……"ItiscertaintheFrenchintendgloriously;regardlessofexpense。TheyaredismantlingFreyburg,torenderitharmlesshenceforth。But,withal,inanswertothepoorKaiser’sshrieks,theyhavesentSegur[ouroldLinzfriend],with12,000,toassistSeckendorf;’thebravesttroopsintheworld,’"——whodidbravelytakeonebeating(atPfaffenhofen,aswillbeseen),andgohomeagain。("TheyhaveCoignyguardingthosefineBrisgauConquests。Andarefurthermorediplomatizingdiligently,nottosaytruculently,intheRhineCountries;bullyingpoorlittlefatKur—Trier,leanKur—Kolnandothers,’TojointheFrankfurtUnion’
(notoneofwhomwould,undermenace),——though’itisthecleardutyofallReich’s—PrinceswithaKaiserunderoppression:’——andhavemarchedMaillebois,directlyafterFreyburg,intotheMiddle—
RhineCountries,toKolnCountry,toMainzCountry,andtoandfro,insupportofsaidcompulsorydiplomacies;——butwithouttheleasteffect。"
Tothe"Middle—RhineCountries,"observe,andunderMaillebois,thenunderConti,littlematterunderwhom:onlyletreadersrecollectthenameofit;——foritistheFIRSToftheFrenchAttemptstodosomethingofajoint—stocknature;somethingforselfANDAllies,insteadofforselfonly。Itcausedgreatalarminthosemonths,toBritannicGeorgeandothers;andbroughtoutpoorDucd’Ahrembergwithportions(noEnglishincluded)ofthepoorPragmaticArmy,togomarchingaboutinthewinterslushes,insteadofrestinginbed,[Adelung,iv。276,420("December,1744—June,1745")。]——andisindeedaveryloudbusinessintheoldGazettesandbooks,tillAugustcoming。BusinesswhichalmostbrokepoorD’Ahremberg’sheart,hesays,"tillonceIgotoutofit"(wasTURNEDout,infact):BusinessofPragmaticArmy,underD’Ahremberg,VERSUSMiddle—RhineArmyunderMaillebois,underConti;BusinessnowwhollyofZeroVERSUSZerotous,——exceptforafewdatesandreflexglimmeringsuponKingFriedrich。Resultotherwise——WeshallseetheResult!
"AttemptSECONDwasstillmoreimportanttoFriedrich;beingdirectedupontheKaiserandBavaria。Belleisleistogothitherandtakesurvey;Belleislethitherfirst:youmayjudgeiftheintentionissincere!Valoriisquiteeloquentuponit。
DirectlyafterFreyburg,sayshe,Sechelles,thatfirstofCommissaries,wassenttoMunchen。SechellesclearedupthechaosofAccounts;whichKingLouistheninstantlypaid。’YourImperialMajestyshallhaveMagazinesalso,’saidLouis,regardlessofexpense;’andyourArmy,withauxiliaries(Segurand25,000ofthemFrench),shallberaisedto60,000。’Belleislethencame:’WewillhaveIngolstadt,thefirstthing,inSpring。’Alas,BelleislehadhisAccidentintheHarz;andallwentaback,fromthattime。"
[Valori,i。322—329。]Aback,tooindisputably,all!——"AndBelleisle’sAccident?"Patience,readers。
"Thetruthis,AttemptSECOND,andchief,brokedownatonce[Bathyanibeatingittopieces,aswillbeseen],——theruinsofitpainfullyreactingonAttemptFIRST;whichhadthelikefatesomemonthslater;——andtherewasnoTHIRDmade。And,infact,fromthedateofthatlatterdown—break,August,orendofJuly,1745[andquiteespeciallyfrom"September13th,"bywhichtimeseveralirrevocablethingshadhappened,whichweshallhearof],theFrenchwithdrewaltogetheroutofGermanentanglements;
andconcentratedthemselvesupontheNetherlands,theretodemolishhisBritannicMajesty,asthelikelierenterprise。Thiswasacoursetowhich,eversincetheExitofBroglioandtheOriflamme,theyhadbeenmoreandmoretendingandinclining,’Nothingforusbutlossonloss,tobehadinGermany!’andsotheyatlastfranklygaveupthatbadCountry。TheyfoughtwellintheNetherlands,withgreatsplendorofsuccess,underSaxeVERSUS
CumberlandandCompany。TheydidalsosomesuccessfulworkinItaly;——andleftFriedrichtobearthebruntinGermany;toogladifheoranotherweretheretotakeGermanyofftheirhand!
Friedrich’sfeelingsonhisarrivingatthisconsummation,andduringhisgradualadvancetowardsit,whichwasprettysteadyallalongfromthosefirst’drenched—hen(POULESMOUILLEES)’
procedures,wereamplyknowntoExcellencyValori,andmaybeconceivedbyreaders,"——whoareslightlyinterestedinthedatesofthematfarthest。AndnowfortheBelleisleAccident,withthesefaintpreliminarylights。
STRANGEACCIDENTTOMARECHALDEBELLEISLEINTHE
HARZMOUNTAINS(20thDecember,1744)。
SiegeofFreyburgbeingcompleted,andtheRiverandmostotherthings(exceptalwaysthebastions,whichweblowup)beingletintotheiroldchannelsthere,MarechaldeBelleisle,whoistohaveachiefmanagementhenceforth,——theMostChristianKingrecognizinghimagainashisablestmaninwarorpeace,——setsforthonalongtourofsupervision,ofdiplomacyandgeneralarrangement,topreparemattersforthenextCampaign。NeedenoughofaBelleisle:whatabusinesswehavemadeofit,sinceFriedrichtrodontheserpent’stailforus。!NothingbutourownFreyburgtoshowforourselves;elsewhere,meredown—rushofeverythingwhitherwarditliked;——andKingFriedrichgotintosuchahumor!
Friedrichmustbeputintuneagain;somethingrealandgoodtobeagreedonatBerlin:letthatbethelastthing,crownofthewhole。Thefirstthingis,lookintoBavariaalittle;andhowtheKaiser,poorgentleman,inwantofallrequisitesbutgood—will,canbeputintosomethingoffightingposture。
"IntheendofNovember,MarechalDucdeBelleisle,withhisBrothertheChevalier(nowproperlytheCount,therehavingbeenpromotions),andagreatretinuemore,alightsatMunchen;
holdscounselwiththepoorKaiserforcertaindays:——Moneywanted;
manythingswanted;andallthings,weneednotdoubt,muchfallenoutofsquare。’ThoseSeckendorftroopsintheirwinter—quarters,’
sayourFrenchInspectorsandSegurpeople,asusual,’dobutlookonit,yourExcellency!Scattered,alongthevalleys,intotheveryedgeofAustria;Austriawillswallowthem,thefirstthing,nextyear;theywillneverrendezvousagainexceptintheAustrianprisons。Surely,Monseigneur,onlyamanignorantofwar,orwithtreasonousintention[orill—offforvictuals],——couldposttroopsinthatway?Seckendorfisnotignorantofwar!’saythey。
[Valori,i。206。]For,infact,suspicionrunshigh;andthereisnoendtotheaccusationsjustandunjust;andSeckendorfisasilltreatedasanyofuscouldwish。Pooroldsoul。ProbablynobodyinalltheEarth,buthisoldWifeintheSchlossofAltenburg,hasanypityforhim,——ifevenshe,whichIhope。Hehasfoughtanddiplomatizedandintriguedinmanycountries,verymuch;andinhisolddaysishardbested。Monseigueur,whosepartisratherthatofJovetheCloud—compeller,isstudioustobehimselfnoiselessamidthisnoise;andmakesnoalterationintheSeckendorftroops;
butitiscertainhemeanttodoit,thinksValori。"
AndindeedSeckendorf,tiredoftheBavarianbed—of—roses,hadprivatelyfixedwithhimselftoquitthesame;——anddoesso,inexorabletotheveryKaiser,onNew—Yeararriving。
