"HERAN!"stormtheotherswithhottears;AdjutantvonPlatentakestheflag;Platen,too,isinstantlyshot;butanothertakesit。
"HERAN,On!"inwildstormofrageandgrief:——inaword,theymanagetodotheworkatSterbohol,theyandtherest。Firstline,Secondline,Infantry,Cavalry(andeventheveryHorses,I
suppose),fightinginexpressibly;conqueringoneoftheworstproblemseverseeninWar。FortheAustrianstoo,especiallytheirgrenadiersthere,stoodtoittoughly,andfoughtlikemen;——and"everygrenadierthatsurvivedofthem,"asIreadafterwards,"gotdoublepayforlife。"
Done,thatSterboholwork;——thoseFoot—chargings,Horse—chargings;
thatbatteryofHomolyHill;and,hanginguponthat,allmannerofredoubtsandbatteriestotherightwardandrearward:——buthowitwasdonenopencandescribe,noranyintellectinclearsequenceunderstand。AnenormousMELEEthere:newPrussianbattalionscharging,andevernew,irrepressiblebycase—shot,astheysuccessivelygetup;MarshalBrownetoosendingfornewbattalionsatdouble—quickfromhisleft,disputingstifflyeveryinchofhisground。Tillatlength(hournotgiven),acannon—shottoreawayhisfoot;andhehadtobecarriedintoPrag,mortallywounded。
Whichprobablywasamostimportantcircumstance,orthemostimportantofall。
Importanttoo,Igraduallysee,wasthatofthePrussianHorseoftheLeftWing。PrussianHorseoftheextremeleft,asalreadynoticed,had,inthemeanwhile,fallenin,wellsouthward,roundbycertainlakeletsaboutMichelup,onBrowne’sextremeright;
furiouslychargingtheAustrianHorse,whichstoodrankedthereinmanylines;breakingit,thenagainhalfbrokenbyit;butagainrallying,chargingitasecondtime,thenathirdtime,"bothtofrontandflank,amidwhirlwindsofdust"(Ziethenbusythere,nottomentionindignantWarneryandothers);——andatlength,drivingitwhollytothewinds:"beyondNussel,towardstheSazawaCountry;"neverseenagainthatday。PrinceKarl(afterBrowne’sdeath—wound,orbefore,Ineverknow)camegallopingtorallythatimportantRightWingofhorse。PrinceKarldidhisveryutmostthere;obtesting,praying,raging,threatening:——buttonopurpose;
theZiethenersandotherssoheavyontherearofthem:——andatlasttherecameacramp,orintolerabletwingeofspasm,throughPrinceKarl’sownperson(breastorheart),liketotakethelifeofhim:sothathetoohadtobecarriedintoPragtothedoctors。
AndhisCavalryfledatdiscretion;chasedbyZiethen,onFriedrich’sexpressorder,andsentquiteoverthehorizon。
Enough,"byabouthalf—pastone,"Sterboholworkisthoroughlydone:andtheAustrianBattle,bothitsCommandersgone,hasheeledfairlydownwards,andisinanominousway。
ThewholeofthisAustrianRightWing,horseandfoot,batteriesandredoubts,whichwasputENPOTENCE,orsquare—wise,tothemainbattle,isbecomearuin;gonetoconfusion;hoversindistractedclouds,seekingroadstorunawayby,whichitultimatelyfound。
Doneallthissurelywas;andpoorBrowne,mortallywounded,isbeingcarriedofftheground;butinwhatsequencedone,underwhatexactvicissitudesofaspect,specialstepsofcauseandeffect,nomancansay;andonlyimagination,guidedbythesefewdata,canpainttoitself。Suchachaoticwhirlwindofblood,dust,mud,artillery—thunder,sulphurousrage,andhumandeathandvictory,——
whoshallpretendtodescribeit,ordraw,exceptinthegross,thescientificplanofit?
For,inthemeantime,——IthinkwhilethedisputeatSterbohol,ontheextremeoftheAustrianrightwing"injoiner’s—squareform,"
waspastthehottest(butnobodywillgivethehour),——therehasoccurredanotherthing,muchcalculatedtosettlethat。
And,indeed,tosettleeverything;——asitdid。Thiswasavolunteerexploit,upontheveryelboworangleofsaid"joiner’s—square;"inthewetgroundsbetweenHlaupetinandKyge,agoodwaynorthofSterbohol。Volunteerexploit;onthepartofGeneralMannstein,ouroldRussianfriend;whichFriedrich,alongwayofffromit,blamesasarashfaultofMannstein’s,madegoodbyPrinceHenriandFerdinandofBrunswickrunninguptomendit;butwhichWinterfeld,andsubsequentgoodjudges,admittohavebeenhighlysalutary,andtohavefinishedeverything。Itwent,ifIreadright,somewhatasfollows。
IntheKyge—Hlaupetinquarter,atthecornerofthatAustrianrightwingENPOTENCE,therehad,muchcontrarytoBrowne’sintention,aperceptiblegapoccurred;thecornerisopenthere;nothinginitbutbatteriesandswamps。TheAustrianrightwing,wheelingsouthward,theretoformPOTENCE;andscramblingandmarching,thenandsubsequently,throughsuchgroundatdouble—quick,hadgonetoofar(hadthinnedandlengtheneditself,asiscommon,insuchscrambling,anddouble—quickmovement,thinksTempelhof),andleftalittlegapatelbow;whichalwaysratherwidenedasthestressatSterboholwenton。Certainenough,agapthereis,coveredonlybysomehalf—moonbatteryinadvance:intothis,GeneralMannsteinhasbeenlookingwistfullyalongtime:"AustrianLinefallenoutatelbowyonder;cloutedbysomebatteryinadvance?"——andatlengthcannothelpdashinglooseonitwithhisDivision。Amanliabletoberash,andalwaystooimpetuousinbattle—time。
Hewouldhavefaredill,thinksFriedrich,hadnotHenriandFerdinand,inpainforMannstein(somethink,privatelyinpreconcertwithhim),hastenedintohelp;anddoneitaltogetherinashiningway;surmountingperilousdifficultiesnotafew。
Hardfightinginthatcorner,partlyontheSterboholterms;
batteries,mud—tanks;chargings,rechargings:"Comrades,youhavegothonorenough,KAMERADEN,IHRHABTEHREGENUG[thesecondmanofyoulyingdead];letusnowtry!"saidacertainRegimenttoacertainother,inthisbusiness。[Archenholtz,i。75;Tempelhof,&c。]PrinceHenrishoneespecially,thegallantlittlegentleman:
comingupononeofthosemud—tankswithbatterybeyond,hismenwerespreadingfile—wise,tocrossitonthedams;"BURSCHE,thisway!"criedthePrince,andplungedinmiddle—deep,rightuponthebattery;andoverit,andvictoriouslytookpossessionofit。Inaword,theyallplungeforward,inashiningmanner;rushonthosehalf—moonbatteries,regardlessofresults;rushoverthem,seizeandsecurethem。Rush,inaword,fairlyintothatAustrianhole—
at—elbow,torrentsmorefollowingthem,——andirretrievablyruinbothfore—armandshoulder—armoftheAustriansthereby。
Fore—arm(Austrianrightwing,ifstillstrugglingandwrigglingaboutSterbohol)istakeninflank;shoulder—arm,ormainline,thelike;wehavethembothinflank;withtheirownbatteriestoscourthemtodestructionhere:——theAustrianLine,throughout,isbecomearuin。Hastohurlitselfrapidlytorightwards,torearwards,saysTempelhof,behindwhatredoubtsandstrongpointsitmayhaveinthoseparts;andthen,bysurestages(Tempelhofguessesthree,orperhapsfour),asoneredoubtafteranotheristornfromtheloosegraspofit,andthestandmadebecomeseverweaker,andtheconfusionworse,——torollpell—mellintoPrag,andhastilyclosethedoorbehindit。ThePrussians,Sterboholpeople,Mannstein—
