FriedrichWilhelmfeelsthatallthisisapettifoggingvexatiouscourseofprocedure;andthathislittleCousintheCOMODIANTisnottreatinghimverylikeagentleman。\"Ishe,yourMajesty!\"
suggeststheSmokingParliament。——AboutthemiddleofMarch,DubourgayhearsBorck,anOfficialnotoftheGrumkowparty,sulkilycommentingon\"theconstanthostilityoftheHanoverMinistrytous\"inallmannerofpoints;———inquireswithal,CouldnotMecklenburgbesomehowsettled,hisPrussianMajestybeingsomewhatanxiousuponit?[Despatch,17thMarch,1729。]
Anxious,yes:hispoorMajesty,intenselymeditativeofsuchamatterinthenight—watches,iscapableofspringingoutofbed,withan\"Eureka!Ihavefoundwhatwilldo!\"anddemandingwritingmaterials。Hewritesordictatesinhisshirt,thegoodanxiousMajesty;despatcheshisEurekabyestafetteonthewingsofthewind:andyourTownshend,yourUNmeditativeGeorge,receivesitwithcurtofficialnegative,andapolitesneer。[Dubourgay,12th—14thApril,1729;andtheAnswerfromSt。James’s。]
Afewweeksfartheron,thisiswhattheNewspapersreportofMecklenburg,inspiteofhisPrussianMajesty’sdesiretohavesomemercyshownthepoorinfatuatedDuke:\"TheElectorofHanoverandtheDukeofBrunswick—Wolfenbuttel,\"hisBritannicMajestyandSquireinthatsadbusiness,\"REFUSEtowithdrawtheirforcesoutofMecklenburg,orpartwiththeChestoftheRevenuesthereof,untilanentiresatisfactionbegiventhemforthearrearsoftheChargestheyhavebeenatinputtingtheSentenceoftheAulicCouncil[Kaiser’sREICHSHOFRATHandrustythunder]intoexecutionagainstthesaidDuke。\"[Salmon’sChronologicalHistorian(London,1748,——aBooknevertobequotedwithoutcaution),ii。216;——date(translatedintonewstyle),10thJuly,1729。]
MattersgrewgreatlyworsewhenGeorgepaidhisfirstVisittoHanoverincharacterofKing,earlyintheSummerof1729。PartofhisroadliesthroughPrussianTerritory:\"Shallhehavefreepost—horses,ashislateMajestywaswont?\"asksthePrussianOfficialperson。\"Ifhewritetorequestthem,yes,\"answersFriedrichWilhelm;\"ifhedon’twrite,no。\"Georgedoesnotwrite;
paysforhispost—horses;——flourishesalongtoHanover,inabsolutesilencetowardshisclownishBrother—in—Law。Youwouldsayhelooksovertheheadofhim,asiftherewerenosuchclowninexistence;——hehasneveryetsomuchasnotifiedhisarrival。
\"Whatisthis?ThereexistsnoPrussia,then,forlittleGeorge?\"
FriedrichWilhelm’sinarticulate,interjectionaryutterances,inclangorousmetallictone,wecanfancythem,nowandthen;andtheTobacco—Parliamentisbusy!BritishMinisterDubourgay,steadyoldmilitarygentleman,whospellsimperfectly,butisintenttokeepdownmischief,writesatlasttoHanover,submissivelysuggesting,\"Couldnot,aswastheoldwont,somenotificationoftheKing’sarrivalbesenthither,whichwouldconsolehisPrussianMajesty?\"
TowhichmyLordTownshendanswers,\"Hasnotbeenthecustom,Iaminformed[WRONGinformed,yourLordship];notnecessaryinthecircumstances。\"Whichisahighcoursebetweenneighborsandroyalgentlemenandkinsfolk。ThePrussianCourthereuponlikewiseshutsitslips;nomentionoftheHanoverianCourt,notevenbyherMajestyandtoEnglishmen,forseveralweekspast。[Dubourgay。]
Someinarticulatemetallicgrowl,inprivate,atdinnerorintheTABAKS—COLLEGIUM:therestistruculentsilence。NorareourpoorHanoverRecruits(accordingtoourListofPressedHanoverians)intheleastsentback;northeClameiMeadowssettled;\"BigMeadow\"
or\"Littleone,\"bothofwhichtheBrandenburgershavemowninthemeantime。
HanoverPressedmennotcominghome,——Ithink,notoneofthem,——
theHanoverOfficialsdecidetoseizesuchPrussianSoldiersashappentobeseizable,inHanoverTerritory。Thehighwayinthatborder—countryrunsnowonthissideofthemarch,nowonthat;——
watchwell,andyouwillgetPrussianSoldiersfromtimetotime!
WhichtheHanoverpeopledo;andseizeseveral,commonmenandevenofficers。Hereisoncemoreahighcourseofproceeding。
Hereiscoaltoraisesmokeenough,ifwellblownupon,——which,withSeckendorfandGrumkowworkingthebellows,wemaywellfancyitwas!Butlistentowhatfollows,independentlyofbellows。
Onthe28thJune,1729,haylyingnowquitedryupontheMeadowofClamei,lo,theBailiffofHanoverianBuhlitz,UnpicturesqueTravellerwillfindthepeat—smokylittleVillageofBuhlitznearbyadustylittleTowncalledLuchow,midwayfromHamburgtoMagdeburg;altogetherpeaty,mossycountry;intheSalzwedeldistrict,whereusedtobeWendicpopulations,andaMarckorBorderFortressofSalzwedelsetupagainstthem:——BailiffofBuhlitz,Isay,salliesforthwithseveralcarts,withallthepopulationoftheVillage,withatroopofhorsetoescort,andprobablyflagsflyingandsomekindofdrumsbeating;——publiclyrakestogetherthehay,defiantofthePrussianMajestyandallmen;loadsitonhiscarts,androllshomewithit;leavingtotheBrandenburgersnothingbutstubbleandthememoryofhavingmownforHanovertoeat。Thisisthe28thJune,1729;KingofPrussiaisnowatMagdeburg,reviewinghistroops;withinahundredmilesofthesecontestedquag—countries:whocanblamehimthatheflamesupnowintoclearblazeofroyalindignation?
Thecorrespondencehenceforthbecomesaltogetherlively:
butintheBritannicArchivesthereisnothingofit,——DubourgayhavingreceivedwarningfrommyLordTownshendtobealtogetherignorantofthematterhenceforth,andlettheHanoverOfficialsmanageit。HisPrussianMajestyreturnshomeinthemosttempestuouscondition。
WemayjudgewhatatimeQueenSophiehadofit;whatscenestherewerewithCrown—PrinceFriedrichandWilhelmina,inherMajesty’sApartmentandelsewhere!FriedrichWilhelmisfastmountingtothered—hotpitch。Thebullyings,thebeatingseven,ofthesepoorChildren,love—sickoneofthem,arelamentabletohearof,asalltheworldhasheard:——\"Disobedientunnaturalwhelps,bitingtheheelsofyourpooroldparentmastiffinhisextremeneed,whatistobedonewithyou?\"Fritzheoftenenoughbeats,givesaslaptowithhisrattan;hashurledaplateathim,onoccasion,whenbadtopicsroseattable;nayatWilhelminatoo,shesays:butthepoorchildrenalwaysducked,andnothingbutalittlenoiseandlossofcrockeryensued。Fritzhedeliberatelydetests,asaservantoftheDevil,incorrigiblyrebellingagainstthepaternalwill,andgoingonthosedissolutecourses:asillyFrenchcockatoo,suspectedofdisbeliefinScripture;giventonothingbutfifingandplay—books;whowillbringPrussiaaudhimselftoabadend。\"Godgranthedonotfinishonthegallows!\"sighedthesadFatheroncetoGrumkow。Therecordsofthesethingsliewrittenfarandwide,inthearchivesofmanycountriesaswellasinWilhelmina’sBook。
Tometherewasoneundiplomaticreflectioncontinuallypresent:
Heavens,couldnobodyhavegotabitofrope,andhangedthosetwoDiplomaticswindlers;clearlyofthescoundrelgenus,morethancommonpickpocketsare?Therebyhadcertainyounghearts,andhonestoldonestoo,escapedbeingbroken;andmanyathingmighthavegonebetterthanitdid。JARNI—BLEU,HerrFeldzeugmeister,thoughyouareanorthodoxProtestant,thisthousand—foldperpetualhabitofdistilledlyingseemstomeabadone。Idonotblameanoldmilitarygentleman,withabrowsopuckeredasyours,forhavinglittleofthemilkofhumankindnesssocalled:
butthisofbreaking,byforceofliesmerely,andforyourownuses,theheartsofpoorinnocentcreatures,nayofgrindingthemslowlyinthemortar,andemployingtheirFather’shandtodoitwithal;this——HerrGeneral,forgiveme,buttherearemomentswhenIfeelasiftheextinctionofprobablytheintensestscoundrelofthatepochmighthavebeenasatisfactoryevent!——Alas,itcouldnotbe。SeckendorfislyingabroadforhisKaiser;\"theonlyreallyablemanwehave,\"saysEugenesometimes。Snufflesandlisps;andtravelsinall,astheycount,about25,000miles,keepinghisMajestyincompany。Herearesomeglimpsesintotheinterior,dullbutatfirst—hand,whichareworthclippingandcondensingfromDubourgay,withtheirdates:——
