第41章
加入书架 A- A+
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  ForDutchWilliamwasofkin,wesay;FriedrichI。ofPrussia,byhisMotherthenobleWifeoftheGreatElector,wasfullcousintoDutchWilliam:andtheMarriageContractswereexpress,——thoughtheHighMightinessesmadedifficulties,andthecollateralOrangebrancheswereabundantlyreluctant,whenitcametothefulfillingpoint。Forindeedthematterwasintricate。Orangeitself,forexample,whatwastobedonewiththePrincipalityofOrange?

  ClearlyPrussia’s;butitliesimbeddeddeepinthebellyofFrance,thatwillbeaCaesarean—Operationforyou!HadnotNeuchatelhappenedjustthentofallhometoFrance(orinsomemeasuretoFrance)andbeheirless,Prussia’sHeritageofOrangewouldhavedonelittleforPrussia!PrincipalityofOrangewas,bythischance,longsince,mainlyintheFirstKing’stime,gotsettled:[Neuchatel,3dNovember,1707,toFriedrichI。,nativespreferringhimto\"FifteenotherClaimants;\"LouisXIV。loudlyprotesting:nottillTreatyofUtrecht(14thMarch1713,firstmonthofFriedrichWilhelm’sreign)wouldLouisXIV。,oncessionofOrange,consentandsanction。]butthereneededmanyyearsmoreofgoodwaiting,andofgoodpushing,onFriedrichWilhelm’spart;

  anditwasnottill1732thatFriedrichWilhelmgottheDutchHeritagesfinallybroughttothesquare:NeuchatelandValengin,asaforesaid,inlieuofOrange;andnowfurthermore,theOldPalaceatLoo(thatVIEILLECOURandbiggestcobwebs),withpertinents,withGardenofHonslardik;andastringofitems,biggerandless,notworthenumerating。Oftheitems,thisHerstalwasone;——andtruly,sofarasthiswent,FriedrichWilhelmoftenthoughthehadbetterneverhaveseenit,somuchtroublediditbringhim。

  HOWTHEHERSTALLERSHADBEHAVEDTOFRIEDRICHWILHELM。

  TheHerstalpeople,knowingthePrussianrecruitingsystemandotherrigors,wereextremelyunwillingtocomeunderFriedrichWilhelm’ssway,couldtheyhavehelpedit。Theyrefusedfealty,sworetheyneverwouldswear:nordidthey,tilltheappearance,orindubitableforeshine,ofFriedrichWilhelm’sbayonetsadvancingonthemfromtheEast,broughtcompliance。Andalwaysafter,spiteofsuchquasi—fealty,theyshowedapig—likeobstinacyofhumor;acertaininsignificant,andasitwereimpertinent,deep—rooteddesiretothwart,irritateandcontradictthesaidFriedrichWilhelm。Especiallyinanyrecruitingmatterthatmightarise,knowingthattobetheweaksideofhisPrussianMajesty。Allthiswouldhaveamountedtonothing,haditnotbeenthattheirneighbor,thePrinceBishopofLiege,whoimaginedhimselftohavesomeobscureclaimsofsovereigntyoverHerstal,andthoughtthepresentagoodopportunityforassertingthese,wasdiligenttoaidandabettheHerstalpeopleinsuchtheirmutinousacts。Obscureclaims;ofwhichthisisthesummary,shouldthereadernotprefertoskipit:——

  \"TheBishopofLiege’sclaimsonHerstal(whichliewraptfrommankindintheextensivejungleofhislaw—pleadings,likeaBedlamhappilyfallenextinct)seemtometohavegrownmainlyfromtwofactsmoreorlessradical。

  \"FACTFIRST。InKaiserBarbarossa’stime,year1171,HerstalhadbeengiveninpawntotheChurchofLiege,foraloan,bythethenproprietor,DukeofLorraineandBrabant。Loanwasrepaid,Idonotlearnwhen,andthePawngivenback;tothesatisfactionofsaidDuke,orDuke’sHeirs;neverquitetothesatisfactionoftheChurch,whichhadbeeninpossession,andwasloathtoquit,afterhopingtocontinue。’GiveusbackHerstal;itoughttobeours!’

  Unappeasablesighorgrumbletothiseffectisheardthenceforth,atintervals,intheChapterofLiege,andhasnotceasedinFriedrich’stime。Butastheworld,initsloudthoroughfares,seldomorneverheard,orcouldhear,suchsighingintheChapter,nothinghadcomeofit,——till——

  \"FACTSECOND。InKaiserKarlV。’stime,thePrinceBishopofLiegehappenedtobeaNaturalSonofoldKaiserMax’s;——andhadfriendsatheadquarters,ofaverychoicenature。Had,namely,inthissort,KaiserKarlforNepheworHalf—Nephew;andwhatperhapswasstillbetter,asnearerhand,hadKarl’sAunt,MariaQueenofHungary,thenGovernessoftheNetherlands,forHalf—Sister。

  Liege,inthesechoicecircumstances,andbyothergoodchancesthatturnedup,againgottemporaryclutchorhalf—clutchofHerstal,foracoupleofyears(date1546—1548,thePrinceofOrange,realproprietor,whoseAncestorhadboughtitformoneydown,beingthenaminor);once,andperhapsasecondtimeinlikecircumstance;buthadalwaystorenounceitagain,whenthePrinceofOrangecametomaturity。Andeversince,theChapterofLiegesighsasbefore,’Herstalisperhapsinasenseours。Wehadoncesomekindofrighttoit!’——sighinaudibleintheloudpublicthoroughfares。ThatistheBishop’sclaim。Thenameofhim,ifanybodycareforit,is’GeorgLudwig,titularCOUNTOFBERG,’nowaveryoldman:BishopofLiege,he,andhasbeensnatchingatHerstalagain,veryeagerlybyanyskirtortagragthatmighthappentoflyloose,theseeightyearspast,inarashandprovokingmanner;[DelicesduPaisdeLiege

  (Liege,1738);Helden—Geschichte,

  ii。57—62。]——ageeighty—twoatpresent;pooroldfool,hehadbetterhavesatquiet。Thereliesarodinpickleforhim,duringtheselatemonths;andwillbesurprisinglylaidon,werethetimecome!\"

  \"IhaveLawAuthorityoverHerstal,andpowerofjudgingthereinthelastappeal,\"saidthisBishop:——\"You!\"thoughtFriedrichWilhelm,whowasfaroff,andhadlittletimetowaste。——

  \"AnyPrussianrecruiterthatbehavesill,bringhimtome!\"saidtheBishop,whowasonthespot。Andaccordinglyithadbeendone;

  onenotableinstancetwoyearsago:aPrussianLieutenantlockedintheLiegejail,oncomplaintofriotousHerstal;thereuponaPrussianOfficerofrank(ColonelKreutzen,worthyoldMalplaquetgentleman)comingasRoyalMessenger,notadmittedtoaudience,naylaidholdofbytheLiegebailiffinstead;andotherunheard—

  ofprocedures。[Helden—Geschichte,ii。

  63—73。]SothatFriedrichWilhelmhadnothingbuttroublewiththispettyHerstal,andmusthavethoughthisneighborBishopaverycontentioushigh—flyinggentleman,whotookgreatlibertieswiththeLion’swhiskers,whenhehadthebiganimalatanadvantage。

  Theepiscopalprocedures,eightyearsago,abouttheFirstHomagingofHerstal,hadbeenofsimilarcomplexion;norhadothersuchfailedintheinterim,thoughthislastoutrageexceededthemall。Thislastbeganintheendof1738;andspanitselfoutthrough1739,whenFriedrichWilhelmlayinhisfinalsickness,lessabletodealwithitthanformerly。Beingapeaceableman,unwillingtoawakenconflagrationsforasmallmatter,FriedrichWilhelmhadoffered,throughKreutzenonthisoccasion,topartwithHerstalaltogether;tosellit,for100,000thalers,say16,000pounds,tothehigh—flyingBishop,andhonestlywashhishandsofit。Butthehigh—flyingBishopdidnotconsent,gavenodefiniteanswer;andsothematterlay,——likeanunsettledextremelyirritatingpaltrylittlematter,——atthetimeFriedrichWilhelmdied。

  TheGazetteersandpublicknewlittleabouttheseparticulars,orhadforgottenthemagain;butatthePrussianCourttheywereinlivelyremembrance。WhattheyoungFriedrich’sopinionaboutthemhadbeenwegatherfromthissuccinctnoticeofthething,writtensevenoreightyearsafterwards,exactinallpoints,andstillcarryingabreathoftheoldhumorinit。\"AmiserableBishopofLiegethoughtitaproudthingtoinsultthelateKing。

  SomesubjectsofHerstal,whichbelongstoPrussia,hadrevolted;

  theBishopgavethemhisprotection。ColonelKreutzenwassenttoLiege,tocomposethethingbytreaty;credentialswithhim,fullpower,andallinorder。Imagineit,theBishopwouldnotreceivehim!Threedays,dayafterday,hesawthisEnvoyapplyathisPalace,andalwaysdeniedhimentrance。Thesethingshadgrownpastendurance。\"[Preuss,OEuvres(MemoiresdeBrandebourg),enditalic>ii。53。]AndFriedrichhadtakennoteofHerstalalongwithhim,onthisCleveJourney;privatelyintendingtoputHerstalandthehigh—flyingBishoponasuitablerfooting,beforehisreturnfromthosecountries。