Henripeople,leftwingandright,arequiteacrosstheZiscaBack,onbyNussel(PrinceEarl’shead—quarterthatwas),andattheMoldauBrinkagain,whenthethingends。Ziethen’sHussarshavebeenatNussel,verybusyplunderingthere,eversincethatfinalchargeandchasefromSterbohol。Plundering;and,Iamashamedtosay,mostlydrunk:"YourMajesty,Icannotrankahundredsober,"
answeredZiethen(doubtlesswithakindofblush),whentheKingappliedforthem。TheKinghimselfhasgottoBranik,fartherupstream。PartoftheAustrianfootfled,leftwards,southwards,astheirrightwingofhorsehadalldone,uptheMoldau。About16,000
Austriansaredistractedlyonflightthatway。Towards,theSazawaCountry;tounitewithDaun,asthenowadvisablething。
Near40,000ofthemaregettingcrammedintoPrag;inspiteofPrinceKarl,nowrecoveredofhiscramp,andrisentothefranticpitch;whovainlystrugglesattheGateagainstsuchinrush,andhadevengotthroughtheGate,conjuringandcommauding,butwashimselfswuminagainbythosepanictorrentsofebb—tide。
Rallyingwithin,heagainattempted,twiceover,attwodifferentpoints,togetout,anduptheMoldau,withhisbrokenpeople;
butthePrussians,Nussel—Branikway,wereawaketohim:
"NoretreatuptheMoldauforyou,Austriangentlemen!"TheytriedbyanotherGate,ontheothersideoftheRiver;butKeithwasawaketoo:"Inagain,yeAustriangentlemen!Closedgatesheretoo。
Whatelse?"Browne,fromhisbedofpain(death—bed,asitproved),wasforamuchmoredeterminedoutrush:"Inthedeadofnight,rank,deliberatelyadjustyourselves;stormout,oneandall,andcutyourway,nightfavoring!"ThatwasBrowne’slastcounsel;
butthatalsowasnottaken。AreallynobleBrowne,sayalljudges;
diedhereinaboutsixweeks,——andgotawayfromKriegs—HofrathsandPrinceKarls,andthestupidityofneighbors,andtheotherillsthatfleshisheirto,altogether。
AtBranikthevictoriousKinghadonegreatdisappointment:
PrinceMoritzofDessau,whoshouldhavebeenherelonghoursago,withKeith’srightwing,afresh15,000,tofallupontheenemy’srear;——noMoritzvisible;notevennow,whenthebusinessistochase!"Howisthis?""Illluck,yourMajesty!"Moritz’sPontoonBridgewouldnotreachacross,whenhetriedit。Thatiscertain:
"justthreepoorpontoonswanting,"Rumorsays:——threeormore;
spoiled,Iamtold,insomenarrowroad,someshort—cutwhichMoritzhadcommandedforthem:andnowtheyarenot;anditisasifthreehundredhadbeenspoiled。Moritz,wouldhedieforit,cannotgethisBridgetoreach:hisfresh15,000standfutilethere;notevenSeidlitzwithhislighthorsecouldreallyswimacross,thoughhetriedhard,andisfabledtohavedoneso。
Bewareofshort—cuts,myPrince:yourFatherthatisgone,whatwouldhesayofyouhere!ItwastheworstmistakePrinceMoritzevermade。TheAustrianArmymighthavebeenannihilated,sayjudges(ofasanguinetemper),hadMoritzbeenready,athishour,tofallonfromrearward;——andwherehadtheirretreatbeen?Asitis,theAustrianArmyisnotannihilated;onlybottledintoPrag,andwillneedsieging。Thebrightesttriumphhasabarofblackinit,andmightalwayshavebeenbrighter。HereisaflyingNote,whichIwillsubjoin:——
Friedrich’sdispositionsfortheBattle,thisday,areallowedtohavebeenmasterly;buttherewasonesignalfault,thinksRetzow:
Thathedidnot,asSchwerincounselled,waittillthemorrow。
Faultwhichbroughtmanyinthetrainofit;thatofhis"tiredsoldiers,"saysRetzow,beingonlyafirstitem,andsmallincomparison。"Hadhewaitedtillthemorrow,thosefish—pondsofSterbohol,examinedintheinterim,neednothavebeenmistakenforgreenmeadows;PrinceMoritz,withhis15,000,wouldhavebeenafact,insteadofafalsehope;theKingmighthavedonehismarchingdownuponSterboholinthenight—time,andbeenreadyfortheAustrians,flank,orevenrear,atdaybreak:theKingmight"——
Inreality,thisfaultseemstohavebeenconsiderable;tohavemadethevictoryfarmorecostlytohim,andfarlesscomplete。
Nodoubthehadhisreasonsformakinghaste:Daun,advancingPrag—
wardwith30,000,waswithinthreemarchesofhim;GeneralBeck,Daun’svanguard,witha10,000ofirregulars,didakindoffeatatBrandeis,onthePrussianpostthere(ourSaxonsdesertingtohim,intheheatofaction),thisveryday,May6th;andmight,iflucky,havetakenpartatZiscabergnextday。Andbesidesthesesolidreasons,therewasperhapsanother。Retzow,whoissecretlyoftheOpposition—party,andwellworthhearing,knowspersonallyacuriousthing。Hesays:——
"Beingthen[inMarchorApril,weeksbeforeweleftSaxony]
employedtotranslatethePLANOFOPERATIONSintoFrench,forMarshalKeith’suse,whodidnotunderstandGerman,Iwellknowthatitcontainedthefollowingthreemainobjects:1。’AllRegimentscantoninginSilesiaaswellasSaxonymarchforBohemiaononeandthesameday。2。WholeArmyarrivesatPragMay4th[Schwerinwasadaylater,andgotscoldedinconsequence];iftheEnemystand,heisattackedMay6th,andbeaten。3。SosoonasPragisgot,Schwerin,withthegrossoftheArmy,pushesintoMahren,’
andtheheartofAustriaitself;’Kinghastenswith40,000tohelpoftheAlliedArmy,’"——RoyalHighnessofCumberland’s;whowillmuchneeditbythattime![Retzow,i。84n。]
Hereisaverycuriousfactandconsideration。ThattheKinghadsoprophesiedandpreordained:"May4th,FourColumnsarriveatPrag;
May6th,attacktheAustrians,beatthem,"——andnowwishedtokeephisword!Thisisanaerialreason,whichIcansuspecttohavehaditsweightamongothers。ThereweretwirlsofthatkindinFriedrich;intricateweakplaces;knotsinthesoundstraight—
fibredmindhehad(asinwhosemindaretheynot?),——whichnowandthencosthimdear!TheAnecdote—Bookssayhewasveryillofbody,thatday,May6th;andcalledforsomethingofdrugnature,andswallowedit(drugnotnamed),aftergettingonhorseback。
TheEveningAnecdoteisprettier:How,intherushingabout,Austriansnowflying,hegoteyeonBrotherHenri(clayeytoadegree);andsatdownwithhim,intheblessedsunset,foraminuteortwo,andbewailedhissadlossesofSchwerinandothers。
Certainitis,thevictorywasboughtbyhardfighting;andbutforthequalityofhistroops,hadnotbeenthere。ButthebraveryofthePrussianswasexemplary,andcoveredallmistakesthatweremade。Noblerfire,whendiditburninanyArmy?MoreperfectsoldiersIhavenotreadof。Platt—Teutschfire——whichIlikentoanthracite,incontradistinctiontoGaelicblazeofkindledstraw——
isthricenoble,when,bystrictsterndiscipline,youareaboveitwithal;andwieldyourfire—element,asJovehisthunder,byrule!
