第65章
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  Ontheotherhand,theAustrianandSaxongentlemen,fromtheirGallows—HillatHohenfriedberg,notice,fourorfivemilesinthedistance,oppositethem,oralittletotheleftofopposite,aBodyofPrussianhorseandfoot,visiblywendingnorthward;likealongglitteringserpent,theglitteroftheirmusketsflashingbackyonderontheafternoonsunandus,astheymountfromhollowtoheight。Tenortwelvethousandofthem;makingforStriegau,toappearance。Intendingtobivouacorbilletthere,andkeepsomekindofwatchoverus;belikewithaneyetobeingrear—guard,ontheretreattowardsBreslauto—morrow?Orwilltheyretreatwithoutattemptingmischief?SerenityofWeissenfelsengagestoseizetheheightsandproperposts,overyonder,thisnightyet;andwilltakeStriegauitself,thefirstthing,to—morrowmorning。

  Yes,yourSerenities,thosearePrussiansinmovement:VanguardCorpsofDumoulin,Winterfeld;——RittmeisterSeydlitzridesyonder:

  ——anditisnottheirnotiontoretreatwithoutmischief。Fortherestands,notsofaroff,ontheStanowitzFuchsberg,abrisklittleGentleman,ifyoucouldnoticehim;withhiseyesfixedonyou,andplansintheheadofhimnowgettingnearlymature。Forcertain,heispushingoutthatcolumnofmen;andallmannerofothercolumnsaregettingordertopushout,andtaketheirground;andto—morrowmorning——youwillnotfindhiminretreat!SucharethephenomenainthatStriegau—Hohenfriedbergregion,whilethesunisbendingwestward,onThursday,3dJune,1745。

  \"FromHohenfriedberg,whichleansagainstthehigherMountains,theremaybe,acrosstoStriegaunortheast,whichstandswellapartfromthem,amonglowerHillsofitsown,adistanceofaboutfiveEnglishmiles。Theinterveningcountryisofflat,thoughuplandnature:thefirstbroadstage,orSTAIR—STEP,sotospeak,leadingdownintothegeneralinteriorlevelsofSilesiainthoseparts。

  Atractwhichisnowtolerablydriedbydraining,butwasthenmarshyaswellasbushy:——flattotheeye,yetmustbeimperceptiblyconvexedalittle,forthelineofwatershedishereabouts:walkfromHohenfriedbergtoStriegau,thewateronyourlefthandflows,thoughmainlyinditchesorimperceptibleoozings,tothenorthandwest,——theretofallintoaneasternforkoftheRoaringNeisse[oneofourthreenewNeisses,whichisaveryquietstreamhere;runsclosebytheMountainbase,fedbymanytorrents,andmustgetitsname,WUTHENDEorRoaring,fromthesuddennessofitsfloods]:intothis,boundnorthwardandwestward,runoroozeallwatersonyourlefthand,asyougotoStriegau。Righthand,again,ortoeastward,youwillfindallsauntering,orrunninginvisiblebrooksintoStriegauWater[littleRivernotabletous],whichcomescirclingfromtheMountains,pastHohenfriedberg,farthersouth;andhasgottosomeforceasastreambeforeitreachesStriegau,andturnsabruptlyeastward;——eastward,tojoinSchweidnitzWater,andformwithittheSECONDstair—stepdownwardstothePlainCountry。HasitsFuchsbergs,Kuhbergsandlittleknollsandheightsinterspersed,onbothsidesofit,intheconceivableway。

  \"Sothat,lookingeastwardfromtheheightsofHohenfriedberg,ourbroadstageorstair—stephasnothingofthenatureofavalley,butratherisakindofinsensiblyswellingplainbetweentwovalleys,orhollows,ofsmalldepth;andslopesbothways。

  Bothways;butMOREtowardstheStriegau—Watervalleyorhollow;

  andthence,inalazilyundulatingmanner,tootherhollowsandwatersfartherdown。Friedrich’sCampliesinthenext,theSchweidnitz—Waterhollow;andisfive,orevenninemileslong,fromSchweidnitznorthward;——muchhiddenfromtheAustrian—Saxongentlemenatpresent。Nohillsfarther,mereflatcountry,toeastwardofthat。Buttothenorth,again,aboutStriegau,thehollowdeepens,narrows;andcertainHills,\"muchnotableatpresent,\"risetowestofStriegau,definitepeakedHills,withgranitequarriesinthemandbasaltblocksatop:——Striegau,itappears,is,inoldCzechdialect,TRZIZA,whichmeansTRIPLEHILL,the’TownoftheThreeHills。’[Lutzow,p。28。]AnancientquaintlittleTown,ofperhaps2,000souls:brown—gray,thestonesofitvenerablyweathered;hasitswidebigmarket—place,piazza,plain—

  stones,silentenoughexceptonmarket—days:nestlesitselfcompactlyintheshelterofitsThreeHills,whichscreenitfromthenorthwest;andhasapicturesqueappearance,itsHillsandit,projectedagainstthebigMountainrangebeyond,asyouapproachitfromthePlainCountry。

  \"Hohenfriedberg,attheothercornerofourbattle—stage,ontheroadtoLandshut,isaVillageofnogreatcompass;butstickspleasantlytogether,doesnotstraggleintheusualway;

  climbssteepagainstitsGallows—Hill(nowcalled’SIEGESBERG,VictoryHill,’withsometowerorsteeple—monumentonit,builtbysubscription);andwouldlookbetter,iftrimmedalittleandhabituallywellswept。ThehigherMountainsummits,Landshutway,orstillmoreifyoulooksoutheastward,Glatz—ward,riseblueandhuge,remoteonyourright;toleft,theRoaringNeisserangecloseathand,isalsopicturesque,thoughlessAlpineintype。\"

  [Tourist’sNote(1858)。]……AndofallHills,thenotablest,justnowtous,arethose\"Three\"atStriegau。

  ThoseThreeHillsofStriegauhisSerenityofWeissenfelsistolayholdof,thisnight,withhisextremeleft,wereitoncegotdeployedandbivouacked。ThoseHills,ifhecan:butPrussianDumoulinisalreadyonmarchthither;andprivatelyhashiseyeuponthem,onFriedrich’spart!——Fortherest,thisuplandplatform,insensiblyslopingtwoways,andasyetundrained,isofscraggyboggynatureinmanyplaces;muchofitdampground,orsheermorass;betterpartsofitcovered,atthisseason,withrankJunegrass,orgreenerluxurianceofoatsandbarley。Ahumblepeaceablescene;peaceabletillthisafternoon;dotted,too,withsixorsevenpoorHamlets,withscraggywoods,wheretheyhavetheirfuel;mostsleepylitteryploughmanHamlets,sometimeswithaSCHLOSSorMansionfortheownerofthesoil(whohasabscondedinthepresentcrisisofthings),theireveningsmokerisingratherfainterthanusual;muchcookeryisnotadvisablewithUhlansandTolpatchcsflyingabout。NorthwardbetweenStriegauandthehigherMountainsthereisanextensiveTEICHWIRTHSCHAFT,or\"Pond—

  Husbandry\"(gleamingvisiblefromHohenfriedbergGallows—Hilljustnow);acombinationofstagnantpoolsandcarp—ponds,thegroundmuchoccupiedhereaboutswithwhattheynameCarp—Husbandry。

  Whichisalldrainedawayinourtime,yettraceablebythestudious:——quaggycongeriesofsluicesandfish—ponds,noroadthroughthemexceptonintricatedams;havescrubbythicketsabouttheborder;——thisalsoisverystrongground,ifWeissenfelsthoughtofdefencethere。

  WhichWeissenfelsdoesnot,butonlyofattack。Heoccupiesthegroundnevertheless,rearwardofthisCarp—Husbandry,asbecomesastrategicman;graduallybivouackingallroundthere,toendontheThreeHills,werehislastregimentsgotup。TheCarp—HusbandryismainlyaboutEisdorfHamlet:——inPilgramshayn,whereWeissenfelsoncethoughtoflodging,livesourWritingSchoolmaster。

  TheMountainslietowestward;flinginglongershadows,astheinvasivetroopscontinuallydeploy,inthatbeautifulmanner;

  andcoilthemselvesstrategicallyontheground,abentrope,cordon,orline(THREElinesindepth),reachingfromthefrontskirtsofHohenfriedbergtotheHillsatStriegauagain,——terribletobehold。

