardskindlesastrangefireinallhearts;andthetroops,saymyFrenchauthorities,areunsurpassable。TheMarechalhimself,victimofrheumatisms,cannotrideatall;buthashislightsledgealwaysharnessed;and,atamoment’snotice,ispresenteverywhere。
  Sleep,duringthesetendaysandnights,hehaslittle。
  "Egeris100milesoff,bytheshortestHighway:therearetwobadHighways,onebyPilsensoutherly,onebyKarlsbadnortherly,——withtheirbridgesallbroken,infestedbyHussars:——westrikeintoamiddlecombinationofcountryroads,intricateparishlanes;
  andmarchzigzagacrossthesefrozenwildernesses:wemustdodgetheseFestititzHussarswarms;andcrosstheriversneartheirsprings。Forward!Perhapssomereaders,forthehighBelleisle’ssake,willlookouttheselocalitiessubjoinedintheNote,andreducedtospelling。[Tachlowitz,Lischon(nearRakonitz);Jechnitz(asifyouwereforthePilsenroad;thenturnasiffortheKarlsbadone);Steben(notdiscoverable,butaDESPATCHfromit,——Campagnes,v。280),Chisch,Luditz,Theysing(hereaboutsyoubreakoffintosmallercolumns,separatepartiesandpatches,cavalryallahead,amongtheHills):SchonthalANDLandeck(BelleislepassesChristmas—dayatLandeck,——
  Campagnes,vii。10);Einsiedel(ANDbyPetschau),Lauterbach,Konigswart,ANDlikewisebyTopl,Sandau,Treunitz(thatis,intoEgerfromtwosides)。]Resting—placesinthisgrimwildernessofhis:poorsnow—cladHamlets,——withtheirlittlehoodofhumansmokerisingthroughthesnow;silentallofthem,exceptforthesoundofhereandthereaflail,orcrowingcock;——buthavebeenawakenedfromtheirtorporbythistransitofBelleisle。
  Happilythebogsthemselvesareiron;deepestbogwillbear。
  "Festititztriesustwice,——veryanxioustogetBelleisle’sArmy—
  chest,ormoney;wegivehimtorrentsofsharpshotinstead。
  Festititz,thesetwochieftimes,wepepperrapidlyintotheHillsagain;heisreducedtohangprancingonourflanksandrear。
  Menbivouacoverfiresofturf,amidsnow,amidfrost;teardown,howgreedily,anywood—workforfire。Leaveatrumpettobegquarterforthefrozenandspeechless;——whichislittlerespected:
  theyareluggedincarts,striptbythesavageries,andcruellyused。Therewerefirstextensiveplains,thenboggypasses,intricatemouutains;bogandrock;snowandVERGLAS。——Onthe26th,afterindescribableendeavors,wegotintoEger;——some1,300(aboutoneinten)leftfrozeninthewilderness;andhalftheArmyfallingillatEger,ofswollenlimbs,sore—throats,andotherfatalerdiseases,fatalthen,orsoonafter。Chevert,atPrag,refusedsummonsfromPrinceLobkowitz:’No,MONPRINCE;notbyanymeans!Wewilldie,everymanofus,first;andwewillburnPragwithal!’——SothatLobkowitzhadtoconsenttoeverything;
  andescortCheverttoEger,withbagandbaggage,Lobkowitzfurnishingthewagons。
  "ComparabletotheRetreatofXenophon!crymany。EveryRetreatiscomparedtothat。Avaliantfeat,afterallexaggerations。Athingwelldone,saymilitarymen;——’nothingtoobject,exceptthatthetroopsweresoruined;’——andthemostunmilitarymaysee,itistheworkofahighandgallantkindofman。Oneofthecoldestexpeditionseverknown。Therehavebeenthreeexpeditionsorretreatsofthiskindwhichwereverycold:thatofthoseSwedesintheGreatElector’stime(nottomentionthatofKarlXII。’sArmyoutofNorway,afterpoorKarlXII。gotshot);thatofNapoleonfromMoscow;thisofBelleisle,whichistheonlyonebrilliantlyconducted,andnotendinginroutandannihilation。
  "ThetroopsrestinEgerforaweekortwo;thenhomewardthroughtheOber—Pfalz:——’goallacrosstheRhineatSpeyer’(5thFebruarynext);theBohemianSectionoftheOriflammemakingexitinthismanner。Notquitetheeighthmanofthemleft;five—eighthsaredead:andthereareabout12,000prisoners,gonetoHungary,——whoranmostlytotheTurks,suchtreatmenthadthey,andwerenotheardofagain。"[GuerredeBoheme,ii。221
  (forthislastfact)。IB。204,andEspagnac,i。176(forparticularsoftheRetreat);andstillbetter,Belleisle’sownDespatchandPrivateLetter(Eger,2dJanuaryand5thJanuary,1743),inCampagnes,vii。1—21。]——
  Ah,Belleisle,Belleisle!
  TheArmyoftheOriflammegetshomeinthissadmanner;GermanynotcutinFouratall。"ImplacableAustrianbadgers,"aswecallthem,"gloomilyindignantbears,"howhavetheyservedthisfineFrenchhunting—pack;andfromhuntedarebecomehunters,verydangeroustocontemplate!AtFrankfurt,Belleisle,forhisownpart,pauses;
  cannot,inthisentirelydown—brokenstateofbody,servehisMajestyfartherinthemilitarybusiness;willdosomeneedfuldiplomaticswiththeKaiser,andretirehometogovernmentofMetz,tillhisworn—outhealthrecoveritselfalittle。
  AGLANCEATVIENNA,ANDTHENATBERLIN。
  PrinceKarlhadbeenbusyuponBraunau(theBAVARIANBraunau,nottheBOHEMIANoranother,Seckendorf’schiefpostontheInn);
  hadfuriouslybombardedBraunau,withred—hotballs,forsomedays;
  [2d—10thDecember(Espagnac,i。171)。]intenttoexplodetheSeckendorf—Broglioprojectsbeforewinterquitecame。Seckendorf,inafinefrenzy,callstoBroglio,"Help!"andagaincalls;bothKaiserandhe,CRESCENDOtoahighpitch,beforeBrogliowillcome。
  "RelieveBraunau?Well;——butnofightingfarther,markyou!"
  answersBroglio。TothedisgustofKaiserandSeckendorf;whowereeagerforacombinedmovement,andheartyattackonPrinceKarl,withperhapscaptureofPassauitself。AtsightofBroglioandSeckendorfcombined,PrinceKarldidatoncewithdrawfromBraunau;
  butastoattackinghim,——"NON;MILLEFOIS,NON!"answeredBrogliodisdainfullybellowing。FirstgrandquarrelofBroglioandSeckendorf;bynomeanstheirlast。PrinceKarlputhismeninwinter—quarters,inthosePassauregions;postponingtheexplosionoftheBroglio—Seckendorfprojects,tillSpring;andreturnedtoViennafortheWintergayetiesandbusinessesthere。HowthehighMariaTheresaiscontented,Idonothear;——readersmaytakethisNote,whichisauthentic,thoughvague,andstragglingoverwidespacesoftimestillfuture。
  "DoesherMajestystillthinkof’takingthecommandofherArmiesonherself,’highAmazonthatsheis!"Hasnotyetthoughtofthat,Ishouldguess。"Atonetimeshedidseriouslythinkofit,saysagoodwitness;whichisnoteworthy。[Podewils,DerWienerHof(CourtofVienna,intheyears1746,1747and1748;acurioussetofREPORTSforFriedrich’sinformation,byPodewils,hisMinisterthere);printedunderthatTitle,"bytheImperialAcademyofSciences"(Wien,1850);——maybeworthalludingtoagain,ifchanceoffer。]HerHusbandhasbeenwiththeArmies,once,twice;butnevertomuchpurpose(BrotherKarldoingthework,ifworkweredone);——andthisisaboutthelasttime,orthelastbutone,thisinWinter1742。ShelovesherHusbandthoroughly,allalong;butgiveshimnoshareinbusiness,findingheunderstandsnothingexceptBanking。ItiscertainshechieflywasthereformerofherArmy,"inyearscoming;"she,athwartmanyimpediments。Anardentrider,oftenonhorseback,atpacesfuriouslyswift;herbeautifulfacetannedbytheweather。
  Verydevouttoo;honesttothebone,athwartallherprejudices。
  SinceourownElizabeth!noWoman,andhardlyaboveoneMan,isworthbeingnamedbesideherasaSovereignRuler;——sheis’alivingcontradictionoftheSalicLaw,’sayheradmirers。
  DependsonEnglandformoney,AllheartsandrighthandsinAustriaarehers。ThelossofSchlesien,purehighwayrobbery,thrice—
  dolefullossanddisgrace,ranklesincurableinthenobleheart,pioustoitsFatherswithal,andtotheirHeritagesintheworld,——weshallseewithwhatissues,forthenexttwentyyears,tothat’BOSEMANN,’unpardonably’wickedman’ofBrandenburg。Andindeed,totheendofherlife,shenevercouldgetoverit。Tothelast,theysay,ifaStranger,gettingaudience,weregraciouslyasked,’FromwhatCountry,then?’andshouldanswer,’Schlesien,yourMajesty!’shewouldburstintotears。——’Patience,highMadam!’
  urgestheBritannicMajesty:’Patience;maynottherebecompensation,ifwehuntwell?’"Austrianbears,implacablebadgers,withBritannicmastiffshelping,nowthattheBelleislePackisdown!——
  AtBerlinitwasgayCarnival,whilethosetragedieswenton:
  FriedrichwasopeninghisOpera—House,enjoyingthefirstballets,whileBelleislefiledoutofPragthatgloomyevening。OurpoorKaiserwillnot"retainBohemia,"then;howfarfromit!ThethingisnotcomfortabletoFriedrich;butwhathelp?
