hopingonlyitmaybebreakfast,insomeform,beforethedayquiteterminate。Thedayisstillyoung,hardly8o’clock,whentheiradvancedpartiesfindDettingenbeset;findawholeFrenchArmydrawnup,onthescrubbymoorthere;andcomegallopingbackwiththisinterestingbitofnews!Pausehereupon;muchconsulting;
infact,endlesshitheringandthithering,theaffairbeingknotty:
’Fight,YES,nowatlast!Buthow?’ImpetuousStairwasnotwantingtohimself;Neippergtoo,theysay,wasusefulwithadvice;
D’Ahremberg,Ishouldimagine,goodforlittle。
"Somesixhoursfollowedofthrice—intricatedeploying,plantingoffield—pieces,counter—batteries;ranking,re—ranking,shufflinghitherandthenthitherofhorseandfoot;Noailles’scannonadeproceedingallthewhile;theEnglish,stillconsiderablyexposedtoit,andstandingitlikestones;chivalrousGrammont,andwithbetterreasontheEnglish,muchwishingthesepreliminariesweredone。Adifficultbusiness,thatofdeployinghere。ThePragmatichadnoroom,jammedsoagainsttheSpessartHills,andobligedtoleanFROMtheRiverandNoailles’scannon;hadtorankitselfinsix,somesayineightlines;horsebehindfoot,aswellasonflank;unsatisfactorytothemilitarymind:andIthinkhadnotdoneshufflingandre—shufflingat2P。M。,——whentheEnemycameburstingon,withaperemptoryfinishtoit,’Enoughofthat,MESSIEUR’SLESANGLAIS!’’Toomuchofit,agreatdeal!’thoughtMessieursgrimly,inresponse。Andthereensuedareallyfuriousclashofhostagainsthost;Frenchchivalry(MAISONDUROI,BlackMousquetaires,theFloweroftheirHorseregiments)dashing,inrightGallicfrenzy,ontheirnaturalenemies,——ontheEnglish,thatis;who,Ifind,weremainlyontheleftwingthere,horseandfoot;andhadmainly(theAustriansandthey,verymainly)theworktodo;——anddid,withaneffort,andluckhelping,managetodoit。
"’Grammontbreaksorders!Thrice—blamableGrammont!’exclaimNoaillesandothers,sorrowfullywringingtheirhands。Evenso!
Grammonthadwaitedsevenmortalhours;one’scourageburningallthewhile,courageperhapsratherburningdown,——andnottheleastusecomingofif。Grammonthad,innaturalimpatience,graduallyedgedforward;and,intheend,wasbeingcannonadedandprickedintobytheEnemy;——anddidatlast,withhisMAISON—DU—ROI,dashacrossthatessentialHollowWay,andplungeinuponthemontheirownsideofit。And’the,Englishfootgavetheirvolleytoosoon;’
adGrammontdid,ineffect,partlyrepulseanddisorderthefrontranksofthem;and,blazingupuncontrollable,atsightofthosefirstranksindisorder,didpresshomeuponthemmoreandmore;
getwhollyintotheaffair,bringingonhisInfantryaswell:
’Letusfinishitwholly,nowthatourhandisin!’——andtookonecannonfromtheEnemy;anddidotherfeats。
"Sofuriouswasthatfirstchargeofhis;’MAISON—DU—ROIcoveringitselfwithglory,’——forashortwhile。MAISON—DU—ROIbrokethreelinesoftheEnemy[three,not"Five"];didinsomeplacesactuallybreakthrough;inothers’couldnot,butgallopedalongthefront。’
Threeoftheirlines:butthefourthlinewouldnotbreak;muchthecontrary,itadvanced(AustriansandEnglish)withsteadyfire,hotterandhotter:uponthisfourthlineMAISON—DU—ROIhad,itself,tobreak,prettymuchaltogether,andrushhomeagain,inruinouscondition。’Ourfrontlinesmadelanesforthem;terriblymaltreatingthemwithmusketryonrightandleft,astheygallopedthrough。’AndthiswastheendofGrammont’ssuccesses,thischargeofhorse;forhisinfantryhadnoluckanywhere;andtheessentialcrisisoftheBattlehadbeenhere。Itcontinuedstillagoodwhile;plentyofcannonading,fusillading,butinsporadicdetachedform;aconfusedseriesofsmallshocksandknocks;whichweremostly,orall,unfortunateforGrammont;andwhichatlengthknockedhimquiteoffthefield。’HewasnowinterlacedwiththeEnglish,’moansNoailles;’sothatmycannon,nottoshootGrammontaswellastheEnglish,hadtoceasefiring!’Well,yes,thatistrue,M。leMarechal;butthatisnotsoimportantasyouwouldhaveit。TheEnglishhadstoodninehoursinthisfireofyours;
bydegrees,leaningwellawayfromit;answeringitwithcounter—
batteries;——andwerenotyetruinedbyit,whentheGrammontcrisiscame!NoaillesshouldhavedashedfreshtroopsacrosshisBridges,andtriedtohandlethemwell。Noaillesdidnotdothat;ordoanythingbutwringhishands。
"TheFightlastedfourhours;everhotterontheEnglishpart,everlesshotontheFrench[fireofanthracite—coalVERSUSflameofdrywood,whichlatteratlastsinksASHY!]——andendedintotaldefeatoftheFrench。TheFrenchInfantrybynomeansbehavedastheirCavalryhaddone。TheGARDESFRANCAISES[fireburningashy,aftersevenhoursofflaming],whenGrammontorderedthemuptotaketheEnglishinflank,wouldhardlycomeonatall,orstandonepush。
Theythrewawaytheirarms,andplungedintotheRiver,likeadroveofswimmers;gettingdrownedingreatnumbers。Sothattheircomradesnicknamedthem’CANARDSDUMEIN(DucksoftheMayn):’
andinEnglishmess—rooms,therewentafterwardsasaying:
’TheFrenchhad,inreality,ThreeBridges;oneofthemNOTwooden,andcarpetedwithbluecloth!’Suchthewitofmilitarymankind。
"……TheEnglish,itappears,didsomethingbymereshouting。
Partialhuzzasandcounter—huzzasbetweentheInfantriesweregoingonatonetime,whenStairhappenedtogallopup:’Stopthat,’saidStair;’letusdoitright。Silence;then,Oneandall,whenIgiveyousignal!’AndStair,attherightmoment,liftinghishat,thereburstoutsuchathunder—growl,edgedwithmelodiousireinalt,asquiteseemedtostrikeadampintotheFrench,saysmyauthority,’andtheynevershoutedmore……Ourgroundinmanypartswasunderrye,’hedgelessfieldsofrye,chiefgrain—cropofthatsandycountry。’Wehadalreadywastedabove120,000acresofit,’stillintheunripestate,sohungrywerewe,manandhorse,’sincecrossingtoAschaffenburg;’——fightingforyourCauseofLiberty,yebenightedones!
