MentzelrodegloriouslytoTrarbach,intoLorraine;stuckupProclamation,"HungarianMajestycome,byGod’shelp,forherownagain,"andthelike;——ofwhichDocument,nowfallenrare,wegivetextuallythelastline:"AndifanyofyouDON’T[don’tsitquietatleast],Iwill,"tobebrief,"firstcutoffyourearsandnoses,andthenhangyououtofhand。"ThesingularChampionofChristendom,famoustothethenGazetteers![InAdelung(iii。B,193)theProclamationatlarge。Ihave,oroncehad,a
LifeofMentzel(Dublin,Ithink,1744),"pricetwopence,"——dearatthemoney。]NothingfarthercouldGeorge,withhisDutchnowadjoined,dointhoseparts,butwriggleslightlytoandfrowithoutaim;orstandabsolutelystill,andeatprovision(greatuncertaintyanddiscrepancyamongtheGenerals,andStairgoneinahuff[Went,"August27th,byWorms"(Henderson,
LifeofCumberlund,p。48),justwhilehisMajestywasbeginningtocross。]),——tillatlengththe"CombinedPragmaticTroops"returnedtoMainz(October11th);andthence,dreadfullyinill—humorwitheachother,separatedintotheirwinter—quartersintheNetherlandsandadjacentregions。
PrinceKarltriedhardinseveralplaces;hardestat,Alt—Breisach,faruptheRiver,withSwabianFreiburgforhisplaceofarms;——anAustrianCountryallthat,"HithcrAustria,"SwabianAustria。
There,atAlt—Breisach,layPrinceKarl(24thAugust—3dSeptember),hisleftleaningonthatvenerablesugar—loafHill,withthetowersandrampartsonthetopofit;lookingwistfullyintoAlsace,iftherewerenowayofgettingatit。Hedidgetoncehalf—wayacrosstheRiver,lodginghimselfinanIslandcalledRheinmark;butcouldgetnofarther,owingtotheNoailles—Coignypreparationsforhim。
CalledaCouncilofWar;decidedthathehadnotMagazines,thatitwastoolateintheseason;andmarchedhomeagain(October12th)
throughtheSchwabenland;leaving,besidesthestrongGarrisonofFreiburg,onlyTrenckwith12,000PandourstokeeptheCountryopenforus,againstnextyear。BritannicMajesty,asweobserved,didthen,almostsimultaneously,inlikemannermarchhome;[Adelung,iii。B,192,215;Anonymous,Cumberland,
p。121。]——onegoalisalwaysclearwhenthedaysinks:Makeforyourquarters,foryourbed。
PrinceKarlwasgloriouslywedded,thisWinter,toherHungarianMajesty’syoungSister;——gloriousmeedofWar;and,theysay,aunionofheartswithal;——WifeandhetohaveBrusselsforresidence,andbe"Joint—GovernorsoftheNetherlands"henceforth。
StoutKhevenhuller,almostduringtherejoicings,tookfever,andsuddenlydied;tothegreatsorrowofherMajesty,forlossofsuchasoldierandman。[MariaTheresiensLeben,
pp。94,45。]BritannicMajestyhasnotbeensuccessfulwithhisPragmaticArmy。HedidgethisnewKur—Mainz,whohasbroughttheAustrianExorbitancytoafirstreading,andintogeneralview。
HedidgetoutoftheDettingenmouse—trap;and,totheadmirationoftheGazetteermind,and(wehope)envyofMostChristianMajesty,hehas,regardlessofexpense,playedSupremeJoveontheGermanboardsforabovethreemonthsrunning。ButastoSettlementoftheGermanQuarrel,hehasdonenothingatall,andevenagooddealless!LetmecommendtoreadersthislittlescrapofNote;
headed,"METHODSOFPACIFICATINGGERMANY:——
1。ThereisonereadymethodofpacificatingGermany:ThathisBritannicMajestyshouldfirmlybuttonhisbreeches—pocket,’Notonesixpencemore,Madam!’——andgohometohisbed,ifhefindnobusinesswaitinghimathome。HasnothealwaystheEAR—OF—JENKINS
Question,andtheCauseofLibertyinthatsuccinctform。But,inGermany,sinewsofwarbeingcut,lawofgravitationwouldatonceact;andexorbitantHungarianMajesty,tiredFrance,andallelse,wouldinabriefspaceoftimelapseintoequilibrium,probablyofthemorestablekind。
2。Or,ifyouwanttosavetheCauseofLibertyonagrandscale,therearethoseHANAUCONFERENCES,——Carteret’smagnificentscheme:
AunitedTeutschland(Englandinspiringit),torushonthethroatofFrance,for’Compensation,’foruniversalsalvingofsores。
Thissecondmethod,Dianahavingintervened,isgonetowater,andeventopoisonedwater。Sothat,3"。TherewasnothingleftforpoorCarteretbutaTREATYOF
WORMS(concerningwhich,somethingmoreexplicitbyandby):
ATeutschland(theEnglish,doublyandtreblyinspiringit,assurelytheywillnowneed!)torushasaforesaid,intheDISunitedandindeednearlyinternecinestate。Whichthirdmethod——unlessCarteretcanconquerNaplesfortheKaiser,stufftheKaiserintosomesatisfactory’Netherlands’orthelike,andmiraculouslydotheunfeasible(Fortuneperhapsfavoringthebrave)——maybecalledtheunlikelyone!AspoorCarteretprobablyguesses,ordreads;——
hadhenowanychoiceleft。Butitwaslove’slastshift!And,byaidofDianaandotherwise,thatisthepostureinwhich,atMainz,11thOctober,1743,weleavetheGermanQuestion。"
"Compensation,"fromFranceinparticular,isnottobehadgratis,itappears。Somewhereorotheritmustbehad!Complainingonce,assheveryoftendoes,toherSupremeJove,HungarianMajestyhadwritten:"Why,oh,whydidyouforcemetogiveupSilesia!"——
SupremeJoveanswers(atwhatdateIneverknew,thoughFriedrichknowsit,and"hascopyoftheLetter"):"Madam,whatwasgoodtogiveisgoodtotakeback(CCQUIESTBONAPRENDREESTBONA
RENDRE)!"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。27。]
ChapterVI。
VOLTAIREVISITSFRIEDRICHFORTHEFOURTHTIME。
InthelastdaysofAugust,thereappearsatBerlinM。deVoltaire,onhisFourthVisit:——thriceandfourtimeswelcome;thoughthistime,privately,inasomewhatunexpectedcapacity。Cometotryhishandinthediplomaticline;tosoundFriedrichalittle,onbehalfofthedistressedFrenchMinistry。That,veryprivatelyindeed,isVoltaire’serrandatpresent;andgreathopeshangbyitforVoltaire,ifheproveadroitenough。
Poorman,ithadturnedouthecouldnotgethisAcademyDiploma,afterall,——owingagaintointricaciesandheterodoxies。KingLouiswasatfirstwilling,indifferent;naytheChateaurouxwaswilling:
butorthodoxpartiespersuadedhisMajesty;wickedMaurepas(thesamewholastedtilltheRevolutiontime)sethisfaceagainstit;
Maurepas,andANC。deMirepoix(whomtheywittilycall"ANE"orAssofMirepoix,thatsouropaquecreature,latelymonk),wereindustriousexceedingly;andputvetoonVoltaire。AstupidBishopwaspreferredtohimforfillinguptheForty。TwoBishopsmagnanimouslyrefused;butonewasfoundwithambitiousstupidityenough:Voltaire,forthethirdtime,failedinthissmallmatter,tohimgreat。Nay,inspiteofthatkissinMEROPE,hecouldnotgethisMORTDECESARacted;cabalsrising;ANCIENdeMirepoixrising;Orthodoxy,sourOpacityprevailingagain。ToMadameandhim(thoughfinelycaressedintheParisiancircles)thesewereprovokingmonths;——enoughtomakeamanforswearLiterature,andtrysomeotherJacob’s—Ladderinthisworld。WhichVoltairehadactualthoughtsof,nowandthen。Wemayask,ArethesethingsofanaturetocreateloveoftheHierarchyinM。deVoltaire?