30thJULY,1729。TotherespectableoldBrigadier,thisdayoryesterday,\"herMajesty,allintears,complainedofhersituation:KingisnighlosinghissensesonaccountofthedifferenceswithHanover;goesfrombedtobedinthenight—time,andfromchambertochamber,’likeonewhosebrainsareturned。’Tookafit,attwointhemorning,lately,tobeofftoWusterhausen:\"——aboutayearagoSeckendorfandGrumkowhadbuiltaLodgeoutthere,wherehisMajesty,whenheliked,couldbesnugandprivatewiththem:thitherhisMajestynowrushed,attwointhemorning;butseeminglyfoundlittleassuagement。
\"Sincehisreturn,hegiveshimselfupentirelytodrink:——
Seckendorf,\"thesnufflingBelial,\"isbusy,abovegroundandbelow;hasbeenheardsayingHealonecouldsettlethesebusinesses,Double—Marriageandall,wouldherMajestybuttrusthim!\"——
\"TheKingwillnotsufferthePrince—RoyaltositnexthisMajestyattable,butobligeshimtogotothelowerend;wherethingsaresoordered,\"saysthesympatheticDubourgay,\"thatthepoorPrinceoftenriseswithoutgettingonebit,\"——woe’sme!\"InsomuchthattheQueenwasobligedtwodaysago[28thJuly,1729,letusdatesuchanoccurrence]tosend,byoneoftheservantswhocouldbetrusted,aBoxofcoldfowlsandothereatablesforhisRoyalHighness’ssubsistence!\"[Dubourgay,30thJuly,1729。]
InthefirstblazeoftheoutrageatClamei,FriedrichWilhelm’sardentmindsuggestedtohimthemethodofsinglecombat:defianceofGeorge,bycartel,Togivethesatisfactionofagentleman。
TherehavebeensuchinstancesonthepartofSovereigns;
thoughtheyarerare:KarlLudwigofthePfalz,Winter—king’sSon,forexample,did,asisunderstood,challengeTurenneforburningthePfalz(FIRSTburningthatpoorcountrygot);butnothingcameofit,owingtoTurenne’sprudence。FriedrichWilhelmseeswellthatitallcomesfromGeorge’sprivatehumor:WhyshouldhumanbloodbeshedexceptGeorge’sandmine?FriedrichWilhelmisdecisiveforsendingoffthecartel;hehasevensettledtheparticulars,andseesinhisglowingpoeticmindhowthetransactionmaybe:say,atHildesheimforplace;Derschaushallbemysecond;BrigadierSutton(ifanybodynowknowsuchaman)
maybehis。Seconds,placeandgeneraloutlinehehasschemedout,andfixed,sofarasdependsononeparty;willfairlyfenceandfightthisinsolentlittleRoyalGentleman;givetheworldaspectacle(whichmighthavebeenverywholesometotheworld)oftwoKingsvoidingtheirquarrelbyduelandfairpersonalfence。
InEnglandthereportgoes,\"notwithoutfoundation,\"thinkLordHerveyandmenofsarcasticinsightinthehighercircles,ThatitwashisBritannicMajestywho\"sentorwouldhavesentachallengeofsinglecombattohisPrussianMajesty,\"thelatterbeingthepassiveparty!ReportflungintoanINVERSEposture,asisliabletohappen;\"going\"nowwithitsfeetuppermost;\"notwithoutfoundation,\"thinksLordHervey。\"Butwhetherit[thecartel]wascarriedandrejected,orwhethertheprayersandremonstrancesofLordTownshendpreventedthegauntletbeingactuallythrowndown,isapointwhich,tome[LordHervey]atleast,hasneverbeencleared。\"[LordHervey,MemoirsofGeorgeII。(London,1848),i。127。]
ThePrussianMinisters,nolessthanTownshendwould,feelwellthatthisofDuelwillneverdo。Astonishment,FLEBILELULIBRIUM,tragicalteheefromgodsandmen,willcomeoftheDuel!Buthowtoturnitaside?FortheKingisdetermined。Histruculentveracityofmindpointsoutthisastherealwayforhim;
reasoning,entreatingaretonopurpose。\"Thetruemethod,Itellyou!Astotheworldanditscackling,——lettheworldcackle!\"
AtlengthBorckhitsonaconsideration:\"YourMajestyhasbeenilllately;handperhapsnotsosteadyasusual?NowifitshouldturnoutthatyourMajestyprovedsoinferiortoyourselfasto——
GoodHeavens!\"This,itissaid,wasthepointthatstaggeredhisMajesty。Tobacco—Parliament,andBorckthere,pusheditsadvantage:themethodofduel(prevalentthroughtheearlypartofJuly,Ishouldguess)wasgivenup。[Bielfeld,Lettresfamilieresetautres(Secondedition,2vols。Leide,1767),i。117,118。]WhywastherenoHansardinthatInstitutionoftheCountry?Patience,idlereader!WeshallgetsomescrapsoftheDebatesonothersubjects,byandby。——ButhearDubourgayagain,intheabsenceofMorningNewspapers:——
AUGUST9th,1729。\"Berlinlooksaltogetherwarlike。AtMagdeburgtheyarebusymakingovenstobakeAmmunition—bread;ArtilleryisgettinghauledoutoftheArsenalhere;\"allisclangor,dinofpreparation。\"ItissaidtheKingwillfallonMecklenburg;\"canatonce,ifhelike。\"TheseintolerableusagesfromEngland[Seckendorfisrumoredtohavesaid],canyourMajestyendurethemforever?WhynotmarrythePrince—Royal,atonce,toanotherPrincess,andhavedonewiththem!\"——orwordstothateffect,asreportedbyCourt—rumortoherMajestyandDubourgay。AndthereisaPrincesstalkedofforthisMatch,RussianPrincess,littleCzar’sSister(littleCzartohaveWilhelmina,Double—MarriagetobewithRussia,notwithEngland);butthelittleCzarsoondied,littleCzar’sSisterwentoutofsight,orIknownotwhathappened,andonlybriefrumorcameofthat。
AsfortheCrown—Prince,hehasnotfallendesperate;no;
butappearstohavestrangeschemesinhim,deepundercover。
\"Hehassaidtoaconfidant[Wilhelmina,itisprobable],’Astohisill—treatment,hewellknewhowtofreehimselfofthat[willflytoforeignparts,yourHighness?],andwouldhavedonesolongsince,wereitnotforhisSister,uponwhomthewholeweightofhisFather’sresentmentwouldthenfall。Happenwhatwill,therefore,heisresolvedtosharewithherallthehardshipswhichtheKinghisFathermaybepleasedtoputuponher。\"
[Dubourgay,11thAugust,1729。]MeansprivatelyaflighttoEngland,Dubourgaysees,andinareticentdiplomaticwayisgladtosee。
IpossessnearadozenHanoverianandPrussianDespatchesuponthisstrangeBusiness;butshouldshuddertoinflictthemonanyinnocentreader。Clear,graveDespatches,verybriefandjust,especiallyonthePrussianside:andonamattertoo,whichtrulyisnotlighterthananyotherDespatchmatterofthatintrinsicallyvacantEpoch:——Oreader,wouldIcouldburyallvacanttalkandwritingwhatsoever,asIdothesepoorDespatchesaboutthe\"eightcart—loadsofhay\"!FriedrichWilhelmisfair—playitself;willdoallthinge,thatEarthorHeavencanrequireofhim。Only,heismuchinahurrywithal;andofthistheHanoverOfficialstakeadvantage,perhapsunconsciously,tokeephiminprovocation。Heliesawakeatnight,hisheartissore,andhehasfledtodrink。TowardsthemiddleofAugust,——
hereagainisaphenomenon,——\"hespringsoutofbedinthemiddleofnight,\"hasagainanEUREKAastothisofClamei:\"Eureka,I
seenowwhatwillbringasettlement!\"andsendsoffpost—hastetoKannegiesseratHanover。ToKannegiesser,——HerrReichenbach,thespecialEnvoyinthismatter,beingabsentatthemoment,gonetotheGohrde,Ibelieve,whereBritannicMajestyitselfis:
butKannegiesseristhere,upontheAhldenHeritages;acquaintedwiththeground,aratherpreciseofficialman,whowillserveforthehurrywearein。Post—haste;dovewitholive—branchcannotgotooquick;——Kannegiesserapplyingforaninterview,notwiththeBritannicMajesty,whoisatGohrde,hunting,butwiththeHanoverCouncil,is——refusedadmittance。HereareHerrKannegiesser’sofficialReports;whichwillthemselvestelltherestofthestory,thankHeaven:——
TOHISPRUSSIANMAJESTY(FromHerrKannegiesser)。
No。1。\"DONEATHANOVER,15thAUGUST,1729。
\"Onthe15thdayofAugust,atteno’clockinthemorning,I
receivedTwoOrdersofCouncil[theseareTHEEUREKA,neveraskfartherwhattheyare];despatchedonthe13thinstantatsevenintheevening;whereuponIimmediatelywenttotheCouncil—chamberhere;andinformedtheHerrvonHartoff,PrivateSecretary,whometmeinaroomadjoining,’That,havingsomethingtoproposetohisMinistry[nowsittingdeliberativeintheinteriorhere;