  Forindeed,onFriedrich’sAccession,mattershadgrownworse,notbetter。OfcoursetherewasFealtytobesworn;buttheHerstalpeople,abettedbythehigh—flyingBishop,havedeclinedswearingit。Apologyforthepast,prospectofamendmentforthefuture,thereislessthanever。WhatistheyoungKingtodowiththispaltrylittleHamletofHerstal?Hecould,intheory,gointosomeReichs—Hofrath,someReichs—Kammergericht(kindoftrebleandtenfoldEnglishCourt—of—Chancery,whichhaslawsuits250yearsold),——ifhewereatheoreticGermanKing。HecanpleadintheDiets,andtheWetzlarReichs—Kammergerichtwithoutend:

  \"AllGermanSovereignshavepowertosendtheirAmbassadorthither,whoislikeamastiffchainedintheback—yard[observesFriedrichelsewhere]withprivilegeofbarkingattheMoon,\"——

  unrestrictedprivilegeofbarkingattheMoon,ifthatwillavailapracticalman,orKing’sAmbassador。OrperhapstheBishopofLiegewillbethinkhim,atlast,whatconsiderablelibertyheistakingwithsomepeople’swhiskers?Fourmonthsaregone;

  BishopofLiegehasnotintheleastbethoughthim:weareintheneighborhoodinperson,withnoteofthethinginourmemory。

  FRIEDRICHTAKESTHERODOUTOFPICKLE。

  AccordinglytheRathRambonet,whomVoltairefoundatMoylandthatSundaynight,hadbeenoveratLiege;wentexactlyaweekbefore;

  withthismessageofveryperemptorytenorfromhisMajesty:——

  TOTHEPRINCEBISHOPOFLIEGE。

  \"WESEL,4thSeptember,1740。

  \"MYCOUSIN,——Knowingalltheassaults(ATTEINTES)madebyyouuponmyindisputablerightsovermyfreeBaronyofHerstal;andhowtheseditiousringleadersthere,forseveralyearspast,havebeencountenanced(BESTARKET)byyouintheirdetestableactsofdisobedienceagainstme,——IhavecommandedmyPrivyCouncillorRambonettorepairtoyourpresence,andinmynametorequirefromyou,withintwodays,adistinctandcategoricalanswertothisquestion:WhetheryouarestillmindedtoassertyourpretendedsovereigntyoverHerstal;andwhetheryouwillprotecttherebelsatHerstal,intheirdisordersandabominabledisobedience?

  \"Incaseyourefuse,ordelaybeyondtheterm,theAnswerwhichI

  herebyofrightdemand,youwillrenderyourselfaloneresponsible,beforetheworld,fortheconsequenceswhichinfalliblywillfollow。Iam,withmuchconsideration,——

  MyCousin,——

  \"YourveryaffectionateCousin,\"FRIEDRICH。\"

  [Helden—Geschichte,ii。75,111。]

  RambonethadstartedstraightwayforLiege,withthismissive;

  andhaddulypresenteditthere,Iguessonthe7th,——withnoticethathewouldwaitforty—eighthours,andthenreturnwithwhatanswerorno—answertheremightbe。Gettingnowrittenanswer,ordistinctverbalone;gettingonlysomevaguemumblementasgoodasnone,RambonethaddisappearedfromLiegeonthe9th;andwashomeatMoylandwhenVoltairearrivedthatSundayevening,——justwalkingabouttocometoheatagain,afterreportiagprogresstotheaboveeffect。

  Rambonet,Ijudge,enjoyedonlyoneofthosedivineSuppersatMoyland;anddashedoffagain,\"onhiredhack\"orotherwise,theverynextmorning;thatcontingencyofNo—answerhavingbeentheanticipatedone,andallthingsputinperfectreadinessforit。

  Rambonet’snewerrandwasto\"takeact,\"asVoltairecallsit,\"attheGatesofLiege,\"——todeliveratLiegeasuccinctManifesto,PairofManifestoes,bothinPrint(readybeforehand),andbearingdatethatsameSunday,\"Wesel,11thSeptember;\"muchcalculatedtoamazehisReverenceatLiege。SuccinctgoodManifestoes,saidtobeofFriedrich’sownwriting;theessentialofthetwoisthis:——

  ExpositionoftheReasonswhichhaveinducedhisMajestytheKingofPrussiatomakejustReprisalsonthePrinceBishopofLiege。

  \"HisMajestytheKingofPrussia,beingdrivenbeyondboundsbytherudeproceedingsofthePrinceBishopofLiege,haswithregretseenhimselfforcedtorecurtotheMethodofArms,inordertorepresstheviolenceandaffrontwhichtheBishophasattemptedtoputuponhim。ThisresolutionhascosthisMajestymuchpain;theratherasheis,byprincipleanddisposition,farremotefromwhatevercouldhavetheleastrelationtorigorandseverity。

  \"ButseeinghimselfcompelledbytheBishopofLiegetotakenewmethods,hehadnoothercoursebuttomaintainthejusticeofhisrights(LAJUSTICEDESESDROITS),anddemandreparationfortheindignitydoneuponhisMinisterVonKreuzen,aswellasforthecontemptwithwhichtheBishopofLiegehasneglectedeventoanswertheLetteroftheKing。

  \"Astoomuchrigorbordersuponcruelty,sotoomuchpatienceresemblesweakness。Thus,althoughtheKingwouldwillinglyhavesacrificedhisintereststothepublicpeaceandtranquillity,itwasnotpossibletodosoinreferencetohishonor;andthatisthechiefmotivewhichhasdeterminedhimtothisresolution,socontrarytohisintentions。

  \"Invainhasitbeenattempted,bymethodsofmildness,tocometoafriendlyagreement:ithasbeenfound,onthecontrary,thattheKing’smoderationonlyincreasedthePrince’sarrogance;

  thatmildnessofconductononesideonlyfurnishedresourcestoprideontheother;andthat,infine,insteadofgainingbysoftprocedure,onewasinsensiblybecominganobjectofvexationanddisdain。

  \"Therebeingnomeanstohavejusticebutindoingitforoneself,andtheKingbeingSovereignenoughforsuchaduty,——heintendstomakethePrinceofLiegefeelhowfarhewasinthewrongtoabusesuchmoderationsounworthily。ButinspiteofsomuchunhandsomebehavioronthepartofthisPrince,theKingwillnotbeinflexible;satisfiedwithhavingshownthesaidPrincethathecanpunishhim,andtoojusttooverwhelmhim。FREDERIC。

  \"WESEL,September11th,174O。\"

  [Helden—Geschichte,ii。77。SaidtobebyFriedrichhimself(Stenzel,iv。59)。]

  WhetherRambonetinsinuatedhisPaper—PacketintothePalaceofSeraing,leftitattheGateofLiege(fixedbynail,ifhesawgood),orinwhatmannerhe\"tookact,\"Ineverknew;andindeedRambonetvanishesfromhumanHistoryatthispoint:itiscertainonlythathedidhisFormality,saytwodayshence;——andthattheFactforeshadowedbyitislikewiseinthesamehours,hourafterhour,gettingsteadilydone。

  FortheManifestoesprintedbeforehand,datedWesel,11thSeptember,werenottheonlythingreadyatWesel;waiting,asontheslip,forthecontingencyofNo—answer。Major—GeneralBorck,withthedueBattalions,squadronsandequipments,wasalsoready。

  Major—GeneralBorck,thesamewhowaswithusatBaireuthlately,hadjustreturnedfromthatjourney,whenhegotorderstocollect2,000men,horseandfoot,withthedueproportionofartillery,fromthePrussianGarrisonsintheseparts;andtobereadyformarchingwiththem,theinstantthecontingencyofNo—answerarrives,——Sunday,11th,ascanbeforeseen。Borckknowshisroute:

  ToMaaseyk,arespectableTownoftheBishop’s,thehandiestforWesel;tooccupyMaaseykandtheadjoining\"CountiesofLotzandHorn;\"andliethereattheBishop’schargetillhisReverence’smindalter。

  Borckisready,tothelastpontoon,thelastmunition—loaf;

  andnosoonerissignalgivenoftheNo—answercome,thanBorck,thatsame\"Sunday,11th,\"getsunderway;marches,steadyasclock—work,towardsMaaseyk(fiftymilessouthwestofhim,distancenowlesseningeveryhour);crossestheMaas,byhelpofhispontoons;isnowintheBishop’sTerritory,andentersMaaseyk,eveningof\"Wednesday,14th,\"——thatverydayVoltaireandhisMajestyhadparted,goingdifferentwaysfromMoyland;andprobablyaboutthesamehourwhileRambonetwas\"takingactattheGateofLiege,\"bynail—hammerorotherwise。Allgoespunctual,swift,coghittingpinionfarandnear,inthissmallHerstalBusiness;andthereisnomistakemade,andaminimumoftimespent。