  InfrontofHohenfriedberg,wesay,istheextremityorrightwingoftheAustrian—Saxonbivouac,orwillbewhentheprocessiscomplete;fivemilestonortheast,sweepingrounduponStriegauregion,willbetheirleft,wheremainlyaretheSaxons,——tonestleuponthoseThreeHillsofStriegau:whitherwardhowever,Dumoulin,onFriedrich’sbehalf,isalreadyonmarch。Austrian—Saxonbivouac,asisthewayinregulatedhosts,canatoncebecomeAustrian—Saxonorder—of—battle:andthen,probably,ontheChordofthatArcoffivemiles,thebigFightwillrollto—morrow;Striegauoneendofit,Hohenfriedbcrgtheother。Flattish,somewhatellipticupland,stair—stepfromtheMountains,aswecalledit;tractconsiderablycutwithditches,carp—husbandries,andtheirtuftsofwood;

  linefromStriegautoHohenfriedbergbeingaxisormaindiameterofit,andingeneralthelineofwatershed:there,probably,willthetugofwarbe。Friedrich,onhisFuchsberg,knowsthis;

  theAustrian—Saxongentlemen,overtheirwineontheGallows—Hill,donotyetknowit,butwillknow。

  Itwasaboutfourintheafternoon,whenValori,withacompanion,waitingagoodwhileintheKing’sTentatJauernik,atlastsawhisMajestyreturnfromtheFuchsbergobservatory。Valoriandfriendhavegreatnews:\"Tournayfallen;siegedone,yourMajesty!\"

  Valori’sfriendisoneDeLatour;whohadbroughtwordofFontenoy(\"importantvictoryontheScamander,\"asFriedrichindignantlydefinedittohimself);andwasbidwaitheretillthisSiege—of—

  Tournayconsummation(\"ashelpfultomeastheSiegeofPekin!\")

  shouldsupervene。TheyhastentosalutehisMajestywiththeglorioustidings,Hmph!thinksFriedrich:andweareatdeath—gripshere,littletobehelpedbyyourtakingPekin!However,heletswitofnothing。\"Imakemycompliments;meantofightto—morrow。\"

  [Valori,i。228。]Valori,asoldsoldierandfriend,volunteerstobethereandassist:——Good。

  Friedrich,Ipresume,atthislatehouroffour,maybcsnatchingamorselofdinner;hisorderliesaresilentlyspeeding,planstaken,ordersgiven:Tostartall,ateightintheevening,fortheBridgeofStriegau;theretocross,andspreadtotherightandtotheleft。Silent,notawordspoken,notapipelighted:silentlyacrosstheStriegauWaterthere。Amarchofthreemilesforthenearest,whoarehereatJauernik;ofninemilesforthefarthestaboutSchweidnitz;atSchweidnitzleaveallyourbaggage,safeunderthegunsthere。TotheBridgeofStriegau,diligently,silentlymarchalong;BridgeofStriegau,therecrossStriegauWater,anddeploytorightandtoleft,inthewayeachofyouknows。TheseareFriedrich’sorders。

  Lateinthedusk,DumoulinandWinterfeld,whomwesawsilentlyonmarchsomehoursago,havesilentlyglidedpastStriegau,andgotintotheThree—Hillregion,whichissomefurlongorsofarthernorth:——tohissurprise,DumoulinfindsSaxonpartiespostingthemselvesthereabouts。HeattackssaidSaxonparties;andaftersomeslighttussle,drivesthemmostlyfromtheirThreeHills;

  mostly,notaltogether;oneSaxonHillisprecipitousonourhithersideofit,andwemustleavethattillthedawnbreak。OftheotherHeightsDumoulintakesgoodpossession,withcannontoo,tobereadyagainstdawn;——andrankshimselfouttoleftwardwithal,alongtheplainground;forheistoberightwing,hadtheothertroopscomeup。Thesearenowallunderway;astirfromJauernikandSchweidnitz,silentlystreamingalong;andDumoulinbivouacshere,——verysilenthe:notsosilenttheSaxons;whoarestillmarchingin,overyonder,towestwardofDumoulin,theirrear—guardgropingoutitspostsasitbestcaninthedark。Elsewhere,milesandmilesalongthefootoftheMountains,Austrian—Saxonwatch—

  firesflamethroughtheambrosialnight;anditisanimpressivesightforDumoulin,——stillmoreforthepoorSchoolmasteratPilgramshaynandothers,lessconcernedthanDumoulin。\"Itwasbeautiful,\"saysStille,whowasthere,\"toseehowtheplainaboutRohnstock,andalloverthatway,wasablazewiththousandsofwatch—fires(TAUSENDUNDABERTAUSEND);bythelightofthese,wecouldclearlyperceivetheenemy’stroopscontinuallydefilefromtheHillsthewholenightthrough。\"[CitedinSeyfarth,i。630。]

  SerenityofWeissenfels,afterall,doesnotlodgeatPilgramshayn;

  farinthenight,hegoestosleepatRohnstock,aSchlossandHamletonthatforkofRoaringNeisse,bythefootoftheMountains;threeorfourmilesoff,yethandyenoughforpickingupStriegauthefirstthingto—morrow。HisHighnessPrinceKarlliesinHausdorf,tolerablequarters,prettymuchinthecentreofhislongbivouac;day’sbusinesswelldone,andbottle(asone’swontratheris)wellenjoyed。Nadastihasbeenoutscouting;butwasprickedintobyhussarparties,firedintofromthegrowingcorn;

  andcouldmakeoutlittle,buttheimageofhisownideas。

  Nadasti’sultimatereportis,ThatthePrussiansareperfectlyquietintheircamp;fromJauerniktoSchweidnitz,watch—firesallalight,sentriesgoingtheirrounds。Andsotheyare,infact;

  sentriesandwatch—fires,——butnownothingelsethere,amereshellofacamp;themenofitstreamingsteadilyalong,withoutspeech,withouttobacco;andmanyofthemareacrossStriegauBridgebythistime!——

  Itwaspasteleven,socloseandcontinuouswentthismarch,beforeValoriandhisLatour,withtheircarriagesandfurnitures,couldfindaninterval,andgetwellintoit。NeverwillValoriforgetthedisciplineofthesePrussians,andhowtheymarched。

  Difficultways;thehardroadisfortheirartillery;themenmarchoneachside,sometimestomid—leginwater,——nevermind。Whollyinorder,whollysilent;Valorifollowedthemthreeleaguesclose,andtherewasnotonestraggler。Everyprivateman,muchmoreeveryofficer,knowswellwhatgrimerrandtheyareon;andtheymakenoremarks。SteadyasTime;and,exceptthattheirshoesarenotoffelt,silentashe。TheAustrianwatch—firesglowsilentmanifoldtoleftwardyonder;silentoverheadarethestars:——thepathofallduty,too,issilent(notaboutStriegaualone)foreverywell—

  drilledman。To—morrow;——well,to—morrow?

  AgrimmishfeelingagainsttheSaxonsisunderstoodtobeprevalentamongthesemen。Bruhl,Weissenfelshimself,havebeenreportedtalkinghigh,——\"ReduceourKingtothesizeofanElectoragain,\"

  andotherfoolishthings;——indeed,grudgeshavebeenaccumulatingforsometime。\"KEINPARDON(Noquarter)!\"wehearhasbeenawordamongtheSaxons,astheycamealong;thePrussiansgrowltooneanother,\"Verywellthen,None!\"NayFriedrich’sgeneralorderis,\"Noprisoners,youcavalry,intheheatoffight;cavalry,strikeatthefacesofthem:youinfantry,keepyourfiretillwithinfiftysteps;bayonetwithalistobereliedon。\"ThesewereFriedrich’slastgeneralorders,giveninthehollowofthenight,nearthefootofthatFuchsbergwherehehadbeensobusyallday;

  awidishplainspacehereabouts,StriegauBridgenownear:hehadlainsnmetimeinhiscloak,waitingtillthechiefgenerals,withtheheadsoftheircolumns,couldrendezvoushere。Hethensprangonhorseback;spokebrieflytheessentialthings(oneofthemtheabove);——\"Hadmeanttobemoreminute,inregardtopositionsandthelike;butallissoindarkness,embroiledbytheflareoftheAustrianwatch—fires,wecanmakenothingfartheroflocalitiesatpresent:Striegauforrightwing,leftwingoppositetoHohenfriedberg,——so,andStriegauWaterwelltorearofus。

  Bediligent,exact,allfacultiesawake:yourownsense,andtheOrderofBattlewhichyouknow,mustdotherest。Forward;steady:

  canIdoubtbutyouwillacquityourselveslikePrussianmen?\"

  Andsotheymarch,acrosstheBridgeatStriegau,southoutskirtoftheTown,——plankBridge,Iamafraid;——andpourthemselves,torightandtoleft,continuallythelivelongnight。

