首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第60章
  ChapterVIII。
  PERFECTPEACEATBERLIN,WARALLROUND。
  Friedrich,withtheSpectreofinevitableWardailyadvancingonhim,tohimprivatelyevidentandcertainifasyettohimonly,neglectsinnosorttheArtsandbusinessofPeace,butispresent,alwayswithvividactivity,inthecommonmovement,seriousorgayandfestive,asthedaybringsit。DuringtheseWintermonthsof1743,andstillmorethroughSummer1744,thereareimportantWar—
  movementsgoingon,——theFrenchvehementlyactiveagain,theAustriansnothingbehindhand,——whichwillrequiresomeslightnoticefromussoon。ButinBerlin,alongsideofallthis,itismerecommonbusiness,diligentasever,alternatingwithCarnivalgayeties,withmarryings,givingsinmarriage;inBerlintheregoeson,underhalcyonweather,thepeaceabletideofthings,sometimesinahighfashion,asifBerlinanditsKinghadnoconcernwiththeforeignWar。
  ThePlauenCanal,animportantnavigation—work,canalofsomethirtymiles,joiningHaveltoElbeinaconvenientmanner,orevenjoiningOdertoElbe,isatitsbusiest:——"itwasbegunJune1st,1743[allhandsdiligentlydiggingthere,June27th,whilesomeothersofuswereemployedatDettingen,——thinkofit!],andwasfinishedJune5th,1745。"[Busching,Erdbeschreibung,vi。2192。]Thisisoneofseveralsuchworksnowafoot。
  Takeanothermiscellaneousitemortwo。
  January,1744,Friedrichappoints,andbrieflyinformsallhisPeopleofit,ThatanyPrussiansubjectwhothinkshimselfaggrieved,maycomeandtellhisstorytotheKing’sownself:
  ["January,1744"(Rodenbeck,i。98)。]——betterhavehisstoryinfirmsuccinctstate,Ishouldimagine,andsuchthatitwillholdwater,intellingittotheKing!ButtheKingisreadytohearhim;heartilyeagertogetjusticedonehim。Asuitableboon,suchPermission,tillLaw—Reformtakeeffect。AndafterLaw—Reformhadfinished,itwasathingfoundsuitable;andcontinuedtotheend,——curioustoaBritishreadertoconsider!
  Again:onFriedrich’sbirthday,24thJanuary,1744,thenewAcademyofScienceshad,intheSchlossofBerlin,itsfirstSession。
  Butofthis,——intheabsenceofMaupertuis,FlatteneroftheEarth,whoisstillinFrance,sincethatMollwitzadventure;byandforbehoofofwhom,whenhedidreturn,andbecome"PerpetualFirstPresident,"manychangesweremade,——Iwillnotspeakatpresent。
  Norindeedafterwards,exceptongoodchancerising;——thenewAcademy,withitsPerpetualFirstPresident,beingnothinglikesosublimeanobjectnow,toreadersandme,asitthenwastoitselfandPerpetualPresidentandRoyalPatron!VapidFormeyisPerpetualSecretary;morepowertohim,astheIrishsay。PoorGoldstickPollnitzisanHonoraryMember;——absentatthistimeinBaireuth,wherethosegigglingMarwitzesofWilhelmina’shavebeencontrivingamarriagefortheoldfool。Ofwhichanotherwordsoon:ifwehavetime。Timecannotbespentonthosedimsmallobjects:buttherearetwoMarriagesofahighorder,ofpurportsomewhatHistorical;
  thereisBarberinatheDancer,throwingaflashthroughtheOperaticandsomeotherprovinces:letusrestrictourselvestothese,andthelikeofthese,andbebriefuponthem。
  THESUCCESSIONINRUSSIA,ANDALSOINSWEDEN,SHALLNOTBE
  HOSTILETOUS:TWOROYALMARRIAGES,ARUSSIANANDA
  SWEDISH,AREACCOMPLISHEDATBERLIN,WITHSUCHVIEW。
  MarriageFirst,ofaneminentlyHistoricalnature,isaltogetherRussian,orGermanbecomeRussian,thoughFriedrichismuchconcernedinit。WeheardofthemadSwedish—RussianWar;andhowCzarinaElizabethwaskindenoughtochooseaSuccessortotheoldchildlessSwedishKing,——LandgrafofHessen—Casselbynature;
  whohashadasorrytimeinSweden,butkeptmerryanddidnotminditmuch,pooroldsoul。CzarinaElizabeth’sonecarewas,ThatthePrinceofDenmarkshouldnotbechosentosucceed,astherewastalkofhisbeing:Sweden,Denmark,Norway,allgraspedinonefirmhand(asintheold"Union—of—Calmar"times,onlywithbettermanagement),mightbedangeroustoRussia。"Don’tchoosehimofDenmark!"saidElizabeth,thevictoriousCzarina;andmadeitaconditionofgrantingPeace,andmostlyrestoringFinland,totheinfatuatedSwedes。Thepersontheydidchoose,——satisfactorytotheCzarina,andwhoultimatelydidbecomeKingofSweden,——wasoneAdolfFriedrich;aHolstein—GottorpPrince,comeofRoyalkin,andcousinrytoKarlXII。:heis"BishopofLubeck"orofEutin,sostyled;nowinhisthirty—thirdyear;andatleastdrawingtherevenuesofthatSee,thoughIthink,notecclesiasticallygiven,butlivingoftenerinHamburg,thethenfashionableresortofthoseNorthernGrandees。Onthewhole,alikelyyounggentleman;
  acceptedbypartiesconcerned;——andsurelygoodenoughfortheOfficeasitnowis。Ofwhom,forareasoncoming,letreaderstakenote,inthisplace。
  Aboveayearbeforethistime,CzarinaElizabeth,aprovidentfemale,anddeterminednottowed,hadpitcheduponherownSuccessor:[7thNovember,1742(Michaelis,ii。627)。]oneKarlPeterUlrich;whowasalsoofthesameHolstein—Gottorpset,thoughwithRussianbloodinhim。HisGrandfatherwasfullcousin,andchosencomrade,toKarlXII。;gotkilledinKarl’sRussianWars;
  andleftapoorSondependentonRussianPetertheGreat,——whogavehimoneofhisDaughters;whencethisKarlPeterUlrich,anorphan,deartohisAunttheCzarina。AKarlPeterUlrich,whobecametragicallyfamousasCzarPeterFederowitz,orCzarPeterIII。,inthecourseoftwentyyears!HisFatherandMotherarebothdead;
  lovingAunthassnatchedthepoorboyoutofHolstein—Gottorp,whichisanarrowsphere,intoRussia,whichiswideenough;
  shehashadhimconvertedtotheGreekChurch,namedhimPeterFederowitz,HeirandSuccessor;——andnow,wishingtoseehimmarried,hasearnestlyconsultedFriedrichuponit。
  Friedrichisdecidedlyinterested;wouldgrudgemuchtoseeanAnti—PrussianPrincess,forinstanceaSaxonPrincess(oneofwhomissaidtoBetrying),putintothisimportantstation!Afteralittlethought,hefixes,——doesthereaderknowuponwhom?
  Readersperhaps,hereandthere,havesomerecollectionofaPrussianGeneral,whoisTitularPrinceofAnhalt—Zerbstonhisownscore;andisactualCommandantofStettininFriedrich’sservice,andhasdoneagreatdealofgoodfortificationthereandothergoodwork。InsteadofTitular,hehasnowlately,bydeceaseofanElderBrother,becomeActualorSemi—Actual(aBrotherjoinedwithhiminthepoorHeirship);livesoccasionallyintheSchlossofZerbst;butisgladtoretainStettinasasolidsupplement。
  HisWife,letthereadernotefarther,isSistertotheabove—
  mentionedAdolfFriedrich,"BishopofLubeck,"nowHeir—ApparenttoSweden,——inwhom,aswillsoonappear,weareotherwiseinterested。
  Wifeseemstomeanairyflightykindoflady,high—paced,nottoosure—paced,——weakevidentlyinFrenchgrammar,andperhapsinhumansensewithal:——buttheyhaveaDaughter,Sophie—Frederike,nownearfifteen,andveryforwardforherage;comelytolookupon,wisetolistento:"Isnotshethesuitableone?"thinksFriedrich,inregardtothismatter。"Herkindredisoftheoldest,oldasAlberttheBear;shehasbeenfrugallybroughtup,Spartan—like,thoughasaPrincessbybirth:letherceaseskippiugropesontherampartsyonder,withheryoungStettinplaymates;andprepareforbeingaCzarinaoftheRussias,"thinkshe。AndcommunicateshismindtotheCzarina;whoanswers,"Excellent!HowdidIneverthinkofthatmyself?"