  Borck’smanagementwasthroughoutgood:punctual,quietlyexact,polite,mildlyinflexible。FainwouldtheMaaseykTown—Bathshaveshuttheirgatesonhim;desperatelyconjuringhim,\"Respiteforafewhours,tillwesendtoLiegeforinstructions!\"Butitwastonopurpose。\"Unbolt,IHRHERREN;swift,orthepetardwillhavetodoit!\"BorckpublisheshisProclamation,amild—spokenrigorousPiece;signifiestotheMaaseykAuthorities,ThathehastoexactaContributionof20,000thalers(3,000pounds)here,Contributionpayableinthreedays;thathefurthermore,whilehecontinuesintheseparts,willneedsuchandsuchrations,accommodations,allowances,——\"fiftyLOUIS(sayguineas)dailyforhisownprivateexpenses,\"oneitem;——and,inmildrhadamanthinelanguage,wavesasideallremonstrance,refusalordelay,assuperfluousconsiderations:UnlesssaidContributionandrequiredsuppliescomein,itwillbehispainfuldutytobringthemin。

  [Helden—Geschichte,i。427;ii。113。]

  Thehigh—flyingBishop,muchastonished,doesnoweagerlyanswerhisPrussianMajesty,\"Wasfromhome,wasill,thoughthehadanswered;isthemostill—usedofBishops;\"andotherthingsofahystericcharacter。[Ib。ii。85,86(date,16thSeptember)。]

  Andtherecameforth,asnaturaltothesituation,multitudinouscomplainings,manifestoings,applicationstotheKaiser,totheFrench,totheDutch,ofaveryshriekycharacterontheBishopofLiege’spart;sparingly,ifatallnoticedonFriedrich’s:

  thewholeofwhichweshallconsiderourselvesfreetoleaveundisturbedintherubbish—abysses,ashenceforthconceivabletothereader。\"SEDSPEMSTUPENDEFEFELLITEVENTUS,\"shrieksthepooroldBishop,makingmoantotheKaiser:\"ECCEENIM,PRAEMISSA

  DUNTAXATUNALITERA,oneLetter,\"andlittlemore,\"thesaidKingofBorussiahas,withabout2,000horseandfoot,andwarlikeengines,inthismonthofSeptember,enteredtheTerritoryofLiege;\"[Helden—Geschichte,ii。88。]whichisanundeniabletruth,butanunavailing。Borckisthere,and\"2,000goodargumentswithhim,\"asVoltairedefinesthephenomenon。Friedrich,excepttoexplainpertinentlywhatmyreadersalreadyknow,doesnotwriteorspeakfartheronthesubject;andreadersandhemayconsidertheHerstalAffair,thussetagoingunderBorck’sauspices,asineffectfinished;andthathisMajestyhasleftitonasatisfactoryfooting,andmaysafelyturnhisbackonit,towaitthesureissueatBerlinbeforelong。

  WHATVOLTAIRETHOUGHTOFHERSTAL。

  Voltairetoldushehimself\"didoneManifesto,goodorbad,\"onthisHerstalbusiness:——whereisthatPiece,then,whathasbecomeofit?DigwellintherealmsofChaos,rectifyingstupiditiesmoreorlessenormous,thePieceitselfisstilldiscoverable;

  and,werepiecesbyVoltairemuchararityinsteadofthereverse,mightberesuscitatedbyagoodEditor,andprintedinhisWORKS。

  Liesburiedinthelonesomerubbish—mountainsofthat

  Helden—Geschichte,——letaSISTEVIATOR,scratchedonthesurface,markwhere。[Ib。ii。98—98。]ApparentlythatisthePiecebyVoltaire?Yes,onreadingthat,ithaseveryinternalevidence;distinguishesitselffromthesurroundingpieces,likeaslabofcompactpolishedstone,inafloorrammedtogetheroutofruinousoldbricks,brokenbottlesandmortar—dust;——agrees,too,ifyouexaminebythemicroscope,withtheexternalindications,whicharesureandatlastclear,thoughinfinitesimallysmall;

  andisbeyonddoubtVoltaire’s,ifitwerenowgoodformuch。

  ItisnotproperlyaManifesto,butananonymousmemoirpublishedintheNewspapers,explainingtoimpartialmankind,inalegiblebriefmanner,whattheoldandrecentHistoryofHerstal,andtheTroublesofHerstal,havebeen,andhowchimericaland\"nulltotheextremeofnullity(NULLESDETOUTNULLITE)\"thispoorBishop’spretensionsuponitare。VoltaireexpresslypiqueshimselfonthisPiece;[LettertoPriedrich:dateless,datable\"soonafter17thSeptember;\"whichtherashdarkEditorshavebyguessmisdated\"August;\"or,whatwassaferforthem,omitteditaltogether。OEuvresdeVoltaire(Paris,1818,40vols。)givestheLetter,xxxix。442(seealsoibid。453,463);laterEditors,andevenPreuss,takethesafercourse。]

  bragsalsohowhesettled\"M。deFenelon[FrenchAmbassadorattheHague],whocametomethedaybeforeyesterday,\"muchoutofsquareupontheHerstalBusiness,tillIpulledhimstraight。

  Anditisevident(beautifullyso,yourMajesty)howVoltairebusiedhimselfintheGazettesandDiplomaticcircles,settingFriedrich’scaseright;VoltaireveryloyaltoFriedrichandhisLiegeCauseatthattime;——andthecontrastbetweenwhathiscontemporaryLetterssayonthesubject,andwhathisulteriorPasquilcalledVIEPRIVEEsays,isagaingreat。

  Thedullstagnantworld,shakenawakebythisLiegeadventure,givesvoicevariously;andintheGazetteerandDiplomaticcirclesitismuchcriticised,bynomeanseverywhereinthefavorabletoneatthisfirstblushofthebusiness。\"HehadwrittenanANTI—

  Machiavel,\"saystheAbbeSt。Pierre,andevensaysVoltaire(inthePASQUIL,notthecontemporaryLETTERS),\"andheactsthus!\"

  Trulyhedoes,MonsieurdeVoltaire;andallmen,withlightuponthesubject,orevenwiththereverseuponit,mustmaketheircriticisms。Fortherest,Borck’s\"2,000arguments\"arethere;

  whichBorckhandleswell,withpolitecalmrigor:bydegreesthedustwillfall,andfactseverywherebeseenforwhattheyare。

  Astothehigh—flyingBishop,findingthathystericsarebutwastedonFriedrichandBorck,andproducenoeffectwiththeir2,000validities,hefliesnexttotheKaiser,totheImperialDiet,inshrill—soundingLatinobtestations,ofwhichwealreadygaveaflyingsnatch:\"YourHUMILISSIMUSandFIDELISSIMUS

  VASSALLUS,andmostobsequientServant,GeorgiusLudovicus;

  meek,modest,andunspeakablyintheright:WaseverMemberoftheHolyRomanEmpiresosnubbed,andgraspedbythewindpipe,before?

  Oh,helphim,greatKaiser,bidtheirongripeloosenitself!\"

  [Helden—Geschichte,ii,86—116。]TheKaiserdoesso,inheavyLatinrescripts,inGermanDEHORTATORIUMSmorethanone,ofasulky,imperative,andindeedveryloftytenor;

  \"LetGeorgiusLudovicusgo,foolishrashyoungDilection(LIEBDEN,notMAJESTY,weourselvesbeingtheonlyMajesty),andIwilljudgebetweenyou;otherwise——!\"saidtheKaiser,ponderouslyshakinghisOlympianwig,andliftinghisgiltcane,orsceptreofmankind,inanOlympianmanner。HerearesometouchesofhissecondsublimestDEHORTATORIUMaddressedtoFriedrich,inaverycompressedstate:[Helden—Geschichte,

  ii。127;aFIRSTandmilder(ibid。73)。]——

  WeKarltheSixth,Kaiserof(TITLESENOUGH),……\"Consideringthese,intheHolyRomanReich,almostunheard—ofviolentDoings(THATLICHKEITEN),whichWe,inOurSupreme—JudgeOffice,cannotaltogetherjustify,norwillendure……WehavethetrustthatyouyourselfwillmagnanimouslyseeHowevilcounsellorshavemisledyourDilectiontocommenceyourReign,notbyshowingexampleofObediencetotheLawsappointedforallmembersoftheReich,fortheweakandforthestrongalike,butbysuchDoings(THATHANDLUNGEN)asinallquartersmustcauseagreatsurprise。

  \"WegiveyourDilectiontoknow,therefore,ThatyoumuststraightwaywithdrawthosetroopswhichhavebrokenintotheLiegeTerritory;makespeedyrestitutionofallthathasbeenextorted;

  ——especiallyGeneralvonBorcktogivebackatoncethose50louisd’ordailydrawnbyhim,torenouncehisdemandofthe20,000

  thalers,tomakegoodalldamagedone,andretirewithhiswholemilitaryforce(MILITZ)overtheLiegeboundaries;——andinbrief,thatyouwill,bylaworarbitration,managetoagreewiththePrinceBishopofLiege,whowishesitverymuch。ThesethingsWeexpectfromyourDilection,asKurfurstofBrandenburg,withinthespaceofTwoMonthsfromtheIssuingofthis;andremain,\"——

  Yoursasyoushalldemeanyourself,——KARL。

  \"GivenatWien,4thofOctober,1740。\"——ThelastDehortatoriumeversignedbyKarlVI。Intwoweeksafterheatetoomanymushrooms,——andimmenseresultsfollowed!

