第63章
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  ……\"ItiscertaintheFrenchintendgloriously;regardlessofexpense。TheyaredismantlingFreyburg,torenderitharmlesshenceforth。But,withal,inanswertothepoorKaiser’sshrieks,theyhavesentSegur[ouroldLinzfriend],with12,000,toassistSeckendorf;’thebravesttroopsintheworld,’\"——whodidbravelytakeonebeating(atPfaffenhofen,aswillbeseen),andgohomeagain。(\"TheyhaveCoignyguardingthosefineBrisgauConquests。Andarefurthermorediplomatizingdiligently,nottosaytruculently,intheRhineCountries;bullyingpoorlittlefatKur—Trier,leanKur—Kolnandothers,’TojointheFrankfurtUnion’

  (notoneofwhomwould,undermenace),——though’itisthecleardutyofallReich’s—PrinceswithaKaiserunderoppression:’——andhavemarchedMaillebois,directlyafterFreyburg,intotheMiddle—

  RhineCountries,toKolnCountry,toMainzCountry,andtoandfro,insupportofsaidcompulsorydiplomacies;——butwithouttheleasteffect。\"

  Tothe\"Middle—RhineCountries,\"observe,andunderMaillebois,thenunderConti,littlematterunderwhom:onlyletreadersrecollectthenameofit;——foritistheFIRSToftheFrenchAttemptstodosomethingofajoint—stocknature;somethingforselfANDAllies,insteadofforselfonly。Itcausedgreatalarminthosemonths,toBritannicGeorgeandothers;andbroughtoutpoorDucd’Ahrembergwithportions(noEnglishincluded)ofthepoorPragmaticArmy,togomarchingaboutinthewinterslushes,insteadofrestinginbed,[Adelung,iv。276,420(\"December,1744—June,1745\")。]——andisindeedaveryloudbusinessintheoldGazettesandbooks,tillAugustcoming。BusinesswhichalmostbrokepoorD’Ahremberg’sheart,hesays,\"tillonceIgotoutofit\"(wasTURNEDout,infact):BusinessofPragmaticArmy,underD’Ahremberg,VERSUSMiddle—RhineArmyunderMaillebois,underConti;BusinessnowwhollyofZeroVERSUSZerotous,——exceptforafewdatesandreflexglimmeringsuponKingFriedrich。Resultotherwise——WeshallseetheResult!

  \"AttemptSECONDwasstillmoreimportanttoFriedrich;beingdirectedupontheKaiserandBavaria。Belleisleistogothitherandtakesurvey;Belleislethitherfirst:youmayjudgeiftheintentionissincere!Valoriisquiteeloquentuponit。

  DirectlyafterFreyburg,sayshe,Sechelles,thatfirstofCommissaries,wassenttoMunchen。SechellesclearedupthechaosofAccounts;whichKingLouistheninstantlypaid。’YourImperialMajestyshallhaveMagazinesalso,’saidLouis,regardlessofexpense;’andyourArmy,withauxiliaries(Segurand25,000ofthemFrench),shallberaisedto60,000。’Belleislethencame:’WewillhaveIngolstadt,thefirstthing,inSpring。’Alas,BelleislehadhisAccidentintheHarz;andallwentaback,fromthattime。\"

  [Valori,i。322—329。]Aback,tooindisputably,all!——\"AndBelleisle’sAccident?\"Patience,readers。

  \"Thetruthis,AttemptSECOND,andchief,brokedownatonce[Bathyanibeatingittopieces,aswillbeseen],——theruinsofitpainfullyreactingonAttemptFIRST;whichhadthelikefatesomemonthslater;——andtherewasnoTHIRDmade。And,infact,fromthedateofthatlatterdown—break,August,orendofJuly,1745[andquiteespeciallyfrom\"September13th,\"bywhichtimeseveralirrevocablethingshadhappened,whichweshallhearof],theFrenchwithdrewaltogetheroutofGermanentanglements;

  andconcentratedthemselvesupontheNetherlands,theretodemolishhisBritannicMajesty,asthelikelierenterprise。Thiswasacoursetowhich,eversincetheExitofBroglioandtheOriflamme,theyhadbeenmoreandmoretendingandinclining,’Nothingforusbutlossonloss,tobehadinGermany!’andsotheyatlastfranklygaveupthatbadCountry。TheyfoughtwellintheNetherlands,withgreatsplendorofsuccess,underSaxeVERSUS

  CumberlandandCompany。TheydidalsosomesuccessfulworkinItaly;——andleftFriedrichtobearthebruntinGermany;toogladifheoranotherweretheretotakeGermanyofftheirhand!

  Friedrich’sfeelingsonhisarrivingatthisconsummation,andduringhisgradualadvancetowardsit,whichwasprettysteadyallalongfromthosefirst’drenched—hen(POULESMOUILLEES)’

  procedures,wereamplyknowntoExcellencyValori,andmaybeconceivedbyreaders,\"——whoareslightlyinterestedinthedatesofthematfarthest。AndnowfortheBelleisleAccident,withthesefaintpreliminarylights。

  STRANGEACCIDENTTOMARECHALDEBELLEISLEINTHE

  HARZMOUNTAINS(20thDecember,1744)。

  SiegeofFreyburgbeingcompleted,andtheRiverandmostotherthings(exceptalwaysthebastions,whichweblowup)beingletintotheiroldchannelsthere,MarechaldeBelleisle,whoistohaveachiefmanagementhenceforth,——theMostChristianKingrecognizinghimagainashisablestmaninwarorpeace,——setsforthonalongtourofsupervision,ofdiplomacyandgeneralarrangement,topreparemattersforthenextCampaign。NeedenoughofaBelleisle:whatabusinesswehavemadeofit,sinceFriedrichtrodontheserpent’stailforus。!NothingbutourownFreyburgtoshowforourselves;elsewhere,meredown—rushofeverythingwhitherwarditliked;——andKingFriedrichgotintosuchahumor!

  Friedrichmustbeputintuneagain;somethingrealandgoodtobeagreedonatBerlin:letthatbethelastthing,crownofthewhole。Thefirstthingis,lookintoBavariaalittle;andhowtheKaiser,poorgentleman,inwantofallrequisitesbutgood—will,canbeputintosomethingoffightingposture。

  \"IntheendofNovember,MarechalDucdeBelleisle,withhisBrothertheChevalier(nowproperlytheCount,therehavingbeenpromotions),andagreatretinuemore,alightsatMunchen;

  holdscounselwiththepoorKaiserforcertaindays:——Moneywanted;

  manythingswanted;andallthings,weneednotdoubt,muchfallenoutofsquare。’ThoseSeckendorftroopsintheirwinter—quarters,’

  sayourFrenchInspectorsandSegurpeople,asusual,’dobutlookonit,yourExcellency!Scattered,alongthevalleys,intotheveryedgeofAustria;Austriawillswallowthem,thefirstthing,nextyear;theywillneverrendezvousagainexceptintheAustrianprisons。Surely,Monseigneur,onlyamanignorantofwar,orwithtreasonousintention[orill—offforvictuals],——couldposttroopsinthatway?Seckendorfisnotignorantofwar!’saythey。

  [Valori,i。206。]For,infact,suspicionrunshigh;andthereisnoendtotheaccusationsjustandunjust;andSeckendorfisasilltreatedasanyofuscouldwish。Pooroldsoul。ProbablynobodyinalltheEarth,buthisoldWifeintheSchlossofAltenburg,hasanypityforhim,——ifevenshe,whichIhope。Hehasfoughtanddiplomatizedandintriguedinmanycountries,verymuch;andinhisolddaysishardbested。Monseigueur,whosepartisratherthatofJovetheCloud—compeller,isstudioustobehimselfnoiselessamidthisnoise;andmakesnoalterationintheSeckendorftroops;

  butitiscertainhemeanttodoit,thinksValori。\"

  AndindeedSeckendorf,tiredoftheBavarianbed—of—roses,hadprivatelyfixedwithhimselftoquitthesame;——anddoesso,inexorabletotheveryKaiser,onNew—Yeararriving。

  [SeckendorfsLeben,p。365。]SucceededbyThorring(ouroldfriendDRUMThorring),ifthatbeanimprovement。

  MarechaldeBelleislehasstillalongjourneyahead,andinfinitelyharderproblemsthanthese,——assuagementoftheKingofPrussia,forexample。Letusfollowhisremarkablesteps。

