第50章
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  \"Ourgreat—grandfatherslivedinperpetualterrorthattheywouldbedevouredbyFrance;thatFrenchambitionwouldoversettheCelestialBalance,andproceednexttoeattheBritishNation。

  Standuponyourguardthen,onewouldhavesaid:Looktoyourships,toyourdefences,toyourindustries;toyourvirtuesfirstofall,——yourVIRTUTES,manhoods,conformitiestotheDivineLawappointedyou;whicharethegreatandindeedsolestrengthtoanyManorNation!Disciplineyourselves,wisely,inallkinds;

  moreandmore,tilltherebenoanarchicfibreleftinyou。

  Unanarchic,disciplinedatallpoints,youmightthen,Ishouldsay,withsupremecomposure,letFrance,andthewholeWorldatitsback,trywhattheycoulddouponyouandtheuniquelittleIslandyouaresoluckyastolivein?——Foolishmortals:whatPotentialityofBattle,thinkyou(notagainstFranceonly,butagainstSatanasandtheMinistersofChaosgenerally),wouldapoorFriedrichWilhelm,nottospeakofbetter,havegotoutofsuchaPossession,haditbeenhistoputindrill!Anddrillisnotofsoldiersonly;

  thoughperhapsofsoldiersfirstandmostindispensablyofall;

  since’withoutBeing,’asmyFriendOliverwaswonttosay,’Well—

  beingisnotpossible。’Thereismilitarydrill;thereisindustrial,economic,spiritual;graduallythereareallkindsofdrill,ofwisediscipline,ofperemptorymandatebecomeeffectiveeverywhere,’OBEYtheLawsofHeaven,orelsedisappearfromtheselatitudes!’Ahme,ifonedealtinday—dreams,andpropheciesofanEnglandgrowncelestial,——celestialsheshouldbe,notingoldnuggets,continentsallofbeef,andseasallofbeer,AbolitionofPain,andParadisetoAllandSundry,butinthatquitedifferentfashion;andthere,Ishouldsay,THEREwerethemagnificentHopetoindulgein!Thatweretomethe’CauseofLiberty;’andanythesmallestcontributiontowardsthatkindof’Liberty’wereasacredthing!——

  \"Belleisleagainmay,ifhepleases,callhistheCauseofSovereignty。ASovereignLouis,itwouldappear,hasnotgoverningenoughtodowithinhisownFrenchborders,butfeelscalledtoundertakeGermanyaswell;——agentlemanwithanimmensegoverningfaculty,itwouldappear?Truly,goodreader,Iamsickofheart,contemplatingthoseemptysovereignmountebanks,andemptyantagonistditto,withtheirCausesofLibertyandCausesofAnti—

  Liberty;andcannotbutwishthatwehadgottheashesofthatWorld—Explosion,of1789,wellriddledandsmelted,andthepoorWorldwerequitofagreatmanythings!\"——

  MyConstitutionalHistorianofEngland,musingonBelleisleandhisAnti—Pragmaticindustriesandgrandiosities,——\"howChief—BullyBelleislesteptdownintotheringasagayVolunteer,andfoolishChief—DefenderGeorgehadtofollowdismallyheroic,asaConscriptofFate,\"——dropsthesewords:inregardtotheWagestheyrespectivelyhad:——

  \"NationsthatgointoWarwithoutbusinessthere,aresureofgettingbusinessastheyproceed;andifthebeginningwerephantasms,——especiallyphantasmsofthehoping,self—conceitedkind,——theresultsforthemareapttobeextremelyreal!AswasthecasewiththeFrenchinthisWar,andthosefollowing,inwhichhisBritannicMajestyplayedchiefcounter—tenor。From1741,inKingFriedrich’sFirstWar,onwardstoFriedrich’sThirdWar,1756—1763,thevolunteerFrenchfoundagreatdealofworklyingreadyforthem,——gratuitousontheirpart,fromthebeginning。

  Andtheresultstothemcameout,firstcompletelyvisible,intheWorld—Miraclesof1789,andtheyearsfollowing!

  \"Nations,again,maybedrivenuponWarbyphantasmTERRORS,andgointoit,insorrowofheart,notgayetyofheart;andthatisashadebetter。AndonealwayspitiesapoorNation,insuchcase;——

  astheveryDestiniesratherdo,andjudgeitmoremercifully。

  Nay,thepoorbewilderedNationmay,amongitsbrain—phantasms,havesomethingofrealityandsanityinarticulatelystirringitwithal。ItmayhavearealordinanceofHeaventoaccomplishonthoseterms:——andIFso,itwillsometimes,inthemostchaoticcircuitousways,throughendlesshazards,atahundredorahundredthousandtimesthenaturalexpense,ultimatelygetitdone!

  ThiswasthecaseofthepoorEnglishinthoseWars。

  \"TheywereWarsextraneoustoEnglandlittlelessthantoFrance;

  neitherNationhadrealbusinessinthem;andtheyseemtousnowaverymadobjectonthepartofboth。Buttheywerenotgratuitouslygoneinto,onthepartofEngland;farfromthat。Englandundertookthem,withitsbigheartverysorrowful,strangespectralitiesbewilderingit;andmanagedthem(asmendosleep—walking)withagloomysolidityofpurpose,withaheavy—ladenenergy,and,onthewhole,withadepthofstupidity,whichwereverygreat。Yetlookattherespectivenetresults。FranceliesdowntorotintograndSpontaneous—Combustion,ApotheosisofSansculottism,andmuchelse;

  whichstilllasts,toherowngreatperil,andthegreatafflictionofneighbors。PoorEngland,aftersuchenormousstumblingamongthechimney—pots,andsomnambulismoveralltheworldfortwentyyears,findsonawakening,thatsheisarrived,afterall,whereshewishedtobe,andagooddealfarther!Findsthatherownimportantlittleerrandissomehoworother,done;——and,inshort,that’Jenkins’sEar[asshenamedthething]HASbeenavenged,’andtheOceanHighways’opened’andagooddealmore,inamostsignalway!

  FortheEternalProvidences——littleaspoorDryasdustnowknowsofit,mumblingandmaunderingthatsadstuffofhis——dorule;andthegreatsouloftheworld,Iassureyouoncemore,isJUST。

  AndalwaysforaNation,asforaman,itisverybehoovefultobehonest,tobemodest,howeverstupid!\"——

  Bythistime,however,——Mollwitzhavingfallenout,andBelleislebeingevidentlyonthesteps,——hisBritannicMajestyrecognizesclearly,andinsistsuponit,strengthenedbyhisHarringtonsandeverybodyofdiscernment,That,nefariousornot,thisFriedrichwillrequiretobebargainedwith。That,farfrombreakinginuponhim,andpartitioninghim(howfarfromit!),thereisnoconceivablemethodofsavingtheCelestialBalancestillHEbesatisfied,insomeway。ThisistheonestephisBritannicMajestyhasyetmade,outofthesehischokingimbroglios;andtrulythisisone。Hyndford,hisbestnegotiator,isontheroadforFriedrich’sCamp;RobinsonatVienna,hasbeendirectedtosayandinsist,\"Bargainwiththatman;hemustbebargainedwith,ifourCauseofLibertyistobesavedatall?\"——

  Andnow,havingopenedthedust—binsofar,thatthereader’sfancymightbestirredwithoutafflictiontohislungsandeyes,letusshutitdownagain,——mightwebuthopeforever!Thatistoofondahope。Butthebackgroundorsustainingelementmadeimaginable,thefeweventsdeservingmemorymaysurelygoonatamuchswifterpace。

  ChapterII。

  CAMPOFSTREHLEN。

  Friedrich’sSilesianCampsthisSummer,CampofStrehlenchiefly,wereamongthestrangestplacesintheworld。Friedrich,aswehaveoftennoticed,didnotmuchpursuethedefeatedAustrians,atornearMollwitz,orpressthemtowardsflatruinintheirSilesianbusiness:itisclearheanxiouslywishedabargainwithoutfartherexasperation;andhopedhemightgetitbyjudiciouspatience。

  Brieghetook,withthatfineoutburstofbombardment,whichdidnotlastaweek:butBriegoncehis,hefellquietagain;keptencamping,herethere,inthatMollwitz—Neisseregion,forabovethreemonthstocome;notdoingmuch,beyondtheindispensable;

  negotiatingmuch,orrathernegotiatedwith,andwaitingonevents。

  [InCampofMollwitz(nearerBriegthantheBattle—fieldwas)till28thMay(aftertheBattlesevenweeks);thentoCampatGrotkau(28thMay—9thJune,twelvedays);thence(9thJune)toFriedewalde,Herrnsdorf;toStrehlen(21stJune—20thAugust,nineortenweeksinall)。SeeHelden—Geschichte,i。924,ii。931;

  Rodenbeck,Orlich,&c。]