  Dehortatoriumshadtheirinterest,atBerlinandelsewhere,fortheDiplomaticcircles;butdidnotproducetheleasteffectonBorckorFriedrich;thoughFriedrichnotedtheKaiser’smannerinthesethings,andthoughtprivatelytohimself,aswasevidenttothediscerning,\"Whatanamountofwigonthatoldgentleman!\"

  AnotableKaiser’sAmbassador,HerrBotta,whohadcomewithsomeAccessioncompliments,intheseweeks,wastreatedslightinglybyFriedrich;hardlyadmittedtoAudience;andFriedrich’spublicreplytothelastDehortatoriumhadalmostsomethingofsarcasminit:Evilcounsellorsyourself,MostDreadKaiser!Itisyouthatare\"misledbycounsellors,whomightchancetosetGermanyonfire,wereothersasunwiseasthey!\"Whichlatterphrasewasremarkabletomankind。——Thereisalongaccountalreadyrunupbetweenthatoldgentleman,withhisSeckendorfs,Grumkows,withhisdullinsolencies,wiggeries,andthisyounggentleman,whohasnearlyhadhisheartbrokenandhisFather’shousedrivenmadbythem!Borckremainsathispost;rationsdulydelivered,andfiftylouisadayforhisownprivateexpenses;andthereisnoanswertotheKaiser,orinsharpbriefterms(about\"chancesofsettingGermanyonfire\"),ratherworsethannone。

  Readerssee,aswellasFriedrichdid,whattheupshotofthisaffairmustbe;——wewillnowfinishitoff,andwashourhandsofit,beforefollowinghisMajestytoBerlin。ThepoorBishophadapplied,shrieking,totheFrenchforhelp;——andtherecamesomecolloquialpassagesbetweenVoltaireandFenelon,ifthatwerearesult。HehadshriekedinlikemannertotheDutch,butwithoutresultofanykindtraceableinthatquarter:nowhere,exceptfromtheKaiser,issomuchasaDEHORTATORIUMtobegot。Whereupontheoncehigh—flying,nowvainlyshriekingBishopdiscernsclearlythatthereisbutonecourseleft,——thecoursewhichhaslainwideopenforsomeyearspast,hadnothisflightgonetoohighforseeingit。Beforethreeweeksareover,seeinghowDehortatoriumsgo,hesendshisAmbassadorstoBerlin,hisapologies,proposals:

  [Ambassadorsarrived28thSeptember;lastDehortatoriumnotyetout。Businesswascompleted20thOctober(Rodenbeck,INDIEBUS)。]

  \"WouldnotyourMajestyperhapsconsenttosellthisHerstal,asyourFatherofgloriousmemorywaspleasedtobewillingonce?\"——

  Friedrichanswersstraightwaytotheeffect:\"Certainly!Paymethepriceitwasoncealreadyofferedfor:100,000thalers,PLUS

  theexpensessinceincurred。Thatwillbe180,000thalers,besideswhatyouhavespentalreadyonGeneralBorck’sdays’wages。

  TowhichwewilladdthatwretchedlittlefractionofOldDebt,clearasnoon,butneverpaidnoranypartofit;60,000thalers,duebytheSeeofLiegeeversincetheTreatyofUtrecht;60,000,forwhichwewillchargenointerest:thatwillmake240,000

  thalers,——36,000pounds,insteadoftheoldsumyoumighthavehaditat。Producethatcash;andtakeHerstal,andallthedustthathasrisenoutofit,wellhomewithyou。\"[Stenzel,iv。60,whocountsingulden,andisnotdistinct。]TheBishopthankfullycompliesinallpoints;negotiationspeedilydone(\"20thOct。\"thefinaldate):Bishophasnot,Ithink,quitesomuchcashonhand;

  butwillpayallhehas,and4percentuminteresttillthewholebeliquidated。HisAmbassadors\"getgoldsnuffboxes;\"andreturnmildlyglad!

  Andthus,insomesixweeksafterBorck’sarrivalinthoseparts,Borck’sfunctioniswelldone。ThenoiseofGazettesandDiplomaticcircleslaysitselfagain;andHerstal,famousonceforKingPipin,andfamousagainforKingFriedrich,lapsesatlengthintoobscurity,whichwehopewillneverend。Hope;——thoughwhocansay?ROUCOUX,quitecloseuponit,becomesaBattle—groundinsomefewyears;andmemorabilitiesgomuchatrandominthisworld!

  ChapterVI。

  RETURNSBYHANOVER;DOESNOTCALLONHISROYALUNCLETHERE。

  Friedrichspenttendaysonhiscircuitousjourneyhome;

  considerableinspectiontobedone,inMinden,Magdeburg,nottospeakofotherbusinesseshehad。TheoldNewspapersarestillmoreintentuponhim,nowthattheHerstalAffairhasbrokenintoflame:especiallytheEnglishNewspapers;whoguessthattherearepassagesofcourtshipgoingonbetweengreatGeorgetheirKingandhim。Hereisonefact,correctineverypoint,fortheoldLondonPublic:\"LettersfromHanoversay,thattheKingofPrussiapassedwithinasmalldistanceofthatCitythe16thinst。N。S。,onhisreturntoBerlin,butdidnotstopatHerrenhausen;\"——aboutwhichtherehasbeensuchhopingandspeculatingamonguslately。

  [DailyPost,22dSeptember,1740;

  otherLondonNewspapersfromJuly31stdownwards。]AfactwhichtheextinctEditorseemstomeditateforadayortwo;afterwhichhesays(partlyinITALICS),openinghislipsthesecondtime,likeaFriarBacon’sHeadsignificanttothePublic:\"LettersfromHanovertellusthattheInterview,whichitwassaidhisMajestywastohavewiththeKingofPrussia,didnottakeplace,forcertainPRIVATEREASONS,whichourCorrespondentleavesustoguessat!\"

  ItiswellknownFriedrichdidnotlovehislittleUncle,thenorthenceforth;stilllesshislittleUnclehim:\"WhatisthisPrussia,risingalongsideofus,higherandhigher,asifitwouldreachourownsublimelevel!\"thinksthelittleUncletohimself。

  Atpresentthereisnoquarrelbetweenthem;onthecontrary,aswehaveseen,thereisamutualcapabilityofhelpingoneanother,whichbothrecognize;butwillaninterviewtendtoforwardthatusefulresult?Friedrich,intheintervalsofanague,withHerstaljustbrokenout,mayhavewiselydecided,No。\"OursublimelittleUncle,ofthewaxycomplexion,withtheproudlystaringfish—eyes,——nowitinhim,notmuchsense,andagreatdealofpride,——standsdreadfullyerect,’plumbandmore,’withtheGarter—legadvanced,whenonegoestoseehim;andhisremarksarenotofanentertainingnature。Leavehimstandingthere:tohimletTruchsessandBielfeldsuffice,inthesehurries,inthisaguethatisstilluponus。\"UponwhichthedulloldNewspapers,OwlsofMinervathatthenwere,endeavortodrawinferences。

  Thenoticeablefactis,Friedrichdid,onthisoccasion,passwithinamileortwoofhisroyalUncle,withoutseeinghim;

  andhadnot,throughlife,anotheropportunity;neversawthesublimelittlemanatall,norwasagainsonearhim。

  IbelieveFriedrichlittleknowsthethick—comingdifficultiesofhisBritannicMajestyatthisjuncture;andistooimpatientoftheselaggardproceduresonthepartofamanwitheyesAFLEUR—

  DE—TETE。ModernreaderstoohaveforgottenJenkins’sEar;itisnottillafterlongstudyandsurveythatonebeginstoperceivetheanomalousprofunditiesofthatphenomenontothepoorEnglishNationanditspoorGeorgeII。

  TheEnglishsentoff,lastyear,ascantyExpedition,\"sixshipsoftheline,\"onlysix,underVernon,afieryAdmiral,alittlegiventobefieryinParliamentarytalkwithal;andthesedidproceedtoPorto—BelloontheSpanishMainofSouthAmerica;didhurloutonPorto—Bellosuchafierydestructivedeluge,ofgunneryandbayonet—work,asquicklyreducedthepoorplacetothevergeofruin,andforcedittosurrenderwithwhatevernavy,garrison,goodsandresourceswereinit,tothediscretionoffieryVernon,——whodoesnotproveimplacable,heorhis,toapetitioningenemy。Yes,humbletheinsolent,butthenbemercifultothem,saytheadmiringGazetteers。\"Theactualmonster,\"howcheeringtothink,\"whotoreoffMr。Jenkins’sEar,wasgotholdof[actualmonster,oreventhreeorfourdifferentmonsterswhoeachdidit,the\"holdgot\"beingmythical,asreaderssee],andnaturallythoughthewouldbeslittoribbons;butourpeoplemagnanimouslypardonedhim,magnanimouslyflunghimasideoutofsight;\"[Gentleman’sMagazine,x。124,145