  Andso,onoraboutNew—year’sday,1744,whiletheCommandantofStettinandhisairySpousearedoingChristmasattheiroldSchlossofZerbst,theresuddenlycomeEstafettes;ExpressesfromPetersburg,heraldedbyExpressfromFriedrich:——withtheastonishingproposal,"CzarinawishingthehonorofavisitfromMadamandDaughter;nodoubt,withsuchandsuchintentionsintherear。"[Friedrich’sLetterstoMadamofZerbst(dateofthefirstofthem,30thDecember,1743),inOEuvres,
  xxv。579—589。]Madam,norDaughter,isnothingloath;——theoldCommandantgrumblesinhisbeard,notpositivelyforbidding:andinthismanner,afteraLetterortwoinimperfectgrammar,MadamandDaughterappearinCarnivalsocietyatBerlin,charmingobjectsboth;butdonotstaylong;infact,stayonlytilltheirmoneysandarrangementsarefurnishedthem。Uponwhich,inallsilence,theymakeforPetersburg,forMoscow;travelrapidly,arrivesuccessfully,inspiteofthegrimseason。["AtMoscow,7th(18th)
  February,1744。"]ConversiontotheGreekReligion,changeofnamefromSophie—FrederiketoCatherine—Alexiewna("LetitbeCatherine,"saidElizabeth,"mydearmother’sname!"——littlebrownCzarina’s,whomwehaveseen):——allthiswascompletedbythe12thofJulyfollowing。And,infine,nextyear(September1st,1745),PeterFederowitzandthissameCatherine—Alexiewna,second—cousinsbyblood,werevouchsafedtheNuptialBenediction,and,withinvocationoftheRussianHeavenandRussianEarth,weredeclaredtobeoneflesh,[Ranke,iii。129;MemoiresdeCatherineII。(Catherine’sownverycuriousbitofAutobiography;——publishedbyMr。Herzen,London,1859),pp。7—46。]
  ——thoughatlasttheyturnedouttobeTWOFLESHES,asmyreaderwellknows!Someeighteenornineteenyearshence,wemaylookinuponthemagain,iftherebeamomenttospare。ThisisMarriagefirst;apurelyRussianone;builttogetherandlaunchedonitscourse,sotosay,byFriedrichatBerlin,whohadhisowninterestinit。
  MarriageSecond,doneatBerlininthesamemonths,wasofstillmoreinterestingsorttoFriedrichandus:thatofPrincessUlriquetotheabove—namedAdolfFriedrich,futureKingofSweden。
  Marriagewhichwentonpreparingitselfbythesideoftheother;
  andwasoftwinimportancewithitinregardtotheRussianQuestion。TheSwedishMarriagewasnotheardof,exceptinimportantwhispers,duringtheCarnivaltime;butaSwedishMinisterhadalreadycometoBerlinonit,andwasbusyfirstinasilentandexamining,theninaspeakingandproposingway。
  Itseems,theCzarinaherselfhadsuggestedthething,asacounter—politenesstoFriedrich;socontentwithhimatthistime。
  AthingwelcometoFriedrich。And,induecourse("June,1744"),therecomesexpressSwedishEmbassy,someRodenskjoldorTessin,withaveryshiningtrainofSwedes,"TodemandPrincessUlriqueinmarriageforourFutureKing。"
  Towhichthereisassent,bynomeansdenial,intheproperquarter。Whereupon,afterthewide—spreadnecessaryfuglingsandpreliminaries,thereoccurs(allbyProcuration,BrotherAugustWilhelmdoingtheBridegroom’spart),"July17th,1744,"theMarriageitself:alldone,thislastact,andtheforegoingonesandthefollowing,withagrandeurandasplendor——unspeakable,wemaysay,inshort。[Helden—Geschichte,ii。
  1045—1051。]FantasticBielfeldtaxeshispoorrougedMusetotheutmost,onthisoccasion;andbecomespositivelywearisome,chantingtheupholsteriesoflife;——foolishfellow,spoilinghisbitsoffactswithal,bymisrecollections,andevenbyexpressfictionsthrowninasgarnish。Sothat,beyondthegeneralimpression,giveninahigh—rougedstate,thereisnothingtobedependedon。OneSceneoutofhismany,whichrepresentstousonthosetermsthefinale,oractualDepartureofPrincessUlrique,weshalloffer,——withcorrections(afew,notALL);——havingnothingbetterorotheronthesubject:——
  "But,infine,thedayofdeparturedidarrive,"——eveofitdid:
  25thJuly,1744;hourofstartingtobe2A。M。to—morrow。"TheKinghadnominatedGrand—MarshalGrafvanGotter[sameGotterwhomwesawatViennaonce:KinghadappointedGotterandtwoothers;
  nottosaythattwoofthePrincess’sBrothers,withherSistertheMargravineofSchwedt,weretoaccompanyasfarasSchwedt:sixinall;thoughone’spoormemoryfailsoneonsomeoccasions!]——toescortthePrincesstoStralsund,wheretwoSwedishSenatorsanddifferenthighLordsandLadiesawaitedher。HerMajestytheQueen—
  Mother,judgingbythemovementsofherownheartthatthemomentofseparationwouldproduceascenedifficulttobear,hadorderedanOperatodivertourchagrin;and,insteadofsupper,asuperbcollationENAMBIGU[kindofsupper—breakfast,Isuppose],inthegreatHallofthePalace。HerMajesty’splanwas,ThePrincess,oncomingfromtheOpera,should,almostonflight,tasteamorsel;
  takehertravellingequipment,embraceherkinsfolk,dashintohercarriage,andgoofflikelightning。HerrGrafvonGotterwaschargedwithexecutingthisdesign,andwithhurryingthedeparture。
  "Butalltheseprecautionswerevain。TheincomparableUlriquewastoodeartoherFamilyandtoherCountry,tobepartedwithforever,withouthermeedoftearsfromtheminthosecruelinstants。OnenteringtheOpera—Hall,Inoticedeverywhereprevalentanairofsorrow,ofsombremelancholy。ThePrincessappearedinAmazon—dress[riding—habit,say],ofrose—colortrimmedwithsilver;thelittlevest,turnedupwithgreen—blue(CELADON),andcollarofthesame;alittlebonnet,Englishfashion,ofblackvelvet,withawhiteplumetoit;herhairfloating,andtiedwitharose—coloredribbon。ShewasbeautifulasLove:butthisdress,soelegant,andsowellsettingoffhercharms,onlythemoresensiblyawakenedourregretstoloseher;andannouncedthatthehourwascome,inwhichallthisappearedamongusforthelasttime。Atthesecondact,youngPrinceFerdinand[YoungestBrother,FatheroftheJENAFerdinand]enteredtheRoyalBox;andflinginghimselfonthePrincess’sneckwithaburstoftears,said,’Ah,mydearUlrique,itisover,then;andIshallneverseeyoumore!’
