[Adelung,vi。184,206;——"forCronstrom,"ifanyoneiscurious,"seeSchlotzer,SchwedischeBiographie,
ii。252(invoce)。"]Asorestroke,thisofBergen,toBritannicMajestyandtheFriendsofLiberty;whoneverthelessrefusetobediscouraged。"
DECEMBER25th,RUSSIANSINBEHALFOFHUMANLIBERTY。"Marchof36,000RussiansfromtheCityofMoscow,thisday;onaverylongjourney,inthehoaryChristmasweather!Most,ChristianMajestyisruinouslyshortofmoney;BritannicMajestyhasstillcredit,andavotingParliament,but,owingtoFrenchinfluenceontheContinent,cangetnorecruitstohire。GraduallydrivenuponRussia,insuchstress,BritannicMajestyhasthisyearhiredforhimselfa35,000
Russians;30,000regularfoot;4,000dittohorse,and1,000
Cossacks;——uncommonlycheap,only150,000poundsthelot,not,4
poundsperheadbytheyear。And,inspiteofmanydifficultiesandhagglings,theyactuallygetonmarch,fromMoscow,25thDecember,1747;andcreepon,allWinter,throughthefrozenpeatswildernesses,throughLithuania,Poland,towardsBohmen,Mahren:
aretoappearintheRhineCountries,joinedbycertainAustrians;
andastonishmankindnextSpring。TheirCaptainisoneRepnin,PrinceRepnin,afterwardsfamousenoughinthosePolishCountries;"
——whichisnowtheonepointinterestingtousinthething。
"TheirCaptainWAS,first,tobeLacy,oldMarshalLacy;
then,failingLacy,’WhynotGeneralKeith?’——butprovestobeRepnin,aftermuchhustlingandintriguing:"Repnin,notKeith,thatistheinterestingpoint。
"SuchmarchoftheRussians,onbehalfofHumanLiberty,inpayofBritannicMajesty,isasurprisingfact;andconsiderablydiscomposestheFrench。WhobestirthemselvesinSwedenandelsewhereagainstRussiaandit:withnoresult,——exceptperhapstheincidentalone,ofgettingouresteemedoldfriendGuyDickens,nowSirGuy,dismissedfromStockholm,andwehopeputonhalf—payonhisreturnhome。"[Adelung,vi。250,302:——SirGuy,notyetinvalided,"wenttoRussia,"andothererrands。]
MARSHALKEITHCOMESTOPRUSSIA(September,1747)。
"Muchhustlingandintriguing,"itappears,inregardtotheCaptaincyoftheseRussians。Concerningwhichthereisnowordworthytobesaid,——exceptforonereasononly,ThatitfinishedofftheconnectionofGeneralKeithwithRussia。ThatthisofseeingRepnin,hisjuniorandinferior,preferredtohim,was,ofmanydisgusts,thelastdropwhichmadethecuprunover;——andledthesaidGeneraltoflingitfromhim,andseeknewfieldsofemployment。FromHamburg,havinggotsofar,headdresseshimself,1stSeptember,1747,toFriedrich,withofferofservice;whograspseagerlyattheoffer:"Feldmarschallyourrank;income,$1,200ayear;income,welcome,allsuitable:"——and,October28th,FeldmarschallKeithfinishes,atPotsdam,alongLettertohisBrotherLordMarischal,inthesewords,worthgiving,asthoseofaveryclear—eyedsoundobserverofmenandthings:——
"Ihavenowthehonor,and,whichisstillmore,thepleasure,ofbeingwiththeKingatPotsdam;whereheorderedmetocome,"17thcurrent,"twodaysafterhedeclaredmeFieldmarshal:WhereIhavethehonortodineandsupwithhimalmosteveryday。HehasmorewitthanIhavewittotellyou;speakssolidlyandknowinglyonallkindsofsubjects;andIammuchmistakenif,withtheexperienceofFourCampaigns,heisnotthebestOfficerofhisArmy。Hehasseveralpersons,"Rothenburg,Winterfeld,SwedishRudenskjold(justaboutdeparting),nottospeakofD’ArgensandtheFrench,"withwhomhelivesinalmostthefamiliarityofafriend,——buthasnofavorite;——andshowsanaturalpolitenessforeverybodywhoisabouthim。Foronewhohasbeenfourdaysabouthisperson,youwillsayIpretendtoknowagreatdealofhischaracter:butwhatItellyou,youmaydependupon。Withmoretime,Ishallknowasmuchofhimashewillletmeknow;——andallhisMinistryknowsnomore。"[VarnhagenvanEnse,LebendesFeldmarschallsJakobKeith(Berlin,1844,)p。100;
Adelung,vi。244。]
AnotableacquisitiontoFriedrich;——andtothetwoKeithswithal;
forFriedrichattachedbothofthemtohisCourtandservice,aftertheirunluckywanderings;andtooktothemboth,innocommondegree。Aswillabundantlyappear。
WhilethatRussiaCorpswasmarchingoutofMoscow,CoccejiandhisCommissionsreportfromPommern,thatthePomeranianLaw—stablesarecompletelyclear;thattheNewCourtshave,formanymonthsback,beeninwork,andarenow,attheendoftheYear,fairlyabreastwithit,accordingtoprogram;——have"decidedofOld—
PendingLawsuits2,400,allthattherewere(oneofthem200yearsold,andfillingseventyVolumes);andofthe994Newones,772;
notoneLawsuitremainingoverfromthepreviousYear。"AhighlygratifyingbitofnewstohisMajesty;whoanswersemphatically,EUGE!anddirectsthattheLawHerculesproceednowtotheotherProvinces,——totheKur—Mark,now,andBerlinitself,——withhissalutaryindustries。Naminghim"GrandChancellor,"moreover;
thatistosay,underanewtitle,HeadofPrussianLaw,——oldArnim,"MinisterofJustice,"havingshownhimselfdisaffectedtoLaw—Reform,andgotrebukedinconsequence,andsulkilygoneintoprivatelife。[Stenzel,iv。321;Ranke,iii。389。]
InFebruaryofthisYear,1747,Friedrichhadsomethinglikeastrokeofapoplexy;"sanksuddenlymotionless,oneday,"andsatinsensible,perhapsforhalfanhour:totheterrorandhorrorofthoseabouthim。Hemiplegia,hecallsit;rushofbloodtothehead;——probablyindigestion,orgoutyhumors,exasperatedbyover—
fatigue。Whichoccasionedgreatrumorintheworld;andatParis,toVoltaire’shorror,reportsofhisdeath。Hehimselfmadelightofthematter:[ToVoltaire,22dFebruary,1747(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。164);seeIB。164n。]anditdidnotprovetohavebeenimportant;wasneverfollowedbyanythingsimilarthroughhislonglife;andproducednochangeinhisoften—
waveringhealth,orinhishabits,whichwerealwayssteady。HeiswritingMEMOIRS;settling"Colonies"(onhiswastemoors);
improvingHarbors。WaitingwhenthisEuropeanWarwillend;
politelydeaftotheoffersofBritannicMajestyastotakingtheleastpersonalshareinit。
ChapterIII。
EUROPEANWARFALLSDONE:TREATYOFAIX—LA—CHAPELLE。
ThepreparationsforCampaign1748wereonalargerscalethanever。BritannicSubsidies,aNewParliamentbeingofwillingmind,areopulenttoadegree;192,000men,60,000Austriansforoneitem,shallbeintheNetherlands;——coupledwiththisremarkablenewclause,"Andtheyaretobethereinfact,andnotonpaperonly,"andwithatare—and—tretof30or40percent,astoooftenheretofore!Holland,underitsnewStadtholder,isstanchofpurpose,ifofnothingelse。The35,000Russians,trampingalong,areactuallydawningoverthehorizon,towardsTeutschland,——KingFriedrichstandingtoarmsalonghisSilesianBorder,vigilant"CordonofTroopsalltheway,"inwatchofsuchquestionabletransit。[InADELUNG,vi。110,143,167,399("April,1747—August,1748"),accountofthemoreandmorevisibleill—willoftheCzarina:"jealousy"aboutSweden,aboutDantzig,Poland,&c。&c。]
BritannicMajestyandParliamentseemresolutetotry,oncemore,totheutmost,thepowerofthebreeches—pocketindefendingthissacredCauseofLibertysocalled。
Breeches—pocketMINUSmostotherrequisites:alas,withsuchmethodsasyouhave,whatcancomeofit?RoyalHighnessofCumberlandisavaliantman,knowingofWarlittlemorethantheWhiteHorseofHanoverdoes;——certainofruinagain,atthehandsofMarechaldeSaxe。Sothinkmany,andhavetheirdismalmisgivings。"SaxehavingeatenBergen—op—Zoombeforeoureyes,whatcanwithstandtheteethofSaxe?"Infact,thereremainsonlyMaestricht,ofconsiderable;andthenHollandisasgoodashis!
