FRIDAYMORNING,JUNE1st)"hisExcellencyandSuite"(VoltaireandCollini)havetheirhorsesharnessed,carriageout,andareabouttakingtheroadagain,——whenFreytag,escortedbyaDr。Rucker,"FrankfurtMagistrateDEMAUVAISEMINE,"[Collini,p。77。]andaPrussianrecruitingLieutenant,presentshimselfinVoltaire’sapartment!ReadersknowVoltaire’saccountandMonSIRCollini’s;
andmaynowhearFreytag’sown,whichispaintedfromfact:——
"Introductorycivilitiesdone(NACHGEMACHTENPOLITESSEN),ImadehimacquaintedwiththewillofyourmostAll—graciousMajesty。
Hewasmuchastonished(BESTURZT,"nowonder);"heshuthiseyes,andflunghimselfbackinhischair。"[Varnhagen,p。16。]CallsinhisfriendCollini,whom,atfirst,Ihadrequestedtowithdraw。
Twocoffersareproduced,andopened,byCollini;visitation,punctual,longandpainful,lastedfromnineA。M。tillfiveP。M。
Packetsaremade,——agreatmanyPapers,"andonePoemwhichhewasunwillingtoquit"(perilousLAPUCELLE);——inventoriesaredrawn,dulysigned。Packetsaresigneted,mutuallysealed,RuckerclapsontheTown—sealfirst,FreytagandVoltairefollowingwiththeirs。
"HemadethousandprotestationsofhisfidelitytoyourMajesty;
becameprettyweak[likefainting,thinkyou,HerrResident?],andindeedhelookslikeaskeleton。——WethenmadedemandoftheBook,OEUVREDEPOESIES:That,hesaid,wasintheBigCase;andheknewnotwhetheratLeipzigorHamburg"(knewverywellwhereitwas);
andfindingnothingelsewoulddo,wroteforit,showingFreytagtheLetter;andengaged,onhiswordofhonor,nottostirhencetillitarrived。
Uponwhich,——whatisfarthertobenoted,thoughallseemsnowsettled,——Freytag,atVoltaire’searnestentreaty,"forbehoofofMadameDenis,abelovedNiece,Monsieur,whoiswaitingformehourlyatStrasburg,whomsuchfrightmightbethedeathof!"——putsonpaperafewwords(thefewwhichVoltairehastwistedinto"MonSIR,""PoesHies"andsoforth),totheeffect,"ThatwhenevertheOEUVREcomes,Voltaireshallactuallyhaveleavetogo。"
Andso,aftereighthours,labor(nineA。M。tofiveP。M。),everythingishushedagain。Voltaire,muchshockedandastonished,poorsoul,"sitsquietlydowntohisANNALES"(saysCollini),——toworking,moreorless;aresourceheoftenfliesto,insuchcases。
MadameDenis,onreceivinghisbadnewsatStrasburg,setsofftowardshim:arrivessomedaysbeforetheOEUVREanditsBigCase。
KingFriedrichhadgone,May1st)forsomeweeks,tohisSilesianReviews;June1st(verydayofthisgreatsortingintheLiond’Or),heisoffagain,toutmostPrussiathistime;——andknows,hithertoandtillquitetheend,nothing,exceptthatVoltairehasnotturnedupanywhere……VoltairecannothavedonemuchathisANNALS,inthisinterimattheGoldenLion,"wherehehaslibertytowalkintheGarden。"
Hehasbeen,andis,secretlycorresponding,complainingandapplying,allround,atagreatrate:toCountStadiontheImperialExcellencyatMainz,toFrenchfriends,toPrincessWilhelmina,ultimatelytoFriedrichhimself。[InOEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxv。207—214,&c。,LetterstoStadion(ofstrangeenoughtenor:seeVarnhagen,pp。30,&c。)。InOEuvresdeFrederic,xxii。303,andinOEuvresdeVoltaire,lxxv。185,istheLettertoFriedrich(dateless,totallymisplaced,andrenderedunintelligible,inbothWorks):LetterSENTthroughWilhelmina(seeherfineremarksinforwardingit,OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。
iii。234)。]Hehasbeenreceivingvisits,fromSereneHighnesses,"DukeofMeiningen"andthelike,whohappentobeinTown。
VisitfrominiquitousDutchBookseller,VanDuren(PrinteroftheANTI—MACHIAVEL);withwhomwehadsuchcontroversyonce。
Iniquitous,nowopulentandprosperous,VanDuren,happeningtobehere,willhavethepleasureofcallingonanolddistinguishedfriend:distinguishedfriend,atsightofhimenteringtheGarden,stepshastilyup,giveshimaboxontheear,withoutwordsbutaninterjectionortwo;andvanisheswithindoors。Thatissomething!
"Monsieur,"saidCollini,strivingtoweep,butunable,"youhavehadablowfromthegreatestmanintheworld。"[Collini,p。182。]
Inshort,VoltairehasbeenexcitinggreatsensationinFrankfurt;
andkeepingFreytaginperpetualfearandtrouble。
MONDAY,18thJUNE,theBigCase,lumberingalong,doesarrive。
ItiscarriedstraighttoFreytag’s;andateleveninthemorning,Collinieagerlyattendstohaveitopened。Freytag,——towhomSchmidthasreturnedfromEmbden,butnoAnswerfromPotsdam,ortheleastlightaboutthoseSKRIPTUREN,——isinthedepthsofembarrassment;cannotopen,tillheknowcompletelywhatitemsandSKRIPTURENheistomakesureofonopening:"Icannot,tilltheKing’sanswercome!"——"ButyourwrittenpromisetoVoltaire?"
"Tush,thatwasmyownprivatepromise,Monsieur;myownprivatepredictionofwhatwouldhappen;athingPROFORMA",andtosaveMadameDenis’slife。Patience;perhapsitwillarrivethisveryday。ComeagaintomeatthreeP。M。;——thereisBerlinposttoday;
thenagaininthreedays:——IsurelyexpecttheOrderwillcomebythispostornext;Godgrantitmaybebythis!"Colliniattendsatthree;thereisNotefromFredersdorf:King’sMajestyabsentinPreussenallthiswhile;expectednowintwodays。Freytag’sfacevisiblybrightens:"Waittillnextpost;threedaysmore,onlywait!"[Varnhagen,pp。39—41。]Andinfact,bynextpost,aswefind,theOPEN—SESAMEdidpunctuallycome。Voltaire,andallthisbigcawingrookeryofmiseriesandrages,wouldhaveatoncetakenwingagain,intothesereneblue,couldVoltairebuthavehadpatiencethreedaysmore!Butthatwasdifficultforhim,tooDifficult。
PARTII。VOLTAIRE,INSPITEOFHISEFFORTS,DOESGETAWAY
(June20th—July7th)。
WEDNESDAY,JUNE20th,VoltaireandCollini("word。ofhonor"fallendubioustothem,dubiousormore),——havmglaidtheirplan,strivingtothinkitfairinthecircumstances,——walkoutfromtheLiond’Or,"Voltaireinblack—velvetcoat,"[Ib。p。46。]withtheirvaluablesteffects(LAPUCELLEandmoney—boxincluded);leavingMadameDenistowaitthedisimprisonmentofOEUVREDEPOESIEandwindupthegeneralbusiness。Walkout,verygingerly,——duckintoahackney—coach;andattempttoescapebytheMainzGate!
Freytag’sspyrunsbreathlesswiththenews;neverwasaFreytaginsuchtaking。TerrifiedFreytaghasto"throwonhiscoat;"
orderoutthreementogallopbyvariousroutes;jumpintosomeExcellency’scoach(kindExcellencylentit),whichisluckilystandingyokednearby;andshootwiththevelocityoflifeanddeathtowardsMainzGate。Voltaire,whomthewell—affectedPorter,suspectingsomething,hasratherbeenretarding,isstillthere:
"Arrested,intheKing’sname!"——andthereissuchascene!
