第61章
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  PrinceKarl,someweeksago,atHeilbronn,joinedhisRhineArmy,whichhadgatheredthitherfromtheAustrianside,throughBaiern,andfromtheHither—AustrianorSwabianWinter—quarters;withfullintenttobeacrosstheRhine,andhomeuponElsassandtheCompensationCountries,thisSummer,underwhatdifficultiessoever。Karl,or,assomewhisper,oldMarshalTraun,whoisnominallysecondincommand,domakeagloriouscampaignofit,thisYear;——andlifttheCauseofLiberty,atonetime,tothehighestpitchiteverreached。Here,inbriefterms,isPrinceKarl’sOperationontheRhine,muchadmiredbymilitarymen:——

  \"STOCKSTADT,JUNE20th,1744。SomethirtyandoddmilesnorthofMannheim,theRhine,beforeturningwestwardatMainz,makesoneotherofitsmanyIslands(ofwhichtherearehundredssincetheleapatSchaffhausen):oneother,andIthinkthebiggestofthemall;perhapstwomilesbyfive;whichtheGermanscallKUHKOPF

  (Cowhead),fromtheshapeithas,——anarrowsemi—ellipse;

  Rivertheresplittingintwo,onesplit(thewestern)goingstraight,theotherbendingluxuriantlyround:sothattheHIND—

  headorstraightendoftheIslandliestowardsFrance,andtheroundend,orcow—LIPS(sotospeak)towardsnativeTeutschland,andthewoodyHillsoftheBerg—Strassethereabouts。Stockstadt,chieflittleTownlookingoverintothisCowheadIsland,liesundertheCHIN:understandonlyfartherthattheGermanbranchcarriesmorethantwo—thirdsoftheRiver;thatontheIslanditselfthereisnotown,orpostofdefence;andthatStockstadtistheplaceforgettingover。CoignyandtheFrench,some40,000,areguardingtheRiverhereabouts,withlines,withbatteries,cordons,thebesttheycan;Seckendorf,with20,000more(’Imperial’OldBavarianTroops,revivified,recruitedbyFrenchpay),isinhisgarrisonofPhilipsburg,readytohelpwhenneeded:\"——notmoultingnow,atWembdingen,inthatdismalmanner;new—featherednowinto\"Kaiser’sArmy;\"waitinginhisPhilipsburgtoguardtheRiverthere。

  \"Coigny’sFrenchhaveramparts,ditches,notquiteunfurnished,ontheirownshore,oppositethisCowheadIsland(ISLEDEHERON,astheycallit);lookingovertothehind—head,namely:buttheyhavenothingconsiderablethere;andintheIslanditself,nothingwhatever。’IfnowStockstadtweresuddenlysnatchedbyus,’thinksKarl;——’ifafewpontoonswerenimblyswungin?’

  \"JUNE20th,——Coigny’speopleallshootingFEU—DE—JOIE,forthatneverenoughtobecelebratedCaptureofMeninandtheDutchBarrierafortnightago,——thisismanagedtobedone。TheactiveGeneralBarenklau,activeBrigadierDaununderhim,pushesrapidlyacrossintoKuhkopf;rapidlythrowsupintrenchments,ramparts,mountscannon,digshimselfin,——greatlytoCoigny’sastonishment;

  whosepeoplehereabouts,andinalltheirlinesandposts,arebusyshootingFEU—DE—JOIEforthoseimmortalDutchvictories,atthemoment,andneverdreamingofsuchathing。Freshforcefloodsin,PrinceKarlhimselfarrivesnextday,insupportofBarenklau;

  Coigny(head—quartersatSpeyer,fortymilessouth)neednotattemptdislodginghim;butmuststanduponhisguard,andprepareforworse。Whichhedoeswithdiligence;shiftingnorthwardintothoseStockstadt—Mainzparts;callingSeckendorfacrosstheRiver,andotherwisedoinghisbest,——forabouttendaysmore,whenworse,andalmostworst,didverilybefallhim。

  \"NoattemptwasmadeonBarenklau;nor,beyondthealarmingoftheCoigny—Seckendorfpeople,didanythingoccurinCowheadIsland,——

  unlessitwerethefinisofanuglybullyandruffian,whohasmorethanonceafflictedus:whichmaybeworthoneword。

  ColonelMentzel[copper—facedColonel,originallyPlay—actor,\"SpyinPersia,\"andIknownotwhat]hadbeenattheseizureofKuhkopf;aprominentman。Whom,onthefifthdayafter(’June25th’),PrinceKarloverwhelmedwithjoy,byhandinghimaPatentofGeneralcy:’JustreceivedfromCourt,myFriend,onaccountofyourmeritsoldandlate。’——’Aha,’saidBarenklau,congratulatingwarmly:’Dinewithme,then,HerrGeneralMentzel,thisveryday。

  ThePrincehimselfistobethere,HighnessofHessen—Darmstadt,andwhonot;allareimpatienttodrinkyourhealth!’Mentzelhadagloriousdinner;stillmoregloriousdrink,——PrinceKarlandtheothers,itissaid,egginghimintomuchwildblusterandgasconade,toseasontheirmuchwine。Eminentswillofdrinking,withtheloudcoarsetalksupposable,onthepartofMentzelandconsortsdidgoon,inthismanner,allafternoon:intheevening,drunkMentzelcameoutforair;wentstruttingandstaggeringabout;emergingfinallyontheplatformofsomerampart,faceofhimhugeandredasthatofthefoggiestrisingMoon;——andstood,lookingoverintotheLorraineCountry;belchingoutastormofoaths,astohistakingit,astohisdoingthisandthat;andwasevenflourishinghisswordbywayofaccompaniment;when,lo,whistlingslightlythroughthesummerair,arifle—ballfromsomesentryontheFrenchside(writerssay,itwasaFrenchdrummer,grownimpatient,andsnatchingasentry’spiece)tookthebrainofhim,orthebellyofhim;andherusheddownatonce,atotallycollapsedmonster,andmereheapofdeadruin,nevertotroublemankindmore。\"[GuerredeBoheme,iii。165。]

  ForwhichmyreadersandIareratherthankful。Voltaire,andperhapsothermemorablepersons,sometimesmentionthisbrute(miraculoustothePlebsandGazetteers);otherwiseeternaloblivionwerethebestwecoulddowithhim。Trenckalso,readerswillbegladtounderstand,endsinjailandbedlambyandby。

  \"PrinceKarlhadnottheleastintentionofcrossingbythisCowheadIsland。NeverthelesshesetabouttwootherBridgesintheneighborhood,nearerMainz(fewmilesbelowthatCity);

  keptmanoeuvringhisForce,inhugehalf—moon,roundthatquarter,andmysteriouslyupanddown;alarmingCoignywhollyintotheMainzregion。Forthespaceoftendays;andthen,stealingofftoSchrock,alittleRhineVillageabovePhilipsburg,manymilesawayfromCoignyandhisvigilantes,he——

  \"NIGHTOF30thJUNE—1stJULY,SuddenlyshotPandourTrenck,followedbyNadastiand6,000,acrossatSchrockwhoscatteredSeckendorf’spooroutpoststhereaboutstothewinds;’builtabridgebeforemorning,andnextdayanother。’NextdayPrinceKarlinpersonappeared;andonthe3dofJuly,hadhiswholeArmywithitsluggagesacross;andhadseizedtheLinesofLauterburgandWeissenburg(celebratednortherndefenceofElsass),——muchtoCoigny’samazement;andremainedinexpugnablethere,withElsassopentohim,andtoCoignyshut,forthepresent![Adelung,iv。

  139—141。]Coignymadebitterwail,accusation,blameofSeckendorf,blameofmenandofthings;eventriedsomefighting,Seckendorftoodoingfeats,torecoverthoseLinesofWeissenburg:butcouldnotdoit。And,infact,blazingtoandfrointhatexcitedratherthanluminouscondition,couldnotdoanything;exceptretireintothestrongpostsofthebackground;andsendexpressonexpress,swifterthanthewindifyoucan,toavictoriousKingoverturningtheDutchBarrier:’Help,yourMajesty,orwearelost;andFranceis——whatshallIsay!’\"

  \"AdmirablefeatofStrategy!WhataGeneral,thisPrinceKarl!\"

  exclaimedmankind,——Cause—of—Libertymankindwithspecialenthusiasm;andtooktowritingLIVESofPrinceKarl,[Forinstance,TheLifeofhisHighnessPrinceCharlesof&c。,with&c。&c。(London,1746);oneofthemostdistractedBlotcheseverpublishedunderthenameofBook;——

  wakeningthoughtsofapublicdimnessveryconsiderableindeed,towhichthiscouldofferitselfaslamp!]aswellastar—burningandTE—DEUM—ingonanextensivescale。ForithadsenttheCauseofLibertyboundingupagaintothetopofthings,thisofcrossingtheRhine,insuchfashion。And,ineffect,theCauseofLiberty,andPrinceKarlhimself,hadrisenherebytotheiracmeorculminatingpointinWorld—History;nottocontinuelongatsuchheight,littleastheydreamtofthat,amongtheirtar—burnings。