  Thesewordswereasignalgiventothegriefwhichwasshutinallhearts,toburstforthwiththegreatestvehemence。ThePrincessrepliedonlywithsobs;holdingherBrotherinherarms。TheTwoQueenscouldnotrestraintheirtears;thePrincesandPrincessesfollowedtheexample:griefisepidemical;itgaineddirectlyalltheBoxesofthefirstrank,wheretheCourtandNobilitywere。
  Eachhadhisowncausesofregret,andeachmeltedintotears。
  NobodypaidtheleastattentionfarthertotheOpera;andformyownshare,Iwasgladtoseeitend。
  "AninvoluntarymovementtookmetowardsthePalace。IenteredtheKing’sApartments,andfoundtheRoyalFamilyandpartoftheCourtassembled。Griefhadreacheditsheight;everybodyhadhishandkerchiefout;andIwitnessedemotionsquiteotherwiseaffectingthanthosethatTheatricArtcanproduce。TheKinghadcomposedanOdeonthePrincess’sdeparture;biddingherhislastadieusinthemosttenderandtouchingmanner。Itbeginswiththesewords:——
  ’Partez,maSoeur,partez;
  LaSuedevousattend,laSuedevousdesire,’
  ’Go,mySister,go;
  Swedenwaitsyou,Swedenwishesyou。
  [Doesnotnowexist(seeOEuvresdeFrederic,
  xiv。88,andib。PREFACEp。xv)。]
  HisMajestygaveitheratthemomentwhenshewasabouttotakeleaveoftheTwoQueens。[No,Monsieur,notthen;itcametoherhandthesecondeveninghence,atSchwedt;[HerownLettertoFriedrich(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。372;
  "Schwedt,28thJuly,1744")。]mostlikelynotyetwrittenatthetimeyoufabulouslygive;——youfoolishfantast,and"artist"oftheSHAM—kind!]——ThePrincessthrewhereyesonit,andfellintoafaint[No,youSham,notforIT]:theKinghadalmostdonethelike。Histearsflowedabundantly。ThePrincesandPrincesseswereovercomewithsorrow。Atlast,Gotterjudgedittimetoputanendtothistragicscene。HeenteredtheHall,almostlikeBoreasintheBalletofTHEROSE;thatistosay,withacrash。Hemadeoneortwowhirlwinds;clovethepress,andsnatchedawaythePrincessfromthearmsoftheQueen—Mother,tookherinhisown,andwhiskedheroutoftheHall。Alltheworldfollowed;thecarriageswerewaitinginthecourt;andthePrincessinamomentfoundherselfinhers。Iwasinsuchastate,Iknownothowwegotdownstairs;
  Irememberonlythatitwasinaconcertoflamentablesobbings。
  MadamtheMargrafinvonSchwedt,whohadbeennamedtoattendthePrincesstoStralsund[readSchwedt]ontheSwedishfrontier,thishighLadyandthetwoDamesd’AtourswhowereforSwedenitself,havingsprungintothesamecarriage,thedoorofitwasshutwithaslam;thepostillionscracked,thecarriageshotaway,——andhidtheadorableUlriquefromtheeyesofKingandCourt,whoremainedmotionlessforsomeminutes,overcomebytheirfeelings。"
  [Bielfeld,ii。107—110。]
  WesaidthisMarriagewasliketheother,importantforPublicAffairs。Infact,securityontheRussianandSwedishsideisalwaysanobjectwithFriedrichwhenundertakingwar。"ThattheFrenchbringabout,helpmetobringabout,aTripleAllianceofPrussia,Russia,Sweden:"thiswasathingFriedrichhadbargainedtoseedone,beforejoiningintheWarahead:butbytheseTwoEspousalsFriedrichhopeshehashimselfasgoodasdoneit。
  OfpoorPrincessUlriqueandhergloriousreceptioninSweden(afternearmissofshipwreck,intheSwedishFrigatefromStralsund),weshallsaynothingmoreatpresent:exceptthatherglories,allalong,weremuchdashedbychagrins,anddangerousimminenciesofshipwreck,——whichlatterdidnotquiteovertakeHER,butdidhersonsandgrandsons,beinginevitableornearlyso,inthatelement,inthecourseoftime。
  SisterAmelia,whomsomethoughtdisappointed,asperhaps,inherfoolishthought,shemightalittlebe,wasmadeAbbessofQuedlinburg,whichopulentbeneficehadfallenvacant;and,thereoratBerlin,livedarespectableSpinster—life,doubtlessoneasiertermsthanUlrique’s。AlwaysmuchlovedbyherBrother,andlovinghim(and"takingcareofhisshirts,"inthefinaltimes);
  notedinsociety,forhersharptongueandways。ConcerningwhomThiebaultandhisTrenckromancesareworthnonotice,——ifitbenotwithhorsewhipsonopportunity。SCANDALUMMAGNATUM,whereyourMagnatesareNOTfallenquitecounterfeit,wasandisalways(thoughfewnowreflectonit)amostpunishablecrime。
  GLANCEATTHEBELLIGERENTPOWERS;BRITANNICMAJESTY
  NARROWLYMISSESANINVASIONTHATMIGHTHAVEBEENDANGEROUS
  PrincessUlriquewashardlyyethomeinSweden,whenherBrotherhadactuallygoneforthupontheWarsagain!Sodifferentisoutsidefrominterior,nowandthen。"Whilethedancingandthemarriage—festivitieswentonatCourt,we,inprivate,werebusilycompletingthepreparationsforaCampaign,"dreamedofbynomortal,"whichwasonthepointofbeingopened。"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。41。]July2d,threeweeksbeforePrincessUlriqueleft,acertainAdventureofPrinceKarl’sintheRhineCountrieshadaccomplisheditself(ofwhichinthefollowingBook);andFriedrichcoulddiscernclearlythatthemomentdrewrapidlynigh。
  OntheFrenchsideoftheWar,therehasbeenvisible——sincethosehighattemptsofBritannicGeorgeandtheHungarianMajesty,contumeliouslyspurningthePeaceofferedthem,andgraspingevidentlyatone’sLorraines,Alsaces,andThreeBishoprics——amarkedchange;comfortabletolookatfromFriedrich’sside。
  MostChristianMajesty,fromthesadbentattitudeofinsultedrepentance,hasstartedupintotheperpendicularoneofindignation:"Comeon,then!"——andreallymakesefforts,thisYear,quitebeyondexpectation。"Oriflammeenterprises,privateintentionsofcuttingGermanyinFour;well,havenotIsmartedforthem;asgoodasownedtheywererathermad?Buttohavemyapologyspitupon;buttobemyselfpubliclycutinpiecesforthem?"
  March15h,1744,MostChristianMajestydid,aswesaw,dulydeclareWaragainstEngland;againstAustria,April26th:
  "England,"hesays,"brokeitsConventionofNeutrality(signed27thSeptember,1741);brokesaidConvention[aswasverynatural,notermbeingset]directlyafterMailleboiswasgone;England,byitsMediterraneanAdmiralsandthelike,has,toadegreebeyondenduring,insultedtheFrenchcoasts,harborsandroyalNavy:
  WedeclareWaronEngland。"Andthen,sixweekshence,inregardtoAustria:"Austria,refusingtomakePeacewithavirtuousKaiser,whomwe,forthesakeofpeace,hadmagnanimouslyhelped,andthenmagnanimouslyceasedtohelp;——Austriarefusespeacewithhimorus;onthecontrary,Austriaattempts,andhasattempted,toinvadeFranceitself:Wetherefore,onandfromthis26thofApril,1744,lettheworldnoteit,areatWarwithAustria。"[In
  Adelung,iv。78,90,thetwoManifestoesgiven。]
  BoththesepromisestoFriedricharepunctuallyperformed。
  Nor,whatisfarmoreimportant,havethenecessarypreparationsbeenneglected;butareonaquiteunheard—ofscale。Suchtaxingandfinancieringtherehasbeen,lastWinter:——taxonyourstreet—
  lamp,onyourfire—wood,increasedexciseonmeatandeatablesofallkinds:Bepatient,yepoor;considerGLOIRE,andanORIFLAMME
  sotrampledonbytheAustrianHeathen!Eatables,street—lamps,doIsay?Thereis36,000pounds,raisedbyataxon——well,onGARDEROBES(nottranslated)!Asmallhelp,butahelp:NONOLET,NONOLEAT。TowhatdepthshasOriflammecomedown!——Theresultis,thisSpringof1744,indignantFrancedoes,byland,andevenbysea,makeanappearancecalculatedtoastonishGazetteersandmen。
  Land—forces160,000actuallyonfoot:80,000(growsatlastinto100,000,foralittlewhile)as"ArmyoftheNetherlands,"——toprickintoAustria,andastonishEnglandandtheDutchBarrier,inthatquarter。Oftherest,20,000underContiareforItaly;
  60,000(bydegrees40,000)underCoignyfordefenceoftheRhineCountries,shouldPrinceKarl,asissurmisable,makenewattemptsthere。[Adelung,iv。78;Espagnac,ii。3。]