  \"WEDNESDAY,9thDECEMBER,1744,theMarechalleavesMunchen,northwardsthroughOEttingenandtheBamberg—AnspachregionstowardsCassel;——journeyofsomethreehundredandfiftymiles:

  withagreatretinueofhisown;withanescortoftwohundredhorsefromtheKaiser;theselattertopreventanyoutfallorinsultintheIngolstadtquarter,wheretheAustrianshaveagarrison,notatallverytightlyblockedbytheSeckendorfpeoplethereabouts。Noinsultoroutfalloccurring,theMarechaldismisseshisescortatOEttingen;faresforwardinhistwentycoachesandfourgons,somescoreorsoofvehicles:——mereneutralImperialCountrieshenceforth,wheretheKaiser’sAgent,asMarechaldeBelleislecanstylehimself,andTitularPrinceoftheGermanEmpirewithal,hasonlytopayhisway。ByDonauworth,byOEttingen;overtheDonauacclivities,thendownthepleasantValleyoftheMayn。[SeeREVIEWOFTHECASEOFMARSHALBELLEISLE

  (orAbstractofit,Gentleman’sMagazine,

  1745,pp。366—373);&c。&c。]

  \"SUNDAY,13thDECEMBER,MarechaldeBelleislearrivesatHanau[wherewehaveseenConferencesheldbeforenow,andCarteret,PrinceKarlandgreatGeorgeourKingverybusy],theretoconferwithMarshalsCoigny,Mailleboisandotherhighmen,CommandersinthoseRhineparts。Whoallcomeaccordingly,exceptMarechalMaillebois,whoissorrythatheabsolutelycannot;butwillsurelydohimselfthehonorasMonseigneurreturns。\"AsMonseigneurreturns!\"Andso,onMonday,14th,MonseigneurstartsforCassel;

  sayahundredmilesrightnorth;whereweshallmeetPrinceWilhelmofHessen—Cassel,azealousAlly;informhimhowhisTroops,underSeckendorf,areposted[atVilshofenyonder;hidinghowperiloustheirpostis,orpromisingalterations];perhapsrestadayortwo,consultingastothecommonweal:HowtheKingofPrussiatakesourtreatmentofhim?HowtosmooththeKingofPrussia,andturnhimtoharmonyagain?Weareapproachingthetruenodusofourbusiness,difficultyofdifficulties;andWilhelm,thewiseLandgraf,mayaffordahintortwo。ThustravelsmagnanimousBelleisleintwentyvehicles,amanloadedwithweightymatters,inthesedeepWintermonths;sufferingdreadfullyfromrheumaticneuralgicailments,aDoctoroneofhisneedfulestequipments;

  andhasthehardestproblemyetaheadofhim。

  \"PrinceWilhelm’sconsultationsarehappilylostaltogether;

  buriedfromsightforever,tothelasthint,——allexceptastowhatroadtoBerlinwouldbethebestfromCassel。ByLeipzig,throughlow—lyingcountry,isthegreatHighway,advisableinwinter;

  butitrunsahundredandthirtymilestoright,beforeeverstartingnorthward;sucharoundabout。NottosaythattheSaxonsarealliesofAustria,——iftherebeanythinginthat。

  Enemies,they,totheMostChristianKing:thoughsurely,again,weareonKaiser’sbusiness,naywearetitular’PrinceoftheReich,’

  forthatmatter,suchtheKaiser’sgracetous?Well;itisbetterperhapstoAVOIDtheSaxonTerritory。And,ofcourse,theHanoverianmuchmore;throughwhichliestheotherGreatRoad!

  ’GobytheHarz,’advisesLandgrafWilhelm:’aruggedHillCountry;

  butitisyourhypotenusetowardsBerlin;passesatonce,ornearlyso,fromCasselTerritoryintoPrussian:aruggedroad,butashorterandsafer。’ThatistheroadBelleisleresolvesupon。

  Twentycarriages;hisBrothertheChevalierandhimselfoccupyone;

  andalwaysthecourierridesbefore,orderingfortypost—horsestobereadyharnessed。

  \"SUNDAY,20thDECEMBER,1744。InthiswaytheyhaveclimbedtheeasternshinoftheHarzRange,wheretheHarziscapableofwheel—

  carriages;andhopenowtodescend,thisnight,toHalberstadt;

  andthencerapidlybylevelroadstoBerlin。Itissinkingtowardsdark;thecourierisforwardtoElbingerode,orderingfortyhorsestobeout。Roughishuphillroad;winterintheskyandearth,wintervaporsandtumblingwind—gusts:westward,intornstorm—

  cloak,theBracken,withitswitch—dances;highlandGoslar,andghostofHenrytheFowler,ontheothersideofit。AmultifariouswizardCountry,muchoverhungbygoblinreminiscences,witch—

  dances,sorcerers’—sabbathsandthelike,——ifarheumaticgentlemancaredtolookonit,inthecoldtwilight。Brrh!Wastechasmyuplands,snow—chokedtorrents;wildpeople,gloomyfirs!Hereatlast,byone’swatch5P。M。,isElbingerode,uncomfortablelittleTown;anditistobehopedthefortypost—horsesareready。

  \"Behold,whilethefortypost—horsesaregettingready,athingtakesplace,mostunexpected;——whichmadethenameofElbingerodefamousforeightmonthstocome。Ofwhichletushastilygivethebarefacts,Fancymakingofthemwhatshecan。WasMonseigneurawarethatthisElbingerode,withapatchofterritoryroundit,isHanoverianground;oneofthosedistractedpatchesorraggedoutskirtsfrequentintheGermanmap?Prussiaisnotyet,andHessen—Casselhasceasedtobe。UndoubtedlyHanoverian!

  ApparentlytheLandgrafandMonseigneurhadnotthoughtofthat。

  ButMunchhausenofHanover,spiesinforminghim,had。TheBailiff(Vogt,AdVOCATus)hasgatheredtwentyJAGER[officialGame—keepers]

  withtheirguns,andaselectidleSundaypopulationoftheplacewithorwithoutguns:theVogtstepsforward,andinquiresforMonseigneur’spassport。’Nopassport,noneedofany!’——’Pardon!’

  andsignifiestoMonseigneur,onthepartofGeorgeElectorofHanover,KingofGreatBritain,FranceandIreland,thatMonseigneurisarrested!

  \"Monseigneur,withcompressedorincompressiblefeelings,indignantlycomplies,——whatcouldheelse,unfortunaterheumaticgentleman?——andispluckedawayinsuchsuddenmanner,heforone,outofthatbigGermangameofhisraising。Thetwentyvehiclesaredraggeddifferentroads;towardsScharzfels,Osterode,orIknownotwhere,——handiestroadstoHanover;——andMonseigneurhimselfhastravellingtreatmentwhichmightbecomplainedof,didnotonedisdaincomplaint:’myBrotherpartedfromme,naymyDoctor,andmyInterpreter;’\"——notevenspeechpossibletome。[LetterofBelleislenextmorning,\"Neuhof,21stDecember,9A。M。\"(inValori,i。204),toMunchhausenatHanover,——bynopossibility\"toValori,\"asthedistractedFrenchEditorhasgivenit!]ThatwastheBelleisleAccidentintheHarz,SundayEvening,20thDecember,1744。

  \"AfflictedindignantValori,soonenoughapprised,runstoFriedrichwiththenews,——greetsFriedrichwithitjustalightingfromthatSilesianrunofhisown。Friedrich,notwithoutseveralotherthingstothinkof,isnaturallysorryatsuchnews;

  sorryforhisownsakeeven;butnotovermuch。Friedrichrefuses’todespatchapartyofhorse,’andcutoutMarechaldeBelleisle。

  \"Thatwillneverdo,MONCHER!’——andevengetsintoFROIDES

  PLAISANTERIES:’PerhapstheMarechaldidithimself?

  Tallard,prisonerafterBlenheim,madePEACE,youknow,inEngland?’——andthelike;whichgrievedthesoulofValori,andconvincedhimofFriedrich’sinhumanity,inacryingcase。

  \"BelleisleisluggedontoHanover;hiscasenotdoubtfultoMunchhausen,ortheEnglishMinistry,——thoughitraisedgreatargument,(wasthecapturefair,wasitunfair?Isheentitledtoexchangebycartel,ornotentitled?’andproduced,inthenexteightmonths,muchangryanimatedpamphleteeringandnegotiation。

  Forwehearbyandby,heistobeforwardedtoStade,ontheHamburgsea—coast,whereEnglishSeventy—foursarewaitingforhim;

  hiscasestillundecided;——and,ineffect,itwasnottillaftereightmonthsthathegotdismissal。’LodgedhandsomelyinWindsorPalace,’intheinterim;freeonhisparole,peopleofrankveryciviltohim,thoughtheGazetteersweresometimesill—tongued,——

  hadheunderstoodtheirPATOIS,orconcernedhimselfaboutsuchthings。[\"TUESDAY,18thFEBRUARY[lstMarch,1745],MarshalBelleislelandedatHarwich;layatGreenwichPalace,havingcrossedThamesattheIsleofDogs:nextmorning,about10,setout,inacoach—and—six,ColonelDouglasandtwotroopsofhorseescorting;arrived3P。M。,——byCamberwell,Clapham,Wandsworth,overKingstonandStainesBridges,——atWindsorCastle,andtheapartmentsreadyforhim。\"(Gentleman’sMagazine,1745,p107。)Wasletgo13th(24th)August,againwithgreatpompandcivilities(ib。p。442)。SeeAdelung,iv。299,346;

  v。83,84。]