AsforKingLouis,glory,withfundsrunningout,andthepotceasingtoboil,haslostitscharmtoanafflictedFranceandhim。
KingLouis’swishesareknown,thislongwhile;——andLigonier,generouslydismissedbyhimafterLauffeld,hasbroughtexpresswordtothateffect,andoutlineofthemodesttermsproposedinone’shourofvictory,withpotceasingtoboil。
Onasudden,too,"March18th,"——wintryblastsandhailstormsstillraging,——MarechaldeSaxe,regardlessofDomesticHunger,tookthefield,strongerthanever。Manoeuvredabout;bewilderingthemindofRoyalHighnessandtheStadtholder("WillhebesiegeBreda?
Willhedothis,willhedothat?")——poorHighnessandpoorStadtholder;who"didnotagreewelltogether,"andhadnotthehalfoftheirforcescomein,nottospeakofhandlingthemwhencome!Bewildermentofthesetwooncecompleted,MarechaldeSaxemade"abeautifulmarchuponMaestricht;"and,April15th,openedtrenches,averyVesuviusofartillery,beforethatplace;
RoyalHighnessgazingintoit,inadolefulmanner,fromtheadjacentsteeple—tops。RoyalHighness,valor’sself,hastoadmit:
"Suchanoutlook;nothalfofusgottogether!The60,000Austriansarebut30,000;the——Infact,youwillhavetomakePeace,whatelse?"[HisLetters,inCoxe’sPelham
("March29th—April2d,1748"),i。405—410。]Nothingelse,ashasbeenevidenttopracticalOfficialPeople(especiallytofrugalPelham,Chesterfieldandotherleadingheads)forthesetwomonthslastpast。
Inaword,those35,000Russiansarestillfarawayunderthehorizon,whenthoughtsofanewCongress,"CongressofAix—la—
Chapelle,"arebusyingthepublicmind:"Meremoonshineagain?"
"Somethingrealthistime?"——AndonandfromMarch17th(LordSandwichfirstontheground,andRobinsonfromViennacomingtohelp),theactualCongressbeginsassemblingthere。April24th,theCongressgetsactuallytobusiness;veryintentondoingit;
atleastthethreemainparties,France,England,Holland,aresupremelyso。Who,finding,forfivediligentdays,nothingbuthaggleandobjectiononthepartoftheothers,didbythemselvesmeetundercloudofnight,"nightofApril29th—30th;"and——bringthePreliminariestoperfection。Andhavethemsignedbeforedaybreak;whichis,ineffect,signing,oratleastfixingascertain,theTreatyitself;sothatArmisticecanensuestraightway,andtheWaressentiallyend。
Afixedthing;thePurseholdershavingsigned。Onthesaferearofwhich,yourrecipientSubsidiaryPartiescanargueandprotest(astheEmpress—QueenandherKaunitzvehementlydid,togreatlengths),andgraduallycomeinandfinish。Which,inthecourseofthenextsixmonths,theyalldid,Empress—QueenandExcellencyKaunitznotexcepted。Andso,October18th,1748,alldetailsbeing,intheinterim,eithergotsettled,orgotflungintocornersasunsettleable(mostlythelatter),——Treatyitselfwassignedbyeverybody;andtherewas"PeaceofAix—la—Chapelle。"
Uponwhich,excepttoremarktransientlyhowinconclusiveaconclusionitwas,mereendofwarbecauseyourpowderisrunout,meretrucetillyougatherbreathandgunpowderagain,wewillspendnowordinthisplace。[CompletedetailsinADELUNG,vi。
225—409:"October,1747,"Ligonierreturning,andfirstrumorofnewCongress(226);"17thMarch,1748,"Sandwichcome(323);
"April29th—30th,"meetundercloudofnight(326);Kaunitzprotesting(339):"2dAugust,"Russianstohaltandturn(397);
"areoverintotheOberpfalz,magazinesaheadatNurnberg;"inSeptember,gettoBohmenagain,andwinterthere:"18thOctober,1748,"Treatyfinished(398,409);Treatyitselfgiven(IB。,Beylage,44)。SeeGentleman’sMagazine,andOLDNEWSPAPERSof1748;Coxe’sPelham,ii。
7—41,i。366—416。]
"TheTreatyofAix—la—Chapellewasdoneinahurryandahuddle;
greatlytoMariaTheresa’sdisgust。’Whynotgoonwithyourexpenditures,yeSea—Powers?Canmoneyandlifebespentbetter?
IhaveyetconquerednexttonothingfortheCauseofLibertyandmyself!’ButtheSea—Powersweretiredofit;theDutchespecially,whohadbeenhoistedwithsuchdifficulty,tendedstrongly,NewStadtholdernotwithstanding,toplumpdownagainintostableequilibriumonthebroad—bottomprinciple。Huddleupthematter;
endit,wellifyoucan;anywayendit。TheTreatycontainedmanyArticles,nowbecomeforgettabletomankind。ThereisonlyOneArticle,andtheWantofOne,whichshallconcernusinthisplace。
TheOneArticleis:guaranteebyalltheEuropeanPowerstoFriedrich’sTreatyofDresden。Punctuallygotasbargainedfor,——
Frenchespeciallywilling;BritannicMajestyperhapsalittlelanguid,buthisMinisterspositiveonthepoint;sothatFriedrioh’sEnvoyhadnotmuchdifficultyatAix。Andnow,Friedrich’sOwnershipofSilesiarecognizedbyallthePowerstobefinalandunquestionable,surelynothingmoreiswanted?Nothing,——
exceptkeepingofthissolemnstipulationbyallthePowers。Howitwaskeptbysomeofthem;inwhatsensesomeofthemarekeepingitevennow,weshallseebyandby。
"TheWantofanArticlewas,onthepartofEngland,concerningJENKINS’SEAR。ThereisnottheleastconclusionarrivedatonthatimportantSpanish—EnglishQuestion;blindbeginningofalltheseconflagrations;andwhich,initsmeaningtothesomnambulantNation,issoimmense。Nonoticetakenofit;huddledtogether,somehastyshovelfulortwoofdiplomaticashescastonit,’Asgoodasextinct,yousee!’Leftsmoking,whenalltherestisquenched。Considerablefeelingtherewas,onthispoint,intheheartofthepoorsomnambulantEnglishNation;muchdumborsemi—
articulategrowlingonsuchaPeace—Treaty:’Wehavearrivednowhere,then,byallthisfighting,andsquandering,andperilousstumblingamongthechimney—pots?Spain(onitsownshowing)owedus95,000pounds。Spain’sdebttoHanover;yes,youtakecareofthat;someoldsixpennymatter,whichnobodyeverheardofbefore:
andofSpain’shugedebttoEnglandyoudropnohint;ofthe95,000
pounds,clearmoney,duebySpain;orofone’slibertytonavigatetheHighSeas,none!’[PROTESTOFENGLISHMERCHANTSAGAINST,&c。
("May,1748")giveninADELUNG,vi。353—358。]APeacethereverseofapplaudedinEngland;thoughthewiserSomnambulants,muchmorePittandFriends,whoarebroadawakeontheseGermanpoints,maywellbethankfultoseesuchaWarendonanyterms。"
——Well,surelythisoldadmitted95,000poundsshouldhavebeenpaid!And,toamoralcertainty,RobinsonandSandwichmusthavemadedemandofitfromtheSpaniard。ButthereisnogettingoldDebtsin,especiallyfromthatquarter。"KingFriedrich[letmeinterrupt,foramoment,withthispoorcompositeNote]istryinginSpainevennow,——eversince1746,whenTermagant’sHusbanddied,andanewKingcame,——forpaymentofolddebt:TwooldDebts;quitetolerablyjustbothofthem。KingFriedrichkeepstryingtill1749,threeyearsinall:and,intheend,getsnothingwhatever。
Nothing,——exceptsomeMerinoRamsintheinterim,"giftfromthenewKingofSpain,Icansuppose,whichprovedextremelyusefulinourWoolIndustries;"and,fromthesamepoliteFerdinandVI。,aPorcelainVasefilledwithSpanishSnuff。"Thatwasall!——
KingFriedrich,letmenotefarther,isgettingdecidedlydeepintosnuff;holdsbySPANIOL(adryyellowpungency,analogoustoLundy—
footorIrish—Blackguard,knowntosnuffyreaders);alwaysbySpaniol,wesay;andmoreespecially"thekindusedbyherMajestyofSpain,"thenowDowagerTermagant:[Ordersthiskind,fromhisAmbassadorinParis,"30thSeptember,1743:"theearliestextanttraceofhissnuffinghabits(Preuss,i。409)。——NOTEFARTHER(ifinteresting):"TheTermagantstilllastedasDowager,consumingSPANIOLatleast,forneartwentyyears(died11thJuly,1766);
——thenewKing,FerdinandVI。,washerSTEPson,notherson;
hewentmad,poorsoul,anddied(10thAugust,1759):uponwhich,CarlosofNaples,ourown’BabyCarlos’thatoncewas,succeededinSpain,’KingCarlosIII。ofSpain;’leavinghisSon,ayoungboyundertutelage,asKingoftheTwoSicilies(King’FerdinandIV。,’
whodidnotdie,buthadhisdifficulties,till1825)。DonPhilip,whohadfoughtsointhoseSavoyPasses,andgotthebitofParmesanCountry,died1765,theyearbeforeMamma。"]which,also,istoberemembered。Dryasdustadds,inhissweetlyconsecutiveway:"Friedrichwasveryexpensiveabouthissnuff—boxes;woretwobigrichboxesinhispockets;fiveorsixstoodontablesabout;
andmorethanahundredinstore,comingoutbyturnsforvariety。
Thecheapestofthemcost300pounds(2,000thalers);hehadthemashighas1,500pounds。Athisdeath,therewerefound130ofvariousvalues:theywerethesubstanceofallthejewelryhehad;
besidesthesesnuff—boxes,twogoldwatchesonly,andaverysmallmodicumofrings。HadyearlyforpersonalExpenditure1,200,000
thalers[180,000poundsofCivilList,asweshouldsay];
SPENT33,000poundsofit,andyearlygavetherestawayinRoyalbeneficences,aidofburntVillages,inundatedProvinces,andmultifariousPATER—PATRIAEobjects。"[Preuss,i。409,410,]——
InregardtoJENKINS’SEAR,myConstitutionalFriendcontinues:——
"SILESIAandJENKINS’SEAR,weoftensay,werethetwobitsofrealitiesinthisenormoushurly—burlyofimaginations,insaneambitions,andzerosandnegativequantities。NegativeBelleislegoeshome,notwithGermanycutinFourandputunderguidanceoftheFirstNationoftheUniverse(soextremelyfitforguidingselfandneighbors),butwiththeFirstNationitselfreducedalmosttowalletandstaff;bankrupt,beggared——’Yes,’itanswers,’inallbutglory!HavenotwegainedFontenoy,Roucoux,Lauffeld;
andstrong—placesinnumerable[mostlyinastateofdry—rot]?