ForFreytag,too,isnowraging,ignitedbysuchpercussionoftheterrors;andspeaks,notlikewhattheycall"alearnedsergeant",butlikeadrilledsergeantinheatofbattle:Vol—taire’stongue,also,andCollini’s,——"YourExcellenzneverheardsuchbrazen—facedliesthrownonaman;thatIhadoffered,for1,000thalers,toletthemgo;thatIhad"——Inshort,thethinghascaughtfire;brokenintoflamingchaosagain。
"Freytag[togiveonesnatchfromCollini’sside]gotintothecarriagealongwithus,andledus,inthisway,acrossthemobofpeopletoSchmidt’s[toseewhatwastobedonewithus]。
Sentrieswereputatthegatetokeepoutthemob;weareledintoakindofcounting—room;clerk,maid—andman—servantsareabout;
MadamSchmidtpassesbeforeVoltairewithadisdainfulair,tolistentoFreytag,recounting,"inthetonenotofaLEARNED
sergeant,whatthematteris。Theyseizeoureffects;underviolentprotest,worsethanvain。"Voltairedemandstohaveatleasthissnuffbox,cannotdowithoutsnuff;theyanswer,’Itisusualtotakeeverything。’
"His,"Voltaire’s,"eyesweresparklingwithfury;fromtimetotimeheliftedthemonmine,asiftointerrogateme。Allonasudden,noticingadoorhalfopen,hedashesthroughit,andisout。MadamSchmidtformshersquad,shopmenandthreemaid—
servants;and,attheirhead,rushesafter。’What?’crieshe,(cannotIbeallowedto——tovomit,then?’"Theyformcircleroundhim,tillhedoit;calloutCollini,whofindshim"bentdown,withhisfingersinhisthroat,attemptingtovomit;andisterrified;’MONDIEU,areyouill,then?’Heansweredinalowvoice,tearsinhiseyes,’FINGO,FINGO(Ipretend,’"andCollinileadshimback,REINFECTA。"TheAuthoroftheHENRIADEandMEROPE;
whataspectacle![Collini,pp。81,86。]……Notfortwohourshadtheydonewiththeirwritingsandarrangings。OurportfoliosandCASSETTE(money—box)werethrownintoanemptytrunk[whatelsecouldtheybethrowninto?]——whichwaslockedwithapadlock,andsealedwithapaper,Voltaire’sarmsontheoneend,andSchmidt’scipherontheother。Dorn,Freytag’sClerk,wasbiddenleadusaway。SignoftheBOUC"(orBILLY—GOAT;therehenceforth;LIOND,OR
refusingtobeconcernedwithusfarther);twelvesoldiers;
MadameDeniswithcurtainsofbayonets,——andotherwell—knownflagrancies……The7thofJuly,Voltairedidactuallygo;
andtheninanextremehurry,——byhisownblame,again。Thesefinalpassageswetouchonlyinthelump;Voltaire’sownNarrativeofthesebeingsocopious,flaminglyimpressive,andstillknowntoeverybody。HowmuchbetterforVoltaireandus,hadnobodyeverknownit;haditneverbeenwritten;hadthepoorhubbub,nobetterthanachancestreet—riotallofit,afteramusingoldFrankfurtforawhile,beenlefttodropintotheguttersforever!
ToVoltaireandvariousothers(meandmypoorreadersincluded),thatwasthedesirablething。
Hadtherebutbeen,amongone’sresources,alittlepatienceandpracticalcandor,insteadofallthatvituperativeeloquenceandpoweroftragi—comicdescription!Nay,inthatcase,thiswretchedstreet—riothubbubneednothavebeenatall。TrulyM。deVoltairehadatalentforspeech,butlamentablywantedthatofsilence!——
WehavenowonlythesaddutyofpointingouttheprincipalmendacitiescontainedinM。deVoltaire’sworld—famousAccount(fortheothersidehasbeenheardsincethat);andsoofquittingapainfulbusiness。Theprincipalmendacities——deductingallthatabout"POE’ShIE"andthelike,whichwewilldefineaspoeticfiction——are:——
1。Thatoftheconsiderablefilesofsoldiers(almostaCompanyofMusketeers,onewouldthink)stuckuproundM。deVoltaireandParty,inTHEBILLY—GOAT;MadameDenis’sbed—curtainsbeingascreenofbayonets,andthelike。TheexactnumberofsoldiersI
cannotlearn:"aSCHILDWACHEoftheTown—guard[meansone;
surelydoesnotmeanFour?]foreachprisoner,"reportsthearithmeticalFreytag;which,intheextremecase,wouldhavebeentwelveinwhole(asCollinigivesit);and"nextdaywereducedthemtotwo",saysFreytag。
2。ThatoftheotherwisefrightfulnightMadameDenishad;
"thefellowDorn[Freytag’sClerk,apoor,hard—workedfrugalcreature,withfrugalwifeandfamilynotfaroff]insistingtositintheLady’sbedroom;thereemptyingbottleafterbottle;nayatlast[asVoltairebethinkshim,afterafewdays]threateningto"——
PlainlytoEXCELallbelief!Athingnottobespokenofpublicly:
indeed,whatLadycouldspeakofitatall,exceptinhintstoanUncleofadvancedyears?——Provedfactbeing,thatMadameDenis,allinaflutter,thatfirstnightatTHEBILLY—GOAT,hadengagedDorn,"foralouis—d’or,"tositinherbedroom;anddidactuallypayhimalouis—d’orfordoingso!Thisisverybadmendacity;
clearlyconsciousonM。deVoltaire’spart,andevenconstructedbydegrees。
3。VerybadalsoisthatofthemoneysstolenfromhimbythoseOfficialpeople。M。deVoltaireknowswellenoughhowhefailedtogethismoneys,andquittedFrankfurtinahurry!Here,inexorablycertainfromtheDocuments,andtestimoniesonbothparts,isthatfinalPassageofthelongFire—work:lastcrackleoftherocketbeforeitdroppedperpendicular:——
JULY6th,completeOPEN—SESAMEhavingcome,FreytagandSchmidtdulyinvitedVoltairetobepresentattheopeningofseals(hisandtheirs),andtohavehismoneysandeffectsreturnedfromthat"oldtrunk"hespeaksof。ButVoltairehadbythistimetakenahigherflight。July6th,VoltairewasprotestingbeforeNotaries,abouttheunheard—ofviolencedonehim,thesignalreparationsdue;
anddisdained,forthemoment,toconcernhimselfwithmoneysoropeningofseals:"Seals,moneys?YeatrociousHighwaymen!"
Uponwhich,theysentpoorDornwiththesealedtrunkinCORPORE,tohaveitopenedbyVoltairehimself。Collini,inTHEBILLY—GOAT,nextmorning(July7th))says,he(Collini)hadjustloadedtwojourney—pistols,partoftheusualcarriage—furniture,andtheylayonthetable。AtsightofpoorDorndarkeninghischamber—door,Voltaire,thepreyofvariousflurriesandhigh—flownvehemences,snatchedoneofthepistols("pistolwithoutpowder,withoutflint,withoutlock,"saysVoltaire;"efficientpistoljustloaded",testifiesCollini);——snatchedsaidpistol;andclickingittothecock,plungedDorn—ward,withfuriousexclamations:notquiteunlikelytohaveshotDorn(inthefleshyparts),——hadnotCollinihurriedlystruckuphishand,"MONDIEU,MONSIEUR!"andDorn,withtrunk,instantlyvanished。Dorn,naturally,rantoaLawyer。
Voltaire,dreadingTrialforintendedHomicide,instantlygatheredhimself;andshotaway,selfandPucellewithCollini,clearoff;——
leavingNieceDenis,leavingmoneysandotherthings,towaittillto—morrow,andsettleastheycould。
Afterduelapseofdays,intheduelegalmanner,theTrunkwasopened;"the19poundsofexpenses"(19poundsandoddshillings,not100poundsormore,asVoltairevariouslygivesit)wasaccuratelytakenfromitbySchmidtandFreytag,tobepaidwheredue,——(inexactliquidation,"LandlordofTHEBILLY—GOAT"somuch,"Hackney—Coachmen,RidingConstablessentinchase,"somuch,asperbill);——andtherest,76pounds10s。waspunctuallylockedupagain,tillVoltaireshouldapplyforit。"Senditafterhim,"
Friedrichanswered,wheninquiredof;"senditafterhim;butnot[reflectshe]unlessthereissomebodytotakehisReceiptforit,"——ourgentlemanbeingthemanheis。Whichcase,oranyapplicationfromVoltaire,neverturnedup。"RobbedbythosehighwaymenofPrussianAgents!"exclaimedVoltaireeverywhere,insteadofapplying。Neverapplied;noreverforgot。WouldfainhaveengagedCollinitoapply,——especiallywhentheFrenchArmieshadgotintoFrankfurt,——butCollinididnotseehisway。
[ThreeLetterstoCollinionthesubject(January—May,1759),Collini,pp。208—211。]
Sothat,exceptasconsolatoryscolding—stockfortherestofhislife,Voltairegotnothingofhis76pounds10s。,"withjewelsandsnuffbox,"alwayslyingreadyintheTrunkforhim。Andithad,I
suppose,atthelonglast,togobyRIGHTOFWINDFALLtosomebodyorother:——unless,perhaps,itstilllie,overwhelmedunderdustandlumber,inthegarretsoftheoldRathhausyonder,waitingforalegalowner?Whatbecameofit,nomanknows;butthatnodoitofiteverwentFreytag’sorKingFriedrich’sway,isabundantlyevident。Onthewhole,whatanentertainingNarrativeisthatofVoltaire’s;butwhatapityhehadeverwrittenit!