  Thefeatitself——contrivedbyNadasti,peoplesay,andexecuted(whatwastherealdifficulty)byTraun——broughtPrinceKarlverygreatrenown,thisYear;andispraisedbyFriedrichhimself,nowandafterwards,asmasterly,asJuliusCaesar’smethod,andtheproperwayofcrossingrivers(whenexecutable)infaceofanenemy。AndindeedPrinceKarl,owingtoTraunornot,ishighlyrespectableinthewayofGeneralshipatpresent;anddidintheseFiveMonths,fromJuneonward,reallyconsiderablethings。AthisveryacmeofLife,aswellasofGeneralship;which,alas,soonchanged,poorman;nevertoculminateagain。Hehadgot,atthebeginningoftheYear,thehighMariaTheresa’soneSister,ArchduchessMariaAnna,toWife;[Agethentwenty—fivegone:

  \"born14thSeptember,1718;marriedtoPrinceKarl7thJanuary,1744;died,ofchildbirth,16thDecembersameyear\"(Hormayr,OEsterreichischerPlutarch,iv。erstesBaudchen,54)。]thecrownoflongmutualattachment;shesafenowatBrussels,diligentCo—Regent,andinapromisingfamily—way;heherewalkingonvictorious:——needanymanbehappier?Nomancanbesupremelyhappylong;andthisGeneral’sstrategicfelicityandhisdomesticwerefatallycutdownalmosttogether。TheCauseofLiberty,too,nowatthetopofitsorbit,was——ButletusstickbyourExcerpting:

  \"DUNKIRK,19thJULY,1744[PrincessUlrique’sWedding,justtwodaysago]。KingLouis,onhearingoftheJob’s—newsfromElsass,instantlysuspendedhisConquestsinFlanders;detachedNoailles,detachedthisoneandthat,double—quick,DivisionafterDivision(leavingSaxe,with45,000,tohisownresources,andthefatuitiesofMarshalWade);and,19thJuly,himselfhastensofffromDunkirk(leavingmuchoftheluggage,butnottheChateaurouxbehindhim),tosavehisCountry,poorsoul。Butcouldnot,intheleast,saveit;thereverserather。August4th,hegottoMetz,Belleisle’sstrongtown,about100milesfromtheactualscene;hisdetachedreinforcements,say50,000menorso,hangingoutaheadlikeflame—

  clouds,butuncertainhowtoact;——Noaillesbeingalwayscunctatiousintimeofcrisis,andpoorLouishimselfnothingofaCloud—Compeller;——andthen,\"METZ,AUGUST8th,TheMostChristianKingfellill;dangerously,dreadfully,justliketodie。WhichentirelyparalyzedNoaillesandCompany,orreducedthemtomerehysterics,andexcitementoftheunluminouskind。AndfilledFranceingeneral,Parisinparticular,withterror,lamentation,prayersoffortyhours;andsuchaparoxysmofhero—worshipaswasneverseenforsuchanobjectbefore。\"[Espagnac,ii。12;Adelung,iv。180;FastesdeLouisXV。,ii。423;&c。&c。]

  FortheCauseofLibertyhere,weconsider,wastheculminatingmoment;Elsass,LorraineandtheThreeBishopricslyingintheirquasi—moribundcondition;AustrianclaimsofCompensationceasingtobevisionsoftheheatedbrain,andgainingsomefootingontheEarthasfacts。PrinceKarlishereactuallyinElsass,masterofthestrongpasses;elateinheart,heandhis;France,again,asiffallenparalytic,intotemporarydistraction;offeringforresistancenothinghithertobutthatuniversalwailingofmankind,Hero—worshipofathrice—lamentablenature,andthePrayersofForty—Hours!MostChristianMajesty,nowINEXTREMIS,centreofthebasesthubbubthateverwas,isdismissingChateauroux。

  Noailles,CoignyandCompanyhangwellbackupontheHillregions,andstrongpostswhicharenotyetmenaced;orflyvaguely,moreorlessdistractedly,hitherandthither;notintheleastlikefightingKarl,muchlesslikebeatinghim。KarlhasGermanyfreeathisback(nayitisaGermanpopulationroundhimhere);neitherhaversacknorcartridge—boxliketofail:beforehimareonlyaNoaillesandconsorts,flyingvaguelyabout;——andthereisinKarl,orunderthesamecloakwithhimatpresent,atalentofmanoeuvringmen,whichevenFriedrichfindsmasterly。IfoldMarshalWade,attheotherendoftheline,shouldchancetoawakenandpresshomeonSaxe,andhisremnantofFrench,withrightvigor?Infact,therewasnot,thatIcansee,forcenturiespast,notevenattheSiegeofLilleinMarlborough’stime,amoreimminentperilforFrance。

  FRIEDRICHDECIDESTOINTERVENE。

  KingFriedrich,onhearingoftheseRhenishemergenciesandofKingLouis’sheroicadvancetotherescue,perceivedthatforhimselftoothemomentwascome;andhastenedtoinformheroicLouis,ThatthoughthetermsoftheirBargainwerenotyetcompleted,Sweden,Russiaandotherpointsbeingstillinapendentcondition,he,Friedrich,——withaneyetosuccessoftheirJointAdventure,andtotheindispensabilityofjointaction,energy,andthetopofone’sspeednowornever,——would,bythemiddleofthissameAugust,beonthefieldwith100,000men。\"AninvasionofBohemia,willnotthatastonishPrinceKarl;andbringhimtohisRhine—Bridgesagain?Overwhich,ifyourMostChristianMajestybeactive,hewillnotget,exceptinahalf,orwhollyruinedstate。Followhimclose;sendtherestofyourforcetothreatenHanover;sitwellontheskirtsofPrinceKarl。Himashehurrieshomeward,ruinedorhalf—ruined,him,orwhateverAustrianwillfight,Idomybesttobeat。WemayhaveBohemia,andabeatenAustria,thisveryAutumn:

  see,——and,inoneCampaign,thereisPeacereadyforus!\"ThisisFriedrich’sschemeofaction;successcertain,thinkshe,ifonlytherebeenergy,activity,onyourside,asthereshallbeonmine;

  ——andhassentCountSchmettau,filledwithfieryspeedanddetermination,tokeeptheFrenchfullofthelike,andconcertmutualoperations。

  \"Magnanimous!\"exclaimNoaillesandtheparalyzedFrenchGentlemen(KingLouis,Ithink,nowpastspeech,forSchmettauonlycameAugust9th):\"Mostsublimebehavior,onhisPrussianMajesty’spart!\"ownthey。Andtrulyitisafinemanfulindifference(bynomeanssocommonasitshouldbe)toallinterests,toallconsiderations,butthatofaJointEnterpriseonehasengagedin。

  Andtruly,furthermore,itwasimmediatesalvationtotheparalyzedFrenchGentlemen,inthatalarmingcrisis;thoughtheydidnotmuchrecognizeitafterwardsassuch:andindeedwereconspicuouslyforgetfulofallpartsofit,whentheirowndangerwasover。

  MariaTheresa’sfeelingsmaybeconceived;GeorgeII’sfeelings;

  andwhattheCauseofLibertyingeneralfelt,andfuriouslysaidandcomplained,when——suddenlyasaDEUSEXMACHINA,orSupernalGenieintheMinorTheatres——Friedrichsteptin。Preciselyinthissupremecrisis,7thAugust,1744,Friedrich’sMinister,GrafvonDohna,atVienna,hasgivennoticeoftheFrankfurtUnion,andsolemnEngagemententeredinto:\"Obligedinhonorandconscience;

  willandmustnowstepforthtorightaninjuredKaiser;

  cannotstandthesehighproceduresagainstanImperialMajestychosenbyallthePrincesoftheReich,thisunheard—ofprotestthattheKaiserisnoKaiser,asifallGermanywerebutAustriaandtheQueenofHungary’s。PrussianMajestyhasnottheleastquarrelofhisownwiththeQueenofHungary,standstrue,andwillstand,bytheTreatyofBerlinandBreslau;——only,withcertainotherGermanPrinces,hasdonewhatallGermanPrincesandpeoplesnotAustrianareboundtodo,onbehalfoftheirdown—troddenKaiser,formedaUnionofFrankfurt;andwill,witharmedhandifindispensable,endeavortoseerightdoneinthatmatter。\"

  [InAdelung,iv。155,156,theDeclarationitself(Audience,\"7thAugust,1744。\"Dohnaoffhomeward\"ontheseconddayafter\")。]

  ThisistheastonishingfactfortheCauseofLiberty;andnoclamorandexecrationwillavailanything。Thismanisprompt,too;

  doesnotlingeringettingouthisSword,whenhehastalkedofit。

  PrinceKarl’sOperationislikelytobemarredamazingly。IfthisswiftKing(comparabletotheoldSerpentfordevices)weretoburstforthfromhisSilesianstrengths;treadsharplyontheTAIL

  ofPrinceKarl’sOperation,andbringbacktheformidablyfangedheadofIToutofAlsace,fivehundredmilesallatonce,——therewouldbeabusiness!

