第53章
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  BROGLIOHASABIVOUACOFPISEK;KHEVENHULLERLOOKSIN

  UPONTHEDONAUCONQUESTS。

  Grand—DukeFranzedgedhimselfatlastalittleoutofthatTabor—

  Budweisregion,andbeganlookingPrag—wardagain;——hungabout,forsometime,withhisHungarianlight—troopsscouringthecountry;

  butstillkeepingPragrespectfullytoright,atseventymilesdistance。December28th,toBroglio’salarm,hetriedanight—

  attackonPisek,thechiefFrenchoutpost,whichliesFrance—wardtoo,andmightbevital。ButhefoundtheFrench(Brogliohavinggotwarning)unexpectedlyreadyforhimatPisek,——drawnupinthedarkstreetsthere,withtorrentsofmusketryreadyforhisPandoursandhim;——andentirelyfailedofPisek。UponwhichheturnedeastwardtotheBudweis—Taborfastnessesagain;leftBrotherKarlasCommanderinthoseparts(whosoonleavesLobkowitzasSubstitute,Viennaintheidlewinter—timebeingpreferable);——

  leftBrotherKarl,andproceededinperson,south,towardstheDonauCountries,toseehowKhevenhullermightbeprospering,whoisinthefieldthere,asweshallhear。

  OfPisekandthenight—skirmishatPisek,glorioustoFrance,thinkalltheGazettes,Ishouldhavesaidnothing,wereitnotthatMarechalBroglio,findingwhatanarrowmisshehadmade,establishedanight—watchthere,orbivouac,forsixweekstocome;

  suchasneverwasbeforeorsince:CavalryandInfantry,inquantity,bivouackingthere,intheenvironsofPisek,onthegrimBohemiansnoworsnow—slush,inthedepthofwinter,nightlyforsixweeks,withoutwhisperofanenemyatanytime;wherebytheMarechaldidsavePisek(ifPisekwaseveragainindanger),butfrozehorseandmantotheedgeofdestructionorintoit;sothatthe\"BivouacofPisek\"becameproverbialinFrenchMessrooms,foragenerationcoming。[GuerredeBoheme,ii。23,&c。]Andonehearsinthemindaclangorousnasaleloquencefromantiquegesticulativemustachio—figures,wittyandindignant,——whoarenowgonetosilenceagain,andtheirfruitlessbivouacs,andfrostyandfierytoils,tumblingpell—mellafterthem。ThisofPisekwasbutoneofthemanyunwisehystericalthingspoorBrogliodid,inthatdifficultposition;which,indeed,wastoodifficultforanymortal,andforBrogliobeyondtheaverage。

  Oneotherthingwenote:GrafvonKhevenhuller,solidAustrianman,issuedfromVienna,December31st,lastdayoftheYear,withanArmyofonlysome15,000,butwithanexcellentmilitaryheadofhisown,tolookintothoseConquestsontheDonau。Whichhefinds,asheexpected,tobemereconquestsofstubble,capableofbeingswepthomeagainataveryrapidrate。\"Khevenhuller,hereasalways,wasconsummateinhischoiceofposts,\"saysLloyd;

  [GeneralLloyd,HistoryofSeven—YearsWar,

  &c。(incidentally,somewhere)。]——discoveredwheretheARTERIESofthebusinesslay,andhowtohandlethesame。Bychoiceofposts,bysilentenergyandmilitaryskill,KhevenhullerveryrapidlysweepsSegurback;andshutshimupinLinz。ThereSegur,sincethefirstdaysofJanuary,isstrenuouslybarricadinghimself;

  \"wedgingbeamsfromhousetohouse,acrossthestreets;\"——andhopestogetprovision,theDonauandtheBavarianstreamsbeingstillopenbehindhim;andtoholdoutalittle。Itwillbebetterifhedo,——especiallyforpoorKarlAlbertandhispoorBavaria!

  KhevenhullerhasalsodetachedthroughtheTyrolaGeneralvonBarenklau(BEAR’S—CLAW,muchheardofhenceforthintheseWars),whohas12,000regulars;andmuchHussar—folkunderbloodyMentzel:—acrosstheTyrol,wesay;tofallinuponBavariaandMunchenitself;whichtheyaretoolikedoingwitheffect。

  OughtnotKarlAlberttobeupontheroadagain?Whatathing,weretheKaiserElecttakenprisonerbyPandours!

  Infine,withinashorttwoweeksorso,KarlAlbertquitsMunchen,asnosafeplaceforhim;comesacrosstoMannheimtohisCousinPhilip,oldKur—Pfalz,whomweusedtoknow,nowextremelyold,butwhohasmarriagesofGrand—daughters,andothergayeties,onhand;

  whichaCousinandprospectiveKaiser——especiallyifinperilofhislife——mightaswellcomeandwitness。ThisistheexcuseKarlAlbertmakestoanindulgentPublic;andwouldfainmaketohimself,butcannot。BarenklauandKhevenhulleraretooindisputable。NaythisrumorofFriedrich’s\"PeacewithAustria,\"

  divulgedBargainofKlein—Schnellendorf,ifthisalso(horribletothink)weretrue——!WhichFriedrichassureshimitisnot。

  KarlAlbertwritestoFriedrich,andagainwrites;conjuringhim,fortheloveofGod,Tomakesomethrust,then,someinroadorother,onthoseman—devouringKhevenhullers;andtakethemfromhis,KarlAlbert’s,throatandhispoorCountry’s。WhichFriedrich,onhisownscore,isalreadypurposingtodo。

  ChapterVIII。

  FRIEDRICHSTARTSFORMORAVIA,ONANEWSCHEMEHEHAS。

  TheAustrianCourthadnotkeptFriedrich’ssecretofKlein—

  Schnellendorf,hardlyevenforaday。ItwaswhisperedtotheDowagerEmpress,orEmpresses;whowhisperedit,orwroteit,tosomeotherhighparty;bywhomagainasusual:——infact,theAustrianCourt,havingoncegottheirNeippergsafetohand,tooknopainstokeepthesecret;buthadprobablyaninterestratherinlettingitfilterout,tosetFriedrichandhisAlliesatvariance。

  Atallevents,inthespaceofafewweeks,aswehaveseen,therumorofaTreatybetweenAustriaandFriedrichwaseverywhererife;Friedrich,ashehadengaged,everywheredenyingit,andindeedclearlyperceivingthattherewasliketobenogroundforacknowledgingit。TheAustrianCourt,insteadof\"completingtheTreatybeforeNewyear’s—day,\"hadbrokenthepreviousbargain;

  evidentlynotmeaningtocomplete;intentrathertowaitupontheirHungarianInsurrection,andtheluckofWar。

  Thereisnow,therefore,anewturninthegame。AndforthisalsoFriedrichhasbeengettingthefitcardready;andisnotslowtoplayit。Sometimeago,November4th,——properlyNovember1st,hardlythreeweekssincethatofKlein—Schnellendorf,——findingthesecretalreadyout(\"whisperedofatBreslau,28thOctober,\"

  casuallytestifiesHyndford),hehadtightenedhisbandswithFrance;had,onNovember4th,formallyaccededtoKarlAlbert’sTreatywithFrance。[Accessionagreedto,\"Frankfurt,Nov。1st,\"

  1741;ratified\"Nov。4th。\"]Glatztobehis:hewillnothearofwantingGlatz;norofwantingelsewheretheproperBoundaryforSchlesien,\"NeisseRiverbothbanks\"(whichNeipperghadagreedto,inhislateSham—Bargain);——quitestrictonthesepreliminaries。

  Andfurthermore,Kur—SachsenbeingnowaPartnerinthatFrench—

  BavarianTreaty,——andahighlyactiveone(with21,000inthefieldforhim),whois\"KingofMoravia\"withal,andhassomeconsiderablenorthernParingofBohemiathrownin,bywayof\"RoadtoMoravia,\"——Friedrichmade,atthesametime,specialTreatywithKur—Sachsen,onthepointsspeciallymutualtothem;ontheBoundarypoint,firstofall。WhichlattertreatyisdatedalsoNovember1st,andwas\"ratifiedNovember8th。\"

  Treatyotherwisenotworthreading;exceptperhapsasitshowsusFriedrichputting,inhisbriefdirectway,Kur—SachsenatonceintoAustria’splace,inregardtoOber—Schlesien。\"BoundarybetweenyourPolishMajestyandmetobetheRiverNeissePLUSafullGermanmile;\"——which(toBelleisle’ssurprise)thePolishMajestyiswillingtoaccept;andconsents,farther,Friedrichbeingofsuccinctturn,ThatCommissionersgodirectlyandputdowntheboundary—stones,andsoanend。\"LettheSilesianmatterstandwhereitstood,\"thinksFriedrich:\"sinceAustriawillnot,willyou?Putdowntheboundary—pillars,then!\"——aninterestinglittleglanceintoFriedrich’sinnerman。AndaPrussianBoundaryCommissioner,ourfriendNusslertheman,diddulyappear;——whomperhapsweshallmeet,——thoughnoSaxononequitedid。[Busching,Beitrage,i。339(?NUSSLER)。]Itisthisboundaryclause,itisFriedrich’slittledecision,\"Putdownthepillars,then,\"thatalonecannowinterestanymortalinthisSaxonBargain;theclauseitself,andthebargainitself,havingquitebrokendownontheSaxonside,andprovedimaginaryasacovenantmadeindreams。Couldnotbehelped,inthesequel!——

