In"James,"thejunior,butmuchthestrongerandmoresolid,hehaslost,asitwere,aFATHERandyoungerbrotheratonce;
father,uuderbeautifulconditions;andthetearsoftheoldmanarenaturalandaffecting。TenyearsolderthanhisBrother;
andsurvivedhimstilltwentyyears。Anexcellentcheeryoldsoul,hetoo;honestasthesunlight,withafinesmallveinofgayety,and"pleasantwit,"inhim:whatatreasuretoFriedrichatPotsdam,inthecomingyears;andhowmuchlovedbyhim(almostasoneBOYlovesanother),allreaderswouldbesurprisedtodiscover。
Somehintsofhimwillperhapsbeallowedusfartheron。
SEQUELOFHOCHKIRCH;THECAMPAIGNENDSINAWAY
SURPRISINGTOANATTENTIVEPUBLIC
(22dOctober—20thNovember,1758)。
TherefolloweduponHochkirchfiveweeksofrapidevents;suchasnobodyhadbeencalculatingon。Tothereader,sowearyofmarchings,manoeuvrings,surprisals,campingsanddetailsofwar,notmanywords,wehope,mayrendertheseresultsconceivable。
Friedrichstayedtendays,refittinghimself,inthatCampofKlein—Bautzen,ononeofthebranchesoftheSpree。Daun,whohadretiredtohisoldstrongplace,onthe14th,scarcelyoccupyingHochkirchFieldatall,cameoutinaboutaweek;andtookastrongpostnearFriedrich;notattemptinganythinguponhim,butwatchinghim,nowbetterwithinsight。Friedrich’sfixedintentionis,tomarchtoNeisseallthesame;whatprobablyDaun,undertheshadowofhislaurelsandhisnewPapalHat,maynothaveconsideredpossible,withtheroadtoNeisseblockedby80,000men。
Friedrichhasrefittedhimselfwiththerequisitenewcannonandfurnitures,fromDresden;especiallywithPrinceHenriand6,000
footandhorse,——ledbyPrinceHenriinperson;soPrinceHenriwouldhaveit,thecapriciouslittleman;andthatFinckshouldbeleftinSaxonyinsteadofhim。AllwhichweakensSaxonynotalittle。ButFriedrichhopestheReichsArmyisafeeblearticle;
illoffforprovisioninthoseparts,andnotlikelytoattemptverymuchonthesudden。Accordingly:——
FRIEDRICHMARCHES,ENIGMATICALLY,NOTONGLOGAU,BUTON
REICHENBACHANDGORLITZ;TODAUN’SASTONISHMENT。
SUNDAYEVENING,OCTOBER22d,ConvoyofmanywagonsquitBautzen(BautzenProper,nottheVillage,buttheTown),ladenwithallthewoundedofHochkirch;above3,000bycount,tocarrythemtoDresdenfordeliberatesurgery。Keith’sTebay,Iperceive,isinthisConvoy;notillhurt,butwillingtolieinHospitalalittle,andconsider。ThesepoorfellowscannotgettoDresden:onthesecondday,aDaunDetachment,hussaringaboutinthoseparts,isannouncedahead;and(byneworderfromhead—quarters)theConvoyturnsnorthwardsforHoyerswerda,——(toTebay’sdisgustwiththeCommandant;"shiedoff,"saysTebay,"fortwelvehussars!"[SecondLETTERfromTebay,inMitchell,ubisupra。])——and,Ithink,intheend,wentontoGlogauinsteadofDresden。WhichwasveryfortunateforTebayandtheothers。Thepoorwoundedbeingthusdisposedof,Friedrichnextnight,at10o’clock,Monday,23d,inthesoftestmanner,pushesoffhisBakeryandArmyStoresalittleway,northwarddowntheSpreeValley,onthewesternforkoftheSpree(forkfarthestfromDaun);follows,himself,withtherestoftheArmy,nextevening,downtheeasternfork,alsonorthward。
"GoingforGlogau,"thinksDaun,whenthehussarsreportaboutit(lateonTuesdaynight):"Lethimgo,ifhefancythataroadTO
Neisse!But,indeed,whatothershifthashe,"considersDaun,"buttotryrallyingatGlogauyonder,safeundertheguns?"——andisnotintheslightesthasteaboutthisnewmatter。[Tempelhof,ii。
341—347。]
Unitedwithhisbaggage—column,Friedrichproceedsnortheastward;
crossesSpreestillnorthwardornortheastward;encampsthere,inthedarkhoursofTuesday;noDaunheedinghim。Beforedaylight,however,Friedrichisagainonfoot;inseveralcolumnsnow,forthebadcountry—roadsahead;——andhasstruckstraightSOUTHeastward,ifDaunwerenotinghim。And,intheafternoonofWednesday,DaunisastonishedtolearnthatthiswilyEnemyisarrivedinReichenbachvicinity;sweepinginourpoorpoststhereabouts;immovablyastrideoftheSilesianHighway,afterall!
AnastonishedDaunhastensout,whathecan,totakesurveyofthesuddenPhenomenon。Triesit,nextdayandnext,withhisbestLoudonsandappliances;findsthatthisPhenomenoncanactuallymarchtoNeisseaheadofhim,indifferenttoPandours,orgivingthemasgoodastheybring;——andthatnothingbutabattleandbeating(couldwerashlydreamofsuchathing,whichwecannot)
willpreventit。"Verywell,then!"Daunstrivestosay。AndletsthePhenomenonmarch(FROMGorlitz,OCTOBER30th);Loudonharassingtherearofit,forsomedays;notwithoutcounterharassment,muchwasteofcannonading,andruintoseveralpoorLausitzVillagesbyfire,——"Prussiansscandalouslyburnthem,whenweattack!"saysLoudon。Till,atlast,findingthismarchimpregnablyarranged,"splitintotworoutes,"andreadyforallchances,Loudonalsowithdrawstomorepromisingbusiness。PoorGeneralRetzowSeniorwasofthismarch;absolutelycouldnotbeexcused,thoughfallenillofdysentery,liketodie;——anddiddie,thedayafterhegottoSchweidnitz,whenthedifficultiesandexcitementwereover。
[Retzow,i。372。]
OfFriedrich’smarch,onwardfromGorlitz,weshallsaynothingfarther,exceptthattheverywindofitwassalvatorytohisSilesianFortressesandinterests。ThatatNeisse,onandafterNovember1st,——whichisthethirdorseconddayofFriedrich’smarch,——GeneralTreskow,CommandantofNeisse,foundthebombardmentslackenmoreandmore("KingofPrussiacoming,"saidtheAustriandeserterstous);andthat,onNovember6th,Treskow,lookingoutfromNeisse,foundtheAustriantrenchesempty,GeneralsHarschandDevillehurryingovertheHillshomewards,——
pickingstobehadofthembyTreskow,——andNeisseSiegeathingfinished。[TAGEBUCH,&c。("DiaryoftheSiegeofNeisse,"4thAugust,26thOctober,6thNovember,1758,"1A。M。suddenly"),inSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。468—472:ofTreskow’sownwriting;briefandclear。Helden—Geschichte,v。268—270。]Ithadlasted,inthewayofblockadeandhalf—blockade,foraboutthreemonths;Deville,fornearonemonth,half—blockading,thenHarsch(sinceSeptember30th)whollyblockading,withDevilleunderhim,andanarmyof20,000;
thoughtheactualcannonade,veryfierce,butofnoeffect,couldnotbegintilllittlemorethanaweekago,——sodifficultthegettingupofsiege—materialinthoseparts。Kosel,underCommandantLattorf,whosepraises,likeTreskow’s,weregreat,——hadstoodfourmonthsofPandourblockadingandassaulting,whichalsohadtotakeitselfawayonadventofFriedrich。OfFriedrich,onhisreturn—journey,weshallhearagainbeforelong;butinthemeanwhilemustindustriouslyfollowDaun。
FELDMARSCHALLDAUNANDTHEREICHSARMYTRYSOMESIEGEOFDRESDEN
(9th—16thNovember)。
OCTOBER30th,Daun,seeingNeisseSiegeasgoodasgonetowater,decidedwithhimselfthathecouldstilldoafarmoreimportantstroke:captureDresden,getholdofSaxonyinFriedrich’sabsence。
DaunturnedroundfromReichenbach,accordingly;and,athisslow—
footedpace,addressedhimselftothatnewerrand。Hadhemadebetterdespatch,orevenbeeninbetterluck,itisverypossiblehemighthavedonesomethingthere。InDresden,andinGovernorSchmettauwithhissmallgarrison,thereisnostrengthforasiege;inSaxonyisnothingbutsomepoorremnantunderFinck,muchofitFree—corpsandlightpeople:capableofbeingswallowedbytheReichsArmyitself,——weretheReichsArmyenterprising,oringoodcircumstancesotherwise。ItistruetheRussianshavequittedColbergasimpossible;andareflowinghomewardsdraggedbyhunger:
thelittleDohnaArmywill,therefore,marchforSaxony;thelittleAnti—SwedishArmy,underWedell,haslikewisebeenmostlyorderedthither;bothattheirquickest。ForDaun,allturnsondespatch;
loiteralittle,andFriedrichhimselfwillbehereagain!