  \"Itwasacurrentnotionamongcontemporarymankind,thisofFriedrich,thatBelleisle’scapturemightbeamerecollusion,meanttobringaboutaPeaceinthatTallardfashion,——wideofthetruthassuchanotionis,farasanyPeacewasfromfollowing。

  ToBritannicGeorgeandhisHanoveriansithadmerelyseemed,HerewasachiefWar—CaptainandDiplomatistamongtheFrench;thepivotofalltheseworld—widemovements,asValoridefineshim;

  whichpivot,achanceoffering,itwerewelltotwitchfromitssocket,andseewhatwouldfollow。Perhapsnothingwillfollow;

  nexttonothing?Aworld,allwaltzinginmadwar,isnottobestoppedbyactingonanypivot;yourwaltzingworldwillfindnewpivots,ordowithoutany,andperhapsonlywaltzthemoremadlyforwantingtheprincipalone。\"

  ThiswithdrawalofBelleisle,theoneFrenchmanrespectedbyFriedrich,ormuchinterestedforhisownsakeinthingsGerman,isreckonedamaincausewhytheFrenchAllianceturnedoutsoillforFriedrich;andwhyFrenchefforttookmoreandmoreaNetherlandsdirectionthenceforth,andthesenewFrenchmagnanimitiesonFriedrich’sbehalfissuedinfutilityagain。Probablytheynevercouldhaveissuedinverymuch:butitiscertainthat,fromthispoint,theyalsodobecomezero;andthatFriedrich,fromhisFrenchalliance,reapedfromfirsttolastnothingatall,exceptagreatdealofobloquyfromGermanneighbors,andfromtheFrenchsideendlesstrouble,angeranddisappointmentineveryparticular。

  Which’mightbeajoy(thoughnotunmixed)toBritannicMajestyandthesubtlefollowerswhohadginnedthisfineBelleislebirdinitsflightovertheHarzRange?Thoughagain,hadtheypassivelylethimwinghisway,andhehadGOT\"tobeCommanderandManager,\"aswasinagitation,——he,BelleisleandinGermany,insteadofMarechaldeSaxewiththeNetherlandsaschiefscene,——whatanadvantagemightthathavebeentothem!

  THEKAISERKARLVII。GETSSECUREDFROMOPPRESSIONS,INA

  TRAGICWAY。FRIEDRICHPROPOSESPEACE,BUTTONOPURPOSE。

  AstillsaddercrossforFriedrich,inthecurrentofforeignAccidentsandDiplomacies,wasthenextthatbefell;exactlyamonthlater,——atMunchen,20thJanuary,1745。HardlywasBelleisle’sbackturned,whenherHungarianMajesty,byherBathyaniandCompany,brokefuriouslyinuponthepoorKaiserandhisSeckendorf—Segurdefences。BelleislehadnotreachedtheHarz,whenallwasgoingtopsy—turvythereagain,andtheDonau—ValleyfastfallingbackintoAustrianhands。Noristhattheworst,ornearlyso。

  \"MUNCHEN,20thJANUARY,1745。ThisdaypoorKaiserKarllaiddownhisearthlyburdenhere,andatlengthgaveallhisenemiestheslip。Hehadbeenillofgoutforsometime;amanofmuchmaladyalways,withnowantofvexationsandapprehensions。ToolikelytheAustrianswilldrivehimoutofMunchenagain;thennothingbutfurnishedlodgings,andtheFrenchtodependupon。HehadbeenmuchchagrinedbysomeElection,justdone,intheChapterofSalzburg。

  [Adelung,iv。249,276,313。]TheArchbishopthere——itwasFirmian,heoftheSALZBURGEMIGRATION,memorabletoreaders——haddied,somewhileago。Andnow,inflatcontradictiontoImperialcustoms,prerogatives,thesepeoplehadadmittedanAustrianGarrison;

  andthen,intheteethofourexpressprecept,hadelectedanAustriantotheirbenefice:whatcanoneaccountitbutaninsultaswellasaninjury?Andtheneuralgicmaladiespresssore,andthegoutytwinges;andBelleisleisseized,perhapswithimportantpapersofours;andtheSeckendorf—Segurdetachmentswereillplaced;nayherearetheAustriansalreadyonthethroatofthem,inmidwinter!Itissaid,ababblingvalet,orlord—in—waiting,happenedtotalkofsomeskirmishthathadfallenout(calledabattle,inthevaletrumor),andhowilltheFrenchandBavarianshadfaredinit,owingtotheirillbehavior。Andthis,addthey,provedtobetheounce—weighttoomuchforthesoheavy—ladenback。

  \"TheKaisertooktobed,notmuchcomplaining;patient,mild,thoughthesaddestofallmortals;and,inadayortwo,died。

  Adieu,adieu,yelovedfaithfulones;pityme,andprayforme!

  HegavehisWife,poorlittlefatdevoutcreature,andhispoorChildren(eldestlad,hisHeir,onlyseventeen),atenderblessing;

  solemnlyexhortedthem,Toeschewambition,andbewarnedbyhisexample;——tomaketheirpeacewithAustria;andnever,likehim,tryCOM’EDUROCALLE,andwhatthecharityofChristianKingsamountsto。Thiscounsel,itisthought,theEmpressDowagerzealouslyaccedesto,andwillimpressuponherSon。ThatistheAustrianandCause—of—Libertyaccount:KingFriedrich,fromtheotherside,hasheardadirectlyoppositeone。HowtheKaiser,atthepointofdeath,exhortedhisson,’NeverforgettheserviceswhichtheKingofFranceandtheKingofPrussiahavedoneus,anddonotrepaythemwithingratitude。’[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。92;——andsee(PERCONTRA)inAdelung,iv。314A;

  inCoxe,&c。]Thereadercanchoosewhichhewill,orrejectbothintotheregionoftheuncertain。’KarlAlbert’spiousandaffectionatedemeanordrewtearsfromalleyes,’saytheby—

  standers:’themannerinwhichhetookleaveofhisEmpresswouldhavemeltedaheartofstone。’Hewasinhisforty—eighthyear;hehadbeen,ofallmeninhisgeneration,themostconspicuouslyunhappy。\"

  Whatadown—rushofconfusionthereensuedonthisevent,nottoBavariaalone,buttoalltheworld,andtoKingFriedrichmorethananother,noreadercannowtakethepainsofconceiving。

  The\"FrankfurtUnion,\"then,hasgonetoair!Hereisnowno\"Kaisertobedeliveredfromoppression:\"hereisanewKaisertobeelected,——\"Grand—DukeFranztheman,\"crythePragmaticPotentateswithexultation,\"noBelleisletodisturb!\"——andquestionsariseinnumerablethereupon,WillFrancegointoelectioneeringagain?ThenewKur—Baiern,onlyseventeen,poorchild,cannotbesetupascandidate。WhatwillFrancedowithHIM;

  whathewithFrance?WhomcantheFrenchtryasCandidateagainsttheGrand—Duke?Kur—Sachsen,thePolishMajestyagain?Belleislehimselfmusthavepauseduncertainoversuchawelter,——andprobablyhavedone,liketheothers,littleornothinginit,butleftittocollapsebynaturalgravitation。

  HungarianMajestycheckedherBavarianArmamentsalittle:

  \"IfperhapsthisyoungKur—BaiernwilldetachhimselffromFrance,andonsubmissivetermscomeovertous?\"Whereupon,atMunchen,andinthecognatequarters,suchwriggling,dubitatinganddiplomatizing,asseldomwas,——French,Anti—French(Seckendorfbusiestofall),strainingeverynerveinthatway,andforalmostthreemonths,nothingcomingofit,——tillHungarianMajestysentherBarenklausandBathyanisuponthemagain;andtheserapidlysolvedthequestion,inwhatwayweshallsee!

