首页 >出版文学> History of Friedrich II of Prussia>第10章
  Hewashimself,asappearedbyandby,afighterofthefirstquality,whenitcametothat:butneverwaswillingtofightifhecouldhelpit。Preferredrathertoshift,manoeuvreandnegotiate;whichhedidinamostvigilant,adroitandmasterlymanner。Butbydegreeshehadgrowntohave,andcouldmaintainit,anArmyof24,000men:amongthebesttroopstheninbeing。
  Withorwithouthiswill,hewasinallthegreatWarsofhistime,——thetimeofLouisXIV。,whokindledEuropefourtimesover,thriceinourKurfurst’sday。TheKurfurst’sDominions,alongstragglingcountry,reachingfromMemeltoWesel,couldhardlykeepoutofthewayofanywarthatmightrise。Hemadehimselfavailable,neveragainstthegoodcauseofProtestantismandGermanFreedom,yetalwaysintheplaceandwaywherehisownbestadvantagewastobehad。LouisXIV。hadoftenmuchneedofhim:
  stilloftener,andmorepressingly,hadKaiserLeopold,thelittleGentleman"inscarletstockings,witharedfeatherinhishat,"
  whomMr。Savageusedtoseemajesticallywalkingabout,withAustrianlipthatsaidnothingatall。[ACompleatHistoryofGermany,byMr。Savage(8vo,London,1702),p。553。WhothisMr。Savagewas,wehavenotrace。
  PrefixedtothevolumeisthePortraitofasolidGentlemanofforty:gloomilypolite,withamplewigandcravat,——inalllikelihoodsomestudioussubalternDiplomatistintheSuccessionWar。HislittleBookisveryleanandbarren:butfaithfullycompiled,——andmighthavesomeilluminationinit,whereutterdarknessissoprevalent。Mostlikely,AddisonpickedhisstoryoftheSiegeofWeinsberg("WomencarryingouttheirHusbandsontheirback,"——oneofhisbestSPECTATORS)outofthispoorBook。]His24,000excellentfighting—men,throwninattherighttime,wereoftenathingthatcouldturnthebalanceingreatquestions。Theyrequiredtobeallowedforatahighrate,——whichhewellknewhowtoadjusthimselfforexactingandsecuringalways。
  WHATBECAMEOFPOMMERNATTHEPEACE;FINALGLANCEINTOCLEVE—JULICH。
  WhenthePeaceofWestphalia(1648)concludedthatThirty—YearsConflagration,andswepttheashesofitintoorderagain,FriedrichWilhelm’srighttoPommernwasadmittedbyeverybody:
  andwellinsistedonbyhimself:butrighthadtoyieldtoreasonofstate,andhecouldnotgetit。TheSwedesinsistedontheirexpenses:theSwedesheldPommern,hadallalongheldit,——inpawn,theysaid,fortheirexpenses。NothingforitbuttogivetheSwedesthebetterhalfofPommern。FORE—Pommern(sotheycallit,"SwedishPomerania"thenceforth),whichliesnexttheSea:
  this,withsomeTownsandcuttingsoverandabove,wasSweden’sshare:FriedrichWilhelmhadtoputupwithHINDER—Pommern,dockedfurthermoreoftheTownofStettin,andofothervaluablecuttings,infavorofSweden。MuchtoFriedrichWilhelm’sgriefandjustanger,couldhehavehelpedit。
  TheygavehimThreesecularizedBishoprics,Magdeburg,Halberstadt,Minden,withothersmallremnants,forcompensation;
  andhehadtobecontentwiththeseforthepresent。ButhenevergaveuptheideaofPommern:muchoftheeffortofhislifewasspentuponrecoveringFore—Pommern:thrice—eageruponthat,wheneverlawfulopportunityoffered。Tonopurposethen:henevercouldrecoverSwedishPommern;onlyhislatedescendants,andthatbyslowishdegrees,couldrecoveritall。ReadersrememberthatBurgermeisterofStettin,withthehelmetandswordflungintothegraveandpickedoutagain:——andcanjudgewhetherBrandenburggotitsgoodluckquitebylyinginbed!——
  Once,andonceonly,hehadavoluntarypurposetowardsWar,anditremainedapurposeonly。SoonafterthePeaceofWestphalia,oldPfalz—Neuburg,thesamewhogottheslapontheface,wentintotyrannousproceedingsagainsttheProtestantpartofhissubjectsinJulich—Cleve:whocalledtoFriedrichWilhelmforhelp。FriedrichWilhelm,azealousProtestant,maderemonstrances,retaliations:erelongthethoughtstruckhim,"Suppose,backedbytheDutch,wethrewoutthisfantasticoldgentleman,hisPapistries,andpretendedclaimsandself,clearoutofit?"
  ThiswasFriedrichWilhelm’sthought;andhesuddenlymarchedtroopsintotheTerritory,withthatview。ButEuropewasinalarm,theDutchgrewfaint:FriedrichWilhelmsawitwouldnotdo。HehadaconferencewitholdPfalz—Neuburg:"Younggentleman,werememberhowyourGrandfathermadefreewithusandouraugustcountenance!Neverthelesswe——"Infine,the"statisticofTreaties"wasincreasedbyOne:andtherethematterrestedtillcalmertimes。
  In1666,asalreadysaid,aneffectivePartitionoftheselitigatedTerritorieswasaccomplished:PrussiatohavetheDuchyofCleve—Proper,theCountiesofMarkandRavensburg,withotherPatchesandPertinents:Neuburg,whatwasthebettershare,tohaveJulichDuchyandBergDuchy。Furthermore,ifeitheroftheLinesfailed,innosortwasacollateraltobeadmitted:
  butBrandenburgwastoinheritNeuburg,orNeuburgBrandenburg,asthecasemightbe。[Pauli,v。120—129。]AclearBargainthisatlast:andinthetimesthathadcome,itprovedexecutablesofar。
  ButifthereaderfanciestheLawsuitwasatlastoutinthisway,hewillbeasimplereader!InthedaysofourlittleFritz,theLineofPfalz—Neuburgwasevidentlyending:butthatBrandenburgandnotacollateralshouldsucceedit,therelaythequarrel,——
  openstill,asifithadneverbeenshut:andweshallhearenoughaboutit!——
  THEGREATKURFURST’SWARS:WHATHEACHIEVEDINWARANDPEACE。
  FriedrichWilhelm’sfirstactualappearanceinWar,Polish—
  SwedishWar(1655—1660),wasinvoluntaryinthehighestdegree:
  forceduponhimforthesakeofhisPreussen,whichbadefairtobelostorruined,withoutblameofhisorits。Nevertheless,heretoohemadehisbenefitoftheaffair。ThebigKingofSwedenhadastandingquarrelwithhisbigCousinofPoland,whichbrokeoutintohotWar;littlePreussenlaybetweenthem,andwasliketobecrushedinthecollision。SwedishKingwasKarlGustav,Christina’sCousin,CharlesTwelfth’sGrandfather;agreatandmightyman,lionoftheNorthinhistime:PolishKingwasoneJohnCasimir;chivalrousenough,andwithcloudsofforwardPolishchivalryabouthim,glitteringwithbarbaricgold。FrederickIII。,DanishKingforthetimebeing,healsowasmuchinvolvedinthething。FainwouldFriedrichWilhelmhavekeptoutofit,buthecouldnot。KarlGustavasgoodasforcedhimtojoin:hejoined;
  foughtalongwithKarlGustavanillustriousBattle;"BattleofWarsaw,"threedayslong(28—30thJuly,l656),ontheskirtsofWarsaw,——crowds"lookingfromtheupperwindows"there;Polishchivalry,brokenatlast,goinglikechaffuponthewinds,andJohnCasimirnearlyruined。
  Shortlyafterwhich,FriedrichWilhelm,whohadshonemuchintheBattle,changedsides。Aninconsistent,treacherousman?
  Perhapsnot,Oreader;perhapsamanadvancing"incircuits,"theonlywayhehas;spirally,facenowtoeast,nowtowest,withhisownreasonableprivateaimsun—cleartohimallthewhile?
  JohnCasimiragreedtogiveupthe"HomageofPreussen"forthisservice;agrandprizeforFriedrichWilhelm。[TreatyofLabiau,10thNovember,1656(Pauli,v。73—75);20thNovember(Stenzel,iv。
  128,——whoalwaysusesNEWSTYLE)。]WhattheTeutschRittersstroveforinvain,andlosttheirexistenceinstrivingfor,theshiftyKurfursthasnowgot:DucalPrussia,whichisalsocalledEastPrussia,isnowafreesovereignty,——andwillbecomeas"Royal"astheotherPolishpart。Orperhapsevenmoreso,inthecourseoftime!——KarlGustav,inahighframeofmind,informstheKurfurst,thathehashimonhisbooks,andwillpaythedebtoneday!