[SeckendorfsLeben,p。365。]SucceededbyThorring(ouroldfriendDRUMThorring),ifthatbeanimprovement。
MarechaldeBelleislehasstillalongjourneyahead,andinfinitelyharderproblemsthanthese,——assuagementoftheKingofPrussia,forexample。Letusfollowhisremarkablesteps。
"WEDNESDAY,9thDECEMBER,1744,theMarechalleavesMunchen,northwardsthroughOEttingenandtheBamberg—AnspachregionstowardsCassel;——journeyofsomethreehundredandfiftymiles:
withagreatretinueofhisown;withanescortoftwohundredhorsefromtheKaiser;theselattertopreventanyoutfallorinsultintheIngolstadtquarter,wheretheAustrianshaveagarrison,notatallverytightlyblockedbytheSeckendorfpeoplethereabouts。Noinsultoroutfalloccurring,theMarechaldismisseshisescortatOEttingen;faresforwardinhistwentycoachesandfourgons,somescoreorsoofvehicles:——mereneutralImperialCountrieshenceforth,wheretheKaiser’sAgent,asMarechaldeBelleislecanstylehimself,andTitularPrinceoftheGermanEmpirewithal,hasonlytopayhisway。ByDonauworth,byOEttingen;overtheDonauacclivities,thendownthepleasantValleyoftheMayn。[SeeREVIEWOFTHECASEOFMARSHALBELLEISLE
(orAbstractofit,Gentleman’sMagazine,
1745,pp。366—373);&c。&c。]
"SUNDAY,13thDECEMBER,MarechaldeBelleislearrivesatHanau[wherewehaveseenConferencesheldbeforenow,andCarteret,PrinceKarlandgreatGeorgeourKingverybusy],theretoconferwithMarshalsCoigny,Mailleboisandotherhighmen,CommandersinthoseRhineparts。Whoallcomeaccordingly,exceptMarechalMaillebois,whoissorrythatheabsolutelycannot;butwillsurelydohimselfthehonorasMonseigneurreturns。"AsMonseigneurreturns!"Andso,onMonday,14th,MonseigneurstartsforCassel;
sayahundredmilesrightnorth;whereweshallmeetPrinceWilhelmofHessen—Cassel,azealousAlly;informhimhowhisTroops,underSeckendorf,areposted[atVilshofenyonder;hidinghowperiloustheirpostis,orpromisingalterations];perhapsrestadayortwo,consultingastothecommonweal:HowtheKingofPrussiatakesourtreatmentofhim?HowtosmooththeKingofPrussia,andturnhimtoharmonyagain?Weareapproachingthetruenodusofourbusiness,difficultyofdifficulties;andWilhelm,thewiseLandgraf,mayaffordahintortwo。ThustravelsmagnanimousBelleisleintwentyvehicles,amanloadedwithweightymatters,inthesedeepWintermonths;sufferingdreadfullyfromrheumaticneuralgicailments,aDoctoroneofhisneedfulestequipments;
andhasthehardestproblemyetaheadofhim。
"PrinceWilhelm’sconsultationsarehappilylostaltogether;
buriedfromsightforever,tothelasthint,——allexceptastowhatroadtoBerlinwouldbethebestfromCassel。ByLeipzig,throughlow—lyingcountry,isthegreatHighway,advisableinwinter;
butitrunsahundredandthirtymilestoright,beforeeverstartingnorthward;sucharoundabout。NottosaythattheSaxonsarealliesofAustria,——iftherebeanythinginthat。
Enemies,they,totheMostChristianKing:thoughsurely,again,weareonKaiser’sbusiness,naywearetitular’PrinceoftheReich,’
forthatmatter,suchtheKaiser’sgracetous?Well;itisbetterperhapstoAVOIDtheSaxonTerritory。And,ofcourse,theHanoverianmuchmore;throughwhichliestheotherGreatRoad!
’GobytheHarz,’advisesLandgrafWilhelm:’aruggedHillCountry;
butitisyourhypotenusetowardsBerlin;passesatonce,ornearlyso,fromCasselTerritoryintoPrussian:aruggedroad,butashorterandsafer。’ThatistheroadBelleisleresolvesupon。
Twentycarriages;hisBrothertheChevalierandhimselfoccupyone;
andalwaysthecourierridesbefore,orderingfortypost—horsestobereadyharnessed。
"SUNDAY,20thDECEMBER,1744。InthiswaytheyhaveclimbedtheeasternshinoftheHarzRange,wheretheHarziscapableofwheel—
carriages;andhopenowtodescend,thisnight,toHalberstadt;
andthencerapidlybylevelroadstoBerlin。Itissinkingtowardsdark;thecourierisforwardtoElbingerode,orderingfortyhorsestobeout。Roughishuphillroad;winterintheskyandearth,wintervaporsandtumblingwind—gusts:westward,intornstorm—
cloak,theBracken,withitswitch—dances;highlandGoslar,andghostofHenrytheFowler,ontheothersideofit。AmultifariouswizardCountry,muchoverhungbygoblinreminiscences,witch—
dances,sorcerers’—sabbathsandthelike,——ifarheumaticgentlemancaredtolookonit,inthecoldtwilight。Brrh!Wastechasmyuplands,snow—chokedtorrents;wildpeople,gloomyfirs!Hereatlast,byone’swatch5P。M。,isElbingerode,uncomfortablelittleTown;anditistobehopedthefortypost—horsesareready。
"Behold,whilethefortypost—horsesaregettingready,athingtakesplace,mostunexpected;——whichmadethenameofElbingerodefamousforeightmonthstocome。Ofwhichletushastilygivethebarefacts,Fancymakingofthemwhatshecan。WasMonseigneurawarethatthisElbingerode,withapatchofterritoryroundit,isHanoverianground;oneofthosedistractedpatchesorraggedoutskirtsfrequentintheGermanmap?Prussiaisnotyet,andHessen—Casselhasceasedtobe。UndoubtedlyHanoverian!
ApparentlytheLandgrafandMonseigneurhadnotthoughtofthat。
ButMunchhausenofHanover,spiesinforminghim,had。TheBailiff(Vogt,AdVOCATus)hasgatheredtwentyJAGER[officialGame—keepers]
withtheirguns,andaselectidleSundaypopulationoftheplacewithorwithoutguns:theVogtstepsforward,andinquiresforMonseigneur’spassport。’Nopassport,noneedofany!’——’Pardon!’
andsignifiestoMonseigneur,onthepartofGeorgeElectorofHanover,KingofGreatBritain,FranceandIreland,thatMonseigneurisarrested!
"Monseigneur,withcompressedorincompressiblefeelings,indignantlycomplies,——whatcouldheelse,unfortunaterheumaticgentleman?——andispluckedawayinsuchsuddenmanner,heforone,outofthatbigGermangameofhisraising。Thetwentyvehiclesaredraggeddifferentroads;towardsScharzfels,Osterode,orIknownotwhere,——handiestroadstoHanover;——andMonseigneurhimselfhastravellingtreatmentwhichmightbecomplainedof,didnotonedisdaincomplaint:’myBrotherpartedfromme,naymyDoctor,andmyInterpreter;’"——notevenspeechpossibletome。[LetterofBelleislenextmorning,"Neuhof,21stDecember,9A。M。"(inValori,i。204),toMunchhausenatHanover,——bynopossibility"toValori,"asthedistractedFrenchEditorhasgivenit!]ThatwastheBelleisleAccidentintheHarz,SundayEvening,20thDecember,1744。
"AfflictedindignantValori,soonenoughapprised,runstoFriedrichwiththenews,——greetsFriedrichwithitjustalightingfromthatSilesianrunofhisown。Friedrich,notwithoutseveralotherthingstothinkof,isnaturallysorryatsuchnews;
sorryforhisownsakeeven;butnotovermuch。Friedrichrefuses’todespatchapartyofhorse,’andcutoutMarechaldeBelleisle。
"Thatwillneverdo,MONCHER!’——andevengetsintoFROIDES
PLAISANTERIES:’PerhapstheMarechaldidithimself?