  Andbesidesallthis,thereareTwostrongFleets,gotactuallylaunched,notyetintothedeepsea,butreadyforit:oneinToulonHarbor,toavengethoseMediterraneaninsults;andburstout,inconcertwithanimpatientSpanishFleet(whichhaslainblockadedhereforayearpast),ontheinsolentblockadingEnglish:whichwasinsomesortdone。["19thFebruary,1744,"
  FrenchandSpanishFleetsrunout;22dFeb。areattackedbyMatthewsandLestock;areratherbeaten,notbeatennearlyenough(MatthewsandLestockblamingoneanother,SpaniardsandFrenchditto,ditto:Adelung,iv。32—35);withtheendlessjanglings,correspondings,court—martialingsthatensue(Beatson,
  NavalandMilitaryMemoirs,i。197etseqq。;
  Gentleman’sMagazine,andOldNewspapers,for1744;&c。&c。)。]TheotherstrongFleet,twentysailoftheline,underAdmiralRoquefeuille,isinBrestHarbor,——intendedforastillmoredelicateoperation;ofwhichanon。SurelyKingFriedrichoughttoadmitthatthesearefinesymptoms?KingFriedrichhasfreelydoneso,allalong;intendingtostrikeinattherightmoment。Letussee,alittle,howthingshavegone;andhowtherightmomenthasbeenadvancinginlatemonths。
  JANUARY17th,1744,TherelandedatAntibesonFrenchsoilayounggentleman,byname"ContediSpinelli,"directfromGenoa,fromRome;younggentlemanseeminglyofsmallimportance,butintrinsicallyofconsiderable;whohastenedoffforParis,andtheredisappeared。DisappearedintosubterraneanconsultationswiththehighestOfficialpeople;intendingreappearancewithemphasisatDunkirk,afewweekshence,inmuchmoreemphaticposture。
  AndallthroughFebruarythereisobservableabriskdiligenceofWar—preparation,atDunkirk:transport—shipsinquantity,finallyfourwar—ships;15,000chosentroops,graduallymarchingin;
  nearlyallonboard,withtheirequipments,bytheendofthemonth。
  ClearlyanInvadingArmyintendedsomewhither,Englandjudgestoowellwhither。Anti—EnglishArmament;tobeledby,whomthinksthereader?Thatsame"ContediSpinelli,"whoisCharlesEdwardtheYoungPretender,——ComtedeSaxecommandingunderhim!Thisisnofable;itisafact,somewhatformidable;broughtabout,theysay,byoneCardinalTencin,anOfficialPersonofcelebrityinthethenVersaillesworld;whooweshisredhat(whateversuchdebtreallybe)tooldJacobiteinfluence,exertedforhimatRome;andtakesthismethodofpayinghisdebtandhiscourtatonce。Gets,namely,hisproposal,ofaCharles—EdwardInvasionofEngland,todovetailinwiththeotherwideartilleriesnowbentonlittleGeorgeinthewaywesee。HadnotlittleGeorgebetterhavestayedathomeoutofthesePragmaticWars?Fifteenthousand,aidedbythenativeJacobitehosts,undercommandofSaxe,——aSaxeagainstaWadeisfearfulodds,——maymakesomefigureinEngland!Wehopealwaystheywillnotbeabletoland。Imaginationmayconceivetheflurry,ifnotofBritannicmankind,atleastofBritannicMajestyandhisOfficialPeople,andwhatastiranddintheymade:——ofwhichthisisthecompressedupshot。
  "SATURDAY,1stMARCH,1744。Fornearlyaweekpast,therehasbeenseenhangingaboutintheChannel,anddangerouslyhoveringtoandfro[hadenteredbytheLand’s—End,wasfirstnoticedonSundaylast"nightheEddistone"]aconsiderableFrenchFleet,sixteengreatships;withfourorfivemore,probablybelongingtoit,whichnowlieoffDunkirk:theintentionofwhichistoowellknowninhighquarters。ThisisthegrandBrestFleet,AdmiralRoquefeuille’s;whichbelievesitcancommandtheChannel,inpresentcircumstances,theEnglishChannel—Fleetsbeinginadisjoinedcondition,——tillComtedeSaxe,withhisCharles—Edwardand15,000,doshipthemselvesacross!Greatalarminconsequence;
  ourWar—forces,40,000ofthem,allinGermany;nottheleastpreparationtoreceiveanInvasiveArmament。ComtedeSaxeisveritablyatDunkirk,sinceSaturday,March1st:busyshippinghis15,000;equipmentsmostlyshipped,andabout10,000ofthemen:
  allisactivitythere;RoquefeuillehangingaboutDungeness,withfourofhistwentygreatshipsdetachedformoreimmediateprotectionofSaxeandthoseDunkirkindustries。Tomeetwhich,oldAdmiralNorris,offandontowardstheNoreandtheForelands,hasbeendoinghisbesttorallyforceabouthim;hopeshewillnowbematchforRoquefeuille:——butifheshouldnot?
  "THURSDAY,6thMARCH。AfternoonofMarch5th,oldAdmiralNorris,hopinghewasatlengthinsomethinglikeequality,’tideditroundtheSouthForeland;’sawRoquefeuillehanging,infulltale,withinfewmiles;——andatonceplungedintohim?No,reader;notatonce,norindeedatall。Agreatsea—fightwasexpected;butouroldNorristhoughtitlateintheday;——and,ineffect,nofightprovedneedful。Daylightwasnotyetsunk,whenthererosefromthenorth—
  eastwardaheavygale;blewallnight,andbysixnextmorningwasaragingstorm;hadblownRoquefeuillequiteawayoutofthosewaters(fractionsofhimupontherocksofGuernsey);hadtumbledComtedeSaxe’sTransportsbottomuppermost(sotospeak),inDunkirkRoads;——and,infact,hadblowntheEnterpriseoverthehorizon,andrelievedtheOfficialBritannicmindintheusualmiraculousmanner。
  "M。leComtedeSaxe——whohad,bysuperhumanactivity,savednearlyallhismen,inthathideoustopsy—turvyoftheTransportsandmunitions——returnedstraightway,andmuchmoreM。leComtedeSpinelliwithhim,toParis。ComtedeSaxewasdirectlythereuponmadeMarechaldeFrance;appointedtobeColleagueofNoaillesintheensuingNetherlandsCampaign。’ComtedeSpinelliwenttolodgewithhisUncle,theCardinalGrand—AlmonerFitz—James’[azealousgentleman,ofinfluencewiththeHolyFather],andthereinprivacytowaitotherchancesthatmightrise。’The1,500silvermedals,thathadbeenstruckfordistributioninGreatBritain,’fell,forthistime,intothemelting—potagain。[Tindal,xxi。22(mostlyapuddleofinaccuracies,asusual);Espagnac,i。213;
  Gentleman’sMagazine,xiv。106,&c。;Barbier,ii。382,385,388。]
  "Greatstir,inBritishParliamentandPublic,therehadlatterlybeenonthismatter:Arrestmentofsuspectedpersons,banishmentofallCatholicstenmilesfromLondon;likewiseregisteringofhorses(togallopwithcannonwhitherwanted);likewiseimprovisingofcavalryregimentsbypersonsofcondition,’Setourplushpeopleonourcoach—horses;there!’[Yes,THEREwillbeaCavalry,——inferiortoGeneralZiethen’s!];andwereactuallydrillingtheminseveralplaces,whenthatfortunateblastofstorm(March6th)bleweverythingtoquietagain。Field—marshalEarlofStair,inregardtotheScottishpopulations,hadshownanoblemagnanimity;
  whichwasrecognized:andaGeneralSirJohnCoperodeoff,post—
  haste,totakethechiefcommandinthatCountry;——where,inabouteighteenmonthshence,hemadeaveryshiningthingofit!"——TakethisotherCuttingfromtheOldNewspapers:——
  "FRIDAY,31st(20th)MARCH,1744,AgeneralpressbeganforrecruitinghisMajesty’sregiments,andmanningtheFleet;
  whenupwardsof1,000menweresecuredinthejailsofLondonandWestminster;beingallowedsixpenceaheadperdiem,bytheCommissionersoftheLand—tax,whoexaminethem,andsendthoseawaythatarefoundfitforhisMajesty’sservice。ThesamemethodwastakenineachCounty。"Pressceases;enoughbeinggot,——pressnomoretillfartherorder:5th(16th)June。[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1744,pp。226,333。]
  BritannicMajestyshakenbysuchomens,doesnotinpersonvisitGermanyatallthisYear;nor,byhisDeputies,atallshineonthefieldsofWaraslately。He,hisEnglishandhe,didindeedcomedownwiththeircashinapromptandmanfulmanner,butshowedlittleotheractivitythisyear。TheirtroopswerealreadyintheNetherlands,sinceWinterlast;lednowbyaField—marshalWade,ofwhomonehasheard;towhomjoinedthemselvescertainAustrians,underDucd’Ahremberg,andcertainDutch,undersomeothermanincocked—hat:thewholeofwhom,underMarshalWade’schiefguidance,didasgoodasnothingwhatever。"Inferiorinforce!"criedMarshalWade;anindolentincompetentoldgentleman,frightfultoseeincommandoftroops:"inferiorinforce!"criedhe,whichwasnotatfirstquitethecase。Andwhen,byadditionstohimself,anddeductions(ofamostunexpectednature)fromhisEnemy,hehadbecomenearlydoubleinforce,itwasallthesame:MarshalWade(againstwhomindeedwasMarechaldeSaxe,nowinsolecommand,asweshallsee)tookshelterinsafeplaces,witnessingtherefromtheswiftdestructionoftheNetherlands,andwouldattemptnothing。