  WewillnowquittheRhineOperations,whichindeedarenotnowofmoment;Friedrichbeingsuddenlythekeyofeventsagain。Iaddonly,whatreadersarevaguelyawareof,thatKingLouisdidnotdie;thathelayatdeath’sdoorforpreciselyoneweek(8th—15thAugust),symptomsmendingonthe15th。Intheinterim,——Grand—

  AlmonerFitz—James(UncleofourContediSpinelli)insistingthatacertainCardinal,whohadgottheSacramentsinhand,shouldinsist;andendlessministerialintriguebeingbusy,——moribundLouishad,whenitcametotheSacramentalpoint,beenobligedtodismisshisChateauroux。PoorChateauroux;anunfortunatefemale;

  yet,onealmostthinks,thebestmanamongthem:dismissedatMetzhere,andliketobemobbed!ThatwastheoneissueofKingLouis’sdeath—sickness。Sublimesickness;duringwhichallParisweptaloud,interrorandsorrow,likeachildthathaslostitsmotherandseesamastiffcoming;weptsublimely,anddidthePrayersofForty—Hours;andcalledKingLouisLeBIEN—AIME(TheWell—

  beloved):——merelysomeobstructionintheroyalbowels,itturnedout;——agoodcathartic,andthePrayersofForty—Hours,quitereinstatedmatters。NayreinstatedevenChateauroux,sometimeafter,——\"theDevilbeingwellagain,\"and,astheProverbsays,quittinghismonasticview。ReinstatedChateauroux:butthistime,poorcreature,shecontinuedonlyaboutaday:——\"Suddenfever,fromexcitement,\"saidtheDoctors:\"Fever?Poison,youmean!\"

  whisperedothers,andlookedforchangesintheMinistry。

  Enough,oh,enough!——

  OldMarshalWadedidnotawaken,thoughbawledtobyhisLigoniersandothers,andmuchshakenabout,pooroldgentleman。

  \"Noartillerytospeakof,\"murmuredhe;\"wantbaggage—wagons,too!\"andlaystill。\"Hereisartillery!\"answeredtheOfficialpeople;\"WithmyownmoneyIwillbuyyoubaggage—wagons!\"answeredthehighMariaAnna,inherownnameandherPrinceKarl’s,whoareJoint—Governorsthere。Possiblyhewouldhaveawakened,hadtheygivenhimtime。Buttime,inWarespecially,isthethingthatisnevergiven。OnceFriedrichHADstruckin,themomentwasgoneby。

  PooroldWade!Ofhimalsoenough。

  ChapterII。

  FRIEDRICHMARCHESUPONPRAG,CAPTURESPRAG。

  ItwasonSaturday,\"earlyinthemorning,\"15thAugust,1744,thatFriedrichsetout,attendedbyhistwoeldestBrothers,PrinceofPrussiaandPrinceHenri,fromPotsdam,towardsthisnewAdventure,whichprovedsofamoussince。Sudden,swift,totheworld’sastonishment;——actuallyonmarchhere,inthreeColumns(twothroughSaxonybyvariousroutessoutheastward,onefromSilesiathroughGlatzsouthwestward),toinvadeBohemia:rumorsays100,000

  strong,factitselfsaysupwardsof80,000,ontheirvariousroutes,convergingtowardsPrag。[Helden—Geschichte,ii。1165。Orlich(ii。25,27)enumeratesthevariousregiments。]HisColumns,especiallyhisSaxonColumns,arealreadyontheroad;hejoinsoneColumn,thisnight,atWittenberg;andisbent,throughSaxony,towardsthefrontiersofBohemia,attheutmostmilitaryspeedhehas。

  ThroughSaxonyabout60,000go:hehasgottheKaiser’sOrdertotheGovernmentofSaxony,\"OuraugustAlly,requiringonourImperialbusinessatransitthroughyou;\"——andWinterfeld,anexcellentsoldierandnegotiator,hasgoneforwardtopresentsaidOrder。ADocumentwhichflurriestheDresdenOfficialsbeyondmeasure。TheirKingisinWarsaw;theirKing,ifhere,coulddolittle;andindeedhasbeenincliningtoMariaTheresathislongwhile。AndWinterfeldinsistsonsuchdespatch;——andnoteventheDukeofWeissenfelsisinTown,DresdenOfficials\"sendofffivecouriersandthirteenestafettes\"tothepooroldDuke;

  [Helden—Geschichte,ii。1163。]gethimatlast;and——Themarchisalreadytakingeffect;theymayaswellconsenttoit:whatcantheydobutconsent!Intheuttermostflurry,theyhadsettofortifyingDresden;allhandsdrivingpalisades,picking,delving,makingCOUPURES(trenches,orsunkbarricades)inthestreets;——fatallyawarethatitcanavailnothing。IsnotthistheKaiser’sOrder?Prussians,totheamountof60,000,areacrossourFrontiers,rapidlyspeedingon。

  \"Friedrich’sManifesto——underthemodestTitle,’ANZEIGEDER

  URSACHEN(AdvertisementoftheCauseswhichhaveinducedhisPrussianMajestytosendtheRomishKaiser’sMajestysomeAuxiliaryTroops)’——hadappearedintheBerlinNewspapersThursday,13th,onlytwodaysbefore。Anastonishmenttoallmankind;whichgaverisetoendlessmisconceptionsofFriedrich:butwhich,supportingitselfonproofs,onpunctuallyexcerptedfoot—notes,isintrinsicallyamodest,quietPiece;and,whatissingularinManifestoes,hasnothing,oralmostnothing,initthatisnot,sofarasitgoes,aperfectstatementofthefact。’Auxiliarytroops,thatisouressentialcharacter。NowarwithherHungarianMajesty,orwithanyother,onourownscore。ButherHungarianMajesty,howhasshetreatedtheRomishKaiser,herandourandtheReich’sSovereignHead,andtowhatpassreducedhim;refusinghimPeaceonanyterms,exceptthoseofself—annihilation;denyingthatheisaKaiseratall;’——andenumeratesthevariousImperialinjuries,withproofgiven,quietfootnotesbywayofproof;andconcludesinthesewords:’ForhimselfhisMajestyrequiresnothing。

  ThequestionhereisnotofhisMajesty’sowninterestatall[everythinghisMajestyrequired,orrequires,isbytheTreatyofBerlinsolemnlyhis,iftheReichanditsLawsendure]:andhehastakenuparmssimplyandsolelyintheviewofrestoringtotheReichitsfreedom,totheKaiserhisHeadshipoftheReich,andtoallEuropethePeacewhichissodesirable。’[GiveninSeyfarth,Beylage,i。121—136,withdate\"August,1744。\"]

  \"’Pretences,subterfuges,lies!’exclaimedtheAustrianandAlliedPubliceverywhere,orstrovetoexclaim;especiallytheEnglishPublic,whichhadnodifficultyinsodoing;——aPubliccomfortablyblankastoGermanfactsornon—facts;andfindingwithamazementonlythisaverycertainfact,ThatherebyistheirownPragmaticthundercheckedinmid—volleyinamostsurprisingmanner,andthetriumphantCauseofLibertybroughttojeopardyagain。

  ’Perfidious,ambitious,capricious!’exclaimedthey:’aPrincewithouthonor,withouttruth,withoutconstancy;’——andcompleted,forthemselves,inhotrabidhumor,thatEnglishTheoryofFriedrichwhichhasprevailedeversince。Perhapsthemostsurprisingitemofwhichisthislatter,veryprominentinthoseoldtimes,ThatFriedrichhasno’constancy,’butfollowshis’caprices,’andaccidentalwhirlsofimpulse:——itemwhichhasdroppedawayinourtimes,thoughtheothersstandasstableasever。Amonumentofseveralthings!Friedrich’ssuddennessisanessentialpartofwhatfightingtalenthehas:ifthePublic,thrownintoflurry,cannotjudgeitwell,theymustevenmisjudgeit:whathelpisthere?