DidmeneverfightasweFrenchmen;combiningitwiththeatricalentertainments,too!SublimeFrance,FirstNationoftheUniverse,willtryanotherflight(ESSOR),wereshebreathedalittle!’
"Yes,anewESSORerelong,andperhapssurpriseherselfandmankind!Thelossesofmen,moneyandresource,underthismademptyEnterpriseofBelleisle’s,wereenormous,palpabletoFranceandallmortals:butperhapstheseweretriflingtothereplacementofthembysuchGLOIREastherehadbeen。AGLOIREofplungingintoWaronnocauseatall;andwithanissueconsistingonlyoffoulgasesofextremelevity。Messieursareofconfessedpromptitudetofight;andtheirtalentforit,insomekinds,isverygreatindeed。Butthistreatingofbattleandslaughter,ofdeath,judgmentandeternity,aslightplay—housematters;thisofrisingintosuchtranscendencyofvalor,astosnapyourfingersinthefaceoftheAlmightyMaker;this,Messieurs,givemeleavetosayso,isathingthatwillconductyouandyourPREMIERENATIONtotheDevil,ifyoudonotalterit。Inevitable,Itellyou!
Yourroadliesthatway,then?Goodmorning,Messieurs;letmestillhope,Not!"
DiplomatistKaunitzgainedhisfirstgloriesinthisCongressofAix;whicharestillgreatintheeyesofsome。Agenowthirty—
seven;anativeoftheseWesternparts;buthenceforth,bydegreesevermore,theshiningstarandguideofAustrianPoliciesdownalmosttoourownNewEpoch。As,unluckily,hewillconcernusnotalittle,intimecoming,letusreadthisNote,asforeshadowofthemanandhisdoings:——
"ThegloryofCount,ultimatelyPrince,vonKaunitz—Rietberg,isgreatinDiplomaticCirclesofthepastCentury。’ThegreatestofDiplomatists,’theyallsay;——andsurelyitisreckonedsomethingtobecomethegreatestinyourline。Fartherthanthis,tothereadersofthesetimes,Kaunitz—Rietberg’sglorydoesnotgo。
Agreatcharacter,greatwisdom,lastinggreatresultstohisCountry,readersdonottraceinKaunitz’sdiplomacies,——onlytemporarygreatresults,orwhatheandtheby—standersthoughtsuch,toKaunitzhimself。HewastheSupremeJove,weperceive,inthatextinctOlympus;andregardswithsublimepity,notunalliedtocontempt,allotherdiplomaticbeings。Amansparingofwords,sparingevenoflooks;willhardlylifthiseyelidsforyoursake,——willliftperhapshischin,inslightmonosyllabicfashion,andstalksuperlativelythroughtheotherdoor。KingofthevanishedShadows。AdeterminedhaterofFreshAir;rodeunderglasscover,onthefinestday;madetheveryEmpressshutherwindowswhenhecametoaudience;fed,cautiouslydaring,onboiledcapons:moreI
remembernot,——exceptalsothathewouldsuffernomentionofthewordDeathbyanymortal。[Hormayr,OEsterreichischerPlutarch,iv。(3tes),231—283。]Amosthigh—sniffing,fantastic,slightlyinsolentshadow—king;——ruled,inhistime,thenowvanishedOlympus;andhadthedifficultglory(defectiveonlyinresult)ofunitingFranceandAustriaAGAINSTthepooroldSea—
Powermilk—cows,forthepurposeofrecoveringSilesiafromFriedrich,afewyearshence!"——Thesearewondrousresults;
hiddenunderthehorizon,notveryfareither;andwillastonishBritannicMajestyandallreaders,inafewyears。
MARECHALDESAXEPAYSFRIEDRICHAVISIT。
InSummer,1749,MarechaldeSaxe,theothershinyfigureofthismadBusinessoftheNetherlands,paidFriedrichavisit;hadthehonortobeentertainedbyhimthreedays(July13th—16th,1749),inhisRoyalCottageofSans—Souciseemingly,inhischoicestmanner。Curiosity,whichisnownothinglikesovividasitthenwas,wouldbegladtolistenalittle,inthismeetingoftwoSuns,orofoneSunandoneimmenseTar—Barrel,orAtmosphericMeteorreallyofshiningnature,andtakenforaSun。ButtheBooksaresilent;nottheleastdetail,orhint,orfeaturegrantedus。
OnlyFancy;——andthisofSmelfungus,bywayoflongfarewelltooneoftheparties:——……"ItwasatTongres,orinhead—quartersnearit,10thOctober,1746,——Battleexpectedonthemorrow[BattleofROUCOUX,overtowardsHerstal,whichweusedtoknow],—thatM。Favart,Saxe’sPlaywrightandTheatre—Director,gaveoutincheerfuldoggerelonfalloftheCurtain,theannouncement:——
’Demainnousdonneronsrelache,QuoiqueleDirecteurs’enfache,Vousvoircombleroitnosdesirs:
’To—morrowisnoPlay,TotheManager’sregret,Whosesolestudyistokeepyouhappy:
Ondoitcedertoutalagloire;
Vousnesongesqu’alavictoire,Nousnesongeonsqu’avosplaisires’
[BiographicUniverselle,xiv。209,?Favart;
Espagnac,ii。162。]
But,youbeingbentuponvictory,Whatcanhedo?——
Dayafterto—morrow,’——
’Dayafterto—morrow,’addedhe,takingtheo5cialtone,(inhonorofyourlaurels[gainedalready,sinceyouresolveongainingthem],wewillhavethehonorofpresenting’——suchandsuchagayFarce,toasmanyofyouasremainalive!whichwasreceivedwithgayclappingofhands:admirabletotheUniverse,atleasttotheParisianUNIVERSandoneself。SuchaprodigalityoflightdaringisintheseFrenchgentlemen,skilfullytickledbytheMarechal;
whousesthisPlaywright,amongotherimplements,forkeepingthemattheproperpitch。Wasthereeverseensuchradiancyofvalor?