  BothArmieswerereinforcingthemselves;andFriedrich’s,forobviousreasons,inthefirstweeksespecially,becamemuchthestronger。OnceinMay,andagainafterwards,wearyofthepacethingswentat,hehadresolvedonhavingNeisseatonce;

  onattackingNeipperginhisstrongcampthere,andcuttingshortthetediousjanglingsanduncertainties。HeadvancedtoGrotkauaccordingly,sometwelveorfifteenmilesnearerNeisse(28thMay,——stayedtill9thJune),quitewithinwindofNeippergandhisoutposts;butfoundstill,oncloserinspection,thathehadbetterwait;——anddosowithalatagreaterdistancefromNeippergandhisPandourSwarms。HedrewbackthereforetoStrehlen,northwestward,ratherfartherfromNeissethanbefore;andlayencampedtherefornineortenweekstocome。NottillthebeginningofAugustdidtherefalloutanymilitaryevent(Pandourskirmishinginplenty,hutnothingtocallanevent);andnottilltheendofAugustanythatpointedtoconclusiveresults。AsitwasatStrehlenwheremostlytheseDiplomacieswenton,andtheCampofStrehlenwasthefinalandeverywaythemainone,itmaystandastherepresentativeoftheseDiplomatizingCampstous,andfigureasthesoleonewhichinfactitnearlywas。

  StrehlenisapleasantlittleTown,nestledprettilyamongitsgraniteHills,thesteepleofitvisiblefromMollwitz;sometwenty—fivemileswestofBrieg,somethirtysouthofBreslau,andaboutasfarnorthwestofNeisse:thereFriedrichandhisPrussianslie,undercanvasmainly,withoutpostsanddetachmentssprinkledaboutunderroofs:——aCampofStrehlen,moreorlessimaginablebythereader。Andworthhisimagining;suchaCamp,ifnotforsoldiering,yetfornegotiatingandwaggingofdiplomaticwigs,asthereneverwasbefore。Here,strangelyshiftedhither,isthecentreofEuropeanPoliticsallSummer。FromtheutmostendsofEuropecomeAmbassadorstoStrehlen:fromSpain,France,England,Denmark,Holland,——therearesometimesnineatonce,howmanysuccessivelyandintotalIneverknew。[Helden—

  Geschichte,i。932。]TheylodgegenerallyinBreslau;

  butarealwaysrunningovertoStrehlen。Theresits,properlyspeaking,thegeneralSecretParliamentofEurope;andfrommostCountries,exceptAustria,representativesattendatStrehlen,orgoandcomebetweenBreslauandStrehlen,submissivetotheevilsoffield—life,whenneedis。Asurprisingthingenoughtomankind,andbigastheworldinitsownday;thoughgonenowtosmallbulk,——oneHumanFigureprettymuchallthatisleftofmemorableinittomankindandus。

  FrenchBelleislewehaveseen;whoisgoneagain,longsince,onhiswideerrands;fatValoritoowehaveseen,whoisassiduouslyhere。Theotherfigures,excepttheEnglish,canremaindarktous。

  OfMontijos,theeminentSpaniard,abrownlittleman,magnificentastheKingdomoftheIncas,withhalfapageoftitles(halfapeck,five—and—twentyormore,ofhandlestohislittlename,ifyoushouldeverrequireit);who,findingmatterssobackwardatFrankfurt,andnothingtodothere,hasbeenout,intheinterim,touringtowhileawaythetedium;andishereonlyassequelandcorroborationofBelleisle,——sayasbottle—holder,orashigh—

  wroughtpeacock’s—tail,toBelleisle:——oftheeminentMontijosI

  havetorecordnexttonothingintheshapeofnegotiation(\"Treaty\"withtheTermagantwasonceproposedbyhimhere,whichFriedrichinhispolitestwaydeclined);andshallmentiononly,Thathisdomesticarrangementsweresumptuousandcommodiousintheextreme。Lethimarriveinthemeanestvillage,destituteofhumanappliances,andbedirectedtothehutwhereheistolodge,——

  straightwayfromthefourgonsandbaggage—chestsofMontijosisproduced,firstofall,aroundofarrashangings,portabletables,portablestove,goldplateandsilver;thus,withwax—lights,winesofrichestvintage,exquisitecookeries,Montijoslodges,akingeverywhere,creatinganAladdin’spalaceeverywhere;abletosay,liketheSageBias,OMNIAMEANAECUMPORTO。ThesethingsarerecordedofMontijos。Whathedidinthewayofnegotiationhasescapedmen’smemory,asitcouldwellaffordtodo。

  OfHyndford’sappurtenancesforlodgingwealreadyhadaglimpse,throughBuschingonce;——pointingtowardssoliddinner—comfortsratherthanarrashangings;andjustifyingtheEnglishgeniusinthatrespect。TheweightofthenegotiationsfellonHyndford;

  itisbetweenhimandFrenchValorithatthematterlies,Montijosandtheothersbeingmeresatellitesontheirrespectivesides。

  Muchbatteredupon,thisHyndford,byrefractoryHanoverianspittingGeorgeasElectoragainstthesameGeorgeasKing,andeggingthesetwoidentitiestowofulbattlewitheachother,——

  \"LaymeathisMajesty’sfeet\"fulllength,andlethisMajestysaywhichiswhich,then!Aheavy,eating,haggling,unpleasantkindofmortal,thisHyndford;bitesandgruntsprivately,inastupidferociousmanner,againstthisyoungKing:\"Oneoftheworstofmen;whowillnottakeuptheCauseofLibertyatall,andisnotmadeintheimageofHyndfordatall。\"Theyaredreadfullystiffreading,thoseDespatchesofHyndford:buttheyhaveparticlesofcurrentnewsinthem;interestingglimpsesofthatsameyoungKing;——likewiseofHyndford,laidathisMajesty’sfeet,andbeggingforselfandbrothersanygoodbeneficethatmayfallvacant。Wecandiscern,too,acertainroughtenacityandhorse—

  dealerfinesseintheman;abroad—based,shrewdlypracticalScotchGentleman,wideawake;andcanconjecturethatthediplomaticfunction,inthatelement,mighthavebeeninworsehands。HeisoftenlaidmetaphoricallyattheKing’sfeet,KingofEngland’s;

  andhauntspersonallytheKingofPrussia’selbowatalltimes,watchingeveryglanceofhim,likeaBritishhouse—dog,thatwillnotbetakeninwithsuspicioustravellers,ifhecanhelpit;

  andcastingperpetualhoroscopesinhisdullmind。

  OfFriedrichandhisdemeanorinthisstrangescene,centreofaWorldalldrawingsword,andjumblinginhugeDiplomaticandotherdeliriumabouthisears,thereaderwilldesiretoseeadirectglimpseortwo。AstothesadgeneralImbroglioofDiplomacieswhichthenwelteredeverywhere,readerscanunderstandthat,ithas,atthisday,fallenconsiderablyobscure(asitdeservedtodo);andthatevenFriedrich’sshareofitisindistinctinparts。

  Thegame,wideasEurope,andoneofthemostintricateeverplayedbyDiplomatichumancreatures,waskeptstudiouslydarkwhileitwenton;andithasnotsincebeenapleasantobjectofstudy。

  ManyoftheDocumentsarestillunpublished,inaccessible;sothatthevariousmovesinthegame,especiallywhattheexactdatesandsequenceofthemwere(uponwhichallwouldturn),arenotcompletelyascertainable,——norintrutharetheymuchworthhuntingafter,throughsuchanelement。Onethingwecouldwishtohaveoutofit,theonethingofsanethatwasinit:thedemeanorandphysiognomyofFriedrichastheremanifested;Friedrichalone,orprettymuchaloneofalltheseDiplomaticConjurers,havingasolidveritableobjectinhand。Therest——thespidersareverywelcometoit:whoofmortalswouldreadit,wereitmadeneversolucidtohim?SuchtraitsofFriedrichascanbesiftedoutintotheconceivableandindubitablestate,thereadershallhave;theextinctBedlam,thatbegirdledFriedrichfarandwide,neednotberesuscitatedexceptforthatobject。OfFriedrich’sfairness,orofFriedrich’s\"trickiness,machiavelismandattorneyism,\"readerswillformtheirownnotion,astheyproceed。Ononepointtheywillnotbedoubtful,Thathereissuchasharpnessofsteadyeyesight(likethelynx’s,liketheeagle’s),and,privatelysuchacourageandfixityofresolution,asarehighlyuncommon。

  April26th,1741,inthesamedayswhileBelleislearrivedintheCampatMollwitz,andwitnessedthatfineopeningofthecannonadeuponBrieg,ExcellencyHyndfordgottoBerlin;andonnotifyingtheevent,wasinvitedbytheKingtocomealongtoBreslau,andbeginbusiness。Englandhasbeenprofuseenoughinofferingher\"goodofficeswithAustria\"towardsmakingabargainforhisPrussianMajesty;butisbusyalso,attheHague,concertingwiththeDutch\"somestrongjointresolution,\"——resolution,OpenlytoadviseFriedrichtowithdrawhistroopsfromSilesia,bywayofstartingfairtowardsabargain。Averystrongresolution,theyandtheGazetteersthinkit;andaskthemselves,Isitnotlikelytohavesomeeffect?TheirHighMightinesseshavebeenscrewingtheircourage,andunderEnglishurgency,havedecided(April24th),[Helden—Geschichte,i。964;theADVICE

  itself,averymild—spokenPiece,butofriskishnaturethinktheDutch,isgiven,ib。965,966。]\"Yes,wewilljointlysoadvise!\"

  andFriedrichhasgotinklingofitfromRasfeld,hisMinisterthere。Hyndford’sfirstbusiness(weretheDutchExcellencyoncecomeup,butthoseDutcharealwayshangingastern!)istopresentsaid\"Advice,\"andtrywhatwillcomeofthat,An\"Advice\"nowfallentotallyinsignificanttotheUniverseandtous,——onlythatreaderswillwishtoseehowFriedrichtakesit,andifanyfeatureofFriedrichdisclosesitselfintheaffair。