"YourAcademyisgoingtobeaSeminaryofPriests,"saysFriedrich。Thelynx—eyedanimal,——anxiouslyaskingitself,"Whitherward,then,outofsuchamess?"——walkswarilyabout,withitspawsofvelvet;buthas,INPOSSE,clawsunderthem,forcertainindividualsandfraternities。
Nor,alas,istheDuChateletrelationitselfsocelestialasitoncewas。Madamehasdiscovered,thinkonlywithwhatfeelings,thatthisgreatmandoesnotloveherasformerly!Thegreatmandenies,readytodenyontheGospels,toherandtohimself;
andyet,atbottom,ifwereadwiththemicroscope,therearesymptoms,anditisnotdeniable。Howshouldit?LeafyMay,hotJune,bydegreescomesOctober,sere,yellow;andatlast,aquiteleaflesscondition,——notFavonius,butgrayNortheast,withitshail—storms(jealousies,barrencankeredgusts),yourmainwindblowing。"EMILIEFAITDEL’ALGEBRE,"sneersheonce,inaninadvertentmoment,tosomeLady—friend:"Emiliedoing?EmilieisdoingAlgebra;thatisEmilie’semployment,——whichwillbeofgreatusetoherintheaffairsofLife,andofgreatcharminSociety。"
[LetterofVoltaire"ToMadameChambonin,"endof1742
(OEuvres,Editionin40vols。,Paris,1818,xxxii。148);——isMISSEDinthelaterEdition(97vols。,Paris,1837),towhichourhabitualreferenceis。]Voltaire(ifyoureadwiththemicroscope)has,onthissidealso,thoughtsofbeingoff。
"Offonthisside?"Madamefliesmad,becomesMegaera,atthementionorsuspicionofit!Ajealous,high—temperedAlgebraicLady。TheyhavehadtotellherofthissecretMissiontoBerlin;
andsheinsistsonbeingtheconduit,allthepaperstopassthroughherhandshereatParis,duringthegreatman’sabsence。
Fixednortheast;thatis,toappearance,thedomesticwindblowing!
AndIratherjudge,thegreatmanisgladtogetawayforatime。
ThisQuasi—DiplomaticSpeculation,oneperceives,ismuchmoreserious,onthepartbothofVoltaireandoftheMinistry,thananyoftheformerhadbeen。And,onVoltaire’spart,thereglitterprospectsnowandthenofsomethingpositivelyDiplomatic,ofarealcareerinthatkind,lyingaheadforhim。Fondhopesthese!
ButamongthenewMinisters,sinceFleury’sdeath,areAmelot,theD’Argensons,personalfriends,oldschool—fellowsofthepoorhuntedman,whoarewillingheshouldhaveshelterfromsuchapack;andallFrenchMinisters,clutchingateveryfloatingspar,inthistheirgeneralshipwreckinGermany,areawareoftheusestheremightbeinhim,insuchcrisis。"KnowsFriedrich;
mightperhapshavesomepowerinpersuadinghim,——powerinspyinghimatanyrate。UnlessFriedrichdostepforwardagain,whatistobecomeofus!"——Themutualhintings,negotiatings,expressinterviews,bargainingsandsecret—instructions,dimlytraceableinVoltaire’sLETTERS,hadbeengoingonperhapssinceMaylast,timeofthoseACADEMYfailures,ofthoseBroglioDespatchesfromtheDonauCountries,"Nostayinghere,yourMajesty!"——andIthinkitwas,infact,aboutthetimewhenBroglioblewuplikegunpowderandtumbledhomeonthewinds,thatVoltairesetoutonhismission。"VisittoFriedrich,"theycallit;——"invitation"fromFriedrichthereis,orcan,onthefirsthint,atanypointoftheJourneybe。
Voltairehaslingeredlongontheroad;leftParis,middleofJune;
[HisLetters(OEuvres,lxxiii。42,48)。]buthasbeenexceedinglyexertinghimself,intheHague,atBrussels,andwhereverelsepresent,inthewayofforwardinghiserrand,Spying,contriving,persuading;correspondingtorightandleft,——
corresponding,especiallymuch,withtheKingofPrussiahimself,andthenwith"M。Amelot,SecretaryofState,"toreportprogresstothebestadvantage。Therearecuriouselucidativesparks,inthoseVoltaireLetters,chaoticastheyare;smallsparks,elucidative,confirmatoryofyourdullHistoryBooks,andaddingtraits,hereandthere,totheImageyouhaveformedfromthem。
Yieldingyouapoormomentarycomfort;likereadingsomeriddleofnouse;likelightgotincidentally,byrubbingdarkupondark(sayVoltaireflintuponDryasdustgritstone),inthoselabyrinthiccatacombs,ifyouaredoomedtotravelthere。Amereweariness,otherwise,totheoutsidereader,hurryingforward,——tothelightFrenchEditor,whocanpasscomfortablyonwingsorballoons!
[OEuvres,lxxiii。pp。40—138。Clogenson,aDane(whoseNotes,signed"Clog。,"areinalltolerablerecentEditions),has,aloneamongtheCommentatorsofVoltaire’sLETTERS,madesomerealattempttowardsexplainingthemanypassagesthatarefallenunintelligible。"Clog。,"travellingonfoot,withhiseyesopen,is——especiallyonGerman—Historypoints——incomparableandunique,amonghisFrenchcomradesgoingbyballoon;anddropsarationalorhalf—rationalhintnowandthen,whichismeritoriouslyhelpful。Unhappilyheisbynomeanswell—readinthatGermanmatter,bynomeansalwaysexact;norindeedeverquitetobetrustedwithouttrialhad。]Voltaire’sassiduousfinessingswiththeHagueDiplomatistPeople,orwiththeirSecretariesifbribable;nay,withtheDutchGovernmentitself("throughchannelswhichIhaveopened,"——withinfinitesimallysmallresult);hisspyings("youngPodewils,"Ministerhere,NephewofthePodewilswehaveknown,"youngPodewilsinintriguewithaDutchLadyofrank:"
thinkofthat,yourExcellency);hispreparatorysubtlecorrespondingswithFriedrich:hisexquisitemanoeuvrings,andreallygreatindustriesinthesmallway:——allthis,andmuchelse,wewillomit。Impatientofthesepreludings,whichhavebeenmany!
Thus,atonepoint,Voltaire"tookaFLUXION"(catarrhal,fromthenoseonly),whenFriedrichwasquiteready;then,again,whenVoltairewasready,andthefluxionoff,FriedrichhadgoneuponhisSilesianReviews:inshort,therehadbeensuchcross—purposes,tediousdelays,asaredistressingtothinkof;——andwewillsayonly,thatM。deVoltairedidactually,aftertheconceivableadventures,alightintheBerlinSchloss(lastdayofAugust,asI
count);welcomed,likenootherman,bytheRoyalLandlordthere;
——andthatthisistheFourthVisit;andhas(instrictprivacy)
weightierintentionsthananyoftheforegoing,onM。deVoltaire’spart。
Voltairehadagloriousreception;apartmentneartheKing’s;
Kingglidingin,atoddmoments,inthebeautifulestway;andforsevenoreightdays,therewas,atBerlinandthenatPotsdam,afineawakeningofthesphere—harmoniesbetweenthem,withtouchesofpracticalitythrowninassuited。Ofcourseitwasnotlongtill,onsometouchofthatlatterkind,Friedrichdiscernedwhatthecelestialmessengerhadcomeuponwithal;——adangerousmomentforM。deVoltaire,"Kingvisiblyirritated,"admitshe,withtheaquilineglancetransfixinghim!"Alas,yourMajesty,mereexcessofloyalty,submission,devotion,onmypoorpart!Deigntothink,maynotthistoo,——inthepresentstateofmyKing,ofmyTwoKings,andofallEurope,——beitselfakindofspheralthing?"
Sothattheaquilinelightningwasbutmomentary;andabatedtolambenttwinklings,withsomethingevenofcomicinthem,asweshallgather。VoltairehadhisdifficultieswithValori,too;
"Whatinterlopingfellowisthis?"gloomedValori,"AdevotedsecretaryofyourExcellency’s;onhishonor,nothingmore!"
answeredVoltaire,bowingtotheground:——andstrivestobehaveassuch;givingValori"thesepoorReportsofminetoputincipher,"
andthelike。Veryslipperyicehereaboutsfortheadroitman!