  FriedrichhasstillhishopesofBavaria,sograndiloquentaretheFrenchinregardtoit;whobutwouldhope?TheFrenchdiplomatizetoalllengthsinMunchen,promisingseasandmountains;buttheyperformlittle;inaneffectualmanner,nothing。Bavarian\"Armyraisedto60,000;\"countsinfactlittleabovehalfthatnumber;

  withnoGeneraltoitbutanimaginaryone;Segur’sactualFrenchcontingent,insteadof25,000,isperhaps12,000;——andsoofotherthings。Addtoallwhich,Seckendorfisthere,notnowasWar—

  General,butasextra—official\"Adviser;\"busierthanever,——

  \"scandalousoldtraitor!\"saytheFrench;——andFriedrichmayjustlyfearthatBavariawillgo,bycollapse,abadroadforhim。

  Friedrich,aweekortwoaftertheKaiser’sdeath,seeingBavarianandFrenchthingsinsuchahypotheticstate,instructshisAmbassadoratLondontodeclarehis,Friedrich’s,perfectreadinessandwishforPeace:\"OldTreatyofBreslauandBerlinmadeindubitabletome;therestofthequarrelhas,bydeceaseoftheKaiser,gonetoair。\"TowhichtheBritannicMajesty,ratherelatedatthistime,asallPragmaticpeopleare,answerssomewhatinacarelessway,\"Well,iftheotherslikeit!\"andpromisesthathewillproposeitintheproperquarter。SothathenceforththereisalwaysahopeofPeacethroughEngland;aswellascontrariwise,especiallytillBavariasettleitself(inAprilnext),ahopeofgreatassistancefromtheFrench。Herearepotentialitiesandcounter—potentialities,whichmaketheBavarianIntricacyveryagitatingtotheyoungKing,whileitlasts。AndindeedhisworldisonehugeimbroglioofPotentialitiesandDiplomaticIntricacies,agitatingtobehold。ConcerningwhichwehaveagaintoremarkhowthesehugeSpectresofDiplomacy,nowfillingFriedrich’sworld,camemostlyinresulttoNothing;——shapingthemselveswholly,fororagainst,inexactproportion,directorinverse,totheactualQuantityofBattleandeffectivePerformancethathappenedtobefoundinFriedrichhimself。DiplomaticSpectralities,wideFatamorganasofhope,andhideousbigBugbearsblottingoutthesun:ofthese,fewmeneverhadmorethanFriedrichatthistime。

  Andheiscareful,nonecarefuler,nottoneglecthisDiplomaciesatanytime;——thoughheknows,betterthanmost,thatgoodfightingofhisowniswhatalonecandeterminethevalueofthesecontingentandaerialquantities,——mereLaplandwitchcraftthegreaterpartofthem。

  AsecondgrandIntricacyanddifficulty,stillmoreenigmatic,andpressingthetighterbyitscloseneighborhood,wasthatwiththeSaxons。\"AretheSaxonsenemies;aretheyfriends?Neutralsatlowest;boundbyTreatytolendAustriatroops;buttolendfordefencemerely,notforoffence!Couldnotone,bygoodmethods,makefriendswithhisPolishMajesty?\"FriedrichwasfarfromsuspectingtheragesthatlurkedinthePolishMajesty,andleastofallowingtowhat。OwingtothatoldMORAVIAN—FORAYbusiness;

  andtohis,Friedrich’s,behaviortotheSaxonsinit;excellentSaxons,whohadbehavedsobeautifullytoFriedrich!Thatisthesadfact,however。StupidPolishMajestyhashisnaturalenvies,jealousies,ofaBrandenburgwaxingoverhisheadatthisrate。

  Butitappears,theMoravianForayenteredforagreatdealintotheaccount,andwasthefinaloverwhelmingitem。Bruhl,bymuchdescantingonthatfamousExpedition,——withsuchcandidEye—

  witnessestoappealto,suchcorroborativeStaff—officersandappliances,powerfulontheidleheartandweakbrainofaPolishMajesty,——hasbroughtitsofar。Fixedindignation,forintolerableusage,especiallyinthatMoravian—Foraytime:fixed;notverymalignant,butaltogetherobstinate(as,Iamtold,thatofthepacificsheepspeciesusuallyis);whichcarriedBruhlandhisPolishMajestytoextraordinaryheightsanddepthsinyearscoming!

  Butthatwilldeserveasectiontoitselfbyandby。

  Athirddifficulty,privatelymorestringentthanany,isthatofFinance。TheexpensesofthelateBohemianExpedition,\"Friedrich’sArmycosting75,000poundsamonth,\"havebeenexcessive。ForournextCampaign,ifitistobedoneinthewayessential,thereare,byrigorousarithmetic,\"900,000pounds\"needed。AfrugalPrussiaraisesnonewtaxes;paysitsWarsfrom\"theTreasure,\"fromtheFundsavedbeforehandforemergenciesofthatkind;Fundwhichisrunninglow,threateningtobeattheleesifsuchdrainonitcontinue。Tofightwitheffectbeingtheonesurehope,andsalveforallsores,itisnotintheArmy,intheFortresses,theFightingEquipments,thatthereshallbeanyflawleft!

  Friedrich’sbudgetisasoreproblemuponhim;needingendlessshiftandingenuity,nowandonwards,throughthiswar:——already,duringthesemonths,intheBerlinSchloss,agreatdealofthosemassiveFriedrich—WilhelmplateSumptuosities,especiallythatunparalleledMusic—Balconyupstairs,allsilver,hasbeen,underFredersdorf’smanagement,quietlytakenaway;\"carriedover,inthenight—time,totheMint。\"[Orlich,ii。126—128。]

  And,infact,nomodernreader,notdeeperinthatdistressingstoryoftheAustrian—SuccessionWarthanreadersareagainliketobe,canimaginetohimselfthedifficultiesofFriedrichatthistime,astheyalreadylaydisclosed,andkeptgraduallydisclosingthemselves,formonthscoming;norwilleverknowwhatperspicacity,patienceofscanning,sharpnessofdiscernment,dexterityofmanagement,wererequiredatFriedrich’shands;——andunderwhatimminencyofperil,too;victoriousdeliverance,orruinandannihilation,waveringfearfullyinthebalanceforhim,morethanonce,orratherallalong。ButitiscertainthedeeperonegoesintothathideousMedea’sCaldronofstupidities,oncesoflamy,nowfallenextinct,themoreisonesensibleofFriedrich’sdifficulties;andofthetalentforallkindsofCaptaincy,——bynomeansintheFieldonly,orperhapsevenchiefly,——thatwasnowrequiredofhim。Candidreadersshallacceptthesehints,anddotheirbest:——Friedrichhimselfmadenottheleastcomplaintofmen’sthenmisunderstandinghim;stilllesswillhenow!

  We,keepinghenceforththeDiplomacies,thevaporousForeshadows,andgeneralDanceofUncleanSpiritswiththeirintriguesandspectralities,wellunderground,sofaraspossible,willsticktowhatcomesupaspracticalPerformanceonFriedrich’spart,andtrytogiveintelligibleaccountofthat。

  Valorisays,heisgreatlychanged,andforthebetter,bytheselatereversesoffortune。Alltheworldnoticesit,saysValori。

  Nolongerthatbriefinfallibilityofmanner;thatloftylightair,thatpolitelydisdainfulviewofValoriandmankind:hehasnowneedofmen。Complainsofnothing,ischeerful,quizzical;——

  ardentlybusyto\"grindoutthenotches,\"asourproverbis;hasamildhumaneaspect,somethingofmodesty,almostofpietyinhim。

  Helpme,thouSupremePower,Makerofmen,ifmypurposesaremanlike!ThoughonedoesnotgouponthePrayersofForty—Hours,orapplythroughSt。Vitusandsuchchannels,theremaybesomethingofauthenticpetitiontoHeaveninthethoughtsofthatyoungman。

  Heisgrownveryamiable;thehandsomestyoungbitofRoyaltynowgoing。HemustfightwellnextSummer,oritwillgohardwithhim!

  ChapterVI。

  VALORIGOESONANELECTIONEERINGMISSIONTODRESDEN。

  SometimeinJanuary,anewFrenchman,a\"ChevalierdeCourten,\"ifthenameisknowntoanybody,washereatBerlin;consulting,settlingaboutmutualinterestsandoperations。SinceBelleisleissnatchedfromus,itisnecessarysomeCourtenshouldcome;

  andproducewhathehasgot:littleofsettlement,Ishouldfear,ofdefiniteprogramthatwillholdwater;inregardtoWaroperationschieflyamagazineofclouds。[Specimensofit,inRanke,iii。219。]Fortherest,theBavarianquestion;andveryspecially,WhothenewEmperoristobe?\"KingofPoland,thinksyourMajesty?\"——\"Byallmeans,\"answersFriedrich,\"ifyoucan!