somethingtoproposetohisMinistry]onthepartofthePrussianMinisters,itwasnecessaryIshouldspeaktothem。’HerrvonHartoff,afterhavingreportedmydemand,letmeknow,’HehadreceivedordersfromtheMinistrytodeferwhatIhadtosaytoanothertime。’
\"Ireplied,’That,sinceIcouldnotbeallowedthehonorofanaudienceatthattime,IthoughtmyselfobligedtoacquainthimI
hadreceivedanOrderfromBerlintoapplytotheMinistryofthisplace,inthenameoftheMinistersofPrussia,andmakethemostpressinginstancesforaspeedyAnswertoaLetterlatelydeliveredtothembyHerrHofrathReichenbath[myworthyAssistanthere;AnswertohisLetterinthefirstplace];andtodesirethattheAnswermightbelodgedinmyhands,inordertoremititwithsafety。’
\"HerrvonHartoffreturnedimmediatelytotheCouncil—chamber;
andafterhavingtoldtheMinisterswhatIhadsaid,broughtmethefollowinganswer,inabouthalf—a—quarterofanhour[sevenminutesbythewatch]:’ThattheMinistersofthisCourtwouldnotfailansweringthesaidLetterassoonaspossible;andwouldtakecaretogivemenoticeofit,andsendtheAnswertome。’\"
ThatwasallthatthepunctualKannegiessercouldgetoutofthem。
\"But,\"continueshe,\"notthinkingthisreplysufficient,Iadded,’Thatdelaysbeingdangerous,Iwouldcomeagainthenextdayforamorepreciseanswer。’\"
Ratherahigh—manneredpositiveman,thisKannegiesser,oftheAhldenHeritages;notwithoutsharpnessoftemper,iftheHanoverOfficialsdriveittoofar。
No。2。——\"ATHANOVER,16thAUGUST,1729。
\"AccordingtotheordersreceivedfromtheKingmyMaster,andpursuantofmypromiseofyesterday,IwentatnoonthisdaytotheCastle(SCHLOSS),forthepurpose,ofmakingappearanceintheCouncil—chamber,wheretheMinisterswereassembled。
\"IletthemknowIwasthere,byVanHartoff,PrivySecretary;
and,inthemildestterms,desiredtobeadmittedtospeakwiththem。Whichwasrefusedmeasecondtime;andthefollowinganswerdeliveredmebyVanHartoff:’ThatsincethePrussianMinistershadintrustedmewiththisCommission,theMinistersofthisCourthaddirectedhimtodrawupmyyesterday’sProposalsinwriting,andreportthemtotheCouncil。’
\"WhereuponIsaid,’IcouldnotconceiveanyreasonwhyIwastheonlypersonwhocouldnotbeadmittedtoaudience。That,however,astheMinistersofthisCourtwerepleasedtoauthorizehim,HerrvonHartoff,toreceivemyProposals,Iwasobligedtotellhim,’
asthefirstorpreliminarypointofmyCommission,’IhadreceivedorderstobeverypressingwiththesaidMinistersofthisCourt,foranAnswertoaLetterfromthePrussianMinistry,latelydeliveredbyHerrLegationsrathvonReichenbach;
andfindingthatthesaidAnswerwasnotyetfinished,Iwouldstaytwodaysforit,thatImightbemoresecureofgettingit。
ButthatthenIshouldcometoputtheminmindofit,anddesireaudienceinordertoacquitmyselfoftheRESTofmyCommission。’
\"ThePrivySecretarydrewupwhatIsaidinwriting。ImmediatelyafterwardshereportedittotheMinistry,andbroughtmethisanswer:’ThattheMinistersofthisCourtwouldbeasgoodastheirwordofyesterday,andanswertheabove—mentionedLetterwithallpossibleexpedition。’Afterwhichweparted。\"
No。3。——\"ATHANOVER,17thAUGUST,1729
\"Attwointheafternoon,thisday,HerrvonHartoffcametomyhouse;andletmeknow’HehadbusinessofconsequencefromtheMinistry,andthathewouldreturnatfive。’Bymydirectionhewastold,’Ishouldexpecthim。’
\"Atthetimeappointedhecame;andtoldme,’ThattheMinistersoftheCourt,understandingfromhimthatIdesignedtoaskaudienceto—morrow,didnotdoubtbutmybusinesswouldbetoremindthemoftheAnswerwhichIhaddemandedyesterdayandthedaybefore。ThatsuchapplicationswerenotcustomaryamongsovereignPrinces;thatthey,theMinisters;’darednottreatfartherinthataffairwithme;thattheydesiredmenottomentionittothemagaintilltheyhadreceiveddirectionsfromhisBritannicMajesty,towhomtheyhadmadetheirreport;
andthatassoonastheyreceivedtheirinstructions,theresultoftheseshouldbecommunicatedtome。’
\"TothisIreplied,’ThatIdidnotexpecttheMinistersofthisCourtwouldrefusemetheaudiencewhichIdesignedtoaskto—morrow;andthatthereforeIwouldnotfailofbeingattheCouncil—chamberateleven,nextday,’accordingtobargain,’toknowtheiranswertotherestofmyProposals。’——SecretaryVonHartoffwouldnothearofthisresolution;andassuredmepositivelyhehadorderstolistentonothingmoreonthesubjectfromme。Afterwhichheleftme?\"
No。4。——\"ATHANOVER,18thAUGUST,1729。
\"Ateleven,thisday,IwenttotheCouncil—chamber,forthethirdtime;anddesiredSecretaryHartoff’ToprevailwiththeMinistrytoallowmetospeakwiththem,andcommunicatewhattheKingofPrussiahadorderedmetopropose。’
\"HerrvonHartoffgavethemanaccountofmyrequest;andbroughtmeforanswer,’ThatImustwaitalittle,becausetheMinisterswerenotyetallassembled。’\"WhichIdid。\"Butafterhavingmademestayalmostanhour,andafterthePresidentoftheCouncilwascome,HerrvonHartoffcameouttome;andrepeatedwhathehadsaidyesterday,inverypositiveandabsoluteterms,’ThattheMinisterswereresolvednottoseeme,andhadexpresslyforbidhimtakinganyPaperatmyhands。’
\"TowhichIreplied,’Thatthiswasveryhardusage;andtheworldwouldseehowtheKingofPrussiawouldrelishit。ButhavingstrictordersfromhisMajesty,mymostgraciousMaster,tomakeaDeclarationtotheMinistersofHanoverinhisname;andfindingHerrvonHartoffwouldneitherreceiveit,nortakeacopyofit,IhadonlytotellhimthatIwasunderthenecessityofleavingitinwriting,——andhadbroughtthePaperwithme,’\"letHerrvonHartoffobserve!——\"’Andthatnow,astheCouncilwerepleasedtorefusetotakeit,IwasobligedtoleavethesaidDeclarationonatableinanadjoiningroom,inthepresenceofHerrvonHartoffandotherSecretariesoftheCouncil,whomIdesiredtolayitbeforetheMinistry。’
\"AfterthisIwenthome;buthadscarcelyenteredmyapartment,whenamessengerreturnedmetheDeclaration,stillsealedasI
leftit,byorderoftheMinisters:andperceivingIwasnotinclinedtoreceiveit,helaiditonmytable,andimmediatelyleftthehouse。\"[ALetterfromanEnglishTravellertohisFriendatLondon,relatingtotheDifferencesbetwixttheCourtsofPrussiaandHanover,withCopiesof,&c。TranslatedfromtheFrench(London,A。Millar,atBuchanan’sHead,1730),pp。29—34。
AnexcellentdistinctlittlePamphlet;veryexplanatoryinthismatter,——likethesmallestrushlightinadarkcellarofshot—lumber。]
WhereuponKannegiesser,withoutlossofamoment,returnstoBerlin,19thAugust;andreportsprogress。
SimplehonestOrsonofaPrussianMajesty,whatabepainted,beribbonedinsultingPlay—actorMajestyhashefalleninwith!——
\"Hm,so?Hm,na!\"andIseethefaceofhim,allcolorsoftheprism,andeyesinafinefrenzy;betokeningthunderyweathertosomepeople!Instantlyheorders44,000mentogetonmarch;
[FriedrichWilhelm’s\"Manifesto\"isinMauvillon,ii。210—215,dated\"20thAugust,1729\"(thedayafterKannegieseer’sreturn)。]andtheseinstantlybegintostir;
smallpreparationneeded,ever—readybeingthewordwiththem。
Fromheavyguns,ammunition—wagonsanddraught—horses,downtothelastbuckleofaspatterdash,thingsareallticketedandreadyinhisMajesty’scountry;things,andstillmoreevidentlymen。
Withinaweek,theamazedGazetteers{NewspaperEditorswenowcallthem)canbeholdtheactualadventofhorse,footandartilleryregimentsatMagdeburg;actualrendezvousbegun,andwithafrightfulequablevelocitygoingondayafterday。Onthe15thdayofSeptember,ifFate’salmanacholdsteady,therewillbe44,000ofthemreadythere。Suchamassofpotential—battleasGeorgeortheHanoverOfficialityare——readytofight?