Daun,Ihavenodoubt,stirredhisslowfeetthefastesthecould。
NOVEMBER7th,DaunwasintheneighborhoodofPirnaCountryagain,hadhisBridgeatPirna,forcommunication;urgedtheReichsArmytobestiritself,Nowornever。ReichsArmydidpushoutalittleagainstFinck;madehimleavethatperpetualCampofGahmig,takenewcamps,Kesselsdorfandelsewhere;andatlengthmadehimshootacrossElbe,tothenorthwest,onapontoonbridgebelowDresden,withretreatingroomtonorthward,andshelterunderthegunsofthatCity。ReichsArmyhaslikewisemadepowerfuldetachmentsforcaptureofLeipzigandthenorthwesterntowns;captureofTorgau,theMagazinetown,firstofall:summonthem,withforceevidentlyoverpowering,"Freewithdrawal,ifyoudon’tresist;andifyoudo——!"AtTorgautherewasactualattemptmade(November12th),ratherelaborateanddangerouslooking;underHaddick,withnear10,000ofthe"Austrian—auxiliary"sort:towhomtheoldCommandant——judgingWedell,thelateAnti—SwedishWedell,tobenownear——
rushedoutwith"300menandonebiggun;"andmadesuchafiringandgesticulationaswasquiteextraordinary,asifWedellwereherealready:tillWedell’sselfdidcomeinsight;andtheoverpoweringReichsDetachmentmadeitsbestspeedelse—whither。
[Tempelhof,&c。;"LetterfromaPrussianOfficer,"in
Helden—Geschichte,v。286。]TheotherSiegesremainedthingsoftheory;theotherReichsDetachmentshurriedhome,Ithink,withoutsummoninganybody。
Meanwhile,Daun,withtheproperArtilleriesatlastready,comesflowingforward(NOVEMBER8th—9th);andtakespostintheGreatGarden,orsouthsideofDresden;minatorytoSchmettauandthatCity。Thewalls,orworks,areweak;outsidethereisnothingbutMayerandtheFreeCorpstoresist,whoindeedhassurpassedhimselfthisseason,andbeenextraordinarilydiligentuponthatlazyReichsArmy。CommandantSchmettausignifiestoDaun,thedayDauncameinsight,"IfyourExcellenzadvancefartheronme,thegrimRulesofWarinbesiegedplaceswillorderThatIburntheSuburbs,whichareyourdefencesinattackingme,"——andactuallyfillsthefinehousesontheSouthernSuburbwithcombustiblematter,makingdueannouncements,toCourtandpopulation,aswellastoDann。"BurntheSuburbs?"answersDaun:"Inthenameofcivilizedhumanity,youwillneverthinkofsuchthing!""ThatwillI,yourExcellenz,ofasurety,anddoit!"answersSchmettau。
SothatDresdenisfullofpity,terrorandspeculation。Thecommonrumoris,saysExcellencyMitchell,whoissojourningthereforthepresent,"ThatBruhl[nefariousBruhl,borntobethedeathofus!]
haspersuadedPolishMajestytosanctionthisenterpriseofDaun’s,"——verycareless,Bruhl,whatbecomeofDresdenorus,sotheKingofPrussiabewellhurtorspited!
Certainenough,NOVEMBER9th,Daundoescomeon,regardlessofSchmettau’sassurances;sothat,"aboutmidnight:"Mayer,who"canheartheenemybusilybuildingfourbigbatteries"withal,hastoreporthimselfdriventotheedgeofthosehighHouses(whicharefilledwithcombustibles),andthatsomeCroatsaregotintotheupperwindows。"Burnthem,then!"answersSchmettasu(suchthedirenecessityofsiegedplaces):and,"at3A。M。"(threehours’noticetothepoorinmates),Mayerdoesso;hideousflamesburstingout,punctuallyatthestrokeof3:"wholeSuburbseemedonblaze[aboutasixthpartofitactuallyso],nayyouwouldhavesaidthewholeTownwasenvironedinflames。"ExcellencyMitchellclimbedasteeple:"willnotdescribetoyourLordshipthehorror,theterrorandconfusionofthisnight;wretchedinhabitantsrunningwiththeirfurniture[whatofittheyhadgotflungout,between12
o’clockand3]towardstheGreatGarden;allDresden,toappearance,girtinflames,ruinsandsmoke。"SuchanightinDresden,especiallyinthePirnaSuburb,aswasneverseenbefore。
[Mitchell,MemoirsandPapers,i。459。
InHelden—Geschichte,v。295—302,minuteaccount(correspondingwellwithMitchell’s);ib。303—333,thecertifieddetailsofthedamagedone:"280houseslost;""4humanlives。"]Thiswasthesadbeginning,orattemptatbeginning,ofDresdenSiege;andthisalsowastheendofit,onDaun’spartatpresent。Forfourdaysmore,hehungabouttheplace,minatory,hesitative;butattemptednothingfeasible;andonthefifthday,——
"foracertainweightyreason,"astheAustrianGazettesexpressit,——hesawgoodtovanishintothePirnaRock—Country,andbeoutofharm’swayinthemeanwhile!
TheTruthis,Daun’swasanintricatecasejustnow;needing,aboveallthings,swiftnessoftreatment;what,ofallthings,itcouldnotgetfromDaun。HisdenunciationsonthatburntSuburbwereagainloud;butSchmettaucontinuesdeaftoallthat,——means"todefendhimselfbytheknownrulesofwarandofhonor;"declares,he"willdisputefromstreettostreet,andonlyfinishinthemiddleofPolishMajesty’sRoyalPalace。"Denunciationwilldonothing!Daunhadabove100,000meninthoseparts。Rushingforwardwithsharpshotandbayonetstorm,insteadoflogicaldenunciation,itisprobableDaunmighthavesettledhisSchmettau。Butthehouroftidewasrigorous,withal;——andsuchanebb,ifyoumisseditinhesitating!NOVEMBER15th,Daunwithdrew;theebbingcome。
Thatsameday,FriedrichwasatLaubanintheLausitz,withinahundredmilesagain;speedinghitherward;behindhimaSilesiabrushedclear,beforehimaSaxonytobebrushed。"Reasonweighty"
enough,thinkDaunandtheAustrianGazettes!Butsuch,sinceyouhavemissedthetide—hour,istheinexorablefactofebb,——goingatthatfrightfulrate。Daunneverwasthemantodisputefacts。
November20th,FriedricharrivedinDresden;heard,nextday,thatDaunhadwheeleddecisivelyhomewardfromPirnaCountry;thattheReichsArmyandhearediligentlyclimbingtheMetalMountains;
andthatthereisnotinSaxony,morethaninSilesia,anenemyleft。WhataSequeltoHochkirch!"NeisseandDresdenboth!"wehadhopedassequel,iflucky:"NeisseORDresden"seemedinfallible。
AndweareclimbingtheMetalMountains,underfactssuperiortous。
AndCampaignThirdhasclosedinthismanner;——leavingthingsmuchasitfoundthem。Essentiallyadrawnmatch;ContendingPartieslittlealteredinrelativestrength;——bothofthem,itmaybepresumed,considerablyweaker。Friedrichisnottriumphant,orshininginthelightofbonfires,aslastYear;but,inthemindofjudges,standshigherthanever(ifthatcouldhelphimmuch);
——andisnot"annihilated"intheleast,whichisthesurprisingcircumstance。
Friedrich’smarches,especially,havebeenwonderful,thisYear。
Inthespring—time,oldMarechaldeBelleisle,FrenchMinisterofWar,consultingofficiallyaboutfutureoperations,hearditobjectedonce:"ButiftheKingofPrussiaweretoburstinuponusthere?""TheKingofPrussiaisagreatsoldier,"answeredM。deBelleisle;"buthisArmyisnotashuttle(NAVETTE),"——tobeshotabout,inthatway,fromsidetosideoftheworld!Nosurely;