ThiswasthefinishingCatastrophe,tragicalexceedingly;
whichwentloud—soundingthroughtheworld,andstillgoes,——themoreisthepity。Catastropheduethroughouttothreecauses:
FIRST,ThatFredersdorf,notEichel,wrotetheOrder;
andintroducedtheindefinitephraseSKRIPTUREN,insteadofstickingbytheOEUVREDEPOESIES,theoneessentialpoint。
SECOND,ThatFreytagwasofheavypipe—claynature。THIRD,ThatVoltairewasofimpatientexplosrvenature;and,incalamities,waswont,nottobesilentandconsider,buttoliftuphisvoice(havingsuchavoice),andwithpassionatemelodyappealtotheUniverse,anddoworse,bywayofhelpinghimself!——
"ThepoorVoltaire,afterall!"ejaculatesSmelfungus。"Lean,ofnohealth,butmelodiousextremely(inashallowsense);andtrulyverylonely,oldandweak,inthisworld。WhatanendtoVisitFifth;beganinOlympus,terminatesintheLock—up!Hisconduct,exceptintheJewCase,hasnothingofbad,atleastofunprovokedlybad。’Lostmyteeth,’saidhe,whenthingswereatzenith。’ThoughtIshouldneverweepagain,’——nowwhentheyareatnadir。Asoreblowtoone’sVanity,inpresenceofassembledmankind;andmadestillmorepoignantbynoisesofone’sownadding。Franceforbiddentohim[byexpressivesignallings];
miraculousGoshenofPrussiashut:(theseoldeyes,whichIthoughtwouldcontinuedrytilltheyclosedforever,werestreamingintears;’"[Letterfrom"Mainz,9thJuly,"thirddayofroutorflight;ToNieceDenis,leftbehind(OEuvres,
lxxv。220)。]——butsoonbrightenedupagain:Courage!
HowVoltairenowwandersaboutforseveralyears,doinghisANNALES,andotherWorks;nowvisitingLyonCity(whichisallinGAUDEAMUSroundhim,thoughCardinalTencindoesdeclinehimasdinner—guest);nowlodgingwithDomCalmetintheAbbeyofSenones(ultimatelyinone’sownfirst—floor,inColmarnearby),digging,inCalmet’sBenedictineLibraries,stuffforhisANNALES;——
wanderingabout(chieflyinElsass,latterlyontheSwissBorder),tillhefindrestforthesoleofhisfoot:[PurchasedLESDELICES
(TheDelights),ashenamedit,agloriousSummerResidence,ontheLake,nearGeneva(supplementedbyaWinterditto,MONRION,nearLausanne),"inFebrnary,1755"(OEuvres,
xvii。243n。);——thenpurchasedFERNEY,notfaroff,"inOctober,1758;"andcontinuedthere,stillmoreglorious,foralmosttwentyyearsthenceforth(ib。lxxvii。398,xxxix。307:thanktheexact"Clog。"forboththeseNotes)。]allthismaybeknowntoreaders;
andwemustsaynothingofit。Exceptonlythat,nextyear,inhistent,orhiredlodgingsatColmar,theAngelsvisitedhim(Abraham—
like,afterasort)。Namely,thatoneevening(lateinOctober,1754),aknockcametohisdoor,"HerSereneHighnessofBaireuthwishestoseeyou,attheInnoverthere!""Inn,Baireuth,sayyou?
Heavens,what?"——Or,totakeitintheproseform:——
"January26th,1753,abouteightP。M。[whileVoltairesatdesolateinFrancheville’s,faraway],thePalaceatBaireuth,——Margrafwithcandleatanopenwindow,andgauzecurtainsnear——hadcaughtfire;
inexorablyflamedup,andburntitselftoashes,itandotherfineedificesadjoining。[Holle,STADTBAYREUTH(Bayreuth,1833),p。178。]Wilhelminaisalwaysveryillinhealth;theyarenowrebuildingtheirPalace:Margrafhassuggested,’WhynottryMontpellier;letushaveawinterthere!’Onthaterrandtheyare(endofOctober,1754)gotthelengthofColmar;anddotheVoltairemiracleinpassing。Verycharmingtothepoorman,inhisrusticationhere。
"’Eighthoursinapiece,withtheSisteroftheKingofPrussia"
writeshe:thinkofthat,myfriends!’Sheloadedmewithbounties;
mademeamostbeautifulpresent。InsistedtoseemyNiece;
wouldhavemegowiththemtoMontpellier。’[Letters(in
OEuvres,lxxv。450,452),"Colmar,23dOctober,&c。
1754。"]Otherinterviewsandmeetingstheyhad,thereandfartheron:VoltairetriedfortheMontpellier;butcouldnot。[WrotetoFriedrichaboutit(oneofhisfirstLettersaftertheExplosion),applyingtoFriedrich"foraPassport"orLetterofProtection;
whichFriedrichanswersbyDePrades,openlylaughingatit(OEuvres,xxiii。6)。]WilhelminawinteredatMontpellier,withoutVoltaire"Thankyourstars!’writesFriedrichtoher。TheFriedrich—WilhelminaLETTERSareattheirbestduringthisJourney;hereunfortunatelyveryfew)。[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。iii。248—273(September,1754,andonwards)。]Winterdone,WilhelminawentstillSouth,toItaly,toNaples,backbyVenice:——atNaples,undergoingtheGrottodelCaneandneighborhood,WilhelminapluckedaSprigofLaurelfromVirgil’sGrave,andsentittoherBrotherintheprettiestmanner;——ishomeatBaireuth,newPalaceready,August,1755。"
Thesepoints,hurriedlyputdown,carefulreaderswillmark,andperhapstrytokeepinmind。Wilhelmina’sTouringsarenotwithoutinteresttoherfriends。OfherVoltaireacquaintanceship,especially,weshallhearagain。WithVoltaire,FriedrichhimselfhadnofartherCorrespondence,orasgoodasnone,forfouryearsandmore。WhatVoltairewritestohim(withGiftsofBooksandthelike,inthetenderestregretfulpatheticallyCOOINGtone,enoughtomollifyrocks),FriedrichusuallyanswersbyDePrades,ifatall,——inaquitediscouragingmanner。Intheendof1757,onwhathintweshallsee,theCorrespondencerecommenced,anddidnotceaseagainsolongastheybothlived。
VoltaireatPotsdamisafailure,then。Nothingtobemadeofthat。
Lawisreformed;EmbdenhasitsShippingCompanies;
Industryflourishes:butastotheTrismegistusoftheMusescomingtoourHearth——!SomeEightofFriedrich’syearswerefilledbytheseThreegrandHeadsofEffort;perfectPeaceinallhisborders:andin1753weseehowthecelestialoneofthemhasgonetowreck。"Understandatlast,yourMajesty,thatthereisnoMuses’—HeavenpossibleonTelluricterms;andcastthatnotionoutofyourhead!"
Friedrichdoescastitout,moreandmore,henceforth,——"ACH,MEIN
LIEBERSULZER,whatwasyourknowledge,then,ofthatdamnedrace?"