  ThisisthegayestCarnivalyetseeninBerlin,thisimmediatelyfollowingthePeace;everybodysayingtohimselfandothers,"GAUDEAMUS,WhataSeason!"Notthat,inthepresenthurryofaffairs,Icandwellonoperas,assemblies,balls,sledge—parties;
  orindeedhavetheleastwordtosayonsuchmatters,beyondsuggestingthemtotheimaginationofreaders。Theoperas,thecarnivalgayeties,theintricateconsiderationsanddiplomaciesofthisWinter,atBerlinandelsewhere,maybefigured:buthereisonelittlespeck,alsofromtheArchives,whichisworthsaving。
  PrincessUlriqueisinhertwenty—thirdyear,PrincessAmeliainhertwentieth;beautifulclevercreatures,both;Ulriquethemorestaidofthetwo。"NeversawsogayaCarnival,"saideverybody;
  andintheheightofit,withallmannerofgayetiesgoingon,——
  thinkwherethedaintylittleshoeshavebeenpinching!
  PRINCESSESULRIQUEANDAMELIATOTHEKING。
  BERLIN,"1stMarch,1743。
  "MYDEARESTBROTHER,——IknownotifitisnottooboldtotroubleyourMajestyonprivateaffairs:butthegreatconfidencewhichmySister[Amelia]andIhaveinyourkindnessencouragesustolaybeforeyouasincereavowalastothestateofourbitsoffinances(NOSPETITESFINANCES),whichareagooddealderangedjustnow;
  therevenueshaving,fortwoyearsandahalfpast,beenrathersmall;amountingtoonly400crowns(60pounds)ayear;whichcouldnotbemadetocoverallthelittleexpensesrequiredintheadjustmentsofladies。Thiscircumstance,addedtoourcard—
  playing,thoughsmall,whichwecouldnotdispensewith,hasledusintodebts。Mineamountto225pounds(1,500crowns);mySister’sto270pounds(1,800crowns)。
  "WehavenotspokenofittotheQueen—Mother,thoughwearewellsureshewouldhavetriedtoassistus;butasthatcouldnothavebeendonewithoutsomeinconveniencetoher,andshewouldhaveretrenchedinsomeofherownlittleentertainments,IthoughtweshoulddobettertoapplydirecttoYourMajesty;beingpersuadedyouwouldhavetakenitamiss,hadwedeprivedtheQueenofhersmallestpleasure;——andespecially,asweconsideryou,mydearBrother,theFatheroftheFamily,andhopeyouwillbesograciousashelpus。WeshallneverforgetthekindactsofYourMajesty;
  andwebegyoutobepersuadedoftheperfectandtenderattachmentwithwhichweareproudtobeallourlives,——YourMajesty’smosthumbleandmostobedientSistersandServants,"LOUISE—ULRIQUE;ANNE—AMELIE
  [whichlatteraddsanxiouslyasPostscript,Ulriquehavingwrittenhitherto],"P。S。ImosthumblybegYourMajestynottospeakofthistotheQueen—Mother,asperhapsshewouldnotapproveofthestepwearenowtaking。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。
  i。387。]
  Poorlittlesouls;bankruptcyjustimminent!IhavenodoubtFriedrichcamehandsomelyforwardonthisgraveoccasion,thoughDryasdusthasnotthegracetogivemetheleastinformation。——
  "FredericBaronTrenck,"loud—soundingPhantasmoncefamousintheworld,nowgonetotheNurseriesasmythical,wasofthisCarnival1742—43;andofthenext,andNOTofthenextagain!Atallactualityinthattime;swaggeringaboutinsumptuousLife—guarduniform,inhismess—roomsandassembly—rooms;muchinlovewithhimself,thefool。AndIratherthink,inspiteofhisdoginsinuations,neitherPrincesshadheardofhimtilltwentyyearshence,inaverydifferentphasisofhislife!Theempty,noisy,quasi—tragicfellow;——soundsthroughoutquasi—tragically,likeanemptybarrel;well—built,longingtobeFILLED。Anditisscandalouslyfalse,whatloudTrenckinsinuates,whatstupidThiebault(alwaysstupid,incorrect,andthepreyofstupidities)
  confirms,astothismatter,——fitonlyfortheNurseries,tillitceasealtogether。
  VOLTAIRE,ATPARIS,ISMADEIMMORTALBYAKISS。
  VoltaireandthedivineEmiliearehometoCireyagain;thatofBrussels,withtheRoyalAachenExcursion,hasbeenonlyaninterlude。Theyreturned,byslowstages,visitaftervisit,inOctoberlast,——someslakeoccurring,Isuppose,inthatinterminableHonsbruckLawsuit;andmuchbusiness,nottospeakofennui,urgingthemback。TheyarenowlatterlyinParisitself,safeintheirown"littlepalace(PETITPALAIS)atthepointoftheIsle;"littlejewelofahouseontheIsleSt。Louis,whichtheyarewarmingagain,afterlongabsenceinBrusselsandthebarbarouscountries。Theyhavereturnedhither,onsufferance,ongoodbehavior;multitudesofsmallinterests,smalltous,greattothem,——deathofoldFleury,hopefulchangesofMinistry,nottospeakoftheatricalsandthelike,——givingopportunityandinvitation。Madame,weobserve,ismarryingherDaughter:thehappymanaDukeofMontenero,ill—builtNeapolitan,complexionrhubarb,andfaceconsistingmuchofnose。[LetterofVoltaire,in
  OEuvres,lxxiii24。]Madameneverwantsforbusiness;
  businessenough,wereitonlyinthewayofshopping,visiting,consultinglawyers,doingthePureSciences。
  AstoVoltaire,hehas,asusual,Playstogetacted,——ifhecan。
  MAHOMET,no;MORTDECESAR,yesORno;fortheAuthoritiesareshy,inspiteofthePublic。OnePlayVoltairedidgetacted,withasuccess,——thinkofit,reader!TheexquisiteTragedyMEROPE,perhapsnowhardlyknowntoyou;ofwhichyoushallhearanon。
  ButPlaysarenotall。OldPleurybeingdead,thereisagainaVacancyintheAcademy;placeamongthesacredForty,——vacantforVoltaire,ifhecangetit。Voltaireattachesendlessimportancetothisplace;beautifulasafeatherinone’scap;usefulalsotothesolitaryIshmaelofLiterature,whowillnowinacertainsensehaveThirty—nineComrades,andatleastonefixedHouse—of—Callinthisworld。Infine,nothingcanbemoreardentthanthewishofM。deVoltaireforthesesupremefelicities。TobeoftheForty,togethisPlaysacted,——oh,thenweretheSaturnianKingdomscome;
  andamanmightsingIOTRIUMPHE,andtakehiseaseintheCreation,moreorless!Stealthily,asifonshoesoffelt,——asifonpawsofvelvet,witheyesluminous,tailbushy,——hewalkswarily,allenergiescompressivelysummoned,towardsthathighgoal。Hush,steady!Mayyousooncatchthatbitofsavoryred—
  herring,then;worthiestofthehumanfelinetribe!——AstothePlayMEROPE,hereisthenotablepassage:
  "PARIS,WEDNESDAY,20thFEBRUARY,1743。FirstnightofMEROPE;
  whichraisedtheParisPublicintotransports,sothattheyknewnotwhattodo,toexpresstheirfeelings。’Author!M。deVoltaire!