  \"ThattheabovewereactuallyFriedrich’sreasonsforventuringintothisBigGameagain,isnotnowdisputable。Andastotherumor,whichroseafterwards(andwasdenied,andcouldonlybedenieddiplomaticallytotheear,ifeventotheear),ThatFriedrichbySecretArticlewas’tohaveforhimselftheThreeBohemianCircles,Konigsgratz,Bunzlau,Leitmeritz,whichliebetweenSchlesienandSachsen,’[Helden—Geschichte,i。1081;Scholl,ii。349。]——thereisnotadoubtbutFriedrichhadsobargained,’Verywell,ifwecangetsaidCircles!’andwouldrightcheerfullyhavekeptandheldthem,hadthebiggamegoneinallpointscompletelywell(game,toreinstatetheKaiserBOTHinBohemiaandBavaria)byFriedrich’sfineplaying。Notadoubtofallthis:——norofwhatanextremelyhypotheticoutlookitthenandalwayswas;greatlytooweakforenticingsuchaman。\"

  FriedrichgoesinThreeColumns。One,onthesouthorleftshoreoftheElbe,cominginvariousbranchesunderFriedrichhimself;

  thisalonewilltouchonDresden,passonthesouthsideofDresden;gatheritselfaboutPirna(intheSaxonSwitzerlandsocalled,anotablelocality);thenceovertheMetalMountainsintoBohmen,byToplitz,byLowositz,Leitmeritz,andtheHighwaycalledthePascopol,famousinWar。TheSecondColumn,underLeopoldtheYoungDessauer,goesontheotherornorthsideoftheElbe,atafairdistance;marchingthroughtheLausitz(rendezvousorstarting—pointwasBautzenintheLausitz)straightsouth,tomeettheKingatLeitmeritz,wherethegrandMagazineistobe;

  andthence,stillsouth,straightuponPrag,inconjunctionwithhisMajestyorparalleltohim。[Helden—Geschichte,i。1081。]ThesearetheTwoSaxonColumns。TheThirdColumn,underSchwerin,collectsitselfintheinteriorofSilesia;

  isissuing,byGlatzCountry,throughtheGiantMountains,BOHMISCHEKAMME(BohemianCOMBSastheyarecalled,whichTouristsknow),bythePassofBraunau,——disturbingthedreamsofRubezahl,ifRubezahlhappentobethere。This,say20,000,willcomedownuponPragfromtheeasternside;andbefirstontheground(31stAugust),——firstbyoneday。InthehomepartsofSilesia,welleastwardofGlatz,thereisleftanotherForceof20,000,whichcangoacrosstheAustrianBorderthere,andhangupontheHills,threateningOlmutzandtheMoravianCountries,shouldneedbe。

  Andso,initsThreeColumns,fromwest,fromnorth,fromeast,themarch,withasteadyswiftness,proceeds。ImportantespeciallythoseTwoSaxonColumnsfromwestandnorth:60,000ofthem,\"withafrightful(ENTSETZLICH)quantityofbiggunscominguptheElbe。\"

  MuchiscominguptheElbe;indispensableHighwayforthisEnterprise。Threemonths’provisions,endlessartilleryandprovender,isontheElbe;480bigboats,withimmenseVORSPANN(oftrace—horses,dreadfulswearing,too,asIhaveheard),willpassthroughthemiddleofDresden:notlandingbyanymeans。\"No,beassuredofit,yeDresdeners,allflurried,palisaded,barricaded;

  nohairofyoushallbeharmed。\"Afteradayortwo,theflurryofSaxonysubsided;Prussians,understrictdiscipline,molestnoprivateperson;paytheirway;keepwellaloof,tosouthandtonorth,ofDresden(allbutthenecessaryammunition—escortsdo);——

  andrequireoftheOfficialpeoplenothingbutwhattheLawoftheReichauthorizesto\"ImperialAuxiliaries\"insuchcase。

  \"TheSaxonsthemselves,\"Friedrichobserves,\"hadsome40,000,butscatteredabout;KinginWarsaw:——dreadfulterror;makingCOUPURES

  andTETES—DE—PONT;——couldhavemadenodefence。\"Hadwediligentlyspenteightdaysonthem!reflectsheafterwards。\"ToseizeSaxony[andhobbleitwithropes,sothatatanytimeyoucouldpinitmotionless,andeven,ifneedwere,milkthesubstanceoutofit],wouldnothavedetaineduseightdays。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。53。]Whichwouldhavebeenthetrueplan,hadweknownwhatwasgettingreadythere!Certainitis,Friedrichdidnomischief,paidforeverything;anxioustokeepwellwithSaxony;hopingalwaystheymightjoinhimagain,insuchaCause。\"CausedeartoeveryPatriotGermanPrince,\"urgesFriedrich,——thoughBruhl,andthePolish,once\"Moravian,\"Majestyareofaverydifferentopinion:——

  \"MariaTheresa,herthoughtsathearingofitmaybeimagined:

  ’TheEvilGeniusofmyHouseafootagain!MyhighprojectsonElsassandLorraine;HusbandforKaiser,ElsassfortheReichandhim,Lorraineformyselfandhim;goneprobablytowater!’

  Neverthelessshesaid(anOfficialpersonheardhersay),’MyrightisknowntoGod;Godwillprotectme,asHehasalreadydone。’

  [Helden—Geschichte,ii。1024。]Androseverystrong,andmagnanimouslydefiantagain;perhaps,atthebottomofherheart,almostgladwithalthatshewouldnowhaveastrokeforherdearSilesiaagain,unhinderedbyPaladinGeorgeandhisTreatiesandnotions。Whatmeasures,againstthisnefariousPrussianoutbreak,hatefultogodsandmen,arepossible,sherapidlytakes:inBohemia,inBavariaandherotherCountries,thatarethreatenedorcanhelp。Andabatesnothingofheartorhope;——

  prayingwithal,immensely,sheandherPeople,accordingtothemodetheyhave。SendingforPrinceKarl,weneednotsay,double—

  quick,astheveryfirstthing。

  \"OfMariaTheresainHungary,——forsherantoPresburgagainwithherwoes(August16th,Dietjustassemblingthere),——letussayonlythatHungarywasagainchivalrous;thatoldPalfyandthegeneralHungarianNationansweredintheoldtone,——VIVATMARIA;

  ADARMA,ADARMA!withTolpatches,Pandours,Warasdins;——and,inshort,thatgreatandsmall,ininfinite’Insurrection,’havestillastrokeofbattleinthemPROREGENOSTRO。ScarcelyaboveaDistrictortwo(astheJASZERSandKAUERS,intheirover—cautiousway)makingtheleastdifficulty。Muchenthusiasmandunanimityinalltheothers;hereandthereaHungariangentlemancomplainingscornfullythattheirtroops,knownasamongthebestfightersinNature,arecalledirregulartroops,——irregular,forsooth!Inonepublicconsultation[Districtnotimportant,notveryspellable,thoughdoubtlesspronounceablebynativestoit],agentlemansuggeststhat’Winterisnear;shouldnottherebesomeslightprovisionoftents,ofshelterinthefrozensleetyMountains,toourgallantfellowsboundthither?’Uponwhichanotherstartsup,’WhenourAncestorscameoutofAsiaMinor,overthePalusMaeotisboundinwinterice;and,sabreinhand,cuttheirwayintothisfineCountrywhichisstillours,whatshelterhadthey?Notalkoftents,ofbarracksoraccommodationthere;each,wraptinhissheepskin,founditsheltersufficient。Tents!’[Helden—

  Geschichte,ii。1030。]Andthethingwascarriedbyacclamation。

  \"WidewailinBohemiathatWariscomingback。Nobilityallmakingoff,sometoViennaortheintermediateTownslyingthitherward,sometotheirCountry—seats;alloutofPrag。WillingmindonthepartoftheCommonPeople;whichtheGovernmentstrainseverynervetomakethemostof。Herearefasts,processions,PrayersofForty—

  Hours;here,asinViennaandelsewhere。InViennawasaThreeDays’solemnFast:thelikeinPrag,orbetter;withprocessiontotheshrineofSt。Vitus,——littlelikelytohelp,Ishouldfear。

  ’Rise,allfenciblemen,’exclaimstheGovernment,——’atleastwewillballot,andmakeyourise:’——MilitiapeopleenterPragtotheextentof10,000;liketoavaillittle,onewouldfear。GeneralHarsch,withreinforcementofrealsoldiers,isdespatchedfromVienna;Harsch,oneofourablestsoldierssinceKhevenhullerdied,getsinstillintime;andthusincreasestheGarrisonofregularsto4,000,withavigorousCaptaintoguideit。OldCountOgilvy,thesamewhomSaxesurprisedtwoyearsagointhemoonlight,snatchingladdersfromthegallows,——OgilvyisagainCommandant;

  butthistimenominalmainly,andwithbetteroutlooks,Harschbeingunderhim。Inrelays,3,000oftheMilitiamendigandshovelnightandday;repairing,perfectingtherampartsoftheplace。

  Then,astoprovisions,endlesscornisintroduced,——farmersforced,theunwillingatthebayonet’spoint,todeliverintheircorn;muchofitinsheaf,sothatwehavetothrashitinthemarket—place,inthestreetsthatarewide:andthusinPragisheardthesoundofflails,amongtheMilitia—drumsandsomanyothernoises。Withthegreatchurch—organsgrowling;andthebassandtrebleMISEREREofthepoorsuperstitiousPeoplerising,toSt。Vitusandothers。Infact,itisageneralDanceofSt。Vitus,——exceptthatoftheflails,andMilitia—menworkingattheramparts,——mostlynotleadingany—whither。\"[\"LETTERfromaCitizenofPrag,\"date,21stSept。(inHelden—Geschichte,ii。1168),whichgivesseveralcuriousdetails。]

  MeanwhileFriedrich’smarchfromwest,fromnorth,fromeast,isflowingon;diligent,swift;punctualtoitstimes,itsplaces;andmeetsnoimpedimenttospeakof。AtTetschenontheSaxon—BohemianFrontier,——apleasantSchlossperchedonitscrags,asTouristsknow,wheretheElbesweepsintoSaxonSwitzerlandanditslongstonelabyrinths,——atTetschentheAustrianshadtakenpost;

  hadtriedtoblocktheRiver,drivingpilesintoit,andtumblingbouldersintoit,withaviewtostopthe480PrussianBoats。