  TodescribetheBattlewhichensued,BattlenamedofStriegauorHohenfriedberg,excelsthepowerofhumantalent,——ifhumantalenthadleisureforsuchemployment。Itisthehugeshockandclashof70,000against70,000,placedinthewaywesaid。AnenormousfuriousSIMALTAS(or\"both—at—once,\"astheLatinsphraseit),spreadingovertensquaremiles。Rathersay,awidecongeriesofelectricsimultaneities;allELECTRIC,playingmadlyintooneanother;mostloud,mostmad:theaspectofwhichissmoky,thunderous,abstruse;thetrueSEQUENCESofwhich,whoshallunravel?Therearefiveaccountsofit,allmodestlywritten,eachtrue—lookingfromitsownplace:andathrice—diligentPrussianOfficer,stationedonthespotinlateyears,hasstrivenwelltoharmonizethemall。[FiveAccounts:1。ThePrussianOfficialAccount,inHelden—Geschichte,i。1098—1102。

  2。TheSaxon,ib。1103—1108。3。TheAustrian,ib。1109—1115。

  4。Stille’s(ii。125—133,ofEnglishTranslation)。5。Friedrich’sown,OEuvres,iii。108—118。Lutzow,abovecited,istheharmonizer。Besideswhich,twoofvalue,in

  Feldzuge,i。310—323,328—336;nottomentionCogniazzo,ConfessionsofanAustrianVeeran

  (Breslau,1788—1791:strictlyAnonymousatthattime,andcandid,oralmostmore,toPrussianmerit;——stillworthreading,hereandthroughout),ii。123—135;&c。&c。]Wellworththestudyofmilitarymen;——whomightmaketourstowardsthisandtheothergreatbattle—

  field,andreadsuchthings,weretheywise。Forus,afeatureortwo,inthehugegeneralexplosion,toassistthereader’sfancyinconceivingitalittle,isallthatcanbepretendedto。

  ChapterX。

  BATTLEOFHOHENFRIEDBERG。

  Withthefirststreakofdawn,thedisputereneweditselfbetweenthosePrussiansandSaxonswhoareontheHeightsofStriegau。

  ThetwoArmiesareincontacthere;theyliewideapartasyetattheotherend。Cannonadingriseshere,onbothsides,inthedimgrayofthemorning,forthepossessionoftheseHeights。

  TheSaxonsareout—cannonadedanddislodged,otherSaxonsstarttoarmsinsupport:thecry\"Toarms!\"spreadseverywhere,rousesWeissenfelstohorseback;andbysunriseafuriousstormofbattlehasbegun,inthispart。Hotandfierceonbothsides;chargesofhorse,shockaftershock,bayonet—chargesoffoot;thegreatgunsgoinglikeJove’sthunder,andthecontinuoustearingstormofsmallguns,veryloudindeed:suchanoise,asourpoorSchoolmaster,wholivesonthisspot,thinkshewillhearonlyonceagain,whentheLastTrumpetsounds!Itdidindeed,heinformsus,resemblethedissolutionofNature:\"Forallfelldarktoo;\"

  ageneralelementofsulphurouspowder—smoke,streakedwithdullblazes;anddeathanddestructionverynigh。Whatwillbecomeofpoorpacificmortalshereabouts?RittmeisterSeydlitz,Winterfeldhispatronride,withknitbrows,inthesehorse—charges;

  fieryRothenburgtoo;TruchsessvonWaldburg,attheheadofhisDivision,——poorTruchsessknowninLondonsociety,acannon—ballsmitesthelifeoutofhim,andheendedhere。

  Atthefirstclashofhorseandfoot,theSaxonsfanciedtheyratherhadit;atthesecond,theirhorsebecamedistressed;atthethird,theyrolledintodisorderlyheaps。Thefootalso,stubbornastheywere,couldnotstandthatswiftfiring,followedbythebayonetandthesabre;andwereforcedtogiveground。Themorningsunshoneintotheireyes,too,theysay;andtherehadrisenabreathofeasterlywind,whichhurledthesmokeuponthem,sothattheycouldnotsee。Decidedlystaggeringbackwards;gettingtobetakeninflankandruined,thoughpoorWeissenfelsdoeshisbest。

  Aboutfiveinthemorning,Friedrichcamegallopinghitherward;

  Valoriwithhim:\"MONAMI,thisislookingwell!Thiswilldo,won’tit?\"TheSaxonsarefastsinkinginthescale;anddidnothingthenceforthbutsinkeverfaster;thoughtheymadeastiffdefence,fierceexasperationonbothsides;anddisputedeveryinch。Theirposition,inthesescraggyWoodsandVillages,intheseMorassesandCarp—Husbandries,isverystrong。

  Ithadprovedtobefarthernorth,too,thanwasexpected;sothatthePrussianshadtowheelroundalittle(rightwingasacentre,fightingarmyasradius)beforetheycouldcomeparallel,andgettowork:adelicatemanoeuvre,whichtheyexecutedtoValori’sadmiration,hereinthestormofbattle;tramp,tramp,velocityincreasingfromyourcentreoutwards,tillattheendoftheradius,thetroopsareattreble—quick,fairlyrunningforward,andthelinestraightallthewhile。AdmirabletoValori,inthehotwhirlwindofbattlehere。Forthegreatgunsgo,inhorridsalvos,unabated,andthecracklingthunderofthesmallguns;\"terribletusslingaboutthoseCarp—ponds,thatquaggyCarp—husbandry,\"saystheSchoolmaster,\"andtheHeavensblottedoutinsulphurousfire—

  streakedsmoke。Whathadbecomeofuspacific?Somehadrunintime,andtheywerethewisest;othershadsquatted,whocouldfindanooksuitable。MostofushadgatheredintotheNursery—gardenatthefootofourVillage;wesatquakingthere,——ourprayersgrowntremulouslyvocal;——intearsandwail,atleastthewomenpart。

  Enemiesmadereconcilementwitheachother,\"sayshe,\"anddearfriendstookfarewell。\"[HisNarrative,inLutzow,UBISUPRA。]

  OnegeneralAlleleu;theLastDay,toallappearance,havingcome。

  Friedrich,seeingthingsinthisgoodposture,gallopstotheleftagain,wheremuchurgentlyrequiresattentionfromhim。

  OntheAustrianside,PrinceKarl,throughhismorningsleepatHausdorf,hadheardthecannonading:\"SaxonstakingStriegau!\"

  thinkshe;apleasantlullabyenough;andcontinuestosleepanddream。Agitatedmessengersrushin,atlast;drawhiscurtains:

  \"Prussiansallinrank,thissideStriegauWater;Saxonsbeaten,ornearlyso,atStriegau:wemuststandtoarms,yourHighness!\"——

  \"Toarms,ofcourse,\"answersKarl;andhurriesnow,whathecan,togeteverythinginmotion。Thebivouacitselfhadbeeninorderofbattle;butnaturallythereismuchtoadjust,toputintrim;

  andtheAustriansarenotdistinguishedforcelerityofmovement。

  Alltheworseforthemjustnow。

  OnFriedrich’sside,sofarasIcangather,therehavehappenedtwocrossaccidents。First,bythatwheelingmovement,donetoValori’sadmirationintheStriegauquarter,thePrussianlinehashitcheditselfuptowardsStriegau,hasgotcurvedinward,andcoverslessgroundthanwascountedon;sothatthereisliketobesomegapinthecentralpartof;——asinfacttherewas,inspiteofFriedrich’sefforts,andhitchingsofbattalionsandsquadrons:

  anindisputablegap,thoughitturnedtorichprofitforFriedrich;

  PrinceKarlpayingnoattentiontoit。UponsuchindisputablegapawakefulenemymighthavedoneFriedrichsomeperilousfreak;

  butKarlwasinhisbed,aswesay;——inaterribleflurry,too,whenoutofbed。Nothingwasdoneuponthegap;andFriedrichhadhisunexpectedprofitbyitbeforelong。

  Thesecondaccidentisalmostworse。StriegauBridge(ofplanks,asIfeared),creakingundersuchaheavystreamoffeetaudwheelsallnight,didatlastbreak,insomedegree,andneededtobemended;sothattherearwardregiments,whoaretoformFriedrich’sleftwing,areinpainfulretard;——andarebecomingfrightfullynecessary,theAustriansasyetfaroutflankingus,capableoftakingusinflankwiththatrightwingoftheirs!ThemomentwasagitatingtoaGeneral—in—chief:ValoriwillownthisyoungKing’sbearingwasperfect;nottheleastflurry,thoughundersuchastrain。Hehasaides—de—camp,dashingoutevery—whitherwithorders,withexpedients;PrinceHenri,hisyoungerBrother:

  gallopingthefastest;nay,atlast,hebegsValorihimselftogallop,withorderstoacertainGeneralGessler,inwhoseBrigadeareDragoons。WhichValoridoes,——happilywithouteffectonGessler;whoknowsnoValoriforanaide—de—camp,andkeepsthegroundappointedhim;rearwardofthatgapwetalkedof。