HisreportstoAmelotareofsanguinetone;butindicate,totheby—stander,smallprogress;iceslippery,andatwinkleofthecomic。Manyofthemarelost(orliehiddenintheFrenchArchives,andarenotworthdisinterring):buthereisone,savedbyBeaumarchaisandpublishedlongafterwards,whichwillsufficientlybringhometheoldscenetous。InthePalaceofBerlinorelseofPotsdam(datemustbe,6th—8thSeptember,1743),VoltairefromhisApartmenthandsina"Memorial"toFriedrich;andgetsitbackwithMarginalia,——asfollows:
"WouldyourMajestybepleasedtohavethekindcondescension(ASSEZDEBONTE)toputonthemarginyourreflectionsandorders。"
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"1。YourMajestyistoknowthattheSieurBassecour[signifiesBACKYARD],chiefBurghermasterofAmsterdam,hascomelatelytobegM。delaVille,FrenchMinisterthere,tomakeProposalsofPeace。
LaVilleanswered,IftheDutchhadofferstomake,theKinghismastercouldhearthem。
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"1。ThisBassecour,orBackyard,seemstobethegentlemanthathaschargeoffatteningthecaponsandturkeysfortheirHighMightinesses?
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"2。IsitnotclearthatthePeacePartywillinfalliblycarryit,inHolland,——sinceBassecour,oneofthemostdeterminedforWar,beginstospeakofPeace?IsitnotclearthatFranceshowsvigorandwisdom?
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"2。IadmirethewisdomofFrance;butGodpreservemefromeverimitatingit!
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"3。Inthesecircumstances,ifyourMajestytookthetoneofaMaster,gaveexampletothePrincesoftheEmpireinassemblinganArmyofNeutrality,——wouldnotyousnatchthesceptreofEuropefromthehandsoftheEnglish,whonowbraveyou,andspeakinaninsolentrevoltingmannerofyourMajesty,asdo,inHollandalso,thepartyoftheBentincks,theFagels,theOpdams?Ihavemyselfheardthem,andamreportingnothingbutwhatisverytrue。
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"3。Thiswouldbefinerinanodethaninactualreality。IdisturbmyselfverylittleaboutwhattheDutchandEnglishsay,theratherasIunderstandnothingofthosedialects(PATOIS)oftheirs。
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"4。Donotyoucoveryourselfwithanimmortalgloryindeclaringyourself,witheffect,theprotectoroftheEmpire?AndisitnotofmostpressinginteresttoyourMajesty,tohindertheEnglishfrommakingyourEnemytheGrand—Duke[MariaTheresa’sHusband]
KingoftheRomans?
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"4。FrancehasmoreinterestthanPrussiatohinderthat。Besides,onthispoint,dearVoltaire,youareillinformed。FortherecanbenoElectionofaKingoftheRomanswithouttheunanimousconsentoftheEmpire;——soyouperceive,thatalwaysdependsonme。
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"5。WhoeverhasspokenbutaquarterofanhourtotheDuked’Ahremberg[whospiltLordStair’sfineenterpriseslately,andreducedthemtoaDETTINGEN,oragettingintothemouse—trapandagettingout],totheCountHarrach[importantAustrianOfficial],LordStair,oranyofthepartisansofAustria,evenforaquarterofanhour[asIhaveoftendone],hasbeardthemsay,ThattheyburnwithdesiretoopenthecampaigninSilesiaagain。Haveyouinthatcase,Sire,anyallybutFrance?And,howeverpotentyouare,isanallyuselesstoyou?YouknowtheresourcesoftheHouseofAustria,andhowmanyPrincesareunitedtoit。Butwilltheyresistyourpower,joinedtothatoftheHouseofBourbon?
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"5。Onlesyrecevra,Biribi,AlafacondeBarbari,Monami。
Wewillreceivethem,Twiddledee,InthemodeofBarbary,Don’tyousee?
[FormofSong,veryfashionableatParis(seeBarbiersoepius)inthoseyears:"BIRIBI,"Ibelieve,isakindoflottery—game。]
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"6。IfyouwerebuttomarchabodyoftroopstoCleves,donotyouawakenterrorandrespect,withoutapprehensionthatanyonedaremakewaronyou?Isitnot,onthecontrary,theonemethodofforcingtheDutchtoconcur,underyourorders,inthepacificationoftheEmpire,andre—establishmentoftheEmperor,whowillthusasecondtimeheindebtedtoyouforhisthrone,andwillaidinthesplendorofyours?
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"6。Vousvoulezqu’envraidieudelamachine,
"Youwillhavemeastheatre—god,then,"J’arrivepourtedenouement?
"Swoopin,andproducethecatastrophe?
"Qu’auxAnglais,auxPandours,acepeupleinsolent,"J’ailledonnerladiscipline?——
"TametosobrietythoseEnglish,thosePandours,andobstreperouspeople?
"Maisexaminezmieuxmamine;
"Examinethelookofmebetter;
"Jenesuispasassezmechant!
"Ihavenotsurlinesseuough。
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"7。Whateverresolutionmaybecometo,willyourMajestydeigntoconfideittome,andimparttheresult,——toyourservant,tohimwhodesirestopasshislifeatyourCourt?MayIhavethehonortoaccompanyyourMajestytoBaireuth;andifyourgoodnessgosofar,wouldyoupleasetodeclareit,thatImayhavetimetoprepareforthejourney?OnefavorablewordwrittentomeintheLetteronthatoccasion[wordfavorabletoFrance,ostensibletoM。AmelotandthemostChristianMajesty],onewordwouldsufficetoprocuremethehappinessIhave,forsixyears,beenaspiringto,oflivingbesideyou。"Oh,sendit!
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"7。IfyouliketocometoBaireuth,Ishallbegladtoseeyouthere,providedthejourneydon’tderangeyourhealth。Itwilldependonyourself,then,totakewhatmeasuresyouplease。
[AndabouttheostensibleWORD,——Nothing!]
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"8。DuringtheshortstayIamnowtomake,ifIcouldbemadethebearerofsomenewsagreeabletomyCourt,IwouldsupplicateyourMajestytohonormewithsuchacommission。[Thisdoesnotwantforimpudence,Monsieur!Friedrichanswers,fromaloft!]
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"8。IamnotinanyconnectionwithFrance;IhavenothingtofearnortohopefromFrance。Ifyouwouldlike,IwillmakeaPanegyriconLouisXV。withoutawordoftruthinit:butastopoliticalbusiness,thereis,atpresent,nonetobringustogether;
andneitherisitIthatamtospeakfirst。Whentheyputaquestiontome,itwillhetimetoreply:butyou,whoaresomuchamanofsense,youseewellwhataridiculousbusinessitwouldheif,withoutgroundgivenme,IsettoprescribingprojectsofpolicytoFrance,andevenputthemonpaperwithmyownhand!