  Author!’shoutedthey;summoningtheAuthor,whatisnowsocommon,butwasthenanunheard—oforiginality。’Author!Author!’Author,poorblushingcreature,laysquattedsomewhere,anddurstnotcome;
  wasferretedout;producedintheLadyVillars’sBox,——DowagerMARECHALEDEVILLARS,andherSon’sWifeDUCHESSEDEVILLARS,beingthere;knownfriendsofVoltaire’s。BetweentheseTwohestandsduckingsomekindofbow;uncertain,embarrassedwhattodo;withaTheatreallinrapturousdeliriumroundhim,——uncertainittoo,butnotembarrassed。’Kisshim!MADAMELADUCHESSEDEVILLARS,EMBRASSEZVOLTAIRE!’Yes,kisshim,fairDuchess,inthenameofFrance!shoutallmortals;——andtheyoungerLadyhastodoit;
  doesitwithacharminggrace;urgedbyMadamelaMarechalehermother—in—law。[Duvernet(T。J。D。V。),ViedeVoltaire,p。128;Voltairehimself,OEuvres,ii。142;Barbier,ii。358。]Ah,andMadamelaMarechalewasherselfanoldloveofVoltaire’s;whohadbeenentirelyunkindtohim!
  "ThusareyoumadeimmortalbyaKiss;——andhavenotyourchoiceoftheKiss,Fatehavingchosenforyou。TheyoungerLadywasaDaughterofMarechaldeNoailles[ourfineoldMarechal,gonetotheWarsagainsthisBritannicMajestyinthoseveryweeks]:
  infinitelyclever(INFINIMENTD’ESPRIT);beautifultoo,I
  understand,thoughtowardsforty;——hangstothehumanmemory,slightlybutindissolubly,eversincethatWednesdayNightof1743。"
  OldMarechaldeNoaillesistotheWars,wesaid;——itisinaworldalltwinklingwithwatch—fires,andrakedcoalsofWar,thatthesefineCarnivalthingsgoon。Noaillesis70,000strong;postedintheRhineCountries,middleandupperRhine;vigilantlypatrollingabout,tosupportthosestaggeringBavarianAffairs;especiallytogiveaccountofhisBritannicMajesty。BrittanicMajestyisthoughttohavegottheDutchhoisted,afterall;tohavehisswordOUT;——
  anderelongdoesactuallygetonmarch;uptheRhinehitherward,asistooevident,toNoailles,totheKaiserandeverybody!
  ChapterIV。
  AUSTRIANAFFAIRSMOUNTTOADANGEROUSHEIGHT。
  Ledbyfondhopes,——anddrivenalsobythatsadfear,ofaVisitfromhisBritannicMajesty,——thepoorKaiser,intherearofthoselateSeckendorfsuccesses,quittedFrankfurt,April17th;andtheseconddayafter,gottoMunchen。SawhimselfinMunchenagain,afteraspaceofmorethantwoyears;"allranksofpeoplecrowdingouttowelcomehim;"thejoyofallpeople,forthemselvesandforhim,beingverygreat。NextdayhedroveouttoNymphenburg;sawthePandourdevastationsthere,——mighthaveseenthewindowwheretheruggedoldUnertlsetuphisladder,"ForGod’ssake,yourSerenity,havenothingtodowiththoseFrench!"——anddidnotwantforsorrowfulcomparisonsofpastandpresent。
  Itwasremarked,hequittedMuncheninadayortwo;preferringCountryPalacesstillunruined,——forexample,Wolnzach,aSchlosshehas,somefiftymilesoff,downtheIserValley,notfarfromthelittleTownofMosburg;which,atanyrate,isamongtheBroglio—Seckendorfposts,andconvenientforbusiness。BroglioandSeckendorfliedottedallabout,fromBraunauuptoIngolstadtandfarther;chieflyintheIserandInnValleys,butonthenorthsideoftheDonautoo;overanarea,sayof2,000squaremiles;
  SeckendorfpreachingincessantlytoBroglio,whatissun—cleartoalleyesbutBroglio’s,"Letusconcentrate,M。leMarechal;letusmarchandattack!IfPrinceKarlcomeuponusinthisscatteredposture,whatarewetodo?"Brogliocontinuingdeaf;Broglioanswering——inawaytodriveonefrantic。
  TheKaiserhimselftakesBroglioinhand;hasascenewithBroglio;
  which,toreadersthatstudyit,maybesymbolicalofmuchthatisgoneandthatiscoming。Itfell"aboutthemiddleofMay"(priortoMay17th,asreaderswillguessbeforelong);andhere,accordingtoreport,wasthesomewhatexplosivefinaleithad。
  PrinceConti,thesamewhorantojoinMaillebois,andhasprovedagallantfellowandgotcommandofaDivision,attendsBrogliointhisimportantinterviewatWolnzach:——
  SCHLOSSOFWOLNZACH,MAY,1743……"TheKaiserpressed,inthemostemphaticmanner,ThattheTwoArmies[FrenchandBavarian]
  shouldcollectanduniteforimmediateaction。TowhichBrogliodeclaredhecouldbynomeansassent,nothavinganyorderfromParisofthattenor。TheKaiserthereupon:’Igiveyoumyorderforit;I,bytheMostChristianKing’sappointment,amCommander—in—
  ChiefofyourArmy,asofmyown;andInoworderyou!’——takingouthisPatent,andspreadingitbeforeBrogliowiththesign—manualvisible,BroglioknewthePatentverywell;butanswered,’Thathecouldnot,forallthat,followthewishofhisImperialMajesty;
  thathe,Broglio,hadlaterorders,andmustobeythem!’UponwhichtheImperialMajesty,natureirrepressiblyassertingitself,toweredintoOlympianheight;flunghisPatentonthetable,tellingContiandBroglio,’Youcansendthatback,then;
  Patentslikethatareofnoservicetome!’andquittedtheminablaze。"[Adelung,iii。B,150;citesETTATPOLITIQUE(AnnualRegisterofthosetimes),xiii。16。NothingofthissceneinCampagnes,whichisofficiallycarefultosuppressthelikeofthis。]
  Theindisputablefactis,PrinceKarlisatthedoor;nayhehasbeateninthedoorinafrightfulmanner;andhasBraunau,keyoftheInn,againundersiege。NotwegettingPassau;itishegettingBraunau!Aweekago(9thMay)hisvanguard,onthesudden,cuttopiecesourpoorBavarian8,000,andtheirpoorMinuzzi,whowerecoveringBraunau,andhasendedhimandthem;——Minuzzihimselfprisoner,nottobeheardoforbeatenmore;——andisbatteringBraunaueversince。Thatisthesadfact,whateverthetheorymayhavebeen。PrinceKarlisrollinginfromtheeast;Lobkowitz(Pragnowended)isadvancingfromthenorthward,KhevenhullerfromtheSalzburgsouthernquarter:IsitinasprinkleofdisconnectedfractionsthatyouwillwaitPrinceKarl?Thequestionofuniting,andadvancing,oughttobeasimpleoneforBroglio。Takethisothersymbolicpassage,ofnearlythesamedate;——posterior,asweguessed,tothatInterviewatWolnzach。
  "DINGELFINGEN,17thMAY,1743。AtDingelfingenontheIser,astrongishcentralpostoftheFrench,aboutfiftymilesfartherdownthanthatSchlossofWolnzach,thereisasecondargument,——
  muchcorroborativeoftheKaiser’sreasoning。Aboutsunriseofthe17th,theAustrians,insufficientforce,chieflyofPandours,appearedontheheightstothesouth:theyhadbeenforeseenthenightbefore;buttheFrenchcoveringGeneral,luckierthanMinuzzi,didnotwaitforthem;onlywarnedDingelfingen,andwithdrewacrosstheRiver,towaitthereonthesafeleftbank。
  LeaderoftheAustrianswasoneLeopoldGrafvonDaun,activemanofthirty—five,alreadyofgoodrank,whowillbemuchheardofafterwards;CommandantinDingelfingenisaBrigadierduChatelet,MarquisduChatelet—Lamont;whom——aftersearch(intheinterestofsomeidlereaders)——IdiscovertobenootherthantheHusbandofacertainAlgebraicLady!Identitymadeout,markwhatapassheisat。CountDauncomesoninatempestoffuriousfire;’veryheavy,’
  theysay,fromgreatgunsandsmall;tillcloseupontheplace,whenhesummonsDuChatelet:’No;’andthereuponattemptsscalade。
  Cannotscalade,DuChateletandhispeoplebeingmettlesome;
  takesthentoflingingshells,toburningthesuburbs;Townitselfcatchesfire,——Townplainlyindefensible。’Truceforonehour’
  proposesDuChatelet(wishfultoconsultthecoveringGeneralacrosstheRiver):’No,’answersDaun。SothatDuChatelethastojumbleandwrigglehimselfoutoftheplace;courageoustothelast;butnotinaveryParthianfashion,——greatdifficultytogethisbridgeruined(verypartiallyruined),behindhim;——andjoinsthecoveringGeneral,inaflusterysingedcondition!WerenotpursuedfartherbyDaun:——andPrinceConti,HeadGeneralinthoseparts,calleditafinedefence,onexamining。"
  [Campagnes,viii。239;Espagnac,i。187;
  Hormayr,iv。82,85。]Espagnaccontinues:——
  "Onthe19th,"afteronerest—day,"GrafvonDaunsetoutforLandau[stillontheIser,fartherdown;BaiernhasITS"Landau"
  too,andits"Landshut,"bothonthisRiver],toseizeLandau;
  whichisanotherFrenchplaceofstrength。TheGarrisondefendedthemselvesforsometime;afterwhichtheyretiredovertheRiver[leftbauk,orwrongsideoftheIser,theytoo];andsetfiretotheBridgebehindthem。ThefireoftheBridgecaughttheTown;
  Pandourshelpingit,asourpeoplesaid;andLandaualsowasreducedtoashes。"——PoorLandau,poorDingelfingen,theycannothavethebenefitofLouisXV。’stalentforgoverningGermany,quitegratis,itwouldappear!