Castsitout,weperceive,——andinahandsomesilentlystoicalway。
Cherishingnowrathinhisheartagainstanypoordevil;still,insomesort,lovingthisandtheotherofthem;Chasot,Algarotti,Voltaireeven,whohavegonefromhim,tooweakfortheplace:
"Tooweak,alas,yes;andI,wasIwisetotrythem,then?"Withafinehumanity,newhopeinextinguishablywellingup;reallywithaloyalty,amodesty,acheerybrothermanhoodunexpectedbyreaders。
EightoftheElevenPeaceYearsaregoneinthesecourses。Thenextthree,stillsilentandsmoothtotheoutwardeye,weredefacedbysubterraneanmutterings,electricheraldsofcomingstorm。
"Meaningbattleandwrestleagain?"thinksFriedrich,listeningintent。AfarotherthanwelcomemessagetoFriedrich。Amessageominous;thriceunwelcome,nottosayterrible。Requirestobescannedwithallone’sfaculty;tobeinterpreted;tobeobeyed,inspiteofone’sreluctancesandlazinesses。ToplungeagainintotheMahlstrom,intotheclashofChaos,anddiveforone’sSilesia,thethirdtime;——horribletolazyhumannature:butifthefactsareso)itmustbedone!——
ChapterXIII。
ROMISH—KINGQUESTION;ENGLISH—PRIVATEERQUESTION。
ThepublicEventssocalled,whichhavebeenoccupyingmankindduringthisVoltaireVisit,requirenowmainlytobeforgotten;——
andmay,forourpurposes,beconvenientlyriddleddowntoThree。
FIRST,King—of—the—RomansQuestion;SECOND,English—PrivateerQuestion;andthen,hangingcuriouslyrelatedtotheseTwo,aTHIRD,or"English—FrenchCanadaQuestion。"Ofsomeimportanceallofthem;extremelyimportanttoFriedrich,especiallythatThirdandleastexpectedofthem。
WittyHanburyWilliams,theEnglishExcellencyatBerlin,busyintriguinglittlecreature,becamedistastefulthere,longsince;
andtheyhadtotakehimaway:"recalled,"saytheDocuments,"22dJanuary,1751。"Uponwhich,nodoubt,hemadeanoiseinDowningStreet;andgot,itappears,"re—credentialstoBerlin,4thMarch,1751;"[ManuscriptLISTinState—PaperOffice。]butIthinkdidnotmuchreside,norintendtoreside;havingallmannerofwanderingContinentaldutiestodo;andaworldofpettybusinessesandwidespreadintrigues,Russian,Germanandother,onhand。
Robinson,too,isnowhome;returned,1748(TreatyofAixinhispocket);andanExcellencyKeith,moreandmorefamoushenceforth,hassucceededhiminthatAustrianpost。Busypeople,theseandothers;nowlegationinginForeignparts:ableintheirway;
butwhoseworkprovedtobethatofspinningropesfromsand,andmustnotdetainusatthistime。
TheerrandofalltheseBritannicExcellenciesisuponanotablescheme,whichRoyalGeorgeandhisNewcastlehavedevised,Ofgettingallmadetight,andthePeaceofAixdouble—riveted,sotospeak,andrenderedsecureagainsteverycontingency,——byhavingArchdukeJosephatonceelected"KingoftheRomans。"KingoftheRomansstraightway;wherebyhefollowsatonceasKaiser,shouldhisFatherdie;andisliabletonoFrenchorotherintriguing;
andwehavetakenabondofFatethattheBalancecannotbecantedagain。Excellentscheme,thinkboththeseheads;andarestirringGermanywithalltheirmight,purseinhand,toco—operate,anddoit。Inconceivablewhattroubletheseprescientmindsareat,onthisuncertainmatter。ItwasBritannicMajesty’sandNewcastle’smainprobleminthisworld,forperhapsfouryears(1749—1753):——
"Myownchild,"asafondNoodleofNewcastleusedtocallit;
thoughIratherthinkitwastheotherthatbegotthewretchedobject,buthadtiredsoonerofnursingitunderdifficulties。
UnhappilythereneedsunanimityofalltheNineElectors。
Thepooreryoucanbuy;"BavarianSubsidy,"orannualpension,isonly45,000pounds,forthisinvaluableobject;Kolnisonly——ameretrifle:[Debateon"BavarianSubsidy"(inWalpole,
GeorgetheSecond,i。49):endlessCorrespondencebetweenNewcastleandhisBrother(curioustoread,thoughofthemostlong—eareddescriptionontheDuke’spart),inCoxe’s
Pelham,ii,338—465("31stMay,1750—3dNovember,1752"):preciseAccount(ifanybodynowwantedit),in
Adelung,vii。146,149,154,etseq。]triflesall,incomparisonofthesacredBalance,anddearHanoverkeptscathless。
ButunfortunatelyFriedrich,whomwemustnotthinkofbuying,isnotenthusiasticinthecause!Farfromit。ThenowKaiserhasneveryetgothim,accordingtobargain,aReichs—GuaranteeforthePeaceofDresden;andneedsendlessflagitatingtodoit。[Doesit,atlength,bywayoffurtherancetothisRomish—KingBusiness,"23dJanuary—14thMay,1751"(Adelung,vii。217)。]
ThechaseofsecurityandaggrandizementtotheHouseofAustriaisbynomeansFriedrich’schiefaim!ThisofKingoftheRomansnevercouldbemanagedbyBritannicMajestyandhisNewcastle。
Itwasverytriumphant,andIthinkatitshopefulest,in1750,soonafterstarting,——whenExcellencyHanburyfirstappearedatBerlinonbehalfofit。ThatwasExcellencyHanbury’sfirstjourneyonthiserrand;andhemadeagreatmanymore,nomanreadier;
astirring,intriguingcreature(andalwayswithsuchmoneystodistribute);hadvictorioushopesnowandthen,——whichoneandallprovedfatuous。["June,1750,"HanburyforBerlin(BritannicMajestymuchanxiousHanburywerethere):HanburytoWarsawnext(hiringPolishMajestythere);atDresden,doesmakevictoriousTreaty,September,1751;atVienna,1753(stillontheaawequest)。
Coxe’sPelham,ii。339,196,469。]In1751
and1752,thedarlingProjectmetcrosstides,foulwinds,politicalwhirlpools("SuchasetarethoseGermanPrinces!")——andswam,indomitable,thoughneardesperate,asProjectseldomdid;
tillhappily,in1753,itsankdrowned:——andlefthisGraceofNewcastleasking,"Well—a—day!AndisnotEnglanddrownedtoo?"
Wehopenot。
"OwingmainlytoFriedrich’sopposition!"exclaimedNoodleandthePoliticalCircles。Which——(thoughitwasnotthefact;Friedrich’sopposition,oncethatReichs—Guaranteeofhisownwasgot,beingmostlypassive,"Pushitthroughthestolidelement,then,YOU
stolidfellows,ifyoucan!")——awokeconsiderableoutcryinEngland。Livelysuspicionthere,oftreasonousintentionstotheCauseofLiberty,onhisPrussianMajesty’spart;and——coupledwithothercausesthathadrisen——agreatdealofill—nature,inverydarkcondition,againsthisPrussianMajesty。AnditwasnotFriedrich’sblame,chieflyoratall。IfindeedFriedrichwouldhaveforwardedtheEnterprise:——buthemerelydidnot;andtheelementwasviscous,stolid。Austriaitselfhadwishedthething;
butwithnothinglikesuchenthusiasmasKingGeorge;——towhomtherefusal,byFriedrichandFate,wasabitterdisappointment。
PoorBritannicMajesty:ArchdukeJosephcametobeKingoftheRomans,induecourse;rightenough。Andlongbeforethatevent(almostbeforeGeorgehadendedhisvainefforttohastenit),Austriaturnedonitspivot;andhadclasped,notEnglandtoitsbosom,butFrance(thankstothatexquisiteKaunitz);andwasinarmsAGAINSTEngland,dearHanover,andtheCauseofLiberty!
Vaintolooktoofarahead,——especiallywiththosefish—eyes。
SmelfungushasaNoteonKaunitz;readable,thoughfartooirreverentofthatsuperlativeDiplomatist,andunjusttotherealhumanmeritshehad。
"ThestrugglesofBritannicGeorgetogetaKingoftheRomanselectedweremany。FriedrichneverwouldbiteatthissalutaryschemeforstrengtheningtheHouseofAustria:’Abadman,isnothe?’Andallthewhile,theCourtofAustriaseemedindifferent,incomparison;——andGrafvonKaunitz—Rietberg,AmbassadoratParis,wassecretlybusy,wheelingAustriaroundonitsaxis,Franceroundonits;andbringingthemtoembraceinpoliticalwedlock!
FeataccomplishedbyhisExcellencyKaunitz(Paris,1752—1753);——
accomplished,notconsummated;leftreadyforconsummatingwhenhe,Kaunitz,nowhomeasPrimeMinister,orhelmsmanonthenewtack,shouldgivesignal。ThoughttobeoneofthecleverestfeatseverdonebyDiplomaticart。
"Admirablefeat,fortheDiplomaticartwhichitneeded;not,thatIcansee,foranyotherpropertyithad。Featwhichbrought,asitwasintendedtodo,aThirdSilesianWar;deathofaboutamillionfightingmen,andendlesswoestoFranceandAustriainparticular。
AnexquisiteDiplomatistthisKaunitz;cametobePrince,almosttobeGod—BrahmainAustria,andtoruletheHeavensandEarth(havingskillwithhisSovereignLady,too),inanexquisiteandtrulysurprisingmanner。Sitstheresublime,likeagiltcrockeryIdol,supremeoverthepopulations,fornearfortyyears。
"OnereadsallBiographiesandHistoriesofKaunitz:[Hormayr’s(inOEsterreichischerPlutarch,iv。3tes,231—283);&c。&c。]onecatchesevidenceofhiswellknowinghisDiplomaticelement,andhowtoruleitandimposeonit。
Traitsthereareofhumancunning,shrewdnessofeye;——oftheloftiestsilenthumanpride,stoicism,perseveranceofdetermination,——butnot,tomyremembrance,ofanyconspicuoushumanwisdomwhatever,Oneasks,Whereishiswisdom?Enumerate,then,domethepleasureofenumerating,WhathecontrivedthattheHeavensansweredYesto,andnotNoto?Allsilent!Amantogiveonethoughts。SitslikeaGod—Brahma,humanidolofgiltcrockery,withnothinginthebellyofit(butaportionofboiledchickendaily,veryill—digested);andsuchaprostrateworship,fromthosearoundhim,aswashardlyseenelsewhere。Grave,inwardlyunhappy—
looking;butimpenetrable,uncomplaining。SeemstohavepassedprivatelyanActofParliament:’Kaunitz—Rietberghere,asyouseehim,isthegreatestnowalive;he,Iprivatelyassureyou!’——and,bycontinuedprivatedetermination,tohavegotallmenabouthimtoratifythesame,andacceptitasvalid。Muchcanbedoneinthatwaywithstupidishpopulations;norisBeauBrummeltheonlyinstanceofit,amongourselves,inthelaterepochs。
"Kaunitzisamanoflonghollowface,nosenaturallyratherturnedintotheair,tillartificiallyitgotaltogetherturnedthither。
Rodebeautifully;butalwaysundercover;daybyday,underglassroofintheriding—school,somanyhoursorminutes,watchinhand。
Hated,ordreaded,freshairaboveeverything:sothattheKaiserinn,anobleloverofit,wouldalwaysgood—humoredlyhastentoshutherwindowswhenhemadeheravisit。Sumptuoussuppers,soirees,hehad;thepinkofNatureassemblinginhishouse;
galaxy,domesticandforeign,ofalltheViennaStars。Throughwhichhewouldwalkoneturn;glancingstoically,overhisnose,atthecircumambientwhirlpoolofnothings,——happythenothingtowhomhewoulddeignaword,andmakehimsomething。Omyfriends!——Inshort,itwashewhoturnedAustriaonitsaxis,andFranceonits,andbroughtthemtothekissingpitch。PompadourandMariaTheresakissingmutually,likeRighteousnessand——notPEACE,atanyrate!