MEMORIALBYVOLTAIRE。
"9。Dowhatsoeveryoumayplease,IshallalwaysloveyourMajestywithmywholeheart。"
MARGINALIABYFRIEDRICH。
"9。Iloveyouwithallmyheart;Iesteemyou:Iwilldoalltohaveyou,exceptfollies,andthingswhichwouldmakemeforeverridiculousoverEurope,andatbottomwouldhecontrarytomyinterestsandmyglory。TheonlycommissionIcangiveyouforFrance,istoadvisethemtobehavewithmorewisdomthantheyhavedonehitherto。ThatMonarchyisabodywithmuchstrength,butwithout,soulorenergy(NERF)。"
AndsoyoumaygiveittoValoritoputincipher,myillustriousMessengerfromtheSpheres。[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiii。101—105(seeIb。ii。55);OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。141—144。]
Worthreading,this,ratherwell。Verykingly,andcharacteristicoftheyoungFriedrich。SavedbyBeaumarchais,whodidnotgiveitinhisfamousKehlEditionofVOLTAIRE,but"haditinAutographeverafter,andprinteditinhisDECADEPHILOSOPHIQUE,10
Messidor,Anvii。[Summer,1799j:BeaumarchaishadseveralotherPiecesofthesamesort;"which,asbitsofcontemporaryphotographing,onewouldhavelikedtosee。
FRIEDRICVISITSBAIREUTH:ONAPARTICULARERRAND;——VOLTAIRE
ATTENDING,ANDPRIVATELYREPORTING。
This"BIRIBI"Document,Isupposetohavebeendeliveredperhapsonthe7th;andthatFriedrichHADit,buthadnotyetansweredit,whenhewrotethefollowingLetter:——
"POTSDAM,8thSEPTEMBER,1743[FriedrichtoVoltaire]。——IdarenotspeaktoasonofApolloabouthorsesandcarriages,relaysandsuchthings;thesearedetailswithwhichthegodsdonotconcernthemselves,andwhichwemortalstakeuponus。YouwillsetoutonMondayafternoon,ifyoulikethejourney,forBaireuth,andyouwilldinewithmeinpassing,ifyouplease[atPotsdamhere]。
"TherestofmyMEMOIRE[Paperbeforegiven?]issoblurredandinsobadastate,Icannotyetsendityou。——IamgettingCantos8
and9ofLAPUCELLEcopied;IatpresenthaveCantos1,2,4,5,8
and9:Ikeepthemunderthreekeys,thattheeyeofmortalmaynotseethem。
"Ihearyousuppedyesternightingoodcompany[greatgatheringinsomehighhouse,goneallasundernow];
"ThefinestwitsoftheCantonAllcollectedinyourname,Peopleallwhocouldnotbutbepleasedwithyou,AlldevoutbelieversinVoltaire,UnanimouslytookyouForthegodoftheirParadise。
"’Paradise,’thatyoumaynotbescandalized,istakenhereinageneralsenseforaplaceofpleasureandjoy。Seethe’remark’onthelastverseoftheMONDAIN。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。144;Voltaire,lxxiii。100(scandalouslyMISdatedinEdition1818,xxxix。466)。AstoMONDAIN,and"remark"uponit,——
theghostofwhatwasonceasparkleofsuccessfulcoterie—speechandepistolaryallusion,——takethis:"IntheMONDAINVoltairehadwritten,’LEPARADISTERRESTREESTOUJESUIS;’andasthePriestsmadeoutcry,hadwithairsoforthodoxyexplainedthephraseaway,"
——asFriedrichnowaffectstodo;obliquelyquizzing,intheFriedrichmanner。
VoltaireistogoupontheBaireuthJourney,then,accordingtoprayer。WhetherVoltaireevergotthatall—important"wordwhichhecouldshow,"Icannotsay:thoughthereissomeappearancethatFriedrichmayhavedashedoffforhimthePanegyricofLouis,intheseveryhours,toservehisturn,andhavedonewithhim。
Underdate7thSeptember,daybeforetheLetterjustread,herearesnatchesfromanothertothesameaddress:——
"POTSDAM,7thSEPTEMBER,1743[FriedrichtoVoltaire]。——YoutellmesomuchgoodofFranceandofitsKing,itweretobewishedallSovereignshadsubjectslikeyou,andallCommonwealthssuchcitizens,——[youcanshowthat,Isuppose?]WhatapityFranceandSwedenhadnothadMilitaryChiefsofyourwayofthinking!Butitisverycertain,saywhatyouwill,thatthefeeblenessoftheirGenerals,andthetimidityoftheircounsels,havealmostruinedinpublicreputetwoNationswhich,nothalfacenturyago,inspiredterroroverEurope。"——……"ScandalousPeace,thatofFleury,in1735;abandoningKingStanislaus,cheatingSpain,cheatingSardinia,togetLorraine!AndnowthismannerofabandoningtheEmperor[respectableKarlVII。ofyourmaking];sacrificingBavaria;andreducingthatworthyPrincetothelowestpoverty,——
poverty,Isaynot,ofaPrince,butintothefrightfuleststateforaprivateman!"Ah,Monsieur。
"AndyetyourFranceisthemostcharmingofNations;andifitisnotfeared,itdeserveswelltobeloved。AKingworthytocommandit,whogovernssagely,andacquiresforhimselftheesteemofallEurope,——[there,won’tthatdo!]mayrestoreitsancientsplendor,whichtheBroglios,andsomanyothersevenmoreinept,havealittleeclipsed。ThatisassuredlyaworkworthyofaPrinceendowedwithsuchgifts!Toreversethesadpostureofaffairs,noblyrepairingwhatothershavespoiled;todefendhiscountryagainstfuriousenemies,reducingthemtobegPeace,insteadofscornfullyrejectingitwhenoffered:neverwasmoregloryacquirablebyanyKing!Ishalladmirewhatsoeverthisgreatman[CEGRANDHOMME,LouisXV。,notyetvisiblytendingtothedung—
heap,letushopebetterthings!]mayachieveinthatway;andofalltheSovereignsofEuropenonewillbelessjealousofhissuccessthanI:"——there,myspheralfriend,showthat!
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。139:see,forwhatfollowed,OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiii。
129(reporttoAmelot,27thOctober)。]
Whichthespheralfrienddoes。Norwasit"irony,"asthenewCommentatorsthink;notatall;sincereenough,whatyoucallsincere;——Voltairehimselfhadanosefor"irony"!ThiswaswhatyoucallsincerePanegyricinliberalmeasure;whybestingywithyourmeasure?Itcostshalfanhour:itwillendVoltaire’simportunities;andsomay,ifanything,oilthebusiness—wheelswithal。ForFriedrichforeseesbusinessenoughwithLouisandtheFrenchMinistries,thoughhewillnotenteronitwithVoltaire。
ThisJourneytoBaireuthandAnspach,forexample,thisisnotforavisittohisSisters,asFriedrichlabelsit;buthasextensivepurposeshiddenunderthattitle,——meetingswithFranconianPotentates,earnestsurvey,earnestconsultationonastateofthingsaltogethergraveforGermanyandFriedrich;thoughheunderstandswhomtotreatwithaboutit,whomtoanswerwitha"BIRIBIRI,MONAMI。"ThatAustrianExorbitancyofamessagetotheDiethascomeout(August16th,andisstrugglingtoDICTATUR);
theAustrianproceduresinBaiernareintheirfullflagrancy:
Friedrichintendstryingoncemore,Whether,insuchcrisis,therebeabsolutelyno"UnionofGermanPrinces"possible;norevenofanytwoorthreeofthem,inthe"SwabianandFranconianCircles,"
whichhealwaysthoughtthelikeliest?
TheJourneytookeffect,Tuesday,10thSeptember[Rodenbeck,i。93。](notthedaybefore,asFriedrichhadbeenprojecting);
wentbyHalle,straightuponBaireuth;andendedthereonThursday。
Asusual,PrinceAugustWilhelm,andPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick,wereofit;Voltairefailednottoaccompany。Whatthecomplexionofitwas,especiallywhatFriedrichhadmeantbyit,andhowillhesucceeded,willperhapsbemostdirectlyvisiblethroughthefollowingcompressedExcerptsfromVoltaire’slongLETTERtoSecretaryAmelotonthesubject,——ifreaderswillbediligentwiththem。Friedrich,afterfourdays,ranacrosstoAnspachonimportantbusiness;camebackwithmerefailure,andwasprovokinglyquitesilentonit;stayedatBaireuthsomethreedaysmore;thencehomebyGotha(stillon"Union"business,stillmerefailure),byLeipzig,andarrivedatPotsdam,September25th;——
leavingVoltaireinWilhelmina’scharmedcircle(ofwhichunhappilythereisnotawordsaid),foraboutaweekmore。
Voltaire,directlyongettingbacktoBerlin,"resumesthethreadofhisjournal"toSecretaryAmelot;thatis,writeshimanotherlongLetter:——
VOLTAIRE(fromBerlin,3dOctober,1743)TOSECRETARYAMELOT。
"……TheKingofPrussiatoldmeatBaireuth,onthe13thor14thoflastmonth,HewasgladourKinghadsenttheKaisermoney;"——
usefulthat,atanyrate;Noailles’s6,000poundswouldnotgofar。
"ThathethoughtM。leMarechaldeNoailles’sexplanation[ofacertainsmallrumor,tothedisadvantageofNoaillesinreferencetotheKaiser]wassatisfactory:’but,’addedhe,’itresultsfromallyoursecretmotionsthatyouarebeggingPeacefromeverybody,andtheremayhavebeensomethinginthisrumor,afterall。’
"HethentoldmehewasgoingovertoAnspach,toseewhatcouldbedonefortheCommonCause[Kaiser’sandOurs];thatheexpectedtomeettheBishopofWurzburgthere;andwouldtrytostirtheFrankishandSwabianCirclesintosomekindofUnion。And,atsettingoff[fromBaireuth,September16th,onthiserrand],hepromisedhisBrother—in—lawtheMargraf,Hewouldreturnwithgreatschemesafoot,andevenwithgreatsuccess;"whichprovedotherwise,toadisappointingdegree。
"……TheMargrafofAnspachdidsayhewouldjoinaUnionofPrincesinfavoroftheKaiser,ifPrussiagaveexample。Butthatwasall。TheBishopofWurzburg,"afeebleoldcreature,"neverappearedatAnspach,norevensentanapology;andSeckendorf,withtheImperialArmy"——Seckendorf,cagedupatWembdingen(whomFriedrichdroveofffromAnspach,twentymiles,toseeandconsult),wasinadisconsolatemoultingcondition,andcouldpromiseoradvisenothingsatisfactory,duringthedinneronetookwithhim。[September19th,"underashadytree,aftermusterofthetroops"(Rodenbeck,p。93)。]FourdaysrunningaboutonthoseerrandshadyieldedhisPrussianMajestynothing。"Whilsthe(PrussianMajesty)wasonthisAnspachexcursion,theMargrafofBaireuth,whoislatelymadeField—marshalofhisCircle,spokemuchtomeofpresentaffairs:ayoungPrince,fullofworthandcourage,wholovestheFrench,hatestheAustrians,"——andwouldfainmakehimselfgenerallyuseful。"TowhomIsuggestedthisandthat"(doesyourLordshipobserve?),ifitcouldevercometoanything。
"TheKingofPrussia,onreturningtoBaireuth[guess,20thSeptember],didnotspeaktheleastwordofbusinesstotheMargraf:whichmuchsurprisedthelatter!HesurprisedhimstillmorebyindicatingsomeintentiontoretainforciblyatBerlintheyoungDukeofWurtemberg,underpretext,’thatMadamhisMotherintendedtohavehimtakentoVienna,’foreducation。ToangerthisyoungDuke,anddrivehisMothertodespair,wasnotthemethodforacquiringcreditintheCircleofSwabia,andgettingthePrincesbroughttounite!