  Meanwhile,thepreliminarydiplomaciesbeingdoneinthismanner,FriedrichhadorderedcertainofhisownForcestogetinmotionalittle;orderedLeopold,whohashadendlessnicetyofmanagement,sincetheFrenchandSaxonscameintothoseBohemianCirclesofhis,togouponGlatz;tolayfastholdofGlatz,foronething。

  Andfarthereastward,Schwerin,byorder,haslatelygoneacrosstheMountains;seizedTroppau,Friedenthal;nayOlmutzitself,theCapitalofMahren,——inoneday(December27th),garrisonofOlmutzbeingtooweaktoresist,andtheworksindisrepair。\"InHeaven’sname,whatareyourintentions,then?\"askedtheAustriansthere。

  \"Peaceableintheextreme,\"answeredSchwerin,\"ifonlyyoursare。

  AndiftheyareNOT——!\"TheresitsSchwerineversince,busystrengtheninghimself,andmaintainsthebestdiscipline;

  waitingfartherorders。

  \"TheAustrianswillnotcompletetheirbargainofKlein—

  Schnellendorf?\"thinksthisyoungKing;\"Verywell;wewillnotpressthemtocompletion。Wewillnotourselvescomplete,shouldtheynowpress。Wewilltryanothermethod,andthatwithoutlossoftime。\"——ItwasapungentreflectionwithFriedrichthatKarlAlberthadnotpushedforwardonVienna,fromLinzthattime,buthadblindlyturnedofftotheleft,andthrownawayhisonechance。

  \"Cannotonestillmendit;cannotonestilldosomethingofthelike?\"thinksFriedrichnow:\"SchwerininOlmutz;PrussianTroopscantonedintheHighlandsofSilesia,oroverinBohemiaitself,nearthesceneofaction;theSaxonseastwardasfarasTeutschbrod,stillnearer;theFrenchtriumphantatPrag,andreinforcementontheroadforthem:acombinedmovementonVienna,doneinstantlyandwithanimpetus!\"ThatisthethingFriedrichisnowbentupon;norwillhe,likeKarlAlbert,beapttoneglectthehouroftide,whichissoinexorableinsuchoperations。

  AtBerlin,accordingly,hehasbeenhurryingonhiswork,inspection,preparationofmanykinds,——MarriageofhisBrotherAugustWilhelm,foronebusiness;[6thJanuary,1742(inBielfeld,ii。55—69,exuberantaccountoftheCeremony,andofB。’spartinit)。]——and(Jannary18th),afterastayoftwomonths,isofffieldwardagain,onthisnewproject。ToDresden,firstofall;

  Saxonybeinganessentialelement;andValoribeingappointedtomeethimthereontheFrenchside。ItisJanuary20th,1742,whenFriedricharrives;dueOperafestivities,\"triplesaluteofalltheguns,\"failnotatDresden;buthisobjectwasnottheseatall。

  PolishMajestyishere,andcertainofthewarlikeBastardBrothershomefromWinter—quarters,ComtedeSaxeforone;Valorialso,punctuallyasdue;andlittleGrafvonBruhl,highest—dressedofhumancreatures,whoisfactotuminthisCourt。

  \"YourPolishMajesty,bytreatyandtitleyouareKingofMoraviawithal:nowisthetime,nowornever,tobecomesoinfact!

  ForwardwithyourSaxons:\"urgesFriedrich:\"TheAustriansandtheirLobkowitzareweakinthatCountry:atIglau,justovertheMoravianborder,theyhaveformedaMagazine;seizethat,snatchitfromLobkowitz:thatgivesusfootingandbasisthere。ForwardwithyourSaxons;Valorigivesusso—manyFrench;Imyselfwilljoinwith20,000:swift,steady,allatonce;wecanseizeMoravia,whoknowsifnotViennaitself,andforcertaindriveastrokerighthomeintotheverybowelsoftheEnemy!\"ThatisFriedrich’sthemefromthefirsthourofhisarrival,andduringallthefour—and—

  twentythathestayed。

  Inonehour,PolishMajesty,whoisfonderoftobaccoandpastimesthanofbusiness,declaredhimselfconvinced;——anddeclaredalsothatthetimeofOperawascome;whitherthetwoMajestieshadtoproceedtogether,andsuspendbusinessforawhile。PolishMajestyhimselfwasveryeasilysatisfied;butwiththeothers,asValorireportsit,theargumentwasvarious,longanddifficult。

  \"Wintertime;sodangerous,soprecarious,\"answerBruhlandComtedeSaxe:Thereisthisdanger,thisuncertainty,andthenthatother;——whichtheKingandValori,withalltheireloquence,confute。\"Impossible,forwantofvictual,\"answersMauriceatlast,drivenintoacorner:\"Iglau,supposewegetit,willsoonbeeaten;thenwhereisourprovision?\"——\"Provision?\"answersValori:

  \"ThereisM。deSechelles,HeadofourCommissariatinPrag;suchaCommissaryneverwasbefore。\"\"Andyouconsent,ifItakethatinhand?\"urgesFriedrichuponthem。Theyareobligedtoconsent,onthatproviso。FriedrichundertakesSechelles:theEnterprisecannotnowberefused。[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。170;Valori,i。

  139;&c。&c。]\"Alert,then;notamomenttobelost!Good—night;

  AUREVOIR,mynoblefriends!\"——andto—morrowmanyhoursbeforedaybreak,FriedrichisoffforPrag,leavingDresdentoawakenwhenitcan。

  AtPragherenewsacquaintancewithhisoldmaladroitStrasburgfriend,MarechaldeBroglio,notwithincreaseofadmiration,aswouldseem;declinesthedemonstrationsandcivilitiesofBroglio,businessbeingurgent:findsM。deSechellestobeintruththesupremeoflivingCommissaries(ready,inwordswhichFriedrichcallsgolden,\"tomaketheimpossiblepossible\"):\"Onlymarch,then,nobleSaxons:swift!\"——anddashesoffagain,nextmorning,tonortheastward,throughLeopold’sBohemiancantonments,Glatz—wardbydegrees,tobereadywithhisownshareoftheaffair;nodelayinhim,forone。January24th,afterKonigsgratzandotherPrussianposts,——January24th,whichiselsewheresonotableaday,——hisroutegoesnortheast,toGlatz,ahundredmilesaway,amongtheintricaciesoftheGiantMountains,hithersideoftheSilesianHighlands;wildrouteforwinterseason,iftheyoungKingfearedanyroute。FromBerlin,hitherandfarther,hemayhavegonewell—

  nighhissevenhundredmileswithintheweek;rushingoncontinually(starts,atsayfourinthewintermorning);

  doingendlessbusiness,oftheorderingsort,ashespeedsalong。

  Glatz,asouthwesternmountainousAppendagetoSilesia,abuttingonMoraviaandBohemia,isasmallstrongCountry;uponwhich,eversincethefirstFriedrichtimes,wehaveseenhimfixed;claimingittoo,asexpensesfromtheAustrians,sincetheywillnotbargain。ForherisesSibyl—like:ayearago,youmighthavehadhimwithhis100,000toboot,fortheoneDuchyofGlogau;

  andnow——!AtGlatzorintheseadjacentBohemianparts,theYoungDessauerhasbeenonduty,busyenough,eversincethelateSiegeofNeisse:GlatzTowntheYoungDessauersoongot,whenordered;

  Town,Population,Territory,allishis,——allbutthehighmountainFortress(centreoftheTownofGlatzj,withitsstiff—neckedAustrianGarrisonshutupthere,whichheiswearingoutbyhunger。

  WerememberthelittleNotefromValori’swaistcoat—pocket,\"Don’tgivehimGlatz,ifyoucanpossiblyhelpit!\"InhislatesttreatieswiththeFrenchandtheirAllies,FriedrichhasveryexpresslybargainedfortheCountry(willevenpaymoneyforit);

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。85。]andisdeterminedtohaveit,whentheAustriansnexttaketobargaining。

  OfGlatzFortress,nowgettinghungeredoutbyLeopold’sPrussianDetachment,Iwillsayfarther,thoughFriedrichheedsthesecircumstanceslittleatpresent,thatitstandsonascarpedrock,girtbythegrimintricateHills;andthatintheArsenal,industyfabulouscondition,liesacertainDrum,whichreadersmayhaveheardof。Drumisnotafable,butanantiquerealityfallenflaccid;made,byexpressbequest,asismythicallysaid,fromtheskinofZisca,above300yearsago:altogethermythicthatlatterclause。Drum,Fortress,Town,VillagesandTerritory,allshallbeFriedrich’s,hadhungerdoneitswork。[Townalready,aftershortscuffle,14thJanuary,1742;Fortress,byhunger(nofiringnorbeingfiredon,intheinterim),25thAprilfollowing,——whentheonce2,000ofgarrison,worntoabout200,paleasshadows,marchedawaytoBrunn;\"onlytenofthemablefordutyonarriving。\"