  EXCELLENCYHYNDFORDHASHISFIRSTAUDIENCE(CampofMollwitz,May7th);ANDFRIEDRICHMAKESAMOST

  IMPORTANTTREATY,——NOTWITHHYNDFORD。

  May2d,HyndfordarrivedinBreslau;andaftersomepreliminaryflourishings,anddifficultiesaboutpost—horsesandfurnituresinaseatofWar,gottoBrieg;andthence,May7th,\"totheCamp[CampofMollwitzstill],whichisaboutanEnglishmileoff,\"——

  PodewilsescortinghimfromBrieg,andwhatwenotefarther,Pollnitztoo;ourpooroldPollnitz,somekindofChiefGoldstick,whomwedidnototherwiseknowtobeonactivedutyinthoserudescenes。BelleislehadpassedthroughBreslauwhileHyndfordwasthere:——\"amunabletoinformyourLordshipwhatsuccesshehashad。\"BriegSiegeisdoneonlythreedaysago;Castlealllyingblack;andthenewtrenchingandfortifyinghardlybegun。Inaword,May7th,1741,\"about11A。M。,\"ExcellencyHyndfordisintroducedtotheKing’sTent,andhashisFirstAudience。

  Goldstickhavingdonehismotions,nonebutPodewilsisleftpresent;whositsatatable,takingnotesofwhatissaid。

  Podewils’sNotesareinvisibletome;buthere,inauthenticthoughcarefullycompressedstate,isHyndford’sminuteNarrative:——

  ExcellencyHyndfordmentionedtheInstructionshehad,asto\"goodoffices,\"friendshipandsoforth。\"ButhisPrussianMajestyhadhardlypatiencetohearmeout;andsaidinapassion[werise,wherepossible,Hyndford’sownwording;readerswillallowfortheleadenqualityinsomeparts]:——

  KING(inapassion)。\"’Howisitpossible,myLord,tobelievethingssocontradictory?Itismightyfineallthisthatyounowtellme,onthepartoftheKingofEngland;buthowdoesitcorrespondtohislastSpeechtohisParliament[19thAprillast,whenMr。Vinerwasinsuchminorityofone]andtothedoingsofhisMinistersatPetersburg[aprettyPartition—Treatythat;

  andtheExcellencyFinchstillbusy,asIknow!]andattheHague[ExcellencyTrevorthere,andthisbeautifulJoint—ResolutionandAdvicewhichiscoming!]tostirupalliesagainstme?IhavereasonrathertodoubtthesincerityoftheKingofEngland。

  Theyperhapsmeantoamuseme。[ThatisFriedrich’srealopinion。

  [HisLettertoPodewils(Ranke,ii。268)。]]But,byGod,theyaremistaken!Iwillriskeverythingratherthanabatetheleastofmypretensions。’\"

  PoorHyndfordsaidandmumbledwhathecould;knewnothingwhatinstructionsFinchhad,Trevorhad,and——

  KING。\"’MyLord,thereseemstobeacontradictioninallthis。

  TheKingofEngland,inhisLetter,tellsmeyouareinstructedastoeverything;andyetyoupretendignorance!ButIamperfectlyinformedofall。AndIshouldnotbesurprisedif,afterallthesefinewords,youshouldreceivesomestrongletterorresolutionforme,’\"——Joint—ResolutiontoAdvise,forexample?

  Hyndford,notinthestrengthofconsciousinnocence,standssilent;theKing,\"inhisheatofpassion,\"saidtoPodewils:——

  KINGTOPODEWILS(onthesudden)。\"’Writedown,thatmyLordwouldbesurprised[asheshouldbe]toreceivesuchInstructions!’\"(Amischievoussparkle,halfquizzical,halfpractical,considerablyintheFriedrichstyle。)——Hyndford,\"quitestruck,myLord,withthisstrangewayofacting,\"andofpokingintoone,protestswithangrygrunt,and\"wasputextremelyuponmyguard。\"OfcoursePodewilsdidnetwrite……

  HYNDFORD。\"’Europeisunderthenecessityoftakingsomespeedyresolution,thingsareinsuchastateofcrisis。Likeafeverinahumanbody,gottosuchaheightthatquinquinabecomesnecessary。’……Thatexpressionmadehimsmile,andhebegantolookalittlecooler……’ShallweapplytoVienna,yourMajesty?’

  FRIEDRICH。\"’Followyourownwillinthat。’

  HYNDFORD。\"’WouldyourMajestyconsentnowtostandbyhisExcellencyGotter’soriginalOfferatViennaonyourpart?

  Agree,namely,inconsiderationofLowerSilesiaandBreslau,toassisttheQueenwithallyourtroopsformaintenanceofPragmaticSanction,andtovotefortheGrand—DukeasKaiser?’

  KING。\"’Yes’[whatthereadermaytakenoticeof,anddateforhimself]。

  HYNDFORD。\"’WhatwasthesumofmoneythenofferedherHungarianMajesty?’

  \"Kinghesitated,asifhehadforgotten;Podewilsanswered,’Threemillionflorins(300,000pounds)。’

  KING。\"’Ishouldnotvaluethemoney;ifmoneywouldcontentherMajesty,Iwouldgivemore。’……Herewasalongpause,whichIdidnotbreak;\"——norwouldtheKing。Podewilsremindedmeofanideawehadbeendiscoursingoftogether(\"onhissuggestion,myLord,whichIreallythinkisofimportance,andworthyourLordship’sconsideration\");whereupon,onsuchhint,HYNDFORD。\"’WouldyourMajestyconsenttoanArmistice?’

  FRIEDRICH。\"’Yes;but[countsonhisfingers,May,June,tillhecomestoDecember]notforlessthansixmonths,——tillDecember1st。Bythattimetheycoulddonothing,’\"theseasonoutbythattime。

  HYNDFORD。\"’HisExcellencyPodewilshasbeentakingnotes;

  ifIamtobeboundbythem,mightIfirstseethathehasmistakennothing?’

  KING。\"’Certainly!’\"——Podewils’sNote—protocolisfoundtobecorrectineverypoint;Hyndford,withsomeslightflourishofcomplimentsonbothsides,bowshimselfaway(invitedtodinner,whichheaccepts,\"willsurelyhavethathonorbeforereturningtoBreslau\");——andsotheFirstAudiencehasended。[Hyndford’sDespatches,Breslau,5thand13thMay,1741。AreinState—PaperOffice,liketherestofHyndford’s;alsoinBritishMuseum(AdditionalMSS。11,365&c。),theroughdraughtsofthem。]

  BaronayandPandoursareabout,——thisistendaysbeforetheZiethenfeatonBaronay;——butnoPandour,noworafterwards,willharmaBritishExcellency。

  TheseutterancesofFriedrich’s,themoreweexaminethembyotherlightsthatthereare,becomethemorecorrectlyexpressiveofwhatFriedrich’srealfeelingswereontheoccasion。Muchcontrary,perhaps,toexpectationofsomereaders。AndindeedwewillhereadviseourreaderstopreparefordismissingaltogetherthatnotionofFriedrich’sduplicity,mendacity,finesseandthelike,whichwasoncewidelycurrentintheworld;andtoattendalwaysstrictlytowhatFriedrichsays,iftheywishtoguesswhatheisthinking;

  ——therebeingnosuchthingas\"mendacity\"discoverableinFriedrich,whenyoutakethetroubletoinformyourself。