Tallard,prisonerafterBlenheim,madePEACE,youknow,inEngland?’——andthelike;whichgrievedthesoulofValori,andconvincedhimofFriedrich’sinhumanity,inacryingcase。
"BelleisleisluggedontoHanover;hiscasenotdoubtfultoMunchhausen,ortheEnglishMinistry,——thoughitraisedgreatargument,(wasthecapturefair,wasitunfair?Isheentitledtoexchangebycartel,ornotentitled?’andproduced,inthenexteightmonths,muchangryanimatedpamphleteeringandnegotiation。
Forwehearbyandby,heistobeforwardedtoStade,ontheHamburgsea—coast,whereEnglishSeventy—foursarewaitingforhim;
hiscasestillundecided;——and,ineffect,itwasnottillaftereightmonthsthathegotdismissal。’LodgedhandsomelyinWindsorPalace,’intheinterim;freeonhisparole,peopleofrankveryciviltohim,thoughtheGazetteersweresometimesill—tongued,——
hadheunderstoodtheirPATOIS,orconcernedhimselfaboutsuchthings。["TUESDAY,18thFEBRUARY[lstMarch,1745],MarshalBelleislelandedatHarwich;layatGreenwichPalace,havingcrossedThamesattheIsleofDogs:nextmorning,about10,setout,inacoach—and—six,ColonelDouglasandtwotroopsofhorseescorting;arrived3P。M。,——byCamberwell,Clapham,Wandsworth,overKingstonandStainesBridges,——atWindsorCastle,andtheapartmentsreadyforhim。"(Gentleman’sMagazine,1745,p107。)Wasletgo13th(24th)August,againwithgreatpompandcivilities(ib。p。442)。SeeAdelung,iv。299,346;
v。83,84。]
"Itwasacurrentnotionamongcontemporarymankind,thisofFriedrich,thatBelleisle’scapturemightbeamerecollusion,meanttobringaboutaPeaceinthatTallardfashion,——wideofthetruthassuchanotionis,farasanyPeacewasfromfollowing。
ToBritannicGeorgeandhisHanoveriansithadmerelyseemed,HerewasachiefWar—CaptainandDiplomatistamongtheFrench;thepivotofalltheseworld—widemovements,asValoridefineshim;
whichpivot,achanceoffering,itwerewelltotwitchfromitssocket,andseewhatwouldfollow。Perhapsnothingwillfollow;
nexttonothing?Aworld,allwaltzinginmadwar,isnottobestoppedbyactingonanypivot;yourwaltzingworldwillfindnewpivots,ordowithoutany,andperhapsonlywaltzthemoremadlyforwantingtheprincipalone。"
ThiswithdrawalofBelleisle,theoneFrenchmanrespectedbyFriedrich,ormuchinterestedforhisownsakeinthingsGerman,isreckonedamaincausewhytheFrenchAllianceturnedoutsoillforFriedrich;andwhyFrenchefforttookmoreandmoreaNetherlandsdirectionthenceforth,andthesenewFrenchmagnanimitiesonFriedrich’sbehalfissuedinfutilityagain。Probablytheynevercouldhaveissuedinverymuch:butitiscertainthat,fromthispoint,theyalsodobecomezero;andthatFriedrich,fromhisFrenchalliance,reapedfromfirsttolastnothingatall,exceptagreatdealofobloquyfromGermanneighbors,andfromtheFrenchsideendlesstrouble,angeranddisappointmentineveryparticular。
Which’mightbeajoy(thoughnotunmixed)toBritannicMajestyandthesubtlefollowerswhohadginnedthisfineBelleislebirdinitsflightovertheHarzRange?Thoughagain,hadtheypassivelylethimwinghisway,andhehadGOT"tobeCommanderandManager,"aswasinagitation,——he,BelleisleandinGermany,insteadofMarechaldeSaxewiththeNetherlandsaschiefscene,——whatanadvantagemightthathavebeentothem!
THEKAISERKARLVII。GETSSECUREDFROMOPPRESSIONS,INA
TRAGICWAY。FRIEDRICHPROPOSESPEACE,BUTTONOPURPOSE。
AstillsaddercrossforFriedrich,inthecurrentofforeignAccidentsandDiplomacies,wasthenextthatbefell;exactlyamonthlater,——atMunchen,20thJanuary,1745。HardlywasBelleisle’sbackturned,whenherHungarianMajesty,byherBathyaniandCompany,brokefuriouslyinuponthepoorKaiserandhisSeckendorf—Segurdefences。BelleislehadnotreachedtheHarz,whenallwasgoingtopsy—turvythereagain,andtheDonau—ValleyfastfallingbackintoAustrianhands。Noristhattheworst,ornearlyso。
"MUNCHEN,20thJANUARY,1745。ThisdaypoorKaiserKarllaiddownhisearthlyburdenhere,andatlengthgaveallhisenemiestheslip。Hehadbeenillofgoutforsometime;amanofmuchmaladyalways,withnowantofvexationsandapprehensions。ToolikelytheAustrianswilldrivehimoutofMunchenagain;thennothingbutfurnishedlodgings,andtheFrenchtodependupon。HehadbeenmuchchagrinedbysomeElection,justdone,intheChapterofSalzburg。
[Adelung,iv。249,276,313。]TheArchbishopthere——itwasFirmian,heoftheSALZBURGEMIGRATION,memorabletoreaders——haddied,somewhileago。Andnow,inflatcontradictiontoImperialcustoms,prerogatives,thesepeoplehadadmittedanAustrianGarrison;
andthen,intheteethofourexpressprecept,hadelectedanAustriantotheirbenefice:whatcanoneaccountitbutaninsultaswellasaninjury?Andtheneuralgicmaladiespresssore,andthegoutytwinges;andBelleisleisseized,perhapswithimportantpapersofours;andtheSeckendorf—Segurdetachmentswereillplaced;nayherearetheAustriansalreadyonthethroatofthem,inmidwinter!Itissaid,ababblingvalet,orlord—in—waiting,happenedtotalkofsomeskirmishthathadfallenout(calledabattle,inthevaletrumor),andhowilltheFrenchandBavarianshadfaredinit,owingtotheirillbehavior。Andthis,addthey,provedtobetheounce—weighttoomuchforthesoheavy—ladenback。
"TheKaisertooktobed,notmuchcomplaining;patient,mild,thoughthesaddestofallmortals;and,inadayortwo,died。
Adieu,adieu,yelovedfaithfulones;pityme,andprayforme!
HegavehisWife,poorlittlefatdevoutcreature,andhispoorChildren(eldestlad,hisHeir,onlyseventeen),atenderblessing;
solemnlyexhortedthem,Toeschewambition,andbewarnedbyhisexample;——tomaketheirpeacewithAustria;andnever,likehim,tryCOM’EDUROCALLE,andwhatthecharityofChristianKingsamountsto。Thiscounsel,itisthought,theEmpressDowagerzealouslyaccedesto,andwillimpressuponherSon。ThatistheAustrianandCause—of—Libertyaccount:KingFriedrich,fromtheotherside,hasheardadirectlyoppositeone。HowtheKaiser,atthepointofdeath,exhortedhisson,’NeverforgettheserviceswhichtheKingofFranceandtheKingofPrussiahavedoneus,anddonotrepaythemwithingratitude。’[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。92;——andsee(PERCONTRA)inAdelung,iv。314A;
inCoxe,&c。]Thereadercanchoosewhichhewill,orrejectbothintotheregionoftheuncertain。’KarlAlbert’spiousandaffectionatedemeanordrewtearsfromalleyes,’saytheby—
standers:’themannerinwhichhetookleaveofhisEmpresswouldhavemeltedaheartofstone。’Hewasinhisforty—eighthyear;hehadbeen,ofallmeninhisgeneration,themostconspicuouslyunhappy。"
Whatadown—rushofconfusionthereensuedonthisevent,nottoBavariaalone,buttoalltheworld,andtoKingFriedrichmorethananother,noreadercannowtakethepainsofconceiving。
The"FrankfurtUnion,"then,hasgonetoair!Hereisnowno"Kaisertobedeliveredfromoppression:"hereisanewKaisertobeelected,——"Grand—DukeFranztheman,"crythePragmaticPotentateswithexultation,"noBelleisletodisturb!"——andquestionsariseinnumerablethereupon,WillFrancegointoelectioneeringagain?ThenewKur—Baiern,onlyseventeen,poorchild,cannotbesetupascandidate。WhatwillFrancedowithHIM;
whathewithFrance?WhomcantheFrenchtryasCandidateagainsttheGrand—Duke?Kur—Sachsen,thePolishMajestyagain?Belleislehimselfmusthavepauseduncertainoversuchawelter,——andprobablyhavedone,liketheothers,littleornothinginit,butleftittocollapsebynaturalgravitation。
HungarianMajestycheckedherBavarianArmamentsalittle:
"IfperhapsthisyoungKur—BaiernwilldetachhimselffromFrance,andonsubmissivetermscomeovertous?"Whereupon,atMunchen,andinthecognatequarters,suchwriggling,dubitatinganddiplomatizing,asseldomwas,——French,Anti—French(Seckendorfbusiestofall),strainingeverynerveinthatway,andforalmostthreemonths,nothingcomingofit,——tillHungarianMajestysentherBarenklausandBathyanisuponthemagain;andtheserapidlysolvedthequestion,inwhatwayweshallsee!