  Thesepeopleneededtobetornout,theirpilesandthey:whichwasdoneintwodays,thesoldierpartofit;andoccupiedtheboatmenaboveaweek,beforeallwasclearagain。Prosperous,correcttoprogram,alltherest;notneedingmentionfromus;——herearethefewsparksfromitthatdwellinone’smemory:——

  \"AUGUST15th,1744,KingleftPotsdam;joinedhisFirstColumnthatnight,atWittenberg。ThroughMieissen,Torgau,Freyberg;isatPeterswalde,easternslopeoftheMetalMountains,August25th;

  alltheColumnsnowonBohemianground。

  \"FriedrichhadcrossedElbebytheBridgeofMeissen:onthesouthernshore,politelywaitingtoreceivehisMajesty,therestoodFeldmarschalltheDukeofWeissenfels;towhomtheKinggavehishand,\"nodoubtinfriendlystyle,\"andtalkedforabovehalfanhour,\"——withsuchsuccess!thinksFriedrichbyandby。WehaveheardofWeissenfelsbefore;thesamepoorWeissenfelswhowasWilhelmina’sWooerinoldtime,nowonthevergeofsixty;

  anextremelypolitebutweakisholdgentleman;accidentallypreservedinHistory。Oneofthoseconspicuous\"HumanClothes—

  Horses\"(phantasmalallbutthedigestivepart),whichaboundinthatEighteenthCenturyandotherslikeit;anddistressyourHistoricalstudies。Pooroldsoul;nowFeldmarschallandCommander—

  in—Chiefhere。HasbeeninTurkandotherWars;withlittleprofittohimselforothers。Usedtolikehisglass,theysay;isstillverypoor,thoughnowDukeinrealityaswellastitle(succeededtwoegregiousBrothers,someyearssince,whohadbeenspendthrift):hehasstilloneotherbeatingtogetinthisworld,——fromFriedrichnextyear。Diedaltogether,twoyearshence;andWilhelminaheardnomoreofhim。

  \"AtMeissenBridge,saysome,wasthisHalf—hour’sInterview;

  atPirna,theBridgeofPirna,otherssay;[SeeOrlich,ii。25;

  andHelden—Geschichte,ii。1166。]——quiteindifferenttouswhich。AtPirna,andhitherandthitherinSaxonSwitzerland,Friedrichcertainlywas。’Whoeversawsuchpositions,yourMajesty?’ForFriedrichisalwayslookingout,wereitevenfromthewindowofhiscarriage,andputtingmilitaryproblemstohimselfinallmannerofscenery,’Whatwouldamando,inthatkindofground,ifattacking,ifattacked?withthathill,thatbrook,thatbitofbog?’andadviseseveryOfficertobecontinuallydoingthelike。[MILITARYINSTRUCTIONS?RULESFORA

  GOODCOMMANDEROF&c。?——Ihave,forcertain,readthisPassage;

  butthereferenceisgoneagain,likeasparrowfromthehouse—

  top!]ThatisthevalueofpicturesqueorotherscenerytoFriedrich,andtheireffectongoodPrussianOfficersandhim。

  \"……AtTetschen,ColonelKahlbutz,\"diligentPrussianColonel,\"plucksoutthose100Austriansfromtheirrocknestthere;

  makesthemprisonersofwar;——whichdetainedtheLeitmeritzbranchofustwodays。August28th,junctionatLeitmeritzthereupon。

  Magazineestablishedthere。Boatscomingonpresently。FriedrichhimselfcampedatLobositzinthispart,\"——Lobositz,orLowositz,whichhewillrememberoneday。

  \"AUGUST29th,MarchtoBudin;thatis,southward,acrosstheEger,arrivewithinfortymilesofPrag。AustrianBathyani,summonedhastilyoutofhisBavarianposts,tosuccorinthispressingemergency,hasarrivedintheseneighborhoods,——some12,000

  regularsunderhim,precededbycloudsofhussars,whomZiethensmitesalittle,bywayofhandsel;——nootherAustrianforcetospeakofhereabouts;andwearenowbetweenBathyaniandPrag。

  \"SEPTEMBER1st,ToMickowitz,nearWelwarn,twentymilesfromPrag。

  September2d,CampontheWeissenbergthere。\"[Helden—

  Geschichte,i。1080。]

  AndsotheyareallassembledaboutPrag,begirdlingthepoorCity,——thirdSiegeithasstoodwithinthesethreeyears(sincethatmoonlightNovembernightin1741);——andareonlywaitingfortheirheavyartillerytobeginbattering。Thepoorinhabitants,inspiteofthreesieges;the10,000rawmilitia—men,mostlyofHungarianbreed;the4,000regulars,andHarschandoldOgilvy,arealldisposedtodotheirbest。FriedrichisnaturallyinhastetogetholdofPrag。Buthefinds,ontakingsurvey:thatthesword—

  in—handmethodisnotnow,asin1741,feasibleatall;thattheplaceisingoodpostureofstrength;andwillneedahotbatteringtotearitopen。OwingtothataccidentatTetschen,thesiege—

  cannonarenotyetcomeup:\"Buildyourbatteries,yourMoldau—

  bridges,yourcommunications,tillthecannoncome;andbewareofBathyanimeddlingwithyourcannonbytheroad!\"

  \"Bathyaniiswithintwentymilesofus,atBeraun,acompactlittleTowntosouthwest;gatheringaMagazinethere;andreadyforenterprises,——inmoreforcethanFriedrichguesses。’Drivehimout,seizethatMagazineofhis!’ordersFriedrich(September5th);

  anddespatchesGeneralHackeonit,arightman,\"——atwhoseweddingweassisted(weddingtoanheiress,longsince,inFriedrichWilhelm’stime),ifanybodynowremembered。\"Andonthemorrowtherefallsoutaprettylittle’ActionofBeraun,’aboutwhichgreatnoisewasmadeintheGazettesPROandCONTRA:whichdidnotdislodgeBathyanibyairymeans;butwhichmighteasilyhaveruinedtheimpetuousHackeandhis6,000,gettingintomaskedbatteries,Pandourwhirlwinds,chargesofhorses’fromfront,fromrear,andfrombothflanks,’——hadnothe,withmasterlypromptitude,whirledhimselfoutofit,snatchedinstantlywhatbestposttherewas,anddefendedhimselfinexpugnablythere,forsixhours,tillreliefcame。\"[DIEBEYBERAUNVORGEFALLENEACTION(inSeyfarth,

  Beylage,i。136,137)。]Brilliantlittleaction,wellperformedonbothsides,butleadingtonothing;andwhichshallnotconcernusfarther。ExcepttosaythatBathyanididnow,moreathisleisure,retireoutofharm’sway;andbegincollectingMagazinesatPilsenfarrearward,whichmayproveusefultoPrinceKarl,intheroutePrinceKarlisupon。

  Siege—cannonhavingatlastcome(September8th),thebatteriesareallmounted:——onWednesday,9th,lateatnight,theArtillery,\"inenormousquantity,\"opensitsdreadthroat;poorPragisstartledfromitsbedbytorrentsofshot,solidandshell,fromthreedifferentquarters;andmakeshastetostandtoitsguns。

  Fromthreedifferentquarters;fromBubenetschnorthward;fromtheUplandofSt。Lawrence(famedWEISSENBERG,orWhite—Hill)westward;

  andfromtheZiscabergeastward(HillofZisca,whereironZiscapostedhimselfonagrandoccasiononce),——whichlatterisabroadlongHill,westendofitfallingsheeroverPrag;andonanotherpointofit,highestpointofall,thePraguershaveastrongbatteryandworks。ThePraggunsotherwisearenottooeffectual;

  plantedmostlyonlowground。BymuchthebestPragbatteryisthisoftheZiscaberg。Andthis,aftertwodays’experiencehadofit,thePrussiansdeterminetotakeonthemorrow。

  SEPTEMBER12th,Schwerin,whocommandsonthatside,assaultsaccordingly;withtheduesteadfastnessandstormfulness:

  throwingshellsandballsbywayofprelude。Friedrich,withsomegroupofstaff—officersanddignitaries,stepsoutontheBubenetschpost,toseehowthisaffairoftheZiscabergwillprosper:thePraguersthereabouts,seeingsomanydignitaries,turncannononthem。\"Disperse,IHRHERREN;haveacare!\"criedFriedrich;nothimselfmuchminding,sointentupontheZiscaberg。