  WhichindeedwasperhapsprudentontheMarshal’spart。Muchmoneywasspent,andmenenoughdidpuddlethemselvestodeathontheclayroads,orbivouackinginthesafeswamps;butnottheleaststrokeofbattlewasgotoutofthemunderthisoldMarshal。
  Hadperhaps"adividedcommand,thoughnominalChief,"pooroldgentleman;——yes,andaheadthatunderstoodnothingofhisbusinesswithal。Oneofthosesameastonishing"Generals"oftheEnglish,nowbecomingknowninNaturalHistory;thelikeofwhom,tillwithinthesehundredandfiftyyears,werenotheardofamongsaneNations。SaxeVERSUSWadeisfearfulodds。TojudgebythewaySaxehasofhandlingWade,maynotwethankHeaventhatitwasnotHERE
  inEnglandthetrialcameon!Liftupbothyourhands,andbless——notGeneralWade,quiteyet。
  THEYOUNGDUKEOFWURTEMBERGGETSAVALEDICTORYADVICE;
  ANDPOLLNITZADITTOTESTIMONIAL(February6th;April1st,1744)。
  February7th,1744,KarlEugen,theyoungDukeofWurtemberg,——
  Friedrichhavinggot,fromtheKaiser,dueDispensation(VENIA
  AETATIS)fortheyounggentleman,andhadhimdeclaredDukeRegnant,thoughonlysixteen,——quittedBerlinwithgreatpomp,forhisownCountry,onthaterrand。FriedrichhadhopedherebytosettletheWurtembergmattersonagoodfooting,andbesureofafriendinWurtembergtotheKaiserandhimself。Whichhope,likeeverybody’shopesaboutthisyounggentleman,wasentirelydisappointed;saidyounggentlemanhavinggotintoperverse,haughty,sulky,ill—conditionedways,andmadeabadLifeandReignofit,——bettertoliemostlyhiddenfromushenceforth,atleastformanyyearstocome。TheexcellentPartingLetterwhichFriedrichgavehimgotabroadintotheworld;waschristenedtheMIRROROFPRINCES,andgreatlyadmiredbymankind。ItisindeedanalmostfaultlessPieceofitskind;comprising,inaflowingyetpreciseway,withadmirablefrankness,sincerity,sagacity,succinctness,aWholeDutyofRegnantMan;[InOEuvresdeFrederic,ix。4—7。]——butIfearitwouldonlywearythereader;perfectADVICEhavingbecomesoplentifulinourEpoch,withlittlebut"pavement"toacertainLocalitytheconsequence!——
  Thereis,ofthesamemonths,aTESTIMONIALTOPOLLNITZ,whichalsogotabroadandhaditscelebrity:this,asspecimenofFriedrichonthecomicside,willperhapsbelessafflicting;anditwillridusofPollnitz,poorsoul,onhandsometerms。
  GoldstickPollnitzisatBaireuthinthesemonths;fallenquitedisconsolatesincewelastheardofhim。Hisfinemarriagewentawry,——richlady,verywisely,drawingback;——andthefoolisholdcreaturehasdecidedonREchanginghisreligion;whichhehaschangedalreadythriceorso,inhisvagabondstraits;forthepurposeof"retiringtoaconvent"thistime。Friedrich,incandidbriefmanner,roughbutwise,andnotwithoutsomekindnessforanolddogoneisusedto,hasanswered,"Nonsense;thatwillneverdo!"ButPollnitzpersisting;formallydemandingleavetodemit,andlaydownthegoldstick,withthatview,——FriedrichdoesatlengthsendhimCertificateofLeave;"whichisdrawnoutwithalltheforms,andwasdespatchedthroughEicheltotheproperBoard;"
  butwhichbearsdateAPRILFIRST,andthoughofficiallyvalid,isofquizzicalnature:———perhapsalreadyknowntosomereaders;
  havinggotintotheNewspapers,andwidelyabroad,atasubsequenttime。AsauthenticsampleofFriedrichinthatkind,hereitaccuratelyis,withonlyoneortwoslightabridgments,whichareindicated:——
  "WhereastheBarondePollnitz,bornatBerlin[atKoln,ifitmadeanymatter],ofhonestparentssofarasWeknow,——afterhavingservedOurGrandfatherasGentlemanoftheChamber,Madamd’Orleans[wickedRegent’sMother,afamedGermanLady]inthesamerank,theKingofSpaininqualityofColonel,thedeceasedKaiserinthatofCaptainofHorse,thePopeasChamberlain,theDukeofBrunswickasChamberlain,DukeofWeimarasEnsign,ourFatherasChamberlain,and,infine,UsasGrandMasteroftheCeremonies,"——has,inspiteofsuchaccumulationofhonors,becomedisgustedwiththeworld;
  andrequestsaPartingTestimony,tosupporthisgoodreputation,——
  "We,rememberinghisimportantservicestotheHouse,indivertingfornineyearslongthelateKingourFather,anddoingthehonorsofourCourtduringthenowReign,cannotrefusesuchrequest;
  butdoherebycertify,ThatthesaidBaronhasneverassassinated,robbedonthehighway,poisoned,forciblycutpurses,ordoneotheratrocityorlegalcrimeatourCourt;buthasalwaysmaintainedgentlemanlybehavior,makingnotmorethanhonestuseoftheindustryandtalentshehasbeenendowedwithatbirth;
  imitatingtheobjectoftheDrama,thatis,correctingmankindbygentlequizzing;following,inthematterofsobriety,Boerhaave’scounsels;pushingChristiancharitysofarasoftentomaketherichunderstandthatitismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive;——
  possessingperfectlytheanecdotesofourvariousMansions,especiallyofourworn—outFurnitures;renderinghimself,byhismerits,necessarytothosewhoknowhim;and,withaverybadhead,havingaverygoodheart。
  "OurangerthesaidBaronneverkindledbutonce,"——inatrociouslyviolatingthegraveofanAncestress(orStepAncestress)ofours。
  [Step—AncestresswasDorothea,theGreatElector’ssecondWife;
  ofwhomPollnitz,inhisMemoirsandLetters,
  repeatstherumorthatonceshe,perhaps,triedtopoisonherStepsonFriedrich,FirstKing。(Seesupra,vol。v。p。47)。]"Butastheloveliestcountrieshavetheirbarrenspots,thebeautifulestformstheirimperfections,picturesbythegreatestmasterstheirfaults,WearewillingtocoverwiththeveilofoblivionthoseofthesaidBaron;doherebygranthim,withregret,theCongeeherequires;——andabolishhisOfficealtogether,toblotitfrommen’smemory,notjudgingthatanybodyafterthesaidBaroncanbeworthytofillit。
  "DoneatPotsdam,this1stofApril,1744。FREDERIC。"
  [OEuvres,xv。193。]
  TheOfficeofGrandMasteroftheCeremonieswas,accordingly,abolishedaltogether。ButPollnitz,leftlooseinthismanner,didnotgallopdirect,orgoatall,intomonkhood,ashehadexpected;
  but,infact,bydegrees,crepthometoBerlinagain;tookthesubalternpostofChamberlain;andthere,intheoldfashion(straitenedinfinance,makingloans,retailinganecdotes,notwittybutthecauseofwit),woreoutlife’sgrayevening;
  till,aboutthirtyyearshence,hedied;"diedashehadlived,swindlingtheverynightbeforehisdecease,"writesFriedrich;
  [LettertoVoltaire,13thAugust,1775(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。344)。SeePreuss,v。241
  (URKUNDENBUCH),theLettersofFriedrichtoPollnitz。]whowasalwaysratherkindtothepoorolddog,thoughbanteringhimagooddeal。
  TWOCONQUESTSFORPRUSSIA,AGASEOUSANDASOLID:
  CONQUESTFIRST,BARBERINATHEDANCER。
  EarlyinMay,theBerlinpublicfirstsawitsBarberinadance,andwroteecstaticLatinEpigramsaboutthatmiracleofnatureandart;
  [Rodenbeck,pp。111,190。]——miracle,alas,notentirelyomissiblebyus。HereisherStory,astheBooksgiveit;slightlymythical,Ijudge,insomeofitsnon—essentialparts;butgoodenoughforthesubject:——
  BarberinatheDancerhadcostFriedrichsometrouble;thepainshetookwithherelegantpirouettingsandpoussettings,andtheheavysalaryhegaveher,areanunexpectediteminhishistory。