  \"Mendacity,\"myfriends?HowbusyhavetheOwlsbeenwithFriedrich’smemory,indifferentcountriesoftheworld;——perhapsevenmorethantheirsadwontisinsuchcases!Forindeedhewasapttobeofswiftabruptprocedure,disregardfulofOwleries;

  andgavescopeformisunderstandinginthecourseofhislife。

  Butaveraciousmanhewas,atallpoints;notevenconsciousofhisveracity;buthaditinthebloodofhim;andneverlookedupon\"mendacity\"butfromaverygreatheightindeed。Hedoesnot,exceptwheresuitable,atleasthenevershould,expresshiswholemeaning;butyouwillneverfindhimexpressingwhatisnothismeaning。Reticence,notdissimulation。Andasto\"finesse,\"——donotbelieveinthateither,inthevulgarorbadsense。Trulyyouwillfindhisfinesseisaveryfinething;andthatitconsists,notindeceivingotherpeople,butinbeingrighthimself;inwelldiscerning,forhisownbehoof,whatthefactsbeforehimare;andinsteering,whichhedoessteadily,inamostvigilant,nimble,decisiveandintrepidmanner,bymonitionofthesame。Nosalvationbutinthefacts。FactsareakindofdivinethingtoFriedrich;

  muchmoresothantocommonmen:thisisessentiallywhatReligionIhavefoundinFriedrich。And,letmeassureyou,itisaninvaluableelementinanyman’sReligion,andhighlyindispensable,thoughsooftendispensedwith!Readers,especiallyinourtimeEnglishreaders,whowouldgaintheleastknowledgeaboutFriedrich,intheextinctBedlamwherehisworknowlay,haveagreatmanythingstoforget,andsadstrataofOwl—droppings,ancientandrecent,tosweepaway!——

  ToFriedrichabargainwithAustria,whichwouldbeagettingintoport,incomparisoritogoingwiththeFrenchinthatdistractedvoyageoftheirs,ishighlydesirable。\"ShallIjoinwiththeEnglish,inhopeofsometolerablebargainfromAustria?ShallI

  havetojoinwiththeFrench,indespairofany?\"ReadersmayconsiderhowstringentuponFriedrichthatquestionnowwas,andhowticklishtosolve。Anditmustbesolvedsoon,——underpenaltyof\"beingleftwithnoallyatall\"(asFriedrichexpresseshimself),whilethewholeworldisgroupingitselfintoarmedheapsforandagainst!IftheEnglishwouldbutgetmeabargain——?

  Friedrichdarenotthinktheywill。Nay,scanningtheseEnglishincoherences,thesecontradictionsbetweenwhattheysayhereandwhattheydoandsayelsewhere,hebeginstodoubtiftheyzealouslywishit,——andatlasttobelievethattheysincerelydonotwishit;that\"theymeantoamuseme\"(ashesaidtoHyndford)

  ——tillmyFrenchchancetooisover。\"Toamuseme:but,PAR

  DIEU——!\"HisNotestoPodewils,ofwhichRanke,whohasseenthem,givesussnatches,arevividinthatsense:\"IshouldbeashamedifthecunningestItaliancoulddupeme;butthataloutofaHanoverianshoulddoit!\"——andPodewilshasgreatdifficultytokeephimpatientyetalittle;Valoribeingsobusyontheotherside,andthetimesopressing。Herearesomedatesandsomecomments,whichthereadershouldtakewithhim;——hereisaverystrangeissuetotheJoint—Resolutionofastrongnaturenowonhand!

  AfewdaysafterthatFirstAudience,GinkeltheDutchExcellency,withtheduePapersinhispocket,didarrive。ExcellencyHyndford,whoisnotwithoutroughinsightintowhatliesunderhisnose,discoversclearlythatthegrandDutch—EnglishResolution,orJoint—ExhortationtoevacuateSilesia,willdonothingbutmischief;and(athisownrisk,persuadingGinkelalsotodelay)

  sendsaCouriertoEnglandbeforepresentingit。AndfromEngland,inaboutafortnight,getsforanswer,\"Doharm,thinkyou?

  Hm,ha!——Presentit,allthesame;andmodifybyassurancesafterwards,\"——asifthesewouldmuchavail!ThisisnottheonlyinstanceinwhichSt。James’srejectsgoodadvicefromitsHyndford;thepitywouldbegreater,werenottheBusinesswhatitis!PodewilshasthegreatestdifficultytokeepFriedrichquiettillHyndford’scouriergetback。Andonhisgettingbackwithsuchanswer,\"Presentitallthesame,\"Friedrichwillnotwaitforthatceremony,ordelayamomentlonger。FriedrichhashadhisValoriatwork,allthiswhile;ValoriandPodewils,andendlesscorrespondenceandconsultationgoingon;andthingshypotheticallyalmostquiteready;sothat——

  June5th,1741,Friedrich,spurringPodewilstotheutmostspeed,and\"orderingsecrecyonpainofdeath,\"signshisTreatywithFrance!Akindofprovisionaloff—and—onTreaty,Itakeittobe;

  whichwasneverpublished,andisthoughttohavehadmanyIFSinit:sigusthisTreaty;——andnextday(June6th,suchistheimpetuosityofhaste)instructshisRasfeldattheHague,\"YouwillbeforehandinformtheHighMightinesses,inregardtothatAdviceofApril24th,whichtheydeterminedongivingme,throughtheExcellencyHerrvonGinkelalongwithExcellencyHyndford,ThatsuchAdvicecan,byme,onlybeconsideredasablindcomplaisancetotheCourtofVienna’simproperurgencies,improperinsuchamatter。ThatforcertainIwillnotquitSilesiatillmyclaimsbesatisfied。AndthelongerIamforcedtocontinuewarringforthemhere,\"wastingmoreresourceandriskuponthem,\"thehighertheywillrise!\"[Helden—Geschichte,i。963。]

  AndthisiswhatcomesofthatterriblycourageousDutch—English\"Joint—Resolutionofastrongnature;\"ithasliterallycutbeforethepoint:theExhortationisnotyetpresented,buttheTreatywithFranceissignedinvirtueofit!——

  UndoubtedlythisofJune5thisthemostimportantTreatyintheAustrian—SuccessionWar,andthecardinalelementofFriedrich’sprocedureinthatAdventure。Andithasneverbeenpublished;

  nor,tillHerrProfessorRankegotaccesstothePrussianArchives,haseventhedateofsigningitbeenrightlyknown;butisgiventwoorthreewaysindifferentexpressCollectionsofTreaties。

  [Scholl,ii。297(copying\"Flassan,Hist。delaDiplom。

  Franc。v。142\"),gives\"5thJuly\"asthedate;

  Adelung(ii。357,390,441)guessesthatitwas\"inAugust;\"Valori(i。108),whowashimselfinit,givesthecorrectdate,——butthenhisEditor(thoughtinquiringreaders)wassuchaslovenandignoramus。SeeStenzel,iv。143;Ranke,ii。274。]HerrRankeknowsthisTreaty,andthecorrespondences,especiallyFriedrich’scorrespondencewithPodewilspreparatorytoit;andspeaks,ashiswontis,severalexactthingsaboutit;thankstohim,inthecircumstances。Iwishitcouldbemade,evenwithhishelp,fullyintelligibletothereader!For,weretheTreatyneversoexpress,surelythemodeofkeepingit,onbothparts,wasverystrange;

  andthatlatterconcernsussomewhat。

  Averyfast—and—looseTreaty,toallappearance!OutwardlyitisamereTreatyofAlliance,eachpartyguaranteeingtheotherforFifteenYears;withoutmentionmadeofthejointBelleisleAdventurenowinthewind。Butthen,likethepostscripttoalady’sletter,therecome\"secretarticles\"bearinguponthatessentialitem:HowFrance,inthecourseofthiscurrentseason1741,istobringanArmyacrosstheRhineinsupportofitsfriendKur—BaiernVERSUSAustria;is,inthesametermoftime,tomakeSwedendeclarewaronRussia(importantforFriedrich,whoisneversureamomentthatthoseRussianswillnotbreakinuponhim);

  andfinally,mostimportantofall,ThatFrance\"guaranteesLowerSilesiawithBreslautohisPrussianMajesty。\"InreturnforwhichhisPrussianMajesty——willdowhat?Itisreallydifficulttosaywhat:BeatrueallyandsecondtoFranceinitsgrandGermanAdventure?Notatall。Friedrichdoesnotyetknow,nordoesBelleislehimselfquiteprecisely,whatthegrandGermanAdventureis;andFriedrich’swishesneverwere,norwillbe,fortheprosperityofthat。SupportFrance,atleastinitssmallBavarianAnti—AustrianAdventure?Bynomeansdefinitelyeventhat。

  \"MaintainmyselfinLowerSilesiawithBreslau,andfightmybesttosuchend:\"reallythat,youmightsay,isinsubstancethemostofwhatFriedrichundertakes;thoughinarticulatelyhefindshimselfboundtomuchmore,——andwillfranklygointoit,IFyoudoasyouhavesaid;andunlessyoudo,willnot。NeverwasamorecontingentTreaty:\"unlessyoustirupSweden,Messieurs;unlessyouproducethatRhineArmy;unless——\"suchissteadilyFriedrich’sattitude;longafterthis,herefusestosaywhomhewillvoteforasKaiser:\"FortuneofWarwilldecideit,\"answershe,inregardtothatandtomanyotherthings;andkeepshimselftoanincomprehensibleextentloose;ready,forweeksandmonthsafter,tomakebargainonhisownSilesianAffairwithanybodythatcan。

  [Ranke,ii。271,275,280。]

  ForindeedtheFrenchalsoareverycontingent;Fleuryhangingoneway,Belleislepushinganother;andknownothowfartheywillgoonthegrandGermanAdventure,norconclusivelywhetheratall。