Otherwiseitisbuthalf—admirable:Turk—Janissarieshaveitotherwise;anditcomestocomparativelylittle。
ThisisthefamedBattleofPrag;foughtMay6th,1757;
whichsoundedthroughalltheworld,——andusedtodeafenusindrawing—roomswithinman’smemory。Resultsofitwere:OnthePrussianside,killed,woundedandmissing,12,500men;ontheAustrian,13,000(prisonersincluded),withmanyflags,cannon,tents,muchwar—geargonethewrongroad;——andaverygreathumiliationanddispiritment;thoughtheyhadfoughtwell:
"NolongertheoldAustrians,byanymeans,"asFriedrichsees;
buthaveironramrods,allmannerofPrussianimprovements,andare"learningtomarch,"asheoncesays,withsurprisenotquitepleasant。
Friedrichgivesthecipherofloss,onbothsides,muchhigher:
"ThisBattle,"sayshe,"whichbegantowardsnineinthemorning,andlasted,chaseincluded,tilleightatnight,wasoneofthebloodiestoftheage。TheEnemylost24,000men,ofwhomwere5,000
prisoners;thePrussianlossamountedto18,000fightingmen,——
withoutcountingMarshalSchwerin,whoalonewasworthabove10,000。""ThisdaysawthepillarsofthePrussianInfantrycutdown,"sayshemournfully,seemingalmosttothinkthe"laurelsofvictory"werepurchasedtoodear。HisaccountoftheBattle,asifithadbeenapainfulobject,ratheravoidedinhisafter—thoughts,isunusuallyindistinct;——andhelpsuslittleintheextremeconfusionthatreignsotherwise,bothinthethingitselfandinthereportersofthething。HereisawordfromWinterfeld,someprivateLetter,twodaysafter;whichiswellworthreadingforthosewhowouldunderstandthisBattle。
"TheenemyhadhisLeftWingleaningontheCity,closebytheMoldau,"atNussel;"andstretchedwithhisRightWingacrossthehighHill[ofZisca]tothevillageofLieben[soheHADstood,lookingintoPrag;butfacedabout,onhearingthatFriedrichwasacrosstheRiver];havingbeforehimthoseterribleDefiles[DIE
TERRIBLENDEFILEES,"Horse—shoeoftheMoldau,"aswecallit],andthevillageofProssik,whichwascrammedwithPandours。Itwasabouthalf—pastsixinthemorning,whenourSchwerinArmy[myselfpartofit,atthistime]joinedwiththetwentybattalionsandtwentysquadrons,whichtheKinghadbroughtacrosstounitewithus,andwhichformedourrightwingofbattlethatday[ourleftwingwereSchweriners,SterboholandthefightingdonebySchwerinersaftertheirlongmarch]。TheKingwasatoncedeterminedtoattacktheEnemy;asalsowereSchwerin[saynothingofthearguing]andyourhumbleservant(MEINEWENIGKEIT):butthefirstthingwas,tofindaholewherebytogetathim。
"Thistoowasselected,anddecidedon,myproposalbeingfoundgood;andtookeffectinmannerfollowing:We[Schweriners]hadmarchedoffleft—wise,foremost;andwenow,withouthalt,continuedmarchingsowiththeLeftWing"ofhorse,"whichhadthevan(TETE);andmovedon,keepingtheroadforHlaupetin,andeverthenceonwardsalongforKyge,roundthePondsofUnter—
Podschernitz,withoutneedingtopassthese,andsoastogettheminourrear。
"TheEnemy,whoatfirsthadexpectednothingbad,andneversupposedthatwewouldattackhimatonce,FLAGRANTEDELICTO,andleastofallinthispoint;anddidnotbelieveitpossible,asweshouldhavetowade,breast—deepinpart,throughtheditches,anddragourcannon,——wasatfirstquitetranquil。Butashebegantoperceiveourrealdesign(inwhich,theysay,PrinceKarlwasthefirsttoopenMarshalBrowne’seyes),hedrewhiswholeCavalryovertowardsus,asfastasitcouldbedone,andstretchedthemoutasRightWing;tocompletewhich,hisGrenadiersandHungarianRegularsofFootrankedthemselvesastheygotup[makeshisPOTENCE,HAKEN,orjoiner’s—square,outmostendofitHorse。]
"TheEnemy’sintentionwastoholdwiththeRightWingofhisinfantryontheFarmsteadwhichtheycallSterbaholy[Sterbohol,averydirtyFarmsteadatthisday];I,however,hadthegoodluck,plungingon,headforemost,withsixbattalionsofourLeftWingandtwooftheFlank,togettoitbeforehim。AlthoughourSecondLinewasnotyetcomeforward,yet,asthebattalionsoftheFirstweretolerablywelltogether,Idecided,withGeneralFouquet,whohadchargeoftheFlank,tobeginatonce;and,thattheEnemymightnothavetimetoposthimselfstillbetter,Ipushedforward,quickstep,outoftheFarmstead"ofSterbohol"tomeethim,——sofast,thatevenourcannonhadnottimetofollow。Hedid,accordingly,begintowaver;andIcouldobservethathispeoplehere,onthisWing,weremakingright—about。
"Meanwhile,hisfireofcase—shotopened[fromHomolyHill,onourleft],andwewerestillpushingon,——mightnowbeabouttwohundredstepsfromtheEnemy’sLine,whenIhadthemisfortune,attheheadofRegimentSchwerin,togetwounded,and,swooningaway(VORTOD),fellfrommyhorsetotheground。Awakeningaftersomeminutes,andraisingmyheadtolookabout,Ifoundnobodyofourpeoplenowherebesideorroundme;butallwerealreadybehind,infullfloodofretreat(HOCHANSCHLAGEN)。TheEnemy’sGrenadierswereperhapseightypacesfromme;buthadhalted,andhadnottheconfidencetofollowus。Istruggledtomyfeet,asfastas,forweakness,Ipossiblycould;andgotuptoourconfusedmass[CONFUSENKLUMPEN,——exactplace,where?]:butcouldnot,byentreatiesorbythreats,persuadeasinglemanofthemtoturnhisfaceontheEnemy,muchlesstohaltandtryagain。
"InthisembarrassmentthedeceasedFeldmarschallfoundme,andnoticedthatthebloodwasflowingstream—wisefrommyneck。AsI
wasonfoot,andnoneofmypeoplenownear,hebadegivemehisledhorsewhichhestillhad[andsentmehomeforsurgery?
Winterfeld,handsomelyeffacinghimselfwhennolongergoodforanything,hurriesontotheCatastrophe,leavingustoguessthathewasNOTaneye—witnessfarther]——badegivemetheledhorsewhichhestillhad;AND[asifthathadhappeneddirectlyafter,whichsurelyitdidnot?AND]snatchedtheflagfromCaptainRohr,whohadtakenituptomaketheBurscheturn,androdeforwardwithithimself。’Butbeforehecouldsucceedintheattempt,thisexcellentman,almostinaminute,washitwithfivecase—shotballs,andfelldeadontheground;asalsohisbraveAdjutantvonPlatenwassowoundedthathediednextday。
"Duringthisconfusionandrepulse,bywhich,asalreadymentioned,theEnemyhadnotthehearttoprofit,notonlywasourSecondLinecomeon,butthoseoftheFirst,whohadnotsuffered,wentvigorously(FRISCH)attheEnemy,"——andincourseoftime(perhapstwohoursyet),andbydintofeffort,wedidmanageSterboholanditsbatteries:——"Likeas[stillinonesentence,andwithouttheleastpunctuation;Winterfeldbeinglittleofagrammarian,andinhastefortheclose],LikeasPrinceHenri’sRoyalHighnesswithourRightWing,"Mannsteinandhe,"withoutwaitingfororder,attackedsoPROMPTandwithsuchFERMOTE,"inthatelbow—holefarnorthofUS,"thateverywheretheEnemy’sLinebegantogiveway;
andinsteadofcontinuingasLine,soughtcorps—wisetogaintheHeights,andtherepostitself。Andas,withoutwinningsaidHeights,wecouldnotwintheBattle,wehadtostormthemall,oneaftertheother;andthisitwasthatcostusthebest,mostandbravestpeople。
"ThelateColonelvonGoltz[ifweglancebacktoSterboholitself],who,withtheregimentFouquet,wasadvancing,right—handofSchwerinregiment"andyourservant,"hadlikewisegotquiteclosetotheEnemy;andhadhenot,attheveryinstantwhenhewaslevellingbayonets,beenshotdown,Ithinkthathe,withmyselfandtheSchwerinregiment,wouldhavegotin,"——andperhapshavetheredonethejob,specialandgeneral,withmuchlessexpense,andsooner![Preuss,ii。45—47(inWinterfeld’shand;dated"CampatPrag,8thMay,1757:"addressedtooneknowsnotwhom;
firstprintedbyPreuss)。]
ThisiswhatwegetfromWinterfeld;arugged,notmuchgrammaticalman,but(asIcanperceive)withexcellenteyesinhishead,andinteriortalentfortwentygrammaticalpeople,hadthatbeenhisline。These,faithfullyrenderedhere,withoutchangebutofpointing,aretheonlywordsIeversawofhis:tomyregret,——
whichsurelythePrussianDryasdustmightstillamendalittle?——inrespectofsodistinguishedaperson,andchosenPeerofFriedrich’s。ThishisbrieftheoryofPragBattle,ifintenselyread,Ifindtobeofapiecewithhispracticethere。
SchwerinwasmuchlamentedintheArmy;andhasbeendulyhonoredeversince。HisbodyliesinSchwerinsburg,athome,faraway;
hisMonument,finaleofaseriesofMonuments,stands,nowunderspecialguardianship,nearSterboholonthespotwherehefell。
AlateTouristsays:——
"Atfirsttherewasamonumentofwood[TREEplanted,Iwillhope],whichisnowallgone;roundthisKaiserJosephII。once,intheyear1776,holdingsomereviewthere,madehisgrenadierbattalionsandartilleriesformcircle,frontingtheskyallround,andgivethreevolleysofgreatarmsandsmall,Kaiserinthecentredoffinghatateachvolley,inhonorofthehero。WhichwasthoughtaveryprettythingontheKaiser’spart。In1824,thetree,Isuppose,beinggonetoastump,certainsubscribingPrussianOfficershaditrootedout,andamodestPyramidofred—veinedmarblebuiltinitsroom。WhichlatterthethenKingofPrussia,FriedrichWilhelmIII。,determinedtoimproveupon;andso,in1839,builtasecondPyramidcloseby,bigger,finer,andofPrussianiron,thisone;——