  HappilytheAustrianrightwingisinnohastetocharge。

  HappilyZiethen,blockedbythatincumbranceoftheBridgemending,\"findsafordhigherup,\"theassiduousZiethen;splashesacross,otherregimentsfollowing;formsinlinewellleftward;andinsteadofwaitingfortheAustriancharge,chargeshomeuponthem,fiercelythroughthedifficultgrounds,NodangeroftheAustriansoutflankingusnow;theyarethemselveslikelytogethardmeasureontheirflank。BythefordandbytheBridge,allregiments,someofthemattreble—quick,gettotheirpostsstillintime。

  Accidentsecondhaspassedwithoutdamage。Forward,then;

  rapid,steady;andreserveyourfiretillwithinfiftypaces!——

  PrinoeFerdinandofBrunswick(Friedrich’sBrother—in—law,abright—eyedsteadyyoungman,ofgreatheartforfight)trampsforthwithhisDivision:——steady!——allmannerofDivisionstrampforth;andthehotstorm,Ziethenandcavalrydashinguponthatrightwingoftheirs,kindlesherealsofarandwide。

  TheAustriancavalryonthiswingandelsewhere,itisclear,wereilloff。\"WecouldnotchargethePrussianleftwing,saythey,partlybecauseofthemorassesthatlaybetweenus;andpartly[whichisremarkable]becausetheyrushedacrossandchargedus。\"

  [Austrianreport,Helden—Geschichte,

  i。1113。]PrinceKarlissorrytoreportsuchthingsofhiscavalry;buttheirbehaviorwasbadandnotgood。Thefirstshockthrewthemwavering;thesecond,——nothingwouldpersuadethemtodashforthandmeetit。Highofficerscommanded,obtested,drewoutpistols,PrinceKarlhimselfshotafugitiveortwo,——itwastonopurpose;theywaveredworseateverynewshock;andatlengthashockcame(sixthitwas,asthereportercounts)whichshookthemallintothewind。DecidedlyshyofthePrussianswiththeirnewmanoeuvres,andterriblewayofcomingon,asifsureofbeating。

  IntheSaxonquarter,certainAustrianregimentsofhorsewouldnotchargeatall;merelykeptfiringfromtheircarbines,andwhenthetimecameran。

  AsfortheSaxons,theyhavebeenbeatenthesetwohours;thatistosay,hopelessthesetwohours,andgettingbeatenworseandworse。TheSaxonscannotstand,butneithergenerallywilltheyrun;theydisputeeveryditch,morassandtuftofwood,especiallyeveryvillage。Wrecksofthemuddydesperatebusinesslast,hourafterhour。\"Igavemymenalittlerestunderthegardenwalls,\"

  saysoneSaxonGentleman,\"ortheywouldhavedied,intheheatandthirstandextremefatigue:Iwouldhavegiven100gulden[10poundsSterling]foraglassofwater。\"[Helden—

  Geschichte,ubisupra。]ThePrussianspushthemon,bayonetinback;inexorable,nottoberesisted;slitoffwholebattalionsofthem(prisonersnow,andquartergiven);takealltheirguns,orallthatarenotsunkinthequagmires;——infine,drivethem,partintotheMountainsdirect,partbycircuitthither,downupontherearoftheAustrianfight:throughHausdorf,SeifersdorfandotherMountaingorges,wherewehearnomoreofthem,andshallsaynomoreofthem。AsorestrokeforpooroldWeissenfels;thelastpubliconehehastotake,inthisworld,forthepoormandiedbeforelong。Nobody’sblame,hesays;

  everySaxonmandidwell;onlysomeAustrianhorse—regiments,thatwehadamongus,weretooshy。AdieutopooroldWeissenfels。

  Luckofwar,whatelse,——therebyisheinthispass。

  AndnownewPrussianforce,itsSaxonsbeingwellabolished,ispressingdownuponPrinceKarl’snakedleftflank。Yes;——PrinceKarltoowillhavetogo。Hiscavalryis,formostpart,shakenintoraggedclouds;infantry,steadyenoughmen,cannotstandeverything。\"Ihaveobserved,\"saysFriedrich,\"ifyoustepsharplyuptoanAustrianbattalion[withinfiftypacesorso],andpourinyourfirewell,inaboutaquarterofanhouryouseetheranksbeginningtoshake,andjumbletowardsindistinctness;\"

  [MilitaryInstructions。]averyhopefulsymptomtoyou!

  ItwasatthismomentthatLieutenant—GeneralGessler,underwhomistheDragoonregimentBaireuth,whohadkepthisplaceinspiteofValori’smessage,determinedonathing,——advisedtoitbyGeneralSchmettau(youngerSchmettau),whowasnear。Gessler,aswesaw,stoodintherearline,behindthatgap(mostlikelyoneofseveralgaps,orwidespaces,lefttoowide,asweexplained);

  Gessler,noticingthejumblyconditionofthoseAustrianbattalions,heapednowoneuponanotherinthispart,——motionstothePrussianInfantrytomakewhatfartherroomisneedful;

  thendashesthrough,intwocolumns(selfandtheDragoon—Colonelheadingtheone,FrenchChasot,whoisLieutenant—Colonel,headingtheother),sabreinhand,withextraordinaryimpetusandfire,intothebellyofthesejumblyAustrians;andslashesthemtorags,\"twentybattalionsofthem,\"inanaltogetherunexampledmanner。

  Takes\"severalthousandprisoners,\"andsuchahaulofstandards,kettle—drumsandinsigniaofhonor,aswasnevergotbeforeatonecharge。Sixty—sevenstandardsbythetale,fortheregiment(bymostAll—GraciousPermission)wears,everafter,\"67\"uponitscartridge—box,andisallowedtobeatthegrenadiermarch;

  [Orlich,ii。179(173n。,179n。,slightlywrong);

  Militair—Lexikon,ii。9,iv。465,468。SeePreuss,i。212;OEuvresdeFrederic;&c。&c。]——howmanykettle—drumsmemorydoesnotsay。

  PrinceKarlbeatsretreat,about8inthemorning;isthroughHohenfriedbergabout10(cannoncoveringthere,andNadastiasrear—guard):backintotheMountains;athoroughlywell—beatenman。

  TowardsBolkenhayn,theSaxonsandhe;theirheavyartilleryandbaggagehadbeenleftsafethere。Notmuchpursued,andgraduallyrearranginghimself;withthoughts,——nowantofthoughts!

  Camepouringdown,triumphantlyinvasive,yesterday;returns,ontheseterms,inaboutfifteenhours。Notmarchingwithdisplayedbannersandfield—music,thistime;thisisafarothermarch。

  Themouse—traphadbeenleftopen,andwerashlywentin!——PrinceKarl’sloss,includingthatoftheSaxons(whichisalmostequal,thoughtheirnumberinthefieldwasbutHALF),is9,000deadandwounded,7,000prisoners,66cannon,73flagsandstandards;

  thePrussianisabout5,000deadandwounded。[InOrlich(ii。182)

  allthedetails。]Friedrich,atsightofValori,embraceshisGROS

  VALORI;says,withapiousemotioninvoiceandlook,\"Myfriend,Godhashelpedmewonderfullythisday!\"Actuallytherewasakindofdevoutfeelingvisibleinhim,thinksValori:\"Asingularmixture,thisPrince,ofgoodqualitiesandofbad;Ineverknowwhichpreponderates。\"[Valori,SOEPIUS。]AsisthewaywithfatValoris,whentheycomeintosuchcompany。

  Friedrichisblamedbysomemilitarymen,andperhapshimselfthoughtitquestionable,thathedidnotpursuePrinceKarlmoresharply。Hesayshistroopscouldnot;theywerewornoutwiththenight’smarchingandtheday’sfighting。Hehimselfmaywellbewornout。Isuppose,forthelastfour—and—twentyhourshe,ofallthecontemporarysonsofAdam,hasprobablybeenthebusiest。

  Letusrestthisday;resttillto—morrowmorning,andbethankful。

  \"Sodecisiveadefeat,\"writeshetohisMother(hastily,misdating\"6th\"Junefor4th),\"hasnotbeensinceBlenheim\"[LetterinOEuvresdeFrederic,xxvi。71。](whichistolerablytrue);and\"IhavemadethePrincessigntheirnames,\"togivethegoodMotherassuranceofherchildrenintheseperilsofwar。Seldomhassuchadeliverancecometoaman。