"KingFriedrich’sprivateaccounts,deformedbyridicule,are,ThattheBritannicMajesty,hisrespectableoldUncle,findingtheFrenchtherebarringhiswaytobreakfast,understoodsimplythattheremustandshouldbefighting,ofthetoughest;buthadnoplanorcounselfarther:thathedidatfirstrideup,toseewhatwaswhatwithhisowneyes;butthathishorseranawaywithhim,frightenedatthecannon;uponwhichhehastilygotdown;drewsword;puthimselfattheheadofhisHanoverianInfantry[ontherightwing],andstood,——leftfootdrawnback,swordpushedout,intheformofafencing—masterdoinglunge,——steadilyinthatdefensiveattitude,inexpugnableliketherocks,tillallwasover,andvictorygained。Thisisdefacedbythespiritofridicule,andnotquitecorrect。BritannicMajesty’shorse[oneofthose500fineanimals]did,itiscertain,atlastdangerouslyrunawaywithhim;
uponwhichhetooktohisfeetandhisHanoverians。Buthehadbeenrepeatedlyonhorseback,intheearlierstages;gallopingabout,tolookwithhisowneyes,couldtheyhaveavailedhim;andwasheardencouraginghispeople,andspeakingevenintheEnglishlanguage,’Steady,myboys;fire,mybraveboys,givethemfire;theywillsoonrun!’[OEuvresdeFrederic,(iii。14):
compareAnonymous,LifeoftheDukeofCumberland(p。64n。);Henderson’sLIFEofditto;&c。]Latterly,therecanbenodoubt,hestands[andtoourimagination,hemayfitlystandthroughout]intheaboveattitudeoflunge;nofearinhim,andnoplan;’SANSPEURETSANSAVIS,’asmemighttermit。LikearealHanoverianSovereignofEngland;likeEnglanditself,anditswaysinthoseGermanWars。AtypicalepitomeoflongsectionsofEnglishHistory,thatattitudeoflunge!——
"TheEnglishOfficersalso,itisevident,behavedintheirusualway:——withoutknowledgeofwar,withoutfearofdeath,orregardtoutmostperilordifficulty;cheeringtheirmen,andkeepingthemsteadyuponthethroatsoftheFrench,sofarasmightbe。
Andalways,afterthatfirststumblewiththeFrenchHorsewasmended,theykeptgainingground,thrustingbacktheEnemy,notovertheDettingenBrookandMoor—groundonly,but,knockafterknock,outofhiswoodyorothercoverts,backandeverback,towardsWelzheim,Kahl,andthoseTwoBridgesofhis。TheflamyFrench[ligneousfireburninglowerandlower,VERSUSanthraciticglowingbrighterandbrighter]foundthattheyhadabadtimeofit;——found,infact,thattheycouldnotstandit;andtumbledfinally,ingreattorrents,acrosstheirBridgesontheMayn,manyleapingintotheRiver,theEnglishsittingdreadfullyontheskirtsofthem。SothathadtheEnglishhadtheirCavalryinreadinesstopursue,Noailles’sArmy,inthehumorithadsunkto,wasruined,andtheVictorywouldhavebeenconspicuouslygreat。
Buttheyhad,astoocommon,nothingready。ImpetuousStairstrovetogetready;"pushedouttheGreyDragoons"foroneitem。ButtheAuthoritiesrefusedStair’scounsel,asrashagain;andmadenoeffectualpursuitatall;——toogladthattheyhadbrushedtheirBattle—fieldtriumphantlyclear,andgotoutofthatfatalpinfoldinanhonorablemanner。
MAP:BOOKXIV,ChapV,page257GOESHERE——————————————————————————
"Theystayedonthegroundtill10atnight;settling,ortryingtosettle,manythings。TheSurgeonswerebusyasbees,butableforOfficersonly;——’DressHIMfirst!’saidthegloriousDukeofCumberland,pointingtoayoungFrenchman[ExcellencyFenelon’sSon,grand—nephewofTELEMAQUE]whowasworsewoundedthanhisHighness。QuiteinthePhilip—Sydneyfashion;whichwasmuchtakennoticeof。’Allthiswhile,wehadnexttonothingtoeat’(saysoneinformant)。——TenP。M。:afterwhich,leavingapoliteLettertoNoailles,’ThathewouldtakecareofourWounded,andburyourSlainaswellashisown,’wemarch[throughapourofrain]toHanau,whereourvictualsare,and12,000newHessiansandHanoveriansbythistime。
"NoaillespolitelybandagedtheWounded,buriedtheDead。Noailles,gatheringhisscatteredbattalions,foundthathehadlost2,659
men;noruinouslosstohim,——theEnemy’sbeingatleastequal,andallhisWoundedfallenPrisonersofWar。NoruinouslosstoNoailles,haditnotbeenthelossofVictory,——whichwasasoreblowtoFrenchfeeling;and,addingitselftothoseBrogliodisgraces,anewdiscouragementtoMostChristianMajesty。
Victoryindisputablylost:——butisitnotGrammont’sblamealtogether?Grammontbearsit,aswesaw;anditisheavilylaidonhim。Butmyownconjectureis,fortythousandenragedpeople,ofEnglishandotherPlatt—Teutschtype,wouldhavebeenverydifficulttopinup,intocaptivityordeathinsteadofbreakfast,inthatmanner:anditispossibleifpoorGrammonthadnotmistaken,someotherwouldhavedoneso,andthehungryBaresarks(theirbloodfairlyup,asisevident)wouldhaveendedingettingthrough。"[Espagnac,i。193;GuerredeBoheme,i。231。——Gentleman’sMagazine,vol。