  DetachhimfromAustria;thatwillbewell!\"Whichwasreckonedmagnanimous,atleastpublic—spirited,inFriedrich;consideringwhatSaxony’sbehaviortohimhadalreadybeen。\"Byallmeans,hisPolishMajestyforKaiser;doourutmost,ExcellenciesValori,CourtenandCompany!\"answersFriedrich,——andforhisownpart,Iobserve,isintenselybusyuponArmymatters,lookingafterthemainchance。

  AndsoValoriistogotoDresden,andmanagethiscloudorcobwebberydepartmentofthething;namely,persuadehisPolishMajestytostandfortheKaisership:\"Baiern,Pfalz,Koln,Brandenburg,therearefourvotes,Sire;yourownisfive:sureofcarryingit,yourPolishMajesty;backedbytheMostChristianKing,andhisAlliesandresources!\"AndPolishMajestydoes,forhisownshare,verymuchdesiretobeKaiser。ButnoneofusyetknowshowheistiedupbyAustria,Anti—Friedrich,Anti—Frenchconsiderations;andcanonly\"acceptifitisofferedme:\"thrice—

  willingtoaccept,ifitwillfallintomymouth;which,onthoseterms,ithassolittlechanceofdoing!——Saxonyanditsmysteriousaffairsandintentionshavingbeen,toFriedrich,ariddleandtroubleandastonishment,duringallthisCampaign,readersoughttoknowthefactwell;——andnoreadercouldstandthedetailsofsuchafact。Here,incondensedform,aresomescrapsofExcerpt;

  whichenableustogowithValorionthisDresdenMission,andlookforourselves:——

  1。FRIEDRICH’SPOSITIONTOWARDSSAXONY。

  \"……ByknownTreaty,thePolishMajestyisboundtoassisttheHungarianwith12,000men,’wheneverinvadedinherowndominions。’

  PolishMajestyhad20,000inthefieldforthatobjectlately,——

  partofthem,8,000ofthem,hiredbyBritannicsubsidy,ashealleges。Thequestionnowis,WillSaxonyassistAustriaininvadingSilesia,withorwithoutBritannicsubsidy?

  Friedrichhopesthatthisisimpossible!FriedrichisdeeplyunawareofthehumorhehasraisedagainsthimselfintheSaxonCourt—circles;howthePolishMajestyregardsthatMoravianForay;

  withwhataperfecthatredlittleBruhlregardshim,Friedrich;

  andtowhatpitchofhumor,owingtothoseMoravian—Foraystarvings,marchingsaboutandinhumantreatmentofthepoorSaxonArmy,nottomentionotheroffencesandafflictiveconsiderations,BruhlhasraisedthesimplePolishMajestyagainstFriedrich。

  Thesethings,astheygraduallyunfoldedthemselvestoFriedrich,wereverysurprising。Andprovedverydisadvantageousatthepresentjunctureandforalongtimeafterwards。ToFriedrichdisadvantageousandsurprising;andtoSaxony,intheend,ruinous;

  poorSaxonyhavinggotitsbackbrokenbythem,andneverstoodupintheworldsince!RuinedbythiswretchedlittleBruhl;

  andreduced,fromthefirstplaceinNorthernTeutschland,toasecondorthird,ornorealplaceatall。\"

  2。THEREISA,\"UNIONOFWARSAW\"(8thJanuary,1745);

  ANDSTILLMORESPECIALLYA\"TREATYOFWARSAW\"

  (8thJanuary—18thMay,1745)。

  \"January8th,1745,beforetheOldDessauergotrankedinSchlesienagainstTraun,therehadconcludeditselfatWarsaw,bywayofcounterpoisetothe’FrankfurtUnion,’a’UnionofWarsaw,’calledalso’QuadrupleAllianceofWarsaw;’thePartiestowhichwerePolishMajesty,Hungarianditto,Prime—Movers,andthetwoSea—PowersasPurseholders;stipulating,totheeffect:’WeFourwillholdtogetherinaffairsoftheReichVERSUSthatdangerousFrankfurtUnion;wewill’——doavarietyofsalutarythings;andasonepracticalthing,’Thereshallbe,thisSeason,30,000SaxonsconjoinedtotheAustrianForce,forwhichweSea—Powerswillfurnishsubsidy。’——Thiswastheonepracticalpointstipulated,January8th;andfartherthanthistheSea—Powersdidnotgo,noworafterwards,inthataffair。

  \"ButtherewasthenproposedbythePolishandHungarianMajesties,intheformofSecretArticles,anulteriorProject;withwhichtheSea—Powers,expressingmeredisbeliefandevenabhorrenceofit,refusedtohaveanyconcernnoworhenceforth。PolishMajesty,inhopesitwouldhavebeenbettertaken,hadgivenhis30,000

  soldiersatarateofsubsidymiraculouslylow,only150,000poundsforthewhole:buttheSea—Powerswereinexorable,perhapsalmostrepentedoftheir150,000pounds;andwouldhearnothingfartherofsecretArticlesanddeliriousProjects。

  \"Sothatthe’UnionofWarsaw’hadtoretiretoitspigeon—hole,contentwithproducingthose30,000Saxonsfortheimmediateoccasion;andtherehadtobeconcoctedbetweenthePolishandHungarianMajestiesthemselveswhatisnow,inthemodernPamphlets,calleda’TREATYofWarsaw,’——muchdifferentfromtheinnocent,’UNIONofWarsaw;’thoughitismerelythespecifyingandfixingdownofwhathadbeenshadowedoutassecretcodicilsinsaid’Union,’whentheSea—Powerpartiesobstinatelyrecoiled。

  TreatyofWarsawletuscontinuetocallit;thoughitsactualbirth—placewasLeipzig(intheprofoundestsecrecy,18thMay,1745),abovefourmonthsafterithadtriedtobebornatWarsaw,andfailedasaforesaid。WarsawUnionisnotworthspeakingof;

  butthisotherisaTreatyhighlyremarkabletothereader,——andtoFriedrichwasalmostinfinitelyso,whenhecametogetwindofitlongafter。

  \"Treatywhich,thoughitprovedabortional,andnevercametofulfilmentinanypartofit,isatthisdayoneoftheremarkablestbitsofsheepskinextantintheworld。Itwassigned18thMay,1745;[Scholl,ii。350。]andhadcostagreatdealofpainfulcontriving,capablestillofnewalteringandretouching,tohitmutualviews:TreatynotonlyforreconqueringSilesia(whichtotheTwoMajesties,thoughitdidnottotheSea—Powers,seemsinfallible,inFriedrich’snowruinedcircumstances),butforcuttingdownthatbadNeighbortosomethinglikethedimensionsproperforaBrandenburgVassal;——infact,quitetheold’DetestableProject’ofSpring,1741,onlymoreelaboratedintodetail(inwhichBritannicGeorgeknowsbetterthantomeddle!)——

  Saxonytohaveshareoftheparings,whenwegetthem。

  ’Whatshare?’askedSaxony,andlongkeepsasking。’AroadtoWarsaw;StripofCountrycarryingusfromtheendoftheLausitz,whichisours,intoPoland,whichwetrustwillcontinueours,wouldbeveryhandy!DuchyofGlogau;somesmallparingofSilesia,won’tyourMajesty?’’OfmySilesianotonehand—breadth,’answeredtheQueenimpatiently(thoughshedidatlastconcedesomeoutlyinghand—breadths,famedold’CircleofSchwiebus,’ifIrecollect);

  andtheyhavehadtothinkofotherequivalentparingsforSaxony’sbehoof(Magdeburg,Halberstadt,Saale—Circle,oroneknowsnotwhat);andhavehad,andwillhave,theiradoestogetitfixed。

  Excellentbearskintobeslitintostraps;onlythebearisstillonhisfeet!——PolishMajestyandHungarian,Polishwithespecialvigor,Bruhlquiterestlessuponit,are——littleasValorioranymortalcoulddreamofit——engagedinthispartitionofthebearskin,whenValoriarrives。OftheirinnocentUnionofWarsaw,therewas,fromthefirst,nosecretmade;buttheDocumentnowcalled’TREATYofWarsaw’needstoliesecretandthrice—secret;

  anditwasnottill1756thatFriedrich,havinguneartheditbyindustriesofhisown,andstudieditwithgreatintensityforsomeyears,madeitknowntotheworld。\"[Adelung,v。308。397;

  Ranke,iii。231(who,forsomereasonofhisown,dates\"3dMay\"

  insteadof18th}。]

  Treaties,vaporousForeshadowsofEvents,haveoftenestsomethingoftheghostinthem;andareimportunetohumannature,longingfortheEventsthemselves;allthemoreiftheyhaveprovedabortionalTreaties,andbecomedoublyghost—likeorghastly。

  NeverthelessthereaderistonotewellthisTreatyofWarsaw,asimportanttoFriedrichandhim;andindeeditisperhapstheremarkablestTreaty,abortionalorrealized,whichgottoparchmentinthatCentury。Forthoughitprovedabortional,andnopartofit,noworafterwards,couldbeexecuted,andeventhesubsidyand30,000Saxons(stipulatedinthe\"UNIONofWarsaw\")becamecrow’s—

  meatinamanner,——thispreternatural\"TreatyofWarsaw,\"troddendownneversomuchbytheheelofDestiny,andbytheweightofnewTreaties,supersedingitorpresupposingitsimpossibilityorinconceivability,wouldbynomeansdie(suchthehumorofBruhl,oftheTwoMajestiesandothers);butlayaliveundertheashes,carefullytended,forTenorTwentyYearstocome;——andhadgotallEuropekindledagain,fordestructionofthatbadNeighbor,beforeitwoulditselfconsenttogoout!AnddidsucceedingettingSaxony’sbackbroken,ifnotthebadNeighbor’s,——inanswertothehumoroflittleBruhl;unfortunateSaxonytopossesssuchaBruhl!