  ChapterXI。

  CAMPOFCHLUM:FRIEDRICHCANNOTACHIEVEPEACE。

  Friedrichmarched,onthemorrow,likewisetoBolkenhayn;whichtheenemyhavejustleft;ourhussarshangingontheirrear,andbickeringwithNadasti。Thenagainonthemorrow,Sunday,——\"twelvehoursofcontinuousrain,\"writesValori;butthereisnodown—

  pour,ordistress,ordisturbancethatwillshakethesemenfromtheirranks,writesValori。Andsoitgoeson,marchaftermarch,theAustriansahead,Dumoulinandourhussarsinfestingtheirrear,whichskilfullydefendeditself:throughLandshutdownintoBohemia;wherearenewsuccessivemarches,thePrussianquarterstaffstuckintothebackofdefeatedAustria,\"Homewithyou;fartherhome!\"——andshoggingiton,——withoutpause,foraboutafortnighttocome。Andthenonlywithtemporarypause;thatistosay,withintricatemanoeuvringsofamonthlong,whichshoveittoKonigsgratz,itsultimatum,beyondwhichthereisnogettingit。

  Thestagesandsuccessivecampings,tobefoundpunctuallyintheoldBooksandnew,caninterestonlymilitaryreaders。HereisasmalltheologicalthingatLandshut,fromfirsthand:——

  JUNE8th,1745。\"TheArmyfollowedDumoulin’sCorps,andmarcheduponLandshut。Onarrivinginthatneighborhood,theKingwassurroundedbyatroopof2,000Peasants,\"——ofProtestantpersuasionveryevidently!(whichismuchtheprevailingthereabouts),——\"whobeggedpermissionofhim’tomassacretheCatholicsoftheseparts,andclearthecountryofthemaltogether。’ThisanimosityarosefromthepersecutionswhichtheProtestantshadsufferedduringtheAustriandomination,whentheirchurchesusedtobetakenfromthemandgiventothePopishpriests,\"——churchesandalmosttheirchildren,suchwastheanxietytomakethemorthodox。Thepatienceofthesepeasantshadrunover;andnow,inthehourofhope,theyproposedtheabovesweepingmeasure。\"TheKingwasveryfarfromgrantingthemsobarbarousapermission。Hetoldthem,’TheyoughtrathertoconformtotheScriptureprecept,toblessthosethatcursedthem,andprayforthosethatdespitefullyusedthem;

  suchwasthewaytogaintheKingdomofHeaven。’Thepeasants,\"

  rollingdubiouseyesforamoment,\"answered,HisMajestywasright;anddesistedfromtheircruelpretension。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。218。]……——\"OnHohenfriedbergDay,\"

  saysanotherWitness,\"asfarasthesoundofthecannonwasheard,allround,theProtestantsfellontheirknees,prayingforvictorytothePrussians;\"[InRanke,iii。259。]andatBreslauthatevening,whenthe\"ThirteentrumpetingPostilions\"cametearinginwiththenews,whatanenthusiasmwithoutlimit!

  PrinceKarlhasskillinchoosingcampsandpositions:

  hisAustriansaremuchcowed;thatisthegrievouslossinhislatefight。So,fromJune8th,whentheyquitSilesia,——bytworoadstogomorereadily,——allthroughthatmonthandthenext,Friedrichspreadtotheduewidth,dulyprickingintotherearofthem,drivesthebeatenhostsonwardandonward。Theydonotthinkoffighting;theironethoughtistogetintopositionswheretheycanhavelivingconveyedtothem,andcannotbeattacked;fortheformerofwhichobjects,thefartherhomewardstheygo,itisthebetter。Themainpursuit,asIgather,goesleftwardfromLandshut,byFriedland,——theSilesianFriedland,onceWallenstein’s。

  Throughroughwildcountry,thesouthernslopeoftheGiantMountains,goesthatslowpursuit,orthemainstreamofit,whereFriedrichinpersonis;intricatesavageregions,cutbyprecipitousrocksandsoakingquagmires,shaggywithwoods:

  watershedbetweentheUpperElbeandMiddleOder;Glatzonourleft,——withtherainofitsmountainsgatheringtoaNeisseRiver,eastward,whichweknow;andontheirwestorhitherside,toaMietau,Adler,Aupaandothermany—branchedfeedersoftheElbe。

  Mostcomplexmilitaryground,themanoeuvringsonitendless,——

  whichmustbelefttothereader’sfancyhere。

  AbouttheendofJune,KarlandhisAustriansfindaplacesuitabletotheirobjects:Konigsgratz,acompactlittleTown,inthenookbetweentheElbeandAdler;coveredtowestandtosouthbythesetwostreams;strongenoughtoeastwithal;andsureandconvenienttothesouthernroadsandvictual。AgainstwhichFriedrich’smanoeuvresavailnothing;sothatheatlast(20thJuly)crossesElbeRiver;takes,helikewise,aninexpugnableCampontheoppositeshore,ataVillagecalledChlum;andliesthere,makingamutualdead—lockofit,forsixweeksormore。OfthepriorCamps,withtheirabundanceofstrategicshufflings,wheelings,pushings,allissuinginthisofChlum,wesaynothing:noneofthem,——

  excepttheimmediatelyprecedingone,calledofNahorzan,calledalsoofDrewitz(foritwasinpartsashiftingentity,andflungtheLIMBSofitabout,strategicallyclutchingatKonigsgratz),——

  hadanypermanency:letustakeChlum(thelongest,andessentiallythelastinthoseparts)asthegeneralsummaryofthem,andalonerememberablebyus。[\"CampofGross—Parzitz[acrosstheMietau,todislodgePrinceKarlfromhisshelterbehindthatstream],June14th:\"\"CampofNahorzan,June18th[andabstrusemanoeuvrings,ofamonth,forKonigsgratz]:20thJuly,\"crossElbeforChlum;

  andlie,yourselfalsoinexpugnable,there。SeeOEuvresdeFrederic,(iii。120etseq。);especiallyseeOrlich(ii。pp。193,194,203,&c。&c。),——withanamplitudeofinorganicdetails,sufficienttoastonishtherobustestmemory!]

  Friedrich’spurposes,atChlumorpreviously,arenottowardsconquestsinBohemia,noroffightingfarther,ifhecanhelpit。

  But,inthemeanwhile,heiseatingouttheseBohemianvicinages;

  noinvasionofSilesiapossiblefromthatquartersoonagain。

  Thatisonebenefit:andhehopesalwayshisenemies,underscrewofmilitarypressurewiththeonehand,andofferoftheolive—

  branchwiththeother,willbeinducedtogranthimPeace。

  BritannicMajesty,afterFontenoyandHohenfriedberg,nottomentionthefirstrumorsofaJacobiteRebellion,withFrancetorearofit,isgettingeagertohaveFriedrichsettledwith,andwithdrawnfromthegameagain;——therather,asFriedrich,knowinghisman,hasceasedlatterlytourgehimonthesubject。PeacewithGeorgethePurseholder,doesnotthatmeanPeacewithalltheothers?FriedrichknowsthehighQueen’sindignation;buthelittleguesses,atthistime,thehumorofBruhlandthePolishMajesty。

  HehasneveryetsenttheOldDessauerinuponthem;alwaysonlykeepshimontheslip,atMagdeburg;stillhopingactualitiesmaynotbeneeded。Hehopestoo,inspiteofherindignation,theHungarianMajesty,withanElectiononhand,withtheNetherlandsatsuchapass,nottospeakofItalyandtheMiddleRhine,willcometomoderateviewsagain。Onwhichlatterpoints,hisreckoningwasfarfromcorrect!Withinthreemonths,BritannicMajestyandhedidgettoexplicitAgreement(CONVENTIONOFHANOVER,26thAugust):

  butinregardtothePolishMajestyandtheHungarianthereprovedtobenosuchresultattainable,andquiteothermethodsnecessaryfirst!

  \"OfmilitarytransactionsinthisCampofChlum,orinalltheseBohemian—SilesianCamps,fornearfourmonths,thereisnothing,orasgoodasnothing:Chlumhasnoevents;Chlumvigilantlyguardsitself;andexpects,asthereallydecisivetoit,eventsthatwillhappenfaraway。Wearetoconceivethismilitarybusinessasadead—lock;attendedwithhussarskirmishes;attacks,defences,ofoutposts,ofprovision—wagonsfromMoraviaorSilesia:——FriedrichhashisfoodfromSilesiachiefly,byseveralroutes,’convoyscomeonceinthefivedays。’Hishorse—provenderheforages;

  withTolpatcheswatchinghim,andcontinualscufflingsoffight:

  ’forhayandglory,’writesonePrussianOfficer,’Iassureyouwefightwell!’Endlessenterprising,manoeuvring,counter—

  manoeuvringthereatfirstwas;andstillis,ifeitherpartystir:

  buthere,intheirmutuallyfixedcamps,tacitmutualobservancesestablishthemselves;andamidtherigorousarmedvigilantes,therearetraitsofhumanneighborship。Asusualinsuchcases。

  Theguard—partiesdonotfireononeanother,withincertainlimits:asignalthattherearedeadtobury,orthelike,isstrictlyrespected。Ononesuchoccasionitwas(June30th,Camp—

  of—Nahorzantime)thatPrinceFerdinandofBrunswick——PrinceFerdinand,withayoungBrotherAlbertvolunteeringandlearninghisbusinesshere,whoarebothPrussian——hadasnatchofinterviewwithathirdmuch—lovedBrother,Ludwig,whoisintheAustrianservice。APrussianofficer,venturingbeyondthelimits,hadbeenshot;Ferdinand’smessage,’Grantusburialofhim!’found,bychance,BrotherLudwigincommandofthatAustrianoutpost;

  whoanswers:’Surely;——andbegthatImayembracemyBrothers!’