  Andcouldhaveskiptindifferentlyoveryourcannon—ballsploughingtheground,——hadnotonefatefulballshatteredoutthelifeofpoorPrinceWilhelm;agoodyoungCousinofhis,shotdownhereathishand。DoubtlessasharpmomentfortheKing。PrinceMargrafWilhelmandapooryoungpage,theretheyliedead;indifferenttotheZiscabergandallcomingwarsofmankind。Lamentation,naturally,forthisyoungman,——BrothertotheonewhofellatMollwitz,youngestBrotheroftheMargrafKarl,whocommandsinthisBubenetschredoubt:——Butwemustliftoureye—glassagain;

  seehowSchwerinisprospering。Schwerin,withduesteadfastnessandstormfulness,afterhispreludeofbomb—shells,rushesondouble—quick;cannotbewithstood;hurlsoutthePraguers,andseizestheirbattery;aruinouslosstothem。

  TheirgrandZiscaredoubtisgone,then;andtwosubsidiarysmallredoubtsbehinditwithal,whichtheFrenchhadbuilt,andnamed\"themagpie—nests(NIDSAPIE);\"thesealsoareours。Andweoverhang,fromourZiscaHill,theveryroofs,asitwere;

  andthereisnothingbutalongbarecurtainnowinthisquarter,readytobebatteredinbreach,andsoonholed,ifneedful。Itisnotneedful,——notquite。Inthecourseofthreedaysmore,ourBubenetschbattery,ofenormouspower,hasbeensodiligent,ithassetfiretotheWater—mill;burnsirretrievablytheWater—mill,andstillworse,thewoodenSluiceoftheMoldau;sothattheriverfallstotheeverywherewadablepitch。AndGovernorHarschperceivesthatallthisquarteroftheTownisopentoanycomer;——

  and,infact,thathewillhavetogetaway,thebesthecan。

  Whiteflagaccordingly(Tuesday,15th):\"Freewithdrawal,totheWischerad;won’tyou?\"\"Bynomannerofmeans!\"answersFriedrich。

  BidsSchwerinfromhisZiscabergmakeaholeortwointhat\"curtain\"oppositehim;andgetsreadyforstorm。UponwhichHarsch,nextmorning,hastobeatthechamade,andsurrenderPrisonerofWar。Andthus,Wednesday,16th,itisdone:asiegeofoneweek,nomore,——afterallthatthrashingofgrain,drillingofmilitia,andotherspiritedpreparation。Harschcouldnothelpit;

  thePrussiancannonadingwassofurious。[Orlich,ii。36—39;

  Helden—Geschichte,i。1082,andii。1168;

  OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。56;&c。&c。]

  PraghastoswearfealtytotheKaiser;and\"payaransomof200,000pounds。\"Drilledmilitia,regulars,Hungarians,about16,000,——onlythatmanyoftheTolpatchescontrivedtowhiskloose,——aremarchedprisonerstoGlatzandotherstrongplaces。

  PragCity,withplentyofprovisioninit,isours。AbrilliantbeginningofaCampaign;theeyesofallEuropeturnedagain,inveryvarioushumor,onthisyoungKing。IfonlytheFrenchdotheirduty,andhangwellontheskirtsofMarshalTraun(orofPrinceKarl,theCloakofTraun),whoishasteninghitherwardallhecan。

  ChapterIII。

  FRIEDRICH,DILIGENTINHISBOHEMIANCONQUESTS,UNEXPECTEDLY

  COMESUPONPRINCEKARL,WITHNOFRENCHATTENDINGHIM。

  ThiselectricallysuddenoperationonPragwasconsideredbyastonishedmankind,whateverelsetheymightthinkaboutit,adecidedlybrilliantfeatofWar:fallinglikeaboltoutoftheblue,——likethreebolts,suddenlycoalescingoverPrag,andstrikingitdown。Friedrichhimself,thoughthereisnothingofboastaudiblehereoranywhere,wasevidentlyverywellsatisfied;

  andthoughttheaspectsgood。ThereisPrinceKarlwhirlinginstantlybackfromhisStrasburgProspects;thegeneralSt。VitusDanceofAustrianthingsrisinghigherandhigherinthesehomeparts:——reasonablehopethat\"inthecourseofoneCampaign,\"proudobstinateAustriamightfeelitselfsowrungandscrewedastobegladofPeacewithneighborsnotwishingWar。ThatwastheyoungKing’scalculationatthistime。And,hadFrancedoneatallasitpromised,——orhadtheyoungKinghimselfbeenconsiderablywiserthanhewas,——hehadnotbeendisappointedinthewayweshallsee!

  FriedrichadmitshedidnotunderstandWaratthisperiod。Hisownschemenowwas:Tomovetowardsthesouthwest,theretoabolishBathyaniandhisTolpatches,whoarebusygatheringMagazinesforPrinceKarl’sadvent;toseizethesaidMagazines,whichwillbeveryusefultous;thenadvancestraighttowardsthePassesoftheBohemianMountains。TownsofFurth,Waldmunchen,unfortunateTownofCham(burntbyTrenck,wheremasonsarenowbusy);thesestandsuccessiveinthegrandPass,throughwhichtbehighwayruns;

  somehundredmilesorsofromwhereweare:march,atone’sswiftest,thitherward,Bathyani’sMagazinestohelp;andthereawaitPrinceKarl?ItwasFriedrich’sownnotion;notabadone,thoughnotthebest。Thebest,headmits,wouldhavebeen:Tostayprettymuchwherehewas;abolishBathyani’sTolpatchpeople,seizingtheirMagazines,andcollectingothers;ingeneral,wellrootingandfencinghimselfinPrag,andintheCirclesthatliethereaboutsupontheElbe,——boundedtosouthwardbytheSazawa(branchoftheMoldau),whichrunsparalleltotheElbe;——butwellrefusingtostirmuchfartheratsuchanadvancedseasonoftheyear。

  Thatsecondplanwouldhavebeenthewisest:——thenwhynot,followit?Tootameaplanfortheyouthfulmind。Besides,weperceive,asindeedisintimatedbyhimself,hedreadedtheforceofpublicopinioninFrance。\"Aha,lookatyourKingofPrussiaagain。

  GonetoconquerBohemia;and,excepttheThreeCircleshehimselfistohaveofit,letsBohemiagotothewinds!\"Thissortofthing,Friedrichadmits,hedreadedtoomuch,atthatyoungperiod;

  soloudhadthecriticismsbeenonhim,inthetimeoftheBreslauTreaty:\"OutuponyourKingofPrussia;callyouthatanhonorableAlly!\"UndoubtedlyaweaknessintheyoungKing;inasmuch,sayshe,as\"everyGeneral[andeveryman,addwe]shouldlooktothefact,nottotherumorofthefact。\"Well;but,atleast,hewilladopthisownothernotion;thatofmakingforthePassesoftheBohemianMountains;toabolishBathyaniatleast,andlockthedooruponPrinceKarl’sadvent?Thatwashisownplan;and,thoughsecond—

  best,thatalsowouldhavedonewell,hadtherebeennothird。

  Buttherewas,aswehinted,athirdplan,ardentlyfavoredbyBelleisle,whosewar—talentFriedrichmuchrespectedatthistime:

  planbuiltonBelleisle’sreminiscencesoftheoldTabor—Budweisbusinesses,andtotallyinapplicablenow。Belleislesaid,\"Gosoutheast,notsouthwest;righttowardstheAustrianFrontieritself;thatwillfrightenAustriaintoafinetremor。ShutuptheroadsfromAustria:Budweis,Neuhaus;seizethosetwoHighroadTowns,andkeepthem,ifyouwouldholdBohemia;thewantofthemwasourruinthere。\"Yourruin,yes:butyourenemywasnotcomingfromAlsaceandthesouthwestthen。HewascomingfromAustria;

  andyourownhomelayonthesouthwest:itisalldifferentnow!

  FriedrichmightwellthinkhimselfbewitchednottohavegoneforChamandFurth,andthePassesoftheBohmer—Wald,accordingtohisownnotion。Butsoitwas;heyieldedtothebigreputationofBelleisle,andtofearofwhattheworldwouldsayofhiminFrance;aweaknesswhichhewillperhapsbetaughtnottorepeat。

  Infact,heisnowabouttobetaughtseveralthings;——andwillhavetopayhisschool—wagesashegoes。

  FRIEDRICH,LEAVINGSMALLGARRISONINPRAG,RUSHESSWIFTLYUP

  THEMOLDAUVALLEY,UPONTHETABOR—BUDWEISCOUNTRY;TOPLEASE

  HISFRENCHFRIENDS。

  FriedrichmadenodelayinPrag;inhasteatthislatetimeofyear。September17th,ontheverymorrowoftheSiege,thePrussiansgetinmotionsouthward;onthe19th,Friedrich,fromhisposttonorthoftheCity,defilesthroughPrag,onmarchtoKunraditz,——firststageonthatquestionableExpeditionuptheMoldauValley,rightbank;towardsTabor,Budweis,Neuhaus;

  tothreatenAustria,andpleaseBelleisleandtheFrench。

  PragisleftunderGeneralEinsiedelwithasmallgarrisonof5,000;——Einsiedel,asteadyelderlygentleman,favoriteofFriedrichWilhelm’s,hasbrieforder,oroutlineofordertobefilledupbyhisowngoodsense。Posadowskyfollowsthemarch,withasmanymeal—wagonsaspossible,——draught—cattleinveryineffectualcondition。OurmainMagazineisatLeitmeritz(shouldhavebeenbroughtontoPrag,thinksFriedrich);Commissariatveryill—managedincomparisontowhatitoughttobe,——towhatitshallbe,ifweeverlivetomakeanotherCampaign。HeavyartilleryisleftinPrag(anotherfault);andfromeachregiment,oneofitsbaggage—wagons。[Helden—Geschichte,i。1083;

  Orlich,ii。41etseqq。;Frederic,iii。59;&c。]\"WerestadayhereatKunraditz:21stSeptember,gettotheSazawaRiver;

  ——22d,toBistritz(restaday);——26th,toMiltschin;and27th,toTabor:\"——ButtheDiarywouldbetedious。

  FriedrichgoesintwoColumns;onealongthegreatroadtowardsTabor,underSchwerinthis,andFriedrichmainlywithhim;theothertotheright,alongtheRiver’sbank,underLeopold,YoungDessauer,whichhastogobywildcountryroads,ornowandthenroadsofitsownmaking;andmuchneedsthepioneer(adifficultmarchintheshorteningdays)。Posadowskyfollowswiththeproviant,drawnbycattleofthehorseandoxspecies,dailyfallingdownstarved:greatswearingtheretoo,Idoubtnot!