Veryradiantindeed;——yet,itseemstome,gonesomewhatintothephosphorescentkind;shininginthedark,asfishwilldowhenrotten!Warhasactuallyitsseriouscharacter;norisDeathafarcicaltransaction,howeverhighyourgeniusmaygo。Butwhatthen?itistheMarechal’stradetokeepthesepoorpeopleatthecuttingpitch,onanytermsthatwillholdforthemoment。
"IknownotwhichwasthemostdissoluteArmyeverseenintheworld;butthisofSaxe’swasverydissolute。PlaywrightFavarthadwithalabeautifulcleverWife,——uponwhomthecourtships,munificentblandishments,threateningsandutmostendeavorsofMarechaldeSaxe(inhischaracterofgoat—footedSatyr)couldnotproducetheleastimpression。Forawholeyear,nottheleast。
WhereupontheGoat—footedhadtogetLETTREDECACHETforher;
hadto——infact,producethebrutalestAdventurethatisknownofhim,eveninthisbrutalkind。PoorFavart,rushingaboutindespair,notpermittedtorunhimthroughthebelly,anddiewithhisWifeundishonored,hadtoconsolehimself,heandshe;anddoagreeabletheatricalitiesforalivingasheretofore。Letusnotspeakofit!
"OfSaxe’sGeneralship,whichisnowathingfallenprettymuchintooblivion,Ihavenoauthoritytospeak。Hehadmuchwildnaturalingenuityinhim;cunningrapidwhirlsofcontrivance;
andgainedThreeBattlesandverymanySieges,amidtheloudestclappingofhandsthatcouldwellbe。Hehadperfectintrepidity;
nottobeflurriedbyanyamountofperilorconfusion;lookedonthatEnglishColumn,advancingatFontenoywithitsFUEINFERNAL,steadilythroughhisperspective;chewinghisleadenbullet:
’Goingtobeatme,then?Well——!’Nobodyneededtobebraver。
Hehadgreatgood—naturetoo,thoughofhottemperandsofullofmultifariousveracities;asubstratumofinarticulategoodsensewithal,andmuchmagnanimityrunwild,orruntoseed。Abig—
limbed,swashing,perpendicularkindoffellow;haughtyofface,butjollytoo;withabig,notuglystrut;——captivatingtotheFrenchNation,andfitGodofWar(fitterthan’Dalhousie,’Iamsure!)forthatsusceptivePeople。UnderstoodtheirArmyalso,whatitwasthenandthere;andhow,bytheatricalsandotherwise,togetagreatdealoffireoutofit。Greatdealoffire;——whetherbygradualconflagrationornot,ontheroadtoruinornot;how,hedidnotcare。Inrespectofmilitary’fame’socalled,hehadthegreatadvantageoffightingalwaysagainstbadGenerals,sometimesagainsttheveryworst。Tohisfameanadvantage;tohimselfandhisrealworth,farthereverse。HadhefalleninwithaFriedrich,evenwithaBrowneoraTraun,theremighthavebeendifferentnewsgot。Friedrich(whowasneverstingyinsuchmatters,excepttohisownGenerals,whereitmightdohurt)isprofuseinhiseulogies,inhisadmirationsofSaxe;amiabletosee,andnotinsincere;
butwhich,perhaps,practicallydonotmeanverymuch。
"ItiscertaintheFrenchArmyreapednoprofitfromitsexperienceofMarechaldeSaxe,andthehightheatricalities,ornamentalblackguardisms,andridiculeofdeathandlife。Inthelong—runagraverfacewouldhavebeenofbetteraugury。KingFriedrich’ssoldiers,oneobserves,ontheeveofbattle,settletheirbitsofworldlybusiness;andwindup,manyofthem,withahoarsewhisperofprayer。OliverCromwell’ssoldiersdidso,GustafAdolf’s;infact,Ithinkallgoodsoldiers:RoucouxwithaPrinceKarl,LauffeldwithaDukeofCumberland;yougainyourRoucoux,yourLauffeld,HumanStupiditypermitting:butonedayyoufallinwithHumanIntelligence,inanextremelygraveform;——audyour’ELAN,’
elasticoutburst,thequickestinNature,whatbecomesofit?
Waitbutanotherdecade;weshallseewhatanArmythishasgrown。
Cupidity,dishonesty,flounderingstupidity,indiscipline,mistrust;andanelasticoutspurt(ELAN)turnedoftenenoughiutotheformofSAUVE—QUI—PEUT!
"M。leMarechalsurvivedAix—la—Chapellelittlemorethantwoyears。LivedatChambord,ontheLoire,anEx—RoyalPalace;insuchsplendorasneverwas。Wentdowninarose—pinkcloud,asifofperfectfelicity;ofglorythatwouldlastforever,——whichithasbynomeansdone。Hemadedespatch;escaped,inthisworld,theNemesis,whichoftenwaitsonwhattheycall’fame。’BydiligentserviceoftheDevil,inwaysnotworthspecifying,hesawhimself,November21st,1750,flungprostratesuddenly:’Putridfever!’
gloomthedoctorsominouslytooneanother:and,November30th,theDevil(Iamafraiditwashe,thoughcladinroseateeffulgence,andmelodiousexceedingly)carriedhimhomeonthosekindterms,asfromaUniverseallofOpera。’Waittill1759,——till1789!’
murmuredtheDeviltohimself。"
TRAGICNEWS,THATCONCERNUS,OFVOLTAIREANDOTHERS。
AbouttwomonthsafterthoseSaxe—FriedrichhospitalitiesatSans—Souci,Voltaire,writing,lateatnight,fromthehospitablePalaceofTitularStanislaus,hasthesewords,tohistrustedD’Argental:——
LUNEVILLE,4thSEPTEMBER,1749……"MadameduChatelet,thisnight,whilescribblingoverherNEWTON,feltalittletwinge;
shecalledawaiting—maid,whohadonlytimetoholdoutherapron,andcatchalittleGirl,whomtheycarriedtoitscradle。
TheMotherarrangedherpapers,wenttobed;andthewholeofthat(TOUTCELA)issleepinglikeadormouse,atthehourIwritetoyou。"Myguardianangels,"poorIsha’n’thavesoeasyadeliveryofmyCATILINA"(myROMESAVED,fortheconfusionofoldCrebillonandthecabals)![OEuvres,lxxiv。57
(VoltairetoD’Argental)。]……
Andthen,sixclayslater,hearanotherWitnesspresentthere:——
LUNEVILLEPALACE,10thSEPTEMBER。"Forthefirstthreeorfourdays,thehealthoftheMotherappearedexcellent;denotingnothingbuttheweaknessinseparablefromhersituation。Theweatherwasverywarm。Milk—fevercame,whichmadetheheatworse。Inspiteofremonstrances,shewouldhavesomeicedbarley—water;drankabigglassofit;——and,someinstantsafter,hadgreatpaininherhead;
followedbyotherbadsymptoms。"WhichbroughttheDoctorinagain,severalDoctors,hastilysummoned;who,afterdifficulties,thoughtagainthatallwascomiugright。Andso,onthesixthnight,10thSeptember,inquiringfriendshadleftthesick—roomhopefully,andgonedowntosupper,"theratherasMadameseemedinclinedtosleep。ThereremainednonewithherbutM。deSt。Lambert,oneofhermaidsandI。M。deSt。Lambert,assoonasthestrangersweregone,wentforwardandspokesomemomentstoher;butseeinghersleepy,drewback,andsatchattingwithustwo。Eightortenminutesafter,weheardakindofrattleinthethroat,intermixedwithhiccoughs:werantothebed;foundher,senseless;raisedhertoasittingposture,triedvinaigrettes,rubbedherfeet,knockedintothepalmsofherhands;——allinvain;shewasdead!