  Adangerousdebtorinsuchmatters,thisKarlGustav。Inthesesamemonths,busywiththeDanishpartoftheControversy,hewasdoingafeatofwar,whichsetallEuropeinastonishment。
  InJanuary,1658,KarlGustavmarcheshisArmy,horse,footandartillery,totheextentoftwentythousand,acrosstheBalticice,andtakesanIslandwithoutshipping,——IslandofFunen,acrosstheLittleBelt;threemilesofice;andapartoftheseaopen,whichhastobecrossedonplanks。Nay,forwardfromFunen,whenoncethere,heachievestenwholemilesmoreofice;
  andtakesZealanditself,[Holberg’sDanemarkischeReichs—Historie,pp。406—409。]——tothewonderofallmankind。Animperious,stern—browed,swift—strikingman;whohaddreamedofanewGothEmpire:ThemeanHypocritesandFribblesoftheSouthtobecoercedagainbynobleNorsevalor,andtaughtanewlesson。HasbeenknowntolayhishandonhisswordwhileapprisinganAmbassador(DutchHigh—Mightiness)whathisroyalintentionswere:"Notthesaleorpurchaseofgroceries,observeyou,Sir!Myaimsgohigher!"——CharlesTwelfth’sGrandfather,andsomewhatthesametypeofman。
  ButKarlGustavdied,shortwhileafter;[13thFebruary,1660,age38。]lefthisbigwide—ragingNorthernControversytocollapseinwhatwayitcould。Swedenandthefighting—partiesmadetheir"PeaceofOliva"(AbbeyofOliva,nearDantzig,1stMay,1660);
  andthisofPreussenwasratified,inallform,amongtheotherpoints。Nohomagemore;nothingnowaboveDucalPrussiabuttheHeavens;andgreattimescomingforit。ThiswasoneofthesuccessfuleststrokesofbusinesseverdonebyFriedrichWilhelm;
  whohadbeenforced,bysheercompulsion,toembarkinthatbiggame。——"RoyalPrussia,"theWesternorPOLISHPrussia:thistoo,asallNewspapersknow,has,inourtimes,gonethesameroadastheother。Whichprobably,afterall,itmayhavehad,inNature,sometendencytodo?Cutaway,forreasons,bythePolishsword,inthatBattleofTannenberg,longsince;andthen,alsoforreasons,cutbackagain!Thatisthefact;——notunexampledinhumanHistory。
  OldJohannCasimir,notlongafterthatPeaceofOliva,gettingtiredofhisunrulyPolishchivalryandtheirways,abdicated;——
  retiredtoParis;and"livedmuchwithNinonde1’Enclosandhercircle,"fortherestofhislife。HeusedtocomplainofhisPolishchivalry,thattherewasnosolidityinthem;nothingbutoutsideglitter,withtumultandanarchicnoise;fatalwantofoneessentialtalent,thetalentofObeying;andhasbeenheardtoprophesythatagloriousRepublic,persistinginsuchcourses,wouldarriveatresultswhichwouldsurpriseit。
  Onwardfromthistime,FriedrichWilhelmfiguresintheworld;
  publicmenwatchinghisprocedure;Kingsanxioustosecurehim,——
  DutchprintsellersstickinguphisPortraitsforahero—
  worshippingPublic。Fightinghero,hadthePublicknownit,wasnothisessentialcharacter,thoughhehadtofightagreatdeal。
  HewasessentiallyanIndustrialman;greatinorganizing,regulating,inconstrainingchaoticheapstobecomecosmicforhim。Hedrainsbogs,settlescoloniesinthewaste—placesofhisDominions,cutscanals;unweariedlyencouragestradeandwork。
  TheFRIEDRICH—WILHELM’SCANAL,whichstillcarriestonnagefromtheOdertotheSpree,[Executed,1662—1668;fifteenEnglishmileslong(Busching,ERDBESCHREIBUNG,vi,2193)。]isamonumentofhiszealinthisway;creditable,withthemeanshehad。TothepoorFrenchProtestants,intheEdict—of—NantesAffair,hewaslikeanexpressBenefitofHeaven:oneHelperappointed,towhomthehelpitselfwasprofitable。HemunificentlywelcomedthemtoBrandenburg;showedreallyanoblepietyandhumanpity,aswellasjudgment;nordidBrandenburgandhewanttheirreward。
  Some20,000nimbleFrenchsouls,evidentlyofthebestFrenchquality,foundahomethere;——made"wastesandsaboutBerlinintopotherbgardens;"andinthespiritualBrandenburg,too,didsomethingofhorticulture,whichisstillnoticeable。[Erman(weakBiographerofQueenSophie—Charlotte,alreadycited),
  Memoirespourseviral’HistoiredenRefugiesFrancaisdanslesEtatsduRoidePrusse(Berlin,1782—1794),8tt。8vo。]
  CertainlythisElectorwasoneoftheshiftiestofmen。Notanunjustmaneither。Apious,God—fearingmanrather,stanchtohisProtestantismandhisBible;notunjustbyanymeans,——nor,ontheotherhand,byanymeansthick—skinnedinhisinterpretingsofjustice:Fair—playtomyselfalways;oroccasionallyeventheHeightofFair—play!Onthewhole,byconstantenergy,vigilance,adroitactivity,byanever—readyinsightandaudacitytoseizethepassingfactbyitsrighthandle,hefoughthiswaywellintheworld;leftBrandenburgaflourishingandgreatlyincreasedCountry,andhisownnamefamousenough。
  Athick—setstalwartfigure;withbriskeyes,andhighstrongirregularlyRomannose。GoodbronzeStatueofhim,bySchluter,onceafamedman,stillridesontheLANGE—BRUCKE(Long—Bridge)atBerlin;andhisPortrait,inhugefrizzledLouis—Quatorzewig,isfrequentlymetwithinGermanGalleries。CollectorsofDutchPrints,too,knowhim:hereagallant,eagle—featuredlittlegentleman,briskinthesmilesofyouth,withplumes,withtruncheon,capriolingonhiswar—charger,viewoftentsinthedistance;——thereasedate,ponderous,wrinklyoldman,eyesslightlypuckered(eyesBUSIERthanmouth);afacewell—ploughedbyTime,andnotfoundunfruitful;oneofthelargest,mostlaborious,potentfaces(inanoceanofcircumambientperiwig)tobemetwithinthatCentury。[BothPrintsareDutch;theYounger,mycopyoftheYounger,haslosttheEngraver’sName(Kurfurst’sageistwenty—seven);theElderisbyMASSON,1633,whenFriedrichWilhelmwassixty—three。]TherearemanyHistoriesabouthim,too;
  buttheyarenotcomfortabletoread。[G。D。Geyler,
  LebenundThatenFriedrichWihelmsdesGrossen
  (FrankfortandLeipzig,1703),folio。FranzHorn,DasLebenFriedrichWilhelmsdesGrossen(Berlin,1814)。
  Pauli,Staats—Geschichte,Bandv。(Halle,1764)。Pufendorf,DerebusgestisFridericiWilhelmiMagniElectorisBrandenburgensisCommentaria(Lips。
  etBerol。1733,fol。)]HealsohaswantedasacredPoet;andfoundonlyabewilderingDryasdust。
  HisTwograndFeatsthatdwellinthePrussianmemoryareperhapsnoneofhisgreatest,butwereofakindtostriketheimagination。Theybothrelatetowhatwasthecentralproblemofhislife,——therecoveryofPommernfromtheSwedes。ExploitFirstisthefamed"BattleofFEHRBELLIN(FerryofBellEEN),"foughtonthe18thJune,1675。FehrbellinisaninconsiderableTownstillstandinginthosepeatyregions,somefive—and—thirtymilesnorthwestofBerlin;andhadforagesplieditspoorFerryovertheoily—looking,brown,sluggishstreamcalledRhin,orRheininthoseparts,withouttheleastnoticefrommankind,tillthisfellout。ItisaplaceofpilgrimagetopatrioticPrussians,eversinceFriedrichWilhelm’sexploitthere。Thematterwentthus:——
  FriedrichWilhelmwasfighting,farsouthinAlsace,onKaiserLeopold’sside,intheLouis—FourteenthWar;thatsecondone,whichendedinthetreatyofNimwegen。Doinghisbestthere,——whentheSwedes,eggedonbyLouisXIV。,madewaruponhim;crossedthePomeranianmarches,troopaftertroop,andinvadedhisBrandenburgTerritorywithaforcewhichatlengthamountedtosome16,000
  men。Nohelpforthemoment:FriedrichWilhelmcouldnotbesparedfromhispost。TheSwedes,whohadatfirstprofessedwell,graduallywentintoplunder,roving,harrying,attheirownwill;