  GeneralNassauisvanguard,andstretchesforwardsuccessfullyatamuchlighterpace。

  TherearetwoRivers,considerablebranchesoftheMoldau,comingfromeastward;which,andfirstofthemtheSazawa,concernushere。AftermountingthesouthernUplandsfromPragforadayortwo,youthenbegintodropagain,intothehollowofaRivercalledSazawa,importantinBohemianWars。Itisofwindingcourse,thefirstconsiderablebranchoftheMoldau,risinginTeutschbrodCountry,seventyoreightymilestoeastofus:inregardtoSazawa,thereis,atpresent,nodifficultyaboutcrossing;theCountrybeingallours。AftertheSazawa,mountagain,longmiles,dayafterday,throughintricatestonydesolation,rocks,bogs,untrimmedwoods,youwillgettoMiltschin,thencetoTabor:

  Miltschinisthecrownofthatroughmoorcountry;fromPragtoTaborissomesixtymiles。AfterMiltschinthecourseofthosebrownmountain—brooksisalltowardstheLuschnitz,thenextconsiderablebranchoftheMoldau;branchstilllongerandmorewindingthantheSazawa;Tabortowersupnearthisbranch;Budweis,ontheMoldauitself,isfortymilesfarther;andthereatlastyouareoutofthestonymoors,andinarichchampaigncomfortabletomanandhorse,wereyoubutoncethere,afterploddingthroughthedesolations。ButfromthatSazawabytheLuschnitzontoBudweis,mountingandfallinginsuchfashion,theremustbeninetymilesorthereby。Plodalong;andkeepasharpeyeonthewhirlingcloudsofPandours,forthosetoohavegotacrossuponus,——addedtotheothertempestsofAutumn。

  Ontheninthdayoftheirmarch,thePrussiansbegintodescryonthehorizonaheadthesteeplesandchimney—topsofTabor,onitshighscarpedrock,or\"HillofZisca,\"——foritwasZiscaandhisHussitesthatbuiltthemselvesthisBitofInexpugnability,andnameditTaborfromtheirBibles,——inthosewastemountainregions。

  Onthetenthday(27thSeptember),thePrussianswithoutdifficultytookTabor;wallsbeingruined,garrisonsmall。WelieatTabortillthe30th,lastdayofSeptember。Thence,2dOctober,partofustoMoldau—Teinrightwards;wherecrosstheMoldaubyaBridge,——

  \"Bridge\"onehasheardof,inoldBrogliotimes;——crossthere,withintent(easilysuccessful)tosnatchthat\"CastleofFrauenberg,\"

  darlingofBroglio,forwhichhefoughthisPharsaliaofaSahaytonopurpose!

  BothColumnsgotunitedatTabor;andpausedforadayortwo,torest,andgatheruptheirdraggledskirtsthere。TheExpeditiondoesnotimproveinpromise,asweadvanceinit;themarchoneofthemostuntowardly;andPosadowskycomesupwithonlyhalfofhisprovision—carts,——halfofhiscattlehavingfallendownofbadweather,hill—roadsandstarvation;whatcouldhedo?Thatisanominouscircumstance,nottheless。

  ThreethingsareagainstthePrussiansonthismarch;twoofthemaccidentalthings。FIRST,thereis,atthislateseasontoo,theintrinsicnatureoftheCountry;whichFriedrichwithemphasisdescribesasboggy,stony,precipitous;awaste,hungryandaltogetherbarrenCountry,——tooemphaticallysodescribed。ButthenSECONDLY,whatmighthavebeenotherwise,thePopulation,workeduponbyAustrianofficials,allflyfromthesightofus;

  nothingbutfirelessdesertedhamlets;andthecorn,iftheyeverhadany,allthrashedandhidden。Noamountofmoneycanpurchaseanyservicefromthem。Poordarkcreatures;notlovingAustriamuch,butlovingsomeothersevenless,itwouldappear。OfBigotedPapistCreed,foronething;thatisagreatpoint。Wedonotmeddlewiththeirworshipmoreorless;butweareHeretics,andtheyhateusastheNight。WhichisadreadfuldifficultyyoualwayshaveinBohemia:nowherebutintheCircleofKonigsgraz,wherethereareHussites(fartotherearofusatthistime),willyoufinditotherwise。Thisisdifficultysecond。

  Then,THIRDLY,whatmuchaggravatesit,——weneglectedtoabolishBathyani!AndhereareBathyani’sPandourscomeacrosstheMoldauonus。PlentyofPandours;——towhom\"10,000freshHungarians,\"ofanewInsurrectionwhichhasbeengotupthere,aredailyspeedingforwardtoaddthemselves:——suchaswarmofhornets,asdarkenstheverydaylightforyou。Vaintoscourgethemdown,toburnthemoffbyblazeofgunpowder:theyflyfast;butarestraightwaybackagain。Theylurkinthesebushywildernesses,scraggywoods:

  noforagingpossible,unlesswholeregimentsaresentouttodoit;

  youcannotgetalettersafelycarriedforthem。Theyareanunspeakablecontemptiblegrieftotheearnestleaderofmen。——Letusproceed,however;itwillservenothingtocomplain。LetushopetheFrenchsitwellontheskirtsofPrinceKarl:thesesorrowfullaborsmayallturntogood,inthatcase。

  FriedrichpushesonfromTabor;shootspartly(aswehaveseen)

  acrosstheMoldau,totheleftbankaswell;capturesromanticFrauenbergonitshighrock,whereBrogliogotintosuchaflusteronce。WecouldpushtoPisek,too,andmakea\"BivouacofPisek,\"

  ifwelostourwits!NassauisinBudweis,inNeuhaus;andpropergarrisonsaregonethither:nothingwantingonoursideofthebusiness。ButthesePandours,these10,000InsurrectionHungarians,withtheirTrencksspurringthem!Acontinualunblessedswarmofhornets,these;whichshutouttheverylightofdayfromus。

  Tooliterallythelightofday:wecangetnofreemessagingfromparttopartofourownArmyeven。\"AsmanyassixOrderlieshavebeendespatchedtoanoutlyingGeneral;andnotoneofthemcouldgetthroughtohim。TheyhavesnaptupthreeLetter—bagsdestinedfortheKinghimself。ForfourweeksheisabsolutelyshutoutfromtherestofEurope;\"knowsnotintheleastwhattheKaiser,ortheMostChristianoranyotherKing,isdoing;orwhethertheFrencharesittingwellonPrinceKarl’sskirts,ornotattemptingthatatall。Thisalsoisathingtobeamended,athingyouhadtolearn,yourMajesty?AnArmyabsolutelyshutoutfromnews,fromletters,messagestoorfro,andgropingitswayindarkness,owingtothesecircumambientthunder—cloudsofTolpatches,isnotawell—situatedArmy!Andalas,whenatlasttheLetter—bagdidgetthrough,and——

  Butletusnotanticipate!