  ButwherearethedivineEmilieandVoltaire,thatmorning,whiletheBrigadierisinsuchtaking?Sittingsafein"thatdaintylittlepalaceofMadame’s(PETITPALAIS)atthepointoftheIsledeSt。Louis,"intentonquiteotheradventures;disgustedwiththeslavishFortyandtheirmethodsofElection(ofwhichbyandby);
  andlittlethinkingofM。leBrigadierandthedangersofwar。
  ——PrincedeContipraisedtheBrigadier’sdefence:butverysoon,alas,——
  DEGGENDORF,27thMAY。"PrincedeConti,atDeggendorf[otherornorthbankoftheDonau,Head—quartersofConti,whichwasthoughttobewellsecuredbybatteriesanddefencesonthesteepheightstolandward],washimselfsuddenlyattacked,thetenthdayhence,’May27th,atdaybreak,’inastillmorefuriousmanner;andwastumbledoutofDeggendorfamidwhirlwindsoffire,inveryflamyconditionindeed。TheAustrians,playingonusfromtheuplandswiththeirheavyartillery,madeabreachinouroutmostbattery:
  ’Nottenable!’exclaimedtheCaptainthere:’Thisway,mymen!’——
  andwithdrew,likeashot,heandparty;slidingdownthesteepfaceofthemountain[feetforemost,Ihope],hometoDeggendorfinthispeculiarmanner;leavingtheAUSTRIANStomanagehisguns。
  Ourtwolowerbatteries,ruledbythisupperone,hadnowtobeabandoned;andContiran,BridgeoftheTown—ditchbreakingunderhim;baggages,eventohisownportmanteaus,alllost;andhadaneck—and—neckraceofitingettingtohisDonau—Bridge,andacrosstothesafeside。Withlossofeverything,wesay,——personalbaggageallincluded;whichlatteritem,PrinceKarlpolitelyreturnedhimnextday。"[Espagnac,p。188。]
  Broglio,withPrinceKarlinhisbowelsgoingatsucharate,mayjudgenowwhetheritwaswisetolieinthatlooseposture,scatteredovertwothousandsquaremiles,andsnortonhisjudiciousSeckendorf’sadvicesandurgenciesashedid!
  Readersanticipatetheissue;andshallnotbeweariedfartherwithdetail。Thereare,aswesaid,ThreeAustrianArmiespressingonthislucklessBavariaanditsFrenchProtectors:Khevenhuller,fromSalzburgandthesouthernquarter,pushinginhisDauns;
  Lobkowitz,hangingoverusfromtheOber—Pfalz(Naab—RiverCountry)
  onthenorth;andPrinceKarl,ononeorsometimesonbothsidesoftheDonau,prickingsharplyintotherearofus;saying,bybayonets,burntbridges,bomb—shells,"Off;swift;itwillbebetterforyou!"AndBrogliohaslosthead,amerewhirlwindofflaminggases;andyourablestComtedeSaxeinsuchposition,whatcanhedo?BrogliowritestoVersailles,ThattherewillbenocontinuinginBavaria;thatherecommendsanordertomarchhomewards;——muchtothesurpriseofVersailles。
  "TheCourtofVersailleswasmuchastonishedatthemessageitgotfromBroglio;CourtofVersailleshadalwayscalculatedthatBrogliocouldkeepBavaria;andhadgoneintoextensivemeasuresformaintaininghimthere。ExperiencedoldMarechaldeNoailleshasanewFrenchArmy,70,000ormore,assembledintheUpperRhineforthatandthecognateobjects[ofwhom,morespecially,anon]:
  Noailles,byorderfromCourt,hasdetached12,000,whoarenowmarchingtheirbest,toreinforceBroglio;——andindeedtheCourt’hadalreadyappointedtheGeneralsandStaff—OfficersforBroglio’sBavarianArmy,’andgratifiedmanymenbypromotions,whichnowwenttosmoke![Espagnac,i。190。]
  "Versailles,however,hastoexpeditetheorder:’Comehome,then。’
  Orderornoorder,Broglio’spostsareallcracklingoffagain,burstingaloftlikeachainofpowder—mines;Broglioisplungingheadforemost,towardsDonauworth,towardsIngolstadt,hisplaceofarms;Seckendorfnowwelcometojoinhim,butunabletodoanythingwhenjoined。BlusteringBrogliohasnosteadfastnessofmind;
  explodeslikeaninflammablebody,inthiscracklingoffoftheposts,andbecomesamerewhirlwindofflaminggases。OldsnufflingSeckendorf,borntoillsuccessinhisolddays,strongonlyincaution,howishetoquenchorstaythiscracklingoftheposts?
  Broglioblusters,reproaches,bullies;Seckendorfquarrelswithhimoutright,ashemaywelldo:’JARNI—BLEU,suchadeliriouswhirlwindofaMarechal;merebickeringflamesandsoot!’——andlooksoutchieflytokeephisownskinandthatofhispoorBavarianswhole。
  "TheunhappyKaiserhasrunfromMunchenagain,toAugsburgforsomebriefshelter;cannotstaythereeither,inthecircumstances。
  WillhehavetohurrybacktoFrankfurt,tobankruptcyandfurnishedlodgings,——naytotheBritannicMajesty’stendermercies,whoseArmyisnowactuallythere?ThoseindignantprophesyingstoBroglio,attheSchlossofWolnzach,havesosooncometrue!
  AndBroglioandtheFrenchare——whatastafftoleanupon!
  Enough,thepoorKaiser,afterdoleful’CouncilofWarheldatAugsburg,June25th,’doesonthemorrowmakeoffforFrankfurtagain:——whitherelse?BritannicMajesty’sintentions,friendstellhim,friendWilhelmofHessentellshim,aremagnanimous;eagerforPeacetoTeutschland;hostileonlytotheFrench。PoorKarltooktheroad,June26th;——andwillfindnewsonhisarrival,orbeforeit。
  "Onwhichsameday,26thofJune,asitchances,Brogliotoohasmadehispackages;leftagarrisoninIngolstadt,garrisoninEger;
  andisferryingacrossatDonauworth,——willseetheMarlboroughSchellenbergashepasses,——infullspeedfortheRhineCountries,andthefinisofthisbadBusiness。[Adelung,iii。B。152。]Ontheroad,IbelieveatDonauworthitself,Noailles’s12,000,littleforeseeingtheseretrogradeevents,metBroglio:’Rightabout,youtoo!’ordersBroglio;andspeedsRhinewardnottheless。AndthesamedayofthatferryingatDonauworth,andoftheKaiser’ssettingoutforFrankfurt,Seckendorf,——atNieder—Schonfeld[anoldMonasteryneartheTownofRain,inthoseparts],theKaiserbeingnowsafeaway,——ismakingtermsforhimselfwithKhevenhullerandPrinceKarl:’WillliequietasmereREICHS—Army,almostasTroopsoftheSwabianCircle,overatWembdingenthere,insaidcircle,andbestrictlyneutral,ifwecanbutgetlivedatall!’[Ib。iii。
  B,153。]Seckendorfconcludesonthemorrow,27thJune;——whichiselsewhereamemorableDayofBattle,aswillbeseen。
  "BrogliomarchedinFiveDivisions[DuChateletintheSecondDivision,poorsoul,whichwasledbyComtedeSaxe):[Espagnac,i。198。]alwaysinFiveDivisions,swiftly,halfamarchapart;
  throughtheWurtembergCountry;——lostmuchbaggage,manystragglers;Tolpatcheriesinmultitudecontinuallyprickingattheskirtsofhim;PrinceKarlfollowingsteadily,Rhine—wardsalso,afewmarchesbehind。Hereareomenstoreturnwith!’Buthaveyouseenaretreatbettermanaged?’thinksBrogliotohimself:"thatisoneconsolingcircumstance。
  Inthismanner,then,hastheProblemofBavariasolveditself。
  HungarianMajesty,intheseweeks,wasgettingcrownedinPrag;
  "QueenofBohemia,I,notyou;inthesightofHeavenandofEarth!"[Crowned12thMay,1743(Adelung,iii。B,128);"newsofPrinceKarl’shavingtakenBraunau[incipiencyofallthesesuccesses]hadreachedherthatverymorning。"]——andwaspurifyingherBohemia:withsomerigor(itissaid),fromforeigndefacements,treasonouscompliancesandthelike,whichtherehadbeen。ToseeyourBavarianKaiser,falseKingofBohemia,yourBrogliowithhisFrench,andtheBohemian—BavarianQuestioninwhole,allrollingRhine—wardsattheirswiftest,withPrinceKarlstickingintheskirtsofthem:——whatasatisfactiontothathighLady!