FriedrichhasstillhishopesofBavaria,sograndiloquentaretheFrenchinregardtoit;whobutwouldhope?TheFrenchdiplomatizetoalllengthsinMunchen,promisingseasandmountains;buttheyperformlittle;inaneffectualmanner,nothing。Bavarian"Armyraisedto60,000;"countsinfactlittleabovehalfthatnumber;
withnoGeneraltoitbutanimaginaryone;Segur’sactualFrenchcontingent,insteadof25,000,isperhaps12,000;——andsoofotherthings。Addtoallwhich,Seckendorfisthere,notnowasWar—
General,butasextra—official"Adviser;"busierthanever,——
"scandalousoldtraitor!"saytheFrench;——andFriedrichmayjustlyfearthatBavariawillgo,bycollapse,abadroadforhim。
Friedrich,aweekortwoaftertheKaiser’sdeath,seeingBavarianandFrenchthingsinsuchahypotheticstate,instructshisAmbassadoratLondontodeclarehis,Friedrich’s,perfectreadinessandwishforPeace:"OldTreatyofBreslauandBerlinmadeindubitabletome;therestofthequarrelhas,bydeceaseoftheKaiser,gonetoair。"TowhichtheBritannicMajesty,ratherelatedatthistime,asallPragmaticpeopleare,answerssomewhatinacarelessway,"Well,iftheotherslikeit!"andpromisesthathewillproposeitintheproperquarter。SothathenceforththereisalwaysahopeofPeacethroughEngland;aswellascontrariwise,especiallytillBavariasettleitself(inAprilnext),ahopeofgreatassistancefromtheFrench。Herearepotentialitiesandcounter—potentialities,whichmaketheBavarianIntricacyveryagitatingtotheyoungKing,whileitlasts。AndindeedhisworldisonehugeimbroglioofPotentialitiesandDiplomaticIntricacies,agitatingtobehold。ConcerningwhichwehaveagaintoremarkhowthesehugeSpectresofDiplomacy,nowfillingFriedrich’sworld,camemostlyinresulttoNothing;——shapingthemselveswholly,fororagainst,inexactproportion,directorinverse,totheactualQuantityofBattleandeffectivePerformancethathappenedtobefoundinFriedrichhimself。DiplomaticSpectralities,wideFatamorganasofhope,andhideousbigBugbearsblottingoutthesun:ofthese,fewmeneverhadmorethanFriedrichatthistime。
Andheiscareful,nonecarefuler,nottoneglecthisDiplomaciesatanytime;——thoughheknows,betterthanmost,thatgoodfightingofhisowniswhatalonecandeterminethevalueofthesecontingentandaerialquantities,——mereLaplandwitchcraftthegreaterpartofthem。
AsecondgrandIntricacyanddifficulty,stillmoreenigmatic,andpressingthetighterbyitscloseneighborhood,wasthatwiththeSaxons。"AretheSaxonsenemies;aretheyfriends?Neutralsatlowest;boundbyTreatytolendAustriatroops;buttolendfordefencemerely,notforoffence!Couldnotone,bygoodmethods,makefriendswithhisPolishMajesty?"FriedrichwasfarfromsuspectingtheragesthatlurkedinthePolishMajesty,andleastofallowingtowhat。OwingtothatoldMORAVIAN—FORAYbusiness;
andtohis,Friedrich’s,behaviortotheSaxonsinit;excellentSaxons,whohadbehavedsobeautifullytoFriedrich!Thatisthesadfact,however。StupidPolishMajestyhashisnaturalenvies,jealousies,ofaBrandenburgwaxingoverhisheadatthisrate。
Butitappears,theMoravianForayenteredforagreatdealintotheaccount,andwasthefinaloverwhelmingitem。Bruhl,bymuchdescantingonthatfamousExpedition,——withsuchcandidEye—
witnessestoappealto,suchcorroborativeStaff—officersandappliances,powerfulontheidleheartandweakbrainofaPolishMajesty,——hasbroughtitsofar。Fixedindignation,forintolerableusage,especiallyinthatMoravian—Foraytime:fixed;notverymalignant,butaltogetherobstinate(as,Iamtold,thatofthepacificsheepspeciesusuallyis);whichcarriedBruhlandhisPolishMajestytoextraordinaryheightsanddepthsinyearscoming!
Butthatwilldeserveasectiontoitselfbyandby。
Athirddifficulty,privatelymorestringentthanany,isthatofFinance。TheexpensesofthelateBohemianExpedition,"Friedrich’sArmycosting75,000poundsamonth,"havebeenexcessive。ForournextCampaign,ifitistobedoneinthewayessential,thereare,byrigorousarithmetic,"900,000pounds"needed。AfrugalPrussiaraisesnonewtaxes;paysitsWarsfrom"theTreasure,"fromtheFundsavedbeforehandforemergenciesofthatkind;Fundwhichisrunninglow,threateningtobeattheleesifsuchdrainonitcontinue。Tofightwitheffectbeingtheonesurehope,andsalveforallsores,itisnotintheArmy,intheFortresses,theFightingEquipments,thatthereshallbeanyflawleft!
Friedrich’sbudgetisasoreproblemuponhim;needingendlessshiftandingenuity,nowandonwards,throughthiswar:——already,duringthesemonths,intheBerlinSchloss,agreatdealofthosemassiveFriedrich—WilhelmplateSumptuosities,especiallythatunparalleledMusic—Balconyupstairs,allsilver,hasbeen,underFredersdorf’smanagement,quietlytakenaway;"carriedover,inthenight—time,totheMint。"[Orlich,ii。126—128。]
And,infact,nomodernreader,notdeeperinthatdistressingstoryoftheAustrian—SuccessionWarthanreadersareagainliketobe,canimaginetohimselfthedifficultiesofFriedrichatthistime,astheyalreadylaydisclosed,andkeptgraduallydisclosingthemselves,formonthscoming;norwilleverknowwhatperspicacity,patienceofscanning,sharpnessofdiscernment,dexterityofmanagement,wererequiredatFriedrich’shands;——andunderwhatimminencyofperil,too;victoriousdeliverance,orruinandannihilation,waveringfearfullyinthebalanceforhim,morethanonce,orratherallalong。ButitiscertainthedeeperonegoesintothathideousMedea’sCaldronofstupidities,oncesoflamy,nowfallenextinct,themoreisonesensibleofFriedrich’sdifficulties;andofthetalentforallkindsofCaptaincy,——bynomeansintheFieldonly,orperhapsevenchiefly,——thatwasnowrequiredofhim。Candidreadersshallacceptthesehints,anddotheirbest:——Friedrichhimselfmadenottheleastcomplaintofmen’sthenmisunderstandinghim;stilllesswillhenow!
We,keepinghenceforththeDiplomacies,thevaporousForeshadows,andgeneralDanceofUncleanSpiritswiththeirintriguesandspectralities,wellunderground,sofaraspossible,willsticktowhatcomesupaspracticalPerformanceonFriedrich’spart,andtrytogiveintelligibleaccountofthat。
Valorisays,heisgreatlychanged,andforthebetter,bytheselatereversesoffortune。Alltheworldnoticesit,saysValori。
Nolongerthatbriefinfallibilityofmanner;thatloftylightair,thatpolitelydisdainfulviewofValoriandmankind:hehasnowneedofmen。Complainsofnothing,ischeerful,quizzical;——
ardentlybusyto"grindoutthenotches,"asourproverbis;hasamildhumaneaspect,somethingofmodesty,almostofpietyinhim。
Helpme,thouSupremePower,Makerofmen,ifmypurposesaremanlike!ThoughonedoesnotgouponthePrayersofForty—Hours,orapplythroughSt。Vitusandsuchchannels,theremaybesomethingofauthenticpetitiontoHeaveninthethoughtsofthatyoungman。
Heisgrownveryamiable;thehandsomestyoungbitofRoyaltynowgoing。HemustfightwellnextSummer,oritwillgohardwithhim!
ChapterVI。
VALORIGOESONANELECTIONEERINGMISSIONTODRESDEN。
SometimeinJanuary,anewFrenchman,a"ChevalierdeCourten,"ifthenameisknowntoanybody,washereatBerlin;consulting,settlingaboutmutualinterestsandoperations。SinceBelleisleissnatchedfromus,itisnecessarysomeCourtenshouldcome;
andproducewhathehasgot:littleofsettlement,Ishouldfear,ofdefiniteprogramthatwillholdwater;inregardtoWaroperationschieflyamagazineofclouds。[Specimensofit,inRanke,iii。219。]Fortherest,theBavarianquestion;andveryspecially,WhothenewEmperoristobe?"KingofPoland,thinksyourMajesty?"——"Byallmeans,"answersFriedrich,"ifyoucan!