purchasingalso,fromtheAustrianGovernment,aroodortwoofgroundforsite;andappointingsomeperpetualPeculium,orincreaseofPensiontoanAustrianVeteranofmeritfortakingchargethere。Allwhich,perfectlyinorder,isinitsplaceatthisday。TheactualAustrianPensionerofmeritisaloud—voiced,hard—faced,verylimited,buthonestlittlefellow;whohasworkedalittlepolygonditchandminiaturehedgeroundthetwoMonuments;
keepshisowncottage,littlegarden,andself,respectablyclean;
andleadsstoicallyalonelife,——nocompany,Ishouldthink,buttheSterboholhinds,whoprobablyareCzechsandcannotspeaktohim。Hewasonce’oftheregimentHohenlohe;’sufferssomewhatfromcold,inthewinter—time,inthoseuplandparts(the’cordsofwood’allowedhimbeinglimited);butcomplainsofnothingelse。
TwoEnglishnameswereinhisAlbum,amilitarytwo,andnomore。
’EHRETDENHELD(HonortheHero)!’wesaidtohim,atparting。
’Don’tI?’answeredhe;glancingathismuddybarelegsandlittlespade,withwhichhehadbeenworkinginthePolygonDitchwhenwearrived。Icouldwishhimanadditional’KLAFTERHOLZ’(cordmoreoffirewood)nowandthen,inthecoldmonths!——
"SterboholFarmsteadhasbeennewbuilt,inman’smemory,butisdirtyasever。Agriculture,alloverthistable—landoftheZiscaberg,Ishouldjudgetobebad。Notsotheprospect;whichischeerfullyextensive,picturesqueinparts,andtothestudentofFriedrichoffersgoodcommentary。Roads,mansions,villages:
Prossik,Kyge,Podschernitz,fromtheHeightsofChaberroundtoNusselandbeyond:fromanyknoll,allFriedrich’sVillages,andmanymore,lieroundyouasonamap,——theirdirtallhidden,nothingwantingtothelandscape,wereitbettercarpetedwithgreen(greeninsteadofrusset),andshadedhereandtherewithwood。Asmallwildpink,bright—red,andofthesizeofastar,growsextensivelyabout;ofwhichyouaretemptedtopluckspecimens,asmemorialofaFieldsofamousinWar。"[Tourist’sNote(September,1858)。]
ChapterIII。
PRAGCANNOTBEGOTATONCE。
WhatFriedrich’semotionsaftertheBattleofPragwere,wedonotmuchknow。Theyarenotinconceivable,ifwereadhissituationwell;butinthewayofspeech,thereis,asusual,nexttonothing。Herearetwostrayutterances,worthgatheringfromamansouncommunicativeinthatform。
FRIEDRICHAMONTHBEFOREPRAG(FromLockwitz,25thMarch,toPrincessAmelia,atBerlin)。——"MydearestSister,IgiveyouathousandthanksforthehintsyouhavegotmefromDr。EllerontheillnessofourdearMother。Thrice—welcomethis;andreassuresme[alas,notongoodbasis!]againstamisfortunewhichIshouldhaveconsideredverygreatforme。
"Astousandourpostureofaffairs,politicalandmilitary,——
placeyourself,Iconjureyou,aboveeveryevent。ThinkofourCountryandrememberthatone’sfirstdutyistodefendit。Ifyoulearnthatamisfortunehappenstooneofus,ask,’Didhediefighting?’andifYes,givethankstoGod。Victoryorelsedeath,thereisnothingelseforus;oneortheotherwemusthave。
Alltheworldhereisofthattemper。What!youwouldeverybodysacrificehislifefortheState,andyouwouldnothaveyourBrothersgivetheexample?Ah,mydearSister,atthiscrisis,thereisnoroomforbargaining。Eitheratthesummitofglorioussuccess,orelseabolishedaltogether。ThisCampaignnowcomingislikethatofPharsaliaforRome,orthatofLeuctrafortheGreeks,"——aCampaignweverilyshallhavetowin,orgotowreckupon![OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。i。391。]
FRIEDERICHSHORTLYAFTERPRAG(TohisMother,LetterstillextantinAutograph,withoutdate)。——"MyBrothersandIarestillwell。
ThewholeCampaignrunsriskofbeinglosttotheAustrians;andI
findmyselffree,with150,000men。Addtothis,thatwearemastersofaKingdom[Bohemiahere],whichisobligedtofurnishuswithtroopsandmoney。TheAustriansaredispersedlikestrawbeforethewind。IwillsendapartofmytroopstocomplimentMessieurstheFrench;andamgoing[ifIoncehadPrag!]topursuetheAustrianswiththerestofmyArmy。"[Ib。xxvi。75。]
Friedrich,whokeepshisemotionsgenerallytohimself,doesnot,aswillbeseen,remainquitesilenttousthroughoutthisgreatYear;but,byaccident,hasleftussomeratherimpressivegleaningsinthatkind;——andcertainlyinnoyearcouldsuchaccidenthavebeenluckiertous;thisof1757being,inseveralrespects,thegreatestofhisLife。Fromnearlythetopmostheightsdowntothelowestdeeps,hisfortunesoscillatedthisyear;
andprobably,ofallthesonsofAdam,nobody’soutlooksandreflectionshadinthem,successiveandsimultaneous,moregiganticformsoffearandofhope。Heisonaveryhighpeakatthismoment;suddenlyemergingfromhisthickcloud,intothunderousvictoryofthatkind;andwarningallPythonswhattheygetbymeddlingwiththeSun—god!Loudenough,far—clanging,isthesoundofthesilverbow;gazetteersandmenallonpauseatsuchnewPhoebusApolloriseninhiswrath;——theVictoryatPragconsideredtobemuchmoreannihilativethanitreallywas。AtLondon,LordHoldernesshadhisTower—gunsinreadiness,waitingforsomethingofthekind;and"thejoyofthepeoplewasfrantic。"
[MitchellPapersandMemoirs(i。ethePRINTEDSelection,2vols。London,1850;——whichwillbetheoftenestcitedbyus,"PapersANDMEMOIRS"),i。249:"HoldernesstoMitchell,20thMay,1757。"MitchellisnowattendingFriedrich;
hisLetterfromKeith’sCamp,duringthethunderof"Friday,May6th,"isgiven,ib。i。248。]
Verydominant,our"ProtestantChampion"yonder,onhisZiscaberg;
biddingtheenormousPompadour—Theresacombinations,theFrench,Austrian,Swedish,Russianpopulationsanddreadsovereigns,checktheirproudwaves,andholdatmid—flood。Itisthought,hadheineffect,"annihilated"theAustrianforceatPrag,thatday(Friday,6thMay,ashemighthavedonebywaitingtillSaturday,7th),hecouldthen,withtheduerapidity,rapiditybeingindispensableintheaffair,havebecomemasterofPrag,whichmeantofBohemiaaltogether;andhavestormedforward,ashisprogrambore,intotheheart,ofanAustriastillterror—stricken,unrallied;——inwhichcase,itiscalculated,theFrench,theRussians,Swedes,muchmoretheReichandsuchlike,wouldallhavedrawnbridle;andAustriaitselfhavecondescendedtomakePeacewithaNeighborofsuchquality,andconsenttohisreallymodestdesireofbeingletalone!Possible,allthis,——thinkRetzowandothers。[SeeRETZOW,i。100—108;&c。]ButtheKinghadnotwaitedtillto—morrow;
nopersuasioncouldmakehimwait:anditisidlespeculatingonthesmallturnswhichhere,aseverywhere,canproducesuchdeflectionsofcourse。
Beyondquestion,Pragisnotcaptured,andmay,asnowgarrisoned,requireagreatdealofcapturing:——andperhapsitisbutaPEAK,thishighdominancyofFriedrich’s,notasolidtable—land,tillmuchmorehavebeendone!FriedrichhasnothingoftheGascon:
buttheremaywellbeconceivableatthistimeacertainglowofinternalpride,likethatofPhoebusamidthepiledtempests,——likethatoftheOneManprevailing,ifbutforashortseason,againsttheDevilandAllMen:"Ihavemadegoodmybit,ofresolutionsofar:herearetheAustriansbeatenatthesetday,andPragsummonedtosurrender,asperprogram!"——
Intrinsically,PragisnotastrongCity:wehaveseenit,takeninfewdays;inonenight;——andagain,asinBelleisle’stime,wehaveseenitmakingtoughdefenceforaseriesofweeks。Itdependsonthegarrison,whatextentofgarrison(thecircuitofitbeingsoimmense),andwhatheightofhumor。Therearenow46,000mencagedinit,knowntohaveconsiderablemagazines;andFriedrich,awarethatitwillcosttrouble,bendsallhisstrengthuponit,andfromhistwocamps,Ziscaberg,Weissenberg,dueBridgesuniting,Keithandhebatterit,violently,aimingchieflyattheMagazines(whicharenotallbomb—proof);andhopetheymaysucceedbeforeitistoolate。
TheViennapeopleareinthedepthsofamazementanddiscouragement;almostofterror,haditnotbeenforafew,orespeciallyforonehighheartamongthem。FeldmarschallDaun,onthenewsofMay6th,hastilyfellback,joinedbythewrecksoftherightwing,whichfledSazawaway。Brunswick—Bevern,witha20,000,isdetachedtolookafterDaun;findsDaunstillontheretreat;
greedilycollectingreinforcementsfromthehomewardquarter;
andhangingback,thoughnowdoubleorsoofBevern’sstrength。
AmazementanddiscouragementarethegeneralfeelingamongFriedrich’senemies。Notabletoseehowthewholehostileworldmarchinginuponhim,——French,Russians,muchmoretheReich,poorfalteringentity,——pauses,aswithitsbreathtakenaway,atnewsofPrag;and,arrestedonthesudden,withliftedfoot,ceasestostrideforward;andmerelytramp—trampsonthesameplace(nayinpart,intheReichpart,visiblytrampsbackward),foraboveamonthensuing!Whoknowswhether,practically,anyofthemwillcomeon;[SeeCORRESPONDANCEDUCOMTEDESAINT—GERMAIN,anEye—witness,i。108(citedinPreuss,ii。50);&c。&c。]andnotleaveAustriabyitselftodotheduelwithFriedrich?IfPragwerebutgot,andthe46,000welllockedaway,itwouldbeverysalutaryforFriedrich’saffairs!——Weekafterweek,theCityholdsout;