  InthosebeautifulSaxon—AustriandevelopmentsoftheTreatyofWarsaw,CzarinaElizabeth,bobbingaboutinthatunlovelywhirlpoolofintrigues,amours,devotionsandstrongliquor,whichherHistoryis,took(asknotforwhatreason)alivelypart:——andalreadyinthisSpringof1745,theyhopeshecould,by\"agiftoftwomillionsforherpleasures\"(giftsoeasytoyouSea—Powers),bestirreduptoangeragainstFriedrich。Andshedid,ineffect,fromthistime,hoveraboutinamannerquestionabletoFriedrich;

  thoughnotyetinanger,butonlywiththewishtobeimportant,andtomakeherselffeltinForeignaffairs。WhethertheSea—Powersgaveherthattrifleofpocket—money(\"forherpleasures\"),Ineverknew;butitiscertaintheyspent,firstandlast,verylargeamountsthatway,uponherandhers;especiallytheEnglishdid,withwhatresultmaybeconsideredquestionable。

  AsforGrafvonBruhl,mostrisingmanofSaxony,onceapage;

  nowbyindustryKingAugustIII。’sfirstfavoriteandfactotum;

  thefactthathecordiallyhatesFriedrichistooevident;butthewhyisnotknowntome。Exceptindeed,Thatnoman——especiallynomanwiththreehundredandsixty—fivefashionablesuitsofclothesusuallyabouthim,differentsuiteachdayoftheyear——canbecomfortableintheevidentcontemptofanotherman。Othermanofsarcasticbanteringturn,too;tonguesharpasneedles;

  whosesayingsmanybirdsoftheairarebusytocarryabout。

  Yearafteryear,Bruhl(doubtlesswithhelpenoughthatway,iftherehadneededsuch)hateshimmoreandmore;asthetoojovialCzarinaherselfcomestodo,woundedbythingsthatbirdshavecarried。AndnowwewillgowithValori,——seeingbetterintosomethingsthanValoriyetcan。

  3。VALORI’SACCOUNTOFHISMISSION(incompressedform)。

  [Valori,i。211—219。]

  \"Valori[Icouldguessaboutthe10thofFebruary,butthereisnodateatall]wasdespatchedtoDresdenwiththatfineproject,PolishMajestyforKaiser:isauthorizedtooffer60,000men,withmoneycorresponding,andnoendofbrilliantoutlooks;——mustkeepbackhisoffers,however,ifhefindthepeopleindisposed。

  Whichhedid,toanextremedegree;nothingbutvaguetalk,procrastination,hesitationonthepartofBruhl。ThiswretchedlittleBruhlhastwelvetailorsalwayssewingforhim,andthreehundredandsixty—fivesuitsofclothes:somanysuits,allpicturedinaBook;avaletenterseverymorning,proposesasuit,which,afterdeliberation,withperhapsamendments,isaccededto,andwornatdinner。Vainestofhumanclothes—horses;foolishestcoxcombValorihasseen:itisvisiblyhisnotionthatitwashe,Bruhl,byhisSaxonauxiliaries,byhismasterlystrokesofpolicy,thatcheckmatedFriedrich,anddrovehimfromBohemialastYear;

  and,fortherest,thatFriedrichisruined,andwilleithershirkoutofSilesia,orbecuttoribbonstherebytheAustrianforcethisSummer。TowhichValorihintsdissent;butitisillreceived。

  ValoriseestheKing;findshim,asexpected,thefac—simileofBruhlinthismatter;JesuitGuarinithelike:howotherwise?

  TheyhavehisMajestyintheirleash,andleadhimastheyplease。

  \"Atfoureverymorning,thisGuarini,JesuitConfessortotheKingandQueen,comestoBruhl;BruhlsettleswithhimwhathisMajestyshallthink,inreferencetocurrentbusiness,thisday;

  Guarinithengoes,confessesbothMajesties;confesses,absolves,turnsintheduewaytosecularmatters。Atnine,Bruhlhimselfarrives,forPrivyCouncil:’WhatisyourMajestypleasedtothinkonthesepointsofcurrentbusiness?’Majestyserenelyissueshisthoughts,intheformoforders;whicharefoundcorrecttopattern。ThisistheprocesswithhisMajesty。ApoorMajesty,takingdeeplyintotobacco;thisisthewaytheyhavehimbenetted,asinadarkcocoonofcobwebs,renderingthewholeworldinvisibletohim。Whichcunningarrangementismoreandmoreperfectedeveryyear;sothatonallroadshetravels,beittomass,tohunt,todinner,any—whitherinhisPalaceoroutofit,therearefaithfulcreatureskeepingeye,whoadmitnounsafemantotheleastglimpseofhimbynightorbyday。Inthismannerhegoeson;andbeforetheendofhim,twentyyearshence,hascarrieditfar。Nothingbutdisgusttobehadoutofbusiness;——mutinousPolishDietstoo,somefortyofthem,inhistime,notoneofwhichdidanybusinessatall,butendedinLIBERUMVETO,andBillingsgateconflagration,perhapswithswordsdrawn:[SeeBuchholz,154;&c。]——businessmoreandmoredisagreeabletohim。WhatcanValoriexpect,onthisheroicoccasion,fromsuchaKing?

  \"TheQueenherself,MariaTheresa’sCousin,anambitioushard—favoredMajesty,——whohadsenseoncetodislikeBruhl,buthasbeenquitereconciledtohimbyherJesuitMessengerofHeaven(whichlatterisanoily,ratherstupidcreature,whoreallywisheswelltoher,andlovesapeaceablelifeatanyprice),——evenshewillnottakethebait。ValoriwasinDresdenninedays(middlepartofFebruary,itislikely);neverproducedhisbigbait,his60,000menandotherbrilliancies,atall。HesawoldFeldmarschallKonigseckpassingfromViennatowardstheNetherlandsCamp;

  whereheistodry—nurse(sotheyirreverentlycallit,intimecoming)hisRoyalHighnessofCumberland,thatmagnificentEnglishBabeofWar,anddofeatswithhimthisSummer。\"Konigseck,thoughValorididnotknowit,hasendlessdiplomaciestodowithal;

  inspectionsoftroops,advisings,inHanover,inHolland,inDresdenhere;[Anonymous,DukeofCumberland,

  p。186。]——andsecurestheSaxonElectoral—VoteforhisGrand—Dukeinpassing。\"ThewelcomegiventoKonigseckdisgustedValori;

  ontheninthdayheleft;saidadieu,seeingthemblindtotheirinterest;andtookpostforBerlin,\"——wherehefindsFriedrichmuchoutofhumorattheSaxonreceptionofhismagnanimities。[Valori,i。211—219;OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。81—85。

  FordetailsonBruhl,seeGrafvonBruhl,LebenundCharakter(1760,NoPlace):Anonymous,byoneJusti,anotedPamphleteerofthetime:existsinEnglishtoo,orpartlyexists;butisunreadable,exceptoncompulsion;andtotallyunintelligibletillafterverymuchinquiryelsewhere。]

  ThisSaxonintricacy,indecipherable,formidable,contemptible,wastheplagueofFriedrich’slife,oneconsiderableplague,allthroughthisCampaign。PerhapsnothingintheDiplomaticsphereofthingscausedhimsuchperplexity,vexation,indignation。

  Aninsolubleriddletohim;extremelycontemptible,yet,——withahugeRussiatackedtoit,andloomingminatoryinthedistance,——

  fromtimetotime,formidableenough。Letreaderskeepitinmind,andtrytoimagineit。ItcostFriedrichsuchguessing,computing,arranging,rearranging,aswouldwearythetoughestreadertohearofindetail。HowFriedrichdidatlastsolveit(inDecembercoming),allreaderswillseewitheyes!——

  MIDDLE—RHINEAWNYINASTAGGERINGSTATE;THEBAVARIAN

  INTRICACYSETTLESITSELF,THEWRONGWAY。

  EarlyinMarchitbecomessurmisablethatMaillebois’sMiddle—RhineArmywillnotgoagoodroad。Mailleboishasbeenbusyinthosecountries,workingextensivediscontent;bullyingmankind\"tojointheFrankfurtUnion,\"tojoinFranceatanyrate,whichnobodywouldconsentto;andexactingmercilesscontributions,whicheverybodyhadtoconsenttoandpay。——Andnow,onD’Ahremberg’smereadvance,withthatpoorFractionofPragmaticArmy,rousedfromitswintersleep,Maillebois,withoutwaitingforD’Ahremberg’sattack,rapidlycallsinhistruculentdetachments,androllsconfusedlybackintotheFrankfurtregions。[Adelung,iv。

  276—352(December,1744—March,1745)。]UponwhichD’Ahremberg——ifbynomeansgoinguponMaillebois’sthroat——sets,atleast,tocoercingWilhelmofHessen,ouronlyfriendinthoseparts;whoisalreadyagooddealdisgustedwiththeMailleboisprocedures,andatalosswhattodoontheKaiser’sdeath,whichhaskilledtheFrankfurtUniontoo。WiseWilhelmconsents,underD’Ahremberg’smenaces,tobecomeNeutral;andrecallhis6,000outofBaiern,——

  wisheshehadthemhomebesidehimevennow!