Alas,farenoughfromthat。Forcesoftheirowntheyhave,afterasort;subsidizedHessians,Danes,thesetheycanbegintostirup;
buttheyhavenotaregimentreadyforfighting;andhaveNOTHING,ifallwereready,whichthis44,000cannottooprobablysweepoutoftheworld。IsupposelittleGeorgemusthaveexhibitedsomeprismaticcolorsofcountenance,too。ThisinsultedOrsonisswingingatremendousclubuponthelittleperukedribbonedhighgentleman,promenadingloftilyinhispreservesyonder!
ThePrussianforcesmarch,steady,continual;Crown—PrinceFriedrich’sregimentofGiantsisonmarch,expresslyunderchargeofFriedrichhimself:——theyoungman’sthoughtsarenotrecordedforus;onlythathegetspraisefromhisFather,sodexterousandperfectishewiththeGiantsandtheirgettingintogear。Noristhere,saysourForeignCorrespondent,theleasttruth,inyourrumorthatthePrussianforces,officersormen,marchedwithbadwill;\"conspicuouslythereverseisthetruth,asImyselfcantestify。\"[Pamphletcitedabove。]AndhisBritannicMajesty,nowmakingadreadfulfluttertoassembleasfastaspossible,isliketogetquiteflungintothebogsbythisterribleOrson!——
Whatanamazement,amongtheGazetteers:thunder—cloudsofwarmountingupoverthezenithinthismanner,andblottingoutthesun;mayproduceaneffectontheCongressofSoissons?
Presumably:andhisImperialMajesty,leftsittingdesolateonhisPragmaticSanction,gloomilywatchingevents,mayfindsomethingturnuptohisadvantage?PrussiaandEnglandaresufficientlyinquarrel,atanyrate;perhapsalmosttoomuch。——ThePope,inthesecircumstances,didacuriousthing。ThePope,havingprayedlatelyforrainandgotit,proceedsnow,intheendofSeptember,whilesuchwar—rumorsarestillattheirheightinRome,topray,orevendoaPublicMass,orsomeotherso—calledPontificality,\"intheChapelofPhilipNeriintheNewChurch,\"bywayofstillmoreeffectualmiracle。Prays,namely,ThatHeavenwouldbegraciouslypleasedtofoment,andblowuptotheproperdegree,thisquarrelbetweenthetwochiefHereticPowers,Heaven’schiefenemies,wherebyHolyReligionmightreapagoodbenefit,ifitpleasedHeaven。But,thistime,themiracledidnotgooffaccordingtoprogram。[\"ExtractofaLetterfromRome,24thSeptember,1729,\"inTownshend’sDespatch,Whitehall,10thOutober,1729。]
Foratthispoint,beforethePopehadprayed,butwhilethetroopsandartillerywereevidentlyallonmarch(\"SuchanartilleryasI,\"whoamKaiser’sArtillery—Master,\"formypoorpart,neverhadthehappinesstoseebeforeinanycountry,\"
snufflesSeckendorfintheSmokingParliament),andnowswordsare,asitwere,drawn,andintheairmakehorridcircles,——theneighborsinterfere:\"HeavensIputupyourswords!\"——andthehugeworld—widetumultsuddenly(Ithink,intheveryfirstdaysofthismonthSeptember)collapses,sinksintosomethingyoucanputintoasnuff—box。
Ofcourseitcouldnevercometoactualbattle,afterall。
Toohighapickle—herringtragedythat。HereisaCOMODIANTnotwantingtobesmittenintothebogs;anhonestOrsonwhowantsnothing,norhaseverwanted,butfair—play。Fair—play;andnottobeinsultedonthestreets,orhaveone’spoorHobbyquiteknockedfromunderone!——Neighbors,aswesay,struckin;France,Holland,alltheneighbors,atthispoint:\"Doitbyarbitration;
Wolfenbuttelfortheone,Sachsen—Gothafortheother;
CommissionerstomeetatBrunswick!\"Andthat,accordingly,wasthecoursefixedupon;andsettlement,bythatmethod,wasaccomplished,withoutdifficulty,insomesixmonthshence。
[16thApril,1730(Forster,ii。105)。]WhetherClameiwasawardedtoHanoverortoBrandenburg,Ineverknew,orhowthehayofitiscutatthismoment。Ionlyknowtherewasnobattleonthesubject;thoughatonetimetherewasliketobesuchaclashofbattleastheoldMarkgravesneverhadwiththeiroldWends;
notifweputalltheirbattlingsintoone。
Seckendorf’sradiantbrowhastopuckeritselfagain:thisfineproject,ofboilingtheKaiser’seggsbysettingtheworldonfire,hasnotprosperedafterall。ThegloomyoldvillaincametoherMajestyoneday,[Dubourgay,30thJuly,1729。]whilethingswerenearthehottest;andsaidorinsinuated,Hewasthemanthatcoulddothesebusinesses,andbringabouttheDouble—Marriageitself,ifherMajestywerenotsoharshuponhim。WhereuponherMajesty,reportingtoDubourgay,threwoutthehint,\"Whatifwe(thatis,you)didgivehimafortyorfiftythousandthalersverily,forhewilldoanythingformoney?\"TowhichTownshendanswersfromtheGohrde,totheeffect:\"Pooh,heisamerebagofnoxiousfutilities;consistsofgallmainly,andrustyoldliesandcrotchets;breathingverycopperasthroughthoseoldchoppylipsofhis:lethimgotothe——!\"NextSpring,atthehappyendoftheArbitration,whichhehadstrivenallhecouldtomarandtoretard,hefellquiteill;tooktohisbedfortwodays,——
colics,oroneknowsnotwhat;——\"andIcan’tsayIamverysorryforhim,\"writestherespectableDubourgay。[25thApril,1730。]
Onthe8thdayofSeptember,1729,FriedrichCrown—Princere—entersPotsdam[Ib。11thSept。1729。]withhistwobattalionsofGiants;hehasdonesowell,theKinggoesoutfromBerlintoseehimmarchinwiththem;rejoicingtofindsomethingofasoldierintheyounggraceless,afterall。\"TheKingdistributed100,000thalers(15,000pounds)amonghisArmy;\"beingwellpleasedwiththeirbehavior,anddoubtlessrightgladtobeoutofsuchaBusiness。TheAhldenHeritageswillnowgetliquidated;
Mecklenburg,——ourKnyphausen,withtheHanoverConsorts,willsettleMecklenburg;andallshallbewellagain,wehope!——
Thefact,onsomeofthesepoints,turnedoutdifferent;butitwasnowoflessimportance。AstoKnyphausen’sproceedingsatMecklenburg,afterthehappyPeace,theywerenotsosuccessfulashadbeenhoped。Needofquarrel,however,betweentheMajesties,therehenceforthwasnotinMecklenburg;andifslightrufflingsandcollisionsdidarise,itwasnottillafterourpoorDouble—Marriagewasatanyratequiteoutofthegame,andtheyarewithoutsignificancetous。Butthetruthis,thoughKnyphausendidhisbest,nosettlementcame;norindeedcouldevercome。Shallwesumupthatsorrymatterhere,andwashourhandsofit?