  BRITANNICMAJESTY,WITHSWORDACTUALLYDRAWN,HASMARCHED
  MEANWHILETOTHEFRANKFURTCOUNTRIES,AS"PRAGMATICARMY;"
  READYFORBATTLEANDTREATYALIKE。
  Addtowhichfinesetofresults,simultaneouslywiththem:
  HisBritannicMajesty,thirdeffortsuccessful,hasgothissworddrawn,fairlyoutatlast;andintheairismakinghorridcircleswithit,eversinceMarchlast;naydoes,heflattershimself,averyconsiderableslashwithit,inthiscurrentmonthofJune。
  Ofwhich,thoughloath,wemustnowtakesomenotice。
  Thefactis,thoughStaircouldnothoisttheDutch,andourdouble—quickBritannicheroismhadtodropdeadinconsequence,Carterethasdoneit:Carterethimselfrushedoverinthatcrisis,afieryemphaticmanandchiefminister,[ArrivedattheHague"5thOctober,1742"(Adelung,iii。A,294)。]——"eagertopleasehisMaster’shumor!"saidenemies。Yes,doubtless;butactingonhisownturbidbeliefwithal(saysfact);andrevolvingbigthoughtsinhishead,aboutbringingFriedrichovertotheCauseofLiberty,givingFrenchAmbitionalessonforonce,andthelike。
  Carteretstronglypulleying,"Allhands,heave—oh!"——and,nodoubt,thoseMaillebois—BroglioeventsfromPragassistinghim,——didbringtheHighMightinessestotheirlegs;stillinastaggeringsplay—
  footedposture,buttryingtosteadythemselves。Thatistosay,theHighMightinessesdidagreetogowithusintheCauseofLiberty;willnowpayactualSubsidiestoherHungarianMajesty(attherateoftwoforourthree);andwilladd,sosoonashumanlypossible,20,000mentothosewind—bound40,000ofours;——whichlattershallnowtherefore,atonce,as"PragmaticArmy"(thatisthetermfixedon),getonmarch,Frankfurtway;andstrikehomeupontheFrenchandotherenemiesofPragmaticSanction。ThisiswhatNoailleshasbeenlookingfor,thisgoodwhile,anddiligentlyadjustinghimself,inthoseMiddle—RhineCountries,togiveaccountof。
  PragmaticArmylifteditselfaccordingly,——Stair,andthemostofhisEnglish,fromGhent,wherethewearisomeHead—quartershadbeen;Hanoverians,Hessians,fromwewillforgetwhere;——andinvariousstreaksandstreams,certainAustriansfromLuxemburg(withouroldfriendNeippergincompany)havingjoinedthem,areflowingRhine—wardeversinceMarch1st。["February18th,"o。s。(OldNewspapers)。]TheycrosstheRhineatthreesuitablepoints;
  whence,bythenorthbank,homeuponFrankfurtCountry,andtheNoailles—Brogliooperationsinthoseparts。TheEnglishcrossed"atNeuwied,intheendofApril"(ifanybodyiscurious);"LordStairinpersonsuperintendingthem。"LordStairhasbeenmuchabout,andamostbusyperson;General—in—ChiefofthePragmaticArmytillhisBritannicMajestyarrive。GeneralissimoLordStair;andthereisGeneralClayton,GeneralLigonier,"GeneralHeywoodleftwiththeReserveatBrussels:"——and,fromtheashesoftheOldNewspapers,themainstagesandparticularsofthissurprisingExpedition(EnglandmarchingasPragmaticArmyintodistantparts)canberiddledout;thoughtheyrequiremostlytobeflunginagain。
  Shockingweatheronthemarch,mereBoreasandicytempests;
  snowinsomeplacestwofeetdeep;Rhinemuchswollen,whenwecometoit。
  TheAustrianChiefGeneral——wholiesaboutWiesbaden,andconsultswithStair,whiletheEnglisharecrossing——isDuked’Ahremberg(FatherofthePrincedeLigne,or"PrinceofCoxcombs"assomecallhim):littleornothingofmilitaryskillinD’Ahremberg;
  butNeippergisthoughttohavegivenmuchcounsel,suchasitwas。
  WiththeHessianstherewassomedifficulty;hesitationonLandgrafWilhelm’spart;whopitiesthepoorKaiser,andwouldfainseehimbackatFrankfurt,andawakentheBritannicmagnanimitiesforhim。
  "ToFrankfurt,sayyou?WecannotfightagainsttheKaiser!"——andtheyhadtobeleftbehind,forsometime;butatlengthdidcomeon,thoughlateforbusiness,asitchanced。GeneraloftheseHessiansisPrinceGeorgeofHessen,worthystoutgentleman,whomWilhelminametattheFrankfurtGayetieslately。George’selderBrotherWilhelmisManagerorVice—Landgraf,thislongwhileback;
  andinsevenoreightyearshencebecame,ashadbeenexpected,actualLandgraf(oldKingofSwedendyingchildless);——ofwhichWilhelmweshallhavetohear,atHanau(aTownofhisinthoseparts),andperhapsslightlyelsewhere,inthecourseofthisbusiness。Afat,justman,hetoo;probablysomewhatiracund;
  notwithouttroublesinhisHouse。HiseldestSon,Heir—ApparentofHessen,letmeremindreaders,hasanEnglishPrincesstoWife;
  PrincessMary,KingGeorge’sDaughter,weddedtwoyearsago。
  That,addedtotheSubsidies,issurelyapointofunion;——thoughagaintheremaysuchdiscrepanciesrise!Agoodwhileafterthis,theeldestSonbecomingCatholic(foolishwretch),tothehorrorofPapa,——thererosestillothernoisesintheworld,aboutHessenanditsLandgraves。OfgoodPrinceGeorge,whodoubtlessattendedinWarCouncils,butprobablysaidlittle,wehopetohearnothingmorewhatever。
  FromNeuwiedtoFrankfurtisbutafewdays’marchforthePragmaticArmy;inadirectline,notsixtymiles。Frankfurtitself,whichisaREICHS—STADT(ImperialCity),theymustnotenter:"Fearnot,CityorCountry!"writesStairtoit:"Wecomeassaviors,pacificators,hostiletoyourenemiesanddisturbersonly;
  weunderstanddisciplineandtheLawsoftheReich,andwillpayforeverything。"[Letteritself,ofbriefmagnanimousstrain,inCampagnesdeNoailles,i。127;date"Neuwied,26thApril,1743"(Adelung,iii。B,114)。]Fortherest,theyareinnohurry。TheylingerinthatFrankfurt—Nainzregion,allthroughthemonthofMay;notunobservantofNoaillesandhismovements,ifhemadeany;butoccupiedchieflywithgatheringprovisions;forming,withdifficulty,aMagazineinHanau。
  "Whattheyintended:orintend,bycominghither?"asksthePubliceverywhere:"TogointotheDonauCountries,andencloseBrogliobetweentwofires?"Thathadbeen,andwasstill,Stair’sfineidea;butD’Ahremberghaddisapprovedthemethods。D’Ahremberg,itseems,israthergiventoopposingStair;——andthereriseuncertainties,inthisPragmaticArmy:certainonlyhithertotheMagazineinHanau。Andinsecret,itafterwardsappeared,theimmediaterealerrandofthisPragmaticArmyhadlain——intheChapterofMainzCathedral,andanElectionthatwasgoingonthere。