  AtTabortherearosetwoopinions;which,inspiteoftheKing’spresence,wasanewdifficulty。SouthfromTaboraday’smarch,theHighwaysplits;directwayforVienna;left—handgoestoNeuhaus,right—hand,orstraightforwardrather,goestoBudweis,bearinguponLinz:whichofthesetwo?NassauhasalreadyseizedBudweis;

  anditisahabitablechampaigncountryincomparison。

  Neuhaus,fartherfromtheMoldauanditsuses,butmoreimminentonAustria,wouldbeeasytoseize;andwouldfrightentheEnemymore。

  LeopoldtheYoungDcssauerisforBudweis;rapidSchwerin,ahardyoutspokenman,isemphaticfortheotherplaceasHead—quarter。

  Soemphaticareboth,thatthetwoGeneralsquarrelthere;

  andFriedrichneedshisauthoritytokeepthemfromoutbreaks,fromopenincompatibilityhenceforth,whichwouldbedestructivetotheservice。Fortherest,Friedrichseizesbothplaces;sendsadetachmenttoNeuhausaswell;butholdsbyBudweisandtheMoldauregionwithhismainArmy;whichwasnotquitegratifyingtothehardySchwerin。Ontheoppositeorleftbank,holdingFrauenberg,therenownedHill—fortressthere,wemakeinroadsatdiscretion:

  butthecountryiswoody,favorabletoPandours;andtherightbankisourchiefsceneofaction。Howwearetomaintainourselvesinthiscountry?TowinterinthesetownsbetweentheSazawaandtheLuschnitz?UnlesstheFrenchsitwellonPrinceKarl’sskirts,itwillnotbepossible。

  THEFRENCHARELITTLEGRATEFULFORTHEPLEASUREDONETHEM

  ATSUCHRUINOUSEXPENSE。

  FrenchsittingwellonPrinceKarl’sskirts?TheyarenotmolestingPrinceKarlinthesmallest;nevertriedsuchathing;——areturnedawaytotheBrisgan,totheUpperRhineCountry;gonetobesiegeFreyburgthere,andseizeTowns;abouttheLakeofConstance,asiftherewerenoFriedrichinthegame!ItmustbeownedtheFrenchdoliberallypayoffoldscoresagainstFriedrich,——if,exceptintheirownimagination,theyhadoldscoresagainsthim。Nomaneverdeliveredthemfromamoreimminentperil;andthey,theropeoncecutthatwasstranglingthem,magnificentlyforgetwhocutit;andcelebrateonlytheirowndistinguishedconductduringandaftertheoperation。Toadegreetrulywonderful。

  Itwasmoonlight,clearasdaythatnight,23dAugust,whenPrinceKarlhadtorecrosstheRhine,closeintheirneighborhood;

  [GuerredeBoheme,iii。196。]——andinsteadofharassingPrinceKarl\"tohalfortowholeruin,\"asthebargainwas,theirdistinguishedconductconsistedingoingquietlytotheirbeds(oldMarechaldeNoaillesevencallingbacksomeofhistooforwardsubalterns),andjoyfullyleavingPrinceKarl,thenandafterwards,tocrosstheRhine,andmarchforBohmen,athisownperfectconvenience。

  \"SeckendorfwillsitonKarl’sskirts,\"theysaid:\"toolateforUS,thisseason;nextseason,youshallsee!\"Suchwastheirtheory,afterLouisgotthatcathartic,androsefrombed。

  Schmettau,withhisimportunities,whichatlastirritatedeverybody,couldmakenothingmoreofit。\"LettheKingofFrancecrownhisgloriesbytheSiegeofFreyburg,theconquestofBrisgau:——forbehoofofthepoorKaiser,don’tyouobserve?

  HitherAustriaistheKaiser’s;——andfurthermore,wereFreyburggone,therewillbenoinvadingofElsassagain\"(whichisanotberprivatelyveryinterestingpoint)!

  Andthere,atFreyburg,theMostChristianKingnowis,andhisArmyuptothekneesinmud,conqueringHitherAustria;besiegingFreyburg,withmuchdifficultyowingtothewet,——besiegingtherewithwhatenergy;aspectacletotheworld!Andhas,forthepresent,butonewife,nomistresseither!WithrapturouseyesFrancelookson;withadmirationtoobigforwords。Voltaire,I

  haveheard,madepilgrimagetoFreyburg,withrhymedPanegyricinhispocket;sawthosemiraculousoperationsofaMostChristianKingmiraculouslyawakened;andhadthehonortopresentsaidPanegyric;andbeseen,forthefirsttime,bytheroyaleyes,——

  whichdidnotseemtorelishhimmuch。[ThePanegyric(EPITREAU

  ROIDEVANTFRIBOURG)isinOEuvresdeVoltaire,xvii。184。]SincethefirstdaysofOctober,Freyburghadbeenunderconstantassault;\"amidrains,amidfrosts;asiegelongandmurderous\"(tothebesiegingparty);——andwasnotgottillNovember5th;notquiteentirely,theCitadelsofit,tillNovember25th;MajestygonehometoParis,toilluminationsandtriumphalarches,intheinterim。[Adelung,iv。266;Barbier,ii。414(13thNovember,&c。),fortheilluminations,grandintheextreme,inspiteofwildrainsandwinds。]Ithadbeenadifficultandbloodyconquesttohim,thisofFreyburgandtheBrisgauCountry;andI

  neverheardthateithertheKaiserorhegotsensibleadvantagebyit,——thoughPrinceKarl,onthepresentoccasion,mightbesaidtogetagreatdeal。

  \"SeckendorfwilldoyourPrinceKarl,\"theyhadcriedalways:

  \"SeckendorfandhisPrussianMajesty!ArenotweconqueringHitherAustriahere,fortheKaiser’sbehoof?\"Seckendorftheydidofficiallyappointtopursue;appointorallow;——andlaidalltheblameonSeckendorf;whoperhapsdeservedhisshareofit。

  Verycertainitis,SeckendorfdidlittleornothingtoPrinceKarl;marched\"leisurelybehindhimthroughtheOber—Pfalz,\"——

  skirtingBaireuthCountry,Karlandhe,toWilhelmina’sgrief;

  [HerLetters(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。

  i。133,&c。)。]——\"leisurelybehindhimatadistanceoffourdays,\"

  knewbetterthanmeddlewithPrinceKarl。SothatPrinceKarl,\"intwenty—onemarches,\"disturbedonlybytheelementsandbadroads,reachedWaldmunchen26thSeptember,intheFurth—ChamCountry;

  [Ranke,iii。187。]andwasheardtoexclaim:\"Weareletoffforthefright,then(NOUSVOILAQUITTESPOURLAPEUR)!\"——Seckendorf,findingnothingtoliveuponinOber—Pfalz,couldnotattendPrinceKarlfarther;butturnedleftwardshometoBavaria;madeakindofSecond\"ReconquestofBavaria\"(onexactlythesametermsastheFirst,AustrianoccupantsbeingallcalledofftoassistinBohmenagain);——concerningwhich,hereisanExcerpt:——

  \"Seckendorf,followingathisleisure,andjoinedbytheHessiansandPfalzers,soasnowtoexceed30,000,leavesPrinceKarlandtherestoftheenterprisetodoasitcan;andapplieshimself,forhisownshare,astheneedfulestthing,togettingholdofBavariaagain,thathispoorKaisermayhavewheretolayhishead,andpayoldservantstheirwages。Dreadfullyexclaimedagainst,theoldgentleman,especiallybytheFrenchco—managers:’WhydidnottheoldtraitorstickintherearofPrinceKarl,inthedifficultpasses,anddrivehimprone,——whilewewentbesiegingFreyburg,andpoachingabout,tryingforabitoftheBrisgauwhilechanceserved!’Atraitorbeyonddoubt;probablyboughtwithmoneydown:

  thinksValori。But,afterall,whatcouldSeckendorfdo?HeisnowofweightforBarenklauandBavaria,notformuchmore。HedoessweepBarenklauandhisAustriansfromBavaria,clearout(inthecourseofthisOctober),allbutIngolstadtandtwoorthreestrongtowns,——Passauespecially,’whichcanbeblockaded,andafterwardsbesiegedifneedful。’Fortherest,heisdreadfullyill—offforprovisions,incapableoftheleast,attemptonPassau(asFriedrichurged,onhearingofhimagain);andwillhavetocantonhimselfinhome—quarters,andlivebyhisshiftstillSpring。

  \"ThenoiseofFrenchcensurerisesloud,againstnotthemselves,butagainstSeckendorf:——Friedrich,beforethatTolpatcheclipseofCorrespondence[whenthreeofhisLetter—bagswereseized,andhefellquitedark],hadtoowellforeboded,andcontemptuouslyexpressedhisastonishmentattheblameBOTHwerewellearning:

  Passau,saidhe,cannotyougoatleastuponPassau;whichmightalarmtheEnemyalittle,anddraghimhomewards?’Adieu,mydearSeckendorf,yourOfficerwilltellyouhowwedidtheSiegeofPrag。YouandyourFrencharewettedhens(POULESMOUILLEES),’——

  coweringaboutlikedrenchedhensinadayofsetrain。’AsIhearnothingofeitherofyou,Imusttrytogetoutofthisbusinesswithoutyourhelp;’\"——otherwiseitwillbeillformeindeed!

  [ExcerptedFragmentofaLetterfromFriedrich,——(exactdatenotgiven,dateofEXCERPTis,DonanworthCountry,23dSeptember,1744),——whichtheFrenchAgentinSeckendorf’sArmyhadareadingof(CampagnesdeCoigny,iv。185—187;

  ib。216—219:citedinAdelung,iv。225)。]\"WhichlatterexpressionalarmedtheFrench,andsetthemuponwritingandbustling,butnotupondoinganything。\"

  \"PrinceKarlhadcrossedtheRhineunmolested,intheclearestmoonlight,August23d—24th;SeckendorfwasnotwhollygottoHeilbronn,September8th:aprettywaybehindPrinceKarl!

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