  Andtheyrodeout,thosethree,tothespaceintermediate;

  talkedthereforhalfanhour,tilltheburialwasdone。

  [Mauvillon,GeschichteFerdinandsvonBraunschweig—

  Luneburg,i。118。]Fancysuchaninterviewbetweenthepooryoungfellows,thesoulofhonoreach,andtiedinthatmanner!

  \"TrenckoftheLife—guardwasnotquitethesoulofhonor。ItwasintheNahorzantimetoothatTrenck,whohad,inspiteofexpressordertothecontrary,beenwritingtohisCousintheindigoPandour,wasputunderarrestwhenfoundout。’Wrotemerelyabouthorses:purchaseofhorses,sohelpmeGod!’proteststheblusterousLife—guardsman,loudaslungswill,——whetherwithtruthinthem,nobodycansay。’Arrestforbreakingorders!’answersFriedrich,doubtingordisbelievingthehorses;andloudTrenckispackedovertheHillstoGlatz;toGovernorFouquet,orSubstitute;

  ——where,bynotsubmittingandrepenting,byresistingandrebelling,andeveragaindoingit,hemakesoutforhimself,withFouquetandhisotherGovernors,whatkindoflifeweknow!

  ’GARDEZE’TROITEMENTCEDROLE—LA,ILAVOULUDEVENIRPANDOURAUPRES

  DESONONCLE(Keepatightholdofthisfinefellow;hewantedtobecomePandourbesidehisUncle)!’writesFriedrich:——’Uncle’

  insteadof’Cousin,’allonetoFriedrich。Thishewriteswithhisownhand,onthemargin:28thJune,1745;theinexorableRecordsfixthatdate。[Rodenbeck。iii。381。CopyoftheWarrant,oncePENESME。]WhichIshouldnotmention,exceptforanotherinexorabledate(30thSeptember),thatiscoming;andtheperceptibleslightcomforttherewillbeinfixingdownaloud—

  blustering,extensivelyfabulousblockhead,stillfitfortheNurseries,tooneundeniablepremeditatedlie,andtar—markinghimtherewith,forbenefitofmoreseriousreaders。\"Asshallbedone,werethe30thofSeptembercome!

  Hereisstillsomething,——ifitbenotrathernothing,byagreathand!Dateuncertain;Camp—of—Chlumtime,prettyfaron:……

  \"Therearecontinualforagings,onbothsides;withpartiesmutuallydashingouttohinderthesame。ThePrussianshaveadetachedpostatSmirzitz;whichismuchharassedbyHungarianslurkingabout,shootingoursentryandthelike。Aninventiveheadcontrivesthisexpedient。StuffaPrussianuniformwithstraw;

  fixitup,byaidofropesandcheck—strings,tostandwithmusketshouldered,andeventoglideabouttorightandleft,onjudiciouspulling。Soitisdone:strawmanismade;setuponhisropes,whentheTolpatchesapproach;andpensivelysaunterstoandfro,——hislivingcomradescrouchinginthebushesnearby。Tolpatchesfireonthewalkingstrawsentry;strawsentryfallsflat;Tolpatchesrushin,esurient,triumphant;areexplodedinasharpblastofmusketryfromthebushesallround,everywoundedmanmadeprisoner;——andcomenomorebacktothatpost。\"Friedrichhimselfrecordsthislittlefact:\"slightpleasantrytorelievethereader’smind,\"sayshe,innarratingit。[OEuvres,iii。123。]

  ——Enoughofthosesmallmatters,whilesomanylargearewaiting。

  June26th,amonthbeforeChlum,GeneralNassauhadbeendetached,withsome8or10,000,acrossGlatzCountry,intoUpperSilesia,tosweepthatclearagain。Hautcharmoi,quittingtheFrontierTowns,hasjoined,raisinghimto15,000;andNassauisgivingexcellentaccountofthemultitudinousPandourdoggeriesthere;andwillretakeKosel,andhaveUpperSilesiasweptbeforeverylong。

  [Kosel,\"September5th:\"Excellent,lucidandevenentertainingAccountofNassau’sExpedition,intheformofDIARY(amodel,ofitskind),inFeldzuge,iv。257,371,532。]

  Ontheotherhand,theElectionmatter(KAISERWAHL,amostimportantpoint)isobviouslyinthreatening,orevenindesperatestate!ThatfamedMiddle—RhineArmyhasgonetothe——whatshallwesay?

  JULY5th—19th,MIDDLE—RHINECOUNTRY。\"ThefirstElection—newsthatreachesFriedrichisfromtheMiddle—RhineCountry,andofverybadcomplexion。ReadersrememberTraun,andhisBathyanis,andhisintentionsuponContithere。IntheendofMay,oldTraun,thingsbeingallcompletedinBavaria,hadgotonmarchwithhisBavarianArmy,say40,000,tolookintoPrinceContidowninthoseparts;

  afactveryinterestingtothePrince。Traunheldleftward,westward,asiffortheNeckarValley,——’PerhapsintendingtobethroughuponElsass,inthosesouthernundefendedportionsoftheRhine?’Conti,andhisSegur,andMiddle—RhineArmystooddiligentlyontheirguard;gottheirforces,defences,apparatuses,hurriedsouthward,fromFrankfurtquarterwheretheylayonwatch,intothoseNeckarregions。Whichseentobedone,Traunwhirledrapidlytorightward,tonorthward;crossedtheMaynatWertheim,whollyleavingtheNeckaranditsConti;havingweightybusinessquiteintheotherdirection,——onthenorthsideoftheMayn,namely;ontheKinzigRiver,whereBathyani(whohastakenD’Ahremberg’scommandbelowFrankfurt,andmeanstobestirhimselfinanotherthantheD’Ahrembergfashion)istomeethimonasetday。Traunhavingthus,bystrategicsuction,pulledtheMiddle—

  RhineArmyoutofhisandBathyani’sway,hopestheytwowillmanageajunctionontheKinzig;afterjunctiontheywillbealittlestrongerthanConti,thoughdecidedlyweakertakenonebyone。Traun,inthelongJunedays,hadsuchamarch,throughtheSpessartForest(MaynRivertohisleft,withouroldfriendsDettingen,Aschaffenburg,fardownintheplain),aswashardlyeverknownbefore:pathlesswildernesses,rockysteepsandchasms;

  theswelteringJunesunsendingdowntheuppersnowsuponhimintheformofmuddyslush;sothat’theinfantryhadtowadehaunch—

  deepinmanyofthehollowparts,andnearlyallthecavalrylostitshorse—shoes。’Astrenuousmarch;andawell—schemed。ForattheKinzigRiver(ContistillfaroffintheNeckarcountry),Bathyanipunctuallyappeared,ontheoppositeshore;andTraunandhetookcamptogether;July5th,atLangen—Selbord(fewmilesnorthofHanau,whichweknow);——andrestthere;calculatingthatContiisnowamanageablequantity;——andcomfortablywaittilltheGrand—

  Dukearrives。[Adelung,iv。421;v。36。]Forthisis,theoretically,HISArmy;Grand—DukeFranzbeingtheCommander’sCloak,thisseason;asKarlwaslast,——arightluckyCloakhe,whileTraunlurkedunderhim,notsoluckysince!July13th,Franzarrived;andTraun,underFranz,instantlywentintoConti(nowagaininthoseFrankfurtparts);clutchedatConti,Briareus—like,inamultiformalarmingmanner:sothatContilosthead;tooktomereretreating,rushingabout,burningbridges;——andinfine,July19th,hadflunghimselfbodilyacrosstheRhine(cloudsofTolpatchesstickingtohim),andleftoldTraunandhisGrand—Dukesupremelordinthoseparts。WhodidNOTinvadeElsass,aswasnowexpected;butlayatHeidelberg,intendingtoplaypacificallyasurercard。AllFrenchareoutofTeutschlandagain;andthegamegivenup。Inwhataprematureandshamefulmanner!

  thinksFriedrich。

  \"NominallyitwastheGrand—DukethatflungContiovertheRhine;

  anddeliveredTeutschlandfromitsplagues。Afterwhichfinefeat,salvatorytotheCauseofLiberty,anddestructivetoFrenchinfluence,whatistopreventhiselectiontotheKaisership?

