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)。