notaltogether。ButtheKingofPrussiahas,amongotherarts,anartofmarchingArmies,whichbydegreesastonishestheoldMarechal。To"comeuponusENNAVETTE,"suddenly"likeashuttle"
fromtheothersideoftheweb,becameanestablishedphraseamongtheFrenchconcernedintheseunfortunatematters。[Archenholtz,i。
316;Montalembert,SAEPIUS,forthephrase"ENNAVETTE。"]
"ThePitt—and—FerdinandCampaignof1758,"saysaNote,whichI
wouldfainabridge,"ismorepalpablyvictoriousthanFriedrich’s,muchmoreanaffairofbonfiresthanhis;thoughittoohashaditsrubs。LossofhonoratCrefeld;lossofLouisburgandCodfishery:
theseareseriousblowsourenemyhashad。Butthen,totemperthejoyoverLouisburg,therewas,atTiconderoga,byAbercrombie,onthesmallscale(alltheextentofscalehehad),amelancholyPlatitudecommitted:thatofwalkingintoanenemywithouttheleastreconnoitringofhim,whoprovestobechin—deepinabatisandfield—works;andkills,muchathisease,about2,000bravefellows,brought5,000milesforthatobject。Andobligesyoutowalkawayontheinstant,andquitTiconderoga,likea——surelylikeaverytragicDignitaryinCocked—hat!Tobecashiered,wewillhope;atleasttobelaidontheshelf,andreplacedbysomeWolfeorsomeAmherst,fitterforthebusiness!NorweretheDescentsontheFrenchCoastmuchtospeakof:’GreatGunsgotatCherbourg,’
thesetruly,asexhibitedinHyde—Park,wereacomfortablesight,especiallytothesimplersort:butontheotherhand,atMorlaix,onthepartofpooroldGeneralBlighandCompany,therehadbeenaPlatitudeequalorsuperiortothatofAbercrombie,thoughnotsotragicalinlossofmen。’Whatofthat?’saidanenthusiasticPublic,strikingtheirbalance,andjoyfullyilluminating。——
HereisaClippingfromOhioCountry,’LETTERofanOfficer[distilledessenceofTwoLetters],dated,FORT—DUQUESNE,28thNOVEMBER,1758:——
"’OursmallCorpsunderGeneralForbes,aftermuchsorescramblingthroughtheWildernesses,andcontendingwithenemieswildandtame,is,sincethelastfourdays,inpossessionofFortDuquesne[PITTSBURGhenceforth]:Friday,24th,theFrenchgarrison,onourappearance,madeoffwithoutfighting;tooktoboatsdowntheOhio,andvanishedoutofthoseCountries,’——foreverandaday,wewillhope。’TheirLouisiana—Canadacommunicationislost;andallthatprodigioustractofrichcountry,’——whichMr。Washingtonfixeduponlongago,isoursagain,ifwecanturnittouse。’ThisdayadetachmentofusgoestoBraddock’sfieldofbattle[poorBraddock!],toburythebonesofourslaughteredcountrymen;
manyofwhomtheFrenchbutcheredincoldblood,and,totheirowneternalshameandinfamy,haveleftlyingabovegroundeversince。
AsindeedtheyhavedonewithallthoseslainroundtheFortinlateweeks;’——callingthemselvesacivilizedNationtoo!"
[OldNewspapers(inGentleman’sMagazinefor1759,pp。41,39)。]
LOWERRHINE,JULY—NOVEMBER,1758。"Ferdinand’smanoeuvres,afterCrefeld,ontheFrance—wardsideofRhine,wereverypretty:
but,withoutWesel,andversusaBelleisleasWar—Minister,andaContadeswhowassomethingofaGeneral,itwouldnotdo。
Belleislemadeuncommonexertions,diligenttogethisbrokenpeopledrilledagain;Contadeswaswary,andcounter—manoeuvredratherwell。Finally,Soubise"(readersrecollecthimandhis24or30,000,whostoodinFrankfurtCountry,onthehitherornorthsideofRhine),famedRossbachSoubise,——"pushingout,atBelleisle’sbidding,towardsHanover,inaregionvacantotherwiseoftroops,——
becamedangeroustoFerdinand。’MakingforHanover?’thoughtFerdinand:’Orperhapsmeaningtoattackmy12,000Englishthatarejustlanded?Nay,perhapsmyRhine—Bridgeitself,andthesmallPartyleftthere?’Ferdinandfoundhewouldhavetoreturn,andlookafterSoubise。Crossed,accordingly(August8th),byhisoldBridgeatRees,——whichhefoundsafe,inspiteofattemptstherehadbeen;["FightofMeer"(Chevert,with10,000,beatenoff,andtheBridgesaved,byImhof,with3,000;——bothcleversoldiers;
Imhofinbetterluck,andfavoredbytheground:"5thAugust,1758"):MAUVILLON,i。315。]——andneverrecrossedduringthisWar。
Judgesevensayhisfirstcrossinghadnevermuchsolidityofoutlookinit;andthoughsodelightfultothepublic,washisquestionableststep。
"Onthe12,000English,Soubisehadattemptednothing。
FerdinandjoinedhisEnglishatSoest(August20th);totheirgreatjoyandhis;[DukeofMarlborough’sheavy—ladenLETTERtoPitt,"Koesfeld,August15th:""Nothingbutrainsanduncertainties;"
"marching,latterly,uptoourmiddlesinwater;"havecomefromEmbden,straightsouthtowardsWeselCountry,almost150miles(Soeststillagoodsixtymilestosoutheastofus)。
CHATHAMCORRESPONDENCE(London,1838),i。334,337。ThepoorDukediedintwomonthshence;andthecommanddevolvedonLordGeorgeSackville,asistoowellknown。]10to12,000asafirstinstalment:——Grand—lookingfellows,saidtheGermans。Anddidyoueverseesuchhorses,suchsplendorofequipment,regardlessofexpense?NottomentionthoseBERGSCHOTTEN(ScotchHighlanders),withtheirbagpipes,sporrans,kilts,andexoticcostumesandways;
astonishingtotheGermanmind。[RomanticviewoftheBERGSCHOTTEN
(2,000ofthem,ledbytheJunioroftheRobertKeithsabovementioned,whoisasoldierasyet),inARCHENHOLTZ,i。351—353:
IB。andinPREUSS,ii。136,ofthe"uniformswithgoldandsilverlace,"ofthesuperbhorses,"oneregimentallroanhorses,anotherallblack,anotherall"&c。]Outofallwhom(BERGSCHOTTEN
included),Ferdinand,bymanagement,——andmanagementwasneeded,——
gotagreatdealoffirst—ratefighting,inthenextFourYears。
"Nor,inregardtoHanover,couldSoubisemakeanythingofit;
thoughhedid(owingtoacoupleofstupidfellows,GeneralPrincevonYsenburgandGeneralOberg,detachedbyFerdinandonthatservice)escapethelivelytreatmentFerdinandhadpreparedforhim;andevengaveakindofBeatingtoeachofthosestupidfellows,[1。"FightofSandershausen"(Broglio,asSoubise’svanguard,12,000;VERSUSYsenburg,7,000,whostupidlywouldnotwithdrawTILLbeaten:"23dJuly,1758,"BEFOREFerdinandhadcomeacrossagain)。2。FightofLutternberg(Soubise,30,000;
VERSUSOberg,about18,000,whostupidlyhungbacktillSoubisewasallgathered,andTHEN&c。,stillmorestupidly:"10thOctober,1758")。SeeMAUVILLON,i。312(orbetter,ARCHENHOLTZ,i。345);
andMAUVILLON,i。327。BothLutternbergandSandershausenareintheneighborhoodofCassel;——asmanyofthoseFerdinandfightswere。]——oneofwhich,Oberg’sone,mighthaveruinedObergandhisDetachmentaltogether,hadSoubisebeenalert,whichhebynomeanswas!’ParismadesuchjeeringaboutRossbachandthePrincedeSoubise,’saysVoltaire,[HistoiredeLouisXV。]’andnobodysaidawordaboutthesetwoVictoriesofhis,nextYear!’Forwhichtheremightbetworeasons:one,accordingtoTempelhof,that’theVictorieswereoftheso—sokind(SICWAREN
AUCHDARNACH);’andanother,thattheywereascribedtoBroglio,onbothoccasions,——howjustly,nobodywillnowargue!