  TheoldKur—Mainz,namely,hadjustdied;andtherewasanew"ChiefSpiritualKurfurst"tobeelectedbytheCanonsthere。
  Kur—MainzisChairmanoftheReich,animportantpersonage,analogoustoSpeakeroftheHouseofCommons;andoughttobe,——bynomeanstheKaiser’syoungBrother,astheFrenchandKaiserareproposing;butamanwithAustrianleanings;——say,GrafvonOstein,titularDOM—CUSTOS(CathedralKeeper)here;latelyAmbassadorinLondon,andknowninselectsocietyforwhatheis。NotmuchofanArchbishop,ofaSpiritualorChiefSpiritualHerrhitherto;
  butcapableofbeingmadeone,——werethePragmaticArmyathiselbow!ItwasonthiserrandthatthePragmaticArmyhadcomehither,orcomesoearly,andwiththeirplansstillunripe。
  Andtrulytheysucceeded;gottheirOsteinchosentotheirmind:
  ["21stMarch,1743,"Mainzvacant;"22dApril,"Osteinelected(Adelung,iii。B,113,121)。]anewKur—Mainz,——whoseleaningsandprocedureswereverymanifestinthesequel,andsomeofthemimportantbeforelong。ThiswasalwaysreckonedoneresultofhisBritannicMajesty’sPragmaticCampaign;——andtrulysomethinkitwas,instrictarithmetic,theonlyone,thoughthatisfarfromhisMajesty’sownopinion。
  FRIEDRICHHASOBJECTIONSTOTHEPRAGMATICARMY;BUTINVAIN。
  OFFRIEDRICH’SMANYENDEAVORSTOQUENCHTHISWAR,BY"UNION
  OFINDEPENDENTGERMANPRINCES,"BY"MEDIATIONOFTHEREICH,"
  ANDOTHERWISE;ALLINVAIN。
  Friedrich,atanearlystage,hadinquiredofhisBritannicMajesty,politelybutwithemphasis,"Whatintheworldhemeant,then,byinvadingtheGermanReich;leadingforeignArmiesintotheReich:inthisunauthorizedmanner?"TowhichtheBritannicMajestyhadanswered,withwhatvagueargumentofwordswewillnotask,butwithalookthatwecanfancy,——lookthatwouldsplitapitcher,astheIrishsay!FriedrichpersistedtocallitanInvasionoftheGermanReich;andspoke,atfirst,offlatlyopposingitbyaReich’sArmy(30,000,oreven50,000,forBrandenburg’scontingent,insuchcase);butasthepoorReichtooknonotice,andtheBritannicMajestywaspositive,Friedrichhadtocontenthimselfwithprotestforthepresent。[Friedrich’sRemonstranceandGeorge’sResponseareinAdelung,iii。B,132(date,"March,1743");dateofFriedrich’sfirststirringinthematteris"January,1743,"andearlier(ib。p。37,p。8,&c。)。]
  TheexertionsofFriedrichtobringaboutaPeace,oratleasttodiminish,notincrease,thedisturbance,areforgottennow;
  wearisometothinkof,astheydidnotproducethesmallestresult;
  buttheyhavebeenincessantandzealous,asthoseofamantoquenchthefirewhichisstillraginginhisstreet,andfromwhichhehimselfisjustsaved。"CannottheReichberousedforsettlementofthisBavarian—Austrianquarrel?"thoughtFriedrichalways。Andspentagreatdealofearnestendeavorinthatdirection;wishedaReich’sARMYOFMEDIATION;"towhichIwillmyselffurnish30,000;50,000,ifneeded。"Reich,alas!TheReichisahorsefallendowntodie,——nousespurringattheReich;
  itcannot,formanymonths,onFriedrich’sProposal(thoughthequestionwasfarfromnew,and"hadbeentwoyearsonhand"),cometothedecision,"Wellthen,yes;theReichWILLtrytomoderateandmediate:"andasforaReich’sMediation—ARMY,oranypracticalstepatall[Thequestionhadbeenstarted,"inAugust,1741,"bytheKaiserhimself;"11thMarch,1743,"againurgedbyhim,afterFriedrich’soffer;"10thMay,1743,""Yes,then,wewilltry;
  but——"andtheresultcontinuedzero。]——!
  "IsnotGermany,arenotalltheGermanPrinces,interestedtohavePeace?"thinksFriedrich。"AunionoftheindependentGermanPrincestorecommendPeace,andevenwithhandonsword—hilttocommandit;thatwouldbethemethodofproducingTreatyofPeace!"
  thinkshealways。Andisgreatlysetonthatmethod;which,wefind,hasbeen,andcontinuestobe,thesoulofhismanyeffortsinthismatter。Afacttobenoted。LongporinginthosemournfulimbrogliosofDryasdust,wherethefractionoflivingandimportantweltersoverwhelmedbywildernessesofthedeadandnugatory,oneatlengthdisengagesthisfact;andreadersmaytakeitalongwiththem,foritprovesilluminativeofFriedrich’sproceduresnowandafterwards。AfixednotionofFriedrich’s,thisofGermanPrinces"uniting,"whenthecommondangersbecomeflagrant;averylivelynotionwithhimatpresent。HewillhimselfcheerfullytaketheleadinsuchUnion,buthemustnotventurealone。[SeeAdelung,iii。AandB,passim;Valori,i。178;&c。&c。]
  TheReich,whenappealedto,withsuchdegreeofemphasis,inthismatter,——weseehowtheReichhasresponded!Lateron,Friedrichtried"theSwabianCircle"(chiefsceneoftheseAustrian—Bavariantusslings);whichhas,liketheotherCircles,akindofparliament,andpretendstobeapoliticalunityofsomesort。
  "CannottheSwabianCircle,orSwabianandFrankishjoined(towhichonemightdeclareoneselfPROTECTOR,insuchcase),ordertheirownCaptains,withmilitaryforceoftheirown,say20,000
  men,torankontheFrontier;andtoinformperemptorilyallbelligerentsandtumultuouspersons,French,Bavarian,English,Austrian:’Nothoroughfare;wetellyou,Noadmittancehere!’"
  Friedrich,disappointedoftheReich,hadtakenupthatsmallernotion:andhespentagooddealofendeavoronthattoo,——ofwhichwemayseesomeglimpse,asweproceed。Butitprovesallfutile。
  TheSwabianCircletooisamoribundhorse;allthesehorsesdeadormoribund。
  Friedrich,ofcourse,hasthoughtmuchwhatkindofPeacecouldbeofferedbyamediatingparty。TheKaiserhaslosthisBavaria:
  yetheistheKaiser,andmusthavealivinggrantedhimassuch。
  Compensations,aspirations,claimsofterritory;thesewillbemanifold!Theseareaworldoffloatingvapor,ofgreed,ofanger,idlepretension:butwithinallthesetherearetherealnecessities;whatthecasedoesrequire,ifitisevertobesettled!FriedrichdiscernsthisAustrian—Bavariannecessityofcompensation;ofnewlandtocutupon。Andwhereisthattocomefrom!