xiii。(for1743),pp。328—481;——containingCarteret’sDespatchfromthefield;followedbymanyotherLettersandindistinctNarrationsfromOfficerspresent(p。434,"PlanoftheBattle,"blotchy,indecipherableinparts,butessentiallyrathertrue),——isworthexamining。SeelikewiseAnonymous,MemoirsofthelateDukeofCumberland(Lond。1767;theAuthoranignorant,much—adoringmilitary—man,whohasmadesomestudy,andisnotsostupidashelooks),pp。56—78;andHenderson(ignoranthetoo,much—adoring,andnotmilitary),LifeoftheDukeofCumberland(Lond。1766),pp。32—48。Noailles’sOfficialAccount(ingenuouslyatalosswhattosay),in
Campagnes,ii。B,242—253,306—310。OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。11—14(incorrectinmanyoftheDETAILS)。
ThiswasalltheFightingthatKingGeorgegotofhisPragmaticArmy;thegainfromconquestmadebyitwas,Thatitvictoriouslystruggledbacktoitsbread—cupboard。Stair,abouttwomonthshence,inthemereloiteringandhigglingthattherewas,quittedthePragmatic;magnanimouslysilentonhismanywrongsanddisgusts,desirousonlyof"returningtotheplough,"asheexpressedhimself。Theloftyman;wantedseveralrequisitesforbeingaMarlborough;wantedaSarahJennings,asthepreliminaryofall!——WewillnotattendthelazymovementsandproceduresofthePragmaticArmyfarther;whichwereofaltogetherfutilecharacter,eveninthetemporaryGazetteerestimate;andaretobevaluedatzero,andleftcharitablyinoblivionbyapiousposterity。Stair,theonebrightish—lookingmaninit,beinggone,thereremainMajestywithhisD’Ahrembergs,Neippergs,andtheMartialBoy;
GeneralsCope,Hawley,Wade,andmanyofleadencharacter,remain:
——lettheleadenbewrappedinlead。
ItwasnotasuccessfulArmy,thisPragmatic。Dettingenitself,inspiteoftherumoringofGazetteersandtemporarypersons,hadnoresult,——excepttheextremelybadone,ThatitinflatedtoanalarmingheighttheprideandbelligerenthumorofhisBritannic,especiallyofherHungarianMajesty;andmadePeacemoredifficultthanever。ThatofgettingOstein,withhisAustrianleanings,chosenKur—Mainz,——thattooturnedoutill:andperhaps,inthecourseofthenextfewmonths,weshalljudgethat,hadOsteinleantAGAINSTAustria,ithadbeenbetterforAustriaandOstein。
OfthePragmaticArmy,silencehenceforth,ratherthanspeech!——
Onethingwehavetomark,hisBritannicMajesty,commanderofsuchanArmy,——andofsuchaPurse,whichisstillmorestupendous,——hasrisen,intheGazetteerestimateandhisown,toahighpitchofimportance。TobeSupremeJoveofTeutschland,inamanner;andacts,forthepresentSummer,inthatsublimecapacity。
TwoDiplomaticfeatsofhis,——oneaTreatydoneandtumbleddownagain,theotheraTreatydoneandletstand("TreatyofWorms,"
and"Conferences,"orNON—Treaty"ofHanau"),——areofmomentinthisHistoryandthatofthethenWorld。OfthesetwoTransactions,duebothofthemtosuchanArmyandsuchaPurse,weshallhavetotakesomenoticebyandby;therestshallbelongtoNightandherleadensceptre——muchgoodmaytheydoher!
SometendaysafterDettingen,Broglio(whowascracklingofffromDonauwurth,inviewoftheLinesofSchellenberg,thatvery27thofJune)endedhisretreattotheRhineCountries;"glorious,"thoughratherswift,andeatenintobytheTolpatcheriesofPrinceKarl。
"July8th,atWimpfen"(intheNeckarRegion,somewaySouthofDettingen),BrogliodelivershistroopstoMarechaldeNoailles’scare;and,nextmorning,rushesofftowardsStrasburg,andquietOfficiallife,asGovernorthere。
"Thedayafterhisarrival,"saysFriedrich,"hegaveagrandballinStrasburg:"[OEuvresdeFrederic,
iii。10。]"Beholdyourconqueringherosafeagain,myfriends!"
AnungratefulCourtjudgedotherwiseofthehero。TookhisStrasburgGovernmentfromhim,gaveittoMarechaldeCoigny;
orderedtheherotohisEstatesintheCountry,Normandy,ifI
remember;——wherehesoondiedofapoplexy,poorman;andwilltroublenoneofusagain。"Amanbornforsurprises,"saidFriedrichlongsince,intheStrasburgDoggerel。Losthisindispensablegarnitures,attheFordofSecchiaonce;andnow,intheselasttwelvemonths,isconsideredtohavedoneaseriesofblusteryexplosions,derogatorytothegloryofFrance,andruinoustothatsublimeBelleisleEnterpriseforouething。
AruinedEnterprisethat,atanyrate;seldomwasEnterprisebetterruined。Here,underBroglio,amidthetitteringsofmankind,hasthetailoftheOriflammegonethesamebadroadasitsheaddid;——
intozeroandouterdarkness;leavingtheexpensestopay。Likeamadtavern—brawlofone’sownraising,thebiggestthateverwas。
Hascostalready,Ishouldguess,some80,000FrenchdrilledMen,paiddown,onthenail,totheinexorableFates:andofcoinedMillions,——howmany?Insubsidies,inequipments,inwaste,inlossandwreck:Dryasdustcouldnothavetoldme,hadhetried。Andthenthebreakages,damagesstillchargeable;theprobableafterclap?