  andamelancholytimetheymadeofitforFriedrichWilhelmandhisPeople。Luckyiftemporaryharmwerealltheilltheywerelikelytodo;luckyif——!Hestoodsteady,however;inhissolidmanner,finishingthethinginhandfirst,sincethatwasfeasible。Hethenevenretiredintowinter—quarters,toresthismen;andseemedtohavelefttheSwedish16,000autocratsofthesituation;whoaccordinglywentstormingaboutatagreatrate。
  Notso,however;veryfarindeedfromso。Havingrestedhismenforcertainmonths,FriedrichWilhelmsilentlyinthefirstdaysofJune(1675)getsthemundermarchagain;marches,hisCavalryandheasfirstinstalment,withbestspeedfromSchweinfurt,[Stenzel,ii。347。]whichisontheriverMain,toMagdeburg;
  adistanceoftwohundredmiles。AtMagdeburg,wherehereststhreedays,waitingforthefirsthandfuloffootandafield—
  pieceortwo,helearnsthattheSwedesareinthreepartieswideasunder;themiddlepartyofthemwithinfortymilesofhim。
  Probablystronger,eventhismiddleone,thanhissmallbody(of"sixthousandHorse,twelvehundredFootandthreeguns");——
  stronger,butcapableperhapsofbeingsurprised,ofbeingcutinpieces,beforetheotherscancomeup?Rathenauisthenearestskirtofthismiddleparty:thithergoestheKurfurst,softly,swiftly,intheJunenight(16—17thJune,1675);getsintoRathenau,bybriskstratagem;tumblesouttheSwedishHorse—
  regimentthere,drivesitbacktowardsFehrbellin。
  Hehimselffollowshard;——swiftridingenough,inthesummernight,throughthosedampHavellands,intheoldHohenzollernfashion:andindeedoldFreisackCastle,asitchances,——Freisack,sceneofDietrichvonQuitzowandLAZYPEGlongsince,——iscloseby!Followshard,wesay:strikesinuponthismidmostparty(nearlytwicehisnumber,butInfantryforthemostpart);
  andafterfiercefight,donewithgoodtalentonbothsides,cutsitintoutterruin,asproposed。TherebyhehaslefttheSwedishArmyasamereheadandtailWITHOUTbody;hasentirelydemolishedtheSwedishArmy。[Stenzel,ii。350—357。]SamefeatintrinsicallyasthatdonebyCromwell,onHamiltonandtheScots,in1648。
  Itwas,sotospeak,thelastvisitSwedenpaidtoBrandenburg,orthelastofanyconsequence;andendedthedominationoftheSwedesinthosequarters。AthingjustlytobeforeverrememberedbyBrandenburg;——onasmallishmodernscale,theBannockburn,Sempach,Marathon,ofBrandenburg。[SeePauli,v。161—169;
  Stenzel,ii。335,340—347,354;Kausler,AtlasdesplusmemorablesBatailles,CombatsetSieges,orAtlasdermerkwurdigstenSchlachten,TreffenundBelagerungen(GermanandFrench,CarlsruheandFreiburg,1831),p。417,Blatt62。]
  ExploitSecondwasfouryearslater;insomesortacorollarytothis;andawinding—upoftheSwedishbusiness。TheSwedes,infartherprosecutionoftheirLouis—Fourteenthspeculation,hadinvadedPreussenthistime,andweredoingsadhavocthere。Itwasinthedeadofwinter,Christmas,1678,morethanfourhundredmilesoff;andtheSwedes,tosaynothingoftheirotherhavoc,wereinacasetotakeKonigsberg,andruinPrussiaaltogether,ifnotprevented。FriedrichWilhelmstartsfromBerlin,withtheopeningYear,onhislongmarch;theHorse—troopsfirst,Foottofollowattheirswiftest;hehimself(hisWife,hisever—true"Louisa,"accompanying,asherwontwas)travels,towardstheend,attherateof"sixtymilesaday。"Hegetsinstillintime,findsKonigsbergunscathed。Nayitisevensaid,theSwedesareextensivelyfallingsick;having,afteralongfamine,foundinfinite"pigs,nearInsterburg,"inthoseremoteregions,andindulgedinthefreshporkovermuch。
  Iwillnotdescribethesubsequentmanoeuvres,whichwouldinterestnobody:enoughifIsaythatonthe16thofJanuary,1679,ithadbecomeofthehighestmomentforFriedrichWilhelmtogetfromCarwe(VillagenearElbing)ontheshoreoftheFRISCHE
  HAF,wherehewas,throughKonigsberg,toGilgeontheCURISCHE
  HAF,wheretheSwedesare,——inaminimumoftime。Distance,asthecrowflies,isaboutahundredmiles;road,whichskirtsthetwoHAFS[Pauli,v。215—222;Stenzel,ii。392—397。](wideshallowWASHES,asweshouldnamethem),isofroughquality,andnaturallycircuitous。Itisringingfrostto—day,andfordaysback:——FriedrichWilhelmhastilygathersallthesledges,allthehorsesofthedistrict;mountssomefourthousandmeninsledges;
  starts,withthespeedoflight,inthatfashion。Scoursalongallday,andaftertheinterveningbitofland,againalong;awakeningtheice—boundsilences。GloomyFrischeHaf,wraptinitsWintercloud—coverlids,withitswastesoftumbledsand,itspoorfrost—
  boundfishing—hamlets,pine—hillocks,——desolate—looking,sternasGreenlandormoreso,saysBusching,whotravelledthereinwinter—time,[Busching’sBeitrage(Halle,1789),vi。160。]——hearsunexpectedhumannoises,andhugegrindingandtrampling;thefourthousand,inlongfleetofsledges,scouringacrossit,inthatmanner。Alldaytheyrushalong,——outoftherimyhazesofmorningintotheolive—coloredcloudsofeveningagain,——withhugeloud—grindingrumble;——anddoarriveintimeatGilge。Anotablestreakofthings,shootingacrossthosefrozensolitudes,intheNew—Year,1679;——littleshortofKarlGustav’sfeat,whichweheardof,intheotherorDanishendoftheBaltic,twentyyearsago,whenhetookIslandswithoutships。
  ThisSecondExploit——suggestedornotbythatprioroneofKarlGustavontheice——isstillathingtoberememberedbyHohenzollernsandPrussians。TheSwedeswerebeatenhere,onFriedrichWilhelm’srapidarrival;weredrivenintodisastrousrapidretreatNorthward;whichtheyexecuted,inhungerandcold;
  fightingcontinually,likeNorthernbears,underthegrimsky;
  FriedrichWilhelmstickingtotheirskirts,——holdingbytheirtail,likeanangrybear—wardwithsteelwhipinhishand。Athingwhich,onthesmallscale,remindsoneofNapoleon’sexperiences。
  NottillNapoleon’shugefighting—flight,ahundredandthirty—
  fouryearsafter,didIreadofsuchatransactioninthoseparts。
  TheSwedishinvasionofPreussenhasgoneutterlytoruin。
  Andthis,then,istheendofSweden,anditsbadneighborhoodontheseshores,whereithastyrannouslysatonourskirtssolong?
  SwedishPommerntheElectoralreadyhad:lastyear,comingtowardsiteversincetheExploitofFehrbellin,hehadinvadedSwedishPommern;hadbesiegedandtakenStettin,nayStralsundtoo,whereWallensteinhadfailed;——clearedPommernaltogetherofitsSwedishguests。WhohadtriednextinPreussen,withwhatluckwesee。
  OfSwedishPommerntheElectormightnowsay:"Surelyitismine;
  againmine,asitlongwas;wellwonasecondtime,sincethefirstwouldnotdo!"Butno:——LouisXIV。provedagentlemantohisSwedes。Louis,nowthatthePeaceofNimwegenhadcome,andonlytheElectorofBrandenburgwasstillinharness,saidsteadily,thoughanxiousenoughtokeepwellwiththeElector:"Theyaremyallies,theseSwedes;itwasonmybiddingtheyinvadedyou:canI
  leavetheminsuchapass?Itmustnotbe!"SoPommernhadtobegivenback。AmisswhichwasinfinitelygrievoustoFriedrichWilhelm。ThemostvictoriousElectorcannothitalways,werehisrightneversogood。
  Anothermisswhichhehadtoputupwith,inspiteofhisrights,andhisgoodservices,wasthatoftheSilesianDuchies。
  TheHeritage—FraternitywithLiegnitzhadatlength,in1675,cometofruit。ThelastDukeofLiegnitzwasdead:DuchiesofLiegnitz,ofBrieg,Wohlau,areBrandenburg’s,iftherewererightdone!