DetachhimfromAustria;thatwillbewell!"Whichwasreckonedmagnanimous,atleastpublic—spirited,inFriedrich;consideringwhatSaxony’sbehaviortohimhadalreadybeen。"Byallmeans,hisPolishMajestyforKaiser;doourutmost,ExcellenciesValori,CourtenandCompany!"answersFriedrich,——andforhisownpart,Iobserve,isintenselybusyuponArmymatters,lookingafterthemainchance。
AndsoValoriistogotoDresden,andmanagethiscloudorcobwebberydepartmentofthething;namely,persuadehisPolishMajestytostandfortheKaisership:"Baiern,Pfalz,Koln,Brandenburg,therearefourvotes,Sire;yourownisfive:sureofcarryingit,yourPolishMajesty;backedbytheMostChristianKing,andhisAlliesandresources!"AndPolishMajestydoes,forhisownshare,verymuchdesiretobeKaiser。ButnoneofusyetknowshowheistiedupbyAustria,Anti—Friedrich,Anti—Frenchconsiderations;andcanonly"acceptifitisofferedme:"thrice—
willingtoaccept,ifitwillfallintomymouth;which,onthoseterms,ithassolittlechanceofdoing!——Saxonyanditsmysteriousaffairsandintentionshavingbeen,toFriedrich,ariddleandtroubleandastonishment,duringallthisCampaign,readersoughttoknowthefactwell;——andnoreadercouldstandthedetailsofsuchafact。Here,incondensedform,aresomescrapsofExcerpt;
whichenableustogowithValorionthisDresdenMission,andlookforourselves:——
1。FRIEDRICH’SPOSITIONTOWARDSSAXONY。
"……ByknownTreaty,thePolishMajestyisboundtoassisttheHungarianwith12,000men,’wheneverinvadedinherowndominions。’
PolishMajestyhad20,000inthefieldforthatobjectlately,——
partofthem,8,000ofthem,hiredbyBritannicsubsidy,ashealleges。Thequestionnowis,WillSaxonyassistAustriaininvadingSilesia,withorwithoutBritannicsubsidy?
Friedrichhopesthatthisisimpossible!FriedrichisdeeplyunawareofthehumorhehasraisedagainsthimselfintheSaxonCourt—circles;howthePolishMajestyregardsthatMoravianForay;
withwhataperfecthatredlittleBruhlregardshim,Friedrich;
andtowhatpitchofhumor,owingtothoseMoravian—Foraystarvings,marchingsaboutandinhumantreatmentofthepoorSaxonArmy,nottomentionotheroffencesandafflictiveconsiderations,BruhlhasraisedthesimplePolishMajestyagainstFriedrich。
Thesethings,astheygraduallyunfoldedthemselvestoFriedrich,wereverysurprising。Andprovedverydisadvantageousatthepresentjunctureandforalongtimeafterwards。ToFriedrichdisadvantageousandsurprising;andtoSaxony,intheend,ruinous;
poorSaxonyhavinggotitsbackbrokenbythem,andneverstoodupintheworldsince!RuinedbythiswretchedlittleBruhl;
andreduced,fromthefirstplaceinNorthernTeutschland,toasecondorthird,ornorealplaceatall。"
2。THEREISA,"UNIONOFWARSAW"(8thJanuary,1745);
ANDSTILLMORESPECIALLYA"TREATYOFWARSAW"
(8thJanuary—18thMay,1745)。
"January8th,1745,beforetheOldDessauergotrankedinSchlesienagainstTraun,therehadconcludeditselfatWarsaw,bywayofcounterpoisetothe’FrankfurtUnion,’a’UnionofWarsaw,’calledalso’QuadrupleAllianceofWarsaw;’thePartiestowhichwerePolishMajesty,Hungarianditto,Prime—Movers,andthetwoSea—PowersasPurseholders;stipulating,totheeffect:’WeFourwillholdtogetherinaffairsoftheReichVERSUSthatdangerousFrankfurtUnion;wewill’——doavarietyofsalutarythings;andasonepracticalthing,’Thereshallbe,thisSeason,30,000SaxonsconjoinedtotheAustrianForce,forwhichweSea—Powerswillfurnishsubsidy。’——Thiswastheonepracticalpointstipulated,January8th;andfartherthanthistheSea—Powersdidnotgo,noworafterwards,inthataffair。
"ButtherewasthenproposedbythePolishandHungarianMajesties,intheformofSecretArticles,anulteriorProject;withwhichtheSea—Powers,expressingmeredisbeliefandevenabhorrenceofit,refusedtohaveanyconcernnoworhenceforth。PolishMajesty,inhopesitwouldhavebeenbettertaken,hadgivenhis30,000
soldiersatarateofsubsidymiraculouslylow,only150,000poundsforthewhole:buttheSea—Powerswereinexorable,perhapsalmostrepentedoftheir150,000pounds;andwouldhearnothingfartherofsecretArticlesanddeliriousProjects。
"Sothatthe’UnionofWarsaw’hadtoretiretoitspigeon—hole,contentwithproducingthose30,000Saxonsfortheimmediateoccasion;andtherehadtobeconcoctedbetweenthePolishandHungarianMajestiesthemselveswhatisnow,inthemodernPamphlets,calleda’TREATYofWarsaw,’——muchdifferentfromtheinnocent,’UNIONofWarsaw;’thoughitismerelythespecifyingandfixingdownofwhathadbeenshadowedoutassecretcodicilsinsaid’Union,’whentheSea—Powerpartiesobstinatelyrecoiled。
TreatyofWarsawletuscontinuetocallit;thoughitsactualbirth—placewasLeipzig(intheprofoundestsecrecy,18thMay,1745),abovefourmonthsafterithadtriedtobebornatWarsaw,andfailedasaforesaid。WarsawUnionisnotworthspeakingof;
butthisotherisaTreatyhighlyremarkabletothereader,——andtoFriedrichwasalmostinfinitelyso,whenhecametogetwindofitlongafter。
"Treatywhich,thoughitprovedabortional,andnevercametofulfilmentinanypartofit,isatthisdayoneoftheremarkablestbitsofsheepskinextantintheworld。Itwassigned18thMay,1745;[Scholl,ii。350。]andhadcostagreatdealofpainfulcontriving,capablestillofnewalteringandretouching,tohitmutualviews:TreatynotonlyforreconqueringSilesia(whichtotheTwoMajesties,thoughitdidnottotheSea—Powers,seemsinfallible,inFriedrich’snowruinedcircumstances),butforcuttingdownthatbadNeighbortosomethinglikethedimensionsproperforaBrandenburgVassal;——infact,quitetheold’DetestableProject’ofSpring,1741,onlymoreelaboratedintodetail(inwhichBritannicGeorgeknowsbetterthantomeddle!)——
Saxonytohaveshareoftheparings,whenwegetthem。
’Whatshare?’askedSaxony,andlongkeepsasking。’AroadtoWarsaw;StripofCountrycarryingusfromtheendoftheLausitz,whichisours,intoPoland,whichwetrustwillcontinueours,wouldbeveryhandy!DuchyofGlogau;somesmallparingofSilesia,won’tyourMajesty?’’OfmySilesianotonehand—breadth,’answeredtheQueenimpatiently(thoughshedidatlastconcedesomeoutlyinghand—breadths,famedold’CircleofSchwiebus,’ifIrecollect);
andtheyhavehadtothinkofotherequivalentparingsforSaxony’sbehoof(Magdeburg,Halberstadt,Saale—Circle,oroneknowsnotwhat);andhavehad,andwillhave,theiradoestogetitfixed。
Excellentbearskintobeslitintostraps;onlythebearisstillonhisfeet!——PolishMajestyandHungarian,Polishwithespecialvigor,Bruhlquiterestlessuponit,are——littleasValorioranymortalcoulddreamofit——engagedinthispartitionofthebearskin,whenValoriarrives。OftheirinnocentUnionofWarsaw,therewas,fromthefirst,nosecretmade;buttheDocumentnowcalled’TREATYofWarsaw’needstoliesecretandthrice—secret;
anditwasnottill1756thatFriedrich,havinguneartheditbyindustriesofhisown,andstudieditwithgreatintensityforsomeyears,madeitknowntotheworld。"[Adelung,v。308。397;
Ranke,iii。231(who,forsomereasonofhisown,dates"3dMay"
insteadof18th}。]
Treaties,vaporousForeshadowsofEvents,haveoftenestsomethingoftheghostinthem;andareimportunetohumannature,longingfortheEventsthemselves;allthemoreiftheyhaveprovedabortionalTreaties,andbecomedoublyghost—likeorghastly。
NeverthelessthereaderistonotewellthisTreatyofWarsaw,asimportanttoFriedrichandhim;andindeeditisperhapstheremarkablestTreaty,abortionalorrealized,whichgottoparchmentinthatCentury。Forthoughitprovedabortional,andnopartofit,noworafterwards,couldbeexecuted,andeventhesubsidyand30,000Saxons(stipulatedinthe"UNIONofWarsaw")becamecrow’s—
meatinamanner,——thispreternatural"TreatyofWarsaw,"troddendownneversomuchbytheheelofDestiny,andbytheweightofnewTreaties,supersedingitorpresupposingitsimpossibilityorinconceivability,wouldbynomeansdie(suchthehumorofBruhl,oftheTwoMajestiesandothers);butlayaliveundertheashes,carefullytended,forTenorTwentyYearstocome;——andhadgotallEuropekindledagain,fordestructionofthatbadNeighbor,beforeitwoulditselfconsenttogoout!AnddidsucceedingettingSaxony’sbackbroken,ifnotthebadNeighbor’s,——inanswertothehumoroflittleBruhl;unfortunateSaxonytopossesssuchaBruhl!