  HewishedtofavortheArts,yes;butdidhereckonOpera—dancingachiefoneamongthem?HehadindeedbuiltanOpera—House,andgavefreeadmissions,supportingthecosthimself;andamonghisothergovernings,governedthedancerandsingertroopsofthatestablishment。TooknolittletroubleabouthisOpera:——yetperhapsheprivatelyknewitsplace,afterall。"WishedtoencouragestrangersofopulentconditiontovisithisCapital,"saythecunningones。Itmaybeso;and,atanyrate,heprobablywishedtoacttheKinginsuchmatters,andnotgrudgealittlemoney。
  Hereallylovedmusic,evenoperamusic,andknewthathispeoplelovedit;totheroughnaturalman,allrhythm,evenofaBarberina’sfeet,maybedidactic,beneficial:donothiggle,letusdowhatistobedoneinaliberalstyle。HisagentatVenice——
  forhehasagentseverywhereontheoutlookforhim——reportsthathereisaFemaleDancerofthefirstquality,whohasshoneinLondon,ParisandtheCapitalCities,andmightanswerwell,butwhosetermswillprobablybedear。"Engageher,"answersFriedrich。
  Andsheisengagedonprettyterms;shewillbefreeinamonthortwo,andthenstart。[Zimmermann,FragmenteuberFriedrichdenGrossen(Leipzig,1790),i。88—92;Collini,ubiinfra;Denina;&c。:compareRodenbeck,p。191。]
  Well;——butBarberinahad,asisusual,subsidiarytradestoherdancing:inparticular,ayoungEnglishGentlemanhadfollowedherupanddown,saysZimmermann,andwasstillhereinVenicepassionatelyattachedtoher。Whichfact,especiallywhichyoungEnglishgentleman,shouldhavebeenextremelyindifferenttome,butforacircumstancesoontobementioned。TheyoungEnglishgentleman,clearagainstBarberina’sPrussianscheme,passionatelyopposesthesame,passionatelyrenewshisownoffers;——inducesBarberinatoinformthePrussianagentthatsherenouncesherengagementinthatquarter。Prussianagentanswersthatitisnotrenounceable;thathehaslegalwritingonit,andthatitmustbekept。Barberinarisesintocontumacy,willlaughatallwritingandcompulsion。PrussianagentappliestoDogeandSenateonthesubject,inhisKing’sname;whoanswerpolitely,butdonothing:
  "HowhappytoobligesogreataKing;but——"Andsoitlastsforcertainmonths;BarberinaandtheyoungEnglishgentlemancontumaciousinVenice,andDogeandSenatemerelywishingwemaygether。
  MeanwhileaVenetianAmbassadorhappenstobepassingthroughBerlin,inhiswaytoorfromsomeHyperboreanState;arrivesatsomehotel,inBerlin;——finds,onthemorrow,thathisluggageisarrestedbyRoyalOrder;thathe,oratleastIT,cannotgetfarther,neitheradvancenorreturn,tillBarberinadocome。
  "Impossible,Signor:abargainisabargain;andStatesoughttohavelaw—courtsthatenforcecontractsenteredintointheirterritories。"TheVenetianDogeandSenatedonowlayholdofBarberina;packherintopost—chaises,offtowardsBerlin,underthechargeofarmedmen,withthepropertransit—papers,——asitwereundertheaddress,"ForhisMajestyofPrussia,thissideuppermost,"——andthussheactuallyisconveyed,dateormonthuncertain,byInnspruckortheSplugen,Icannotsaywhich,overmountain,overvalley,fromcountrytocountry,andfromstagetostage,tillshearrivesatBerlin;Ambassadorwithbaggagehavingbeenletgo,sosoonastheaffairwasseentobesafe。
  AsfortheyoungEnglishgentlemanpassionatelyattached,hefollowed,itisunderstood;faithful,constantasshadowtothesun,alwaysastagebehind;arrivedinBerlintwohoursafterhisBarberina,stillpassionatelyattached;andnow,astherumorgoes,wasthreateningeventomarryher,andsosavethematter。
  Supremelyindifferenttomyreadersandme。Butherenowisthecircumstancethatmakesitmentionable。TheyoungEnglishisproperlyayoungScotchgentleman;JamesMackenziethenameofhim,——agrandsonofthecelebratedAdvocate,SirGeorgeMackenzie;
  andyoungerBrotherofapersonagewho,asEarlofBute,becameextremelyconspicuousinthisKingdominafteryears。Thatmakesitmentionable,——ifonlyintheshapeofMYTH。ForFriedrich,accordingtorumor,beingstillliketolosehisDancerinthatmanner,warnedtheyounggentleman’sfriends;andhadhimperemptorilysummonedhome,andthelightfantastictoeleftfreeinthatrespect。Whichproceduretheindignantyounggentleman(thinksmyAuthor)neverforgave;continuingahaterofFriedrichallhisdays;andinstillingthesamesentimentintotheEarlofButeataperiodwhichwasverycritical,asweshallsee。
  ThisismyAuthor’s,theoftenfallaciousthoughnotmendaciousDr。Zimmermann’s,ratherdeliberateaccount;amannotgiventomendacity,thoughfilledwithmuchvaguewind,whichrendershimfallaciousinhistoricalpoints。
  ReadersofWalpole’sGeorgetheThirdknowenoughofthisMackenzie,"Earl’sBrother,MACKINSY,"andthesorrowfuldifficultiesabouthisScotchlaw—officeorbenefice;
  inwhichmatter"Mackinsy"behavesalwaysinahighway,andonlytheMinisterialOutsandInnshigglepedler—like,vigilantoftheLibertiesofEngland,astheycallthem。Intheend,Mackinsykepthislaw—officeorgotitrestoredtohim;3,000poundsayearwithoutexcessofwork;amanmuchthegentleman,accordingtotherulethencurrent:incontemplativeraremoments,theman,lookingbackthroughthedimposternsofthemind,mightseeafaroffacertainpirouettingFigure,oncefarfromindifferent,andnotyetquitemeltedintocheerlessgraysmoke,assomuchoftherestis——
  toMr。Mackinsyandus。Ihavemade,intheScotchMackenziecircles,whatinquirywasdue;findnoevidence,butvariouslikelihoods,thatthisoftheBarberinaandhimisfact,andapieceofhisbiography。Astotheinferencededucedfromit,inregardtoFriedrichandtheEarlofBute,onacriticaloccasion,——
  thatrestsentirelywithZimmermann;andthecandidmindinclinestoadmitthat,probably,itisbutrumorandconjecture;
  street—duststickingtotheDoctor’sshoes,anddemandingmerelytobewellsweptoutagain。Heigho!——
  Barberina,thoughadancer,didnotwantformoreessentialgraces。
  Verysprightly,veryprettyandintelligent;notwithoutpiquancyandpungency:theKinghimselfhasbeenknowntotaketeawithherinmixedsociety,thoughnothingmore;andwithpassionateyounggentlemenshewasverysuccessful。NotlongafterhercomingtoBerlin,shemadeconquestofCocceji,thecelebratedChancellor’sSon;whofindingnootherresource,atlengthprivatelymarriedher。Voltaire’sCollini,whenhecametoBerlin,in1750,recommendedbyaSignoraSisteroftheBarberina’s,foundtheBarberinaandherMotherdiningdailywiththisCoccejiastheirguest:[Collini,MonSejouraupresdeVoltaire(aParis,1807),pp。13—19。]SignoraBarberinaprivatelyinformedCollinihowthematterwas;Signorinastilldancingallthesame,——thoughshehadmoneyintheEnglishfundswithal;
  andFriedrichhadbeensogenerousasgiveherthefixingofherownsalary,whenshecametohim,this—side—uppermost,inthewaywedescribed。Shehadfixed,toomodestlythinksCollini,on5,000
  thalers(about750pounds)ayear;havingheartandheadaswellasheels,poorlittlesoul。PerhapshernotablestfeatinHistory,afterall,washerleadingthisCollini,asshenowdid,intotheserviceofVoltaire,tobeVoltaire’sSecretary。Aswillbeseen。
  WherebywehaveobtainedaloyallittleBook,morecrediblethanmostothers,aboutthatnotableman。
  Atasubsequentperiod,BarberinadecidedondeclaringhermarriagewithCocceji;shedrewhermoneyfromtheEnglishfunds,purchasedafinemansion,andwenttolivewiththesaidCoccejithere,givinguptheOperaandpublicpirouettes。Butthisdidnotanswereither。Cocceji’sMotherscornedirreconcilablytheOperaalliance;