"Contadeshadnotfailed,inthemeanwhile,tofollowwiththemainArmy;andwasnowelaboratelymanoeuvringabout;intenttohaveLippstadt,orsomeFortressinthoseRhine—WeserCountries。
Onthetailofthatsecondso—soVictorybySoubise,Contadesthought,Nowwouldbethechance。Anddidtryhard,butwithouteffect。FerdinandwashimselfattendingContades;andmistakeswerenotlikely。Ferdinand,inthethickofthegame(October21st—
30th),’madeamasterlymovement’——thatistosay,cutContadesandhisSoubiseirretrievablyasunder:nojunctionnowpossibletothem;theweakerofthemliabletoruin,——unlessContades,thestronger,wouldgivebattle;which,thoughgreatlyoutnumberingFerdinand,hewascautiousnottodo。Amelancholiccautiousman,apttobeover—cautious,——nicknamed’L’APOTHECAIRE’bytheParisians,fromhisdownlooks,——buthadgoodsoldierqualitieswithal。Soubiseandhehaggledabout,ashortwhile,——notalong,inthesedangerouscircumstances;andthenhadtogohomeagain,withoutresult,eachthewayhecame;ContadeshimselfrepassingthroughWesel,andwinteringonhisownsideoftheRhine。"
HowPittissucceeding,andaimingtosucceed,ontheFrenchForeignSettlements:ontheGuineaCoast,ontheHighSeaseverywhere;intheWestIndies;stillmoreintheEast,——whereGeneralLally(thatfieryO’MulLALLY,famoussinceFontenoy),missionedwith"full—powers,"astheycallthem,isragingupanddown,aboutMadrasandneighborhood,inaviolent,impetuous,moreandmorebankruptmanner:——Ofallthiswecansaynothingforthepresent,littleatanytime。Herearetwofactsofthefinancialsort,sufficientlyilluminative。Themuch—expending,much—
subsidyingGovernmentofFrancecannotnowborrowexceptat7percentInterest;andtherateofMarineInsurancehasrisento70percent。[Retzow,ii。5。]Onewayandother,hereisaPittclearlyprogressive;andalong—pendingJENKINS’S—EARQUESTIONinafairwaytobesettled!
FriedrichstaysinSaxonyaboutamonth,inspectingandadjusting;
thencetoBreslau,forWinter—quarters。HisWinterisliketobeasadandsilentone,thistime;withnoneofthegayetiesoflastYear;theroyalheartheavyenoughwithmanyprivatesorrows,weretherenoneofpublicatall!Thisisawordfromhim,twodaysafterfinishingDaunfortheseason:——
FRIEDRICHTOMYLORDMARISCHAL(atColombierinNeufchatel)。
"DRESDEN,23dNovember,1758。
"Thereisnothingleftforus,MONCHERMYLORD,buttomingleandblendourweepingforthelosseswehavehad。Ifmyheadwereafountainoftears,itwouldnotsufficeforthegriefIfeel。
"OurCampaignisover;andtherehasnothingcomeofit,ononesideortheother,butthelossofagreatmanyworthypeople,themiseryofagreatmanypoorsoldierscrippledforever,theruinofsomeProvinces,theravage,pillageandconflagrationofsomeflourishingTowns。Exploitsthesewhichmakehumanityshudder:
sadfruitsofthewickednessandambitionofcertainPeopleinPower,whosacrificeeverythingtotheirunbridledpassions!Iwishyou,MONCHERMYLORD,nothingthathastheleastresemblancetomvdestiny;andeverythingthatiswantingtoit。Youroldfriend,tilldeath。"——F。[OEuvresdeFrederic,
xx。273。]
EndofV18
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV19
byThomasCarlyleBOOKXIX。
FRIEDRICHLIKETOBEOVERWHELMEDIN
THESEVEN—YEARSWAR。
1759—1760。
ChapterI。
PRELIMINARIESTOAFOURTHCAMPAIGN。
ThepostingoftheFiveArmiesthisWinter——FiveoftheminGermany,notcountingtheRussians,whohavevanishedtoCimmeriaoverthehorizon,fortheirmonthsofrest——issomethingwonderful,andstrikesthepicturesqueimagination。SuchaChainofPosts,forlength,iffornothingelse!FromthecentreofBohemiaeastward,Daun’sAustriansarespreadallroundthewesternSilesianBorderandthesoutheasternSaxon;waitedonbyPrussians,inmoreorlessproximity。NextaretheReichsfolk;scatteredoverThuringenandtheFranconianCountries;frontingpartlyintoHessenandDukeFerdinand’soutskirts:——themainbodyofDukeFerdinandisfartowestward,inMunsterCountry,vigilantuponContades,withtheRhinebetween。ContadesandSoubise,——adjoiningontheReichsfolkaretheseTwoFrenchArmies:Soubise’s,some25,000,inFrankfurt—
EmsCountry,betweentheMaynandtheLahn,withitsbacktotheRhine;thenContades,onwardtoMaesRiverandtheDutchBorders,withhisfacetotheRhine,——andDukeFerdinandobservantofhimontheotherside。Thatisthe"CORDONofPosts"orwinter—quartersthisYear。"FromtheGiantMountainsandtheMetalMountains,totheOcean;——tothemouthofRhine,"maywenotsay;"andbackagaintotheSwissAlpsorspringsofRhine,thatUpper—RhineCountrybeingalleitherFrenchorAustrian,andabasisforSoubise?"
[Archenholtz,i。306。]NottospeakofOceanitself,anditswingedWar—Fleets,lonesomelyhoveringandpatrolling;oroftheAmericasandIndiesbeyond!
"ThisissuchaChainofmutuallyvigilantWinter—quarters,"saysArchenholtz,"aswasneverdrawninGermany,orinEurope,before。"
Chainofabout300,000fightingmen,pouredoutinthatlengthymanner。Takingtheirwintersiestathere,asleepwithoneeyeopen,tillreinforcedfornewbusinessofdeathanddestructionagainstSpring。Patheticsurely,aswellaspicturesque。"ThreeCampaignstherehavealreadybeen,"sighsthepeaceableobserver:
"ThreeCampaigns,surelyfuriousenough;ElevenBattlesinthem,"
[Stenzel,v。185。This,Isuppose,wouldbehisenumeration:
LOBOSITZ(1756);PRAG,KOLIN,Hastenbeck,Gross—Jagersdorf,ROSSBACH,Breslau,LEUTHEN,(1757);Crefeld,ZORNDORF,HOCHKIRCH
(1758):"elevenhithertoinall。"]aPrag,aKolin,Leuthen,Rossbach;——musttherestillbeothers,then,tothemiseryofpoormankind?"thussighmanypeacefulpersons。Notconsideringwhatare,andhavebeen,therages,theiniquities,theloudandsilentdeliriums,themadblindnessesandsinsofmankind;andwhatamount,ofCALCININGthesemayreasonablytake。NotcalcinableinthreeCampaignsatall,itwouldappear!FourmoreCampaignsareneeded:thentherewillbeinnocuousashesinquantity;andaresultunexpected,andworthmarkinginWorld—History。
ItisnotablyoneofFriedrich’sfondhopes,——ofwhichhekeepsupseveral,asbrightcloud—hangingsinthehaggardinnerworldhenowhas,——thatPeaceisjustathand;onerightstrugglemore,andPeacemustcome!AndonthepartofBritannicGeorgeandhim,repeatedattemptsweremade,——oneintheendofthisYear1759;——butoneandallofthemprovedfutile,and,unlessforaccidentalreasons,neednotbementionedhere。Manymen,inallnations,longforPeace;butthereareThreeWomenatthetopoftheworldwhodonot;theirwrath,variousinquality,isgreatinquantity,anddisastersdothereverseofappeasingit。
TheFrenchpeople,asisnatural,arewearyofaWarwhichyieldsthemmerelossesanddisgraces;"WarcarriedonforAustrianwhims,whichlikewiseseemtobeimpracticable!"thinkthey。AndtheirBernishimself,MinisterofForeignAffairs,whobeganthissadFrench—AustrianAdventure,hasalreadybeenremonstratingwithKaunitz,andgrumblinganxiously,"CouldnottheSwedes,orsomebody,begottomediate?SuchaWaristooruinous!"Hearingwhich,thePompadourisshockedatthefavoritecreatureofherhands;hastenstodismisshim("BeCardinalthen,youingrateofaBernis;disappearunderthatRedHat!")——andappoints,inhisstead,oneChoiseul(knownhithertoasSTAINVILLE,ComtedeStainville,FrenchExcellencyatVienna,butnowmadeDukeonthispromotion),DucdeChoiseul;[MinisterofForeignAffairs,"11thNovember,1758"(Barbier,iv。294)。]whoisaLorrainer,orSemi—
Austrian,byverybirth;andprobablymuchfitterfortheplace。
Aswift,impetuouskindofman,thisChoiseul,whoisstillratheryoungthanotherwise;plentyofproudspiritinhim,ofshifts,talentoftherecklesssort;whoprovedverynotableinFranceforthenexttwentyyears。
Frenchtradebeingruinedwithal,moneyisrunningdreadfullylow:
buttheyappointanewController—General;aM。deSilhouette,whoisthoughttohaveanextraordinarycreativegeniusinFinance。
HadhebutaFortunatus—Purse,howluckywereit!WithFortunatusSilhouetteaspurse—holder,withafieryyoungChoiseulonthishand,andafieryoldBelleisleonthat,PompadourmeditatesgreatthingsthisYear,——InvasionsofEngland;strongerGermanArmies;