  ButKaiserLeopoldinthescarletstockingswillnothearofHeritage—Fraternity。"Nonsense!"answersKaiserLeopold:"Athingsuppressedatonce,agesago;byImperialpower:flatZEROofathingatthistime;——andyou,Iagainbidyou,returnmeyourPapersuponit!"ThislatteractofdutyFriedrichWilhelmwouldnotdo;butcontinuedinsisting。[Pauli,v。321。]"Jagerndorfatleast,OKaiseroftheworld,"saidhe;"Jagerndorf,thereisnocolorforyourkeepingthat!"TowhichtheKaiseragainanswers,"Nonsense!"——andevenfallsuponastonishingschemesaboutit,asweshallsee;——butgivesnothing。DucalPreussenissovereign,CleveisatPeace,Hinter—Pommernours;——thisElectorhasconqueredmuch:buttheSilesianHeritagesandVor—Pommern,andsomeotherthings,hewillhavetodowithout。LouisXIV。,itisthought,onceofferedtogethimmadeKing;[Ib。vii。215。]butthathedeclinedforthepresent。
  Hismarriedanddomesticlifeisveryfineandhuman;especiallywiththatOranien—NassauPrincess,whowashisfirstWife(1646—1667);PrincessLouisaofNassau—Orange;AunttoourownDutchWilliam,KingWilliamIII。,intimecoming。AnexcellentwisePrincess;fromwhomcametheOrangeHeritages,whichafterwardsproveddifficulttosettle:——OrangewasatlastexchangedforthesmallPrincipalityofNeufchatelinSwitzerland,whichisPrussia’seversince。"Oranienburg(ORANGE—BURG),"aRoyalCountry—house,stillstanding,sometwentymilesnorthwardsfromBerlin,wasthisLouisa’splace:shehadtrimmeditupintoalittlejewel,oftheDutchtype,——potherbgardens,training—
  schoolsforyounggirls,andthelike;——afavoriteabodeofhers,whenshewasatlibertyforrecreation。Butherlifewasbusyandearnest:shewashelpmate,notinnameonly,toanever—busyman。
  Theyweremarriedyoung;amarriageoflovewithal。
  YoungFriedrichWilhelm’scourtship,weddinginHolland;
  thehonesttrustfulwalkandconversationofthetwoSovereignSpouses,theirjourneyingstogether,theirmutualhopes,fearsandmanifoldvicissitudes;tillDeath,withsternbeauty,shutitin:
  ——allishuman,trueandwholesomeinit;interestingtolookupon,andrareamongsovereignpersons。
  Notbutthathehadhistroubleswithhiswomankind。EvenwiththishisfirstWife,whomhelovedtruly,andwhotrulylovedhim,therewerescenes;theLadyhavingajudgmentofherownabouteverythingthatpassed,andtheManbeingcholericwithal。
  Sometimes,Ihaveheard,"hewoulddashhishatatherfeet,"
  sayingsymbolically,"Governyou,then,Madam!NottheKurfurst—Hat;aCoifismywear,itseems!"[Forster,
  FriedrichWilhelmI。KonigvonPreussen(Potsdam,1834),i。177。]Yetherjudgmentwasgood;andhelikedtohaveitontheweightiestthings,thoughherpowersofsilencemighthaltnowandthen。Hehasbeenknown,onoccasion,torunfromhisPrivy—Counciltoherapartment,whileacomplexmatterwasdebating,toaskheropinion,herstoo,beforeitwasdecided。
  ExcellentLouisa;Princessfullofbeautifulpiety,good—senseandaffection;atouchoftheNassau—Heroicinher。Atthemomentofherdeath,itissaid,whenspeechhadfled,hefelt,fromherhandwhichlayinhis,threeslight,slightpressures:"Farewell!"
  thricemutelyspokeninthatmanner,——noteasytoforgetinthisworld。[Wegfuhrer,LebenderKurfurstinLuise(Leipzig,1838),p。175。]
  HissecondWife,Dorothea,——whoplantedtheLindensinBerlin,anddidotherhusbandries,ofwhomwehaveheard,fellfarshortofLouisainmanythings;butnotintendencytoadvise,toremonstrate,andplaintivelyreflectonthefinishedandunalterable。Dreadfullythriftylady,moreover;didmuchindairyproduce,farmingoftown—rates,provision—taxes:nottospeakagainofthatTavernshewasthoughttohaveinBerlin,andtodrawcustomtoinanobliquemanner!WhatscenesshehadwithFriedrichherstepson,wehaveseen。"Ah,IhavenotmyLouisanow;towhomnowshallIrunforadviceorhelp!"wouldthepoorKurfurstattimesexclaim。
  Hehadsometrouble,considerabletroublenowandthen,withmutinousspiritsinPreussen;menstandingonantiquePrussianfranchisesandparchments;refusingtoseethatthesamewerenowantiquated,incompatible,nottosayimpossible,asthenewSovereignalleged;andcarryingthemselvesverystifflyattimes。
  ButtheHohenzollernshadbeenusedtosuchthings;aHohenzollernlikethisonewouldevidentlytakehismeasures,softbutstrong,andeverstrongertotheneedfulpitch,withmutinousspirits。
  OneBurgermeisterofKonigsberg,aftermuchstrokingontheback,wasatlengthseizedinopenHall,byElectoralwrit,——soldiershavingfirstgentlybarricadedtheprincipalstreets,andbroughtcannontobearuponthem。ThisBurgermeister,seizedinsuchbriefway,layprisonerforlife;refusingtoaskhisliberty,thoughitwasthoughthemighthavehaditonasking。[Horn,DasLebenFriedrichWilhelmsdesGrossen(Berlin,1814),p。68。]
  Anothergentleman,aBaronvonKalkstein,ofoldTeutsch—Bitterkin,ofveryhighways,intheProvincialEstates(STANDE)andelsewhere,gotintoloftyalmostsolitaryopposition,andatlengthintomutinyproper,againstthenew"Non—PolishSOVEREIGN,"
  andflatlyrefusedtodohomageathisaccessioninthatnewcapacity。[Supra,pp。383,etseqq。]Refused,Kalksteindid,forhisshare;fledtoWarsaw;andveryfiercely,inaloudmanner,carriedonhismutiniesintheDietsandCourt—Conclavesthere;
  hispleabeing,orpleaforthetime,"Polandisourliegelord[whichitwasnotalways],andwecannotbetransferredtoyou,exceptbyourconsentaskedandgiven,"whichtoohadbeenalittleneglectedontheformeroccasionoftransfer。SothattheGreatElectorknewnotwhattodowithKalkstein;andatlength(asthecasewaspressing)hadhimkidnappedbyhisAmbassadoratWarsaw;hadhim"rolledintoacarpet"there,andcarriedswiftlyintheAmbassador’scoach,intheformofluggage,overthefrontier,intohisnativeProvince,theretobejudged,and,intheend(sincenothingelsewouldservehim),tohavethesentenceexecuted,andhisheadcutoff。Forthecasewaspressing![Horn,pp。80—82。]——Thesethings,especiallythisofKalkstein,withaboisterousPolishDietandparliamentaryeloquenceintherearofhim,gaverisetocriticism;andrequiredmanagementonthepartoftheGreatElector。
  OfallhisAncestors,ourlittleFritz,whenhegrewbig,admiredthisoue。Amanmadelikehimselfinmanypoints。Heseemsreallytohavelovedandhonoredthisone。Intheyear1750therehadbeenanewCathedralgotfinishedatBerlin;theancestralboneshadtobeshiftedoverfromthevaultsoftheoldone,——theburying—placeeversinceJoachimII。,thatJoachimwhodrewhisswordonAlba。"KingFriedrich,withsomeattendants,witnessedtheoperation,January,1750。WhentheGreatKurfurst’scoffincame,hemadethemopenit;gazedinsilenceonthefeaturesforsometime,whichwereperfectlyrecognizable;laidhishandonthehandlongdead,andsaid,’Messieurs,celui—ciafaitdegrandeschoses(Thisonedidagreatwork)!’"[SeePreuss,i。270。]