  (dateoftheEventis3dDecemberN。S。,1739)。]impossibletoshootadogincoldblood。

  WhereuponVernonreturnedhometriumphant;andthereburstforthsuchajubilation,overthedayofsmallthings,asisnowastonishingtothinkof。HadtheTermagant’sownThalamusandTreasurybeenbombardedsuddenlyonenightbyred—hotballs,MadridCitylaidinashes,orBabyCarlos’sApanageextinguishedfromCreation,therecouldhardlyhavebeengreaterEnglishjoy(witnessthe\"Porto—Bellos\"theystillhave,newTownssonamed);

  soflamyisthemurkyelementgrowingonthathead。Andindeedhadthecipheroftar—barrelsburnt,andofale—barrelsdrunk,andthegeneralaccountofwickandtallowspentinilluminationsandinaldermanicexertionsonthematter,beenaccuratelytaken,onedoubtsifPorto—Bellosold,withoutshotfired,tothehighestbidder,atitsfloweriest,wouldhavecoveredsuchasum。FortheyareasingularNation,ifstirredupfromtheirstagnancy;andaremuchinearnestaboutthisSpanishWar。

  ItissaidthereisnowanotherfargranderExpeditiononthestocks:militarythistimeaswellasnaval,intendedfortheSpanishMain;——butofthat,forthepresent,wewilldeferspeaking。Enough,theSpanishWarisamostseriousandmostfuriousbusinesstothoseoldEnglish;and,tous,afterforcedstudyofit,shinesoutlikefar—offconflagration,withacertainluridsignificanceinthethennightofthings。Nightotherwisefallendarkandsomniferoustomodernmankind。AsBritannicMajestyandhisWalpoleshave,fromthefirst,beendeadagainstthisSpanishWar,theproblemisallthemoreominous,andthedreadfulcorollariesthatmayhangbyitthemoredistressingtotheroyalmind。

  Forexample,thereisknown,orasgoodasknown,tobevirtuallysomeFamilyCompact,orcovenantedBrotherhoodofBourbonism,FrenchandSpanish:politicalpeoplequaketoaskthemselves,\"HowwilltheFrenchkeepoutofthisWar,ifitcontinueanylengthoftime?Andinthatcase,howwillAustria,Europeatlarge?

  Jenkins’sEarwillhavekindledtheUniverse,nottheSpanishMainonly,andweshallbeatafinepass!\"TheBritannicMajestyreflectsthatifFrancetaketofightinghim,thefirststabgivenwillprobablybeintheaccessiblestquarterandtheintenselymostsensitive,——ourownElectoralDominionswherenoParliamentplaguesus,ourdearnativecountry,Hanover。ExtremelyinterestingtoknowwhatFriedrichofPrussiawilldoinsuchcontingency?

  Well,trulyitmighthavebeenKingGeorge’sbestbargaintoclosewithFriedrich;toguaranteeJulichandBerg,andgetFredrichtostandbetweentheFrenchandHanover;whileGeorge,withanEnglandbehindhim,insuchhumor,wentwhollyintothatSpanishBusiness,theonethingneedfultothematpresent。Truly;

  butthenagain,thereareconsiderations:\"WhatisthisFriedrich,justcomeoutupontheworld?Whatrealfightingpowerhashe,afterallthatridiculousdrillingandrecruitingFriedrichWilhelmmade?Willhebefaithfulinbargain;isnot,perhaps,fromofold,hisbiasalwaystowardFrancerather?AndtheKaiser,whatwilltheKaisersaytoit?\"ThesearequestionsforaBritannicMajesty!Seldomwasseensuchaninsolubleimbroglioofpotentialities;dangeroustotouch,dangeroustoleavelying;——andhisBritannicMajesty’sproceduresuponitareofaveryslowintricatesort;andwillgrowstillmoreso,yearafteryear,inthenewintricaciesthatarecoming,andbeawearinesstomyreadersandme。Forobservethesimultaneousfact。Allthiswhile,RobinsonatViennaisdunningtheImperialMajestytorememberoldMarlboroughdaysandtheLawsofNature;anddeclareforusagainstFrance,incaseoftheworst。Whatanattempt!

  ImperialMajestyhasnomoney;ImperialMajestyremembersrecentdaysrather,andhisownlastquarrelwithFrance(onthePolish—

  Electionscore),inwhichyouSea—Powerscruellystoodneuter!

  Onecomfort,andprettymuchoneonly,islefttoanearlybankruptImperialheart;thatFrancedoesatanyrateratifyPragmaticSanction,andinsteadofenemytothatinestimableDocumenthasbecomefriend,——ifonlyshebewellletalone。

  \"Letwellalone,\"saysthesadKaiser,bankruptofheartaswellaspurse:\"IhavesavedthePragmatic,gotFleurytoguaranteeit;

  Iwillhuntwildswineandnotshadowsanymore:askmenot!\"

  AndnowthisHerstalbusiness;theImperialDehortatoriums,perhapsofahighnature,thatareliketocome?MorehopelesspropositiontheBritannicMajestynevermadethanthistotheKaiser。Buthepersistsinit,ordersRobinsontopersist;

  knocksattheAustriandoorwithonehand,atthePrussianorAnti—Austrianwiththeother;andgazes,withthoseproudfish—

  eyes,intoperilsandpotentialitiesandaseaoftroubles。

  Wearisometothinkof,werenotoneboundtoit!Here,fromasingularCONSTITUTIONALHISTORYOFENGLAND,notyetgotintoprint,aretwoExcerpts;whichIwillrequestthereadertotryifhecantakealongwithhim,inviewofmuchthatisComing:——

  1。AJUSTWAR。——\"ThisWar,whichposterityscoffsatastheWAROF

  JENKINS’SEAR,was,ifweexamineit,aquiteindispensableone;

  thedimmuch—bewilderedEnglish,drivenintoitbytheirdeepestinstincts,were,inachaoticinarticulateway,rightandnotwrongintakingitastheCommandmentofHeaven。Forsuch,inasense,itwas;asshallbyandbyappear。NotperhapssincethegrandReformationControversy,underOliverCromwellandElizabeth,hadthere,tothispoorEnglishPeople(whoareessentiallydumb,inarticulate,fromtheweightofmeaningtheyhave,notwithstandingthepalaveronehearsfromthemincertainepochs),beenamoreauthenticcauseofWar。And,whatwasthefatalandyetfoolishcircumstance,theirConstitutionalCaptains,especiallytheirKing,wouldneverandcouldneverregarditassuch;buthadtobeforcedintoitbythepublicrage,therebeingnoothermethodleftinthecase。

  \"Isay,amostnecessaryWar,thoughofamoststupidappearance;

  suchthefatalityofit:——begun,carriedon,ended,asifbyaPeopleinastateofsomnambulism!Moreconfusedoperationneverwas。AsolidplacidPeople,heavilyasleep(andsnoringmuch,shallwesay,andinarticulatelygruntingandstrugglingunderindigestions,Constitutionalandother?DobutlistentothehumofthoseextinctPamphletsandParliamentaryOratoriesoftheirs!),——yetanhonestlyintendingPeople;andkeenlyalivetoanycommandmentfromHeaven,thatcouldpiercethroughthethickskinofthemintotheirbigobstinateheart。Suchacommandment,thenandthere,wasthatmonitionaboutJenkins’sEar。Uponwhich,sopungentwasittothem,theystartedviolentlyoutofbed,intopainfulsleep—walking;andwent,fortwentyyearsandmore,clamberingandsprawlingabout,farandwide,onthegiddyedgeofprecipices,overhouse—topsandfrightfulcornicesandparapets;

  inadimfulfilmentofthesaidHeaven’scommand。IreckonthatthisWar,thoughtherewereintervals,TreatiesofPeacemorethanone,andtheWarhadvariousnames,——didnotendtill1763。

  Andthen,bydegrees,thepoorEnglishNationfoundthat(at,say,athousandtimesthenecessaryexpense,andwithimminentperiltoitspoorhead,andallthebonesofitsbody)ithadactuallysucceeded,——bydreadfulexertionsinitssleep!Thiswillbemoreapparentbyandby;andmaybeakindofcomforttothesadEnglishreader,drearilysurveyingsuchsomnambulismsonthepartofhispoorancestors。\"

  2。TWODIFFICULTIES。——\"ThereareTwograndDifficultiesinthisFarce—Tragedyofawar;ofwhichonlyone,andthatnottheworstofthePair,isintheleastsurmisedbytheEnglishhitherto。

  DifficultyFirst,whichisevenworsethantheother,andwillsurprisinglyattendtheEnglishinalltheirWarsnowcoming,is:

  Thattheirfighting—apparatus,thoughmadeofexcellentmaterial,cannotfight,——beingindisorganiccondition;onebranchofit,especiallythe’Military’oneastheyarepleasedtocallit,beingasgoodastotallychaotic,andthisinaquiethabitualmanner,thislongwhileback。WiththeNavalbranchitisotherwise;whichalsoishabitualthere。TheEnglishalmostasifbynaturecansail,andfight,inships;cannotwellhelpdoingit。Sailorsinnumerablearebredtothem;theyareplantedintheOcean,opulentstormyNeptuneclippingtheminallhismoodsforever:andthenbynature,beingadumb,much—enduring,much—

  reflecting,stout,veraciousandvaliantkindofPeople,theyshineinthatwayoflife,whichspeciallyrequiressuch。

  Withoutmuchforethought,theyhavesailorsinnumerable,andofthebestquality。TheEnglishhaveamongthemalso,strangeasitmayseemtothecursoryobserver,agreatgiftoforganizing;

  witnesstheirArkwrightsandothers:andthisgifttheymayoften,inmattersNavalmorethanelsewhere,getthechanceofexercising。ForaShip’sCrew,orevenaFleet,unlikealandArmy,isofitselfaunity,itsfortunesdisjoined,dependentonitsownmanagement;anditfalls,moreover,asnolandarmycan,totheundividedguidanceofoneman,——who(byhypothesis,beingEnglish)hasnowandthen,fromofold,chancedtobeanorganizingman;andwhoisalwaysmuchinterestedtoknowandpractisewhathasbeenwellorganized。Foryouareincontactwithverities,toanunexampleddegree,whenyougetupontheOcean,withintenttosailonit,muchmoretofightonit;——bottomlessdestructionragingbeneathyouandonallhandsofyou,ifyouneglect,foranyreason,themethodsofkeepingitdown,andmakingitfloatyoutoyouraim!

  TheEnglishNavyisintolerableorderatthatperiod。ButastotheEnglishArmy,——wemaysayitis,inawrongsense,thewonderoftheworld,andcontinuessothroughoutthewholeofthisHistoryandfarther!Neverbefore,amongtherationalsonsofAdam,wereArmiessentoutonsuchterms,——namelywithoutaGeneral,orwithnoGeneralunderstandingtheleastofhisbusiness。TheEnglishhaveanotionthatGeneralshipisnotwanted;thatWarisnotanArt,asplayingChessis,asfindingtheLongitude,anddoingtheDifferentialCalculusare(andamuchdeeperArtthananyofthese);thatWaristaughtbyNature,aseatingis;thatcourageoussoldiers,ledonbyacourageousWoodenPolewithCocked—hatonit,willdoverywell。IntheworldIhavenotfoundopacityofplatitudegodeeperamonganyPeople。ThisisDifficultyFirst,notyetsuspectedbyanEnglishPeople,capableofgreatopacityonsomesubjects。

  \"DifficultySecondis,ThattheirMinistry,whomtheyhadtoforceintothisWar,perhapsdonotgozealouslyuponit。Andperhapseven,intheabovecircumstances,theytotallywantknowledgehowtogouponit,weretheyneversozealous;DifficultySecondmightbemuchhelped,wereitnotforDifficultyFirst。ButtheadministeringofWarisathingalsothatdoesnotcometoamanlikeeating。——ThisSecondDifficulty,suspicionthatWalpoleandperhapsstillhigherheadswantzeal,giveshisBritannicMajestyinfinitetrouble;and\"——

  ——Andso,inshort,hestandsthere,withtheGarter—legadvanced,lookingloftilyintoaconsiderableseaoftroubles,——thatdaywhenFriedrichdrovepasthim,Friday,16thSeptember,1740,andnevercamesonearhimagain。

  ThenextbusinessforFriedrichwasaVisitatBrunswick,totheAffinitiesandKindred,inpassing;wherealsowasanimportantlittleacttobedone:BetrothaloftheyoungPrince,AugustWilhelm,Heir—PresumptivewhomwesawinStrasburg,toaPrincessofthatHouse,LouisaAmelia,youngerSisterofFriedrich’sownQueen。Amodestpromisingarrangement;whichturnedoutwellenough,——thoughtheyoungPrince,FathertotheKingsthatsinceare,wasnotsupremelyfortunateotherwise。[Betrothalwas20thSeptember,1740;Marriage,5thJanuary,1742(Buchholz,i。207)。]

  Afterwhich,thereviewatMagdeburg;andhomeonthe24th,thereto\"bebusyasaTurkorasaM。Jordan,\"——accordingtowhatwereadlongsince。

  ChapterVII。

  WITHDRAWSTOREINSBERG,HOPINGAPEACEABLEWINTER。

  BythisHerstaltoken,whichisnowblazingabroad,nowandforamonthtocome,itcanbejudgedthattheyoungKingofPrussiaintendstostandonhisownfooting,quiteperemptorilyifneedbe;andwillbynomeanshavehimselfledaboutinImperialharness,ashislateFatherwas。SothatadullPublic(Herrenhausenveryspecially),andGazetteerOwlsofMinervaeverywhere,mayexpectevents。Allthemoreindubitably,whenthatspade—workcomestolightintheWeselCountry。Itisprivatelycertain(theGazetteersnotyetsureaboutit,tilltheyseetheactualspadesgoing),thisnewKingdoesfullyintendtoasserthisrightsonBerg—Julich;andwillappeartherewithhisironramrods,theinstantoldKur—Pfalzshalldecease,letFranceandtheKaisersayNotoitorsayYes。Thereare,infact,atafitplace,\"BuderichintheneighborhoodofWesel,\"certainrampart—

  works,beginningsasofanEntrenchedCamp,goingon;——\"forReviewpurposesmerely,\"saytheGazetteers,INITALICS。Here,itprivatelyisFriedrich’sresolution,shallaPrussianArmy,oftheduestrength(couldbewell—nigh100,000strongifneedful),makeitsappearance,directlyonoldKur—Pfalz’sdecease,ifonelivetoseesuchevent。[Stenzel,iv。61。]FranceandtheKaiserwillprobablytakegoodsurveyofthatBuderichphenomenonbeforemeddling。

  TodohisworklikeaKing,andshunnoperilandnotoilinthecourseofwhathisworkmaybe,isFriedrich’sruleandintention。

  NeverthelessitisclearheexpectstoapprovehimselfmagnanimousratherinthePeaceableoperationsthanintheWarlike;andhisoutlooksare,ofallplacesandpursuits,towardsReinsbergandtheFineArts,forthetimebeing。HisPublicactivitymeanwhiletheydescribeas\"prodigious,\"thoughtheaguestillclingstohim;suchbuilding,instituting,managing:Opera—House,FrenchTheatre,PalaceforhisMother;——daybyday,manythingstoberecordedbyEditorFormey,thoughtheruleaboutthemhereissilenceexceptoncause。

  Nodoubttheagueisitselfprivatelyapointofmoment。Suchavexatiouspaltrylittlething,inthisbrightwhirlofActivities,Publicandother,whichhecontinuesmanaginginspiteofit;

  impatienttoberidofit。Butitwillnotgo:thereITreappearsalways,punctualtoits\"fourthday,\"——likeasnarlingstreet—dog,inthehighBall—roomandWork—room。\"HeisdrinkingPyrmontwater;\"hashimselfproposedQuinquina,aremedyjustcomeup,buttheDoctorsshooktheirheads;hastriedsnatchesofReinsberg,tooshort;heintendssoontobeoutthereforarightspellofcountry,theretobe\"happy,\"andgetquitofhisague。Theaguewent,——andbyaremedywhichsurprisedthewholeworld,aswillbeseen!

  WILHELMINA’SRETURN—VISIT。

  Monday,17thOctober,cametheBaireuthVisitors;Wilhelminaallinaflutter,andtremorofjoyandsorrow,toseeherBrotheragain,heroldkindredandthealteredsceneofthings。PoorLady,sheisperceptiblymoretremulousthanusual;andherNarrative,notindatesonly,butinmorememorablepoints,dancesaboutatasadrate;interioragitationsandtremulousshrillfeelingsshiveringherthiswayandthat,andthrowingthingstopsy—turvyinone’srecollection。Likethemagneticneedle,shakybutsteadfast(AGITEEMAICONSTANTE)。Truernothingcanbe,pointsforevertothePole;butalsowhatobliquitiesitmakes;

  willshiverasideinmadescapades,ifyouholdthepaltriestbitofoldironnearit,——paltriestclackofgossipaboutthislovedBrotherofmine!Brother,wewillhope,silentlycontinuestobePole,sothattheneedlealwayscomesbackagain;otherwiseallwouldgotowreck。Here,inabridgedandpartlyrectifiedform,arethephenomenawitnessed:——