TROUBLESOFMECKLENBURG,FORTHELASTTIME。
Knyphausen,wesay,provedfutile;norcouldhumanwithavesucceeded。TheexasperatedDukewascontumacious,irrational;
thetwoMajestieskeptpullingdifferentwaysuponhim。
Mattersgrewfromverybadtoworse;andMecklenburgcontinuedlongarunningsore。Notmanymonthsafterthis(Ithink,stillin1729),theirrationalDuke,havinggotmoneyoutofRussia,camehomeagainfromDantzig;tonotableincreaseoftheAnarchiesinMecklenburg,thoughwithoutotherresultforhimself。
TheirrationalDukeprovedmorecontumaciousthanever,fellintodeepertroublethanever;——atlength(1733)hemadeProclamationtothePeasantrytoriseandfightforhim;whodidturnout,withtheirbill—hooksandbludgeons,underCaptainsnamedbyhim,\"totheamountof18,000Peasants,\"——withsuchriotasmaybefancied,butwithoutotherresult。SothattheHanoverCommissionersdecidedtoseizetheveryRESIDENZCities(SchwerinandDomitz)
fromthismadDuke,andmakethecountryclearofhim,——hisBrotherbeingInterimManageralways,undercountenanceoftheCommissioners。Whichtransactions,especiallywhichcontemplatedseizureoftheResidenceCities,FriedrichWilhelm,eventualheir,couldnotseewithequanimityatall。Buthavingnoforcesinthecountry,whatcouldhedo?Being\"Joint—Commissioner\"thislongwhilepast,thoughwithoutarmedinterferencehitherto,heprivatelyresolvesthathewillhaveforcesthere;theratherasthepoorDukeprofessespenitence,andfliestohimforhelp。
Poorsoul,hisRussianUniqueofWiveshasjustdied,farenoughawayfromhimthislongwhilepast:whatalifetheyhavehad,thesetwoUniques!——
Enough,\"onthe19thofOctober,1733,Lieutenant—GeneralSchwerin,\"——thesamewhowasColonelSchwerin,theDuke’schiefCaptainhere,atthebeginningofthesetroubles,nowLientenant—GeneralandadistinguishedPRUSSIANofficer,——
\"marchesintoMecklenburgwiththreeregiments,oneoffoot,twoofhorse:\"[Buchholz,i。122,142;Michaelis,ii。433,437。]he,doubtless,willhelpinquellingthosePeasantandotherAnarchies?Privatelyhismissionismostdelicate。HeisnottofightwiththeHanoverians;isdelicatelybuteffectuallytoshovethemwellawayfromtheResidenceCities,andfastenhimselfdowninthoseparts。WhichtheLieutenant—Generaldexterouslydoes。
\"Anight’squarterhereinParchim,\"——suchistheLieutenant—General’srequest,politebutimpressive,fromtheoutskirtsofthatlittleTown,aTownessentialtocertainobjects,andinfactthepointheisaimingat:\"night’squarter;
youcannotrefuseittothisPrussianCompanymarchingundertheKaiser’sCommission?\"No,theHanoverianLieutenantofFootdarenottakeuponhimtorefuse:——butnextmorning,heishimselfinvitedtowithdraw,thePrussianshavingorderstocontinuehereinParchim!Andsowiththeotherpointsandtowns,thatareessentialintheenterpriseonhand。AdexterousLieutenant—GeneralthisSchwerin:——histwoHorse—Colonelsarelikewisementobenoted;ColonelWreech,withacharmingyoungWife,perhapsatoocharming;ColonelTruchsessvonWaldburg,knownafterwards,withdistinction,inLondonSocietyandwidelyotherwise。Andthus,intheendof1733,theMecklenburgResidenceCities,happenwhatmay,aresecuredfortheirpoorirrationalDuke。ThesethingsmayslightlyrufflesometempersatHanover;
butitisnow1733,andourpoorDouble—Marriageiscleanoutofthegamebythattime!——
TheirrationalDukecouldnotcontinueinhisResidenceCities,withtheBrotheradministeringoverhim;stillprovingcontumacious,heneededabsolutelytobedrivenout,toWismarorIknownotwhither;wentwanderingaboutforalmosttwentyyearstocome;disturbed,andstirringupdisturbance。Died1747,stillinthatsadposture;InterimBrother,withPosterity,succeeding。
[Michaelis,ii。434—440。]ButHanoverandPrussiainterferednofarther;thebrotheradministeredonhisownfooting,\"supportedbytroopshiredfromHamburg。HanoverandPrussia,400
Hanoverians,200Prussians,merelyretainedholdoftheirrespectiveHypothecs[Districtsheldinpawn]tilltheexpensesshouldbepaid,\"——millionofTHALERS,andbythoselateanarchiesanewheavyscorerunup。
PrussiaandHanoverretainedholdoftheirHypothecs;forastotheexpenses,whathopewasthere?FiftyyearshencewefindthePrussianHypothecsoccupiedasatfirst;and\"rightsofenlistmentexercised。\"Neverinthisworldwerethoseexpensespaid;——norcouldbe,anypartofthem。Thelastaccountswere:GeorgeIII。ofEngland,onmarrying,in1761,aMecklenburgPrincess,——\"OldQueenCharlotte,\"thenyoungenough,——handsomelytoreupthebill;
andsoendedthatpartofadesperatedebt。ButofthePrussianparttherewasnoend,norliketobeany:\"downtothisday[saysBuchholz,in1775],twosquadronsoftheZiethenHussarsusuallyliethere,\"andrightsofenlistingareexercised。Iconclude,theFrenchRevolutionanditsWarswipedawaythisotherdesperateitem。AndnowletushopethatMecklenburgisbetteroffthanformerly,——that,atleast,ourhandsareclearofitintimecoming。Iaddonly,withsatisfaction,thatthisUniqueofDukeswasnoancestorofOldQueenCharlotte’s,butonlyaremoteWelsh—Uncle,farenoughapart;——cannotbetoofar。
ONENUSSLERSETTLESTHEAHLDENHERITAGES;SENDSTHEMONEYHOMEINBOXES。
KnyphausendidnotsettleMecklenburg,asweperceive!NeitherdidKannegiesserandtheunliquidatedHeritagesprosper,atHanover,quitetoperfection。OneHeritage,thatofUncleOsnabruck,littleGeorgeflatlyrefusedtoshare:FEUDUMthewholeofthat,notALLODIUManypartofit,sothataSistercannotclaim。Which,I
think,wasconfirmedbytheArbitratorsatBrunswick;
therebyendingthat。ThenastotheAhldenALLODIAorFEUDA,——
Kannegiesser,blamablyornot,nevercouldmakemuchofthebusiness。Aprecisestrictman,aswesawattheHanoverCouncil—roomlately;whomtheHanoverpeopledidnotlike。Sohemadelittleofit。Nayattheendofnextyear(December,1730),sendinginhisaccountstoBerlin,hedemands,inadditiontothethreethalers(ornineshillings)dailyallowedhim,almostasecondnineshillingsforsundries,chieflyfor\"hair—powderandshoe—blacking\"!Andisinstantlyrecalled;andvanishesfromHistoryatthispoint。[Busching,Beitrage,
i。307,&c。?Nussler。]
UponwhichFriedrichWilhelmselectsanother;\"sendsdealboxesalongwithhim,\"tobringhomewhatcashthereis。Thisone’snameisNussler;anexpectantPrussianOfficial,anadroitman,whomweshallmeetagaindoingwork。Hehasthenineshillingsaday,withouthair—powderorblacking,whileemployedhere;atBerlinnoconstantsalarywhatever,——hadto\"borrow75poundsforoutfitonthisbusiness;\"——doesagreatdealofworkwithoutwages,inhopeofeffectivepromotionbyandby。Whichdidfollow,aftertediousyears;FriedrichWilhelmfindinghim,onsuchproof(otherproofwillnotdo),FITforpromotingtosteadyemployment。
NusslerwasveryactiveatHanover,andhadhisdealboxes;
buthardlygotthemfilledaccordingtohope。However,insomeeighteenmonthshehadactuallyworkedout,indifficultinstalments,about13,000pounds,anddugthemattertothebottom。Hecamehomewithhislastinstalment,notdisapprovedof,toBerlin(May,1732);sixyearsafterthepoorDuchess’sdeath,sotheAhldenALLODIAtoohadtheirend。
ChapterVII。
AMARRIAGE:NOTTHEDOUBLE—MARRIAGE:CROWN—PRINCEDEEPINTROUBLE。
WhiletheHanoverImminencywasbutbeginning,andhorridcrisisofWarorDuel——wasyetinnobody’sthoughts,theAnspachWedding[30thMay,1729]hadgoneonatBerlin。ToFriedrichWilhelm’ssatisfaction;nottohisQueen’s,thematchbeingbutapoorone。
ThebridewasFrederikaLouisa,nottheeldestoftheirDaughters,butthenext—eldest:youngerthanWilhelmina,andstillhardlyfifteen;thefirstmarriedoftheFamily。Veryyoungshe:andgetsaveryyoungMargraf,——whohasbeen,andstillisaminor;
underhisMother’sguardianshiptillnow:notrich,andwhohasnothadagoodchancetobewise。TheMother——anexcellentmagnanimousPrincess,stillyoungandbeautiful,butlaboringsilentlyundersomemortaldisease——hasdoneherbesttomanageforhimtheselastfourorfiveyears;[Pollnitz,MemoirsandLetters(EnglishTranslation,London,I745),i。200—204。Thereare\"MEMOIRSofPollnitz,\"then\"MEMOIRSAND
LETTERS,\"besidesthe\"MEMOIRSofBrandenburg\"(posthumous,whichweoftencite);allbythispoorman。OnlythelasthasanyHistoricalvalue,andthatnotmuch。Thefirsttwoareonlyworthconsulting,cautiously,asloosecontemporarybabble,——writtenfortheDutchBooksellers,onecanperceive。]and,asIgather,isimpatienttoseehimsettled,thatshemayretireanddie。
Fridayforenoon,19thMay,1729,theyoungMargrafarrivedinpersonatBerlin,——justseventeengoneSaturdaylast,pooryoungsoul,andveryfoolish。SublimeroyalcarriagemethimatthePrussianfrontier;andthisday,whatismoreinteresting,our\"Crown—Princeridesouttomeethim;mountsintotheroyalcarriagebesidehim;\"andthetwoyoungfoolsdrive,insuchacavalcadeofhoofsandwheels,——talkingweknownotwhat,——intoPotsdam;metbyhisMajestyandallthehonors。WhatillustriousgalatherethenwasinPotsdamandtheCourtworld,read,——withtedium,unlessyouareinthetailorline,——describedwithminutedistinctnessbytheadmiringFassmann。[pp。396—401。]ThereareGenerals,highLadies,sonsofBellonaandLatona;therearedinners,therearehautboys,——\"two—and—thirtyblackamoors,\"inflaminguniforms,capableofcymballingandhautboying\"upthegrandstaircase,androundyourtable,anddownagain,\"inafrightfullyeffectivemanner,whileyoudine。MadameKameckeistogoasOberhofmeisterinntoAnspach;andallthelackeysdestinedthitherareintheirnewliveries,blueturnedupwithredvelvet。