  InJanuarylast,Friedrich,intenselymeditatingthisbusiness,hadinprivateabright—enoughidea:Thatofsecularizingthoseso—calledSovereignBishoprics,Austrian—Bavarianbylocalityandnature,Passau,Salzburg,Regensburg,idleopulentterritories,withfunctionsabsurdnotuseful;——andoftherefromcuttingcompensationtorightandtoleft。Thisnotionhe,byobscurechannels,putintotheheadofBaronvonHaslang,BavarianAmbassadoratLondon;whereitgerminatedrapidly,andcametofruit;——wasofficiallysubmittedtoLordCarteretinhisownhouse,intwohighlyartisticforms,oneevening;——andsetstheDiplomaticHeadsallwagginguponit。[Adelung,iii。B,84,90,"January—
  March,1743。"]Withgreathope,atonetime;tillrumorofitgotabroadintotheOrthodoximagination,intotheGazetteerworld;
  andraisedsuchaclamor,inthosemonths,asseldomwas。
  "Secularize,Hah!Oneseesthedevilishheathenspiritofyou;
  andwhatkindofKaiser,onthereligiousside,wenowhavethehappinessofhaving!"SothatKaiserKarlhadtodenyutterly,"Neverheardofsuchathing!"Carterethimselfhad,inpoliteness,todeny;muchmore,andfordirecause,hadHaslanghimself,overthebellyoffacts,"Neverinmydreams,Itellyou!"——andtogetambiguouscertificatefromCarteret,whichthesimplecouldinterprettothateffect。[Carteret’sLetter(ibid。iii,B,190)。]
  ItwasonlyinwhispersthatthenameofFriedrichwasconnectedwiththisfinescheme;andallpartiesweregladtogetitsoonburiedagain。Abrightidea;buthadcomeacenturytoosoon。
  OfanotherCarteretNegotiationwithKaiserKarl,famedas"ConferencesofHanau,"whichhadalmostcometobeaTreaty,butdidnot;andthen,failingthat,ofafamousCarteret"TreatyofWorms,"whichdidcometoperfection,inthesesamelocalitiesshortlyafterwards;andwhichwereinfinitelyinterestingtoourFriedrich,boththeTreatyandtheFailureoftheTreaty,——weproposetospeakelsewhere,induetime。
  AstoFriedrich’sownendeavorsandindustries,atRegensburgandelsewhere,foreffectivemediationofPeace;fortheReichtomediate,andhave"ArmyofMediation;"fora"UnionofSwabianCircles"todoit;forthisandthenforthattodoit;——astoFriedrich’sowneffortsandstrugglingsthatway,inalllikelyandinsomeunlikelyquarters,——theywere,andcontinuedtobe,earnest,incessant;butwithoutresult。LikethespurringofhorsesreallyDEADsometimeago!Ofwhichnoreaderwishesthedetails,thoughthefacthastoberemembered。Andso,withslightindicationforFriedrich’ssake,——beingintentonthestageofevents,——wemustleavethatshadowyhypotheticregion,asawoodinthebackground;themuchfoliageandmanytwigsandboughsofwhichdoauthenticallyTAKEthetroubletobethere,thoughwehavetopaintitinthissummarymanner。
  ChapterV。
  BRITANNICMAJESTYFIGHTSHISBATTLEOFDETTINGEN;AND
  BECOMESSUPREMEJOVEOFGERMANY,INAMANNER。
  BrittanicMajestywithhisYarmouth,andmartialPrinceofCumberland,arrivedatHanoverMay15th;soonfollowedbyCarteretfromtheHague:[BiographiaBritannica
  (Kippin’s,?Carteret),iii。277。]aMajestypreparednowforbattleandfortreatyalike;kindofearthlyJove,ArbiterofNations,orvictoriousHerculesofthePragmatic,thesublimelittleman。
  AtHerrenhausenhehasafinetime;grandlyfuglingabout;
  negotiatingwithWilhelmofHessenandothers;commandinghisPragmaticArmyfromthedistance:andthenatlast,dashingoffratherinhaste,he——ItiswellknownwhatenigmaticExploithedid,atleasttheNameofitiswellknown!Here,fromtheImbroglios,isaroughAccount;partsofwhichareintroducibleforthesakeofEnglishreaders。
  BATTLEOFDETTINGEN。
  "AftersomefiveleisurelyweeksinHerrenhausen,GeorgeII。(nowanoldgentlemanofsixty),withhismartialFatBoytheDukeofCumberland,andLordCarterethisDiplomatist—in—Chief,quittedthatpleasantsojourn,ratheronasudden,fortheactualSeatofWar。ByspeedyjourneystheygottoFrankfurtCountry;toHanau,June19th;whence,stilluptheMayn,twentyorthirtymilesfartherup,toAschaffenburg,——wherethePragmaticArmy,aftersomedangerousmanoeuvringontheoppositeorsouthbankoftheRiver,haslainencampedsomedays,andisinquestionableposture。
  WhitherhisMajestyinpersonhashastenedup。Andtruly,ifhisMajesty’sheadcontainanygoodcounsel,thereisgreatneedofitherejustnow。
  "Captainsandmenwereimpatientofthatlongloitering,hangingidleaboutFrankfurtallthroughMay;andtheyhaveatlengthstartedrealbusiness,——withmorevalorthandiscretion,itisfeared。Theyaresome40or44,000strong:English16,000;
  Hanoveriansthelikenumber;andofAustrians[bytheory20,000],say,ineffect,12,000oreven8,000:allpaidbyEngland。
  TheyhaveHanauforMagazine;theyhaverearguardof12,000[the6,000Hessians,and6,000newHanoverians],whoatlastareactuallyonmarchthither,neararrivingthere:’Forward!’saidtheCaptaincy[saidStair,chiefly,itwasthought]:’Shallthewholesummerwasteitselftonopurpose?’——andareuptheRiverthusfar,notonthemostconsiderateterms。
  "WhatthisPragmaticArmymeanstodo?Thatis,andhasbeen,agreatquestionforalltheworld;especiallyforNoaillesandtheFrench,——nottosay,forthePragmaticitself!’GetintoLorraine?’
  thinktheFrench:’GetintoAlsace,andwrestitfromus,forbehoofofherHungarianMajesty,’——plunderedgoods,whichindeedbelongtotheReichandher,inasense!ELS—SASS(Alsace,OUTER—
  seat),withitsROAD—Fortress(STRASburg)plunderedfromtheHolyRomishReichbyLouisXIV。,inawaynoonecanforget;
  actuallyplundered,asifbyhighwayrobbery,orbyhighwayrobberyandattorneyismcombined,onthepartofthatgreatSovereign。
  ’ToStrasburg?ToLorraineperhaps?OrtotheThreeBishoprics’"
  (Metz,Toul,Verdun:——readersrecollectthatSiegeofMetz,whichbrokethegreatheartofKarlV。?Whoragedandfiredasmanseldomdid,with50,000men,againstGuiseandtheintrusiveFrench,forsixweeks;soundofhiscannonheardatStrasburgonwinternights,300yearsago:tonopurpose;forhisCaptainsoftheSiege,aftertrialandsecondtrial,solemnlyshooktheirheads;andthegreatKaiser,breakingintotears,hadtoraisetheSiegeofMetz;andwenthisway,nevertosmilemoreinthisworld:andMetz,andToul,andVerdun,remainwiththeFrencheversince):——"TotheThreeBishoprics,possiblyenough!"
  "’OrtheymaypurposefortheDonauCountries,whereBroglioiscracklingoffliketrainsofgunpowder;andlendhandtoPrinceKarl,therebyenclosingBrogliofires?’This,accordingtopresentaspects,isbetweentwothelikeliest。Andperhaps,hadprovendersandarrangementsbeenmadebeforehandforsuchamarch,thishadbeenthefeasiblest:and,tomyownnotion,itwassomewildhopeofdoingthiswithoutprovendersorprearrangementsthathadbroughtthePragmaticintoitspresentquartersatAschaffenburg,whichareforthemilitarymindamysterytothisday。
  "EarlyintheSpring,theFrenchGovernmeuthadequippedNoailleswith70,000men,tokeepwatch,andpatrolabout,intheRhine—MaynCountries,andlookintothosepoints。Whichhehasbeenvigilantlydoing,——postedoflateonthesouthorleftbankoftheMayn;——andisespeciallyvigilant,sinceJune14th,whenthePragmaticArmygotonmarch,acrosstheMaynatHochst;andtooktoofferinghimbattle,onhisownsouthsideoftheRiver。Noailles——thoughhisForce[still58,000,afterthatBroglioDetachmentof12,000]wasgreatlythestronger——wouldnotfight;preferredcuttingofftheEnemy’ssupplies,capturinghisriver—boats,provision—convoysfromHanau,andsettlinghimbyhunger,asthecheapermethod。
  ImpetuousStairwasthwarted,byflatprotestofhisGermancolleagues,especiallybyD’Ahremberg,inFORCINGbattleonthoserashterms:’WeAustriansabsolutelywillnot!’saidD’Ahrembergatlast,andwithdrew,orwaswithdrawing,heforhispart,acrosstheRiveragain。SothatStairalsowasobligedtorecrosstheRiver,inindignanthumor;andnowliesatAschaffenburg,sufferingthesadalternative,shortdietnamely,whichwillendinfaminesoon,ifthesecounselsprevail。
  "StairandD’Ahrembergdonotwellaccordintheiropinions;
  nor,itseems,isanybodyinparticularabsoluteChief;therearelikewiseheatsandjealousiesbetweentheHanoverianandtheEnglishtroops(’Arenotwecomeforallyourgoods?’’Yes,damnyou,andforallourchattelstoo!’)——andwithalitisfrightfullyuncertainwhetherahighdegreeofintellectpresidesoverthese44,000fightingmen,whichmayleadthemtosomething,oralowdegree,whichcanonlyleadthemtonothing!——TheblameisalllaidonStair;’toorash,’theysay。Possiblyenough,toorash。
  Andpossiblyenoughwithal,eventoasoundmilitaryjudgment,insuchunutterablepuddleofjarringimbecilities,’rashness,’
  headlongcourage,offeredtheonechancetherewasofsuccess?
  Whoknows,hadallthe44,000beenasrashasStairandhisEnglish,butluck,andsheerhardfighting,mighthavefavoredhim,asskillcouldnot,inthosesadcircumstances!Stair’splanwas,’BeatNoailles,andyouhavedoneeverything:provisions,opulentnewregions,andallelseshallbeaddedtoyou!’Stair’splanmighthaveanswered,——hadStairbeenthemastertoexecuteit;
  whichhewasnot。D’Ahremberg’salso,whoprotested,’Waittillyour12,000join,andyouhaveyourprovisions,’wastheorthodoxplan,andmighthavemuchtosayforitself。Butthetwoplanscollapsingintoone,——thatwastheclearlyfatalmethod!