  (Orlich,i。174。)]

  Friedrich,whileatGlatzthistime,gaveanewDresstotheVirgin,sayalltheBiographers;ofwhichthestoryisthis。

  HolyVirginstoodinthemainConventofGlatz,inratherathreadbarecondition,whenthePrussiansfirstapproached;

  theJesuits,andardentlyOrthodoxofbothsexes,flagitatingHeavenandherwiththeirprayers,thatshewouldvouchsafetokeepthePrussiansout。InwhichcasepiousMadameSomething,wifeoftheAustrianCommandant,vowedheranewsuitofclothes。

  HolyVirgindidnotvouchsafe;ontheContrary,herethePrussiansare,andStarvationwiththem。\"Courage,nevertheless,mynewfriends!\"intimatesFriedrich:\"ThePrussiansarenotbugaboos,asyouimagined:HolyVirginshallhaveanewcoat,allthesame!\"andwasattheexpenseofthebitofbroadclothwithtrimmings。Hewasinthewayofmakingsuchinvestments,inhislightscepticalhumor;andfoundthemanswertohim。AtGlatz,andthroughthoseBohemianandSilesianCantonments,hesetshispeopleinmotionfortheMoravianExpedition;rapidlystirsuptheduePrussiandetachmentsfromtheirChristmasrestamongtheMountains;andhasworkenoughintheseregions,nowherenowthere。SchwerinisalreadyinOlmutz,foramonthpast;andtowardshim,orhisneighborhood,themarchistobe。

  January26th,Friedrich,nowwithconsiderableretinueabouthim,getsfromGlatztoLandskron,somefiftymilesOlmutz—ward;suchamarchasGeneralStilleneversaw,——\"throughtheiceandthroughthesnow,whichcoveredthatdreadfulChainofMountainsbetweenBohmenandMahren:wedidnotarrivetillverylate;manyofourcarriagesbrokendown,andothersoverturnedmorethanonce。\"

  [Stille(Anonymous,Friedrich’sOld—TutorStille),

  CampagnesduRoidePrusse(EnglishTranslation,12mo,London,1763),p。5。Anintelligent,desirablelittleVolume,——manymisprintsintheEnglishformofit。]AtLandskronnextday,Friedrich,asappointed,mettheChevalierdeSaxe(CHEVALIER,bynomeansComte,butayoungerBastard,GeneraloftheSaxonHorse);andendeavoredtoconcerteverything:PrussianrendezvoustobeatWischau,onthe5thnext;thencestraightwaytomeettheSaxonsatTrebitsch(convenientforthatIglau),——ifonlytheSaxonswillkeepbargain。

  January28th,pastmidnight,afteranothersoremarch,FriedricharrivedatOlmutz;aprettyTown,——withanexcellentoldBishop,\"aGrafvonLichtenstein,alittlegoutymanaboutfifty—twoyearsofage,withacountenanceopenandfullofcandor;[Stille,p。8。]

  inwhosefinePalace,mostcourteouslywelcomed,theKinglodgedtillnearthedayofrendezvousing。Wewillleavehimthere,andlookwestwardalittle;beforegoingfartherintotheMoravianExpedition。FriedrichhimselfisevidentlymuchbentonthisExpedition;hassethisheartonpayingtheAustriansfortheirtrickeryatKlein—Schnellendorf,inthishandsomeway,andstillpickingupthechanceagainstthemwhichKarlAlbertsquandered。

  IfonlytheFrenchandSaxonswouldgowellabreastwithFriedrich,andthrusthome!Butwillthey?Hereisasurprisingbitofnews;

  notofgoodomen,whenitreachesoneatOlmutz!

  \"LINZ,24thJANUARY,1742[dayotherwiseremarkable]。Afterthemuchbarricading,andconsiderabledefianceandbravadoing,byComtedeSegurandhis10,000,hehaslostthisCityinascandalousmanner[notquitescandalous,butreckonedsobyoutsideobservers];andLinzCityisnotnowSegur’s,butKhevenhuller’s。

  ToKhevenhuller’sfirstsummonsM。deSegurhadanswered,’Iwillhangonthehighestgallowsthenextmanthatcomestoproposesuchathing!’——andwithinaweek[KhevenhullerhavingseizedtheDonauRivertorearofLinz,andblastedofftheBavarianpartythere],M。deSegurdidhimselfproposeit(’Freewithdrawal:Notserveagainstyouforayear’);andisthisdaybeginningtomarchoutofLinz。\"[CampagnesdesTroisMarechaux,iii。

  280,&c。;Adelung,iii。A,p。12,andp。15(aParisstreet—songonit)。]HereisanexampleofdefendingKey—Positions!IfSegur’sbethepatternfollowed,thoseConquestsontheDonauareliketogoafineroad!——

  TherecametoFriedrich,inallprivacy,duringhisstayinOlmutzatthisBishop’s,aDiplomaticemissaryfromVienna,onePfitzner;

  chargedwithapologies,withimportantoffersprobably;——important;

  butnotimportantenough。Friedrichblameshimselfforbeingtooabruptontheman;mightperhapshavelearnedsomethingfromhimbysoftertreatment。[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。

  109。]Afterthreedays,Pfitznerhadtogohiswaysagain,havingaccomplishednothingofchangeuponFriedrich。

  ChapterIX。

  WILHELMINAGOESTOSEETHEGAYETIESATFRANKFURT。

  OnthedaywhenFriedrich,overhungbythegrimwinterMountains,wasapproachingGlatz,samedaywhenSegurwasevacuatingLinzonthosesadterms,thatis,onthe24thdayofJanuary,1742,——twoGentlemenweregallopingtheirbestintheFrankfurt—Mannheimregions;bearingwhattheyreckonedgladtidingstowardsMannheimandKarlAlbert;whoisthere\"onavisit\"(forgoodreasons),afterhistriumphsatPragandelsewhere。ThehindmostofthetwoGentlemenisanOfficialofrank(littleconsciousthatheisprecededbyarivalinmessage—bearing);OfficialGentleman,despatchedbytheDietofFrankfurttoinformKarlAlbert,ThathenowisactuallyKaiseroftheHolyRomishEmpire;votes,byaidofHeavenandBelleisle,havingallfalleninhisfavor。Gallop,therefore,myOfficialGentleman:——alas,anotherGentleman,Non—official,knowinghowitwouldturn,alreadysatbootedandsaddled,agoodspacebeyondthewallsofFrankfurt,waitingtillthecannonshouldfire;atthefirstburstofcannon,he(cunningdog)giveshishorsethespur;andismilesaheadofthetoilingOfficialGentleman,alltheway。[Adelung,iii。A,52。]

  Inthedrearymassoflong—windedceremonialnothingnesses,andintricateBelleislecobwebberies,weseizethisonepoorspeckofhumanfooleryinthenativestate,asalmostthememorablestinthatstupendousbusiness。Stupendousindeed;withwhichallGermanyhasbeenintravailthesesixteenmonths,onsuchterms!Andinverityhasgotthethingcalled\"GermanKaiser\"constituted,betterorworse。Heavens,wasaNationeversobespunbygossamer;

  enchantedintoparalysis,bymountainsofextincttradition,andthewantofpowertoannihilaterubbish!ThereareglitteringthreadsofthefinestBelleislediplomacy,whichseemtogobeyondtheDog—star,andtoberadiant,andirradiative,likepathsofthegods:andtheyare,seemwhattheymight,poorthreadsofidlegossamer,sunkalreadytodustycobweb,unpleasanttopoorhumannature;poorhumannatureconcernedonlytogetthemwellsweptintothefire。Thequantitiesofwhichsadlitter,inthisUniverse,areverygreat!——

  KarlAlbert,nowatthetop—gallantofhishopes:homagedArchdukeofUpperAustria,homagedKingofBohemia,declaredKaiseroftheGermanNation,——isthehighest—titledmortalgoing:and,poorsoul,itistragical,oncemore,tothinkwhattherealityofitwasforhim。Ejectionfromhouseandhome;intodifficulty,poverty,despair;lifeinfurnishedlodgings,whichhecouldnotpay;——andatlastheart—break,norefugeforhimbutinthegrave。Allwhichismercifullyhiddenatpresent;sothatheseemstohimselfamanatthetop—gallantofhiswishes;andlivespleasantly,amonghisfriends,withahaloroundhisheadtohisownfoolishsenseandtheirs。

  \"KarlAlbert,KurfurstofBaiern[lazyreadersoughttobereminded],whoseachievementswillconcernustoanunpleasantextent,forsomeyears,isnowaleanmanofforty—five;lean,erect,andofmiddlestature;aPrinceofdistinguishedlook,theysay;ofelegantmanners,andoffairextentofaccomplishment,asPrincesgo。Hisexperiencesinthisworld,andsuddenupsanddowns,havebeenandwillbemany。Noteafewparticularsofthem;

  theminimumofwhatareindispensablehere。

  \"EnglishreadersknowaMaximilianKurfurstofBaiern,whotookintoFrenchcoursesinthegreatSpanish—SuccessionWar;theAnti—