Foryoucannotquitegratuitouslytweakpeoplebythenose,inyourwantonhumor,overyourwine!——Onewillingman,orMostChristianMajesty,canatanytimebeginaquarrel;butthereneedalwaystwoormoretoenditagain。
MostChristianMajestyisnotsosensibleofthisfactasheafterwardsbecame;butwhatwithBroglioandtheextinctOriflamme,whatwithDettingenandtheincipientPragmatic,heisheartilydisgustedanddiscouraged;andwisheshehadnotthoughtofcuttingGermanyinFour。July26th,MostChristianMajestyappliestotheGermanDiet;signifying"ThathedidindeedundertaketohelptheKaiser,accordingtotreaties;butwasthefarthestintheworldfrommeaningtoinvadeGermany,onhisownscore。Thathehadandhasnoquarrel,exceptwithAustriaasKaiser’senemy;andisreadytobefriendsevenwithAustria。AndnowindeedintendstowithdrawhistroopswhollyfromtheGermanterritory。Andcanthereforehopethatallunpleasantnesswillcease,betweentheGermanNationandhim;andthatperhapstheKaiserwillbeabletomakepeacewithherMajestyofHungaryonsoftertermsthanatonetimeseemedlikely。Ifonlytheanimositiesofsovereignpersonswouldassuagethemselves,andeachofuswouldlookwithoutpassionattheissuereallydesirableforhim!"[Espagnac,i。200。Adelung,iii。B,199
(26thJuly);Ib。201(theAnswertoit,16thAugust)。]
Thatisnow,26thJuly,1743,KingLouis’sstoryforhimselftotheDietoftheHolyRomanEmpire,TeutschbyNation,sittingatFrankfurtinratherdisconsolatecircumstances。TheDietnaturallyanswered,"JAWOHL,JAWOHL,"inintricateofficiallanguage,——
nobodyneedknowwhattheDietanswered。ButwhattheHungarianMajestyanswered,strongandhighinsuchBritannicbacking,——thiswasofsuchunexpectedtone,thatitfixedeverybody’sattention;
andwillveryspeciallyrequiretobenotedbyus,inthecourseofaweekortwo。
Wesaid,herHungarianMajestywasgettingcrownedinBohemia,gettingpersonallyhomagedinUpperAustria,abouttogetvice—
homagedinBavariaitself,——nothingbutgloriouspomp,butloyaltyloudlyvocal,inPrag,inLinzandtheonce—afflictedCountries;
atherreturntoVienna,shehasmetthenewsofDettingen;andisreadytostrikethestarswithhersublimehead。"MylittlePaladinbecomeSupremeJove,too:aha!"
BRITANNICMAJESTYHOLDSHISCONFERENCESOFHANAU。
BritannicMajestystayedtwowholemonthsinHanau,brushinghimselfupagainafterthatfiercebout;andconsidering,withmuchdubitation,Whatisthenextthing?"GoinuponNoailles[whoisstillhangingabouthere,withBrogliocomingonintheexplodedstate];wreckBroglioandhim!GoinupontheFrench!"sourgesStairalways:rashStair,urgenttotheedgeofimportunity;
EnglishOfficersandMartialBoyurgentlybackingStair;whiletheHanoverianOfficersandMartialParentaresteadytotheotherview。Sothat,inrespectofWar,thenextthing,fortwomonthscoming,wasabsolutelynothing,andtotheendoftheCampaignwasnothingworthamoment’snoticefromus。ButontheDiplomaticside,thereweretwosomethings,CONFERENCESATHANAUwithpoorKaiserKarl,andTREATYATWORMSwiththeKingofSardinia;
which——asminusquantities,orthingslessthannothing——turnedouttobehighlyconsiderableforhisBritannicMajestyandus。
HANAU,7thJuly—1stAUGUST,1743。"PoorKaiserKarlhadleftAugsburgJune26th,——whilehisBrogliowasferryingatDonauworth,andhisSeckendorftreatyingforArmisticeatNieder—Schonfeld,——
theverydaybeforeDettingen。Whatapieceofnewstohim,thatDettingen,onhisreturntoFrankfurt!
"AfewdaysafterDettingen,July3d,Noailles,whoisstillwithincall,cameacrosstoseethispoorstepsonofFortune;
givespiteousaccountofhim,ifanyonewerenowcuriousonthathead:HowhebitterlycomplainsofBroglio,oftheno—subsidiessent,andisdrivennearlydesperate;——notapennyinhispocket,beyondall。UponwhichlatterclauseNoaillesmunificentlyadvancedhima$6,000。’Draughtof40,000crowns,inmyownname;whichdoubtlesstheKing,inhiscompassion,willseegoodtosanction。’
[CampagnesdeNoailles(Amsterdam,1760:
thisisaSequel,orratherVICEVERSA,tothatwhichwehavecalledDESTROISMARECHAUX,beingofthesameCollection),i。316—328。]HisfeelingsonthelossofDettingenmaybepictured。
Buthehadlaidhisaccountwithsuchthings;——preparedfortheworst,sincethatInterviewwithBroglioandConti;oneplannowleft,’Peace,costwhatitwill!’