betterGermanPlans,andslashingshomeuponHanoveritself,orthevitalpoint;——andflattersherself,andherpoorLouis,thatthereisontheanvil,for1759,suchaFrenchCampaignaswillperhapsastonishPittandanotherinsolentKing。Veryfixed,fellandfeminineisthePompadour’shumorinthismatter。NoristheCzarina’slessso;butmore,ifpossible;unappeasableexceptbydeath。ImperialMariaTheresahasmasculinereasonswithal;
greathopes,too,oflate。OftheWar’sendingtillflatimpossibilitystopit,thereisnolikelihood。
ToPittthisCampaign1759,inspiteofbadomensattheoutset,provedaltogethersplendid:butgreatlythereverseonFriedrich’sside;towhomitwasthemostdisastrousandunfortunatehehadyetmade,ordidevermake。Pittathiszenithinpublicreputation;
Friedrichneversolowbefore,nothingseeminglybutextinctionnearahead,whenthisYearended。Thetruthis,apartfromhisspecificpiecesofill—luck,therehadnowbegunforFriedrichanewruleofprocedure,whichmuchalteredhisappearanceintheworld。Thriceoverhadhetriedbytheaggressiveorinvasivemethod;thriceovermadeaplungeattheenemy’sheart,hopingsotodisarmorlamehim:butthat,withresourcesspenttosuchadegree,iswhathecannotdoafourthtime:heistooweakhenceforthtothinkofthat。
PrussiahasalwaysitsKing,andhisunrivalledtalent;butthatisprettymuchtheonlyfixeditem:PrussiaVERSUSFrance,Austria,Russia,SwedenandtheGermanReich,whatisitasafieldofsuppliesforwar!ExceptitsKing,thesearefailing,yearbyyear;
andataratefatallySWIFTincomparison。FriedrichcannotnowdoLeuthens,Rossbachs;far—shiningfeatsofvictory,whichastonishalltheworld。HisfinePrussianveteranshavemostlyperished;
andhavebeenreplacedbynewleviesandrecruits;whoareinferiorbothindisciplineandnativequality;——thoughtheyhavestill,peoplesay,anoteworthytasteoftheoldPrussiansortinthem;
anddo,infact,fightwelltothelast。But"itisobservable,"
saysRetzowsomewhere,andindeeditfollowsfromthenatureofthecase,"thatwhilethePrussianArmypresentsalwaysitsbestkindofsoldiersatthebeginningofawar,Austria,suchareitsresourcesinpopulation,alwaysimprovesinthatparticular,anditsbesttroopsappearinthelastcampaigns。"Inaword,Friedrichstandsonthedefensivehenceforth;disputinghisgroundinchbyinch:andisreduced,moreandmore,tobattleobscurelywithahydra—coilofenemiesandimpediments;andtodoheroismswhichmakenonoiseintheGazettes。And,alas,whichcannotfigureinHistoryeither,——whatismoreasorrowtomehere!
Friedrich,sayalljudgesofsoldiershipandhumancharacterwhohavestudiedFriedrichsufficiently,"isgreaterthanever,"inthesefourYearsnowcoming。[Berenhorst,inKriegskunst;
Retzow;&c。]Andthis,Ihavefoundmoreandmoretobeatruething;verifiableanddemonstrableintimeandplace,——
though,unluckilyforus,hardlyinthistimeorthisplaceatall!
Athingwhichcannot,byanymethod,bemademanifesttothegeneralreader;whodelightsinshiningsummaryfeats,andisimpatientoftediouspreliminariesandinvestigations,——especiallyofMAPS,whicharetheindispensablestrequisiteofall。Athing,inshort,thatbelongspeculiarlytosoldier—students;whocanundergothedullpreliminaries,mostdullbutmostinexorablyneeded;andcanfollowout,withwatchfulintelligence,andwithapatiencenottobewearied,themultifarioustopographies,detailsofmovementsandmanoeuvrings,yearafteryear,onsuchaTheatreofWar。Whatistobedonewithithere!Ifwecould,bysignificantstrokes,indicate,underfeaturestruesofarastheywent,thegreatwidefire—floodthatwasragingroundtheworld;
ifwecould,carefullyomittingverymanythings,omitofthethingsintelligibleanddecipherablethatconcernFriedrichhimself,nothingthathadmeaning:IFindeed——!Butitisidlepreluding。Forwardagain,bravereader,undersuchconditionsasthereare!
Friedrich’sWinterinBreslauwasofsecluded,silent,sombrecharacter,thistime;nothingofstirinitbutfromworkonly:
inmarkedcontrastwiththelast,anditskindlyvisitorsandgayeties。AFriedrichgivenuptohismanifoldbusinesses,tohissilentsorrows。"IhavepassedmywinterlikeaCarthusianmonk,"
hewritestoD’Argens:"Idinealone;Ispendmylifeinreadingandwriting;andIdonotsup。Whenoneissad,itbecomesatlasttooburdensometohideone’sgriefcontinually;anditisbettertogivewaytoitbyoneself,thantocarryone’sgloomintosociety。
Nothingsolacesmebutthevigorousapplicationrequiredinsteadyandcontinuouslabor。Thisdistractiondoesforceonetoputawaypainfulideas,whileitlasts:but,alas,nosooneristheworkdone,thanthesefatalcompanionspresentthemselvesagain,asiflivelierthanever。Maupertuiswasright:thesumofevildoescertainlysurpassthatofgood:——buttomeitisallone;Ihavealmostnothingmoretolose;andmyfewremainingdays,whatmattersitmuchofwhatcomplexiontheybe?"["Breslau,1stMarch,1759,"ToD’Argens(OEuvresdeFrederic,
xix。56)。]
ThelossofhisWilhelmina,hadtherebeennoothergrief,hasdarkenedallhislifetoFriedrich。Readersarenotpreparedforthedetailsofgriefwecouldgive,andthesettledgloomofmindtheyindicate。Alossirreparableandimmeasurable;thelightoflife,theonelovedheartthatlovedhim,gone。HispassionateappealstoVoltairetocelebrateforhiminversehislosttreasure,andatleastmakehervirtuesimmortal,areperhapsknowntoreaders:[ODESURLAMORTDES。A。S。MADAMELAPRINCESSEDE
BAREITH(inOEuvresdeVoltaire,xviii。
79—86):seeFriedrich’sLettertohim(6thNovember,1758);
withVoltaire’sVERSESinAnswer(nextmonth);Friedrich’snewLetter(Breslau,23dJanuary1759),demandingsomethingmore,——
followedbytheODEjustcited(Ib。lxxii。402;lxxviii。82,92;
orOEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。20—24:&c。]
alas,thisisaveryfeeblekindofimmortality,andFriedrichtoowellfeelsitsuch。AllWinterhedwellsinternallyonthesadmatter,thoughsoonfallingsilentonittoothers。
TheWarisevermoredarkanddismaltohim;awearing,harassing,nearlydisgustingtask;onwhich,however,dependslifeordeath。
ThisYear,he"expectstohave300,000enemiesuponhim;"and"is,withhisutmosteffort,gettingup150,000tosetagainstthem。"
Ofbusiness,initsmanykinds,therecanbenolack!Intheintervalshealsowroteconsiderably:oneofhisPiecesisaSERMON
ONTHELASTJUDGMENT;handedtoReaderDeCatt,oneevening:——toDeCatt’ssurprise,andtoours;theVoicelessinadarkFriedrichtryingtogiveitselfsomevoiceinthisway![OEuvresdeFrederic,xv。1—10(seePreuss’sPREFACEthere;
Formey,SOUVENIRS,i。37;&c。&c。]AnotherPiece,altogetherpractical,anddonewithexcellentinsight,brevity,modesty,isONTACTICS;[REFLEXIONSSURLATACTIQUE:
inOEuvresdeFrederic,xxviii。153—166。]——
properlyitmightbecalled,"SeriousveryPrivateThoughts,"
thrownonpaper,andcommunicatedonlytotwoorthree,"OnthenewkindofTacticsnecessarywiththoseAustriansandtheirAllies,"
whoareinsuchoverwhelmingstrength。"Towhosecontinualsluggishness,andstrangewantofconcert,towhoseincoherencyofmovements,languorofexecution,andotherenormousfaults,wehaveowed,withsomeexcuseforourownfaults,ourescapingofdestructionhitherto,"——buthadbetterNOTtrustthatwayanylonger!Fouquetisoneofthehighlyselect,towhomhecommunicatesthisPiece;addingalongwithit,inFouquet’scase,anaffectionatelittleNote,and,inspiteofpoverty,someNew—year’sGift,asusual,——the"Widow’sMite[300pounds,wefind];receiveitwiththesameheartwithwhichitwassetapartforyou:asmallhelp,whichyoumaywellhaveneedof,inthesecalamitoustimes。"["Breslau,23dDecember,1758;"withFouquet’sAnswer,2dJanuary,1759:inOEuvresdeFrederic,xx。114—117。]FouquetmuchadmiresthenewTacticalSuggestions;——seemstothink,however,thatthecertainlypracticableoneis,inparticular,thelast,Thatof"improvingourArtillerytosomeequalitywiththeirs。"Forwhich,asmayappear,theKinghasalreadybeentakingthought,inmorewaysthanone。
FinanceisnaturallyaheavypartofFriedrich’sProblem;thepartwhichlooksespeciallyimpossible,fromourpointofvision!