  HereisanAnecdotebyFriedrichhimself。Valoriwas,onenight,withhim;and,onrisingtotakeleave,thefathand,stickingprobablyinthebigwaistcoat—pocket,twitchedoutalittlediplomatic—lookingNote;whichFriedrich,withgentleadroitness(permissibleinsuchcircumstances),sethisfootupon,tillValorihadbowedhimselfout。TheNotewasfromAmelot,FrenchMinisteroftheForeignDepartment:\"Don’tgivehisPrussianMajestyGlatz,ifitcanpossiblybehelped。\"Verywell,thoughtFriedrich;anddidnotforgetthefinelittleNoteonburningit。[OEuvresdeFrederic,ii。90。]Therewent,inFrenchcouriers’

  bags,agreatmanysuch,toAustriasomeofthem,offarmorequestionabletenor,withinthenexttwelvemonths。

  Twothingswehavetoremark:FIRST,ThatFriedrich,withaneyetorealbusinessonhispartintheBavarianAdventure,inwhichKur—Pfalzissuretoaccompany,volunteered(likearealmanofbusiness,andmuchtoBelleisle’ssurprise)torenouncetheBerg—

  Julichcontroversy,andletKur—Pfalzhavehisway,thattheremightbenoquarrellingamongallies。Thistooiscontingent;

  butwasgladlyacceptedbyBelleisle。SECOND,ThatBelleislehadinstructedValori,NottoinsistonactivehelpfromFriedrichintheGermanAdventure,butmerelytostipulateforhisNeutralitythroughout,incasetheycouldgetnomore。HowjoyfullywouldFriedrichhaveacceptedthis,——hadValorivolunteeredwithit,whichhedidnot![Ranke,ii。280。]But,afterall,inresultitwasthesame;andhadtobe,——PLUSonlyagreatdealofclamorbyandby,fromtheFrenchandtheGazetteers,abouttheArticleinquestion。

  WasthereeversocontingentaTreatybefore?Itissigned,Breslau,5thJune,1741,andbothpartieshavetheirhandsloose,andmakeuseoftheirlibertyformonthstocome;nay,insomesort,allalong;feelinghowcontingentitwas!Friedrichdidnotdefinitelytiehimselftill4thNovembernext,fivemonthsafter:

  whenhesignedtheFrench—BavarianTreaty,renouncedBerg—Julichcontroversies,andfairlywentintotheFrench—Bavarian,smallerFrenchAdventure;intothegreater,orwide—wingedBelleisleone,heneverwentnorintendedtogo,——perhapseventhecontrary,ifneedful。Readersmaytrytoremembertheseelucidativeitems,riddledfromtheimmensitiesofDryasdust:Ihavenomoretogive,norcanaffordtoreturnuponit。Maynotwewellsay,asabove,\"ATreatythoughttohavemanyIFSinit!\"——Andnow,8thJune,comessolemnlytheJoint—Resolutionitself;likemustard(underaflourishoftrumpets)threedaysafterdinner:——

  \"CAMPOFGROTKAU,8thJUNE。HyndfordandGinkel[thesamerespectableoldGinkelwhomweusedtoknowinFriedrichWilhelm’stime],having,accordingtorenewedorder,gotoutfromBreslauwiththatformidableDutch—English’Advice’orJoint—Exhortationintheirpocket,didthisdayintheCampatGrotkaupresentthesame。

  Averymild—spokenPiece,thoughithadrequiredsuchcourage;

  andwhichisnotnowworthspeakingof,thingshavinggoneaswesee。Friedrichreceiveditwithagraciousmien:’InfinitelysensibletothetroublehisBritannicMajestyandtheirHighMightinessestookwithhisaffairs;Documentshouldreceivehisbestconsideration,’——whichindeedithasalreadydone,anditsAnswerwithal:AFRENCHTreatysignedthreedaysago,invirtueofit!’MightIrequestashortPrivateAudienceofyourMajesty?’

  solicitsHyndford,intendingtomodifybynewassurances,asbidden。——’Surely,’answersFriedrich。

  \"ThetwoExcellenciesdinewiththeKing,whoisinhighspirits。

  Afterdinner,HyndfordgetshisPrivateAudience;doeshisbestinthewayof’newassurances;’whichproducewhateffectwecanfancy。Amongotherthings,heappealstotheKing’s’magnanimity,howgrandandgenerousitwillbetoacceptmoderatetermsfromAustria,to——’KING(interrupting):’MyLord,don’ttalktomeofmagnanimity,aPrince[actingnotforhimselfbutforhisNation]

  oughttoconsulthisinterestinthefirstplace。IamnotagainstPeace:butIexpecttohaveFourDuchiesgivenme。’\"[State—PaperOffice(Hyndford,Breslau,12thJune,1741)。]

  HyndfordandGinkelsleptthatnightinGrotkauTown:\"at4nextmorningtheKingsentusword,ThatifwehadamindtoseetheArmyonmarch,\"justmovingoff,Strehlenway,\"wemightcomeoutbytheNorthGate。\"WeaccordinglysawthewholeArmyleaveCamp;

  andmarchinfourcolumnstowardsFriedewald,whereMarshalNeippergisencamped。\"Notabitofit,yourExcellency!NeippergissafeatNeisse;amidinaccessibleembankmentsandartificialmud:andthesearemereHussar—Pandourrabbleouthere;whomapushortwosendshomeagain,——woulditcouldkeepthemthere!Buttheyareofsylvan(orSALVAGE)nature,affectingtheshade;andburstout,fortheftandarson,sometimesatgreatdistances,nocalculatingwhere。\"TheKing’sArmylayallthatnightupontheirarms,andencampednextmorning,the10th。Ibelievenothinghappenedthatday,forwewereobligedtostayatGrotkau,forwantofpost—horses,agoodpartofit。\"

  Hyndfordhears(insecretOppositionCircles,andlaystheflatteringunctiontohissoulandyourLordship’s):\"TheKingofPrussia’sArmy,asIaminformed,unlesshewilltakecounsel,anothercampaignwillgoneartoruin。Everythingisinthegreatestdisorder;utmostdejectionamongsttheOfficersfromhighesttolowest;\"——factbeingthattheKinghasimportantimprovementsandnewdrillingsinview(togoonatStrehlen),Cavalryimprovements,Artilleryimprovements,unknowntoHyndfordandtheOpposition;andwillnotberuinednextcampaign。\"Ihopethenewswehavehere,ofthetakingofCarthagena,istrue,\"

  concludeshe。Alas,yourExcellency!

  Byadifferenthand,fromthesouthwardHungarianregions,farovertheHills,takethisotherentry;almostofenthusiasticstyle:——

  \"PRESBURG,25thJUNE。MariaTheresa,inhighspiritsaboutherEnglishSubsidyandthebrightaspects,leftViennaaboutaweekagoforPresburg[adriveoffiftymilesdownthefineDonaucountry];andiscelebratingherCoronationthere,asQueenofHungary,inaverysublimemanner。Sunday,25thJune,1741,thatisthedayofputtingonyourCrown,——IronCrownofSt。Stephen,asreadersknow。TheChivalryofHungary,fromPalfyandEsterhazydownward,andalltheworldarethere;shininginloyaltyandbarbaricgoldandpearl。AtrulybeautifulYoungWoman,beautifultosoulandeye,devouttooandnoble,thoughill—informedinPoliticalorotherScience,isinthemiddleofit,andmakesthescenestillmorenoticeabletous。See,asthefinishoftheceremonies,shehasmountedahighswifthorse,swordgirttoherside,——agreatrideralways,thisyoungQueen;——andgallops,Hungaryfollowinglikeacomet—tail,totheKonigsberg[KING’S—HILL

  socalled;nogreatthingsofaHill,Oreader;madebybarrow,youcansee],tothetopoftheKonigsberg;theredrawssword;

  andcuts,grandlyflourishing,totheFourQuartersoftheHeavens:

  ’Letanymortal,fromwhateverquartercoming,meddlewithHungaryifhedare!’[Adelung,ii。293,294。]ChivalrousHungaryburstsintopassionateacclaim;oldPalfy,Icouldfancy,intotears;andalltheworldmurmurstoitself,withmoist—gleamingeyes,’REX

  NOSTER!’Thisis,infact,thebeautifulestKingorQueenthatnowis,thisradiantyoungwoman;beautifulthingshavebeen,andaretobe,reportedofher;andshehasaterriblevoyagejustahead,——

  littledreamingofitatthisgrandmoment。IwishhisBritannicMajesty,orRobinsonwhohasfollowedouthither,couldpersuadehertosomecomplianceontheSilesianmatter:whatathingwerethat,forherself,andforallmankind,justnow!Butshewillnothearofthat;andisveryobstinate,andherstupidHofrathsequallyandmuchmoreblamablyso。DeaftohardFactsknockingattheirdoor;ignorantwhatNoah’s—Delugeshavebrokenoutuponthem,andarerushingoninevitable。\"

  Byanotablecoincidence,preciselywhilethosesword—flourishingsgoonatPresburg,MarechalExcellencyBelleisleismakinghisPublicEntryintoFrankfurt—on—Mayn:[25thJune,1741(Adelung,ii。