"Ofcoursethesupper—partyburstupintoherroom;M。leMarquisdeChatelet,M。deVoltaire,andtheothers。Profoundconsternation:totears,tocriessucceededamournfulsilence。
VoltaireandSt。Lambertremainedthelastaboutherbed。AtlengthVoltairequittedtheroom;gotoutbytheGrandEntrance,hardlyknowingwhichwayhewent。AtthefootoftheOuterStairs,nearasentry’sbox,hefellfulllengthonthepavement。Hislackey,whowasasteportwobehind,rushedforwardtoraisehim。AtthatmomentcameM。deSt。Lambert;whohadtakenthesameroad,andwhonowhastenedtohelp。M。deVoltaire,onceonhisfeetagain,andrecognizingwhoitwas,said,throughhistearsandwiththemostpatheticaccent,’AH,MONAMI,itisyouthathavekilledhertome!’——andthensuddenly,asifstartingawake,withthetoneofreproachanddespair,’EH,MONDIEU,MONSIEUR,DEQUOIVOUS
AVISIEZ—VOUSDELUIFAIREUNENFANT(GoodGod,Sir,whatputitintoyourheadto——to——)!’"[LongchampetWagniere,
MemoiressurVoltaire,ii。250,251;——LongchampLOQUITUR。]
PoorM。deVoltaire;suddenlybecomewidower,andflungoutuponhisshiftsagain,athistimeoflife!Maynowwander,Ishmael—
like,whitherhewill,inthishardlonesomeworld。Hisgriefisoverwhelming,mixedwithothersharpfeelingsclueonthematter;
butdoesnotlastverylong,inthatpoignantform。Hewillturnuponus,inhisnewcapacityofsingle—man,againbrilliantenough,withinyearandday。
LastAutumn,September,1748,Wilhelmina’soneDaughter,onechild,waswedded;tothatyoungDurchlauchtofWurtemberg,whomwesawgallantingthelittlegirl,toWilhelmina’samusement,someyearsago。Aboutthewedding,nothing;norabouttheweddedlife,whatwouldhavebeenmorecurious:——noWilhelminanowtotellusanything;notevenwhetherMammatheImproperDuchesswasthere。
FromBerlin,theTwoyoungestPrinces,HenriandFerdinand,attendedatBaireuth;——Mannstein,ouroldRussianfriend,nowPrussianagain,escortingthem。[Seyfarth,ii。76。]TheKing,toobusy,Isuppose,withSilesianReviewsandthelike,sendshisbestwishes,——forindeedtheMatchwasofhissanctioningandadvising;
——thoughhiswishesprovedmeredisappointmentinthesequel。
Friedrichgotno"furtheranceintheSwabian—FranconianCircles,"
orfavoranywhere,bymeansofthisDurchlaucht;intheend,farthereverse!——Inaword,thehappycouplerolledawaytoWurtemberg(September26th,1748);hetwenty,shesixteen,pooryoungcreatures;andinyearsfollowingbecameunhappytoadegree。
Therewasbutonechild,anditsoondied。TheyoungSereneLadywasofairyhighspirit;graceful,clever,goodtoo,theysaid;
perhapsathoughttooproud:——butasforherReigningDuke,therewasseldomseensoluridaSerenity;anditwasdifficulttolivebesidehim。AmostarbitraryHerr,withgloomsandwhims;dim—eyed,ambitious,voracious,andthetemperofanangrymule,——veryfittohavebeenhaltered,inajudiciousmanner,insteadofbeingsettohalterothers!Enough,insixorsevenyearstime,thebrightPairfounditselfgrownthunderous,opaquebeyonddescription;and(in1759)hadtosplitasunderforgood。"OwingtothereigningDuke’sbehavior,"saideverybody。"Hasbehavedso,Iwouldrunhimthroughthebody,ifwemet!"saidhisownBrotheronce:——BrotherFriedrichEugen,aPrussianGeneralbythattime,whomweshallhearof。
[Preuss,iv。149;Michaelis,iii。451。]WhatthoughtsforourdearWilhelmina,inherlatterweakyears;——lappedineternalsilence,assomuchelseis。
ChapterIV。
COCCEJIFINISHESTHELAW—REFORM;FRIEDRICHISPRINTING
HISPOESIES。
Intheseyears,FriedrichgoesonvictoriouslywithhisLaw—Reform;
HerculeanCoccejiwithAssistants,backedbyFriedrich,beneficentlyconqueringProvinceafterProvincetohim;——Kur—Mark,Neu—Mark,Cleve(alleasy,incomparison,afterPommern),andfinallyPreussenitself;——tothejoyandprofitofthesame。
Cocceji’smethod,sofarastheForeignon—lookercandiscernacrossmuchhaze,seemstobethree—fold:——
1。Extirpation(painless,wereitpossible)ofthePetti—foggerSpecies;indeed,oftheAttorneySpeciesaltogether:"Seekotheremployments;disappear,allofyou,fromtheseprecincts,underpenalty!"TheAdvocatehimselftakeschargeofthesuit,fromfirstbirthofit;andseesitended,——heknowswithinwhatlimitoftime。
2。SiftingoutofallincompetentAdvocates,"FollowthatAttorney—
Company,you;away!"——siftingoutallthese,andretainingineachCourt,withfeesaccuratelysettled,withcharacterstampedsound,oratleastSOUNDEST,thenumberactuallyneeded。Inamilderway,butstillmorestrictly,Judgesstupidorotherwiseincompetentareriddledout;ableJudgesappointed,andtheirsalariesraised。
3。WhatseemstobeFriedrich’sowninvention,whatinoutcomehethinkswillbethesummaryofallgoodLaw—Procedure:AfinalSentence(three"instances"youcanhave,butthethirdendsitforyou)withintheYear。Good,surely。Ajusticethatintendstobeexactmustfrontthecomplicaciesinaresolutepiercingmanner,andwillnotbetedious。Nayajusticethatisnotmoderatelyswift,——humanheartswaitingforit,thewhile,inacancerousstate,insteadofhopefullyfollowingtheirwork,——what,comparatively,istheuseofitsbeingneversoexact!——
Simpleenoughmethods;roughandready。Needing,intheexecution,clearhumaneyesight,clearhumanhonesty,——whichhappentobepresenthere,andwithoutwhichno"method"whatevercanbeexecutedthatwillreallyprofit。
Inthecourseof1748,Friedrich,judgingbyPommernandtheothersymptomsthathisenterprisewassafe,struckavictoriousMedaluponit:"FRIDERICUSBORUSSORUMREX,"pressingwithhissceptretheobliqueBalancetoalevelposture;withEpigraph,"EMENDATOJURE。"
[LettertoCocceji,accompanyingCopyoftheMedalinGold,"24thJune,1748"(Seyfarth,ii。67n。)。]AndbyNew—year’sday,1750,thematterwasineffectcompleted;and"justicecheap,expeditious,certain,"afactinallPrussianLands。
Nay,in1749—1751,tocompletethematter,Cocceji’s"ProjectofageneralLaw—Code,"PROJEKTDESCORPORISJURISFRIDERICIANI,cameforthinprint:[Halle,2vols。folio(Preuss,i。316;seeIB。315
n。,astotheLAW—PROCEDURE,$c。nowsettledbyCocceji)。]totheadmirationofmankind,athomeandabroad;"theFirstCodeattemptedsinceJustinian’stime,"saythey。PROJECTtranslatedintoalllanguages,andreadinallcountries。ApoormildewedcopyofthisCODEXFRIDERICIANUS——doneatEdinburgh,1761,notsaidbywhom;evidentlyboughtatleastTWICE,andmostlyneveryetread(norlikebeingread)——isknowntome,foryearspast,inaghastlymanner!Withouttheleastprofittothispresent,ortoanyotherEnterprise;——thoughpersonsofnameinJurisprudencecallitmeritoriousintheirScience;thefirstrealattemptataCodeinModerntimes。Butthetruthis,thisCoccejiCODEXremainedaPROJECTmerely,neverenactedanywhere。Itwasnottill1773,thatFriedrichmadeactualattempttobuildaLaw—Codeanddidbuildone(thefoundation—storyofone,forhisshare,completedsince),inwhichthisofCoccejihadlittlepart。In1773,thethingmustagainbementioned;the"SecondLaw—Reform,"astheycallit。
Whatwepracticallyknowfromthistimeis,ThatPrussianLawsuits,throughFriedrich’sReign,doallterminate,orpushattheirutmostforterminating,withinoneyearfrombirth;andthatFriedrich’sfame,asabeneficentJustinian,rosehighinallCountries(strange,inCountriesthathadthoughthimaWar—scourgeandConqueringHero);strange,butundeniable;[See
Gentleman’sMagazine,xx。215—218("May,1750"):
eloquent,enthusiasticLETTER,giventhere,"ofBarondeSpontoChancellorD’Aguessan,"ontheseinimitableLawAchievements。]andthathisownPeople,ifmoresilently,yetinpracticeverygladlyindeed,welcomedhisLaw—Reform;and,fromdaytoday,enjoyedthesame,——nodoubtwithoccasionalremembrancewhotheDonorwas。
OfFriedrich’sLiteraryworks,nobody,notevenFriedrichhimself,willthinkitnecessarythatwesaymuch。Butthefactis,heisdoingagreatmanythingsthatway:inProse,theMEMOIRSOF
BRANDENBURG,comingoutasPapersintheAcademyfromtimetotime;
[From1746andonward:firstpublishedcomplete(afterslightrevisionbyVoltaire),Berlin,1751。]inVerse,verysecretasyet,thePALLADION("exquisiteBurlesque,"thinksome),theARTOFWAR
(reckonedtrulyhisbestPieceinverse):——andwishessometimeshehadVoltaireheretoperfecthimalittle。ThistoowouldbeoneofthepracticalcharmsofVoltaire。[Friedrich’sLettertoAlgarotti(OEuvres,xviii。66),"12thSeptember,1749。"]ForthoughKingFriedrichknowsandremembersalways,thatthesethings,especiallytheVersepart,aremereamusementsincomparison,hehasthecreditablewishtodothesewell;onewouldnotfantasyILLevenontheFlute,ifonecouldhelpit。"Whydoesn’tVoltairecome;asQuantzoftheFlutehasdone?"Friedrich,nowthatVoltairehasfallenwidower,renewshispressings,"Whydon’tyoucome?"Patience,yourMajesty;Voltairewillcome。