InFriedrich’sCountry,theWarBudgetdoesnotdifferfromthePeaceone。Neitherisanyborrowingpossible;thatsublimeArt,ofrollingoveronyouknownotwhomtheexpenditure,needfulorneedless,ofyourheavy—ladenself,hadnotyet——thoughEnglandisbusyatit——beeninventedamongNations。Once,orperhapstwice,fromtheSTANDEofsomewillingProvince,FriedrichnegotiatedsomesmallLoan;whichwaspunctuallyrepaidwhenPeacecame,andwasalwaysgratefullyremembered。Buttheseareasnothing,infaceofsuchexpenses;andthethoughthowhedidcontriveontheFinanceside,isandwasnotalittlewonderful。AningeniousPredecessor,whomIsometimesquote,hasexpressedhimselfinthesewords:——
"SuchmodicumofSubsidy[heisspeakingoftheEnglishSubsidyin1758],howusefulwillitproveinaCountrybredeverywheretoSpartanthrift,accustomedtoregardwasteassin,andwhichwilllayoutnopennyexcepttopurpose!IguessthePrussianExchequeris,bythistime,muchontheebb;idlepreciousmetalstendingeverywheretowardsthemelting—pot。AtwhatprecisedatetheFriedrich—Wilhelmbalustrades,andenormoussilverfurnitures,werefirstgoneinto,Dryasdusthasnotinformedme:butweknowtheyallwent;astheywellmight。TomenothingissowonderfulasFriedrich’sBudgetduringthisWar。Onedayitwillbecarefullyinvestigated,elucidatedandmadeconceivableandcertaintomankind:butthatasyetisfarfrombeingthecase。Wewalkaboutinitwithastonishment;almost,wereitpossible,withincredulity。Expenditureonthisside,workdoneonthat:
humannature,especiallyBritishhumannature,refusestoconceiveit。Neverinthisworld,beforeorsince,wasthelike。
TheFriedrichmiraclesinWararegreat;butthoseinFinancearealmostgreater。LetDryasdustbethinkhim;andgirdhisflabbyloinstothisEnterprise;whichisverybehoovefulintheseCaliforniantimes!"——
ThegeneralSecretofPrussianThrift,Idofear,islostfromtheworld。AndhowanArmyofabout200,000,infieldandgarrison,couldbekeptonfoot,andinsomeabilitytofrontcombinedEurope,onaboutThreeMillionSterlingannually("25millionTHALERS"=3,150,000pounds,thatisthesteadyWar—Budgetofthoseyears),remainstousinconceivableenough;——mournfullymiraculous,asitwere;andgrowingevermoresointheNugget—generationsthatnowrun。Meanwhile,herearewhathintsIcouldfind,ontheOriginsofthatmodestSum,whichalsoareawonder:[Preuss,ii。
388—392;Stenzel,v。137—141。]——
"ThehoardedPrussianMoneys,or’TREASURES’[twoofthem,KLEINE
SCHATZ,GROSSESCHATZ,whicharerigidlysavedinPeaceyears,forincidenceofWar],beingnearlyrunout,therehadcometheEnglishSubsidy:this,withSaxony,andtheHomerevenuesandremnantsofSCHATZhadsufficedfor1758;butwillnolongersuffice。NexttoSaxony,theEnglishSubsidy(670,000poundsduethesecondtimethisyear)wasalwaysFriedrich’sprincipalresource:andinthelatteryearsoftheWar,Iobserve,itwasnearlytwicetheamountofwhatallhisPrussianCountriestogether,intheirravagedandworn—outstate,couldyieldhim。Inandafter1759,besidesHomeIncome,whichisgraduallydiminishing,andEnglishSubsidy,whichisasteadyquantity,Friedrich’ssourcesofrevenuearemainlyTwo:——
"FIRST,thereisthatofwringingmoneyfromyourEnemies,fromthosethathavedeservedillofyou,——suchofthemasyoucancomeat。Enemies,openorsecret,evenIll—wishers,wearenotparticular,providedonlytheyliewithinarm’s—length。UnderthisheadfallprincipallythreeCountries(andtheirthreepoorPopulations,inlieuoftheirGovernments):Saxony,Mecklenburg(orthemainpartofit,Mecklenburg—SCHWERIN),andAnhalt;fromthesethreethereisacontinualforcedsupplyofmoneyandfurnishings。
TheirdemeritstoFriedrichdiffermuchinintensity;norishiswringingofthem——whichinthecasesofMecklenburgandSaxonyincreasesyearbyyeartothenearlyintolerablepitch——quiteinthesimpleratiooftheirdemerits;butinacompoundratioofthatandofhisindignationandofhiswants。
"Saxony,asPrimeAuthorofthisWar,wasfromthefirstlaidholdof,collaredtightly:’Paytheshot,then,whatyoucan’(intheenditwasalmostwhatyoucannot)!AstoMecklenburg—Schwerin,thegrudgeagainstPrussiawasofveryoldstanding,somegenerationsnow;andthepresentDuke,notaverywiseSovereignmorethanhisAncestors,hadalwaysbeenillwithFriedrich;willingtospiteandhurthimwhenpossible:inReichsDiethe,ofallGermanPrinces,wasthefirstthatvotedforFriedrich’sbeingputtoBanoftheReich,——he;andhispoorPeopleknowsincewhetherthatwasawisestep!ThelittleAnhaltPrinces,too,alltheAnhalts,Dessau,Bernburg,Cothen,Zerbst[perhapsthelatterpartiallyexcepted,foracertainRussianLady’ssake],hadvoted,oratleasthadambiguouslyhalf—voted,infavoroftheBan,anddoneotherunfriendlythings;andhadnowtopaydearfortheirbitsofenmities。Poorsouls,theyhadbutOneVoteamongthemallFour;——
andtheyonlyhalfgaveit,tremulouslypullingitbackagain。
Ishouldguessitwastheirterrorsmainly,andover—readinesstoreckonFriedrichasinkingship;andtoleapfromthedeckofhim,——withaspurnwhichhetookforinsolent!TheAnhalt—Dessauersparticularly,whowereonceofhisveryArmy,halfPrussiansforgenerationsback,hereckonedtohaveusedhimscandalouslyill。
"ThisYeartherequisitionontheFourAnhalts——whichtheysubmittopatiently,aspeoplewhohaveleaptintothewrongship——is,inprecisetale:ofmoney,330,000thalers(about50,000pounds);
recruits,2,200;horses,1,800。InSaxony,besidesthefixedTaxes,strictconfiscationofMeissenPotteriesandeveryRoyalty,therewereexactedheavy’Contributions,’moreandmoreheavy,fromthefewopulentTowns,chieflyfromLeipzig;whichwerewrungout,latterly,undergreatseverities,——’chiefmerchantsofLeipzigallclaptinprison,keptonbread—and—watertilltheyyielded,’——AS
greatseveritiesaswouldsuffice,butNOTgreater;whichalsowasnoted。UnfortunatechiefmerchantsofLeipzig,——withBruhlandPolishMajestylittlelikelytoindemnifythem!UnfortunateCountryaltogether。AnintelligentSaxon,whoisvouchedforasimpartial,bearswitnessasfollows:’AndthisIknow,thattheoppressionsandplunderingsoftheAustriansandReichsfolk,inSaxony,turnedallheartsawayfromthem;anditwaspubliclysaid,WehadratherbearthesteadyburdenofthePrussiansthansuchhelpastheseourpretendedDeliverersbring。’[Stenzel(citingfromKRIEGSKANZLEI,whichIhavenot),v。137n。]Whereby,onthewhole,thepoorCountrygotitsbackbroken,andcouldneverlookupintheworldsince。ResourceFIRSTwasabundantlysevere。
"ResourceSECONDisstrangestofall;——andhasgivenrisetocriticismenough!Itisnootherthanthatofissuingbasemoney;
mixingyourgoldandsilvercoinwithcopper,——this,onegrievestosay,istheSecondandextremeresource。(Arudemethod——wouldwehadabetter——ofsuspendingCash—payments,andpayingbybank—notesinstead!’thinksFriedrich,Isuppose。FromhisPrussianMints,fromhisSaxon[whicharehisforthepresent],andfromthelittleAnhalt—BernburgMint[ofwhichheexpresslypurchasedthesadprivilege,——forwearenotaCoiner,weareaKingreducedtosuspendCash—payments,forthetimebeing],FriedrichpouredoutoverallGermany,inallmannerofkinds,hugequantitiesofbadCoin。This,solongasitwouldlast,ismoreandmoreacopiousfountainofsupply。This,forthefirsttime,hashadtoappearasaniteminWar—Budget1759:anditfailsinnofollowing,butexpandsmoreandmore。ItwasdonethroughEphraim,thenotlovelyBerlinJew,whomweusedtohearofinVoltaire’stime;——throughEphraimandtwoothers,EphraimasPresident:inreturnforanetSum,theseshallhaveprivilegetocoinsuchandsuchamounts,soandsoalloyed;shallpaytoGeneralTauentzien,ArmyTreasurer,atfixedterms,theSumsspecified:’Go,anddoit;ourMint—Officerssharplywatchingyou;Mint—Officers,andGeneralTauentzien[withayoungHerrLessing,ashisChiefClerk,ofwhomtheKingknowsnothing];Go,yeunlovely!’AndEphraimandCompanyaremakingagreatdealofmoneybytheunlovelyjob。Ephraimisthepairoftongs,thehand,andtheunlovelyjob,arearoyalman’s。
Alas,yes。AndnoneofusknowsbetterthanKingFriedrich,perhapsfewofusaswell,howlittlelovelyajobitwas;howshockinglyUNkinglyitwas,——thoughapracticenotunknowntoGermanKingsandKingletsbeforehistime,andsincedownalmosttoours。
[InSTENZEL(v。141)enumerationofeightornineunhappyPotentates,whowerebusywithitinthosesameyears。]Infact,theseareallunkinglypractices;——andtheEnglishSubsidyitselfisdistastefultoaproudFriedrich:butwhat,inthosecircumstances,cananyFriedrichdo?