  MarlboroughMaximilian,whowasquiteruinedoutbytheBattleofBlenheim;putunderBanoftheEmpire,andreducedtodependonLouisXIV。foraliving,——tilltimesmendedwithhimagain;

  till,afterthePeaceofUtrecht,hegotreinstatedinhisTerritories;andlivedadozenyearsmore,insomecomparativecomfort,thoughmuchsunkindebt。Well,ourKarlAlbertisthesonofthatAnti—MarlboroughKurfurstMaximilian;eldestsurvivingson;

  adaughterofthegreatSobieskiofPolandwashismother。Nay,heisgreat—grandsonofanotherstillmoredistinguishedMaximilian,himoftheThirty—YearsWar,——(whotooktheJesuitstohisveryheart,andletlooseAteonhispoorCountryforthesakeofthem,inadeterminedmanner;andwastheFirstofalltheBavarianKURFURSTS,mereDukestillthen;havinggotforhimselfthepoorWinter—King’sElectorship,orsplititintotwoasultimatelysettled,outofthatbadBusiness),——great—grandson,wesay,ofthatforciblequestionableFirstKurfurstMax;anddescendsfromKaiserLudwig,’LudwigtheBAIER,’ifthatismuchadvantagetohim。

  \"Inhisyoungtimehehadahardupcoming;sevenyearsoldattheBattleofBlenheim,andPapalivingabroadunderLouisXIV。’sshelter,thepoorBoywastakenchargeofbythevictoriousAustrianKaisers,andbroughtupinremoteAustrianTowns,asayoung’GrafvonWittelsbach’(nothingbuthisfamilynamelefthim),mereGrafandprivatenoblemanhenceforth。However,fortunetooktheturnweknow,andhebecamePrinceagain;nothingtheworseforthisSpartanpartofhisbreeding。HemadetheGrandTour,Italy,France,perhapsmorethanonce;saw,felt,andtasted;

  servedslightly,ataSiegeofBelgrade(oneofthemanySiegesofBelgrade);——wedded,in1722,aDaughterofthelateKaiserJoseph’s,nieceofthelateKaiserKarl’s,cousinofMariaTheresa’s;makingthedue’renunciations,’aswasthought;andhasbeenKurfursthimselfforthelastfourteenYears,eversince1726,whenhisFatherdied。AthriftyKurfurst,theysay,oratleasthasoccasionallytriedtobeso,consciousoftheloadofdebtsleftonhim;fondofpompswithal,extremelypolite,giventoDevotionandtoBILLETS—DOUX;ofgraciousaddress,generoustemper(ifhehadthemeans),andgreatskillinspeakinglanguages。Likeshuntingalittle,——likesseveralthings,wesee!——haslivedtolerablywithhisWifeandchildren;tolerablywithhisNeighbors(thoughsouruponthelateKaisernowandthen);andisanornamenttoMunchen,andwelllikedbythepopulationthere。Alean,elegaut,middle—

  sizedgentleman;descendeddirectfromLudwigtheancientKaiser;

  fromMaximiliantheFirstKurfurst,whowalkedbythelightofFatherLammerlein(LAMBKIN)andCompauy,thinkingITlightfromHeaven;andlastlyissonofMaximiliantheThirdKurfurst,whomlearnedEnglishreadersknowastheAnti—Marlboroughone,ruinedoutbytheBattleofBlenheim。

  \"HismostimportanttransactionhithertohasbeenthemarriagewithKaiserJoseph’sDaughter;——ofwhich,inPollnitzsomewhere,thereissublimeaccount;forgettable,allexceptthedate(Vienna,5thOctober,1722),ifbychancethatshouldconcernanybody。

  KarlAlbert(KURPRINZ,ElectoralPrinceorHeir—Apparent,atthattime)madefreerenunciationofallrighttoAustrianInheritances,insuchtermsaspleasedKarlVI。,thethenKaiser;theduecomplete’renunciations’ofinheritinginAustria;anditwashopedhewouldatoncesignthePragmaticSanction,whenpublished;

  buthehassteadilyrefusedtodoso;’IrenouncedformyWife,’

  saysKurfurstKarl,’andwillneverclaimaninchofAustrianlandonheraccount;butmyownright,derivedfromKaiserFerdinandofblessedmemory,whowasFatherofmyGreat—grandmother,Ididnot,donot,neverwillrenounce;andIappealtoHISPragmaticSanction,themucholderandalonevalidone,accordingtowhich,itisnotyou,itisIthatamtherealandsoleHeirofAustria。’

  \"Thisbesays,andhassteadilysaidormeant:’ItisIthatamtobeKingofBohemia;IthatshallandwillinheritallyourAustrias,Upper,Under,yourSwabianBrisgauorHitherAustria,andwhatoftheTyrolremainedwantingtome。YourArchduchesswillhaveHungary,theStyrian—CarinthianTerritories;Florence,I

  suppose,andtheItalianones。WhatishersbyrightIwillbeoneofthosethatdefendforher;whatisnothers,butmine,Iwilldefendagainsther,tothebestofmyability!’Thiswasprivately,whatitisnowpublicly,hisargument;fromwhichheneverwoulddepart;refusingalwaystoacceptKaiserKarl’snewPragmaticSanction;gettingSaxony(wholikewisehadaFerdinandgreat—

  grandmother)torefuse,——tillPolishElectioncompelledpoorSaxony,foratime。KarlAlberthadlikewisesecretly,inpastyears,gothisabstruseoldCousinofthePfalz(whomendedtheHeidelbergTun)tobackhiminaTreaty;nay,stillbetter,stillmoresecretly,hadgotFranceitselftopromiseeventualhacking:——

  and,onthewhole,livedgenerallyonratherbadtermswiththelateKaiserKarl,hisWife’sUncle;anyreconciliationtheyhadprovingalwaysoftemporarynature。IntheRhenishWar(1734),KarlAlbert,farfromassistingtheKaiser,raisedlargeforcesofhisown;keptdrillingthem,infourorthreecamps,inanalarmingmanner;andwouldnotevensendhisReich’sContingent(smallbodyof3,000heisbylawboundtosend),tillheperceivedtheWarwasjustexpiring。HewasinangrycontroversywiththeKaiser,claimingdebts,——debtscontractedinthelastgeneration,anddebtsgoingbacktotheThirty—YearsWar,amountingtohundredsofmillions,——whenthepoorKaiserdied;refusingpaymenttothelast,nayclaiminglandsleftHIM,hesays,byMargaretMouthpoke:

  [Michaelis,ii。260;Buchholz,ii。9;Hormayr,Anemonen,ii。182;&c。]’CannotpayyourSereneHighness(havingnomoney);andwouldnot,ifIcould!’LeavingKarlAlberttoprotesttotheuttermost;\"——which,asweourselvessawinVienna,heatoncehonorablydid。

  KarlAlbert’ssubsequenthistoryisknowntoreaders;exceptthefollowingsmallcircumstance,whichoccurredinhislatetransit,flight,orwhateverwemaycallit,toMannheim,andispleasantlymadenotabletousbyWilhelmina。\"HisHighnessonthewayfromMunchen,\"intimatesourPrincess,\"passedthroughBaireuthinaverybadpost—chaise。\"This,asweelsewherepickout,wasonJanuary16th;KarlAlbertinpost—hasteforthemarriage—ceremony,whichtakesplaceatMannheimto—morrow。[Adelung,iii。A,51。]

  \"MyMargraf,accidentallyhearing,gallopedafterhim,cameupwithhimaboutfifteenmilesaway:theyembraced,talkedhalfanhour;

  verycontent,both。\"[Wilhelmina,ii。334。]

  Andeightdaysafterwards,24thJanuary,1742,busyBelleisle(howbusyforthisyearpast,sincewesawhimintheOEil—de—Boeuf!)

  getshimelectedKaiser;——andSegur,intheself—samehours,ispackingoutofLinz;andone’sDonau\"Conquests,\"nottosayone’sMunchen,one’sBaiernitself,areinafineway!Themarriage—

  ceremony,witnessedonthe17th,wasoneofthesublimestforKur—Pfalzandkindred;andittoohadsecretlyatouchoftragedyinitforthePoorKarlAlbert。Adoublemarriage:TwoyoungPrincesses,Grand—daughters,pricelessHeiresses,tooldKur—Pfalz;

  married,oneofthemtoDukeClementofBaiern,KarlAlbert’snephew,whichiswellenough:butmarried,theotherandelderofthem,toTheodorofDeux—Ponts,whowilloneday——couldwepiercethemercifulveil——beKurfurstofBaiern,andsucceedourownchildlessSon![Michaelis,ii。265。]

  \"KaiserKarlVII。,\"suchthestylehetook,istobecrownedFebruary12th;makessublimePublicEntryintoFrankfurt,withthatview,January31st;——bothceremoniessplendidtoawonder,inspiteoffinanceconsiderations。Whichcircumstanceshouldlittleconcernus,wereitnotthatWilhelmina,hearingthegreatnews(thoughinadimill—datedstate),decidedtobethereandsee;didgo;——andhasrecordedherexperiencesthere,inashrillhumanmanner。