  Hedied29thApril,1688;——lookingwithintenseinterestuponDutchWilliam’spreparationstoproduceaGloriousRevolutioninthisIsland;beingalwaysofanardentProtestantfeeling,andasincerelyreligiousman。Friedrich,Crown—Prince,agethenthirty—one,andalreadymarriedasecondtime,wasofcourseleftChiefHeir;——who,aswesee,hasnotdeclinedtheKingship,whenachanceforitoffered。TherewerefourHalf—brothersofFriedrich,too,whogotapanages,appointments。Theyhadatonetimeconfidentlylookedformuchmore,theirMotherbeingbusy;
  butwereobligedtobecontent,andconformtotheGERABONDandfundamentalLawsoftheCountry。TheyareentitledMargraves;
  twoofwhomleftchildren,MargravesofBrandenburg—Schwedt,HEERMEISTERS(HeadoftheMalta—Knighthood)atSonnenburg,StatthaltersinMagdeburg,orIknownotwhat;whosenamesturnupconfusedlyinthePrussianBooks;and,exceptastemporarygenealogicalpuzzles,arenotofmuchmomenttotheForeignreader。HappilythereisnothingelseinthewayofPrincesoftheBlood,inourlittleFriedrich’stime;andhappilywhatconcernhehadwiththese,orhowhewasrelatedtothem,willnotbeabstrusetous,ifoccasionrise。
  ChapterXIX。
  KINGFRIEDRICHI。AGAIN。
  WesaidtheGreatElectornevercouldworkhisSilesianDuchiesoutofKaiserLeopold’sgrip:toallhisurgenciesthelittleKaiserinredstockingsansweredonlyinevasions,refusals;
  andwouldquitnothing。WenoticedalsowhatquarrelstheyoungElectoralPrince,Friedrich,afterwardsKing,hadgotintowithhisStepmother;suddenlyfeelingpoisonedafterdinner,runningtohisAuntatCassel,comingbackontreaty,andthelike。Thesearetwofactswhichthereaderknows:andoutofthesetwogrewathird,whichitisfitheshouldknow。
  Inhislastyears,theGreatElector,wornoutwithlabor,andharassedwithsuchdomestictroublesoverandabove,hadevidentlyfallenmuchunderhisWife’smanagement;cuttingoutlargeapanages(clearagainsttheGERABOND)forherchildren;——longingprobablyforquietinhisfamilyatanyprice。AstothepooryoungPrince,negotiatedbackfromCassel,helivedremote,andhadfallenintoopendisfavor,——withaveryilleffectuponhisfunds,foronething。Hisfatherkepthimsomewhattightonthemoney—side,itisalleged;andhehadratheraturnforspendingmoneyhandsomely。HewasalsoinsomealarmabouttheproposedapanagestohisHalf—brothers,theMargravesabovementioned,ofwhichtherewererumorsgoing。
  HOWAUSTRIASETTLEDTHESILESIANCLAIMS。
  NowinthesecircumstancestheAustrianCourt,whoatthistime(1685)greatlyneededtheElector’shelpagainstTurksandothers,andfoundhimveryurgentabouttheseSilesianDuchiesofhis,felluponwhatImustcallaveryextraordinaryshiftforgettingridoftheSilesianquestion。"SereneHighness,"saidthey,bytheirAmbassadoratBerlin,"toendthesetroublesometalks,andtoliquidateallclaims,admissibleandinadmissible,aboutSilesia,theImperialMajestywillgiveyouanactualbitofTerritory,valuable,thoughnotsolargeasyouexpected!"
  TheElectorlistenswithbothears:WhatTerritory,then?
  The"CircleofSchwiebus,"hangingonthenorthwesternedgeofSilesia,contiguoustotheElector’sownDominionsintheseFrankfurt—on—Oderregions:thisthegenerousImperialMajestyproposestogiveinfee—simpletoFriedrichWilhelm,andsotoendthematter。TrulyamostsmallpatchofTerritoryincomparison;
  notbiggerthananEnglishRutlandshire,tosaynothingofsoilandclimate!Butthenagainitwasanactualpatchofterritory;
  notamereparchmentshadowofone:thislastwasatemptingpointtotheoldharassedElector。Suchfriendlyoffertheymadehim,Ithink,in1685,atthetimetheyweregetting8,000ofhistroopstomarchagainsttheTurksforthem;averyneedfulserviceatthemoment。"Bythebye,donotmarchthroughSilesia,you!——
  Ormarchfaster!"saidthecautiousAustriansonthisoccasion:
  "OtherroadswillanswerbetterthanSilesia!"saidthey。[Pauli,v。327,332。]BaronFreytag,theirAmbassadoratBerlin,hadnegotiatedtheaffairsofar:"CircleofSchwiebus,"saidFreytag,"andletushavedonewiththesethornytalks!"
  ButBaronFreytaghadbeenbusy,inthemeanwhile,withtheyoungPrince;secretlyofferingSympathy,counsel,help;ofallwhichthepoorPrincestoodinneedenough。"WewillhelpyouinthatdangerousmatteroftheApanages,"saidFreytag;"Helpyouinallthings,"——Isupposehewouldsay,——"necessarypocket—moneyisnotathingyourHighnessneedwant!"AndthusBaronFreytag,whatisverycurious,hadmanagedtobargainbeforehandwiththeyoungPrince,Thatdirectlyoncomingtopower,hewouldgiveupSchwiebusagain,SHOULDtheofferofSchwiebusbeacceptedbyPapa。TowhicheffectBaronFreytagheldasignedBond,dulyexecutedbytheyoungman,beforePapahadconcludedatall。
  Whichisverycuriousindeed!——
  PooroldPapa,wornoutwithtroubles,acceptedSchwiebusinliquidationofallclaims(8thApril,1686),andafewdaysaftersethismenonmarchagainsttheTurks:——and,exactlytwomonthsbeforehand,onthe8thofFebruarylast,thePrincehadsignedHIS
  secretengagement,ThatSchwiebusshouldbeamerephantasmtoPapa;thathe,thePrince,wouldrestoreitonhisaccession。
  BoththesesingularParcbments,signed,sealedanddoneintheduelegalform,laysimultaneouslyinFreytag’shand;andprobablyenoughtheyexistyet,insomedustycorner,amongthesolemnsheepskinsoftheworld。ThisisliterallytheplanhituponbyanImperialCourt,toassistayoungPrinceinhispecuniaryandotherdifllculties,andgetridofSilesianclaims。
  Planactuallynotunlikethatofswindlingmoney—lenderstoayounggentlemanindifficulties,andofmanageableturn,whohasgotintotheirhands。
  TheGreatElectordiedtwoyearsafter;Schwiebustheninhishand。ThenewElector,onceinstructedastothenatureoftheaffair,refusedtogiveupSchwiebus;[19thSeptember,1689
  Pauli,vii。74)。]declaredthetransactionaswindle:——andinfact,forsevenyearsmore,retainedpossessionofSchwiebus。
  ButtheAustrianCourtinsisted,withemphasis,atlengthwiththreats(noinsuperablepressurefromLouis,ortheTurks,atthistime);thepoorcheatedElectorhad,atlast,togiveupSchwiebus,intermsofhispromise。[31stDecember,1694。]Hetookactthatithadbeenasurreptitioustransaction,palmeduponhimwhileignorant,andwhilewithouttheleastauthorityorpowertomakesuchapromise;thathewasnotboundbyit,norwouldbe,exceptoncompulsionthusfar:andastobindingBrandenburgbyit,howcouldhe,atthatperiodofhishistory,bindBrandenburg?