"ThefirstcoinagesofEphraimhad,itseems,inthemabout3—7thsofcopper;somethinglessthanthehalf,andmorethanthethird,"
——yourgoldsovereigngrowntobeworth28s。6d。"Butyearlyitgrewworse;andin1762[EnglishSubsidyhavingfailed]mattershadgotinverted;andtherewasthreetimesasmuchcopperassilver。
Commerce,aswasnatural,wentrockingandtossing,asonaseaunderearthquakes;buttherewasalwaysreadymoneyamongFriedrich’ssoldiers,asamongnoother:nordidthecommonpeople,orretailpurchasers,sufferbyit。’Hah,anEphraimite!’theywouldsay,grinningnotill—humoredly,atsightofoneofthesepieces;someofwhichtheyhadmorespecificallynamed’BLUE—GOWNS’
[owingtoatintofblueperceivable,inspiteoftheindustriousplatinginrealsilver,oratleast"boilinginsomesolution"ofit];thesetheywouldsalutewiththisrhyme,thencurrent:——
"Vonaussenschon,vaninnenschlimm;
VonaussenFriedrich,voninnenEphraim。
Outsidenoble,insideslim:
OutsideFriedrich,insideEphraim。
"Bythistime,whateverofmoney,fromanysource,canbescrapedtogetherinFriedrich’sworld,flowswhollyintotheArmy—Chest,astherealcitadeloflife。IntheselatteryearsoftheWar,beginning,Icouldguess,from1759,allCivilexpenditures,andwagesofOfficials,ceasetobepaidinmoney;nobodyofthatkindseesthecolorevenofbadcoin;butispaidonlyin’PaperAssignments,’inPromisestoPay’afterthePeace。’ThesePaperDocumentsmadenopretencetotherankofCurrency:suchholdersofthemashadmoney,orfriends,andcouldwait,gotpunctualpaymentwhenthetermdidarrive;butthosethatcouldnot,sufferedgreatly;havingtonegotiatetheirdebenturesonruinousterms,——
sometimesatanexpenseofthree—fourths。——IwilladdFriedrich’spracticalScheduleofAmountsfromallthesevariousSources;
andwhatFriedrich’sownviewoftheSourceswas,whenhecouldsurveythemfromthesafedistance。
"SCHEDULEOFAMOUNTS[sayfor1761]。TomakeuptheTwenty—fiveMillionthalers,necessaryfortheArmy,thereare:——
"FromourPrussianCountries,ruined,harriedasTHALERS
theyhavebeen,……4millionsonly。
FromSaxonyandtheotherWringings,……7millions。
EnglishSubsidy(4ofgoodgold;becopperedintodouble),……8"
FromEphraimandhisFarmoftheMint(MUNZ—PATENT),……7"
InsumTwenty—sixMillions;leavingyouoneMillionofmargin,——
andalwaysaplentyofcashinhandforincidentalsundries。
[Preuss,ii。388。]
"Friedrich’sownviewofthesesadmatters,ashecloseshisHistoryoftheSeven—YearsWar[at"Berlin,17thDecember,1763"],isinthesewords:’MayHeavengrant,——ifHeavendeigntolookdownonthepaltryconcernsofmen,——thattheunalterableandflourishingdestinyofthisCountrypreservetheSovereignswhoshallgovernitfromthescourgesandcalamitieswhichPrussiahassufferedinthesetimesoftroubleandsubversion;thattheymayneveragainbeforcedtorecurtotheviolentandfatalremedieswhichwe(L’ON)havebeenobligedtoemployinmaintenanceoftheStateagainsttheambitioushatredoftheSovereignsofEurope,whowishedtoannihilatetheHouseofBrandenburg,andexterminatefromtheworldwhateverborethePrussianname!’"[OEuvresdeFrederic,
v。234。]
OFTHESMALL—WARINSPRING,1759。THEREAREFIVEDISRUPTIONS
OFTHATGRANDCORDON(February—April);ANDFERDINANDOF
BRUNSWICKFIGHTSHISBATTLEOFBERGEN(April13th)。
Friedrich,beingdeniedanaggressivecoursethisYear,bynomeanssitsidlyexpectantanddefensiveintheinterim;but,allthemorevigorously,asisobservable,fromFebruaryonwards,strikesoutfromhimoneveryside:endeavoringtospoiltheEnemy’sMagazines,andcripplehisoperationsinthatway。Sothattherewas,allwinterthrough,agooddealofSmall—War(someofitnotSmall),ofmoreimportancethanusual,——chieflyofFriedrich’soriginating,withtheaboveview,orofFerdinandhisAlly’s,onastillmorepressingscore。And,onthewhole,thatimmenseAustrian—FrenchCordon,whichgoesfromtheCarpathianstotheOcean,hadbynomeansaquiettime;butwasbrokeninto,andviolentlyhurledback,indifferentparts:somefour,orevenfive,attacksuponitinall;threeofthembyPrinceHenri,——intwoofwhichDukeFerdinand’speopleco—operated;thebusinessbeingformutualbehoof。TheselatterThreewerefamousintheworld,thatWinter;
andindeedarestillrecognizableasbrilliantproceduresoftheirkind;though,exceptdatesandresults,wecanaffordalmostnothingofthemhere。TheseThree,intendedchieflyagainstReichspeopleandtheirPostsandMagazines,felloutonthewesternandmiddlepartoftheCordon。Anotherattackwasintheextremeeastward,andwasforFriedrich’sownbehoof;underFouquet’smanagement;——intendedagainsttheAustrian—MoravianMagazinesandPreparations,buthadlittlesuccess。Stillanotherassault,orinvasiveoutroad,northwardagainsttheRussianMagazines,therealsowas;ofwhichbyandby。Besidesallwhich,andmorememorablethanall,DukeFerdinand,forvitalreasonsofhisown,foughtaBattlethisSpring,considerableBattle,anddidNOTgainit;
whichmadegreatnoiseintheworld。
Itisnotnecessarythereadershouldloadhismemorywithdetailsofallthesepreliminarythings;onthecontrary,itisnecessarythathekeephismemoryclearforthefarmoreimportantthingsthatlieaheadofthese,andentertaintheseinasummaryway,asakindofforegroundtowhatiscoming。PerhapsthefollowingFractionsofNote,whichputmattersinsomethingofChronologicalorSynopticalform,willsufficehim,ormorethansuffice。HeistounderstandthatthegrandtugofWar,thisYear,graduallyturnsoutnottobehereabouts,norwithDaunandhisadjacenciesatall,butwiththeRussians,whoarrivefromtheoppositeNorthernquarter;andthatallelsewillprovetobemerelyprefatoryandnugatoryincomparison。
JANUARY2d,1759:FRANKFURT—ON—MAYN,THOUGHITISAREICHSTADT,FINDSITSELFSUDDENLYBECOMEFRENCH。"PrincedeSoubiseliesbetweenMaynandLahn,withhis25,000;beautifullysafeandconvenient,——thoughilloffforaplace—of—armsinthoseparts。
OpulentFrankfurt,onhisright;howhandywouldthatbe,werenotReichsLawsoexpress!Marburg,Giessenareoutpostsofhis;
onwhichsideoneofFerdinand’speople,PrincevonYsenburg,watcheshimwithan8or10,000,capableofmischiefinthatquarter。
"OntheEveofNew—year’sday,orontheauspiciousDayitself,Soubiserequests,oftheFrankfurtAuthorities,permissionforaregimentofhistomarchthroughthatImperialCity。Towhich,bylawandtheory,theImperialCitycansayYesorNo;