  Wishfultoseeourfellow—creatures(especiallyifboundtolookatthem),evenwhentheyarefallenphantasmal,andtomakepersonsofthemagain,wewillgivethisPiece;sorrythatitisthelastwehaveofthatfinehand。Howwelcome,inthemurkypuddleofDryasdust,isanyglimpsebyalivelyglibWilhelmina,whichwecandiscerntobehuman!HearwhatWilhelminasays(inaverycondensedform):——

  WILHELMINAATTHECORONATION。

  Wilhelmina,intheendofJanuary,1742,——KarlAlberthavingshotpast,onedaylately,inabadpost—chaise,andkindledthethoughtinher,——resolvedtogoandseehimcrownedatFrankfurt,bywayofpleasure—excursion。Wewill,strugglingtobebriefer,speakinherperson;andindicatewithalwheretheverywordsarehers,andwhereours。

  TheMarwitz,elderMarwitz,herpoorfatherbeingwoundedatMollwitz,[Militair—Lexikon,iii。23;andPreussischeAdels—Lexikon,iii。365。]hadgonetoBerlintonursehim;butshereturnedjustnow,——notmuchtomyjoy;Ibeing,withsomecause,jealousofthatfoolishminx。

  TheDuchessDowagerofWurtembergalsocame,sorrowonher;

  afoolishtalkingwoman,alwayscuttingjokes,makingeyes,gigglingandcoquetting;\"HASsomewitandmanner,butweariesyouatlast:hercharms,nowonthedecline,wereneversoconsiderableasrumorsaid;inthelong—runsheboresyouwithherFrenchgayetiesandsprightliness:hercharacterforgallantryistoonotorious。ShequitecorruptedMarwitz,inthisandasubsequentvisit;turnedthepoorgirl’sheadintoaFrenchwhirligig,andunderminedanylittlemoralprincipleshehad。ShewasontheroadtoBerlin,\"——ofwhichanon,foritisnotquitenothingtous;——

  \"butshewasinnohurry,andwouldrightwillinglyhavegonewithus。\"Anditrequiredallourfemalediplomacytogetherunderwayagain,andfairlyoutofourcourse。January28th,SHEofftoBerlin;WE,sameday,toFrankfurt—on—Mayn。[Wilhelmina,ii。334;

  seepp。335,338,347,&c。fortheothersalientpointsthatfollow。]

  Coronationwastohavebeen(orweCountry—folkthoughtitwas),January31st:LetusbethereINCOGNITO,thenightbefore;seeit,andreturnthedayafter。Thatwasourplan。Badroads,watersallout;wehadtogonightandday;——reachedthegatesofFrankfurt,30thJanuarylate。Berghover,ourLegationsraththere,saysweareknowneverywhere;CoronationisnottobetillFebruary12th!Iwasfatiguedtodeath,abadcoldonme,too:weturnedbacktothelastVillage;stayedthereovernight。BackagaintoBerghover,insecret(ALASOURDINE),nextnight;willseethePublicEntryofKarlAlbert,whichistobeto—morrow(notquite,myPrincess;

  January31stforcertain,[Adelung,iii。A,63;&c。&c。]didonetheleastcare)。\"Itwasaverygrandthingindeed(DESPLUS

  SUPERBES);butIwillnotstopdescribingit。Maskedballthatnight;whereIhadmuchamusement,tormentingthemasks;notbeingknowntoanybody。WenextdayretiredtoasmallprivateHouse,whichBerghoverhadgotforus,outofTown,forfearofbeingdiscovered;andlodgedthere,waitingFebruary12th,underdifficulties。\"

  Theweatherwasbitterlycold;wehadbroughtnoclothes;mydamesandInothingearthlybutablackANDRIENNEeach(whateverthatmaybe),tosparebulkofluggage:strictestincognitowasindispensable。TheMarwitzes,forgiggling,raillery,Frenchairs,andabsoluteimpertinence,wereintolerable,inthatsolitaryplace。WereturntoFrankfurtagain;haveballsandtheatres,atleast:\"oftheselatterImissednone。Oneevening,myhead—dressgotaccidentallyshovedawry,andexposedmyfaceforamoment;

  PrinceGeorgeofHessen—Cassel,whowaslookingthatway,recognizedme;toldthePrinceofOrangeofit;——theyareinourbox,nextminute!\"

  PrinceGeorgeofHessen—Cassel,didreaderseverhearofhimbefore?Transientlyperhaps,inFriedrich’sLETTERSTOHISFATHER;

  buthaveforgottenhimagain;canknowhimonlyastheoutlineofashadow。Afatsolidmilitarymanoffifty;juniorBrotherofthatsolidWILHELM,Vice—regentandvirtual\"LandgrafofHessen\"——(VICE

  anelderandeldestBrother,FRIEDRICH,thenowMajestyofSweden,whoisactualHereditaryLandgraf,butbeingold,childless,idle,takesnoholdofit,andquiteleavesittoWilhelm),——ofwhomEnglishreadersmayhaveheard,andwillhear。ForitisWilhelmthathiresusthose\"subsidized6,000,\"whogoblaringaboutonEnglishpay(PrinceGeorgemerelyCommandantofthem);andWilhelm,furthermore,hasweddedhisHeir—ApparenttoanEnglishPrincesslately;[PrincessMary(ageonlyaboutseventeen),28thJune,1740;

  Prince’snamewasFriedrich(becameCatholic,1749;WIFEmadefamily—managerinConsequence,&c。&c。)。]whichalso(asthepooryoungfellowbecamePapistbyandby)costscertainEnglishpeople,amongothers,agooddealoftrouble。UncleGeorge,wesay,ismerelyCommandantofthoseblaring6,000;hashadhisownrealsoldieringsbeforethis;hisownlabors,contradictions,inhistime;buthasborneallpatiently,andgrownfatuponit,notquarrellingwithhisburdensorhisnourishments。Perhapswemaytransientlymeethimagain。

  AstothePrinceofOrange,himwehaveseenmorethanonceintimespast:ayoungfellowincomparison,sprightly,reckonedclever,butsomewhathumpbacked;marriedanEnglishPrincess,yearsago(\"Papa,ifhewereasuglyasababoon!\")——whichfinePrincess,wefind,hasstoptshortatCassel,toofatiguedonthepresentoccasion。\"HisESPRIT,\"continuesWilhelmina,\"andhisconversation,delightedme。HisWife,hesaid,wasatCassel;

  hewouldpersuadehertocomeandmakemyacquaintance;\"——couldnot;toofar,inthiscoldseason。\"ThesetwoSereneHighnesseswouldneedstakemehomeintheircarriage;theyaskedtheMargraftoletthemstaysupper:fromthathourtheywereneveroutofourhouse。Nextmorning,bymeansofthem,thesecrethadgotabroad。

  Kur—Koln[lankyhook—nosedgentleman,richestPluralistintheChurch]hadsetspiesonus;nexteveninghecameuptome,andsaid,’Madam,IknowyourHighness;youmustdanceameasurewithme!’Thatcomesofone’shead—geargettingawry!Wehadnothingforitbuttogiveuptheincognito,andtakeourfate!\"

  ThisdancingElectorofKoln,amanstillonlyenteringhisforties,isthenewEmperor’sBrother:[ClementAugust(Hubner,t。134)。]doreaderswondertoseehimdance,beinganArchbishop?

  Thefactiscertain,——lettheThreeKingsandtheElevenThousandVirginssaytoitwhattheywill。\"Hetalkedalongtimewithme;

  presentedtomethePrincessClemencehisNiece[thatistosay,WifeofhisNephewClemENT;oneoftheTwowhomhisnowImperialMajestysawmarriedtheotherday],[Michaelis,ii。256,123;

  Hubner,tt。141,134。]andthenthePrincess\"——infact,presentedallthethreeSulzbachPrincesses(forthereisayoungest,stilltowed),——\"andthenPrinceTheodor[happyHusbandoftheeldest],andPrinceClement[dittooftheyounger];\"andwasverypoliteindeed。Howkeepourincognito,withallthesepeopleheapingcivilitiesuponus?LetussendtoBaireuthforclothes,equipages;

  andretiretoourcountryconcealmenttilltheyarrive。

  \"Justaswewereaboutsettingoffthither,IwaitingtilltheMargrafwereready,theXargrafentered,andaLadywithhim;

  who,heinformedme,wasMadamedeBelleisle,theFrenchAmbassador’sWife:\"——WifeofthegreatBelleisle,thesoulofallthesehighcongregatings,consultations,coronations,whoisnotKaiserbutmakerofKaisers:whatistobedone!——\"Ihadcarefullyavoidedher;reckoningshewouldhavepretensionsIshouldnotbeinthehumortogrant。Itookmyresolutionatthemoment[beingaswiftdecisivecreature];andreceivedherlikeanyotherLadythatmighthavecometome。Hervisitwasnotlong。TheconversationturnedaltogetheruponpraisesoftheKing[myBrother]。IfoundMadamedeBelleisleverydifferentfromthenotionIhadformedofher。Youcouldseeshehadmovedinhighcompany(SENTAITSON