  WithanElectioninthewind,itisdoublynecessaryfortheFrench,whohavenotevenaCandidateasyet,tostandsupremeandminatoryintheFrankfurtCountry;andtoKingFriedrichitispainfullyquestionable,whetherMailleboiscandoit。\"Doitwewill;doubtnotthat,yourMajesty!\"answerValoriandtheFrench;

  ——andstudytomakeimprovements,reinforcements,intheirRhineArmy。Andtheydo,atleast,changetheGeneraloftheirMiddle—

  RhineArmy,——thatistosay,recallPrinceContioutofItaly,wherehehasdistinguishedhimself,andsendMailleboisthitherinhisstead,——wholikewisedistinguisheshimselfTHERE,ifthatcouldbeacomforttous!WhetherthedistinguishedContiwillmaintainthatFrankfurtCountryinspiteoftheAustriansandtheirElectionmovements,isstillaquestionwithFriedrich,thoughValoricontinuedassuringhim(alwaystillJulycame)that,itwasbeyondquestion。\"SiegeofTournay,vigorousCampaignintheNetherlands(forbehoofofBritannicGeorge)!\"thisisthegrandFrenchprogramfortheYear。Thisgoodintentionwasachieved,ontheFrenchpart;

  butthis,likeAaron’srodamongtheserpents,provedtohaveEATEN

  theothersasitwriggledalong!——

  ThoseMaillebois—D’AhrembergaffairsthrowadampontheBavarianQuestionwithal;——infact,settletheBavarianQuestion;herHungarianMajesty,tiredofthedelays,havingorderedBathyanitoshoulderarmsagain,andbringadecision。Bathyani,withBarenklautorightofhim,andBrowne(ouroldSilesianfriend)toleft,goessweepingacrossthoseSeckendorf—Segurposts,andwithoutdifficultytumbleseverythingtoruin,atagrandrate。ThetraitorSeckendorfhadmadesuchachoiceofposts,——leftunalteredbyDrumThorring;——whatcouldFrenchvalordo?Nothing;neitherFrenchvalor,norBavarianwantofvalor,coulddoanythingbutwhirltotheright—about,atsightoftheAustrianSweeping—Apparatus;

  andgooffexplosively,asinformerinstances,ataratealmostuniqueinmilitaryannals。Finishedwithinthreeweeksorso!——

  Weglanceonlyattwopointsofit。March21st,Bathyanistoodtoarms(toBESOMSwemightcallit),Browneontheleft,Barenklauontheright:itwasMarch21stwhenBathyanistartedfromPassau,uptheDonauCountries;——andwithintheweekcoming,see:——

  \"VILSHOFEN,28thMARCH,1745。Here,atthemouthoftheVilsRiver(betweenInnandIser),isthefirstconsiderablePost;

  garrisonsome4,000;HessiansandPrinceFriedrichthemainpart,——whohavetheirshareofvalor,Idaresay;butwithsuchnewsoutofHessen,nottospeakoftheprospectsinthisCountry,areprobablyinpoorishspiritsforacting。GeneralBrownesummonstheminVilshofen,thisday;and,ontheirnegative,stormsinuponthem,burststhemtopieces;uponwhichtheybeatchamade。ButtheCroats,whoareforemost,carenothingforchamade:goplundering,slaughtering;burnthepoorTown;butcher[inroundnumbers]3,000

  ofthepoorHessians;andwoundGeneralBrownehimself,whilehetoovehementlyinterferes。\"[Adelung,iv。356,andthehalf—

  intelligibleFoot—noteinRanke,iii。220。]Thiswasthefinaleofthose6,000Hessians,andindeedtheirprincipalfunction,whileinFrenchpay;——andmusthavebeen,wecanJudgehowsurprisingtoPrinceFriedrich,andtohisPapaonhearingofit!

  Noteanotherpoint。

  Preciselyaboutthistimetwelvemonth,\"March16th,1746,\"thesamePrinceFriedrich,withremainderofthoseHessians,nowagaincompletedto6,000,andcomebackwithemphasistotheBritannicsideofthings,was——marchingoutofEdinburgh,inmuchstate,withstreamers,kettle—drums,Highness’scoaches,horses,led—horses,onanunexpectederrand。[Henderson(WhigEye—witness)。

  HistoryoftheRebellion,1745and1746(London,1748,reprintfromtheEdinburghedition),pp。104,106,107。]

  TowardStirling,Perth;towardsKilliecrankie,andraisingofwhatiscalled\"theSiegeofBlairinAthol\"(mostminuteof\"sieges,\"

  butsubtendingagreatanglethereandthen);——muchofunexpected,andnearerhomethan\"TournayandtheNetherlandsCampaign,\"havinghappenedtoBritannicGeorgeinthecourseofthisyear,1746!

  \"Reallyveryfinetroops,thoseHessians[observesmyorthodoxWhigfriend]:theycarryswordsaswellasgunsandbayonets;

  theiruniformisblueturnedupwithwhite:theHussarpartofthem,about500,havescimitarsofagreatlength;smallhorses,mostlyblack,ofSwedishbreed;swiftdurablelittlecreatures,withlongtails。\"Honors,dinners,tohisSereneHighnesshadbeennumerous,duringthethreeweekswehadhiminEdinburgh;

  \"especiallythatBall,February21st(o。s。),eveofhisConsortthePrincessMary’sBirthday[EVEofbirthday,\"letusdancetheauspiciousmorningIN]was,foraffluenceofNobilityandGentryofbothsexes,\"asublimething……

  PFAFFENHOFEN,APRIL15th。\"UnfortunateSegur,theSegurofLinzthreeyearsago,——whoseconductwasgreat,accordingtoValori,butpowerlessagainsttraitorsandfate!——wasagain,oncemore,unfortunateinthoseparts。UnfortunateSegurdrewupatPfaffenhofen(centreoftheCountry,manymilesfromVilshofen)todefendhimself,whenfallenuponbyBarenklau,inthatmanner;

  butcouldnot,thoughwithmasterlydemeanor;andhadtoretreatthreedays,withhisfacetotheenemy,sotospeak,fightingandmanoeuvringalltheway:noshelterforhimeitherbutMunchen,andthat,amosttemporaryone。InsteadoftakingStraubingen,takingPassau,perhapsofpushingontoViennaitself,thisiswhatwehavealreadycometo。NoRhineArmy,Middle—RhineArmy,Coigny,Maillebois,Conti,whoeveritwas,shouldsendustheleastreinforcement,whenshriekedto。Nooutlookwhateverbutrapidwithdrawal,retreattotheRhineArmy,sinceitwillnotstirtohelpus。\"[Adelung,iv。360。]

  \"TheyoungKur—Baiernisstillpolite,grateful[tousFrench],overwhelmsuswithpoliteness;butfliestoAugsburg,ashisFatherusedtodo。Notable,however,hispoorfatlittleMotherwon’t,thistime:’No,Iwillstayhere,Iforone,andhavedonewithflyingandrunning;wehavehadenoughofthat!’Seckendorf,quitegonefromCourtinthiscrisis,reappears,aboutthemiddleofApril,inquestionablecapacity;ataplacecalledFussen,notfaroff,atthefootoftheTyrolHills;——wherecertainAustrianDignitariesseemalsotobeenjoyingapicturesqueEaster!