  399)。]Frankfurttooisincheeryemotion;streetspopulouswithSundaygazers,andcriticsofthesublimeinspectacle!ThisisnotBelleisle’sfirstentrance;hehimselfhasbeenheresometime,settlinghisHousehold,andagoodmanythings:buttodayhesolemnlyleadsinhisCountessandAppendages(overfromMetz,whereMadameandheofficiallyresideincommontimes,\"GovernorofMetz,\"oneofhismanyoffices);——leadsinMadame,insuitablyresplendentmanner;tokindlehouseholdfire,asitwere;

  andindicatethathereishisplace,tillhehavegotaKaisertohismind。TwinPhenomena,thesetwo;goingon500milesapart;

  unconsciousofoneanother,orofwhatkinshiptheyhappentohave!——

  EXCELLENCYROBINSONBUSYINTHEVIENNAHOFRATHCIRCLES,TOPRODUCEACOMPLIANCE。

  BritannicGeorge,bothforPragmatic’ssakeandfordearHanover’s,desiresmuchtherewereabargainmadewithFriedrich:HowisthePragmatictobesavedatall,ifFriedrichjoinFranceinitsBelleislemachinations,thinksGeorge?AndalreadyhereisthatCampofGottin,glitteringinviewlikeadrawnswordpointedatone’sthroatoratone’sHanover。Nay,inamonthortwohence,astheBelleisleschemesgotabovegroundintheshapeoffacts,thisdesirebecamepassionate,andabargainwithPrussiaseemedtheonethingneedful。For,alas,thereaderwillseetherecomes,aboutthattime,asecondsword(theMailleboisArmy,namely),pointedatone’sthroatfromtheFrenchsideofthings:sothataPaladinofthePragmatic,andHanoverianKingofEngland,knowsnotwhichwaytoturn!George’ssincerityofwishisperhapsunderratedbyFriedrich;whoindeedknowswellenoughonwhichsideGeorge’swisheswouldfall,iftheyhadliberty(whichtheyhavenot),butmuchoverrates\"theastucity\"ofpoorGeorgeandhisEnglish;

  ascribing,asisoftendone,tofine—spunattorneyismwhatismerecunctation,ignorance,negligence,andotherformsofastupidityperhapsthemosthonestintheworld!BydegreesFriedrichunderstoodbetter;buthenevermuchlikedtheEnglishwaysofdoingbusiness。George’sdesireisabundantlysincere,notwhollyrestingonsublimegrounds;andgrowsmoreandmoreintenseeveryday;butcouldnotbegratifiedforagoodwhileyet。

  Co—operatingwithHyndford,fromtheViennaside,isExcellencyRobinson;whohasastillharderjobofitthere。PitypoorRobinson,OEnglishreader,ifyoucanforindignationatthebusinessheisin。SavingtheLibertiesofEurope!thinksRobinsonconfidently:FoundingtheEnglishNationalDebt,answersFact;

  anddoingBottomtheWeaver,withlongears,inthemiserablestPickleherringTragedythateverwas!——ThisisthesameRobinsonwhoimmortalizedhimself,nineortenyearsago,bytheFirstTreatyofVienna;thrice—salutaryTreaty,whichDISJOINEDAustriafromBourbon—SpanishAlliances,andbroughtherintothearmsofthegratefulSea—Powersagain。ImminentDownfalloftheUniversewasthus,glorytoRobinson,arrestedforthattime。AndnowwehavethesameRobinsoninstructedtosharpenallhisfacultiestothecuttingpitch,anddotheimpossibleforthisnewandreversefaceofmatters。Whatachangefrom1731to1741!BugbearofdreadfulAustrian—SpanishAlliancedissolvesnowintosunlitclouds,encirclingabeautifulAustrianAndromeda,abouttobedevouredforus;andtheDownfalloftheUniverseisagainimminent,fromSpainandothersjoiningAGAINSTAustria。Oh,yewigs,andeximiouswig—

  blocks,calledright—honorable!Ifaman,sovereignorother,weretostaywellathome,andmindhisownvisibleaffairs,trustingagooddealthattheUniversewouldshiftforitself,mightitnotbebetterforhim?Robinson,whowritesratheraheavystyle,butisfullofinextinguishableheavyzealwithal,willhaveagreatdealtodointhesecomingyears。AncestorofcertainvaluableEarlsthatnoware;authorofimmeasurablequantitiesoftheDiplomaticcobwebsthatthenwere。

  ToamodernEnglishreaderitisverystrange,thatAustriansceneofthingsinwhichpoorRobinsonispuffingandlaboring。

  Theineffablepride,theobstinacy,impotency,ponderouspedantryandhelplessnessofthatdulloldCourtanditsHofraths,isnearlyinconceivabletomodernreaders。Stupiddilapidationisinalldepartments,andhaslongbeen;allthingslazilycrumblingdownwards,sometimesstumblingdownwithgreatplunges。Cashisdone;theworldrising,allround,withplunderousintentions;

  andhungryRuin,youwouldsay,comingvisiblyonwithseven—leagueboots:hereislittleroomforcarryingyourheadhighamongmankind。Highneverthelesstheydocarryit,withagrandlymournfulthoughstolidinsolentair,asifbornsuperiortothisEarthanditswisdomsandsuccessesandmultiplication—tablesandironramrods,——reallywith\"acertaingreatness,\"sayssomebody,\"greatnessasofgreatblockheadism\"inthemselvesandtheirneighbors;——and,likesomeabsurdoldHindooIdol(crockeryIdolofSomnauth,forinstance,withthebellyofhimsmashedbybattle—

  axes,andthecart—loadofgoldcoinallrunout),persuademankindthattheyareagod,thoughindilapidatedcondition。Thatisourfirstimpressionofthething。

  Butagain,betterseeninto,thereisnotwantiugacertainworthilysteadfast,conservativeandbroad—basedhighair(remindingyouof\"Killourownmutton,Sir!\"andtheancientEnglishToryspecies),solidandloyal,thoughstolidAncientAustrianTories,thatdefinitionwillsufficeforus;——andToryismtoo,thereadermayrelyonit,ismuchpatronizedbytheUpperPowers,andgoesalongwayinthisworld。Nay,withoutagoodsolidsubstratumofthat,whatthing,withneversomanyballot—

  boxes,stump—orators,andlibertiesofthesubject,iscapableofgoingatall,exceptswiftlytoperdition?TheseAustrianshavetakenagreatdealofruining,firstandlast!TheirrelationtothethenSea—Powers,especiallytoEnglandembarkedontheCauseofLiberty,fillsonewithamazement,bynomeansofanidolatrousnature;andisdifficulttounderstandatall,ortobepatientwithatall。

  OfdispositiontocomplywithPrussia,Robinsonfinds,inspiteofMollwitzandthesadexperiences,notraceatVienna。ThehumoratViennaisobstinatelydefiant;simplytoregardFriedrichasahousebreakerorthiefinthenight;whomtheywillsoondealwith,weretheyonceonfootandimplementsintheirhand:\"Swift,yeSea—Powers;wherearetheimplements,thecash,thatmeansimplements?\"TheYoungHungarianMajestyherselfismagnificentlyofthatopinion,whichissanctionedbyherBartensteinsandwisestHofraths,withhardlyadissentient(oldSinzendorfalmostaloneinhiscontrarynotion,andhesoondies)。RobinsonurgesthedangersfromFrance。NoHofrathherewillallowhimselftobelievethem;

  tobelievethemwouldbetoohorrible。\"Dependuponit,France’sintentionsarenotthatway。Andattheworst,ifFrancedoriseagainstus,itisbutbargainingwithFrance;bettersothanbargainingwithPrussia,surely。FrancewillbecontentablewithsomethingintheNetherlands;whatelsecanshewantofus?

  Paringsfromthatoutskirt,whatarethesecomparedwithSilesia,ahorridgashintothevitalparts?AndwhatisyieldingtotheKingofFrance,comparedwithyieldingtoyourPrussianKing!\"——

  Itistruetheyhavenomoney,theseblinddullpeople;butarenottheSea—Powers,Englandespecially,there,createdbyNaturetosupplymoney?WhatelseistheirpurposeinCreation?ByNature’slaw,astheSunmountsintheEclipticandthenfalls,theseSea—

  Powers,intheCauseofLiberty,willfurnishusmoney。

  Nosurrender;talknottomeofSilesiaorsurrender;Iwilldiedefendingmyinheritances:whataretheSea—Powersabout,thattheydonotfurnishmoremoneyinapromptmanner?ThesearethethingspoorRobinsonhastolistento:RobinsonandEngland,itisself—

  evidentatVienna,haveoneduty,thatoffurnishingmoney。Andinapromptmanner,ifyouplease,Sir;whynotpromptandabundant?