"TheDuchessofWurtemberg,whowasthereatBaireuth,byappointment,toconferwiththeKingofPrussia,senttoseekme。
Ifoundheralldissolvedintears。’Ah!’saidshe,——[ButwhyisourdearWilhelminaleftsayingnothing;invisible,behindthecurtainsofenviousChance,andonlyaskirtofthemliftedtoshowusthisImproperDuchessoncemore!]——’Ah!’saidshe(theImproperDuchess,atsightofme),’willtheKingofPrussiabeatyrant,then?TopaymeforintrustingmyBoystohim,andgivinghimtwoRegiments[formoneydown],willheforcemetoimplorejusticeagainsthimfromthewholeworld?ImusthavemyChild!HeshallnotgotoVienna;itisinhisownCountrythatIwillhavehimbroughtupbesideme。ToputmySoninAustrianhands?[unless,indeed,yourHighnessweredrivenintoFinancialorotherstraits?]
YouknowifIloveFrance;——ifmydesignisnottopasstherestofmydaysthere,sosoonasmySoncomestomajority!’Ohone,ohoo!
"Infine,thequarrelwasappeased。TheKingofPrussiatoldmehewouldbegentlerwiththeMother;wouldrestoretheSoniftheyabsolutelywishedit;butthathehopedtheyoungPrincewouldofhimselflikebettertostaywherehewas。"……——"ItrustyourLordshipwillallowmetodrawforthose300ducats,foranewcarriage。IhavespentallIhad,runningaboutthesefourmonths。
IleavethisforBrunswickandhomewards,ontheeveningofthe12th。"[Voltaire,lxxiii。105—109。]……
AndsothecurtaindropsontheBaireuthJourney,ontheBerlinVisit;andindeed,ifthatwereanything,onVoltaire’sDiplomaticcareeraltogether。TheinsignificantAccidents,thedullPowersthatbe,sayNo。Curioustoreflect,hadtheyhappenedtosayYes:
——"GointotheDiplomaticline,then,yousharpclimbingcreature,andbecomegreatbythatmethod;WRITEnomore,you;writeonlyDespatchesandSpy—Lettershenceforth!"——howdifferentaworldforus,andforallmortalsthatreadandthatdonotread,therehadnowbeen!
VoltairefancieshehasdonehisDiplomacywell,notwithoutfruit;
and,atBrunswick,——cheeredbythegrandwelcomehefoundthere,——hasdelightfuloutlooks(mightIdaretosuggestthem,Monseigneur?)oftouringaboutintheGermanCourts,withsomeCircularHORTATORIUM,orsublimeBegging—LetterfromtheKaiser,inhishand;and,bywitcheryoftongue,urgingWurtemberg,Brunswick,Baireuth,Anspach,Berlin,tocompliancewiththeImperialMajestyandFrance。[Ib。lxxiii。133。]Wouldnotthatbesublime!Butthat,liketherest,inspiteofone’stalent,cametonothing。Talent?
Success?MadamedeChateaurouxhad,intheinterim,takenadisliketoM。Amelot;"couldnotbearhisstammering,"thefastidiousImproperFemale;flungAmelotoverboard,——Amelot,andhisluggageafterhim,Voltaire’sdiplomatichopesincluded;andtherewasanend。
Howravishingthethinghadbeenwhileitlasted,judgebytheseotherstraysymptoms;hastilypickedup,partlyatBerlin,partlyatBrunswick;whichshowusthebrightmeridian,andalsotheblaze,almoststillmoreradiant,whichprovedtobesunset。
ReadershaveheardofVoltaire’sMadrigalstocertainPrincesses;
andmustreadtheseThreeagain,——whicharereallyincomparableintheirkind;notequalledingracefulfelicityevenbyGoethe,andbyhimaloneofPoetsapproachedinthatrespect。AtBerlin,Autumn1743,ThreeconsummateMadrigals:——
1。TOPRINCESSULRIQUE。
"SouventunpeudeveriteSemeleauplusgrossiermensonge:
Cettenuit,dansl’erreurd’unsonge,Aurangdesroisj’etaismonte。
Jevousaimais,Princesse,etj’osaisvousledire!
Lesdieuxamonreveilnem’ontpastoutote,Jen’aiperduquemonempire。"
2。TOPRINCESSESULRIQUEANDAMELIA。
"SiParisvenaitsurlaterrePourjugerentrevosbeauxyeux,Ilcouperaitlapommeendeux,Etneproduiraitpasdeguerre。"
3。TOPRINCESSESULRIQUE,AMELIAANDWILHELMINA。
"Pardon,charmanteUlrique;pardon,belleAmelie;
J’aicrun’aimerquevouslarestedemavie,Etneservirquesousvoslois;
Maisenfinj’entendsetjevoisCetteadorableSoeurdontl’Amoursuitlestraces:
Ah,cen’estpasoutragerlesTroisGracesQuedelesaimertoutestrois!"
[1。"Agrainoftruthisoftenmingledwiththestupidestdelusion。
Yesternight,intheerrorofadream,Ihadrisentotherankofking;Ilovedyou,Princess,andhadtheaudacitytosayso!Thegods,atmyawakening,didnotstripmewholly;mykingdomwasalltheytookfromme。"
2。IfParis[ofTroy]camebacktodecideonthecharmsofyouTwo,hewouldhalvetheApple,andproducenoWar。"
3。"Pardon,charmingUlrique;beautifulAmelia,pardon:IthoughtI
shouldloveonlyyoufortherestofmylife,andserveunderyourlawsonly:butatlastIhearandseethisadorableSister,whomLovefollowsasPage:——Ah,itisnotoffendingtheThreeGracestolovethemallthree!"