andthereseemsnohopeofit,exceptbyhunger,andburningtheirMagazinesbyred—hotballs。
COLONELMAYERWITHHIS"FREE—CORPS"PARTYMAKESAVISIT,OFDIDACTICNATURE,TOTHEREICH。
Friedrich,aswesaw,onenteringBohmen,hadshotoffaLightDetachmentunderColonelMayer,southward,toseizeanyAustrianMagazinestherewere,especiallyonebigMagazineatPilsen:——whichMayerhashandsomelydone,May2d(Pilsen"abiggerMagazinethanJung—Bunzlau,even");afterwhichMayerisnowoffwestward,intotheOber—Pfalz,intotheNurnbergCountries;toteachtheReichasmalllesson,sincetheywillnotlistentoPlotho。PragBattle,ashappens,hadalreadymuchchilledtheardoroftheReich!MayerhastwoFree—Corps,hisownandanother;about1,300offoot;towhichareaddeda200ofhussars。Theyhave5cannon,carryotherwiseaminimumofbaggage;areswiftwildfellows,sharpofstroke;
anddo,forthetime,provedidactictotheReich;bringinghometoitsverybosomthelategreatlessonoftheZiscaberg,inanappliedform。Mayermadeaprettycourseofit,intotheOber—PfalzCountries;scatteringthepoorExecutionDrill—Sergeantsandincipienciesofpreparation,thedeliberativeCountyMeetings,KREIS—Convents:ransomingCities,Nurnbergforonecity,whosecrieswenttoFriedrichontheZiscaberg,andwideovertheworld。
[InHelden—Geschichte,iv。360—367,theNurnbergLetterandResponse(3lstMay—5thJune,1757):inPauli,LebengrosserHelden(iii。159etseq。),AccountoftheMayerExpedition;alsoinMilitair—Lexikon,iii。29(quotingfromPauli)。]Nurnbergwouldhavebeenbuttoohappyto"refuseitscontingenttotheReich’sArmy,"
asmanyotherswouldhavebeen(poorKur—BaiernhurryingoffakindofEmbassytoFriedrich,greatterrorreigningamongthewigsofRegensburg,andeverybodydrawingbackthatcould),——hadnotImperialmenaces,andanEventthatfelloutbyandbyinPragCountry,forcedcompliance。
Mayer’sExpeditionmadealoudnoiseintheNewspapers;andwastrulyofashiningnatureinitskind;veryperfectlymanagedonMayer’spart,andhastraitsinitwhichareamusingtoread,hadonetime。TakeonesmallglancefromPauli:——
"AtFurthinAnspach,1stJune[aftersixdays’screwingofNurnbergfromwithout,whichwehadnocannontotake],aGratuityforthePrussiantroops[amountnotstated]wasdemandedandgiven:
atSchwabach,fartheruptheRegnitzRiver,theytookquarters;
noexemptionmade,clergyandlaityalikegettingsoldiersbilleted。Meatanddrinkhadtobegiventhem:asalso100
carolines[guineasandbetter],andtwentynewuniforms。
Uponwhich,nextday,theymarchedtoZirndorf,andtheReichsgrafPuckler’sMansion,theSchlossofFarrenbachthere。MayertookquarterintheSchlossitself。HerethenobleownersgotupaballforMayer’sentertainment;anddidalltheycouldcontrivetoinducealighttreatmentfromhim。"Figureit,theneighboringnobilityandgentryingala;Mayertooinhisbestuniform,andsmilingpolitely,withthose"brightlittleblackeyes"ofhis!
Forhewasabrilliantairykindoffellow,andhadmuchofthechevalier,aswellasofthepartisan,whenrequisite!
"OutofFarrenbach,theMayerpeoplecirculateduponalltheneighboringLordships;atWilhelmsdorf,theReichs—FurstvonHohenlohe[atoobusyAnti—Prussian]hadtheworstbrunttobear。
TheadjacentBaireuthlands[dearWilhelmina,fancyhertooinsuchneighborhood!]weretotheutmostsparedallbilleting,andevenalltransit,"——thoughwanderingsergeantsoftheReich’sForce,"onesergeantwiththeWurzburgHerrCommissariusandeightcommonmen,didgetpickeduponBaireuthground:andthisortheotherAnspachOfficial(Anspachbeingdisaffected),toobusyonthewrongside,foundhimselfsuddenlyPrisonerofWar;butwasgivenup,atWilhelmina?sgraciousrequest。OnBamberghewassharpasflint;
andhadtobe;theBambergers,reinforcedatlastby’Circle—
Militias(KREIS—TRUPPEN)’inquantity,beingcalledoutinmassagainsthim;andatVachanactualPassageofFighthadoccurred。"
Ofthe"AffairatVach,"prettylittleDrawn—Battle(mostlyanaffairofart),MayerVERSUS"Kreis—troopstotheamountof6,000,withtwelvecannon,orsomesaytwenty—four"(whichtheycouldn’thandle);andhowMayercunninglytookapositionunassailable,"burntBridgesoftheRegnitzRiver,"and,plyinghisfivecannonagainsttheseardentawkwardpeople,stoodcheerfulontheotherside;andthenatlast,ingoodtime,whiskedhimselfofftotheHillofCulmbach,withallhisbaggage,inexpugnablethereforthreedays:——ofallthis,thoughitissetdownatfulllength,wecansaynothing。[Pauli,iii。159,&c。(whogivesMayer’sownLETTER,andothers,uponVach)。]Andwilladdonly,that,havinggirthimselfandmadehispackages,MayerlefttheHillofCulmbach;anddeliberatelywendedhome,byCoburgandotherCountrieswherehehadbusiness,eatinghisway;andearlyinJulywassafeintheMetalMountainsagain;havingflutteredtheVolsciansintheirFrankenlandCoriolitoanunexpectedextent。
ItisoneoffiveorsixsuchsalliesFriedrichmadeupontheReich,sometimesupontheAustriansandReichtogether,totumbleuptheirmagazinesandpreparations。Rapidunexpectedinroads,yearafteryear;donechieflybytheFree—Corps;andfamousenoughtothethenGazetteers。Ofwhich,oroftheirdoers,aswecanintimecomingaffordlittleornonotice,letusaddthissmallNoteontheFree—Corpstopic,whichisalargeoneintheBooks,butmustnotinterruptusagain:——
"BeforethisWarwasdone,"saymyAuthorities,"therecamegraduallytobetwenty—onePrussianFree—Corps,"——footalmostall;
therebeingalreadyHussarsinquantity,eversincethefirstSilesianexperiences。"NotableAggregatestheywereofloosewanderingfellows,brokenSaxons,Prussians,French;’Hungarian—
Protestant’someofthem,’DesertersfromalltheArmies’notafew;attractedbythefameofFriedrich,——astheColonelsenlistingthemhadbeen;Mayerhimself,forinstance,wasbybirthaViennaman;andhadbeeninmanyservicesandwars,fromhisfifteenthyearandonwards。Mostmiscellaneous,thesePrussianFree—Corps;
aswiftfacultytheindispensablething,bynomeansaparticularcharacter:butwell—disciplined,well—captained;whogenerallymanagedtheirworkwell。
"Theywere,byorigin,ofAnti—Tolpatchnature,gotuponthediamond—cut—diamondprinciple;theystoleagooddeal,withordersometimes,andoftenerwithout;buttherewasnothingoftheoldMentzel—Trenckatrocitypermittedthem,oreverimputedtothem;
andtheydid,usuallywithgoodmilitarytalent,sometimesconspicuouslygood,whatwasrequiredofthem。RegularGenerals,ofahighmerit,oneortwooftheirCaptainscametobe:Wunsch,forexample;Werner,insomesort;and,butforhissuddendeath,thisMayerhimself。Othersofthem,asVonHordt(HardishisSwedishname);and’QuintusIcilius’(bynatureGUICHARD,ofwhomweshallhearagreatdealintheFriedrichcirclebyandby),aredistinguishedashonorablyintellectualandcultivatedpersons。
[CountdeHordt’sMemoirs(autobiographical,orinthefirstperson:EnglishTranslation,London,1806;
TWOFrenchOriginals,aworsein1789,andabetternowatlast),Preface,i—xii。InHelden—Geschichte,
v。102—104,93,adetailed"ListoftheFree—Corpsin1758"(twelveoffoot,twoofhorse,atthattime):seePreuss,ii。372n。;
Pauli(ubisupra),LifeofMayer。]
"PoorMayerdiedwithintwoyearshence(5thJanuary,1759);offever,caughtbyunheard—ofexertionsandoverfatigues;aftermanyexploits,andwiththehighestprospect,openingonhim。Amanofmanyadventures,ofmanyqualities;awilddashofchivalryinhimallalong,andmuchmilitaryandothertalentcrossedinthegrowing。InthedulloldBooksIreadoneotherfactwhichisvividtome,ThatWilhelmina,assequelofthosefirstFranconianexploitsandprocedures,’hadgivenhimherOrderofKnighthood,ORDEROFSINCERITYANDFIDELITY,’"——poordearPrincess,whataninteresttoWilhelmina,thisflashofherBrother’sthunderthrownintothoseFranconianparts,andacrossherownpungentanxietiesandsorrowfullyaffectionatethoughts,intheseweeks!——
ShortlyafterMayer,aboutthetimewhenMayerwaswendinghomeward,GeneralvonOldenburg,averyvaliantpunctualoldGeneral,waspushedoutwestwarduponErfurt,aCityofKur—
Mainz’s,togiveKur—Mainzasimilarmonition。Anddidithandsomely,impressivelyupontheGazetteerworldatleastandtheErfurtpopulations,——thoughwecanafforditnoroominthisplace。
Oldenburg’sforcewasbutsome2,000;PirnaSaxonsmostofthem:
——suchawinterOldenburghashadwiththeseSaxons;burstingoutintoactualmusketryuponhimonce;Oldenburg,volcanicallysteady,summoningthePrussianpart,"Tome,truePrussianBursche!"——andhangingnineofthemutinousSaxons。Andhascoercedandcompescedthem(allthatdidnotcontrivetodesert)intosoldierlyobedience;and,20thJune,appearsattheGateofErfurtwiththem,todohisdelicateerrandthere。Sharplyconclusive,thoughpoliteandpunctual。"SendtoKur—Mainzsayyou?Well,astoyourCitadel,andthose1,400soldiersallmovingpeaceablyoffthither,——Yes。
AstoyourCity:withinonehour,Gateopentous,orweopenit!"