InthosebeautifulSaxon—AustriandevelopmentsoftheTreatyofWarsaw,CzarinaElizabeth,bobbingaboutinthatunlovelywhirlpoolofintrigues,amours,devotionsandstrongliquor,whichherHistoryis,took(asknotforwhatreason)alivelypart:——andalreadyinthisSpringof1745,theyhopeshecould,by"agiftoftwomillionsforherpleasures"(giftsoeasytoyouSea—Powers),bestirreduptoangeragainstFriedrich。Andshedid,ineffect,fromthistime,hoveraboutinamannerquestionabletoFriedrich;
thoughnotyetinanger,butonlywiththewishtobeimportant,andtomakeherselffeltinForeignaffairs。WhethertheSea—Powersgaveherthattrifleofpocket—money("forherpleasures"),Ineverknew;butitiscertaintheyspent,firstandlast,verylargeamountsthatway,uponherandhers;especiallytheEnglishdid,withwhatresultmaybeconsideredquestionable。
AsforGrafvonBruhl,mostrisingmanofSaxony,onceapage;
nowbyindustryKingAugustIII。’sfirstfavoriteandfactotum;
thefactthathecordiallyhatesFriedrichistooevident;butthewhyisnotknowntome。Exceptindeed,Thatnoman——especiallynomanwiththreehundredandsixty—fivefashionablesuitsofclothesusuallyabouthim,differentsuiteachdayoftheyear——canbecomfortableintheevidentcontemptofanotherman。Othermanofsarcasticbanteringturn,too;tonguesharpasneedles;
whosesayingsmanybirdsoftheairarebusytocarryabout。
Yearafteryear,Bruhl(doubtlesswithhelpenoughthatway,iftherehadneededsuch)hateshimmoreandmore;asthetoojovialCzarinaherselfcomestodo,woundedbythingsthatbirdshavecarried。AndnowwewillgowithValori,——seeingbetterintosomethingsthanValoriyetcan。
3。VALORI’SACCOUNTOFHISMISSION(incompressedform)。
[Valori,i。211—219。]
"Valori[Icouldguessaboutthe10thofFebruary,butthereisnodateatall]wasdespatchedtoDresdenwiththatfineproject,PolishMajestyforKaiser:isauthorizedtooffer60,000men,withmoneycorresponding,andnoendofbrilliantoutlooks;——mustkeepbackhisoffers,however,ifhefindthepeopleindisposed。
Whichhedid,toanextremedegree;nothingbutvaguetalk,procrastination,hesitationonthepartofBruhl。ThiswretchedlittleBruhlhastwelvetailorsalwayssewingforhim,andthreehundredandsixty—fivesuitsofclothes:somanysuits,allpicturedinaBook;avaletenterseverymorning,proposesasuit,which,afterdeliberation,withperhapsamendments,isaccededto,andwornatdinner。Vainestofhumanclothes—horses;foolishestcoxcombValorihasseen:itisvisiblyhisnotionthatitwashe,Bruhl,byhisSaxonauxiliaries,byhismasterlystrokesofpolicy,thatcheckmatedFriedrich,anddrovehimfromBohemialastYear;
and,fortherest,thatFriedrichisruined,andwilleithershirkoutofSilesia,orbecuttoribbonstherebytheAustrianforcethisSummer。TowhichValorihintsdissent;butitisillreceived。
ValoriseestheKing;findshim,asexpected,thefac—simileofBruhlinthismatter;JesuitGuarinithelike:howotherwise?
TheyhavehisMajestyintheirleash,andleadhimastheyplease。
"Atfoureverymorning,thisGuarini,JesuitConfessortotheKingandQueen,comestoBruhl;BruhlsettleswithhimwhathisMajestyshallthink,inreferencetocurrentbusiness,thisday;
Guarinithengoes,confessesbothMajesties;confesses,absolves,turnsintheduewaytosecularmatters。Atnine,Bruhlhimselfarrives,forPrivyCouncil:’WhatisyourMajestypleasedtothinkonthesepointsofcurrentbusiness?’Majestyserenelyissueshisthoughts,intheformoforders;whicharefoundcorrecttopattern。ThisistheprocesswithhisMajesty。ApoorMajesty,takingdeeplyintotobacco;thisisthewaytheyhavehimbenetted,asinadarkcocoonofcobwebs,renderingthewholeworldinvisibletohim。Whichcunningarrangementismoreandmoreperfectedeveryyear;sothatonallroadshetravels,beittomass,tohunt,todinner,any—whitherinhisPalaceoroutofit,therearefaithfulcreatureskeepingeye,whoadmitnounsafemantotheleastglimpseofhimbynightorbyday。Inthismannerhegoeson;andbeforetheendofhim,twentyyearshence,hascarrieditfar。Nothingbutdisgusttobehadoutofbusiness;——mutinousPolishDietstoo,somefortyofthem,inhistime,notoneofwhichdidanybusinessatall,butendedinLIBERUMVETO,andBillingsgateconflagration,perhapswithswordsdrawn:[SeeBuchholz,154;&c。]——businessmoreandmoredisagreeabletohim。WhatcanValoriexpect,onthisheroicoccasion,fromsuchaKing?
"TheQueenherself,MariaTheresa’sCousin,anambitioushard—favoredMajesty,——whohadsenseoncetodislikeBruhl,buthasbeenquitereconciledtohimbyherJesuitMessengerofHeaven(whichlatterisanoily,ratherstupidcreature,whoreallywisheswelltoher,andlovesapeaceablelifeatanyprice),——evenshewillnottakethebait。ValoriwasinDresdenninedays(middlepartofFebruary,itislikely);neverproducedhisbigbait,his60,000menandotherbrilliancies,atall。HesawoldFeldmarschallKonigseckpassingfromViennatowardstheNetherlandsCamp;
whereheistodry—nurse(sotheyirreverentlycallit,intimecoming)hisRoyalHighnessofCumberland,thatmagnificentEnglishBabeofWar,anddofeatswithhimthisSummer。"Konigseck,thoughValorididnotknowit,hasendlessdiplomaciestodowithal;
inspectionsoftroops,advisings,inHanover,inHolland,inDresdenhere;[Anonymous,DukeofCumberland,
p。186。]——andsecurestheSaxonElectoral—VoteforhisGrand—Dukeinpassing。"ThewelcomegiventoKonigseckdisgustedValori;
ontheninthdayheleft;saidadieu,seeingthemblindtotheirinterest;andtookpostforBerlin,"——wherehefindsFriedrichmuchoutofhumorattheSaxonreceptionofhismagnanimities。[Valori,i。211—219;OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。81—85。
FordetailsonBruhl,seeGrafvonBruhl,LebenundCharakter(1760,NoPlace):Anonymous,byoneJusti,anotedPamphleteerofthetime:existsinEnglishtoo,orpartlyexists;butisunreadable,exceptoncompulsion;andtotallyunintelligibletillafterverymuchinquiryelsewhere。]
ThisSaxonintricacy,indecipherable,formidable,contemptible,wastheplagueofFriedrich’slife,oneconsiderableplague,allthroughthisCampaign。PerhapsnothingintheDiplomaticsphereofthingscausedhimsuchperplexity,vexation,indignation。
Aninsolubleriddletohim;extremelycontemptible,yet,——withahugeRussiatackedtoit,andloomingminatoryinthedistance,——
fromtimetotime,formidableenough。Letreaderskeepitinmind,andtrytoimagineit。ItcostFriedrichsuchguessing,computing,arranging,rearranging,aswouldwearythetoughestreadertohearofindetail。HowFriedrichdidatlastsolveit(inDecembercoming),allreaderswillseewitheyes!——
MIDDLE—RHINEAWNYINASTAGGERINGSTATE;THEBAVARIAN
INTRICACYSETTLESITSELF,THEWRONGWAY。
EarlyinMarchitbecomessurmisablethatMaillebois’sMiddle—RhineArmywillnotgoagoodroad。Mailleboishasbeenbusyinthosecountries,workingextensivediscontent;bullyingmankind"tojointheFrankfurtUnion,"tojoinFranceatanyrate,whichnobodywouldconsentto;andexactingmercilesscontributions,whicheverybodyhadtoconsenttoandpay。——Andnow,onD’Ahremberg’smereadvance,withthatpoorFractionofPragmaticArmy,rousedfromitswintersleep,Maillebois,withoutwaitingforD’Ahremberg’sattack,rapidlycallsinhistruculentdetachments,androllsconfusedlybackintotheFrankfurtregions。[Adelung,iv。
276—352(December,1744—March,1745)。]UponwhichD’Ahremberg——ifbynomeansgoinguponMaillebois’sthroat——sets,atleast,tocoercingWilhelmofHessen,ouronlyfriendinthoseparts;whoisalreadyagooddealdisgustedwiththeMailleboisprocedures,andatalosswhattodoontheKaiser’sdeath,whichhaskilledtheFrankfurtUniontoo。WiseWilhelmconsents,underD’Ahremberg’smenaces,tobecomeNeutral;andrecallhis6,000outofBaiern,——
wisheshehadthemhomebesidehimevennow!