——InOeuvresdeVoltaire,xviii。:No。1is,p。292(inOEuvresdeFrederic,xiv。90—92,theANSWERStoit);No。2is,p。320;No。3,p。321。]
BRUNSWICK,16thOctober(blazingsunset,asitproved,butbrighteralmostthanmeridian),aLETTERFROMVOLTAIRETO
MAUPERTUIS(stillinFrancesincethathorribleMollwitz—PandourBusiness)。
"InmywanderingsIreceivedtheLetterwheremydearFlattenerofthisGlobedeignstoremembermewithsomuchfriendship。Isitpossiblethat——……ImadeyourcomplimentstoallyourfriendsatBerlin;thatis,toalltheCourt。""SawDr。Ellerdecomposingwaterintoelasticair[orthinkinghedidso,1743];sawtheOperaofTITUS,whichisamasterpieceofmusic[byFriedrichhimself,withtheimportantaidofGraun]:itwas,withoutvanity,atreattheKinggaveme,orrathergavehimself;hewishedIshouldseehiminhisglory。
"HisOpera—HouseisthefinestinEurope。Charlottenburgisadeliciousabode:Friedrichdoesthehonorsthere,theKingknowingnothingofit……OnelivesatPotsdamasintheChateauofaFrenchSeigneurwhohadcultureandgenius,——inspiteofthatbigBattalionofGuards,whichseemstometheterriblestBattalioninthisworld。
"Jordanisstillthesame,——BONGARCONETDISCRET;hashisoddities,his1,600crowns(240pounds)ofpension。D’ArgensisChamberlain,withagoldkeyathisbreast—pocket,and100louisinside,payablemonthly。Chasot[whomreadersmadeacquaintancewithatPhilipsburglongsince],insteadofcursinghisdestiny,musthavetakentoblessit:heisMajorofHorse,withincomeenough。Andhehaswellearnedit,havingsavedtheKing’sBaggageatthelastBattleofChotusitz,"——whatwedidnotnotice,inthehorse—chargesandgrandtumultsofthatscene。
"Ipassedsomedays[afortnightinall]atBaireuth。HerRoyalHighness,ofcourse,spoketomeofyou。Baireuthisadelightfulretreat,whereoneenjoyswhateverthereisagreeableinaCourt,withoutthebotherofgrandeur。Brunswick,whereIam,hasanotherspeciesofcharm。’TisacelestialVoyagethisofmine,whereI
passfromPlanettoPlanet,"——totumultuousParis;and,Idohope,tomyuniqueMaupertuisawaitingmethereatlast。[Voltaire,lxxiii。122—125。]’
Wehaveonlytoremarkfarther,thatFriedrichhadagainpressedVoltairetocomeandlivewithhim,andchoosehisownterms;
andthatVoltaire(asasecondstringtohisbow,shouldthisfineDiplomaticonefail)hadprovisionallyaccepted。Provisionally;
andwithonemostremarkableclause:thatofleavingoutMadame,——
"imaginingitwouldbelessagreeabletoyouifIcamewithothers(AVECD’AUTRES);andIown,thatbelongingtoyourMajestyalone,I
shouldhavemymindmoreatease:"[OEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxiii。112,116(ProposalandResponse,bothofthem"7thOctober,"fivedaysbeforeleavingBerlin)。]——whew!Andthentoaddathirdthing:ThatMadame,drivenhalfdelirious,bythesedelays,andgyratingsfromPlanettoPlanet,especiallybythatlastFortnightatBaireuth,hadrushedofffromParis,toseekhervagabond,andseeintohimwithherowneyes:"Couldn’thelpit,myangels!"writesshetotheD’Argentals(excellentguardianangels,MonsieurandMadame;and,Iamsure,PATIENTbothofthem,asonlyMONSIEURJobwas,intheoldcase):"Awholefortnight[perhapswithmadrigalstoPrincesses],andonlyfourlinestome!"
——andisnowinbed,orlatelywas,atLille,illofslowfever(PETITEFIEVRE);pantingtobeupontheroadagain。
[LettresineditesdeMadameduChasteletaM。leComted’Argental(Paris,1806)p。253。AcuriouslyelucidativeLetterthis("Brussels,15thOctober,1743");acuriouslittleBookaltogether。]
FancywhatagreetingforM。deVoltaire,fromthoseeyesHAGARDES
ETLOUCHES;andwhetherhementionedthatprettylittleclauseofgoingtoBerlin"WITHOUTothers,"ordurstforthelifeofhimwhisperofgoingatall!AfterpauseintheBrusselsregion,theycamebacktoParis"inDecember;"resigned,Ihope,toinexorableFate,——thoughwithsuchDiplomaticandotherfineprospectsflungtothefishes,andlittlebutGREDINSandconfusionswaitingyou,asformerly。
ChapterVII。
FRIEDRICHMAKESTREATYWITHFRANCE;ANDSILENTLYGETSREADY。
ThoughFriedrichwentuponthebanteringtonewithVoltaire,hisprivatethoughtsinregardtothesurroundingsceneofthingswereextremelyserious;andalreadyithadbeguntobeapparent,fromthoseBritannic—Austrianprocedures,thatsomenewalliancewithFrancemightwelllieaheadforhim。DuringVoltaire’svisit,thatextraordinaryPaperfromVienna,thattheKaiserwasnoKaiser,andthattheremustbe"compensation"andsatisfactory"assurance,"hadcomeintofullglareoffirst—reading;andtheDICTATUR—SACHE,anddenunciationofanevidentlypartialKur—Mainz,wasawakeningeverywhere。Voltairehadnotgone,when,——throughPodewilsJunior(probablywithhelpoftheimproperDutchfemaleofrank),——
Friedrichgottowitofanotherthing,notlessmomentoustohim;
andthrowingfearfullightonthatof"compensation"and"assurance。"ThiswastheTreatyofWorms,——donebyCarteretandGeorge,September13th,duringthoselanguidRhineoperations;
Treatyitselfnotlanguid,butaverylivelything,toFriedrichandtoalltheworld!Concerningwhichafewwordsnow。
Wehavesaid,accordingtopromise,andwillsay,nexttonothingofMariaTheresa’sItalianWar;buthopealwaysthereaderkeepsitinmind。Bigwar—cloudswaltzinghitherandthither,occasionallyclashingintobloodyconflict;SardinianMajestyandInfantPhilipbothpersonallyinthefield,fiercemenboth:Traun,Browne,Lobkowitz,Lichtenstein,Austriansofmark,successivelydistinguishingthemselves;Spain,too,andFranceverydiligent;——
Contioffthither,thenintheirturnsMaillebois,Noailles:——highmilitaryfigures,butremote;shadowy,thunderingINaudiblyonthissideandthat;whomwemustnotmentionfarther。
"Thenotablefiguretous,"saysoneofmyNotes,"isCharlesEmanuel,secondKingofSardinia;whoisattheoldtradeofhisFamily,andshiftsfromsidetoside,makingthewar—balancevibrateatagreatrate,nowthisscalenowthatkickingthebeam。
ForheholdsthedooroftheAlps,BullyBourbonononesideofit,BullyHapsburgontheother;andinquiressharply,"You,whatwillyougiveme?Andyou?"ToMariaTheresa’saffairshehasbeensuperlativelyuseful,fortheseTwoYearspast;andtrulysheisnottoopunctualinthereturnscovenantedfor。ItappearstoCharlesEmanuelthattheQueenofHungary,elatedinherhighthought,under—rateshisservices,oflate;thatshepracticallymeanstogivehimverylittleofthosepromisedslicesfromtheLombardparts;andthat,inthemeanwhile,muchtoobigashareoftheWarhasfallenuponhispoorhands,whoshouldbedoorholderonly。
"Accordinglyhegrumbles,threatens:hehasbeenlisteningtoFrance,’Bourbon,howmuchwillyougiveme,then?’andtheanswerissuchthatheinformstheQueenofHungaryandtheBritannicMajesty,ofhisintentiontoclosewithBourbon,sincetheyontheirsidewilldonothingconsiderable。GeorgeandhisCarteret,nottomentiontheHungarianMajestyatall,arethunder—struckatsuchaprospect;bendalltheirenergiestowardsthisessentialpointofretainingCharlesEmanuel,whichismoreurgenteventhangettingElsass。’Madam,’theysaytoherMajesty,(wecannotsaveItalyforyouonotherterms:Vigevanesco,Finale[whichisGenoa’s],partofPiacenza[whenoncegot]:theremustbesomesliceoftheLombardpartstothisCharlesEmanueljustlyangry!’