[InHelden—Geschichte(v。371—384)copiousAccount,withtheMissivestoandfrom,theReichs—Pleadingsthatfollowed,the&c。&c。Militair—Lexikon,?
Oldenburg。]AndOldenburgmarchesin,asvice—sovereignforthetime:——but,indeed,hassoontoleaveagain;owingtowhatEventinthedistancewillbeseen!
IfPragSiegegowell,theseMayer—OldenburgexpeditionswillhaveaneffectontheReich:butifitgoill,whatarethey,againstAustriawithitsforceofsteadypressure?AllturnsontheissueofPragSiege:——afactextremelyevidenttoFriedrichtoo!
Butthesearewhatintheinterimcanbedone。Oneneglectsnoopportunity,triesbyeverymethod。
OFTHESINGULARQUASI—BEWITCHEDCONDITIONOFENGLAND;
ANDWHATISTOBEHOPEDFROMITFORTHECOMMONCAUSE,IFPRAGGOAMISS。
OntheBritannicside,too,theoutlooksarenotgood;——muchneedFriedrichwerethroughhisPragaffair,and"hasteningwithfortythousandtohelphisAllies,"——thatis,RoyalHighnessofCumberlandandBritannicPurse,hisonlyalliesatthismoment。
RoyalHighnessandArmyofObservation(shouldhavebeen67,000,are50to60,000,hiredGermans;troopsgoodenough,weretheytolerablyled)findstheHanoverProgramasbadasSchmettauandFriedricheverrepresentedit;and,already,——unlessPraggowell,——wears,totheunderstandingeye,averycontingentaspect。
D’Estreesoutnumbershim;D’Estrees,too,issomethingofasoldier,——averyconsiderableadvantageinaffairsofwar。
D’Estrees,sinceApril,isinWesel;gatheringintherevenues,changingtheOfficialities:muchoutofdiscipline,theysay;——"hanging"gradually"1,000marauders;"inroundnumbers1,000
thisYear。[Stenzel,v。65;Retzow,i。173。]D’Estreesdoesnotyetpushforward,owingtoPrag。Ifhedo——ItiswellknownhowRoyalHighnessfaredwhenhedid,andwhataCampaignRoyalHighnessmadeofitthisYear1757!HowtheWeserdidprovewadable,asSchmettauhadsaidtonopurpose;wadable,bridgable;andRoyalHighnesshadtowriggleback,everback;nostandtobemade,orfarworsethannone:back,everback,tillhegotintotheSea,forthatmatter,andtotheENDofmorethanonething!Poorman,friendssayhehasanincurableHanoverMinistry,aProgramthatisinexecutable。
Asyethehasnotlosthead,anyheadheeverhad:butheiswonderful,he;——andhisEnglandis!Weshallhavetolookathimonceagain;andhappilyonceonly。Here,frommyConstitutionalHistorian,aresomePassageswhichwemayaswellreadinthepresentinterimofexpectation。Ilabel,andtrytoarrange:——
1。ENGLANDINCRISIS。"EnglandisindignantwithitsHeroofCullodenandhisCampaign1757;butreallyhasnobusinesstocomplain。RoyalHighnessofCumberland,wrigglinghelplesslyinthatmanner,isafairrepresentativeoftheEnglandthatnowis。
Foryearsback,therehasbeen,inregardtoallthingsForeignorDomestic,inthatCountry,bywayofNationalaction,themiserablesthagglingastowhichofvariouslittle—competentpersonsshallactfortheNation。Amelancholyconditionindeed!——
"Butthefactis,hisGraceofNewcastle,eversincehispoorBrotherPelhamdied(whowasalwaysasolid,loyalkindofman,thoughadull;andhadalways,withpatientaffection,furnishedhisGrace,muchUNsuppliedotherwise,withCommonsensehitherto),isquiteinsecureinParliament,andknowsnotwhathandtoturnto。Foxiscontemptuousofhim;Pittentirelyimpatientofhim;
DukeofCumberland(greatinthegloryofCulloden)isaimingtoousthim,andbearrulewithhisYoungNephew,thenewRisingSun,asthepoorPapaandGrandfathergetsold。EvenCarteret(EarlGranvilleastheynowcallhim,aCarteretmuchchangedsincethosehigh—soaringWorms—Hanautimes!)wasappliedto。Buttheanswerwas——whatcouldtheanswerbe?High—soaringCarteret,scandalouslyoversetandhurledoutinthatHanautime,hadalreadytriedonce(longago,andwithsuchresult!)tospringinagain,and’deliverhisMajestyfromfactions;’andactuallyhadmadea’GranvilleMinistry;’Ministrywhichfellagaininoneday。["11thFebruary,1746"(Thackeray,LifeofChatham,i。146)。]
TothecompletedisgustofCarteret—Granville;——who,eversince,sitsponderouslydormant(kindofFixtureinthePrivyCouncil,thislongwhileback);andisresigned,inabigcontemptuousway,tohavehadhisreallyconsiderablecareercloseduponhimbythesmallestofmankind;and,exceptoccasionalblurtsofstrongruggedspeechwhichcomefromhim,andagooddealofwinetakenintohim,disdainsmakingfartherdebatewiththeworldanditselectNewcastles。Carteret,atthiscrisis,wasagainappliedto,’Cannotyou?InbehalfofanafflictedoldKing?’ButCarteretanswered,No。[Ib。i。464。]
"Inshort,itisadmittedandbewailedbyeverybody,seldomwasthereseensuchaGovernmentofEngland(andEnglandhasseensomestrangeGovernments),asintheselastThreeYears。
ChaoticImbecilityreigningprettysupreme。Ruler’sWork,——policy,administration,governance,guidance,performanceinanykind,——
whereisittobefound?ForifevenaWalpole,whenhisTalking—
Apparatusgetsoutofgearuponhim,isreducedtoextremities,thoughthestoutestofmen,——fancywhatitwillbe,inlikecase,andhowtheActing—ApparatusesandAffairsgenerallywillgo,withapoorhystericalNewcastle,nowwhenhisCommonSenseisfatallywithdrawn!Thepoormanhasnoresourcebuttoshuffleaboutinaimlessperpetualfidget;endeavoringvainlytosayYesandNotoallquestions,ForeignandDomestic,thatmayrise。Whereby,intheAffairsofEngland,therehas,asitwere,universalSt。—Vitus’sdancesupervened,atanimportantcrisis:andthePreparationsforAmerica,andforadownrightLife—and—DeathWrestlewithFranceontheJENKINS’S—EARQUESTION,arequiteinabadway。Inanominouslybad。Whycannotwedrawaveiloverthesethings!"——
2。PITT,ANDTHEHOUROFTIDE。"Thefidgetingsandshufflings,thesubtleties,inanetrickeries,andfutilehitheringsandthitheringsofNewcastlemaybeimagined:amannotincapableoftrick;
butanxioustobewellwitheverybody;andtoanswerYesandNotoalmosteverything,——andnotalittlepuzzled,poorsoul,togetthrough,inthatimpossibleway!SuchaparalysisofwrigglingimbecilityfallenoverEngland,inthisgreatcrisisofitsfortunes,asisstillpainfultocontemplate:andindeedithasbeenmostlyshakenoutofmindbythemodernEnglishman;whotriestolaughatit,insteadofweepingandconsidering,whichwouldbetterbeseem。Pittspeakswithatragicalvivacity,inallingeniousdialects,livelythoughserious;andwithadepthofsadconviction,whichisapttobeslurredoverandmissedaltogetherbyamodernreader。SpeaksasifthisbraveEnglishNationwereaboutended;littleornohopeleftforit;hereagleamofpossibility,andthereagleam,whichsoonvanishesagaininthefatalmurkofimpotencies,do—nothingisms。VerysadtotheheartofPitt。AoncebraveNationarrivedatitscriticalpoint,anddoomedtohiggleandpuddletheretillitdrowninthegutters:
considerablytragicaltoPitt;whoislively,ingenious,and,thoughnotquittingtheParliamentarytonefortheHebrew—
Prophetic,farmoreseriousthanthemodernreaderthinks。
"InWalpole’sBook[MemoirsoftheLastTenYearsofGeorgeII。]thereistheliveliestPictureofthisdismalParliamentaryHellbroth,——suchaMotherofDeadDogsasonehasseldomlookedinto!FortheHourisgreat;andtheHonorableGentlemen,Imustsay,aresmall。Thehour,littleasyoudreamofit,myHonorableFriends,ispregnantwithquestionsthatareimmense。WideContinents,longEpochsandAEonshangonthispoorjargoningofyours;theEternalDestiniesareaskingtheirmuch—
favoredNation,’Willyou,canyou?’——much—favoredNationisansweringinthatmanner。Astonishedatitsownstupidity,andtakingrefugeinlaughter。TheEternalDestiniesareverypatientwithsomeNations;andcandisregardtheirfollies,foralongwhile;andhavetheirCromwell,havetheirPitt,orwhatelseisessential,readyforthepoorNation,inagrandlysilentway!