Whichisdelightfultosee。ReviewoftheGiantgrenadierscannotfail;conspicuousonparadewiththemourCrown—PrinceasLieutenant—Colonel:\"thebeautyofthisCorpsaswellastheperfectionoftheirEXERCITIA,\"——ahyes,weknowit,mydimoldfriend。TheMarriageitselffollowed,atBerlin,aftermanyexercitia,snipe—shootings,feastings,hautboyings;onthe30thofthemonth;withtorch—danceandtheothercustomarytrimmings;
\"Bride’sgartercutinsnips\"fordreamingupon\"byhisRoyalMajestyhimself。\"TheLUSTBARKEITEN,thestupendouspublicentertainmentshavingended,thereisweepingandembracing(MORE
HUMANO);andthehappycouple,so—calledhappy,retiretoAnspachwiththeirdestiniesandeffects。
Afoolishyoungfellow,thisnewBrother—in—law,testifiesWilhelminainmanyplaces。Financesindisorder;Mother’swisemanagement,ceasingtoosoon,hasonlypartiallyavailed。
King\"haslentsomehundredsofthousandsofcrownstoAnspach[saysFriedrichatalaterperiod],whichthereisnochanceofeverbeingrepaid。Allisindisorderthere,inthefinanceway;
iftheMargrafgetshishuntingandhisheroning,helaughsatalltherest;andhispeoplepluckhimbareateveryhand。\"
[Schulenburg’sLetter(inForster,iii。72)。]Nordothemarriedcoupleagreetoperfection;——farfromit:\"hateoneanotherlikecatanddog(likethefire,COMMELEFEU),\"saysFriedrich:
[Correspondence(morethanonce)。]\"hisMajestymayseewhatcomesofill—assortedmarriages!\"——Infact,theunionprovednoneofthemostharmonious;subjecttosquallsalways;——buttosquallsonly;
noopentempest,farlessanyshipwreck:themarriageheldtogethertilldeath,theHusband’sdeath,nearlythirtyyearsafter,dividedit。TherewasthenleftoneSon;thesamewhoatlengthinheritedBaireuthtoo,——inheritedLadyCraven,——anddiedinBubbDoddington’sMansion,asweoftenteachourreaders。
Lastyear,theThirdDaughterwasengagedtotheHeir—ApparentofBrunswick;willbemarried,whenofage。Wilhelmina,flowerofthemall,stillhangsonthebush,\"asked,\"orsupposedtobe\"askedbyfourKings,\"butnotattainedbyanyofthem;andoneknowsnotwhatwillbeherlot。Sheisnowrisenoutofthesicknessshehashad,——notsmall—poxatall,asmaliciousEnglishrumorgaveitinEngland;——and\"looksprettierthanever,\"
writesDubourgay。
Hereisamarriage,then;firstintheFamily;——butnottheDouble—Marriage,byalongway!ThelateHanoverTornado,suddenWaterspoutaswecalledit,hasquenchedthatNegotiation;andoneknowsnotinwhatformitwillresuscitateitself。Theroyalmind,bothatBerlinandSt。James’s,isinaveryuncertainstateaftersuchaphenomenon。
FriedrichWilhelm’sfavorfortheCrown—Prince,marchinghomesogallantlywithhisPotsdamGiants,didnotlastlong。AfewweekslaterintheAutumnwehaveagainominousnoticesfromDubourgay。
Andhere,otherwiseobtained,isaglimpseintotheinterioroftheBerlinSchloss;momentaryperfectclearness,asbyaflashoflightning,onthestateofmattersthere;whichwillbeilluminativetothereader。
CROWN—PRINCE’SDOMESTICITIESSEENINAFLASHOFLIGHTNING。
Thisisanotherofthosetragi—comicscenes,tragicenoughineffect,betweenFatherandSon;Sonnowabouteighteen,——fittobegettingthroughOxford,hadhebeenanEnglishgentlemanofprivatestation。ItcomesfromtheirrefragableNicolai;whodatesitaboutthistime,uncertainastomonthorday。
Fritz’sloveofmusic,especiallyoffluting,isalreadyknowntous。NowacertainQuantzwasoneofhisprincipalinstructorsinthatart,andindeedgavehimthelastfinishofperfectioninit。
Quantz,famedSaxonmusic—masterandcomposer,LeaderoftheCourt—BandinSaxony,kingofflute—playersinhisday,——
(avillage—farrier’ssonfromtheGottingenregion,andhimselfdestinedtoshoehorses,hadnotimperativeNatureprevailedoverhindrances);——Quantz,everfromFritz’ssixteenthyear,waswonttocomeoccasionally,expressfromDresden,foraweekortwo,andgivetheyoungmanlessonsontheflute。Theyoungman’sMother,goodQueenFeekin,hadbeggedthisfavorforhimfromtheSaxonSovereignties;andpleadedhardforitathome,oratworstkeptitsecretthere。Itwasoneofthemanygoodmaternities,clandestineandpublic,whichshewasalwaysreadytoachieveforhimwherepossible;——ashealsoknewfullwellinhisyounggratefulheart,andneverforgot,howeveroldhegrew!IllustriousQuantz,wesay,givesFritzlessonsontheflute;andhereisascenetheyunderwent;——theyandacertainbriskyoungsoldierfellow,LieutenantvonKatte,whowastheretoo;ofwhomthereaderwilltragicallyhearmoreintime。
OnsuchoccasionsFritzwaswonttopulloffthetightPrussiancoatorCOATIE,andclaphimselfintoflowingbrocadeofthedueroominessandsplendor,——brightscarletdressing—gown,doneingold,withtagsandsashescomplete;——andso,inatemporarymanner,feelthattherewassuchathingasagentleman’ssuitableapparel。Hewouldtakehismusic—lessons,followhisclandestinestudies,inthatfavorabledress:——thusBuffon,wehear,waswonttoshave,andputoncleanlinen,beforehesatdowntowrite,findingitmorecomfortableso。Though,again,therehavebeenotherswhocouldwriteinconsiderabledisorder;nottosaylitter,andpalpableimperfectionofequipment:SamuelJohnson,forinstance,didsomereallygrandwritinginaroomwheretherewasbutonechair,andthatoneincapableofstandingunlessyousatonit,havingonlythreefeet。Amanistofithimselftowhatisroundhim:butsurelyaCrown—Princemaybeindulgedinalittlebrocadeinhisleisuremoments!——
FritzandQuantzsatdoingmusic,anunlawfulthing,inthispleasant,butalsounlawfulcostume;whenLieutenantKatte,whowasonwatchintheouterroom,rushesin,distractioninhisaspect:Majestyjusthere!Quick,doublequick!Kattesnatchesthemusic—booksandflutes,snatchesQuantz;hurrieswithhimandthemintosomewall—press,orclosetforfirewood,andstandsquakingthere。OurpoorPrincehasflungasidehisbrocade,gotonhismilitarycoatie;andwouldfainseembusywithimportantorindifferentroutinematters。But,alas,hecannotundotheFrenchhairdressing;cannotchangethegracefulFrenchbagintothestrictPrussianqueueinamoment。TheFrenchbagbetrayshim;
kindlesthepaternalvigilance,——alas,thepaternalwrath,intoatornadopitch。ForhisvigilantsuspectingMajestysearchesabout;
findsthebrocadearticlebehindascreen;cramsit,withloudindignation,intothefire;findsalltheillicitFrenchBooks;
confiscatesthemonthespot,confiscatesallmannerofcontrabandgoods:——andtherewasmeresulphurouswhirlwindinthoseserenespacesforaboutanhour!IfhisMajestyhadlookedintothewood—closet?HisMajesty,byHeaven’sexpressmercy,omittedthat。
HaudetheBooksellerwassentfor;orderedtocarryoffthatpoisonousFrenchcabinet—libraryinmass;selleveryBookofit,toanundiscerningpublic,atwhatpriceitwillfetch。
Whichlatterpartofhisorder,Haude,indeepsecrecy,venturedtodisobey,beinginfluencedthereto。Haude,indeepsecrecy,keptthecabinet—librarysecure;and\"lent\"thePrincebookafterbookfromit,ashisRoyalHighnessrequiredthem。
Friedrich,itiswhisperedinTobacco—Parliament,hasbeenknown,inhisirreverentimpatience,tocalltheGrenadieruniformhis\"shroud(STERBEKITTEL,ordeath—clothes);\"soimprisoningtotheyoungmindandbody!PaternalMajestyhasheardthisblasphemousrumor;hencedoubtless,inpart,hisfuryagainstthewiderbrocadegarment。
ItwasQuantzhimselfthatreportedthisexplosiontoauthenticNicolai,manyyearsafterwards;confessingthathetrembled,everyjointofhim,inthewood—closet,duringthathourofhurricane;
andtheratherashehadon\"areddress—coat,\"whiohcolor,foremostoftheflaringcolors,heknewtobehisMajesty’saversion,onaman’sback。[Nicolai,Anekdoten(Berlin,1790),ii。148。]OfincomparableQuantz,andhisheart—thrillingadagios,wehopetoheartransientlyagain,underjoyfulercircumstances。OfLieutenantvonKatte,——ashortstoutyoungfellow,withblackeyebrows,pock—markedface,andratherdissolutemanners,——weshallnotfailtohear。
ChapterVIII。
CROWN—PRINCEGETTINGBEYONDHISDEPTHINTROUBLE。
ItisnotcertainthatthelateImminencyofDuelhadmuchtodowithsuchexplosions。TheHanoverImminency,whichwelikenedtoatropicalwaterspout,orsuddenthunderousblotting—outoftheskytotheastonishedGazetteers,seemsrathertohavepassedawayaswaterspoutsdo,——leavingtheearthandair,ifanything,alittleREFRESHEDbysuchcrisis。Leaving,thatistosay,thetwoMajestiesalittlelessdisposedforopenquarrel,orrashutteranceoftheirillhumorintimecoming。But,inthemeanwhile,allmutualinterestsareinapainfulstateofsuspendedanimation:inBerlinthereisaprivatelyrebelliousSpouseandHousehold,thereisaTobacco—Parliamentwithal;——andtheroyalmind,sensitive,imaginativeasapoet’s,asawoman’s,andliabletotransportsasofaNorseBaresark,isofuncertainmovement。
Suchaloadofintricaciesandexaggeratedanxietieshangingonit,theroyalmindgoeslikethemostconfusedsmoke—jack,sureonlytoHAVErevolutions;andweknowhow,afarfromSoissons,andathomeinTobacco—Parliament,themachineisinfluenced!