WhereatthehighQueenstorms,andinherhighmannerscoldslittleGeorge,asifheweretheblamableparty,——pretendingfriendship,andyetabettingmerehighwayrobberyorlittlebetter。AndhiscashpaidMadam,andhisDettingenmouse—trapfought?’Well,hehasplentyofcash:——isitmyCause,then,orhisMajesty’sandLiberty’s?’Posterity,inmodernEngland,vainlyendeavorstoconceivethisphenomenon;yetseesittobeundeniable。
"AndsothereisaTreatyofWormsgotconcocted,afterinfiniteeffortonthepartofCarteret,RobinsontoolaboringandsteaminginViennawithboilersliketoburst;andGeorgegetsitsigned13thSeptember[alreadysignedwhileFriedrichwaslookingintoSeckendorfandWembdingen,ifFriedrichhadknownit]:tothiseffect,ThatCharlesEmanuelshouldhaveannually,downonthenail,ahandsomeincreaseofSubsidy(200,000poundsinsteadof150,000pounds)fromEngland,andultimatelybeyonddoubtsomethinnishspecifiedslicesfromtheLombardparts;andshallproceedfightingfor,notagainst;EnglishFleetco—operating,EnglishPurseditto,regardlessofexpense;withotherfitparticulars,asformerly。[Scholl,ii。330—335;Adelung,iii。B,222—226;Coxe,iii。296。]MariaTheresa,veryangry,looksuponherselfasamartyr,noblycomplyingtosufferforthewhimofEngland;
andRobinsonhashadsuchlaborsandendurances,asteam—engineonthepointofburstingisbutanemblemofhim。ItwasanecessaryTreatyfortheCauseofLiberty,asGeorgeandCarteret,andallEnglishMinistriesandMinisters(DianaofNewcastleveryspecially,inspiteofPittandajuniorOppositionParty)viewedLiberty。ItwasLove’slastshift,——Dianahavinginterveneduponthosemagnificent’ConferencesofHanau’lately!NeverthelessCarteretwasthrownout,nextyear,onaccountofit。AndPosterityisunabletoconceiveit;andasksalwaysoflittleGeorge,What,inthenameofwonder,hadhetodothere,fightingfororagainst,andhiringeverybodyhemettofightagainsteverybody?AKingwitheyessomewhatAFLEUR—DE—TETE:yes;andletussay,hisNation,too,——whichhassatdownquietly,foralmostacenturyback,undermountainsofnonsense,inwardlynothingbutdimScepticism[exceptinthestomachicregions],andoutwardlysuchaTrinacriaofHypocrisy[unconscious,formostpart]asneverlayonanhonestgiantNationbefore,wasitselfgrownmuchofafool,andcouldexpectnootherkindofKings。
"ButthepointintenselyinterestingtoFriedrichinthisTreatyofWormswas,That,inenumeratingpunctuallytheotherTreaties,oldandrecent,whichitistoguarantee,andstanduponthebasisof,thereisnowheretheleastmentionofFriedrich’sBRESLAU—AND—BERLINTREATY;thrice—importantTreatywithherHungarianMajestyontheSilesianmatter!Insettlingallmannerofadjoiningandprecedingmatters,thereisnothingsaidofSilesiaatall。Singularindeed。Treatiesenough,fromthatofUtrechtdownward,arewearisomelymentionedhere;butoftheBerlinTreaty,BreslauTreaty,oranyTreatysettlingSilesia,——muchless,ofanyWestminsterTreaty,guaranteeingittotheKingofPrussia,——thereisnotthefaintestmention!Silesia,then,isnotconsideredsettled,bythehighcontractingparties?LittleGeorgehimself,whoguaranteedit,inthehourofneed,littlemorethanayearago,considersitfallenlooseagaininthenewwhirlofcontingencies?’Patience,Madam:whatwasgoodtogiveisgoodtotake!’OnwhatprecisedayormonthFriedrichgotnoticeofthisexpressivesilenceintheTreatyofWorms,wedonotknow;butfromthatday——!"
Friedrichrecollectsanotherthing,oneofmanyothers:thatofthose"ulteriormountains,"whichAustriahadbargainedforasBoundarytoSchlesien。Wildbaremountains;goodforwhat?ForinvadingSchlesienfromtheAustrianside;iffornothingelseconceivable!Thesmallriddlereadsitselftohimso,withapainfulflashoflight。[OEuvresdeFrederic,
iii。34。]Lookingintenselyintothismatter,andputtingthingstogether,Friedrichgetsmoreandmorethealarmingassuranceofthefateintendedhim;andthathewillverilyhavetodrawswordagain,andfightforSilesia,andasifforlife。Fromabouttheendof1743(asIstrivetocompute),therewasinFriedrichhimselfnodoubtleftofit;thoughhisMinisters,whenheconsultedthemagoodwhileafterwards,werequiteincredulous,andspentalltheirstrengthindissuadinganewWar;nowwhentheonlyquestionwas,HowtodosaidWar?"Howtodoit,tomakereadyfordoingit?Wemustsilentlyselecttheways,themethods:silent,wary,——thenatlastswift;andthemorelikealion—spring,likeaboltfromtheblue,itwillbethebetter!"ThatisFriedrich’sfixedthought。
TheProblemwascomplicated,almostbeyondexample。TheReich,withaKaiserreducedtosuchapass,hasitspotentialitiesofhelporofhindrance,——itsthousand—foldformulas,inanemostly,yetnotinanewholly,whichinterlacethismattereverywhere,aswithrealthreads,andwithgossamerorapparentthreads,——whichitisessentialtoattendto。Wisehead,thatcoulddiscriminatethedeadFormulasofsuchanimbroglio,fromthenot—dead;andplanthimselfupontheLivingFactsthatdolieinthecentrethere!"WecannothaveaReichsMediation—Army,then?NoraSwabian—FranconianArmy,todefendtheirownfrontier?"No;itisevident,none。"AndthereisnoUnionofPrincespossible;noParty,anywhere,thatwillrisetosupporttheKaiserwhomallGermanyelected;whomAustriaandforeignEnglandhaveinsulted,ruinedandofficiallydesignatedasnon—extant?"Well,notquiteNo,none;YESperhaps,insomesmalldegree,——ifPrussiawillstepout,withdrawnsword,andgivesignal。TheReichhasitspotentialities,itsformulasnotquitedead;butisasadimbroglio。
Definitefactsagainaremainlytwofold,andofamuchmorecentralnature。FactFIRST:AFrancewhichseesitselflamentablytroddenintothemudbysuchdisappointmentsanddisgraces;which,onproposingpeace,hasmetinsultandinvasion;——Francewillbeunderthenecessityofgettingtoitsfeet,andstrikingforitself;
andindeedisvisiblyrisingintosomethingofdeterminationtodoit:——there,ifPrussiaandtheKaiseraretobehelpedatall,thereliestheonerealhelp。FactSECOND:Friedrich’sfeelingsforthepoorKaiserandthepoorinsultedReich,ofwhichFriedrichisamember。Feelings,these,whicharenot"feigned"(astheEnglishsay),butreal,andevenindignant;andaboutthesehecanspeakandpleadfreely。ForhimselfandhisSilesia,THROUGHtheKaiser,Friedrich’sfeelingsarepungentlyreal;——andtheyarewithalcompletelyadjuncttotheothersetoffeelings,andgowhollytointensifyingofthem;theevidenttruthbeing,ThatneitherhenorhisSilesiawouldbeindanger,weretheKaisersafe。
Friedrich’sabstrusediplomacies,anddelicatemotionsandhandlingswiththeReich,thatistosay,withtheKaiserandtheKaiser’sfewfriendsintheReich,andthenagainwiththeFrench,——whichlastedforeightorninemonthsbeforeclosure(October,1743toJune,1744),——areconsideredtohavebeenafinepieceofsteeringindifficultwaters;butwouldonlywearythereader,whoisimpatientforresultsandarrivals。IngeniousHerrProfessorRanke,——whoseHISTORYOFFRIEDRICHconsistsmainlyofsuchmatterexcellentlydone,andoffersmankindawondrouslydistilled"ASTRAL
SPIRIT,"orghost—likefac—simile(elegantgrayghost,withstarsdim—twinklingthrough),ofFriedrich’sandotherpeople’sDiplomatizingsinthisWorld,——willsatisfythestrongestdiplomaticappetite;andtohimwerefersuchasaregiventhatway。[Ranke,NeunBucherPreussischerGeschichte,iii。74—137。]’"Franceandoneself,asSUBSTANCEofhelp;
but,formanyreasons,giveitcarefullyalegalGermanFORMorcoat:"thatisFriedrich’smethodastofindinghelp。Andhediligentlyprosecutesit;——and,whatisstillluckier,strivestobehimselfatallpointsready,andcapableofdoingwithamininumofhelpfromothers。
BeforetheYear1743wasout,FriedrichhadgotintoseriousDiplomaticColloquywithFrance;suggesting,urging,proposing,hypotheticallypromising。"February21st,1744,"hesecretlydespatchedRothenburgtoParis;who,inashiningmanner,consultsnotonlywiththeAmelots,Belleisles,butwiththeChateaurouxherself(whoalwayslikedFriedrich),andwithLouisXV。inperson:
andtriumphantlybringsmatterstoabearing。Readyhere,ontheFrenchside;sosoonasyourReichInterestsaremadethemostof;
sosoonasyourPatriotic"UnionofReich’sPrinces"isready!