"ThepoorKaiserhadalready,aswesaw,gotintohopesofbargainingwithhisBritannicMajesty;andnowheinstantlysetsaboutit,whileHanauisvictorioushead—quarters。BritannicMajestyisnothimselfveryforward;butCarteret,Iratherjudge,hadtakenupthenotion;andonhisMajesty’sandCarteret’spart,thereisactuallythewishandattempttopacificatetheReich;
todosomethingtolerableforthepoorKaiser,aswellassatisfactorytotheHungarianMajesty,——satisfactory,orcapableofbeing(bythePurse—holder)insistedonassuch。
"AndsotheLandgrafofHessen,excellentWilhelm,KingGeorge’sfriendandgossip,iscomeovertothatlittleTownofHanau,whichishisown,intheSchlossofwhichKingGeorgeislodged:
andthere,betweenCarteretandourLandgraf,——theKingofPrussia’sAmbassador(HerrKlinggraf),andoneortwoselectlyzealousOfficialpersons,assistingorwatching,——wehave’ConferencesofHanau’goingon;inazealousfashion;allpartieseagerforPeacetoKaiserandReich,andingoodhopeofbringingitabout。Thewish,ardenttoadegree,hadbeentheKaiser’sfirstofall。Thescheme,Iguess,waschieflyofCarteret’sdevising;
who,inhismagnificentmind,regardlessofexpense,thinksitmaybepossible,anddiscernswellwhatastrokeitwillbefortheCauseofLiberty,andhowgloriousforaBritannicMajesty’sAdviserinsuchcircumstances。July7th,theConferencesbegan;
and,sofrankandloyalweretheparties,inaweek’stimematterswereadvancedalmosttocompletion,thefundamentaloutlinesofabargainsettled,andalmostreadyforsigning。
"’GivememyBavariaagain!’theKaiserhadalwayssaid:’IamHeadoftheReich,andhavenothingtoliveupon!’Ononepreliminary,Carterethadalwaysbeeninexorable:’HavedonewithyourFrenchauxiliaries;sendeverysoulofthemhome;theGermansoilonceclearedofthem,muchwillbepossible;tillthennothing。’
KAISER:’Well,givemebackmyBavaria;myBavaria,andsomethingsuitabletoliveupon,asHeadoftheReich:somedecentAnnualPension,tillBavariacomeintopayingcondition,——cannotyou,whoaresowealthy?AndBavariamightbemadeaKingdom,ifyouwishedtodothehandsomething。IwillrenouncemyAustrianPretensions,quitutterlymyFrenchAlliances;consenttohaveherHungarianMajesty’saugustConsortmadeKingoftheRomans[whichmeansKaiserafterme],andinfactbeverysafetotheHouseofAustriaandtheCauseofLiberty。’Toallthisthethrice—unfortunategentleman,titularEmperoroftheWorld,andunablenowtopayhismilk—scores,iseagertoconsent。TocontinuecrossingtheAbyssesonbridgesofFrenchrainbow?NothingbutFrenchsubsidiestosubsiston;andthesehowpaid,——Noailles’sprivatepocketknowshow!’Iconsent,’saidtheKaiser;’willforgiveandforget,andbygonesshallbebygonesallround!’’FaironhisImperialMajesty’spart,’admitsCarteret;’wewilltrytobepersuasiveatVienna。Difficult,butwewilltry。’Inameekmattershadcometothispoint;andthemorrow,July15th,wasappointedforsigning。
MostimportantofProtocols,foundation—stoneofPeacetoTeutschland;KingFriedrichandtheimpartialPowersapproving,withBritannicGeorgeanddrawnswordpresiding。
"KingFriedrichapprovesheartily;andhopesitwilldo。
LandgrafWilhelmisproudtohavesavedhisKaiser,——whosogladastheLandgrafandhisKaiser?Carteret,too,isveryglad;
exulting,ashewellmay,tohavecomposedtheseworld—deliriums,orconcentratedthemuponpeccantFrance,hewithhissinglehead,andtohavegotavalueoutofthatabsurdPragmaticArmy,afterall。Amanofmagnificentideas;whohopes’tobringFriedrichovertohismind;’tounitepoorTeutschlandagainstsuchOriflammeInvasionsandintolerableinterferences,andtosettletheaccountofFranceforalongwhile。HeistheonlyEnglishMinisterwhospeaksGerman,knowsGermansituations,interests,ways;orhastheleastrealunderstandingofthishugeGermanImbroglioinwhichEnglandisvoluntarilyweltering。Andtruly,hadCarteretbeenKingofEngland,whichhewasnot,——nay,hadKingFriedrichevergottounderstand,insteadofmisunderstand,whatCarteretWAS,——heremighthavebeenaconsiderableaffair!
"Butitnow,attheeleventhhour,cameuponmagnificentCarteret,nowseeminglyforthefirsttimeinitsfullforce,ThatheCarteretwasnotthemaster;thattherewasabewilderedParliamentathome,apoorpeddlingDukeofNewcastleleaderofthesame,withhisLordsoftheRegency,whocouldfatallyputanegativeonallthis,unlesstheywerefirstgainedover。Onthemorrow,July15th,Carteret,insteadofsigning,asexpected,hasto——purposeafortnight’sdelaytillheconsultinEngland!Absolutelywouldnotandcouldnotsign,tillaCouriertoEnglandwentandreturned。
ToLandgrafWilhelm’s,toKlinggraf’sandtheKaiser’sverygreatsurprise,disappointmentandsuspicion。ButCarteretwasinflexible:’willonlytakeafortnight,’saidhe;’andIcanhopeallwillyetbewell!’
"TheCouriercamebackpunctuallyinafortnight。HisMessagewaspresentedatHanau,August1st,——andranconclusivelytotheeffect:’No!We,NoodleofNewcastle,andmyotherLordsofRegency,donotconsent;muchless,willundertaketocarrythethingthroughParliament:Bynomannerofmeans!’SothatCarteret’slatelytoweringAffairhadtocollapseignominiously,inthatmanner;poorCarteretprotestinghissorrow,hisunalterableindividualwishesandfutureendeavors,nottospeakofhisBritannicMajesty’s,——andpolitelypressingonthepoorKaiseragiftof15,000pounds(firstweeklyinstalmentofthe’AnnualPension’thatHAD,intheory,beensetapartforhim);whichtheKaiser,thoughindigent,declined。[Adelung,iii。B,206,209—212;
seeCoxe,MemoirsofPelham(London,1829),i。75,469。]’
"ThedisgustofLandgrafWilhelmwasinfinite;who,honestman,sawinallthismerelyanartificeofCarteret’s,ToundotheKaiserwithhisFrenchAllies,toquirkhimoutofhispoorhelpfromtheFrench,andhavehimattheirmercy。’Shameonit!’criedLandgrafWilhelmaloud,andmanyotherslessaloud,KlinggrafandKingFriedrichamongthem:’WhataCarteret!’TheLandgrafturnedawaywithindignationfromperfidiousEngland;andbeganformingquiteoppositeconnections。’Youshallnotevenhavemyhired6,000,youperfidious!Thingdonewithsuchdexterityofart,too!’thoughttheLandgraf,——andcontinuedtothink,tillevidenceturnedup,aftermanymonths。[CARTERETPAPERS(inBritishMuseum),AdditionalMSS。No。22,529(May,1743—January,1745);inNo。22,527(January—
September,1742)areotherLandgraf—WilhelmpiecesofCorrespondence。]ThiswasFriedrich’sopiniontoo,——permanently,I
believe;——andthatofnearlyalltheworld,tillthethingandtheDoerofthethingwerecontemptuouslyforgotten。ApieceofMachiavelismonthepartofCarteretandperfidiousAlbion,——equalinrefinedcunningtothatoftheShipswithfoulbottom,whichvanishedfromCadiztwoyearsago,andwereadmiredwithashudderbyContinentalmankindwhocouldseeintomillstones!