’MACHERECOUSINE,’couldIhavebelievedit,atonetime?"
ASECONDPrussian—Englishcauseofoffencehadarisen,yearsago,andwasnotyetsettled;nayisnow(Spring,1753)atitsheightorcrisis:OffenceinregardtoEnglishPrivateering。
Friedrich,eversinceOst—Frieslandwashis,hasaconsiderableForeignTrade,——notasformerlyfromStettinalone,intotheBalticRussianports;butfromEmbdennow,whichlooksoutintotheAtlanticandthegeneralwatersofEuropeandtheWorld。
Aboutwhichheisabundantlycareful,aswehaveseen。Anxioustogoongoodgroundsinthismatter,andbeaccuratelyneutral,andobservantoftheMaritimeLaws,hehad,in1744,directlyaftercomingtopossessionofOst—Friesland,instructedExcellencyAndrie,hisMinisterinLondon,toapplyatthefountain—head,andexpresslyaskofmyLordCarteret:"Arehemp,flax,timbercontraband?""No,"answeredCarteret;Andriereported,No。Andonthisbasistheyacted,satisfactorily,foraboveayear。But,inOctober,1745,theEnglishbeganviolentlytotakePLANKSforcontraband;andwentonso,andeverworse,tilltheendoftheWar。[Adelung,vii。334。]ExcellencyAndriehasgonehome;andaSecretaryofLegation,HerrMichel,isnowhereinhisstead:——agoodfewdrearyoldPamphletsofMichel’spublishing(officialDeclaration,officialArguments,Documents,inFrenchandEnglish,4toand8vo,onthisextinctsubject),ifyougodeepintothedust—bins,canbedisinterredheretothisday。Treadlightly,touchingonlythechiefsummits。TheHagglestretchesthroughfiveyears,1748—1753,——andthenatlastceasesHAGGLING:——
"JANUARY8th,1748[Warstillonfoot,butnearending],Michelappliesaboutinjuries,aboutvarioustroublesandunjustseizuresofships;SecretaryChesterfieldanswers,’WehaveanAdmiraltyCourt;beyondquestion,rightshallbedone。’’Woulditweresoon,then!’hintsMichel。Chesterfield,whoisotherwisepolitenessitself,confidentlyhopesso;butcannotpushJudicialpeople。
"FEBRUARY,1748。Admiraltybeingstillsilent,MichelappliesbyMemorial,inaspecificcase:’TwoStettinShips,ladenwithwinefromBordeaux,andathirdvessel,’ofsomeotherPrussianport,ladenwithcorn;takeninRamsgateRoads,whithertheyhadbeendrivenbystorm:’GivemetheseShipsback!’MemorialtohisGraceofNewcastle,this。UponwhichtheAdmiraltysits;
withdeliberation,decides(June,1748),’Yes!’And’thereishopethataTreatyofCommercewillfollow;’[Gentleman’sMagazine,xviii。(for1748),pp。64,141。]whichwasfarfrombeingtheissuejustyet!
"Onthecontrary,hisPrussianMajesty’sMerchants,perhapsencouragedbythispieceofBritishjustice,cameforwardwithmoreandevermorecomplaintsandinstances。Towinnowthestrictlytrueoutofwhich,fromthehalf—trueornotprovable,hisPrussianMajestyhasappointeda’Commission,’"fitpeople,andunderstrictcharges,Icanbelieve,"Commissiontakes(toFriedrich’sownknowledge)agreatdealofpains;——anditdoesnotwantforcleancorn,afterallitswinnowing。Plentyoffacts,whichcanbeinsistedonasindisputable。’SuchandsuchMerchantShips[Schedulesofthemgivenin,witheveryparticular,time,name,cargo,value]havebeenlaidholdofontheOceanHighway,andcarriedintoEnglishPorts;——OUTofwhichhisPrussianMajestyhas,inallFriendliness,tobegthattheybenowre—delivered,andjusticedone。’’ContrabandofWar,’answertheEnglish;’sorrytohavegivenyourMajestytheleastuneasiness;buttheywerecarrying’——’No,pardonme;nothingcontrabanddiscoverableinthem;’andhandsinhisverifiedSchedules,withperfectlypolite,butmoreandmoreseriousrequest,Thatthesaidshipsberestored,anddamagesaccountedfor。’OurPrizeCourtshavesatoneveryshipofthem,’eagerlyshrieksNewcastleallalong:’whatcanwedo!’
’NayaSpecialCommissionshallnow[1751,datenotworthseekingfarther]——specialCommissionshallnowsit,tillhisPrussianMajestygeteverysatisfactionintheworld!’
"EnglishSpecialCommission,counterpartofthatPrussianone(whichisinvacationbythistime),sitsaccordingly:butisveryslow;reportsforalongwhilenothing,except,’Oh,giveustime!’
andreports,intheend,nothingintheleastsatisfactory。
["Haveentirelyomittedtheessentialpointsonwhichthematterturns;andgivensuchconfusedaccount,inconsequence,thatitisnotwellpossibletogatherfromtheirReportanyclearandjustideaofitatall。"(VerdictofthePRUSSIANCommission:whichhadbeenre—assembledbyFriedrich,onthisReportfromtheEnglishone,andadjuredtospeakonly"whattheycouldanswertoGod,totheKingandtothewholeworld,"concerningit:Seyfarth,ii。183。)]’PrizeCourts?SpecialCommission?’thinksFriedrich:’Imusthavemyshipsback!’And,afteragreatmanymonths,andagreatmanyhaggles,Friedrich,wearyofgivingtime,instructsMicheltosignify,inproperform(’23dNovember,1752’),’ThattheLaw’sdelayseemedtobeconsiderableinEngland;thattillthefulnessoftimedidcome,andrightweredonehispoorpeople,he,Friedrichhimself,wouldhopefullywait;butnowatlastmust,provisionally,payhispoorpeopletheirdamages;——wouldaccordingly,fromthe23ddayofAprilnext,ceasetheusualpaymenttoEnglishBondholdersontheirSilesianBonds;andwouldhenceforthpaynoportionfartherofthatDebt,principalorinterest[about250,000poundsnowowing],butproceedtoindemnifyhisownpeoplefromit,tothejustlength,——anddeposittheremainderinBank,tillBritannicMajestyandPrussiancouldUNITE
inorderingpaymentofit;whichonetrustsmaybesoon!’"