Enough,theexplosiveprocedurescontinue,andareontheincreasinghand。
Majesty’shuntingatWusterhausenwashardlydone,whenthatalarmingTreatyofSevillecametolight(9thNovember,1729),FranceandEnglandrankedbythesideofSpain,disposingofPrincesandApanagesattheirwill,andaKaiserleftsittingsolitary,——whichawakensthedomesticwhirlwindsatBerlin,amongotherresults。\"CANAILLEANGLAISE,EnglishDoggery!\"andsimilarfineepithets,addressedtoWilhelminaandtheCrown—Prince,flyabout;nottospeakofoccasionalcrockeryandothermissiles。
FriedrichWilhelmhasforbiddenthesetwohispresencealtogether,exceptatdinner:Outofmysight,yeCanailleAnglaise;
darkennotthesunlightformeatall!
ThisisintheWusterhausentime,——HanoverImminencyonlytwomonthsgone。AndMammasendsforustohaveprivatedialoguesinherApartmentthere,withspiesoutineverydirectiontomakesignalofMajesty’sreturnfromhishunt,——who,however,surprisesasononeoccasion,sothatwehavetosquatforhours,andalmostgetsuffocated。[Wilhelmina,i。172。]WhereupontheCrown—Prince,whowillbeeighteeninacoupleofmonths,andfeelstheindignityofsuchthings,begsofMammatobeexcusedinfuture。
HehasmuchtosufferfromhisFatheragain,writesDubourgayintheendofNovember:\"itisdifficulttoconceivethevilestratagemsthataremadeuseoftoprovoketheFatheragainsttheSon。\"[Dubourgay,28thNovember,1729。]Oragain,takethis,asperhapsmarkinganepochinthebusiness,afortnightfartheron:——
DECEMBER10th1729。\"HisPrussianMajestycannotbearthesightofeitherthePrinceorPrincessRoyal:Theotherday,heaskedthePrince:’KalksteinmakesyouEnglish;doesnothe?’\"Kalkstein,youroldTutor,Borck,Knyphausen,Finkenstein,theyareallofthatvileclique!\"TowhichthePrinceanswered,’IrespecttheEnglishbecauseIknowthepeoplethereloveme;’uponwhichtheKingseizedhimbythecollar,struckhimfiercelywithhiscane,\"
infactrainedshowersofblowsuponhim;\"anditwasonlybysuperiorstrength,\"thinksDubourgay,\"thatthepoorPrinceescapedworse。Thereisageneralapprehensionofsomethingtragicaltakingplacebeforelong。\"
Trulythesituationissoviolent,itcannotlast。Andineffectawildthought,notquitenew,ripenstoaresolutionintheCrown—Princeundersuchpressures:Inreferencetowhich,aswegropeandguess,hereisaBillettoMamma,whichWilhelminahaspreserved。Wilhelminaomitsalltraceofdate,asusual;butDubourgay,intheaboveExcerpt,probablysuppliesthatdefect:——
FRIEDRICHTOHISMOTHER(Potsdam,December,1729)。
\"Iamintheuttermostdespair。WhatIhadalwaysapprehendedhasatlastcomeonme。TheKinghasentirelyforgottenthatIamhisSon。ThismorningIcameintohisroomasusual;atthefirstsightofme,\"oratthefirstpassageofKalkstein—dialoguewithme,\"hesprangforward,seizedmebythecollar,andstruckmeashowerofcruelblowswithhisrattan。Itriedinvaintoscreenmyself,hewasinsoterriblearage,almostoutofhimself;
itwasonlyweariness,\"notmysuperiorstrength,\"thatmadehimgiveup。\"
\"Iamdriventoextremity。Ihavetoomuchhonortoenduresuchtreatment;andIamresolvedtoputanendtoitinonewayoranother。\"[Wilhelmina,i。175。]
Isnotthisitselfsufficientlytragical?Notthefirststrokehehadgot,wecansurmise;butthefirsttorrentofstrokes,andopenbeatinglikeaslave;——whichtoaproudyoungmanandPrince,atsuchage,isindeedINtolerable。Wilhelminaknowstoowellwhathemeausby\"endingitinonewayoranother;\"butstrivestoreassureMammaastoitsmeaning\"flight,\"orthelikedesperateresolution。\"Mereviolenceofthemoment,\"arguesWilhelmina;
terriblyawarethatitisdeeper—rootedthanthat。
FlightisnotanewideatotheCrown—Prince;inanegativeformwehaveseenitpresentinthemindsofby—standers:
\"aCrown—PrincedeterminedNOTtofly,\"whisperedthey。[Dubourgay(9thAugust,1729),supra,p。129。]Someweeksago,Wilhelminawrites:\"TheKing’sbadtreatmentsbeganagainonhisreappearance\"atPotsdamaftertheHunting;\"heneversawmyBrotherwithoutthreateninghimwithhiscane。MyBrothertoldmedayafterday,HewouldendureeverythingfromtheKing,onlynotblows;andthatifitevercametosuchextremity,hewouldbepreparedtodeliverhimselfbyrunningoff。\"Andhere,itwouldseem,theextremityhasactuallycome。
Wilhelmina,pityingherpoorBrother,butcondemninghimonmanypoints,continues:[i。173,174。]\"LieutenantKeith,\"thatwildcompanionofhis,\"hadbeengonesometime,stationedinWeselwithhisregiment。\"Whichfactletusalsokeepinmind。
\"Keith’sdeparturehadbeenagreatjoytome;inthehopemyBrotherwouldnowleadamoreregularlife:butitprovedquiteotherwise。Asecondfavorite,andamuchmoredangerous,succeededKeith。ThiswasayoungmanofthenameofKatte,Captain—LieutenantintheregimentGENS—D’ARMES。HewashighlyconnectedintheArmy;hisMotherhadbeenadaughterofFeldmarschallGrafvonWartensleben,\"——ahighestdignitaryofthelastgeneration。Katte’sFather,nowaGeneralofdistinction,rosealsotobeFeldmarschall;Cousinstoo,sonsofaKammer—PresidentvonKatteatMagdeburg,rosetoArmyrankintimecoming;butnotthispoorKatte,——whomletthereadernote!