"ThisisthesecondstrokeofMachiavellianArtbythoseIslanders,intheirtrulyvulpinemethod。StrokeofArtimportantforthisHistory;andworththeattentionofEnglishreaders,——beingalmostofpatheticnature,whenonecomestounderstandit!Carteret,forthisHanaubusiness,hadclangorenoughtoundergo,poorman,fromGermansandfromEnglish;whichwaswhollyunjust。’Histrade,’saytheEnglish——(orusedtosay,tilltheyforgottheirconsiderableCarteretaltogether)——’wasthatofrisingintheworldbyfeedingthemadGermanhumorsoflittleGeorge;amiserabletrade。’Yes,myfriends;——butitwasnotquiteCarteret’s,ifyouwillpleasetoexamine!Andnonesay,Carteretdidnotdohistrade,whateveritwas,withacertaingreatness,——atleasttillhabitsofdrinkingrathertookhim,Poorman:impatient,probably,ofsuchfortunelongcontinued!Forhewasthrownout,nextSessionofParliament,byNoodleofNewcastle,onthosestrangeterms;andnevercouldgetinagain,andisnowforgotten;andtheresucceededhimstillmoremournfulphenomena,——saidNoodleorthepoorPelhams,namely,——ofwhom,asofstraugeminusquantitiessettomanageouraffairs,thereisstillsomedrearyremembranceinEngland。Well!"——
Carteret,thoughtherehadbeennoDukeofNewcastletorunathwartthisfinescheme,wouldhavehadhisdifficultiesinmakingherHungarianMajestycomply。HerMajesty’sgreatheart,incurablygrievedaboutSilesia,isbentonhaving,ifnotrestorationoneday,whichisahopesheneverquits,atanyratesomeample(cannotbetooample)equivalentelsewhere。OntheHanauscheme,unitedTeutschland,withEnglandforsoultoit,wouldhavefallenvigorouslyonthethroatofFrance,andmadeFrancedisgorge:
Lorraine,Elsass,theThreeBishoprics,——nottothinkofBurgundy,andearlierplundersfromtheReich,——herewouldhavebeen"cutandcomeagain"forherHungarianMajestyandeverybody!——ButDiana,intheshapeofhisGraceofNewcastle,intervenes;andallthishasbecomechimericalandworse。
ItwaswhileCarteret’scourierwasgonetoEnglandandnotcomeback,thatKingLouismadetheabove—mentionedmild,almostpenitent,DeclarationtotheReich,"Goodpeople,letushavePeace;andallbeaswewere!I,formyshare,wishtobeoutofit;Iamforhome!"And,ineffect,wasalreadyhome;
everyFrenchmaninarmsbeing,bythistime,onhisownsideoftheRhine,asweshallpresentlyobserve。
For,thesameday,July26th,whilethatwasgoingonatFrankfurt,andCarteret’sreturn—courierwasdueinfivedays,hisBritannicMajestyatHanauhadasplendidvisit,——tendingnottowardsPeacewithFrance,butquitetheoppositeway。VisitfromPrinceKarl,withKhevenhullerandotherdignitaries;doingusthathonor"tilltheeveningofthe28th。"QuittingtheirArmy,——whichisnowintheseneighborhoods(Brogliowellgonetoairaheadofit;
Noaillestoo,atthefirstsuresniffofit,havingrusheddouble—
quickacrosstheRhine),——thesehighGentlemenhaverunovertous,foracoupleofdays,to"congratulateonDettingen;"or,betterstill,toconsult,facetoface,aboutulteriormovements。"FollowNoailles;transfertheseatofwartoFranceitself?Thesearemyorders,yourMajesty。CombinedInvasionofElsass:whataslashmaybemadeintoFrance[righthandsellingofyourCarteretScheme]
thisveryyear!""Proper,ineverycase!"answerstheBritannicMajesty;andengagestoco—operate。UponwhichPrinceKarl——aftertheduereviewing,dinnering,ceremonialblaring,whichwassplendidtowitness[Anonymous,DukeofCumberland,pp。65,86。]——hastensbacktohisArmy(nowlyingaboutBadenDurlach,70,000strong);andoughttobeswift,whilethechancelasts。
HUNGARIANMAJESTYANSWERS,INTHEDIET,THATFRENCHDECLARATION,"MAKEPEACE,GOODPEOPLE;IWISHTOBEOUTOFIT!"——INANOMINOUSMANNER。
Thesearefineprospects,intheFrenchquarter,ofanequivalentforSchlesien;——veryfine,unlessDianaintervene!Dianaornot,Frenchprospectsornot,herHungarianMajestyfastensonBavariawithuncommontightnessoffist,nowthatBavariaissweptclear;
wellresolvedtokeepBavariaforequivalent,tillbettercome。
Exacts,byherdeputy,HomagefromthePopulationthere;
strictOathofFealtytoHER;poorKaiserprotestinghisuttermost,tonopurpose;Kaiser’spoorPrinter(atRegensburg,whichisinBavaria)getting"triedandhanged"forprintingsuchProtest!