  MagnanimousStairnevermadetheleastexplanation,toanundiscerningPublicorParliament;wrapthimselfinstrictsilence,andacceptedinagrandwaywhathadcometohim。[HisPapers,tovoluminousextent,arestillintheFamilyArchives;——notinaccessible,Ithink,weretherightstudentofthem(whowouldbeararearticleamongus!)toturnup。]Clearitis,thePragmaticArmyhadcomeacrossagain,atAschaffenburg,Sunday,June16th;
  andwasfoundtherebyhisMajestyontheWednesdayfollowing,withitstwointernecineplansfallenintomutualdeath;aPragmaticArmyintrulydangerouscircumstances。
  "TheEnglishwhowereinandroundAschaffenburgitself,HanoveriansandAustriansencampingfartherdown,hadputabatteryontheBridgeofAschaffenburg;hopingtobeabletoforagetherebyontheothersideoftheMayn。WhereuponNoailleshadinstantlyclaptaredoubt,underduecoverofaWood,athisendoftheBridge,’Nopassagethisway,gentlemen,exceptintothecannon’sthroat!’——sothatMarshalStair,reconnoitringthatway,’hadhishatshotoff,’andrapidlydrewbackagain。Nay,beforelong,Noailles,attheVillageofSeligenstadt,someeightmilesfartherdown,throwstwowoodenorpontoonbridgesover;[SketchofPlanatp。257。]canbringhiswholeArmyacrossatSeligenstadt;
  prohibitsallmannerofsupplytousfromHanauorourMagazinesbyhisarrangementthere:"——(NotablelittleSeligenstadt,"CityoftheBlessed;"whereEginhartandEmma,eversinceCharlemagne’stime,liewaitingtheResurrection;thatistheplaceoftheseNoaillescontrivances!)——"Furthermore,welearn,Noailleshasseizedaposttwentymilesfartheruptheriver(Miltenbergthenameofit);
  andwillpreventsuppliesfromcomingdowntousoutofBrankenortheNeckarCountry。Wehadforgotten,orourCOLLAPSEofplanshaddoneit,that’anarmymovesonitsstomach’(astheKingofPrussiasays),andthatwehavenothingtoliveuponintheseparts!
  "Suchhastheunfortunatefactturnedouttobe,whenBritannicMajestyarrives;anditcannowbediscoveredclearly,byanyeyes,howeverflattothehead。Andaterriblefactitis。DiscordantGeneralsaccuseoneanother;hungrysoldierscannotbekeptfromplundering:forthehorsesthereisunriperyeinquantity;
  butwhatisthereforthemen?Mypoortraditionaryfriends,oftheGreyDragoons,werewont(Ihaveheard)tobeheart—rendingonthispoint,inafteryears!Faminebeingurgent,disciplineisnotpossible,norexistenceitself。Foraweeklonger,George,ratherinobstinatehopethanwithanyreasonableplanorexertion,stilltriesit;finds,afterrepeatedCouncilsofWar,thathewillhavetogiveitup,andgobacktoHanauwherehislivingis。
  Wednesdaynight,26thJune,1743,thatisthefinalresolution,inevitablycomeupon,withoutargument:andaboutoneonThursdaymorning,theArmy(intwocolumns,AustrianstovanwardwellawayfromtheRiver,Englishasrear—guardcloseonit)getsinmotiontoexecutesaidresolution,——iftheArmycan。
  "IftheArmycan:butthatisliketobeaformidablydifficultbusiness;withaNoailleswatchingeverystepofyou,to—dayandfortendaysback,inthesesadcircumstances。Eyesinhimlikealynx,theysay;andgreatskillinwar,onlytoocautious。
  HardlyistheArmygonefromAschaffenburg,whenNoailles,pushingacrossbytheBridge,seizesthatpost,——noretreatnowforusthitherward。HisMajesty,whomarchesinthereardivision,hashappilysomeartillerywithhim;repelstheassaultsfrombehind,whichmighthavebeenmoreseriousotherwise。Asitis,thereplaycannonacrosstheRiveruponhim:——Whynotbendtoright,andgetoutofrange,asksthereader?TheSpessartHillsrise,highandwoody,ontheright;andthereisinmanyplacesnomarchingexceptwithinrange。NoailleshasFiveeffectiveBatteries,atthevariousgoodpoints,onhissideoftheRiver:——andthatisnothingtowhathehasgotreadyforus,wereweonceatDettingen,withinwindofhisTwoBridgesalittlebeyond!Noailleshasusinaperfectmouse—trap,SOURICIEREashefelinelycallsit;andcalculatesonhavingannihilationreadyforusatDettingen。
  "Dettingen,shortwayabovethosePontoonsatSeligenstadt,isneareightmileswestward[NORTHwestward,butletususethebrieferterm]fromAschaffenburg:DettingenisapoorpeasantVillage,ofsomesize,closeontheMayn,andonoursideofit。ABrook,comingdownfromtheSpessartMountains,fallsintotheMaynthere;
  havingformedforitself,thereandupwards,aconsiderabledellorhollowway;chieflyonthewesternorrightbankofwhichstandstheVillagewithitsbarnyardsandpiggeries:onbothsidesofthegreatHigh—road,whichherecrossestheBrook,andwillleadyoutoHanautwentymilesoff,——orbacktoAschaffenburg,andeventoNurnbergandtheDonauCountries,ifyoupersevere。Exceptthatofthehigh—road,DettingenBrookhasnobridge。AbovetheVillage,aftercomingfromtheMountains,thebanksofitareboggy;
  especiallythewesternbank,whichspreadsoutintoascrubbywasteofmoor,forsomegoodspace。Inwhichscrubbymoor,aselsewhereinthisdellorhollowwayitself,wheretheVillagehangs,withitshedges,piggeries,colegarths,——thereisliketobebadenoughmarchingforacolumnofmen!Noailles,aswesaid,hasTwoBridgesthrownacrosstheMayn,justbelow;andthelastofhisFiveBatteries,fromtheotherside,willcommandDettingen。Hisplanofoperationisthis:——
  "BytheseBridgeshehaspassed24,000horseandfootacrosstheRiver,underhisNephewthechivalrousDukeofGrammont:
  these,withdueartilleryandequipment,aretooccupytheVillage;
  andtorankthemselvesinbattle—ordertoleftwardofit,onthemoorjustmentioned,——wellbehindthathollowway,withitsbrookandbogs;——and,onethingtheymustnotewell,Nottostirfromthatposition,tilltheEnglishcolumnshavegotfairlyintosaidhollowwayandbrookofDettingen,andareplungingmoreorlessdistractedlyacrosstheentanglementsthere。Withcannonontheirleftflank,andsuchagullettopassthrough,onemayhopetheywillbeinratheranattackablecondition。Acrossthatgulletitisourintentiontheyshallneverget。Howcanthey,ifGrammontdohisduty?
  "ThisisNoailles’splan;oneoftheprettiestimaginable,saymilitarymen,——hadtheexecutionbutcorresponded。NoailleshadseizedAschaffenburg,sosoonastheEnglishwereoutofit;
  Noailles,fromhisbatteriesbeyondtheRiver,salutestheEnglishmarchwithcontinuousshotandthunder,whichisverydiscomposing:
  heseesconfidentlyareallyfairlikelihoodofcapturingtheBritannicMajestyandhisPragmaticArmy,unlesstheyprefertodieontheground。Seldom,sincethatoftheCaudineForks,didanyArmy,byill—luckandill—guidance,getintosuchapinfold,——deathorflatsurrenderseeminglytheironealternative。
  "ThusmarchtheseEnglish,thatdewymorning,Thursday,June27th,1743,withcannonplayingontheirleftflank;andsuchafateaheadofthem,hadtheyknownit;——veryshortofbreakfast,too,formostpart。Buttheyhaveonefinequality,andBritannicGeorge,likeallhisWelfracefromHenrytheLiondowntothesedays,hasitinaneminentdegree:theyarenoteasilyputintoflurry,intofear。InallWelfSovereigns,andgenerallyinTeutonPopulations,onthatsideoftheChanneloronthis,thereistherequisiteunconscioussubstratumoftaciturninexpugnability,withdepthsofpotentialragealmostunquenchable,tobefoundwhenyouapplyforit。Whichqualitywillmuchsteadthemonthepresentoccasion:and,indeed,itisperhapsstrengthenedbytheir’stupidity’itself,whatneighborscalltheir’stupidity;’——wantofidleimagining,idleflurrying,naywantevenofknowing,isnotoneoftheworstqualitiesjustnow!Theytrampon,payingaminimumofattentiontothecannon;ignorantofwhatisahead;