WithanElectioninthewind,itisdoublynecessaryfortheFrench,whohavenotevenaCandidateasyet,tostandsupremeandminatoryintheFrankfurtCountry;andtoKingFriedrichitispainfullyquestionable,whetherMailleboiscandoit。"Doitwewill;doubtnotthat,yourMajesty!"answerValoriandtheFrench;
——andstudytomakeimprovements,reinforcements,intheirRhineArmy。Andtheydo,atleast,changetheGeneraloftheirMiddle—
RhineArmy,——thatistosay,recallPrinceContioutofItaly,wherehehasdistinguishedhimself,andsendMailleboisthitherinhisstead,——wholikewisedistinguisheshimselfTHERE,ifthatcouldbeacomforttous!WhetherthedistinguishedContiwillmaintainthatFrankfurtCountryinspiteoftheAustriansandtheirElectionmovements,isstillaquestionwithFriedrich,thoughValoricontinuedassuringhim(alwaystillJulycame)that,itwasbeyondquestion。"SiegeofTournay,vigorousCampaignintheNetherlands(forbehoofofBritannicGeorge)!"thisisthegrandFrenchprogramfortheYear。Thisgoodintentionwasachieved,ontheFrenchpart;
butthis,likeAaron’srodamongtheserpents,provedtohaveEATEN
theothersasitwriggledalong!——
ThoseMaillebois—D’AhrembergaffairsthrowadampontheBavarianQuestionwithal;——infact,settletheBavarianQuestion;herHungarianMajesty,tiredofthedelays,havingorderedBathyanitoshoulderarmsagain,andbringadecision。Bathyani,withBarenklautorightofhim,andBrowne(ouroldSilesianfriend)toleft,goessweepingacrossthoseSeckendorf—Segurposts,andwithoutdifficultytumbleseverythingtoruin,atagrandrate。ThetraitorSeckendorfhadmadesuchachoiceofposts,——leftunalteredbyDrumThorring;——whatcouldFrenchvalordo?Nothing;neitherFrenchvalor,norBavarianwantofvalor,coulddoanythingbutwhirltotheright—about,atsightoftheAustrianSweeping—Apparatus;
andgooffexplosively,asinformerinstances,ataratealmostuniqueinmilitaryannals。Finishedwithinthreeweeksorso!——
Weglanceonlyattwopointsofit。March21st,Bathyanistoodtoarms(toBESOMSwemightcallit),Browneontheleft,Barenklauontheright:itwasMarch21stwhenBathyanistartedfromPassau,uptheDonauCountries;——andwithintheweekcoming,see:——
"VILSHOFEN,28thMARCH,1745。Here,atthemouthoftheVilsRiver(betweenInnandIser),isthefirstconsiderablePost;
garrisonsome4,000;HessiansandPrinceFriedrichthemainpart,——whohavetheirshareofvalor,Idaresay;butwithsuchnewsoutofHessen,nottospeakoftheprospectsinthisCountry,areprobablyinpoorishspiritsforacting。GeneralBrownesummonstheminVilshofen,thisday;and,ontheirnegative,stormsinuponthem,burststhemtopieces;uponwhichtheybeatchamade。ButtheCroats,whoareforemost,carenothingforchamade:goplundering,slaughtering;burnthepoorTown;butcher[inroundnumbers]3,000
ofthepoorHessians;andwoundGeneralBrownehimself,whilehetoovehementlyinterferes。"[Adelung,iv。356,andthehalf—
intelligibleFoot—noteinRanke,iii。220。]Thiswasthefinaleofthose6,000Hessians,andindeedtheirprincipalfunction,whileinFrenchpay;——andmusthavebeen,wecanJudgehowsurprisingtoPrinceFriedrich,andtohisPapaonhearingofit!
Noteanotherpoint。
Preciselyaboutthistimetwelvemonth,"March16th,1746,"thesamePrinceFriedrich,withremainderofthoseHessians,nowagaincompletedto6,000,andcomebackwithemphasistotheBritannicsideofthings,was——marchingoutofEdinburgh,inmuchstate,withstreamers,kettle—drums,Highness’scoaches,horses,led—horses,onanunexpectederrand。[Henderson(WhigEye—witness)。
HistoryoftheRebellion,1745and1746(London,1748,reprintfromtheEdinburghedition),pp。104,106,107。]
TowardStirling,Perth;towardsKilliecrankie,andraisingofwhatiscalled"theSiegeofBlairinAthol"(mostminuteof"sieges,"
butsubtendingagreatanglethereandthen);——muchofunexpected,andnearerhomethan"TournayandtheNetherlandsCampaign,"havinghappenedtoBritannicGeorgeinthecourseofthisyear,1746!
"Reallyveryfinetroops,thoseHessians[observesmyorthodoxWhigfriend]:theycarryswordsaswellasgunsandbayonets;
theiruniformisblueturnedupwithwhite:theHussarpartofthem,about500,havescimitarsofagreatlength;smallhorses,mostlyblack,ofSwedishbreed;swiftdurablelittlecreatures,withlongtails。"Honors,dinners,tohisSereneHighnesshadbeennumerous,duringthethreeweekswehadhiminEdinburgh;
"especiallythatBall,February21st(o。s。),eveofhisConsortthePrincessMary’sBirthday[EVEofbirthday,"letusdancetheauspiciousmorningIN]was,foraffluenceofNobilityandGentryofbothsexes,"asublimething……
PFAFFENHOFEN,APRIL15th。"UnfortunateSegur,theSegurofLinzthreeyearsago,——whoseconductwasgreat,accordingtoValori,butpowerlessagainsttraitorsandfate!——wasagain,oncemore,unfortunateinthoseparts。UnfortunateSegurdrewupatPfaffenhofen(centreoftheCountry,manymilesfromVilshofen)todefendhimself,whenfallenuponbyBarenklau,inthatmanner;
butcouldnot,thoughwithmasterlydemeanor;andhadtoretreatthreedays,withhisfacetotheenemy,sotospeak,fightingandmanoeuvringalltheway:noshelterforhimeitherbutMunchen,andthat,amosttemporaryone。InsteadoftakingStraubingen,takingPassau,perhapsofpushingontoViennaitself,thisiswhatwehavealreadycometo。NoRhineArmy,Middle—RhineArmy,Coigny,Maillebois,Conti,whoeveritwas,shouldsendustheleastreinforcement,whenshriekedto。Nooutlookwhateverbutrapidwithdrawal,retreattotheRhineArmy,sinceitwillnotstirtohelpus。"[Adelung,iv。360。]
"TheyoungKur—Baiernisstillpolite,grateful[tousFrench],overwhelmsuswithpoliteness;butfliestoAugsburg,ashisFatherusedtodo。Notable,however,hispoorfatlittleMotherwon’t,thistime:’No,Iwillstayhere,Iforone,andhavedonewithflyingandrunning;wehavehadenoughofthat!’Seckendorf,quitegonefromCourtinthiscrisis,reappears,aboutthemiddleofApril,inquestionablecapacity;ataplacecalledFussen,notfaroff,atthefootoftheTyrolHills;——wherecertainAustrianDignitariesseemalsotobeenjoyingapicturesqueEaster!