  MONDE);butherairappearedtomethatofawaiting—maid(SOUBRETTE),andhermannersinsignificant。\"LetMadametakethat。

  \"Monseigneurhimself,\"whenourequipageshadcome,\"waitedonmeseveraltimes,\"——MonseigueurthegrandMarechaldeBelleisle,amongtheotherPrincipalitiesandLordships:butofthisleanmaninblack(whohasdonesuchfamousthings,andwillhavetodotheRetreatofPragwithinyearandday),thereisnotawordfarthersaid。OldSeckendorftooishere;\"Reich’s—GovernorofPhilipsburg;\"veryillwithAustria,nowonder;andstrivingtobewellwiththenewKaiser。DoubtlessoldSeckendorfmadehisvisittoo(beingofBaireuthkinwithal),andsnuffledhisrespects:

  muchunworthyofmention;notlovelytoWilhelmina。PrinceofOrange,hunchbacked,butsprightlyandmuchthePrince,boremefaithfulcompanyalltheCoronationtime;norwasGeorgeofHessen—

  Casselwanting,goodfatman。

  OftheCoronationitself,thoughitwastrulygrand,andevenofanOrientalsplendor,[Anemonen,ubisupra。]

  Iwillsaynothing。ThepoorKaisercouldnotenjoyitmuch。Hewasdyingofgoutandgravel,andcouldscarcelystandonhisfeet。

  Poorgentleman;andtheFrencharedrivendismallyoutofLinz;

  andtheAustriansarespreadinglikealava—floodorgeneralconflagrationoverBaiern——DemonMentzel,whomtheycallColonelMentzel,he(ifweknewit)isinMunchenitself,justaswearegettingcrownedhere!AndunlessKingFriedrich,whoisfallingintoMahren,intheflankofthem,callbackthisInfernalChasealittle,whathopeisthereinthoseparts!——ThepoorKaiser,oftenestinhisbed,iscourtingallmannerofGermanPrinces,——

  consultingwithSeckendorfs,withcunningoldstagers。HehasmanagedtoleadmyMargrafintoafoolishbargain,aboutraisingmenforhim。WhichbargainI,onfairlygettingsightofit,persuademyMargraftobackoutof;and,intheend,hedoesso。

  Meanwhile,itdetainsussometimelongerinFrankfurt,whichisstillfullofPrincipalities,busywithvisitingsandceremonials。

  Amongotherthings,bywayofforwardingthatBargainIwassoaverseto,ourOfficialPeoplehadsettledthatIcouldnotwellgowithouthavingseentheEmpress,afterhercrowning。Foolishpeople;entanglingmeinnewintricacies!ForifsheisaKaiser’sDaughterandKaiser’sSpouse,amnotIsomewhattoo?\"HowaKing’sDaughterandanEmpressaretomeet,wasprobablyneversettledbyexample:whatnumberofstepsdownstairsdoesshecome?

  Thearm—chair(FAUTEUIL),isthattobedeniedme?\"Andnumerousotherquestions。Theofficialpeople,Baireuthersespecially,areindespair;and,infact,therewerescenes。ButIheldfirm;

  andtheBerlinambassadorstempering,amediumwasstruck:stepsofstairs,totheduenumber,areconcededme;arm—chairno,buttheEmpressto\"takeaverysmallarm—chair,\"andItohaveabigcommonchair(GRANDDOSSIER)。Sowemeet,andIhavesightofthisPrincess,nextday。

  Inherplace,IconfessIwouldhaveinventedallmannerofetiquettes,oranysortofcontrivance,tosavemyselffromshowingface。\"Heavens!TheEmpressisbelowmiddlesize,andsocorpulent(PUISSANTE),shelookslikeaball;sheisuglytotheutmost(LAIDEAUPOSSIBLE),andwithoutairorgrace。\"KaiserJoseph’syoungestDaughter,——thegods,itseems,havenotbeenkindtoherinfigureorfeature!Andhermindcorrespondstoherappearance:

  sheisbigotedtoexcess;passeshernightsanddaysinheroratory,withmererosariesandgauntsuperstitiousplatitudesofthatnature;adarkfatdrearylittleEmpress。\"Shewasallinatrembleinreceivingme;andhadsodiscountenancedanair,shecouldn’tspeakaword。Wetookseats。Afteralittlesilence,I

  begantheconversation,inFrench。SheansweredmeinherAustrianjargon,Thatshedidnotwellunderstandthatlanguage,andbeggedIwouldspeaktoherinGerman。Ourconversationwasnotlong。

  HerAustriandialectandmyLower—Saxonaresodifferentthat,tillyouhavepractised,youarenotmutuallyintelligibleinthem。

  Accordinglywewerenot。Aby—standerwouldhavesplitwithlaughingattheBabelwemadeofit;eachcatchingonlyawordhereandthere,andguessingtherest。ThisPrincesswassotiedtoheretiquette,shewouldhavereckoneditacrimeagainsttheReichtospeaktomeinaforeignlanguage;forsheknewFrenchwellenough。

  \"TheKaiserwastohavebeenofthisvisit;buthehadfallensoill,hewasconsideredevenindangerofhislife。PoorPrince,whatalothadheachievedforhimself!\"reflectsWilhelmina,asweoftendo。Hewassoft,humane,affable;hadthegiftofcaptivatinghearts。Notwithouttalenteither;butthenofanambitionfardisproportionatetoit。\"Wouldhaveshoneinthesecondrank,butinthefirstwentsorrowfullyeclipsed,\"astheysay!Hecouldnotbeagreatman,norhadabouthimanyonethatcould;andheneedednowtobeso。ThisistheserviceaBelleislecando;inflatingapoormantoKaisership,beyondhisnaturalsize!CrownedKaiser,andMentzeljustenteringhisMunchenthewhile;aKaiserbedrid,stranded;lyingillthereofgoutandgravel,withtheDemonMentzelseatinghim:——wellmayhispoorlittlebulletofaKaiserinnprayforhimnightandday,ifthatwillavail!——

  THEDUCHESSDOWAGEROFWURTEMBERG,RETURNINGFROMBERLIN

  FAVORSUSWITHANOTHERVISIT。

  IamsorrytosaythisisalmostthelastsceneweshallgetoutofWilhelmina。ShereturnstoBaireuth;breaksthereconclusivelythatunwiseFrankfurtbargain;receivesbyandby(afterseveralmonths,whenmuchhascomeandgoneintheworld)thereturningDuchessofWurtemberg,effulgentDowager\"spokenofonlyasaLais:\"andhasotheradventures,alludedtoupanddown,butnotputinrecordbyherselfanyfarther。——SorrowfullyletushearWilhelminayetalittle,onthisLaisDuchess,whowillconcernussomewhat。

  Dowager,muchtooeffulgent,ofthelateKarlAlexander,aReichs—

  Feldmarschall(orFOURTH—PARTofone,ifreaderscouldremember)

  andDukeofWurtemberg,——whomweoncedinedwithatPrag,inoldFriedrich—WilhelmandPrince—Eugenetimes:——

  \"ThisPrincess,veryfamousonthebadside,hadbeenatBerlintoseeherthreeBoyssettledthere,whoseeducationshe[andtheSTANDEofWurtemberg,shebeingRegent]hadcommittedtotheKing。

  ThesePrinceshadbeenwithusontheirroadthither,justbeforetheirMammalasttime。TheEldest,agefourteen,hadgonequiteagog(S’ETOITAMOURACHE)aboutmylittleGirl,ageonlynine;

  andhadgreatlydivertedusbyhislittlegallantries[markthat,withanAlas!]。TheDuchess,followingsomewhatatleisure,hadmissedtheKingthattime;whowasgoneforMahren,January18th……IfoundthisPrincesswearingprettywell。Herfeaturesarebeautiful,buthercomplexionisfadedandveryyellow。Hervoiceissohighandscreechy,itcutsyourears;shedoesnotwantforwit,andexpressesherselfwell。Hermannersareengagingforthosewhomshewishestogain;andwithmenareveryfree。Herwayofthinkingandactingoffersastrangecontrastofprideandmeanness。HergallantrieshadbroughtherintosuchreputethatI

  hadnopleasureinhervisits。\"[Wilhelmina,ii。335。]Nopleasure;

  thoughsheoftencame;andherEldestPrince,andmylittleGirl——Well,whoknows!