  AnEnglishsoulhassmallexhilaration,lookingintothoseoldexpenditures,andbullyingsforwantofpromptitude!ButifEnglishsoulswillsolemnly,underhighHeaven,constituteaDukeofNewcastleandaGeorgeII。theirCaptainsofthemarchHeavenward,andsay,withoutblushingforit,nayrejoicingatit,inthefaceofthesun,\"YouarethemostgodlikeTwowecouldlayholdofforthatobject,\"——whathaveEnglishsoulstoexpect?Myconsolationis,and,alas,itisapoorone,themoneywouldhavebeenmostlywastedanyway。Buymenandgunpowderwithyourmoney,tobeshotawayinforeignparts,withoutrenownoruse:isthatsomnchworsethanbuyingridiculousupholsteries,idleluxuries,frivolities,andintheendunbeautifulpot—belliescorporealandspiritualwithit,hereathome?Iamstrucksilent,lookingatmuchthatgoesonunderthesestars;——andfindthatmisappointmentofyourCaptains,ofyourExemplarsandGuidingandGoverningindividuals,higherandlower,isafatalbusinessalways;andthatespecially,ashighestinstanceofit,whichincludesallthelowerones,thisofsolemnlycallingChiefCaptain,andKingbytheGraceofGod,agentlemanwhoisNOTso(andSEEMStobesomainlybyMaliceoftheDevil,andbytheverygreatandnearlyunforgivableindifferenceofMankindtoresisttheDevilinthatparticularprovince,forthepresent),isthedeepestfountainofhumanwretchedness,andtheheadmendacitycapableofbeingdone!——

  AsforthebraveyoungQueenofHungary,myadmirationgoeswiththatofalltheworld。Notinthelanguageofflattery,butofevidentfact,theroyalqualitiesaboundinthathighyoungLady;

  hadtheylefttheworld,andgrowntomerecostumeelsewhere,youmightfindcertainofthemagainhere。Mostbrave,highandpious—

  minded;beautifultoo,andradiantwithgood—nature,thoughoftemperthatwilleasilycatchfire:thereisperhapsnonoblerwomanthenliving。Andshefrontstheroaringelementsinatrulygrandfemininemanner;asifHeavenitselfandthevoiceofDutycalledher:\"TheInheritanceswhichmyFathersleftme,wewillnotpartwiththese。Death,ifitsomustbe;butnotdishonor:——Listennottothatthiefinthenight!\"MariaTheresahasnotstudied,atall,theHistoryoftheSilesianDuchies;sheknowsonlythatherFatherandGrandfatherpeaceablyheldthem;itwasnotshethatsentoutSeckendorftoride25,000miles,orbroketheheartofFriedrichWilhelmandhisHousehold。PityshehadnotcompliedwithFriedrich,andsavedsuchriversofbitternesstoherselfandmankind!Buthowcouldsheseetodoit,——especiallywithlittleGeorgeatherback,andabundanceofmoney?This,forthepresent,ishermethodoflookingatthematter;thismagnanimous,heroic,andoccasionallysomewhatfemaleone。

  HerHusband,theGrandDuke,aninert,butgood—tempered,well—

  conditionedDukeafterhissort,goeswithher。Himweshallseetryvariousthings;andatlengthtaketobankingandmerchandise,andevenmeal—dealingonthegreatscale。\"OurArmieshadmostpartoftheirmealcircuitouslyfromhim,\"saysFriedrich,oftimeslongsubsequent。NowasalwayshefollowsloyallyhisWife’slead,nevershehis:Wifebeing,intrinsicallyaswellasextrinsically,thebetterman,whatothercanhedo?——OfcompliancewithFriedrichinthisCourt,thereispracticallynohopetillafteragreatdealofbeatinghaveenlightenedit。OutofdeferencetoGeorgeandhisardors,theypretendsomeintentionthatway;andare\"willingtobargain,yourExcellency;\"——nodoubtofit,providedonlythepricewerenexttonothing!

  Andso,whilethewatchfuledaciousHyndfordisdoinghisbestatStrehlen,poorRobinson,blownintotripleactivity,correspondsinaboundlesszealousmannerfromVienna;andatlasttakestoflyingpersonallybetweenStrehlenandVienna;prayingtheinexorableyoungQueentocomplyalittle,andthentheinexorableyoungKingtobesatisfiedwithimaginarycompliance;andhasabreathlesstimeofitindeed。HisDespatches,passionatelylong—winded,areexceedinglystiffreadingtothelikeofus。Oreader,whatthingshavetobereadandcarefullyforgotten;whatmountainsofdustandashesaretobedugthrough,andtumbleddowntoOrcus,todisengagethesmallestfractionoftrulymemorable!Wellif,intencubicmilesofdustandashes,youdiscoverthetongueofashoe—

  bucklethathasoncebelongedtoamanintheleastheroic;

  andwipeyourbrow,invokingthesupernalandtheinfernalgods。

  Myheart’sdesireistocompresstheseStrehlenDiplomatichorse—

  dealingsintothesmallestconceivablebulk。Andyethowmuchthatisnotmetal,thatismerelycinders,hasgotthrough:impossibletoprevent,——maytheinfernalgodsdealwithit,andreduceDryasdusttolimits,oneday!Here,however,areimportantPublicNewstranspiringthroughtheoldGazetteers:——

  \"MUNCHEN,JULY1st[orineffectafewdayslater,whentheLettersDATEDJuly1sthadgonethroughtheircircuitousformalities],[Adelung,ii。421。]KarlAlbertKur—BaiernpubliclydeclareshimselfCandidatefortheKaisership;as,privately,hehadlongbeenrumoredandbelievedtobe。Kur—Baiern,theysay,hasofmilitiasandregularstogetherabout30,000menonfoot,allpostedingoodplacesalongtheAustrianFrontier;anditiscommonlythought,thoughlittlecredibleatVienna,thatheintendsinvadingAustriaaswellascontestingtheElection。TowhichtheViennaHofrathanswersinthestyleof’Pshaw!’

  \"VERSAILLES,11thJULY。ExtraordinaryCouncilofState;Belleislebeingthere,homefromFrankfurt,totakefinalorders,andgetofficialfiatputuponhisschemes。’AllthePrincesoftheBloodandalltheMarechalsofFranceattend;’questionis,HowtheWaristobe,nay,WhetherWaristobeatall,——socontingentistheFrench—PrussianBargain,signedfiveweeksago。OldFleury,togivefreedomofconsultationandvote,quitstheroom。Someareofopinion,onePrinceoftheBloodemphaticallyso,ThatPragmaticSanctionshouldbekept,atleastWarAGAINSTitbeavoided。

  Butthecontraryopiniontriumphs,Kinghimselfbeingstronglywithit;Belleisletobesupremeinfieldandcabinet;shallexecute,likeakindofDictatororVice—Majesty,byhisownmagnificenttalent,thosemagnificentdevisingsofhis,glorioustoFranceandtotheKing。[Ib。417,418;seealsoBaumer,p。104(ifyoucanforhisdate,whichisgiveninOLDSTYLEasifitwereinNew;averyeclipsingmethod!)。]Thesemanymonths,theFrenchhavebeenarmingwiththeirwholemight。TheViennapeoplehearnow,Thatan’Armyof40,000isrumoredtobecoming,’oreventwoArmies,40,000

  each;butwillnotimaginethatthisiscertain,orthatitcanbeseriouslymeantagainsttheirhighHouse,precioustogodsandmen。

  BelleislehavingperfectedthemultiplexArmydetails,rushesbacktoFrankfurtandhisendlessDiplomaticbusinesses(July25th):

  Armiestobeonactualmarchbythe10thofAugustcoming。

  ’DuringthisVersaillesvisit,hehadsuchacrowdofOfficersandgreatpeoplepayingcourttohimaswasliketheKing’sLeveeitself。’[Barbier,ii。305。]

  \"PASSAU,31stJULY。PassauistheFrontierAustrianCityontheDonau(meetingoftheInnandDonauValleys);aplaceofconsiderablestrength,andakeyorgreatpositionformilitarypurposes。Austrian,orQuasi—Austrian;for,likeSalzburg,ithasaBishopclaimingsomeimaginarysovereignties,butalwaysholdswithAustria。July31st,earlyinthemorning,aBavarianExciseman(’Salt—Inspector’)appliedatthegateofPassauforadmission;

  gatewasopened;——alongwiththeExciseman’certainpeasants’

  (disguisedBavariansoldiers)pushedin;heldthegatechoked,tillGeneralMinuzzi,KarlAlbert’sGeneral,withhorse,foot,cannon,whohadbeenlurkingcloseby,likewisepushedin;andatonceseizedtheTown。Townspeedilysecured,MinuzziinformstheBishop,wholivesinhisSchlossofOberhaus(strongishplaceonaHill—

  top,othersidetheDonau),Thathelikewise,underpainofbombardment,mustadmitgarrison。ThepoorBishophesitates;

  but,findingbombardmentactuallyreadyforhim,yieldsinabouttwohours。KarlAlbertpublisheshisManifesto,’inforty—fivepagesfolio’[Adelung,ii。426。](totheeffect,’AllAustriamine;

  orasgoodasall,——ifIliked!’);andfortifieshimselfinPassau。

  ’Insidious,nefarious!’shrieksAustria,inCounter—Manifesto;

  calculatesprivatelyitwillsoonsettleKarlAlbert,——’Unless,OHeavens,FrancewithPrussiadidmeantobackhim!’——andbeginstohavemisgivings,inspiteofitself。\"