  Yesindeed:and,onAPRIL22d,thereissigneda’PEACEOFFUSSEN’

  there;generalamicableAS—YOU—WERE,betweenAustriaandBavaria(’RenounceyourAnti—Pragmaticmoonshineforevermore,voteforourGrand—Duke;thereisyourBavariaback,poorwretches!’)——

  andSeckendorf,itispresumable,willgethisTurkisharrearsliquidated。

  \"TheBavarianIntricacy,whichonceexcelledhumanpower,issettled,then。CarteretandHaslangtrieditinvain[dreadfulheterodoxintentionsofsecularizingSalzburg,secularizingPassau,Regensburg,andloudtremulousdenialofsuch];——CarteretandWilhelmofHesseu[ConferencesofHanau,whichruinedCarteret],invain;KingFriedrich,andmanyKings,invain:athingnobodycouldsettle;——andithasatlastsettleditself,asthegeneralityofill—guidedandunluckythingsdo,bycollapse。Deliriumonceout,thelawofgravityacts;andtherethemadmatterlies。\"

  \"BoughtbyAustria,thatoldvillain!\"crytheFrench。

  FriedrichdoesnotthinktheAustriansboughtSeckendorf,havingnomoneyatpresent;butguessestheymayhavegivenhimtounderstandthatacertainlargearrearofpaymentdueeversincethoseTurkishWars,——whenSeckendorf,insteadofpayment,waslodgedintheFortressofGratz,andalmostgothisheadcutoff,——shouldnowbepaiddownincash,orauthenticPaper—money,ifmattersbecomeamicable。[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。22;

  SeckendorfsLeben,pp。367—376。]Astheyhavedone,inFriedrich’sdespite;——whoseemsangrierattheoldstagerforthisparticularill—turnthanforalltheothermany;andlongremembersit,aswillappear。

  ChapterVII。

  FRIEDRICHINSILESIA;UNUSUALLYBUSY。

  Here,sureenough,aresadnewintricaciesintheDiplomatic,hypotheticsphereofthings;andcloudspilingthemselvesahead,inaveryminatorymannertoKingFriedrich。LetKingFriedrich,allthemore,gethisFightingArrangementsmadeperfect。Diplomacyisclouds;beatingofyourenemiesisseaandland。AustriaandtheGazetteerworldconsiderFriedrichtobeasgoodasfinished:

  butthatisprivatelyfarfrombeingFriedrich’sownopinion;——

  thoughtheseoccurrencesareheavyanddismaltohim,asnoneofuscannowfancy。

  HerrRankehasgotaccess,intheArchives,toaseriesofprivateutterancesbyFriedrich,——Lettersfromhim,ofafrankernaturethanusual,andlettingusfardeeperintohismind;——whichmusthavebeenwellworthreadingintheoriginal,intheirfullydatedanddevelopedcondition。FromHerrRanke’sFragmentaryExcerpts,letus,thankfulforwhatwehavegot,selectoneortwo。

  TheLettersaretoMinisterPodewilsatBerlin;writtenfromSilesia(Neisseandneighborhood),where,sincethemiddleofMarch,Friedrichhasbeen,personallypushingonhisArmyPreparations,whiletheabovesinisterthingsbefell。

  KINGFRIEDRICHTOPODEWILS,INBERLIN(undervariousdates,March—April,1745)。

  NEISSE,29thMARCH……\"Wefindourselvesinagreatcrisis。Ifwedon’t,bymediationofEngland,getPeace,ourenemiesfromdifferentsides[Saxony,Austria,whoknowsifnotRussiawithal!]

  willcomeplunginginagainstme。PeaceIcannotforcethemto。

  ButiftheymusthaveWar,wewilleitherbeatthem,ornoneofuswillseeBerlinagain。\"[Ranke,iii。236etseqq。]

  APRIL(nodaygiven)……\"Inanycase,Ihavemytroopswelltogether。Thesicknessesareceasing;therecruitmentsarecomingin:shortlyallwillbecomplete。ThatdoesnothinderusfrommakingPeace,ifitwillonlycome;but,inthecontrarycase,nobodycanaccusemeofneglectingwhatwasnecessary。\"

  APRIL17th(stillfromNeisse)……\"Itoildayandnighttoimproveoursituation。Thesoldierswilldotheirduty。Thereisnoneamonguswhowillnotratherhavehisbackbonebrokenthangiveuponefoot—breadthofground。TheymusteithergrantusagoodPeace,orwewillsurpassourselvesbymiraclesofdaring;

  andforcetheenemytoacceptitfromus。\"

  APRIL20th。\"Oursituationisdisagreeable;constrained,akindofspasm:butmydeterminationistaken。Ifweneedsmustfight,wewilldoitlikemendrivendesperate。NeverwasthereagreaterperilthanthatIamnowin。Time,atitsownpleasure,willuntiethisknot;orDestiny,ifthereisone,determinetheevent。

  ThegameIplayissohigh,onecannotcontemplatetheissuewithcoldblood。Prayforthereturnofmygoodluck。\"——Twodayshence,thepooryoungKur—Baiern,deaftotheFrenchseductionsandexertions,whichwereintense,hadsignedhis\"PeaceofFussen\"

  (22dApril1745),——afinaletoFranceontheGermanField,asmaybefeared!TheotherFragmentswewillgivealittlefartheron。

  FriedrichhadleftBerlinforSilesiaMarch15th;rathersoonerthanhecountedon,——OldLeopoldpleadingtobelethome。

  AtGlogau,atBreslau,therehadbeenthedueinspecting:

  FriedrichgottoNeisseonthe23d(BathyanijuststirringinthatBavarianBusiness,VilshofenandtheHessianscloseahead);andonthe27th,haddismissedOldLeopold,withthanksandsympathies,——

  senthimhome,\"torecoverhishealth。\"Leopold’shealthisprobablysuffering;buthisheartandspiritsstillmore。Pooroldman,hehasjustlost——theotherweek,\"5thFebruary\"last——hispooroldWife,atDessau;andisbrokendownwithgrief。ThesoftsilkliningofhishardExistence,inallpartsofit,istornaway。ApothecaryFos’sDaughter,Reich’sPrincess,PrincessofDessau,calledbywhatevername,shehadbeenthetruestofWives;

  \"usedtoattendhiminallhisCampaigns,forabovefiftyyearsback。\"\"Gone,now,forevergone!\"——OldLeopoldhadwellsofstrangesorrowintheruggedheartofhim,——sorrow,andstillbetterthings,——whichhedoesnotwearonhissleeve。HereisanincidentInevercanforget;——datingtwelveorthirteenyearsago(asiscomputable),middleofJuly,1732。

  \"Louisa,Leopold’seldestDaughter,WifeofVictorLeopold,reigningPrinceofAnhalt—Bernburg,laydyingofadecline。\"

  Stillonlytwenty—three,poorLady,thoughmarriedsevenyearsago;

  ——theendnowevidentlydrawingnigh。\"Afewdaysbeforeherdeath,——perhapssomeattendantsorrowfullyasking,’Canwedonothing,then?’——shewasheardtosay,’IfIcouldseemyFatherattheheadofhisRegiment,yetonce!’\"——Halle,wheretheRegimentlies,issomethirtyormoremilesoff;andKingFriedriohWilhelm,Isuppose,wouldhavetobewrittento:——Leopoldwasreadythesoonestpossible;and,\"atasethour,marched,inallpomp,withbannerflying,musicplayiug,intotheSCHLOSS—HOF(PalaceCourt)

  ofBernburg;anddidtheduesalutationsandmanoeuvrings,——hispoorDaughtersittingatherwindow,tilltheyended;\"——figurethem,thelastglitterofthosemuskets,thelastwailofthatband—music!——\"TheRegimentwasthenmarchedtotheWaisenhaus(ORPHAN—HOUSE),wherethecommonmenweretreatedwithbreadandbeer;alltheOfficersdiningatthePrince’sTable。AlltheOfficers,exceptLeopoldalone,whostoleawayoutofthecrowd;

  sathimselfuponthebalustradeoftheSaaleBridge,andweptintotheriver。\"[LEBEN(12mo;notRannft’s,butAnonymouslikehis),p。234n。]——Leopoldisnowontheedgeofseventy;readytothinkallisfinishedwithhim。Perhapsnotquite,mytougholdfriend;

  recoveryourselfalittle,andweshallsee!

  OldLeopoldishardlyhomeatDessau,whennewPandourTempests,tidesofravagingWar,againcomebeatingagainsttheGiantMountains,pouringthroughallpasses;fromutmostJablunka,westwardbyJagerndorftoGlatz,hugeinfluxofwildridinghordes,eachwithsomesupportofAustriangrenadiers,cannoniers;

  threateningtosubmergeSilesia。Precursors,Friedrichneednotdoubt,ofastrenuousregularattemptthatway,HungarianMajesty’sfixedintention,hopeanddeterminationis,ToexpelhimstraightwayfromSilesia。HerPatentcirculates,thesethreemonths;callingonallmentotakenoteofthatfixedfact,especiallyonallSilesianmentonoteitwell,andshifttheirallegianceaccordingly。Silesianmen,ingreatmajority,——ourfriendtheMayorofLandshut,forexample?——arebelievedtohavenoinclinationtowardschange:andwhoeverhas,hadclearlybetternotshowanytillhesee![InRanke(iii。234),thereisvestigeofsomeintended\"voluntarysubscriptionbythecommonpeopleofGlatz,\"forFriedrich’sbehoof;——contrariwise,inOrlich(ii。380,\"6thFebruary,1745,\"fromtheDessauArchives),noticeofoneindividual,suspectedofstirringforAustria,whom\"youaretoputunderlockandkey;\"——butherunsoff,andhasnosuccessor,thatI

  hearof。]——

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