"ShedraughtsforciblytheBavarianmilitiasintoherItalianArmy;"ishighandmercilessonallhands;——inaword,throttlespoorBavaria,asiftothechokingofitoutright。SothattheveryGazetteersinforeignplacesgavevoice,thoughBavariaitself,suchagrasponthethroatofit,wasvoiceless。Seckendorf’spoorBargainforneutralityasaBavarianReich—Army,herHungarianMajestydisdainstoconfirm;toconfirm,oreventoreject;
treatsSeckendorfandhisBavarianArmylittleotherwisethanasastraydogwhichshehasnotyetshot。AndtrulytheoldFeldmarschallliesatWembdingen,inmostdisconsolatemoultingcondition;littleornothingtoliveupon;——theEnglish,generouscreatures,hadatonetimeflunghimsomething,fancyingtheArmisticemightbeuseful;butnowitmustbetheFrenchthatdoit,ifanybody![Adelung,iii。B,204("22dAngust"),206,&c。]
HanauConferenceshavingfailed,thesethingsdonotfail。
KaiserKarlisbecometragicaltothinkof。AspectacleofpitytoLandgrafWilhelm,toKingFriedrich,andseriouson—lookers;——andperhapsnotofpityonly,butof"pityandfear"tosomeofthem!——
sullenAustriatakingitssweetrevenges,inthisfashion。
Readerswhowilllookthroughthesesmallchinks,mayguesswhataworld—welterthiswas;andhowFriedrich,gazingintophaseonphaseofit,asintoOraclesofFate,whichtohimtheywere,hadaHistory,inthesemonths,thatwillnowneverbeknown。
August16thcameoutherHungarianMajesty’sResponsetothatmildquasi—penitentDeclarationofKingLouistotheReich;andmuchastonishedKingLouisandothers,andtheveryReichitself。
"Outofit?"saysherHungarianMajesty(whomwewithregret,forbrevity’ssake,translatefromOfficialintovulgate):"HisMostChristianMajestywishestobeoutofit:——Doesnothe,the(whatshallIcallhim)CrownedHousebreakertakeninthefact?Youshallgetoutofit,pleaseHeaven,whenyouhavemadecompensationforthedamagedone;andtillthennot,ifitpleaseHeaven!"Andinthisstrain(lengthilyOfficial,thoughindignanttoadegree)
enumeratesthewantonunspeakablemischiefsandoutrageswhichAustria,akindofsacredentityguaranteedbyLawofNatureandElevenSignaturesofPotentates,hassufferedfromtheMostChristianMajesty,——andwillhavecompensationfor,Heavennowpointingtheway![INEXTENSOinAdelung,iii。B,201etseqq。]
AmostportentousDocument;fullofsombreemphasis,insonoroussnufflingtoneofvoice;enunciating,withinflexiblepurpose,anumberofunexpectedthings:veryportentoustohisPrussianMajestyamongothers。Formsaturning—pointorcrisisbothintheFrenchWar,andinhisPrussianMajesty’sHistory;andoughttobeparticularlynotedanddatedbythecarefulreader。ItisherethatwefirstpubliclyheartellofCompensation,thenecessityAustriawillhaveofCompensation,——AustriadoesnotsayexpresslyforSilesia,butshesaysandmeansforlossofterritory,andforallotherlosseswhatsoever:"Compensationforthepast,andsecurityforthefuture;thatismyfullintention,"snufflesshe,inthatslowmetallictoneofhers,irrevocableexceptbythegods。
"Compensationforthepast,Securityforthefuture:"Compensation?
whatdoesherHungarianMajestymean?askedalltheworld;
askedFriedrich,thenowProprietorofSilesia,withpeculiarcuriosity!ItisthefirsttimeherHungarianMajestystepsarticulatelyforwardwithsuchextraordinaryClaimofDamages,asifshealonehadsuffereddamage;——butitisafixedpointatVienna,andisanagitatingtopictomankindinthecomingmonthsandyears。LorraineandtheThreeBishoprics;therewouldbeafinecompensation。Thenagain,whatsayyoutoBavaria,inlieuoftheSilesialost?YouhaveBavariabythethroat;keepBavaria,you。
Give"Kur—Baiern,Kaiserastheycallhim,"somethingintheNetherlandstoliveupon?WillbebetteroutofGermanyaltogether,withhisFrenchleanings。Or,givehimtheKingdomofNaples,——ifoncewehadconquereditagain?Thesewereactualschemes,successive,simultaneous,muchoccupyingCarteretandthehighHeadsatViennanowandafterwards;whichcamealltonothing;
butshouldwereitnotimpossible,beheldinsomeremembrancebyreaders。
Anotherstillmoreunexpectedpointcomesouthere,inthissingularDocument,publiclyforthefirsttime:Austria’sfeelingsinregardtotheImperialElectionitself。Namely,ThatAustria,considers,andhasallalongconsidered,thesaidElectiontobefatallyvitiatedbythatExclusionoftheBohemianVote;tobeinfactnullifiedthereby;andthat,toherclearview,thepresentso—calledKaiserisanimaginaryquantity,andamereKaiserofFrenchshredsandpatches!"DERSEYN—SOLLENDEKAISER,"snufflesAustriainonepassage,"YourKaiserasyoucallhim;"andinanotherpassage,insteadof"Kaiser,"putsflatly"Kur—Baiern。"
ThisisamostextraordinarydoctrinetoanElectoralRomishReich!