  Friedrichcomplainsaloud:’Contihasgivenitup;youdrafted15,000fromhim(forimaginaryusesintheNetherlands),——youhavegivenitup,then!Wasthatourbargain?’’Wehavegivenitup,’

  answersD’ArgensontheWar—minister,writingtoValori;’but,’——

  Andsupplies,insteadofperformanceaccordingtothelawsoffact,eloquentlogic;verysuperfluoustoFriedrichandthesaidlaws!——

  Valori,andtheFrenchMinisteratDresden,hadagainbeentryingtostirupthePolishMajestytostandforKaiser;butofcoursethatenterprise,eagerasthePolishMajestymightbeforsuchadignity,hadnowtocollapse,andbecometotallyhopeless。AnewofferofFriedrich’stoco—operatehadbeenrefusedbyBruhl,withabrevity,adecisiveness——’Thinksmefinished(AUXABOIS),’saysFriedrich;’andnotworthgivingtermsto,onsurrendering!’

  Thefoolishlittlecreature;insolentinthewrongquarter!\"

  [OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。128。]

  ’TheGermanBurden,then,——whichsurelywasmutual,atlowest,andlatelywasFrenchaltogether,——theFrenchhavethrownitoff;

  theFrenchhavedroppedtheirendoftheBEARING—POLES(sotospeak),andleftFriedrichbyhimself,tostandorstagger,underthebewelteredbrokenharness—gearandintolerableweight!Thatisone’spaymentforcuttingtheropefromtheirnecklastyear!——

  Longsince,whilethepresentCampaignwasbeingpreparedfor,undersuchfinancialpressures,Friedrichhadbethoughthim,\"TheFrenchmight,atleastgivememoney,iftheycannothingelse?\"——andhehadonedaypennedaLetterwiththatobject;

  buthadthrownitintohisdeskagain,\"No;nottilltheverylastextremity,that!\"Friedrichdidatlastdespatchtheunpleasantmissive:\"ServicedoneyouinElsass,letussaylittleofit;

  buttherepaymenthasbeenzerohitherto:yourBavarianexpenses(poorKaisergone,andPeaceofFussencome!)arenowended:——

  Aroundsum,sayof600,000pounds,isbecomingindispensablehere,ifwearetokeeponourfeetatall!\"HerrRanke,whohasseentheMostChristianKing’sresponse(thoughinacapriciousway),finds\"threeorfoursuccessiveredactions\"ofthedifficultpassage;

  allpainfullymeaning,\"Impossible,alas!\"——painfullyadding,\"Wewilltry,however!\"And,afterduecunctations,Friedrichwaitingsilentthewhile,——Louis,MostChristianKing,whohadfailedinsomanythingstowardsFriedrich,doesempowerValoriToofferhimasubsidyof600,000livresamonth,tillweseefarther。

  Twentythousandpoundsamonth;hehopesthiswillsuffice,beinghimselfrunterriblylow。Friedrich’sfeelingistobeguessed:

  \"SuchadolemightanswertoaLandgrafofHessen—Darmstadt;buttomeisnotintheleastsuitable;\"——andflatlyrefusesit;

  FIEREMENT,saysValori。[Ranke,iii。235,299n。(nottheleastofDATEallowedusineithercase);Valori。i。240。]

  MONGROSVALORI,whocouldnothimselfhelpallthis,poorsoul,\"fallsnowintocompletedisgrace;\"waitsdailyuponFriedrichatthegivingoutoftheparole,\"butfrequentlyhisMajestydoesnotspeaktomeatall。\"Hardlylooksatme,oronlylooksasifIhadsuddenlybecomeZeroIncarnate。Itisnowinthesedays,Isuppose,thatFriedrichwritesaboutthe\"ScamanderBattle\"(ofFontenoy),and\"CaptureofPekin,\"bywayofhelpingonetofighttheAustriansaccordingtoTreaty。Andhasatouchofbittersarcasminutteringhiscomplaintsagainst,suchtreatment,——theheartofhim,Isuppose,bitterenough。MostChristianKinghasfeltthisoftheScamander,Friedrichperceives;Louis’snextlettertestifiespique;——andofcoursewearefartherfromhelp,onthatside,thanever。\"FromtheSTANDEoftheKur—Mark[Brandenburg]Friedrichwasofferedaconsiderablesubsidyinstead;andjoyfullyacceptedthesame,’asaloan:’\"——paiditpunctuallyback,too;andnever,allhisdays,forgotitofthoseSTANDE。[Stenzel,iv。255;Ranke,&c。]

  CAMPOFDIESKAU:BRITANNICMAJESTYMAKESPEACE,FORHIMSELF,WITHFRIEDRICH;BUTCANNOTFORAUSTRIAORSAXONY。

  AboutthemiddleofAugust,therearecertainSaxonphenomenawhichawakendreadexpectationintheworld。Friedrich,watching,Argus—

  like,nearandfar,inhisChlumobservatory,hasnoticedthatPrinceKarlisgettingreinforcedinKonigsgratz;10,000lately,7,000morecoming;——andcontrariwisethattheSaxonsseemtobestragglingofffromhim;ebbingaway,corpsaftercorps,——towardsSaxony,canitbe?Therearewhispersof\"Bavarianauxiliaries\"

  beinghiredforthem,too。AndlittleBruhl’slateinsolence;

  Bruhl’sevidentbeliefthat\"wearefinished(AUXABOIS)\"?

  Puttingallthistogether,Friedrichjudges——withanindignationverynatural——thatthereisagainsomeinsidiousSaxonmischief,mostlikelyanattackonBrandenburg,inthewind。FriedrichorderstheOldDessauer,\"Marchintothem,delaynolonger!\"andpublishesaclangorouslyindignantManifesto(evidentlyhisownwriting,andcomingfromtheheart):[InAdelung,v。64—71(nodate;\"middleofAugust,\"saytheBooks)。]\"Howtheyhave,notboundbytheirAustrianTreaty,wantonlyinvadedourSilesia;have,sinceandbefore,inspiteofourforbearance,donesomanythings:——and,infact,havefinallyexhaustedourpatience;andareforcingustoseekredressandsafetybythenaturalmethods,\"whichtheywillseehowtheylike!——

  OldLeopoldadvancesstraightway,asbidden,directfortheSaxonfrontier。TowhomFriedrichshootsoffdetachments,——PrinceDietrich,withsomanythousands,toreinforcePapa;thenGeneralGesslerwithsomany,——tillPapais30,000odd;andcouldeatSaxonyatamouthful;nothingwhateverbeingyetreadythereonBruhl’spart,thoughhehassuchimmensethingsinthewind!——

  NeverthelessFriedrichagainpaused;didnotyetstrike。TheSaxonquestionhasRussianbug—bears,noendofcomplications。

  HisBritannicMajesty,nowatHanover,andhisprudentHarringtonwithhim,areintheactoflaboring,withallearnestness,forageneralAgreementwithFriedrich。Withoutfartherbitterness,embroilmentandbloodshed:howmuchpreferableforFriedrich!

  OldDessauer,therefore,pauses:\"CampofDieskau,\"whichwehaveoftenheardof,closeontheSaxonBorder;standsthere,lookingover,aswithsworddrawn,30,000goodswords,——butnostroke,notforalmostthreemonthsmore。Inthreemonths,wretchedBruhlhadnotrepented;but,onthecontrary,hadcompletedhispreparations,andgonetowork;——andthestrokedidfall,aswillbeseen。

  ThatisBruhl’spostureinthematter。[Ranke,iii。231,314。]

  ToBritannicGeorge,foragoodwhilepast,ithasbeenmanifestthatthePragmaticSanction,initsoriginalform,isanextinctobject;thatreconquestofSilesia,andsuchlike,ismelancholymoonshine;andthat,infact,towardsfightingtheFrenchwitheffect,itishighlynecessarytomakepeacewithFriedrichofPrussiaagain。ThisoncemoreisGeorge’sandhisHarrington’sfixedview。Friedrich’sownwishesareknown,orusedtobe,eversincethelateKaiser’sdeath,——thoughlatterlyhehasfallensilent,andevenavoidsthetopicwhenoffered(knowinghisman)!