  Friedrich,whodidnothimselflikeitinhisChancellor’sSon,promotedtheyoungmantosomehigherpostinthedistantSilesianregion。Butthere,alas,theythemselvesquarrelled;divorcedoneanother;andrumoragainwasbusy。"You,Coccejiyourself,arebutaschoolmaster’sgrandson[Barberina,oneeasilysupposes,mighthaveatemperwithal];anditisI,ifyouwillrecollect,thatdrewmoneyfromtheEnglishfunds!"Barberinamarriedagain;andtoanoblemanofsixteenquartersthistime,andwithwhomatleasttherewasnodivorce。Successfulwithpassionategentlemen;havingmoneyfromtheEnglishfunds。HerlastnamewasGrafinn——Ireallyknownotwhat。Herdescendantsprobablystilllive,withsixteenquarters,inthoseparts。Itwasthusshedidherlife—journey,waltzingandwalking;successfullyholdingherownagainsttheworld。Historydeclaresitselfashamedofspendingsomanywordsonsuchasubject。ButtheDancerofFriedrich,andtheauthoress,primeorproximate,ofCollini’sVoltaire,
  claimsapassingremembrance。Letus,ifwecaneasilyhelpit,neverspeakofhermore。
  CONQUESTSECONDISOST—FRIESLAND,OFASOLIDNATURE。
  May25th,1744,justwhileBarberinabeganherpirouettingsatBerlin,poorKarlEdzard,PrinceofEastFriesland,longaweakmalingeringcreature,died,rathersuddenly;childless,andthelastofhisHouse,whichhadenduredthereabout300years。
  OurcleverWilhelminaatBaireuth,thoughreadershaveforgottenthesmallcircumstance,hadmarriedasuperfluousSister—in—lawofherstothisKarlEdward;and,theysay,itwassomefondhopeofprogeny,suddenlydashedintonothingness,thatfinishedthepoorman,thatnightofMay25th。Inanycase,hisTerritoryfallstoPrussia,byReich’sSettlementoflongstanding(1683—1694);
  whichhadbeenconfirmedanewtothelateKing,FriedrichWilhelm:
  ——werememberhowhereturnedwithit,honestman,fromthatKLADRUPJOURNEYin1732,andwassniffedatforbringingnothingbetter。Andintheinterim,hisroyalHanoverCousins,covetingEastFriesland,hadclaptupanERBVERBRUDERUNGwiththepoorPrincethere(Father,Ithink,oftheonejustdead):"AthingULTRAVIRES,"arguedLawyers;"private,quasi—clandestine;
  andposterior(inasense)toReich’sCONCLUSUM,1694。"
  Onwhichground,however,GeorgeII。nowsuedFricdrichatReich’sLaw,——Friedrich,weneednotsay,havinginstantlytakenpossessionofOst—Friesland。Andthereensuedarguingenoughbetweenthem,foryearscoming;verygreatexpenditureofparchment,andofmutualbarkingatthemoon(donealwaysbyproxy,andeasytodo);
  whichdoubtlessincreasedthemutualill—feeling,buthadnoothereffect。Friedrich,whohadbeenwellawaketoOst—Frieslandforsometimeback,andhadgivenhisOfficialpeople(CoccejihisMinisterofJustice,Chancellorbyandby,andoneortwosubordinates)theirpreciseInstructions,laidholdofit,withamaximumofpromptitude;therebyquashingagreatdealofmuchmoredangerouslitigationthanUncleGeorge’s。
  "InallGermany,notexceptingevenMecklenburg,therehadbeennomoreanarchicspotthanOst—Frieslandforthelastsixtyorseventyyears。ACountrywithparliamentary—lifeinextraordinaryvivacity(risingindeedtothesuicidalorinternecinepitch,intwoorthreedirections),andnexttonoregent—lifeatall。ACountrythathadlovedFreedom,notwiselybuttoowell!RitterParty,Prince’sParty,Towns’Party;——alwaystwoormoreinternecineParties:’FalseParliamentyou:traitors!’’We?FalseYOU,traitors!’——TheParishConstable,bygeneralconsent,keptwalking;
  butforGovernmenttherewasthisoftheParliamentaryEloquences(threeatonce),andFreedom’sbattle,fancyit,bequeathedfromsiretoson!’ThelateKarlEdzardneveroncewasinEmbden,hischiefTown,thoughhelivedwithinadozenmilesofit。’——Andthen,stillmorequestionable,alltheseenergeticlittlePartieshadappliedtotheNeighboringGovernments,andhadeachitssmallForeignBattalion,’ToprotectUSandourjustfranchises!’
  ImperialReich’s—SafeguardBattalion,DutchBattalion,DanishBattalion,——Prussian,itfirstofallwas(year1683,TownofEmbdeninvitingtheGreatElector),butitisnotsonow。
  ThePrussianshadneededtobequietlyswift,onthat25thdayofMay,1744。
  "Andtrulytheywereso;Coccejihavingallthingsready;
  leadingparty—menalreadysecuredtohim,troopswithincall,andthelike。ThePrussians——EmbdenTown—CouncilsinvitingtheirastonishedDutchBattalionnottobeathome——marchedquietlyintoEmbden’nextday,’andtookpossessionoftheguns。MarchedtoAurich(officialmetropolis),DanesandImperialSafeguardsayingnothing;and,inshort,withinaweekhad,intheirusualexactfashion,gotfirmholdofchaoticOst—Friesland。Andproceededtomanageit,inlikesort,——witheffectssoonsensible,andsteadilycontinuing。TheirParliamentary—lifeFriedrichleftinitsfullvigor:’Taxyourselves;whatrevenueyoulike;andseetotheoutlayofityourselves。Allowme,asLANDES—HERR,sometrifleofoverplus:howmuch,then?Furthermoreafewrecruits,——orrecruit—
  moneyinlieu,ifyoulikebetter!’AnditwasastonishinghowtheParliamentaryvitality,notshortenedofitsleastfranchise,orcoercedinanyparticular,butmerelystrokedtherightwayofthehair,byagentlyformidablehand,withgoodheadguiding,sankalmoststraightwayintodove—life,andnevergaveFriedrichanytrouble,whateverelseitmightdo。Themanagementwasgood;
  theopportunityalsowasgood。’Inonesitting,thePrussianAgent,arbitratingbetweenEmbdenandtheRitters,settledtheircontroversy,whichhadlastedfiftyyears。’ThepoorCountryfeltgrateful,whichitmightwelldo;asifforthelayingofgoblins,fortheendingoflong—continuedlocaltyphoon!Friedrich’sfirstVisit,in1751,waswelcomedwithuniversaljubilation;andpoorOst—Frieslandthankedhiminstillmoresolidways,whenoccasionrose。[Ranke,iii。370—382。]
  "ItisnotanimportantCountry:——onlyaboutthesizeofCheshire;
  wetlikeit,andmuchinferiortoitincheese,inresourcesforleatherandlive—stock,thoughitperhapsexcels,again,inclover—
  seeds,rape—seeds,Flandershorses,andtheflaxproducts。
  The’clearoverplus’ityieldedtoFriedrich,asSovereignAdministratorandDefender,wasonly3,200pounds;forrecruit—
  MONEY,6,000pounds(norecruitsinCORPORE);inall,littlemorethan9,000poundsayear。Butithaditsusestoo。Embden,biggerthanChester,andwithabetterharbor,wasaplaceofgoodtrade;
  andbroughtFriedrichintocontactwithsea—matters;inwhich,asweshallfind,hedidmakesomecreditableincipiencies,raisingexpectationsintheworld;andmighthavecarrieditfarther,hadnotnewWars,farworsethanthisnowathand,interruptedhim。"
  FriedrichwasatPyrmont,takingthewaters,whilethisofFrieslandfellout;hehadgonethitherMay20th;wasjustarrivedthere,fourdaysbeforethedeathofKarlEdzard。[Rodenbeck,p。102。]HisOfficials,wellpre—instructed,managedtheOst—
  FrieslandQuestionmainlythemselves。Friedrichwastakingthewaters;ostensiblynothingmore。Buthewaswithal,andstillmoreearnestly,consultingwithaFrenchExcellency(whoalsohadfeltaneedofthewaters),abouttheFrenchCampaignforthisSeason:
  WhetherCoignywasstrongenoughintheMiddle—RhineCountries;
  howtheirGrandArmyoftheNetherlandsshapedtoprosper;
  andotherthelikeinterestingpoints。[Ranke,iii。165,166。]
  FrankfurtUnionisjustsigned(May22d)。MostChristianMajestyishimselfunderwaytotheNetherlands,himselfgoingtocommandthere,asweshallsee。"Good!"answersFriedrich:"Butdon’tweakenCoigny,thinkofPrinceKarlonthatside;don’tdetachfromCoigny,andreducehis60,000to40,000!"
  Plentyofmutualconsulting,astheywalkinthewoodsthere。
  Andhowprofoundlyobscure,tocertainOfficialpartiesmuchconcerned,judgefromthefollowingsmallDocument,preservedbyaccident:——
  LYTTELTON(ouroldSoissonsFriend,nowanOfficialinPrinceFred’sHousehold,friendofPitt,andmuchelse)TOHISFATHERATHAGLEY。
  ARGYLESTREET,LONDON,"May5th[16th],1744。
  "DEARSIR,——Mr。West[GilbertWest,ofwhomthereisstillsomememory]comeswithustoHagley;and,ifyougivemeleave,IwillbringourfriendThomsontoo"——ohJamieThamson,JamieThamson,oh!