IstheHolyRomishReichtoDECLAREitselfan"EnchantedWiggery,"
then,anddosuicide,forbehoofofAustria?——
"August16th,thisextraordinaryDocumentwasdeliveredtotheChanceryofMainz;andSeptember23d,itwas,contrarytoexpectation,broughttoDICTATURbysaidChancery,"——ofwhichlatterphrase,andphenomenon,hereistheexplanationtoEnglishreaders。
HadthelateKur—Mainz(generalArch—Chairman,SpeakeroftheDiet)
beenstillinofficeandexistence,certainlysoshockingaDocumenthadneverbeenallowed"tocometoDICTATUR,"——tobedictatedtotheReich’sClerks;tohaveafirstreading,asweshouldcallit;oreventolieonthetable,withatheoreticchancethatway。ButAustria,thankstoourlittleGeorgeandhisPragmaticArmament,hadgotanewKur—Mainz;——bywhom,inopencontemptofimpartiality,andinopenleaningforAustriawithallhisweight,itwasdulyforwardedtoDictature;broughtbeforeanastonishedDiet(REICHSTAG),andendlesslyarguedofinReichstagandReich,——withsmallbenefittoAustria,orthenewKur—Mainz。
WisekindnesstoAustriahadbeensuppressionofthisPiece,notbringingofittoDictatureatall:butthenewKur—Mainz,calledupon,andconsciousoffacesufficient,hadnotscrupled。
"Shameonyou,partialArch—Chancellor!"exclaimsalltheworld。——
"RevokesuchshamefullypartialDictature?"thiswasthenextquestionbroughtbeforetheReich。Inwhich,Kur—Hanover(BritannicGeorge)wastheoneElectorthatopined,No。Majorityconclusive;
though,asusual,nosettle—mentattainable。Thisisthefamous"DICTATUR—SACHE(DictatureQuestion),"whichragesonus,foraboutelevenmonthstocome,inthosedistractedoldBooks;andseemsasifitwouldneverend。Noristhereanysayingwhenitwouldhaveended;——hadnot,inAugust,1744,somethingelseended,theKingofPrussia’spatience,namely;whichenabledittoend,ontheKaiser’sthenorder![Adelung,iii。B,201,iv。198,&c。]
Itmustbeowned,ingeneral,theconductofMariaTheresatotheReich,eversincetheReichhadventuredtorejectherHusbandasKaiser,andpreferanother,wasallalongofahighnature;tillnowithasgrownintoabsolutecontumacy,andatreatingoftheReich’selectedKaiserasamerelychimericalpersonage。NolawoftheReichhadbeenviolatedagainstherHungarianMajestyorHusband:"Whatlaw?"askedalljudges。VicariusKur—Sachsensat,incommittee,hatchingformanymonthsthatQuestionoftheKur—BohmenVote;andbytheprescribedmethods,broughtitoutinthenegative,——everyformalityandregularityobserved,andnobodybutyourAustrianDeputyprotestinguponit,whenrequestedtogohome。
But,thehighMariahadanotionthattheReichbelongedtoheraugustFamilyandher;andthatallElectionstothecontrarywereaninconclusivething,fundamentallyvoideveryoneofthem。
Thustoo,longbeforethis,inregardtotheREICHS—ARCHIV
Question。TheArchivesandindispensablestOfficialRecordsandPapersoftheReich,——thesehadlainsolongatVienna,thehighMariacouldnotthinkofgivingthemup。"SodifficulttoextricatewhatPapersareAustrianspecially,fromwhatareAustrian—
Imperial;——musthavetime!"answeredshealways。AndneithertheKaiser’smoreandmorepressingdemands,northoseofthelateKur—Mainz,backedbytheReich,andreiteratedmonthaftermonthandyearafteryear,couldavailinthematter。Mereangrycorrespondences,growingeverangrier;——theArchivesoftheReichlayirrecoverableatVienna,detainedonthispretextandonthat:
norweretheyevergivenup;butlaytheretilltheReichitselfhadended,muchmoretheKaiserKarlVII。!Thesearehighprocedures。
AsiftheReichhadbeenone’sownchattel;asifaNon—AustrianKaisermereimpossible,andtheReichanditslawshad,evenOfficially,becomephantasmal!That,infact,wasMariaTheresa’sinarticulateinbornnotion;andgradually,ashersuccessesonthefieldrosehigher,itbecameevermorearticulate:tillthisof"theSEYN—SOLLENDEKaiser"putacrownonit。Justifiable,iftheReichwithitsLawswereachattel,orrebelliousvassal,ofAustria;notjustifiableotherwise。"Hearye?"answeredalmostalltheReich(eightKurfursts,withtheoneexceptionofKur—Hanover:
asweobserved):"OursolemnlyelectedKaiser,KarlVII。,isathingofquirksandquiddities,ofFrenchshredsandpatches;
atpresent,itseems,theReichhasnoKaiseratall;andwillgoeverdeeperintoanarchiesandunnamabilities,tillitproceedanewtogetone,——oftherightAustriantype!"——TheReichisatalkingentity:KingFriedrichisboundrathertosilence,solongaspossible。Histhoughtsonthesemattersarenotgiven;butsureenoughtheywerecontinual,toointensetheycouldhardlybe。
"Compensation;""TheReichasgoodasmine:"Whitherisallthistending?WalraveandthoseSilesianFortifyings,——letWalravemindhiswork,andgetitperfected!
BRITANNICMAJESTYGOESHOME。
The"CombinedInvasionofElsass"——letussaybriefly,oversteppingtheorderofdate,andstillforamomentleavingFriedrich——cametonothing,thisyear。PrinceKarlwas70,000;BritannicGeorge(whenoncethoseDutch,crawlingonallsummer,hadactuallycomeup)was66,000,——nay70,000;Karlhavinglenthimthatbeautifulcannibalgentleman,"ColonelMentzeland4,000Tolpatches,"bywayofedge—trimming。KarlwastocrossinUpperElsass,intheStrasburgparts;Karlonceacross,BritannicMajestywastocrossaboutMainz,andco—operatefromLowerElsass。Andtheyshouldhavebeenswiftaboutit;andwerenot!AlltheworldexpectedasevereslashtoFrance;andFranceitselfhadthedueapprehensionofit:
butFranceandalltheworldweremistaken,thistime。
PrinceKarlwasslowwithhispreparations;NoaillesandCoigny(Broglio’ssuccessor)werenotslow;"raisingbatterieseverywhere,"raisinglines,"10,000ElsassPeasants,"andwhatnot;
——sothat,bythetimePrinceKarlwasready(middleofAugust),theylayintrenchedandminatoryatallpassablepoints;andKarlcouldnowhere,inthatUpper—RhineCountry,byanymethod,getacross。Nothinggotacross;exceptonceortwiceforperhapsaday,ButcherTrenckandhisloosekennelofPandours;whowentabout,plunderingandrioting,withloudrodomontade,totheadmirationoftheGazetteers,ifofnooneelse。
NorwasGeorge’ssecondingofimportantnature;mostdubitative,whollypassive,youwouldrathersay,thoughtheRiver,inhisquarter,layundefended。Hedid,atlast,crosstheRhineaboutMainz;wentlanguidlytoWorms,——didanever—memorableTREATYOF
WORMSthere,ifnofightingthereorelsewhere。WenttoSpeyer,wheretheDutchjoinedhim(sadlyshortofnumbersstipulated,haditbeentheleastmatter);——wasatGermersheim,atwhatotherplacesIforget;manoeuvringaboutinalanguidandasifinanaimlessmanner,atleastitwasinaperfectlyineffectualone。