[Walpole,i。295;Seyfarth,ii。183,157;Adelung,vii。331—338;
Gentleman’sMagazine;&c。]
"November23d,1752,resolvedonbyFriedrich;""consummatedApril23d,1753:"thesearethedatesofthisdecisivepassage(Michel’sbiggestPamphlet,FrenchandEnglish,issuingontheoccasion)。
February8th,1753,noredressobtainable,poorNewcastleshrieks,"Can’t,mustn’t;astonishing!"and"thepeopleareingreatwrathaboutit。April12th,Friedrichreplies,inthekindestterms;
butstickingtohispoint。"[Adelung,vii。336—338。]Andpunctuallycontinuedso,anddidashehadsaid。WithwhatrumorintheCity,commentariesintheNewspapersandfluttertohisGraceofNewcastle,maybeimagined。"WhataNephewhaveI!"thinksBritannicMajesty:"Hah,andEmbden,Ost—Friesland,isnothis。
Embdenitselfismine!"Agreatdealofill—naturewasgenerated,inEngland,bythisoneaffairofthePrivateers,hadtherebeennoother:andindarkcellarsofmen’sminds(emptyanddarkonthismatter),therearosestrangecaricaturePortraituresofFriedrich:
andverymadnotions——ofFriedrich’sperversity,astucity,injustice,malignanddangerousintentions——aremoreorlessvocalintheOldNewspapersandDistinguishedCorrespondencesofthosedays。Ofwhich,thisonesample:
TowhatheightthehumoroftheEnglishranagainstFriedrichisstillcuriouslynoticeable,inasmallTransactionoftragicEx—Jacobitenature,whichthenhappened,andinthecommentariesitawokeintheirimagination。CameronofLochiel,whoforcedhiswaythroughtheNether—BowinEdinburgh,hadbeenanotablerebel;
butgotawaytoFrance,andwassafeinsomemilitarypostthere。
Dr。ArchibaldCameron,Lochiel’sBrother,astudiouscontemplativegentleman,bredtoPhysic,butnotpractisingexceptforcharity,hadquittedhisbooks,andattendedtheRebelMarchinamedicalcapacity,——"notfromchoice,"ashealleged,"butfromcompulsionofkindred;"——andhadbeenofhelptovariousLoyalistsaswell;
afoeofHumanPain,andnotofanythingelsewhatever:infact,asappears,averymildformofJacobiteRebel。Hetoogot,toFrance;
buthadlefthisWife,ChildrenandfrugalPatrimoniesbehindhim,——andhadtoreturninproperconcealment,morethanonce,tolookafterthem。TwoVisits,Ithinktwo,hadbeensuccessfullytransacted,atintervals;butthethird,in1753,provedotherwise。
March12th,1753,windofhimbeinghad,andtheslot—houndsuncoupledandputonhistrail,poorCameronwasunearthed"attheLairdofGlenbucket’s,"andtherelaidholdof;lockedinEdinburghCastle,——thencetotheTower,andtoTrialforHighTreason。
Whichwentagainsthim;inspiteofhisfinepleadings,andmanfulconciliatoryappearancesandmanners。Executed7thJune,1753。
HispoorWifehadtwicesqueezedherwayintotheRoyalLeveeatKensington,withPetitionformercy;——fainted,thefirsttime,owingtothepressandtheagitation;butdid,thesecondtime,fallonherkneesbeforeRoyalGeorge,andsupplicate,——whohadtoturnadeafear,royalgentleman;Ihope,notwithoutpain。
Thetruthis,poorCameron———though,Ibelieve,hehadsomevagueJacobiteerrandswithal——neverwouldhaveharmedanybodyintherebelway;andmightwithallsafetyhavebeenletlive。ButhisGraceofNewcastle,andtheEnglishgenerally,hadgotthestrangestnotionintotheirhead。ThoseappointmentsofEarlMarischaltoParis,ofTyrconneltoBerlin;Friedrich’snefariousspoilingofthatsalutaryRomish—KingProject;andnowsimultaneouswiththat,hisnefariousoonductinourPrivateerBusiness:
allthis,doesitnotprovehim——astheHanburys,DemonNewswritersandwell—informedpersonshavetaughtus——tobeoneoftheworstmenliving,andaKingbentuponourruin?Whatiscertain,thoughnowwell—nighinconceivable,itwasthen,intheupperClassesandPoliticalCircles,universallybelieved,ThatthisDr。Cameronwasproperlyan"EmissaryoftheKingofPrussia’s;"thatCameron’serrandherewastorallytheJacobiteembersintonewflame;——andthat,atthefirstclearsputter,Friedrichhad15,000men,ofhisbestPrussian—Spartantroops,readytoferryover,andhelpJacobitismtodothematterthistime![Walpole,GeorgetheSecond,i。333,353;andLetterstoHoraceMann(Summer,1753),forthebeliefheld。
Adelung,vii。338—341,forthepoorCamerontragedyitself。]
AboutaslikelyasthattheChamofTartaryhadinterferedinthe"BangorianControversy"(raging,Ibelieve,sometimesince,——inCremorneGardensfistofall,whichwasBishopHoadly’sPlace,——totheterrorofmitresandwigs);orthat,theEmperorofChinawasconcernedinMeux’sPorter—Brewery,withaneyetosaleofNUX
VOMICA。AmongalltheKingsthatthenwere,orthateverwere,KingFriedrichdistinguishedhimselfbythegrandhumanvirtue(oneofthemostimportantforKingsandformen)ofkeepingwellathome,——ofalwaysmindinghisownaffairs。Thesewere,infact,theonethingheminded;andhedidthatwell。Hewasvigilant,observantallround,forweather—symptoms;thoroughlywellinformedofwhathisneighborshadonhand;readytointerfere,generallyinsomejudicioussoftway,atanymoment,ifhisownCountriesortheirinterestscametobeconcerned;certain,tillthen,tocontinueaspeculativeobservermerely。Hehadknowledge,toanextentofaccuracywhichoftensurprisedhisneighbors:butthereisnoinstanceinwhichhemeddledwherehehadnobusiness;——andfew,Ibelieve,inwhichhedidnotmeddle,andtothepurpose,whenhehad。
LaterinhisReign,inthetimeoftheAmericanWar(1777),thereis,ontheEnglishpart,inregardtoFriedrich,anequallydistractednotionofthesamekindbroughttolight。Again,aconviction,namely,ormoral—certainty,thatFriedrichisaboutassistingtheAmericanInsurgentsagainstus;——andaverystrangeandindubitablestepisorderedtobetakeninconsequence。
[OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。394(FriedrichtoPrinceHenri,29thJune,1777。)]Asshallbenoticed,ifwehavetime。NoenlightenedPublic,gazingforfortyorfiftyyearsintoanimportantNeighborGentleman,withintentforpracticalknowledgeofhim,couldwell,thoughassistedbythecleverestHanburys,andDemonandAngelNewswriters,haveachievedless!——
QuestionTHIRDis——ButQuestionThird,soextremelyimportantwasitinthesequel,willdeserveaChaptertoitself。
ChapterXIV。
THEREISLIKETOBEANOTHERWARAHEAD。
QuestionThird,French—EnglishCanadaQuestion,isnootherthan,underanewform,ouroldfriendtheinexorableJENKINS’S—EAR
QUESTION;soulofalltheseControversies,and——exceptSilesiaandFriedrich’sQuestion——theonemeaningtheyhave!Huddledtogetherithadbeen,atthePeaceofAix—la—Chapelle,andleftforclosedunder"NewSpanishAssientoTreaty,"orIknownotwhat:——youthoughttocloseitbyDiplomaticputtyandvarnishinthatmanner:
andhere,bylawofNature,itcomeswellinguponyouanew。ForIT
springsfromtheCentre,asweoftensay,andisthefountainanddeterminingelementofverylargeSectionsofHumanHistory,stillhiddenintheunseenTime。
"OceanHighwaytobefree;fortheEnglishandotherswhohavebusinessonit?"TheEnglishhavearealandweightyerrandthere。
"Englishtotradeandnavigate,astheLawofNatureorders,onthoseSeas;andtoponderateorpreponderatethere,accordingtotherealamountofweighttheyandtheirerrandhave?OR,Englishtohavetheirearstornoff;andimperiousFrench—SpanishBourbons,groundingonextinctPope’s—meridians,GLOIREandotherimaginarybases,totakecommand?"TheincalculableYankeeNations,shalltheybeineffectYANGKEE("English"withadifference),orFRANGCEE("French"withadifference)?AQuestionnottobeclosedbyDiplomaticputty,tryasyouwill!