"Certainitis,——thoughhowcouldpoorNewcastleknowitatall!——
hereisagainthehouroftideforEngland。Tideisfullagain;
hasbeenflowinglonghundredsofyears,andisfull:certain,too,thattimeandtidewaitonnomanornation。InadialectdifferentfromCromwell’sorPitt’s,butwithasensetruetotheirs,IcallittheEternalDestiniesknockingatEngland’sdooragain:’Areyoureadyforthecrisis,birth—pointoflongAgestoyou,whichisnowcome?’Greaterquestionhadnotbeen,forcenturiespast。NonetobenamedwithitsincethathighSpiritualQuestion(trulyamuchhigher,andwhichwasinfactthePARENTofthisandofallofhighandgreatthatlayahead),whichEnglandandOliverCromwellweretheretoanswer:’WillyouholdbyConsecratedFormulas,then,youEnglish,andexpectsalvationfromtraditionsoftheelders;orareyouforDivineRealities,astheonesacredandindispensablething?’Whichtheydidanswer,inwhatwayweknow。TrulytheHighestQuestion;whichifaNationcananswerWELL,itwillgrowinthisworld,andmaycometobeconsiderable,andtohavemanyhighQuestionstoanswer,——thisofPitt’s,forexample。AndtheAnswersgivendoalwaysextendthroughcomingages;anddoalwaysbearharvests,accursedorelseblessed,accordingastheAnswerswere。Athingawfullytrue,ifyouhaveeyeforit;——athingtomakeHonorableGentlemenserious,evenintheageofpercussion—
caps!No,myfriend,Newcastleisms,impiousPoltrooneries,inaNation,donotdie:——neither(thankGod)doCromwellismsandpiousHeroisms;butarealiveforthepoorNation,eveninitssomnambulancies,initsstupidestdreams。ForNationshavetheirsomnambulancies;and,atanyrate,thequestionsputtoNations,indifferentages,varymuch。Notinanyage,orturning—pointinHistory,hadEnglandansweredtheDestiniesinsuchadialectasnowunderitsNewcastleandNationalPalaver。"
3。OFWALPOLE,ASRECORDINGANGEL。"Walpole’sGeorgetheSecondisaBookoffarmoreworththaniscommonlyascribedtoit;almosttheoneoriginalEnglishBookyetwrittenonthosetimes,——which,bytheaccidentofPitt,arestillmemorabletous。ButforWalpole,——burninglikeasmallsteadylightthere,shiningfaithfully,ifstingily,ontheevilandthegood,——thatsordidmuddleofthePelhamParliaments,whichchancedtobetheelementofthingsnowrecognizableenoughasgreat,wouldbeforeverunintelligible。Heisunusuallyaccurate,punctual,lucid;
anirrefragableauthorityonEnglishpoints。Andif,inregardtoForeign,hecannotbecalledanunderstandingwitness,hehasreadthebestDocumentsaccessible,hasconversedwithselectAmbassadors(Mitchellandthelike,aswecanguess);andhasinformedhimselftoadegreefarbeyondmostofhiscontemporaries。
InregardtoPitt’sSpeeches,inparticular,hisbriefjottings,donerapidlywhilethematterwasstillshiningtohim,aretheonlyReportsthathavetheleasthumanresemblance。WemaythankWalpolethatPittisnotdumbtous,aswellasdark。Verycuriouslittlescratchingsandetchings,thoseofWalpole;frugal,swift,butpunctualandexact;hastypen—and—inkoutlines;atfirstview,allbarren;baldasaninvoice,seemingly;butwhichyieldyou,afterlongstudythereandelsewhere,aconceivablenotionofwhatandhowexcellentthesePittSpeechesmayhavebeen。Airy,winged,likearrow—flightsofPhoebusApollo;verysuperlativeSpeechesindeed。Walpole’sBookiscarefullyprinted,——fewerrorsinitlikethat’Chapeau’forCHASOT,"whichreadersremember:——"but,inrespecttoediting,maybecharacterizedasstillwantinganEditor。ABookUNedited;littlebutlazyignoranceofaveryhopelesstype,thickcontenteddarkness,traceablethroughoutinthemarginalpart。NoattemptatanIndex,oratanyofthenaturalhelpstoareadernowatsuchdistancefromit。Nay,tillyouhaveatleastmarked,onthetopofeachpage,whatMonthandYearitactuallyis,theBookcannotbereadatall,——exceptbyanidlecreature,doingworsethannothingunderthenameofreading!"
4。PITT’SSPEECHES,FORESHADOWINGWHAT。"ItisakindofepochinyourstudiesofmodernEnglishHistorywhenyougettounderstandofPitt’sSpeeches,thattheyarenotParliamentaryEloquences,butthingswhichwithhiswholesoulhemeans,andisintenttoDO。
Thissurprisingcircumstance,whenatlastbecomeundeniable,makes,onthesudden,animmensedifferencefortheSpeechesandyou!SpeechesarenotathingofhighmomenttothisEditor;itistheThingspoken,andhowfarthespeakermeanstodoit,thatthisEditorinquiresfor。ToomanySpeechesthereare,whichhehearsadmiredallround,andhasprivatelytoentertainaveryhorridnotionof!Speeches,thefinestinquality(werequalityreally’fine’conceivableinsuchcase),whichWANTacorrespondingfinenessofsourceandintention,correspondingnoblenessofpurport,conviction,tendency;these,ifwewillreflect,arefrightfulinsteadofbeautiful。Yes;——andalwaysthefrightfuler,the’finer’theyare;andthefasterandfarthertheygo,sowingthemselvesinthedimvacancyofmen’sminds。ForSpeeches,likeallhumanthings,thoughthefactisnowlittleremembered,doalwaysrankthemselvesasforeverblessed,orasforeverunblessed。
Sheeporgoats;ontherighthandoftheFinalJudge,orelseontheleft。ThereareSpeecheswhichcanbecalledtrue;and,again,Speecheswhicharenottrue:——Heavens,onlythinkwhattheselatterare!Sackedwind,whichyouareintendedtoSOW,——thatyoumayreapthewhirlwind!Afterlongreading,IfindChatham’sSpeechestobewhathepretendstheyare:true,andworthspeakingthenandthere。
Nobleindeed,Icancallthemwithyou:thehighlynobleForeshadow,necessaryprefaceandaccompanimentofActionswhicharestillnobler。Averysingularphenomenonwithinthosewalls,orwithout!