  BesidesherthreeBoys(oneofwhom,asReigningDuke,willbecomenotoriousenoughtoWilhelminaandmankind),theLaisDuchesshasleftatBerlin——atleast,Iguessshehasnowlefthim,inexchangeperhapsforsomeother——acertainverygallant,vagabondyoungMarquisd’Argens,\"fromConstantinople\"last;originallyfromtheProvencecountries;extremelydissolutecreature,stillyoung(whomPapahashadtodisinherit),butfullofgood—humor,ofgesticulativeloyaltalk,andfrothyspeculationofanAnti—Jesuitturn(haswrittenmanyfrothyBooks,too,inthatstrain,whicharenowforgotten):whobecameaverygreatfavoritewithFriedrich,andwillbemuchmentionedinsubsequenttimes。

  \"IntheendofJuly,\"continuesWilhelmina,\"wewenttoStouccard[Stuttgard,capitalofWurtemberg,Obeautifulglibtongue!],whithertheDuchesshadinvitedus:but——\"Andthereweareonblankpaper;ourdearWilhelminahasceasedspeakingtous:

  herMEMOIRSend;andoblivioussilencewrapstheremainder!——

  ConcerningthiseffulgentDowagerofWurtemberg,andherlatewaysatBerlin,here,fromBielfeld,isanothersnatch,whichwewillexcerpt,undertheusualconditions:

  \"BERLIN,FEBRUARY,1742[realdateofallthatisnotfabulousinBielfeld,whochaoticallydatesit\"6thDecember\"ofthatYear]……Adayortwoafterthis[nomatterWHAT]IwenttotheGermanPlay,theonlyspectaclewhichisyetfairlyafootinBerlin。

  Inpassingin,InoticedtheDuchessDowagerofWurtemberg,whohadarrived,duringmyabsence,withanumerousandbrilliantsuite,aswelltosalutetheKingandtheQueens[Kingoff,onhisMoravianBusiness,beforeshecame],andtouniteherselfmoreintimatelywithourCourt,astoseetheThreePrincesherChildrensettledintheirnewplace,where,byconsentoftheStatesofWurtemberg,theyaretobeeducatedhenceforth。

  \"AsIhadnotyethadmyselfpresentedtotheDuchess,Ididnotpresumetoapproachtoonear,andpassedupintotheTheatre。

  Butshenoticedmeintheside—scenes;askedwhoIwas[suchahandsomefashionablefellow],andsentmeordertocomeimmediatelyandpaymyrespects。Tobesure,Ididso;wasmostgraciouslyreceived;and,ofcourse,calledearlynextdayatherPalace。

  HerGrand—Chamberlainhadappointedmethehourofnoon。Henowintroducedmeaccordingly:butwhatwasmysurprisetofindthePrincessinbed;inanegligeeallnewfromthelaundress,andthegallantestthatartcouldimagine!Onatable,readytoherhand,attheDOSSIERorbed—bead,stoodalittleBasinsilver—gilt,filledwithHolyWater:therestwasdecoratedwithextremelypreciousRelics,withaCrucifix,andaRosaryofrock—crystal。

  Herdress,thecushions,quilt,allwasofMarseillesstuff,inthefinestseriesofcolors,garnishedwithsuperblace。HercapwasofAlenconlace,knottedwitbaribbonofgreenandgold。Figuretoyourself,inthisgallantdeshabille,acharmingPrincess,whohasallthewit,perfectionofmanner——andisstillonlythirty—seven,withabeautythatwasoncesobrilliant!Roundthecelestialbedwerecourtiers,doctors,almoners,mostlyindevotionalpostures;

  thethreeyoungPrinces;andaDamed’Atours,whoseemedtolookslightlyENNUYEEorbored。\"IhadthehonortokissherSereneHighness’shand,andtotalkagreatmanypepperedinsipiditiessuitabletotheoccasion。

  Dinnerfollowed,moreproperlysupper,withlightskindled:

  \"OnlyIcannotdress,youknow,\"herHighnesshadsaid;\"Ineverdo,exceptfortheQueen—Mother’sparties;\"——andrangforhermaids。SothatyouareledouttotheAnteroom,andgogrinningabout,tillanewandstillmorecharmingdeshabillebecompleted,andherMostSereneHighnesscanreceiveyouagain:\"NowMessieurs!

  Pshaw,oneisalwaysstupid,noESPRITatallexceptbycandlelight!\"——Afterwhich,suchadinner,unmatchableforelegance,forexquisitegastronomy,forAttic—Paphianbrilliancyandcharm!Andindeedtherefollowedhereupon,forweeksonweeks,aseriesofsuchunmatchablelittledinners;chiefparts,underthatcharmingPresidency,beingdoneby\"Grand—ChamberlainBaronde\"Something—or—other,\"byyourhumbleservantBielfeld,M。Jordan,andaMarquisd’Argens,famousProvencalgentlemannowinthesuiteofherHighness:\"[Bielfeld,ii。74—78。]——feastsoftheBarmecideImuchdoubt,poorBielfeldbeinginthisChapterveryfantastic,MISDATEfultoamadextent;andotherwise,exceptastogeneraleffect,worthlittleseriousbelief。

  WeshallmeetthisPaphianDowageragain(CrucifixandMyrtlejoined):meetespeciallyherD’Argens,andherThreelittlePrincesmoreorless;——wherefore,markslightly(besidestheD’Argensasabove):——

  \"1。TheEldestlittlePrince,KarlEugen;made’ReigningDuke’

  withinthreeyearshence[MammafallingintotroublewiththeSTANDE]:amanstillgloomilyfamousinGermany[PoetSchiller’sDukeofWurtemberg],ofinarticulate,extremeIyarbitraryturn,——

  marriedWilhelmina’sDaughterbyandby[withhorribleusageofher];andotherwisegaveFriedrichandtheworldcausetothinkofhim。

  \"2。TheSecondlittlePrince,FriedrichEugen,PrussianGeneralofsomemark,whowillincidentallyturnupagain,HewasafterwardsSuccessortotheDukedom[KarlEugendyingchildless];andmarriedhisDaughtertoPaulofRussia,fromwhomdescendtheAutocratstheretothisday。

  \"3。YoungestlittlePrince,LudwigEugen,arespectablePrussianOfficer,andlateraFrenchone:heisthat’DucdeWirtemberg’whocorrespondswithVoltaire[inscrutabletoreaders,inmostoftheEditions];andneednotbementionedfarther。\"[SeeMichaelis,iii。449;Preuss,i。476;&c。&c。]

  Butenoughofallthis。ItistimewewereinMahren,wheretheExpeditionmustbeblazingwellahead,ifthingshavegoneasexpected。

  ChapterX。

  FRIEDRICHDOESHISMORAVIANEXPEDITION

  WHICHPROVESAMEREMORAVIANFORAY。

  WhiletheseCoronationsplendorshadbeengoingon,Friedrich,intheMoravianregions,wasmakingexperiencesofaratherpainfulkind;hisExpeditionprosperingtherefarotherwisethanhehadexpected。ThiswinterExpeditiontoMahrenwasoneofthefirstFriedrichhadeverundertakenontheJoint—stockPrinciple;anditprovedofakindrathertodisgusthimwiththatmethodinaffairsofwar。

  AdeeplydisappointingExpedition。Thecountryhereaboutswasinbadpostureofdefence;nothingbetweenusandViennaitself,inamanner。Rushingbrisklyforward,livingonthecountrywhereneedful,onthatIglauMagazine,onone’sownSechellesresources;

  rushingon,withtheSaxons,withtheFrench,emulousontherighthandandtheleft,aCaptainlikeFriedrichmighthavegonefar;

  Viennaitself——whoknows!——notyetquitebeyondthereachofhim。

  HerewasawaytocheckKhevenhullerinhisBavarianOperations,andwhirlhimback,double—quick,foranotherobjectnearerhome!——

  But,alas,neithertheSaxonsnortheFrenchwouldrushon,intheleastemulous。TheSaxonsdraggedheavilyarear;theFrenchDetachment(apoor5,000underPolastron,allthatacaptiousBrogliocouldbepersuadedtogrant)wouldnotrushatall,butpausedontheveryfrontierofMoravia,Brogliosoordering,andtherehungsupine,orindeedwenthome。

  Friedrichremonstrated,argued,turnedbacktoencourage;butitwasinvain。TheSaxonBastardPrinces\"livedfordaysinanySchlosstheyfoundcomfortable;\"complainingalwaysthattherewasnovictualfortheirTroops;thatthePrussians,alwaysahead,hadeatenthecountry。Noendtohaggling;and,exceptonFriedrich’spart,noheartybeginningtorealbusiness。\"Ifyouwishatalltobe’KingofMoravia,’whatisthis!\"thinksFriedrichjustly。

  Broglio,too,wasunmanageable,——piquedthatValori,notBroglio,hadstartedthething;——showedhimselfcaptious,dark,hystericallyeffervescent,nowover—cautious,andagaincapableofrushingblindlyheadlong。

  ToBrogliothefactatLinz,whicheverybodysawtobemomentous,wasoverwhelming。MagnanimousSegur,andhisLinz\"allwedgedwithbeams,\"whataroadhavetheygone!Saidsovaliantlytheywouldmakedefence;anddidit,scarcelyforfourdays:January24th;

  beforethisExpeditioncouldbegin!True,M。leMarechal,tootrue:——andisthatareasonforhangingbackinthisMahrenbusiness;orforpushingoninit,double—quick,withallone’sstrength?\"ButourConquestsontheDonau,\"thinksBroglio,\"whatwillbecomeofthem,——andofus!\"ToBroglio,justlyapprehensiveabouthisownpostureatPragandontheDonau,thereneverwassuchachanceofatoncerakingbackallAustrianshomewards,post—hasteoutofthosecountries。ButBrogliocouldbynomeansseeitso,——headstrong,blusterous,over—cautiousandhystericallyheadlongoldgentleman;whoseconductatPragherebroughtStrasburgvividlytoFriedrich’smemory。Uponwhich,asupontheghostofBroglio’sBreeches,Valorihadtohear\"incessantsarcasms\"atthistime。