ByTreatyofUtrecht(1713),"allNovaScotia[ACADIEasthencalled],withNewfoundlandandtheadjacentIslands,"wascededtotheEnglish,andhaseversincebeenpossessedbythemaccordingly。
UnluckilythatTreatyomittedtosettleaLineofBoundarytolandward,orwestward,fortheir"NOVASCOTIA;"orgenerally,aBoundaryfromNORTHTOSOUTHbetweentheBritishColoniesandtheFrenchinthoseparts。
TheTreatyofAix—la—Chapelle,eagertoconcludeitself,stipulated,withgreatdistinctness,thatCapeBreton,allitsgunsandfurnishingsentire,shouldberestoredatonce(Franceextremelyanxiousonthatpoint);butfortheresthad,beinginsuchhaste,flungitselfaltogetherintotheprincipleofSTATUS—
QUO—ANTE,astheshortwayforgettingthrough。TheboundaryinAmericawasvaguelydefined,as"nowtobewhatithadbeenbeforetheWar。"Ithad,formanyyearsbeforetheWar,beenasubjectofconstantaltercation。ACADIE,forinstance,theNOVASCOTIAoftheEnglishsinceUtrechttime,theFrenchmaintainedtomeanonly"thePeninsula",orNookincludedbetweentheOceanWatersandtheBayofFundy。And,moreemphaticstill,onthe"Isthmus"(ornarrowspace,atnorthwest,betweensaidBayandtheOceanortheGulfofSt。Lawrence)theyhadbuilt"Forts:""Stockades,"orIknownotwhat,"ontheMissaquish"(HODIEMissiquash),awindingdifficultriver,northmostoftheBayofFundy’srivers,whichtheFrenchaffirmtobethereallimitinthatquarter。ThesparseFrenchColonistsoftheinterior,subjectsofEngland,arenottobeconciliatedbyperfecttolerationofreligionandthelike;
buthaveaninvincibleproclivitytojointheirCountrymenoutside,andwishwelltothoseStockadesontheMissiquash。Itmustbeowned,too,theFrenchOfficialPeoplearefarfromscrupulousorsqueamish;showenergyofmanagement;andareveryskilfulwiththeIndians,whoareanimportantitem。CanadaisallFrench;hasitsQuebecs,Montreals,aSt。LawrenceRiveroccupiedatallthegoodmilitarypoints,andservingatonceasbulwarkandhighway。
Southwardandwestward,France,initsexuberanthumor,claimsforitselfThewholeBasinoftheSt。Lawrence,andthewholeBasinoftheMississippiaswell:"HavenotweStockades,Castles,atthemilitarypoints;FortifiedPlacesinLouisianaitself?"Yes;——andhowmanyPloughedFieldsbearingCrophaveyou?ItistothegoodPlougher,notultimatelytothegoodCannonier,thatthoseportionsofCreationwillbelong?TheexuberantintentionoftheFrenchis,aftergettingbackCapeBreton,"TorestrictthoseaspiringEnglishColonies,"merePloughersandTraders,hardlynumberingaboveonemillion,"totheSpaceeastwardoftheAlleghanyMountains,"overwhichtheyarebeginningtoclimb,"andsouthwardofthatMissiquash,or,atfarthest,ofthePenobscotandKennebunk"
(riversHODIEintheStateofMaine)。[LaGallisonniere,GovernorofCanada’sDESPATCH,"Quebec,15thJanuary,1749"(citedinBancroft,HistoryoftheUnitedStates,
Boston,1839,etseq。)。"TheEnglishInhabitantsarecomputedat1,051,000;French(inCanada45,000,inLouisiana7,000),inall52,000:"HistoryofBritishDominionsinNorthAmerica(London,1773),p。13。Bancroft(i。154)countstheEnglishColonistsin"1754about1,200,000。"]ThatwillbeaveryprettyParallelogramforthemandtheirploughsandtrade—packs:
we,whoare50,000odd,expertwiththeriflefarbeyondthem,willoccupytherestoftheworld。SuchistheFrenchexuberantnotion:
and,October,1745,beforesignatureatAix—la—Chapelle,muchmorebeforeDeliveryofCapeBreton,theCommandantatDetroit(westendofLakeErie)hadreceivedorders,"ToopposeperemptorilyeveryEnglishEstablishmentnotonlythereabouts,butontheOhiooritstributaries;bymonitionfirst;andthenbyforce,ifmonitiondonotserve。"
EstablishmentsofanysolidityorregularitytheEnglishhavenotinthoseparts;beyondtheAlleghaniesallisdesert:"fromtheCanadaLakestotheCarolinas,merehunting—groundoftheSixNations;dottedwithhereandthereanEnglishtrading—house,oradventurousSquatter’sfarm:"——towhomnowtheFrencharetosay:
"Homeyou,instantly;andleavetheDesertalone!"TheFrenchhavedistinctOrdersfromCourt,andenergeticallyobeythesame;
theEnglishhaveindistinctOrdersfromNature,anddonotwantenergy,ormindtoobeythese:confusionsandcollisionsaremanifold,ubiquitous,continual。Ofwhichthehistorywouldbetiresometoeverybody;andneedonlybeindicatedherebyamarkortwoofthemainpassages。
In1749,threethingshadoccurredworthmention。FIRST,CaptainCoram,apublic—spiritedhalf—paygentlemaninLondon,originatoroftheFoundlingHospitalthere,hadturnedhisattentiontothefinecapabilitiesandquestionableconditionofNOVASCOTIA,withfewinhabitants,andthosemostlydisaffected;and,bymanyeffortsnowforgotten,hadgottheGovernmentpersuadedtodespatch(June,1749)akindofHalf—payorMilitaryColonytothoseparts:
"morethan1,400personsdisbandedofficers,soldiersandmarines,underColonelEdwardCornwallis,"BrotherofthesincefamousLordCornwallis。[Coxe’sPelham,ii。113。]
Wholanded,accordingly,onthatroughshore;stockadedthemselvesin,hardilyendeavoringandenduring;andnextyear,builtaTownforthemselves;TownofHALIFAX(sonamedfromthethenLordHalifax,PresidentoftheBoardofTrade);whichstandsthere,inmoreandmoreconspicuousmanner,atthisday。Thankstoyou,CaptainCoram;thoughtheungratefulgenerations(exceptdimlyinCORAMStreet,nearyourHospital)havelostallmemoryofyou,astheirwontis。Blockheads;nevermindthem。
TheSECONDthingis,an"OhioCompany"hasgottogetherinVirginia;Governorthereencouraging;BritannicMajestygivingCharter(March,1749),andwhatisstilleasier,"500,000AcresofLand"inthoseOhioregions,sinceyouaremindedtocolonizethereinafixedmanner。BritannicMajestythinkstheCountry"betweentheMonongahelaandtheKanahawy"(southernfeedersofOhio)willdobest;butisnotparticular。OhioCompany,weshallfind,choseatlast,astheeligiblespot,thetopmostforkorveryHeadoftheOhio,——whereMonongahelaRiverfromsouthandAlleghanyRiverfromnorthunitetoform"TheOhio;"wherestands,inourday,thebigsootyTownofPittsburganditsindustries。OhioCompanywaslaudablyeageronthismatter;Land—Surveyorinit(nay,atlength,"ColonelofaRegimentof150menraisedbytheOhioCompany")wasMr。GeorgeWashington,whoseFamilyhadmuchpromotedtheEnterprise;andwhowasindeedasteady—going,considerate,close—
mouthedYoungGentleman;whocametogreatdistinctionintheend。
FrenchGovernor(LaGallisonnierestilltheman),gettingwindofthisOhioCompanystillinembryo,anticipatesthebirth;sendsavigilantCommandantthitherward,"with300men,TotraceandoccupytheValleysoftheOhioandoftheSt。Lawrence,asfarasDetroit。"Thatofficer"buriesplatesoflead,"upanddowntheCountry,withinscriptionssignifyingthat"fromthefarthestridge,whencewatertrickledtowardstheOhio,theCountrybelongedtoFrance;andnailstheBourbonLiliestotheforest—trees;
forbiddingtheIndiansalltradewiththeEnglish;expelstheEnglishtradersfromthetownsoftheMiamis;andwritestotheGovernorofPennsylvania,requestinghimtopreventallfartherintrusion。"VigilantGovernors,theseFrench,andwellsupportedfromhome。Duquesne,thevigilantsuccessorofLaGallisonniere(whoisnowwantedathome,forstillmoreimportantpurposes,aswillappear),finding"theleadplates"littleregarded,sends,byandby,500newsoldiersfromDetroitintothoseOhioparts(marchof100milesorso);——"theFrenchGovernmenthaving,inthisyear1750,shippednofewerthan8,000menfortheirAmericanGarrisons;"——andwheretheOhioCompanyventureonplantingaStockade,tearsittragicallyout,aswillbeseen!
TheTHIRDthingworthnotice,in1749,andstillmoreinthefollowingyearandyears,hadreferencetoNovaScotiaagain。
OneLaCorne,"arecklesslysanguinarypartisan"(militarygentlemanoftheTrenck,INDIGO—Trenckspecies),nestleshimself(winter,1749—50)onthatMissiquashRiver,headoftheBayofFundy;intheVillageofChignecto,whichisadmittedlyEnglishground,thoughinhabitedbyFrench。LaCornecompels,oradmits,theInhabitantstoswearallegiancetoFranceagain;andtomakethemselvesusefulinfortifying,nottosayindrilling,——withaneyetomilitarywork。Hearingofwhich,ColonelCornwallisandincipientHalifaxaremuchataloss。TheyinvainseekaidfromtheGovernorofMassachusetts("Assemblytobeconsultedfirst,tobeconvinced;Constitutionalrights:——Nothingpossiblejust,atonce");——andcanonlysendapartyof400men,totryandrecoverChignectoatanyrate。April20th,1750,the400arrivethere;
orderLaCorneinstantlytogo。BourbonFlagiswavingonhisdikes,thissidetheMissiquash:hightimethatheanditweregone。"VillagePriest[flaminglyorthodox,asallthesePriestsare,allpickedforthebusiness],withhisownhands,setsfiretotheChurchinChignecto;"inhabitantsburntheirhouses,andescapeacrosstheriver,——LaCorneasrear—guard。LaCorne,acrosstheMissiquash,declares,That,toacertainty,heisnowonFrenchground;thathewill,atallhazards,defendtheTerritoryhere;
andmaintaineveryinchofit,——"tillregularCommissioners[dueeversincetheTreatyofAix,hadnotthatROMISH—KINGBusinessbeensopressing]havesettledwhattheBoundarybetweenthetwoCountriesis。"——Chignectobeingashes,andtheneighboringpopulationgone,CornwallisandhisFourHundredhadtoreturntoHalifax。
ItwasnottillAutumnfollowing,thatChignectocouldbesolidlygotholdofbytheHalifaxpeople;nortillalongtimeafter,thatLaCornecouldbedislodgedfromhisstockades,andsentpacking。
[Gentleman’sMagazine,xx。539,295。]
September,1750,anewExpeditiononChignectofoundtheplacepopulousagain,Indians,French"Peasants"(seeminglySoldiersofasort);whostoodveryfiercelybehindtheirdefences,andneededadeterminedon—rush,and"volleycloseintotheirnoses,"beforedisappearing。Thiswasreckonedthefirstmilitarybloodshed(ifthiswerereallymilitaryontheFrenchside)。AndinNovemberfollowing,somesmallBritishCruiseronthoseCoasts,fallinginwithaFrenchBrigantine,fromQuebec,evidentlycarryingmilitarystoresandsolacementsforLaCorne,seizedthesame;byforceofbattle,sincenototherwise,——threemenlosttotheBritish,fivetotheFrench,——andbroughtittoHalifax。"Lawfulandnecessary!"