  \"WearrivedatBerlintheendofOctober[Monday,17th,asabovesaid]。MyyoungerBrothers,followedbythePrincesoftheBloodandbyalltheCourt,receivedusatthebottomofthestairs。Iwasledtomyapartment,whereIfoundtheReigningQueen,mySisters[Ulrique,Amelia],andthePrincesses[oftheBlood,asabove,Schwedtandtherest]。IlearnedwithmuchchagrinthattheKingwasilloftertianague[quartan;butthatisnomatter]。Hesentmewordthat,beinginhisfit,hecouldnotseeme;butthathedependedonhavingthatpleasureto—morrow。TheQueenMother,towhomIwentwithoutdelay,wasinadarkcondition;roomsallhungwiththeirlugubriousdrapery;

  everythingyetinthedepthofmourningformyFather。Whatasceneforme!Naturehasherrights;Icansaywithtruth,Ihavealmostneverinmylifebeensomovedasonthisoccasion。\"

  InterviewwithMamma——wecanfancyit——\"wasofthemosttouching。\"

  Wilhelminahadbeenabsenteightyears。Shescarcelyknowstheyoungonesagain,allsogrown;——findschangeonchange:andthatTime,ashealwaysis,hasbeenbusy。ThatnighttheSupper—PartywasexclusivelyaFamilyone。

  HerBrother’swelcometoheronthemorrow,thoughardentenough,shefounddeficientinsincerity,deficientinseveralpoints;

  asindeedaBrotheruptotheneckinbusiness,andjustcomeoutofanague—fit,doesnotappeartothebestadvantage。

  Wilhelminanoticedhowillhelooked,soleanandbroken—down(MAIGREETDEFAIT)withinthelasttwomonths;butseemstohavetakennoaccountofitfarther,instrikingherbalanceswithFriedrich。AndindeedinherNarrativeofthisVisit,not,wewillhope,intheVisititself,shemusthavebeeninahighstateofmagneticdeflection,——prettynearlyhermaximumofsuch,discoverableinthosefamousMEMOIRS,——suchatumultisthereinherstatements,allgonetoground—and—loftytumblinginthisplace;sodiscrepantarethestillascertainablefactsfromthistopsy—turvypictureofthem,sketchedbyherfouryearshence(in1744)。Thetruestofmagneticneedles;butsosensitive,ifyoubringforeignironnearit!

  WilhelminawasloadedwithhonorsbyanimpartialBerlinPublicthatisCourtPublic;\"but,allbeinginmourning,theCourtwasnotbrilliant。TheQueenMothersawlittlecompany,andwassunkinsorrow;——hadnottheleastinfluenceinaffairs,sojealouswasthenewKingofhisAuthority,——totheQueenMother’ssurprise,\"

  saysWilhelmina。Fortherest,hereisaKing\"becomingtrulyunpopular[or,wefancyso,inourdeflectedstate,andjudgingbytherumorofcliques];ageneraldiscontentreigningintheCountry,loveofhissubjectsprettymuchgone;peoplespeakingofhiminnomeasuredterms[incertaincliques]。CaresnothingaboutthosewhohelpedhimasPrinceRoyal,saysome;otherscomplainofhisavarice[meaningsteadyvigilanceinoutlay]assurpassingthelateKing’s;thisonecomplainedofhisviolencesoftemper(EMPORTEMENS);thatoneofhissuspicions,ofhisdistrust,hishaughtinesses,hisdissimulation\"(meaningpoliteimpenetrabilitywhenhesawgood)。Severalcircumstances,knowntoWilhelmina’sownexperience,compelWilhelmina’sassentonthosepoints。

  \"Iwouldhavespokentohimaboutthem,ifmyBrotherofPrussia[youngAugustWilhelm,betrothedtheotherday]andtheQueenRegnanthadnotdissuadedme。FartheronIwillgivetheexplanationofallthis,\"——neverdiditanywhere。\"IbegthosewhomayonedayreadtheseMEMOIRS,tosuspendtheirjudgmentonthecharacterofthisgreatPrincetillIhavedevelopedit。\"

  [Wilhelmina,ii。326。]OmyPrincess,youaretrueandbright,butyouareshrill;andIadmiretheeffectofatmosphericelectricity,nottosay,ofanyneighboringmarine—storeshop,ormiserablebitofbrokenpan,ononeofthefinestmagneticneedlesevermadeandsettrembling!

  Wilhelminaisincapableofdeliberatefalsehood;andthisherimpressionorreminiscence,withallitsexaggeration,isentitledtobeheardinevidencesofar。Fromthis,andfromothersources,readerswillassurethemselvesthatdiscontentswerenotwanting;

  thatKingFriedrichwasnotamiabletoeverybodyatthistime,——

  whichindeedhenevergrewtobeatanyothertime。HehadtobeaKing;thatwasthetradehefollowed,notthequitedifferentoneofbeingamiableallround。Amiabilityisgood,myPrincess;

  butthequestionrises,\"Towhom?—forexample,totheyounggentlemanwhoshothimselfinLobegun?\"Thereareyounggentlemenandoldsometimesinconsiderablequantities,towhom,ifyouwereinyourduty,asaKingofmen(orevenasa\"Kingofonemanandhisaffairs,\"ifthatisallyourkingdom),youshouldhavebeenhatefulinsteadofamiable!Thatisasterntruth;toomuchforgottenbyWilhelminaandothers。Again,whatadeadeningandkillingcircumstanceisitinthecareerofamiability,thatyouareboundnottobecommunicativeofyourinnerman,butperpetuallyandstrictlythereverse!ItmaybedoubtedifagoodKingcanbeamiable;certainlyhecannotinanybutthenoblestages,andthenonlytoaselectfew。IshouldguessFriedrichwasatnotimefairlyloved,notbythosenearesttohim。Hewasrapid,decisive;ofwirycompactnature;hadnothingofhisFather’samplitudes,simplicities;nothingtosportwithandfondle,farfromit。Tremuloussensibilities,ardentaffections;

  theseweclearlydiscoverinhim,inextraordinaryvivacity;buthewearsthemunderhispolishedpanoply,andisoutwardlyaradiantbutmetallicobjecttomankind。Letuscarrythisalongwithusinstudyinghim;andthankWilhelminaforgivingushintofitinherobliqueway。——Wilhelmima’sloveforherBrotherrosetoquiteheroicpitchincomingyears,andwasatitshighestwhenshedied。ThatcontinuationofherMEMOIRSinwhichsheistodevelopherBrother’scharacter,wasneverwritten:ithasbeensoughtforinmoderntimes;andafewinsignificantpages,withevidencethatthereisnot,andwasnot,anymore,areallthathasturnedup。[Pertz,UeberdieDenkwurdigkeitenderMarkgrafinvanBayreuth(PaperreadintheAkademiederWissenschaften,Berlin,25thApril,1850)。

  Incapableoffalsityprepense,wesay;buttheknownfacts,whichstandabundantlyonrecordifyoucaretosearchthemout,aremerelyasfollows:Friedrich,withsuchsincerityastheremightbe,didwelcomeWilhelminaonthemorrowofherarrival;spokeofReinsberg,andofairandrest,andhowpleasantitwouldbe;

  rolledoffnextmorning,havingatlastgathereduphisbusinesses,andgotthemwellinhand,toReinsbergaccordingly;

  whitherWilhelmina,withtheQueenRegnantandothersofagreeablequality,followedintwodays;intendingalongandpleasantspellofcountryoutthere。Whichhopewastolerablyfulfilled,evenforWilhelmina,thoughtheredidcomeunexpectedinterruptions,notofFriedrich’sbringing。

  UNEXPECTEDNEWSATREINSBERG。

  Friedrich’spursuitsandintendedconquests,forthepresent,areofpeaceableandevengaynature。FrenchTheatre,ItalianOpera—

  House,theseareamongtheimmediateoutlooks。Voltaire,skilledinFrenchacting,ifanybodyeverwere,ismultifariouslynegotiatingforaCompanyofthatkind,——lethimbeswift,besuccessful。[LettersofVoltaire(PASSIM,inthesemonths)。]

  AnItalianOperathereshallbe;theHouseisstilltobebuilt:

  CaptainKnobelsdorf,whobuiltReinsberg,whomwehaveknown,istodoit。KnobelsdorfhasgonetoItalyonthaterrand;\"wentbyDresden,carefullyexaminingtheOpera—Housethere,andallthefamedOpera—Housesonhisroad。\"Graun,oneofthebestjudgesliving,islikewiseofftoItaly,gatheringsingers。OurOperatooshallbeasuccessfulthing,andwehope,aspeedy。SuchareFriedrich’soutlooksatthistime。

  Amiscellaneouspleasantcompanyishere;TruchsessandBielfeld,homefromHanover,amongthem;Wilhelminaishere;——Voltairehimselfperhapscomingagain。FriedrichdrinkshisPyrmontwaters;

  worksathispublicbusinessesallday,whicharenowwellinhand,andmanageablebycouriers;ateveningheappearsincompany,andistheastonishmentofeverybody;brilliant,likeanew—risensun,asifheknewofnoillness,knewofnobusiness,butlivedforamusementonly。\"HeintendsPrivateTheatricalswithal,andisgettingreadyVoltaire’sMORTDECESAR。\"[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。415。]ThesewereprettydaysatReinsberg。Thiskindoflifelastedsevenoreightweeks,——inspiteofinterruptionsofsubterraneanvolcanicnature,someofwhichweresurelyconsiderable。Here,intheveryfirstweek,comingalmostvolcanically,isone,whichindeedisthesumofthemall。

  Tuesdayforenoon,25thOctober,1740,ExpressarrivesatReinsberg;directfromViennafivedaysago;findsFriedrichundereclipse,hiddenintheinterior,laboringunderhisague—fit:

  questionrises,ShalltheExpressbeintroduced,orbeheldback?