NobodycanwishdetailsinthisDepartment:butthereisonethingnecessarytobementioned,ThatFriedrichintheseyears,1749—1752,hasPrintersoutatPotsdam,andisPrinting,"inbeautifulquartoform,withcopperplates,"totheextentoftwelvecopies,theOEUVRES(Poetical,thatis)DUPHILOSOPHEDE
SANS—SOUCI。Onlytwelvecopies,Ihaveheard;giftofasinglecopyindicatingthatyouareamongthechoicestofthechosen。
Copieshavenowfallenextremelyrare(andarenotinrequestatall,withmyreadersorme);buttherewasoneCopywhich,ortheMis—titleofwhich,asOEUVREDE"POESHIE"DUROIMONMAITRE,becamemiraculouslyfamousinayearortwo;——andisstillmemorabletousall!OnVoltaire’sarrival,weshallhearmoreofthesethings。EnoughtosayatpresentthattheOEUVRESDU
PHILOSOPHEDESANS—SOUCI:AUDONJONDUCHATEAU:AVECPRIVILEGE
D’APOLLON,——"threethinnishquartovolumes,allthePoetrythenonhand,"——wasfinishedearlyin1750,beforeVoltairecame。
That,whenVoltairecame,arevisalwasundertaken,anewEdition,withVoltaire’scorrectionsandotherchanges(totalsuppressionofthePALLADION,foronecreditablechange):thatthisEditionwastohavebeeninTwoVolumes;thatOne,accordingly,ratherthickerthantheformersort,wasgotfinishedin1752(sameTITLE,onlythenewDate,and"noDONJONDUCHATEAUthistime"),OneVolumein1752;afterwhich,owingtotheexplosionsthatensued,noSecondcame,noreverwill;——andthattheactualcontentsofthatfar—
famedOEUVREDE"POESHIE"(numberofvolumeseven)arepointsofmysterytome,atthisday。[HerrPreuss——intheCHRONOLOGICALLIST
ofFriedrich’sWritings(ausefulaccuratePieceotherwise),andintwootherplaceswherehetries——isveryindistinctonthisofDONJONDUCHATEAU;anditisallbutimpossibletoascertainfromhimWHAT,inanindisputablemanner,theOEUVREDE"POESHIE"mayhavebeen。Herearetheplacesforgroping,ifanothershouldbeinducedtotry:OEuvresdeFrederic,x。
(Preface,p。ix);IB。xi。(Preface,p。ix);IB。TableChhronologique(inwhatVolumethisis,youcannotyetsay;seemspreliminarytoaGENERALINDEX,whichisinfinitelywanted,buthasnotyetappearedtothisEditor’said),p。14。]
Friedrich’sotheremploymentsaremultifariousasthoseofaLand’sHusband(notinferiortohisFatherinthatrespect);and,likethebenefitsofthediurnalSun,aretobeconsideredincessant,innumerableand,inresulttous—ward,SILENTalso,impossibletospeakofinthisplace。FromthehighestpitchofState—craft(RussianCzarinanowfallenplainlyhostile,andneedinglynx—eyeddiplomacyeverandanon),downtothatofDredgingandFascine—work(asatStettinandelsewhere),ofOder—canals,ofSoap—boilerCompanies,andMulberry—and—SilkCompanies;nayofordainingWhere,andwherenot,theCrowsaretoheshot,and(owingtocattle—
murrain)NoVEALtobekilled:[Seyfarth,ii。71,83,81;Preuss,BuchfurJedermann,i。101—109;&c。]dailycomesthetideofgreatandofsmall,anddailythepunctualFriedrichkeepsabreastofit,——andDryasdusthasnotedthedetails,andstuffedthemintoblindsacks,——forfortyyears。
TheReviewseasons,Inotice,gosomewhatasfollows。ForBerlinandneighborhood,May,orperhapsendofApril(weathernowbright,andgroundfirm);sometimeswithconsiderablepomp("bothQueensout,"andbeautifulFemaleNobilities,in"twenty—fourgreentents"),andoftenwithgreatcomplicacyofmanoeuvre。InJune,toMagdeburg,roundbyCleve;andhomeagainforsomedays。JulyisPommern:OnwardthencetoSchlesien,oftenestinAugust;
Schlesienthelastplace,andgenerallynotdonewithtillwelloninSeptember。Butwewillspeakofthesethings,morespecially,anothertime。Such"Reviews,"forstrictnessofinspectioncivilandmilitary,asprobablywerenotseenintheworldsince,——orbefore,exceptinthecaseofthisKing’sFatheronly。
ChapterV。
STRANGERSOFNOTECOMETOBERLIN,IN1750。
BritishDiplomacies,nexttotheRussian,causesomedifficultiesinthoseyears:ofwhichmorebyandby。Earlyin1748,whileAix—
la—Chapellewasstarting,Ex—ExchequerLeggecametoBerlin;
onsomeobscureobjectofasmallPatchofPrincipality,hanginglooseduringthoseNegotiations:"CouldnotwesecureitforhisRoyalHighnessofCumberland,thinksyourMajesty?"Ex—ExchequerLeggewashere;[Coxe’sPelham,i。431,&c。;
Rodenbeck,pp。155,160(firstaudience1stMay,1748);——recalled22dNovember,Aixbeingover。]gothandsomeassurancesofageneralnature;butnofurtherancetowardshisobscure,completelyimpracticableobject;andwenthomeinNovemberfollowing,toanewParliamentaryCareer。
Andthesecondyearafter,earlyin1750,cameSirHanburyWilliams,famedLondonWitofWalpole’scircle,onobjectswhich,inthemain,wereequallychimerical:"KingoftheRomans,muchwanted;""NoDamagetoyourMajesty’sShippingfromourBritishPrivateers;"andthelike;——aboutwhichsomenotice,andnotverymuch,willbeduefartheron。Here,inhisownwords,isHanbury’sAccountofhisFirstAudience:——……"OnThursday,"16thJuly,1750,"IwenttoCourtbyappointment,at11A。M。TheKingofPrussiaarrivedabout12[atBerlin;KinginfromPotsdam,foroneday];andCountPodewilsimmediatelyintroducedmeintotheRoyalcloset;whenIdeliveredhisBritannicMajesty’sLettersintotheKingofPrussia’shands,andmadetheusualcomplimentstohiminthebestmannerIwasable。TowhichhisPrussianMajestyreplied,tothebestofmyremembrance,asfollows:——
"’IhavethetruestesteemfortheKingofBritain’sperson;andI
setthehighestvalueonhisfriendship。Ihaveatdifferenttimesreceivedessentialproofsofit;andIdesireyouwouldacquainttheKingyourMasterthatIwill(SIC)neverforgetthem。’HisPrussianMajestyafterwardssaidsomethingwithrespecttomyself,andthenaskedmeseveralquestionsaboutindifferentthingsandpersons。HeseemedtoexpressagreatdealofesteemformyLordChesterfield,andagreatdealofkindnessforMr。Villiers,"
usefulinthePeace—of—Dresdentime;"butdidnotoncementionLordHyndfordorMr。Legge,"——howsingular!
"IwasintheclosetwithhisMajestyexactlyfiveminutesandahalf。Myaudiencedone,PrussianMajestycameoutintothegeneralroom,whereForeignMinisterswerewaiting。Hesaid,onsteppingin,justoneword"totheAustrianExcellency;notevenonetotheRussianExcellency,nortometheBritannic;"conversedwiththeFrench,Swedish,Danish;"——happytobeoff,whichIdonotwonderat;todinewithMammaatMonbijou,amongfacespleasanttohim;
andreturntohisBusinessesandBooksnextday。[Walpole,
GeorgetheSecond,i。449;Rodenbeck,i。204。]
WittyExcellencyHanburydidnotsucceedatBerlinonthe"Romish—
KingQuestion,"orotherwise;andindeedwentoffratherinahurry。Butforthenextsixorsevenyearshepuddlesabout,atagreatrate,inthoseNorthernCourts;givingawayagreatdealofmoney,hatchingmanyfutileexpensiveintriguesatPetersburg,Warsaw(notmuchatBerlin,afterthefirsttrialthere);andwillnotbealtogetheravoidabletousintimecoming,asonecouldhavewished。Besides,heisHoraceWalpole’sfriendandselectLondonWit:hecontributedagooddealtotheEnglishnotionsaboutFriedrich;andhasleftconsiderablebitsofacridtestimonyonFriedrich,"clearwordsofanEye—witness,"mencallthem,——whicharestillreadbyeverybody;thesaidWalpole,andothers,havingsinceprintedthem,inverydarkcondition。[InWalpole,
GeorgetheSecond(i。448—461),thePieceswhichregardFriedrich。InSirCharlesHanburyWilliams’sWorks(editedbyadiligent,reverential,butignorantgentleman,whomIcouldguesstobeBooksellerJefferyinperson:
London,1822,3vols。small8vo)arewittyVerses,andconsiderablesectionsofProse,relatingtootherpersonsandobjectsnowratherofanobsoletenature。]BrevityismuchduetoHanburyandhistestimonies,sincesilenceinthecircumstancesisnotallowable。
HereisoneExcerpt,withthenecessarylightforreadingit:——……ItisonthisRomish—Kingandotherthelikechimericalerrands,thatwittyHanbury,thenamuchmoreadmirablemanthanwenowfindhim,isprowlingaboutintheGermanCourts,offandon,forsometenyearsinall,sixofthemstilltocome。Asharp—eyedman,ofshrewishquality;giventointriguing,tospying,tobribing;anxioustowinhisDiplomaticgamebyeverymethod,thoughthestake(ashere)isoftenestzero:withfatalproclivitytoScandal,andwhatinLondoncircleshehasheardcalledWit。
Littleornothingofreallaughterinthesoulofhim,atanytime;
onlyalaboredcontinualgrin,alwaysofmaliciousnature,andmuchtroubleandjerkingabout,tokeepthatup。Hadevidentlysomemodicumofrealintellect,ofcapacityforbeingwise;butnowhasfatallydevoteditnearlyalltobeingwitty,onthosepoorterms!