butpracticallycannot,withoutgraveinconvenience,sayotherthanYes,thoughmostFrankfurterswishitcould。’Yes,’answertheFrankfurtMagnates;Yessurely,undertheknownconditions。
Tuesday,January2d,about5inthemorning,whileallisstilldarkinFrankfurt,regimentNassauappears,accordingly,attheSachsenhausenGate,Town—guardpeopleallreadytoreceiveitandescortitthrough;andisadmittedasusual。Quiteasusual:butinsteadofbeingescortedthrough,itorders,incalmperemptoryvoice,theTown—guard,Togroundarms;withcalmrapidityproceedstoadmittenotherregimentsorbattalions,sixofthemGerman;
seizestheartilleryontheWalls,seizesalltheotherGates:——andpoorFrankfurtfindsitselftiedhandandfoot,almostbeforeitisoutofbed!Donewithgreatexactitude,withtheminimumofconfusion,andwithoutahurtskintoanybody。TheInhabitantsstoodsilent,gazing;theTown—guardlaiddowntheirarms,andwenthome。TotallyagainstLaw;butcleverlydone;perhapsSoubise’schiefexploitintheworld;certainlytheonerealsuccesstheFrenchhaveyethad。
"SoubisemadehastetosummontheMagistrates:’LawofNecessityalone,mosthonoredSirs!ReichsLawisclearagainstme。Butallthemoreshallprivateliberties,religions,properties,inthisImperialFree—Town,besacredtous。Defenceagainstanyaggression:andthestrictestdisciplineobserved。Dependonme,I
bidyou!’——Andkepthiswordtoanhonorabledegree,theysay;
orinabsence,madeitbekept,duringtheFourYearsthatfollow。
MostFrankfurtersare,atheart,Anti—French:butSoubise’saffabilitywasperfect;andhegaveeveningpartiesofasublimecharacter;theMagistratesallappearingthere,intheirsquareperukesandlonggowns,withamournfuljoy。"[Tempelhof,iii。7—8;
Stenzel,v。198—200。]
Soubisesoonwenthome,toassistinimportantbusinesses,——
InvasionofEngland,noless;letEnglandlooktoitselfthisSummer!——andBrogliosucceededhim,asArmy—CaptainintheFrankfurtparts;withlaurelsaccruing,moreorless。Soubise,likeBroglio,beganwithRossbach;SoubiseendswithFrankfurt,forthepresent;whereBroglioalsogainshischieflaurels,aswillshortlybeseen。FrankfurtisagreatgaintoFrance,thoughanillicitone。ItputsabaronDukeFerdinandinthatquarter;
securesastarting—pointforattacksonHessen,Hanover;
forco—operationwithContadesandtheLowerRhine。ItistheonesuccessFrancehasyethadinthisWar,orprettymuchthatiteverhadinit。DuetoPrincedeSoubise,inthatillegalfashion。——
AhighlyremarkablelittleBoy,nowinhistenthyear,JohannWolfgangGoethe,hashiswonderingeyesonthesethings:and,shortwhilehence,meetsdaily,onthestairsandlobbiesathome,apleasantFrenchOfficialGentlemenwhoisquarteredthere;
——————page195BookXIX—————^[sic]———————————
betweenwhomandPapaoccurrubs,——asreadersmayremember,andshallhearinAprilcoming。
GRANDCORDONDISRUPTED:ERFURTCOUNTRY,16thFEBRUARY—2dMARCH。
"AboutsixweeksafterthisFrankfurtachievement,certainReichsfolkandAustrianAuxiliariesareobservedtobecuttingdownendlesstimber,’18,800palisades,6,000treesof60feet,’andotherhugefurnishings,fromthepoorDukeofGotha’swoods;
evidentlymeaningtofortifythemselvesinErfurt。UponwhichPrinceHenridetachesaGeneralKnoblochthitherward,DukeFerdinandcontributing4,000tomeethimthere;whichcombinedexpedition,aftersomesharpknockingandshoving,entirelydisrootedtheAustriansandReichsfolk,andsentthempacking。
Hadthemquitetornoutbytheendofthemonth;andhadplannedto’attackthemontwosidesatonce’(March2d),withaviewofswallowingthemwhole,——whenthey(theseReichsVolscians,insuchastateofflutter)privatelyhastenedoff,oneandallofthem,thedaybefore。"[Narrative,inHelden—Geschichte,v。1022etseq。]
ThiswasBREAKAGEFIRSToftheGrandCordon;anexplosivehurlingofitbackoutofthoseErfurtparts。DonebyPrinceHenri’speople,inconcertwithDukeFerdinand’s,——whoweremutuallyinterestedinthething。
BREAKAGESECOND:ERFURT—FULDACOUNTRY,31stMARCH—8thAPRIL。
"AbouttheendofMarch,theseintrusiveAustrianReichsfolkmadesomeattempttocomebackintothoseCountries;butagaingotnothingbuthardknocks;andgaveuptheErfurtproject。For,closefollowingonthisFIRST,therewasaSECONDstilldeeperandrougherBreakage,inthosesameregions;theHereditaryPrinceofBrunswickdashingthrough,onaspecialErrandofFerdinand’sown[ofwhichpresently],withan8or10,000,inhisusualfierymanner;homeintotheverybowelsoftheReich(April3d,andforaweekonward);andreturningwith’above2,000prisoners’inhand;
especiallywithaReichwellfrightenedbehindhim;——stillintimeforDukeFerdinand’sAdventure[infact,forhisBattleofBergen,ofwhichwearetohear]。HadbeenwellassistedbyPrinceHenri,who’madednngerousdemonstrationsinthedistance,’andwasextremelydiligent——thoughtheinterestwaschieflyFerdinand’sthistime。"[Tempelhof,iii。19—22。]——ContemporarywiththatFIRST
ErfurtBusiness,therewenton,300milesawayfromit,inthequiteoppositedirection,anotherofthesame;——toocurioustobeomitted。
ACROSSTHEPOLISHFRONTIER:FEBRUARY,24th—MARCH4th。"IntheendofFebruary,GeneralWobersnow,anactiveman,wasdetachedfromGlogau,overintoPoland,Posenway,TooverturntheRussianprovisionoperationsthereabouts;inparticular,tolookintoacertainhigh—flyingPolack,aPrinceSulkowskiofthoseparts;
whowithalldiligenceisgatheringfood,inexpectationoftheRussianadvent;andindeedhasformally’declaredWaragainsttheKingofPrussia;’havingtheright,hesays,asaPolishMagnate,subjectonlytohisownhighthoughtinsuchaffairs。TheRussiansandtheirwarsaredeartoSulkowski。Hefellprisonerintheircause,atZorndorf,lastAutumn;wasstuck,likealltheothers,Soltikoffhimselfamongthem,intothevaultedpartsofCustrinGarrison:’IamsorryIhavenoSiberiaforyou,’saidFriedrich,looking,notinabenignway,onthecaptiveDignitaries,thathotafternoon;’gotoCustrin,andseewhatyouhaveprovidedforyourselves!’Whichtheyhadtodo;nothing,forcertaindays,butcellaragetolodgein;Kinginexorable,deaftoremonstrance。
WhichpossiblymayhavecontributedtokindleSulkowskiintotheseextremelyhighproceedings。