  Brandenburgwasnotthenhistobind,anymorethanChinawas。
  HisRathshadadvisedFriedrichagainstgivingupSchwiebusinthatmanner。Buthisanswerisonrecord:"Imust,Iwillandshallkeepmyownword。ButmyrightsonSilesia,whichIcouldnot,anddonotintheseunjustcircumstances,compromise,Ileaveintactformyposteritytoprosecute。IfGodandthecourseofeventsorderitnootherwisethannow,wemustbecontent。ButifGodshallonedaysendtheopportunity,thosethatcomeaftermewillknowwhattheyhavetodoinsuchcase。"[Pauli,vii。150。]
  AndsoSchwiebuswasgivenup,theAustrianspayingbackwhatBrandenburghadlaidoutinimprovingit,"250,000GULDEN(25,000
  pounds);"——andtheHandofPowerhadinthisway,finallyasithoped,settledanoldtroublesomeaccountofBrandenburg’s。
  SettledtheSilesian—DuchiesClaim,bythetemporaryPhantasmofaGiftofSchwiebus。ThatisliterallytheLiegnitz—Jagerndorfcase;
  andthereaderistonoteitandrememberit。ForitwillturnupagaininHistory。TheHandofPowerisverystrong:butastrongermayperhapsgetholdofitsknucklesoneday,atanadvantageoustime,anddoafeatuponit。
  The"eventualsuccessiontoEastFriesland,"whichhadbeenpromisedbytheReich,sometenyearsago,totheGreatElector,"forwhathehaddoneagainsttheTurks,andwhathehadsufferedfromthoseSwedishInvasions,intheCommonCause:"thisshadowofSuccession,theKaisernowsaid,shouldnotbehaggledwithanymore;butbeactuallyrealized,andtheImperialsanctiontoitnowgiven,——effecttofollowIFtheFrieslandLinediedout。
  LetthisbesomeconsolationforthelossofSchwiebusandyourSilesianDuchies。HereinFrieslandistheghostofacomingpossession;thereinSchwiebuswastheghostofagoingone:
  phantasmsyoushallnotwantfor;buttheHandofPowerpartsnotwithitsrealities,howevercomeby。
  HISREALCHARACTER。
  PoorFriedrichledaconspicuouslifeasElectorandKing;butnopublicfeathedidnowconcernsuslikethisprivateoneofSchwiebus。Historicallyimportant,this,andrequiringtoberemembered,whilesomuchelsedemandsmereoblivionfromus。
  Hewasaspiritedman;didsoldierings,fineSiegeofBonn(July—October,1689),siegesandcampaignings,inperson,——valiantinaction,royalespeciallyinpatiencethere,——duringthatThirdWarofLouis—Fourteenth’s,theTreaty—of—Ryswickone。AllthroughtheFourth,orSpanishSuccession—War,hisPrussianTen—Thousand,ledbyfitgenerals,showedeminentlywhatstufftheyweremadeof。WitnessLeopoldofAnhalt—Dessau(stillaYOUNGDessauer)onthefieldofBlenheim;——Leopoldhadtherightwingthere,andsavedPrinceEugenewhowasotherwiseblowntopieces,whileMarlboroughstormedandconqueredontheleft。WitnessthesameDessaueronthefieldofHochstadttheyearbefore,[VarnhagenvonEnse,BiographischeDenkmale(Berlin,1845),ii,155。]howhemanagedtheretreatthere。OrseehimattheBridgeofCassano(1705);intheLinesofTurin(1706);[
  DesweltberuhndenFurstensLeopoldivonAnhult—DessauLebenundThaten(Leipzig,1742,anonymous,byoneMICHAEL
  RANFFT),pp。53,61。]whereverhotservicewasonhand。
  AtMalplaquet,inthosemurderousinexpugnableFrenchLines,bloodiestofobstinateFights(upwardsofthirtythousandleftontheground),thePrussiansbragthatitwastheywhopickedtheirwaythroughacertainpeat—bog,reckonedimpassable;andgotfairlyinupontheFrenchwing,——tothehugecomfortofMarlborough,andlittleEugenehisbriskcomradeonthatoccasion。
  MarlboroughknewwelltheworthofthesePrussiantroops,andalsohowtostrokehisMajestyintocontinuingtheminthefield。
  HewasanexpensiveKing,surroundedbycabals,byWartenbergsmaleandfemale,bywhirlpoolsofintrigues,which,nowthatthegameisover,becomeveryforgettable。Butonefindshewasastrictlyhonorableman;withacertainheightandgenerosityofmind,capableofothernoblenessthantheupholsterykind。Hehadwhatwemaycallahardlifeofit;didandsufferedagooddealinhisdayandgeneration,notatallinadishonestorunmanfulmanner。Infact,heisquiterecognizablyaHohenzollern,——withhisbackhalfbroken。Readersrecollectthatsadaccident:howtheNurse,inoneofthoseheadlongjourneyswhichhisFatherandMotherwerealwaysmaking,letthepoorchildfallorjerkbackward;andspoiledhimmuch,andindeedwasthoughttohavekilledhim,bythatpieceofinattention。HewasnotyetHereditaryPrince,hewasonlysecondson:buttheelderdied;
  andhebecameElector,King;andhadtogowithhisspinedistorted,——distortionnotglaringlyconspicuous,thoughundeniable;——andtoacttheHohenzollernSO。Naywhoknowsbutitwasthisveryjerk,andthehalf—ruinofhisnervoussystem,——thisdoubledwishtobebeautiful,andthiscrookedbackcapableofbeinghidordecoratedintostraightness,——thatfirstsetthepoormanonthinkingofexpensiveornamentalities,andKingshipsinparticular?HistorywillforgivetheNurseinthatcase。
  PerhapsHistoryhasdwelttoomuchontheblindsideofthisexpensiveKing。Toland,onenteringhiscountry,wasstruckratherwiththesignsofgoodadministrationeverywhere。NosoonerhaveyoucrossedthePrussianBorder,outofWestphalia,saysToland,thansmoothhighways,well—tilledfields,andageneralairofindustryandregularity,areevident:solidmilestones,brass—bound,andwithbrassinscription,tellthetravellerwhereheis;whofindsdueguidanceoffinger—posts,too,andtheblessingofhabitableinns。Thepeopleseemalltobebusy,diligentlyoccupied;villagesreasonablysweptandwhitewashed;——
  neverwasabettersetofParishChurches;whethernew—builtorold,theyareallinbrand—newrepair。ThecontrastwithWestphaliaisimmediateandgreat;butindeedthatwasasadcountry,toanybodybutapatientToland,whoknowsthecausesofphenomena。Noinnsthere,exceptofthenaturallysavagesort。
  "Amanisveryhappyifhefindscleanstrawtosleepon,withoutexpectingsheetsorcoverings;lethimreadilydispensewithplates,forksandnapkins,ifhecangetanythingtoeat……
  Hemustbecontenttohavethecows,swineandpoultryforhisfellow—lodgers,andtogoinatthesamepassagethatthesmokecomesoutat,forthere’snootherventforitbutthedoor;
  whichmakesforeignerscommonlysaythatthepeopleofWestphaliaentertheirhousesbythechimney。"Andobservewithal:"Thisisthereasonwhytheirbeefandhamsaresofinelypreparedandripened;forthefireplacebeingbackwards,thesmokemustspreadoverallthehousebeforeitgetstothedoor;whichmakeseverythingwithinofarussetorsablecolor,notexceptingthehandsandfacesofthemeanersort。"[AnAccountoftheCourtsofPrussiaandHanover,byMr。Toland(citedalready),p。4。]IfPrussiayieldtoWestphaliainham,inallelsesheisstrikinglysuperior。
  HefoundedUniversities,thispoorKing;UniversityofHalle;
  RoyalAcademyofBerlin,Leibnitzpresiding:hefoughtforProtestantism;——didwhathecouldforthecauseofCosmosVERSUS
  Chaos,afterhisfashion。ThemagnificencesofhisCharlottenburgs,OranienburgsandnumerousCountry—housesmakeTolandalmostpoetic。Anaffablekindlymanwithal,thoughquickoftemper;hiswordsacredtohim。Amanofmanytroubles,andacquaintedwith"theinfinitelylittle(L’INFINIMENTPETIT),"
  ashisQueentermedit。
  ChapterXX。
  DEATHOFKINGFRIEDRICHI。
  OldKingFriedrichI。hadnotmuchmoretodointheworld,afterwitnessingthechristeningofhisGrandsonoflikename。
  Hisleadingforthorsendingforthoftroops,hismultiplexnegotiations,solemnceremonials,sadchangesofministry,sometimestransacted"withtears,"aremostlyended;
  theever—whirlingdust—vortexofintrigues,ofwhichhehasbeenthecentreforafive—and—twentyyears,issettlingdownfinallytowardseverlastingrest。NomorewillMarlboroughcomeanddexterouslytalkhimover,——proudto"serveascupbearer,"onoccasion,tosohighaKing——fornewbodiesofmentohelpinthenextcampaign:wehaveceasedtobeaKingworthyofsuchacupbearer,andMarlborough’scampaignstooareallended。
  Muchisended。TheyaredoingthesorrowfulTreatyofUtrecht;
  LouisXIV。himselfisending;mournfullyshrunkintothecorner,withhisMissalandhisMaintenon;lookingbackwithjusthorroronEuropefourtimessetablazeforthesakeofonepoormortalinbigperiwig,tonopurpose。LuckyifperhapsMissal—work,orthodoxlitanies,andevenProtestantDragonnades,canhavevirtuetowipeoutsuchascoreagainstaman!UnhappyLouis:thesun—brightgoldhasbecomedimascopper;weroseinstorms,andwearesettinginwateryclouds。TheKaiserhimself(KarlVI。,Leopold’sSon,JosephI。’syoungerBrother)willhavetoconformtothisTreatyofUtrecht:whatotherpossibilityforhim?
  TheEnglish,alwaysawonderfulNation,foughtandsubsidiedfromsidetosideofEuropeforthisSpanish—Suceessionbusiness;
  foughttenyears,suchfightingastheyneverdidbeforeorsince,under"JohnDukeofMarlborough,"who,asiswellknown,"beattheFrenchthoroughandthorough。"Frenchentirelybeatenatlast,notwithoutheroicdifficultyandasnobletalentaswasevershownindiplomacyandwar,arereadytodoyourwillinallthings;
  inthisofgivingupSpain,amongothers:——whereupontheEnglishturnround,withasuddennewthought,"No,wewillnothaveourWILLdone;itshallbetheotherway,thewayitWAS,——nowthatwebethinkourselves,afterallthisfightingforourwill!"