Aperverse,barren,spitefullittlewretch;thegrinofhimgenerallyanaffliction,atthisdate。HisDiplomaticCorrespondenceIdonotknow。[NothingofhimisdiscoverableintheState—PaperOffice。ManyofhisPapers,itwouldseem,areintheEarlofEssex’shands;——andmightbeofsomeHistoricaluse,notofverymuch,couldtheBritishMuseumgetpossessionofthem。
AbundanceofBACKSTAIRSHistory,onthoseNorthernCourts,especiallyonPetersburg,andWarsaw—Dresden,——authenticCourt—gossip,generallymalicious,oftennottrue,butnevermendaciousonthepartofWilliams,——isonelikelyitem。]HedidagreatdealofDiplomaticbusiness,issuinginzero,ofwhichIhavesometimeslongedtoknowtheexactdates;seldomanythingfarther。
His"HistoryofPoland,"transmittedtotheRightHon。HenryFox,byinstalmentsfromDresden,in1748,is[SeeHanbury’sWorks,vol。iii。]——Well,IshouldbeobligedtocallitworthierofGoodyTwo—ShoesthanofthatRightHon。Henry,whowasamanofparts,butevidentlyquiteavacuumonthePolishside!
OfHanbury’sNews—LettersfromForeignCourts,fourorfive,incidentallyprinted,arelikethecontentsofaslop—pail;
uncomfortabletothedelicatemind。NotliesonthepartofHanbury,butfoolishscandalpouredintohim;amanmorefilledwithcredulousincrediblescandal,evilrumors,ofmalfeasancesbykingsandmagnates,thanmostpeopleknown。HisrumoredmysteriesbetweenpoorPolishMajestyandprettyDaughter—in—law(thelatteracleverandgracefulcreature,DaughterofthelateunfortunateKaiser,andadistinguishedCorrespondentofFriedrich’s)aretoberegardedasmerepoisonedwind。[SeeHanbury’sWorks,ii。209—240。]That"PolishMajestygetsintohisdressing—
gownattwointheafternoon"(inaccessiblethenceforth,poorlazycreature),onemostreadilybelieves;butthere,orprettymuchthere,one’sbeliefhastostop。Thestories,inWALPOLE,ontheKingofPrussia,haveagrainoffactinthem,twistedintohugeirrecognizablecaricatureintheWilliamsoptic—machinery。
Muchelseonecandiscerntobe,inessence,falsealtogether。
Friedrich,whocouldnotstandthatintriguing,spying,shrewish,unfriendlykindoffellowathisCourt,appliedtoEnglandinnotmanymonthshence,andgotWilliamssentaway:["22dJanuary,1751"
(MS。LISTinState—PaperOffice)。]ontoRussia,orIforgetwhither;——whichdidnotmendtheHanburyoptical—machineryonthatside。Thedull,tobacco—smokingSaxon—PolishMajesty,aboutwhomheidlyretailssomanyscandals,hadneverdonehimanyoffence。
Onthewhole,ifanybodywantedaswimintheslop—pailsofthatextinctgeneration,Hanbury,couldhefindanEditortomakehimlegible,mightbeprinted。Forhereallywasdeepinthatslop—pailorextinct—scandaldepartment,andhadheardagreatmanythings。
Apartfromthat,inalmostanyotherdepartment,——exceptinsofarasheseemstoDATErathercarefully,——Icouldnotrecommendhim。
TheLettersandExcerptsgiveninWalpolearedefinableasonepennyworthofbread,——muchruinedbysuchimmersion,butveryharmlessotherwise,couldyoupickitoutandcleanit,——totwentygallonsofHanburysherris—sack,orchamber—slop。Ihavefoundnothingthatseemstobe,inallpoints,trueorprobable,butthis;worthcuttingout,andrenderinglegible,onotheraccounts。
HanburyLOQUITUR(incondensedform):
"Inthesummeroflastyear,1749,therewas,somewhereinMahren,agreatAustrianMusterorReview;"allthemoreinteresting,asitwasbelieved,orknown,thatthePrussianmethodsandmanoeuvreswerenowtobetheruleforAustria。NotmuchofaReviewotherwise,thisof1749;Empress—QueenandHusbandnotpersonallythere,asincomingYearstheyarewonttobe;thathighLadybeingardenttoreformherArmy,rootandbranch,accordingtothePrussianmodel,——morepraisetoher。[MariaTheresiensLeben,p。160(whatshedidthatway,ANNO1749);
p。162(PRESENTattheReviews,ANNO1750)。]"AtthisMusterinMahren,ThreePrussianOfficershappenedtomaketheirappearance,——forseveralimaginablereasons,oflittlesignificance:’Forthepurposeofinveiglingpeopletodesert,andenlistwiththem!’saidtheAustrianAuthorities;andorderedtheThreePrussianOfficersunceremoniouslyofftheground。WhichFriedrich,whenheheardofit,thoughtanunhandsomepipe—clayprocedure,andkeptinmindagainsttheAustrianAuthorities。
"NextSummer,"nextSpring,1750,"anAustrianCaptainbeinginMecklenburg,travellingabout,metthereanoldacquaintance,oneChapeau[HAT!canitbepossible?],whoisingreatfavorwiththeKingofPrussia:"——verywell,ExcellencyHanbury;butwho,inthenameofwonder,canthisHAT,orChapeau,havebeen?Afterstudy,oneperceivesthatHanburywroteChazeau,meaningCHASOT,anoldacquaintanceofourown!Brilliant,sabring,melodyingChasot,Lieutenant—ColoneloftheBaireuthDragoons;wholiesatTreptow,closeonMecklenburg,andisadeclaredfavoriteoftheDuchess,oftenrunningovertotheRESIDENZthere。Oftenenough;butHONI
SOIT,Oreader;thecleverLadyistowardssixty,childless,musical;andherHusband——doreadersrecollecthimatall?——isthatcollapsedTAILORINGDukewhomFriedrichoncevisited,——andwhoseNiece,Half—Niece,isCharlotte,wiselittlehard—favoredcreaturenowofsix,incleanbibandtucker,AncestressofEnglandthatistobe;whosePapawillsucceed,iftheSereneTailordiefirst,——
whichhedidnotquite。TothisDuchess,musicalgallantChasotmaywellbearesource,andshetohim。NaturallytheAustrianCaptain,havingcometoMecklenburg,dinedwithSereneHighness,heandChasottogether,withconcertfollowing,andwhatnot,attheSchlossofNeu—Strelitz:——Andnowwewilldropthe’Chapeau,’andsayChasot,withcomfort,andashadeofnewinterest。
"’ThegrandMayReviewatBerlinjustahead,won’tyoulookin;
itisstraightonyourroadhome?’suggestsChasottohistravellingfriend。’Onewouldlikeit,ofallthings,’answeredtheother:’buttheKing?’’Tush,’saidChasot;’Iwillmakethatallstraight!’AndappliestotheKingaccordingly:’PermissiontoanAustrianOfficer,agoodacquaintanceofmine。’’AustrianOfficer?’
Friedrich’seyeslighten;andhereadilygivesthepermission。
ThiswasatBerlin,ontheveryeveoftheReview;andChasotandhisAustrianaremadehappyinthatsmallmatter。Andonthemorrow[endofMay,1750],theAustrianattendsaccordingly;but,tohisastonishment,hashardlybeguntotastethemanoeuvres,when——oneofFriedrich’sAides—de—Campgallopsup:’BytheKing’scommand,MeinHerr,youretireontheinstant!’