  Inaword,fromFebruary5th,whenFriedrich,accordingtobargain,rendezvousedhisPrussiansatWischautobeginthisExpedition,tillApril5th,whenhere—rendezvousedthem(atthesameWischau,aschanced)forthepurposeofendingitandgoinghome,——

  Friedrich,wrestlinghisutmostwithHumanStupidity,\"MITDER

  DUMMHEIT[asSchillersonorouslysays],againstwhichtheverygodsareunvictorious,\"hadprobablytwoofthemostprovokingmonthsofhisLife,orofthisFirstSilesianWar,whichwasfruitfulinsuchtohim。ForthecommoncauseheaccomplishednearlynothingbythisMoravianExpedition。But,tohisownmind,itwasrichinexperiences,astotheJoint—StockPrinciple,astothePartnershenowhad。AnditdoubtlessquickenedhisstepstowardsgettingpersonallyoutofthisimbroglioofbigFrench—GermanWars,——hometoBerlin,withPeaceandSilesiainhispocket,——whichhadallalongbeenthegoalofhisendeavors。Asafeatofwaritisbynomeansworthdetailing,inthisplace,——thoughsuccinctStille,andbulkierGermanBooksgivelucidaccount,shouldanybodychancetobecurious。[Stille,CampaignsoftheKingofPrussia,i。1—55;Helden—Geschichte,ii。

  548—611;OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。110—114;

  Orlich,ii。;&c。&c。]Onlyundertheotheraspect,asFriedrich’sexperienceofPartnership,andespeciallyofhisnowPartners,arepresentreadersconcernedtohave,inbriefform,someintelligiblenotionofit。

  IGLAUISGOT,BUTNOTTHEMAGAZINEATIGLAU。

  FriedrichwaspunctualatWischau;Head—quartersthere(midwaybetweenOlmutzandBrunn),Prussiansallassembled,5thFebruary,1742。WischauissomeeightymilesEASTorinwardofIglau;theFrenchandSaxonsaretomeetusaboutTrebitsch,acoupleofmarchesfromthatTeutschbrodoftheirs,andwellwithinonemarchofIglau,onourroutethither。TheFrenchandSaxonsareatTrebitsch,accordingly;buttheirmindsandwillsseemtobefarelsewhere。RutowskyandtheChevalierdeSaxecommandtheSaxons(20,000strongonpaper,16,000inreality);ComtedePolastrontheFrench,whoare5,000,allHorse。Alongwithwhom,professedlyasFrenchVolunteer,hascometheComtedeSaxe,capriciousMaurice(MarechaldeSaxethatwillbe),whohasalwaysviewedthisExpeditionwithdisfavor。ExcellencyValoriiswiththeFrenchDetachment,orratherpoorValoriiseverywhere;runningabout,fromquartertoquarter,sometimestoPragitself;assiduoustohealrentseverywhere;clappingcementintomanifoldcracks,fromdaytoday。ThroughValoriwegetsomeinterestingglimpsesintothesecrethumorsandmanoeuvresofComteMaurice。ItisknownotherwiseComteMauricewasnofriendtoBelleisle,butlookedforhispromotionfromtheoppositeorNoaillesparty,intheFrenchCourt:atpresent,asValoriperceives,hehasgottheearofBroglio,andputmuchsadstuffintotheloudfoolishmindofhim。

  TotheseSaxongentlemen,beingBastard—Royalandimportanttoconciliate,Friedrichhasinahigh—flownwayassignedtheSchlossofBudischauforquarters,anexcellentsuperblymagnificentmansionintheneighborhoodofTrebitsch,\"nothinglikeittobeseenexceptintheatres,ontheDrop—sceneofTheEnchantedIsland;\"[Stille,Campaigns,p。14。]wheretheymakethemselvessocomfortable,saysFriedrich,thereisnogettingthemrousedtodoanythingforthreedaystocome。Andyettheworkisurgent,andplentyofit。

  \"Iglau,firstofall,\"urgesFriedrich,\"wheretheAustrians,10,000orso,underPrinceLobkowitz,havepostedthemselves[rightflankofthatlongstraggleofWinterCantonments,whichgoesleftwardstoBudweisandfarther],andmadeMagazines:possessionofIglauisthefoundation—stoneofouraffairs。AndifwewouldhaveIglauWITHtheMagazinesandnotwithout,surelythereisnotamomenttobewasted!\"Invain;theSaxonBastardPrincesfeelthemselvesverycomfortable。ItwasSundaythe11thofFebruary,whenourjunctionwiththemwascompleted:and,insteadofnextmorningearly,itisWednesdayafternoonbeforePrinceDietrichofAnhalt—Dessau,withtheSaxonandFrenchpartyrousedtojoinhisPrussiansandhim,canatlasttaketheroadforIglau。

  PrinceDietrichmakesnowthereverseofdelay;marchesallnight,\"bivouacsinwoodsnearIglau,\"warminghimselfatstick—firestillthedaybreak;takesIglaubymerelymarchingintoitandscattering2,000Pandours,sosoonasdayhasbroken;butfindstheMagazinesnotthere。Lobkowitzcartedoffwhathecould,thenburnt\"SeventeenBarnsyesterday;\"andishimselfofftowardsBudweisHead—quartersandtheBohemianbogsagain。ThiscomesoflodgingSaxonroyalgentlementoowell。

  THESAXONSTHINKIGLAUENOUGH;THEFRENCHGOHOME。

  Nay,Iglautaken,theaffairgrowsworsethanever。OurSaxonsnowdeclarethattheyunderstandtheirorderstobecompleted;

  thattheirCourtdidnotmeanthemtomarchfarther,butonlytoholdbyIglau,asolidfootinginMoravia,whichwillsufficeforthepresent。FancyFriedrich;fancyValori,andthecrackshewillhavetofill!Friedrich,inastonishmentandindignation,sendsamessengertoDresden:\"WouldthePolishMajestyBE’KingofMoravia,’then,ornotbe?\"RemonstrancesatBudischaurisehigherandhigher;Valori,topreventtotalexplosion,fliesoveronce,inthedeadofthenight,todealwithRutowskyandBrothers。

  Rutowskyhimselfseemspartlypersuadable,thoughdreadfullyillofrheumatism。TheyrouseComteMaurice;andValori,bythisComte’scaprices,isdrivenoutofpatience。\"Hetalkedwithaflippantsophistry,almostwithaninsolence\"saysValori;\"nay,atlast,hemademeagestureinspeaking,\"——whatgesture,thumbtonose,orwhat,theshudderingimaginationdarenotguess!ButValori,nettledtothequick,\"repeatedit,\"andotherwisegavehimasgoodashebrought。\"Heendedbyagesturewhichdispleasedme\"——\"andwenttobed。\"[Valori,i。148,149。]ThisisthenightofFebruary18th;thirdnightafterIglauwashad,andtheMagazinesinitgonetoashes。WhichtheSaxonsthinkisconquestenough。

  PoorPolishMajesty,poorKarlAlbert,aboveall,now\"KaiserKarlVII。,\"withnothingbutthoseFrenchforbreathtohisnostrils!

  WithhisfineFrenchArmyoftheOriflamme,KarlAlbertshouldhavepushedalonglastAutumn;andnotmerely\"readthePaper\"whichFriedrichsenthimtothateffect,\"andthenlaiditaside。\"

  Theywillneverhaveanotherchance,hisFrenchandhe,——unlesswecallthisagainachance;whichtheyareagainsquandering!

  Linzwentbycapitulation;January24th,theverydayofone’s\"Election\"astheycalledit:andeversincethatdayofLinz,theseriesofdisastershascontinuedrapidanduniforminthoseparts。

  Linzgone,therestoftheFrenchpostsdidnotevenwaittocapitulate;butcrackledalloff,theyandourConquestsontheDonau,likeatrainofgunpowder,andleftthegroundbare。

  AndGeneralvonBarenklau(BEAR’S—CLAW),withthehideousfellowcalledMentzel,ColonelofPandours,theyhavebrokenthroughintoBavariaitself,fromtheTyrol;climbingbyBerchtesgadenandthewildSalzburgMountains,regardlessofWinter,andofpoorBavarianmilitia—folk;——andhavetakenMunchen,one’sveryCapital,one’sveryHouseandHome!——PoorKarlAlbert,——and,whatisagainremarkable,itwastheverydaywhilehewasgetting\"crowned\"atFrankfurt,\"withOrientalpomp,\"thatMentzelwasaboutenteringMunchenwithhisPandours。[CoronationwasFebruary12th;

  CapitulationtoMentzel,\"Munchen,February13th,\"isin

  GuerredeBoheme,ii。56—59。]AndthispoorArchdukeoftheAustrian,KingofBohemia,KaiseroftheHolyRomishReichTeutschbyNation,isbecomingTitularmerely,andownsnexttonothingintheseextensiveSovereignties。Judgeifthereisnotcallfordespatchonallsides!——ThePolishMajestysentinstantratherangryordertohisSaxons,\"Forward,withyou;whatelse!

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