  Thenewshebringsishuge,unexpected,transcendent,andmayagitatethesickKing。Sixorsevenheadsgowaggingonthispoint,——whobyaccidentarenamable,ifreaderscare:\"PrinceAugustWilhelm,\"latelybetrothed;\"GrafTruchsess,\"homefromHanover;\"ColonelGrafvonFinkenstein,\"oldTutor’sSon,afamiliarfromboyhoodupwards;\"BaronPollnitz\"kindofchiefGoldsticknow,orMasteroftheCeremonies,nottoowitty,butthecauseofwit;\"Jordan,Bielfeld,\"knowntous;andlastly,\"Fredersdorf,\"Major—domoandFactotum,whoisgrownfromValettobePurse—Keeper,confidentialManager,andalmostfriend,——

  anotablepersonageinFriedrich’sHistory。Theydecide,\"Betterwait!\"

  Theywaitaccordingly;andthen,afteraboutanhour,thetrembling—fitbeingover,andFredersdorfhavingcautiouslypreludedalittle,andpreparedtheway,theDespatchisdelivered,andtheKingleftwithhisimmensepieceofnews。

  NewsthathisImperialMajestyKarlVI。died,aftershortillness,onThursday,the20thlast。Kaiserdead:HouseofHapsburg,anditsFiveCenturiesoftoughwrestling,anduneasyDominancyinthisworld,ended,gonetothedistaff:——thecounter—wrestlingAmbitionsandCupiditiesnotdead;andnothingbutPragmaticSanctionleftbetweenthefallenHouseandthem!Friedrichkeptsilence;showednosignhowtransfixedhewastohearsuchtidings;which,heforesaw,wouldhaveimmeasurableconsequencesintheworld。

  Oneofthefirstwas,thatitcuredFriedrichofhisague。

  Itbracedhim(it,andperhaps\"alittlequinquinawhichhenowinsistedon\")intosuchatensityofspiritasdroveouthisaguelikeamerehiccough;quitegoneinthecourseofnextweek;

  andwehearnomoreofthatimportunateannoyance。HesummonedSecretaryEichel,\"Bereadyinsomanyminuteshence;\"rosefromhisbed,dressedhimself;[Preuss,Thronbesteigung,p。416。]——andthen,byEichel’shelp,sentoffexpressesforSchwerinhischiefGeneral,andPodewilshischiefMinister。

  Aresolution,whichisrisingorhasrisenintheRoyalmind,willbereadyforcommunicatingtotheseTwobythetimetheyarrive,ontheseconddayhence。Thisdone,Friedrich,Ibelieve,joinedhiscompanyintheevening;andwasaslightandbrilliantasifnothinghadhappened。

  ChapterVIII。

  THEKAISER’SDEATH。

  TheKaiser’sdeathcameuponthePublicunexpectedly;thoughnotquitesouponobservantpersonscloserathand。Hewasnotyetfifty—sixout;afirm—builtman;hadbeenofsoundconstitution,ofactive,notintemperatehabits:butinthelastsixyears,therehadcomesuchtorrentsofillluckrollingdownonhim,hehadsufferedimmensely,farbeyondwhattheworldknewof;andtothosenearhim,andanxiousforhim,hisstrengthseemedmuchundermined。Fiveyearsago,insummer1735,Robinsonreported,fromasurehand:\"NothingcanequaltheEmperor’sagitationunderthesedisasters[broughtuponhimbyFleuryandtheSpaniards,asafter—claptohisPolish—Electionfeat]。HisgoodEmpressisterrified,manytimes,hewilldieinthecourseofthenight,whensinglywithherhegivesaloosetohisaffliction,confusionanddespair。\"Sea—Powerswillnothelp;Fleuryandmereruinwillengulf!\"WhataugmentsthisagitationishisdistrustineveryoneofhisownMinisters,exceptperhapsBartenstein,\"[RobinsontoLordWarrington,5thJuly,1735(inState—PaperOffice)。]——whoisnotmuchofasupporteither,thoughagnarledweightyoldstickinhisway(\"ProfessoratStrasburgonce\"):notinterestingtoushere。TheresthisImperialMajestyconsiderstobeofsublimatedblockheadtype,itappears。PrinceEugenehaddiedlately,andwithEugeneallgoodfortune。

  Andthen,closefollowing,themiseriesofthatTurkWar,crashingdownuponaman!Theysay,DukeFranz,MariaTheresa’sHusband,nominalCommanderinthoseCampaigns,withtheSeckendorfsandWallisesunderhimgoingsucharoad,wasprivatelyeagertohavedonewiththeBusiness,onanyterms,lesttheKaisershoulddiefirst,andleaveitweltering。NowonderthepoorKaiserfeltbroken,disgustedwiththelongShadow—HuntofLife;andtooktopracticalfield—sportsrather。AnArmythatcannotfight,War—

  GeneralsgoodonlytobelockedinFortresses,anExchequerthathasnomoney;aftersuchwaggingofthewigs,andsuchPrivy—

  CouncillingandsuchWar—Councilling:——letushuntwildswine,andnotthinkofit!That,thankHeaven,westillhave;that,andPragmaticSanctionwellengrossed,andgenerallysworntobymankind,aftermucheffort!——

  TheouterPublicofthattime,andVoltaireamongthemmoredeliberatelyafterwards,spokeof\"mushrooms,\"an\"indigestionofmushrooms;\"anditisprobabletherewassomethingofmushroomsconcernedintheevent,AnothersubsequentFrenchman,stillmoreirreverent,addstothisofthe\"excessofmushrooms,\"thattheKaisermadelightofit。\"WhentheDoctorstoldhimhehadfewhourstolive,hewouldnotbelieveit;andbanteredhisPhysiciansonthesadnews。’Lookmeintheeyes,’saidhe;

  ’haveItheairofonedying?Whenyouseemysightgrowingdim,thenletthesacramentsbeadministered,whetherIorderornot。’\"

  Doctorsinsisting,theKaiserreplied:\"’Sinceyouarefoolishfellows,whoknowneitherthecausenorthestateofmydisorder,Icommandthat,onceIamdead,youopenmybody,toknowwhatthematterwas;youcanthencomeandletmeknow!\"’

  [AnecdotesGermaniques(Paris,1769),p。692。]——inwhichalsothereisperhapsaglimmeringofdistortedtruth,though,asMonsieurmistakeseventheday(\"18thOctober,\"

  sayshe,not2Oth),onecanonlyacceptitasrumorfromtheoutside。

  Here,byanextremelysombredomesticGentlemanofgreatpunctualityandgreatdulness,aretheauthenticparticulars,suchasitwasgoodtomentioninViennacircles。[(Anonymous)

  Des&c。RomischenKaisersCarlVI。LebenundThaten

  (FrankfurtundLeipzig,1741),pp。220—227。]AnextremelydullGentleman,buttoappearanceanauthentic;andsolittledefectiveinreverencethathedelicatelyexpressessomeastonishmentatDeath’saudacitythisyear,inkillingsomanyCrownedHeads。

  \"Thisyear1740,\"sayshe,\"thoughtheweatherthroughoutEuropehadbeenextraordinarilyfine,\"orfineforacoldyear,\"hadalreadywitnessedseveralDeathsofSovereigns:PopeClementXII。,FriedrichWilhelmofPrussia,theQueenDowagerofSpain[Termagant’soldstepmother,notTermagant’sselfbyagreatway]。

  Butthatwasnotenough:unfathomableDestinyventurednowonImperialHeads(WAGTESICHAUCHANKAISER—KRONEN):KarlVI。,namely,andRussia’sgreat,Monarchess;\"——anaudacitytoberemarked。OfRussia’sgreatMonarchess(CzarinaAnne,withthebigcheek)wewillsaynothingatpresent;butofKarlVI。only,——

  abridgingmuch,andstudyingarrangement。

  \"Thursday,October13th,returningfromHalbthurn,aHuntingSeatofhis,\"overinHungarysomefiftymiles,\"tothePalaceFavoritaatVienna,hisImperialMajestyfeltslightlyindisposed,\"——

  indigestionofmushroomsorwhateveritwas:hadbegunAT

  Halbthurnthenightbefore,weratherunderstand,andwastheoccasionofhisleaving。\"TheDoctorscalleditcoldonthestomach,andthoughtitofnoconsequence。InthenightofSaturday,itbecamealarming;\"inflammation,thoughttheDoctors,inflammationoftheliver,andusedtheirpotentappliances,whichonlymadethedangercomeandgo;\"andontheTuesday,allday,theDoctorsdidnotdoubthisImperialMajestywasdying。

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