  AndmakePeaceonthoseterms,asifnowarhadbeen;andaccusethegreatMarlboroughofmanythings,oftheftforone。
  AwonderfulPeople;andintheirContinentalPolitics(whichindeedconsistchieflyofSubsidies)thricewonderful。SotheTreatyofUtrechtistransactingitself;whichthatofRastadt,onthepartofKaiserandEmpire,unabletogetonwithoutSubsidies,willhavetofollow:andaftersuchquantitiesofpowderburnt,andcourageousliveswasted,generalAS—YOU—WEREistheresultarrivedat。
  OldFriedrich’sAmbassadorsarepresentatUtrecht,janglingandpleadingamongtherest;atBerlintoothedespatchofbusinessgoeslumberingon;butwhatthing,intheshapeofbusiness,atUtrechtoratBerlin,isofmuchimportancetotheoldman?
  SeemsasifEnropeitselfwerewaxingdim,andsinkingtostupidsleep,——aswe,inourpoorroyalperson,fullsurelyare。ACrownhasbeenachieved,anddiamondbuttonsworth1,500poundsapiece;
  butwhatisaCrown,andwhatarebuttons,afterall?——IsupposethetattleandSINGERIESoflittleWilhelmina,whomhewouldspendwholedayswith;thisandoccasionalvisitstoayoungFritzchen’scradle,whoisthrivingmoderately,andwillspeakanddoaperiesoneday,——arehismainsolacementsinthedaysthatarepassing。
  MuchofthisFriedrich’slifehasgoneofflikethesmokeoffire—works,hasfadedsorrowfully,andprovedphantasmal。HereisanoldAutographNote,writtenbyhimatthesideofthatCradle,andtouchingonaslighteventthere;which,asitconnectstwovenerableCorrespondentsandtheirSeventeenthCenturywithagrandPhenomenonoftheEighteenth,wewillinserthere。TheoldKingaddresseshisolderMother—in—law,famedElectressSophieofHanover,intheseterms(spellingcorrected):——
  "CHARLOTTENBURG,den30August,1712。
  "Ew。Churf。Durchlauchtwerdensichzweifelsohnemitunserfreuen,dassderkleinePrintz(PRINZ)Fritznuhnmero(NUNMEHR)
  6Zehne(ZAHNE)hatundohnediegeringsteincommoditet(—TAT)。
  DarauskannmanauchdiePREDESTINATIONsehen,dassalleseineBruderhabendaransterbenmussen,dieseraberbekommtsieohneMuhewieseineSchwester。Gotterhalteihnunsnochlangezumtrohst(TROST),indessenSchutzichdieselbeergebeundlebenslangverbleibe,"Ew。Churf。Durchl。gehorsamsterDienerundtreuerSohn,"FRIEDRICHR。"
  [Preuss,FriedrichderGrosse(HistorischeSkizze,Berlin,1838),p。380。
  OfwhichthisistheliteralEnglish:——
  "YourElectoralSerenitywilldoubtlessrejoicewithusthatthelittlePrinceFritzhasnowgothissixthtoothwithouttheleastINCOMMODITE。Andthereinwemaytraceapre—destination,inasmuchashisBrothersdiedofteething[Notofcannon—soundandweightofhead—gear,then,yourMajestythinks?Thatwereapainfulthought?];andthisone,ashisSister[WILHELMINA]did,getsthem[THETEETH]withouttrouble。
  Godpreservehimlongforacomforttous:——towhoseprotectionIcommitDIESELBE[YourElectoralHighness,inthethirdperson],andremainlifelong,"YourElectoralHighness’smostobedientServantandtrueSon,"FRIEDRICHREX。"
  OneofFriedrichRex’sworstadventureswashislatest;commencedsomefiveorsixyearsago(1708),andnownotfarfromterminating。HewasaWidower,ofweaklyconstitution,towardsfifty:hisbeautifulingenious"Serena,"withallherTheologies,pinch—of—snuffCoronationsandotherearthlytroubles,wasdead;
  andthetaskofcontinuingtheHohenzollernprogeny,givenovertoFriedrichWilhelmthePrinceRoyal,wasthoughttobeingoodhands。MajestyFriedrichwiththeweakbackhadretired,in1708,toKarlsbad,torestfromhiscares;totakethesalutarywaters,andrecruithisweaknervesalittle。Here,inthecourseofconfidentialpromenadings,itwashinted,itwasrepresentedtohimbysomepickthankofacourtier,ThatthetaskofcontinuingtheHohenzollernprogenydidnotseemtoprosperinthepresentgoodhands;thatSophieDorothee,PrincessRoyal,hadalreadybornetworoyalinfantswhichhadspeedilydied:thatinfactitwastobegatheredfromthemedicalmen,ifnotfromtheirwords,thenfromtheirlooksandcautiousinnuendoes,thatSophieDorothee,PrincessRoyal,wouldneverproduceaPrinceorevenPrincessthatwouldlive;whichtask,therefore,didnowagainseemtodevolveuponhisMajesty,ifhisMajestyhadnotinsuperableobjections?Majestyhadnoinsuperableobjections;
  oldMajestylistenedtotheflatteringtale;and,sureenough,hesmartedforitinasignalmanner。
  Bydueindustry,aPrincesswasfixeduponforBride,PrincessSophieLouisaofMecklenburg—Schwerin,agenowtwenty—four:
  shewasgotasWife,andcamehometoBerlininallpomp;——butgoodcamenotwithhertoanybodythere。Notonlydidshebringthepooroldmannochildren,whichwasafaulttobeoverlooked,consideringSophieDorothee’ssuccess;butshebroughtaquerulous,weakandself—sufficientfemalehumor;foundhisreligionheterodox,——hebeingCalvinist,andperhapsevenlax—Calvinist,sheLutheranasthePrussianNationis,andstricttothebone:——heterodoxwholly,tothelengthofnosalvationpossible;andtimesroseontheBerlinCourtsuchashadneverbeenseenbefore!"Nosalvationpossible,saysmyDearest?Hah!
  AndaninnocentCourt—MaskorDancingSoireeiscriminalinthesightofGodandoftheQueen?Andwearechildrenofwrathwholly,andafrivolousgeneration;andtheQueenwillseeusall——!"
  Theendwas,hisMajesty,throughsadsolitarydaysandnights,repentedbitterlythathehadweddedsuchaShe—Dominic;
  grewquiteestrangedfromher;thepoorShe—Dominicgivinghimduereturninherway,——namely,livingaltogetherinherownapartments,uponorthodoxy,jealousyandotherbadnourishment。
  Tillatlengthshewentquitemad;and,excepttheduemedicalandotherattendants,nobodysawher,orspokeofher,atBerlin。
  WasthisacheeringissueofsuchanadventuretothepooroldexpensiveGentleman?Heendeavoredtodigestinsilencethebittermorselhehadcookedforhimself;butreflectedoften,asanoldKingmight,WhatdirthaveIeaten!
  InthiswaystandsthatmatterintheSchlossofBerlin,whenlittleFriedrich,whowillonedaybecalledtheGreat,isborn。
  HabitsoftheexpensiveKing,hoursofrising,modesofdressing,andsoforth,aretobefoundinPollnitz;[Pollnitz,
  MemoirenzurLebens—undRegierungs—GeschichtederVierletztenRegentendesPreussischenStaats(Berlin,1791)。
  Avague,inexact,butnotquiteuninstructiveoruninterestingBook:PrintedalsoinFRENCH,whichwastheOriginal,sameplaceandtime。]butwecharitablyomitthemall。EvenfromfoolishPollnitzagoodeyewillgather,whatwasaboveintimated,thatthisfeeble—backed,heavy—ladenoldKingwasofhumaneandjustdisposition;haddignityinhisdemeanor;hadreticence,patience;
  and,thoughhot—temperedlikealltheHohenzollerns,thatheborehimselflikeaperfectgentlemanforonething;andtotteredalonghishigh—lyinglonesomeroadnotinanunmanfulmanneratall。
  Hadnothisnervesbeendamagedbythatfallininfancy,whoknowsbutwemighthavehadsomethingelsetoreadofhimthanthathewasregardlessofexpenseinthisworld!