"Pitt,thoughnoblyeloquent,isaManofAction,notofSpeech;
anauthenticallyRoyalkindofMan。AndiftherewereaPlutarchinthesetimes,withagooddealofleisureonhishands,hemightrunaParallelbetweenFriedrichandChatham。TworadiantKings:veryshiningMenofActionboth;bothofthemhardbested,asthecaseoftenis。ForyourbornKingwillgenerallyhave,ifnot"allEuropeagainsthim,"atleastprettymuchalltheUniverse。
Chatham’scoursetoKingshipwasnotstraightorsmooth,——asFriedrich,too,hadhiswell—nighfataldifficultiesontheroad。
Again,saysthePlutarch,theyareverybravemenboth;andofaclearnessandveracitypeculiaramongtheircontemporaries。
InChatham,too,thereissomethingoftheflashofsteel;averysharp—cutting,penetrative,rapidindividual,hetoo;andshapedforaction,firstofall,thoughhehastotalksomuchintheworld。Fastidious,proud,noKingcouldbeprouder,thoughhiselementisthatofFree—SenateandDemocracy。Andhehasabeautifulpoeticdelicacy,withal;greattendernessinhim,playfulness,grace;inallways,anairyaswellasasolidloftinessofmind。NotbornaKing,——alas,no,notofficiallyso,onlynaturallyso;hashiskingdomtoseek。TheConqueringofSilesia,theConqueringofthePelhamParliaments——ButwewillshutupthePlutarchwithtimeonhishands。
"Pitt’sSpeeches,asIspellthemfromWalpoleandtheotherfainttracingsleft,arefullofgeniusinthevocalkind,farbeyondanySpeechesdeliveredinParliament:seriousalways,andtheverytruth,suchashehasit;butgoinginmanydialectsandmodes;
fullofairyflashings,twinklesandcoruscations。Sport,asofsheet—lightningglancingabout,theboltlyingunderthehorizon;
boltHIDDEN,asisfit,undersuchahorizonashehad。
Asingularlyradiantman。CouldhavebeenaPoet,too,insomesmallmeasure,hadhegoneonthatline。Therearemanytouchesofgenius,comic,tragic,lyric,somethingofhumoreven,tobereadinthoseShadowsofSpeechestakendownforusbyWalpole……
"Inoneword,Pitt,shininglikeagleamofsharpsteelinthatmurkofcontemptibilities,iscarefullysteeringhiswaytowardsKingshipoverit。Tragicalitis(especiallyinPitt’scase,firstandlast)toseeaRoyalMan,orBornKing,wadingtowardshisthroneinsuchanelement。But,alas,theBornKing(evenwhenhetries,whichItaketobetherarercase)soseldomcanarrivethereatall;——sinfulEpochsthereare,whenHeaven’scursehasbeenspoken,anditisthatawfulBeing,theBornSham—King,thatarrives!Pitt,however,doesit。Yes;andthemorewestudyPitt,themoreweshallfindhedoesitinapeculiarlyhigh,manfulandhonorableaswellasdexterousmanner;andthatEnglishHistoryhasarighttocallhim’theacmeandhighestmanofConstitutionalParliaments;thelikeofwhomwasnotinanyParliamentcalledConstitutional,norwillagainbe。’"
Well,probablyenough;tooprobably!Butwhatitmoreconcernsustorememberhere,isthefact,Thatinthesedismalshufflingswhichhavebeen,Pitt——inspiteofRoyaldislikesandNewcastlepeddlingsandchicaneries——hasbeenactuallyinOffice,intheduetopmostplace,thepoorEnglishNationardentlydemandinghim,inwhatwaysitcould。BeeninOffice;——andisactuallyoutagain,inspiteoftheNation。WaswithoutrealpowerintheRoyalCouncils;
thoughofnoblepromise,andplantinghimselfdown,hero—like,evidentlybentonwork,andonendingthatunutterable"St。—Vitus’s—dance"thathadgonesohighallroundhim。
Withoutrealpower,wesay;andhashadnopermanency。Cameinllth—19thNovember,1756;thrownout5thApril,1757。Aftersixmonths’trial,theSt。Vitusfindsthatitcannotdowithhim;
andwillprefergoingonagain。ThelastacthisRoyalHighnessofCumberlanddidinEnglandwastodisplacePitt:"Downyou,Iamtheman!"saidRoyalHighness;andwenttotheWeserCountriesonthoseterms。
Wouldthereaderwishtosee,insummary,whatPitt’sOfficeshavebeen,sinceheenteredonthiscareeraboutthirtyyearsago?
Here,fromourHistorian,istheListoftheminorderoftime;
STAGESOFPITT’SCOURSE,hecallsit:——
1。"DECEMBER,1734,ComesintoParliament,agenowtwenty—six;
CornetintheBluesaswell;beingpoor,andinabsoluteneedofsomecareerthatwillsuit。APRIL,1736,makeshisFirstSpeech:——
PrinceFrederickthesubject,——whowasmuchusedasbattering—rambytheOpposition;whomperhapsPittadmiredforhismadrigals,forhisLiterarypatronizings,andfavortotheWest—Wickhamset。
Speech,fullofairylightning,wasmuchadmired。Followedbymany,withthelightninggettingdenseranddenser;alwaysontheOppositionside[onceontheJENKINS’S—EARQUESTION,aswesaw,whentheGazetteerEditorspelthimMr。Pitts]:sothatMajestywasveryangry,sulkyPublicmuchapplausive;andWalpolewasheardtosay,’Wemustmuzzle,insomeway,thatterribleCornetofHorse!’
——butcouldnot,ontrial;thisman’s’price,’aswouldseem,beingawfullyhigh!AUGUST—OCTOBER,1744,SarahDuchessofMarlboroughbequeathedhim10,000poundsasCommissariatequipmentinthishisCampaignagainsttheMud—gods,[Thackeray,i。138。]——glorytotheoldHeroineforsodoing!WhichliftedPittoutoftheCornetcyorHorse—guardselement,Ifancy;andwasasthenailingofhisParliamentarycolorstothemast。
2。"FEBRUARY14th,1746,Vice—TreasurerforIreland:onoccasionofthatPelham—Granville’As—you—were!’(CarteretMinistry,whichlastedOneDay),andtheslightshufflingsthatwerenecessary。
NowfirstinOffice,——aftersuchTenYearsofcollidingandconflicting,andfinesteeringindifficultwaters。
Vice—TreasurerforIreland:and’soonafter,onLordWilmington’sdeath,’PAYMASTEROFTHEFORCES。ContinuedPaymasteraboutnineyears。Rejects,quietlyandtotally,thebigincomederivablefromInterestofGovernmentMoneyslyingdelayedinthePaymaster’shand(’Dishonest,Itellyou!’)——andwillnoneofit,thoughpoor。
Notyethigh,stilllowoverthehorizon,butshiningbrighterandbrighter。GreatlycontemptuousofNewcastleandthePlatitudesandPoltrooneries;andstillagooddealintheOppositionstrain,andNOTalwaystemperingthewindtotheshornlamb。Forexample,Pitt(stillPaymaster)toNewcastleonKingoftheRomansQuestion(1752
orso):’YouengageforSubsidies,notknowingtheirextent;
forTreaties,notknowingtheterms!’——’Whatabashaw!’moanNewcastleandthetopOfficials。’Bestwayis,don’tmindit,’saidMr。Stone[oneoftheirterriers,——ahard—headedfellow,whosebrotherbecamePrimateofIrelandbyandby]。
3。"NOVEMBER20th,1755,Thrownout:——onPelham’sdeath,andthegeneralhurly—burlyinOfficialregions,andchangeofpartnerswithnolittledifficulty,whichhadthenensued!SirThomasRobinson,"ouroldfriend,"madeSecretary,——notfoundtoanswer。
PittsulkilylookingonAmerica,onMinorca;onthingsGerman,onthingsingeneral;warilysetonreturning,asisthought;butHow?
FOXtoPitt:’WillyoujoinME?’——PITT:’No,’——withsuchpoliteness,butinanunmistakableway!TenmonthsofconsummatesteeringonthepartofPitt;ChancellorHardwickecomingasmessenger,heamongothers;Pitt’sanswertohimdexterous,modestlyroyal。Pitt’sbearing,inthisgrandjunctureandcrisis,isroyal,hisspeakingsandalsohissilencesnotablyfine。
OCTOBER20th,1756:toNewcastlefacetoface,’IwillacceptnosituationunderyourGrace!’——and,aboutthatdaymonth,comesIN,onhisownfooting。Thatistosay,"NOVEMBER19th,1756,toEngland’sgreatcomfort,SeeshimselfSecretaryofState(agenowjustforty—eight)。HasprettymuchallEnglandathisback;buthas,infaceofhim,Fox,NewcastleandCompany,offeringmereimpedimentanddiscouragement;
RoyalHighnessofCumberlandlookingdeadlysour。Tillfinally,"APRIL5th,1757,Kingbidshimresign;RoyalHighnesssettingoffforGermanytheseconddayafter。PitthadbeenINrathermorethanFourmonths。England,atthattimeasilentCountryincomparison,knewnotwellwhattodo;tooktoofferinghimFreedomsofCorporationsinverygreatquantity。TownafterTown,fromallthefourwinds,sympatheticallyfiringoff,uponamisguidedSacredMajesty,itslittleBox,inthisobliqueway,withextraordinarydiligence。Whereby,aftersixmonthsbombardmentbyBoxes,andalsobyEvents,JUNE29th,1757"——WewillexpectJune29th。
[Thackeray,i。231,264;Almon,AnecdotesofPitt(London,1810),i。151,182,218。]
Inthesesadcircumstances,PreparationssocalledhavebeenmakingforHanover,forAmerica;——suchpreparationsaswereneverseenbefore。Takeonlyoneinstance;letonebeenough:——
"BytheLondonGazette,welloninFebruary,1756,welearnthatLordLoudon,amilitarygentlemanofsmallfaculty,butofgoodconnections,hasbeennominatedtocommandtheForcesinAmerica;