  HerringtonhastoapplyformallytoFriedrich’sMinisteratHanover。\"Verywell,iftheyareinearnestthistime,\"soFriedrichinstructshisMinister:\"Mytermsareknowntoyou;

  nochangeadmissibleintheterms;——donotspeakwithmeonitfarther:and,observe,withinfourweeks,thethingfinished,orelsebrokenoff!\"[Ranke,iii。277—281。]Andinthissensetheyarelaboringincessantly,withAustria,withSaxony,——withouttheleastsuccess;——andExcellencyRobinsonhasagainapantinguncomfortabletime。HereisasceneRobinsontransactsatVienna,whichgivesusacuriousface—to—faceglimpseofherHungarianMajesty,whileFriedrichisinhisCampatChlum。

  SCHONBRUNN,2dAUGUST,1745,ROBINSONHASAUDIENCEOF

  HERHUNGARIANMAJESTY。

  Robinson,inacopioussonorousspeech(ratherapttobecopious,andtofallintotheParliamentaryCANTO—FERMO),setsforthhowextremelyillweAlliesarefaringontheFrenchhand;nothingdoneuponSilesiaeither;ahopelessmatterthat,——isitnot,yourMajesty?AndyourMajesty’sforcesalllyingthere,inmeredead—

  lock;andweinsuchneedofbhem!\"PeacewithPrussiaisindispensable。\"——TowhichherMajestylistened,instatuesquesilencemostly;\"neversawhersoreservedbefore,myLord。\"……

  ROBINSON……\"’Madam,theDutchwillbeobligedtoacceptNeutrality’[andplumpdownagain,aftersuchhoisting]!

  QUEEN。\"’Well,andiftheydid,they?\"ItwouldbeeasiertoaccommodatewithFranceitself,andsofinishthewholematter,thanwithPrussia。\"MyArmycouldnotgettotheNetherlandsthisseason。NoGeneralofminewouldundertakeconductingitatthisdayoftheyear。PeacewithPrussia,whatgoodcoulditdoatpresent?’

  ROBINSON。\"’Englandhasalreadyfound,forsubsidies,thisyear,1,178,753pounds。Cannotgoonatthatrate。PeacewithPrussiaisoneofthereturnstheEnglishNationexpectsforallithasdone。’

  QUEEN。\"’ImusthaveSilesiaagain:withoutSilesiatheKaiserhoodwereanemptytitle。\"OrwouldyouhaveusadministeritundertheguardiancyofPrussia!\"’……

  ROBINSON。\"’InBohemiaitselfthingsdon’tlookwell;nothingdoneonFriedrich:yourSaxonsseemtobeqnarrellingwithyou,andgoinghome。’

  QUEEN。\"’PrinceKarlishimselfcapableoffightingthePrussiansagain。Tillthat,donotspeaktomeofPeace!GrantmeonlytillOctober!’

  ROBINSON。\"’PrussiawillhelptheGrand—DuketoKaisership。’

  QUEEN。\"’TheGrand—DukeisnotsoambitionsofanemptyhonorastoengageinitunderthetutelageofPrussia。Considerfarther:

  theImperialdignity,isitcompatiblewiththefataldeprivationofSilesia?\"Oneotherbattle,Isay!GoodGod,givemeonlytillthemonthofOctober!\"’

  ROBINSON。\"’Abattle,Madam,ifwon,won’treconquerSilesia;

  iflost,yourMajestyisruinedathome。’

  QUEEN。\"’DUSSE’JECONCLUREAVECLUILELENDEMAIN,JELUILIVRERAIS

  BATAILLECESOIR(HadItoagreewithhimto—morrow,Iwouldtryhiminabattlethisevening)!’\"[Robinson’sDespatch,4thAugust,1745。Ranke,iii。287;Raumer,pp。161,162。]

  HerMajestyisnottobehindered;deaftoRobinson,toherBritannicGeorgewhopaysthemoney。\"Cruelman,isthatwhatyoucallkeepingthePragmaticSanction;dismemberingmeofProvinceafterProvince,nowinGermany,theninItaly,onpretextofnecessity?HasnotEnglandmoney,then?DoesnotEnglandlovetheCauseofLiberty?GivemetillOctober!\"HerMajestydidtaketillOctober,andlater,asweshallsee;poorGeorgenotabletohinder,bypowerofthepurseorotherwise:whocanhinderhighfemales,orlow,whentheygetintotheirhumors?MuchofthisAustrianobstinacy,thinkimpartialpersons,wasoffemalenature。

  WeshallseewhatprofitherMajestymadebytakingtillOctober。

  AsforGeorge,thetimebeingrun,andherMajestyandSaxonyunpersuadable,hedeterminedtoacceptFriedrich’stermshimself,inhopeofgraduallybringingtheotherstodoit。August26th,atHanover,thereissignedaCONVENTIONOFHANOVERbetweenFriedrichandhim:\"PeaceontheoldBreslau—Berlinterms,——preciselythesameterms,butBritannicMajestytohavethemguaranteedbyAllthePowers,ontheGeneralPeacecoming,——sothattherebenosnake—procedurehenceforth。\"SilesiaFriedrich’swithoutfail,dearHanoverunmolestedevenbyathoughtofFriedrich’s;——andherHungarianMajestytobeinvited,nayurgedbyeveryfeasiblemethod,toaccede。[Adelung,v。75;is\"inRousset,xix。441;\"

  in&c。&c。]Whichdone,BritannicMajesty——fortherehashungitselfout,intheScotchHighlands,theotherday(\"Glenfinlas,August12th\"),acertainStandard\"TANDEMTRIUMPHANS,\"andunpleasantthingsareimminent!——hurrieshomeathisbestpace,andhashishandsfullthere,forsometime。OnAustria,onSaxony,hecouldnotprevail:\"Bynomannerofmeans!\"answeredthey;andwenttheirownroad,——jinglinghisBritannicsubsidiesintheirpocket;

  regardlessoftheonceSupremeJove,whoissunknowtoaverydifferentfigureontheGermanboards。

  Friedrich’soutlookisverybad:suchaWartogoon,andnotevenfinancetodoitwith。Hisintimates,hisRothenburgonetime,have\"foundhimsunkingloomythought。\"Buthewearsabrightfaceusually。Nowaveringordoubtinginhim,hismindmadeup;whichisagreathelpthatway。Friedrichindicates,andhasindicatedeverywhere,formanymonths,thatPeace,preciselyontheoldfooting,isallhewants:\"TheKaiserbeingdead,whomItookuparmstodefend,whatfartherobjectisthere?\"sayshe。

  \"RenounceSilesia,morehonestlythanlasttime;engagetohaveitguaranteedbyeverybodyattheGeneralPeace(orperhapsHohenfriedbergwillhelptoguaranteeit),——andImarchhome!\"

  Mymoneyisrunningdown,privatelythinkshe;guaranteeSilesia,andIshallbegladtogo。Ifnot,Imustraisemoneysomehow;meltthebigsilverbalustradesatBerlin,borrowfromtheSTANDE,ordosomething;and,infact,muststandhere,unlessSilesiaisguaranteed,andstruggletillIdie。

  ThatlatterwithalisstillprivatelyFriedrich’sthought。Underhislightair,hecarriesunspokenthatgrimlycleardetermination,atalltimes,nowandhenceforth;anditisanimmensehelptotheguidanceofhim。Anindispensable,indeed。Nokingorman,attemptinganythingconsiderableinthisworld,needexpecttoachieveitexcept,tacitly,onthosesameterms,\"Iwillachieveitordie!\"Fortheworld,inspiteofrumorstothecontrary,isalwaysmuchofabedlamtothesanity(sofarashemayhaveany)

  ofeveryindividualman。Astrictplace,moreover;itsverybedlamismsflowingbylaw,asdoalikethesuddenmud—deluges,andthesteadyAtlantictides,andallthingswhatsoever:aworldinexorable,truly,asgravitationitself;——anditwillbehooveyoutofrontitinasimilarhumor,asthetacitbasisforwhateverwiseplansyoulay。InFriedrich,fromthefirstentranceofhimonthestageofthings,wehavehadtorecognizethisprimequality,inafinetacitform,toacompletedegree;andtillhislastexit,weshallneverfinditwanting。Tacitenough,unconsciousalmost,notgiventoarticulateitselfatall;——andiftherebelessofpietythanwecouldwishinthesilenceofit,thereisatleastnoplay—actormendacity,orcantofdevoutness,topoisonthehighworthofit。NobraverlittlefigurestandsontheEarthatthatepoch。Ready,atthedueseason,withhismindsilentlymadeup;——abletoanswerdiplomaticRobinsons,BartensteinsandtheveryDestinieswhentheyapply。Ifyouwillwithdrawyoursnakishnotions,willguaranteeSilesia,willgivehimbackhisoldTreatyofBerlininanirrefragableshape,hewillmarchhome;ifnot,hewillnevermarchhome,butbecarriedthitherdeadrather。Thatishisintention,ifthegodspermit。

  GRAND—DUKEFRANZISELECTEDKAISER(13THSEPTEMBER,1745);

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