  "HisSEASONSwillbepublishedinaboutaweek’stime,andamostnobleworktheywillbe。
  "Ihavenopublicnewstotellyou,whichyouhavenothadintheGazettes,exceptwhatissaidinPrivateLettersfromGermany,oftheKingofPrussia’shavingdrunkhimselfintodirectmadness,andbeingconfinedonthataccount;which,iftrue,mayhaveagreateffectuponthefateofEuropeatthiscriticaltime。"Yesindeed,iftrue。"ThoseLetterssay,that,atareview,hecausedtwomentobetakenoutoftheline,andshot,withoutanycauseassignedforit,andorderedathirdtobemurderedinthesamemanner;
  buttheMajoroftheregimentventuringtointercedeforhim,hisMajestydrewhissword,andwouldhavekilledtheOfficertoo,ifhe,perceivinghismadness,hadnottakenthelibertytosavehimself,bydisarmingtheKing;whowasimmediatelyshutup;
  andtheQueen,hisMother,hastakentheRegencyuponherselftillhisrecovery。"PAPAE!"Idonotgiveyouthisnewsforcertain;butitisgenerallybelievedintown。LordChesterfieldsays,’HeisonlythoughttobeMADinGermany,becausehehasMOREWITthanotherGermans。’
  "TheKingofSardinia’sRetreatfromhislinesatVillaFranca,andthelossofthatTown[20thApril,oneofthosefurioustussles,FrenchandSpaniardVERSUSSardinianMajesty,intheCOULISSESorside—scenesoftheItalianWar—Theatre,neitherstagenorside—
  scenesofwhichshallconcernusinthisplace],certainlybearaveryillaspect;butitisnotconsideredas"——anythingtospeakof;norwasit。"WeexpectwithimpatiencetoknowwhatwillbetheeffectoftheDutchAmbassadortoParis,——[toValenciennes,asitturnsout,KingLouis,onhishigherrandtotheNetherlands,beinggotsofar;andthe"effect"wasnoeffectatall,exceptgoodwordsonhispart,andpersistenceinthebatteringdownofMeninandtheDutchBarrier,ofwhichweshallhearerelong]。
  "IprayGodtheSummermaybehappytous,bybeingmoreeasythanusualtoyou,"——dearFather,muchsufferingbyincurableailments。
  "ItistheonlythingwantingtomakeHagleyParkaParadise。
  "PoorPopeis,Iamafraid,goingtoresignallthatcandieofhimtodeath;"——didactuallydie,30thMay(10thJune):aworld—tragedythattoo,thoughinsmallcompass,andactingitselfnextdoor,atTwickenham,withoutnoise;astarofthefirmamentgoingout;——
  twin—star,Swift(Carteret’soldfriend),likewisegoingout,sunkinthesocket,"adrivellerandashow。"……"Iam,withthetruestrespectandaffection,dearSir,yourmostdutifulSon,——
  "GEORGELYTTELTON。"
  [Ayscough,LordLyttelton’sMiscellaneousWorks,(Lond。,1776),iii。318。]
  FriedrichreturnedfromPyrmont,11thJune;saw,withagriefofhisown,withmanythoughtswellhidden,hisSisterUlriquewhirledawayfromhim,26thJuly,inthegrayofthesummerdawn。
  InBerlin,inPrussia,nobodybutoneisawareofworsejustcoming。AndnowtheWar—drumssuddenlyawakenagain;andpoorreaders——nottospeakofpoorPrussiaanditsKing!——mustreturntothatuncomfortablesphere,tillthingsmend。
  EndofV14
  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV15
  Volume15
  ByThomasCarlyleBOOKXV。
  SECONDSILESIANWAR,IMPORTANTEPISODE
  INTHEGENERALEUROPEANONE。
  15thAug。1744—25thDec。1745。
  ChapterI。
  PRELIMINARY:HOWTHEMOMENTARRIVED。
  Battlebeingonceseentobeinevitable,itwasFriedrich’splannottowaitforit,buttogiveit。ThankstoFriedrichWilhelmandhimself,thereisnoArmy,noreverwasany,insuchcontinualpreparation。Militarypeoplesay,"SomeCountriestakesixmonths,sometwelve,togetinmotionforwar:butinthreeweeksPrussiacanbeacrossthemarches,anduponthethroatofitsenemy。"
  WhichisanimmenseadvantagetolittlePrussiaamongitsbigneighbors。"SomeCountrieshavealongerswordthanPrussia;
  butnonecanunsheatheitsosoon:"——wehope,too,itismoderatelysharp,whenwieldedbyadefthand。
  TheFrench,aswasintimated,areingreatvigor,thisYear;
  thoroughlyprovoked;andespeciallysinceFriedrichsenthisRothenburgamongthem,havebeendoingtheirveryutmost。
  TheirmaineffortisintheNetherlands,atpresent;——andindeed,ashappened,continuesallthroughthisWartobe。Theybynomeansintend,oreverdid,toneglectTeutschland;yetitturnsout,theyhaveprettymuchdonewiththeirfightingthere。AndnextYear,drivenorledbyaccidentsofvariouskinds,theyquititaltogether;andturningtheirwholestrengthupontheNetherlandsandItaly,chieflyontheNetherlands,leaveFriedrich,muchtohisastonishment,withtheGermanWarhangingwhollyroundHISneck,andtakenochargeofitfarther!Inwhich,toFriedrich’sBiographers,thereisthisinestimablebenefit,iffarthereversetoFriedrich’sself:ThatweshallsoonhavedonewiththeFrench,then;withthemandwithsomuchelse;andmay,intimecoming,formostpart,leavetheirhugeSorcerer’sSabbathofaEuropeanWartodanceitselfout,wellinthedistance,notencumberingusfarther,likeacircumambientBedlam,asithashithertodone。
  Courage,reader!Letusgive,inaglanceortwo,somenotionofthecoursethingstook,andwhatmomentitwaswhenFriedrichstruckin;——whomalone,oralmostalone,wehopetofollowthenceforth;"DismalSwamp"(sograciouswasHeaventous)lyingnowmostlytorearward,littleaswehopedit!
  Itwasmereaccident,aseriesofbadaccidents,thatledKingLouisandhisMinistersintograduallyforsakingFriedrich。
  Theywerethefarthestintheworldfromintendingsuchathing。
  Contrariwise,whatbrain—beating,diplomaticspider—weaving,practicalcontriving,nowandafterwards,forthatobject;
  especiallynow!Rothenburg,Noailles,Belleisle,CardinalTencin,havebeenbusy;notlessthemistressChateauroux,whoadmiresFriedrich,beingindeedahigh—mindedunfortunatefemale,astheysay;andhasthrownoutAmelot,notforstammeringalone。Theyareable,almosthighpeople,thisnewChateaurouxMinistry,comparedwithsome;andalreadyshowresults。
  Nay,whatismostimportantofall,Francehas(unconsciously,orbymerehelpofNoaillesandluck)gotarealGeneraltoherArmies:ComtedeSaxe,nowMarechaldeSaxe;whowillshineverysplendentintheseNetherlandoperations,——counter—shonebymereWades,D’Ahrembergs,Cumberlands,——inthisandtheFourfollowingYears。NoailleshadalwaysrecognizedComtedeSaxe;hadlongstrivenforhim,inOfficialquarters;andheregetsthelightofhimunveiledatlast,andsetonahighplace:loyalNoailles。
  ThiswastheYear,this1744,whenLouisXV。,urgedbyhisChateauroux,thehigh—souledunfortunatefemale,appearedinpersonattheheadofhistroops:"Go,Sire,go,MONCHOU(andIwillaccompany);showyourselfwhereaKingshouldbe,attheheadofyourtroops;beasecondLouis—le—Grand!"Whichhedid,hisChateaurouxandhe;actuallywenttotheNetherlands,withbaggage—
  trainimmeasurable,includingnotcooksonly,butplay—actorswiththeirthunder—barrels(offfromParis,May3d),totheadmirationoftheUniverse。[Adelung,iv。113;Barbier,ii。391,394;Dulaure,Hist。deParis;&c。]Tookthecommand,nominal—command,firstdaysofJune;andcapturedinno—timeMenin,Ipres,Furnes,andtheFortofKnock,andasmuchoftheAustrianNetherlandsasheliked,——thatistosay,sawNoaillesandSaxedoit;——walkingrapidlyforwardfromSiegetoSiege,withamostthunderingartillery;oldMarshalWadeandconsortsdismallyeatingtheirvictuals,andlookingonfromthedistance,unabletoattempttheleaststrokeinopposition。SothattheDutchBarrier,ifanybodynowcaredforit,didgoallflat;andtheBalanceofPowergetskickedoutofitssacredpivot:tosuchpurposehavetheDutchbeenhoisted!Terribletothinkof;——hadnotthere,fromtheoppositequarter,risenasurprisingcounterpoise;hadnottherebeenaPrinceKarl,withhis70,000,pressingvictoriouslyovertheRhine;whichstayedtheFrenchinthesesacrilegiousprocedures。
  PRINCEKARLGETSACROSSTHERHINE(20JUNE—2JULY,1744)。