"Nextday,theAustrianisforchallengingChasot。’Asyoulike,thatway,’answersChasot;’butlearnfirst,thatonyouraffrontI
rodeuptotheKing;andasked,publicly,DidnotyourMajestygrantmepermission?Unquestionably,MonsieurChasot;——andifhehadnotcome,howcouldIhavepaidbacktheMoravianbusinessoflastyear!’"[Walpole,GeorgetheSecond,
i。457,459。]——ThisismuchinFriedrich’sway;nottheunwelcomerthatitincludesasatiricaltwitchonChasot,whomhetrulylikeswithal,ordidlike,thoughnowalittledissatisfiedwiththosetoofrequentMecklenburgexcursionsandextra—militarycares。
Ofthis,merelysqueezingtheHanburyvenomoutofit,Icanbelieveeveryparticular。
"Didyoueverhearofanythingsoshocking?"isHanbury’smeaninghereandelsewhere。"ImusttellyouastoryoftheKingofPrussia’sregardfortheLawofNations,"continueshetoWalpole?
[Ib。i。458。]Whichprovestobeastory,turnedtopsy—turvy,ofoneHofmann,BrunswickEnvoy,who(quiteBEYONDcommission,andathingthatmustnotbethoughtofatall!)hadbeendetectedindangerousintriguingswiththeever—busyRussianExcellency,oranother;andgotflungintoSpandau,[Adelung,v。534;
vii。132—144。]——seeminglyprettymuchhisdueinthematter。AndsoofotherHanburythings。"WhataPrussia;forrigorofcommand,onehugeprison,inamanner!"Kingintentonpunctuality,andallhisbusinessuponthesquare。Society,officialandunofficial,keptratherstrictlytotheirtackle;theirmodeofmovementnotthatoflooseoxenatall!"SuchadetestableTyrant,"——whohasorderedME,Hanbury,else—whitherwithmyexquisitetalentsandadmiredwit!——
CANDIDATUSLINSENBARTH(QUASI"Lentil—beard")LIKEWISE
VISITSBERLIN。
ByfarthenotablestarrivalinBerlinisM。deVoltaire’sJuly10th;afewdaysbeforeHanburygothisFirstAudience,"fiveminuteslong。"ButthatarrivalwillrequireaChaptertoitself;
——mostimportantarrival,that,ofall!Theleastimportant,again,isprobablythatofCandidatusLinsenbarth,inthesesameweeks;——
aruggedpoverty—strickenoldLicentiateofTheology;importanttonomortalinBerlinorelsewhere:——uponwhom,however,anduponhisproceduresinthatCity,wepropose,forourownobjects,tobestowafewglances;ruggedNarrativeofthething,insingularexoticdialect,buttrueeveryword,havingfortunatelycometousfromLinsenbarth’sownhand。[ThroughRodenbeck,Beitrage,i。463etseq。]
Berlin,itmustbeadmitted,afterallone’sreadinginpoorDryasdust,remainsadimemptyobject;Teutschlandisdimandempty:andoutofthefortyblindsacks,oroutoffourhundredsuch,whatpicturecananyhumanheadformtoitselfofFriedrichasKingorMan?AtriflingAdventureofthatpoorindividual,calledLinsenbarthCANDIDATUSTHEOLOGIAE,oneofthepoorestofmortals,buttrueandcredibleineveryparticular,comesglidingbychanceathwartallthat;andliketheglimmerofapoorrushlight,orkindledstraw,showsitusformoments,athingvisible,palpable,asitworkedandlived。Inthegreatdearth,Linsenbarth,ifIcanfaithfullyinterprethimforthemodernreader,willbeworthattendingto。
DateofLinsenbarth’sAdventureisJune—August,1750。"SchlossofBeichlingen"and"VillageofHemmleben"areintheThuringenHillCountry(Weimarnotfarofftoeastward):theHerohimself,atallawkwardraw—bonedcreature,is,forperhapsnearfortyyearspast,aCANDIDATUS,sayLicentiate,orCuratewithoutCure。Subsists,I
shouldguess,byschoolmastering——cheapestschoolmasterconceivable,wagesmerenothing——intheVillagesabout;intheVillageofHemmlebenlatterly;age,asIdiscover,growntobesixty—one,inthosestraitenedbutbynomeansforlorncircumstances。Andso,hereisveteranLinsenbarthofHemmleben,akindofThuringianDominieSampson;whoseInterviewwithsuchabrothermortalasFriedrichKingofPrussiamaybeworthlookingat,——ifIcanabridgeitproperly。
Well,itappears,intheyear1750,atthisthrice—obscureVillageofHemmleben,theworthyoldpastorCannabichdied;——worthyoldman,howhehadlivedthere,modestlystudious,frugal,chieflyonfarm—produce,withtobaccoandDutchtheology;amodestblessingtohisfellow—creatures!Andnowheisdead,andtheplacevacant。
TwentypoundsaYearcertain;letusguessittwenty,withglebe—
land,piggeries,poultry—hutches:whoisnowtogetallthat?
LinsenbarthstartswithhisNarrative,inearnest。
Linsenbarth,whoIguessmayhavebeenAssistanttothedeceasedCannabich,andwasnowoutofwork,says:"Ihadnottheleastthoughtofprofitingbythisvacancy;butwhathappened?TheHerrGrafvonWerthern,atSchlossBeichlingen,senthisSteward[LEHNSDIRECTOR,FIEF—DIRECTORisthetitleofthisSteward,whichgivesrisetoobsoletethoughtofmill—dues,road—labor,paymentsINNATURA],hisLehnsdirector,HerrKettenbeil,overtomyLOGIS
[cheapboardingquarters];whobroughtagracioussalutationfromhisLord;sayingfarther,ThatIknewtoowell[excellentCannabichgonefromus,alas!]thePastorateofHemmlebenwasvacant;
thattherehadvariouscompetitorsannouncedthemselves,SUPPLICANDO,fortheplace;theHerrGraf,however,hadyetgivennoneofthemtheFIAT,butwaitedalwaystillIshouldapply。AsI
hadnotdoneso,he(theLordGraf)wouldnowofhisownmotiongivemethepreference,andherebyconferthePastorateuponme!"——
"Withoutallcontroversy,herewasaVOCATIODIVINA,tobereceivedwiththemostsubmissivethanks!Butthelamesecondmessengercamehitchingin[HALTINGMESSENGER,Germanproverb]verysoon。
Kettenbeilbeganagain:’HemustmentiontomeSUBROSA,HerLadyshiptheFrauGrafinwantedtohaveherLady’s—maidprovidedforbythispromotion,too;Imustmarryher,andtakethelivingatthesametime。’"
Whew!AndthisisthenobleLady’swayofthinking,upinherfineSchlossyonder?Linsenbarthwillnoneofit。"Formynotionfellatonce,"sayshe,"whenIhearditwasDOUTFACIAS,FACIOUTFACIAS
(Igivethatthoumayestdo,Idothatthoumayestdo;Wilthavethekirk,thentaketheirk,WILLSTDUDIEPFARRE,SONIMMDIE
QUARRE);onthoseterms,myreplywas:’Mostrespectfulthanks,HerrFief—judge,andNo,forsuchavocation!Andwhy?ThevocationmusthaveLIBERTATEM,theremustbenoVITIUMESSENTIALEinit;
itmustberightINESSENTIALI,otherwisenohonestmancanacceptitwithagoodconscience。Thiswereamarriageonconstraint;
outofwhichathousandINCONVENIENTIAEmightspring!’"
HearLinsenbarth,inthepiebalddialect,withthesoundheart,andpreferenceofstarvationitselftosomeotherthings!Kettenbeil(CHAIN—AXE)wenthome;andtherewasfoundanotherCandidatuswillingforthemarriageonconstraint,"outofwhichINCONVENIENTIAEmightspring,"inLinsenbarth’sopinion。
"Andsodidthesneakishcourtlygentleman[HOFMANN,courtierasLinsenbarthhasit],whograspedwithbothhandsatmyrejectedoffer,experiencebeforelong,"continuesLinsenbarth。"Fortheloosethingofcourt—tattersledhimsuchalifethat,withinthreeyears,ageyetonlythirty,hehadtobitethedust"(BITEATTHE
GRASS,saysLinsenbarth,proverbially),whichwasanINCONVENIENTIA
includingallothers。"AndIhadLEGITIMAMCAUSAMtorefusethevocationCUMTALICONDITIONE。
"However,itwasveryilltakenofme。AlloverthatThuringianregionIwascriedoutuponasaheadstrongfoolishperson:
TheHerrGrafvonWerthern,soranthestory,hadofhisownkindness,withoutrequestofmine,offeredmealiving;RARAAVIS,singularinstance;andI,rashandwithouthead,flungawaysuchgraciousoffer。Inshort,Iwastoldtomyface[bygood—naturedfriends],Nobodywouldeverthinkofmeforpromotionagain;"——
universalsuffragegivingitclearagainstpoorLinsenbarth,inthisway。