InMarch,1744,theReichsideoftheAffairwaslikewisegettingwellforward("wekeepitmostlysecretfromthepoorKaiser,whoisapttoblab"):——andonMay22d,1744,Friedrich,withtheKaiserandTwootherwell—affectedParties(onlytwoasyet,butwehopeformore,andinviteallandsundry),signsolemnlytheir"UNIONOF
FRANKFURT;"famouslittleFourfoldoutcomeofsomuchdiplomatizing。[Ranke,ubisupra(TreatyisinAdelung,iv。
103—105)。]Forthewell—affectedParties,besidesFriedrich,andtheKaiserhimself,wereasyetTwoonly:LandgrafWilhelmofHessen—Cassel,disgustedwiththelateCarteretastucitiesatHanau,heisone(andhires,byandby,hispoor6,000HessianstotheFrenchandKaiser,insteadoftotheEnglish;whichisallthehelpHEcangive);LandgrafWilhelm,andforsolesecondtohimthenewKur—Pfalz,whoalsohasmentohire。NewKur—Pfalz:ourpoorOLDfriendisdead;buthereisanewone,KarlPhilipTheodorbyname,ofwhomweshallhearagainlongafterwards;whowaswedded(intheFrankfurt—Coronationtime,asreadersmighthavenoted)toaGrand—daughteroftheold,andwhois,liketheold,aHereditaryCousinoftheKaiser’s,andalreadyhelpshimallhecan。
OnlytheseTwoasyet,thoughthewholeReichisinvitedtojoin;
these,alongwithFriedrichandtheKaiserhimself,donow,intheirgeneralPatriotic"Union,"whichasyetconsistsonlyofFour,covenant,inSixArticles,To,——inbrief,tosupportTeutschland’soppressedKaiserinhisjustrightsanddignities;
andtodo,withtheHouseofAustria,"allimaginablegoodoffices"
(nottheleastwhisperoffighting)towardsinducingsaidhighHousetorestoretotheKaiserhisReichs—Archives,hisHereditaryCountries,hisnecessaryImperialFurnishings,calledforbyeverylawhumananddivine:——inwhichendeavor,orinnocentlyotherwise,ifanyofthecontractingpartiesbeattacked,theotherswillguaranteehim,andstrenuouslyhelp。"Allimaginablegoodoffices;"
nothingaboutfightinganywhere,——stilllessistheretheleastmentionofFrance;totalsilenceonthathead,byFriedrich’sexpressdesire。ButinaSecretArticle(towhichFrance,youmaybesure,willaccede),itisintimated,"Thatthewayofgoodofficeshavingsomeunlikelihoods,itMAYbecomenecessarytotakearms。Inwhichtragiccase,theywill,besidesHereditaryBaiern(whichisINalienable,fixedastherocks,byReichs—Law),endeavortoconquer,toreconquerfortheKaiser,hisKingdomofBohmenwithal,asaproperOutfitforTeutschland’sChief:andthat,ifso,hisPrussianMajesty(whowillhavetodosaidconquest)shall,inadditiontohisSchlesien,havefromittheCirclesofKonigsgratz,BunzlauandLeitmeritzforhistrouble。"ThisistheTreatyofUnion,Secret—Articleandall;doneatFrankfurt—on—
Mayn,22dMay,1744。
Donethenandthere;butnopartofitmadepublic,tillAugustfollowing,["22dAugust1744,bytheKaiser"(Adelung,iv。154。}]
(whentheupshothadcome);andtheSecretBohemianArticleNOT
thenmadepublic,noreverafterwards,——muchthecontrary;
thoughitwastrueenough,butinconvenienttoconfess,especiallyasitcametonothing。"Ahypotheticalthing,that,"saysFriedrichcarelessly;"wagesmoderateenough,andpropertobesettledbeforehand,thoughtheworkwasneverdone。"ToreachdownquiteovertheMountains,andhavetheElbeforSilesianFrontier:
this,asanoccasionalvaguethought,orday—dreaminhighmoments,wasprobablynotnewtoFriedrich;andwouldhavebeenverywelcometohim,——haditprovedrealizable,whichitdidnot。Thatthiswas"Friedrich’srealendingoingtoWaragain,"wasatonetimetheopinionloudlycurrentinEnglandandotheruninformedquarters;
"butitisnotnowcredibletoanybody,"saysHerrRanke;
norindeedworthtalkingof,exceptasamementooftheangryeclipses,andtemporarydust—clouds,whichrisebetweenNations,inanirritateduninformedcondition。
Rapidlyprogressiveintherearofallthis,whichwasitslegalizingGermanCOAT,theFrenchTreaty,whichwastheinteriorSUBSTANCE,ormusculartissue,perfecteditselfunderRothenburg;
andwassignedJune5th,1774(anniversary,byaccident,ofthatFirstTreatyofall,"June5th,1741");——sanctioning,byFrance,thatBohemianAdventure,ifneedful;minutelysettingforthHow,andunderwhatcontingencies,whateffortsmadeandwhatsuccessesarrivedat,onthepartofFrance,hisPrussianMajestyshalltakethefield;andtryAustria,not"withallimaginablegoodoffices"
longer,butwithhardermedicine。OfwhichTreatyweshallonlysayfarther,commiseratingourpoorreaders,ThatFriedrichconsiderablyMOREthankepthissideofit;andFranceveryconsiderablyLESSthanhers。Sothat,hadnottherebeenpunctualpreparationatallpoints,andgoodself—helpinFriedrich,FriedrichhadcomeoutofthisnewAdventureworsethanhedid!
Longmonthsago,theFrench——aspreliminaryandrigorousSINEQUA
NONtotheseFriedrichNegotiations——hadactuallystartedwork,by"declaringWaronAustria,anddeclaringWaronEngland:"——NotyetatWar,then,aftersomuchkilling?Ohno,reader;mere"Allies"
ofBelligerents,hitherto。These"Declarations"theFrenchhadmade;[WaronEngland,15thMarch,1744;onAustria,27thApril(Adelung,iv。78,90)。]andtheFrenchwerereallypushingforward,inanattitudeofindignantenergy,toexecutethesame。Asshallbenoticedbyandby。AndthroughRothenburg,throughSchmettau,bymanychannels,Friedrichisassiduouslyincommunicationwiththem;
encouraging,advising,urging;theiraffairsbeinginasorthis,eversincethesigningofthosemutualEngagements,May22d,June5th。AndnowenoughofthathypotheticDiplomaticstuff。
Warliesahead,inevitabletoFriedrich。HehasgraduallyincreasedhisArmyby18,000;inspectionmoreminuteanddiligentthanever,hasbeenquietlycustomaryoflate;Walrave’sfortificationworks,impregnableornearlyso,theworkatNeissemostofall,FriedrichhadresolvedtoSEEcompleted,——beforethatFrenchTreatyweresigned。Acautiousyoungman,thougharapid;vividlyawakeonallsides。AndsotheFrench—Austrian,French—Englishgameshallgoon;
thebigbowlsboundingandrolling(withvelocities,oncourses,partlycomputabletoaquickeye);——andattherightinstant,andjunctureofhits,nottillthatnorafterthat,aquickhandshallbowlin;witheffect,asheventurestohope。Heknowswell,itisaterriblegame。Butitisanecessaryone,nottobedespairedof;
itistobewaitedforwithclosedlips,andplayedtoone’sutmost!——