saystheAdmiraltyCourt;"SheerPiracy!"shriektheFrench;——
mattersbreakingoutintoactualflashesofflame,inthismanner。
BritishCommissions,twoinnumber,namesnotworthmention,have,atlast,inthisYear1750,gonetoParis;andareholdingmanifoldconferenceswithFrenchditto,——tono"purpose,anyofthem。OnereadsthedrearytattleoftheDukeofNewcastleuponit,intheYearsonward:"Justgoingtoagree,"theDukehopes;"somedifficulties,buteverybody,FrenchandEnglish,wantingmerejustice;andourandtheirCommissionersbeinginsuchagenerousspirit,surelytheywillsoonsettleit。"[HisLetters,inCoxe’sPelham,ii。407("September,1751"),&c。]
Theyneverdidorcould;andsteadilyitwentonworsening。
ThatnotableprivateassertionoftheFrench,ThatCanadaandLouisianameanallAmericaWestoftheAlleghanies,hadnotyetoozedouttotheEnglish;butitisgraduallyoozingout,andthatEnglandwillhavetocontentitselfwiththemoderateCountrylyingeastofthatBluerange。"Notmuchaboveamillionofyou",saytheFrench;"andsurelythereisroomenoughEastoftheAlleghanies?
We,withourcoupleofColonies,aretherealAmerica;——counting,itistrue,fewsettlersasyet;butthereshallbeinnumerable;
and,inthemeanwhile,thereareArmy—Detachments,Block—houses,fortifiedPosts,commandoftheRivers,oftheIndianNations,ofthewater—highwaysandmilitarykeys(toyouunintelligible);
andwewillmakeitgood!"
TheexactcipheroftheFrench(guessedtobe50,000),andtheirpreciserelative—valueastillersandsubduersofthesoil,intheseTwoColoniesoftheirs,asagainsttheEnglishThirteen,wouldbeinterestingtoknow:curiousalsotheirlittlebill,oftroubletakenincreatingtheContinentofAmerica,indiscoveringit,visiting,surveying,planting,taming,makinghabitableforman:——andwhatRhadamanthuswouldhavesaidofthoseTwoDocuments!
Enough,theFrenchhavetakensometrouble,moreorless,——
especiallyinsendingsoldiersout,oflate。TheFrench,tocertainthousands,languidlytilling,huntingandadventuring,andveryskilfulinwheedlingtheIndianNations,areactuallythere;
andthey,inthesilenceofRhadamanthus,decidethatmeritshallnotmissitswagesforwantofasking。"OursisAmericaWestoftheAlleghanies,"saytheFrench,openlybeforelong。
"Yours?Yours,ofallpeople’s?"answertheEnglish;andbegin,withlethargiceffort,toawakealittletothatstupidForeignQuestion;important,thoughstupidandforeign,orlyingfaroff。
WhoreallyownedallAmerica,probablyfewEnglishmenhadeveraskedthemselves,intheirdreamiesthumors,norcouldtheynowanswer;but,thatNorthAmericadoesnotbelongtotheFrench,canbedoubtfultonoEnglishcreature。Pitt,Chathamaswenowcallhim,isperhapstheEnglishmantowhom,ofallothers,itisleastdoubtful。PittisinOfficeatlast,——insomesubalterncapacity,"PaymasteroftheForces"forsomeyearspast,inspiteofMajesty’sdislikeoftheoutspokenman;——andhashiseyesbentonAmerica;——whichisperhaps(littleasyouwouldguessitsuch)themainfactinthatconfusedControversyjustnow!——
In1753(28thAugustofthatYear),goesmessagefromtheHomeGovernment,"Standonyourdefence,overthere!RepelbyforceanyForeignencroachmentsonBritishDominions。"[Holderness,OR
Robinsonouroldfriend。]Anddirectlyontheheelofthis,November,1753,theVirginiaGovernor,——urged,Icanbelieve,bytheOhioCompany,whoarelyingwind—boundsolong,——despatchesMr。GeorgeWashingtontoinquireofficiallyoftheFrenchCommandantinthoseparts,"Whathemeans,then,byinvadingtheBritishTerritories,whileasolidPeacesubsists?"Mr。Georgehadalongrideupthosedesertranges,anddownagainontheotherside;watersallout,groundinaswashwithDecemberrains,nohelpordirectionbutfromwampumsandwigwams:Mr。GeorgegottoOhioHead(twobigRivers,MonongahelafromSouth,AlleghanyfromNorth,coalescingtoformadouble—bigOhiofortheFarWest);andthoughttohimself,"Whatanadmirablethree—leggedplace:mightbeChiefPostofthoseregions,——nest—eggofadiligentOhioCompany。!"Mr。George,somewaydowntheOhioRiver,foundastrongishFrenchFort,log—barracks,"200river—boats,withmorebuilding,"andaFrenchCommandant,whocannotenterintoquestionsofadiplomaticnatureaboutPeaceandWar:"Myordersare,TokeepthisFortandTerritoryagainstallcomers;onemustdoone’sorders,Monsieur:Adieu!"AndthesteadfastWashingtonhadtoreturn;withoutresult,——exceptthatoftheadmirableThree—leggedPlacefordroppingyourNest—egg,inacommandinganddefencefulway!
OhioCompany,painfullyrestrainedsolonginthatoperation,tookthehintatonce。Despatched,earlyin1754,aPartyofsomeFortyorThirty—threestoutfellows,witharmsaboutthem,aswellastools,"Gobuildus,straightway,aStockadeintheplaceindicated;youarewarrantedtosmitedown,byshotorotherwise,anygainsayer!"Andfurthermore,directlygotonfoot,andontheroadthither,a"regimentof150men,"WashingtonasColoneltoit,ForperfectingsaidStockade,andmaintainingitagainstallcomers。
WashingtonandhisHundred—and—fifty——wagonage,provenderandapieceortwoofcannon,allwellattendedto——vigorouslyclimbedtheMountains;gottothetop27thMay,1754;andthereMETtheThirty—threeinretreathomewards!Stockadehadbeentornout,sixweeksago(17thAprillast);byoverwhelmingFrenchForce,fromtheGentlemanwhosaidADIEU,andhadtheriver—boats,lastFall。
And,insteadofourStockade,theyarenowbuildingaregularFrenchFort,——FORTDUQUESNE,theycallit,inhonoroftheirGovernorDuquesne:——againstwhich,Washingtonandhisregiment,whatarethey?Washington,strictlysurveying,girdshimselfupfortheretreat;descendsdiligentlyhomewardsagain,FrenchandIndiansratherharassinghisrear。In—trencheshimself,1stJuly,atwhathecalls"FortNecessity,"somewaydown;andtheseconddayafter,3dJuly,1754,isattackedinvigorousmilitarymanner。
Defendshimself,whathecan,throughninehoursofheavyrain;
haslostthirty,theFrenchonlythree;——andisobligedtocapitulate:"FreeWithdrawal"thetermsgiven。ThisisthelastI
heardoftheOhioCompany;notthelastofWashington,byanymeans。OhioCompany,——itsjudiciousNest—eggsquelchedinthismanner,naybecomeafieryCockatriceor"FORTDUQUESNE:"——neednotbementionedfarther。
Bythistime,surelyhightimenow,seriousmilitarypreparationswereonfoot;especiallyinthevariousColoniesmostexposed。
But,asusual,itisathingofmostadmireddisorder;
everyGovernorhisownKingorVice—King,horsesarepullingdifferentways:smallhopethere,unlesstheHomeGovernment(wheretooIhaveknownthehorsesalittlediscrepant,unskilfulinharness!)willseriouslytakeitinhand。TheHomeGovernmentistakingitinhand;horseswilling,ifathoughtunskilful。
RoyalHighnessofCumberlandhasselectedGeneralBraddock,andTwoRegimentsoftheLine(thetwothatranawayatPrestonpans,——ABSIT
OMEN)。RoyalHighnessconsults,concocts,industriouslyprepares,completes;modestlycertainthatherenowistheeffectualremedy。