  Hislastscene,ofdateFebruary,1713,isthetragicalultimatumofthatfineKarlsbadadventureoftheSecondmarriage,——Thirdmarriage,infact,thoughtheFirst,anteriorto"Serena,"isapttobeforgotten,havinglastedshortwhile,andproducedonlyaDaughter,notmemorableexceptbyaccident。ThisThirdmarriage,whichhadbroughtsomanysorrowstohim,provedatlengththedeathoftheoldman。Forhesatonemorning,inthechillFebruarydaysoftheYear1713,inhisApartment,asusual;
  weakofnerves,butthinkingnospecialevil;when,suddenlywithhugejingle,theglassdoorofhisroomwenttosherds;andthererushedin——bleedinganddishevelled,thefatal"WhiteLady"
  (WEISSEFRAU),whoisunderstoodtowalkthatSchlossatBerlin,andannounceDeathtotheBoyalinhabitants。Majestyhadfainted,orwasfainting。"WeisseFrau?Ohno,yourMajesty!"——notthat;
  butindeedsomethingalmostworse。——MadQueen,inherApartments,hadbeenseized,thatday,whenhalforquarterdressed;
  withunusualorthodoxyorunusualjealousy。Watchingheropportunity,shehadwhiskedintothecorridor,inextremedeshabille;andgone,likethewildroe,towardsMajesty’sSuiteofRooms;throughMajesty’sglassdoor,likeacatapult;
  andemergedaswesaw,——inpetticoatandshift,withhairstreaming,eyesglittering,armscut,andtheothersadtrimmings。
  OHeaven,whocouldlaugh?TherearetearsduetoKingsandtoallmen。Itwasdeepmisery;deepenough"SINandmisery,"asCalvinwellsays,ontheonesideandtheother!ThepooroldKingwascarriedtobed;andneverroseagain,butdiedinafewdays。
  ThedateoftheWEISSEFRAU’Sdeath,onemighthavehoped,wasnotdistanteither;butshelasted,inhersadstate,forabovetwentyyearscoming。
  OldKingFriedrich’sdeath—daywas25thFebruary,1713;
  theunconsciouslittleGrandsonbeingtheninhisFourteenthmonth。Towhom,afterthislong,voyageroundtheworld,wenowgladlyreturn。
  *BywayofreinforcementtoanyrecollectionthereadermayhaveoftheseTwelveHohenzollernKurfursts,Iwillappendacontinuouslistofthem,withhereandthereanindication。
  THETWELVEHOHENZOLLERNELECTORS。
  1。FRIEDRICHI。(asBurggraf,wasFriedrichVI。):born,itisinferred,1372(Rentsch,p。350);accession,18thApril,1417;
  died21stSeptember,1440。HadcometoBrandenburg,1412,asStatthalter。TheQuitzowsandHEAVYPEG。
  2。FRIEDRICHII。:19thNovember,1413;21stSeptember,1440;
  10thFebruary,1472。FriedrichIRONTEETH;tamestheBerlinBurghers。SpokePolish,wastohavebeenPolishKing。Cannon—shotuponhisdinner—tableshattershisnervesso,thatheabdicates,andsoondies。JOHANNESALCHYMISTAhiselderBrother;ALBERT
  ACHILLEShisyounger。
  3。ALBERT(Achilles):24thNovember,1414;10thFebruary,1471;
  11thMarch,1486。ThirdsonofFriedrichI。;islinealProgenitorofalltherest。
  EldestSon,JOHANNCICERO,followsasKurfurst;aYoungerSon,FRIEDRICH(byadifferentMother),gotCulmbach,andproducedtheElderLinethere。(SeeGenealogicalDiagram。)
  4。JOHANN(Cicero):2dAugust,1455;11thMarch,1486;9thJanuary,1499。BigJohn。FriedrichofCulmbach’selder(Half—)
  Brother。
  5。JOACHIMI。:21stFebruary,1484;9thJanuary,1499;11thJuly,1535。LoudintheReformationtimes;finallydeclaresperemptorilyfortheConservativeside。Wife(SisterofChristianII。ofDenmark)runsaway。
  YoungerBrotherAlbertKur—Mainz,whomHuttencelebrated;born1490;ArchbishopofMagdeburgandHalberstadt1513,ofMaim1514;
  died1545:setTetzel,andtheIndulgence,onfoot。
  6。JOACHIMII。(Hector):9thJanuary,1505;11thJuly,1535;
  3dJanuary,1571。SworddrawnonAlbaonce。ERBVERBRUDERUNGwithLiegnitz。StaircaseatGrimnitz。AweightyindustriousKurfurst。
  DeclaredhimselfProtestant,1539。FirstWife(motherofhisSuccessor)wasDaughtertoDukeGeorgeofSaxony,Luther’s"IfitrainedDukeGeorges。"——JohannofCustrinwasayoungerBrotherofhis:diedtendaysafterJoachim;leftnoSon。
  7。JOHANNGEORGE:11thSeptember,1525;3dJanuary,1571;
  8thJanuary,1598。Cannon—shot,atSiegeofWittenberg,uponKaiserKarlandhim。GeraBond。
  MarriedaSilesianDukeofLiegnitz’sDaughter(resultoftheERBVERBRUDERUNGthere,——Antea,p。231)。Hadtwenty—threechildren。
  ItwastohimthatBaireuthandAnspachfellhome:hesettledthemonhissecondandhisthirdsons,ChristianandJoachimErnst;
  foundersoftheNewLineofBaireuthandAnspach。(SeeGenealogicalDiagram。)
  8。JOACHIMFRIEDRICH:27thJanuary,1546;8thJanuary,1598;
  18thJuly,1608。ArchbishopofMagdeburgfirstofall,——tokeeptheplacefilled。JoachimsthalSchoolatoldCastleofGrimnitz。
  VeryvigilantforPreussen;whichwasnearfallingdue。
  TwoofhisYoungerSons,JohannGeorge(1577—1624)towhomhegaveJAGERNDORF,andthatArchbishopofMagdeburg,whowaspresentinTilly’sstorm,gotbothwreckedintheThirty—YearsWar;——notwithoutresults,intheJagerndorfcase。
  9。JOHANNSIGISMUND:8thNovember,1572;18thJuly,1608;
  23dDecember,1619。Preussen:Cleve;SlaponthefacetoNeuburg。
  10。GEORGEWILHELM:3dNovember,1595;22dNovember,1619;
  21stNovember,1640。TheunfortunateoftheThirty—YearsWar。
  "Quefaire;ilsontdescanons!"
  11。FRIEDRICHWILHELM:6thFebruary,1620;21stNovember,1640;
  29thApril,1688。TheGreatElector。
  12。FRIEDRICHIII。:1stJuly,1657;29thApril,1688;
  25thFebruary,1713。FirstKing(18thJanuary,1701)。
  GENEALOGICALDIAGRAM:THETWOCULMBACHLINES。
  3dKURFURST(1471—1486)
  ALBERTACHILLES。
  ELDERCULMBACHLINE。
  FRIEDRICH,secondsonofKurfurstAlbertAchilles,youngerBrotherofJohannesCicero,gotCULMBACH:Anspachfirst,thenBaireuthonthedeathofayoungerBrother。Born1460;gotAnspach1486;
  Baireuth1495;followedMaxinhisVENETIANCAMPAIGN,1508;
  fellIMBECILE1515;died1536。HadaPolishWife;fromwhomcameinterestsinHungaryaswellasPolandtohischildren。FriedrichhadThreenotableSons,1。CASIMIR,whogotBAIREUTH(1515):born1481;died1527。
  VerytruculentinthePeasants’War。
  ALBERTALEIBIADES:amanofgreatmarkinhisday(1522—1557);
  nevermarried。TwoSisters,withoneofwhomhetookshelteratlast;noBrother。
  2。GEORGETHEPIOUS,whogotANSPACH(1515):born1484;died1543;
  gotJagerndorf,bypurchase,fromhisMother’sHungarianconnection,1524。Protestantdeclared,1528;andmakeshonorablefigureintheHistoriesthenceforth。TheGeorgeofKaiserKarl’s"Nit—Kop—ab。"OneSon,GEORGEFRIEDRICH;born1539;wenttoadministerPreussenwhenCousinbecameincompetent;died1603。HeirtohisFatherinANSPACHandJAGERNDORF;alsotohisCousinAlcibiadesinBAIREUTH。
  Hadbeenleftaminor(boyof4,asthereadersees);
  AlcibiadeshisGuardianforalittlewhile:fromwhichcamegreatdifficulties,andunjustruinwouldhavecome,hadnotKurfurstJoachimI。beenhelpfulandvigorousinhisbehalf。
  GeorgeFriedrichgotatlengthmostofhisTerritoriesintohand:
  AnspachandBaireuthunimpaired,Jagerndorftoo,exceptthatRatiborandOppelnweremucheatenintobytheImperialchicaneriesinthatquarter。Died1603,withoutchildren;——uponwhichhisTerritoriesallrevertedtothemainBrandenburgline,namely,toJohannGeorgeSeventhKurfurst,orhisrepresentatives,accordingtotheGERABOND;andthe"ElderCulmbachLine"hadendedinthismanner。
  3。ALBERT;born1490;HochmeisteroftheTeutschRitters,1511;
  declareshimselfProtestant,andDukeofPrussia,1525;died1568。