\"GeneralKattehisFather,\"continuesWilhelmina,\"hadsenthimtotheUniversities,andafterwardstotravel,desiringheshouldbeaLawyer。ButastherewasnofavortoexpectoutoftheArmy,theyoungmanfoundhimselfatlastplacedthere,contrarytohisexpectation。Hecontinuedtoapplyhimselftostudies;hehadwit,book—culture,acquaintancewiththeworld;thegoodcompanywhichhecontinuedtofrequenthadgivenhimpolitemanners,toadegreethenrareinBerlin。Hisphysiognomywasratherdisagreeablethanotherwise。Apairofthickblackeyebrowsalmostcoveredtheeyesofhim;hislookhadinitsomethingominous,presageofthefatehemetwith:atawnyskin,tornbysmall—pox,increasedhisugliness。Heaffectedthefreethinker,andcarriedlibertinismtoexcess;agreatdealofambitionandheadlongrashnessaccompaniedthisvice。\"AdangerousadviserhereintheBerlinelement,withlightningsgoing!\"SuchafavoritewasnotthemantobringbackmyBrotherfromhisfollies。ThisIlearnedatour[Mamma’sandmy]returntoBerlin,\"fromtheWusterhausenandthePotsdamtribulations;——andthinkofit,notwithoutterror,nowthattheextremityseemscomingorcome。
ChapterIX。
DOUBLE—MARRIAGESHALLBEORSHALLNOTBE。
Foronething,FriedrichWilhelm,wearyofallthisEnglishpotherandfutility,willendtheDouble—Marriagespeculation;Wilhelminashallbedisposedof,andsoanend。FriedrichWilhelm,oncethehuntingwasoveratWusterhausen,ranacross,southward,——to\"Lubnow,\"Wilhelminacallsit,——toLubbenintheNetherLausitz,[25thOctober,1729(Fassmann,p。404)。]ashortday’sdrive;
theretomeetincognitothejovialPolishMajesty,onhisroutetowardsDresden;toseearevieworso;andhavealittletalkwiththeever—cheerfulManofSin。GrumkowandSeckendorf,ofcoursetheseaccompany;Majesty’sshadowisnotsurer。
ReviewwasheldatLubben,WeissenfelsCommander—in—chieftakingcharge;dinneralso,adinnerortwo,withmuchtalkanddrink;——
andthereitwassettled,Wilhelminahassinceknown,thatWeissenfels,RoyalHighnessintheAbstract,wastobeherHusband,afterall。Weissenfelswilldo;eitherWeissenfelsorelsetheMargrafofSchwedt,thinksFriedrichWilhelm;somebodyshallmarrythebaggageoutofhand,andletushavedonewiththat。Grumkow,asweknow,wasveryanxiousforit;calculatingtherebytooutthegroundfromundertheOldDessauer,andmakethisWeissenfelsGeneralissimoofPrussia;apatrioticthought。
PolishMajestylenthand,alwayswillingtooblige。
FriedrichWilhelm,onhisreturnhomewards,wentroundbyDahmeforanight:——not\"Dam,\"OPrincess,thereisnosuchtownorschloss!RoundbyDahme,alittletownandpatchofterritory,intheSaxonCountries,whichwasWeissenfels’sApanage;——\"whereplentyofTokay\"cheeredtheroyalheart;and,insuchmood,itseemedasifone’sDaughtermightdoverywellinthisextremelylimitedposition。AndWeissenfels,thoughwithdarkmisgivingsastoQueenSophie,wasbuttoohappytoconsent:thefoolishcreature;alittlegiventoliquortoo!FriedrichWilhelm,withthisfineprojectinhishead,drovehometoPotsdam;——andtherelaidabouthim,onthepoorCrown—Prince,inthewaywehaveseen;
terrifyingQueenandPrincess,whoareatBerlintillChristmasandtheCarnivalbeover。FriedrichWilhelmmeanstoseethePolishMajestyagainbeforelong,——probablysosoonasthisofWeissenfelsisfairlygotthroughtheFemaleParliament,whereitisliketherewillbedifficulties。
ChristmascametoBerlin,andtheKingwithit;whodidthegayetiesforaweekortwo,andspokenothingaboutbusinesstohisFemaleParliament。Dubourgaysawhim,atParade,onNew—Year’smorning;whitherallmannerofForeignDignitarieshadcometopaytheirrespects:\"Well,\"criedtheKingtoDubourgay,\"weshallhaveaWar,then,\"——universa1deadlytugatthoseItalianApanages,forandagainstaninsultedKaiser,——\"War;andthenallthatiscrookedwillbepulledstraight!\"SospakeFriedrichWilhelmontheNew—Year’smorning;WarinItaly,universalspasmofwrestlethere,beingnowtheexpectationoffoolishmankind:
Crookedwillbepulledstraight,thinksFriedrichWilhelm;
andperhapscertainhighMajesties,deaftothevoiceofShould—not,willunderstandthatofCan—not,Excellenz!——
Crookedwillbecomestraight?\"Indeedifso,yourMajesty,thesoonerthebetter!\"Iventuredtoanswer。[Dubourgay,8thJanuary,1730。]
NewYear’sdayisnotwellin,andtheceremonialwishesover,whenFriedrichWilhelm,hismindfullofseriousdomesticandforeignmatter,withdrawstoPotsdamagain;andtherefrombeginsfulminatinginaterriblemanneronhiswomankindatBerlin,whatwecalledhisFemaleParliament,——toomuchgiventooppositioncoursesatpresent。Intendstohavehismeasurespassedthere,indefianceofopposition;straightway;andanendputtothisinexpressibleDouble—Marriagehiggle—haggle。Speedtohim!wewillsay。——ThreehighCrisesoccur,threeorevenfour,whichcannowwithoutmuchdetailbemadeintelligibletothepatientreader:
onthebackofwhichwelookforsomecatastropheandfinistotheBusiness;——anycatastrophethatwillproveafinis,howwelcomewillitbe!
WILHELMINATOBEMARRIEDOUTOFHAND。CRISISFIRST:
ENGLANDSHALLSAYYESORSAYNO。
StillearlyinJanuary,afewdaysafterhisMajesty’sreturntoPotsdam,threehighOfficialgentlemen,CountFinkvanFinkenstein,oldTutortothePrince,GrumkowandGeneralBorckannouncethemselvesonemorning;\"HaveapressingmessagefromtheKingtoherMajesty。\"[Wilhelmina,i。180。]Queenisastonished;
expectinganythingsooner。——\"Thisregardsme,Ihaveadreading!\"
shudderedWilhelminatoMamma。\"Nomatter,\"saidtheQueen,shrugginghershoulders;\"onemusthavefirmness;andthatisnotwhatIshallwant;\"——andherMajestywentintotheAudience—chamber,leavingWilhelminainsuchtremors。
Finkenstein,afriendlyman,asBorcktoois,explainstoherMajesty,\"ThattheythreehavereceivedeachaLetterovernight,——
LetterfromtheKing,enjoiningintheFIRSTplace’silenceunderpainofdeath;’intheSECONDplace,apprisingthemthathe,theKing,willnolongerendureherMajesty’sdisobedienceinregardtothemarriageofhisDaughter,butwillbanishDaughterandMother’toOranienburg,’quasi—divorce,andouterdarkness,unlesstherebecompliancewithhissovereignwill;THIRDLY,thattheyareaccordinglytogo,allthree,toherMajesty,todelivertheenclosedRoyalAutograph[whichFinkensteinpresents],testifyingwhatsaidsovereignwillis,andontheabovetermsexpectherMajesty’sreply;\"——astheyhavenowsorrowfullydone,FinkensteinandBorckwithrealsorrow;Grumkowwiththereverseofreal。
Sovereignwillistotheeffect:\"WritetoEnglandoneothertime,Willyouatoncemarry,ornotatonce;YeaorNo?Answercanbeherewithinafortnight;threeweeks,evenincaseofbadwinds。
IftheanswerbenotYeaatonce;thenyou,Madam,youatoncechooseWeissenfelsorSchwedt,oneortheother,——underwhatpenaltiesyouknow;Oranienburgandworse!\"
Hereisacrisis。ButherMajestydidnotwantfirmness。\"WritetoEngland?Yes,willingly。ButastoWeissenfelsandSchwedt,whateveranswercomefromEngland,——Impossible!\"steadilyanswersherMajesty。Therewasmuchdiscourse,suasive,argumentative;
Grumkow\"quotingScriptureonherMajesty,astheDevilcanonoccasion,\"saysWilhelmina。ExpressScriptures,Wives,beobedienttoyourhusbands,andtheliketexts:
butherMajesty,ontheScripturesidetoo,gavehimasgoodashebrought。\"DidnotBethuelthesonofMilcah,[Genesisxxiv。
14—58。]whenAbraham’sservantaskedhisdaughterinmarriageforyoungIsaac,answer,Wewillcallthedamselandinquireofhermouth。AndtheycalledRebecca,andsaiduntoher,Wiltthougowiththisman?Andshesaid,Iwillgo。\"
ScriptureforScripture,HerrvonGrumkow!\"Wivesmustobeytheirhusbands;surelyyes。Butthehusbandsaretocommandthingsjustandreasonable。TheKing’sprocedureisnotaccordantwiththatlaw。HeisfordoingviolencetomyDaughter’sinclination,andrenderingherunhappyfortherestofherdays;——willgiveherabrutaldebauchee,\"fatWeissenfels,sodescribableinstronglanguage;\"ayoungerbrother,whoisnothingbuttheKingofPoland’sOfficer;landless,andwithoutmeanstoliveaccordingtohisrank。OrcanitbetheStatethatwillprofitfromsuchamarriage?IftheyhaveaHousehold,theKingwillhavetosupportit。——WritetoEngland;Yes;butwhatevertheanswerofEngland,Weissenfelsnever!Athousandtimessoonerseemychildinhergravethanhopelesslymiserable!\"HereaqualmovertookherMajesty;forinfactsheisinaninterestingstate,thirdmonthofhertime:\"Iamnotwell;Youshouldspareme,Gentlemen,inthestateIamin。——IdonotaccusetheKing,\"concludedshe:
\"Iknow,\"hurlingaglanceatGrumkow,\"towhomIoweallthis;\"——