  Misgivings,whichsoonbecamefatalcertainties。Robinsonrecords,doubtlessonsurebasis,thoughnotdatingit,acuriouspieceofstage—effectintheformofreality;\"Onhearing,beyondpossibilityofdoubt,thatPrussia,France,andBavariahadcombined,thewholeAulicCouncil,\"ViennaHofrathinabody,\"fellbackintotheirchairs[andmetaphoricallyintoRobinson’sarms]

  likedeadmen!\"[Raumer,p。104。]Satstaringthere;——thewindstruckoutofthem,butnotallthefollybyagreatdeal。

  Now,however,isRobinson’stimetoplythem。

  EXCELLENCYROBINSONHASAUDIENCEOFFRIEDRICH

  (CampofStrehlen,7thAugust,1741)。

  Byunheard—ofentreatiesnudconjurations,aidedbythesestrokesoffate,RobinsonhasatlengthextortedfromhisQueenofHungary,andherwiseHofraths,somethingresemblingaphantasmofcompliance;withwhichhehurriestoBreslauandHyndford;

  hopingagainsthopethatFriedrichwillacceptitasareality。

  GetstoBreslauonthe3dofAugust;thencetoStrehlen,consultingmuchwithHyndforduponthisphantasmofacompliance。Hyndfordlooksbutheavilyuponit;——fromus,inthisplace,farbeittolookatall:——alas,thisisthefamedScenetheyTwohadatStrehlenwithFriedrich,onMonday,August7th;reportedbythefaithfulpenofRobinson,andvividlysignificantofFriedrich,wereitbutcompressedtotheduepitch。WewillgiveitintheformofDialogue:thethingofitselffallsnaturallyintotheDramatic,whentheflabbypartsarecutaway;——andwasperhapsworthierofaShakspearethanofaRobinson,allfactsofitconsidered,inthelighttheyhavesincegot。

  SceneisFriedrich’sTent,PrussianCampintheneighborhoodofthelittleTownofStrehlen:time11o’clockA。M。Personagesofit,TwoBritishsubjectsinthehighDiplomaticline:ponderousScotchLordofanedaciousgloomycountenance;floridYorkshireGentlemanwithimportantProposalsinhispocket。Costume,frizzledperukepowdered;frills,wrist—frillsandother;shoe—buckles,flappedwaistcoat,court—coatofantiquecutandmuchtrimming:allthisshallbeconceivedbythereader。TightyoungGentlemaninPrussianmilitaryuniform,bluecoat,buffbreeches,boots;withalertflashingeyes,andcarelesselegantbearing,salutescourteously,raisinghisplumedhat。Podewilsincommondress,whohasenteredescortingtheotherTwo,sitsrathertorearward,takingrefugebesidethewritingapparatus。——FirstpassagesoftheDialogueI

  omit:merepickeeringsandbeatingsaboutthebush,beforewecometoclosequarters。ForRobinson,thefloridYorkshireGentleman,ischargedtooffer,——whatthinksthereader?——twomillionguilders,about200,000pounds,ifthatwillsatisfythisyoungmilitaryKingwiththealertEyes!

  ROBINSON……\"’Twohundredthousandpoundssterling,ifyourMajestywillbepleasedtoretireoutofSilesia,andrenouncethisenterprise!’

  KING。\"’RetireoutofSilesia?Andformoney?Doyoutakemeforabeggar!RetireoutofSilesia,whichhascostmesomuchtreasureandbloodintheconquestofit?No,Monsieur,no;thatisnottobethoughtof!Ifyouhavenobetterproposalstomake,itisnotworthwhiletalking。’Thesewordswereaccompnniedwiththreateninggesturesandmarksofgreatanger;\"considerablystaggeringtotheTwoDiplomaticBritishgentlemen,andofevilomentoRobinson’sphantasmofacompliance。Robinsonapologeticallyhumsandhahs,floundersthroughthebadbitofroadashecan;flounderinglyindicatesthathehasmoretooffer。

  KING。\"’Letusseethen(VOYONS),whatistheremore?’

  ROBINSON(withpreliminaryflourishingsandflounderings,yetconfidently,asnowtablinghisbestcard)……\"’PermittedtoofferyourMajestythewholeofAustrianGuelderland;liescontiguoustoyourMajesty’sPossessionsintheRhineCountry;

  importantcompletionofthese:Iampermittedtosay,thewholeofAustrianGuelderland!’Importantindeed:adirtystripeofmoorland(ifyoulookinBusching),aboutequivalenttohalfadozenparishesinConnemara。

  KING。\"’Whatdoyoumean?[turningtoPodewils]——QU’EST—CEQUENOUS

  MANQUEDETOUTELAGUELDRE(HowmuchofGuelderlandistheirs,andnotoursalready)?’

  PODEWILS。\"’Almostnothing(PRESQUERIEN)。

  KING(toRobinson)。\"’VOICIENCOREDEGUEUSERIES(moreragsandrubbishyet)!QUOI,suchapaltryscraping(BICOQUE)asthat,forallmyjustclaimsinSilesia?Monsieur——!’HisMajesty’sindignationincreasedhere,allthemoreasIkeptaprofoundsilenceduringhishotexpressions,anddidnotspeakatallexcepttobeghisMajesty’sreflectionuponwhatIhadsaid。——

  ’Reflection?’\"askstheKing,witheyesdangeroustobehold;——

  \"MyLord,\"continuesRobinson,heavilynarrative,\"hiscontemptofwhatIhadsaidwassogreat,\"kickinghisbootthroughGuelderlandandtheguildersasthemostcontemptibleofobjects,\"andwasexpressedinsuchviolentterms,thatnow,ifever(asyourLordshipperceives),itwastimetomakethelasteffort;\"playourtrump—carddownatonce;\"amomentlongerwasnottobelost,tohindertheKingfromdismissingus;\"whichsaddestinyisstilltooprobable,afterthetrump—card。Trump—cardisthis:

  ROBINSON……\"’ThewholeDuchyofLimburg,yourMajesty!ItisaDuchywhich——’IextolledtheDuchytotheutmost,describeditinthemostfavorableterms;andadded,that’theElectorPalatine[oldKur—Pfalz,ononeoccasion]hadbeenwillingtogivethewholeDuchyofBergforit。’

  PODEWILS。\"’Pardon,Monsieur:thatisnotso;thecontraryofso;

  Kur—PfalzwasnotreadytogiveBergforit!’——[WearenotdeepinGermanHistory,weBritishDiplomaticgentlemen,whoaresquandering,nowandofold,somuchmoneyonit!TheAulicCouncil,\"fallsintoourarmslikedeadmen;\"butitiscertaintheElectorPalatinewasnotreadytogiveBerginthatkindofexchange。]

  KING。\"’ItisinconceivabletomehowAustriashoulddaretothinkofsuchathing。Limburg?AretherenotsolemnEngagementsuponAustria,sanctionedandagainsanctionedbyalltheworld,whichrendereveryinchofgroundintheNetherlandsinalienable?’

  ROBINSON。\"’EngagementsgoodasagainsttheFrench,yourMajesty。

  OtherwisetheBarrierTreaty,confirmedatUtrecht,wasforourbehoofandHolland’s。’

  KING。\"’Thatisyourpresentinterpretation,ButtheFrenchpretenditwasanarrangementmoreintheirfavorthanagainstthem。’

  ROBINSON。\"’YourMajesty,byalittleEngineerArt,couldrenderLimburgimpregnabletotheFrenchorothers。’

  KING。\"’Havenottheleastdesiretoaggrandizemyselfinthoseparts,orspendmoneyfortifyingthere。Uselesstome。AmnotI

  fortifyingBriegandGlogau?Theseareenough:foronewhointendstolivewellwithhisneighbors。NeithertheDutchnortheFrenchhaveoffendedme;norwillIthembyacquisitionsintheNetherlands。Besides,whowouldguaranteethem?’

  ROBINSON。\"’TheProposalistogiveguaranteesatonce。’

  KING。\"’Guarantees!Whomindsorkeepsguaranteesinthisage?

  HasnotFranceguaranteedthePragmaticSanction;hasnotEngland?

  Whydon’tyouallflytotheQueen’ssuccor?’\"——Robinson,inclinedtopout,ifhedurst,intimatesthatperhapstherewillbesuccorersonedayyet。

  KING。\"’Andpray,Monsieur,whoarethey?’

  ROBINSON。\"’Hm,hm,yourMajesty……Russia,forexample,whichPowerwithreferencetoTurkey——’

  KING。\"’Good,Sir,good(BEAU,MONSIEUR,BEAU),theRussians!Itisnotpropertoexplainmyself;butIhavemeansfortheRussians’

  [aSwedishWarjustcominguponRussia,tokeepitshandinuse;

  sodiligenthavetheFrenchbeeninthatquarter!]。

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