Yesindeed:and,onAPRIL22d,thereissigneda’PEACEOFFUSSEN’
there;generalamicableAS—YOU—WERE,betweenAustriaandBavaria(’RenounceyourAnti—Pragmaticmoonshineforevermore,voteforourGrand—Duke;thereisyourBavariaback,poorwretches!’)——
andSeckendorf,itispresumable,willgethisTurkisharrearsliquidated。
"TheBavarianIntricacy,whichonceexcelledhumanpower,issettled,then。CarteretandHaslangtrieditinvain[dreadfulheterodoxintentionsofsecularizingSalzburg,secularizingPassau,Regensburg,andloudtremulousdenialofsuch];——CarteretandWilhelmofHesseu[ConferencesofHanau,whichruinedCarteret],invain;KingFriedrich,andmanyKings,invain:athingnobodycouldsettle;——andithasatlastsettleditself,asthegeneralityofill—guidedandunluckythingsdo,bycollapse。Deliriumonceout,thelawofgravityacts;andtherethemadmatterlies。"
"BoughtbyAustria,thatoldvillain!"crytheFrench。
FriedrichdoesnotthinktheAustriansboughtSeckendorf,havingnomoneyatpresent;butguessestheymayhavegivenhimtounderstandthatacertainlargearrearofpaymentdueeversincethoseTurkishWars,——whenSeckendorf,insteadofpayment,waslodgedintheFortressofGratz,andalmostgothisheadcutoff,——shouldnowbepaiddownincash,orauthenticPaper—money,ifmattersbecomeamicable。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。22;
SeckendorfsLeben,pp。367—376。]Astheyhavedone,inFriedrich’sdespite;——whoseemsangrierattheoldstagerforthisparticularill—turnthanforalltheothermany;andlongremembersit,aswillappear。
ChapterVII。
FRIEDRICHINSILESIA;UNUSUALLYBUSY。
Here,sureenough,aresadnewintricaciesintheDiplomatic,hypotheticsphereofthings;andcloudspilingthemselvesahead,inaveryminatorymannertoKingFriedrich。LetKingFriedrich,allthemore,gethisFightingArrangementsmadeperfect。Diplomacyisclouds;beatingofyourenemiesisseaandland。AustriaandtheGazetteerworldconsiderFriedrichtobeasgoodasfinished:
butthatisprivatelyfarfrombeingFriedrich’sownopinion;——
thoughtheseoccurrencesareheavyanddismaltohim,asnoneofuscannowfancy。
HerrRankehasgotaccess,intheArchives,toaseriesofprivateutterancesbyFriedrich,——Lettersfromhim,ofafrankernaturethanusual,andlettingusfardeeperintohismind;——whichmusthavebeenwellworthreadingintheoriginal,intheirfullydatedanddevelopedcondition。FromHerrRanke’sFragmentaryExcerpts,letus,thankfulforwhatwehavegot,selectoneortwo。
TheLettersaretoMinisterPodewilsatBerlin;writtenfromSilesia(Neisseandneighborhood),where,sincethemiddleofMarch,Friedrichhasbeen,personallypushingonhisArmyPreparations,whiletheabovesinisterthingsbefell。
KINGFRIEDRICHTOPODEWILS,INBERLIN(undervariousdates,March—April,1745)。
NEISSE,29thMARCH……"Wefindourselvesinagreatcrisis。Ifwedon’t,bymediationofEngland,getPeace,ourenemiesfromdifferentsides[Saxony,Austria,whoknowsifnotRussiawithal!]
willcomeplunginginagainstme。PeaceIcannotforcethemto。
ButiftheymusthaveWar,wewilleitherbeatthem,ornoneofuswillseeBerlinagain。"[Ranke,iii。236etseqq。]
APRIL(nodaygiven)……"Inanycase,Ihavemytroopswelltogether。Thesicknessesareceasing;therecruitmentsarecomingin:shortlyallwillbecomplete。ThatdoesnothinderusfrommakingPeace,ifitwillonlycome;but,inthecontrarycase,nobodycanaccusemeofneglectingwhatwasnecessary。"
APRIL17th(stillfromNeisse)……"Itoildayandnighttoimproveoursituation。Thesoldierswilldotheirduty。Thereisnoneamonguswhowillnotratherhavehisbackbonebrokenthangiveuponefoot—breadthofground。TheymusteithergrantusagoodPeace,orwewillsurpassourselvesbymiraclesofdaring;
andforcetheenemytoacceptitfromus。"
APRIL20th。"Oursituationisdisagreeable;constrained,akindofspasm:butmydeterminationistaken。Ifweneedsmustfight,wewilldoitlikemendrivendesperate。NeverwasthereagreaterperilthanthatIamnowin。Time,atitsownpleasure,willuntiethisknot;orDestiny,ifthereisone,determinetheevent。
ThegameIplayissohigh,onecannotcontemplatetheissuewithcoldblood。Prayforthereturnofmygoodluck。"——Twodayshence,thepooryoungKur—Baiern,deaftotheFrenchseductionsandexertions,whichwereintense,hadsignedhis"PeaceofFussen"
(22dApril1745),——afinaletoFranceontheGermanField,asmaybefeared!TheotherFragmentswewillgivealittlefartheron。
FriedrichhadleftBerlinforSilesiaMarch15th;rathersoonerthanhecountedon,——OldLeopoldpleadingtobelethome。
AtGlogau,atBreslau,therehadbeenthedueinspecting:
FriedrichgottoNeisseonthe23d(BathyanijuststirringinthatBavarianBusiness,VilshofenandtheHessianscloseahead);andonthe27th,haddismissedOldLeopold,withthanksandsympathies,——
senthimhome,"torecoverhishealth。"Leopold’shealthisprobablysuffering;buthisheartandspiritsstillmore。Pooroldman,hehasjustlost——theotherweek,"5thFebruary"last——hispooroldWife,atDessau;andisbrokendownwithgrief。ThesoftsilkliningofhishardExistence,inallpartsofit,istornaway。ApothecaryFos’sDaughter,Reich’sPrincess,PrincessofDessau,calledbywhatevername,shehadbeenthetruestofWives;
"usedtoattendhiminallhisCampaigns,forabovefiftyyearsback。""Gone,now,forevergone!"——OldLeopoldhadwellsofstrangesorrowintheruggedheartofhim,——sorrow,andstillbetterthings,——whichhedoesnotwearonhissleeve。HereisanincidentInevercanforget;——datingtwelveorthirteenyearsago(asiscomputable),middleofJuly,1732。
"Louisa,Leopold’seldestDaughter,WifeofVictorLeopold,reigningPrinceofAnhalt—Bernburg,laydyingofadecline。"
Stillonlytwenty—three,poorLady,thoughmarriedsevenyearsago;
——theendnowevidentlydrawingnigh。"Afewdaysbeforeherdeath,——perhapssomeattendantsorrowfullyasking,’Canwedonothing,then?’——shewasheardtosay,’IfIcouldseemyFatherattheheadofhisRegiment,yetonce!’"——Halle,wheretheRegimentlies,issomethirtyormoremilesoff;andKingFriedriohWilhelm,Isuppose,wouldhavetobewrittento:——Leopoldwasreadythesoonestpossible;and,"atasethour,marched,inallpomp,withbannerflying,musicplayiug,intotheSCHLOSS—HOF(PalaceCourt)
ofBernburg;anddidtheduesalutationsandmanoeuvrings,——hispoorDaughtersittingatherwindow,tilltheyended;"——figurethem,thelastglitterofthosemuskets,thelastwailofthatband—music!——"TheRegimentwasthenmarchedtotheWaisenhaus(ORPHAN—HOUSE),wherethecommonmenweretreatedwithbreadandbeer;alltheOfficersdiningatthePrince’sTable。AlltheOfficers,exceptLeopoldalone,whostoleawayoutofthecrowd;
sathimselfuponthebalustradeoftheSaaleBridge,andweptintotheriver。"[LEBEN(12mo;notRannft’s,butAnonymouslikehis),p。234n。]——Leopoldisnowontheedgeofseventy;readytothinkallisfinishedwithhim。Perhapsnotquite,mytougholdfriend;
recoveryourselfalittle,andweshallsee!
OldLeopoldishardlyhomeatDessau,whennewPandourTempests,tidesofravagingWar,againcomebeatingagainsttheGiantMountains,pouringthroughallpasses;fromutmostJablunka,westwardbyJagerndorftoGlatz,hugeinfluxofwildridinghordes,eachwithsomesupportofAustriangrenadiers,cannoniers;
threateningtosubmergeSilesia。Precursors,Friedrichneednotdoubt,ofastrenuousregularattemptthatway,HungarianMajesty’sfixedintention,hopeanddeterminationis,ToexpelhimstraightwayfromSilesia。HerPatentcirculates,thesethreemonths;callingonallmentotakenoteofthatfixedfact,especiallyonallSilesianmentonoteitwell,andshifttheirallegianceaccordingly。Silesianmen,ingreatmajority,——ourfriendtheMayorofLandshut,forexample?——arebelievedtohavenoinclinationtowardschange:andwhoeverhas,hadclearlybetternotshowanytillhesee![InRanke(iii。234),thereisvestigeofsomeintended"voluntarysubscriptionbythecommonpeopleofGlatz,"forFriedrich’sbehoof;——contrariwise,inOrlich(ii。380,"6thFebruary,1745,"fromtheDessauArchives),noticeofoneindividual,suspectedofstirringforAustria,whom"youaretoputunderlockandkey;"——butherunsoff,andhasnosuccessor,thatI
hearof。]——